54-40 or Fight Page 35

  CHAPTER XXXV

  THE PROXY OF PAKENHAM

  A man can not possess anything that is better than a good woman, nor anything that is worse than a bad one.--_Simonides_.

  When I reached the central part of the city, I did not hasten thence toElmhurst Mansion. Instead, I returned to my hotel. I did not now care tosee any of my friends or even to take up matters of business with mychief. It is not for me to tell what feelings came to me when I leftHelena von Ritz.

  Sleep such as I could gain, reflections such as were inevitable,occupied me for all that night. It was mid-morning of the following daywhen finally I once more sought out Mr. Calhoun.

  He had not expected me, but received me gladly. It seemed that he hadgone on about his own plans and with his own methods. "The SenoraYturrio is doing me the honor of an early morning call," he began. "Sheis with my daughter in another part of the house. As there is matter ofsome importance to come up, I shall ask you to attend."

  He despatched a servant, and presently the lady mentioned joined us. Shewas a pleasing picture enough in her robe of black laces andsulphur-colored silks, but her face was none too happy, and her eyes, itseemed to me, bore traces either of unrest or tears. Mr. Calhoun handedher to a chair, where she began to use her languid but effective fan.

  "Now, it gives us the greatest regret, my dear Senora," began Mr.Calhoun, "to have General Almonte and your husband return to their owncountry. We have valued, their presence here very much, and I regret thedisruption of the friendly relations between our countries."

  She made any sort of gesture with her fan, and he went on: "It is theregret also of all, my dear lady, that your husband seems so shamelesslyto have abandoned you. I am quite aware, if you will allow me to be sofrank, that you need some financial assistance."

  "My country is ruined," said she. "Also, Senor, I am ruined. As you say,I have no means of life. I have not even money to secure my passagehome. That Senor Van Zandt--"

  "Yes, Van Zandt did much for us, through your agency, Senora. We havebenefited by that, and I therefore regret he proved faithless to youpersonally. I am sorry to tell you that he has signified his wish tojoin our army against your country. I hear also that your late friend,Mr. Polk, has forgotten most of his promises to you."

  "Him I hate also!" she broke out. "He broke his promise to Senor VanZandt, to my husband, to me!"

  Calhoun smiled in his grim fashion. "I am not surprised to hear allthat, my dear lady, for you but point out a known characteristic of thatgentleman. He has made me many promises which he has forgotten, andoffered me even of late distinguished honors which he never meant me toaccept. But, since I have been personally responsible for many of thesethings which have gone forward, I wish to make what personal amends Ican; and ever I shall thank you for the good which you have done to thiscountry. Believe me, Madam, you served your own country also in no illmanner. This situation could not have been prevented, and it is not yourfault. I beg you to believe that. Had you and I been left alone therewould have been no war."

  "But I am poor, I have nothing!" she rejoined.

  There was indeed much in her situation to excite sympathy. It had beenthrough her own act that negotiations between England and Texas werebroken off. All chance of Mexico to regain property in Texas was lostthrough her influence with Van Zandt. Now, when all was done, here shewas, deserted even by those who had been her allies in this work.

  "My dear Senora," said John Calhoun, becoming less formal and morekindly, "you shall have funds sufficient to make you comfortable atleast for a time after your return to Mexico. I am not authorized todraw upon our exchequer, and you, of course, must prefer all secrecy inthese matters. I regret that my personal fortune is not so large as itmight be, but, in such measure as I may, I shall assist you, because Iknow you need assistance. In return, you must leave this country. Theflag is down which once floated over the house of Mexico here."

  She hid her face behind her fan, and Calhoun turned aside.

  "Senora, have you ever seen this slipper?" he asked, suddenly placingupon the table the little shoe which for a purpose I had brought with meand meantime thrown upon the table.

  She flashed a dark look, and did not speak.

  "One night, some time ago, your husband pursued a lady across this townto get possession of that very slipper and its contents! There was inthe toe of that little shoe a message. As you know, we got from itcertain information, and therefore devised certain plans, which you havehelped us to carry out. Now, as perhaps you have had some personalanimus against the other lady in these same complicated affairs, I havetaken the liberty of sending a special messenger to ask her presencehere this morning. I should like you two to meet, and, if that bepossible, to part with such friendship as may exist in the premises."

