Beyond what has already been written, there is not much, in thehistories of those whom we have introduced, to be told, exceptbriefly, worthy the reader's interested attention.
Martin, the old accomplice of Jasper, finding his power over thatindividual gone, and failing in the card he played against Claire'snice sense of honour and integrity of purpose, now turned, like anill-natured, hungry cur, and showed his teeth to the man through whoseadvice he had so long been able to extort money from Jasper. He feltthe less compunction in so doing, from the fact that Grind, angry withhim for having been the agent of Jasper's final destruction, whichinvolved him in a severe loss, had expressed himself in no measuredterms--had, in fact, lashed him with most bitter and opprobriouswords.
Several times, during the progress of events briefly stated in theconcluding portions of the last chapter, Martin had, in his frequentvisits to the lawyer, hinted, more or less remotely, at his great needof money. But to these intimations, Grind never gave the slightestresponse. At last the man said boldly--
"Mr. Grind, you must help me to a little money." This was directlyafter the failure of Jasper.
"I cannot do it," was the unequivocal reply. "You have, by yourmiserable vindictiveness, ruined Jasper, after having subsisted onhim for years--base return for all you owe him--and, in doing so, halfdestroyed me. You have killed the goose that laid the golden egg, andthere is no one but yourself to thank for this folly."
"You must help me, Mr. Grind," said Martin, his brows knitting,and the muscles of his lips growing rigid. "You had a hand in thatbusiness as well as Jasper; you took a big slice, if he did keepthe major part of the loaf; and so I have a right to ask some slightreturn for important service rendered."
"What! This to me!" exclaimed Grind, roused to instant excitement.
"This to you," was the cool, deliberate answer.
"You have mistaken your man," returned the lawyer, now beginning tocomprehend Martin more thoroughly. "I understand my whole relation tothis affair too well to be moved by any attempt at extortion whichyou can make. But I can tell you a little secret, which it may beinteresting for you to know."
"What is it?" growled the man.
"Why, that I hold the power to give you a term in the State's prison,whenever I may happen to feel inclined that way."
"Indeed!" Martin spoke with a cold, defiant sneer.
"I am uttering no vague threat. From the beginning, I have kept thistrap over you, ready to spring, if need be, at a moment's warning."
"I suppose you thought me a poor fool, did you not?" said Martin ascoldly and contemptuously as before. "But you were mistaken. I havenot been altogether willing to trust myself in your hands, withoutgood advice from a limb of the law quite as shrewd as yourself."
"What do you mean?" exclaimed Grind, somewhat startled by sounexpected a declaration.
"Plainly," was answered, "while I took your advice as to the surestway to act upon Jasper, I consulted another as to the means ofprotecting myself from you, if matters ever came to a pinch."
"Oh! Preposterous!" Grind forced a laugh. "That's only anafterthought."
"Is it. Hark!" Martin bent close to his ear, and uttered a few wordsin an undertone. Grind started as if stung by a serpent.
"Wretch!"
"It is useless to call ill names, my friend. I have you in my power;and I mean to keep you there. But I shall not be very hard on you. So,don't look so awfully cut down."
For once the scheming, unscrupulous lawyer found himself outwitted.His tool had proved too sharp for him. Without a doubt he was in hispower to an extent by no means agreeable to contemplate. Grind now sawthat conciliation was far better than antagonism.
When Martin retired from the lawyer's office, he had in his pocket acheck for two hundred dollars, while behind him was left his solemnpledge to leave the city for New Orleans the next day. The pledge,when given, he did not intend to keep; and it was not kept, as Grindsoon afterward learned, to his sorrow. A drunkard and a gambler, itdid not take Martin long to see once more the bottom of his purse. Notuntil this occurred did he trouble the lawyer again. Then he startledhim with a second visit, and, after a few sharp words, came off withanother check, though for a less amount.
