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TAHOE: 
 
 OR 
 
 LIFE IN CALIFORNIA 
 
 A ROMANCE, 
 
 BY 
 
 s.A.:r-,:Li:nE IB. 
 
 ATLANTA, GA. : 
 
 JAS. P. HARRISON & Co., PUBLISHERS, 
 
 1881. 
 
A man )nnst serve his time to every trade 
 Save censure critics are ready made." 
 
 BYRON. 
 
Talioe: or Life in California. 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 LAKE TAHOE AND SIERRAN VILLA. 
 
 "Oh, sweet indeed the rest upon the mountains, 
 
 This blessed strength from the eternal hills, 
 This draught of life from the purest upland fountains, 
 
 This sight of heaven that all my vision fills !" 
 
 Twenty-two miles from the sage-brush capital of the Silver State, far 
 away, neath Western skies, in the crown-shaped tops of the Sierra 
 Nevada Mountains, just upon the border line of California, resting in 
 cloudless quiet, lies a lake of surpassing beauty. The scene is lovely 
 "beyond compare." The Western waves of ebbing day, play upon 
 the surface of the calm, smooth, glass-like waters, till the eye, tired and 
 dimmed by the reflected brightness, is forced to close and turn away. 
 Fairy haunts have been painted ; but where is the artist, whose skill 
 ful pencil can picture this scene in all its gorgeous beauty can give 
 shading to the shining tints of the glistening waters below, or with his 
 brush, paint the colorings of the terraced clouds above ? Atmospheric 
 in clearness, dazzling in brightness, and so motionless on this spring 
 evening, as to remind one as he looks upon the bosom of the lake, of 
 the description given of the ice-clad Arctic, by travellers who have ven 
 tured far toward the Northern Pole, and stolen a glimpse of those dis 
 tant regions. But all ideas of cold, bleak and desolate lands are dissi 
 pated, on glancing up. Here tropical verdure greets the eye on every 
 side, and the tall pines of the forest, contrast strangely with the low, 
 richly colored matted ferns and mosses, that border the water, and are 
 reflected from its surface. Narcissus could here have found a mirror 
 
 M294157 
 
4 Tahoc: or Life in California. 
 
 worthy of his image, had this been the land of poesy and song, instead 
 of the hunting ground of the wild savage of Western America. Echo, 
 too, could here have found a voice, the sweetest, to sorrow for his loss. 
 Joseph Rodman Drake had no such scene as this, to inspire his "Cul 
 prit Fay," for Hudson s waters are not so bright, nor Hudson s banks 
 so green. Como and Geneva, imbedded amid the spring time flow 
 erets of lovely Switzerland, surrounded by castle homes, adorned by 
 nature and by art, pale before Tahoe s crystal depths. Italy, with her 
 mountain tops of Alpine scenery, near and distant, and all aglow with 
 morning s early sunlight, "that, glancing, quivers among the firs that 
 crown the crags below," and her vales dotted with lakes, like silver 
 stars upon green velvet carpetings, offers no comparison. Niagara in 
 its power, pouring its sparkling waters on and on forever, thundering, 
 dashing, twirling, gurgling and surging, is grandeur ; but Tahoe is 
 beauty. And a charm there is, that winds itself into the depths of the 
 heart, that calls up the deep, abiding spirit of the past, and brings new 
 hopes for the future. Cold must be the heart whose pulses do not 
 quicken under the influence of a scene like this. Dead must he be to 
 all ennobling sentiments, who sees and hears, yet feels not these influ 
 ences. The setting sun, gleaming through the clear atmosphere, leaves 
 little to wonder at in the old Piute legend, that the nearest point of 
 earth to the sun is at Lake Tahoe ; that this is also a sacred place, being 
 nearest the happy hunting grounds ; that it is better to die here, as the 
 flight of the soul is shorter, to reach its final home, and that the Great 
 Spirit hovers more particularly over this sacred place. There is an 
 other belief among the Indians of this locality, that the trout and sil- 
 versides that lave themselves in these pure waters, each contains a soul 
 of some departed papoose or squaw. They love to watch them shoot 
 about like arrows, scarce causing a wave, as they pass through the 
 transparent element ; so transparent that it is difficult to discern the 
 line that divides the water and air. The wild canary and other birds 
 in the trees around the lake-shore, singing the "sweetest songs ear ever 
 heard," are thought to contain the souls of their warrior braves who 
 have perished in battle. 
 
 " Whose house is this ?" And a man paused at the side-gate, near a 
 handsome villa of modern architecture, on the California side of Lake 
 Tahoe. " I say, heathen, whose house is this ?" he again reiterated, as 
 a Chinaman in the garb of his nationality, turned enquiringly toward 
 him. "Why don t you answer me, you yellow, crooked eyed wretch, 
 and open the gate, or I ll break it down." 
 
 "Whosee housee," said the Chinaman, coming forward, "whosee 
 housee, say manee Melican manee?" "Yes, you stupid fool, whose 
 house is this?" 
 
Ta/ioe: or Life in California. 5 
 
 "Housee," repeated the Chinaman, pointing towards the villa. 
 
 "Bossee Heartee housee. Rich heap, rich manee, Melican manee." 
 
 "Where is his wife ; is she at home?" inquired the man, still holding 
 to the locked gate. 
 
 "Bossee Heartee wifee? He goee heavenee, he goeeheavenee long 
 time go, stayee byee Melican manee, Joss long time go," replied the 
 Chinaman, pointing upward. 
 
 "Do you mean the woman is dead, you wretched fool?" Said the ex 
 asperated tramp, and uttering volumes of oaths, he shook the gate fu 
 riously. 
 
 "He dedee, he dedee, long time heap," said the Chinaman, advanc 
 ing near the. gate. 
 
 "What is your name, you yellow snipe?" he finally asked. 
 
 " Me namee Wee Wing, me namee Wee Wing." 
 
 "Well, Wee Wing, or Wee Devil, er Wee what you please, where is 
 the master of that establishment?" 
 
 "Bossee Heartee? He gonee, gonee awayee." 
 
 "Gone away has he ? What s he gone for ?" 
 
 Gonee Frisco with he chillee, Missee Bossee Alice." 
 
 "He s got a child then, a daughter named Alice, that he has gone to 
 Frisco with ? How old is the daughter is she pretty is she a young 
 lady, or little girl? Has he other children?" 
 
 "Bossee Missee Alice, prettee youngee ladee, nolitteegirlee. Bossee 
 Heartee no more childee." 
 
 "By gracious !" Said the man in an under tone, "I must make cap 
 ital of this," then raising his voice, he said, "Wee Wing, who is here 
 with you ?" 
 
 "No bodee heree ; Bertinee, Griffin, gonee too two niggee, Wee 
 Wing byee selfee lakee caree housee tillee Bossee Heartee getee 
 backee, somee howee, Wee Wing lovee Bossee Heartee. Wee Wing 
 doee bestee for Bossee Heartee cookee, washee heap stayee with 
 Bossee Heartee, seven yearee lovee Bossee Heartee 
 
 "Hush your jargon and let me in at the gate," said the man, growing 
 bolder when he found the Chinaman was entirely alone. Wee Wing 
 trembling, approached, drew a key from his pocket, and turning it in 
 the lock, threw the gate back upon its hinges, then silently followed the 
 ruffian, as he strode towards the rear entrance of the house, where the 
 kitchen was situated. There could scarcely be a greater contrast than 
 that between these two men. The first belonged to that type of 
 American, known as the tramp, or pe;haps something worse. His 
 form was thick set and compact, his head bending forward, rested al 
 most upon his shoulders, covered with a heavy mat of uncombed 
 
6 Tahoe: or Life in California. 
 
 brown hair, that hung over his unwashed brow, like a lion s mane, 
 beneath which glared two eyes, each so different from the other, that 
 it was scarcely possible to realize that they both belonged in the same 
 head; one glanced upward and was of a sinister gray, while the other 
 looked downward and outward, and was of a fiendish black. His feet, 
 long and turning inward, were covered with coarse, almost worn-out 
 shoes, above which might be seen his ragged and soiled hose; his 
 clothes had assumed that greenish color, known as "seedy," and his 
 elbows protruded through his sleeves, below which hung his hands, 
 broad as they were long, suggesting the idea of club fists, whenever 
 he closed them. The little finger of the left hand was gone, having been 
 cut off, just above the first joint ; his gait was shambling, and as he 
 walked on, Wee Wing followed him and marked well the missing 
 finger. Wee Wing, on the contrary, was slight in figure as a woman. 
 His national costume was spotlessly clean, and his well combed queue 
 dangled to his heels, his white hose above his wooden-bottomed, cloth- 
 tipped shoes, bespoke neatness and care. A Mongolian, his com 
 plexion was of that color peculiar to his race. His head was shaven, 
 and his clear black eyes had the Chinese slant, but withal, wore an ex 
 pression of honesty which was not to be mistaken, though from fright, 
 like those of a servile class, he would deviate from truth, when in fear 
 of great bodily harm. The stranger entered the kitchen and Wee Wing 
 close behind him. 
 
 " Mongolian," he said, turning full upon the poor terrified, "Child of 
 the Sun," " I want something to eat." 
 
 " Me no eatee heree," said Wee Wing, cowering. 
 
 "You lie, sir, you have. Get me something to eat directly or I ll 
 make you wish you had. Do you hear? instantly. What are you 
 grinning at, standing there as if you had not sense enough to bake 
 a biscuit ? I have traveled far, and I will have a good warm supper 
 to-night." Frightened Wee Wing flew to the cupboard, and taking 
 therefrom a pan of cold rice and a pitcher of tea, set them upon the 
 kitchen table, and placing a chair, motioned to the man to take a seat. 
 A flush of anger passed over his swarthy face, and his lips grew livid ; 
 he squirmed with rage and glared upon the Chinaman. Wee Wing 
 returned the gaze tremblingly, " Nicee teaee, nicee ricee takee somee." 
 
 "No, sir !" replied the other, " I will have warm supoer, make a fire in 
 that stove ; bake me some biscuit and make me a pot of hot coffee. 
 I ll have none of your cold "nicee ricee, nicee teaee!" Not that for 
 me. Do you hear ?" And Wee Wing obeyed, with palsied hands 
 and unsteady feet. Gradually his fear was calmed, as the stranger 
 sat and watched the preparation of the meal. At length it was done. 
 
Tahoe: or Life in California. j 
 
 "Now," said he, "show me the way to your master s dining rotfm." 
 as We Wing was about to place the coffee upon the kitchen table. 
 " I do not eat in the kitchens of rich men ; I am your master s equal ; 
 just as big a bug as he ; I will eat from his board, as well as of his 
 bounty. He has no right to more than I have, and the day is coming, 
 God speed it, when the hoarded wealth of these so-called nabobs will 
 be equally distributed among their kind." This was more to himself 
 than to Wee Wing, who has busy preparing the table for his accom 
 modation. He sat down and ate with hungry greediness, the food 
 which he had forced W T ee Wing to cook, seemingly oblivious to all his 
 surroundings for the time being. Wee Wing stood in attendance, 
 his arms crossed upon his waiter and eyeing the stranger narrowly 
 wondering what he would be called upon to do next, and praying in 
 his secret heart to his Joss, for his personal safety in this hour of peril. 
 " Any milk?" said the tramp, with only a glance at the Chinaman. A 
 glass was filled. " Any cheese ?" Wee Wing placed it before him. 
 At length the meal was ended and the chair pushed back. 
 
 " I want to see through this house," came from the greasy lips. 
 
 " Me no keyee," replied Wee Wing. 
 
 " Open the door or I ll kick them from their hinges," was the stern 
 rejoinder. The Chinaman hastened to the cupboard, took therefrom 
 a small basket of keys, and followed by the tramp, passed from room 
 to room. One room on the second floor bore unmistakable evidences 
 of a woman s occupancy the work basket, tiny thimble, scissors, 
 pictures, brackets and books. " Missee Bossee Alice," said Wee Wing, 
 answering the enquiring look, and they passed on. 
 
 " What is this ?" he said at length, -laying his hand upon a piece 
 of furniture in the library. 
 
 "Bossee Heartee s deskee," said the quailing Chinaman. 
 
 "Open it," said the other. 
 
 "Me no keyee ; Bossee Heartee takee keyee awayee." 
 
 One glance sufficed to convince him that Wee Wing had spoken 
 truthfully this time. Without another word he took from his pocket 
 a small bunch of skeleton keys, and after trying two or three, the lock 
 readily yielded, and the contents of the desk were at his mercy. He 
 drew up a chair and ordered Wee Wing to bring a light it was now 
 too dark to see without one. He carefully looked over the papers, se 
 lecting such as he wished, he possessed himself of a roll of mining stocks 
 and two or three pieces of paper, upon which the owner of the desk 
 had carelessly scribbled his name, then closing and locking the desk 
 again he proposed to go. 
 
 "Any carriage here ?" he asked. 
 
8 TaJioe: or Life in California. 
 
 "Bossee Heartee carriage here no hossee Bossee sendee hossee 
 awayee. Hossee kickce Chinee, hossee no kickee Mellican man. Hos 
 see stayee, stable belly welly, Tahoe Citee." 
 
 "Well, I know I have no use for a carriage without the horses, so 
 I ll walk on. I wish you to tell your master I enjoyed his hospitality 
 and will call again one of these days when he least expects me. Now 
 I ve taught you how to treat a gentleman ; you will know next time, so 
 good night," and off he started. Wee Wing followed him with his 
 eyes, then tipped gently to the fence and watched him down the road 
 towards town. The shades of evening had fallen, and the full orbed 
 moon was in the sky ; he turned the curve in the road around the lake 
 bank, and Wee Wing slowly retraced his steps. 
 
 "Me hopee Melican man s Joss killee he," he said bitterly, as he care 
 fully locked the door behind him. "Me hopee Meiican man s Joss 
 killee he in a strange countree, so he losee his soulee. He uglee heep." 
 Having invoked upon the head of this rude stranger robber, to 
 his mind, the worst of curses, Wee Wing went silently to work to put 
 his master s house again in order, then seeking his narrow bunk, 
 passed the night in fearful dreams, and awoke sighing for his native 
 land. 
 
 * * # ### #** ##* 
 
 There is an innate love of country in the human breast that can not 
 be eradicated. Men may stray from the parental roof in early boy 
 hood, but in after years the heart will wander back to its sheltering 
 eaves and long for the rest it once afforded. Time may pass and 
 changes come, still, still the heart beats for home. It may have been 
 in cold, bleak northern wastes or beneath temperate skies, amid bright 
 flowers and teeming fields, it may have been where the circling equa 
 tor lies, beneath a scorching, tropical sun, tis all the same ; human na 
 ture will triumph, and the heart of man will respond, be it of high or 
 low degree. 
 
Tahoe: or Life in California. 
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 
 " How various are the inspirations 
 Of different men, in different nations ; 
 As genius prompts its good or evil, 
 Some call the muse, some raise the devil." 
 
 GRUBBS AND ALDRIDGE. 
 
 " Why, Grubbs, is it possible this is you ? I have just received your 
 card, and came round immediately. I left you in Baltimore the 
 veriest vagabond. Never thought to see you again, and must confess, 
 I hoped I would not. How is it that you are here at the Palace Hotel, 
 in all this style ? You surely must have struck a bonanza ? Explain 
 yourself. Why man, is it possible ?" 
 
 " Yes, it is possible," replied the man. " and it is very likely that you 
 thought you were rid of your quondam friend, after having deserted 
 him as you did, in Baltimore, and fled where you imagined he would 
 never find you. If my memory deceives me not, you not only took 
 with you, Mr. Aldridge, your part or share of our last little transaction in 
 that city, but what was to have been mine also ; to relieve me of what 
 you said, might bring me to trouble. But, sir, I ve followed you, and 
 intend to expose you to the parties in whose employ you are unless 
 you do as I dictate. You are now, as I have informed myself, 
 cashier of an important bank in this city, and I wish you to distinctly 
 understand that it remains altogether with me whether you keep your 
 situation or not." 
 
 The first speaker had remained standing since he entered the room, 
 a few moments before. His face wore, at first, a careless expression 
 of mingled nonchalance and surprise ; but as the last words fell from 
 the lips of Grubbs, that expression changed to one of hatred and fear. 
 
 " Well," said he, with bitterness, " what deviltry now would you 
 have me erp-a^e ; ,n here ? I fled from you, and have since sought to 
 
IO TaJioe: or Life in California. 
 
 lead an honest life. Yet here you dog my footsteps again, and force 
 me from the path of rectitude, from which I was first seduced by you. 
 You have ever been my evil genius." 
 
 "That s very proper stuff to be coming from you," replied Grubbs, 
 " You live honestly, indeed ! Why, man, you couldn t be honest if you 
 wished it. I lead you off, indeed ! You talk like some old woman I 
 have heard of in the Eastern States, who endeavored to train up her 
 boys in the way she intended them to continue, and when they were 
 older and no longer under her restraint, they threw off her burdensome 
 rulings and became wild and desperate. Instead of censuring them, and 
 the stock from which they sprang, for their shortcomings, she sat down 
 and wailed out a tirade agaiust her neighbor s boys for misleading 
 them, and berated their father for his example, when, in truth, the 
 neighbor s boys and the old father, were the ones who suffered most. 
 I ll lend myself to no such an arrangement as that it is too womanly 
 try something else with more reason about it, Aldridge." 
 
 The other stood silent and thoughtful. His was an unusually hand 
 some face, with acquiline nose and dark brown eyes ; a head of dark 
 blond curly hair, that fell in waves around his high white brow his 
 physique manly, his feet and hands small and well shaped, his move 
 ments graceful, his manner courtly, and his conversation ready and 
 fluent. His mind was traveling back through long, long years, (for he 
 was over forty, though seemingly, not more than thirty) to his child 
 hood days he thought of his mother, his boyhood, youth and man 
 hood, how he had " first abhorred, then endured, then embraced vice 
 in all its ghastly forms, until the thoughts almost maddened him. "What 
 would you of me now ?" he said fiercely advancing, his eyes gleaming 
 with ill-concealed hatred. 
 
 "Do not be irritable and look so wild about it, I m in no hurry," said 
 Grubbs, pointing to a chair opposite. " Take a seat and calm your 
 self, I want nothing of you, more than usual; in fact I want many- 
 things, but all within reason, only one at a time, however. Take a seat 
 and we ll have a chat of other days, of days that are gone, and then we 
 can turn our attention to the future, of days to come, of plans and 
 hopes." 
 
 Aldridge sank silently into the chair, without removing his eyes from 
 the face of his vis-a-vis , who arose quickly and going to the mantle, 
 pressed his finger upon the bell-knob, then resuming his seat, waited 
 at few moments in silence. "Champagne and glasses," he said to 
 the waiter who appeared at the door. "Aldridge," continued he, "you 
 are working for a salary, are you not?" 
 
 "I I am," stammered Aldridge, fearing he was going to draw 
 
Tahoe: or Life in California. 1 1 
 
 heavily upon him for funds, "a very moderate one," he added slowly. 
 
 "Well, after a while I ve a proposition to make to you, which I think 
 will enrich us bothr As we know each other, and have worked together 
 before, we may have no fears. After we have refreshed ourselves, I 
 will state my plans; in the meantime, let us talk of the past." 
 
 The waiter entered at this moment with the champagne and opening 
 a bottle filled the glasses and retired. 
 
 "Here s to success," said Grubbs, raising his and giving Aldridge a 
 familiar wink. The latter raised his glass silently to his lips, drained it 
 to the bottom, and as silently, refilled it. 
 
 "Well, tell me," said Aldridge growing more talkative, "how you got 
 out of the Baltimore scrape?" 
 
 "There being, simply, no proof against me, I was discharged. You 
 know I had no money, and it was not presumable that so poor a 
 tramp as I, had taken the money from the bank. No trace, except my 
 skeleton keys being found, my statement concerning them was credited, 
 and I was set at liberty." 
 
 "What statement did you make in regard to them?" asked Aldridge 
 uneasily. 
 
 "I told the officials that I found them in your room, on the morning 
 after your disappearance," returned the other slowly. 
 
 "Then," said /Vldridge, growing pale, "my name was openly connec 
 ted with the robbery?" 
 
 "Certainly, and if you had not made good your escape, my man, 
 you would now have been the guest of the State of Maryland, instead of 
 my guest at the Palace Hotel in San Francisco. Congratulate yourself 
 on your good fortune, and don t look as if you were going to be 
 arrested every minute. The danger is past and you are all right." 
 
 "Yes, but oh! the disgrace ; there is one, upon whose head it must 
 rest heavily. One little innocent being, who feels the weight of shame 
 I ve left behind me my disgraced family, my child, that I have not 
 heard from for years! Oh, heaven, is there no palliation for this deep 
 and damning sin ? Cannot penitence wash it away ?" And he clasped 
 his. hands to his face in agony, while bitter tears streamed from his eyes. 
 
 "Why, Aldridge, I am surprised that you should "play the woman" 
 in this style." Gold is your redemption. Heap golden ducats upon the 
 head of your child, and the world will forget the dishonored father. I 
 cannot appreciate this agony of yours, nor do I care to. Wife nor 
 child have blessed my lot, and I ve nothing to regret. Gold I must and 
 will have, for it is the talisman that subdues the world. "It throws 
 open the prison gates and sets the captive free; it deposes kings and 
 exalts beggars ; its mighty influences are felt and obeyed from the 
 President s mansion to the squatter s hut." 
 
12 Tahoe: or Life in California. 
 
 "Yes, but I can never make more than an obscure living in my pres 
 ent situation;" said Aldridge, gloomily. "How did you get money, for 
 you seem to have plenty?" he added. 
 
 "I started from the East without a dollar, and now I have some and 
 a goodly prospect for more. I worked my way to Carson City, Nevada 
 as brakesman upon the road, stopping occasionally on the route at 
 small towns, where my keys served me to good purpose. At Hum- 
 bold, Nevada, I found a purse on the seat in one of the palace cars, as 
 I was passing through it. I was taken suddenly sick, you know, and 
 was discharged without delay. The train went on, and the purse was 
 duly advertised, but of course I could not return it. I had found it and 
 as a matter of course it was mine. It contained fifty dollars and some 
 trinkets ; the latter I threw away to prevent any trouble in the future. 
 At Carson, a few games of draw relieved me of most of my money, 
 and I concluded to go on ; fortunately I occupied a seat beside the 
 stage driver, Hank Monk, for Glenbrook ; I paid the jolly fellow and 
 we set out on our journey. When we reached Lake Tahoe, his purse 
 was gone ; he searched his pockets well. The honest fellow thought 
 he had carelessly lost it, never suspecting for a moment, that he had 
 been deprived of it by foul means ; if he had a Chinaman was conve 
 niently at hand to accuse of the theft. I took the lake boat and started 
 for Tahoe City, but feigning to have no money, was soon put ashore. 
 I then made my way on foot to Tahoe City. On my way I stopped 
 about sundown at an elegant villa, near the city. There was no one 
 there but a Chinaman, and I made the heathen get me a good supper. He 
 said the place belonged to an American gentleman of wealth, who had 
 gone travelling with his daughter, and left him to take* charge of his 
 house daring his absence. Here in/ keys rendered me good service 
 again. I got a quantity of mining stocks and two blank pieces of pa 
 per, with his signature upon them ; these I expect to use so soon as 1 
 find where he deposits." 
 
 "Do you remember the name ?" asked Aldridge. 
 
 "Yes, but I cannot tell you everything just now, but I have the papers; 
 of them we will presently speak. While at Tahoe, I played cards more 
 successfully, won some more money and stock, came here and got me 
 a suit of new clothes and put up where you find me." 
 
 "You have traveled then to good purpose ?" 
 
 "Very good ; I have money sufficient to pay expenses until some 
 thing else turns up." 
 
 "There is nothing like art in travelling." 
 
 "Nothing ; it improves a smart man, and certainly helps a dunce 
 wonderfully. I am not given to quoting poetry, but in this connec 
 tion Pope s lines come up before me : 
 
Tali c: or Life in California. ij 
 
 How much the dunce who s been to Rome, 
 Excels the dunce who stayed at home. " 
 
 "Well," said Aldridge, rising, "I must go for I am needed at the bank. 
 When can I see you again?" 
 
 "I am sorry you have not time now for our plans, but call around 
 again to-night after tea, and we can have a quiet talk, and fix up ev 
 erything ; 1 will await you at eight." 
 
 "At eight o clock, then. Good morning." 
 
 "Good morning," and the door closed between them. Grubbs walked 
 up to the mirror. "I wish I could carry my plans into execution 
 alone, but this ungainly figure, and these dastardly eyes, make it sim 
 ply impossible. Aldridge s handsome face and courtly address, will 
 have to aid in this, for I will not only enjoy Phillip Heartland s earn 
 ings, but make him repent in sack cloth and ashes, the doings of his 
 youth." He emptied another bottle of champagne, stretching himself 
 upon a lounge, and was soon asleep, if "drunken thunder" can be 
 called sleep. 
 
Tahoe: or Life in California. 
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 
 "Who shall judge man by his manners ? 
 
 Who shall know him by his dress ? 
 Paupers may be fit for princes, 
 
 Princes fit for sorcething less." 
 
 At the appointed hour the two men were again together. "Close 
 the door securely," said Grubbs. Aldridge cast a frightened look 
 around the room, as much as to say, "I would rather not be alone with 
 this man ;" he said nothing however, but locked the door and took the 
 seat designated for him. 
 
 "You know," said Grubbs, "that I have often spoken to you, in days 
 gone by, of a schoolmate of mine, the fellow who always excelled me 
 at school when we were boys together in our early days, in Virginia ; 
 who watch *d me, and when I wanted to thrash a younger boy, always 
 stepped in and took his part ; in fact, defeated every plan hatched in 
 my brain, looked with contempt upon my birth and family, without 
 knowing anything of them, suspected me of everything low and 
 mean, and never let one opportunity pass to show his disgust for the 
 poor, creeping reptile, familiarly know among the boys as Lying Tom 
 Linton. " 
 
 "Of aristocratic family, exceedingly handsome in person, the master 
 of an adequate fortune, the possessor of a splendid mind, he felt his 
 superiority, and made others respect him, while I was but a pensioner 
 upon the bounty of another. We grew to manhood. I hated him, only as 
 a man such as I, embittered by every earthly misfortune, can hate. He 
 studied law and was admitted to the bar, and soon made rapid strides 
 towards a brilliant career, while I became the poor, degraded keeper 
 of a grog-shop. A crime was committed in the neighborhood, an old 
 man, who, it was reported, had heaps of gold hoarded away, was mur 
 dered in his bed. A thousand human hounds thirsting for blood were 
 
TaJioe: or Life in California. 15 
 
 immediately upon the track. I was suspected and arrested, and this 
 man volunteered his services for the prosecution. Surrounded by 
 prison bars, my thoughts were maddening. I knew conviction, with 
 the superabundant evidence against me, was certain. I knew the ability 
 of the prosecutor, and was convinced my case would bring forth all 
 his mental powers. In my sleeping moments, I struggled with the 
 hangman s noose, and on one occasion, goaded almost to desperation 
 with these harrowing thoughts, I rushed wildly against the barred "Win 
 dow ; to my surprise, one of the bars gave way and I bounded into 
 the street below. A fellow prisoner had filed it for his own escape, 
 and he lost no time in following me. Not discovering his companionship 
 I left him to take care of himself, and thought only of my own safety. 
 I wanted to reach some large city and secrete myself, until all excite 
 ment should die away. This I knew I could do among that class who 
 were as deeply dyed with crime as myself. There is a fellow feeling, 
 you know, a tie that binds them not for any good, but to insure their 
 safety against the mighty arm of the law. It was already past the mid 
 night hour, yet I saw a light shining from a window; I carefully worked 
 my way to it and glanced in. There sat my dreaded prosecutor writ 
 ing at a table ; I stood for some time and watched him ; the light shone 
 out full and clear upon his manly face. His expression was grave and 
 earnest, followed by one ot unmistakeable sarcasm ; then deep, heart 
 felt indignation was expressed more thoroughly than words could 
 describe. I felt that he was studying my case. I watched him as he 
 turned the leaves of first one book then another, hunting up his law 
 points. My hatred grew in intensity until it seemed without bounds, 
 and I resolved to add one more crime to my list, dig up my buried and ill- 
 gotien gold and make good my escape. I remained as still as possible 
 until he had finished his labors, prepared himself for his bed, and extin 
 guished the light. His regular and sonorous breathing soon notified me 
 that he was asleep. I opened the shutter gently and hoisted the win 
 dow ; a flood of moonlight streamed upon the sleeper s face. He stirred, 
 it was but momentary, and he composed himself to sleep again. I 
 climbed in and creeping softly toward the bed, seized a chair and dealt 
 what I intended for a stunning blow. The round of the chair caught 
 upon the upright piece of the bedstead. I missed my aim, and the jar 
 and the crash awakened the sleeper. He sprang upon me like a beast 
 of prey ; I threw him off and bounded to the window ; he seized the 
 shovel at the fire-place and struck furiously at me as I was leaping 
 out ; my hand was resting upon the sill, as the blow came down my 
 little finger was severed, and in agony and fright I made my escape. In 
 the distance I heard the alarm, trampling feet of pursuers and screams 
 
16 Tahoe: or Lijc in California. 
 
 of women. Pursuit was vain. I arrived safely in Baltimore and found 
 an account of the whple transaction in the morning papers. My break 
 ing jail ; the attempt upon the life of the prosecuting attorney and my 
 flight, leaving behind my finger which was to be preserved in alcohol, 
 for future evidence. In that city, I plied my vocation for many years 5 
 it was there I met you ; you know the rest/ 
 
 " Well," said Aldridge, " I am waiting patiently for your plans. What 
 has all this to do with our future ?" 
 
 A great deal ; that man lives now in this State, yes, here in Cali 
 fornia. He has grown immensely rich and I intend to enjoy some of 
 his earnings. He married the lady of his choice, the only woman I 
 ever loved, and came out to the Golden State. It was his house I 
 stopped at, on Lake Tahoe. I learned then that his wife had been 
 dead for many years ; that he had a daughter, an only child a beau 
 tiful girl, it is said." 
 
 " Well," said Aldridge. 
 
 " Well, what do you mean by well? I want you to play the agree 
 able to this girl and marry her." 
 
 " Marry her ? Marry her? Great heavens ?" 
 
 Yes," retorted Grubbs, rising to his feet, " marry her, you can do 
 it ; you are young, handsome and have winning manners ; now put 
 them to some use." 
 
 Aldridge sat silently thinking for a time, then asked. "Who is 
 this man? What s his name?" 
 
 "Phillip Heartland," returned the other. 
 
 "Phillip Heartland?" re-echoed Aldridge in a startled tone, "Phillip 
 Heartland?" 
 
 "Yes, Phillip Heartland. What s the matter now? Did you ever 
 know him?" 
 
 "No, no, I never knew him," replied Aldridge with ill-concealed 
 emotion. 
 
 Grubbs marked the trembling utterance and averted eyes, but ques 
 tioned no further. He went to the bureau and taking up a small 
 valise, said, " You must find out where Phillip Heartland deposits, for 
 I want to draw for a small amount." He took the two pieces of paper 
 from the valise and handed them to Aldridge. The name, Phillip 
 Heartland, was written in a plain, bold chirography upon each. "It is 
 his signature," thought Aldridge, as he looked at them. 
 
 "I want to fill them out," said the other, as soon as I find out where 
 his bank account is kept. But we must not overdraw, therefore it will 
 be necessary for us to know something as to the extent of his means. 
 I will trust to you to find out these things. " And they separated to 
 meet again the next night. 
 
Tahoe: or Life in California. 17 
 
 "A man in any situation has no business with a conscience or a 
 heart," murmured Aldridge, as he found his way to his lodgings, "and 
 I must and will still mine." 
 
 On his way he had stopped for his mail. On reaching his room he 
 struck a match and lighted the gas. One letter was post-marked 
 Baltimore ; he tore it open, his eyes rested on the contents for a mo 
 ment, and he sank senseless to the floor. When he revived, it was 
 morning, and the sun s cheerful rays were streaming in through the 
 open window. He arose, weak and troubled in mind, and without 
 making a fresh toilet, or awaiting his breakfast, he went directly to the 
 bank, and silently resumed his duties. 
 
1 8 Tahoc: or Life in California. 
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 
 AUGUSTA HUBBLESTUBBLE S SOLILOQUY. 
 
 "Nay, let me dream upon the heights no longer: 
 I Round purer hearts I wrap my pilgrim dress; 
 In purer hands my trembling staff grows stronger; 
 My face is set toward the wide spread West. " 
 
 "I was born for something more than a garret, and a knowledge of 
 this fact determines me to give up this miserable situation, as teacher, 
 in the public school of this gossipy New England village. I have oc 
 cupied this position for years, and what good has it done me? It has 
 annoyed and fretted me, until I have no nervous vitality left. The 
 cold in clime, the cold in heart, is an old saying, but it is ower true, 
 as most old sayings always are. Yes, this cold climate is ruining my 
 lungs, as these cold, selfish hearts around me, are freezing the very life 
 within me. I cannot, I will not stand it longer. This ungrateful com 
 munity, these unappreciative people. They do not know an intelligent 
 woman from any other sort. I do not know that I should censure them, 
 but I feel the neglect no less on that account. And again I say, I will 
 not remain among them on such a salary, too the mere pittance of 
 a salary; they ought to be ashamed to offer it to me, but the men in 
 this country are so narrow minded, so contracted in their ideas there 
 is not one of them fit for a woman to marry, even if she desired to 
 marry not one for whom Augusta Hubblestubble would give up her 
 honest name, in order to wear his, for her name has always been an 
 honored one. Her father was a gentleman, and her mother a lady; 
 very few, very few, can say that much, but Augusta Hubblestubble 
 can say it, and say it truthfully. Her little blue velvet recticule con 
 tains many evidences of the gentility of her family; then, is it to be 
 supposed for an instant, that she would think of changing the honored 
 
la hoc: or Life in California. 19 
 
 and venerated name, for one of the plebian, common cognomens, the 
 very sound of which is revolting to her? No, not she. But that salary! 
 It affords me only means for a garret lodging, in a second rate board 
 ing house, the plainest of clothing and coarsest of food. I have made 
 up my mind what course to pursue. 
 
 "I have always wished to move South, but the opportunity of doing 
 so has never presented itself. The demand in that section for North 
 ern teachers and governesses was once great. I was on one occasion 
 offered a situation as governess in the family of a Southern lady, 
 but not wishing to come under the surveillance of a woman, (nature s 
 tyrant) I did not accept the offer. I had no desire to enslave myself 
 for a few dollars and cents ; for that position, in the Gulf States at 
 least, is near akin to genuine slavery. Their overweening, aristocratic 
 ideas antagonize the poor instinctively, and I will, under no circum 
 stances, accept a subordinate place where a woman rules. Take care 
 of the children indeed, while my mistress occupies herself with all the 
 frivolities of social life ; it s petty tyranies and its empty gossip never. 
 I have never been able to indulge the extravagances of dress, it is true, 
 since I have never bartered in human flesh and blood, but in my plain 
 black silk, and green Canton shawl, set off by my handsome face and 
 figure, I present an appearance I fancy, that would put to blush many 
 of the noted Southland s fairest daughters." (Here Miss Augusta rais 
 ed her tall, gaunt form to its fullest height, and proudly confronted the 
 mirror. She gazed at the reflection of her small, blue eyes and tawny 
 hair, bony frame and sallow complexion, and continued her soliloquy.) 
 "There is style about Augusta Hubblestubble yet, but how this glass 
 distorts nature and renders even beauty hideous ! It squints the eye, 
 wrinkles the face, and reflects my golden, wavy hair in a semblance 
 at once of something yellow, dry and rough, and oh, heavens ! what a 
 long, lean and hungry look it gives me ! I ll none of it," and in an 
 instant the glass was shattered into fragments and lay a wreck upon 
 the floor. One moment more, her landlady, startled by the crash, rap 
 ped loudly at the door, and not waiting the accustomed "come in," 
 threw it wide and stalked into the room. She paused, looking first at 
 Miss Augusta s hard face and then at the fragments of her favorite 
 mirror. 
 
 "How did this happen ?" she finally said. 
 
 "In trying to adjust it so that I might see better," replied Miss Au 
 gusta, "it slipped from my hands to the floor and was shattered as you 
 see. I am sure, ma am, it could not have been securely hung. I re 
 gret the accident exceedingly, and, poor as I am, will replace it if you 
 wish." 
 
2O Tahoe: or Life in California. 
 
 "By no means," said the landlady ; "it was accidental, and I would 
 not ask it of you. You have remained in your room too closely of late; 
 will you not join us in the parlor this evening ? Think no more of the 
 broken glass ; I will send a servant to remove the fragments, and shall 
 expect the pleasure of your company this evening;" and the goodheart- 
 ed, chubby little landlady s retreating footsteps were heard upon the 
 stairs. 
 
 "How easily some people are gulled particularly that low class of 
 people. It is said where ignorance is bliss, it is folly to be wise ; in 
 this case it is literally true, for I do not know of a more ignorant creat 
 ure, and she seems perfectly happy in her stupidity. I had no idea of 
 paying for that miserable old looking-glass. It deserves its fate for 
 having disfigured me- I do not regret it, though I told her I did, and 
 silly, stupid creature, she believed me. I would do it again if it were 
 to do over. I owe her no thanks, either, for bursting into my room in 
 that style. Some people are so ill-bred. Why could she not wait until 
 I told her to come in ? No, she must blunder into my private cham 
 ber before I could get a tale fixed up about the old glass. She is just 
 like some others I know ; all curiosity and unable to control it ; she 
 must have a finger in every pie ; that reminds me of those stubby fing 
 ers of hers ; it is a sure sign of low blood. No aristocracy, unless it 
 be the frazelled end of Viiginia aristocracy, ever had such hands as 
 hers ; no shape to them, the fingers are stuck on like so many pegs 
 not like mine," ^and she stretched her long, sinewy hand upon her 
 knee,) "graceful, tapering, at the same time showing evidence of not 
 being worthless. For my part I cannot see how any sensible man can 
 think for a moment of marrying one of those useless Southern women, 
 who knows nothing but to eat, sleep and be waited upon. It is a great 
 pity for that part of the United States that slavery ever existed. The 
 day is coming though, when Augusta Hubblestubble will be as good 
 as any Virginia or Carolina damsel. It is a long lane that has no turn, 
 and my turn is near at hand. Then I will go to this Southern land, 
 among this proud people, and purchase carriages, horses and estates. 
 But Augusta, how are you to do this ? I will tell you ; I am going to 
 reply to the advertisement of this Californian ; the widower who wishes 
 a companion for his daughter. Let me read the advertisement 
 again, "A gentleman living in a retired part of the country, near Lake 
 Tahoe, California, desires an intelligent teacher and companion for his 
 grown-up daughter. Having no mother, the young lady would prefer 
 an elderly person. Address Phillip Heartland, Tahoe City, California. 
 References exchanged. Can I give them ? I fear not satisfactory 
 ones. I have a diploma signed by the corps of teachers of Upshaw 
 
Tahoe: or Life in California. 21 
 
 High School, where I graduated, but I do not like to show this on ac 
 count of its date. I know one minister here will give me a recommen 
 dation, and relying upon that, I will write to Col. Heartland ; I know 
 he is a Colonel, all Western men are ; they are all rich, too, aristocratic 
 l n their views, that is, those of wealth, the land owner I mean, not the 
 common people. With all this I am told they are remarkably kind to 
 poor people, and considerate of them, provided they are intelligent, 
 worthy ones. This is the place for me, and Augusta Hubblestubble 
 is not the woman I take her for if she fails to secure it. This gentle 
 man, away over in the mountains of California, wishes a companion 
 for his daughter ; he is wealthy, of course he is, or how could he afford 
 a companion for his daughter ? Yes, of course he is rich, and a wid 
 ower, too. Augusta Hubblestubble, your fortune is made, if it is not 
 it is your own fault. Go down and spend the evening with a board 
 ing-house keeper indeed ! I ll set her up for that ; how dared she ask 
 me to do such a thing ? A woman of her class to invite me to com? 
 to her parlor ; I will teach her better. Augusta Hubblestubble, ere 
 long you will get your dues ; you will have command of the proceeds 
 of Western ranches, and California gold mines, while at your side will 
 walk a handsome, manly form, whose honored name you will bear. I 
 will leave (now here is that abominable servant with dust pan and 
 brush to clean away the glass. That woman has a mania for cleaning 
 things ; it is clean, clean, clean, from Monday morning until Saturday 
 night. I would let things go dirty once and awhile if I were in her 
 place, and cultivate my mind a little more ; but some people have no 
 intellectuality, not the slightest) as I was going to say when my rev 
 erie was interrupted (I hope it will not be again) I will leave this catch 
 penny New England village and go to the glorious West ; to Califor 
 nia, the land of warm hearts and generous affections, the brightest star 
 in the Western sky. This land reposing in golden beauty, in the lap 
 of the setting sun, beckons me to her favored shores, where penurious- 
 ness is unknown, and men are great, good and noble. I want to get 
 away from women ; there are so many here, and they are so full of 
 prying curiosity ; now, that chubby, bullet-headed minx down stairs; I 
 would not be at all suprised if she had a false key to my room, and comes 
 here, while I am gone, to see if she can find and read my love letters, 
 or to examine the contents of my precious blue velvet reticule ; I wish 
 I could catch her blunt fingers upon it ; no, I don t, for she would go 
 maimed the rest of her life. As I said, I wish to get away from wo 
 men. They say there are but few in that consequently delightful land 
 and those who are there are already provided with husbands, and have 
 something more to do than to be backbiting their neighbors all the 
 
22 Tahoe: or Life in California. 
 
 time. See how the women of this village talked recently because the 
 new minister was a widower, and a certain teacher in town sent him a 
 geranium leaf and some violets ; there was no harm in it, but some 
 lynx-eyed, curious women found it out, (of course he did not tell it, 
 his sense of honor was too high for that,) and it was the village sensa 
 tion until the silly old fellow went away and brought home that weazen 
 faced chit of sixteen as his wife. I knew when he came here he was 
 engaged ; I was the first person in town who suspected it. What if I 
 did join the church soon after that drawling creature succeeded to the 
 pulpit? was I to remain a sinner always because the preacher happen 
 ed to be a widower ? Absurd, perfectly absurd. I felt like joining, 
 and I had the independence to do it. It was entirely a matter of con 
 science with me. He certainly never could have been an inducement 
 for me, or any one else, to join ; any person of judgment and good 
 sense could see that. To be talked about is what I expected, and my 
 anticipations were fully realized, I did not care ; I knew it was right, 
 and I did it. Gossiping is one of the necessary evils appertaining to 
 village life. 1 have felt it often, but I will not be exposed to it much 
 longer. A scandal is another village evil ; once fan it into life it never 
 dies, never wears out, never ends ; like a canker-worm it eats the soul 
 away ; it is an inheritance, a safe and sure one. If there should be any 
 danger of its ever being forgotten, the old dames gather the grand 
 children around their knees and make them familiar with their tradi 
 tionary love ; they repeat and repeat until the dullest brain is thor 
 oughly innoculated with the venomous slime. Women, village wo 
 men, are despisable. Their best days of life are spent in the aspersion 
 of their sex. They despise each other, and very justly, too, for they 
 know each other. I do not know of any of God s creatures so worthy 
 of contempt, pity and hatred. Lord Montague is said to have remark - 
 ed on one occasion : I would not be a woman, for then I could not 
 love her. Sensible man, without knowing how sensible he was. It 
 was fortunate for him that he was not, for he would have been sure to 
 appreciate her only at her real value ; how could he do otherwise ? I 
 ask all of my sex, how could he ? It would have been as impossible as 
 for this revolving sphere to cease its motion. He is not the only man 
 I can call to mind who would not have been a woman. The difficulty 
 to find one who would is by far the greater task. They have good, suf 
 ficient reason for this anti-woman sentiment. I am sorry to admit it, 
 but why should I be sorry ? Other women are not. I think Lady 
 Montague s observation far more correct, she said, I would not be a 
 man for then I should have to marry a woman." That is the main and 
 only reason that Augusta Hubblestubble would not like to be a man. 
 
TaJioe: or Life in California. 23 
 
 A woman often wishes she could change her sex, but under no circum 
 stances would a man be otherwise than a man. But stop, I am too 
 fast ; is there not one case on record ? I have a dim recollection of 
 having heard of an occurrence during the war that caused a poor feb 
 low to regret that he was not a female. Let me search my memory 
 and see if I can recollect it. Yes. During a battle somewhere, I don t 
 remember exactly where, a young soldier was seen by his commander 
 running from the battle-field, weeping most piteously as he ran ; he 
 was hailed by his officer, who asked him why he cried like a baby. I 
 wish I was a baby, sobbed the seemingly heartbroken man, -and a. gal 
 baby at that. This is the only instance that has ever come to my 
 knowledge where a man was willing to exchange his manhood for fem 
 ininity, and then half crazed and frightened almost to death, he wish 
 ed to be as small a female as possible. The idea is abhorrent to 
 their very natures. What man does not remember the pride he expe 
 rienced on laying aside his girl-like frocks and donning male attire ? 
 It is an event in life, the evening of which time can never obliterate. 
 And the first pair of boots, where is the man who does not remember 
 them, and with what feelings ? In fact, anything that distinguished 
 him from the female of his kind, is fondly linked in his boyish memory 
 with all that is good and great. Now why this abhorrence of our sex ? 
 Because nature teaches that we are the inferior portion of crea 
 tion ; that we are below man ; in other words, that it -is a little, mean 
 thing to be a woman. Her kind is cursed, and she must bear the curse. 
 Women do and say so many little, mean, selfish things that they become 
 ashamed of themselves and desire to change their names, that their 
 identity may be lost in the love and being of man ; and that is what 
 Augusta Hubblestubble intends to do ; she intends answering the ad 
 vertisement of this Col. Heartland, and if, in six months, she is not his 
 companion instead of that of his daughter, it will be no fault of hers. 
 To be sure, I joined the church, but what of that? More church mem 
 bers than myself maneuver for husbands. If the maneuverers were 
 left out there would be no women in the church, and it would be al 
 most as good as a Masonic lodge. I joined the church under peculiar 
 circumstances, and would have been more closely allied to it than I 
 am, if it had not been for some of the women of the village, whose 
 tongues inherited longevity, and whose privilege for wagging them is 
 wholly unrestrained. It needs no microscope of double extra power 
 to make that discovery. That is all in the past ; Augusta Hubble 
 stubble must look to the future, and she will do it, at all hazards. The 
 end justifies the means ; she will make arrangements for this life first, 
 and then look to eternity afterwards. But here I am musing and mus- 
 
24 Tahoc: or Life in California. 
 
 ing and losing time, when I ought to send my letter by the first mail, 
 some other sly woman may get in ahead of me and occupy this cove 
 ted place, so here goes immediately : 
 
 COL. HEARTLAND Sir : Having read your advertisement, I think 
 I can fill the place to your satisfaction. I am a graduate of Upshaw 
 High School which, you know, is considered among the best in the 
 United States. As to references, I can give you as satisfactory ones 
 as any one in New England. Hoping your answer may be favorable, 
 I remain, most respectfully, 
 
 Miss AUGUSTA HUBBLESTUBBLE 
 Box No . 40. Belle Meade, Vermont. 
 
 To COL. PHILLIP HEARTLAND, TahoeCity, Cal. 
 
 " Should he accept my proposition, I will start West as soon there" 
 after as practicable. I am told the journey is long, tedious and weari 
 some. It may be, that is not half so wearisome as the garrulous 
 women of B. The matter is settled ; if he accepts. I will turn my 
 footsteps to the far West instanter. But I must return now to my 
 school duties. How can I tolerate these even for a few weeks more! 
 Yet the cross must be borne, until I obtain an answer to my letter, for 
 it will not do to lose my place here, until the other is secured. " 
 
 Putting on her bonnet, she left for her school-room. Like the fabled 
 milkmaid in the spelling book, she planned as she walked, with what 
 success time will show. 
 
Tahoc: or Life in California. 25 
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 
 PLEASANT ANTICIPATIONS. 
 
 " Yes ; beauty dwells in all our paths : but sorrow, too, is there !" 
 
 " Children, you have annoyed me more to day than I can tell ; if 
 you do not study your lessons, of course, you cannot recite them. If 
 I am annoyed with any more such lessons, I shall send the last one of 
 you foot." Thus spoke Miss Hubblestubble in her impatient wrath, 
 nor noticed the mistake she had made. The merry laugh that followed 
 only added indignation to her already enraged feelings, and throwing 
 the book angrily down, she dismissed the class and left the room, 
 saying, "You hateful brats, I will never teach you again." She went 
 immediately to her boarding-house, and as she walked along she 
 mused in this manner : " Now I suppose all these villagers will be 
 wondering why school was dismissed so much earlier to-day than 
 usual ; and they ll be asking the children all sorts of impertinent ques 
 tions. I don t care ; I was completely worn out and if I lose my place 
 it does not matter. What were children ever made for ? Just to 
 annoy people to death ? It could have been for nothing else, and they 
 fulfill their mission. I despise them. I hope after I leave here, I will 
 never see another one. They come into the world bawling, and they 
 kick, bawl and squall as long as they are children. I would not stay 
 in the same house with one of them again, for the whole of Manhattan 
 Island. Well, here I am at home again ; I will go to my room and 
 draw one more easy breath. I have had no peace to day. I have 
 never felt teaching such a drudgery before. The little scamps make 
 faces behind my back, laugh at every word I utter. Sometimes I feel 
 as if I could kill them outright. I will not teach them again, I vow I 
 will not. I am so discouraged, too, about my Western project. It is 
 
26 Tahoe: or Life in California. 
 
 double the time in which I should have had an answer. I will ring 
 and ask if there are any letters for me, though I know it is useless 
 I have looked for two long weeks, yet none have come ; I will ask 
 anyhow." The servant answered the bell, went down-stairs and 
 returning in a few moments, handed her a letter post-marked Tahoe 
 City, and said : "Miss Hubblestubble, Professor Meade is in the parlor, 
 and desires to see you." 
 
 " Tell him I will be down immediately." She glanced at the letter 
 and closing the door in the face of the menial, she continued : " I 
 will read this letter, though a hundred Professors were waiting to 
 see me," and tearing open the letter she read as follows : 
 
 Miss HUBBLESTUBBLE: Yours of the i $th inst., came to hand, 
 and merited an earlier reply, but it took some time to make all neces 
 sary inquiries. I am glad to say, they proved satisfactory, and we 
 hope to see you at Sierran Villa, near Tahoe City, at as early a date as 
 will suit your convenience. 
 
 Messrs. G. L. Wallace & Co., will notify me of your arrival in Tahoe 
 City, and my carriage will meet you there. 
 With great respect, 
 
 PHILLIP HEARTLAND. 
 
 For once in her life, a quiet, happy smile passed over the hard, stony 
 face of Augusta Hubblestubble, but it gave place to a look of revenge 
 ful triumph as she thought of Professor Meade. "Yes, I know what 
 has brought him here; he is the Superintendent of the schools, but he 
 has superintended me for the last time. I suppose he intends lecturing 
 me for my display of temper to-day, and for dismissing school so early! 
 I knew that would be all over town in less than five minutes, but he 
 will be surprised when I tell him I have dismissed school for good. I 
 must go and see what his dignified Superintendentship wishes." She 
 descended the stairs and entered the parlor. 
 
 "Good afternoon, Miss Augusta!" 
 
 "Glad to see you, Professor." 
 
 "I regret that I have been compelled to call on business of an un 
 pleasant character, 
 
 "State your business, sir." 
 
 "There are complaints among the patrons 
 
 "That ll do, you need not go farther 
 
 "Of the school," continued the Superintendent. 
 
 "Silence," said Miss Hubblestubble, "did I not tell you to say no 
 more? I know what you are going to say, so I will save you the 
 trouble by informing you that my place is vacant, as teacher, in your 
 school ; I do not desire to retain the situation any more than you desire 
 that I should; but I do not intend to be discharged, I want it distinctly 
 understood, I resign my situation. Do you understand me, sir?" 
 
Tahoe: or Life in California. 27 
 
 "Yes, madam," gasped the Professor. 
 
 "Do not dare to call me madam again. I am an unmarried lady ami 
 must be addressed as "Miss." 
 
 "I beg pardon, Miss " 
 
 "Well, as I said, I have resigned. Do you understand me, sir?" 
 
 "I do, Miss " 
 
 "I want you to make the rest of this community as well aware of the 
 fact as you are. Do you hear me, sir?" 
 
 "Yes, Miss" 
 
 "Then heed me." 
 
 "I will, Miss" 
 
 "I am tired of teaching, and am going to California?" 
 
 "Indeed?" 
 
 "Yes, indeed! I am going on a visit to some wealthy relatives." 
 
 "When?" 
 
 "Immediately; in fact, I am going there to live. I may visit Belle 
 Meade again, but that is in the future." 
 
 "The people here," said the Professor, pithily, "will be sorry, very 
 sorry, to lose a teacher who has been with them twen 
 
 "That ll do: You need not be so accurate about your calculations. 
 Sorry, indeed, when you come here in their name for the purpose of 
 dismissing me." 
 
 "Indeed, I did not!" 
 
 "What brought you then?" 
 
 "To inquire after your very good health, Miss 
 
 "That is not so! Did you not tell me just now, that you were on 
 business of an unpleasant nature?" 
 
 "Yes, Miss, but it was in regard to the complaint of the patrons, and 
 was only to be a censure, and not a dismissal, as you thought." 
 
 "You mean, Professor, you were only going to threaten a little. I 
 am glad you found it entirely unnecessary. Now you can take your 
 cowardly, falsifying self off and hunt up another teacher to fill my 
 vacant place. I wish you a pleasant evening, sir," and Miss Hubble- 
 stubble strode proudly from the room. 
 
 Once more alone, she read Col. Hartland s letter, and her busy 
 thoughts flew to the future. 
 
 " His daughter, yes, his daughter ! I had forgotten there would be 
 a female there to deal with. I wonder what she is like ? I had lost 
 sight of this item in the affair, so wrapped up have I been in my wild 
 desire to go West ; to leave this place forever. But she is evidently 
 young, and can be brought to my way of thinking and acting. I sin 
 cerely hope she has no female attendant about her to gossip or to pry. 
 
28 Tahoe: or Life in California. 
 
 There are many things I do not care to have her know. My blue vel 
 vet reticule is sacred. I do not wish other eyes than mine to look 
 beyond the outside covering. I use rouge and hair-dye. My excessive 
 palor is from hard work and confinement. I have had no outdoor 
 exercise, as other girls of my age are accustomed to. I am compelled 
 to rouge, or I would be deathlike. From trouble, and not from age. 
 my hair has turned a little white, not gray, but just a little white. It 
 has faded and it would look quite unnatural, if I did not dye it ; I do 
 not really dye it ; I simply use a restorative. That I am compelled 
 to do, or else be subjected to the imputation of being eccentric, and 
 of all things in the world that people, that is sensible people, do dislike, 
 it is a peculiar person ; especially a woman. T should certainly lay a 
 just claim to eccentricity, if I permitted my head to remain white, at 
 my age. There, too, are my spectacles. I must carry them with me 
 for I cannot see without them. In my case, they are no evidence of 
 age. Besides being a little near-sighted, my eyes are quite weak from 
 too much study. They might, however, cause mistakes in regard to 
 my age if they were seen. Of that I must take care. As I use them 
 only on account of my weak eyes, there can be no deceit in my not 
 showing them on all occasions, inasmuch as every one can see I am 
 not old enough to wear them. I shall keep all these little valuables in 
 my little blue velvet bag, and no eyes but mine shall see its contents. 
 I will wear it upon my left arm. The bright blue color will cause my 
 fair skin to seem doubly fair. The little treasure will not only orna 
 ment, but will enhance the beauty of my arm. A few short months 
 in that healthy clime, will restore my limbs to their accustomed round 
 ness, and the hues of health, will again redden my cheeks. My full, 
 rosy lips will hide so effectually the false teeth, that no sane person 
 will suspect they are not my own, but they are mine; I can truthfully 
 say so, for my hard-earned money bought them. Besides, they are such 
 a good counterfeit, that I might just as well call them genuine. It is so 
 dreadfully foolish to give children so much medicine. They gave me 
 so much, when I was a child, I lost my teeth soon after reaching wo 
 manhood, and for three years I have had to wear false ones. But the 
 Heartland family will be none the wiser on that score. The best thing 
 in such cases, is to keep your affairs to yourself. You cannot explain 
 such things satisfactorily to all. They will have their own ideas about 
 these things, and it only exposes your veracity to doubt to let them be 
 known, and afterward try to set them right. For my part I shall 
 keep my own secrets, always. I don t think I could have stood a dis 
 appointment in this California matter, it would have been so bitter. 
 Let me read his letter again. How noble his chirography! It is an 
 
TaJioc: or Life in California. 29 
 
 index to his character. There is a destiny that shapes our ends, rough 
 hew them how we will. I do not believe it. But I do believe, there 
 is a tide iri the affairs of men, which, if taken at the flood, leads on to 
 fortune. I believe it, and I am on that tide, and it is at its flood. But 
 here, what is this on the other side of the letter? It is strange 1 should 
 have overlooked it! He says: 
 
 "A friend in Vermont writes me, that your age, experience, and 
 high breeding are sufficient recommendations, so I will not call on you 
 for references." 
 
 PHILLIP HEARTLAND. 
 
 My age indeed! I have a great mind not to go. The impudent scamp! 
 I know I shall hate him. But I must go. I cannot afford to cut off 
 my own nose to spite my face. I wonder who could have given the 
 old rascal his information. There is one thing sure, he cannot have 
 much the advantage of me on the age question. He must have written 
 here to some of these village folks; but it was not a woman that time, 
 and I ought to be thankful, for, if it had been, I would certainly have 
 failed in getting the situation. She would have slandered me to such 
 an extent, that Col. Heartland would have at once rejected my appli 
 cation. I will go, and make myself so agreeable when once there, that 
 this Western man will soon forget what this malicious person, whoever 
 he may be, has said about my age; besides, residing in that far-off 
 country, it is not likely that he will see other women, younger than 
 myself, with whom to compare me. I doubt not, he is a sensible 
 man, and being such he knows that, 
 
 "It is not the face, it is not the form: 
 
 It is not the heart, however warm; 
 It is not these, tho allcombined, 
 
 That win true love, it is the mind. " 
 
 "Augusta Hubblestubble has the mind. As to my age, I do not know 
 it myself. I do not wish to know it, and I am determined no one else 
 shall. It is a dreadful, horrible, gloomy thought, the thought of grow 
 ing old, and that, too, with no man s strong arm between you and the 
 rough outer world, to shield and protect. This lapsing of time into 
 eternity ! I cannot and must not think of it. I would be haggard 
 enough to be taken for a grandmother in less than twenty-four hours, 
 if I suffered my mind to dwell on it. I must banish all unpleasant 
 memories and keep in view only the delightful future. I must brighten 
 up and free my mind of every care, that I may carry a young, happy 
 face to California. But to work. A few preparations and I am ready. 
 For once Augusta Hubblestubble will create a sensation in this village. 
 What will the gossips say when I am gone? I would like to be here 
 
30 Tahoe; or Life in California. 
 
 to hear them. Would that I had one faithful friend to write me all 
 their surmises. I ll take that back ; I do not wish any such friends, for 
 while they were keeping me posted as to the sayings and doings of 
 others, they would pry into and divulge to others everything concern- 
 ng me. No- even my little blue reticule could hold its secrets then. 
 No, as I said before, I will have no friends, and I will keep my own se 
 crets. 1 have made a mistake, I did not say it before, but I say it now, 
 most emphatically. Ah, villagers ! You know not what is in store 
 for you. Yes, you do ; I had almost forgotten that I had told long- 
 tongued Professor Meade of my anticipated journey, and he could 
 not keep it to save his life. Every baby in town already knows it. What 
 would 1 not give to tell each one of my acquaintances myself and wit 
 ness their surprise and astonishment? But ycu never get a chance to 
 do that in a village. Tell it once and it goes the rounds so fast you 
 do not get a chance to surprise but one listener. Well, as I live ! I just 
 happened to glance out of the window, and, what do you think ? There 
 goes old Miss Meade over the hill to the parsonage to tell the news. 
 Professor Meade s old maid sisters do their share towards keeping 
 things stirring, and the Professor himself is no mean hand at it. I 
 wonder what our preacher will say? Will he not regret not doing his 
 part towards keeping me here in Belle Meade ? And that stupid young 
 wife of his ! I know she will be glad I am gone, for I know the gad 
 abouts must have told her how much in love with Augusta Hubble- 
 stubble her husband was at one time. Of course they did. The temp 
 tation was too great for them to resist it. It was too good to keep. 
 Perhaps he told her himself how I bluffed him. I did it though through 
 a true womanly motive ; to save him from the mortification of being 
 discarded. I knew him to be a most excellent man, and a denial would 
 have been exceedingly harrowing to his very sensitive nature. He 
 seemed to appreciate the kindness, for he has always been a good 
 friend of mine. I could have loved him, but he was so much older 
 than myself there couldbe no congeniality between us. 
 
 "Miss Meade wishes to see you in the parlor," said the waiter, ap 
 pearing at the door. 
 
 "Tell her I will be down directly." 
 
 "This is very troublesome," she soliloquized, arranging her dress 
 preparatory to going down-stairs, "but she has just come from 
 the parsonage, and I will see if I can find out what has been said over 
 there respecting my movements. I ll end by finding out all that has 
 been said in the town concerning the same, for there are more Salina 
 Meades in this village than one. It is inhabited by them. But I must 
 go, else she will think I am primping for her benefit." 
 
Talioc: or Life in California. 31 
 
 "Good morning, Miss Salina." 
 
 "Why, how do you do to-day, Miss Augusta ?" 
 
 "Have this easy chair, I know you must be weary. You have walked 
 way over the hill from the parsonage, have you not?" 
 
 "Thank you, I have not a moment to stay. My brother told me 
 you had given up your place in the school and were going to visit re 
 lations in California, and I thought I would just run over and see if 
 our preacher had heard it, and if not, tell him about it. He was at 
 home, for a wonder, and it was lucky for me that he was, for he set 
 my mind at ease, my dear Miss Augusta, in regard fo you. You know 
 I have always loved you so much I felt great solicitude when I found you 
 were about to go so far away from us. I, of course, wished to know 
 where you were going, and for what purpose. Our preacher says this 
 Col. Heartland, whose daughter you are going to be tutoress to, is 
 one of the wealthiest men in California. A man of high standing and 
 great moral worth. He was a college-mate of his at Princeton, and is 
 of one of the oldest and best families of Virginia. He married a 
 Miss Alice Fairfax, also of fine family. He sold his Virginia 
 estate, and taking his young wife went to California, where, in 
 less than a year, she died, leaving him with an infant daughter. He 
 has remained since on his beautiful country estate, to which his wife 
 gave the name of Sierran Villa/ because it is situated on the Sierra Ne 
 vada mountains, on the bank of Lake Tahoe. A nice, rich widower ; 
 think of it, Miss Augusta. If I had your chance I would make it pay. 
 I know my brother made a mistake when he said you told him you 
 were going to visit relations. I knew you had no relations in the West, 
 besides, I feel satisfied a woman of your stamp would never sacrifice 
 her independence by living with relatives, no matter how opulent they 
 might be. Was I not right, my friend ? Now do tell me when you 
 will start." 
 
 "I will go," said Miss Hubblestubble, "to New York Wednesday, 
 and thence by the first steamer." 
 
 "Then, I ll see you again, * she said, rising to go. "In the mean 
 time let me go and tell my other friends about it." She gave Miss 
 Hubblestubble a loud kiss on the cheek and hurried away. 
 
 "Thank the Lord, she is gone," and saying this Miss Augusta re 
 turned to her chamber. 
 
 "Yes," she said, as she set about packing, "it is to our minister that 
 I am indebted for the recommendation. I regret he thought it neces 
 sary to mention my age at all. But he secured this place for me in 
 Col. Heartland s house, and I ought to be more grateful than to think 
 hard of him, and I will not, for he knew nothing of my age, except 
 
32 Tahoe: or Life in California. 
 
 what some of these women told him, and dear, good, credulous old 
 man, he believed them all. No wonder Augusta Hubblestubble leaves 
 you women of Belle Meade without regret. With a joyful heart she 
 bids you adieu, and with her soul full of hope and gladness she will re 
 turn at no distant day, not as Miss Hubblestubble but as Mrs. Col. 
 Heartland. If this prediction be not fulfilled it will be no fault of hers. 
 How you will watch that coming ! Many a maiden heart will ache 
 with envy and many a venomous tongue will be paralysed and wag no 
 longer in noise so rude against me. The honored name I bear, and the 
 wealth which will be mine will cause you to forget the past, and shield 
 me from all future animadversion on your part. Thus it is with the 
 world ! In adversity we have but few friends ; let prosperity come and 
 their name is legion. A little while and friends will be plentiful, and 
 Augusta will spend the balance of her life in luxury. In other words, 
 her prosperous days are dawning. How she prays for the hastening 
 of their coming ! She intends to stock her cards and so play them as 
 to insure the success she craves. I do not believe in a sacrifice of 
 principles for anything. It is said, all things are fair in love or war, 
 still I would not marry unless I loved. I know I shall admire this Col. 
 Heartland. I have already changed my opinion of him. I did so as 
 soon as I made the discovery that he was not to blame for saying what 
 he did concerning my age. He received this impression from the letters 
 written him, but I can disabuse his mind in regard to that matter in a 
 very short time. I will be agreeable, yes, for once in my life, I will be 
 very agreeable. I could never be so here to a gentleman, for just as 
 certain as I tried it some of these lynx-eyed women would see it, and 
 this low, mean village would giggle at my expense for a week. I will 
 show him only the sunny side of my heart, and should fortune favor 
 me and I become the wife of this man, whom I already so fervently 
 admire. I will prove worthy of the trust committed to my keeping. 
 The very idea of marrying has already softened my disposition. I 
 should not wonder if the reality did not eradicate all sourness not 
 that, for I have never been sour, but all former discontent from my 
 mind. There are some people who are naturally uncomfortable, every 
 thing always going wrong with them ; no peace, no happiness, grum 
 ble, grumble all day long, and finding fault with everybody and every 
 thing. I am so thankful I am not of that class, and I do not think 
 Col. Heartland can be either, for I have read and re-read his manly 
 letter, and can find nothing of that sort about it. On the whole, I 
 think we are congenial, and it will be in all respects a happy match. I 
 am willing to risk it at all events. Why should it not be ? It is absurd 
 to suppose it could be otherwise. I know he must be handsome, 
 
Tahoe: or Life in California. 33 
 
 Western men are all fine looking, so they say, I have never seen any of 
 them. I wish I had his picture. I intend to have his portrait taken, 
 and one of myself, too, as soon as we are married, and hang them side 
 by side in our Western home. I have his fancied image in my heart of 
 hearts, and hope, ere long, to have the opportunity of comparing it 
 with the original. What strange cameras our hearts are ! How truly 
 Madam De Stael expresses it when she says : There are innate im 
 ages in our hearts of the beings whom we are to love that lends to our 
 first sight of them an air of almost recognition." Such is the image I 
 cherish of Col. Heartland. I know full well that my brightest fancies 
 will be fully realized. Speed, happy time ; come, glorious future, come, 
 for Augusta Hubblestubble is tired of cold New England s stormy 
 clime, and longs for the genial atmosphere of the \Vestern skies, then 
 when winter comes she can retire from the Lake to Southern California, 
 where flowers scatter around their rich perfumes in December as well 
 as June ; where the orange, the lime and the olive grow ; where spring 
 reigns eternal. Delightful thought ! A land, a far distant land, that 
 the grey-bearded king of the North can never clasp in his frozen em 
 brace, and never touch with his ice-clad fingers ! To no longer be im 
 prisoned by his annual visitations, but to roam at all times of the year, 
 over a land of fruits and flowers, over grass-clad hills, and amid vine- 
 clad bowers ! The. thought is glorious, the reality bliss ! I already 
 breathe the exhilerating air, and feel the sweet, blissful influences ! I 
 must bid my friends good bye. I have a few friends I regret to part 
 from, but must console myself and them with the fact that their loss is 
 my gain. I must pack my trunk, not forgetting my little blue reticule, 
 and having an eye to the fact that I must be in New York in time to 
 take the Friday s steamer for Panama. They say Friday is an unlucky 
 day to begin a journey. I will not let such nonsense detain me, be 
 sides my journey will begin from this point, and several days before the 
 unlucky Friday. But Friday or no Friday, I am going. The trip is a 
 long one, but I am strong, anxious and more than willing." 
 