  I looked suddenly at Mr. Calhoun. It seemed he was planning without myaid.

  "Yes," he said to me, smiling, "I have neglected to mention to you thatthe Baroness von Ritz also is here, in another apartment of this place.If you please, I shall now send for her also."

  He signaled to his old negro attendant. Presently the latter opened thedoor, and with a deep bow announced the Baroness von Ritz, who entered,followed closely by Mr. Calhoun's inseparable friend, old Doctor Ward.

  The difference in breeding between these two women was to be seen at aglance. The Dona Lucrezia was beautiful in a way, but lacked thethoroughbred quality which comes in the highest types of womanhood.Afflicted by nothing but a somewhat mercenary or personal grief, sheshowed her lack of gameness in adversity. On the other hand, Helena vonRitz, who had lived tragedy all her life, and now was in the climax ofsuch tragedy, was smiling and debonaire as though she had never beenanything but wholly content with life! She was robed now in some lightfilmy green material, caught up here and there on the shoulders andsecured with silken knots. Her white neck showed, her arms were partlybare with the short sleeves of the time. She stood, composed and easy,a figure fit for any company or any court, and somewhat shaming ourlittle assembly, which never was a court at all, only a private meetingin the office of a discredited and disowned leader in a republicangovernment. Her costume and her bearing were Helena von Ritz's answer toa woman's fate! A deep color flamed in her cheeks. She stood with headerect and lips smiling brilliantly. Her curtsey was grace itself. Ourdingy little office was glorified.

  "I interrupt you, gentlemen," she began.

  "On the contrary, I am sure, my dear lady," said Doctor Ward, "SenatorCalhoun told me he wished you to meet Senora Yturrio."

  "Yes," resumed Calhoun, "I was just speaking with this lady over somematters concerned with this Little slipper." He smiled as he held it upgingerly between thumb and finger. "Do you recognize it, MadamBaroness?"

  "Ah, my little shoe!" she exclaimed. "But see, it has not been wellcared for."

  "It traveled in my war bag from Oregon to Washington," said I. "Perhapsbullet molds and powder flasks may have damaged it."

  "It still would serve as a little post-office, perhaps," laughed thebaroness. "But I think its days are done on such errands."

  "I will explain something of these errands to the Senora Yturrio," saidCalhoun. "I wish you personally to say to that lady, if you will, thatSenor Yturrio regarded this little receptacle rather as official thanpersonal post."

  For one moment these two women looked at each other, with that on theirfaces which would be hard to describe. At last the baroness spoke:

  "It is not wholly my fault, Senora Yturrio, if your husband gave youcause to think there was more than diplomacy between us. At least, I cansay to you that it was the sport of it alone, the intrigue, if youplease, which interested me. I trust you will not accuse me beyondthis."

  A stifled exclamation came from the Dona Lucrezia. I have never seenmore sadness nor yet more hatred on a human face than hers displayed. Ihave said that she was not thoroughbred. She arose now, proud as ever,it is true, but vicious. She declined Helena von Ritz's outstretchedhand, and swept us a curtsey. "_Adios
!_" said she. "I go!"

  Mr. Calhoun gravely offered her an arm; and so with a rustle of hersilks there passed from our lives one unhappy lady who helped make ourmap for us.

  The baroness herself turned. "I ought not to remain," she hesitated.

  "Madam," said Mr. Calhoun, "we can not spare you yet."

  She flashed upon him a keen look. "It is a young country," said she,"but it raises statesmen. You foolish, dear Americans! One could haveloved you all."

  "Eh, what?" said Doctor Ward, turning to her. "My dear lady, two of usare too old for that; and as for the other--"

  He did not know how hard this chance remark might smite, but as usualHelena von Ritz was brave and smiling.

  "You are men," said she, "such as we do not have in our courts ofEurope. Men and women--that is what this country produces."

