 Book 4, Chapter 14, of the Spy Company, a story of the Mexican War by Archibald Clavering Gunter, this LibriVox recording is in the public domain, recording by John Brandon. Book 4, Miss Godfrey's Father, Chapter 14, Sharp Hampton's Sweetheart. After an almost sleepless night, Miss Godfrey becomes satisfied that what she had divined the evening before is the grim truth. She goes downstairs next morning with a sinking of the heart at wounded modesty and humbled pride as Trello finds that she has been brought from far away New York to this distant Texas plantation to be convenient for the wooing of Jasper Monkton. True, she is not told this in so many words, but at first opportunity her father says to her, when they are alone together, Monkton being busy with some plantation affairs for he immediately devotes himself to running the business of the biggest state. Strella, there's a wonderful fellow. No sooner has he fixed up a big mule and cattle trade with the United States quartermaster and commissariat officers who are picking up things for use in the coming war than he's up here getting the stuff to fill the contracts. He's just the kind of a man for this country. In fact, he's the spruce young fellow that I would like to settle down with you. Father, please tell me exactly what you mean. Though she asks the question, the girl guesses too well at what he hints. Oh, what I said to you when you first came and made this place a kind of paradise to your old father, he answers, Jasper is the kind of man that you should marry, one who won't take you away from me. She doesn't reply to this but goes out into the patio and very haughtily to Monkton when that dark-eyed dashing fellow, whose manners have the polish of the Mississippi riverboat, but hardly the delicacy of a drawing-room, comes writing up and says, Good morning, Miss Strella. The cotton fields are looking mighty well and the plant's doing finally. Like to have a jaunt and look over them with me? Thank you, Mr. Monkton, she answers coolly. Papa has forbidden me the use of my horse. It was a punishment for disobeying him. Ah, she's a little skittish, is she, Godfrey? laughs Jasper in a way that makes her writhe. Then he makes her writhe a little more. He suggests, I'll make your peace with your father. And tears come into the girl's eyes at humiliated pride, as he says. Jim, you mustn't be too hard on your pretty daughter. At my request, let up on her a little and permit her to have her mare to ride over the plantation with me. Why, of course, if you ask it, answers Godfrey. And turning to his daughter, he says, you ought to thank Monkton for begging you off. Now, run upstairs and get into your riding habit. Excuse me, deprived of the exercise, I have rather lost my taste for it. She remarks indifferently. Chocks, you need it. It'll make you brisk her, returns her father. Then his eyes grow in treating. You'll do it for your old daddy? Yes. If you'll go with us, Papa. She answers affectionately. Recognize must, laughs Godfrey. Some minutes after, the young lady sweeps down, haughty as a goddess, and stands waiting for her horse. The glove-like bodice of the riding habit of that day tracing each rounded outline of her bust and shoulders and the folds of its cloth skirt indicating limbs graceful as a nymph's. His eyes on fire, Monkton steps to assist the beautiful creature into the saddle. But motioning the darky boy to lead Buford beside the baranda, Estrella springs on the mare's back and makes Jasper and Godfrey scowl at her. By laughing, Dad, Captain Hampton showed me that trick. Then she rides off with the two men taking care all through the excursion to keep quite close to her father's side. But she feels in better spirits for the exercise, and quite politely thanks Mr. Monkton for the side saddle. So the days go on, the girl acting as her father's housekeeper and seeing his home is made pleasant, but feeling that pressure is being gradually brought on her in the matter of Monkton's suit, though perhaps it is foolishly brought, for it makes her indignant and rebellious. Before when she had disobeyed her father, she has felt sad about it. Now she doesn't care. She would write other letters to the ranger, but he is far from her, and her pride has been too severely wounded at receiving no answer nor visit from this man. In addition, she is now quite certain that there is some secret compact between Godfrey and Monkton, by which the superintendent holds her father at his mercy. On the long hot nights, the two have got to drinking together and whiskey, having made their tongues careless. Once she has heard the employee threaten, make your gal quit being offish with me. You know you've got to do it, Jim. And now being driven desperate, for she is not always able to decline Jasper's attentions, which are pro-fert at every convenient opportunity, and which under her father's eye she sometimes cannot entirely refuse. One day she speaks to Godfrey confidentially, saying, Dear Dad, if Monkton has any hold over you, any hold over me, half screams her father, what do you mean, girl? Answer, what do you mean? Only this, she says bravely, though the appearance of Godfrey is such that it frightens her. Tell me about it, and we will together face this man. Send him away. We were happy before he came. For your continued pressure upon me to accept his hand is making me undue toful, even to you, Dear Dad. Recovering his composure at his daughter's speech, Jim Godfrey answers so sorrowfully that he gains his child's sympathy. He does have a hold upon me. I should think you could see that and not be so saucy with the hands of young fellow, who is sweet on you, as a bee is on honey. You know, he's cotton to you ever since he saw you at Saratoga. He told me that when he came back from the north. So it is true, what I guessed, that I have been brought here to this plantation to be wooed by this man, whether I willed or not, utters Estrella bitterly, then asks reproachfully, How could you? Because I could not help it, says her father significantly. Impossible, cries the girl, how dare Moncton dictate to you or me? In this way answers Godfrey impressively. After the plantation was destroyed I was powerful, short of ready money. Even with the gold I had recovered it has been a great work to build up this place. I had to pay the expenses of German immigrants, so as to have settlers enough to make my title to my land-grant good. In addition, these big gangs of niggers cost a pile of money. I had to borrow it, and Moncton came forward with the ready cash. Until lately, when this war has given me a little chance to crawl out of my hole, I haven't been able to get hold of any great amount of money, so things have gone on until, with interest in notes and mortgages to Moncton, he could close up the whole thing and put me and you out on the prairie with no more money than when the rangers picked me up crazy after the fight at Rock Springs. But Jasper is a noble fellow, and I'll see him through all right. So far Godfrey has made his plea quite skillfully, for his daughter has uttered a sigh of sympathy when he has spoken of being as penniless as when he returned to find his people massacred and his plantation destroyed. But now her parent makes a mistake. It wouldn't suit you, I can see, he goes on, with your fine lady heirs and handsome dresses, to be put out barefooted into the world. If you get high spirited with Moncton, I'm afraid he'll cut up rough about it, for he thinks you're the finest girl in the world. For every time you turn up your nose at him or say a saucy word to him, you're putting danger on your poor old dad as well as yourself. Noting that direct methods make his child rebellious, Godfrey is playing the aged parent act. Her answer proves he is doing his role quite well. I don't think of myself, father, says the girl generously, though I will think of you. Give me time to consider this subject, and if the task is not too hard, perhaps. You'll do the right thing by Jasper, cries the old man enthusiastically, you'll marry him, you'll give me grandchildren to play about my knee. But the future grandfather has painted domestic life too vividly, his daughter emits a short, horrified scream and runs away, though her face is not blushing, it is pale with revulsion. To her father, some little time afterwards, she says, It is impossible. Ask me to work for you, ask me to slave for you. But marry that man, I cannot. But it is very hard for a girl practically alone with these two men on this secluded plantation to always resist a father whom she loves, and always to repel the attention of a dashing, persevering fellow who will assist her into the saddle and ride at her side, for under paternal eyes, Estrella cannot always decline Moncton's escort. About this time, horror comes to her. The maiden, shrinking from Jasper's wooing, begins to fear that punishments are ordered to the Negroes, so that she will beg them off from her suitor. For now she finds that to get mercy for the slaves, as has been her want, she has to plead with Moncton, not her father. But her humanity is greater than her pride, and she humbles herself to do this, though on one of these occasions Jasper says to her, Am I always too, to do your bidding for nothing? Don't you, my dear girl, remember Saratoga? Why do you always greet with cold looks the fellow who you know is bound to have you? His audacious arm would go around her enticing waist, but she mutters faintly, Have pity on my father, yet shudders from him hanging her fair head abashed beneath his two-art gaze. And perhaps this young lady who has grown drooping and pathetic during these two summer months of constant pressure and persuasion might succumb to her father's entreaties, which become each day more urgent. Did not about this time arise in her mind first a mighty joy, then a tremendous awe-inspiring suspicion. Knowing that Hampton has left San Antonio with his company full two months before this, Godfrey one day proposes that Estrela take a trip to that town with Moncton and