CHAPTER XI. A NIGHT OF EXCITEMENT.

Te Aroha News, Volume IV, Issue 165, 14 August 1886, Page 8

CHAPTER XI. A NIGHT OF EXCITEMENT.

Expecting John Harris, Mr Romeyn went out into the hall to meet him. Elee did not, as usual, go to the door. Remembering that the servant had the little invalid's tea to take up stairs, O^car opened the door himself, welcoming his friend. " Have you said anything to her ?" asked John, in a low tone, as he took off his light overcoat, worn as a protection against the fog. 11 What could I saj ? ' rejoined Oscar, slightly embarrassed by his unsought knowledge of the situation. "You must fight your own battles, John 1 I dare say you will conquer in time. You could hardly expect a young lady to fall in love at first eight. If she is a little hard to win, you will prize her tho more highly," " But you promised to speak a good word for me," said John, ruefully. •' And bo I have. I have been alone witl Miss Jardine for the last ten minutes, and I have taken occasion to praise you up sky high." " Oh, thank you. Oscar, I had my head barbered this evening. How do I look ?" Romeyn burst into the most genuine laugh he had enjoyed since he came te California. The idea of John Harris bz suddenly growing anxious about his looks was irresistibly ludicrous to him. "Can't you give an opinion?" repeated the other, laughing too, for he was not in sensible to the comic side of his condition. " Well, if you will give me time te conBider, 1 will say, John, that you look hand somer with your long locks trimmed, bui less interesting." "By jingo! I'm afraid that's so ! and ] had laid out to enact the part of second Othello, to win the lady by my accounts oJ * moving accidents,' and so forth. I oughi to have shunned that barber !" All this by themselves in the hall ; aftei which the two gentlemen went into the parlour,and into the presence of that young beauty which had the effect to make one oi them so self-conscious, who usually thoughi co little of himself, his dre3a or the impres sion he might make. It was nearly an hour before Mrs Jardinc joined them. During that time Bella had sustained her share in the conversation witt a spirit and ease which caused Romeyn te steal more than one glance of pleased sur prise at her. No sickly sentimentality there, but a sparkling flow of pleasantrief directed more toward Mr Harris than him self, which made him ask himself : ••Is this apparently artless young girl a finished coquette ?' No, Mr Romeyn, she was only using the weapons of defence with which nature had provided her, to throw you off your guard and persuade you that, after all, she had meant nothing in that momontary betrayal of emotion. Pride was battling with shame to recover lost ground. "He shall not think that I suffer on his account," she was thinking, When Mra Jardine finally appeared, Romeyn noticed, for the first time since he knew her, a red spot on either cheek. Hei eyes, too, were bright, not with their U9ua cold light, but with a burning unpleasani glow. She looked to him as if sufferine from fever. He asked her if she was not well, and she answered that she was perfectly well, bu< somewhat fatigued with her afternoon excursion. Mr Harris inquired after his little favourite, and if he was not to have the pleasure of seeing him thia evening. " He desired to come down when told you were here, but he is not so well this even ing. He grew dizzy when he tried to ail up ; so I remained with him until he dropped asleep." " Shall Igo and sit with him ?" asked Romevn, pained to hear that Anatole was worse. " Thank you ; but it is not necessary. He is resting comfortably now, and Elee is staying in the room." Elee ! Mr Romeyn did not like that, yet knew not how to interfere. The convocation soon turned upon affairs in Mexico. Mr Romeyn communicated to Mrs Jardine his resolution to accept the offer which his friend had made him to go to the mines. " And break your engagement with us," she remarked, sarcastically. Yet she did not appear displeased, as he had inferred she would. "Ah, madam, the fear grows upon me that my little pupil will become less and less able to study." There was a momentary silence ; the truth seemed forcing itself upoa all present. Mrs Jardine choked back a dry sob. "He is the sweetest child that ever lived! " ehe cried, almost in a shriek. " I cannot bear to hear you say that " Rcmeynlooked at her with pofound pity. Her affection for Anatole was of that engrossing kind which could not endure him out of her sight and hearing. When they were together, he was always near her, bis little thin hand nestling in hers. If he came into the room, and she looked over toward him, he would go immediately to her side. Indeed, it had frequently struck Romeyn, who was very observing, that she seemed to exercise a magnetic power over the child's will. Lavish as she was pi raresses and endearing words, she still impressed him as a hard-hearted woman, incapable of real, melting tenderness. Yet he could not deny that ehe was indulgent and good to the boy, to the last degree ; and that the feeling between the two appeared to be one of common liking. Although, in view of thi3 mutual fondness, he