  "Madam," said Calhoun, "I myself am a very poor sort of man. I am old,and I fail from month to month. I can not live long, at best. What yousee in me is simply a purpose--a purpose to accomplish something for mycountry--a purpose which my country itself does not desire to seefulfilled. Republics do not reward us. What _you_ say shall be our chiefreward. I have asked you here also to accept the thanks of all of us whoknow the intricacies of the events which have gone forward. Madam, weowe you Texas! 'Twas not yonder lady, but yourself, who first advised ofthe danger that threatened us. Hers was, after all, a simpler task thanyours, because she only matched faiths with Van Zandt, representative ofTexas, who had faith in neither men, women nor nations. Had all gonewell, we might perhaps have owed you yet more, for Oregon."

  "Would you like Oregon?" she asked, looking at him with the full glanceof her dark eyes.

  "More than my life! More than the life of myself and all my friends andfamily! More than all my fortune!" His voice rang clear and keen as thatof youth.

  "All of Oregon?" she asked.

  "All? We do not own all! Perhaps we do not deserve it. Surely we couldnot expect it. Why, if we got one-half of what that fellow Polk isclaiming, we should do well enough--that is more than we deserve orcould expect. With our army already at war on the Southwest, England, aswe all know, is planning to take advantage of our helplessness inOregon."

  Without further answer, she held out to him a document whose appearanceI, at least, recognized.

  "I am but a woman," she said, "but it chances that I have been able todo this country perhaps something of a favor. Your assistant, Mr. Trist,has done me in his turn a favor. This much I will ask permission to dofor him."

  Calhoun's long and trembling fingers were nervously opening thedocument. He turned to her with eyes blazing with eagerness. "_It isOregon!_" He dropped back into his chair.

  "Yes," said Helena von Ritz slowly. "It is Oregon. It is bought and paidfor. It is yours!"

  So now they all went over that document, signed by none less thanPakenham himself, minister plenipotentiary for Great Britain. Thatdocument exists to-day somewhere in our archives, but I do not feelempowered to make known its full text. I would I had never need to setdown, as I have, the cost of it. These others never knew that cost; andnow they never can know, for long years since both Calhoun and DoctorWard have been dead and gone. I turned aside as they examined thedocument which within the next few weeks was to become public property.The red wafers which mended it--and which she smilingly explained atCalhoun's demand--were, as I knew, not less than red drops of blood.

  In brief I may say that this paper stated that, in case the UnitedStates felt disposed to reopen discussions which Mr. Polk peremptorilyhad closed, Great Britain might be able to listen to a compromise on theline of the forty-ninth parallel. This compromise had three times beenoffered her by diplomacy of United States under earlier administrations.Great Britain stated that in view of her deep and abiding love of peaceand her deep and abiding admiration for America, she would resign herclaim of all of Oregon down to the Columbia; and more, she would acceptthe forty-ninth parallel; provided she might have free navigationrights upon the Columbia. In fact, this was precisely the memorandum ofagreement which eventually established the lines of the treaty as toOregon between Great Britain and the United States.

  Mr. Calhoun is commonly credited with having brought about this treaty,and with having been author of its terms. So he was, but only in thesingular way which in these foregoing pages I have related. States havetheir price. Texas was bought by blood. Oregon--ah, we who own it oughtto prize it. None of our territory is half so full of romance, none ofit is half so clean, as our great and bodeful far Northwest, still youngin its days of destiny.

  "We should in time have had _all_ of Oregon, perhaps," said Mr. Calhoun;"at least, that is the talk of these fierce politicians."

  "But for this fresh outbreak on the Southwest there would have been abetter chance," said Helena von Ritz; "but I think, as matters areto-day, you would be wise to accept this compromise. I have seen yourmen marching, thousands of them, the grandest sight of this century orany other. They give full base for this compromise. Given another year,and your rifles and your plows would make your claims still better. Butthis is to-day--"

  "Believe me, Mr. Calhoun," I broke in, "your signature must go onthis."

  "How now? Why so anxious, my son?"

  "Because it is right!"

  Calhoun turned to Helena von Ritz. "Has this been presented to Mr.Buchanan, our secretary of state?" he asked.

  "Certainly not. It has been shown to no one. I have been here inWashington working--well, working in secret to secure this document foryou. I do this--well, I will be frank with you--I do it for Mr. Trist.He is my friend. I wish to say to you that he has been--a faithful--"

  I saw her face whiten and her lips shut tight. She swayed a little asshe stood. Doctor Ward was at her side and assisted her to a couch. Forthe first time the splendid courage of Helena von Ritz seemed to failher. She sank back, white, unconscious.

