Part 49 (1/2)
She bound her hands tightly across her eyes, shutting out the loathsome face, and in the intensity of her agony and dread she groaned aloud. If it were true, could she hear it, and live? What would Mr. Lindsay think, if he could see that coa.r.s.e brutal man claiming her as his daughter? What would her haughty guardian say, if he who so sedulously watched over her movements, and fastidiously chose her a.s.sociates, could look upon her now?
Born in a. hospital, owning that repulsive countenance there beside her as parent?
Heavy cold drops oozed out, and glistened on her brow, and she s.h.i.+vered from head to foot, rocking herself to and fro.
Almost desperate as she thought of the mysterious circ.u.mstances that seemed to entangle her mother as in some inextricable net, the girl suddenly started up, and exclaimed:
”It is a fraud, a wicked fraud, or you would never have left me so long in peace. My father was, must have been, a gentleman; I know, I feel it! You are--you--Save me, O Lord in heaven, from such a curse as that!”
He grasped her arm and hissed:
”I am poor and obscure, it is true; but Peterson is better than no name at all, and if you are not my child, then you have no name. That is all; take your choice.”
What a pall settled on earth and sky! The sun s.h.i.+ning so brightly in the west grew black, and a shadow colder and darker than death seized her soul. Was it the least of alternate horrors to accept this man, acknowledging his paternal claim, and thereby defend her mother's name? How the lovely sad face of that young mother rose like a star, gilding all this fearful blackness; and her holy abiding faith in her mother proved a strengthening angel in this Gethsemane.
Rallying, she forced herself to look steadily at her companion.
”You say that your name is Peleg Peterson; why did you never come openly to the parsonage and claim me? I know that my mother was married in that house, by Mr. Hargrove.”
”Because I never could find out where you were hid away, until my aunt, Hannah Hinton, told me the week before the great storm. Then she promised me the marriage license, which she had found in a desk at the parsonage, on condition that I would not disturb you; as she thought you were happy and well-cared for, and would be highly educated, and I was too miserably poor to give you any advantages.
You know the license was burned by lightning, else I would show it to you.”
”Proving that you are my mother's legal husband?”
”Certainly, else what use do you suppose I had for it.”
”Oh no! You intended to sell it. Hannah told me so.”
”No such thing. Minnie does not want to own me now, and I intended to show the license to the father of the man for whom she deserted both you and me. She has followed him to Europe, though she knows he is a married man.”
”It is false! How dare you! You shall not slander her dear name. My mother could never have done that! There is some foul conspiracy to injure her; not another word against her! No matter what may have happened, no matter how dark and strange things look, she was not to blame. She is right, always right; I know, I feel it! I tell you, if the sun and the stars, and the very archangels in heaven accused her, I would not listen, I would not believe--no--never! She is my mother, do you hear me? She is my mother, and G.o.d's own angels would go astray as soon as she!”
She looked as white and rigid as a corpse twelve hours dead, and her large defiant eyes burned with a supernatural l.u.s.tre.
He comprehended the nature with which he had to deal, and after a pause, said sullenly:
”Minnie does not deserve such a child, and it is hard that you, my own flesh and blood, refuse to recognize me. Regina, I am desperately poor, or I would take you now, forcibly if necessary; and if Minnie dared deny my claim, I would publish the facts in a court of justice.
Even your guardian is deceived, and many things would come to light, utterly disgraceful to you, and to your father and mother. But at present I cannot take care of you, and I am in need, actual need.
Will my child see her own father want bread and clothing, and refuse to a.s.sist him? Can you not contribute something toward my support, until I can collect some money due me? If you can help me a little now, I will try to be patient, and leave you where you are, in luxury and peace; at least till I can hear from Minnie, to whom I have written.”
”Why do you not go at once to my guardian, and demand me?”
”If you wish it I will, before sunset. Come, I am ready. But when I do, the facts will be blazoned to the world, and you and Minnie and I shall all go down together in disgrace and ruin. If you are willing to drag all the shameful history into the papers, I am ready now.”
He rose, but she shrank away, and putting her hand in her pocket, became aware of the loss of her purse. Had she been robbed, or had she dropped her _porte-monnaie_ in the carriage?
”I have not a cent with me. I have lost my purse since I left home.”
She saw the gloomy scowl that lowered on his brow. ”When can you give me some money? Mind, it must not be known that I am literally begging. I am as proud, my daughter, as you are, and if people find out that I am getting alms from you, I shall explain that it is from my own child I receive aid.”