CHAPTER XV.
"But thou, a wretched, base, false, worthless coward!
All eyes must shun thee, and all hearts detest thee.
Prythee avoid, nor longer cling thus round me, Like something baneful, that my nature"s chilled at."
OTWAY.
In a small log-cabin, a few miles above "Cottage Island," reposing upon a rude bed, on the morning of the Chalmetta"s disaster, was a young and beautiful female. She was pale and in tears, evidently suffering the most excruciating mental agony. An old woman, from whose bosom her half-civilized mode of life had not entirely banished those refined sympathies which belong by intuition to her s.e.x, was vainly striving to impart comfort.
"You ought to be thankful, ma"am, that you wan"t blowed up, with the rest of the poor people," said she, kindly, attempting to turn the lady"s attention from her absorbing misery.
"I had rather a thousand times have perished than fallen into the hands of the villain who rescued me," replied Emily,--it was she,--with a shudder.
"O, ma"am, they shan"t hurt a hair of your head. My old man wouldn"t see such a good cretur as you hurt, for all the world."
"Alas! I fear his power will not avail against this hardened villain."
"Never you fear, ma"am! Two sich popinjays as them couldn"t skeer my Jerry, nohow. Besides, my son, Jim, will be back in an hour or two."
"I fear they cannot aid me."
"Yes, they can. My Jerry alone would turn "em inside out, if they are sarcy."
"I can scarcely hope the villains--"
"Softly, lady, softly! do not be harsh!" said Harwell, entering the apartment in which Emily was, and which was the only one the cabin contained.
"Mr. Maxwell," said Emily, rising, "if you have any mercy, or pity for my misfortunes, let me be left alone."
"I would not injure you, Miss Dumont," replied Maxwell, in a gentle tone. "I would see you in safety at your destination. Mr. Vernon has been two hours absent, in search of a carriage."
"A carriage! For what?"
"To convey you to a steamboat-landing."
"Bless your heart, sir! you needn"t go a step for that. My Jerry will hail the very next one that pa.s.ses the wood-yard," suggested the old lady.
"Silence, old woman!" said Maxwell, sternly, for he feared the dame would increase Emily"s distrust of him.
"Don"t old-woman me, you puppy! I know what"s what!" responded the dame, sharply, for her temper was not exactly angelic; "it"s my opinion you don"t mean this lady any good. Let me tell you, aforehand, you can"t cut any of your didoes here!"
"Silence, woman! when I need your help I will ask it. I propose, Miss Dumont, to convey you to Vicksburg, where you can be comfortably accommodated until a steamer arrives which will take you to Cincinnati.
It may be several days, you are aware."
"Several days!" exclaimed the mistress of the cabin; "who ever heerd of such a thing! There"ll be one along afore the day is out."
"For Cincinnati?" sneered Maxwell, who found the old woman"s tongue a very formidable weapon.
"I dare say there will," responded the dame.
"It is extremely uncertain, Miss Dumont. We came in the last one, and it is scarcely possible, at this season, another followed immediately. But here is the carriage."
"Mr. Maxwell, I shall positively refuse to accompany you," said Emily, in a most decided tone. "This good woman, I doubt not, will accommodate me."
"That I will," promptly responded the dame.
"I am sorry, Miss Dumont, I cannot, in this instance, yield to your wishes. I must insist on your company to Vicksburg," said Maxwell, striving, by a supercilious manner, to keep down his angry pa.s.sions.
"By what right, sir, do you _insist_ upon it? I was not aware that you were invested with any legal control over me."
"Then you are mistaken. I act upon undoubted authority."
"Indeed, sir, are you my guardian?" said Emily, shuddering at the thought of the will.
"Not technically a guardian. My authority is a little more definite."
"I do not understand you, sir."
"It is immaterial. Perhaps you had better go with me peaceably, however," said Maxwell, with a carelessness foreign to his feelings.
"That, sir, I never will do alive!" replied Emily, surmising the nature of the attorney"s a.s.sumed authority. "Mr. Maxwell, you have taught me to believe that you are a hardened villain, and I _command_ you, leave my presence!"
The indignation of Emily was roused, and she spoke with a flashing eye, and with an imperativeness which her wrongs alone could have called to her aid.
"That was very prettily done, lady; but I cannot obey. It is useless to multiply words. You _must_ go with me;" and Maxwell extended his hand.
Emily recoiled from the proffered hand; her brow lowered, and her lips compressed. She regarded him with a look of ineffable scorn,--a look before which even Maxwell, penetrated, as he was, with evil purposes, quailed.
"Go along, now, about your business, and don"t bother the lady any more!" said the old woman, taking advantage of the momentary silence.
"Miss Dumont, I once more ask you to go with me peaceably," said Maxwell, not heeding the dame"s remark.
"And once more I answer, _I will not_!"
"I should be sorry to use compulsion. Do you forget your condition?"
"I do not," replied Emily, with a tremor, but without the loss of her self-possession. "I am of the best blood of Louisiana."
"But still a _slave!_"
"Good gracious!" exclaimed the hostess.
"I am _not_ a slave! You know this is the plot of a villain like yourself. The true will has been found."
"Indeed! Is it here?" said Maxwell, with a sneer, for while he had Emily in his power he feared nothing.
"No; but it shall be brought forth in due season."