CHAPTER XXXVII.
[figure description] Page 413.[end figure description]
WHEN Mr. King returned from his mournful journey
to Washington, he said to his wife: “I saw
George Falkner, and was pleased with him. His resemblance
to poor Gerald is wonderful. I could see no difference,
except a firmer expression of the mouth, which I
suppose is owing to his determined efforts to escape from
slavery. Of course, he has not Gerald's gracefulness; but
his bearing seemed manly, and there was no obvious stamp
of vulgarity upon him. It struck me that his transformation
into a gentleman would be an easy process. I was
glad our interview was a hurried one, and necessarily
taken up with details about Gerald's death. It seems he
carried him off in his own arms when he was wounded,
and that he did his utmost to stanch the blood. Gerald
never spoke after the bullet struck him, though he pressed
his hand, and appeared to try to say something. When he
opened his vest to dress the wound, he found this.”
Rosa looked at it, groaned out, “Poor Gerald!” and
covered her face. It was the photograph of Eulalia,
with the upper part shot away. Both remained for some
time with their heads bowed in silence.
After a while, Mr. King resumed: “In answer to Mr.
Green's inquiries concerning the mutilated picture, I replied
that it was a likeness of my daughter; and he answered
that he had heard a marriage was thought of
between them. I was glad he happened to say that, for it
will make it seem natural to George that I should take a
-- 414 --
[figure description] Page 414.[end figure description]
lively interest in him on Gerald's account. The funeral,
and Alfred's departure for the army, have left me little
time to arrange my thoughts on that subject. But I have
now formed definite plans, that I propose we should this
evening talk over at Blumenthal's.”
When the sisters met, and the girls had gone to another
room to talk over their lessons, and imagine what Alfred was
then doing, Mr. King began to speak of George Falkner.
Rosa said: “My first wish is to go to New Rochelle and
bring home Henriet. She ought to be educated in a degree
somewhat suitable to her husband's prospects. I will teach
her to read and write, and give her lessons on the piano.”
“I think that would prove too much for your finely attuned
musical nerves,” rejoined her husband.
“Do you suppose you are going to make all the sacrifices?”
responded she, smiling. “It isn't at all like you
to wish to engross everything to yourself.”
“Rosa has a predilection for penance,” remarked Flora;
“and if she listens daily to a beginner knocking the scales
up hill and down hill, I think it will answer instead of
walking to Jerusalem with peas in her shoes.”
“Before I mention my plans, I should like to hear your
view of the subject, Blumenthal,” said Mr. King.
His brother-in-law replied: “I think Rosa is right about
taking charge of Henriet and educating her. But it seems
to me the worst thing you could do for her or her husband
would be to let them know that they have a claim to
riches. Sudden wealth is apt to turn the heads of much
older people than they are; and having been brought up
as slaves, their danger would be greatly increased. If
Henriet could be employed to sew for you, she might be
gratified with easy work and generous wages, while you
-- 415 --
[figure description] Page 415.[end figure description]
watched over her morals, and furnished her with opportunities
to improve her mind. If George survives the war,
some employment with a comfortable salary might be provided
for him, with a promise to advance him according
to his industry and general good habits. How does that
strike you, Mamita?”
“I agree perfectly with you,” rejoined Mrs. Delano.
“I think it would be far more prudent to have their characters
formed by habits of exertion and self-reliance, before
they are informed that they are rich.”
“It gratifies me to have my own judgment thus confirmed,”
said Mr. King. “You have given the outlines of
a plan I had already formed. But this judicious process
must not, of course, deprive the young man of a single
cent that is due to him. You are aware that Mr. Bell left
fifty thousand dollars to his grandson, to be paid when he
was twenty-two years of age. I have already invested
that sum for George, and placed it in the care of Mr. Percival,
with directions that the interest shall be added to it
from that date. The remainder of Mr. Bell's property,
with the exception of some legacies, was unreservedly left
to his daughter. I have taken some pains to ascertain the
amount, and I shall add a codicil to my will leaving an
equal sum to George. If I survive Mrs. Fitzgerald, the
interest on it will date from her decease; and I shall take
the best legal advice as to the means of securing her property
from any claims, by George or his heirs, after they
are informed of the whole story, as they will be whenever
Mrs. Fitzgerald dies.”
“You are rightly named Royal King,” rejoined Mr. Blumenthal,
“you do things in such princely style.”
“In a style better than that of most royal kings,” replied
-- 416 --
[figure description] Page 416.[end figure description]
he, “for it is simply that of an honest man. If this entanglement
had never happened, I should have done as
much for Gerald; and let me do what I will, Eulalia will
have more money than is good for her. Besides, I rather
expect this arrangement will prove a benefit to myself. I
intend to employ the young man as one of my agents in
Europe; and if he shows as much enterprise and perseverance
in business as he did in escaping from slavery, he
will prove an excellent partner for me when increasing
years diminish my own energies. I would gladly adopt
him, and have him live with us; but I doubt whether such
a great and sudden change of condition would prove salutary,
and his having a colored wife would put obstructions
in his way entirely beyond our power to remove. But the
strongest objection to it is, that such an arrangement would
greatly annoy Mrs. Fitzgerald, whose happiness we are
bound to consult in every possible way.”
