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diff --git a/2555-h/2555-h.htm b/2555-h/2555-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..8449b67 --- /dev/null +++ b/2555-h/2555-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,7727 @@ +<?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> + Under the Redwoods, by Bret Harte + </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 Under the Redwoods, by Bret Harte + +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: Under the Redwoods + +Author: Bret Harte + +Release Date: May 18, 2006 [EBook #2555] +Last Updated: March 5, 2018 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: UTF-8 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK UNDER THE REDWOODS *** + + + + +Produced by Donald Lainson; David Widger + + + + + +</pre> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> + <h1> + UNDER THE REDWOODS + </h1> + <p> + <br /> + </p> + <h2> + By Bret Harte + </h2> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> + <h2> + Contents + </h2> + <p> + <a href="#link2H_4_0001"> <big><b>UNDER THE REDWOODS</b></big> </a> + </p> + <table summary="" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto"> + <tr> + <td> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0002"> JIMMY'S BIG BROTHER FROM CALIFORNIA </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0003"> THE YOUNGEST MISS PIPER </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0004"> A WIDOW OF THE SANTA ANA VALLEY </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0005"> THE MERMAID OF LIGHTHOUSE POINT </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0006"> UNDER THE EAVES </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0007"> HOW REUBEN ALLEN “SAW LIFE” IN SAN + FRANCISCO </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0008"> THREE VAGABONDS OF TRINIDAD </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0009"> A VISION OF THE FOUNTAIN </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0010"> A ROMANCE OF THE LINE </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0011"> BOHEMIAN DAYS IN SAN FRANCISCO </a> + </p> + </td> + </tr> + </table> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0001" id="link2H_4_0001"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> <br /> <br /> + </p> + <h1> + UNDER THE REDWOODS + </h1> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0002" id="link2H_4_0002"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + JIMMY'S BIG BROTHER FROM CALIFORNIA + </h2> + <p> + As night crept up from the valley that stormy afternoon, Sawyer's Ledge + was at first quite blotted out by wind and rain, but presently reappeared + in little nebulous star-like points along the mountain side, as the + straggling cabins of the settlement were one by one lit up by the miners + returning from tunnel and claim. These stars were of varying brilliancy + that evening, two notably so—one that eventually resolved itself + into a many-candled illumination of a cabin of evident festivity; the + other into a glimmering taper in the window of a silent one. They might + have represented the extreme mutations of fortune in the settlement that + night: the celebration of a strike by Robert Falloner, a lucky miner; and + the sick-bed of Dick Lasham, an unlucky one. + </p> + <p> + The latter was, however, not quite alone. He was ministered to by Daddy + Folsom, a weak but emotional and aggressively hopeful neighbor, who was + sitting beside the wooden bunk whereon the invalid lay. Yet there was + something perfunctory in his attitude: his eyes were continually straying + to the window, whence the illuminated Falloner festivities could be seen + between the trees, and his ears were more intent on the songs and laughter + that came faintly from the distance than on the feverish breathing and + unintelligible moans of the sufferer. + </p> + <p> + Nevertheless he looked troubled equally by the condition of his charge and + by his own enforced absence from the revels. A more impatient moan from + the sick man, however, brought a change to his abstracted face, and he + turned to him with an exaggerated expression of sympathy. + </p> + <p> + “In course! Lordy! I know jest what those pains are: kinder ez ef you was + havin' a tooth pulled that had roots branchin' all over ye! My! I've jest + had 'em so bad I couldn't keep from yellin'! That's hot rheumatics! Yes, + sir, I oughter know! And” (confidentially) “the sing'ler thing about 'em + is that they get worse jest as they're going off—sorter wringin' yer + hand and punchin' ye in the back to say 'Good-by.' There!” he continued, + as the man sank exhaustedly back on his rude pillow of flour-sacks. + “There! didn't I tell ye? Ye'll be all right in a minit, and ez chipper ez + a jay bird in the mornin'. Oh, don't tell me about rheumatics—I've + bin thar! On'y mine was the cold kind—that hangs on longest—yours + is the hot, that burns itself up in no time!” + </p> + <p> + If the flushed face and bright eyes of Lasham were not enough to + corroborate this symptom of high fever, the quick, wandering laugh he gave + would have indicated the point of delirium. But the too optimistic Daddy + Folsom referred this act to improvement, and went on cheerfully: “Yes, + sir, you're better now, and”—here he assumed an air of cautious + deliberation, extravagant, as all his assumptions were—“I ain't + sayin' that—ef—you—was—to—rise—up” + (very slowly) “and heave a blanket or two over your shoulders—jest + by way o' caution, you know—and leanin' on me, kinder meander over + to Bob Falloner's cabin and the boys, it wouldn't do you a heap o' good. + Changes o' this kind is often prescribed by the faculty.” Another moan + from the sufferer, however, here apparently corrected Daddy's too + favorable prognosis. “Oh, all right! Well, perhaps ye know best; and I'll + jest run over to Bob's and say how as ye ain't comin', and will be back in + a jiffy!” + </p> + <p> + “The letter,” said the sick man hurriedly, “the letter, the letter!” + </p> + <p> + Daddy leaned suddenly over the bed. It was impossible for even his + hopefulness to avoid the fact that Lasham was delirious. It was a strong + factor in the case—one that would certainly justify his going over + to Falloner's with the news. For the present moment, however, this + aberration was to be accepted cheerfully and humored after Daddy's own + fashion. “Of course—the letter, the letter,” he said convincingly; + “that's what the boys hev bin singin' jest now— + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + 'Good-by, Charley; when you are away, + Write me a letter, love; send me a letter, love!' +</pre> + <p> + “That's what you heard, and a mighty purty song it is too, and kinder + clings to you. It's wonderful how these things gets in your head.” + </p> + <p> + “The letter—write—send money—money—money, and the + photograph—the photograph—photograph—money,” continued + the sick man, in the rapid reiteration of delirium. + </p> + <p> + “In course you will—to-morrow—when the mail goes,” returned + Daddy soothingly; “plenty of them. Jest now you try to get a snooze, will + ye? Hol' on!—take some o' this.” + </p> + <p> + There was an anodyne mixture on the rude shelf, which the doctor had left + on his morning visit. Daddy had a comfortable belief that what would + relieve pain would also check delirium, and he accordingly measured out a + dose with a liberal margin to allow of waste by the patient in swallowing + in his semi-conscious state. As he lay more quiet, muttering still, but + now unintelligibly, Daddy, waiting for a more complete unconsciousness and + the opportunity to slip away to Falloner's, cast his eyes around the + cabin. He noticed now for the first time since his entrance that a + crumpled envelope bearing a Western post-mark was lying at the foot of the + bed. Daddy knew that the tri-weekly post had arrived an hour before he + came, and that Lasham had evidently received a letter. Sure enough the + letter itself was lying against the wall beside him. It was open. Daddy + felt justified in reading it. + </p> + <p> + It was curt and businesslike, stating that unless Lasham at once sent a + remittance for the support of his brother and sister—two children in + charge of the writer—they must find a home elsewhere. That the + arrears were long standing, and the repeated promises of Lasham to send + money had been unfulfilled. That the writer could stand it no longer. This + would be his last communication unless the money were sent forthwith. + </p> + <p> + It was by no means a novel or, under the circumstances, a shocking + disclosure to Daddy. He had seen similar missives from daughters, and even + wives, consequent on the varying fortunes of his neighbors; no one knew + better than he the uncertainties of a miner's prospects, and yet the + inevitable hopefulness that buoyed him up. He tossed it aside impatiently, + when his eye caught a strip of paper he had overlooked lying upon the + blanket near the envelope. It contained a few lines in an unformed boyish + hand addressed to “my brother,” and evidently slipped into the letter + after it was written. By the uncertain candlelight Daddy read as follows:— + </p> + <p> + Dear Brother, Rite to me and Cissy rite off. Why aint you done it? It's so + long since you rote any. Mister Recketts ses you dont care any more. Wen + you rite send your fotograff. Folks here ses I aint got no big bruther any + way, as I disremember his looks, and cant say wots like him. Cissy's + kryin' all along of it. I've got a hedake. William Walker make it ake by a + blo. So no more at present from your loving little bruther Jim. + </p> + <p> + The quick, hysteric laugh with which Daddy read this was quite consistent + with his responsive, emotional nature; so, too, were the ready tears that + sprang to his eyes. He put the candle down unsteadily, with a casual + glance at the sick man. It was notable, however, that this look contained + less sympathy for the ailing “big brother” than his emotion might have + suggested. For Daddy was carried quite away by his own mental picture of + the helpless children, and eager only to relate his impressions of the + incident. He cast another glance at the invalid, thrust the papers into + his pocket, and clapping on his hat slipped from the cabin and ran to the + house of festivity. Yet it was characteristic of the man, and so engrossed + was he by his one idea, that to the usual inquiries regarding his patient + he answered, “he's all right,” and plunged at once into the incident of + the dunning letter, reserving—with the instinct of an emotional + artist—the child's missive until the last. As he expected, the money + demand was received with indignant criticisms of the writer. + </p> + <p> + “That's just like 'em in the States,” said Captain Fletcher; “darned if + they don't believe we've only got to bore a hole in the ground and snake + out a hundred dollars. Why, there's my wife—with a heap of hoss + sense in everything else—is allus wonderin' why I can't rake in a + cool fifty betwixt one steamer day and another.” + </p> + <p> + “That's nothin' to my old dad,” interrupted Gus Houston, the “infant” of + the camp, a bright-eyed young fellow of twenty; “why, he wrote to me + yesterday that if I'd only pick up a single piece of gold every day and + just put it aside, sayin' 'That's for popper and mommer,' and not fool it + away—it would be all they'd ask of me.” + </p> + <p> + “That's so,” added another; “these ignorant relations is just the ruin o' + the mining industry. Bob Falloner hez bin lucky in his strike to-day, but + he's a darned sight luckier in being without kith or kin that he knows + of.” + </p> + <p> + Daddy waited until the momentary irritation had subsided, and then drew + the other letter from his pocket. “That ain't all, boys,” he began in a + faltering voice, but gradually working himself up to a pitch of pathos; + “just as I was thinking all them very things, I kinder noticed this yer + poor little bit o' paper lyin' thar lonesome like and forgotten, and I—read + it—and well—gentlemen—it just choked me right up!” He + stopped, and his voice faltered. + </p> + <p> + “Go slow, Daddy, go slow!” said an auditor smilingly. It was evident that + Daddy's sympathetic weakness was well known. + </p> + <p> + Daddy read the child's letter. But, unfortunately, what with his real + emotion and the intoxication of an audience, he read it extravagantly, and + interpolated a child's lisp (on no authority whatever), and a simulated + infantile delivery, which, I fear, at first provoked the smiles rather + than the tears of his audience. Nevertheless, at its conclusion the little + note was handed round the party, and then there was a moment of thoughtful + silence. + </p> + <p> + “Tell you what it is, boys,” said Fletcher, looking around the table, “we + ought to be doin' suthin' for them kids right off! Did you,” turning to + Daddy, “say anythin' about this to Dick?” + </p> + <p> + “Nary—why, he's clean off his head with fever—don't understand + a word—and just babbles,” returned Daddy, forgetful of his roseate + diagnosis a moment ago, “and hasn't got a cent.” + </p> + <p> + “We must make up what we can amongst us afore the mail goes to-night,” + said the “infant,” feeling hurriedly in his pockets. “Come, ante up, + gentlemen,” he added, laying the contents of his buckskin purse upon the + table. + </p> + <p> + “Hold on, boys,” said a quiet voice. It was their host Falloner, who had + just risen and was slipping on his oilskin coat. “You've got enough to do, + I reckon, to look after your own folks. I've none! Let this be my affair. + I've got to go to the Express Office anyhow to see about my passage home, + and I'll just get a draft for a hundred dollars for that old skeesicks—what's + his blamed name? Oh, Ricketts”—he made a memorandum from the letter—“and + I'll send it by express. Meantime, you fellows sit down there and write + something—you know what—saying that Dick's hurt his hand and + can't write—you know; but asked you to send a draft, which you're + doing. Sabe? That's all! I'll skip over to the express now and get the + draft off, and you can mail the letter an hour later. So put your dust + back in your pockets and help yourselves to the whiskey while I'm gone.” + He clapped his hat on his head and disappeared. + </p> + <p> + “There goes a white man, you bet!” said Fletcher admiringly, as the door + closed behind their host. “Now, boys,” he added, drawing a chair to the + table, “let's get this yer letter off, and then go back to our game.” + </p> + <p> + Pens and ink were produced, and an animated discussion ensued as to the + matter to be conveyed. Daddy's plea for an extended explanatory and + sympathetic communication was overruled, and the letter was written to + Ricketts on the simple lines suggested by Falloner. + </p> + <p> + “But what about poor little Jim's letter? That ought to be answered,” said + Daddy pathetically. + </p> + <p> + “If Dick hurt his hand so he can't write to Ricketts, how in thunder is he + goin' to write to Jim?” was the reply. + </p> + <p> + “But suthin' oughter be said to the poor kid,” urged Daddy piteously. + </p> + <p> + “Well, write it yourself—you and Gus Houston make up somethin' + together. I'm going to win some money,” retorted Fletcher, returning to + the card-table, where he was presently followed by all but Daddy and + Houston. + </p> + <p> + “Ye can't write it in Dick's name, because that little brother knows + Dick's handwriting, even if he don't remember his face. See?” suggested + Houston. + </p> + <p> + “That's so,” said Daddy dubiously; “but,” he added, with elastic + cheerfulness, “we can write that Dick 'says.' See?” + </p> + <p> + “Your head's level, old man! Just you wade in on that.” + </p> + <p> + Daddy seized the pen and “waded in.” Into somewhat deep and difficult + water, I fancy, for some of it splashed into his eyes, and he sniffled + once or twice as he wrote. “Suthin' like this,” he said, after a pause:— + </p> + <p> + DEAR LITTLE JIMMIE,—Your big brother havin' hurt his hand, wants me + to tell you that otherways he is all hunky and A1. He says he don't forget + you and little Cissy, you bet! and he's sendin' money to old Ricketts + straight off. He says don't you and Cissy mind whether school keeps or not + as long as big Brother Dick holds the lines. He says he'd have written + before, but he's bin follerin' up a lead mighty close, and expects to + strike it rich in a few days. + </p> + <p> + “You ain't got no sabe about kids,” said Daddy imperturbably; “they've got + to be humored like sick folks. And they want everythin' big—they + don't take no stock in things ez they are—even ef they hev 'em worse + than they are. 'So,'” continued Daddy, reading to prevent further + interruption, “'he says you're just to keep your eyes skinned lookin' out + for him comin' home any time—day or night. All you've got to do is + to sit up and wait. He might come and even snake you out of your beds! He + might come with four white horses and a nigger driver, or he might come + disguised as an ornary tramp. Only you've got to be keen on watchin'.' (Ye + see,” interrupted Daddy explanatorily, “that'll jest keep them kids + lively.) 'He says Cissy's to stop cryin' right off, and if Willie Walker + hits yer on the right cheek you just slug out with your left fist, + 'cordin' to Scripter.' Gosh,” ejaculated Daddy, stopping suddenly and + gazing anxiously at Houston, “there's that blamed photograph—I clean + forgot that.” + </p> + <p> + “And Dick hasn't got one in the shop, and never had,” returned Houston + emphatically. “Golly! that stumps us! Unless,” he added, with diabolical + thoughtfulness, “we take Bob's? The kids don't remember Dick's face, and + Bob's about the same age. And it's a regular star picture—you bet! + Bob had it taken in Sacramento—in all his war paint. See!” He + indicated a photograph pinned against the wall—a really striking + likeness which did full justice to Bob's long silken mustache and large, + brown determined eyes. “I'll snake it off while they ain't lookin', and + you jam it in the letter. Bob won't miss it, and we can fix it up with + Dick after he's well, and send another.” + </p> + <p> + Daddy silently grasped the “infant's” hand, who presently secured the + photograph without attracting attention from the card-players. It was + promptly inclosed in the letter, addressed to Master James Lasham. The + “infant” started with it to the post-office, and Daddy Folsom returned to + Lasham's cabin to relieve the watcher that had been detached from + Falloner's to take his place beside the sick man. + </p> + <p> + Meanwhile the rain fell steadily and the shadows crept higher and higher + up the mountain. Towards midnight the star points faded out one by one + over Sawyer's Ledge even as they had come, with the difference that the + illumination of Falloner's cabin was extinguished first, while the dim + light of Lasham's increased in number. Later, two stars seemed to shoot + from the centre of the ledge, trailing along the descent, until they were + lost in the obscurity of the slope—the lights of the stage-coach to + Sacramento carrying the mail and Robert Falloner. They met and passed two + fainter lights toiling up the road—the buggy lights of the doctor, + hastily summoned from Carterville to the bedside of the dying Dick Lasham. + </p> + <p> + The slowing up of his train caused Bob Falloner to start from a half doze + in a Western Pullman car. As he glanced from his window he could see that + the blinding snowstorm which had followed him for the past six hours had + at last hopelessly blocked the line. There was no prospect beyond the + interminable snowy level, the whirling flakes, and the monotonous + palisades of leafless trees seen through it to the distant banks of the + Missouri. It was a prospect that the mountain-bred Falloner was beginning + to loathe, and although it was scarcely six weeks since he left + California, he was already looking back regretfully to the deep slopes and + the free song of the serried ranks of pines. + </p> + <p> + The intense cold had chilled his temperate blood, even as the rigors and + conventions of Eastern life had checked his sincerity and spontaneous flow + of animal spirits begotten in the frank intercourse and brotherhood of + camps. He had just fled from the artificialities of the great Atlantic + cities to seek out some Western farming lands in which he might put his + capital and energies. The unlooked-for interruption of his progress by a + long-forgotten climate only deepened his discontent. And now—that + train was actually backing! It appeared they must return to the last + station to wait for a snow-plough to clear the line. It was, explained the + conductor, barely a mile from Shepherdstown, where there was a good hotel + and a chance of breaking the journey for the night. + </p> + <p> + Shepherdstown! The name touched some dim chord in Bob Falloner's memory + and conscience—yet one that was vague. Then he suddenly remembered + that before leaving New York he had received a letter from Houston + informing him of Lasham's death, reminding him of his previous bounty, and + begging him—if he went West—to break the news to the Lasham + family. There was also some allusion to a joke about his (Bob's) + photograph, which he had dismissed as unimportant, and even now could not + remember clearly. For a few moments his conscience pricked him that he + should have forgotten it all, but now he could make amends by this + providential delay. It was not a task to his liking; in any other + circumstances he would have written, but he would not shirk it now. + </p> + <p> + Shepherdstown was on the main line of the Kansas Pacific Road, and as he + alighted at its station, the big through trains from San Francisco swept + out of the stormy distance and stopped also. He remembered, as he mingled + with the passengers, hearing a childish voice ask if this was the + Californian train. He remembered hearing the amused and patient reply of + the station-master: “Yes, sonny—here she is again, and here's her + passengers,” as he got into the omnibus and drove to the hotel. Here he + resolved to perform his disagreeable duty as quickly as possible, and on + his way to his room stopped for a moment at the office to ask for + Ricketts' address. The clerk, after a quick glance of curiosity at his new + guest, gave it to him readily, with a somewhat familiar smile. It struck + Falloner also as being odd that he had not been asked to write his name on + the hotel register, but this was a saving of time he was not disposed to + question, as he had already determined to make his visit to Ricketts at + once, before dinner. It was still early evening. + </p> + <p> + He was washing his hands in his bedroom when there came a light tap at his + sitting-room door. Falloner quickly resumed his coat and entered the + sitting-room as the porter ushered in a young lady holding a small boy by + the hand. But, to Falloner's utter consternation, no sooner had the door + closed on the servant than the boy, with a half-apologetic glance at the + young lady, uttered a childish cry, broke from her, and calling, “Dick! + Dick!” ran forward and leaped into Falloner's arms. + </p> + <p> + The mere shock of the onset and his own amazement left Bob without breath + for words. The boy, with arms convulsively clasping his body, was + imprinting kisses on Bob's waistcoat in default of reaching his face. At + last Falloner managed gently but firmly to free himself, and turned a + half-appealing, half-embarrassed look upon the young lady, whose own face, + however, suddenly flushed pink. To add to the confusion, the boy, in some + reaction of instinct, suddenly ran back to her, frantically clutched at + her skirts, and tried to bury his head in their folds. + </p> + <p> + “He don't love me,” he sobbed. “He don't care for me any more.” + </p> + <p> + The face of the young girl changed. It was a pretty face in its flushing; + in the paleness and thoughtfulness that overcast it it was a striking + face, and Bob's attention was for a moment distracted from the + grotesqueness of the situation. Leaning over the boy she said in a + caressing yet authoritative voice, “Run away for a moment, dear, until I + call you,” opening the door for him in a maternal way so inconsistent with + the youthfulness of her figure that it struck him even in his confusion. + There was something also in her dress and carriage that equally affected + him: her garments were somewhat old-fashioned in style, yet of good + material, with an odd incongruity to the climate and season. + </p> + <p> + Under her rough outer cloak she wore a polka jacket and the thinnest of + summer blouses; and her hat, though dark, was of rough straw, plainly + trimmed. Nevertheless, these peculiarities were carried off with an air of + breeding and self-possession that was unmistakable. It was possible that + her cool self-possession might have been due to some instinctive + antagonism, for as she came a step forward with coldly and clearly-opened + gray eyes, he was vaguely conscious that she didn't like him. + Nevertheless, her manner was formally polite, even, as he fancied, to the + point of irony, as she began, in a voice that occasionally dropped into + the lazy Southern intonation, and a speech that easily slipped at times + into Southern dialect:— + </p> + <p> + “I sent the child out of the room, as I could see that his advances were + annoying to you, and a good deal, I reckon, because I knew your reception + of them was still more painful to him. It is quite natural, I dare say, + you should feel as you do, and I reckon consistent with your attitude + towards him. But you must make some allowance for the depth of his + feelings, and how he has looked forward to this meeting. When I tell you + that ever since he received your last letter, he and his sister—until + her illness kept her home—have gone every day when the Pacific train + was due to the station to meet you; that they have taken literally as + Gospel truth every word of your letter”— + </p> + <p> + “My letter?” interrupted Falloner. + </p> + <p> + The young girl's scarlet lip curled slightly. “I beg your pardon—I + should have said the letter you dictated. Of course it wasn't in your + handwriting—you had hurt your hand, you know,” she added ironically. + “At all events, they believed it all—that you were coming at any + moment; they lived in that belief, and the poor things went to the station + with your photograph in their hands so that they might be the first to + recognize and greet you.” + </p> + <p> + “With my photograph?” interrupted Falloner again. + </p> + <p> + The young girl's clear eyes darkened ominously. “I reckon,” she said + deliberately, as she slowly drew from her pocket the photograph Daddy + Folsom had sent, “that that is your photograph. It certainly seems an + excellent likeness,” she added, regarding him with a slight suggestion of + contemptuous triumph. + </p> + <p> + In an instant the revelation of the whole mystery flashed upon him! The + forgotten passage in Houston's letter about the stolen photograph stood + clearly before him; the coincidence of his appearance in Shepherdstown, + and the natural mistake of the children and their fair protector, were + made perfectly plain. But with this relief and the certainty that he could + confound her with an explanation came a certain mischievous desire to + prolong the situation and increase his triumph. She certainly had not + shown him any favor. + </p> + <p> + “Have you got the letter also?” he asked quietly. + </p> + <p> + She whisked it impatiently from her pocket and handed it to him. As he + read Daddy's characteristic extravagance and recognized the familiar + idiosyncrasies of his old companions, he was unable to restrain a smile. + He raised his eyes, to meet with surprise the fair stranger's leveled + eyebrows and brightly indignant eyes, in which, however, the rain was fast + gathering with the lightning. + </p> + <p> + “It may be amusing to you, and I reckon likely it was all a California + joke,” she said with slightly trembling lips; “I don't know No'thern + gentlemen and their ways, and you seem to have forgotten our ways as you + have your kindred. Perhaps all this may seem so funny to them: it may not + seem funny to that boy who is now crying his heart out in the hall; it may + not be very amusing to that poor Cissy in her sick-bed longing to see her + brother. It may be so far from amusing to her, that I should hesitate to + bring you there in her excited condition and subject her to the pain that + you have caused him. But I have promised her; she is already expecting us, + and the disappointment may be dangerous, and I can only implore you—for + a few moments at least—to show a little more affection than you + feel.” As he made an impulsive, deprecating gesture, yet without changing + his look of restrained amusement, she stopped him hopelessly. “Oh, of + course, yes, yes, I know it is years since you have seen them; they have + no right to expect more; only—only—feeling as you do,” she + burst impulsively, “why—oh, why did you come?” + </p> + <p> + Here was Bob's chance. He turned to her politely; began gravely, “I simply + came to”—when suddenly his face changed; he stopped as if struck by + a blow. His cheek flushed, and then paled! Good God! What had he come for? + To tell them that this brother they were longing for—living for—perhaps + even dying for—was dead! In his crass stupidity, his wounded vanity + over the scorn of the young girl, his anticipation of triumph, he had + forgotten—totally forgotten—what that triumph meant! Perhaps + if he had felt more keenly the death of Lasham the thought of it would + have been uppermost in his mind; but Lasham was not his partner or + associate, only a brother miner, and his single act of generosity was in + the ordinary routine of camp life. If she could think him cold and + heartless before, what would she think of him now? The absurdity of her + mistake had vanished in the grim tragedy he had seemed to have cruelly + prepared for her. The thought struck him so keenly that he stammered, + faltered, and sank helplessly into a chair. + </p> + <p> + The shock that he had received was so plain to her that her own + indignation went out in the breath of it. Her lip quivered. “Don't you + mind,” she said hurriedly, dropping into her Southern speech; “I didn't go + to hurt you, but I was just that mad with the thought of those + pickaninnies, and the easy way you took it, that I clean forgot I'd no + call to catechise you! And you don't know me from the Queen of Sheba. + Well,” she went on, still more rapidly, and in odd distinction to her + previous formal slow Southern delivery, “I'm the daughter of Colonel + Boutelle, of Bayou Sara, Louisiana; and his paw, and his paw before him, + had a plantation there since the time of Adam, but he lost it and six + hundred niggers during the Wah! We were pooh as pohverty—paw and maw + and we four girls—and no more idea of work than a baby. But I had an + education at the convent at New Orleans, and could play, and speak French, + and I got a place as school-teacher here; I reckon the first Southern + woman that has taught school in the No'th! Ricketts, who used to be our + steward at Bayou Sara, told me about the pickaninnies, and how helpless + they were, with only a brother who occasionally sent them money from + California. I suppose I cottoned to the pooh little things at first + because I knew what it was to be alone amongst strangers, Mr. Lasham; I + used to teach them at odd times, and look after them, and go with them to + the train to look for you. Perhaps Ricketts made me think you didn't care + for them; perhaps I was wrong in thinking it was true, from the way you + met Jimmy just now. But I've spoken my mind and you know why.” She ceased + and walked to the window. + </p> + <p> + Falloner rose. The storm that had swept through him was over. The quick + determination, resolute purpose, and infinite patience which had made him + what he was were all there, and with it a conscientiousness which his + selfish independence had hitherto kept dormant. He accepted the situation, + not passively—it was not in his nature—but threw himself into + it with all his energy. + </p> + <p> + “You were quite right,” he said, halting a moment beside her; “I don't + blame you, and let me hope that later you may think me less to blame than + you do now. Now, what's to be done? Clearly, I've first to make it right + with Tommy—I mean Jimmy—and then we must make a straight dash + over to the girl! Whoop!” Before she could understand from his face the + strange change in his voice, he had dashed out of the room. In a moment he + reappeared with the boy struggling in his arms. “Think of the little scamp + not knowing his own brother!” he laughed, giving the boy a really + affectionate, if slightly exaggerated hug, “and expecting me to open my + arms to the first little boy who jumps into them! I've a great mind not to + give him the present I fetched all the way from California. Wait a + moment.” He dashed into the bedroom, opened his valise—where he + providentially remembered he had kept, with a miner's superstition, the + first little nugget of gold he had ever found—seized the tiny bit of + quartz of gold, and dashed out again to display it before Jimmy's eager + eyes. + </p> + <p> + If the heartiness, sympathy, and charming kindness of the man's whole + manner and face convinced, even while it slightly startled, the young + girl, it was still more effective with the boy. Children are quick to + detect the false ring of affected emotion, and Bob's was so genuine—whatever + its cause—that it might have easily passed for a fraternal + expression with harder critics. The child trustfully nestled against him + and would have grasped the gold, but the young man whisked it into his + pocket. “Not until we've shown it to our little sister—where we're + going now! I'm off to order a sleigh.” He dashed out again to the office + as if he found some relief in action, or, as it seemed to Miss Boutelle, + to avoid embarrassing conversation. When he came back again he was + carrying an immense bearskin from his luggage. He cast a critical look at + the girl's unseasonable attire. + </p> + <p> + “I shall wrap you and Jimmy in this—you know it's snowing + frightfully.” + </p> + <p> + Miss Boutelle flushed a little. “I'm warm enough when walking,” she said + coldly. Bob glanced at her smart little French shoes, and thought + otherwise. He said nothing, but hastily bundled his two guests downstairs + and into the street. The whirlwind dance of the snow made the sleigh an + indistinct bulk in the glittering darkness, and as the young girl for an + instant stood dazedly still, Bob incontinently lifted her from her feet, + deposited her in the vehicle, dropped Jimmy in her lap, and wrapped them + both tightly in the bearskin. Her weight, which was scarcely more than a + child's, struck him in that moment as being tantalizingly incongruous to + the matronly severity of her manner and its strange effect upon him. He + then jumped in himself, taking the direction from his companion, and drove + off through the storm. + </p> + <p> + The wind and darkness were not favorable to conversation, and only once + did he break the silence. “Is there any one who would be likely to + remember—me—where we are going?” he asked, in a lull of the + storm. + </p> + <p> + Miss Boutelle uncovered enough of her face to glance at him curiously. + “Hardly! You know the children came here from the No'th after your + mother's death, while you were in California.” + </p> + <p> + “Of course,” returned Bob hurriedly; “I was only thinking—you know + that some of my old friends might have called,” and then collapsed into + silence. + </p> + <p> + After a pause a voice came icily, although under the furs: “Perhaps you'd + prefer that your arrival be kept secret from the public? But they seem to + have already recognized you at the hotel from your inquiry about Ricketts, + and the photograph Jimmy had already shown them two weeks ago.” Bob + remembered the clerk's familiar manner and the omission to ask him to + register. “But it need go no further, if you like,” she added, with a + slight return of her previous scorn. + </p> + <p> + “I've no reason for keeping it secret,” said Bob stoutly. + </p> + <p> + No other words were exchanged until the sleigh drew up before a plain + wooden house in the suburbs of the town. Bob could see at a glance that it + represented the income of some careful artisan or small shopkeeper, and + that it promised little for an invalid's luxurious comfort. They were + ushered into a chilly sitting-room and Miss Boutelle ran upstairs with + Jimmy to prepare the invalid for Bob's appearance. He noticed that a word + dropped by the woman who opened the door made the young girl's face grave + again, and paled the color that the storm had buffeted to her cheek. He + noticed also that these plain surroundings seemed only to enhance her own + superiority, and that the woman treated her with a deference in odd + contrast to the ill-concealed disfavor with which she regarded him. + Strangely enough, this latter fact was a relief to his conscience. It + would have been terrible to have received their kindness under false + pretenses; to take their just blame of the man he personated seemed to + mitigate the deceit. + </p> + <p> + The young girl rejoined him presently with troubled eyes. Cissy was worse, + and only intermittently conscious, but had asked to see him. It was a + short flight of stairs to the bedroom, but before he reached it Bob's + heart beat faster than it had in any mountain climb. In one corner of the + plainly furnished room stood a small truckle bed, and in it lay the + invalid. It needed but a single glance at her flushed face in its aureole + of yellow hair to recognize the likeness to Jimmy, although, added to that + strange refinement produced by suffering, there was a spiritual exaltation + in the child's look—possibly from delirium—that awed and + frightened him; an awful feeling that he could not lie to this hopeless + creature took possession of him, and his step faltered. But she lifted her + small arms pathetically towards him as if she divined his trouble, and he + sank on his knees beside her. With a tiny finger curled around his long + mustache, she lay there silent. Her face was full of trustfulness, + happiness, and consciousness—but she spoke no word. + </p> + <p> + There was a pause, and Falloner, slightly lifting his head without + disturbing that faintly clasping finger, beckoned Miss Boutelle to his + side. “Can you drive?” he said, in a low voice. + </p> + <p> + “Yes.” + </p> + <p> + “Take my sleigh and get the best doctor in town to come here at once. + Bring him with you if you can; if he can't come at once, drive home + yourself. I will stay here.” + </p> + <p> + “But”—hesitated Miss Boutelle. + </p> + <p> + “I will stay here,” he repeated. + </p> + <p> + The door closed on the young girl, and Falloner, still bending over the + child, presently heard the sleigh-bells pass away in the storm. He still + sat with his bent head, held by the tiny clasp of those thin fingers. But + the child's eyes were fixed so intently upon him that Mrs. Ricketts leaned + over the strangely-assorted pair and said— + </p> + <p> + “It's your brother Dick, dearie. Don't you know him?” + </p> + <p> + The child's lips moved faintly. “Dick's dead,” she whispered. + </p> + <p> + “She's wandering,” said Mrs. Ricketts. “Speak to her.” But Bob, with his + eyes on the child's, lifted a protesting hand. The little sufferer's lips + moved again. “It isn't Dick—it's the angel God sent to tell me.” + </p> + <p> + She spoke no more. And when Miss Boutelle returned with the doctor she was + beyond the reach of finite voices. Falloner would have remained all night + with them, but he could see that his presence in the contracted household + was not desired. Even his offer to take Jimmy with him to the hotel was + declined, and at midnight he returned alone. + </p> + <p> + What his thoughts were that night may be easily imagined. Cissy's death + had removed the only cause he had for concealing his real identity. There + was nothing more to prevent his revealing all to Miss Boutelle and to + offer to adopt the boy. But he reflected this could not be done until + after the funeral, for it was only due to Cissy's memory that he should + still keep up the role of Dick Lasham as chief mourner. If it seems + strange that Bob did not at this crucial moment take Miss Boutelle into + his confidence, I fear it was because he dreaded the personal effect of + the deceit he had practiced upon her more than any ethical consideration; + she had softened considerably in her attitude towards him that night; he + was human, after all, and while he felt his conduct had been unselfish in + the main, he dared not confess to himself how much her opinion had + influenced him. He resolved that after the funeral he would continue his + journey, and write to her, en route, a full explanation of his conduct, + inclosing Daddy's letter as corroborative evidence. But on searching his + letter-case he found that he had lost even that evidence, and he must + trust solely at present to her faith in his improbable story. + </p> + <p> + It seemed as if his greatest sacrifice was demanded at the funeral! For it + could not be disguised that the neighbors were strongly prejudiced against + him. Even the preacher improved the occasion to warn the congregation + against the dangers of putting off duty until too late. And when Robert + Falloner, pale, but self-restrained, left the church with Miss Boutelle, + equally pale and reserved, on his arm, he could with difficulty restrain + his fury at the passing of a significant smile across the faces of a few + curious bystanders. “It was Amy Boutelle, that was the 'penitence' that + fetched him, you bet!” he overheard, a barely concealed whisper; and the + reply, “And it's a good thing she's made out of it too, for he's mighty + rich!” + </p> + <p> + At the church door he took her cold hand into his. “I am leaving to-morrow + morning with Jimmy,” he said, with a white face. “Good-by.” + </p> + <p> + “You are quite right; good-by,” she replied as briefly, but with the + faintest color. He wondered if she had heard it too. + </p> + <p> + Whether she had heard it or not, she went home with Mrs. Ricketts in some + righteous indignation, which found—after the young lady's habit—free + expression. Whatever were Mr. Lasham's faults of omission it was most + un-Christian to allude to them there, and an insult to the poor little + dear's memory who had forgiven them. Were she in his shoes she would shake + the dust of the town off her feet; and she hoped he would. She was a + little softened on arriving to find Jimmy in tears. He had lost Dick's + photograph—or Dick had forgotten to give it back at the hotel, for + this was all he had in his pocket. And he produced a letter—the + missing letter of Daddy, which by mistake Falloner had handed back instead + of the photograph. Miss Boutelle saw the superscription and Californian + postmark with a vague curiosity. + </p> + <p> + “Did you look inside, dear? Perhaps it slipped in.” + </p> + <p> + Jimmy had not. Miss Boutelle did—and I grieve to say, ended by + reading the whole letter. + </p> + <p> + Bob Falloner had finished packing his things the next morning, and was + waiting for Mr. Ricketts and Jimmy. But when a tap came at the door, he + opened it to find Miss Boutelle standing there. “I have sent Jimmy into + the bedroom,” she said with a faint smile, “to look for the photograph + which you gave him in mistake for this. I think for the present he prefers + his brother's picture to this letter, which I have not explained to him or + any one.” She stopped, and raising her eyes to his, said gently: “I think + it would have only been a part of your goodness to have trusted me, Mr. + Falloner.” + </p> + <p> + “Then you will forgive me?” he said eagerly. + </p> + <p> + She looked at him frankly, yet with a faint trace of coquetry that the + angels might have pardoned. “Do you want me to say to you what Mrs. + Ricketts says were the last words of poor Cissy?” + </p> + <p> + A year later, when the darkness and rain were creeping up Sawyer's Ledge, + and Houston and Daddy Folsom were sitting before their brushwood fire in + the old Lasham cabin, the latter delivered himself oracularly. + </p> + <p> + “It's a mighty queer thing, that news about Bob! It's not that he's + married, for that might happen to any one; but this yer account in the + paper of his wedding being attended by his 'little brother.' That gets me! + To think all the while he was here he was lettin' on to us that he hadn't + kith or kin! Well, sir, that accounts to me for one thing,—the + sing'ler way he tumbled to that letter of poor Dick Lasham's little + brother and sent him that draft! Don't ye see? It was a feller feelin'! + Knew how it was himself! I reckon ye all thought I was kinder soft reading + that letter o' Dick Lasham's little brother to him, but ye see what it + did.” + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0003" id="link2H_4_0003"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + THE YOUNGEST MISS PIPER + </h2> + <p> + I do not think that any of us who enjoyed the acquaintance of the Piper + girls or the hospitality of Judge Piper, their father, ever cared for the + youngest sister. Not on account of her extreme youth, for the eldest Miss + Piper confessed to twenty-six—and the youth of the youngest sister + was established solely, I think, by one big braid down her back. Neither + was it because she was the plainest, for the beauty of the Piper girls was + a recognized general distinction, and the youngest Miss Piper was not + entirely devoid of the family charms. Nor was it from any lack of + intelligence, nor from any defective social quality; for her precocity was + astounding, and her good-humored frankness alarming. Neither do I think it + could be said that a slight deafness, which might impart an embarrassing + publicity to any statement—the reverse of our general feeling—that + might be confided by any one to her private ear, was a sufficient reason; + for it was pointed out that she always understood everything that Tom + Sparrell told her in his ordinary tone of voice. Briefly, it was very + possible that Delaware—the youngest Miss Piper—did not like + us. Yet it was fondly believed by us that the other sisters failed to show + that indifference to our existence shown by Miss Delaware, although the + heartburnings, misunderstandings, jealousies, hopes and fears, and finally + the chivalrous resignation with which we at last accepted the long + foregone conclusion that they were not for us, and far beyond our reach, + is not a part of this veracious chronicle. Enough that none of the + flirtations of her elder sisters affected or were shared by the youngest + Miss Piper. She moved in this heart-breaking atmosphere with sublime + indifference, treating her sisters' affairs with what we considered rank + simplicity or appalling frankness. Their few admirers who were weak enough + to attempt to gain her mediation or confidence had reason to regret it. + </p> + <p> + “It's no kind o' use givin' me goodies,” she said to a helpless suitor of + Louisiana Piper's who had offered to bring her some sweets, “for I ain't + got no influence with Lu, and if I don't give 'em up to her when she hears + of it, she'll nag me and hate you like pizen. Unless,” she added + thoughtfully, “it was wintergreen lozenges; Lu can't stand them, or + anybody who eats them within a mile.” It is needless to add that the + miserable man, thus put upon his gallantry, was obliged in honor to + provide Del with the wintergreen lozenges that