The Fatal Cord Part 11

A similar account might be given of the other four; though these, figuring in positions of greater respectability, kept their characters a little better disguised.

Two of their fathers were also dead--Randall, the judge, and Spence, the Episcopalian clergyman, while their sons, less respected than they, were not likely to succeed to their places.

Brandon's father still lived, though drink was fast carrying him to the grave, and his son was congratulating himself on the proximity of an event that would make him sole master of himself as also of a cotton plantation.

The store-keeper, Grubbs, had gone, no one knew whither--not even the sheriff, loth to let him depart--leaving his son to build up a new fortune extracted out of the pockets of the Mississippi boatmen. The horse-dealer still stuck to his old courses--coping, swopping, swearing--likely to outlive them all.

Among the many changes observable in the settlements around Helena there was none more remarkable than that which had taken place in the fortunes of Jerry Rook. It was a complete transformation, alike mysterious, for no one could tell how it came, or whence the power that had produced it.

It appeared not only in the person of Jerry himself, but in everything that appertained to him--his house, his grounds, his dogs, and his daughter; in short, all his belongings.

An old hunter no longer, clad in dirty buckskin, and dwelling in a hovel, but a respectable-looking citizen of the semi-planter type, habited in decent broadcloth, wearing clean linen, living in a neat farm-house, surrounded by fenced fields, and kept by black domestics.

The old scarred dog was no longer to be seen; but, in his place, some three or four hounds, lounging lazily about, and looking as if they had plenty to eat and nothing to do.

But, in the _personnel_ of the establishment, there was, perhaps, no transformation more striking than that which had taken place in Jerry Rook's daughter. There was no change in her beauty; that was still the same, only more womanly--more developed. But the sun-tanned, barefoot girl, in loose homespun frock, with unkempt hair sweeping over her shoulders, was now, six years after, scarce recognisable in the young lady in white muslin dress, fine thread stockings, and tresses plaited, perfumed, and kept from straying by the teeth of a tortoisesh.e.l.l comb.

And this was Lena Rook, lovely as ever, and more than ever the theme of man's admiration.

Despite all this, despite her father's prosperity, and the comfort, almost luxury, surrounding her, few failed to remark an expression of melancholy constantly pervading her countenance, though none could tell its cause.

Some dread souvenir must have become fixed in the mind of that young girl--some dark cloud had descended over her heart, perhaps, to shadow it for ever!

STORY ONE, CHAPTER FOURTEEN.

STEALING UPON A SHANTY.

The breath of autumn had blown over the woods of Arkansas, and the first frost of November, followed by the beautiful Indian summer, had imparted to the foliage those rich tints of red and gold known only to the forests of America.

The squirrel, down among the dead leaves, actively engaged in garnis.h.i.+ng its winter store, scarce heeds the footstep of the hunter heard near by among the trees.

There is one making his way through the woods at no great distance from the dwelling of Jerry Rook. He was approaching from the west, with his face in the direction of the house. But although he carried a gun, and was not travelling upon either trace or path, he did not appear to be in pursuit of game.

Squirrels scampered off before him unmolested, and, once or twice, turkeys ran across his track without tempting him to draw trigger or even take the gun from his shoulder.

In appearance he would have scarce have pa.s.sed for a hunter, nor was he dressed after this fas.h.i.+on. His costume was more that of a traveller.

Moreover, he had just come from a stand some three miles back, where he had left a horse and a pair of well-filled saddle-bags.

The "stand," a solitary tavern, was not far from the crossing of White River, on the road leading from Little Rock to the settlements on the Mississippi. He had approached the tavern from the west as if coming from the former, and now on foot he was still advancing eastward, though not along the road which ran through the forest at some distance to his right, screened from view by thick timber standing between.

By the dust still clinging to his garments, he appeared to have come a long way. It was gradually getting brushed off by the leaves of the underwood and the thick cane-brakes through which he was compelled to pa.s.s.

Why was he avoiding the road? Was he a stranger who had taken the wrong fork that had conducted him to a blind trace now run out? No. It could not be that. The main road was not to be mistaken. Besides, he had left it at right angles after getting out of sight of the stand, and had since been keeping parallel to it as if acquainted with its direction.

If a stranger, he was evidently one who had been over the ground before.