34 Tahoe: or Life in California. 
 
 CHAPTER VI. 
 
 T was in a land that far away 
 Into the golden Occident lies." 
 
 "My daughter, shall we go to Yosemite?" The speaker was Col. 
 Phillip Heartland, who has already been mentioned in our preceding 
 pages. He was of medium height, with dark, clear complexion, black 
 hair, now mingled with gray, and sparkling, black eyes. His comely 
 person, high culture, and courtly bearing, accorded well with his 
 princely wealth. 
 
 "You know father, that I ve always so much desired to visit Yose 
 mite," replied a young and beautiful girl on the seat opposite. 
 
 "Then, my daughter, the question is settled. We go. I will send 
 Griffin and Bertina on, and we will join them, after seeing Yosemite. 
 It is not worth while to carry our servants with us, as we tarry but a 
 short while, therefore, I will send them, together with our baggage, to 
 San Francisco." 
 
 "Just you and I, dear father, we can go so quickly and easily, and 
 being unencumbered, I think we shaH enjoy it the more." 
 
 They were just passing Donner Lake, almost hid from view by the 
 snow sheds. 
 
 "This lake is famous, being the scene of an occurence which has at 
 tached to it sad and mournful reminiscences." 
 
 "Tell me about it, please sir," said a little boy climbing upon Col. 
 Heartland s knees. "Please tell me about it," he added, turning to the 
 picture of it in the guide book, which he held in his hands. 
 
 "Yes, please, father," said Alice, drawing nearer and adding her re 
 quest to that of the friendly little stranger. "Tell us both about it." 
 
 "And may I listen, too?" said a young man near them, glancing 
 furtively at Alice. "If it will be no intrusion, I should like to hear it 
 also." 
 
TaJwe: or Life in California. 35 
 
 "Certainly," replied Col. Heartland, courteously; making room for 
 him on the same seat, he motioned to the young man to come and sit 
 beside him. 
 
 "Well," said Col. Heartland, "it was near the scene we are now pass 
 ing, on this lake, which is called Donner Lake, with its crystal outlet 
 creek, that over thirty persons perished, by starvation and cold during 
 the winter of 1846-47. A more heart-rendering story has seldom been 
 told. A colony of eighty-two persons had reached this locality, on 
 their way to the far-famed land of gold. Among them were many 
 women and children, and they had encamped, at a place afterwards 
 called "Starvation Camp," near by Donner Creek, when a terrible 
 snow storm covered the whole earth for many feet deep, succeeded by 
 one of the most severe winters on record. It was impossible for them 
 to return or go forward. Thus cut off, they soon consumed all the 
 provisions they had. Relief was impossible. Thirteen persons went 
 out for help, and of that number, ten died before reaching their desti 
 nation. Their cattle died and were eaten, and then they ate the flesh 
 of their frozen companions. Their sufferings from hunger knew no 
 bounds. Relief finally came in March, but all the living could not then 
 be saved. One family, Donner by name, refused to be separated. The 
 alternative was presented to Mrs. Donner, to leave her husband, and 
 with her children, seek a place of safety, or remain with him and 
 perish. She chose the latter and was left. In April, when the placewas 
 again reached, the husband s body was found prepared for the grave 
 lying cold and stiff. The devoted wife had made everything ready 
 with her own hands, and then followed his soul with hers into eternity. 
 How long, none could tell. Such is only one of the many tales of misery 
 endured by those who were engaged in early immigration to Califor 
 nia. We turn shuddering from the distressing accounts of a tragedy 
 which appears so little in keeping with the quiet, still beauty of the 
 lake and its surroundings. The name given to it under the circum 
 stances, is appropriate. It is a fitting and lasting monument to the 
 memory of a pure, unselfish and devoted wife, who preferred to die with 
 her husband, rather than leave him to perish alone. It is just, that it 
 should bear her name, and the bright surface should mirror to mankind 
 her image forever; and the murmuring waters of her name-sake creek, 
 should swell her requiem to the end of time. Such a reward, purity, 
 fidelity and self sacrifice must ever claim. Each passing traveller will 
 shed a tear, and each distant reader pays his tribute to her memory." 
 The recital ended, the little boy got down from his resting place and 
 returned to his parents in the far end of the car, but the young man 
 kept his seat, as if awaiting something more of interebt. 
 
36 Tajjioe: or Life in California. 
 
 " Are you going to Yosemite ?" he asked. 
 
 " We were thinking of it, "replied Col. Heartland. 
 
 "I should like to go, if I only had leisure just now," said he, glancing 
 again towards Alice. Ordinarily, Col. Heartland would have invited 
 him to accompany him, but he thought of his daughter, and said not a 
 word. Suddenly the cars stopped, and looking out they saw a large 
 assembly of Indian men. " It is an Indian funeral," said Col. Heart 
 land. " Let us go and witness it." 
 
 "We have stopped in order that the passengers may go out and see 
 it," replied the conductor, passing. 
 
 Col. Heartland and his daughter arose. Alice dropped her fan. The 
 stranger picked it up and handed it to her. With a "thank you" she 
 walked by his side to the door. He assisted her out, and walked with 
 her to where the Indians were performing the last burial rite for one 
 of their number. It was a man, old and infirm. The machinery of 
 life had run down, and his tribe were assembled to pay the last tribute 
 of respect to one who, in the course of nature, had passed away. No 
 house, no tent, not even a tree was near. Far away from civilization, 
 they had made a wicker bed and supported it upon four stakes about 
 three feet from the ground. On this they spread a blanket, laid the 
 corpse upon it, placed the gun he had used in life at his side, with shot 
 and powder. They then sang the funeral song in their own wild lan 
 guage, and as the last note died upon the air, they silently marched 
 away. Alone and undisturbed, in his own free mountain home, his 
 flesh was left to dry and blow away, and his bones to bleach and turn 
 back to dust ; for birds of prey come not in this pure, high, mountain 
 atmosphere. Flesh never becomes putrid here, but simply dries, crum 
 bles and passes away. The air is so thin and light, the travelers felt 
 they conld not take in sufficient to satisfy the lungs. They were liter 
 ally hungry for breath. In the distance might be seen the mountain 
 peaks, covered with snow, summer and winter, miles and miles away, 
 yet distinctly visible through the thin, clear atmosphere, like white 
 winged hope, ever present to the view, relieving the surrounding gloom. 
 The deer and antelope bounding to their mountain retreats, seemed 
 but small, dark, moving specks upon the sky. 
 
 The party again reseated themselves in the cars and the train went 
 bounding on. Conversation had about ceased, and the passengers be 
 coming drowsy, some were settling themselves down for a moment s 
 sleep, when suddenly, Alice touched her father and directed his atten 
 tion to the front of the car. The train had paused at a station. Two 
 gentlemen had arisen to their feet and stood looking defiantly at each 
 other, and speaking in angry tones. All was still as death among the 
 
TaJioc: or Life in California. 37 
 
 rest of the passengers. These men were in middle life. One hailed 
 from the old "North State, " and had long beard, hair mingled with 
 grey, falling in waves upon his shoulders, keen, searching eyes, impul 
 sive nature and high-bred air ; a relative of Patrick Henry, the same 
 fiery blood coursed through his veins, and the same daring independ 
 ence pervaded his being. All listened to the discussion until they 
 thought the old hero of " Ceasar had his Brutus, Charles I his 
 Cromwell, and George III may profit by their example ; if this be 
 treason, make the most of it, " had let his mantle fall upon his kinsman, 
 and left to him an inheritance of his eloquence. The other man, a 
 younger one perhaps, slow and precise in speech, held in his hand a 
 tall silk hat, which had just been removed from a carefully combed 
 head of dark brown hair. Of medium height, with cold, grey eyes, his 
 expression, tone of voice, manner, dress, and even his nose, indicated 
 his Puritan origin. You might almost imagine that you gazed upon 
 Plymouth Rock in mid-winter, so cold and hard he seemed. 
 
 Finally the discussion became more heated, and the cooler man said: 
 " Stranger, it seems that you of the South think that having been an of 
 ficer in the Confederate army is the only recommendation a man need 
 have to go to Congress or the United States Senate. " 
 
 The reply came quickly and fiercely from the other. " We think no 
 such thing, that is a lie and you know it. " 
 
 Time and place were forgotten and passion had full sway. 
 
 " I guess I know whereof I speak, " returned he of the tall hat, "and 
 I do not intend to permit you to gainsay it. 
 
 " I repeat, " said the other, stepping one step forward, "that you 
 have knowingly and wilfully uttered a cold and deliberate falsehood." 
 
 " Oh, I see no use in fighting about it. I I" but just then the 
 attention of every one was attracted in another direction. Even the dis 
 putants paused and looked around, as " I command the peace, " fell 
 from the lips of an aged woman, as she came rapidly towards them 
 from the rear end of the car. 
 
 " If women are going to take it up, " said the younger man, " I ll sit 
 down. " 
 
 The other maintained his position and replied, " I am not in the habit 
 of bandying words with women. " 
 
 " Yes, take your seat, " said the woman fiercely, looking at the first 
 speaker as he sank down. " You have not sense enough to talk poli 
 tics, and you, stranger, " turning to the other, "you of the long beard, 
 where are you from, and where are you going ? " 
 
 " I am from the ^v//and going to hell, and will take you with me, " 
 was the excited reply. 
 
38 Ta/ioe: or Lije in California. 
 
 " Hush up, sir, " she screamed fiercely, shaking her long, bony finger 
 in his face, " hush up this instant. " Again he essayed to speak, again 
 the finger approached his face, and again the " hush up, sir, " shrilled 
 through the car. She looked him steadily in the eye ; he returned the 
 gaze defiantly at first, then quailed before it, and, with the threatening 
 finger still over him, he sat down like a whipped child, amid loud roars 
 of laughter and cheers. For a moment she stood in the threatening at 
 titude, then seeing that he was completely conquered, she turned and 
 said : " My mission on earth is peace. If I have offended any one I 
 beg pardon, " and walked back to her seat. Thus ended a farce that 
 was never equalled upon any stage. The passengers now had leisure 
 to observe this angel of an enforced peace more closely. She was a 
 veritable witch of Endor. Raw-boned, wrinkled and swarthy, with 
 her scant, grey hair combed in the latest fashion, that is, drawn all to 
 the top of the head and arranged in an oblong twist, upon the end of 
 which rested the smallest imaginable bonnet, trimmed with gay flowers 
 and ribbons. Her dress was a tight pin -back of black material, fitting 
 closely, showing the fleshless, angular form. All felt the influence of 
 those glassy eyes, and thin, compressed lips. No whisper or murmur 
 of dissatisfaction was heard. The self-constituted guardian of peace 
 held all under the spell of her magnetic power, and if any one had 
 ought to say against his neighbor he was prudent enough to suppress 
 his feelings. Alice would have given much for a photograph of the 
 old lady, but she dared not ask for it and let " I dare not wait upon I 
 would, like the poor cat in the adage. " The passengers wiped the 
 water from their laughing eyes, as the shrill scream of the locomotive 
 gave warning that they were soon to be in motion again. 
 
Tahoe: or Life in California. 39 
 
 CHAPTER VII. 
 
 Conspiracies should no sooner be formed, than executed." 
 
 " Why, howdy do, Griffin! " said the cashier of a Montgomery street 
 bank. " Where is your boss? We have been looking for him here 
 for some time." 
 
 " He and Miss Alice am gone to Yosemite," replied the negro, " and 
 sent me and ole womon down to Frisco to wait till he come. Tole me 
 to ax you for a little change, to las till he get here next week." 
 
 "Certainly, how much do you want?" he asked, counting out some 
 bills. 
 
 " Reckon fifty dollars bout do, sir. Col. Heartland be here next 
 week. After he let Miss Alice shop awhile and see something of the 
 city and de folks, we all go home, to Sierran Villa, at Lake Tahoe, I will 
 be so glad. I so tired roamin round." 
 
 " You and your master have good credit here. Call again," said the 
 cashier, as Griffin left the bank. 
 
 A man who stood near the door followed him. " That banker seems 
 to think a good deal of you;" he said, walking carelessly up beside the 
 negro. 
 
 " Yes, he do," replied Griffin straightening up with pride ; he had 
 orter, too, for me and Massa Heartland hab done a good deal for him, 
 us most made him. Massa Heartland puts all his money wid him, and 
 I most frequently totes it backwards and forwards. Mighty seldom a 
 man s got two sich good frins as me and Massa Heartland, to look to 
 in immergencies like dat." Whenever Griffin connected his own name 
 familiarly with Col. Heartland s, he called him Massa Heartland. 
 
 " Good morning," and Aldridge, for it was he, walked rapidly away, 
 delighted with the information that he had gained. He went imme 
 diately to the Palace Hotel, ascended the stairs and entered Grubb s 
 room without knocking. 
 
4-O Tahoc: or Life in California. 
 
 " Well, what news?" asked the former specimen of \.\\tgenus tramp, 
 now raised to the dignity of an Honorable Bilk. 
 
 " I have two important things to communcate. In the first place, 
 I ve had a letter from Baltimore, and my poor, deserted child is dead ; 
 died several years ago, in Louisiana, while attending school. The last 
 link that bound me to my kind is severed, and henceforth I am at 
 your service. The detectives of Baltimore have found out my assumed 
 name and residence, which makes it dangerous for me to remain here 
 longer. I have concluded to throw up my situation and lead the old 
 life again. There is no one now to feel the degradation but myself. 
 Had I known this, how many years of heartaches and agonies might 
 have been spared me." 
 
 "Throw up your situation? Why man, what do you mean? It will 
 be a long time before any of your Baltimore accusers will be known 
 here. Your place ought to be good for at least a couple of hundred 
 thousand." 
 
 " You don t mean to say that I shall rob the bank and expose myself 
 to new dangers, forcing me again to become a refuge in other lands? 
 Where else could I go to?" 
 
 " I will show you how to do the thing and no one will suspicion or 
 blame will attach to you, but of this presently. What other news?" 
 
 " Well, I have found where Heartland deposits." 
 
 "Where?" said Grubb s, very much interested. 
 
 " On Montgomery street with the bank of B . I learned this 
 
 from a negro valet of his, who said he and his daughter would be 
 here next week." 
 
 " Great goodness! We must be quick," said Grubbs, drawing a 
 draft on the paper he had, above the name of Phillip Heartland. 
 
 " Well," said Aldridge, "what am I to do?" 
 
 " Marry that girl as I told you. If nature had done as much for me 
 old fellow, as she has for you, I would never ask a creeping reptile, 
 like Grubbs, to tell me what to do, in a case like this." 
 
 "At one moment, you tell me to rob the bank, and flee with the 
 money; at another, you tell me to marry the only child of a wealthy, 
 honorable gentleman ; a young lady whom I never saw ; I am at a loss 
 to understand you. How is all this to be done?" 
 
 " In the easiest manner possible. Let me manage it and it shall be 
 proven to your satisfaction." The two men now separated to meet 
 again during the night. 
 
 * * * * * * # * * # * # # * 
 
 Griffin called, on the morning following, at the bank to see if Col. 
 Heartland had been heard from. " Nothing direct," replied the banker, 
 
.Tahoe: or Life in California. 41 
 
 in answer to his inquiry. "But Griffin, he is drawing pretty heavily 
 upon us two large drafts one yesterday evening and one early this 
 morning. What does he want with so much money, just traveling 
 around?" 
 
 " Dunno," said Griffin, "You know Massa Heartland mighty gen 
 erous, allers helping oders, in substantial way, too. Not wid good 
 wishes, for folks can t lib on dem, but wid his bottom dollar, some 
 times. Den you know, dars Miss Alice, she s wid him, and a young 
 lady takes sights of money." 
 
 "Yet, with all that, Griffin, I do not see why he can be drawing so 
 heavily, unless he has taken a fancy to Yosemite and is buying it. I 
 hope he won t bring his sloshing purchase down here," he added 
 laughingly, as he saw he had amused Griffin. 
 
 " I dont reckon he will." said Griffin. "Massa Heartland got heep 
 common sense. He just went thar to please Miss Alice. She s 
 young, you know, and likes to see sich things. Stonishing how folks 
 will go miles and miles, and spen lots ob money, to see a parcel of 
 water sloshing about in all sorts of ways. He didn t do it dowto 
 please hisself, it was forhisdarlin chile s sake. Ain t them drafts got 
 his own printed name to em, what he writ hisself?" 
 
 "Oh yes, his signature is genuine, Griffin. We compared it carefully 
 to the one we have on file. It is all right, only, it is something unusual 
 for him to draw as heavily, when out of the city." 
 
 "He s all right," said the valet, as he bade the banker good morning. 
 
42 TaJwe: or Life in California. 
 
 CHAPTER VIII. 
 
 THE BANK ROBBING. 
 
 But when to mischief mortals bend their will, 
 How soon they find fit instruments of ill." 
 
 " Be quiet ; would you awaken every one in the house ? " said 
 Grubbs, in an undertone. " Put the gold gently in the bags ; there, 
 that is enough for that one, fill this. Did you get the silver exchanged 
 for paper currency as I told you ? " 
 
 " Most of it, " replied Aldridge. 
 
 " I am glad of that, silver would be very inconvenient for us to han 
 dle. I will bury this at the place we selected to-day, and there it must 
 remain until the excitement wears away, then we will divide. Here, 
 break this combination lock, also the key .Leave this dark lantern here* 
 and place this old hat near it, Leave these burglar s tools on the safe, 
 I will have no further use for them for the present, and besides, I can 
 get some more when it is necessary. Anything now, my boy, to re 
 lieve you. You will be quite a hero. Miss Heartland will be here in 
 the city soon, she will admire your bravery, and will be already half 
 won, when she learns how gallantly you defended your charge. Wo 
 men are given to hero worship, and you will find she is no exception to 
 her sex. Seek her acquaintance and tell your tale as Othello did to Des- 
 demona, and your fortune is made. No father s authority, or friend s 
 advice can keep a young woman from loving the man she enthusiasti 
 cally admires. Throw around you the garb of knighthood and the 
 prize is yours, without a doubt. But now, to the disagreeable part 
 of this little plan. Your face and hands must be cut and bruised, so 
 as to bleed some, but not too much ; there, that will do. Now over 
 this eye, here on this hand. Now cut off some of your hair and strew 
 it around, as if it were pulled out in a scuffle. There, that will do. This 
 
Tahoe: or Life in California. 43 
 
 would have fooled Phillip Heartland in the best days of his district at- 
 torneyship. Now place this half-filled bottle of chloroform where you 
 can kick it over as you give the alarm. Now drop the sheep s blood 
 from this bottle to the door and down the stairs. Throw these old 
 shoes out there also, that it may appear there were several robbers, 
 and they left without shoes. In this way bare foot-tracks will be looked 
 for. Now all is ready, and I will leave you. Take care you give me 
 good time to effect my escape, " said he, tying Aldridge s hands be 
 hind him, and then securely fastening him to the bedstead. " This 
 gag I will leave here on the mantle, with the end so arranged you can 
 take it in your mouth without the assistance of your hands. Now try 
 it. That does nicely. When I am safe pull the bedstead after you 
 until you can reach the house alarm, touch it with your foot, put the 
 gag in your mouth, kick over the bottle of chloroform, and all will go 
 right, my word for it. " 
 
 He left Aldridge writhing with pain from the cuts and bruises made 
 upon him, and loaded with all the money the bank contained, walked 
 rapidly away. 
 
 After giving Grubbs a reasonable time to effect his safety, Aldridge 
 placed his foot upon the alarm. It rang out clear and loud through 
 the building, and soon crowds were on the spot. The excitement 
 knew no bounds. With eager curiosity Aldridge s statement was lis 
 tened to, and every precaution taken to capture the daring burglars. 
 The police turned out in full force and every assistance was rendered 
 by the citizens, but all in vain. Grubbs had escaped and Aldridge was 
 left a hero. 
 
 The wounded cashier was carried to the house of the president of the 
 bank, and every kind attention bestowed upon him. Ladies of \vealth 
 and beauty vied with each other to do him honor, and fruits, flowers 
 and every little delicacy to tempt the appetite, flowed in like streams 
 from every source. The bank directors presented him with a gold 
 medal in token of their appreciation of his valiant, though unsuccessful, 
 defense against a band of desperate burglars, and every periodical in 
 the city was filled with complimentary editorials. Aldridge accep 
 ted all these courtesies as a matter of course. Thus flattered and ca 
 ressed he gradually recovered from his wounds. He spent his time in 
 reading and riding about the city. As soon as he was able to walk 
 out alone he made a visit to the place selected by himself and Grubbs 
 where the treasure was to have been buried, and looking cautiously 
 about him until assured no prying eyes were directed to him, he dug 
 up the box. It was light, and on being opened contained only a note, 
 which ran : " Tit for tat, old boy. Fearing the money might bring 
 
44 Tahoe: or Life in California. 
 
 you trouble I have put it out of harm s way. You did me a like favor 
 in Baltimore. But you are a hero and the gal s in view, so go ahead. I 
 leave San Francisco to-night forever. " 
 
 Aldridge grew sick and faint. " A dupe ! " he said, " a miserable 
 dupe ! " 
 
 With difficulty he made his way back to his friend s house. A fever 
 was the consequence, and again every care and attention was lavished 
 upon him. For days he lay in a stupor, and his life almost despaired of, 
 but a strong constitution conquered and he slowly recovered. Again 
 favors rained upon him, until he was completely surfeited with the 
 world s applause and delicate luxuries. Time brought him upon his 
 feet again, only to remind him that he was out of funds and moving in 
 a society that demanded a certain style of living, which money alone 
 could insure. Hence, he was forced to devise some means of sustain 
 ing himself. He could not longer live upon the bounty of his friends 
 and admirers, without losing their respect. 
 
 I must find Grubbs, " he said, " I believe this dodge of his to be all 
 a blind, arid he is hid away somewhere in the city. Why did I rely so 
 implicitly upon his profession, knowing the man, as I had good cause 
 to do, to be altogether unscrupulous and foreign to every virtuous 
 principle ? Grubbs is a man hard to understand, and one who keeps 
 his own secrets, but I will get the best of him yet. He is in this city, 
 and I am bound to find him. I have only to hunt and watch, " and he 
 did. 
 
 His surmises proved correct. Grubbs had secured lodging in a re 
 mote and squallid part of the city. He had put his treasure out of 
 harm s way, and was acting as a roper for a gambling hell. 
 
 Aldridge followed him up, and came down upon him in his den. 
 Grubbs \vas taken by surprise, but he had had too many ups and downs 
 in the world to evince any. His hard face and features underwent no 
 change, and with a smile he bade Aldridge be seated. Aldridge up 
 braided him for his treachery, and demanded his share of the money. 
 Grubbs feigned poverty and invited him to join in with him again. 
 Aldridge stormed and raved, until Grubbs, becoming uneasy as to his 
 safety, fearing treachery on the part of his accomplice, gave him a 
 small sum of money and promised more. After a long, earnest con 
 ference between them, they finally made satisfactory terms and united 
 to live the old life again. 
 
lalioc: or Life tn California. 45 
 
 CHAPTER IX. 
 
 Could you but view the scenery fair, 
 
 That now beneath my window lies, 
 You d think that nature lavished there. 
 
 Her purest breath, her brightest skies." 
 
 Col. Heartland and Alice left the train at Merced, and after several 
 hours of staging, they reached Clarke s Ranche. The journey through 
 the country, in the pure, cool air of the morning, was particulary re 
 freshing, and the quietness of all around, brought rest to the wearied 
 travellers. We find them after a hasty launch, wandering among the 
 giant trees of Mariposa. These wonders visited, they pass on by In 
 spiration or Glacier Point, to the Bridal Veil, El Capitain, Cathedral 
 Rocks and Spires. The Three Brothers and Sentinel Dome, were in 
 deed wonders to Alice, and many an enthusiastic exclamation escaped 
 her lips. 
 
 Col. Heartland s enjoyment consisted in watching the delight of his 
 beloved daughter. He never seemed to tire of talking to her of the 
 beauty and grandeur of all the scenery passed, and time fled so swiftly 
 ere they were aware they had reached one of the hotels opposite Yos- 
 emite Falls. 
 
 A night of unbroken sleep was followed by a morning of beauty. 
 After a hearty breakfast, a start was made for Mirror Lake, which 
 they visited, together with the Vernal and Nevada Falls, and returned 
 to their hotel, to enjoy its hospitality, and to took again upon the Yos- 
 emite Falls, one of the greatest wonders of this land of wonders. 
 Beauty of beauties, whose crystal, moving, sparkling waters, flow on 
 and on in the same gurgling, foaming and cerulean stream; the eye 
 never wearies in admiring them ; the tongue will ever sing praises as 
 long as time lasts and a being remains to gaze upon the splendor. 
 
 "Father, do you see that lady on the gallery there?" asked Alice, 
 
46 Tahoe: or Life in California. 
 
 pointing to an elegantly dressed woman, who sat upon a settee, near 
 the window. "She seems deeply distressed. I will go to her ; see, her 
 eyes are swollen with weeping ! Let us see if we can aid her in any 
 way?" They walked towards her, and Col. Heartland bowing said: 
 
 " Madam, pardon our intrusion, but my daughter and I have come 
 to see if we can serve you. You seem grieved, if our sympathies are 
 worth anything, you have them. In what way can I aid you?" 
 "You can go down and kick the landlord out of his hotel," replied the 
 offended one, bursting into a fresh flood of tears. 
 
 Col. Heartland was scarcely prepared to comply with this modest 
 request, and Alice noticed that a smile flitted over his face. She 
 stuffed a handerchief in her mouth to stay the ill-concealed mirth. He 
 steadied his voice and said softly: 
 
 " What has he done to so seriously wound a lady?" 
 
 " What has he done?" said she, almost screaming. "What has he 
 done? Why he wouldn t let Dot come to the first table, and I would 
 not go, if Dot could not. Dot is just as good as anybody, and my 
 husband will resent the insult as soon as he comes," tears again 
 choking her utterance. " You would, if you had any gallantry." 
 
 " Calm yourself, Madam, and tell me who Dot is." 
 
 " Don t you know Dot? I thought everybody knew Dot. I know 
 Dot, just as well, and better too, than anybody, and know that such 
 treatment will kill him." And again there was a fit of uncontrollable 
 weeping. When she grew a little calmer, Col. Heartland said: 
 
 " But you did not tell me who Dot is? " 
 
 " He is sick now, " she sobbed, " and I was up with him all of last 
 night, getting the fleas off of him and giving him medicine from my sil 
 ver cup and spoon ; then to think he was not allowed a seat at the 
 first table. Oh ! it will kill me, it will break my heart, it will, " and she 
 sobbed hysterically. Finally wiping her swollen eyes, she took from 
 a lunch basket beside her a small jar of butter and a piece of bread, 
 and began spreading the butter over the bread. 
 
 Col. Heartland and Alice, now thoroughly interested, stood near 
 watching her movements. Then calling, " Dot, Dot, " a little white 
 poodle sprang through the, parlor door and leaping into her lap, began 
 to eat the bread. Col. Heartland was turning away disgusted, when 
 a little child, following the dog, laid its hand upon it. The dog gave a 
 growl, the woman seized the child, slapped its face severely, and letting 
 it .go said, " I ll teach you how to fret Dot! He is not used to children, 
 and he shan t be imposed on by anybody. I ll show you how to 
 frighten Dot again! " 
 
 The screams of the child brought the mother in an instant. They 
 
Talwe: or Life in California. 47 
 
 met, and both women, Dot, bread and butter, lunch basket and all, 
 came to the floor in mingled confusion. Dot disenganed himself and 
 stood at one side barking furiously, the screaming child on the other 
 side as his vts-a-vis. Hairpins, combs, and braids flew in every direc 
 tion, while Col. Heartland retreated with his daughter, leaving the in 
 furiated combatants to be separated by the approaching landlord. Just 
 before leaving the Falls next morning he learned that the poodle wor 
 shiper was the wife of one of San Francisco s wealthiest citizens, while 
 the challenged party bore the honored name of a well-known bonanza 
 man. 
 
48 Tahoc: or Life in California. 
 
 CHAPTER X 
 
 vl O ! never yet did peace her chaplet twine, 
 To lay upon base Mammon s sordid shrine. " 
 
 Long before the sun looked out above the mountain peaks to shed his 
 genial rays upon the beautiful valleys below whose green, grassy slopes 
 sparkled with dew drops, Alice and her father were again seated in a 
 silver palace car, westward bound. 
 
 "The train is very much crowded to-day, is it not, father?" said 
 Alice. 
 
 "Yes, the emigration is so great towards the west that, notwithstand 
 ing they run as many trains as possible over the route, they are always 
 crowded. It will be a blessing to our land when the Texas Pacific road 
 shall have been completed, for then the emigrant can find his way 
 readily and cheaply to our desirable State." 
 
 " But, sir, pardon me, it will be a great curse to the South and West 
 for it will take from them their most valuable population, " said a 
 stranger near by. 
 
 Col. Heartland looked up, and seeing before him a kindly benevolent 
 face, replied : " That is true, but then they can have some of our Chi 
 namen in exchange. " 
 
 " Are you sure that would be any advantage to them ? I have my 
 doubts about these Chinamen. I fear they will not be a permanent 
 advantage to any country. " 
 
 "As to that, " said Col. Heartland, " they have made California what 
 she is. They planted her vineyards, orchards and beautiful avenues. 
 They have performed the drudgery of the country, and now, that ev 
 erything is teeming with life and beauty, there seems to be a great de 
 sire to expel them from the Paradise they have created. " 
 
 " I see, sir, that you are in favor of the Chinamen, " said the stran 
 ger. 
 
Tahoe: or Life in California. 49 
 
 " I am, sir, to a certain extent. I think their working qualities will 
 benefit any country. They are a simple, unobtrusive race ; perfect 
 working automatons, knowing nothing but labor, and caring for little 
 else. With no aspiration to equality, either social or political, they 
 pursue the even tenor of their way, unmolesting if unmolested. " 
 " Are they honest, neat and faithful ? " 
 
 " In these particulars, like the white race, they differ. Some are ex 
 tremely cleanly, others the reverse ; some are honest and some are not; 
 some are treacherous, while others are noted for fidelity. I have a boy 
 who has been with me seven years. I never knew a more honest and 
 faithful creature. I sometimes leave my house with him alone for 
 weeks, and on my return find everything as it should be. As servants 
 they excel any in the world, even the blacks. " 
 " What of their religion, or have they any ? " 
 
 " Generally it is a mixture of heathenism and superstition. Most of 
 them worship idols graven images. After coming here, they are 
 sometimes converted to the Christian religion, cut off their queues and 
 wear the Christian attire. There are still, however in China, the re 
 mains of a sect, known as the "nameless sect." The Chinese govern 
 ment, has always persecuted them in such a manner, that they have 
 for the most part practiced their religion in caves, protecting it by se 
 crecy. They live moral lives, and treat the Christian missionaries with 
 the greatest respect. They are numerous all over China, particularly 
 in the Province of Shangtung. They are supposed to be the remains 
 of the Nestorian church, that was planted there hundreds of years ago 
 by the Nestorian missionaries. The sword of the Mussulman has 
 swept over them, but still there are many left who are now looking for 
 a "Deliverer" as earnestly as their forefathers did, from the seventh to 
 the thirteenth century." 
 
 "Here are the old mining regions of 1848-49," said an elderly man 
 looking from the window, upon the gulleyed hills beyond. "It was 
 here, " continued he, "that the surface mining was carried on in those 
 days, when I first came to California. Here, those who left their 
 homes to hunt gold, spent their labor ; some dying, some returning 
 sadly disappointed, and a few finding sufficient of the far sought treas 
 ure, to remunerate them for all they had sacrificed in search of it." 
 Many hunted, sweat and bled for gold. Gold! The wild cry shook 
 the Eastern cities to their center, and thousands toiled their way west 
 ward in search of it. Some crossed the plains, over mountains and 
 deserts, long before the railroads were in anticipation. Others went 
 by the ocean and gulf, crossing the Isthmus of Panama, to reach the 
 4 
 
50 Tahoc: or Life in California. 
 
 promised land. San Francisco was but a mining camp through which 
 they passed to reach the longed for districts. Tarrying there only 
 long enough for supplies, they crossed the Bay and sought in the far 
 interior, Eldorado. We now look upon all that is left of their long 
 since abandoned field of operations. Deep gullies dug by the miners 
 pick in the barren hillsides, a few trees and but a little grass are to be 
 seen. Hydraulic power was used to wash the earth from its resting 
 place, and float it onward to a more convenient situation, where the 
 metal could be separated from the mass of mud and the water that ac 
 companied it. The surface of the earth being thus all dug and washed 
 away, the substrata contained but little or no more gold. These re 
 gions are now wild and deserted again, and the miner s pick is heard 
 no more among them. But he still toils beneath the surface of the 
 Sierra Nevada and other mountains." 
 
 "And there," continued the old gentleman, whose hair was silvered 
 by age, but whose eye shone brightly, whose wit and good humor had 
 more than once relieved the weariness of travel, pointing to a distant 
 hillside; "there is a spot of particular interest to me. When I was 
 a young man, I lived in Mississippi, the gem of the Gulf coast. I fol 
 lowed many others to this land of the West of which I had heard so 
 many golden stories. More beautiful than the creation of the Arabian 
 Nights were my bright imaginings. 
 
 "Before starting on my journey, I went to bid her farewell , whose 
 girlish troth, was mine. Young and beautiful as an Houri, and to my 
 fevered fancy, altogether lovely, it cost me no little pain to leave be 
 hind me this being, more dear than life itself. With tears in her bright 
 eyes, she spoke her words of parting, and placed in my hand a daguer 
 reotype, telling me she would look for my return, oh ! how anxiously. 
 Those words rang in my ears, and that precious picture was cherished 
 as more than any other earthly treasure.- I left, feeling that Aladdin s 
 wonderful lamp was in my grasp, so soon as I should reach 
 California, and I had but to rub it and my Genii would come with 
 myriads of golden coins. Alas, for human disappointments ! I 
 reached yonder spot without a dollar, my bright dreams fading before 
 pressing realities. There was nothing in prospect, but hard work. 
 Hope cheered me on, until, one night after a hard day s work, 
 we gathered in our camp around our frugal meal of smoked fish and 
 doughy bred. A few Mississippians, here together, we felt somewhat 
 confidential, and began to talk of the dear ones left behind. One 
 young man boasted that his beloved one was the prettiest girl in the 
 grand old State. I could not stand the challenge, and drew forth my 
 daguerreotype and laid it upon the board table. He grew pale as he 
 
TaJioc: or Life in California. 51 
 
 laid another beside it. A third companion stepped up and . laid down 
 another, then a fourth and a fifth. We all stood mute and painfully 
 motionless, as we looked upon the fair faces for they were all the 
 same. Not word of comment or regret escaped any of us. We were 
 too startled, even to think. But after awhile we slowly gathered up 
 the terrible revelations and buried them deeply in a mining cut. The 
 next mail brought us letters from home, and among other news was 
 that of the marriage of our adorable, to the man who had sense 
 enough to stay at home. Such is the romance of yonder hillside, 
 where once stood our mining camp, and such is human nature. Young 
 gentlemen, if any of you have photographs in your side pockets, draw 
 and compare, nor wait until you have worked and worn your soul case 
 out for a girl who has, perhaps, sent you off that she may marry some 
 one else in peace." 
 
 "Your experience has been a bitter one," remarked Col. Heartland. 
 " No, no," said he, " it was the best thing that ever happened to me. 
 It brought me to my senses. I have never dreamed of gold or hunted 
 for it since. I purchased a piece of land, and now have one of the 
 largest wheat ranches in the state ; a wife, handsome and true-hearted, 
 and some lovely daughters, whom I have tried to teach not to have 
 but one string to their bows at a time. But it goes sorely against their 
 womanly natures. Two noble sons to do me credit, and who have 
 been fortunate enough to find girls, whose pictures were not in every 
 man s pocket. Pshaw! Tell me about love killing anybody. It never 
 did. I ve tried it, and it only gives zest to after life." 
 
 Alice listened with attention, and wondered if he did not jest about 
 the wickedness of womankind. She sat musing until the first stranger 
 who had addressed her father, attracted her attention, by renewing 
 the conversation. He said to Col. Heartland. 
 " Were you ever in Wyoming?" 
 
 " Yes," was the reply, "but I passed directly through without stop 
 ping." 
 
 " Well, I stopped there to my sorrow." 
 " How was that?" 
 
 " A number of years ago I left Ohio to settle in the West. I reached 
 Wyoming. The country pleased me. The lands were cheap and I 
 purchased a large tract. I was successful, and soon had herds of cat 
 tle, sheep and horses, as well as money plenty. Then the woman s 
 voting law was passed. They became lawyers, doctors, legislators and 
 judges. Every avenue of life was open to them and they crowded in 
 like bees. The tide of female immigration was immense. Without 
 law, order or justice, they took possession of the land. One woman 
 
52 Tahoe: or Life in California. 
 
 claimed my cattle and sent her herdsmen for them. I appealed to the 
 courts, but a woman judge and a jury of women decided the case in 
 her favor. I asked why, and was told that it was because she wanted 
 them, and that I ought to be ashamed of myself to go to law when a 
 woman wanted anything. Thus encouraged, a few weeks after she 
 wanted my sheep. Knowing how useless it would be to resist, I sat 
 quietly on the fence and saw them driven off, wondering what she 
 would want next. " 
 
 " Where was this ? " asked a tall, gaunt woman in the car. " I say, 
 stranger, where is this that women that have such nice rights ? " 
 
 "In Wyoming, ma am, " replied he. 
 
 " I wish I had stopped there, " she said, "but go on, I like to hear 
 about it if I can t have no rights. Go on. " 
 
 Col. Heartland smiled, and Alice wondered at the coarseness of the 
 woman. 
 
 " Go on, I say, I want to hear. " 
 
 " Well, my horses came next. I tried to hide them, but they were 
 found and went like the rest. " 
 
 " I believe, " said the woman, " I ll go right back to Wyoming. It s 
 the best place I ve heard of. Go on, stranger, what else? " 
 
 "Finally, " continued he, " I was informed that I must divest my 
 self of my land titles in favor of a woman, and all because she was a 
 woman." 
 
 " Glorious ! Glorious ! " cried the excited female. " Go on, go on. " 
 
 "I consulted a lawyer. It was a woman case, and I must give it up. 
 I went before a female justice of the peace and signed the deed that 
 had been prepared by her attorneyship. Then, as no woman wanted 
 to pay my board bill, I was compelled to go to work. I sought a place 
 and was told by a woman that she would give me three dollars per 
 month to clean up the house, do the sewing, cook wash, iron, and work 
 in the garden occasionally, and attend to the children at night while 
 she was gone to the club. Disgusted and discouraged I employed 
 myself as a brakesman on the road, and worked my way to California, 
 where the rights of men are more respected. I am again the master of 
 a home and a few pleasant surroundings. " 
 
 " Come over here, " said the woman who had before spoken, " come 
 over here and tell me more about those talented, thorough-going, 
 Wyoming women. " He obeyed, and they were soon engaged in close 
 conversation. 
 
 " Who is she ?" Col. Heartland asked of ^he gentleman who had told 
 them the story of the daguerreotype in the early days of California. 
 
 " She is a teacher for whom we advertised, " said he. " I do not 
 
Tahoe: or Life in California. 53 
 
 know how my wife will like her. I don t think she will like her altogether. 
 I went to Ogden to meet her, as she wrote me she was afraid to come 
 all the way alone. She has been courting all the way, first one man 
 and then another. We have had a time about teachers. Our bach 
 elor neighbors marry them as fast as we can bring them out. I do not 
 care to be a wife agent. Besides, if we go to the trouble of getting a 
 teacher I want to keep her a little while at any rate. " 
 
 "You will keep this one, " said Col. Heartland, naively glancing at 
 her. 
 
 " I hope so, " said the other, looking in the same direction. 
 
 " What a terribly ugly woman, " thought both, and they rode on 
 in silence. Col. Heartland thought of the advertisement he had an 
 swered and shuddered. 
 
 The scenery they were passing was beautiful, and the most of the 
 passengers were looking out of the car windows enjoying it, when a 
 shrill voice from a party they had not noticed before, caused Alice to 
 look around. 
 
 " No, indeed, ole man, no sirree Bob. My eddycated daughter marry 
 a farmer, a common workin man, no, indeed. I ll set you up and 
 down with that, so you can jest dry up about that. " 
 
 " I think, " said the old man, " it would be good enough for Matilda 
 Jane I am a farmer, and you married mighty well, ole oman. " 
 
 " Why, Hubby, iMatilda Jane spent two years in North Carliny stud 
 ying graduate, and can play Chicken in the Dough Tray and lots of 
 other things on the piany. She must raise her family up higher, not 
 pull em down. She is good enough to spend the balance of her days 
 at the Palace Hotel. She must marry a gold dealing man. " 
 
 " You mean a stock broker. " 
 
 " No, I don t, I want nothing to do with stock, I am tired of horses, 
 cattle and hogs. I mean just what I said, a gold dealing man. You 
 have broke enough stock for me, and I was glad when we sold the 
 farm in North Caroliny, with all the stock, and started to Californy. I 
 have rted enough of stock, " and her nose struck an angle of forty-five 
 degrees. " Moreover, " she continued, " I ve took too much pains with 
 Matilda Jane to throw her away on a nobody. I never lows her to 
 wash dishes or spile her hands in any way tall, cause she is a borned 
 lady. But Mary Liza can marry a farmer and take to raising poultry 
 and hiving bees. " 
 
 Mary Liza took the floor in a twinkling, her fading eyes brightening 
 with indignation, and her rawboned form straightening to its full 
 height. " Me indeed ! Yes, me indeed !" she exclaimed, fairly chok 
 ing with wrath, " anything is good enough for Mary Liza, poor drudge! 
 
54 Tahoe: or Life in California. 
 
 That lazy Matilda Jane can t wash dishes, can t do anything that is 
 useful. I must wash, iron and cook, churn, milk, hoe, scour, and sew 
 on the buttons, too, and all for the whole of you, " she screamed, "and 
 then I must marry so that I will be a drudge the rest of my life. A 
 fine way you all treat me, but I ll watch you, I ll se v . out for myself. 
 I ll see then who ll do the work to save Matilda Jane s pretty hands. 
 I am coming to California to marry a gold mine man, and I m going 
 to stay until I get him. I aint going on no farm, I m going right to 
 Frisco, I am too, now, I am too, now, " and she sat down sobbing bit 
 terly. 
 
 There were two more daughters over thirty years of age, who sat 
 bold upright and looked at Matilda Jane. She returned their gaze 
 with a defiant toss of her head and a supercilious smile, which made 
 them more angry than ever. In imagination she had already married 
 the gold-dealing man. A few moments after she said aloud : " I de 
 spise old maids, I wish them old jealous sisters of mine could catch a 
 fellow or two. " 
 
 All three flew at her like a parcel of furies. The struggle became a 
 family one. Mother, father and two strong-armed brothers rescued 
 the darling Matilda Jane, on condition that she would " hold her 
 tongue " the rest of the way. This she consented to do, and the brothers 
 got them all quiet again. 
 
 This family were totally oblivious of all others except themselves, 
 and the amusement of the passengers knew no bounds. Alice laughed 
 until the tears streamed down her cheeks, and even Col. Heartland 
 gave way to uncontrollable mirth. 
 
 They were nearing Sacramento, near which place the hero of the 
 Wyoming story was to leave the train. The elderly gentleman was 
 jiot more surprised than gratified when his advertised-for teacher in 
 formed him that she would be married in Sacramento, to the man of 
 her choice, the next day. After a little while she came to him again 
 to say that if there was a preacher on the train, they would be married 
 immediately. A minister was found, and the two standing before him 
 were made one, much to the enjoyment of the travelling community. 
 The baggage checks were demanded, and gladly were they given to 
 the newly made husband. They reached the station and departed for 
 their home, while the amused passengers were borne on toward the 
 capital of the Golden State. 
 
 " To the Orleans House, " said Col. Heartland, taking his seat beside 
 Alice in the carriage. 
 
Tahoe: or Life in California. 55 
 
 CHAPTER XL 
 
 "Books are men of higher stature, 
 And the only men that speak aloud for future times to hear." 
 
 " Well, my daughter, you want to see the city, do you not?" said her 
 father entering Alice s room, on his return to the hotel, after a short 
 absence out in the city on business. 
 
 "Come on, I ve a carriage below, and we will go at once." 
 
 " Did you see those invalids at the hotel?" she asked, as they drove 
 away. 
 
 " That young man and pale girl?" 
 
 " Yes, she is his wife. He is taking her to Los Angelos, hoping it 
 may restore her health." 
 
 "Ah!" said Col. Heartland, and his mind dwelt in the past. 
 
 "Those hectic flushes show that the fell destroyer, consumption, has 
 fastened his fangs upon the vitals. Tender care, constant attention 
 and a warm climate, may do much to soothe, much to alleviate her 
 suffering, but nothing to save." 
 
 "So young, so lovely, so fondly cherished," said Alice. 
 
 " Never had Ponce De Leon higher hopes when searching for the 
 font of everlasting youth, than this young man has for the restoration 
 of his much loved wife. I talked with them while you were gone. 
 Their eyes sparkled, and their faces brightened when they spoke of 
 Los Angelos, and the benefits they hoped would follow a residence 
 there." 
 
 " Sad, sad, I fear will be their disappointment. But I pray their 
 fond anticipations may be realized." 
 
 " Where shall we go first?" 
 
 " To the Capitol, father, I have read so much about it, I wish to 
 see it." 
 
56 Tahoe: or Life in California. 
 
 " To the Capitol," he said to the driver, and the carriage turned into 
 one of the most beautiful avenues of this city of avenues. The day 
 was warm and bright, but the sun could not penetrate the thick shade 
 of the Eucalyptus trees, that grew on both sides of the streets and in- 
 terlapped above the carriage way. 
 
 "Beautiful ! Beautiful ! exclaimed Alice, as she looked first from one 
 side and then to the other. 
 
 " Drive down this street," said Col. Heartland, pointing to a wide, 
 one. " Let us see those silver poplar trees, and the handsome houses 
 where the nabobs of Sacramento dwell." On and on, in this paradise 
 of beauty, until the carriage entered the Capitol grounds, where beauty 
 is changed to grandeur. 
 
 They walked up the broad steps into the building. It was remark 
 ably quiet. The Legislature was not in session, and the only life about 
 the place, seemed to be in those rooms used by the State officers. The 
 Treasurer threw open his vaults and showed the immense sums of 
 gold the property of the State. They met the kind hearted, benevo 
 lent Governor, and were treated with the greatest consideration by all, 
 fronrthe Janitor up, for Col. Heartland was known and beloved on 
 the whole coast. 
 
 " Why, Waldron," he exclaimed, shaking hands with a young man 
 he met with in the Library. " How come you here? My daughter, 
 Mr. Waldron." Alice acknowledged the introduction, while Waldron 
 replied : 
 
 "Just a little business, Colonel. We have been looking for you in San 
 Francisco for two weeks." 
 
 " Yes, I went to Yosemite; now, I must stop here a day or two." 
 
 " Miss Heartland, have not we Californians a magnificent State Li 
 brary?" he said to Alice, as he saw how absorbed she was by her sur 
 roundings. 
 
 " Magnificent indeed. It seems to contain everything in the way of 
 literature and this is the law library here," she said, looking into an 
 adjoining apartment, "is it not?" 
 
 " Yes, and a more select one there is not on the continent." 
 
 They walked round and round, looking at the numberless books 
 until Col. Heartland warned them that it was time to go. Waldron 
 joined them and rode back to the hotel in the carriage with them. He 
 there left them, but soon returned with his sister, the wife of a banker 
 of the city. She insisted upon Col. Heartland and Alice accepting an 
 invitation to tea with her. They did so. 
 
 " I will call for you," said Waldron, as he descended the stairway. 
 
 The rest of the day was spent in driving about the city. They vis- 
 
Tahoe: or Life in California. 57 
 
 itcd the Chinese laundries, which were curiosities indeed. The washing 
 was done below stairs, and the lines for drying were stretched upon the 
 tops of the flat roofs of the wooden houses. One Chinaman kept the 
 books of each laundry. Their writing was done in strange hieroglyph 
 ics, one sign or letter above another like a column. Some were en 
 gaged in carrying the clothing to the laundry and from it. Others in 
 performing the laundry work, which they did with marvelous celerity. 
 There were no women engaged in the business, though some few are 
 occasionally seen, dressed in the fantastic style of their nationality. As 
 a general thing the men made washing a specialty They may be 
 seen along the streets with poles six or eight feet long on their shoul 
 ders, with a basket of clothing dangling from each end. They live on 
 a little rice and tea, and sometimes add rats and dogs to their bill of 
 fare. What they accumulate is sent home to the mother country. 
 They make arrangements, should they die, for their remains to be car 
 ried back to their own land, fearing the hereafter, unless their bones 
 repose beneath the soil of the Empire. They require a scrupulous ex 
 actness in all business transactions. It sickens the heart to see a want 
 of Christianity in a fellow-being, generally speaking, but the Chinaman 
 kneels before his idols, and we look with composure upon him, for it 
 is his nature, and belongs as much to him as does his national and long 
 queue. He would not seem a Chinaman without those things peculiar 
 to his race. Their Joss house presented a poor appearance outside, 
 and but little better inside. It contains the graven images, fashioned 
 after models of their own country. They enter one door, bow before 
 their wooden gods, utter a few incoherent sentences, rise, and leave the 
 house by another door. Thus was the afternoon whiled away, and 
 Col. Heartland reached the hotel just in time to meet Waldron, who 
 had come for them according to promise. 
 
58 Tahoe: or Life in California. 
 
 CHAPTER XII. 
 
 Catch then, O, catch the transient hour, 
 
 Improve each moment as it flies ; 
 Life is a short summer man a flower, 
 
 He dies alas ! how soon he dies ! 
 
 Gay phaetons, landaulets, and broughams crowded the streets, laden 
 with the wealth and beauty of the land, while sweet music floated from 
 every mansion. It was eventide in the lovely city, and as the joyous 
 ones whirled by, Waldron and his friends joined the moving throng in 
 a handsome open brett, drawn by fleet, spirited horses, and were 
 driven to the residence of his brother-in-law. 
 
 " What a beautiful house," exclaimed Alice, as they ascended the 
 elegant marble steps. 
 
 " Beautiful indeed," remarked her father as he followed Waldron in. 
 The chandeliers were all ablaze, as they entered the parlor and were 
 seated. Waldron left them for an instant. 
 
 " Father, is this not like the fabulous story of a fairy castle, or the 
 creation of the Arabian Nights?" 
 
 " It is grand, it is lovely, my child, but still there are many such in 
 our Western cities." 
 
 " It is too grand to be a reality, too rich and magnificent for human 
 means. Look at these frescoed walls, these costly Turkey carpets, 
 this satin covered furniture, the panellings of which are so bright as 
 to dazzle the eyes." 
 
 But yet, my daughter," he said, passing his hand over the polished 
 surface of the.back of the settee, "yet this furniture is made in San 
 Francisco, of satin wood from California s own forests." 
 
 "Is not California the greatest State in the United States?" asked 
 Alice. 
 
 " I cannot say that; that would arrogate too much to ourselves. 
 
TaJioe: or Life in California. 59 
 
 But our State certainly has its advantages. How it has progressed in 
 an incredibly short space of time! What a change ! A few years ago 
 except the Spaniard and the Indian, there were no inhabitants here ; 
 now see the populous cities and cultivated fields. Twenty-eight years 
 ago, San Francisco was but a mining camp, now it is a great and pop 
 ulous city, an intelligent, wealthy community, and with palace homes 
 that have not their equal even among the nobility of Europe." 
 
 "But there is our hostess," and Alice arose to receive the warm 
 greeting tendered her. Col. Heartland was welcomed with much cor 
 diality. The host soon joined them and added his words of cheer to 
 those already spoken. 
 
 " It is more pleasant to sit in the library," he said, leading the way to 
 a smaller apartment adorned with costly books and paintings, and or 
 naments of gold and silver. Again Alice sat dreaming of fairy lands, 
 and for a moment she forgot the sober phases of life, and its sad re 
 alities. She was aroused from her reverie by the entrance of a lady 
 and gentleman, who were introduced as visiting friends from the East. 
 Col. Heartland recognized them as fellow travellers whom they had 
 met on the train before he left it, to go to Yosemite. 
 
 "But where is the little boy?" he asked after greeting them. 
 
 " Willie!" called his mother, and the child came springing into the 
 room, paused a moment, then climbed up into Col. Heartland s lap. 
 After a few childish remarks, he left his perch, to return again in a 
 few moments with his favorite guide book. 
 
 " See here," he said, "let me show you the pictures, this is the Thou 
 sand Mile Tree, and this is the Devil s Gate. Why is it called the 
 Devil s Gate." 
 
 "Because the Devil went through once and left it open, as you did 
 my back-yard gate this morning," said the host jocularly. 
 
 " And here is the Devil s Slide, what is that named for?" still persist 
 ed the little fellow. 
 
 " It is so called," replied Col. Heartland with much gravity, "because 
 the Devil once slid down there." 
 
 " Did his mother whip him for wearing out his breeches?" glancing 
 towards his own dignified mamma. 
 
 This was too much, the whole party laughed boistrously. Waldron 
 clapped his hands in his excitement, and Alice s merry laugh rang 
 through the room. 
 
 Broad folding doors were drawn noiselessly aside by two Chinese 
 servants, and host and hostess led the way into the dining room. The 
 table claimed the attention of Alice for a moment. It was of the most 
 highly polished satinwood, and contained a service of gold and silver 
 
60 J^ahoe: or Life in California. 
 
 The coat of arms of the family was engraven upon every piece, and 
 represented a large falcon with outspread wings, for this was the Fal 
 coner family. Gold cups with silver saucers, silver knives and golden 
 forks, silver goblets lined with gold, pitchers, alternated gold and sil 
 ver, golden spoons and tea service of gold. The side dishes were of 
 silver, lined with gold, wine stands of silver and cake salvers of gold. 
 Every luxury that could please the palate was served. They were in 
 good condition to enjoy their repast, for riding in the open air had 
 whetted the appetite. In the enjoyment of the delicious viands they 
 had almost forgotten the magnificence by which they were surrounded, 
 when they were startled by an exclamation from Willie, " Oh, Ma, 
 what a buzzard ! " He had seen one of the falcons on the top of 
 the fruit stand. A silence followed ; the mother was mortified, 
 and the hostess too well bred to hear the child s remark. Waldron s 
 eye twinkled, but Col. Heartland s well-bred self-control rebuked him. 
 Alice did not hear, but commenced a conversation with the host, who 
 would have laughed outright had not a glance from his wife warned 
 him. 
 
 " All things that are bright must pass away, " said Col. Heartland 
 to his hostess as he took her hand at parting, "and so must end this 
 pleasant evening. Unconsciously he had wandered beneath a shad 
 ow and in a moment his radiance was gone, and his thoughts in the 
 distant past. Alice promised to come again and they left the hospita 
 ble roof with a hope to meet them again. 
 
 Morning found them in Vallego, two hours later, in San Francisco. 
 Bertina came immediately to Alice. Col. Heartland, leaving his 
 daughter at the Palace Hotel, went to attend to his business in the 
 city. He was late returning, and when he came, accompanied by Grif 
 fin, he told his daughter of the forgeries that had been committed. 
 
 " Who did it ? " 
 
 " We do not know, " said he. 
 
 " Did they imitate your signature, father ? " 
 
 " No, the signatures were genuine ; there s the puzzle, how they ob 
 tained them I cannot tell. " 
 
 " And there is no clue to the forgers ? " 
 
 " None. " 
 
 " How much did they get ? " 
 
 " Sixteen thousand, seven at one time, nine at another. " 
 
 " And no clue, nothing to lead to the discovery ? " 
 
 " Nothing, but I will remain here for some days and see what can be 
 done. I have the police on the alert. We will try to ferret it out. 
 You know I never lament over what I can not remedy. I have had so 
 
TaJioe: or Life in California. 61 
 
 many great troubles that this is a minor one ; so get your hat and let 
 us go riding. " 
 
 They passed along the streets of this cosmopolitan city, by its busi 
 ness houses of high and low degree, its palatial residences where the 
 millionaires dwell, and its humble cottages of the poor. 
 
 " Who was Mr. Woodward ? " asked Alice, as they entered the gar 
 den, the most renowned in America. 
 
 "A gentleman of wealth of this city, whose generosity has been called 
 forth for the public pleasure and good. The small price charged for 
 admittance proves his motives were pure. Sunday Schools, Orphan 
 Asylums, and other charitable institutions, have free use of the gar 
 den. " 
 
 " It is a place to delight the eye, " said Alice; " what a variety of at 
 tractions! " 
 
 "This garden," said her father, " has not an equal on this conti 
 nent, public or private. It is certainly a great pleasure to the San 
 Franciscans. They are exceedingly proud of it, and not without cause. 
 One citizen can contribute a great deal to the pleasure and health of 
 others when wealth falls to his lot. Some one has truly said, that he 
 who enjoys, and not he who owns, is the true possessor. Every citi 
 zen of San Francisco feels that he has and owns an interest in the gar 
 den. " 
 
 " I notice, father, " said Alice, " that San Francisco is seldom men 
 tioned in the accounts given by travellers, unless accompanied with a 
 lengthy description of these gardens. Visitors never fail to pass a day 
 here, to inhale the perfume of the myriads of flowers, to see these 
 lakes, fountains and cascades, to listen to these murmuring brooks and 
 gurgling, babbling rivulets, look upon these mounds and hillocks, cov 
 ered with vines and flowerets, that the frost never blights, that the heat 
 does not scorch. " 
 
 " I like to see you so enthusiastically appreciative of all these 
 beautiful things, my child. It convinces me that I have not erred in 
 educating you with a just appreciation of God s beauteous earth, with 
 its manifold blessings. I like to leave the anxious, busy city and its 
 confusion, and wander here amid the combined beauties of nature and 
 art. It brings peace to the soul and gratitude to the heart. We for 
 get the attritions of every-day life, and ascend into a higher atmosphere. 
 Look into this little grotto and that cavern, over there at that grassy 
 lawn, and, just beyond, that green thicket. There goes the gazelle 
 nimbly bounding over the green sward, and down yonder sandy slope 
 the ostrich paces to and fro. Notice that pond in which those mag 
 nificent sea lions dwell the water is salt, and changed often ; hear 
 them roar, and see them climb the rocks, only to tumble off again 
 
62 Tahoe: or Life in California. 
 
 in the water. The pond is surrounded by a stout iron railing, is it 
 not? Let us go nearer. Now look here at this aged bear confined in 
 this inclosure ; that artificial tree is a source of great comfort to him 
 in his imprisonment, He climbs it, descends it again, and again 
 climbs it to its top a Sysiphean task of which he never seems to tire. 
 And here (entering the Museum) was formerly Mr. Woodward s pri 
 vate residence. In here we find antique relics from all parts of the 
 world, fossils, birds and fish. Look at these terribly deformed beasts, 
 and those so perfect in symmetry. And over here are the mineralogi- 
 cal and geological specimens ; most of these are from the Japanese 
 Empire, though this coast has furnished scores of curiosities here too 
 numerous to mention. I could spend days and days here with pleas 
 ure and profit ; but, come ; let us go up this elevation to the pavilion, 
 georgeously decorated within, while the flags of all nations are un 
 furled above it." 
 
 " How many people could be seated here, father ?" asked Alice. 
 
 "About five thousand, I think ; you see the seats extending around 
 in these ascending tiers, and the floor is in the center, something like ft 
 theatre, you see. There is no recognition of the Sabbath day here. 
 Roller skaters gather in large numbers to exercise upon the smooth 
 rink, and acrobats, trapeze performers, burlesque actors and dancers 
 come at that time, also, because they can have a greater crowd ; but 
 what is the matter " and Col. Heartland followed his daughter, who 
 left the pavilion. Pale and trembling, Alice told him she wished 
 to get out of the sight of a horrible ugly creature she had seen there 
 in the shape of a man. 
 
 " He kept looking at me, father," she said, " His eyes were those 
 of a demon ; they glared in different ways and were of different colors. 
 Oh ! he was horrible to look upon," and she shuddered. 
 
 They got into a little boat upon the lake, and in a little while Alice 
 forgot the monster she had seen, and entered into the enjoyment of 
 the surroundings. They went to the refreshment room, then to the 
 observatory and took a view of the city and country around. The 
 aquarium was an especial feature. The live fish of all varieties in the 
 different compartments were very interesting, and they lingered long 
 around them. Going through the underground passage-wav, they 
 entered the zoological department. Hour after hour passed, and the 
 setting sun found them on their way back to the hotel, after a de 
 lightful day in the Woodward Gardens. Alice amused old Bertina 
 with an account of what she had seen, not forgetting to tell her of her 
 encounter with Grubbs, for it was he. 
 
 " What a ugly creature he must hab been," she said ; "crooked eyes 
 and no neck umph ! scared my baby, too ; ole ugly ape of inicrity." 
 
Tahoe: or Life in California. 63 
 
 CHAPTER XIII. 
 
 " Oh, tis n t in tongue or pen to trace 
 The scenes I saw in that joyous place." 
 
 " Faiher," said Alice, " we have been nearly every other place of 
 interest in and around San Francisco, suppose we go to the Cliff 
 House?" 
 
 " With all my heart, my child. I wish you to see the great Pacific 
 Ocean. The bay is beautiful, but the ocean is grand as calm and 
 unchangeable as it was nearly four hundred years ago, when Balboa 
 climbed the mountain and took the first view of it. I thought to take 
 you through the Golden Gate and sail down the coast, but I will not 
 have rime this trip ; I am so busy, and this forging business is some 
 thing I did not anticipate and has occupied much of my time." 
 
 " No clew to the forgers yet ?" 
 
 " None at least, no tangible one ; some strong suspicions that may 
 lead to something more definite in the future. For the present, all is 
 kept quiet. Shall we go ?" 
 
 " I am ready," she said, and following him, they entered the carriage 
 and were driven away. The densely peopled portion of the city was 
 soon left behind them, and they were breathing the cool, life-giving 
 ocean air. The Cliff House reached, a fair view of the ocean and a 
 ramble along the beach compensated them for their ride. There was 
 something so thrilling and ennobling in the sight of the Pacific Oc^an 
 for the first time, to Alice, that lunch time found her still in a reverie, 
 and it was not until summoned the third time, by her father, that she 
 recollected herself. She ate quickly for fear of losing a little time, and 
 again walked forth. The sea lions stretch themselves upon the 
 rocks in sight, and, roaring loudly, plunge into the water, dive out of 
 sight, and, reappearing upon the surface, go through, again, the same 
 performance. 
 
64 Tahoe: or Life in California. 
 
 The sun was low in the western sky as the carriage reentered the city. 
 The wide pavements were crowded with hurrying citizens, seeking 
 their homes from the day s work done. Alice noticed that some of 
 these pavements were stone, while most of them were plank, wide and 
 smooth, like a well-laid floor. There were many Japanese establish 
 ments on the principal streets. 
 
 " Here," said Col. Heartland, they display their wares for sale, 
 their fine silks and teas. As a class, they seem to be more intelligent 
 than the Chinese. Their women, too, are said to be more industrious 
 and thrifty than the Chinese females. Shall we go to see Lawrence 
 Barrett play Hamlet, to-night?" 
 
 " I would like to go. He is said to be an excellent actor. I heard 
 some ladies, at the hotel, speaking of him this morning. They said 
 his rendition of Richard III cannot be excelled." 
 
 " We will go, then. In the mean time I must go down to the bank. 
 I will be back in time." 
 
 Alice, aided by Bertina, made her toilet, and was ready when her 
 father returned. They went to the theatre. Barrett surpassed their 
 expectations. Returning they were soon in bed. " Tired nature s 
 sweet restorer, balmy sleep," came to their relief, and, after a night of 
 pleasant dreams, Alice awoke refreshed and buoyant, ready for another 
 day s enjoyment. 
 
 41 Where to-day ?" asked her father, as he led her down to breakfast. 
 " The early morning will be consumed in business ; after that, I am at 
 your service." 
 
