The Crisis — Complete Read online

  CHAPTER. II. THE MOLE

  For some years, while Stephen A. Douglas and Franklin Pierce and othergentlemen of prominence were playing at bowls on the United States ofAmerica; while Kansas was furnishing excitement free of charge to anycitizen who loved sport, Mr. Eliphalet Hopper was at work like theindustrious mole, underground. It is safe to affirm that Colonel Carvelforgot his new hand as soon as he had turned him over to Mr. Hood, themanager. As for Mr. Hopper, he was content. We can ill afford to dissectmotives. Genius is willing to lay the foundations of her structureunobserved.

  At first it was Mr. Barbo alone who perceived Eliphalet'sgreatness,--Mr. Barbo, whose opinions were so easily had that theycounted for nothing. The other clerks, to say the least, found thenewcomer uncompanionable. He had no time for skylarking, the heat of theday meant nothing to him, and he was never sleepy. He learned the stockas if by intuition, and such was his strict attention to business thatMr. Hood was heard is say, privately, he did not like the looks of it.A young man should have other interests. And then, although he would nothold it against him, he had heard that Mr. Hopper was a teacher in Mr.Davitt's Sunday School.

  Because he did not discuss his ambitions at dinner with the other clerksin the side entry, it must not be thought that Eliphalet was withoutother interests. He was likewise too shrewd to be dragged into politicaldiscussions at the boarding-house table. He listened imperturbably tothe outbursts against the Border Ruffian, and smiled when Mr. AbnerReed, in an angry passion, asked him to declare whether or not he wasa friend of the Divine Institution. After a while they forgot about him(all save Miss Crane), which was what Mr. Hopper of all things desired.

  One other friend besides Miss Crane did Eliphalet take unto himself,wherein he showed much discrimination. This friend was none other thanMr. Davitt, minister for many years of the Congregational Church. ForMr. Davitt was a good man, zealous in his work, unpretentious, andkindly. More than once Eliphalet went to his home to tea, and waspressed to talk about himself and his home life. The minister and hiswife ware invariably astonished, after their guest was gone, at themeagre result of their inquiries.

  If Love had ever entered such a discreet soul as that into which we areprying, he used a back entrance. Even Mr. Barbo's inquiries failed inthe discovery of any young person with whom Eliphalet "kept company."Whatever the notions abroad concerning him, he was admittedly a model.There are many kinds of models. With some young ladies at the SundaySchool, indeed, he had a distant bowing acquaintance. They spoke of himas the young man who knew the Bible as thoroughly as Mr. Davitt himself.The only time that Mr. Hopper was discovered showing embarrassment waswhen Mr. Davitt held his hand before them longer than necessary on thechurch steps. Mr. Hopper was not sentimental.

  However fascinating the subject, I do not propose to make a whole bookabout Eliphalet. Yet sidelights on the life of every great man areinteresting. And there are a few incidents in his early career whichhave not gotten into the subscription biographical Encyclopaedias. Inseveral of these volumes, to be sure, we may see steel engravings ofhim, true likenesses all. His was the type of face which is the glory ofthe steel engraving,--square and solid, as a corner-stone should be. Thevery clothes he wore were made for the steel engraving, stiff and wiryin texture, with sharp angles at the shoulders, and sombre in hue, asbefit such grave creations.

  Let us go back to a certain fine morning in the September of the year1857, when Mr. Hopper had arrived, all unnoticed, at the age of two andthirty. Industry had told. He was now the manager's assistant; and, beit said in passing, knew more about the stock than Mr. Hood himself. Onthis particular morning, about nine o'clock, he was stacking bolts ofwoollen goods near that delectable counter where the Colonel was wontto regale his principal customers, when a vision appeared in the door.Visions were rare at Carvel & Company's. This one was followed by anold negress with leathery wrinkles, whose smile was joy incarnate.They entered the store, paused at the entrance to the Colonel's privateoffice, and surveyed it with dismay.

  "Clar t' goodness, Miss Jinny, yo' pa ain't heah! An' whah's Ephum, datblack good-fo'-nuthin'!"

  Miracle number one,--Mr. Hopper stopped work and stared. The vision wassearching the store with her eyes, and pouting.

  "How mean of Pa!" she exclaimed, "when I took all this trouble tosurprise him, not to be here! Where are they all? Where's Ephum? Where'sMr. Hood?"

  The eyes lighted on Eliphalet. His blood was sluggish, but it could bemade to beat faster. The ladies he had met at Miss Crane's were not ofthis description. As he came forward, embarrassment made him shamble,and for the first time in his life he was angrily conscious of a poorfigure. Her first question dashed out the spark of his zeal.

  "Oh," said she, "are you employed here?"

  Thoughtless Virginia! You little know the man you have insulted by yourhaughty drawl.

  "Yes."

  "Then find Mr. Carvel, won't you, please? And tell him that his daughterhas come from Kentucky, and is waiting for him."