himself, as he has to see Haze, the colonel of the Texan Rangers, whose young face is growing old with his efforts to get his full regiment equipped and down to Taylor at Matamoros, but the state of Texas is very slow and very poor, and the Texan colonel having some difficulty in mounting his command is now trying to induce Godfrey to take his guarantee and that of the state and furnish him the horses. So the girl anxious to get away from a monotony that has overburdened her spirits, makes with her father and her suitor a very long afternoon ride and arrives in San Antonio de Bexar, coming up the banks of its beautiful tree-shaded river into the old town that a few years before had been entirely Mexican, but now has a few gringos in its inhabitants and a lot of Texan Rangers about its unpaved streets. The evening is well advanced when she arrives, and Estrela arising rather late the next morning finds that her father and Moncton have left the old Mexican in and have gone off to their business with the Ranger officers. After a cup of chocolate and a vanilla Spanish fashion, she wanders about the dreamy old Pueblo, gazing at the Alamo as a sacred place and thinking of the martyrdom ten years before of Travis, Bonham, Bowie and Crockett, and those other Texan immortals who died that their state might live. Finally, strolling from the ruins of the old church fortress whose battered walls are the altar of Texan liberty, she returns to the old tavern in which the party has made their headquarters. Here her father and Moncton come in, the latter saying gloomily, no trade, Haze has nothing better than Texas script to offer us. Yes, as soon as we have dinner, we'll get into the saddle again for live oaks, remarks Godfrey, who has just kissed his daughter's lips, proffered for morning's greeting. They are about to sit down to a midday meal when a faint cheering comes very distantly up the street. Jingle, wonder if there's news of another victory from Taylor, remarks her father. Don't think that's possible, says Moncton. Taylor won't be able to move for a couple of months at the rate he's getting ready. Yes, and you're keeping him from it, cries Estrella. Such men as you, father, when you say that American victory means the settlement of all these lands and enormous wealth to you, why don't you give up a little for the present and let Haze have horses for his regiment, who defend us from Indians and Mexicans? Why, you're quite a stump speaker, laughs Moncton, and her father swivingly pats his daughter's cheek and says, first, my child, then sentiment. About this time a ranger comes riding up and checking his pony in front of the hotel calls. Jack Haze wants to see you again, gentlemen. He's got something from Taylor's quartermaster. Gentlemen, that will fix you, he says. Golly, a contract for Uncle Sammy, cries Moncton, and the two men go out to gather and hurry down the street, leaving Miss Godfrey alone to get a Mexican dinner. So, smiling rather sadly at herself, the young lady rolls in her pretty fingers tortillas and dips up with them her stew of chili colorado and tozajo. Then, interested in the life of the pueblo, she wanders off by herself into the picturesque Spanish streets and is quite contentedly inspecting some Mexican boys with donkeys and women who are washing clothes on the banks of the San Pedro Creek, when, to her delight and astonishment, she chances to raise her bright eyes and place them upon wild Harry. To her excited Mr. Love, don't you remember Estrella Godfrey? He answers rather surly, sure, I remember ye miss, but it seemed to me as if ye didn't remember us. Remember you? Why not? Did you not hear what I said to you when you left me? To come to the Hacienda, if you ever wanted a home or a friend? Then she breaks out reproachfully, and you didn't go to the front with Hampton's company? The answer she gets horrifies her. No, I'm in Gillespie's, answers Harry gloomily. I didn't care to go with the man who's got death in his eye. I want one chance for my life, and I don't think Sharp Hampton cares to have any chance. You see, there are some pretty nice girls that gets men's hearts, and well, well, you're the only woman that ever didn't take a shine to Sharp Hampton. I don't understand what you mean to insinuate, returns the reproached one haughtily. Even if you are crazy, you have no right to speak to me in that matter, or on such a subject. Miss Gottfried moves away, but woman-like, she will have the last word. She turns on ads. Besides, you're unjust. Unjust? No, I ain't unjust, and I ain't crazy. I'm only cute, I am. But Estrella is so eager in her self-exculpation that she goes on. I did write to Captain Hampton. Well, then he never got it. Never got it? What makes you think that? asks Miss Gottfried, her eyes that have been distressed and now beaming as the sun on Mr. Love. Well, when I bid Sharp goodbye, he said, Harry, you'll find me to the side of Jordan, and asserts the Texan inspecting the superb yet ethereal creature who stands blushing before him. No man that you'd treated just right and was dead honey on ye from his spurs to his scalplock would want to go to the side of Jordan unless he told ye ye with him. Never got it? Never got my letter? And Pablo swore he delivered it. What? Oh, a greaser, I reckon. Trust a greaser? Wah! Somebody's been ambushin' ye, Miss Gottfried. Perhaps, answers Estrella, so sadly that Mr. Love suggests encouragingly, keep up your spunk. Seeing ye ain't to blame, I'll tell the cap. Perhaps that'll save his life. Oh, will you, cries the young lady, for this matter is too close to her to let false modesty thwart it. Please tell Captain Hampton that I did write to him, and that I am grateful for all that he has done for me. Please don't fail to tell him that. Here Love gives her an awful shock. He chuckles. Very well. I'll tell on ye right off. Right off? What do ye mean? I mean Captain Hampton's just come up from Madame Morris, bedin' day and night, with an order from Uncle Sam's quartermaster general that will get the horses for our regiment from any Bronco dealer on earth. Ye just take your stand by the river-backed-down yonder in the M.P. Cons, Miss. I'll bring him to ye, and Harry strides away. During this last oration, the maiden has been too surprised and confused to open her lips. She now runs after him, crying, No, no! For heaven's sake! What will he think of me? That ye're all right, I reckon. Laughs the ranger, gazing at her fairy-like loveliness. He chuckles. I'll tell the cap to load for butterfly, and his long legs soon carry him out of hearing from Miss Godfrey. The clinging skirt of whose riding-habit prevents very rapid movement. For a moment she stands, her eyes frightened, her features pale and twitching in bashful tremor. Then her face grows red as some prairie roses at her feet. She says determinately, I'll do it, and walks tremblingly down a lawn-like slope to sit by the side of the blue waters of the San Antonio, flowing in pretty ripples between banks shaded picturesquely by the varying foliage of grand oaks, graceful ash trees, and a grove of pecans whose leaves afford the young lady a grateful shade this warm July day. But after a little the strain of waiting overcomes her. She starts, as if to fly from the passions raging within her distracted soul, and mutters jeeringly, if he got my letter and didn't heed it, then my message by word of mouth will hardly bring him to me. A few days ago she no more could have waited for Hampton by appointment, than have given herself to him unasked. But the helpless despairing misery of the last month during which have been forced on her the attentions of a man she loathes, from whose suit there is no protection by her father, when in fact she knows Godfrey will ultimately exercise direct authority to compel her to become this man's bride, lends the half-frantic girl a kind of desperate boldness. To herself she cries, I have only had one love in this world, and Harry said that he wanted death because of my ingratitude. Nonsense! It was my love he wanted. Hampton's beating heart, against my own, told me that, as I wrote in his arms fleeing from the Comanches. It was the foolish headstrong impassioned words of that wild, young dragoon that kept his lips silent. Then sneers at herself. That's his immodest and arrogant conceit his woman ever had. No, no, I must not meet him. What will my father think of my humiliating myself again to Hampton against his absolute commands? Then she answers by, Pish! It's not my dad's correction, I fear, tis that my pride may be once more wounded, and muttering hoarsely. That shall not be. Rises to Harry from this place, but in the very act she pauses, and through her lips her heart speaks. She half screams, half falters, sharp! And it is as if their separation had never been. The Ranger Captain is looking at her, as he did on the prairie. For Hampton, his dress disordered by the awful travail of sixty continuous hours in the saddle, is standing before the beautiful object of his love. When her cry, the great hope that thrills him, makes this warrior of the plains tireless, his eyes grow as brightly possessive as a panthers, though hers are timid and shrinking as a dose. It is the first time she has called him by his Christian name. Her accents carry with them love, passion, greeting. That during twelve weeks he has hungered for, dreamed of, and dispaired of this maiden, who looks beautiful, is one of Diana's nymphs, eluding Actaeon. As with her riding skirt gathered up in one hand, she is trying with faltering for any lover, if he is loved. The training of a trapper is to catch his game. Sharp Hampton catches his. With one athletic stride, he has the flying beauty encircled by an arm of steel, and is half whispering, half moaning to her. Why for three months did you take the sun out of my heaven, sweetheart? And she in a semi-crazy way is sobbing and crying, and her fair head has fallen upon his shoulder. The next second their hearts are beating against each other, as widely as they did when he had