 " I would like to visit the, Mechanical and Agricultural Fair. While 
 you are absent, I will take Bertina and go to my dress-maker s ; also, 
 shopping, but will return in time." ********* 
 
 Col. Heartland had just handed in his ticket, and, with Alice resting 
 upon his arm, was passing the entrance that led into the Fair building, 
 when she drew closer to him and said, in an agitated undertone, " there, 
 father, there he is, looking at me again." 
 
 Col. Heartland glanced up. "It is hard to tell which way that 
 creature is looking," he said, " but fear nothing, we will soon be far 
 away from him. It cannot be, it cannot be," he murmured to himself, 
 " yet how like his those eyes are ; but it cannot be," and he dismissed 
 the intruding thought from his mind, " Look," said he, arousing 
 Alice ; " look here ; see this loom, weaving this beautiful silk." Alice 
 forgot the apparition, like a child, and instantly became interested. 
 
 " This is California s own product, manufactured here on her own 
 soil. Two or three gentlemen furnish all the silk for a large factory, 
 from the worms on their own places ; so enormous is the yield." 
 
Tahoe: or Life in California. 65 
 
 " Look at this furniture," said Alice, calling his attention to some of 
 the handsomest and most fashionable. " Where does the wood come 
 from of which it is made ?" 
 
 " From our own native forests ; it is satin wood, and is also manu 
 factured here." 
 
 They walked on, looking at the saddles, harness, shoes and boots, 
 all the products of home industry. All things peculiar to the West 
 were gathered here. Alice was enthusiastically delighted with the 
 floral exhibition, and struck with wonder by the monstrosities of the 
 vegetable kingdom. But the grapes were the most wonderful things 
 there ; in beauty, size and taste, variety and quantity, they are not 
 equaled by those of any other land. The revenue of the country 
 from its vineyards is almost fabulous. Immense quantities are dried, 
 and exported as raisins, while hundred of thousands gallons of wine 
 are made, both for exportation and home consumption. 
 
 They passed on to the gold and silver displays, then to the precious 
 stones. " Magnificent ! magnificent !" exclaimed Alice, " I am bewil 
 dered. Let s go ; let s go " and they passed out. 
 
 *#* ### #** ##* 
 
 "Bertina," said Col. Heartland, "tell Griffin to be ready we leave 
 the city this morning." 
 
 " Coin home ! goin home, to Lake Tahoe ! Oh, Lordy ! I am so 
 glad ! for I am tired out wid dis foolishness. Bet Wee Wing has let 
 everything get stroyed," and she set about packing Alice s trunk. 
 
 " Will we stop at your wheat ranche in the river valley, father ?" 
 said Alice. 
 
 " Yes, for a few hours, as I cannot come down again soon. I must 
 see my ranche boss and give him some directions. Are you satisfied 
 to go, my daughter?" 
 
 " Yes, father ; I have enjoyed this trip exceedingly, but now want 
 the quiet of my mountain home. I am satisfied with the city." 
 
 " So am I ; but there is one thing unsatisfactory yet. I have not 
 been able to find the forgers and bring them to justice ; but staying 
 here will do no good. I will leave everything in Waldron s hands ; I 
 have written to him and he will be here to-morrow ; so to-night we 
 will spend on the ranche." 
 
 They crossed the bay to " Look About Island," while waiting for 
 the train time. 
 
 "What is the name of this little boat?" asked Alice, as they we 
 passing Fort Alcatras. 
 
 " It is the El Capitan, " replied Col. Heartland. It occupies quite 
 a chapter in the history of California for having been the boat on which 
 
66 TaJioe: or Life in California. 
 
 Mrs. Laura D. Fair killed Mr. Crittenden. Oakland," he continued, 
 "will be to San Francisco what Brooklyn is to New York. She is a 
 lovely city, spread out before us here in all her floral beauty. All the 
 flowers that can be thought or dreamed off are here. The wealthy 
 merchants and professional men of San Francisco have their resi 
 dences here. As far as the eye can reach, from the bay into the inte 
 rior, these home are to be seen, each surrounded by its garden of 
 flowers. The poor as well as the rich give great care to them, nor do 
 they flourish more luxuriantly for one than for the other." 
 
 " Will we have time to ride over this little city ?" asked Alice 
 eagerly, as they placed their traveling satchels on the seat in the 
 depot. 
 
 " For a short ride," said Col. Heartland, beckoning to a carriage 
 standing near. Leaving Griffin and Bertina to take care of their bag 
 gage and await their return, they drove off. 
 
 "That is the University of California," and Col. Heartland pointed 
 to a handsome building in Berkeley. 
 
 " Is it a male or female college ?" 
 
 " Well, it was endowed by the State for a male university, but, by a 
 special act of the Legislature, females are also admitted." 
 
 Just then a Chinaman looked wistfully into the carriage and called 
 out, " Washee ! washee ! washee ! " 
 
 " What indefatigable creatures they are," said Col. Heartland, as he 
 threw the poor Mongolian a few pieces of silver. 
 
 Alice laughed heartily at the idea of being asked for washing at such 
 a time and place. They returned to the depot and were just in time 
 to catch the train for Sacramento, at which city they changed cars, 
 and, in an hour more, were at the station near the ranche. A carriage 
 was in waiting to convey them out, but Alice preferred walking up the 
 avenue, which they did and met a warm welcome from the faithful 
 ranche-master and his family. The roses hung in rich, wild profusion 
 from the trellised porch ; the honeysuckle s sweet odor perfumed the 
 air and the white jessamine hung in clusters just above their heads. 
 Alice looked around her. Far to the north was the vineyard, to the 
 south lay the wheat fields, while on each side the orchard of figs, cher 
 ries, almonds, peaches, apples, pears, nectarians and apricots ex 
 tended quite out of sight. At the station in sight were great moun 
 tains of wheat, piled Hack upon sack. 
 
 "This place is scarcely less lovely than the villa," Alice said to her 
 father, as they sat down with their humble friends to tea. 
 
 "Yes, and it is all due to our host and his industrious wife," replied 
 Col. Heartland, bowing to his manager. 
 
lalioc: or Life in California. 67 
 
 The repast finished, the Colonel and his host went off to attend to 
 business matters. Alice, remaining with the lady of the house, was 
 shown all the little conveniences the dairy, with its rich milk and 
 butter ; the kitchen and its appurtenances ; the cellar and the dried 
 fruits. She became quite intimate with her hostess, and, when bed 
 time came, almost wished she was to remain a week instead of but one 
 night. She hoped something might turn up to detain her father a day 
 or two longer. Such a cheery, bright-faced little woman she did not 
 often see, and the little ones, too, had made friends with her. She 
 wished they lived near the villa, or could carry them with her, and 
 made their mother promise to come some time and bring them. Ber- 
 tina and Griffin were also well cared for. After a sad good-bye, the 
 next morning, the journey was continued. 
 
 " Dem s the bes poor white folks I eber did see, so much nicer dan 
 common," was the remark of the colored dame after she left the 
 ranche. 
 
 " Fathe r , see that sad looking gentleman there, with three little 
 children," said Alice, as the train stopped at a station. 
 
 " Yes ; I have been talking with him. He has just lost his wife, the 
 mother of his little ones." 
 
 " Bertina and I will help him care for them on the trip," said Alice, 
 compassionately. " Come here, little fellow ; " and the boy came to 
 her, then the little girl came. They remained with Alice and Bertina 
 almost all the time ; and the parting promised to be a painful one. 
 Alice conversed with the taciturn stranger a time or two regarding 
 the little ones, and he seemed to appreciate the notice she took of 
 them. When they arrived at Truckee he thanked her, shook hands 
 and said : 
 
 " It is a sad, sad thing for a man to lose his wife, and especially so 
 in a land where he is allowed but one. I am on my way to Utah, 
 where I will never be left in such a predicament again." 
 
 The train moved on, leaving the Heartland family at the Truckee 
 depot. 
 
 " Oh, horrors ! He is a Mormon," said Alice, when she had recovered 
 from the shock. 
 
 A short drive brought them to the Villa Sierran Villa home. 
 Oh ! how sweet it was to them all. Wee Wing came rushing franti 
 cally out to meet them. 
 
 " Me gladee, gladee, so gladee, to see Bossee Heartee, Bossee Alice, 
 Griffin. Me no gladee see Bertee," he added, hesitatingly, as he saw 
 Bertina s swarthy countenance. 
 
 " Go back to that house and tend to your work, ye yaller heathen," 
 she said, going towards him. 
 
68 Tahoe: or Life in California* 
 
 " Let him alone," interrupted Col. Heartland, authoritatively, as he 
 took Wee Wing by the hand and shook it cordially. 
 
 We Wing told him as best he could all that had happened since his 
 departure of Grubb s visit, his missing finger, his strange distorted 
 eyes, his getting into the desk and taking therefrom the papers. 
 
 " He sayee youee bugee ; he sayee bigee bugee," concluded Wee 
 Wing. 
 
 " I can account now for the signature," thought Col. Heartland, and 
 that night he wrote a full account of all that Wee Wing had said to 
 him to Waldron adding the description of the man Alice had seen 
 at Woodward s, and whom they had again encountered at the fair. 
 
 He then went back through the memory of years ago, and told of 
 the man, Linton, who had attempted his life before he left Virginia, 
 and fled, no one knew where. He doubted not but that he was one 
 and the same man. Waldron received the letters and went to work. 
 The family at the Villa were enjoying their mountain home, for home 
 it was, in every sense of the word. 
 
 "Griffin," said Col. Heartland, a few days later, "take the carriage 
 to Tahoe City and bring Miss Hubblestubble out. I am informed she 
 has arrived." 
 
 She came. Alice and her father were both disappointed in her ap 
 pearance. They thought of the woman who was married on the train ; 
 but each kept these thoughts from the other, hoping for the best. 
 Alice received her kindly, and had her shown to her room. 
 
Tahoe: or Life in California. 69 
 
 CHAPTER XIV. 
 
 BERTINA AND GRIFFIN. 
 " The servant oft his master loves." 
 
 " Bertina, am dat de library bell ?" 
 
 " It am, Griffin, and it has ringed for de second time." 
 
 " Bertina, I didn t hear it til just den." 
 
 " I know d you didn t, my husban ; dat Chinese cook makes such a 
 clatter in de kitchen dat we can t hear our years/ but go, Griffin, to 
 de Colonel, afore he gits tired waitin" for you." The speaker was a 
 tall, dark, middle-aged mulatto woman, who was raised a slave in 
 Virginia by Mrs. Fairfax and freed by Col. Heartland, on his 
 marriage to the oldest daughter of that family; she had been 
 the nurse of Col. Heartland s wife, and had followed the 
 fortunes of her young mistress. Mrs. Fairfax died some time 
 previous to her daughter s marriage, and in the division of the 
 slave property, Bertina was allotted to Alice, afterwards Mrs. Heart 
 land. Col. Heartland saw with anguish his wife had inherited the 
 malady of her family consumption. A change of climate was neces 
 sary. The physician advised a residence on the Pacific coast. The 
 estate was sold, except his valet, Griffin, whom he emancipated. 
 
 Mrs. Heartland promised her younger and only sister that she 
 should join her in her California home as soon as she completed her 
 course of study at Patapsco. The parting between the sisters was 
 agonizing, and, leaving her in charge of a guardian, Colonel and Mrs. 
 Heartland started on their tour, accompanied by the faithful Griffin 
 and Bertina, who steadily refused to leave them. Griffin and Bertina 
 had long been attached to each other, and they had their marriage 
 consummated before leaving Virginia. 
 
 " I wish der was no such things as Chinese," continued Bertina, 
 
70 Tahoe: or Life in California. 
 
 after Griffin had gone. " Dey are so stupid, and you can t do nothing 
 but what dey do it just like you, nor can you understand a word dey 
 say; dey don t know nothing. One Virginia nigger is worth a dozen such 
 as dem ; but it is no use Bertina sayin nothin , Col, Heartland says 
 he must have a cook, and he he can t get no oder sort here. He says 
 I can t do eberyting. If he but knowed it, I would a heap ruther 
 cook den to have dat ugly, sharp-eyed Chinese nigger here. Heap ob 
 changes in dose long years. I would like to go back to Virginny once 
 more and see all de folks ; don t spect to go, though ; too fur. Neber 
 did know what went wid my oder young missis, Miss Annie Fairfax, 
 what was at de school at Tapsco, Wonder she neber comes to see 
 her dead sister s child. Pears to me I would. I often wants to ax 
 Col. Heartland bout her, but he told me never to mention de pas. 
 He told me and Griffin neber to tell Miss Alice nothing, and here de 
 bressed child grow d up and edicated and don t know nothin bout 
 her mudder or her mudder s folks. I did tell her one day how pretty 
 her mudder was, but as to tellin her anything else, it was more dan I 
 dared to do. Bertina, she said de night she died, you stay wid my 
 baby always, and don t gib her up to nobody, and ain t I took care 
 ob her ? Ain t me and her pa raised her, right here on dis Lake 
 Tahoe place ? Griffln says, eberybody says, she is de finest young lady 
 in all Californy. Her pa thinks there nebber was a man had sich a 
 child. He tole me always to neglect eberything else to tend to Miss 
 Alice, and I paid her all de tention from baby down till now, 
 and see de consequence de completest lady in all de country. All de 
 beaux is arter her, and tain t her money, nuder. It am herself. She s 
 get her pa s black eyes and hair, but she s got her ma s plexion. What 
 am she ? She ain t a blunette, and she am certainly not a blon . 
 Whateber she am, she is mighty purty. De Lord bless he dar she 
 comes now." 
 
 " Bertina," said Alice, entering the pantry, " can you tell me how 
 to go about giving an All Hallow-een party ?" 
 
 " Bless you, child, dat I can ; we used to hab dem ebery year in 
 ole Virginny. Bar s nuthin to do but hab a nice supper, music to 
 dance by, and some apples and nuts ; wind balls, tell fortunes, eat 
 fillipenas and tell ghost stories. I wish Miss Edith Holmes had 
 stayed wid us. Pears to me like I se broke up since she s married 
 and gone. She teached you ten years, and teached you so many com- 
 plishments. If she war here she could help you now ; she was such a 
 telligent person. She spent her time tending to you, and did not fol 
 low your pa round, like dat ole fence-rail teacher you got now. The 
 ole thing talks your pa nearly into fits. Griffin said your pa took a 
 
Tahoe: or Life in California. 71 
 
 ride yesterday ebening for nuthing but to keep from her talking him 
 to death." 
 
 " Bertina, you must not speak disrespectfully of Miss Hubblestub- 
 ble," said Alice, haughtily. 
 
 "Massa Heartland wants Miss Alice in de library," said Griffin, re* 
 turning to the pantry. 
 
 Alice went to obey her father s summons. 
 
 " Specful indeed!" said Bertina. 
 
 " Whats you cussin wid Miss Alice bout, old oman ?" asked Griffin. 
 
 " Jist bout dat ole maid up stairs." 
 
 " What bout her ?" 
 
 " Oh, nothing, only Miss Alice got little mad, cause she said I talked 
 on-respectful bout her; I was jist sensing her bout her. She better 
 mind." 
 
 " Well, Bertina, Massa Heartland don t like her a bit ; he don t say 
 nuthin , but I s so used to him, I know when he don t like nuthin . 
 Don t say anyt ing bout her, Bertina, she will not stay long. She is 
 one of Farro s lean kine, and she leaves here in a jiffy some day, see 
 if she don t." 
 
 " I don t see how he stands her," replied Bertina, "she got no stoc- 
 racy bout her like Miss Edith. She is common poor white trash, as 
 they say in Virginny. You know Griffin , if dere is anyt ing in dis 
 world dat a Southern nigger hates, it is poor white folks, and above 
 all, poor white ole maids; Virginny niggers specially." 
 
 " Dats so," said Griffin, " but you must talk to me bout dese things 
 and not fret Miss Alice and Massa Heartland wid dem ; you know dey 
 bound to hab her treated "spectfully." 
 
 " Yes, I knows it Griffin, and I won t do it no more ; I will only talk 
 to you bout her. You s de only pusson I can talk to bout her ; our 
 Chinese cook can t understand a word I say. She cum in de kitchen 
 yesterday, interferin in my business, trying to teach Wee Wing how 
 to make something to suit her to eat. She could not make him under 
 stand, and I was glad ob it, for if she hadder, she would hab spent all 
 de time she could spare, from trying to captivate Col. Heartland, in de 
 kitchen." 
 
 " Trying to captiwate Col. Heartland ? ha, ha, ha ! dat am too funny." 
 
 " It am de trufe." 
 
 " Now Bertina !" 
 
 " It am ; I seed her looking sheep s eyes at him, dis morning at de 
 breakfas table." 
 
 " Did you see dat ? ole oman, you am a cute one." 
 
 " Dat s what brought her here, to catch de Colonel, and she am go 
 ing to be awfully disapinted." 
 
72 Tahoe: or Life in California. 
 
 " I tell you, she am for sure ; but ole oman, what makes you hate 
 Miss Hubble so ?" 
 
 " Miss Stubble is her name, ole man." 
 
 " Taint, it am Miss Hubble." 
 
 " I tell you, it am Miss Gusty Stubble." 
 
 " I say, it am Dusty Hubble." 
 
 " Ole man, you member de ole story, bout de rat and mouse ?" 
 
 " No Bertina, how am dat ?" 
 
 " I will tell you for your zample ; it am dis : A ole man and ole 
 oman libed together a long time and was happy. After all de chil 
 dren was grown up and married off, one ebening setting by de fire, a 
 mouse or a rat, one, runned across de harth. " Ole oman," said de 
 ole man, " did you see dat rat ?" " It was nt a rat, it was a mouse," 
 said she. 
 
 "A rat," said he. "A mouse," said she. "A rat," said he. "A 
 mouse." " A rat." " A mouse," and dey boff stuck to it, till dey got 
 fiteing mad, and parted, man and wife. Dey libed several years apart, 
 and den made it up. Dey went to housekeepin agin and was happy once 
 more. One ebening, dey were talking ob ole times, when de ole oman 
 said, " wasn t it foolish, ole man, in we, to get mad and part ourselves 
 bout dat mouse?" " It was a rat, my dear," says de ole man. " No 
 dear," says de ole oman, it mas a mouse." " No, I tell you it was a 
 rat." " It was a mouse." " A rat," and dey stuck to it agin and sep 
 arated dey selves and was nebber happy no more." 
 
 " Is dat story for my zample ?" said Griffin. 
 
 " It am," said Bertina. 
 
 " Well Bertina, I gibs it up ; I d rather she be named Stubble a hun 
 dred times, dan to part from my fateful spouse, if I do know it is 
 Hubble." 
 
 " Look out Griffin, mind how you talk. Your long tongue will git 
 you into trouble yet. Her name is Stubble and nuthing but Gusty 
 Stubble. Now say it aint, if you dare, you saucy nigger. You s got 
 nuthing to say ? Well I am glad ob it. I hate to quarrel and nebber 
 do it, except when I am forced to it. You don t see dat I was forced 
 into dis one, you say ? Well den how come I in it ? Besides, no- 
 boddy s been quarreling dat I can see. You don t know what I call 
 
 den ? Look here nigger, if you don t hold your disagreeable tongue, 
 dis chile will go back to Virginny and dat ll end it. I se not going to 
 be posed on, I can tell you, sir. You did nt mean no harm ? Well 
 den, void sich in futur." 
 
 " You need not tell me dat sassy story, ole oman, I won t conterdict 
 you no" more for all de Gusty Hubbies Jn 
 
 " Stubble, sir," she yelled. 
 
Tahoe: or Life in California. 73 
 
 " Yes ma m, Stubble ma m in de worl, ma m." 
 
 " Dat s a good hubby." 
 
 " But you did not tell your Griffin, my lubby, why you hate her so?" 
 
 " Hate who so ?" 
 
 " Dat are ole maid oman, what s come here to teach Miss Alice." 
 
 What s her name ?" 
 
 "Dunno." 
 
 " Yes you do." 
 
 " No I don t." 
 
 You had better tell me her name, or you won t hab much har left 
 on dat head of your n, and no wife neider, for I will go back to Vir- 
 rinny." 
 
 "Well den her name is Hub ." 
 
 " Stubble, sir." 
 
 " Yes, marm, Stubble." 
 
 " Now as you hab shown me sum spect, I will answer your question. 
 She gets her blue bag on her arm of mornin s and Stan s at de head 
 ob de stairs and hollows out, " Chamber maid, oh, chamber maid," for 
 me to cum and wate on her. I am ole now, and hab nebber been 
 called chamber maid afore, in all my life. Dis woman, I says to her, 
 if you mean me Miss, my name is Bertina ; it didn t make no difference, 
 for in a minute she was squalling, "chambermaid," again. But I 
 didn t answer her dat time. I just let her squall until she got tired, 
 and went into her room and banged the ole door ; you could a heard 
 it a mile. She shall call me Bertina, if I have to wait on her. I hate 
 to do it, but must, to please Miss Alice and de Colonel. She ought to 
 wait on herself. She s nebber been used to nuthin else ; nebber had 
 a nigger in her life, and den to set herself up for me to wait on. She ll 
 wait on herself every chance I ?et, not to wait on her, I bet." 
 
 " You know," said Griffin, " when I went to Tahoe City to fetch 
 her out to de villa ? Well, she would just put her carrot head out ob 
 de window and holler, Coachman, don t go so rapid. I tried to jolt 
 de libber out ob her, by going over every stump and rock I could find 
 in de road, and if dere was none in de road, I went out out ob de 
 load to find dem. Dere was no one else in de carriage but just her 
 ole, poor self, and I made de most ob it. All I hated was bout de 
 hosses ; dey did not get ober it for two weeks dey come so fast dat 
 day. She hinted two or tree times to Massa Heartland dat his coach 
 man was drunk, 
 
 " See dat," said Bertina; " no nice lady would tell a master on a 
 servant, and nobody would call a driver coachman, but a poor white 
 oman." 
 
74 Tahoe: or Life in California. 
 
 " You ought to had seen her," continued Griffin, " bouncing about 
 in de carriage, coming down de mountain-side it was jolly ; better 
 than a circus. That blue bag fell out, and she nearly break her neck 
 to get it ; I wonder what s in it ? 
 
 " I don t know," said Bertina ; " she watches it so close, nobody can 
 get a chance at it." 
 
 " I had a good chance at it, to-day," said Griffin. 
 
 " How was dat?" asked his wife. 
 
 " You know when Massa rung de bell ?" 
 
 " Yes, when he rung it twice." 
 
 " Well, he had picked up dis bag in de library and sent me up to 
 her room, to carry it to her." 
 
 " To who ?" 
 
 " To Miss Hub 
 
 " Stubble, sir." 
 
 " Stubble ; yes, marm." 
 
 " Well, den, don t try to provoke me any more. So you looked into 
 it, did you ?" 
 
 No, I did not." 
 
 " How stupid you are, Griffin ! If you had been an oman we would 
 dis minute hab known all about what is in dat blue bag." 
 
 " But you see, I isn t a woman, and I s glad ob it." 
 
 " She will nebber let me get hold ob it. When I go in her room, 
 she asks me what s wanted, den she tells me I can go- dat she will 
 call when she needs me ; and nebber yet has she ebber opened dat 
 bag when I am dar. But I am going to find out, some of dese days, 
 what s in it ; see if I don t." 
 
 " You let dat white oman lone, nigger, and mine your own biziness, 
 fore you gets into trouble ; that is Miss Hub 
 
 " Stubble," screamed his wife. 
 
 "Well, Stubble, then." 
 
 " I am going to box your ears for dat," said his wife, going towards 
 him ; but Griffln was too fast for her. He fled into the front of the 
 house, and, in a moment, was busily engaged in sweeping out the 
 halls. 
 
 " Dere s dat Wee Wing, again ; sich a noise. Well, as I s alive, if 
 dat Chinese nigger isn t been chasing a fly all dis time, to get him out 
 ob de kitchen. He runs arter a fly all day, what he hab him out ob 
 de kitchen. He was his hans too much too clean to be necessary." 
 
 " You hab argued dat question to de fullest obturity," said Griffin, 
 coming in again ; but a look from Bertina silenced him and sent him 
 back to his sweeping. 
 
Tahoe: or Life in California. 75 
 
 I don t like Chinese," continued Bertina; " I never did." 
 
 Poor Wee Wing. He seemed at times to try to please he, at oth 
 ers to escape from her sight. She persisted in her persecution of the 
 Mongolian, in spite of the remonstrances of her kind master, and 
 Alice s "Oh! don t, Bertie." 
 
 " Look," said she, " at dat pison yaller rascal ; who but a heathen 
 would wear such outlandish close ? shoes wid wooden bottoms, and 
 a clof roof on dem. You are a purty looking sight, ain t ye ? Ye had 
 shaved like a penitenshy bird. Dare right whar you ought to be dis 
 bery minit ? Don t you turn your crank-sided eyes up at me, ye long- 
 tailed snipe. Suppose ye tink you look like Absolum, wid dat long har 
 of yourn? No more like Absolum dan ye heathen riggin is like a purty 
 bandana hankercher. Wish you was like him, hung up to a tree by 
 dat long har, wid a mule walkin out from under you. I d be glad, 
 for one ; it would be happy riddence for dis world and de nex , I 
 know. Don t stand dar sassin me wid ye eyes, ye yaller-hammer. Go 
 on about ye work. One Virginny nigger can do more in fibe minits 
 dan you do in a week, ye long-tailed yailer-jacket. Ye ought to hab 
 ye cue pulled off. I ll do it some time, too ; see if I don t ! " 
 
 Except to glance at her silently, he seldom seemed to hear. On one 
 occasion he was handing Col. Heartland and Miss Alice some fresh 
 water, when seeing Bertina, some distance in the garden, he remarked, 
 " Bertina longee tonguee, heapee." 
 
76 Tahoe: or Life in California, 
 
 CHAPTER XV. 
 
 COL. HEARTLAND. 
 
 " He was a man, take him for all and all, 
 We shall not look upon his like again." 
 
 " My daughter ! Griffin, tell my daughter I desire her company in 
 the library." 
 
 " Yes, sir," said Griffin, retiring. 
 
 The speaker was Col. Heartland. He had been in California many 
 years, and besides being a most popular man, he was by far the 
 wealthiest in all the surrounding country. Time had dealt gently with 
 him. An habitual shade of sadness rested upon his classic face, a 
 sadness from which, for eighteen long years, he had had no respite. 
 He had no one to whom he could confide the sorrow of his aching 
 heart. His child, "Sole daughter of his house and heart," was too 
 young ; besides that, he would not oppress her with his gloom. He 
 would bear it still, as he had borne it during these long years. He 
 would still stifle his grief and make her happy. But still, she was 
 now old enough to know something of the past. To-morrow she 
 would be eighteen, and yet, from his lips, she had never heard her moth 
 er s name. He must speak, and he would ; but could he control him 
 self ? He would try. He might fail, but if he should if his heart 
 became too full for utterance, who could so well sympathize with 
 him as his motherless child ? He would no longer keep the cold bar 
 rier between himself and his daughter. He would talk frankly ; not 
 despondingly, but cheerfully, concerning the past. A shade of thought 
 overcast his finely chiselled features, as she entered the room, that in 
 dicated that something more than usual was passing in his mind. He 
 rose slowly from the arm-chair in which he was seated, and turned to 
 welcome his daughter. 
 
Tahoe: or Life in California. 77 
 
 " Shut the door after you, Alice," he said. 
 
 " It is not cold, father," she replied, as she turned, executed his 
 command, then came and stood beside him. 
 
 " I know it is not, but I wish to have a private conversation with 
 you." He looked so serious that the light, smiling face of his daugh 
 ter grew grave as she looked up anxiously, inquiringly, at him. 
 
 " I hope, dear father," she at length stammered, that what you 
 have to communicate is not of an unpleasant nature ? " 
 
 " It is concerning the past that I would speak, my child. But were 
 you busy ? are you at leisure to-day ? " 
 
 " I am never too busy to attend to my father s wishes." 
 
 " What were you doing ? may I ask ? " 
 
 " Certainly. I was just consulting with Bertina in regard to having 
 an All Hallow-een party here to-night. I had invited a few friends to 
 spend the evening with me, and I was devising means for their enter 
 tainment." 
 
 " Then, my daughter, I will cheerfully postpone what I have to say, 
 and assist you all I can. My old brain had forgotten there was such a 
 thing as Hallow-een." 
 
 " But I could never forget, father : this old custom is such a glorious 
 one. They say that witches are abroad, that spirits nover round about 
 you ; the air is full of mystic spells, which cast their silent, thrilling 
 influence over you. You feel the invisible presence of the inhabitants 
 of the air, without knowing why or whence they came. All feel the 
 solemnity of the evening, and all join with heart and soul in the 
 merry pastimes. Delightful superstition ! How much enjoyment we 
 owe to them ! We all eat apples, name the seed and count them. 
 Philopoenas will go the round, games will be played, and an occasional 
 ghost story will be told, to make our hair rise on our heads, while 
 music and dancing will give zest to the occasion. How impatient I 
 am for nightfall, for so soon as old Phoebus hides his shining face, fay 
 and fairy leave their haunts, and begin to weave their golden webs, in 
 whose mazes to entangle the feet of mortals ; goblins and hobgoblins 
 stalk abroad and frighten whom they may encounter ; and wary mor 
 tals, men of earth, seek their homes ere the shades of night around 
 them gather, lest they be touched by some magic wand, or held by 
 some wizard hand. I never think of the wizards, witches or goblins. 
 I forget their existence in my enthusiastic thoughts of fays and fairies. 
 
 " Miss Hubble says for Miss Alice to come and take her music 
 lesson," said Griffin, putting his head in at the door; then glancing 
 back to see if Bertina had heard him pronounce the name in his own 
 way, he was relieved to find she was nowhere to be seen. 
 
78 Tahoe: or Life in California. 
 
 "Say to Miss Hubblestubble," replied Alice, "that I will omit my 
 lesson to-day. 
 
 " I never have an interview with you, or any one else, my daughter, 
 that Miss Hubblestubble dones not find some means of interrupting 
 us. Is it your usual music hour ? " 
 
 " No, father ; I generally take my lessons much later ; but Miss 
 Hubblestubble, I suppose, knowing I am going to have company this 
 evening, wished me to get through my music as early as possible." 
 
 " So like her mother," thought Col. Heartland, " to put the best in 
 terpretation on the actions of others." But he said not a word, for 
 he did not wish to destroy this beautiful trait in his daughter s charac 
 ter. He would rather she would be too credulous than too suspicious ; 
 rather that she would think good of evil persons than evil of anybody. 
 He could see through Miss Hubblestubble, but he did not tell his 
 daughter ; he could fathom all her motives, but he kept it to himself. 
 
 "Who are to be your guests to-night ? " he finally asked. 
 
 "Just a few of my neighborhood associates," she said ; "and Wal 
 ter Woodford will bring a friend of his from San Francisco with him ; 
 that is, he asked my permission to do so." 
 
 " What is his friend s name, and who is he ?" 
 
 " Aldridge is his name, and I think he is a Southerner by birth and 
 education. Walter says he is a man much older than himself, and of 
 uncommon culture and intelligence. You remember the bank robbery 
 that occurred just before we went to San Francisco ? He is the cash 
 ier who was so badly wounded in trying to defend the contents of the 
 vaults in the bank. Why, father, he was lauded to the skies for his 
 bravery. Don t you remember the papers were full of praises of him ? 
 Even poems were written about him." 
 
 " Are you sure he is the same person ?" 
 
 " Walter says he is, and that he is extremely wealthy, and was only 
 serving in the bank to have something to occupy his mind ; for he is 
 so miserable when idle ; he says he must work." 
 
 " All stuff ; a man does not become a subordinate from choice, or 
 simply to have something to do. He could find employment, and yet 
 be his own master. I fear all is not right." 
 
 " But, father, do you not know the bank directors gave him a fine 
 gold medal, and while he was ill he was the guest of the president of 
 the bank ? The people of San Francisco honored him as if he had 
 been a king. The first ladies of the city paid him every attention and 
 tried all their arts to lead him into society. He had hundreds of invi 
 tations, and whenever he accepted one he was the lion of the occasion. 
 Walter Woodford says he cares nothing for these things, and came to 
 
Ta/we: or Life in California. 79 
 
 visit him for rest and quiet. He did not want to come here, but Wal 
 ter persuaded him to consent to do so ; for he shuns society. They 
 have all talked about him so much I am really anxious to know him." 
 
 " If Walter Woodford can vouch for him, I will be pleased to have 
 him come ; but I am by no means in favor of introducing strangers 
 into my household, unless known personally or by character to my 
 friends or myself," said Col. Heartland. 
 
 " Oh, Walter knows him," said Alice. " He told me all about him 
 how he lost his young and beautiful affianced wife years ago in South 
 Carolina, and to heal his broken heart he came out to the West and 
 became a wanderer among strangers ; how handsome he is, and how 
 noble, good and true. He shuns ladies society he has not called on 
 one for years. Walter says he persuaded him to come here to an 
 All Hallow-een frolic, against his will, thinking it might divert his 
 mind." 
 
 I wish your young friend could have made himself less officious in 
 this matter," said Col. Heartland, slowly. " I do not doubt but that 
 he has made Walter Woodford believe all this pretty story, but if he 
 were as old as I am, and knew as much of the world, he would give 
 it no credence whatever. Every fugitive from justice takes refuge in 
 the West, and California is full of loathsome adventurers. Men who 
 could not live decently or respectably at home, men who deserve 
 places in the prisons of the eastern States, are roaming at large over 
 the West, and a young lady cannot be too careful in guarding herself 
 and her young associates against such intruders. You will, of course, 
 receive this friend of Walter s, for whom you say he vouches ; but be 
 careful, my dear child, to keep him in a stranger s place until you know 
 him to be worthy of the place of a friend. This sort of men often bear 
 a name to which they have no right, and often hide a villain s heart 
 behind a smiling face. A man may smile and smile again, yet be a 
 villain ; but I expect I had better not trespass further on your time, 
 my daughter," he added. 
 
 " But, my father, I ve all the curiosity of my sex, to know what this 
 grave, serious matter is you wish to talk to me about ? But since you 
 smile again I am not so anxious. Do you know that you really 
 frightened me ? What is the hobgoblin story ? Will you tell it to 
 me now, or will you postpone it and give our guests the benefit of it 
 to-night ?" 
 
 " No, my daughter ; I will save my story for a more opportune time, 
 and content myself with being a listener on this festive occasion ; but 
 have you asked our friend, Major Pettybone, to make one of your 
 guests to-night ?" 
 
8o Tahoe: or Life in California. 
 
 " I have not, father. He is so dignified, I did not think he would 
 like to join in such a frolic. I somehow imagined that he would deem 
 it childish, nor wish to add his august presence to such an assembly. 
 But. father, I have always admired Major Pettybone. I think him 
 quite handsome. His hair stands like a crown of glory upon his head. 
 His form is so erect, and his voice as clear as if he were but twenty. 
 His eyes are as penetrating as those of an eagle. Every line of his 
 face maps the strong character which must be his ; but still, father, 
 when he speaks, every word is fraught with grace and wisdom ; 
 hence, I have never thought of bringing him to a level with myself and 
 young friends at a frivolous party on Hallow-een." 
 
 "But," said Col. Heartland, he would most certainJv feel slighted; 
 and of all my friends I would rather wound any one else than Henry 
 Pettybone. He has known you from your earliest infancy, and has 
 been with me on some of the most trying occasions of my life. For 
 years he has been a constant visitor at the villa. It is my wish that 
 he be formally invited to be present to-night." 
 
 " Certainly, father, if it will afford you pleasure, I will call Griffin 
 and send him with a note immediately to Pettybone Hall. Will you 
 write the note ?" 
 
 " Did you write notes to your other friends, my child ?" 
 
 " I did, sir." 
 
 "Then write one to him." 
 
 " What shall I say ?" 
 
 " What did you say to the other friends ?" 
 
 " I asked them to come over to the villa to-night, and join me in an 
 All Hallow-een merry making. You know it would not do to say 
 that to the learned and highly cultured Major Pettybone ; to say noth 
 ing of his age, which so far exceeds that of any of my other friends." 
 
 " I have understood that this young friend of young Woodford s 
 what s his name ? Aldridge ?" 
 
 " Yes, Aldridge." 
 
 " Well, I have understood that he is not so very young." 
 
 " Yes, father, but he is young in his disposition, I am told ; young 
 in his manners, and young in his thoughts. His head is not packed 
 with mystical lore," and he will not overcome us with his learning. 
 Suppose I ask Major Pettybone, to come over and talk with Miss 
 Hubblestubble and yourself this evening. She is intelligent, and 
 perhaps, could interest him." Col. Hartland s brow grew darker and 
 darker as she spoke the closing sentences. He had no idea of devoting 
 himself to Miss Hubblestubble, that or any other evening, and he had 
 other things in view for his friend. 
 
Tahoe: or Life in California. 8l 
 
 "No, Alice," he said, decidedly, "you will please me best by writing 
 him precisely the same you wrote the others. Major Pettybone is too 
 well-bred not to make himself agreeable in any company he may 
 choose to be, young or old. He is not so old as you may think, my 
 child, and is a gifted, intellectual man. He is a scholar, and a ripe and 
 good one/ He has traveled in many countries, and has been courted 
 by society everywhere ; yet he prefers his woodland home to any city, 
 with its brick and mortar, gaslights and folks." He smiled, then 
 added : " I have sometimes thought my society, and often hoped 
 yours, may have something to do with influencing his choice of resi 
 dence. At any rate, he seems to like our society, does he not, my 
 child ?" 
 
 " I cannot lay that flattering unction to my soul, " replied Alice, as 
 her eyes fell before her father s searching glance, and the crimson 
 blood mounted to her cheeks. 
 
 " Your rebuke is as gentle as it is just, my child, and my overween 
 ing vanity has received the check it merited ; but coming from you, 
 who hold the double place of both daughter and friend, and to whom 
 I giye the love that belongs to each, it is far more highly appreciated 
 than it could be coming from any other source ; I would have you 
 always speak freely to me, and have you always as my nearest friend; 
 yet ever remembering that a friend should bear his friend s infirmity. 
 Let your heart be, under all circumstances, open to your father s in 
 spection, for there is none, not one, who will or can sympathize with 
 you like he. Hide nothing from him. Lay bare your thoughts before 
 him, and his heart will yearn more fondly towards you, and he will 
 love you more dearly, if possible, than ever. But, again, I am tres 
 passing upon valuable time ; so go and send the note to Major Petty- 
 bone. Write him just what you wrote the others, and make no men 
 tion whatever of Miss Hubblestubble. She will make herself known 
 quite soon enough to him, I can assure you ; my only fear is that she 
 may weary my friend, for it was only by the best of management that 
 I kept her from the parlor on the occasion of his last visit to you, 
 which, you remember, is the only one he has made since she came. 
 He has been absent most of the time since she arrived, and it is well 
 he has, for I think he either would have had to discontinue his visits 
 to us, or have been bored to death. I always regretted to lose Miss 
 Edith Holmes, your former governess, companion and friend, but 
 I now doubly regret it since I see how her place has been filled. I am 
 glad to see, however, from her last letter to you, that she is so happy 
 in her Eastern home, and that her husband is so good and kind. We 
 must, however, retain Miss Hubblestubble until we can do better, for 
 
 6 
 
82 Tahoe: or Life in California. 
 
 I would not like you to lose any time from your French and music. 
 Nevertheless, we must not permit our guests to be bored by her, but 
 try to entertain and amuse her ourselves. I wonder how old she is ? 
 But that is the most indefinite thing in the world a maiden lady s age. 
 I will not allude to it again, much less ask the question. It is our duty, 
 as far as within our reach, to save the feelings of our fellow-creatures, 
 and I know hers would be lacerated beyond endurance if she knew 
 the thought had ever crossed my mind. It is not chivalrous 
 to think of it even, much less to give utterance to such thoughts. 
 It is cowardly ; it is dastardly ! " Suddenly he remembered he might 
 be teaching his daughter to think ill of somebody, he checked him 
 self and said : " Go send the note to Major Pettybone, and prepare 
 for your merry-making to-night," As the door closed after her, he 
 reseated himself in the large arm-chair, and his thoughts returned to 
 Miss Hubblestubble : " She is a singular a most singular woman," 
 he thought. " I do not like her; she reminds me of the lean and 
 hungry Cassius. She can teach my daughter for a while, but she 
 shall never be her friend and companion. I do not think, however, it 
 will need my interference ; there is no congeniality there, and ^lice 
 will never seek her company, nor remain with her longer than 
 necessary. My child is sensitive; she is constant and tender 
 hearted afraid of wounding the feelings of others ; but I have read 
 her estimate of this woman. She did not give her Miss Edith s cham 
 ber, nor does she seek her advice or assistance in anything. I often 
 hear her chatting with old Bertina and laughing merrily at her long 
 spun Virginia yarns. I know Miss Hubblestubble s life is a lonely 
 one here, and if I believed her to be a sincere, pure-hearted woman, 
 I could talk with her with some patience, and make her time hang less 
 heavily upon her hands, but she is wily and crafty, and I know it ; I 
 can, therefore, only endure her and her blue bag a little while at a 
 time ; she, on the contrary, thinks, she was brought here for my com 
 panion, instead of that of my daughter. She often presses me into 
 a conversation. I sometimes think there is somebody, somewhere in 
 the world, that this strong woman loves ; then a glance at her face is 
 sufficient to convince me that love and that face don t go together. 
 She told me the other day, when I tried by conversation to monopo 
 lize her time and keep her from the parlor, during Major Pettybone s 
 visit to Alice, that it was the mind that made the body rich. I knew 
 by her very step that she was parlorward bound, so I stepped into the 
 hall and invited her into the library, and, I think, sustained myself well, 
 until after Major Pettybone took his leave, when I handed her over to 
 Alice, feeling very sorry for the child, then jumping on my horse, 
 
Tahoe: or Life in California. 3 
 
 which Griffin was kind enough to have ready, I rode furiously around 
 the lake to the other side, got down and bathed my heated blood in 
 the cool, clear, refreshing waters, and did not return again until after 
 dark. I resolved to take it in smaller doses hereafter. Griffin knew 
 it, by intuition. I have never said a word to him, yet, every time he 
 sees me talking to Miss Hubblestubble he saddles my horse. I do 
 not always have to ride, however ; when the interviews are short, I can 
 walk out into the garden and get fresh air sufficient. I wonder why 
 she always carries^that blue bag with her ? It has become an eye-sore 
 to me, and I heartily wish she had left it in Vermont. I wish she had 
 left herself there, for that matter. There is something sinister about 
 her. She cannot teach my daughter. I will not expose my frail, 
 impressible child to her influence, which I feel cannot be good. Alice 
 is all I have on earth to live for the link that binds me to my dead 
 wife ; no, not dead, only gone before. I love my child as no father 
 ever loved before, and will shield her from every care, and continue, 
 as I always have done, to stand between her and whatever evil there 
 may be in the outside world. I have steadily avoided, all I could, 
 bringing her out in so-called society. I have letters by the score from 
 friends, both male and female, in San Francisco, New York, Baltimore 
 and Richmond, begging me to bring my daughter among them. Not 
 one of these letters has she ever seen, nor do I intend she shall. I 
 have reared her here in my mountain home, as pure as the air she 
 breathes. I will not now expose her to contaminating influences. I 
 take her occasionally to San Francisco on little shopping excursions. 
 Her tastes are simple, and it takes her but a short time to make hei 
 purchases. Her dress-maker and one or two lady friends of mine are 
 about the only women she converses with while there, and I bring her 
 home again without letting the fashionables know that she is in the 
 city. I would not have my daughter move in the fashionable circles 
 of city society for the universe ; it would soon rob her of all that makes 
 her dear to me, her truth, sincerity, and love for her father. The 
 bright hues of health would not only fade from her cheeks, and her 
 eyes become dull and lustreless, but her high sense of honor would 
 soon dwindle, and she become conniving and cunning. Envy, jeal 
 ously and false pride would soon take possession of her heart, and 
 chase from their places all the nobler virtues that now abide there, 
 she would become cold and heartless. God save her from such a fate, 
 is a father s prayer for his innocent daughter. She has plenty of asso 
 ciates in the immediate neighborhood, and my mountain home is the 
 place for my woodland child. I do not wish her to know the world 
 and its wickedness, or to be a prey to fortune-hunters. My invest- 
 
Tahoe: or Life in California. 
 
 ments in California have paid well ; my ranches yield a handsome in* 
 come, and our trade with China has quadrupled my fortune, aside 
 from my banking interests and mining stocks. These circumstances 
 have kept me in the minds of some of my old acquaintances in the 
 East who have marriageable sons ; yet, in all my travels, I have met 
 but one man I would have for a son-in-law, and that man is Henry 
 Pettybone. He is a little old for Alice, but that is the only objection 
 that can be raised to him. I know that in such matters I am fas 
 tidious, almost too much so, yet this cannot be alleged as a fault. He 
 loves my daughter yes, proud, worthy man that he is, he has lost his 
 noble heart to my mountain nymph, and, should she reciprocate, I cannot 
 raise an objection. It would be a pleasure to see her loved and cher 
 ished by such a man as he is, a man who believes so devoutly in 
 female sovereignty, for I know I cannot stay with her much longer. 
 There is a fluttering or palpitation about my heart, oftentimes, and I 
 feel I have no chance of escape from a disease that carried both my 
 parents to early graves. Alice is the anxiety of my life. If she was 
 suitably married, I should not cling to it with such tenacity. But 
 gloomy forebodings come crowding upon my mind, until I reel like a 
 drunken man beneath the overpowering weight. Misgivings oppress 
 me. Fears for the future intrude themselves. I must and will be 
 happy for her sake, and for the sake of the one that is gone. I must let 
 this dull, unsocial hour call up the musing spirit of the past and peo 
 ple my heart with its fairy guests. Life at best is short ; why mourn 
 and grieve and groan and sweat beneath a weary life, when we can 
 and ought to be happy ? Why not pass along life s highway and 
 gather only the flowers ? Why not leave the thistles ? They are burden 
 some, and filch our lives away in passing through time to eternity. 
 I have one time-lasting jewel, upon which I can depend, upon which 
 I can lean at all times and under all circumstances a daughter s love. 
 
Tahoe: or Life in California. 85 
 
 CHAPTER XVI. 
 
 ALL HALLOW-EEN. 
 
 " She loves, but knows not whom she loves, 
 Nor what his race, nor whence he came, 
 Like one who meets, in Indian groves, 
 Some beauteous bird without a name." 
 
 The soft shades of twilight had deepened into night, and darkness 
 would have gathered the scene to herself but that "stars were in the 
 quiet skies " and the moon canopied the earth with her silver rays. 
 Alice Heartland, .in her simple India muslin dress, her complexion 
 scarcely less fair, stood upon the door-step of her father s spacious 
 dwelling awaiting the arrival of her guests. In sight was Truckee 
 river, dimpling and eddying as it went. Two miles farther onward 
 it found its outlet from a rock-bound basin and went babbling on 
 down the mountains. All that art could add to nature had been done 
 to enhance the surroundings. Fruits and flowers from every clime 
 were gathered there. Of these blessings, Alice Heartland knew 
 nothing. She took them as a matter of course, for she had never 
 known anything else, and it is only by comparison that we learn to 
 value the good that falls to our lot. Here, in this land of the West, 
 are many beautiful homes, surrounded by decorative art. Here, in this 
 land of the setting sun, the " last of Western lands he shines upon," 
 fruits are abundant and Nature wears her summer garb almost all the 
 year. 
 
 Alice gazed upon the lovely scene around her, but gave it no 
 thought. Her heart was full of greetings to be uttered as soon as her 
 expected friends should arrive. She patted her dainty foot upon the 
 door-step and looked impatiently down the avenue ; seeing nothing, 
 she glanced to the north side of the house. There was the light burn- 
 
86 Takoe: or Life in California. 
 
 ng in the tower. This did not attract her attention, for she did not 
 emember the time when, night or day, that red light was not burn 
 ing there. With her it created no wonder. But beyond was the lake 
 glistening in the moonlight. She raised her eyes to heaven, then to 
 earth again, and bounded, with child-like glee, down the graveled 
 pathway and stood upon the white and pink shells at the water s edge. 
 It is impossible to conceive a lovelier scene. Each star seemed a dif 
 ferent color, and was reflected in gem-like beauty from the lake below. 
 The ruby mingled with the sapphire s light, surrounded each with a 
 golden purple setting. Then came the silvery moonbeams, "floating 
 through the radiant ether," resting on the blue lake s quivering wa 
 ters, shivering into fragments, flitting and dancing about in diamond- 
 like beauty But the brightest jewel there was the maiden. 
 
 " Ne er did Grecian chisel trace 
 A Nymph, a Naiad or a Grace 
 With finer form or lovelier face." 
 
 The Kissing breeze touched her cheek and gently waved her flow- 
 ng hair, adorned by "buds of roses," virgin flowers, that shed their 
 delicate perfume around her head. Upon her bosom the white cam- 
 elia japonica rose and fell with its gentle swellings, and wafted its 
 rich incense abroad. She stood, her bare arms and neck unequaled 
 save in "painters dreams," the owner 
 
 " Of eyes that pass with fitful light, 
 Like fire-flies on the wing at night." 
 
 She seemed the queen of the fairy-land around her, with noble 
 beauty endowed, to " show how angels look in heaven." She stooped 
 to the radiant water, and in its coolness laved her dimpled hands, 
 and chased the bursting bubbles with her rosy fingers. " I ll try my 
 fortune," she said, and her voice floated like low, soft music on the 
 moonlit air. She made a sign of the cross with her hand on the glit 
 tering surface, then with both her palms parted the laughing crystals, 
 and, with beaming eyes, gazed into the watery mirror ; playfully at 
 first, then seriously, earnestly, intently. Startled by what she had seen, 
 she quickly arose and looked timidly around her ; another instant and 
 her trembling feet were turned toward the house, and, fleet as a young 
 fawn, she retraced her steps. With a single bound she cleared the 
 doorway and entered the hall. She paused to breathe a moment be 
 fore going into the brilliantly-lighted drawing-room, where she found 
 some of the guests already assembled and Miss Hubblestubble play 
 ing hostess. With flushed face and fluttering heart, she greeted them 
 and in quivering tones spoke her welcome. Then she hurriedly left 
 them for her own chamber to collect her scattered thoughts and calm 
 
Tahoe: or Life in California. 87 
 
 herself to receive the rest of her coming visitors. Old Bertina followed 
 her, wondering what "ailed the child." Alone in her own room with 
 her mother s nurse and maid, for Bertina was all this and more to her, 
 her pent-up feelings would have sway. She threw her arms around 
 Bertina s neck and wept aloud : " Bertie ! oh, Bertie ! I have been 
 so frightened," she exclaimed between her sobs. Then she told her 
 nurse how she had gone, in playful mood, to the lake to try her for 
 tune. How, in the watery mirror, she had seen a handsome, manly 
 face, whose flashing eyes had returned her glance. How, after look 
 ing a moment to be sure it was no fancy, she had fled from the place. 
 Bertina ridiculed her statement, and told her to keep her secret, lest 
 she be laughed at by the merry crowd below. " I must watch you 
 closer, Miss Alice," she said ; "you must not be going out at night by 
 yourself, finding all sorts of scary things. I was just going to hunt 
 you up when I seed you tearing up to de house like something was 
 arter you. It was real funny to see you. Ole Bertina didn t know 
 her baby could run so fast, especially from nothing." Alice smiled in 
 spite of herself, and, after readjusting her disordered dress with Ber 
 tina s aid, she bathed the traces of tears from her face, and, resolving 
 to take Bertina s advice and keep her secret to herself, she descended 
 to the parlors and tried to be the gayest of the gay. But the ^even 
 ing s adventure haunted her, and mirrored on her soul was the image 
 she had seen. She tried to cast it aside as a fancy, but, if fancy it was, 
 it was the brightest one of her life. Time and again she caught her 
 self totally oblivious of her surroundings, in deep reverie, recalling 
 again and again the face as she had seen it. Could it be clairvoy 
 ance ? Would she ever see that face in reality ? or was it but a 
 golden dream that time would obliterate. No ; time could not anni 
 hilate it. It would be in the future as it was now an ever present 
 thought. She would not forget it if she could. But she must now 
 postpone her present meditations and devote herself to the entertain 
 ment of her guests. She made an effort to arouse herself, and said : 
 
 " Father, suppose we have a game of flowers ? Will you, Major 
 Pettybone ? Miss Hubblestubble, will you join us ? Have this seat, 
 and this ; here, father, come this way, and let us form a circle." 
 
 " It will be the very thing, my daughter," said Colonel Heartland 
 somewhat relieved, for Alice s abstraction had annoyed and puzzled 
 him exceedingly. Up to this time, she had paid Major Pettybone no 
 attention, in fact, had not noticed him at all. The Major, contrary to 
 the expectation of his host, had been making himself very agreeable 
 to Miss Hubblestubble ; who, already began to think him the nicest 
 gentleman in the world, while she regarded Colonel Heartland as a 
 bear, by comparison. 
 
88 Tahoe: or Life in California. 
 
 " Now," said Alice, " each one must take the name of some flower, 
 and whisper that name to me. Then aloud each must choose a flower 
 and tell what he intends doing with it." She went the rounds with 
 her pencil and paper, writing the name of each, and the flower that 
 he or she had chosen, after each name. She wrote lastly, her own 
 name and glancing for a moment at the japonica on her bosom, she 
 wrote the name of that beautiful flower as her chosen one. There 
 was one who saw that glance and rightfully interpreted it. Her girl 
 ish friends were the first she questioned. They chose and were chosen 
 in their turn. The merry play proceeded and enjoyment was at its 
 height, when Major Pettybone s time came. Miss Hubblestubble 
 looked wistfully at him ; she had chosen a violet, a white violet, as her 
 flower and tried to whisper it loud enough for him to hear it, when 
 Alice was taking down the names. Alice put the question, " What 
 flower do you choose ?" 
 
 " The white japonica," he replied without embarrassment. 
 
 Miss Hubblestubble started, so did Alice. 
 
 " What do you intend to do with it?" was the next question. 
 
 " Wear it in my heart," was the reply. 
 
 " Who is it ? Who is it ? came from all sides. 
 
 " It is Miss Heartland," said Alice softly, without once glancing to 
 wards Major Pettybone. 
 
 " Now, father, for yours, what do you choose?" 
 
 " A lily," he said gaily, "and be guided by it all my life." 
 
 "Thank you," said Ella Woodford, the youngest girl in the crowd, 
 who had made choice of the lily. " How do you like that arrange 
 ment, Alice ?" 
 
 " My daughter will be pleased, second only to myself ; so Miss Ella 
 hold yourself in readiness," said Colonel Heartland, gallantly. The 
 girls all laughed, and turned to hear, as Alice said, " Now for yours, 
 Miss Hubblestubble ?" 
 
 " Well, I ll choose the jessamin and twine it in my hair," rang out 
 from her metallic throat. 
 
 There was a pause ; an awful pause. No one dared ask who the 
 jessamin was. It was plain to all. Colonel Heartland, no longer able 
 to conceal his disgust, rose slowly from his seat, and walked to the 
 other side of the room and seated himself near the window. All looked 
 on Miss Hubblestubble s ashen face. The spots of rouge stood out 
 in bold relief upon her blanched cheeks, and indignation fired her pale 
 blue eye. She hated, she despised the man who had given her this 
 rebuff, and she would make his heart ache for it, if ever she had the 
 opportunity. She twitched her blue reticule nervously, for she felt 
 
Tahoe: or Life in California. 89 
 
 that all eyes were upon her. The climax had been capped, the play 
 was at an end. The young people were too well-bred to laugh out 
 right ; they looked on in apparent consternation. Things grew every 
 moment more and more embarrassing. Alice stood transfixed, unable 
 to say a word. 
 
 " Miss Hubblestubble," said Major Pettybone, with an air of pro 
 found respect, and offering his arm, " there is a picture in the library, 
 to which I would call your attention." They walked away. The 
 younger crowd scattered about over the room ; among the books, the 
 flowers and the pictures. Colonel Heartland kept his seat. His face 
 wore a heavy frown. " I would give millions," he thought, " for Pet- 
 tybone s ease of manners, and well-bred, gentlemanly bearing. T know 
 I did wrong to show my disgust so plainly, but I could not help it. 
 Strange I did not think when I entered the game, that such a thing 
 might happen. I have been in the habit of jesting so much, with Al 
 ice s young friends, that I lost sight of this New England beauty and 
 her blue satchel." The music had commenced and the dancers 
 were taking their places. He moved his seat farther into the window 
 as Major Pettybone and Miss Hubblestubble took their stand near him. 
 She led her partner there ; she wished Colonel Heartland to see that 
 she was appreciated, and that, too, by the most elegant gentleman 
 present. In fact, in her estimation, the only gentleman present ; Col 
 onel Heartland having proven himself anything else. The balance 
 were mere boys. The merry feet treaded the mazes of the dance, and 
 though Miss Hubblestubble hopped and skipped with agility, it exci 
 ted neither criticism nor comment, for the young people, followed the 
 example set by Major Pettybone, and treated her with profound respect. 
 An occasional side-long glance was the only demonstration made by 
 Colonel Heartland. The dance ended ; Major Pettybone, led his part 
 ner to a seat, spoke a few pleasant words and crossed over to where 
 Alice stood. 
 
 "Miss Heartland," he said, "you are all eating philopcenas ; allow 
 me a chance." He cracked a nut and handed her one of the kernels- 
 
 " What shall it be ?" she asked, taking it from his hand. 
 
 " Give and take," he replied ; " that is, if I should offer you some 
 thing and you should take it from my hand as you did the nut, just 
 then you are caught, and vice versa. So be on your guard, Miss 
 Alice." 
 
 " Let s have some apples and name and count the seed," said Alice ; 
 " Miss Hubblestubble will join us." 
 
 " Yes," said that lady, hoarsely, and, coming forward, she raised her 
 hand to shade her eyes from the lamp-light, and looked under it at 
 
90 Tahoe: or Life in California. 
 
 Col. Heartland, who sat near, almost concealed by the heavy damask 
 and lace curtains. His eyes already rested on her. He looked at the 
 black silk dress and the green Canton shawl, and finally his moving 
 eyes stopped upon the blue reticule, as its steel beads gleamed in the 
 light. He shuddered slightly. Their eyes met. For an instant he 
 looked daggers, then, wheeling his chair, he became apparently ab 
 sorbed in the moonlit scene without. Miss Hubblestubble took a 
 chair, and seating herself with her back towards Col. Heartland, began 
 peeling her apple. 
 
 "Ella," said Alice "how is it ?" She glanced uneasily towards her 
 father. She had never seen him act so before. 
 
 " You name the apple," said Ella Woodford, " then count the seed 
 and say the old rhyme : 
 
 One I love, two I love, 
 
 Three I love to say ; 
 Four I love with all my heart, 
 
 Five I cast away. 
 Six she loves, 
 
 Seven he loves, 
 Eight they both love, 
 
 Nine he comes, 
 Ten he tarries, 
 
 Eleven he courts, 
 Twelve he marries. " 
 
 The apples were cut, and each counting the seed, when Major Pet- 
 tybone, observing that Alice had no apple, took down the stand and 
 held it towards her. Without thinking she reached forth her hand 
 and took one of the bright, rosy collection. 
 
 " Philopoena," he exclaimed, and "caught, caught," was heard in all 
 directions. 
 
 "We forgot to stipulate what it should be," she said. 
 
 "So we did," he replied; "but it is not too late to remedy that 
 forgetfulness. Suppose we let it be simply a word." 
 
 " A word ?" echoed Alice. 
 
 " Yes, a word ; some pleasant word that we all like sometimes to 
 hear." 
 
 " Music, moonlight, love or flowers," said Ella Woodford, mischiev 
 ously. 
 
 " You are right, Miss Ella," he replied, " any word that is pleasant to 
 the ear or soothing to the heart." 
 
 " That will be a very easy payment on your part, Alice," continued 
 Ella, " who never speak anything but pleasant, soothing words." 
 
 One there was who understood the allusion better ; that person was 
 Augusta Hubblestubble, and her heart sank within her. The truth 
 
Tahoe: or Life in California. 91 
 
 flashed upon her in a moment. This courtly man, whom she had 
 learned to admire so much, loved ; and the object of his love was the 
 simple, warm-hearted Alice Heartland. She could not, and she would 
 not stand it. She would break this match or she would break her 
 neck. 
 
 But there was another whose listening, delighted ear had heard and 
 placed the right interpretation upon Major Pettybone s lightly-spoken 
 words, and it made his heart rejoice. That person was Col. Heart 
 land. The merry girls continued their fortune-telling with the apples, 
 and each young man claimed her whose name his apple bore. 
 
 Alice blushingly took the arm offered by Major Pettybone, and 
 began to promenade the halls, library and parlor, while Miss Hubble- 
 stubble s serpent glance followed her. He poured into her enraptured 
 ear, descriptions of places and things he had seen in other lands. He 
 talked of the female beauty of other and less favored climes. He 
 dwelt with marked emphasis upon the raven hair and sparkling eyes 
 of Italy s beauteous maidens, and told how he had 
 
 " Dwelt within the old white walls of Cadiz, 
 Listening to love s melting strains breathed o er 
 The lutes of Spanish ladies," 
 
 Gradually he led her from the lighted halls to the moonlit garden of 
 flowers, and there, beneath the white blossoming woodland, Margerite 
 rose, whose pearly clusters have so long been typical of wedded hap 
 piness, he told his love. She raised her eyes to his. The look he 
 gave in return was such as a man gives only to the idol of his heart. 
 He clasped the little hand in his, and, sinking upon one knee, asked if 
 he might claim the one word he had so justly won would she make 
 him happy ? He loved her deeply ! madly, intensely, wildly, loved 
 her ! Would she be his eternally, forever ? The word craved was 
 the simple " Yes." He listened, she said it, and he was happy. " It 
 will please my father, she thought, as she made the vow a vow so 
 soon, so bitterly regretted. Fearing they would be missed, he led her 
 back to the drawing-room, a happy, happy man feeling that the first 
 young, budding love of her nature was his. She thought all was well 
 enough. She knew not then the deep, holy feeling of love. She 
 admired this worthy, grand friend of her father s, and knew what she 
 had done would receive his choicest blessings, His bright, versatile 
 genius had captivated her fancy, and her mind was fascinated in a 
 childlike manner. But the heart was untouched, save that the hand 
 of friendship had swept over its chordage and called forth a few 
 responsive notes. 
 
 My father seems more quiet to-night than I ever saw him," said 
 Alice ; " I hope he has had nothing to trouble him." 
 
92 Tahoe: or Life in California. 
 
 " Nothing more," replied her companion, "than a few matrimonial 
 passes made at him of late, by your esteemed teacher." 
 
 Alice looked at him reproachfully, almost indignantly, and said : 
 " You must not talk of Miss Hubblestubble in this way. I am sure 
 you wrong her." 
 
 " I beg your pardon, Miss Heartland, I did not intend to do so. I 
 meant no disparagement of Miss Hubblestubble ; I only wished to 
 satisfy you in regard to your father s mood. Miss Hubblestubble be 
 longs to that numerous class of women who are out for a husband. 
 Unfortunately for Col. Heartland, she has set her heart upon him as 
 her victim. Having been but little in the society of women, and un 
 accustomed to their wiles and arts, he has suffered much annoyance 
 from what should have pleased him. I am sure you will see that I 
 look with as much charity upon Miss Hubblestubble s desires to ob 
 tain a husband as you do. I cannot censure her, nor can I blame her 
 for the choice she made ; I do not think you can, either you who ap 
 preciate your father so highly. On the contrary, if I judge you right, 
 I think you would have been offended if she had not admired him, 
 knowing, as you must, how worthy the admiration of all he is. Is it a 
 wonder, then, that a heart floating around loosely should have lodged 
 in that direction ?" 
 
 Alice smiled in spite of herself. 
 
 " Col. Heartland," continued Major Pettybone, " knows not how to 
 parry these little assaults, and takes umbrage at that by which he should 
 be flattered. Seeing how this state of affairs has annoyed my friend, 
 I resolved to shield him from further uneasiness on that score, I have 
 to-night tried, and, I think, succeeded in directing her attention from 
 him, for a while at least. I will be the honored recipient of those fossil 
 remains she calls her affections." 
 
 " Do you mean," said Alice, and he sank low in her estimation, 
 "that you would jilt Miss Hubblestubble ?" 
 
 By no means. There are wandering hearts seeking something on 
 which to rest ; Col. Heartland groaned beneath the weight of one of 
 these. I simply lift this weight and support it until it passes to the 
 next object. It is a kind of love that fills the hearts of ladies of an 
 uncertain age, and is movable or transferable from one object to an 
 other, as circumstances or occasion may require. Sometimes it is the 
 result of feeling, oftener of calculation. If of the first, surely the 
 ladies are not to blame, since human love is not the growth of human 
 will. I would be the last to censure that which confers so much 
 happiness on my sex. It would evidence a want of appreciation to 
 which I would not plead guilty. If the calculation of future or self- 
 interest be the cause, should we not rather commend than withdraw 
 
Tahoe: or Life in California. 93 
 
 our admiration ? For my part, I think a man should feel flattered when 
 a woman who has reached the age of discretion singles him out as a fit 
 person on whom to bestow her mature affections. They do no harm ; 
 are not crafty, but only considerate of their own future ; and it is not 
 selfish to look after what we think will contribute to our happiness, 
 especially when in doing so we expect to make others happy. I hope, 
 Miss Heartland, you are convinced I meant no disrespect to Miss 
 Augusta, as she desires that I shall hereafter call her. I am an ad 
 mirer of woman-kind, from Mother Eve to her youngest daughters, 
 and I would not, for the whole of creation, be ungallant or inconsid- 
 ate towards them." 
 
 This air of much humility caused Alice to laugh gleefully ; but as 
 she came into the room where she saw her father seated, as she had 
 left him, looking sadly out of the window, she grew grave. Major 
 Pettybone marked the change, and leading her up to him, said : 
 
 " Col. Heartland, you have been watching the window ; what ghost 
 or goblin have you discovered this Hallow-een ?" 
 
 " I ve seen nothing outside," he said, " but the devil is on the inside." 
 He glanced toward Miss Hubblestubble. Afterwards he arose 
 quickly and went into the library. They both turned and looked at 
 Miss Hubblestubble. She flew back and forth in the mazes of the 
 dance, her tall form swaying to and fro like a long reed on an eastern 
 prairie. 
 
