Graham's Magazine, Vol XXXIII, No. 6, December 1848. VariousЧитать онлайн книгу.
Donaldson from applying to Mr. Dundass – every year matters grew worse, until finally he felt himself to be completely in the power of Perozzi, who had even begun to threaten loudly, and talk of distraining. It was at this critical juncture that Mr. Dundass declared his intention of sending for Mildred Ward. A project now suddenly suggested itself to Mr. Donaldson which promised to relieve him from his difficulties, and which he seized upon in his selfishness with as little conscience as the highwayman who robs you of life in order to obtain your purse.
Mounting his mule he one morning rode over to the "Pen" of Perozzi, some few miles farther down the valley. He was received rather coolly.
"Your timely visit has saved me a ride this morning, Donaldson," said the Spaniard. "I have an imperative necessity for my money, or at least for a part of it."
"My dear fellow, the very thing I have come to talk about!" said Donaldson.
"Corambre – to talk about! It must be something more than talk – words will not answer my purpose," replied Perozzi, his sharp black eye glittering with hate. "I tell you money I must have – money I will have, or – "
"Good God, Perozzi, don't drive me to desperation. You know I cannot pay you a single piastre! Only wait until I receive my return sales from England, and I swear to you you shall receive your last farthing!"
"Holy Mother Mary! your return sales from England!" exclaimed the other, in a tone of cutting sarcasm. "In what manner of vessel must those same returns be coming, for, if my memory serves me, Columbus discovered a new world in less time than this same richly-freighted caravela has been crossing the Atlantic – this has been your answer for twice a twelvemonth. And now," he continued, suddenly altering his tone, and striding to the side of his victim, "there must be an end of this – either pay me what you owe me, or give me a quit claim to the Cascade, for which you have already received from me more than its value."
"By heavens, Perozzi!" cried Mr. Donaldson, turning pale with anger and mortification, "this is more than I can bear even from you; but come," he added, suddenly forcing a laugh, "it was to see you upon a more pleasing errand I came here."
"Corambre!" whistled through the teeth of the Spaniard.
"Hark ye, Perozzi; what would you say if I could this moment promise to place you in possession of one hundred thousand dollars and – a wife?"
"Say! why that the Devil helped you to cajole, and then deserted you at the pinch, as he always does!" replied Perozzi.
"No cajolery about it, as you shall find," answered Mr. Donaldson. "But come, let us sit – by your leave I'll taste your wine; your health, signor, and" (turning out a second glass) "here is another to Madame Perozzi – ha-ha-ha! There – now," said he, setting down his glass with a force which nearly shivered it, "listen to me. You know that Mrs. Donaldson, by her first husband, had one daughter, Mildred Ward, who is at this moment on her return from England, whither she was sent at an early age for her education. She is now, by the bye, seventeen, and, as report informs us, extremely beautiful and accomplished. Now what think you, Perozzi, of the charming Mildred for a wife?"
"I want money – no wife!" moodily replied Perozzi, draining a third glass.
"Precisely – money," answered the other; "and that is what the fair hand of Mildred tenders you."
"One hundred thousand dollars, did you say, Donaldson?" said the Spaniard, with a searching gaze.
"I did. Fifty thousand with the wedding-ring, and the balance when the old man, her grandfather, dies."
Excellent, by the Virgin! – ha-ha-ha! No one can dispute your skill in diplomacy; but methinks it would be well to know by what method you propose to bring about a "consummation so devoutly to be wished," said Perozzi, with a sneer.
"Leave that to me; only act with me, and Mildred Ward becomes your wife just so certain as I now drink to you – your health, signor."
"And, pray, allow me to ask," said Perozzi, "what benefit you expect to reap from such unparalleled generosity – it cannot surely be out of pure love to me that you thus
"Buckle fortune on my back
To bear her burthen whether I will or no!"
"You are right," answered Mr. Donaldson, dropping the servile tone in which he had before spoken, "you are right – it is from no love to you; my object is this. You know as well as I do the utter impracticability of my refunding any part of the money I owe you at present. True, you may seize my estates, but this I think you will hardly do in preference to the plan I propose; it would be at best but a vexatious affair, while by accepting my proposition you secure not only an equivalent for your debt, but also the hand of a charming young girl."
"Well, well, to the point," interrupted the Spaniard, impatiently.
"It is simply this; give me your written promise to release me from all obligation, return me whatever notes you hold against me, and I on my part pledge to you the hand and fortune of my step-daughter."
Perozzi remained for some moments in deep revery, as if studying the feasibility of the proposed plan. "I have half a mind to try it," he mused; "it may do – the connection will be a good one. Old Dundass is as rich as a Jew, and a man of great influence; while on the other hand, should the project fail, I shall be no worse off than now, unless an earthquake should swallow up the estates from my grasp."
"There is one contingency which seems to have entirely escaped your forecast," he exclaimed aloud, turning to Mr. Donaldson, "the lady may not be of your way of thinking – she may prove refractory."
"Leave that to me," was the reply.
"I may not fancy her."
"Nor the money?" added Mr. Donaldson, with a meaning smile.
"Ah, there, I grant, you have me. Well, well, I am willing to talk the matter over with you a little more freely. Miss Ward is handsome, you say?"
"As a Houri."
"And young?"
"Scarce seventeen."
"Very well – now to business."
But we have already entered into sufficient detail of the conversation of these two men to show the reader in what peril poor Mildred stood from their machinations. It is enough to say that ere they parted, Perozzi pledged his word that, should their plot succeed, he would, on his marriage-day, place in the hands of Mr. Donaldson a quit claim to every demand he held against him.
CHAPTER V
How beautiful was Mildred as she sprung to meet the embrace of her old grandfather; and how fondly did the old man gaze upon his recovered treasure, almost incredulous that this lovely girl could be the same little pet, whose infantine gambols and artless caresses time had not been able to efface from his mind.
The style of Mildred's beauty was, indeed, most captivating and piquant. To a form of perfect symmetry and airy grace was added a countenance beaming with intellect and vivacity. Her complexion was of the same dazzling fairness as her mother's, but her eyes were of a deep-gray, sparkling beneath the most delicately penciled brows, and her hair of that dark, glossy chestnut, flecked as it were with sunbeams, whose peculiar tint painters so much love to catch. A small, rosy mouth, and white, regular teeth, which in her innocent vivacity were often displayed, completes the picture of Mildred's charms.
After spending a few days at Mount Dundass she took leave of her grandfather, and under the escort of Mr. Donaldson, who had hastened thither for the purpose, departed for the Cascade, impatient to behold her mother, in whose love she trusted to find a recompense for the pain which parting with her dear friends at Norcross Hall had caused. And for a few weeks all went happily. The sight of her innocent, beautiful child banished for a time from the heart of Mrs. Donaldson that unnatural jealousy her husband had awakened. Mr. Donaldson, for his own selfish purposes, strove by every attention and kindness to win her esteem and confidence, while Mildred on her part delighted with and reciprocating her mother's affection, gratified by the interest her step-father expressed for her, and perfectly enchanted with the novel and beautiful scenery, threw off all her sadness – linking the past with the present,