CHAPTER XI. THE RETURN.
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The joy of Nelson Osborne at hearing
the order, at length given by the sorrowing
commander of the sloop-of-war, to
weigh anchor and continue on the voyage,
was very great. He felt that now
his triumph was complete; that Blanche
Talbot was to be his own. He laughed
secretly as he heard the officers and men
lament the loss of the noble young man,
and speak of him in terms of the warmest
praise. He felt that he had no more to
fear from so formidable a rival, who had
already, ere half the term of their probation
had expired, had acchieved honors
sufficient to win him the hand of Blanche
Talbot.
`No one will ever know or suspect the
part I have had in this matter,' he said,
within himself; `and as he will never
live to return to claim her, of course
Blanche is bound to be mine.'
Osborne had now only one draw back
to his satisfaction; and this was the
time that would elapse, a year and a
half, before he should dare to present
himself before the old captain and ask
the hand of his daughter. Till that time
should arrive he felt indifferent as to the
performance of his duty; `for,' thought
he, `in the death of Worthington every
thing is acchieved at my hands.'
The sloop sailed round the Horn and
was absent for nearly a year longer, a
year most irksome to Nelson Osborne.
At length it returned to New York bringing
him home in irons for having, by
force of arms, resisted his superior officer.
He was sentenced to receive thirty
nine lashes the day of the sloop's arrival
in port, and to be infamously turned
ashore in citizen's garb.
For some weeks he wondered about
the city, the hanger on of the docks and
taverns, and finally stealing from a land-lord,
he was arrested and imprisoned
for four months. When he was discharged
the war was drawing to a close
and he resolved that he would prepare to
present himself in his native town, and
also prepare a story of his deeds in the
war, that should carry credit with it to
the old captain. He reached Boston by
working his passage on a coasting vessel
and there, with the proceeds of a gold
watch he had stolen from the captain of
the trader, he purchased a suit of infantry
uniform of a lieutenant's grade, having
been so fortunate, as he conceived it
to be, to see a lieutenant Osborn reported
for his gallantry at the late battle of
New Orleans.
`It is my own name without the (e)
and I will use it, for the owner will
never call for it, at least till I have got
Blanche on the strength of it. And it
is very common for a letter to be left out
in a person's name in the hurry of printing.
Fortunately they hav'nt given his
other name, or it might not chime with
mine. Lieutenant Osborn I will be!'
Thus resolved, he purchased, as we
have said, a lieutenant's uniform and
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sword, and having carefully collected the
two or three different notices of the battle
at New Orleans, in each of which in
a different manner, but always in terms
of high praise, this Lieutenant Osborn
was spoken off, he went to the Exchange
Hotel and so entered his name upon the
register: viz—
`Lieutenant Osborne, New Orleans!'
The news of the battle having but a
few days previous reached the city, the
gentlemen in the hotel seeing an officer
enter his name in this manner of course
supposed it to be the same one alluded
to in the papers. One or two gentlemen,
wishing to do him honor and to learn the
details of the fight, approached and, inintroducing
themselves, asked if it was
not Lieutenant Osborn who had distinguished
himself in the late battle at New
Orleans, they had the honor of addressing?
'
`I cannot lay claim, gentlemen, to any
distinction,' he answered, bowing and
smiling. `I had the honor to be present
in the gallant affair.'
The next day appeared the following
notice in the Centinel:
`The gallant Lieutenant Osborn,
whose heroic conduct at New Orleans
reflected such credit upon America, is
now at the Exchange Hotel in this city.
We understand from those who have conversed
with this gentleman that he come
as far as Washington, bearer of Despatches
from General Jackson, and has
now extended his journey thus far, being
on his way to visit his friends at the
eastward.'
This flattering announcement was not
unlooked for or unexpected by Osborne.
He had said to himself, `If I go to the
Exchange and put up for a day or two, I
shall get my name in the papers, and
that will do my business with the captain.
' Three days after this notice appeared,
and armed with it in his pocket,
he reached his native town, so timing his
entrance as to arrive at dusk; as he did
not wish to attract any particular attention
until he had settled matters to his
satisfaction over at the `Barracks.'
`When I get the consent of the old
captain, and set the day for the wedding
then I shall have no fears! Besides
what should I fear! Worthington is
dead! And it can be proved that I am
the same lieutenant Osborn that put up at
the Exchange, and who is noticed so
favorably in the paper. What more can
the captain want or ask? Yes,' he asked
himself, as he glided across the bridge,
`what more can he desire? I will have
the marriage take place within three
days. Once married, and Blanche
and her money mine, I shall not care
what discoveries the old man makes, so
long as he never discovers the hand I had
in Worthington's— What can that
person be doing there, skulking about the
captain's?' he exclaimed quickly, as he
now discovered Cesar with his bag of
oranges. `I think I have seen that figure
before, but where I can't tell. I will at
least see who he is, and get a word or
two perhaps as to the way things remain
at the captain's, if it should be any body
that lives with him. It is a negro I
will see who and what he is. By heaven!
If the dead could rise—but it can't be
he!'
He then shouted to Cesar, in the manner
we have already described, and approached
him.
Having now brought the history of
this personage up to this point, and also
farther, to where he makes his appearance
at the door of the captain, after
Cesar's departure, we will now resume
the thread of the narrative. The rap
which he had given on the door, and
which aunt Sarah rose to reply to, was
given with a sort of recklessness.
Like one who felt that there could be
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no question of his pretensions or claims
made by the parties, before whom he
was about to present himself. As Aunt
Sarah rose to go out to the door, and before
he was ushered in, as we have stated,
the captain was startled by an exclamation
from Blanche, who, while listening
for what was said at the door, her eyes
being on the Centinel, but without reading
it, she chanced to see the name of
`Osborn.'
She raised the paper to read the paragraph,
which was the same that has been
already copied above. It flushed her
cheek with alarm and misgiving, and exclaiming—
`Can it be possible that it is he. But
it can't be!'
