The Debtor's Daughter CHAPTER 10.
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We pass over a few years more.
Of Danielson, we will merely say, that the charge of forgery was fully proved against him, and that he was sentenced to a term in the State prison.
Clara is still living, and is the mother of a beautiful boy; but, alas! his father is a condemned felon!
Ralph, whose health was in an alarming state, is still delicate. Physicians who were consulted on the subject, all agreed that he must not adopt the profession to which he was inclined, as confinement and close study would destroy him. He, therefore, entered his father's store, and gave a moderate degree of attention to business. But, like Clara, he was destined to disappoint and almost madden his father.
Grace Wilkins, by virtue of her fine personal and mental endowments, her superior education and accomplishments, won her way into some of the best circles in the city, where Ralph met her frequently. As a child, she had been his favorite, and, as she grew up towards womanhood, and, charm after charm developed itself — his feelings went out towards her with a fonder impulse. In a word, he became her lover, and her heart sweetly reciprocated the affection.
As for the family of Mr. Wilkins, that has not escaped the visitation of sorrow. Edward, the only son, had been dead for more than a year; and the father's health has been, for some time, steadily failing. Indeed, so rapid has been this decline of late; that serious alarm is beginning to be felt by all.
"Ralph," said Mr. Putnam to his son one day, about this time. "What lady was that you were walking with this morning. There was something familiar in her face; and yet, I cannot recollect where I have seen her?"
"That was Miss Wilkins," replied the young man, showing a slight degree of embarrassment.
"What! Miss Wilkins!" There was a change in the father's tone of voice.
"She is the daughter of Manny Wilkins."
If a viper had stung Mr. Putnam — he could not have startled more suddenly than he did.
"Ralph!" he exclaimed, looking sternly at the young man. "Ralph! Can this be possible?"
"Can what be possible, father?"
"That you value yourself so little, as to keep company with the daughter of Wilkins."
"I have met no one so worthy of all respect and esteem, as Grace Wilkins," replied Ralph, in a firm voice, "And as for her father — "
"Ralph!" exclaimed Mr. Putnam, excited beyond measure by a circumstance so unexpected, "I will hear nothing of this man or his family! And, moreover, I now forbid, positively, on pain of my severest displeasure — any association with the young lady in whose company I saw you today. How you could so lower yourself, passes my comprehension!"
"Father," replied the young man, who possessed considerable independence of character. "I will deal frankly and honestly with you in this matter. Will you hear what I have to say, calmly and give my words a due consideration?"
An impatient answer was on the tongue of Mr. Putnam; but, he controlled himself, and looked, instead of uttering, his consent to hear.
"The daughter of Mr. Wilkins is a young lady whose beauty, education and accomplishments, elevate her, personally, above most of those who move in our best circles. When she was a little girl, I liked her better than anyone I met; and, since I have become a man, I have seen no one who has interested me half so much. Not only is she a lady in all external graces and endowments; but she is one in a higher and more important sense — she has a heart full of the best and purest impulses. Father! If you only knew her — you would cease to feel as you do towards her family."
"Ralph!" said Mr. Putnam, in a quick voice. "What relations exist between you and this wonderful daughter of Mr. Wilkins?"
"I am not sure that I understand you."
"In a word, then; are you under engagement of marriage to her! Have you committed that folly?"
"No engagement exists," replied the young man.
"It is well. See that none is formed," said Mr. Putnam, severely.
"But, father, if she is worthy, in every way, of my affection — if I can feel interest in none besides — and all this is true — What then?"
"Worthy!" There was an expression of unutterable scorn, in the voice of Mr. Putnam. "Worthy! To hear this from your lips, Ralph! There is not a family in our whole city, high or low, rich or poor, for which I have so bitter a contempt — as for that of Wilkins. And I have reason! I know the man — and his quality."
"You do not know his daughter," said Ralph.
"I know that she insulted your sister at school years ago; and that I removed Clara on that very account."
