The White Rose of the Huron

Preface

. In Avriting a few words of preface to the following pages, my only object is to men tion that the principal thread in the story they relate is no fiction, but a tale of real — though far from every-day — life, most of the circumstances of which were rendered fainfliar to me by acquaintance Avith some of the persons concerned; though it was far away from those Transatlantic scenes where the first were gathered that I found the connecting links of the severed chain, by being brought by a strange accident in contact, when in this country, with other characters of my story. VOL. I. IS the WHITE ROSE OF THE HURON. VOL. I

Book I

T HE VOW. And now 'tis done ! aud on her ear hath smote An oath too dread for mortal hand to trace — Al Sigil's trembled as the words he wrote, And turned away with tears his darken'd face ; AVhile angels' wings were folded o'er their eyes — They could not look that moment upon earth — And demons ceased their vainly wailing cries, To join in tumults of discordant mirth. 15 THE WHITE ROSE OF THE HURON.

Chapter I

His soul might be below — above — All other souls — or Hate, or Love, Ambition, or Despair, might guide That haughty spirit in its pride — Yet truly might the gazer say, 'Twere strange if fear should mark his way, And if it chanced his mood were wrath, But few would wish to cross his path. The first gleam of sunshine had just touched the surface of the Clyde, and begun to smile on divers of the numerous dwellings dotting its beautiful banks, when a youth THE AVHITE ROSE quitted one of the smallest and most unpre tending of all those Avhose appearance war ranted the supposition of their being tenanted by persons who could afford to surround themselves with some of the superfluities, if not luxuries, of this world. It Avas a cottage Avith little claim to either beauty or elegance, excepting such as might be thought possessed by the old yew, whose branches drooped over a portion of the roof, and the narrow lawn which, relieved by a few trees and many shrubs, extended nearly to the bank.

A few feet within this extremity of the lawn, and facing the river, was a rustic seat, behind which Avere two or three of the most luxuriant trees, Avith some of their smaller brethren, shielding it wholly from the observation of any person in the house, and trimmed so as to form over it a species of demi-arbour. When the youth had left the cottage, he paced to and fro before it, for perhaps twenty minutes, with a firm but rapid step. There OE THE HURON. was none near to Avatch him, but had there been, strange and violent passions might have been seen written on his features. He paused, at length, on hearing the door open, and, after drawing his hand across his brow, and biting his lip for an instant, during which many wild emotions seemed subdued to thraldom, if not repose, he had assumed a composed and even cheerful air, before turning to greet a girl yet younger than himself, as she came forward to join him.

" Thanks, dear Margaret, for thus obeying my summons!" he said: " I feared my unexpected tap at your door would startle you ; but it is so many years since we have been longer than an hour or so together, that I could not resist seizing the first opportunity to procure a few minutes of the free, uninter rupted discourse we used to have of old, when, in our childish blindness and ignorance, we neglected to take the advantage we should have done of that freedom." THE WHITE ROSE The latter words seemed spoken rather to himself, than to his companion, and after a moment he added — " But come down to that garden-seat — we can talk at our leisure there, and Avithout any risk of our voices disturbing good Miss Graham's slumbers." There was a half sneer on the youth's lip as he concluded; but, as he Avalked on while speaking, it was unseen by Margaret, and she followed him Avithout seeming to suspect the existence of any ironical meaning.

In a few minutes they sat together beneath the embowering branches, engaged at first in almost frivolous conversation, which Avas, how ever, conducted with some degree of embar rassment and negligence, as though the hearts of the speakers had no concern in their words, and each was conscious of there being one subject at least on which the thoughts of both might well be disposed to dwell. There was also added on the girl's part an appearance of timidity and almost awkwardness, which was OF THE HURON. 9 strange, wheu considered in connexion with their evidently near relationship, and the slight difference between their ages. Margaret was scarcely sixteen and her com panion seventeen, and there was a strong resemblance between them, not only in air. features, and complexion, but also in their pe liarly soft aud musical voices.

Both were handsome, but very dark, with hair and eyes of the deepest black, and the strongly marked brows and aquiline nose gave a latent expres sion o f haughtiness to the countenance of each. A strange gleam shot from the eyes of the elder, as, abandoning the effort to con tinue his trifling and uninteresting remarks. he left his sisters side, and flung himself on the grass at her feet in such a position that. though still unseen from the windows or entrance, he could observe if any person left the house. " What do you remember of our mother and early days, Margaret . " he asked, abruptly. TIIE AVHITE ROSE The girl started and looked round timidly, Avith a glance like a frightened fawn's. "Do not fear," said her brother; "none can hear us. I know the topics are forbid den," he added, bitterly.