`What child? who? Wait till the
person comes in.'
`I mean this in the paper father,' and
she read it rapidly aloud.
`That is odd! And lives down east
here! It may be Nelson—there is no
telling. But—hist—'
The door was just then thrown open,
and Aunt Sarah came in, as already described
in a former chapter, followed by
Nelson Osborne.
Blanche instantly recognised him and
uttered a suppressed cry of surprise,
while the Captain said heartily—
`Ah, Mr. Osborne, I am glad to see
you. You are well returned from the
wars. Welcome home, sir.'
`And so it is, Mister Osborne,' exclaimed
Aunt Sarah, with recognition.—
`How tall he is grown, and how fierce
his whiskers look. Who'd have known
him. Take a chair, sir.'
`I am glad to see you all well again!'
said Osborne, bowing and seating himself,
and feeling vexed at Blanche, who
had instantly disappeared from the room,
without even shaking hands with him.—
But the noble girl, who loved Archy with
all her soul, was resolved she would
give no countenance to his rival: for she
saw that he wore the uniform of an officer,
and trembled lest it was indeed he
who had been alluded to in the Gazette.
`Were he returned a General I should
not love him, nor would I marry him,'
she said, after she had been walking her
room some eight or ten minutes, greatly
disturbed at the return of one she hoped
she should never see again.
`Blanche, your father says you must
come in,' said her aunt, going to her
room for her.
`Why does he wish it. I cannot treat
this Nelson Osborne civilly.'
`He has returned a lieutenant.'
`So much the worse for me.'
`He is spoken of in the papers as a
hero and great soldier. You don't know
what he hasn't done.'
`He is in a very great hurry to trumpet
his own praises.'
`Brother asked him. Or, rather said
to him, we feared we should not see you
again, sir, as you have been so quiet.'
`Perhaps you did not look for Lieut.
Osborne, Captain,' he said.
`What, are you the officer spoken of
in this paper,' asked brother. `It was
such a beautiful notice, and—'
`I know, aunt, I know. And did he
say he was the person?' she asked, pale
as death.
`Yes, and is now showing your father
some other newspapers he brought with
him, in which his exploits are printed.—
You ought to go down at once.'
`Well, I will go just to see this great
hero, who so modestly talks of himself,'
she answered, with a sarcastic smile.
`Yes, come dear. He will be sure to
be your husband, for it is impossible
Archibald Worthington can ever have
done any thing to compare with this
Lieutenant Osborne.'
`You may marry him, aunt, but I
never shall were he a general.'
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`Ah, Blanche, no running away, girl,'
said her father, as he saw her re-enter.
`I have good news for you from one of
your two friends. Here is young Osborne,
who has been keeping very sly
all the while only to surprise us in the
end. This is Lieut. Osborne, of the
army, the very hero we have just been
reading about in the Centinel. Do you
hear that, Blanche. By my faith I am
taken all aback; for I didn't expect nothing
like it. `Why don't you welcome
him, girl.'
`Lieutenant Osborne is very welcome,
sir,' said Blanche, in a very peculiar
tone; one that puzzled the `Lieutenant'
to analyse, but one that did not please
him. He half suspected she knew the
truth about him—but then this seemed
impossible.
`She doesn't like me, that is certain.
The raising from the dead of Archibald
Worthington, however it was done, has
given her hopes of him. But I will defeat
him. Dead or alive, Blanche Talbot
shall never be his. It is the strangest
thing in the world his turning up with
that negro of his, whom I supposed dead
long ago.
`If he has been alive where has he
been? I have not heard from him nor
of him. If he has done any thing more
I should have known it. But let him
go! I shall secure my interest here in
this fair girl before he sees her!' `I am
very welcome, am I, Miss Blanche,' he
added; `your looks seem to speak a different
language from your lips. I am
surprised at this coldness. I have returned
and shown your father proofs of
my good conduct and promotion in the
war. I come to you, as it were, fresh
from the field of glory, and lay my laurels
at your feet.'
`If looks do not please you sir, I cannot
help it,' said Blanche dryly.
`What has got into the girl,' exclaim-
her father. `This wont do, Blanche!
If Lieutenant Osborne has shown himself
worthy of you, I am bound to give
you to him, if he still desires your hand.'
`I still do, sir. The beauty of your
sweet daughter has been my watchword
in the war. I will not resign her
to any! The three years are up.'
`Hear that, Blanche?'
`Yes, father. But the three years do
not expire till to-morrow.'
`And what of that, Blanche?'
`To-morrow may turn the scales in
favor of one who may be able to present
claims superior far to those which
this gentleman advances.'
`Do you mean Archibald Worthington?
' said Aunt Sarah. `If you do,
Lieutenant Osborne has nothing to fear
srom him; for so far as we can learn,
he has returned only a sailor. His name
has never got into any of the papers.
Indeed, Blanche, you must give him up.'
`Not till he appears and fails to show
that he is without merit,' answered
Blanche with a quiet smile.
Archibald Worthington I know nothing
of,' answered Osborne in an indifferent
tone; he did behave very well I believe,
in some engagement early in the
war, but afterwards was put on shore
for some act of insubordination, and
since then I never have heard of him.'
`The story is false!' cried Blanche,
with a flashing eye.
`Do you give me the lie, Miss Talbot?
'
`Yes, if you state such an open falsehood!
I know it to be an untruth, a
base fabrication!
`I heard so, Miss, I only heard so.'
`And how do you knaw it to be false,
neice?' asked her aunt with surprise.
`It is no matter now. To-morrow he
will himself in person answer all questions,
and honorably defend himself from
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all charges that envy or hatred may invent
to do him injury!'
`Really Blanche, you are quite spirited
in his defence; almost too much so,'
said the captain.
`Perhaps she thinks it necessary to
take the part of one who will be certain
never to appear to take his own,” said
Osborne sarcastically. `Be assured Captain
Talbot you will never see him. He
dare not show his face here, knowing
that one is here who can confront him!'