borne her in his arms over the prairie from the Indians. And in addition their lips have met, not in one kiss, but in a dozen, not short ones either, but whole-sould and passionate with youthful love, and panting on his breast. She who ten minutes since had thought herself the most miserable girl in the world now thinks herself the happiest on earth, for she knows that she is his. Then modesty getting the best of love she falters. Oh heavens, what must you think of me? Next questions in pathetic reproach. Sharp, how could you ever go to battle, and to death without even bidding me good-bye? Was it the wild words of that crazy pelum, the dragoon, that I heard from over the balcony at Corpus Christi, when he told you to take good care of his treasure, that kept your lips silent, when you, you must have known that I loved you, my heart beating against yours in the wilderness, as wildly as it does now must have told you that. This last is said with averted head, the ranger's eyes are too ardent for her to meet his glance. I thought, pelum had a right to you. Answers Hampton, in front of your simplicity. Now I know he hadn't. You wouldn't give yourself to me if he had. You're not the kind of girl to play with two men at one time. No indeed I am not, says Estrela, very truthfully, and receives for her candor a very pleasant reward. After a little both grow slightly more rational and sit down side by side, but soon the lady commences to ask questions. Why did you not answer my note that I wrote asking you before you left for danger and battle to come and bid me good-bye? The only missive that I have received from your hacienda, remarks Hampton shortly, his eyes resting very tenderly on the loveliness before him, for the girl, in her excitement and passion, looks in the flesh even more enchanting than for chance, she had seemed to his imagination, and he has thought of her very often. Was one from her father, in which he enclosed the draft on galveston for your expenses, and what he deemed the price of mule-foot that I had left as a present for you? Why, it was almost an insult, cries his sweetheart indignantly. Yes, I hardly thought it over polite. At all events, I concluded it indicated your father wished to be rid of an unpleasant obligation. And dad did that? says Estrela bitterly, then queries eagerly. And you never received my letter, begging you to come and say good-bye to me? The one with the little flower in it? One of the posies, you plucked for me on the prairie. I kept the rest sharp, murmurs the girl. Actually, but dividendly. Though Papa commanded me never to think of you again, and my pride told me that too. And if I hadn't been nearly crazy with misery, I don't think you would have got me sharp. Crazy with misery? You turn to me because you're unhappy? Oh, no, not that. But I don't think I would have ever seen you again if I hadn't been so desperate that I... I wasn't as modest as I generally am. Whereupon, Miss Gottfried tells of Monkton's pursuit of her, stating that her father is pressing her to marry his superintendent because they'll both be paupers if she doesn't. But I couldn't give myself to any man but you. And that's embarrassing enough, falters the young lady, for the first rapture of surrender being over, Hampton's eyes are so ardent that she hangs her head, though perhaps she loves him more because her modesty won her. He now fondles her as Backwood's boy does frontier sweetheart. Though in truth the captain is very tender with his graceful creature, who seems to him like a fairy, dissented to earth, to bless him with her ethereal beauty and radiant love. She now also receives the consolation of being supported by a man who may be very diffident in his wooing but is very strong in his possession. She is sure that having won her, her ranger sweetheart will never permit her to be another's. Hampton says shortly, sweetheart, don't let that bother you a little bit. You just tell your dad that you're sharp Hampton's promised wife, and you tell that also to that monk when he comes talking honey to you. And he'll know it means that he lets you alone, or... Or she breaks in sadly, or you'll risk your life in personal combat? I'm accustomed to that. Yes, you risked it against a whole Mexican army, she murmurs, then sighs. Did you do that because you didn't think you'd get me? The answer that she receives is not as complimentary as per chance she expected. Not exactly, answers Hampton promptly. I did it because it was my duty. Of course I fell blue as thunder, but I don't commit suicide for misery. You wouldn't want happiness to make a coward of me, either, I suppose. Oh, no, sighs his sweetheart. Of course I know you're compelled to go to the front. Oh, not immediately. Taylor won't be able to move for six weeks. I only brought the order up to get the horses for his command two hours ago. The boys won't be ready to go down for two or three weeks. Worth's division won't be concentrated at Camargo for a month more. A third of the volunteers and regulars haven't left New Orleans yet for the big campaign in northern Mexico and by the white buffalo in the two or three weeks' leave I'll get. Hampton emphasizes his words with a possessive pressure of the delicate waste that vibrates in his grasp. We're going to have, if you say so, girl, the very nicest honeymoon. Oh, heaven, gasps the young lady, and I'm going to have the very sweetest bride man ever had. You mean you would marry me immediately? Faulters, Miss Godfrey. It almost terrified amazement. Why, I've—I've only seen your face a few months. Oh, yes, I've only seen your face that time, too. Reckon I might as well be scared as you. But I'm gritty in the marriage matter, I am, says Sharp, enthusiastically. Bill Baldwin only knew his girl two days, and Luther Loring married his wife the morning after he rescued her from the Apaches. You've got pluck enough for a ranger's wife's trella. It's the first time he has used her Christian name, but it seems to come easily to his tongue. And after we've had two or three weeks of bliss, you put the kiss of a soldier's wife on my lips, and you say, Sharp, you go down and do your duty for your country. But my father, murmurs the demanded one, tremblingly, oh, don't bother yourself about him, I'll take care of that. I've seen dads pick out the wrong men for their daughters' husbands, and guess again, laughs Hampton, as if the affair was settled. You explain the matter to the old man, and I'll be down to see you tomorrow evening. I cannot get away before. But perhaps you'd better tell your father to let you stay up in San Antonio till the wedding. No, no, I must break it to him quietly, pleads the girl. Sharp, give me a few hours to break it to dad, though I suppose he'll see it in my face. Besides, it won't be so long after all, for Papa loves me. Very well, remarks Hampton, you tell dad in your own way. I'm glad you say that you've no great shakes for money. Tell you the truth, that big Hacienda always seemed to stand between us, but I have a little plantation of my own up in Shelby County. And if you're the girl I think you are, you'd share my blanket, if I hadn't put one to my name. Yes, I would, answers Strella stoutly, though her face is very red, as for this nice answer she receives a kiss that makes her quiver from head to heel. Remember this, I can't give you more than a couple of days to get ready for the wedding, whispers the ranger very longingly. No, Sharp, that'll be enough, because I love you, murmurs Strella. She puts her arms tenderly about him, and makes him happy with a kiss that carries her soul to her lips. But here Hampton mutters, I'm afraid I've been a little selfish in my love. I've no right to ask you to hit your fate, sweetheart, with a man who may be dead in a month, though I'd like to call you my wife before I die, dear one. Just wouldn't seem quite right if I didn't. You shall, cries his fiancee, impetuously. You said two days? In two days I call you husband, and you call me wife. Whispers Hampton, taking off his sombrero to her in his simple frontier way, for the word wife produces reverence as well as ardor in true manhood. So with her hand in her affianced, Astralistral's out of the pecan grove to grow red under the eyes of Mr. Love, who apparently awaiting them sits whittling a willow branch. The frontiersman gazes at the coming bride, emits a prolonged whistle, and ejaculates sententiously, dropped. Yes! I'm Sharp Hampton's gal, says the new fiancee, bashfully but proudly in frontier fashion, though in truth she wonders even now whether she is rational or not, her dropping having been so sudden. CHAPTER XIV A story of the Mexican war by Archibald Clevering Gunter. Book IV. Ms. Godfrey's father. CHAPTER XV A mighty suspicion. Here Hampton says, Love, you needn't open your mouth about this to the boys. No sirree, answers Harry. But Ms. Godfrey, thinking a sweetheart's privilege, suddenly cries, Sharp, you haven't had any sleep for sixty hours. Now be a good boy and go off and get some rest. Mr. Love will take me back to the hotel. Right ye are, rejoins the frontiersman, and turns his back abruptly upon the couple. This as they are still secluded by shrubbery from the street, gives Hampton an opportunity for a farewell kiss. The girl, as she returns it, makes him very happy by prattling in an affianced voice. Now please do what I say, get a little sleep. You're not all iron. You your flesh and blood. O very much flesh and blood when I get you in my arms, answers Hampton, with such a look in his eyes that the coming bride retreats from him laughingly, yet blushingly. To her he says significantly, don't forget, sis, I'll be down to see Dad tomorrow evening at live oaks and make arrangements for the wedding. Yes, Sharp, tomorrow evening. This first miss got free and watches, with her heart and her eyes, the captain stride back towards the rangers' quarters, just across the great plaza, then very happily and excitedly trips off towards the inn, escorted by Mr. Love. Thar's pretty considerable ginger left in sharp