And for years, leech-like, Martin, sinking lower and lower all thetime, continued his adhesion to the lawyer, abstracting continually,but in gradually diminishing sums, the money needed for natural lifeand sensual indulgence, until often his demands went not above adollar. Grind, reluctantly as he yielded to these demands, believed itwiser to pay them than to meet the exposure Martin had it in hispower to make. And so it went on, until, one day, to his inexpressiblerelief, Grind read in the morning papers an account of the sudden andviolent death of his enemy. His sleep was sounder on the night thatfollowed than it had been for a long, long time.
Of Edward Claire, and his happy family--not happy merely from animproved external condition, for the foundation of their happiness waslaid in a deeper ground--we have not much to relate.
When Claire brought to Fanny the title-deeds of the property which hehad recovered from Jasper, she pushed them back upon him, saying, asshe did so--
"Keep them, father--keep them. All is yours."
"No, my dear child," replied Claire, seriously, yet with tendernessand emotion, "all is not mine. All is yours. This property, througha wise Providence, has come into your possession. I have no right toit."
"If it is mine, father," said Fanny, "have I not a right to do with itwhat I please?"
"In a certain sense you have."
"Then I give it all to you--you, my more than father!"
"For such a noble tender, my dear child, I thank you in the veryinmost of my heart. But I cannot accept of it, Fanny."
"Why not, father? Why not? You have bestowed on me more than wealthcould buy! I know something of what you have borne and suffered forme. Your health, now impaired, was broken for me. Oh, my father! canI ever forget that? Can I ever repay you all I owe? Were the world'swealth mine, it should be yours."
Overcome by her feelings, Fanny wept for some time on the breast ofhim she knew only as her father; and there the interview closed forthe time.
Soon after it was renewed; and the occasion of this was anadvantageous business offer made to Claire by Mr. Melleville, if hecould bring in a capital of twelve thousand dollars. Two of the housesreceived from Jasper, with some stocks, were sold to furnish thiscapital, and Claire, after his long struggle, found himself in asafe and moderately profitable business; and, what was more, with acontented and thankful spirit. Of what treasures was he possessed?Treasures of affection, such as no money could buy; and, above all,the wealth of an approving conscience.
Mrs. Claire--happy wife and mother!--how large too was her wealth.From the beginning she had possessed the riches which have nowings--spiritual riches, that depend on no worldly changes; laid up inthe heaven of her pure mind, where moth could not corrupt, nor thievesbreak through and steal. The better worldly fortune that now cameadded to her happiness, because it afforded the means of giving totheir children higher advantages, and procured for them many blessingsand comforts to which they were hitherto strangers.
Five years, passed under an almost cloudless sky, succeeded, andthen the sweet home circle was broken by the withdrawal of one whosepresence made perpetual sunshine. One so good, so lovely, so fittedin every way to form the centre of another home circle as Fanny Elder,could hardly remain unwooed or unwon. Happily, in leaving the paternalhaven, her life-boat was launched on no uncertain sea. The characterof her husband was based on those sound, religious principles, whichregard justice to man as the expression of love to God.
A few weeks after the husband of Fanny had taken his lovely young wifeto his own home, Claire waited upon him for the purpose of making aformal transfer of his wife's property.
"There are four houses," said Claire, in describing the property;"besides twelve thousand dollars which I have in my business. Aportion of this latter I will pay over; on the balance, while itremains"--
"Mr. Claire," returned the young man, interrupting him, "the house younow live in, Fanny says, is your property--also the capital in yourbusiness."
"No--no--no. This is not so. I do not want, and I will not keep adollar of her patrimony."
"You are entitled to every thing, in good right," said the young man,smiling. "But we will consent to take one-half as a good start inlife."
"But, my dear sir"--
We will not, however, record the arguments, affirmations,protestations, etc., made by each party in this contention, but dropthe curtain, and leave the reader to infer the sequel. He cannot govery far wide of the truth.
THE END.
* * * * * * * * * * * *