`And who is that one?' demanded
Blanche indignantly.
`Hist! I will have no sparring here.
I will wait till to-morrow and see what
this young sailor says of himself; for
he has sent me a present of a bag of
oranges, and word that I shall see him.'
`Very well, he may have the presumption
to come. But I think sir, that my
claim to your daughter's hand is too well
established to apprehend that you will
listen to him. He may seek to gain
favor with you by decrying and injuring
me, but—'
`He is too noble for such baseness;
and besides, his own high character is
sufficient basis for the favor he will seek
here,' answered Blache.
`The words and manner of Nelson
Osborne inspired Blanche with the most
intense dislike of him that almost amounted
to loathing. She knew nothing of
his character further than in one of Archibald's
letters to her, he had written and
then scratched out a few lines in reference
to him, by which, for she strove to
make out what he had erased as every
lady would, she learned that they had
met somewhere, and that Nelson had
done him an injury. This was all she
knew, but it was enough to prejudice
her against him.
She now turned away from Osborne
with an air of supreme contempt, and
said to her father,
`If you do not wish me any longer, I
will retire.'
`Well, go,' he answered kindly. `But
you must be up bright and early to have
your breakfast and go fishing.'
`I will be first at your door, sir, to
call you,' she answered, smiling; and
then kissing him and bidding him good
night, and her aunt also, she left the
room without deigning to cast a glance
at Osborne.
`I do not seem to be in very high favor
with Miss Blanche,' said he, trying
to turn off his chagrin with a laugh.
`It is nothing but maidenly coyness,'
answered her father. `She will feel better
to-morrow towards you. You have
quite taken her and all of us by surprise.
I hope you will join our party to-morrow.
We are going down the river to
pass the day pick-nicking and fishing,
and return home with the afternoon
tide.'
`I should be most happy, sir,' answered
Nelson, rising and bowing; `but I
trust, sir, you will use your influence
with Blanche to make her treat me more
civilly. Indeed, sir, I feel that I ought to
claim her at once as my wife.'
`Well, Blanche shall be talked to,
Lieutenant,' answered the Captain. `She
has somehow great hopes of Archy,
though I must confess, in my opinion,
you have won her, and I see no reason
why you should not have her. But as
she kissed me good night, she whisperpered
and said that if I would give no
decision till to-morrow, and then, if Archibald
Worthington did not present
higher claims to her hand than you
have done, she will consent to become
your wife. That is certainly very fair.'
`Yes, Captain. To-morrow, then, I
hope to receive her; for I am assured
that this Worthington is no better than
a common sailor. I will not fail to meet
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you to go in the boat early in the morning.
'
With these words Nelson Osborne took
his leave, shaking hands both with the
Captain and Aunt Sarah.
When he got out of doors he gnashed
his teeth with rage, for he felt that he
was hated and that Worthington was
loved by the beautiful Blanche, and that,
after all his crimes and deceptions, she
could never be his. He trembled also
lest the return of Worthington should be
his ruin; but nevertheless resolved to face
him.
`If Archibald Worthington has returned
to this country,' mused Nelson
Osborne, as he slowly walked across the
bridge, he must be at his mother's. All
my hopes of Blanche, and my safety, too,
depend upon his non-appearance to-morrow.
I will not sleep to-night till I have
ascertained whether he be really at
home, as his negro's presence here, so
near his home, leads me to believe. If I
find him there, he shall never see
Blanche Talbot again. If he has as
many lives as a cat, I will have them
before I will see him married to her. I
can return before day, and in full time
to join the Captain's party on the water.'
With this resolution he turned aside,
after crossing the bridge, which after
nine o'clock was free of toll to all foot-passengers,
and so he passed unnoticed,
and walked rapidly down the river-road in
the direction of Hallowell.
Archibald Worthington was pacing,
with a true sailor's restlessness, up and
down the little gravel walk in front of
his mother's cottage, enjoying the moonlight
and watching the river for Cæsar's
return, who had then been gone full
time enough to get back. He was a
fine-looking young man, tall and manly,
with a frank, bold bearing, and the open,
pleasing countenance of a person of a
generous spirit. He was attired in the
undress uniform of an officer in the
United States navy, and carried in his
hand as he walked, for the night was
warm, his blue cap with its gold band.
The house before which he was walking
faced the water, and was situated a
little back from the river-road, with a
small yard before it, enclosed by a low
paling. The dwelling was of an extremely
humble character, being but one
story high, and white-washed. A few
flowers grew in the yard, and a vine of
the scarlet bean was trained to run up
one of the windows, and falling down
over it, nearly hid it from the passer-by
in a curtain of leaves Through the leaves
now sparkled a light in the room within.
Archibald Worthington loeked very
happy. He was once more at home: he
had found his mother well and everjoyed
to see him again. He was near Blanche,
too, and he had returned conscious that
he had merited her hand by his deeds of
valor.
`How Cæsar loiters,' he said, after a
long and close survey of the river above.
`I fear something may have occurred to
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detain him. Perhaps he brings evil news,
and lingers with it lest he should bring it
to my ears too soon.'
`Archy, my dear son,' said a lady,
coming out of the door, `I fear you will
take cold in the night air.'
`Take cold, my dear mother,' he answered
with a smile at the idea of a
sailor's taking cold by being out of doors
at night; `why, sailors live out of doors
on their decks, mother. But if you only
wish me to come in to keep you company,
I will obey.'
`No, not if you prefer being out here.
You don't know how happy I am, Archy,
to see you once more before I die; and
then to see you return an officer. How
strange you never wrote to me, and that
I never heard of you, Archy dear.'
`I will tell you the reason to-morrow
or the next day, mother, after I have
seen Blanche. How Cæsar stays. Perhaps
they refused the gift.'
`He would then return the sooner.'