kept him in disfavor and at + a distance. Unfortunately, too, any predilection or pity for any + particular suitor of her sister's was attended by even more disastrous + consequences. It was reported that while acting as “gooseberry”—a + role usually assigned to her—between Virginia Piper and an + exceptionally timid young surveyor, during a ramble she conceived a rare + sentiment of humanity towards the unhappy man. After once or twice + lingering behind in the ostentatious picking of a wayside flower, or + “running on ahead” to look at a mountain view, without any apparent effect + on the shy and speechless youth, she decoyed him aside while her elder + sister rambled indifferently and somewhat scornfully on. The youngest Miss + Piper leaped upon the rail of a fence, and with the stalk of a + thimbleberry in her mouth swung her small feet to and fro and surveyed him + dispassionately. + </p> + <p> + “Ye don't seem to be ketchin' on?” she said tentatively. + </p> + <p> + The young man smiled feebly and interrogatively. + </p> + <p> + “Don't seem to be either follering suit nor trumpin',” continued Del + bluntly. + </p> + <p> + “I suppose so—that is, I fear that Miss Virginia”—he + stammered. + </p> + <p> + “Speak up! I'm a little deaf. Say it again!” said Del, screwing up her + eyes and eyebrows. + </p> + <p> + The young man was obliged to admit in stentorian tones that his progress + had been scarcely satisfactory. + </p> + <p> + “You're goin' on too slow—that's it,” said Del critically. “Why, + when Captain Savage meandered along here with Jinny” (Virginia) “last + week, afore we got as far as this he'd reeled off a heap of Byron and + Jamieson” (Tennyson), “and sich; and only yesterday Jinny and Doctor + Beveridge was blowin' thistletops to know which was a flirt all along the + trail past the crossroads. Why, ye ain't picked ez much as a single berry + for Jinny, let alone Lad's Love or Johnny Jumpups and Kissme's, and ye + keep talkin' across me, you two, till I'm tired. Now look here,” she burst + out with sudden decision, “Jinny's gone on ahead in a kind o' huff; but I + reckon she's done that afore too, and you'll find her, jest as Spinner + did, on the rise of the hill, sittin' on a pine stump and lookin' like + this.” (Here the youngest Miss Piper locked her fingers over her left + knee, and drew it slightly up,—with a sublime indifference to the + exposure of considerable small-ankled red stocking,—and with a + far-off, plaintive stare, achieved a colorable imitation of her elder + sister's probable attitude.) “Then you jest go up softly, like as you was + a bear, and clap your hands on her eyes, and say in a disguised voice like + this” (here Del turned on a high falsetto beyond any masculine compass), + “'Who's who?' jest like in forfeits.” + </p> + <p> + “But she'll be sure to know me,” said the surveyor timidly. + </p> + <p> + “She won't,” said Del in scornful skepticism. + </p> + <p> + “I hardly think”—stammered the young man, with an awkward smile, + “that I—in fact—she'll discover me—before I can get + beside her.” + </p> + <p> + “Not if you go softly, for she'll be sittin' back to the road, so—gazing + away, so”—the youngest Miss Piper again stared dreamily in the + distance, “and you'll creep up just behind, like this.” + </p> + <p> + “But won't she be angry? I haven't known her long—that is—don't + you see?” He stopped embarrassedly. + </p> + <p> + “Can't hear a word you say,” said Del, shaking her head decisively. + “You've got my deaf ear. Speak louder, or come closer.” + </p> + <p> + But here the instruction suddenly ended, once and for all time! For + whether the young man was seriously anxious to perfect himself; whether he + was truly grateful to the young girl and tried to show it; whether he was + emboldened by the childish appeal of the long brown distinguishing braid + down her back, or whether he suddenly found something peculiarly + provocative in the reddish brown eyes between their thickset hedge of + lashes, and with the trim figure and piquant pose, and was seized with + that hysteric desperation which sometimes attacks timidity itself, I + cannot say! Enough that he suddenly put his arm around her waist and his + lips to her soft satin cheek, peppered and salted as it was by + sun-freckles and mountain air, and received a sound box on the ear for his + pains. The incident was closed. He did not repeat the experiment on either + sister. The disclosure of his rebuff seemed, however, to give a singular + satisfaction to Red Gulch. + </p> + <p> + While it may be gathered from this that the youngest Miss Piper was + impervious to general masculine advances, it was not until later that Red + Gulch was thrown into skeptical astonishment by the rumors that all this + time she really had a lover! Allusion has been made to the charge that her + deafness did not prevent her from perfectly understanding the ordinary + tone of voice of a certain Mr. Thomas Sparrell. + </p> + <p> + No undue significance was attached to this fact through the very + insignificance and “impossibility” of that individual;—a lanky, + red-haired youth, incapacitated for manual labor through lameness,—a + clerk in a general store at the Cross Roads! He had never been the + recipient of Judge Piper's hospitality; he had never visited the house + even with parcels; apparently his only interviews with her or any of the + family had been over the counter. To do him justice he certainly had never + seemed to seek any nearer acquaintance; he was not at the church door when + her sisters, beautiful in their Sunday gowns, filed into the aisle, with + little Delaware bringing up the rear; he was not at the Democratic + barbecue, that we attended without reference to our personal politics, and + solely for the sake of Judge Piper and the girls; nor did he go to the + Agricultural Fair Ball—open to all. His abstention we believed to be + owing to his lameness; to a wholesome consciousness of his own social + defects; or an inordinate passion for reading cheap scientific textbooks, + which did not, however, add fluency nor conviction to his speech. Neither + had he the abstraction of a student, for his accounts were kept with an + accuracy which struck us, who dealt at the store, as ignobly practical, + and even malignant. Possibly we might have expressed this opinion more + strongly but for a certain rude vigor of repartee which he possessed, and + a suggestion that he might have a temper on occasion. “Them red-haired + chaps is like to be tetchy and to kinder see blood through their + eyelashes,” had been suggested by an observing customer. + </p> + <p> + In short, little as we knew of the youngest Miss Piper, he was the last + man we should have suspected her to select as an admirer. What we did know + of their public relations, purely commercial ones, implied the reverse of + any cordial understanding. The provisioning of the Piper household was + entrusted to Del, with other practical odds and ends of housekeeping, not + ornamental, and the following is said to be a truthful record of one of + their overheard interviews at the store:— + </p> + <p> + The youngest Miss Piper, entering, displacing a quantity of goods in the + centre to make a sideways seat for herself, and looking around loftily as + she took a memorandum-book and pencil from her pocket. + </p> + <p> + “Ahem! If I ain't taking you away from your studies, Mr. Sparrell, maybe + you'll be good enough to look here a minit;—but” (in affected + politeness) “if I'm disturbing you I can come another time.” + </p> + <p> + Sparrell, placing the book he had been reading carefully under the + counter, and advancing to Miss Delaware with a complete ignoring of her + irony: “What can we do for you to-day, Miss Piper?” + </p> + <p> + Miss Delaware, with great suavity of manner, examining her + memorandum-book: “I suppose it wouldn't be shocking your delicate feelings + too much to inform you that the canned lobster and oysters you sent us + yesterday wasn't fit for hogs?” + </p> + <p> + Sparrell (blandly): “They weren't intended for them, Miss Piper. If we had + known you were having company over from Red Gulch to dinner, we might have + provided something more suitable for them. We have a fair quality of + oil-cake and corn-cobs in stock, at reduced figures. But the canned + provisions were for your own family.” + </p> + <p> + Miss Delaware (secretly pleased at this sarcastic allusion to her sister's + friends, but concealing her delight): “I admire to hear you talk that way, + Mr. Sparrell; it's better than minstrels or a circus. I suppose you get it + outer that book,” indicating the concealed volume. “What do you call it?” + </p> + <p> + Sparrell (politely): “The First Principles of Geology.” + </p> + <p> + Miss Delaware, leaning sideways and curling her little fingers around her + pink ear: “Did you say the first principles of 'geology' or 'politeness'? + You know I am so deaf; but, of course, it couldn't be that.” + </p> + <p> + Sparrell (easily): “Oh no, you seem to have that in your hand”—pointing + to Miss Delaware's memorandum-book—“you were quoting from it when + you came in.” + </p> + <p> + Miss Delaware, after an affected silence of deep resignation: “Well! it's + too bad folks can't just spend their lives listenin' to such elegant talk; + I'd admire to do nothing else! But there's my family up at Cottonwood—and + they must eat. They're that low that they expect me to waste my time + getting food for 'em here, instead of drinking in the First Principles of + the Grocery.” + </p> + <p> + “Geology,” suggested Sparrell blandly. “The history of rock formation.” + </p> + <p> + “Geology,” accepted Miss Delaware apologetically; “the history of rocks, + which is so necessary for knowing just how much sand you can put in the + sugar. So I reckon I'll leave my list here, and you can have the things + toted to Cottonwood when you've got through with your First Principles.” + </p> + <p> + She tore out a list of her commissions from a page of her memorandum-book, + leaped lightly from the counter, threw her brown braid from her left + shoulder to its proper place down her back, shook out her skirts + deliberately, and saying, “Thank you for a most improvin' afternoon, Mr. + Sparrell,” sailed demurely out of the store. + </p> + <p> + A few auditors of this narrative thought it inconsistent that a daughter + of Judge Piper and a sister of the angelic host should put up with a mere + clerk's familiarity, but it was pointed out that “she gave him as good as + he sent,” and the story was generally credited. But certainly no one ever + dreamed that it pointed to any more precious confidences between them. + </p> + <p> + I think the secret burst upon the family, with other things, at the big + picnic at Reservoir Canyon. This festivity had been arranged for weeks + previously, and was undertaken chiefly by the “Red Gulch Contingent,” as + we were called, as a slight return to the Piper family for their frequent + hospitality. The Piper sisters were expected to bring nothing but their + own personal graces and attend to the ministration of such viands and + delicacies as the boys had profusely supplied. + </p> + <p> + The site selected was Reservoir Canyon, a beautiful, triangular valley + with very steep sides, one of which was crowned by the immense reservoir + of the Pioneer Ditch Company. The sheer flanks of the canyon descended in + furrowed lines of vines and clinging bushes, like folds of falling skirts, + until they broke again into flounces of spangled shrubbery over a broad + level carpet of monkshood, mariposas, lupines, poppies, and daisies. + Tempered and secluded from the sun's rays by its lofty shadows, the + delicious obscurity of the canyon was in sharp contrast to the fiery + mountain trail that in the full glare of the noonday sky made its tortuous + way down the hillside, like a stream of lava, to plunge suddenly into the + valley and extinguish itself in its coolness as in a lake. The heavy odors + of wild honeysuckle, syringa, and ceanothus that hung over it were + lightened and freshened by the sharp spicing of pine and bay. The mountain + breeze which sometimes shook the serrated tops of the large redwoods above + with a chill from the remote snow peaks even in the heart of summer, never + reached the little valley. + </p> + <p> + It seemed an ideal place for a picnic. Everybody was therefore astonished + to hear that an objection was suddenly raised to this perfect site. They + were still more astonished to know that the objector was the youngest Miss + Piper! Pressed to give her reasons, she had replied that the locality was + dangerous; that the reservoir placed upon the mountain, notoriously old + and worn out, had been rendered more unsafe by false economy in unskillful + and hasty repairs to satisfy speculating stockbrokers, and that it had + lately shown signs of leakage and sapping of its outer walls; that, in the + event of an outbreak, the little triangular valley, from which there was + no outlet, would be instantly flooded. Asked still more pressingly to give + her authority for these details, she at first hesitated, and then gave the + name of Tom Sparrell. + </p> + <p> + The derision with which this statement was received by us all, as the + opinion of a sedentary clerk, was quite natural and obvious, but not the + anger which it excited in the breast of Judge Piper; for it was not + generally known that the judge was the holder of a considerable number of + shares in the Pioneer Ditch Company, and that large dividends had been + lately kept up by a false economy of expenditure, to expedite a “sharp + deal” in the stock, by which the judge and others could sell out of a + failing company. Rather, it was believed, that the judge's anger was due + only to the discovery of Sparrell's influence over his daughter and his + interference with the social affairs of Cottonwood. It was said that there + was a sharp scene between the youngest Miss Piper and the combined forces + of the judge and the elder sisters, which ended in the former's resolute + refusal to attend the picnic at all if that site was selected. + </p> + <p> + As Delaware was known to be fearless even to the point of recklessness, + and fond of gayety, her refusal only intensified the belief that she was + merely “stickin' up for Sparrell's judgment” without any reference to her + own personal safety or that of her sisters. The warning was laughed away; + the opinion of Sparrell treated with ridicule as the dyspeptic and envious + expression of an impractical man. It was pointed out that the reservoir + had lasted a long time even in its alleged ruinous state; that only a + miracle of coincidence could make it break down that particular afternoon + of the picnic; that even if it did happen, there was no direct proof that + it would seriously flood the valley, or at best add more than a spice of + excitement to the affair. The “Red Gulch Contingent,” who WOULD be there, + was quite as capable of taking care of the ladies, in case of any + accident, as any lame crank who wouldn't, but could only croak a warning + to them from a distance. A few even wished something might happen that + they might have an opportunity of showing their superior devotion; indeed, + the prospect of carrying the half-submerged sisters, in a condition of + helpless loveliness, in their arms to a place of safety was a fascinating + possibility. The warning was conspicuously ineffective; everybody looked + eagerly forward to the day and the unchanged locality; to the greatest + hopefulness and anticipation was added the stirring of defiance, and when + at last the appointed hour had arrived, the picnic party passed down the + twisting mountain trail through the heat and glare in a fever of + enthusiasm. + </p> + <p> + It was a pretty sight to view this sparkling procession—the girls + cool and radiant in their white, blue, and yellow muslins and flying + ribbons, the “Contingent” in its cleanest ducks, and blue and red flannel + shirts, the judge white-waistcoated and panama-hatted, with a new dignity + borrowed from the previous circumstances, and three or four impressive + Chinamen bringing up the rear with hampers—as it at last debouched + into Reservoir Canyon. + </p> + <p> + Here they dispersed themselves over the limited area, scarcely half an + acre, with the freedom of escaped school children. They were secure in + their woodland privacy. They were overlooked by no high road and its + passing teams; they were safe from accidental intrusion from the + settlement; indeed they went so far as to effect the exclusiveness of + “clique.” At first they amused themselves by casting humorously defiant + eyes at the long low Ditch Reservoir, which peeped over the green wall of + the ridge, six hundred feet above them; at times they even simulated an + exaggerated terror of it, and one recognized humorist declaimed a + grotesque appeal to its forbearance, with delightful local allusions. + Others pretended to discover near a woodman's hut, among the belt of pines + at the top of the descending trail, the peeping figure of the ridiculous + and envious Sparrell. But all this was presently forgotten in the actual + festivity. Small as was the range of the valley, it still allowed retreats + during the dances for waiting couples among the convenient laurel and + manzanita bushes which flounced the mountain side. After the dancing, + old-fashioned children's games were revived with great laughter and + half-hearted and coy protests from the ladies; notably one pastime known + as “I'm a-pinin',” in which ingenious performance the victim was obliged + to stand in the centre of a circle and publicly “pine” for a member of the + opposite sex. Some hilarity was occasioned by the mischievous Miss + “Georgy” Piper declaring, when it came to her turn, that she was “pinin'” + for a look at the face of Tom Sparrell just now! + </p> + <p> + In this local trifling two hours passed, until the party sat down to the + long-looked for repast. It was here that the health of Judge Piper was + neatly proposed by the editor of the “Argus.” The judge responded with + great dignity and some emotion. He reminded them that it had been his + humble endeavor to promote harmony—that harmony so characteristic of + American principles—in social as he had in political circles, and + particularly among the strangely constituted yet purely American elements + of frontier life. He accepted the present festivity with its overflowing + hospitalities, not in recognition of himself—(“yes! yes!”)—nor + of his family—(enthusiastic protests)—but of that American + principle! If at one time it seemed probable that these festivities might + be marred by the machinations of envy—(groans)—or that harmony + interrupted by the importation of low-toned material interests—(groans)—he + could say that, looking around him, he had never before felt—er—that—Here + the judge stopped short, reeled slightly forward, caught at a camp-stool, + recovered himself with an apologetic smile, and turned inquiringly to his + neighbor. + </p> + <p> + A light laugh—instantly suppressed—at what was at first + supposed to be the effect of the “overflowing hospitality” upon the + speaker himself, went around the male circle until it suddenly appeared + that half a dozen others had started to their feet at the same time, with + white faces, and that one of the ladies had screamed. + </p> + <p> + “What is it?” everybody was asking with interrogatory smiles. + </p> + <p> + It was Judge Piper who replied:— + </p> + <p> + “A little shock of earthquake,” he said blandly; “a mere thrill! I think,” + he added with a faint smile, “we may say that Nature herself has applauded + our efforts in good old Californian fashion, and signified her assent. + What are you saying, Fludder?” + </p> + <p> + “I was thinking, sir,” said Fludder deferentially, in a lower voice, “that + if anything was wrong in the reservoir, this shock, you know, might”— + </p> + <p> + He was interrupted by a faint crashing and crackling sound, and looking + up, beheld a good-sized boulder, evidently detached from some greater + height, strike the upland plateau at the left of the trail and bound into + the fringe of forest beside it. A slight cloud of dust marked its course, + and then lazily floated away in mid air. But it had been watched + agitatedly, and it was evident that that singular loss of nervous balance + which is apt to affect all those who go through the slightest earthquake + experience was felt by all. But some sense of humor, however, remained. + </p> + <p> + “Looks as if the water risks we took ain't goin' to cover earthquakes,” + drawled Dick Frisney; “still that wasn't a bad shot, if we only knew what + they were aiming at.” + </p> + <p> + “Do be quiet,” said Virginia Piper, her cheeks pink with excitement. + “Listen, can't you? What's that funny murmuring you hear now and then up + there?” + </p> + <p> + “It's only the snow-wind playin' with the pines on the summit. You girls + won't allow anybody any fun but yourselves.” + </p> + <p> + But here a scream from “Georgy,” who, assisted by Captain Fairfax, had + mounted a camp-stool at the mouth of the valley, attracted everybody's + attention. She was standing upright, with dilated eyes, staring at the top + of the trail. “Look!” she said excitedly, “if the trail isn't moving!” + </p> + <p> + Everybody faced in that direction. At the first glance it seemed indeed as + if the trail was actually moving; wriggling and undulating its tortuous + way down the mountain like a huge snake, only swollen to twice its usual + size. But the second glance showed it to be no longer a trail but a + channel of water, whose stream, lifted in a bore-like wall four or five + feet high, was plunging down into the devoted valley. + </p> + <p> + For an instant they were unable to comprehend even the nature of the + catastrophe. The reservoir was directly over their heads; the bursting of + its wall they had imagined would naturally bring down the water in a dozen + trickling streams or falls over the cliff above them and along the flanks + of the mountain. But that its suddenly liberated volume should overflow + the upland beyond and then descend in a pent-up flood by their own trail + and their only avenue of escape, had been beyond their wildest fancy. + </p> + <p> + They met this smiting truth with that characteristic short laugh with + which the American usually receives the blow of Fate or the unexpected—as + if he recognized only the absurdity of the situation. Then they ran to the + women, collected them together, and dragged them to vantages of fancied + security among the bushes which flounced the long skirts of the mountain + walls. But I leave this part of the description to the characteristic + language of one of the party:— + </p> + <p> + “When the flood struck us, it did not seem to take any stock of us in + particular, but laid itself out to 'go for' that picnic for all it was + worth! It wiped it off the face of the earth in about twenty-five seconds! + It first made a clean break from stem to stern, carrying everything along + with it. The first thing I saw was old Judge Piper, puttin' on his best + licks to get away from a big can of strawberry ice cream that was + trundling after him and trying to empty itself on his collar, whenever a + bigger wave lifted it. He was followed by what was left of the brass band; + the big drum just humpin' itself to keep abreast o' the ice cream, mixed + up with camp-stools, music-stands, a few Chinamen, and then what they call + in them big San Francisco processions 'citizens generally.' The hull thing + swept up the canyon inside o' thirty seconds. Then, what Captain Fairfax + called 'the reflex action in the laws o' motion' happened, and darned if + the hull blamed procession didn't sweep back again—this time all the + heavy artillery, such as camp-kettles, lager beer kegs, bottles, glasses, + and crockery that was left behind takin' the lead now, and Judge Piper and + that ice cream can bringin' up the rear. As the jedge passed us the second + time, we noticed that that ice cream can—hevin' swallowed water—was + kinder losing its wind, and we encouraged the old man by shoutin' out, + 'Five to one on him!' And then, you wouldn't believe what followed. Why, + darn my skin, when that 'reflex' met the current at the other end, it just + swirled around again in what Captain Fairfax called the 'centrifugal + curve,' and just went round and round the canyon like ez when yer washin' + the dirt out o' a prospectin' pan—every now and then washin' some + one of the boys that was in it, like scum, up ag'in the banks. + </p> + <p> + “We managed in this way to snake out the judge, jest ez he was sailin' + round on the home stretch, passin' the quarter post two lengths ahead o' + the can. A good deal o' the ice cream had washed away, but it took us ten + minutes to shake the cracked ice and powdered salt out o' the old man's + clothes, and warm him up again in the laurel bush where he was clinging. + This sort o' 'Here we go round the mulberry bush' kep' on until most o' + the humans was got out, and only the furniture o' the picnic was left in + the race. Then it got kinder mixed up, and went sloshin' round here and + there, ez the water kep' comin' down by the trail. Then Lulu Piper, what I + was holdin' up all the time in a laurel bush, gets an idea, for all she + was wet and draggled; and ez the things went bobbin' round, she calls out + the figures o' a cotillon to 'em. 'Two camp-stools forward.' 'Sashay and + back to your places.' 'Change partners.' 'Hands all round.' + </p> + <p> + “She was clear grit, you bet! And the joke caught on and the other girls + jined in, and it kinder cheered 'em, for they was wantin' it. Then Fludder + allowed to pacify 'em by sayin' he just figured up the size o' the + reservoir and the size o' the canyon, and he kalkilated that the cube was + about ekal, and the canyon couldn't flood any more. And then Lulu—who + was peart as a jay and couldn't be fooled—speaks up and says, + 'What's the matter with the ditch, Dick?' + </p> + <p> + “Lord! then we knew that she knew the worst; for of course all the water + in the ditch itself—fifty miles of it!—was drainin' now into + that reservoir and was bound to come down to the canyon.” + </p> + <p> + It was at this point that the situation became really desperate, for they + had now crawled up the steep sides as far as the bushes afforded foothold, + and the water was still rising. The chatter of the girls ceased, there + were long silences, in which the men discussed the wildest plans, and + proposed to tear their shirts into strips to make ropes to support the + girls by sticks driven into the mountain side. It was in one of those + intervals that the distinct strokes of a woodman's axe were heard high on + the upland at the point where the trail descended to the canyon. Every ear + was alert, but only those on one side of the canyon could get a fair view + of the spot. This was the good fortune of Captain Fairfax and Georgy + Piper, who had climbed to the highest bush on that side, and were now + standing up, gazing excitedly in that direction. + </p> + <p> + “Some one is cutting down a tree at the head of the trail,” shouted + Fairfax. The response and joyful explanation, “for a dam across the + trail,” was on everybody's lips at the same time. + </p> + <p> + But the strokes of the axe were slow and painfully intermittent. + Impatience burst out. + </p> + <p> + “Yell to him to hurry up! Why haven't they brought two men?” + </p> + <p> + “It's only one man,” shouted the captain, “and he seems to be a cripple. + By Jiminy!—it is—yes!—it's Tom Sparrell!” + </p> + <p> + There was a dead silence. Then, I grieve to say, shame and its twin + brother rage took possession of their weak humanity. Oh, yes! It was all + of a piece! Why in the name of Folly hadn't he sent for an able-bodied + man. Were they to be drowned through his cranky obstinacy? + </p> + <p> + The blows still went on slowly. Presently, however, they seemed to + alternate with other blows—but alas! they were slower, and if + possible feebler! + </p> + <p> + “Have they got another cripple to work?” roared the Contingent in one + furious voice. + </p> + <p> + “No—it's a woman—a little one—yes! a girl. Hello! Why, + sure as you live, it's Delaware!” + </p> + <p> + A spontaneous cheer burst from the Contingent, partly as a rebuke to + Sparrell, I think, partly from some shame over their previous rage. He + could take it as he liked. + </p> + <p> + Still the blows went on distressingly slow. The girls were hoisted on the + men's shoulders; the men were half submerged. Then there was a painful + pause; then a crumbling crash. Another cheer went up from the canyon. + </p> + <p> + “It's down! straight across the trail,” shouted Fairfax, “and a part of + the bank on the top of it.” + </p> + <p> + There was another moment of suspense. Would it hold or be carried away by + the momentum of the flood? It held! In a few moments Fairfax again gave + voice to the cheering news that the flow had stopped and the submerged + trail was reappearing. In twenty minutes it was clear—a muddy river + bed, but possible of ascent! Of course there was no diminution of the + water in the canyon, which had no outlet, yet it now was possible for the + party to swing from bush to bush along the mountain side until the foot of + the trail—no longer an opposing one—was reached. There were + some missteps and mishaps,—flounderings in the water, and some + dangerous rescues,—but in half an hour the whole concourse stood + upon the trail and commenced the ascent. It was a slow, difficult, and + lugubrious procession—I fear not the best-tempered one, now that the + stimulus of danger and chivalry was past. When they reached the dam made + by the fallen tree, although they were obliged to make a long detour to + avoid its steep sides, they could see how successfully it had diverted the + current to a declivity on the other side. + </p> + <p> + But strangely enough they were greeted by nothing else! Sparrell and the + youngest Miss Piper were gone; and when they at last reached the highroad, + they were astounded to hear from a passing teamster that no one in the + settlement knew anything of the disaster! + </p> + <p> + This was the last drop in their cup of bitterness! They who had expected + that the settlement was waiting breathlessly for their rescue, who + anticipated that they would be welcomed as heroes, were obliged to meet + the ill-concealed amusement of passengers and friends at their dishevelled + and bedraggled appearance, which suggested only the blundering mishaps of + an ordinary summer outing! “Boatin' in the reservoir, and fell in?” + “Playing at canal-boat in the Ditch?” were some of the cheerful + hypotheses. The fleeting sense of gratitude they had felt for their + deliverers was dissipated by the time they had reached their homes, and + their rancor increased by the information that when the earthquake + occurred Mr. Tom Sparrell and Miss Delaware were enjoying a “pasear” in + the forest—he having a half-holiday by virtue of the festival—and + that the earthquake had revived his fears of a catastrophe. The two had + procured axes in the woodman's hut and did what they thought was necessary + to relieve the situation of the picnickers. But the very modesty of this + account of their own performance had the effect of belittling the + catastrophe itself, and the picnickers' report of their exceeding peril + was received with incredulous laughter. + </p> + <p> + For the first time in the history of Red Gulch there was a serious + division between the Piper family, supported by the Contingent, and the + rest of the settlement. Tom Sparrell's warning was remembered by the + latter, and the ingratitude of the picnickers to their rescuers commented + upon; the actual calamity to the reservoir was more or less attributed to + the imprudent and reckless contiguity of the revelers on that day, and + there were not wanting those who referred the accident itself to the + machinations of the scheming Ditch Director Piper! + </p> + <p> + It was said that there was a stormy scene in the Piper household that + evening. The judge had demanded that Delaware should break off her + acquaintance with Sparrell, and she had refused; the judge had demanded of + Sparrell's employer that he should discharge him, and had been met with + the astounding information that Sparrell was already a silent partner in + the concern. At this revelation Judge Piper was alarmed; while he might + object to a clerk who could not support a wife, as a consistent democrat + he could not oppose a fairly prosperous tradesman. A final appeal was made + to Delaware; she was implored to consider the situation of her sisters, + who had all made more ambitious marriages or were about to make them. Why + should she now degrade the family by marrying a country storekeeper? + </p> + <p> + It is said that here the youngest Miss Piper made a memorable reply, and a + revelation the truth of which was never gainsaid:— + </p> + <p> + “You all wanter know why I'm going to marry Tom Sparrell?” she queried, + standing up and facing the whole family circle. + </p> + <p> + “Yes.” + </p> + <p> + “Why I prefer him to the hull caboodle that you girls have married or are + going to marry?” she continued, meditatively biting the end of her braid. + </p> + <p> + “Yes.” + </p> + <p> + “Well, he's the only man of the whole lot that hasn't proposed to me + first.” + </p> + <p> + It is presumed that Sparrell made good the omission, or that the family + were glad to get rid of her, for they were married that autumn. And really + a later comparison of the family records shows that while Captain Fairfax + remained “Captain Fairfax,” and the other sons-in-law did not advance + proportionately in standing or riches, the lame storekeeper of Red Gulch + became the Hon. Senator Tom Sparrell. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0004" id="link2H_4_0004"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + A WIDOW OF THE SANTA ANA VALLEY + </h2> + <p> + The Widow Wade was standing at her bedroom window staring out, in that + vague instinct which compels humanity in moments of doubt and perplexity + to seek this change of observation or superior illumination. Not that Mrs. + Wade's disturbance was of a serious character. She had passed the acute + stage of widowhood by at least two years, and the slight redness of her + soft eyelids as well as the droop of her pretty mouth were merely the + recognized outward and visible signs of the grievously minded religious + community in which she lived. The mourning she still wore was also partly + in conformity with the sad-colored garments of her neighbors, and the + necessities of the rainy season. She was in comfortable circumstances, the + mistress of a large ranch in the valley, which had lately become more + valuable by the extension of a wagon road through its centre. She was + simply worrying whether she should go to a “sociable” ending with “a + dance”—a daring innovation of some strangers—at the new hotel, + or continue to eschew such follies, that were, according to local belief, + unsuited to “a vale of tears.” + </p> + <p> + Indeed at this moment the prospect she gazed abstractedly upon seemed to + justify that lugubrious description. The Santa Ana Valley—a long + monotonous level—was dimly visible through moving curtains of rain + or veils of mist, to the black mourning edge of the horizon, and had + looked like that for months. The valley—in some remote epoch an arm + of the San Francisco Bay—every rainy season seemed to be trying to + revert to its original condition, and, long after the early spring had + laid on its liberal color in strips, bands, and patches of blue and + yellow, the blossoms of mustard and lupine glistened like wet paint. + Nevertheless on that rich alluvial soil Nature's tears seemed only to + fatten the widow's acres and increase her crops. Her neighbors, too, were + equally prosperous. Yet for six months of the year the recognized + expression of Santa Ana was one of sadness, and for the other six months—of + resignation. Mrs. Wade had yielded early to this influence, as she had to + others, in the weakness of her gentle nature, and partly as it was more + becoming the singular tragedy that had made her a widow. + </p> + <p> + The late Mr. Wade had been found dead with a bullet through his head in a + secluded part of the road over Heavy Tree Hill in Sonora County. Near him + lay two other bodies, one afterwards identified as John Stubbs, a resident + of the Hill, and probably a traveling companion of Wade's, and the other a + noted desperado and highwayman, still masked, as at the moment of the + attack. Wade and his companion had probably sold their lives dearly, and + against odds, for another mask was found on the ground, indicating that + the attack was not single-handed, and as Wade's body had not yet been + rifled, it was evident that the remaining highwayman had fled in haste. + The hue and cry had been given by apparently the only one of the travelers + who escaped, but as he was hastening to take the overland coach to the + East at the time, his testimony could not be submitted to the coroner's + deliberation. The facts, however, were sufficiently plain for a verdict of + willful murder against the highwayman, although it was believed that the + absent witness had basely deserted his companion and left him to his fate, + or, as was suggested by others, that he might even have been an + accomplice. It was this circumstance which protracted comment on the + incident, and the sufferings of the widow, far beyond that rapid + obliteration which usually overtook such affairs in the feverish haste of + the early days. It caused her to remove to Santa Ana, where her old father + had feebly ranched a “quarter section” in the valley. He survived her + husband only a few months, leaving her the property, and once more in + mourning. Perhaps this continuity of woe endeared her to a neighborhood + where distinctive ravages of diphtheria or scarlet fever gave a kind of + social preeminence to any household, and she was so sympathetically + assisted by her neighbors in the management of the ranch that, from an + unkempt and wasteful wilderness, it became paying property. The slim, + willowy figure, soft red-lidded eyes, and deep crape of “Sister Wade” at + church or prayer-meeting was grateful to the soul of these gloomy + worshipers, and in time she herself found that the arm of these dyspeptics + of mind and body was nevertheless strong and sustaining. Small wonder that + she should hesitate to-night about plunging into inconsistent, even though + trifling, frivolities. + </p> + <p> + But apart from this superficial reason, there was another instinctive one + deep down in the recesses of Mrs. Wade's timid heart which she had kept to + herself, and indeed would have tearfully resented had it been offered by + another. The late Mr. Wade had been, in fact, a singular example of this + kind of frivolous existence carried to a man-like excess. Besides being a + patron of amusements, Mr. Wade gambled, raced, and drank. He was often + home late, and sometimes not at all. Not that this conduct was exceptional + in the “roaring days” of Heavy Tree Hill, but it had given Mrs. Wade + perhaps an undue preference for a less certain, even if a more serious + life. His tragic death was, of course, a kind of martyrdom, which exalted + him in the feminine mind to a saintly memory; yet Mrs. Wade was not + without a certain relief in that. It was voiced, perhaps crudely, by the + widow of Abner Drake in a visit of condolence to the tearful Mrs. Wade a + few days after Wade's death. “It's a vale o' sorrow, Mrs. Wade,” said the + sympathizer, “but it has its ups and downs, and I recken ye'll be feelin' + soon pretty much as I did about Abner when HE was took. It was mighty + soothin' and comfortin' to feel that whatever might happen now, I always + knew just whar Abner was passin' his nights.” Poor slim Mrs. Wade had no + disquieting sense of humor to interfere with her reception of this large + truth, and she accepted it with a burst of reminiscent tears. + </p> + <p> + A long volleying shower had just passed down the level landscape, and was + followed by a rolling mist from the warm saturated soil like the smoke of + the discharge. Through it she could see a faint lightening of the hidden + sun, again darkening through a sudden onset of rain, and changing as with + her conflicting doubts and resolutions. Thus gazing, she was vaguely + conscious of an addition to the landscape in the shape of a man who was + passing down the road with a pack on his back like the tramping + “prospectors” she had often seen at Heavy Tree Hill. That memory + apparently settled her vacillating mind; she determined she would NOT go + to the dance. But as she was turning away from the window a second figure, + a horseman, appeared in another direction by a cross-road, a shorter cut + through her domain. This she had no difficulty in recognizing as one of + the strangers who were getting up the dance. She had noticed him at church + on the previous Sunday. As he passed the house he appeared to be gazing at + it so earnestly that she drew back from the window lest she should be + seen. And then, for no reason whatever, she changed her mind once more, + and resolved to go to the dance. Gravely announcing this fact to the wife + of her superintendent who kept house with her in her loneliness, she + thought nothing more about it. She should go in her mourning, with perhaps + the addition of a white collar and frill. + </p> + <p> + It was evident, however, that Santa Ana thought a good deal more than she + did of this new idea, which seemed a part of the innovation already begun + by the building up of the new hotel. It was argued by some that as the new + church and new schoolhouse had been opened by prayer, it was only natural + that a lighter festivity should inaugurate the opening of the hotel. “I + reckon that dancin' is about the next thing to travelin' for gettin' up an + appetite for refreshments, and that's what the landlord is kalkilatin' to + sarve,” was the remark of a gloomy but practical citizen on the veranda of + “The Valley Emporium.” “That's so,” rejoined a bystander; “and I notice on + that last box o' pills I got for chills the directions say that a little + 'agreeable exercise'—not too violent—is a great assistance to + the working o' the pills.” + </p> + <p> + “I reckon that that Mr. Brooks who's down here lookin' arter mill + property, got up the dance. He's bin round town canvassin' all the women + folks and drummin' up likely gals for it. They say he actooally sent an + invite to the Widder Wade,” remarked another lounger. “Gosh! he's got + cheek!” + </p> + <p> + “Well, gentlemen,” said the proprietor judicially, “while we don't intend + to hev any minin' camp fandangos or 'Frisco falals round Santa Any—(Santa + Ana was proud of its simple agricultural virtues)—I ain't so + hard-shelled as not to give new things a fair trial. And, after all, it's + the women folk that has the say about it. Why, there's old Miss Ford sez + she hasn't kicked a fut sence she left Mizoori, but wouldn't mind trying + it agin. Ez to Brooks takin' that trouble—well, I suppose it's along + o' his bein' HEALTHY!” He heaved a deep dyspeptic sigh, which was faintly + echoed by the others. “Why, look at him now, ridin' round on that black + hoss o' his, in the wet since daylight and not carin' for blind chills or + rhumatiz!” + </p> + <p> + He was looking at a serape-draped horseman, the one the widow had seen on + the previous night, who was now cantering slowly up the street. Seeing the + group on the veranda, he rode up, threw himself lightly from his saddle, + and joined them. He was an alert, determined, good-looking fellow of about + thirty-five, whose smooth, smiling face hardly commended itself to Santa + Ana, though his eyes were distinctly sympathetic. He glanced at the + depressed group around him and became ominously serious. + </p> + <p> + “When did it happen?” he asked gravely. + </p> + <p> + “What happen?” said the nearest bystander. + </p> + <p> + “The Funeral, Flood, Fight, or Fire. Which of the four F's was it?” + </p> + <p> + “What are ye talkin' about?” said the proprietor stiffly, scenting some + dangerous humor. + </p> + <p> + “YOU,” said Brooks promptly. “You're all standing here, croaking like + crows, this fine morning. I passed YOUR farm, Johnson, not an hour ago; + the wheat just climbing out of the black adobe mud as thick as rows of + pins on paper—what have YOU to grumble at? I saw YOUR stock, Briggs, + over on Two-Mile Bottom, waddling along, fat as the adobe they were + sticking in, their coats shining like fresh paint—what's the matter + with YOU? And,” turning to the proprietor, “there's YOUR shed, Saunders, + over on the creek, just bursting with last year's grain that you know has + gone up two hundred per cent. since you bought it at a bargain—what + are YOU growling at? It's enough to provoke a fire or a famine to hear you + groaning—and take care it don't, some day, as a lesson to you.” + </p> + <p> + All this was so perfectly true of the prosperous burghers that they could + not for a moment reply. But Briggs had recourse to what he believed to be + a retaliatory taunt. + </p> + <p> + “I heard you've been askin' Widow Wade to come to your dance,” he said, + with a wink at the others. “Of course she said 'Yes.'” + </p> + <p> + “Of course she did,” returned Brooks coolly. “I've just got her note.” + </p> + <p> + “What?” ejaculated the three men together. “Mrs. Wade comin'?” + </p> + <p> + “Certainly! Why shouldn't she? And it would do YOU good to come too, and + shake the limp dampness out o' you,” returned Brooks, as he quietly + remounted his horse and cantered away. + </p> + <p> + “Darned ef I don't think he's got his eye on the widder,” said Johnson + faintly. + </p> + <p> + “Or the quarter section,” added Briggs gloomily. + </p> + <p> + For all that, the eventful evening came, with many lights in the staring, + undraped windows of the hotel, coldly bright bunting on the still damp + walls of the long dining-room, and a gentle downpour from the hidden skies + above. A close carryall was especially selected to bring Mrs. Wade and her + housekeeper. The widow arrived, looking a little slimmer than usual in her + closely buttoned black dress, white collar and cuffs, very glistening in + eye and in hair,—whose glossy black ringlets were perhaps more + elaborately arranged than was her custom,—and with a faint coming + and going of color, due perhaps to her agitation at this tentative + reentering into worldly life, which was nevertheless quite virginal in + effect. A vague solemnity pervaded the introductory proceedings, and a + singular want of sociability was visible in the “sociable” part of the + entertainment. People talked in whispers or with that grave precision + which indicates good manners in rural communities; conversed painfully + with other people whom they did not want to talk to rather than appear to + be alone, or rushed aimlessly together like water drops, and then floated + in broken, adherent masses over the floor. The widow became a helpless, + religious centre of deacons and Sunday-school teachers, which Brooks, + untiring, yet fruitless, in his attempt to produce gayety, tried in vain + to break. To this gloom the untried dangers of the impending dance, duly + prefigured by a lonely cottage piano and two violins in a desert of + expanse, added a nervous chill. When at last the music struck up—somewhat + hesitatingly and protestingly, from the circumstance that the player was + the church organist, and fumbled mechanically for his stops, the attempt + to make up a cotillon set was left to the heroic Brooks. Yet he barely + escaped disaster