yit, allowing he's traveled horseback three days and nights running, eh? Suggests while Harry? Yes, murmurs the girl. Ye look as if he'd have been about as spry with ye as three or four city-fellars, laughs her companion. Your hair's must awful. Yes, but please don't talk about it, Mr. Love, falters Estrella, hanging her head, though there is a mighty elation in her heart. She thinks, this morning, shuddering from the proffered hand of Jasper Monkton, this afternoon happy in the arms of Sharp Hampton. Suddenly her bliss is tempered with a direful consideration. How shall I tell my father when he says what I am about to do will bring beggary upon him? And the agitated girl would go into a miserable, brown study, for Mr. Love, the escort, to give her time for contemplation. As he walks by her side he is chuckling, ye warges, like the coon up the tree, and Martin's scot. Weren't ye, Miss Trella? When he come along you say, oh, debt you, Sharp Hampton, you're such a dead shot. I'll come right down. This emphasized by the frontiersman's coon-like actions would make Miss Godfrey laugh in a half-bashful, half-hysterical way did not the harem-scarrem fellow suddenly say, and he most kissed your mammy's locket off ye. For in her interview with her affianced Miss Godfrey has pulled this trinket from out her riding habit to show it to the ranger captain as proof of her father's great love and tenderness for her, and now it is carelessly dangling about her white neck by its golden chain. Ah, ye recognize the trinket, murmurs Miss Godfrey, much more interested in other things than in her jewelry. Sarton! Every wanted live oaks knowed that air locket. Your dad ordered it made in Matter Morris. It's greaser workmanship. Look here, reckon I do know the locket. Well Harry takes the bubble as it dangles from her and shows he is well acquainted with the trinket, for he presses the hidden spring and astounds Estrella by saying, how do you like your dad's face? My dad's face, half-screams a girl. Chucks, it's empty, mutters the erratic fellow. Ye yank dad out to put sharps' picture in, eh? There was a picture there two days ago, whispers Estrella. You said my father's face, then she suddenly asks a strange quiver in her voice. What was the portrait like? You're certain my father had one painted? Oh, sure is your tremblin' now, on ivory or shiny. Your dad said it was to send to your mammy. Bless your heart. He was so proud of his picture. He showed it to everybody about the plantation. Didn't he show it to ye? It had an Italian name written under it. A mulfi screams the girl. Why, yes. Ye guessed it first time, answers love, and playing with the locket does not note that his listener's face has grown pallid and arise strained by some marvelous and astounding thought. What was the name of the traveller and Italian that painted it? Continues Harry, closing the trinket. The pronouncing of a mulfi always kinder stuck in my windpipe. He was a no-count kind of a dago. Who'd wandered up here just before your dad went on that air expedition lookin' for the Grand Cavera. That time when the Comanches came down and wiped out the plantation and killed my mammy. You remember, girl, my mammy? Loves eyes gross or dim. He doesn't notice the monstrous effect. His words have had upon his companion. For Miss Godfrey is thinking very hard, and now has a strange suspicion in her voice, as she is saying with lips that have grown ashen. You can see my father today without wounding your feelings by visiting the place of your mother's death. He is here in town. What? Jim Godfrey here? It's strange I haven't put my eyes on him, cries Harry heartily. Yes, he's now at the old Mexican passata talking to your Colonel, supposing you go down and shake his hand and come along with him. I... I'd like to see you very much together. Wall, I'd like to see myself together with Jim Godfrey very much, Miss Strella, remarks the frontiersman, though I shan't say nothing to dad. Like to tell dad yourself, little bashful eh? For Strella is quivering and waving like a lily swaying in the breeze. Yes, and even if you don't see my dad, falters the girl, a curious weird intensity in her voice, don't say anything about this locket or anything else to Hampton, at least not until you've seen me. Why, sorten, but I don't see how that makes any difference. Here the frontiersman interrupts his own speech, by suddenly crying out, great gully, love has made ye looney. For Strella is reeling and gasping half hysterically. You said my father's face was in that locket. My father's face. Though it seemed to come to me out of the past, good heavens I began to remember. I... I... Holy poker, this hot sun or sharp Hampton has rubbed your poor brain out, mutters wild Harry, and ceases the delicate girl to keep her from falling. Then he takes her in his strong arms and carries her back to the inn, where, finding her father has not returned, he says to the Mexican hostess, here's a gal who's got sun-struck, or high strikes or something. Ye reviver, I'm too bashful to unlace her stays and do the proper thing by her. As soon as the proper thing is done for Miss Godfrey in the retirement of a little chamber of the Posada by a couple of Mexican girls, Mr. Love goes away to find her daddy. Quite shortly, Estrella revives and goes to pacing her room muttering, that picture taken from the locket, by whom and why taken? The sight of it was a surprise to my father. My... Is he my father? Oh God, what is in my head? Is he my father? But Love will see him. Ten years can't have changed him too much to be recognized. Still it is very curious, very suspicious. And she recalls the mysterious change in her father's letters after the Rock Springs fight, and begins to remember what Hampton had told her on the steamer about the man they had rescued from the Desert Combat, and is going back to the Live Oaks Hacienda. And after discovering every living thing upon it dead, making up his mind to rebuild and restock it, though before that he had only intended to obtain the gold buried in the ruins and then go away from it. Frantically she strikes her forehead and asks, could it be possible? And answers herself, yes it might. Every white man on the plantation butchered. Nearly every settler that could possibly have seen his face gone to death at the massacres of the Alamo and Goliad. Every negro on his plantation run off. The whole country deserted and made a desert by raids of the savages and forays of the Mexican rancheros. It might be. Then sweetheart's confidence coming into her, she murmurs, I must see Sharp. I must get Wild Harry to bring him to me. Next pauses and mutters, my heaven, no. Not till I am sure. If Sharp doubted my father also, and dad turned out to be dad, then he would never forgive my husband. He will be hard enough now when Hampton's marriage to me ruins dad. Next bursts out hysterically. Dad, oh I pray heaven he is dad. And through her kindly mind comes a frantic hope that her suspicion may come to naught. She has given this man and daughter's tender love, so long she finds it very hard to think it only draws. She has placed him on high in her confidence and affections, it is difficult to throw him into the dust. She murmurs to herself, oh God I loved him so dearly and yet I must know. Pacing the room she waits for Harry to return and finally, such is her anxiety, goes down into the street and watches for him. But the Texan ranger never comes along and tired of racking anxiety and tremendous suspense, the girl goes back into the inn and seats herself on the low balcony of the Posada and still watches. Shortly after Godfrey and Moncton come hastily walking up the street, full of the excitement of a big horse-trade. As they pause at the entrance of the inn, she sitting on the low balcony that is scarce five feet over their heads. Here's Moncton say to Godfrey, that order of Uncle Sam's quarter-masters all right. Sure, replies the other, then asks, do you know who brought it? And whispers some name she cannot distinguish. This is greeted by a muttered execration from Jasper who adds, curse him, fortunately he's been in the saddle three days and wasn't very lively to get about town to see her. That's so much the more reason we better get her out of town quick. Answers Godfrey and orders their horses to be hastily brought up. At their summons the girl descends to them, fortunately it is now growing dark and they don't look very closely at her. But when her father approaches her to place her in the saddle she draws slightly back and says, Mr. Moncton, please. This so delights both Godfrey and her suitor that both gentlemen seem very much pleased with their fair charge as they loathe along. But between them rides a girl whose eyes sparkle as the stars of the night above her, and whose soul is racked with, face this man, my father. If he is, for my suspicion I'll sue his pardon on my banded knees. If he is not, let him beware, for he has accepted from my lips the kisses of a daughter. In her agitation she has almost forgotten that she is coming bride to the ranger captain. He laded with Estrella's complacence to Moncton and likewise a successful horse-trade and talking mostly of that, her two escorts during this dark ride do not note the distracting passions on Miss Godfrey's face. This is very fortunate, it gives the young lady not only time to control the display of her emotions but to determine upon her methods of action. But the conversation as they ride along brings Miss Godfrey's thoughts once more upon her love, yet also makes her reticent in regard to it. The gentlemen are quite merry over the price they have got for their horses from the ranger Colonel. Godfrey saying, Jing-o, didn't Hayes hold out on the figure for those Broncos? But he had to have the nags to get his command down to Taylor in time. Being grimly, reckon many of his boys will leave their bones the other side of the Rio Grande. Estrella is quite sure from the tone of his voice that he hopes Hampton will be one of those doomed to death. But Jasper here