CHAPTER XV
THE ENCHANTMENT OF YOUTH
They went to wish Victor _bon voyage_. Laverne was learning to play onthe guitar, and another event happened to interest her very much. Mr.Chadsey had used his influence to obtain a position of first mate on avessel bound for Shanghai for Joseph Hudson, who was expected in dailywith his wife. No word had come from the Estenegas. The two childrenhad been sent to Monterey, the old house dismantled, and now swallowedup by the fine street that would some day make a great driveway. Foranything else the world might have swallowed them up.
Mrs. Hudson had been quite Americanized, but was more deeply in lovethan ever. There was a certain piquancy and dainty freedom that wasvery attractive, quite unlike her former stiffness. She was not afraidto go anywhere with Jose now--to the very ends of the earth if therewas need.
Captain Blarcom was delighted to secure the services of so trusty aman and good seaman as Joseph Hudson for his first mate. Being atrading vessel, they might be gone two years or more.
"I shall send mamma a letter, and tell her the whole story," saidCarmen. "I have been so happy I think she will soften her anger andnot curse me as mothers sometimes do. And perhaps, when I come back,she may admit me to her again, since I was married lawfully and by apriest of our Holy Church. For in quiet moments one longs for themother of all one's earlier years. Only the life here is so muchbroader and earnest, and every one seems working to some end, nottrifles that become monotonous."
"Yes," Miss Holmes returned, "I should write by all means."
They kept her very close; indeed, she was rather afraid to venturedown in the town. And at last, the ship was laden and ready, andanother friend went out of Laverne's life for a while at least.
Nearly a year later they heard the sequel of the Estenegas' fortunes.Pascuel Estenega had been most savagely angry that this young brideshould have slipped out of his reach, and left no clew. He blamed theConvent Superior, he threatened vengeance on any daring lover who hadcircumvented him. But no lover or maiden was found, they had coveredtheir flight so securely. He grew more and more ill-tempered, untilhardly a servant would accept a position with him. And on oneoccasion, for some trifling fault, he had beaten his coachman soseverely that he himself had fallen into a fit, and never recoveredconsciousness, dying a few days after. Then the Senora and herdaughters had gone to care for the elder man, who had been made quiteill from the shock.
Isabel Personette's marriage was one of the events of the earlyseason. Even Major Barnard honored the occasion with his presence, andthe younger military men were in their most notable array. There wasan elegant reception afterward, and Olive was in her glory as theonly Miss Personette. Howard's bent was mechanical, and his fatherpresently admitted that he had chosen wisely.
Indeed, there was much call for ability in every direction. A railroadhad been projected to Sacramento. Congress had established a line ofmail steamers between San Francisco and Shanghai. Between the city andthe Hawaiian Islands there was frequent communication. Coal was beingbrought now from Bellingham Bay, gas was furnished about the city,there were rows of handsome dwellings. The new Merchants' Exchange wasbegun, the Custom House would be massive and beautiful. The shippingand mercantile part of the city seemed to settle itself about Clark'sPoint, on account of the great advantages it offered for wharves.
Then there were several fine theatres and a large music hall, erectedby a Mr. Henry Meiggs, where people of the more quiet and intellectualorder could patronize concerts, oratorios, and lectures. Private ballswere quite the thing, and people struggled to get within the charmedcircle, where an invitation could be secured.
If the little girl had lost one friend, two came in his place. HowardPersonette constituted himself her knight when they met at anygathering, and brought them tickets for concerts, and new books ormagazines, when he found Miss Holmes was much interested in them.There was indeed a library association that readers found very useful,and the daily papers were good news purveyors.
Richard Folsom felt he had something of a claim on her friendship, andwas importuning them both to come to dinner and go to someentertainment.
"You show the result of your quiet life and freedom from care," Mrs.Folsom said to Miss Holmes. "You're younger looking to-day than whenwe met on shipboard. I half envy you your easy time, and Ioccasionally wonder if the money one piles up is worth the hard workand anxiety. Only I had a son to look after and place in the world. Hewas crazy to go to the gold fields, but I think he saw enough at theDawsons. It's hard work to keep a boy from going to the bad in a placelike this, but Dick has grown up into a pretty nice fellow. Now, if hecan only marry a sensible girl, one of the home kind, who isn't allfor show and pleasure! I wouldn't mind if she hadn't anything but herwedding clothes. An early marriage steadies a fellow."
