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diff --git a/29128-h/29128-h.htm b/29128-h/29128-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..1fac8f2 --- /dev/null +++ b/29128-h/29128-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,6476 @@ +<!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"> +<head> +<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=ISO-8859-1" /> +<title>The Project Gutenberg eBook of David Dunne, by Belle Kanaris Maniates</title> +<style type="text/css"> + @media screen { + hr.pb {margin:30px 0; width:100%; border:none;border-top:thin dashed silver;} + .pagenum {display: inline; font-size: x-small; text-align: right; position: absolute; right: 2%; padding: 1px 3px; font-style: normal; font-variant:normal; font-weight:normal; text-decoration: none; background-color: inherit; border:1px solid #eee;} + .pncolor {color: silver;} + } + @media print { + hr.pb {border:none;page-break-after: always;} + .pagenum { display:none; } + } + a {text-decoration: none;} + body {margin-left: 11%; margin-right: 10%;} + .figcenter {margin: 2em auto 2em auto; text-align: center; width: auto;} + .figtag {height: 1px;} + p {margin-top: 0.5em; text-align: justify; margin-bottom: 0.5em;} + .caption {font-size:smaller; text-align: center} + hr.tb {border: none; border-bottom:1px solid black; width: 33%;} + h3 {font-size:1.0em;} + h1,h2,h3 {text-align:center; font-weight:normal;} + h1.pg {text-align:center; font-weight:bold;} + h3.pg {text-align:center; font-weight:bold; font-size: 110%; } + p.tp {font-size:1em; margin-top:0; margin-bottom:0; text-align:center;} + h1 {font-size:1.8em;} + + hr.full { width: 100%; + margin-top: 3em; + margin-bottom: 0em; + margin-left: auto; + margin-right: auto; + height: 4px; + border-width: 4px 0 0 0; /* remove all borders except the top one */ + border-style: solid; + border-color: #000000; + clear: both; } + pre {font-size: 85%;} +</style> +</head> +<body> +<h1 class="pg">The Project Gutenberg eBook, David Dunne, by Belle Kanaris Maniates, +Illustrated by John Drew</h1> +<pre> +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 <a href = "http://www.gutenberg.org">www.gutenberg.org</a></pre> +<p>Title: David Dunne</p> +<p> A Romance of the Middle West</p> +<p>Author: Belle Kanaris Maniates</p> +<p>Release Date: June 15, 2009 [eBook #29128]</p> +<p>Language: English</p> +<p>Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1</p> +<p>***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK DAVID DUNNE***</p> +<p> </p> +<h3 class="pg">E-text prepared by Roger Frank<br /> + and the Project Gutenberg Online Distributed Proofreading Team<br /> + (http://www.pgdp.net)</h3> +<p> </p> +<hr class="full" /> +<p> </p> + +<div class='figtag'> +<a name='linki_1' id='linki_1'></a> +</div> +<div class='figcenter'> +<img src='images/illus-fpc.jpg' alt='' title='' width='401' height='547' /><br /> +<p class='caption'> +“<i>He stood as if at bay, his face pale, his eyes riveted<br /> +on those floating banners</i>” Page 218<br /> +</p> +</div> +<hr class='pb' /> +<h1>DAVID DUNNE</h1> +<p class='tp' style='font-size:1.2em;margin-bottom:4em;'>A Romance of the Middle West</p> +<p class='tp' style='font-variant:small-caps;'>By</p> +<p class='tp' style='font-variant:small-caps;font-size:1.2em;margin-bottom:4em;'>BELLE KANARIS MANIATES</p> +<p class='tp' style='font-style:italic;'>With illustrations by</p> +<p class='tp' style='font-size:1.2em;margin-bottom:8em;;'>JOHN DREW</p> +<p class='tp' style='letter-spacing:0.1em;;font-size:1.2em;'>RAND McNALLY & COMPANY</p> +<p class='tp' >CHICAGO NEW YORK</p> +<hr class='pb' /> +<p class='tp' style='font-size:smaller;'><i>Copyright, 1912, by</i><br />RAND, McNALLY & COMPANY</p> +<hr class='pb' /> +<p style='text-align:center' >To Milly and Gardner</p> +<hr class='pb' /> +<h3>LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS</h3> +<table border='0' cellpadding='2' cellspacing='0' summary='Illustrations' style='margin:1em auto;'> +<col style='width:75%;' /> +<col style='width:25%;' /> +<tr> + <td valign='top' align='left'>“<i>He stood as if at bay, his face pale, his eyes riveted on those floating banners</i>”</td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#linki_1'><i>Frontispiece</i></a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' align='right' style='padding-right:1em;'></td> + <td valign='top' align='right'><span style='font-size:smaller'>FACING PAGE</span></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' align='left'>“‘<i>Dave’s little gal!</i>’”</td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#linki_2'>11</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' align='left'>“<i>With proudly protective air, David walked beside the stiffly starched little girl</i>”</td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#linki_3'>42</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' align='left'>“<i>David’s friends were surprised to receive an off-hand invitation from him to ‘drop in for a little country spread’</i>”</td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#linki_4'>148</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' align='left'>“<i>He kept his word. Jud was cleared</i>”</td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#linki_5'>158</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' align='left'>“<i>It was a relief to find Carey alone</i>”</td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#linki_6'>224</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' align='left'>“<i>‘Carey, will you make the dream a reality?’</i>”</td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#linki_7'>238</a></td> +</tr> +</table> +<hr class='pb' /> +<div class='figtag'> +<a name='linki_2' id='linki_2'></a> +</div> +<div class='figcenter'> +<img src='images/illus-011.jpg' alt='' title='' width='369' height='527' /><br /> +<p class='caption'> +“‘<i>Dave’s little gal!</i>’”<br /> +</p> +</div> +<hr class='pb' /> +<p class='tp' style='font-style:italic;font-size:1.2em;margin-bottom:1em;'>PART ONE</p> +<p class='tp' style='font-size:1.3em;margin-bottom:40px;'>CHAPTER I</p> +<p>Across lots to the Brumble farm came the +dusty apparition of a boy, a tousle-headed, +freckle-faced, gaunt-eyed little fellow, clad in a +sort of combination suit fashioned from a pair +of overalls and a woman’s shirtwaist. In search +of “Miss M’ri,” he looked into the kitchen, the +henhouse, the dairy, and the flower garden. Not +finding her in any of these accustomed places, he +stood still in perplexity.</p> +<p>“Miss M’ri!” rang out his youthful, vibrant +treble.</p> +<p>There was a note of promise in the pleasant +voice that came back in subterranean response.</p> +<p>“Here, David, in the cellar.”</p> +<p>The lad set down the tin pail he was carrying +and eagerly sped to the cellar. His fondest +hopes were realized. M’ri Brumble, thirty odd +years of age, blue of eye, slightly gray of hair, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_12' name='page_12'></a>12</span> +and sweet of heart, was lifting the cover from +the ice-cream freezer.</p> +<p>“Well, David Dunne, you came in the nick of +time,” she said, looking up with kindly eyes. +“It’s just frozen. I’ll dish you up some now, if +you will run up to the pantry and fetch two +saucers––biggest you can find.”</p> +<p>Fleetly David footed the stairs and returned +with two soup plates.</p> +<p>“These were the handiest,” he explained apologetically +as he handed them to her.</p> +<p>“Just the thing,” promptly reassured M’ri, +transferring a heaping ladle of yellow cream to +one of the plates. “Easy to eat out of, too.”</p> +<p>“My, but you are giving me a whole lot,” he +said, watching her approvingly and encouragingly. +“I hope you ain’t robbing yourself.”</p> +<p>“Oh, no; I always make plenty,” she replied, +dishing a smaller portion for herself. “Here’s +enough for our dinner and some for you to carry +home to your mother.”</p> +<p>“I haven’t had any since last Fourth of +July,” he observed in plaintive reminiscence as +they went upstairs. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_13' name='page_13'></a>13</span></p> +<p>“Why, David Dunne, how you talk! You +just come over here whenever you feel like eating +ice cream, and I’ll make you some. It’s no +trouble.”</p> +<p>They sat down on the west, vine-clad porch to +enjoy their feast in leisure and shade. M’ri had +never lost her childish appreciation of the delicacy, +and to David the partaking thereof was +little short of ecstasy. He lingered longingly +over the repast, and when the soup plate would +admit of no more scraping he came back with a +sigh to sordid cares.</p> +<p>“Mother couldn’t get the washing done no-ways +to-day. She ain’t feeling well, but you can +have the clothes to-morrow, sure. She sent you +some sorghum,” pointing to the pail.</p> +<p>M’ri took the donation into the kitchen. When +she brought back the pail it was filled with eggs. +Not to send something in return would have +been an unpardonable breach of country etiquette.</p> +<p>“Your mother said your hens weren’t laying,” +she said.</p> +<p>The boy’s eyes brightened. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_14' name='page_14'></a>14</span></p> +<p>“Thank you, Miss M’ri; these will come in +good. Our hens won’t lay nor set. Mother says +they have formed a union. But I ’most forgot +to tell you––when I came past Winterses, Ziny +told me to ask you to come over as soon as you +could.”</p> +<p>“I suppose Zine has got one of her low spells,” +said Barnabas Brumble, who had just come up +from the barn. “Most likely Bill’s bin gittin’ +tight agin. He––”</p> +<p>“Oh, no!” interrupted his sister hastily. “Bill +has quit drinking.”</p> +<p>“Bill’s allers a-quittin’. Trouble with Bill is, +he can’t stay quit. I see him yesterday comin’ +down the road zig-zaggin’ like a rail fence. Fust +she knows, she’ll hev to be takin’ washin’ to support +him. Sometimes I think ’t would be a good +idee to let him git sent over the road onct. Mebby +’t would learn him a lesson––”</p> +<p>He stopped short, noticing the significant look +in M’ri’s eyes and the two patches of color +spreading over David’s thin cheeks. He recalled +that four years ago the boy’s father had +died in state prison. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_15' name='page_15'></a>15</span></p> +<p>“You’d better go right over to Zine’s,” he +added abruptly.</p> +<p>“I’ll wait till after dinner. We’ll have it +early.”</p> +<p>“Hev it now,” suggested Barnabas.</p> +<p>“Now!” ejaculated David. “It’s only half-past +ten.”</p> +<p>“I could eat it now jest as well as I could at +twelve,” argued the philosophical Barnabas. +“Jest as leaves as not.”</p> +<p>There were no iron-clad rules in this comfortable +household, especially when Pennyroyal, the +help, was away.</p> +<p>“All right,” assented M’ri with alacrity. “If +I am going to do anything, I like to do it right +off quick and get it over with. You stay, +David, if you can eat dinner so early.”</p> +<p>“Yes, I can,” he assured her, recalling his +scanty breakfast and the freezer of cream that +was to furnish the dessert. “I’ll help you get +it, Miss M’ri.”</p> +<p>He brought a pail of water from the well, +filled the teakettle, and then pared the potatoes +for her. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_16' name='page_16'></a>16</span></p> +<p>“When will Jud and Janey get their dinner?” +he asked Barnabas.</p> +<p>“They kerried their dinner to-day. The scholars +air goin’ to hev a picnic down to Spicely’s +grove. How comes it you ain’t to school, +Dave?”</p> +<p>“I have to help my mother with the washing,” +he replied, a slow flush coming to his face. +“She ain’t strong enough to do it alone.”</p> +<p>“What on airth kin you do about a washin’, +Dave?”</p> +<p>“I can draw the water, turn the wringer, hang +up the clothes, empty the tubs, fetch and carry +the washings, and mop.”</p> +<p>Barnabas puffed fiercely at his pipe for a +moment.</p> +<p>“You’re a good boy, Dave, a mighty good +boy. I don’t know what your ma would do +without you. I hed to leave school when I +wa’n’t as old as you, and git out and hustle so +the younger children could git eddicated. By +the time I wuz foot-loose from farm work, I wuz +too old to git any larnin’. You’d orter manage +someway, though, to git eddicated.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_17' name='page_17'></a>17</span></p> +<p>“Mother’s taught me to read and write and +spell. When I get old enough to work for good +wages I can go into town to the night school.”</p> +<p>In a short time M’ri had cooked a dinner that +would have tempted less hearty appetites than +those possessed by her brother and David.</p> +<p>“You ain’t what might be called a delikit +feeder, Dave,” remarked Barnabas, as he replenished +the boy’s plate for the third time. “You’re +so lean I don’t see where you put it all.”</p> +<p>David might have responded that the vacuum +was due to the fact that his breakfast had consisted +of a piece of bread and his last night’s +supper of a dish of soup, but the Dunne pride +inclined to reservation on family and personal +matters. He speared another small potato and +paused, with fork suspended between mouth and +plate.</p> +<p>“Mother says she thinks I am hollow inside +like a stovepipe.”</p> +<p>“Well, I dunno. Stovepipes git filled sometimes,” +ruminated his host.</p> +<p>“Leave room for the ice cream, David,” cautioned +M’ri, as she descended to the cellar. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_18' name='page_18'></a>18</span></p> +<p>The lad’s eyes brightened as he beheld the +golden pyramid. Another period of lingering +bliss, and then with a sigh of mingled content +and regret, David rose from the table.</p> +<p>“Want me to hook up for you, Mr. Brumble?” +he asked, moved to show his gratitude for the +hospitality extended.</p> +<p>“Why, yes, Dave; wish you would. My back +is sorter lame to-day. Land o’ livin’,” he commented +after David had gone to the barn, “but +that boy swallered them potaters like they wuz +so many pills!”</p> +<p>“Poor Mrs. Dunne!” sighed M’ri. “I am +afraid it’s all she can do to keep a very small +pot boiling. I am glad she sent the sorghum, so +I could have an excuse for sending the eggs.”</p> +<p>“She hain’t poor so long as she hez a young +sprout like Dave a-growin’ up. We used to call +Peter Dunne ‘Old Hickory,’ but Dave, he’s +second-growth hickory. He’s the kind to bend +and not break. Jest you wait till he’s seasoned +onct.”</p> +<p>After she had packed a pail of ice cream for +David, gathered some flowers for Ziny, and made +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_19' name='page_19'></a>19</span> +out a memorandum of supplies for Barnabas to +get in town, M’ri set out on her errand of mercy.</p> +<p>The “hooking up” accomplished, David, laden +with a tin pail in each hand and carrying in his +pocket a drawing of black tea for his mother to +sample, made his way through sheep-dotted +pastures to Beechum’s woods, and thence along +the bank of the River Rood. Presently he spied +a young man standing knee-deep in the stream +in the patient pose peculiar to fishermen.</p> +<p>“Catch anything?” called David eagerly.</p> +<p>The man turned and came to shore. He wore +rubber hip boots, dark trousers, a blue flannel +shirt, and a wide-brimmed hat. His eyes, blue +and straight-gazing, rested reminiscently upon +the lad.</p> +<p>“No,” he replied calmly. “I didn’t intend to +catch anything. What is your name?”</p> +<p>“David Dunne.”</p> +<p>The man meditated.</p> +<p>“You must be about twelve years old.”</p> +<p>“How did you know?”</p> +<p>“I am a good guesser. What have you got in +your pail?” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_20' name='page_20'></a>20</span></p> +<p>“Which one?”</p> +<p>“Both.”</p> +<p>“Thought you were a good guesser.”</p> +<p>The youth laughed.</p> +<p>“You’ll do, David. Let me think––where did +you come from just now?”</p> +<p>“From Brumble’s.”</p> +<p>“It’s ice cream you’ve got in your pail,” he +said assuredly.</p> +<p>“That’s just what it is!” cried the boy in +astonishment, “and there’s eggs in the other +pail.”</p> +<p>“Let’s have a look at the ice cream.”</p> +<p>David lifted the cover.</p> +<p>“It looks like butter,” declared the stranger.</p> +<p>“It don’t taste like butter,” was the indignant +rejoinder. “Miss M’ri makes the best cream of +any one in the country.”</p> +<p>“I knew that, my young friend, before you +did. It’s a long time since I had any, though. +Will you sell it to me, David? I will give you +half a dollar for it.”</p> +<p>Half a dollar! His mother had to work all +day to earn that amount. The ice cream was not +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_21' name='page_21'></a>21</span> +his––not entirely. Miss M’ri had sent it to his +mother. Still––</p> +<p>“’T will melt anyway before I get home,” he +argued aloud and persuasively.</p> +<p>“Of course it will,” asserted the would-be purchaser.</p> +<p>David surrendered the pail, and after much +protestation consented to receive the piece of +money which the young man pressed upon him.</p> +<p>“You’ll have to help me eat it now; there’s no +pleasure in eating ice cream alone.”</p> +<p>“We haven’t any spoons,” commented the boy +dubiously.</p> +<p>“We will go to my house and eat it.”</p> +<p>“Where do you live?” asked David in surprise.</p> +<p>“Just around the bend of the river here.”</p> +<p>David’s freckles darkened. He didn’t like to +be made game of by older people, for then there +was no redress.</p> +<p>“There isn’t any house within two miles of +here,” he said shortly.</p> +<p>“What’ll you bet? Half a dollar?”</p> +<p>“No,” replied David resolutely.</p> +<p>“Well, come and see.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_22' name='page_22'></a>22</span></p> +<p>David followed his new acquaintance around +the wooded bank. The river was full of surprises +to-day. In midstream he saw what looked +to him like a big raft supporting a small house.</p> +<p>“That’s my shanty boat,” explained the young +man, as he shoved a rowboat from shore. “Jump +in, my boy.”</p> +<p>“Do you live in it all the time?” asked David, +watching with admiration the easy but forceful +pull on the oars.</p> +<p>“No; I am on a little fishing and hunting expedition.”</p> +<p>“Can’t kill anything now,” said the boy, a +derisive smile flickering over his features.</p> +<p>“I am not hunting to kill, my lad. I am hunting +old scenes and memories of other days. I +used to live about here. I ran away eight years +ago when I was just your age.”</p> +<p>“What is your name?” asked David interestedly.</p> +<p>“Joe Forbes.”</p> +<p>“Oh,” was the eager rejoinder. “I know. +You are Deacon Forbes’ wild son that ran +away.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_23' name='page_23'></a>23</span></p> +<p>“So that’s how I am known around here, is +it? Well, I’ve come back, to settle up my +father’s estate.”</p> +<p>“What did you run away for?” inquired +David.</p> +<p>“Combination of too much stepmother and a +roving spirit, I guess. Here we are.”</p> +<p>He sprang on the platform of the shanty boat +and helped David on board. The boy inspected +this novel house in wonder while his host set +saucers and spoons on the table.</p> +<p>“Would you mind,” asked David in an embarrassed +manner as he wistfully eyed the coveted +luxury, “if I took my dishful home?”</p> +<p>“What’s the matter?” asked Forbes, his eyes +twinkling. “Eaten too much already?”</p> +<p>“No; but you see my mother likes it and she +hasn’t had any since last summer. I’d rather +take mine to her.”</p> +<p>“There’s plenty left for your mother. I’ll +put this pail in a bigger one and pack ice about +it. Then it won’t melt.”</p> +<p>“But you paid me for it,” protested David.</p> +<p>“That’s all right. Your mother was pretty +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_24' name='page_24'></a>24</span> +good to me when I was a boy. She dried my +mop of hair for me once so my stepmother would +not know I’d been in swimming. Tell her I sent +the cream to her. Say, you were right about +Miss M’ri making the best cream in the country. +It used to be a chronic pastime with her. That’s +how I guessed what you had when you said you +came from there. Whenever there was a picnic +or a surprise party in the country she always +furnished the ice cream. Isn’t she married yet?”</p> +<p>“No.”</p> +<p>“Doesn’t she keep company with some lucky +man?”</p> +<p>“No,” again denied the boy emphatically.</p> +<p>“What’s the matter? She used to be awfully +pretty and sweet.”</p> +<p>“She is now, but she don’t want any man.”</p> +<p>“Well, now, David, that isn’t quite natural, +you know. Why do you think she doesn’t want +one?”</p> +<p>“I heard say she was crossed once.”</p> +<p>“Crossed, David? And what might that be?” +asked Forbes in a delighted feint of perplexity.</p> +<p>“Disappointed in love, you know.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_25' name='page_25'></a>25</span></p> +<p>“Yes; it all comes back now––the gossip of +my boyhood days. She was going with a man +when Barnabas’ wife died and left two children––one +a baby––and Miss M’ri gave up her lover +to do her duty by her brother’s family. So +Barnabas never married again?”</p> +<p>“No; Miss M’ri keeps house and brings up +Jud and Janey.”</p> +<p>“I remember Jud––mean little shaver. Janey +must be the baby.”</p> +<p>“She’s eight now.”</p> +<p>“I remember you, David. You were a little +toddler of four––all eyes. Your folks had a +place right on the edge of town.”</p> +<p>“We left it when I was six years old and came +out here,” informed David.</p> +<p>Forbes’ groping memory recalled the gossip +that had reached him in the Far West. “Dunne +went to prison,” he mused, “and the farm was +mortgaged to defray the expenses of the trial.” +He hastened back to a safer channel.</p> +<p>“Miss M’ri was foolish to spoil her life and +the man’s for fancied duty,” he observed.</p> +<p>David bridled. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_26' name='page_26'></a>26</span></p> +<p>“Barnabas couldn’t go to school when he was +a boy because he had to work so she and the other +children could go. She’d ought to have stood +by him.”</p> +<p>“I see you have a sense of duty, too. This +county was always strong on duty. I suppose +they’ve got it in for me because I ran away?”</p> +<p>“Mr. Brumble says it was a wise thing for you +to do. Uncle Larimy says you were a brick of +a boy. Miss Rhody says she had no worry about +her woodpile getting low when you were here.”</p> +<p>“Poor Miss Rhody! Does she still live alone? +And Uncle Larimy––is he uncle to the whole +community? What fishing days I had with +him! I must look him up and tell him all my +adventures. I have planned a round of calls +for to-night––Miss M’ri, Miss Rhody, Uncle +Larimy––”</p> +<p>“Tell me about your adventures,” demanded +David breathlessly.</p> +<p>He listened to a wondrous tale of western life, +and never did narrator get into so close relation +with his auditor as did this young ranchman with +David Dunne. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_27' name='page_27'></a>27</span></p> +<p>“I must go home,” said the boy reluctantly +when Joe had concluded.</p> +<p>“Come down to-morrow, David, and we’ll go +fishing.”</p> +<p>“All right. Thank you, sir.”</p> +<p>With heart as light as air, David sped through +the woods. He had found his Hero. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_28' name='page_28'></a>28</span></p> +<p class='tp' style='font-size:1.3em;margin-bottom:40px; margin-top:70px;;'>CHAPTER II</p> +<p>David struck out from the shelter of the +woodland and made his way to his home, +a pathetically small, rudely constructed house. +The patch of land supposed to be a garden, and +in proportion to the dimensions of the building, +showed a few feeble efforts at vegetation. It +was not positively known that the Widow Dunne +had a clear title to her homestead, but one would +as soon think of foreclosing a mortgage on a +playhouse, or taking a nest from a bird, as to +press any claim on this fallow fragment in the +midst of prosperous farmlands.</p> +<p>Some discouraged looking fowls picked at the +scant grass, a lean cow switched a lackadaisical +tail, and in a pen a pig grunted his discontent.</p> +<p>David went into the little kitchen, where a +woman was bending wearily over a washtub.</p> +<p>“Mother,” cried the boy in dismay, “you said +you’d let the washing go till to-morrow. That’s +why I didn’t come right back.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_29' name='page_29'></a>29</span></p> +<p>She paused in the rubbing of a soaped garment +and wrung the suds from her tired and +swollen hands.</p> +<p>“I felt better, David, and I thought I’d get +them ready for you to hang out.”</p> +<p>David took the garment from her.</p> +<p>“Sit down and eat this ice cream Miss M’ri +sent––no, I mean Joe Forbes sent you. There +was more, but I sold it for half a dollar; and +here’s a pail of eggs and a drawing of tea she +wants you to sample. She says she is no judge +of black tea.”</p> +<p>“Joe Forbes!” exclaimed his mother interestedly. +“I thought maybe he would be coming +back to look after the estate. Is he going to +stay?”</p> +<p>“I’ll tell you all about him, mother, if you +will sit down.”</p> +<p>He began a vigorous turning of the wringer.</p> +<p>The patient, tired-looking eyes of the woman +brightened as she dished out a saucer of the +cream. The weariness in the sensitive lines of her +face and the prominence of her knuckles bore +evidence of a life of sordid struggle, but, above +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_30' name='page_30'></a>30</span> +all, the mother love illumined her features with a +flash of radiance.</p> +<p>“You’re a good provider, David; but tell me +where you have been for so long, and where did +you see Joe?”</p> +<p>He gave her a faithful account of his dinner +at the Brumble farm and his subsequent meeting +with Joe, working the wringer steadily as he +talked.</p> +<p>“There!” he exclaimed with a sigh of satisfaction, +“they are ready for the line, but before I +hang them out I am going to cook your dinner.”</p> +<p>“I am rested now, David. I will cook me an +egg.”</p> +<p>“No, I will,” insisted the boy, going to the +stove.</p> +<p>A few moments later, with infinite satisfaction, +he watched her partake of crisp toast, fresh +eggs, and savory tea.</p> +<p>“Did you see Jud and Janey?” she asked suddenly.</p> +<p>“No; they were at school.”</p> +<p>“David, you shall go regularly to school next +fall.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_31' name='page_31'></a>31</span></p> +<p>“No,” said David stoutly; “next fall I am going +to work regularly for some of the farmers, +and you are not going to wash any more.”</p> +<p>Her eyes grew moist.</p> +<p>“David, will you always be good––will you +grow up to be as good a man as I want you to +be?”</p> +<p>“How good do you want me to be?” he asked +dubiously.</p> +<p>A radiant and tender smile played about her +mouth.</p> +<p>“Not goodygood, David; but will you always +be honest, and brave, and kind, as you are now?”</p> +<p>“I’ll try, mother.”</p> +<p>“And never forget those who do you a kindness, +David; always show your gratitude.”</p> +<p>“Yes, mother.”</p> +<p>“And, David, watch your temper and, whatever +happens, I shall have no fears for your +future.”</p> +<p>His mother seldom talked to him in this wise. +He thought about it after he lay in his little cot +in the sitting room that night; then his mind +wandered to Joe Forbes and his wonderful tales +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_32' name='page_32'></a>32</span> +of the West. He fell asleep to dream of cowboys +and prairies. When he awoke the sun was +sending golden beams through the eastward +window.</p> +<p>“Mother isn’t up,” he thought in surprise. He +stole quietly out to the kitchen, kindled a fire +with as little noise as possible, put the kettle +over, set the table, and then went into the one +tiny bedroom where his mother lay in her bed, +still––very still.</p> +<p>“Mother,” he said softly.</p> +<p>There was no response.</p> +<p>“Mother,” he repeated. Then piercingly, in +excitement and fear, “Mother!”</p> +<p>At last he knew.</p> +<p>He ran wildly to the outer door. Bill Winters, +fortunately sober, was driving slowly by.</p> +<p>“Bill!”</p> +<p>“What’s the matter, Dave?” looking into the +boy’s white face. “Your ma ain’t sick, is she?”</p> +<p>David’s lips quivered, but seemed almost unable +to articulate.</p> +<p>“She’s dead,” he finally whispered.</p> +<p>“I’ll send Zine right over,” exclaimed Bill, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_33' name='page_33'></a>33</span> +slapping the reins briskly across the drooping +neck of his horse.</p> +<p>Very soon the little house was filled to overflowing +with kind and sympathetic neighbors +who had come to do all that had to be done. +David sat on the back doorstep until M’ri came; +before the expression in his eyes she felt powerless +to comfort him.</p> +<p>“The doctor says your mother died in her +sleep,” she told him. “She didn’t suffer any.”</p> +<p>He made no reply. Oppressed by the dull +pain for which there is no ease, he wandered from +the house to the garden, and from the garden +back to the house throughout the day. At sunset +Barnabas drove over.</p> +<p>“I shall stay here to-night, Barnabas,” said +M’ri, “but I want you to drive back and get some +things. I’ve made out a list. Janey will know +where to find them.”</p> +<p>“Sha’n’t I take Dave back to stay to-night?” +he suggested.</p> +<p>M’ri hesitated, and looked at David.</p> +<p>“No,” he said dully, following Barnabas listlessly +down the path to the road. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_34' name='page_34'></a>34</span></p> +<p>Barnabas, keen, shrewd, and sharp at a bargain, +had a heart that ever softened to motherless +children.</p> +<p>“Dave,” he said gently, “your ma won’t never +hev to wash no more, and she’ll never be sick nor +tired agen.”</p> +<p>It was the first leaven to his loss, and he held +tight to the horny hand of his comforter. After +Barnabas had driven away there came trudging +down the road the little, lithe figure of an old +man, who was carrying a large box. His mildly +blue, inquiring eyes looked out from beneath +their hedge of shaggy eyebrows. His hair and +his beard were thick and bushy. Joe Forbes +maintained that Uncle Larimy would look +no different if his head were turned upside +down.</p> +<p>“David,” he said softly, “I’ve brung yer ma +some posies. She liked my yaller roses, you +know. I’m sorry my laylocks are gone. They +come early this year.”</p> +<p>“Thank you, Uncle Larimy.”</p> +<p>A choking sensation warned David to say no +more. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_35' name='page_35'></a>35</span></p> +<p>“Things go ’skew sometimes, Dave, but the sun +will shine agen,” reminded the old man, as he +went on into the house.</p> +<p>Later, when sundown shadows had vanished +and the first glimmer of the stars radiated from +a pale sky, Joe came over. David felt no thrill +at sight of his hero. The halo was gone. He +only remembered with a dull ache that the half +dollar had brought his mother none of the luxuries +he had planned to buy for her.</p> +<p>“David,” said the young ranchman, his deep +voice softened, “my mother died when I was +younger than you are, but you won’t have a stepmother +to make life unbearable for you.”</p> +<p>The boy looked at him with inscrutable eyes.</p> +<p>“Don’t you want to go back with me to the +ranch, David? You can learn to ride and shoot.”</p> +<p>David shook his head forlornly. His spirit of +adventure was smothered.</p> +<p>“We’ll talk about it again, David,” he said, +as he went in to consult M’ri.</p> +<p>“Don’t you think the only thing for the boy +to do is to go back with me? I am going to buy +the ranch on which I’ve been foreman, and I’ll +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_36' name='page_36'></a>36</span> +try to do for David all that should have been +done for me when I, at his age, felt homeless and +alone. He’s the kind that takes things hard and +quiet; life in the open will pull him up.”</p> +<p>“No, Joe,” replied M’ri resolutely. “He’s not +ready for that kind of life yet. He needs to +be with women and children a while longer. +Barnabas and I are going to take him. Barnabas +suggested it, and I told Mrs. Dunne one day, +when her burdens were getting heavy, that we +would do so if anything like this should happen.”</p> +<p>Joe looked at her with revering eyes.</p> +<p>“Miss M’ri, you are so good to other people’s +children, what would you be to your own!”</p> +<p>The passing of M’ri’s youth had left a faint +flush of prettiness like the afterglow of a sunset +faded into twilight. She was of the kind that +old age would never wither. In the deep blue +eyes was a patient, reflective look that told of a +past but unforgotten romance. She turned from +his gaze, but not before he had seen the wistfulness +his speech had evoked. After he had gone, +she sought David.</p> +<p>“I am going to stay here with you, David, for +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_37' name='page_37'></a>37</span> +two or three days. Then Barnabas and I want +you to come to live with us. I had a long talk +with your mother one day, and I told her if anything +happened to her you should be our boy. +That made her less anxious about the future, +David. Will you come?”</p> +<p>The boy looked up with his first gleam of interest +in mundane things.</p> +<p>“I’d like it, but would––Jud?”</p> +<p>“I am afraid Jud doesn’t like anything, +David,” she replied with a sigh. “That’s one +reason I want you––to be a big brother to Janey, +for I think that is what she needs, and what Jud +can never be.”</p> +<p>The boy remembered what his mother had +counseled.</p> +<p>“I’ll always take care of Janey,” he earnestly +assured her.</p> +<p>“I know you will, David.”</p> +<p>Two dreary days passed in the way that such +days do pass, and then David rode to his new +home with Barnabas and M’ri.