disliked being the one to propose to separate them, he felt that now was the moment to speak. Anatole certainly had the power, and through no efforts of his own, tojdeeply interest and claim all whp had anything to do with him. Romeyn could not wonder at the lady's distress, when he, himself, felt it impossible to leave San Francisco without being better satisfied as to the child's illness. So he broached the subject. "Mr Harris .'and J have been thinking that, since the climate of San Francisco has failed to benefit Anatole, you might be glad to Bend#}m back to his father under our escott." "Send that delicate child a wild, rough journey, overland, of hundreds of miles, exposed to every hardship ! yW^muat be out of your Benses. Better for my poor boy to die peacefully in hia bed than to be stricken down by the poison arrows of the Apaches, or scalped by their cruel knives. Mr Harris, I have great respect for the bravery which brought you through -in safety ; but you .will not beable'to insure that safety to my precious boy.- Indeed, he would toe an incumbrance of a dangerous character, for he would impsde your flight, should' you be pressed by Indians.". . ?* I was told that he was a splendid rider, madam." •!Heis. He can keep Jus ; eeat with the' Wbt of you, and- manage an unbroken steed "■■*,. * >

of the plains, if need bo. ; Still I, should never think of permitting hiayto.aqcompany your expedition, unless expressly ordered by hii father to do bo. 'Even, thefliJajwuld remonstrate."". •■ , „; j , „ 11 There, is some risk, I acknowledge. But I have heard the senor tails co much about his only eon, his little heir hVcallp him, I think it would kill him to lobo the boy. And if it is really dyspepsia which ails him, such a journey could hardly fail to be the beat possible thing for his health. I will lay you a wager ot a thousand dollars, madam," laughing, " that we will take him into the ranch stout aa his pony, and able to eat dried buffalo-hide." A singular smile shone in the lady's eyes. She lowered her lids, according to a habit which she had, and seemed to consider. " I really should not care to tako such a step without Sebastian's advice," was her final response. " Supposing you send him down by sea, then," suggested Romeyn. "You can write to his father in advance to meet him at the port." "Yea. But Mexico is in such an unsettled condition. The city is little batter than a constant battle- giound. It may be at peace one month, and the next in a state of siege. Anatole is better with me." Bella looked up at her mother inquiringly, remembering the promise which had been made her to spend the winter in the city of Mexico. " Of course, we hope for a better state of affairs soon," added the lady, observing her daughter's look. " And lam far from discouraged about Anatole. He was doing pretty well until this last sudden attack," | Romeyn did not think so but he kept silent. • c At least, I shall be happy to bear any messages, letters, or small packets you may wish to Bend to Senor Sebastian," continued John Harris, bound to be friendly and do somebody a Bervice. " Thanks. We will prepare letters j as it is not impossible that we may lose half which we send by the mails in these revolutionary times. But I shall be careful not to unnecessarily alarm the child's father ; and I would recommend you, also, Mr Harris, to be cautious. There is no use in making my nephew miserable by anticipation. If Anatole gets stronger, as I believe he will, all will be right ; if not, the blow will fall soon enough on his father." She then asked a great many more questions than she had asked the pievious evening, about the mines, the partnership, the interest which Mr Romeyn was to take in the company ; all of which Mr Harris was too happy to be allowed to answer. " The senor is already so wealthy as not to Deed this handsome addition to his resources, as I daresay you are aware, Mra Jardine ; but to poor fellows like Romeyn and myself an annual income of two, three, or four hundred thousand apiece won't come amiss ;" and he cast a soft glance over toward Miss Belle. "It will be difficult to dispose of so much, unless we marry, and give our wives carte blanche. 1 think I should be the happiest fellow in creation to have a pretty wife and set her up as queen over a magnificent establishment, with all the jewellery and such nonsense she wanted." " A very good use to make of your money. I dare Bay some of your New York beauties will be pleased to accept the situation." " It will never be offered them, madam," answered John, troubled because he perceived tha.t Mrs Jardine was anxious to shake him off; the fish would not nibble even at the bright spoon he had trolled. John hai always pleased without trying — now that he tried, it seemed as if he could not succeed. " May I show Miss Bella something which I bought of an Apache chief?" he asked next, drawing a little box out of his vast pocket. They all drew around him, viewing with curiosity the unopened box ; but when he had turned its contents into his hands, they each gave a cry of delight and astonishment. There, in his brown hand, glowing and coruscating like a lump of solidified