Mercedes. A romance

Front matter

MERCEDES fl Romance BT Sir C. F. LASCELLES WRAXALL, Bart. IN THEEE VOLUMES Vol. II. LONDON JOHN MAXWELL AND COMPANY 122 FLEET STREET MDCCCLXV [All rights reserved] LONDON : LEVEY AND CO., PRINTERS, GREAT NEW STREET, FETTLE LANE, E.C. CONTENTS OF VOL. II. CHAP. I'V.!. I. THE SQUATTER'S FAMILY . . . . 1 II. THE MURDER ...... .10 III. THE PRISONER ...... 6 ) IV. THE FRIEND OF THE FAMILY . . . 93 V. THE WIDOW'S REVENGE . . . .119 VI. LOVE V. FRIENDSHIP . . . . .143 VII. THE SCHOOLMASTER . . . . . 1G1 VIII. THE DISTRICT COURT . . . . .183 IX. THE TRIAL ...... 210 X. GENTLEMEN OF THE JURY .... 2.18 XI. A CASE OF LYNCHING ..... 2G5 XII. THE SENTENCE MERCEDES

Chapter I. The Squatter's Family

In Swarton's house, rest had long remained ab sent on the night before Arden's return. Mid night had arrived, and the old man was still sitting with his wife and daughter in the bed room, at the fireplace, and gazing at the small flame which played round a half-burnt-out log, and faintly illumined the room. "It is a bad sign that Arden remains away so long, and sends no news ; for if he had made an arrangement, and were himself detained, he would certainly havo relieved our anxiety by a letter," tho old gentleman said, as he leant his elbow on his knee, and let his forehead sink on his hand. " I still hope for the best. As he remains away so long, ho must have a prospect of gain- VOL. II. B MERCEDES. ing his point ; for nothing else can detain him, — he did not know Thome at all. God will not desert us, dear husband ; He has so often stood by omside in danger," Mrs. Swarton replied.

" He has, indeed, been gracious to us," the old man answered, as he clasped his hands and looked upwards with the deepest gratitude; "but on that account we cannot expect it always to be so. What human hfe can display such a long series of happy, undisturbed years as ours? Every thing has flourished under our hands; we have been healthy and happy, and have become prosperous : nor can it easily happen that we become poor again. It is harder, though, to be poor in old age than in youth, when we still have an active life before us." "Are we not young in our children, father? Who, in all the country, can show tliree such good sons as ours ? Are they not the pride of the whole district? — are they not universally respected, honoured, and, when necessary, feared too?" Mrs. Swarton said, as she sat up hi her arm-chair, and the flickering flame lit up the maternal pride in the heightened sparkle of her eyes.

" The boys are indeed good ; but on that account will not put up with any injustice. It will end badly if Thorne tries to eject us." " No, father, I have spoken to them : what Robert does is right for the others, and Robert will do any thing for my sake. Do not be alarmed ; and, should Heaven decide that we must leave our home, we will go once more out to the frontier, and establish a new one. We take our prosperity with us, and only ex change our land. You and old Jerry are still as strong as at the time when we came here, and now you have tliree strong men to help you, and I my good Virginia. Let us not de spond, father, but be prepared for the worst, as then it will not come unexpectedly." " You shame me, Mary," Swarton said with emotion, as he rose and opened his arms to his wife. " I had forgotten your help, and hence doubted my own strength.

Yes, we will be of good cheer." The ' old couple embraced, while Virginia threw her arms round her father's shoulders, and concealed her tears on her mother's neck. " Come, let us go to bed. A stone has fallen from my heart : I feel young again. We will sleep quietly, trusting in God, as we always MERCEDES. have done," old Swarton now said, in his pecu liar, firm voice ; and shovelled ashes over the burning logs in the chimney, as they were all three accustomed to undress in the dark. In the room on the other side of the passage that ran through the house, Bill and Charles were lying in bed, fast asleep. Robert alone was seated in front of the fire, and opposite him old Jerry, who from time to time threw wood on the ashes, to keep up the flame. Both sat in deep thought, without uttering a word.

Ro bert gazed intently at the fire, twisted a long branch in his hands, and when his brows con tracted, broke a piece off it as if it had been a twig, though it was really thick enough to be cut with an axe. Jerry, at such times, anxiously fixed his large, honest eyes on his young master, as if feeling that a part of the responsibility for what the latter was doing fell on him, as he had carried him, when a child, in his arms, and the boy had grown up in the faithful slave's hands. Jerry, in his heart, was very frightened; for he knew exactly what his young master was thinking about, and what his dark look inti mated. He understood the language of the hands, as they broke the thick wood; but he said not a word, for he also knew that Robert, when hi such a temper, allowed no opposition. " What do you think, Jerry?"