`You say that Blanche was not well
when you heard from her?' asked the
noble young man anxiously and tenderly.
`More beautiful than ever.'
`I hope, then, she is still so. `What
is that moving? It is a boat coming
round the point. It must be Cæsar. I
will run up the shore and meet him.'
`You have dropped your cap, Archy.'
`No mother, dear mother,' he answered,
hastening down to the shore, and then
up the beach in the direction of the approaching
boat. He soon saw that it contained
but one person, and in a few minutes
he recognised the individual to be
Cæsar.
`Pull in where I am, Cæsar,' he called
to him. `How long you have been.'
`Bress you, massa Archy, I hab nuff
to 'tain dis niggar! But wait till me
fasten um boat.'
And Cæsar rowed down parallel with
the shore to the boat flotilla in front of
the house, while Archibald walked on the
shore rapidly questioning him.
`Did you see Blanche? Did the Captain
accept the oranges? Did you tell
him who sent them? How did Blanche
look? What did she say? Did you give
her the note? Did she give you any
thing for me?'
To all which inquiries Cæsar replied
in detail; and having secured his boat,
he turned to his master and began to give
him a full account of what passed. It
was all very satisfactory to the youthful
lover; and when Cæsar took from his
hat the old piece of sail-cloth, and drew
from it the lock of hair, he caught it
from him and covered it with kisses.
`Dear, noble, generous, kind Blanche,'
he exclaimed with deep emotions of joy.
`But I haint told you all, massa,' said
Cæsar.
`No! What else?'
`I see dat marine what spose he hab
left you and me dead on the island!'
`What Osborne—Nelson Osborne?'
exclaimed Archibald with amazement.
`Yis, massa, jist dat same indiwidual.'
`Where? when? It is very strange.'
Cæsar then related to him the circumstances
of his meeting and recontr
with him; and in proof of his words he
took from the boat the sword he had captured.
`What can be his motive in being
here? How dare he when he is a murderer
in intention, and knows he is in my
power?'
`He spose you dead, you see, massa
Archy!'
`True! I see through it now! I
wonder if he has dared to go to the Captains?
'
`He won't be well received if he do,
massa, coz I tell massa Cap'n's sailor
man; Jack, he tell me his name be, all
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'bout dis massa Osborne, and he said he'd
see how he come to his massa's!'
`I do not fear for my own position and
hopes in reference to Blanche, but I do
not wish them to be imposed upon by
one so utterly lost to virtue, honor, and
every noble trait of character as Nelson
Osborne has proved himself to be.'
This was said not to Cæsar, but spoke
rather to himself. He remained a few
moments silently reflecting upon the intelligence
which had been communicated
to him by Cæsar. He was confounded
at the assurance of Osborne in appearing
again in his native place, and evidently
with the view of seeking the hand
of Blanche. But when he reflected that
he supposed the only person he had to
fear was no longer living, he was less
surprised. To prevent him from imposing
upon Captain Talbot, he resolved to
go up early in the morning.
`Do you think the sailor told the Captain
what you narrated to him, Cæsar,
and so put him on his guard?'
`I sure ob dat, massa; coz he went
strait up to de house when I left him to
git into de skiff!'
`In that case they are safe: otherwise
I would go to night and warn them, or
send you!'
`I tink massa you send and hab him
'rested for murderin' us.'
`We are not yet killed, Cæsar, Heaven
be thanked. His intentions have been
signally defeated. I don't know that I
could on my own word without witnesses
convict him of his wicked purpose.'
`Dare is me, too, massa! I take my
oath on him!'
`We had best wait and see first what
to-morrow brings forth. I do not, if I
can help it, care to mix myself up with
any such troublesome affair, unless it be
found absolutely necessary for the protection
of society. I wish to have as little
to do with him as possible!'
`You best keep on your watch agea
him, massa Archy. He sure do you
some mischief.'
`Sir,' said one of two men who rode
up on horseback at that moment, for
Archibald was just crossing the road from
the water-side and entering the gate to
his mother's house, `will you tell me how
far it is to Augusta?'
`Two miles, sir,' answered Worthington
looking steadily at the men, whom he
saw were strangers, though he could not
discern then features very distinctly, as
a cloud was passing over the moon at the
time.
`Thank you, sir, answered the man,
in a bluff, strong voice like one who was
in the habit of talking freely and fearlessly
with all men. `Do you know sir,
if there is a Lieutenant Osborne recently
arrived at Augusta; for as you live so
near, you must doubtless be familiar
with all the news stirring there!'
`Lieutenant Osborne!' repeated Archibald,
`I do not know any such person,
sir!'
`Perhaps he may have dropped his
title this way, having no further use of
it,' responded the man. `Is there a Nelson
Osborne in Augusta?'
`Yes sir, I have just heard that there
is,' responded Worthington with surprise.
`Could you direct me the best way to
find him, after entering the village?'
`Probably at his mother's, sir! But
you just inquired for Lieutenant Osborn.
Are they one and the same! The one
I know cannot be an officer, for he is a
villain!'
`Oh, you seem to know whom we
want! They are not the same!' answered
the other person who had not
hitherto spoken. `You appear to be an
officer, sir! May I ask whom I have
the honor of addressing.
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`I am a lieutenant in the navy, sir!
My name is—is—Worthington sir!'
`Then I will speak freely to you,
Lieutenant Worthington. I am lieutenant
Osborn. Last week on my arrival
in Boston I found that some person had
preceded me and assumed my name,
and representing my person, and lodged
at the hotel and received the courtesies
of several of the principal citizens. I
should not have complained of this greeting,
if he had been any thing like an
honest rogue; but it seems that after he
had left the city, on the very morning of
my arrival, it was discovered that he had
stolen a valuable diamond from one of
the hotel rooms and sold it to a jeweller
in whose possession it was found.
`Yes, I myself, found it,' said the
other.' I am an officer of the police!'