"And Clara will tell you, father, that the insult was only imagined on her part. That, of all her young companions, she esteemed Grace the highest of all. Moreover, she has declared to me, again and again, that, had she been allowed to remain under the good influence of Grace — she never would have been led aside into an error that has disgraced our family, and rendered her own life a burden. Grace was filling her heart with good impulses and good resolutions, when you separated them, and she was thrown into the companionship of young girls whose precepts and example were of the worst kind."
Mr. Putnam moved his hand impatiently, saying — "I will hear no more of this!"
Filial respect and indignation struggled, for a few moments, in the bosom of Ralph, and then, without further remark, he turned from his father and walked slowly away.
There were two reasons why Mr. Putnam was disturbed by this avowed preference of Ralph for Grace Wilkins. The first, the reader comprehends. The second was because it came in the face of a desire on his part, that Ralph should form an alliance with the daughter of a merchant named Carson. This connection, he considered most advantageous for Ralph — as Mr. Carson was one of the merchant princes of the city, and had but a single child, who would most probably inherit all his wealth. He had taken some pains to appease the good feelings of Mr. Carson, and felt pretty sure, that if Ralph would step forward and do all that was required on his part — nothing would hinder the accomplishment of his wishes.
But, Ralph had other views on the subject of marriage.
A maiden had found favor in his eyes, who could not be set aside for one whose chief attractions were wealth and family connections.
Not many weeks after this interview between Mr. Putnam and his son, the latter called upon Mr. Wilkins, at whose house he had visited a few times of late, and made a formal offer for the hand of Grace.
"Does your father know of this?" inquired Mr. Wilkins, who had not forgotten his interviews with Mr. Putnam.
"It is a matter that concerns me — and not my father," replied Ralph.
"It concerns you, primarily, of course," said Mr. Wilkins, "But it also concerns your family. I have reason to believe that your father would not approve of your marriage to my daughter."
Ralph was silent.
"Have you spoken to him on the subject?"
"I have."
"And what did he say."
"It does not meet his approval, I own," said the young man.
"Then it does not meet mine," returned Mr. Wilkins. "A marriage, under such circumstances, can only bring trouble. I love my daughter, and desire not only to secure for her every possible blessing — but to save her from all the evil consequences likely to result from unwise actions."
"But, in a matter like this, Mr. Wilkins," said Ralph, "shall any considerations be higher than a mutual preference? It is not my father who is seeking a marriage union, but myself; and shall I not regard, rather, a moral fitness in the person — than his prejudices? And, if the one towards whom I am attracted reciprocates what I feel, is it right for her father to say nay, because I am subjected to an unjust opposition?"
"But, do you not see, my young friend," replied Mr. Wilkins, "What a world of trouble you will make for yourself? Your father is not a man who changes easily. If he opposes you now, he will oppose you to the end. Your marriage to my daughter, will produce family estrangement, and consequent unhappiness. This is inevitable."
"Unhappiness of a more serious character, will result if obstructions are placed in our way. Deny the blessing I ask, and my heart will be wretched. Mine, Mr. Wilkins, is no suddenly formed preference. I felt it when Grace was but twelve years old, and I a mere stripling. That preference has grown with my growth, and strengthened with my strength, and now, to love her has become a part of my life. My father's pride objects. But, shall pride step in and effect so great a sacrifice? Shall pride be allowed to destroy what is good and true and holy? No — no — do not say that, Mr. Wilkins!"
Grace's father was struck with the manner as well as the avowal of Ralph Putnam. His impression was, that the young man had suddenly become enamored of his lovely child, and in the first impulse of passion, pressed forward to claim her hand. But, in this, it now appeared, he was in error. The preference was more deeply laid.
"Is Grace aware of your feelings towards her," asked Mr. Wilkins.
"She is."
"Does she return them?"
"She does."
Mr. Wilkins did not reply for some time. He then said — "I hardly know what to say, Mr. Putnam. Your father does not feel kindly towards me, and a marriage between you and Grace, effected without his approval, will only increase his anger. I might not be effected by this; but you and Grace would feel it most painfully."
