University of Virginia Library

2. CHAPTER II.
The Deception.

MAG MUNSON was busily engaged
preparing the evening meal, Kate
was sitting by the stove, with her
bonnet in her hand, looking sadly and drowsily
into the fire, and Gordon's brain was
teeming with bright dreams of the golden
fruits he was to gather by the secret knowledge
he possessed of Mr. Acton, when the
door was opened and a fourth individual entered
the room.

A young man about three and twenty
years of age, straight, well-made, strong
and active; his complexion dark, his features
bold, intelligent, and handsome, though
marked by dissipation, and his bearing reckless.
He wore a cloth cap, which sat carelessly
on his finely shaped head, a checkered
shirt, the collar of which was turned
loosely over a black cravat, a coat of fine
cloth that was getting somewhat threadbare,
and pantaloons of a corresponding quality.

Such was the appearance of Joseph Jenks,
better known to his associates by the name
of Light Joe. Young as he was, he was old

in iniquity, and gloried in the same profession
as Gordon. He was on the most intimate
terms with the characters we have introduced;
especially with Kate, whose accepted
lover he was.

Joseph advanced into the room in the
most familiar manner, and kicking Gordon's
shins as he passed him, went directly up to
Kate.

`Come, my chick,' said he, playfully, without
noticing the curse Gordon bestowed upon
him for his impudence; `what the devil
ails you that you look so down in the mouth?
What are you dreaming about?'

`About you,' replied Kate, smiling sadly.

`The deuce you are!' exclaimed Light
Joe, kissing her. `I must say you are a good
girl, and you like me, I am sure,' he added,
in an under tone; `but cheer up now, and
talk with me, Kate. In the first place, what
is the matter?'

To avoid giving any other answer, Kate
replied that she was going away; and when
he expressed his surprise, she explained to
him her aunt's reasons for placing her in a
situation, without telling what private reasons
she might have for complying with
Mag's wishes.

Notwithstanding the depravity of Kate
and her lover, there was something like true
affection in their feelings towards each other,
and it was accordingly with regret that
Joseph thought of her going away, even for
a limited time.

`How far is it,' he asked, `to where this
Acton lives?'

`Five miles, I should say, at least,' replied
Mag. `It may be more.'

`The devil it is!' exclaimed Joe. `Why,
Kate, do you suppose I'd care enough about
seeing you to go that distance, even though
there was no difficulty in having an interview
with you?'

`I hope so,' said Kate, `for I have concluded
to go, provided I can get the situation.'

`Which isn't very probable,' returned
Joe. `These people always want good recommendations,
and I'm sure nobody'd take
you without.'

`I leave that to Mag.'

`And Mag will get you the situation; see
if she don't,' put in the old woman, confidently.
`I have my own ideas of things,
and my own plans, and I don't often fail,
you all know.'

`You're shrewd, the devil knows,' retorted
Joe, contemptuously, `but you may as
well not try your cunning in this, for you'll
be sure to lose character.'

Old Mag deigned no reply to this remark,
but continued about her work, leaving Joseph
and Kate to have a season of private
conversation undisturbed.

`This is a new start,' said Joe, in a whisper,
`and I can't understand it. Are you
determined to go?'

`Yes,' replied Kate, firmly.

`Yes! and you never consulted me about
the matter, at all! I have given up every
girl for you, and I have thought I would marry
you some day, and this is the way you
treat me!'

`Joseph,' said Kate, candidly, `I did
wrong to say I would go without asking you
—and now, if you `say no, why, I'll stay
here.'

`And do you think I'll say so? No, Kate;
go, if you think best, but—don't forget me,'
added Joe, seriously. `You are not a changing
creature, I know, Kate, but when I
think that you loved Dick Marvin once, and
hate him now—'

`Marvin deceived me—lied to me and betrayed
my innocence!' interrupted Kate, vehemently,
`and that is why I hate him!—
You have always used me well and been
frank with me, Joseph, and, although you
have done nothing to restore me to virtue, I
cannot blame you for anything. I became
yours deliberately—you have not deceived
me—and now, whether you marry me or not,
I cannot complain. With Marvin it is different—'

`I saw him to-night,' interrupted Joseph,
anxious to change the conversation. `He's
as proud, daring, and dissipated as ever.—
He has been unfortunate in play, lately, and
has contracted some debts, which have caused
his creditors to look around to find where
he lives. How strange, Kate, that as long
as we have known him, we have never been
able to learn his place of residence!'

Kate made no reply, but sat musing in
her chair until the old woman called her to
supper. Joe whispered a few words of privacy
in her ear, and soon after departed, leaving
the three gathered around a low miserable
table, partaking of their humble meal
in silence.

It was near ten o'clock when Gordon went
out, to join the society of some of his vicious
companions, and pursue his secret midnight
occupations. Left alone together, Mag
Munson and her niece busied themselves in
preparing a few articles of decent clothing
for the latter, that she might appear as respectable
as possible at her first interview
with the family of the Actons.

The sun had but just risen on the following
morning, when Kate and her aunt, both
dressed in their most respectable clothing,
left their miserable abode in Centre street,
and pursued their way at a quick pace towards
Ann street.

It was a beautiful October morning, but
the air was cold and biting, and only the
roofs of the houses were warmed by the rays
of the sun. Men were abroad in their overcoats,
and the shop girls that hurried along
the street were, for the most part, warmly
clad. Kate was quite comfortably dressed,
and Margaret was accustomed to such weather,
so that neither suffered very severely
from the cold.

