Chapter 71: Called it purefinder.
His father passed away before they could have had a word. Even if they were not going to exchange compliments... William wished they could have just had one conversation. It hurt to think that he passed on a few minutes before he had arrived. William swooped the dust on his father's desk. His study had been quiet and untouched left the way it had been. William had spent so many years wishing his father dead that when he finally passed on he could not cope with it. The feeling of being robbed off a goodbye, came in here and there. It visited him in the shadows... when he was alone, when he was not with Panashe or his son or his mother. It was a little bit of sadness that he never thought he would have over his father. They had quarreled for so long that William missed the quarreling, the random banters, the snide comments.
Yes, granted Joshua Gallagher was emotionally abusive. William felt as if it was wrong to miss him. He should be jumping for joy in his absence but he was not. He was happy but he had with moments where he missed his beyond enigmatic father. William wanted to thank him for raising his son, for looking out for him when he had marooned from his duties as a father and took gospel in the lies that Tracy fed him. If his father had not stepped in, just how different would their lives have been, certainly more miserably.
Joshua Gallagher has always been obsessed with scent and scenery. He carried around his pomander everywhere he went. At first because he hated bad smell of peasants that passed him and he always wanted to smell good. William would like to believe that his father had grown up poor that when he finally became well off, he overextended and made everyone below him and insight miserable. William perused through his father's books on the dusty shelves, it seemed no one had been here ever since. Inbetween the books, William found one that looked odd, not very interesting until he opened any random page.
Christian finally learnt how to walk, I was getting worried. All my children walked before the age of two. I'm very delighted it has finally happened. Productive day today, the negroes harvested a whole load. Was nice enough to give them an extra ten minutes of a break for their great work. No other plantation on these parts harvested this much as far as I know. The Cunningham's negroes are treated like family (oddly despicable) they will never be able to beat my hardworking bunch. Like my father always said when you work with a whip, you will always be guaranteed success.
William got teary eyes just from reading what seemed to be his father's journal. As horrible as it sounded, he missed him. This was exactly like his father. When he read it, he could hear his father's voice exactly this much. William was afraid to go further, what if there were hurtful words waiting for him... he still went on.
I had my will alternated today. It was only right, I by far do not have any regrets. Just as a little banter, I asked Christian's mother if she missed my son... poor girl fidgets into a train wreck when I question personal questions. She has been through a lot, I feel... pity towards her. Knowing the truth, I feel as if I am an accomplice.
What did his father mean by an accomplice? To what exactly. William realized he had opened a random page. He then decided to sit down and read previous pages. A part of him was glad and a little surprised that his father kept account of his days... considering he did not have friends, many despised him, his wife was simply mutual... keeping a journal was the only way to keep sane without judgement in due time.
I absolutely can not stand Oliver Dickens, just who does he think he is. His head is just itching for a stray bullet. Bloody Bust—
Next page.
Twelve weeks along. Martha and I took Fredricks girly to have a misbirth. I do not condone it, I'm a firm believer of the lord. The guilt that I feel at this moment is heavy, heavy enough to give her whatever she seeks. Could I be an accomplice for keeping Doris safe with no consequences... I have a sore attachment to her that, I fail to hurt her. A normal righteous human being would never have their own daughter assaulted. She is a she-devil. For her to supportively comfort Panashe knowing she caused it. Baffles me! I can not bring it upon myself to cause Doris any harm. I can not bring it upon myself to inform Fredrick's little girl that her very own mother is the cause of all her pain and misfortunes. Perhaps it's better that way, I will go down my grave with this secret, for peace sake. Perhaps, I care more about Doris than I'd like to admit.
William felt jarred reading this. Everything suddenly made sense. A slow burn of outrage came over him. He was certainly not his father, he did not have any feelings what so ever for Doris and this time would be the last time l, he was done tolerating her. He wanted her off the ranch, he wanted her far away from someone who was very dear to him. All she would ever do is cause harm and more problems. It hurt William that he would have to be the one breaking the news to Panashe. Knowing how vulnerable she was to her mother's manipulative ways. A rage of anger for his father settled, why would he not do anything about this? Why would he protect Doris knowing all she did was cause endless harm. That did not matter, William wanted Doris off the plantation first thing tomorrow. He was going to sell her off farther away from here. Even if it upset Panashe, he did not want her near them. Doris has it coming and this was by far the worst thing she could do to her very own daughter. His father was right when he called her 'she devil'
Swiftly closing the door to his father's study. He was interrupted.
"You have a visitor." Hector informed him.
"Please tell them to leave... not at this hour."
"He said he had travelled far just to see you... his name is Carby Hutchinson."
The name did sound familiar but he thought nothing of it.