"1 have not forgotten Miss Graham's anger, when once, long ago, we were detected in the commission of such a crime ; but no one can now steal on us unobserved, to discover our disobedience." " Nay, William," said the girl, earnestly, " I think, by your manner, that in your own mind you wrong our aunt deeply. I remember her displeasure on that occasion, but it was almost the only time I ever saw her really angry ; nor do I think that even then her meaning toward us was unkind. We cannot tell, but perhaps she acted more with a view to our advantage, than her own pleasure. I am sometimes inclined to believe such her motive, for she usually treats me with such kindness, that I can scarcely think it is other wise." OE THE HURON. "Our advantage or her pleasure ; perhaps her own advantage might be the nearest guess," muttered William.

" I am, however, glad for vour sake that she has been so kind in manner, whatever she may be in heart," he continued more audibly ; " though it seems that in future you are as little likely to profit by her delightful qualities as I am. But we'll pass that by for the moment, or I shall be little fit to talk of what I wish. I asked you a question but now, Margaret, and you did not answer me. Do your thoughts never turn that way ?" "Often, often," replied the girl, leaning her brow on her hand. " Though not allowed to speak of my childhood, there has been too little to interest my mind, for me not to muse on it continually. I think I can remember my mother — for my mother I am certain she Avas, though I was forbidden to call her so." " She was a tall, dark lady, was she not?" interrupted William.

"I can remem- THE AVHITE ROSE ber seeing, as in a dream, one like that whom I believed to be my mother ; but when I en deavour to force my memory to recall those former scenes, everything appears misty and indistinct." "So does all seem to me like some wild, fanciful dream," said his sister; "and. as I often sit alone for hours thinking and pon dering on the past, my mind becomes confu sed ; strange ideas — many of wliich I know to be untrue — rush into it, and I feel unable to distinguish what is real and what imaginary." " Such is the effect of the policy which has kept us these seven years Avithout either hear ing the other's voice when no listeners Avere by. Had we been permitted to speak of the past and to compare our recollections, the memory of each had been aided by the other's, and the truth would not have been quite for gotten. — But what do you remember, Mar garet ?" he asked, in a calmer tone.

" x\s you have said, a tall, dark lady — I thought, and still am sure, she was our mother, though every one called, aud I too was obliged to call her, bv another name, but that I have now forgotten." " HaA-e you no recollection whatever of it?" demanded the youth, with a disappointed air. " Not the slightest ; though often during the last year or two I have tried to recall it : I think I should know it if I heard it, but not otherwise." " Ay ; it was that you were about to tell me on the day that we were discovered talking of our earliest years ; had we been interrupted one minute later, it might have been different; I should then haA'e learnt and have never for gotten it. For Miss Graham's anger at that time first aroused in my mind a A'ague sus picion that the knowledge she Avished to wrap in such mystery might be of consequence to us; and, as years passed on, its remembrance awoke in my breast a desire to fathom the THE WHITE ROSE secret.

But this name — whatever it was — did you call our mother by it always?" " Always, when any one was present ; but I can recollect clearly, one day, when we were alone, flinging myself into her arms, and saying : ' They will not let me call you so, but you are my own dear mamma, for all that !' The words recur to my mind as distinctly as if I had spoken them but yester day." "And Avhat said our mother?" asked Wil liam, eagerly. " She said, ' My own dear, dear child!' and she kissed me and wept. Aud then I was called away, and Avas again among a number of girls older than myself." " That was our mother, Margaret : doubt it not, whatever they may say. And now, tell me all your memory presents to you, and do not dally, for we cannot have long to speak, and may be interrupted sooner than we expect."

"I remember but little," said the girl; "it must have been a large boarding-school at which Ave were, and there was a tall, stern looking woman who was its mistress, and several other grown-up women, and a great number of children; and then I can remem ber two or three times, and at long intervals, going in a carriage to a house where I met you, and where there Avere no other children • a very old lady was there who used to kiss me and give me fruit and cakes, but whom I did not like." " I remember the self-same old woman — I could not bear her ; she used to give me sweetmeats and toys, and pat my head, while I longed to knock off her spectacles. But can you recollect nothing further ? — not how what you have been telling me came to an end ?" The girl pressed her hand on her brow, and remained silent for some minutes, then an swered slowly — THE AVHITE ROSE "I think I can — yes, something about it returns gradually to my mind ; I remember, one day, at the school, seeing mamma in great distress, and weeping bitterly, and a letter lay before her with black edges and seal : it struck me, for I had never before seen one like it: then, after that, she had a black dress, and I had a black frock, and she appeared always sad, and often in tears, and when I asked the cause of. all, I was told it Avas because of the letter.

