a simpleton-第62章

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ostrich　against　a　friend　on　a　zebra；　which　went　faster；　but　threw
his　rider；　and　screamed　with　rage　at　not　being　able　to　eat　him；　he；
Falcon；　having　declined　to　run　unless　his　friend's　zebra　was
muzzled。　　He　fed　the　hungry；　clothed　the　naked；　and　shot　a　wild
elephant　in　the　eye；　and　all　this　he　enlivened　with　pictorial
descriptions　of　no　mean　beauty；　and　as　like　South　Africa　as　if　it
had　been　feu　George　Robins　advertising　that　continent　for　sale。

In　short；　never　was　there　a　more　voluble　and　interesting　liar　by
word　of　mouth；　and　never　was　there　a　more　agreeable　creature
interposed　between　a　bereaved　widow　and　her　daily　grief　and
regrets。　　He　diverted　her　mind　from　herself；　and　did　her　good。

At　last；　such　was　the　charm　of　infinite　lying；　she　missed　him　on
the　days　he　did　not　come；　and　was　brighter　when　he　did　come　and　lie。

Things　went　smoothly；　and　so　pleasantly；　that　he　would　gladly　have
prolonged　this　form　of　courtship　for　a　month　or　two　longer；　sooner
than　risk　a　premature　declaration。　　But　more　than　one　cause　drove
him　to　a　bolder　course；　his　passion；　which　increased　in　violence　by
contact　with　its　beautiful　object；　and　also　a　great　uneasiness　he
felt　at　not　hearing　from　Phoebe。　　This　silence　was　ominous。　　He　and
she　knew　each　other；　and　what　the　other　was　capable　of。　　He　knew
she　was　the　woman　to　cross　the　seas　after　him；　if　Staines　left　the
diggings；　and　any　explanation　took　place　that　might　point　to　his
whereabouts。

These　double　causes　precipitated　matters；　and　at　last　he　began　to
throw　more　devotion　into　his　manner；　and　having　so　prepared　her　for
a　few　days；　he　took　his　opportunity　and　said；　one　day；　〃We　are　both
unhappy。　　Give　me　the　right　to　console　you。〃

She　colored　high；　and　said；　〃You　have　consoled　me　more　than　all　the
world。　　But　there　is　a　limit；　always　will　be。〃

One　less　adroit　would　have　brought　her　to　the　point；　but　this
artist　only　sighed；　and　let　the　arrow　rankle。　　By　this　means　he
out…fenced　her；　for　now　she　had　listened　to　a　declaration　and　not
stopped　it　short。

He　played　melancholy　for　a　day　or　two；　and　then　he　tried　her
another　way。　　He　said；　〃I　promised　your　dying　husband　to　be　your
protector；　and　a　father　to　his　child。　　I　see　but　one　way　to　keep　my
word；　and　that　gives　me　courage　to　speakwithout　that　I　never
could。　　Rosa；　I　loved　you　years　ago；　I　am　unmarried　for　your　sake。
Let　me　be　your　husband；　and　a　father　to　your　child。〃

Rosa　shook　her　head。　　〃I　COULD　not　marry　again。　　I　esteem　you；　I　am
very　grateful　to　you：　and　I　know　I　behaved　ill　to　you　before。　　If　I
could　marry　again；　it　would　be　you。　　But　I　cannot。　　Oh；　never！　never！〃

〃Then　we　both　are　to　be　unhappy　all　our　days。〃

〃I　shall；　as　I　ought　to　be。　　You　will　not；　I　hope。　　I　shall　miss
you　sadly；　but；　for　all　that；　I　advise　you　to　leave　me。　　You　will
carry　my　everlasting　gratitude；　go　where　you　will；　that　and　my
esteem　are　all　I　have　to　give。〃

〃I　will　go；〃　said　he；　〃and　I　hope　he　who　is　gone　will　forgive　my
want　of　courage。〃

〃He　who　is　gone　took　my　promise　never　to　marry　again。〃

〃Dying　men　see　clearer。　　I　am　sure　he　wishedno　matter；　it　is　too
delicate。〃　　He　kissed　her　hand　and　went　out；　a　picture　of　dejection。

Mrs。　Staines　shed　a　tear　for　him。

Nothing　was　heard　of　him　for　several　days；　and　Rosa　pitied　him　more
and　more；　and　felt　a　certain　discontent　with　herself；　and　doubt
whether　she　had　done　right。

Matters　were　in　this　state；　when　one　morning　Emily　came　screaming
in　from　the　garden；　〃The　child！Master　Christie！Where　is　he？
Where　is　he？〃

The　house　was　alarmed。　　The　garden　searched；　the　adjoining　paddock。
The　child　was　gone。

Emily　was　examined；　and　owned；　with　many　sobs　and　hysterical　cries；
that　she　had　put　him　down　in　the　summer…house　for　a　minute；　while
she　went　to　ask　the　gardener　for　some　balm；　balm　tea　being　a
favorite　drink　of　hers。　　〃But　there　was　nobody　near　that　I　saw；〃
she　sobbed。

