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Retta Babcock - Clemence

R >> Retta Babcock >> Clemence




MADAM:--Why do you look so frightfully ill? Every one is remarking
upon your altered appearance. You have everything to make you
happy. Your husband is handsome, and generous as a prince. To prove
it: yesterday he gave me five hundred dollars, and to-day I clasped
upon my arm a splendid bracelet, flashing with beautiful gems, also
his gift. The wheel of fortune turns, and those who were poor and
obscure but yesterday, are rich to-day. _Your_ day of power is
over. Do not be the last to see it. Show some spirit. Be up and
doing. Your society has lost its charm for your husband, and he
finds his only happiness in the love of another who can appreciate
him better than you have ever done. Very well! seek your own
affinity, and find a new Eden. Don't fret and cry till your eyes
are red and swollen, and your whole appearance hideous. It will
only recoil on your own head. Nobody will pity you, and the world
will pass on and forget you. Live while you live, and leave
to-morrow to take care of to-morrow. Remember, "It is a folly to no
other second, to wish to correct the world.--CAROLINE."

"This was followed by others of the same nature. It finally became an
understood thing that Geoffrey should pass nearly all of the time he
could snatch from business, with women of this class. If I questioned
him, he would laugh rudely, and ask me how I was going to help myself.

"There was, indeed, but one way, either to bear all this quietly,
without murmur or reproach, or else obtain a legal separation. I knew
that this was his sole object, and would have complied with it, for my
soul sickened of this life; but, I had a child, a delicate girl, and he
forbade me to take her away. I could not part with my baby daughter;
better even this wretched existence, and so I continued to watch and
wait, and pray God not to forget me in my dire extremity. As time
passed, and my husband saw that he could not move me, he grew impatient,
and took still harsher measures.

"I have every reason to believe that Geoffrey Westbourne, about this
time, made attempts upon my life. He was, however, very careful of his
reputation, and had to be exceedingly circumspect in his movements. But
I foiled him on every occasion. Then I fell sick, and lay for weeks
unconscious. I had the cruelest treatment during my entire illness, and
it was only God's mercy that at length restored me again to something
like health, in opposition to every effort of my enemy's. It left me
almost a confirmed invalid. Before strangers, I had every care and
attention, and when I was ready to sit up, many friends called to
inquire about my health. As soon as I became convalescent, I had
resolved to appeal to my friends for aid and sympathy, but I now saw
that it would be impossible. Had I opened my lips upon the subject, my
nearest friends would have at once been convinced that my sickness had
alienated my reason. My husband was apparently filled with the deepest
anxiety and solicitude for my recovery, and appearences I felt to be
against me. I hoped, though, that there would be a cessation from all
persecution, at least for a time. But this was not to be.

"'You are evidently a great deal better, Mrs. Westbourne!' my husband
said to me, one evening, when we were alone together.

"'Yes, thank God!' I exclaimed fervently, 'I am now nearly restored to
health again.'

"'You do well to thank God, and not me,' he said with a withering sneer,
'you owe me no gratitude for the same.'

"'How you must hate me!' I said, trembling at his tones.

"'Hate you!' he replied, with his face to the very lips livid with
passion, 'if I could strike you out of existence this moment, as you sit
there, I would be almost willing to serve a score of years for the
privilege, and even submit to bear the felon's brand upon my person,
through the remainder of my life. You are a clog and an impediment in
the way of my happiness, the one encumbrance to be got rid of at any
sacrifice. It shall be done! I swear it shall be done, if the heavens
fall and the earth rocks to its foundations!'

"'What shall I do?' Oh, what shall I do?' I cried helplessly.

"'Do!' he hissed, 'listen to me. A short time ago I was so weary of you,
that, with hardly a reason I sought to rid myself of your presence. I
then proposed a separation upon any terms that pleased you, not thinking
it likely that I should ever marry again. I would have been generous
then, had you yielded to my wishes. Since then the aspect of affairs
have changed. I have met the woman whom I have willed shall rule over
this house in your place. She is gloriously beautiful, proud as a queen
and as rich. I desire to appear to the best advantage before her, and I
shall not scruple at the means. I want all the world to think that I am
an injured husband.'