 The young gentlemen vied \vith each other in paying her attention, 
 and in claiming her as a partner in the dance. The delicate, manly 
 manner in which Major Pettybone had treated her served as an exam 
 ple to his younger friends, and, despite Col. Heartland s rebuff, she 
 enjoyed the evening to her heart s content. Alice was amused by her 
 father s speech and manner, and was now satisfied that Major Petty- 
 bone s explanation of his conduct was correct. But where was Wal 
 ter Woodford ? it was getting late, and he and his friend had not 
 arrived. 
 
94 Tahoe: or Life in California* 
 
 CHAPTER XVII. 
 
 THE HALLOW-EEN PARTY, CONTINUED. 
 
 Walter Woodford and his friend had been detained longer than they 
 wished, on account of letters for Aldridge from San Francisco, which, 
 he said, required immediate answers, and Walter had remained with 
 his friend until this task had been accomplished. They were wel 
 comed cordially by Col. Heartland on their arrival at the villa, and in 
 another instant young Woodford entered the room, closely followed 
 by his friend. He stepped gracefully forward, took Alice s hand, and, 
 turning, introduced Mr. Aldridge. Alice courtesied low, gave one 
 glance at the stranger, and stood riveted to the spot A deep silence 
 followed. Still she stood, statue-like, growing whiter and whiter. 
 Her colorless lips parted, and the one word, " father," escaped them. 
 Instantly Col. Heartland was at his daughter s side, her head pillowed 
 on his bosom, and his manly arm supporting her. Major Pettybone 
 rushed for water, and placed the sparkling goblet near her lips, saying. 
 " Drink a little, just a little." The sound of his voice startled her into 
 consciousness. She gave him a look of cold disdain, and pushed the 
 goblet almost rudely from her. Looking around upon the company, 
 without glancing towards the spot where Aldridge stood, she said : 
 " It is nothing ; my head ached and I grew dizzy. I am well again." 
 With her woman s tact she disengaged herself from her anxious 
 father s gentle embrace, and mingled with her guests again. She 
 quelled the emotions of her fluttering heart, and flitted, fairy-like, hither 
 and thither, speaking a kindly word to each and every one. The tem 
 porary interruption of the evening s pleasure was soon forgotten, and 
 the merry laughter and pleasant converse from gay and happy hearts 
 was heard again on all sides. Sweet music floated out on the per 
 fumed air, and busy feet attested that enjoyment had again attained 
 its height. 
 
Tahoe: or Life in California. 95 
 
 " Will Miss Alice honor me this set ? " said Walter Woodford ; and 
 he led her to a place on the floor vis-a-vis to Major Pettybone and 
 Miss Hubblestuble. Alice could scarcely suppress a smile when she 
 saw them and remembered all that he had said. 
 
 " Why was Mr. Woodford and his friend so late ? " asked Alice. 
 
 " Mr. Aldridge received letters of importance this evening," said 
 young Woodford, " that required immediate answers, after which he 
 went to meet the stage at the nearest point as it passed the mountain 
 road that leads this way, that they might be dispatched to-night. The 
 coach was detained, and being my guest, I awaited his return, in order 
 to introduce him here to my friends. All the ladies think him charm 
 ing. How do you like him, Miss Heartland ? " 
 
 " I can scarcely tell as yet," said Alice. " He is exceedingly hand 
 some, and I noticed gray hairs ; strange for one so young." 
 
 " Yes, his hair is slightly whitened. His early trouble, of which I 
 told you, is the cause. I do not think his age warrants any other 
 supposition. Besides, if he were really old enough to have gray hairs, 
 he would be sure to dye it. Make no other engagement for the next 
 set he will ask you, and I wish you to become better acquainted with 
 him." 
 
 The dance ended, Woodford seated his partner and rejoined his 
 friend. 
 
 " Is she not beautiful ?" said Aldridge. 
 
 " Did I not tell you so ?" said Woodford. " She would be a queen 
 in society, but she prefers her woodland home and her father s com 
 pany to anything else in the world." 
 
 " I do not like her father I knew I would not. He eyed me for 
 awhile as if I had been a bandit ; but the daughter is divine ; your de 
 scriptions fall short, far short, of the reality." (Then observing that 
 Alice, though some distance from him, with her back turned towards 
 them, was listening, he raised his voice and said :) " Why, man, she 
 is as beautiful and transcending in her influences as Shelley s Witch 
 of Atlas. Grace is in her every movement ; yet so simple, so child 
 like, so seemingly dependent on her father. A poet hath said a 
 thing of beauty is a joy forever. I fully realize this truth. I think, 
 my friend, it would be safest and best for me to fly some of these 
 gentle influences ere it is too late. Suppose we ride back to your 
 house immediately." 
 
 " No," replied Woodford, " I could not let you be so rude, it matters 
 not what your danger may be ; besides, I would have something to 
 lose in that event ; I would not have them think I had brought such 
 an ill-mannered person here as you would prove yourself to be by 
 
g6 Tahoe: or^Life in California. 
 
 such conduct ; besides, we have not had our fortunes told, or in any 
 way joined in the Hallow-een festival. You have paid our young 
 hostess no attention. I told her you would claim her hand for the 
 next set." 
 
 " Well, I suppose if I must I must. I will endeavor to steel my 
 heart against the consequences. I give you fair warning ; you are 
 leading me into temptation by detaining me. It has been many years 
 since I cared for bright eyes and ruby lips, but I may not be strong 
 enough to withstand them on this occasion." 
 
 " Stop your nonsense, Aldridge," said Woodford, " and ask Miss 
 Heartland s hand for the next quadrille ; I intended doing so myself, 
 but have waived my opportunity in your favor ; I told her to make no 
 other engagement. I have told her so much about you don t make 
 me regret having done so. Be yourself, Aldridge, for her expectations 
 in regard to you are very high. Do not disappoint her ; what are you 
 gazing at ? Why do you not go ? I have never seen you so dull and 
 void of gallantry, both in speech and manners. There, she has walked 
 to the other side of the room ; now is your chance ; go." Thus urged, 
 almost forced, Aldridge approached Alice and asked: "Can I have 
 the honor of Miss Heartland s hand for the next set ?" 
 
 Alice was looking towards him when he started, but as he advanced 
 she turned her head ; but when he spoke she raised her large, full eyes 
 to his, a deep flush overspread her face ; she took his arm without a 
 word, walked to their place on the floor, and moved off in the mazy 
 dance " as graceful as the lily flower on the blue lake s heaving waters." 
 He was the first to break the silence. 
 
 " Do you like dancing ?" be asked. 
 
 " Very much," was her reply, " if we have good music." 
 
 Then on and on he led the conversation, until all restraint between 
 them was at an end. He told her of his West Point life ; of his fol 
 lies and boyish loves while there ; of other and far-off lands, and the 
 maidens he had met. She listened and questioned him with interest, 
 for it was of himself that he spoke, and everything concerning him 
 now interested her. She listened with rapt attention as his low, melo 
 dious voice recounted his many adventures. He spoke of his fancies, 
 " for," said he, " were they not fancies bright dreams that had no 
 realities ; the passing hallucinations of the hour ; the wild witcheries 
 of a young imagination ? Then, as I grew older, other hopes came 
 more reasonable, truer, deeper. They, too, had their rise and decline. 
 They, too, were consigned to the past. Since, others have arisen ; 
 not less beautiful, not less tempting to the heart, to cast aside all bar- 
 
Tahoe: or Life in California. 97 
 
 riers and fly to a kindred one one, I dare hope, will throb in unison 
 with my own. I see her now, the beauteous one 
 
 Prometheus-like from heaven she stol:, 
 
 The fire that through those silken lashes, 
 In darkest glances seems to roll 
 From eyes that cannot hide their flashes. 
 
 " But I weary you, Miss Heartland, talking to you so much about 
 myself, my future hopes," etc. 
 
 " Do go on," she said, encouragingly; " I am very much interested." 
 
 "We will meet again soon," he said, "and then, if you have the 
 patience, I will tell you more of my slumbering fancies and waking 
 dreams." 
 
 Thus, this man, schooled in the art of pleasing women, and skilled 
 in the use of beautiful language, won his way to her confidence, and, 
 assisted by the phantom face she had seen in the lake, laid siege to 
 her innocent heart. She did not resist, but surrendered at once, for 
 getting, in her happy fancies, her plighted faith was another s. A wave 
 of the hand, a gallant bow, and he turned away. The happy, happy 
 hours had sped ; too quickly gone, and the guests were taking their 
 leave ere she awoke from her reverie. They thanked her for the en 
 joyment of the evening, and wished her much happiness as each 
 Hallow-een should revolve again. They laughingly called her Queen 
 of the Fairies, inasmuch as she had placed a spell upon them all, from 
 which they would not soon recover. The talisman of witchery was 
 hers, and she had wielded it well. Col. Heartland gave a sigh of re 
 lief as he rose to retire. Just then Aldridge stepped forward to bid 
 him good evening, and Alice marked how coldly he said " Good 
 night," without extending his hand, or asking the stranger to call 
 again. But she did not notice Aldridge ; how the blood flew from his 
 coward lips, and his villainous eyes fell before the straightforward gaze 
 of her father. Had she seen it, perhaps, her innocent eyes might 
 have recognized as " mild a mannered man as ever cut a throat or 
 scuttled a ship." Not seeing it, she attributed her father s coldness 
 to prejudice against a stranger, and a fear that that stranger might 
 come between herself and the friend on whom he wished to bestow 
 his daughter s hand. This man, who had so earnestly striven to keep 
 suspicions of all kinds from his daughter s heart, was now suspected 
 by her of allying himself with Major Pettybone for the accomplish 
 ment of that gentleman s wishes. Against this her heart revolted. 
 She did not doubt her father s love, and that he was endeavoring to 
 do the best for her. But she thought him prejudiced, as much in 
 the favor of Major Pettybone as he was against Aldridge. She had 
 
98 fahoe: or Life in California. 
 
 never opposed his will, and would not do so now ; but the more she 
 thought of it, the more she loved her father and disliked the man he 
 favored. A moment, and she regretted that she should ever even 
 have differed from her father s views. She went up to him and silently 
 received his good night s blessing. He pressed her to his heart, and, 
 with a simple good night to Miss Hubblestubble, she left them for her 
 room. 
 
 " Col. Heartland," said Miss Hubblestubble, " Major Pettybone is a 
 pleasant, intelligent person." 
 
 " He most certainly is," replied Col. Heartland ; " but I must bid 
 you good night, for the wee small hours have come," and bowing 
 politely, he passed through the hall to his chamber, musing: "Well, 
 Pettybone is in for it now ; no matter, he did it himself, and I am re 
 lieved of the nuisance and can afford to be jocular at his expense. I 
 feel much better already, and can now tolerate this woman. She was 
 getting unbearable, but since she has shifted her affections I can bet 
 ter stand her." In a few moments he had given himself to sleep, and 
 rested better than he had done since her arrival at the villa. 
 
Tahoe: or Life in California. 
 
 CHAPTER XVIII. 
 
 " Love, all-defying love, who sees 
 No charm in trophies won at ease ; 
 Whose rarest, dearest fruits of bliss 
 Are plucked on danger s precipice." 
 
 Reaching her own room, Alice dismissed old Bertina with " That ll 
 do, Bertie ; thank you ; you can go now." And she was alone. Dis 
 robed, her white night dress hung in classic folds around her. Her long, 
 dark hair fell in waves over her back and shoulders. The crimsoned 
 spots on her cheeks had assumed a fevered hue, and her eyes " too wildly 
 flashed, too darkly seemed." She stood before her mirror beneath 
 the bright light of her chandelier; but she thought not of the beauty 
 reflected there. Her full heart was throbbing in nervous agitation as 
 she mused upon the events of the past few hours. " It was the same 
 face," she thought, "the very same, I saw in the lake. I wonder how 
 I could have imagined a face so like his. But there is a double reason 
 why I should banish him from my mind. He has almost told me he is 
 in love with a maiden who is fair beyond comparison, that his hopes 
 of success are high. He said he would tell me more when we met 
 again, and that we will meet again soon. As painful as it will be, I 
 wish to hear it all yes, I wish to hear how he can love another. I would 
 give life itself to possess his heart, and yet I must listen to him as he tells 
 me how it has been laid at the feet of this goddess of his soul. Oh ! I 
 cannot, I cannot ! This fevered brain will burst this aching head, and 
 reason will totter ! I am here alone I, the affianced wife of Major 
 Pettybone, my father s best friend. Oh, that I had a friend ! One that 
 I could lean upon in this dark and trying hour of my life. I dare not 
 go to my father, and it is the first time in my life that I feel ashamed to do 
 so. My heart contains a secret to sacred even for his knowledge. He has 
 always so gently entreated my confidence ; how can I withhold it from 
 
too Tahoe: or Life in California. 
 
 him ? Yet how can I tell him ? I must not allow myself to think of 
 it ; it will madden me. Major Pettybone s friendship is valued by 
 father, and he would never forgive his daughter for playing him false- 
 I would do anything rather than brave my father s displeasure. Had 
 I discarded him at the outset, it would have been different ; but to ac 
 cept and then discard him, would be unpardonable. Come what may, 
 I will keep my engagement with Major Pettybone. It will be a sacri 
 fice, but I would infinitely rather sacrifice myself than cause the man 
 who has been so good a father one moment s pain, I cannot stand 
 that he should lose confidence in his idolized child. He could not, he 
 would not, forgive her for what he would most certainly consider a 
 dishonorable flirtation, and the victim of that flirtation his devoted and 
 best friend. Where is my diary ? Perhaps I can forget for a moment 
 while writing." 
 
 She opened her diary and made the following entry opposite to the 
 date of October 3ist : 
 
 " A day of happiness ; a night of misery. Major Pettybone, of Pet 
 tybone Hall, the cause of all my trouble. " 
 
 She replaced the book in the bureau drawer, and with quivering 
 nerves knelt at the foot of her pure white bed. She tried to pray ; she 
 could not. She buried her face in her hands and wept aloud. " Oh ! 
 my mother ! If I but had a mother this dismal night of my soul. But 
 I have not. I never knew her love ; yet, all my life long, I have in 
 stinctively missed it. To-night, in all my lonely trouble, I miss it 
 more than ever. There is nothing that takes its place. The aching 
 void cannot be filled. There is nothing that can ever replace it. She 
 is with her child in sorrow as well as joy. She will follow him through 
 ruin and degradation. It is so strange that this love for my mother 
 should exist so strongly in my heart I, who have never known a 
 mother. Sometimes, when I have heard others call the name of 
 mother, it has sent an aching, envious thrill to my very soul. I never 
 knew her ; but I have seen where they laid her in the corner of the 
 garden, beneath the white lilies. I ve seen these pale flowers from my 
 window with the light from the north tower resting upon them, keeping 
 watch like guardian angels over her grave. Oh J that she were here ! 
 Oh ! that I could go to her for comfort ! I will go ! " 
 
 And in her stockingless feet and flowing robes she left her chamber, 
 rushed down the stairs, and, unbolting a side-door, entered the gar 
 den. She went on, unheeding the sharp rocks and shells beneath her 
 feet, nor stopped until the spot was reached. Kneeling at the head of 
 her mother s grave, midst the lilies and violets, herself the fairest of 
 them all, she besought with tears and prayers her mother s blessing, 
 her mother s love, and her mother s guidance. 
 
Tahoe: or Life in California. 101 
 
 " I know my mother could not have forgotten her child," she ex 
 claimed, in frenzied accents. " I know that Heaven would not place a 
 barrier between us. I know that she still watches over me. I feel her 
 presence. I know that in spirit she is with me ; and, oh ! mother 
 angel mother ! hear your child ; clasp her to your heart ; save her 
 from the evil that threatens ; still her fluttering heart ; cool her burn 
 ing brow. I have never known a mother s care in life, let me know 
 her love in spirit. I crave it ! I beg it ! " 
 
 She fell senseless on the grave from excitement mental excitement, 
 fever. She rested on the flowery bed, as pure and white as the blos 
 soms that surrounded her. The light gleamed brightly, almost holily, 
 from the north tower, and a deep and awful stillness reigned over and 
 about Col. Heartland s home. 
 
IO2 Tahoe: or Life in California. 
 
 CHAPTER XIX. 
 
 GRUBBS. 
 
 " The De il gave him his gear to keep, 
 And he held it well together." 
 
 In order to better understand the foregoing chapter, we must go 
 back to a time previous to the All Hallow-een party at the villa, to 
 a room over a gambling den in San Francisco. Its low, blackened 
 roof and dirty, bare floor bespoke discomfort, and cards and pieces of 
 cards scattered around, stumps of cigars, quids of tobacco, spots of 
 ambier and empty bottles, told the tale of degradation. Near a low table, 
 upon which a nearly consumed candle burned in a brass candle 
 stick, the lower rim of which was filled with burnt matches, paper 
 cinders and the drippings from the candle, sat two men. It would be 
 impossible to conceive an idea of a more hideous, wretched-looking 
 creature than the elder of these two. His head rested upon his 
 shoulders, and no neck was visible ; his body was short, his legs long 
 and inclined inwardly at the knees. His feet were long, shapeless 
 and flat even the coarse leather boots he wore could not hide 
 their deformity. But these were minor points when you came to view 
 his face. His forehead was low, and his matted, uncombed hair hung 
 over a pair of shaggy brows, from beneath which gleamed two ser- 
 pentile eyes one green, the other black ; one looked up, the other 
 down ; when the drooping, purplish, transparent lid closed over one, 
 the other remained open ; thus it was he kept constant watch on all 
 around him. His upper lip was blue, thin, and drawn tightly across 
 his teeth, which protruded to a point, in front, and were as yellow as 
 tobacco could make them. His complexion was of that hue that a 
 dead human body assumes when life has been extinct long enough for 
 
Talioe: or Life in California. 103 
 
 decomposition to begin its work ; while his countenance wore that 
 direful expression that rests only on the face of those who sacrifice 
 to the " Indian god of murder." We have seen him before, yet each 
 time we view him, chameleon-like, he assumes a different appearance. 
 
 " Shut up your up-eye, and open your down-eye, you green-eyed 
 monster or you black-eyed devil, I don t know which or care which 
 and move up here and let us take a game of three-card monte, to 
 relieve the tedium of this awful long night," said his companion. 
 " Come, don t move your gangling legs all over the house. I tell you, 
 I must have money, Grubbs; money, and that immediately. If you 
 have any, you might as well unloose your coffers and shell out. Come 
 on ; don t sit there looking like you could bite the bottom out of a 
 frying-pan, or a pumpkin to the hollow, the first bite. It is not the 
 first time you have been called upon to share your ill-gotten gains 
 with your friends, and it will not be the last, by many. Don t shake 
 your Caliban head at me, for you know I have evidence sufficient to 
 support you many years at the State s expense, if I but chose to use 
 it ; but I do not intend to give up so valuable a servant as I have found 
 you, though you did think you had escaped me. That was a mean 
 thing, this tit for tat business ; but I found you." 
 
 "Remember," replied Grubbs, in a deep, guttural tone, ;< that which 
 I know of you might be put to use, also." 
 
 "Use it, if you dare," said the other quickly, eyeing his companion 
 nervously. 
 
 " Why not I use it, as well as you ? Why am I not to threaten, as 
 you do?" answered the same gruff voice. 
 
 "Because, in all our transactions," replied the other, "yours has 
 been the executive ability. You contributed to our firm the will to do 
 You planned, and you have carried out your plans. In other words 
 I am the party that followed, while you led. Your will controlled the 
 whole concern. I am the junior partner, and intend to maintain my 
 position as such, for my protection." 
 
 " In other words, "said Grubbs, "you are the master and I the slave. 
 I would, in the eyes of the law, be the criminal, and you only the 
 accomplice." 
 
 " Even so ; then look better to your behavior, nor dare threaten 
 your superior. Ah, man, there is a chance for you yet to stand in 
 mid air, and kick at the United States. You are my slave, and you 
 shall remain such. Seek not to break the chain that binds you ; for 
 an effort to escape will make your bondage more galling. You 
 know, if exposure should come, I could fly the country and walk 
 among my fellows like an innocent man. I have done it, and I can do 
 
IO4 Tahoe: or Life in California. 
 
 it again. With you it cannot be done. You could not escape detec 
 tion. Your ungainly form and horrible visage once seen can never be 
 forgotten. So I advise you, my friend, to keep quiet." 
 
 Your words are true," said Grubbs, humbly, "and I feel their 
 weight more on that account. But," continued he, indignation firing 
 his green eye, " God has put my soul into this ugly carcass, and given 
 yours a comelier abiding place." 
 
 " Come, sir ; I will not have my handsome, manly phiz compared in 
 the remotest manner to the bestial form before me. Why, man, the 
 very sight of you is enough to vomit me. I could need no better 
 emetic. Let us change the subject, or else I will throw up the very 
 soles of my feet." 
 
 " It is a pity my services are not as disgusting to your lordship as 
 my personal appearance," said Grubbs. 
 
 " There is dirty work in the world to be done, and it must be done 
 by such as you," said his friend. 
 
 " Aye ! and planned by such as you. My soul is as fair as yours, 
 and in comparison would come off to advantage. I feel the goblin 
 shape I wear. As I pass along the streets the children run and scream. 
 The women, frightened, seek their homes, and secure their doors 
 after them. I have nothing to be thankful to God for. No human 
 ties bind me. Who would call me husband, except the portress of 
 Hellgate ? And children ; what would they have been ? They scarcely 
 would have worn the human form revolting spectacle to human 
 sight they would have made night hideous. Egyptian darkness 
 would not be black enough to hide their horrible visages. I said I 
 had nothing to thank God for ; but I have. I am thankful that I am 
 wifeless and childless. There are none to bear my misfortunes or my 
 name a name I have as little claim to as you have to the name of 
 Aldridge." 
 
 Aldridge, for it was he, turned full upon him, and half-way drew a 
 glistening dagger from his bosom, but he thought of himself; he 
 could not spare this man just yet, and sheathing his weapon again, 
 and looking him fiercely in the face, he said : " Say that again at the 
 peril of your life." 
 
 " I have no occasion to repeat it," was the reply. " But let us have 
 something more cheerful," he continued ; and going to the squalid bed, 
 he raised the dingy coverlid and drew forth a bottle. He took a seared 
 glass from the shelf and placed it on the table by Aldridge; then 
 seated himself on the opposite side. Aldridge took the bottle, poured 
 out a portion of its contents and offered it to his companion. 
 
 " Drink first," said Grubbs, 
 
Tahoe: or Life in California. 105 
 
 " No," replied he, " I ll have you test the wine you offer me, before 
 one drop of it goes down my throat." 
 
 "You do not think," said Grubbs, "that I would deal so unfairly 
 with you ?" 
 
 "Ask yourself that question," replied he. "Is my knowledge of 
 your character such as to make me trust you ? Have you never dealt 
 unfairly with me ?" 
 
 "Perhaps," said he, "but I will prove it to you. Hand me the 
 glass," and he emptied its sparkling contents into his horrible mouth. 
 " Now you see, there is no foul play." 
 
 Aldridge refilled the glass and swallowed the glistening beverage- 
 Then passing it to his friend, he said, with mock respect : 
 
 kk Friend of my soul ; this goblet sip ; 
 
 It will chase the pensive tear 
 It is not so sweet as woman s lip, 
 
 But, ah ! tis more sincere." 
 
 lk Like her delusive beam, 
 
 Twill steal away your mind ; 
 Like affection s dream, 
 
 Twill leave no sting behind." 
 
 " Some sap-headed poet wrote that about women and wine, but it 
 is true. This draught," he continued, filling another bumper, "is 
 worth all the women in the world ; for they will play you false in half 
 a chance. You do well to thank God for not being connected to one 
 as your wife. That is, if there is any God to be thanked. It amuses 
 me to hear, sensible, rational men, talking about a God, as tho there 
 really existed such a being, or rather, such a spirit. It is strange how 
 the world is duped. I think the Bible a good code of morals when 
 followed, but its divine origin is all stuff. It is simply ridiculous in 
 you, Grubbs, to be talking about a God." 
 
 " I do believe in him," replied the other. "I know he exists, but he 
 put me here, in this uncomely shape, and I am his enemy. He cannot 
 hurt me, either here or hereafter. I am a servant of the Devil, and in 
 tend to be about my master s business. I am now acting under his 
 agent," he said, bowing to Aldridge, and looking quite mild out of 
 his black eye. 
 
 " If I believed in a God," replied Aldridge, " I would give up this 
 agency, you allude to. But it will be more profitable to me to serve 
 this imaginary devil, of which you speak. I have made up my mind 
 to serve the best paymaster, and my commission, as this so called dev 
 il s agent, is much greater than I can get by trying to be a saint and 
 not succeeding. I do not mean to let the mythical curse of Adam rest 
 upon me. I am going to have my living from the sweat of the brows 
 of other men, as far as possible. I am going around as many of the 
 
io6 Tahoe: or Life in California. 
 
 rough corners of life as I can, at all risks. That man was in a good 
 situation, who had inscribed upon his tombstone this couplet : If 
 there is another world, he has gone to bliss. If not, he made the most 
 of this. These ministers of the gospel, as they are called, I have no 
 patience with, and still less with people who are gulled by them." 
 
 "I don t see why," said Grubbs. "They are, according to your 
 opinion, avoiding the rough corners making their living out of 
 priest-ridden communities. I don t blame them ; if I had the tact 
 and education, I would go to preaching myself. 
 
 " Ha, ha, ha !" laughed his friend. " Preacher, indeed ; the people 
 would fly affrighted from the church. They would think that Hell 
 was deserted, and all the fiends were combined in one, and that one 
 had come among them masked, as an enemy of God." 
 
 " It is a wonder you have not thought of it in all your schemes for 
 money. Your chicanery, impudence, handsome person and mental 
 culture fit you to show others the steep and thorny way to heaven, 
 while you yourself the primrose path of dalliance tread. " 
 
 " I thank you for the compliment," said Aldridge. "But, Grubbs, 
 tell me who you really are, whence you came ; you know now much 
 more of me than I do of you, and it is but just that you should repose 
 this much confidence in me." 
 
 " You have never invited my confidence, or else I should have told 
 you all I know of myself. Had I been born a gentleman, as you were, 
 I should have been one still. If I had a legal right to bear my fath 
 er s name, I should never have disgraced and abandoned it, as you 
 have done." 
 
 " Stop, sir," cried Aldridge, wildly ; " confine yourself to your sub 
 ject." 
 
 " Well," continued Grubbs ; " I was born somewhere in New York, 
 I suppose, as the first information I have of myself is, that I was 
 found by a wealthy bachelor of New York in a basket hanging upon 
 his door-knob. The aforesaid gentleman, not wishing to attribute my 
 parentage to himself, called a policeman and handed basket and all to 
 him. He took the ugly waif to a foundling hospital. I remained there 
 until I was old enough to be of some use. I was then bound out to a 
 man and his wife, ostensibly to make my living honestly, but in reality 
 to support my new master and mistress. This I did faithfully for 
 some time, by begging and stealing. I finally became tired of bond 
 age, and resolved to set up for myself. My partnership was too oner 
 ous. The division of spoils was too great, and my share often resulted 
 in not only no share at all, but a sound drubbing on my desolate head, 
 because I did not provide more liberally. One morning I started out 
 as usual, but when night came I was far out at sea, on my way to 
 
Tahoe: or Life in California. 107 
 
 Baltimore. I had taken sufficient of my stolen gains from my lessees 
 to pay steerage passage to that place. I have not heard of my foster 
 mother and father since. In Baltimore I followed my profession. I 
 was quite expert, and was caught twice only. I got off very well, with 
 short imprisonments and small fines, and continued my old way of liv 
 ing. A gentleman from Virginia took me home with him and sent 
 me to school. I grew to manhood there I ve told you the rest. That 
 last forgery and robbery that brought us here to Frisco out of harm s 
 way you first, me latterly 
 
 " Hush," said Aldridge, sternly, glancing uneasily around the room 
 towards the door. 
 
 " You said you wanted money ; now will you tell me what it is for ?" 
 said Grubbs 
 
 " Yes ; I have this marriage speculation on hand, my friend," said 
 Aldridge. " The one you advised, you know," 
 
 " Any chance," said Grubbs, looking out of his venomous, green eye. 
 " Name it, and I ll get you money for its accomplishment." 
 
 " I ve been there 
 
 " Have you ?" asked Grubbs, astonished. 
 
 " I have, and I intend to marry her." 
 
 " Impossible !" 
 
 " No, Grubbs, I tell you nothing is impossible with a woman. You 
 know I will have to have some fine clothing ; new hat, new boots, 
 etc." 
 
 " Of course , what then ?" 
 
 You saw me with young Woodford, yesterday ?" 
 
 " The tall young gentleman who was with you when I spoke to you 
 a few days since ?" 
 
 " The same. And, bye the bye, you came near betraying me, speak 
 ing to me so familiarly on the street. I did not wish that young man 
 to suspect that I knew you at all, for it would ruin me in his estima 
 tion, and thus frustrate all my well matured plans." 
 
 "So," said Grubbs, "the man of whom you will beg money, and 
 call your friend here at night in this dingy place, you are not even 
 willing to recognize in daylight on the streets." 
 
 " Even so," said Aldridge ; " for policy s sake I am compelled to 
 pursue that course. In this case, however, it did me no harm ; on 
 the contrary, your asking me to play cards and drink enabled me to 
 express my opinion of gambling and drinking as would meet the ap 
 proval of young Woodford, and gain upon his confidence. He seemed 
 surprised that I should know you, as he said you were a known black 
 leg of San Francisco, and that the police had an eye on you. This I 
 soon explained away by saying I knew nothing of you, except such 
 
io8 Tahoe: or Life in California. 
 
 acquaintance as you forced upon me a specimen of which he had 
 witnessed. I had met your former attempts towards an intimacy in 
 like manner. He seemed pleased, and gave me some words of warn 
 ing against yourself and other ropers, for gambling hells in San 
 Francisco. I thanked him kindly, and he ended by inviting me to 
 spend a month with him at his father s home in the mountains. I 
 accepted this, invitation ; went for a few days ; met Miss Heartland, 
 and it is an outfit for this trip that I wish, as I am going back soon." 
 
 " Glorious ! " exclaimed Grubbs, both eyes glistening. " Glorious ! 
 Glorious ! Glorious ! I ll trust you to do the rest." 
 
 "Yes," continued Aldridge, "Miss Heartland had a Hallow-een 
 party, and my new friend obtained an invitation for me. So, you see, 
 I went. I understand from Woodford that Col. Heartland is very 
 particular as to the association of his daughter, and that he keeps her 
 in this out-of-the-way place, Sierran Villa, I believe they call it, on pur 
 pose to shield her from the baneful influences of society and the for 
 tune-hunters who throng the cities." 
 
 " That," said Grubbs, hopefully, " will render your task less diffi 
 cult ; she is the more unsuspecting, and, consequently, more impres 
 sible. I wish, heartily wish, you success." 
 
 " Thank you," replied Aldridge ; " I will leave nothing undone to 
 accomplish my purpose." 
 
 " When do you go ?" 
 
 "Just so soon as I can prepare myself. I ve told Woodford I 
 would rather not visit ladies, and appeared as indifferent in the matter 
 as possible. This has had its effect, and he is doubly anxious I should 
 visit this woodland beauty. He has gone home, but will be in the 
 city in a few days, when he wishes me to be ready. He represents 
 the fishing and hunting as very fine, but I am after better game." 
 
 " In what," asked Grubbs, " does this man Heartland s wealth con 
 sist?" 
 
 " In everything," said Aldridge. " In trading vessels, in East Indian 
 trade, in ranches, town property, mining interests, bank stocks, herds 
 of cattle, horses and sheep, and last, but not least, in the loveliest 
 daughter on the Pacific slope." 
 
 "Do you know it is daybreak?" asked Grubbs, "and neither of 
 us have slept. Share my accommodations for a morning s nap." 
 
 "No, thank you," came slowly from Aldridge, as he glanced at the 
 narrow, squalid bed. " But give me the money and let me go. I will 
 not see you again before I leave the city. You must not come near 
 or speak to me." 
 
 He took the handful of gold from Grubbs and left the room. 
 
Takoe: or Life in California. 109 
 
 CHAPTER XX. 
 
 ALICE HEARTLAND. 
 
 " Thus it is our daughters leave us 
 Those we love and those that love us." 
 
 The sun was high in the heavens ere the family at the villa were 
 awakened from their slumbers on the morning succeeding All Hal- 
 low-een. Griffin had heard a knocking upon the outside door of the 
 servants hall and hurried thither, after calling his wife, to see what 
 it was. The door was unbolted, and Burleigh, chief valet of Petty- 
 bone Hall, entered, bringing a basket of luscious fruits, covered with 
 rare flowers, upon which lay a delicate note. By this time Bertina 
 was upon the scene of action, and, rubbing her swollen eyes, asked 
 who it was for. 
 
 "Major Pettybone," replied Burleigh, "told me to bring it here, 
 with his compliments, and ask after the health of the family ; also, to 
 say to Col. Heartland he would take All-Saint s dinner with him to-day. 
 
 " I ll tell him," said Griffin, " soon as he wakes up. But, ole oman, 
 had you not better take the note and basket up to Miss Alice s room ? " 
 
 " No," said Bertina, " the child has been up the blessed night, and I 
 don t want to wake her, yet awhile." 
 
 " Chambermaid ! chambermaid ! " called Miss Hubblestubble from 
 up-stairs. 
 
 " I hear," screamed Bertina. " I would not have answered her at 
 all, but I was feared she would keep up such a hollering as to wake 
 up Miss Alice. Take care dat basket till I see what she wants, so 
 early in the mornin ." 
 
 Bertina disappeared, and soon returned giggling. 
 
 " She seed Mr. Burleigh bring dat basket," she said, with a snicker, 
 "and she tinks it s for her. I bet it s for Miss Alice; but I ll take it 
 to her, and see her disappointment when she reads de note." 
 
i io Tahoe: or Life in California. 
 
 She took the basket and went up stairs. 
 
 "This Miss Hubble," commenced Griffin, despite Bertina s lecture 
 about telling strange servants family affairs, " is a strange pussin. She 
 is old, and she hab nebber married. When she fust come she made 
 a dead set at Massa Heartland. He got as mad as his health would 
 permit I would not be surprised if Major Pettybone was not gwine 
 to hab troble, for I seed her looking at him sweet enough to put into 
 candy kisses last night. She tinks dat basket am for her. Dat make 
 her concern herself so much bout it. But dere comes de ole oman ; 
 don t tell her I tole you nuffin." 
 
 Burleigh grinned as Bertina came in. 
 
 " De ole lady," said she much amused, " took de note, saw it was 
 for Miss Alice, trowed it down on de floor ; tired to her room, piping 
 mad, and slammed the door." 
 
 " Mr. Burleigh," she said, looking at that worthy, " tell de Major 
 Miss Alice am sleep, but as soon as she am wake, I will liver de mes 
 sage, de basket and de note. You need nt tell him bout Miss Stub 
 ble thinking it was hern. I does nt blieve in spreading family fairs 
 round." 
 
 Burleigh grinned and took his departure, saying to himself: "I ll 
 tell it, or burst wide open, like a locust." 
 
 Bertina looked after him in a scornful manner. " Dare is two 
 kinds of folks, I hate," said she " One is poor white folks, like 
 her up-stairs, dat aint got but one ole black silk dress to der name, 
 and an ole green shawl. De oder is a white nigger like him, 
 dats jist going out ob de gate. Griffin, if you did not make better 
 pearance dan dat fellow, I d vorce you, and go back to ole Virginny. 
 Got good notion to doit anyhow." 
 
 " How comes dat ole oman ? 
 
 "Cause you settin dere with your knees pintingat each oder, insted 
 of turned out like ristocratic Virginny folks. You don t cross your 
 leg needer, like a gintleman. You don t say barsket, promanarde and 
 darnce. You don t do nothin ." 
 
 " Ole oman, you too ticular." 
 
 " No I aint nuder I can tell quality folks, soon as I lay my blessed 
 eyes on em." 
 
 " Dat oman, Miss Stubble, I mean, aint no more quality dan de sar- 
 ventdat just left ; only difference am, she tends to be and he does nt. 
 She puts herself on quality with best ob dem, and he blacks boots, 
 takes notes roun fur gentlemen to folks houses "fore folk s up, and 
 such ongenteel sarvices." 
 
 " I s pose," retorted Griffin, "you tinks one s no better dan tother." 
 
 " No, and not half as good." 
 
Tahoe: or Life in California. \ \ \ 
 
 " Well, I believe one is as good as tother, and a great deal better, 
 too." 
 
 " Griffin, you better not agivate me." 
 
 " Not for the whole world, my lub. I was tinking how hansome 
 you looked las- night wid your blue caliker, and sparrow-grass berries 
 in your har." 
 
 " Did you notis dat ? Dey say red berries looks purty in black har. 
 Dat s why I trimmed mine wid em. I heard somebody say I looked 
 just like I d been to Urip." 
 
 " Dey s trine to fool you, my Jub. Taint ebery person what can 
 look like dey s been to Urip." 
 
 " I know dat; but I m one ob de few dat can. Dey say dat man 
 Burleigh come from Urip. Do you believe dat, Griffin ?" 
 
 " I don t believe no such a yarn," said Griffin. " When we libed in 
 Virginny, I used to see folks dat had been dare. Mine what I tell 
 you, dat common fellar neber saw Urip in all his born days. If he 
 had eber been dare, he would be at some better biziness. He wouldn t 
 wait on folks. People would look up to him. Take my word for it, 
 he neber seed Urip. Why, old oman, when folks is been over dare, 
 dey gits pompous like. Dey walks grander, and dey looks on dem- 
 selves as better an common and is better, for dey can do many things 
 what folks as had t been can t do. Dey can speak in French, or some 
 thing dey can t unnerstand deyselves, and dey know you can t unner- 
 stand it ; so der just call it French, to pear grand like. I tell you, 
 gwine to Urip makes somethin out of nothin quicker dan any oder 
 process I knows of." 
 
 " You foolin 1 way time, Griffin ; you had better go to Col. Heart 
 land s room. " I se gwine up to carry dat note to Miss Alice. Time 
 she s gettin up anyhow." 
 
 " I ll tease her good bout dis Major Pettybone, and I ll tell her how 
 Miss Stubble flung down de note when she found out who it was for," 
 thought Bertina, as, with the basket in one band and the note in the 
 other, she approached Alice s door. She found it ajar, and entering 
 softly, was surprised to find the lamp in the chandelier still burning. 
 She glanced at the bed, and saw that it had not been occupied. 
 
 " De blessed chile done gone and made up her own bed and hid 
 away, to fool her ole nurse," said Bertina, as she saw Alice s clothing 
 upon a chair, and her shoes and stockings beside it. She set the bas 
 ket of flowers upon the table, laid the note on the bureau, and play 
 fully began a search. She looked in the dressing-room, in the ward 
 robe, and under the bed. "What s dese lights doin not blowed 
 out ? " she said, as her search proved fruitless, and she stood alarmed 
 in the centre of the room. 
 
112 Tahoe: or Life in California. 
 
 " Miss Alice is gone ! " She rushed out of the room, knocked vio 
 lently at Miss Hubblestubble s door as she passed, and burst into Col. 
 Heartland s chamber. 
 
 "Oh! Miss Alice! Oh! my baby s gonel" she exclaimed falling 
 at his feet, sobbing hysterically. 
 
 Col. Heartland stopped not to ask the cause of her excitement. He 
 knew, whatever it was, it concerned his daughter. A single bound, 
 and he was in the hall. Up the stairs he went, three or four steps at 
 a time roughly setting Miss Hubblestubble aside as, with uplifted 
 hands, she met him and inquired what was the matter. He threw the 
 door wide open and entered his daughter s chamber. Like Bertina, he 
 found no one there. Aldridge s face rose before him, as he thought, 
 perhaps, some lover had persuaded his child into an elopement. But 
 this idea was too absurd to be entertained, even for a moment. Then 
 the horrible thought came, perhaps the Indians in the mountains had 
 stolen her. Perhaps, as he stood, they were getting further and further 
 away with his child, and ere he could effect her rescue, she would be 
 the victim of the scalping-knife or tomahawk. The thought mad 
 dened him, and calling to Griffin to get a horse for himself and follow, 
 he rushed wildly down the stairs and, seizing a bridle, started for the 
 stable. Passing around the corner of the house, he involuntarily cast 
 his eyes towards his wife s grave. Something white lay upon it, 
 almost hidden by the green shrubs and white flowers. He turned his 
 course and walked, ran, rapidly in that direction. There was his child, 
 on her mother s grave. He stooped, placed his arms around her. 
 She was cold, senseless, but still alive. He called for Griffin, Bertina, 
 Miss Hubblestubble, the Chinese cook ; all came, but he bore his pre 
 cious burden in his own arms to the house. He carried her to his 
 own room and placed her upon his bed. " Alice ! daughter ! dar 
 ling !" he cried in agony. " Speak to your father once. Mustard ! 
 Brandy !" he exclaimed, not turning to those about him, as he leaned 
 over his delirious child. A moment more, and she spoke some inco 
 herent words. " Griffin," said he, " go for Dr. Brocker ; spare not the 
 horse ; bring him as quickly as possible ; Miss or whatever your 
 name may be, hand me the brandy. In God s name, be quick !" and 
 he took the glass from Miss Hubblestubble s hand. 
 
 " He need not be taking on in this style," she said to herself, " as if 
 everything here and hereafter rested on the fate of this silly girl, who 
 has gone out and lain down on the cold ground and got chilled. I 
 think it makes but little difference if she does die. The world is none 
 the better off for having such a ninny in it. But this Dr. Brocker 5 
 who is he ? I wonder if he is married ? In case I should fail in my 
 
Tahoe: or Life in California. \ \ 3 
 
 matrimonial scheme for Major Pettybone, I wonder how Dr. Brocker 
 would do. I ll see about that. But I suppose, now, I will be shut off 
 from company for several weeks, on account of this caper," she 
 thought, looking towards Alice, who was reviving under Bertina s 
 rubbing, and the quantity of brandy her father had given her. 
 
 " My daughter," said he, looking into her face, and tenderly stroking 
 her hair with his hand, " tell me what is the matter. Speak to your 
 father ! " 
 
 She looked at him in a dreamy manner, and replied : " Go away, I 
 don t wan t you ; I want my father ; send my father to me." 
 
 " She does not even know me," he said bitterly, sinking on his knees 
 beside the bed. 
 
 Alice s large eyes wandered around the room and rested upon Miss 
 Hubblestubble. 
 
 " There s a tarantula in here ; take it out." 
 
 " She does not mean me," said Miss Hubblestubble, changing her 
 position. 
 
 " Yes, I do," said Alice. " You are the very tarantula I mean. Don t 
 come this way, please oh, don t, don t !" she said, as Miss Hubble 
 stubble advanced to the bed. 
 
 " I must ask you not to agitate her," said Col. Heartland, " Deli 
 rium frequently causes such vagaries, and they must be humored. It 
 would be better for you to leave the room for a while, at least, Miss 
 Hubblestubble." 
 
 "It s going, father; it s going through the door; it s gone that 
 horrible tarantula. Do not let it come near me again," said Alice, as 
 Miss Hubblestubble stalked indignantly out, and found her way to her 
 own chamber. 
 
114 TaJwe: or Life in California. 
 
 CHAPTER XXI. 
 
 ALICE HEARTLAND, CONTINUED. 
 
 u To each his sufferings : all men, 
 
 Condemned alike to groan, 
 The tender for another s pain, 
 
 The unfeeling for his own." 
 
 Miss Hubblestubble was shocked beyond degree by the comparison 
 Alice made, and vented her feeling freely, in this wise : 
 
 " I wish she was dead, the minx. The idea of her calling me such 
 a horrible thing, even if she is delirious ! And that fool father of hers 
 crying like a baby, the great tears running down his cheeks ! I would 
 not marry such a womanish man, if he was the last of Adam s race 
 left. Altogether, this household don t suit me at all. These two ne 
 groes, just as impudent as they can be, and no respect in the world 
 for their betters. That Bertina shall never come into my room again. 
 She has ransacked everything I have, except my little blue bag, and it 
 has been by the closest watching I have kept it from her. The other 
 day I waked up and found her peeping into my trunks. I pretended 
 to be asleep, and she looked the room over for my reticule, but could 
 not find it, for it was under my head. She went to the bureau and 
 found my cheek plumpers there; she evidently thought they were 
 spiders, for she pitched them out of the* window with the tongs, and I 
 should have been a pretty sight with my cheeks hollowed in like a 
 Shaker scoop if I had not been prudent enough to have another pair 
 in my blue reticule. This family seem to have a mania for spiders. I 
 went down under the window afterwards and looked for my plumpers, 
 but I could not find them. I suppose the negro had been there before 
 me. I would not say anything about it for worlds, for they would 
 suspect something. As it is, no one will be any the wiser. All s 
 
Tahoe: or Life in California. 115 
 
 well that ends well; least said, soonest mended. I have been 
 thinking much on this negro question since I have been here, and I am 
 of the opinion that negroes are the meanest, lowest, most unfeeling 
 race in the world. I wish all Northern people knew them as I do ; 
 they would be perfectly satisfied. I suppose that is Dr. Brocker com 
 ing up the avenue. I will go down, meet, and chat him until he is 
 wanted in the room." She reached the front door just as the Doctor 
 came up the steps ; she extended her hand and said : " Dr. Brocker, 
 I presume. Miss Augusta Hubblestubble, Dr. Brocker." The Doc 
 tor bowed. 
 
 " Glad to see you, ma m." 
 
 "Yes, Doctor," she continued, "we have had a trying time this 
 morning. Our darling Alice has been very ill, and Col. Heartland is 
 almost crazy ; such a fond father ; such a fond father ! Just a little 
 better now, owing to our great care ; pulse low ; skin clammy ; slight 
 delirium ; talks a great deal about tarantulas ; dont know her father, 
 and looks " It is impossible to tell how long her volubility would 
 have lasted had not Bertina come out and said : 
 
 " Doctor, Col. Heartland says come in as quickly as you can." The 
 Doctor left Miss Hubblestubble and followed the servant. 
 
 " Shut the door," said Alice, " and don t let the tarantula in," as the 
 Doctor and Bertina entered. She grew quiet as she looked at them. 
 The doctor shook hands silently with Col. Heartland, on whose 
 cheeks the tears still stood. He then went to the other side of the 
 bed and began to examine his patient. He looked at the tongue, felt 
 the pulse ; then walked to the table and asked for a glass and a spoon. 
 
 "Tarantula ! tarantula !" screamed the delirious girl as Bertina went 
 to the door. 
 
 " Go out at the other door," said Col. Heartland. 
 
 Bertina soon returned with the desired articles, an d the doctor mixed 
 a small white powder in some water, and handing it to Col. Heartland, 
 asked him to get her to take it. He raised her head and she swallowed 
 it without opposition. He laid the head gently back upon the pillow, as 
 the doctor asked : 
 
 " Has she been frightened or distressed in any way ?" 
 
 " Not that I am aware of," replied Col. Heartland, and he related to 
 the doctor all he knew of the affair. 
 
 Doctor Brocker listened attentively, and when the Colonel was 
 through speaking, said : 
 
 " Your daughter s condition is critical ; there is some great mental 
 emotion causing this ; she must be kept perfectly quiet, and give her 
 one of these powders every two hours, until the delirium ceases ; 
 
Ii6 Tahoe: or Life in California. 
 
 will probably disappear in the first sleep she gets. After that, I must 
 insist on complete quiet. I will call again to-morrow. 1 have another 
 patient / and as the doctor was about leaving, Alice tossed unea 
 sily, and said, " Father ! dear father ! I will marry to please you. Oh, I 
 can t! I cant !" she added, wildly, "tarantula; tarantula," she said, 
 looking toward the door. Docter Brocker looked, just in time to see 
 Miss Hubblestubble quickly, silently close the door. 
 
 " Lock that door," said Col. Heartland to Bertina, " Dr. Brocker can 
 go out at the other one." 
 
 "Yes, lock it, lock it," answered Alice, "and keep out the tarantula." 
 
 " It would be better," said Dr. Brocker, comprehending the state of 
 affairs, " for that lady not to come about her, just at present." 
 
 Col. Heartland bowed. 
 
 "Mother! Oh, angel mother!" said Alice, "you will love me, if all 
 else fail. Sympathize with your child take her with you. I can t, I 
 can t stay here !" 
 
 Col. Heartland, bending over her, whispered, " I am here, darling," 
 and placing the fevered cheek against his own, he added, " I am with 
 you always." 
 
 The effect was soothing, and in a moment she was asleep. The 
 doctor took his leave and had been gone an hour before Miss Hubble 
 stubble was aware of it, for he went out at the other door, and she 
 watched for him by the one at which he went in. She tried the door 
 but found it locked ; she went around and started in at the other, but 
 Col. Heartland motioned to her to go back, and the stricken father was 
 left alone at the bedside of his sleeping child. 
 
 Dr. Brocker met Major Pettybone coming to the villa, and told him 
 all that had occurred. Instead of turning back, as he supposed the 
 Major would, he put spurs to his horse and hastened forward ; on his 
 arrival he was met, of course, by Miss Hubblestubble. That lady tried 
 to entertain him, but for once he would not be entertained. Col. 
 Heartland sent Griffin to tell him to remain in the library until Alice 
 awakened. Sometime after he heard Miss Hubblestubble s shrill me 
 tallic voice still ringing, and he knew his friend must be bored, so he sent 
 Griffin to ask him to a room to take a nap. This he gladly accepted 
 for he knew his garrulous companion would not follow him there. 
 
 However much he might have engaged in an amusing conversa 
 tion at any other time, or however much he might have enjoyed his 
 peculiar status, in her estimation, on any other occasion, he was in no 
 humor for company just at this time, and gladly would have acceded 
 to any proposition that would relieve him of her society, 
 
 He went to his room, but not to sleep oh, no ; but to think, to try 
 to calm himself, and to pray. 
 
TaJioe: or Life in California. 117 
 
 Dinner came on ; Miss Hubblestubble dined alone. Hour after 
 hour passed, and Col. Heartland still watched at his daughter s bed 
 sidehopefully, tearfully. At length, just as the sun was sinking in 
 the west, she moved restlessly and opened her eyes , she looked 
 around, and as her father bent anxiously to catch her first words, she 
 said : 
 
 " Father, where am I ? What does this mean ?" 
 
 She was conscious. He sank upon his knees and thanked God for 
 the blessing, then answered her question : 
 
 " You are in your father s room, my child ; you have been very ill, 
 but you are better now." 
 
 " I thought, she said, as the last hours of her consciousness grad 
 ually returned to her memory, " I thought I was in the garden., by 
 my but what has made me ill?" she asked, interrupting herself, and 
 looking into her father s sorrowful face. The perspiration stood in 
 big drops upon his forehead, and his heart fluttered, sometimes stopped 
 altogether, then quivered and beat more rapidly than before. He 
 placed his hand upon it, as if to still its motion, while he answered : 
 
 " Too much excitement, Dr. Brocker said, was the cause, my child." 
 
 He called Bertina, and telling her to stay with Alice, he left the 
 room, saying : " I will be back directly." He walked into the library* 
 and throwing up the sash, took his seat at the window. He had recog 
 nized his old malady, heart disease, and was trying to calm himself 
 ere it should be too late. The fresh air restored him, before Major 
 Pettybone, who had been watching and listening .for him to leave 
 Alice s room, could reach the library. He walked forward, took Col. 
 Heartland s hand, and then seated himself near him. 
 
 " She is better, much better," he said, in answer to Major Petty- 
 bone s inquiring look. " The excitement has been almost too much 
 for me, and I have left her to recover myself." 
 
 He heard a slight noise in the vines that drooped from the little bal 
 cony that overhung the window at which he sat. He looked up and 
 saw them shaking. " These little birds come very near the house," he 
 said, and turning towards Major Pettybone, continued : " I am afraid, 
 my friend, this heart of mine will cause me much trouble yet. 
 Though I take every precaution recommended by physicians, I feel 
 that I am growing weaker, that I have these palpitations oftener, and 
 I have less power to control myself under excitement of any kind." 
 
 " I hope," said his friend, " it is not so serious as you think, and 
 your days may yet be long and your life happy. It is strange to me, 
 Colonel, that you have never thought of a second marriage." Col. 
 Heartland looked up quickly, then seeing his loved friend meant noth- 
 
Ii8 Tahoe: or Life in California. 
 
 ing but interest in his welfare, replied : " Henry, you are the only per 
 son in the world to whom I can speak freely on this subject. I have 
 sometimes jested with the girl companions of my daughter, but be 
 yond this I have never gone, even in thought. I buried the loveliest 
 wife that ever fell to the lot of man. With her I buried a husband s 
 love. Around the past fond memory clings, and I ne er more can feel 
 the bright, keen joy that burns on wedded lips." Light, life and hope, 
 in this respect, have gone from my heart. This chamber of my heart 
 is unoccupied, save by the dim spectre of past happiness, which keeps 
 its lonely vigil there. Could my Alice have had a counterpart, could 
 I have met one who bore her resemblance, perhaps some of the old 
 feeling might have revived ; but that is impossible." 
 
 " Not at all, not at all," replied his friend. " You are eminently 
 fitted for so social a relation, and I think, if you could prevail upon 
 yourself to mingle more in ladies society, you would find some fair, 
 worthy one who would 
 
 "Water the heart of one whose early flowers have died, 
 And, with a fresher growth, replenish all the void." 
 
 "I think not," said Colonel Heartland sadly, slowly; "for all the 
 earthly happiness I shall ever know, I expect to depend upon my 
 daughter, and when life s fitful fever s o er, and this mortal coil is 
 shuffled off, I hope for rest, eternal rest ! Then, and not till then. 
 Ah! my friend, you do not know what I have, and do, .still suffer. 
 The silent agony ! tis such as those who feel could paint too well ; 
 then comes a calm stagnation that were bliss, to the keen, burning, 
 harrowing pain. But I must not harrow up your feelings, with 
 my troubles. I am crushed by fate. I will do no good to burden you 
 with my griefs, situated as I am, the heart hath no relief but in 
 breaking." 
 
 " Be not so gloomy, I beg of you," replied Major Pettybone. " Look 
 upon the brightest side of life, Hope bids us cherish her, and happiness 
 claims our homage. We have no moral right to be miserable, under 
 any circumstances." 
 
 " I agree with you in that," said Col. Heartland. " There are none 
 of us who have not something for which we should be grateful to the 
 Giver of all things. Contentment, they say, holds the secret of true 
 earthly happiness. I chased it, and tried to grapple it, but it eludes 
 my grasp, and I find myself impatient and weary, because time is 
 lagging, and eternity seems so far off. Yet I could not willingly go, if 
 called, to a more blessed land. There is a tie here, a sweet and holy 
 tie, that I have no desire to sever. One in heaven ; one on earth ! I 
 would stay with the one that needs me most. For my daughter, I 
 
Tahoe: or Life in California. 119 
 
 have lived. It was a thought of her that kept her father from a sui 
 cide s grave, in that dark and frenzied hour, when he forgot his God ; 
 forgot all, save the loss he had sustained. Yes, oh, yes, I humbly 
 acknowledge now, that the spasm of terror is over, and the intense 
 agony is subdued ; that I have a great deal for which I should be, and 
 am, grateful ; a daughter s love to support me in my declining years." 
 " It is of her, that I came here to-day to speak," said Major Petty- 
 bone. " You are aware . Has she not told you ? I mean, has Miss 
 Alice said any thing about ." He hesitated, and for the first time in 
 all their intercourse, Col. Heartland saw his friend embarrassed. He 
 rose to his feet, walked twice around the room and back ; he cleared 
 his throat ; stopped in front of his friend, and resting his hands upon 
 the back of his chair, said boldly : " An attachment exists between 
 your daughter and myself, and I am here to ask your sanction to our 
 union." If a thunderbolt had fallen on Col. Heartland s head, it could 
 not have crushed him more completely. He laid his head upon the 
 window-sill and wept aloud. There was a rustling amid the vines 
 overhead, and something fell upon the window and bounded into the 
 room. It rolled under a chair, all unobserved by Col. Heartland, but 
 Major Pcttybone saw it ; he made no remarks, for he heard hurried 
 footsteps leaving the balcony above. He stood awaiting his friend s 
 reply. He did not doubt what would be the purport of his answer, 
 but he wished to hear it from his lips. At length it came. Col. Heart 
 land arose to his feet, and looking at Major Pettybone, said : " I would 
 not have you attribute my emotion to unwillingness, on my part, to 
 consent to your wishes. Of all whom I have ever known, I would 
 rather commit my child s happiness to your keeping. I believe in 
 your integrity of character, and honesty of purpose ; but the pain your 
 announcement caused me, was the result of the thought of giving her 
 up. You will not think strange of it, when you remember, she is my 
 all ; from earliest infancy to the present time, she has been my constant 
 care. I have lived for nothing else but my child. It is painful to me, 
 to know that her happiness is in other than her father s hands ; still, 
 I am willing to give her up, because I know that I cannot stay with 
 her long ; that she will now have a younger and stronger arm to lean 
 upon, and I will add, sir, a most worthy one. In this, as in everything 
 else, she has her father s blessing. I now understand her illness. It 
 was a dread of the effect of this communication upon me, that caused 
 her sufferings. I must appear cheerful and relieve her mind. I will 
 tell her, and truthfully too, that it pleases me greatly, and calm her 
 fears as far as regards myself. I knew full well, that you loved my 
 daughter, but I did not know you had told her of it, or asked her to 
 be your wife. May I ask how long this engagement has existed ?" 
 
I2O Tahoe: or Life in California. 
 
 " Only since last night ; and now let me thank you, Col. Heartland, 
 for the noble sentiments you have expressed, and assure you, I will 
 never prove unworthy the trust you have reposed in me." 
 
 " Miss Alice wants you," said Bertina, looking in at the door. 
 
 "I ll be back directly." said Col. Heartland, rising up. 
 
 "No, I ll bid you good evening now," said Major Pettybone. 
 
 " Well, come to-morrow; she cannot see you to-day, as Dr. Brocker 
 insists upon perfect quiet." 
 
 "Thank you, I will," said the Major, and Col. Heartland hastened 
 to obey the summons of his sick child. 
 
 Major Pettybone, being now alone, stooped and picked up some 
 thing from under the chair on the floor. He took a piece of paper 
 from the desk, and carefully wrapped it up, then addressed it to "Miss 
 Augusta Hubblestubble, compliments of Henry Pettybone," on the 
 paper wrapper, and placed it in his pocket. He went out to where his 
 horse stood, and finding Griffin near by, he took the package from his 
 pocket, and. saying, " Give this to Miss Hubblestubble with your best 
 bow," he rode off towards Pettybone Hall. 
 
 Griffin went into the house musing, " Wonder what dis, de Major 
 sont her ? He better sont it to Miss Alice, I would nt waste time on 
 dat ole gal. I se going to look in dis bundle, I is, Bertina gin me jessee 
 for not seein in dat blue bag, when Massa Heartland sont it up-stairs 
 to her, by me." He pulled the paper a little to one side, and saw gold 
 glistening ; " breastpin, I bet ; no, but it s jewelry ; ring, maybe ; no, 
 too big for dat ; ear-rings, no not dat. What is it ?" He pulled the 
 paper to one side. " Wonder what he gib her gold presents for ? Ha, 
 ha, yah !" said he, discovering what it was. " Her teeth, as I lib ! 
 Wonder what he doing wid her teeth ? I will take dem up to her, 
 and neber let on as I knows. Dat oman is false, from de sole ob her 
 head to de crown ob her foot." He handed her the package, she took 
 it, and shut the door in his face. He came down stairs grinning. 
 " Dat s too good, must tell Bertina bout it," and he did tell her. 
 
 " Well, well," said Bertina. " Almost any ob us do sneaky things 
 sometimes, when we gits pressed. I member when I was a little gal, 
 in Virginny, my good ole Miss used to try to raise me nice, like a white 
 chile ; I tend to be, you know, but sometimes de nigger would come 
 out." 
 
 " Dat s me, when I was a boy, too," said Griffin. 
 
 " Well, as I was telling you ; ole Miss was mighty preacherous ; 
 she tell us to do right all de time. I used to sarch her reticule, ebery 
 Sunday mornin after she fix for church, and get her dimes out, what 
 she put dar, for de collection, at church. I den take de tops ob ole 
 
Tahoe: or Life in California. 121 
 
 silber buttons on ole Mar s coat and put in dar. I go to church wid 
 ole Miss, and it looked rale funny, to see how pleasant she looked, 
 when she take de buttons out her little bag, and drop dem into de hat, 
 de long metre coming out n her mouf, at de same time. But dat was 
 not doing nobody no harm, was it Griffin ? She neber knowed but 
 she put in de money, and de preacher neber knowed who put in de 
 buttons ; and I joyed de money powerful, and no harm did." 
 
 " Dat s me, too," said Griffln, " Ole Massa s vest had a show way of 
 ripping ; specially when a show or circus was coming roun . He had 
 it sewed up, cause he lose his change. Next show it ripped agin. 
 He had it sewed agin, and was none de wiser, and just as happy, as 
 if he had lost his money shure nuff. Nonsense to be too particular 
 wid children." 
 
122 Tahoe: or Life in California. 
 
 CHAPTER XXII. 
 
 MAJOR PETTYBONE AND PETTYBONE HALL. 
 
 " The past and future join their happy hands 
 Across the shining present." 
 
 After leaving Sierran Villa, Major Pettybone rode along thinking of 
 the incidents of the day. He regretted not seeing Alice, but looked 
 forward with pleasure to the morrow. He thought of Miss Hubble- 
 stubble s embarrassment at their next meeting, after what had occurred. 
 He kindly thought, too, how he should best put her at her ease ; for 
 said he to himself, " She knows that I know she was on the balcony, 
 listening, with her mouth wide open, and dropped her teeth out. I 
 enjoyed her confusion at the time, but I think she was pilnished suffi 
 ciently by my returning her grinders, as I did. I thought of keeping 
 them for a day or two, then the Golden Rule flashed into my mind, to 
 do unto others as you would be done by, and I knew if I were in 
 her place, I would have liked very much to have had my masticators 
 in place as soon as possible ; so I sent them to her forthwith. After 
 all, she has done no harm ; it was only a simple curiosity to find out 
 what we were talking about, and she took the best method she could 
 divine of satisfying that curiosity. Col. Heartland is a most unsus 
 picious man. He thought the birds were in the vines on the balcony > 
 so there was one bird there, and a very rare one at that. What harm 
 did she do ? She simply fluttered away when she heard me say I 
 wanted to marry another woman. I admire her independence. She 
 left her teeth behind, but what of that ? Accidents are liable to hap 
 pen in all places and at all times. I don t know what to say to pacify 
 her feelings in the matter ; so I think I ll just let it alone." 
 
 He arrived at home, and calling Burleigh to take his horse, he 
 walked up the broad steps of his house ; a home, so soon to be doubly 
 
Tahoc: or Life in California. 123 
 
 dear ; a home over which the loveliest mistress in the land was soon 
 to preside. Happy thought ! Too happy for realization ; too fond to 
 be anything but a dream ; yet it must, it would so soon be a reality. 
 He walked into his library ; the lamps were burning cheerfully. He 
 took down a book of poems ; he could not read. He turned the 
 leaves carelessly, as his thoughts ran on his happiness. He thought 
 what a glorious thing it was to love and be loved in return. The 
 future the bright future, engrossed his every thought ; and to think 
 of the present, of what was necessary to be done, he could not. 
 
 " It glided away like a spirit, 
 Like a thought we cannot retain," 
 
 and the future usurped its place. He was not alone. In imagination 
 she was there ; the one he loved best of all this world. She sat beside 
 him, the queen of his heart, the mistress of his home. He saw her 
 girl-like form flitting about his house, he heard her sweet voice sing 
 ing in his drawing-room ; he listened to the low, soft music until it 
 ceased ; he heard her footsteps ; she came near him ; his hand clasps 
 hers ; the curly head rests upon his bosom ; he prints a warm kiss 
 upon the brow, and this home, that was so lonely before, now becomes 
 an enchanted castle, with a fairy queen presiding. He was called out 
 to supper, but he went not alone ; at his side the lovely woman walked 
 who owned his heart ; she took her place at his table, and her fair face 
 and gentle words charmed him as he ate. He rose, and as he left the 
 supper room he said to Burleigh : " I wish you to go with a letter to 
 the post early in the morning, before the stage passes the station. Do 
 not disturb me to-night ; I will wait upon myself. Retire early, and 
 come to my room at the first peep of dawn." He went into the library 
 and closed the door after him. He then went to his desk and taking 
 out a pen and some paper, he said to himself : " Yes, I must make 
 some changes in my establishment here. I must send to San Fran 
 cisco for workmen, and gather here everything that will have a ten 
 dency to beautify and adorn. If I were to make an Eden of it, it 
 would still be unworthy her occupancy. I would adorn it as the 
 Assyrian King did his palaces for his Persian bride ; I would bring 
 from Oman and from Ind all that is valuable and pleasing to con 
 tribute to her happiness. These lonely hours cannot flee too fast. 
 Ah ! would they were gone, one and all. But this is not writing my 
 letter." He dipped his pen in the ink, wrote for some time, dried the 
 letter with sand, folded it, addressed it, and laid it aside. Then his 
 mind went back to the days of his boyhood, when life was new and 
 hopes were flush. To manhood grown, maturer matters engrossed 
 his mind. He traveled again in many lands. These associations were 
 
124 Tahoe: or Life in California. 
 
 pleasant, but they could not claim his attention long. The future, the 
 future ! It was his all-absorbing thought. " How heavily time hangs 
 on one s hands," he said, " when we have some cherished object in 
 view from which time alone separates us ; yet sometimes 
 
 " How unheeded fly the hours, 
 
 How lighily falls the foot of time, 
 That only treads on flowers." 
 
