(Miss Drew and the Three Bachelors.) A tale, etc

Front matter

MISS DREW AND THE THREE BACHELORS. S I M Jt lale BY SAMUEL LLOYD. WRITTEN JUNE, 1890, BETWEEN NEW YORK AND LIVERPOOL, ON BOARD THE ROYAL MAIL STEAMSHIP MAJESTIC," -OF THE WHITE STAR LINE. (Revised and amplified December, 1890.) NEW YORK : B E I. F O R I) CO M P ANY. CHICAGO : I. E L F O R D CLARK CO LONDON, ENGLAND P K I X , MARSHALL, HAMILTON, KENT AND CO I. I M I T F. D. BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND: CORNISH BROTHERS. BIRMINGHAM : WHITE AND PIKE, MOOR STREET PRINTING WORKS. CONTENTS. The Tale, - i to 136 (In which the McKinley Tariff and a proposed Bachelor Bill are incidentally discussed). Notes - - - - 137 to 151 Correspondence with Mr. Gladstone 141 to 148 N.B. — This Correspondence may be read first as an introduction to the Tale.

Chapter I. Romeo

Money, a rich young bachelor, was about to sit down to lunch at his house in New York, when his old schoolfellow William Brane called. After lunch, Money asked him to stay a little, as he wished to talk over a new idea. It was that the McKinley Tariff Bill ought to be followed by another for the benefit of bachelors. " Is it to put some money into our pockets ? " asked Brane. " If so, I shall be glad, for my continued studies here cost so much that I feel just now as poor as Job, and the McKinley Bill will not help matters at home, seeing that none of our family are manufacturers. It is certain to make living dearer than ever. Pray what is your idea ? " " Why, to have a Bachelor Tariff Bill. American manufacturers have protection, so why should not American bachelors enjoy a like privilege ?

" " But against what ? You had better apply for protection for spinsters likewise ! " B "No; for bachelors only. You have not suffered as I have, or you would understand the reason. Make yourself comfortable in this armchair, and I will tell you. The idea has only just struck me, so that I have not had time to think it out properly ; but no doubt you can assist me. Two heads are better than one." " Yes ; if I can, I will. Go on." " Well, as manufacturers are protected up to the hilt, they are now monopolists and wealthy, and begin to be determined to have everything their own way, and to crush every idea that does not coincide with theirs. Why should all this be done for them, and nothing for me, you, and other bachelors ? I only wish the idea had struck me sooner ; I could then have seen them before the Bill was framed, to get clauses put into it to meet our case."

" But would they have listened to you ? I am afraid you will think me very stupid, but I cannot make out what you are driving at. What is our bachelor grievance ? " " Blissful ignorance ! If you had not interrupted me I was going to say that as I did not think of it in time, and the necessary clauses are not in McKinley's Bill, a Bachelor Bill will be necessary ; and we must lobby, like the manufacturers, until we obtain it." " But why ? And then you say you have personally suffered ! How have you ? " " How have I ? That is an awkward question to put to a bachelor. I know we must give a string of cases to give groundwork for the new legislation, and there, on the very threshold, is the difficulty. Plenty of others have suffered like me, but we, none of us, like to come forward to confess it."

" But how have you suffered ? " That is a very private affair. If I tell you you must treat it as most strictly confidential ; unless, at some future time, I give you leave to mention it for the good of the cause." " Most certainly." "Very well, I must first tell you a little more about our family than you at present know. Why ' Money ' should be our family name is enveloped in obscurity, possibly as much so as your name, ' Brane,' is ; only, if I may take leave to say so, I should think that yours originated from the head of your family having had more than usual mental power, and that Brane is a corruption of Brain ; accordingly an hereditary love of learn ing is apparent in you, while with me a lower and more grovelling, mercenary spirit prevails ; heredi tary also, no doubt, to some extent ; and if, by the way, I may tell you what is passing in my mind, it is this, that the only atom of sense I possess beyond taking care of money is the fondness I have for the society of persons superior to myself."

" That is very complimentary, if you mean to include me," said Brane ; " I feel quite elated." " Well, of course I do not exclude you, nor our friend Evelyn. By the by, has he completed his studies ? " " No," replied Brane ; " but he has taken his degree." " This," said Money, " is a digression ; I was going to tell you how I had suffered. Well, you can picture me, a little past twenty-one, with scarcely an idea worth mentioning, beyond that of taking care of a large property which a rich uncle had left me, and with no thought of matrimony. You can further picture me still living at home with my father — those were my sunny days — when it happened that the daughter of my uncle's sister-in-law paid us a visit. That was an era in my life. It a little unsettled me, I assure you. Whether it was that because my father's name was Money he became full fond of it in his later years I do not know, but its acquisition was his one absorbing subject — morning, noon, and night — and self-denial in the pursuit of money became in him habitual, and I copied him.