Robert at length broke the silence; "how will you like it, when we receive orders to leave every thing here which we have produced by our own labour, and begin the world all over again elsewhere, so that a strange gentleman may settle here, and make himself at home? — will you bo pleased to see this ?" " Master Robert, let it happen according to God's will. Jerry is still strong, and can do a deal of work ; and if Robert, Bill, and Charles will help him, as he has helped them, we shall do, in the same time, thrice as much work as was needed at that day in making this settle ment. God will never let injustice prosper," the negro answered. " Nor shall it," Robert said, as he again broke off a bit of wood, and threw it on the fire. " We must leave that to our Master above, who punishes wrong and rewards the right.

Who was it that lately hurled the tree on Mr. Jerson's house and killed him, after he had half MERCEDES. murdered the poor slave-girl? Had the sons of Mrs. Blanchard tried to punish Jerson, they would have exposed themselves to the law : things are no longer here as they were when we came to these parts, when every man was obliged to procure justice for himself." " I really fancy, Jerry, you wish to teach me how to act!" Robert replied violently, and looked savagely at the old slave. " 0 master ! I could not do it. I am only saying what our Lord has ordered us to do, and what to leave undone," the old man said humbly. " I know it myself. But it is not said in the Bible that you are to allow yourself to be stung by a viper, or torn by a wild-beast, without defending yourself; and you have taught me to defend my self, Jerry; with your rifle I shot my first squirrel."

" 0 Master Robert, listen to old Jerry ; think of your worthy father, your kind mother," the old servant implored, as he threw himself before his young master, and embraced his knees; "leave the punishment of this viUain to Him above us, who has so graciously protected us all hitherto. Do not rob your family of their peace for the sake of a thing which we can recover in a few years. Jerry will work for two!" As he said this, the old slave looked up implor ingly at Robert ; the tears rolled down his wrinkled black cheeks ; he seized the young man's hand, and pressed his puffing lips upon it as he said, " Master Robert!" " Come, come, honest Jerry; get up — I will do what you tell me: I havo promised mother, too, not to lay hand on the villain ; my rage with the hound oft carries me away, and then I fancy his heart a squirrel whose head I must shoot off.

But be easy, Jerry — I will keep away from him; for if I were to meet him, why then — " " Then you must turn 3-our back on him, and work for your father, mother, and sister. Jerry will help, and we shall soon have a much finer farm than this one. Farther up the river there is splen did land, with thousands of buffaloes and stags; there you can clear out the old bucks, and Jerry will tan their hides for you," the negro said joy fully, and swung his fist high in air, as if wishing to show the youthful strength that still resided in his sexagenarian body. " It is time for us to lie down, my good Jerry; it is getting on for morning," Robert said, undressed himself in a few minutes, and threw himself on his bed, while the slave drew a large buffalo-robe from MERCEDES. under it, spread it out before the fireplace, and lay down on it.

The flame had gone out, and the glowing coals only spread a faint light through the room, as Jerry repeatedly looked round to young Swarton to convince himself, as it seemed, that he was asleep ; then he clasped his hands, and fervently prayed to the Almighty to guard his darling Robert from crime. After this Jerry sang, in a scarce audible voice, a Methodist hymn; fetched, while singing, a bundle of cotton, which was tied up in a blue handkerchief, from behind Robert's bed, laid it on the shaggy side of the buffalo-hide as a pillow, and soon fell into a sound sleep. At breakfast the next morning, a much more tranquil temper prevailed among the Swartons than had been the case since Arden's departure ; and after the meal, all the members of the family met under the veranda, to discuss their situation calmly; in which consultation Jerry stood a little apart, leaning against a pillar.

" For the misfortune that threatens us," old Swarton said, " we have only ourselves to blame, and hence must not murmur when it falls on us ; but that it may not find us unprepared, we must take the necessary steps to meet it. In the first place, if Arden brings unfavourable news, we must look about for some other Government land, so that we can set to work as soon as possible, to get house and garden ready, and prepare a crop for next year. It would be best, Robert, for you to ride off with Jerry, as soon as we hear from Arden, and look about you. When you have found a spot you think wiU suit us, I will ride over with you to give my opinion. I can remember, from my old hunt ing excursions, much fine land higher up the river, but it was not so near, and about twenty miles off, — quite in the desert."