when, in posing the couples, he incautiously begged them + to look a little less as if they were waiting for the coffin to be borne + down the aisle between them, and was rewarded by a burst of tears from + Mrs. Johnson, who had lost a child two years before, and who had to be led + away, while her place in the set was taken by another. Yet the cotillon + passed off; a Spanish dance succeeded; “Moneymusk,” with the Virginia + Reel, put a slight intoxicating vibration into the air, and healthy youth + at last asserted itself in a score of freckled but buxom girls in white + muslin, with romping figures and laughter, at the lower end of the room. + Still a rigid decorum reigned among the elder dancers, and the figures + were called out in grave formality, as if, to Brooks's fancy, they were + hymns given from the pulpit, until at the close of the set, in half-real, + half-mock despair, he turned desperately to Mrs. Wade, his partner:— + </p> + <p> + “Do you waltz?” + </p> + <p> + Mrs. Wade hesitated. She HAD, before marriage, and was a good waltzer. “I + do,” she said timidly, “but do you think they”— + </p> + <p> + But before the poor widow could formulate her fears as to the reception of + “round dances,” Brooks had darted to the piano, and the next moment she + heard with a “fearful joy” the opening bars of a waltz. It was an old + Julien waltz, fresh still in the fifties, daring, provocative to foot, + swamping to intellect, arresting to judgment, irresistible, supreme! + Before Mrs. Wade could protest, Brooks's arm had gathered up her slim + figure, and with one quick backward sweep and swirl they were off! The + floor was cleared for them in a sudden bewilderment of alarm—a + suspense of burning curiosity. The widow's little feet tripped quickly, + her long black skirt swung out; as she turned the corner there was not + only a sudden revelation of her pretty ankles, but, what was more + startling, a dazzling flash of frilled and laced petticoat, which at once + convinced every woman in the room that the act had been premeditated for + days! Yet even that criticism was presently forgotten in the pervading + intoxication of the music and the movement. The younger people fell into + it with wild rompings, whirlings, and clasping of hands and waists. And + stranger than all, a corybantic enthusiasm seized upon the emotionally + religious, and those priests and priestesses of Cybele who were famous for + their frenzy and passion in camp-meeting devotions seemed to find an equal + expression that night in the waltz. And when, flushed and panting, Mrs. + Wade at last halted on the arm of her partner, they were nearly knocked + over by the revolving Johnson and Mrs. Stubbs in a whirl of gloomy + exultation! Deacons and Sunday-school teachers waltzed together until the + long room shook, and the very bunting on the walls waved and fluttered + with the gyrations of those religious dervishes. Nobody knew—nobody + cared how long this frenzy lasted—it ceased only with the collapse + of the musicians. Then, with much vague bewilderment, inward trepidation, + awkward and incoherent partings, everybody went dazedly home; there was no + other dancing after that—the waltz was the one event of the festival + and of the history of Santa Ana. And later that night, when the timid Mrs. + Wade, in the seclusion of her own room and the disrobing of her slim + figure, glanced at her spotless frilled and laced petticoat lying on a + chair, a faint smile—the first of her widowhood—curved the + corners of her pretty mouth. + </p> + <p> + A week of ominous silence regarding the festival succeeded in Santa Ana. + The local paper gave the fullest particulars of the opening of the hotel, + but contented itself with saying: “The entertainment concluded with a + dance.” Mr. Brooks, who felt himself compelled to call upon his late + charming partner twice during the week, characteristically soothed her + anxieties as to the result. “The fact of it is, Mrs. Wade, there's really + nobody in particular to blame—and that's what gets them. They're all + mixed up in it, deacons and Sunday-school teachers; and when old Johnson + tried to be nasty the other evening and hoped you hadn't suffered from + your exertions that night, I told him you hadn't quite recovered yet from + the physical shock of having been run into by him and Mrs. Stubbs, but + that, you being a lady, you didn't tell just how you felt at the + exhibition he and she made of themselves. That shut him up.” + </p> + <p> + “But you shouldn't have said that,” said Mrs. Wade with a frightened + little smile. + </p> + <p> + “No matter,” returned Brooks cheerfully. “I'll take the blame of it with + the others. You see they'll have to have a scapegoat—and I'm just + the man, for I got up the dance! And as I'm going away, I suppose I shall + bear off the sin with me into the wilderness.” + </p> + <p> + “You're going away?” repeated Mrs. Wade in more genuine concern. + </p> + <p> + “Not for long,” returned Brooks laughingly. “I came here to look up a mill + site, and I've found it. Meantime I think I've opened their eyes.” + </p> + <p> + “You have opened mine,” said the widow with timid frankness. + </p> + <p> + They were soft pretty eyes when opened, in spite of their heavy red lids, + and Mr. Brooks thought that Santa Ana would be no worse if they remained + open. Possibly he looked it, for Mrs. Wade said hurriedly, “I mean—that + is—I've been thinking that life needn't ALWAYS be as gloomy as we + make it here. And even HERE, you know, Mr. Brooks, we have six months' + sunshine—though we always forget it in the rainy season.” + </p> + <p> + “That's so,” said Brooks cheerfully. “I once lost a heap of money through + my own foolishness, and I've managed to forget it, and I even reckon to + get it back again out of Santa Ana if my mill speculation holds good. So + good-by, Mrs. Wade—but not for long.” He shook her hand frankly and + departed, leaving the widow conscious of a certain sympathetic confidence + and a little grateful for—she knew not what. + </p> + <p> + This feeling remained with her most of the afternoon, and even imparted a + certain gayety to her spirits, to the extent of causing her to hum softly + to herself; the air being oddly enough the Julien Waltz. And when, later + in the day, the shadows were closing in with the rain, word was brought to + her that a stranger wished to see her in the sitting-room, she carried a + less mournful mind to this function of her existence. For Mrs. Wade was + accustomed to give audience to traveling agents, tradesmen, working-hands + and servants, as chatelaine of her ranch, and the occasion was not novel. + Yet on entering the room, which she used partly as an office, she found + some difficulty in classifying the stranger, who at first glance reminded + her of the tramping miner she had seen that night from her window. He was + rather incongruously dressed, some articles of his apparel being finer + than others; he wore a diamond pin in a scarf folded over a rough + “hickory” shirt; his light trousers were tucked in common mining boots + that bore stains of travel and a suggestion that he had slept in his + clothes. What she could see of his unshaven face in that uncertain light + expressed a kind of dogged concentration, overlaid by an assumption of + ease. He got up as she came in, and with a slight “How do, ma'am,” shut + the door behind her and glanced furtively around the room. + </p> + <p> + “What I've got to say to ye, Mrs. Wade,—as I reckon you be,—is + strictly private and confidential! Why, ye'll see afore I get through. But + I thought I might just as well caution ye agin our being disturbed.” + </p> + <p> + Overcoming a slight instinct of repulsion, Mrs. Wade returned, “You can + speak to me here; no one will interrupt you—unless I call them,” she + added with a little feminine caution. + </p> + <p> + “And I reckon ye won't do that,” he said with a grim smile. “You are the + widow o' Pulaski Wade, late o' Heavy Tree Hill, I reckon?” + </p> + <p> + “I am,” said Mrs. Wade. + </p> + <p> + “And your husband's buried up thar in the graveyard, with a monument over + him setting forth his virtues ez a Christian and a square man and a + high-minded citizen? And that he was foully murdered by highwaymen?” + </p> + <p> + “Yes,” said Mrs. Wade, “that is the inscription.” + </p> + <p> + “Well, ma'am, a bigger pack o' lies never was cut on stone!” + </p> + <p> + Mrs. Wade rose, half in indignation, half in terror. + </p> + <p> + “Keep your sittin',” said the stranger, with a warning wave of his hand. + “Wait till I'm through, and then you call in the hull State o' Californy, + ef ye want.” + </p> + <p> + The stranger's manner was so doggedly confident that Mrs. Wade sank back + tremblingly in her chair. The man put his slouch hat on his knee, twirled + it round once or twice, and then said with the same stubborn deliberation:— + </p> + <p> + “The highwayman in that business was your husband—Pulaski Wade—and + his gang, and he was killed by one o' the men he was robbin'. Ye see, + ma'am, it used to be your husband's little game to rope in three or four + strangers in a poker deal at Spanish Jim's saloon—I see you've heard + o' the place,” he interpolated as Mrs. Wade drew back suddenly—“and + when he couldn't clean 'em out in that way, or they showed a little more + money than they played, he'd lay for 'em with his gang in a lone part of + the trail, and go through them like any road agent. That's what he did + that night—and that's how he got killed.” + </p> + <p> + “How do you know this?” said Mrs. Wade, with quivering lips. + </p> + <p> + “I was one o' the men he went through before he was killed. And I'd hev + got my money back, but the rest o' the gang came up, and I got away jest + in time to save my life and nothin' else. Ye might remember thar was one + man got away and giv' the alarm, but he was goin' on to the States by the + overland coach that night and couldn't stay to be a witness. I was that + man. I had paid my passage through, and I couldn't lose THAT too with my + other money, so I went.” + </p> + <p> + Mrs. Wade sat stunned. She remembered the missing witness, and how she had + longed to see the man who was last with her husband; she remembered + Spanish Jim's saloon—his well-known haunt; his frequent and + unaccountable absences, the sudden influx of money which he always said he + had won at cards; the diamond ring he had given her as the result of “a + bet;” the forgotten recurrence of other robberies by a secret masked gang; + a hundred other things that had worried her, instinctively, vaguely. She + knew now, too, the meaning of the unrest that had driven her from Heavy + Tree Hill—the strange unformulated fears that had haunted her even + here. Yet with all this she felt, too, her present weakness—knew + that this man had taken her at a disadvantage, that she ought to + indignantly assert herself, deny everything, demand proof, and brand him a + slanderer! + </p> + <p> + “How did—you—know it was my husband?” she stammered. + </p> + <p> + “His mask fell off in the fight; you know another mask was found—it + was HIS. I saw him as plainly as I see him there!” he pointed to a + daguerreotype of her husband which stood upon her desk. + </p> + <p> + Mrs. Wade could only stare vacantly, hopelessly. After a pause the man + continued in a less aggressive manner and more confidential tone, which, + however, only increased her terror. “I ain't sayin' that YOU knowed + anything about this, ma'am, and whatever other folks might say when THEY + know of it, I'll allers say that you didn't.” + </p> + <p> + “What, then, did you come here for?” said the widow desperately. + </p> + <p> + “What do I come here for?” repeated the man grimly, looking around the + room; “what did I come to this yer comfortable home—this yer big + ranch and to a rich woman like yourself for? Well, Mrs. Wade, I come to + get the six hundred dollars your husband robbed me of, that's all! I ain't + askin' more! I ain't askin' interest! I ain't askin' compensation for + havin' to run for my life—and,” again looking grimly round the + walls, “I ain't askin' more than you will give—or is my rights.” + </p> + <p> + “But this house never was his; it was my father's,” gasped Mrs. Wade; “you + have no right”— + </p> + <p> + “Mebbe 'yes' and mebbe 'no,' Mrs. Wade,” interrupted the man, with a wave + of his hat; “but how about them two checks to bearer for two hundred + dollars each found among your husband's effects, and collected by your + lawyer for you—MY CHECKS, Mrs. Wade?” + </p> + <p> + A wave of dreadful recollection overwhelmed her. She remembered the checks + found upon her husband's body, known only to her and her lawyer, believed + to be gambling gains, and collected at once under his legal advice. Yet + she made one more desperate effort in spite of the instinct that told her + he was speaking the truth. + </p> + <p> + “But you shall have to prove it—before witnesses.” + </p> + <p> + “Do you WANT me to prove it before witnesses?” said the man, coming nearer + her. “Do you want to take my word and keep it between ourselves, or do you + want to call in your superintendent and his men, and all Santy Any, to + hear me prove your husband was a highwayman, thief, and murderer? Do you + want to knock over that monument on Heavy Tree Hill, and upset your + standing here among the deacons and elders? Do you want to do all this and + be forced, even by your neighbors, to pay me in the end, as you will? Ef + you do, call in your witnesses now and let's have it over. Mebbe it would + look better ef I got the money out of YOUR FRIENDS than ye—a woman! + P'raps you're right!” + </p> + <p> + He made a step towards the door, but she stopped him. + </p> + <p> + “No! no! wait! It's a large sum—I haven't it with me,” she + stammered, thoroughly beaten. + </p> + <p> + “Ye kin get it.” + </p> + <p> + “Give me time!” she implored. “Look! I'll give you a hundred down now,—all + I have here,—the rest another time!” She nervously opened a drawer + of her desk and taking out a buckskin bag of gold thrust it in his hand. + “There! go away now!” She lifted her thin hands despairingly to her head. + “Go! do!” + </p> + <p> + The man seemed struck by her manner. “I don't want to be hard on a woman,” + he said slowly. “I'll go now and come back again at nine to-night. You can + git the money, or what's as good, a check to bearer, by then. And ef ye'll + take my advice, you won't ask no advice from others, ef you want to keep + your secret. Just now it's safe with me; I'm a square man, ef I seem to be + a hard one.” He made a gesture as if to take her hand, but as she drew + shrinkingly away, he changed it to an awkward bow, and the next moment was + gone. + </p> + <p> + She started to her feet, but the unwonted strain upon her nerves and frail + body had been greater than she knew. She made a step forward, felt the + room whirl round her and then seem to collapse beneath her feet, and, + clutching at her chair, sank back into it, fainting. + </p> + <p> + How long she lay there she never knew. She was at last conscious of some + one bending over her, and a voice—the voice of Mr. Brooks—in + her ear, saying, “I beg your pardon; you seem ill. Shall I call some one?” + </p> + <p> + “No!” she gasped, quickly recovering herself with an effort, and staring + round her. “Where is—when did you come in?” + </p> + <p> + “Only this moment. I was leaving tonight, sooner than I expected, and + thought I'd say good-by. They told me that you had been engaged with a + stranger, but he had just gone. I beg your pardon—I see you are ill. + I won't detain you any longer.” + </p> + <p> + “No! no! don't go! I am better—better,” she said feverishly. As she + glanced at his strong and sympathetic face a wild idea seized her. He was + a stranger here, an alien to these people, like herself. The advice that + she dare not seek from others, from her half-estranged religious friends, + from even her superintendent and his wife, dare she ask from him? Perhaps + he saw this frightened doubt, this imploring appeal, in her eyes, for he + said gently, “Is it anything I can do for you?” + </p> + <p> + “Yes,” she said, with the sudden desperation of weakness; “I want you to + keep a secret.” + </p> + <p> + “Yours?—yes!” he said promptly. + </p> + <p> + Whereat poor Mrs. Wade instantly burst into tears. Then, amidst her sobs, + she told him of the stranger's visit, of his terrible accusations, of his + demands, his expected return, and her own utter helplessness. To her + terror, as she went on she saw a singular change in his kind face; he was + following her with hard, eager intensity. She had half hoped, even through + her fateful instincts, that he might have laughed, manlike, at her fears, + or pooh-poohed the whole thing. But he did not. “You say he positively + recognized your husband?” he repeated quickly. + </p> + <p> + “Yes, yes!” sobbed the widow, “and knew that daguerreotype!” she pointed + to the desk. + </p> + <p> + Brooks turned quickly in that direction. Luckily his back was towards her, + and she could not see his face, and the quick, startled look that came + into his eyes. But when they again met hers, it was gone, and even their + eager intensity had changed to a gentle commiseration. “You have only his + word for it, Mrs. Wade,” he said gently, “and in telling your secret to + another, you have shorn the rascal of half his power over you. And he knew + it. Now, dismiss the matter from your mind and leave it all to me. I will + be here a few minutes before nine—AND ALONE IN THIS ROOM. Let your + visitor be shown in here, and don't let us be disturbed. Don't be + alarmed,” he added with a faint twinkle in his eye, “there will be no fuss + and no exposure!” + </p> + <p> + It lacked a few minutes of nine when Mr. Brooks was ushered into the + sitting-room. As soon as he was alone he quietly examined the door and the + windows, and having satisfied himself, took his seat in a chair casually + placed behind the door. Presently he heard the sound of voices and a heavy + footstep in the passage. He lightly felt his waistcoat pocket—it + contained a pretty little weapon of power and precision, with a barrel + scarcely two inches long. + </p> + <p> + The door opened, and the person outside entered the room. In an instant + Brooks had shut the door and locked it behind him. The man turned + fiercely, but was faced by Brooks quietly, with one finger calmly hooked + in his waistcoat pocket. The man slightly recoiled from him—not as + much from fear as from some vague stupefaction. “What's that for? What's + your little game?” he said half contemptuously. + </p> + <p> + “No game at all,” returned Brooks coolly. “You came here to sell a secret. + I don't propose to have it given away first to any listener.” + </p> + <p> + “YOU don't—who are YOU?” + </p> + <p> + “That's a queer question to ask of the man you are trying to personate—but + I don't wonder! You're doing it d——d badly.” + </p> + <p> + “Personate—YOU?” said the stranger, with staring eyes. + </p> + <p> + “Yes, ME,” said Brooks quietly. “I am the only man who escaped from the + robbery that night at Heavy Tree Hill and who went home by the Overland + Coach.” + </p> + <p> + The stranger stared, but recovered himself with a coarse laugh. “Oh, well! + we're on the same lay, it appears! Both after the widow—afore we + show up her husband.” + </p> + <p> + “Not exactly,” said Brooks, with his eyes fixed intently on the stranger. + “You are here to denounce a highwayman who is DEAD and escaped justice. I + am here to denounce one who is LIVING!—Stop! drop your hand; it's no + use. You thought you had to deal only with a woman to-night, and your + revolver isn't quite handy enough. There! down!—down! So! That'll + do.” + </p> + <p> + “You can't prove it,” said the man hoarsely. + </p> + <p> + “Fool! In your story to that woman you have given yourself away. There + were but two travelers attacked by the highwaymen. One was killed—I + am the other. Where do YOU come in? What witness can you be—except + as the highwayman that you are? Who is left to identify Wade but—his + accomplice!” + </p> + <p> + The man's suddenly whitened face made his unshaven beard seem to bristle + over his face like some wild animal's. “Well, ef you kalkilate to blow me, + you've got to blow Wade and his widder too. Jest you remember that,” he + said whiningly. + </p> + <p> + “I've thought of that,” said Brooks coolly, “and I calculate that to + prevent it is worth about that hundred dollars you got from that poor + woman—and no more! Now, sit down at that table, and write as I + dictate.” + </p> + <p> + The man looked at him in wonder, but obeyed. + </p> + <p> + “Write,” said Brooks, “'I hereby certify that my accusations against the + late Pulaski Wade of Heavy Tree Hill are erroneous and groundless, and the + result of mistaken identity, especially in regard to any complicity of his + in the robbery of John Stubbs, deceased, and Henry Brooks, at Heavy Tree + Hill, on the night of the 13th August, 1854.'” + </p> + <p> + The man looked up with a repulsive smile. “Who's the fool now, Cap'n? + What's become of your hold on the widder, now?” + </p> + <p> + “Write!” said Brooks fiercely. + </p> + <p> + The sound of a pen hurriedly scratching paper followed this first outburst + of the quiet Brooks. + </p> + <p> + “Sign it,” said Brooks. + </p> + <p> + The man signed it. + </p> + <p> + “Now go,” said Brooks, unlocking the door, “but remember, if you should + ever be inclined to revisit Santa Ana, you will find ME living here also.” + </p> + <p> + The man slunk out of the door and into the passage like a wild animal + returning to the night and darkness. Brooks took up the paper, rejoined + Mrs. Wade in the parlor, and laid it before her. + </p> + <p> + “But,” said the widow, trembling even in her joy, “do you—do you + think he was REALLY mistaken?” + </p> + <p> + “Positive,” said Brooks coolly. “It's true, it's a mistake that has cost + you a hundred dollars, but there are some mistakes that are worth that to + be kept quiet.” + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + They were married a year later; but there is no record that in after years + of conjugal relations with a weak, charming, but sometimes trying woman, + Henry Brooks was ever tempted to tell her the whole truth of the robbery + of Heavy Tree Hill. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0005" id="link2H_4_0005"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + THE MERMAID OF LIGHTHOUSE POINT + </h2> + <p> + Some forty years ago, on the northern coast of California, near the Golden + Gate, stood a lighthouse. Of a primitive class, since superseded by a + building more in keeping with the growing magnitude of the adjacent port, + it attracted little attention from the desolate shore, and, it was + alleged, still less from the desolate sea beyond. A gray structure of + timber, stone, and glass, it was buffeted and harried by the constant + trade winds, baked by the unclouded six months' sun, lost for a few hours + in the afternoon sea-fog, and laughed over by circling guillemots from the + Farallones. It was kept by a recluse—a preoccupied man of scientific + tastes, who, in shameless contrast to his fellow immigrants, had applied + to the government for this scarcely lucrative position as a means of + securing the seclusion he valued more than gold. Some believed that he was + the victim of an early disappointment in love—a view charitably + taken by those who also believed that the government would not have + appointed “a crank” to a position of responsibility. Howbeit, he fulfilled + his duties, and, with the assistance of an Indian, even cultivated a small + patch of ground beside the lighthouse. His isolation was complete! There + was little to attract wanderers here: the nearest mines were fifty miles + away; the virgin forest on the mountains inland were penetrated only by + sawmills and woodmen from the Bay settlements, equally remote. Although by + the shore-line the lights of the great port were sometimes plainly + visible, yet the solitude around him was peopled only by Indians,—a + branch of the great northern tribe of “root-diggers,”—peaceful and + simple in their habits, as yet undisturbed by the white man, nor stirred + into antagonism by aggression. Civilization only touched him at stated + intervals, and then by the more expeditious sea from the government boat + that brought him supplies. But for his contiguity to the perpetual turmoil + of wind and sea, he might have passed a restful Arcadian life in his + surroundings; for even his solitude was sometimes haunted by this faint + reminder of the great port hard by that pulsated with an equal unrest. + Nevertheless, the sands before his door and the rocks behind him seemed to + have been untrodden by any other white man's foot since their upheaval + from the ocean. It was true that the little bay beside him was marked on + the map as “Sir Francis Drake's Bay,” tradition having located it as the + spot where that ingenious pirate and empire-maker had once landed his + vessels and scraped the barnacles from his adventurous keels. But of this + Edgar Pomfrey—or “Captain Pomfrey,” as he was called by virtue of + his half-nautical office—had thought little. + </p> + <p> + For the first six months he had thoroughly enjoyed his seclusion. In the + company of his books, of which he had brought such a fair store that their + shelves lined his snug corners to the exclusion of more comfortable + furniture, he found his principal recreation. Even his unwonted manual + labor, the trimming of his lamp and cleaning of his reflectors, and his + personal housekeeping, in which his Indian help at times assisted, he + found a novel and interesting occupation. For outdoor exercise, a ramble + on the sands, a climb to the rocky upland, or a pull in the lighthouse + boat, amply sufficed him. “Crank” as he was supposed to be, he was sane + enough to guard against any of those early lapses into barbarism which + marked the lives of some solitary gold-miners. His own taste, as well as + the duty of his office, kept his person and habitation sweet and clean, + and his habits regular. Even the little cultivated patch of ground on the + lee side of the tower was symmetrical and well ordered. Thus the outward + light of Captain Pomfrey shone forth over the wilderness of shore and + wave, even like his beacon, whatever his inward illumination may have + been. + </p> + <p> + It was a bright summer morning, remarkable even in the monotonous + excellence of the season, with a slight touch of warmth which the + invincible Northwest Trades had not yet chilled. There was still a faint + haze off the coast, as if last night's fog had been caught in the quick + sunshine, and the shining sands were hot, but without the usual dazzling + glare. A faint perfume from a quaint lilac-colored beach-flower, whose + clustering heads dotted the sand like bits of blown spume, took the place + of that smell of the sea which the odorless Pacific lacked. A few rocks, + half a mile away, lifted themselves above the ebb tide at varying heights + as they lay on the trough of the swell, were crested with foam by a + striking surge, or cleanly erased in the full sweep of the sea. Beside, + and partly upon one of the higher rocks, a singular object was moving. + </p> + <p> + Pomfrey was interested but not startled. He had once or twice seen seals + disporting on these rocks, and on one occasion a sea-lion,—an estray + from the familiar rocks on the other side of the Golden Gate. But he + ceased work in his garden patch, and coming to his house, exchanged his + hoe for a telescope. When he got the mystery in focus he suddenly stopped + and rubbed the object-glass with his handkerchief. But even when he + applied the glass to his eye for a second time, he could scarcely believe + his eyesight. For the object seemed to be a WOMAN, the lower part of her + figure submerged in the sea, her long hair depending over her shoulders + and waist. There was nothing in her attitude to suggest terror or that she + was the victim of some accident. She moved slowly and complacently with + the sea, and even—a more staggering suggestion—appeared to be + combing out the strands of her long hair with her fingers. With her body + half concealed she might have been a mermaid! + </p> + <p> + He swept the foreshore and horizon with his glass; there was neither boat + nor ship—nor anything that moved, except the long swell of the + Pacific. She could have come only from the sea; for to reach the rocks by + land she would have had to pass before the lighthouse, while the narrow + strip of shore which curved northward beyond his range of view he knew was + inhabited only by Indians. But the woman was unhesitatingly and + appallingly WHITE, and her hair light even to a golden gleam in the + sunshine. + </p> + <p> + Pomfrey was a gentleman, and as such was amazed, dismayed, and cruelly + embarrassed. If she was a simple bather from some vicinity hitherto + unknown and unsuspected by him, it was clearly his business to shut up his + glass and go back to his garden patch—although the propinquity of + himself and the lighthouse must have been as plainly visible to her as she + was to him. On the other hand, if she was the survivor of some wreck and + in distress—or, as he even fancied from her reckless manner, bereft + of her senses, his duty to rescue her was equally clear. In his dilemma he + determined upon a compromise and ran to his boat. He would pull out to + sea, pass between the rocks and the curving sand-spit, and examine the + sands and sea more closely for signs of wreckage, or some overlooked + waiting boat near the shore. He would be within hail if she needed him, or + she could escape to her boat if she had one. + </p> + <p> + In another moment his boat was lifting on the swell towards the rocks. He + pulled quickly, occasionally turning to note that the strange figure, + whose movements were quite discernible to the naked eye, was still there, + but gazing more earnestly towards the nearest shore for any sign of life + or occupation. In ten minutes he had reached the curve where the trend + opened northward, and the long line of shore stretched before him. He + swept it eagerly with a single searching glance. Sea and shore were empty. + He turned quickly to the rock, scarcely a hundred yards on his beam. It + was empty too! Forgetting his previous scruples, he pulled directly for it + until his keel grated on its submerged base. There was nothing there but + the rock, slippery with the yellow-green slime of seaweed and kelp—neither + trace nor sign of the figure that had occupied it a moment ago. He pulled + around it; there was no cleft or hiding-place. For an instant his heart + leaped at the sight of something white, caught in a jagged tooth of the + outlying reef, but it was only the bleached fragment of a bamboo + orange-crate, cast from the deck of some South Sea trader, such as often + strewed the beach. He lay off the rock, keeping way in the swell, and + scrutinizing the glittering sea. At last he pulled back to the lighthouse, + perplexed and discomfited. + </p> + <p> + Was it simply a sporting seal, transformed by some trick of his vision? + But he had seen it through his glass, and now remembered such details as + the face and features framed in their contour of golden hair, and believed + he could even have identified them. He examined the rock again with his + glass, and was surprised to see how clearly it was outlined now in its + barren loneliness. Yet he must have been mistaken. His scientific and + accurate mind allowed of no errant fancy, and he had always sneered at the + marvelous as the result of hasty or superficial observation. He was a + little worried at this lapse of his healthy accuracy,—fearing that + it might be the result of his seclusion and loneliness,—akin to the + visions of the recluse and solitary. It was strange, too, that it should + take the shape of a woman; for Edgar Pomfrey had a story—the usual + old and foolish one. + </p> + <p> + Then his thoughts took a lighter phase, and he turned to the memory of his + books, and finally to the books themselves. From a shelf he picked out a + volume of old voyages, and turned to a remembered passage: “In other seas + doe abound marvells soche as Sea Spyders of the bigness of a pinnace, the + wich they have been known to attack and destroy; Sea Vypers which reach to + the top of a goodly maste, whereby they are able to draw marinners from + the rigging by the suction of their breathes; and Devill Fyshe, which + vomit fire by night which makyth the sea to shine prodigiously, and + mermaydes. They are half fyshe and half mayde of grate Beauty, and have + been seen of divers godly and creditable witnesses swymming beside rocks, + hidden to their waist in the sea, combing of their hayres, to the help of + whych they carry a small mirrore of the bigness of their fingers.” Pomfrey + laid the book aside with a faint smile. To even this credulity he might + come! + </p> + <p> + Nevertheless, he used the telescope again that day. But there was no + repetition of the incident, and he was forced to believe that he had been + the victim of some extraordinary illusion. The next morning, however, with + his calmer judgment doubts began to visit him. There was no one of whom he + could make inquiries but his Indian helper, and their conversation had + usually been restricted to the language of signs or the use of a few words + he had picked up. He contrived, however, to ask if there was a “waugee” + (white) woman in the neighborhood. The Indian shook his head in surprise. + There was no “waugee” nearer than the remote mountain-ridge to which he + pointed. Pomfrey was obliged to be content with this. Even had his + vocabulary been larger, he would as soon have thought of revealing the + embarrassing secret of this woman, whom he believed to be of his own race, + to a mere barbarian as he would of asking him to verify his own + impressions by allowing him to look at her that morning. The next day, + however, something happened which forced him to resume his inquiries. He + was rowing around the curving spot when he saw a number of black objects + on the northern sands moving in and out of the surf, which he presently + made out as Indians. A nearer approach satisfied him that they were wading + squaws and children gathering seaweed and shells. He would have pushed his + acquaintance still nearer, but as his boat rounded the point, with one + accord they all scuttled away like frightened sandpipers. Pomfrey, on his + return, asked his Indian retainer if they could swim. “Oh, yes!” “As far + as the rock?” “Yes.” Yet Pomfrey was not satisfied. The color of his + strange apparition remained unaccounted for, and it was not that of an + Indian woman. + </p> + <p> + Trifling events linger long in a monotonous existence, and it was nearly a + week before Pomfrey gave up his daily telescopic inspection of the rock. + Then he fell back upon his books again, and, oddly enough, upon another + volume of voyages, and so chanced upon the account of Sir Francis Drake's + occupation of the bay before him. He had always thought it strange that + the great adventurer had left no trace or sign of his sojourn there; still + stranger that he should have overlooked the presence of gold, known even + to the Indians themselves, and have lost a discovery far beyond his + wildest dreams and a treasure to which the cargoes of those Philippine + galleons he had more or less successfully intercepted were trifles. Had + the restless explorer been content to pace those dreary sands during three + weeks of inactivity, with no thought of penetrating the inland forests + behind the range, or of even entering the nobler bay beyond? Or was the + location of the spot a mere tradition as wild and unsupported as the + “marvells” of the other volume? Pomfrey had the skepticism of the + scientific, inquiring mind. + </p> + <p> + Two weeks had passed and he was returning from a long climb inland, when + he stopped to rest in his descent to the sea. The panorama of the shore + was before him, from its uttermost limit to the lighthouse on the northern + point. The sun was still one hour high, it would take him about that time + to reach home. But from this coign of vantage he could see—what he + had not before observed—that what he had always believed was a + little cove on the northern shore was really the estuary of a small stream + which rose near him and eventually descended into the ocean at that point. + He could also see that beside it was a long low erection of some kind, + covered with thatched brush, which looked like a “barrow,” yet showed + signs of habitation in the slight smoke that rose from it and drifted + inland. It was not far out of his way, and he resolved to return in that + direction. On his way down he once or twice heard the barking of an Indian + dog, and knew that he must be in the vicinity of an encampment. A + camp-fire, with the ashes yet warm, proved that he was on the trail of one + of the nomadic tribes, but the declining sun warned him to hasten home to + his duty. When he at last reached the estuary, he found that the building + beside it was little else than a long hut, whose thatched and + mud-plastered mound-like roof gave it the appearance of a cave. Its single + opening and entrance abutted on the water's edge, and the smoke he had + noticed rolled through this entrance from a smouldering fire within. + Pomfrey had little difficulty in recognizing the purpose of this strange + structure from the accounts he had heard from “loggers” of the Indian + customs. The cave was a “sweat-house”—a calorific chamber in which + the Indians closely shut themselves, naked, with a “smudge” or smouldering + fire of leaves, until, perspiring and half suffocated, they rushed from + the entrance and threw themselves into the water before it. The still + smouldering fire told him that the house had been used that morning, and + he made no doubt that the Indians were encamped near by. He would have + liked to pursue his researches further, but he found he had already + trespassed upon his remaining time, and he turned somewhat abruptly away—so + abruptly, in fact, that a figure, which had evidently been cautiously + following him at a distance, had not time to get away. His heart leaped + with astonishment. It was the woman he had seen on the rock. + </p> + <p> + Although her native dress now only disclosed her head and hands, there was + no doubt about her color, and it was distinctly white, save for the + tanning of exposure and a slight red ochre marking on her low forehead. + And her hair, long and unkempt as it was, showed that he had not erred in + his first impression of it. It was a tawny flaxen, with fainter bleachings + where the sun had touched it most. Her eyes were of a clear Northern blue. + Her dress, which was quite distinctive in that it was neither the cast off + finery of civilization nor the cheap “government” flannels and calicoes + usually worn by the Californian tribes, was purely native, and of fringed + deerskin, and consisted of a long, loose shirt and leggings worked with + bright feathers and colored shells. A necklace, also of shells and fancy + pebbles, hung round her neck. She seemed to be a fully developed woman, in + spite of the girlishness of her flowing hair, and notwithstanding the + shapeless length of her gaberdine-like garment, taller than the ordinary + squaw. + </p> + <p> + Pomfrey saw all this in a single flash of perception, for the next instant + she was gone, disappearing behind the sweat-house. He ran after her, + catching sight of her again, half doubled up, in the characteristic Indian + trot, dodging around rocks and low bushes as she fled along the banks of + the stream. But for her distinguishing hair, she looked in her flight like + an ordinary frightened squaw. This, which gave a sense of unmanliness and + ridicule to his own pursuit of her, with the fact that his hour of duty + was drawing near and he was still far from the lighthouse, checked him in + full career, and he turned regretfully away. He had called after her at + first, and she had not heeded him. What he would have said to her he did + not know. He hastened home discomfited, even embarrassed—yet excited + to a degree he had not deemed possible in himself. + </p> + <p> + During the morning his thoughts were full of her. Theory after theory for + her strange existence there he examined and dismissed. His first thought, + that she was a white woman—some settler's wife—masquerading in + Indian garb, he abandoned when he saw her moving; no white woman could + imitate that Indian trot, nor would remember to attempt it if she were + frightened. The idea that she was a captive white, held by the Indians, + became ridiculous when he thought of the nearness of civilization and the + peaceful, timid character of the “digger” tribes. That she was some + unfortunate demented creature who had escaped from her keeper and wandered + into the wilderness, a glance at her clear, frank, intelligent, curious + eyes had contradicted. There was but one theory left—the most + sensible and practical one—that she was the offspring of some white + man and Indian squaw. Yet this he found, oddly enough, the least palatable + to his fancy. And the few half-breeds he had seen were not at all like + her. + </p> + <p> + The next morning he had recourse to his Indian retainer, “Jim.” With + infinite difficulty, protraction, and not a little embarrassment, he + finally made him understand that he had seen a “white squaw” near the + “sweat-house,” and that he wanted to know more about her. With equal + difficulty Jim finally recognized the fact of the existence of such a + person, but immediately afterwards shook his head in an emphatic negation. + With greater difficulty and greater mortification Pomfrey presently + ascertained that Jim's negative referred to a supposed abduction of the + woman which he understood that his employer seriously contemplated. But he + also learned that she was a real Indian, and that there were three or four + others like her, male and female, in that vicinity; that from a “skeena + mowitch” (little baby) they were all like that, and that their parents + were of the same color, but never a white or “waugee” man or woman among + them; that they were looked upon as a distinct and superior caste of + Indians, and enjoyed certain privileges with the tribe; that they + superstitiously avoided white men, of whom they had the greatest fear, and + that they were protected in this by the other Indians; that it was + marvelous and almost beyond belief that Pomfrey had been able to see one, + for no other white man had, or was even aware of their existence. + </p> + <p> + How much of this he actually understood, how much of it was lying and due + to Jim's belief that he wished to abduct the fair stranger, Pomfrey was + unable to determine. There was enough, however, to excite his curiosity + strongly and occupy his mind to the exclusion of his books—save one. + Among his smaller volumes he had found a travel book of the “Chinook + Jargon,” with a lexicon of many of the words commonly used by the Northern + Pacific tribes. An hour or two's trial with the astonished Jim gave him an + increased vocabulary and a new occupation. Each day the incongruous pair + took a lesson from the lexicon. In a week Pomfrey felt he would be able to + accost the mysterious stranger. But he did not again surprise her in any + of his rambles, or even in a later visit to the sweat-house. He had + learned from Jim that the house was only used by the “bucks,” or males, + and that her appearance there had been accidental. He recalled that he had + had the impression that she had been stealthily following him, and the + recollection gave him a pleasure he could not account for. But an incident + presently occurred which gave him a new idea of her relations towards him. + </p> + <p> + The difficulty of making Jim understand had hitherto prevented Pomfrey + from intrusting him with the care of the lantern; but with the aid of the + lexicon he had been able to make him comprehend its working, and under + Pomfrey's personal guidance the Indian had once or twice lit the lamp and + set its machinery in motion. It remained for him only to test Jim's + unaided capacity, in case of his own absence or illness. It happened to be + a warm, beautiful sunset, when the afternoon fog had for once delayed its + invasion of the shore-line, that he left the lighthouse to Jim's undivided + care, and reclining on a sand-dune still warm from the sun, lazily watched + the result of Jim's first essay. As the twilight deepened, and the first + flash of the lantern strove with the dying glories of the sun, Pomfrey + presently became aware that he was not the only watcher. A little gray + figure creeping on all fours suddenly glided out of the shadow of another + sand-dune and then halted, falling back on its knees, gazing fixedly at + the growing light. It was the woman he had seen. She was not a dozen yards + away, and in her eagerness and utter absorption in the light had evidently + overlooked him. He could see her face distinctly, her lips parted half in + wonder, half with the breathless absorption of a devotee. A faint sense of + disappointment came over him. It was not HIM she was watching, but the + light! As it swelled out over the darkening gray sand she turned as if to + watch its effect around her, and caught sight of Pomfrey. With a little + startled cry—the first she had uttered—she darted away. He did + not follow. A moment before, when he first saw her, an Indian salutation + which he had learned from Jim had risen to his lips, but in the odd + feeling which her fascination of the light had caused him he had not + spoken. He watched her bent figure scuttling away like some frightened + animal, with a critical consciousness that she was really scarce human, + and went back to the lighthouse. He would not run after her again! Yet + that evening he continued to think of her, and recalled her voice, which + struck him now as having been at once melodious and childlike, and wished + he had at least spoken, and perhaps elicited a reply. + </p> + <p> + He did not, however, haunt the sweat-house near the river again. Yet he + still continued his lessons with Jim, and in this way, perhaps, although + quite unpremeditatedly, enlisted a humble ally. A week passed in which he + had not alluded to her, when one morning, as he was returning from a row, + Jim met him mysteriously on the beach. + </p> + <p> + “S'pose him come slow, slow,” said Jim gravely, airing his newly acquired + English; “make no noise—plenty catchee Indian maiden.” The last + epithet was the polite lexicon equivalent of squaw. + </p> + <p> + Pomfrey, not entirely satisfied in his mind, nevertheless softly followed + the noiselessly gliding Jim to the lighthouse. Here Jim cautiously opened + the door, motioning Pomfrey to enter. + </p> + <p> + The base of the tower was composed of two living rooms, a storeroom and + oil-tank. As Pomfrey entered, Jim closed the door softly behind him. The + abrupt transition from the glare of the sands and sun to the semi-darkness + of the storeroom at first prevented him from seeing anything, but he was + instantly distracted by a scurrying flutter and wild beating of the walls, + as of a caged bird. In another moment he could make out the fair stranger, + quivering with excitement, passionately dashing at the barred window, the + walls, the locked door, and circling around the room in her desperate + attempt to find an egress, like a captured seagull. Amazed, mystified, + indignant with Jim, himself, and even his unfortunate captive, Pomfrey + called to her in Chinook to stop, and going to the door, flung it wide + open. She darted by him, raising her soft