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diff --git a/1763-h/1763-h.htm b/1763-h/1763-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..84828f2 --- /dev/null +++ b/1763-h/1763-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,976 @@ +<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?> + +<!DOCTYPE html + PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" + "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd" > + +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" lang="en"> + <head> + <title> + The Nature Faker, by Richard Harding Davis + </title> + <style type="text/css" xml:space="preserve"> + + body { margin:5%; background:#faebd0; text-align:justify} + P { text-indent: 1em; margin-top: .25em; margin-bottom: .25em; } + H1,H2,H3,H4,H5,H6 { text-align: center; margin-left: 15%; margin-right: 15%; } + hr { width: 50%; text-align: center;} + .foot { margin-left: 20%; margin-right: 20%; text-align: justify; text-indent: -3em; font-size: 90%; } + blockquote {font-size: 97%; font-style: italic; margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%;} + .mynote {background-color: #DDE; color: #000; padding: .5em; margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 95%;} + .toc { margin-left: 10%; margin-bottom: .75em;} + .toc2 { margin-left: 20%;} + div.fig { display:block; margin:0 auto; text-align:center; } + div.middle { margin-left: 20%; margin-right: 20%; text-align: justify; } + .figleft {float: left; margin-left: 0%; margin-right: 1%;} + .figright {float: right; margin-right: 0%; margin-left: 1%;} + .pagenum {display:inline; font-size: 70%; font-style:normal; + margin: 0; padding: 0; position: absolute; right: 1%; + text-align: right;} + pre { font-style: italic; font-size: 90%; margin-left: 10%;} + +</style> + </head> + <body> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Nature Faker, by Richard Harding Davis + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Nature Faker + +Author: Richard Harding Davis + +Release Date: October 28, 2008 [EBook #1763] +Last Updated: September 26, 2016 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: UTF-8 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE NATURE FAKER *** + + + + +Produced by Aaron Cannon, and David Widger + + + + + +</pre> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <h1> + THE NATURE FAKER + </h1> + <p> + <br /> + </p> + <h2> + By Richard Harding Davis + </h2> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> + <p> + Richard Herrick was a young man with a gentle disposition, much money, and + no sense of humor. His object in life was to marry Miss Catherweight. For + three years she had tried to persuade him this could not be, and finally, + in order to convince him, married some one else. When the woman he loves + marries another man, the rejected one is popularly supposed to take to + drink or to foreign travel. Statistics show that, instead, he instantly + falls in love with the best friend of the girl who refused him. But, as + Herrick truly loved Miss Catherweight, he could not worship any other + woman, and so he became a lover of nature. Nature, he assured his men + friends, does not disappoint you. The more thought, care, affection you + give to nature, the more she gives you in return, and while, so he + admitted, in wooing nature there are no great moments, there are no + heart-aches. Jackson, one of the men friends, and of a frivolous + disposition, said that he also could admire a landscape, but he would + rather look at the beautiful eyes of a girl he knew than at the Lakes of + Killarney, with a full moon, a setting sun, and the aurora borealis for a + background. Herrick suggested that, while the beautiful eyes might seek + those of another man, the Lakes of Killarney would always remain where you + could find them. Herrick pursued his new love in Connecticut on an + abandoned farm which he converted into a “model” one. On it he established + model dairies and model incubators. He laid out old-fashioned gardens, + sunken gardens, Italian gardens, landscape gardens, and a game preserve. + </p> + <p> + The game preserve was his own especial care and pleasure. It consisted of + two hundred acres of dense forest and hills and ridges of rock. It was + filled with mysterious caves, deep chasms, tiny gurgling streams, nestling + springs, and wild laurel. It was barricaded with fallen tree-trunks and + moss-covered rocks that had never felt the foot of man since that foot had + worn a moccasin. Around the preserve was a high fence stout enough to keep + poachers on the outside and to persuade the wild animals that inhabited it + to linger on the inside. These wild animals were squirrels, rabbits, and + raccoons. Every day, in sunshine or in rain, entering through a private + gate, Herrick would explore this holy of holies. For such vermin as would + destroy the gentler animals he carried a gun. But it was turned only on + those that preyed upon his favorites. For hours he would climb through + this wilderness, or, seated on a rock, watch