University of Virginia Library

14. CHAPTER XIV.

THE ARREST.

Shipton.

Wednesday afternoon. And the nine
worshipful selectmen of the good town of
Boston had met at their office in Faneuil
Hall. A letter was brought in, and forthwith
opened.

A Friend.

This was a bone for the nine worthy selectmen
to pick. It must be seen to. What
impudence! A gambler and forger! Counterfeited
money!

“Send for the superintendent of police.”

“But isn't it a hoax?” put in a wary member
of the worthy nine

“No,” was the majority's voice. “It is
plain that some rascal reveals the secret
through revenge.” So the superintendent of
police was sent for, and the “council of ten”
resolved upon the arrest of the unsuspecting
Johnson.

Frederick and Mary were together. They
had just finished their simple supper, and
were conversing; Fred. making new resolutions
of amendment, and Mary, with her
sweet smile, encouraging him in all. A knock
was heard, and Johnson, opening it, ushered
in Richard Martin.

Dick fairly started back, on beholding the
beautiful apparition that rose at her lover's
introduction, to greet him. He advanced,
and returned her salutation.

“I have come to let you have the small
sum I owe you,” said he to Fred. Mary cast
a glance at Johnson.

“I think I shall not need this sum, Richard,”
said Frederick.

“Not need it,” echoed Dick. “Surely,
surely, Fred.—”

“I do not wish it. You have nothing to
fear from me, however.”

“Can I speak a few words in private with
you?” whispered Dick.

“If you wish it.” He opened the door of
a small apartment, and ushered Richard into
it. “Martin,” said he, after the door was
closed, “I do not want this money. I have
given up my old principles, thank God! I
wish you would.”

Dick laughed. “You're going to peach,
eh?”

“No. But I'm changed from what I
was.”

“Well, I suppose your change will make
you desert and betray your old friend.”

“Not so; your secret is safe; at least so
long as you are my friend.”

“And do you not think I am your friend?”

“I hope you are. But—”

“And why will you not take this?”

“I will not. But I will not betray you.”

“Do you promise?”

“I promise you, Dick.”

“I'm satisfied. Now, Fred., is that the
piece, eh? is that your Mary?”

“It's my wife.”

“Your wife, ha, ha! when did the ceremony
take place?”

“It shall take place to-morrow.”

Dick smiled. “To-morrow!” thought he,
and laughed within himself.

They returned to the room in which they
had left Mary. Richard talked and laughed
a half hour; and fancied he had made a favorable
impression. Mary listened to him,
and he treated her with studious politeness,
as if not aware of the position which she
occupied. She was flattered by the attentions
of her Frederick's tempter. She knew
he was a villain; yet he was a pleasing one.
Richard bade them farewell, and Fred. felt
as if a load had been taken from his breast,
for he had resisted Satan, “and he had fled
from him.”

“Thus you are free again, my Frederick,”
murmured Mary; but as she spoke the door
once more opened, and two men advanced.

“Your name, sir,” was the first question
addressed to Johnson.

“Frederick Johnson I am called.”

“You are our prisoner—”

“For what am I arrested?”

“Counterfeiting. Come, walk!”

“He is not guilty. He has not committed
it. Ye shall not arrest him,” were Mary's
wild and rapid exclamations, as she flung
herself upon the neck of Johnson.

“That's gammon,” said one of the officers.
But the other gently unclosed her
fingers, and attempted to lead her away. But
she uttered a wild shriek, and again her arms
were clasped around the neck of her lover.

Frederick spoke not; but he kissed the
bloodless lips of his Mary, and pressed her
to his heart.

“Who has done this?” she cried.

“It is the work of Stimson,” returned
Frederick; “but calm yourself, dear Mary.
They will release me soon.” Her hold relaxed
around his neck. The officer quickly
stretched out his hand, or she would have
fallen.