"'Perhaps you have forgotten your old friend Halleck. He called often
during your illness, to inquire after you, and manifested much interest
in your case. I learned that he was quite attentive to you during my
absence last summer. You see you have been thoughtless enough to give me
just the advantage I wanted, Mrs. Westbourne, and I can bring a dozen
witnesses to prove your infidelity, when I want them.

"'You may have guessed from what I have said thus far, that I propose to
apply for a bill of divorce at no distant day.'

"I was perfectly stupefied at this announcement. 'You surely will not
commit this great wrong, Geoffrey,' I exclaimed. 'You do not wish, nor
need me to tell you that I am innocent of the charge.'

"'No,' he said slowly, in a more softened tone, though the hard lines
around the firm mouth never relaxed, and the cold eyes regarded me with
a fixed, relentless gaze. 'No, I do not. Here, with none to overhear
us, I will tell you truly that I do not believe you guilty of this crime
which I am about to charge against you, and to prove before the world.
You were a spoiled, capricious beauty when I met with you, and I, merely
a fortune hunter. Our marriage was a fatal mistake. But you have
discharged your duties faithfully, and I know it will be a satisfaction
in the future to have this to reflect upon.

"'Do not think, though, that you can swerve me from my purpose. We are
best apart. Your life will pass quietly and happily in some grateful
retreat, all the happier for this storm that now threatens your peace.
You will have nothing to regret. The world will make the most of the
nine day's wonder, and then it will be forgotten. As for me my lot is
chosen. Wealth and power are essential to my happiness. I must be looked
up to as a person of position and influence, and I prefer to be feared
rather than loved. The wealth I shall gain with the hand of this woman,
whom fate has destined to be your successor, will place me upon the very
pinnacle of prosperity. It is a temptation too strong to be resisted.'

"'Of course you, as the victim, will cry out against the cruelty of the
act, but it will be of no avail. I grant that I am doing you an
injustice, and you will assail me with tears and entreaties, but, when
my stoical indifference renders them useless, you will threaten me with
future retribution, and cry out that God will never permit such
injustice; but I shall not pause, nor relent. I am no better, nor yet
worse, than others. Here, in a Christian community, deeds similar to
mine are perpetrated every day, and strong-handed _might_, reeking with
crime, flaunts its purple and fine linen in the high places of the
earth, while persecuted and down-trodden innocence creeps away to hide
its sorrows in the grave. It is the way of the world, and I choose to
follow no other leader.'

"'But the child, Geoffrey,' I gasped, 'my precious child; only let me
take her with me, give me her company in my exile, and I will do all you
would have me.'

"'No,' he insisted, sternly. 'She is my daughter, and I prefer to have
her brought up under my own immediate supervision. I wish to make a lady
of Miss Westbourne, and I do not consider you a proper person to be
entrusted with the charge.'

"'And you would rob a mother of her only child? God has forgotten me, or
he would surely punish such iniquity!'

"I could say no more; my strength failed me; the room grew dark, and I
fell forward at the feet of my enemy.

"It was weeks before I was again able to leave my room. During this time
I pondered deeply upon the course which it was best to pursue. I was
without money or friends, and, therefore, utterly unable to help myself.
I had always been a proud, independent girl, generally more envied and
admired than loved. I had not cared to make many friends, and now I had
none to turn to in this emergency. I felt completely crushed and
heart-broken. Meanwhile, my husband took care to inform me that his
feelings remained unchanged, and that he was still firm in his
resolution to rid himself of me. I now learned that he had employed
legal advice in the matter. As he had said, he would not scruple at the
means to accomplish his object.

"I thought of all this till my brain grew dizzy, and my heart ached with
its weight of woe. At last I determined to leave the place where I had
endured so much misery. I made a few preparations; knelt and asked God
to forgive me if I was doing wrong, and turned upon the threshold of my
chamber to give it a last look upon earth.

"Everything looked quiet and peaceful, as if this was the abode of
contentment. I could not repress a sigh, and my eyes were blinded with
tears, as I turned to go into the nursery.

"'Jane, go to your supper,' I said, authoritatively, to the servant, who
sat rocking the child's cradle. The girl looked up sullenly, and I think
she suspected at once my design. My heart sank within me as I moved
forward to the side of the unconscious little one.