I was just following on in the same groove, thinking pretty much of number one, and number one alone, when she came across my path. I have told you that I had a weakness for liking people superior to myself, so perhaps it was on this account I could not help but like her ; and I soon perceived that she was one in ten thousand. I need hardly say she was most comely, and so gentle, and gifted, and with naturally engaging manners. It is no use saying more, you can imagine the rest ; a perfect woman she was, and to me it was all the more pleasant to think we were slightly connected by family tie. Well, just as I was having a tete-a tete, a most enjoyable conversation with her, all to myself, a lady friend must needs come and ask me to leave her for a moment, as she had some thing to whisper to me.

It was to say that she feared I might get smitten, so she thought it best to tell me that our friend had recently become engaged. Of course I had to make the best of it, but when I asked who the favoured individual was, I found it was an Englishman ! She was to be taken to London." " It was tantalizing, certainly," said Brane. "Tantalizing! tantalizing! I do not call that a proper word for it. How can we call our country our own, if it is to be invaded, and the fairest and best of America's daughters are to be taken away from us ? It is a national loss." " But can you get the all-powerful manufacturers to help you ? " " Well, I don't know ; but they ought to. It affects their sons. All their sons are first bachelors, and while bachelors learn to be manufacturers, so I shall have, or ought to have, all the weight of their influence on my side for the sake of their sons."

"But," said Brane, "what you have related is past. Cannot you say, from your own knowledge, that we are in danger of losing others like the one you name ? " " Well," said Money, " it is very private, but it is that which works me up. I am afraid I shall lose another, but I will tell you about it at a future time. Think it over. I know it is very difficult, difficult to make even you understand all the bearings of it; but if you understood it fully, you would come to see that we have much greater claims to protection than the manufacturers have to their McKinley Tariff." They soon met again, when Money at once asked whether he had thought it over. "Yes," he replied, "and my sympathies are entirely with you. Your aim is to preserve in our own country, for our national welfare, the most excellent of the gentler sex ; whereas the mercenary Tariff Bill is to exclude and keep away from us articles from other climes that would be beneficial to us.

The tariff in past times was requisite for purposes of revenue, and a moderate one was also necessary to protect our infant manufacturing industries ; but now, with our colossal manufacturing monopolies, that could thrive without reducing wages, with a greatly reduced tariff, it is monstrous to raise a prohibitory one so inimical to our best interests. It is wonderful how patient and long suffering we are when we know it has been enacted for selfish ends ; but you had better talk it over with Evelyn. You know my preference is for theology, not politics ; but as he aspires to be a Professor, it is just the question for him to look into and advise you upon. Good-bye. We'll talk it over another time, for I am on my way to call on the Drews."

Chapter II

We left Mr. Brane on his way to the Drews. Who are they ? The family consists of Mr. Drew and Miss Eva Drew, his niece ; and Miss Drew, his sister, nominally lives with them, but is often visiting elsewhere. Miss Eva Drew is the young lady to whom Money has referred as his second love, but Brane had no idea that he referred to her. Curiosity on such topics being perfectly legitimate, I am glad to be able to describe her. To say that her appearance was prepossessing would be deemed inadequate, especially by those good judges who regarded her as charming and indeed captivating. She was perhaps all the more prepossessing because so little aware of it, while her natural gifts were such that some ladies were half inclined to be jealous, and to wish the same had been bestowed upon them. Her voice was so melodious when exerted in song, that it was a perfect treat to hear the soft music that filled the air.

Her friends, of course, noticed this, and said to Mr. Drew, her uncle and guardian — for she was an orphan yet in her teens — that such talents ought to be cultivated and made the most of. He thought so, too ; but when he talked to her of possible fame and fortune, she became so averse from anything of the kind, and was naturally so shy and retiring, that it was useless to pursue the subject further, for a time at any rate. When the question was again broached, she said to him : "Why may I not remain like a little nautilus in its shell ? Pray do not turn me out, and compel me to obtain a living by my voice." " Obtain a living ! " said he, as isa little surprised ; "obtain a living ! my dear Eva, it would be your fortune. A fortune lies at your feet ; you have but to stoop and pick it up. Your voice has still further strengthened and improved since we first talked about it.