a bluebird building her nest + or a squirrel laying in rations against the coming of the snow. In time he + grew to think he knew and understood the inhabitants of this wild place of + which he was the overlord. He looked upon them not as his tenants but as + his guests. And when they fled from him in terror to caves and hollow + tree-trunks, he wished he might call them back and explain he was their + friend, that it was due to him they lived in peace. He was glad they were + happy. He was glad it was through him that, undisturbed, they could live + the simple life. + </p> + <p> + His fall came through ambition. Herrick himself attributed it to his too + great devotion to nature and nature’s children. Jackson, he of the + frivolous mind, attributed it to the fact that any man is sure to come to + grief who turns from the worship of God’s noblest handiwork, by which + Jackson meant woman, to worship chipmunks and Plymouth Rock hens. One + night Jackson lured Herrick into New York to a dinner and a music hall. He + invited also one Kelly, a mutual friend of a cynical and combative + disposition. Jackson liked to hear him and Herrick abuse each other, and + always introduced subjects he knew would cause each to lose his temper. + </p> + <p> + But, on this night, Herrick needed no goading. He was in an ungrateful + mood. Accustomed to food fresh from the soil and the farmyard, he sneered + at hothouse asparagus, hothouse grapes, and cold-storage quail. At the + music hall he was even more difficult. In front of him sat a stout lady + who when she shook with laughter shed patchouli and a man who smoked + American cigarettes. At these and the steam heat, the nostrils of Herrick, + trained to the odor of balsam and the smoke of open wood fires, took + offense. He refused to be amused. The monologue artist, in whom Jackson + found delight, caused Herrick only to groan; the knockabout comedians he + hoped would break their collar-bones; the lady who danced Salome, and who + fascinated Kelly, Herrick prayed would catch pneumonia and die of it. And + when the drop rose upon the Countess Zichy’s bears, his dissatisfaction + reached a climax. + </p> + <p> + There were three bears—a large papa bear, a mamma bear, and the baby + bear. On the programme they were described as Bruno, Clara, and Ikey. They + were of a dusty brown, with long, curling noses tipped with white, and + fat, tan-colored bellies. When father Bruno, on his hind legs and bare + feet, waddled down the stage, he resembled a Hebrew gentleman in a brown + bathing suit who had lost his waist-line. As he tripped doubtfully + forward, with mincing steps, he continually and mournfully wagged his + head. He seemed to be saying: “This water is much too cold for me.” The + mamma bear was dressed in a poke bonnet and white apron, and resembled the + wolf who frightened Little Red Riding-Hood, and Ikey, the baby bear, wore + rakishly over one eye the pointed cap of a clown. To those who knew their + vaudeville, this was indisputable evidence that Ikey would furnish the + comic relief. Nor did Ikey disappoint them. He was a wayward son. When his + parents were laboriously engaged in a boxing-match, or dancing to the + “Merry Widow Waltz,” or balancing on step-ladders, Ikey, on all fours, + would scamper to the foot-lights and, leaning over, make a swift grab at + the head of the first trombone. And when the Countess Zichy, apprised by + the shouts of the audience of Ikey’s misconduct, waved a toy whip, Ikey + would gallop back to his pedestal and howl at her. To every one, except + Herrick and the first trombone, this playfulness on the part of Ikey + furnished great delight. + </p> + <p> + The performances of the bears ended with Bruno and Clara dancing heavily + to the refrain of the “Merry Widow Waltz,” while Ikey pretended to conduct + the music of the orchestra. On the final call, Madame Zichy threw to each + of the animals a beer bottle filled with milk; and the gusto with which + the savage-looking beasts uncorked the bottles and drank from them greatly + amused the audience. Ikey, standing on his hind legs, his head thrown + back, with both paws clasping the base of the bottle, shoved the neck far + down his throat, and then, hurling it from him, and cocking his clown’s + hat over his eyes, gave a masterful imitation of a very intoxicated bear. + </p> + <p> + “That,” exclaimed Herrick hotly, “is a degrading spectacle. It degrades + the bear and degrades me and you.” + </p> + <p> + “No, it bores me,” said Kelly. + </p> + <p> + “If you understood nature,” retorted Herrick, “and nature’s children, it + would infuriate you.” + </p> + <p> + “I don’t go to a music hall to get infuriated,” said Kelly. + </p> + <p> + “Trained dogs I don’t mind,” exclaimed Herrick. “Dogs are not wild + animals. The things they’re trained to do are of USE. They can guard the + house, or herd sheep. But a bear is a wild beast. Always will be a wild + beast. You can’t train him to be of use. It’s degrading to make him ride a + bicycle. I hate it! If