Infelice | Page 5

been
provided, and Cuthbert took one from his own hand, which was placed
on my finger? Ah! there was a grim fitness in the selection! A death's
head peeping out of a cinerary urn. You will readily recognize the
dainty bridal token."
She drew from her bosom a slender gold chain on which was
suspended a quaint antique cameo ring of black agate, with a grinning
white skull in the centre, and around the oval border of heavily chased
gold glittered a row of large and very brilliant diamonds.
"I distinctly remember the circumstance."
As the minister restored the ring to its owner, she returned it and the
chain to its hiding-place.

"I do not wear it, I am biding my time. When General Laurance sent his
agent first to attempt to buy me off, and, finding that impossible, to
browbeat and terrify me into silence, one of his insolent demands was
the restoration of this ring, which he said was an heirloom of untold
value in his family, and must belong to none but a Laurance. He offered
five hundred dollars for the delivery of it into his possession. I would
sooner part with my right arm! Were it iron or lead, its value to me
would be the same, for it is the only symbol of my lawful marriage,--is
my child's title deed to a legitimate name."
She turned toward the door, and Dr. Hargrove asked:
"Where is your home?"
"I have none. I am a waif drifting from city to city, on the uncertain
waves of chance."
"Have you no relatives?"
"Only an uncle, somewhere in the gold mines of California."
"Does General Laurance provide for your maintenance?"
"Three years ago his agent offered me a passage to San Francisco, and
five thousand dollars, on condition that I withdrew all claim to my
husband and to his name, and pledged myself to 'give the Laurances no
further trouble.' Had I been a man, I would have strangled him. Since
then no communication of any kind has passed between us, except that
all my letters to Cuthbert pleading for his child have been returned
without comment."
"How, then are you and the babe supported?"
"That, sir, is my secret."
She drew herself haughtily to her full height, and would have passed
him, but he placed himself between her and the door.
"Mrs. Laurance, do not be offended by my friendly frankness. You are

so young and so beautiful, and the circumstances of your life render
you so peculiarly liable to dangerous associations and influences, that I
fear you may----"
"Fear nothing for me. Can I forget my helpless baby, whose sole dower
just now promises to be her mother's spotless name? Blushing for her
father's perfidy, she shall never need a purer, whiter shield than her
mother's stainless record--so help me, God!"
"Will you do me the favour to put aside for future contingencies this
small tribute to your child? The amount is not so large that you should
hesitate to receive it; and feeling a deep interest in your poor little babe,
it will give me sincere pleasure to know that you accept it for her sake,
as a memento of one who will always be glad to hear from you, and to
aid you if possible."
With evident embarrassment he tendered an old-fashioned purse of
knitted silk, through whose meshes gleamed the sheen of gold pieces.
To his astonishment she covered her face with her hands and burst into
a fit of passionate weeping. For some seconds she sobbed aloud,
leaving him in painful uncertainty concerning the nature of her
emotion.
"Oh, sir!--it has been so long since words of sympathy and real
kindness were spoken to me, that now they unnerve me. I am strong
against calumny and injustice,--but kindness breaks me down. I thank
you in my baby's name, but we cannot take your money. Ministers are
never oppressed with riches, and baby and I can live without charity.
But since you are so good, I should like to say something in strict
confidence to you. I am suspicious now of everybody, but it seems to
me I might surely trust you. I do not yet see my way clearly, and if
anything should happen to me the child would be thrown helpless upon
the world. You have neither wife nor children, and if the time ever
comes when I shall be obliged to leave my little girl for any long period,
may I send her here for safety, until I can claim her? She shall cost you
nothing but care and watchfulness. I could work so much better, if my
mind were only easy about her; if I knew she was safely housed in this
sanctuary of peace."

Ah! how irresistible was the pathetic pleading of