The Heiress

by T.S. Arthur

　　

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Kate Darlington was a belle and a beauty; and had, as might besupposed, not a few admirers. Some were attracted by her person;some by her winning manners, and not a few by the wealth of herfamily. But though sweet Kate was both a belle and a beauty, she wasa shrewd, clear-seeing girl, and had far more penetration intocharacter than belles and beauties are generally thought to possess.For the whole tribe of American dandies, with their disfiguringmoustaches and imperials, she had a most hearty contempt. Hair nevermade up, with her, for the lack of brains.But, as she was an heiress in expectancy, and moved in the mostfashionable society, and was, with all, a gay and sprightly girl,Kate, as a natural consequence, drew around her the gilded moths ofsociety, not a few of whom got their wings scorched, on approachingtoo near.Many aspired to be lovers, and some, more ardent than the rest,boldly pressed forward and claimed her hand. But Kate did notbelieve in the doctrine that love begets love in all cases. Werethis so, it was clear that she would have to love half a dozen, forat least that number came kneeling to her with their hearts in theirhands.Mr. Darlington was a merchant. Among his clerks was the son of anold friend, who, in dying some years before, had earnestly solicitedhim to have some care over the lad, who at his death would becomefriendless. In accordance with this last request, Mr. Darlingtontook the boy into his counting-room; and, in order that he might,with more fidelity, redeem his promise to the dying father, alsoreceived him into his family.Edwin Lee proved himself not ungrateful for the kindness. In a fewyears he became one of Mr. Darlington's most active, trustworthy andintelligent clerks; while his kind, modest, gentlemanly deportmentat home, won the favor and confidence of all the family. With Edwin,Kate grew up as with a brother. Their intercourse was of the mostfrank and confiding character.But there came, at last, a change. Kate from a gracefulsweet-tempered, affectionate girl, stepped forth, almost in a day,it seemed to Edwin, a full-grown, lovely woman, into whose eyes hecould not look as steadily as before, and on whose beautiful face hecould no longer gaze with the calmness of feeling he had until nowenjoyed.For awhile, Edwin could not understand the reason of this change.Kate was the same to him; and yet not the same. There was nodistance--no reserve on her part; and yet, when he came into herpresence, he felt his heart beat more quickly; and when she lookedhim steadily in the face, his eyes would droop, involuntarily,beneath her gaze.Suddenly, Edwin awoke to a full realization of the fact that Katewas to him more than a gentle friend or a sweet sister. From thatmoment, he became reserved in his intercourse with her; and, after ashort time, firmly made up his mind that it was his duty to retirefrom the family of his benefactor. The thought of endeavoring to winthe heart of the beautiful girl, whom he had always loved as asister, and now almost worshipped, was not, for a momententertained. To him there would have been so much of ingratitude inthis, and so much that involved a base violation of Mr. Darlington'sconfidence, that he would have suffered anything rather than beguilty of such an act.But he could not leave the home where he had been so kindly regardedfor years, without offering some reason that would be satisfactory.The true reason, he could not, of course, give. After looking at thesubject in various lights, and debating it for a long time, Edwincould see no way in which he could withdraw from the family of Mr.Darlington, without betraying his secret, unless he were to leavethe city at the same time. He, therefore, sought and obtained thesituation of supercargo in a vessel loading for Valparaiso.When Edwin announced this fact to Mr. Darlington, the merchant wasgreatly surprised, and appeared hurt that the young man should takesuch a step without a word of consultation with him. Edwin tried toexplain; but, as he had to conceal the real truth, his explanationrather tended to make things appear worse than better.Kate heard the announcement with no less surprise than her father.The thing was so sudden, so unlooked for, and, moreover, so uncalledfor, that she could not understand it. In order to take away anypecuniary reason for the step he was about to take, Mr. Darlington,after holding a long conversation with Edwin, made him offers farmore advantageous than his proposed expedition could be to him,viewed in any light. But he made them in vain. Edwin acknowledgedthe kindness, in the warmest terms, but remained firm in his purposeto sail with the vessel."Why will you go away and leave us, Edwin?" said Kate, one eveningwhen they happened to be alone, about two weeks before his expecteddeparture. "I do think it very strange!"Edwin had avoided, as much as possible, being alone with Kate, afact which the observant maiden had not failed to notice. Theirbeing alone now was from accident rather than design on his part."I think it right for me to go, Kate," the young man replied, ascalmly as it was possible for him to speak under the circumstances."And when I think it right to do a thing, I never hesitate or lookback.""You have a reason, for going, of course. Why, then, not tell itfrankly? Are we not all your friends?"Edwin was silent, and his eyes rested upon the floor, while a deeperflush than usual was upon his face. Kate looked at him fixedly.Suddenly a new thought flashed through her mind, and the color onher own cheeks grew warmer. Her voice from that moment was lower andmore tender; and her eyes, as she conversed with the young