I’d known there were to be performing bears + to-night, I wouldn’t have come!” + </p> + <p> + “And if I’d known you were to be here to-night, I wouldn’t have come!” + said Kelly. “Where do we go to next?” + </p> + <p> + They went next to a restaurant in a gayly decorated cellar. Into this + young men like themselves and beautiful ladies were so anxious to hurl + themselves that to restrain them a rope was swung across the entrance and + page boys stood on guard. When a young man became too anxious to spend his + money, the page boys pushed in his shirt front. After they had fought + their way to a table, Herrick ungraciously remarked he would prefer to sup + in a subway station. The people, he pointed out, would be more human, the + decorations were much of the same Turkish-bath school of art, and the air + was no worse. + </p> + <p> + “Cheer up, Clarence!” begged Jackson, “you’ll soon be dead. To-morrow + you’ll be back among your tree-toads and sunsets. And, let us hope,” he + sighed, “no one will try to stop you!” + </p> + <p> + “What worries me is this,” explained Herrick. “I can’t help thinking that, + if one night of this artificial life is so hard upon me, what must it be + to those bears!” + </p> + <p> + Kelly exclaimed, with exasperation: “Confound the bears!” he cried. “If + you must spoil my supper weeping over animals, weep over cart-horses. They + work. Those bears are loafers. They’re as well fed as pet canaries. + They’re aristocrats.” + </p> + <p> + “But it’s not a free life!” protested Herrick. “It’s not the life they + love.” + </p> + <p> + “It’s a darned sight better,” declared Kelly, “than sleeping in a damp + wood, eating raw blackberries——” + </p> + <p> + “The more you say,” retorted Herrick, “the more you show you know nothing + whatsoever of nature’s children and their habits.” + </p> + <p> + “And all you know of them,” returned Kelly, “is that a cat has nine lives, + and a barking dog won’t bite. You’re a nature faker.” Herrick refused to + be diverted. + </p> + <p> + “It hurt me,” he said. “They were so big, and good-natured, and helpless. + I’ll bet that woman beats them! I kept thinking of them as they were in + the woods, tramping over the clean pine needles, eating nuts, and—and + honey, and——” + </p> + <p> + “Buns!” suggested Jackson. + </p> + <p> + “I can’t forget them,” said Herrick. “It’s going to haunt me, to-morrow, + when I’m back in the woods; I’ll think of those poor beasts capering in a + hot theatre, when they ought to be out in the open as God meant they——” + </p> + <p> + “Well, then,” protested Kelly, “take ‘em to the open. And turn ‘em loose! + And I hope they bite YOU!” + </p> + <p> + At this Herrick frowned so deeply that Kelly feared he had gone too far. + Inwardly, he reproved himself for not remembering that his friend lacked a + sense of humor. But Herrick undeceived him. + </p> + <p> + “You are right!” he exclaimed. “To-morrow I will buy those bears, take + them to the farm, and turn them loose!” + </p> + <p> + No objections his friend could offer could divert him from his purpose. + When they urged that to spend so much money in such a manner was + criminally wasteful, he pointed out that he was sufficiently rich to + indulge any extravagant fancy, whether in polo ponies or bears; when they + warned him that if he did not look out the bears would catch him alone in + the woods, and eat him, he retorted that the bears were now educated to a + different diet; when they said he should consider the peace of mind of his + neighbors, he assured them the fence around his game preserve would + restrain an elephant. + </p> + <p> + “Besides,” protested Kelly, “what you propose to do is not only + impracticable, but it’s cruelty to animals. A domesticated animal can’t + return to a state of nature, and live.” + </p> + <p> + “Can’t it?” jeered Herrick. “Did you ever read ‘The Call of the Wild’?” + </p> + <p> + “Did you ever read,” retorted Kelly, “what happened at the siege of + Ladysmith when the oats ran low and they drove the artillery horses out to + grass? They starved, that’s all. And if you don’t feed your bears on milk + out of a bottle they’ll starve too.” + </p> + <p> + “That’s what will happen,” cried Jackson; “those bears have forgotten what + a pine forest smells like. Maybe it’s a pity, but it’s the fact. I’ll bet + if you could ask them whether they’d rather sleep in a cave on your farm + or be headliners in vaudeville, they’d tell you they were ‘devoted to + their art.’” + </p> + <p> + “Why!” exclaimed Kelly, “they’re so far from nature that if they didn’t + have that colored boy to comb and brush them twice a day they’d be ashamed + to look each other in the eyes.” + </p> + <p> + “And another thing,” continued Jackson, “trained animals love to ‘show + off.’ They’re children. Those bears ENJOY doing those tricks. They ENJOY + the applause. They enjoy dancing to the ‘Merry Widow Waltz.’ And if you + lock them up in your jungle, they’ll get so homesick that they’ll give a + performance twice a day to the squirrels and woodpeckers.” + </p> + <p> + “It’s just as hard to unlearn a thing as to learn it,” said Kelly + sententiously. “You can’t make a man who has learned to wear shoes enjoy + going around in his bare feet.” + </p> + <p> + “Rot!” cried Herrick. “Look at me. Didn’t I love New York? I loved it so I + never went to bed for fear I’d miss something. But when I went ‘Back to + the Land,’ did it take me long to fall in love with the forests and the + green fields? It took me a week. I go to bed now the same day I get up, + and I’ve passed on my high hat and frock coat to a scarecrow. And I’ll bet + you when those bears once scent the wild woods they’ll stampede for them + like Croker going to a third alarm.” + </p> + <p> + “And I repeat,” cried Kelly, “you are a nature faker. And I’ll leave it to + the bears to prove it.” + </p> + <p> + “We have done our best,” sighed Jackson. “We have tried to save him money + and trouble. And now all he can do for us in return is to give us seats + for the opening performance.” + </p> + <p> + What the bears cost Herrick he never told. But it was a very large sum. As + the Countess Zichy pointed out, bears as bears, in a state of nature, are + cheap. If it were just a bear he wanted, he himself could go to Pike + County, Pennsylvania, and trap one. What he was paying for, she explained, + was the time she had spent in educating the Bruno family, and added to + that the time during which she must now remain idle while she educated + another family. + </p> + <p> + Herrick knew for what he was paying. It was the pleasure of rescuing + unwilling slaves from bondage. As to their expensive education, if they + returned to a state of ignorance as rapidly as did most college graduates + he knew, he would be satisfied. Two days later, when her engagement at the + music hall closed, Madame Zichy reluctantly turned over her pets to their + new manager. With Ikey she was especially loath to part. + </p> + <p> + “I’ll never get one like him,” she wailed, “Ikey is the funniest + four-legged clown in America. He’s a natural-born comedian. Folks think I + learn him those tricks, but it’s all his own stuff. Only last week we was + playing Paoli’s in Bridgeport, and when I was putting Bruno through the + hoops, Ikey runs to the stage-box and grabs a pound of caramels out of a + girl’s lap-and swallows the box. And in St. Paul, if the trombone hadn’t + worn a wig, Ikey would have scalped him. Say, it was a scream! When the + audience see the trombone snatched bald-headed, and him trying to get back + his wig, and Ikey chewing it, they went crazy. You can’t learn a bear + tricks like that. It’s just genius. Some folks think I taught him to act + like he was intoxicated, but he picked that up, too, all by himself, + through watching my husband. And Ikey’s very fond of beer on his own + account. If I don’t stop them, the stage hands would be always slipping + him drinks. I hope you won’t give him none.” + </p> + <p> + “I will not!” said Herrick. + </p> + <p> + The bears, Ikey in one cage and Bruno and Clara in another, travelled by + express to the station nearest the Herrick estate. There they were + transferred to a farm wagon, and grumbling and growling, and with Ikey + howling like an unspanked child, they were conveyed to the game preserve. + At the only gate that entered it, Kelly and Jackson and a specially + invited house party of youths and maidens were gathered to receive them. + At a greater distance stood all of the servants and farm hands, and as the + wagon backed against the gate, with the door of Ikey’s cage opening + against it, the entire audience, with one accord, moved solidly to the + rear. Herrick, with a pleased but somewhat nervous smile, mounted the + wagon. But before he could unlock the cage Kelly demanded to be heard. He + insisted that, following the custom of all great artists, the bears should + give a farewell performance. + </p> + <p> + He begged that Bruno and Clara might be permitted to dance together. He + pointed out that this would be the last time they could listen to the + strains of the “Merry Widow Waltz.” He called upon everybody present to + whistle it. + </p> + <p> + The suggestion of an open-air performance was received coldly. At the + moment no one seemed able to pucker his lips into a whistle, and some even + explained that with that famous waltz they were unfamiliar. + </p> + <p> + One girl attained an instant popularity by pointing out that the bears + could waltz just as well on one side of the fence as the other. Kelly, + cheated of his free performance, then begged that before Herrick condemned + the bears to starve on acorns, he should give them a farewell drink, and + Herrick, who was slightly rattled, replied excitedly that he had not + ransomed the animals only to degrade them. The argument was interrupted by + the French chef falling out of a tree. He had climbed it, he explained, in + order to obtain a better view. + </p> + <p> + When, in turn, it was explained to him that a bear also could climb a + tree, he remembered