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Read Ebook: Deep Waters; Or A Strange Story by Crozier R H Robert Hoskins
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Ebook has 1712 lines and 70608 words, and 35 pages
A Great Change 30
The Mysterious Voice 51
A Rival 76
Deep Waters 99
Manassas 126
After the Battle 136
Hard Truths 151
"Off to the Wars" 168
A Dangerous Mission 182
A Brave Girl 196
In Prison 209
A Desperate Man 226
Dark Hours 245
A Remarkable Event 260
A Confederate Marriage 277
Peace 283
The Drunkard 295
The Crime 308
The Prison 317
The Trial 329
The Last Scene 341
The Sermon 350
DEEP WATERS.
THE YOUNG GRADUATE.
Who was he? Whence did he come? Such were the questions which immediately followed this effort, the most remarkable that had ever been witnessed in the University of Mississippi. It was ascertained that day, that there was nothing very eventful or wonderful in his history. His parents had died when he was small, leaving, however, sufficient means to support him till he could obtain a collegiate education. Such was his brief history. But what would be his future? Everybody felt that his career would be brilliant; that the young man must achieve a degree of success commensurate with his wonderful oratory. We will at once follow up his footsteps.
But what little, insignificant trifles turn the barque of destiny into channels of which the pilot never dreamed! It is not violent storms that change the course of this allegorical barque; because the pilot is prepared for great disturbances and obstacles. It was a moment of sleep that caused Palinurus to fall over-board into the sea: a hurricane could not have produced the same disastrous result. It is the little things that change the current of human life. A spider's web sometimes turns the vessel's helm: the echo of a word destroys the equilibrium of circumstances. Late in life man finds himself driven into a port which had never entered into the programme of possibilities. All this will be illustrated in the progress of the present story.
Our young lawyer had not the most remote idea of settling permanently in this little town, where he would have to fritter away his energies and cramp his mind in such narrow litigation as must arise in rural courts, but he fully intended, after a while, to seek a field of broader dimensions, which would call forth all his legal lore, and cause him to put forth all the strength of which he was capable. His present location was only the stepping-stone to his loftier aspirations, and which, he thought, would detain him only till he could acquire sufficient means to justify his removal to some city where his talents could find room for development.
It was not long before Ernest's fond hopes and the justifiable expectations of his friends began to emerge from the shade of possibilities into the sunshine of realities. Legal business flowed in, and Ernest, at the very outset of his career, found himself entrusted with the management of as important cases as ever require judicial investigation in a provincial court.
But Ernest could not thus go on forever, thinking of nothing but the immediate object of his ambition, and dreaming only of deeds and legal parchments and bags of gold. At an early day in his career a path of destiny began to open in the misty future, different from that which he had at first marked out for himself. In the town there lived a young lady whom he had known from childhood. For several years, however, she had occupied scarcely a single thought of his, attributable to the fact that both had been absent at school. Both returned home the same month to enter upon their respective careers, which seemed to be as far apart as zenith and nadir, since the charming, gilded path of ease, leisure and idleness lay before the one, and the path of work, diligence, and activity lay before the other.
Clara Vanclure was the only child of a wealthy merchant. Her prospects were regarded as very brilliant, since the probability was, she would inherit all her father's property, consisting of lands and plantations as well as stores, and estimated at not less than two millions of dollars. As might be expected, she was a "spoiled child," yet, she was beautiful, and accomplished to the full extent of her capacities, which, strict truth compels us to say, were not, by any means, of the highest order. But the dazzling mantle of vast wealth hides a mighty multitude of faults. There is a confusing glamour about "great possessions," which so fascinates and bewitches, that the judgment of men cannot be properly exercised. The sneering cynic, like growling Diogenes, may affect to despise wealth, but in his heart he respects the owner, who controls such a source of commercial power and social influence. We may have a contempt for the rich man's character, but in spite of ourselves, we stand in awe of the Magician's mysterious ring which he wears on his finger. It was wealth that gave an additional luster to Miss Vanclure's accomplishments.
"Ah? I was hardly expecting this--at least so soon--yes, so soon."
"Why not, Mr. Vanclure?"
"Why not? Why because you ar'nt settled in life--yes, settled in life."
"I have now a respectable income," said Ernest, "if you are alluding to that, and it is increasing gradually, but surely."
"I have no doubt, Ernest," replied Mr. Vanclure, with more tenderness than he wished to manifest, "that you will succeed--yes, you will succeed. But still, both of you are rather young to marry."
"We think differently," answered Ernest, with a smile, "I am nearly twenty five."
"Ah? are you that old? Well, bless me, I believe you are, since I come to think about it. Dear me! how time does fly--yes, how time does fly. You have got to be a man before I thought about it. Young people do grow up so fast--so fast--and Clara is a grown woman, too. Well; well."
"Since you have discovered that we are both grown," said Ernest with a smile, "may I hope that you will not oppose our wishes?"
"And if I did," answered Mr. Vanclure, not knowing what he ought to say, "What would you do--yes, what would you do?"
"I should endeavor to overcome your opposition."
"And I guess you think you'd succeed with your eloquence. You lawyers are cunning dogs," said the old gentleman, breaking into a laugh, which, rather than otherwise, indicated approval of this feature of the legal character, "yes, cunning dogs. If I give you a chance to argue the case, I'm satisfied I'll lose; for you'll convince me that Clara will land in eternal perdition unless she marries you--yes marries you--and nobody else. I don't want to get into an argument with you lawyers. So if the arrangement suits Clara, I'll have nothing more to say. It will take a lawyer anyhow to manage the estate to which she will fall heir some of these days. The thing is now getting beyond my comprehension, and I will soon have to get a lawyer to untangle some of my affairs--yes, some of my affairs."
In this way the old man gave his consent.
But Ernest truly loved Clara, though he might not himself have been able to explain the source of attraction, as love is not a passion subject to the human will. Mr. Hillston at an early period of the courtship, perceived his infatuation, and as he took a deep interest in the welfare of his ward, he could not but feel some misgivings as to the propriety of the union. One day Ernest informed him of his engagement, and the old man shook his head unconsciously in an ominous manner, which did not escape Ernest's observation.
"You do not seem to approve of my selection?" said Ernest inquiringly. Mr. Hillston had made no remark after this communication, but sat still with an ambiguous expression upon his face.
"It is not for me to approve or disapprove in matters of this kind," was Mr. Hillston's reply, which was not very satisfactory to his ward, who was looking at the old minister in surprise.
"I thought surely you would congratulate me," said Ernest, with a faint, forced smile.
"The ides of March have come, but not gone," answered Mr. Hillston, shaking his head.
"I do not understand you, Mr. Hillston."
"How can I congratulate you, my dear boy, when I cannot foresee the end?"
"Can you do that in any case, sir?"
"True enough: but sometimes, and in some cases, we fear the termination."
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