I do not know what more they said, but I had a strange fancy that yon were dead, and on seeing you next was very much astonished." "And what more?" said her brother im patiently; "think a little, and try if you cannot remember more." Margaret reflected aAvhile " As I speak, it seems to become clearer," she said ; "yet I can recall little more. The old lady came to the school, and she was also in mourning, and she talked a great deal to mamma, and they both wept ; and then I went away Avith the old lady, and never saw mamma again. The next thing I remember is being with you at a small house beside the sea, and all, for long after that, seems even more a blank than it was before." The youth remained some time silent, then spoke, more as though to himself than to his sister. " I was at school, and it was only during the vacations that I saw our mother, for I ahvays thought of her as such, though they made me call her Therese : how often in my dreams do I still seem to see her smile, and hear her voice, which was so much sweeter than that of others !

We were not long in that house by the sea, Margaret," he con tinued, after a pause, and as awakening from a reverie ; " and, before we left it, they told us she Avas dead : but it scarcely seemed true to me then, and I do not noAV believe it." "Why not?" asked Margaret, in surprise. THE WHITE ROSE " Did you ever hear of children not being taken to their mother's grave, nor even told where it was? No, no, Margaret; the strict silence preserved, the refusal to tell us any thing, convince me that there is great villany, by which we are the sufferers. Are you sure," added William, suddenly, " are you sure you always bore your present name?" Margaret started, as though the subject were one she had never thought of until then. She pressed her hands on her temples in silence, and then, perhaps from the inability we often feel to retain a certainty of that concerning which a doubt has been suggested, she answered hesitatingly — " I never thought of it before ; but now it seems as though I did once bear another."

" I know / did !" exclaimed her brother : " but what other I cannot tell ; my memory refuses to recall it ; though I have spent many, many sleepless nights in the attempt, and the sound of the name seems haunting me continually, always nigh, but never within my reach. Often, often, when I am falling asleep, a soft voice calls me by that name : I start — it dies away — and I cannot remember it ! And often, often, do I wake suddenly with words of a strange language on my lips — words Avhose meaning I know not, and which I cannot speak when awake, though frequently, when alone, Avords, as of a tongue I cannot understand, and yet which seem familiar, are floating past me on the breeze. But to what I can remember — I have a shadowy recollection of a fair man, who used to caress me, of a ship, and of other scenes, very unlike those which are round us now — of bright Avaters, forests, and dark forms."

" That is not strange," said Margaret, mournfully, " since Ave evidently belong to some of those races which are everyAvhere despised." " Not to the despised, Margaret ; that I cannot fear : yet I know, I feel, we are not of entirely European descent. What is our nation is still left me to discover." "Perhaps it Avere better not: it is better we should remain in ignorance than learn our affinity to — to what I fear is likely, the de graded negro !" " No, no," interrupted William, Avith much impetuosity ; " I know it is such they would have us believe ourselves, but we are not ; I would not think so, were that woman to de clare it with her dying breath. Look at me !" continued the youth, his cheeks glowing deep crimson with the flush that rose to his very temples, while his eyes flashed wildly with excitement.

" Look at me, and in me you behold yourself! Do you see any resemblance to a degraded race in me? No, no, Margaret; or wherefore should I feel the contempt, the aversion, Avhich rise in my soul, if brought in contact with any who bear the trace of the thick lip or woolly hair ? All seem to bear with them more easily than I can. I shrink from them with a feeling, an impulse, I cannot control, and it AAxmld not be so if they were anything to me. Nature would teach us not to shun those whose blood is in our veins." Margaret could not depend on her brother's reasoning, but she wished he might be right, and continued silent. After a time he resumed — " We must have come from the East, and thither I shall return." "You, William! — how can you?" " How can I ? Do you think I will pass my life in the station marked out for me?