he had left his oven door open. His departure reminded + other servants of duties they had neglected, and one of the guests, also, + on remembering he had put in a long-distance call, hastened to the house. + Jackson suggested that perhaps they had better all return with him, as the + presence of so many people might frighten the bears. At the moment he + spoke, Ikey emitted a hideous howl, whether of joy or rage no one knew, + and few remained to find out. It was not until Herrick had investigated + and reported that Ikey was still behind the bars that the house party + cautiously returned. The house party then filed a vigorous protest. Its + members, with Jackson as spokesman, complained that Herrick was relying + entirely too much on his supposition that the bears would be anxious to + enter the forest. Jackson pointed out that, should they not care to do so, + there was nothing to prevent them from doubling back under the wagon; in + which case the house party and all of the United States lay before them. + It was not until a lawn-tennis net and much chicken wire was stretched in + intricate thicknesses across the lower half of the gate that Herrick was + allowed to proceed. Unassisted, he slid back the cage door, and without a + moment’s hesitation Ikey leaped from the wagon through the gate and into + the preserve. For an instant, dazed by the sudden sunlight, he remained + motionless, and then, after sniffing delightedly at the air, stuck his + nose deep into the autumn leaves. Turning on his back, he luxuriously and + joyfully kicked his legs, and rolled from side to side. + </p> + <p> + Herrick gave a shout of joy and triumph. “What did I tell you!” he called. + “See how he loves it! See how happy he is.” + </p> + <p> + “Not at all,” protested Kelly. “He thought you gave him the sign to ‘roll + over.’ Tell him to ‘play dead,’ and he’ll do that.” “Tell ALL the bears to + ‘play dead,’” begged Jackson, “until I’m back in the billiard-room.” + </p> + <p> + Flushed with happiness, Herrick tossed Ikey’s cage out of the wagon, and + opened the door of the one that held Bruno and Clara. On their part, there + was a moment of doubt. As though suspecting a trap, they moved to the edge + of the cage, and gazed critically at the screen of trees and tangled vines + that rose before them. + </p> + <p> + “They think it’s a new backdrop,” explained Kelly. + </p> + <p> + But the delight with which Ikey was enjoying his bath in the autumn leaves + was not lost upon his parents. Slowly and clumsily they dropped to the + ground. As though they expected to be recalled, each turned to look at the + group of people who had now run to peer through the wire meshes of the + fence. But, as no one spoke and no one signalled, the three bears, in + single file, started toward the edge of the forest. They had of cleared + space to cover only a little distance, and at each step, as though fearful + they would be stopped and punished, one or the other turned his head. But + no one halted them. With quickening footsteps the bears, now almost at a + gallop, plunged forward. The next instant they were lost to sight, and + only the crackling of the underbrush told that they had come into their + own. + </p> + <p> + Herrick dropped to the ground and locked himself inside the preserve. + </p> + <p> + “I’m going after them,” he called, “to see what they’ll do.” + </p> + <p> + There was a frantic chorus of entreaties. + </p> + <p> + “Don’t be an ass!” begged Jackson. “They’ll eat you.” Herrick waved his + hand reassuringly. + </p> + <p> + “They won’t even see me,” he explained. “I can find my way about this + place better than they can. And I’ll keep to windward of them, and watch + them. Go to the house,” he commanded. “I’ll be with you in an hour, and + report.” + </p> + <p> + It was with real relief that, on assembling for dinner, the house party + found Herrick, in high spirits, with the usual number of limbs, and + awaiting them. The experiment had proved a great success. He told how, + unheeded by the bears, he had, without difficulty, followed in their + tracks. For an hour he had watched them. No happy school-children, let + loose at recess, could have embraced their freedom with more obvious + delight. They drank from the running streams, for honey they explored the + hollow tree-trunks, they sharpened their claws on moss-grown rocks, and + among the fallen oak leaves scratched violently for acorns. So satisfied + was Herrick with what he had seen, with the success of his experiment, and + so genuine and unselfish was he in the thought of the happiness he had + brought to the beasts of the forests, that for him no dinner ever passed + more pleasantly. Miss Waring, who sat next to her host, thought she had + seldom met a man with so kind and simple a nature. She rather resented the + fact, and she was inwardly indignant that so much right feeling and + affection could be wasted on farmyard fowls, and four-footed animals. She + felt sure that some nice girl, seated at the other end of the