'Wake, fairest, awake! at thy window now be;The moon on the midnight her splendor is pouring.Wake, fairest, awake! from thy window now see,Like a saint at his shrine, thy lover adoring.'Come, beautiful, forth on thy balcony high,While silver-toned music around thee is floating;And yon shooting-star shall come down from the sky,Like a slave at thy feet his homage devoting.'Nay, venture not, dearest! lest over the airSome spirits should chance to be wand'ring this even;And, deeming thee some truant angel now there,Might steal thee away to their home in the heaven.'
'Wake, fairest, awake! at thy window now be;The moon on the midnight her splendor is pouring.Wake, fairest, awake! from thy window now see,Like a saint at his shrine, thy lover adoring.
'Wake, fairest, awake! at thy window now be;
The moon on the midnight her splendor is pouring.
Wake, fairest, awake! from thy window now see,
Like a saint at his shrine, thy lover adoring.
'Come, beautiful, forth on thy balcony high,While silver-toned music around thee is floating;And yon shooting-star shall come down from the sky,Like a slave at thy feet his homage devoting.
'Come, beautiful, forth on thy balcony high,
While silver-toned music around thee is floating;
And yon shooting-star shall come down from the sky,
Like a slave at thy feet his homage devoting.
'Nay, venture not, dearest! lest over the airSome spirits should chance to be wand'ring this even;And, deeming thee some truant angel now there,Might steal thee away to their home in the heaven.'
'Nay, venture not, dearest! lest over the air
Some spirits should chance to be wand'ring this even;
And, deeming thee some truant angel now there,
Might steal thee away to their home in the heaven.'
"'Rosabel,' said I, 'how can you refrain from jumping out the window when a pretty little man like Dove invites you to come forth and behold "thy lover adoring"?'
"'But,' said Rosabel, 'in the last verse he warns me not to venture.'
"'That is true,' said I; 'the little man manifests a wonderful solicitude for your safety. He is apprehensive lest you might be arrested as a runaway angel,—a fugitive from service.'
"'Hist! hist!' said Rosabel.
"'That is Love,' said I; and the voice of the serenader was heard singing,—
'The silvery cloudlets now are weeping, love,Sweet dewdrops on the flowers,And mellow moonlight now is creeping, love,Under the ivy bowers.And thou hast heard the vesper hymnThat stirred the balmy air,When, as the shadows grew more dim,The pious met in prayer.'Their sacred rosaries they were counting, love,Unto their saints in heaven,And telling them to what a mountain, love,Their sins had grown this even.While thus to saints on high they pourTheir prayers at evening bland,I am contented to adoreAn angel near at hand.'
'The silvery cloudlets now are weeping, love,Sweet dewdrops on the flowers,And mellow moonlight now is creeping, love,Under the ivy bowers.And thou hast heard the vesper hymnThat stirred the balmy air,When, as the shadows grew more dim,The pious met in prayer.
'The silvery cloudlets now are weeping, love,
Sweet dewdrops on the flowers,
And mellow moonlight now is creeping, love,
Under the ivy bowers.
And thou hast heard the vesper hymn
That stirred the balmy air,
When, as the shadows grew more dim,
The pious met in prayer.
'Their sacred rosaries they were counting, love,Unto their saints in heaven,And telling them to what a mountain, love,Their sins had grown this even.While thus to saints on high they pourTheir prayers at evening bland,I am contented to adoreAn angel near at hand.'
'Their sacred rosaries they were counting, love,
Unto their saints in heaven,
And telling them to what a mountain, love,
Their sins had grown this even.
While thus to saints on high they pour
Their prayers at evening bland,
I am contented to adore
An angel near at hand.'
"'Oh, Rosabel!' I exclaimed, 'I always thought you were an angel, and now I know it, for both Love and Dove have testified to the fact. Out of the mouths of two witnesses has the truth been established. You are an angel, Rosabel, but please don't fly away.'
"'Nonsense, Toney! Don't go crazy. Be quiet—hush! Listen!'
"'That is Bliss,' said I; and we heard him singing,—
'My little, lovely, laughing maid!So great a thief thou art,I do declare, I am afraidThou'st stolen all my heart.'Thou'st stolen the lily's purest white,Thou'st stolen the rose's hue,Thou'st stolen each flow'ret's beauties bright,And stolen my poor heart too.'Well, little rogue, come help yourself,Your robberies repeat,And take the rest of the poor elfWho's sighing at your feet.'
'My little, lovely, laughing maid!So great a thief thou art,I do declare, I am afraidThou'st stolen all my heart.
'My little, lovely, laughing maid!
So great a thief thou art,
I do declare, I am afraid
Thou'st stolen all my heart.
'Thou'st stolen the lily's purest white,Thou'st stolen the rose's hue,Thou'st stolen each flow'ret's beauties bright,And stolen my poor heart too.
