Chapter XII

by Mary Jane Holmes

　　THE LETTER THAT WAS NOT DELIVERED

　　The next morning, Rondeau waited for a long time for his master's usualorders that he should go to the post office, but no such commands came,and as Dr. Lacey had not been heard moving in his room yet, Rondeauconcluded to go at all events.

　　"I know,", said he, "that'll be the first thing he'll tell me to do, and Imay as well go on my own hook, as to wait and be sent."

　　Accordingly he again started for the post office, thinking to himself, "Ihope that marster'll get a letter this time, for he don't seem no morelike the wide-awake chap he did when he first come from Kentuck, thannothin'. I don't want him to have Miss Mabel nohow; for their niggers sayshe's awful spunky."

　　By the time this soliloquy was ended, he had reached the office. The clerkhanded him two letters, both of which Rondeau eyed sharply. On looking atthe second, the cavity between the ears widened to an enormous extent, andhe gave vent to his joy by uttering aloud, "Crackee, this is just thething!"

　　"What's the matter, Rondeau? Can you read writing?" asked the clerk insome surprise.

　　"No, sir, not but a little," said Rondeau; "but I know this hand write, Ireckon."

　　In a twinkling, he was in the street. "This is a fine morning," thoughthe. "I've got the right letter this time, so I won't hurry home, formarster ain't goin' to find any fault if I don't git thar till noon."

　　So the next hour was spent in gossiping with all the blacks which could befound lounging round the streets. Suddenly one of the negroes called out,"Ho, Rondeau! Thar's yer old marster Lace comin'. You'd better cut stickfor home, or he'll be in yer har."

　　Rondeau instantly started for home, where he was greeted by Aunt Dilseywith a torrent of abuse, that good lady rating him soundly for being gonetoo long. "Warn't he 'shamed to be foolin' away his time? 'Twan't his timenuther, 'twas marster's time. Was that ar fulfillin' of Scripter, whichsays, 'we must be all eye sarvants,' which means ye must all keep cluswhere yer marsters can see you?"

　　How long Aunt Dilsey might have gone expounding Scripture is not known,for Rondeau interrupted her by saying, "Don't scold so, old lady. Marsterain't a-goin' to care for I've got him something this time better thanvictuals or drink."

　　"What is it?" said Leffie, coming forward. "Have you got him a letter fromKentuck?"

　　"I hain't got nothin' else, Miss Leffie Lacey, if you please," saidRondeau, snapping his fingers in her face, and giving Aunt Dilsey's elbowa slight jostle, just enough to spill the oil, with which she was fillinga lamp.

　　"Rondeau, I 'clar' for't," said Aunt Dilsey, setting down her oil can. "Ifmarster don't crack your head, my old man Claib shall, if he ever gits upagin. Thar he is in his bunk, snorin' like he was a steamboat; andmarster's asleep upstairs, I reckon. Well, 'tain't no way to live. Thingswould go to rack and ruin if I didn't sweat and work to keep 'em right endup, sartin."

　　Aunt Dilsey was really a very valuable servant, and had some reason forthinking herself the main spoke in the wheel which kept her master'shousehold together. She had lived in the family ever since Dr. Lacey'searly recollection, and as she had nursed him when an infant, he naturallyfelt a great affection for her, and intrusted her with the exclusivemanagement of the culinary department, little negroes and all. Hisconfidence in her was not misplaced, for from morning till night she wasfaithful to her trust, and woe to any luckless woolly head who was foundwasting "marster's" sweetmeats and pickles.

　　On the first hand Aunt Dilsey was very sensitive, for being naturallyactive and stirring herself, "She," to use her own words, "couldn't bar tosee folks lazin' round like thar was nothin' to do, but to git up andstuff themselves till they's fit to bust." She also felt annoyed wheneverher young master indulged himself in a morning nap. "Ought to be up," shesaid, "and airin' hisself."

　　On the morning following the party, her patience was severely taxed in twoways. First, Claib, her husband, had adhered to his resolution of sleepingover, and long after the clock struck eleven he was sleeping profoundly.He had resisted all Aunt Dilsey's efforts to rouse him. Her scoldings,sprinklings with hot and cold water, punching with the carving fork, hadall proved ineffectual, and as a last resort, she put the baby on his bed,thinking "that would surely fetch him up standin', for 'twasn't in naturto sleep with the baby wollopin' and mowin' over him." Her master, too,troubled her. Why he couldn't get up she couldn't see. "His breakfast wasas cold as a grave stun, and she didn't keer if 'twas. She had enough todo 'tendin' to other affairs, without keepin' the niggers and dogs fromporkin' thar noses in it."