`Judge my surprise, sir, when I found
what had occurred, and that my name
had been made infamous! After satisfying
those interested that I was the true
Lieutenant Osborne, I resolved to follow
up the imposter; and as the police
also determined to seek him out to arrest
him, I started with them from Boston;
and we have succeeded in tracing
the gentleman thus far!'
`I found out before I left Boston,' said
the officer, `that the person who represented
Lieutenant Osborne was a certain
Nelson Osborne who came from
New York in a coasting packet, from
which he stole a watch belonging to the
skipper, and for which theft I have a
warrant for him, if I catch him! while
in the packet he said he was from Kennebec!
This information was of great
value to me in getting on the scent!'
`I am truly sorry, Lieutenant Osborne,
' said Archibald, `for the unfortunate
position you have been placed in
by this person who has abused your
name. This is not his first villany. But
it is not for me to revile him. I hope
you will succeed in arresting him. He
was seen not an hour since on the other
side of the river near the black-house.
He wore, says my man here, who saw
him, an infantry undress uniform. His
mother lives three houses above the
bridge on the left. He may he found
there! If you arrest him please let me
know when you return!'
`If I take him, I shall lodge him in
jail at Augusta till to-morrow, for we
both of us need rest,' answered the police
officer.
`I am greatly indebted to you Lieutenant
Worthington,' said the officer;
`we were fortunate in having spoken
with you. Good night sir!'
`Good night, gentlemen.'
The two horsemen now rode rapidly
forward. Archibald followed them with
his eyes until they were out of sight and
then turning to Cesar said,
`Well Cesar what do you think of all
this?'
`It very 'markable, massa Archy! I
I berry good of it. I hopes he get what
he desarves now sure!'
`It is very strange! What a thorough
villain Nelson has turned out to be.
Poor fellow! I am sorry for him, for I
cannot forget our school-boy-days. But
even then I saw the seeds of the fruit he
has brought forth. If he had truly loved
Blanche Talbot, he could never have
become the man of the evil heart and
evil hand he is! But he is about to
have his recompense! What a career
his has been!'
`He no be able to fight himself to be
an ossifer, massa Archy, and so he steat
anodder ossifer's name! I should'nt
wonder if he go and see Missy Blanche
wid dis lie in him mouth!'
`You have hit it! This must have
been all his mistake, Cesar. But we
shall know all to-morrow. Poor Osborne,
I pity him; but as he has sown so
he must reap.'
-- 066 --
[figure description] Page 066.[end figure description]
Nelson Osborne, whom we left pursuing
his way from the bridge along the
river road, in the direction of the house
of Archabald's mother, where he hoped
to find his rival, had got about half way
between the two villages when he beheld
two horsemen riding rapidly along the
road approaching. He had been so deeply
engaged in contemplating some plan of
surprising and murdering Worthington if
he should be at home, that the horsemen
were very near before he discovered
them.
Always suspicious, like all guilty men,
he would have turned out of his way to
avoid them, for he did not wish to be
seen by any one on the errand he was
engaged in, but at this part of the road
there were deep ditches and high fences,
so that it was not easy to avoid them.
He, therefore, resolved to pass on his
way boldly, bending his body forward
upon a huge cudgel he carried, as it he
was an old man, and slouching his cap
over his eyes.
The two horsemen came up, and drawing
rein, looked at him closely. The officer
kept on without quite stopping his
horse, but the police-officer, (for they
were the two persons who ten minutes
before had left Archibald Worthington at
his mother's gate) checking his horse,
said,
`Hulloh, old man: whither away so
late, hey?'
`Home, gentlemen,' muttered Osborne,
who did not at all like the salutation, or
the manner of it.
`Let me see your face. I am a Boston
police-offier, and I never let any face
pass me when I am on a hunt without
seeing who it belongs to. Old or
young, it makes no difference: man or
woman: for rogues hide themselves under
all disguises. Come, look up!'
`I am very decrepid,' answered Osbore
his voice trembling and unsteady,
but with fear rather than age, for he began
to suspect he might be after himself,
and he covered his face and stooped lower,
and hurried on.
`Then I will get down and see you,
lieutenant. Ride back. We may or
may not have bagged something here;
but it is best to be safe.'
As the officer spoke he leaped from
his horse, and advanced upon him, with
his hand on a pistol; for there was something
in him that awakened his suspicions
that all was not right; for your
keen police officer,
`Sees rognes in rock, traitors in trees,
And hears a thief's whisper in every breeze.'
Osborn in the outset of his expedition
had turned his coat to disguise himself
the more; but the keen eye of the police-officer
soon detected a glitter of the lace
in the moonlight. As the officer alighted
Osborne straightened himself and ran
like a deer. Lieutenant Osborne being
mounted pursued, while the police officer
regaining his saddle followed at full speed,
being sure that he had got his man, or at
least some other arrant rogue.
Osborne finding he would be over-taken
strained every nerve to reach an
opening in the fence that he knew led to
the river-side, when by diving into the
water he hoped to escape.
`It is our man, be sure,' said Lieutenant
Osborne, `he must not be suffered to
escape us.'
`Not if I have to bring him with a
bullet,' answered the police officer, as he
dashed past him, with his pistol in his
hand, and at a slapping pace. At this
instant Osborne reached the gab and
turned towards it; but he had not diverged
two yards from the road before
the officer, fearing he should lose him,
fired his pistol not at him, but over him
so as to alarm him. But a sharp cry of
pain told him that he had hit the fugitive.
Upon coming up they found him on the
-- 067 --
[figure description] Page 067.[end figure description]
ground, and bleeding profusely from a
wound in the hip, and evidently in great
pain.
`The ball must have struck this post
here and glanced,' said the officer, `for
I did not aim at him.'
`Both now dismounted, and the policeman
staunched the blood, before asking
him any questions.
`You should have hove to, my man,'
he said. `You grew young too quick
for an honest man.'
`Who are you?' asked the army officer.
`Who are you?' demanded Nelson,
doggedly.