'Thou'st stolen the lily's purest white,
Thou'st stolen the rose's hue,
Thou'st stolen each flow'ret's beauties bright,
And stolen my poor heart too.
'Well, little rogue, come help yourself,Your robberies repeat,And take the rest of the poor elfWho's sighing at your feet.'
'Well, little rogue, come help yourself,
Your robberies repeat,
And take the rest of the poor elf
Who's sighing at your feet.'
"'He accuses you of felony,' said I. 'Oh, Rosabel! why did you, after having perpetrated so many larcenies among the flower-beds, steal the poor little man's heart?'
"'What would I want with his heart?' said Rosabel, pouting.
"'He tells you to keep it, and makes an offer of himself. He offers you Bliss.'
"'The impudent little scamp!' said the widow. 'Tell Juba and Jugurtha to come here.'
"'Yes, ma'am,' said a colored girl, who stood grinning behind the widow's chair.
"Two gigantic negro men soon made their appearance.
"'Are the dogs in the kennel?' said the widow.
"'Yes, ma'am,' said Juba.
"'Oh, mother!' exclaimed Rosabel, 'you won't do that! It is a pity!'
"'Indeed I will,' said the widow. 'Let them loose!'
"'Yes, ma'am;' and Juba and Jugurtha grinned, and each uttered a low chuckle as they hurried from the room.
"The voice of Dove was warbling another melody. It stopped suddenly, for the baying of hounds was heard on the opposite side of the house. I looked out the window, and in the moonlight could see Love and Bliss leaping over the paling fence. Dove was climbing an apple-tree, when a dog seized him behind and tore away his tail——"
"What!" said the Professor.
"The tail of his coat," said Toney. "Dove took refuge among the branches of the tree.
"After awhile Juba entered the room showing his ivory and exhibiting a piece of broadcloth, which he held in his hand as a trophy.
"'What is that?' asked the widow.
"'Dunno, ma'am,—I tuk it from Trouncer.'
"'Let me look,' said I. 'Why, it's Dove's tail!'
"The widow shrieked with laughter, and Rosabel hid her face on the cushion of the sofa and shook as if she had an ague. I put my hand in the pocket and drew out a number of papers.
"'What are those?' said the widow.
"'Love-letters,' said I. 'Here, Rosabel, you can read them.'
"'And those?' said the widow.
"'Verses,' said I,—'songs and sonnets. Rosabel, you can copy them into your album.'
"'And that?' said the widow.
"'Why,' said I,'this puzzles me.'
"'What does M. O. O. S. S. mean?' asked the widow.
"'Oh, I know what that means,' said I.
"'What?' said Rosabel.
"'It signifies Mystic Order of Seven Sweethearts.' And I gave Rosabel and her mother an account of the Sweethearts, which excited much merriment.
"'But these letters, N. G. G. and M. W. D.,—what do they mean?' asked the widow.
"'That I cannot tell,' said I.
"'Do try to find out,' said Rosabel.
"I promised to do so, and have ever since retained the paper in my possession for the purpose of deciphering it."
"But what became of Dove?" asked the Professor.
"I must tell you," said Toney. "When I retired I could not sleep. I thought about Rosabel, and then about Dove in the apple-tree, and then I would roar with laughter; and Rosabel and her mother must have heard me, for I could hear explosions of mirth in an adjoining apartment. Towards morning I got into a doze and was dreaming that I had a hundred thousand dollars, and had purchased a diamond ring for Rosabel, who had ordered her bridal attire, when I was awakened by hearing voices in the garden. I jumped out of bed and ran to the window. It was daylight, and under the apple-tree I beheld Juba walking to and fro with the steady pace of a Roman sentinel. Dove was perched on a bough over his head, and I could hear him in piteous tones begging the negro to tie up the dogs. For a long while his supplications made no impression on the obdurate African. Finally he drew a coin of glittering gold from the pocket of his vest, and the tempting bribe produced the desired effect. The dogs were tied up, and Dove dropped from the tree, and leaped over the fence and vanished."
Just then the loud sound of a gong, announcing the arrival of the hour for dinner, was heard, and Toney and his friends arose from their seats and walked toward the hotel.
In the afternoon, as the sun was descending towards the western horizon, and the balmy breezes were gently stirring the leaves of the silver maples which shaded the main avenue leading from the hotel, Toney, in company with Tom and the Professor, proceeded on a promenade. They had not gone far before they perceived Harry Vincent and Clarence Hastings just in advance of them, walking slowly and apparently engaged in earnestconversation. They overheard Harry say, "I tell you my mind is made up. I am off for Mexico, and I want you to go with me."
Clarence shook his head. His mind was not yet made up.
"Did you hear that?" said Toney.