He had the appearance of being twenty-five years of age, with a complexion naturally dark, still further shaded either by exposure to a tropical sun or a protracted spell of travelling. His hair was jetty black and curly, his upper lip bearded, with a dark, well-defined whisker on the cheek. The chin was clean shaven, showing a protrusion indicative of great firmness, while the profile was of true Roman type.

His eyes were dark, l.u.s.trous, and piercing. In stature, he was full six feet, with a figure of fine proportions, knit as if for strength. Its activity was displayed by his light, lithe step, as he made his way through the tangle of trees.

As already stated, the dress was not that of a hunter, either amateur or professed. The coat was of broadcloth, dark-coloured, and of good quality, cut frock-fas.h.i.+on. It was worn b.u.t.toned, though showing underneath a vest of Marsala, with striped s.h.i.+rt-bosom and sparkling breast-pin. The hat was of the kind known as grey felt. This, with the green-baize "wrappers" around the legs, showing the chafe of the stirrup-leather gave the costume somewhat of the character of a traveller's.

The jaded horse and heavy saddle-bags, with a thick coating of dust over all, had told the tavern people as he reined up, of a long road left behind him--perhaps from the far prairies.

The keeper of the lone hostelry had thought it strange his starting off the moment his horse was stabled. But the horse and saddle-bags were earnest of his coming back; and Boniface had continued to chew his quid without being inquisitive.

As the young man threaded his way through the trees, it was evident he was not straying. His face was continually in one direction; while his glance, directed forward, seemed to search for some object expected to appear before him.

All at once he made a stop, at sight of a break among the trees. It indicated a tract of open ground, or clearing, that extended athwart the path he was pursuing.

He seemed surprised at this, and glanced quickly to the right and left, as if to a.s.sure himself that he had been going right.

"Yes," he muttered, apparently satisfied on this head. "Right before me was the spot--the creek and the cabin. I can't be mistaken. These old trees I remember well--every one of them. But there's a clearing now-- perhaps a plantation,--and the old shanty gone altogether."

Without finis.h.i.+ng the reflection he kept onward, though slowly, and with greater caution, increasing as he drew nearer to the open ground. He appeared to approach it stealthily, step by step, as if stalking a herd of deer.

He was soon on the edge of the opening, though still under cover of thick woods.

A stream made the line of demarcation between them.

On its opposite side, about twenty yards from the bank, he saw a neat farm-house, with a s.p.a.cious porch in front, and surrounded by fields.

There were outbuildings at the back, with sheds and corn-cribs; while in front a fenced enclosure, half garden half orchard, extended down to the stream, which formed its bottom boundary.

Just opposite this enclosure the stranger had stopped, the moment he caught sight of the house.

"As I antic.i.p.ated;" he muttered to himself.

Changed--everything changed!--the cabin cleared away, and the trees.

Jerry Rook gone--perhaps dead. Some stranger in his place;--and she gone too--grown up--and--and--

A choking sigh forbade the p.r.o.nunciation of some word that struggled for utterance--the expression of some painful thought, made manifest by the dark shadow that swept across the countenance of the speaker.

"Oh! what an unfortunate fate. Fool that I was to go away and leave her. Fool to have listened to the counsels of her wicked father. When I learnt what he had done I should have come back, if not for love, for revenge. It may not be too late for the last; but, for the first--O G.o.d!--the girl I have loved for long years, to come back and find her-- perhaps in the arms of another--O G.o.d!"

For some moments the young man stood with clouded, lace, his strong frame quivering under the shock of some painful emotion.

"Shall I cross over and make inquiry?" was the reflection that followed, as he became calmer.

"The people can, no doubt, give me some information, whether he be dead, and if she be still in the neighbourhood. No--no; I will not ask. I dread the answer to be given me.

"But, why not? I may as well know now the worst, whatever it be. I must learn it in time. Why not at once?

"There is no danger of my being recognised--even she would not know me, and these people are, perhaps, strange to the settlement. The country shows a change--clearings everywhere around, where I remember only trees. I wonder who they are? Some of them should, soon come out by that door. The day is inviting; I shall hold back awhile and see."

During all this time the young man had been standing among thick underwood that screened his person from view.

He only changed position so that his face should be also invisible to any one upon the other side of the creek, and thus stood with eyes fixed intently upon the house.

He had not been many minutes in this att.i.tude of expectation, when the front door, which stood open, was filled by a form, the sight of which sent the blood in a lava current through his veins, and caused his heart to bound audibly in his breast.