The Purchase Price

The Purchase Price

The Project Gutenberg eBook, The Purchase Price, by Emerson Hough
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Title: The Purchase Price
Author: Emerson Hough
Release Date: March 15, 2004 [eBook #11593]
Language: English
Character set encoding: US-ASCII
***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE
PURCHASE PRICE***
E-text prepared by Al Haines

THE PURCHASE PRICE
OR, THE CAUSE OF COMPROMISE
By
EMERSON HOUGH
AUTHOR OF THE MISSISSIPPI BUBBLE 54-40 OR FIGHT
WITH ILLUSTRATIONS BY
M. LEONE BRACKER AND EDMUND FREDERICK
1910

TO
HON. ALBERT J. BEVERIDGE A PROGRESSIVE IN THE CAUSE
OF ACTUAL FREEDOM

CONTENTS

Chapter I
A LADY IN COMPANY II THE GATEWAY AND SOME WHO
PASSED III THE QUESTION IV THE GAME V SPOLIA OPIMA VI
THE NEW MASTER VII A CONFUSION IN CHATTELS VIII THE
SHADOW CABINET IX TALLWOODS X FREE AND THRALL XI
THE GARMENTS OF ANOTHER XII THE NIGHT XIII THE
INVASION XIV THE ARGUMENT XV THE ARBITRAMENT XVI
THE ADJUDICATION XVII THE LADY AT TALLWOODS XVIII
ON PAROLE XIX THE ENEMY XX THE ART OF DOCTOR
JAMIESON XXI THE PAYMENT XXII THE WAY OF A MAID
XXIII IN WASHINGTON XXIV IN THE NAME OF ALTRUISM
XXV THE ARTFUL GENTLEMAN PROM KENTUCKY XXVI THE
DISTINGUISHED GENTLEMAN FROM NEW YORK XXVII A
SPLENDID FAILURE XXVIII IN ACKNOWLEDGMENT XXIX IN
OLD ST. GENEVIEVE XXX THE TURNCOAT XXXI THE
SPECTER IN THE HOUSE

CHAPTER I
A LADY IN COMPANY
"Madam, you are charming! You have not slept, and yet you smile. No
man could ask a better prisoner."
She turned to him, smiling faintly.
"I thank you. At least we have had breakfast, and for such mercy I am
grateful to my jailer. I admit I was famished. What now?"
With just the turn of a shoulder she indicated the water front, where, at
the end of the dock on which they stood, lay the good ship, Mount
Vernon, river packet, the black smoke already pouring from her stacks.
In turn he smiled and also shrugged a shoulder.
"Let us not ask! My dear lady, I could journey on for ever with one so

young and pleasant as yourself. I will give you my promise in exchange
for your parole."
Now her gesture was more positive, her glance flashed more keenly at
him. "Do not be too rash," she answered. "My parole runs only while
we travel together privately. As soon as we reach coach or boat, matters
will change. I reserve the right of any prisoner to secure life, liberty and
the pursuit of happiness. I shall endeavor, believe me--and in my own
way."
He frowned as she presently went on to make herself yet more clear. "It
was well enough when we traveled in our own private express, from
Washington here to Pittsburgh for then there was no chance for escape.
I gave my parole, because it pleased you and did not jeopardize myself.
Here my jailer may perhaps have some trouble with me."
"You speak with the courage and fervor of the true leader of a cause.
Madam," he rejoined, now smiling. "What evil days are these on which
I have fallen--I, a mere soldier obeying orders! Not that I have found
the orders unpleasant; but it is not fair of you to bring against mankind
double weapons! Such is not the usage of civilized warfare. Dangerous
enough you are as woman alone, without bringing to your aid those
gifts of mind suited to problems which men have been accustomed to
arrogate to themselves."
"Arrogate is quite the right word. It is especially fit for a jailer."
This time the shaft went home. The florid countenance of young
Captain Carlisle flushed yet ruddier beneath its tan. His lips set still
more tightly under the scant reddish mustache. With a gesture of
impatience he lifted his military hat and passed a hand over the auburn
hair which flamed above his white forehead. His slim figure stiffened
even as his face became more stern. Clad in the full regimentals of his
rank, he made a not unmanly figure as he stood there, though hardly
taller than this splendid woman whom he addressed--a woman
somewhat reserved, mocking, enigmatic; but, as he had said, charming.
That last word of description had been easy for any man who had seen
her, with her long-lashed dark eyes, her clear cheek just touched with

color, her heavy dark hair impossible to conceal even under its
engulfing bonnet, her wholly exquisite and adequate figure equally
unbanished even by the trying costume of the day. She stood erect, easy,
young, strong, fit