light, lay a huge diamond, cut and polished, but not set. " I am afraid it is a Californian diamond," observed Mrs Jardine. " Indeed it ia not. I have had it tried by the best lapidaries in San Francisco. It is a real gem, as its history attests. The chief who sold it to me bought it of an Indian who had dug it out of an idol's eye in one of the old ruins of Central America. You remark the shape— peculiar— the shape of a human eye. It is the biggest diamond in this country, and I am going to have it set for my wife's wedding-ring. He gave another sly look at Bella, who smiled, but did not blush. He was trying to buy her interest, as if trinkets or fine incomes could do that ! Her lip curled a little at the idea ; yet she could not be so very scornful, for the man was evidently in earnest. He looked so good and so honest, noble, too ; but then he was not a bit like Mr Romeyn, and her heart went back to him. Before its owner had returned the treasure to its box someone came rushing down the hall stairs, and Elee burst info the room without ceremony, his sleepy almond eyes for once wide open, his whole frame trembling, as he stammered out : " Oh, come ! Me flaid somefing Btrange cc matter will Massee Anatole !" He immediately rushed up stairs again, followed by the four inmates of the parlour. Mrs Jardine was the first to reach the bedside. She gave a scream, turned, and awooned away in Mr Harris's arms, who caught her as she fell. Little Anatole lay there, apparently dead. Mr Jar dine thought him so before she fainted. Pale as marble, motionless, he did not seem to breathe. Mr Romeyn felt at his wrist and heart. He could detect no pulae at the wrist, but at the second trial was positive there was still motion to the heart. He used all the means in his power to arouse the child from his stupor, without success. Finally, he ran for the doctor, Chinchoo having already gone to hia own quarters. V'hen the two reached the house, after an interval of nearly an hour, the child had revived so that his breathing was once more apparent, and soon became laboured and unequal. "He has been drugged," said the physi cian, after a brief scrutiny, "Then Elee has done it !" cried Romeyn, in a sudden burst of curious accusation — the thought of that cunning servant pretending grief and alarm, after practising his deviUry on the helpless child, almost maddened him. " I have suspected him before this. There has been enough trifling in this matter of life .and death. John, aid me to search the scoundrel !" Mrs Jardine eat on the side of the bed, wringing her hands ; Bella, frightened and horror-stricken, was weeping in a corner. Not 'waiting even to assist the doctor to do something for his patient, the two young men took hold of Elee and began to search his. white garxnents. vThO' next* _ moment Romeyn had two articles in his hand. - , , ■ , , ■ " Hold on tp him ! Don ? tlet him esoape! " he Baiditq .Harris,* while he went close to the light with the small packages.' One was a hard,brpwn, gtimmy, substance, swhich he knew at .once-to; be opium ; the other was a, white powder; carefully folded, in a bit of paper;

• ' ' ' 'riVf">li*\iitr<\ v*'Tf 4i^ro r^rf' m »j *})«j7 t /AWJMrtJ8 t tha#dqospr*" v f , t i^,,. 7M , Btaqt*q inspection- enough to/ kjl} aU tho (l rats abou> the plape.'V .-, i*& „,]., in Z: V* Who soldjit to you f aeked -Romeyn of . the Chinese. v : 5>5 > - : I '«i«t b''>'< i ** ! "No|»od^» ;, .j.r,,; .; .\ A " I believe L can tell you/ Mrs Jardine here feebly interposed. She , epoke as if all her strength had 'vanished in this shock.. " While I was looking at a bouse, Elee went to a drug store in Alameda. If we question the olerk, we shall find that he sought the poison there, I dare say. Oh, Elee I" It was a strange, a crafty, an incomprehensible look which kindled in the oriental's eyes a3 they suddenly flashed out on. his mistress in answer to this cry of reproach, " He has given him the opium thisjtime," remarked the doctor, " The child has been under its influence so long that the stomachpump will be of np use*. We must arouse him. I think he will come out of his drowse, with a little help." Romeyn went into the kitchen, and found a rope, with which he securely bound Elee, before offering hia services to aid in restoring the patient. After several hoars of patient effort, Anatole was once more rescued from the fate which threatened. He was very weak, and was kept up on stimulants. During these hours of exertion on the part of the three gentlemen, Mrs Jardine sat in an arm-chair weeping at intervals, while her daughter sat on the floor beside her, clasping her hand. "To think of such a thing with Elee!" sobbed Belle once or twice. Elee meantime was in the chair, in the { hall, where Romeyn had securely bound , him. When the opportunity came to attend to him, Romeyn tried to make him acknowledge his guilt-; relating to the physician and John Barriß the mysterious visits which had bean made on so many occasions, to the boy's room ; and how, after one of these, on the night of the earthquake, Elee had been found secreted in the house, after having pretended to leave it. •'What do you think of that circumstance, John?" he