CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVENTH.
"Nursed by the virtues she hath been From childhood's hour." --HALLECK.
"Count all th' advantage prosperous vice attains, 'Tis but what virtue flies from and disdains; And grant the bad what happiness they would, One they must want--which is to pass for good." --POPE.
Mrs. Travilla was sitting on the veranda of the hotel, reading a letterher husband had handed her at the tea-table, when Violet came rushingtoward her in wild affright.
"Mamma, mamma, something's wrong! something's happened! Herbie just camerunning up from the beach, calling for the life boat, and papa and Eddiehave gone back with him running as fast as they can. Oh, I'm afraid Haroldor Rosie has fallen into the water!" she added bursting into hystericalweeping.
Her mother rose hastily, thrusting the letter into her pocket, pale butcalm.
"Daughter dear, we will not meet trouble half way. I do not think it couldbe they; for they are not disobedient or venturesome. But come." Andtogether they hurried toward the beach.
In a moment they perceived that their fears were groundless, for theycould see their dear ones coming to meet them.
Violet's tears were changed to laughter as Harold gave a humorous accountof "Cousin Ronald's sell," as he called it, and the latter's praise of theboy's bravery and readiness to respond to the cry for help, brought proud,happy smiles to the lips and eyes of both mother and sisters.
Elsie had joined them; Mrs. Ross, too, and a handsome, richly dressed,middle-aged lady, whom she introduced as her friend, Mrs. Faude, fromKentucky.
They, as Lucy afterward told Elsie, had made acquaintance the year beforeat Saratoga, and were glad to meet again.
Mrs. Faude was much taken with Elsie and her daughters, pleased, indeed,with the whole family, and from that time forward sought their societyvery frequently.
Elsie found her an entertaining companion, polished in manners, refined,intelligent, highly educated and witty; but a mere worldling, caring forthe pleasures and rewards of this life only.
She was a wealthy widow with but one child, a grown up son, of whom shetalked a great deal.
"Clarence Augustus" was evidently, in his mother's eyes, the perfection ofmanly beauty and grace, a great genius, and indeed everything that couldbe desired.
"He is still single," she one day said significantly to the younger Elsie,"though I know plenty of lovely girls, desirable matches in every way, whowould have been delighted with the offer of his hand. Yes, my dear, I amquite sure of it," she added, seeing a slight smile of incredulity on theyoung girl's face; "only wait till you have seen him. He will be hereto-morrow."
Elsie was quite willing to wait, and no dreams of Mrs. Faude's idoldisturbed either her sleeping or waking hours.
Clarence Augustus made his appearance duly the next day at the dinnertable; a really handsome man, if regular features and fine coloring be allthat is necessary to constitute good looks; but his face wore anexpression of self-satisfaction and contempt for others, which was notattractive to our Ion friends.
But it soon became evident to them, that to most of the other ladies inthe house, he was an object of admiration.
His mother seized an early opportunity to introduce him to the MissesTravilla, coming upon them as they stood talking together upon theveranda.
But they merely bowed and withdrew, having, fortunately, an engagement todrive, at that hour, with their parents and cousins, along the beach.
"What do you think of him?" asked Violet, when they had reached theirroom.
"He has good features, and a polished address."
"Yes; but do you like his looks?"
"No; I do not desire his acquaintance."
"Nor I; he's not the sort that papa and grandpa would wish us to know."
"No; so let us keep out of his way."
"But without seeming to do so?"
"Oh, yes; as far as we can. We don't wish to hurt his feelings or hismother's."
They carried out their plan of avoidance, and so skilfully that neithermother nor son was quite sure it was intended. In fact, it was difficultfor them to believe that any girl could wish to shun the attentions of ayoung man so attractive in every way as was Clarence Augustus Faude.
"I should like you to marry one of those girls," the mother said to herson, chatting alone with him in her own room; "you could not do better,for they are beautiful, highly educated and accomplished, and will havelarge fortunes."
"Which?" he added sententiously, and with a smile that seemed to say, hewas conscious that he had only to take his choice.
"I don't care; there's hardly a pin to choose between them."
"Just my opinion. Well, I think I shall go for the brown eyes; as you tellme the other is not yet out, and I hear the father refuses, on that plea,to allow any one to pay his addresses--though, between you and me, Mrs.F., I fancy he might make an exception in my favor."
"It would not surprise me, Clarence Augustus," she responded, regardinghim with a proud, fond smile, "I fancy he must be aware that there's nobetter match in the Union. But you have no time to lose, they may leavehere any day."
"True, but what's to hinder us from following? However, I will take youradvice, and lose no time. Let me borrow your writing desk for a moment.I'll ask her to drive with me this morning, and while we're out secure hercompany for the boating party that's to come off to-morrow."
A few moments later the younger Elsie came into her mother's room with anote written in a manly hand, on delicately perfumed and tinted Frenchpaper.
"What shall I do about it, mamma?" she asked. "Will you answer it for me.Of course you know I do not wish to accept."
"I will, daughter," Mrs. Travilla said, "though if he were such a man as Icould receive into my family on friendly terms, I should prefer to haveyou answer it yourself."
Mr. Faude's very handsome carriage and horses were at the door, a liveriedservant holding the reins, while the gentleman himself waited in theparlor for the coming of the young lady, who, he doubted not, would bewell pleased to accept his invitation. He was not kept waiting long; had,indeed, scarcely seated himself and taken up the morning paper, when Mr.Travilla's Ben appeared with a note, presented it in grave silence, andwith a respectful bow, withdrew.