</p> +<p>Jud Brumble, a refractory, ungovernable lad +of fifteen, didn’t look altogether unfavorably +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_38' name='page_38'></a>38</span> +upon the addition to the household, knowing that +his amount of work would thereby be lessened, +and that he would have a new victim for his persecutions +and tyrannies.</p> +<p>Janey, a little rosebud of a girl with dimples +and flaxen curls, hung back shyly and looked at +David with awed eyes. She had been frightened +by what she had heard about his mother, and in a +vague, disconnected way she associated him with +Death. M’ri went to the child’s bedside that +night and explained the situation. “Poor Davey +is all alone, now, and very unhappy, so we must +be kind to him. I told him you were to be his +little sister.”</p> +<p>Then M’ri took David to a gabled room, at +each end of which was a swinging window––“one +for seeing the sun rise, and one for seeing it set,” +she said, as she turned back the covers from the +spotless white bed. She yearned to console him, +but before the mute look of grief in his big eyes +she was silent.</p> +<p>“I wish he would cry,” she said wistfully to +Barnabas, “he hasn’t shed a tear since his mother +died.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_39' name='page_39'></a>39</span></p> +<p>No sooner had the sound of her footsteps +ceased than David threw off his armor of self-restraint +and burst into a passion of sobs, the +wilder for their long repression. He didn’t hear +the patter of little feet on the floor, and not until +two mothering arms were about his neck did he +see the white-robed figure of Janey.</p> +<p>“Don’t cry, Davey,” she implored, her quivering +red mouth against his cheek. “I’m sorry; +but I am your little sister now, so you must love +me, Davey. Aunt M’ri told me so.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_40' name='page_40'></a>40</span></p> +<p class='tp' style='font-size:1.3em;margin-bottom:40px; margin-top:70px;;'>CHAPTER III</p> +<p>The lilac-scented breeze of early morning +blowing softly through the vine-latticed +window and stirring its white draperies brought +David to wakefulness. With the first surprise +at the strangeness of his surroundings came a +fluttering of memory. The fragrance of lilacs +was always hereafter to bring back the awfulness +of this waking moment.</p> +<p>He hurriedly dressed, and went down to the +kitchen where M’ri was preparing breakfast.</p> +<p>“Good morning, David. Janey has gone to +find some fresh eggs. You may help her hunt +them, if you will.”</p> +<p>Knowing the haunts of hens, he went toward +the currant bushes. It was one of those soft +days that link late spring and dawning summer. +The coolness of the sweet-odored air, the twitter +of numberless dawn birds, the entreating lowing +of distant cattle––all breathing life and strength––were +like a resurrection call to David. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_41' name='page_41'></a>41</span></p> +<p>On the east porch, which was his retreat for a +smoke or a rest between the intervals of choring +and meals, Barnabas sat, securely wedged in by +the washing machine, the refrigerator, the plant +stand, the churn, the kerosene can, and the lawn +mower. He gazed reflectively after David.</p> +<p>“What are you going to hev Dave do to help, +M’ri?”</p> +<p>M’ri came to the door and considered a moment.</p> +<p>“First of all, Barnabas, I am going to have +him eat. He is so thin and hungry looking.”</p> +<p>Barnabas chuckled. His sister’s happiest mission +was the feeding of hungry children.</p> +<p>After breakfast, when Janey’s rebellious +curls were again being brushed into shape, M’ri +told David he could go to school if he liked. To +her surprise the boy flushed and looked uncomfortable. +M’ri’s intuitions were quick and generally +correct.</p> +<p>“It’s so near the end of the term, though,” +she added casually, as an afterthought, “that +maybe you had better wait until next fall to +start in.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_42' name='page_42'></a>42</span></p> +<p>“Yes, please, Miss M’ri, I’d rather,” he said +quickly and gratefully.</p> +<p>When Janey, dinner pail in hand and books +under arm, was ready to start, David asked in +surprise where Jud was.</p> +<p>“Oh, he has gone long ago. He thinks he is +too big to walk with Janey.”</p> +<p>David quietly took the pail and books from +the little girl.</p> +<p>“I’ll take you to school, Janey, and come for +you this afternoon.”</p> +<p>“We won’t need to git no watch dog to foller +Janey,” said Barnabas, as the children started +down the path.</p> +<p>“David,” called M’ri, “stop at Miss Rhody’s +on your way back and find out whether my waist +is finished.”</p> +<p>With proudly protective air, David walked +beside the stiffly starched little girl, who had +placed her hand trustfully in his. They had +gone but a short distance when they were overtaken +by Joe Forbes, mounted on a shining black +horse. He reined up and looked down on them +good-humoredly.</p> +<div class='figtag'> +<a name='linki_3' id='linki_3'></a> +</div> +<div class='figcenter'> +<img src='images/illus-042.jpg' alt='' title='' width='377' height='531' /><br /> +<p class='caption'> +“<i>With proudly protective air, David walked beside the stiffly starched little girl</i>”<br /> +</p> +</div> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_43' name='page_43'></a>43</span></div> +<p>“Going to school, children?”</p> +<p>“I am. Davey’s just going to carry my +things for me,” explained Janey.</p> +<p>“Well, I can do that and carry you into the +bargain. Help her up, David.”</p> +<p>Janey cried out in delight at the prospect of a +ride. David lifted her up, and Joe settled her +comfortably in the saddle, encircling her with +his arm. Then he looked down whimsically into +David’s disappointed eyes.</p> +<p>“I know it’s a mean trick, Dave, to take your +little sweetheart from you.”</p> +<p>“She’s not my sweetheart; she’s my sister.”</p> +<p>“Has she promised to be that already? Get +up, Firefly.”</p> +<p>They were off over the smooth country road, +Forbes shouting a bantering good-by and Janey +waving a triumphant dinner pail, while David, +trudging on his way, experienced the desolate +feeling of the one who is left behind. Across +fields he came to the tiny, thatched cottage of +Miss Rhody Crabbe, who stood on the crumbling +doorstep feeding some little turkeys.</p> +<p>“Come in, David. I suppose you’re after +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_44' name='page_44'></a>44</span> +M’ri’s waist. Thar’s jest a few stitches to take, +and I’ll hev it done in no time.”</p> +<p>He followed her into the little house, which +consisted of a sitting room “with bedroom off,” +and a kitchen whose floor was sand scoured; the +few pieces of tinware could be used as mirrors. +Miss Rhody seated herself by the open window +and began to ply her needle. She did not sew +swiftly and smoothly, in feminine fashion, but +drew her long-threaded needle through the fabric +in abrupt and forceful jerks. A light breeze +fluttered in through the window, but it could not +ruffle the wisp-locked hair that showed traces of +a water-dipped comb and was strained back so +taut that a little mound of flesh encircled each +root. Her eyes were bead bright and swift moving. +Everything about her, to the aggressively +prominent knuckles, betokened energy and industry. +She was attired in a blue calico shortened +by many washings, but scrupulously clean +and conscientiously starched. Her face shone +with soap and serenity.</p> +<p>Miss Rhody’s one diversion in a busy but +monotonous life was news. She was wretched if +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_45' name='page_45'></a>45</span> +she did not receive the latest bulletins; but it +was to her credit that she never repeated anything +that might work harm or mischief. David +was one of her chosen confidants. He was a +safe repository of secrets, a sympathetic listener, +and a wise suggester.</p> +<p>“I’m glad M’ri’s hevin’ a blue waist. She +looks so sweet in blue. I’ve made her clo’es fer +years. My, how I hoped fer to make her weddin’ +clo’es onct! It wuz a shame to hev sech a +good match spiled. It wuz too bad she hed to +hev them two chillern on her hands––”</p> +<p>“And now she has a third,” was what David +thought he read in her eyes, and he hastened to +assert: “I am going to help all I can, and I’ll +soon be old enough to take care of myself.”</p> +<p>“Land sakes, David, you’d be wuth more’n +yer keep to any one. I wonder,” she said ruminatingly, +“if Martin Thorne will wait for her +till Janey’s growed up.”</p> +<p>“Martin Thorne!” exclaimed David excitedly. +“Judge Thorne? Why, was he the one––”</p> +<p>“He spent his Sunday evenings with her,” she +asserted solemnly. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_46' name='page_46'></a>46</span></p> +<p>In the country code of courtships this procedure +was conclusive proof, and David accepted +it as such.</p> +<p>“He wuz jest plain Lawyer Thorne when he +wuz keepin’ company with M’ri, but we all knew +Mart wuz a comin’ man, and M’ri wuz jest proud +of him. You could see that, and he wuz sot on +her.”</p> +<p>Her work momentarily neglected, Rhody was +making little reminiscent stabs at space with her +needle as she spoke.</p> +<p>“’T wuz seven years ago. M’ri wuz twenty-eight +and Mart ten years older. It would hev +ben a match as sure as preachin’, but Eliza died +and M’ri, she done her duty as she seen it. Sometimes +I think folks is near-sighted about their +duty. There is others as is queer-sighted. Bein’ +crossed hain’t spiled M’ri though. She’s kep’ +sweet through it all, but when a man don’t git +his own way, he’s apt to curdle. Mart got sort +of tart-tongued and cold feelin’. There wa’n’t +no reason why they couldn’t a kep’ on bein’ +friends, but Mart must go and make a fool vow +that he’d never speak to M’ri until she sent him +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_47' name='page_47'></a>47</span> +word she’d changed her mind, so he hez ben +a-spitin’ of his face ever sence. It’s wonderful +how some folks do git in their own way, but, my +sakes, I must git to work so you kin take this +waist home.”</p> +<p>This was David’s first glimpse of a romance +outside of story-books, but the name of Martin +Thorne evoked disturbing memories. Six years +ago he had acted as attorney to David’s father +in settling his financial difficulties, and later, +after Peter Dunne’s death, the Judge had settled +the small estate. It was only through his efforts +that they were enabled to have the smallest of +roofs over their defenseless heads.</p> +<p>“Miss Rhody,” he asked after a long meditation +on life in general, “why didn’t you ever +marry?”</p> +<p>Miss Rhody paused again in her work, and +two little spots of red crept into her cheeks.</p> +<p>“’Tain’t from ch’ice I’ve lived single, David. +I’ve ben able to take keer of myself, but I allers +hed a hankerin’ same as any woman, as is a woman, +hez fer a man, but I never got no chanst to +meet men folks. I wuz raised here, and folks +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_48' name='page_48'></a>48</span> +allers hed it all cut out fer me to be an old maid. +When a woman onct gets that name fixt on her, +it’s all off with her chances. No man ever comes +nigh her, and she can’t git out of her single rut. +I never could get to go nowhars, and I wa’n’t +that bold kind that makes up to a man fust, afore +he gives a sign.”</p> +<p>David pondered over this wistful revelation +for a few moments, seeking a means for her +seemingly hopeless escape from a life of single +blessedness, for David was a sympathetic young +altruist, and felt it incumbent upon him to lift +the burdens of his neighbors. Then he suggested +encouragingly:</p> +<p>“Miss Rhody, did you know that there was a +paper that gets you acquainted with men? +That’s the way they say Zine Winters got +married.”</p> +<p>“Yes, and look what she drawed!” she scoffed. +“Bill! I don’t know how they’d live if Zine +hadn’t a-gone in heavy on hens and turkeys. +She hez to spend her hull time a-traipsin’ after +them turkeys, and thar ain’t nuthin’ that’s given +to gaddin’ like turkeys that I know on, less ’t is +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_49' name='page_49'></a>49</span> +Chubbses’ hired gal. No, David, it’s chance +enough when you git a man you’ve knowed +allers, but a stranger! Well! I want to know +what I’m gittin’. Thar, the last stitch in M’ri’s +waist is took, and, David, you won’t tell no one +what I said about Mart Thorne and her, nor +about my gittin’ merried?”</p> +<p>David gave her a reproachful look, and she +laughed shamefacedly.</p> +<p>“I know, David, you kin keep a secret. It’s +like buryin’ a thing to tell it to you. My, this +waist’ll look fine on M’ri. I jest love the feel +of silk. I’d ruther hev a black silk dress than––”</p> +<p>“A husband,” prompted David slyly.</p> +<p>“David Dunne, I’ll box yer ears if you ever +think again of what I said. I am allers a-thinkin’ +of you as if you wuz a stiddy grown man, +and then fust thing I know you’re nuthin’ but +a teasin’ boy. Here’s the bundle, and don’t you +want a nutcake, David?”</p> +<p>“No, thank you, Miss Rhody. I ate a big +breakfast.”</p> +<p>A fellow feeling had prompted David even in +his hungriest days to refrain from accepting Miss +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_50' name='page_50'></a>50</span> +Rhody’s proffers of hospitality. He knew the +emptiness of her larder, for though she had been +thrifty and hard-working, she had paid off a +mortgage and had made good the liabilities of +an erring nephew.</p> +<p>When David returned he found Miss M’ri in +the dairy. It was churning day, and she was +arranging honey-scented, rose-stamped pats of +butter on moist leaves of crisp lettuce.</p> +<p>“David,” she asked, looking up with a winning +smile, “will you tell me why you didn’t +want to go to school?”</p> +<p>The boy’s face reddened, but his eyes looked +frankly into hers.</p> +<p>“Yes, Miss M’ri.”</p> +<p>“Before you tell me, David,” she interposed, +“I want you to remember that, from now on, +Barnabas and I are your uncle and aunt.”</p> +<p>“Well, then, Aunt M’ri,” began David, a ring +of tremulous eagerness in his voice, “I can read +and write and spell, but I don’t know much +about arithmetic and geography. I was ashamed +to start in at the baby class. I thought I’d +try and study out of Jud’s books this summer.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_51' name='page_51'></a>51</span></p> +<p>“That’s a good idea, David. We’ll begin +now. You’ll find an elementary geography in +the sitting room on the shelf, and you may +study the first lesson. This afternoon, when my +work is done, I’ll hear you recite it.”</p> +<p>David took the book and went out into the old +orchard. When M’ri went to call him to dinner +he was sprawled out in the latticed shadow of +an apple tree, completely absorbed in the book.</p> +<p>“You have spent two hours on your first +lesson, David. You ought to have it well +learned.”</p> +<p>He looked at her in surprise.</p> +<p>“I read the whole book through, Aunt M’ri.”</p> +<p>“Oh, David,” she expostulated, “that’s the +way Barnabas takes his medicine. Instead of +the prescribed dose after each meal he takes +three doses right after breakfast––so as to get +it off his mind and into his system, he says. +We’ll just have one short lesson in geography +and one in arithmetic each day. You mustn’t +do things in leaps. It’s the steady dog trot +that lasts, and counts on the long journey.”</p> +<p>When David was on his way to bring Janey +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_52' name='page_52'></a>52</span> +from school that afternoon he was again overtaken +by Joe Forbes.</p> +<p>“Dave, I am going to Chicago in a few days, +and I shall stop there long enough to buy a few +presents to send back to some of my friends. +Here’s my list. Let me see, Uncle Larimy, a +new-fangled fishing outfit; Barnabas, a pipe; +Miss M’ri––guess, Dave.”</p> +<p>“You’re the guesser, you know,” reminded +David.</p> +<p>“It’s a new kind of ice-cream freezer, of +course.”</p> +<p>“She’s going to freeze ice to-night,” recalled +David anticipatingly.</p> +<p>“Freeze ice! What a paradoxical process! +But what I want you to suggest is something for +Miss Rhody––something very nice.”</p> +<p>“What she wants most is something you can’t +get her,” thought David, looking up with a tantalizing +little smile. Then her second wish occurred +to him.</p> +<p>“I know something she wants dreadfully; +something she never expects to have.”</p> +<p>“That is just what I want to get for her.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_53' name='page_53'></a>53</span></p> +<p>“It’ll cost a lot.”</p> +<p>Joe disposed of that consideration by a munificent +wave of the hand.</p> +<p>“What is it?”</p> +<p>“A black silk dress,” informed the boy delightedly.</p> +<p>“She shall have it. How many yards does it +take, I wonder?”</p> +<p>“We can ask Janey’s teacher when we get to +school,” suggested the boy.</p> +<p>“So we can. I contrived to find out that +Janey’s heart is set on a string of beads––blue +beads. I suppose, to be decent, I shall have to +include Jud. What will it be?”</p> +<p>“He wants a gun. He’s a good shot, too.”</p> +<p>They loitered on the way, discussing Joe’s +gifts, until they met Janey and Little Teacher +coming toward them hand in hand. David +quickly secured the pail and books before Joe +could appropriate them. He wasn’t going to +be cut out a second time in one day.</p> +<p>“Miss Williams,” asked the young ranchman, +“will your knowledge of mathematics tell me how +many yards of black silk I must get to make a +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_54' name='page_54'></a>54</span> +dress, and what kind of fixings I shall need for +it?”</p> +<p>“You don’t have to know,” she replied. “Just +go into any department store and tell them you +want a dress pattern and the findings. They +will do the rest.”</p> +<p>“Shopping made easy. You shall have your +reward now. My shanty boat is just about opposite +here. Suppose the four of us go down +to the river and have supper on board?”</p> +<p>Little Teacher, to whom life was a vista of +blackboards dotted with vacations, thought this +would be delightful. A passing child was made +a messenger to the farm, and they continued +their way woodward to the river, where the +shanty boat was anchored. Little Teacher set the +table, Joe prepared the meal, while David sat +out on deck, beguiling Janey with wonderful +stories.</p> +<p>“This seems beautifully domestic to a cowboy,” +sighed Joe, looking around the supper table, his +gaze lingering on Little Teacher, who was dimpling +happily. Imaginative David proceeded to +weave his third romance that day, with a glad +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_55' name='page_55'></a>55</span> +little beating of the heart, for he had feared that +Joe might be planning to wait for Janey, as the +Judge was doubtless waiting for M’ri.</p> +<p>The children went directly home after supper, +Joe accompanying Little Teacher. Despite the +keenness of David’s sorrow the day had been a +peaceful, contented one, but when the shadows +began to lengthen to that most lonesome hour of +lonesome days, when from home-coming cows +comes the sound of tinkling bells, a wave of longing +swept over him, and he stole away to the orchard. +Again, a soft, sustaining little hand crept +into his.</p> +<p>“Don’t, Davey,” pleaded a caressing voice, +“don’t make me cry.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_56' name='page_56'></a>56</span></p> +<p class='tp' style='font-size:1.3em;margin-bottom:40px; margin-top:70px;;'>CHAPTER IV</p> +<p>Outside of the time allotted for the performance +of a wholesome amount of farm +work and the preparation of his daily lessons, +David was free for diversions which had hitherto +entered sparingly into his life. After school hours +and on Saturdays the Barnabas farm was the +general rendezvous for all the children within a +three-mile radius. The old woods by the river +rang with the gay treble of childish laughter and +the ecstatic barking of dogs dashing in frantic +pursuit. There was always an open sesame to +the cookie jar and the apple barrel.</p> +<p>David suffered the common fate of all in having +a dark cloud. Jud was the dark cloud, and +his silver lining had not yet materialized.</p> +<p>In height and physical strength Jud was the +superior, so he delighted in taunting and goading +the younger boy. There finally came a day +when instinctive self-respect upheld David in +no longer resisting the call to arms. Knowing +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_57' name='page_57'></a>57</span> +Barnabas’ disapproval of fighting, and with his +mother’s parting admonition pricking his conscience, +he went into battle reluctantly and half-heartedly, +so the fight was not prolonged, and +Jud’s victory came easily. Barnabas, hurrying +to the scene of action, called Jud off and reprimanded +him for fighting a smaller boy, which +hurt David far more than did the pummeling he +had received.</p> +<p>“What wuz you fighting fer, anyway?” he demanded +of David.</p> +<p>“Nothing,” replied David laconically, “just +fighting.”</p> +<p>“Jud picks on Davey all the time,” was the information +furnished by the indignant Janey, who +had followed her father.</p> +<p>“Well, I forbid either one of you to fight again. +Now, Jud, see that you leave Dave alone after +this.”</p> +<p>Emboldened by his easily won conquest and +David’s apparent lack of prowess, Jud continued +his jeering and nagging, but David set his lips +in a taut line of finality and endured in silence +until there came the taunt superlative. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_58' name='page_58'></a>58</span></p> +<p>“Your mother was a washerwoman, and your +father a convict.”</p> +<p>There surged through David a fierce animal +hate. With a tight closing of his hardy young +fist, he rushed to the onslaught so swiftly and so +impetuously that Jud recoiled in fear and surprise. +With his first tiger-like leap David had +the older boy by the throat and bore him to the +ground, maintaining and tightening his grip as +they went down.</p> +<p>“I’ll kill you!”</p> +<p>David’s voice was steady and calm, but the +boy on the ground underneath felt the very hairs +of his head rising at the look in the dark eyes +above his own.</p> +<p>Fortunately for both of them Barnabas was +again at hand.</p> +<p>He jerked David to his feet.</p> +<p>“Fightin’ again, are you, after I told you not +to!”</p> +<p>“It was him, David, that began it. I never +struck him,” whimpered Jud, edging away behind +his father.</p> +<p>“Did you, David?” asked Barnabas bluntly, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_59' name='page_59'></a>59</span> +still keeping his hold on the boy, who was quivering +with passion.</p> +<p>“Yes.”</p> +<p>His voice sounded odd and tired, and there +was an ache of bafflement in his young eyes.</p> +<p>“What fer? What did he do to make you so +mad?”</p> +<p>“He said my mother was a washerwoman +and my father a convict! Let me go! I’ll kill +him!”</p> +<p>With a returning rush of his passion, David +struggled in the man’s grasp.</p> +<p>“Wait, Dave, I’ll tend to him. Go to the +barn, Jud!” he commanded his son.</p> +<p>Jud quailed before this new, strange note in +his father’s voice.</p> +<p>“David was fighting. You said neither of us +was to fight. ’T ain’t fair to take it out on me.”</p> +<p>Fairness was one of Barnabas’ fixed and prominent +qualities, but Jud was not to gain favor +by it this time.</p> +<p>“Well, you don’t suppose I’m a-goin’ to lick +Dave fer defendin’ his parents, do you? Besides, +I’m not a-goin’ to lick you fer fightin’, but fer +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_60' name='page_60'></a>60</span> +sayin’ what you did. I guess you’d hev found +out that Dave could wallop you ef he is smaller +and younger.”</p> +<p>“He can’t!” snarled Jud. “I didn’t have no +show. He came at me by surprise.”</p> +<p>Barnabas reflected a moment. Then he said +gravely:</p> +<p>“When it’s in the blood of two fellers to fight, +why thar’s got to be a fight, that’s all. Thar +won’t never be no peace until this ere question’s +settled. Dave, do you still want to fight him?”</p> +<p>A fierce aftermath of passion gleamed in +David’s eyes.</p> +<p>“Yes!” he cried, his nostrils quivering.</p> +<p>“And you’ll fight fair? Jest to punish––with +no thought of killin’?”</p> +<p>“I’ll fight fair,” agreed the boy.</p> +<p>“I’ll see that you do. Come here, Jud.”</p> +<p>“I don’t want to fight,” protested Jud sullenly.</p> +<p>“He’s afraid,” said David gleefully, every +muscle quivering and straining.</p> +<p>“I ain’t!” yelled Jud.</p> +<p>“Come on, then,” challenged David, a fierce +joy tugging at his heart. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_61' name='page_61'></a>61</span></p> +<p>Jud came with deliberate precision and a swing +of his left. He was heavier and harder, but +David was more agile, and his whole heart +was in the fight this time. They clutched and +grappled and parried, and finally went down; +first one was on top, then the other. It was the +wage of brute force against elasticity; bluster +against valor. Jud fought in fear; David, in +ferocity. At last David bore his oppressor backward +and downward. Jud, exhausted, ceased to +struggle.</p> +<p>“Thar!” exclaimed Barnabas, drawing a relieved +breath. “I guess you know how you stand +now, and we’ll all feel better. You’ve got all +that’s comin’ to you, Jud, without no more from +me. You can both go to the house and wash +up.”</p> +<p>Uncle Larimy had arrived at the finish of the +fight.</p> +<p>“What’s the trouble, Barnabas?” he asked interestedly, +as the boys walked away.</p> +<p>The explanation was given, but they spoke in +tones so low that David could not overhear any +part of the conversation from the men following +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_62' name='page_62'></a>62</span> +him until, as they neared the house, Uncle Larimy +said: “I was afeerd Dave hed his pa’s temper +snoozin’ inside him. Mebby he’d orter be told +fer a warnin’.”</p> +<p>“I don’t want to say nuthin’ about it less I hev +to. I’ll wait till the next time he loses his +temper.”</p> +<p>David ducked his head in the wash basin on +the bench outside the door. After supper, when +Barnabas came out on the back porch for his +hour of pipe, he called his young charge to him. +Since the fight, David’s face had worn a subdued +but contented expression.</p> +<p>“Looks,” thought Barnabas, “kinder eased off, +like a dog when he licks his chops arter the taste +of blood has been drawed.”</p> +<p>“Set down, Dave. I want to talk to you. You +done right to fight fer yer folks, and you’re a +good fighter, which every boy orter be, but when +I come up to you and Jud I see that in yer face +that I didn’t know was in you. You’ve got an +orful temper, Dave. It’s a good thing to hev––a +mighty good thing, if you kin take keer of it, +but if you let it go it’s what leads to murder. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_63' name='page_63'></a>63</span> +Your pa hed the same kind of let-loose temper +that got him into heaps of trouble.”</p> +<p>“What did my father do?” he asked abruptly.</p> +<p>Instinctively he had shrunk from asking his +mother this question, and pride had forbidden his +seeking the knowledge elsewhere.</p> +<p>“Some day, when you are older, you will know +all about it. But remember, when any one says +anything like what Jud did, that yer ma wouldn’t +want fer you to hev thoughts of killin’. You +see, you fought jest as well––probably better––when +you hed cooled off a mite and hed promised +to fight fair. And ef you can’t wrastle your +temper and down it as you did Jud, you’re not +a fust-class fighter.”</p> +<p>“I’ll try,” said David slowly, unable, however, +to feel much remorse for his outbreak.</p> +<p>“Jud’ll let you alone arter this. You’d better +go to bed now. You need a little extry sleep.”</p> +<p>M’ri came into his room when he was trying to +mend a long rent in his shirt. He flushed uncomfortably +when her eye fell on the garment. +She took it from him.</p> +<p>“I’ll mend it, David. I don’t wonder that +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_64' name='page_64'></a>64</span> +your patience slipped its leash, but––never fight +when you have murder in your heart.”</p> +<p>When she had left the room, Janey’s face, pink +and fair as a baby rose, looked in at the door.</p> +<p>“It’s very wicked to fight and get so mad, +Davey.”</p> +<p>“I know it,” he acknowledged readily. It was +useless trying to make a girl understand.</p> +<p>There was a silence. Janey still lingered.</p> +<p>“Davey,” she asked in an awed whisper, “does +it feel nice to be wicked?”</p> +<p>David shook his head non-committally. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_65' name='page_65'></a>65</span></p> +<p class='tp' style='font-size:1.3em;margin-bottom:40px; margin-top:70px;;'>CHAPTER V</p> +<p>The rather strained relations between Jud +and David were eased the next day by the +excitement attending the big package Barnabas +brought from town. It was addressed to +David, but the removal of the outer wrapping +disclosed a number of parcels neatly labeled, +also a note from Joe, asking him to distribute +the presents.</p> +<p>David first selected the parcel marked +“Janey” and handed it to her.</p> +<p>“Blue beads!” she cried ecstatically.</p> +<p>“Let me see, Janey,” said M’ri. “Why, +they’re real turquoises and with a gold clasp! +I’ll get you a string of blue beads for now, +and you can put these away till you’re grown +up.”</p> +<p>“I didn’t tell Joe what to get for you, Aunt +M’ri; honest, I didn’t,” disclaimed David, with +a laugh, as he handed the freezer to her.</p> +<p>“We’ll initiate it this very day, David.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_66' name='page_66'></a>66</span></p> +<p>David handed Barnabas his pipe and gave +Jud a letter which he opened wonderingly, +uttering a cry of pleasure when he realized +the contents.</p> +<p>“It’s an order on Harkness to let me pick +out any rifle in his store. How did he know? +Did you tell him, Dave?”</p> +<p>“Yes,” was the quiet reply.</p> +<p>“Thank you, Dave. I’ll ride right down and +get it, and we’ll go to the woods this afternoon +and shoot at a mark.”</p> +<p>“All right,” agreed David heartily.</p> +<p>The atmosphere was now quite cleared by +the proposed expenditure of ammunition, and +M’ri experienced the sensation as of one beholding +a rainbow.</p> +<p>David then turned his undivided attention to +his own big package, which contained twelve +books, his name on the fly-leaf of each. Robinson +Crusoe, Swiss Family Robinson, Andersen’s +Fairy Tales, Arabian Nights, Life of Lincoln, +Black Beauty, Oliver Twist, A Thousand +Leagues under the Sea, The Pathfinder, Gulliver’s +Travels, Uncle Tom’s Cabin, and Young +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_67' name='page_67'></a>67</span> +Ranchers comprised the selection. His eyes +gleamed over the enticing titles.</p> +<p>“You shall have some book shelves for your +room, David,” promised M’ri, “and you can +start your library. Joe has made a good foundation +for one.”</p> +<p>His eyes longed to read at once, but there +were still the two packages, marked “Uncle +Larimy” and “Miss Rhody,” to deliver.</p> +<p>“I can see that Uncle Larimy has a fishing +rod, but what do you suppose he has sent +Rhody?” wondered M’ri.</p> +<p>“A black silk dress. I told him she wanted +one.”</p> +<p>“Take it right over there, David. She has +waited almost a lifetime for it.”</p> +<p>“Let me take Uncle Larimy’s present,” suggested +Jud, “and then I’ll ask him to go shooting +with us this afternoon.”</p> +<p>David amicably agreed, and went across fields +to Miss Rhody’s.</p> +<p>“Land sakes!” she exclaimed, looking at the +parcel. “M’ri ain’t a-goin’ to hev another dress +so soon, is she?” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_68' name='page_68'></a>68</span></p> +<p>“No, Miss Rhody. Some one else is, +though.”</p> +<p>“Who is it, David?” she asked curiously.</p> +<p>“You see Joe Forbes sent some presents from +Chicago, and this is what he sent you.”</p> +<p>“A calico,” was her divination, as she opened +the package.</p> +<p>“David Dunne!” she cried in shrill, piping +tones, a spot of red on each cheek. “Just look +here!” and she stroked lovingly the lustrous fold +of shining silk.</p> +<p>“And if here ain’t linings, and thread, and +sewing silk, and hooks and eyes! Why, David +Dunne, it can’t be true! How did he know––David, +you blessed boy, you must have told +him!”</p> +<p>Impulsively she threw her arms about him +and hugged him until he ruefully admitted to +himself that she had Jud “beat on the clutch.”</p> +<p>“And say, David, I’m a-goin’ to wear this +dress. I know folks as lets their silks wear out +a-hangin’ up in closets. Don’t get half as many +cracks when it hangs on yourself. I b’lieve as +them Episcopals do in lettin’ yer light shine, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_69' name='page_69'></a>69</span> +and I never wuz one of them as b’lieved in +savin’ yer best to be laid out in. Oh, Lord, +David, I kin jest hear myself a-rustlin’ round +in it!”</p> +<p>“Maybe you’ll get a husband now,” suggested +David gravely.</p> +<p>“Mebby. I’d orter ketch somethin’ with this. +I never see sech silk. It’s much handsomer than +the one Homer Bisbee’s bride hed when she +come here from the city. It’s orful the way +she wastes. Would you b’lieve it, David, the +fust batch of pies she made, she never pricked, +and they all puffed up and bust. David, look +here! What’s in this envylope? Forever and +way back, ef it hain’t a five-doller bill and a +letter. I hain’t got my glasses handy. Read +it.”</p> +<p>“Dear Miss Rhody,” read the boy in his +musical voice, “silk is none too good for you, and +I want you to wear this and wear it out. If +you don’t, I’ll never send you another. I +thought you might want some more trimmings, +so I send you a five for same. Sincerely yours, +Joe.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_70' name='page_70'></a>70</span></p> +<p>“I don’t need no trimmin’s, excep’ fifty cents +for roochin’s.”