`I am a Boston police-officer,' answered
the other. `I am after a certain Nelson
Osborn, otherwise Lieutenant Osborn,
and I am glad to have the pleasure
of meeting him. Don't deny your name
my good Sir, for I saw you at the Exchange
when I was in Boston, and for
that reason was selected to hunt you up.'
`Is it he?' exclaimed the army officer,
with surprise.
`It is, and no mistake. I could swear
to him anywhere. This has been a nice
night's work for us.'
Nelson Osrorne finding himself recognized
by the officer, did not deny
his identy, and, indeed, knew well if he
did so, it could only be for a brief period,
as they had only to take him to Augusta
to have it clearly decided who he was.
Though suffering from the wound,
which was very painful, but not dangerous,
he was able to ride after the officer
placed him on his horse, by which he
walked till they reached Augusta. Here
the police officer at once proceeded to
the prison, and placed him in custody of
the goaler, at the same time sending for
a surgeon. It was not until towards
morning that Nelson Osborne found
himself alone upon his pallet in his cell,
the surgeon and the goaler having left
him to that repose which he needed, but
which his pains and his conscious guilt,
with his fears of the future, would not
suffer him to enjoy. He had understood
from the officer the cause of his
arrest, and knew that in the future before
him, if he lived, lay years of imprisonment
and of toil, and of infamy.
The reflection that Blanche was lost to
him forever maddened him; and between
rage, pain, and fears unutterable,
he tossed upon his hord couch in a state
of the keenest torture.
Early the next morning, the day proving
fine, the Captain and his daughter,
accompanied by Aunt Sarah went down
on board the `wind-Eater,' for the purpose
of going on their excursion down
the river. Jack had got every thing
ready, the sails bent, and the locker supplied,
while the companion-way was
strewn with lines for all sorts of fish.
Upon reaching the boat, the old Captain,
finding the wind fair, would have
put off at once, but he could see nothing
of Osborne whom he expected would
have met him at the boat.
`I wonder where he is?' he at length
-- 068 --
[figure description] Page 068.[end figure description]
exclaimed, with some pettishness, `we must
go without him.'
`Who, father?' asked Blanche, for he
had not told her he had invited the young
man to be of the party.
`Nelson Osborne, or rather Lieutenant
Nelson Osborne. He should be here.'
`I am, for one, glad he is not,' she answered
very firmly.
`He is a great scamp, your honour,' said
Jack, `if he is the one I mean. I heard
all about him last night, and went up to the
house, you see, to tell you about him, coz
he was cruising about the place. But
findin' the dead-lights all in, and every
body gone to bed, I put it off till this
morning. He is a great rogue, your
honor.'
`How do you know that?' demanded
the Captain, with surprise.
`I got it from his nigger.'
`The negro had his reasons for abusing
him, I dare say,' said Aunt Sarah, who
had been very much taken with the young
man's uniform and his flattery, to say nothing
of his title of Lieutenant.
`No doubt he had, no doubt,' answered
the Captain,' and if this is all you
know, Jack, you had best belay your
queer talking. The young gentleman is
a man of honour, at least I shall think so,
until it is proved to the contrary. Come,
cast off, and let us make sail, if he is not
coming. I dare say he has over-slept
himself, or fallen in with some of his old
friends.'
The wind-eater was now unloosed from
her fastenings at the little pier, and Jack
aided by a lad whom he used to employ
as his `crew,' hoisted jib and fore-sail
and ran out from the shore. The main-sail
then followed, and the fine little
bark went merrily down the river before
a pleasant north wind.
The boat with its occupants was distinctly
seen by Nelson Osborne from the
window of his cell, which overlooked the
river, and towards which he crawled with
difficulty on account of his wound, remembering
his engagement, and wishing
to see if they embarked.
`There they go as happy and forgetful
of me as if I had never lived!' he
muttered bitterly. `They will soon, if
they have not already, hear what has become
of me. If my glances were curses
how I would like to annihilate them.—
This, then, is the end of all my hopes.
It would have been better, I see, for
me to have been honest and virtuous,
than to have tried by crime and fraud to
have win her. In pursuing the course
I have, I find I have only been playing
into Worthington's hands; for even if he
has not distinguished himself, he certainly
has not made a villain of himself
as I have; and so the hand of Blanche
will be his, while mine clanks with
chains.'
The Wind-Eater sailed down as far as
the Half-way Rock, and there by the captain's
order, came to, and anchored, the
main-sail being lowered and the fore-sail
trailed up, while the jib was left
hoisted to keep her stationary.
Blanche was too muce excited with
the prospect of seeing Archibald to give
her full attention to catching fish. She
lost no less than three hooks within the
first ten minutes; for her eyes were on
the green banks instead of the line, and
she was thinking more of discerning
Archy rowing up the river road than in
capturing fish.
`Blanche, girl, you will be more likely
to catch birds than fish, for you look
more at the woods than the water,' said
the captain.
`I never knew Miss Blanche to have
sich bad luck in hooks afore,' said Jack.
`There's Miss Sarah had caught a red
perch, and is as proud of it as if it was a
baby.'
-- 069 --
[figure description] Page 069.[end figure description]
`A what?—Why Jack!' exclaimed
the blushing spinster. `Really, if you
are so indelicate, I shall have to be set
on shore.'
`Capital Jack. But she wants to be
set on shore, I see, because there's two
fine young fellows coming down that
bank as if they'd break their necks.'
`What bank?' cried Blanche; and
looking in a direction above the path, on
which her eyes had hitherto been fixed,
she beheld two officers descending the
bank, followed by Cesar. At a glance
she recognised in the leading one, Archibald
Worthington though he had altered
so much for the better, that her heart
bounded with joyful admiration. The
other officer was a stranger.
`I am sure I did not see them before,'
said aunt Sarah, `I wonder who they
can be.'
`One is a naval officer and the other
an army officer! That is clear!' said
the Captain, who had dropped his line to
observe them.