  "I callate Mr. Carvel won't be here this morning," said Eliphalet. Hewent back to the pile of dry goods, and began to work. But he was unableto meet the displeasure in her face.

  "What is your name?" Miss Carvel demanded.

  "Hopper."

  "Then, Mr. Hopper, please find Ephum, or Mr. Hood."

  Two more bolts were taken off the truck. Out of the corner of his eye hewatched her, and she seemed very tall, like her father. She was tallerthan he, in fact.

  "I ain't a servant, Miss Carvel," he said, with a meaning glance at thenegress.

  "Laws, Miss Jinny," cried she, "I may's 'ell find Ephum. I knows he'sloafin' somewhar hereabouts. An' I ain't seed him dese five month." Andshe started for the back of the store.

  "Mammy!"

  The old woman stopped short. Eliphalet, electrified, looked up andinstantly down again.

  "You say you are employed by Mr. Carvel, and refuse to do what I ask?"

  "I ain't a servant," Mr. Hopper repeated doggedly. He felt that he wasin the right,--and perhaps he was.

  It was at this critical juncture in the proceedings that a young manstepped lightly into the store behind Miss Jinny. Mr. Hopper's eye wason him, and had taken in the details of his costume before realizingthe import of his presence. He was perhaps twenty, and wore a coat thatsprung in at the waist, and trousers of a light buff-color that gatheredat the ankle and were very copious above. His features were of thestraight type which has been called from time immemorial patrician. Hehad dark hair which escaped in waves from under his hat, and black eyesthat snapped when they perceived Miss Virginia Carvel. At sight of her,indeed, the gold-headed cane stopped in its gyrations in midair.

  "Why, Jinny!" he cried--"Jinny!"

  Mr. Hopper would have sold his soul to have been in the young man'spolished boots, to have worn his clothes, and to have been able to cryout to the young lady, "Why, Jinny!"

  To Mr. Hopper's surprise, the young lady did not turn around. She stoodperfectly still. But a red flush stole upon her cheek, and laughterwas dancing in her eyes yet she did not move. The young man took a stepforward, and then stood staring at her with such a comical expressionof injury on his face as was too much for Miss Jinny's serenity.She laughed. That laugh also struck minor chords upon Mr. Hopper'sheart-strings.

  But the young gentleman very properly grew angry.

  "You've no right to treat me the way you do, Virginia," he cried. "Whydidn't you let me know that you were coming home?" His tone was one ofauthority. "You didn't come from Kentucky alone!"

  "I had plenty of attendance, I assure you," said Miss Carvel. "Agovernor, and a senator, and two charming young gentlemen from NewOrleans as far as Cairo, where I found Captain Lige's boat. And Mr.Brinsmade brought me here to the store. I wanted to surprise Pa," shecontinued rapidly, to head off the young gentleman's expostulations."How mean of him not to be here!"

  "Allow me to escort you home," said he, with ceremony:

  "Allow me to decline the honah, Mr. Colfax," she cried, imitating him."I intend to wait here until Pa comes in."

  Then Eliphalet knew that the young gentleman was Miss Virginia's firstcousin. And it seemed to him that he had heard a rumor, amongst theclerks in the store; that she was to marry him one day.

  "Where is Uncle Comyn?" demanded Mr. Colfax, swinging his cane withimpatience.

  Virgina looked hard at Mr. Hopper.

  "I don't know," she said.

  "Ephum!" shouted Mr. Colfax. "Ephum! Easters where the deuce is thatgood-for-nothing husband of yours?"

  "I dunno, Marse Clarence. 'Spec he whah he oughtn't ter be."

  Mr. Colfax spied the stooping figure of Eliphalet.

  "Do you work here?" he demanded.

  "I callate."

  "What?"

  "I callate to," responded Mr. Hopper again, without rising.

  "Please find Mr. Hood," directed Mr. Colfax, with a wave of his cane,"and say that Miss Carvel is here--"

  Whereupon Miss Carvel seated herself upon the edge of a bale andgiggled, which did not have a soothing effect upon either of the youngmen. How abominably you were wont to behave in those days, Virginia.

  "Just say that Mr. Colfax sent you," Clarence continued, with a note ofirritation. "There's a good fellow."

  Virginia laughed outright. Her cousin did not deign to look at her. Histemper was slipping its leash.

  "I wonder whether you hear me," he remarked.

  No answer.

  "Colonel Carvel hires you, doesn't he? He pays you wages, and thefirst time his daughter comes in here you refuse to do her a favor. Bythunder, I'll see that you are dismissed."

  Still Eliphalet gave him no manner of attention, but began marking thetags at the bottom of the pile.

  It was at this unpropitious moment that Colonel Carvel walked into thestore, and his daughter flew into his arms.

  "Well, well," he said, kissing her, "thought you'd surprise me, eh,Jinny?"

  "Oh, Pa," she cried, looking reproachfully up at his Face. "Youknew--how mean of you!"

