University of Virginia Library

10. CHAPTER X.
THE TWO ASPIRANTS.

The result of the conversation held by
the old sea-captain with the toll-gatherer
is already known to the reader. As the
captain resolved so he proceeded to excute.
He sent early the next morning
an invitation to the two young men to
come and see him at twelve o'clock, as
he had something particular to say to
them. The message was verbal and
Jack the messenger that bore it; but he
was saved a walk of two miles by meeting
Archibald on the way to call upon
Blanche, as he had told Nelson he should
do,

The captain was seated in his leathern
arm-chair, talking with Blanche, when
Jack was seen approaching, accompanied
by Archibald.

`Well, Blanche,' said the captain,
`you can now go and look after the dinner;
I have a few words to say to Master
Worthington, who I see is coming over
the green. You are a good girl to give
up so readily your promised walk with
him, but I'll clear you to him; and as I
have found out from you in our little talk
here, that you are not particularly disposed
to have either of them—'

`I did not say either of them, father.
I said that I did not think because they
saved my life they ought to claim my
hand. But I had Nelson only in my
thought when I spoke.'

`I see! I see! You think that Archibald
may pretend to your hand, but not
Nelson. A manifest partiality.'

`Indeed—dear father—I—'

Here Blanche blushed and stammered,
for she felt she had betrayed herself
farther than she intended.

`Don't look so guilty, child. It is
nothing remarkable that you should prefer
one to the other. But their claims
are equal to your hand, if they are really
serious in seeking it; I must treat them
both alike. But here comes Worthington
in at the door; and I would rather
he should not see you. There, too, is
Nelson hastening this way across the
bridge. I will find out their intentions
and come to a perfect understanding
with them before they leave the house.'

`Don't say anything, father, that will
make me appear foolish.'

`Leave it with me, child. I shall
look after your interests and happiness.
I am not going to have two young men
fighting about you, when I can put them
on good terms with one another and
make all fair and above board. Good
bye. After they are gone I'll see you
again and let you know how the wind
blows.'

Blanche now hastened from the room,
for the step of Archibald was now upon
the threshold. The outer door was left
open, and entering the passage he tapped
lightly on the inner window.

`Come in,' called out the captain.—
`Ah, Master Worthington, I am glad to
see you,' he added, as Archibald came
into the room with a smile and a glance
round as if he expected to see the sunny
face of Blanche. `How do you do today?'

and the captain extended his hand.

`I am well, captain,' answered the
young man, who looked disappointed at
not seeing the maiden, but grasped the
captain's hand and took the seat opposite
to him, to which he pointed him.

`You have got my message soon.'

`Jack met me, sir. I was coming up
to fulfil an appointment with Blanche to
go with her to Mrs. Wilson's.'

`Blanche begs to be excused, Archibald.'

`I hope she is not ill, sir.'

`Oh, no! But, to tell you the truth,
young gentleman, and speak my mind
bluntly, like an old sailor, I don't think
that it is exactly the thing for a young
girl to be cruising about with a young
gentleman. We are always glad to see
you,—of late your attentions, as well as
those of Master Osborne, are getting to
be too particular unless—that is unless—'
Here the captain hesitated for a word.

`Unless they love her, sir; let me add,
and I do love her, sir; and, captain Talbot,
if you will give me your consent I
wish to make her my wife, if I can obtain
her own.'

`That is plain talk, and coming to the
point, Master Archibald; and I like to
see you so frank and sincere. You could
not have said more in fewer words. But
there is another claimant for her hand.'

`Who, sir?' asked Archibald, quickly.

`Nelson Osborne, your friend. He
seems to think his claim for the maiden's
hand quite as strong as your own, if what
I see and observe and hear be true. But
here he comes to answer for himself.'

`While the captain was speaking the
young man came in without rapping;
when seeing Arcbibald he frowned darkly,
and half drew back as if he could not
endure to be in the same room with his
rival.

`Come in and sit down, Master Osborne.
I have sent for you and Archi
bald to have a little talk with you. Come
sir, don't show any angry feelings here.
Blanche is not a bone for two dogs to
fight about.'

`Fight, sir,' repeated Nelson, haughtily.

`Yes, sit down, and I'll tell you how
that I have heard your conversation with
Archibald as you crossed the bridge last
night reported to me. I am not the man
to have my daughter made the subject of
loud words in the public thorough-fares.
I have, therefore, sent for you two young
gentlemen, to have a little talk with you.'

Nelson looked both mortified and angry
at this firm and spirited declaration of the
captain's, and sullenly taking a chair, he
looked sumultaneously from him to Archibald,
as if he believed the latter had
been the reporter. He understood the
look, and said quietly.

