The Marrow of Tradition Read online

  XV

  MRS. CARTERET SEEKS AN EXPLANATION

  As a stone dropped into a pool of water sets in motion a series ofconcentric circles which disturb the whole mass in varying degree, soMrs. Ochiltree's enigmatical remark had started in her niece's mind adisturbing train of thought. Had her words, Mrs. Carteret asked herself,any serious meaning, or were they the mere empty babblings of a cloudedintellect?

  "William," she said to the coachman when they reached Mrs. Ochiltree'shouse, "you may tie the horse and help us out. I shall be here a littlewhile."

  William helped the ladies down, assisted Mrs. Ochiltree into the house,and then went round to the kitchen. Dinah was an excellent hand atpotato-pone and other culinary delicacies dear to the Southern heart,and William was a welcome visitor in her domain.

  "Now, Aunt Polly," said Mrs. Carteret resolutely, as soon as they werealone, "I want to know what you meant by what you said about my fatherand Julia, and this--this child of hers?"

  The old woman smiled cunningly, but her expression soon changed to onemore grave.

  "Why do you want to know?" she asked suspiciously. "You've got theland, the houses, and the money. You've nothing to complain of. Enjoyyourself, and be thankful!"

  "I'm thankful to God," returned Olivia, "for all his good gifts,--andHe has blessed me abundantly,--but why should I be thankful to _you_ forthe property my father left me?"

  "Why should you be thankful to me?" rejoined Mrs. Ochiltree withquerulous indignation. "You'd better ask why _shouldn't_ you bethankful to me. What have I not done for you?"

  "Yes, Aunt Polly, I know you've done a great deal. You reared me inyour own house when I had been cast out of my father's; you have been asecond mother to me, and I am very grateful,--you can never say that Ihave not shown my gratitude. But if you have done anything else for me,I wish to know it. Why should I thank you for my inheritance?"

  "Why should you thank me? Well, because I drove that woman and her brataway."

  "But she had no right to stay, Aunt Polly, after father died. Of courseshe had no moral right before, but it was his house, and he could keepher there if he chose. But after his death she surely had no right."

  "Perhaps not so surely as you think,--if she had not been a negro. Hadshe been white, there might have been a difference. When I told her togo, she said"--

  "What did she say, Aunt Polly," demanded Olivia eagerly.

  It seemed for a moment as though Mrs. Ochiltree would speak no further:but her once strong will, now weakened by her bodily infirmities,yielded to the influence of her niece's imperious demand.

  "I'll tell you the whole story," she said, "and then you'll know whatI did for you and yours." Mrs. Ochiltree's eyes assumed anintrospective expression, and her story, as it advanced, became askeenly dramatic as though memory had thrown aside the veil ofintervening years and carried her back directly to the events which shenow described.

  "Your father," she said, "while living with that woman, left home onemorning the picture of health. Five minutes later he tottered into thehouse groaning with pain, stricken unto death by the hand of a just God,as a punishment for his sins."

  Olivia gave a start of indignation, but restrained herself.

  "I was at once informed of what had happened, for I had means of knowingall that took place in the household. Old Jane--she was youngerthen--had come with you to my house; but her daughter remained, andthrough her I learned all that went on.

  "I hastened immediately to the house, entered without knocking, andapproached Mr. Merkell's bedroom, which was on the lower floor andopened into the hall. The door was ajar, and as I stood there for amoment I heard your father's voice.

  "'Listen, Julia,' he was saying. 'I shall not live until the doctorcomes. But I wish you to know, dear Julia!'--he called her 'dearJulia!'--'before I die, that I have kept my promise. You did me onegreat service, Julia,--you saved me from Polly Ochiltree!' Yes, Olivia,that is what he said! 'You have served me faithfully and well, and I oweyou a great deal, which I have tried to pay.'

  "'Oh, Mr. Merkell, dear Mr. Merkell,' cried the hypocritical hussy,falling to her knees by his bedside, and shedding her crocodile tears,'you owe me nothing. You have done more for me than I could ever repay.You will not die and leave me,--no, no, it cannot be!'

  "'Yes, I am going to die,--I am dying now, Julia. But listen,--composeyourself and listen, for this is a more important matter. Take the keysfrom under my pillow, open the desk in the next room, look in the seconddrawer on the right, and you will find an envelope containing threepapers: one of them is yours, one is the paper I promised to make, andthe third is a letter which I wrote last night. As soon as the breathhas left my body, deliver the envelope to the address indorsed upon it.Do not delay one moment, or you may live to regret it. Say nothing untilyou have delivered the package, and then be guided by the advice whichyou receive,--it will come from a friend of mine who will not see youwronged.'

  "I slipped away from the door without making my presence known andentered, by a door from the hall, the room adjoining the one where Mr.Merkell lay. A moment later there was a loud scream. Returning quicklyto the hall, I entered Mr. Merkell's room as though just arrived.