　　At a late hour Dr. Lacey awoke from his uneasy slumber. The return ofmorning brought comparative calmness to his troubled spirit. Hopewhispered that what he had heard might be a mistake. At least he wouldwait for further confirmation. He did not know how near that confirmationwas. Rondeau had been waiting for his masters summons until his patiencewas exhausted. So, relying on the letter to counteract any apparentdisrespect, he stalked upstairs and knocked at Dr. Lacey's door, just asthat gentleman was about ringing for him.

　　As soon as he entered the room, he called out, "Here, master, I've got 'emthis time!" at the same time extending a letter, the superscription ofwhich made Dr. Lacey turn pale, for he recognized, as he supposed, Fanny'sdelicate handwriting.

　　"You may leave me alone, Rondeau," said he, "and I will ring for you whenI want you." So Rondeau departed with the remaining letter in his pocket.He had forgotten to deliver it, but it was not missed.

　　Oh, Rondeau, Rondeau! It was very unfortunate that you forgot that letter,and suffered it to remain in your pocket unheeded for so many days. Itscontents would have scattered the dark, desolating tempest which was fastgathering over your young master's pathway.

　　As soon as Dr. Lacey was alone, he sat down, anxious, yet fearing to knowthe contents of his letter. At last he resolutely broke the seal, thinkingto himself, "It cannot contain anything worse than I already know." Oneglance at the beginning and end of the letter confirmed his fears, and fora few moments he was unable to read a line; then summoning all hisremaining courage, he calmly read the letter through, not omitting asingle word, but comprehending the meaning of each sentence. It was asfollows:

　　"Frankfort, March 25th, 18--.

　　"DR. LACEY:

　　"SIR--Have you, during some weeks past, ever wondered why I did not writeto you? And in enumerating to yourself the many reasons which couldprevent my writing, has it ever occurred to you that possibly I might befalse? Can you forgive me, Dr. Lacey, when I tell you that the love I oncefancied I bore for you has wholly subsided, and I now feel for you afriendship, which I trust will be more lasting than my transient girlishlove?

　　"Do you ask how I came to change so suddenly? I can only answer by anotherconfession still more painful and humiliating to me. When I bade youadieu, I thought I loved you as well as I ever could again. I say again,for--but how shall I tell you? How confess that my first affection was notgiven to you? Yes, ere I had ever seen you, I loved another, and one, too,whom some would say it were sinful to love.

　　"But why harrow my feelings by awakening the past? Suffice it to say thathe whom I loved is dead. We both saw him die, and I received upon my lipshis last breath. Truly if he were Julia's in life, he was mine in death.Did you never suspect how truly I loved Mr. Wilmot? You were blinded byyour misplaced affection for me, if you did not. Julia, my noble-heartedsister Julia, knew it all. I confessed my love to her, and on my kneesbegged her not to go to him, but to let me take her place at his bedside.She complied with my request, and then bravely bore in silence thereproaches of the world for her seeming coldness.

　　"Dear Julia! She seems strangely changed recently, and you would hardlyknow her, she is so gentle, so obliging, so amiable. You ought to haveheard her plead your cause with me. She besought me almost with tears notto prove unfaithful to you, and when I convinced her that 'twas impossiblefor me to love another as I had Mr. Wilmot, she insisted on my writing,and not keeping you in suspense any longer.

　　"Dr. Lacey, if you could transfer your affection from me--, but no, whyshould I speak of such a thing! You will probably despise all my family.Yet do not, I beseech you, cast them off for your poor Fanny's sin. Theyrespect you highly, and Julia would be angry if she knew that I am aboutto tell you how she admires a certain Southern friend, who probably, bythis time, thinks with contempt of little

　　"FANNY MIDDLETON."

　　There was no perceptible change in Dr. Lacey's manner after reading theheartless forgery, but the iron had entered his soul, and for a time heseemed benumbed with its force. Then came a moment of reflection. His lovehad been trampled upon, and thrown back as a thing of naught by her whohad fallen from the high pedestal on which he had enthroned the idol ofhis heart's deepest affection.

　　"I could have pitied, and admired her, too," thought he, "had she candidlyconfessed her love for Mr. Wilmot; but to be so basely deceived by onewhom I thought incapable of deception is too much."

　　Seizing the letter, he again read it through, and this time he felt hiswounded pride somewhat soothed by thinking that the beautiful Juliaadmired and sympathized with him. "But pshaw!" he exclaimed, "most likelyJulia is as hollow-hearted as her sister, and yet many dark spots on hercharacter seem wiped away by Fanny's confession." Throwing the letteraside he rang the bell, and ordered his breakfast to be sent up to him.