Further　inquiry　proved；　however；　that　a　tall　gypsy　woman　had　been
seen　prowling　about　that　morning；　and　suspicion　instantly　fastened
on　her。　　Servants　were　sent　out　right　and　left；　but　nothing
discovered；　and　the　agonized　mother；　terrified　out　of　her　wits；　had
Falcon　telegraphed　to　immediately。

He　came　galloping　down　that　very　evening；　and　heard　the　story。　　He
galloped　into　Gravesend；　and　after　seeing　the　police；　sent　word　out
he　should　advertise。　　He　placarded　Gravesend　with　bills；　offering　a
reward　of　a　thousand　pounds；　the　child　to　be　brought　to　him；　and　no
questions　asked。

Meantime　the　police　and　many　of　the　neighboring　gentry　came　about
the　miserable　mother　with　their　vague　ideas。

Down　comes　Falcon　again　next　day；　tells　what　he　has　done；　and
treats　them　all　with　contempt。　　〃Don't　you　be　afraid；　Mrs。
Staines；〃　said　he。　　〃You　will　get　him　back。　　I　have　taken　the　sure
way。　　This　sort　of　rogues　dare　not　go　near　the　police；　and　the
police　can't　find　them。　　You　have　no　enemies；　it　is　only　some　woman
that　has　fancied　a　beautiful　child。　　Well；　she　can　have　them　by　the
score；　for　a　thousand　pounds。〃

He　was　the　only　one　with　a　real　idea；　the　woman　saw　it；　and　clung
to　him。　　He　left　late　at　night。

Next　morning　out　came　the　advertisements；　and　he　sent　her　a　handful
by　special　messenger。　　His　zeal　and　activity　kept　her　bereaved
heart　from　utter　despair。

At　eleven　that　night　came　a　telegraph：


〃I　have　got　him。　　Coming　down　by　special　train。〃


Then　what　a　burst　of　joy　and　gratitude！　　The　very　walls　of　the
house　seemed　to　ring　with　it　as　a　harp　rings　with　music。　　A　special
train；　too！　he　would　not　let　the　mother　yearn　all　night。

At　one　in　the　morning　he　drove　up　with　the　child　and　a　hired　nurse。

Imagine　the　scene！　　The　mother's　screams　of　joy；　her　furious
kisses；　her　cooing；　her　tears；　and　all　the　miracles　of　nature　at
such　a　time。　　The　servants　all　mingled　with　their　employers　in　the
general　rapture；　and　Emily；　who　was　pale　as　death；　cried　and
sobbed；　and　said；　〃Oh；　ma'am；　I'll　never　let　him　out　of　my　sight
again；　no；　not　for　one　minute。〃　　Falcon　made　her　a　signal；　and　went
out。　　She　met　him　in　the　garden。

She　was　much　agitated；　and　cried；　〃Oh；　you　did　well　to　bring　him
to…day。　　I　could　not　have　kept　it　another　hour。　　I'm　a　wretch。〃

〃You　are　a　good　kind　girl；　and　here's　the　fifty　pounds　I　promised
you。〃

〃Well；　and　I　have　earned　it。〃

〃Of　course　you　have。　　Meet　me　in　the　garden　to…morrow　morning；　and
I'll　show　you　you　have　done　a　kind　thing　to　your　mistress；　as　well
as　me。　　And　as　for　the　fifty　pounds；　that　is　NOTHING；　do　you　hear？
it　is　nothing　at　all；　compared　with　what　I　will　do　for　you；　if　you
will　be　true　to　me；　and　hold　your　tongue。〃

〃Oh！　as　for　that；　my　tongue　shan't　betray　you；　nor　shame　ME。　　You
are　a　gentleman；　and　I　do　think　you　love　her；　or　I　would　not　help
you。〃

So　she　salved　her　nursemaid's　consciencewith　the　help　of　the
fifty　pounds。

The　mother　was　left　to　her　rapture　that　night。　　In　the　morning
Falcon　told　his　tale。

〃At　two　P。M。　a　man　had　called　on　him；　and　had　produced　one　of　his
advertisements；　and　had　asked　him　if　that　was　all　squareno
bobbies　on　the　lurk。　　'All　square；　my　fine　fellow。'　　'Well；'　said
he；　'I　suppose　you　are　a　gentleman。'　　'I　am　of　that　opinion　too。'
'Well；　sir；'　says　he；　'I　know　a　party　as　has　FOUND　a　young　gent　as
comes　werry　nigh　your　advertisement。'　　'It　will　be　a　very　lucky
find　to　that　party；'　I　said；　'if　he　is　on　the　square。'　　'Oh；　WE　are
always　on　the　square；　when　the　blunt　is　put　down。'　　'The　blunt　for
the　child；　when　you　like；　and　where　you　like；'　said　I。　　'You　are
the　right　sort；'　said　he。　　'I　am；'　replied　I。　　'Will　you　come　and
see　if　it　is　all　right？'　said　he。　　'In　a　minute；'　said　I。　　Stepped
into　my　bedroom；　and　loaded　my　six…shooter。〃