`And I guess I know that navy officer,
your honor,' said Jack. `He looks
amazingly like Master Worthington!'
`So he does! It must be! But how
the deuce comes he to be in uniform?
Yet it must be he, Sarah, for look at
Blanche's face! She knows him, at
least! I will at any rate hail 'em and
ask 'em aboard!'
`Not for the world, brother! Dear
me!' cried the spinster, looking as if
quite shocked at the idea of having two
gentlemen on board. `Besides, it isn't
young Worthington. He can't be an
officer, that's certain!'
The boat was anchored about twelve
fathom from the Half-way Rock out in
the stream, and the two officers, who
were Worthington and Lieutenant Osborn,
were already upon the rock, both
raising their caps to the party.
`Come aboard, gentlemen, come
aboard!' said the Captain; `Jack, put
off after them in the yawl!'
Jack cast off a small green boat that
towed astern, and, springing into it,
sculled ashore. The officers, followed
by Cæsar, entered it, and in a few moments
were alongside the shallop.
`You are welcome, gentlemen!' said
the Captain, who was now satisfied that
one of them was indeed Worthington,
though he wondered and stared at his
uniform. `I am glad to see you back
again, Master Worthington!' As he
spoke he shook hands with Archibald as
he stepped on deck; and then offered
his hand to Lieutenant Osborne, though
Archibald, in his anxiety to speak to
Blanche, neglected to introduce.
`God bless you, dearest Blanche!' he
said, as he grasped both of the hands of
the happy girl, and holding them for a
moment in his while he gazed into her
face with all his heart in his eyes. `God
be thanked that I can see and speak with
you once more!'
Blanche did not speak. Her joy was
too great for utterance. But she eloquently
looked her happiness.
`And you, too, Miss Talbot,' said
Archibald, extending his hand to Aunt
Sarah, `how well you look. Time has
not troubled himself to make any change
in you, since I last saw you!'
`And you are looking so finely and
so handsome. Who would have thought
it?' said Aunt Sarah, quite flattered at
his words of commendation, and disposed
at once to feel kindly towards him. But
she wondered, as well as her brother, at
his uniform.
Blanche could not keep her fond eyes
from him, and thought how handsome
and noble-looking he had grown, and how
his beautiful uniform became him. These
were very happy moments for the faithful,
loving girl.
-- 070 --
[figure description] Page 070.[end figure description]
`I beg vour pardon, Captain Talbot,'
said Archibald; `but I should have introduced
my friend. `This is Lieutenant
Osborne, of the army. Doubtless you
have heard his name as one of the officers
who so highly distinguished themselves
in the battle of New Orleans.'
At this an exclamation of surprise escaped
all three, Blanche as well as the
father and aunt.
`Why, what does this mean?' cried
the Captain. `We have already had
one Lientenant Osborne. He was to
see me last night, and promised to have
been here to-day. Explain this, gentlemen,
for, in faith, you mystify me.'
`I will explain it, sir; for I see you
also have been imposed upon,' said
Lieutenant Osborne.
`But first, sir, how am I to know you
are Lieutenant Osborne?'
`Of that I will shortly give you proof;
but I will now say that I shall be the
guest to-day of Judge C—, who knows
me well, and to whom I will refer you.'
`That is enough, sir,' answered the
Captain.
`The person who came to you and
represented himself as a lieutenant, is a
fugitive from justice. His name is Osborn,
and tempted by the similarity of
name, he assumed my character and position
in Boston, and passed himself off
as myself upon the citizens, and even
was honorably spoken of in the papers.
While there he stole a vnluable diamond
and suddenly left the city. I arrived in
Boston two days afterwards, and found
my name intamous. I took a police officer,
and pursued the man who had so
deeply injured me, and succeeded last
night in capturing him, though not without
wounding him in his attempt to escape
from the officer. He is now lodged
in the gaol in our village, and will tomorrow,
if he is able, be removed to
Boston for trial; as he has had three
warrants issued against him.'
`Can this be possible?' exclaimed
Captain Talbot, who had listened with
amazement.
`It is true, sir. If you will return to
town you shall have proof of it; for I see
that he has imposed upon you, and it is
proper you should know what a villain
he is.'
`I am satisfied, sir: I am now convinced
that I have been imposed upon.
Sir, you have done me and mine a great
service—I was about to take this fellow
into my confidence and family.'
`No, dear father,' said Blanche; `only
if there were no other claimant who could
prove a better title to your confidence,'
said Blanche with a smile. `I suspected
him from the first.'
`I never will have any confidence in
man again,' cried Aunt Sarah. `Who
would have though it! I shall look on
every body as imposters after this!' and
she cast an ominous glance at Archibald.
`It is time for me to speak now and
advance my pretensions, I see,' said Archibald.
`If you will listen to me, I will
endeavor to prove to you all that I have
not been forgetful in the war that I had
two motives to valor—my country and
Blanche!'
`But how is it you return a sailor, as
Cæsar said you were?'
`An ossifer am still a sailor, massa,'
answered Cæsar with a broad grin.
`And are you indeed an officer?' asked
the captain. `I have been so deceived
I must be pardoned for doubting.'
`I will answer for him, sir,' said Lieutenant
Osborne: `This is Lieutenant
Worthington, of the United States Navy,—
and a more gallant officer is not in the
service.'
`And yet, Archibald, we have not
read your name in the papers.'
-- 071 --
[figure description] Page 071.[end figure description]
`For this reason, sir,' answered Archibald,
smiling; `and I will relate to
you what I have related to my friend this
morning; for you must know that he
spoke to me last night on his way to
Augusta with the police officer, and inquiring
about Osborne, informed me of
his character and of their intentions.
Fearing Nelson might have imposed on
you, I could not rest, and at day proceeded
to learn of you if he had imposed
on you.