"Yes," said Tom. "Harry is going to Mexico."
"Do you mean the tall, handsome young man walking on the left?" said the Professor.
"The same," said Toney.
"I thought he had military glory in his mind as soon as I saw him," said the Professor.
"Why so?" asked Toney.
"A close observer can sometimes tell what is in a man's mind by his walk," said the Professor. "From the erect manner in which the young man carried his head and the determined tread with which he brought down his foot, I was certain that he had resolved on a march for the Halls of the Montezumas."
The Professor and his two friends had now halted under a tree and were engaged in conversation, when Claribel and Wiggins came by, and as they passed Harry and Clarence, Wiggins bowed, but the lovely Claribel never turned her head.
"Did you observe that?" said Seddon.
"I did," said Tony.
"Military glory is getting into the mind of the other young gentleman, I think," said the Professor. "He seems to be half a head taller than he was a moment ago, and his foot comes down with a determination that indicates no benevolent intentions towards Santa Anna and his myrmidons. But, look! yonder comes our three pretty little men."
Love now passed them, followed by Dove and Bliss, each escorting a very beautiful young lady. Love seemed to be supremely happy, and in terms of rapture was directing the attention of the smiling beauty to the magnificent sunset.
"Yon sun that sets upon the seaWe follow in his flight;Farewell, awhile, to him and thee——
"Yon sun that sets upon the seaWe follow in his flight;Farewell, awhile, to him and thee——
"Yon sun that sets upon the sea
We follow in his flight;
Farewell, awhile, to him and thee——
Ugh! ugh! ugh!" exclaimed Love; and the lady loudly shrieked as he was lifted from his feet and rudely carried away from her side.
A mischievous dog had assaulted an aged sow of monstrous proportions, which was quietly rooting in the street, and the affrighted porker frantically rushed between the legs of the beau and galloped off with him on her back. Love was half paralyzed with terror. He fell forward on the back of the sow and convulsively grasped her by the ears. The ladies fled screaming toward the hotel, while Dove and Bliss stood petrified with astonishment. Toney, Tom, and the Professor ran at full speed after Love, who was rapidly galloping away on the back of his courser. The dog, delighted with the sport, kept pinching the hams of the sow, and in the hope of escaping from her ruthless tormentor, she diverged from the main avenue and ran across a common to a pond of mud and water. Into the pond plunged the sow with the unfortunate beau on her back, scattering a flock of ducks, that with loud quacks fluttered up the banks, where stood the dog barking and bobbing his head in the full enjoyment of the fun.
In a few moments groups of men and boys were assembled on the margin of the pond. Love sat on the back of the sow bespattered with mud, and still tenaciously holding on by her long, pendant ears. Suddenly a voice was heard, apparently issuing from the mouth of the porker, and exclaiming, "Let go my ears!"
"Golly! did you hear that?" exclaimed Cæsar, with his eyes dilating in amazement.
"The hog's talking," said Hannibal.
"That beats Balaam's ass!" said Tom Seddon.
"Get off my back!" shrieked the sow, and Love, in the utmost terror, rolled off into the mud. The sow slowly waded towards the bank and gazed up at the dog with a look of indignation. Her canine persecutor was put to flight by a stone hurled from the hand of Hannibal, when she ascended the bank, and, shaking the mud from her sides, with a grunt trotted off, and was soon seen industriously digging with her nose in a sward of clover.
"Jehosophat! that hog talked," said Hannibal.
"Nonsense!" said Toney.
"'Deed, Massa Belton, that old sow talked. I heerd her talkin' myself," said Cæsar.
"The devil's in the swine," said Seddon.
"I b'lieves that old sow's the debbil," said Hannibal.
"Pshaw!" said Toney, "it was some boy you heard talking. Do you suppose that the hogs in this town have the gift of gab? Here, help Mr. Love out of the pond."
The unfortunate beau sat helplessly in the midst of the mud and water, and was turning his eyes imploringly towards Dove and Bliss, who stood on the bank.
"Wade in and help him out," said Toney to the negroes.
Cæsar and Hannibal both shook their heads.
"Here, take this," said Toney, handing each a silver coin. "Now, wade in."
Cæsar and Hannibal commenced slowly rolling up the legs of their trousers until they had gathered them in bundles above their knees. They then with much deliberation waded to the middle of the pond, and each taking Love by an arm, lifted him up, and bringing him ashore, laid him down on the bank.
"Get that wheelbarrow," said Toney, pointing to a vehicle of the sort which had been left on the common.
Cæsar brought the barrow, and Hannibal lifted Love up and deposited him in the bottom of the vehicle, and, followed by a procession of people, carried the luckless beau back to the hotel.
"Take him to the bath-house," said the landlord.
The negroes obeyed orders, and left Love in the care of Dove and Bliss.
