Edward Roblin
page 2
“Ha, my pretty birds, but I've caught you finely!” And while the father took charge of the young lady, the constable took charge of the young man, leaving the Dominie to muse at his leisure on the mutability of human affairs, and mourn over his loss of a marriage fee. Zadie, disconsolate and inconsolable, was taken back to her home; while Edward, without friends and in the clutches of the law, was thrown into prison along with felons of the basest sort. In vain he protested he was under no pecuniary obligation to Mr. Price; that the money paid to him by that gentleman, on which the charge for his arrest was based, was for services well and faithfully rendered. The word of Mr. Price was sufficient to deprive Edward of his liberty, whether by just cause or otherwise was then nothing to the question; while his influence was such that he could get the trial postponed for an indefinite period. Meanwhile Edward's incarceration was an insurmountable barrier to his love-making for the present; at the same time the old man chuckled at the success of his scheme to get Edward effectually out of the way, while he proceeded to mature his plan of marrying Zadie more to his wishes.
To while away the dull hours of his imprisonment Edward learned to play the fiddle. He soon became so skillful in the use of the instrument that he found in it a new language in which to express his disappointment, and merge his never-dying affection for his sweetheart into sounds of melancholy melody that were wafted far beyond the limits of his prison bars. His story of romantic incident had got abroad; and love-loin damsels would come with slippered feet to listen to his tale of disappointment, as he drew it out in languishing harmonies. Not unfrequently whole bevies of Goshen maidens would gather under his window of a pleasant summer evening, and, casting anxious glances upward at the barred window, heave a sigh of pity in his behalf.
Months rolled by. Edward was still in prison. No trial had been accorded him, with no immediate prospect of any. All this while he had received no word, no token from Zadie. The vigilance of a father was never relaxed, and no love epistles could pass between them.
Driven to desperation by the entreaties and commands of her tyrant father, Zadie at last married a man she abhorred, much older than herself, but who had the reputation of being wealthy. As soon as this was consummated, the father with a malicious pleasure took means to have it speedily communicated to the ears of young Roblin. The strains of the fiddle were now more melancholy and grief-laden than ever; and one of the fair listeners under Edward's window was moved to tears, so great a sorrow did the doleful vibrations convey.
The jail-keeper had a pretty daughter. It was a part of her duty to take food to the prisoners. It may have been the result of accident, or sheer advertence on her part, but the fullest plate and the choicest slice was apt to be handed in at the “griefhole” of Edward's cell. The jailer himself often condescended to speak a kindly word to him. An interest now began to be awakened in the minds of outsiders for his release; even Mr. Price himself could now have no reason for desiring a continuance of his imprisonment. But young Edward did not wait for the slow process of law to relieve him from his confinement.
Table of Contents