 A little while, and she will be mine ; there will be no dull mo 
 notony here. Upon her I have concentrated all my affections 
 after wandering almost all over the world. I will banish all sorrow, 
 all worldly care from the heart. I have offered it, and it shall be hers 
 entirely, without division or reserve. Happiness shall reign without a 
 cloud or shadow to mar it. Oh, that I were the master of the genii, 
 or that Aladdin s lamp were mine, that I might rear a home, a para 
 dise, worthy such a Peri. To think she will bear my name, an hon 
 ored name I call it, because for generations there is no foul blot on 
 our family escutcheon. In all else so unworthy, I am at least worthy 
 in name. Mine has been a noble heritage, and I feel that, on the part 
 of the Heartland family, no concessions are made by uniting with the 
 house of Pettybone. As proud and fastidious as the Heartland and 
 Fairfax families have always been, they can make no objections on that 
 score. The whole world attests that the present proprietor of Petty 
 bone Hall is no mean scum of his race ; and all will agree that Alice 
 Heartland, of Sierran Villa, heiress to millions though she be, makes 
 no unworthy match in wedding a Pettybone. Yet I feel flattered and 
 deeply thankful that she listened to and accepted my proposition. She 
 is too innocent to flirt ; my practiced eye would instantly discover that. 
 Too conscientious to deal otherwise than candidly and plainly with a 
 man who loves her. I am thankful she has never known anything of 
 these mendacious customs of society. It is her very simplicity that 
 has won me. Deprive her of this and her chief charm would be gone. 
 I have been surfeited by fashion and worldlings. The maneuverings 
 of ladies with marriageable daughters have amused while they have 
 disgusted me, and I am thankful that it is not my fate to marry a 
 fashionable woman, but instead, this sweet being, just on the thresh- 
 hold of womanhood, just reaching the age of womanly perfection, 
 when all is dream-life. The door of the school-room just closed 
 behind, and the bright, glittering future, strewn with flowers, spread 
 out before her, society, courting, and pleasure beckoning her onward. 
 " Amid all these, her young, fresh heart throbbing with fidelity, truth 
 and love, she has consented to gladden my life and bring joy to my 
 home. Blessed be the name of woman ! She, and only she, can give 
 
Tahoe: or Life in California. 125 
 
 to life all that is worth possessing. Man, the hermit, sighed till 
 woman smiled. No wonder he sighed, poor fellow ; I sometimes 
 wonder how he could have lived as long as he did without her. Woman, 
 who is our all ; who bears to us all the relations of mother, sister, 
 friend and wife. Where is the man whose life has not in some way 
 been influenced by woman ? If such a one there is, he is not a man, 
 and has no right to wear the semblance. He should be classed with, 
 the lower animals. He surely has none of the attributes of his Maker, 
 and has no right to wear his image. Of him who does not appreciate 
 woman, I would say what the poet said of him who failed to love his 
 native land : 
 
 k High though his titles, proud his name, 
 Boundless his wealth as wish can claim. 
 Despite these titles, power and pelf, 
 The wretch, concentred all in self, 
 Living, shall forfeit fair renown, 
 And doubly dying, shall go down 
 To the vile dust from whence he sprung, 
 Unwept, unhonored and unsung. 
 
 "But here I am wasting hours, that I should spend in sleep, to no 
 purpose. Is it to no purpose ? I think not. To live in happiness is 
 a purpose. It creates a deeper, holier love for the great Giver of all. 
 I have often heard it said that adversity is a chastening rod that 
 draws us more nearly to Christ. I differ in opinion from this. In joy 
 and happiness I feel nearer heaven more grateful for life and its 
 blessings. Never in all my life did I worship God more sincerely and 
 truly than I do to-night ; and never did I feel so prosperous, and so 
 perfectly contented with my lot, and all the good that has fallen to my 
 share. He has showered His blessings on me, and left nought for me 
 to wish for. I approach Him with a heart full of gratitude and love, 
 and on my bended knees offer incense and eternal reverence." 
 
 He took his lamp and went to his bed-chamber ; he tossed restlessly 
 upon his pillow ; he was too happy to sleep. 
 
 "Thoughts on thoughts, a countless throng, 
 Rushed, chasing countless thoughts along." 
 
 The wee sma hours " came and went, and still slumber visited not 
 his couch. He had "laid down to pleasant dreams," but they were 
 waking ones, and when Burleigh came to take the letters to the post 
 he was still awake. Sunrise found him upon the east portico, and he 
 saw old Phoebus spread his first glorious beam of morning over this per 
 fumed western land. All was bright bright as his anticipations of a 
 future life. The singing birds, the rustling leaves, the waving grass 
 and the ripening fruit, all spoke to him a language of hope, trust and 
 
126 Tahoe: or Life in California. 
 
 love. There was no cold, wintry blast ; no snow on the near moun 
 tain peaks ; nothing cheerless ; nothing to mar the warm beauty of 
 the scene, so much in unison with his own feelings. "Yes," he mur 
 mured, " I feel grateful ; I am deeply grateful, and the man would in 
 deed be wanting in all the proper elements of manhood who showed 
 a want of gratitude in my situation." 
 
 He walked down the steps, along the graveled walks into the orchard. 
 The trees hung heavy with their golden burdens. The fruit, as the 
 flowers, were perfect. No insects in that bright, sunny land had 
 marred their beauty or symmetry. No chilling frosts had stamped 
 imperfection upon their fair proportions. He walked on and on, the 
 future all his thoughts pervading, amid the vine clad hills of his 
 grapery. The heavy, rich clusters hung in luscious, bursting ripeness 
 upon the vines. He thought he had never felt the morning air so pure, 
 so invigorating, or seen his surroundings shimmer so with burnished 
 gold. He retraced his footsteps and entered the house just in time for 
 breakfast. His light supper, sleepless night, and morning walk had 
 given him an appetite. He did full justice to his delicious breakfast, 
 and giving orders for his horse to be brought out, he went to his room 
 to prepare for his visit to the villa. He laid out his daintiest shirt and 
 his prettiest cravat ; he fastened costly studs in the bosom, combed 
 his silken hair, and as he stood before the mirror giving his toilet the 
 finishing touch, he glanced out of the window and saw two persons, 
 a lady and a gentleman on horseback, cantering up the road that led to 
 Col. Heartland s. " That is Woodford and his sister," thought he. 
 " No," he looked again ; " it is Aldridge and Miss Ella. They are go 
 ing to see Miss Alice. I am sorry we will meet there again, for I do 
 not like this man. He has a sinister face, and despite young Wood- 
 ford s assertions to the contrary, I plainly see the marks of dissipa 
 tion. That he is here to try to marry Heartland s daughter, I do not 
 doubt. At an opportune moment I shall take occasion to warn my 
 friend against him, and when I again go to San Francisco I shall make 
 inquiries concerning him. However, it makes but little difference now. 
 She is mine by a holy vow, and I do not fear that she will break it, 
 and though it cost Heartland a severe pang to give his consent, he 
 gave it freely. But I must be going." A moment more he was in his 
 saddle, riding briskly towards Col. Heartland s. 
 
Tahoc: or Life in California. 12 
 
 CHAPTER XXIII. 
 
 FATHER AND DAUGHTER. 
 
 li Some feelings are to mortals given, 
 With less of earth in them than heaven 
 And if there be a human tear 
 From passion s dross refined and clear, 
 A tear so limpid and so meek 
 It would not stain an angel s cheek, 
 Tis that which pious fathers shed 
 Upon a dutious daughter s head." 
 
 Upon leaving Major Pettybone, to answer the summons of his 
 daughter, Col. Heartland entered the room and found Alice seated in 
 an arm-chair, arrayed in a lovely blue and white wrapper. He seemed, 
 as he was, surprised. In answer to his inquiring look, she said : 
 
 You see, father, that I am well again, and I thought it was wrong 
 to remain in bed, causing you such uneasiness, when I am so com 
 pletely restored." 
 
 " I am afraid, my child, you are overtasking yourself," and he 
 smiled, as he thought, perhaps, she had arisen with a hope to see the 
 visitor he had just dismissed. " But I am sorry," he said, playfully; 
 " I did not know you felt so well, then I would have asked our friend 
 to remain to tea." 
 
 " Has he gone ? " she asked, all the brightness fading from her face. 
 
 "Yes, my darling, but he will return to-morrow," said her father, 
 misinterpreting her expression. 
 
 " She regrets she has to pain me," he mused, "and yet she is dis 
 appointed that she did not see him. I will talk freely and cheerfully 
 to her, concerning this matter, to-night, and free my chi Id from any 
 anxiety as regards myself. I will bear all the trouble that falls to my 
 lot by myself, and let her be happy. It was her distress of mind that 
 
128 Talwe: or Life in California. 
 
 caused her illness, and all on my account. I will cheer her by show 
 ing her how happy I am, and how pleased I am with her selection of 
 a lover." " I wish to talk with you, Alice, to-night, if you feel strong 
 enough," he continued aloud, as Bertina entered, bringing a waiter 
 with tea and crackers, which she placed on a table near the young 
 lady. 
 
 " I am quite anxious, father, to hear what it is you are going to tell 
 me. I feel well, and intend to deny your right to put it off again . 
 You promised me on All Hallow-een, I should hear it at an opportune 
 time, and I am sure you could not pick a time or place more conven 
 ient. Now go and get your supper while I take mine." 
 
 He arose and left the room, and returned in about fifteen minutes, 
 and took his seat beside her ; then dismissing Bertina, he drew his 
 daughter near him. 
 
 " Come back in an hour, Bertina," said Alice, as she was leaving the 
 room ; "I wish to sleep in my own room to-night." 
 
 " Yes, mam," said the nurse; "I ll be on hand," and she walked 
 out, closing the door behind her. 
 
 "My daughter, you must not stay in your room alone to-night. 
 Miss Hubblestubble will no doubt be obliging enough 
 
 " No, father, no," said Alice. 
 
 " Bertina, then," said her father. 
 
 " If you wish it, but I am not afraid to stay alone ; you know I 
 have been alone ever since Miss Edith left." 
 
 " My daughter, do you know what you called Miss Hubblestubble 
 in your delirium ? " 
 
 "Yes, father; Bertina was just through telling me when I sent her 
 for you this evening, I feel deeply mortified." 
 
 " Has she been in to see you since I left ?" 
 
 " No, sir ; I wish she would come, for I want to beg her pardon. 
 Though there is no congeniality between us, I would not in any way 
 wound her feelings for worlds. I do not know why I called her 
 tarantula, and that, too, in Dr. Brocker s presence." 
 
 " Well, after we get through our talk to-night, we will invite her 
 down and laugh the matter off." 
 
 " Was she down to supper, father ? " 
 
 " Yes, but had little to say, and I hurried through to get back to 
 you, and left her in the dining-room. But to change the subject, do 
 you know I am afraid of heart disease with you, my dear child ? It 
 has been the curse of my race. One by one it has carried off all of 
 my family, till I only am left, and I have now a well developed case 
 of it." 
 
Tahoe: or Life in California. 129 
 
 " You need fear nothing of the kind, dear father, on my account," 
 replied she. 
 
 " I had hoped not, until this illness of yours. I wish you to be 
 careful and avoid all excitement, my daughter. I recognized the con 
 stitution of the Heartlands in this case. You are wonderfully like 
 my family. Have you never noticed your likeness to your father? " 
 
 " Often," she replied, and it has been such a source of pride and 
 joy to me." 
 
 " I have so often wished you resembled your mother," said he; " that 
 mother of whom I wished to speak to you to-night," 
 
 " I have long, so long, desired to hear something of her, but when 
 ever the subject was broached it seemed painful to you, so I have 
 never questioned you. I hope you will tell me all about my dear 
 mother. Her life, her death, as well as her family, and my baby life. 
 Once or twice I have ventured to ask Bertina questions, but she said 
 you forbade her speaking of the past, and of my family, to me. Not 
 wishing to inquire into what my father did not care to have me know, 
 I ceased my questions until you should see proper yourself for me to 
 know these things." 
 
 " I kept them from you, Alice, for two reasons. First, because I 
 did not wish to burden your young heart with them too soon ; second 
 ly, because a recital of them would be so painful to me." 
 
 " That being the case," said Alice, " had you not better continue 
 your silence on this subject ? " 
 
 "No, the time has come when I would have you know all, I may die at 
 any moment, and then at best you could only get a servant s idea of 
 the past. I have the family Bibles of both families in the bottom of 
 my secretary in the library. They are yours, and will afford you all 
 the chronological information concerning your family. I am a Vir 
 ginian by birth, as you know, for Bertina and Griffin could not have 
 kept that if their lives had depended upon it." 
 
 " Yes, they have often told me of olden times in Virginia," said Alice, 
 "and I think Virginia must have been a most glorious place, from what 
 I ve heard ; and I am going to try and get my father to take me there 
 as soon as the great railroad is finished." 
 
 " I will, provided some one else does not," he added. He saw her 
 eyes fall, and he continued. "But now to my story. I was left an 
 orphan, and struggled to manhood among many heart difficulties. I 
 found myself master of a fair estate ; my heart had found a home ; I 
 loved Miss Alice Fairfax, and my love was reciprocated ; we were wed. 
 I soon found that the climate of Virginia did not suit her constitution, 
 and her physician advised me to take her to a land where spring and 
 
 9 
 
130 Tahoe: or Life in California. 
 
 summer reigned eternal. California was known as such a country, and 
 feeling that the sea voyage would benefit my wife, and a residence in 
 that country would prolong her life, I determined to waive all pecuni 
 ary considerations, and leave the land of my birth. We emancipated 
 these two servants, Bertina and Griffin, who followed us, sold 
 our property in the East at a sacrifice, and placing my wife s youngest 
 and only sister at Patapsco, Maryland, at school, we purposed to view 
 the promised land." 
 
 " And what became of this aunt of mine ?" asked Alice anxiously. 
 "Is she alive?" 
 
 "No ; she is dead, but I will tell you all about it. The parting be 
 tween my wife and her sister was very affecting ; and I promised, so 
 soon as Annie should complete her course of study, she should share our 
 western home. I would, myself, go for her. As the law required her 
 guardian to be a resident of the State where her property was, I gave 
 up her guardianship to a responsible gentleman in Virginia, and left for 
 California. My wife suffered much on the trip, but after arriving here 
 she seemed to be revived by new scenes and the genial clime, and en 
 tered with interest upon the task of helping me make a new home. 
 We bought this league of land, and gathering around us all the appurte 
 nances of civilized life within our reach, we located, adorned and beauti 
 fied our new home. Near here, then, passed the road most traveled to the 
 mines, and frequently some of the miners were our guests for a night. 
 Sometimes they would lose their way, and, wandering among the 
 mountains, would descry our abode from afar, and, guided by the lights 
 would seek shelter with us during the rainy season. On one occasion, 
 at early dawn, a man came, and hurridly called for assistance. I went 
 with him, and he carried me where a poor miner lay dying. Is that 
 Col. Heartland ? he asked as I approached. I replied in the affirma 
 tive. If I could have but reached your house ; but it is too late, too 
 late ! and he died. From his companion Llearned that the poor man 
 was taken ill on the way to the mines, and, if timely assistance had 
 been at hand, he might have been saved. I inquired why he had not 
 come to our dwelling. He said he started to do so, when the lights in 
 the house had been put out, and he could not find the way. He wan 
 dered about lost until after day, when he came, as I have told you. I 
 returned home, and told your mother the mournful story. She was 
 shocked and deeply grieved, and said she would prevent such an oc 
 currence again by keeping a light always burning. She sent for work 
 men, and had the tower on the north of the house built, and placed a 
 a red light there. She kept it burning there, night and day, as long as 
 she lived ; and since, I have never forgotten or neglected it. During 
 
Tahoe: or Life in California. 13! 
 
 her last illness, she would ask, Is the light in the tower burning ? 
 Never let it go out. On a dreary night, many years ago, there was a 
 fight between the Indians and the whites. There was a heavy snow 
 storm up in the mountains, and a general gloom spread over this fair 
 land. A wounded Indian saw our light, and made his way hither. 
 He was very much excited, and could scarcely be patient enough for 
 your mother to bandage his wounds. Sick and faint, she gave him 
 some wine, and he departed after some hurried gestures, which he 
 meant for gratitude. Soon after we received a message from the 
 chief of the tribe, through an English mountaineer, in which he 
 thanked us for our light in the tower, my wife s kindness, and prayed 
 that the Great Spirit would dwell with us always. He further said 
 that we should not only be unmolested, but his braves should protect 
 us and ours whenever we required any assistance. Sometime after 
 you were born, and we began to feel that a babe in the house was a 
 well-spring of joy. Your mother s health at this time caused us 
 much anxiety, and Annie s letters came less and less frequently, and 
 finally ceased altogether. I wrote to her guardian to know t he mean 
 ing of her silence. Afteralong time, his answer came. Hesaidshehad 
 eloped from school with Robert Ridgeway, a young man of most dis 
 solute habits, and notoriously bad character. His father was a man 
 of position and wealth, and, as is often the case, he had a most worthless 
 son. He had demanded and received his wife s portion, and was spend 
 ing it in every conceivable way. Your mother s grief was unbounded . 
 she reproached herself for leaving her young sister, and for committing 
 her to the charge of any one else. I tried to pacify her, but she refused 
 to be comforted, and sank rapidly into her grave. She committed you 
 to my care, and besought Bertina to remain with you. She would not, 
 for reasons of her own, tell the old faithful servant of her sister s 
 misfortune and disgrace. Just before dying, she requested me to 
 place no other monument upon her grave but lilies and violets, and 
 that I should bury her in the corner of the garden, where the light 
 from the tower could shine upon her last resting place, thus keeping 
 it from being in the dark at any time. My agony was almost insup 
 portable, and if it had not been for the sacred duty I owed to you, my 
 child, I think I should have taken my own life." 
 
 Alice started, " Father, are there any circumstances under which 
 you would do such a thing ?" 
 
 " Not now. my daughter ; for I have grown calmer since then. My 
 heart disease developed rapidly, and I found it necessary to control 
 myself for your sweet sake. Thus, y,ou see, even your innocent, baby 
 hand had the power to hold me back from a deed that would have 
 
132 Tahoe: -or Life in California. 
 
 separated me from your mother forever. I can never forget the feel 
 ings of my agonized heart, as, with my baby in my arms, I re 
 turned to the desolate house, after the burial. Your crowing and 
 laughter, pierced my heart like ten thousand daggers, and the infant 
 smile that wreathed your face was seeming mockery. Night came, 
 the hour when children always nestle to the mother s heart. The baby 
 laugh was changed to a wail, and the baby eyes filled with tears. I tried, 
 by every art, to give solace and comfort. I walked the floor with my 
 child in my arms ; you still cried ; I walked on ; and long after mid 
 night exhaustion came, and, sobbing, you fell asleep. I placed you on 
 the bed, and, with a broken and desolate heart, lay down beside you. 
 Occasional sobs still convulsed your baby frame. I fell into a disturbed 
 sleep. I awoke ; it was day-light, and you still slept. I went out into 
 the fresh air, leaving Bertina with you. When I returned you were 
 smiling and crowing, but your little face was swollen, from so much 
 weeping. The next night I went through the same, and the next, and 
 the next. I cannot will not try to portray the desolation of those 
 mournful days and gloomy nights. Time passed on, ond I grew 
 more contented with my sad, sad lot. I occupied myself with care of 
 you ; I trusted my business affairs entirely to agents, and for years I 
 never went to San Francisco, but remained here with my baby. You 
 accompanied me everywhere ; my constant companion by day and by 
 night. I began to feel grateful to God for such a blessing. I grew 
 more cheerful under your happy influence, and was satisfied with the 
 hope of a reunion beyond the skies." 
 
 "But my aunt Annie, what became of her?" said Alice. "Tell me 
 of her." 
 
 " It did not take her worthless husband long," continued Col. Heart 
 land, " to get through with her fortune. He then started off, as he told 
 her, to make a fortune ; leaving her with a helpless infant daughter. 
 He died, soon after reaching his destination, of small-pox. Annie 
 wrote to me of her situation, in heart-rending terms, and begged me 
 to come for her." 
 
 " Oh, father ! why did you not go ?" 
 
 " Wait, and I will tell you. You were too unwell for me to think of 
 leaving you. I got a friend to go immediately, with means to relieve 
 her necessities, and bring her here. He reached there, and found 
 her condition one of extreme penury. He started with her, but reached 
 New Orleans in the height of yellow fever. She contracted it, and the 
 poor, oppressed, and grief-stricken soul soon passed away." 
 
 " And her baby !" said Alice. " My little cousin ; where is she ?" 
 My friend could not, of course, bring an infant on such a long 
 
Tahoe: or Life in California. 133 
 
 journey, so he placed it in the charge of the Nuns of the Sacred Heart, 
 and came home alone. I, of course, was shocked, as the last news I 
 had from them they were on the eve of starting for California. I was 
 enraged when I was informed in detail of the manner in which Ridge- 
 way treated your aunt, and I took immediate steps to have the infant s 
 name changed, by special act of legislature, from Annie Ridgeway to 
 that of Annie Heartland. I was unwilling that the child should bear 
 the name of so contemptible a father. Besides, I desired not to be 
 reminded of him in any way. I had seen him once, on one of his 
 father s country places, in Virginia. Your mother and myself were 
 riding out, sometime previous to our marriage, one beautiful evening, 
 along the river, near one of the Ridgeway estates, when we were 
 attracted by a noise behind us, and, on looking around, saw a young 
 man beating his horse in a most unmerciful manner. Your mother 
 was horrified, and wished to stop and beg for the poor dumb beast, 
 but I knew it would be useless, and persuaded her to ride on. Upon 
 inquiry, we found it to be young Ridgeway. I little dreamed then the 
 part that brutal young man was to play in our family. I thought their 
 as I think now, that a man who will beat his horse will ruthlessly 
 trample upon those who are near to him, so soon as he has the power 
 to do so. I have seen enough of the world to be satisfied that a man 
 who will abuse power in one instance, will do so in another ; in every 
 other, I may say. Sometimes, from a force of surrounding circum 
 stances, or from policy, such a man may control his brutal passions, 
 as far as his fellow-beings are concerned that is, he will not openly 
 use brute force ; but he will tear the secret heart from its fastenings 
 and trample upon its bleeding fibers. He will revel in the agony of 
 his crushed victims, and chuckle, that the world cannot see his hellish 
 purposes. As I said, I had her name changed. She grew old enough 
 to be placed at school, where she died ; so ended the matter. But, my 
 child " ard large tear-drops glistened on his eyelids, "you know my 
 home is soon to be disorganized. You are the affianced wife of my 
 best and truest friend, and Miss Hubblestubble must either return to 
 the East or get another home." 
 
 Alice s eyes filled. Thinking that the thought of leaving him was 
 the cause of her gnef, he tried to soothe her gently. He said : " I 
 will be absent a great deal hereafter on business, and when here will 
 stay with you most of the time ; and let me say to you, my daughter, 
 that I am very well pleased, indeed, with the choice you have made, 
 and only feel hurt that you did not confide to your father your prefer 
 ences in this matter. Never mind, never mind !" he said, as he saw 
 she tried to speak and tears choked her utterance. "But, my child 
 when dees your marriage take place ?" 
 
134 Tahoe: or Life in California. 
 
 "There is no time fixed, as yet," she sadly answered, and a sigh 
 escaped her. 
 
 He noticed that she showed no disposition to converse on this sub 
 ject. " I will say no more to-night," he thought. " It may excite her 
 too much ; she has already borne a great deal. Major Pettybone will 
 be here to-morrow, and perhaps other company, and she needs rest to 
 enable her to entertain them." He continued aloud : " Alice, had we 
 not better see Miss Hubblestubble a little while, and then retire ? It 
 is already getting late." 
 
 " Yes, father ; I would like to see her a little while, and apologize 
 for my rudeness," said Alice, " though I was not responsible for what 
 I said, I would not willingly wound anyone." 
 
 Col. Heartland rang for Bertina, and sent her up-stairs to tell 
 Miss Hubblestubble they would be glad of her company for a little 
 while. 
 
Tahoe: or Life in California. 135 
 
 CHAPTER XXIV. 
 
 " When hope deferred but to depart, 
 Loses its smiles but keeps its sighs." 
 
 Let us follow Miss Hubblestubble from the time of Dr. Bror.ker s 
 departure to the time that Bertina rapped at her "chamber door and 
 delivered Col. Heartland s message. When Alice called her tarantula 
 in the presence of the doctor, she indignantly retreated j:o her own 
 room, and burst into a flood of tears. " I wish I were dead," she 
 said, " for a woman had better be dead than^unmarried. I have heard 
 some of them say they remained single from choice ; but in my opin 
 ion their choice consisted in being situated like Alexander Selkirk ; 
 out of the range of anybody to marry. That certainly has been my 
 fix ; I know I have honestly tried, but failed so far. No longer than 
 last night I told Mr. Aldridge I had remained single from fastidious 
 ness. He believed me, and complimented me highly. It is said, all 
 is fair in love and war ! I know I .have tried all fair and unfair 
 means to get me a husband, either suitable or unsuitable, and I have 
 found that this business of trying to get married is both love and war, 
 combined. All the contents of my blue reticule, as well as all the 
 contents of my head, have been exhausted in the enterprise, and 
 nothing definite accomplished as yet. I first thought I would try Col. 
 Heartland, but found him such a bear ; so unsocial ; and even rude at 
 times, that I abandoned the idea, and set my heart on Major Petty- 
 bone, who did everything in his power to win my affections, only that 
 he might cast them aside. I thought him a handsome, gallant, truth 
 ful man, and found him a snake in the grass. Heijust as good as 
 told me he loved me only last night, and if I only had sufficient" tan 
 gible evidence I would sue him for breach of promise, and heal my 
 wounded heart with some of the vast wealth he is said to possess. 
 Here in the West and down South a woman gets no sympathy in^a 
 
136 Tahoe: or Life in California. 
 
 case of that kind. She only makes herself the laughing stock of the 
 community, by asserting her rights in a court of justice ; and a jury 
 will always render, a verdict against her, unless the evidence is so 
 plain as to force them to a contrary conviction. It is not so in New 
 England. Just let a man there serve a woman such a trick as this 
 man served me, and if he does not go home with his portemonnaie as 
 flat as my foot, then I am mistaken. I did not mean such a severe 
 criticism upon my foot, but it makes no difference, there is no one 
 here to hear it, and it was the flattest thing I could think of just then. 
 Yes, there is justice there, and sympathy, too ; but there is none here. 
 But I would not care to be made the laughing stock if I could get the 
 money, for I could laugh on the other side, then, myself ; for then I 
 could buy a husband but I do not want a cheap one like other com 
 modities ; the higher the price, the more valuable. To attempt it and 
 fail is what I would rather not do. That man is so heartless, so coolly 
 impertinent; I heard him follow Col. Heartland into the library, and 
 if I had not tipped noiselessly, in my stocking feet, to the balcony 
 over the library window, and overheard his conversation, he might 
 have succeeded in enlisting my feelings to an alarming extent. But 
 Augusta Hubblestubble has not lived to her present age to let villain 
 ous men tamper with her feelings, without using all fair means to 
 find them out. To be sure my frame shivered and my teeth chattered, 
 when, in plain terms, I heard him ask Col. Heartland for that simple, 
 baby-faced daughter of his. I opened my mouth in holy horror at 
 his audacity, and my teeth fell out, and before I could catch them, 
 they get into the vines, jolted down, and fell into the library through 
 the window. He knew exactly how it all occurred, and instead of 
 being abashed by it, in a gentlemanly manner, he actually wrapped 
 them in a paper, and writing his compliments upon it, sent it up to 
 me by that grinning creature, Griffin. I was mortified to death, 
 almost, at first, but I think now if he can stand it, I can. It is awful 
 awful, to be a poor, single woman ! Boo, hoo, hoo ! But I must 
 wipe my eyes. There comes that horrid negress, Bertina, up the 
 stairs now. I wonder what she wants ? I heard her husband laugh 
 ing in the pantry, the other day, about her burning up my cheek 
 plumpers. He said he had seen an old maid in Virginia who used 
 them, and consequently he knew what they were ; but his wife got 
 them on the fire before he saw them. She explained to him that she 
 thought they were some kind of spiders, and she first threw them out 
 of the window, then taking them with the tongs, she carried them to 
 the kitchen and put them on the fire. He rolled over and over on the 
 floor, and it seemed as if his African risibilities would burst his black 
 
TaJwe: or Life in California. 137 
 
 cuticle. Now I don t want to be disturbed by that woman I hear 
 coming. Her young mistress, as she calls her, pretended to be delir 
 ious to-day, and called me a tarantula. If I could, I would pay her 
 all the grudges I owe her." 
 
 " What s wanted ?" she asked, as Bertina rapped at the door. Ber- 
 tina delivered the message and walked hastily away, and Miss Hub- 
 blestubble bathed her face, painted her cheeks, penciled her eyebrows, 
 and descended to answer the summons she had received. Col. Heart 
 land arose and offered a chair as she entered the room, and Alice ex 
 tended her hand towards her. " I have been told," she said, " that I 
 used some ungentle language towards you while I had the fever, and 
 I humbly beg your pardon." 
 
 " It makes no difference," replied Miss Hubblestubble with a smile ; 
 " I did not think of it again ; I knew you were delirious." 
 
 " I have been much grieved about it." 
 
 " I could not and did not blame you." 
 
 " Thank you," continued Alice. " Now I must bid you good night." 
 She arose and staggered a little, her father supported her and led her 
 up-stairs to her room. At the door he bade her good night, and on 
 the steps, returning, he met Miss Hubblestubble making her way back 
 to her chamber. 
 
 " Good night, Colonel," she said, and offered her hand. 
 
 "Good night," returned he, without looking towards her, and near 
 ly loosing his balance over the banisters. He went rapidly down into 
 his room, and closed the door with a slam. 
 
 " I detest that woman with all my heart," he said aloud, and look 
 ing up he saw Bertina in the room. 
 
 " I am jist gathering up Miss Alice s things she s lef," said Bertina 
 in answer to his by no means mild look. 
 
 " I thought you were in my daughter s room awaiting her?" 
 
 " No, sar ; I se been here all de tim sleep, behind de bed. I ain t 
 heard a word you say, tho . When you called me, I jist slipped out 
 and corned up de hall and went up-stairs when you sent me, and 
 when Miss Stubble come down, and you gib her a chair, and you busy 
 bowing, I went back behind de bed and stay till now." 
 
 " Well, Bertina, remember you have heard nothing, and go immed 
 iately to my daughter s room." 
 
 "Yes, sar, said she, and rejoiced to get off without a reproof, she 
 hurried away ; as she went up the steps she said half aloud : " Won 
 der what oman he detests so ? Dat must be Miss Stubble. Won 
 der what she done, dis time. Wish I had been at de head ob de steps 
 to see. Somethm , I bet." She went into Alice s room, and found 
 
138 Tahoe: or Life in California. 
 
 her standing by the table reading the note which had accompanied the 
 basket of fruit and flowers that Major Pettybone had sent that morn 
 ing, and which Bertina had carried to her room when she found her 
 young lady missing." 
 
 " When did this come ?" asked Alice, looking at her. 
 
 " Dis morning, jist afore all de fussin ," said Bertina. " I fetched it 
 up here, and Miss Stubble zamined it and found it was for you, and she 
 got piping mad, and went in her room and slammed de door. Dat s 
 de way she spresses her feelings when she s mad. Col. Heartland 
 done dat way, too, to-night, but I dunno what for. Burleigh, dat is 
 Mr. Burleigh, brought dat basket and note here and gave it to me. I 
 forgot all about it till jist dis minit. Dat Miss Rubbling, what you 
 call her, is so 
 
 " That will do," said Alice, authoritatively. 
 
 " Didn t go to make you mad, honey, 
 
 "I am not mad, Bertie; but don t talk so much," said Alice, soft 
 ening. 
 
 " I is mighty sorry, child, ye feels so cross like to-night, for I want 
 ed to ax you some questions," said Bertie. " I wanted to ax " 
 
 " Not to-night, Bertie ; I am too weary ; some other time. Come 
 now and assist me to bed." Bertina undressed her and made her 
 comfortable for the night. She then made her own pallet, put out 
 the lights, and soon all was still in the house ; all dark save the lonely 
 light burning in the tower, shedding its rays over the grave of Col. 
 Heartland s wife. 
 
Tahoe: or Life in California. 139 
 
 CHAPTER XXV. 
 
 ALDRIDGE. 
 
 "Our earth, as it rolls through the region of space. 
 Wears always two faces, the dark aud the sunny, 
 Now poor human life, runs the same sort of race, 
 Being sad on one side, on the other side funny." 
 
 Upon reaching the villa, Major Pettybone found Col. Heartland in 
 the hall, and entered the parlor with him. Miss Woodford, Miss Hub- 
 blestubble, Alice and Mr. Alridge, were already there, and merry con 
 verse seemed the order of the day. They paused as Major Pettybone 
 walked forward and greeted his fair hostess. He expressed his pleas 
 ure at finding her so well, and passed over to Ella Woodford and be 
 gan a sprightly, bantering conversation. All the while, his eyes rested 
 upon Aldridge, who grew uneasy, as he vainly endeavored to enter 
 tain Alice. The latter observed his embarrassment, but knew not its 
 cause. Col. Heartland, seeing that Miss Hubblestubble was about to 
 fall to his lot, arose and left the room. That lady looked daggers at 
 him. Aldridge no longer able to endure the scrutiny of Major Petty- 
 bone, arose and said : " If Miss Heartland will be so kind, I would 
 like to look at that rose and those beautiful flowers, I noticed as I 
 came into the house." 
 
 " Certainly," said Alice, and she led the way. They found them 
 selves in the garden, near the spot where, she had pledged herself to 
 be the wife of Major Pettybone. She grew sad as she thought over 
 the scene. Aldridge, a keen reader of human nature, saw instantly 
 this place was associated in her mind with something of, at least, a 
 serious nature. 
 
 "Why," he asked : "that shade on so fair a brow, in a scene so 
 lovely as this? Pardon me, that I dared ask." 
 
140 Tahoe: or Life in California. 
 
 " It is nothing," she replied, and stooped to cull a lily, as well as to 
 hide her confusion. 
 
 "Perhaps it is nothing," he said, "but I fancied I saw a slight 
 change of countenance, and a little, very little tremor. But again I 
 beg pardon. I may seem rude to manifest so much interest in one 
 with whom I am unfortunately so little acquainted ; but I have known 
 you long, much longer than you think. Would you confide in me so 
 much as to tell me your thoughts when I first spoke ? I know that 
 
 Even in the tranquillest climes, 
 
 Light breezes will ruffle the flowers sometimes. 
 
 " But you seemed so very serious." 
 
 " I was serious," replied Alice; "but tell me what you mean by 
 saying that you have known me longer than I think. I am sure I do 
 not remember having seen you previous to All-Hallow-een." 
 
 " I was speaking figuratively, Miss Heartland," he said ; " when I 
 made use of that expression I meant that as an ideal," he continued, 
 seeing she was willing to listen. " I have known you always. In boy 
 hood s hours and manhood s prime, I have pictured to myself the 
 fairest of all fair creatures, a lovely woman ; lovely in person, pure in 
 heart, and angelic in all her attributes. I ve wandered far and wide 
 and trod the soil of almost every clime ; and once, and only once be 
 fore, have I met one so perfect and so peerless. Pardon me for 
 referring in your presence to that part of my life, the memory of which 
 is so painful, yet so pleasant. The bright vision faded. I was left alone 
 to grapple with stern reality. I lived, for life may long be borne, ere 
 sorrow break its chain. I often exclaimed in the wild delirium of 
 my sorrows : Oh, why comes not death to those who mourn ? Why, 
 kind Providence, why hast Thou taken from me the idol of my heart ? 
 What have I done that I should be punished to such an extent ? In 
 my agony, I felt I could curse the hand that held the chastening rod. 
 Had it not been for the fear of something after death, I could not 
 have tolerated the life I led. I left home, friends and kindred, and 
 began a wild, weary wandering round the world. Suddenly, the dark 
 caverns of my heart have again been illuminated. I am bewildered ; 
 I am scarcely answerable for what I say or do. The past has been; 
 duplicated; I dare not trust myself again; I must, and will leave, 
 for 
 
 k Who would seek or prize 
 Delights that end in aching ? 
 Who would trust to ties 
 That every hour are breaking ? 
 
 "Oh, Miss Heartland, in this dark and trying hour, will you not 
 vouchsafe one kind word of sympathy, one gentle look of pity on one 
 
Tahoe: or Life in California. 141 
 
 who has suffered more than he can tell you, and who leaves you on 
 the morrow forever?" 
 
 Alice looked and saw the tear drops that had fallen on the lily she 
 held in her tapering ringers. 
 
 " You have my sincerest sympathy, Mr. Aldridge," she said, "and 
 if my poor prayers for your future welfare are worth aught to you, 
 you have them also." 
 
 The memory of her engagement to Major Pettybone sent an inde 
 finable pang to her heart, and feeling that she had already allowed 
 herself to listen to too much, she said : " Come, Mr. Aldridge, let s 
 join our friends in the parlor." 
 
 " One moment more," he said, earnestly; sadly. 
 
 " No," she said firmly, and led the way. "But I hope you will re 
 consider, and conclude to remain in our neighborhood longer." Think 
 ing perhaps she was doing wrong to encourage him to remain in 
 temptation s way, she added : You must some day come again." 
 Her heart fluttered and she felt that she would not willingly see him 
 
 go- 
 
 They found Major Pettybone and Miss Hubblestubble, in a live 
 ly discussion with Ella Woodford in regard to keeping secrets. 
 
 " I would tell mine and let my friends have the benefit thereof, if I 
 had any to tell," said Major Pettybone. 
 
 " So would I," said Ella. I believe, like Miss Hubblestubble, in 
 keeping them, but I believe in keeping them going. What say you, 
 Alice?" 
 
 " I think," said Alice, " that such things should be left discretionary 
 with the owner of the secret." 
 
 " And what is Miss Hubblestubble s opinion ?" asked Mr. Aldridge, 
 bowing gallantly to that lady. 
 
 " It is my opinion," said Miss Hubblestubble, growing taller and 
 taller as she spoke, " It is my opinion, if a gentleman addresses a 
 lady" 
 
 " We were not viewing things from a matrimonial standpoint, par 
 ticularly," interrupted Ella Woodford, mischievously, but, how 
 ever 
 
 A look that brooked no contradiction from Miss Hubblestubble cut 
 her remarks short. 
 
 " It is my opinion," continued that lady again, when she found 
 she had the floor, "that if a gentleman addresses a lady, ("or -vice 
 versa" whispered Ella to Major Pettybone and Alice), the lady 
 has no moral right to tell it, unless she accepts him. If she dis 
 cards him, it is his secret, and his only, and she cannot hon- 
 
14 2 Tahoe: or Life in California. 
 
 orably divulge it. If she accepts him, it is hers, and she has a right 
 to tell it, unless he expresses a wish that she should not. If he desires 
 her to keep it, she ought by all means to do so. The same holds 
 good all through life. She ought always to do as he desires her." 
 
 " I agree," said Aldridge, "with Miss Hubblestubble." And not 
 wishing to remain in the presence of Major Pettybone longer than he 
 could gracefully get away, he continued : " I have a secret I would 
 like to commit to your keeping, Miss Augusta. Suppose we prome 
 nade. Allow me to carry the beautiful blue reticule that seems to be 
 your constant companion." 
 
 " I can trace a matrimonial resemblance between those two," said 
 Ella Woodford, loud enough for them to hear, as they left the room. 
 Col. Heartland saw them go out into the garden, and with a sigh of 
 relief he returned to the parlor, thinking he would like Aldridge as a 
 frequent visitor, if he would only devote his time and knightly accom 
 plishments to Miss Hubblestubble s entertainment. 
 
 " No," said Miss Hubblestubble, " I cannot part with my little blue 
 velvet treasure, even for a moment. It is, as you say, my constant 
 companion, and you have no idea the comfort it is to me." 
 
 " It is beautiful, I know, but like its mistress, it keeps secrets. 
 Would it be intrusion to ask it s contents ?" 
 
 "Certainly not," said she; "it only contains a few little missives 
 which I do not care any one to see," she said with a giggle that 
 would have done credit to a girl of sixteen. 
 
 He placed his hand upon his heart, struck a tragic attitude, and in a 
 mournful voice said : " Is it possible?" 
 
 " Is what possible?" she asked anxiously. 
 
 " Come with me to the lake bank," he said, and I will tell you all." 
 She took his offered arm, and they strolled to the water s edge. He 
 seated her upon a log overhanging the edge, and took his place beside 
 her. 
 
 " I was going to say, Miss Hubblestubble, is it possible that some 
 one else already claims a heart I had resolved to make it the business of 
 my life to possess ? Has Major Pettybone, has Col. Heartland, been 
 my successful rival ?" 
 
 "No," said she; "I was but in jest. I could not think of marry 
 ing a widower, so I bluffed Col. Heartland from the very first." 
 
 "So you disposed of him?" 
 
 "I did." 
 
 " Thank God ! But what about this Major Pettybone, who has just 
 about as much right to the title of Major as old Heartland has to that 
 of Colonel. Here in California they brevet every man General, Colonel 
 
Tahoe: or Life in California. 143 
 
 or Major. It seems rather a distinction between a man who is 
 wealthy, and a poor man, than anything else. Every man of some 
 property has some title, which title seems to be graded and based 
 upon the means of the possessor, rather than any military renown- 
 When I first came to San Francisco, they (having heard I counted 
 my dollars by millions, which, though somewhat exaggerated was never 
 theless true,) dubbed me General. I put a stop to it as soon as possi 
 ble, for anything of that sort is despicable. I determined there should 
 be one man in the West of wealth and position, who was a Mr. But 
 you did not tell me how you disposed of Major Pettybone ? I never 
 saw a man more in love than he was with you, on All Hallow-een." 
 
 " How you do see things, Mr. Aldridge ! How you can guess, and 
 guess so correctly !" 
 
 " I am sure it was not difficult to see, and no guess about it. It 
 was just as plain as day." 
 
 " Well," said she, " I saw that that little chit had her heart set on 
 him ; and as I cared nothing for him, I kept out of the way and let 
 her entrap him. I bluffed and bluffed him, till he saw he might as 
 well give it up. He did so, and is now proposing to marry her." 
 
 Aldridge started, but recovering himself, said : 
 
 " I am glad he is out of my way." 
 
 " Out of your way? What do you mean ?" said she. 
 
 " Oh, nothing," he replied, looking tenderly into her eyes. 
 
 " Yes, you do mean something," said she. 
 
 " No, I don t," replied he, taking her hand. 
 
 " Yes, but I tell you, you do," she said, giving him the other hand, 
 and looking fondly into his eyes. " Don t be afraid to tell me." 
 
 "No, I don t; don t be displeased," said he, encircling her waist 
 with his arm. 
 
 " I won t," said she dropping her head upon his shoulder, and nearly 
 breaking her long neck to reach it. 
 
 " > ow. you won t be displeased," said he, printing a kiss upon her 
 lips. 
 
 " Yes, I am," said she ; "don t you do that again ; if you do that I 
 will break our engagement." 
 
 " Not for worlds," he said? turning his head and withdrawing his 
 arm. 
 
 She was silent for a moment, then said : " Darling !" 
 
 " Precious !" he returned. 
 
 " I was not mad, sure enough," she said ; " I was just pretending. 
 Do it again ; I won t get mad any more. Now," she continued, " if 
 you have anything particular to say, you had better say it quickly, for 
 
144 Tahoe: or Life in California. 
 
 we must go back to the house ; we shall be missed. But it is very 
 sweet to stay here." 
 
 " I have nothing particular to say," said he, rising. 
 
 " Nothing particular to say ? Oh, yes ; the arrangements for the 
 marriage." 
 
 " What marriage ?" a little astonished. 
 
 " You provoking fellow ! my and your marriage." 
 
 "This is not the time and place to make such arrangements," said 
 he, trying to pull her up from the seat. " Let us go ; they will 
 miss us." 
 
 " But, darling, this is the very time and place. What month shall 
 it be ?" asked she. 
 
 " How will February do ?" he asked. 
 
 " It is the odd month of the year ; I do not like it." 
 
 " Well, March, then, precious !" 
 
 " Would January do as well, darling?" she said demurely. 
 
 Aldridge smiled, and said it would do as well. 
 
 " Once more, and we will go," she said, drawing his face toward 
 hers. The end of the log on which she sat tilted from the extra 
 weight, and precipitated her into the lake. He caught by the over 
 hanging limb of a tree, and saved himself the plunge. The water not 
 being very deep, she arose, and quickly waded out. 
 
 " Oh, my black silk dress ! Oh, my shawl ! Oh, I am ruined ! 
 ruined ! ruined 1 My head is bleeding, and there is a great gash in 
 my forehead. What shall I do ! What shall I do !" 
 
 " Come," said Aldridge, " don t take on so. They will hear you at 
 the house. Steal in the back way and change your dress." 
 
 " But my forehead is cut ! " 
 
 " Put some plaster on it and say you fell against the stairs. Let me 
 see how deep it is." 
 
 " No, no !" said she, wrapping her wet shawl around her head, as she 
 remembered her paint. " Where is my blue bag ?" 
 
 They looked in the water ; it was floating from the shore. 
 
 " Catch it, catch it !" she cried, and he reached for it with a long reed. 
 The little idol was towed ashore, and its delighted mistress almost 
 forgot her distress in getting possession of the lost treasure. She 
 hung it dripping upon her chilled arm and hurried to the house, in 
 the back way up to her room. Aldridge sauntered awhile in the gar 
 den and then went back to the parlor. 
 
 " What is that infernal light always burning there night and day for, 
 I wonder ? " he asked himself as he passed the north tower. He found 
 Major Pettybone at Alice s side, turning the leaves of music as her 
 
Tahoe: or Life in California. 14$ 
 
 sweet, bird-like voice sent forth the closing notes of a Scotch melody 
 She rose and left the piano. Aldridge watched her, thinking 
 
 * She walks in beauty, like the night 
 Of cloudless climes and starry skies ; 
 With eyes mellowed to that tender light 
 Which heaven to gaudy day denie-." 
 
 " If I could ever love at all," he thought, " I could love her ; but I 
 am incapable of such a thing. It is all nonsense. A man of my calibre 
 must look to interest rather than to any sentimental notions which 
 may at times try to usurp the judgment seat. I think I am maturing 
 my plans well to get old Heartland s fortune. I have ingratiated my 
 self into the good graces of the old governess. Oh, my sensibilities ; 
 How I did hate to kiss her! She was daubed with paint and per 
 fumed with cologne and all the ottars of roses I ever heard ot. I 
 could scarcely keep my face straight," he mused, as he turned the 
 leaves of a beautiful boDk he had taken from the table beside him. 
 " When the old gal went head foremost into the lake I came near go 
 ing myself, and if I had Miss Ella would have had to get home the 
 best way she could, for I would not have let Miss Heartland see me 
 in that plight. She tried to keep her ugly phiz hid from me, but I 
 saw the graceful red drops falling from her cheeks. My purpose is 
 accomplished, and I must keep up the sham until I make matters se 
 cure. I can find out everything that is going on here from her. She 
 knows all, and if they could succeed in hiding anything from her I 
 am mistaken in her character. I am fortunate to find such a medium. 
 She has already told me that Pettybone and Miss Heartland are en 
 gaged. I tried to gather as much from Miss Woodford, but she evi 
 dently knows nothing of it. My conduct to Miss Hubblestubble will 
 also throw old Heartland off his guard. She will be certain to let 
 them know of what she supposes is our engagement. Pettybone, of 
 course, is in the confidence of Heartland, and I can then visit the 
 house without exciting the suspicions of this wary man. I do not 
 like his watching me as he does, and if it were not that I had other 
 work for my man Grubbs, I should rid the community of him. But 
 he will keep quiet after he finds the governess, and not the heiress, is 
 the object of my attention. I will take every pains that he shall think 
 such is the case. I wonder what keeps her so long? I wish she would 
 come and let them all see our preference for each other. The silly 
 old creature! I wonder how she could, for a moment, think I would 
 believe that she could have married Heartland or Pettybone. I had a 
 purpose to accomplish or I should have laughed heartily. She is old 
 enough to know better. Common sense is the most uncommon thing 
 of which I know." Thus he sat and mused and waited for the ap 
 pearance of Miss Hubblestubble. 
 10 
 
146 Tahoe: or Life in California. 
 
 CHAPTER XXVI. 
 
 " Joy never feasts so high. 
 
 As when the first course is of misery." 
 
 Miss Hubblestubble, on entering her chamber, knew not what to do. 
 She was indeed in a quandary. She saw that her dress and shawl 
 were too wet and soiled, ever to be redeemed. " But I have no time 
 to grieve ; I must try and get back to the parlor, as soon as possible," 
 she said, taking the only dress now left of her scanty wardrobe from 
 its hanging-place. " He told me that he was a man of means, and I 
 am thankful my days of struggling with poverty are nearly over. 
 What will Col. Heartland think, when he finds I am to be the wife of 
 a younger and handsomer, and perhaps a wealthier, man than either 
 Major Pettybone or himself ? I want to see their surprise. I intend 
 they shall know it this very day. Besides, I will want to send for my 
 trousseau when Alice sends for hers. I intend to have quite a hand 
 some one, even if I have to go a little in debt for it. Col. Heartland 
 owes me sufficient to prevent such a necessity, I reckon, and I will 
 soon be abundantly able to pay for anything my heart may desire. 1 
 wish we could have a double wedding. It would show to the world 
 that intellect could stand, side by side, with wealth ; that a governess 
 could win a husband, of whom an heiress would be proud. There 
 are some vessels expected now from the Indies, laden with all the 
 beautiful fabrics of which a New York belle would make her trous 
 seau. I intend to go myself to San Francisco and make my own pur 
 chases as soon as I learn they are in port ; but here I am lost in rev 
 erie, while they are wondering down-stairs what has become of me. 
 I was careful not to let Mr. Aldridge see my face, I muffled it in the 
 shawl and pretended the rouge was blood from the gash on my fore 
 head. I find to my delight, that the water did not penetrate my little 
 blue reticule, and the contents are all safe. I will hang it here to dry 
 and, for once, leave it in my room ; but of course I shall lock the door 
 
Tahoe: or Lift in California. 147 
 
 and carry the key in my pocket, lest that impertinent, prying Bertina 
 come here while I am below stairs. I saw her looking curiously at 
 me when I came in ; so I stopped, and told her that I got into the 
 little boat on the lake for a ride, and accidentally upset it. I had sat 
 isfied her, when I espied Griffin winking and blinking at her, and 
 showing every tooth in his head. I hate negroes, and if my friends 
 in the North had had the experience with them that I have, they would 
 be willing for the horrid creatures to be slaves all over the world. Now 
 Alice seems to think more of that negress than any one would think 
 possible, and Col. Heartland has that ugly, black negro valet with 
 him on all occasions ; but I never wish to even see them, if I can help 
 it. I hope Mr. Aldridge is not partial to negroes, that he will not have 
 them about him; however, I will control that, after we are married. 
 But just to think I have been here more than an hour !" Putting her 
 chamber key in her pocket, she descended and joined the company. 
 Dinner being announced, Col. Heartland led the way, with Ella Wood- 
 ford, and seated her, with a chivalrous air, at his right hand. Alice 
 took her seat opposite to her father, and Major Pettybone took his 
 seat next her on the left. Mr. Aldridge led in Miss Hubblestubble. 
 and with much gallantry seated himself beside her. A moment al 
 was silent, and Col. Heartland casting his eyes downward, said 
 " Father, for thy tender mercies, we bless thy holy name." 
 
 The dish covers were removed, and Griffin flew hither and thither 
 helping them all to the tempting dinner before them. Soup of the 
 highly flavored oysters that are found only where the golden skies 
 seem to touch the western waters ; fish, the mountain trout, from the 
 cool, limpid lake and streams on Col. Heartland s estate ; all the veg 
 etables of temperate and torrid zones; meats to satisfy the taste 
 of Epicurus ; lamb, beef and venison from the wild mountain heights ; 
 quails and prairie chickens, from the Mesa ; fruits worthy to lay before 
 Pomona ; fruits of which California may truly be proud, for in these 
 she can justly claim to be queen of the world. The stiawberries, large 
 and luscious, covered with pearly sugar, bathed their crimson sides in 
 their bath of cream; the raspberries, resting in delicious beauty 
 against the crystal bowls that held them, and coloring with their blood 
 the golden spoons; the oranges and bananas; apples, pears and 
 peaches, filled the fruit-stands with crimson and gold ; while around 
 them hung clusters of grapes, such as grow only in this land of the 
 west. Not France or Italy can rival her, in the quality or size of her 
 grapes. As the sparkling wines fell gurgling into the glasses, all felt 
 that even Bordeaux never sent forth such. The snowy damask and 
 Sevres China, bordered with green and gold ; the shining silver and 
 
14& Tahoe: or Life in California. 
 
 glistening glassware, combined with the fruits and flowers, lent to the 
 table the charm of a fairy banquet. All had joined Col. Heartland, 
 save one, in his thanks for the luxuries before them. That one was 
 Aldridge. He thought it weak in Col. Heartland to indulge in so silly 
 a belief. The idea of a God, to him, was simply ridiculous and absurd, 
 " This is a world of chance, and these things all come by accident," 
 said he, in his heart. " We are the architects of our own fortune^ 
 irrespective of Deity. Let a man depend upon praying to take him 
 through this world, and he will soon see that it is himself, and not an 
 imaginary God, that must provide. As to myself, I am glad I have 
 none of ;this superstition about me. I do not doubt but that such 
 ideas have kept many a capable man from self-exertion and self-reli 
 ance. I intend to look out for myself first, and God afterwards, at 
 any rate. Why, I would just as soon clasp an Agnus Dei and jump 
 into the fire and expect not to be burned, as I would expect to be fed 
 and clothed, if I gave up all business and went about begging a God 
 who does not, and never did, exist, to take care of me on account of 
 my lamentations. No, I ll take care of myself, and be proprietor here, 
 without any interference of a higher power, if I am fortunate enough 
 to carry out my plans." 
 
 "Miss Hubblestubble," he said, beginning the conversation, "do 
 you have any such bread as this in Vermont ?" 
 
 " No, I am compelled to acknowledge, we do not," said she. " Even 
 our best wheat will in no wise compare with California wheat ; of 
 course our bread cannot equal this." 
 
 " Thank you," said Major Pettybone, " for your compliment to Cali 
 fornia. We could scarcely have expected a New Englander to have 
 acknowledged so much." 
 
 " Oh, I am going to be a Californian, hereafter," said she, looking 
 tenderly askant at Aldridge. 
 
 " Oh, Miss Hubblestubble !" said Alice, kindly ; " what is the matter 
 with your forehead ?" for the first time noticing that lady s face. 
 
 "Oh, it is nothing, " she replied ; " a thorn scratched me, as I was 
 gathering some roses for my friend, Mr, Aldridge, and I had to cover 
 it with a piece of plaster." 
 
 " Liar," thought Aldridge; "believes in a God, and lies worse than 
 I do." 
 
 Miss Hubblestubble is more thoughtful than any of us ; she 
 changed her dress for a lighter one, while we are sweltering in our 
 thick ones," said Ella Woodford, mischievously. 
 
 Miss Hubblestubble looked at her in proud disdain. " Yes," she 
 thought, " she knows my dress was wet, for I saw Bertina follow her, 
 when she went to a room to arrange her hair for dinner." 
 
Tahoe: or Life in California. 149 
 
 The balance of the company, except Aldridge, wondered at Ella s 
 remark, for all felt that it was cool, and by no means sweltering. 
 Then they thought perhaps Ella was endeavoring to make Miss Hub- 
 blestubble feel all right in her extremely light dress for the season. 
 The conversation continued until dinner was concluded, and they arose 
 and went back to the parlor. Aldridge now tried to get to see Alice 
 alone, again, but all in vain ; Miss Hubblestubble hung upon his arm, 
 looked into his eyes, or followed him everywhere he went ; he could 
 not rid himself of her. 
 
 Alice seemed not to notice it. Ella Woodford s amused expression 
 told that she saw it all. Major Pettybone thought him a scamp to 
 trifle with a woman s affections, for he did not doubt but that he was 
 trifling. Col. Heartland looked more kindly on him, for he could not 
 think but that Aldridge admired Miss Hubblestubble, and in the 
 kindness of his heart he would Iik6 to see her married ere his daughter 
 should be taken from him, which event would leave her homeless. 
 Aldridge saw the effect on Col. Heartland, and felt that his point was 
 gained. He asked Ella Woodford if it was not time to go in order to 
 reach home before sunset. 
 
 " Everything is so pleasant here I had almost forgotten I had to go 
 home," she said rising. 
 
 "Stay all night with me, Ella," said Alice. 
 
 " I cannot to-night, but I will soon," said Ella, leaving the room to 
 equip herself for her ride. Alice started to follow her, but Aldridge 
 overtook her in the hall. 
 
 " One moment, I beg," said he ; " may I come again ? I feel I can 
 not leave without seeing you just once more." 
 
 " We will be pleased to see you, Mr. Aldridge," said Alice with a 
 deep blush, and went on after -her friend. 
 
 He looked up, Miss Hubblestubble was coming towards him. She 
 looked cautiously around, but seeing no one, she placed her hand in 
 his and said : 
 
 "Come, darling, soon. I have so many things to tell you." 
 
 " I will, precious," he replied, nearly crushing her fingers by the 
 pressure of his hands. She withdrew her hand, and he thought. 
 " that will at least make her more careful about handing her paw to 
 me." 
 
 " Come soon," she continued ; " you have never asked me to play or 
 sing for you yet. In a little while, when I am all yours, you under 
 stand, I will sing and play for my birdie all the time." 
 
 " I am glad," thought he, "that I am not going to be her birdie." 
 Then aloud he said, " I will be with you again shortly." 
 
150 Tahoe: or Lije in California. 
 
 Ella Woodford being ready, Aldridge began to look around for an 
 excuse to remain longer. He did not wish to leave Major Pettybone 
 there. The M jor saw the bent of his thoughts, and quietly seated 
 himself. 
 
 " Miss Ella, favor us with a song before you go," said Aldridge, 
 leading her to the piano. 
 
 " Oh, I have on my riding dress," said Ella. 
 
 "And looking charming in it," said Aldridge. 
 
 "You are a flatterer, Mr. Aldridge," said she. 
 
 " I have these witnesses," said he, looking around. 
 
 " He has, he has," they all said, simultaneously. 
 
 " I told you so," he said. " Now favor us with a song." 
 
 She sang it, and then said : " We really must go." She bade them 
 all good-bye. Aldridge saw it was useless to try to carry Major 
 Pettybone off, and could do nothing but follow Ella. 
 
 He pressed Alice s hand gently, nearly broke all the bones in Miss 
 Hubblestubble s, and replied to Col. Heartland s invitation to come 
 often, with a polite "thank you, thank you," and then, in company 
 with Ella, left the villa. For some time he rode in silence. 
 
 " I wish I could get Pettybone away from there ; he will stay to 
 tea if he has half a chance. Ah, I have it," he thought, as a miner, 
 with his pick and pan on his shoulder, came walking down the road. 
 
 " Miss Ella, please ride just ahead, I will overtake you ; I wish to 
 speak to that man." 
 
 Ella loped forward, and Aldridge said in a low tone : " I am in a 
 most terrible hurry ; would you carry a message to yonder house for 
 me? It is just on your way." 
 
 " Certainly," replied the man ; " I would do anything to accommo 
 date a gentleman : what is it ?" 
 
 " Just ask if Major Pettybone is there, and if so, tell him a gentle 
 man wishes to see him at home immediately on most important busi 
 ness. You can remember the name?" 
 
 " Oh, yes. I have heard it often. He is the gentleman they say is 
 to marry our good Col. Heartland s daughter." 
 
 " The same. Deliver the message. I cannot wait for him long." 
 And he galloped off. 
 
 " Who was that at the door, Griffin," said Col. Heartland, meeting 
 the servant in the hall a short while after the departure of his guests. 
 
 " It was a man," said Griffin, " who said that somebody at Petty- 
 bone Hall had sent him here for Major Pettybone, right quick, on im 
 portant business." 
 
 " I ll deliver the message, Griffin, said Col. Heartland, going to the 
 
Tahoe: or Life in California. 1 5 i 
 
 parlor, where he found Major Pettybone on the sofa at his daughter s 
 side. Major Pettybone felt that he ought to go, but he lingered a few 
 moments, then bade Alice a gentle good evening, said to Col. Heart 
 land, " I will come again to-morrow," and rode rapidly home. He 
 found no one there ; no one had been there, and he knew he was a 
 victim of Aldridge s strategy, and was more convinced than ever that 
 the heiress ahd not the governess was what attracted him to Lake 
 Tahoe. " But she will be true to me/ he said, " in spite of his hand 
 some face and courtly manners. I am going to find out about this 
 man, though I have hardly time now. My preparations for my marriage 
 must go rapidly forward. She has appointed the first of next month. 
 Happy, happy man that I am !" 
 
I5 2 Tahoe: or Life in California, 
 
 CHAPTER XXVII. 
 
 DREAMS AND REALITIES. 
 
 " Next advices no doubt further facts will afford, 
 In the meantime, the danger most imminent grows." 
 
 Early the next morning Major Pettybone wrote the following letter 
 to Col. Heartland, and sent it to him by Burleigh : 
 
 " I was hoaxed last evening, my friend ; found no one awaiting me 
 at the Hall, as the messenger stated. I intended asking you to go to 
 San Francisco with me to-morrow, but was inveigled away before I 
 had a chance to do so. I will be over this afternoon, and we will talk 
 the matter over. Please hand the enclosed note to Miss Alice. 
 
 Yours truly, HENRY PETTYBONE." 
 
 " Major ,1 wants to see you to-day," said Burleigh. 
 
 " Well," returned he, " take this note and bouquet to Col. Heart 
 land s and return, and I am at your service. Is it money that you 
 want ?" " No, sir, it ain t money," said his honest valet, with his eyes 
 cast down. " It is a little talk about something else, I wish to have." 
 He took the bouquet and note, and left for Col. Heartland s, musing 
 as he went : " This is a nice bouquet ; I will look at it good and try to 
 make one like it this evening. I am going over in the mountains to 
 night, to old miner Parker s shanty, and just take some flowers and 
 fruits to Miss Cora. That is the way Major is courting Miss Heart 
 land, and it seems to please the lady. I got up courage last visit to 
 tell her I wished a gal like her lived at Pettybone Hall. She said she 
 thought it was a mighty nice place, and said her mother said, she 
 wished she could rnarry some good, clever fellow, who would take 
 good care of her. I will ask Major if I may fetch her here, and if he 
 be willing she will come without much further notice. She won t have 
 much preparation to make jist to come to Pettybone Hall, tis so close 
 
Tahoe: or Life in California. 153 
 
 to hum. But I must see Major bout it, afore I say anything to her. 
 He has been too good to me, for me to marry against his will, tho I 
 don t see how he can object no way, being as he wants to follow suit 
 himself. Miss Cora is just as purty, to be as what she is, as Miss 
 Alice is, as what she is. I ll tell Major bout it, tho . I spect he will 
 be glad to have somebody there, to wait on Miss Alice. She is bound 
 to have a maid, and them two colored persons is indispensable to the 
 Colonel, so I reckon it will all turn out for the best. There can be no 
 doubt bout his getting Miss Alice. She be a rich young lady, and he 
 be a rich, nice gentleman. In some way. I be a poor man, and Cora 
 be a poor gal, I see a heap of happiness ahead of me. But, here I is," 
 and he alighted and delivered his flowers and note. 
 
 In a few minutes a delicate pink note was handed him, and he left 
 for home. He met Major Pettybone on the piazza, and delivered the 
 note. It was addressed: 
 
 "Major Henry Pettybone, Pettybone Hall," and ran thus: 
 
 " Allow me to thank you for the flowers, and the kind thought that 
 prompted the gift. My father bids me say, he has business of impor 
 tance in San Francisco, and will accompany you thither with pleas 
 ure. He also says : Can you not take tea with us this evening ? 
 
 With esteem, ALICE." 
 
 " A cold note in reply to my fervent, earnest one." thought Henry 
 Pettybone, as folding it, he told Burleigh to come to his library. " Yes, 
 sir," said that worthy, as hat in hand he followed him. He seated 
 himself as his valet took a stand in front of him. 
 
 " What is this matter of importance, you wish to consult me about?" 
 he asked, observing his servant s trepidation. 
 
 "It is it is " stammered Burleigh, "that as you be going to 
 marry I I I ." 
 
 " Well, out with it man ; there is no one here to hear you," he con 
 tinued, as the valet s eyes wandered round and round the room. "There 
 is not even the ghost of a Hubblestubble to listen." 
 
 " I don t believe in ghosts, sir," said Burleigh, much relieved. "But 
 Miss Hubblestubble asked me questions enough bout you, while Miss 
 Alice went to write that note. She 
 
 " Well, never mind what she said ; tell me what it is you want to 
 say," said Major Pettybone, impatiently. 
 
 " Well," replied the abashed valet, " I was going to ask you if you 
 would like to have somebody to wait on Miss Alice, when you fetch 
 her here ?" 
 
 " What makes you think I am going to bring her here ?" asked his 
 master. 
 
 " Everybody says so. It is all the talk at the mines, and all over 
 the mining villages," replied Burleigh. 
 
154 Tahoe: or Life in California. 
 
 "How do you know this ; have you been there ?" 
 
 " No," said he blushingly, " but Cora told me." 
 
 " Who is Cora ?" asked the Major. 
 
 " She is old miner Parker s pretty daughter, and it is her I want you 
 to have for your wife s maid," said he. 
 
 "Oh, I understand, you want to marry this girl." 
 
 " You are right about that, Major," said Burleigh with a smile. 
 
 " Well, I don t object at all, and expect it would be a right good 
 arrangement ; but Burleigh, I never thought to see you in love. When 
 do you wish to consummate this engagement?" 
 
 " It ain t no engagement yet, sir." 
 
 " What, have you not asked the girl ? How do you know you will 
 be accepted ?" 
 
 " I know it mighty well, sir," said Burleigh with a grin. " I can tell 
 from signs, and bows, and such like." 
 
 " You can do more than I can then. All signs fail when it comes 
 to women. I have been with them all my life, and I never yet have 
 seen one that I could tell anything about, either from words or action ; 
 so you had better beware," he said, bowing Burleigh out. 
 
 " Better beware himself," thought Burleigh, as he left. " I didn t 
 tell him I met that fine-looking Frisco man, all dressed up, going to 
 Sierran Villa." 
 