"That hog talked," said Cæsar.
"Sartingly!" said Hannibal. "Golly! who ever heerd a hog talk afore dat?"
"Those African gentlemen are fully persuaded that the sow spoke," said Seddon to the Professor.
"It may be so," said the Professor. "She was under the influence of Love, and that has been known to produce miraculous results."
In the mean while, Wiggins and the lovely Claribel, in utter ignorance of the melancholy catastrophe justrelated, had continued their walk until they entered a delightful grove on the outskirts of the town. Here was a beautiful fountain and rustic bench, around which hung a canopy of clustering vines. Claribel was about to seat herself on the bench when a hideous head was thrust out from among the vines. The lady uttered a faint scream and swooned in terror. Wiggins was dreadfully startled, and drawing back a cane with a leaden bullet enveloped in gutta-percha on its end, dealt a blow on the head of the apparition which would have cracked the skull of an ox. The monster fell back dead in the bushes. Wiggins now turned his attention to his fair companion. She was unconscious. He lifted her up, and, with the lovely Claribel in his arms, seated himself on the rustic bench. Her head rested against his bosom, and Wiggins bent down until his mouth accidentally came in contact with her ruby lips. It was an accident, and Wiggins did not intend to commit a trespass, but he could not help it. Wiggins kissed Claribel on her delicious little mouth. Now, who ever kissed a lovely young lady once without wanting to kiss her again? Wiggins kissed her again, and then several times in rapid succession. Just then Harry Vincent and Clarence Hastings, unperceived by Wiggins, entered the grove. They stood still in astonishment. An expression of horror was depicted on the countenance of Clarence. For a moment he stood as if rooted to the earth. Then pulling Harry by the arm, he said, in a hoarse whisper, "Come!" The young men walked on in silence for about five minutes, when Clarence said, "Harry, I will go with you to the Mexican war."
On the morning after the events related in the preceding chapter, the ladies at the hotel could talk of nothing but Love. Love seemed to occupy all their thoughts, and at breakfast many a pair of beautiful eyes were directed towards the door of the saloon each time it opened, in eager expectation of his appearance. But he did not appear, and many young damsels retired from the table sadly disappointed by his invisibility. At about ten o'clock in the morning a rumor became prevalent that Love was about to appear, and many a pretty face might be seen peeping from a half-opened door, evidently for the purpose of getting a glimpse of the Dainty Adorer when he came forth. Soon the heavy tramp of feet was heard in the corridor, as Scipio, Cæsar, and Hannibal marched along carrying trunks with the names of Love, Dove, and Bliss in large letters on their lids. The Dainty Adorer now came form with the Noble Nonentity on his right and the Winsome Wooer on his left. The three little men had their arms locked, and were followed by Wiggins and M. T. Pate, who seemed to be exceedingly sad. As the melancholy procession descended the stairway, from numerous doors opening into the corridor issued lovely young ladies, who hurried to the upper landing, where was soon assembled a galaxy of beauty gazing after Love, Dove, and Bliss, who were taking their departure. As the daintily-dressed little beaus went forth into the street, the bevy of beauties descended the stairway and assembled on the veranda, where they continued to gaze down the avenue until Hannibal, who led the advance, turned a corner, and then, in a moment, Love, Dove, and Bliss were hidden from their view. One might have imagined that the departure of Bliss would have produced a feeling of melancholy among the beauties who had been deserted; but such was not the case. Peals of laughter were heard, and, regardless ofthe flight of Dove and the departure of Bliss, the young ladies talked merrily of Love during the entire day.
Toney, Tom, and the Professor were at the railway and witnessed the departure of Love, Dove, and Bliss with manifest regret. They turned away and walked for some moments in profound silence, when Seddon exclaimed,—
"Yonder comes Captain Bragg!"
The cosmopolite approached them at a hurried pace, and apparently in much excitement. He was introduced to the Professor, and then Toney inquired about the condition of his health.
"I am physically well, Mr. Belton," said Bragg, "but am mentally afflicted."
"Indeed!" said Toney. "I trust that there has been no serious cause for this disturbance of your usual equanimity."
"I have met with a great, I fear an irreparable, loss," said Bragg.
"A ship foundered at sea without any insurance on her?" inquired the Professor.
"My monkey," said Bragg.
"Alas!" exclaimed Tom Seddon in pathetic tones, "is the monkey no more?"
"Is he dead?" said Toney, apparently in great anxiety to learn its fate.
"I know not," said Bragg. "He is missing. I have searched for him in vain."
"He may have run away and escaped over Mason and Dixon's line," said the Professor. "Could you not reclaim him under the fugitive slave law?"
"That monkey would never have run away, Mr. Tickle. I have fed him and protected him, and he could never have been guilty of such gross folly and base ingratitude."