</p> +<p>“I’ll tell you what to do, Miss Rhody. When +you get your dress made we’ll go into town and +you can get your picture taken in the dress and +give it to Joe when he comes back.”</p> +<p>“That’s jest what I’ll do. I never hed my +likeness took. David, you’ve got an orful quick +mind. Is Joe coming home? I thought he callated +to go West.”</p> +<p>“Not until fall. He’s going to spend the +summer in his shanty boat on the river.”</p> +<p>“I’ll hurry up and get it made up afore he +comes. Tell me what he sent all your folks.”</p> +<p>“Joe’s a generous boy, like his ma’s folks,” +she continued, when he had enumerated their +gifts. “I am glad fer him that his pa and his +stepmother was so scrimpin’. David, would you +b’lieve it, in that great big house of the Forbeses +thar wa’n’t never a tidy on a chair, and not a +picter on the wall! It was mighty lucky for +Joe that his stepmother died fust, so he got all +the money.”</p> +<p>David hastened home and sought his retreat +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_71' name='page_71'></a>71</span> +in the orchard with one of his books. M’ri, +curious to know what his selection had been, +scanned the titles of the remaining eleven +volumes.</p> +<p>“Well, who would have thought of a boy’s +preferring fairy tales!”</p> +<p>David read until dinner time, but spent the +afternoon with Uncle Larimy and Jud in the +woods, where they received good instruction in +rifle practice. After supper he settled comfortably +down with a book, from which he was +recalled by a plaintive little wail.</p> +<p>“I haven’t had a bit of fun to-day, Davey, +and it’s Saturday, and you haven’t played with +me at all!”</p> +<p>The book closed instantly.</p> +<p>“Come on out doors, Janey,” he invited.</p> +<p>The sound of childish laughter fell pleasantly +on M’ri’s ears. She recalled what Joe Forbes +had said about her own children, and an unbidden +tear lingered on her lashes. This little +space between twilight and lamplight was M’ri’s +favorite hour. In every season but winter it +was spent on the west porch, where she could +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_72' name='page_72'></a>72</span> +watch the moon and the stars come out. Maybe, +too, it was because from here she had been +wont to sit in days gone by and watch for Martin’s +coming. The time and place were conducive +to backward flights of memory, and +M’ri’s pictures of the past were most beguiling, +except that last one when Martin Thorne, stern-faced, +unrelenting, and vowing that he would +never see her again, had left her alone––to do +her duty.</p> +<p>When the children came in she joined them. +Janey, flushed and breathless from play, was +curled up on the couch beside David. He put +his arm caressingly about her and began to +relate one of Andersen’s fairy tales. M’ri gazed +at them tenderly, and was weaving a future little +romance for her two young charges when +Janey said petulantly: “I don’t like fairy +stories, Davey. Tell a real one.”</p> +<p>M’ri noted the disappointment in the boy’s +eyes as he began the narrating of a more realistic +story.</p> +<p>“David, where did you read that story?” she +asked when he had finished. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_73' name='page_73'></a>73</span></p> +<p>“I made it up,” he confessed.</p> +<p>“Why, David, I didn’t know you had such a +talent. You must be an author when you are +a man.”</p> +<p>Late that night she saw a light shining from +beneath the young narrator’s door.</p> +<p>“I ought to send him to bed,” she meditated, +“but, poor lad, he has had so few pleasures and, +after all, childhood is the only time for thorough +enjoyment, so why should I put a feather in its +path?”</p> +<p>David read until after midnight, and went to +bed with a book under his pillow that he might +begin his pastime again at dawn.</p> +<p>After breakfast the next morning M’ri commanded +the whole family to sit down and write +their thanks to Joe. David’s willing pen flew +in pace with his thoughts as he told of Miss +Rhody’s delight and his own revel in book +land. Janey made most wretched work of her +composition. She sighed and struggled with +thoughts and pencil, which she gnawed at both +ends. Finally she confessed that she couldn’t +think of anything more to say. M’ri came to +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_74' name='page_74'></a>74</span> +inspect her literary effort, which was written in +huge characters.</p> +<p>“Dear Joe––”</p> +<p>“Oh,” commented M’ri doubtfully, “I don’t +know as you should address him so familiarly.”</p> +<p>“I called him ‘Joe’ when we rode to school. +He told me to,” defended Janey.</p> +<p>“He’s just like a boy,” suggested David.</p> +<p>So M’ri, silenced, read on: “I thank you for +your beyewtifull present which I cannot have.”</p> +<p>“Oh, Janey,” expostulated M’ri, laughing; +“that doesn’t sound very gracious.”</p> +<p>“Well, you said I couldn’t have them till I +was grown up.”</p> +<p>“I was wrong,” admitted M’ri. “I didn’t +realize it then. We have to see a thing written +sometimes to know how it sounds.”</p> +<p>“May I wear them?” asked Janey exultingly. +“May I put them on now?”</p> +<p>“Yes,” consented M’ri.</p> +<p>Janey flew upstairs and came back wearing +the adored turquoises, which made her eyes most +beautifully blue.</p> +<p>“Now I can write,” she affirmed, taking up +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_75' name='page_75'></a>75</span> +her pencil with the impetus of an incentive. +Under the inspiration of the beads around her +neck, she wrote:</p> +<p style='margin-left:1.0em; margin-right:2.0em; '>“<span class='smcap'>Dear Joe:</span></p> +<p style='margin-left:1.0em; margin-right:2.0em; '>“I am wareing the beyewtifull beeds you sent me around +my neck. Aunt M’ri says they are terkwoyses. I never +had such nice beeds and I thank you. I wish I cood ride +with you agen. Good bye. From your frend,</p> +<p style='margin-left:1.0em; margin-right:2.0em; text-align:right'>“<span class='smcap'>Janey.</span>”<br /></p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_76' name='page_76'></a>76</span></div> +<p class='tp' style='font-size:1.3em;margin-bottom:40px; margin-top:70px;;'>CHAPTER VI</p> +<p>The next day being town day, David +“hooked up” Old Hundred and drove to +the house. After the butter crock, egg pails, +and kerosene and gasoline cans had been piled +in, Barnabas squeezed into the space beside +David. M’ri came out with a memorandum of +supplies for them to get in town. To David +she handed a big bunch of spicy, pink June +roses.</p> +<p>“What shall I do with them?” he asked wonderingly.</p> +<p>“Give them to some one who looks as if he +needed flowers,” she replied.</p> +<p>“I will,” declared the boy interestedly. “I +will watch them all and see how they look at the +roses.”</p> +<p>At last M’ri had a kindred spirit in her household. +Jud would have sneered, and Janey +would not have understood. To Barnabas all +flowers looked alike. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_77' name='page_77'></a>77</span></p> +<p>It had come to be a custom for Barnabas to +take David to town with him at least once a +week. The trip was necessarily a slow one, for +from almost every farmhouse he received a petition +to “do a little errand in town.” As the +good nature and accommodating tendency of +Barnabas were well known, they were accordingly +imposed upon. He received commissions +of every character, from the purchase of a corn +sheller to the matching of a blue ribbon. He +also stopped to pick up a child or two en route +to school or to give a lift to a weary pedestrian +whom he overtook.</p> +<p>While Barnabas made his usual rounds of +the groceries, meatmarket, drug store, mill, +feed store, general store, and a hotel where he +was well known, David was free to go where +he liked. Usually he accompanied Barnabas, +but to-day he walked slowly up the principal +business street, watching for “one who needed +flowers.” Many glances were bestowed upon +the roses, some admiring, some careless, and then––his +heart almost stopped beating at the significance––Judge +Thorne came by. He, too, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_78' name='page_78'></a>78</span> +glanced at the roses. His gaze lingered, and a +look came into his eyes that stimulated David’s +passion for romance.</p> +<p>“He’s remembering,” he thought joyfully.</p> +<p>He didn’t hesitate even an instant. He +stopped in front of the Judge and extended the +flowers.</p> +<p>“Would you like these roses, Judge Thorne?” +he asked courteously.</p> +<p>Then for the first time the Judge’s attention +was diverted from the flowers.</p> +<p>“Your face is familiar, my lad, but––”</p> +<p>“My name is David Dunne.”</p> +<p>“Yes, to be sure, but it must be four years +or more since I last saw you. How’s your +mother getting along?”</p> +<p>The boy’s face paled.</p> +<p>“She died three weeks ago,” he answered.</p> +<p>“Oh, my lad,” he exclaimed in shocked tones, +“I didn’t know! I only returned last night +from a long journey. But with whom are you +living?”</p> +<p>“With Aunt M’ri and Uncle Barnabas.”</p> +<p>“Oh!” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_79' name='page_79'></a>79</span></p> +<p>The impressive silence following this exclamation +was broken by the Judge.</p> +<p>“Why do you offer me these flowers, David?”</p> +<p>“Aunt M’ri picked them and told me to give +them to some one who looked as if they needed +flowers.”</p> +<p>The Judge eyed him with the keen scrutiny of +the trained lawyer, but the boy’s face was non-committal.</p> +<p>“Come up into my office with me, David,” +commanded the Judge, turning quickly into a +near-by stairway. David followed up the stairs +and into a suite of well-appointed offices.</p> +<p>A clerk looked up in surprise at the sight of +the dignified judge carrying a bouquet of old-fashioned +roses and accompanied by a country +lad.</p> +<p>“Good morning, Mathews. I am engaged, if +any one comes.”</p> +<p>He preceded David into a room on whose +outer door was the deterrent word, “Private.”</p> +<p>While the Judge got a pitcher of water to +hold the flowers David crossed the room. On +a table near the window was a rack of books +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_80' name='page_80'></a>80</span> +which he eagerly inspected. To his delight he +saw a volume of Andersen’s Fairy Tales. Instantly +the book was opened, and he was devouring +a story.</p> +<p>“David,” spoke the Judge from the other end +of the room, “didn’t these roses grow on a bush +by the west porch?”</p> +<p>There was no answer.</p> +<p>The Judge, remarking the boy’s absorption, +came to see what he was reading.</p> +<p>“Andersen’s Fairy Tales! My favorite book. +I didn’t know that boys liked fairy stories.”</p> +<p>David looked up quickly.</p> +<p>“I didn’t know that lawyers did, either.”</p> +<p>“Well, I do, David. They are my most delightful +diversion.”</p> +<p>“Girls don’t like fairy stories,” mused David. +“Anyway, Janey doesn’t. I have to tell true +stories to please her.”</p> +<p>“Oh, you are a yarner, are you?”</p> +<p>“Yes,” admitted David modestly. “Aunt +M’ri thinks I will be a writer when I grow up, +but I think I should like to be a lawyer.”</p> +<p>“David,” asked the Judge abruptly, “did +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_81' name='page_81'></a>81</span> +Miss Brumble tell you to give me those roses?”</p> +<p>With a wild flashing of eyes the Dunne temper +awoke, and the boy’s under jaw shot +forward.</p> +<p>“No!” he answered fiercely. “She didn’t +know that I know––”</p> +<p>He paused in mid-channel of such deep +waters.</p> +<p>“That you know what?” demanded the Judge +in his cross-examining tone.</p> +<p>David was doubtful of the consequences of +his temerity, but he stood his ground.</p> +<p>“I can’t tell you what, because I promised +not to. Some one was just thinking out loud, +and I overheard.”</p> +<p>There was silence for a moment.</p> +<p>“David, I remember your father telling me, +years ago, that he had a little son with a big imagination +which his mother fed by telling stories +every night at bedtime.”</p> +<p>“Will you tell me,” asked David earnestly, +“about my father? What was it he did? Uncle +Barnabas told me something about his trouble +last Saturday.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_82' name='page_82'></a>82</span></p> +<p>“How did he come to mention your father to +you?”</p> +<p>David reddened.</p> +<p>“Jud twitted me about my mother taking in +washing and about my father being a convict, +and I knocked him down. I told him I would +kill him. Uncle Barnabas pulled me off.”</p> +<p>“And then?”</p> +<p>“Then he let us fight it out.”</p> +<p>“And you licked?”</p> +<p>“Yes, sir,” replied the boy, with proud +modesty.</p> +<p>“You naturally would, with that under jaw, +but it’s the animal in us that makes us want to +kill, and the man in us should rise above the +animal. I think I am the person to tell you +about your father. He had every reason to +make good, but he was unfortunate in his choice +of associates and he acquired some of their +habits. He had a violent temper, and one night +when he was––”</p> +<p>“Drunk,” supplied David gravely.</p> +<p>“He became angry with one of his friends +and tried to kill him. Your father was given +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_83' name='page_83'></a>83</span> +a comparatively short sentence, which he had +almost served when he died. You must guard +against your temper and cultivate patience and +endurance––qualities your mother possessed.”</p> +<p>It suddenly and overwhelmingly flashed +across David what need his mother must have +had for such traits, and he turned away to force +back his tears. The Judge saw the heaving of +the slender, square, young shoulders, and the +gray eyes that were wont to look so coldly upon +the world and its people grew soft and surprisingly +moist.</p> +<p>“It’s past now, David, and can’t be helped, +but you are going to aim to be the kind of man +your mother would want you to be. You must +learn to put up with Jud’s tyranny because his +father and his aunt are your benefactors. I +have been away the greater part of the time +since your father’s death, or I should have kept +track of you and your mother. Every time you +come to town I want you to come up here and +report to me. Will you?”</p> +<p>“Thank you, sir. And I will bring you some +more flowers.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_84' name='page_84'></a>84</span></p> +<p class='tp' style='font-size:1.3em;margin-bottom:40px; margin-top:70px;;'>CHAPTER VII</p> +<p>“Whar wuz you, Dave, all the time we +wuz in town?” asked Barnabas, as they +drove homeward.</p> +<p>“In Judge Thorne’s office.”</p> +<p>“Judge Thorne’s office! What fer?”</p> +<p>“He asked me there, Uncle Barnabas. He +was my father’s lawyer once, you know.”</p> +<p>“So he wuz. I hed fergot.”</p> +<p>“He warned me against my temper, as you +did, and he told me––all about my father.”</p> +<p>“I am glad he did, Dave. He wuz the one +to tell you.”</p> +<p>“He says that every time I come to Lafferton +I must come up and report to him.”</p> +<p>“Wal, Dave, it does beat all how folks take +to you. Thar wuz Joe wanted you, and now +Mart Thorne’s interested. Mebby they could +do better by you than we could. Joe’s rich, and +the Jedge is well fixed and almighty smart.”</p> +<p>“No,” replied David stoutly. “I’d rather +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_85' name='page_85'></a>85</span> +stay with you, Uncle Barnabas. There’s +something you’ve got much more of than they +have.”</p> +<p>“What’s that, Dave?” asked Barnabas curiously.</p> +<p>“Horse sense.”</p> +<p>Barnabas looked pleased.</p> +<p>“Wal, Dave, I callate to do my best fer you, +and thar’s one thing I want <i>you</i> to git some +horse sense about right off.”</p> +<p>“All right, Uncle Barnabas. What is it?”</p> +<p>“Feedin’ on them fairy stories all day. They +hain’t hullsome diet fer a boy.”</p> +<p>“The Judge reads them,” protested David. +“He has that same book of fairy stories that +Joe gave me.”</p> +<p>“When you’ve done all the Jedge has, and +git to whar you kin afford to be idle, you kin +read any stuff you want ter.”</p> +<p>“Can’t I read them at all?” asked David in +alarm.</p> +<p>“Of course you kin. I meant, I didn’t want +you stickin’ to ’em like a pup to a root. You’re +goin’ down to the fields to begin work with me +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_86' name='page_86'></a>86</span> +this arternoon, and you won’t feel much like +readin’ to-night. I wuz lookin’ over them books +of your’n last night. Thar’s one you’d best +start in on right away, and give the fairies a +rest.”</p> +<p>“Which one?”</p> +<p>“Life of Lincoln. That’ll show you what +work will do.”</p> +<p>“I’ll read it aloud to you, Uncle Barnabas.”</p> +<p>When they reached the bridge that spanned +the river Old Hundred dropped the little hurrying +gait which he assumed in town, and settled +down to his normal, comfortable, country jog.</p> +<p>“Uncle Barnabas,” said David thoughtfully, +“what is your religion?”</p> +<p>Barnabas meditated.</p> +<p>“Wal, Dave, I don’t know as I hev what you +might call religion exackly. I b’lieve in payin’ +a hundred cents on the dollar, and a-helpin’ the +man that’s down, and––wal, I s’pose I come +as nigh bein’ a Unitarian as anything.”</p> +<p>The distribution of the purchases now began. +Sometimes the good housewife, herself, came +out to receive the parcels and to hear the latest +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_87' name='page_87'></a>87</span> +news from town. Oftener, the children of the +household were the messengers, for Barnabas’ +pockets were always well filled with candy on +town days. At one place Barnabas stopped +at a barn by the roadside and surreptitiously +deposited a suspicious looking package. When +he was in front of the next farmhouse a man +came out with anxious mien.</p> +<p>“All right, Fred!” hailed Barnabas with a +knowing wink. “I was afeerd you’d not be on +the watchout. I left it in the manger.”</p> +<p>They did not reach the farm until the dinner +hour, and the conversation was maintained by +M’ri and Barnabas on marketing matters. +David spent the afternoon in being initiated in +field work. At supper, M’ri asked him suddenly:</p> +<p>“To whom did you give the flowers, David?”</p> +<p>“I’ve made a story to it, Aunt M’ri, and +I’m going to tell it to Janey. Then you can +hear.”</p> +<p>M’ri smiled, and questioned him no further.</p> +<p>When the day was done and the “still hour” +had come, Janey and David, hand in hand, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_88' name='page_88'></a>88</span> +came around the house and sat down at her feet. +It was seldom that any one intruded at this +hour, but she knew that David had come to tell +his story.</p> +<p>“Begin, Davey,” urged Janey impatiently.</p> +<p>“One day, when a boy was going to town, +his aunt gave him a big bouquet of pink roses. +She told him to give them to some one who +looked as if they needed flowers. So when the +boy got to town he walked up Main Street and +looked at every one he met. He hoped to see +a little sick child or a tired woman who had no +flowers of her own; but every one seemed to be +in a hurry, and very few stopped to look at +flowers or anything else. Those that did look +turned away as if they did not see them, and +some seemed to be thinking, ‘What beautiful +flowers!’ and then forgot them.</p> +<p>“At last he met a tall, stern man dressed in +fine clothes. He looked very proud, but as if +he were tired of everything. When he saw the +flowers he didn’t turn away, but kept his eyes +on them as if they made him sad and lonesome +in thinking of good times that were over. So +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_89' name='page_89'></a>89</span> +the boy asked him if he would not like the +flowers. The man looked surprised and asked +the boy what his name was. When he heard it, +he remembered that he had been attorney for +the boy’s father. He took him up into an +office marked private, and he gave the boy some +good advice, and talked to him about his +mother, which made the boy feel bad. But the +man comforted him and told him that every +time he came to town he was to report to him.”</p> +<p>M’ri had sat motionless during the recital of +this story. At its close she did not speak.</p> +<p>“That wasn’t much of a story. Let’s go +play,” suggested Janey, relieving the tension.</p> +<p>They were off like a flash. David heard his +name faintly called. M’ri’s voice sounded far +off, and as if there were tears in it, but he +lacked the courage to return. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_90' name='page_90'></a>90</span></p> +<p class='tp' style='font-size:1.3em;margin-bottom:40px; margin-top:70px;;'>CHAPTER VIII</p> +<p>Two important events calendared the next +week. The school year ended and Pennyroyal, +the “hired help,” who had been paying +her annual visit to her sister, came back to the +farm. There are two kinds of housekeepers, +the “make-cleans” and the “keep-cleans.” +Pennyroyal was a graduate of both classes. Her +ruling passions in life were scrubbing and “redding” +up. On the day of her return, after +making onslaught on house and porches, she +attacked the pump, and planned a sand-scouring +siege for the morrow on the barn. In +appearance she was a true exponent of soap and +water, and always had the look of being freshly +laundered.</p> +<p>At first Pennyroyal looked with ill favor on +the addition that had been made to the household +in her absence, but when David submitted +to the shampooing of his tousled mass of hair, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_91' name='page_91'></a>91</span> +and offered no protest when she scrubbed his +neck, she became reconciled to his presence.</p> +<p>On a “town day” David, carrying a huge +bunch of pinks, paid his second visit to the +Judge.</p> +<p>“Did she tell you,” asked the tall man, gazing +very hard at the landscape without the open +window, “to give these flowers to some one who +needed them?”</p> +<p>There was a perilous little pause. Then there +flashed from the boy to the man a gaze of comprehension.</p> +<p>“She picked them for you,” was the response, +simply spoken.</p> +<p>The Judge carefully selected a blossom for +his buttonhole, and then proceeded to draw +David out. Under the skillful, schooled questioning, +David grew communicative.</p> +<p>“She’s always on the west porch after supper.” +He added naïvely: “That’s the time when +Uncle Barnabas smokes on the east porch, Jud +goes off with the boys, and I play with Janey +in the lane.”</p> +<p>“Thank you, David,” acknowledged the +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_92' name='page_92'></a>92</span> +Judge gratefully. “You are quite a bureau of +information, and,” in a consciously casual tone, +“will you take a note to your aunt? I think I +will ride out to the farm to-night.”</p> +<p>David’s young heart fluttered, and he went +back to the farm invested with a proud feeling +of having assisted the fates. The air was filled +with mystery and an undercurrent of excitement +that day. After David had delivered the +auspicious note, a private conference behind +closed doors had been held between M’ri and +Barnabas in the “company parlor.” David’s +shrewd young eyes noted the weakening of the +lines of finality about M’ri’s mouth when she +emerged from the interview. Throughout the +long afternoon she performed the usual tasks in +nervous haste, the color coming and going in her +delicately contoured face.</p> +<p>When she appeared at the supper table she +was adorned in white, brightened by touches of +blue at belt and collar. David’s young eyes surveyed +her appraisingly and approvingly, and +later he effected a thorough effacing of the family. +He obtained from Barnabas permission for +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_93' name='page_93'></a>93</span> +Jud to go to town with the Gardner boys. His +next diplomatic move was to persuade Pennyroyal +to go with himself and Janey to Uncle +Larimy’s hermit home. When she wavered, he +commented on the eclipse of Uncle Larimy’s +windows the last time he saw them. That +turned the tide of Pennyroyal’s resistance. +Equipped with soft linen, a cake of strong soap, +and a bottle of ammonia, she strode down the +lane, accompanied by the children.</p> +<p>The walk proved a trying ordeal for Pennyroyal. +She started out at her accustomed brisk +gait, but David loitered and sauntered, Janey +of course setting her pace by his. Pennyroyal, +feeling it incumbent upon herself to keep +watch of her young companions, retraced her +steps so often that she covered the distance several +times.</p> +<p>At Uncle Larimy’s she found such a fertile +field for her line of work that David was quite +ready to return when she pronounced her labors +finished. She was really tired, and quite willing +to walk home slowly in the moonlight.</p> +<p>It was very quiet. Here and there a bird, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_94' name='page_94'></a>94</span> +startled from its hiding place, sought refuge in +the higher branches. A pensive quail piped an +answer to the trilling call from the meadows. A +tree toad uttered his lonely, guttural exclamation. +The air, freshening with a coming covey +of clouds, swayed the tops of the trees with +mournful sound.</p> +<p>David, full of dreams, let his fancy have full +play, and he made a little story of his own about +the meeting of the lovers. He pictured the +Judge riding down the dust-white road as the +sunset shadows grew long. He knew the exact +spot––the last bit of woodland––from where +Martin, across level-lying fields, could obtain +his first glimpse of the old farmhouse and porch. +His moving-picture conceit next placed M’ri, +dressed in white, with touches of blue, on the +west porch. He had decided that in the +Long Ago Days she had been wont to wear +blue, which he imagined to be the Judge’s +favorite color. Then he caused the unimpressionable +Judge to tie his horse to the hitching +post at the side of the road and walk between +the hedges of sweet peas that bordered +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_95' name='page_95'></a>95</span> +the path. Their pink and white sweetness was +the trumpet call sounding over the grave of the +love of his youth. (David had read such a passage +in a book at Miss Rhody’s and thought it +very fine and applicable.) His active fancy +took Martin Thorne around the house to the +west porch. The white figure arose, and in the +purple-misted twilight he saw the touches of +blue, and his heart lighted.</p> +<p>“Marie!”</p> +<p>The old name, the name he had given her in +his love-making days, came to his lips. (David +couldn’t make M’ri fit in with the settings of his +story, so he re-christened her.) She came forward +with outstretched hand and a gentle manner, +but at the look in his eyes as he uttered the +old name, with the caressing accent on the first +syllable, she understood. A deep sunrise color +flooded her face and neck.</p> +<p>“Martin!” she whispered as she came to him.</p> +<p>David threw back his head and shut his eyes +in ecstatic bliss. He was rudely roused from his +romantic weaving by the sound of Barnabas’ +chuckle as they came to the east porch. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_96' name='page_96'></a>96</span></p> +<p>“You must a washed every one of Larimy’s +winders!”</p> +<p>“Yes,” replied Janey, “and she mopped his +floors, washed and clean-papered the shelves, +and wanted to scrub the old gray horse.”</p> +<p>“Pennyroyal,” exclaimed Barnabas gravely, +“I wonder you ain’t waterlogged!”</p> +<p>“Pennyroyal’d rather be clean than be President,” +averred David.</p> +<p>“Where’s M’ri?” demanded Pennyroyal, ignoring +these thrusts.</p> +<p>“On the west porch, entertaining company,” +remarked Barnabas.</p> +<p>“Who?”</p> +<p>Pennyroyal never used a superfluous word. +Joe Forbes said she talked like telegrams.</p> +<p>Barnabas removed his pipe from his mouth, +and paused to give his words greater dramatic +force.</p> +<p>“Mart Thorne!”</p> +<p>The effect was satisfactory.</p> +<p>Pennyroyal stood as if petrified for a moment. +Than she expressed her feelings.</p> +<p>“Hallelujah!” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_97' name='page_97'></a>97</span></p> +<p>Her tone made the exclamation as impressive +as a benediction.</p> +<p>M’ri visited the bedside of each of her +charges that night. Jud and Janey were in the +land of dreams, but David was awake, expecting +her coming. There was a new tenderness +in her good-night kiss.</p> +<p>“Aunt M’ri,” asked the boy, looking up with +his deep, searching eyes and a suspicion of a +smile about his lips, “did you and Judge Thorne +talk over my education? He said that he was +going to speak to you about it.”</p> +<p>Her eyes sparkled.</p> +<p>“David, the Judge is coming to dinner Sunday. +We will talk it over with you then.”</p> +<p>“Aunt M’ri,” a little note of wistfulness chasing +the bantering look from his eyes, “you aren’t +going to leave us now?”</p> +<p>“Not for a year, David,” she said, a soft flush +coming to her face.</p> +<p>“He’s waited seven,” thought David, “so one +more won’t make so much difference. Anyway, +we need a year to get used to it.”</p> +<p>After all, David was only a boy. His flights +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_98' name='page_98'></a>98</span> +of romantic fancy vanished in remembrance of +the blissful certainty that there would be ice +cream for dinner on Sunday next and on many +Sundays thereafter. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_99' name='page_99'></a>99</span></p> +<p class='tp' style='font-size:1.3em;margin-bottom:40px; margin-top:70px;;'>CHAPTER IX</p> +<p>The little trickle of uneven days was broken +one morning by a message which was +brought by the “hired man from Randall’s.”</p> +<p>“We’ve got visitors from the city tew our +house,” he announced. “They want you to send +Janey over tew play with their little gal.”</p> +<p>Befitting the honor of the occasion, Janey was +attired in her blue-sprigged muslin and allowed +to wear the turquoises. David drove her to +Maplewood, the pretentious home of the Randalls, +intending to call for her later. When they +came to the entrance of the grounds at the end +of a long avenue of maples a very tiny girl, immaculate +in white, with hair of gold and eyes +darkly blue, came out from among the trees. +She regarded David with deep, grave eyes as he +stepped from the wagon to open the gate.</p> +<p>“You’ve come to play with me,” she stated +in a tone of assurance.</p> +<p>“I’ve brought Janey to play with you,” he +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_100' name='page_100'></a>100</span> +rejoined, indicating his little companion. “If +you’ll get in the wagon, I’ll drive you up to the +house.”</p> +<p>She held up her slender little arms to him, and +David felt as if he were lifting a doll.</p> +<p>“My name in Carey Winthrop. What is +yours?” she demanded of Janey as they all rode +up the shaded, graveled road.</p> +<p>“Janey Brumble,” replied the visitor, gaining +ease from the ingenuousness of the little girl +and from the knowledge that she was older than +her hostess.</p> +<p>“And he’s your brother?” indicating David.</p> +<p>“He’s my adopted brother,” said Janey; +“he’s David Dunne.”</p> +<p>“I wish I had a ’dopted brother,” sighed the +little girl, eying David wistfully.</p> +<p>David drove up to the side entrance of the +large, white-columned, porticoed house, on the +spacious veranda of which sat a fair-haired +young woman with luminous eyes and smiling +mouth. The smile deepened as she saw the curiously +disfigured horse ambling up to the stone +step. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_101' name='page_101'></a>101</span></p> +<p>“Whoa, Old Hundred!” commanded David, +whereupon the smile became a rippling laugh. +David got out, lifted the little girl to the ground +very carefully, and gave a helping hand to +the nimble, independent Janey.</p> +<p>“Mother,” cried Carey delightedly, “this is +Janey and her ’dopted brother David.”</p> +<p>David touched his cap gravely in acknowledgment +of the introduction. He had never heard +his name pronounced as this little girl spoke +it, with the soft “a.” It sounded very sweet to +him.</p> +<p>“I’ll drive back for you before sundown, +Janey,” said David, preparing to climb into the +wagon.</p> +<p>“No,” objected Carey, regarding him with +apprehension, “I want you to stay and play with +me. Tell him to stay, mother.”</p> +<p>There was a regal carriage to the little head +and an imperious note––the note of an only +child––in her voice.</p> +<p>“Maybe David has other things to do than to +play with little girls,” said her mother, “but, +David, if you can stay, I wish you would.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_102' name='page_102'></a>102</span></p> +<p>“I should like to stay,” replied David earnestly, +“but they expect me back, and Old Hundred +is needed in the field.”</p> +<p>“Luke can drive your horse back, and we will +see that you and Janey ride home.”</p> +<p>So Carey, with a hand to each of her new +playmates, led them across the driveway to the +rolling stretch of shaded lawn. The lady +watched David as he submitted to be driven as +a horse by the little girls and then constituted +himself driver to his little team of ponies as he +called them. Later, when they raced to the +meadow, she saw him hold Janey back that Carey +might win. Presently the lady was joined by +her husband.</p> +<p>“Where is Carey?” he asked.</p> +<p>“She is having great sport with a pretty little +girl and a guardian angel of a boy. Here they +come!”</p> +<p>They were trooping across the lawn, the little +girls adorned with blossom wreaths which David +had woven for them.</p> +<p>“May we go down to the woods––the big +woods?” asked Carey. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_103' name='page_103'></a>103</span></p> +<p>“It’s too far for you to walk, dear,” remonstrated +her mother.</p> +<p>“David says he’ll draw me in my little cart.”