  "I've been down on the Louisiana, where some inconsiderate man told me,or I should not have seen you today. I was off to Alton. But what arethese goings-on?" said the Colonel, staring at young Mr. Colfax, rigidas one of his own gamecocks. He was standing defiantly over the stoopingfigure of the assistant manager.

  "Oh," said Virginia, indifferently, "it's only Clarence. He's sotiresome. He's always wanting to fight with somebody."

  "What's the matter, Clarence?" asked the Colonel, with the mildunconcern which deceived so many of the undiscerning.

  "This person, sir, refused to do a favor for your daughter. She toldhim, and I told him, to notify Mr. Hood that Miss Carvel was here, andhe refused."

  Mr. Hopper continued his occupation, which was absorbing. But he waslistening.

  Colonel Carvel pulled his goatee, and smiled.

  "Clarence," said he, "I reckon I can run this establishment without anyhelp from you and Jinny. I've been at it now for a good many years."

  If Mr. Barbo had not been constitutionally unlucky, he might haveperceived Mr. Hopper, before dark that evening, in conversation with Mr.Hood about a certain customer who lived up town, and presently leave thestore by the side entrance. He walked as rapidly as his legs would carryhim, for they were a trifle short for his body; and in due time, as thelamps were flickering, he arrived near Colonel Carvel's large doubleresidence, on Tenth and Locust streets. Then he walked slowly alongTenth, his eyes lifted to the tall, curtained windows. Now and anon theyscanned passers-by for a chance acquaintance.

  Mr. Hopper walked around the block, arriving again opposite the Carvelhouse, and beside Mr. Renault's, which was across from it. Eliphalet hadinherited the principle of mathematical chances. It is a fact thatthe discreet sometimes take chances. Towards the back of Mr. Renault'sresidence, a wide area was sunk to the depth of a tall man, whichwas apparently used for the purpose of getting coal and wood into thecellar. Mr. Hopper swept the neighborhood with a glance. The coast wasclear, and he dropped into the area.

  Although the evening was chill, at first Mr. Hopper perspired veryfreely. He crouched in the area while the steps of pedestrians beatabove his head, and took no thought but of escape. At last, however, hegrew cooler, removed his hat, and peeped over the stone coping. ColonelCarvel's house--her house--was now ablaze with lights, and the shadesnot yet drawn. There was the dining room, where the negro butlerwas moving about the table; and the pantry, where the butler wentoccasionally; and the kitchen, with black figures moving about. Butupstairs on the two streets was the sitting room. The straight figureof the Colonel passed across the light. He held a newspaper in his hand.Suddenly, full in the window, he stopped and flung away the paper. Agraceful shadow slipped across the wall. Virginia laid her hands onhis shoulders, and he stooped to kiss her. Now they sat between thecurtains, she on the arm of his chair and leaning on him, togetherlooking out of the window.

  How long this lasted Mr. Hopper could not say. Even the wise forgetthemselves. But all at once a wagon backed and bumped against the curbin front of him, and Eliphalet's head dropped as if it had been struckby the wheel. Above him a sash screamed as it opened, and he heard Mr.Renault's voice say, to some person below:

  "Is that you, Capitaine Grant?"

  "The same," was the brief reply.

  "I am charmed that you have brought the wood. I thought that you hadforgotten me."

  "I try to do what I say, Mr. Renault."

  "Attendez--wait!" cried Mr. Renault, and closed the window.

  Now was Eliphalet's chance to bolt. The perspiration had come again,and it was cold. But directly the excitable little man, Renault, hadappeared on the pavement above him. He had been running.

  "It is a long voyage from Gravois with a load of wood, Capitaine--I amvery grateful."

  "Business is business, Mr. Renault," was the self-contained reply.

  "Alphonse!" cried Mr. Renault, "Alphonse!" A door opened in the backwall. "Du vin pour Monsieur le Capitaine."

  "Oui, M'sieu."

  Eliphalet was too frightened to wonder why this taciturn handler of woodwas called Captain, and treated with such respect.

  "Guess I won't take any wine to-night, Mr. Renault," said he. "You goinside, or you'll take cold."

  Mr. Renault protested, asked about all the residents of Gravois way,and finally obeyed. Eliphalet's heart was in his mouth. A bolder spiritwould have dashed for liberty. Eliphalet did not possess that kind ofbravery. He was waiting for the Captain to turn toward his wagon.

  He looked down the area instead, with the light from the street lamp onhis face. Fear etched an ineffaceable portrait of him on Mr. Hopper'smind, so that he knew him instantly when he saw him years afterward.Little did he reckon that the fourth time he was to see him this man wasto be President of the United States. He wore a close-cropped beard,an old blue army overcoat, and his trousers were tucked into a pair ofmuddy cowhide boots.

  Swiftly but silently the man reached down and hauled Eliphalet to thesidewalk by the nape of the neck.

  "What were you doing there?" demanded he of the blue overcoat, sternly.

  Eliphalet did not answer. With one frantic wrench he freed himself, andran down Locust Street. At the corner, turning fearfully, he perceivedthe man in the overcoat calmly preparing to unload his wood.