 Major Pettybone re-read the note from Alice. " It was delicacy/ 
 he said, " that prevented her from expressing herself more fully," as 
 he looked upon the beautiful chirography. " I must write my letters 
 now, for this afternoon I will go over to Heartland s." He drew his 
 chair to his desk, and wrote until dinner. After dinner he called for 
 his horse, and started for the villa. Just over the hill he encountered 
 Aldridge. 
 
 " Good evening, Major," said the latter. 
 
 "Good evening, sir," said Major Pettybone haughtily. "I am 
 obliged to you for your message yesterday, but let me warn you never 
 to take a similar liberty with me again." 
 
 " I sent you no message, sir," said Aldridge, at the same time riding 
 by him. 
 
 " Stop, fellow, you are a liar," said the Major, cutting at him with 
 his whip. Aldridge dashed his spurs into his horse s sides, and gal 
 loped away. 
 
 Arrived at the villa, Col. Heartland came to meet him. " I met 
 Aldridge down here in the road." 
 
 " Yes, he has just left us," said Col. Heartland. " He seems wild 
 about Miss Hubblestubble, and I have never seen a woman so madly 
 in love with a man." 
 
Tahoe: or Life in California. 155 
 
 " She had better look to her heart, then. He is a most unmitigated 
 liar. I attacked him about sending me the sham message, yesterday ; 
 he denied it. I tried to catch him and horsewhip him, but he was too 
 quick for me. If I can find out anything about him in San Francisco, 
 I shall inform the Woodfords what a guest they have ; and if I were 
 you, Colonel, I would forbid him my house." 
 
 " May you not have been mistaken," said Col. Heartland, " about 
 the message? Perhaps he did not send it." 
 
 " Yes, there is no doubt about it. I saw, as soon as I accused him, 
 he was guilty. His mendacity is inexcusable ; but shall we go in the 
 morning ?" 
 
 " Yes," replied his friend, " at early dawn." 
 
 They were occupied until supper, after which the ladies joined them 
 in the parlor. Miss Hubblestubble soon grew weary. She had heard 
 many sweet things that day, and she wished to be alone with her 
 thoughts. She pleaded a headache, and retired early, thinking of 
 Aldridge, and herself as his future wife ; of their happy home and 
 love-lit hours. " Oh," said she, " I never loved before ;" and she 
 knelt and thanked her Heavenly Father for the lot that was soon to be 
 hers. She laid her head upon her downy pillow, and sleep, sweet 
 sleep! "sleep that knits up the ravelled sleeve of care, "came and trans 
 ported her to the land of dreams. She was the mistress of a happy 
 home ; she walked amid flowers, with Aldridge at her side ; he talked 
 of love, and her heart beat fast. Again, she saw him at Washington, 
 a nation s pride, as United States Senator from California ; then the 
 broad land rang with wild hurrahs, and he was President, and she the 
 courted queen of a Republican court. Oh, happy, happy dream ! Sad, 
 sad realities ! 
 
 In the parlor below, Alice and Major Pettybone, uninterrupted, 
 made arrangements for their marriage. He was all enthusiasm, while 
 she timidly consented to all he said. There was no joy in her heart 
 and she manifested none. Too blindly in love to see it, Major Petty- 
 bone attributed to diffidence that which was the result of a want of 
 proper feeling. "She will be more demonstrative," said he, "when I 
 prove by devotion that I am worthy of such love." 
 
 " One more song," he said, and, after she finished, he took her hand 
 gently, and holding it in his. attempted to place a costly ring upon her 
 finger. She bent the finger, and drawing her hand almost rudely from 
 him, said : " I do not wish that ring." She thought, then of her 
 father, and, softening, said : " Give it to me ; I will put it on myself." 
 
 She took it, and he bade her good-night. He encountered Col. 
 Heartland in the hall and telling him to call by for him, he passed out 
 
156 Tahoe: or Life in California. 
 
 and rode briskly home, He met Burleigh on the steps, and asked him 
 gaily about his far dulcinea. 
 
 " I told you so," said he ; " she is willing, the old man is willing, 
 and the old lady is joyful." 
 
 " I congratulate you, my lad," said the Major ; and the two happy 
 ones, master and servant, retired for the night, with kind feelings for 
 the whole world, and bright prospects for the future. 
 
 After Major Pettybone left, Col. Heartland joined his daughter in 
 the parlor. He found Alice seated on the sofa, with a costly ring in 
 her hand, in a deep reverie. 
 
 " Can I come in, my child ?" 
 
 "Certainly," said Alice ; my father is always welcome," and she 
 made room for him at her side. 
 
 "Let me see that," he said, taking the ring. "It is, indeed, beautiful." 
 
 " It is his gift," said Alice, tremulously. 
 
 " When are you to be married, my daughter ?" 
 
 " Thursday two weeks," said she, sadly. 
 
 Seeing he had troubled her, he said : " I am going to San Francisco 
 to-morrow, my. child, and I will get anything you wish." 
 
 " Use your own judgment, in the selection of things, father," she 
 said, " and it will please me best." 
 
 " My child," said he, " I am going to retire, now, as I am to start 
 quite early. Iwill go by for Major Pettybone, and we will go all the 
 way in the carriage. You will be up to see me off ?" 
 
 " Yes, father. Now tell me who those friends are, at San Diego, to 
 whom you wish me to write. I can do it to-night ; for I am not at 
 all sleepy, and 1 will do it right here." 
 
 " Mr. and Mrs. Kirkland ; you remember them. When they lived 
 in San Francisco, a few years since, they showed me every kind atten 
 tion in their power. I missed them greatly, and if it had not been 
 that fond memories clung around this place, I, too, would have gone to 
 San Diego. This is a glorious country, but that far exceeds it. There 
 the temperature is even, the year round ; storms and rain seldom 
 come. It is bliss to breathe the air. Consumption, that blighting 
 disease of the East, is unknown ; it never originates, but cases that 
 have gone there, apparently in a dying condition, have been rapidly 
 cured. The >vild flowers bloom unceasingly ; and there is no season 
 of the year that a person may not dwell in the open air. There is no 
 other part of the great West that has the natural advantages of San 
 Diego county, California. Immigration has already begun to pour in ? 
 and with the prospect of railroads it takes no astrologist to predict its 
 brilliant future. Yes, write to Mr. and Mrs. Frank Kirkland, and 
 invite them to your marriage." He kissed her and left the room. 
 
Tahoe: or Life in California. 157 
 
 She drew her chair to a table, and placing her little desk upon it, 
 began her letter. She wrote one ; it did not suit. She took another 
 sheet of paper, and began again, and again she failed. She tried 
 again. " This will do," she thought, as she sealed and addressed it. 
 " Yes, I have invited them to my wedding my wedding !" she said 
 aloud, A footstep she looked up, and Aldridge was before her. 
 
 " Miss Heartland/ he said, " such a marriage as that would be but 
 blasphemy." 
 
 "Why? asked Alice, rising indignantly to her feet. "Why are 
 you here at this unseasonable hour ?" 
 
 " Pardon me, fair lady ; I could not keep away. Forgive a crime 
 for which you are yourself answerable." 
 
 "I am in no way responsible for such conduct," said she, starting 
 towards the door. " I will call my father. I cannot and will not 
 entertain visitors alone, and at this hour." 
 
 " Do not ; do not, I beseech you ! I will go in one moment." Then 
 falling upon his knees, he said : " Miss Heartland, is there no hope ?" 
 
 " None," she said. " I am the affianced wife of another you had 
 better go it is bes for us both that we part forever." 
 
 " I cannot ! Oh, I cannot !" he said piteously. "Go with me ! Fly 
 these fetters in which they would bind you, God intends us for 
 each other, and we ought not to be separated thus. Oh, come with 
 me!" 
 
 Alice felt her strength failing, but she thought of her father, and 
 commanding all her courage, she replied : 
 
 " Leave me, or I will call my father." 
 
 " Farewell, forever," he said, and slowly left the room. She went 
 to the window, and saw him mount and ride away. She fell upon the 
 sofa weeping, and said : " Poor fellow, how he loves me ! And I I I 
 must not think, for I am a promised wife." 
 
 Daylight still found her sitting there, and it was only when she 
 heard her father s footsteps that she blew out the light, and went to 
 meet him. 
 
 " Here already, my child ?" he said ; and she handed him the letters, 
 bade him farewell, and told him not a word of her sleepless night, 
 and the frenzied visitor. 
 
 "I do not think he will come again," she thought, "and I do not 
 think I should annoy my father about it. Love like his will some 
 times step without the pale of conventionalities, and I would not ex 
 pose the secret of one who loves me to such an extent. I must take 
 pains hereafter to keep him at a distance, though I hope he will not 
 come again." 
 
 She arose then and went to her chamber. 
 
158 Tahoe: or Life in California. 
 
 CHAPTER XXVIII. 
 
 TWO GENTLEMEN. 
 
 " Murder most foul, as in the best it is ; 
 But this most foul, strange and unnatural. 
 
 On reaching Pettybone Hall, Col. Heartland found Major Pettybone 
 ready, and they started for San Francisco. The air was freighted 
 with the perfume of a thousand flowers, and as they reached the fork 
 of the mountains the sun had risen and had cast his golden rays over 
 the surrounding landscape. The snow-capped heights reflected his 
 gorgeous light on the green valleys below. Up the mountain sides 
 the cactus raised its crimson head, and it justly deserves the name it 
 bears, of "snow flower," in this land of enchantment. Around them 
 the wild oats covered the earth on both sides the narrow road, while 
 over them the tall forest trees cast their shadows. Far above, the 
 towering red-wood put forth its branches like the antlers of a mighty 
 stag, affording support to the clinging vines laden with their fruit, and 
 forming an arbor overhead, natural, yet artistic. They drove into a 
 clear, shallow stream that crossed the road, and the driver paused to 
 water the horses. They gazed around them in silent gratitude. These 
 two, so gentlemanly, so highly cultivated, so good and pure, were fit 
 companions in a scene like this. They felt deeply grateful that the 
 Giver of all good had cast their lots in such a land. Major Pettybone 
 was the first to speak. 
 
 " Is it not astonishing," he said, "that any one can doubt for a mo 
 ment the existence of a God ? It has ever been a mystery to me 
 how thinking, reasoning men can for a moment imagine this world a 
 world of chance. Greece and Rome, with all their learning, had their 
 dark lore ; and Egypt, in her palmiest days, furnished her share of 
 oracles and superstition. From both history and romance we gather 
 
Tahoe: or Life in California. 159 
 
 information concerning the uses to which men of sterner stuff put 
 these oracles, in order to dupe, to gull and control their weaker fellow- 
 creatures. Christianity has wiped out the power of spells, but the 
 evil human heart is still the same, and in many instances chicanery 
 and craftiness, supported by self-interest, wield a power as mighty as 
 the superstitions of old. A man who would be a villain can make 
 his opportunities. The crafty, cunning Egyptian, Arbaces of Pompeii, 
 so admirably painted by Bulwer, was never more determined to carry 
 out his fell design in regard to the beautiful lone, than is this men 
 dacious fellow Aldridge. Col. Heartland, I ve watched him narrowly. 
 He is a base, unscrupulous fellow, and means evil to you and yours." 
 
 " I am afraid," said Col. Heartland, " your excited feelings cause 
 you to render a judgment, which in calmer moments you would sup 
 press. You are safe, so let not these fancies disturb your happiness. 
 Of this man I know nothing, but he is visiting our good friends, the 
 Woodfords, and as their guest Alice receives him. He is evidently 4 
 a man of the world, and I like .him not; nor will my daughter give 
 him more attention than common politeness requires. She will now 
 be occupied with her own affairs, and no thoughts of him will intrude ; 
 so rest easy. Aldridge, doubtless, is a bad man, but he cannot harm 
 you. If you remember, he was the hero of the bank robbery in San 
 Francisco, recently. I thought his attentions were directed to Miss 
 Hubblestubble." 
 
 " You have been thrown entirely off the track. He has no idea of 
 Miss Hubblestubble. I dislike to see that lady so duped by the vil 
 lain, and yet I know he is playing her false. That very thing con 
 vinces me he is not all right, for no man will trifle with the best feel 
 ings of a woman, who has the proper sense of honor about him. I 
 hope Miss Alice will excuse herself, if he calls again, while we are 
 gone." 
 
 "But Miss Hubblestubble will not ;" laughed his friend. 
 
 11 1 am afraid not, and I pity her, from my inmost soul, I pity her ; 
 she is evidently in love with him seriously." 
 
 "Save your pity," retorted Col. Heartland; " she would be just as 
 much in love with some other man, in less than a week, if he were 
 gone. I rather like his being about ; it shields me from her matrimo 
 nial calculations." 
 
 " I regret to hear you speak of any woman, my friend, in so light a 
 manner. The very name of woman is sacred to me. I feel like I 
 would shield the whole female world from harm if I could." 
 
 " I meant no want of due respect," replied Col. Heartland. " I honor 
 woman as much as you can possibly do. I agree with you, that no 
 
160 Tahoe: or Life in California. 
 
 honorable man would take undue advantage of her want of discern 
 ment to win her love, in order that he might wantonly wound the heart 
 that she gave him. But what I mean, is that when women reach a 
 certain age, they have a rare faculty of transferring their affections 
 from one object to another, without material damage to the well- 
 cared-for heart in question. They are in search of a husband, and 
 are apt to single out the first eligible man that crosses their path. 
 They clothe him in a garb of romance and cover him with a veil of 
 love, through which none of his faults are perceptible, and kneeling 
 at the shrine of their idolatry, worship with a fervent earnestness 
 worthy a better cause." 
 
 They rode in silence some distance, when Col. Heartland said : 
 
 " Alice tells me she is to be married in two weeks, and it is on busi 
 ness for her, as well as for myself, that I visit San Francisco." 
 
 " It is for this purpose that I am going thither also," said Major 
 Pettybone. " I am having the Hall fitted up, so as to make it as cheer 
 ful and home-like as possible. I will spare no pains to make her 
 happy." 
 
 "Thank you," said his friend. 
 
 " The workmen are now at work in renovating the house, and I am 
 going to bring all my energies to bear in creating a dwelling place, a 
 paradise, for this goddess of my heart. I wish to make you feel happy 
 and proud that you consented so willingly to our marriage." 
 
 " I know I shall not regret it. I have no fears of that," replied Col. 
 Heartland enthusiastically, and they rode on in silence the one think 
 ing sadly of the past the mind of the other dwelling in rhapsody on 
 the future. Thus they pleasantly travelled, passing the nights at 
 wayside inns. They looked from the carriage window upon the lovely 
 country as they passed, and spoke of the beauties by which they 
 were surrounded. Near dark, at the close of a lovely day, they drew 
 up to a wayside house to remain for the night. The host was a rough, 
 stalwart man, whose manner of life had brought vigor to his form 
 and solidity to his character. He had been personally known to both 
 the gentlemen for several years, and was an honest, upright business 
 man, belonging to that type of Californians who dwell on their ranches, 
 surrounded by all the wealth of nature, to which neither civilization 
 nor industry have contributed an atom. He was profuse in his hospi 
 tality and bade them welcome, with the pomposity so natural to his 
 class. His table, which was two boards covered with a coarse cloth, 
 was spread with luxuries that might tempt a king, but they drank their 
 wine from tin cups, and ate from tin plates, with steel forks and pew 
 ter spoons. The house was built of upright, unplaned plank and 
 partitioned into two rooms, though scarcely large enough for one. 
 
Tahoe: or Life in California. 161 
 
 " Glad to see you. gentlemen ; come in, come in," he said, extend 
 ing a hand to each ; " house small, but room for plenty more ; like an 
 omnibus, can always accommodate one more, fact of the business is, it 
 is all foolishness, the waste of money in putting up fine houses ; this 
 one will do to keep things dry during the short rainy season, and the 
 rest of the year no man has use for a house. It s just a burdensome 
 piece of property, that s always needing repairs, and nobody to repair 
 it without costing lots of money money enough to buy a flock of 
 sheep, or kague of land. In fact, it is a most useless thing. I sleep 
 in a hammock tied to a tree, and have extra ones for my friends when 
 they come, and I know of no man who is getting along more prosper 
 ously in this world, than I am. I have herds of cattle, and sheep to 
 my heart s content ; broad fields of wheat, as far as the ranging eye 
 can reach ; plenty to eat, and an appetite to do it justice. I came here 
 a poor man, sir, and look at my circumstances now ! I would live in 
 no other land ; I would not have a better house. If one was built on 
 my land I would pull it down or burn it up. A fellow came here yes 
 terday, saying he was an agent for lumber, nails, etc. I gave him his 
 dinner in open air, and told him to go at some better business, than 
 trying to peddle such useless commodities ; to buy a league of land 
 and raise wheat ; to hire himself as herdsman ; anything, so it was 
 something useful. Barns and stables, indeed ; what use are they ? 
 Only an annoyance. I cut my wheat, thrash it, sack it and let it re 
 main in the field until a buyer receives it. I turn my flocks on the 
 wild oats around, and I live like a prince without any trouble," 
 
 " It is a wonder, you have never married," interlarded Major Petty- 
 bone. 
 
 " Too much trouble, sir ; too much trouble. Wife and children 
 would run me raving distracted. She would be wanting fine clothes, 
 fine carriages and fine houses. In fact, she would worry me to death 
 about sending the children to school here, where there ain t no school ; 
 about going to see her mother, and bringing the old lady here to keep 
 my nose to the grindstone. Oh, I know them ! I have not lived forty- 
 five years for nothing." 
 
 "I regret," said Major Pettybone, " that you look so gloomily at 
 life, for I intended to recommend a lady to you." 
 
 "Does she live very far off?" he asked, somewhat interested. 
 
 " Not very a few days travel." 
 
 " Too far to waste time for such a trifle as a sight of her. Is 
 she old?" 
 
 " No." 
 
 " Is she pretty ?" 
 11 
 
162 Tahoe: or Life in California. 
 
 " Passable." 
 
 " Is she rich?" 
 
 "No." 
 
 " Has she any poor relations likely to live with her ?" 
 
 "No, she has no relations." 
 
 " Has she no mother ?" 
 
 "No ; nor father, nor brother." 
 
 "Is she dumb?" 
 
 "No." 
 
 " Then I don t want her." 
 
 "But she talks well ; not too much, nor too little." 
 
 " I don t want her." 
 
 " I am sorry ; your lot here must be lonely." 
 
 " Yes, tolerably, sometimes ; but it is better not to have any com 
 pany than too much ; and I tell you, Major," he said, slapping him 
 upon the shoulder with a vim that made him dizzy, " I tell you, this 
 thing of being responsible for a wife and all her children ain t what it is 
 cracked up to be. After a man gets himself into that fix, he might 
 just as well give up all idea of peace the rest of his life. A woman 
 wants so much done ; it is this, and it is that ; and then the children ! 
 If I haven t seen them in regiments here in California 
 
 " I would like to know what you call regiments ?" 
 
 "Why, sir, I have a neighbor who has a school just of his own 
 family, and at the last examination I was invited to attend. They 
 made a large parade ; larger than some of the village schools of the 
 East. I do not know how many he had. I could not count the girls* 
 but if I knew how many Presidents of the United States there have 
 been, I could calculate the number of that man s boys, though I know 
 there was not enough of Presidents to furnish names for all, so the 
 names of Aaron Burr almost President Henry Clay, Daniel Web 
 ster and John C. Calhoun were honored in the Bobbit family. At last 
 accounts they have crossed the ocean, and named the youngest scion 
 Napoleon Bonaparte, and even in his extreme youth, he has evinced 
 characteristics of his great namesake, and there are indications of the 
 warlike course he intends to pursue. My friend Bobbit honestly be 
 lieves that each will arise to the distinction of his illustrious namesake 
 and employs a teacher to keep his sons conversant with the history of 
 their respective patrons. The lives of the Presidents and the above 
 mentioned four remarkable men, are all the books his library contains . 
 though, I suppose, he will add more when occasion requires it. I 
 went to the examination, and, after being introduced to a whole team 
 of Mary Anns, Eliza Janes and Kezias, we proceeded to the grove, 
 
Tahoe: or Life in California. 163 
 
 where the exercises were to come off. Two of the girls sang Barbara 
 Allen, while George Washington kept time with the bones, and 
 James Madison whistled the air ; the music ended, the teacher pro 
 ceeded to call the roll : 
 
 " George Washington Bobbit. 
 
 " Here ! 
 
 " John Adams Bobbit. 
 
 " Here! 
 
 " Thomas Jefferson Bobbit. 
 
 " Here ! and so on, until the names of all the boys and girls were 
 called. All proving to be present, the exercises proceeded, beginning 
 with a speech of The Father of his Country, committed to memory 
 by the Bobbit upon whose shoulders the mantle of Washington is to 
 fall, if old Bobbit s prayers are answered. Then John Adams Bobbit 
 mounted the rostrum, and, as Live or die, sink or swim, fell from his 
 lips, tears were seen in his mother s eyes, and his father s waistcoat 
 buttons flew in every direction as his manly bosom swelled with 
 pride when he recognized in his son one who will surely inherit all the 
 gifts of the great statesman. 
 
 " Each followed with a soul-stirring speech of the statesman whose 
 name he bore, and each gave promise of a coming future, when he 
 would proudly follow in the footsteps of his distinguished predecessor. 
 Little Ulysses Grant two years old bowed and said : Let us have 
 peace. The exercises closed as they began, with music, except that 
 William Henry Harrison held the bones, and Zach Taylor whistled 
 the tune. 
 
 " Did you ever see as much talent ? said the delighted father, as he 
 crushed my knuckles in a farewell shake of the hand. 
 
 " Don t ask such foolish questions, husband, said his wife; of 
 course he never did. Good-bye, sir; come again, she continued, with 
 a courtesy. 
 
 " I had gone some distance from the house, when some of the 
 smaller orators called after me, saying : 
 
 " Stranger, what might your name be? You did not tell us. 
 
 " I replied, I thought you knew it ; but why do you ask? 
 
 " Kase I want to name my limber-jack after you, replied the lit 
 tle rascal, running back. 
 
 " I turned and looked at him. It was Abraham Lincoln. 
 
 "Don t mind him, said another larger boy. "He hain t got no 
 
 manners. His ears ought to be lengthened, and he ought to be sent 
 
 to the stable to live, if daddy had one. But I ll straighten him. I ll 
 
 teach him how to treat a gentleman. I can whip any boy no bigger 
 
164 Tahoe: or Life in California. 
 
 than I am, and I ll do it, just as sure as my name is Andrew Jackson 
 Bobbitt, and he pursued his brother. 
 
 " Now, my friend, do you think I could venture to have my com 
 fort interfered with in that manner? I would not marry for the wide 
 world." 
 
 " I think the scene you have described quite a happy one," said 
 Major Pettybone. 
 
 "Maybe you do," said his host, "but I will take none of it in mine. 
 Why ! in a week you would not know the place, if I were to marry. 
 Every comfort would be taken away . A house would be built. 1 
 would be followed around with a broom. I would have to tie my 
 shoes, and wear a collar every day. It came near killing me to keep 
 dressed up so long, nor do I think I shall ever go there a>ain. I love 
 my comfort, case, and peace of mind too well to imperil them by any 
 such an adventure. Children ! What in the world would I do with 
 children ? I would herd them and hire a shepherd to watch them ; I 
 would have to count them night and morning, to see if they were 
 all in place. I don t know what I would do if I were in Bobbit s 
 shoes, yet I would like to have that Abe Lincoln of his. The rascal 
 will be hung on his way to the White House! I believe I will ask his 
 father to give him to me, and let me educate him. It would be of no 
 use to do that though, for I have heard him, time and again, assert 
 that he would not part with one of his treasures for the whole of 
 creation. It is said that children are a poor man s riches ; Bobbit is a 
 millionaire according to that theory. When they are young they are 
 mo r e trouble than they are worth ; and in the country, where servants 
 are scarce, they are intolerable. No peace, night or day. When the 
 oldest is ready to go to bed, the youngest is ready to get up. They 
 have the colic ; cry and fret ; they eat too much, and sleep badly ; you 
 dare not trust them out of your sight, for the horses will kick them ; 
 the tarantulas sting them ; they will fall and break their noses, or 
 something dreadful happens to them." 
 
 "Your picture is a doleful one," said Col. Heartland. 
 
 " Yes, but a true one," said his host ; " and that ain t all. Think of 
 the whooping-cough and the measles, chicken-pox, and ever so many 
 ills that the flesh of children is heir to, and all these must be gone 
 through with without a murmur on the part of the father. Let him dare 
 sleep, with a sick child in the house, and his name will be coupled with 
 a list of brutes excelling in number those that went into Noah s ark. 
 And when would there be a time when there was not a sick child in 
 the house ? Never ; for when one set got through with the measles, 
 whooping-cough, chicken-pox, and what not, there would be another 
 
TaJioe: or Life in California. 165 
 
 set coming on to cut the same figure. Then, after they are older 
 their education must be attended to. The boys are awkward, and 
 the girls are green. Oh, how I remember when I was a boy ! I was 
 in everybody s way; stepping on corns; upsetting chairs; taking 
 horses at the wrong time ; going off in a hurry, and coming back too 
 late to please anybody ; always doing something wrong, and never 
 anything right. I never saw such a boy, coming constantly from the 
 lips of all the family, except my mother. I pity a boy who has no 
 mother (tears glistened in the strong man s eyes). Yes, from my in 
 most soul, I pity him. A boy s mother never thinks he is in the way ; 
 she never thinks he does wrong; she will stand between him and 
 shame and ruin ; she will love him more as misfortunes thicken, and 
 cling to him through all adverse circumstances. But I don t want any 
 boys. When I think of the many thousand prisons in the world, I 
 am glad I have no sons to go into them, and that I have no sons to 
 hang on gibbets ; that I have no daughters whose griefs would be 
 mine also, when their husbands were frequenting the gambling hells 
 of Frisco, or bearing upon their brows the brand of Cain." 
 
 The words were scarcely spoken when a loud cry of Help ! Mur 
 der ! Help !" rang in their ears. 
 
1 66 Tahoe: or Life in California, 
 
 CHAPTER XXIX. 
 
 KIRKLAND. 
 
 " Our lives, cut off 
 
 In our young prinie of years, are like green herbs 
 With which we strew the hearses of our friends." 
 
 When the mournful cry for help so unexpectedly rang out upon the 
 night air, all sprang to their feet. Col. Heartland hurried in the direc 
 tion of the voice, closely followed by Major Pettybone and their 
 loquacious host. A horse dashed wildly by them with saddle and 
 bridle, but riderless. They heard low moans, and soon came to a 
 prostrate man upon the roadside. 
 
 " The villain ! The assassin ! He stabbed me and fled. He went 
 there," he said, and he pointed in an opposite direction from the horse. 
 They all looked, but could see nothing. " He has taken all my money 
 and papers," said the wounded man ; " two thousand dollars and 
 some checks. Don t move me," he said, and feeling at his side, he 
 pulled away something ; they looked closer ; it was a stiletto, and 
 covered with blood. " He was a most ungainly creature ; I don t 
 know whether he was a man or beast. He demanded my money. I 
 refused. He struck me and pulled me from my horse, robbed me and 
 fled. Oh, God ! I am dying ! I am from New Hampshire, and my 
 name is Kirkland. I was going to San Diego." 
 
 He gasped, and was dead. He had bled to death from the sever 
 ance of the artery near the hip. They carried his body to the house 
 and laid it upon a bed, and awaited a coroner s inquest. Col. Heart 
 land started as he looked upon the corpse ; it was the young man 
 whom he and Alice had met upon the train a few weeks before. The 
 servants and hired men spread the news far and wide. Col. Heartland 
 remembering the stiletto, proposed they should return and get it 
 They did so ; on the grass, in the direction the dying man pointed, lay 
 
Tahoe: or Life in California. 167 
 
 something white ; they picked it up ; it was a note. On returning to 
 the house they read it, and it ran thus : 
 
 " DEAR CHUM : I am getting along swimmingly. Want more 
 money. Be sure to have some when I come. 
 
 " You KNOW WHO." 
 
 It was addressed to Grubbs, San Francisco, with two hieroglyphical 
 initials before the name. 
 
 Major Pettybone and Col. Heartland remained until after the assem 
 blage and verdict of the jury. The verdict was as follows : " Came 
 to his death from a stab in the side with a stiletto, in the hands of 
 some unknown person." 
 
 The deceased was a young man of about twenty-eight years, pre 
 possessing in person, with dark hair and eyes. 
 
 "I wonder," thought Col. Heartland, "if he can in any way be 
 connected with my friend Kirkland, in Southern California. I will 
 write and ask ; the name is the same, and they were from the same 
 place." 
 
 The sun was high in the east when they took leave of their host, 
 after a sleepless night. He followed f hem to the carriage, and pressed 
 them on their return to pass the night with him, and forgetting for a 
 moment his sad surroundings, he said to Major Pettybone : " Tell me 
 who the lady is that you thought would suit me." 
 
 "It was," replied the Major, with a smile, "Miss Hubblestubble* 
 who resides with Miss Alice Heartland, at Sierran Villa." 
 
 "Maybe I ll go and see her," he said, as the carriage drove off. 
 Both gentlemen bowed and they separated. 
 
 " My friend," said Col. Heartland, " I am very much afraid this 
 young man is a near kinsman of Frank Kirkland. It is terrible to 
 have strangers murdered in this manner in our State. I wish the law 
 could be brought to bear on the murderers in all its force. We 
 have a dreadful character abroad ; we are looked upon as a half- 
 civilized set, unworthy the respect of good and honest men. All the 
 fugitives from justice fly to our borders, and, concealing themselves 
 among our scattered population, under assumed names, commit deeds 
 from which the reputation of our State suffers. I intend to do all I 
 can to find the perpetrator of this foul deed, and have justice meted 
 out to him." 
 
 " I will join you heart and soul," replied his friend. 
 
 They rode on, and reached the Ferries near the close of the day. 
 
 k As if to grace the gorgeous east, 
 
 The Spirit of departing light, 
 That ever had left his sunny west 
 Behind him ere he winged his flight." 
 
1 68 Tahoe: or Life in California. 
 
 " Shall we attempt any business to-night, or shall we wait till to 
 morrow," asked Major Pettybone, when they were safely on the boat. 
 
 " I think we had better wait until morning," said Col. Heartland, 
 " I am too weary to even think. The excitement of last night, com 
 bined with fatigue, has prostrated me." 
 
 "Shall we take lodgings, or shall we go to Waldron s?" said MaJ or 
 Pettybone. 
 
 "To Waldron s," returned his friend. " I am afraid we will offend 
 him if we go elsewhere." 
 
 They accordingly drove to Mr. Waldron s residence, on one of the 
 fashionable streets. He had just returned from his office, and received 
 them in a most cordial manner, and bestowed upon them every atten 
 tion their wearied condition required. He refreshed them with wine 
 and cake, and soon had them prepared a most palatable oyster supper. 
 
 After supper the murder was discussed. " I regret," said Mr. 
 Waldron, " that these things occur here in our midst, without our 
 having power to prevent them. Though, in this case, I think the 
 thing will be sifted thoroughly ; at least, I hope so. I will volunteer 
 in the prosecution, if the murderer is found. That young man was 
 here in San Francisco for several weeks, and won for himself many 
 friends, myself among the number. He has relations here, and is a 
 brother of Frank Kirkland, of San Diego county." 
 " Is it possible ?" gasped Col. Heartland. " Yes, you know them ; 
 they belong to the best of New Hampshire s families, and their warm 
 feelings for the South have made them many friends among the 
 Southerners in this section." 
 
 " It is absurd," said Major Pettybone, "to suppose that all the honor 
 and good feelings are confined to the Southern States. I have had 
 many Northern friends, and none of them have proven themselves 
 more true." 
 
 " If the Northern people knew more of the Southern, if they could 
 travel among them and visit them socially," said Waldron, their hearts 
 would beat more kindly towards them in their hour of distress ; and 
 if the Southern people only knew, or could realize the real affection 
 most of the better classes of the North cherish for them, they would 
 cast aside all sectional hate, and dwell together in fraternal love." 
 
 " Yes," joined in Col. Heartland ; " it is a want of a proper knowl 
 edge of the merits and feelings of each other that keeps them alien 
 ated. I am a Southerner ; all my feelings are for our ruined and 
 devastated countrv ; yet, I know, of late, we have been the victims of 
 circumstances a prey to robbers and thieves in the South, while we 
 have many warm friends in the North who are doing all they can, 
 
Tahoe: or Life in California. 169 
 
 socially and politically, for our bleeding country. I have been away 
 from Virginia many years, but am always with her in spirit. Per 
 sonally, I have many warm friends who were born North ; for instance, 
 there is Frank Kirkland. I love him as a brother ; I have known him 
 for years, and never knew a more honorable, hightoned gentleman. 
 I feel for him in this recent affliction. I met this young man once, 
 but did not know who he was," and Col. Heartland related the circum 
 stance. " You know this young man, you say ?" 
 
 " Yes," said the lawyer; "the young man was often in my office. 
 He told me of a fellow here who tried, time and again; to get him into 
 a faro bank. He pointed him out to me his name is Linton. He is 
 regular roper for a gambling hell, and a hideous looking creature. If 
 he did not look so vile my sympathies would be aroused. His dress 
 is of the shabby genteel ; his hair uncombed and long ; no neck ; all 
 legs ; eyes of a different color, crossed up and down ; keeps one or 
 the other shut all the time ; dreadful mouth ; teeth protruding. If he 
 seeks your acquaintance while here, you will know what he is after. 
 I would give anything for some pretext, that I might have him arrested, 
 for 1 know he is covered with crime. By-the-bye, he answers the 
 description of the man who visited your house while you were absent, 
 of which tou wrote me. I am watching him closely, and I hope the 
 detectives, in ferreting out this murder case, may catch up with some 
 of his deviltry, also." 
 
 Col. Heartland remembered the words of the dying man in regard 
 to his murderer, but said nothing. He asked for a pen and wrote a 
 letter to his friend, Frank Kirkland, telling him all he knew about the 
 horrid deed. He offered his condolence, and mentioned having met 
 the young man, as before stated ; that his daughter had hoped to have 
 himself and wife at her wedding, but of course now would have to 
 forego that pleasure. The letter finished and addressed, he heard 
 Major Pettybone say : 
 
 " Mr. Waldron, do you know a man by the name of Aldridge?" 
 
 " Yes," replied Waldron ; " I heard him, down near the hotel, give 
 this same beast, of whom we were speaking, a most terrible cursing, 
 for, !ie said, endeavoring to rope him in. A bystander told me at the 
 time that he did not see why he should be so furious, as he had been a 
 gambler of no mean repute himself. But still he is the hero of that 
 bank affair, and a great friend of Woodford s. I thought, perhaps, 
 there was a mistake." Col. Heartland opened his eyes. " But," con 
 tinued Waldron, " I don t know anything positive in regard to him. 
 for soon after a worthy citizen told me he was an excellent man. He 
 stays most of his time with young Woodford, in your neighborhood 
 
I/O Tahoe: or Life in California. 
 
 Woodford met him here, and says he is all right ; that he has seen him 
 tempted, and he steadily refused both wine and gambling. It seems 
 to me, if he wished to gamble, San Francisco, and not a country 
 home, would be the place of his choice. It is certain that he is here 
 without any visible means of support. He does nothing, that any one 
 knows of, and gets no funds from abroad ; for this information I am 
 indebted to the bankers." 
 
 Major Pettybone thought of the note they had found near the spot 
 where young Kirkland was killed, and thought perhaps Linton was 
 his banker. But he said not a word, for prudent men are cautious 
 when they have no proof to sustain their allegations. 
 
 " I expect you are tired, gentlemen, and would like to retire," said 
 Mr. Waldron, at the same time conducting them to their rooms. 
 
 " Good night." 
 
 " Good night," and in a few moments "sleep overpowered thought, 
 and their weary frames were at rest," one revelling in dreams of future 
 love and joy the other walking over the distant fields of past joys 
 and sorrows. 
 
 The eastern sun was beaming in at their window before they awoke. 
 Mr. Waldron was in the sitting-room early, awaiting the appearance 
 of his guests. 
 
 " I wonder," he thought, " if Miss Heartland will marry my friend 
 Pettybone ; not that he is not a perfect gentleman, but he is so much 
 older than she ; his worldly experience so much greater. I am younger 
 than he, and yet, as often as I have seen that pretty little girl, it never 
 occurred to me to fall in love with her. In fact, I have devoted my 
 whole time and attention to my business, and, as the result shows, I 
 have been a successful man. Though I do not visit ladies very often, 
 yet when I do, I enjoy their society exceedingly. I have heretofore 
 excluded the idea of marriage from my thoughts ; but Pettybone 
 looked so happy last night, it has set me to thinking of it. I think I shall 
 marry, also, after a while, when I am older," and he smiled as he 
 thought of Major Pettybone. " There is Heartland, too. It is singu 
 lar he has never married again ; he is so eminently fitted for that rela 
 tion ; a man who could make a woman truly happy. I have been his 
 agent here for years, attended to all his business, and we have never 
 had a jar. He is as gentle as a woman, and has as true delicacy of 
 feeling. His daughter is wonderfully like him in appearance. I think, 
 though, he has kept her too close. She should have seen more of the 
 world. She is as unsuspicious and innocent as an infant, and would 
 fall an easy prey to a fortune hunter. But that difficulty will be obvi 
 ated, as she is so soon to be married." 
 
Tahoe: or Life in California. 171 
 
 His friends entered, and he arose to meet them, and led them to the 
 breakfast-room. 
 
 "Mr. Waldron," said Major Pettybone, after they were fairly under 
 way with their breakfast, " it is strange to me that you have never 
 married." 
 
 " I expect it does seem strange to you, just now, " returned the law 
 yer with a merry twinkle of the eye. 
 
 " But you could make a wife so happy and comfortable here, " said 
 the Major, looking around, " and a home, it matters not what else 
 there is in it, is no home at all without the sweet influence of a 
 woman. " 
 
 " Doubtless you think so, " said the amused lawyer. 
 
 " A good wife is the greatest of God s gifts to man, " said Major 
 Pettybone ; " and he is indeed unappreciative who would neglect his 
 opportunities of obtaining one. I hope, Waldron, such a blessing may 
 fall to your lot, as the love of a beautiful woman, who will preside 
 over your home, making it a paradise on earth for you, by sending 
 continual sunshine to your heart." 
 
 " Thank you, devoutly, " said Waldron, with a smile ; " but your 
 picture would have a bad effect if it became a reality. It would cause 
 me to cling too fondly to this life, and have no wisl.es for a future 
 one. But you almost make me wish I was going to be married soon." 
 
 They arose from the table, and as they left the room, Col. Heart 
 land thought, " Pettybone reminds me of some widowers I have 
 seen. He is so happy himself, he is reccommending marriage to 
 every one he meets. But his senses will return again, when he be 
 comes a Benedict." And they proceeded to the business of the day. 
 Col. Heartland was closeted long with his attorney and agent, while 
 Major Pettybone flew hither and thither ; purchasing all sorts of 
 household necessities and ornaments. After dinner Col. Heartland 
 purchased all the requisites for his daughter s wedding, and ordered 
 them sent to his country home. He went to his daughters milliner, 
 and gave order for a most costly trousseau, and told her to send the 
 bills to Waldron. They met Linton, whom they recognized from the 
 lawyer s description, two or three times. He ventured to banter 
 Major Pettybone for a game of cards, but was bluffed so decidedly, he 
 did not approach him again. He accosted Col. Heartland, offering to 
 show him the way to some shop, of which he was in search. 
 
 "No, thank you, " said Col. Heartland, " I beg to be relieved of 
 your company," and he walked rapidly away. 
 
 Linton watched them until they left for home, at day-break the 
 next morning. He was satisfied they carried no money with them, 
 
172 Tahoe: or Life in California. 
 
 and he did not follow to waylay them. Waldron promised, as he 
 shook hands with his friends, he would be with them at the wedding, if 
 allowed to be groomsman and the escort of Miss Ella Woodford. 
 
 "Certainly," said Major Pettybone, "if my friend Col. Heartland 
 does not object." 
 
 " If it only be the arrangement of one evening," laughingly said 
 his friend, " I will consent, but I could not give Miss Ella up, even to 
 Waldron, as much as I like him." They drove off, and Mr. Waldron 
 returned to finish his breakfast. 
 
 "Pettybone," he said to himself, " is in love with the whole female 
 creation. I never heard a man speak so enthusiastically of women. 
 He is the happiest creature I ever saw, and God grant that his happiness 
 may continue. A disappointment in this affair would ruin him for 
 life; but there is no danger of that, unless it be death; for all parties 
 seem to be willing enough." 
 
 " He tried to tease Heartland about little Ella Woodford, but that 
 was the result of his own state of feeling. Heartland has no inten 
 tions in that or any other direction. Pettybone wishes everybody to 
 be happy like himself, and consequently he advises all his friends to 
 marry;" and taking his hat Mr. Waldron went to his office. 
 
Tahoe: or Life in California. 
 
 CHAPTER XXX. 
 
 THE UNEXPECTED VISITOR. 
 
 iv The marriage feast was spread ; the bridal wreath was woven, and merry 
 
 hearts chided the lagging hours. 
 
 The wedding arrangements at Sierran Villa were made with an ele 
 gance and profusion that only such an income as Col. Heartland s jus 
 tifies. All that art could furnish and nature yield were combined to 
 adorn and beautify. The trosseau came; it was superb and costly; 
 the San Francisco mantua-maker had exerted herself, and put to test 
 her taste and skill in purchasing and making the expensive garments. 
 The dress was of white silk, covered with lace ; the veil was of costliest 
 lace, long and flowing, to be gathered around the head with a hand 
 some wreath of orange flowers. Miss Hubblestubble was here, there 
 and everywhere, looking at this, handling that, and taking a mental in 
 ventory of all the bridal effects, for," said she to herself, " in a few 
 weeks my time will come, and I will be prepared to order what is 
 needful for the occasion. I do not wish so costly a trousseau, for I can 
 not afford it, and though Mr. Aldridge is so immensely wealthy I would 
 not like for him to pay bills contracted previous to our marriage. But 
 I intend to have a few handsome things, and I can judge pretty well 
 from these what I wish. Mr. Aldridge was here to see me only yes 
 terday, and told me he was getting so that a short absence from me 
 seemed years to him. I would not be surprised if he did not hurry 
 matters, and we were married sooner than I now expect. I don t see 
 why we should not be, I have made a great many things already, and I 
 will not have a great deal of preparation to make; besides, I am Yankee 
 enough to be always ready to avail myself of any opportunity that may 
 occur by which I could better my condition." She was musing thus 
 when Bertina came in and said : 
 
1/4 Tahoe: or Life in California. 
 
 " Miss Hubblestubble, (she had learned the name at last,) there is a 
 gentleman in the parlor who wishes to see you." 
 
 " It is Mr. Aldridge," she said, as she went to her room to arrange 
 her toilet. " Dear fellow, he will come every day. I told him only 
 yesterday we were very busy, and not to come again until the wed 
 ding, but he could not stay from me so long." 
 
 On going down into the parlor she was greatly surprised in finding, 
 not Aldridge, but a stranger. All her romantic ideas vanished as Col. 
 Heartland introduced the wayside host, whose rough appearance and 
 coarse voice was anything but pleasing to her refined ear. 
 
 " My friend has called, at the suggestion of Major Pettybone, to pay 
 his respects to Miss Hubblestubble, and I commend him to her good 
 graces," and Col. Heartland left the room. 
 
 " Yes, marm," said the stranger, " my esteemed friend, the Major told 
 me bout your being here. I did not know it before, or I should have 
 called sooner. Pretty bag you ve got, marm," he said abruptly, eyeing 
 the famous blue reticule. 
 
 " Yes, sir," she said stiffly, "but will you excuse me to-day, Miss 
 Heartland is to be married, and I am very busy ? " and she started 
 to go. 
 
 "Wait a minute," said he; " I ve got something else on my mind. I 
 did not take this long ride for nothing." 
 
 " Please state your business," she said, reseating herself upon the 
 sofa. 
 
 He got up and took a seat beside her ; she left the sofa, and taking 
 a chair, said : 
 " Proceed, sir." 
 
 He placed an elbow on each knee, and twirling his hat round and 
 round by the brim, he looked confidently and steadily into her face, as 
 he said : 
 
 " I heard you were a single lady without a mother, and I thought I 
 would come and see if you and I couldn t hitch that is, splice." 
 " What?" said she, rising to her feet. 
 "I come to see if you and I could not make a match." 
 It was too much for her. She sailed majestically from the room 
 and all heard the bang with which her door was closed. 
 
 "Guess she ain t coming back any more," said he to himself. "She 
 went out piping mad, and for what I can t see. She was in a bad 
 humor when I came, for she tried to get away before I said anything^ 
 but I had no notion of that. I don t care a bit tho , for I saw poor 
 Bobbit as I came along, and I thought very seriously of turning back 
 right then, and after I reached here and saw her, I wished I had. I will 
 
Tahoe: or Life in California. 175 
 
 keep the fate of that man before my eyes and not try to play the fooj 
 again." 
 
 "It was no go," he said to Col. Heartland, as that gentleman re 
 turned. "I ve had my long ride for nothing, and have almost killed 
 myself in new clothes, tight boots and shirt collar." 
 
 "What is no go ?" asked his friend. 
 
 "Why, she refused me, at least I take it as a refusal, the manner in 
 which she went out; I can take a hint if she didn t say anything. Wh y 
 sir," said he, rising to take his leave, "I never saw such yellow jacket 
 capers in my life, she got as ipad as a hornet, and walked out of the 
 room as if she had swallowed three pokers, one taking effect in each 
 leg, and one in the stomach in a perpendicular position, undigested." 
 
 "I am sorry," said Col. Heartland, controlling himself as only he 
 could, "that you should have mentioned that subject on your first 
 visit." 
 
 "Why, Colonel, you did not suppose I was going to take two rides 
 way out here on an uncertainty, did you ?" said the visitor, looking at 
 him in a surprised manner. 
 
 "It is conventional though, "said Col. Heartland, "to 
 
 "I care nothing about that," interrupted the other ; "I am through 
 with it, and I am glad it is no worse. I was sorry after I saw her that 
 I had come ; but it makes no difference as it has turned out in the way 
 it has. Pettybone does not choose wives for his friends like he does 
 for himself, and I would call at his house and thank him if I did not 
 have to hurry home and get off these tight clothes." 
 
 He resisted all Col. Heatland s attempts to induce him to remain t 
 and was soon on his way home, thinking of Bobbit and what a com 
 fortable thing it was to be a bachelor. He could never be led astray 
 again. But Miss Hubblestubble, where was she ? Reaching her 
 room, she cast herself upon her bed in tears. She passionately ex 
 claimed: 
 
 "God curse Major Pettybone for his suggestions. What if Mr. Aid- 
 ridge should hear it ? But he will not," and the thought consoled her 
 wounded feelings somewhat. "I will myself tell him I had an offer, 
 which I refused for his dear sake ; an offer from a man of wealth and 
 position. He need not know who it is. It will make him love me more, 
 if possible, but that is not possible ; any way it will connect and draw 
 closer the love between us." 
 
 She wiped her weeping eyes, and determined to make capital of what 
 she at first thought would ruin her with Aldridge. 
 
 Col. Heartland, so soon as the guest departed, went in search of his 
 daughter. He found her in her own chamber with Ella Woodford, 
 looking over her elegant trousseau. 
 
I/ 6 Tahoe: or Life in California. 
 
 " Are you pleased, my daughter?" he asked, taking- his seat on he r 
 soft, white bed. 
 
 " Yes, father, very much," she said sadly. 
 
 " I wish it were over with," he thought, "it is telling on her ;" and 
 he looked upon her pale face, 
 
 " Miss Ella," he said, offering his arm, thus endeavoring to raise his 
 daughter s spirits by gallant attention to her companion, " will you not 
 go down and give me some music? Come, Alice." 
 
 " I ll be down after a little," said his daughter with a smile ; " that is 
 if I ll not be de trop." 
 
 "You had better not leave us young people too long together," re 
 plied he, as with Miss Ella he descended the stairs, " there might be 
 another marriage in the family." 
 
 When they reached the parlor they were not alone ; Miss Hubble- 
 stubble was already there, musing upon the last remark of the wife- 
 hunter, and the surprise she had in store for them all. 
 
TaJioc: or Life in California. 177 
 
 CHAPTER XXXI. 
 
 TWO SAD CALAMITIES. 
 
 On horror s head, horrors accumulate." 
 
 The evening for the marriage of Alice and Major Pettybone had 
 come, and the guests were rapidly assembling. They came for hun 
 dreds of miles and from every direction. A letter from Mr. Kirkland, 
 of San Diego, to Col. Heartland, acknowledging the receipt of both 
 his and Alice s letters, lay unanswered on his daughter s table. He 
 expressed his thanks for the sympathizing letter his friend had written 
 in San Francisco, and his regrets that his recent affliction prevented 
 himself and wife from being present at the marriage, and closed with 
 a benediction upon the happy pair. Alice stood before her mirror, 
 while Ella put the finishing touch to her toilet. 
 
 "You look like the queen of the fairies," she said, surveying her; 
 " shall I tell them that you are ready ?" 
 
 " No," said Alice, " not yet. Ella, I want to be by myself just a 
 little while ; will you go into the next room ? I will call you ; and 
 you too," she said to Bertina. She closed and locked the door behind 
 them ; then falling on her knees at her bedside, she prayed earnestly, 
 for strength and for a blessing, then arose and stood before her mir 
 ror. " I feel a terrible weight about my heart," she said. " I wish I 
 could get rid of gloomy forebodings. Oh, that I could love Major Pet 
 tybone as he deserves !" She glanced at the gem that adorned her 
 finger, then at the set of pearls ; both his gifts. She took the ring 
 from her finger, and was about to snatch the pearls from her neck, 
 when the thought came : " This will never do." The ring fell from 
 her nerveless fingers ; she stooped and tried to find it, but could not. 
 " I must do something to calm myself," she said. "I must, I must 
 and will go to my mother s grave for a little, just a little while," and 
 12 
 
178 
 
 Tahoe: or Life in California. 
 
 she went out on the gallery through the open window, down the back 
 stairway, unobserved, and through the yard to the garden. The light 
 burned in the tower, and shed its rays over her bridal dress and vail. 
 The music, and the bustle of the coming guests, were unheard as she 
 knelt in silent prayer on her mother s grave. 
 
 Ella Woodford waited, as Alice requested, to be called. Time 
 passed ; the hour came, and Col. Heartland came up to see if all was 
 ready. Ella stepped to her friend s door and gently rapped. It was 
 unanswered. 
 
 " She does not wish to be disturbed just now," she said; "wait a 
 little while." They waited again, and still their raps were unheeded. 
 Col. Heartland tried the door ; it was locked. He called gently at 
 first, then louder, and still no answer came. 
 
 " Go up the back stairs, Bertina, and open the door ; my daughter 
 must be ill," he said, turning very pale. He could stand it no longer, 
 Taking the bolt firmly in one hand and pushing with the other, h e 
 gave the door a blow with his foot that broke it from its fastenings, 
 and they entered the room. Alice was nowhere to be seen. The 
 bright lights burned in the chandelier ; the room bore evidences of her 
 recent occupancy, but the heiress of Sierran Villa was gone. The 
 agonized father flew to the grave of his wife, where once before he 
 had found his missing child ; she was not there. " Oh, God ! where 
 can she be?" he cried, as he ran hither and thither over the garden 
 and through the house. Major rettybone and Waldron were in their 
 dressing-room, waiting to be summoned, while the minister stood in 
 his place in the drawing-room. The cry of " She is gone ! she is 
 gone !" passed from lip to lip. Friends, guests, and groom expectant, 
 rushed wildly forth and joined in the hunt for the absent one, but 
 nothing, not even a trace, of her could be found. 
 
 " What is this ?" said the frantic father, as, picking up something 
 from the ground, he placed himself where the light from the tower 
 could fall full upon it. It was a letter addressed to Aldridge. It was 
 hurriedly opened and perused by the distracted parent. It read thus : 
 
 "Go ahead, old boy; I ll keep you in funds. I ve every confidence 
 in you when there s deviltry on hand. GRUBBS." 
 
 The note found near the spot where Kirkland was murdered flashed 
 upon Col. Heartland s mind, and crumpling this one in his hand, he 
 put it in his pocket, and, with a low moan, fell senseless to the ground. 
 There was no one near him. He lay a moment unobserved, when a 
 wild cry from Griffin brought others to the spot. They raised the 
 prostrate form and bore it to the house, placed it upon a bed and sent 
 for Dr. Brocker. 
 
Tahoe: or Life in California. 179 
 
 And Major Pettybone ; where was he ? He had joined the search, 
 and satisfied himself that she had gone. He seated himself upon the 
 doorsteps, hid his face in his hands, and groaned aloud : 
 
 " I might have known it," he said to himself. " I was an old fool; 
 I am the only person who knows exactly what has gone with her. I 
 saw time and again her preference for that fellow, Aldridge ; but I shut 
 my eyes and would not see. I thought, I fondly hoped, to win her, and 
 let these blind hopes lead me into this dilemma. Love is a curious 
 thing; it will make a fool of the most sensible man that God ever 
 created. But I can t, I cannot stand it ! Take me home ! take me 
 home ! Somebody take me home ! I am unable to get there my 
 self." 
 
 Burleigh wept rivers of tears as he assisted Mr. Waldron to put 
 Major Pettybone in the carriage. They then drove to Pettybone Hall. 
 The road was full of departing guests, but the fleet horses of Waldron s 
 carriage passed them all. 
 
 Arrived at home, the lawyer assisted his friend to his room, and 
 Burleigh undressed him and put him to bed. He seemed stupified^ 
 and said nothing as Waldron told him he must go back to the villa to 
 see how Col. Heartland was. 
 
 " It has ruined Pettybone," said the lawyer, as, seating himself in 
 his carriage, he ordered it back, not to the villa, but to San Francisco; 
 "and perhaps killed Heartland. The chief beauty of Pettybone s 
 character was his unbounded confidence in, and unconcealed admira 
 tion for, women. And this woman, the one he believed in and loved 
 so devotedly, this paragon of his heart, has been the one to deal the 
 fatal blow. Hatred of women will be the ruling passion of his breast, 
 and imbecility is his doom." 
 
 Where was Miss Hubblestubble in the excitement ? She was down 
 stairs receiving the guests, watching all that came, hoping each one 
 would be the much loved Aldridge. She had almost despaired of his 
 coming, not knowing that, at the especial request of Major Pettybone, 
 no card had been sent to him. 
 
 " I don t see why," she thought, "he has not come. He told me at 
 our last interview that he would be sure to be here ; that he would 
 come early, and he intended to devote himself to me, to the exclusion 
 of all others, during the entire evening ; and that the day was not far 
 distant when he hoped to take his place by my side for life. He pic 
 tured in such glowing terms our happy home, when we shall be wedded, 
 he promised me love faithful, true, eternal. " 
 
 Thus was she thinking when the alarm was sounded. She heard 
 some one say, as she commenced with the rest to search for Alice, 
 
l8o Takoe: or Life in California. 
 
 that Aldridge had eloped with the expectant bride. She was bewil 
 dered ; she staggered, then regained her composure sufficiently to fly 
 to her room and await results. 
 
 " It cannot be ! I will not believe it ! They have slandered him !" 
 She fell upon her knees and prayed aloud, " Oh, God ! let not this be 
 true !" 
 
 Bertina having searched everywhere else in the house, rushed franti 
 cally in and began to examine Miss Augusta s room. 
 
 "Be gone," she said, and took her by the nape of the neck and land 
 ed her in the hall, then closed the door and locked it. 
 
 For two days Col. Heartland was kept under the influence of opiates. 
 At the end of this time he became more sensible of what was passing 
 around him, for the doctor thought it advisable to discontinue the use 
 of them. As soon as he was in a condition to listen to and follow ad 
 vice, the careful physician urged upon him the importance of controll 
 ing himself, as the least excitement at any time might aggravate his 
 heart disease, and terminate his life. The doctor then gave him a note 
 that had come for him. It was from Alice, and contained these words : 
 
 " DEAR FATHER : Blame me not, I am gone to marry the only man 
 I can ever love. Do not follow me, I am safe, and with your permis 
 sion will come home. Your loving daughter, 
 
 ALICE." 
 
 That villian !" said Col. Heartland, "can never enter my door. The 
 base fellow is incapable of any right feeling. He sought my child s de 
 struction for the cursed gold that has fallen to my lot. Would to God 
 I had been a poor man! Riches have been the cause of all this bitter, 
 bitter trouble. If I had been the possessor of only sufficient for the 
 necessities of life, that scoundrel would never have crossed my thresh 
 old. I erred in my course in regard to Alice s education. I reared 
 her too simple, too confiding. I could not bear to have her pure heart 
 filled with misgivings toward her kind. I taught her to think well of the 
 whole world, nor let one ray of suspicion penetrate her thought. I 
 shielded her from the impure atmosphere of society. I did wrong ; I 
 should have warned her more plainly, more earnestly. I did, on one 
 occasion, say something to her in regard to this very man, but I did it 
 in such a manner as to leave the impression upon her mind that I was 
 prejudiced against strangers, and this one in particular. I will see that 
 he is disappointed. My home is my daughter s always, but I ll none 
 of his company. I hope he will have the good judgment and sense to 
 keep out of my sight. I will not long be here, I feel "the wine of life 
 is on its lees. I long for the repose of the grave ; to be laid beneath 
 the white lilies, by the side of my wife. I would that Alice were there. 
 
Tahoe: or Life in California. 181 
 
 Far would I rather fold her small white hands and lay her away to rest, 
 than think of her as the wife of that man. I will send for Waldron 
 and make a will. He shall not have a cent of the money for which he 
 perpetrated this fiendish act." 
 
 "Bertina," he said, as the old nurse passed the door ; she came in. 
 He read her the note, then copying it with a pencil he said, "take that 
 paper to Miss Hubblestubble," handing it to her, "and tell Griffin to 
 come to me." 
 
 Bertina took the paper and sorrowfully left the room. She delivered 
 to Griffin Col. Heartland s message, and then went up-stairs, saying. "I 
 don t want to go to dat oman s room nider. Last time I be dar she 
 treated me onpolite. Guess she most die when she find for sure dat 
 Miss Alice dun married her sweetheart. I ain t goin dar. She look 
 daggers at me dis mornin at de breakfast table. Massa Heartland ain t 
 seen her since, and he ain t goin to see her nudder." She slipped the 
 note under the door of Miss Hubblestubble s room, rapped to attract 
 her attention, and retreated. 
 
 "Griffin," said Col. Heartland, as Griffin entered the room, "I wish 
 you to take this note to Major Pettybone," and he placed Alice s note 
 in his hand. "This letter," said he, handing it to him, is to be mailed. 
 It is to Mr. Waldron, don t get them exchanged." 
 
 Griffin bowed and left him alone. 
 
 "It is too bad, too bad," he soliloquized, "that a man of my age 
 should be left alone in the world, robbed of my only stay, by this 
 ruthless invasion into my family ; that I should be thus undone. I can 
 scarcely credit my senses. My much loved daughter, the idol of her 
 father s heart, deserting him to follow this villainous wretch as his 
 wife. Oh, kind Heaven ! Watch over and protect my child ! Lighten 
 the penalties her fault must necessarily bring upon her ! I know not 
 what to do or which way to turn. I would follow her but she begs me not 
 to, and tells me she loves this accursed of all God s accursed creatures. 
 If it were not that she loves him I would fill the hands of justice with 
 the evidence I hold," and he felt for the crumpled paper in his pocket; 
 satisfied that it was still there, he continued, "and joyfully see him ex 
 piate his crime on the gallows. The note I hold is a reply to the one 
 we found near the murdered Kirkland, and Aldridge and the mur 
 derer are evidently in league with each other. Alice is a woman and 
 would never believe in the guilt of her husband. The more he was per 
 secuted the nearer she would cling to him. She would consider him 
 injured, wronged, and would follow him to ruin, degradation and mis 
 ery. I feel for Pettybone. I know he is a ruined man, He has drunk 
 the cup of bitterness to its dregs, but he will blame my child, and I 
 
1 82 Tahoe: or Life in California. 
 
 cannot brook that. It will in a manner bar our friendship, for her on 
 whom his curse will rest shall never receive a father s censure. With 
 her rest her father s sorrow and her father s prayers." 
 
 Thus he mused, and tears flowed from his eyes. 
 
 Griffin in the meantime called at Pettybone Hall, and delivered the 
 note to Burleigh, who carried it to his master s room. 
 
 Major Pettybone sat in an armchair, having on his dressing 
 gown and slippers. His shoulders were as high as his head, and his 
 face looked gaunt and wan. He took the note and read it, then, in a 
 squeaking voice, said : 
 
 " I knew it ; what was the use of sending this thing here to me ? I 
 hate women ; I will never speak to one again. Take the note and 
 burn it up. I want no female handwriting in this house. Never will I 
 see one again !" 
 
 " There," said Burleigh, as he walked slowly away ; " I am in a 
 purty fix. What am I to do about Cora? The devil s had an earth 
 quake, and the wild s to pay. He just said he never wants to see an 
 other female gender, and no wonder. I can t fetch her here for sure, 
 and I don t know what upon the yearth to do." 
 
 " Griffin," said Col. Heartland, early next morning, " take this check 
 up to Miss Hubblestubble. Tell her it is for her salary now due, and 
 that you are ready to take her to San Francisco ; that a steamer sails 
 on Saturday. Then come down and get the carriage ready ; and be 
 sure, Griffin, to see that that blue thankee-bag goes with her. I don t 
 want it left here." 
 
 " Yes, sir," said Griffin, and he disappeared. In a few moments he 
 returned, and said : " I can t get in. The door is locked. I hear her 
 walking and talking in dar ; but she won t open de door, no matter 
 how I knocks." 
 
 Col. Heartland leaned on Griffin s shoulder for support, bade Ber- 
 tina follow, and went up stairs. He knocked at Miss Hubblestub- 
 ble s chamber door. There was no answer, but he heard her laughing 
 and talking in a strange, wild voice ; then she would break forth in 
 snatches of songs, and then resume her imaginary conversation. Col. 
 Heartland ordered Griffin to prize the door ; that done, they entered 
 the room. 
 
 Miss Hubblestubble paraded the floor in the dress she wore on the 
 evening of Alice s elopement ; her hair adorned with a wreath of white 
 lilies strung with thread, and looped down her back until tney reached 
 the floor. The wild eye told the tale; she was a maniac. She waved 
 her blue bag towards the end of the room, and said : 
 
 41 Yes, Mr. Aldridge ; I will make you a happy, happy wife. You 
 
Tahoe: or Life in California. 183 
 
 are the only man I ever loved. Give me your arm." And she would 
 walk the floor, up and down, as if he were beside her. " They told me 
 you had married another. I believed them not. It is even written on 
 that paper there (and she pointed her finger towards the open note on 
 the bed) ; but I knew it could not be true, though the false minx wrote 
 it herself. I spurned the idea, and I was right." Then she would 
 laugh and apparently gaze in his face ; then she would sing. She 
 took no notice of their presence, but kept on walking and talking in 
 that senseless, wild way. 
 
 " Was she down to breakfast ? " asked Col. Heartland of Bertina. 
 
 " No, sir; nor to supper last night, either. 
 
 " Something must be done. She will kill herself at this rate," said 
 Col. Heartland. And, closing the door, he sent Griffin for Dr. Brocker. 
 He looked around him sadly, and seeing the door of his daughter s 
 room ajar, he said, " Fasten that door." 
 
 " I can t, sir," said Bertina; "you know the lock was broken." 
 
 " So it was, so it was," he said ; " but can t you go inside and bar it, 
 then come down the back way, closing the blinds after you? " I want 
 the arrangement of the room as it is nothing moved." And Bertina 
 obeyed. 
 
 Dr. Brocker came, and they went to Miss Hubblestubble s room 
 together. She did not observe them, but talked on as before. This 
 time Aldridge was President of the United States, and she receiving 
 at the White House. Had it not been so sad, it would have been 
 amusing to see her courtesying right and left to the imaginary foreign 
 ministers and attaches, and welcoming them to her house as she called 
 each by name. 
 
 " It is insanity, hopeless insanity," said the physician, as, all unno 
 ticed by her, he measured out an anodyne. 
 
 " How long has she been in this condition ? " he asked. 
 
 " I don t know," said Col. Heartland. 
 
 I heard her yisterday ebening, soon arter I fetched her dat paper 
 you sent her," said Bertina. 
 
 " That man, Aldridge, is certainly the cause of her trouble," said 
 Dr. Brocker, " for she connects everything with him." 
 
 He added a little red liquid to the mixture to give it the appearance 
 of wine. He then took a glass of water, also colored, and walking up 
 to her said, with the gallantry of a briefless lawyer or a deputized 
 steamboat captain, " Mrs. Aldridge, allow me to drink your very good 
 health." 
 
 He handed her the glass containing the medicine, and raised the 
 other to his lips. She took the glass and drained it. 
 
184 Tahoe: or Life in California. 
 
 "Thank you, my lord," she said; and handing the glass back to 
 him, passed on to her imaginary guests. 
 
 " Did I not do that nicely ? " said he, smiling, to Col. Heartland. 
 
 " You did, indeed," said the Colonel ; "and I think you are the very 
 man that should be in charge of a lunatic asylum. It is a wonder you 
 don t seek the place ; i: is a paying one." 
 
 " I never seek anything, Colonel." 
 
 " Then I am going to recommend you for it. Listen ! " 
 
 They both turned and heard Miss Hubblestubble dismissing her 
 guest. Lord this, and Count that, had her good night bow and smile ; 
 finally the last was gone, and she walked to the bed, lay down upon it, 
 and was soon asleep. 
 
 Col. Heartland closed the door and led the way to his library. 
 
 " I do not know what to do, Doctor," said he, when they were 
 seated. 
 
 " Send her to the asylum, of course, until her relations can get 
 her." 
 
 " She has no relations ; and how can I get her to the asylum ?" 
 
 " I will take her," said the kind hearted but pompous doctor. 
 
 "If you will I will feel under obligations the rest of my days," said 
 Col. Heartland, gratefully. "I will settle an annuity upon her for life, 
 an annuity that will cover all her expenses and afford her any luxury. 
 When will you start ?" 
 
 "Now." 
 
 "But she is asleep." 
 
 "I want her to be asleep ; I expect to keep her asleep all the way; so 
 order your carriage," said the Doctor. 
 
