The Slave of the Mine; or, Jack Harkaway in 'Frisco Read online

  CHAPTER VII.

  MISS VANHOOSEN TRAVELS.

  Lord Maltravers took care that the papers, containing an account ofHarkaway's adventure in the private box at the California theatre withElise Holt should reach Miss Vanhoosen.

  Lena read the account with surprise and indignation.

  "He cannot love me," she said, "or he would not intrigue with a marriedwoman."

  She tried to harden her heart against men in general, and Jack inparticular.

  It was singular that she could not succeed, however, for she had toconfess to herself that she still loved him.

  A copy of the paper had also been sent to Mrs. Vanhoosen, who gloriedin it.

  "My dear child," she exclaimed, "what did I always tell you about thatman?"

  "I know you never liked him, mamma."

  "Is not my judgment verified now?"

  "Perhaps," replied Lena, "though one ought not always to believe whatone reads in the papers."

  "Why not?"

  "Oh, because they are untrustworthy nine times out of ten," said Lena,who wished to defend her absent lover, no matter how strong the proofsmight be against him.

  "You should have married Maltravers."

  "How could I, when he has a wife alive? What nonsense you talk, mamma!He killed the poor creature, and if he is ever caught he will behanged."

  "Not at all," answered Mrs. Vanhoosen. "I have had a letter fromhim, in which he says that he is about to return to England. Noone here cares to prosecute him. Who will send after him? Is thedistrict-attorney going to the expense of extraditing him?"

  "Really, mamma, I do not know, and I don't care to argue the point withyou," said Lena, with a weary air.

  "Why not?"

  "It fatigues me."

  "You should marry Lord Maltravers."

  "I shall never marry now," answered Lena. "I intend to devote myself toa life of single blessedness."

  "Why so?"

  "Because----"

  She paused abruptly.

  "I know what you would say," exclaimed Mrs. Vanhoosen. "This manHarkaway, whom you love, has proved himself unworthy of you, as Ialways said he was, and therefore you close your heart against everyone."

  "Have it your own way."

  "Are you not foolish?"

  "Mamma," said Lena, with sudden energy, "if you taunt me any more Iwill go into a convent."

  "Indeed, you will not. I insist upon you visiting Europe with meagain," replied Mrs. Vanhoosen.

  "What if I refuse?"

  "I will disown you; turn you into the street, and you can shift foryourself, ungrateful girl," replied her mother, passionately.

  "You expect that I will meet Maltravers and marry him, after all thathas occurred?"

  "I do."

  "Then you are greatly mistaken," said Lena, obstinately.

  "My dear child," continued her mother, "consider all you are losing. Ifyou meet Maltravers in Paris, you can get married, for he has no wifealive now, and go and live in Switzerland, or some quiet place, tillthis affair has blown over."

  "Never!"

  At this moment Alfred Vanhoosen, who had been absent in Albany for somelittle time, entered the room.

  His presence was unexpected, but it was as welcome as the flowers inMay to Lena, who dearly loved her brother.

  She knew that he was at all times her friend and her protector.

  "Alfred!" she exclaimed, grasping his hand, "I am so glad to see you!"

  "And I to see you, sis. Mamma, how are you?"

  "Ailing, my dear," replied Mrs. Vanhoosen. "My head has troubled mevery much since you have been away."

  "Sorry for that. What have you got in your hand, sissy?"

  "A California paper."

  "I thought as much. What is it about?" asked Alfred.

  "That affair of Mr. Harkaway's, in San Francisco," replied Lena.

  "Oho! Is that all? You have not seen the _Chronicle_ of a later date?"

  "No."

  He produced a paper, in which he pointed out to her a certain paragraph.

  "I presume," he exclaimed, "that Lord Maltravers sends you papers forhis own purposes."

  "Possibly," she answered, beginning to read.

  "Who sends papers to you?" asked Mrs. Vanhoosen, sharply.

  "Dick Harvey keeps me posted, and I know just what is going on. This isa game of chess between Harkaway and Maltravers, and I am sorry to saythat his lordship has won the first two moves in the game."