〃What　is　that？〃　said　Lusignan。

〃A　revolver　with　six　barrels：　by　the　by；　the　very　same　I　killed　the
lion　with。　　Ugh！　I　never　think　of　that　scene　without　feeling　a
little　quiver；　and　my　nerves　are　pretty　good；　too。　　Well；　he　took
me　into　an　awful　part　of　the　town；　down　a　filthy　close；　into　some
boozing　kenI　beg　pardon；　some　thieves'　public…house。〃

〃Oh；　my　dear　friend；〃　said　Rosa；　〃were　you　not　frightened？〃

〃Shall　I　tell　you　the　truth；　or　play　the　hero？　　I　think　I'll　tell
YOU　the　truth。　　I　felt　a　little　frightened；　lest　they　should　get　my
money　and　my　life；　without　my　getting　my　godson：　that　is　what　I
call　him　now。　　Well；　two　ugly　dogs　came　in；　and　said；　'Let　us　see
the　flimsies；　before　you　see　the　kid。'

〃'That　is　rather　sharp　practice；　I　think；'　said　I；　'however；　here's
the　swag；　and　here's　the　watch…dog。'　　So　I　put　down　the　notes；　and
my　hand　over　them　with　my　revolver　cocked；　and　ready　to　fire。〃

〃Yes；　yes；〃　said　Rosa　pantingly。　　〃Ah；　you　were　a　match　for　them。〃

〃Well；　Mrs。　Staines；　if　I　was　writing　you　a　novel；　I　suppose　I
should　tell　you　the　rogues　recoiled；　but　the　truth　is　they　only
laughed；　and　were　quite　pleased。　　'Swell's　in　earnest；'　said　one；
'Jem；　show　the　kid。'　　Jem　whistled；　and　in　came　a　great　tall　black
gypsy　woman；　with　the　darling。　　My　heart　was　in　my　mouth；　but　I
would　not　let　them　see　it。　　I　said；　'It　is　all　right。　　Take　half
the　notes　here；　and　half　at　the　door。'　　They　agreed；　and　then　I　did
it　quick；　walked　to　the　door；　took　the　child；　gave　them　the　odd
notes；　and　made　off　as　fast　as　I　could；　hired　a　nurse　at　the
hospitaland　the　rest　you　know。〃

〃Papa；〃　said　Rosa；　with　enthusiasm；　〃there　is　but　one　man　in
England　who　would　have　got　me　back　my　child；　and　this　is　he。〃

When　they　were　alone；　Falcon　told　her　she　had　said　words　that
gladdened　his　very　heart。　　〃You　admit　I　can　carry　out　one　half　of
his　wishes？〃　said　he。

Mrs。　Staines　said　〃Yes；〃　then　colored　high；　then；　to　turn　it　off；
said；　〃But　I　cannot　allow　you　to　lose　that　large　sum　of　money。　　You
must　let　me　repay　you。〃

〃Large　sum　of　money！〃　said　he。　　〃It　is　no　more　to　me　than　sixpence
to　most　people。　　I　don't　know　what　to　do　with　my　money；　and　I　never
shall　know；　unless　you　will　make　a　sacrifice　of　your　own　feelings
to　the　wishes　of　the　dead。　　O　Mrs。　StainesRosa；　do　pray　consider
that　a　man　of　that　wisdom　sees　the　future；　and　gives　wise　advice。
Sure　am　I　that；　if　you　could　overcome　your　natural　repugnance　to　a
second　marriage；　it　would　be　the　best　thing　for　your　little　boyI
love　him　already　as　if　he　were　my　ownand　in　time　would　bring　you
peace　and　comfort；　and　some　day；　years　hence；　even　happiness。　　You
are　my　only　love；　yet　I　should　never　have　come　to　you　again　if　HE
had　not　sent　me。　　Do　consider　how　strange　it　all　is；　and　what　it
points　to；　and　don't　let　me　have　the　misery　of　losing　you　again；
when　you　can　do　no　better　now；　alas！　than　reward　my　fidelity。〃

She　was　much　moved　at　this　artful　appeal；　and　said；　〃If　I　was　sure
I　was　obeying　his　will。　　But　how　can　I　feel　that；　when　we　both
promised　never　to　wed　again？〃

〃A　man's　dying　words　are　more　sacred　than　any　other。　　You　have　his
letter。〃

〃Yes；　but　he　does　not　say　'marry　again。'〃

〃That　is　what　he　meant；　though。〃

〃How　can　you　say　that？　　How　can　you　know？〃

〃Because　I　put　the　words　he　said　to　me　together　with　that　short
line　to　you。　　Mind；　I　don't　say　that　he　did　not　exaggerate　my　poor
merits；　on　the　contrary；　I　think　he　did。　　But　I　declare　to　you　that
he　did　hope　I　should　take　care　of　you　and　your　child。　　R