"Hold on! It may require an answer," Mr. Faude called after him.
"No, sah; Mrs. Travilla say dere's no answer," returned Ben, looking backfor an instant from the doorway, then vanishing through it.
"All right!" muttered Clarence Augustus, opening the missive and glancingover the contents; an angry flush suffusing his face, as he read.
"What is it? She hasn't declined, surely?" Mrs. Faude asked in anundertone, close at his side.
"Just that; it's from the mother; thanks me for the invitation, butrespectfully declines; not even vouchsafing a shadow of an excuse. Whatcan it mean?"
"I don't know, I'm sure. But if they knew you had serious intentions--itmight make a difference."
"Possibly. I'll soon bring it to the proof."
He rose and went out in search of Mr. Travilla, found him alone, and atonce asked his permission to pay his addresses to Elsie.
The request was courteously, but decidedly and firmly refused.
"May I ask why?" queried the young man in anger and astonishment.
"Because, sir, it would not be agreeable to either my daughter herself, toher mother or to me."
"Then I must say, sir, that you are all three hard to please. But pray,sir, what is the objection?"
"Do you insist upon knowing?"
"I do, sir."
"Then let me answer your query with another. Would you pay your addressesto a young woman--however wealthy, beautiful or high-born--whose moralcharacter was not better, whose life had been no purer than your own?"
"Of course not!" exclaimed Faude, coloring violently, "but whoexpects----"
"I do, sir; I expect the husbands of my daugh
ters to be as pure andstainless as my sons' wives."
"I'm as good as the rest, sir. You'll not find one young fellow in fivehundred who has sowed fewer wild oats than I."
"I fear that may be true enough, but it does not alter my decision,"returned Mr. Travilla, intimating by a bow and a slight wave of the hand,that he considered the interview at an end.
Faude withdrew in anger, but with an intensified desire to secure thecoveted prize; the more difficult of acquisition, the more desirable itseemed.
He persuaded his mother to become his advocate with Mrs. Travilla.
She at first flatly refused, but at length yielded to his entreaties, andundertook the difficult, and to her haughty spirit, humiliating mission.
Requesting a private interview with Elsie, she told her of the wishes ofClarence Augustus, and plead his cause with all the eloquence of which shewas mistress.
"My boy would make your daughter a good husband," she said, "and indeed, Ithink any woman might feel highly honored by the offer of his hand. I donot understand how it is, Mrs. Travilla, that a lady of your sense failsto see that."
"I appreciate your feelings, my dear Mrs. Faude," said Elsie gently. "I ama mother too, you know, and have sons of my own."
"Yes, and what possible objection can you have to mine? Excuse my sayingit, but the one your husband advanced, seems to me simply absurd."
"Nevertheless it is the only one; except that our child's heart is notenlisted; but either alone would be insuperable."
"She hardly knows him yet, and could not fail to learn to love him if shedid. Be persuaded my dear Mrs. Travilla, to give him a chance to try. Itis never well to be hasty, especially in declining a good offer, and this,let me tell you, is such an one as you will not meet with every day,lovely and attractive in every way, as your daughters are.
"Ours is an old, aristocratic family; none better to be found in ourstate, or in the Union; we have wealth too, and I flatter myself thatClarence Augustus is as handsome a man as you would find anywhere;amiable in disposition also, and would, as I said before, make anexcellent husband. Will you not undertake his cause?"
"Believe me, it is painful to me to refuse, but I could not, inconscience."
"But why not?"
"Simply for the reason my husband gave. We both consider moral purity moreessential than anything else in those we admit to even friendlyintercourse with our children; especially our daughters."
"My son is not a bad man, Mrs. Travilla, very far from it!" Mrs. Faudeexclaimed, in the tone of one who considers herself grossly insulted.
"Not, I am sure, as the world looks upon these things," said Elsie, "butthe Bible is our standard; and guided by its teachings we desire above allthings else, purity of heart and life in those who seek the friendship ofour children; and very especially in those who are to become theirpartners for life, and the future fathers or mothers of their offspring,should it please God to give them any."
"That is certainly looking far ahead," returned Mrs. Faude, with a politesneer.
"Not farther than is our duty, since after marriage it is too late toconsider, to any profit, what kind of parent our already irrevocablychosen partner for life will probably make."
"Well, well, every one to her taste!" said Mrs. Faude, rising to go, "buthad I a daughter, I should infinitely prefer for her husband, such a youngman as my Clarence Augustus to such as that poor artist who is soattentive to Miss Travilla.
"Good-morning. I am sure I may trust you not to blazon this matterabroad?"
"You certainly may, Mrs. Faude," Elsie returned with sweet and gentlecourtesy, "and believe me, it has been very painful to me to speak wordsthat have given pain to you."
"What is it, little wife?" Mr. Travilla asked, coming in a moment afterMrs. Faude's departure and finding Elsie alone and seemingly sunk in apainful reverie.
She repeated what had just passed, adding, "I am very glad now that wedecided to return to Philadelphia to-morrow. I could see that Mrs. Faudewas deeply offended, and it would be unpleasant to both of us to remainlonger in the same house; but as she and her son go with the boating partyto-day, and we leave early in the morning, we are not likely to encountereach other again."
"Yes, it is all for the best," he said. "But I wish I could have shieldedyou from this trial."