But Dick wasn't thinking particularly about marriage. He couldn't havetold just why he liked to climb Telegraph Hill an hour or so beforesundown and chat a while, bringing some rare fruit, or a new kind offlower, and have a talk and a ramble about. There were girls that werelots more fun, girls who jumped at a chance for a drive behind hisfine trotter, Hero, and who didn't even disdain the Sunday drive tothe races. Miss Holmes never went to these.
Sometimes of a Sunday they all went over to Oaklands. Mr. Savedra wasmuch interested in the quaint, intelligent man who was not only makinga reputation for honesty and fair dealing, but fortune as well. Theplace was so lovely and restful.
The agricultural resources of the outlying places were beginning to beappreciated. Gardens and farms were found to be largely profitablesince people must be fed. Fruit, too, could be improved upon and bringin abundant returns.
After several conversations with Miss Holmes, it was deemed advisableto have an English governess, since French and Spanish were as nativetongues to the children. Isola was improving in health, but quitebackward for her age, except for her really wonderful gift in music.
"I can't seem to make up my mind to send either of them away," shesaid to Miss Holmes. "We miss Victor so much. And a mother's joycentres largely in her children. I could not live without them. If Icould find some one like you."
"There are some still better adapted to the undertaking than I shouldbe," Miss Holmes returned with a half smile. "I sometimes feel that Ihave been out of the world of study so long, that I am old-fashioned."
"That is what I like. The modern unquiet flurry and ferment annoys me.And pleasure continually. As if there were no finer graces to life, nocomposure, nothing but dress and going about. And you have made such acharming child of Miss Laverne. How pretty she grows."
And now she was growing tall rapidly. Miss Holmes wonderedoccasionally what would happen in a year or two, if, indeed, the ideaof travel was a settled purpose. Mr. Chadsey seldom spoke of it,except to the child. He was very much engrossed with his business.But presently she would need different environment. She could notalways remain a little girl. And she _was_ pretty with a kind ofmodest fairness that had an attractive spirituality in it, yet it didnot savor of convent breeding. It was the old New England type. Sheseemed to take so little from her surroundings, she kept so pure tothe standard.
They were at Mrs. Folsom's to dinner one day. Uncle Jason had found itnecessary to be away late on business, and would come for them. He didnot quite like to leave them alone in Pablo's care, though Bruno was agood keeper. But an evil-disposed person might shoot the dog. He beganto realize that it was more exposed up on the hill now that there wereso many rough workmen about. Another year of it, and then----
They had a delightful little dinner in a "tea room," there was a greatdeal of coming and going in the large dining room. And Mrs. Folsomsaid:
"I'm going to ask a guest in to share your company. She's ratherlonely, as her husband is away on some business. They have been here afortnight or so. Laverne will like to hear her talk. She's been mostall over."
So she brought in Mrs. Westbury, and introduced her.
"I hope I haven't intruded," the newc
omer said, in a peculiarlyattractive voice. In a young girl it would have been pronouncedwinsome. "I have been taking some meals in my own room; I tired ofgoing to the public table when Mr. Westbury was not here. But I do getso lonely. I generally go with him, but this was up to the mines,where the roughness and wickedness of the whole world congregates, Ibelieve."
"You are quite welcome," Miss Holmes replied, with a certain NewEngland reserve in her voice.
"You came from the East?" with an appreciative smile, as if that wasin her favor.
"From Boston; yes." Miss Holmes was always proud of that.
"And I from southern New Hampshire; we're not so very far apart. Imarried Mr. Westbury in New York, but we have been about--almosteverywhere," in a tired voice. "I had wanted to travel, and I've hadit."
Laverne's eyes kindled. "And were you abroad?" she asked rathertimidly.
"Well--yes," smiling. "I've lived longest in London. And there's beenParis and Berlin, and, oh, ever so many German towns, where they'requeer and slow, and wouldn't risk a dollar a month if they could maketen by it. Most of the Eastern cities, too, but I think this is thestrangest, wildest, most bewildering place I ever was in; as if thewhole town was seething and had no time to settle."
"I think that is it. You see, we are used to age in our New Englandtowns; permanent habits, and all that. Yet, one would hardly believeso much could have been done towards a great city in a dozen years."
Mrs. Westbury raised her brows. "Is it as young as that?"
"And we have people from everywhere who will presently settle into aphase of Americanism, different from all other cities. Most placesbegin poor and accumulate slowly. San Francisco has begun rich."
"And the newly rich hardly know what to do with their money. You havesome fine buildings, and queer old ones, that look as if they hadstood hundreds of years."