</p> +<p>“Who is it that was afraid to go into the big +woods, and thought it was a forest filled with +wild beasts and scary things?” demanded Mr. +Winthrop.</p> +<p>The earnest eyes fixed on his were not at all +abashed.</p> +<p>“With him, with David,” she said simply, “I +would have no afraidments.”</p> +<p>“Afraidments?” he repeated perplexedly. “I +am not sure I understand.”</p> +<p>“Don’t tease, Arthur; it’s a very good word,” +interposed Mrs. Winthrop quickly. “It seems +to have a different meaning from fear.”</p> +<p>“Come up here, David,” bade Mr. Winthrop, +“and let me see what there is in you to inspire +one with no ‘afraidments’.”</p> +<p>The boy came up on the steps, and did not +falter under the keen but good-humored gaze.</p> +<p>“Do you like to play with little girls, David?”</p> +<p>“I like to play with these little girls,” admitted +David. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_104' name='page_104'></a>104</span></p> +<p>“And what do you like to do besides that?”</p> +<p>“I like to shoot.”</p> +<p>“Oh, a hunter?”</p> +<p>“No; I like to shoot at a mark.”</p> +<p>“And what else?”</p> +<p>“I like to read, and fish, and swim, and––”</p> +<p>“Eat ice cream!” finished Janey roguishly, +showing her dimples.</p> +<p>The man caught her up in his arms.</p> +<p>“You are a darling, and I wish my little girl +had such rosy cheeks. David, can you show me +where there is good fishing?”</p> +<p>“Uncle Larimy can show you the best places. +He knows where the bass live, and how to coax +them to bite.”</p> +<p>“And will you take me to this wonderful person +to-morrow?”</p> +<p>“Yes, sir.”</p> +<p>Carey now came out of the hall with her cart, +and David drew her across the lawn, Janey dancing +by his side. Down through the meadows +wound a wheel-tracked road leading to a patch +of dense woods which, to a little girl with a big +imagination, could easily become a wild forest +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_105' name='page_105'></a>105</span> +infested with all sorts of nameless terrors––terrors +that make one draw the bedclothes snugly +over the head at night. She gave a little frightened +cry as they came into the cool, olive depths.</p> +<p>“I am afraid, David. Take me!”</p> +<p>He lifted her to his shoulder, and her soft +cheek nestled against his face.</p> +<p>“Now you are not afraid,” he said persuasively.</p> +<p>“No; but I would be if you put me down.”</p> +<p>They went farther into the oak depths, until +they came to a fallen tree where they rested. +Janey, investigating the forestry, finally discovered +a bush with slender red twigs.</p> +<p>“Oh,” she cried, “now David will show you +what beautiful things he can make for us.”</p> +<p>“I have no pins,” demurred David.</p> +<p>“I have,” triumphantly producing a paper of +the needful from her pocket. “I always carry +them now.”</p> +<p>David broke up the long twigs into short +pieces, from which he skillfully fashioned little +chairs and tables, discoursing the while to Carey +on the beauty and safety of the woods. Finally +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_106' name='page_106'></a>106</span> +Carey acquired courage to hunt for wild flowers, +though her hand remained close in David’s +clasp.</p> +<p>When they returned to the house Carey gave a +glowing account of the expedition.</p> +<p>“Sit down on the steps and rest, children,” +proposed Mrs. Winthrop, “while Lucy prepares +a little picnic dinner for you.”</p> +<p>“What will we do now, David?” appealed +Carey, when they were seated on the porch.</p> +<p>“You mustn’t do anything but sit still,” admonished +her mother. “You’ve done more now +than you are used to doing in one day.”</p> +<p>“Davey will tell us a story,” suggested Janey.</p> +<p>“Yes, please, David,” urged Carey, coming to +him and resting her eyes on his inquiringly, while +her little hand confidently sought his knee. +Instinctively and naturally his fingers closed +upon it.</p> +<p>Embarrassed as he was at having a strange +audience, he could not resist the child’s appeal.</p> +<p>“She’ll like the kind that you don’t,” he said +musingly to Janey, “the kind about fairies and +princes.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_107' name='page_107'></a>107</span></p> +<p>“Yes,” rejoined Carey.</p> +<p>So he fashioned a tale, partly from recollections +of Andersen but mostly from his own +fancy. As his imagination kindled, he forgot +where he was. Inspired by the spellbound interest +of the dainty little girl with the worshiping +eyes, he achieved his masterpiece.</p> +<p>“Upon my word,” exclaimed Mr. Winthrop, +“you are a veritable Scheherazade! You didn’t +make up that story yourself?”</p> +<p>“Only part of it,” admitted David modestly.</p> +<p>When he and Janey started for home David +politely delivered M’ri’s message of invitation +for Carey to come to the farm on the morrow to +play.</p> +<p>“It is going to be lovely here,” said the little +girl happily. “And we are going to come every +summer.”</p> +<p>Janey kissed her impulsively. “Good-by, +Carey.”</p> +<p>“Good-by, Janey. Good-by, David.”</p> +<p>“Good-by,” he returned cheerily. Looking +back, he saw her lips trembling. His gaze +turned in perplexity to Mrs. Winthrop, whose +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_108' name='page_108'></a>108</span> +eyes were dancing. “She expects you to bid her +good-by the way Janey did,” she explained.</p> +<p>“Oh!” said David, reddening, as two baby lips +of scarlet were lifted naturally and expectantly +to his.</p> +<p>As they drove away, the light feet of the +horse making but little sound on the smooth +road, Mrs. Winthrop’s clear treble was wafted +after them.</p> +<p>“One can scarcely believe that his father was +a convict and his mother a washerwoman.”</p> +<p>A lump came into the boy’s throat. Janey +was very quiet on the way home. When they +were alone she said to him, with troubled eyes:</p> +<p>“Davey, is Carey going to be your sweetheart?”</p> +<p>His laugh was reassuring.</p> +<p>“Why, Janey, I am just twice her age.”</p> +<p>“She is like a little doll, isn’t she, David?”</p> +<p>“No; like a little princess.”</p> +<p>The next morning Little Teacher came to +show them her present from Joe.</p> +<p>“I am sure he chose a camera so I could take +your pictures to send to him,” she declared. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_109' name='page_109'></a>109</span></p> +<p>“Miss Rhody wants her picture taken in the +black silk Joe gave her. If you will take it, she +won’t have to spend the money he sent her,” +said the thoughtful David.</p> +<p>Little Teacher was very enthusiastic over this +proposition, and offered to accompany him at +once to secure the picture. Miss Rhody was +greatly excited over the event. Ever since the +dress had been finished she had been a devotee +at the shrine of two hooks in her closet from +which was suspended the long-coveted garment, +waiting for an occasion that would warrant its +débût. She nervously dressed for the “likeness,” +for which she assumed her primmest pose. +A week later David sent Joe a picture of Miss +Rhody standing stiff and straight on her back +porch and arrayed, with all the glory of the +lilies of the field, in her new silk. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_110' name='page_110'></a>110</span></p> +<p class='tp' style='font-size:1.3em;margin-bottom:40px; margin-top:70px;;'>CHAPTER X</p> +<p>When the hot, close-cropped fields took +on their first suggestion of autumn and a +fuller note was heard in the requiem of the songbirds, +when the twilights were of purple and the +morning skies delicately mackereled in gray, +David entered the little, red, country schoolhouse. +M’ri’s tutelage and his sedulous application +to Jud’s schoolbooks saved him from the +ignominy of being classified with the younger +children.</p> +<p>When he sat down to the ink-stained, pen-scratched +desk that was to be his own, when he +made compact piles of his new books and placed +in the little groove in front of the inkwell his pen, +pencils, and ruler, he turned to Little Teacher +such a glowing face of ecstasy that she was quite +inspired, and her sympathies and energies were +at once enlisted in the cause of David’s education.</p> +<p>It was the beginning of a new world for him. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_111' name='page_111'></a>111</span> +He studied with a concentration that made him +oblivious to all that occurred about him, and he +had to be reminded of calls to recitations by an +individual summons. He fairly overwhelmed +Little Teacher by his voracity for learning and +a perseverance that vanquished all obstacles. +He soon outstripped his class, and finally his +young instructress was forced to bring forth her +own textbooks to satisfy his avidity. He devoured +them all speedily, and she then applied to +the Judge for fuel from his library to feed her +young furnace.</p> +<p>“He takes to learning as naturally as bees to +blossoms,” she reported.</p> +<p>“He must ease off,” warned Barnabas. +“Young hickory needs plenty of room for full +growth.”</p> +<p>“No,” disagreed the Judge, “young hickory is +as strong as wrought iron. He’s going to have +a clear, keen mind to argue law cases.”</p> +<p>“I think not,” said M’ri. “You forget another +quality of young hickory. No other wood burns +with such brilliancy. David is going to be an +author.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_112' name='page_112'></a>112</span></p> +<p>“I am afraid,” wrote Joe, “that Dave won’t be +a first-class ranchman. He must be plum locoed +with dreams.”</p> +<p>This prognostication reached David’s ears.</p> +<p>“Without dreams,” he argued to Barnabas, +“one would be like the pigs.”</p> +<p>“Wal, now, Dave, mebby pigs dream. They +sartain sleep a hull lot.”</p> +<p>David laughed appreciatively.</p> +<p>“Dave,” pursued Barnabas, “they’re all figgerin’ +on your futur, and they’re a-figgerin’ +wrong. Joe thinks you’ll take to ranchin’. You +may––fer a spell. M’ri thinks you may write +books. You may do even that––fer a spell. The +Jedge counts on yer takin’ to the law like a duck +does to water. You may, but law larnin’, cow +punchin’, and story writin’ ’ll jest be steppin’ +stuns to what I know you air goin’ ter be, and +what I know is in you ter be.”</p> +<p>“What in the world is that, Uncle Barnabas?” +asked David in surprise. “A farmer?”</p> +<p>“Farmer, nuthin’!” scoffed Barnabas. “Yer +hain’t much on farmin’, Dave, though I will +say yer furrers is allers straight, like everythin’ +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_113' name='page_113'></a>113</span> +else you do. Yer straight yerself. No! young +hickory can bend without breakin’, and thar’s +jest one thing I want fer you to be.”</p> +<p>“What?” persisted the boy.</p> +<p>Barnabas whispered something.</p> +<p>The blood of the young country boy went like +wine through his veins; his heart leaped with a +big and mighty purpose.</p> +<p>“Now, remember, Dave,” cautioned Barnabas, +“what all work and no play done to Jack. +You git yer lessons perfect, and recite them, +and read a leetle of an evenin’; the rest of the +time I want yer to get out and cerkilate.”</p> +<p>November with its call to quiet woods came +on, and David was eager to “cerkilate.” He +became animated with the spirit of sport. Red-letter +Saturdays were spent with Uncle Larimy, +and the far-away echo of the hunter’s bullet and +the scudding through the woods of startled game +became new, sweet music to his ears. Rifle in +hand, with dog shuffling at his heels or plunging +ahead in search of game, the world was his. Life +was very full and happy, save for the one inevitable +sprig of bitter––Jud! The big bully of +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_114' name='page_114'></a>114</span> +a boy had learned that David was his equal physically +and his superior mentally, but the fear of +David and of David’s good standing kept him +from venturing out in the open; so from cover +he sought by all the arts known to craftiness to +harass the younger boy, whose patience this test +tried most sorely.</p> +<p>One day when Little Teacher had given him +a verbose definition of the word “pestiferous,” +David looked at her comprehendingly. “Like +Jud,” he murmured.</p> +<p>Many a time his young arms ached to give Jud +another thrashing, but his mother’s parting injunction +restrained him.</p> +<p>“If only,” he sighed, “Jud belonged to some +one else!”</p> +<p>He vainly sought to find the hair line that +divided his sense of gratitude and his protection +of self-respect.</p> +<p>Winter followed, and the farm work droned. +It was a comfortable, cozy time, with breakfast +served in the kitchen on a table spread with a +gay, red cloth. Pennyroyal baked griddle-sized +cakes, delivering them one at a time direct from +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_115' name='page_115'></a>115</span> +the stove to the consumer. The early hour of +lamplight made long evenings, which were beguiled +by lesson books and story-books, by an +occasional skating carnival on the river, a coasting +party at Long Hill, or a “surprise” on some +hospitable neighbor.</p> +<p>One morning he came into school with face +and eyes aglow with something more than the +mere delight of living. It meant mischief, pure +and simple, but Little Teacher was not always +discerning. She gave him a welcoming smile of +sheer sympathy with his mood. She didn’t +smile, later, when the schoolroom was distracted +by the sound of raucous laughter, feminine +screams, and a fluttering of skirts as the girls +scrambled to standing posture in their chairs. +Astonished, she looked for the cause. The cause +came her way, and the pupils had a fresh example +of the miracles wrought by a mouse, for +Little Teacher, usually the personification of +dignity and repose, screamed lustily and scudded +chairward with as much rapidity as that displayed +by the scurrying mouse as it chased for +the corner and disappeared through a knothole. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_116' name='page_116'></a>116</span></p> +<p>As soon as the noiseful glee had subsided, +Little Teacher sought to recover her prided self-possession. +In a voice resonant with sternness, +she commanded silence, gazing wrathfully by +chance at little Tim Wiggins.</p> +<p>“’T was David done it,” he said in deprecating +self-defense, imagining himself accused.</p> +<p>“David Dunne,” demanded Little Teacher, +“did you bring that mouse to school?”</p> +<p>“He brung it and let it out on purpose,” informed +Tim eagerly.</p> +<p>Little Teacher never encouraged talebearing, +but she was so discomfited by the exposure of +the ruling weakness peculiar to her sex that she +decided to discipline her favorite pupil upon his +acknowledgment of guilt.</p> +<p>“You may bring your books and sit on the +platform,” she ordered indignantly.</p> +<p>David did not in the least mind his assignment +to so prominent a position, but he did mind Little +Teacher’s attitude toward him throughout the +day. He sought to propitiate her by coming to +her assistance in many little tasks, but she persistently +ignored his overtures. He then ventured +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_117' name='page_117'></a>117</span> +to seek enlightenment regarding his studies, but +she coldly informed him he could remain after +school to ask his questions.</p> +<p>David began to feel troubled, and looked out +of the window for an inspiration. He found +one in the form of big, brawny, Jim Block––“Teacher’s +Jim,” as the school children all called +him.</p> +<p>“There goes Teacher’s Jim,” sang David, +<i>soto voce</i>.</p> +<p>The shot told. For the second time that day +Little Teacher showed outward and visible +signs of an inward disturbance. With a blush +she turned quickly to the window and watched +with expressive eyes the stalwart figure striding +over the rough-frozen road.</p> +<p>In an instant, however, she had recalled herself +to earth, and David’s dancing eyes renewed +her hostility toward him. Toward the end of +the day she began to feel somewhat appeased by +his docility and evident repentance. Her manner +had perceptibly changed by the time the +closing exercise began. This was the writing of +words on the blackboard for the pupils to use +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_118' name='page_118'></a>118</span> +in sentences. She pointed to the first word, “income.”</p> +<p>“Who can make a sentence and use that word +correctly?” she asked.</p> +<p>“Do call on Tim,” whispered David. “He so +loves to be the first to tell anything.”</p> +<p>She smiled her appreciation of Tim’s prominent +characteristic, and looked at the youngster, +who was wringing his hand in an agony of +eagerness. She gave him the floor, and he +jumped to his feet in triumph, yelling:</p> +<p>“In come a mouse!”</p> +<p>This was too much for David’s composure, +and he gave way to an infectious fit of laughter, +in which the pupils joined.</p> +<p>Little Teacher found the allusion personal +and uncomfortable. She at once assumed her +former distant mien, demanding David’s presence +after school closed.</p> +<p>“You have no gratitude, David,” she stated +emphatically.</p> +<p>The boy winced, and his eyes darkened with +concern, as he remembered his mother’s parting +injunction. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_119' name='page_119'></a>119</span></p> +<p>Little Teacher softened slightly.</p> +<p>“You are sorry, aren’t you, David?” she asked +gently.</p> +<p>He looked at her meditatively.</p> +<p>“No, Teacher,” he answered quietly.</p> +<p>She flushed angrily.</p> +<p>“David Dunne, you may go home, and you +needn’t come back to school again until you tell +me you are sorry.”</p> +<p>David took his books and walked serenely +from the room. He went home by the way of +Jim Block’s farm.</p> +<p>“Hullo, Dave!” called Big Jim, who was in +the barnyard.</p> +<p>“Hello, Jim! I came to tell you some good +news. You said if you were only sure there was +something Teacher was afraid of, you wouldn’t +feel so scared of her.”</p> +<p>“Well,” prompted Jim eagerly.</p> +<p>“I thought I’d find out for you, so I took a +mouse to school and let it loose.”</p> +<p>“Gee!”</p> +<p>David then related the occurrences of the +morning, not omitting the look in Little +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_120' name='page_120'></a>120</span> +Teacher’s eyes when she beheld Jim from the +window.</p> +<p>“I’ll hook up this very night and go to see +her,” confided Jim.</p> +<p>“Be sure you do, Jim. If you find your courage +slipping, just remember that you owe it to +me, because she won’t let me come back to school +unless she knows why I wasn’t sorry.”</p> +<p>“I give you my word, Dave,” said Jim earnestly.</p> +<p>The next morning Little Teacher stopped at +the Brumble farm.</p> +<p>“I came this way to walk to school with you +and Janey,” she said sweetly and significantly +to David.</p> +<p>When they reached the road, and Janey had +gone back to get her sled, Little Teacher looked +up and caught the amused twinkle in David’s +eye. A wave of conscious red overspread her +cheeks.</p> +<p>“Must I say I am sorry now?” he asked.</p> +<p>“David Dunne, there are things you understand +which you never learned from books.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_121' name='page_121'></a>121</span></p> +<p class='tp' style='font-size:1.3em;margin-bottom:40px; margin-top:70px;;'>CHAPTER XI</p> +<p>Late spring brought preparations for +M’ri’s wedding. Rhody Crabbe’s needle +and fingers flew in rapturous speed, and there +was likewise engaged a seamstress from Lafferton. +Rhody had begged for the making of the +wedding gown, and when it was finished David +went to fetch it home.</p> +<p>“It’s almost done, David, and you tell M’ri +the last stitch was a loveknot. It’s most a year +sence you wuz here afore, a-waitin’ fer her +blue waist tew be finished. Remember, don’t +you, David?”</p> +<p>He remembered, and as she stitched he sat +silently reviewing that year, the comforts received, +the pleasures pursued, and, best of all, +the many things he had learned, but the recollection +that a year ago his mother had been living +brought a rush of sad memories and blotted out +happier thoughts.</p> +<p>“I wish yer ma could hev seen Mart and M’ri +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_122' name='page_122'></a>122</span> +merried. She was orful disapp’inted when they +broke off.”</p> +<p>There was no reply. Rhody’s sharp little +eyes, in upward glance, spied the trickling tear; +she looked quickly away and stitched in furious +haste.</p> +<p>“But, my!” she continued, as if there had been +no pause, “how glad she would be to know ’t was +you as fetched it around.”</p> +<p>David looked up, diverted and inquiring.</p> +<p>“Yes; I learnt it from M’ri. She told me +about the flowers you give him. I thought it +was jest sweet in you, David. You done good +work thar.”</p> +<p>“Miss Rhody,” said David earnestly, “maybe +some day I can get you a sweetheart.”</p> +<p>“’T ain’t no use, David,” she sighed. “No +one wants a plain critter like me.”</p> +<p>“Lots of them don’t marry for looks,” argued +David sagely. “Besides, you look fine in your +black silk, and your hair crimped. Joe thinks +your picture is great. He’s got it on a shelf +over his fireplace at the ranch.”</p> +<p>“Most likely some cowboy’ll see it and lose +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_123' name='page_123'></a>123</span> +his heart,” laughed Miss Rhody, “but thar, the +weddin’ dress is all done. You go home and +quit thinkin’ about gittin’ me a man. I ain’t +ha’nted by the thought of endin’ single.”</p> +<p>Great preparations for the wedding progressed +at the Brumble farm. For a week +Pennyroyal whipped up eggs and sugar, and +David ransacked the woods for evergreens and +berries with which to decorate the big barn, +where the dance after the wedding was to take +place.</p> +<p>The old farmhouse was filled to overflowing +on the night of the wedding. After the ceremony, +Miss Rhody, resplendent in the black +silk and waving hair loosed from the crimping +pins that had confined it for two days and +nights, came up to David.</p> +<p>“My, David, I’ve got the funniest all over +feelin’ from seein’ Mart and M’ri merried! I +was orful afeerd I’d cry.”</p> +<p>“Sit down, Miss Rhody,” said David, gallantly +bringing her a chair.</p> +<p>“Didn’t M’ri look perfeckly beyewtiful?” +she continued, after accomplishing the pirouette +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_124' name='page_124'></a>124</span> +that prevented creases. “And Mart, he looked +that proud, and solemn too. It made me think +of that gal when she spoke ‘Curfew shall not ring +tewnight’ at the schoolhouse. Every one looks +fine. I hain’t seen Barnabas so fussed up sence +Libby Sukes’ funyral. It makes him look real +spry. And whoever got Larimer Sasser to perk +up and put on a starched shirt!”</p> +<p>“I think,” confided David, “that Penny got +after him. She had him in a corner when he +came, and she tied his necktie so tight I was +afraid she would choke him.”</p> +<p>“Look at old Miss Pankey, David. She, as +rich as they make ’em, and a-wearin’ that old +silk! It looks as ef it hed bin hung up fer you +and Jud to shoot at. Ain’t she a-glarin’ and +a-sniffin’ at me, though? Say, David, you write +Joe that if M’ri did look the purtiest of any one +that my dress cost more’n any one’s here, and +showed it, too. I hope thar’ll be a lot of occasions +to wear it to this summer. M’ri is a-goin’ +to give a reception when she gits back from her +tower, and that’ll be one thing to wear it at. +Ain’t Jud got a mean look? He’s as crooked +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_125' name='page_125'></a>125</span> +as a dog’s hind leg. But, say, David, that’s a +fine suit you’re a-wearin’. You look handsome. +Thar ain’t a stingy hair on Barnabas’ head. +He’s doin’ jest as good by you as he is by Jud. +Don’t little Janey look like an angel in white, +and them lovely beads Joe give her? I can’t +think of nothin’ else but that little Eva you read +me about. I shouldn’t wonder a bit, David, if +I come to yer and Janey’s weddin’ yet!” she said, +as Janey came dancing up to them.</p> +<p>A slow flush mounted to his forehead, but +Janey laughed merrily.</p> +<p>“I’ve promised Joe I’d wait for him,” she +said roguishly.</p> +<p>“She’s only foolin’ and so wuz he,” quickly +spoke Miss Rhody, seeing the hurt look in +David’s eyes. “Barnabas,” she asked, stopping +him as he passed, “you air a-goin’ to miss M’ri +turrible. You could never manige if it wa’n’t +fer Penny. Won’t she hev the time of her life +cleanin’ up after this weddin’? She’ll enjoy it +more’n she did gettin’ ready fer it.”</p> +<p>“I hope Penny won’t go to gittin’ merried––not +till Janey’s growed up.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_126' name='page_126'></a>126</span></p> +<p>“David’s a great help to you, too, Barnabas.”</p> +<p>“Dave! I don’t know how I ever got along +afore he came. He’s so willin’ and so honest. +He’s as good as gold. Only fault he’s got is a +quick temper. He’s doin’ purty fair with it, +though. If only Jud––”</p> +<p>He stopped, with a sigh, and Rhody hastened +to change the subject.</p> +<p>“You’re a-lookin’ spry to-night, Barnabas. +I hain’t seen you look so spruce in a long time.”</p> +<p>“You look mighty tasty yerself, Rhody.”</p> +<p>This interchange of compliments was interrupted +by the announcement of supper.</p> +<p>“I never set down to sech a repast,” thought +Miss Rhody. “I’m glad I didn’t feed much to-day. +I don’t know whether to take chickin +twice, or to try all them meltin’, flaky lookin’ +pies. And jest see them layer cakes!”</p> +<p>After supper adjournment was made to the +barn, where the fiddles were already swinging +madly. Every one caught the spirit, and even +Miss Rhody finally succumbed to Barnabas’ insistence. +Pennyroyal captured Uncle Larimy, +and when Janey whirled away in the arms of a +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_127' name='page_127'></a>127</span> +schoolmate, David, who had never learned to +dance, stood isolated. He felt lonely and depressed, +and recalled the expression in which Joe +Forbes had explained life after he had acquired a +stepmother. “I was always on the edge of the +fireside,” he had said.</p> +<p>“Dave,” expostulated Uncle Barnabas, as +soon as he could get his breath after the last +dance, “you’d better eddicate yer heels as well +as yer head. It’s unnateral fer a colt and a boy +not to kick up their heels. You don’t never want +to be a looker-on at nuthin’ excep’ from ch’ice. +You’d orter be a stand-in on everything that’s +a-goin’ instead of a stand-by. The stand-bys +never git nowhar.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_128' name='page_128'></a>128</span></p> +<p class='tp' style='font-style:italic;font-size:1.2em;margin-bottom:1em;margin-top:70px;'>PART TWO</p> +<p class='tp' style='font-size:1.3em;margin-bottom:40px;'>CHAPTER I</p> +<p>David Dunne at eighteen was graduated +from the high school in Lafferton +after five colorless years in which study and farm +work alternated. Throughout this period he +had continued to incur the rancor of Jud, whose +youthful scrapes had gradually developed into +brawls and carousals. The Judge periodically +extricated him from serious entanglements, and +Barnabas continued optimistic in his expectations +of a time when Jud should “settle.” On one +occasion Jud sneeringly accused David of +“working the old man for a share in the farm,” +and taunted him with the fact that he was big +enough and strong enough to hustle for himself +without living on charity. David started on a +tramp through the woods to face the old issue +and decide his fate. He had then one more year +before he could finish school and carry out a +long-cherished dream of college. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_129' name='page_129'></a>129</span></p> +<p>He was at a loss to know just where to turn +at the present time for a home where he could +work for his board and attend school. The +Judge and M’ri had gone abroad; Joe was on +his ranch; the farmers needed no additional help.</p> +<p>He had been walking swiftly in unison with +his thoughts, and when he came out of the woods +into the open he was only a mile downstream +from town. Upon the river bank stood Uncle +Larimy, skillfully swirling his line.</p> +<p>“Wanter try yer luck, Dave?”</p> +<p>“I have no luck just now, Uncle Larimy,” replied +the boy sadly.</p> +<p>Uncle Larimy shot him a quick, sidelong +glance.</p> +<p>“Then move on, Dave, and chase arter it. +Thar’s allers luck somewhar. Jest like fishin’. +You can’t set in one spot and wait for luck tew +come to you like old Zeke Foss does. You must +keep a-castin’.”</p> +<p>“I don’t know where to cast, Uncle Larimy.”</p> +<p>Uncle Larimy pondered. He knew that Jud +was home, and he divined David’s trend of +thought. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_130' name='page_130'></a>130</span></p> +<p>“You can’t stick to a plank allers, Dave, ef +you wanter amount tew anything. Strike out +bold, and swim without any life presarvers. +You might jest as well be a sleepy old cat in a +corner as to go smoothsailin’ through life.”</p> +<p>“I feel that I have got to strike out, and at +once, Uncle Larimy, but I don’t just know where +to strike.”</p> +<p>“Wal, Dave, it’s what we’ve all got to find +out fer ourselves. It’s a leap in the dark like, +and ef you don’t land nowhere, take another +leap, and keep a-goin’ somewhar.”</p> +<p>David wended his way homeward, pondering +over Uncle Larimy’s philosophy. When he +went with Barnabas to do the milking that night +he broached the subject of leaving the farm.</p> +<p>“I know how Jud feels about my being here, +Uncle Barnabas.”</p> +<p>“What did he say to you?” asked the old man +anxiously.</p> +<p>“Nothing. I overheard a part of your conversation. +He is right. And if I stay here, he +will run away to sea. He told the fellows in +Lafferton he would.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_131' name='page_131'></a>131</span></p> +<p>“You are going to stay, Dave.”</p> +<p>“You won’t like to think you drove your son +away. If he gets into trouble, both you and I +will feel we are to blame.”</p> +<p>“Dave, I see why the Jedge hez got it all cut +out fer you to be a lawyer. You’ve got the +argyin’ habit strong. But you can’t argue me +into what I see is wrong. This is the place fer +you to be, and Jud ’ll hev to come outen his +spell.”</p> +<p>“Then let me go away until he does. You +must give him every chance.”</p> +<p>“Where’ll you go?” asked Barnabas curiously.</p> +<p>“I don’t know, yet,” said the boy, “but I’ll +think out a plan to-night.”</p> +<p>It was Jud, after all, who cut the Gordian +knot, and made one of his welcome disappearances, +which lasted until David was ready to +start in college. His savings, that he had accumulated +by field work in the summers and a +very successful poultry business for six years, +netted him four hundred dollars.</p> +<p>“One hundred dollars for each year,” he +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_132' name='page_132'></a>132</span> +thought exultantly. “That will be ample with +the work I shall find to do.”</p> +<p>Then he made known to his friends his long-cherished +scheme of working his way through +college. The Judge laughed.</p> +<p>“Your four hundred dollars, David, will +barely get you through the first year. After +that, I shall gladly pay your expenses, for as +soon as you are admitted to the bar you are to +come into my office, of course.”</p> +<p>David demurred.</p> +<p>“I shall work my way through college,” he +said firmly.</p> +<p>He next told Barnabas of his intention and +the Judge’s offer which he had declined.</p> +<p>“I’m glad you refused, Dave. You’ll only be +in his office till you’re ripe fer what I kin make +you. I’ve larnt that the law is a good foundation +as a sure steppin’ stone tew it, so you kin hev +a taste of it. But the Jedge ain’t a-goin’ to pay +yer expenses.”</p> +<p>“I don’t mean that he shall,” replied David. +“I want to pay my own way.”</p> +<p>“I’m a-goin’ to send you tew college and send +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_133' name='page_133'></a>133</span> +you right. No starvin’ and garret plan fer you. +I’ve let Joe and the Jedge do fer you as much +as they’re a-goin’ to, but you’re mine from now +on. It’s what I’d do fer my own son if he cared +fer books, and you’re as near to me ez ef you +were my son.”</p> +<p>“It’s too much, Uncle Barnabas.”</p> +<p>“And, David,” he continued, unheeding the +interruption, “I hope you’ll really be my son +some day.”</p> +<p>A look of such exquisite happiness came into +the young eyes that Barnabas put out his hand +silently. In the firm hand-clasp they both +understood.</p> +<p>“I am not going to let you help me through +college, though, Uncle Barnabas. It has always +been my dream to earn my own education. +When you pay for anything yourself, it seems +so much more your own than when it’s a gift.”</p> +<p>“Let him, Barnabas,” again counseled Uncle +Larimy. “Folks must feed diff’rent. Thar’s +the sweet-fed which must allers hev sugar, but +salt’s the savor for Dave. He’s the kind that +flourishes best in the shade.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_134' name='page_134'></a>134</span></p> +<p>Janey wrote to Joe of David’s plan, and there +promptly came a check for one thousand dollars, +which David as promptly returned. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_135' name='page_135'></a>135</span></p> +<p class='tp' style='font-size:1.3em;margin-bottom:40px; margin-top:70px;;'>CHAPTER II</p> +<p>A few days before the time set for his departure +David set out on a round of farewell +visits to the country folk. It was one of +those cold, cheerless days that intervene between +the first haze of autumn and the golden glow of +October. He had never before realized how +lonely the shiver of wind through the poplars +could sound. Two innovations had been made +that day in the country. The rural delivery carrier, +in his little house on wheels, had made his +first delivery, and a track for the new electric-car +line was laid through the sheep meadow. +This inroad of progress upon the sanctity of +their seclusion seemed sacrilegious to David, +who longed to have lived in the olden time of +log houses, with their picturesque open fires and +candle lights. Following some vague inward +call, he went out of his way to ride past the tiny +house he had once called home, and which in all +his ramblings he had steadfastly avoided. He +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_136' name='page_136'></a>136</span> +had heard that the place had passed into the +hands of a widow with an only son, and that +they had purchased surrounding land for cultivation. +He had been glad to hear this, and had +liked to fancy the son caring for his mother as +he himself would have cared for his mother had +she lived.</p> +<p>As he neared the little nutshell of a house his +heart beat fast at the sight of a woman pinning +clothes to the line. Her fingers, stiff and swollen, +moved slowly. The same instinct that had +guided him down this road made him dismount +and tie his horse. The old woman came slowly +down the little path to meet him.</p> +<p>“I am David Dunne,” he said gently, “and I +used to live here. I wanted to come to see my +old home once more.”</p> +<p>He thought that the dim eyes gazing into his +were the saddest he had ever beheld.</p> +<p>“Yes,” she replied, with the slow, German accent, +“I know of you. Come in.”</p> +<p>He followed her into the little sitting room, +which was as barren of furnishings as it had +been in the olden days. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_137' name='page_137'></a>137</span></p> +<p>“Sit down,” she invited.</p> +<p>He took a chair opposite a cheap picture of a +youth in uniform. A flag of coarse material +was pinned above this portrait, and underneath +was a roughly carved bracket on which was a +glass filled with goldenrod.</p> +<p>“You lived here with your mother,” she said +musingly, “and she was taken. I lived here +with my son, and––he was taken.”</p> +<p>“Oh!” said David. “I did not know––was +he––”</p> +<p>His eyes sought the picture on the wall.</p> +<p>“Yes,” she replied, answering his unspoken +question, as she lifted her eyes to her little +shrine, “he enlisted and went to the Philippines. +He died there of fever more than a year ago.”</p> +<p>David was silent. His brown, boyish hand +shaded his eyes. It had been his fault that he +had not heard of this old woman and the loss of +her son. He had shrunk from all knowledge +and mention of this little home and its inmates. +The country folk had recognized and respected +his reticence, which to people near the soil seems +natural. This had been the only issue in his life +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_138' name='page_138'></a>138</span> +that he had dodged, and he was bitterly repenting +his negligence. In memory of his +mother, he should have helped the lonely old +woman.</p> +<p>“You were left a poor, helpless boy,” she +continued, “and I am left a poor, helpless old +woman. The very young and the very old +meet in their helplessness, yet there is hope for +the one––nothing for the other.”</p> +<p>“Yes, memories,” he suggested softly, “and +the pride you feel in his having died as he did.”</p> +<p>“There is that,” she acknowledged with a +sigh, “and if only I could live on here in this little +place where we have been so happy! But I +must leave it.”</p> +<p>“Why?” asked David quickly.</p> +<p>“After my Carl died, things began to happen. +When once they do that, there is no stopping. +The bank at the Corners failed, and I +lost my savings. The turkeys wandered away, +the cow died, and now there’s the mortgage. +It’s due to-morrow, and then––the man that +holds it will wait no longer. So it is the poorhouse, +which I have always dreaded.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_139' name='page_139'></a>139</span></p> +<p>David’s head lifted, and his eyes shone radiantly +as he looked into the tired, hopeless +eyes.</p> +<p>“Your mortgage will be paid to-morrow, +and––Don’t you draw a pension for your son?”</p> +<p>She looked at him in a dazed way.</p> +<p>“No, there is no pension––I––”</p> +<p>“Judge Thorne will get you one,” he said optimistically, +as he rose, ready for action, “and +how much is the mortgage?”</p> +<p>“Three hundred dollars,” she said despairingly.</p> +<p>“Almost as much as the place is worth. Who +holds the mortgage?”</p> +<p>“Deacon Prickley.”</p> +<p>“You see,” said David, trying to speak casually, +“I have three hundred dollars lying idle +for which I have no use. I’ll ride to town now +and have the Judge see that the place is clear to +you, and he will get you a pension, twelve dollars +a month.”</p> +<p>The worn, seamed face lifted to his was transfigured +by its look of beatitude.</p> +<p>“You mustn’t,” she implored. “I didn’t +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_140' name='page_140'></a>140</span> +know about the pension. That will keep me, and +I can find another little place somewhere. But +the money you offer––no! I have heard how +you have been saving to go through school.”</p> +<p>He smiled.</p> +<p>“Uncle Barnabas and the Judge are anxious +to pay my expenses at college, and––you <i>must</i> +let me. I would like to think, don’t you see, that +you are living here in my old home. It will +seem to me as if I were doing it for <i>my</i> mother––as +I would want some boy to do for her if she +were left––and it’s my country’s service he died +in. I would rather buy this little place for you, +and know that you are living here, than to buy +anything else in the world.”</p> +<p>The old face was quite beautiful now.</p> +<p>“Then I will let you,” she said tremulously. +“You see, I am a hard-working woman and +quite strong, but folks won’t believe that, because +I am old; so they won’t hire me to do their +work, and they say I should go to the poorhouse. +But to old folks there’s nothing like +having your own things and your own ways. +They get to be a part of you. I was thinking +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_141' name='page_141'></a>141</span> +when you rode up that it would kill me not to +see the frost on the old poplar, and not to cover +up my geraniums on the chill nights.”</p> +<p>Something stirred in David’s heart like pain. +He stooped and kissed her gently. Then he +rode away, rejoicing that he had worked to this +end. Four hours later he rode back to the little +home.</p> +<p>“The Judge has paid over the money to Old +Skinflint Prickley,” he said blithely, “and the +place is all yours. The deacon had compounded +the interest, which is against the laws of the +state, so here are a few dollars to help tide you +over until the Judge gets the pension for you.”</p> +<p>“David,” she said solemnly, “an old woman’s +prayers may help you, and some day, when you +are a great man, you will do great deeds, but +none of them will be as great as that which you +have done to-day.”</p> +<p>David rode home with the echo of this benediction +in his ears. He had asked the Judge to +keep the transaction secret, but of course the +Judge told Barnabas, who in turn informed +Uncle Larimy. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_142' name='page_142'></a>142</span></p> +<p>“I told the boy when his ma died,” said Uncle +Larimy, “that things go ’skew sometimes, but +that the sun would shine. The sun will allers be +a-shinin’ fer him when he does such deeds as +this.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_143' name='page_143'></a>143</span></p> +<p class='tp' style='font-size:1.3em;margin-bottom:40px; margin-top:70px;;'>CHAPTER III</p> +<p>The fare to his college town, his books, and +his tuition so depleted David’s capital of +one hundred dollars that he hastened to deposit +the balance for an emergency. Then he set +about to earn his “keep,” as he had done in the +country, but there were many students bent on +a similar quest and he soon found that the demand +for labor was exceeded by the supply.</p> +<p>Before the end of the first week he was able to +write home that he had found a nice, quiet lodging +in exchange for the care of a furnace in +winter and the trimming of a lawn in other +seasons, and that he had secured a position as +waiter to pay for his meals; also that there was +miscellaneous employment to pay for his washing +and incidentals.</p> +<p>He didn’t go into details and explain that the +“nice quiet lodging” was a third-floor rear whose +gables gave David’s six feet of length but little +leeway. It was quiet because the third floor was +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_144' name='page_144'></a>144</span> +not heated, and its occupants therefore stayed +away as much as possible. His services as +waiter were required only at dinner time, in exchange +for which he received that meal. His +breakfast and luncheon he procured as best he +could; sometimes he dispensed with them entirely. +Crackers, milk, and fruit, as the cheapest +articles of diet, appeared oftenest on his ménu. +Sometimes he went fishing and surreptitiously +smuggled the cream of the catch up to his little +abode, for Mrs. Tupps’ “rules to roomers,” as +affixed to the walls, were explicit: “No cooking +or washing allowed in rooms.” But Mrs. Tupps, +like her fires, was nearly always out, for she was +a member of the Woman’s Relief Corps, Ladies’ +Aid, Ladies’ Guild, Woman’s League, Suffragette +Society, Pioneer Society, and Eastern +Star. At the meetings of these various societies +she was constant in attendance, so in her absence +her roomers “made hay,” as David termed it, +cooking their provender and illicitly performing +laundry work in the bathtub. Still, there must +always be “on guard” duty, for Mrs. Tupps was +a stealthy stalker. One saw her not, but now +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_145' name='page_145'></a>145</span> +and then there was a faint rustle on the stair. +David’s eyes and ears, trained to keenness, were +patient and vigilant, so he was generally chosen +as sentinel, and he acquired new caution, adroitness, +and a quietness of movement.</p> +<p>There had been three or four close calls. +Once, she had knocked at his door as he was +in the act of boiling eggs over the gas jet. In +the twinkling of an eye the saucepan was thrust +under the bed, and David, sweet and serene of +expression, opened the door to the inquisitive-eyed +Tupps.</p> +<p>“I came to borrow a pen,” she said shamelessly, +her eyes penetrating the cracks and crevices +of the little room.</p> +<p>David politely regretted that he used an indelible +pencil and possessed no pens.</p> +<p>In the act of removing all records and remains +of feasts, David became an adept. Neat, +unsuspicious looking parcels were made and conveyed, +after retiring hours, to a near-by vacant +lot, where once had been visible an excavation +for a cellar, but this had been filled to street level +with tin cans, paper bags, butter bowls, cracker +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_146' name='page_146'></a>146</span> +cases, egg shells, and pie plates from the House +of Tupps.</p> +<p>His miscellaneous employment, mentioned in +his letter, was any sort of work he could find +to do.</p> +<p>David became popular with professors by reason +of his record in classes and the application +and concentration he brought to his studies. His +prowess in all sports, his fairness, and the spirit +of <i>camaraderie</i> he always maintained with his +associates, made him a general favorite. He +wore fairly good clothes, was well groomed, and +always in good spirits, so of his privations and +poverty only one or two of those closest to him +were even suspicious. He was entirely reticent +on the subject, though open and free in all other +discourse, and permitted no encroachment on +personal matters. One or two chance offenders +intuitively perceived a slight but impassable +barrier.</p> +<p>“Dunne has grown a little gaunt-eyed since +he first came here,” said one of his chosen friends +to a classmate one evening. “He’s outdoors +enough to counteract overstudy. But do you +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_147' name='page_147'></a>147</span> +suppose he has enough to eat? So many of +these fellows live on next to nothing.”</p> +<p>“I shouldn’t be surprised if he were on rations. +You know he always makes some excuse +when we invite him to a spread. He’s too +proud to accept favors and not reciprocate, I +believe.”</p> +<p>David overheard these remarks, and a very +long walk was required to restore his serenity. +During this walk he planned to get some extra +work that would insure him compensation requisite +to provide a modest spread so that he +might allay their suspicions. Upon his return +to his lodgings he found an enormous box which +had come by express from Lafferton. It +contained Pennyroyal’s best culinary efforts; +also four dozen eggs, a two-pound pat of butter, +coffee, and a can of cream.</p> +<p>He propitiated Mrs. Tupps by the proffer +of a dozen of the eggs and told her of his desire +to entertain his friends. It would be impossible +to do this in his room, for when he lay +in bed he could touch every piece of furniture +with but little effort. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_148' name='page_148'></a>148</span></p> +<p>David had become his landlady’s confidant +and refuge in time of trouble, and she was willing +to allow him the privilege of the dining +room.</p> +<p>“I am going away to-night for a couple of +days, but I would rather you wouldn’t mention +it to the others. You may have the use of the +dining room and the dishes.”</p> +<p>David’s friends were surprised to receive an +off-hand invitation from him to “drop in for a +little country spread.” They were still more +surprised when they beheld the long table with +its sumptuous array of edibles,––raised biscuits, +golden butter, cold chicken, pickles, jelly, sugared +doughnuts, pork cake, gold and silver +cake, crullers, mince pie, apple pie, cottage +cheese, cider, and coffee.</p> +<p>“It looks like a county fair exhibit, Dunne,” +said a city-bred chap.</p> +<p>Six healthy young appetites did justice to +this repast and insured David’s acceptance of +five invitations to dine. It took Mrs. Tupps +and David fully a week to consume the remnants +of this collation. The eggs he bestowed +upon an anemic-faced lodger who had been prescribed +a milk and egg diet, but with eggs at +fifty cents a dozen he had not filled his prescription.</p> +<div class='figtag'> +<a name='linki_4' id='linki_4'></a> +</div> +<div class='figcenter'> +<img src='images/illus-148.jpg' alt='' title='' width='373' height='543' /><br /> +<p class='caption'> +“<i>David’s friends were surprised to receive an off-hand invitation<br /> +from him to ‘drop in for a little country spread’</i>”<br /> +</p> +</div> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_149' name='page_149'></a>149</span></div> +<p>At the end of the college year David went +back to the farm, and a snug sense of comfort +and a home-longing filled him at the sight of +the old farmhouse, its lawn stretching into gardens, +its gardens into orchards, orchards +into meadows, and meadows into woodlands. +Through the long, hot summer he tilled the +fields, and invested the proceeds in clothes and +books for the ensuing year.</p> +<p>There followed three similar years of a hand-to-mouth +existence, the privations of which he +endured in silence. There were little occasional +oases, such as boxes from Pennyroyal, or extra +revenue now and then from tutoring, but there +were many, many days when his healthy young +appetite clamored in vain for appeasement. On +such days came the temptation to borrow from +Barnabas the money to finish his course in comfort, +but the young conqueror never yielded +to this enticement. He grew stronger and +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_150' name='page_150'></a>150</span> +sturdier in spirit after each conflict, but lost +something from his young buoyancy and elasticity +which he could never regain. His struggles +added a touch of grimness to his old sense of +humor, but when he was admitted to the bar he +was a man in courage, strength, and endurance. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_151' name='page_151'></a>151</span></p> +<p class='tp' style='font-size:1.3em;margin-bottom:40px; margin-top:70px;;'>CHAPTER IV</p> +<p>It seemed to David, when he was at the farm +again, that in his absence time had stood +still, except with Janey. She was a slender slip +of a girl, gentle voiced and soft hearted. Her +eyes were infinitely blue and lovely, and there +was a glad little ring in her voice when she +greeted “Davey.”</p> +<p>M’ri gave a cry of surprised pleasure when +she saw her former charge. He was tall, lithe, +supple, and hard-muscled. His face was not +very expressive in repose, but showed a quiet +strength when lighted by the keenness of his +serious, brown eyes and the sweetness of his +smile. His color was a deep-sea tan.</p> +<p>“It seems so good to be alive, Aunt M’ri. I +thought I was weaned away from farm life until +I bit into one of those snow apples from the +old tree by the south corner of the orchard. +Then I knew I was home.”</p> +<p>Pennyroyal shed her first visible tear. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_152' name='page_152'></a>152</span></p> +<p>“I am glad you are home again, David,” she +sniffed. “You were always such a clean boy.”</p> +<p>“I missed you more’n any one did, David,” +acknowledged Miss Rhody. “Ef I hed been +a Catholic I should a felt as ef the confessional +hed been took from me. I ain’t hed no one to +talk secret like to excep’ when Joe comes onct +a year. He ain’t been fer a couple of years, +either, but he sent me anuther black dress the +other day––silk, like the last one. To think of +little Joe Forbes a-growin’ up and keepin’ me +in silk dresses!”</p> +<p>“I’ll buy your next one for you,” declared +David emphatically.</p> +<p>The next day after his return from college +David started his legal labors under the watchful +eye of the Judge. He made a leap-frog +progress in acquiring an accurate knowledge of +legal lore. He worked and waited patiently +for the Judge’s recognition of his readiness +to try his first case, and at last the eventful +time came.</p> +<p>“No; there isn’t the slightest prospect of his +winning it,” the Judge told his wife that night. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_153' name='page_153'></a>153</span></p> +<p>“The prosecution has strong evidence, and we +have nothing––barely a witness of any account.”</p> +<p>“Then the poor man will be convicted and +David will gain no glory,” lamented M’ri. “It +means so much to a young lawyer to win his +first case.”</p> +<p>The Judge smiled.</p> +<p>“Neither of them needs any sympathy. +Miggs ought to have been sent over the road long +ago. David’s got to have experience before he +gains glory.”</p> +<p>“How did you come to take such a case?” +asked M’ri, for the Judge was quite exclusive +in his acceptance of clients.</p> +<p>“It was David’s doings,” said the Judge, with +a frown that had a smile lurking behind it.</p> +<p>“Why did he wish you to take the case?” +persisted M’ri.</p> +<p>“As near as I can make out,” replied the +Judge, with a slight softening of his grim +features, “it was because Miggs’ wife takes in +washing when Miggs is celebrating.”</p> +<p>M’ri walked quickly to the window, murmuring +some unintelligible sound of endearment. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_154' name='page_154'></a>154</span></p> +<p>On the day of the summing-up at the trial +the court room was crowded. There were the +habitual court hangers on, David’s country +friends <i>en masse</i>, a large filling in at the back +of the representatives of the highways and +byways, associates of the popular wrongdoer, +and the legal lore of the town, with the good-humored +patronage usually bestowed by the +profession on the newcomer to their ranks.</p> +<p>As the Judge had said, his client was conceded +to be slated for conviction. If he had made the +argument himself he would have made it in his +usual cool, well-poised manner. But David, although +he knew Miggs to be a veteran of the +toughs, felt sure of his innocence in this case, +and he was determined to battle for him, not for +the sake of justice alone, but for the sake of +the tired-looking washerwoman he had seen +bending over the tubs. This was an occupation +she had to resort to only in her husband’s times +of indulgence, for he was a wage earner in his +days of soberness.</p> +<p>When David arose to speak it seemed to the +people assembled that the coil of evidence, as +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_155' name='page_155'></a>155</span> +reviewed by the prosecutor in his argument, was +drawn too closely for any power to extricate the +victim.</p> +<p>At the first words of the young lawyer, +uttered in a voice of winning mellowness, the +public forgot the facts in the case. Swayed by +the charm of David’s personality, a current of +new-born sympathy for the prisoner ran through +the court room.</p> +<p>David came up close to the jury and, as he +addressed them, he seemed to be oblivious of +the presence of any one else in the room. It +was as though he were telling them, his friends, +something he alone knew, and that he was sure +of their belief in his statements.</p> +<p>“For all the world,” thought M’ri, listening, +“as he used to tell stories when he was a +boy. He’d fairly make you believe they were +true.”</p> +<p>To be sure the jury were all his friends; they +had known him when he was little “barefoot +Dave Dunne.” Still, they were captivated by +this new oratory, warm, vivid, and inspiring, +delivered to the accompaniment of dulcet and +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_156' name='page_156'></a>156</span> +seductive tones that transported them into an +enchanted world. Their senses were stirred in +the same way they would be if a flag were unfurled.</p> +<p>“Sounds kind o’ like orgin music,” whispered +Miss Rhody.</p> +<p>Yet underneath the eloquence was a logical +simplicity, a keen sifting of facts, the exposure +of flaws in the circumstantial evidence. There +was a force back of what he said like the force +back of the projectile. About the form of the +hardened sinner, Miggs, David drew a circle of +innocence that no one ventured to cross. Simply, +convincingly, and concisely he summed up, +with a forceful appeal to their intelligence, their +honor, and their justice.</p> +<p>The reply by the assistant to the prosecutor +was perfunctory and ineffective. The charge +of the judge was neutral. The jury left the +room, and were out eight and one-quarter minutes. +As they filed in, the foreman sent a triumphant +telepathic message to David before +he quietly drawled out:</p> +<p>“Not guilty, yer Honor.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_157' name='page_157'></a>157</span></p> +<p>The first movement was from Mrs. Miggs. +And she came straight to David, not to the +jury.</p> +<p>“David,” said the Judge, who had cleared his +throat desperately and wiped his glasses carefully, +at the look in the eyes of the young lawyer +when they had rested on the defendant’s +wife, “hereafter our office will be the refuge for +all the riffraff in the country.”</p> +<p>This was his only comment, but the Judge did +not hesitate to turn over any case to him +thereafter.</p> +<p>When David had added a few more victories +to his first one, Jud made one of his periodical +diversions by an offense against the law which +was far more serious in nature than his previous +misdeeds had been. M’ri came out to the farm +to discuss the matter.</p> +<p>“Barnabas, Martin thinks you had better let +the law take its course this time. He says it’s +the only procedure left untried to reform Jud. +He is sure he can get a light sentence for him––two +years.”</p> +<p>“M’ri,” said Barnabas, in a voice vibrating +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_158' name='page_158'></a>158</span> +with reproach, “do you want Jud to go to +prison?”</p> +<p>M’ri paled.</p> +<p>“I want to do what is best for him, Barnabas. +Martin thinks it will be a salutary lesson.”</p> +<p>“I wonder, M’ri,” said Barnabas slowly, “if +the Judge had a son of his own, he would try +to reform him by putting him behind bars.”</p> +<p>“Oh, Barnabas!” protested M’ri, with a burst +of tears.</p> +<p>“He’s still my boy, if he is wild, M’ri.”</p> +<p>“But, Barnabas, Martin’s patience is exhausted. +He has got him out of trouble so +many times––and, oh, Barnabas, he says he +won’t under any circumstances take the case! +He is ashamed to face the court and jury with +such a palpably guilty client. I have pleaded +with him, but I can’t influence him. You know +how set he can be!”</p> +<p>“Wal, there are other lawyers,” said Barnabas +grimly.</p> +<div class='figtag'> +<a name='linki_5' id='linki_5'></a> +</div> +<div class='figcenter'> +<img src='images/illus-158.jpg' alt='' title='' width='376' height='535' /><br /> +<p class='caption'> +“<i>He kept his word. Jud was cleared</i>”<br /> +</p> +</div> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_159' name='page_159'></a>159</span></div> +<p>David had remained silent and constrained +during this conversation, the lines of his young +face setting like steel. Suddenly he left the +house and paced up and down in the orchard, to +wrestle once more with the old problem of his +boyhood days. It was different now. Then it +had been a question of how much he must stand +from Jud for the sake of the benefits bestowed +by the offender’s father. Now it meant a sacrifice +of principle. He had made his boyish boast +that he would defend only those who were +wrongfully accused. To take this case would +be to bring his wagon down from the star. +Then suddenly he found himself disposed to +arraign himself for selfishly clinging to his +ideals.</p> +<p>He went back into the house, where M’ri was +still tearfully arguing and protesting. He +came up to Barnabas.</p> +<p>“I will clear Jud, if you will trust the case to +me, Uncle Barnabas.”</p> +<p>Barnabas grasped his hand.</p> +<p>“Bless you, Dave, my boy,” he said. “I +wanted you to, but Jud has been––wal, I didn’t +like to ask you.”</p> +<p>“David,” said M’ri, when they were alone, +“Martin said you wouldn’t take a case where +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_160' name='page_160'></a>160</span> +you were convinced of the guilt of the client.”</p> +<p>“I shall take this case,” was David’s quiet +reply.</p> +<p>“Really, David, Martin thinks it will be best +for Jud––”</p> +<p>“I don’t want to do what is best for Jud, +Aunt M’ri, I want to do what is best for Uncle +Barnabas. It’s the first chance I ever had to +do anything for him.”</p> +<p>When Judge Thorne found that David was +determined to defend Jud, he gave him some +advice:</p> +<p>“You must get counter evidence, if you can, +David. If you have any lingering idea that you +can appeal to the jury on account of Barnabas +being Jud’s father, root out that idea. There’s +no chance of rural juries tempering justice with +mercy. With them it’s an eye for an eye, every +time.”</p> +<p>David had an infinitely harder task in clearing +Jud than he had had in defending Miggs. +The evidence was clear, the witnesses sure +and wary, and the prisoner universally detested +save by his evil-minded companions, but these +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_161' name='page_161'></a>161</span> +obstacles brought out in full force all David’s +indomitable will and alertness. He tipped up +and entrapped the prosecution’s witnesses with +lightning dexterity. One of them chanced to +be a man whom David had befriended, and he +aided him by replying shrewdly in Jud’s favor.</p> +<p>But it was Jud himself who proved to be +David’s trump card. He was keen, crafty, and +quick to seize his lawyer’s most subtle suggestions. +His memory was accurate, and with +David’s steering he avoided all traps set for +him on cross examination. When David stood +before the jury for the most stubborn fight he +had yet made, his mother’s last piece of advice––all +she had to bequeath to him––permeated +every effort. He put into his argument all the +compelling force within him. There were no +ornate sentences this time, but he concentrated +his powers of logic and persuasiveness upon his +task. The jury was out two hours, during +which time Barnabas and Jud sat side by side, +pale and anxious, but upheld by David’s confident +assurance of victory.</p> +<p>He kept his word. Jud was cleared. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_162' name='page_162'></a>162</span></p> +<p>“You’re a smart lawyer, Dave,” commented +Uncle Larimy.</p> +<p>David looked at him whimsically.</p> +<p>“I had a smart client, Uncle Larimy.”</p> +<p>“That’s what you did, Dave, but he’s gettin’ +too dernd smart. You’d a done some of us a +favor if you’d let him git sent up.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_163' name='page_163'></a>163</span></p> +<p class='tp' style='font-size:1.3em;margin-bottom:40px; margin-top:70px;;'>CHAPTER V</p> +<p>“Dave,” said Barnabas on one memorable +day, “the Jedge hez hed his innings trying +to make you a lawyer. Now it’s my turn.”</p> +<p>“All right, Uncle Barnabas, I am ready.”</p> +<p>“Hain’t you hed enough of law, Dave? +You’ve given it a good trial, and showed what +you could do. It’ll be a big help to you to know +the law, and it’ll allers be sumthin’ to fall back +on when things get slack, but ain’t you pinin’ +fer somethin’ a leetle spryer?”</p> +<p>“Yes, I am,” was the frank admission. “I +like the excitement attending a case, and the +fight to win, but it’s drudgery between times––like +soldiering in time of peace.”</p> +<p>“Wal, Dave, I’ve got a job fer you wuth +hevin’, and one that starts toward what you air +a-goin’ to be.”</p> +<p>David’s breath came quickly.</p> +<p>“What is it?”</p> +<p>“Thar’s no reason at all why you can’t go to +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_164' name='page_164'></a>164</span> +legislatur’ and make new laws instead of settin’ +in the Jedge’s office and larnin’ to dodge old ones. +I’m a-runnin’ politics in these parts, and I’m +a-goin’ to git you nominated. After that, you’ll +go the hull gamut––so ’t will be up the ladder +and over the wall fer you, Dave.”</p> +<p>So, David, to the astonishment of the Judge, +put his foot on the first round of the political +ladder as candidate for the legislature. At the +same time Janey returned from the school in +the East, where she had been “finished,” and +David’s heart beat an inspiring tattoo every +time he looked at her, but he was nominated by +a speech-loving, speech-demanding district, and +he had so many occasions for oratory that only +snatches of her companionship were possible +throughout the summer.</p> +<p>Joe came on to join in the excitement attending +the campaign. It had been some time +since his last visit, and he scarcely recognized +David when he met him at the Lafferton station.</p> +<p>“Well, Dave,” said the ranchman, “if you +are as strong and sure as you look, you won’t +need my help in the campaign.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_165' name='page_165'></a>165</span></p> +<p>“I always need you, Joe. But you haven’t +changed in the least, unless you look more serious +than ever, perhaps.”</p> +<p>“It’s the outdoor life does that. Take a +field-bred lad, he always shies a bit at people.”</p> +<p>“Your horse does, too, I notice. He arrived +safely a week ago, and I put him up at the livery +here in Lafferton. I was afraid he would +demoralize all the horses at the farm.”</p> +<p>“Good! I’ll ride out this evening. I have +a little business to attend to here in town, and +I want to see the Judge and his wife, of course.”</p> +<p>When the western sky line gleamed in crimson +glory Joe came riding at a long lope up the +lane. He sat his spirited horse easily, one leg +thrown over the horn of his saddle. As he +neared the house, a thrashing machine started +up. The desert-bred horse shied, and performed +maneuvers terrifying to Janey, but Joe in the +saddle was ever a part of the horse. Quietly +and impassively he guided the frightened +animal until the machine was passed. Then he +slid from the horse and came up to Janey and +David, who were awaiting his coming. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_166' name='page_166'></a>166</span></p> +<p>“This can never be little Janey!” he exclaimed, +holding her hand reverently.</p> +<p>“I haven’t changed as much as Davey has,” +she replied, dimpling.</p> +<p>“Oh, yes, you have! You are a woman. +David is still a boy, in spite of his six feet.”</p> +<p>“You don’t know about Davey!” she said +breathlessly. “He has won all kinds of law +cases, and he is going to the legislature.”</p> +<p>Joe laughed.</p> +<p>“I repeat, he is still a boy.”</p> +<p>On the morrow David started forth on a +round of speech making, canvassing the entire +district. He returned at the wane of October’s +golden glow for the round-up, as Joe termed +the finish of the campaign. The flaunting crimson +of the maples, the more sedate tinge of +the oaks, the vivid yellow of the birches, the +squashes piled up on the farmhouse porches, and +the fields filled with pyramidal stacks of cornstalks +brought a vague sense of loneliness as he +rode out from Lafferton to the farm. He left +his horse at the barn and came up to the house +through the old orchard as the long, slanting +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_167' name='page_167'></a>167</span> +rays of sunlight were making afternoon shadows +of all who crossed their path.</p> +<p>He found Janey sitting beneath their favorite +tree. An open book lay beside her. She +was gazing abstractedly into space, with a new +look in her star-like eyes.</p> +<p>David’s big, untouched heart gave a quick +leap. He took up the book and with an exultant +little laugh discovered that it was a book of +poems! Janey, who could never abide fairy +stories, reading poetry! Surprised and embarrassed, +after a shy greeting she hurried toward +the house, her cheeks flaming. Something very +beautiful and breath-taking came into David’s +thoughts at that moment.