"Ten miles nearer or farther will make no dif ference to us," Mrs. Swarton said ; " if we must flit, let us choose a spot where our labour will be rewarded — we have nothing to fear, as we are strong enough." They next considered which of the cattle and horses were best to be taken into the desert; how much maize woidd be wanted for the supply of the family and sowing the next year's crop, and what carts and teams should be employed in the re moval. Jerry was frequently asked for his opinion, and all, save Robert, freely gave their suggestions — he only did so when requested. The morning passed, and Mrs. Swarton had MERCEDES. gone to the kitchen to see how the dinner was get ting on, when Virginia suddenly exclaimed : " Here is Mr. Arden !" They all ran to the fence, in order to read on his face, as soon as possible, whether he was the bearer of good or bad tidings.

The calmness of the family sank greatly on the approach of the friend ; for all recognised in him too plainly the deliverer of evil news. Despondency and restlessness entirely took possession of them when Arden announced that all his attempts at a settlement with Thorne had failed, and that the latter insisted on an immediate surrender, without compensation ; they sought in vain for words, gazed with tearful eyes at the fields, the garden — and all the plans they had formed so shortly before were for the moment buried under the certainty of their great loss ; for they had drawn them up in the silent hope that Arden would bring favourable news, and they would thus be relieved from the necessity of taking serious steps for leaving their present home. " It cannot be altered, my dear Swarton," Ai-den said cheeringly; "we must quickly set to work to meet fate, and make up for the injury.

You will take another farm ; your friends and neigh bours will all gladly help you: my negroes, and most of Blanchard's, are at your service, and within a year your whole loss will be recovered. So far as the blue sky extends to the north and west, the land belongs £o every American; he has only to choose : and you need not go far to find good land. Six miles above my place there is such a charming valley, that I feel inclined to remove to it. I will ride with you, and show it to you. Do not let your corn-age sink ; for you have no reason to do so, if you consider your three sons, your own strength, as well as the busy aid of your dear wife and daughter, and your faithful slaves." Arden's cheering remarks produced some effect. Mrs. Swarton recovered first, and remarked that they had been thinking over the same plan, and decided that Robert should start immediately and seek a new homo for the family.

The old gentle man took up the plan again too, and Bill and Charles were pleased at the undertaking, as its novelty and adventurous nature seemed delightful to their energetic minds. Robert alone was silent, and only agreed to all the proposals when his opinion was asked. He seemed to be thinking of something else, and to awake from a dream when addressed. He quickly sank into a reverie again, while the others continued their consultation, in MERCEDES. which they were encouraged by Arden, because talking over a misfortune is the best way of rob bing it of its terrors. Jerry, however, sat down oh the veranda stairs, and from under the broad brim of his old straw hat looked at his young master Robert, none of whose glances or movements escaped him. The menacing thought, which more and more occupied his mind, became quite evident ; and in the same measure the old servant's alarm increased, and the determination ripened in him te oppose it, and if necessary to sacrifice his own and the stranger's life, to guard his favourite from a criminal action.

His mind was at one moment turned to heaven ; at another, the bright blade of his hunting-knife and the silver bead of his certain rifle glittered before him : he had but one feeling, one wish — to guard and protect Master Robert. Jerry was a pious man, and sincerely attached to the church ; but he would have undertaken any thing for his young master, no matter what burden it might lay on his conscience. A heavy stone fell from his heart when, at the end of the family con ference, it was decided that Robert and he should ride off the following day in search of a suitable farm ; for at any rate time would be gained in this way. Jerry calculated that the diversion which the trip offered would turn his master's thoughts from punishing the injury which Thorne had done him and his, and that the sight of perhaps richer land would render it easier to him to give up his present home.

The slave joyfully received orders to get every thing in readiness for the journey. He looked up the saddles and bridles, packed pounded coffee, salt, and pej-per in bladders, filled the powder-horns, cast a supply of bullets for the rifles, sharpened his bowie-knife and the small axe wliich he carried on his saddle when hunting ; and was one moment in the kitchen, at another in the stables, or in his master's room, in order to complete the arrange ments as soon as possible. Arden remained to dinner, and turned the thoughts, wishes, and hopes of the family with all his strength to their new home, showed them the many advantages they possessed in the unrestricted choice of the land, reminded them that they would live much more independently without neighbours, and that by removing they would be saved from all the unpleasantness, cares, and disputes which had oppressed them for weeks.

