University of Virginia Library

14. CHAPTER XIV.

Again the course of our history leads us to that
youthful empire, the dawn of whose might and
prosperity has already fixed the gaze of the world in
wonder and admiration. To America, then, dear
reader, with the speed of thought let us together
wing our flight, nor pause until the spires, cupolas
and vanes of her commercial emporium glitter before
us in the sunbeam! There she rises like Venus
from the ocean, captivating in her loveliness,—her
isle-gemmed girdle sparkling in light—her handmaid
Commerce on the one hand speeding her white-winged
couriers on their mission to distant lands,

while on the other appear the twin sisters, Agriculture
and manufactures depositing at the feet of their
queen the accumulated treasures their toil and
skill have won!

How humiliating is the conviction that the crimes
and passions of our species are able to descrate a
spot which nature and art had otherwise rendered
an earthly paradise.

The vicious De Lyle still pursued his course of
folly and iniquity, unchecked, and apparently unamenable
to retribution.

The morning is bright and serene, and there remains
in the atmosphere but that slight chill which
the dying winter leaves as a legacy to its buoyant
successor, like the well meant advice of a departing
miser to the listless ear of his spendthrift heir.

Every sojourner in the American metropolis, from
limping age to heedless childhood, greeted the advent
of the beautiful morn with smiles, and even
the usually monotonous ring of the dustman's bell,
awoke to rude melody beneath the elastic swing of
its cheerful owner. To the daughter of Isaac
Samuel in particular its roseate flush was attended
with new delight, for De Lyle, to whom, under the
assumed name of Stillman, she had pledged her
virgin heart, with all its treasure of affection, had
increased the frequency of his visits since his last
interview with Burchard, and appeared to the deluded
girl actuated by the most ardent and honourable
attachment. While labouring under apprehensions

of his associates's treachery, his feelings were
too painfully excited to permit that constant attention
to Rachel Samuel, which had before characterized
his intercourse with her, but now he compensated
for his previous absence, by daily exhibiting
that tenderness of manner which he could so well
assume, and which so fatally enthralled his beautiful
and credulous admirer. About the hour of ten
o'clock a slight knock at the door of the Jew's
residence was heard with rapture by Rachel, who
with buoyant heart and sparkling eyes admitted
her lover.

“Oh, Mr. Stillman,” exclaimed the tall and
queen-like girl, “You have just come in time to
catch the new-born fragrance of my early flowers.
Before I was so foolish as to occupy my time and
thoughts in the contemplation of our mutual attachment,
the garden in front of our house was my
chief care; but since it is desirable to us both to
avoid the prying gaze of impertinent curiosity, I
have transferred my regard to the little mimick
lawn in the rear; and this morning the early
flowers have burst forth on purpose to welcome you.
Do you not think this an emblem of hope and happiness?”

Thus saying, she took his proffered arm, and
listened with downcast looks and burning blushes
to the oft-repeated tale of his unconquerable passion.
On reaching the little garden, she conducted him
along the narrow and newly gravelled walk, and

leaning over the well trimmed rows of box—whose
thick branches were modelled into miniature walls,
castles, bridges and turrets, she continued to direct
his attention to the beauties of flowers, whose fragrance
was so grateful to the newly awakened sense
of their fair cultivator. The rose had elicited from
De Lyle an appropriate encomium—the violet received
the fitting meed of its unpretending loveliness—the
honey-suckle attracted merited admiration,
while the lovely Jewess seemed the goddess of
the place, dispensing her favours in the shape of
bouquets to the most devoted of her idolaters. Soft
and musical did the words of love flow from the
lips of De Lyle while returning to the house; and
as he seated himself in the parlour, the confiding girl
permitted him to clasp her to his bosom, with a fervour
and boldness, which at an earlier period would
have aroused the jealous opposition of maiden pride
and purity. “Now,” thought De Lyle, “my task
is nearly finished. The outworks are in my
power, and the garrison will soon surrender at discretion.”
At this moment a knock at the door interrupted
the tête-à-tête, and as Miss Samuel entered
the hall, she was met by a young female of apparently
humble rank, who desired the pleasure of
a few moment's conversation on a subject of importance,
and excusing herself to De Lyle, Rachel
joined the visitor in an apartment adjoining that in
which he was seated. But a short time had elapsed,
when the door of the little parlour opened, and exposed
to the view of the alarmed De Lyle the exasperated
countenance of the maid who had formerly
attended Julia Borrowdale, and who, after his
double purpose of destroying Clifton, and ruining
the treacherous girl was served, had been abandoned
by him to her fate, without receiving the least attention
to her angry remonstrances. By her side,
pale as a marble statue, stood the beautiful Jewess,
whose features displayed the keenest suffering;
and her grieved and despairing countenance was
strikingly contrasted by the fierce and almost
savage look of the triumphant Abigail.

