University of Virginia Library

10. CHAPTER X.

When the announcement of the presence
of the young girl at the door, Gordon bent
his eyes towards it with deep interest and the
livliest curiosity to see one whom he had not
only learn to form so high an opinion of, but
one by whose aid he hoped to carry out his
plans. He felt that a single glance would
enable him to decide whether she would be
fitted for an enterprize calling for so much
courage and tact.

The door opened and the maiden entered,
and seeing Cæsar, who had gone towards the
door to open it for her, she held out both
hands to him while a smile of pleasure and
kindness illummed her pale but beautiful
countenance:

`Why, Cæsar, I am so glad to see you!
If I had known you were here to talk with
my dear father, I should not have hurried
home so! But—'

Here her eyes fell on Gordon, whom she
did not discover before, as he sat a little back
behind the angle of the open door, and instantly
she ceased speaking, and surveyed
him as if surprised to see a stranger.

`It is a mess-mate of Cæsar, daughter,'
said the captain, `and a friend of yours and
mine! Shake hands with him and welcome
him. This is my daughter Jennette, my
man!'

Gordon was standing like a statue. Surprise,
delight, amazement had seized him at
the very first sight of her; for need the reader
be told that he had recognized in her the
beautiful unknown who had captured his
heart.' He rose and involuntarily advanced
a step towards her on making this delightful,
wonderful discovery, but instantly recollecting
himself drew back, and stood gazing upon
her with emotion, he could scarcely continue.
As soon as he saw her turn towards
him, he dropped his eyes, lest his intense
gaze should alarm her; for he knew that she
could have no suspicions that she had ever
before seen him under his humble and complete
disguise. At the words “this is my
daughter,” he bowed low and touched his
tarpaulin, hardly daring to look her in the
face lest he should betray himself. How his
heart bounded with joy. What an unlooked
for surprise. But sadness was mingled with
his joy, at last discovering who the modest
young stranger was, that he should find her a
sufferer from want. But this feeling was
quickly dissipated at the reflection that it was
in his power to make her happy. What
deep delight this thought gave birth to in his
heart.

`But at present she shall not know who
I am! I will also make certain of her
heart ere she knows that I am rich. She
has not penetrated my disguise, and I will
preserve it! How beautiful she is, and how
fondly she looks upon her father, like a mother's
glance bent on a suffering child! He did
well in saying she was an angel! Such heavenly
eyes! I knew not that she possessed
such charms! But these are forgotten in my

estimation, while I reflect upon her filial virtues,
her noble character, her generous heart.
She is indeed a treasure! What is gold, or
family name which, I fear, are all my wants,
what are they weighed in the scales against
virtue and beauty like hers. I know I am
not worthy of her; yet I shall try to win her,
knowing that it shall be my life's sweet labor
to render her happy.'

Such were the thoughts that passed
through the mind of the young man, as he
stood watching her, as without noticing him
farther after curtseying to him, she placed a
small parcel upon the table and then removing
her straw hat and shawl, sat like a child
upon the box at her father's feet. The presence
of Gordon, whom she supposed some
humble shipmate of Cæsar's, did not embarrass
her; and Gordon had an opportunity of
observing her unnoticed by her.

`You are glad to see Cæsar, Jennette,'
said her father, `I know by your looks.'

`Yes, for Cæsar is such a warm friend to
you dear father.'

`Not more so, Missy Jenny dan my good
shipmate here,' answered Cæsar looking towards
Gordon. She glanced a second time
at the large-bearded sailor, as he to her appeared
to be, with the patch upon his eye,
and looked as if she was wondering how he
should be such a friend and be wholly unknown
to her.

`I am glad he is a friend, Cæsar, for we
have few enough.'

`You will see what a large heart he has,
Jennette,' said the captain, `Cæsar, here,
took it into his head to tell his shipmate our
story, and so the noble fellow opens his purse
and heart at the same time, and gives Cæsar
fifty dollars in gold as a present to you
and I! See, here it is! For you must see
this gold to believe there is so much in the
world, poor child!' As the captain spoke he
opened his hand and displayed the guineas
with which it was filled.

`Given to you, my dear father?' she
cried, looking from the gold to the sailor,
whose whole wardrobe was not worth half
a guinea. `Is there not some mistake?'

`Not a bit, Missy Jenny,' said Cæsar, with
shining eyes, `he gib it free as water, and
he hab more! So you mustn't say one
word, but take it.'

`But from a stranger!' she said shrinking
like a delicate mind from obligations so vast
to one unknown.

`You can't refuse it, missy, for it is as
much your fader's as your own,' said Cæsar,
`it will make him so much more comfortable.
You can hab coffee and tea, and
meat, and perhaps a ride in a hack once
in a while, would do de old cap'n berry
great deal ob good.'

`Yes, it will be indeed a blessing,' she
said, half aloud. `But I can hardly realize
it! Will you tell me, sir,' she said,' `why
you have done this?' she asked, looking
Gordon in the face with an angelic frankness.
`It is not usual for men to give so
much away without a motive?'

Gordon was struck with her wisdom
and good sense, and more than ever
loved her. He feared to reply lest his
voice should betray him, as he saw that
she did not at all recognized his features
or person. But disguising his tone he answered,
as she seemed to expect a response:

`I gave it that I might contribute what I
had no use for, to the nncessities of virtue
and filial piety. I heard your father was poor
and sick, and that his child supported him by
daily and nightly toil. Could I then be a
sailor, whose generosity is proverbial, not to
seek to relieve an old infirm captain, and
make his noble child's toil lighter.'

`You are a noble fellow, and a true sailor,'
said the captain with grateful emotion.