There was something peculiar in the voice, and that had been born withthe girl, and had needed very little training. It had an appealingquality; it indicated possibilities, that fixed it in one's memory.She might have suffered, had strange experiences, but one deeplyversed in such matters would have said that she had come short ofentire happiness, that hers was not the tone of rich content. She hada delicate enunciation that charmed you; she passed from one subjectto another with a grace that never wearied the listener.
Mrs. Folsom came in to see if all was agreeable. She had taken a fancyto Mrs. Westbury, she had such an air of refinement and good-breeding.Mr. Westbury seemed a fine, hearty, wholesome man, prosperous yet nobraggart. That was apt to be the fault out here. He had commended hiswife to Mrs. Folsom's special care, and paid liberally in advance,besides depositing money at a banker's for his wife's needs.
They were having a pleasant, social time. When the dinner was throughthey retired to Mrs. Folsom's private parlor. In the large one therewere card playing and piano drumming and flirtations going on.
Perhaps Mrs. Westbury did most of the talking, but she made sundryhalts to give her listeners opportunity to answer, and she neverseemed aggressive. Laverne listened, charmed over the delightfulexperiences.
She had learned that these were more attractive than one's troubles orperplexities, and she had set out to be a charming woman. There wasonly one terror to her life now--she was growing so much older everyyear. She had kept her youth uncommonly, but alas, no arts could bringthe genuine article back.
Some lives go purling along like a simple stream that encountersnothing much larger than pebbles in its course, others wind in andout, tumble over rocks, widen and narrow, and take in every variety.She had been a mill hand, pretty, graceful, modest. After having beena widower two years and married to a woman older than himself, abustling, busy worker who lived mostly in her kitchen, Mr. Carr, themill owner, married this pretty girl, installed her in the big, gloomymansion, and made her the envy of the small town where many of thefamilies were related to him. He had some peculiar views in thismarriage. He meant to rule, not to be ruled; he hoped there would bechildren to heir every dollar of his estate. He succeeded in thefirst, but in the twelve years there were no children. She wasmiserable and lonely; there were times when she would have preferredthe old mill life. Her only solace came to be reading. There was afine library, histories, travels, and old English novels, and itreally was a liberal education.
Then Mr. Carr died suddenly, having made a will that tied upeverything just as far as the law allowed. She was to live in thehouse, a brother and a cousin were to run the mill on a salary thatwas made dependent on the profits. A shrewd lawyer discovered flaws,and it was broken. The heirs paid her very well to step out of it alland have no litigation. She was extremely glad. She took her money andwent to New York, and for three years had a really enjoyable time.
She was thirty-seven when she married David Westbury, who wasthirty-five. She set herself back five years and no one would havequestioned. After several years of ill-luck, fortune had smiled on himand whatever he touched was a success. He bought up some valuablepatents and exploited them, he formed stock companies, he had beensent abroad as an agent, he was shrewd, sharp, long-headed, and notespecially tricky. Honesty paid in the long run. And now she hadenjoyed seven happy, prosperous years. She had proved an admirableco-partner, she had a way of attracting men that he wanted to dealwith and not lowering her dignity by any real overt act. Herflirtations never reached off-color. But of late she felt she had losta little of her charm. She was not inclined to play the motherly toyoung men, nor to flatter old men. Those between went to the charmingyoung girls.
"Oh, dear, I'm so sorry to go," Laverne exclaimed, when word was sentup that Mr. Chadsey was waiting for them. "I've had such a splendidtime listening to you. It's been like travelling. And to see so manycelebrated people and places, and queens."
"I'm glad you enjoyed it. I hope you will come again. Oh, I like youvery much," and she leaned over and kissed her, though she was not aneffusive woman.
Jason Chadsey had been sorely bothered. A young fellow he had had highhopes of had proved recreant and gone off with considerable money. Hehad been straightening accounts, and trying to decide whether to setthe officers on his track or let him go--to do the trick over again onsome one else. So he only half listened, glad to have his darling gayand full of delight. He really did not notice when she said "Mrs.Westbury."
That lady had a talk with Dick the next morning. He thought she was"quite nice for an old girl," so far off does youth remove itself.Could she get a carriage and ask Miss Holmes and her young charge togo out with her?
"Why, I'll take you, ma'am, and be glad to. Oh, yes, we're such oldfriends. It's odd, but we may be called old settlers, really. A partyof us came round the Horn just at the last of '51. She was such alittle thing, the only child on board. And we all stayed and aresettled just about here. Tell you what I'll do. We'll stop at schoolfor her and take her home, and then go on."
"But, Miss Holmes"--hesitatingly--"she ought to have notice," smilingdeprecatingly.