startles both his companions by remarking, Jim, did you see that long-legged ranger squinting at you for the last ten minutes you were fixing up the horse-trade with Hayes? Not Char-Pampton, as Godfrey uneasily, and Estrella exhibiting no surprise at his words. He glances at her. But she is too interested in Jasper's communication to notice this. Moncton answers easily, No, it wasn't the captain, I know him by sight. It was a slim, crazy-eyed fellow in buckskin, who looked at you as if you had made him a little more loony than usual. I was going to tell you about him, but didn't like to interrupt when you were getting such a long price for the horses from the Texan Colonel. Some of the boys in the saloon called him Wild Harry. Wild Harry? Why I thought he was with Hampton's company doubted Madame Oris, stammer's Godfrey. His voice is husky. Despite the darkness, Estrella can see him sway in his saddle. She is not surprised that under the plea of clenching up his saddle, Godfrey has her ride ahead while he and Jasper go into quite a long and muttered conversation. In it, apparently, Moncton learns something that impresses him also. When the two men overtake the young lady, neither seems in such high spirits as before. This gives her suspicions greater strength, as Godfrey now makes up her mind not to mention her promise to Hampton. Why should I sue, blushing, trembling, and embarrassed, for a father's blessing, until I am sure he has a father's authority and love? She thinks cogently, and is quite relieved at postponing an ordeal that even in her sweetheart's arms had made her cold with apprehension. So taking it rather leisurely, after a long ride through the darkness, they reach the hacienda of live oaks, some time after midnight, to be ushered in by Selma, who has supper on the table awaiting them. As Estrella, avoiding Moncton's attentions, hastily slips off her horse, she is no more the girl who yesterday had left this place drooping under her father's and tree's, that it almost breaks her heart to deny. Nor a bashful maiden trembling at the wooing of a man she loathes, but a woman determined to give herself to the man she loves, and to make sure the man assuming a father's station to her has a parent's authority over her before she asks his blessing. Even as she dismounts, Estrella shows how carefully she has considered her position. If Godfrey has perloined the picture, her not mentioning her loss will make him suspicious. As soon as she is in the doorway of the house and standing in the light she says, her fragile hand playing nervously with her locket. Papa, the word comes very hard to her tongue now. I hope you won't be very angry at me, but in San Antonio I discovered I had lost the picture from my locket. It must have fallen out, while I was galloping so recklessly into the town. The languor and great exhaustion of the long ride make her eyes tranquil, but they are bright enough to notice that it mention of the locket a sudden anxiety has flown into both men's faces, indicating that they have discussed the trinket. Her careless words apparently being relief to them. For Moncton asks nonchalantly, what locket? When Godfrey cries heartily, shocks don't bother about it. I'll give you my picture to put in that falderol on your wedding day, daughter. Do the polite to her, Jasper, and toad your sweetheart into supper. Estrella, embarrassed at the words, has tacked enough to refuse her suitors escort to the table, on the ground of extreme fatigue, and to permit, though she winces under it, a paternal salute on her white forehead from Godfrey. So leaving the two gentlemen to smoke their cigars and drink their whiskey together, the girl goes wearily but hastily up to her chamber. Here fortunately the great joy of approaching nuptials almost obliterates the miserable uncertainty of her position. But after a little, exhausted by her long journey, nature claims its mead. First comes to her, and despite excitement she has the blessing of a dreamless sleep. Awakening early in the forenoon, a sweetheart's rapture thrills her, and she whispers to herself longingly, this evening sharp comes to tell papa, then full recollection smiting her. She moans to herself, how to discover, for I will discover. I'll ask no father's blessing on my nuptials till I know. Haundering on this, an unutterable horror crushes her. She shudders. If, if he is not my father, perhaps he killed my father. But finally puts that idea away. Hampton's report of the Rock Springs fight, showing there was no need of murder to produce death in that dread affair. Forcing herself to calm as the young lady goes down the stairs, and soon discovers things that add to her suspicion. To her relief, her father and Moncton have been long away on the business of getting the big bands of horses driven in from the prairie, and the proper nags selected for delivery to the impatient ranger-colonel. Miss Gottfrey is waited on at breakfast by the Octoroon. Toward the end of the meal, chanting to mention the loss of her picture rather nonchalantly, as if it were but a matter of passing moment, Estrella is astonished to see her maid's eyes grow apologetic and her manner greatly confused. Come with me to my room, Zalma. The mistress says, assuming indifference, as she places her coffee-cup on the table, and let us see if we cannot find that portrait together. It possibly dropped out of the locket before I left for San Antonio. As they go upstairs, her attendant gives Miss Gottfrey a shock. She says, with equal carelessness, what makes you and your father both so brisk about that picture? Estrella for the moment is too startled to reply to this, but in her room her suspicions become more vivid as she notes that her maid's examination of her chamber is entirely perfunctory. Inspirations, smiting the mistress, she suddenly cries, Zalma, you know where that miniature is. Miss Estrella, what makes you think that, stammers the Octoroon? Why, because you're not looking for it. If you've carelessly lost this portrait from the locket, confess it to me, and I promise pardon. But the girl who is trembling now, not answering her, the mistress cannot help imploring. It is a picture of my mother's brother. I don't want to lose it. Tell me about it. Have I not always been good to you, Zalma? And so finally works upon the feelings of her attendant that she sobs miserably. Don't ask me, Miss Estrella, don't ask me. If I told you, I'd be skinned alive. Ah, no doubt you would. I sense, Estrella. She is now sure that her maid either took the portrait by Godfrey's orders, or had seen him pour loin it, and been warned to keep a silent tongue. She breaks out an anger half-simulated, half-real. You carelessly have lost it. That's the reason you dare not open your lips to me. But I shan't tell my father about it, because he punish you terribly, though I shall punish you myself. She takes the young woman to the sewing room, gives her a big lot of sewing and commands, don't dare to stir from here until this is finished, but to make very sure locks the culprit in. Coming out of the room, she thinks, alone for hours, with the exception of old Dina, the cook, she and Zalma are the only inmates of the house. Dina never leaves the kitchen. It is quite certain that Moncton and Godfrey will not return till evening from the corrals. She thinks desperately, I'll search his room and get that picture. Whereupon, safe from Zalma's eyes, she goes cautiously into what she once called her father's bedroom and investigates his wardrobe and his desk. This is a simple matter. Frontier platter's clothes are few, and his plain-deal desk has but a country lock, the key of which is in it. Carefully examining the pockets of his clothes, she finds nothing of importance in these. Next, she inspects the papers in his desk, which are not very numerous, most of his business documents being at the house he calls his office, but does not find the portrait, though looking over the last package of papers tucked away in an envelope, something meets her eyes that makes Estrella utter a shriek of rage. It is the letter she had written to Hampton. This increases her determination to discover whether this man who has assumed a father's authority over her is really entitled to her love, duty, and obedience. She must know that. She will know that. She murmurs to herself, oh God, I loved him so. But the letter in her hand makes her add bitterly. He wasn't very merciful to me. Thinking of the picture, she cries to herself. The face smiled at me from the past. It was a recollection of childhood. I can see the deer eyes now. I will see again that picture. Yet search how she will, and she seeks it in careless, reckless eagerness, she cannot find the miniature. Finally, concluding that the portrait must have been destroyed, she desperately determines, there is one living witness who can save from his own eyes. This Jim Gottfried was Jim Gottfried before the fight at Rock Springs, and is your father. I'll send for Harry Love and bring them face to face. She writes a hurried note, orders her mare saddled and rides off to the cabin of a hunter, a little way up the San Antonio trail, where for a few dollars she knows she can get a Mexican to speed with a message that very day into the Pueblo town. She is altogether too experienced now to trust the letter to an ox team. But even in the act of dismounting the hunter's cabin, a sharp-eyed brown-skinned mucaco comes spurring down the San Antonio trail and putting his cunning glance on her promptly pulls up his Mustang and edging alongside of her, whispers, Honto, a key Dona Yankee, and passes to her astonished but eager hand a thumb-worn and dirty slip of paper. For a second she thinks it is some message from Hampton, but starts as she decipheres in half-printed illiterate script, I've dropped on what knocked your senses out of you. You're gassed it, down to night with evidence. Until then, keep mum as you love your life. Cute Harry. As its full import smites her, the girl almost falls off her horse. Her mighty suspicion has