"'Shure,' said the girl, eyeing me narrowly, 'you'll be after finding it
warm here with that great shawl around you. It looks better for
travelin' than a lady's parlor, and would be more becoming to the likes
of me, than your own illegant shoulders.'

"It was true. I was detected. Was there no hope?

"I grew desperate, for I knew this would all be repeated to her master
in the morning. This girl was nothing but a well-paid spy upon his
wife's actions.

"I became indignant as hope fled. 'Did you hear me?' I commanded. 'Go
down stairs to your supper, immediately. I wish to be left alone with my
daughter.'

"Instantly the expression of her face changed to one of cringing
submission, and she rose and dropped a little deprecatory curtesy.

"'Indeed, ma'am, I've had me tay. Ann brought it up, for I takes me
meals here now, accordin' to the masters' orders. Please, ma'am, shall I
take away the shawl, and fetch you the one you always wear?'

"'No, stay where you are,' I said, sinking into a chair, and dropping my
head into my hands to hide my disappointment from the keen eyes that
watched me.

"Presently there was a kind of gasping, strangling sound from the
cradle. The girl sprang forward with a sudden cry of fear.

"I was beside her in an instant. The child was in convulsions.

"Then followed a scene of wild confusion. Every thing was immediately
done for the little sufferer that could be thought of, in the moment of
terror, and the best medical advice called in.

"But our efforts were unavailing. When the gray morning light stole in
at the window, little Lina lay like a waxen lily, and her spirit had
returned to Him who gave it. While I, her unhappy mother, could not
grieve now that this was so, but rather felt thankful that she was
sheltered in the loving arms of the Good Shepherd. For her there was no
more sorrow, nor crying, neither was there any more pain.

"When the funeral rites were over, and I could think calmly, continued
the lady, I realized how this child's loss would affect my future. I had
now no object to strive for. Had my little Lina lived, God only knows
how all this would have ended. I could never have given her up to the
father who did not love her. I would have struggled desperately for my
child while life lasted. For myself, I cared not. I had thought that
night, when my innocent darling was so suddenly taken from me, of
fleeing away with her to some place of safety, until this storm had
passed, but now that she was no more, I had no fears.

"I knew, though, that a change must come soon. My husband was resolute
and never abandoned a purpose once formed. I was fully aware that I need
not expect any mercy at his hands, neither that our mutual loss would
soften his heart. It had, indeed, quite a contrary effect.

"'There is now no obstacle to a separation,' he said, once, speaking of
our differences. 'We have now no longer any interest in common. If you
will go your way, quietly and peaceably, I will provide for your wants,
by settling a life-long annuity upon you. Of course this sum would not
be large, for you will not require a great deal to sustain you in
comparative comfort. Now, that you have no means of your own, of course
you must expect to live in a different manner from that to which you
have been accustomed. And a divorced woman will not be expected to make
a very lavish display either. I trust that your own good sense will
teach you the necessity of living in as retired a manner as possible.
Furthermore, I shall expressly stipulate that you remove to a
considerable distance from your former home. I do not wish any fresh
scandal to give the gossips a continual feast. If you submit to my
conditions we can effect this quietly. If not, then it is war between
us.'

"'And a court of justice to decide for the right,' I added.

"'Justice!' he sneered. 'You are old enough to realize that it is but an
empty name. What could a defenceless woman, without means to help
herself, do against a man of my wealth and standing. You can effect
nothing by braving me. Look at this proposition, as coolly as possible,
and reflect well before you decide upon anything permanently. It can not
be that you have more affection for me than I for you, for I am sensible
that my course has not been such as would be naturally expected to win a
woman's regard. However, I do not value your opinion in the least, so
that fact does not annoy as much as you might think. It is true, I might
be more polite in stating the case, but you will agree with me that I
put the facts plainly enough for your understanding.'

"'I would further advise you to proceed as I have proposed, simply from
a wish to spare your feelings. I believe you to be an honest woman, and
I should dislike to be obliged to attack your character in public. If
you were to go away, of your own accord, to some quiet place, I think
you would find the change agreeable. You would, of course, resume your
maiden name, and nobody, unless you chose to inform them, could, by any
possibility, become aware of your former history. I would then place in
the hands of my lawyer, and subject to your disposal, a sum which I
would set aside for your own use, giving you a yearly income of five
hundred dollars. You could live plainly, but comfortably on this sum.'