</p> +<p>He was roused from his beatific state by the +approach of Barnabas, so he was obliged to +concentrate his attention on giving a résumé of +his tour. Then the Judge telephoned for him +to come to his office, and he was unable to finish +his business there until dusk. The night was +clear and frost touched. He left his horse in +the lane and walked up to the house. As he +came on to the porch he looked in through the +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_168' name='page_168'></a>168</span> +window. The bright fire on the hearth, the soft +glow of the shaded lamp, and the fair-haired +girl seated by a table, needlework in hand, gave +him a hunger for a hearth of his own.</p> +<p>Suddenly the scene shifted. Joe came in +from the next room. Janey rose to her feet, a +look of love lighting her face as she went to the +arms outstretched to receive her. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_169' name='page_169'></a>169</span></p> +<p class='tp' style='font-size:1.3em;margin-bottom:40px; margin-top:70px;;'>CHAPTER VI</p> +<p>David went back to Lafferton. The little +maid informed him that the Judge and +his wife were out for the evening; but there was +always a room in readiness for him, so he sat +alone by the window, staring into the lighted +street, trying to comprehend that Janey was not +for him.</p> +<p>It was late the next morning when he came +downstairs.</p> +<p>“I am glad, David, you decided to stay here +last night,” said M’ri, whose eyes were full of +a yearning solicitude.</p> +<p>She sat down at the table with him while he +drank his coffee.</p> +<p>“David.”</p> +<p>She spoke in a desperate tone, that caused him +to glance keenly at her.</p> +<p>“If you have anything to tell,” he said quietly, +“it’s a good plan to tell it at once.”</p> +<p>“Since you have been away Joe and Janey +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_170' name='page_170'></a>170</span> +have been together constantly. It seems to +have been a case of mutual love. David, they +are engaged.”</p> +<p>“So,” he said gravely, “I am to lose my little +sister. Joe is a man in a thousand.”</p> +<p>“But, David, I had set my heart on Janey’s +marrying you, from that very first day when +you went to school together and you carried her +books. Do you remember?”</p> +<p>“Yes,” he replied whimsically, “but even then +Joe met us and took her away from me. But +I must drive out and congratulate them.”</p> +<p>M’ri gazed after him in perplexity as he left +the house.</p> +<p>“I wonder,” she mused, “if I ever quite +understood David!”</p> +<p>Miss Rhody called to David as he was passing +her house and bade him come in.</p> +<p>“You’ve hed a hard trip,” she said, with a +keen glance into his tired, boyish eyes.</p> +<p>“Very hard, Miss Rhody.”</p> +<p>“You have heard about Janey––and Joe?”</p> +<p>“Aunt M’ri just told me,” he said, wincing +ever so slightly. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_171' name='page_171'></a>171</span></p> +<p>“They was all sot on your being her sweetheart, +except me and her––and Joe.”</p> +<p>“Why not you, Miss Rhody?”</p> +<p>“You ain’t never been in love with Janey––not +the way you’ll love some day. When I +was sick last fall Almiry Green come over to +read to me and she brung a book of poems. I +never keered much for po’try, and Almiry, she +didn’t nuther, but she hed jest ketched Widower +Pankey, and so she thought it was proper +to be readin’ po’try. She read somethin’ about +fust love bein’ a primrose, and a-fallin’ to +make way fer the real rose, and I thought to +myself: ‘That’s David. His feelin’ fer Janey +is jest a primrose.’”</p> +<p>David’s eyes were inscrutable, but she continued:</p> +<p>“I knowed she hed allers fancied Joe sence +she was a little tot and he give her them beads. +When Joe’s name was spoke she was allers shy-like. +She wuz never shy-like with you.”</p> +<p>“No,” admitted David wearily, “but I must +go on to the farm now, Miss Rhody. I will +come in again soon.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_172' name='page_172'></a>172</span></p> +<p>When he came into the sitting room of the +farmhouse, where he found Joe and Janey, the +rare smile that comes with the sweetness of +renunciation was on his lips. After he had congratulated +them, he asked for Barnabas.</p> +<p>“He just started for the woods,” said Joe. +“I think he is on his way to Uncle Larimy’s.”</p> +<p>David hastened to overtake him, and soon +caught sight of the bent figure walking slowly +over the stubbled field.</p> +<p>“Uncle Barnabas!” he called.</p> +<p>Barnabas turned and waited.</p> +<p>“Did you see Janey and Joe?” he asked, looking +keenly into the shadowed eyes.</p> +<p>“Yes; Aunt M’ri had told me.”</p> +<p>“When?”</p> +<p>“This morning. Joe’s a man after your own +heart, Uncle Barnabas.”</p> +<p>“It’s you I wanted fer her,” said the old man +bluntly. “I never dreamt of its bein’ enybody +else. It’s an orful disapp’intment to me, +Dave. I’d ruther see you her man than to see +you what I told you long ago I meant fer you +to be.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_173' name='page_173'></a>173</span></p> +<p>“And I, too, Uncle Barnabas,” said David, +with slow earnestness, “would rather be your +son than to be governor of this state!”</p> +<p>“You did care, then, David,” said the old +man sadly. “It don’t seem to be much of a +surprise to you.”</p> +<p>“Uncle Barnabas, I will tell you something +which I want no one else to know. I came back +last evening and drove out here. I looked in +the window, and saw her as she sat at work. It +came into my heart to go in then and ask her +to marry me, instead of waiting until after +election as I had planned. Then Joe came in +and she––went to him. I returned to Lafferton. +It was daylight before I had it out with +myself.”</p> +<p>“Dave! I thought I knew you better than +any of them. It’s been a purty hard test, but +you won’t let it spile your life?”</p> +<p>“No, I won’t, Uncle Barnabas. I owe it to +you, if not to myself, to go straight ahead as +you have mapped it out for me.”</p> +<p>“Bless you, Dave! You’re the right stuff!” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_174' name='page_174'></a>174</span></p> +<p class='tp' style='font-style:italic;font-size:1.2em;margin-bottom:1em;margin-top:70px;'>PART THREE</p> +<p class='tp' style='font-size:1.3em;margin-bottom:40px;'>CHAPTER I</p> +<p>In January David took his seat in the House +of Representatives, of which he was the +youngest member. It was not intended by that +august body that he should take any rôle but +the one tacitly conceded to him of making +silver-tongued oratory on the days when the +public would crowd the galleries to hear an all-important +measure, the “Griggs Bill,” discussed. +The committee were to give him the facts and +the general line of argument, and he was to +dress it up in his fantastic way. They were +entirely willing that he should have the applause +from the public as well as the credit of the victory; +all they cared for was the certainty of the +passage of the bill.</p> +<p>David’s cool, lawyer-like mind saw through +all these manipulations and machinations even +if he were only a political tenderfoot. As other +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_175' name='page_175'></a>175</span> +minor measures came up he voted for or against +them as his better judgment dictated, but all +his leisure hours were devoted to the investigation +and study of the one big bill which was to +be rushed through at the end of the session. He +pored over the status of the law, found out the +policies and opinions of other states on the subject, +and listened attentively to all arguments, +but he never took part in the discussions and he +was very guarded in giving an expression of +his views, an attitude which pleased the promoters +of the bill until it began to occur to them +that his caution came from penetration into +their designs and, perhaps, from intent to thwart +them.</p> +<p>“He has ketched on,” mournfully stated an +old-timer from the third district. “I’m allers +mistrustful of these young critters. They are +sure to balk on the home stretch.”</p> +<p>“Well, one good thing,” grinned a city member, +“it breaks their record, and they don’t get +another entry.”</p> +<p>David had made a few short speeches on +some of the bills, and those who had read in the +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_176' name='page_176'></a>176</span> +papers of the wonderful powers of oratory of +the young member from the eleventh flocked +to hear him. They were disappointed. His +speeches were brief, forceful, and logical, but +entirely barren of rhetorical effect. The promoters +of the Griggs Bill began to wonder, but +concluded he was saving all his figures of speech +to sugarcoat their obnoxious measure. It occurred +to them, too, that if by chance he should +oppose them his bare-handed way of dealing +with subterfuges and his clear presentation of +facts would work harm. They counted, however, +on being able to convince him that his future +status in the life political depended upon his +coöperation with them in pushing this bill +through.</p> +<p>Finally he was approached, and then the +bomb was thrown. He quietly and emphatically +told them he should fight the bill, single +handed if necessary. Recriminations, arguments, +threats, and inducements––all were of no +avail.</p> +<p>“Let him hang himself if he wants to,” +growled one of the committee. “He hasn’t +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_177' name='page_177'></a>177</span> +influence enough to knock us out. We’ve got +the majority.”</p> +<p>The measure was one that would radically +affect the future interests of the state, and was +being watched and studied by the people, who +had not, as yet, however, realized its significance +or its far-reaching power. The intent of the +promoters of the Griggs Bill was to leave the +people unenlightened until it should have become +a law.</p> +<p>“Dunne won’t do us any harm,” argued the +father of the bill on the eventful day. “He’s +been saving all his skyrockets for this celebration. +He’ll get lots of applause from the +women folks,” looking up at the solidly packed +gallery, “and his speech will be copied in all the +papers, and that’ll be the reward he’s looking +for.”</p> +<p>When David arose to speak against the +Griggs Bill he didn’t look the youngster he had +been pictured. His tall, lithe, compelling figure +was drawn to its full height. His eyes +darkened to intensity with the gravity of the +task before him; the stern lines of his mouth +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_178' name='page_178'></a>178</span> +bespoke a master of the situation and compelled +confidence in his knowledge and ability.</p> +<p>The speech delivered in his masterful voice +was not so much in opposition to the bill as it +was an exposure of it. He bared it ruthlessly +and thoroughly, but he didn’t use his youthful +hypnotic periods of persuasive eloquence that +had been wont to sway juries and to creep into +campaign speeches. His wits had been sharpened +in the last few months, and his keen-edged +thrusts, hurled rapier-like, brought a wince to +even the most hardened of veteran members. +It was a complete enlightenment in plain words +to a plain people––a concise and convincing +protest.</p> +<p>When he finished there was a tempest of arguments +from the other side, but there was not +a point he had not foreseen, and as attack only +brought out the iniquities of the measure, they +let the bill come to ballot. The measure was +defeated, and for days the papers were headlined +with David Dunne’s name, and accounts +of how the veterans had been routed by the +“tenderfoot from the eleventh.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_179' name='page_179'></a>179</span></p> +<p>After his dip into political excitement legal +duties became a little irksome to David, especially +after the wedding of Joe and Janey had +taken place. In the fall occurred the death of +the United States senator from the western district +of the state. A special session of the legislature +was to be convened for the purpose of +pushing through an important measure, and the +election of a successor to fill the vacancy +would take place at the same time. The usual +“certain rich man,” anxious for a career, aspired, +and, as he was backed by the state machine +as well as by the covert influence of two +or three of the congressmen, his election seemed +assured.</p> +<p>There was an opposing candidate, the choice +of the people, however, who was gathering +strength daily.</p> +<p>“We’ve got to head off this man Dunne +some way,” said the manager of the “certain +rich man.” “He can’t beat us, but with him +out of the way it would be easy sailing, and all +opposition would come over to us on the second +ballot.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_180' name='page_180'></a>180</span></p> +<p>“Isn’t there a way to win him over?” asked +a congressman who was present.</p> +<p>The introducer of the memorable measure of +the last session shook his head negatively.</p> +<p>“He can’t be persuaded, threatened, or +bought.”</p> +<p>“Then let’s get him out of the way.”</p> +<p>“Kidnap him?”</p> +<p>“Decoy him gently from your path. The +consul of a little seaport in South America has +resigned, and at a word from me to Senator +Hollis, who would pass it on to the President, +this appointment could be given to your young +bucker, and he’d be out of your way for at +least three years.”</p> +<p>“That would be too good to be true, but he +wouldn’t bite at such bait. His aspirations are +all in a state line. He’s got the usual career +mapped out,––state senator, secretary of state, +governor––possibly President.”</p> +<p>“You can never tell,” replied the congressman +sagaciously. “A presidential appointment, +the alluring word ‘consul,’ a foreign residence, +all sound very enticing and important to a +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_181' name='page_181'></a>181</span> +young country man. The Dunne type likes to +be the big frog in the puddle. This stripling +you are all so afraid of hasn’t cut all his wisdom +teeth yet. It’s worth a try. I’ll tackle him.”</p> +<p>The morning after this conversation, as +David walked down to the Judge’s office he felt +very lonely––a part of no plan. It was a mood +that made him ripe for the purpose of the congressman +whom he found awaiting him.</p> +<p>“I’ve been wanting to meet you for a long +time, Mr. Dunne,” said the congressman obsequiously, +after the Judge had introduced him. +“We’ve heard a great deal about you down in +Washington since your defeat of the Griggs +Bill, and we are looking for great things from +you. Of course, we have to keep our eye on +what is going on back here.”</p> +<p>The Judge looked his surprise at this speech, +and was still more mystified at receiving a knowing +wink from David.</p> +<p>After some preliminary talk the congressman +finally made known his errand, and tendered David +the offer of a consulship in South America.</p> +<p>At this juncture the Judge was summoned to +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_182' name='page_182'></a>182</span> +the telephone in another room. When he returned +the congressman had taken his departure.</p> +<p>“Behold,” grinned David, “the future consul +of––I really can’t pronounce it. I am going to +look it up now in your atlas.”</p> +<p>“Where is Gilbert?” asked the Judge.</p> +<p>“Gone to wire Hilliard before I can change +my mind. You see, it’s a scheme to get me out +of the road and I––well I happen to be willing +to get out of the road just now. I am not in a +fighting mood.”</p> +<p>“Consular service,” remarked the Judge oracularly, +“is generally considered a sort of clearing +house for undesirable politicians. The +consuls to those little ports are, as a rule, very +poor.”</p> +<p>“Then a good consul like your junior partner +will loom up among so many poor ones.”</p> +<p>Barnabas was inwardly disturbed by this +move from David, but he philosophically argued +that “the boy was young and ’t wouldn’t +harm him to salt down awhile.”</p> +<p>“Dave,” he counseled in farewell, “I hope +you’ll come to love some good gal. Every man +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_183' name='page_183'></a>183</span> +orter hev a hearth of his own. This stretchin’ +yer feet afore other folks’ firesides is unnateral +and lonesome. Thar’s no place so snug and +safe fer a man as his own home, with a good wife +to keep it. But I want you tew make me a +promise, Dave. When I see the time’s ripe fer +pickin’ in politics, will you come back?”</p> +<p>“I will, Uncle Barnabas,” promised David +solemnly.</p> +<p>The heartiest approval came from Joe.</p> +<p>“That’s right, Dave, see all you can of the +world instead of settling down in a pasture lot +at Lafferton.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_184' name='page_184'></a>184</span></p> +<p class='tp' style='font-size:1.3em;margin-bottom:40px; margin-top:70px;;'>CHAPTER II</p> +<p>Gilbert, complacent and affable, returned +to Washington accompanied by +David. A month later the newly made consul +sailed from New York for South America. He +landed at a South American seaport that had a +fine harbor snugly guarded by jutting cliffs +skirting the base of a hill barren and severe in +aspect.</p> +<p>As he walked down the narrow, foreign streets +thronged with a strange people, and saw the +structures with their meaningless signs, he began +to feel a wave of homesickness. Then, looking +up, he felt that little inner thrill that comes from +seeing one’s flag in a foreign land.</p> +<p>“And that is why I am here,” he thought, “to +keep that flag flying.”</p> +<p>He resolutely started out on the first day to +keep the flag flying in the manner befitting the +kind of a consul he meant to be. He maintained +a strict watch over the commercial conditions, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_185' name='page_185'></a>185</span> +and his reports of consular news were promptly +rendered in concise and instructive form. His +native tact and inherent courtesy won him favor +with the government, his hospitality and kindly +intent conciliated the natives, and he was soon +also accorded social privileges. He began to enjoy +life. His duties were interesting, and his +leisure was devoted to the pursuit of novel +pleasures.</p> +<p>Fletcher Wilder, the son of the president of +an American mining company, was down there +ostensibly to look after his father’s interests, but +in reality to take out pleasure parties in his trim +little yacht, and David soon came to be the most +welcome guest that set foot on its deck.</p> +<p>At the end of a year, when his duties had become +a matter of routine and his life had lost +the charm of novelty, David’s ambitions started +from their slumbers, though not this time in a +political way. Wilder had cruised away, and +the young consul was conscious of a sense of +aloneness. He spent his evenings on his spacious +veranda, from where he could see the moonlight +making a rippling road of silver across the black +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_186' name='page_186'></a>186</span> +water. The sensuous beauty of the tropical +nights brought him back to his early Land of +Dreams, and the pastime that he had been forced +to relinquish for action now appealed to him with +overwhelming force and fascination. But the +dreams were a man’s dreams, not the fleeting +fancies of a boy. They continued to possess and +absorb him until one night, when he was looking +above the mountains at one lone star that +shone brighter than the rest, he was moved +for the first time to give material shape and +form to his conceptions. The impulse led to +execution.</p> +<p>“I must get it out of my system,” he explained +half apologetically to himself as he began the +writing of a novel. To this task, as to everything +else he had undertaken, he brought the entire +concentration of his mind and energy, until +the book soon began to seem real to him––more +real than anything he had done. As he was copying +the last page for the last time, Fletcher sailed +into the harbor for a week of farewell before +returning to New York.</p> +<p>“What have you been doing for amusement +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_187' name='page_187'></a>187</span> +these last six months, Dunne?” he asked as he +dropped into David’s house.</p> +<p>“You’d never guess,” said David, “what your +absence drove me to. I’ve written a book––a +novel.”</p> +<p>“Let me take it back to the hotel with me +to-night. I haven’t been sleeping well lately, +and it may––”</p> +<p>“If it serves as a soporific,” said David gravely, +as he handed him the bulky package, “my labor +will not have been in vain.”</p> +<p>The next morning Wilder came again into +David’s office.</p> +<p>“I fear you didn’t sleep well, after all,” observed +David, looking at his visitor’s heavy-lidded +eyes.</p> +<p>“No, darn you, Dunne. I took up your manuscript +and I never laid it down until the first +streaks of dawn. Then when I went to bed I +lay awake thinking it all over. Why, Dunne, +it’s the best book I ever read!”</p> +<p>“I wish,” David replied with a whimsical +smile, “that you were a publisher.”</p> +<p>“Speaking of publishers, that’s why I didn’t +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_188' name='page_188'></a>188</span> +bring the manuscript back. I sail in a week, and +I want you to let me take it to a publisher I +know in New York. He will give it a prompt +reading.”</p> +<p>“If it wouldn’t bother you too much, I wish +you would. You see, it would take so long for +it to come back here and be sent out again each +time it is rejected.”</p> +<p>“Rejected!” scoffed Wilder. “You wait and +see! Aren’t you going to dedicate it?”</p> +<p>David hesitated, his eyes stealing dreamily out +across the bay to the horizon line.</p> +<p>“I wonder,” he said meditatively, “if the person +to whom it is dedicated––every word of it––wouldn’t +know without the inscription.”</p> +<p>“No,” objected Fletcher, “you should have it +appear out of compliment.”</p> +<p>He smiled as he wrote on a piece of paper: +“To T. L. P.”</p> +<p>“The initials of your sweetheart?” quizzed +Fletcher.</p> +<p>“No; when I was a little chap I used to spin +yarns. These are the initials of one who was my +most absorbed listener.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_189' name='page_189'></a>189</span></p> +<p>Wilder raised anchor and sailed back to the +states. At the expiration of two months he +wrote David that his book had been accepted. +In time ten bound copies of his novel, his allotment +from the publishers, brought him a thrill +of indescribable pleasure. The next mail brought +papers with glowing reviews and letters of commendation +and congratulations. Next came a +good-sized check, and the information that his +book was a “best seller.”</p> +<p>The night that this information was received +he went up to the top of the hill that jutted over +the harbor and listened to the song of the waves. +Two years in this land of liquid light––a land of +burning days and silent, sapphired nights, a land +of palms and olives––two years of quiet, dreamy +bliss, an idle and unsubstantial time! How +evanescent it seemed, by the light of the days at +home, when something had always pressed him +to action.</p> +<p>“Two years of drifting,” he thought. “It is +time I, too, raised anchor and sailed home.”</p> +<p>The next mail brought a letter that made his +heart beat faster than it had yet been able to do +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_190' name='page_190'></a>190</span> +in this exotic, lazy land. It was a recall from +Barnabas.</p> +<p style='margin-left:1.0em; margin-right:2.0em; '>“<span class='smcap'>Dear Dave</span>:</p> +<p style='margin-left:1.0em; margin-right:2.0em; '>“Nothing but a lazy life in a foreign land would have +drove a man like you to write a book. The Jedge and +M’ri are pleased, but I know you are cut out for something +different. I want you to come home in time to run for legislature +again. There’s goin’ to be something doin’. It +is time for another senator, and who do you suppose is +plugging for it, and opening hogsheads of money? +Wilksley. I want for you to come back and head him +off. If you’ve got one speck of your old spirit, and you +care anything about your state, you’ll do it. I am still +running politics for this county at the old stand. Your +book has started folks to talking about you agen, so come +home while the picking is good. You’ve dreamt long +enough. It is time to get up. Don’t write no more books +till you git too old to work.</p> +<p style='margin-left:1.0em; margin-right:2.0em; text-align:right'><span style='margin-right: 3.125em;'>“Yours if you come,</span><br /> +<span style='margin-right: 1.0em;'>“B. B.”</span><br /></p> +<p>The letter brought to David’s eyes something +that no one in this balmy land had ever seen there. +With the look of a fighter belted for battle he +went to the telegraph office and cabled Barnabas, +“Coming.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_191' name='page_191'></a>191</span></p> +<p class='tp' style='font-size:1.3em;margin-bottom:40px; margin-top:70px;;'>CHAPTER III</p> +<p>On his return to Lafferton David was met +at the train by the Judge, M’ri, and +Barnabas.</p> +<p>“Your trunks air goin’ out to the farm, Dave, +ain’t they?” asked Barnabas wistfully.</p> +<p>“Of course,” replied David, with an emphasis +that brought a look of pleasure to the old man.</p> +<p>“Your telegram took a great load offen my +mind,” he said, as they drove out to the farm. +“Miss Rhody told me all along I need hev no +fears fer you, that you weren’t no dawdler.”</p> +<p>“Good for Miss Rhody!” laughed David. +“She shall have her reward. I brought her silk +enough for two dresses at least.”</p> +<p>“David,” said M’ri suddenly at the dinner +table, “do tell me for whose name those initials +in the dedication to your book stand. Is it any +one I know?”</p> +<p>“I hardly know the person myself,” was the +smiling and evasive reply. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_192' name='page_192'></a>192</span></p> +<p>“A woman, David?”</p> +<p>“She figured largely in my fairy stories.”</p> +<p>“A nickname he had for Janey,” she thought +with a sigh.</p> +<p>“Uncle Barnabas,” said David the next day, +“before we settle down to things political tell me +if you regret my South American experience.”</p> +<p>“Now that you’re back and gittin’ into harness, +I’ll overlook anything. You’d earnt a +breathing spell, and you look a hull lot older. +Your book’s kep’ your name in the papers, tew, +which helps.”</p> +<p>“I will show you something that proves the +book did more than that,” said David, drawing +his bank book from his pocket and passing it to +the old man, who read it unbelievingly.</p> +<p>“Why, Dave, you’re rich!” he exclaimed.</p> +<p>“No; not rich. I shall always have to work +for my living. So tell me the situation.”</p> +<p>This fully occupied the time it took to drive +to town, for Cold Molasses, successor to Old +Hundred, kept the pace his name indicated. +The day was spent in meeting old friends, and +then David settled down to business with his +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_193' name='page_193'></a>193</span> +old-time energy. Once more he was nominated +for the legislature and took up the work of +campaigning for Stephen Hume, opponent to +Wilksley. Hume was an ardent, honest, clean-handed +politician without money, but he had +for manager one Ethan Knowles, a cool-headed, +tireless veteran of campaign battles, with David +acting as assistant and speech maker.</p> +<p>David was elected, went to the capital, and +was honored with the office of speaker by unanimous +vote. He had his plans carefully drawn +for the election of Hume, who came down on +the regular train and established headquarters +at one of the hotels, surrounded by a quiet and +determined body of men.</p> +<p>Wilksley’s supporters, a rollicking lot, had +come by special train and were quartered at a +club, dispensing champagne and greenbacks +promiscuously and freely. There was also +a third candidate, whose backers were non-committal, +giving no intimation as to where their +strength would go in case their candidate did +not come in as a dark horse.</p> +<p>When the night of the senatorial contest came +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_194' name='page_194'></a>194</span> +the floor, galleries, and lobby of the House were +crowded. The Judge, M’ri, and Joe were there, +Janey remaining home with her father, who +refused to join the party.</p> +<p>“Thar’ll be bigger doin’s fer me to see Dave +officiate at,” he prophesied.</p> +<p>The quietly humorous young man wielding +the gavel found it difficult to maintain quiet in +the midst of such excitement, but he finally +evolved order from chaos.</p> +<p>Wilksley was the first candidate nominated, +a gentleman from the fourteenth delivering a +bombastic oration in pompous periods, accompanied +by lofty gestures. He was followed by +an understudy, who made an ineffective effort +to support his predecessor.</p> +<p>“A ricochet shot,” commented Joe. “Wait +till Dave hits the bullseye.”</p> +<p>The supporting representatives of the dark +horse made short, forceful speeches. Then followed +a brief intermission, while David called +a substitute <i>pro tem</i> to the speaker’s desk. He +stepped to the platform to make the nominating +speech for Hume, the speech for which every +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_195' name='page_195'></a>195</span> +one was waiting. There was a hush of expectancy, +and M’ri felt little shivers of excitement +creeping down her spine as she looked up at +David, dauntless, earnest, and compelling, as he +towered above them all.</p> +<p>In its simplicity, its ring of truth, and its +weight of conviction, his speech was a masterpiece.</p> +<p>“A young Patrick Henry!” murmured the +Judge.</p> +<p>M’ri made no comment, for in that flight of a +second that intervened between David’s speech +and the roar of tumultuous applause, she had +heard a voice, a young, exquisite voice, murmur +with a little indrawn breath, “Oh, David!”</p> +<p>M’ri turned in surprise, and looked into the +confused but smiling face of a lovely young girl, +who said frankly and impulsively: “I don’t know +who Mr. Hume may be, but I do hope he wins.”</p> +<p>M’ri smiled in sympathy, trying to place the +resemblance. Then her gaze wandered to the +man beside the young girl.</p> +<p>“You are Carey Winthrop!” she exclaimed.</p> +<p>The man turned, and leaned forward. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_196' name='page_196'></a>196</span></p> +<p>“Mrs. Thorne, this is indeed a pleasure,” he +said, extending his hand.</p> +<p>Joe then swung his chair around into their +vision.</p> +<p>“Oh, Joe!” cried the young girl ecstatically. +“And where is Janey?”</p> +<p>The balloting was in progress, and there was +opportunity for mutual recalling of old times. +Then suddenly the sibilant sounds dropped to +silence as the result was announced. Wilksley +had the most votes, the dark horse the least; +Hume enjoyed a happy medium, with fifteen +more to his count than forecast by the man behind +the button, as Joe designated Knowles.</p> +<p>In the rush of action from the delegates, reporters, +clerks, and messengers, the place resembled +a beehive. Then came another ballot taking. +Hume had gained ten votes from the +Wilksley men and fifteen from the dark horse, +but still lacked the requisite number.</p> +<p>From the little retreat where Hume’s manager +was ensconced, with his hand on the throttle, +David emerged. He looked confident and +determined. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_197' name='page_197'></a>197</span></p> +<p>The third ballot resulted in giving Hume the +entire added strength of the dark horse, and +enough votes to elect. A committee was thereupon +appointed to bring the three candidates to +the House. When they entered and were escorted +to the platform they each made a speech, +and then formed a reception line. David +stood apart, talking to one of the members. +He was beginning to feel the reaction from +the long strain he had been under and wished +to slip away from the crowd. Suddenly he +heard some one say:</p> +<p>“Mr. Speaker, may I congratulate you?” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_198' name='page_198'></a>198</span></p> +<p class='tp' style='font-size:1.3em;margin-bottom:40px; margin-top:70px;;'>CHAPTER IV</p> +<p>He turned quickly, his heart thrilling at the +charm in the voice, low, yet resonant, and +sweet with a lurking suggestion of sadness.</p> +<p>A girl, slender and delicately made, stood before +him, a girl with an exquisite grace and a +nameless charm––the something that lurks in +the fragrance of the violet. Her eyes were not +the quiet, solemn eyes of the little princess of +his fairy tales, but the deep, fathomless eyes of +a maiden.</p> +<p>A reminiscent smile stole over his face.</p> +<p>“The little princess!” he murmured, taking +her hand.</p> +<p>The words brought a flush of color to her fair +face.</p> +<p>“The prince is a politician now,” she replied.</p> +<p>“The prince has to be a politician to fight +for his kingdom. Have you been here all the +evening?” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_199' name='page_199'></a>199</span></p> +<p>“Yes; father and I sat with your party. But +you were altogether too absorbed to glance our +way.”</p> +<p>“Are you visiting in the city? Will you be +here long?”</p> +<p>“For to-night only. I’ve been West with +father, and we only stopped off to see what a +senatorial fight was like; also, to hear you speak. +To-morrow we return East, and then mother +and I shall go abroad. Father,” calling to Mr. +Winthrop, “I am renewing my acquaintance +with Mr. Dunne.”</p> +<p>“I wish to do the same,” he said, extending +his hand cordially. “I expect to be able to tell +people some day that I used to fish in a country +stream with the governor of this state when +he was a boy.”