become a crushing and appalling uncertainty. She reels in her saddle and mutters to herself. Orphaned. End of book four, chapter 15, recording by John Brandon. Book four, chapter 16 of The Spy Company, a story of the Mexican War. This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org, recording by John Brandon. The Spy Company, a story of the Mexican War by Archibald Clevering Gunter. Book four, Miss Godfrey's Father. Chapter 16, Night on the Lone Plantation. Before Estrella can collect her senses, the Mexican boy apparently instructed with a whispered guata, has written off. For a moment she's carried back into the past and sees the dying man by the desert spring and her brown eyes grow full of tears at thought of her dead father. Then her cruel situation forces the present on her. She had given this man called Godfrey a daughter's tender affection and loving kisses. And she feels a big hole is in her heart. Fortunately, Harry's missive eradicates a good deal of this sediment. As she rereads Love Scrawl, the letters that are dim to her teary eyes grow very big in awful warning. Keep mom as you love your life. Until this time personal danger had not been in the girl's mind, but now it looms up and confronts her. She looks on the greatest state this man has usurped from her, and thinks in quick discernment, after he has slaved for it these many years, this man will do anything to keep it. That is why he wanted me to marry Mungton. Then he'd be safe from me. Haundering over the matter, she makes a wild guess that Jasper had discovered her putative father's secret, and so had gained sufficient power over him to force him to divide the spoils. This man had to take me as his daughter to be Jim Godfrey, and have titled to my dead father's gold that he dug up from the ruined Hacienda, and these miles and miles of land fertile as God's gardens, she mutters. Then jeers bitterly, and now he would make me the bride of his accomplice, and so render me forever helpless and seal my lips eternally by wifely pride and wifely duty. She gazes at the herds of cattle and bands of horses and gangs of toiling negroes and udders significantly. It is a principality worth fighting for, for all this is mine, and the sweet accents of devoted love coming into her voice and sharps. From this reverie she is startled by a voice at her side. The man whom she had called father, writing up to her, says authoritatively, Daughter, I saw you from the field. You got a note from that Mexican boy. Her agitated face answers him. He commands, let me see it. But under an instinctive touch of the spur, the agile mule foot bounds away, and before Estrella is overtaken by her surprised mentor, she has wrapped the paper up with three Lucifer matches that after the manner of the prairie she carries with her and has ignited them on the pommel of her saddle, with her pursuer's hand upon her arm, she laughs as the tinder floats away from her on the breeze, and feels for the moment that she is safe. Fortunately, Godfrey takes for granted from whom the note has been received and commands tersely, you come right home with me. Resistance would be useless even if she cared just now to defy him. Miss Godfrey turns mule foot and rides doggedly beside him and so enters the big patio where slipping from the side saddle she stands upon the threshold of the house confronting him. Godfrey doesn't get off his horse or the crisis might have come immediately. Still mounted, looking down at the girl, she makes a beautiful picture in her riding habit, her face flushed, her eyes rebellious, he says sternly, ever since last night's daughter I've noticed you've acted kind of queer, then questioned sharply. You have met against my orders, Captain Hampton in San Antonio. She turns her face heartily to his and answers shortly, yes. Very well, you remember I told you I'd punish you if you ever had anything more to do with him. If you have lost your pride by the eternal, I haven't lost my pride as your father. Despite herself, the young lady cannot restrain a mocking, sneering laugh. It doesn't make her mentor more tender to her. He continues, now you go right up to your room and stay there till I let you leave it. I'm too busy now. But tomorrow, unless you do what I tell you, I'll tend to you frontier fashion. But yesterday the girl would have grieved at his condemnation and grown tearful at his reproof. Now his threat eradicates her last tender feeling for him. With every vein in her body throbbing with indignation at his assumed parental authority, she bites her lips to restrain the angry defiant words. A moment after she answers haughtily, yet resignedly, yes, sir, and goes up to her chamber quite content to get from his company. For she sees enough in his face to make it certain that a rash word might now put great danger upon her. Recollecting that tonight she will have wild Harry's evidence to make her defy any interference by this man with her coming marriage, she laughs to herself savagely. It is he who shall beg my mercy, not I, his. And strides her room like an indignant Juno. Soon tenderer and happier thoughts possess her. She remembers that this evening she will have at her side a man capable of protecting her from everything, save the violence of her own love. And reflecting that in two days she is to be a bride, occupies herself pleasantly by packing a trunk for a simple honeymoon outing. During this, towards evening, she is somewhat startled by hearing a man called Godfrey crying out from his bedroom rather nervously and astoundedly. Jasper, the devil's up. Someone's been searching all my things. His hurried steps tell of agitation as he runs down the stairs apparently to seek conference with his co-agitor. A little later, probably urged by Moncton, who wishes to see the woman whose beauty grows to him more tempting with her coldness, Godfrey sends Selma to the young lady's chamber and desires, she shall be at the supper table. And Master told me, please the maid anxiously, to make you look your best, Miss Trella. Make me look my best? Well, I should think so, cries Estrella. And remembering she is being decked to meet her affianced husband, she selects for this summer evening an exquisite light frock of pure white muslin trimmed with simple ribbons. Filled with sweetheart's bashful thoughts under the octaroon's anxious attentions, the tears, and she shed many of them this day, are washed from her cheeks, and she soon becomes as fresh and dainty as a rosebud. On her face is expectant happiness and hope, as she sweeps down to astonish with her beauty the two men waiting for her below, and take her place at what she had once been very happy to call her father's table. Then a curious nervous meal goes on. Though the conversation of Moncton and Godfrey is chiefly over coming crops and the horses they have sent off to San Antonio for the Ranger Colonel, there is a current of uneasiness apparent in their voices, and Estrella starts as she notes in the faces of these men some project not as yet developed. This nervous tension quickly affects the octaroon, who dressed like a prim French maid is waiting on them. Zelma's pearl-like complexion becomes pale as delicate china, and her plump white arms bared to the elbows for table attendance quiver as she arranges the dessert. For Godfrey, after remarking that someone has been sneaking about his bedroom, suddenly asks the attendant, in terrible voice, which have you been rummaging my desk trying to find something to steal? Next, chuckles. By jinx you look guilty, your legs are shaking under you, as if you had a fever and egg. The short skirt of the young woman makes this easily apparent. With her tongue almost cleaving to the roof of her mouth, Zelma answers in low broken voice. No, Mr. Godfrey, as God is my judge. Reckon you'll find I'm the only judge about here, cheers the old man blasphemously. Apparently he has been bracing his nerves for some active measure by afternoon libations. But the attentions of Jasper Mungton, who towards the close of the meal has drawn his chair quite close to Ms. Godfrey, the confident smile upon his suave face, and the possessive manner in which he would put his arm around her tempting waist, though she repels him both with eyes and hands, do not permit Estrella to think very much about this matter. Her diffidence and coyness now seemingly annoy the man, who calls himself her father, in his eye comes a determination to force this fragile beauty, who had once been so pliable in her daughterly love to do his will. As he smokes he speaks, saying rather nervously between pumps of his cigar, Jasper has been begging you off again, Estrella. I have concluded to forget your disobedience if you do my bidding, daughter. And what is that, asks the young lady struggling to control her temper? Why, you just agree to marry Jasper, as you know are my wishes, and I'll excuse you just this once for running after that ranger captain. That I shall never do, answers Estrella, and rising haughtily sweeps out of the room and goes to her chamber, because she is afraid of letting her tongue disclose too much. Here she thinks pertinently, an hour or two more, and Hampton will come, and then, then I'll speak. But this inaction is not to be permitted to her. A few minutes after, Zelma comes trembling into her chamber and shudders, for God's sake, Miss Estrella, protect me. You said you would. When I came here and gave up my liberty to be with you, you said you would. What do you mean? Oh, this! They're accusing me of breaking open and searching Master's desk to find something to steal. God, help me! They've been drinking, and even in the gloom, the octoroon's eyes, flash wild with terror. They have told me that I am to go down to Master's office to be whipped. Miss Estrella, think of that, whipped, because I've been rummaging Master's desk trying to find something to steal. That you shall never be. Miss Godfrey's voice is cold, though her heart is throbbing, as if it would break through the corsage that confines it. She knows now that to save the