You may be a second Jenny Lind ! Who knows ! Of course, if you mean to favour the suit of Mr. Money, it is a different matter. He has plenty of means, and if you should become Mrs. Money, you would have all that heart could wish, as far as wealth is concerned." " But I never intend to be Mrs. Money," she hastily replied. " I beg you not to be prejudiced against him," continued Mr. Drew. " It is too bad of them to say that he has no brains. His only fault is that he is so very erratic, one never knows what he will do next ; but you would, no doubt, be able to guide his destiny aright, make a man of him — a noble mission. I will not say another word to you about your musical gifts, if you will prosper his suit." "But I never shall," 'said Eva. " It is true," he continued, " there is that young Englishman, the Honourable Bovril.

I forget his Christian name." "Beef tea, I should think," said she. " How facetious you are. Well, as you know nothing has come of his visit, and he leaves for England to-day ; but then there is Mr. Brane, whose conversational powers you so much like, he has brains but no means. It is curious you should have two admirers — one Money without any brain, and the other Brane without any money." He had scarcely said this when a caller was announced, a Mr. Evelyn, who for some time had been an occasional visitor at their house. He had been a student who had taken a degree, and hoped soon to become a Professor. Mr. Drew told his niece that this Mr. Evelyn seemed rather inclined to sacrifice himself for the good of others, and that if he ever attained celebrity as a Professor, it would be only by very slow degrees.

She, however, thought him agreeable, and rather liked him. Mr. Drew, soon after the arrival of Mr. Evelyn, happened to be called from the room to attend to some important business, and so Mr. Evelyn had the pleasure of a long tete-a-tete with his niece. He rose once or twice thinking it was time to leave, but she most pleasantly, as it seemed to him, said that perhaps he had better stay till her uncle returned. An hour slipped away, and it seemed to him that it was gone as in a moment. They were looking at a beautiful copy of Long fellow's Hyperion, and as she was saying that if ever she went to Europe she should like to visit Heidelberg, Mr. Drew came back. Evelyn was asked to stay tea, and before leaving, Eva, at Mr. Drew's request, gave them one of her sweetest songs. As Evelyn listened he remembered Pope's lines, Music resembles poetry ; in each Are nameless graces which no methods teach,' and said to himself — " And she alone such glorious heights can reach.

He had previously felt a penchant for Miss Drew, and they had many conversations together ; but this time, after he left, a gentle yet attractive force seemed to enchain his thoughts in an imperceptible but nevertheless almost irresistible way. " This is extraordinary," said he ; " do my thoughts take me back to her ? I who am wedded to Science for years to come ! am I so weak as to be unable to control my thoughts ? Perfect angel ! did I say she was ? No doubt she is, and there may be some excuse for my thoughts reverting to her ; but I will accept of none. No. I will not be so foolish as to fall in love at my young age, just as I have vowed devotion to Science. It is impossible ! I cannot be so weak ! Any fool can fall in love. Let me first make useful discoveries for the good of mankind, and acquire an honourable independence."

This occurred before the day on which Money made Brane his confidant. They were only slightly acquainted with Mr. Evelyn, when, soon after what has just been related took place, they called upon him to suggest that they should take an aerial voyage together. It came about as follows. Mr. Money's attentions to Miss Drew had continued for some time, and at last, just after the young Englishman alluded to had been spending a few days with them, he was on the point of making her an offer ; but Mr. Drew, his friend in the matter, persuaded him to defer it. It would be premature. His suit, in fact, did not prosper ; he had not made at all a favourable impression ; and all he did seemed to make success, if anything, less likely ; so that Mr. Drew's advice to defer it was no doubt the best that could be given him.

Money thought to himself, "Well, this must be true love, for it does not run smooth." But what was he to do ? It was doubtless the Englishman's visit that made her so contrary ! Being impulsive, he thought he must do something. He felt tired of New York, and wanted a change ; moreover he knew that Mr. Evelyn, as well as Mr. Brane, was on visiting terms with the Drews, and he asked himself: " Why does not my suit prosper ? There must be something apart from the English visitor, for Mr. Drew had intimated that he did not think his coming had made any difference." What was he to think? when it occurred to him that possibly Evelyn might be a rival. As for Brane, he did not imagine that he could be one, as he was sure he had no money, and therefore matrimony could not be in his thoughts. It occurred to him that it would be a good plan to get Brane and Evelyn to take a trip with him somewhere, where they could quietly discuss the proposed Bachelor Protective Bill ; for though the young Englishman had gone back to England, he might come again, or others in place of him.

