“There is an American family
on board some persons whom the Harringtons
have met before in the South, and who have attempted
to renew the acquaintance. The old people seem
to me very coarse, common-place persons planters
from the interior of Louisiana rich and
vulgar; but the daughter is beautiful a
blonde, with lovely hair, full of sunshine, and eyes
of that deep purplish blue which one seldom sees after
childhood. Her figure is petite but finely rounded.
She has all the health and freshness of a child, with
the sweetest graces of womanhood. Yes, I can
say this, and acknowledge the charm of her beauty,
though she has given me the most wretched day I ever
passed in my life.
“James Harrington had known
her before, and was rejoiced at the meeting.
When he saw her across the deck my hand was on his
arm, for we were walking together. The start
he gave shook off my hold and, with both hands extended,
he went to meet her, glad as I had never seen him
before.
“The girl blushed like a rose,
and came forward to meet him, quite half way, smiling
up in his face as I had never dared to smile through
all the months of our domestic intercourse. My
heart turned cold. I felt a strange contraction
about my mouth as if all the blood were retreating
from the lips, which would not syllable a word when
he brought the young lady towards me and presented
her.
“She looked at me earnestly,
like a child who felt itself repulsed, and stood silent
as if expecting me to come out of my reticence and
receive her as every one evidently did.
“At last I spoke with an effort,
and I dare say brusquely, for I felt that my voice
sounded forced and cold.
“’You are an old friend you
have known Gen. Harrington and his family before?’
I said.
“‘Oh yes,’ she answered,
smiling up at James. ’We are old friends.
How long is it, Mr. Harrington, since you taught me
to ride? Indeed, Miss Crawford, I think he has
taught me almost everything worth knowing that I can
boast of.’
“I made an effort to smile,
and answered in the insincerity of my pain, that it
must have been a pleasant task to instruct so lovely
a pupil.
“She laughed sweetly, and replied
in her childish fashion, ’He used to say as
much, but I am sure it was only to encourage me.’
“Just then her father crossed
the deck, radiant with pleasure, and shouted a greeting
as he came. He was a large, heavy man, robust
and genial, overshadowed by a broad Panama hat, and
flourishing a large white handkerchief in his hand,
as if it had been the star spangled banner, which
was to open the heart of every American he met.
“’Hallo! We have
overtaken them at last, have we, Miss Lucy? Now
I hope you are satisfied. How are you, Harrington?
Did not expect to see us in this part of the world,
I dare say? Is the General and Mrs. Harrington
on board? Of course I might have known as much
from a sight of this young lady. The General’s
ward, I suppose.’ Here Mr. Eaton took off
his Panama hat and made an elaborate bow, which I
returned, striving to meet his cordiality, with some
show of interest.
“‘Well, this is comfortable,’
he said, fanning himself with the broad rim of his
hat, ’of all countries in the world Spain is
the one where an American likes to meet an American
best. I don’t understand one word of their
lingo, and our courier isn’t much better off hates
the Spaniards so that he never would learn their language,
in hopes that it might keep any one from bringing
him here. But he is a good fellow, can be trusted
with untold gold. Language or no language, I wasn’t
going to do without him. But it is awkward work
trying to make these Spaniards understand. Ask
what you will and they answer all alike, Kiem Sabe,
as if that was the answer to an honest question.
Oh my boy, I’d give twice the money we got for
her, that I hadn’t sold you that girl Zillah.
When we took her to Cuba she pitched in and learned
the language right smart; wonderful girl that; have
you got her yet, Harrington?’
“‘She came with us to
Spain,’ said Harrington, looking a good deal
disturbed, ’but you forget she was General Harrington’s
purchase. I believe my mother took a fancy to
her.’
“’Your mother! Why
bless your soul, she never saw the girl till General
Harrington took her home. He said that you
had urged him to buy her; come, come, don’t
blush up like that, what the deuce do I care who fancied
the girl, she was a great bargain to any one.’
“‘Are you speaking of
Zillah?’ said Miss Eaton, languidly. ’What
a pretty creature she was. It seemed a shame
to keep her with the other negroes. I remember
often and often visitors mistook her for me.’
“’But that was before
they had seen you, Lucy. The girl is well enough,
but no one could mistake her for you. Such coal
black hair, eyes like velvet. Yes, yes, the girl
was a beauty, one good reason why I was
willing to sell her.’
“James Harrington was so annoyed
by the conversation, that he walked away frowning.
I had never seen his noble face darken so unpleasantly
before.
“Miss Eaton laughed, and followed
him with a pair of sparkling eyes, that had a world
of mischief in them.
“’Something wrong I see.
That girl will keep things stirring wherever she is;
knows a heap, and far too handsome for my plantation;
glad to get rid of her, if the truth must be told.
Women folks were fools enough to teach her to read
and write, after that she took the bits into her own
mouth, and learned every thing. What do you think
I would do with a fancy slave like that?’
“‘Father, you cannot see,
but General Harrington is coming,’ said Miss
Eaton.
“‘Oh, ho! my old friend, how is the lady?’
“’Mrs. Harrington is quite
well, the voyage has done her a world of good, long
enough for a chance at health you understand.
That is why we selected a sailing vessel. It
isn’t going to sea at all when you get into
the steamers. Where is James? I thought he
came this way, his mother wants him.’
“‘Oh, I am to blame, I
drove him off talking about that girl Zillah.’
“‘Come this way,’
said the General hastily, ’I wish to surprise
Mrs. Harrington, she will be rejoiced to know that
you are here.’
“They went away together.
I saw General Harrington stop his friend after they
got out of hearing, and talk with him earnestly as
if expostulating about something. Then I saw
Mr. Eaton clap his hand on the General’s shoulders,
nod his head half a dozen times, and move on as if
some matter had been amicably settled between them.
From that day, I never heard Mr. Eaton mention the
girl Zillah again. Was it because James Harrington
seemed so displeased with the subject?
“I was left alone with the young
lady, who seemed so sweet and good that it was impossible
to look upon her with anything but kindness. Yet
I never turned towards her without a nervous thrill
that almost held my breath; every line of her face,
and graceful curve of her form, seemed burned on my
memory from the first moment I saw her. Was this
jealousy? What had I to be jealous of? A
fair girl whom he had known well, and was pleased
to see in a strange country, where friends are few
and unusually welcome, surely I am not so weak or
wild as to give myself up to an unreasonable and unreasoning
fancy like that.”