 The carriage came, and Bertina, softened by the pitiful condition of 
 her old enemy, made everything as comfortable as possible with pil 
 lows and shawls, and went with her herself, notwithstanding Griffin s 
 remonstrances to the contrary, and fear that she would be hurt. "Be 
 sides," said she, "maybe I might get to see my baby if I go to Stock 
 ton." 
 
 The sleeping woman was conveyed to the carriage, blue bag and all, 
 and Bertina and the Doctor drove off. On and on they went. As 
 they passed Bobbit s two or three of the presidents looked into the 
 carriage to see the "coming woman." Mr. Bobbit stopped the Doc 
 tor and inquired all about it. 
 
 "Poor thing, poor thing !" he said. 
 
 "Poor thing," echoed his wife ; "and all about a man, too," she 
 added ; "and he not her husband." 
 
 They drove on, and it was time for the medicine to be renewed. 
 
Tahoe: or Life in California. 185 
 
 When they reached the wayside house of "mine host," they stopped to 
 get some water and he came out. He recognized her at once. Inqui 
 ries were answered, and the host again congratulated himself on his 
 narrow escape. 
 
 "I knowed there was something the matter," said he, "or she never 
 would have stood in her own light so much as not to marry me. She 
 is crazy, poor thing, but I am a happy bachelor, and I will try and 
 keep this case and Bobbit s before my eyes, and remain so." 
 
 They reached the asylum. It was a lovely place, and our lunatic on 
 awakening, again began receiving at the President s house. Her imag 
 inary Mr. Aldridge was consulted about everything. He was intro 
 duced to everybody ; she looked upon the establishment as hers, and 
 treated the servants as her servants ; the resident physician, his fam 
 ily, and all the inmates as her guests. The imaginary wife of Ald- 
 rige was a happy woman at last. 
 
1 86 Tahoe: or Life in California. 
 
 CHAPTER XXXII. 
 
 A DOUBLY DYED VILLAIN. 
 
 11 O Spartan dog ! More fell than anguished hunger on the sea. 
 
 " Miss Heartland !" and Alice, startled in her kneeling position, 
 sprang to her feet. She looked in the direction of the sound, and saw 
 Aldridge a few feet from her. The light from the tower shone full 
 upon his face. 
 
 " Why," said she, in a low quivering voice, " do you intrude upon 
 me in an hour like this ?" 
 
 " To make one more effort," he said, as he advanced towards her, 
 " to save you from the misery you would bring upon yourself by a 
 marriage in no way suitable, in no way congenial." Seeing she made 
 no reply, he continued : " I love you, Miss Heartland. I love you with 
 all the devotion of man s nature. I would sacrifice life itself for you, 
 or even at your command, and if I knew your heart was in the matter, 
 I should be the last to say one word. I would still the pulsations of 
 my own for your sake, and quietly submit. But when I know, as I 
 do, that you do not love this man, I cannot but come to the rescue, 
 even at this late hour, and beg with all the eloquence at my command 
 for a heart for which I would give all I ever expect to have, either here 
 or hereafter. Go with me, and you will never regret it. I will encircle 
 you with honor and love for the rest of your life." 
 
 " But my father," she said, hesitatingly. " It would break his heart." 
 
 " It would not ; he would soon recall us. The separation would 
 only be temporary, He would forgive his daughter. The love he 
 bears for her is not so easily overcome. I honor him and love him, too, 
 and so soon as all Major Pettybone s claims are set aside, his preju 
 dices against me will be gone, and I can win his confidence. Come 
 
Tahoe: or Life in California. 187 
 
 with me! Oh, come, my Alice !" and he sank upon his knees before 
 her. " You are missed ; they are searching for you ; do you not hear 
 them ? Come, let us fly !" 
 
 There was no time to parley. Alice s head fell upon his shoulder, 
 and she said : 
 
 " Take me ! I am yours !" 
 
 She knew nothing more. His outstretched arms received her, and 
 he bore her rapidly from the spot towards the lake. He found the 
 little boat where he had left it. Placing his lovely almost lifeless bur 
 den in it, and loosening it from its fastenings, he seized the oar and 
 glided swiftly, silently away. The strokes were so light and soft, the 
 sound did not catch the air. As he changed the oar from one side of 
 the boat to the other, a few refreshing drops dripped from it into her 
 face. It revived her, and she asked : 
 
 "Where am I ? I have been dreaming a most horrible dream." 
 
 " You are with me, darling," he replied, gently. " Do not fear ; all 
 will be well." 
 
 " But my father !" she said, and fainted again. 
 
 The little shallop skimmed swiftly over the "blue lake s heaving 
 waters." 
 
 " Here at last." said Aldridge, mooring his boat to the shore, more 
 than a mile from the villa, up the side of the lake, when he raised his 
 voice and called cautiously, " Grubbs !" 
 
 " I am here," said that individual, in his deep, guttural tones, and he 
 came towards Aldridge. 
 
 "You got her, I see," he continued, glancing at Alice s still form in 
 the boat. 
 
 "Yes ; did you ever know me to fail in an undertaking?" he said ; 
 " but we have no time to lose. Come, assist me to carry her to the 
 caboose." 
 
 They lifted her from the boat and bore her, insensible, to a wagon 
 covered with black, and drawn by two spirited horses that were tied 
 firmly to a tree. They pawed the ground and grew restless as they 
 felt the wagon move when Alice was being placed in it. 
 
 " These beasts have been trying to run away for two hours," said 
 Grubbs, as he untied the reins. 
 
 " Let them run now," said Aldridge, as, throwing a dingy blanket 
 over Alice, he took a seat by Grubbs side. 
 
 The horses sprang forward down the glade with a rapidity that was 
 startling. 
 
 " Do you know the way?" asked Aldridge. 
 
 " Every foot of it/ replied his companion. 
 
1 88 Tahoe: or Life in California. 
 
 " Let us avoid the public road all we can." 
 
 "All right," said Grubbs, and he put whip to his horses. 
 
 " You have changes of horses, have you not ? You know we must 
 travel night and day. We must reach Frisco as soon as possible, and 
 I am afraid these will not hold out at this rate." 
 
 " I have taken care of that," replied the other. " I have three as 
 fine pairs as were ever seen, hitched in the woods at different places, 
 ready. I never do things in half-way style. I go the whole hog or 
 none. You will not only have to pay hire for these horses, but for the 
 beasts themselves, for after this night they are done for." 
 
 "I care not," said Aldridge. "Do not spare them." 
 
 They went furiously on, over meadow, hill and plain, and coming 
 to a dense thicket they stopped to change horses, then went bound 
 ing forward as before, leaving the over-driven horses tied to the tree 
 from which they had taken the ones they now drove. 
 
 " The panting beasts," said Grubbs ; " I ll come back for them if I 
 get a chance. If I don t, then let them perish. You will be able to 
 pay the owner for those missing brutes, and a dozen more, at no dis 
 tant day." 
 
 " Hush," said Aldridge ; " all is not safe yet." 
 
 Alice stirred ; he took her hand in his. " We -are most there," he 
 said, " so cheer up." 
 
 She was sensible of all around her. The rough jolting of the wagon 
 had produced a reaction. She felt bruised and sore, but answered 
 him not a word. 
 
 He took a pencil and piece of paper, handed it to her, and dictated 
 a note to her father. She wrote it. He held a bottle of chloroform 
 to her nose, and she slept. Thus night and day passed. It was day 
 break when they reached the city. They drove in front of the court 
 house. Aldridge left Alice in the caboose, went in and aroused the 
 sleepy clerk. The man, half asleep and stupid from his bacchanalian 
 revels the night before, issued the marriage license for which Aldridge 
 asked. He paid for it and left. The sleepy official returned to his 
 couch, grumbling about the hard lot of those who, like himself, were 
 liable to have their rest broken at any time. He went to sleep, nor 
 remembered he had issued license for the same lady only a few days 
 before. 
 
 Aldridge drove to the mission church, and called upon the priest to 
 perform the marriage ceremony. 
 
 " Is the lady of age ? " said the reverend father, peeping into the 
 covered wagon. He was on his way from early mass when Aldridge 
 accosted him and stated his desire. 
 
Tahoe: or Life in California, 189 
 
 " Yes," replied Aldridge. 
 
 " I don t believe it," said he, looking at Alice. " I don t believe a 
 word of it. Something wrong here, and I cannot, will not, officiate. 
 
 Aldridge felt like felling him to the earth, but he knew it was no 
 time for him to get into trouble of any kind. Controlling himself, he 
 replied : 
 
 " I ll bring your reverence proof of that directly ; " and, saf sfied that 
 the suspicions of the priest were quieted, he drove on to the office of 
 a Justice of the Peace. 
 
 The missionary gave a parting glance at Grubbs. " Be back again 
 directly, indeed," thought he. " I ll never see them again, and never 
 want to, at least, one of them. That man no, it was not, could not 
 be, a man. It was a fiend incarnate. God never created it for a man. 
 It is a counterfeit of the noble being that wears His image, and a most 
 terrible counterfeit he is. The human countenance is the truest index 
 to the human heart, and when he who bears the face of man degrades 
 himself by vile thoughts and viler actions, when he entertains as 
 guests in the inner chamber of his heart the arch enemies of his great 
 Creator, and allows them to hold their high revels there, he expels the 
 better spirits from the places they fain would hold, and drives them 
 ruthlessly from him. They leave no trace behind. The brow is 
 clouded, and the whole expression wears the impress of the heart s 
 occupants, while malice, low and venomous, gleams from the eye. 
 Such a creature is he who drove that wagon. God grant I may never 
 see his like again. But the lady so young, so beautiful who can 
 she be ? How comes she there ? She looked as if the angels in sor 
 row watched her, and she had gazed into their faces and caught their 
 sad, though sweet, expression. That other fellow, too, who can he be ? 
 what his motive ? His sinister face and serpent-like eyes I ve seen be 
 fore somewhere, I do not remember where. Ah, yes, I remember now; 
 I ve seen him of late about San Francisco. I encountered him in a drive 
 one evening, and yourrg Woodford was in the buggy with him. I was 
 alone, and the impolite rascal tried to drive over me, and had not 
 young Woodford seized the reins just in time to avoid it, there would 
 have been a collision, in spite of my efforts to make way for him ; and 
 now he wishes to profane the sacrament of matrimony by marrjing 
 that young girl. God pity her, and angels weep over the sacrifice she 
 makes." The good father shivered, and drew his mantle more closely 
 around him as he walked on. 
 
 In the meantime, the party had reached the office of the Justice of 
 the Peace, and Aldridge, after calling him out, requested him to per 
 form the marriage ceremony. 
 
190 Tahoe: or Life in California. 
 
 Have you license?" he asked, eyeing Alice. 
 
 "Here it is," replied Aldridge, producing it and placing it in his 
 hands. 
 
 "The names?" said the officer. 
 
 Aldridge gave them. 
 
 He hesitated. "Can it be possible," thought he, "that this is Miss 
 Heartland, of Lake Tahoe, of whom I have heard so much ? Only 
 last night I heard some young gentlemen planing to win the heiress ; 
 how they should obtain access to her society, and all that sort of thing. 
 It is the way the world talks about those to whose lot worldly goods 
 have fallen. Such a young lady becomes the prey of fortune-hunting 
 scoundrels, who are too lazy to work for the living they are not too 
 proud to obtain by marrying a woman for the support her father is 
 able to afford them. Thus riches become more frequently curses than 
 blessings to those who possess them ; and a man spends his life often 
 times in the accumulation of that which proves but a snare to those he 
 loves, and brings misery and degradation upon his children. But this 
 cannot be the Miss Heartland of whom I am thinking, here alone with 
 these two men at this unseemly hour ; besides they have the license, 
 and I have no right to question them, and there is my fee, and 
 
 " Will you perform the ceremony?" asked Aldridge, growing impa 
 tient. 
 
 "Get out and come in," said the Justice, whose curiosity was 
 wrought up for a better and closer inspection of Alice. 
 
 "No," said Aldridge, "right here," and he took his place beside the 
 frightened girl in the wagon. 
 
 The officer raised one side of the covering of the caboose and began 
 the customary service on such occasions, when accidentally he noticed 
 Grubbs. He stopped short in the midst of a sentence and drew back 
 as if in horror. 
 
 "Well, go on," said Aldridge angrily, "what are you stopping 
 for ?" 
 
 Still the Justice remained silent, with a furtive glance every second 
 or two towards Grubbs. 
 
 By this time quite a crowd had collected around the wagon, and all 
 stopped to gaze at the man who held the reins. Aldridge secretly 
 chuckled over it, as it saved himself and Alice from scrutiny, but 
 Grubbs grew furious. 
 
 "It s the last time I ll be caught in such business," muttered Grubbs ; 
 "we ought to have had this thing over before light instead of fooling 
 about all over the city. I hate to be gazed at in this manner." 
 
 "Arrest these men," said a clear, stern voice, and four policemen 
 
Tahoe: or Life in California. 191 
 
 marched up, and without ceremony took possession of Grubbs, Aid- 
 ridge, wagon and all. 
 
 "To the police headquarters," was the next order; "but wait a mo 
 ment," and Waidron, assisted by another, took the swooning Alice 
 from the caboose. "Now drive on," he said to the man who held the 
 reins. And Grubbs and Aldridge, handcuffed and guarded, were 
 driven out of sight. Alice was placed in a carriage and Waidron seated 
 himself beside her. She leaned wearily, almost senselessly, against 
 the cushions. 
 
 " Who are you ?" she said, but before he could reply, she added, 
 " Oh, Mr. Waidron ! Where are you taking me ?" 
 
 " To your father," he said, gently ; " to the villa." 
 
 " Thank Heaven !" and she fainted. 
 
 Waidron drove to the house of a lady friend, and requesting her to 
 accompany him, he supplied the carriage with lunch and wine, and 
 ordering the coachman to drive on, he set out on his return with Alice to 
 her father s home ; nor did he stop, night or day, until the light in the 
 tower gleamed over them, and his lovely charge was in her fond, 
 crazed father s arms. 
 
 On their way they passed the carriage conveying Miss Hubblestubble 
 to Stockton, but did not know it at the time. 
 
 Col. Heartland s surprise and joy were uncontrollable, and he set 
 about reviving his delirious child. Waidron gave him a short account 
 of the capture of the ruffians, and his daughter s release ; then, ac 
 companied by his female friend, returned hastily to San Francisco to 
 pursue his investigations. 
 
192 Tahoe: or Life in California. 
 
 CHAPTER XXXIII. 
 
 THE PRISONERS. 
 
 11 A felon s cell 
 
 The fittest earthly type of hell !" 
 
 Grubbs, muttering and grumbling against his fate, now and then 
 trying to free his clumsy hands from the firm grasp of his steel hand 
 cuffs, was carried on to prison, followed, on the way, by throngs of 
 boys and men, eager to obtain a look at the hideous man-monster. 
 
 "One would think," said he, "that I would become accustomed to 
 being gazed at by mobs of men and boys, but I don t. If I had my 
 way with that priest who refused his services, I would soon land him 
 in a better world, from sin and sorrow free ; that is, if old St. Peter 
 would open the gates for the admission of such a creature. It is not 
 every sanctimonious face that can claim admittance there. I expect, 
 after all his straight-jacket way of walking in this world, when life is 
 over he may readily find the broader way, and a heartier welcome, in 
 a warmer place. Conscience, indeed !" 
 
 " Yes," said Aldridge ; " conscience has ruined many a man, but it 
 has never hurt you or me, Grubbs, and never will ; but here we are," 
 and they were drawn up in front of the police headquarters. 
 
 The horses heads were turned, and the wagon rapidly driven off. 
 
 When they entered the office, Aldridge s attention was first attracted 
 by the morning paper lying upon a table. Among other things, his 
 eyes rested upon the word, " Reward." He read it. A large sum 
 was offered by the Governor for the arrest of the murderer of Kirkland, 
 and followed by a much larger amount by Frank Kirkland, of San 
 Diego, for the apprehension and conviction of the assassin of his 
 brother. 
 
 " I ve asked no questions," thought Aldridge ; "but I do not doubt 
 
Tahoe: or Life in California. 193 
 
 but that Grubbs may be interested in this in some way. He has lost 
 much money of late in gambling, besides letting me have some. 
 However, it is best for me not to know too much ; but I ll show this 
 paper to him, and call his attention to that little paragraph, so he may 
 be on his guard as to what he says. There is money enough offered 
 here to place every detective in California on the alert. I would like 
 to obtain this nice sum myself, but he has been my ally in too many 
 deeds of darkness for me to risk his exposure. If I thought only 
 Kirkland s murder would be investigated, I would turn State s evidence 
 against him, and claim the promised reward, and thus rid myself of 
 him for the future, for he has been heretofore, and will ever be here 
 after, the curse of my life. In the first place, I dare not do this, for I 
 would be surely involved in some way with him. I dare not hope it 
 could be otherwise. In the second place, I am under arrest as well as he." 
 
 He nodded to the paper. Grubbs took the hint and read. Aldridge 
 watched him. 
 
 " He is guilty," he thought ; " he paled and trembled. Great God ! 
 In the eyes of the law I am involved with him, for when one crime is 
 unravelled all will come to light ; and Waldron on the track too," and 
 Aldridge gave up all hope. 
 
 " Of what are we charged ?" asked Grubbs of the officer, as they 
 were being led off to prison to await a trial. 
 
 " You will be duly notified," replied the man, as he gave them in 
 charge to the jailer. 
 
 Exhausted, the prisoners fell asleep as soon as they were locked up 
 in their quarters. The jailer carried them their dinner, and they were 
 still sleeping. He awakened Aldridge first, and was stooping to shake 
 Grubbs, when Aldridge gave him a blow on the head with the heavy 
 plate that contained his dinner. The man, stunned by the blow, reeled 
 and fell. Aldridge rushed out, down the stairs, into the street, and, 
 leaping upon a horse he found hitched near-by, rode quickly away. 
 When he arrived on the outskirts of the city, to prevent detection, he 
 turned the horse loose and walked on, it was not known whither. The 
 jailer recovered himself before Grubbs awoke gave the alarm, but it 
 was too late. Citizens and police united in the search, but the crim 
 inal was nowhere to be found ; he had made good his escape, and 
 Grubbs was left to suffer alone. The papers were filled with accounts of 
 Aldridge s complicity in the crimes charged against Grubbs, and many 
 items of his former life were written, some true and others false. So 
 ciety was astounded that the much flattered cashier of the robbed 
 bank should turn out to be such an accomplished villain ; but he was 
 gone, and the suppressed wrath of an offended people was forced to 
 vent itself upon the poor, deformed and hideous wretch who lay ironed 
 down in his secure dungeon. 
 13 
 
j 24 Tahoe: or Life in California. 
 
 CHAPTER XXXIV. 
 
 GRUBBS DIES WITH A HOPE. 
 
 " Life is real, life is earnest, 
 
 And the grave is not its goal ; 
 
 Dust thou art, to dust returnest, 
 
 Was not spoken of the soul." 
 
 Heavy rewards were offered for the apprehension of Aldridge and 
 his delivery to the authorities, and strict search made, but all in vain ; 
 he had evidently left the country. 
 
 The trial of Grubbs was fixed for the first sitting of the crim 
 inal court. He sent for Waldron, and asked him to defend him. 
 
 " I have a large amount of gold," said he, " I will give it all to you. 
 It is buried on an island in the Pacific, and I will even tell you how to 
 get it, that you may secure yourself beforehand. I know I have no 
 right to expect you to believe any statement I may make, but you can 
 go and see for yourself that I speak the truth." 
 
 " Keep your gold and your information, too," replied Waldron, " for 
 I expect, in this case, to volunteer to assist the Commonwealth attor 
 ney in the prosecution," and he walked haughtily away from the dis 
 gusting criminal." 
 
 " An honest lawyer," thought Grubbs, " an honest lawyer ! Well, in 
 all my troubles, and they have been many, I have never seen or heard of 
 one before. An honest lawyer, humph ! I saved that gold for just such 
 an emergency. I would not let Aldridge know I had it, and denied 
 myself, oftentimes, the necessaries of life that I might keep it. and 
 now the most popular lawyer on the coast gives me and my gold the 
 cold shoulder, and deliberately tells me he intends to join the prosecu 
 tion. I can employ some one else, but it will be useless. If I could 
 have bought Waldron, I would have stood some chance ; but all hope 
 
Tahoe: or Life in California. 195 
 
 is gone, and I might as well confess. Frank Kirkland, too, has em 
 ployed a popular lawyer, from Southern California, to come here and 
 prosecute me. All the dogs of war are turned loose against me. 
 Nature, too, has done her part to degrade and debase me. This un 
 gainly person and horrible visage is in keeping with the life I have led. 
 The influences that mould our lives are the results of many causes. 
 Some traits are hereditary, some are engendered by surrounding cir 
 cumstances, while some are simply the consequences of neglect in our 
 youth. Evil has been the principal ingredient in all the atmosphere I 
 have ever breathed, while the sufferings I endured in my childhood, 
 from neglect, mental, moral and physical, would arouse pity in the 
 hardest heart that ever beat in the bosom of man, and draw tears 
 from eyes that never wept before. Spurned and despised by those to 
 whom I was united by the nearest ties, deserted in helpless infancy, given 
 to the care of strangers, an outcast child of want and shame, with no 
 one to care whether the path I trod was to heaven or to hell, it is not 
 to be supposed I should be other than I am. The only attention I 
 ever received was the four years schooling given me by the friend I 
 found in Virginia, though, really, he was not a friend. It was the 
 glory of the thing he sought. It was pleasant to him to hear how 
 generous he had been to take a poor boy and send him to school. 
 After all, it was selfishness. Men are not wont to do aught except 
 from selfish motives. They oftentimes persuade themselves they are 
 acting from high and noble principles, when, if they will but examine 
 closely, they will find themselves actuated by something that bears, 
 either directly or indirectly, upon their own interests. Such is the 
 world. Each man is for himself, after all. I will employ the best 
 legal talent my money can command. I have no hope of an acquit 
 tal, but perhaps I may get the sympathy of the jurors to an extent 
 that will induce them to render a verdict of murder in the second de 
 gree. In that case the penalty would only be imprisonment for life 
 and hard labor. Then the chances would be in my favor. I might 
 be pardoned, or effect my escape. At any rate I will do my best to 
 avoid the hangman s noose. In case I fail, I must meet my fate like 
 a man. However it may result, from this time forward, I am a changed 
 man. I will never again harm a human being ; I will never again ap 
 propriate, or even covet, what belongs to another. I repent I sin 
 cerely repent my past misdoings. I wish I dared ask forgiveness of 
 my Maker ; but I dare not. I feel it would be sacrilegious in me to 
 pray. I never prayed in my life. I was never taught it in childhood. 
 In boyhood I was a scoffer at religion. In manhood I spent my time 
 in serving the devil ; and now I am here powerless, forsaken, charged 
 
196 Tahoe: or Life in California. 
 
 with the highest crime known to human law, and, worst of all, guilty, 
 and afraid to pray." 
 
 Thus thought Linton, as, in his gloomy prison, he awaited his trial. 
 
 The day came. The court-room was full to overflowing. The 
 prisoner was led in, and the attorneys and court attaches were all in 
 their proper places. Grubbs gold had purchased for him the services 
 of a lawyer of ability. Waldron and the Commonwealth s attorney 
 stood side by side for the prosecution, aided by the attorney employed 
 by Frank Kirkland. He was from Southern California, and his fame 
 reached to the utmost confines of the State. 
 
 Two days were passed over in examining and cross-examining the 
 witnesses. Among them were Col. Heartland and Wee Wing. The 
 latter identified him by the missing finger. 
 
 " Me knowee he. He gotee papee outee Bossee Heartee deskee. 
 Me knowee he. No fingee. Whi ! Whi ! Whi ! " said he, in a 
 frightened voice, crouching behind Col. Heartland, as Grubbs turned 
 one eye upon him. " Takee me wayee ! Takee me wayee 1 Hekillee 
 me in strange countree and losee me soulee ! He sayee big bugee, 
 likee Bossee Heartee. Me no stayee in countree with big bugee," 
 and crawling under the desks, he made his way from the court-room. 
 
 During all this time Grubbs presented a calm exterior. This com 
 posure amounted to seeming indifference. Those who gazed on him 
 from curiosity he appeared not to notice. The judge, jury, lawyers 
 and witnesses he looked boldly in the face. But there was one before 
 whom he cowered, one whose eye he could not meet, and that person 
 was Frank Kirkland. The Eastern murder and the forgeries were 
 exposed before the evidence closed, and the Commonwealth s attorney 
 proceeded to call the attention of the jury to all the points that bore 
 directly on young Kirkland s murder, and sustained the position he 
 assumed in an able and manly manner. Then the lawyer from 
 Southern California arose, and, in a speech of two hours, did great 
 credit to himself and the cause he advocated. Waldron s turn came 
 next. He said : 
 
 " Gentlemen of the jury : It is not, and has not, been my intention to 
 bring into the prosecution vindictiveness and personal malice ; but for 
 humanity s sake, and the honor of our Commonwealth, I would be 
 glad to have your attention for a few moments. The gentlemen pre 
 ceding me have sifted the evidence, and made it plain to your minds 
 that the prisoner at the bar is the perpetrator of this foul deed of 
 blood. He comes before you charged with the greatest crime known 
 to the laws of our land murder ; a cold-blooded, heartless murder. 
 The murderer of a young and unoffending stranger, who came from 
 
Tahoe: or Life in California. 197 
 
 the snow-clad hills of New Hampshire to make his home in our sunny 
 State. He had left his native mountains far behind him ; he had 
 parted from a fond mother and loving sisters to cast his lot among us. 
 Just upon the threshold of young manhood, ere the hopes of boy 
 hood s years had begun to fade, before the stern realities of actual 
 life; all fresh with the dews of life s morning; all bright with the 
 hopes of a coming future, he reached our favored land. A fond 
 brother awaits him in San Diego county, where rise the flower-clad 
 hills of our Southerncoast ; where summer breezes blow perpetually, 
 and cold Northern mists are unknown. Thitherward his course is bent, 
 when the assassin whets his dagger. He waylays his victim, and for 
 a little paltry gold, plunges his glistening steel to its hilt, and draws 
 from the heart the ruddy drops that give it life. Here, far away from 
 home and friends, in the darkness of the night, with a mother s kiss 
 as yet fresh upon his young cheek, he breathes out his tender life. 
 There sits the blood-stained criminal before you, and his hands are 
 hardened, not by honest toil, but deep-dyed and blood-reeking crimes. 
 This is not the first soul he has winged to eternity. Years ago, 
 upon the classic hills of the Old Dominion, upon the soil that contains 
 the precious remains of our immortal Washington, beneath the flag 
 sporting the proudest motto that ever graced a warrior s shield, his 
 dagger drank its first blood. It was this that brought him to our 
 shores. I call on you to punish this criminal ; to render a verdict in 
 accordance with the facts in the case ; to weigh well the evidence you 
 have heard, and cheat not justice of her dues. Give character to our 
 State; the home we all love so well, upon which the Almighty has 
 showered His choicest blessings. Let it be known that it is safe for a 
 stranger to come within the limits of California ; that her laws cannot 
 be violated with impunity, and that he who is guilty must suffer the 
 penalty of his guilt. Let travellers feel secure and know they will be 
 protected, in person and property, as they journey peaceably along 
 our highways. Prove to the world that we are not the desperadoes 
 they deem us in the Eastern States, and that we reward merit or 
 punish crime as readily as any other people. You made the laws that 
 govern us, and it is not only your province, but your duty, to see that 
 they are enforced. I beg of you, therefore, that you will do your 
 duty to humanity, to yourselves, to your fellow-citizens, to your God, 
 and to the beautiful land over which He has made you rulers." 
 
 Linton s lawyer followed with his defense. He brought out all the 
 extenuating circumstances he could to bear upon the cause he repre 
 sented. He attempted to refute the evidence at every point and prove 
 his client guiltless. He endeavored to sustain an alibi, and said he 
 had hoped a nolle prosequi would have been the result on the first 
 
198 Tahoe: or Life in California. 
 
 opening of the case. He argued with the jury for the acquittal of the 
 unfortunate man he represented. He begged them to consider the 
 ties that bind man to man in the holy relation of friend and brother, 
 to carefully consider this cause in all its bearings, ere they condemned 
 their innocent fellow-creature, and closed with an appeal that would 
 have done credit to a far better cause. 
 
 The jury received the charge from the Judge on the bench and re 
 tired. At the expiration of fifteen or twenty minutes they returned. 
 
 A death-like stillness reigned over the crowded room, and every 
 head bent forward to catch the first utterance. 
 
 " We, the jury, find the prisoner at the bar guilty of murder in the 
 first degree," fell upon the ears of the eager listeners. 
 
 As the last words died away all eyes were riveted on the prisoner s 
 face. With a low moan, he fell to the floor, and, amid the shouts of 
 the rabble, was borne back to jail. 
 
 Shut within his prison walls, his senses slowly returned, and with 
 them the memory of each deed of his wicked and unprofitable life. 
 He knew the sentence of death had been passed upon him. He was 
 not ready to meet his God, and resolved to make one more effort to 
 save himself from the doom that awaited him. He sent for his lawyer 
 and commissioned him to go to the Governor and intercede, not for 
 justice for an innocent man, but for mercy for a guilty one. The 
 Executive was inexorable, but granted him a respite for a few days 
 for the hardened, guilty soul to make its peace, and prepare to appear 
 before the Almighty tribunal. 
 
 The missionary priest was sent for, and in the condemned criminal 
 he recognized the man he had seen twice before, and from whom all 
 his instincts so revoltingly turned. 
 
 He led him, where he dared not go alone, to the footstool of his 
 Heavenly Father. When they arose from their knees, large drops of 
 perspiration stood upon his bronzed forehead. His whole frame shook 
 in agony, and amid the audible beatings of his heart he wept aloud. 
 Day after day the good priest visited him, and peace at last dawned 
 upon his soul. " Can it be," he would say to the reverend father, 
 " can it be that God s mercy is great enough to reach such as I ? Can 
 supplication from a heart so polluted as mine reach his throne ? Can 
 any repentance, however great, turn aside the indignant wrath that I 
 so justly merit ? " 
 
 The missionary consoled him with the assurance that God was all- 
 powerful, and could do anything ; all-merciful, and would not spurn 
 from his feet one of his creatures, however debased he might have 
 been, who truly repented, and with a sorrowing, contrite heart be 
 sought his forgiveness. 
 
Tahoe: or Life in California. 
 
 The day for the execution came, and Linton, alias Grubbs, was led 
 forth to the scaffold. The reverend father walked at his side with 
 bowed head. He wore the habiliment of his order. He took his seat 
 beside the doomed man in the cart that contained the coffin, while on 
 each side walked the guards with their loaded muskets. Grubbs 
 mounted the scaffold with a firm, deliberate step, and a calm, peaceful 
 countenance he had never worn before. The gibbet was out of the 
 city s limits. Nature never appeared grander or more beautiful, and 
 the sun shone with a dazzling lustre over the earth, carpeted with the 
 long, wavy, green grass, while wild flowers were scattered in rich 
 profusion around. The redwood trees stretched their giant arms 
 aloft, and from their leafy bowers the songs of birds floated forth, 
 sweet and silvery, upon the gentle breezes. 
 
 The crowd that had followed gathered round the scaffold, as the 
 doomed man stepped forward and began to speak. He went back to his 
 earliest recollections, and related every incident in his life up to the 
 present moment, He told how he had gone on from bad to worse, 
 until he had reached the gallows. His confession was complete, and 
 covered all the foul deeds of his misspent life. He spoke of his blood 
 stained hands, of the wails of the dying and the pale faces of the dead. 
 How, at midnight, the ghosts of the murdered ones would hover over 
 his pillow, and he could not, dare not sleep. He told of his first ac 
 quaintance with Aidridge, and his continued connections with that 
 bold, bad man. How he had rendered him assistance in his flight 
 with Alice Heartland. He thanked God that in that he was foiled. 
 He confessed to many a crime in which he and Aidridge took a part 
 when suspicion had rested on other and innocent parties, and those 
 parties had suffered the penalties of guilt while the real criminals trod 
 the earth as freemen. How he had dogged the steps of young Kirk- 
 land, knowing him to be a stranger and likely to have money ; how he 
 had waylaid and killed him, then robbed him and fled ere Major Pet- 
 tybone and Col. Heartland had reached the place. He wound up with 
 a long and fervent prayer, a prayer filled with heartfelt contrition and 
 faith in the promises of God to sinners that repent. 
 
 The noose was adjusted around his neck, the cap drawn over his 
 face, and at a signal from the sheriff the trap was sprung, and Linton, 
 alias Grubbs, swung in mid-air, while his soul took its flight to an un 
 known and, we hope, a better world. 
 
 The crowd silently and slowly moved away. They came to jeer, 
 but the recital of so much crime caused the blood to run cold in the 
 veins of the multitude, and they retired to their homes to wonder and 
 to weep over human depravity, and heart-sick at the scene they had 
 witnessed. 
 
2OO Tahoe: or Life in California. 
 
 CHAPTER XXXV. 
 
 TWO WOMAN HATERS. 
 " Frailty, thy name is woman." 
 
 As time passed, Major Pettybone grew more and more nervous, 
 more and more weary of life. " I would go abroad," he would say, 
 and try a change of scenery, of air, but I would be sure to meet 
 women. I would see them in the streets, on the ship, on the cars, at 
 the hotels In fact, everywhere. I could not stir out but I should 
 come in contact with some of them, and I really believe the first sight 
 of one would kill me. Here I am, day by day, dragging out a miser 
 able existence, yet I dare not rid myself of the life that has become so 
 burdensome to me. I dare not free my soul from this cumbersome 
 carcass that is drawing it towards perdition, Even Burleigh is desert 
 ing me. All day he has not been here. I will ring for him and find out 
 what is the matter. I suppose he is offended because I expressed my 
 self so antagonistic to females. I meant it, and also mean that he 
 must seek another home if he intends to marry, for I will not allow 
 him to bring his wife here, I do not like to tell him this plainly, for 
 it would seem as if I was soured by my recent misfortunes. I hope 
 he will think of it himself and act accordingly. Burleigh, there you 
 are ; come in and give an account of yourself. Where have you been, 
 and why have my comforts been so neglected ? I suppose you think 
 I am Jesus Christ, do you. sir?" 
 
 " No, sir," said Burleigh, looking inquiringly at him. "What makes 
 you think I thought you were Jesus Christ !" 
 
 Because, sir, do you not see, I have not where to lay my head?" 
 he said, as sternly as his quivering voice would permit. 
 
 Burleigh looked slowly around at the bed, and saw he had neglected 
 to replace the pillows on it when he last arranged it. He took them 
 from a chair in the corner and put them in their places. 
 
Tahoe: or Life in California. 201 
 
 "What is the matter with you ?" crossly inquired his master, as 
 Burleigh sadly took a chair and endeavored to sit upon the small of 
 his back. Seeing that Burleigh hesitated, he strode up in front of 
 him and repeated, " What is the matter with you ? Tell me instantly, 
 or I ll dismiss you forthwith." 
 
 Burleigh s lips moved as if he would speak, but tears came and 
 choked his utterance. At length, between broken sobs, he said : 
 
 " I wants to tell you, but I can t." 
 
 " It is about a woman ; I knew it was, so out with it," said his mas 
 ter, " all the trouble that falls to the lot of man. is in some way con 
 nected with them." 
 
 Thus encouraged, Burleigh began his story. 
 
 " The gray mule is gone, sir." 
 
 " Gone where ?" asked his master, 
 
 " Down the road, sir." 
 
 " How came she out of the barn-yard ?" 
 
 " I borrowed her, sir " 
 
 " Borrowed her from whom ?" 
 
 "From you, sir she s yourn." 
 
 " What did you borrow her for ?" 
 
 " To go to miner Parker s on some business," said he, hesitatingly. 
 
 " Well, why didn t you bring her back and put her in the enclos 
 ure ?" 
 
 " Cause, sir, she wouldn t bring me back ; she dumped me every 
 hundred yards all the way back," and he looked at his master with 
 half closed eyes. 
 
 "Where is she now?" asked Major Pettybone. 
 
 " Last time she dumped me she kicked up her heels and off she ran 
 down the hill, and I ain t seen her since." 
 
 "Well," queried his master, "what did you go to miner Parker s 
 for?" 
 
 " To settle that business," said Burleigh. 
 
 " Did you settle satisfactorily to all parties?" inquired Major Petty- 
 bone. 
 
 " I hope so ; I am perfectly satisfied." 
 
 " What did she say ? " 
 
 "She didn t say nothing." 
 
 " What did you say ? " 
 
 " I didn t say nothing ; to her at least." 
 
 " Who did you see ? " 
 
 " I saw her." 
 
 " Who else ? " 
 
2O2 Tahoe: or Life in California. 
 
 " Her mother." 
 
 " Who else ?" 
 
 " Her sister." 
 
 " Who else ? " 
 
 " Her brother." 
 
 " Nonsense, tell me, did you see anyone else ?" 
 
 " Yes, I saw her father, and I wish I hadn t." 
 
 "What had he to say?" continued Major Pettybone. 
 
 " He didn t say nothing at first, that was the mischief of it." 
 
 " I am not going to ask you another question, but I insist upon your 
 telling me the whole story, so begin at once, " and Major Pettybone 
 leaned back in his armchair, and crossing his legs assumed a listening 
 attitude. 
 
 Burleigh, placing his feet upon the round of his chair, and putting 
 his finger in his mouth like a bashful child, began his tale : 
 
 " I knowed you wouldn t let Cora come here, and I couldn t leave 
 you, so I went over to settle the difficulty. I didn t want to hurt a 
 oman s feelings, so I thought I d just fix it all up with her pa ; soon 
 as I could get a chance, so I told him how as how Miss Alice " 
 
 " Never mention that name in my presence again," said Major Pet 
 tybone fiercely. 
 
 "Well," continued Burleigh, trembling, "I told him how impossible 
 it would be for me to be his son-in-law, and asked him to excuse me 
 as polite as possible ; he then asked me to come down behind the 
 house with him ; I followed him, expecting nothing else but he would 
 take all the little money I had accumulated to pay for a breach of prom 
 ise. I was thinking, sir, I would give him a check on you for it all, 
 rather than have the thing took into court and make me and Miss Cora 
 so public. I was just about to tell him so, when he began to unwind a 
 long wagon whip he had hid behind the house, and I began to get as 
 oneasy as a turkey gobbler about Christmas times. I wish I had worn 
 my thick coat, but I soon found it would have done no good, for miner 
 Parker just caught my coat by the collar and dragged it off in a hurry. 
 The old whip wrapped round and round me. I tried to bear it, cause 
 I knowed my sin had been very great, but miner Parker laid it on heavy, 
 and heavier still, and jumped a foot off the ground every pop. Finally, 
 forbearance ceased to be a virtue, and I made one spring at the old fel 
 low and caught him round the waist, arms and all, and held him so 
 tight his whip dragged on the ground. I didn t want to hurt him, but 
 I did want to get away monstrous bad. I knowed it was no use to ar 
 gue with him, and tell him I had been paid plenty for what I couldn t 
 help. I was afraid to let him go, for I knowed he would go at it again. 
 
Tahoe: or Life in California. 203 
 
 He seemed to have no discretion bout when to stop, and if I let him 
 go he would catch me before I could reach the gray mule confound 
 her." 
 
 " Never mind the gray mule. How did you get away from miner 
 Parker? " 
 
 11 He didn t have me, I had him," replied Burleigh, with a surprised 
 air. 
 
 " Well, how did he get away from you ? " 
 
 " He didn t get away," said Burleigh. 
 
 "Well, go ahead with your story. I am sorry I interrupted you, for 
 I will never get you back on the track again." 
 
 " Yes, you will ; I never gets off the track, and if you had seen me 
 laying flat on my back on the tracks that gray mule made in the road, 
 you would say so, too," said Burleigh, persistently. 
 
 "You are incorrigible," said Major Pettybone, impatiently. 
 
 " No, sir," was the reply ; " I am in pain no corrigible bout it 
 My back aches dreadful," he continued, putting his hand between his 
 shoulders ; "and my mouth, too, "opening it, and showing that two of 
 his front teeth were missing. 
 
 " How did it end?" 
 
 "Well, I helt him, as I told you, until I let him go." 
 
 " Indeed !" said Major Pettybone. " Well, really that is satisfac 
 tory." 
 
 " No, it was ent ; I called his son." 
 
 "What did you want with his son ?" 
 
 " To help me let his father go, of course." 
 
 " Did he assist you ?" 
 
 " No;, he said he guessed dad knowed what he was about, and he 
 shouldn t interfere. Then he stood about with his hands in his 
 pockets, and said he didn t know what it all was about, and he didn t care, 
 but if dad would lay on a couple of hundred lashes more, he would not 
 give me a lick amiss, and he for one would like to see it. as I had bit 
 his sister Cora on the mouth once when I was there. He no sooner 
 said that than ole Parker gave me a hit in the mouth with the back of 
 his head, that sent two of my teeth down my throat, and I let him go 
 without anybody s telling me. Then he commenced frailingme again 
 for kissing his daughter, but he never said what was to be done for 
 her kissing me. He seemed to think that I was to blame for the 
 whole thing, and flogged me cordingly. There ain t no justice in that 
 man, and he can t give ignorance as an excuse, for everybody knows 
 that when kissing is done it takes two to do it ; that is, when both is 
 willin like we was. I tried to tell him bout his injustice, but he 
 wouldn t hear, and kept laying it on thick and fast. I took to my 
 
204 Tahoe: or Life in California. 
 
 heels, and he after me, cutting me every step. I seed Cora with the 
 corner of her apron stuck in her mouth, her face red as fire, and just 
 laughing fit to kill herself, as I come in a hurry by the window. I hope 
 I ll never see that gal again while I live." 
 
 " I sincerely hope you are cured, Burleigh, of your admiration for 
 women," interposed his master. 
 
 " That I is ; I never wants to see any more. That gal just told me 
 she never would love but only me the last time we talked about it, and 
 when old Parker was chasing me down the hill, I seed that Bill 
 Smithers gwine into the house, and a man told me he and Cora got 
 married this morning early. Now, look at the justice in such a case. 
 If I had just let it alone, I might have sued her for breach of promise 
 myself. Women ain t particular who they fool." 
 
 "But, perhaps," said his master, "she would not have married Bill 
 Smithers if you had not withdrawn from your engagement." 
 
 " Looking at it that way," replied Burleigh, " I believe I would 
 rathe" it would be as it is. I would rather be flogged a dozen times 
 a day than be married once in a lifetime." 
 
 "The fellow is right," said Major Pettybone, soliloquizing. "Any 
 thing but matrimony for me. The idea of being tied to a woman, 
 and never knowing what kind of a trick she is going to play you. 
 Many men marry twice or three or even four times, each time hoping 
 to do better ; hoping to realize their ideals in each successive wife. 
 It is strange a sensible man could be duped more than once. Even 
 Burleigh here protests he has more sense than to try it again," and 
 turning to Burleigh, he said : " You may go now." 
 
 " I don t see the justice in this thing," said that worthy, slowly rising 
 and leaving the room. " Here I am beat almost to death for. damag 
 ing the heart of this gal, and she married to another fellow in less 
 time than it takes me to tell it. I think she ought to have waited till my 
 back got well, at least. I ought to have damages, but where s my 
 remedy? I would not come in old Parker s reach again for the whole 
 of creation. I ll grin and bear it, but I ll go on t other side when 
 women come on this." 
 
 "Women." said Major Pettybone, continuing his soliloquy, "are 
 alike, the world over. Be their station high or low, the same leading 
 characteristics of their nature exhibit themselves. From a palace 
 even down to a miner s hut, they cannot be trusted. I will spend the 
 remainder of my days in peace ; in the quiet privacy of my own home, 
 and no female, of high or low degree, shall cross my threshold. 1 
 will live and die here alone, with no companion but Burleigh, my 
 books, and solitude." 
 
Tahoe: or Life in California. 205 
 
 CHAPTER XXXVI. 
 
 Does time with his cold wing wither 
 Each feeling that once was dear? " 
 
 Time passed on. The father became the constant companion of 
 his child. His kind attention and affectionate consideration brought 
 the bloom back to her wan cheeks and brightness to her tear-stained 
 eyes. No mention was ever made of Aldridge, nothing said of the 
 past misfortunes. He complained not. His daughter never knew the 
 struggle through which her much loved father had passed, or the agony 
 he had suffered on her account. How he lamented, in his great, noble 
 heart, the cruel misfortune that had befallen them, and how grateful 
 he was that she was rescued from a fate that would have brought 
 lasting disgrace on his name wretchedness and death to him, to say 
 nothing of the misery and degradation that came so near being hers. 
 He never told her that Aldridge and Ridgeway were the same, and 
 that twice this man had brought sorrow to his heart and home. He 
 forbade the servants mentioning to Alice, or any one else, anything 
 connected with Aldridge or Major Pettybone, or any allusion to the 
 past whatsoever. Thus quiet content, if not cheerfulness and happi 
 ness, reigned once more in his house. 
 
 Griffin and Bertina pursued their usual avocations, quietly and sadly 
 at first, tripping about lightly and speaking in whispers. Wee Wing 
 would look mournfully into Alice s face and slowly shake his head. 
 He vould often stop his work and, unasked, bring her a refreshing 
 goblet of water, sometimes a few flowers, at others rich, purple clusters 
 of grapes or other fruits. If she smiled and thanked him, he would ro 
 his way with a lightened heart and beaming face. If a tear dimmed 
 her eye, his step lost its elasticity and his face became sad as he crept 
 silently back to the kitchen. But gradually the gloom wore off, and 
 things were soon as they were wont to be. 
 
206 Tahoe: or Life in California. 
 
 Col. Heartland became also the teacher of his daughter. They read 
 together such books as were calculated to elevate and improve the 
 mind, and conversed upon subjects connected with the higher arts and 
 literature. They rode and walked together, and were happy in the 
 companionship of each other. 
 
 " Father, explain the word Eldorado, as used here," she said, one 
 morning in the library, as she was reading aloud to him. 
 
 " There was an old story of early times, of a king of Manoa by that 
 name. He was fabulous, of course, and supposed to reside in the 
 mythical city of Manoa, which was said to be situated on the Orinoko 
 river, in the northern part of Venezuela, in South America. The 
 houses were of gold, its streets paved with gold, and the king wore a 
 golden crown ; he, as well as his subjects, were clad in golden gar 
 ments. Their food was of gold, and their drinks sparkling golden 
 liquor. Hence, in speaking of a land of gold, it is called an Eldorado. 
 In fact, the term is applied to any country that is prosperpous, and 
 where money is plentiful." 
 
 " And whence the name California? " she asked. 
 
 " There are several stories concerning this, my daughter. The one 
 least plausible is that this State was called for the heroine of an old 
 Spanish romance, which was a very popular story during the days of 
 Columbus, and much, revered by the sailors and navigators of those 
 early times. In this story California was the Queen of the Ama 
 zons. The other, and, to me, the probable one, is that the name 
 was derived from the two Spanish words, caliente fornalo, sig 
 nifying a heated furnace. The north winds that sometimes blow 
 for three days consecutively, entitle it to this name ; and if it were not 
 for the extreme dryness of the atmosphere, man and beast could not 
 live at such times." 
 
 " Yet," said Alice, " the Californian never seems to think his country 
 too warm or too cold, too dry or too wet." 
 
 " That is very true, and it is this th.it has given California her repu 
 tation abroad the contentment of her people. Satisfied 1 may say 
 delighted with their country themselves, their ideas are disseminated 
 among the people of other States until all look upon California as the 
 promised land, whose borders they struggle to reach. Such is the in 
 fluence of contentment. It is like a contagion that spreads around us 
 in every direction." 
 
 " I have often thought, father, what cause any one has to be discon 
 tented with his lot. We are all doing well if we could but realize it." 
 
 " That is true, my daughter ; and I am rejoiced you take that view 
 of life. There are many, very many, indeed, who have never experi- 
 
Tahoe: or Life in California. 207 
 
 enced real sorrow, yet who have never been contented or happy, be 
 cause of restless, fault-finding imagination, over which they have no 
 control. If one thing does not disturb their peace of mind, another 
 does. If it is not the past, it is the present or the future. Complaints 
 and misgivings occupy their minds continually. Vagaries, rather than 
 realities, allow no repose of soul. We can educate ourselves above 
 these things, if we will, as well as teach to others connected with us, 
 without an effort, the way to contentment, hence to happiness." 
 
 " Great, indeed, must he be who can remove thorns from the paths 
 of his fellow-beings, though they be imaginary ones," said Alice. 
 
 " Many by example have done so," said Col. Heartland, "and some 
 have written their ideas and cast them abroad among their kind, 
 strewing benefits along the human pathway. Among such works is 
 a little book called " Little Foxes that destroy our Vine and Fig tree," 
 by Christopher Crawfield. I will get it for you. and let you see the 
 good it is capable of doing mankind." 
 
 I should like it, dear father. Perhaps I could learn much from it. 
 I like that class of reading which, while it instructs, draws our minds 
 to higher and nobler aims." 
 
 " We should all strive to progress, my daughter ; to aim higher at 
 each succeeding step. That man s life has been a failure who has 
 not lifted his stricken fellow-beings up, and inspired them with more 
 elevated desires ; who has not left his impress upon the hearts of the 
 weak ones about him, and called their attention to a better creed a 
 creed that would bring to them strength, light and life. Christianity 
 brings all these with it, hence he who disseminates the light of the 
 Bible over the world lends his hand and heart to the noblest work. He 
 who teaches the word of God is entitled to the highest honors here, 
 and the greatest reward hereafter." 
 
 "There are those now in distant lands, are there not father, who 
 have no knowledge of God? In portions of China, and other far away 
 climes, where the light of the gospel has not yet spread?" 
 
 Yes, my child; but even in those far away countries, at least in 
 many parts of them, where the gospel teachings have never reached, 
 there is an inate idea of the true and living God. in the hearts of the 
 otherwise savage people. They seem to reverence an unknown and 
 invisible spirit, upon whom they rely with a filial affection and trust. 
 The heathen, as he kneels before his graven god of wood or stone, 
 sends his heart and mind far beyond, to the unknown God, whose 
 place none of his idols can supply; and while he can not understand, 
 he still feels the great want." 
 
 "I was reading the other day, father, Edwin Arnold s poems. You 
 
2o8 Tahoe: or Life in California. 
 
 know the King of Siam, conferred upon him the Order of the White 
 Elephant, and wrote him a letter of thanks for having truthfully rep 
 resented to civilized Europe, the teachings and life of Buddha, who is 
 called the Light of Asia. " 
 
 "Yes, I remember," he said, taking a book from one of the shelves, 
 and seating himseif by his daughter s side. "Here is the poem now; it 
 contains the story of an Incarnate God, worshipped and believed in 
 six hundred years before the birth of Christ. You know the promise 
 was given in the Garden of Eden, that a Deliverer should be sent, and 
 as a tradition of the flood is to be found almost among all nations, 
 may not this promise have been traditionary also? Or, perhaps, may 
 not the needs and wants of humanity, or rather of the human soul, 
 even among these lowly ones, have engendered the idea of a divine in 
 carnation?" 
 
 "Yes, and the teachings, too, so closely resemble the teachings of the 
 Christian religion," said Alice. 
 
 "See these lines," he said, pointing out the passage: 
 
 "Before beginning, and without an end. 
 
 As space eternal, and as surety sure, 
 
 Is fixed a Power Divine, that moves 10 good." 
 
 Could there be a better description of Deity? Does it not agree 
 with the description and attributes of the Christian s God? Then 
 again: 
 
 "Who thwarts it, loses, and who serves it, gains; 
 The hidden good it pays with peace and bliss, 
 The hidden ill, with pain." 
 
 "These are, in effect, the same promises as those of our own 
 Bible." 
 
 "It is wonderful," said she, "being an Asiatic, and living among an 
 idol worshipping people, the teachings of Buddha should be what they 
 are." 
 
 "And," said Col. Heartland, "a great writer and thinker has said 
 the purity of his life and his lofty aims, are the best evidences of 
 his trust and faith; and it is the best of proofs, my child, to us, that 
 there is innate in the human breast, some knowledge of God that 
 nothing can destroy; some secret link between the Creator and the 
 creature, that time and circumstances cannot sever. This man, all 
 untutored himself, an uninspired teacher, elevated his fellows to 
 heights that can only be measured by comparing them to the degrada 
 tion in which he found them. He taught them a creed of true Chris 
 tian doctrine, such as our Christian religion now enjoins upon its 
 followers: a creed of earnest thought, intellectual activity, persever- 
 
Tahoe: or Life in California. 2OQ 
 
 ance in well doing ; a harmless livelihood, upright conduct, high aims, 
 and kindly speech. All this he did without the hope of Christian 
 ity ; following righteousness for her own sake. With no knowledge 
 of a hereafter, such as we are taught ; no belief in the individual soul 
 and its future ; knowing nothing of the relationship between God, and 
 those whom he has created, and the great hopes that cheer us on for 
 eternity, this sage taught these duties and practiced these virtues, 
 which are the very foundation stones of all moral and religious worth; 
 for religion without them would be but a mockery, a pretense, from 
 which a frowning God would turn his face." 
 
 "Look at this, father," said Alice, pointing to the close of Prince 
 Guatama s sermon, as set forth by Arnold, "this Light of Asia he 
 calls Guatama, as well as Buddha. Read it." 
 
 Col. Heartland read : 
 
 "Enter the path ! there is no grief like hate ! 
 
 No pains like passion, no deceit like sense ! 
 Enter the path ! Far hath he gone whose feet 
 
 Tread down one foul offence, 
 Enter the path ! There bloom the immortal flowers 
 
 Carpeting all the way with joy ! There throng 
 Sweetest and swiftest hours ! 
 
 As he closed, Alice said : "Are not his teachings grand, and are not 
 the consequences comforting and consoling? And, after all, the 
 sweetest and swiftest hours will throng. Our sweet hours, father, 
 are always the swiftest." 
 
 "Yes, my child, and 
 
 Bang ! bang ! And two loud explosions shook the house. Colonej 
 Heartland and Alice sprang to their feet. They looked one moment 
 at each other, and the father, followed by the daughter, ran in the di 
 rection whence the noise came, through the back entrance into the 
 kitchen. The air was freighted with the odor of gunpowder. Ber- 
 tina lay upon the floor, her eyes fixed, and her hands clasped upon 
 her breast. Her chair and work basket were overturned beside her, 
 and Wee Wing stood at the kitchen table, silently peeling potatoes, 
 nor did he cease his work, or raise his eyes as Alice and her father 
 hurriedly entered. 
 
 "Oh, Bertie !" said Alice, dropping on the floor beside her old nurse. 
 "Oh, Bertie ! who has done this ? What is the matter? Some water, 
 quick ! Oh, father, she is dead !" she exclaimed as Col. Heartland 
 handed the water. 
 
 "He no deadee," said Wee Wing, proceeding with his work, "he 
 scaredee. He long tongue heap, you see, ee." 
 
 "What is the meaning of this ?" asked Colonel Heartland sternly, as 
 14 
 
2io Tahoe: or Life in California. 
 
 Bertina began to show signs of life. "Who did it ? Answer me, in 
 stantly ?" And he walked to the now cowering Chinaman ; just then 
 he discovered the bursted and ragged remains of two large Chinese 
 firecrackers under Bertina s overturned chaii. "What does this 
 mean ?" 
 
 "He blowee he upee, he blowee upee," said Wee Wing, shrinking. 
 
 "Did you do it ?" asked Colonel Heartland, "and if so, why did you 
 do it?" 
 
 "Me no blowee he upee ; me lightee matchee ; me putee under 
 chairee ; me getee awayee ; he blowee he selfee upee ; bangee ! bangee! 
 shuee, Bertee fallee downee on flooree likee deadee ; he no deadee, 
 meanee. Wee ! Wee ! Wee !" And he moved behind Colonel Heart 
 land, as he saw Bertina getting up from the floor with the assistance 
 of Alice. 
 
 The negress looked at the Chinaman like a panther ready to spring 
 upon her prey. Colonel Heartland ordered her peremptorily from the 
 room. She sullenly obeyed, wiping the water from her face as she 
 went. 
 
 "Tell me the cause of this, Wee Wing?" said his master, almost 
 smiling in spite of himself. 
 
 "He setee heree ; talkee too muchee, all timee. Callee Wee Wing 
 dogee, negee, all timee. No keepee outee kitchen. Long tongee heap. 
 Wee Wing goee Tahoee Citee> getee firecrackee blowee upee; keepee 
 outee kitchee." 
 
 "You must not do that again, Wee Wing," said Colonel Heartland 
 as Alice, who had been listening, ran laughing away. 
 
 "Me no doee it. Firecracker blowee upee," said the Chinaman ele 
 vating his eyes. 
 
 Colonel Heartland passed out into the hall, and meeting Griffin he 
 turned him back and went to find Alice and Bertina. The negroes 
 were enraged at first, but Alice laughing so heartily, soon brought 
 smiles to their black faces, and it had been many months since so 
 much mirth had been heard in Colonel Heartland s home. 
 
 He forbade Griffin and Bertina ever saying anything about the mat 
 ter to Wee Wing, and told them any attempt at revenge on the China 
 man would meet with his disapprobation. They obeyed, but the eye 
 would gleam like that of a caged tigress at times, and the Chinaman 
 would shy around and seek a safe locality. 
 
Tahoe: or Life in California. 21 
 
 CHAPTER XXXVII. 
 
 "What does the wanton Fancy, mean, 
 By such strange, illusive scene ? 
 
 "Do not let her in, if it is a woman, Burleigh," and Major Pettybone 
 watched his valet go to the door to meet an approaching carriage. "I 
 would not let a woman get into my house for the whole of creation." 
 
 "How are you, my friend," and he found his hand grasped by Wal- 
 dron. 
 
 "I am better, in spite of myself," and the sour expression faded from 
 Major Pettybone s face, as he looked on Waldron s beaming counten 
 ance, and shook his hand in cordial welcome. "Fresh water and a 
 towel," he said to Burleigh, and when they were brought, he ordered 
 refreshments, for he knew his friend had journeyed far. He already felt 
 his genial influence, and though he had resolved, time and again, he 
 would have no earthly attachments of any kind whatever, he felt that 
 Waldron still retained his old place in his heart, and that he was glad 
 indeed of this unexpected visit. 
 
 "Well, how goes the world with you? You do not look strong," 
 he said, glancing at his friend. 
 
 "I am not ; I am simply awaiting my summons, my friend." 
 
 "Why, Pettybone, I never thought to hear that from your lips. I beg 
 of you not to be so gloomy. Cheer up man, cheer up. I ve brought 
 a nice widow friend of mine from San Francisco, with me." 
 
 "Where, in the name of sense, where?" said Major Pettybone, 
 springing hastily to his feet and looking around him. . 
 
 "Don t be excited," replied the lawyer quizzically, she is not here, but 
 gone on to Woodford s. She will be at Heartland s to-morrow. It is 
 the same lady who aided me in bringing Miss Alice home. She 
 is young and beautiful, and good, and was too circumspect to come 
 with me to a bachelor s house." 
 
212 Tahoe: or Life in California. 
 
 "Thank heaven for that ! I did not want her here," replied his host, 
 with a sigh of relief. 
 
 "But you will call on her?" asked his friend. 
 
 "Indeed I ll not ; I ll never call on another woman while I live." 
 
 "Yes, you will. I intend you and Col. Heartland shall both pay her 
 some attention. She is a lovely woman. I want to stir you both out 
 while I am here. This is foolish, Pettybone. I have heard how you 
 have been acting. When did you see Heartland?" 
 
 "Not since ," and Major Pettybone paused. 
 
 "Is it possible," said Waldron. "I am going over there in the morn 
 ing and I claim your company." 
 
 "I cannot possibly go ; I will not, so do not ask me," replied he, much 
 agitated. 
 
 "Well, well; never mind; I ll not argue it," he said growing more 
 serious. He pulled out his handkerchief and a small, dark kid glove 
 fell upon the floor. 
 
 "Is that a woman s glove in my h<>use?" asked the Major, eyeing it 
 nervously. 
 
 "It is the widow s," said Waldron, laughing. "She gave it to me to 
 keep, and when we parted I forgot to give it to her." 
 
 "Burleigh," said the Major, "bring the tongs here quickly; now take 
 that article of female attire in those tongs and carry it down to the 
 fence and throw it into the road. It shall not stay in my house." 
 
 Waldron convulsed with laughter, snatched the offending glove from 
 the tongs, and put it in his pocket. 
 
 "I am sorry, Waldron, you mentioned this widow, or any other fe 
 male to me. I never wish to hear of one, and I certainly will never 
 see one. My feelings were terribly harassed, yesterday, by the recep 
 tion of a letter from a lawyer, in the East, saying that an old friend of 
 mine had died, leaving the guardianship of his child to me, and that 
 child a girl. O, angels^ and ministers of grace, defend us ! It com 
 pletely unstrung my nerves. I will not recover from it for a month. 
 I take a girl to raise ! Not while I have any sense left. People should 
 be more considerate of the feelings of their friends, than to make such 
 requests, even if they are dying. I did control myself long enough to 
 reply to the letter, but it completely prostrated me. Poor fellow ! I 
 loved him well, and if his child were a boy, I would look after him, 
 but the Lord save me from anybody s girl ! So don t, Waldron, don t 
 say anything about me to this widow. I don t want her to take any 
 stock in me ; for if she took a notion, she would see me in spite of 
 creation. If a widow takes a fancy to a man, he might as well come 
 out and surrender, for he will have it to do finally. A man never got 
 
TaJwt: or Life in California. 2 1 3 
 
 ahead of a woman yet. When she makes a trade she always wants 
 boot, and the boot must be twice the value of the original stock in 
 vested," and he breathed hard from nervous exhaustion. He arose 
 and went to his room to recover himself. Waldron, while he felt 
 amused, felt uneasy about his friend. He looked haggard, and his 
 mind was evidently very weak. He knew it would do no good to ar 
 gue with him, but he resolved to lead him back to the world, if possi 
 ble. "It was a sad, sad blow," he said to himself. "It was a sad 
 blow, but he must try and forget the past, and live for the present and 
 future. I wonder if Miss Heartland has recovered her spirits ? But 
 I will see her to-morrow, for my relations to her father are such that 
 she will receive me when I call there, though I am told she has lived 
 a very secluded life since her unfortunate love affair. Mrs. Hopkins 
 will be there, and she is life itself. Miss Alice is a noble, pure mind 
 ed, innocent woman, and it is a great pity she got into a scrape of that 
 kind. A little knowledge of the world would have saved her that bit 
 ter experience. That scoundrel was killed in Tokio, while resisting 
 the officers whom the detectives had put upon his track. I will tell 
 Pettybone and Heartland of it. To Miss Alice I shall say nothing 
 about it, though her father can tell her if he sees fit." 
 
 Major Pettybone returned, and seating himself languidly, Waldron 
 said gaily : 
 
 "I have some good news to tell you, my friend, in regard to myself, 
 as soon as you are prepared to hear it." 
 
 Major Pettybone looked seriously and uneasily at him. His happy 
 face divulged the truth. Then he almost screamed : 
 
 "You are not going to marry a woman ?" 
 
 "Whom else should I marry ? Yes, you have guessed the truth. I 
 am up here for that purpose." 
 
 "And Miss Heartland," said Major Pettybone ; "has she consent 
 ed ?" he added wildly. 
 
 Waldron had unexpectedly struck a cord, on which he resolved to 
 play, for awhile, at least. It might eventually benefit his friend, so he 
 said : 
 
 "Time will tell. I hope I will not be unfortunate. I am extrava 
 gantly happy now, in my prospects ; but if I shall be deceived, I will 
 act the man about it, and bear with fortitude what I cannot help. 
 Two days more of suspense and my happiness will be sealed." 
 
 "Two days !" exclaimed Major Pettybone, growing ghastly. 
 
 Waldron saw he was paining his friend, but he also saw he was re 
 viving the prostrate feelings, that might ultimately bring good to one 
 he appreciated so highly, so he simply said : 
 
214 Tahoe: or Life in California. 
 
 " Yes, such is the case. I am very weary, and would retire now, if 
 it suits your pleasure." Major Pettybone told Burleigh to show him 
 to his room. The good nights were said, and Pettybone was left 
 alone to his reflections. Waldron thought of the course he was pur 
 suing, and believing he was acting for the best, murmured to himself : 
 " I will tell him all to-morrow, after my visit to the Villa," and he gave 
 himself over to refreshing sleep, and was soon busy in dreaming of 
 his own happiness. 
 
 Not so Major Pettybone. He went to his room, but not to sleep. 
 He bathed his fevered head, he walked the floor, and his heart ached 
 as he never thought it would ache again. " And will she at last, be 
 the wife of another?" he said; all the old frenzied love returning. 
 * And that other Waldron? The fellow talks coolly to me about it. 1 
 For the first time in his life, he felt a bitterness towards the genial, 
 warm-hearted Waldron. " It is no wonder he suggested that widow 
 to me ; and two more days ! Oh, heaven, how can I stand it ? Again 
 I have been a dolt, a fool. I should have gone back long ago, and 
 sought the love that should have been mine. She will love Waldron 
 with a purer, holier love, because he sought her, after he had a knowl 
 edge of all that had passed. He has soothed the lacerated feelings, 
 and won the deepest, best and strongest affections of her nature, by 
 sympathy in time of distress. This love is more lasting, it is more to 
 be desired, than a lighter and more frivolous attachment. Oh, God ! 
 I wish it were mine, for I feel life a burden without it. It might have 
 been mine, had not I, in my own selfish bitterness, failed to think 
 properly- of her. I should have forgotten and forgiven the great 
 wrong she did me, and thought less of myself. Perhaps then her 
 heart would have warmed towards me, and I would not have been 
 without affection in my declining years. I will soon be at that age 
 when man must lean upon something that loves him. Oh, God ! 
 but then I must have some pride about this matter. I must not let 
 Waldron know that this old secret still rankles in my heart. I must 
 not let Miss Heartland know, that she can inflict a second wound ; 
 and I must show Col. Heartland that I have never noticed his studious 
 avoidance, I may say, neglect. I will throw aside all remorse, all 
 bitterness. I will go with Waldron to the Villa to-morrow, I will 
 devote my time to Mrs. Hopkins. I will show her every attention, and 
 let Miss Heartland see that her marriage will cause me to regret noth 
 ing. I will conquer myself in this thing if the effort kills me." Thus 
 Major Pettybone passed the night, and reason at last began to dawn 
 upon his soul. 
 