man, werenever a moment from his face. As for him, his embarrassment in herpresence was never more complete, and he betrayed the secret thatwas in his heart even while he felt the most earnest to conceal it.Conscious of this, he excused himself and retired as soon as it waspossible to do so.Kate sat thoughtful for some time after he had left. Then rising up,she went, with a firm step to her father's room."I have found out," she said, speaking with great self-composure,"the reason why Edwin persists in going away.""Ah! what is the reason, Kate? I would give much to know.""He is in love," replied Kate, promptly."In love! How do you know that?""I made the discovery to-night.""Love should keep him at home, not drive him away," said Mr.Darlington."But he loves hopelessly," returned the maiden. "He is poor, and theobject of his regard belongs to a wealthy family.""And her friends will have nothing to do with him.""I am not so sure of that. But he formed an acquaintance with theyoung lady under circumstances that would make it mean, in his eyes,to urge any claims upon her regard.""Then honor as well as love takes him away.""Honor in fact; not love. Love would make him stay," replied themaiden with a sparkling eye, and something of proud elevation in thetones of her voice.A faint suspicion of the truth now came stealing on the mind of Mr.Darlington."Does the lady know of his preference for her?" he asked."Not through any word or act of his, designed to communicate aknowledge of the fact," replied Kate, her eyes falling under theearnest look bent upon her by Mr. Darlington."Has he made you his confidante?""No, sir. I doubt if the secret has ever passed his lips." Kate'sface was beginning to crimson, but she drove back the tell-taleblood with a strong effort of the will."Then how came you possessed of it," inquired the father.The blood came back to her face with a rush, and she bent her headso that her dark glossy curls fell over and partly concealed it. Ina moment or two she had regained her self-possession, and looking upshe answered,"Secrets like this do not always need oral or written language tomake them known. Enough, father, that I have discovered the factthat his heart is deeply imbued with a passion for one who knowswell his virtues--his pure, true heart--his manly sense of honor;with a passion for one who has looked upon him till now as abrother, but who henceforth must regard him with a different andhigher feeling."Kate's voice trembled. As she uttered the last few words, she lostcontrol of herself, and bent forward, and hid her face upon herfather's arm.Mr. Darlington, as might well be supposed, was taken altogether bysurprise at so unexpected an announcement. The language used by hisdaughter needed no interpretation. She was the maiden beloved by hisclerk."Kate," said he, after a moment or two of hurried reflection, "thisis a very serious matter. Edwin is only a poor clerk, and you--""And I," said Kate, rising up, and taking the words from her father,"and I am the daughter of a man who can appreciate what is excellentin even those who are humblest in the eyes of the world. Father, isnot Edwin far superior to the artificial men who flutter aroundevery young lady who now makes her appearance in the circle where wemove? Knowing him as you do, I am sure you will say yes.""But, Kate----""Father, don't let us argue this point. Do you want Edwin to goaway?" And the young girl laid her hand upon her parent, and lookedhim in the face with unresisting affection."No dear; I certainly don't wish him to go.""Nor do I," returned the maiden, as she leaned forward again, andlaid her face upon his arm. In a little while she arose, and, withher countenance turned partly away, said--"Tell him not to go, father----"And with these words she retired from the room.On the next evening, as Edwin was sitting alone in one of thedrawing-rooms, thinking on the long night of absence that awaitedhim, Mr. Darlington came in, accompanied by Kate. They seatedthemselves near the young man, who showed some sense ofembarrassment. There was no suspense, however, for Mr. Darlingtonsaid--"Edwin, we none of us wish you to go away. You know that I haveurged every consideration in my power, and now I have consented tounite with Kate in renewing a request for you to remain. Up to thistime you have declined giving a satisfactory reason for your suddenresolution to leave; but a reason is due to us--to me inparticular--and I now most earnestly conjure you to give it."The young man, at this became greatly agitated, but did not ventureto make a reply."You are still silent on the subject," said Mr. Darlington."He will not go, father," said Kate, in a tender, appealing voice."I know he will not go. We cannot let him go. Kinder friends he willnot find anywhere than he has here. And we shall miss him from ourhome circle. There will be a vacant place at our board. Will you behappier away, Edwin?"The last sentence was uttered in a tone of sisterly affection."Happier!" exclaimed the young man, thrown off his guard. "Happier!I shall be wretched while away.""Then why go?" returned Kate, tenderly.At this stage of affairs, Mr. Darlington got up, and retired; and wethink we had as well retire with the reader.The good ship "Leonora" sailed in about ten days. She had asupercargo on board; but his name was not Edwin Lee.Fashionable people were greatly surprised when the beautiful KateDarlington married her father's clerk; and moustached dandies curledtheir lip, but it mattered not to Kate. She had married a man inwhose worth, affection, and manliness of character, she could reposea rational confidence. If not a fashionable, she was a happy wife.

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