"Oh, that won't count. You just take my word, Laverne will be gladenough."
He was glad enough. He had a vague idea somehow that Miss Holmesrather fenced him out. This time he would have Laverne on the frontseat with him. Not that he really was in love with her now, but intime to come----
His plan worked admirably. Laverne was delighted and greeted her newfriend cordially. They drove around a little at first, then up to thehill, and now the road was broken up unless one went a long wayround.
"I can run up," Laverne said eagerly. "I won't be many minutes," andshe sprang out.
"They're going to lower this hill," Dick explained. "They started itonce, but land! only a goat can climb it now."
"Say a deer or an antelope," with a light laugh, as both watched thechild threading her way in a zig-zag fashion, the shortest.
"It must be awfully lonely up there."
"But the prospect is wonderful. And there is Golden Gate and theocean. Still, I should like to be more with folks. Chadsey doesn'tmind. He's a q
ueer Dick, and his mind is all on making money."
"She is his niece. Are there any others?"
"No, I guess not. I never heard of any. All her folks--family aredead."
"And Miss Holmes isn't related?"
"Oh, no."
They watched and saw them coming down presently, but they took abetter pathway. Miss Holmes seemed pleased with the plan. Lavernesprang in beside Mrs. Westbury.
"Perhaps the ladies----" Dick was disappointed.
"I want to sit here," the girl said rather imperiously. "And you knowyou won't let me drive."
"You'd be like that fellow you told of driving the chariot to the sun,I'm afraid. I don't dare trust any one except Nervy, the jockey, toride her. It was immense on Sunday. You saw that she won. Mother'sagainst having me enter her, and I don't do it often. But jimini! I'dlike to. And ride her myself."
Mrs. Westbury had seen the Derby, where all the style of London went,and fortunes were lost and won. Dick was fascinated by the account.
They turned oceanward. Sandhills, stones, patches of verdure where oneleast expected, tangled depths of laurels and alder, manzanita, vinesscrambling everywhere and such a wealth of bloom, then barren rocksand sand. Now you could see the glorious ocean, the great flocks ofsea birds swirling, diving, flying so straight and swiftly that not awing moved. Cries of all kinds, then from the landward side a strange,clear song that seemed to override the other. Seals thrusting up theirshiny black heads and diving again, sunning themselves lazily on therocks.
"Is there another country in the world like this?" exclaimed Mrs.Westbury. "And all down the coast! I stayed at Monterey before. Wecrossed the Isthmus and came up. It is wonderful."
Dick kept them out quite late to see the gorgeous sunset, and thenwould fain have taken them home with him. Laverne had her hands fullof flowers that she had never seen before, and her eyes were lovely intheir delight.
"I shall be spoiled. I shall want to see you every day. I wish therewas no school," Mrs. Westbury said. "Oh, can't I come and visit you?"and the entreaty in her voice would have won a harder heart.
"Our home is so very simple, and now the streets are in such a state,almost impassable. But if you have the courage we shall be glad to seeyou," responded Miss Holmes, curiously won.
"I shall come, most assuredly, although I have rather begged theinvitation. But you are so different from the women of the Hotel. I dotire of their frivolity. I even go out alone to walk, though at firstI was afraid. Could I meet my little friend at her school and comeup?"
"Oh, yes, she will be glad to pilot you."
It was late that evening when Jason Chadsey came home. He looked tiredand worn. Indeed, the farther he went in the matter the worse itappeared. And the culprit had made his escape. So there was nothing todo but to pocket the loss.
"Shall I make you a cup of tea?" inquired Miss Holmes.
"If you please--yes. Then I shall go straight to bed; I must be upbetimes in the morning. Is Laverne in bed?"
She answered in the affirmative.
Friday Mrs. Westbury sent a little note to Laverne, asking if Saturdaywould do for the visit. Every other Saturday the child spent atOaklands. So it was the next week when the visit was made. She stoppedat the school for Laverne, and Dick Folsom was to come for her in theevening.
"It is very queer," she declared, laughing. "It seems a little likeSwiss chalets built in the mountain sides where you go up by woodensteps. Only--the sand. I should think you would slip away."
"They are not going to take another street until next year. Of course,we shall move; I think down in the town. But it has been so delightfulup here. And it did not seem so queer at first. But since they havebeen putting up such splendid buildings in the town, and making suchfine streets, it has given us a wild appearance. Presently there willnot be anything of Old San Francisco left. A good part of it hasburned down already."