  "Glad of it!" replied Mrs. Vanhoosen.

  "No, mother," said Alfred, "you are not glad in your heart."

  "Why not?"

  "Because you are too much of a lady and a Christian to wish to see ascoundrel triumph over an honest man."

  Mrs. Vanhoosen sat down on the lounge and fanned herself in a vigorousmanner.

  She did not condescend to make any reply.

  Lena read the paragraph which her brother had pointed out to her, andlearnt from it some startling facts.

  It stated that Harkaway and his friends had been stopped on their wayto the Geysers by Vasquez the celebrated bandit, who had been thescourge of California for so long a time.

  Harvey had been dangerously wounded, and Jack had been carried off,nobody knew where.

  When she had fully mastered the contents of this news item, Lenauttered a loud cry.

  Her mother looked at her in astonishment.

  "My dear child!" she exclaimed, "what is the matter?"

  "Jack has been captured by bandits," replied Lena. "Oh! what shallI--what ought I to do?"

  "Shall I tell you, sis?" asked Alfred.

  "Oh! yes."

  Mrs. Vanhoosen rose and extended her hand.

  "Allow me an opportunity to speak, if you please," she said.

  "Certainly," replied Alfred; "you are our mother, and we are bound tohear you, although I must say that if I were in Lena's place I would goafter Jack."

  "Insolent boy!"

  "No, mother, I am not insolent; but the girl loves the man, and what isthe use of interfering between them?"

  "She shall not marry him!"

  "I don't want to be undutiful or go against the fifth commandment,mother, which tells us, very properly, to honor our father and mother;but, really, you are wrong in this case."

  "Why, may I ask?"

  "Mr. Harkaway is an honorable and elegant gentleman in every sense ofthe word, and by no means a pauper. He can support Lena just as well asyou have supported her, and there is no reason why he should not marryher."

  Mrs. Vanhoosen tried to speak, but her rising temper rendered herspeechless.

  Lena began to cry, and put her handkerchief to eyes.

  "Oh!" she sobbed; "I shall never see him again."

  Alfred Vanhoosen patted her on the cheek with brotherly affection.

  "Yes, you will, sis," he replied.

  "Oh, no! never, never!"

  "I beg your pardon. Jack is not a man very easy to kill, and I don'tthink Maltravers will get away with him so easily as he thinks."

  "God grant it."

  "At any rate," continued Alfred, "I will proceed at once to SanFrancisco and search for him."

  "You will?"

  "Yes, indeed."

  Lena seized him by the hand and looked imploringly in his face.

  "Take me with you," she exclaimed. "I shall die if I stay here. Thislife is intolerable to me."

  Alfred looked at his mother, as if he expected some reproach from thatproud, ambitious woman.

  She was not really bad-hearted, but she was like so many other mothersin the United States who desire their daughters to marry some man fromEurope with a title rather than have one of their own race, or atleast, one who has nothing but his face and his character to recommendhim.

  "You are a thankless child, and your conduct is sharper than aserpent's tooth," said Mrs. Vanhoosen.

  Lena held out her hand.

  "Mamma," she exclaimed, "we must part."

  "What! am I to be deserted by my children?
"

  "Alas! yes. We cannot live together. There is no sympathy between us.My love calls me far away."

  Mrs. Vanhoosen became very angry. Her face flushed. She tried to speak,and failed.

  Suddenly she uttered a cry. Something seemed to burst in her throat.She fell to the ground heavily.

  A stream of blood rushed from her mouth.

  In her anger she had broken a blood-vessel, and her life was in danger.

  Lena, now greatly alarmed, knelt down and supported her parent's head.

  A doctor was sent for, and he did all he could for the unhappy woman,but there was internal hemorrhage, and after lingering for three days,she died.

  Tho brother and sister were deeply grieved at their mother's death, butthey could not blame themselves for her untimely end.

  By her will she had divided her fortune equally between them.

  After the funeral, which was largely attended by their numerous friendsin New York, they decided to go to California and unravel the mysterywhich to them attended the fate of Jack Harkaway.

  The journey across the continent was delightful.

  Everything was so new that they forgot their grief and were happy.