Free Glorious by Jeff Guinn Page B

smile’s not enough.”
    For once, McLendon was at a loss for words. He finally managed, “But about Ellen, sir. Would she even have me?”
    â€œShe likes you well enough.” Mr. Douglass lit a cigar and pointed the glowing tip at McLendon. “Take time to consider my offer, though not too much. I’m confident you’ll have the sense to marry Ellen and give up your Italian girl.”
    In his confusion, McLendon hadn’t thought about Gabrielle. He blurted, “You know about her?”
    â€œYou’re not my only watcher. Put the Eye-tie aside.”
    McLendon’s initial, private reaction was that he couldn’t even consider marrying Ellen Douglass. He loved Gabrielle. He’d refuse Mr. Douglass’s offer, leave his employment, marry Gabrielle, and help run the dry goods store. But then he considered Mr. Douglass’s reaction if he refused. By whatever means necessary, Mr. Douglass would have revenge, at least by opening a rival shop and putting the Tirritos out of business—or even, if he were outraged enough, setting Killer Boots on Salvatore and Gabrielle and perhaps McLendon himself. By being noble and choosing Ellen, whom he didn’t love, he might be saving the life of the woman he really loved, and her father’s, to say nothing of his own.
    He sent word to Gabrielle that he was ill and lay anguishing in hisroom at the imposing Douglass mansion. At first he thought mostly of how Gabrielle’s entire face glowed when she smiled, but then he pictured Ellen, beautiful and mysterious. He contrasted the Tirritos’ small house behind their shop with the imposing Douglass habitation, and the small family shop to the Douglass business empire. McLendon remembered being a panicked little boy whose mother was dead and whose father had disappeared, and the terrible feeling of being poor and helpless. Gabrielle was wonderful, but Ellen was so beautiful, and so very, very rich. . . .
    Cash McLendon, who was so good at convincing others, convinced himself that it wasn’t the Douglass fortune that was the deciding factor in his decision. He was sacrificing his own happiness to save Gabrielle and her father from the wrath of Rupert Douglass.
    â€œI’ll be a good husband to your daughter,” McLendon told his employer.
    Mr. Douglass looked hard at McLendon. “From this moment forward, have no contact with the Italian girl. I want your word on this.”
    McLendon took a deep breath, then said quietly, “You have it.”
    â€¢Â Â Â â€¢Â Â Â â€¢
    T HE S T. L OUIS newspapers made much of the engagement, noting that Rupert Douglass, father of the prospective bride, was a leading businessman and philanthropist. McLendon wondered if Gabrielle would read the stories. Because of his promise to Mr. Douglass, he couldn’t tell her in person.
    Cash McLendon married Ellen Douglass on a glorious spring day in 1870. Shortly before the ceremony, Mr. Douglass said there was something he needed to know about Ellen’s health.
    â€œShe’s a high-strung girl, and always has been.” Mr. Douglass took McLendon to his study. “My wife and I have been obliged to bevigilant with her, and now you must too. She has wild moods, falls into them without warning. Then there are dreadful scenes, and on rare occasions she has even tried to do harm to herself if she feels thwarted in her wishes.” He opened a small safe and removed a stoppered glass vial filled with a light brown liquid. “To help keep her steady, the doctor prescribes laudanum, liquid essence of poppies. At breakfast and in mid-afternoon, Ellen takes three drops in a glass of water. The laudanum is kept in this safe because she likes it too much, and taking it in excess is very dangerous. Two doses daily, and never more. I’ll give you the combination of the safe. Usually her mother administers the medicine, but sometimes the responsibility may