"A negro, who is clothed and fed and protected, will occasionally run off from a comfortable home, and why not a monkey?" said Seddon.
"A negro may run away from the mush-pot of his master because he is a slave, and is impelled by a natural and laudable desire for liberty. But my monkey was not a slave, Mr. Seddon. He was a friend and a companion. Monkeys and apes, Mr. Tickle, have emotions andsentiments. All they lack is the power of speech to give expression to their thoughts and feelings."
"They sometimes, though rarely, have that faculty," said the Professor. "On one occasion I heard a venerable baboon express himself in emphatic and excellent English."
"Indeed!" said Bragg.
"It was in Kentucky," said the Professor, "There was a traveling menagerie exhibiting in a small village. A number of negroes were examining the baboon with much curiosity, and one of them insisted that he could talk but would not, because if he did the white people would put him to work, and he was too lazy to work. I was present and heard the baboon indignantly exclaim, 'You lie, you ugly, nasty nigger! I am not as lazy as you are! Begone! or I'll bite your nose off!' The Africans tore a hole in the tent in their efforts to get out."
Here there was heard an uproar in the street and a crowd of boys was seen approaching. One of them was carrying an animal, which he grasped by the tail and held with its head hanging down.
"What is that?" asked Seddon.
"A dead monkey," said the boy. "We found him in the grove by the fountain lying on his back in the bushes."
Bragg rushed forward and the boy dropped the monkey, which lay on the ground with its hideous face turned upward.
"My monkey! my monkey!" exclaimed Bragg. He stooped down and examined the dead body. Its skull had been cracked by a terrible blow which must have produced instant death. "This monkey has been foully murdered! Oh, that I knew the villain who perpetrated the bloody deed! Who killed my monkey? I say who killed my monkey?" said Bragg.
"Botts!" said a voice apparently issuing from the mouth of the monkey. Bragg started back with a look of amazement. The crowd of boys opened and they fell back in awe and terror.
"Bill," said a boy to his companion, "that monkey spoke."
"True as preaching!" said Bill. "I heard it."
Bragg stood speechless for some minutes. Then, in solemn tones, he exclaimed,—
"Gentlemen, did you not hear that?"
"What?" said Toney, who with Tom stood at a distance of some paces. "I heard nothing."
"Did you not hear a voice issuing from the mouth of the corpse and proclaiming the name of the murderer?" exclaimed Bragg.
"Impossible!" said Seddon.
"By no means impossible," said the Professor. "Shakspeare, who is good authority on all such subjects, tells us that
Stones have been known to move and trees to speak;Auguries and understood relations have,By magot-pies and choughs and rooks, brought forthThe secret'st man of blood."
Stones have been known to move and trees to speak;Auguries and understood relations have,By magot-pies and choughs and rooks, brought forthThe secret'st man of blood."
Stones have been known to move and trees to speak;
Auguries and understood relations have,
By magot-pies and choughs and rooks, brought forth
The secret'st man of blood."
"True, Mr. Tickle," said Bragg. "And as sure as yonder sun is shining in the heavens I heard a voice issuing from that monkey's mouth and proclaiming Botts to be the murderer!"
"Botts could prove an alibi," said Toney. "He has gone back to Mapleton."
"The conscience-stricken villain!" exclaimed Bragg. "He has imbrued his hands in innocent blood and then fled. I will follow him to the ends of the earth!" And Bragg started off as if in pursuit of the murderer.
"Captain!" shouted Seddon, "What will you do with the corpse?"
"Bury it," said Bragg, coming back,—"and then I will seek out that villain Botts."
Accompanied by the boys, Bragg proceeded to bury his monkey.
"That man is insane," said the Professor.
"All excitable people are insane at times," said Toney.
"Bragg has monkey-mania," said Tom.
"And pseudomania," said Toney.
"His lies are harmless," said Seddon.
"And amusing," said Toney. "Bragg can beat Baron Munchausen."
"That was an amusing story he told about hisresidence in Africa among those long-tailed gentlemen," said Seddon.
"What was that?" asked the Professor.
Here Tom gave an account of Bragg's residence in Africa as related by himself.
"The man is demented," said the Professor. "But do you think he will go after Botts?"
"As sure as his name is Bragg," said Toney. "Yonder he comes now."
Bragg was seen walking towards them rapidly, carrying a carpet-bag.
"Good-by, gentlemen!" said he, hurrying along.
"Are you going, captain?" said Toney. "When will you return?"
"As soon as I have settled with that villain Botts. Good-by!"
Bragg hurried to the railway. A train of cars was just ready to start. "All aboard!" shouted the conductor, and the train moved off. Bragg seated himself with an ominous frown on his brow, for he was thinking of Botts. Immediately in front of him sat a man who had a large bundle by his side. The cars soon stopped at another station. The man got up and went out, leaving his bundle behind.