asked excitedly, for he wan very much wrought up by his little friend's danger, and the manner in which he had been dealt with. John Harris did not hear the question. Ho was looking at Mrs Jardine. He had been looking at her ever since Oscar began to tell about the night visits; some thing in her painfully interested expression which had been so vivid that first evening after making her acquaintance. " The Lord never made two women more alike !" Once— once before, many years ago, he had seen a face like that, with the same cold features, white complexion, dark eyes Btrained nostrils, compressed lips, and the same expression of repressed, yet fearfully intense anxiety — a face, one in a million. And as he gazed into this he thought of that face, and felt as he had the night when he leaned against a lamp-post stricken by a direful recollection. " I say, Harris, what are we to do ? It is our duty to send for an officer and commit that fellow to prison. Shall you or Igo for one ?" Then a strong shudder went over Mrs Jardine's body. "No, no, I beg you not," she said, rising slowly, with feeble step, into their midst, "It would be so very unpleasant for me— for my daughter— we should have to appear as witnesses. I have no doubt the man is guilty of attempted murder, although why he or any one should seek to harm my precious darling my mind cannot conceive. But let us thank Heaven that he has not succeeded, and let him go. If he will promise to leave the city at once, we will allow him that privilege. He is a poor ignorant fellow, at beet ; but it ia. not mercy for him, I seek, but privacy for ourselves. I live alone ; I have no friend or relative nearer than Lower Sebastian. Ido not desire to be dragged out of my seclusion " "But, dear Mrs Jardine," the doctor interrupted her, "do you desire to thwart justice ? — worse, to turn upon the community a wretch like this, who makes it his sport, apparently, to trifle with human life V Ho looked at her, and her dark eyes flashed fire like those of an animal at bay. "I am not thinking of him," she said, "not of the community. I am thinking 1 of myeelf and my young daughter. We do not wish to be dragged into court, even as witnesses. A fine ordeal it would be for us, wouldn't it ! The great staring crowd, the mocking eyes and cries," she went on, strangely excited " and, all for a heathen like that 1 I tell you I will not do it ! Let him go. Send him off to his fellows in the mining region, with a warning not to return. , Bella," turning to the nervous, distressed young lady, "do you want to be dragged before a court — dragged before a court, I say. !■ to be tortured by lawyers, and etared at by the rabble?" "Oh, no, mamma— no, indeed ! But Elee ought to be punished." "What do I care for Elee, I repeat? My boy is recovering ; let that satisfy us. Mr Harris, I beg of you not to proceed in this matter. It would be dreadful for me to have my daughter exposed to the ordeal of appearing in the case. Don't you think so, sir?" She had appealed most cunningly to John Harris. It flatttered him that she should consult him, and he waa anxious to please her. Then, this throwing the matter of justice in the scales against a young lady's modest reluctance to going into court to testify against the prisoner, made ib doubly hard for him to decide in favour of the actual right. He turned in his hesitation to Miss Jardine, who answered his silent question : " Let him go, if mamma wishes it so 1 much." The dootor had withdrawn from the discussion, and was looking about for his hat. He was displeased with this woman, who waajdoing like all the rest of her sex, ho remarked to himself sarcastically, indulging her own whim to the detriment of the general interest. " A woman is incapable of reasoning," he said, in an aside to Romeyn, as he buttoned up his overcoat. *'To save herself some personal inconvenience, she will turn a rattlesnake loose upon the community.") '•True," responded Romeyn, who was himself out of patience with her. During this debate Elee half-closed his eyes, which he kept on Mrs Jardine, who never once "met his look. " Well ?" interrogated Romeyn, also appealing to Bella. She looked* at her mother before answering timidly, "Let him go." "Go, then, you yellow rascal. And if we ever again catch you in San Francisco I will turn you over to the police quicker than lightning.'' He untied the ,rope and liberated the man aa he thus .adjured him." *'Go, you long .tailed son.of Lo," sung out , the doctojr, half angry, .and feeling,*however, that the rcsponaibilty of the affair was not his; "gototrl^evadaj, and never, come back again. Skedaddle '!" , « .- ',; Ejee arose from the chair to which he had been- bound, t< mUrmuring in low, .rapid tonoa which they could not half understand, something about * belly t much grateful, -rle' cut stick— go build railroad, no see Flisco

no more/ With hia frand rjereaaed on hiafojreKe&d and his heartihe beiitto the ground^ forutne , atwys >h% t g^v v «, his; jnißtresß.a.awift, | look. J which Romeyn> intercepted ; 'but he ha'd/%ertr (f pret»rid6d ?< tib'tead'tKis Subtle cbffljk fja v c£:aria ; m;aia ; tpywm? stand' this looki •, ...