unfortunate Zelma, she must tell of investigating Godfrey's desk. To give the real reason for her act, instinct warns her they put danger even on her life. She tries to invent some other plausible excuse or motive to render to this man, muttering nervously to herself, if Hampton would but come. But she must act quickly. Godfrey has called from below. Come along, you thieving wench. I'll teach you to sneak about my papers, and Zelma has tremblingly run down to him. Some remarks about going light on the girl and not spoiling her beauty for the New Orleans market float up the stairway to horrify Miss Godfrey. As the sobs of the victim die away, the mistress cries mentally, Zelma shall not be punished for my act. Taking a piece of paper she hastily writes on it, find me at the office. With this in her hand, she runs downstairs and leaves it on the dining room table for Hampton's eye, in case he should come during her absence. Then reckless of everything but her errand of mercy, Miss Godfrey issues from the house and follows the two men who have already led their victim out of the big patio and well on their way down the road to Godfrey's office. She has forgotten, coming sweetheart, obliterated from mind is Harry's promised evidence. Likewise is even banished the danger that she may bring upon herself, if by any inadvertence she discloses that she knows she is not this man's daughter. As picking up her dainty skirts, Estrella flits with light feet through the road made dusty by wagon trains from Matagorda, and stands before the rough one's story adobe building called Godfrey's office. She has scarcely ever been in the place, having had a kind of horror of it, because she knows that sometimes slaves connected with household or stables are punished in its rear room, the regular whipping post of the plantation being down among the distant Negro quarters, its floor being raised but little over the surrounding prairie, the windows of the building are scarce two feet above the path outside. The night being warm, these are wide open, and she glances into the front room. At one side of it is a small iron safe for papers connected with the plantation. Several ledgers and a well-thumbed memorandum book lie on its unplanned deal table. From this a couple of candles in tin candlesticks emit a subdued flickering light. Both Godfrey and Moncton are seated on rough wooden chairs and careless poses. The evening being very sultry, smoking their cigars nonchalantly, and comfortably drinking their whiskey from a bottle and glasses already placed upon the table. Estrella shudders as she sees these men coolly taking their ease, unmindful of the trembling woman, who apparently is in the rear room preparing for her torture. For a subdued sobbing is heard through the slight partition mingled with a rustle of feminine garments being hastily removed. Though she is so excited that the whole scene seems blurred to her, her senses are so strained she even notes the odor of a honeysuckle that is climbing about the window and that a swarm of mosquitoes and insects attracted from the prairie are burning themselves to death in the flames of the candles on the table. But above all one thing impresses itself upon the delicate girl, the awful loneliness of the place. The lights from the Negro quarters are very distant. The nearest cabin of a frontiersman or hunter is a mile away. Only the gloom of a summer night is near to her. She shudders as she thinks, what aid is there for me? For anyone here against the acknowledged autocrat of this lone plantation and his overs here. Love's warning grows very vivid in her mind as to her ears come those significant words in Monkton's acute voice. Did you notice, Jim, that Strella has never once called you dad since we came from San Antonio? Yes, and by the Lord Harry I'm going to find out what she means by it. Snarls Godfrey. Here the sight of a long lithe torturing rawhide switch lying on the table makes Strella desperately lay her hand upon the latch. As the girl comes in, it is as if a fairy were entering the den of Ogres for the whole place smells of liquor and has that rough unkempt bald appearance common to the frontier far from the refining touch of woman. As they see her, the triumph upon both men's faces tells their visitor that her coming is what they want though the man whom she once called father hastily rising asks, daughter, what's your business here? To protect the girl I brought with me from New York, she answers determinedly, you shall not punish Selma. Reckon, a little little do her good, says Godfrey. She deserves it. The wench has been rummaging around my desk trying to find something to steal. Unless, he adds significantly, someone else did it. This increases Strella's perturbation. She guesses that they suspect she has been investigating Godfrey's desk and have lured her here on this errand of mercy to coerce her by her sympathy with the unfortunate Octor Rune into confessing her act and telling her reason for it. With a shudder, she remembers Harry's warning. As she love your life, keep mum and loving life very much now as coming brides do for one coward moment she hesitates. But Godfrey's action forces her to generous resolution. Picking up the torturing switch of twisted rawhide, he calls savagely. Wench, are you ready in there? And a scream has answered through the partition. Master, for God's sake, spare me. He is stepping to the door, but Miss Godfrey is in front of him. To him, she says, holding of a white hand and commanding gesture, you shall not torture Selma. It was I who investigated your desk. At this, Moncton springs up with a muttered execration and the faces of both men tell Estrella that they fear she guesses some secret they will protect with their lives or with her life. But it only braces her nerves and makes her throbbing brain more acute. You were going through my desk? Mother's Godfrey hoarsely. To find what? Though he tries to conceal it, his face is convulsed with both terror and menace. Moncton himself has come a little closer to her. His feature is full of awful inquiry. To find what repeats the man she had once thought her father. This cries the girl in sudden inspiration and plunging her hand through the laces of her crusage, she draws from her throbbing bosom the note she had found. This, my letter that you intercepted, my messive to Captain Hampton. At her words immense relief ripples the faces of both her inquisitors. Oh, Hampton, the Comanche killer, sneers Moncton, his attitude growing more easy. Though his face is flushed with jealous rage. Of course I did, says Godfrey and fatherly tones. It was my duty to keep you from making a love-sick fool of your self-daughter. He gives a sigh of relief, sits down in a chair, and relights his cigar. Perhaps the awful denouement that is drawing about them might be averted. For Estrella has called into the door of the rear room, Zelma, you're saved. Go back to the house, poor girl, and is herself stepping to the entrance of the building, anxious to get away from the two men whom she now loathes. But at this moment Moncton, made fervid by the ethereal beauty of this priestess of mercy, who looks in her simple muslin frock exquisite as a sylph, bars her way and says insinuatingly, you've begged the wench off from your father. Now you'll have to beg her off from me. You see, there was a fellow named Him Jones, came up to Matagorda from Corpus Christi, and he didn't know I was boss of this estate, and got to laughing and chatting in a bar room about your octaroon beauty, who was going to Gallivant with Mr. Yazoo Sam. You see, in old times I knew Yazoo Sam very well, and he was great at running off niggers. We, Jasper checks himself and continues smilingly, but perhaps you didn't notice your wench's didos. Reckon you were too much taken up with that Dragoon fellow, young Pelham. I believe his name was. Him Jones was talking about him too, and getting closer to the lovely object of his passion, whispers, you can save the wench by a single kiss. You know how I have loved you since I saw you at Saratoga. Why don't you marry me and make everything quiet and settled on the plantation? Yes, that's the ticket, breaks in Godfrey. Mary Jasper, you know he's the man I want you to take. Don't keep on your high horse. To this Ms. Godfrey fighting to restrain words that may bring discovery upon her, says coldly, I have already answered no to that question. Oh, you won't give me a kiss. Very well, laughs Monkton, then Zelma shall sing a little song to Mr. Yazoo Sam and would step towards the inner room. But Ms. Godfrey stands before him and commands, I forbid you to lay a hand upon my property. Your property, that's good, cheers Jasper, arrogantly, reckon you don't exactly understand your position here. At this Godfrey falters, don't rile him, daughter, or he'll turn us out paupers on the prairie. Marry him to save your poor old father. Don't you know he's got a bill of sale of everything on the plantation? Don't put on city heirs, child. You're only the daughter of a plain back woodsman anyway. But this man's continual calling himself her father drives the girl frantic. Forgetting prudence, she cries mockingly, a bill of sale of my plantation from you. Pish, it's not worth the paper it's written on. What do you mean? Listen, a whisper from both men. I mean that you are not, Jim Godfrey, that you are not my father. And the daughter of a plain back woodsman becomes haughty as a Juno, the lights of the candles flash on her white arms and panting bosom. The thought that she had given this wretch a daughter's kiss, a daughter's love, makes her toss prudence to the winds and break out. Interloper, liar, you surfer. My father died at the Rock Springs fight ten years ago. Now both you and your accomplice off this plantation. That is mine. Even as this leaves her lips she remembers love's warning and would seek his words but the actions of the men before her tell her it is too late. For Godfrey has muttered with an awful curse. By heaven she knows. And Mungton has locked