“Has she been informed that the young man is found?”
inquired Mrs. Delano.
“No,” replied Mr. King. “It occurred very near the
time of Gerald's death; and we deem it unkind to disturb
her mind about it for some months to come.”
The next week, Mr. and Mrs. King started for New
York, and thence proceeded to New Rochelle. Following
the directions they had received, they hired a carriage at
the steamboat-landing, to convey them to a farm-house a
few miles distant. As they approached the designated
place, they saw a slender man, in drab-colored clothes,
lowering a bucket into the well. Mr. King alighted, and
inquired, “Is this Mr. Houseman's farm, sir?”
“My name is Joseph Houseman,” replied the Quaker.
“I am usually called Friend Joseph.”
-- 417 --
[figure description] Page 417.[end figure description]
Mr. King returned to the carriage, and saying, “This is
the place,” he assisted his lady to alight. Returning to
the farmer, he said: “We have come to ask you about a
young colored woman, named Henriet Falkner. Her husband
rendered service to a dear young friend of ours in the
army, and we would be glad to repay the obligation by
kindness to her.”
“Walk in,” said the Quaker. He showed them into a
neat, plainly furnished parlor. “Where art thou from?”
he inquired.
“From Boston,” was the reply.
“What is thy name?”
“Mr. King.”
“All men are called Mister,” rejoined the Quaker.
“What is thy given name?”
“My name is Alfred Royal King; and this is my wife,
Rosa King.”
“Hast thou brought a letter from the woman's husband?”
inquired Friend Joseph.
“No,” replied Mr. King. “I saw George Falkner in
Washington, a fortnight ago, when I went to seek the body
of our young friend; but I did not then think of coming
here. If you doubt me, you can write to William Lloyd
Garrison or Wendell Phillips, and inquire of them whether
Alfred R. King is capable of deceiving.”
“I like thy countenance, Friend Alfred, and I think
thou art honest,” rejoined the Quaker; “but where colored
people are concerned, I have known very polite and fairspoken
men to tell falsehoods.”
Mr. King smiled as he answered: “I commend your
caution, Friend Joseph. I see how it is. You suspect we
may be slaveholders in disguise. But slaveholders are just
-- 418 --
[figure description] Page 418.[end figure description]
now too busy seeking to destroy this Republic to have any
time to hunt fugitives; and when they have more leisure,
my opinion is they will find that occupation gone.”
“I should have more hope of that,” replied the farmer,
“if there was not so much pro-slavery here at the North.
And thee knows that the generals of the United States are
continually sending back fugitive slaves to bleed under the
lash of their taskmasters.”
“I honor your scruples, Friend Joseph,” responded Mr.
King; “and that they may be completely removed, we
will wait at the Metropolitan in New York until you have
received letters from Mr. Garrison and Mr. Phillips. And
lest you should think I may have assumed the name of
another, I will give you these to enclose in your letter.”
He opened his pocket-book and took out two photographs.
“I shall ask to have them sent back to me,” replied the
farmer; “for I should like to keep a likeness of thee and
thy Rosa. They will be pleasant to look upon. As soon
as I receive an answer, Friend Alfred, I will call upon thee
at the Metropolitan.”
“We shall be pleased to see you, Friend Joseph,” said
Rosa, with one of her sweetest smiles, which penetrated
the Quaker's soul, as sunshine does the receptive earth.
Yet, when the carriage had rolled away, he harnessed his
sleek horses to the wagon, and conveyed Henriet and her
babe to the house of a Friend at White Plains, till he ascertained
whether these stylish-looking strangers were what
they professed to be.
A few days afterward, Friend Joseph called at the Metropolitan.
When he inquired for the wealthy Bostonian,
the waiter stared at his plain dress, and said, “Your card,
sir.”
-- 419 --
[figure description] Page 419.[end figure description]
“I have no card,” replied the farmer. “Tell him Friend
Joseph wishes to see him.”
The waiter returned, saying, “Walk this way, sir,” and
showed him into the elegant reception-room.
As he sat there, another servant, passing through, looked
at him, and said, “All gentlemen take off their hats in this
room, sir.”
“That may be,” quietly replied the Quaker; “but all
men do not, for thee sees I keep mine on.”
The entrance of Mr. King, and his cordial salutation,
made an impression on the waiters' minds; and when
Friend Joseph departed, they opened the door very obsequiously.
The result of the conference was that Mr. and Mrs. King
returned to Boston with Henriet and her little one.