　　That afternoon he called on Mabel Mortimer and her cousin. He found theyoung ladies in the drawing room, and with them a dark, fine-looking,middle-aged gentleman, whom Mabel introduced as Mr. Middleton. Somethingin the looks as well as name of the stranger made Dr. Lacey involuntarilystart with surprise, and he secretly wondered whether; this gentleman wasin any way connected with the Middletons of Kentucky. He was not kept longin doubt, for Florence, who was very talkative, soon said, "We were justspeaking of you, Dr. Lacey, and Mr. Middleton seems inclined to claim youas an acquaintance, on the ground of your having been intimate with hisbrother's family in Kentucky."

　　"Indeed!" said Dr. Lacey; then turning to Mr. Middleton, he said, "Is itpossible that you are a brother of Mr. Joshua Middleton?"

　　"Yes, sir," returned the stranger, eyeing Dr. Lacey closely; "Joshua is mybrother, but for more than twenty years I have not seen him, or scarcelyheard from him."

　　"Ah," answered Dr. Lacey, in some astonishment, and then, as he fanciedthere was something in Mr. Middleton's former life which he wished toconceal, he changed the subject by asking Mr. Middleton if he had beenlong in the city.

　　"Only two weeks," he replied, and he proceeded to speak of himself,saying, "For many years past I have been in the Indies. About the time mybrother Joshua married, my father died. When his will was opened, Ithought it a very unjust one, for it gave, to my brother a much largershare than was given to me. In a fit of anger, I declared I would nevertouch a penny of my portion, and leaving college, where I was already inmy senior year, I went to New York, and getting on board a vessel boundfor the East Indies, I tried by amassing wealth in a distant land, toforget that I ever had a home this side of the Atlantic. During the firstyears of my absence my brother wrote to me frequently, and most of hisletters I answered, for I really bore him no malice on account of thewill. I had not heard from him for a long time, until I reached thiscity."

　　"Are you going to visit Kentucky?" asked Dr. Lacey.

　　"It is my present intention to do so," answered Mr. Middleton; "but firstI wish to purchase a summer residence near the Lake, and after fitting itup tastefully, I shall invite my nieces to visit me. You are acquaintedwith them, I believe."

　　Dr. Lacey answered in the affirmative, and Mr. Middleton continued, "I amtold by Miss Woodburn that they are very beautiful, especially one ofthem, and quite accomplished. Is it so?"

　　Dr. Lacey replied very calmly, "The world, I believe, unites in callingMiss Julia beautiful."

　　"But what of the other one?" asked Mr. Middleton. "I am prepossessed inher favor, for she bears the name of the only sister I ever had."

　　Dr. Lacey sighed, for he remembered the time when he was drawn towardFanny, because he fancied she resembled the only sister he ever had. Mr.Middleton observed it, and immediately said, "Does it make you sigh justto mention Fanny? What is the matter? Has she jilted you? If she has, shedoes not partake of the nature of the Middletons, for they could neverstoop to deceit."

　　Here Florence came to Dr. Lacey's relief by saying, "Why, Dr. Lacey, Mr.Middleton wants you to repeat what I have already told him, that Julia isexceedingly beautiful and that Fanny is as lovely as a Houri, and has thesaddest, sweetest face I ever saw, and the softest, mildest blue eye."

　　Dr. Lacey laughingly said, "Thank you, Miss Florence; Mr. Middleton willplease take what you have said as my opinion concerning his fair nieces."

　　Mr. Middleton bowed and then said, "How does my brother appear? He used tobe very rough and abrupt in his manner."

　　Dr. Lacey laughed. He could not help it. His risible faculties were alwaysexcited when he thought of Joshua Middleton, and he answered, thatalthough he highly esteemed Mr. Middleton, he feared his manners were notmuch improved.

　　"I dare say not," said the brother. "When he was at home, he was alwayssaying things which our mother called 'impolite,' our father 'outlandish,'and the blacks 'right down heathenish.' However, with all his roughness, Ibelieve there never was a more truly honorable man, or a more sincerefriend."

　　After a few moments of general conversation, Mr. Middleton said, turningto Dr. Lacey, "I feel some anxiety about this summer residence which Iintend purchasing. I am told that you have fine taste both in selecting agood locality and in laying out grounds. If you have leisure, suppose youaccompany me on my exploring excursion, and I will reward you by aninvitation to spend as much time with me as you like after my niecesarrive."

　　Dr. Lacey thanked Mr. Middleton for the compliment paid to his taste, andhe politely expressed his willingness to assist his friend in theselection of a country seat. "By the way," continued he, "you are stoppingat the St. Charles, I believe. Suppose you exchange your rooms at thehotel for a home with me, and become my guest until you leave the city forKentucky?"