At the same time he again promised them all possible assistance, and MERCEDES. reminded them that not only the rich Blanchards would spare no sacrifice to help them in their enterprise, but that their neighbours would aid them to the best of their ability. " In God's name," old Swarton said, " we will begin once again ; at any rate, it will be easier this time than on the first, — and may the robber of our property reap the harvest which he has deserved through his atrocious deed!" " You must call in at my house to-morrow morning : your road runs past it, and we will then discuss your journey at our leisure," Arden said to the young man, whose flashing glance at his father's words did not escape him. Arden then had his horse saddled, took leave of his friends with a promise to return soon, and rode to Blanchard's, to inform them also of the ill suc cess of his application to Thorne.

The sad news aroused great sympathy ; but Arden told them that he had already induced the Swartons to surrender their land and settle elsewhere, and that he had promised the aid of the Blanchards by anticipa tion. " You can reckon certainly on that," Mrs. Blanchard said ; " we will do all we can. It pains me deeply, however, to lose these worthy people out of our neighbourhood, especially with the pro spect of having a bad man in their place." " When does the villain intend to take possession?" George asked savagely ; " he will act wisely in choosing a moment when Robert is not at home." " I, too, hope that they will not meet. Robert will set out to-morrow, and remain absent for some weeks ; however, he seems ready to yield. When ho has chosen land that pleases him, I shall not feel alarmed about him, for whatever he begins he car ries through."

" I will go out with them, with forty negroes, and then we shall soon have a new farm in readi ness for them," George said with great sympathy. " And you will receive the fair Virginia's thanks for it," Arden laughingly remarked. Mrs. Blanchard took a curious but kindly glance at George, and the blood leaped into his cheeks. " In that case you must take me too," Inez said, coming to her brother's aid, " so that I may do something for our clear friends; for Mrs. Swar ton is aged, and Virginia will not be able to manage every thing by herself." " I think the best plan will bo for us to lock MERCEDES. up here, and all go ; perhaps Mr. Arden will give us his company, if you promise to make pancakes for him," Mrs. Blanchard observed merrily. The moon was high in the heavens when Arden approached his settlement, and from the dark shade of the close-erowins trees that surrounded his house, first Joe, and close behind him Milly, came running up to welome him.

A brilliant light met him as he entered the room, and wherever he might look his eyes fell ujjon garlands, wreaths, and bouquets, which adorned the walls and tables, and were illuminated by a number of waxcandles. On the cleanly spread table were exquisite flowers in vases, and a huge cake, for which Inez Blanchard had given the quadroon the recipe, on calling once during Arden's absence. Arden was really surprised and pleasantly affected by the tasteful arrangement, so that he looked around in surprise, and wished to express his pleasure to the slave ; but she had not come in with him ; she was standing in the veranda, and peeping with delight through the window at her master's pleased looks. " What, Milly, have you baked this grand cake ? Come in, that I may thank you for it," Arden said, noticing the girl's sparkling eyes through the window.

She stepped lightly into the room, and stammered, in a half choking voice: " For your safe return, master." " You are a dear, good girl," Arden said to her warmly, passed his hand over her shining curls, bent down, and expressed his further thanks by a kiss which he imprinted on her forehead. The quadroon trembled, hung her little head, and kissed her master's hand. " What is the matter, silly girl? — you are not ill, Milly ?" Arden said sympathisingly to her, as he put his hand under her chin and raised her face. " Nothing, master; my happiness is too great: I only wish I could do more for you, so as to deserve your kindness," the slave said, and looked up with beaming ej-es to Arden, while the tears rolled clown her peachy cheeks. " You always do more for me than I expect from you, and make me your debtor ; for you know that you are my slave only by your own wish, and that I demand nothing of you."

" It is my entire happiness — my sole deHght — to serve you, to be your slave, to call myself your property, to belong entirely to you, to whom I owe VOL. II. c MERCEDES. every thing. 0 master ! if you could see into my heart, you woidd find that it had no room for any other thought but of you." " Good, Milly; I will try to deserve your de votion," Arden said soothingly to the quadroon ; " and now go and fetch my supper, so that I can taste your fine cake." The girl glided from the room, ancl soon returned with the supper, which consisted of her master's favourite dishes. " Go to bed, Milly; it is late," Arden said, soon after finishing his meal ; then took Mercedes' letter out of his pocket-book, and drew the lamp closer, in order to distinguish the dear handwriting better. He had read it through several times, when he fancied he heard a horse's footfall.

