An American Story of Real Life CHAPTER 10.
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One morning, a week after the interview mentioned in the concluding portion of the last chapter, our two young men met, as usual, at the office of Henry Ware, which was still retained, and all the appearances of studious attention to business kept up.
"You look grave, Harry," remarked his friend, as he came in.
"I look no graver than I feel."
"What has turned up now? Are we never to be done with these cross purposes?"
"I'm afraid not. It seems as if the old Harry himself had turned against us. If it had not been for that cursed affair in Chestnut Street, all would have gone on finely. But that, I see very plainly, is going to mar the whole plot."
"Old Martin has given his consent to an early marriage."
"So he has. But--"
"But what?"
"Bell, confound her! She can't get ready for two months to come!"
"The devil she can't!"
"Isn't it too bad!" And Ware paced the floor of his office with hurried steps, his countenance expressive of anger and disappointment. "Can't get ready for two months! Confound it! Why, I could get ready in two days, and so could she, if it were not for some romantic notion she has probably got into her head. They're all a set of silly fools anyhow!"
"You'll soon take the romance out of her, if you ever get a chance!"
"Won't I? She'll not have much left, six months after we're married, if that event ever takes place."
"Not for two months, you say?"
"No."
"Too bad! Too bad! But can't you change her resolution!"
"No. I tried last evening, as far as I could. But it was no use. She says that she cannot possibly be ready before the middle of May."
"That trial will come up on the first."
"So Blackstone says."
"What then is to be done?"
"That is a question easy to ask, but difficult to answer. I see no chance of escape from the dilemma."
"I can tell you of one way which occurs to me at this moment."
"Name it, then, for Heaven's sake!"
"Absent yourself from the city on the day the case is called. It will then have to go on without you, or be postponed, so that you will have time to get married before it again comes up."
"The very thing!" ejaculated Ware, striking his fist with his open hand, his whole countenance brightening up. "It's the very thing, Tom! And I'll do it."
"There will then only remain one danger."
"What is that?"
"Your name will be called as a witness. Should anyone there, who knows Bell's father, inform him of the fact, the jig will be up for you as effectually as if you had made your appearance."
"True, true," and the countenance of Ware again fell.
"And the danger would be greatly increased, were the names of the witnesses published, which will in all probability be the case."
"Still it is the only course that promises anything."
"It is; and therefore the only course you can take."
"Do you intend remaining, Tom?"
"I haven't made up my mind yet."
"You had better be absent also."
"Why do you think so?"
"As we are the two principal witnesses on the part of the prosecution, our absence will make it absolutely necessary to postpone the trial to another term. If that can be done, I am safe."
"That is true again. I will leave town."
"Now I begin to see a little daylight ahead," remarked Ware in a more cheerful tone. "We'll outwit Mr. Attorney General, in spite of his teeth."
"Mr. Ware, I believe." said an individual, entering at the moment.
"My name," was the half haughty reply, for the individual who addressed him, had not, to his eye, the appearance of a gentleman.
"You are required to appear and give bail to the amount of four thousand dollars as a witness in the case of the State vs. Pandora," was the monotonous response of the visitor, who added in a moment afterwards, "The bail is required by twelve o'clock noon," and then withdrew.
Neither of the young men spoke for nearly five minutes after the officer retired. At length Ware said, in a low but firm tone:
"It's all over, Tom! The fates are against me. I might as well give up at once. But it is hard, devilish hard! after all the trouble I have taken, thus to have the cup dashed to the earth, at the moment it is about to touch my lips!"
"It is hard, Harry. But you must bear it like a man. Something yet may turn up in your favor."
"I have ceased to look for it. The effort to get bail will, no doubt, lead to a full exposure of the whole matter."
"Things look cloudy enough. I do not see any way of escape."
"There is none, I presume," Ware gloomily replied. "Anyhow, I shall prepare myself for the worst."
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