“She has fainted, sir,” said the officer,
and his hard features wore a pitying expression,
as he gazed on the loveliness he upheld.
“Shall I lay her on the bed?”

Frederick motioned him to do so. Then,
bending over her he kissed her pale cheek.

“Will you request the lady who lives beneath
us to attend to her?”

The officer left the room and returned with
the woman. Frederick cast one more look
at the form of his Mary, then he followed
his conductors—to prison!

Dick met the stranger, Stimson. Together
they cracked a bottle of wine, and laughed
over the fall of Johnson. Together they
arranged the plan of a darker scheme. Then
Dick went to bed, and slept—very soundly.

Alas, poor Fred. To this had all his resolutions
come. In this had his hopes and
aspirations ended. He was in inmate of a
dungeon—a prisoner, and a criminal. Three
days had passed away—three long nights,
too, of vigil and restlessness. What had been
the fate of his Mary? Was she in the power
of Stimson? He shuddered at the thought.
The lock of the cell-door snapped, and the
turnkey entered with a lady veiled. But
Fred. knew at a glance his Mary, and extending
his arms, with a cry of joy she sank
within them.

What a world is woman in herself! how
mighty her influence for good or for evil!—
Through this woman had come the change
in Johnson's character. From the wild, careless,
unprincipled youth he had become—in
resolve, at least—an honorable man. And
what a strange thing is the heart of a woman.
It pours itself out in love for the depraved—
the worthless of our sex; but within it, still,
there lies the little leaven of good which will
leaven the whole of man's vileness. Mary
loved Fred. She saw not his faults when
she loved him, and she fell. But from the
depth she now strove to rise, and bear upward,
on the wings of her love, her repentant
lover.

“Mary! this is kind, I had feared for you
—has that villain Stimson—”

“Alas, Frederick, there is a greater villain
than him to fear.”

“What mean you?”

“O, Frederick—I have suffered so much—
I have been wronged—insulted—”

“Who has dared?—speak, Mary!”

“Martin—hear me Frederick. He came
to me on the morning after your arrest. He
told me that he would conduct me to you. I
was overjoyed at the offer—for I knew not
whither they had dragged you. But—but—”

“Go on, Mary—tell me—”

“He brought a coach to the door; I entered
it with him, and we were driven I
know not where; I found myself among
strangers, and—and—he insulted me—with
the vilest propositions—O Frederick—would
we had been married!”

“He has not dared—”

“He would have dared anything. I spurned
him, for though fallen, I am not the
wretched thing he deemed me. Three days
was I confined, and insulted by the villain's—”

“By the God of heaven he shall answer
for this—I will—”

“Let us leave him to the God of heaven,”
said Mary—I have escaped—”

“And how, Mary?”

“This morning he came to me again. He
renewed his infamous proposals. He told
me you had been tried and sentenced—that
I was alone, and helpless. I knew the villain
lied—I told him so, and he was enraged—”

“And—and—Mary—what—”

“He swore that I should be his—I resisted
him—I screamed, for he was strong, and
a stranger rushed in, and—I—”

“Was preserved, my Mary,—who was
he?”

“He led me from that dreadful place—I
begged him to take me to the prison—he
complied. He is below, now.”

“I must see him —think him. Will you
request the gentleman below to enter,” said
Fred. to the jailor, who had remained outside
the door. The turnkey withdrew, and
returned with the stranger. Fred. gazed at
him a moment, then springing forward he
grasped his hand; “Ned Rifton?” cried he.

“Ha, my dear Fred., is it you? Jove, my
boy. I didn't know it—how are you—”

“I will tell you all, Ned. But first let me
thank you for my wife Ned, may—”

“Hang it, don't mention it. But what a
d—d rascal that Martin is, to be sure.—
Why, I never could have believed it—but
let's hear how you've got caged.”

Again was the tale of crime repeated, and
Ned Rifton grasped his friend's hand, as he
concluded, and Mary turned her mild eyes
on Fred., and he was strengthened.