At this juncture it happened that a balloon was offered to Money at a tempting figure. It was a new one with all the latest improvements, and he said to himself: "Happy thought! I guess it would not be half a bad idea to take a voyage in the air. To go sailing silently through space, looking down on things, would be a change, and a novelty, an altogether new experience, and then when we come down we can hold a bachelor con ference." He spoke to Mr. Brane, who he knew would be glad to avail himself of any opportunity to improve his finances, and said he would make him a handsome present if he would act as aeronaut. The terms were to be kept a secret between themselves, but it will matter not to either of them now to say that $5,000 (£1,000 sterling) was to be paid to Brane as soon as they all three came down safely from the first ascent.

Mr. Brane agreed, for he said : " If I do not come down alive, I shall not want it ; " while Money thought the condition a guarantee for safety. They decided to invite Evelyn to join them, but he said that unless the expedition were at least semi-scientific, he would not entertain the proposition, as he declined to go up into the air merely for personal pleasure or curiosity ; but if Mr. Money would give him all the scientific instruments he might require, and a tour round the world when he came down, he would go ; not thinking for a moment that his terms would be entertained. But, to his surprise, Money at once accepted them, and said they should start immediately. He then thought he had been too hasty. It forcibly struck him that a balloon ascent was quite out of his line. He wished to draw back, but Mr. Brane, who was very anxious not to miss earning his $5,000, joined Mr. Money in pressing him to accompany them, and expatiated upon the extreme liberality of Mr. Money.

Moreover he said that the trip would be not only semi-scientific, but semi-political, as Mr. Money was going to propound to them as soon as they descended his views as to a new Bill that should be passed by Congress ; so they would have plenty to talk and think about. He could not but admit that a tour round the world at Mr. Money's expense was liberal ; so he consented. Accordingly the three met again finally to talk it over, as everything was ready, and a favourable wind had set in, when one of them referred to "Andrew Carnegie's Four-in- Hand in Britain in 1883," and said that they had better take a leaf out of his book ; so they agreed to start, resolved to admire all things and every body, and to quarrel with nothing and nobody. " If any are surly, or laugh at us or our balloon, let us only be amused," said Money.

" And let poor fare, and too little of it, make us think that some time or other we may have eaten too much," said Brane. " And no dinner pass for a good joke," said Evelyn. " Cold," said Money, " we must consider in vigorating." "And the heat of the sun," said Evelyn, " however intense, we must consider beneficial and delightful." "And rain-clouds and mist shall only serve to remind us of the mysterious ways of Providence," said Brane. They were thus all agreed ; so Money armed himself with a quantity of bank notes, and then they all desired to take advantage of the favourable wind, so that Evelyn at the last moment had only time to call on Mr. Drew at his office and bid a hasty good-bye, and they were off. Mr. Drew as he went home saw the balloon vanishing in the distance, and said to his niece, as she greeted him in the hall : " What do you think has happened now ?

Why, all your three lovers have vanished ! " " What do you mean ? " said she. "Well," he replied, "it is only too true, they are no n est inventus. They have vanished ! Money, Brane, and Evelyn, have all disappeared ! " " But they will come back ?" said she. "I don't believe they will," he replied ; "they've departed in a balloon. I saw them disappear in the clouds. Ten to one they are gone for ever." Miss Drew turned rather pale. " Here is a note Evelyn left for you," he continued, and she, on receiving it, hastily withdrew. EVELYN'S LOVE

LETTER. 17 CHAPTER III.

She opens the note and reads : — " ist April, 1 8 " Dear Miss Drew, " Perhaps this is the only and the last note you so pardon me if it expresses Mr. Drew knows why it is will ever receive from me my sentiments too freely. I go away. " I pray that all may be well with you, and I ask, ' AVill you still be all you are to me if I should ever come back ? ' ' Your devoted, "John Evelyn." It was a little consolation, at any rate, to have these few lines, and she felt, as she read them over and over, that she had at least gained this written confession of his devotion— "And will you still be all you are to me ? " " I was so cold and nothing to him, and now can it be that he has gone away for ever ? No. I will pray it may not be so." When she appeared shortly before dinner that evening, Mr. Drew inquired as to the contents of the note, but she said that she did not think she should show it to him ; he was so unsympathetic.