Do you think I Avould stoop to it for one single hour ? No, Margaret ; I feel I am wronged, and will not submit. Had I been © ? desio-ned for a merchant, it had been different, unfitted to my fiery spirit as that life would have been ; but I Avas not born to pass my days in selling silks and ribbons, and to that fate I will not bow. Bitter enough is it to think that I cannot snatch you from the lot which awaits you; but, though I may and shall struggle Avith the world, you, as a girl, would be unable, and I, alas ! have no home, no protection, to offer you — at least for the present. But hereafter it will, I hope, be very different, and that I shall soon be able to free you from a drudgery which never ought to be yours. But on this subject I had a question to ask — Avhat thought you when Miss Graham informed us so abruptly last evening of the lot designed for each ?"

" I know not, William — I Avas certainly surprised; not exactly at what concerned my self — far less grieved at that part of my aunt's intelligence. For, while impressing on me the necessity of attending to my education, she has often led me to believe I should have to depend on it for support, and I know that such has been the fate of many who had a right to form far higher expectations than myself. I am therefore content, and glad that to me so fair a prospect is opened. But you — I confess I had formed higher hopes for you, and did not think you would be satisfied, though you said nothing when our aunt spoke of it last night." " No ; I heard her in silence, not choosing to tell her my determination until I had seen you alone; but I vowed mentally never to yield the slightest obedience. There is yet another thing — you call her ' our aunt :' I could feel it in my heart to laugh to hear you utter the Avords."

" And why should you, William ?" asked his sister, in astonishment. " Why should I not call her what she is?" " What she is not," he retorted instantly : " she has no right to the name, either from us or others. You know that, in the years which I have spent, even during the times of vaca tion, apart from you, I have been at more than one school, and, though in England till then, the last twelve months were passed in Scotland. " The parents of one of my schoolfellows lived near, and know all about the early life of that same worthy person who is now asleep in the cottage ; and they say that Euphemia Graham never had either brother or sister. When our supposed great uncle, the Reverend Archibald, died, she, being well enough educated, went into some family as a governess, but being, as now, in A7ery bad health, she was soon obliged to give up her situation, and was in great poverty, until about ten years ago, up to which time nothing Avas heard of any relatives ; and then she went to England, whence, after a few weeks, she returned with us to live in this cottage, and evidently with her circumstances wonderfully improved."

" That is a strange account, if it be true," remarked the girl thoughtfully. " And it is true, Margaret ; I do not doubt one word of it. And, feeling convinced that there is some dark scheme in existence, of which we are already victims, to a great and meant to be to a far greater extent, I shall not, unless their tenour be altered marvel lously, obey the dictates of our invisible tyrants, declared to us by their mercenary and hypocritical agent." "What, then, do you intend doing?" was the anxious question of Margaret. " Tell her plainly that I cannot follow the course she has pointed out. There will, I feel assured, be no more agreeable alternative offered, if any ; so I shall endeavour to ex tract all the information I can, and seek afterwards to make my own way in the world." " How can you, William ? — you are poor and friendless."

" Others as poor and friendless have suc ceeded, and wherefore should not I? You smile, but there is a spirit whispering in my heart, that I have no cause for either fear or doubt." VOL. I. Margaret did smile, but sadly ; for though her brother's intellect Avas far more matured than her own, indeed, in many respects, greatly beyond his years, and he already felt the fiery passions of manhood mingling with the keen emotions of the boy, she Avas much better acquainted than he Avas with the value and necessity of money. Such lore, her home education, and the constant companionship of the somewhat narrow-minded Miss Graham, had not failed to impart ; and as, from the same causes, joined to long subjection to one of feeble intellect though kind disposition, Margaret's heart Avas still timid, she sought earnestly to dissuade her brother from the thought of braving alone and unaided the rocks and tempests of the world.

" I am not unaided," was the reply ; " I have my own energies and resolves, and I have more. Margaret !" and he started to his feet, and stood before her with, it seemed, increased stature, as he continued, almost fiercely, " I feel — do you not — that we are not in the position which, by right, is ours — that we are deeply injured — and that she Avho loved us best has shared — perhaps still shares — our wrongs? And can I remain passive, with such feelings torturing my heart? — with the thought that our place is occupied by others, while we are cast by to languish in obscurity? I feel the truth, though I cannot see it : if we Avere not feared, there had not been this mystery ; and well may they who have thus wronged us fear ! The burning © © spirit of revenge has awoke in my heart, and bitterly will I repay the injuries Ave have suffered !"

