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Page 79
"Quite as much, believe me, Edward, can be gained through private
arrangement as by legal investigation," returned Jasper, his manner
greatly subdued. "You and I can settle every thing, I am sure, between
ourselves; and, as far as my ability will carry me, it shall be to
your entire satisfaction. I have greatly mistaken your character, or
you will take no pleasure in destroying me."
"Pleasure in destroying you?" Claire was still further affected with
surprise. "In no man's destruction could I take pleasure."
"I believe you Edward. And now let me give you a history of this
matter from the beginning. You will know better what course to pursue
when you comprehend it fully."
And then, to the astonished ears of Claire, Jasper related how,
through the man Martin, he became possessed of the fact that the
supposed almost valueless piece of land in Pennsylvania which Mr.
Elder had taken to secure a debt of five hundred dollars, contained
a rich coal deposite--and how, as executor to his estate, and the
guardian of his child, he had by presenting the child in person before
commissioners appointed by the court, obtained an order for the sale
of the land, with the declared purpose of investing the proceeds in
some productive property. It was for this that he had been so anxious
to get Fanny, and for this that he carried her off forcibly, although
his agency in the matter did not appear. He then related how, in the
sale, he became the real purchaser; and how, afterward, the tract,
as coal land, was sold to a company for nearly a hundred thousand
dollars.
"But Edward," said Jasper, as he concluded his humiliating narrative,
"I am worse off to-day than if I had never made this transaction. It
gave me a large amount of capital for trade and speculation, but
it also involved me in connections, and led me into schemes for
money-making, that have wellnigh proved my ruin. In all truth, I am
not, this day, worth one-half of what I received for that property."
Jasper ceased speaking; but astonishment kept Claire silent.
"And now, Edward," resumed the former, "I am ready to make restitution
as far as in my power lies. You can drag me into court, and thus blast
my reputation; or, you can obtain for Miss Elder as much, or even
more, than you would probably get by law--for, if driven into the
courts, I will contend to the last moment--through an amicable
arrangement. Which course are you disposed to take?"
"I have no desire to harm you, Mr. Jasper--none in the world. If the
terms of settlement which you may offer are such as, under all the
circumstances, I feel justified in accepting, I will meet your wishes.
But you must bear in mind that, in this matter, I am not acting for
myself."
"I know--but your judgment of the case must determine."
"True--and in that judgment I will endeavour to hold an equal
balance."
The two men now retired from the lawyer's office; and, ere parting,
arranged a meeting for that evening at the store of Jasper, where they
could be entirely alone. For two or three successive evenings these
conferences were continued, until Claire was entirely satisfied that
the merchant's final offer to transfer to the possession of Fanny
Elder four houses, valued at five thousand dollars each, in full
settlement of her father's estate, was the very best he could do; and
far more than he would probably obtain if an appeal were made to the
law.
As quickly as this transfer could be made, it was done. Not until the
long-desired documents, vouching for the equitable settlement of the
estate, were in Jasper's hands, did he breathe freely. Oh! through
what an ordeal he had passed. How his own pride, self-consequence, and
self-sufficiency had been crushed out of him! And not only in spirit
was he humbled and broken. In his anxiety to settle up the estate of
Mr. Elder, and thus get the sword that seemed suspended over his head
by a single hair, removed, he had overstepped his ability. The houses
referred to were burdened with a mortgage of nearly ten thousand
dollars; this had, of course, to be released; and, in procuring the
money therefor, he strained to the utmost his credit, thus cutting
off important facilities needed in his large, and now seriously
embarrassed business.
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