  "It's these damned stays, John!" began Doctor Ward fiercely. "She hasfainted. Here, put her down, so. We'll bring her around in a minute.Great Jove! I want her to _hear_ us thank her. It's splendid work shehas done for us. But _why_?"

  When, presently, under the ministrations of the old physician, Helenavon Ritz recovered her consciousness, she arose, fighting desperately topull herself together and get back her splendid courage.

  "Would you retire now, Madam?" asked Mr. Calhoun. "I have sent for mydaughter."

  "No, no. It is nothing!" she said. "Forgive me, it is only an old habitof mine. See, I am quite well!"

  Indeed, in a few moments she had regained something of that magnificentenergy which was her heritage. As though nothing had happened, she aroseand walked swiftly across the room. Her eyes were fixed upon the greatmap which hung upon the walls--a strange map it would seem to us to-day.Across this she swept a white hand.

  "I saw your men cross this," she said, pointing along the course of thegreat Oregon Trail--whose detailed path was then unknown to ourgeographers. "I saw them go west along that road of destiny. I toldmyself that by virtue of their courage they had won this war. Sometimethere will come the great war between your people and those who rulethem. The people still will win."

  She spread out her two hands top and bottom of the map. "All, all, oughtto be yours,--from the Isthmus to the ice, for the sake of the people ofthe world. The people--but in time they will have their own!"

  We listened to her silently, crediting her enthusiasm to her sex, herrace; but what she said has remained in one mind at least from that dayto this. Well might part of her speech remain in the minds to-day ofpeople and rulers alike. Are we worth the price paid for the countrythat we gained? And when we shall be worth that price, what numeralsshall mark our territorial lines?

  "May I carry this document to Mr. Pakenham?" asked John Calhoun, atlast, touching the paper on the table.

  "Please, no. Do not. Only be sure that this proposition of compromisewill meet with his acceptance."

  "I do not quite understand why you do not go to Mr. Buchanan, oursecretar
y of state."

  "Because I pay my debts," she said simply. "I told you that Mr. Tristand I were comrades. I conceived it might be some credit for him in hiswork to have been the means of doing this much."

  "He shall have that credit, Madam, be sure of that," said John Calhoun.He held out to her his long, thin, bloodless hand.

  "Madam," he said, "I have been mistaken in many things. My life will bewritten down as failure. I have been misjudged. But at least it shallnot be said of me that I failed to reverence a woman such as you. Allthat I thought of you, that first night I met you, was more than true.And did I not tell you you would one day, one way, find your reward?"

  He did not know what he said; but I knew, and I spoke with him in thesilence of my own heart, knowing that his speech would be the same werehis knowledge even with mine.

  "To-morrow," went on Calhoun, "to-morrow evening there is to be what wecall a ball of our diplomacy at the White House. Our administration,knowing that war is soon to be announced in the country, seeks to make alittle festival here at the capital. We whistle to keep up our courage.We listen to music to make us forget our consciences. To-morrow night wedance. All Washington will be there. Baroness von Ritz, a card will cometo you."

  She swept him a curtsey, and gave him a smile.

  "Now, as for me," he continued, "I am an old man, and long ago danced mylast dance in public. To-morrow night all of us will be at the WhiteHouse--Mr. Trist will be there, and Doctor Ward, and a certain lady, aMiss Elisabeth Churchill, Madam, whom I shall be glad to have you meet.You must not fail us, dear lady, because I am going to ask of you onefavor."

  He bowed with a courtesy which might have come from generations of anold aristocracy. "If you please, Madam, I ask you to honor me with yourhand for my first dance in years--my last dance in all my life."

  Impulsively she held out both her hands, bowing her head as she did soto hide her face. Two old gray men, one younger man, took her hands andkissed them.

  Now our flag floats on the Columbia and on the Rio Grande. I am oldernow, but when I think of that scene, I wish that flag might float yetfreer; and though the price were war itself, that it might float over acleaner and a nobler people, over cleaner and nobler rulers, moresensible of the splendor of that heritage of principle which should beours.