“There sits the wretch who has villanously
abandoned me,” were her first words; “may be, Mr.
De Lyle, you will deny your name to me, won't
you?”

With this exclamation, she placed herself directly
before him, and with the most furious gestures continued
to utter threats and execrations.

De Lyle, whose experience in such matters prevented
undue agitation, coolly rose, and addressing
Miss Samuel, solicited permission to withdraw, if
the insane person before him was longer permitted
to utter her incoherent ravings under her roof.

“It is impossible for me to say,” he continued
calmly, “whether this female is deranged in her intellect,
or whether she is employed by some jealous or
artful person to destroy my character, and drive me
from the presence of one whom I shall ever remember
with the fondest regard. But whichever may

be the true solution of the enigma, I owe it to my
own dignity and honour to abandon a house which
I can no longer visit without being subject to the
most cruel and unjust suspicions.”

The cool impudence of this experienced tactician
threw the astonished waiting maid in nautical
phrase, “all aback,” and her hesitation and surprise
began to create a doubt in the mind of
Rachel as to the truth of her statements. At this
moment the door quietly opened, and the attenuated
form of Isaac Samuel glided into the circle, like the
ghost of some murdered traveller into the presence
of his assassins. De Lyle instantly perceived that
evil destiny had doomed his ruin, and that the hour
had arrived for the execution of its stern decree.

“Mr. De Lyle, said the Jew, with a malicious
sneer on his countenance, “this is an unexpected
honour.

“May I be permitted to inquire the cause of this
unlooked for condescension on your part?

“Little did I hope to meet so distinguished and
honourable a visitor in my poor domicil.”

As the exasperated Israelite pronounced the name
of De Lyle, a piercing shriek was uttered by his
agonized daughter; and he had but ceased speaking
when she fell senseless on the floor, the blood
flowing copiously from her mouth, it being evident
that the shock had caused the rupture of a blood
vessel. With the most intense agony depicted in
his countenance, Isaac Samuel rushed to her assistance,

while the servant was despatched for the
nearest physician.

During the bustle and confusion consequent on
these events, De Lyle withdrew unnoticed, and
with rapid footsteps traversed the streets which led
to his father's residence. As he opened the door of
the Jew's residence when making his exit, the hated
countenance of Burchard peered instantly over the
picket fence in front of the dwelling, nor could a
doubt remain in De Lyle's mind of his agency in
this ruinous exposure, when he caught the malignant
triumph depicted in the traitor's countenance.
Too much alarmed to pause in his retreat, he passed
on without noticing his quondam associate, and
Burchard, satisfied with his success, slowly sauntered
to his home. The reader will no doubt have
conceived the causes which led to the exposure of
De Lyle by his treacherous instrument. A second
anonymous epistle informed him that the time had
arrived to strike the blow, if he wished to avoid incarceration,
and the knowledge of De Lyle's amour
with the waiting maid, and of his designs upon
Rachel Samuel, furnished him with means to accomplish
his purpose without personal hazard.
Knowing how completely De Lyle was in the
power of the wily and grasping Israelite, Burchard
saw the impossibility of his escape from the gripe of
his inexorable creditor, when the wrath of the latter
should be aroused by so unpardonable an offence
as a dishonourable attempt on the virtue of his child.