He went to the open door to see whether he was mistaken. The sound really drew nearer, and in a few minutes a rider stopped at the fence, hung his bridle over the gate-post, and ran up to the veranda. " Good evening, Mr. Arden," the post-boy, Dutch Charley, said, — for he was the arrival. "You really ought to thank me this time; for I have brought you a letter from the prettiest girl in our State." " From Miss Thorne?" Arden asked, in sweet surprise. ■" Give it here, Charley, — I am very thankful to you for it, and shall not forget it. When did you leave there ? Was Miss Mer cedes well ?" " She seemed to me more blooming and lovely than I ever before saw her, when she gave mo the letter this morning and bade me put it in your hands. The streams between here ancl Loxleigh were so swollen, that, in spite of my good piebald, I was almost drowned ; for — as you know, there is no bridge over Mulberry stream — my horse was obliged to swim across, and was carried away by the current, so that I really thought it was all up with me.

But I had hung my letter-bag round my neck, aud clung with both arms round my horse's neck, till it got a foothold and leapt ashore with me. It must have rained heavily in the mountains, for all the streams were converted into rivers, and that is the reason why I did not arrive here an hour ago. I thought, though, better late than never, and made the little circuit to you ; for if I had earned the letter to the Columbus post office, the Lord knows when you would have got it." " A thousand thanks, Charley. Help yourself to a drink. You will find brandy, whisky, and gin on the table," Arden said, as he opened the letter, MERCEDES. and threw himself into the easy-chair, to read it through with sparkling eyes. "Why, Charley, I have not offered you a cigar yet. Here, take these ; they are good," Arden said, awaking from his felicity, ancl offered the obliging post-boy a lighted match.

" It is time for me to be off. The tailor, who is postmaster at Columbus, will be angry if I knock him up out of bed." " Have another drink first. You can stand it in the nightair." " Well, then, to the health of the lovely Miss Thorne," the post-boy answered, as he swallowed a tumblerful of brandy-and-water. " I will call in here the day after to-morrow, and sec whether you have any answer to send. Miss Thorne is one of my best customers. I perform all her little com missions, and have carried many a big bonnet-box for her on my horse." " Of course I shall give you a letter for Miss Thorne, as she requires information on several points. If I am not at home, my housekeeper will give you the letter. Probably you will bring me the answer on your return." " You can trust to me, Mr. Arden," Charley said, with a knowing look ; " the letters will not get into any strange hands."

Then he took his broad-brimmed hat from the chair, silently received from Arden half a dollar, as they shook hands, and trotted off, whistling a lively waltz, over the moonlit prairie. Arden was sitting the next morning over his unusually late breakfast, when Robert Swarton arrived with faithful old Jerry. Both were dressed in leather, and the tin vessels and large bags that hung at their saddles showed that they were equipped for a lengthened journey. The horses were tied up in the shade of the trees, ancl the riders went into Arden's room, where they both sat down ; for Jerry had acquired this precedence over his black brothers, through his honesty and fidelity, from the neighbouring planters. But he ahvays selected the worst chair, and posted, himself close to the door. " Now, Robert, mind you choose a good sta tion," Arden said, shaking his hand.

" To speak frankly, your present farm never pleased me much ; it lies too low, and is more or less exposed to fevers." " We have been healthy enough. I wonder whether our successor will find the air agree with him ?" Robert answered, with flashing eyes. " Robert, listen to my advice ; you know that MERCEDES. I have always meant well by you. Dismiss the thought of revenge from your pure heart, when execution would ruin the happiness of your whole family. You yourself will be a victim of the law, and tho position of your friends would not be at all improved by it ; on the contrary, the great sympathy which is now felt for you, far and wide, would be greatly checked by any deed of violence. You know that the fault is your own, ancl hence employ the favourable moment, when so much assistance is offered you, to repair the damage quickly, ancl, if possible, derive a profit from it.

All your neigh bours will readily lend you a hand to the best of their ability. Promise me honestly to give up the thought of revenge once for all." " Mr. Arden, you know what unheard-of wrong this man is doing us, ancl, though the law protects him so greatly, you cannot possibly say that he is acting fairly. Why are laws made, except to protect a man when he acts justly ? and if the law cannot clo this, must he not do it him self?" " Certainly, if you can ; but you woidd not be acting justly, and would ruin yourself and your family for life. Be reasonable to yourself, and charitable to your friends." The young man looked down savagely, and played with the sdver-mounted hilt of his bowie knife ; while the old servant, sitting behind him at the door, stared at Arden, and made him signs to keep on at his young master.