</p> +<p>After a few moments of general conversation +they all left the statehouse together.</p> +<p>“Carey,” said Mr. Winthrop, “I am going +with the Judge to the club, so I will put you in +David’s hands. I believe you have no afraidments +with him.”</p> +<p>“That has come to be a household phrase with +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_200' name='page_200'></a>200</span> +us,” she laughed; “but you forget, father, that +Mr. Dunne has official duties.”</p> +<p>“If you only knew,” David assured her +earnestly, “how thankful I am for a release +from them. My task is ended, and I don’t +wish to celebrate in the usual and political +way.”</p> +<p>“There is a big military ball at the hotel,” informed +Joe. “Mrs. Thorne and I thought we +would like to go and look on.”</p> +<p>“A fine idea, Joe. Maybe you would like to +go?” he said to Carey, trying to make his tone +urgent.</p> +<p>She laughed at his dismayed expression.</p> +<p>“No; you may walk to the Bradens’ with me. +We couldn’t get in at the hotels, and father +met Major Braden on the street. He is instructor +or something of the militia of this state, +and has gone to the ball with his wife. They +supposed that this contest would last far into +the night, so they planned to be home before we +were.”</p> +<p>“We will get a carriage as soon as we are out +of the grounds.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_201' name='page_201'></a>201</span></p> +<p>“Have you come to carriages?” she asked, +laughingly. “You used to say if you couldn’t +ride horseback, or walk, you would stand +still.”</p> +<p>“And you agreed with me that carriages were +only for the slow, the stupid, and the infirm,” +he recalled. “It’s a glorious night. Would +you rather walk, really?”</p> +<p>“Really.”</p> +<p>At the entrance to the grounds they parted +from the others and went up one of the many +avenues radiating from the square.</p> +<p>The air was full of snowflakes, moving so +softly and so slowly they scarcely seemed to +fall. The electric lights of the city shone +cheerfully through the white mist, and the sound +of distant mirthmakers fell pleasantly on the +ear.</p> +<p>“Snow is the only picture part of winter,” said +Carey. “Do you remember the story of the +Snow Princess?”</p> +<p>“You must have a wonderful memory!” he +exclaimed. “You were only six years old when +I told you that story.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_202' name='page_202'></a>202</span></p> +<p>“I have a very vivid memory,” she replied. +“Sometimes it almost frightens me.”</p> +<p>“Do you know,” he said, “that I think people +that have dreams and fancies do look backward +farther than matter-of-fact people, who let +things out of sight go out of mind?”</p> +<p>“You were full of dreams then, but I don’t +believe you are now. Of course, politicians have +no time or inclination for dreams.”</p> +<p>“No; they usually have a dread of dreams. +Would you rather have found me still a +dreamer?” he asked, looking down into her +dark eyes, which drooped beneath the intensity +of his gaze.</p> +<p>Then her delicate face, misty with sweetness, +turned toward him again.</p> +<p>“No; dreams are for children and for old people, +whose memories, like their eyes, are for +things far off. This is your time to do things, +not to dream them. And you have done things. +I heard Major Braden telling father about you +at dinner––your success in law, your getting some +bill killed in the legislature, and your having +been to South America. Father says you have +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_203' name='page_203'></a>203</span> +had a wonderful career for a young man. I +used to think when I was a little girl that when +you were a grown-up prince you would kill dragons +and bring home golden fleeces.”</p> +<p>He smiled with a sudden deep throb of pleasure. +Her voice stirred him with a sense of +magic.</p> +<p>“This is the Braden home,” she said, stopping +before a big house that seemed to be all pillars +and porches. “You’ll come in for a little +while, won’t you?”</p> +<p>“I’ll come in, if I may, and help you to recall +some more of Maplewood days.”</p> +<p>A trim little maid opened the door and led +the way into a long library where in the fireplace +a pine backlog, crisscrossed by sturdy forelogs of +birch and maple, awaited the touch of a match. +It was given, and the room was filled with a +flaring light that made the soft lamplight seem +pale and feeble.</p> +<p>“This is a genuine Brumble fire,” he exclaimed, +as they sat down before the ruddy +glow. “It carries me back to farm life.”</p> +<p>“How many phases of life you have seen,” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_204' name='page_204'></a>204</span> +mused Carey. “Country, college, city, tropical, +and now this political life. Which one have you +really enjoyed the most?”</p> +<p>“My life in the Land of Dreams––that beautiful +Isle of Everywhere,” he replied.</p> +<p>Her eyes grew radiant with understanding.</p> +<p>“You are not so very much changed since your +days of dreaming,” she said, smiling. “To be +sure, you have lost your freckles and you don’t +kick at the ground when you walk, and––”</p> +<p>“And,” he reminded, as she paused.</p> +<p>“You are no longer twice my age.”</p> +<p>“Did Janey tell you?”</p> +<p>“Yes; the last summer I was at Maplewood––the +summer you were graduated. You say +you don’t dream any more, but it wasn’t so very +long ago that you did, else how could you have +written that wonderful book?”</p> +<p>“Then you read it?” he asked eagerly.</p> +<p>“Of course I read it.”</p> +<p>“All of it?”</p> +<p>“Could any one begin it and not finish it? +I’ve read some parts of it many times.”</p> +<p>“Did you,” he asked slowly, holding her eyes +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_205' name='page_205'></a>205</span> +in spite of her desire to lower them, “read the +dedication?”</p> +<p>And by their subtle confession he knew that +this was one of the parts she had read “many +times.”</p> +<p>“Yes,” she replied, trying to speak lightly, but +breathing quickly, “and I wondered who T. L. +P. might be.”</p> +<p>“And so you didn’t know,” in slow, disappointed +tones, “that they stood for the name I +gave you when I first met you––the name by +which I always think of you? It was with +your perfect understanding of my old fancies +in mind that I wrote the book. And so I dedicated +it to you, thinking if you read it you would +know even without the inscription. Some one +suggested––”</p> +<p>“It was Fletcher,” she began.</p> +<p>“Oh, you know Wilder?”</p> +<p>“Yes, I’ve known him always. He has told +me of your days in South America together and +how he told you to dedicate it. And he wondered +who T. L. P. might be.”</p> +<p>“And you never guessed?” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_206' name='page_206'></a>206</span></p> +<p>Her face, bent over the firelight, looked small +and white; her beautiful eyes were fixed and +grave. Then suddenly she lifted them to his with +the artlessness of a child.</p> +<p>“I did know,” she confessed. “At least, I +hoped––I claimed it as my book, anyway, +but I thought your memory of those summers +at the farm might not have been as keen as +mine.”</p> +<p>“It is keen,” he replied. “I have always +thought of you as a little princess who only lived +in my dreams, but, hereafter, you are not only +in my past dreams, but I hope, in my future.”</p> +<p>“When we come back––”</p> +<p>“Will you be gone long?” he asked wistfully. +“Is your father––”</p> +<p>“Father can’t go, but he may join us.”</p> +<p>After a moment’s hesitation she continued, +with a slight blush:</p> +<p>“Fletcher is going with us.”</p> +<p>“Oh,” he said, wondering at his tinge of disappointment.</p> +<p>“Carey,” he said wistfully, as he was leaving, +“don’t you think when a man dedicates a book +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_207' name='page_207'></a>207</span> +to a girl, and they both have a joint claim on a +territory known as the Land of Dreams, that +she might call him, as she did when they were +boy and girl, by his first name?”</p> +<p>“Yes, David,” she replied with a light little +laugh.</p> +<p>The music of the soft “a” rang entrancingly +in his ears as he walked back to the hotel. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_208' name='page_208'></a>208</span></p> +<p class='tp' style='font-size:1.3em;margin-bottom:40px; margin-top:70px;;'>CHAPTER V</p> +<p>There was but one important measure to +deal with in this session of the legislature, +but David’s penetration into a thorough understanding +of each bill, and the patience and sagacity +he displayed in settling all disputes, won the +approbation of even doubtful and divided factions. +He flashed a new fire of life into the ebbing +enthusiasm of his followers, whom he had led +to victory on the Griggs Bill. At the close of the +session, early in May, he was presented with a +set of embossed resolutions commending his fulfillment +of his duties.</p> +<p>That same night, in his room at the hotel, as +he was packing his belongings, he was waited +upon by a delegation composed alike of horny-handed +tillers of the soil and distinguished statesmen.</p> +<p>“We come, David,” said the spokesman, who +had been chairman of the county convention, +“to say that you are our choice for the next +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_209' name='page_209'></a>209</span> +governor of this state, and in saying this we +know we are echoing the sentiment of the Republican +party. In fact, we are looking to you +as the only man who can bring that party to +victory.”</p> +<p>He said many more things, flattering and +echoed by his followers. It made the blood tingle +in David’s veins to know that these men of +plain, honest, country stock, like himself, believed +in him and in his honor. In kaleidoscopic +quickness there passed in review his life,––the +days when he and his mother had struggled with +a wretched poverty that the neighbors had only +half suspected, the first turning point in his life, +when he was taken unto the hearth and home of +strong-hearted people, his years at college, the +plodding days in pursuit of the law, his hotly +waged fight in the legislature, and his short literary +career, and he felt a surging of boyish +pride at the knowledge that he was now approaching +his goal.</p> +<p>The next morning David went to Lafferton in +order to discuss the road to the ruling of the +people. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_210' name='page_210'></a>210</span></p> +<p>“Whom would you suggest for manager of +my campaign, Uncle Barnabas?” he asked.</p> +<p>“Knowles came to me and offered his services. +Couldn’t have a slicker man, Dave.”</p> +<p>“None better in the state. I shouldn’t have +ventured to ask him.”</p> +<p>Janey was home for the summer, and on the +first evening of his return she and David sat together +on the porch.</p> +<p>“Oh, Davey,” she said with a little sob, “Jud +has come home again, and they say he isn’t +just wild any more, but thoroughly bad.”</p> +<p>The tears in her eyes and the tremor in her +tone stirred all his old protective instinct for +her.</p> +<p>“Poor Jud! I’ll see if I can’t awaken some +ambition in him for a different life.”</p> +<p>“You’ve been very patient, Davey, but do try +again. Every one is down on him now but +father and you and me. Aunt M’ri has let the +Judge prejudice her; Joe hasn’t a particle of +patience with him, and he can’t understand how +I can have any, but you do, Davey. You understand +everything.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_211' name='page_211'></a>211</span></p> +<p>They sat in silence, watching the stars pierce +vividly through the blackness of the sky, and +presently his thoughts strayed from Jud and +from his fair young sister. In fancy he saw the +queenly carriage of an imperious little head, the +mystery lurking in a pair of purple eyes, and +heard the cadence in an exquisite voice.</p> +<p>The next morning he began the fight, and there +was an incessant cannonade from start to finish +against the upstart boy nominee, who proved +to be an adversary of unremitting activity, the +tact and experience of Knowles making a fortified +intrenchment for him. All of David’s +friends rallied strongly to his support. Hume +came from Washington, Joe from the ranch, and +Wilder from the East, his father having a branch +concern in the state.</p> +<p>Through the long, hot summer the warfare +waged, and by mid-autumn it seemed a neck and +neck contest––a contest so susceptible that the +merest breath might turn the tide at any moment. +The week before the election found David +still resolute, grim, and determined. Instead +of being discouraged by adverse attacks he had +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_212' name='page_212'></a>212</span> +gained new vigor from each downthrow. All +forces rendezvoused at the largest city in the +state for the final engagement.</p> +<p>Three days before election he received a note +in a handwriting that had become familiar to +him during the past year. With a rush of surprise +and pleasure he noted the city postmark. +The note was very brief, merely mentioning the +hotel at which they were stopping and asking +him to call if he could spare a few moments from +his campaign work.</p> +<p>In an incredibly short time after the receipt +of this note he was at the hotel, awaiting an answer +to his card. He was shown to the sitting +room of the suite, and Carey opened the door +to admit him. This was not the little princess +of his dreams, nor the charming young girl who +had talked so ingenuously with him before the +Braden fireside. This was a woman, stately yet +gracious, vigorous yet exquisite.</p> +<p>“I am glad we came home in time to see you +elected,” she said. “It is a great honor, David, +to be the governor of your state.”</p> +<p>There was a shade of deference in her manner +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_213' name='page_213'></a>213</span> +to him which he realized was due to the awe with +which she regarded the dignity of his elective office. +This amused while it appealed to him.</p> +<p>“We are on our way to California to spend +the winter,” she replied, in answer to his eager +question, “and father proposed stopping here +until after election.”</p> +<p>“You come in and out of my life like a comet,” +he complained wistfully.</p> +<p>Mrs. Winthrop came in, smiling and charming +as ever. She was very cordial to David, and +interested in his campaign, but it seemed to +him that she was a little too gracious, as if +she wished to impress him with the fact that it +was a concession to meet him on an equal social +footing. For Mrs. Winthrop was inclined to be +of the world, worldly.</p> +<p>“You have arrived at an auspicious time,” he +assured her. “To-night the Democrats will have +the biggest parade ever scheduled for this city. +Joe calls it the round-up.”</p> +<p>“Oh, is Joe here?” asked Carey eagerly.</p> +<p>“Yes; and another friend of yours, Fletcher +Wilder.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_214' name='page_214'></a>214</span></p> +<p>“I knew that he was here,” she said, with an +odd little smile.</p> +<p>“We had expected to see him in New York, +and were surprised to learn he was out here,” +said Mrs. Winthrop.</p> +<p>“He came to help me in my campaign,” informed +David.</p> +<p>“Fletcher interested in politics! How +strange!”</p> +<p>“His interest is purely personal. We were +together in South America, you know.”</p> +<p>“I am glad that you have a friend in him,” +said Mrs. Winthrop affably. “The parade will +pass here, and Fletcher is coming up, of course. +Why not come up, too, if you can spare the +time?”</p> +<p>“This is not my night,” laughed David. “It’s +purely and simply a Democratic night. I shall +be pleased to come.”</p> +<p>“Bring Joe, too,” reminded Carey.</p> +<p>When Mr. Winthrop came in David had no +doubt as to the welcome he received from the +head of the family.</p> +<p>“A man’s measure of a man,” thought David, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_215' name='page_215'></a>215</span> +“is easily taken, and by natural laws, but oh, for +an understanding of the scales by which women +weigh! And yet it is they who hold the balance.”</p> +<p>“Fletcher and David and Joe are coming to-night +to watch the parade from here,” said +Carey.</p> +<p>“You shall all dine with us,” said Mr. Winthrop.</p> +<p>“Thank you,” replied David, “but––”</p> +<p>“Oh, but you must,” insisted Mrs. Winthrop, +who always warmly seconded any proffer of hospitality +made by her husband. “Fletcher will +dine with us, of course. We can have a little +dinner served here in our rooms. Write a note +to Mr. Forbes, Carey.”</p> +<p>The marked difference in type of her three +guests as they entered the sitting room that night +struck Mrs. Winthrop forcibly. Joe, lean and +brown, with laughing eyes, was the typical frontiersman; +Fletcher, quiet and substantial looking, +with his air of culture and ease and his modulated +voice, was the type of a city man; David––“What +a man he is!” she was forced to admit as +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_216' name='page_216'></a>216</span> +he stood, head uplifted in the white glare under +the chandelier, the brilliant light shining upon +his dark hair, and his eyes glowing like stars. His +lithe figure, perfect in poise and balance, of virile +strength that was toil-proof, wore the look of +the outdoor life. His smile banished everything +that was ordinary from his face and transmuted +it into a glowing personality. His eyes, serious +with that insight of the observer who knows +what is going on without and within, were clear +and steady.</p> +<p>The table was laid for six in the sitting room, +the flowers and candles giving it a homelike +look.</p> +<p>As Mrs. Winthrop listened to the conversation +between her husband and David she was forced +to admit that the young candidate for governor +was a man of mark.</p> +<p>“I never knew a man without good birth to +have such perfect breeding,” she thought. “He +really appears as well as Fletcher, and, well, of +course, he has more temperament. If he could +have been born on a different plane,” thinking +of her long line of Virginia ancestors. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_217' name='page_217'></a>217</span></p> +<p>She had ceded a great deal to her husband’s +and Carey’s democracy, and reserved many an +unfavorable criticism of their friends and their +friends’ ways with a tactfulness that had blinded +their eyes to her true feelings. Yet David knew +instinctively her standpoint; she partly suspected +that he knew, and the knowledge did not disturb +her; she intuitively gauged his pride, and welcomed +it, for a suitor of the Fletcher Wilder station +of life was more to her liking.</p> +<p>Carey led David away from her father’s political +discourse, and encouraged him to give +reminiscences of old days. Joe told a few inimitable +western stories, and before the cozy little +meal was finished Mrs. Winthrop, though +against her will, was feeling the compelling force +of David’s winning sweetness. The sound of a +distant band hurried them from the table to the +balcony.</p> +<p>“They’ve certainly got a fair showing of floating +banners and transformations,” said Joe.</p> +<p>As the procession came nearer the face of the +hardy ranchman flushed crimson and his eyes +flashed dangerously. He made a quick motion +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_218' name='page_218'></a>218</span> +as if to obstruct David’s vision, but the young +candidate had already seen. He stood as if at +bay, his face pale, his eyes riveted on those floating +banners which bore in flaming letters the inscriptions:</p> +<p>“The father of David Dunne died in state +prison!”</p> +<p>“His mother was a washerwoman!” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_219' name='page_219'></a>219</span></p> +<p class='tp' style='font-size:1.3em;margin-bottom:40px; margin-top:70px;;'>CHAPTER VI</p> +<p>The others were stricken into shocked silence +which they were too stunned for the +moment to break. It was Fletcher who recovered +first, but then Fletcher was the only one +present who did not know that the words had +struck home.</p> +<p>“We mustn’t wait another moment, David,” +he said emphatically, “to get out sweeping denials +and––”</p> +<p>“We can’t,” said David wearily. “It is true.”</p> +<p>“Oh,” responded Fletcher lamely.</p> +<p>There was another silence. Something in +David’s voice and manner had made the silence +still more constrained.</p> +<p>“I’ll go down and smash their banners!” muttered +Joe, who had not dared to look in David’s +direction.</p> +<p>Mr. Winthrop restrained him.</p> +<p>“The matter will take care of itself,” he counseled. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_220' name='page_220'></a>220</span></p> +<p>It is mercifully granted that the intensity of +present suffering is not realized. Only in looking +back comes the pang, and the wonder at the +seemingly passive endurance.</p> +<p>Again David’s memory was bridging the past +to unveil that vivid picture of the patient-eyed +woman bending over the tub, and the pity for her +was hurting him more than the cruel banner which +was flaunting the fact before a jeering, applauding +crowd.</p> +<p>Mrs. Winthrop gave him a covert glance. She +had great pride in her lineage, and her well-laid +plans for her daughter’s future did not include +David Dunne in their scope, but she was ever +responsive to distress.</p> +<p>Before the look in his eyes every sensation +save that of sympathy left her, and she went to +him as she would have gone to a child of her own +that had been hurt.</p> +<p>“David,” she said tenderly, laying her hand on +his arm, “any woman in the world might be glad +to take in washing to bring up a boy to be such +a man as you are!”</p> +<p>Deeply moved and surprised, he looked into +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_221' name='page_221'></a>221</span> +her brimming eyes and met there the look he had +sometimes seen in the eyes of his mother, of M’ri, +and once in the eyes of Janey. Moved by an +irresistible impulse, he stooped and kissed her.</p> +<p>The situation was relieved of its tenseness.</p> +<p>“I think, Joe,” said David, speaking collectedly, +“we had better go to headquarters. +Knowles will be looking for me.”</p> +<p>“Sure,” assented Joe, eager to get into action.</p> +<p>“Carey,” said David in a low voice, as he was +leaving.</p> +<p>As she turned to him, an impetuous rush of +new life leaped torrent-like in his heart. Her +eyes met his slowly, and for a moment he felt +a pleasure acute with the exquisiteness of pain. +Such sensations are usually transient, and in another +moment he had himself well in hand.</p> +<p>“I want to say good night,” he said quietly, +“and––”</p> +<p>“Will you come here to-morrow at eleven?” +she asked hurriedly. “There is something I want +to say to you.”</p> +<p>“I know that you are sorry for me.”</p> +<p>“That isn’t what I mean to say.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_222' name='page_222'></a>222</span></p> +<p>A wistful but imperious message was flashed +to him from her eyes.</p> +<p>“I will come,” he replied gravely.</p> +<p>When he reached headquarters he found +the committee dismayed and distracted. Like +Wilder, they counseled a sweeping denial, but +David was firm.</p> +<p>“It is true,” he reiterated.</p> +<p>“It will cost us the vote of a certain element,” +predicted the chairman, “and we haven’t one to +spare.”</p> +<p>David listened to a series of similar sentiments +until Knowles––a new Knowles––came in. The +usual blank placidity of his face was rippled by +radiant exultation.</p> +<p>“David,” he announced, “before that parade +started to-night I had made out another conservative +estimate, and thought I could pull you +through by a slight majority. Now, it’s different. +While you may lose some votes from the +‘near-silk stocking’ class, yet for every vote so +lost hundreds will rally to you. That all men +are created equal is still a truth held to be +self-evident. The spark of the spirit that +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_223' name='page_223'></a>223</span> +prompted the Declaration of Independence is +always ready to be fanned to a flame, and the +Democrats have furnished us the fans in their +flying pennants.”</p> +<p>David found no balm in this argument. All +the wounds in his heart were aching, and he could +not bring his thoughts to majorities. He passed +a night of nerve-racking strain. The jeopardy +of election did not concern him. That night at +the dinner party he had realized that he had a +formidable rival in Fletcher, who had a place +firmly fixed in the Winthrop household. Still, +against odds, he had determined to woo and win +Carey.</p> +<p>He had thought to tell her of his father’s +imprisonment under softening influences. To +have it flashed ruthlessly upon her in such a way, +and at such a time, made him shrink from asking +her to link her fate with his, and he decided to +put her resolutely out of his life.</p> +<p>Unwillingly, he went to keep his appointment +with her the next morning. He also dreaded an +encounter with Mrs. Winthrop. He felt that +the reaction from her moment of womanly pity +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_224' name='page_224'></a>224</span> +would strand her still farther on the rocks of her +worldliness. He was detained on his way to the +hotel so that it was nearly twelve when he arrived. +It was a relief to find Carey alone. There +was an appealing look in her eyes; but David felt +that he could bear no expression of sympathy, +and he trusted she would obey the subtle message +flashed from his own.</p> +<p>With keen insight she read his unspoken appeal, +but a high courage dwelt in the spirit of +the little Puritan of colonial ancestry, and she +summoned its full strength.</p> +<p>“David,” she asked, “did you think I was ignorant +of your early life until I read those banners +last night?”</p> +<p>“I thought,” he said, flushing and taken by +surprise, “that you might have long ago heard +something, but to have it recalled in so sensational +a way when you were entertaining me at +dinner––”</p> +<div class='figtag'> +<a name='linki_6' id='linki_6'></a> +</div> +<div class='figcenter'> +<img src='images/illus-234.jpg' alt='' title='' width='370' height='534' /><br /> +<p class='caption'> +“<i>It was a relief to find Carey alone</i>”<br /> +</p> +</div> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_225' name='page_225'></a>225</span></div> +<p>“David, the first day I met you, when I was +six years old, Mrs. Randall told us of your father. +I didn’t know just what a prison was, but I supposed +it something very grand, and it widened +the halo of romance that my childish eyes had +cast about you. The morning after you had nominated +Mr. Hume I saw your aunt at the hotel, +and she told me, for she said some day I might +hear it from strangers and not understand. +When I saw those banners it was not so much +sympathy for you that distressed me; I was thinking +of your mother, and regretting that she could +not be alive to hear you speak, and see what her +bravery had done for you.”</p> +<p>David had to summon all his control and his +recollection of her Virginia ancestors to refrain +from telling her what was in his heart. Mrs. +Winthrop helped him by her entrance at this crucial +point.</p> +<p>“Good morning, David,” she said suavely. +“Carey, Fletcher is waiting for you at the elevator. +Your father stopped him. I told him +you would be out directly.”</p> +<p>“I had an engagement to drive with him,” explained +Carey. “I thought you would come +earlier.”</p> +<p>“I am due at a committee meeting,” he said, in +a courteous but aloof manner. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_226' name='page_226'></a>226</span></p> +<p>“We start in the morning, you know,” she +reminded him. “Won’t you dine here with us +to-night?”</p> +<p>“I am sorry,” he refused. “It will be impossible.”</p> +<p>“Arthur is going to a club for luncheon,” said +Mrs. Winthrop, when Carey had gone into the +adjoining room, “and I shall be alone unless you +will take pity on my loneliness. I won’t detain +you a moment after luncheon.”</p> +<p>“Thank you,” he replied abstractedly.</p> +<p>She smiled at the reluctance in his eyes.</p> +<p>“David is going to stay to luncheon with me,” +she announced to Carey as she came into the sitting +room.</p> +<p>David winced at the huge bunch of violets +fastened to her muff. He remembered with a +pang that Fletcher had left him that morning +to go to a florist’s. After she had gone Mrs. +Winthrop turned suddenly toward him, as he +was gazing wistfully at the closed door.</p> +<p>“David,” she asked directly, “why did you refuse +our invitation to dine to-night?”</p> +<p>“Why––you see––Mrs. Winthrop––with so +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_227' name='page_227'></a>227</span> +many engagements––there is a factory meeting +at five––”</p> +<p>“David, you are floundering! That is not like +the frankly spoken boy we used to know at Maplewood. +I kept you to luncheon to tell you +some news that even Carey doesn’t know yet. +Mrs. Randall has written insisting that we spend +a week at Maplewood before we go West. As +we are in no special haste, I shall accept her hospitality.”</p> +<p>David made no reply, and she continued:</p> +<p>“You are going home the day before election?”</p> +<p>“Yes, Mrs. Winthrop,” he replied.</p> +<p>“We will go down with you, and I hope you +will be neighborly while we are in the country.”</p> +<p>The bewildered look in his eyes deepened, and +then a heartrending solution of her graciousness +came to him. Fletcher and Carey were doubtless +engaged, and this fact made Mrs. Winthrop +feel secure in extending hospitality to him.</p> +<p>“Thank you, Mrs. Winthrop,” he said, a little +bitterly. “You are very kind.”</p> +<p>“David,” she asked, giving him a searching +look. “What is the matter? I thought you +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_228' name='page_228'></a>228</span> +would be pleased at the thought of our spending +a week among you all.”</p> +<p>He made a quick, desperate decision.</p> +<p>“Mrs. Winthrop,” he asked earnestly, “may I +speak to you quite openly and honestly?”</p> +<p>“David Dunne, you couldn’t speak any other +way,” she asserted, with a gay little laugh.</p> +<p>“I love Carey!” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_229' name='page_229'></a>229</span></p> +<p class='tp' style='font-size:1.3em;margin-bottom:40px; margin-top:70px;;'>CHAPTER VII</p> +<p>This information seemingly conveyed no +startling intelligence.</p> +<p>“Well,” replied Mrs. Winthrop, evidently +awaiting a further statement.</p> +<p>“I haven’t tried to win her love, nor have I +told her that I love her, because I knew that in +your plans for her future you had never included +me. I know what you think about family, and I +don’t want to make ill return for the courtesy +and kindness you and Mr. Winthrop have always +shown me.”</p> +<p>“David, you have one rare trait––gratitude. I +did have plans for Carey––plans built on the basis +of ‘family’; but I have learned from you that +there are other things, like the trait I mentioned, +for instance, that count more than lineage. Before +we went abroad I knew Carey was interested +in you, with the first flutter of a young girl’s +fancy, and I was secretly antagonistic to that +feeling. But last night, David, I came to feel +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_230' name='page_230'></a>230</span> +differently. I envied your mother when I read +those banners. If I had a son like you, I’d feel +honored to take in washing or anything else for +him.”</p> +<p>At the look of ineffable sadness in his eyes her +tears came.</p> +<p>“David,” she said gently, after a pause, “if +you can win Carey’s love, I shall gladly give my +consent.”</p> +<p>He thanked her incoherently, and was seized +with an uncontrollable longing to get away––to +be alone with this great, unbelievable happiness. +In realization of his mood, she left him under +pretext of ordering the luncheon. On her +return she found him exuberant, in a flow of +spirits and pleasantry.</p> +<p>“Mrs. Winthrop,” he said earnestly, as he was +taking his departure, “I am not going to tell +Carey just yet that I love her.”</p> +<p>“As you wish, David. I shall not mention our +conversation.”</p> +<p>She smiled as the door closed upon him.</p> +<p>“Tell her! I wonder if he doesn’t know that +every time he looks at her, or speaks her name, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_231' name='page_231'></a>231</span> +he tells her. But I suppose he has some foolish +mannish pride about waiting until he is +governor.”</p> +<p>When David, in a voice vibrant with new-found +gladness, finished an eloquent address to +a United Band of Workmen, he found Mr. Winthrop +waiting for him.</p> +<p>“I was sent to bring you to the hotel to dine +with us, David. My wife told me of your conversation.”</p> +<p>Noting the look of apprehension in David’s +eyes, he continued:</p> +<p>“Every time a suitor for Carey has crossed our +threshold I’ve turned cold at the thought of relinquishing +my guardianship. With you it is different; +I can only quote Carey’s childish remark––‘with +David I would have no afraidments.’”</p> +<p>A touch upon his shoulder prevented David’s +reply. He turned to find Joe and Fletcher.</p> +<p>“Knowles has been looking for you everywhere. +He wants you to come to headquarters +at once.”</p> +<p>“Is it important?” asked David hesitatingly.</p> +<p>“Important! Knowles! Say, David, have you +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_232' name='page_232'></a>232</span> +forgotten that you are running for governor?”</p> +<p>Winthrop laughed appreciatively.</p> +<p>“Go back to Knowles, David, and come to us +when you can. We have no iron-clad rules as to +hours. Go with him, Joe, to be sure he doesn’t +forget where he is going. Come with me, +Fletcher.”</p> +<p>“It’s too late to call now,” remonstrated Joe, +when David had finally made his escape from +headquarters.