"But less painfully than a separation, Mr. Wilkins."
"I must think this over, Mr. Putnam. It is by far too weighty a matter to admit of a hurried decision. Let me, in the mean time, ask you one or two questions. You are of legal age?"
"Oh yes. I attained my majority several years ago?"
"You are aware that I am poor, so far as worldly goods are concerned?"
"I am fully acquainted with your circumstances, Mr. Wilkins."
"My income, sufficient for the comfortable support of my family, depends entirely on my health and life. The one is failing rapidly, and the other is uncertain. While I live and retain my health, all will be well for those I love; but I fear, sometimes, that I shall not be with them long. Now, let me ask you, if you have an income independent of your father?"
"I am worth the sum of twenty thousand dollars, left to me by my maternal grandfather. It was invested by him in stocks, where it yet remains."
"Are you officially connected in business with your father?"
"No. He has talked some of late, however, about assigning me an interest. At present, he credits me for services rendered in the business, about a thousand dollars a year."
"In a week," said Mr. Wilkins, "I will be prepared to speak further with you on this subject."
The young man went away, not doubting that, when he next saw Mr. Wilkins, his application for her hand would meet a favorable response. In this he was not mistaken. Nor did Mr. Wilkins err as to the angry opposition that would be made by Mr. Putnam.
But, of all the trials through which the young couple had to pass in consequence of this opposition, it is not our purpose here to speak. So deeply incensed was Mr. Putnam, when he found that Ralph was bent on marrying Grace, and so violent was he in his opposition, that the young man was fairly driven from his place of business. When the marriage at length took place, it wrought a complete separation between Ralph and his father.
"You have chosen your own way," said the latter. "And you must walk in it. Expect nothing from me, for you will receive nothing!"
Mr. Putnam meant what he said. From the time of Ralph's marriage, began an entire estrangement between him and his father. The mother took a different view and acted differently. Both she and Clara called upon Grace immediately, and both were charmed in the first interview. But no effort of theirs could in the least influence the unyielding father, whose pride and anger, neither time nor reflection could mitigate. In them, affection for Grace grew stronger daily; for, the oftener they met her, the more did they find in her to love; while the antipathy of Mr. Putnam grew stronger, as he felt more and more deeply, the separation that had been wrought between him and his son.
Soon after his marriage, Ralph Putnam commenced business for himself. He had, as just mentioned a capital of twenty thousand dollars, and the whole of this was invested in the new enterprise.
Years went rapidly by; though not without events of painful interest. The health of Mr. Wilkins gradually declined, and five years after his daughter's marriage, he passed to another and a better life. Not long did his wife survive him. Mary, the only sister of Grace, was married a short time before her father's death, and now resided in the West. Grace was left alone with her husband; no, not alone, for two dear babes had come to bless their union.
But, there came, in time, still other changes. Carson, the Merchant with whose family Mr. Putnam had desired to form an alliance by the marriage of Ralph to his daughter — a vulgar, ignorant, ill-tempered girl, when compared with Grace — Carson, reputed to be one of the most substantial merchants in the city, in standing too high, "happened to fall," and in falling, not only "dashed himself to pieces," but crushed others beneath him. In this disaster, Mr. Putnam was hopelessly involved. For a time, he struggled madly with his fate, making giant efforts to recover himself, but only sacrificing the interests of others in doing so, until finally, he sank in the deep waters which were rushing and roaring about him.
The fall of Carson and Putnam, was but the beginning of troubles in the world of commerce; it was the first blast of wind that preluded the coming storm. There had been a series of prosperous years, so called, in which a thousand frail barks had been launched upon the smooth sea of trade, while those more substantial had been lured by fair winds and cloudless skies, to crowd on every strip of canvas.
Suddenly, and with warnings which reached only the most attentive and practiced eye and ear, the tempest came, and strewed the ocean with wrecks. In this general scene of ruin, it is not surprising that Ralph Putnam went down with the rest. He, too, had been tempted to spread his sails, and go forth upon strange waters.
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