the door leading to the outer world. She is alone with two monsters who shock her by holding whispered consultation, all the time keeping their eyes upon her as if they were beasts of prey and she was to be their victim. She hears one mutter, you fool to make me bring her from New York. And the other answer, by heaven I'll have her anyway. From very force of habit Estrella's hands go to the silken sash that guards her slight waist seeking for the rangers pistols but with the sigh she remembers she has left the weapons in her chamber. Then the two men come to her and smite her with a monstrous proposition. Now Jim to save her life she must marry me right off says Mungton shortly. Yes marriage with you is the only thing that will stop her lips sure mutters Godfrey adding in cruel significance except the other thing. Hear the girl in her terror for she sees they mean by the other thing her death makes a false step hoping to frighten them she says haughtily that's impossible tomorrow I marry sharp Hampton at this the two men look at each other wildly they know that if she has promised herself to Hampton either man or devil will keep the ranger from coming bride driven desperate Godfrey remarks huskily so much the more reason you marry Jasper now yes mating with me is the trick that will stop her gabbing cries mungton adding with setter nine acuteness and stop sharp Hampton too stop sharp Hampton from making me his wife when he loves me fears astrella stop him when he says I am his son in heaven but mungton's crafty rejoinder paralyzes her white lips you can stop him mighty quick he says swavly when you're bone of my bone and flesh of my flesh the ranger captain's too high stomach to fellow to take such a jolting he'll keep away from you as if you were poisoned and ask no questions to this he adds in words that seem like blows upon the threatened one's heart you've got to marry me or be buried before a morning don't you see fool that it is the only thing that can save your life whispers the man called Godfrey we dare not let you live do you suppose that i'm going to be thrown out of wealth and possessions that have grown in my hands all these years and be twisted from a nabob into an outcast pauper in a second i'll i'll deed you my property screams the frightened girl only let me go chucks a deed under these circumstances wouldn't be worth a cent says mungton he says i want you i haven't dreamt of your loveliness and hungered for your caresses these two years to give them up now you've got to give in my beauty and become my wife right off then the room grows red with horror to the victim's eyes as godfrey says huskily as if ashamed of his own words there's a nigger person down at the quarters can do the business good enough in five minutes your being jasper's flesh and blood will keep your lips shut forever you have got to be jasper's right now or die right now for a second the horror of her position is hardly real to the half fainting girl but the proposed bridegroom's eyes lighting up in unholy rapture at the loveliness he thinks already in his arms makes a estrella a goddess of purity assailed by shame her face cheeks and bosom grow red as fire then pale as the death that she elects she says simply you can kill me but i live sharp hamptons next raises her voice and cries desperately help hampton help i need you quit screaming or we've got to kill you mother's godfrey already he has one hand upon her white throat and seems to be raising the other to strike her senseless again the sweet young voice rings through the still night air hampton sharp save me then even as her senses become dull and the scene sways misily before her eyes the angel of death descends and protects this maiden from two satyrs on the trail outside two sharp revolver cracks ring out so rapidly they make almost one report the man who had called himself miss godfrey's father falls upon this wounding girl and the other is accomplice is a dead body air he reaches the bloody floor a few minutes later estrella finds herself lying in a chair her face wetting herself being brought to her senses by kindly slappings of her hands and shoulders she says dreamily though there is a strange interrogation in her voice did you put me in this chair no i found g there answers mr love astonished admiration making his wild eyes very big but she's staring about and seeing blood upon her dress and the bodies lying on the floor springs up and shutters who killed these men chucks don't get frightened girl after you fit the scrimmage says wild harry reassuringly your did it fine that fella over there was plugged straight between the eyes he points to mungton and this caddoodler ain't got many breaths in his body he indicates her putative father don't take on so they deserved it reckon dad got onto your knowing he wasn't dad a little before i got down and then you gave it to him straight hampton taught you to shoot the pistol didn't he i'd have done it myself if i'd have been here at this estrella asks an astounded boys and you didn't shoot them no such look answers love then mutters what do you want to possum it on me for you must have shot him but i'll make everything safe for you a coroner's jury'll soon bring in a verdict of served him right when i'm your witness these last words are interrupted by a moaning plea for water from the man called godfrey estrella cannot forget that she once held daughter's love for this man and her quick hands pour the liquid between his ashen lips and try to soothe the passing of his spirit on this love breaks in saying sternly roger norton the best thing you can do with your last few breathings is to square yourself by telling all about it roger norton is that your name christrella and looks curiously at the dying man i recognized ye as soon as i put my eyes on you roger norton says wild harry you were her dad's clerk who went up with him on his hunt for the grand cavera and thus escaped massacre down here you thought you'd take jim godfrey's place seeing everyone was dead and so to seize on the plantation you lassied the daughter that's about straight isn't it yes gasps the man there there isn't much to tell but still commands love ye put it down on paper strella right and all was makes things easy and the girl sitting at the deal table inscribes hardly the tale the wounded man in low voice gasps out i i saw a big chance with everybody dead who knew godfrey in these parts and i i took it i became jim godfrey it wasn't so hard for six years no one ever came around this place but new immigrants new niggers and indians and mexicanos i i meant to do the right thing by you and would have left you the property till that devil jasper caru monkton came along he had not known godfrey but he thought he recollected me in old mississippi days he suspected me somehow he was aware jim godfrey was a knight of the golden circle he gave me the grips and signals of the secret order i could not return them so he finally made sure that i was not jim godfrey but roger norton that he had once seen his pursers clerk on the mississippi river then he he worked on my fears and got a hold on me and then when he'd gone up north and seen you strella he got wild for you and would have me bring you down so that he could if necessary for you to be his and and you know the rest i meant to be pretty good to you and i hope you'll forgive me as as far as you can the poor creature is sighing his life out looks pleadingly at her but the girl suddenly asks tell me who killed you i i don't know then she bringing the paper to him half subs half gasps sign this and i'll forgive you and the frontiersman lifting the expiring wretch higher he succeeds in putting his name beneath his dying revelation then his head drops and he falls forward on the floor and now says estrella eagerly please let me write that you were killed while making an attack upon me that she pauses the eyes of the man who had called himself Godfrey are closed his breath has gone what's all this strange palaver about mutters love nobody's going to hurt you for killing them skunks nobody didn't kill them well who did it weren't me though i'd been proud to do it i i think it was sharp whispers the girl nervously taint possible cries love indignantly or this fellow monkton would have been dead as quick as the other sharp hampton don't shoot twice at a man but i might have been in the way i stood so yes reckon he'd have shot a little high to avoid you perhaps it was sharp hampton but zelma can tell and estrella runs into the next room putting her hand on the shoulder of the shrinking octaroon miss godfrey asks zelma who fired those shots i don't know miss i don't know mumbles the poor cringing creature who is still half nude in preparation for her chastisement i was waiting here when i heard their awful words to you then the reports next i heard someone in that room kissing you and seems to me i distinguished for god's sake i didn't mean to kill your father but those fearful men are dead and i'm only your slave ain't i miss strella only your slave this her mistress does not answer she has run out into the other room where harry is calling look here here's a piece of paper kept in place by a bowie knife stuck in it and we never seeded we'd make fine spies we would upon it has been agitatedly scrawled goodbye forgive me that sharp's writing straight enough mutters wild harry but i never knew his hand could tremble before it is my first my last love letter screams estrella and seizes it kisses it and fondles it then harry mutters well i'm darned if this don't beat conniption fits for the girl is crying to him get on your horse after him sharp hampton thinks he's killed my father and that this wretched blood stands between his love and me after him bring him back to me i promise to marry him tomorrow after him find him before he gets down on the real grand and throws his life away in some wild skirmish because he thinks he's killed my father and can never call me wife after him and bring him back end of chapter 16 recording by john brandon