" How could Mr. Evelyn have been persuaded to go ? " c "Ah! and how could Mr. Brane ? " he replied. " I found from Mr. Money, when I saw him for a moment before they left, that he had planned the expedition. He persuaded them to go, and, to please Evelyn, it was to be semi-scientific. They are to make discoveries up in the air I suppose! But the whole thing is in a nutshell, or rather, in a balloon ; it is exactly as I said, you never can tell what Mr. Money will do next." " Look, uncle, at the clouds now ! " "Yes, they are threatening enough," he replied. " I would not be up there with them for all that I am worth." " And yet, uncle, you wanted me to accept this madcap Mr. Money. I suppose you would have let him take me up in a balloon, and I should have died on the wedding trip." " No, dear Eva, if you had favoured his suit it would, doubtless, have changed all his life, and he would now be preparing some grand abode for you."

"Then am I the cause of it all? If they are killed, it will all be my fault, I suppose!" And she could scarcely restrain her tears as she thought of poor Mr. Evelyn. " It is too bad," she involuntarily said, and left the room. "It is too dreadful to think of for him to be killed." But after she had given vent to her feelings she felt better, and said she would not believe that she should never see him again. THE STORM. 19 A servant having been sent to announce that dinner was on the table, she returned to the dining room, evidently more composed. She found Mr. Drew kind and considerate, and it was not long before she was nearly as cheerful as the rest of the company, and laughed with them at his amusing descriptions of the adventures they would be likely to relate on their return ; so, after she had said good-night, Mr. Drew remarked to his sister, who had come to stay with them a few days, that he thought she was getting over it.

She was very tired, and soon fell asleep ; but her sweet repose was of short duration, for sounds of thunder and showers of hail against the window panes disturbed her, and she awoke alarmed, for she heard torrents of rain and saw vivid flashes of lightning, which were followed immediately by more alarming peals of thunder ; each crash more fearful than the last, and caused the window frames to rattle, and frightened her exceedingly. Her room faced the west, and when the storm had passed that way she ventured to peep out of one of the windows, and saw distant flashes. She watched the storm as it receded further and further into the distance, and she prayed God to have mercy upon poor Mr. Evelyn, who, she felt sure, must now be in the midst of it. Perhaps, thought she, the ill-fated balloon has already been struck, and they may be no more.

If so, all the clever, interesting things he had said she would recall, and forget the rest ; but there was nothing to forget, it was all beautiful, and what he said one evening especially ; there would never be his like again ; she would call the hours he spent with her "golden hours." If he never came back they should live in her memory. As the storm ceased she again fell asleep, till aroused by the ringing of the breakfast bell. She then quickly rose, and reproached herself for not waking sooner. She should be late for breakfast ; everything was against her. THE BALLOON VOYAGE. 21

Chapter IV. The Balloon Voyage

BEFORE entering the car of the balloon they agreed not to talk over the Bachelor Bill up in the air. Evelyn said it would be too ridiculous ; he would be glad to hear all they had to say when they came down. As the balloon was released from its bearings it sailed majestically into space, and as they looked down they had a wonderfully fine pano ramic view of the world they were leaving. They soon found themselves at a considerable altitude, and then realised more fully their novel position. In the higher region of the air to which they had now attained there was a moderately strong current in the westerly direction, which they desired. This was very satisfactory. They were also pleased with the ample supply of provisions in the car, as Money read out the particulars, not forgetting even strawberries and cream, enough to last two or three days; but before they had finished congratulating themselves, they were alarmed by the appearance of some ofthe clouds to which they were hastening, for the force of the air current seemed to increase; and if a storm were coming on, would it not be better to descend ?

At any rate, they were not yet in a storm, so they determined to leave well alone, and continued drifting along until, as it was getting dusk, they found such a tempest was raging beneath them that to descend through it to the earth would be perilous in the extreme ; they must, therefore, brave it out and hope for the best. The flashes of lightning, which at first were afar off, now came too near to be pleasant, and soon, more and more vivid, began to play around them, while the thunder after some of the flashes was terrific. It was a tempest upon the grandest scale, in the midst of which the balloon swayed to and fro, and they were in great jeopardy. They thought what if one of the flashes should strike and explode the balloon. They had with them an electric glow lamp, and its light cheered them in the midst of the darkness and gloom between the flashes almost like a fourth genial and steady, but silent, friend.