`And accept my thanks and my father's,
sir,' said Jennette. `You have done us
more service with the bestowing of this gold,
than you suppose; for, my dear father, as I
came down the wharf I met Mr. Grundy, the
owner of these old houses, and he told me to
tell you, that you must move out to-morrow,

for the buildings were to be taken down at
once! My heart was heavy enough when I
came in thinking where we could go, knowing
that nobody would rent us a room unless we
paid for it in advance.'

`There, sir,' cried the old captain, `you
see what a good angel you are to us. But
for this, I have no doubt I should be to-morrow
where I have so long feared, and that is in
the alms-house.'

`Never, dear father, so long as I had fingers
to work for you!' cried Jennette, with an
earnestness, that deeply touched Gordon's
heart. How he rejoiced to know that he
had had it in his power to avert the evil
threatened, and to make the sweet girl happy.
But he could not forget his errand
there. He did not forget his duty to Hugh
Ogilvie. But should he think of Jennette,
as party to the escape? Could he expose
her to such perils, and perhaps to the impudent
familiarity of the keeper's admiration? At
first the idea jarred upon his feelings. Since
the young girl he had sought out, proved to
be his lovely unknown, he hesitated. But
the more he reflected upon it, the more he
was satisfied of her fitness.

`I would have consented to let my sister
Bella take this part, would she do it,' he said
to himself, `why should I refuse to ask Jennette,
though I do love her! I will no longer
hesitate! Perhaps, for my sake, when I
make known myself to her, she may consent.
But first I will secure the father, whom I now
clearly recognize, and whom I know will,
when he knows who I am, do any thing for
me; and Cæsar I am persuaded is the very
negro I saved from the shark in Havana!
Thus I have two links to bind the father and
negro to me. The daughter I trust will be
won by affection. But this I have to test.

`You have not told me your generous
shipmate's name, Cæsar'? said the captain.

`Jack, massa cap'n.'

`You have seen me, before, Captain Alison,'
said Gordon.'

`Where, my man?'

`At Havana! Do you remember being
arrested by the guard at the theatre, for taking
the part of a young American officer
who having been insulted by a Spanish Don,
had struck him with the hilt of his sword!'

`Yes, I recollect it well. The young officer
had taken a seat just before me, when
the Spaniard came in and told him to move
aside, that he was a colonel and of higher
rank than a middy. The officer answered
that an American middy out-ranked any
Spanish colonel of them all; and as he had
paid for his seat he would keep it. The
Spaniard then laid his hand upon the young
man's shoulder when he raised his sword and
struck him in the face.'

`And the guard then fell upon him when
you, Captain Alison, bravely took his part
and aided him in fighting his way out of the
theatre.'

`Yes, and he fought well too. But in that
tussle, I was caught and pinioned and dragged
off to prison. And I thought it was all
up with me then; but my brave young friend
hadn't forgotten me. He went down to the
quay, mustered a dozen American boats'
crew waiting for their captains to go off to
their vessels, and led them full sixty men in
all, each armed with an oar, right through
the town and reached the caliboose just as
the soldiers brought me and another captain
up to lock us in. The young officer gave the
word charge, and the lads came on like a
wave and went right over the soldiers tramping
them down; and before I knew it I was
free and being hurried off to the harbor. We
reached the quay in safety and put off all the
boats in a fleet. In the scampado from the
shore I got separated from the young officer,
but reached my ship in safety. I have not
seen him from that day to this, and I don't
know of any man I would like to see better;
for he took my heart.'

`What is his name?' asked Gordon, not a
little gratified to find that his part in the affair
had not been forgotten.

`Lieutenant Hays, or Hay!' answered

Captain Alison. And the other day when
Jennette told me how a young naval officer
on the bridge had protected her from insult,
and described him to me, I half believe it
might have been he; for it answered his personal
appearance exactly! I wish it had
been, for I would rather she would be indebted
to him for a favor of that kind than
any other officer; for you know these gallants
think if they serve a poor girl they can
be bold and presuming. But Lieutenant
Hay, as every body said is the soul of honor.
If there is any man I would have freely exposed
my poverty to and asked aid, it is he.
But my man, how did you know of these
transactions in Havana? Were you there at
the time?'

`I was one of the party who rescued you,
Captain Alison.'

`Were you! Then give me your hand,
and let me thank you. Better late than never!
You did me good service, you and
yours. I would,' he added warmly, as he
held firmly Gordon's offered hand in his,
`that this were your brave leader's, as well
as yours! I would give much to see him
and be able to thank him as I am thanking
you, my brave lad.'

`You can see him, sir, for I know that he
is in port,' said Gordon, fixing his eyes upon
the lovely countenance of Jennette, which he
had joyfully seen deepen its colors, as her
father alluded to the officer on the bridge and
her description of him. As he now spoke
saying that he was in town, he saw the rich
blood mount to her face, and her eyes beam
with pleasure. `Why should this be so?'
he asked himself; `why this pleased agitation
unless she is hoping, half-believing that
the officer she has met and and the one her
father speaks so highly of are one and the
same.'

`In town!' cried the captain, with animation.
`When did you see him?'

`Yesterday, sir.'

`I should be happy now to see him once
more.'

`I will let him know it, sir.'

`No, no, father!' quickly cried Jennette;
and then she dropped her eyes with confusion.

`You need not see him, child, if you don't
like to have a young officer witness our poverty.'

`Oh—that—that is not it, sir,—but—'

`Well, you don't think I will ask aid of
him. I am too proud for that! And has not
this generous sailor rendered us above it! If
you see him, my man, just hint to him I am
in Boston! He can then do as he pleases.'

`I will, sir,' answered Gordon, with joy.