On the way I passed the gaol and called
to know if he had been taken, where
I met this gentleman at the door, and we
instantly by day-light recognised one
another as having both dined with each
other ten days before in Washington; for
he was there receiving his commission
and I mine. The meeting was a gratifying
one, and he having informed me
of Osborn's arrest, I gave him as we
breakfasted together a brief account of
my own history, and of my hopes in
reference to Blanche! He started to go
with me to your house when the toll-keeper,
of whom we inquired if you were
at home pointed to your boat down the
river; and hither we hastened, I to lay
my claims before you sir, for Blanch's
hand, and Lieutenant Osborne to remove
the stigma upon his name brought upon
it by Nelson's assumption of it; if by
chance he had appeared cefore you in
the assumed character, and also to bear
testimony that I am the Lieutentant Archer
whom he met in Washington!'
`Lieutenant Archer,' repeated the
Captain.
`Lieutenant Archer,' exclaimed Aunt
Sarah.
Blanche made no exclamation of surprise.
She merely smiled and looked
very happy.
`Yes, Captain Talbot,' said Lieutenant
Osborne. `This is the William Archer
of whose promotion you have doubtless
heard!'
`This is more and more perplexing,'
said the Captain looking from one to the
other with a bewildered exprassion.—
`Gentleman this needs explanation!—
There seems to be a changing and assuming
of names all round! If you can
prove yourself, Archibald Worthington
to be honorably this same William Archer
I have read of, you have my daughter
for you have fairly won her.'
`Read, if you please that commission
of my rank as Lieutenant in the Navy,
sir.'
`Read it, Blanche! But no, I won't
believe any eyes but my own. You will
cheat me!'
The Captain then put on his spectacles
and opening the parchment, first
glanced at the signatures, then the huge
tofficial seals, and the imposing aspect of
he splendid copper-plate heading. He
then read aloud the words of the commission
in their usual form; but when he
came to the sentence which read to W.
Archibald Worthington, late known as
William Archer, &c., he looked round
with surprise.
`Why how is it, boy! Have you had
two names? Are you then this William
Archer?' cried the Captain, his eyes
sparkling with joy.'
`Yes sir. My real name is William
Archibald though every body has called
me only by the middle name since I was
a child. I kept the usual name until one
day I was upon an island getting water
for the ship, when Nelson Osborn, who
was a marine in the same ship, and no
doubt sought the ship and came on shore
for his purpose, led me aside to show me
as he said, a large quantity of silver he
had found in a cave.
Osborne had professed the warmest
friendship to me for months before, having
professed to think no more of Blanche
and no longer to consider me in the
light of a rival. I believed him, and
-- 072 --
[figure description] Page 072.[end figure description]
when he asked me to go with him, I went
without suspicion. I crept into the cave,
which was a low narrow orifice under a
cliff, when instantly I found myself in
darkness, and he called out to me that `I
was now safe, for he had let an over-hanging
rock previously loosened by him,
and propped, drop in front of the mouth;
and wishing me a `happy new year,' for
it was new year's day, he said he would
now return home and fear no rival for
Blanche's hand!'
`Can this be possible!' exclaimed the
captain with horror.
`He will be made to confess it,' answered
Archibald.
`And how did you escape from that
horrible place!' cried the captain, while
Blanche sat pale and trembling, as if her
lover was still in peril.
`Cesar saved me! Tell them Cesar!'
`I misses massa Archy after few minnit,
' said Cesar, `and when somebody
say he walk of wid de naime I spects
someting, coz I al'ays hab my 'spicions
ob dat soger, and tell massa Archy, but
he hush me up and say he him berry
good friend. So I goes arter em, and I
comes in de wood, and den I soon meets
de marine runnin toward me alone! I
stand afore him and axes him `whar
massa Archy!' But stead o' answerin,
he make at me wid his baggonet and
run me froo de arm, sayin, `I kill you
too and you can go and wait on you'
master!' But I show fight, break him
baggonet and cut him wid my knife, but
he beat me ober de head wid de but ob
him gun and lef me dead! But he no
kill Cesar all ober. By'm by I come to
myself! Den I hears sombody holler.
I 'cognise master's voice under ground,
and dreful hard work I hab to get him
out; but I got him at last!'
`Yes, wounded as the faithful fellow
was,' said Archibaid, he worked for
twelve hours to remove the rock and re
store me to liberty. But our ship had sailed
for it was morning before I was relieved.
We remained seven weeks on the island,
living on roots and turtles, and finally
were taken off by a French brig which
landed us at Porto Rio where I found a
merchant vessel that took me to Norfolk.
Here I shipped again, but under the
name of William Auber, for I supposed
Archibald Worthington was dead, and I
said to myself, I will earn a distinguished
name as William Archer, and when
Blanche and the Captain hear of my
deeds they will little suspect who it is
that they commend! On my arrival at
Washington I told my story to the Secretary
who had my commission made out
to me as you see!'
`This is wonderful. But you have
written to Blanche, eh?'
`Yes; for I was so fortunate after
being four months at sea to do some service
for which the captain recommended
me for promotion; and then I wrote
Blanche, telling her my history thus far.'
`Then she has known all along that
William Archer was yourself. Oh, you
baggage.'
`Who would have thought!' exclaimed
Aunt Sarah.
We now close our novelette with but
a few words more. Nelson Osborne
never left the prison but to be borne to
his grave; his wound having inflamed
and afterwards mortified. He died confessing
the wrongs done to Worthington
and asking his forgiveness, exhibiting to
all those who came after him the truth
that vice always overreaches itself and
virtue alone meets with honorable recompense.
In a few weeks afterwards
Blanche was led to the altar by the happy
Archibald, and at the wedding the
old captain forgot his gout and danced a
minute with aunt Sarah for a partner.
THE END.
-- --
Ingraham, J. H. (Joseph Holt), 1809-1860 [1847], Blanche Talbot, or, The maiden's hand: a romance of the war of 1812 (Williams Brothers, New York) [word count] [eaf205].