`It was not through me that Captain
Talbot heard of the words which passed
between us.'

`No, sir,' responded the captain; `I
heard it from the toll-gatherer, who over-heard
you as you passed; for it seems
you let you feelings so far overcome your
discretion in discoursing about my daughter
that you forgot there were ears abroad.'

`I am very sorry, sir, that—'

`No matter now, it is passed; but I
have resolved there shall be no more of
it. I have therefore sent for you both,
that we might have an understanding together.
No doubt you both feel an interest
in Blunche; it is natural you should,
under the circumstances, and then she
is such a good girl, no one can see her
and not love her. Therefore, I do n't
blame you, my lads. But she must not
be made the subject of contention between
you. She must not be the means of
making enemies of two friends.'

`I have no hostility towards Mr. Worthington,'
answered Osborne, doggedly.
`I do not fear his rivalship.'

`That is not the question. You both
visit my daughter. What Mr. Worthington's
intentions are, he has told me!'

`And mine you shall also know. I
love Blanche Talbot, if I ever loved anybody,
and if I could get your consent and
her's, sir, I should think I was more than
repaid for having saved her life.'

Archibald smiled. The captain looked
at Nelson as if he was doubtful whether
he had heard him aright; but seeing
the smile on Worthington's face, he was
satisfied that he had.

`Then you think your service requires
pay, young man. If you only want to be
rewarded and expect Blanche only as a
reward for having saved her, why I think
I had better keep her, and give you what
you ask in money.'

`I did not mean, sir, that is—I—'

`No matter. No man can eat his own
words again. What you have said you
have said.'

`It was an unlucky slip of the tongue,
sir. I love Blanche for herself,' answered
Nelson, who saw that he had inadvertently
betrayed the hollowness and
selfishness of his true character. He
saw that the captain and Worthington
both felt contempt for him. This conviction
did not have a tendency to increase
his amiability. But feeling that it would
be dangerous to his hopes in reference
to Blanche to show anger, he restrained
his spirit, and smiling, added, `I do not
wish any reward for what I did, save
the happiness of knowing that I saved
her.'

`That's a better speech and sentiment,'
said the captain. `But, gentlemen,
this interview must be brief. You
both claim my daughter's hand, both
seem to have equal claims, and I do not
know that one has greater than the other;
this will be for Blanche to decide whenever
she is called upon to do so; for she
is supposed to be able to know her own
mind with reference to you, best. Now,
you are both young, and neither of you
are able to support a wife as Blanche
ought to be supported; for she shall not
go from my house to endure privations.
Blanche, also, is young. If you were,
either of you, this day, to receive my
consent and her own, to woo her, I should
not let her be married for three years at
the farthest. She would then be twenty,
a good and proper age for a maiden to
wed.'

`I should not wish to marry her soner,
sir, so I only get her consent,' said Nelson,
with readiness.

`And you, Master Worthington; what
say you?'

`If I should be so happy as to be preferred
by the lovely Blanche, sir, I should
cheerfully acquiesce in whatever delay
she imposed upon me.'

`Very well, now hear what I have to
propose. `The country has just declared
war against England. Soldiers for the
army, and seamen for the navy are called
upon to repair to the rendezvous to
serve their country. Neither of you
have any profession which will bind you
down here. If you both choose to go
and distinguish yourselves during this
war, whether in the army or navy, as
you may choose for yourselves, at the
end of the war I will give Blanche to the
one that has earned for himself the most
honorable name.

There can be no objection to this condition,
sir,' answered Archibald. `You
have only anticipated my own intentions,
Captain Talbot; for I have already made
up my mind to go into the navy and join
the Eagle frigate, now fitting out at Boston.
But I had hoped first to have the
promise of Blaneche's hand; but I am
willing to comply with the condition you
propose; that he who acquits himself the
most bravely shall win her.'

`The war may last for seven years,'

said Osborne, who did not look as if he
relished the proposed ordeal.

`Well, I will limit the time for your
absence. If you, either of you, return
at the end of three years, bringing back
a name that men will speak with praise
on account of your exploits, Blanche
shall be yours; for I know she will not
refuse her hand to a brave man, who,
for her sake, has perilled his life in his
country's battles. Now, young gentlemen,
you know the conditions. Fulfil
your part, and I will fulfil mine.'

`I am glad of this opportunity, sir, of
testing my devotion to Blanche,' answered
Archibald, with manly sincerity
in the tone of his voice.

`I think the terms rather hard, Captain,'
said Nelson, trying to laugh, and
to appear as if he spoke in a joking
way: for a bullet might put an end to all
our distinction.'