Miss Holmes welcomed her guest warmly and brought her a glass ofdelightful fruit sherbet. The place was plain enough, and yet it gaveevidence of refined and womanly tastes in its adornments. And theclustering vines and bloom made a complete bower of it.
Mrs. Westbury espied the guitar. She was really glad there was nopiano. Was Laverne musical?
"I've been learning the guitar. And I sing some. But you should hearmy friend at Oaklands. Her voice is most beautiful. If mine was not acontralto I shouldn't venture to sing with her."
"You don't look like a contralto. A pure blonde should be a soprano."
"Perhaps I'm not a very pure blonde," with a merry light in her eyes."I've heard concert singers who could not compare with Miss Savedra,but her people would be shocked at the idea of her singing in public.I was telling her about you. We are great friends. She is odd in someways and foreign; they are Spanish people, but I love her better thanany girl I know."
"And this Olive?" questioningly.
"Oh, Olive. She took a great liking to me in the beginning--we werequite children. She and the Savedras are cousins. And her fathermarried a friend of Miss Holmes, but she is a delightful stepmother.Only now Olive seems so much older and has lovers. Yes, we arefriends in a way, but we do not really love each other."
"And you haven't any lovers?"
"Oh, no." She flushed at that. "I don't want any. Why, I am notthrough school."
Mrs. Westbury found that she could not only read, but talk Frenchand Spanish, and that she was being sensibly educated. But thatwas not the chief charm. It was a simplicity that defied art, astraightforwardness that was gentle, almost deprecating, yet neverswerved from truth, a sweetness that was winning, a manner shy butquite captivating. And though she told many things about her life uphere on the hill, there were no indiscreet or effusive confidencessuch as she had often listened to in young girls.
When Mr. Chadsey met the guest as they were coming in from the arbor,he simply stared at the name, not realizing that he had heard itmentioned before. A fair, somewhat faded woman, so well made up thatshe could still discount a few years. Her attire and her jewelsbetokened comfortable circumstances, indeed wealth, for besides somefine diamonds she had two splendid rubies.
Twice since he had been in California he had been startled by thename. Once by a young fellow of two or three and twenty, looking for achance at clerking. The other had been a miserable, disreputablefellow, who had failed at mining and was likely through drunkenness tofail at everything else. He questioned him closely. The man had left awife and family at Vincennes, and would be only too glad to get backto them. He had been born and raised in Indiana. So he had helped himon his way, praying that he might reach there. And here it had croppedup again. It sent a shiver through him.
He questioned the guest adroitly, carefully. She was proud of herhusband and his successes. She had met him in New York; she thoughthim a native of that State.
Surely the David Westbury he knew could never have had all this goodfortune. So he dismissed this case from his mind, and smiled overLaverne's new friend, who would be one of the transient guests of theheart.
Mr. Westbury sent word by a messenger that he would be detained longerthan he expected. He hoped she found her quarters satisfactory, andthat she would take all the entertainment she could. He had struck anew opening that would in all probability make a millionaire of him.When he returned they must go at once to London, and they might remainthere for years, since it was one of the places she liked.
Yes, she did like it, and had made some very nice friends there.But--if she had a daughter like this girl to draw young men; sheshould always yearn for the young life that had never been hers, and agirl to dress beautifully, to take out driving in the "Row," to haveone and another nod to her, to take her calling--that was the waymothers did in England, to give dainty parties for her, to let hertend stalls at fairs, to have her some day presented to the Queen, andat last to marry well. Her daughter might have such a fortune. DavidWestbury had been lucky in a good many things and he seldom made amistake.
She dreamed this over and o
ver again. She had never cared for babiesor little children, and she had felt glad there had been no childrento tie her to the old New Hampshire town, where she must then havespent her life. She had had so much more enjoyment, larger liberty,and oh, worlds more money. Travelling, hotels, meeting delightfulpeople. But now her day was about over. If there was a young blossomgrowing up beside her to shed a charm around, to attract, to fill ahouse with gayety, so she could go through with it all again. Thenlovers and marriage. She should want a pretty girl, one with a winsomemanner. A little training would do wonders with this one, who was justthe right age to be moulded into success.
Of course, her uncle would never give her up, and one could not coaxher away. A man's journeying about would have no society advantages.Miss Holmes was very nice and sensible, but there were someold-maidish traits. She was rather narrow. She really pitied thegirl's life between them. It would lose the exquisite flavor ofenjoyment that by right belonged to youth.
Of course, all this was folly. But she did like the child so much. Andshe wanted a new adoration, which she believed she could win easily.