Tulee had proved in many ways that her discretion
might be trusted; and it was deemed wisest to tell her the
whole story of the babe, who had been carried to the calaboose
with her when Mr. Bruteman's agent seized her.
This confidence secured her as a firm friend and ally of
Henriet, while her devoted attachment to Mrs. King rendered
her secrecy certain. When black Chloe saw the
new-comer learning to play on the piano, she was somewhat
jealous because the same privilege had not been
offered to her children. “I didn't know Missy Rosy
tought thar war sech a mighty difference 'tween black an'
brown,” said she. “I don't see nothin' so drefful pooty in
dat ar molasses color.”
“Now ye shut up,” rejoined Tulee. “Missy Rosy
knows what she's 'bout. Ye see Mr. Fitzgerald was in
love with Missy Eulaly; an' Henret's husban' took care o'
him when he was dying. Mr. King is going to send him
-- 420 --
[figure description] Page 420.[end figure description]
'cross the water on some gran' business, to pay him for't;
and Missy Rosy wants his wife to be 'spectable out there'
mong strangers.”
Henriet proved good-natured and unassuming, and, with
occasional patronage from Tulce, she was generally able to
keep her little boat in smooth water.
When she had been there a few months Mr. King enclosed
to Mrs. Fitzgerald the letters Gerald had written
about George; and a few days afterward he called to explain
fully what he had done, and what he intended to do.
That lady's dislike for her rival was much diminished since
there was no Gerald to excite her jealousy of divided affection.
There was some perturbation in her manner, but
she received her visitor with great politeness; and when
he had finished his statement she said: “I have great respect
for your motives and your conduct; and I am satisfied
to leave everything to your good judgment and kind
feelings. I have but one request to make. It is that this
young man may never know he is my son.”
“Your wishes shall be respected,” replied Mr. King.
“But he so strongly resembles Gerald, that, if you should
ever visit Europe again, you might perhaps like to see
him, if you only recognized him as a relative of your
husband.”
The lady's face flushed as she answered promptly: “No,
sir. I shall never recoguize any person as a relative who
has a colored wife. Much as I loved Gerald, I would
never have seen him again if he had formed such an alliance;
not even if his wife were the most beautiful and
accomplished creature that ever walked the earth.”
“You are treading rather closely upon me, Mrs. Fitzgerald,”
rejoined Mr. King, smiling.
-- 421 --
[figure description] Page 421.[end figure description]
The lady seemed embarrassed, and said she had forgotten
Mrs. King's origin.
“Your son's wife is not so far removed from a colored
ancestry as mine is,” rejoined Mr. King; “but I think you
would soon forget her origin, also, if you were in a country
where others did not think of it. I believe our American
prejudice against color is one of what Carlyle calls `the
phantom dynastics.' ”
“It may be so,” she replied coldly; “but I do not wish
to be convinced of it.”
And Mr. King bowed good morning.
A week or two after this interview, Mrs. Fitzgerald
called upon Mrs. King; for, after all, she felt a certain sort
of attraction in the secret history that existed between
them; and she was unwilling to have the world suppose
her acquaintance had been dropped by so distinguished a
lady. By inadvertence of the servant at the door, she was
shown into the parlor while Henriet was there, with her
child on the floor, receiving directions concerning some
muslin flounces she was embroidering. Upon the entrance
of a visitor, she turned to take up her infant and depart.
But Mrs. King said, “Leave little Hetty here, Mrs. Falkner,
till you bring my basket for me to select the floss you
need.”
Hetty, being thus left alone, scrambled up, and toddled
toward Mrs. King, as if accustomed to an affectionate reception.
The black curls that clustered round her yellow
face shook, as her uncertain steps hastened to a place of
refuge; and when she leaned against her friend's lap, a
pretty smile quivered on her coral lips, and lighted up her
large dark eyes.
Mrs. Fitzgerald looked at her with a strange mixture of
feelings.
-- 422 --
[figure description] Page 422.[end figure description]
“Don't you think she's a pretty little creature?” asked
Mrs. King.
“She might be pretty if the yellow could be washed off,”
replied Mrs. Fitzgerald.
“Her cheeks are nearly the color of your hair,” rejoined
Mrs. King; “and I always thought that beautiful.”
Mrs. Fitzgerald glanced at the mirror, and sighed as she
said: “Ah, yes. My hair used to be thought very pretty
when I was young; but I can see that it begins to fade.”
When Henriet returned and took the child, she looked
at her very curiously. She was thinking to herself, “What
would my father say?” But she asked no questions, and
made no remark.
She had joined a circle of ladies who were sewing and
knitting for the soldiers; and after some talk about the difficulty
she had found in learning to knit socks, and how
fashionable it was for everybody to knit now, she rose to
take leave.
-- 423 --
Child, Lydia Maria Francis, 1802-1880 [1867], A romance of the Republic. (Ticknor and Fields, Boston) [word count] [eaf496T].