blue eyes for an instant in a + swift, sidelong glance of half appeal, half-frightened admiration, and + rushed out into the open. But here, to his surprise, she did not run away. + On the contrary, she drew herself up with a dignity that seemed to + increase her height, and walked majestically towards Jim, who at her + unexpected exit had suddenly thrown himself upon the sand, in utterly + abject terror and supplication. She approached him slowly, with one small + hand uplifted in a menacing gesture. The man writhed and squirmed before + her. Then she turned, caught sight of Pomfrey standing in the doorway, and + walked quietly away. Amazed, yet gratified with this new assertion of + herself, Pomfrey respectfully, but alas! incautiously, called after her. + In an instant, at the sound of his voice, she dropped again into her + slouching Indian trot and glided away over the sandhills. + </p> + <p> + Pomfrey did not add any reproof of his own to the discomfiture of his + Indian retainer. Neither did he attempt to inquire the secret of this + savage girl's power over him. It was evident he had spoken truly when he + told his master that she was of a superior caste. Pomfrey recalled her + erect and indignant figure standing over the prostrate Jim, and was again + perplexed and disappointed at her sudden lapse into the timid savage at + the sound of his voice. Would not this well-meant but miserable trick of + Jim's have the effect of increasing her unreasoning animal-like distrust + of him? A few days later brought an unexpected answer to his question. + </p> + <p> + It was the hottest hour of the day. He had been fishing off the reef of + rocks where he had first seen her, and had taken in his line and was + leisurely pulling for the lighthouse. Suddenly a little musical cry not + unlike a bird's struck his ear. He lay on his oars and listened. It was + repeated; but this time it was unmistakably recognizable as the voice of + the Indian girl, although he had heard it but once. He turned eagerly to + the rock, but it was empty; he pulled around it, but saw nothing. He + looked towards the shore, and swung his boat in that direction, when again + the cry was repeated with the faintest quaver of a laugh, apparently on + the level of the sea before him. For the first time he looked down, and + there on the crest of a wave not a dozen yards ahead, danced the yellow + hair and laughing eyes of the girl. The frightened gravity of her look was + gone, lost in the flash of her white teeth and quivering dimples as her + dripping face rose above the sea. When their eyes met she dived again, but + quickly reappeared on the other bow, swimming with lazy, easy strokes, her + smiling head thrown back over her white shoulder, as if luring him to a + race. If her smile was a revelation to him, still more so was this first + touch of feminine coquetry in her attitude. He pulled eagerly towards her; + with a few long overhand strokes she kept her distance, or, if he + approached too near, she dived like a loon, coming up astern of him with + the same childlike, mocking cry. In vain he pursued her, calling her to + stop in her own tongue, and laughingly protested; she easily avoided his + boat at every turn. Suddenly, when they were nearly abreast of the river + estuary, she rose in the water, and, waving her little hands with a + gesture of farewell, turned, and curving her back like a dolphin, leaped + into the surging swell of the estuary bar and was lost in its foam. It + would have been madness for him to have attempted to follow in his boat, + and he saw that she knew it. He waited until her yellow crest appeared in + the smoother water of the river, and then rowed back. In his excitement + and preoccupation he had quite forgotten his long exposure to the sun + during his active exercise, and that he was poorly equipped for the cold + sea-fog which the heat had brought in earlier, and which now was quietly + obliterating sea and shore. This made his progress slower and more + difficult, and by the time he had reached the lighthouse he was chilled to + the bone. + </p> + <p> + The next morning he woke with a dull headache and great weariness, and it + was with considerable difficulty that he could attend to his duties. At + nightfall, feeling worse, he determined to transfer the care of the light + to Jim, but was amazed to find that he had disappeared, and what was more + ominous, a bottle of spirits which Pomfrey had taken from his locker the + night before had disappeared too. Like all Indians, Jim's rudimentary + knowledge of civilization included “fire-water;” he evidently had been + tempted, had fallen, and was too ashamed or too drunk to face his master. + Pomfrey, however, managed to get the light in order and working, and then, + he scarcely knew how, betook himself to bed in a state of high fever. He + turned from side to side racked by pain, with burning lips and pulses. + Strange fancies beset him; he had noticed when he lit his light that a + strange sail was looming off the estuary—a place where no sail had + ever been seen or should be—and was relieved that the lighting of + the tower might show the reckless or ignorant mariner his real bearings + for the “Gate.” At times he had heard voices above the familiar song of + the surf, and tried to rise from his bed, but could not. Sometimes these + voices were strange, outlandish, dissonant, in his own language, yet only + partly intelligible; but through them always rang a single voice, musical, + familiar, yet of a tongue not his own—hers! And then, out of his + delirium—for such it proved afterwards to be—came a strange + vision. He thought that he had just lit the light when, from some strange + and unaccountable reason, it suddenly became dim and defied all his + efforts to revive it. To add to his discomfiture, he could see quite + plainly through the lantern a strange-looking vessel standing in from the + sea. She was so clearly out of her course for the Gate that he knew she + had not seen the light, and his limbs trembled with shame and terror as he + tried in vain to rekindle the dying light. Yet to his surprise the strange + ship kept steadily on, passing the dangerous reef of rocks, until she was + actually in the waters of the bay. But stranger than all, swimming beneath + her bows was the golden head and laughing face of the Indian girl, even as + he had seen it the day before. A strange revulsion of feeling overtook + him. Believing that she was luring the ship to its destruction, he ran out + on the beach and strove to hail the vessel and warn it of its impending + doom. But he could not speak—no sound came from his lips. And now + his attention was absorbed by the ship itself. High-bowed and pooped, and + curved like the crescent moon, it was the strangest craft that he had ever + seen. Even as he gazed it glided on nearer and nearer, and at last beached + itself noiselessly on the sands before his own feet. A score of figures as + bizarre and outlandish as the ship itself now thronged its high forecastle—really + a castle in shape and warlike purpose—and leaped from its ports. The + common seamen were nearly naked to the waist; the officers looked more + like soldiers than sailors. What struck him more strangely was that they + were one and all seemingly unconscious of the existence of the lighthouse, + sauntering up and down carelessly, as if on some uninhabited strand, and + even talking—so far as he could understand their old bookish dialect—as + if in some hitherto undiscovered land. Their ignorance of the geography of + the whole coast, and even of the sea from which they came, actually + aroused his critical indignation; their coarse and stupid allusions to the + fair Indian swimmer as the “mermaid” that they had seen upon their bow + made him more furious still. Yet he was helpless to express his + contemptuous anger, or even make them conscious of his presence. Then an + interval of incoherency and utter blankness followed. When he again took + up the thread of his fancy the ship seemed to be lying on her beam ends on + the sand; the strange arrangement of her upper deck and top-hamper, more + like a dwelling than any ship he had ever seen, was fully exposed to view, + while the seamen seemed to be at work with the rudest contrivances, + calking and scraping her barnacled sides. He saw that phantom crew, when + not working, at wassail and festivity; heard the shouts of drunken + roisterers; saw the placing of a guard around some of the most + uncontrollable, and later detected the stealthy escape of half a dozen + sailors inland, amidst the fruitless volley fired upon them from obsolete + blunderbusses. Then his strange vision transported him inland, where he + saw these seamen following some Indian women. Suddenly one of them turned + and ran frenziedly towards him as if seeking succor, closely pursued by + one of the sailors. Pomfrey strove to reach her, struggled violently with + the fearful apathy that seemed to hold his limbs, and then, as she uttered + at last a little musical cry, burst his bonds and—awoke! + </p> + <p> + As consciousness slowly struggled back to him, he could see the bare + wooden-like walls of his sleeping-room, the locker, the one window bright + with sunlight, the open door of the tank-room, and the little staircase to + the tower. There was a strange smoky and herb-like smell in the room. He + made an effort to rise, but as he did so a small sunburnt hand was laid + gently yet restrainingly upon his shoulder, and he heard the same musical + cry as before, but this time modulated to a girlish laugh. He raised his + head faintly. Half squatting, half kneeling by his bed was the + yellow-haired stranger. + </p> + <p> + With the recollection of his vision still perplexing him, he said in a + weak voice, “Who are you?” + </p> + <p> + Her blue eyes met his own with quick intelligence and no trace of her + former timidity. A soft, caressing light had taken its place. Pointing + with her finger to her breast in a childlike gesture, she said, “Me—Olooya.” + </p> + <p> + “Olooya!” He remembered suddenly that Jim had always used that word in + speaking of her, but until then he had always thought it was some Indian + term for her distinct class. + </p> + <p> + “Olooya,” he repeated. Then, with difficulty attempting to use her own + tongue, he asked, “When did you come here?” + </p> + <p> + “Last night,” she answered in the same tongue. “There was no witch-fire + there,” she continued, pointing to the tower; “when it came not, Olooya + came! Olooya found white chief sick and alone. White chief could not get + up! Olooya lit witch-fire for him.” + </p> + <p> + “You?” he repeated in astonishment. “I lit it myself.” + </p> + <p> + She looked at him pityingly, as if still recognizing his delirium, and + shook her head. “White chief was sick—how can know? Olooya made + witch-fire.” + </p> + <p> + He cast a hurried glance at his watch hanging on the wall beside him. It + had RUN DOWN, although he had wound it the last thing before going to bed. + He had evidently been lying there helpless beyond the twenty-four hours! + </p> + <p> + He groaned and turned to rise, but she gently forced him down again, and + gave him some herbal infusion, in which he recognized the taste of the + Yerba Buena vine which grew by the river. Then she made him comprehend in + her own tongue that Jim had been decoyed, while drunk, aboard a certain + schooner lying off the shore at a spot where she had seen some men digging + in the sands. She had not gone there, for she was afraid of the bad men, + and a slight return of her former terror came into her changeful eyes. She + knew how to light the witch-light; she reminded him she had been in the + tower before. + </p> + <p> + “You have saved my light, and perhaps my life,” he said weakly, taking her + hand. + </p> + <p> + Possibly she did not understand him, for her only answer was a vague + smile. But the next instant she started up, listening intently, and then + with a frightened cry drew away her hand and suddenly dashed out of the + building. In the midst of his amazement the door was darkened by a figure—a + stranger dressed like an ordinary miner. Pausing a moment to look after + the flying Olooya, the man turned and glanced around the room, and then + with a coarse, familiar smile approached Pomfrey. + </p> + <p> + “Hope I ain't disturbin' ye, but I allowed I'd just be neighborly and drop + in—seein' as this is gov'nment property, and me and my pardners, as + American citizens and tax-payers, helps to support it. We're coastin' from + Trinidad down here and prospectin' along the beach for gold in the sand. + Ye seem to hev a mighty soft berth of it here—nothing to do—and + lots of purty half-breeds hangin' round!” + </p> + <p> + The man's effrontery was too much for Pomfrey's self-control, weakened by + illness. “It IS government property,” he answered hotly, “and you have no + more right to intrude upon it than you have to decoy away my servant, a + government employee, during my illness, and jeopardize that property.” + </p> + <p> + The unexpectedness of this attack, and the sudden revelation of the fact + of Pomfrey's illness in his flushed face and hollow voice apparently + frightened and confused the stranger. He stammered a surly excuse, backed + out of the doorway, and disappeared. An hour later Jim appeared, + crestfallen, remorseful, and extravagantly penitent. Pomfrey was too weak + for reproaches or inquiry, and he was thinking only of Olooya. + </p> + <p> + She did not return. His recovery in that keen air, aided, as he sometimes + thought, by the herbs she had given him, was almost as rapid as his + illness. The miners did not again intrude upon the lighthouse nor trouble + his seclusion. When he was able to sun himself on the sands, he could see + them in the distance at work on the beach. He reflected that she would not + come back while they were there, and was reconciled. But one morning Jim + appeared, awkward and embarrassed, leading another Indian, whom he + introduced as Olooya's brother. Pomfrey's suspicions were aroused. Except + that the stranger had something of the girl's superiority of manner, there + was no likeness whatever to his fair-haired acquaintance. But a fury of + indignation was added to his suspicions when he learned the amazing + purport of their visit. It was nothing less than an offer from the alleged + brother to SELL his sister to Pomfrey for forty dollars and a jug of + whiskey! Unfortunately, Pomfrey's temper once more got the better of his + judgment. With a scathing exposition of the laws under which the Indian + and white man equally lived, and the legal punishment of kidnaping, he + swept what he believed was the impostor from his presence. He was scarcely + alone again before he remembered that his imprudence might affect the + girl's future access to him, but it was too late now. + </p> + <p> + Still he clung to the belief that he should see her when the prospectors + had departed, and he hailed with delight the breaking up of the camp near + the “sweat-house” and the disappearance of the schooner. It seemed that + their gold-seeking was unsuccessful; but Pomfrey was struck, on visiting + the locality, to find that in their excavations in the sand at the estuary + they had uncovered the decaying timbers of a ship's small boat of some + ancient and obsolete construction. This made him think of his strange + dream, with a vague sense of warning which he could not shake off, and on + his return to the lighthouse he took from his shelves a copy of the old + voyages to see how far his fancy had been affected by his reading. In the + account of Drake's visit to the coast he found a footnote which he had + overlooked before, and which ran as follows: “The Admiral seems to have + lost several of his crew by desertion, who were supposed to have perished + miserably by starvation in the inhospitable interior or by the hands of + savages. But later voyagers have suggested that the deserters married + Indian wives, and there is a legend that a hundred years later a singular + race of half-breeds, bearing unmistakable Anglo-Saxon characteristics, was + found in that locality.” Pomfrey fell into a reverie of strange hypotheses + and fancies. He resolved that, when he again saw Olooya, he would question + her; her terror of these men might be simply racial or some hereditary + transmission. + </p> + <p> + But his intention was never fulfilled. For when days and weeks had + elapsed, and he had vainly haunted the river estuary and the rocky reef + before the lighthouse without a sign of her, he overcame his pride + sufficiently to question Jim. The man looked at him with dull + astonishment. + </p> + <p> + “Olooya gone,” he said. + </p> + <p> + “Gone!—where?” + </p> + <p> + The Indian made a gesture to seaward which seemed to encompass the whole + Pacific. + </p> + <p> + “How? With whom?” repeated his angry yet half-frightened master. + </p> + <p> + “With white man in ship. You say YOU no want Olooya—forty dollars + too much. White man give fifty dollars—takee Olooya all same.” + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0006" id="link2H_4_0006"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + UNDER THE EAVES + </h2> + <p> + The assistant editor of the San Francisco “Daily Informer” was going home. + So much of his time was spent in the office of the “Informer” that no one + ever cared to know where he passed those six hours of sleep which + presumably suggested a domicile. His business appointments outside the + office were generally kept at the restaurant where he breakfasted and + dined, or of evenings in the lobbies of theatres or the anterooms of + public meetings. Yet he had a home and an interval of seclusion of which + he was jealously mindful, and it was to this he was going to-night at his + usual hour. + </p> + <p> + His room was in a new building on one of the larger and busier + thoroughfares. The lower floor was occupied by a bank, but as it was + closed before he came home, and not yet opened when he left, it did not + disturb his domestic sensibilities. The same may be said of the next + floor, which was devoted to stockbrokers' and companies offices, and was + equally tomb-like and silent when he passed; the floor above that was a + desert of empty rooms, which echoed to his footsteps night and morning, + with here and there an oasis in the green sign of a mining secretary's + office, with, however, the desolating announcement that it would only be + “open for transfers from two to four on Saturdays.” The top floor had been + frankly abandoned in an unfinished state by the builder, whose ambition + had “o'erleaped itself” in that sanguine era of the city's growth. There + was a smell of plaster and the first coat of paint about it still, but the + whole front of the building was occupied by a long room with odd + “bull's-eye” windows looking out through the heavy ornamentations of the + cornice over the adjacent roofs. + </p> + <p> + It had been originally intended for a club-room, but after the ill fortune + which attended the letting of the floor below, and possibly because the + earthquake-fearing San Franciscans had their doubts of successful hilarity + at the top of so tall a building, it remained unfinished, with the two + smaller rooms at its side. Its incomplete and lonely grandeur had once + struck the editor during a visit of inspection, and the landlord, whom he + knew, had offered to make it habitable for him at a nominal rent. It had a + lavatory with a marble basin and a tap of cold water. The offer was a + novel one, but he accepted it, and fitted up the apartment with some cheap + second-hand furniture, quite inconsistent with the carved mantels and + decorations, and made a fair sitting-room and bedroom of it. Here, on a + Sunday, when its stillness was intensified, and even a passing footstep on + the pavement fifty feet below was quite startling, he would sit and work + by one of the quaint open windows. In the rainy season, through the filmed + panes he sometimes caught a glimpse of the distant, white-capped bay, but + never of the street below him. + </p> + <p> + The lights were out, but, groping his way up to the first landing, he took + from a cup-boarded niche in the wall his candlestick and matches and + continued the ascent to his room. The humble candlelight flickered on the + ostentatious gold letters displayed on the ground-glass doors of opulent + companies which he knew were famous, and rooms where millionaires met in + secret conclave, but the contrast awakened only his sense of humor. Yet he + was always relieved after he had reached his own floor. Possibly its + incompleteness and inchoate condition made it seem less lonely than the + desolation of the finished and furnished rooms below, and it was only this + recollection of past human occupancy that was depressing. + </p> + <p> + He opened his door, lit the solitary gas jet that only half illuminated + the long room, and, it being already past midnight, began to undress + himself. This process presently brought him to that corner of his room + where his bed stood, when he suddenly stopped, and his sleepy yawn changed + to a gape of surprise. For, lying in the bed, its head upon the pillow, + and its rigid arms accurately stretched down over the turned-back sheet, + was a child's doll! It was a small doll—a banged and battered doll, + that had seen service, but it had evidently been “tucked in” with maternal + tenderness, and lay there with its staring eyes turned to the ceiling, the + very genius of insomnia! + </p> + <p> + His first start of surprise was followed by a natural resentment of what + might have been an impertinent intrusion on his privacy by some + practical-joking adult, for he knew there was no child in the house. + </p> + <p> + His room was kept in order by the wife of the night watchman employed by + the bank, and no one else had a right of access to it. But the woman might + have brought a child there and not noticed its disposal of its plaything. + He smiled. It might have been worse! It might have been a real baby! + </p> + <p> + The idea tickled him with a promise of future “copy”—of a story with + farcical complications, or even a dramatic ending, in which the baby, + adopted by him, should turn out to be somebody's stolen offspring. He + lifted the little image that had suggested these fancies, carefully laid + it on his table, went to bed, and presently forgot it all in slumber. + </p> + <p> + In the morning his good-humor and interest in it revived to the extent of + writing on a slip of paper, “Good-morning! Thank you—I've slept very + well,” putting the slip in the doll's jointed arms, and leaving it in a + sitting posture outside his door when he left his room. When he returned + late at night it was gone. + </p> + <p> + But it so chanced that, a few days later, owing to press of work on the + “Informer,” he was obliged to forego his usual Sunday holiday out of town, + and that morning found him, while the bells were ringing for church, in + his room with a pile of manuscript and proof before him. For these were + troublous days in San Francisco; the great Vigilance Committee of '56 was + in session, and the offices of the daily papers were thronged with eager + seekers of news. Such affairs, indeed, were not in the functions of the + assistant editor, nor exactly to his taste; he was neither a partisan of + the so-called Law and Order Party, nor yet an enthusiastic admirer of the + citizen Revolutionists known as the Vigilance Committee, both extremes + being incompatible with his habits of thought. Consequently he was not + displeased at this opportunity of doing his work away from the office and + the “heady talk” of controversy. + </p> + <p> + He worked on until the bells ceased and a more than Sabbath stillness fell + upon the streets. So quiet was it that once or twice the conversation of + passing pedestrians floated up and into his window, as of voices at his + elbow. + </p> + <p> + Presently he heard the sound of a child's voice singing in subdued tone, + as if fearful of being overheard. This time he laid aside his pen—it + certainly was no delusion! The sound did not come from the open window, + but from some space on a level with his room. Yet there was no contiguous + building as high. + </p> + <p> + He rose and tried to open his door softly, but it creaked, and the singing + instantly ceased. There was nothing before him but the bare, empty hall, + with its lathed and plastered partitions, and the two smaller rooms, + unfinished like his own, on either side of him. Their doors were shut; the + one at his right hand was locked, the other yielded to his touch. + </p> + <p> + For the first moment he saw only the bare walls of the apparently empty + room. But a second glance showed him two children—a boy of seven and + a girl of five—sitting on the floor, which was further littered by a + mattress, pillow, and blanket. There was a cheap tray on one of the trunks + containing two soiled plates and cups and fragments of a meal. But there + was neither a chair nor table nor any other article of furniture in the + room. Yet he was struck by the fact that, in spite of this poverty of + surrounding, the children were decently dressed, and the few scattered + pieces of luggage in quality bespoke a superior condition. + </p> + <p> + The children met his astonished stare with an equal wonder and, he + fancied, some little fright. The boy's lips trembled a little as he said + apologetically— + </p> + <p> + “I told Jinny not to sing. But she didn't make MUCH noise.” + </p> + <p> + “Mamma said I could play with my dolly. But I fordot and singed,” said the + little girl penitently. + </p> + <p> + “Where's your mamma?” asked the young man. The fancy of their being near + relatives of the night watchman had vanished at the sound of their voices. + </p> + <p> + “Dorn out,” said the girl. + </p> + <p> + “When did she go out?” + </p> + <p> + “Last night.” + </p> + <p> + “Were you all alone here last night?” + </p> + <p> + “Yes!” + </p> + <p> + Perhaps they saw the look of indignation and pity in the editor's face, + for the boy said quickly— + </p> + <p> + “She don't go out EVERY night; last night she went to”— + </p> + <p> + He stopped suddenly, and both children looked at each other with a half + laugh and half cry, and then repeated in hopeless unison, “She's dorn + out.” + </p> + <p> + “When is she coming back again?” + </p> + <p> + “To-night. But we won't make any more noise.” + </p> + <p> + “Who brings you your food?” continued the editor, looking at the tray. + </p> + <p> + “Woberts.” + </p> + <p> + Evidently Roberts, the night watchman! The editor felt relieved; here was + a clue to some explanation. He instantly sat down on the floor between + them. + </p> + <p> + “So that was the dolly that slept in my bed,” he said gayly, taking it up. + </p> + <p> + God gives helplessness a wonderful intuition of its friends. The children + looked up at the face of their grown-up companion, giggled, and then burst + into a shrill fit of laughter. He felt that it was the first one they had + really indulged in for many days. Nevertheless he said, “Hush!” + confidentially; why he scarcely knew, except to intimate to them that he + had taken in their situation thoroughly. “Make no noise,” he added softly, + “and come into my big room.” + </p> + <p> + They hung back, however, with frightened yet longing eyes. “Mamma said we + mussent do out of this room,” said the girl. + </p> + <p> + “Not ALONE,” responded the editor quickly, “but with ME, you know; that's + different.” + </p> + <p> + The logic sufficed them, poor as it was. Their hands slid quite naturally + into his. But at the door he stopped, and motioning to the locked door of + the other room, asked:— + </p> + <p> + “And is that mamma's room, too?” + </p> + <p> + Their little hands slipped from his and they were silent. Presently the + boy, as if acted upon by some occult influence of the girl, said in a half + whisper, “Yes.” + </p> + <p> + The editor did not question further, but led them into his room. Here they + lost the slight restraint they had shown, and began, child fashion, to + become questioners themselves. + </p> + <p> + In a few moments they were in possession of his name, his business, the + kind of restaurant he frequented, where he went when he left his room all + day, the meaning of those funny slips of paper, and the written + manuscripts, and why he was so quiet. But any attempt of his to retaliate + by counter questions was met by a sudden reserve so unchildlike and + painful to him—as it was evidently to themselves—that he + desisted, wisely postponing his inquiries until he could meet Roberts. + </p> + <p> + He was glad when they fell to playing games with each other quite + naturally, yet not entirely forgetting his propinquity, as their + occasional furtive glances at his movements showed him. He, too, became + presently absorbed in his work, until it was finished and it was time for + him to take it to the office of the “Informer.” The wild idea seized him + of also taking the children afterwards for a holiday to the Mission + Dolores, but he prudently remembered that even this negligent mother of + theirs might have some rights over her offspring that he was bound to + respect. + </p> + <p> + He took leave of them gayly, suggesting that the doll be replaced in his + bed while he was away, and even assisted in “tucking it up.” But during + the afternoon the recollection of these lonely playfellows in the deserted + house obtruded itself upon his work and the talk of his companions. Sunday + night was his busiest night, and he could not, therefore, hope to get away + in time to assure himself of their mother's return. + </p> + <p> + It was nearly two in the morning when he returned to his room. He paused + for a moment on the threshold to listen for any sound from the adjoining + room. But all was hushed. + </p> + <p> + His intention of speaking to the night watchman was, however, anticipated + the next morning by that guardian himself. A tap upon his door while he + was dressing caused him to open it somewhat hurriedly in the hope of + finding one of the children there, but he met only the embarrassed face of + Roberts. Inviting him into the room, the editor continued dressing. + Carefully closing the door behind him, the man began, with evident + hesitation,— + </p> + <p> + “I oughter hev told ye suthin' afore, Mr. Breeze; but I kalkilated, so to + speak, that you wouldn't be bothered one way or another, and so ye hadn't + any call to know that there was folks here”— + </p> + <p> + “Oh, I see,” interrupted Breeze cheerfully; “you're speaking of the family + next door—the landlord's new tenants.” + </p> + <p> + “They ain't exactly THAT,” said Roberts, still with embarrassment. “The + fact is—ye see—the thing points THIS way: they ain't no right + to be here, and it's as much as my place is worth if it leaks out that + they are.” + </p> + <p> + Mr. Breeze suspended his collar-buttoning, and stared at Roberts. + </p> + <p> + “You see, sir, they're mighty poor, and they've nowhere else to go—and + I reckoned to take 'em in here for a spell and say nothing about it.” + </p> + <p> + “But the landlord wouldn't object, surely? I'll speak to him myself,” said + Breeze impulsively. + </p> + <p> + “Oh, no; don't!” said Roberts in alarm; “he wouldn't like it. You see, Mr. + Breeze, it's just this way: the mother, she's a born lady, and did my old + woman a good turn in old times when the family was rich; but now she's + obliged—just to support herself, you know—to take up with what + she gets, and she acts in the bally in the theatre, you see, and hez to + come in late o' nights. In them cheap boarding-houses, you know, the folks + looks down upon her for that, and won't hev her, and in the cheap hotels + the men are—you know—a darned sight wuss, and that's how I + took her and her kids in here, where no one knows 'em.” + </p> + <p> + “I see,” nodded the editor sympathetically; “and very good it was of you, + my man.” + </p> + <p> + Roberts looked still more confused, and stammered with a forced laugh, + “And—so—I'm just keeping her on here, unbeknownst, until her + husband gets”—He stopped suddenly. + </p> + <p> + “So she has a husband living, then?” said Breeze in surprise. + </p> + <p> + “In the mines, yes—in the mines!” repeated Roberts with a monotonous + deliberation quite distinct from his previous hesitation, “and she's only + waitin' until he gets money enough—to—to take her away.” He + stopped and breathed hard. + </p> + <p> + “But couldn't you—couldn't WE—get her some more furniture? + There's nothing in that room, you know, not a chair or table; and unless + the other room is better furnished”— + </p> + <p> + “Eh? Oh, yes!” said Roberts quickly, yet still with a certain + embarrassment; “of course THAT'S better furnished, and she's quite + satisfied, and so are the kids, with anything. And now, Mr. Breeze, I + reckon you'll say nothin' o' this, and you'll never go back on me?” + </p> + <p> + “My dear Mr. Roberts,” said the editor gravely, “from this moment I am not + only blind, but deaf to the fact that ANYBODY occupies this floor but + myself.” + </p> + <p> + “I knew you was white all through, Mr. Breeze,” said the night watchman, + grasping the young man's hand with a grip of iron, “and I telled my wife + so. I sez, 'Jest you let me tell him EVERYTHIN',' but she”—He + stopped again and became confused. + </p> + <p> + “And she was quite right, I dare say,” said Breeze, with a laugh; “and I + do not want to know anything. And that poor woman must never know that I + ever knew anything, either. But you may tell your wife that when the + mother is away she can bring the little ones in here whenever she likes.” + </p> + <p> + “Thank ye—thank ye, sir!—and I'll just run down and tell the + old woman now, and won't intrude upon your dressin' any longer.” + </p> + <p> + He grasped Breeze's hand again, went out and closed the door behind him. + It might have been the editor's fancy, but he thought there was a certain + interval of silence outside the door before the night watchman's heavy + tread was heard along the hall again. + </p> + <p> + For several evenings after this Mr. Breeze paid some attention to the + ballet in his usual round of the theatres. Although he had never seen his + fair neighbor, he had a vague idea that he might recognize her through + some likeness to her children. But in vain. In the opulent charms of + certain nymphs, and in the angular austerities of others, he failed + equally to discern any of those refinements which might have distinguished + the “born lady” of Roberts's story, or which he himself had seen in her + children. + </p> + <p> + These he did not meet again during the week, as his duties kept him late + at the office; but from certain signs in his room he knew that Mrs. + Roberts had availed herself of his invitation to bring them in with her, + and he regularly found “Jinny's” doll tucked up in his bed at night, and + he as regularly disposed of it outside his door in the morning, with a few + sweets, like an offering, tucked under its rigid arms. + </p> + <p> + But another circumstance touched him more delicately; his room was + arranged with greater care than before, and with an occasional exhibition + of taste that certainly had not distinguished Mrs. Roberts's previous + ministrations. One evening on his return he found a small bouquet of + inexpensive flowers in a glass on his writing-table. He loved flowers too + well not to detect that they were quite fresh, and could have been put + there only an hour or two before he arrived. + </p> + <p> + The next evening was Saturday, and, as he usually left the office earlier + on that day, it occurred to him, as he walked home, that it was about the + time his fair neighbor would be leaving the theatre, and that it was + possible he might meet her. + </p> + <p> + At the front door, however, he found Roberts, who returned his greeting + with a certain awkwardness which struck him as singular. When he reached + the niche on the landing he found his candle was gone, but he proceeded + on, groping his way up the stairs, with an odd conviction that both these + incidents pointed to the fact that the woman had just returned or was + expected. + </p> + <p> + He had also a strange feeling—which may have been owing to the + darkness—that some one was hidden on the landing or on the stairs + where he would pass. This was further accented by a faint odor of + patchouli, as, with his hand on the rail, he turned the corner of the + third landing, and he was convinced that if he had put out his other hand + it would have come in contact with his mysterious neighbor. But a certain + instinct of respect for her secret, which she was even now guarding in the + darkness, withheld him, and he passed on quickly to his own floor. + </p> + <p> + Here it was lighter; the moon shot a beam of silver across the passage + from an unshuttered window as he passed. He reached his room door, + entered, but instead of lighting the gas and shutting the door, stood with + it half open, listening in the darkness. + </p> + <p> + His suspicions were verified; there was a slight rustling noise, and a + figure which had evidently followed him appeared at the end of the + passage. It was that of a woman habited in a grayish dress and cloak of + the same color; but as she passed across the band of moonlight he had a + distinct view of her anxious, worried face. It was a face no longer young; + it was worn with illness, but still replete with a delicacy and faded + beauty so inconsistent with her avowed profession that he felt a sudden + pang of pain and doubt. The next moment she had vanished in her room, + leaving the same faint perfume behind her. He closed his door softly, lit + the gas, and sat down in a state of perplexity. That swift glimpse of her + face and figure had made her story improbable to the point of absurdity, + or possibly to the extreme of pathos! + </p> + <p> + It seemed incredible that a woman of that quality should be forced to + accept a vocation at once so low, so distasteful, and so unremunerative. + With her evident antecedents, had she no friends but this common Western + night watchman of a bank? Had Roberts deceived him? Was his whole story a + fabrication, and was there some complicity between the two? What was it? + He knit his brows. + </p> + <p> + Mr. Breeze had that overpowering knowledge of the world which only comes + with the experience of twenty-five, and to this he superadded the active + imagination of a newspaper man. A plot to rob the bank? These mysterious + absences, that luggage which he doubted not was empty and intended for + spoil! But why encumber herself with the two children? Here his common + sense and instinct of the ludicrous returned and he smiled. + </p> + <p> + But he could not believe in the ballet dancer! He wondered, indeed, how + any manager could have accepted the grim satire of that pale, worried face + among the fairies, that sad refinement amid their vacant smiles and rouged + checks. And then, growing sad again, he comforted himself with the + reflection that at least the children were not alone that night, and so + went to sleep. + </p> + <p> + For some days he had no further meeting with his neighbors. The disturbed + state of the city—for the Vigilance Committee were still in session—obliged + the daily press to issue “extras,” and his work at the office increased. + </p> + <p> + It was not until Sunday again that he was able to be at home. Needless to + say that his solitary little companions were duly installed there, while + he sat at work with his proofs on the table before him. + </p> + <p> + The stillness of the empty house was only broken by the habitually subdued + voices of the children at their play, when suddenly the harsh stroke of a + distant bell came through the open window. But it was no Sabbath bell, and + Mr. Breeze knew it. It was the tocsin of the Vigilance Committee, + summoning the members to assemble at their quarters for a capture, a + trial, or an execution of some wrongdoer. To him it was equally a summons + to the office—to distasteful news and excitement. + </p> + <p> + He threw his proofs aside in disgust, laid down his pen, seized his hat, + and paused a moment to look round for his playmates. But they were gone! + He went into the hall, looked into the open door of their room, but they + were not there. He tried the door of the second room, but it was locked. + </p> + <p> + Satisfied that they had stolen downstairs in their eagerness to know what + the bell meant, he hurried down also, met Roberts in the passage,—a + singularly unusual circumstance at that hour,—called to him to look + after the runaways, and hurried to his office. + </p> + <p> + Here he found the staff collected, excitedly discussing the news. One of + the Vigilance Committee prisoners, a notorious bully and ruffian, detained + as a criminal and a witness, had committed suicide in his cell. + Fortunately this was all reportorial work, and the services of Mr. Breeze + were not required. He hurried back, relieved, to his room. + </p> + <p> + When he reached his landing, breathlessly, he heard the same quick rustle + he had heard that memorable evening, and was quite satisfied that he saw a + figure glide swiftly out of the open door of his room. It was no doubt his + neighbor, who had been seeking her children, and as he heard their voices + as he passed, his uneasiness and suspicions were removed. + </p> + <p> + He sat down again to his scattered papers and proofs, finished his work, + and took it to the office on his way to dinner. He returned early, in the + hope that he might meet his neighbor again, and had quite settled his mind + that he was justified in offering a civil “Good-evening” to her, in spite + of his previous respectful ignoring of her presence. She must certainly + have become aware by this time of his attention to her children and + consideration for herself, and could not mistake his motives. But he was + disappointed, although he came up softly; he found the floor in darkness + and silence on his return, and he had to be content with lighting his gas + and settling down to work again. + </p> + <p> + A near church clock had struck ten when he was startled by the sound of an + unfamiliar and uncertain step in the hall, followed by a tap at his door. + Breeze jumped to his feet, and was astonished to find Dick, the “printer's + devil,” standing on the threshold with a roll of proofs in his hand. + </p> + <p> + “How did you get here?” he asked testily. + </p> + <p> + “They told me at the restaurant they reckoned you lived yere, and the + night watchman at the door headed me straight up. When he knew whar I kem + from he wanted to know what the news was, but I told him he'd better buy + an extra and see.” + </p> + <p> + “Well, what did you come for?” said the editor impatiently. + </p> + <p> + “The foreman said it was important, and he wanted to know afore he went to + press ef this yer correction was YOURS?” + </p> + <p> + He went to the table, unrolled the proofs, and, taking out the slip, + pointed to a marked paragraph. “The foreman says the reporter who brought + the news allows he got it straight first-hand! But ef you've corrected it, + he reckons you know best.” + </p> + <p> + Breeze saw at a glance that the paragraph alluded to was not of his own + writing, but one of several news items furnished by reporters. These had + been “set up” in the same “galley,” and consequently appeared in the same + proof-slip. He was about to say curtly that neither the matter nor the + correction was his, when something odd in the correction of the item + struck him. It read as follows:— + </p> + <p> + “It appears that the notorious 'Jim Bodine,' who is in hiding and badly + wanted by the Vigilance Committee, has been tempted lately into a renewal + of his old recklessness. He was seen in Sacramento Street the other night + by two separate witnesses, one of whom followed him, but he escaped in + some friendly doorway.” + </p> + <p> + The words “in Sacramento Street” were stricken out and replaced by the + correction “on the Saucelito shore,” and the words “friendly doorway” were + changed to “friendly dinghy.” The correction was not his, nor the + handwriting, which was further disguised by being an imitation of print. A + strange idea seized him. + </p> + <p> + “Has any one seen these proofs since I left them at the office?” + </p> + <p> + “No, only the foreman, sir.” + </p> + <p> + He remembered that he had left the proofs lying openly on his table when + he was called to the office at the stroke of the alarm bell; he remembered + the figure he saw gliding from his room on his return. She had been there + alone with the proofs; she only could have tampered with them. + </p> + <p> + The evident object of the correction was to direct the public attention + from Sacramento Street to Saucelito, as the probable whereabouts of this + “Jimmy Bodine.” The street below was Sacramento Street, the “friendly + doorway” might have been their own. + </p> + <p> + That she had some knowledge of this Bodine was not more improbable than + the ballet story. Her strange absences, the mystery surrounding her, all + seemed to testify that she had some connection—perhaps only an + innocent one—with these desperate people whom the Vigilance + Committee were hunting down. Her attempt to save the man was, after all, + no more illegal than their attempt to capture him. True, she might have + trusted him, Breeze, without this tampering with his papers; yet perhaps + she thought he was certain to discover it—and it was only a silent + appeal to his mercy. The corrections were ingenious and natural—it + was the act of an intelligent, quick-witted woman. + </p> + <p> + Mr. Breeze was prompt in acting upon his intuition, whether right or + wrong. He took up his pen, wrote on the margin of the proof, “Print as + corrected,” said to the boy carelessly, “The corrections are all right,” + and dismissed him quickly. + </p> + <p> + The corrected paragraph which appeared in the “Informer” the next morning + seemed to attract little public attention, the greater excitement being + the suicide of the imprisoned bully and the effect it might have upon the + prosecution of other suspected parties, against whom the dead man had been + expected to bear witness. + </p> + <p> + Mr. Breeze was unable to obtain any information regarding the desperado + Bodine's associates and relations; his correction of the paragraph had + made the other members of the staff believe he had secret and superior + information regarding the fugitive, and he thus was estopped from asking + questions. But he felt himself justified now in demanding fuller + information from Roberts at the earliest opportunity. + </p> + <p> + For this purpose he came home earlier that night, hoping to find the night + watchman still on his first beat in the lower halls. But he was + disappointed. He was amazed, however, on reaching his own landing, to find + the passage piled with new luggage, some of that ruder type of rolled + blanket and knapsack known as a “miner's kit.” He was still more surprised + to hear men's voices and the sound of laughter proceeding from the room + that was always locked. A sudden sense of uneasiness and disgust, he knew + not why, came over him. + </p> + <p> + He passed quickly into his room, shut the door sharply, and lit the gas. + But he presently heard the door of the locked room open, a man's voice, + slightly elevated by liquor and opposition, saying, “I know what's due + from one gen'leman to 'nother”—a querulous, objecting voice saying, + “Hole on! not now,” and a fainter feminine protest, all of which were + followed by a rap on his door. + </p> + <p> + Breeze opened it to two strangers, one of whom lurched forward unsteadily + with outstretched hand. He had a handsome face and figure, and a certain + consciousness of it even in the abandon of liquor; he had an aggressive + treacherousness of eye which his potations had not subdued. He grasped + Breeze's hand tightly, but dropped it the next moment perfunctorily as he + glanced round the room. + </p> + <p> + “I told them I was bound to come in,” he said, without looking at Breeze, + “and say 'Howdy!' to the man that's bin a pal to my women folks and the + kids—and acted white all through! I said to Mame, 'I reckon HE knows + who I am, and that I kin be high-toned to them that's high-toned; kin + return shake for shake and shot for shot!' Aye! that's me! So I was bound + to come in like a gen'leman, sir, and here I am!” + </p> + <p> + He threw himself in an unproffered chair and stared at Breeze. + </p> + <p> + “I'm afraid,” said Breeze dryly, “that, nevertheless, I never knew who you + were, and that even now I am ignorant whom I am addressing.” + </p> + <p> + “That's just it,” said the second man, with a querulous protest, which did + not, however, conceal his admiring vassalage to his friend; “that's what + I'm allus telling Jim. 