 "You are looking better this morning, my friend," said the lawyer, 
 
Tahoe: or Life in California. 215 
 
 as he followed the Major to the breakfast parlor. " I hope you had a 
 good night s rest ?" 
 
 " I did, and feel better ; much better this morning, so much better 
 that I ve concluded to accept your invitation to accompany you to the 
 Villa to-day. Did you not say the widow would be there ?" 
 
 " Yes," said the keen observer of human nature, as he marked 
 with what care, Major Pettybone had dressed himself, " she will be 
 there, and I shall be so pleased to introduce you;" then he thought 
 it will be fine fun for her ; she would want no better sport," but he 
 kept his thoughts to himself and felt flattered to think what a change 
 his strategy had already wrought in his friend. 
 
 . Encouraged by the interest Major Pettybone manifested, he talked 
 gaily on until Burleigh announced that the carriage was in waiting at 
 the door, to convey them to the Villa. Burleigh watched his master s 
 departure. " Umph !" he exclaimed, " he s dressed up ; cloth clothes- 
 white vest, kid gloves. Gone to get into trouble again." 
 
216 TaJioe: or Life in California. 
 
 CHAPTER XXXVIII. 
 
 "It is jealousy s peculiar nature 
 To swell small things to great, nay, out of naught 
 To conspire much; and then to lose its reason 
 Amid the hideous phantoms it has formed." 
 
 Alice and Mrs, Hopkins were seated upon the sofa, and Col. Heart 
 land in a large chair, in front of them. The conversation flagged a. 
 moment, when Mrs. Hopkins and Col. Heartland both noticed the 
 deadly pallor that spread like a flash over Alice s face, succeeded by a 
 rich crimson color. 
 
 "Two gentlemen," she said, "are coming," and Col. Heartland arose 
 and went to meet them, while Mrs. Hopkins peeped through the 
 window. 
 
 "One," she said, "is Mr. Waldron, but who is the other? O ! he is 
 so handsome !" and she cast her eyes upward and laid her hand upon 
 her heart, as only widows can. 
 
 Major Pettybone shook Col. Heartland cordially by the hand, spoke 
 kindly to Griffin, who stood gaping in the hall, and following his host 
 and Waldron into the parlor, he took Alice s hand gently, for a mo 
 ment, and as he bowed low, was presented to Mrs. Hopkins. He 
 seated himself beside the latter lady, and was soon engaged in a 
 spirited conversation. 
 
 Waldron, with equal gallantry, took possession of Alice, and Col- 
 Heartland conversed first with one couple and then the other. Major 
 Pettybone had made no more than one or two casual remarks to 
 Alice; her pride came to her relief, and she gave Waldron her 
 undivided attention. They conversed in low tones, and even left the 
 room for a short promenade. Major Pettybone suffered agony, but 
 he put forth all his conversational powers for the widow s entertain 
 ment, and sustained his apparent indifference to the last. The call 
 
Tahoe: or Life in California. 217 
 
 ended, he shook hands gaily with his new acquaintance and promised 
 to call upon her, when he next visited the city. He took Alice s 
 hand again for a moment, and after shaking hands with Col. Heart 
 land, and a "thank you" to his invitation to visit them again, he stood 
 waiting on Waldron, who was now in low converse with their host. 
 
 "I wish you all the happiness possible," he heard Col. Heartland 
 say, as they rejoined the party. Adieus were again spoken, and the 
 gentlemen left. Alice s heart was heavy. Major Pettybone s indiffer 
 ence wounded her deeply, and tears were filling her eyes, when her 
 father said : 
 
 "Did you know Waldron will marry to-morrow evening?" 
 
 "Marry !" exclaimed Alice in her surprise, forgetting her own morti 
 fication. "Marry ! whom is he to marry?" 
 
 "My little sweet-heart, Miss Ella Woodford." 
 
 "I knew it," said Mrs. Hopkins, "but I wanted him to tell it him 
 self. I came up with him to be present at the marriage." 
 
 "Ella should have told me," said Alice, pettishly. " It seems to me 
 there are no such things as friends. Mr. Waldron had a half dozen 
 good chances to tell me himself, but said not a word ahout it." Her 
 mind revetted again to Major Pettybone s treatment, and tears came 
 to her eyes. 
 
 " Do not mind it, dear," said Mrs. Hopkins, noticing her distress 
 while her father, a keen reader of human nature, drew his mortified 
 child to his own heart. In his secret heart he rejoiced, yet feared for 
 the results of these manifestations, 
 
 "Here s a note for Miss Alice," said Griffin, coming in. Alice 
 wiped her eyes, and looking at it exclaimed : " It is from Ella ; I 
 thought it strange." It ran thus : 
 
 "DEAR ALICE: I have been trying to come and se you for two 
 weeks, to tell you that I would be married to-morrow night, but could 
 not find time. Oh, I ve been so busy! I told Mrs. Hopkins not to 
 tell you, as I wanted to do so myself. We will have only a marriage ; 
 no further ceremonies or display. Then we will leave immediately for 
 San Francisco. I would have told you earlier, but I did not think we 
 would be married for several months yet, but Mr. Waldron seemed so 
 opposed to a farther postponement; besides, he said the courts came 
 off at the time I set for the wedding, and it would be very inconven 
 ient for him to leave home. So you see, I have let him have his way, 
 and I expect he will want to rule the rest of his life, but I will show 
 him about that. Do return with Mrs. Hopkins this evening. Tell 
 Col. Heartland I waited a long time to be an old man s darling too 
 bad, too bad! Mr. Waldron will bring Major Pettybone over to see 
 us married. I hope he will fall in love with Mrs. Hopkins. She would 
 just suit him, and it will be pity for such a handsome, gifted man to 
 become a recluse ; half the world of women are crazy about him, too, 
 
218 Tahoe: or Life in California. 
 
 though many of them have never seen him, but only heard of him. 
 Gracious ! what a dash he could cut, if he only wanted to. Come 
 with Mrs. Hopkins. I send this by the carriage that goes for her. I 
 want you to spend the last day I stay in my maiden home with me. 
 Tell your father to come to-morrow evening. 
 
 Fondly, devotedly, truly, everlastingly and happily yours, 
 
 ELLA WOODFORD." 
 
 Alice read the note and handed it to her father. Her mind was 
 preoccupied until Mrs. Hopkins recalled her to herself by saying, " I 
 had better go ; will you not go with me ?" 
 
 "Do not go until the afternoon," said father and daughter in one 
 breath. " You will have plenty of time to reach Woodford s before 
 night," continued Alice, " even if you do not start before four o clock." 
 Col. Heartland ordered Griffin to have the horses put up, and the 
 widow reluctantly consented to remain a few hours longer beneath the 
 hospitable roof. Alice became so abstracted she could not entertain hen 
 but she did not care for that, for Col. Heartland s musical voice and 
 fine conversational powers interested her exceedingly. 
 
 Alice, finding that she was unobserved, stole quietly to her own 
 room to think awhile. 
 
 " Bertie," she said, " don t clean up in here any more to-day ; I 
 want to be quiet, just a little while. Please go down stairs and find 
 something to do down there." 
 
 " What s de matter wid my baby now ?" said the old negress, glan 
 cing at Alice s flushed face uneasily ; " got feber agin ?" 
 
 " No ; go along please ; I only want to be quiet, I am so tired." 
 
 Bertina left the room grumbling. " Don t want her old nuss bout 
 her tall ! Wonder what s up now ? Ain t grebing bout Mr. Wal- 
 dron, I hopes. Dat carriage driber down stairs says dat Mr. Waldron 
 am going to marry Miss Ella to-morrow night. I s glad of it. I don t 
 want him smirking round here ; he s too smirky. Den I don t see 
 why dey don t let my poor baby lone. If I had bin Major Pettybone 
 I would neber come pokin back here, no more, after all dat disgrace 
 ful discouragement what he got. People does curious here anyways. 
 Now dars dat widow Hopkins," (she continued as she passed the par 
 lor,) "come here to de house of a single gem men. If she had done 
 sich a trick in Virginny she would be onrespected the rest of her born 
 life. Dar she is do, just spendin her breath tryin to ketch Massa 
 Heartland, and I s feered she mought ; cause she s awful purty and 
 smiling-like. She is a widder, too, which am a great advantage. Now 
 Miss Hubble was an ole maid and powerful humly. But a widder 
 knows how to manage things ; besides, a gem man doesn t want to 
 marry any oman ceptin ebery oder man is tryin to get her, too. A 
 
Tahoe: or Life in California. 219 
 
 widder can make bleave dey s all arter her, den de man what marries 
 her links he s done wonders ; when p aps he s got some ole gal what 
 nobody else railly wood hab ; but he s satisfactional, kase he bleeved 
 he has cut de last one of dem out. Umph ! Umph ! Only de wim- 
 men knows what fools men be ; and dat purty widder, in dar, knows 
 betterer dan any ob dem, I bet. Ah, yes ! Dat s what s de matter wid 
 Miss Alice, de widder is courtin her pa. I ll tell Griffin bout it," and 
 she went on to her room. 
 
 In the meantime, Alice Heartland had locked her door, and throw 
 ing herself across her bed, gave way to her pent-up feelings. "Oh !" 
 she said, between her sobs, "everybody seems to be happy except 
 me. I wish I were dead ; I do, I do. Major Petiybone has forgot 
 ten all the past. He cares nothing for me now, and I have just be 
 gun to really appreciate him. He is already in love with that schem 
 ing widow. She says she came up here to be present at Mr. Wal- 
 dron s marriage, but I do not believe a word of it. I am learning 
 something of the world, in spite of my father. She is now trying to 
 make my good father think she is pleased with him, but it is to de 
 ceive me. She is after Major Pettybone, and no one else, and Mr. 
 Waldron is scheming for her. He told me he brought him here to see 
 her ; that he hoped he would fancy her ; that she would make him a 
 good wife, and all that sort of thing. I hate that lawyer, yes, I do ; 
 and I hate that widow. When she first came, I felt grateful to her 
 for coming home with me from San Francisco that time ; but now, I 
 hate her. She is full of plans and tricks. Then there is Ella, whom 
 I have always loved so much, in her happiness, seems to have for 
 gotten all about me. She, too, is trying to make a match between 
 Major Pettybone and that hateful, designing woman down stairs. 
 Even my father neglected me for her to-day. Oh, how I do hate her ! 
 Go with her to Ella s this evening ? No, indeed I won t ! I will not 
 go there at all. Yes, I will, too, because if I don t go to that wedding. 
 Major Pettybone will think I am grieving because of Mr. Waldron s 
 marriage. I will go to-morrow evening to the marriage, and that s 
 all. I will show him and all the rest that I care nothing for Mr. Wal 
 dron, or him either. I am sorry I talked with Mr. Waldron so much, 
 and seemed so interested in him, when they called this morning. I am 
 afraid, self-conceited man that he is, he will think I fancy him, when I 
 was only doing it to show Major Pettybone I did not care how much 
 he flirted with that abominable widow. Pretty indeed ! Her eyes re 
 mind me of a snake s. I am afraid Major Pettybone will think I like 
 Mr. Waldron. No, I reckon he will think Mr. Waldron was telling 
 me about his expected marriage. Of course he will, but I ll play the 
 
22O Tahoe: or Life in California. 
 
 indifferent. I ll show them all to-morrow night. Yes, and I heard 
 him tell Mrs. Hopkins he would call and see her in San Francisco, and 
 if he goes there now, it will be to see her, as he seldom or never visits 
 the city. She came up here to toll him off, and between herself and 
 Mr. Waldron, I believe they will do it. Oh ! Oh ! how my heart 
 aches!" 
 
 She wept and was truly miserable. Finally, remembering what 
 was due her guest, she arose and bathed her tear-stained face, pre 
 paratory to going below. Standing before her mirror, she saw reflect 
 ed in it, something gleaming behind her on the floor between the 
 wall and the carpet, at the farther side of the room she turned, 
 crossed the room, and picked it up. It was the ring that Major Petty, 
 bone had given her, and which she had dropped on the night she fled 
 with Aldridge. She gazed sadly on it. It brought back to memory 
 the many vows that had accompanied the gift. "Oh ! I ll give it to 
 him to-morrow. I will, and show how little I care. He has no feel 
 ing for me, and I should have none for him." Thus thinking, she 
 put the ring upon her finger, turned the jewel inward, and descend 
 ing the stairs, joined Mrs. Hopkins and her father in the parlor. 
 They were as much interested in each other as when she left, 
 and only glancing towards them, she seated herself with a book. 
 They continued conversing pleasantly until dinner was announced. 
 
 The dinner over, Mrs. Hopkins prepared to return to Ella Wood- 
 ford s. 
 
 " Are you not going with me ? " she asked of Alice. 
 
 " Not now ; father and myself will be over to-morrow evening. 
 Tell Ella I did not write because I want to give her my congratula 
 tions in person." 
 
 " I am so disappointed that you will not go to-day," she said, as she 
 kissed Alice sweetly. 
 
 Col. Heartland escorted her to the carriage. Seated in it, she said, 
 smilingly : 
 
 " I ll see you again to-morrow ; till then, good-bye." 
 
 She placed her little, soft, white hand in his, looked a moment in his 
 eyes, and ordered the coachman to drive on. 
 
 Col. Heartland stood looking after the carriage until it left his en 
 closure, then walked slowly back to the house, thinking : 
 
 " A lovely, attractive woman, indeed. It will be somewhat lonely 
 here without her. I almost wish she had not come." 
 
 He retired to his chamber, and, throwing himself across the bed, 
 tried to sleep, but her ringing, silvery voice was in his ears. He 
 mused over all that she had said. He took a book, but could not read. 
 
Tahoe: or Life in California. 221 
 
 Her fair face and sparkling eyes were between him and its pages. 
 For once in his life he forgot his daughter. He did not know when 
 darkness closed around his habitation. He walked the floor until a 
 late hour. Suddenly thinking of himself, he went in search of Alice. 
 He found her door ajar, and entered. She lay asleep upon her bed, 
 with Ella Woodford s note open in her hand. A light burning upon a 
 stand near the head of her bed threw its light over her fair, tear-stained 
 features. The father came near, and leaning over his child, printed 
 upon her still, pink lips a kiss. A sob shook her frame. " I have a 
 secret from my father again," she murmured, almost inaudibly. 
 " When I did not love Major Pettybone I kept it from him ; now that 
 I love him, oh ! so much, I am ashamed to tell him." And she tossed 
 restlessly. 
 
 Col. Heartland saw how matters stood. He waited to see if she 
 would speak again. She did not. He kissed her again tenderly, 
 turned the lamp low, placed it on the hearth, and, closing the door, 
 went to his own chamber for the night not to sleep, but to muse, to 
 think, to spend the time in revery. 
 
222 Tahoe: or Life in California. 
 
 CHAPTER XXXIX. 
 
 " Oh! it is hard to put the heart, 
 Alone and desolate, away. 
 To curl the Up in pride, and part 
 With the kind thoughts of yesterday." 
 
 Major Pettybone and Waldron, having had early tea, retired to their 
 rooms, each agreeing that rest was necessary, physically and mentally. 
 But, in reality, both wished to be alone. Each had his own thoughts, 
 and desired an uninterrupted indulgence of them. 
 
 " It is too bad, too bad," thought Major Pettybone, "that my life 
 should be wrecked in this way. Miss Heartland ought not to be any 
 thing to me now. She is the affianced wife of Waldron. The scamp 
 who robbed me of my first happiness is dead, Waldron tells me. A 
 truce to his memory. I should not have acted as I did. She was 
 young, totally ignorant of all man s chicanery, and a proper course 
 pursued by me might have brought happiness to her and myself sub 
 sequently. But it is too late ; regrets are vain. I must follow the life 
 I have chosen. I know it is not Waldron s fault that I am thus situated, 
 but I almost hate him. He did not supplant me; he only took the affec 
 tion that I never went back to seek. I allowed the bitterness of my 
 heart to become aroused to the exclusion of my better nature. I knew 
 not I cared aught for her until I found another had won the prize. It 
 is too late, too late ! But pride must sustain me ; I will go and see 
 them married. I will devote myself to the bright, chatty widow, and 
 the world will never know how deeply I feel the blow. I never saw 
 her look so lovely as she did to-day, and she seemed so easy with 
 Waldron. If 1 had not been such a fool as to shut myself up here 
 like a hermit in his cell, I might have heard something of this thing 
 before. She never cared for me ; yet, to-day, I felt if she only appre 
 ciated me as she seems to appreciate Waldron, how happy I could be. 
 
Tahoe: or Life in California. 223 
 
 Fortunate, most fortunate, man ! But I feel dislike for him knocking 
 at the door of my heart. I will be strong and true to myself, and just 
 to him in this thing. I must and will forget ; pride will help me." 
 
 In an adjoining chamber Waldron reviewed the day s transactions. 
 The practiced eye of the attorney had left unobserved nothing that 
 had passed. 
 
 " It is working all right," he said. " My strategy will bring about 
 more happiness even than I thought. Miss Heartland loves Petty- 
 bone. She tried to conceal it to-day. I would have told her of my 
 expected marriage, but I feared she would not play her part with me 
 for fear others afterward might think she was disappointed by my 
 marriage. Mrs. Hopkins evidently made her jealous, which jealousy 
 is the best cement wounded love can have ; it holds things together. 
 Mrs. Hopkins was innocent of the part she was playing. I intended 
 telling her, and asking her co-operation, but I found that the character 
 she assumed, in a little play she was acting for her own benefit, fitted into 
 my little drama so well that I let her alone. I can read that widow 
 like a book. She was using every endeavor to make Col. Heartland 
 believe that she was delighted with Major Pettybone. That was her 
 part, but in playing it she succeeded in making Miss Alice believe she 
 was really determined to captivate him. Col. Heartland was taken in 
 much more easily than I thought he would be. He is evidently inter 
 ested. It has had the desired effect on all parties, so far. Pettybone 
 is nearly crazy. To-night I thought I would tell him who I am 
 going to marrv, but then I thought one more night of anxiety would 
 benefit him exceedingly, and rejuvenate his feelings. The metamor 
 phosis is gread, indeed. Yesterday he was the most inveterate woman- 
 hater I ever saw ; to-day he is completely changed. He was sour, 
 bitter in his feelings, and careless in his dress. This morning he came 
 out looking ten years younger, and dressed as a gentleman should be. 
 Poor fellow ! his heart is writhing now, and I know it ; but it is better 
 for him. Heartland, too, is in misery, instead of sleeping. Miss 
 Alice is miserable ; but Mrs. Hopkins is as cheerful as a woman can 
 be whose future is still in doubt. Miss Ella and myself are the only 
 happy, really happy, ones, for love and trust are between us, and we 
 each understand the other. I think, as matters stand, the result will 
 benefit all, and end in much happiness. In fixing up a cure-all rem 
 edy, of this kind, there is no ingredient so powerful as a pretty 
 widow. Put her in, administer the medicine, and it will certainly 
 cure. She amuses me exceedingly, with her little deceptive arts. All 
 the way as we came from San Francisco she talked to me of Major 
 Pettybone, when I knew her mind and heart were on Heartland. She 
 
224 Tahoe: or Life in California. 
 
 would jest and ask me about Pettybone, talk charmingly about her 
 future prospects, but this did not hide from me her real feelings. 
 She has liked Col. Heartland since the time she visited his house when 
 she accompanied his runaway daughter home. She has vainly sought 
 an excuse ever bince to come again ; and, knowing her wishes, I invi 
 ted her up on this occasion. She came for his heart, and, if I am not 
 greatly mistaken, she is smart enough to carry it back with her. I 
 think she set him thinking to-day. Seldom, if ever before, has he 
 been exposed to the fascinations of a more charming woman ; and I 
 sincerely hope he may yield. It will be for his good. If I had not 
 thought so, I am too good and true a friend of his to have paved the 
 way for her. I knew I could never get him to San Francisco ; so, the 
 opportunity offering, I brought her up here. We shall see, we shall 
 see." And his happy thoughts turned on what more nearly concerned 
 him. At last sleep, full of pleasant dreams,, twined her folds around 
 him and held him in sweet subjection. 
 
 The sun was high in the heavens when Burleigh came to call him to 
 breakfast. Major Pettybone, having been up for some time, was just 
 returning from a stroll on the lawn, when he was joined by his friend. 
 
 "Good morning," said the latter, "you must have slept well the early 
 part of the night, to arise so much earlier than I, this morning." He 
 knew human nature and his friend well enough to know that sleep had 
 not visited his couch, b :t he thought he would help Major Pettybone 
 conceal his feelings by appearing to know nothing of them. 
 
 "I rose early to take a little fresh air, so that I might feel bright and 
 well upon your wedding day," said Major Pettybone, with a forced 
 calmness, as he led the way to breakfast. Waldron marked the pale 
 face and quivering lip. 
 
 "I will relieve all his anxieties after breakfast," said he to himself. 
 
 " After all, I did not deceive him. He took it for granted that I am 
 to marry Miss Heartland, and feeling I could make his mistake benefit 
 him, I have done so. All will be right to-day." 
 
 As the day advanced Mr. Pettybone grew more nervous, almost sick 
 His sufferings became intense. Waldron saw he must relieve him o 
 the misapprehension under which he labored. He did not intend his 
 friend should know he noticed his agitation, so when they sat together 
 conversing, he said carelessly : 
 
 "Mrs. Hopkins will return with Miss Ella and myself to San Fran 
 cisco." 
 
 " Is Miss Ella going to San Francisco, too?" asked Major Pettybone > 
 taking more interest. 
 
 " Of course, man ; do you suppose I am going to leave my wife 
 behind when I go back to-morrow ?" 
 
Tahoe: or Life in California. 225 
 
 Major Pettybone looked intently at him. " Do I understand you to 
 mean that you are going to marry Miss Ella Woodford?" he asked, 
 hoarsely. 
 
 " Yes, sir, I am, to-night ; whom else did you think I was going to 
 marry ?" 
 
 The reaction was too much. Major Pettybone rose and walked 
 away. 
 
 " Thank heaven !" he ejaculated, when out of hearing. " This bitter 
 cup has passed from my lips !" 
 
 Waldron sat on the gallery with his feet on the bannisters, congratu 
 lating himself upon the success of his little scheme, and the happiness 
 he had just conferred upon his friend. 
 
 Major Pettybone remained some time in his chamber, but came 
 forth upon the arrival of the minister, who had come to accompany 
 them to the wedding and perform the marriage ceremony. 
 
 Waldron watched the bright smiles that played over his friend s 
 face, and knew full well that joy and hope had come home to his heart 
 again. Indeed, he could scarcely await the coming hour. 
 
 " If I did not know, I would think you were the expectant bride 
 groom," said the good natured minister to his host. 
 " Why so ?" asked the now happy man. 
 
 " Because you look so delighted, I may say, enthusiastically happy." 
 " He do, for sure," said Burleigh to himself. "He looks like he did 
 that night he went to the Villa, to git what he didn t got. It ll be too 
 bad now if he turns round and goes and done gits married, and leaves 
 me with the bag to hold. Wonder what s up ? Something, for sure. 
 Dey been talking a heap about that Frisco widder. I hope he ain t 
 got no idea there, for I ll git married, sure as he does. I likes to do 
 like him, when it is reasonable ; but if he marries a widder, I can t, for 
 sure. I will never marry a widder, dey knows too much ; dey manage 
 a fellow and he don t know it. It is onreasonable to marry a widder, 
 and I shan t do it, even if the Major do. I believe I ll let the female 
 women alone. I s got marks on my back yet what miner Parker put 
 there bout that gal of his n I didn t git. That was a most unjust thing 
 as ever was. No more sich for me," and he went whistling to the 
 carriage-house. 
 
 15 
 
226 TaJwe: or Life in California. 
 
 CHAPTER XL. 
 
 l I do not love much ceremony ; 
 Suits in love should not, 
 Like suits in law, be rock d from term to term." 
 
 The guests were assembled. The bride and groom stood before 
 the minister ; the words: "I pronounce you man and wife," fell from 
 his lips, and Miss Ella Woodford was Mrs. Waldron. A moment s 
 hush, and then came the congratulations. With all the sincerity of 
 her nature, Alice embraced her friend, kissed her fondly, then shaking 
 hands warmly with Mr. Waldron, she moved away to make room for 
 others approaching: as she turned to see who followed, Major Petty- 
 bone walked up to the happy couple, with Mrs. Hopkins leaning upon 
 his arm. Alice watched them with eager interest. She had never 
 seen Major Pettybone look so handsome. His splendid physique and 
 courtly bearing, attracted the attention of all present, and his smiling 
 countenance bore testimony of his happiness. Mrs. Hopkin s black 
 velvet dress, set off to advantage her queenly form. Her sparkling 
 eyes, scarcely less bright than the diamonds she wore ; her glossy 
 hair, braided becomingly, and waving around her high, pure forehead, 
 united to her vivacious manners, cast a charm about her that was felt 
 and acknowledged by all. 
 
 The eyes of the company followed them, as they offered their con 
 gratulations. Major Pettybone clasped Waldron s hand tightly, fer 
 vently in his own, to better express the happiness he really wished his 
 friend, while Waldron looked knowingly into his beaming face, and 
 shook his head with a meaning smile, which Major Pettybone inter 
 preted as having reference to the beautiful woman at Us side, and 
 congratulated himself that he could hide his real feelings, even from 
 this keen observer of human nature. He laughingly offered to kiss 
 the bride, but she gayly repulsed him. Mrs. Hopkins poured forth 
 
Tahoe: or Life in California. 227 
 
 her congratulations with all the elegance and grace of an accomplish 
 ed society woman. She greeted Ella warmly, affectionately, and turn 
 ing to Waldron, said : 
 
 "You ought to be, and are, I believe, the happiest being living." 
 "I hope, ere long," he replied, "that you will be able to measure 
 my happiness by your own. You will then think that I am not the 
 happiest, but one of the happiest of mortals." 
 
 "Ah ! bless that time," she said, with a tragic air, placing her hand 
 upon her heart, and slyly, cunningly, glancing toward her escort. 
 But Waldron s quick eye met hers, and defiantly refused to rece ive 
 the intimation she intended. He shook his head slowly, significant 
 ly, and turned his eyes, followed by hers, in the direction of Colonel 
 Heartland, who stood at the further end of the drawing room, looking 
 toward them. She blushed deeply, and accompanied by Major Petty- 
 bone, retreated to the opposite side of the room ; thence, through a 
 window to the portico. Something white, just behind one of the 
 columns, attracted his attention. He looked closely it was Alice 
 Her face was turned from them. The pale, faint rays of moonlight 
 floated over her lovely person. She stood, unconscious that they 
 were near, absorbed in her own reflections. Major Pettybone placed 
 himself between Mrs. Hopkins and Alice, and aided by the column, 
 completely concealed her from that lady. 
 
 " When do you return to San Francisco ?" he asked. 
 " To-morrow." 
 
 " Oh, that that to-morrow would never come!" throwing all the frenzy 
 he could command into his voice, he repeated : " That to-morrow I 
 hope I may never see." He heard a faint moan behind him, and re 
 flecting upon the unmanly course he was pursuing, he said, suddenly 
 taking her hand, " Let s go in, it is too cool here, besides, we shall be 
 missed." 
 
 She observed Col. Heartland as they reached the drawing-room 
 door, and turning her bright face toward Major Pettybone, she gave 
 him her undivided attention, seemingly totally oblivious of the pres 
 ence of others. 
 
 " What a handsome couple," said one. 
 " It will surely be a match," said another. 
 
 " Never," thought Waldron, as he saw Col. Heartland s eyes follow 
 them restlessly. " Never, if Heartland is true to himself." 
 
 Major Pettybone grew nervous ; his fair companion was becoming a 
 burden to him. One that he would willingly shift, if he could. " Col. 
 Heartland he said," as he was passing that gentleman, "Mrs. Hopkins 
 says she will return to San Francisco to-morrow; can you add your 
 entreaties to mine, and try to prevent such a calamity?" 
 
228 Tahoe: or Life in California. 
 
 " If my poor petition is worth aught, it certainly shall be filed," re 
 plied Col. Heartland, joining them. " Major Pettybone you have mo 
 nopolized to-night," he continued, "and I think I may now justly 
 claim Mrs. Hopkins company for awhile." 
 
 " Perhaps that monopoly may have caused her to confirm her decis 
 ion," replied Major Pettybone, " and I will now leave you, that you 
 may use your endeavors to induce her to prolong her stay among us- 
 I have so signally failed, that I feel it will be worse than useless to 
 repeat my entreaties," and, bowing gallantly, he left them and passed 
 into the hall, through the outer door into the open air. He ran his 
 fingers through his hair and paused a moment to collect his scattered 
 thoughts ; then wending his way around the house to the portico, 
 where he had left Alice, he found her seated upon the steps, with her 
 face buried in her hands. She heard not his footsteps, so softly he 
 trod. He knelt, unobserved, beside her and whispered, " Miss Heart 
 land." 
 
 " How dare you intrude ?" she exclaimed, springing to her feet. 
 
 "Pardon intrusion, if you will so misname it," he said, " but believe 
 me, it is a feeling of deep and abiding interest that has brought me to 
 your side." 
 
 " How dare you talk this way to me," rising to her full height and 
 wiping her tear-stained eyes. " How can you, when, but a few moments 
 since, you stood there and evinced such a deep, passionate interest in 
 another ?" 
 
 " Will you listen to me ? Will you believe a few sincere words I 
 have to say ? Will you forgive me when I tell you I knew you were 
 there, that you could hear all that I might say, and that I said it for 
 your hearing ; that I started to play a part that was foreign to my 
 nature ; that I had scarcely begun when I regretted yielding to the 
 dastardly temptation to deceive ? I determined to act in an honest, 
 straightforward manner, let results be what they may. For this pur 
 pose I led Mrs. Hopkins back to the parlor, and have now sought you 
 to make this explanation and ask your forgiveness if I caused you 
 pain." 
 
 "You cause me pain ? How dare you think such a thing ? Do you 
 suppose I care aught for you ? Go, seek Mrs. Hopkins, finish your 
 interrupted conversation with her, nor seek to deceive me by such 
 prevarications. Did I not hear your very voice tremble as you begged 
 her not to go ? Go to her ; leave me ! Your self-conceit is only 
 equaled by your presumption, Go, I say ! Go !" and she pointed to 
 the parlor. 
 
 Thinking it would be useless to try to calm her or remove her sus- 
 
Tahoe: or Life in California. 229 
 
 picions, he turned and walked silently away. Just before entering the 
 parlor he heard a whisper : "Major Pettybone !" He looked. Alice 
 was behind him ; she retreated, he followed ; she sat down upon the 
 steps ; he knelt beside her ; both for a time were silent. At length 
 she said : 
 
 "Here is your ring, take it, and now give it to Mrs. Hopkins." 
 
 He took it, rose mechanically and started. Again he reached the 
 door. A voice said ; 
 
 " Come back ! Please come back !" 
 
 He obeyed ; again they were on the steps. 
 
 "What are you going to do with that ring?" she asked, at length. 
 
 "You told me to give it to Mrs. Hopkins," was the reply. 
 
 " Well, why did you not do it ?" 
 
 " Except to obey you, I do not care to do it." 
 
 " What are you going to do with it, then ?" 
 
 " Give it to Mrs. Hopkins, I suppose, and obey orders." 
 
 " No you are not ; it is mine, and you shall not." 
 
 " Then will you allow me to do with it what pleases me best," he 
 said, softly. 
 
 She said nothing ; he took the small, unresisting white hand in his, 
 slipped the ring upon the finger, then raising it to his lips, gently held 
 it there a moment. 
 
 "Major Pettybone," she said, "you won t think I care anything 
 about you, will you ?" 
 
 " Not unless it is your wish." 
 
 " And you won t love Mrs. Hopkins," she said, weeping. 
 
 " No, I will not," and clasping her to his heart he told her how fer 
 vently he loved her ; how he had suffered for her sake ; how he wished 
 to forget and forgive the past, and asked her to be his wife. 
 
 She replied, by clinging more closely to his heart, and their tears of 
 joy mingled together. But an hour had passed, and it was time for 
 them to return to the drawingroom. She bade him retrace his steps 
 around the house, while she entered alone. Waldron came to meet 
 her, and reading all that had happened, in her contented though swollen 
 face, he congratulated himself upon his successful strategy. He led 
 her to Ella s side, and they were conversing gayly about their future 
 in San Francisco, when Major Pettybone entered at an opposite door. 
 He walked carelessly up to them and said : " Ladies, I am glad we 
 meet again." 
 
 "Yes," said Waldron, mischievously, "if two persons start from 
 the same point in opposite directions and go around the world, they 
 are apt to meet again." One glance sufficed to convince Major Petty- 
 bone of his friend s meaning, and he changed the subject. 
 
230 Tahoe: or Life in California. 
 
 Most of the company had departed, ere Alice was aware, and now 
 it was full time they should go. But Col. Heartland ? Where was he 
 all this time ? 
 
 " Mr. Waldron, will you find my father, and tell him it is time to 
 go ?" requested Alice. 
 
 "Col. Heartland, Miss Alice wishes to see you, I am sorry I had to 
 interrupt your tete-a-tete" he apologized, as he found his friend and 
 Mrs. Hopkins conversing in the bay-window of the front parlor. 
 
 " No interruption at all ;" said the lady, coming forth and looking- a 
 little embarrassed, as she found most of the guests had departed. 
 
 " I am glad to hear it," whispered the lawyer ; " that is, I am glad 
 there was no interruption, until matters were arranged." 
 
 A deep blush suffused her cheeks, and she shook her head in a 
 knowing manner. Col. Heartland was some distance from them, but 
 Waldron felt that matters had taken a serious turn, and said no more. 
 He contented himself with thinking of the happiness he had succeeded 
 in securing to all parties, and of his own bright future. Alice bade all 
 an affectionate good bye. Col. Heartland, gayly bantered the bride for 
 jilting him in so cruel a manner, and saying good night to all, entered 
 his carriage, much surprised to find Major Pettybone already seated 
 therein. They drove to the Villa. Major Pettybone s carriage fol 
 lowed, and seeing Alice safely home, he bade her farewell, and reached 
 Pettybone Hall at day-break. 
 
TaJioe: or Life in California. 231 
 
 CHAPTER XLI. 
 
 "Time, at length, sets all things even." 
 
 Alice slept but little. Her agitation had been too great ; her happi 
 ness too full for her delicate, nervous organization. She planned and 
 replanned the best method of informing her father of her renewed 
 engagement and met him in the morning with a confiding smile and 
 loving kiss. A faint expression of pain passed over his troubled feat 
 ures, but faded away as he thought of his own happiness. Both had 
 been too much engaged with their own feelings, to realize the great 
 change that must necessarily follow if they carried their proposed 
 plans into effect. Up to this time no thought had been given to do 
 mestic ties. None to social relations, by either party. No blessing, 
 but it must have its accompanying pain. And now came the strug 
 gle the great conflict in the hearts of both. How were they to break 
 their heart secrets to each other ? How to make the acknowledge 
 ment that love had crept between them, and, though still dear, they 
 must occupy a secondary place in each other s hearts. Oh ! that feel 
 ing of being first in the hearts of those we love ! Who hath not felt 
 it ? Secure in the affections of those who are allied to us by the ties 
 of kindred ; resisting all other usurpations, we tread the flowery path 
 of life ; we gather the bright blossoms, and inhale their fragrance, nor 
 give a thought to coming changes. Then love thrusts his shining face 
 between the maiden and her much cherished father. Little by little 
 he spreads his wings, and finally sways his golden sceptre. The 
 trembling heart throbs, flutters and yields. The sire s arms are 
 around his child, her face is buried in his bosom. His mighty heart 
 shakes his manly frame, but she knows not the cause of his great 
 agitation. She knows not that he, too, has a secret to impart. One 
 
232 Tahoe: or Life in California. 
 
 that he fears will be most painful to this child, whose life has been so 
 nearly his own. 
 
 "Father !" It came low scarcely audible. He drew her more 
 closely to him, and asked : 
 
 "What is it that troubles my child ?" 
 
 "Father, Major Pettybone has asked me to " 
 
 "What was my daughter s reply ?" 
 
 "I consented, provided you " 
 
 "My blessings rest upon you, my child ;" and he gave a sigh of re 
 lief. Printing a kiss of joy upon her forehead, he pressed her once 
 more, passionately, to his heart. 
 
 "But, father, you ll remain with me always ?" she said. "This need 
 not separate us. The love I feel for you is as great, of its kind as 
 that I give him of its kind. Deep and lasting both shall be, and it 
 shall be the pleasure and business of my life to render you two 
 happy." 
 
 Colonel Heartland stood silent for a moment. The obstacle that 
 had given him so much anxiety was now removed, and he felt, that at 
 last, he might speak. He knew that Alice felt more than ordinary in 
 terest in Major Pettybone. That gentleman s indifference and per 
 sistent reserve had mortified him and chilled the warm feelings of 
 friendship he had always cherished for him. His attentions to Mrs. 
 Hopkins had annoyed him, both on his own and his daughter s ac 
 count ; and now, that he could see the whole matter in so clear a 
 light, the burden was lifted from his soul, and he spoke : 
 
 " Your happiness shall be yours, my child. The care of your father 
 will not, in future, devolve upon you. It costs him no pain to yield 
 his treasure to the keeping of one so noble and so true. As you say, 
 each love will be as great of its kind, for I, too, am to be married." 
 
 Alice struggled from his arms and, looking him steadily in the face, 
 wondered if she had misunderstood him. He approached her again, 
 took both her hands in his, " Does my daughter object to my wed 
 ding Mrs. Hopkins?" 
 
 The convulsed heart for a moment checked her utterance , and try 
 ing to crush out selfishness, she replied, throwing her arms around his 
 neck: 
 
 " No, no, dear father, if it will make you happy." 
 
 " It will ; happier than I ever expected to be again in this life." 
 
 They looked up and Major Pettybone was entering the door, shown 
 in by Griffin. He shook the hands of each, and still clasping Alice s, 
 he led her to the sofa, followed by Col. Heartland, 
 
Tahoe: or Life in California. 233 
 
 " My blessings on you both, my children, and to your care, my noble 
 and tried friend, I commit my greatest earthly treasure." 
 
 " The trust shall be a most sacred one," said Major Pettybone, 
 rising. 
 
 " And now," continued Col. Heartland, " I wish to communicate to 
 you, what I have just told my daughter : Mrs. Hopkins has promised 
 
 to be my wife, and in two weeks we will be married in church in 
 
 San Francisco." 
 
 "This is news indeed," said Major Pettybone, but while I am not 
 surprised, I scarcely expected so early a consummation. You have 
 my prayers for your future welfare." 
 
 " Thank you," and Col. Heartland left them for a walk in the morn 
 ing air, to indulge in reverie and to enjoy, in secret, happy thoughts of 
 his future prospects. A slight rustling sound in the back parlors, and 
 Alice saw Bertina s dress flit past the half open door. 
 
 " It makes but little difference now, dearest," said Major Pettybone, 
 who had also seen it. " That reminds me of Miss Hubblestubble." A 
 deep flush spread over Alice s face, and seeing that he had unwittingly 
 trod upon the ashes of the past, he quickly changed the subject and 
 settled himself for a cosy talk. 
 
 Bertina called Griffin and pulling him after her to the garden, said : 
 
 " What do you think ; what do you think? oh, Lordy mighty ! Miss 
 Alice and her pa is both gwine to marry ; oh, Lordy !" 
 
 " Well," replied Griffin, " you s married to me, and it aint sich a ter 
 rible misfortin. De bes ting is to fine out what is gwine to be done 
 wid us. How you know dese affairs, my lub ?" 
 
 " Jist as I was gwine to get de duster out ob de parlor, where I lef 
 it, I see Miss Alice and Col. Heartland mighty cited like ; I stopped 
 and listen. I heard her tell her pa dat de Major had popped de question 
 and dat she war willin, so she was ; oh, Lordy !" 
 
 " Well," said the husband, " she am jest gwine to take her same ole 
 chance." 
 
 " I d hab too much pride to hab him, I know, arter he is been cut 
 ting up as he has, if I was Miss Alice. But eberybody to dey own 
 noshun. Den de Colonel is been snapped up by dat widder. If I was 
 a man, I would not hab a oman who would come sarching me up like 
 dat oman did Massa Heartland. It wasn t decent, it wasn t. I shan t 
 lib wid her. I ll go back to Virginny fust." 
 
 " How is Massa Heartland gwine to get married, den, if no oman 
 didn t look him up. He wasn t gwine to look dem up, I can tell you. 
 Seems to me you s got less sense dan any oman of your sabililities I 
 
234 Tahoe: or Life in California. 
 
 eber did see. Don t you know if a man doesn look a oman up, she 
 will look him up, shore ? If she sees he do not want her, she is shore 
 to want him. It am always de case, bofe white and black. Jest mem 
 ber yeself, and judge oders by yeself, cordin to de golden rule. You 
 know you tuck on mighty bout me, and it was a long time fore dis 
 nigger could predate you, and "- 
 
 But the sentence was unfinished. The retreating, moralizing Grif 
 fin had not bargained for the blow he received from a pea stick that 
 his wife wielded in a masterly manner. His speed increased as he 
 neared the house. Springing upon the kitchen steps with the velocity 
 of a spent cannon ball, he encountered Wee Wing, who was just coming 
 out with a pan of milk. The collision was instantaneous. Wee Wing 
 and his pan were thrown back upon the floor with a force that rever 
 berated through the house. Alice and her father, alarmed by the 
 noise, came hurriedly out to ascertain the cause of all the din. Grif 
 fin stood bleeding from his nose, the effect of his encounter with poor 
 Wee Wing, whose prostrate form writhed upon the floor, while Ber- 
 tina stood over him with a stick threatening to " beat de life out ob be 
 yaller heathen for tryin to run ober Griffin, and spillin all de white 
 folks milk. I won t stan it, I won t lib in de house wid him no longer. 
 I won t Miss Alice ; no use talkin . He blowed me up, de yaller snipe ; 
 now he s most killed Griffin. I has no peace ob my life. I cannot 
 even set in de kitchen widout he blows me up, de pisen rascal." And 
 she made a rush at the unresisting Chinaman, which made him quail, 
 and turn appealingly to Col. Heartland. 
 
 "Bertina, I want no more of this," said Col. Heartland, decidedly. 
 Please leave this kitchen instantly. Griffin, go about your duties." 
 
 They obeyed sullenly, and the Chinaman slowly arose and painfully 
 resumed his work. 
 
 " We must separate these servants," said Col Heartland, when they 
 returned to the library. I will take Wee Wing to San Francisco, and 
 the other two shall remain here with you." 
 
 " Then, father, you intend making your home in San Francisco ? " 
 
 " Yes, it is her wish that we shall live there. It is my intention to 
 give the Villa to you, my daughter, because it was your mother s, 
 and I wish you to reside here. Remember to keep the light in the 
 tower burning as she left it. It is your future home. I must leave 
 it. The associations here are too sad. I would lead another life in 
 this new found love. I will make her happy, and in doing so will be 
 happy myself. Repinings are useless. The past should be forgotten, 
 or only remembered as a painless dream. Will you go with me to 
 San Francisco ? It will be a great comfort to have you do so." 
 
Tahoe: or Life in California. 235 
 
 " Major Pettybone and myself have concluded that it will be best for 
 us to marry at the same time that you do, in the church in the city, 
 and return quietly home immediately. He cares not for wedding dis 
 plays, and you know how I abhor them. So, if you do not object, 
 dear father, to a double wedding, we will go down to the city with 
 you." 
 
 " By all means, my child. We will leave Thursday week. Until 
 then, be happy ; and may God extend that happiness through all 
 coming years." 
 
236 Tahoe: or Life in California, 
 
 CHAPTER XLII. 
 
 " All who joy would win 
 Must share it happiness was born a twin." 
 
 The long looked for and long wished for evening came at last, and 
 San Francisco s most beautiful church was the scene of the two happy 
 marriages. Crowds of friends thronged the building to witness the 
 event, and among the first were Mr. and Mrs. Waldron. Mrs. Hop 
 kins walked to the altar with a proud and queenly air, for she felt 
 that hers was a blessed lot. Col. Heartland appreciated the handsome 
 woman who was to bear his honored name. Happiness beamed from 
 his face, and years seemed to take a backward track. The path of his 
 future life was garlanded with flowers and evergreens, and not a care 
 to dampen or cloud the peace of mind that now possessed him could 
 be discovered. 
 
 Major Pettybone s youth had returned, and as he led his bride for 
 ward, every one felt that beauty and manliness were matched. 
 
 They are in their respective homes. The Villa wears a cheerful 
 aspect, and Bertina sings her songs unmolested in the kitchen, for 
 Wee Wing is in San Francisco with his new mistress. Pettybone 
 Hall is left to the care of the faithful Burleigh, who vows to bring to 
 its shades a fair young partner so soon as he finds one he dare risk. 
 A happier man than Col. Heartland could scarce be found. The en 
 chantress wand has passed over his life, and he rejoices, and will con 
 tinue to rejoice, that he at last asked some one 
 
 " To water a heart whose early flowers had died, 
 And with a fresher growth replenish all the void." 
 
Takoe: or Life in California. 237 
 
 CHAPTER XLIII 
 
 TAHOE. 
 
 " With Tahoe our story began, 
 With Tahoe let it end." 
 
 Tahoe is an Indian name, meaning "Big Water." 
 
 Three-fourths of this remarkable lake lies within the limits of the 
 Golden State, while Nevada holds within her silver grasp its eastern 
 shores. It is said that in former years the ice broke, crushed and piled 
 mountain high on its bosom. Not so now ; its crystal waters do not 
 freeze. The elevation is a mile and a quarter, and it depths have been 
 sounded to three thousand feet. At times, even during the summer, 
 the water is of an icy coldness, and so clear that fish can be seen eighty- 
 five feet below the surface. 
 
 The eastern approach is through Carson Valley, sodded with grasses 
 and clover, then turning west, up Clear Creek Canon, the road winds 
 in sight of Job s Peaks and Silver Mountain, appearing near, though 
 more than twenty miles away. Their caps are covered perpetually 
 with snow. The well trained horses, ascending the steep grades, walk 
 without fear beside the great flume which extends from the lake to 
 Carson City, bearing upon its mad, rushing waters, ton after ton of 
 timber, for fuel, mining and building purposes. Along the canon are 
 ponderous rocks, some low, broad and flat ; others tall, arrow-like, 
 piercing rhe sky to great heights, all weather-stained, cold and grey. 
 On one side are the Sweet-water, Pine Nut and Walker mountains in 
 the distance, on the other the grand Sierras lift their time-honored 
 heads boldly towards the sun. Nearing the summit the grade is steeper 
 still, and the view more contracted, till the brow is reached, and Tahoe, 
 n all its beauty and grandeur, lies spread before us, an inland sea of 
 
238 Tahoe: or Life in California. 
 
 emerald and blue, resting like a gem in a setting of pine-clad hills 
 and jutting rocks. 
 
 At Glen Brook, the traveler pauses for rest and refreshment, at a 
 little home-like hotel, inhaling air so light and pure that the gladdened 
 lungs take new life, and the tired system feels that it is bliss to 
 breathe. 
 
 A point which awakens more than ordinary interest is Shakespear s 
 rock, rising in bold prominence and giant proportions, as we come in 
 sight of it. The old poet s profile is distinctly and accurately marked 
 upon its perpendicular surface, high in mid-air. Grand and lasting, a 
 more fitting monument scarcely could have been chosen to perpetuate 
 the memory of one whose genius towered so far above that of his fellows. 
 It is said to be nature s handiwork. Doubtless it was her upheaval in 
 former days that cast the mighty rock above its surroundings, and 
 fastened it firmly where it stands. It bears her impress on its irregular 
 curves, rude outline and sublime proportions. But the head and face 
 of Shakespeare could they have been the work of chance ? Though 
 high above the reach of the hand of man, could nature have drawn a 
 likeness which is so readily recognized by all who have looked upon 
 the picture and portrait of the master genius ? 
 
 Cave Rock, precipitous, and four hundred feet high, is wonderful to 
 look upon. A hundred feet from its base the cavern opens, like a 
 great window in the side of a mighty dome. The opening is thirty- 
 four feet in length and presents some more of nature s strange ma 
 sonry. A little farther south is Zephyr Cove, gray and weather-beaten, 
 yet strangely picturesque and attractive, as the abiding spirits of the 
 place murmur fn soft, soughing breezes through their familiar haunts. 
 
 Along the old Placerville road are many farms and ranches, gardens 
 of vegetables, fields of grain and grassy meadows. This road is a 
 most delightful drive. It was constructed at great expense, having at 
 this point, it is said, cost forty thousand dollars a mile. South is the 
 Friday Ranch, well known in anti-railroad days as a resting place for 
 the gold-seekers on their way to Wash-hoe. 
 
 In the same locality, is the Lake House, an old resort, with a post- 
 office and some stores near by. In the distance is seen Lake Valley, 
 level, with its noble pines, pastures and grazing stock. To the west 
 of the valley is Yanks, a farm hotel, situated upon a natural carpet of 
 green, surrounded by the quivering mountain aspen, the sighing pine 
 and the waving tamaracks. Near, the sloping beach from Teliae Point 
 is covered with bright pebbles, and the lake mirrors back its beautiful 
 shores. 
 
 Teliae Mountain is reached by way of Fallen Leaf Lake and a steep 
 
Tahoe: or Life in California. 239 
 
 canon. This lovely sheet of crystal water, so like a polished glass, is 
 one and a half miles wide, and more than double that distance long. 
 To a lover of nature, unmixed with art to one who would commune 
 with self and lift the heart from nature to nature s God, the place must 
 prove more than ordinarily attractive. Such will ever hunger for the 
 solitude and charming surroundings of the green and blue lakelet. At 
 its head are the Soda Springs, which will become a great resort so 
 soon as their medicinal qualities shall have become generally known. 
 
 From the oblong, flat summit of Teliae Mountain, is one of the 
 finest views in North America. Over the lake and all its grandeur, 
 over the mountains far to the east, the hills and vales of Nevada are in 
 sight. Canon Valley is spread out in full view, with its verdure and 
 life, nor do the intervening peaks shut out the more distant scenes. 
 Beyond their grey and White heads the vision extends, and the eye 
 lingers long upon the pleasing sight. Turning to the west, the icy 
 crags of the Sierras cleave the purple skies and far beyond them, the 
 mighty Coast Range lift their awful heads, as if in a fit of jealousy, 
 to hem from greedy mortal s sight, the magnificent dominion of the 
 Sun as he sinks to rest in the ocean s bosom. Their rifts, grey preci 
 pices and dreadful hanging crags, frown as they cast their lengthening 
 shadow towards the east. Between and below lie the wide valleys 
 of Central California, spreading towards the south, rich with their 
 fields of golden grain, waving as a great sea, while the soft winds play 
 over them. Then the lakelets, Sierran gems, sparkling from their 
 mountain settings. Thirty-five can be seen from Teliae Mountain, 
 some in the rose-colored clouds, some in more sheltered nooks, and 
 some amid shelving rocks and green trees nearer the valleys. When 
 beneath the sun s glancing rays, like the lofty lochs of Scottish moun 
 tains, they become too bright, too dazzling for the human eye, like the 
 mirror in^the mischievous school-boy s hand, they dart the blinding 
 rays to the eye, forcing it to turn aside. Then in softer light they lie, 
 filled with vivid reflections of mountain, tree and tinted clouds of the 
 sky. Some are atmospheric in clearness, showing the silver sands 
 that line their basins. All brilliant and beautiful as a fairy dream. 
 
 Near Yanks, around the Peaks at the foot of Emerald Bay, is a quiet 
 valley in which lies imbedded Cascade Lake, too fairy-like for descrip 
 tion. Like Terni Cascade beneath Italian skies, its delicate thread- 
 ings can only be drawn into fancy s woof by imagination, or, perhaps, 
 woven into existence in the cob-web tissue of a dream, whose waking 
 breath must be light, indeed, lest it break the texture and scatter the 
 vision. 
 
 On the little steamer we glide into Emerald Bay, through a narrow 
 
240 Tahoe: or Life in California. 
 
 strait, so shallow that the rippling waters dance and foam. Before us 
 is Eagle s Point, so named because for many years it was the eyrie of 
 the bird which is the chosen emblem of our country. As we float into 
 the deepening bay, a little island comes in sight, gray granite giving it 
 a tomb-like appearance, as its head rises above the deep, green water. 
 Near a few shrub-like trees, a lonely cross marks the spot which was 
 selected by a noble sailor as his last resting place. But, alas, for human 
 expectation ! it is said his flesh became the food of fishes in distant 
 seas. But all was not lost, for the name of Captain Dick will be remem 
 bered by those who look upon his chosen resting place, even though 
 fate decreed that his wishes should not be carried out. The music of 
 the waters will long float upon the mountain breezes, burdened with 
 the story of his disappointed hopes, and the wild bird will sing his 
 requiem to coming generations. It would be sweet to sleep the last 
 sleep where so much beauty abounds, where nature is another name 
 for peace. 
 
 Opposite this little island, on the north side of the bay, is a bare 
 mountain side, from which were swept the pines, and other foliage, by 
 an avalanche. It, too, might well be the tomb of one departed, for its 
 earthly beauties have passed away, leaving cold, grey stone, pointing 
 heavenward like a mighty monument of the dead. In many places 
 around the bay the rocks are precipitous, over and through which 
 little streams are flowing, forming cascades and sparkling cataracts- 
 In a grove of. willows, with a mountain stream playing in three 
 water-falls, feeding a translucent fountain before the door, is the 
 summer residence of the owner of Emerald Bay. " Far from the 
 madding crowd s ignoble strife," overshadowed by the beauty 
 and sublimity of nature, it is a fit spot for contemplation. Low, 
 sweet music, as from Apollo s lute, touched by an unseen hand ; 
 is borne over the dimpling waters, and mingles with the moan of sighing 
 pines, like Eolian strains in Andalusian air. The busy world and its 
 myriads of cares may be forgotten, as the heart is led to the threshold 
 of a new and delicious existence ; as mortal leaves his "mortal coil" 
 and enters the fairy land, himself a fay ; as the mind, forgetting itself 
 in its surroundings, fills the warp of fancy with silken weavings as 
 soft and alluring as the legends of Zend Avesta. 
 
 Farther north are Rubicon Bay and Point, then Sugar Pine Point, 
 at once gloomy and bright, shedding grandeur far and wide. Follow 
 ing comes McKinney s, a delightful summer resort, with its many 
 cottages and places of rest for the wearied denizens of the city. The 
 ir is refreshly cool during the warmest seasons. The road to Tahoe 
 
Tahoe: or Life in California. 241 
 
 city affords a most diverting drive for those who enjoy riding in the 
 invigorating mountain air and who does not ? 
 
 At Blackvvood s creek, some giant rocks rear their heads two hun 
 dred and sixty feet in the clouds, and stand in firm, adamantine pride, 
 despite winds and waters. In the background the mountains and 
 trees lend grandeur to the scene, while at their base the pines tower 
 more than two hundred feet. Moving on, we approach Tahoe City, 
 where Truckee river rolls its gurgling stream from Tahoe s rock-bound 
 side, its only outlet. The town is small, its hotels are airy and well 
 kept, and the situation of the place, being the nearest accessible point 
 to the railroad, commands for it a large share of summer patronage. 
 From the Grand Central Hotel there is a fine view of the lake and 
 other points of interest. Row and sail boats, pleasure carriages and 
 buggies, add to the enjoyment of the traveler. The scenes along 
 the road to Truckee, down the canon of that laughing river, now 
 wending its way, echoing, through narrow defiles, now spreading out 
 in glass-like sheets, flowing over little precipices and falling in foam 
 ing cascades, dashing in broken crystals onward, present a panorama 
 so pleasing that it cannot be forgotten. The silver stream below, the 
 towering forest pines above, the fresh green earth, the climbing vines, 
 the fantastic rocks, the warbling of the birds, the rippling of the water, 
 all combine to weave a mystic spell, a waking dream, a bright reality. 
 Such are the recollections of a drive down Truckee Canon, and to 
 them will memory cling for coming years. 
 
 From Tahoe City, two miles distant, is Burton, called by some 
 ".Island Farm," where the enraptured tourist may linger still to enjoy 
 Tahoe s charms, mid grassy meadows and on pebbly beaches. It is 
 here that the tired and wornout minister of God often seeks a summer 
 rest, to recuperate his failing health and strengthen his over-strained 
 nervous system. The invigorating mountain air is a fine tonic for an 
 over- worked brain, and soothing to the over-taxed nerves. The place 
 is also known as the Clergyman s Resort. This class of men see 
 beauty in all God s creation, and no other, perhaps, is so keenly ap 
 preciative of the influence for good wrought by quiet surroundings, 
 or of the noble sentiments inspired by what is lofty and grand in 
 nature. 
 
 Carnelian Bay, of mingled green and blue, seeming so like " spotted 
 water," is an arm of the great lake. Along its shores, among the 
 pebbles and sands, is found the hard, smooth carnelian stone, from 
 which the bay takes its name. 
 
 On Boundary Point, where the States of California and Nevada 
 join, on the lake shore, are the Hot Springs, whose fiercely boiling 
 1C 
 
242 Tahoe: or Life in California. 
 
 water issues forth in many places. It is said the heat is sufficiently 
 great to cook an egg in five minutes. Unlike the Hot Springs in Car 
 son Valley, near that city, a few miles distant, the waters from these 
 springs do not become good chicken broth with the addition of a 
 little pepper and salt. 
 
 The trees around Lake Tahoe constitute one of its important fea 
 tures. They are of many kinds, some of which are very useful as 
 well as attractive in appearance. The dark green or black pine is of 
 great height, and much valued for its lumber. Its cones are nearly 
 two feet in length. The yellow pine is much smaller in stature, with a 
 most singular bark. The white fir is of graceful, waving foliage, but 
 is not sought for purposes of utility. The red fir is much in demand, 
 as being exceedingly durable, and suitable for many purposes. These, 
 and many more handsome trees, lend variety to the charming view of 
 the Lake, and encircle Tahoe with an emerald rim. But to enjoy Tahoe 
 to the fullest extent, to revel amid her various beauties, and look at 
 once upon her grandeur, we must float out upon her still transparent 
 bosom, in a little boat, and give the mind time for its feastings When 
 day-light breaks over the lake, and night, " like a fragment of inky 
 thunder-smoke, wind-wandering," floats slowly from the universe, giv 
 ing place to the coming twilight, a solemn silence reigns over the dim, 
 grayish, blackish surroundings, and the still, slate-like water a mo 
 ment, and twilight spreads her hazy mantle over hill, vale, mountain 
 and lake, till the eastern sky begins to lighten, blueing the vault above 
 and gilding the clouds with red and gold ; then she takes refuge be 
 hind tree and cliff, dodging, like children playing "hide and seek." 
 The ascending sun is in the sky and his searching beams reach far 
 and wide, dissipating twilight s woven exhalations, casting his arrow- 
 like rays through trees and shrubs in coves and nooks, and far beneath 
 through their transparent Covering, into the chambers of the waters, 
 grandly illuminating them. The scintillations tremble, twinkle and fas 
 ten upon the spangled granite shelvings of the purple walls and peaks 
 like lamps, bathing the whole great basin in prismatic hues. Deeper 
 the lambent rays course on their way through watery cave and grot 
 untrammelled by an element as pure as that which bathed Euro- 
 pa s feet. The brightness from below becomes intense, seen as through 
 a golden sieve. The rays below play a thousand weird pranks, shift 
 ing, circling ,and darting like meteors through the openings, around 
 the bowlders, and among the pointed rocks of the deep. The fishes 
 try in vain to hide their sparkling scales, as, darting here and there, a 
 network of light is thrown around them from which there is no escape. 
 Its shining meshes entwine them wherever they move. Our little 
 
Tahoe: or Life in California. 243 
 
 boat, with its occupants, hangs as it were in mid air, and the dazzled 
 eyes can scarcely tell whence come the igneous rays, from above or 
 below. As the sun reaches a greater altitude and the boat moves to 
 deeper water, the fiery arrows are lost in the measureless cerulean 
 depths below, while 
 
 "Thoughts on thoughts in countless throng. 
 Rush, chasing countless thoughts along." 
 
 The sun has passed the zenith of his glory, and is sinking towards 
 his western home, where he will bathe his burning face in old ocean s 
 blue waters. A spell-like quiet reigns in earth and air, suddenly bro 
 ken by distant, growling thunder. The clouds move in masses, dark 
 and white, athwart the heavens, gilded with a thousand tints of silver 
 and gold, and mounted upon each other like funeral pyres, moving still 
 onward, like a great armada, or a gathering flotilla, propelled by sails 
 of red, deep orange, and vermillion. They anchor aloft for awhile, 
 then changing to opal, pearl, and darker hues, they move steadily to 
 wards the port of the sun. The great azure roof changes to a black 
 ened concave, in which the sun hangs like a rayless orb of fire. The 
 mingling mass moves between and the deafening thunder shakes the 
 darkened sphere. The vivid lightnings flash, the distant winds begin 
 to moan, while the " water-wraith is shrieking. " The storm-whipped 
 lake madly lashes the shores, and the meeting billows rise, foaming 
 high in the air. The sheeted flashes tremble upon the ploughed up 
 waters and quiver, blindingly, through the shoreless air. The serpent 
 lightning s winding track opens great fissures in the heavens, which 
 are seared over again, and the crashing roar shakes the darkness furi 
 ously. The earth groans and crackles beneath the tread of winds and 
 water, till the Storm-king, like Arion on the dolphin s back, rides, 
 singing far away to his mountain home. 
 
 But the loveliest scene of all, is Tahoe by moonlight, with the del 
 icately tinted clouds moving overhead, like many a proud pavilion in 
 that " soft, mellow light which heaven to gaudy day denies." Above, 
 a throne overlaid with star-light, wrapped about with a golden dra 
 pery ; below, a translucent floor, beneath which the reflected stars 
 sparkle and twinkle like a distant ignis fatuus dwindling to the tiny 
 fire-fly s glow ; or in long rows like the street lamps of a great city, as 
 seen at night from the pilot s stand on an approaching vessel. Above 
 in the skies again appear the crested heads of imaginary cities, and 
 proud, genii-roofed temples and many a "vapor-belted" pyramid ; be 
 low the bright spirits of the waters, the fairies, charioteering the silver- 
 side and trout through labyrinths dyed in moon-beams, through 
 scenes where some beauteous "Undine had dropped her glistening 
 
244 TaJioe: or Life in Lalifornia, 
 
 tear." Then cloudward again, and a mighty tower moves like Sudd- 
 kedana s sixth fear 
 
 "High o er the city, till its ststely head 
 
 Shone, crowned with clouds, and on the top the prince 
 
 Stood, scattering from both hands, this way and that, 
 
 Gems of most lovely light, as if it rained 
 
 Jacynths and rubies ; and the whole world came 
 
 Striving to seize those treasures as they fell 
 
 Toward the four quarters." 
 
 At the tower s base a golden stream, like Pactolus river after Midas 
 bath, flows, and on through Lydian scenes the mind wanders, creating a 
 thousand images of the clouds. Mt. Tmolus stands by Sardis wall, 
 and the tall citadel caps its top, while Hyraades storms the ramparts, 
 and despite the charmed, lion-like son of Males, the fortress crumbles 
 ajid the parting masses mold into conch-shell temples, where the 
 Guebre kneels in Persian climes. Then from out the distant western 
 sky comes a wonderful, dark, moving Mausoleum, such as Caria s 
 queen built in memory of the king she loved and lost, which veering 
 round in the moon-lit vault, becomes a vast amphitheater filled with 
 bu^y life. Above the horizon a mighty head appears, followed by a 
 huge form taking a brazen hue. It floats into full view, its great feet 
 resting upon island clouds, a veritable Colossus of Rhodes. Kis giant 
 proportions dismembering, become pillars of a Temple of the Sun with 
 all its gilded decorations. The heavy columns rest upon the graceful 
 Caryates, who slowly move, and sever the great cloud-fabric, from the 
 materials of which the restless mind, wandering in cloud-land, forms 
 new and varied objects, regardless of the flying hours. 
 
 The little boat floats in the shadow of a rocky peak, and far be 
 neath the silver waters the reflection of the bright moon appears like 
 the great Alexandrian Pharos, leading the attention back to the watery 
 depths. The shallop moves as gently as if the air the burden bore ; 
 half reclining, in a state of perfect rest, we gaze into the moon-lit 
 water, while fancy indulges in ten thousand vagaries, unheeding 
 the flight of time. One by one, each shining star takes its place in 
 the blue, crystal vault below ; of every hue they seem, from deep, 
 fiery red, to pale yellow and silver white. They reel and dance, and 
 guide the tenor of the thoughts, until thinking becomes a luxury 
 Thinking at any time or place is a privilege, but thinking here, is an 
 ecstacy. These spirits of earth, air and water are on the alert to cheat 
 old Father Time of all his burdens. A net of magic is woven and 
 thrown over the memory of all the ills of life ; thus we might muse 
 on forever ; thus the mind might wander in carelessness, through de 
 lightful and ever varying fields ; thus might it linger in the realms of 
 reflection, whose gentle queen sways her scepter forbidding the intru 
 sion of aught unpleasant. But mountain music breaks over the water 
 
TaJioe: or Life in California. 245 
 
 and claims a listening ear. Low at first, like the hum of a sweet 
 voice in the distance then a silvery .ringing, like a chime of 
 tiny bells, floats over the water ; nearer, birdlike notes become more 
 distinct, accompanied by the fine, soft melody of a flute, delicately 
 handled, mingling with a violin s strain in perfect harmony. A 
 moment it ceases, then, as if some skillful hand had touched a lute, 
 so low, so sweet the sounds. Another pause, and the rising wind 
 sweeps over a wild Eolean harp, sometimes softer, sometimes louder, 
 as the currents of air move slowly or swiftly around the mountains. 
 Circling in caves and whistling through defiles, and sweeping the sur 
 face of the water, the air currents produce the mountain music, while 
 the imaginative attribute it to the "bands of bright shapes with 
 heavenly eyes and lips," with which they people the "silver islands of 
 the sapphire sea." 
 
 But our little bark has floated to its moorings, and we bid a long 
 farewell to Tahoe, though we will often turn the leaves of memory 
 back and look within their folded pages. 
 

202 
 
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