"'Hush!' I commanded. 'Geoffrey Westbourne, how dare you add insult to
injury? You have spent, to your own knowledge, a large fortune of mine.
I blush to think that I have ever called you husband, when you offer
this last indignity to the daughter of Wilbour Hardyng. You have already
said more than enough upon this subject. We will dismiss it if you
please.'

"'Very well,' he replied, 'I will leave you to think over it at your
leisure. Good-bye for the present. I leave, to-day, for a neighboring
city, where I shall remain a week, at least.'

"The good-bye, thus carelessly spoken, was destined to be a final one.
When Geoffrey Westbourne again returned to his home, I was not there to
receive him. I never looked upon his face but once again. I took with me
all of my clothing, and the Hardyng plate and jewels, which were my own
exclusive property. I had also a small sum of money to bear my expenses.

"My husband never sought to learn my whereabouts, content that I should
have given him the advantage he desired. After a sufficient length of
time had elapsed, he obtained a divorce on the ground of desertion, and
married the woman he had determined should be his. They seemed happy to
all outward appearances, and lived in absolute splendor, such as their
united wealth enabled them.

"I had removed to a distant city, where none recognized in the sable
clad widow, the former brilliant belle and heiress. I once visited my
old home and saw them together; and he, the false one, smiled fondly
upon the usurper of my rights. Then I crept away, weary of life, to this
secluded spot, to pass the remainder of my days, where there was nothing
to remind me of what I once had been.'

"My darling, have I saddened you with my melancholy story?" she asked,
looking down fondly into the tear wet eyes of the young girl who had
come and knelt beside her. Clemence could not trust her voice to speak,
and the proud woman clasped her closer, as they mingled their tears
together. "How meet," said the girl at last, softly rising, "should we,
who have suffered, be united by a bond of affection and sympathy!"




CHAPTER IX.


When the hour of separation came, Clemence regretted that she must again
leave her friend's hospitable roof for that of strangers. She thought,
ruefully, of Mrs. Brier, and hoped that these new people might not be of
their order.

Her wish was destined to be fulfilled. The plain, simple little woman,
who came forward to welcome her, when she stopped at farmer Owen's,
certainly did not look very formidable or repulsive.

"Come in," she said, apparently not a little disconcerted, as Clemence's
figure appeared in the doorway. "You'll find everything at sixes and
sevens. I tried to get cleaned up a little before you got here, but the
baby was so cross, I had to sit down and hold him most of the afternoon.
He's just gone to sleep, and left me with all this work, and supper to
get for half a dozen hands, beside."

"Now, that is really unfortunate," said Clemence, kindly. "Can't I help
you in some way?"

"_You_," said Mrs. Owen, stepping backwards, and surveying the dainty
figure in the utmost consternation, "I guess not, why, what in earth
could you do in the housework line?"

"Oh, a good deal, I dare say, if I were to try," said Clemence laughing.
"You know, 'where there's a will there's a way,' and if you will tell me
how, I am sure I will gladly assist you."

"No," was the reply. "You just sit still and I'll fly round and kinder
hoe out some of this dirt. You don't look as if you had been accustomed
to this sort of thing. Why, of the two, now I suppose, if the truth
should be known, you are more tired with your work than I am with mine,
cross baby and all; just think of it, when I was a girl, a day's work
like this was nothing at all to do, and I was always ready to go to a
dance, or something of that sort, to pass away time. There's a great
difference in folks about that."

"I believe you," said Clemence, watching her with interest, as she moved
around, bringing literally 'order out of chaos.' "It seems to me, that
no amount of practice could fit me for such work as this. I suppose, of
course, I could learn in time, by giving strict attention to it, to be a
fair housekeeper; but my experience in boarding round has proved that I
do not belong to the class of persons whom they denominate here as
'handy.' I have seen women enter a neighbor's house in time of trouble,
and move about as if accustomed to everything, and always know the very
place to go and find an article when wanted, without asking tiresome
questions, or put an article in its appropriate receptacle when not
needed, without being told. But, for myself, though always willing, I am
generally apt, like to-day, to sit still and wish I could be of use to
somebody, instead of being always in the way."