'Jim,' I says, 'how is folks to know you're the man + that shot Kernel Baxter, and dropped three o' them Mariposa Vigilants? + They didn't see you do it! They just look at your fancy style and them + mustaches of yours, and allow ye might be death on the girls, but they + don't know ye! An' this man yere—he's a scribe in them papers—writes + what the boss editor tells him, and lives up yere on the roof, 'longside + yer wife and the children—what's he knowin' about YOU?' Jim's all + right enough,” he continued, in easy confidence to Breeze, “but he's too + fresh 'bout himself.” + </p> + <p> + Mr. James Bodine accepted this tribute and criticism of his henchman with + a complacent laugh, which was not, however, without a certain contempt for + the speaker and the man spoken to. His bold, selfish eyes wandered round + the room as if in search of some other amusement than his companions + offered. + </p> + <p> + “I reckon this is the room which that hound of a landlord, Rakes, allowed + he'd fix up for our poker club—the club that Dan Simmons and me got + up, with a few other sports. It was to be a slap-up affair, right under + the roof, where there was no chance of the police raiding us. But the cur + weakened when the Vigilants started out to make war on any game a + gen'leman might hev that wasn't in their gummy-bag, salt pork trade. Well, + it's gettin' a long time between drinks, gen'lemen, ain't it?” He looked + round him significantly. + </p> + <p> + Only the thought of the woman and her children in the next room, and the + shame that he believed she was enduring, enabled Breeze to keep his temper + or even a show of civility. + </p> + <p> + “I'm afraid,” he said quietly, “that you'll find very little here to + remind you of the club—not even the whiskey; for I use the room only + as a bedroom, and as I am a workingman, and come in late and go out early, + I have never found it available for hospitality, even to my intimate + friends. I am very glad, however, that the little leisure I have had in it + has enabled me to make the floor less lonely for your children.” + </p> + <p> + Mr. Bodine got up with an affected yawn, turned an embarrassed yet + darkening eye on Breeze, and lunged unsteadily to the door. “And as I only + happened in to do the reg'lar thing between high-toned gen'lemen, I reckon + we kin say 'Quits.'” He gave a coarse laugh, said “So long,” nodded, + stumbled into the passage, and thence into the other room. + </p> + <p> + His companion watched him pass out with a relieved yet protecting air, and + then, closing the door softly, drew nearer to Breeze, and said in husky + confidence,— + </p> + <p> + “Ye ain't seein' him at his best, mister! He's bin drinkin' too much, and + this yer news has upset him.” + </p> + <p> + “What news?” asked Breeze. + </p> + <p> + “This yer suicide o' Irish Jack!” + </p> + <p> + “Was he his friend?” + </p> + <p> + “Friend?” ejaculated the man, horrified at the mere suggestion. “Not much! + Why, Irish Jack was the only man that could hev hung Jim! Now he's dead, + in course the Vigilants ain't got no proof agin Jim. Jim wants to face it + out now an' stay here, but his wife and me don't see it noways! So we are + taking advantage o' the lull agin him to get him off down the coast this + very night. That's why he's been off his head drinkin'. Ye see, when a man + has been for weeks hidin'—part o' the time in that room and part o' + the time on the wharf, where them Vigilants has been watchin' every ship + that left in order to ketch him, he's inclined to celebrate his chance o' + getting away”— + </p> + <p> + “Part of the time in that room?” interrupted Breeze quickly. + </p> + <p> + “Sartin! Don't ye see? He allus kem in as you went out—sabe!—and + got away before you kem back, his wife all the time just a-hoverin' + between the two places, and keeping watch for him. It was killin' to her, + you see, for she wasn't brought up to it, whiles Jim didn't keer—had + two revolvers and kalkilated to kill a dozen Vigilants afore he dropped. + But that's over now, and when I've got him safe on that 'plunger' down at + the wharf to-night, and put him aboard the schooner that's lying off the + Heads, he's all right agin.” + </p> + <p> + “And Roberts knew all this and was one of his friends?” asked Breeze. + </p> + <p> + “Roberts knew it, and Roberts's wife used to be a kind of servant to Jim's + wife in the South, when she was a girl, but I don't know ez Roberts is his + FRIEND!” + </p> + <p> + “He certainly has shown himself one,” said Breeze. + </p> + <p> + “Ye-e-s,” said the stranger meditatively, “ye-e-s.” He stopped, opened the + door softly, and peeped out, and then closed it again softly. “It's + sing'lar, Mr. Breeze,” he went on in a sudden yet embarrassed burst of + confidence, “that Jim thar—a man thet can shoot straight, and hez + frequent; a man thet knows every skin game goin'—that THET man Jim,” + very slowly, “hezn't really—got—any friends—'cept me—and + his wife.” + </p> + <p> + “Indeed?” said Mr. Breeze dryly. + </p> + <p> + “Sure! Why, you yourself didn't cotton to him—I could see THET.” + </p> + <p> + Mr. Breeze felt himself redden slightly, and looked curiously at the man. + This vulgar parasite, whom he had set down as a worshiper of sham heroes, + undoubtedly did not look like an associate of Bodine's, and had a certain + seriousness that demanded respect. As he looked closer into his wide, + round face, seamed with small-pox, he fancied he saw even in its fatuous + imbecility something of that haunting devotion he had seen on the refined + features of the wife. He said more gently,— + </p> + <p> + “But one friend like you would seem to be enough.” + </p> + <p> + “I ain't what I uster be, Mr. Breeze,” said the man meditatively, “and + mebbe ye don't know who I am. I'm Abe Shuckster, of Shuckster's Ranch—one + of the biggest in Petalumy. I was a rich man until a year ago, when Jim + got inter trouble. What with mortgages and interest, payin' up Jim's + friends and buying off some ez was set agin him, thar ain't much left, and + when I've settled that bill for the schooner lying off the Heads there I + reckon I'm about played out. But I've allus a shanty at Petalumy, and + mebbe when things is froze over and Jim gets back—you'll come and + see him—for you ain't seen him at his best.” + </p> + <p> + “I suppose his wife and children go with him?” said Breeze. + </p> + <p> + “No! He's agin it, and wants them to come later. But that's all right, for + you see she kin go back to their own house at the Mission, now that the + Vigilants are givin' up shadderin' it. So long, Mr. Breeze! We're startin' + afore daylight. Sorry you didn't see Jim in condition.” + </p> + <p> + He grasped Breeze's hand warmly and slipped out of the door softly. For an + instant Mr. Breeze felt inclined to follow him into the room and make a + kinder adieu to the pair, but the reflection that he might embarrass the + wife, who, it would seem, had purposely avoided accompanying her husband + when he entered, withheld him. And for the last few minutes he had been + doubtful if he had any right to pose as her friend. Beside the devotion of + the man who had just left him, his own scant kindness to her children + seemed ridiculous. + </p> + <p> + He went to bed, but tossed uneasily until he fancied he heard stealthy + footsteps outside his door and in the passage. Even then he thought of + getting up, dressing, and going out to bid farewell to the fugitives. But + even while he was thinking of it he fell asleep and did not wake until the + sun was shining in at his windows. + </p> + <p> + He sprang to his feet, threw on his dressing-gown, and peered into the + passage. Everything was silent. He stepped outside—the light + streamed into the hall from the open doors and windows of both rooms—the + floor was empty; not a trace of the former occupants remained. He was + turning back when his eye fell upon the battered wooden doll set upright + against his doorjamb, holding stiffly in its jointed arms a bit of paper + folded like a note. Opening it, he found a few lines written in pencil. + </p> + <p> + God bless you for your kindness to us, and try to forgive me for touching + your papers. But I thought that you would detect it, know WHY I did it, + and then help us, as you did! Good-by! + </p> + <p> + MAMIE BODINE. + </p> + <p> + Mr. Breeze laid down the paper with a slight accession of color, as if its + purport had been ironical. How little had he done compared to the devotion + of this delicate woman or the sacrifices of that rough friend! How + deserted looked this nest under the eaves, which had so long borne its + burden of guilt, innocence, shame, and suffering! For many days afterwards + he avoided it except at night, and even then he often found himself lying + awake to listen to the lost voices of the children. + </p> + <p> + But one evening, a fortnight later, he came upon Roberts in the hall. + “Well,” said Breeze, with abrupt directness, “did he get away?” + </p> + <p> + Roberts started, uttered an oath which it is possible the Recording Angel + passed to his credit, and said, “Yes, HE got away all right!” + </p> + <p> + “Why, hasn't his wife joined him?” + </p> + <p> + “No. Never, in this world, I reckon; and if anywhere in the next, I don't + want to go there!” said Roberts furiously. + </p> + <p> + “Is he dead?” + </p> + <p> + “Dead? That kind don't die!” + </p> + <p> + “What do you mean?” + </p> + <p> + Roberts's lips writhed, and then, with a strong effort, he said with + deliberate distinctness, “I mean—that the hound went off with + another woman—that—was—in—that schooner, and left + that fool Shuckster adrift in the plunger.” + </p> + <p> + “And the wife and children?” + </p> + <p> + “Shuckster sold his shanty at Petaluma to pay their passage to the States. + Good-night!” + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0007" id="link2H_4_0007"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + HOW REUBEN ALLEN “SAW LIFE” IN SAN FRANCISCO + </h2> + <p> + The junior partner of the firm of Sparlow & Kane, “Druggists and + Apothecaries,” of San Francisco, was gazing meditatively out of the corner + of the window of their little shop in Dupont Street. He could see the + dimly lit perspective of the narrow thoroughfare fade off into the level + sand wastes of Market Street on the one side, and plunge into the + half-excavated bulk of Telegraph Hill on the other. He could see the glow + and hear the rumble of Montgomery Street—the great central avenue + farther down the hill. Above the housetops was spread the warm blanket of + sea-fog under which the city was regularly laid to sleep every summer + night to the cool lullaby of the Northwest Trades. It was already + half-past eleven; footsteps on the wooden pavement were getting rarer and + more remote; the last cart had rumbled by; the shutters were up along the + street; the glare of his own red and blue jars was the only beacon left to + guide the wayfarers. Ordinarily he would have been going home at this + hour, when his partner, who occupied the surgery and a small bedroom at + the rear of the shop, always returned to relieve him. That night, however, + a professional visit would detain the “Doctor” until half-past twelve. + There was still an hour to wait. He felt drowsy; the mysterious incense of + the shop, that combined essence of drugs, spice, scented soap, and orris + root—which always reminded him of the Arabian Nights—was + affecting him. He yawned, and then, turning away, passed behind the + counter, took down a jar labeled “Glycyrr. Glabra,” selected a piece of + Spanish licorice, and meditatively sucked it. Not receiving from it that + diversion and sustenance he apparently was seeking, he also visited, in an + equally familiar manner, a jar marked “Jujubes,” and returned ruminatingly + to his previous position. + </p> + <p> + If I have not in this incident sufficiently established the youthfulness + of the junior partner, I may add briefly that he was just nineteen, that + he had early joined the emigration to California, and after one or two + previous light-hearted essays at other occupations, for which he was + singularly unfitted, he had saved enough to embark on his present venture, + still less suited to his temperament. In those adventurous days trades and + vocations were not always filled by trained workmen; it was extremely + probable that the experienced chemist was already making his success as a + gold-miner, with a lawyer and a physician for his partners, and Mr. Kane's + inexperienced position was by no means a novel one. A slight knowledge of + Latin as a written language, an American schoolboy's acquaintance with + chemistry and natural philosophy, were deemed sufficient by his partner, a + regular physician, for practical cooperation in the vending of drugs and + putting up of prescriptions. He knew the difference between acids and + alkalies and the peculiar results which attended their incautious + combination. But he was excessively deliberate, painstaking, and cautious. + The legend which adorned the desk at the counter, “Physicians' + prescriptions carefully prepared,” was more than usually true as regarded + the adverb. There was no danger of his poisoning anybody through haste or + carelessness, but it was possible that an urgent “case” might have + succumbed to the disease while he was putting up the remedy. Nor was his + caution entirely passive. In those days the “heroic” practice of medicine + was in keeping with the abnormal development of the country; there were + “record” doses of calomel and quinine, and he had once or twice incurred + the fury of local practitioners by sending back their prescriptions with a + modest query. + </p> + <p> + The far-off clatter of carriage wheels presently arrested his attention; + looking down the street, he could see the lights of a hackney carriage + advancing towards him. They had already flashed upon the open crossing a + block beyond before his vague curiosity changed into an active instinctive + presentiment that they were coming to the shop. He withdrew to a more + becoming and dignified position behind the counter as the carriage drew up + with a jerk before the door. + </p> + <p> + The driver rolled from his box and opened the carriage door to a woman + whom he assisted, between some hysterical exclamations on her part and + some equally incoherent explanations of his own, into the shop. Kane saw + at a glance that both were under the influence of liquor, and one, the + woman, was disheveled and bleeding about the head. Yet she was elegantly + dressed and evidently en fete, with one or two “tricolor” knots and + ribbons mingled with her finery. Her golden hair, matted and darkened with + blood, had partly escaped from her French bonnet and hung heavily over her + shoulders. The driver, who was supporting her roughly, and with a + familiarity that was part of the incongruous spectacle, was the first to + speak. + </p> + <p> + “Madame le Blank! ye know! Got cut about the head down at the fete at + South Park! Tried to dance upon the table, and rolled over on some + champagne bottles. See? Wants plastering up!” + </p> + <p> + “Ah brute! Hog! Nozzing of ze kine! Why will you lie? I dance! Ze cowards, + fools, traitors zere upset ze table and I fall. I am cut! Ah, my God, how + I am cut!” + </p> + <p> + She stopped suddenly and lapsed heavily against the counter. At which Kane + hurried around to support her into the surgery with the one fixed idea in + his bewildered mind of getting her out of the shop, and, suggestively, + into the domain and under the responsibility of his partner. The hackman, + apparently relieved and washing his hands of any further complicity in the + matter, nodded and smiled, and saying, “I reckon I'll wait outside, + pardner,” retreated incontinently to his vehicle. To add to Kane's + half-ludicrous embarrassment the fair patient herself slightly resisted + his support, accused the hackman of “abandoning her,” and demanded if Kane + knew “zee reason of zees affair,” yet she presently lapsed again into the + large reclining-chair which he had wheeled forward, with open mouth, + half-shut eyes, and a strange Pierrette mask of face, combined of the + pallor of faintness and chalk, and the rouge of paint and blood. At which + Kane's cautiousness again embarrassed him. A little brandy from the bottle + labeled “Vini Galli” seemed to be indicated, but his inexperience could + not determine if her relaxation was from bloodlessness or the reacting + depression of alcohol. In this dilemma he chose a medium course, with + aromatic spirits of ammonia, and mixing a diluted quantity in a + measuring-glass, poured it between her white lips. A start, a struggle, a + cough—a volley of imprecatory French, and the knocking of the glass + from his hand followed—but she came to! He quickly sponged her head + of the half-coagulated blood, and removed a few fragments of glass from a + long laceration of the scalp. The shock of the cold water and the + appearance of the ensanguined basin frightened her into a momentary + passivity. But when Kane found it necessary to cut her hair in the region + of the wound in order to apply the adhesive plaster, she again endeavored + to rise and grasp the scissors. + </p> + <p> + “You'll bleed to death if you're not quiet,” said the young man with + dogged gravity. + </p> + <p> + Something in his manner impressed her into silence again. He cut whole + locks away ruthlessly; he was determined to draw the edges of the wound + together with the strip of plaster and stop the bleeding—if he + cropped the whole head. His excessive caution for her physical condition + did not extend to her superficial adornment. Her yellow tresses lay on the + floor, her neck and shoulders were saturated with water from the sponge + which he continually applied, until the heated strips of plaster had + closed the wound almost hermetically. She whimpered, tears ran down her + cheeks; but so long as it was not blood the young man was satisfied. + </p> + <p> + In the midst of it he heard the shop door open, and presently the sound of + rapping on the counter. Another customer! + </p> + <p> + Mr. Kane called out, “Wait a moment,” and continued his ministrations. + After a pause the rapping recommenced. Kane was just securing the last + strip of plaster and preserved a preoccupied silence. Then the door flew + open abruptly and a figure appeared impatiently on the threshold. It was + that of a miner recently returned from the gold diggings—so recently + that he evidently had not had time to change his clothes at his adjacent + hotel, and stood there in his high boots, duck trousers, and flannel + shirt, over which his coat was slung like a hussar's jacket from his + shoulder. Kane would have uttered an indignant protest at the intrusion, + had not the intruder himself as quickly recoiled with an astonishment and + contrition that was beyond the effect of any reproval. He literally gasped + at the spectacle before him. A handsomely dressed woman reclining in a + chair; lace and jewelry and ribbons depending from her saturated + shoulders; tresses of golden hair filling her lap and lying on the floor; + a pail of ruddy water and a sponge at her feet, and a pale young man + bending over her head with a spirit lamp and strips of yellow plaster! + </p> + <p> + “'Scuse me, pard! I was just dropping in; don't you hurry! I kin wait,” he + stammered, falling back, and then the door closed abruptly behind him. + </p> + <p> + Kane gathered up the shorn locks, wiped the face and neck of his patient + with a clean towel and his own handkerchief, threw her gorgeous opera + cloak over her shoulders, and assisted her to rise. She did so, weakly but + obediently; she was evidently stunned and cowed in some mysterious way by + his material attitude, perhaps, or her sudden realization of her position; + at least the contrast between her aggressive entrance into the shop and + her subdued preparation for her departure was so remarkable that it + affected even Kane's preoccupation. + </p> + <p> + “There,” he said, slightly relaxing his severe demeanor with an + encouraging smile, “I think this will do; we've stopped the bleeding. It + will probably smart a little as the plaster sets closer. I can send my + partner, Dr. Sparlow, to you in the morning.” + </p> + <p> + She looked at him curiously and with a strange smile. “And zees Doctor + Sparrlow—eez he like you, M'sieu?” + </p> + <p> + “He is older, and very well known,” said the young man seriously. “I can + safely recommend him.” + </p> + <p> + “Ah,” she repeated, with a pensive smile which made Kane think her quite + pretty. “Ah—he ez older—your Doctor Sparrlow—but YOU are + strong, M'sieu.” + </p> + <p> + “And,” said Kane vaguely, “he will tell you what to do.” + </p> + <p> + “Ah,” she repeated again softly, with the same smile, “he will tell me + what to do if I shall not know myself. Dat ez good.” + </p> + <p> + Kane had already wrapped her shorn locks in a piece of spotless white + paper and tied it up with narrow white ribbon in the dainty fashion dear + to druggists' clerks. As he handed it to her she felt in her pocket and + produced a handful of gold. + </p> + <p> + “What shall I pay for zees, M'sieu?” + </p> + <p> + Kane reddened a little—solely because of his slow arithmetical + faculties. Adhesive plaster was cheap—he would like to have charged + proportionately for the exact amount he had used; but the division was + beyond him! And he lacked the trader's instinct. + </p> + <p> + “Twenty-five cents, I think,” he hazarded briefly. + </p> + <p> + She started, but smiled again. “Twenty-five cents for all zees—ze + medicine, ze strips for ze head, ze hair cut”—she glanced at the + paper parcel he had given her—“it is only twenty-five cents?” + </p> + <p> + “That's all.” + </p> + <p> + He selected from her outstretched palm, with some difficulty, the exact + amount, the smallest coin it held. She again looked at him curiously—half + confusedly—and moved slowly into the shop. The miner, who was still + there, retreated as before with a gaspingly apologetic gesture—even + flattening himself against the window to give her sweeping silk flounces + freer passage. As she passed into the street with a “Merci, M'sieu, good + a'night,” and the hackman started from the vehicle to receive her, the + miner drew a long breath, and bringing his fist down upon the counter, + ejaculated,— + </p> + <p> + “B'gosh! She's a stunner!” + </p> + <p> + Kane, a good deal relieved at her departure and the success of his + ministration, smiled benignly. + </p> + <p> + The stranger again stared after the retreating carriage, looked around the + shop, and even into the deserted surgery, and approached the counter + confidentially. “Look yer, pardner. I kem straight from St. Jo, Mizzorri, + to Gold Hill—whar I've got a claim—and I reckon this is the + first time I ever struck San Francisker. I ain't up to towny ways nohow, + and I allow that mebbe I'm rather green. So we'll let that pass! Now look + yer!” he added, leaning over the counter with still deeper and even + mysterious confidence, “I suppose this yer kind o' thing is the regular go + here, eh? nothin' new to YOU! in course no! But to me, pard, it's just + fetchin' me! Lifts me clear outer my boots every time! Why, when I popped + into that thar room, and saw that lady—all gold, furbelows, and + spangles—at twelve o'clock at night, sittin' in that cheer and you + a-cuttin' her h'r and swabbin' her head o' blood, and kinder prospectin' + for 'indications,' so to speak, and doin' it so kam and indifferent like, + I sez to myself, 'Rube, Rube,' sez I, 'this yer's life! city life! San + Francisker life! and b'gosh, you've dropped into it! Now, pard, look yar! + don't you answer, ye know, ef it ain't square and above board for me to + know; I ain't askin' you to give the show away, ye know, in the matter of + high-toned ladies like that, but” (very mysteriously, and sinking his + voice to the lowest confidential pitch, as he put his hand to his ear as + if to catch the hushed reply), “what mout hev bin happening, pard?” + </p> + <p> + Considerably amused at the man's simplicity, Kane replied good-humoredly: + “Danced among some champagne bottles on a table at a party, fell and got + cut by glass.” + </p> + <p> + The stranger nodded his head slowly and approvingly as he repeated with + infinite deliberateness: “Danced on champagne bottles, champagne! you + said, pard? at a pahty! Yes!” (musingly and approvingly). “I reckon that's + about the gait they take. SHE'D do it.” + </p> + <p> + “Is there anything I can do for you? sorry to have kept you waiting,” said + Kane, glancing at the clock. + </p> + <p> + “O ME! Lord! ye needn't mind me. Why, I should wait for anythin' o' the + like o' that, and be just proud to do it! And ye see, I sorter helped + myself while you war busy.” + </p> + <p> + “Helped yourself?” said Kane in astonishment. + </p> + <p> + “Yes, outer that bottle.” He pointed to the ammonia bottle, which still + stood on the counter. “It seemed to be handy and popular.” + </p> + <p> + “Man! you might have poisoned yourself.” + </p> + <p> + The stranger paused a moment at the idea. “So I mout, I reckon,” he said + musingly, “that's so! pizined myself jest ez you was lookin' arter that + high-toned case, and kinder bothered you! It's like me!” + </p> + <p> + “I mean it required diluting; you ought to have taken it in water,” said + Kane. + </p> + <p> + “I reckon! It DID sorter h'ist me over to the door for a little fresh air + at first! seemed rayther scaldy to the lips. But wot of it that GOT THAR,” + he put his hand gravely to his stomach, “did me pow'ful good.” + </p> + <p> + “What was the matter with you?” asked Kane. + </p> + <p> + “Well, ye see, pard” (confidentially again), “I reckon it's suthin' along + o' my heart. Times it gets to poundin' away like a quartz stamp, and then + it stops suddent like, and kinder leaves ME out too.” + </p> + <p> + Kane looked at him more attentively. He was a strong, powerfully built man + with a complexion that betrayed nothing more serious than the effects of + mining cookery. It was evidently a common case of indigestion. + </p> + <p> + “I don't say it would not have done you some good if properly + administered,” he replied. “If you like I'll put up a diluted quantity and + directions?” + </p> + <p> + “That's me, every time, pardner!” said the stranger with an accent of + relief. “And look yer, don't you stop at that! Ye just put me up some + samples like of anythin' you think mout be likely to hit. I'll go in for a + fair show, and then meander in every now and then, betwixt times, to let + you know. Ye don't mind my drifting in here, do ye? It's about ez likely a + place ez I struck since I've left the Sacramento boat, and my hotel, just + round the corner. Ye just sample me a bit o' everythin'; don't mind the + expense. I'll take YOUR word for it. The way you—a young fellow—jest + stuck to your work in thar, cool and kam as a woodpecker—not minding + how high-toned she was—nor the jewelery and spangles she had on—jest + got me! I sez to myself, 'Rube,' sez I, 'whatever's wrong o' YOUR insides, + you jest stick to that feller to set ye right.'” + </p> + <p> + The junior partner's face reddened as he turned to his shelves ostensibly + for consultation. Conscious of his inexperience, the homely praise of even + this ignorant man was not ungrateful. He felt, too, that his treatment of + the Frenchwoman, though successful, might not be considered remunerative + from a business point of view by his partner. He accordingly acted upon + the suggestion of the stranger and put up two or three specifics for + dyspepsia. They were received with grateful alacrity and the casual + display of considerable gold in the stranger's pocket in the process of + payment. He was evidently a successful miner. + </p> + <p> + After bestowing the bottles carefully about his person, he again leaned + confidentially towards Kane. “I reckon of course you know this high-toned + lady, being in the way of seein' that kind o' folks. I suppose you won't + mind telling me, ez a stranger. But” (he added hastily, with a deprecatory + wave of his hand), “perhaps ye would.” + </p> + <p> + Mr. Kane, in fact, had hesitated. He knew vaguely and by report that + Madame le Blanc was the proprietress of a famous restaurant, over which + she had rooms where private gambling was carried on to a great extent. It + was also alleged that she was protected by a famous gambler and a somewhat + notorious bully. Mr. Kane's caution suggested that he had no right to + expose the reputation of his chance customer. He was silent. + </p> + <p> + The stranger's face became intensely sympathetic and apologetic. “I see!—not + another word, pard! It ain't the square thing to be givin' her away, and I + oughtn't to hev asked. Well—so long! I reckon I'll jest drift back + to the hotel. I ain't been in San Francisker mor' 'n three hours, and I + calkilate, pard, that I've jest seen about ez square a sample of + high-toned life as fellers ez haz bin here a year. Well, hastermanyanner—ez + the Greasers say. I'll be droppin' in to-morrow. My name's Reuben Allen o' + Mariposa. I know yours; it's on the sign, and it ain't Sparlow.” + </p> + <p> + He cast another lingering glance around the shop, as if loath to leave it, + and then slowly sauntered out of the door, pausing in the street a moment, + in the glare of the red light, before he faded into darkness. Without + knowing exactly why, Kane had an instinct that the stranger knew no one in + San Francisco, and after leaving the shop was going into utter silence and + obscurity. + </p> + <p> + A few moments later Dr. Sparlow returned to relieve his wearied partner. A + pushing, active man, he listened impatiently to Kane's account of his + youthful practice with Madame le Blanc, without, however, dwelling much on + his methods. “You ought to have charged her more,” the elder said + decisively. “She'd have paid it. She only came here because she was + ashamed to go to a big shop in Montgomery Street—and she won't come + again.” + </p> + <p> + “But she wants you to see her to-morrow,” urged Kane, “and I told her you + would!” + </p> + <p> + “You say it was only a superficial cut?” queried the doctor, “and you + closed it? Umph! what can she want to see ME for?” He paid more attention, + however, to the case of the stranger, Allen. “When he comes here again, + manage to let me see him.” Mr. Kane promised, yet for some indefinable + reason he went home that night not quite as well satisfied with himself. + </p> + <p> + He was much more concerned the next morning when, after relieving the + doctor for his regular morning visits, he was startled an hour later by + the abrupt return of that gentleman. His face was marked by some + excitement and anxiety, which nevertheless struggled with that sense of + the ludicrous which Californians in those days imported into most + situations of perplexity or catastrophe. Putting his hands deeply into his + trousers pockets, he confronted his youthful partner behind the counter. + </p> + <p> + “How much did you charge that French-woman?” he said gravely. + </p> + <p> + “Twenty-five cents,” said Kane timidly. + </p> + <p> + “Well, I'd give it back and add two hundred and fifty dollars if she had + never entered the shop.” + </p> + <p> + “What's the matter?” + </p> + <p> + “Her head will be—and a mass of it, in a day, I reckon! Why, man, + you put enough plaster on it to clothe and paper the dome of the Capitol! + You drew her scalp together so that she couldn't shut her eyes without + climbing up the bed-post! You mowed her hair off so that she'll have to + wear a wig for the next two years—and handed it to her in a + beau-ti-ful sealed package! They talk of suing me and killing you out of + hand.” + </p> + <p> + “She was bleeding a great deal and looked faint,” said the junior partner; + “I thought I ought to stop that.” + </p> + <p> + “And you did—by thunder! Though it might have been better business + for the shop if I'd found her a crumbling ruin here, than lathed and + plastered in this fashion, over there! However,” he added, with a laugh, + seeing an angry light in his junior partner's eye, “SHE don't seem to mind + it—the cursing all comes from THEM. SHE rather likes your style and + praises it—that's what gets me! Did you talk to her much,” he added, + looking critically at his partner. + </p> + <p> + “I only told her to sit still or she'd bleed to death,” said Kane curtly. + </p> + <p> + “Humph!—she jabbered something about your being 'strong' and knowing + just how to handle her. Well, it can't be helped now. I think I came in + time for the worst of it and have drawn their fire. Don't do it again. The + next time a woman with a cut head and long hair tackles you, fill up her + scalp with lint and tannin, and pack her off to some of the big shops and + make THEM pick it out.” And with a good-humored nod he started off to + finish his interrupted visits. + </p> + <p> + With a vague sense of remorse, and yet a consciousness of some injustice + done him, Mr. Kane resumed his occupation with filters and funnels, and + mortars and triturations. He was so gloomily preoccupied that he did not, + as usual, glance out of the window, or he would have observed the mining + stranger of the previous night before it. It was not until the man's bowed + shoulders blocked the light of the doorway that he looked up and + recognized him. Kane was in no mood to welcome his appearance. His + presence, too, actively recalled the last night's adventure of which he + was a witness—albeit a sympathizing one. Kane shrank from the + illusions which he felt he would be sure to make. And with his present ill + luck, he was by no means sure that his ministrations even to HIM had been + any more successful than they had been to the Frenchwoman. But a glance at + his good-humored face and kindling eyes removed that suspicion. + Nevertheless, he felt somewhat embarrassed and impatient, and perhaps + could not entirely conceal it. He forgot that the rudest natures are + sometimes the most delicately sensitive to slights, and the stranger had + noticed his manner and began apologetically. + </p> + <p> + “I allowed I'd just drop in anyway to tell ye that these thar pills you + giv' me did me a heap o' good so far—though mebbe it's only fair to + give the others a show too, which I'm reckoning to do.” He paused, and + then in a submissive confidence went on: “But first I wanted to hev you + excuse me for havin' asked all them questions about that high-toned lady + last night, when it warn't none of my business. I am a darned fool.” + </p> + <p> + Mr. Kane instantly saw that it was no use to keep up his attitude of + secrecy, or impose upon the ignorant, simple man, and said hurriedly: “Oh + no. The lady is very well known. She is the proprietress of a restaurant + down the street—a house open to everybody. Her name is Madame le + Blanc; you may have heard of her before?” + </p> + <p> + To his surprise the man exhibited no diminution of interest nor change of + sentiment at this intelligence. “Then,” he said slowly, “I reckon I might + get to see her again. Ye see, Mr. Kane, I rather took a fancy to her + general style and gait—arter seein' her in that fix last night. It + was rather like them play pictures on the stage. Ye don't think she'd make + any fuss to seein' a rough old 'forty-niner' like me?” + </p> + <p> + “Hardly,” said Kane, “but there might be some objection from her gentlemen + friends,” he added, with a smile,—“Jack Lane, a gambler, who keeps a + faro bank in her rooms, and Jimmy O'Ryan, a prize-fighter, who is one of + her 'chuckers out.'” + </p> + <p> + His further relation of Madame le Blanc's entourage apparently gave the + miner no concern. He looked at Kane, nodded, and repeated slowly and + appreciatively: “Yes, keeps a gamblin' and faro bank and a prize-fighter—I + reckon that might be about her gait and style too. And you say she lives”— + </p> + <p> + He stopped, for at this moment a man entered the shop quickly, shut the + door behind him, and turned the key in the lock. It was done so quickly + that Kane instinctively felt that the man had been loitering in the + vicinity and had approached from the side street. A single glance at the + intruder's face and figure showed him that it was the bully of whom he had + just spoken. He had seen that square, brutal face once before, confronting + the police in a riot, and had not forgotten it. But today, with the flush + of liquor on it, it had an impatient awkwardness and confused + embarrassment that he could not account for. He did not comprehend that + the genuine bully is seldom deliberate of attack, and is obliged—in + common with many of the combative lower animals—to lash himself into + a previous fury of provocation. This probably saved him, as perhaps some + instinctive feeling that he was in no immediate danger kept him cool. He + remained standing quietly behind the counter. Allen glanced around + carelessly, looking at the shelves. + </p> + <p> + The silence of the two men apparently increased the ruffian's rage and + embarrassment. Suddenly he leaped into the air with a whoop and clumsily + executed a negro double shuffle on the floor, which jarred the glasses—yet + was otherwise so singularly ineffective and void of purpose that he + stopped in the midst of it and had to content himself with glaring at + Kane. + </p> + <p> + “Well,” said Kane quietly, “what does all this mean? What do you want + here?” + </p> + <p> + “What does it mean?” repeated the bully, finding his voice in a high + falsetto, designed to imitate Kane's. “It means I'm going to play merry + h-ll with this shop! It means I'm goin' to clean it out and the blank + hair-cuttin' blank that keeps it. What do I want here? Well—what I + want I intend to help myself to, and all h-ll can't stop me! And” (working + himself to the striking point) “who the blank are you to ask me?” He + sprang towards the counter, but at the same moment Allen seemed to slip + almost imperceptibly and noiselessly between them, and Kane found himself + confronted only by the miner's broad back. + </p> + <p> + “Hol' yer hosses, stranger,” said Allen slowly, as the ruffian suddenly + collided with his impassive figure. “I'm a sick man comin' in yer for + medicine. I've got somethin' wrong with my heart, and goin's on like this + yer kinder sets it to thumpin'.” + </p> + <p> + “Blank you and your blank heart!” screamed the bully, turning in a fury of + amazement and contempt at this impotent interruption. “Who”—but his + voice stopped. Allen's powerful right arm had passed over his head and + shoulders like a steel hoop, and pinioned his elbows against his sides. + Held rigidly upright, he attempted to kick, but Allen's right leg here + advanced, and firmly held his lower limbs against the counter that shook + to his struggles and blasphemous outcries. Allen turned quietly to Kane, + and, with a gesture of his unemployed arm, said confidentially: + </p> + <p> + “Would ye mind passing me down that ar Romantic Spirits of Ammonyer ye + gave me last night?” + </p> + <p> + Kane caught the idea, and handed him the bottle. + </p> + <p> + “Thar,” said Allen, taking out the stopper and holding the pungent spirit + against the bully's dilated nostrils and vociferous mouth, “thar, smell + that, and taste it, it will do ye good; it was powerful kammin' to ME last + night.” + </p> + <p> + The ruffian gasped, coughed, choked, but his blaspheming voice died away + in a suffocating hiccough. + </p> + <p> + “Thar,” continued Allen, as his now subdued captive relaxed his + struggling, “ye 'r' better, and so am I. It's quieter here now, and ye + ain't affectin' my heart so bad. A little fresh air will make us both all + right.” He turned again to Kane in his former subdued confidential manner. + </p> + <p> + “Would ye mind openin' that door?” + </p> + <p> + Kane flew to the door, unlocked it, and held it wide open. The bully again + began to struggle, but a second inhalation of the hartshorn quelled him, + and enabled his captor to drag him to the door. As they emerged upon the + sidewalk, the bully, with a final desperate struggle, freed his arm and + grasped his pistol at his hip-pocket, but at the same moment Allen + deliberately caught his hand, and with a powerful side throw cast him on + the pavement, retaining the weapon in his own hand. “I've one of my own,” + he said to the prostrate man, “but I reckon I'll keep this yer too, until + you're better.” + </p> + <p> + The crowd that had collected quickly, recognizing the notorious and + discomfited bully, were not of a class to offer him any sympathy, and he + slunk away followed by their jeers. Allen returned quietly to the shop. + Kane was profuse in his thanks, and yet oppressed with his simple friend's + fatuous admiration for a woman who could keep such ruffians in her employ. + “You know who that man was, I suppose?” he said. + </p> + <p> + “I reckon it was that 'er prize-fighter belongin' to that high-toned + lady,” returned Allen simply. “But he don't know anything about RASTLIN', + b'gosh; only that I was afraid o' bringin' on that heart trouble, I mout + hev hurt him bad.” + </p> + <p> + “They think”—hesitated Kane, “that—I—was rough in my + treatment of that woman and maliciously cut off her hair. This attack was + revenge—or”—he hesitated still more, as he remembered Dr. + Sparlow's indication of the woman's feeling—“or that bully's idea of + revenge.” + </p> + <p> + “I see,” nodded Allen, opening his small sympathetic eyes on Kane with an + exasperating air of secrecy—“just jealousy.” + </p> + <p> + Kane reddened in sheer hopelessness of explanation. “No; it was earning + his wages, as he thought.” + </p> + <p> + “Never ye mind, pard,” said Allen confidentially. “I'll set 'em both + right. Ye see, this sorter gives me a show to call at that thar restaurant + and give HIM back his six-shooter, and set her on the right trail for you. + Why, Lordy! I was here when you was fixin' her—I'm testimony o' the + way you did it—and she'll remember me. I'll sorter waltz round thar + this afternoon. But I reckon I won't be keepin' YOU from your work any + longer. And look yar!—I say, pard!