　　Mr. Middleton accepted Dr. Lacey's invitation willingly, and the threeweeks which he spent at his residence passed rapidly and pleasantly away.During that time Dr. Lacey met with a gentleman who owned a very handsomevilla near the lake shore. This he wished to dispose of, and Mr. Middletonand Dr. Lacey went down to inspect it. They found it every way desirable,and Mr. Middleton finally purchased it at an enormous price, and called itthe "Indian Nest." "Here," said he, speaking to Dr. Lacey, "here I shallat last find that happiness which I have sought for in vain during fortyyears. I shall have both my nieces with me, besides Miss Mortimer and MissWoodburn. I suppose I shall have to invite some other young gentlemanbesides yourself, for the girls will hardly fancy the old Indian for abeau."

　　Dr. Lacey did not reply. He was thinking how much pleasure such anarrangement would have given him a few months ago; but now all waschanged, and the thought of again meeting Fanny afforded him more painthan pleasure.

　　Mr. Middleton noticed his silence, and as he was slightly tinctured withthe abruptness which characterized his brother, he said, "Why, young man,what is the matter? Have you been disappointed, or what makes you manifestso much indifference to spending the summer, or a part of it, with fouragreeable girls?"

　　Dr. Lacey saw the necessity of rousing himself from his melancholy mood,and assuming a gayety he did not feel, he said, "I feel very muchflattered, Mr. Middleton, with the honor you confer upon me, but I havefor some time past been subject to low spirits; so you must not mind it ifI am not always gay. Come, let us go into the garden and see whatimprovements are needed there."

　　So saying, they turned together into the large terraced garden. While theywere engaged in walking over the handsome grounds which surrounded "TheIndian Nest," Rondeau, who had accompanied his master, was differentlyoccupied. Strolling down to the lake shore, he amused himself for a timeby watching the waves as they dashed against the pebbly beach, and byfancying that each of them reflected the image of Leffie's bright, roundface. Then buttoning up his coat he would strut back and forth, admiringhis shadow, and thinking how much more the coat became him than it did hisyoung master. It had been given to him by Dr. Lacey, with the order "notto wear it out in two days"; so Rondeau had not worn it before since themorning when he gave his master one letter and forgot the other. He hadbrought it with him to the lake, and was trying the effect of his elegantappearance.

　　Chancing to thrust his hand in his pocket, he felt the long-forgottenletter and drew it forth, then looking at it with wide open eyes andmouth, gave vent to his surprise as follows: "Who'd a b'leved it! Here'sthis letter been in my pocket two weeks. I deserve to be cracked over thehead, and anybody but marster would do it. I'll run and give it to himnow--but no, I won't," said he, suddenly slackening his pace, "I've heardhim say he could always trust me, and if I own up this time, he'll losehis--what's the word? Conference?--Yes, conference in me. I don't believethis letter's of any account, for its a great big letter, just like aman's handwrite. Any way, I'll wait till I get home and consult Leffie."

　　The letter was accordingly put in his pocket, and in a few moments herejoined his master and Mr. Middleton. The next day they returned home.Rondeau's first act was to draw Leffie aside, and after winning from hervarious strong promises of secrecy, he imparted to her the astounding factthat, "He had found one of marster's letters in his trousers--no, his coatpocket. It had been there two weeks, and he didn't know what in cain to dowith it. If he gave it to marster now, 'twould make him lose faith in him,and so forth."

　　Leffie heard him through, and then fully agreed with him that 'twas bestnot to tell marster at this late hour. "But," said she, "I'd put it out ofthe way, so 'twouldn't be poppin' out in sight some time."

　　"Shall I burn it?" asked Rondeau.

　　"Oh, no," said Leffie; "keep it so marster can have it, if he ever hearsof it. There's your cigar box, take it and bury the letter in it."

　　"Whew-ew," said Rondeau, with a prolonged whistle, "it takes you women tocalculate anything cute!"

　　The cigar box was brought out, and in a few moments the poor letter waslying quietly under a foot and a half of earth.

　　"There," said Leffie, as Rondeau laid over the spot a piece of fresh greenturf, "nobody'll ever have any idee whose grave this is."

　　Rondeau rolled up his eyes, and assuming a most doleful expression, said,"Couldn't you manage to bust a tear or two, just to make it seem like areal buryin'?"

　　Leffie answered him by a sound box on his ear, at the same timethreatening to expose his wickedness at the next class meeting. AuntDilsey's voice was now heard calling out, "Leffie, Leffie, is you stundeaf and blind now that fetched Rondeau's done gone home? Come here thisminute!"

　　Rondeau and Leffie returned to the house, leaving buried a letter, thereading of which would have changed the tenor of their master's feelings.

　　For a knowledge of its contents as well of its author, we must go back fora time to Frankfort whence it came, promising that Mr. Middleton willfollow us in a few days.