"Alright, where is he?"
"Follow me."
As soon as William saw the man in front of him. He just knew, the similarities were uncanny. He just knew off the bat.
"Daddy! Uncle Carby came to visit!" Addie ran towards William who scoped her up in his arms. Surprised by the name 'Uncle Carby' clearly Tracy still brought this man home when William was off working to provide for them without the help of his family's wealth. It stung, but what stung much more was the thought of Doris. This did not phase him anymore.
"That's nice of him." William replied putting Addie down. A wave of guilt was clear in this man's eyes as he stood up to greet William. Just from his poor dressing and dull color, William could tell that he was impoverished. Sunburnt... it was void to say he worked a callous job.
"It's very unfortunate that we have to meet under these circumstances..." William said not bothering to greet, he was already chafed with the news about Doris and this only made him even more wrathful.
"I will be right over with tea." Hector told them taking Addie along with him.
"No, bourbon would be much better!" William replied firmly. The man seemed nervously intimidated. "Why are you here Uncle Carby?" William mocked.
"...uh s-since hearing Tracy's condition.."
"You should have just gone to her parents house and asked them to take you where it is they took her.."
A little nervous, he replied. "I could care less about Tracy..."
"So How May I help you?"
"My daughter... Adeline."
"You want her?"
Shocked that William knew the truth, Carby took a deep breath. "Not at the moment."
"Should have thought of that when you made her..."
"I must apologize from the bottom of my heart. It is unlike me to have acted the way I did. So selfish and... I'm ashamed. There were countless times, I asked and begged her to come clean but she never did. At a certain time in my life, I was convinced that I loved Tracy. That she was the love of my life but... after all that she has done. It's unforgivable, her mental illness must have started when she threatened my wife."
Clearing his throat, William was suddenly interested...Carby continued. "For what seemed like a friendly visit. Tracey attempted to poison my wife fortunately, I arrived and attempted to take a sip from my wife's cup. Tracey was quick to stop me claiming she had seen a bug floating around then immediately disposed of it. I should have know that her suddenly wanting to be friends with my wife was odd."
Finding his humane instinct, William responded. "I'm sorry you had to go through that."
"Not at all, I should be the one apologizing with shame. I can not thank you enough for raising my little girl the way that you have. I will not take that away from you. She will always see you as her father before me or any other man."
"What do you propose as a way forward? What were your intentions coming to see me Hutchinson?"
"With regards to Tracy no longer threatening me. I thought it was only right, I come clean to you."
"It's a little too late."
"Of course and I apologize again, and again."
"What do you do?" William furrowed his eyebrows at the man who looked close to destitute just from his choice of clothing. Choice? Did he even have a choice? William doubted it.
"Pure Finder..." Carby responded nervously.
"I'm not aware of that profession but it sounds good. What do Pure Finders do then?" William asked oblivious to his wealthy privileges and aristocracy from the tone of his voice down to the expensive clothing he prides himself in wearing. William must have been living under a rock if he assumed Pure Finder seemed like a worthy job.
"....uh... collecting dog feces from the streets of London to sell to tanners, who use it in the leather-making process." Carby responded. William immediately swallowed bile up his throat. Taking back his words, pity glowered through his eyes.
"Is that allowed?" William questioned.
"It amazes me how little the moneyed know about the things they demand. No offense of course." Carby said without thinking. Assuming William would be offended, he wasn't.
"Of course." William added.
"Leather is in great demand, as it is used not only as tack for horses but for shoes, boots, bags, and in bookbinding. Dog poop is greatly known as "pure" because it is used to purify the leather and make it more flexible. Therefore the people who collected are called Pure Finders." Carby explained as William listened curiously. He was always surprised with the standards the lower class lived. It made him realize his privileges.
"I see.." William said thoughtfully. "How many children do you have?"
"Two boys, they both stay with my parents in the countryside."
"I see... what does your wife do?"
"She does a few jobs here and there but with negroes doing all the house work. There really isn't much. She does earn a bit from Leech collecting."
William decided not to ask about his wife's job any further. It was clear enough.
"I reckon you can not afford a fifth member in your already dispersed struggling family... no offense of course."
"From the bottom of my heart, I wish I could take Addie in but I know she is better Of with the upper class that she was born into."
"I see..." William responded a little annoyed with this man. Why would he have came if he had no intentions to help or care for his daughter. Suppose William was chaffed about many things and this just happened to be one of them. A thought crossed his mind... what was so special about this man that Tracy had to constantly cheat on him with the same poor lad. He found it astounding but then again love is a mystery. Tracy had always been one with standards about everything from cutlery to her pearls but her men... William found himself a little surprised. Too much had happened in a day.