</p> +<p>David muttered that time was made for slaves, +and increased his pace. When they reached the +hotel Joe refused to go to the Winthrop’s apartment.</p> +<p>David found Carey alone in the sitting room.</p> +<p>“David,” she asked, after one glance into his +eyes, “what has changed you? Good news from +Mr. Knowles?”</p> +<p>“No, Carey,” he replied, his eyes growing luminous. +“It was something your mother said to +me this morning.”</p> +<p>“Oh, I am glad. What was it she said?”</p> +<p>“She told me,” he evaded, “that you were going +to visit the Randalls.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_233' name='page_233'></a>233</span></p> +<p>“And that is what makes you look so––cheered?” +she persisted.</p> +<p>“No, Carey. May I tell you at two o’clock in +the afternoon, the day after election?”</p> +<p>She laughed delightedly.</p> +<p>“That sounds like our childhood days. You +used to put notes in the old apple tree––do you +remember?––asking Janey and me to meet you +two hours before sundown at the end of the picket +fence.”</p> +<p>Further confidential conversation was prevented +by the entrance of the others. Joe had +been captured, and Mrs. Winthrop had ordered +a supper served in the rooms.</p> +<p>“Carey,” asked her mother softly, when they +were alone that night, “did David tell you what +a cozy little luncheon we had?”</p> +<p>“He told me, mother, that you said something +to him that made him very happy, but he would +not tell me what it was.”</p> +<p>Something in her mother’s gaze made Carey +lift her violets as a shield to her face.</p> +<p>“She knows!” thought Mrs. Winthrop. “But +does she care?” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_234' name='page_234'></a>234</span></p> +<p class='tp' style='font-size:1.3em;margin-bottom:40px; margin-top:70px;;'>CHAPTER VIII</p> +<p>At two o’clock on the day after David Dunne +had been elected governor by an overwhelming +majority, he reined up at the open gate at the +end of the maple drive. His heart beat faster at +the sight of the regal little figure awaiting him. +Her coat, furs, and hat were all of white.</p> +<p>He helped her into the carriage and seated himself +beside her.</p> +<p>“Have you been waiting long, and are you +dressed quite warmly?” he asked anxiously.</p> +<p>“Yes, indeed; I thought you might keep me +waiting at the gate, so I put on my furs.”</p> +<p>The drive went on through the grounds to a +sloping pasture, where it became a rough roadway. +The day was perfect. The sharp edges +of November were tempered by a bright sun, and +the crisp air was possessed of a profound quiet. +When the pastoral stretches ended in the woods, +David stopped suddenly.</p> +<p>“It must have been just about here,” he said, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_235' name='page_235'></a>235</span> +reminiscently, as he hitched the horse to a tree +and held out his hand to Carey. They walked on +into the depths of the woods until they came to +a fallen tree.</p> +<p>“Let us sit here,” he suggested.</p> +<p>She obeyed in silence.</p> +<p>An early frost had snatched the glory from +the trees, whose few brown and sere leaves hung +disconsolately on the branches. High above them +was an occasional skirmishing line of wild +ducks. The deep stillness was broken only by +the scattering of nuts the scurrying squirrels +were harvesting, by the cry of startled wood +birds, or by the wistful note of a solitary, distant +quail.</p> +<p>“Do you remember that other––that first day +we came here?” he asked.</p> +<p>She glanced up at him quickly.</p> +<p>“Is this really the place where we came and +you told me stories?”</p> +<p>“You were only six years old,” he reminded +her. “It doesn’t seem possible that you should +remember.”</p> +<p>“It was the first time I had ever been in any +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_236' name='page_236'></a>236</span> +kind of woods,” she explained, “and it was the +first time I had ever played with a grown-up boy. +For a long time afterward, when I teased mother +for a story, she would tell me of ‘The Day Carey +Met David.’”</p> +<p>“And do you remember nothing more about +that day?”</p> +<p>“Oh, yes; you made us some little chairs out +of red sticks, and you drew me here in a cart.”</p> +<p>“Can’t you remember when you first laid eyes +on me?”</p> +<p>“No––yes, I remember. You drove a funny +old horse, and I saw you coming when I was waiting +at the gate.”</p> +<p>“Yes, you were at the gate,” he echoed, with +a caressing note in his voice. “You were dressed +in white, as you are to-day, and that was my first +glimpse of the little princess. And because she +was the only one I had ever known, I thought of +her for years as a princess of my imagination +who had no real existence.”</p> +<p>“But afterwards,” she asked wistfully, “you +didn’t think of me as an imaginary person, did +you?” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_237' name='page_237'></a>237</span></p> +<p>“Yes; you were hardly a reality until––”</p> +<p>“Until the convention?” she asked disappointedly.</p> +<p>“No; before that. It was in South America, +when I began to write my book, that you came +to life and being in my thoughts. The tropical +land, the brilliant sunshine, the purple nights, the +white stars, the orchids, the balconies looking +down upon fountained courts, all invoked you. +You answered, and crept into my book, and while +we––you and I––were writing it, it came to me +suddenly and overwhelmingly that the little princess +was a living, breathing person, a woman who +mayhap would read my book some day and feel +that it belonged to her. It was so truly hers that +I did not think it necessary to write the dedication +page. And she did read the book and she +did know––didn’t she?”</p> +<p>He looked down into her face, which had grown +paler but infinitely more lovely.</p> +<p>“David, I didn’t dare know. I wanted to +think it was so.”</p> +<p>“Carey,” his voice came deep and strong, his +eyes beseeching, “we were prince and princess in +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_238' name='page_238'></a>238</span> +that enchanted land of childish dreams. Will +you make the dream a reality?”</p> +<hr class='tb' /> +<p>“When, David,” she asked him, “did you know +that you loved, not the little princess, but me, +Carey?”</p> +<p>“You make the right distinction in asking me +when I <i>knew</i> I loved you. I loved you always, +but I didn’t know that I loved you, or how much +I loved you, until that night we sat before the fire +at the Bradens’.”</p> +<p>“And, David, tell me what mother said that day +after the parade?”</p> +<p>“She told me I had her consent to ask you––this!”</p> +<p>“And why, David, did you wait until to-day?”</p> +<p>“The knowledge that you were coming back +here to Maplewood brought the wish to make a +reality of another dream––to meet you at the +place where I first saw you––to bring you here, +where you clung to me for the protection that is +henceforth always yours. And now, Carey, it is +my turn to ask you a question. When did you +first love me?”</p> +<div class='figtag'> +<a name='linki_7' id='linki_7'></a> +</div> +<div class='figcenter'> +<img src='images/illus-238.jpg' alt='' title='' width='371' height='535' /><br /> +<p class='caption'> +“<i>‘Carey, will you make the dream a reality?’</i>”<br /> +</p> +</div> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_239' name='page_239'></a>239</span></div> +<p>“That first day I met you––here in the woods. +My dream and my prince were always realities +to me.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_240' name='page_240'></a>240</span></p> +<p class='tp' style='font-size:1.3em;margin-bottom:40px; margin-top:70px;;'>CHAPTER IX</p> +<p>The governor was indulging in the unwonted +luxury of solitude in his private +sanctum of the executive offices. The long line +of politicians, office seekers, committees, and reporters +had passed, and he was supposed to have +departed also, but after his exit he had made a +detour and returned to his private office.</p> +<p>Then he sat down to face the knottiest problem +that had as yet confronted him in connection +with his official duties. An important act of the +legislature awaited his signature or veto. Various +pressing matters called for immediate action, +but they were mere trifles compared to +the issue pending upon an article he had read in +a bi-weekly paper from one of the country districts. +The article stated that a petition was +being circulated to present to the governor, +praying the pardon and release of Jud Brumble. +Then had begun the great conflict in the +mind of David Dunne, the “governor who could +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_241' name='page_241'></a>241</span> +do no wrong.” It was not a conflict between +right and wrong that was being waged, for Jud +had been one to the prison born.</p> +<p>David reviewed the series of offenses Jud had +perpetrated, punishment for which had ever +been evaded or shifted to accomplices. He recalled +the solemn promise the offender had +made him long ago when, through David’s efforts, +he had been acquitted––a promise swiftly +broken and followed by more daring transgressions, +which had culminated in one enormous +crime. He had been given the full penalty––fifteen +years––a sentence in which a long-suffering +community had rejoiced.</p> +<p>Jud had made himself useful at times to a +certain gang of ward heelers and petty politicians, +who were the instigators of this petition, +which they knew better than to present themselves. +Had they done so, David’s course would +have been plain and easy; but the petition was +to be conveyed directly and personally to the +governor, so the article read, by the prisoner’s +father, Barnabas Brumble.</p> +<p>By this method of procedure the petitioners +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_242' name='page_242'></a>242</span> +showed their cunning as well as their knowledge +of David Dunne. They knew that his sense of +gratitude was as strong as his sense of accurate +justice, and that to Barnabas he attributed his +first start in life; that he had, in fact, literally +blazed the political trail that had led him from +a country lawyer to the governorship of his +state.</p> +<p>There were other ties, other reasons, of which +these signers knew not, that moved David to +heed a petition for release should it be presented.</p> +<p>Again he seemed to see his mother’s imploring +eyes and to hear her impressive voice. Again +he felt around his neck the comforting, chubby +arms of the criminal’s little sister. Her youthful +guilelessness and her inherent goodness had +never recognized evil in her wayward brother, +and she would look confidently to “Davey” for +service, as she had done in the old days of country +schools and meadow lanes.</p> +<p>On the other hand, he, David Dunne, had +taken a solemn oath to do his duty, and his duty +to the people, in the name of justice, was clear. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_243' name='page_243'></a>243</span> +He owed it to them to show no leniency to Jud +Brumble.</p> +<p>So he hovered between base ingratitude to +the man who had made him, and who had never +before asked a favor, and non-fulfillment of +duty to his people. It was a wage of head and +heart. There had never been moral compromises +in his code. There had ever been a right +and a wrong––plain roads, with no middle course +or diverging paths, but now in his extremity he +sought some means of evading the direct issue. +He looked for the convenient loophole of technicality––an +irregularity in the trial––but his +legal knowledge forbade this consideration +after again going over the testimony and evidence +of the trial. The attorney for the defense +had been compelled to admit that his client had +had a square deal. If only the petition might be +brought in the usual way, and presented to the +pardon board, it would not be allowed to reach +the governor, as there was nothing in the case +to warrant consideration, but that was evidently +not to be the procedure. Barnabas would come +to him and ask for Jud’s release, assuming +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_244' name='page_244'></a>244</span> +naturally that his request would be willingly +granted.</p> +<p>If he pardoned Jud, all the popularity of the +young governor would not screen him from the +public censure. One common sentiment of outrage +had been awakened by the crime, and the +criminal had been universally repudiated, but it +was not from public censure or public criticism +that this young man with the strong under jaw +shrank, but from the knowledge that he would be +betraying a trust. Gratitude and duty pointed +in different directions this time.</p> +<p>With throbbing brain and racked nerves he +made his evening call upon Carey, who had come +to be a clearing house for his troubles and who +was visiting the Bradens. She looked at him to-night +with her eyes full of the adoration a young +girl gives to a man who has forged his way to +fame.</p> +<p>He responded to her greeting abstractedly, +and then said abruptly:</p> +<p>“Carey, I am troubled to-night!”</p> +<p>“I knew it before you came, David. I read +the evening papers.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_245' name='page_245'></a>245</span></p> +<p>“What!” he exclaimed in despair. “It’s true, +then! I have not seen the papers to-night.”</p> +<p>She brought him the two evening papers of +opposite politics. In glowing headlines the +Democratic paper told in exaggerated form the +story of his early life, his humble home, his days +of struggle, his start in politics, and his success, +due to the father of the hardened criminal. +Would the governor do his duty and see that +law and order were maintained, or would he +sacrifice the people to his personal obligations? +David smiled grimly as he reflected that either +course would be equally censured by this same +paper.</p> +<p>He took up the other journal, the organ of +his party, which stated the facts very much as +the other paper had done, and added that Barnabas +Brumble was en route to the capital city +for the purpose of asking a pardon for his son. +The editor, in another column, briefly and firmly +expressed his faith in the belief that David +Dunne would be stanch in his views of what +was right and for the public welfare.</p> +<p>There was one consolation; neither paper had +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_246' name='page_246'></a>246</span> +profaned by public mention the love of his boyhood +days.</p> +<p>“What shall I do! What should I do!” he +asked himself in desperation.</p> +<p>“I know what you will do,” said Carey, +quickly reading the unspoken words.</p> +<p>“What?”</p> +<p>“You will do, as you always do––what you +believe to be right. David, tell me the story of +those days.”</p> +<p>So from the background of his recollections +he brought forward vividly a picture of his early +life, a story she had heard only from others. He +told her, too, of his boyish fancy for Janey.</p> +<p>There was silence when he had finished. Carey +looked into the flickering light of the open fire +with steady, musing eyes. It did not hurt her +in the least that he had had a love of long ago. +It made him but the more interesting, and appealed +to her as a pretty and fitting romance in +his life.</p> +<p>“It seems so hard, either way, David,” she +said looking up at him in a sympathetic way. +“To follow the dictates of duty is so cold and +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_247' name='page_247'></a>247</span> +cruel a way, yet if you follow the dictates of +your heart your conscience will accuse you. But +you will, when you have to act, David, do what +you believe to be right, and abide by the consequences. +Either way, dear, is going to bring +you unhappiness.”</p> +<p>“Which do you believe the right way, Carey?” +he asked, looking searchingly into her mystic +eyes.</p> +<p>“David,” she replied helplessly, “I don’t +know! The more I think about it, the more complicated +the decision seems.”</p> +<p>They discussed the matter at length, and he +went home comforted by the thought that there +was one who understood him, and who would +abide in faith by whatever decision he made.</p> +<p>The next day, at the breakfast table, on the +street, in his office, in the curious, questioning +faces of all he encountered, he read the inquiry +he was constantly asking himself and to which +he had no answer ready. When he finally +reached his office he summoned his private +secretary.</p> +<p>“Major, don’t let in any more people than is +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_248' name='page_248'></a>248</span> +absolutely necessary to-day. I will see no reporters. +You can tell them that no petition or +request for the pardon of Jud Bramble has been +received, if they ask, and oh, Major!”</p> +<p>The secretary turned expectantly.</p> +<p>“If Barnabas Brumble comes, of course he is +to be admitted at once.”</p> +<p>Later in the morning the messenger to the +governor stood at the window of the business +office, idly looking out.</p> +<p>“Dollars to doughnuts,” he exclaimed suddenly +and confidently, “that this is Barnabas +Brumble coming up the front walk!”</p> +<p>The secretary hastened to the window. A +grizzled old man in butternut-colored, tightly +buttoned overcoat, and carrying a telescope bag, +was ascending the steps.</p> +<p>“I don’t know why you think so,” said the +secretary resentfully to the boy. “Barnabas +Brumble isn’t the only farmer in the world. +Sometimes,” he added, pursuing a train of +thought beyond the boy’s knowledge, “it seems +as if no one but farmers came into this capitol +nowadays.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_249' name='page_249'></a>249</span></p> +<p>A few moments later one of the guards ushered +into the executive office the old man carrying +the telescope. The secretary caught the infection +of the boy’s belief.</p> +<p>“What can I do for you?” he asked courteously.</p> +<p>“I want to see the guvner,” replied the old +man in a curt tone.</p> +<p>“Your name?” asked the secretary.</p> +<p>“Barnabas Brumble,” was the terse response.</p> +<p>He had not read the newspapers for a week +past, and so he could hardly know the importance +attached to his name in the ears of those +assembled. The click of the typewriters ceased, +the executive clerk looked quickly up from his +papers, the messenger assumed a triumphant +pose, and the janitor peered curiously in from +an outer room.</p> +<p>“Come this way, Mr. Brumble,” said the secretary +deferentially, as he passed to the end of +the room and knocked at a closed door.</p> +<p>David Dunne knew, when he heard the knock, +to whom he would open the door, and he was +glad the strain of suspense was ended. But +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_250' name='page_250'></a>250</span> +when he looked into the familiar face a host of +old memories crowded in upon his recollection, +and obliterated the significance of the call.</p> +<p>“Uncle Barnabas!” he said, extending a cordial +hand to the visitor, while his stern, strong +face softened under his slow, sweet smile. Then +he turned to his secretary.</p> +<p>“Admit no one else, Major.”</p> +<p>David took the telescope from his guest and +set it on the table, wondering if it contained the +“documents in evidence.”</p> +<p>“Take off your coat, Uncle Barnabas. They +keep it pretty warm in here!”</p> +<p>“I callate they do––in more ways than one,” +chuckled Barnabas, removing his coat. “I hed +to start purty early this mornin’, when it was +cool-like. Wal, Dave, times has changed! To +think of little Dave Dunne bein’ guvner! I +never seemed to take it in till I come up them +front steps.”</p> +<p>The governor laughed.</p> +<p>“Sometimes I don’t seem to take it in myself, +but <i>you</i> ought to, Uncle Barnabas. You +put me here!” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_251' name='page_251'></a>251</span></p> +<p>As he spoke he unlocked a little cabinet and +produced a bottle and a couple of glasses.</p> +<p>“Wal, I do declar, ef you don’t hev things as +handy as a pocket in a shirt! Good stuff, Dave! +More warmin’ than my old coat, I reckon, but +say, Dave, what do you s’pose I hev got in that +air telescope?”</p> +<p>David winced. In olden times the old man +ever came straight to the point, as he was doing +now.</p> +<p>“Why, what is it, Uncle Barnabas?”</p> +<p>“Open it!” directed the old man laconically.</p> +<p>With the feeling that he was opening his coffin, +David unstrapped the telescope and lifted +the cover. A little exclamation of pleasure +escaped him. The telescope held big red apples, +and it held nothing more. David quickly +bit into one.</p> +<p>“I know from just which particular tree these +come,” he said, “from that humped, old one in +the corner of the orchard nearest the house.”</p> +<p>“Yes,” allowed Barnabas, “that’s jest the one––the +one under which you and her allers set and +purtended you were studyin’ your lessons.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_252' name='page_252'></a>252</span></p> +<p>David’s eyes grew luminous in reminiscence.</p> +<p>“I haven’t forgotten the tree––or her––or the +old days, Uncle Barnabas.”</p> +<p>“I knowed you hadn’t, Dave!”</p> +<p>Again David’s heart sank at the confidence in +the tone which betokened the faith reposed, but +he would give the old man a good time anyway +before he took his destiny by the throat.</p> +<p>“Wouldn’t you like to go through the capitol?” +he asked.</p> +<p>“I be goin’. The feller that brung me up here +sed he’d show me through.”</p> +<p>“I’ll show you through,” said David decisively, +and together they went through the places +of interest in the building, the governor as proud +as a newly domiciled man showing off his possessions. +At last they came to the room where +in glass cases reposed the old, unfurled battle +flags. The old man stopped before one case +and looked long and reverently within.</p> +<p>“Which was your regiment, Uncle Barnabas?”</p> +<p>“Forty-seventh Infantry. I kerried that air +flag at the Battle of the Wilderness.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_253' name='page_253'></a>253</span></p> +<p>David called to a guard and obtained a key +to the case. Opening it, he bade the old man +take out the flag.</p> +<p>With trembling hands Barnabas took out the +flag he had followed when his country went to +war. He gazed at it in silence, and then restored +it carefully to its place. As they walked away, +he brushed his coat sleeve hastily across his +dimmed eyes.</p> +<p>David consulted his watch.</p> +<p>“It’s luncheon time, Uncle Barnabas. We’ll +go over to my hotel. The executive mansion is +undergoing repairs.”</p> +<p>“I want more’n a lunch, Dave! I ain’t et +nuthin’ sence four o’clock this mornin’.”</p> +<p>“I’ll see that you get enough to eat,” laughed +David.</p> +<p>In the lobby of the hotel a reporter came +quickly up to them.</p> +<p>“How are you, governor?” he asked, with his +eyes fastened falcon-like on Barnabas.</p> +<p>David returned the salutation and presented +his companion.</p> +<p>“Mr. Brumble from Lafferton?” asked the +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_254' name='page_254'></a>254</span> +reporter, with an insinuating emphasis on the +name of the town.</p> +<p>“Yes,” replied the old man in surprise. “I +don’t seem to reckleck seein’ you before.”</p> +<p>“I never met you, but I have heard of you. +May I ask what your business in the city is, Mr. +Brumble?”</p> +<p>The old man gave him a keen glance from beneath +his shaggy brows.</p> +<p>“Wal, I don’t know as thar’s any law agin +your askin’! I came to see the guvner.”</p> +<p>David, with a laugh of pure delight at the +discomfiture of the reporter, led the way to the +dining room.</p> +<p>“You’re as foxy as ever, Uncle Barnabas. +You routed that newspaper man in good +shape.”</p> +<p>“So that’s what he was! I didn’t know but +he was one of them three-card-monty sharks. +Wal, I s’pose it’s his trade to ask questions.”</p> +<p>Barnabas’ loquacity always ceased entirely at +meal times, so his silence throughout the luncheon +was not surprising to David.</p> +<p>“Wal, Dave,” he said as he finished, “ef this +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_255' name='page_255'></a>255</span> +is your lunch I’d hate to hev to eat what you’d +call dinner. I never et so much before at one +settin’!”</p> +<p>“We’ll go over to the club now and have a +smoke,” suggested David. “Then you can go +back to my office with me and see what I have to +undergo every afternoon.”</p> +<p>At the club they met several of David’s friends––not +politicians––who met Barnabas with courtesy +and composure. When they returned to +David’s private office Barnabas was ensconced +comfortably in an armchair while David listened +with patience to the long line of importuners, +each receiving due consideration. The last interview +was not especially interesting and Barnabas’ +attention was diverted. His eyes fell on +a newspaper, which he picked up carelessly. It +was the issue of the night before, and his own +name was conspicuous in big type. He read +the article through and returned the paper to its +place without being observed by David, whose +back was turned to him.</p> +<p>“Wal, Dave,” he said, when the last of the +line had left the room, “I used ter think I’d +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_256' name='page_256'></a>256</span> +ruther do enything than be a skule teacher, but +I swan ef you don’t hev it wuss yet!”</p> +<p>David made no response. The excitement of +his boyish pleasure in showing Uncle Barnabas +about had died away as he listened to the troubles +and demands of his callers, and now the recollection +of the old man’s errand confronted him +in full force.</p> +<p>Barnabas looked at him keenly.</p> +<p>“Dave,” he said slowly, “’t ain’t no snap you +hev got! I never knowed till to-day jest what it +meant to you. I’m proud of you, Dave! I +wish––I wish you hed been my son!”</p> +<p>The governor arose impetuously and crossed +the room.</p> +<p>“I would have been, Uncle Barnabas, if she +had not cared for Joe!”</p> +<p>“I know it, Dave, but you hev a sweet little +gal who will make you happy.”</p> +<p>The governor’s face lighted in a look of exquisite +happiness.</p> +<p>“I have, Uncle Barnabas. We will go to see +her this evening.”</p> +<p>“I’d like to see her, sartain. Hain’t seen her +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_257' name='page_257'></a>257</span> +sence the night you was elected. And, Dave,” +with a sheepish grin, “I’m a-goin’ to git spliced +myself.”</p> +<p>“What? No! May I guess, Uncle Barnabas––Miss +Rhody?”</p> +<p>“Dave, you air a knowin’ one. Yes, it’s her! +Whenever we set down to our full table I got to +thinkin’ of that poor little woman a-settin’ down +alone, and I’ve never yet knowed a woman livin’ +alone to feed right. They allers eat bean soup +or prunes, and call it a meal.”</p> +<p>“I am more glad than I can tell you, Uncle +Barnabas, and I shall insist on giving the bride +away. But what will Penny think about some +one stepping in?”</p> +<p>“Wal, Dave, I’ll allow I wuz skeered to tell +Penny, and it tuk a hull lot of bracin’ to do it, +and what do you suppose she sed? She sez, ‘I’ve +bin wantin’ tew quit these six years, and now, +thank the Lord, I’ve got the chance.’”</p> +<p>“Why, what in the world did she want to +leave for?”</p> +<p>“I guess you’ll be surprised when I tell you. +To marry Larimy Sasser!” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_258' name='page_258'></a>258</span></p> +<p>“Uncle Larimy! She’ll scour him out of +house and home,” laughed David.</p> +<p>“We’ll hev both weddin’s to the same time. +Joe and Janey are a-comin’, and we’ll hev a +grand time. I hain’t much on the write, Dave, +and I’ve allers meant to see you here in this +great place. Some of the boys sez to me: ‘Mebby +Dave’s got stuck on himself and his job by this +time, and you’ll hev to send in yer keerd by a +nigger fust afore you kin see him,’ but I sez, +‘No! Not David Dunne! He ain’t that kind +and never will be.’ So when I go back I kin tell +them how you showed me all over the place, and +tuk me to eat at a hotel and to that air stylish +place where I wuz treated like a king by yer +friends. I’ve never found you wantin’, Dave, +and I never expect to!”</p> +<p>“Uncle Barnabas,” began David, “I––”</p> +<p>His voice suddenly failed him.</p> +<p>“See here, Dave! I didn’t know nuthin’ +about that,” pointing to the newspaper, “until +a few minutes ago. I sed tew hum that I wuz +a-comin’ to see how Dave run things, and ef +them disreptible associates of Jud’s air a-gittin’ +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_259' name='page_259'></a>259</span> +up some fool paper, I don’t know it! Ef they +do send it in, don’t you dare sign it! Why, I +wouldn’t hev that boy outen prison fer nuthin’. +He’s different from what he used to be, Dave. +He got so low he would hev to reach up ter touch +bottom. He’s ez low ez they git, and he’s dangerous. +I didn’t know an easy minute fer the +last two years afore he wuz sent up, so keep him +behind them bars fer fear he’ll dew somethin’ +wuss when he gits out. Don’t you dare sign no +petition, Dave!”</p> +<p>Tears of relief sprang into the strong eyes of +the governor.</p> +<p>“Why, Dave,” said the old man in shocked +tones, “you didn’t go fer to think fer a minute +I’d ask you to let him out cause he wuz my son? +Even ef I hed a wanted him out, and Lord knows +I don’t, I’d not ask you to do somethin’ wrong, +no more’n I’d bring dishoner to that old flag +I held this mornin’!”</p> +<p>David grasped his hand.</p> +<p>“Uncle Barnabas!”</p> +<p>His voice broke with emotion. Then he murmured: +“We’ll go to see <i>her</i>, now.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_260' name='page_260'></a>260</span></p> +<p>As they passed out into the corridor a reporter +hastened up to them.</p> +<p>“Governor,” he asked, with impudent directness, +“are you going to pardon Jud Bramble?”</p> +<p>Before David could reply, Barnabas stepped +forward:</p> +<p>“Young feller, thar hain’t no pardon ben asked +fer Jud Brumble, and what’s more, thar hain’t +a-goin’ to be none asked––not by me. I come +down here to pay my respecks to the guvner, and +to bring him a few apples, and you kin say so +ef you wanter!”</p> +<p>When Carey came into the library where her +two callers awaited her, one glance into the +divine light of David’s deepening, glowing eyes +told her what she wanted to know.</p> +<p>With a soft little cry she went to Barnabas, +who was holding out his hand in welcome. +Impulsively her lips were pressed against his +withered cheek, and he took her in his arms +as he might have taken Janey.</p> +<p>“Why, Carey!” he said delightedly, “Dave’s +little gal!” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_261' name='page_261'></a>261</span></p> +<hr class='pb' /> + +<table summary='announcement' style='margin-left:auto; margin-right:auto; border: 1px solid black; padding:15px; width:400px;'> +<tr><td colspan='2' style='text-align:center; font-size:1.6em;'>AN ANNOUNCEMENT<br /> +of New Books</td></tr> + +<tr><td align='left'><span style='font-weight:bold'>Love in a Mask.</span></td><td align='right'>Honoré de Balzac</td></tr> + +<tr><td colspan='2'> +<p style='font-size:smaller; margin: 5px 6% 5px 6%; text-indent:-3%;'>A discovery in the world of literature, a story of +daring and piquant interest. Price . . . $1.00 net.</p> +</td></tr> + +<tr><td align='left'><span style='font-weight:bold'>Betty Moore’s Journal.</span></td><td align='right'>Mrs. Mabel D. Carry</td></tr> + +<tr><td colspan='2'> +<p style='font-size:smaller; margin: 5px 6% 5px 6%; text-indent:-3%;'>A gallant little charge for the rights of motherhood +among the wealthy indifferent, and from a most +important viewpoint. Price . . . $1.00 net.</p> +</td></tr> + +<tr><td align='left'><span style='font-weight:bold'>The Joy of Gardens.</span></td><td align='right'>Lena May McCauley</td></tr> + +<tr><td colspan='2'> +<p style='font-size:smaller; margin: 5px 6% 5px 6%; text-indent:-3%;'>“Miss McCauley has proved in this book her right +to the beauties of nature, for the book delights +by its charm of description, its riot of color, and +its carnival of blossom.”––<i>The Boston Herald.</i> +Price . . . $1.75 net.</p> +</td></tr> + +<tr><td align='left'><span style='font-weight:bold'>The Lovers.</span></td><td align='right'>Eden Phillpotts</td></tr> + +<tr><td colspan='2'> +<p style='font-size:smaller; margin: 5px 6% 5px 6%; text-indent:-3%;'>An “intense” tale of love and war, the ingenuity +and daring of American prisoners on British soil +brought into stirring play with the integrity of +John Bull’s humble officials. Price . . . $1.35 net.</p> +</td></tr> + +<tr><td align='left'><span style='font-weight:bold'>Lady Eleanor: Lawbreaker.</span></td><td align='right'>Robert Barr</td></tr> + +<tr><td colspan='2'> +<p style='font-size:smaller; margin: 5px 6% 5px 6%; text-indent:-3%;'>“Lady Eleanor is a brilliant little story of +Sheridan’s time, clever and tingling with interest. +Though a love story pure and simple, the tale +is charged throughout with the spirit of the +great playwright and is a mirror of his circle and +hour.”––<i>The Argus</i>, Albany, N. Y. +Price . . . $1.00 net</p> +</td></tr> + +<tr><td colspan='2' style='text-align:center; font-size:1.2em;'>RAND McNALLY & COMPANY</td></tr> +<tr> +<td><p style='text-align: left; margin-left:10%;'>CHICAGO</p></td> +<td><p style='text-align: right; margin-right:10%;'>NEW YORK</p></td></tr> +</table> + +<p> </p> +<p> </p> +<hr class="full" /> +<p>***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK DAVID DUNNE***</p> +<p>******* This file should be named 29128-h.txt or 29128-h.zip *******</p> +<p>This and all associated files of various formats will be found in:<br /> +<a href="http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/2/9/1/2/29128">http://www.gutenberg.org/2/9/1/2/29128</a></p> +<p>Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed.</p> + +<p>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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