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Show 114 RICHARD HURDI:O:.. all words, 110 matter of whom, w}Jich were })Ourcd into the cars of her cl1ild. I watched not you, but 11cr; and learn from me now, sir, that you never w]Jistlcd her from our cabin that my cnrs c:wght not the signal as readily as hers-she never stole forth at yom summous, but my feet as promptly followed hers. Do you wonder now tlwt I should know you as I do 1 Ah, Mr. lim·dis, docs it not shall1c you to the lLcnrt to tl1ink that you kwc schemed so long, with ::tll the arts of a cunning man, for the ruin of a feeble idiot scarcely sixteen years of age 1" "'Tis false!" exclaimed John llurdis, hoarse with passion; "I tell you, woman, 'tis false, what you s:~y! I had no suclt design." "'Tis true, before licavf'n tlwt he:u·s us, :Mr. Hun] is; I sny it is true," replied the wonwn, in moderate tones. "You may deny it as you plensc, sir, but yon can neither deceive IIenv<'n nor me, nnd to us your denial must be unavailing. I could not mistake nor misunderstand your arts and lnngunge. You l1ave striven to teach J·~1nc Pickett an idea of sin, and perhaps you ha,·c not succeeded in cloing so only because nobody yrt Juts Leon able to teach her any illea-evcn one of virtue. .But it was not only lJCr mind that you st,·o,·e to inform. You have appe~tlccl to tl1e Lloocl nnd to the pa!::isions of the c11ild, and, but for the mother that wntchccl over her, yon migl!t have succeeded nt last in your Lad purposes. 0 John llurdis, if Ben Pickett could only know, whnt, for tl1o sake of peace, and to a,·oid "Lloodshed, I have kept to myself, he would hnvo tiHust his k11ifc into your t ln·oat long before this! I could have stOj)pcd you in your 1mrsuit of my ciJilcl, "Ly a word to her father; for, low tmd ])Oor as he is, and b:tse as you may think you have made !Jim, he h as llridc enough yet to :n·e,1gc O\lr dishonor. I have kept Lack what l bad to say to tl1is moment; and now I tell you, and you only, wlwt I do know-it will be for yourself to sny whcthc1· Den Pickett shall ever know it." "Pshaw, womnn! you talk nonsense; and, but that you nrc a woman, I could be very angry ·with you. As for doing any· thing improper with Jane Pickett, I swear- " "No, do not swear; for if you do,J.ohnllurdis- if you dmc swear that you l!rtd no such design -l will swear tl1:1t you belie yourself-that your oath iH fnlse before lleaven-aud that THE STRONG MOTHER. 115 you :n<' ns 0lnck-heartcd :md pCljmcd as I !t old you base :md cownrdly! .Autl if you did swe~ll", of what usc would be your o:tth 1 Coultl you hope to nwke me believe you after my own onth 1 could you It ope to drccivr He:wcn7 1Vlto else is here to listen 1 1\:ccp yonr false oath fo r other witnesses, John lim·· d is, who :u-c more bliml and denf than I am, and more easily dccei"cd than the God who alone sees us now." ".Urs. Pickett, you :uc a \'Cry singular woman. I don't know wlwt to make of you." 'l'hc manner of the woman lwd absolutely quelled the base spirit of the man. \Vhen l1c spoke tlltls, l10 li tern lly knew not what l1e said. "You shall know more of me, Mr. IIurdis, before I have done," was l10r reply. "My feelings on the subject of my child l1avc almost mndc me forget some other matters upon wl1ich I lla\·c sought to speak with you. You qnestim1cd my child upon the subject of a. conversation between her father and myself. She told yon tl1at '''C spoke of you." "Yes, I think I remember," he said breathlessly, and with feeble utterance. "You do remember-yon must," said the woman. u You were very anxious to get tl1e truth from my child: you shall hcnr it all from me. You have sent Ben Pickett upon your business." " lie will not tell you that," said Ilunlis. "rerhaps not; but I know it." " 'Yell, what is it?" "Dare you tell1 No! and he clare not. The lmsbancl mny not show to his own wife the business upcn which 1te goes. 'l'here is something wrong in it, and it is your business." " I t is not; he goes, if he goes at all, upon his ow11 , not mine. I do not employ him." "You do. :Beware, JolHt Ifmdis! you arc uot hnlf so secnro ns you pretend, ~mel perhaps tl1ink yomsclf. The eyes th~t watcb the footsteps of a weak and idiot cllild, will not be the less heedful of those of a weak and erring husband. lf Ben Pickett goes to do wrong, l1e goes upon your business. If wrong is done, and is traced to him, believe me-for I swear it-I will perish in the attempt, but I will trace it lwmc to its pro- |