`He who would win a fair lady must
not fear bullets, young man. I should
have heeded them little in my young
days, if such an offer as I make you was
proposed to me.'

`Captain Talbot, I shall go to-morrow
to Boston, in a packet that sails there,'
said Richard, `I shall not return, neither
shall I write home until you have
heard to me through the gazettes of my
native country. If I cannot in three
years do something worthy of Blanche I
do not deserve her.'

The two young aspirants for the
maiden's hand then shook hands with
the Captain and took their leave. Nelson
tried to go with a good grace, but he
evidently felt deeply chagrined and vexed.
He looked round, and lingered as
if he would see Blanche; but she did not
make her appearance. Archibald, on
the contrary, shook the Captain heartily
by the hand, and, although he did not
see Blanche, he felt more gratified than
otherwise; for he said in his heart, I
will see her this evening and say good
bye to her alone.

`Now, my friends,' said the Captain,
as he accompanied them to the door, `I
hope you will both be good friends and
honorable rivals. You will have a fair
start together for distinction, and I trust
that you will yet return full of honors;
and to him who has proved himself most
deserving Blanche shall be given.'

Nelson Osborne walked rapidly away
from the house, not caring to have Archibald
for his companion across the
bridge.

The latter merely smiled at his hostile
feelings, and proceeded leisurely on his
own way.

The reader is already aware, from
Blanche's confession, that she granted to
each a brief interview the same evening.
The next day Archibald left his native
valley, resolved never to return to it until
he should return worthy of Blanche.

Nelson Osborne remained two or three
days in town and then suddenly departed.
Some said he had gone to Portland
to enlist in the troops destined for the defence
of that place; others said he had
enlisted in the marine corps, of which
there was a rendezvous at Wiscassett.—
The latter persons were correct. He went
to Wiscassett, and enlisted in a company
that soon afterwards proceeded to New
York, for the purpose of garrisoning the
fort at Governor's Island. From that
time there was no trace of him reached
Captein Talbot during the war, nor was
anything heard of Archibald, save that
he joined the frigate Eagle and sailed in
her from Boston.

A rumor had indeed reached the valley
of the Kennebec that a certain person,
by the name of Osborne, had been disgraced
from the service for some misdemeanour;
but no one could tell whether
it was Nelson Osborne or not. But from
Archibald Worthington no intelligence

of any kind was received save secretly by
Blanche. But how this was will by and
by appear. We will now briefly follow
the career of Nelson Osborne. The
company of marines to which he was attached
had been ordered to a sloop-of-war,
which, after various cruises, reached
Rio. While on board of her, doing
duty as sentry, Nelson one day recognised
Archibald coming on board. His
surprise at seeing him on equal terms
with the officers was only surpassed by
his envy and vexation. He saw that he
was already in advance of him. He secretly
resolved, therefore, like a coward
as he was, that he would endeavor to
compass his destruction. What he heard
of the bravery of the young man only
confirmed him in his hatred of him. He
had asked one of the officers what that
person had done to entitle him to their
companionship, and was answered,

`He was the first man that boarded
the British frigate Monmouth and hauled
down her colors. He is the bravest
young fellow in the navy, and will have a
midshipman's warrant ere long.'

`Not if I can prevent it,' muttered the
marine; `I see that I must hope to win
Blanche, not by distinguishing myself.
but by preventing Worthington from doing
so. If I have to take his life, I will
stop his career. Blanche Talbot is already
his.'

It was a year before Nelson Osborne
had an opportunity of putting his design
into execution. At length he succeeded
in being transferred to the same ship to
which Archibald was attached. He
pretended the closest friendship for him,
and succeeded in deceiving him and
winning his confidence, assuring him
that having long since given up all
thoughts of Blanche, he had now no reason
to look upon him as an enemy.

Seeing that Archibald believed him,
he watched his opportunity for compassing
his death; for on this he had resolved.
His watchful spirit was ever on the
alert for an opportunity which should
both ensure his rival's destruction and
his own safety. At length one offered,
just such a one as he would have chosen.

The sloop-of-war had stopped at an
uninhabited island for water, aud in one
of the boats which went on shore was a
small detachment of marines. Nelson
managed to get into this party, as Archibald
was to have command of the boat;
and, said he to htmself, `now is the time
(if ever) for me to seek his ruin. On the
shore we shall be scattered, and I shall
have an opportunity of putting him out
of the way without suspicion.'

At sunset, when the boats were ready
to put off, Archibald nor his faithful
companion Cæser were to be found.—
After a brief search, the boats pulled on
board, as it was growing dark, and the
officers resolved to search for them in the
morning, supposing they had wandered
unwittingly into the interior. But the
search proved fruitless, and the sloop
sailed, leaving them to their fate.