The two women were soon in Washington
street, pursuing their way, on foot, towards
Roxbury. As they passed along, Margaret
was continually talking to Kate in low, hurried
accents of their plans, and teaching her
how she should act on the occasion of her
appearance before the Actons. She endeavored
to impress her niece with the importance
of her playing the hypocrite in the
most subtle and cautious manner, and of
keeping her eye continually upon her own
interest, and that of her friends. Kate
promised every thing her aunt required, although
her mind was far from being on the
subject nearest to Margaret's heart.

It is a long walk to Roxbury, but the two
were soon beyond the Neck, for they traveled
rapidly, and were accustomed to fatigue.
But they had not yet reached their journey's
end. Striking out boldly into the country,
they pursued an uneven, winding road, which
conducted them into the midst of beautiful
scenery, and offered a cheering contrast to
the crowded streets of the town. The air
was still cold, but the sun's rays fell warmly
on the earth, and added fresh charms to the
country through which they passed. Kate
delighted in such scenery, but it made her
melancholy by the reflections it called up,
for she could not forget the difference between
her lot and that of the young girls
she there saw so happy.

They passed by several beautiful residences,
until they came to one that pleased
Kate more than all the rest. The house itself
was not very large, but it was built in
the most tasteful style of architecture, and
every thing about it bore the appearance of
care, neatness, and taste. The grounds were
well laid out and extensive, and the whole
was situated in the most romantic portion of
the country.

`This is the place,' said Margaret, opening
the gate; `how do you like it?'

Kate sighed, and without replying to the
old woman's question, followed her in silence
along the path that led to the house.

Margaret did not enter at the front door,
but like one already acquainted with the locality,
sought out a back passage, which
gave her admittance to the kitchen.

A middle aged, plainly dressed, good natured
looking woman met our adventurers on the

threshold, and took Margaret cordially by
the hand. She was the domestic the old
woman had conversed with on the day before,
and by her cautious deceit had succeeded
in interesting in her favor.

`I am glad to see you again,' said Mrs.
Barnes, leading them into the kitchen; `is
this the girl you was speaking about?'

`Yes, this is my niece,' replied Margaret,
looking at Kate with a well feigned appearance
of affection; `ever since you first
spoke of there being a vacant situation here,
I have become every time I thought of it
more and more anxious the poor girl should
fill it. Her health is poor, and a residence
in the country is the very thing she needs.'

`Poor girl!' exclaimed Mrs. Barnes, casting
a pitying glance at Kate, who dropped
her eyes, looking confused.

Poor girl, indeed; for, depraved as she
had become, she could not give countenance
to a lie without feeling abashed.

`Are you used to house work?' asked
Mrs. Barnes, addressing Kate.

`Yes, ma'am,' faltered the girl.

She said so, however, without lying, for
when young she had learned to do every description
of work in a dwelling house.

`Then I think you would suit us,' pursued
the domestic, `for I like your looks
very well. I will speak to Mrs. Acton.'

Kate and her aunt could not but look at each
other and smile, after Mrs. Barnes had left
the room; but their countenances resumed
their serious expression when that respectable
matron returned in company with the
mistress of the house.

Mrs. Acton was near thirty years of age,
but time had destroyed none of her youthful
beauty. Her complexion was as fair and
brilliant, her brow as smooth, and her eye as
bright and full of expression, as they had
ever been; and that was saying much. She
was in every respect a lovely woman, and
as amiable and intelligent as she was beautiful.
In disposition she was benevolent,
mild, and kind; yet there was a spirit of
dignity and noble pride within her, which
gave her greater strength of character than
one would have supposed, from her appearance,
she possessed. Nothing could be more
winning than her smile, although she was
never gay. Mrs. Barnes used to say she
had never seen her otherwise than mild and
pleasant, but that there was always a melancholy
expression in her countenance,
which she could not understand, it was so
sweet and winning.

Such was the lady who accompanied the
housekeeper to the kitchen, where Kate
and her companion sat waiting. She looked
at Kate kindly, and seemed pleased with
her appearance, for the girl never looked
more beautiful than on that occasion. Her
walk in the cold air had given a rosy tint to
her delicate cheek which it rarely possessed,
and her dress, although very plain, was tastefully
arranged, and displayed her form to the
best advantage. She had an appearance of
modesty, too, which was not feigned, for she
could not look upon the pure and beautiful
lady before her without feeling a confusing
sense of her own depravity.

After speaking a few words to Kate, Mrs.
Acton turned to Mrs. Barnes and asked her
if she thought the girl could supply the place
of the domestic who was about going away,
and on being answered in the affirmative,
inquired of Kate if she had brought recommendations
of character and ability.

`Her last employer,' put in Margaret, readily,
`gave her no recommendations, because
there was some difficulty between them.'

`Indeed!' exclaimed Mrs. Acton.

`I dislike to mention it,' pursued Margaret,
`but he was a bad man, and insulted the
poor girl; which drove her away before her
time was up. He was offended, and would
neither pay her her just dues, nor give her
a recommendation. However, if it is necessary,
I think I can get a satisfactory character
for her of a former employer, who was
every way pleased with her.'

This lie was uttered with such profound

dissimulation, and with such apparent truthfulness,
that Mrs. Acton was thrown entirely
off her guard. She looked at the blushing
Kate with more of pity than distrust,
and to the great delight of Margaret, said
the girl's appearance was sufficient recommendation,
and that she did not hesitate to
take her on trial.

`Can she commence to-day?' asked Mrs.
Barnes.

`As well as any time,' replied Margaret.
`I will bring her her clothes, or send them,
in a day or two, for I've no doubt but she'll
suit you.'

`I hope she will,' said Mrs. Acton, leaving
the room, `for I like her already.'

Margaret soon after took her leave, and
Kate was duly installed in the household of
the Acton family, under the supervision of
the excellent Mrs. Barnes.