  "'How is Mr. Merkell?' I demanded, as I crossed the threshold.

  "'He is dead,' sobbed the woman, without lifting her head,--she hadfallen on her knees by the bedside. She had good cause to weep, for mytime had come.

  "'Get up,' I said. 'You have no right here. You pollute Mr. Merkell'sdead body by your touch. Leave the house immediately,--your day isover!'

  "'I will not!' she cried, rising to her feet and facing me withbrazen-faced impudence. 'I have a right to stay,--he has given me theright!'

  "'Ha, ha!' I laughed. 'Mr. Merkell is dead, and I am mistress herehenceforth. Go, and go at once,--do you hear?'

  "'I hear, but I shall not heed. I can prove my rights! I shall notleave!'

  "'Very well,' I replied, 'we shall see. The law will decide.'

  "I left the room, but did not leave the house. On the contrary, Iconcealed myself where I could see what took place in the room adjoiningthe death-chamber.

  "She entered the room a moment later, with her child on one arm and thekeys in the other hand. Placing the child on the floor, she put the keyin the lock, and seemed surprised to find the desk already unfastened.She opened the desk, picked up a roll of money and a ladies' watch,which first caught her eye, and was reaching toward the drawer upon theright, when I interrupted her:--

  "'Well, thief, are you trying to strip the house before you leave it?'

  "She gave an involuntary cry, clasped one hand to her bosom and with theother caught up her child, and stood like a wild beast at bay.

  "'I am not a thief,' she panted. 'The things are mine!'

  "'You lie,' I replied. 'You have no right to them,--no more right thanyou have to remain in this house!'

  "'I have a right,' she persisted, 'and I can prove it!'

  "She turned toward the desk, seized the drawer, and drew it open. Nevershall I forget her look,--never shall I forget that moment; it was thehappiest of my life. The drawer was empty!

  "Pale as death she turned and faced me.

  "'The papers!' she shrieked, 'the papers! _You_ have stolen them!'

  "'Papers?' I laughed, 'what papers? Do you take me for a thief, likeyourself?'

  "'There were papers here,' she cried, 'only a minute since. They aremine,--give them back to me!'

  "'Listen, woman,' I said sternly, 'you are lying--or dreaming. Mybrother-in-law's papers are doubtless in his safe at his office, wherethey ought to be. As for the rest,--you are a thief.'

  "'I am not,' she screamed; 'I am his wife. He married me, and the papersthat were in the desk will prove it.'

  "'Listen,' I exclaimed, when she had finished,--'listen carefully, andtake heed to what I say. You are a liar. You have no proofs,--therenever were any proofs of what you say, because it never happened,--it isabsurd upon the face of it. Not one person in Wellington
would believeit. Why should he marry you? He did not need to! You are merelylying,--you are not even self-deceived. If he had really married you,you would have made it known long ago. That you did not is proof thatyour story is false.'

  "She was hit so hard that she trembled and sank into a chair. But I hadno mercy--she had saved your father from _me_--'dear Julia,' indeed!

  "'Stand up,' I ordered. 'Do not dare to sit down in my presence. I haveyou on the hip, my lady, and will teach you your place.'

  "She struggled to her feet, and stood supporting herself with one handon the chair. I could have killed her, Olivia! She had been my father'sslave; if it had been before the war, I would have had her whipped todeath.

  "'You are a thief,' I said, 'and of that there _are_ proofs. I havecaught you in the act. The watch in your bosom is my own, the moneybelongs to Mr. Merkell's estate, which belongs to my niece, his daughterOlivia. I saw you steal them. My word is worth yours a hundred timesover, for I am a lady, and you are--what? And now hear me: if ever youbreathe to a living soul one word of this preposterous story, I willcharge you with the theft, and have you sent to the penitentiary. Yourchild will be taken from you, and you shall never see it again. I willgive you now just ten minutes to take your brat and your rags out ofthis house forever. But before you go, put down your plunder there uponthe desk!'

  "She laid down the money and the watch, and a few minutes later left thehouse with the child in her arms.

  "And now, Olivia, you know how I saved your estate, and why you shouldbe grateful to me."

  Olivia had listened to her aunt's story with intense interest. Havingperceived the old woman's mood, and fearful lest any interruption mightbreak the flow of her narrative, she had with an effort kept back theone question which had been hovering upon her lips, but which could nowno longer be withheld.

  "What became of the papers, Aunt Polly?"

  "Ha, ha!" chuckled Mrs. Ochiltree with a cunning look, "did I not tellyou that she found no papers?"

  A change had come over Mrs. Ochiltree's face, marking the reaction fromher burst of energy. Her eyes were half closed, and she was mutteringincoherently. Olivia made some slight effort to arouse her, but in vain,and realizing the futility of any further attempt to extract informationfrom her aunt at this time, she called William and drove homeward.