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Page 53
"Oh, sir! I perceive you are not lost to all feelings of humanity." Here
the compression of Girty's lips, and a knitting together of his shaggy
brows, warned Ella she was treading on dangerous ground, and she quickly
added: "All of us are liable to err; and there may be circumstances,
unknown to others, that force us to be, or seem to be, that which in our
hearts we are not; and to do acts which our calm moments of reason tell
us are wrong, and which we afterwards sincerely regret."
"I know not that I understand you," said the renegade, evasively.
"To be more explicit, then," rejoined Ella, "I trust that you, Simon
Girty, whose acts hitherto have been such as to draw down reproaches
and even curses upon your head, from many of your own race, may now be
induced, by the prayer of her before you, to do an act of justice and
generosity."
"Speak out your desire!" returned Girty, as Ella, evidently fearful of
broaching the subject too suddenly, paused, in order to observe the
effect of what had already been said. "Speak out briefly, girl; for
yonder stands Wild-cat awaiting me."
"Oh, then, let me implore you to listen, and God grant your heart may
be touched by my words!" rejoined Ella, eagerly, as she fancied she
saw something of relentment in his stern features. "Look yonder! Behold
that poor old man!--whose head is already sprinkled with the silvery
threads of over fifty winters--beside whom stands the companion of
his sorrows--both of whose lives have been spent in quiet, honest
pursuits--whose doors have ever stood open--whose board has ever been
free to the needy wayfarer. You yourself have been a partaker of their
hospitality, in their own home--which, alas! I have since learned is
in ashes--and can testify to their liberality and kindness. Is this
a proper return therefor, think you?"
"But did not he, yon gray-headed man, then and there curse me to my
face?" returned the renegade, fiercely, in whose eye could be seen the
cold, sullen gleam of deadly hate; "and shall I, the outcast of my
race--I, whose deeds have made the boldest tremble--I, whose name is a
by-word for curses--now spare him, that has defied and called down God's
maledictions on me?"
"Oh, yes! yes!" cried Ella, energetically. "Convince him, by your acts
of generosity, that you are not deserving of his censure, and he, I
assure you, will be eager to do you justice. Oh, return good for evil,
where evil has been done you, and God's blessing, instead of His curse,
will be yours!"
"It may be the _Christian's_ creed to return good for evil," answered
Girty, with a strong emphasis on the word Christian, accompanied with a
sneer; "but by ----! such belongs not to me, nor to those I mate with!
Hark you, Ella Barnwell! I could be induced to do much for you--for I
possess for you a passion stronger than I have ever before felt for any
human being--but were I ever so much disposed to grant your request, it
is now beyond my power."
"As how?" asked Ella, quickly.
"Listen! I will tell you briefly. When first I saw, I felt I loved you,
and from that moment resolved you should be mine. Nay, do not shudder
so, and turn away, and look so pale--a worse fate than being the wife
of a British agent might have been apportioned you. To win you by fair
words, I knew at once was out of the question--for one glance showed me
my rival. Besides, I was not handsome, I knew--had not an oily tongue,
and did not like the plan of venturing too much among those who have
good reasons for fearing and hating me--therefore I resolved on your
capture. I had already meditated an attack on some of the settlers in
the vicinity, and I resolved that both should be accomplished at one
time. The result you know. Younker and his wife became my prisoners.
This was done for two purposes. First, to revenge me for the insults
heaped upon Simon Girty. Secondly, to spare their lives; for had it not
been for my positive injunctions, they would have shared the fate of
their neighbors. My design, I say, was to spare their lives and send
them back, whenever it could be done with safety, provided they showed
any signs of contrition. Did they? No! they again upbraided me to my
face. I was again cursed. My blood is hot--my nature revengeful. That
moment sealed their doom. I gave them up to Peshewa. They are no longer
my prisoners. For their lives you must plead with him. I can do nothing.
Have you more to ask?"
Girty, toward the last, spoke rapidly, in short sentences, as one to
whom the conversation was disagreeable; and Ella listened breathlessly,
with a pale cheek and trembling form; for she saw, alas! there was
nothing favorable to be gained. As he concluded, she suddenly started,
clasped her hands together, and looked up into his stern countenance,
with a wild, thrilling expression, saying, in a trembling voice:
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