"Here, my man, you have left your bundle!" exclaimed Bragg.
The man made no answer, but had disappeared. The whistle sounded and the train was moving off, Bragg jumped up and threw the bundle out the window. It was picked up by a ragged loafer, who ran off with it. Just then the man re-entered the car.
"Where is my bundle?" exclaimed he.
"That man threw it out the window," said a passenger, pointing to Bragg.
"What!" exclaimed the man, and he looked out the window and saw the loafer running of with his bundle. "You infernal thief!—threw my bundle out the window for one of your gang to carry off!"
Bragg protested his innocence and endeavored to explain.
"Oh, that's a pretty story!" said the man. "Youare a sharp rogue! If you don't pay me for my bundle I will have you arrested at the next station and carried back to jail."
"How much was your bundle worth?" asked Bragg.
"Twenty dollars," said the man.
"Here's the money," said Bragg.
The man took the twenty dollars and resumed his seat. The train now stopped at another station and two constables rushed on board. They looked around with keen and searching glances.
"Jim," said one of them to the other, "that's the man. Arrest him!"
"I arrest you in the name of the law," said Jim, laying his hand on Bragg's shoulder.
"Arrest me!" exclaimed the astonished captain. "For what?"
"Burglary!" said the constable.
"By the powers of mud, stand back!" shouted the indignant Bragg.
"Come along, my lad!" said the constable. And Bragg, struggling with the officers and uttering volleys of oaths, was dragged from the car and had handcuffs put on his wrists.
"I knew that fellow was a thief," said the man who had lost his bundle.
A daring burglary had been committed in the neighborhood of Bella Vista. At about twelve o'clock on the preceding night the store-room which adjoined the dwelling-house of a country merchant had been broken open. The merchant was aroused and entered the store-room, but was knocked down and gagged by the burglars, and his goods carried off before his eyes. He had described the leader of the gang as a tall, raw-boned man, with a Roman nose. The appearance of Captain Bragg corresponded to the description, and hence he was arrested by the vigilant constables.
Great was the astonishment of Toney and his two friends when the train stopped, and they beheld Bragg led from the cars by the officers, with handcuffs on his wrists.
"Good heavens!" said Toney, "Bragg hasencountered Botts and murdered him, and has been arrested for the crime."
"That is just what has happened!" exclaimed Seddon, with a look of horror.
"It is shocking to think of!" said Toney.
"Murder a man on account of a monkey!" said Seddon.
The constables kept off the crowd, and would allow no one to speak to the prisoner.
"Mr. Belton!" exclaimed Bragg, "I want you to be my attorney."
"Very good," said Jim, "you can talk to your lawyer."
Toney was permitted to converse with Bragg, who explained to him the nature of the charge which had caused his arrest.
"Thank Heaven!" exclaimed Toney.
"Thank Heaven for what?" asked Bragg, in astonishment.
"That it is no worse," said Toney.
"What could be worse? Arrested as a burglar!" said Bragg.
"Where were you at twelve o'clock last night?" inquired Toney.
"At my boarding-house," said Bragg.
"Can you prove that?" said Toney.
"Yes," said Bragg.
"By whom?" inquired Toney.
"By my landlady and a dozen of her boarders. I was playing cards, and won a hundred dollars," said Bragg.
"Tom Seddon," shouted Toney, "run to Captain Bragg's boarding-house, and tell the landlady and her boarders to come immediately to the magistrate's office."
Captain Bragg was brought into the office.
"Take off the handcuffs," said the justice. "A party accused should be unmanacled when he has a hearing."
Jim took off the handcuffs, and then stationed himself at the door with his hand on his revolver, ready to shoot down the desperate burglar if he should attempt to escape.
"Now, Mr. Belton," said the justice, "we will proceed with the examination."
The landlady swore that Captain Bragg was in her house at twelve o'clock on the preceding night. Her testimony was fully corroborated by that of a dozen of her boarders. An alibi had already been clearly established by the evidence, when the merchant who had been robbed walked into the room. He approached Bragg and scrutinized his countenance.
"This is not the man," said he. "The robber was a much handsomer man than the ugly old fellow you have got here."
In consequence of this testimony Captain Bragg was discharged from custody; but he was so mortified and humiliated at having been handcuffed and charged with burglary that he immediately took his departure from Bella Vista; telling Toney that he intended to leave the United States, and seek an asylum among the islands of the Pacific Ocean.
"It is too bad! it is too bad!" exclaimed Tom Seddon, rushing into the room which Toney and the Professor were quietly fumigating with a couple of havanas. "It is terrible to think of!"
"What's the matter, Tom?" said Toney. "Has old Crabstick been afflicted with another fit of canine rabies, and bit you on the calf of the leg?"