table, + smiling through the light of the wax candles upon Herrick, would soon make + him forget his love of “Nature and Nature’s children.” She even saw + herself there, and this may have made her exhibit more interest in + Herrick’s experiment than she really felt. In any event, Herrick found her + most sympathetic’ and when dinner was over carried her off to a corner of + the terrace. It was a warm night in early October, and the great woods of + the game preserve that stretched below them were lit with a full moon. + </p> + <p> + On his way to the lake for a moonlight row with one of the house party who + belonged to that sex that does not row, but looks well in the moon-light, + Kelly halted, and jeered mockingly. + </p> + <p> + “How can you sit there,” he demanded, “while those poor beasts are + freezing in a cave, with not even a silk coverlet or a pillow-sham. You + and your valet ought to be down there now carrying them pajamas.” + </p> + <p> + “Kelly,” declared Herrick, unruffled in his moment of triumph, “I hate to + say, ‘I told you so,’ but you force me. Go away,” he commanded. “You have + neither imagination nor soul.” + </p> + <p> + “And that’s true,” he assured Miss Waring, as Kelly and his companion left + them. “Now, I see nothing in what I accomplished that is ridiculous. Had + you watched those bears as I did, you would have felt that sympathy that + exists between all who love the out-of-door life. A dog loves to see his + master pick up his stick and his hat to take him for a walk, and the man + enjoys seeing the dog leaping and quartering the fields before him. They + are both the happier. At least I am happier to-night, knowing those bears + are at peace and at home, than I would be if I thought of them being + whipped through their tricks in a dirty theatre.” Herrick pointed to the + great forest trees of the preserve, their tops showing dimly in the mist + of moonlight. “Somewhere, down in that valley,” he murmured, “are three + happy animals. They are no longer slaves and puppets—they are their + own masters. For the rest of their lives they can sleep on pine needles + and dine on nuts and honey. No one shall molest them, no one shall force + them through degrading tricks. Hereafter they can choose their life, and + their own home among the rocks, and the——” Herrick’s words + were frozen on his tongue. From the other end of the terrace came a scream + so fierce, so long, so full of human suffering, that at the sound the + blood of all that heard it turned to water. It was so appalling that for + an instant no one moved, and then from every part of the house, along the + garden walks, from the servants’ quarters, came the sound of pounding + feet. Herrick, with Miss Waring clutching at his sleeve, raced toward the + other end of the terrace. They had not far to go. Directly in front of + them they saw what had dragged from the very soul of the woman the scream + of terror. + </p> + <p> + The drawing-room opened upon the terrace, and, seated at the piano, + Jackson had been playing for those in the room to dance. The windows to + the terrace were open. The terrace itself was flooded with moonlight. + Seeking the fresh air, one of the dancers stepped from the drawing-room to + the flags outside. She had then raised the cry of terror and fallen in a + faint. What she had seen, Herrick a moment later also saw. On the terrace + in the moon-light, Bruno and Clara, on their hind legs, were solemnly + waltzing. Neither the scream nor the cessation of the music disturbed + them. Contentedly, proudly, they continued to revolve in hops and leaps. + From their happy expression, it was evident they not only were enjoying + themselves, but that they felt they were greatly affording immeasurable + delight to others. Sick at heart, furious, bitterly hurt, with roars of + mocking laughter in his ears, Herrick ran toward the stables for help. At + the farther end of the terrace the butler had placed a tray of liqueurs, + whiskeys, and soda bottles. His back had been turned for only a few + moments, but the time had sufficed. + </p> + <p> + Lolling with his legs out, stretched in a wicker chair, Herrick beheld the + form of Ikey. Between his uplifted paws he held aloof the base of a + decanter; between his teeth, and well jammed down his throat, was the long + neck of the bottle. From it issued the sound of gentle gurgling. Herrick + seized the decanter and hurled it crashing upon the terrace. With + difficulty Ikey rose. Swaying and shaking his head reproachfully, he gave + Herrick a perfectly accurate imitation of an intoxicated bear. + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg’s The Nature Faker, by Richard Harding Davis + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE NATURE FAKER *** + +***** This file should be named 1763-h.htm or 1763-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/1/7/6/1763/ + +Produced by Aaron Cannon, and David Widger + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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