—this is seein' life in + 'Frisco—ain't it? Gosh! I've had more high times in this very shop + in two days, than I've had in two years of St. Jo. So long, Mr. Kane!” He + waved his hand, lounged slowly out of the shop, gave a parting glance up + the street, passed the window, and was gone. + </p> + <p> + The next day being a half-holiday for Kane, he did not reach the shop + until afternoon. “Your mining friend Allen has been here,” said Doctor + Sparlow. “I took the liberty of introducing myself, and induced him to let + me carefully examine him. He was a little shy, and I am sorry for it, as I + fear he has some serious organic trouble with his heart and ought to have + a more thorough examination.” Seeing Kane's unaffected concern, he added, + “You might influence him to do so. He's a good fellow and ought to take + some care of himself. By the way, he told me to tell you that he'd seen + Madame le Blanc and made it all right about you. He seems to be quite + infatuated with the woman.” + </p> + <p> + “I'm sorry he ever saw her,” said Kane bitterly. + </p> + <p> + “Well, his seeing her seems to have saved the shop from being smashed up, + and you from getting a punched head,” returned the Doctor with a laugh. + “He's no fool—yet it's a freak of human nature that a simple hayseed + like that—a man who's lived in the backwoods all his life, is likely + to be the first to tumble before a pot of French rouge like her.” + </p> + <p> + Indeed, in a couple of weeks, there was no further doubt of Mr. Reuben + Allen's infatuation. He dropped into the shop frequently on his way to and + from the restaurant, where he now regularly took his meals; he spent his + evenings in gambling in its private room. Yet Kane was by no means sure + that he was losing his money there unfairly, or that he was used as a + pigeon by the proprietress and her friends. The bully O'Ryan was turned + away; Sparlow grimly suggested that Allen had simply taken his place, but + Kane ingeniously retorted that the Doctor was only piqued because Allen + had evaded his professional treatment. Certainly the patient had never + consented to another examination, although he repeatedly and gravely + bought medicines, and was a generous customer. Once or twice Kane thought + it his duty to caution Allen against his new friends and enlighten him as + to Madame le Blanc's reputation, but his suggestions were received with a + good-humored submission that was either the effect of unbelief or of + perfect resignation to the fact, and he desisted. One morning Dr. Sparlow + said cheerfully:— + </p> + <p> + “Would you like to hear the last thing about your friend and the + Frenchwoman? The boys can't account for her singling out a fellow like + that for her friend, so they say that the night that she cut herself at + the fete and dropped in here for assistance, she found nobody here but + Allen—a chance customer! That it was HE who cut off her hair and + bound up her wounds in that sincere fashion, and she believed he had saved + her life.” The Doctor grinned maliciously as he added: “And as that's the + way history is written you see your reputation is safe.” + </p> + <p> + It may have been a month later that San Francisco was thrown into a + paroxysm of horror and indignation over the assassination of a prominent + citizen and official in the gambling-rooms of Madame le Blanc, at the + hands of a notorious gambler. The gambler had escaped, but in one of those + rare spasms of vengeful morality which sometimes overtakes communities who + have too long winked at and suffered the existence of evil, the fair + proprietress and her whole entourage were arrested and haled before the + coroner's jury at the inquest. The greatest excitement prevailed; it was + said that if the jury failed in their duty, the Vigilance Committee had + arranged for the destruction of the establishment and the deportation of + its inmates. The crowd that had collected around the building was + reinforced by Kane and Dr. Sparlow, who had closed their shop in the next + block to attend. When Kane had fought his way into the building and the + temporary court, held in the splendidly furnished gambling saloon, whose + gilded mirrors reflected the eager faces of the crowd, the Chief of Police + was giving his testimony in a formal official manner, impressive only for + its relentless and impassive revelation of the character and antecedents + of the proprietress. The house had been long under the espionage of the + police; Madame le Blanc had a dozen aliases; she was “wanted” in New + Orleans, in New York, in Havana! It was in HER house that Dyer, the bank + clerk, committed suicide; it was there that Colonel Hooley was set upon by + her bully, O'Ryan; it was she—Kane heard with reddening cheeks—who + defied the police with riotous conduct at a fete two months ago. As he + coolly recited the counts of this shameful indictment, Kane looked eagerly + around for Allen, whom he knew had been arrested as a witness. How would + HE take this terrible disclosure? He was sitting with the others, his arm + thrown over the back of his chair, and his good-humored face turned + towards the woman, in his old confidential attitude. SHE, gorgeously + dressed, painted, but unblushing, was cool, collected, and cynical. + </p> + <p> + The Coroner next called the only witness of the actual tragedy, “Reuben + Allen.” The man did not move nor change his position. The summons was + repeated; a policeman touched him on the shoulder. There was a pause, and + the officer announced: “He has fainted, your Honor!” + </p> + <p> + “Is there a physician present?” asked the Coroner. + </p> + <p> + Sparlow edged his way quickly to the front. “I'm a medical man,” he said + to the Coroner, as he passed quickly to the still, upright, immovable + figure and knelt beside it with his head upon his heart. There was an awed + silence as, after a pause, he rose slowly to his feet. + </p> + <p> + “The witness is a patient, your Honor, whom I examined some weeks ago and + found suffering from valvular disease of the heart. He is dead.” + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0008" id="link2H_4_0008"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + THREE VAGABONDS OF TRINIDAD + </h2> + <p> + “Oh! it's you, is it?” said the Editor. + </p> + <p> + The Chinese boy to whom the colloquialism was addressed answered + literally, after his habit:— + </p> + <p> + “Allee same Li Tee; me no changee. Me no ollee China boy.” + </p> + <p> + “That's so,” said the Editor with an air of conviction. “I don't suppose + there's another imp like you in all Trinidad County. Well, next time don't + scratch outside there like a gopher, but come in.” + </p> + <p> + “Lass time,” suggested Li Tee blandly, “me tap tappee. You no like tap + tappee. You say, alle same dam woodpeckel.” + </p> + <p> + It was quite true—the highly sylvan surroundings of the Trinidad + “Sentinel” office—a little clearing in a pine forest—and its + attendant fauna, made these signals confusing. An accurate imitation of a + woodpecker was also one of Li Tee's accomplishments. + </p> + <p> + The Editor without replying finished the note he was writing; at which Li + Tee, as if struck by some coincident recollection, lifted up his long + sleeve, which served him as a pocket, and carelessly shook out a letter on + the table like a conjuring trick. The Editor, with a reproachful glance at + him, opened it. It was only the ordinary request of an agricultural + subscriber—one Johnson—that the Editor would “notice” a giant + radish grown by the subscriber and sent by the bearer. + </p> + <p> + “Where's the radish, Li Tee?” said the Editor suspiciously. + </p> + <p> + “No hab got. Ask Mellikan boy.” + </p> + <p> + “What?” + </p> + <p> + Here Li Tee condescended to explain that on passing the schoolhouse he had + been set upon by the schoolboys, and that in the struggle the big radish—being, + like most such monstrosities of the quick Californian soil, merely a mass + of organized water—was “mashed” over the head of some of his + assailants. The Editor, painfully aware of these regular persecutions of + his errand boy, and perhaps realizing that a radish which could not be + used as a bludgeon was not of a sustaining nature, forebore any reproof. + “But I cannot notice what I haven't seen, Li Tee,” he said good-humoredly. + </p> + <p> + “S'pose you lie—allee same as Johnson,” suggested Li with equal + cheerfulness. “He foolee you with lotten stuff—you foolee Mellikan + man, allee same.” + </p> + <p> + The Editor preserved a dignified silence until he had addressed his + letter. “Take this to Mrs. Martin,” he said, handing it to the boy; “and + mind you keep clear of the schoolhouse. Don't go by the Flat either if the + men are at work, and don't, if you value your skin, pass Flanigan's + shanty, where you set off those firecrackers and nearly burnt him out the + other day. Look out for Barker's dog at the crossing, and keep off the + main road if the tunnel men are coming over the hill.” Then remembering + that he had virtually closed all the ordinary approaches to Mrs. Martin's + house, he added, “Better go round by the woods, where you won't meet ANY + ONE.” + </p> + <p> + The boy darted off through the open door, and the Editor stood for a + moment looking regretfully after him. He liked his little protege ever + since that unfortunate child—a waif from a Chinese wash-house—was + impounded by some indignant miners for bringing home a highly imperfect + and insufficient washing, and kept as hostage for a more proper return of + the garments. Unfortunately, another gang of miners, equally aggrieved, + had at the same time looted the wash-house and driven off the occupants, + so that Li Tee remained unclaimed. For a few weeks he became a sporting + appendage of the miners' camp; the stolid butt of good-humored practical + jokes, the victim alternately of careless indifference or of extravagant + generosity. He received kicks and half-dollars intermittently, and + pocketed both with stoical fortitude. But under this treatment he + presently lost the docility and frugality which was part of his + inheritance, and began to put his small wits against his tormentors, until + they grew tired of their own mischief and his. But they knew not what to + do with him. His pretty nankeen-yellow skin debarred him from the white + “public school,” while, although as a heathen he might have reasonably + claimed attention from the Sabbath-school, the parents who cheerfully gave + their contributions to the heathen ABROAD, objected to him as a companion + of their children in the church at home. At this juncture the Editor + offered to take him into his printing office as a “devil.” For a while he + seemed to be endeavoring, in his old literal way, to act up to that title. + He inked everything but the press. He scratched Chinese characters of an + abusive import on “leads,” printed them, and stuck them about the office; + he put “punk” in the foreman's pipe, and had been seen to swallow small + type merely as a diabolical recreation. As a messenger he was fleet of + foot, but uncertain of delivery. Some time previously the Editor had + enlisted the sympathies of Mrs. Martin, the good-natured wife of a farmer, + to take him in her household on trial, but on the third day Li Tee had run + away. Yet the Editor had not despaired, and it was to urge her to a second + attempt that he dispatched that letter. + </p> + <p> + He was still gazing abstractedly into the depths of the wood when he was + conscious of a slight movement—but no sound—in a clump of + hazel near him, and a stealthy figure glided from it. He at once + recognized it as “Jim,” a well-known drunken Indian vagrant of the + settlement—tied to its civilization by the single link of “fire + water,” for which he forsook equally the Reservation where it was + forbidden and his own camps where it was unknown. Unconscious of his + silent observer, he dropped upon all fours, with his ear and nose + alternately to the ground like some tracking animal. Then having satisfied + himself, he rose, and bending forward in a dogged trot, made a straight + line for the woods. He was followed a few seconds later by his dog—a + slinking, rough, wolf-like brute, whose superior instinct, however, made + him detect the silent presence of some alien humanity in the person of the + Editor, and to recognize it with a yelp of habit, anticipatory of the + stone that he knew was always thrown at him. + </p> + <p> + “That's cute,” said a voice, “but it's just what I expected all along.” + </p> + <p> + The Editor turned quickly. His foreman was standing behind him, and had + evidently noticed the whole incident. + </p> + <p> + “It's what I allus said,” continued the man. “That boy and that Injin are + thick as thieves. Ye can't see one without the other—and they've got + their little tricks and signals by which they follow each other. T'other + day when you was kalkilatin' Li Tee was doin' your errands I tracked him + out on the marsh, just by followin' that ornery, pizenous dog o' Jim's. + There was the whole caboodle of 'em—including Jim—campin' out, + and eatin' raw fish that Jim had ketched, and green stuff they had both + sneaked outer Johnson's garden. Mrs. Martin may TAKE him, but she won't + keep him long while Jim's round. What makes Li foller that blamed old + Injin soaker, and what makes Jim, who, at least, is a 'Merican, take up + with a furrin' heathen, just gets me.” + </p> + <p> + The Editor did not reply. He had heard something of this before. Yet, + after all, why should not these equal outcasts of civilization cling + together! + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + Li Tee's stay with Mrs. Martin was brief. His departure was hastened by an + untoward event—apparently ushered in, as in the case of other great + calamities, by a mysterious portent in the sky. One morning an + extraordinary bird of enormous dimensions was seen approaching from the + horizon, and eventually began to hover over the devoted town. Careful + scrutiny of this ominous fowl, however, revealed the fact that it was a + monstrous Chinese kite, in the shape of a flying dragon. The spectacle + imparted considerable liveliness to the community, which, however, + presently changed to some concern and indignation. It appeared that the + kite was secretly constructed by Li Tee in a secluded part of Mrs. + Martin's clearing, but when it was first tried by him he found that + through some error of design it required a tail of unusual proportions. + This he hurriedly supplied by the first means he found—Mrs. Martin's + clothes-line, with part of the weekly wash depending from it. This fact + was not at first noticed by the ordinary sightseer, although the tail + seemed peculiar—yet, perhaps, not more peculiar than a dragon's tail + ought to be. But when the actual theft was discovered and reported through + the town, a vivacious interest was created, and spy-glasses were used to + identify the various articles of apparel still hanging on that ravished + clothes-line. These garments, in the course of their slow disengagement + from the clothes-pins through the gyrations of the kite, impartially + distributed themselves over the town—one of Mrs. Martin's stockings + falling upon the veranda of the Polka Saloon, and the other being + afterwards discovered on the belfry of the First Methodist Church—to + the scandal of the congregation. It would have been well if the result of + Li Tee's invention had ended here. Alas! the kite-flyer and his + accomplice, “Injin Jim,” were tracked by means of the kite's tell-tale + cord to a lonely part of the marsh and rudely dispossessed of their charge + by Deacon Hornblower and a constable. Unfortunately, the captors + overlooked the fact that the kite-flyers had taken the precaution of + making a “half-turn” of the stout cord around a log to ease the tremendous + pull of the kite—whose power the captors had not reckoned upon—and + the Deacon incautiously substituted his own body for the log. A singular + spectacle is said to have then presented itself to the on-lookers. The + Deacon was seen to be running wildly by leaps and bounds over the marsh + after the kite, closely followed by the constable in equally wild efforts + to restrain him by tugging at the end of the line. The extraordinary race + continued to the town until the constable fell, losing his hold of the + line. This seemed to impart a singular specific levity to the Deacon, who, + to the astonishment of everybody, incontinently sailed up into a tree! + When he was succored and cut down from the demoniac kite, he was found to + have sustained a dislocation of the shoulder, and the constable was + severely shaken. By that one infelicitous stroke the two outcasts made an + enemy of the Law and the Gospel as represented in Trinidad County. It is + to be feared also that the ordinary emotional instinct of a frontier + community, to which they were now simply abandoned, was as little to be + trusted. In this dilemma they disappeared from the town the next day—no + one knew where. A pale blue smoke rising from a lonely island in the bay + for some days afterwards suggested their possible refuge. But nobody + greatly cared. The sympathetic mediation of the Editor was + characteristically opposed by Mr. Parkin Skinner, a prominent citizen:— + </p> + <p> + “It's all very well for you to talk sentiment about niggers, Chinamen, and + Injins, and you fellers can laugh about the Deacon being snatched up to + heaven like Elijah in that blamed Chinese chariot of a kite—but I + kin tell you, gentlemen, that this is a white man's country! Yes, sir, you + can't get over it! The nigger of every description—yeller, brown, or + black, call him 'Chinese,' 'Injin,' or 'Kanaka,' or what you like—hez + to clar off of God's footstool when the Anglo-Saxon gets started! It + stands to reason that they can't live alongside o' printin' presses, + M'Cormick's reapers, and the Bible! Yes, sir! the Bible; and Deacon + Hornblower kin prove it to you. It's our manifest destiny to clar them out—that's + what we was put here for—and it's just the work we've got to do!” + </p> + <p> + I have ventured to quote Mr. Skinner's stirring remarks to show that + probably Jim and Li Tee ran away only in anticipation of a possible + lynching, and to prove that advanced sentiments of this high and ennobling + nature really obtained forty years ago in an ordinary American frontier + town which did not then dream of Expansion and Empire! + </p> + <p> + Howbeit, Mr. Skinner did not make allowance for mere human nature. One + morning Master Bob Skinner, his son, aged twelve, evaded the schoolhouse, + and started in an old Indian “dug-out” to invade the island of the + miserable refugees. His purpose was not clearly defined to himself, but + was to be modified by circumstances. He would either capture Li Tee and + Jim, or join them in their lawless existence. He had prepared himself for + either event by surreptitiously borrowing his father's gun. He also + carried victuals, having heard that Jim ate grasshoppers and Li Tee rats, + and misdoubting his own capacity for either diet. He paddled slowly, well + in shore, to be secure from observation at home, and then struck out + boldly in his leaky canoe for the island—a tufted, tussocky shred of + the marshy promontory torn off in some tidal storm. It was a lovely day, + the bay being barely ruffled by the afternoon “trades;” but as he neared + the island he came upon the swell from the bar and the thunders of the + distant Pacific, and grew a little frightened. The canoe, losing way, fell + into the trough of the swell, shipping salt water, still more alarming to + the prairie-bred boy. Forgetting his plan of a stealthy invasion, he + shouted lustily as the helpless and water-logged boat began to drift past + the island; at which a lithe figure emerged from the reeds, threw off a + tattered blanket, and slipped noiselessly, like some animal, into the + water. It was Jim, who, half wading, half swimming, brought the canoe and + boy ashore. Master Skinner at once gave up the idea of invasion, and + concluded to join the refugees. + </p> + <p> + This was easy in his defenceless state, and his manifest delight in their + rude encampment and gypsy life, although he had been one of Li Tee's + oppressors in the past. But that stolid pagan had a philosophical + indifference which might have passed for Christian forgiveness, and Jim's + native reticence seemed like assent. And, possibly, in the minds of these + two vagabonds there might have been a natural sympathy for this other + truant from civilization, and some delicate flattery in the fact that + Master Skinner was not driven out, but came of his own accord. Howbeit, + they fished together, gathered cranberries on the marsh, shot a wild duck + and two plovers, and when Master Skinner assisted in the cooking of their + fish in a conical basket sunk in the ground, filled with water, heated by + rolling red-hot stones from their drift-wood fire into the buried basket, + the boy's felicity was supreme. And what an afternoon! To lie, after this + feast, on their bellies in the grass, replete like animals, hidden from + everything but the sunshine above them; so quiet that gray clouds of + sandpipers settled fearlessly around them, and a shining brown muskrat + slipped from the ooze within a few feet of their faces—was to feel + themselves a part of the wild life in earth and sky. Not that their own + predatory instincts were hushed by this divine peace; that intermitting + black spot upon the water, declared by the Indian to be a seal, the + stealthy glide of a yellow fox in the ambush of a callow brood of + mallards, the momentary straying of an elk from the upland upon the + borders of the marsh, awoke their tingling nerves to the happy but + fruitless chase. And when night came, too soon, and they pigged together + around the warm ashes of their camp-fire, under the low lodge poles of + their wigwam of dried mud, reeds, and driftwood, with the combined odors + of fish, wood-smoke, and the warm salt breath of the marsh in their + nostrils, they slept contentedly. The distant lights of the settlement + went out one by one, the stars came out, very large and very silent, to + take their places. The barking of a dog on the nearest point was followed + by another farther inland. But Jim's dog, curled at the feet of his + master, did not reply. What had HE to do with civilization? + </p> + <p> + The morning brought some fear of consequences to Master Skinner, but no + abatement of his resolve not to return. But here he was oddly combated by + Li Tee. “S'pose you go back allee same. You tellee fam'lee canoe go + topside down—you plentee swimee to bush. Allee night in bush. Housee + big way off—how can get? Sabe?” + </p> + <p> + “And I'll leave the gun, and tell Dad that when the canoe upset the gun + got drowned,” said the boy eagerly. + </p> + <p> + Li Tee nodded. + </p> + <p> + “And come again Saturday, and bring more powder and shot and a bottle for + Jim,” said Master Skinner excitedly. + </p> + <p> + “Good!” grunted the Indian. + </p> + <p> + Then they ferried the boy over to the peninsula, and set him on a trail + across the marshes, known only to themselves, which would bring him home. + And when the Editor the next morning chronicled among his news, “Adrift on + the Bay—A Schoolboy's Miraculous Escape,” he knew as little what + part his missing Chinese errand boy had taken in it as the rest of his + readers. + </p> + <p> + Meantime the two outcasts returned to their island camp. It may have + occurred to them that a little of the sunlight had gone from it with Bob; + for they were in a dull, stupid way fascinated by the little white tyrant + who had broken bread with them. He had been delightfully selfish and + frankly brutal to them, as only a schoolboy could be, with the addition of + the consciousness of his superior race. Yet they each longed for his + return, although he was seldom mentioned in their scanty conversation—carried + on in monosyllables, each in his own language, or with some common English + word, or more often restricted solely to signs. By a delicate flattery, + when they did speak of him it was in what they considered to be his own + language. + </p> + <p> + “Boston boy, plenty like catchee HIM,” Jim would say, pointing to a + distant swan. Or Li Tee, hunting a striped water snake from the reeds, + would utter stolidly, “Melikan boy no likee snake.” Yet the next two days + brought some trouble and physical discomfort to them. Bob had consumed, or + wasted, all their provisions—and, still more unfortunately, his + righteous visit, his gun, and his superabundant animal spirits had + frightened away the game, which their habitual quiet and taciturnity had + beguiled into trustfulness. They were half starved, but they did not blame + him. It would come all right when he returned. They counted the days, Jim + with secret notches on the long pole, Li Tee with a string of copper + “cash” he always kept with him. The eventful day came at last,—a + warm autumn day, patched with inland fog like blue smoke and smooth, + tranquil, open surfaces of wood and sea; but to their waiting, confident + eyes the boy came not out of either. They kept a stolid silence all that + day until night fell, when Jim said, “Mebbe Boston boy go dead.” Li Tee + nodded. It did not seem possible to these two heathens that anything else + could prevent the Christian child from keeping his word. + </p> + <p> + After that, by the aid of the canoe, they went much on the marsh, hunting + apart, but often meeting on the trail which Bob had taken, with grunts of + mutual surprise. These suppressed feelings, never made known by word or + gesture, at last must have found vicarious outlet in the taciturn dog, who + so far forgot his usual discretion as to once or twice seat himself on the + water's edge and indulge in a fit of howling. It had been a custom of + Jim's on certain days to retire to some secluded place, where, folded in + his blanket, with his back against a tree, he remained motionless for + hours. In the settlement this had been usually referred to the after + effects of drink, known as the “horrors,” but Jim had explained it by + saying it was “when his heart was bad.” And now it seemed, by these gloomy + abstractions, that “his heart was bad” very often. And then the long + withheld rains came one night on the wings of a fierce southwester, + beating down their frail lodge and scattering it abroad, quenching their + camp-fire, and rolling up the bay until it invaded their reedy island and + hissed in their ears. It drove the game from Jim's gun; it tore the net + and scattered the bait of Li Tee, the fisherman. Cold and half starved in + heart and body, but more dogged and silent than ever, they crept out in + their canoe into the storm-tossed bay, barely escaping with their + miserable lives to the marshy peninsula. Here, on their enemy's ground, + skulking in the rushes, or lying close behind tussocks, they at last + reached the fringe of forest below the settlement. Here, too, sorely + pressed by hunger, and doggedly reckless of consequences, they forgot + their caution, and a flight of teal fell to Jim's gun on the very + outskirts of the settlement. + </p> + <p> + It was a fatal shot, whose echoes awoke the forces of civilization against + them. For it was heard by a logger in his hut near the marsh, who, looking + out, had seen Jim pass. A careless, good-natured frontiersman, he might + have kept the outcasts' mere presence to himself; but there was that + damning shot! An Indian with a gun! That weapon, contraband of law, with + dire fines and penalties to whoso sold or gave it to him! A thing to be + looked into—some one to be punished! An Indian with a weapon that + made him the equal of the white! Who was safe? He hurried to town to lay + his information before the constable, but, meeting Mr. Skinner, imparted + the news to him. The latter pooh-poohed the constable, who he alleged had + not yet discovered the whereabouts of Jim, and suggested that a few armed + citizens should make the chase themselves. The fact was that Mr. Skinner, + never quite satisfied in his mind with his son's account of the loss of + the gun, had put two and two together, and was by no means inclined to + have his own gun possibly identified by the legal authority. Moreover, he + went home and at once attacked Master Bob with such vigor and so highly + colored a description of the crime he had committed, and the penalties + attached to it, that Bob confessed. More than that, I grieve to say that + Bob lied. The Indian had “stoled his gun,” and threatened his life if he + divulged the theft. He told how he was ruthlessly put ashore, and + compelled to take a trail only known to them to reach his home. In two + hours it was reported throughout the settlement that the infamous Jim had + added robbery with violence to his illegal possession of the weapon. The + secret of the island and the trail over the marsh was told only to a few. + </p> + <p> + Meantime it had fared hard with the fugitives. Their nearness to the + settlement prevented them from lighting a fire, which might have revealed + their hiding-place, and they crept together, shivering all night in a + clump of hazel. Scared thence by passing but unsuspecting wayfarers + wandering off the trail, they lay part of the next day and night amid some + tussocks of salt grass, blown on by the cold sea-breeze; chilled, but + securely hidden from sight. Indeed, thanks to some mysterious power they + had of utter immobility, it was wonderful how they could efface + themselves, through quiet and the simplest environment. The lee side of a + straggling vine in the meadow, or even the thin ridge of cast-up drift on + the shore, behind which they would lie for hours motionless, was a + sufficient barrier against prying eyes. In this occupation they no longer + talked together, but followed each other with the blind instinct of + animals—yet always unerringly, as if conscious of each other's + plans. Strangely enough, it was the REAL animal alone—their nameless + dog—who now betrayed impatience and a certain human infirmity of + temper. The concealment they were resigned to, the sufferings they mutely + accepted, he alone resented! When certain scents or sounds, imperceptible + to their senses, were blown across their path, he would, with bristling + back, snarl himself into guttural and strangulated fury. Yet, in their + apathy, even this would have passed them unnoticed, but that on the second + night he disappeared suddenly, returning after two hours' absence with + bloody jaws—replete, but still slinking and snappish. It was only in + the morning that, creeping on their hands and knees through the stubble, + they came upon the torn and mangled carcass of a sheep. The two men looked + at each other without speaking—they knew what this act of rapine + meant to themselves. It meant a fresh hue and cry after them—it + meant that their starving companion had helped to draw the net closer + round them. The Indian grunted, Li Tee smiled vacantly; but with their + knives and fingers they finished what the dog had begun, and became + equally culpable. But that they were heathens, they could not have + achieved a delicate ethical responsibility in a more Christian-like way. + </p> + <p> + Yet the rice-fed Li Tee suffered most in their privations. His habitual + apathy increased with a certain physical lethargy which Jim could not + understand. When they were apart he sometimes found Li Tee stretched on + his back with an odd stare in his eyes, and once, at a distance, he + thought he saw a vague thin vapor drift from where the Chinese boy was + lying and vanish as he approached. When he tried to arouse him there was a + weak drawl in his voice and a drug-like odor in his breath. Jim dragged + him to a more substantial shelter, a thicket of alder. It was dangerously + near the frequented road, but a vague idea had sprung up in Jim's now + troubled mind that, equal vagabonds though they were, Li Tee had more + claims upon civilization, through those of his own race who were permitted + to live among the white men, and were not hunted to “reservations” and + confined there like Jim's people. If Li Tee was “heap sick,” other + Chinamen might find and nurse him. As for Li Tee, he had lately said, in a + more lucid interval: “Me go dead—allee samee Mellikan boy. You go + dead too—allee samee,” and then lay down again with a glassy stare + in his eyes. Far from being frightened at this, Jim attributed his + condition to some enchantment that Li Tee had evoked from one of his gods—just + as he himself had seen “medicine-men” of his own tribe fall into strange + trances, and was glad that the boy no longer suffered. The day advanced, + and Li Tee still slept. Jim could hear the church bells ringing; he knew + it was Sunday—the day on which he was hustled from the main street + by the constable; the day on which the shops were closed, and the drinking + saloons open only at the back door. The day whereon no man worked—and + for that reason, though he knew it not, the day selected by the ingenious + Mr. Skinner and a few friends as especially fitting and convenient for a + chase of the fugitives. The bell brought no suggestion of this—though + the dog snapped under his breath and stiffened his spine. And then he + heard another sound, far off and vague, yet one that brought a flash into + his murky eye, that lit up the heaviness of his Hebraic face, and even + showed a slight color in his high cheek-bones. He lay down on the ground, + and listened with suspended breath. He heard it now distinctly. It was the + Boston boy calling, and the word he was calling was “Jim.” + </p> + <p> + Then the fire dropped out of his eyes as he turned with his usual + stolidity to where Li Tee was lying. Him he shook, saying briefly: “Boston + boy come back!” But there was no reply, the dead body rolled over inertly + under his hand; the head fell back, and the jaw dropped under the pinched + yellow face. The Indian gazed at him slowly, and then gravely turned again + in the direction of the voice. Yet his dull mind was perplexed, for, + blended with that voice were other sounds like the tread of clumsily + stealthy feet. But again the voice called “Jim!” and raising his hands to + his lips he gave a low whoop in reply. This was followed by silence, when + suddenly he heard the voice—the boy's voice—once again, this + time very near him, saying eagerly:— + </p> + <p> + “There he is!” + </p> + <p> + Then the Indian knew all. His face, however, did not change as he took up + his gun, and a man stepped out of the thicket into the trail:— + </p> + <p> + “Drop that gun, you d——d Injin.” + </p> + <p> + The Indian did not move. + </p> + <p> + “Drop it, I say!” + </p> + <p> + The Indian remained erect and motionless. + </p> + <p> + A rifle shot broke from the thicket. At first it seemed to have missed the + Indian, and the man who had spoken cocked his own rifle. But the next + moment the tall figure of Jim collapsed where he stood into a mere + blanketed heap. + </p> + <p> + The man who had fired the shot walked towards the heap with the easy air + of a conqueror. But suddenly there arose before him an awful phantom, the + incarnation of savagery—a creature of blazing eyeballs, flashing + tusks, and hot carnivorous breath. He had barely time to cry out “A wolf!” + before its jaws met in his throat, and they rolled together on the ground. + </p> + <p> + But it was no wolf—as a second shot proved—only Jim's slinking + dog; the only one of the outcasts who at that supreme moment had gone back + to his original nature. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0009" id="link2H_4_0009"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + A VISION OF THE FOUNTAIN + </h2> + <p> + Mr. Jackson Potter halted before the little cottage, half shop, half + hostelry, opposite the great gates of Domesday Park, where tickets of + admission to that venerable domain were sold. Here Mr. Potter revealed his + nationality as a Western American, not only in his accent, but in a + certain half-humorous, half-practical questioning of the ticket-seller—as + that quasi-official stamped his ticket—which was nevertheless + delivered with such unfailing good-humor, and such frank suggestiveness of + the perfect equality of the ticket-seller and the well-dressed stranger + that, far from producing any irritation, it attracted the pleased + attention not only of the official, but his wife and daughter and a + customer. Possibly the good looks of the stranger had something to do with + it. Jackson Potter was a singularly handsome young fellow, with one of + those ideal faces and figures sometimes seen in Western frontier villages, + attributable to no ancestor, but evolved possibly from novels and books + devoured by ancestresses in the long solitary winter evenings of their + lonely cabins on the frontier. A beardless, classical head, covered by + short flocculent blonde curls, poised on a shapely neck and shoulders, was + more Greek in outline than suggestive of any ordinary American type. + Finally, after having thoroughly amused his small audience, he lifted his + straw hat to the “ladies,” and lounged out across the road to the gateway. + Here he paused, consulting his guide-book, and read aloud: “St. John's + gateway. This massive structure, according to Leland, was built in”—murmured—“never + mind when; we'll pass St. John,” marked the page with his pencil, and + tendering his ticket to the gate-keeper, heard, with some satisfaction, + that, as there were no other visitors just then, and as the cicerone only + accompanied PARTIES, he would be left to himself, and at once plunged into + a by-path. + </p> + <p> + It was that loveliest of rare creations—a hot summer day in England, + with all the dampness of that sea-blown isle wrung out of it, exhaled in + the quivering blue vault overhead, or passing as dim wraiths in the + distant wood, and all the long-matured growth of that great old garden + vivified and made resplendent by the fervid sun. The ashes of dead and + gone harvests, even the dust of those who had for ages wrought in it, + turned again and again through incessant cultivation, seemed to move and + live once more in that present sunshine. All color appeared to be deepened + and mellowed, until even the very shadows of the trees were as velvety as + the sward they fell upon. The prairie-bred Potter, accustomed to the + youthful caprices and extravagances of his own virgin soil, could not help + feeling the influence of the ripe restraints of this. + </p> + <p> + As he glanced through the leaves across green sunlit spaces to the + ivy-clad ruins of Domesday Abbey, which seemed itself a growth of the very + soil, he murmured to himself: “Things had been made mighty comfortable for + folks here, you bet!” Forgotten books he had read as a boy, scraps of + school histories, or rarer novels, came back to him as he walked along, + and peopled the solitude about him with their heroes. + </p> + <p> + Nevertheless, it was unmistakably hot—a heat homelike in its + intensity, yet of a different effect, throwing him into languid reverie + rather than filling his veins with fire. Secure in his seclusion in the + leafy chase, he took off his jacket and rambled on in his shirt sleeves. + Through the opening he presently saw the abbey again, with the restored + wing where the noble owner lived for two or three weeks in the year, but + now given over to the prevailing solitude. And then, issuing from the + chase, he came upon a broad, moss-grown terrace. Before him stretched a + tangled and luxuriant wilderness of shrubs and flowers, darkened by + cypress and cedars of Lebanon; its dun depths illuminated by dazzling + white statues, vases, trellises, and paved paths, choked and lost in the + trailing growths of years of abandonment and forgetfulness. He consulted + his guide-book again. It was the “old Italian garden,” constructed under + the design of a famous Italian gardener by the third duke; but its studied + formality being displeasing to his successor, it was allowed to fall into + picturesque decay and negligent profusion, which were not, however, + disturbed by later descendants,—a fact deplored by the artistic + writer of the guide-book, who mournfully called attention to the rare + beauty of the marble statues, urns, and fountains, ruined by neglect, + although one or two of the rarer objects had been removed to Deep Dene + Lodge, another seat of the present duke. + </p> + <p> + It is needless to say that Mr. Potter conceived at once a humorous + opposition to the artistic enthusiasm of the critic, and, plunging into + the garden, took a mischievous delight in its wildness and the victorious + struggle of nature with the formality of art. At every step through the + tangled labyrinth he could see where precision and order had been invaded, + and even the rigid masonry broken or upheaved by the rebellious force. Yet + here and there the two powers had combined to offer an example of beauty + neither could have effected alone. A passion vine had overrun and + enclasped a vase with a perfect symmetry no sculptor could have achieved. + A heavy balustrade was made ethereal with a delicate fretwork of + vegetation between its balusters like lace. Here, however, the lap and + gurgle of water fell gratefully upon the ear of the perspiring and thirsty + Mr. Potter, and turned his attention to more material things. Following + the sound, he presently came upon an enormous oblong marble basin + containing three time-worn fountains with grouped figures. The pipes were + empty, silent, and choked with reeds and water plants, but the great basin + itself was filled with water from some invisible source. + </p> + <p> + A terraced walk occupied one side of the long parallelogram; at intervals + and along the opposite bank, half shadowed by willows, tinted marble + figures of tritons, fauns, and dryads arose half hidden in the reeds. They + were more or less mutilated by time, and here and there only the empty, + moss-covered plinths that had once supported them could be seen. But they + were so lifelike in their subdued color in the shade that he was for a + moment startled. + </p> + <p> + The water looked deliciously cool. An audacious thought struck him. He was + alone, and the place was a secluded one. He knew there were no other + visitors; the marble basin was quite hidden from the rest of the garden, + and approached only from the path by which he had come, and whose entire + view he commanded. He quietly and deliberately undressed himself under the + willows, and unhesitatingly plunged into the basin. The water was four or + five feet deep, and its extreme length afforded an excellent swimming + bath, despite the water-lilies and a few aquatic plants that mottled its + clear surface, or the sedge that clung to the bases of the statues. He + disported for some moments in the delicious element, and then seated + himself upon one of the half-submerged plinths, almost hidden by reeds, + that had once upheld a river god. Here, lazily resting himself upon his + elbow, half his body still below the water, his quick ear was suddenly + startled by a rustling noise and the sound of footsteps. For a moment he + was inclined to doubt his senses; he could see only the empty path before + him and the deserted terrace. But the sound became more distinct, and to + his great uneasiness appeared to come from the OTHER side of the fringe of + willows, where there was undoubtedly a path to the fountain which he had + overlooked. His clothes were under those willows, but he was at least + twenty yards from the bank and an equal distance from the terrace. He was + about to slip beneath the water when, to his crowning horror, before he + could do so, a young girl slowly appeared from the hidden willow path full + upon the terrace. She was walking leisurely with a parasol over her head + and a book in her hand. Even in his intense consternation her whole figure—a + charming one in its white dress, sailor hat, and tan shoes—was + imprinted on his memory as she instinctively halted to look upon the + fountain, evidently an unexpected surprise to her. + </p> + <p> + A sudden idea flashed upon him. She was at least sixty yards away; he was + half hidden in the reeds and well in the long shadows of the willows. If + he remained perfectly motionless she might overlook him at that distance, + or take him for one of the statues. He remembered also that as he was + resting on his elbow, his half-submerged body lying on the plinth below + water, he was somewhat in the attitude of one of the river gods. And there + was no other escape. If he dived he might not be able to keep under water + as long as she remained, and any movement he knew would betray him. He + stiffened himself and scarcely breathed. Luckily for him his attitude had + been a natural one and easy to keep. It was well, too, for she was + evidently in no hurry and walked slowly, stopping from time to time to + admire the basin and its figures. Suddenly he was instinctively aware that + she was looking towards him and even changing her position, moving her + pretty head and shading her eyes with her hand as if for a better view. He + remained motionless, scarcely daring to breathe. Yet there was something + so innocently frank and undisturbed in her observation, that he knew as + instinctively that she suspected nothing, and took him for a + half-submerged statue. He breathed more freely. But presently she stopped, + glanced around her, and, keeping her eyes fixed in his direction, began to + walk backwards slowly until she reached a stone balustrade behind her. On + this she leaped, and, sitting down, opened in her lap the sketch-book she + was carrying, and, taking out a pencil, to his horror began to sketch! + </p> + <p> + For a wild moment he recurred to his first idea of diving and swimming at + all hazards to the bank, but the conviction that now his slightest + movement must be detected held him motionless. He must save her the + mortification of knowing she was sketching a living man, if he died for + it. She sketched rapidly but fixedly and absorbedly, evidently forgetting + all else in her work. From time to time she held out her sketch before her + to compare it with her subject. Yet the seconds seemed minutes and the + minutes hours. Suddenly, to his great relief, a distant voice was heard + calling “Lottie.” It was a woman's voice; by its accent it also seemed to + him an American one. + </p> + <p> + The young girl made a slight movement of impatience, but did not look up, + and her pencil moved still more rapidly. Again the voice called, this time + nearer. The young girl's pencil fairly flew over the paper, as, still + without looking up, she lifted a pretty voice and answered back, + “Y-e-e-s!” + </p> + <p> + It struck him that her accent was also that of a compatriot. + </p> + <p> + “Where on earth are you?” continued the first voice, which now appeared to + come from the other side of the willows on the path by which the young + girl had approached. “Here, aunty,” replied the girl, closing her + sketch-book with a snap and starting to her feet. + </p> + <p> + A stout woman, fashionably dressed, made her appearance from the willow + path. + </p> + <p> + “What have you been doing all this while?” she said querulously. “Not + sketching, I hope,” she added, with a suspicious glance at the book. “You + know your professor expressly forbade you to do so in your holidays.” + </p> + <p> + The young girl shrugged her shoulders. “I've been looking at the + fountains,” she replied evasively. + </p> + <p> + “And horrid looking pagan things they are, too,” said the elder woman, + turning from them disgustedly, without vouchsafing a second glance. “Come. + If we expect to do the abbey, we must hurry up, or we won't catch the + train. Your uncle is waiting for us at the top of the garden.” + </p> + <p> + And, to Potter's intense relief, she grasped the young girl's arm and + hurried her away, their figures the next moment vanishing in the tangled + shrubbery. + </p> + <p> + Potter lost no time in plunging with his cramped limbs into the water and + regaining the other side. Here he quickly half dried himself with some + sun-warmed leaves and baked mosses, hurried on his clothes, and hastened + off in the opposite direction to the path taken by them, yet with such + circuitous skill and speed that he reached the great gateway without + encountering anybody. A brisk walk brought him to the station in time to + catch a stopping train, and in half an hour he was speeding miles away + from Domesday Park and his half-forgotten episode. + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + Meantime the two ladies continued on their way to the abbey. “I don't see + why I mayn't sketch things I see about me,” said the young lady + impatiently. “Of course, I understand that I must go through the + rudimentary drudgery of my art and study from casts, and learn + perspective, and all that; but I can't see what's the difference between + working in a stuffy studio over a hand or arm that I know is only a STUDY, + and sketching a full or half length in the open air with the wonderful + illusion of light and shade and distance—and grouping and combining + them all—that one knows and feels makes a picture. The real picture + one makes is already in one's self.” + </p> + <p> + “For goodness' sake, Lottie, don't go on again with your usual + absurdities. Since you are bent on being an artist, and your Popper has + consented and put you under the most expensive master in Paris, the least + you can do is to follow the rules. And I dare say he only wanted you to + 'sink the shop' in company. It's such horrid bad form for you artistic + people to be always dragging out your sketch-books. What would you say if + your Popper came over here, and began to examine every lady's dress in + society to see what material it was, just because he was a big dry-goods + dealer in America?” + </p> + <p> + The young girl, accustomed to her aunt's extravagances, made no reply. But + that night she consulted her sketch, and was so far convinced of her own + instincts, and the profound impression the fountain had made upon her, + that she was enabled to secretly finish her interrupted sketch from + memory. For Miss Charlotte Forrest was a born artist, and in no mere + caprice had persuaded her father to let her adopt the profession, and + accepted the drudgery of a novitiate. She looked earnestly upon this first + real work of her hand and found it good! Still, it was but a pencil + sketch, and wanted the vivification of color. + </p> + <p> + When she returned to Paris she began—still secretly—a larger + study in oils. She worked upon it in her own room every moment she could + spare from her studio practice, unknown to her professor. It absorbed her + existence; she grew thin and pale. When it was finished, and only then, + she showed it tremblingly to her master. He stood silent, in profound + astonishment. The easel before him showed a foreground of tangled + luxuriance, from which stretched a sheet of water like a darkened mirror, + while through parted reeds on its glossy surface arose the half-submerged + figure of a river god, exquisite in contour, yet whose delicate outlines + were almost a vision by the crowning illusion of light, shadow, and + atmosphere. + </p> + <p> + “It is a beautiful copy, mademoiselle, and I forgive you breaking my + rules,” he said, drawing a long breath. “But I cannot now recall the + original picture.” + </p> + <p> + “It's no copy of a picture, professor,” said the young girl timidly, and + she disclosed her secret. “It was the only perfect statue there,” she + added diffidently; “but I think it wanted—something.” + </p> + <p> + “True,” said the professor abstractedly. “Where the elbow rests there + should be a half-inverted urn flowing with water; but the drawing of that + shoulder is so perfect—as is YOUR study of it—that one guesses + the missing forearm one cannot see, which clasped it. Beautiful! + beautiful!” + </p> + <p> + Suddenly he stopped, and turned his eyes almost searchingly on hers. + </p> + <p> + “You say you have never drawn from the human model, mademoiselle?” + </p> + <p> + “Never,” said the young girl innocently. + </p> + <p> + “True,” murmured the professor again. “These are the classic ideal + measurements. There are no limbs like those now. Yet it is wonderful! And + this gem, you say, is in England?” + </p> + <p> + “Yes.” + </p> + <p> + “Good! I am going there in a few days. I shall make a pilgrimage to see + it. Until then, mademoiselle, I beg you to break as many of my rules as + you like.” + </p> + <p> + Three weeks later she found the professor one morning standing before her + picture in her private studio. “You have returned from England,” she said + joyfully. + </p> + <p> + “I have,” said the professor gravely. + </p> + <p> + “You have seen the original subject?” she said timidly. + </p> + <p> + “I have NOT. I have not seen it, mademoiselle,” he said, gazing at her + mildly through his glasses, “because it does not exist, and never + existed.” + </p> + <p> + The young girl turned pale. + </p> + <p> + “Listen. I have go to England. I arrive at the Park of Domesday. I + penetrate the beautiful, wild garden. I approach the fountain. I see the + wonderful water, the exquisite light and shade, the lilies, the mysterious + reeds—beautiful, yet not as beautiful as you have made it, + mademoiselle, but no statue—no river god! I demand it of the + concierge. He knows of it absolutely nothing. I transport myself to the + noble proprietor, Monsieur le Duc, at a distant chateau where he has + collected the ruined marbles. It is not there.” + </p> + <p> + “Yet I saw it,” said the young girl earnestly, yet with a troubled face. + “O professor,” she burst out appealingly, “what do you think it was?” + </p> + <p> + “I think, mademoiselle,” said the professor gravely, “that you created it. + Believe me, it is a function of genius! More, it is a proof, a necessity! + You saw the beautiful lake, the ruined fountain, the soft shadows, the + empty plinth, curtained by reeds. You yourself say you feel there was + 'something wanting.' Unconsciously you yourself supplied it. All that you + had ever dreamt of mythology, all that you had ever seen of statuary, + thronged upon you at that supreme moment, and, evolved from your own + fancy, the river god was born. It is your own, chere enfant, as much the + offspring of your genius as the exquisite atmosphere you have caught, the + charm of light and shadow that you have brought away. Accept my + felicitations. You have little more to learn of me.” + </p> + <p> + As he bowed himself out and descended the stairs he shrugged his shoulders + slightly. “She is an adorable genius,” he murmured. “Yet she is also a + woman. Being a woman, naturally she has a lover—this river god! Why + not?” + </p> + <p> + The extraordinary success of Miss Forrest's picture and the instantaneous + recognition of her merit as an artist, apart from her novel subject, + perhaps went further to remove her uneasiness than any serious conviction + of the professor's theory. Nevertheless, it appealed to her poetic and + mystic imagination, and although other subjects from her brush met with + equally phenomenal success, and she was able in a year to return to + America with a reputation assured beyond criticism, she never entirely + forgot the strange incident connected with her initial effort. + </p> + <p> + And by degrees a singular change came over her. Rich, famous, and + attractive, she began to experience a sentimental and romantic interest in + that episode. Once, when reproached by her friends for her indifference to + her admirers, she had half laughingly replied that she had once found her + “ideal,” but never would again. Yet the jest had scarcely passed her lips + before she became pale and silent. With this change came also a desire to + re-purchase the picture, which she had sold in her early success to a + speculative American picture-dealer. On inquiry she found, alas! that it + had been sold only a day or two before to a Chicago gentleman, of the name + of Potter, who had taken a fancy to it. + </p> + <p> + Miss Forrest curled her pretty lip, but, nothing daunted, resolved to + effect her purpose, and sought the purchaser at his hotel. She was ushered + into a private drawing-room, where, on a handsome easel, stood the newly + acquired purchase. Mr. Potter was out, “but would return in a moment.” + </p> + <p> + Miss Forrest was relieved, for, alone and undisturbed, she could now let + her full soul go out to her romantic creation. As she stood there, she + felt the glamour of the old English garden come back to her, the play of + light and shadow, the silent pool, the godlike face and bust, with its + cast-down, meditative eyes, seen through the parted reeds. She clasped her + hands silently before her. Should she never see it again as then? + </p> + <p> + “Pray don't let me disturb you; but won't you take a seat?” + </p> + <p> + Miss Forrest turned sharply round. Then she started, uttered a frightened + little cry, and fainted away. + </p> + <p> + Mr. Potter was touched, but a master of himself. As she came to, he said + quietly: “I came upon you suddenly—as you stood entranced by this + picture—just as I did when I first saw it. That's why I bought it. + Are you any relative of the Miss Forrest who painted it?” he continued, + quietly looking at her card, which he held in his hand. + </p> + <p> + Miss Forrest recovered herself sufficiently to reply, and stated her + business with some dignity. + </p> + <p> + “Ah,” said Mr. Potter, “THAT is another question. You see, the picture has + a special value to me, as I once saw an old-fashioned garden like that in + England. But that chap there,—I beg your pardon, I mean that figure,—I + fancy, is your own creation, entirely. However, I'll think over your + proposition, and if you will allow me I'll call and see you about it.” + </p> + <p> + Mr. Potter did call—not once, but many times—and showed quite + a remarkable interest in Miss Forrest's art. The question of the sale of + the picture, however, remained in abeyance. A few weeks later, after a + longer call than usual, Mr. Potter said:— + </p> + <p> + “Don't you think the best thing we can do is to make a kind of compromise, + and let us own the picture together?” + </p> + <p> + And they did. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0010" id="link2H_4_0010"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + A ROMANCE OF THE LINE + </h2> + <p> + As the train moved slowly out of the station, the Writer of Stories looked + up wearily from the illustrated pages of the magazines and weeklies on his + lap to the illustrated advertisements on the walls of the station sliding + past his carriage windows. It was getting to be monotonous. For a while he + had been hopefully interested in the bustle of the departing trains, and + looked up from his comfortable and early invested position to the later + comers with that sense of superiority common to travelers; had watched the + conventional leave-takings—always feebly prolonged to the uneasiness + of both parties—and contrasted it with the impassive business + promptitude of the railway officials; but it was the old experience + repeated. Falling back on the illustrated advertisements again, he + wondered if their perpetual recurrence at every station would not at last + bring to the tired traveler the loathing of satiety; whether the passenger + in railway carriages, continually offered Somebody's oats, inks, washing + blue, candles, and soap, apparently as a necessary equipment for a few + hours' journey, would not there and thereafter forever ignore the use of + these articles, or recoil from that particular quality. Or, as an unbiased + observer, he wondered if, on the other hand, impressible passengers, after + passing three or four stations, had ever leaped from the train and refused + to proceed further until they were supplied with one or more of those + articles. Had he ever known any one who confided to him in a moment of + expansiveness that he had dated his use of Somebody's soap to an + advertisement persistently borne upon him through the medium of a railway + carriage window? No! Would he not have connected that man with that other + certifying individual who always appends a name and address singularly + obscure and unconvincing, yet who, at some supreme moment, recommends + Somebody's pills to a dying friend,—afflicted with a similar + address,—which restore him to life and undying obscurity. Yet these + pictorial and literary appeals must have a potency independent of the + wares they advertise, or they wouldn't be there. + </p> + <p> + Perhaps he was the more sensitive to this monotony as he was just then + seeking change and novelty in order to write a new story. He was not + looking for material,—his subjects were usually the same,—he + was merely hoping for that relaxation and diversion which should freshen + and fit him for later concentration. Still, he had often heard of the odd + circumstances to which his craft were sometimes indebted for suggestion. + The invasion of an eccentric-looking individual—probably an innocent + tradesman into a railway carriage had given the hint for “A Night with a + Lunatic;” a nervously excited and belated passenger had once unconsciously + sat for an escaped forger; the picking up of a forgotten novel in the + rack, with passages marked in pencil, had afforded the plot of a love + story; or the germ of a romance had been found in an obscure news + paragraph which, under less listless moments, would have passed unread. On + the other hand, he recalled these inconvenient and inconsistent moments + from which the so-called “inspiration” sprang, the utter incongruity of + time and place in some brilliant conception, and wondered if sheer vacuity + of mind were really so favorable. + </p> + <p> + Going back to his magazine again, he began to get mildly interested in a + story. Turning the page, however, he was confronted by a pictorial + advertising leaflet inserted between the pages, yet so artistic in + character that it might have been easily mistaken for an illustration of + the story he was reading, and perhaps was not more remote or obscure in + reference than many he had known. But the next moment he recognized with + despair that it was only a smaller copy of one he had seen on the hoarding + at the last station. He threw the leaflet aside, but the flavor of the + story was gone. The peerless detergent of the advertisement had erased it + from the tablets of his memory. He leaned back in his seat again, and + lazily watched the flying suburbs. Here were the usual promising open + spaces and patches of green, quickly succeeded again by solid blocks of + houses whose rear windows gave directly upon the line, yet seldom showed + an inquisitive face—even of a wondering child. It was a strange + revelation of the depressing effects of familiarity. Expresses might + thunder by, goods trains drag their slow length along, shunting trains + pipe all day beneath their windows, but the tenants heeded them not. Here, + too, was the junction, with its labyrinthine interlacing of tracks that + dazed the tired brain; the overburdened telegraph posts, that looked as if + they really could not stand another wire; the long lines of empty, + homeless, and deserted trains in sidings that had seen better days; the + idle trains, with staring vacant windows, which were eventually seized by + a pert engine hissing, “Come along, will you?” and departed with a + discontented grunt from every individual carriage coupling; the racing + trains, that suddenly appeared parallel with one's carriage windows, begot + false hopes of a challenge of speed, and then, without warning, drew + contemptuously and, superciliously away; the swift eclipse of everything + in a tunneled bridge; the long, slithering passage of an “up” express, and + then the flash of a station, incoherent and unintelligible with pictorial + advertisements again. + </p> + <p> + He closed his eyes to concentrate his thought, and by degrees a pleasant + languor stole over him. The train had by this time attained that rate of + speed which gave it a slight swing and roll on curves and switches not + unlike the rocking of a cradle. Once or twice he opened his eyes sleepily + upon the waltzing trees in the double planes of distance, and again closed + them. Then, in one of these slight oscillations, he felt himself + ridiculously slipping into slumber, and awoke with some indignation. + Another station was passed, in which process the pictorial advertisements + on the hoardings and the pictures in his lap seemed to have become jumbled + up, confused, and to dance before him, and then suddenly and strangely, + without warning, the train stopped short—at ANOTHER station. And + then he arose, and—what five minutes before he never conceived of + doing—gathered his papers and slipped from the carriage to the + platform. When I say “he” I mean, of course, the Writer of Stories; yet + the man who slipped out was half his age and a different-looking person. + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + The change from the motion of the train—for it seemed that he had + been traveling several hours—to the firmer platform for a moment + bewildered him. The station looked strange, and he fancied it lacked a + certain kind of distinctness. But that quality was also noticeable in the + porters and loungers on the platform. He thought it singular, until it + seemed to him that they were not characteristic, nor in any way important + or necessary to the business he had in hand. Then, with an effort, he + tried to remember himself and his purpose, and made his way through the + station to the open road beyond. A van, bearing the inscription, “Removals + to Town and Country,” stood before him and blocked his way, but a dogcart + was in waiting, and a grizzled groom, who held the reins, touched his hat + respectfully. Although still dazed by his journey and uncertain of + himself, he seemed to recognize in the man that distinctive character + which was wanting in the others. The correctness of his surmise was + revealed a few moments later, when, after he had taken his seat beside + him, and they were rattling out of the village street, the man turned + towards him and said:— + </p> + <p> + “Tha'll know Sir Jarge?” + </p> + <p> + “I do not,” said the young man. + </p> + <p> + “Ay! but theer's many as cooms here as doan't, for all they cooms. Tha'll + say it ill becooms mea as war man and boy in Sir Jarge's sarvice for fifty + year, to say owt agen him, but I'm here to do it, or they couldn't foolfil + their business. Tha wast to ax me questions about Sir Jarge and the + Grange, and I wor to answer soa as to make tha think thar was suthing + wrong wi' un. Howbut I may save tha time and tell thea downroight that Sir + Jarge forged his uncle's will, and so gotten the Grange. That 'ee keeps + his niece in mortal fear o' he. That tha'll be put in haunted chamber wi' + a boggle.” + </p> + <p> + “I think,” said the young man hesitatingly, “that there must be some + mistake. I do not know any Sir George, and I am NOT going to the Grange.” + </p> + <p> + “Eay! Then thee aren't the 'ero sent down from London by the story + writer?” + </p> + <p> + “Not by THAT one,” said the young man diffidently. + </p> + <p> + The old man's face changed. It was no mere figure of speech: it actually + was ANOTHER face that looked down upon the traveler. + </p> + <p> + “Then mayhap your honor will be bespoken at the Angel's Inn,” he said, + with an entirely distinct and older dialect, “and a finer hostel for a + young gentleman of your condition ye'll not find on this side of Oxford. A + fair chamber, looking to the sun; sheets smelling of lavender from Dame + Margery's own store, and, for the matter of that, spread by the fair hands + of Maudlin, her daughter—the best favored lass that ever danced + under a Maypole. Ha! have at ye there, young sir! Not to speak of the + October ale of old Gregory, her father—ay, nor the rare Hollands, + that never paid excise duties to the king.” + </p> + <p> + “I'm afraid,” said the young traveler timidly, “there's over a century + between us. There's really some mistake.” + </p> + <p> + “What?” said the groom, “ye are NOT the young spark who is to marry + Mistress Amy at the Hall, yet makes a pother and mess of it all by a duel + with Sir Roger de Cadgerly, the wicked baronet, for his over-free + discourse with our fair Maudlin this very eve? Ye are NOT the traveler + whose post-chaise is now at the Falcon? Ye are not he that was bespoken by + the story writer in London?” + </p> + <p> + “I don't think I am,” said the young man apologetically. “Indeed, as I am + feeling far from well, I think I'll get out and walk.” + </p> + <p> + He got down—the vehicle and driver vanished in the distance. It did + not surprise him. “I must collect my thoughts,” he said. He did so. + Possibly the collection was not large, for presently he said, with a sigh + of relief:— + </p> + <p> + “I see it all now! My name is Paul Bunker. I am of the young branch of an + old Quaker family, rich and respected in the country, and I am on a visit + to my ancestral home. But I have lived since a child in America, and am + alien to the traditions and customs of the old country, and even of the + seat to which my fathers belong. I have brought with me from the far West + many peculiarities of speech and thought that may startle my kinsfolk. But + I certainly shall not address my uncle as 'Hoss!' nor shall I say 'guess' + oftener than is necessary.” + </p> + <p> + Much brightened and refreshed by his settled identity, he had time, as he + walked briskly along, to notice the scenery, which was certainly varied + and conflicting in character, and quite inconsistent with his preconceived + notions of an English landscape. On his right, a lake of the brightest + cobalt blue stretched before a many-towered and terraced town, which was + relieved by a background of luxuriant foliage and emerald-green mountains; + on his left arose a rugged mountain, which he was surprised to see was + snow-capped, albeit a tunnel was observable midway of its height, and a + train just issuing from it. Almost regretting that he had not continued on + his journey, as he was fully sensible that it was in some way connected + with the railway he had quitted, presently his attention was directed to + the gateway of a handsome park, whose mansion was faintly seen in the + distance. Hurrying towards him, down the avenue of limes, was a strange + figure. It was that of a man of middle age; clad in Quaker garb, yet with + an extravagance of cut and detail which seemed antiquated even for + England. He had evidently seen the young man approaching, and his face was + beaming with welcome. If Paul had doubted that it was his uncle, the first + words he spoke would have reassured him. + </p> + <p> + “Welcome to Hawthorn Hall,” said the figure, grasping his hand heartily, + “but thee will excuse me if I do not tarry with thee long at present, for + I am hastening, even now, with some nourishing and sustaining food for + Giles Hayward, a farm laborer.” He pointed to a package he was carrying. + “But thee will find thy cousins Jane and Dorcas Bunker taking tea in the + summer-house. Go to them! Nay—positively—I may not linger, but + will return to thee quickly.” And, to Paul's astonishment, he trotted away + on his sturdy, respectable legs, still beaming and carrying his package in + his hand. + </p> + <p> + “Well, I'll be dog-goned! but the old man ain't going to be left, you + bet!” he ejaculated, suddenly remembering his dialect. “He'll get there, + whether school keeps or not!” Then, reflecting that no one heard him, he + added simply, “He certainly was not over civil towards the nephew he has + never seen before. And those girls—whom I don't know! How very + awkward!” + </p> + <p> + Nevertheless, he continued his way up the avenue towards the mansion. The + park was beautifully kept. Remembering the native wildness and virgin + seclusion of the Western forest, he could not help contrasting it with the + conservative gardening of this pretty woodland, every rood of which had + been patrolled by keepers and rangers, and preserved and fostered hundreds + of years before he was born, until warmed for human occupancy. At times + the avenue was crossed by grass drives, where the original woodland had + been displaced, not by the exigency of a “clearing” for tillage, as in his + own West, but for the leisurely pleasure of the owner. Then, a few hundred + yards from the house itself,—a quaint Jacobean mansion,—he + came to an open space where the sylvan landscape had yielded to floral + cultivation, and so fell upon a charming summer-house, or arbor, embowered + with roses. It must have been the one of which his uncle had spoken, for + there, to his wondering admiration, sat two little maids before a rustic + table, drinking tea demurely, yes, with all the evident delight of a + childish escapade from their elders. While in the picturesque quaintness + of their attire there was still a formal suggestion of the sect to which + their father belonged, their summer frocks—differing in color, yet + each of the same subdued tint—were alike in cut and fashion, and + short enough to show their dainty feet in prim slippers and silken hose + that matched their frocks. As the afternoon sun glanced through the leaves + upon their pink cheeks, tied up in quaint hats by ribbons under their + chins, they made a charming picture. At least Paul thought so as he + advanced towards them, hat in hand. They looked up at his approach, but + again cast down their eyes with demure shyness; yet he fancied that they + first exchanged glances with each other, full of mischievous intelligence. + </p> + <p> + “I am your cousin Paul,” he said smilingly, “though I am afraid I am + introducing myself almost as briefly as your father just now excused + himself to me. He told me I would find you here, but he himself was + hastening on a Samaritan mission.” + </p> + <p> + “With a box in his hand?” said the girls simultaneously, exchanging + glances with each other again. + </p> + <p> + “With a box containing some restorative, I think,” responded Paul, a + little wonderingly. + </p> + <p> + “Restorative! So THAT'S what he calls it now, is it?” said one of the + girls saucily. “Well, no one knows what's in the box, though he always + carries it with him. Thee never sees him without it”— + </p> + <p> + “And a roll of paper,” suggested the other girl. + </p> + <p> + “Yes, a roll of paper—but one never knows what it is!” said the + first speaker. “It's very strange. But no matter now, Paul. Welcome to + Hawthorn Hall. I am Jane Bunker, and this is Dorcas.” She stopped, and + then, looking down demurely, added, “Thee may kiss us both, cousin Paul.” + </p> + <p> + The young man did not wait for a second invitation, but gently touched his + lips to their soft young cheeks. + </p> + <p> + “Thee does not speak like an American, Paul. Is thee really and truly + one?” continued Jane. + </p> + <p> + Paul remembered that he had forgotten his dialect, but it was too late + now. + </p> + <p> + “I am really and truly one, and your own cousin, and I hope you will find + me a very dear”— + </p> + <p> + “Oh!” said Dorcas, starting up primly. “You must really allow me to + withdraw.” To the young man's astonishment, she seized her parasol, and, + with a youthful affectation of dignity, glided from the summer-house and + was lost among the trees. + </p> + <p> + “Thy declaration to me was rather sudden,” said Jane quietly, in answer to + his look of surprise, “and Dorcas is peculiarly sensitive and less like + the 'world's people' than I am. And it was just a little cruel, + considering that she has loved thee secretly all these years, followed thy + fortunes in America with breathless eagerness, thrilled at thy narrow + escapes, and wept at thy privations.” + </p> + <p> + “But she has never seen me before!” said the astounded Paul. + </p> + <p> + “And thee had never seen me before, and yet thee has dared to propose to + me five minutes after thee arrived, and in her presence.” + </p> + <p> + “But, my dear girl!” expostulated Paul. + </p> + <p> + “Stand off!” she said, rapidly opening her parasol and interposing it + between them. “Another step nearer—ay, even another word of + endearment—and I shall be compelled—nay, forced,” she added in + a lower voice, “to remove this parasol, lest it should be crushed and + ruined!” + </p> + <p> + “I see,” he said gloomily, “you have been reading novels; but so have I, + and the same ones! Nevertheless, I intended only to tell you that I hoped + you would always find me a kind friend.” + </p> + <p> + She shut her parasol up with a snap. “And I only intended to tell thee + that my heart was given to another.” + </p> + <p> + “You INTENDED—and now?” + </p> + <p> + “Is it the 'kind friend' who asks?” + </p> + <p> + “If it were not?” + </p> + <p> + “Really?” + </p> + <p> + “Yes.” + </p> + <p> + “Ah!” + </p> + <p> + “Oh!” + </p> + <p> + “But thee loves another?” she said, toying with her cup. + </p> + <p> + He attempted to toy with his, but broke it. A man lacks delicacy in this + kind of persiflage. “You mean I am loved by another,” he said bluntly. + </p> + <p> + “You dare to say that!” she said, flashing, in spite of her prim demeanor. + </p> + <p> + “No, but YOU did just now! You said your sister loved me!” + </p> + <p> + “Did I?” she said dreamily. “Dear! dear! That's the trouble of trying to + talk like Mr. Blank's delightful dialogues. One gets so mixed!” + </p> + <p> + “Yet you will be a sister to me?” he said. “'Tis an old American joke, but + 'twill serve.” + </p> + <p> + There was a long silence. + </p> + <p> + “Had thee not better go to sister Dorcas? She is playing with the cows,” + said Jane plaintively. + </p> + <p> + “You forget,” he returned gravely, “that, on page 27 of the novel we have + both read, at this point he is supposed to kiss her.” + </p> + <p> + She had forgotten, but they both remembered in time. At this moment a + scream came faintly from the distance. They both started, and rose. + </p> + <p> + “It is sister Dorcas,” said Jane, sitting down again and pouring out + another cup of tea. “I have always told her that one of those Swiss cows + would hook her.” + </p> + <p> + Paul stared at her with a strange revulsion of feeling. “I could save + Dorcas,” he muttered to himself, “in less time than it takes to describe.” + He paused, however, as he reflected that this would depend entirely upon + the methods of the writer of this description. “I could rescue her! I have + only to take the first clothes-line that I find, and with that knowledge + and skill with the lasso which I learned in the wilds of America, I could + stop the charge of the most furious ruminant. I will!” and without another + word he turned and rushed off in the direction of the sound. + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + He had not gone a hundred yards before he paused, a little bewildered. To + the left could still be seen the cobalt lake with the terraced background; + to the right the rugged mountains. He chose the latter. Luckily for him a + cottager's garden lay in his path, and from a line supported by a single + pole depended the homely linen of the cottager. To tear these garments + from the line was the work of a moment (although it represented the whole + week's washing), and hastily coiling the rope dexterously in his hand, he + sped onward. Already panting with exertion and excitement, a few roods + farther he was confronted with a spectacle that left him breathless. + </p> + <p> + A woman—young, robust, yet gracefully formed—was running ahead + of him, driving before her with an open parasol an animal which he + instantly recognized as one of that simple yet treacherous species most + feared by the sex—known as the “Moo Cow.” + </p> + <p> + For a moment he was appalled by the spectacle. But it was only for a + moment! Recalling his manhood and her weakness, he stopped, and bracing + his foot against a stone, with a graceful flourish of his lasso around his + head, threw it in the air. It uncoiled slowly, sped forward with unerring + precision, and missed! With the single cry of “Saved!” the fair stranger + sank fainting in his arms! He held her closely until the color came back + to her pale face. Then he quietly disentangled the lasso from his legs. + </p> + <p> + “Where am I?” she said faintly. + </p> + <p> + “In the same place,” he replied, slowly but firmly. “But,” he added, “you + have changed!” + </p> + <p> + She had, indeed, even to her dress. It was now of a vivid brick red, and + so much longer in the skirt that it seemed to make her taller. Only her + hat remained the same. + </p> + <p> + “Yes,” she said, in a low, reflective voice and a disregard of her + previous dialect, as she gazed up in his eyes with an eloquent lucidity, + “I have changed, Paul! I feel myself changing at those words you uttered + to Jane. There are moments in a woman's life that man knows nothing of; + moments bitter and cruel, sweet and merciful, that change her whole being; + moments in which the simple girl becomes a worldly woman; moments in which + the slow procession of her years is never noted—except by another + woman! Moments that change her outlook on the world and her relations to + it—and her husband's relations! Moments when the maid becomes a + wife, the wife a widow, the widow a re-married woman, by a simple, swift + illumination of the fancy. Moments when, wrought upon by a single word—a + look—an emphasis and rising inflection, all logical sequence is cast + away, processes are lost—inductions lead nowhere. Moments when the + inharmonious becomes harmonious, the indiscreet discreet, the inefficient + efficient, and the inevitable evitable. I mean,” she corrected herself + hurriedly—“You know what I mean! If you have not felt it you have + read it!” + </p> + <p> + “I have,” he said thoughtfully. “We have both read it in the same novel. + She is a fine writer.” + </p> + <p> + “Ye-e-s.” She hesitated with that slight resentment of praise of another + woman so delightful in her sex. “But you have forgotten the Moo Cow!” and + she pointed to where the distracted animal was careering across the lawn + towards the garden. + </p> + <p> + “You are right,” he said, “the incident is not yet closed. Let us pursue + it.” + </p> + <p> + They both pursued it. Discarding the useless lasso, he had recourse to a + few well-aimed epithets. The infuriated animal swerved and made directly + towards a small fountain in the centre of the garden. In attempting to + clear it, it fell directly into the deep cup-like basin and remained + helplessly fixed, with its fore-legs projecting uneasily beyond the rim. + </p> + <p> + “Let us leave it there,” she said, “and forget it—and all that has + gone before. Believe me,” she added, with a faint sigh, “it is best. Our + paths diverge from this moment. I go to the summer-house, and you go to + the Hall, where my father is expecting you.” He would have detained her a + moment longer, but she glided away and was gone. + </p> + <p> + Left to himself again, that slight sense of bewilderment which had clouded + his mind for the last hour began to clear away; his singular encounter + with the girls strangely enough affected him less strongly than his brief + and unsatisfactory interview with his uncle. For, after all, he was his + host, and upon him depended his stay at Hawthorn Hall. The mysterious and + slighting allusions of his cousins to the old man's eccentricities also + piqued his curiosity. Why had they sneered at his description of the + contents of the package he carried—and what did it really contain? + He did not reflect that it was none of his business,—people in his + situation seldom do,—and he eagerly hurried towards the Hall. But he + found in his preoccupation he had taken the wrong turning in the path, and + that he was now close to the wall which bounded and overlooked the + highway. Here a singular spectacle presented itself. A cyclist covered + with dust was seated in the middle of the road, trying to restore + circulation to his bruised and injured leg by chafing it with his hands, + while beside him lay his damaged bicycle. He had evidently met with an + accident. In an instant Paul had climbed the wall and was at his side. + </p> + <p> + “Can I offer you any assistance?” he asked eagerly. + </p> + <p> + “Thanks—no! I've come a beastly cropper over something or other on + this road, and I'm only bruised, though the machine has suffered worse,” + replied the stranger, in a fresh, cheery voice. He was a good-looking + fellow of about Paul's own age, and the young American's heart went out + towards him. + </p> + <p> + “How did it happen?” asked Paul. + </p> + <p> + “That's what puzzles me,” said the stranger. “I was getting out of the way + of a queer old chap in the road, and I ran over something that seemed only + an old scroll of paper; but the shock was so great that I was thrown, and + I fancy I was for a few moments unconscious. Yet I cannot see any other + obstruction in the road, and there's only that bit of paper.” He pointed + to the paper,—a half-crushed roll of ordinary foolscap, showing the + mark of the bicycle upon it. + </p> + <p> + A strange idea came into Paul's mind. He picked up the paper and examined + it closely. Besides the mark already indicated, it showed two sharp + creases about nine inches long, and another exactly at the point of the + impact of the bicycle. Taking a folded two-foot rule from his pocket, he + carefully measured these parallel creases and made an exhaustive + geometrical calculation with his pencil on the paper. The stranger watched + him with awed and admiring interest. Rising, he again carefully examined + the road, and was finally rewarded by the discovery of a sharp indentation + in the dust, which, on measurement and comparison with the creases in the + paper and the calculations he had just made, proved to be identical. + </p> + <p> + “There was a solid body in that paper,” said Paul quietly; “a + parallelogram exactly nine inches long and three wide.” + </p> + <p> + “I say! you're wonderfully clever, don't you know,” said the stranger, + with unaffected wonder. “I see it all—a brick.” + </p> + <p> + Paul smiled gently and shook his head. “That is the hasty inference of an + inexperienced observer. You will observe at the point of impact of your + wheel the parallel crease is CURVED, as from the yielding of the resisting + substances, and not BROKEN, as it would be by the crumbling of a brick.” + </p> + <p> + “I say, you're awfully detective, don't you know! just like that fellow—what's + his name?” said the stranger admiringly. + </p> + <p> + The words recalled Paul to himself. Why was he acting like a detective? + and what was he seeking to discover? Nevertheless, he felt impelled to + continue. “And that queer old chap whom you met—why didn't he help + you?” + </p> + <p> + “Because I passed him before I ran into the—the parallelogram, and I + suppose he didn't know what happened behind him?” + </p> + <p> + “Did he have anything in his hand?” + </p> + <p> + “Can't say.” + </p> + <p> + “And you say you were unconscious afterwards?” + </p> + <p> + “Yes!” + </p> + <p> + “Long enough for the culprit to remove the principal evidence of his + crime?” + </p> + <p> + “Come! I say, really you are—you know you are!” + </p> + <p> + “Have you any secret enemy?” + </p> + <p> + “No.” + </p> + <p> + “And you don't know Mr. Bunker, the man who owns this vast estate?” + </p> + <p> + “Not at all. I'm from Upper Tooting.” + </p> + <p> + “Good afternoon,” said Paul abruptly, and turned away. + </p> + <p> + It struck him afterwards that his action might have seemed uncivil, and + even inhuman, to the bruised cyclist, who could hardly walk. But it was + getting late, and he was still far from the Hall, which, oddly enough, + seemed to be no longer visible from the road. He wandered on for some + time, half convinced that he had passed the lodge gates, yet hoping to + find some other entrance to the domain. Dusk was falling; the rounded + outlines of the park trees beyond the wall were solid masses of shadow. + The full moon, presently rising, restored them again to symmetry, and at + last he, to his relief, came upon the massive gateway. Two lions ramped in + stone on the side pillars. He thought it strange that he had not noticed + the gateway on his previous entrance, but he remembered that he was fully + preoccupied with the advancing figure of his uncle. In a few minutes the + Hall itself appeared, and here again he was surprised that he had + overlooked before its noble proportions and picturesque outline. Its broad + terraces, dazzlingly white in the moonlight; its long line of mullioned + windows, suffused with a warm red glow from within, made it look like part + of a wintry landscape—and suggested a Christmas card. The venerable + ivy that hid the ravages time had made in its walls looked like black + carving. His heart swelled with strange emotions as he gazed at his + ancestral hall. How many of his blood had lived and died there; how many + had gone forth from that great porch to distant lands! He tried to think + of his father—a little child—peeping between the balustrades + of that terrace. He tried to think of it, and perhaps would have succeeded + had it not occurred to him that it was a known fact that his uncle had + bought the estate and house of an impoverished nobleman only the year + before. Yet—he could not tell why—he seemed to feel higher and + nobler for that trial. + </p> + <p> + The terrace was deserted, and so quiet that as he ascended to it his + footsteps seemed to echo from the walls. When he reached the portals, the + great oaken door swung noiselessly on its hinges—opened by some + unseen but waiting servitor—and admitted him to a lofty hall, dark + with hangings and family portraits, but warmed by a red carpet the whole + length of its stone floor. For a moment he waited for the servant to show + him to the drawing-room or his uncle's study. But no one appeared. + Believing this to be a part of the characteristic simplicity of the Quaker + household, he boldly entered the first door, and found himself in a + brilliantly lit and perfectly empty drawing-room. The same experience met + him with the other rooms on that floor—the dining-room displaying an + already set, exquisitely furnished and decorated table, with chairs for + twenty guests! He mechanically ascended the wide oaken staircase that led + to the corridor of bedrooms above a central salon. Here he found only the + same solitude. Bedroom doors yielded to his touch, only to show the same + brilliantly lit vacancy. He presently came upon one room which seemed to + give unmistakable signs of HIS OWN occupancy. Surely there stood his own + dressing-case on the table! and his own evening clothes carefully laid out + on another, as if fresh from a valet's hands. He stepped hastily into the + corridor—there was no one there; he rang the bell—there was no + response! But he noticed that there was a jug of hot water in his basin, + and he began dressing mechanically. + </p> + <p> + There was little doubt that he was in a haunted house, but this did not + particularly disturb him. Indeed, he found himself wondering if it could + be logically called a haunted house—unless he himself was haunting + it, for there seemed to be no other there. Perhaps the apparitions would + come later, when he was dressed. Clearly it was not his uncle's house—and + yet, as he had never been inside his uncle's house, he reflected that he + ought not to be positive. + </p> + <p> + He finished dressing and sat down in an armchair with a kind of thoughtful + expectancy. But presently his curiosity became impatient of the silence + and mystery, and he ventured once more to explore the house. Opening his + bedroom door, he found himself again upon the deserted corridor, but this + time he could distinctly hear a buzz of voices from the drawing-room + below. Assured that he was near a solution of the mystery, he rapidly + descended the broad staircase and made his way to the open door of the + drawing-room. But although the sound of voices increased as he advanced, + when he entered the room, to his utter astonishment, it was as empty as + before. + </p> + <p> + Yet, in spite of his bewilderment and confusion, he was able to follow one + of the voices, which, in its peculiar distinctness and half-perfunctory + tone, he concluded must belong to the host of the invisible assembly. + </p> + <p> + “Ah,” said the voice, greeting some unseen visitor, “so glad you have + come. Afraid your engagements just now would keep you away.” Then the + voice dropped to a lower and more confidential tone. “You must take down + Lady Dartman, but you will have Miss Morecamp—a clever girl—on + the other side of you. Ah, Sir George! So good of you to come. All well at + the Priory? So glad to hear it.” (Lower and more confidentially.) “You + know Mrs. Monkston. You'll sit by her. A little cut up by her husband + losing his seat. Try to amuse her.” + </p> + <p> + Emboldened by desperation, Paul turned in the direction of the voice. “I + am Paul Bunker,” he said hesitatingly. “I'm afraid you'll think me + intrusive, but I was looking for my uncle, and”— + </p> + <p> + “Intrusive, my dear boy! The son of my near neighbor in the country + intrusive? Really, now, I like that! Grace!” (the voice turned in another + direction) “here is the American nephew of our neighbor Bunker at + Widdlestone, who thinks he is 'a stranger.'” + </p> + <p> + “We all knew of your expected arrival at Widdlestone—it was so good + of you to waive ceremony and join us,” said a well-bred feminine voice, + which Paul at once assumed to belong to the hostess. “But I must find some + one for your dinner partner. Mary” (here her voice was likewise turned + away), “this is Mr. Bunker, the nephew of an old friend and neighbor in + Upshire;” (the voice again turned to him), “you will take Miss Morecamp + in. My dear” (once again averted), “I must find some one else to console + poor dear Lord Billingtree with.” Here the hostess's voice was drowned by + fresh arrivals. + </p> + <p> + Bewildered and confused as he was, standing in this empty desert of a + drawing-room, yet encompassed on every side by human voices, so marvelous + was the power of suggestion, he seemed to almost feel the impact of the + invisible crowd. He was trying desperately to realize his situation when a + singularly fascinating voice at his elbow unexpectedly assisted him. It + was evidently his dinner partner. + </p> + <p> + “I suppose you must be tired after your journey. When did you arrive?” + </p> + <p> + “Only a few hours ago,” said Paul. + </p> + <p> + “And I dare say you haven't slept since you arrived. One doesn't on the + passage, you know; the twenty hours pass so quickly, and the experience is + so exciting—to US at least. But I suppose as an American you are + used to it.” + </p> + <p> + Paul gasped. He had passively accepted the bodiless conversation, because + it was at least intelligible! But NOW! Was he going mad? + </p> + <p> + She evidently noticed his silence. “Never mind,” she continued, “you can + tell me all about it at dinner. Do you know I always think that this sort + of thing—what we're doing now,—this ridiculous formality of + reception,—which I suppose is after all only a concession to our + English force of habit,—is absurd! We ought to pass, as it were, + directly from our houses to the dinner-table. It saves time.” + </p> + <p> + “Yes—no—that is—I'm afraid I don't follow you,” + stammered Paul. + </p> + <p> + There was a slight pout in her voice as she replied: “No matter now—we + must follow them—for our host is moving off with Lady Billingtree, + and it's our turn now.” + </p> + <p> + So great was the illusion that he found himself mechanically offering his + arm as he moved through the empty room towards the door. Then he descended + the staircase without another word, preceded, however, by the sound of his + host's voice. Following this as a blind man might, he entered the + dining-room, which to his discomfiture was as empty as the salon above. + Still following the host's voice, he dropped into a chair before the empty + table, wondering what variation of the Barmecide feast was in store for + him. Yet the hum of voices from the vacant chairs around the board so + strongly impressed him that he could almost believe that he was actually + at dinner. + </p> + <p> + “Are you seated?” asked the charming voice at his side. + </p> + <p> + “Yes,” a little wonderingly, as his was the only seat visibly occupied. + </p> + <p> + “I am so glad that this silly ceremony is over. By the way, where are + you?” + </p> + <p> + Paul would have liked to answer, “Lord only knows!” but he reflected that + it might not sound polite. “Where am I?” he feebly repeated. + </p> + <p> + “Yes; where are you dining?” + </p> + <p> + It seemed a cool question under the circumstances, but he answered + promptly,— + </p> + <p> + “With you.” + </p> + <p> + “Of course,” said the charming voice; “but where are you eating your + dinner?” + </p> + <p> + Considering that he was not eating anything, Paul thought this cooler + still. But he answered briefly, “In Upshire.” + </p> + <p> + “Oh! At your uncle's?” + </p> + <p> + “No,” said Paul bluntly; “in the next house.” + </p> + <p> + “Why, that's Sir William's—our host's—and he and his family + are here in London. You are joking.” + </p> + <p> + “Listen!” said Paul desperately. Then in a voice unconsciously lowered he + hurriedly told her where he was—how he came there—the empty + house—the viewless company! To his surprise the only response was a + musical little laugh. But the next moment her voice rose higher with an + unmistakable concern in it, apparently addressing their invisible host. + </p> + <p> + “Oh, Sir William, only think how dreadful. Here's poor Mr. Bunker, alone + in an empty house, which he has mistaken for his uncle's—and without + any dinner!” + </p> + <p> + “Really; dear, dear! How provoking! But how does he happen to be WITH US? + James, how is this?” + </p> + <p> + “If you please, Sir William,” said a servant's respectful voice, + “Widdlestone is in the circuit and is switched on with the others. We + heard that a gentleman's luggage had arrived at Widdlestone, and we + telegraphed for the rooms to be made ready, thinking we'd have her + ladyship's orders later.” + </p> + <p> + A single gleam of intelligence flashed upon Paul. His luggage—yes, + had been sent from the station to the wrong house, and he had unwittingly + followed. But these voices! whence did they come? And where was the actual + dinner at which his host was presiding? It clearly was not at this empty + table. + </p> + <p> + “See that he has everything he wants at once,” said Sir William; “there + must be some one there.” Then his voice turned in the direction of Paul + again, and he said laughingly, “Possess your soul and appetite in patience + for a moment, Mr. Bunker; you will be only a course behind us. But we are + lucky in having your company—even at your own discomfort.” + </p> + <p> + Still more bewildered, Paul turned to his invisible partner. “May I ask + where YOU are dining?” + </p> + <p> + “Certainly; at home in Curzon Street,” returned the pretty voice. “It was + raining so, I did not go out.” + </p> + <p> + “And—Lord Billington?” faltered Paul. + </p> + <p> + “Oh, he's in Scotland—at his own place.” + </p> + <p> + “Then, in fact, nobody is dining here at all,” said Paul desperately. + </p> + <p> + There was a slight pause, and then the voice responded, with a touch of + startled suggestion in it: “Good heavens, Mr. Bunker! Is it possible you + don't know we're dining by telephone?” + </p> + <p> + “By what?” + </p> + <p> + “Telephone. Yes. We're a telephonic dinner-party. We are dining in our own + houses; but, being all friends, we're switched on to each other, and + converse exactly as we would at table. It saves a great trouble and + expense, for any one of us can give the party, and the poorest can equal + the most extravagant. People who are obliged to diet can partake of their + own slops at home, and yet mingle with the gourmets without awkwardness or + the necessity of apology. We are spared the spectacle, at least, of those + who eat and drink too much. We can switch off a bore at once. We can + retire when we are fatigued, without leaving a blank space before the + others. And all this without saying anything of the higher spiritual and + intellectual effect—freed from material grossness of appetite and + show—which the dinner party thus attains. But you are surely joking! + You, an American, and not know it! Why, it comes from Boston. Haven't you + read that book, 'Jumping a Century'? It's by an American.” + </p> + <p> + A strange illumination came upon Paul. Where had he heard something like + this before? But at the same moment his thoughts were diverted by the + material entrance of a footman, bearing a silver salver with his dinner. + It was part of his singular experience that the visible entrance of this + real, commonplace mortal—the only one he had seen—in the midst + of this voiceless solitude was distinctly unreal, and had all the effect + of an apparition. He distrusted it and the dishes before him. But his + lively partner's voice was now addressing an unseen occupant of the next + chair. Had she got tired of his ignorance, or was it feminine tact to + enable him to eat something? He accepted the latter hypothesis, and tried + to eat. But he felt himself following the fascinating voice in all the + charm of its youthful and spiritual inflections. Taking advantage of its + momentary silence, he said gently,— + </p> + <p> + “I confess my ignorance, and am willing to admit all you claim for this + wonderful invention. But do you think it compensates for the loss of the + individual person? Take my own case—if you will not think me + personal. I have never had the pleasure of seeing you; do you believe that + I am content with only that suggestion of your personality which the + satisfaction of hearing your voice affords me?” + </p> + <p> + There was a pause, and then a very mischievous ring in the voice that + replied: “It certainly is a personal question, and it is another blessing + of this invention that you'll never know whether I am blushing or not; but + I forgive you, for I never before spoke to any one I had never seen—and + I suppose it's confusion. But do you really think you would know me—the + REAL one—any better? It is the real person who thinks and speaks, + not the outward semblance that we see, which very often unfairly either + attracts or repels us? We can always SHOW ourselves at our best, but we + must, at last, reveal our true colors through our thoughts and speech. + Isn't it better to begin with the real thing first?” + </p> + <p> + “I hope, at least, to have the privilege of judging by myself,” said Paul + gallantly. “You will not be so cruel as not to let me see you elsewhere, + otherwise I shall feel as if I were in some dream, and will certainly be + opposed to your preference for realities.” + </p> + <p> + “I am not certain if the dream would not be more interesting to you,” said + the voice laughingly. “But I think your hostess is already saying + 'good-by.' You know everybody goes at once at this kind of party; the + ladies don't retire first, and the gentlemen join them afterwards. In + another moment we'll ALL be switched off; but Sir William wants me to tell + you that his coachman will drive you to your uncle's, unless you prefer to + try and make yourself comfortable for the night here. Good-by!” + </p> + <p> + The voices around him seemed to grow fainter, and then utterly cease. The + lights suddenly leaped up, went out, and left him in complete darkness. He + attempted to rise, but in doing so overset the dishes before him, which + slid to the floor. A cold air seemed to blow across his feet. The + “good-by” was still ringing in his ears as he straightened himself to find + he was in his railway carriage, whose door had just been opened for a + young lady who was entering the compartment from a wayside station. + “Good-by,” she repeated to the friend who was seeing her off. The Writer + of Stories hurriedly straightened himself, gathered up the magazines and + papers that had fallen from his lap, and glanced at the station walls. The + old illustrations glanced back at him! He looked at his watch; he had been + asleep just ten minutes! + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0011" id="link2H_4_0011"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + BOHEMIAN DAYS IN SAN FRANCISCO + </h2> + <p> + It is but just to the respectable memory of San Francisco that in these + vagrant recollections I should deprecate at once any suggestion that the + levity of my title described its dominant tone at any period of my early + experiences. On the contrary, it was a singular fact that while the rest + of California was swayed by an easy, careless unconventionalism, or swept + over by waves of emotion and sentiment, San Francisco preserved an + intensely material and practical attitude, and even a certain austere + morality. I do not, of course, allude to the brief days of '49, when it + was a straggling beach of huts and stranded hulks, but to the earlier + stages of its development into the metropolis of California. Its first + tottering steps in that direction were marked by a distinct gravity and + decorum. Even during the period when the revolver settled small private + difficulties, and Vigilance Committees adjudicated larger public ones, an + unmistakable seriousness and respectability was the ruling sign of its + governing class. It was not improbable that under the reign of the + Committee the lawless and vicious class were more appalled by the moral + spectacle of several thousand black-coated, serious-minded business men in + embattled procession than by mere force of arms, and one “suspect”—a + prize-fighter—is known to have committed suicide in his cell after + confrontation with his grave and passionless shopkeeping judges. Even that + peculiar quality of Californian humor which was apt to mitigate the + extravagances of the revolver and the uncertainties of poker had no place + in the decorous and responsible utterance of San Francisco. The press was + sober, materialistic, practical—when it was not severely admonitory + of existing evil; the few smaller papers that indulged in levity were + considered libelous and improper. Fancy was displaced by heavy articles on + the revenues of the State and inducements to the investment of capital. + Local news was under an implied censorship which suppressed anything that + might tend to discourage timid or cautious capital. Episodes of romantic + lawlessness or pathetic incidents of mining life were carefully edited—with + the comment that these things belonged to the past, and that life and + property were now “as safe in San Francisco as in New York or London.” + </p> + <p> + Wonder-loving visitors in quest of scenes characteristic of the + civilization were coldly snubbed with this assurance. Fires, floods, and + even seismic convulsions were subjected to a like grimly materialistic + optimism. I have a vivid recollection of a ponderous editorial on one of + the severer earthquakes, in which it was asserted that only the + UNEXPECTEDNESS of the onset prevented San Francisco from meeting it in a + way that would be deterrent of all future attacks. The unconsciousness of + the humor was only equaled by the gravity with which it was received by + the whole business community. Strangely enough, this grave materialism + flourished side by side with—and was even sustained by—a + narrow religious strictness more characteristic of the Pilgrim Fathers of + a past century than the Western pioneers of the present. San Francisco was + early a city of churches and church organizations to which the leading men + and merchants belonged. The lax Sundays of the dying Spanish race seemed + only to provoke a revival of the rigors of the Puritan Sabbath. With the + Spaniard and his Sunday afternoon bullfight scarcely an hour distant, the + San Francisco pulpit thundered against Sunday picnics. One of the popular + preachers, declaiming upon the practice of Sunday dinner-giving, averred + that when he saw a guest in his best Sunday clothes standing shamelessly + upon the doorstep of his host, he felt like seizing him by the shoulder + and dragging him from that threshold of perdition. + </p> + <p> + Against the actual heathen the feeling was even stronger, and reached its + climax one Sunday when a Chinaman was stoned to death by a crowd of + children returning from Sunday-school. I am offering these examples with + no ethical purpose, but merely to indicate a singular contradictory + condition which I do not think writers of early Californian history have + fairly recorded. It is not my province to suggest any theory for these + appalling exceptions to the usual good-humored lawlessness and + extravagance of the rest of the State. They may have been essential + agencies to the growth and evolution of the city. They were undoubtedly + sincere. The impressions I propose to give of certain scenes and incidents + of my early experience must, therefore, be taken as purely personal and + Bohemian, and their selection as equally individual and vagrant. I am + writing of what interested me at the time, though not perhaps of what was + more generally characteristic of San Francisco. + </p> + <p> + I had been there a week—an idle week, spent in listless outlook for + employment; a full week in my eager absorption of the strange life around + me and a photographic sensitiveness to certain scenes and incidents of + those days, which start out of my memory to-day as freshly as the day they + impressed me. + </p> + <p> + One of these recollections is of “steamer night,” as it was called,—the + night of “steamer day,”—preceding the departure of the mail + steamship with the mails for “home.” Indeed, at that time San Francisco + may be said to have lived from steamer day to steamer day; bills were made + due on that day, interest computed to that period, and accounts settled. + The next day was the turning of a new leaf: another essay to fortune, + another inspiration of energy. So recognized was the fact that even + ordinary changes of condition, social and domestic, were put aside until + AFTER steamer day. “I'll see what I can do after next steamer day” was the + common cautious or hopeful formula. It was the “Saturday night” of many a + wage-earner—and to him a night of festivity. The thoroughfares were + animated and crowded; the saloons and theatres full. I can recall myself + at such times wandering along the City Front, as the business part of San + Francisco was then known. Here the lights were burning all night, the + first streaks of dawn finding the merchants still at their counting-house + desks. I remember the dim lines of warehouses lining the insecure wharves + of rotten piles, half filled in—that had ceased to be wharves, but + had not yet become streets,—their treacherous yawning depths, with + the uncertain gleam of tarlike mud below, at times still vocal with the + lap and gurgle of the tide. I remember the weird stories of disappearing + men found afterward imbedded in the ooze in which they had fallen and + gasped their life away. I remember the two or three ships, still left + standing where they were beached a year or two before, built in between + warehouses, their bows projecting into the roadway. There was the dignity + of the sea and its boundless freedom in their beautiful curves, which the + abutting houses could not destroy, and even something of the sea's + loneliness in the far-spaced ports and cabin windows lit up by the lamps + of the prosaic landsmen who plied their trades behind them. One of these + ships, transformed into a hotel, retained its name, the Niantic, and part + of its characteristic interior unchanged. I remember these ships' old + tenants—the rats—who had increased and multiplied to such an + extent that at night they fearlessly crossed the wayfarer's path at every + turn, and even invaded the gilded saloons of Montgomery Street. In the + Niantic their pit-a-pat was met on every staircase, and it was said that + sometimes in an excess of sociability they accompanied the traveler to his + room. In the early “cloth-and-papered” houses—so called because the + ceilings were not plastered, but simply covered by stretched and + whitewashed cloth—their scamperings were plainly indicated in zigzag + movements of the sagging cloth, or they became actually visible by finally + dropping through the holes they had worn in it! I remember the house whose + foundations were made of boxes of plug tobacco—part of a jettisoned + cargo—used instead of more expensive lumber; and the adjacent + warehouse where the trunks of the early and forgotten “forty-niners” were + stored, and—never claimed by their dead or missing owners—were + finally sold at auction. I remember the strong breath of the sea over all, + and the constant onset of the trade winds which helped to disinfect the + deposit of dirt and grime, decay and wreckage, which were stirred up in + the later evolutions of the city. + </p> + <p> + Or I recall, with the same sense of youthful satisfaction and unabated + wonder, my wanderings through the Spanish Quarter, where three centuries + of quaint customs, speech, and dress were still preserved; where the + proverbs of Sancho Panza were still spoken in the language of Cervantes, + and the high-flown illusions of the La Manchian knight still a part of the + Spanish Californian hidalgo's dream. I recall the more modern “Greaser,” + or Mexican—his index finger steeped in cigarette stains; his velvet + jacket and his crimson sash; the many-flounced skirt and lace manta of his + women, and their caressing intonations—the one musical utterance of + the whole hard-voiced city. I suppose I had a boy's digestion and + bluntness of taste in those days, for the combined odor of tobacco, burned + paper, and garlic, which marked that melodious breath, did not affect me. + </p> + <p> + Perhaps from my Puritan training I experienced a more fearful joy in the + gambling saloons. They were the largest and most comfortable, even as they + were the most expensively decorated rooms in San Francisco. Here again the + gravity and decorum which I have already alluded to were present at that + earlier period—though perhaps from concentration of another kind. + People staked and lost their last dollar with a calm solemnity and a + resignation that was almost Christian. The oaths, exclamations, and + feverish interruptions which often characterized more dignified assemblies + were absent here. There was no room for the lesser vices; there was little + or no drunkenness; the gaudily dressed and painted women who presided over + the wheels of fortune or performed on the harp and piano attracted no + attention from those ascetic players. The man who had won ten thousand + dollars and the man who had lost everything rose from the table with equal + silence and imperturbability. I never witnessed any tragic sequel to those + losses; I never heard of any suicide on account of them. Neither can I + recall any quarrel or murder directly attributable to this kind of + gambling. It must be remembered that these public games were chiefly rouge + et noir, monte, faro, or roulette, in which the antagonist was Fate, + Chance, Method, or the impersonal “bank,” which was supposed to represent + them all; there was no individual opposition or rivalry; nobody challenged + the decision of the “croupier,” or dealer. + </p> + <p> + I remember a conversation at the door of one saloon which was as + characteristic for its brevity as it was a type of the prevailing + stoicism. “Hello!” said a departing miner, as he recognized a brother + miner coming in, “when did you come down?” “This morning,” was the reply. + “Made a strike on the bar?” suggested the first speaker. “You bet!” said + the other, and passed in. I chanced an hour later to be at the same place + as they met again—their relative positions changed. “Hello! Whar + now?” said the incomer. “Back to the bar.” “Cleaned out?” “You bet!” Not a + word more explained a common situation. + </p> + <p> + My first youthful experience at those tables was an accidental one. I was + watching roulette one evening, intensely absorbed in the mere movement of + the players. Either they were so preoccupied with the game, or I was + really older looking than my actual years, but a bystander laid his hand + familiarly on my shoulder, and said, as to an ordinary habitue, “Ef you're + not chippin' in yourself, pardner, s'pose you give ME a show.” Now I + honestly believe that up to that moment I had no intention, nor even a + desire, to try my own fortune. But in the embarrassment of the sudden + address I put my hand in my pocket, drew out a coin, and laid it, with an + attempt at carelessness, but a vivid consciousness that I was blushing, + upon a vacant number. To my horror I saw that I had put down a large coin—the + bulk of my possessions! I did not flinch, however; I think any boy who + reads this will understand my feeling; it was not only my coin but my + manhood at stake. I gazed with a miserable show of indifference at the + players, at the chandelier—anywhere but at the dreadful ball + spinning round the wheel. There was a pause; the game was declared, the + rake rattled up and down, but still I did not look at the table. Indeed, + in my inexperience of the game and my embarrassment, I doubt if I should + have known if I had won or not. I had made up my mind that I should lose, + but I must do so like a man, and, above all, without giving the least + suspicion that I was a greenhorn. I even affected to be listening to the + music. The wheel spun again; the game was declared, the rake was busy, but + I did not move. At last the man I had displaced touched me on the arm and + whispered, “Better make a straddle and divide your stake this time.” I did + not understand him, but as I saw he was looking at the board, I was + obliged to look, too. I drew back dazed and bewildered! Where my coin had + lain a moment before was a glittering heap of gold. + </p> + <p> + My stake had doubled, quadrupled, and doubled again. I did not know how + much then—-I do not know now—it may have been not more than + three or four hundred dollars—but it dazzled and frightened me. + “Make your game, gentlemen,” said the croupier monotonously. I thought he + looked at me—indeed, everybody seemed to be looking at me—and + my companion repeated his warning. But here I must again appeal to the + boyish reader in defense of my idiotic obstinacy. To have taken advice + would have shown my youth. I shook my head—I could not trust my + voice. I smiled, but with a sinking heart, and let my stake remain. The + ball again sped round the wheel, and stopped. There was a pause. The + croupier indolently advanced his rake and swept my whole pile with others + into the bank! I had lost it all. Perhaps it may be difficult for me to + explain why I actually felt relieved, and even to some extent triumphant, + but I seemed to have asserted my grown-up independence—possibly at + the cost of reducing the number of my meals for days; but what of that! I + was a man! I wish I could say that it was a lesson to me. I am afraid it + was not. It was true that I did not gamble again, but then I had no + especial desire to—and there was no temptation. I am afraid it was + an incident without a moral. Yet it had one touch characteristic of the + period which I like to remember. The man who had spoken to me, I think, + suddenly realized, at the moment of my disastrous coup, the fact of my + extreme youth. He moved toward the banker, and leaning over him whispered + a few words. The banker looked up, half impatiently, half kindly—his + hand straying tentatively toward the pile of coin. I instinctively knew + what he meant, and, summoning my determination, met his eyes with all the + indifference I could assume, and walked away. + </p> + <p> + I had at that period a small room at the top of a house owned by a distant + relation—a second or third cousin, I think. He was a man of + independent and original character, had a Ulyssean experience of men and + cities, and an old English name of which he was proud. While in London he + had procured from the Heralds' College his family arms, whose crest was + stamped upon a quantity of plate he had brought with him to California. + The plate, together with an exceptionally good cook, which he had also + brought, and his own epicurean tastes, he utilized in the usual practical + Californian fashion by starting a rather expensive half-club, + half-restaurant in the lower part of the building—which he ruled + somewhat autocratically, as became his crest. The restaurant was too + expensive for me to patronize, but I saw many of its frequenters as well + as those who had rooms at the club. They were men of very distinct + personality; a few celebrated, and nearly all notorious. They represented + a Bohemianism—if such it could be called—less innocent than my + later experiences. I remember, however, one handsome young fellow whom I + used to meet occasionally on the staircase, who captured my youthful + fancy. I met him only at midday, as he did not rise till late, and this + fact, with a certain scrupulous elegance and neatness in his dress, ought + to have made me suspect that he was a gambler. In my inexperience it only + invested him with a certain romantic mystery. + </p> + <p> + One morning as I was going out to my very early breakfast at a cheap + Italian cafe on Long Wharf, I was surprised to find him also descending + the staircase. He was scrupulously dressed even at that early hour, but I + was struck by the fact that he was all in black, and his slight figure, + buttoned to the throat in a tightly fitting frock coat, gave, I fancied, a + singular melancholy to his pale Southern face. Nevertheless, he greeted me + with more than his usual serene cordiality, and I remembered that he + looked up with a half-puzzled, half-amused expression at the rosy morning + sky as he walked a few steps with me down the deserted street. I could not + help saying that I was astonished to see him up so early, and he admitted + that it was a break in his usual habits, but added with a smiling + significance I afterwards remembered that it was “an even chance if he did + it again.” As we neared the street corner a man in a buggy drove up + impatiently. In spite of the driver's evident haste, my handsome + acquaintance got in leisurely, and, lifting his glossy hat to me with a + pleasant smile, was driven away. I have a very lasting recollection of his + face and figure as the buggy disappeared down the empty street. I never + saw him again. It was not until a week later that I knew that an hour + after he left me that morning he was lying dead in a little hollow behind + the Mission Dolores—shot through the heart in a duel for which he + had risen so early. + </p> + <p> + I recall another incident of that period, equally characteristic, but + happily less tragic in sequel. I was in the restaurant one morning talking + to my cousin when a man entered hastily and said something to him in a + hurried whisper. My cousin contracted his eyebrows and uttered a + suppressed oath. Then with a gesture of warning to the man he crossed the + room quietly to a table where a regular habitue of the restaurant was + lazily finishing his breakfast. A large silver coffee-pot with a stiff + wooden handle stood on the table before him. My cousin leaned over the + guest familiarly and apparently made some hospitable inquiry as to his + wants, with his hand resting lightly on the coffee-pot handle. Then—possibly + because, my curiosity having been excited, I was watching him more + intently than the others—I saw what probably no one else saw—that + he deliberately upset the coffee-pot and its contents over the guest's + shirt and waistcoat. As the victim sprang up with an exclamation, my + cousin overwhelmed him with apologies for his carelessness, and, with + protestations of sorrow for the accident, actually insisted upon dragging + the man upstairs into his own private room, where he furnished him with a + shirt and waistcoat of his own. The side door had scarcely closed upon + them, and I was still lost in wonder at what I had seen, when a man + entered from the street. He was one of the desperate set I have already + spoken of, and thoroughly well known to those present. He cast a glance + around the room, nodded to one or two of the guests, and then walked to a + side table and took up a newspaper. I was conscious at once that a + singular constraint had come over the other guests—a nervous + awkwardness that at last seemed to make itself known to the man himself, + who, after an affected yawn or two, laid down the paper and walked out. + </p> + <p> + “That was a mighty close call,” said one of the guests with a sigh of + relief. + </p> + <p> + “You bet! And that coffee-pot spill was the luckiest kind of accident for + Peters,” returned another. + </p> + <p> + “For both,” added the first speaker, “for Peters was armed too, and would + have seen him come in!” + </p> + <p> + A word or two explained all. Peters and the last comer had quarreled a day + or two before, and had separated with the intention to “shoot on sight,” + that is, wherever they met,—a form of duel common to those days. The + accidental meeting in the restaurant would have been the occasion, with + the usual sanguinary consequence, but for the word of warning given to my + cousin by a passer-by who knew that Peters' antagonist was coming to the + restaurant to look at the papers. Had my cousin repeated the warning to + Peters himself he would only have prepared him for the conflict—which + he would not have shirked—and so precipitated the affray. + </p> + <p> + The ruse of upsetting the coffee-pot, which everybody but myself thought + an accident, was to get him out of the room before the other entered. I + was too young then to venture to intrude upon my cousin's secrets, but two + or three years afterwards I taxed him with the trick and he admitted it + regretfully. I believe that a strict interpretation of the “code” would + have condemned his act as unsportsmanlike, if not UNFAIR! + </p> + <p> + I recall another incident connected with the building equally + characteristic of the period. The United States Branch Mint stood very + near it, and its tall, factory-like chimneys overshadowed my cousin's + roof. Some scandal had arisen from an alleged leakage of gold in the + manipulation of that metal during the various processes of smelting and + refining. One of the excuses offered was the volatilization of the + precious metal and its escape through the draft of the tall chimneys. All + San Francisco laughed at this explanation until it learned that a + corroboration of the theory had been established by an assay of the dust + and grime of the roofs in the vicinity of the Mint. These had yielded + distinct traces of gold. San Francisco stopped laughing, and that portion + of it which had roofs in the neighborhood at once began prospecting. + Claims were staked out on these airy placers, and my cousin's roof, being + the very next one to the chimney, and presumably “in the lead,” was + disposed of to a speculative company for a considerable sum. I remember my + cousin telling me the story—for the occurrence was quite recent—and + taking me with him to the roof to explain it, but I am afraid I was more + attracted by the mystery of the closely guarded building, and the + strangely tinted smoke which arose from this temple where money was + actually being “made,” than by anything else. Nor did I dream as I stood + there—a very lanky, open-mouthed youth—that only three or four + years later I should be the secretary of its superintendent. In my more + adventurous ambition I am afraid I would have accepted the suggestion + half-heartedly. Merely to have helped to stamp the gold which other people + had adventurously found was by no means a part of my youthful dreams. + </p> + <p> + At the time of these earlier impressions the Chinese had not yet become + the recognized factors in the domestic and business economy of the city + which they had come to be when I returned from the mines three years + later. Yet they were even then a more remarkable and picturesque contrast + to the bustling, breathless, and brand-new life of San Francisco than the + Spaniard. The latter seldom flaunted his faded dignity in the principal + thoroughfares. “John” was to be met everywhere. It was a common thing to + see a long file of sampan coolies carrying their baskets slung between + them, on poles, jostling a modern, well-dressed crowd in Montgomery + Street, or to get a whiff of their burned punk in the side streets; while + the road leading to their temporary burial-ground at Lone Mountain was + littered with slips of colored paper scattered from their funerals. They + brought an atmosphere of the Arabian Nights into the hard, modern + civilization; their shops—not always confined at that time to a + Chinese quarter—were replicas of the bazaars of Canton and Peking, + with their quaint display of little dishes on which tidbits of food + delicacies were exposed for sale, all of the dimensions and unreality of a + doll's kitchen or a child's housekeeping. + </p> + <p> + They were a revelation to the Eastern immigrant, whose preconceived ideas + of them were borrowed from the ballet or pantomime; they did not wear + scalloped drawers and hats with jingling bells on their points, nor did I + ever see them dance with their forefingers vertically extended. They were + always neatly dressed, even the commonest of coolies, and their festive + dresses were marvels. As traders they were grave and patient; as servants + they were sad and civil, and all were singularly infantine in their + natural simplicity. The living representatives of the oldest civilization + in the world, they seemed like children. Yet they kept their beliefs and + sympathies to themselves, never fraternizing with the fanqui, or foreign + devil, or losing their singular racial qualities. They indulged in their + own peculiar habits; of their social and inner life, San Francisco knew + but little and cared less. Even at this early period, and before I came to + know them more intimately, I remember an incident of their daring fidelity + to their own customs that was accidentally revealed to me. I had become + acquainted with a Chinese youth of about my own age, as I imagined,—although + from mere outward appearance it was generally impossible to judge of a + Chinaman's age between the limits of seventeen and forty years,—and + he had, in a burst of confidence, taken me to see some characteristic + sights in a Chinese warehouse within a stone's throw of the Plaza. I was + struck by the singular circumstance that while the warehouse was an + erection of wood in the ordinary hasty Californian style, there were + certain brick and stone divisions in its interior, like small rooms or + closets, evidently added by the Chinamen tenants. My companion stopped + before a long, very narrow entrance, a mere longitudinal slit in the brick + wall, and with a wink of infantine deviltry motioned me to look inside. I + did so, and saw a room, really a cell, of fair height but scarcely six + feet square, and barely able to contain a rude, slanting couch of stone + covered with matting, on which lay, at a painful angle, a richly dressed + Chinaman. A single glance at his dull, staring, abstracted eyes and + half-opened mouth showed me he was in an opium trance. This was not in + itself a novel sight, and I was moving away when I was suddenly startled + by the appearance of his hands, which were stretched helplessly before him + on his body, and at first sight seemed to be in a kind of wicker cage. + </p> + <p> + I then saw that his finger-nails were seven or eight inches long, and were + supported by bamboo splints. Indeed, they were no longer human nails, but + twisted and distorted quills, giving him the appearance of having gigantic + claws. “Velly big Chinaman,” whispered my cheerful friend; “first-chop man—high + classee—no can washee—no can eat—no dlinke, no catchee + him own glub allee same nothee man—China boy must catchee glub for + him, allee time! Oh, him first-chop man—you bettee!” + </p> + <p> + I had heard of this singular custom of indicating caste before, and was + amazed and disgusted, but I was not prepared for what followed. My + companion, evidently thinking he had impressed me, grew more reckless as + showman, and saying to me, “Now me showee you one funny thing—heap + makee you laugh,” led me hurriedly across a little courtyard swarming with + chickens and rabbits, when he stopped before another inclosure. Suddenly + brushing past an astonished Chinaman who seemed to be standing guard, he + thrust me into the inclosure in front of a most extraordinary object. It + was a Chinaman, wearing a huge, square, wooden frame fastened around his + neck like a collar, and fitting so tightly and rigidly that the flesh rose + in puffy weals around his cheeks. He was chained to a post, although it + was as impossible for him to have escaped with his wooden cage through the + narrow doorway as it was for him to lie down and rest in it. Yet I am + bound to say that his eyes and face expressed nothing but apathy, and + there was no appeal to the sympathy of the stranger. My companion said + hurriedly,— + </p> + <p> + “Velly bad man; stealee heap from Chinamen,” and then, apparently alarmed + at his own indiscreet intrusion, hustled me away as quickly as possible + amid a shrill cackling of protestation from a few of his own countrymen + who had joined the one who was keeping guard. In another moment we were in + the street again—scarce a step from the Plaza, in the full light of + Western civilization—not a stone's throw from the courts of justice. + </p> + <p> + My companion took to his heels and left me standing there bewildered and + indignant. I could not rest until I had told my story, but without + betraying my companion, to an elder acquaintance, who laid the facts + before the police authorities. I had expected to be closely cross-examined—to + be doubted—to be disbelieved. To my surprise, I was told that the + police had already cognizance of similar cases of illegal and barbarous + punishments, but that the victims themselves refused to testify against + their countrymen—and it was impossible to convict or even to + identify them. “A white man can't tell one Chinese from another, and there + are always a dozen of 'em ready to swear that the man you've got isn't the + one.” I was startled to reflect that I, too, could not have + conscientiously sworn to either jailor or the tortured prisoner—or + perhaps even to my cheerful companion. The police, on some pretext, made a + raid upon the premises a day or two afterwards, but without result. I + wondered if they had caught sight of the high-class, first-chop + individual, with the helplessly outstretched fingers, as that story I had + kept to myself. + </p> + <p> + But these barbaric vestiges in John Chinaman's habits did not affect his + relations with the San Franciscans. He was singularly peaceful, docile, + and harmless as a servant, and, with rare exceptions, honest and + temperate. If he sometimes matched cunning with cunning, it was the + flattery of imitation. He did most of the menial work of San Francisco, + and did it cleanly. Except that he exhaled a peculiar druglike odor, he + was not personally offensive in domestic contact, and by virtue of being + the recognized laundryman of the whole community his own blouses were + always freshly washed and ironed. His conversational reserve arose, not + from his having to deal with an unfamiliar language,—for he had + picked up a picturesque and varied vocabulary with ease,—but from + his natural temperament. He was devoid of curiosity, and utterly + unimpressed by anything but the purely business concerns of those he + served. Domestic secrets were safe with him; his indifference to your + thoughts, actions, and feelings had all the contempt which his three + thousand years of history and his innate belief in your inferiority seemed + to justify. He was blind and deaf in your household because you didn't + interest him in the least. It was said that a gentleman, who wished to + test his impassiveness, arranged with his wife to come home one day and, + in the hearing of his Chinese waiter who was more than usually intelligent—to + disclose with well-simulated emotion the details of a murder he had just + committed. He did so. The Chinaman heard it without a sign of horror or + attention even to the lifting of an eyelid, but continued his duties + unconcerned. Unfortunately, the gentleman, in order to increase the horror + of the situation, added that now there was nothing left for him but to cut + his throat. At this John quietly left the room. The gentleman was + delighted at the success of his ruse until the door reopened and John + reappeared with his master's razor, which he quietly slipped—as if + it had been a forgotten fork—beside his master's plate, and calmly + resumed his serving. I have always considered this story to be quite as + improbable as it was inartistic, from its tacit admission of a certain + interest on the part of the Chinaman. I never knew one who would have been + sufficiently concerned to go for the razor. + </p> + <p> + His taciturnity and reticence may have been confounded with rudeness of + address, although he was always civil enough. “I see you have listened to + me and done exactly what I told you,” said a lady, commending some + performance of her servant after a previous lengthy lecture; “that's very + nice.” “Yes,” said John calmly, “you talkee allee time; talkee allee too + much.” “I always find Ling very polite,” said another lady, speaking of + her cook, “but I wish he did not always say to me, 'Goodnight, John,' in a + high falsetto voice.” She had not recognized the fact that he was simply + repeating her own salutation with his marvelous instinct of relentless + imitation, even as to voice. I hesitate to record the endless stories of + his misapplication of that faculty which were then current, from the one + of the laundryman who removed the buttons from the shirts that were sent + to him to wash that they might agree with the condition of the one offered + him as a pattern for “doing up,” to that of the unfortunate employer who, + while showing John how to handle valuable china carefully, had the + misfortune to drop a plate himself—an accident which was followed by + the prompt breaking of another by the neophyte, with the addition of “Oh, + hellee!” in humble imitation of his master. + </p> + <p> + I have spoken of his general cleanliness; I am reminded of one or two + exceptions, which I think, however, were errors of zeal. His manner of + sprinkling clothes in preparing them for ironing was peculiar. He would + fill his mouth with perfectly pure water from a glass beside him, and + then, by one dexterous movement of his lips in a prolonged expiration, + squirt the water in an almost invisible misty shower on the article before + him. Shocking as this was at first to the sensibilities of many American + employers, it was finally accepted, and even commended. It was some time + after this that the mistress of a household, admiring the deft way in + which her cook had spread a white sauce on certain dishes, was cheerfully + informed that the method was “allee same.” + </p> + <p> + His recreations at that time were chiefly gambling, for the Chinese + theatre wherein the latter produced his plays (which lasted for several + months and comprised the events of a whole dynasty) was not yet built. But + he had one or two companies of jugglers who occasionally performed also at + American theatres. I remember a singular incident which attended the debut + of a newly arrived company. It seemed that the company had been taken on + their Chinese reputation solely, and there had been no previous rehearsal + before the American stage manager. The theatre was filled with an audience + of decorous and respectable San Franciscans of both sexes. It was suddenly + emptied in the middle of the performance; the curtain came down with an + alarmed and blushing manager apologizing to deserted benches, and the show + abruptly terminated. Exactly WHAT had happened never appeared in the + public papers, nor in the published apology of the manager. It afforded a + few days' mirth for wicked San Francisco, and it was epigrammatically + summed up in the remark that “no woman could be found in San Francisco who + was at that performance, and no man who was not.” Yet it was alleged even + by John's worst detractors that he was innocent of any intended offense. + Equally innocent, but perhaps more morally instructive, was an incident + that brought his career as a singularly successful physician to a + disastrous close. An ordinary native Chinese doctor, practicing entirely + among his own countrymen, was reputed to have made extraordinary cures + with two or three American patients. With no other advertising than this, + and apparently no other inducement offered to the public than what their + curiosity suggested, he was presently besieged by hopeful and eager + sufferers. Hundreds of patients were turned away from his crowded doors. + Two interpreters sat, day and night, translating the ills of ailing San + Francisco to this medical oracle, and dispensing his prescriptions—usually + small powders—in exchange for current coin. In vain the regular + practitioners pointed out that the Chinese possessed no superior medical + knowledge, and that their religion, which proscribed dissection and + autopsies, naturally limited their understanding of the body into which + they put their drugs. Finally they prevailed upon an eminent Chinese + authority to give them a list of the remedies generally used in the + Chinese pharmacopoeia, and this was privately circulated. For obvious + reasons I may not repeat it here. But it was summed up—again after + the usual Californian epigrammatic style—by the remark that + “whatever were the comparative merits of Chinese and American practice, a + simple perusal of the list would prove that the Chinese were capable of + producing the most powerful emetic known.” The craze subsided in a single + day; the interpreters and their oracle vanished; the Chinese doctors' + signs, which had multiplied, disappeared, and San Francisco awoke cured of + its madness, at the cost of some thousand dollars. + </p> + <p> + My Bohemian wanderings were confined to the limits of the city, for the + very good reason that there was little elsewhere to go. San Francisco was + then bounded on one side by the monotonously restless waters of the bay, + and on the other by a stretch of equally restless and monotonously + shifting sand dunes as far as the Pacific shore. Two roads penetrated this + waste: one to Lone Mountain—the cemetery; the other to the Cliff + House—happily described as “an eight-mile drive with a cocktail at + the end of it.” Nor was the humor entirely confined to this felicitous + description. The Cliff House itself, half restaurant, half drinking + saloon, fronting the ocean and the Seal Rock, where disporting seals were + the chief object of interest, had its own peculiar symbol. The decanters, + wine-glasses, and tumblers at the bar were all engraved in old English + script with the legal initials “L. S.” (Locus Sigilli),—“the place + of the seal.” + </p> + <p> + On the other hand, Lone Mountain, a dreary promontory giving upon the + Golden Gate and its striking sunsets, had little to soften its weird + suggestiveness. As the common goal of the successful and unsuccessful, the + carved and lettered shaft of the man who had made a name, and the staring + blank headboard of the man who had none, climbed the sandy slopes + together. I have seen the funerals of the respectable citizen who had died + peacefully in his bed, and the notorious desperado who had died “with his + boots on,” followed by an equally impressive cortege of sorrowing friends, + and often the self-same priest. But more awful than its barren loneliness + was the utter absence of peacefulness and rest in this dismal promontory. + By some wicked irony of its situation and climate it was the + personification of unrest and change. The incessant trade winds carried + its loose sands hither and thither, uncovering the decaying coffins of + early pioneers, to bury the wreaths and flowers, laid on a grave of + to-day, under their obliterating waves. No tree to shade them from the + glaring sky above could live in those winds, no turf would lie there to + resist the encroaching sand below. The dead were harried and hustled even + in their graves by the persistent sun, the unremitting wind, and the + unceasing sea. The departing mourner saw the contour of the very mountain + itself change with the shifting dunes as he passed, and his last look + beyond rested on the hurrying, eager waves forever hastening to the Golden + Gate. + </p> + <p> + If I were asked to say what one thing impressed me as the dominant and + characteristic note of San Francisco, I should say it was this untiring + presence of sun and wind and sea. They typified, even if they were not, as + I sometimes fancied, the actual incentive to the fierce, restless life of + the city. I could not think of San Francisco without the trade winds; I + could not imagine its strange, incongruous, multigenerous procession + marching to any other music. They were always there in my youthful + recollections; they were there in my more youthful dreams of the past as + the mysterious vientes generales that blew the Philippine galleons home. + </p> + <p> + For six months they blew from the northwest, for six months from the + southwest, with unvarying persistency. They were there every morning, + glittering in the equally persistent sunlight, to chase the San Franciscan + from his slumber; they were there at midday, to stir his pulses with their + beat; they were there again at night, to hurry him through the bleak and + flaring gas-lit streets to bed. They left their mark on every windward + street or fence or gable, on the outlying sand dunes; they lashed the slow + coasters home, and hurried them to sea again; they whipped the bay into + turbulence on their way to Contra Costa, whose level shoreland oaks they + had trimmed to windward as cleanly and sharply as with a pruning-shears. + Untiring themselves, they allowed no laggards; they drove the San + Franciscan from the wall against which he would have leaned, from the + scant shade in which at noontide he might have rested. They turned his + smallest fires into conflagrations, and kept him ever alert, watchful, and + eager. In return, they scavenged his city and held it clean and wholesome; + in summer they brought him the soft sea-fog for a few hours to soothe his + abraded surfaces; in winter they brought the rains and dashed the whole + coast-line with flowers, and the staring sky above it with soft, unwonted + clouds. They were always there—strong, vigilant, relentless, + material, unyielding, triumphant. + </p> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Under the Redwoods, by Bret Harte + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK UNDER THE REDWOODS *** + +***** This file should be named 2555-h.htm or 2555-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/2/5/5/2555/ + +Produced by Donald Lainson; 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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