" ' Vengeance is mine, saith the Lord, and I will repay,'" interrupted Margaret, on whom her protectress bad bestowed much pious in struction, and who was greatly shocked at her brother's words. " And I will be his instrument," resumed William, with even increased excitement. "Mine is a holy object; it is on the wicked I seek to avenge the wrongs of the innocent, and ample shall be my revenge. That spirit, that desire, is burning in my heart and in my brain, and I feel that it will sustain me — that I shall succeed — and that they by whom we suffer will regret our injuries far more bit terly than ourselves. Ay, fully shall they atone ! I have no guide, no clue, but I shall conquer every obstacle, and my enemies shall be trampled in the dust. The Avronged may never have their wrongs redressed," he continued, more calmly but Avith a sternness which chilled his listener's heart ; " but a heavy retribution shall fall on the heads of those, by Avhom, and for whom, our mother's life was darkened, and our own meant to pass beneath the shadow of the world's coldness and contempt.

The truth may be hidden by every means human or fiendish ingenuity can devise, but I shall discover it, and, come what may, I shall have my revenge — it will be sweet to my heart, and I swear by all " " William — William !" interrupted the girl, throwing herself at the feet of her brother, whose concentrated passion appeared to add many years to his age. " Swear not, William ! — say not such things again ! — you do not know on whom such revenge would bring misery — it might fall on a father — a brother — a sister!" " I care not, girl," he replied, looking down on her with an expression of countenance strangely cold and immoveable, considering the violence of his feelings at the moment. " I shall think of my mother, and, if others forget that I am of their race, I shall not remember it." His unwonted sternness checked Margaret's remonstrances, for she feared to irritate against herself one whom, of late years, she had knoAvn so little, while, in consideration of her feelings, he forbore to pursue the strain Avhich had so deeply distressed her: so for a while both were silent.

Then Margaret, timidly touching her brother's arm, repeated the inquiry, made long before, how he meant to act, should he renounce all dependence on the power which had hitherto protected them. " I do not know exactly," he replied ; " I have not resolved on any plan. But feel no alarm on my account ; I shall soon think of one which will be sure to answer. In the mean time, you had better return to the house, while I take a stroll, and walk myself into a little calmer temper before breakfast, as I shall then have something to do which will require all my coolness." " What do you intend ?" demanded Mar garet anxiously. " To see how much of this dark secret I can wring from Miss Graham's fears." " Oh, be gentle with her, William! — do not startle her by violence and passion — she is feeble and sickly, and I tremble to think what Avould be the effects of any sudden alarm : besides, she is generally good-natured and kind, and Avould, I am certain, willingly tell us all she could."

" I shall see how far her kindness and good nature will extend," said William scornfully ; " but I suspect you will find we are likely to owe far less to them than to her fears. As to her delicate health," he continued, with a bitter laugh, " I dare say it is chiefly affecta tion, and at all events it shall not deter me; those who meddle in such plots should have nerves strong enough to hear them spoken of, and depend upon it she is fully provided. My only fear is lest I should not succeed in frightening her sufficiently. But go back to the hou-e, or you may otherwise be missed; and remember, not a Avord of this conversation, for I shall, if possible, endeavour not to em broil you." Margaret would have spoken, but he waved his hand towards the cottage with an air of command. The words died on her lips, and she obeyed in silence, for she was accustomed to yield unquestioning obedience to one far less arbitrary and imperious.

She retired slowly, with a heavy heart and anxious mind. Her brother Avatched until the door was closed, and then, springing over a part of the wall not Avithin view of any of the Avindows, Avalked rapidly along the bank.

Chapter II

And the Spirit laughed! for he felt his power, And knew the thoughts of that lonely hour : Around future years he saw their gloom Over sunshine cast, and read the doom Of that haughty heart, in its wild career Of recklessness and pride. It was dreadful, that words breathing so fiercely of the unholy spirit of revenge should be heard from the lips of one so young ; and any who saw him would have shuddered, could they have known what fearful passions Avere then raging in his heart. Much had he to answer for, few as were his years — since the wish and the intent are only less guilty than the act ; and wild, indeed, were his thoughts, in that excited frame of mind. But yet more had they to answer for, who, by surrounding him Avith falsehood and mystery, had irritated a haughty spirit to the fiercest animosity against the authors of his real, or fancied wrongs; and, by exciting and strength ening, rendered predominant the worst points of a disposition, which was still marked by many noble and generous qualities, and con tained the germs of virtues which, if properly fostered, might have made the good features of his character as conspicuous as, there was now but too much reason to fear, the evil might become.