"Harry Vincent and Clarence Hastings have gone to Mexico!" said Tom.
"Well, what of that?" said Toney. "Thousands of young men have gone thither, and many have won distinction; and from my knowledge of Harry and Clarence, I am certain that both of them will soon gather luxuriant crops of laurel on the field of battle."
"But Claribel Carrington is dying," said Seddon.
"What?" exclaimed Toney.
"Dying?" said the Professor.
"I fear it is so," said Tom. "I was at ColonelHazlewood's house this morning when the newspaper was brought in. Claribel took it in her hand and was glancing over it when she suddenly let it drop; sat speechless for a moment; put her hand to her brow, and then, with a faint cry, sank senseless on the floor. She had seen the paragraph announcing the departure of Clarence and Harry. We lifted her up and her lips were discolored with blood. I fear that the sudden shock produced the rupture of a blood-vessel. She was carried to her room, and two doctors are in attendance."
"But what of Imogen?" asked Toney.
"She hastily snatched up the paper and glanced at the paragraph, and then it fell from her hand. She never uttered a word. I do not know whether that stately beauty is possessed of feeling," said Seddon.
"As much perhaps as the other," said the Professor. "Some women are like the Laconian boy, with the fox eating away his life. With them agony has no outward expression. They suffer and are silent."
"Women are enigmas," said Toney.
"They are like pigs," said the Professor.
"How so?" asked Toney.
"If you want them to go to Cork you must make them suppose you desire them to go to Kilkenny."
"I believe you are right," said Toney. "Now, here are Claribel and Imogen who have been bestowing their smiles on everybody but Clarence and Harry. For those two gentlemen, who are handsome, educated, and accomplished, neither of these young ladies has had a kindly look or friendly word for a whole week. One who was unacquainted with the secret workings of a woman's heart would have supposed that Claribel was deeply in love with Rosebud's purple proboscis."
"Who is Rosebud?" asked the Professor.
"Wiggins," said Toney.
"The fellow with the long rubicund nasal protuberance?" asked the Professor. "He who is supposed to be the Most Worthy Donkey of the Mystic Brotherhood?"
"The same," said Toney. "And Imogen appeared to be equally infatuated with the Long Green Boy."
"Who is he?" inquired the Professor.
"Sam Perch," said Toney.
"Oh, you mean the Great Green Gosling," said the Professor. "The interesting young gentleman who was so unsuccessful in his elaborate attempt at suicide."
"That's the youth," said Toney. "And now, when Clarence and Harry, worried and maddened by the caprice of these two young ladies, have gone off to Mexico, you see what has happened."
"It was all the doings of your Seven Sweethearts, as you call them," exclaimed Tom Seddon. "They must be made to leave the town."
"They have all gone but two," said Toney. "The exodus of Love, Dove, and Bliss leaves Pate and Wiggins alone to conduct the operations of lady-killing and making havoc among hearts."
"And Wiggins has killed Claribel, if I am not mistaken," said Seddon. "They must be made to leave," said he, with emphasis. "Pate has been bobbing his big bald head about in the mansion of old Crabstick, and has been gallanting Ida all around. He has magnetized her eccentric guardian, who is under the impression that Pate is wealthy, and cordially welcomes him to his house; while he will hardly allow me to exchange a word with Ida, and sometimes when I am in the parlor he will have one of his fits of hypochondria, or whatever you may call it, and will come bounding in on all fours, barking and pretending to bite. It is all put on; for the old Cerberus is polite enough in the presence of M. T. Pate."
"Well, Tom, how do you propose to effect the expulsion of the Noble Grand Gander and the Most Worthy Donkey?" asked Toney.
"They met me on the street about an hour ago," said Seddon, "and proposed that we three should accompany them on a serenade, intended for the entertainment of Ida."
"How far does Crabstick live from the town?" inquired Toney.
"About two miles," said Tom.
"Let us go," said Toney.
"I will arrange with some young men in Bella Vista,who will eagerly participate in the performance. We will have fun," said Seddon.
"There is nothing like fun," said the Professor. "I am about to originate a sect to be called the Funny Philosophers. Let's organize it at once. We three,—Toney, Tom, and Tickle."
"Agreed," said Toney.
"And now we will commence operations by going on the proposed serenade," said the Professor.
"And Pate and Wiggins shall leave this town!" said Tom Seddon.
There was no moon, but the stars were brightly twinkling, when Toney, Tom, and the Professor started, in company with Wiggins and M. T. Pate, on a pedestrian excursion to the mansion of Samuel Crabstick, situated at a distance of about two miles from the town of Bella Vista. They had proceeded some distance when they came to a rustic stile which had been erected over a fence on the side of the main road, and from which a path led through a field into a forest. Toney seated himself on the stile and proposed that they should diverge from the main road and follow the path across the field; saying that it was the most direct route to their place of destination.