"That's because you were born to be waited on, and not to serve," said
the little woman, good-naturedly.

"Then I am sadly out of place," replied Clemence, with a sigh. "I am
inclined to think, however, that you are more liberal in your views than
the rest of our sex. Most of them would tell me that the reason of my
lack of capacity, was because I did not cultivate my faculties properly,
or, in plain terms, that I was lazy."

"I don't see that either," responded the other. "A man works just so
many hours a day, and comes home feeling that his duty is done, and lies
down, if he feels inclined, or swears at the children for being noisy
and troublesome, and walks off to amuse himself, leaving his tired wife
at home, to go on with her work till midnight, if she can't get it done
before. Nobody thinks of calling _him_ anything but a poor hard working
body, slaving himself to death, for the good of his family. But a
woman--just mark the difference. I suppose, though, I need not follow
out that side of the picture?" she added shrewdly.

"Surely, no," said Clemence, "I know too well by sad experience. Why,
Mrs. Owen, I never feel the privilege of sitting down after the labors
of the day have wearied mind and body, without offering my services,
ignorant as I am of housekeeping, and awkward as I know I must be. What
would be said of me, if I did not assist in getting tea, or washing the
dishes, and even helping through with the Saturday's work, to say
nothing of the Sunday dinner, with its numberless guests to be waited
upon and entertained, upon the one day appointed for rest."

"Poor little thing! It's a hard life for such a delicate body as you.
I've heard you was rich once; was it true?" she asked inquisitively.

"Yes, madam," said Clemence, "this is a new experience for me."

"Well, it's hard," she said again. "I can't help but pity people that's
always been used to having everything they wanted, and suddenly find
themselves poor, and without anything to help themselves with. I know
some folks are glad when the proud are brought down to their own level,
and say that a little humiliation will do them good, but I ain't so.

"Amos and me started poor enough, I can tell you. All we had in the
world was a little outfit of beddin' and dishes that father gave me, and
Amos made the furniture himself. But we was both strong and active, and
what was better _willing_, and we soon got a start and have kept goin'
ahead ever since. There ain't anybody around here that's better off now.
There's only one drawback, I think my man's _too_ savin. He's had to
deny himself so long, that now, although we are in pretty easy
circumstances, he thinks he can't afford a good many things that other
people, poorer than we are, call the very necessaries of life. For
instance, I dress poorer than any woman in the place; Amos even limits
the number of calico dresses that I have; I get three a year, and one I
have to put away to sort o' slick up in. I hain't got a delaine one to
my name.

"Sometimes I get my temper up, and tell him I will have something to
wear as well as other folks, but he says he goes without as well as I,
and there ain't no use of our laying out everything for finery.

"Don't you think its about time for me to strike for something that
people, that call themselves decent, have to wear?"

"Why," said Clemence, truthfully, seeing she was expected to make some
reply, "don't that seem a little like injustice? It can't be right to
deny yourself everything, and indulge in no relaxation after such
laborious employment. You owe something to yourself as well as others.
Of course it is wise in you to look forward to the future, and it is
perfectly natural and commendable to wish to lay up something for your
children, that their life may be easier than your own; but, have you
never thought that, after all, you may not be working for their best
interests. Supposing you should sink underneath the burden you have
assumed, and death should find you all unprepared, would you not regret
that you had spent your days thus? It does not seem as if any mother was
called upon for such sacrifices. No woman, or at least, no American
woman, can endure such severe, unremitting toil."

Her hearer looked startled.

"I had never taken this view of the case," she said, "but you are right.
My strength cannot always hold out, and if I should be taken away, what
would become of my little children?"

Here the baby awoke with a scream, and the mother had enough to keep
tongue and hands busy in the effort to pacify him, and finish her
labors. As it was, tea was delayed.

The group of tired, sun-burned men, who came up from the field, lingered
around the kitchen door, furtively watching the pretty young
schoolmistress, but not venturing to speak above a whisper, until supper
was announced, when they came in awkwardly, and took their seats.

Clemence was duly presented to them and her host, a quiet, good-natured
looking man, and during the conversation which followed, they made some
progress towards a further acquaintance. She was pleased, too, to
observe that she had made quite a favorable impression, having formed a
plan in her mind which she now thought might be easy of accomplishment.

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