"I would prefer the main road," said Pate. "It is more circuitous; but there is no moon, and it will be very dark in yonder forest. We will have difficulty in finding our way through it."
"Not at all," said Toney, "I know every foot of the path, which runs in a straight line to the place we are going."
"Then, let us take the path," said the Professor. "When beauty is the attraction I always want to make a bee-line for her abode."
"That is in accordance with natural laws," said Toney. "Who ever saw pyrites of iron taking a circuitous route to the magnet? Ida is the magnet. Is it not so, Tom?"
Tom nodded assent.
"And we are the pyrites," said the Professor. "Let us go straight to the attraction, and not be acting contrary to the laws of nature."
Pate was overcome by these arguments, and, ascending the stile, was about to pursue that path, when Toney called out,—
"Don't be in a hurry, Mr. Pate. We have plenty of time."
"In fact, it is too early yet for a serenade," said the Professor. "We should wait until the young lady has put on her nightcap. If we wake her out of her first nap, when she has been wandering in the fairy-land of dreams, her impression will be that angels are singing around her window."
"That is so," said Toney. "Let us wait. I have a proposition to make."
"What is that?" asked the Professor.
"Here we are going on a serenade," said Toney. "Now, I move that each man furnish evidence of his musical accomplishments by singing a song. Let Mr. Pate lead off."
"A song from Mr. Pate!" cried the Professor.
"A song from Mr. Pate!" shouted Seddon.
"Mr. Pate will now sing," said Toney.
Thus urged, Pate seated himself, and in loud if not mellifluous tones sang as follows:
The summer day's faded and starlight is streamingIn beautiful showers from heaven above;And welcome sweet midnight! for then in its dreamingMy spirit is wafted away to my love.Let others rejoicing, then welcome Aurora,As fann'd by zephyrs she blushes so bright;But midnight! sweet midnight! I'll ever adore her,And mourn when the morning returns with its light.
The summer day's faded and starlight is streamingIn beautiful showers from heaven above;And welcome sweet midnight! for then in its dreamingMy spirit is wafted away to my love.
The summer day's faded and starlight is streaming
In beautiful showers from heaven above;
And welcome sweet midnight! for then in its dreaming
My spirit is wafted away to my love.
Let others rejoicing, then welcome Aurora,As fann'd by zephyrs she blushes so bright;But midnight! sweet midnight! I'll ever adore her,And mourn when the morning returns with its light.
Let others rejoicing, then welcome Aurora,
As fann'd by zephyrs she blushes so bright;
But midnight! sweet midnight! I'll ever adore her,
And mourn when the morning returns with its light.
"Mr. Pate," said the Professor, "if you wake the young lady up by warbling that melody under her window, she will think that you are an angel of magnificent proportions and tremendous vocal powers. Now, Mr. Wiggins, it is your turn."
Wiggins cleared his throat and sang the following ditty:
Oh, maiden fair,With raven hair,And lips so sweetly pouting,I do avow,That until now,I've in my mind been doubtingIf 'twere not sinTo rank you inThe race of us poor mortals;Thinking you might,By some fair sprite,Escaped from heaven's own portals.But as I nowGaze on that browSo fondly and so madly,I am afraid,My lovely maid,My fancy's lowered sadly;For while 'mid blissSo sweet as thisMy soul's to rapture given,Alas! my mindIs more inclinedTo earth than 'tis to heaven.
Oh, maiden fair,With raven hair,And lips so sweetly pouting,I do avow,That until now,I've in my mind been doubtingIf 'twere not sinTo rank you inThe race of us poor mortals;Thinking you might,By some fair sprite,Escaped from heaven's own portals.
Oh, maiden fair,
With raven hair,
And lips so sweetly pouting,
I do avow,
That until now,
I've in my mind been doubting
If 'twere not sin
To rank you in
The race of us poor mortals;
Thinking you might,
By some fair sprite,
Escaped from heaven's own portals.
But as I nowGaze on that browSo fondly and so madly,I am afraid,My lovely maid,My fancy's lowered sadly;For while 'mid blissSo sweet as thisMy soul's to rapture given,Alas! my mindIs more inclinedTo earth than 'tis to heaven.
But as I now
Gaze on that brow
So fondly and so madly,
I am afraid,
My lovely maid,
My fancy's lowered sadly;
For while 'mid bliss
So sweet as this
My soul's to rapture given,
Alas! my mind
Is more inclined
To earth than 'tis to heaven.
"Indeed, Mr. Wiggins, you must not warble that song under the young lady's window," said the Professor.
"I do not intend to do so," said Wiggins.
"I am glad of that," said the Professor, "for if you did she would imagine that you were some fallen angel on a midnight peregrination. And now, Toney, let us hear from you."
Toney sang: