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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/35946-8.txt b/35946-8.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..40ce64c --- /dev/null +++ b/35946-8.txt @@ -0,0 +1,9039 @@ +Project Gutenberg's True and Other Stories, by George Parsons Lathrop + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: True and Other Stories + +Author: George Parsons Lathrop + +Release Date: April 24, 2011 [EBook #35946] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK TRUE AND OTHER STORIES *** + + + + +Produced by David Edwards, Mary Meehan North Carolina +History & Fiction was the original source for the images. +and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at +http://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images +generously made available by The Internet Archive) + + + + + + + + + + TRUE + + AND + + OTHER STORIES + + BY GEORGE PARSONS LATHROP + + AUTHOR OF "AN ECHO OF PASSION," "NEWPORT," ETC. + + + FUNK & WAGNALLS + + 1884 + + NEW YORK + 10 AND 12 DEY STREET + + LONDON + 44 FLEET STREET + + _All Rights Reserved_ + + Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1884, by + FUNK & WAGNALLS, + In the Office of the Librarian of Congress at Washington, D. C. + + + + +CONTENTS. + + +TRUE. + +CHAPTER I. HER EYES WERE GRAY + +CHAPTER II. THE DE VINES + +CHAPTER III. TWILIGHT + +CHAPTER IV. A VISION + +CHAPTER V. BIRTHDAY TOKENS + +CHAPTER VI. A NEW LESSON IN BOTANY + +CHAPTER VII. THE RACES, AND THE MOTTO + +CHAPTER VIII. ADELA'S LEGEND + +CHAPTER IX. LANCE AND SYLVESTER + +CHAPTER X. THE LIKENESS + +CHAPTER XI. LANCE RETURNS + +CHAPTER XII. SYLV'S TROUBLE + +CHAPTER XIII. LANCE AND ADELA + +CHAPTER XIV. DENNIE'S TROUBLE + +CHAPTER XV. ELBOW-CROOK SWAMP + +CHAPTER XVI. "I LIVE, HOW LONG I TROW NOT" + + +MAJOR BARRINGTON'S MARRIAGE + + +"BAD PEPPERS" + + +THREE BRIDGES. + +I. THE IMPORTANCE OF A HAT + +II. FATHER, DAUGHTER, AND--WHO ELSE? + +III. LISTENING + +IV. THE THIRD BRIDGE + + +IN EACH OTHER'S SHOES + + + + +TRUE. + + + + +CHAPTER I. + +HER EYES WERE GRAY. + + +It might have been yesterday, but in simple fact it was three hundred +years ago, that something happened which has an important bearing on +this story of the present. + +Antiquity is a great discourager of the sympathies: the centuries are +apt to weigh like lead on an individual human sentiment. Yet we find it +pleasant sometimes to throw off their weight, and thereby to discover +that it is a mere feather in the scale as against the beating of a +heart. + +I know that when I speak of Guy Wharton as having been alive and in love +in the year 1587, you will feel a certain patronizing pity for +him--because he is not alive now. So do I. But then it is possible that +you will be interested, notwithstanding--because he was a lover. Would +you like to hear what experience he had? I promise not to go through the +history of those three hundred years. The story of Guy is merely the +starting-point of my narrative. + +He was in love with a sweet English girl, Gertrude Wylde, who lived in +Surrey; and she, for her part, was the daughter of a small tenant-farmer +there, well connected as to family, but not well furnished with worldly +goods, Guy's father was a country gentleman; but that circumstance +failed to affect the young man's eyesight and emotions injuriously; he +beheld Gertrude, and he loved her. I can see it all, now, as if it were +something that had happened to myself--how they strolled together in +those wondrous lanes hedged with hawthorn and brier and hazel, which +stray so sweetly over the rolling lands about Dorking; how they met +beneath the old yew tree where, half way up Box Hill, it hung out its +foliage black as night, spotted with strange waxen blossoms of scarlet, +like drops of blood upon a funeral-pall; how they wandered in the +untamed forest of great box trees at the top; what joys they had, what +anxieties beset them. + +"And will thy father indeed take his leave of old England so soon?" he +asked her, when they had reached the brow of the hill. + +"Yes, in truth," she answered, sadly enough, looking out over the white +chalk highlands, and the arborous glades and open downs, to where the +waters of the English Channel showed soft against the hazy sky at the +horizon, like a blue vein on a circling arm. "And that means that I must +take leave of _thee_, Guy." + +"Never, my darling!" cried Guy, drawing her to him. "If thou goest, I go +as well." + +"What! Forsake all here--estate and fortune and family? Nay, dearest, +that can never be." But, as she spoke these words, Gertrude pressed her +face upon his shoulder and gave way to tears. Then presently, raising +her head and gazing up into his face: "How should it be possible?" she +asked. + +"Easily enough, if thou wilt," he replied. "I would go as thy affianced +husband." + +Thus it was settled that he also should join the colonizing expedition +with which Gertrude's father had resolved to embark, under the patronage +of Sir Walter Raleigh. Its goal was Roanoke Island, Virginia. + +As the lovers walked homeward in company, and parted to go their +separate ways, they felt as if their feet already trod the shores of the +New World. "But when we are there," said Wharton before he left her at +the turnstile that ushered the way to her father's farm--"there we shall +have no more partings." + +Alas, he was but a poor prophet! + +Difficulties came up. Wharton's father violently opposed the plan that +Guy had made. That, however, might not have prevented its execution, had +not a fatal thing happened just at the critical time. On the eve of the +sailing of the expedition, Guy's father died. That which his bitterest +activity while alive failed to effect was accomplished by his white and +silent presence as he lay dead in the old manor-house. At such a moment +Guy could not go away; the unspoken edict of death restrained him +absolutely. Besides, the elder Wharton's affairs were left in a +confusion which it would take long to clear up. + +So the ship sailed without Guy; but you may be sure he was at the wharf +when she weighed anchor, and that he bade a tender farewell to Gertrude, +promising that he would follow with the first convoy that should be sent +to re-enforce and victual the new colony. At the instant when he had to +leave her, she said, as if answering his words, uttered many weeks +before at the turnstile: "Yes, dearest, we shall meet soon in that other +world, and there shall be no more parting." + +Guy did not think of the exact expression, just then; but as he +travelled back to the manor-house, now his own, he kept saying to +himself involuntarily: "That other world? God grant it may not mean the +world beyond!" When he stepped within the door, his eye rested on the +inscription over the great fireplace of the hall: + + "I live, how long I trow not; + I die, but where I know not; + I journey, but whither I cannot see: + 'Tis strange that I can merry be." + +Many a festival had been held beneath the unnoticed shadow of those +solemn lines; the laughter and the cheer, the sobs and murmurs of many a +voice forever hushed, had echoed from the wall where the verses were +graven; but it seemed to him that the motto had never gained its full +meaning until now. + + "I journey, but whither I cannot see." + +Gertrude had gone out into the great void of the unknown spaces; and he +was to follow her--whither? + +It would indeed have been strange if he could have been merry; and, to +say truth, he was not greatly so; but he kept up his hope indomitably. + +At last everything was arranged: he was ready to go. But he had to wait +for the relief expedition to sail. In those days it was a great +undertaking to prepare for a journey across the Atlantic. Raleigh was +busy, perplexed, anxious: three years went by before Admiral John White +started from Plymouth with three little ships (one for each year) and +two shallops. But when he did start, Guy was on board. + +It had been agreed with the colonists that, if anything went wrong and +they should find it best to look for a new site, they should remove to a +spot fifty miles inland among the friendly Indians, and should carve +upon a tree the name of the place to which they were going. In case +misfortune befell them, a cross was also to be carved above the name of +their destination. + +When, after a five weeks' voyage, Admiral White's vessels approached the +shore of Hatteras, they anchored some miles out, for safety, and sent a +boat in to the shallow Sound. Guy was in the bow of the boat which +steered for Roanoke Island. The crew, when they had come near enough, +blew trumpet-blasts as a signal of their approach, and sang songs of +home--old English glees and madrigals--that had often echoed in the +fields, the groves, the farmhouses of Surrey and Kent. Attracted by the +sound the colonists, they hoped, would make their appearance the sooner. +But how strangely these familiar strains fell upon the ear in the +primeval solitude of those lonely waters, on that lovely April day! So +strangely, indeed, that one might almost fancy the colonists did not +recognize them anymore, and hence failed to respond. Yet the trumpets +continued to ring out on the air, and the gay songs were trolled +cheerily, as the boat drew near the landing-place. + +It may be imagined what an eager lookout Guy kept up at the bow. Ho +believed every moment that, at the next, he should see Gertrude emerging +from the woods and waving her hand to him. Still, not a sign of life had +been given when he stepped ashore. + +The little party began to be oppressed by forebodings. They set out +through the forest, eagerly searching for some token of their +countrymen's presence; but no voice answered their calls, except those +of unaccustomed birds and astonished squirrels; and no trail was found +upon the light brown soil, other than the marks of an Indian moccasin or +the curious dottings made by the feet of furtive animals. + +At last, however, the seekers came to a tree which confronted them with +three rudely carved letters cut upon its side. + + C. R. O. + +That was all. There was no indication of the cross, the symbol of +distress. The men burst into exclamations of delight; yet Guy, though +his heart bounded high with reviving hope, suffered a terrible suspense. +The sturdy tree had, as it were, found a voice and spoken; but it had +uttered only one vague, baffling syllable. Of what use was that feeble +clew? Still he pressed on, having no idea which way to turn, but guided +by some inspiration; and presently, shouting to his companions, he +pointed to another conspicuous tree which bore upon its blazed trunk the +full name of the colony's new abiding-place. The letters missing from +the first inscription had doubtless been worn away by storms. The word +engraved upon the fibre of the second tree was "Croatan." + +The friends of the colonists did not know precisely where Croatan lay; +and though Guy urged an immediate exploration, the rest thought it +impracticable. The distance from the ships threatened danger of being +separated from the expedition by some accident, and left alone without +supplies. So, having read the brief message of the departed colonists, +the boat party returned to the little squadron and reported. + +A storm arose; anchors were lost; the supply of fresh water had run low; +and a council called by the Admiral decided that prudence required +taking a southerly course to find some safer harbor; advising also that +an attempt should be made to capture some Spanish vessels and return +with the booty and provisions to find the lost colony. In vain Guy +pleaded, with anguish in every word, that at least one of the ships +should cruise near the coast off which they now lay and await the first +favorable moment for prosecuting the search. The Admiral and his +captains were inexorable; and the southern course was taken. + +None of the vessels ever went back to the aid of the English at Croatan. + +The captain of that one on which Guy Wharton was a passenger turned her +prow toward England after a little time. Once more at home, Guy made +every endeavor to have a new fleet equipped; but all his attempts +failed. He was on the point of selling everything he owned, in order to +fit out at least one ship and carry substantial aid to the exiles, when +certain commercial ventures, in which a great deal of the property left +to him was involved, went amiss and left him helpless. Restless, +unhappy, almost broken-hearted, he entered on the struggle to +re-establish himself; no opportunity occurred for him to sail to +Virginia again; and so much time passed by, that such an undertaking +came to look hopeless. Even could he have gone, what would he have +found? Perhaps Gertrude by this time had died. Or, perhaps, thinking +herself forsaken or forgotten, as the whole community of emigrants +seemingly had been, she might have married one of the colonists. + +The old hope went out of Guy Wharton's life; but though, after some +years, he took a wife, he never lost the pain which this tragedy of his +youth had planted in his breast. + +And they, meanwhile, the vanished exiles--what was their life; what were +their thoughts? How long their hope survived, no one can even guess. +Without resources beyond those which the friendly Croatans themselves +had; living a rude and simple life among the natives in that wild and +lonely land; did they watch day after day for some sign of sail or +fluttering pennon coming up the river, or listen for some sudden +bugle-note or gun-shot, announcing the approach of relief? Did Gertrude +keep up her faith through the weary years, hourly awaiting her +lover?--fancying she heard his voice close by?--then waking again to the +reality of the lonely stream, the fluttering forest-leaves, the uncouth +habitations, the garments of deerskin and the swarthy savage children at +play? + +God only knows; for of all those hundred and fifteen wanderers, men and +women, not one was ever seen among the civilized again. They passed from +the region of the known and the recorded into the vagueness of +unlettered tradition. From the midst of history they were transplanted +into myth. They faded out amid those dusky tribes in the forest, as the +last streak of light in the west fades into darkness at nightfall. + +A hundred years afterward the Indians of the Hatteras shore were +described as declaring with pride that some of their ancestors were +white and could "talk in a book," like the later Englishmen who were +then established in Virginia. It was taken as confirmation of this +story, that some of the Indians who told it had gray eyes. + +_Her_ eyes were gray. + + + + +CHAPTER II. + +THE DE VINES. + + +On a little headland at the southern end of Pamlico Sound where it +narrows in to the waters of Core Sound, a small dwelling-house, half hut +and half cottage, looked forth over the liquid expanses with an air of +long habitude and battered self-reliance. It had but two meagre windows, +and its chimney was short and black, suggesting an old tobacco-pipe; but +the little house leaned comfortably against the low sandy ridge at its +back, and did not seem to mind any of the imperfections in its own +facial aspect. Along the ridge live oaks and red cedars flourished +gracefully, and the ancient structure was closely enfolded at either +side by thickets of that kind of holly known in the region as _yaupon_, +the polished leaves and warm red berries of which glistened cheerily in +the sunlight. Indeed, the whole place, dilapidated though it was, had +the reassuring appearance of a home; and when from its narrow doorway a +beautiful young woman stepped forth into the breezy afternoon, nothing +more was needed to complete the effect. + +If it was a home before, it now looked the ideal of a home. + +The young woman turned to the holly bushes at the left and began +clipping from them some of their lighter branches, which she let fall +into a large basket, held gracefully against her hip with one rounded +arm, while the other plied the shears. She was tall, but not fair. No +daughter of the gods, but firmly and robustly human; yet, at the same +time, there was in her humanity something noble and inspiriting. Am I +not going too fast? Why talk in this way about a young girl in a calico +gown, cutting holly-sprigs beside a tumble-down old cabin on the Nawth +Ca'liny shore? No, she was not fair as to complexion; her skin was +richly browned by out-door life, though a clear rose-tint shone faintly +through the brown. She was beautiful, nevertheless; and yet--and yet +what was it? It seemed as if that outer hue could never under any +circumstances wear off. But a mere glance at her features would convince +any one that she was not of octoroon or metif parentage. Only it was as +if the sun, watching over her loveliness from birth, and searching into +the depths of her nature, had warmed her blood until it had darkened a +little and her pulses had spread a shadow in their flowing. + +Suddenly she desisted from her work and, bending her head forward, gazed +off across the light green waves that stretched for miles between her +and the low-lying strip of sand that barred out the sea. Had she heard a +distant hail from the boat that was scudding fast toward the headland? +At any rate, there was the burly little craft, careening to the lively +breeze amid a shower of spray, with a recklessness characteristic of the +young helmsman, whom the girl's bright eyes would have recognized even +farther away. And now, as the craft abruptly veered to windward, to +approach the landing, her master's careless handling received a +startling illustration, for she almost broached to; the sails were laid +aback, and for an instant the boat threatened to capsize. + +There was one passenger, an old woman, who sat near the helmsman; and at +this juncture she snatched from her lips a short clay pipe, emitting a +shrill cry of fright, together with an alarmed whiff of smoke--as if she +herself had unexpectedly exploded. + +"Lord save our souls, Dennis! What be you thinkin' on?" + +"All right, auntie!" cried the young man, heartily. "The critter'll +come straight in half a turn." And, exerting all his force, he caused +the dug-out to round into her course again, with the breeze on her +quarter. Two or three minutes later she touched the shore. + +The young woman, having thrown down her basket, stood ready to greet the +new-comers. + +"Well, Deely dear!" + +"Why, Aunty Losh, it don't seem possible that it's you come back again. +And so you're really here." + +"Yes; a'most really--though, as you see just now, I come nearer +drowndin' in front o' my own door, Deely." + +Dennis submitted his stout frame to a convulsive laugh, which for an +instant gave him some resemblance to a dog shaking himself on emerging +from the water, "Drownded in half a fathom," he exclaimed, hilariously. +"I'll be dog-goned if that ain't the cutest, aunty! Why, I'm almost +sorry we didn't overset the old boat, to show you. It would have livened +you up fit to kill." + +"Dennis!" exclaimed Deely, her eyes flashing indignantly, "you ought to +be ashamed." + +"Oh, never mind the boy," Aunty Losh soothingly interposed. "It's his +natur' to be wild, ye know. He ain't never happy unless he's in some +dare-devil scrape. But where's Sylvester?" + +Deely, with eyes cast down, appeared needlessly embarrassed. "He went up +to Beaufort to market," she explained. + +Something in her tone caused Dennis to glance at her rather fiercely, as +if he were jealous. "Yes, that suits _him_," he muttered, with a trace +of contempt. "Market business is just about what Sylv is good for; +that's what it is." + +"It aren't right to speak so of your only brother, Dennis," said Aunty +Losh, mildly. + +"Oh, dog gone it!" (Dennis reverted to his favorite expletive.) "What +does it matter whose brother he is? I speak my mind. Deely, don't look +so down on me. What's the trouble?" + +"Only you're so rough," said the girl, laying her hand on his arm. "You +know I love you, don't you, Dennie? But it goes against me to hear you +talk so." + +He placed his own rough hand on her smooth one and patted it softly for +an instant; then he moved it somewhat brusquely from its resting-place +on his shoulder, and Deely drew away a step or two. + +"I _catch_ all the fish," he said, "and Sylv _takes_ 'em for himself." +There seemed to be an undertone of double meaning in his remark. But the +next instant he changed from gloom to sunny cheer. "Come, aunty, you +mustn't stand here on the mud. I reckon you've been away so long you'll +be kind o' glad to see the inside of the old cabin again; hey?" + +He was tall and sturdy, this Dennis De Vine; and though he could not +have been described as handsome, his reddish hair and ruddy coloring, +united with the glance of his blue eye and a certain good-humored Irish +daring of expression, made his presence gay and attractive. Aunty Losh +was quick to act on his suggestion, and they all went into the cabin, +which despite its limited frontage spread out sufficiently, within, to +afford rooms for the old woman and her two nephews. + +"Now, aunty," said the girl, "the tarrapin is most ready, and I'll brew +you a good cup of yaupon. I was just cutting some to dry when you came." +And thereupon Adela, taking a handful of the seasoned leaves from their +place of storage in a cupboard, swung the kettle from the fire and +proceeded to infuse this local substitute for tea. + +"My patience, but it's dear to my buddy and heart," Aunty Losh murmured, +as she sipped from the smoking cup. "An' now tell me what's happened +while I been away." + +"Why, Sylv wrote you everything that happened hyar," Adela reminded her, +in some surprise. + +"Oh, I know, I know!" was the rejoinder. "But it didn't seem nachul-like +when I had to have folks read it to me. I didn't mo'n half get it in." + +"There ain't nothin' very novel," said Dennis, "except old Sukey strayed +off on to the main yistiddy." Sukey was the cow. + +"Sho! It'll allays be so, long as I live. Nothin' but stray and find, +stray and find. Ye _mout_ hev dug that ditch across the neck, Dennie, +when ye knowed I wanted it so bad. If you'll do it one o' these +near-comin' days, I'll knit ye a new pair o' socks." + +The headland on which Aunty Losh's house had been built was connected +with the main only by a narrow neck, and it was one of the grievances of +her life that her cow and her two or three sheep, when turned loose to +graze, could so easily make their way to the adjoining territory. + +"I'm fearsome o' the tides," Dennis explained. "They run so strong that +mebbe they'd cut a wider channel than you want, aunty. But I'll try it; +I'll dig that ditch by-and-by--or arterward." + +The talk then turned to other matters, and Miss Jessie Floyd was +mentioned, the daughter of an ex-Confederate colonel who lived a few +miles inland on an "estate" of some dozen acres, magnificently entitled +"Fairleigh Park." + +"Miss Jessie's been down hyar two or three times," Adela said, "to buy +bluefish and tarrapin for the manor; and she was very kind to the boys. +Wasn't she, Dennie?" + +"That she was. She brought us jelly, one time." Dennis gently smacked +his lips, in a reminiscent way. + +"I reckon she hain't brought any money, though," his aunt skeptically +meditated, aloud. "Any company up at the manor?" + +"Why, yes," said the girl. "There's a young gen'l'man from the Nawth--a +sort of English chap, I reckon; anyhow, he comes from New York. Mr. +Lance; that's what they call him. I hain't seen him, but Dennis can tell +you." + +"Certain shore," said Dennis. "That's his name. He's got idees about +buildin' up. He wants to eddicate folks all round--sort of free snack of +knowledge for everybody." + +"I reckon he'll be eddicating Miss Jessie to fall in love with him," +Adela observed. "That's what." + +"Well, I sha'n't find no fault with him if he do," Dennis returned. +"Only he needn't come down hyar away with his idees and all. 'Pears like +him and Sylv 'ud be chancey to take up with one another, though." + +"What makes you think that?" Aunty Losh asked, with a trace of +apprehension. + +"'Cause Sylv don't think of nothin' now but book-larnin', and he's been +hevin' talks with that ar fellow." + +"Sylv'll be goin' off and leavin' us one o' these days," the old woman +mused, as she put a match to the short pipe she had been filling for +herself. + +"Oh no, aunty! You ortenter think he'd be so mean!" Deely protested, +with energy. + +Dennis turned upon her, angered. "You keep still, d'you har!" he +exclaimed. "What matters if he do go? I reckon I can take car o' you and +aunty, all by myself, when it comes to that." + +Deely was evidently impressed by his dictatorial manner, but she assumed +a haughty air. "_I_ reckon it's about time for me to go," she retorted, +"if you can't be more civil. Just when aunty hain't no more'n set her +foot inside o' home, too." And, despite her tone, there was a slight +appearance about the girl's lips and eyelids as if she would like to +cry. + +"Oh, well; I didn't mean nothin', you know I didn't," Dennis answered, +becoming penitent. "And when you go," he added, "I'm a-goin' with you as +far as your dad's." + +The rising trouble was thus allayed, and all three were soon engaged +again in talking over the news, or the local affairs of the last few +weeks. For Aunty Losh had achieved one of the most remarkable events of +her life, in going to see some of her relatives at Norfolk, Virginia. +She had much to tell about the journey and the ways of the people in +that great city, and dwelt especially upon the hardship she had been +compelled to suffer in drinking "China tea," instead of that far +superior docoction, yaupon. The young people, in their turn, gradually +discovered many little items which they must impart to her. + +Aunty Losh, strange as it may seem, was the sole female representative +of a stock which once gave promise of making itself distinguished. Her +lineage was traceable from a certain Major De Vine, a young Irishman +who, stirred by the sympathy that led the natives of two widely separate +but oppressed countries to join the cause of the American colonies, had +enlisted in the cavalry corps raised by Count Pulaski to join the +Continental army, during our Revolution. Pulaski was a Pole, and De Vine +an Irishman, but they had the same inspiration: they fought for freedom +in America with the hope that their own people might also become free. +De Vine performed many a gallant deed, in the course of the war, and +rose to be a major; but the consciousness of his good service was his +only recompense. + +At the peace he retired from the struggle poor, and ill fitted to make +his way by other means than the sword. He settled in the South, where +the soil was not favorable for such a man as he. What little property he +possessed was soon lost. Moreover, he and his children having +surrendered to the reigning prejudice against work, there was no way +open to a retrieval of even the meagre comfort they had at first +commanded. The family, failing to make any advantageous alliance by +marriage--which, indeed, would scarcely have been possible in their +circumstances--soon declined into still deeper poverty. The Major died, +followed by all his children excepting one son, who drifted across the +border into North Carolina; and his posterity became a part of that +strange population known as "poor whites." + +Listless and inefficient as those people are, germs of energy are known +to have been fostered among them, which have sometimes developed; and +the De Vines always retained enough of their ancestral vigor to +counteract their ancestral pride, as well as their sense of unmerited +misfortune, and to keep them somewhat above the general hopeless +prostration of the class into which they had fallen. + +Aunty Losh, widowed by the Rebellion, and left childless, had settled in +the little hut on the headland, with her two nephews, mere boys at the +time, but now grown to efficient manhood. The elder one, Dennis, was +stalwart and courageous, and became a successful fisherman on a small +scale. Sylvester had also assisted in the common support, and together +they had made a little headway. But in Sylvester the ambition for +something higher had awaked: he had not only learned to read, but had +actually become a student, and was now taking steps toward what seemed +to his aunt and brother the attainment of a distant and dangerous +witchcraft--namely, making himself a lawyer. Neither of them believed +that he would ever accomplish this chimerical design, but Sylvester's +scheme was always present to them in the guise of an impending danger, +which was just as dreadful as if it had been realized. In fact, it was +worse, because it seemed to them a spell in which he had been caught, +and to which his life would ultimately be sacrificed. They regarded him +with the mingled envy and commiseration that we are apt to bestow upon +those who have the strength to devote themselves to an idea which we +think is going to prove a failure. + +Dennis, on the contrary, had never troubled himself to learn anything +beyond that which his own instinct and contact with the forces around +him could teach. There was a vague tradition stored up in the dust-heaps +of Aunty Losh's mind, to the effect that his ancestor, the Major, had +once at the siege of Savannah cut his way through the British with a +detachment of Pulaski's Legion, and that in so doing he had slain with +his own hand eleven of the enemy. Well, it was with the same sort of +desperate rush that Dennis cut his way through the problems of +existence. He was good for a short, sharp struggle, but he was not +steady, and had no ability to plan long manoeuvres or patient +campaigns. + +A streak of fierceness remained in him, also, derived from the man who +had been so deadly to his enemies when placed in a perilous dilemma. As +there were no British opposed to him, it did not manifest itself in just +the same way; and, thus far, being temperate in his habits and having no +foes so far as any one knew, he had not slain anybody. But his +passionate impulses asserted themselves plainly enough at times, to the +discomfort not only of others, but also of himself. + +Here they were, then, these three people, the remote offspring of that +old Revolutionary officer, living humbly on the North Carolina shore, +unlike as possible to what Major De Vine might at one time have supposed +his descendants would be, yet bearing his blood in their veins, and +acting out every day his traits or those of some still earlier +progenitor, with as much exactness as if what they did and said had been +a part written for them in a play. + +They knew nothing about the romance of Guy Wharton and Gertrude Wylde, +so far back, so musty with age as it seems, yet so alive and fragrant, I +think, when we pluck it out from the crumbled ruins of the past where it +grew. They knew nothing of the deposit of stones in the waters up by +Shallowbag Point, near Roanoke, which--being of foreign character--are +probably the ballast of one of Raleigh's vessels thrown overboard there, +in the stress of weather; nothing, except that Dennis had learned to +steer clear of it at low tide. But when you consider the destiny that +had befallen the family of the gallant young Revolutionary fighter, how +much did it differ from that of the English colonists whose race had +been extinguished in savagery? The change which had taken place was, +essentially, of the same kind. + + + + +CHAPTER III. + +TWILIGHT. + + +When the group at Aunty Losh's cabin had finished what they had to say, +Adela Reefe rose to go; and Dennis, taking his gun from a corner of the +room, prepared as a matter of course to accompany her. + +"Sun'll be goin' down," he remarked, languidly, "by the time I'm +a-comin' back, and I'll have a right smart call to get a few birds." + +"I wish ye was goin' t'other way," Aunty Losh said, fretfully. "Ye mout +see suthin' o' Sylv. It's quare he don't come 'long when he knows his +old aunty's a-waitin' for him." + +"Oh, he's young, aunty. You got to give him some play," said Dennis, +with fine sarcasm, though he knew well enough that his younger brother +was more mature and better balanced than he. + +But his demeanor underwent a change as soon as he had passed out of the +doorway with Adela. The air of lazy jesting disappeared; his face became +earnest, and he walked with a kind of meekness beside the girl, looking +at her guardedly with a devotion that did not lose the grace of a single +motion of her lithe figure. Leaving the headland, they took the +direction of Hunting Quarters, a fishing village several miles distant, +where Adela lived alone with her father, a nondescript personage +depending for his livelihood upon equally nondescript and fragmentary +lore of a supposed medical character. Old Reefe, to say truth, was held +in awe by some of the simple neighborhood folk, as a man possessed of +mysterious and magical powers. + +The two had gone some distance without speaking, when Dennis began +abruptly: "I got somethin' to say to ye, Deely, what I was waitin' to +say till aunty come back. It didn't seem everyways fair to say it +afore." + +"What in time is it wouldn't be fair for you to say to me, Dennie?" she +asked, turning her face quickly toward him, her lips parted in a smile, +or perhaps only in eagerness. + +"Why, when you was comin' over, tendin' me and Sylv and the cabin, it +didn't look like it was right," Dennis said. "But now there's a free +course, and I want to lay for home." + +"That's a good word," Adela threw in, seeing him pause. + +"Yes, and you know what I'm after. I want ye to say when you'll marry +me." + +Deely, at this, was quick to avert her glance. She remained silent. + +"Well, what's in the wind now?" he persisted. "Ain't ye goin' to pass me +an answer?" + +"What _can_ I say to you?" she returned, earnestly. "I love you, Dennie, +as I told you long ago; and I want to be your wife. But where are we to +go? What have we got to live on?" + +Adela's speech varied from the customary manner of the locality to a +more precise and refined utterance, according to her mood; for she had +shared in Sylv's progress to the extent of taking lessons from him in +reading. This had caused her to observe Miss Jessie Floyd's +pronunciation, and that of the few other cultivated persons whom she +occasionally saw, so that she had learned to copy it. The instant she +found herself in opposition to Dennis, she unconsciously assumed that +superior accent, the effect of which upon him was by no means +mollifying. + +"Oh, don't go for to go on that tack now!" he exclaimed. "I've hearn +enough on it a'ready. I mean squar' talk now, and I ain't goin' to be +fooled, neither." + +"Answer _my_ question, then," said the girl, peremptorily. "That's no +more than fair." + +"Why, there ain't no trouble," Dennis assured her, becoming amiable +again. "I reckon we can make out to live together as well as we can +separate one from t'other." + +"How?" + +"Just like we do now. 'Pears to me the fish 'll bite as easy when they +know they've got to make a dinner for we uns, stead o' for Aunty and +Sylv, and the tarrapin 'll walk up to be cotched, and ground-nuts and +rice 'll allays be plenty." + +"Yes, yes, Dennie; but who's goin' to take keer of Aunty Losh?" said +Adela, dropping back into the easier way of talking. + +The young man's face fell, and he wrinkled his forehead. "That's a fact; +that's a fact," he murmured, sadly. "Poor ole aunty! She's been a true +mammy to we uns, and it ain't nachul to leave her be by herself. But +Sylv mout take keer on her, Deely." + +"Sylv's younger than you," she objected. "'Tain't his portion to do +that." + +"Mebbe he ar young," said Dennis; "but he's got a darn'd sight cuter +head, some ways, than I have. And you mind now what I say, Deely, this +hyar thing has got to stop one o' these hyar days. If it hadn't been for +Sylv's mopin' over them books, and a-glowerin' and tryin' to make his +self too wise, I'd a-been a heap better fixed." + +"But Sylv wouldn't a-been," was the answer; "and he's worth thinkin' on +a little." + +Dennis laughed scornfully. "A little! He's a heap too much wuth thinkin' +on." + +Adela ceased walking, and faced round upon him, at the same time +brushing away with one hand a tress of her crispy black hair, which the +wind had blown across her eyes. She wanted to meet his gaze directly. +"What do you mean by that?" she demanded. + +Dennis was her match for belligerency. "I mean," he said, "that that ar +youngster takes up too much 'tention. Thar ar'n't no time for +considerin' on no one else. It's allays Sylv's ways and Sylv's idees, +and he can't do nothin' for himself, but some one else hev got to do it +for him. An' here am I, one month arter another, findin' the ways for +him and aunty to live, lettin' alone myself; whiles he goes smellin' +arter them old books what's made o' yaller hide that ain't no better +than the skin off'n our Sukey's back. An' that's whar the bits and the +dollars go, that you and I might be enjoyin' if 'twarn't for his +dog-goned concayt of lawyer's jawin' and politics and parla_ments_. +That's what! An' I'm tired on it, I tell ye. What I mean?" Here the +young fellow's handsome, free-colored face became clouded with passion +that darkened it as with the shadows of a thunder-cloud. "I mean, Deely, +that if you are a-goin' to put Sylv up agin me, every chance comes +along, thinkin' o' his good and not o' mine, ye're not nigh so lovin' o' +me as ye are o' him. D'ye un'stan' me, now?" + +Adela shrank back slightly, as if he had levelled a sudden blow at her. +Then she replied: "If that's all ye got to say to me, Dennie De Vine, ye +can just go back on your tracks to the cabin, and I'll go to the +Quarters alone." + +Dennis forgot his anger in anxiety. "But there's the tide-way ye can't +cross," he said. + +"I've done it afore now, by myself," replied the girl. "'Twant for +nothin' you learned me to row and sail. Ah, Dennie"--her under-lip +trembled as she spoke--"it ar'n't right in you to treat me so. If you'd +only remember those times when we were children! You was always good to +me, then. Why ar'n't you good to me now? I feel just the same about you +as I did in those way-off days. I never loved any but you--and old dad." + +The poor child's head was drooping, as she finished; and, but for pride, +she would have wept. + +"All right, then, Deely," began Dennis. "If that's so, I'm sorry--I +started for to say, I'm glad. Only, give me your squar' promise that you +won't let him stand in the way no more. I've kept my hand to the helm, +and I've waited. I've been waitin' a long time. Sylv won't never be no +'count, if he go on as he ar', and we won't be no 'count, nuther. Only +say the word that you'll marry me soon, and that you ain't goin' to let +Sylv stand in the way." + +"But you said I cared more for him than I do for you," Adela objected, +less inclined to make peace than before. + +"Well then, you can say you don't," he suggested. + +"No, I'll never tell you so!" she cried, her eyes flashing. She laid a +hand upon her bosom, which was heaving. "There's somethin' here, Dennie, +makes it hard to say it. I can't! I can't!" + +What she intended by this was no more than that, if he could not trust +her without such assurance, it was impossible for her to speak. But +Dennis took it quite otherwise. + +"By God, it's true, all an' all!" he stormed. He paused an instant, +seemingly dazed, and then went on: "I didn't fairly believe it afore, +but a little black devil come allays whisperin' it into my ear, when I +was alone, and I couldn't get him out'n my mind. It was Sylv, Sylv, +Sylv--my own brother! Oh yes, you can bet I began to see it, then! I +done my best, and I've waited; but it's _him_ you love, and now I'm to +be throwed over, _I_ am. _I'm_ the one that don't count nary fip. An' +now I believe it, you needn't be afeared. I believe it, and I _know_ +it." + +Adela was stung by his doubt, and, recoiling from it, made her next move +in precisely the opposite direction to that which her heart prompted her +to take. + +"You've done your best?" she echoed, tauntingly. "And what's that? +Mighty little. You can't read, like--like Sylv." + +"Sylv be d--d!" shouted her lover. "If ye say another word, I'll kill +him!" + +Adela Reefe stood before him, quite calm and unshaken. However she might +fear his violence toward others, she felt no alarm for herself. She knew +her power. + +"No, you won't kill him, Dennie," she said. "You're not wicked: you +can't do that wrong. But I'm goin' to tell you what you'll do. You're to +leave me here, and go back by yourself, as I said." + +Dennis tossed out a little defiant laugh. "No, I ain't a-goin', nuther. +You'll see me walkin' right alongside o' you till we get to old man +Reefe's, and then I'm a-goin' to tell him the whole yarn, and we'll fix +the weddin'." + +"You will go straight back to aunty's," she reaffirmed, quietly. + +Dennis's features softened into a pleading expression. "You'll let me go +as far as the tide-way?" he petitioned. + +"No." + +He hesitated, but presently turned and walked a few steps over the +ground they had just traversed. His gun was slung in the bend of his +right arm. Once more he reverted to her, appealingly, but without a +word. + +"You must go," said Adela, gently, standing on one of the little +hummocks into which the land was broken, with the glow of the sinking +sun irradiating her brown and rosy cheeks, her dark gray eyes, and wild +black hair. + +Dennis obeyed. She remained stationary, watching him as he withdrew. + +But before he had gone out of earshot, he called out to her, defiantly, +like a truant schoolboy: "I'm not goin' back to aunty's. Some o' those +birds yonder got to smell powder, fust." + +Accordingly, he sauntered along over the uneven ground, scanning the +narrow territory, the stretches of adjacent marsh, and the clear, +pink-illumined air around him, for snipe or plover. He was the picture, +outwardly, of careless ease and confident health; but, inwardly, he was +far from being placid. There was a turmoil of clashing sentiments and +impulses within him, which he did not understand. He was not sure as to +what he thought, nor could he have told what he felt: he knew only that +he was thwarted, miserable, and angry. He was hurt and helpless, and +drifting on toward some fresh injury, the nature of which he could not +foresee and did not so much as try to guess; for he had no more control +over the passions that tossed his soul than if they had been a raging +sea. Yet, all the while, his gunner's instinct was alert, and the winged +creatures doomed for his prey could not, even had they been gifted with +understanding, have guessed that he was about to avenge his own wounds +by those he would inflict on them. + +Adela waited a few moments where she stood; for she, too, was +distressed, and hardly knew which way to turn. The thought of the dreary +home of the herb-doctor, to which she must return, was not alluring; but +she could not go after Dennis, either, to make up with him. Suddenly she +heard a short, hollow report, that was lost immediately in the echoless +spaces over land and water. She started; an indescribable dread seized +her. Why, at that instant, did she think of the foolish threat--empty as +his gun-barrel--which Dennis had made against his brother? + +It was nothing but a flying plover that he had knocked out of existence; +she could guess that well enough. But she did not stay to reflect. Like +a frightened thing seeking shelter, she sprang from her place, along the +open stretch, taking the opposite edge of the open ground to that which +Dennis had chosen, and ran lightly on under shelter of the low hillocks, +so as to reach some spot abreast of him. + +A strange sight--this maiden running so featly under the sunset-light on +one side, while her unconscious lover strolled along the other! She +glided over the sod with a swiftness and an intuitive caution worthy of +an Indian. Then all at once she halted, so promptly that it might have +been with a premonition of the shock of sound that came almost +simultaneously from a second discharge of the gun--nearer, this time; +much nearer; so near that Adela, standing still, quivering but not +breathless, heard the faint rush of several shot that fell with a sharp +"pat" on the ground, close by her. Glancing up, she saw a small bird +driving through the sky, with dropped feet and frantic little wings, +which seemed to melt away out of sight in a moment, as if by magic. +Dennis had tried too high a shot and missed his aim. + +Adela did not flinch, but she continued on her way more slowly. + +Dennis also proceeded, popping at the feathered game now and then. He +did not fire again toward the quarter where Adela was lurking; she half +wished that he would. The dangerous greeting of those leaden pellets +would be better than no message at all. She longed to cross over and +speak to Dennis, but could not persuade herself to. He, meanwhile, +gathered only two small birds; the rest that came in his way either +escaped or fell out of reach among the sedges. Slinging the little +creatures into his pocket, indifferently, he went on; and when he +reached the point where he should have diverged toward the cabin, he +resolved to strike into the pine-woods and meet the Beaufort road. + +Moody and dissatisfied, he was not inclined to shut himself up in +solitude at this hour with Aunty Losh; for he knew that Sylv, though he +had set out for Beaufort before sunrise, was not likely to have +accomplished the return journey before now. It was a distance of more +than fifteen miles; Sylv had taken his load of fish on a borrowed wagon +which must be left at the town, and therefore would be obliged to foot +the whole way back. Dennis preferred to wait on the road and meet him +there. + +Possibly Adela had suspected that he would do this. At all events, on +arriving where she could see him if he had been going toward the hut, +she discovered that he must have taken the other course, and she, too, +protected by the trees which now were frequent enough to afford a cover, +slipped cautiously into the piny woods. + +Dennis had not gone far along the rough thoroughfare when a second +figure appeared, moving toward him in the gradual twilight, between the +ranks of long-leaved pines. It was the figure of a man, young and of +vigorous frame, but slightly bent; though that may have been due only to +fatigue or revery. His face was darkened, rendered still more serious in +its thoughtful expression by a straggling beard, which, however, grew in +a picturesque entanglement that added character, instead of obscuring +it. He was dressed with a modest style and care that made an outward +difference between him and the ordinary dwellers on that shore, but his +clothes were of simple "sheep's gray." Under his arms he carried two +books, heavy tomes, the smoky yellow of which, discernible even in that +fading light, showed that they were the ripe husks in which the fruits +of the law are stored. + +This was Sylvester. + +Dennis waited in the shadow of the trees until Sylv came nearly abreast +of him. + +"Hullo, Sylv," he said. + +The younger brother gave a start, and stopped abruptly in the rutty +roadway, looking toward the speaker. Then, with a smile of singular +frankness and sweetness, he said in a low, unperturbed voice: "Why, +Dennie, I wasn't looking to find you here. Seems queer, but I was +thinking so hard, all alone, that you almost frightened me." + +He spoke with great precision, as was natural in a person of his +studious turn, but without the least primness or affectation. Carefully +transferring a ponderous volume from its place under his right arm-pit +to his left hand, he held the other hand out for a greeting. "Seems as +if I'd been away a week," he said, wearily. "Has aunty come?" + +Dennis made no motion to take the proffered hand. "Yes," he said, "she's +thar, and she's waitin' for ye." + +His manner was so unusual, so withdrawn, that Sylv was surprised, and +let his right arm fall to his side. + +"Why, what's the trouble?" he asked. "You're not like yourself, Dennie. +You are dispirited." + +"Anybody could see that," answered the senior in a surly tone, "without +those thar long words. Yes, I am sort o' down; I'm out o' gear. That's +the fact." + +"Well, let's go along to the cabin," Sylv proposed, throwing into his +words a soothing tenderness as unconscious as that of a woman's voice. +"Whatever's ailing, we'll consult over it there." + +"No," said his brother, refusing to stir. "I want to talk to you hyar." + +"I'm downright tired," Sylv objected, mildly. "I've been walking so +long. I made a good trade, though, Dennie. See here." + +He laid his books down in the road, and put his hand into his pocket. +Then he withdrew it suddenly, looking alarmed, and began to search +another pocket. Dennis waxed visibly impatient. Finally, plunging into a +third receptacle, Sylv brought to light five silver dollars. "That's +what I got!" he exclaimed, triumphantly. + +"That all!" cried Dennis. "Oh, I knowed it, I knowed it! And those thar +books--you worked shares on 'em." + +"Yes, I found I could get those, too," said Sylv, with honest +exultation. + +Dennis emitted a groan. "Ye've done it agin," he muttered, gloomily. +"Now look hyar, Sylv, ye wisht a second; I'm goin' to give ye my mind. +You're a-takin' the life right out'n me and ruinin' my hopes, and I +ain't stood out about it afore; but dog-gone me if I don't stand out +now. I wouldn't 'a' keered if it hadn't been none but me and aunty, +but--" Here the unhappy man's voice broke. His right arm was occupied +with holding his gun, but he raised his left and wiped away upon the +sleeve the moisture which had gathered in his eyes. "But when it comes +to Deely," he continued, "I ain't a-goin' to let things run as they +hev." + +With the instinct of the collector, Sylv stooped and picked up his +books; but, as he rose, he offered to Dennis the money which he held. "I +don't understand," he said, looking puzzled. "What are you talking +about?" + +Dennis remained immobile in the shadow of the pines, ignoring the +younger man's gesture. "Keep your money," he said. "D'ye think I'm a +highway robber, to stop ye for what ye've got? It's bad enough that ye +barter away our livin'; but 'tain't that I'm a-thinkin' on. Ye've took +Deely away from me. That's worse; a heap sight worse!" + +His brother gazed blankly at him, apparently not understanding. "Deely?" +he said. "_I_ didn't take her. What d' you mean. Where is she?" + +"Coward!" cried Dennis, growing violent. + +At that word Sylv quivered visibly, and drew himself up, with a pride he +had not shown before. + +Dennis, after pausing, went on: "D'ye dar' to tell me ye don't know what +I mean? Deely's home, but I've been a-talkin' with her, and I know it's +so and ain't no other way. She sees how you been a-playin' it on me, but +'tain't no 'count to her. She wants you to go right on, the same way. +'Tain't nothin' to her that you hold us off from bein' married, by that +foolishness and studyin' o' yourn. It's cl'ar as day she thinks a heap +more on you than she does on me. An' I tell ye ye're the one that's to +blame. Ye done it, and ye knowed it. Ye took her heart away from me." + +A new perception broke upon Sylv. He contemplated Dennis with a sort of +curiosity, and a smile stirred the loose dark beard about his lips. Any +one but his angry brother might have seen that he regarded the idea of +his being enamored of a woman with a disdain curbed only by a sense of +the comic. + +"So you stand up here and tell me that, do you?" he retorted. "Well, all +I've got to say, Dennie, is that you're acting like a fool." + +Dennis's hand clutched the stock of the gun, nervously, under the strain +of the effort he made to control himself. "No, I ain't," he declared. "I +been a fool afore, but I ain't one now. I see the whole thing, I tell +ye. She's set her heart on you, and you've set yourn on her." + +Sylv braced himself a little, and looked resolute. "Now I give you fair +warning," he said. "I tell you square that I don't care about Adela +Reefe more than as a sister--my sister and your wife that is to be. Are +you going to deny my word?" + +"Yes, I am," the other asserted, doggedly. + +"And you're going on, after that, to assert that I took her love away +from you?" + +"Yes, I am." + +"Then I say, _you lie_!" Sylv returned, hotly. The same passionateness +that ruled Dennis was present in him, also, though well concealed under +his habitual calm; but it had broken loose now. + +In an instant Dennis lifted his gun to an aim. "No man can say that to +me," he thundered. + +His finger slid down to the trigger, and he drew the hammer back. + +Sylv stood in the road, unmoved, the books under his arms. "It's too +easy a shot," he said, quickly, but in a low voice. "Besides, I can't +fire back." + +"You won't have any call for that," Dennis assured him, grimly. He spoke +coolly, but his rage completely mastered him. + +"Stop!" cried Sylv, when the gun-mouth seemed about to burst into flame. + +"Stop!" + +The syllable was repeated from the woods close by them. Was it an echo? +No; that was impossible; there was no echo in that place, and both men +knew it. Besides, there was a different tone in the voice which seemed +to ring out from the shadow of the pines--an accent of alarm and agony, +unlike the peremptory cry which Sylv had uttered. + +Dennis brought down his gun, instantly. "What's that?" he exclaimed, +thoroughly unnerved. He felt as if some supernatural warning had been +given him. + +"It sounded," said Sylv, "like--" Here he checked himself, and stared +across the road, trying to make out something among the trees. + +Dennis turned in the same direction, and in a moment they had both moved +thither, and were straining their eyes to discover the source of the +sound. But their scrutiny was in vain: nothing appeared. It is true, +they fancied a noise as of some one stirring, some one making a hasty +retreat; but that might have been only the wind that came with stealthy +swiftness from the ocean side and set all the murmurous branches in +movement. Was there a figure flying through the piny arcade? Of that, +also, they could not be sure; for the twilight had increased more and +more, and darkness seemed to ooze through the air like a palpable +exudation from the gummy trees. + +The brothers faced half around and exchanged a peculiar glance that was +tinged with awe. But Dennis fell to trembling. + +"Hyar! Take it!" he said, in a voice of horror. "Take the gun, Sylv. I +was crazy. What was I a-doin' just now? Oh, take it away from me; don't +let me touch it!" + +Sylv, on the point of complying, paused and said slowly: "No, Dennie, I +won't take it. You didn't think what you were doing. I trust you." + +Still shaking, Dennis looked at him with a dumb, bewildered gratitude. + +"Come," said his brother, stepping again into the path. + +Dennis followed him, but as they left the spot he said: "It war like +Deely's voice, Sylv. She saved me, this time." + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + +A VISION. + + +That which Adela had seen and overheard so startled and horrified her, +it raised such a war of emotions, that she was unable to reflect upon +what she ought to do. In coming through the woods, obedient to the vague +need she felt of following Dennis, she had heard the rising voices of +the disputants, and when she reached a spot where she could command a +view, she beheld her lover with his gun raised, on the very verge of +committing murder. + +For a moment her every faculty was paralyzed. Had the weapon been +levelled at herself, her dread would have been less freezing: she could +have been brave and active on her own behalf. To see another person +threatened with mortal danger, and he the brother of Dennis, was +different. In the presence of impending crimes, human beings seem to +yield to a painless lethargy like that which is said to overcome the +victim of a tiger, even before the claws have made a single wound. The +extreme of terror suspends the faculty of feeling, as of action; and +this is what renders possible the enactment of the most dreadful deeds +in broad day, before a crowd of witnesses. + +To shriek would have been the easy resource of some women. Adela Reefe +did not know how to shriek. She might have bounded forward, to stay +Dennis's hand or divert his aim; but her muscles failed her as if they +had been caught and webbed with invisible cords. Besides, any sudden +movement might have resulted only in precipitating a tragic end. + +Just then it was that Sylv called out; and Adela echoed him, +half-unconsciously, but with a wilder earnestness. The two exclamations +dissolved the spell that had held her. The crisis was over, and the +catastrophe had been warded off. What was she to do next? If she +appeared, the effect of her sharp outcry might be lost; Dennis might be +maddened to some fresh outbreak worse than the first, by the knowledge +that she had seen him in that awful situation. The difficulties, the +quarrel that might ensue, were she to confront the brothers then, would +be full of peril. There was nothing for it but to hide; and, gliding +from tree to tree, she made her escape. + +It was a long time before she finally reached her father's house at +Hunting Quarters that night; for, driven by the agitation which followed +the episode in the woods, and troubled by a cloud of doubts, wonders, +and anxieties that rose upon her mind, she wandered restlessly along the +shore, as homeless and unfettered as the marsh-ponies that were tossing +their manes above the dim, low line of that outer strip of land which, +across the Sound, ran out thirty or forty miles under the evening sky +toward Ocracoke and Hatteras. + +Now it happened that Mr. Edward Lance, the guest at Colonel Floyd's, had +been out on a solitary excursion of scientific inquiry, diversified by +fishing, along that same sandy barrier. He stayed later than he +expected; and, boating over to the main in the nightfall, he came +walking along the uneven and indented shore, on his way to Fairleigh +Park, while Adela was still abroad. + +Lance was sorry to be so late, but he had abundant material for +agreeable revery with which to occupy himself until he should get back +to the society of Miss Jessie and her father. Some three weeks had +passed since he had come to the hospitable shelter of the colonel's +roof, and he had had time to become much interested in other things than +the errand which had originally brought him hither. + +The young man, it should be explained, was a New Yorker, whose tastes +were cultivated and progressive; fortunately for him, he likewise had +money enough to admit of following his bent. + +"He is the son of my agent's former partner in business," Colonel Floyd +had told his daughter, when he received the letter which led to his +sending Lance an invitation to visit them. "You don't know his name, my +dear, and indeed it is unfamiliar to me. Mr. Lance senior died some +years since, before my relations with Mr. Hedson, who was in business +with him, began. But I understand that he is an accomplished young +gentleman, who wishes to inquire into the resources of our State--more +especially the coast-belt." + +"That's where _we_ live, isn't it, pa?" Miss Jessie inquired. + +"Yes, my child," said the colonel, impressively. "He desires to study +our fisheries and other industries--with a view, perhaps, to +establishing some manufacturing or agricultural enterprise. It would not +be at all strange, Jessie, if he were to put capital into something in +our neighborhood. I think he may invest. Yes; he is probably seeking a +field for his capital." + +Colonel Floyd said all this as if he were reading a letter or quoting +from a cyclopædia. That was his habitual way of saying things. I should +hardly call it an affectation, but he seldom spoke at any length without +producing the effect of his being a standard work of reference, which +would always tell you exactly what you wanted to know, and would state +it in the best language. + +He was a slender man, with a small but well-shaped head encased in +closely cut hair that had begun to silver; the gray and the black +intermingled, and shone with a glimmering changefulness, like the sheen +of mica. He wore spectacles, and had that precise, tactical expression +noticeable in Confederate veterans of the war and so wholly at variance +with our conventional idea of the romantic Southern type. As the colonel +held the lease of a turpentine plantation which he was working, near his +own modest estate, he was naturally interested in the development of the +"coast-belt," and was disposed to welcome the young Northern capitalist +of whom his agent, Hedson, spoke so highly. + +"What do you say, my daughter?" he asked Jessie, after a pause. "Would +it be agreeable to you to have a visitor? Shall we invite Mr. Lance to +stay with us?" + +He inspected her kindly through his glasses, as if she had been some +harmless little prisoner of war. + +"It shall be just as you like, pa dear," said Jessie, artlessly. "And if +Mr. Lance is coming--why, there's no other place for him to stay. Is +there?" + +The unsuspicious would have been forced to suppose, from the forlorn +manner in which Miss Jessie cast her eyes around, that she regretted the +absence of any convenient hostelry for the stranger's harborage. + +The veteran, however, saw through her, or fancied that he did. At all +events, he knew that the solitude of the Park, with only a few liberated +slaves and the old housekeeper for company, could not be much more +desirable for his daughter than the presence of a promising young man +like Lance. + +Accordingly, it was settled that Lance should come. Here he was, then, +fully established, and--thanks to the perfect hospitality of the old +officer--rejoicing in an unexpected sense of being thoroughly at home in +those warm latitudes. It was now the end of July--a hot time to be so +far South--but Lance's satisfaction with his new surroundings was so +great, that he had decided to remain through the summer, and already +began to think that that period would seem all too short. + +While his scientific eye had been riveted upon the processes of +turpentine manufacture, on the number and kinds of food-fish inhabiting +the shallows of the sea, and on the feasibility of turning Elbow Crook +Swamp into a luxuriant market-garden, a finer vision--which he possessed +in common with some others of us who belong to the masculine side of our +species--had been occupied with the dainty yet commanding outline of +Jessie Floyd's face; the saucy charm of her dark hair parted on one +side; her novel, half-childish, yet imperious ways. + +He was thinking of her, now, as he traversed the bit of open, +marsh-bordered land alongside the pines, where Dennis and Adela had +taken their unpropitious walk, that day. + +The sun had set long before; the twilight had deepened and deepened +until all at once it seemed to meet, in its meditativeness, a thought, +an inspiration, a celestial surprise--and the moon rose, silent and +beautiful, like the embodiment of that thought. + +A panorama of memory passed before Lance's mind, embracing pictures of +all the things he had observed during the day, and all that he had seen +since he came to North Carolina. He stood there alone, with the ocean +moaning subduedly beyond the sandy dunes, four miles away, yet audible +through the plash of the nearer waters of the Sound, across which the +warm breeze brought its voice to him. He saw in fancy the green waves, +the ardent sunshine, the low shore with huts or hamlets clustering +occasionally in some favoring nook, surrounded by evergreen oaks and +other verdant growths; the chalky lighthouses, the random sails of +shore-fishers; the green, inaccessible marshes that fringed so much of +the mainland. The poor folk he had met in his rambles, hearty, simple, +ignorant and superstitious, came back to his eye in groups, with the +surroundings amid which he had happened to encounter them. The gloomy +recesses of Elbow Crook Swamp filled in the background of his +memory-pictures; wild birds rose and flew across the sky, as it seemed; +and all the while Lance was oppressed with a sense of the great natural +resources of the region, against which its loneliness, the prevailing +ague, and the shiftless languor of the population opposed themselves as +a dead-weight on all improvement. Yet, stranger and alone though he was, +his soul expanded with the idea of somehow bettering the condition of +affairs and making life there brighter and more prosperous. + +Then he, too, emerged from revery as the twilight had from its +sombreness, and faced clearly the new thought that glowed upon him like +the large, sweet moon so dreamily brooding in the sky. + +Suddenly he was aware of a shape looming up in the faint moonlight not +far from him; the form of a woman, half of whose body was concealed by a +curve of the ground, in such a way that it might have been thought she +was just rising out of the earth. + +The woman was looking seaward. She did not observe his presence. + +Such an apparition would, in any case, have given pause to a preoccupied +man upon whom it came without warning; but there was a special reason +why it should affect Lance in an extraordinary manner. Her face offered +itself to him in profile, and was so irradiated by the nocturnal light +that it came out clearly against the sky. Seeing it thus, Lance was +instantly--I might say, appallingly--struck by its resemblance to a face +he had many times seen, one that, in fact, he had been thinking about +only a little while before. + +The face was like a darker profile of Jessie Floyd, touched with +moonlight. + +At first, of course, Lance thought that he must be suffering from +hallucination; that the day's exposure to the sun had affected his brain +and brought out in a visible form the thought of Jessie, which had been +so constantly with him. But the unknown woman stirred, and he saw that +she was real. Hereupon he scanned her more carefully, guessing that at +least the resemblance which he traced was an illusion. No; it remained +intact. He could not get rid of it. Clearly, the resemblance was real, +no less than the woman. + +I have hinted that Lance was of a modestly scientific turn; but he also +had in his constitution many susceptibilities whereof science as yet +knows little, and the phenomenon so abruptly thrust upon his notice +stirred these susceptibilities to their depths. He did not at all know +what to make of it. A fear crossed him that he was becoming as +superstitious as the ignorant folk on whom he had lately shed the balm +of his pity. What did this strange presence and resemblance mean or +portend? Was there not some omen hidden in them? + +Another thing disturbed him, affecting his mind very much as a sudden +contact with the supernatural might have done. In Lance's family, which +had sprung from England, fragments of an old story were still extant, +about an ancestor who had been involved with one of the colonizing +expeditions to Virginia. He did not recall every particular of the +story, but sundry items of it were quite distinct. It was said that this +early predecessor had fallen in love with an Indian girl, from whom he +had been cruelly separated; or that he had come to these virgin shores +in search of some one whom he had lost: accounts differed as to that. +But Lance's belief was, that this long-dead member of his long-dead +English family had been in quest of his plighted wife, and that he had +somehow missed her, returning to England alone. Virginia, in those days, +included the territory of North Carolina--the very place to which Lance +had drifted, propelled by a rather vague purpose and a desire for +knowledge as well as recreation. There was nothing very remarkable in +this, perhaps. The young man himself had not thought much about it; for +one does not have time, in the present age, to linger over little +coincidences and bits of ancient family gossip. The old tale had once or +twice flitted through his mind since his installation at the colonel's +manor, but it was not a thing he would have considered worth mentioning. + +Nevertheless, because of those occult susceptibilities which I have +mentioned, at the moment of encountering this mysterious woman with her +face turned seaward, the remembrance flashed up over his mental horizon +like a kindling beacon-fire. A marvelling awe took hold of him, and for +his life he could not have shaken off the fantasy that made him conceive +of her as a projection from the shadowy past, an image that typified the +lost mistress, or the forgotten Indian maiden, with whom his ancestor's +life-history had been linked. The circumstance that she was gazing +eastward also had an effect upon him; he could easily have persuaded +himself that she was waiting for her vanished lover to come to her over +the waves. + +But the fancied resemblance to Jessie--that was the most bewildering +element of all. Why should it occur to him? And why should he feel such +an unwonted shiver running through his veins? + +The simplest way to banish all this nonsense was, doubtless, to go +forward and speak to the girl. The good nature of the inhabitants, Lance +knew, made such an informality excusable; but, as he was about to try +that solution of his perplexity, and find out who this woman really was, +the figure began to descend the slope on the farther side from him, and +disappeared so noiselessly that she seemed to have crumbled and dropped +back into the earth from which she came. + +Lance stood still; that curious warm shiver thrilled his veins anew. +Then he turned away and resumed his tardy progress toward the distant +manor-house, muttering aloud: "How can I be such a fool?" + +But the vision, notwithstanding, remained imprinted on his +consciousness, and troubled him. + + + + +CHAPTER V. + +BIRTHDAY TOKENS. + + +The next morning ushered in Miss Jessie Floyd's birthday anniversary. +The emancipated housemaid, ancient Sally, had given Lance timely warning +of this occasion, and he had taken the precaution to send to New York +for a present which he thought might be acceptable. + +The question as to what sort of a gift he should select had been a hard +one to decide. If the truth must be told, he had allowed himself the +inappropriate but impassioned notion that he would like to give her a +ring; inappropriate because he had not yet succeeded in effecting those +preliminaries which justify a young man in giving a ring to a young +woman; though, except for that, it was exactly what would best have +conveyed his sentiments. Just why an ornament for a lady's hand should +have this potent significance, when it is her ear that receives the +lover's confession, was not perfectly clear to him; yet it was plain +that there was no insurmountable objection to his offering Miss Jessie a +pair of ear-drops. He therefore ordered some pearl ones, hoping to +please her. To please himself, he ordered a ring. But the little packet +which lay beside her plate at the breakfast-table, that morning, +contained only the ear-drops. The ring was securely locked in Lance's +private consciousness and his trunk. + +Perhaps in order to appease his own self-reproaches for cherishing this +jewelled secret, but also to prevent any embarrassment in Jessie's +receiving a costly trifle from him, Lance thought it best to let Colonel +Floyd know of his intention beforehand. He did so, late in the evening, +after returning from his solitary expedition. + +"I hope this will be quite agreeable to you, sir," he ventured, with +becoming deference, when he had explained. + +The colonel remembered that he himself had once been young, and probably +found it easy to gauge the effort it cost his youthful friend to +maintain this deference in a case where he was positive that he had an +inalienable right to do as he pleased. + +"My dear Lance," he replied, "neither my daughter nor myself can need +any outward token to assure us of the kindly feeling you entertain +toward us. That is the only reason why I might regret that you have +decided to offer one. A simple congratulation or good wishes would have +been enough, I assure you; but I appreciate your thoughtfulness, and +Jessie, I am sure, will be delighted." + +"Thank you, colonel. Then it is all right," said Lance, decisively, +feeling as if he had just snapped the cover tight over the pearls and +rescued them from loss. + +They were sitting in the room which the colonel, with innocent grandeur, +called his library, surrounded with a few editions of English and Latin +classics, flanked by rows of obsolete works largely relating to +politics; and they were engaged in the unscholarly pastime of sipping +whiskey and water. It may be that the beverage had softened the colonel +into a pensive mood. + +"Speaking of congratulations," he said, "these anniversaries begin to +make me think that my Jessie perhaps hasn't got so much to be +congratulated for." + +"I think she has a great deal," said his guest, with some fervor. "More +than I have, at any rate. She still has her father--" his listener +smiled sedately--"she has her old home, and--and herself!" + +Lance had not known in advance that he was going to wind up with those +words, and was himself rather astonished at them. + +The colonel braced his neck and looked at the young man somewhat +narrowly for an instant; after which he subsided, and observed, +good-humoredly: "That is saying a good deal, too. What I had in mind, +however, was the changed condition of everything here--the melancholy +changes that have come since the war. When Fairleigh Park, sir, embraced +five hundred acres instead of twelve, and when I had a hundred good +niggers, it was a very different matter. Why, sir, even in this poor +house there was hardly a stick or a rag left on my return from the +field. My books"--here the colonel waved his arm with proprietary pride +at the faded volumes on his shelves--"my books fortunately had been +removed to Wilmington, where my wife and daughter were in the care of +friends; but a foraging party of the Northern soldiery came here, sir, +in my absence, and, though there wasn't a soul opposed them, they broke +the mirrors, chopped my piano into kindling, stabbed and maimed the +pictures on the walls, and tore the hangings into shreds. Yes, sir, that +was the noble revenge they took upon me for daring to fight in defence +of my native land. Ah, I must not recall those things," he added, +recovering himself. "Thank God, we are a united country once more, and I +don't regret my share of the loss. But I was also thinking, sir, of +Jessie's mother." + +The veteran leaned his head on his hand, unable to speak further. There +was a quivering of the muscles in his good old, honest, disciplinarian +face, that touched Lance's heart. + +"I can understand what a loss that has been to you," he said, +gently--"and to Miss Jessie." + +The colonel raised his head again, and looked with determination at the +opposite wall, mustering his self-control. + +Lance resumed, with some hesitation, but impelled to speak at this +precise moment, though he had not contemplated doing so. "I--I have +reflected a great deal about Miss Jessie," he said. + +Colonel Floyd's attention was prompt and watchful at once. He regarded +the speaker with mingled friendliness and jealousy. "You are very good, +my friend," said he. + +The younger man smiled involuntarily. "I see no great merit in my +thinking of her. I can't help it." + +His host hemmed, and gave evidence, by his restless manner, of being ill +at ease. "I don't know that I fully understand you," he began, moved by +a conviction that he did understand with the greatest distinctness. + +"Well," said Lance, "I suppose it ought to be very easy to explain +myself; but I find it extremely difficult. I have thought about Miss +Jessie--I wish it were possible to add in any way to her happiness." + +The colonel rose. "Pray say nothing more," he begged, not unkindly, but +with some reserve. + +"I will say nothing, if you prefer, beyond this: that her welfare and +her future cannot possibly be of greater moment to you than to me." + +Lance looked at the colonel squarely until he had finished, and then he +dropped his eyes. There was no mistaking the purport of his tone, which +went farther than his words. + +"My dear fellow," said the colonel, stretching out his hand, "from what +I have seen of you I like you; I may say, I esteem you. If you have +anything to say which concerns Jessie more than it does me, tell it to +her." + +The other accepted his hand, and pressed it. They stood thus for a +moment, before parting for the night, and Lance saw that the old soldier +approved of him. A strange feeling also came over him, that his host and +he met not so much on the basis of a possible father-and-son +relationship as on that of brotherhood. There was a community in their +love for Jessie; each felt the depth of the other's devotion to her, +different though it was from his own; and to Lance this mutual trust was +of good omen. + +Before the breakfast-hour they met again in the pleasant dining-room. +The colonel was mixing a mint-julep by an open window which gave upon +the garden. + +"I'm not feeling quite well," he said, "and so concluded to tone myself +up a little. It's a great thing to have a Virginian's grave in your +garden." + +"Virginian's grave" was the facetious term, as Lance had learned, +applied to a bed of mint; in allusion to the theory that where a +Virginia gentleman is buried the plant essential to his favorite +beverage in life will spring up and multiply. + +He laughingly declined to share in the refreshment, and the two said +little to each other. Their talk of the night before lingered with them +in the form of a slight constraint, mixed with suspense. + +But Jessie put all this to flight, when she slipped into the room fresh +as the morning sunbeams. She was quick to notice the white packet on the +table. + +"Oh, how lovely of you, pa," she exclaimed as she opened it, "to take so +much trouble! Why, they're exquisite!" + +She held the case up admiringly. + +The colonel glanced over at their guest, a slight smile wrinkling his +bronzed cheeks with fine lines like those in old engravings; and there +was a trace of guiltiness in his look, as if he and Lance had been +fellow conspirators. + +"Don't thank me, my dear," he said. "It's Mr. Lance who was lovely." + +"Oh!" cried Jessie. She fastened her eyes on Lance, with a sort of +reproach; and his heart sank. + +"They're beautiful, though," she continued. "Thank you _so_ much, Mr. +Lance. Then you didn't get anything for me, pa? Well, I shall have a +kiss, anyway." And she ran toward him. + +The old man's gray mustache appeared to revive, as he received the +salute and gave one in return. "Look under your plate, child," he said, +"and you'll find something, will do to give you a treat when we go up to +the races at Newbern." + +Jessie trotted back to her place, and the treasure under the plate +proved to be a gold eagle. Another demonstration of filial fondness +ensued, and they all sat down in a good humor; albeit Lance suffered a +feeling of unenviable exclusion. + +But in a moment or two Jessie jumped up again, and, with the earrings in +her hand, went to the glass to put them on. She faced around brightly +from her reflected image there, to thank Lance again. "I never _dreamed_ +of getting anything so nice," she said, frankly. + +And Lance told himself that he, on the contrary, had many times dreamed +of some creature as captivating as she was, but had never quite expected +to find the realization. He wondered how, in this solitude and with no +one to set her the example, she could have grown up into such charming +womanliness. + +The doors of Fairleigh Manor, excepting in the most inclement weather, +stood always open--a symbol of the owner's frank and hospitable heart. +And now when the breakfast was over and Jessie had betaken herself with +the two gentlemen to the little morning-room across the hall, a train of +darkies--men and women--presented itself at the entrance, bringing good +wishes and simple gifts to their young mistress. First of all came old +Sally, who folded the fair maiden in her faithful arms and covered her +forehead and neck with kisses. Lance, with his abstract theories of +equality and his concrete prejudices, which made equality impossible, +was rather amazed at this proceeding. He did not relish the spectacle of +the black face in such close proximity to the white one. Involuntarily +he turned toward the colonel, expecting to find in him some support for +his own displeasure; but there was a kindly light in the colonel's eye, +and he looked on with approval as the servants approached, one after +another, to give greeting in their several ways--the women with less +effusion than was permitted to Sally, and the men with awkward bows or +friendly grins that attested their speechless affection. Those who +shared in this demonstration were elderly servants who had once been +slaves, though they were accompanied by a few younger ones--their +children, born in freedom. They all brought flowers and leaves; the +fragrant yellow jessamine being a favorite form of tribute, alternating +with festoons of the trailing vines found in Elbow Crook Swamp, baskets +adorned with gray moss, and little ornaments of woven straw. + +The colonel's face grew radiant and tender as he watched them. "Faithful +creatures!" he said, in undertone to Lance. "Most of my people stayed by +me when the fight was over. I told them they were free to go where they +liked, that they didn't belong to me any more, and I couldn't tell +whether I could give them work--much less support them. But they +wouldn't go. They clung round me; and little by little we all got on our +feet again. They said: 'You's been a good massa to us, and we ain't +gwine to leave you now yore in trouble, Massa Cunnel.' And so we built +up, together, what small prosperity there is here now. I had fed and +clothed them, Lance, and spent many thousand dollars in buying them, but +they did not forget everything, as many white people do. I little +thought it would be my old slaves who would help me out in the hour of +need--I to whom _they_ had always looked for help. But so it was. My +God, it has been worth all the cost and the suffering! We are more human +than we were." + +The veteran planter was deeply affected; and, as he spoke, a mist seemed +to clear away from the young man's mind, and he beheld the simple +ceremony that was taking place, in a transfigured light. + +Here, close to his eyes, was an act in the endless changes and +developments through which humanity is forever passing: the lifting up, +the pulling down, the growth of new types and phases, the subsidence of +old forms of life, accompanied by the survival of certain among their +features. + +One of the negroes, bolder than the rest, after wishing Jessie happiness +all her days, said he knew it wasn't right to ask her for anything now, +but if she "would only give him a little book to read in." ... The book +was instantly forthcoming. Jessie went to her secretary, and took one +from the slender row of volumes on its upper shelf. But at this Sally +came forward again. + +"Why, missy," she said softly, in Jessie's ear, where Lance's pearl was +trembling, "ole Scip ain't no 'count. He war on'y coachman, you know, +befo'. He didn't nevah b'long to _you_ and the missus. But I come from +_yo'_ side de house, yo' know I does; and now yo' dun gone give him +suffin', why I'd kin' o' like dat ar pink frock what you mos' got fru +wearin'. 'Tain't good nuff for yo', nohow, missy, and ole Sally she'd be +mighty glad on't, ef you don' want it no mo'." + +So Jessie laughed, and sent Sally up-stairs to get the garment of her +desire; and from that moment on the reception was metamorphosed into an +exchange of gifts. + +The darkies brought in their vines and clusters, and laid them on the +table or draped them with primitive art about the room, until it became +a sort of bower, verdant and perfumed with their offerings; and Jessie +sat there like an unaffected little queen, distributing tokens to this +and that adherent. She knew their humble demands were not prompted by +greed, but that they simply loved the old custom of receiving something +from their mistress, and could not give it up even though times were so +greatly changed. + +Lance had now fully entered into the spirit of the scene, and the fancy +struck him that it was a repetition of the old story of savages on the +New World shores worshipping the first white person who came among them. + +What if these negroes had been the aborigines, and his Jessie--or Miss +Jessie, rather--had been that Gertrude Wylde whom tradition told of, +receiving their homage? The idle query of imagination, thus propounded, +brought up to him with renewed force the vision, still unexplained, +which had crossed his path on the sea-shore. + + + + +CHAPTER VI. + +A NEW LESSON IN BOTANY. + + +In the cool of the afternoon the Floyds and their guest took a drive, +rattling gayly on, in the old carry-all, which was the colonel's chariot +of state, over many miles of light-earthed road screened for the most +part by groves of pine. + +The old gentleman discoursed to Lance a good deal about the country and +the people, and gave vent to his natural regret that the class once +dominant had yielded more and more to a hard, pushing set, who were no +doubt doing much to increase the general welfare, but lacked the graces +and the repose of the whilom aristocracy. The young Northerner's own +conviction was that the old aristocracy had succumbed to a relentless +law of nature, for which he entertained the admiration that he believed +all natural laws were entitled to; but he could not help regretting +somewhat the fate that had overcome his friends and their kind; and it +was borne in upon him strongly that so fine a flower of heredity as +Jessie appeared to be--however defective the structure of the species to +which she belonged--ought not to be involved in this decadence. + +You will observe that I am giving you his thoughts in the formal and +strictly rational phraseology which it pleased him to adopt. Plainly +speaking, he was very much in love with Jessie, and did not care a rap +about natural laws or anything else, if they conflicted with her +happiness or his chances of winning her. + +Meanwhile, as they passed Elbow Crook Swamp, which the road skirted for +a considerable distance, he reverted, with every appearance of absorbed +interest, to his scheme for reclaiming that tract and converting it into +a source of wealth and the means of building up a prosperous, highly +intelligent community. The swamp covered a territory of many hundreds of +acres. It was rank with cypress, evergreen, oak, and laurel, from which +parasitic gray mosses depended in endless garlands, locked in the +embrace of luxuriant vines, that hung or crept down to the edge of that +slow brown stream, the angular turnings of which gave the place its +name. The rich, alluvial soil in which all this greenery rooted held a +promise of unlimited fertility; but the only profit which men derived +from the splendid waste was found in the cane-brakes, that yielded +succulent fodder for hogs or cattle. Lance imagined in this wild expanse +a possibility of great results, which might play in well with his +humanitarian schemes. He had brooded over the matter ever since first +seeing the spot; but the commercial and educational interest attaching +thereto was not the only one that kept him thinking about it. Its +mysteriousness, its lone solemnity; the frowning masses of dense and +forbidding trees; its impenetrability in parts; the danger and +savageness of its hidden depths--all these had wrought upon and excited +him, until it became impossible for him to get the swamp out of his +mind, and he felt that it was somehow connected with his destiny. + +In answer to his exposition of his schemes, the colonel, who was fond of +a classical allusion, said: "That's all very fine, Lance; but you +propose a labor beside which Hercules slaying the Lernean Hydra would be +insignificant. You know, that myth is supposed to refer to the draining +of a morass. Hercules was the first man who discovered the still +mythical disease of malaria, and tried to kill it." + +But Lance was not to be discouraged by banter. When they got back to the +mansion the colonel judiciously disappeared, and the two young people +were left alone on the veranda. Lance began to talk over his theories +anew with Jessie, as they sat there just outside the window of the +morning-room whence the scent of the pine-boughs, the jessamine, and +flowering vines drifted toward them in occasional puffs of fragrant air. + +"The people here need so much help, so much enlightening," he said. "I +can't give up the idea that something might be done in the way of +elevating them." + +"Oh, that's only because you're so restless," said Jessie. "You come +from the North, and you find it so dull here that you have to think of +something to keep you busy." + +Her lips pretended that they were smiling with indolent mockery; but she +looked so charming, and the contrast between her gray eyes and the +Spanish jauntiness of her dark hair was so attractive, that the young +man began to think opposition was the pleasantest form of encouragement. + +"No," he said, quite earnestly; "I don't think it's mere restlessness. I +mean what I say, and I can't help it. And certainly it isn't dull here +for me." + +He fixed his eyes for a moment on the boards of the veranda-floor, as if +meditating. Jessie, in her turn, considered him. In his loose blue +flannel suit, with a soft straw hat perched upon his thoughtful head, +but throwing no shadow on his features, to which a small brown mustache +gave additional emphasis, he certainly was handsome; she had never +denied to herself that he was handsome, but she was just now especially +impressed with the fact. + +"I am going to tell you something curious," he said, lifting his eyes +unexpectedly, so that she turned hers quickly toward the garden. He had +evidently arrived at the result of his meditation. "It has several times +occurred to me," he continued, "that my interest in this locality may +have a queer, remote sort of origin that no one would ever suspect." + +"Why, what's that?" asked Jessie, in a dreamy tone, feeling sure now +that he could not be going to speak of her, since she was neither +"queer" nor "remote." + +Thereupon Lance went on to relate to her the legend of Gertrude Wylde +and Guy Wharton, as well as he could from the stories which he +remembered to have heard half jestingly repeated in his father's +household. "I am directly descended from Guy Wharton," he stated, in +conclusion, "but my name is different, because the male line died out +and my father belonged to the posterity of one of the daughters. It's +true, all that romance happened a hundred miles or more from here, way +up by Roanoke, and I didn't think of it in the least when I started to +make this visit; but, some way or other, the thing has come back into my +mind, and I begin to fancy that by an occult law of thought it may +account for my interest in this place--at least, partly." + +Jessie was absorbed by his narration, as her attentiveness and her eager +interruptions had shown; but what she said was: "It must be a very +occult law indeed." She also emitted a little impertinent laugh, which +she did not mean to be impertinent. + +Lance was somewhat taken aback. "I dare say it's all foolishness," he +admitted; "and there are other elements of interest which are much more +obvious." + +She was sorry to have brought such confusion upon him, and hastened to +revive the conversation. + +They got to talking about the negroes; and Lance, alluding to the scene +that morning, proceeded to speculate on the problem of the colored race. +"There is something very fine in their relation to you," he said, "but +it belongs to a phase that has passed away. They ought to be educated, +too." + +"I'm sure," Jessie answered, "we educate them as much as we can. Didn't +you see me give Scip a book? And I've helped to cultivate Aunt Sally's +æsthetic tastes by letting her have my pink frock. What more can you +ask?" + +"You insist upon making fun of me," said Lance, forcing a smile, though +a trifle mortified by her lack of enthusiasm. "But you know I'm right." + +"Indeed I don't know it!" exclaimed Miss Jessie, vigorously. "You want +to change everything, but you can't tell what you would get by the +change. You would like to cut down those splendid old trees in the +swamp, and turn it into fresh vegetables and berries for New York. But +the trees are much nobler than the berries, or even wild-flowers." + +"Oh no, I beg your pardon; they're not!" said Lance. "Most of the trees +around here are simply monsters. They represent rude, primitive types of +vegetation; they are the earliest specimens of Nature's effort to +produce flowering plants. Why, the common ox-eye daisy is a far more +refined product than they." + +"Oh, dear me," cried Jessie, "I never heard that. How much you know! But +I like daisies, too; I don't want any of these things destroyed." + +"They sha'n't be, then," Lance declared, with offhand omnipotence. + +After that, he branched out into an informal lecture on the +relationships of various plants and flowers, trying, in the sketchy way +that he had learned from cheerfully popular books of science, to give +her some conception of the evolution of new types and the persistence of +old ones in the flora of the earth, together with the manifold delicate +ties of kinship between the different existing forms. + +"Then, they are all one big family!" said Jessie, her face lighting with +a sympathy that Lance reverently recorded as being maternal. She was as +much pleased as if she had discovered a new set of thoroughly desirable +relatives. "But oh, Mr. Lance," she added, quickly reflecting, "doesn't +that prove that all these types have got to exist? You say that after +one crude attempt has been followed by a better development, specimens +of the old sort continue--like the pine trees. Now, it seems to me that +it's just the same with the human family. We're all related, but we're +very unlike; and while some of us have gone on improving, the others +have stayed just as they were. The negroes and the poor whites around +here are our monsters--for you say the pine trees are monsters--but if +we have the pines, why shouldn't we have the others?" + +She clapped her hands, in her glee at the argument she had discovered; +and it must be admitted that Lance was nonplussed by her swift sagacity. + +"But then you must remember," he said, after pausing, "that the human +creation has a much greater capacity for growth than the vegetable; and +we ought to help it forward in its growth. There's Sylvester De Vine as +an example. See how he's rising above his condition! I take the greatest +interest in that young fellow, and I believe I'm bound to assist him as +far as I can." + +"Yes, that's true," Jessie acknowledged. "But it's very nice to have all +these contrasts. I don't want them abolished." + +Lance could not but be aware that he didn't want them abolished, either. +Would he have been willing to obliterate all the differences that +existed between Jessie and the majority of the surrounding population? +Did he want all other women to be just like her? On the contrary, the +reason why he preferred her was that she represented a higher +development, a "more specialized" form, an exception to the common mass +of inferior beings. + +"You're right," he said. "It _is_ nice to have the contrasts. I admit +myself vanquished." + +In her triumph Jessie rose from the cane chair where she had sat +reclining. "Oh, how splendid!" she cried. "I never expected such a +victory. I must find pa, and tell him how I've vanquished you." + +Lance also rose, but to detain her. "Don't go yet," he said; "I have +something else to say. You have conquered me in another way, too, and I +want to hear from you whether you will accept my surrender." In saying +this he drew a little closer, and gazed with earnest expectancy into her +face. + +The sudden stillness and frightened silence with which Jessie at first +met his advance were not exactly what one would expect in a conqueror. +After an instant, however, she regained her self-possession. Her natural +merriment and archness returned as she asked, with her head leaning +sideward: "Is the surrender unconditional, Mr. Lance?" + +"No. There is one condition, of supreme importance. Ah! Miss Jessie, you +understand. Will you listen to me?" + +"I can't promise, but I'll try," said Jessie, in a faltering tone. +Imperceptibly, as it were, she resumed her place in the chair, and +waited. The sun was declining; a faint rumor of odd clucking cries came +from the turkey-field at the end of the grounds; but otherwise the air +was still, and a spicy coolness stole in to them from the +pine-plantations and the distant Sound. "Now tell me," she said, softly. + +You may be sure Lance eagerly complied. With an eloquence that had never +been his before, he told her what he thought of her; how he loved her, +and wished her to be his wife. In his confession he likewise mingled +unpremeditated touches about the daisies and the pines, and all that +marvel of nature of which they had been talking; and he made her see how +to him she was the culminating blossom of creation. + +"If you could only guess," he ended, hopeless of conveying all that he +wished to, "what a delight your presence is to me--how it is almost +enough just to look at you and watch every movement that you make!" + +So fine and frank was Jessie's maiden mind, that she no longer thought +of concealment. "Why, then you know," she answered, with the surprise of +a child, "exactly how I feel about _you_!" + +I do not care to describe what happened after that; for in the first +place it belongs only to those two lovers, and in the second place I +know it could not be described without tarnishing the pure beauty of it. + +In the long interchange of confidences that followed their union, Lance +was moved to tell Jessie of the woman he had seen in the moonlight, the +night before. "Strange, that she should have made me think of you and of +the old Wharton story, isn't it? Who do you suppose she could have +been?" + +"I can't imagine," said Jessie. "Perhaps you had a moonstroke; isn't +there such a thing? Or, perhaps it was a ghost." + +When they came in to tea they found the colonel carefully dozing over +the market columns of his newspaper. "May I go and get the ring?" +whispered Lance, who had owned to her the secret of his hopeful +purchase. + +Jessie gave a silent assent. He returned quickly, and slipped the emblem +on to her finger. + +"Mr. Lance has been telling me the most wonderful things!" said Jessie +to her father, as they sat at table. "All about flowers and legends and +ghosts." + +She was holding up a cup at that instant, for the servant to take, and +the colonel noticed the sparkle of the new ring on her hand. His eyes +threw back an answering sparkle; he gazed fondly at his daughter for an +instant, and then, with forgiving kindness, at Lance. + +"Miss Jessie refers to an old family history," the young man hastily +explained. "I mean the Wyldes and Whartons. It wouldn't seem so +wonderful to you, sir." + +The colonel threw himself back in his chair, with raised eyebrows. "The +Wyldes!" he exclaimed. "You never told me you knew _my_ family history. +How does it happen? Or is it, perhaps, only a coincidence of name? By +George, it strikes me as _very_ wonderful!" + +As Lance, in his turn, showed equal astonishment, it became necessary +for him to ask questions; and, by a rapid interchange of replies, they +arrived at an extraordinary revelation. The colonel raked out from his +library a dingy and ruinous old "family tree," by which ocular +demonstration was given of his descent from a branch of the identical +Surrey Wyldes that the Gertrude of Lance's story belonged to. Puzzling +out the different lines on the old diagram, which represented a trunk +and branches, with here and there a big circle like some impossible +fruit or an abnormal knot in the wood of the "tree"--the said knots or +circles representing fathers of families--they ascertained that the Miss +Wylde whose life-current had long ago blended with that of the Floyds +was a first cousin of Gertrude Wylde, who had been Guy Wharton's +lady-love. + +The colonel glowed with interest and enthusiasm. "I never came upon +anything more thrilling," he declared, roundly. + +"But you never said a word about the Wyldes," said Jessie, to Lance. "If +you had, I could have told you there was some connection between us and +them." + +"I didn't think of it," he assured her, "because there was a sort of +doubt in my mind whether the girl was English or an Indian--as I told +you. But I knew the name of Wylde was mixed up with the affair, anyhow; +and the more I reflect upon it, the more clearly it comes back to me +that Gertrude Wylde was the woman whom Guy Wharton came to this country +to find, and who was lost here." + +They referred once more to the "family tree," and detected there, surely +enough, a small branch terminating suddenly with the names of Matthew +Wylde and his daughter Gertrude, accompanied by the inscription: +"Emigrated to America, 1587." + +The colonel, much excited, now brought forth a faded tome devoted to the +history of North Carolina. Turning its pages, he unearthed the record of +Raleigh's expedition and the search-party that came after it. But the +names of the emigrants, of course, were not given. + +"I remember," said he, musingly, "that I read of this incident, years +ago, and was struck with it. But I should never have imagined that it +concerned a collateral branch of my own ancestry. How singular! The +Floyds immigrated to this country long after that time, and yet here am +I, their representative, who have spent my life in this spot, so near +where Gertrude Wylde disappeared from civilization--and I never knew of +it!" + +The discovery supplied them with a theme for meditation and remark, that +lasted the rest of the evening. + +Jessie bestirred herself, in the midst of a revery which had enveloped +all three, after they had talked for some time, saying: "How much it's +like the flowers! We're all one great family--at least, _nearly_ one." + +"Yes," echoed Lance, "nearly one!" + +She blushed, and rose to say good-night. + +After she had gone, the colonel came to Lance and, drawing his arm +around him, said: "God bless you, my boy--and her. I see how it is, and +I'm satisfied." + +"So am I," said Lance; "except that no man is good enough for her." + +What a night that was! Did ever darkness close round a pair more happy +than Lance and Jessie? The great heavens seemed to Lance the only canopy +that overhung his slumbers; for the thoughts and images that filled his +dreaming brain rose beyond the barriers of roof and wall, and included a +vast realm of peaceful joy, in which the stars burned ever mildly. He +had taken a spray of the yellow jessamine with him to his room. He +fancied that its fragrance repeated to him all night long, in +untranslatable sweetness, the name so like its own and now so dear to +him: "Jessie--Jessie--Jessie." And the knowledge that she was a late +comer in the line of the woman whom his ancestor had loved, contributed +still another element to his trance of silent rejoicing. + +Yet, through the whole delicious maze of happiness, he was aware of a +surmise which had not presented itself while he had been awake. It was +this: since Jessie had the Wylde blood in her veins, and the woman whom +he had met by the shore so strongly suggested a resemblance to Jessie, +might there not be some hidden bond between them, dating from the lost +Gertrude? + + + + +CHAPTER VII. + +THE RACES, AND THE MOTTO. + + +It so happened that Lance, up to this point in his sojourn with the +Floyds, had never, to his knowledge, seen Adela Reefe, although she had +come once or twice to the house while he was there. On a single occasion +he had ridden with Jessie to the cottage at the headland, and had met +"the De Vine boys." Becoming interested in Sylvester and his ambitions, +he had stopped to see him at other times in the course of his excursions +roundabout, and had also received one or two visits from him at +Fairleigh Park. He had, to be sure, heard something of Adela Reefe; but +the fact that he lacked the smallest idea as to what she looked like was +the absent link in his knowledge, which made it impossible to guess who +the mysterious girl of the night encounter might be. In fact, he never +so much as thought of Adela, and he gave up the riddle as one not likely +to be solved. But an event was now approaching which brought him sudden +enlightenment. + +The date of the races to be held at Newbern had been fixed--somewhat +early in the season, it is true--for a time shortly after the +occurrences which I have already described; and this affair was the +excuse for a general rally of inhabitants from the surrounding +districts. Colonel Floyd meant to attend it, with a large part of his +household, and Lance, as a matter of course, was going with him. + +Dennis De Vine had also looked forward to the festival as the excuse for +a great holiday. It had been his intention to take Aunty Losh, Adela, +and Sylv in his dug-out sloop, and sail a hundred miles up the Neuse +River, to the scene of the merrymaking. But the quarrel with Sylv, which +had come so near to a fatal result, threw a cloud over him, and for a +time threatened to mar the pleasure of this prospect. + +The day after that incident Dennis disappeared from the cabin, and was +not seen there again until evening. He was supposed to be out fishing, +and did, I believe, actually pass his time in sailing outside the +network of sandy spits and islands, as if engaged in trolling for +bluefish; but when he returned he brought but few trophies of the hook. +I know that during the afternoon he beached his boat on the inner shore +beyond Ocracoke, and took to wandering disconsolately along the dreary +dunes. The hour of sunset approached as he found himself near the old +graveyard of Portsmouth. It was a rough, melancholy, neglected spot; and +the thick-sown graves lay near the racing tides that the land which held +the dead was gradually crumbling away, and delivered to the sea, from +time to time, its mournful burden of forgotten humanity. + +Dennis, while trudging unconsciously hither, had been lost in mingled +reflections upon the quarrel--alternately grateful for his escape from +crime, and remorseful for the passionate temper which had almost swept +him on, without premeditation, to the consummation of a terrible deed. +All at once he became aware that he stood at the edge of this grim and +pathetic graveyard. A shudder ran through him. + +"To think," he muttered, "that I was nigh on to bringin' Sylv to such a +place as this! And then how would I ha' felt? Oh, God, forgive me! We +die soon enough, the best way we can fix it. Why should one man want to +kill another?" + +Near the water the ground was ragged and worn away, where the chafing of +the tides had carried it off piecemeal; and from the gaunt earth several +coffins projected, which were soon to fall a prey to the waves. Dennis +gazed upon them with a fascinated horror, and as he looked it seemed to +him that in the mouldering receptacle of death nearest to him he could +see something bright shining through the crevices of the boarding that, +warped by long inhumation, leaned partly open. For a moment the wild +fancy presented itself that impossible wealth, in the shape of sparkling +jewels, had been buried with the unknown inmate of the coffin. He bent a +little closer to examine it. At that instant the bank beneath crumbled +slightly--some of the sandy soil slipped into the water--and a fresh +breeze, sweeping in from the sea, shook the side-plank so that it fell, +disclosing the dusty and shapeless contents. Sweat started to the brow +of Dennis; he beheld there a row of toads, sitting inert and hideous +inside the coffin, with glittering eyes. + +No more awful example of the ghastiliness of burial could have +confronted him than that. The sight redoubled the agony he was already +suffering, and with a staggering motion he turned to retrace his steps. + +Dennis was not a reflective man; perhaps he had never before meditated +very deeply on the transitoriness of life, and the thousand ways in +which oblivion is forever clutching at us, obliterating the few poor +traces of our existence that are left when we depart from this world. +But the conjunction of circumstances, bringing such a sight to him at +that precise moment, wrought powerfully on his mind. "If I could only +change!" he said to himself, as he plodded back to his boat. "If I could +only be better!" + +Yet he was by no means certain that he could improve. + +Throughout the next few days he devoted himself to Sylv with a careful +tenderness that was almost pathetic. He offered to do him little +services; he tried to exhibit an interest in Sylv's reading; he was +anxious not to have Slyv expose himself to any undue fatigues or risks +or dangers. He would not let him go out in the boat. + +"'Pears like you thought you was married a'ready and Sylv was your +baby," Aunty Losh observed, with kindly sarcasm, noticing his unwonted +solicitude. "But I'm glad on't, Dennie. Bein' as you're older'n him, it +ar' right, and I'm glad on't." And thereupon she again betook herself to +"paddling" snuff, with a pleasant sense of duty performed. + +Sylv understood his brother's contrition, but did his best to banish all +remembrance of their saturnine controversy in the wood. "How 'bout +Beaufort," he asked, as the time approached for making the final +arrangements; "have you seen Deely?" + +Now, the truth was that neither of them had seen Deely for several days; +she had stayed at home punctiliously, dreading to meet Sylvester by +chance, and dreading still more to see Dennis, after what she had +overheard. + +"No," said Dennis; "but I will see her." + +Accordingly he went over to the so-called Doctor Reefe's house at +Hunting Quarters, the next day. Adela was at home, but she came out of +the house to receive him, and did not ask him in. + +"I'm not going," she said at first, facing him with a reserved majesty +like that of some wild princess. + +"Why not?" he inquired, his eyes still downcast. + +"Because I'm afraid. Something might happen." + +Dennis shot a swift, indignant glance at her. "What'd happen, I'd like +to know?" + +"I didn't mean anything," said Adela. "I'm not going; that's what." She +saw that she had been too abrupt, and she was determined not to disclose +that she knew anything of the altercation. + +But Dennis besought her in every way he could think of. "I won't talk to +you so, like I did last time," he said, penitently. "I know I'm a rough +kind o' fellow. I ain't got no temper--or mebbe I got too much. But I'm +sorry for what I done, and sorry for mor'n what you know, Deely. I'll +promise to be good if ye'll go." + +And so, at last, she consented. + +Old Reefe regarded the races as a matter of business, being in the +habit, I regret to say, of selling considerable quantities of his +untrustworthy herb-medicines on these occasions. He was peculiar and of +a solitary turn, and had his own way of going to Newbern. He started +three or four days in advance, on foot, and did more or less peddling in +the sparsely settled country through which he passed. This arrangement +was also quite satisfactory to Dennis. His sloop was made out of two +large hollowed cypress logs--as is the custom in those latitudes, where +the hard knocks that boats must endure on the shoals soon wear out any +lighter craft--and the accommodations aboard were limited; there was +really no room for "ole man Reefe." + +To people leading so plain and secluded a life as that of the shore, you +may imagine what a change and what an outlook of wild excitement this +extensive trip to Newbern afforded. Adela was always interested in the +boat; Dennis had given her lessons in sailing, and often let her take +the helm. Once on board, her old delight returned; doubts and troubles +vanished, and it was soon a gay party that sat beneath the sail, now +briskly speeding midway up the five-mile-wide current, now tacking from +side to side. + +An informal, impromptu sort of fair clustered around the races, +embracing booths and stalls for the sale of various trumpery, with +perhaps a circus in a tent, or merely a nomadic little "show," +consisting chiefly of over-colored pictures, that hung upon the canvas +wall, flapping and trembling in the breeze as if frightened by their own +mendacity. Then, as I have said, "Doctor" Reefe went about, lean and +sombre, with grayish hair straggling round his dark cheeks, to hawk his +"great Indian remedies," although it did not appear that there were any +Indians to be remedied. Adela, who possessed a knack for making +ornamental baskets and bead-work, likewise availed herself of the brief +season to sell some of her pretty wares, in a modest and desultory way. + +Lance, Jessie, and Colonel Floyd occupied themselves at first with +looking at the trotters and watching the false starts, the true starts, +the judges incessantly ringing a bell in the most confusing way, and the +fine, steady rush of the horses around the track, with small sulkies and +eager drivers apparently glued to their haunches. But after a time, when +a number of heats had been run, there was an intermission, and Lance and +Jessie began to stroll about in the crowd, examining the limited means +of entertainment, while the colonel talked with some of his cronies +among the horse-owners. Blacks and whites were slowly sauntering from +point to point, chiefly in separate groups, and our friends kept on the +edge of the white crowd. There was a fresh odor of bruised grass in the +air, from the treading of many feet, and the beating of a drum sounded +from the small tent where an outrageous effigy of the Great Giant of +Tartary alternately swelled out threateningly and crumpled itself up +ineffectually, as the gusts of wind came and went that fluttered the +streamers above him. + +Here and there a game of some sort was in progress, though without +enlisting much energy from the participants, except in one +instance. The exception was due to a newly introduced sport--that of +"egg-jumping"--the point of which was that each contestant, in trying to +make the longest jump, should carry an egg in either hand. The natural +tendency to close the fingers at the moment of leaping was relied on to +make jumpers crush the eggs; and most of them came to grief in that way, +for a failure to bring either egg intact through the experiment ruined +the competitors chance for that time. The enterprising individual who +presided over this game had put up several cheap prizes, among which was +a brilliant neckerchief for feminine adornment, and charged each person +who entered the sum of five cents, the low rate being due to the fact +that the eggs consumed were no longer marketable; and their condition +was supposed to increase the dismay of the defeated. + +The men toed a chalk line on the grass, and jumped from it successively. +The line never lacked for the boots of some ambitious contestant ready +to make his attempt; and as Lance reached the spot with his companion, +the stalwart form of Dennis De Vine was discovered there, gathering +itself together for a saltatory effort. He had set his heart on winning +the neckerchief for Adela; but, with the eyes of the spectators upon +him, he was conscious of being in an absurd position, and his greatest +difficulty seemed to be to suppress a smile that was broadening on his +lips. Twice or thrice he seemed on the point of jumping, but each time +he paused to give way to a bashful guffaw and stamp his bouts on the +ground with humorous emphasis. Finally he nerved himself, and, +readjusting the fragile burdens in either fist, made his spring. For an +instant the sunlight showed brightly on his ruddy cheeks and red hair as +he flew from the line, rising a few inches from the sod. Then he landed +suddenly, several feet away, slipped, and went down, with the yolks +gushing in yellow spurts from the shells. A roar of laughter rose from +the crowd. + +Dennis looked a little angry, but hastened to rub off the egg-yolks on +the grass, and, producing another five cents, took his stand at the line +again. He waited for one or two companions in misfortune to repeat his +failure; but there was no awkward merriment about him, this time. He was +too intent upon success. Holding the new eggs firmly and lightly, +swinging his arms and then keeping them well up as he started, he made +his second energetic venture; and when his feet struck the turf he +raised the two small white objects triumphantly. They were unbroken. + +He was rewarded with plaudits and shouts of approbation--the length of +the jump was respectable--and, with a reluctant flourish of the +kerchief, the proprietor of the game awarded him that prize. + +"Good for you, Dennie!" cried a deep and rather musical voice near +Lance. + +He turned, and recognised Sylv. "Why, how are you?" he asked, cordially. + +He would have stepped toward him and shaken hands, but Sylv merely took +off his hat, bowing, and gave no sign of expecting further advances. The +truth was, he was afraid of Jessie, whose notions of caste made her +think it proper to keep these folk at a distance in public places. + +"Come," she said to her lover; "let us be going back to the racecourse." + +"I wanted to speak a moment with De Vine," Lance objected, mildly. "I +intend to make him part of my schemes; don't you see?" + +"Oh, well, not here; not now," said Jessie. "He's not your friend, if he +_is_ to be your workman. And this is hardly the place." + +"Very well," he assented, though not wholly pleased. + +But by this time Dennis had elbowed his way through the press of +onlookers, bearing his prize like a victorious banner, and Jessie all at +once became interested in seeing what he would do with it. "Look!" she +exclaimed, abandoning her position of careful reserve. "He's going to +give it to his sweetheart--Adela Reefe. Don't you remember my telling +you about her? She's really a handsome girl--very handsome. And that +reminds me--I _must_ buy one of her baskets or boxes. She'd be +dreadfully disappointed if I didn't." + +The result was that Jessie impulsively carried him off in pursuit of +Dennis, whom Sylv also followed. + +Old Reefe, mounted on a box under the spreading branches of a tree, not +far away, was dispensing his medicaments with an impressively stoical +air, now and then addressing the bystanders in a curiously grave manner, +quite at variance with the usual volubility of nostrum-dealers; and near +him Adela was moving to and fro with a bundle of her handiwork on her +arm, waiting for purchasers, but never soliciting them. Aunty Losh +smoked her pipe serenely in the background, beneath the shade of the +trees. + +Lance and Jessie witnessed the pleasant little scene that was enacted, +of Dennie's presenting the scarf loyally to his lady-love, and her +unfeigned satisfaction in receiving it, while Sylv stood apart for a +moment, and then came up to take a share in describing his brother's +achievement. They all three broke into smiles and laughter at the +recital. + +But Lance stood motionless with astonishment. "Is _that_ Adela Reefe?" +he inquired. + +"Certainly," Jessie assured him. "Why shouldn't she be?" + +Lance was too much surprised to answer. It appeared to him certain, at +the very first glance, that this was the same young woman who had of +late been so often in his mind; and, as she looked so much like his +recollection of her, the resemblance to Jessie which he had before +imagined also struck him now. But he could not as yet be quite sure that +it existed. He waited until they came nearer before making up his mind +on this point. + +Meanwhile Jessie pressed forward, and he with her. She greeted Adela +with smiles, nodded with the affability of a natural superior to Dennis, +and congratulated them both on his success, in a way that made them feel +that she had bestowed a favor. She then began to examine Adela's +stock-in-trade, holding up the different articles that took her fancy, +turning them this way and that, and bringing out their meek decorative +value by the sunniness of the light from her own eyes. "This is pretty. +_That's_ remarkably good!" she said, like a connoisseur inspecting rare +bric-à-brac. "Oh, I _must_ have this box of bark and moss! And that +belt--just see how quaint it is, Ned." + +Lance quietly received each piece that she selected, and kept every one; +so that when she had done choosing and he had paid for them, Adela +conceived that it would be unnecessary to sell anything more that day. + +The belt which Lance was called upon to admire especially was made of +simple undressed leather, but it was embroidered with a design in +varicolored beads, so original and ingenious that the thing became +positively charming. Through the pattern there ran a series of angular +lines that suggested an inscription; as this, however, seemed to be only +a whim of the designer, and was illegible, it fell into the general plan +of ornament, with an effect like that of hieroglyphics. Miss Jessie's +cavalier glanced at it hastily, as they moved away, and was decidedly +pleased with the acquisition. But he had no time to consider it, and he +was, moreover, exceedingly occupied with the result of the closer +scrutiny he had given to Adela. + +It had confirmed his idea that there was a degree of likeness in her +features to Jessie's; and the fact so impressed him, that he forgot to +seize the chance which had offered of a chat with Sylv. He said to the +young man only: "I want to see you soon, De Vine, about an important +matter. Come up to the manor when you can." + +It was impossible to keep the subject out of his mind, as he returned to +the racecourse with Jessie; and it recurred again and again that night, +which he passed, with the Floyds, in the house of friends at Newbern. A +whole rout of bewildering surmises and baffled guesses beset him. If +Adela really looked at all like his Jessie, why, he asked himself, had +not others discovered it? Why hadn't Jessie herself remarked the fact? +But then, on the other hand, the thing was so unlikely, and the +positions of the two women were so far apart, that no one here would be +apt to notice or for a moment consider such a supposition. + +It was not until they were once more, at Fairleigh Park that he looked a +second time at the belt which they had bought From Adela. Sitting with +Jessie and her father, in the evening, when they were talking over the +experience on the rail and at the races, he glanced over the various +purchases which had been made, most of them of a more ambitious sort; +but when they came to the belt, he studied it with a good deal of care, +feeling an interest both in its novelty and in the maker. + +Did he dream, or was this another illusion? The angular pattern in the +midst of the design, which he had before noticed, unexpectedly assumed a +meaning to his eyes. The more sharply he scanned it, the less he doubted +his senses, for the beaded lines took with increasing clearness the +forms of letters; and, on tracing these out, one after another, he saw +that they composed a series of words arranged in coherent +order--briefly, a motto. + +I am not afraid of being old-fashioned. Therefore I shall ask my reader +if he ever came upon any sight--ever was smitten, either in thought or +in reading, by any feeling that set a thousand flame-points tingling +around his brain, and sent irresistible waves of cold, nervous thrill +down his spine. By this I do not mean a thrill of horror, but of supreme +and overwhelming emotion that instantly suggests your being in the grasp +of some more than human power--the power of endless, ideal forces, +directed upon the human organism from without, as the harper's hand is +directed with omnipotent sweep upon the strings of his instrument. If my +reader, as aforesaid, has had such experience, he will understand the +strange, exalting shock of wonder and awe that vibrated through Lance's +system when he discerned in the wording on the belt: + + "I journey whither I cannot see. + 'Tis strange that I can merry be." + +The old motto of Wharton Hall, in Surrey, England, was perfectly +familiar to him, because he had visited the place with his father, on +one of their journeys abroad, and having noted down the lines, which +still remained engraven on the wall, he had committed them to memory. +And here was the last half of that quatrain, obscurely inscribed--as if +the embroiderer had hardly understood their full significance--on the +handiwork of Adela Reefe. Could there be anything more astounding than +this? Did Adela know the origin of those verses? And if she did, what +momentous secret did the fact involve? + +The next moment, naturally enough, a simple and matter-of-fact solution +occurred to him. Adela might have learned the motto from the Floyds. + +"Do you see how it reads?" he asked, holding up the bead-work so that +Jessie could survey the whole pattern. + +"No," said she. + +He pointed out the letters with his finger, and gradually spelled the +inscription through, until she caught its purport. + +"How very odd!" she exclaimed, at the end. But the look with which she +accompanied the remark showed that the verses touched no chord of memory +or knowledge in her mind. "Where do you suppose the girl got the idea?" +she concluded. + +The quivering sensation which Lance had felt, at first, renewed itself. +He laid the belt down, and, as he did so, his hands trembled. + +"Do _you_ know anything about this motto?" he said, appealing to the +colonel. + +But the colonel was also a blank on the subject. + +Lance, therefore, was reduced to telling them where he had seen it. In +doing this he was quite methodical, but he could not conceal the +peculiar agitation which affected him. + +Both the colonel and his daughter were much impressed by his strange +disclosure, and were utterly at a loss to account for the reappearance +of the traditional rhymes in a way so unlooked for; but they did not +take the mystery so much to heart as Lance did. + +"It's not only extraordinary, but incredible," he affirmed. "I must see +that girl and ask her about it." + + + + +CHAPTER VIII. + +ADELA'S LEGEND. + + +Jessie was not much inclined to give heed to her lover's curiosity about +Adela, and his desire to consult her respecting the enigma which had so +piqued him. But he continued so persistent, that she was obliged to +humor him; and before a week passed he persuaded her to ride with him to +Hunting Quarters and search out the mysterious maiden. + +Both Adela and her father were at home, the latter being engaged, when +the visitors entered, with some jugs and bottles, in which were stored +his marvellous decoctions. Promptly desisting from his work, he invited +the young pair to seat themselves; and Adela, who was just then +stitching at some of her semi-savage contrivances, also rose to offer +welcome. + +The interior of the house at Hunting Quarters was rude enough. The room +in which these four people met was badly lighted from two small windows +facing toward Core Sound, one of which was open, so that the dull +booming of the sea continually entered, supplying an uncouth refrain to +their conversation. On one side was a large hearth; on the other, a door +leading to the remaining part of the house--what there was of it. The +furniture was scanty: a table, a bench, a couple of stools, some shelves +holding bottles, boxes, a few books and various cooking utensils as well +as dishes. The lack of sufficient seats for guests was supplied by +several blocks of wood sawed off from the stumps of trees; and to these +primitive perches old Reefe and his daughter resorted, in order to make +room for their callers. + +Jessie presented an excuse for coming, to the effect that Aunt Sally was +desirous of having a bottle of Doctor Reefe's famous specific; but, when +this business was over, she turned the conversation to Adela's work. + +"Mr. Lance is ever so much pleased with those things you let us have," +she said. "And I can assure you he takes the greatest interest in some +of them. I think he wants to ask you how you sew the beads, and how you +make those moss-boxes." + +Adela laughed. "I don't know," she said. "I've done it so long--ever +since I was a tiny girl. Ain't it so, dad?" + +Old Reefe, thus referred to, gave a nod, without saying anything. But +Lance took advantage of the cue Jessie had given him to go into +particulars with Adela as to her mode of manufacture and the several +beauties of the articles she produced. Finally he came around to the +subject of the belt and the pattern woven upon it. "Have you got any +more of those?" he asked. + +"No," said Adela; "it was the last--the one you took. I can make +another, if you want. I've got it all in my head." + +"And the rhyme, too?" Lance inquired, eagerly. + +"What? What's that?" Adela appeared a little dazed. + +"I mean the words," he explained. "Didn't you know there were words in +it?" + +"Oh, that part along the middle," said the girl. Her gray eyes took on a +far-off, dreamy expression. "Yes; they are words." + +Lance controlled his excitement, which still seemed to him causeless and +rather annoying. "I wonder if I read them right?" he hazarded. "Would +you like to see how they looked to me?" + +He drew out a bit of paper on which he had written them, and showed it +to her. The action seemed to rouse her taciturn father slightly. But +Adela gazed at the paper, and said, with an incredulous laugh: "Oh, no, +they don't look like that!" + +"Can you read?" Lance demanded. + +"Yes, a little; but they don't look like that." + +"Well, at any rate, they mean something," he retorted; "and this is what +they mean." + +He read the rhyme aloud, and their eyes met. + +"Yes," she admitted; "I suppose that's how it goes;" and she crooned the +distich over, as if singing to herself. + +"But what I want to know," he continued, "is how you got it. How did you +come to know it?" + +Adela remained silent; but her father spoke, after a pause, in a +serious, hollow voice. "It is very old," he said. "It is a great charm. +We have always known it." + +"How do you mean--'you'?" + +"Our people," replied the old man, gravely. + +"But not all the people around here," Lance interposed. "Miss Jessie +doesn't know it." + +Reefe made a gesture of dissent that approached the disdainful. "No," he +exclaimed, with a sort of gutteral grunt after the word; "_she_ don't +know--of course." + +"But _I_ have known it well," Lance said. "I saw it years ago in +England." + +"You?" cried Reefe, with the first indication of marked feeling that he +had betrayed during the interview. "Who are you, then?" + +"Oh, I'm a humble citizen named Lance!" said the young man, quietly. +"But I know that motto; it has been in our family for a long time." + +The old man seemed to withdraw suddenly into himself. "It is a great +charm," he repeated, slowly. "Wonderful! It keeps off harm and trouble. +My father gave it to me." + +"Where did he find it?" Lance inquired. + +"He found it far, far back," Reefe responded. But his tone was so vague, +and his expression grew so introspective, that Lance half imagined that +the old face was growing still older--immeasurably more ancient--as he +gazed upon it, and that the speaker was removing himself, by some occult +spell, into a distant past. + +"You spoke of our people," he said, at length. "Did you mean your +family?" + +"Where we came from. Our people--over there," the herb doctor answered, +pointing uncertainly to his right, in a direction, Lance noticed, which +signified farther to the North, up the Sound. + +"Yes, they always had that charm," Adela now said. "I don't know why. +Who can tell? It all comes from the old story of the Indians and the +white folks." + +Her father appeared to have lapsed into a semi-trance, or to be dozing; +but Adela looked aroused; her interest was kindled, and she was +evidently prepared to be communicative. + +"Oh, is there a story?" Jessie cried. "Why, I never heard it. Do tell +us, Deely!" + +Some judicious urging was required before the girl would speak; but, in +the end, the inquisitive lovers succeeded in persuading her, and at last +she narrated to them the legend of her "people," the substance of which +shall here be given, though not precisely in her language. + + * * * * * + +A great many years ago--as many as there are buds on a tree--an old man +dwelt in a wigwam beside the sweet waters, with his only child, a +beautiful girl. They had come out of the sea together, no man could +remember when; but, while the other people in the wigwams were dark and +red, these were almost white. They had been so long in the sea that the +foam of the waves, touching their faces, had made them so white. And the +old man loved his daughter very much. They spoke a strange language +together, but when others talked to them, they replied in the words that +all understood. + +The old man had no name; but his daughter was called Ewayeá, which meant +Lullaby or Rest-Song. She, too, loved her father. They lived for each +other; and the old man seemed always waiting for something, uneasy and +troubled, but Ewayeá made him rest and sang him to sleep; and he slept +much, and was happy. But when he was resting, Ewayeá would go to the top +of a little hill near the wigwam and look far away, seeming also to +expect that some one would come. + +By and by he came. His name was Sharp Arrow; and he came suddenly, as if +some hand had bent a bow and sent him there swiftly. He loved Ewayeá, +but at first she did not love him, because she had not waited for him, +and he was a red color; and she told him he must go and stay in the sea +and let the foam dash over him, to wash his face and make him white. +Then he went away, but when he came back his face was still red; and the +Old-man-without-a-name told him that he could not have his daughter. But +Sharp Arrow stayed there, and he flew in and out of the forest, always +returning to the maiden with love and with some presents, or bringing +food to her father. So at last he struck her heart. It bled for him, and +she longed to go with him, to comfort him, and be happy herself. But she +said: "Not yet, not yet! The Old-man-without-a-name would die if I left +him now. I must sing him to sleep many times before we go." + +Her father saw that she loved Sharp Arrow, and he was very jealous. He +looked at the young man with enmity, while his face every day grew +harder, more angry, and stern, like iron. Often, too, he spoke to Ewayeá +in the strange language, and pointed to the East, as if he would have +her go there. But she only shook her head and sighed; and sometimes she +wept. + +The summer flew away, and the birds flew away to find it. But those two +lovers did not know it had gone, for their hearts were warm, and +thoughts of love grew in them, like the leaves of June. The days parted, +one from another, and the seasons separated; but for Ewayeá and her +lover there was no separation. They were man and wife. Their two +children played in the shade of the forest, and Ewayeá sang lullabies to +them. She taught Sharp Arrow charms and spells. She gave him words out +of a book. Her children learned the strange language; and she looked at +the trees, the water and the sky, and made them talk as they had not +talked till then. And Sharp Arrow promised that her spells should never +be forgotten among his people if she should die. + +But she never died. + +The old man slept a long while; then at last he woke. And when he woke +his face was wrinkled with anger--it was hard like ice in the sweet +waters--and when he looked at Sharp Arrow the look seemed to freeze the +young man's face, so that hatred stiffened it into a hardness like that +of the old man's. Then, one night in winter, the old man came to the +door of his wigwam and stood there like a spirit. He beckoned to Sharp +Arrow, with one finger upraised; the moonlight gleamed white on his +bitter white face, and behind him there was much white snow. "I am +dead," he said to Sharp Arrow, "and you must come with me!" + +The look of hate was still in all his features; and as Sharp Arrow rose +to obey the command, his own face reflected that hatred. The moonlight +fell on him, too--his face grew white in it--and no one could have told +which face was most like the other, then. But he went forward, and +followed the old man. + +Just at that moment Ewayeá awoke from her sleep beside the children. She +stretched out her arms, tried to catch her husband and hold him, and saw +him pass away out of her reach; saw her father, also, standing beyond, +and beckoning. + +"Father! father!" she cried, "why do you leave me? Where are you going?" +And to her husband she cried: "Oh my heart, my heart, come back to me!" + +But they gave no heed to her. The old man moved away, noiseless, on feet +of air--always turning backward that icy, malignant gaze--and the young +man followed, staring fixedly, helplessly upon him, with the same dumb +and frozen wrath upon his own countenance. + +And so, as if they had been spirits, they passed noiselessly on and on, +disappearing in the pale night and the snow, until all that Ewayeá could +see in the quarter where they had vanished was the crescent of the +sinking moon, like an uplifted, crooked finger, beckoning some one to +follow. + +Ewayeá hoped that they would come back. At first she wanted to go after +them, but when she tried to move she could not: her limbs were as weak +and cold as snow, and invisible arms were thrown around her, holding her +back. There was nothing for her to do but to wait. When the spring came +again she was always waiting and watching. She stayed every day in the +same place, looking out and expecting her father and her lover to +return; but still they came not. At last she ceased to speak: she sat +there motionless and voiceless on the ground, ever longing for them, but +afraid to stir, for fear that they would come back and not find her. The +years passed, and her children grew up and departed, carrying with them +the spells and charms they had learned. Yes; they went away and forgot +their mother, who sat there so patiently. But she never once called to +them, and only waited--waited--waited. They say she is still waiting in +that spot. Summer after summer has blossomed above her, and the new +leaves have started and rustled with surprise as they caught sight of +her, and have whispered one another all day long about the strangeness +of her silent presence. The slow autumns, one after another, have +wreathed her brow with weird, unnatural flame; and the snows of many, +many winters have crept around her feet and drifted higher until they +almost buried her. But she cares nothing for all these changes; does not +even turn her head one way or the other, but simply gazes straight +forward, expectantly, just as she used to when she went to the top of +the little hill looking eastward. In summer, again, come the butterflies +and softly touch her cheek with sympathetic wings, as they hover around; +the humming-birds flash and tremble near her lips, as if expecting to +find honey there; and other birds look curiously with their bright eyes +into hers that make no answer, while the squirrels that chatter on the +boughs near by, and nibble nuts, seem to wonder that she does not ask to +share their food. Still, she gives heed to nothing. She crouches low, +and her weary head has drooped; and the leaves and dust have fallen +thick upon her from the underbrush that has sprung up so rankly about +her; so that sometimes you might think she was not a woman at all, but +only a mound of earth. Yet she is not dead. No! The rains and winds, of +course, have worn away the expression from her face, until it looks dull +and sad and lifeless; but, for all that, she is not dead. Her arms and +knees must have grown very tired in the long vigil she has been keeping, +and one would suppose they would have crumbled into earth before now. +But, you see, the wild vines have reached out from the surrounding trees +to support her; and they have encircled her lovingly, lending their +strength, that she may not fail of her purpose. + +No; she is not dead. If you could only discover the exact place, you +would find her still alive. But we do not know where it is. + + * * * * * + +All four remained silent for a few moments, after Adela had finished her +legend. Lance had listened with profound attention; and the shadowy, +fantastic outlines of the narrative were so extraordinary, that he was +at first too much astonished and perplexed to know what to think or say +about it. Clearly enough, that which the girl had told might be +interpreted as a sequel to the history of Gertrude Wylde, after his +ancestor, Guy Wharton, had lost trace of her. It was impossible to say +just what the tradition, now so vague and impossible, had originally +come from. But the blending of the white and Indian races at which it +hinted, the looking eastward, and the idea of endless waiting and +expectancy that ran all through it--did not these things point plainly +toward the old romance with which his family was connected? + +He did not believe that his imagination alone was responsible for these +suggestions, because Adela could not possibly know what he knew--her +story was an inheritance so carefully guarded, that even Jessie had not +heard it until now--and yet here were these salient details that fitted +on so naturally to his own tradition, and supplemented it. Then, too, +there was the old, transmitted rhyme. Ah, that was the clew! It clinched +all the parts of his guess-work together. + +"Was Ewayeá one of your people, then?" he asked, at length. + +Adela looked at him with surprise, as if he were asking about something +which had already been explained. + +"Why, I thought I said so," she answered. "We _came_ from her." + +Old Reefe, roused perhaps by Lance's voice, opened his eyes, and, +hearing his daughter's statement, nodded a silent corroboration. + +"And that charm," Lance continued--"the one that you put on the +belt--came from her, too? Did she teach it to her children?" + +"Yes; that came from her, too," said Adela. + +Lance turned toward Jessie in a bewildered way, gazing at her as if he +expected her to say or do something which would dispel the phantasm that +was growing so like a reality. But Jessie only reflected his amazement +in the glance which she gave him in return. + +"Isn't this very remarkable?" he said. + +"Very," said Jessie. "It's a perfect puzzle. I don't see what to make of +it. But, Adela," she went on, addressing the girl, "why have you never +told me this before?" + +Adela responded only with a reticent smile, and her luminous gray eyes +roved from Jessie to Lance and back again without betraying what she +thought. + +"We don't tell it," muttered her father. "It was our story--only for +us." + +"But you _have_ told it now," Jessie argued. "You've told Mr. Lance, and +he is a stranger." Here Jessie blushed, and corrected herself: "Any way, +he _was_ a stranger to you." + +The old man raised his hand to point at Lance; and--by an odd +coincidence--his forefinger, separated from the others, was curved with +a beckoning emphasis, as if he were himself the Old-man-without-a-name +of the legend. "_He_ is one of us," he declared. + +"I'm not so sure of that!" Lance exclaimed, feeling that the mystery was +going almost too far. "I don't see it at all." + +"You knew the charm," old Reefe retorted; and his eyes twinkled +obscurely, as he fixed them upon his visitor. + +"That doesn't prove that I'm one of you," said Lance, rising, for the +situation vexed him; he was becoming indignant. "It only shows that my +people in England knew the rhyme long before yours were heard of." + +Jessie rose as well. "I don't see what your father is thinking of," she +observed, frigidly, to Adela. "Mr. Lance belongs to a very old family." + +Something like a sarcastic chuckle seemed to escape from Reefe's bearded +lips; but he remained quite impassive. It was impossible to tell whether +or not he had made any sound. + +"Before I go," Lance began, desperately, "I wish you'd tell me what this +legend means. Did you have Indian ancestors, as well as English?" + +He fixed his gaze intently and strenuously upon Adela as he spoke. + +"I told you all I could," Adela answered, evasively; and began to resume +her work upon one of the moss-boxes. + +Reefe looked at him, with a trace of defiance now. "We have as good +blood as any," he averred. "But we ask you no questions, and I don't see +that we've got a call to answer any more. If ye want any yarb +medicine--" And there he paused, indicating that he was ready for +business. + +There could not have been a completer collapse of the climax which Lance +had thought to force. He turned away in disgust. "Come, Jessie," he +said, "let us go." And Jessie was more than ready to accede. + +But before they went he thanked Adela for her story, and bade good-by to +her and her father. As he faced them in doing this, he noticed once more +the baffling resemblance between Adela and Jessie, which their +unlikeness in stature and general bearing rendered all the more +peculiar; and the gray eyes of the Reefes troubled him by their +enigmatic expression. The conviction was strong in his mind, that the +cause of their silence was that they really had nothing more definite to +tell him about their ancestry than what they had imparted. Yet he wished +that they had not stopped at this point. Why did they have gray eyes? +And yet, why should they not have them? Save for a slight bronze or +coppery hue in their complexions, they were of the same European race +that Lance and Jessie belonged to. + +Nevertheless, their eyes and their strange legend pursued and haunted +him long after he and Jessie had cantered away from the herb-doctor's +door. + + + + +CHAPTER IX. + +LANCE AND SYLVESTER. + + +So mingled and conflicting were the considerations in Lance's mind, on +leaving the Reefes, that he was not sure he would want to see Adela +again. But his mood soon changed; he was not able to evade the +importance which she had assumed for him. + +"I hope you are satisfied now," said Jessie, as they rode homeward +together. + +"No, I'm not," he answered. "I suspect myself of being very much +_dis_satisfied." + +Somehow he did not dare to speak to her, as yet, of the theory he +entertained, that Adela was a descendant of Gertrude Wylde. And how +could he tell her that he thought they looked alike? + +But within a few days, so incessantly did the notion pursue him, that he +was forced to make a limited confession of it. Jessie observed that he +was preoccupied and thinking of something which he would not tell her. +"Do let me know what it is that troubles you, Ned," she whispered to +him, laying her arm gently around his neck one evening on the veranda, +when she found him brooding there alone. + +Thereupon he made his disclosure, and was rewarded by a rather +tumultuous dialogue, in which Jessie demonstrated clearly that she was +not pleased with the idea which he presented. + +"But how can it be any other way, Jessie?" he demanded, reproachfully. +"Everything leads up to this conclusion; and, surely, if Adela Reefe +represents to-day the line of that poor girl, Gertrude, who would have +been your own cousin if you had been living then, how can we be +indifferent to the fact that the same blood is in your veins and hers?" + +"I won't have it so!" Jessie returned. "I don't care if it is. And, +besides, she has Indian blood; that makes all the difference. It is no +longer the same." + +Lance bethought him of those reported cases in which the stock of +negroes and whites had been blended, and he feared that it would be next +to hopeless for him to overcome Jessie's aversion. Still he said: "But +that is so far off, child. She is so like us now, that I can't help +thinking of her as if she might be a kinswoman of yours--can't help +taking an interest in her welfare." + +"Never say that to me again!" cried Jessie. "No one in that class shall +be considered as a kinswoman of mine. If you are going to give yourself +up to such fancies as these, you may as well choose between them and +me." + +Her tone exasperated Lance, but he controlled himself. "Dearest," he +said, "I have given myself up only to you. You know it; don't you?" + +Then Jessie showed contrition, and humbly, while the tears rose to her +eyes, acknowledged her hastiness; and the little quarrel proved to be +only a convenient groundwork for new demonstrations of mutual +tenderness. But there remained in Lance's mind a residuum of doubt, lest +his betrothed should not fully sympathize with all his impulses, his +desire to be true to every one who could justly make a claim upon him. +He did not abandon the project, which had unconsciously been taking +shape, of somehow including Adela in his schemes of improvement. + +While this dubious colloquy was fresh in his thoughts, it chanced that +Sylvester De Vine, responding to the invitation he had thrown out at the +races, trudged up to the manor to see him. Lance's love affair, and the +misty problem concerning Adela, had not prevented him from giving a good +deal of meditation to his plans, which he had also talked over with +Colonel Floyd, regarding investment in new enterprises. Consequently, he +was primed for the interview with Sylv. + +At that time the process of making paper from the refuse of Louisiana +sugar-cane, commonly called "bagasse," had scarcely been thought of; +Lance, at any rate, had never heard it suggested; but it had occurred to +him that the glutinous reeds, which grew in such unmeasured abundance +along this marshy North Carolina coast, might be utilized in +paper-manufacture; and he had annexed the idea to his other pet desire +of reclaiming Elbow Crook Swamp. He was anxious to enlist Sylv in both +these enterprises, having already ascertained that the young fellow was +far more receptive and progressive than Colonel Floyd. What he needed +was an assistant who would give time and energy to the preliminary steps +and experiments, animated by faith and assisted by due compensation in +money. + +"Would you undertake to explore the swamp for me, and give me a detailed +report?" he asked Sylv. + +"It would be very difficult," Sylv answered, "and would take time. I +might do it for you, though, by and by." + +"Oh, there's no immediate hurry. You can wait a while. I shall probably +have to go North during the winter on business and to arrange about +mobilizing capital to work with here. I want to find out what is +practicable before I do anything serious. But, in the meanwhile, we +might start in on a trial of the reed-pulp for paper." + +Sylv pulled his tangled beard meditatively, and replied: "That won't +help me much with my law studies." + +"Yes, it will, indirectly," Lance declared. Then, after reflecting, he +added: "I'll tell you what I'll do! I'll give you some assistance for +the present, so that you can go on reading. It won't do you any harm. +Afterward, you can undertake my job." + +It was not to be wondered at that, from this beginning, they should go +on to speak of Adela. "She astonishes me," said Lance. "I did not expect +to find any one like her here. It's a pity that she can't have a chance +to develop, too." + +Sylv cast a sharp glance at the young philanthropist. It may have been +that the remark threw a new light for him upon Lance, or upon Adela. + +"Yes, it would be a good thing for her," he replied, with moderate +enthusiasm. "She's engaged to marry my brother--Dennie." + +This was news to Lance, and it took him by surprise. Somehow, his first +sensation was one of disappointment, though he could not have explained +to himself or anyone else why. In Sylv's accent, also, there was a vague +hint of despondency, as he made his announcement. Possibly it was the +first sign of a sentiment which he had not, up to that time, suspected. +The two men dropped into silence for a moment. + +"Well," said Lance, with abrupt energy, "that's all right, I suppose. +And _I'm_ engaged to Miss Jessie. It will be all the pleasanter to have +you and Dennie and Adela working with us for a common end." + +It was taking a sanguine view, to suppose that such a harmony could be +maintained; but it gave Sylv great pleasure, although he saw the +difficulties in the way. His face lighted with surprise, which gradually +changed to quiet satisfaction. + +The two men talked long and earnestly, and by the time Sylv set out for +home they had agreed that they would try to persuade Adela to go to +school at Newbern, Lance undertaking the expenses. + +"I'm not main certain Dennie'll let her," Sylv warned him, as they +parted. + +"But he ought to be very glad to have her go," Lance replied. He had no +misgivings on that score. + +Sylv was brimming with eagerness and anticipation for Adela's future as +it expanded before his vision, in the light of his friend's generous +offer; and it was a new experience to him to be treated as an equal, +almost a companion, by one so much above him in position and fortune. +Altogether, he felt very happy. His desire for intellectual improvement +was so single and controlling, that he was able to extend to another the +same congratulation he gave himself; and the prospect just opened for +Adela filled him with keen, unselfish delight. As he had told Dennie, +his regard for her was simply that of a brother; and it was only in the +opportunity as presented to a sister that he rejoiced. Yet he found, +when he came to mention the matter to Dennie, that it threatened to +renew in some measure the trouble which had recently come between them. + +"I'm glad for _your_ luck, Sylv," said Dennie, in a cordial tone, "But +'pears to me you uns might kinder be satisfied with polishin' and +rubbin' on your own brains and makin' 'em all smooth and shiny, 'thout +interferin' with Deely. 'Pears to me like she ar' good enough the way +she ar' now. That's what." + +"So she is," Sylv assented. "But it would make her happier, and she'd +have a heap more real pleasure in life, if she could be educated. She +was very glad to learn to read, you know. Now, this is one chance out of +a thousand; she may never get another." + +Dennie, however, was not open to argument. He looked with favor on the +scheme of Sylv's receiving money and employment from Lance, partly +because it would gratify his brother and partly because it would lighten +his own cares and bring him nearer to marriage with Deely; but if Deely +was to be included in the abstract movement for unnecessary culture, he +would be as badly off as before. + +In spite of Dennie's opposition, Sylv could not relinquish the plan; and +he had the imprudence to broach it with Deely on his own account. She +did not manifest any pronounced desire to enter into it, but they talked +of it several times, and it was evident that she was considering it. + +Dennie heard of these consultations, of course, and reproached his +brother. He exerted great force of self-command, and avoided any +outbreak of temper; he was resolved never to be jealous again. But Sylv +saw that the subject was a dangerous one, and he promised not to urge it +upon Deely any further. Sorrowfully and apologetically he conveyed to +Lance the information of this obstacle to Deely's acceptance of his +proposal, and said that he feared she could do nothing about it. + +It was reserved for Dennie himself to bring about, unwillingly, the +consummation of Lance's philanthropic design. + +There was to be a wedding-party at a house in the woods, near Hunting +Quarters, to which the young people were invited. Dennie came to Reefe's +early, in order to escort Deely to the scene of the ceremony; and on +their way to the wedding he spoke of the school idea. + +"We ought to be goin' to the parson, 'stead of your goin' to that thar +school," he said. He urged her again to fix the time for their marriage. + +Deely still demurred. "I'm only nineteen," she answered. "I reckon I +won't be too old if I do wait a while." + +Dennie was very much put out by her obduracy. "I don't know what to make +out'n the way you go on," he complained. "Mebbe you're goin' to that +thar school, after all." + +"'Twouldn't be strange if I did," said she, although she had in reality +abandoned the thought. + +He persisted in urging his wishes; she continued in a contrary mood; and +Dennie at last refused to talk. They completed their walk to the house +of the hymeneal merrymaking in a bitter silence, both very miserable. +But Deely possessed the advantage of expressing her unhappiness by means +of the greatest gayety, while Dennie had to fall back upon the more +ordinary masculine resource of looking glum and morose. + +There was an abundance of corn-whiskey and of "common doin's," as well +as of "chicken fixin's" with other delicacies, at the supper and dance +which followed the brief formality of the wedding-service. The +simple-hearted and jolly guests proceeded to have a very good time; and +while the bride and groom remained in one corner, happy at being +ignored, the rest shuffled to and fro in a lively jig, stamping their +heels, indulging in sundry gratuitous capers, and shouting with +laughter. Dennie, meanwhile, devoted a much closer attention than was +needful to the corn-whiskey, the forcible quality of which he could have +ascertained by a single drink. + +It may have been due to his diligence in reducing the supply of the +beverage that, as the hilarity of the others increased, and as Deely +grew more and more excited with the dance, his depression and gloom +deepened portentously. He had taken no part in the dancing, and had +begun by affecting to watch Deely's energetic share in it with +indifference. But it was impossible for him to keep up this pretence, +and the climax came when he saw his betrothed giving her hand for the +third or fourth time to Dan Billings, a handsome young fisherman against +whom she knew that Dennie cherished a special grudge. + +Dennie stepped forth upon the floor that trembled with the heavy tread +of the athletic revellers, and, shoving his way between the astonished +pairs of youths and maidens, struck a commanding posture. + +"This hyar's enough!" he screamed, confronting Deely. "It's time to go +home; and I'm goin' to take ye with me right now. D'ye hear?" + +Tho old fiddler, mounted on a box at one side of the room, stopped the +frantic discord he had been sawing from the strings, and began +mechanically to rosin his bow with a lump of the best virgin-pine rosin. + +"I could ha' heard you if you'd stayed over t'other side," Deely +retorted, her dark cheeks flaming angrily; "if you war goin' to shout +out so, what do you want to come so close?" + +"I say," repeated Dennie, in a more subdued voice, "I'm goin' along, and +I mean for to take you with me. Dan Billings ain't goin' to dance with +you no more this night." + +Upon this Billings, who was a vigorous young fellow, asserted his +rights, and gave Dennie to understand roundly that no one should dictate +to him his choice of partners, "when the lady was willin'." + +A serious result was imminent; for Billings, elated by his apparent +success with Deely, became increasingly noisy and bumptious, and retorts +flew hotly from one man to the other, until Billings raised his fist to +strike a blow at Dennie. When it came to that, Deely stepped between the +wranglers, and prevented their fighting. + +"Now _you're_ wrong, Dan!" she exclaimed, "You both ought to be ashamed, +making me so much trouble. But there sha'n't be a fight, whatever. I'm +goin' home this minute, along with Dennie." + +The other girls had drawn aside, dumb and frightened, and the men were +disposed in a group around the chief actors, feeling that they ought to +interfere, but restrained by a respect for the privilege of fighting, +which they might some time wish to exercise on their own account. +Billings relaxed his clinched fingers, quite abashed at being so +abruptly robbed of his dignity as Deely's champion; but it took a few +moments to cool Dennie's wrath. He insisted that the fisherman had "told +him insults," and must be punished. + +"I'm waiting," Deely reminded him. "You said you was going, and now I'm +ready." + +The bride and groom remained oblivious of all this stir, but the bride's +mother came forward, urging Deely not to leave them. The girl, however, +would not yield. Every one could see that she was greatly incensed at +Dennie's conduct, but there was a decisive calm about her that made +persuasion useless. She had, in fact, arrived at a conclusion much more +far-reaching, which she lost no time in imparting to Dennie when they +had left the house. + +"My mind's made up," she said to him, without heat. "I've borne your +tantrums as long as I can, and it's no use. By and by it'll get so that +I can't have any will or way of my own, and I don't think you'll ever be +any better, Dennie, until I'm far away where you can't tease me. Yes; +I've made up my mind. I'm goin' to that school." + +To Dennie the announcement was like a knell. His burst of temper had +left him much quieter and, as usual, rather ashamed; and he felt that +Deely's intention of punishing him was quite justifiable. Still, he +could not as yet believe that she would carry it out. + +"You won't treat me so hard as that," he protested. "Think it over +another time, Deely. Everything'd be all right if you'd only marry me." + +"I don't want to talk about it," was her answer. "I've decided, now, and +I'm goin' away." + +In the course of the next few days her lover was forced to recognize +that she was in earnest, and her resolve irrevocable. An extra session +at the small academy for young ladies which Lance had selected was about +to begin; and, through Sylv, Adela obtained a conference with him on the +subject of going thither. Old Reefe put in some objections; but as Adela +was determined he gave way, and the final arrangements were soon made. + +The conference just referred to took place near the manor. Lance met +Sylv and Adela in the grounds, by appointment, and talked over the +details with them. But just as they were bidding him good-by Colonel +Floyd came strolling along; and Lance, in walking back to the house with +him, told him, full of enthusiasm, what he had done. The colonel seemed +to think it rather strange. + +"My dear fellow, what has put this into your head?" he asked. + +"Why, it seems to me the most natural thing in the world," Lance +replied. "It grew out of my plans, when I was consulting young De Vine. +Besides"--he hesitated an instant--"something leads me to feel a +peculiar interest in this young woman." + +"Evidently," said the colonel, "or you never would become her +benefactor." But he volunteered no criticism further than to say: "I'm +not altogether sure, Lance, that you are doing wisely." + +"If you think," said his prospective son-in-law, "that there's any good +reason why I shouldn't befriend her, I suppose I could abandon the +thing, though I've committed myself now." + +The colonel devoted a few moments to reflection, under cover of his +spectacles. Then he said: "No, I am not clear that there is any +sufficient reason. It struck me as odd, and may seem so to others. But +then, in your character--You see, you are something of a professed +philanthropist, and people will learn to understand it on that ground. +Otherwise--" Once more he broke off, and resumed: "You are the next +thing to a married man, now, which makes it proper enough for you to +take the poor girl under your wing. Perhaps you had better talk with +Jessie about it." + +Somehow the phrase "poor girl" grated slightly upon Lance's ear. Nor did +he relish the prospect of debating with Jessie the wisdom of his +proceeding; but it was plain that he would have to do so. It was true +there had been no trace of the clandestine in his undertaking, and he +had asked Sylv to bring Adela to the garden only because he considered +the whole transaction as a side-issue, in which he was separately +concerned; hence he preferred not to thrust it upon the colonel or his +daughter. But it was also true that Jessie's vigorous rejection of his +theory about Adela had made him less sure of her approval than he would +have liked to be. + +By one of the surprises frequent in the moods of women, even though one +supposes their views to be settled on a particular point, it turned out +that Jessie, when consulted, did not oppose his design. + +"I have been thinking over what you said, dear, about educating people," +she announced to him, "and perhaps you are right. If you're wrong, +you'll find it out by an experiment. So all I have to say is, 'Go +ahead.' That's the way you'd like to have me put it, isn't it?" + +Her whole manner was sweet and trustful; she wanted to make amends to +him. But, unless I am mistaken, Lance's effort on behalf of Adela was +not entirely to her taste. + +Thus, while they endeavored to keep up a good understanding, an entering +wedge of doubt and possible division had been put in place. + +The day having come for Adela's departure, difficulty arose as to her +escort, if she was to have any. Aunty Losh was not precisely the person +to introduce her at a Young Ladies' Academy; and Dennis also felt +himself to be inadequate for that duty. Sylv, as was natural, refrained +from offering his services. Neither was it possible for Lance to +accompany her. The end of it was that Aunty Losh and Dennis went with +her by wagon as far as Beaufort, and there she took the train alone for +Newbern. Lance had been to the city and prepared the way for her, so +that she might be received by the principal of the school, at the +station. + +But the time which followed was a dreary period to poor Dennis. Knowing +his own faults, and that his loss in Adela's exile had been brought on +by himself, he made no remonstrance after he saw that her purpose could +not be altered. But his wonted cheeriness and energy forsook him as soon +as she had gone; he performed his daily tasks in a listless and +perfunctory way; he talked little, and did not forget his misery long +enough to smile. On the other hand, he abstained from complaint; but +occasionally, when alone with Aunty Losh, he would confer with her +briefly about Adela and the change that had occurred. The jealousy that +took root with such ease in his uncultivated mind, and sprang up there +like a weed at the slightest encouragement, soon began to flourish again +on a suspicion that Lance must have some interested motive in helping +Adela. Aunty Losh, it must be said, was not a good counsellor. Much as +Dennis tried to conceal this new source of trouble, it was perfectly +apparent to her; and, because Dennis was her favorite and she +instinctively aided against all innovations, she fanned the flame +instead of quenching it. + +"I reckon Deely may be your wife one o' these hyar days," she said, when +they had been discussing his affairs and Lance's connection with them +over a cup of yaupon. "Who would ha' thout you wouldn't been her husband +now? But there's an old sayin' what's in my head, that the man as has +got his hand on the back o' the chair is mighty often the one as sits +down in it." + +Dennis saw the application, and was filled with alarm. Possibly it had +its effect in prompting him to seek assistance from Sylv; but his +loneliness, and the harassing thought that Adela might also be lonely, +or that something might go amiss in her new surroundings, where he could +not be present to help her, had a great deal to do with his impulse. +Besides, in contrition both for his jealousy of Sylv and his general +disagreeableness toward his betrothed, he fancied that it would be a +fine thing to show that he cared for her at a distance, and that he +trusted his brother. + +"Sylv," said he, one evening, while they were finishing the bestowment +of the day's catch in the shed at one side of the cabin, where they kept +the fish cool by means of spring water--"Sylv, I'd like right well to +have you do somethin' for me." + +"Say the word, Dennie," Sylv returned. + +"I--I want you to go up thar to the city and stay thar, whar ye can see +Deely and make her feel like she had a real, true friend--some one to +'tend on her as I mout, if I was fit--and to help her if she want any +help. Dog-gone it! Mebbe it's foolish, and I reckon she ar' happy enough +and won't need nothin', but 'pears like I couldn't stand it, the way +'tis now. I want ye to go, Sylv--for me." + +"You ask _me_ to do this, Dennie?" said Sylv. "Why did you think of _my_ +going? Why not go yourself?" + +"'Cause I'm not fit for't. An' what's more, she don't want me. She said +she war a-goin' away, so's she could be alone, and I could be alone. An' +I couldn't do nothin' if I was thar, Sylv." + +"I see. It would be some comfort to you if I were to go. If you're sure +you want it, Dennie, I reckon I can manage." + +"There ain't no more doubt on it," answered Dennie, "than when I put my +helm down to starboard to get the east breeze, steerin' north'ard. There +ain't no one else I can count on, Sylv, 'less it be you. An', Sylv, I--I +trust you; I got faith in you!" + +He held out his rough hand, and Sylv grasped it firmly. There were tears +in Dennie's eyes, seeing which Sylv pressed his brother's weather-beaten +palm the harder. + +"All right, Dennie. I won't fail you." + +And so the compact was made. + +Sylv was absolutely honest in what he said. He knew but one ambition, +and the gaining of any woman's love had never formed a part of it. Why +was it, then, that his spirits rose so at the thought of being near +Adela once more? + + + + +CHAPTER X. + +THE LIKENESS. + + +You remember how little Lance had seen of Adela Reefe, and that he knew +her scarcely at all. But this makes it the stranger, and rendered it at +the time all the more unaccountable to him, that, on her removal from +his neighborhood, he should have been afflicted with a sense of vacancy, +and should have suffered from the melancholy which one might expect to +feel when suddenly separated from a dear friend. Was he not engaged to +Jessie, and thoroughly contented in his love? Moreover, Adela had not +entered into his life as an important factor. Yet, now that she was +gone, he perceived how quickly and completely the web of surmises which +he had thrown around her had taken him also into its tangles. Her +identity and destiny had engaged his thoughts far more deeply than he +had guessed. + +Acting on his offer of assistance, and obeying Dennie's wish, Sylv +presently came to him to suggest that he would like to go to Newbern to +pursue his studies. + +"But I have just made arrangements," Lance told him, "to put up a small +building where we can experiment with reed-pulp; and I expected you to +assist me." + +Not without embarrassment, Sylv made known the special reason proposed +by Dennie for his going. Lance thought the plan a rather curious one, +and allowed himself a queer, vicarious jealousy on Dennie's account, at +the notion of his being so far from Adela when his brother should be in +the same town with her. But he had promised to help Sylv; so he +consented to send him to Newbern and maintain him there for a while, the +cost to be returned in future services. + +"Perhaps Dennie will take a hand with me in the pulp experiments," he +reflected. + +Thus it came to pass that a shed was built in the woods not far from the +manor, where a boiler and a small beater and washer were placed, +convenient to the limited water supply from a "run" or creek. An +experienced vatman was sent for from the North; Dennie was engaged to +collect and haul reeds, and aid in other ways when he could. All this +involved a good deal of expense, and the colonel watched the work with +suppressed horror at the young man's extravagance. But the experiments +went on, and Lance became enthusiastic over the details of drying the +reeds, getting the mixture of caustic alkali just right for boiling, and +trying rags in various proportions. Finally he was able to produce from +the vat a few sheets of tolerably good hand-made paper, on which he +fancied that he could see already inscribed a record of the profits that +were to be his. + +It took many weeks, however, to accomplish that much. At first Jessie +entered into the new enterprise with great interest, and made it doubly +charming to him; but after a while, finding that it consumed her lover's +time and distracted his attention from her, she began to regard the +fascinating shed, with its boiler and engine and rude apparatus, as a +dangerous rival. Nothing daunted by such symptoms of her discontent as +he observed, Lance continued his application with a fervor that seemed +to her little less than fanatical. Meanwhile he saw Dennie very often, +and was constantly in receipt of news about Adela from him. + +Indeed, since neither Aunty Losh nor Dennie had ever become enslaved to +the luxury of reading, it was necessary for Lance to interpret Adela's +letters to them. These epistles, in the beginning, were somewhat slight +and informal. They would begin thus: "I write to inform you that I am +enjoying good health. I hope you are the same." But as she went on with +her studies, and as the various particulars of her new life appealed +more decidedly to her attention, her style became more familiar and +cordial; she described what happened at the school, day by day, and +often lit up her account of events with flashes of humor that, to Lance, +were delightful. She hit off some of the absurdities of modern routine +education with a surprising sharpness of perception, and was greatly +amused at the old theologian who attended to the religious instruction +of the girls. He had shown her some books of Hebrew, the characters in +which reminded her of her own invented patterns in silk and beads. But +withal it transpired from what she wrote, that she made astounding +progress in her lessons. She quickly outstripped her classmates in their +work, and was promoted to a higher grade. Lance wondered whether this +were due to the stored-up energy of a nature that was in some respects +primitive, or whether it came from inherited aptitude--an aptitude +derived partly, through the dim centuries, from Gertrude Wylde. Several +times she alluded to Lance, and sent to him reserved messages of +friendly thanks for his kindness; but perhaps she would not have written +so familiarly on other topics if she had known that he was to see her +letters. The truth was, it had not occurred to her that her betrothed +and his aunt would apply to Lance to decipher her letters. And Lance, +embarrassed by these references to himself, refrained from disclosing +them. + +Inevitably, from the supervision which thus fell to his lot over +everything Adela did or said or thought, so far as her letters formed a +record, it ensued that his interest in her increased. I am afraid he +watched those letters with an alertness not to be excused, for some +trace of a thoughtfulness respecting him, equal to his own toward her; +and when she addressed to him directly a short communication, to tell +him how she was getting on, and how grateful she was for his assistance, +it was in a mood closely akin to disappointment that he read it through +without having detected a word that could be construed as indicating +even a commencement of friendship. + +Now and again he contemplated turning the letters over to Jessie, and +felt a desire to talk with her about the progress of his pupil. But he +fancied that she would receive the confidence coldly, and he forbore to +say anything, except in the most general terms. Why, in the mean time, +he should expect anything more from Adela than a formal recognition of +indebtedness, was a riddle to him; but nevertheless he knew that he was +unsatisfied. + +It should be understood that his peculiar state of mind was not at any +one time clearly apparent to him; he merely caught glimpses of it. His +preoccupation with the paper manufacture all the while kept his +attention busy, and it was but dimly that he perceived what was going on +in other regards. But when his experiments had reached their +culmination, and he had decided to build a mill and begin operations, it +became necessary for him to go North. He resolved to run up to Newbern, +first, and see Adela Reefe, before bidding good-by to Jessie. This +intention he was about to confide to Jessie, when one morning she +unexpectedly presented herself at the engine-shed, at the moment when he +was perusing a recent letter from his charge. + +"So I've found you at last!" cried Jessie, standing by the sill of the +open shed-door, wrapped in a light shawl, with a broad hat bent archly +over her head, and looking wonderfully pretty. She caught sight of the +letter. "Aha!" she said. "I thought you came here to work. But it's only +make-believe, I see. Well, I've a great mind to write you letters myself +and send them down to you here to read." + +"Oh, it's only a letter from Adela Reefe," Lance answered. "Dennie De +Vine brought it; he's just gone away again. Would you like to see it?" + +The vatman was occupied at the other end of the shed. Jessie took the +letter and glanced at it; then returned it to her lover, indifferently. +"Deely seems to be quite contented," she observed. "When are you going +to finish, Ned?" + +"Finish? You mean what I'm doing here? Why, I can go with you now, if +you want." + +"I wish you would, then. I feel just like having a little walk and talk. +You're going away so soon, it's only fair I should see something of +you." + +"I know that, dearest," said Lance, "and I'm afraid I've spent too much +time over this business. It's only fair to me, too, that we should be +together." + +They sauntered away in company, and strolled through the woods. "I have +been thinking," he told her, "that I ought to start in two or three +days. But I must see Adela and Sylv first. I don't want to go North +without knowing just how they seem up there, in their new life." + +A change came over Jessie's manner. "You mustn't go!" she said, with +sudden vehemence. "It isn't right, Ned." + +"Not right, my dear. Why?" Lance bent his earnest, clean-cut features to +look down at her more searchingly. + +But Jessie lowered her eyes, and would not meet his glance. "Oh, I have +watched you," she said, "and you are often talking with Dennie; you talk +about that girl, I am sure. And now she is writing to you. Don't you +think you have done enough for her, without going to see her?" + +"Perhaps so," said Lance, his energetic mind arrested by a sudden +discontent, and by a wonder as to whether he had unconsciously fallen +into error. "But surely you don't allow yourself to be troubled about +it, do you?" + +"Why, no," Jessie answered. "It would be foolish to do that. Why should +I? Only, it may be that you don't think what you're doing, Ned. She is +not our _friend_, and she never can be. I have agreed that you should be +her benefactor if you want to. But think how it might seem for you to go +up there and call on her. Isn't it too much?" + +"I will do as you think best, my dear," Lance assented. + +"Thank you," said Jessie, at once growing radiant. + +They passed on through the sun-flecked gallery of the spicy woods, +chatting on various topics, and were outwardly quite content. But Lance +could not banish the idea that he had been deprived of something which +was his right; and Jessie, for her part, was not nearly so serene as she +appeared to be. A subtle intuition had warned her that Lance was wrapped +up in his care for Adela to an extent which he himself was not able to +measure. The circumstance weighed upon her with increasing force; and +many times at night she had been awakened by her own tears, only to fret +out the solitary hours with vain questionings and attempts at +reassurance. Her trouble seemed needless and absurd; but somehow Adela +Reefe came flitting across her dreams, and even darkened her waking +moments, like a shadow revived from the past, that had the power to blot +out the vivid and sunny present. + +That evening the lovers looked over some old miniatures of former Floyds +and of the Wyldes, from whom the colonel traced his inheritance. In +every one of the female faces Lance instinctively hunted for traits that +should account for Jessie's features; but he could not find any. Not +only was he baffled in the search, but when he retired to rest the old +puzzle as to the similarity between Jessie's face and Adela's grew upon +him, as more complicated and less easy to shake off than ever. + +A few nights afterward his hands clasped Jessie's cheeks as he bade her +farewell, on his departure for Beaufort, where he was to take a +coast-wise steamer for New York. + +It was late October. There was a chill in the air. The leaves of the +deciduous trees had turned, and were already falling. The pines were +rusty in places, their needles showered to the ground in great numbers; +the snow-goose had already been heard piping in the air, on its +southward flight; and the waves of the Sound and the sea, as they broke +upon the shore, seemed to shiver with a knowledge of approaching winter. +But Jessie stood with her lover on the veranda, in the darkness; and her +face rested so yieldingly in his palms that Lance half imagined he could +carry it away with him. There in the night it was like a picture painted +long ago and dimmed by time, yet shining out through the obscurity with +its youth and loveliness and passion still intact. No; he could not +carry it bodily away with him, but he could take it in his heart; and so +he did, holding it there long after the farewell kiss had left his lips. + +But after he reached New York, and during the long months of winter, the +magic of fancy played strange tricks with the image he had brought in +his heart. Strive as he would, he could not prevent it from wavering and +flickering, as it were, and occasionally taking on a darker hue, so that +he seemed at times to be contemplating Adela, instead of Jessie. + +One of the first things he did was to hunt up some old memoranda in +which the tradition concerning Guy Wharton was definitely set down. This +cleared up his recollection of it; and his next act was to write to a +lawyer of his acquaintance in England, who knew something about the +Wharton history, asking him to use his best endeavors to get some +authentic likeness of Gertrude Wylde. + +Unfolding to Hedson, his father's old partner, the paper-mill project, +and finding it received with favor, he next exerted himself to form a +small syndicate for purchasing and reclaiming the swamp-lands, since +that undertaking would require more capital than he cared to venture. +But the swamp was not the Treasury of the United States, nor was it a +fantasy of such vast dimensions as the Panama Canal; so the syndicate +could not be formed. For capital, despite all the cant about its +conservatism, is really moved by extremes: it is allured either by a +dead certainty or by an equally defunct impossibility. Elbow Crook Swamp +was a something between the two. + +"Wait until spring," Hedson advised. "Then you will have time to +explore; and, besides, I may get down there myself to take a look!" + +Hedson enjoyed the harmless pride of believing that anything at which +Hedson had "taken a look," and was able to speak well of, must +necessarily glitter like gold to his brother bondholders. + +This affair and others detained Lance a long time. His mind was fixed on +settling in North Carolina, at least for the first years of his married +life, and he was anxious to get all his investments in good order before +making the change. At Christmas he took a flying trip to Fairleigh Park, +and enjoyed a brief season of jollity and of companionship with Jessie; +but he was soon back again among the snowy streets. He had seen Sylv, +but would not permit himself an interview with Adela. On his return +Hedson informed him that he was about to sail for England, being called +thither by business, to be absent a couple of months. Lance had received +no news from his legal friend in London, and did not indeed expect +anything valuable from that source; the records of the Surrey Wyldes +were doubtless too scattered to be traceable, and it was scarcely +possible that any vestige of Gertrude's features would have been +retained among the possessions of the Whartons. But, not wishing to +forego any chance, he petitioned Hedson to see the solicitor and +co-operate with him. The acute perception of the American man of +business might perhaps aid the careful British lawyer in getting at +something, even in so sentimental an inquiry. Lance would have gone +himself, so active was his interest in the question, had it not been for +his reluctance to place the ocean between himself and Jessie. + +Toward the end of February Hedson sent him a half-page letter, which +ended with the words: "Think I have got something for you." Exasperating +silence followed this communication. But, in latter March, Hedson landed +at New York, and brought Lance a drawing. "It's from an old picture," he +said. "Had the devil's own time getting it; but I bored everybody +concerned, until they couldn't stand it any longer, and had to help me +ferret it out." + +"And you're sure this was Gertrude Wylde?" asked Lance. + +"Why, my boy, you don't think I'd say so if I wasn't sure, do you? +Besides, look at this curious monogram on the back. It seems to be two +Gs and two Ws intertwined. You see, G. W. alone would stand for either +Gertrude Wylde or Guy Wharton--a singular coincidence. The fact that the +letters are repeated seems to show that Wharton had noticed this and +resolved that his initials should be linked with hers, which were the +same, so that in that way at least they might be united. It's a mark of +identity. But why do you ask?" he added. "Is there anything wrong about +it?" + +Lance was excited, evidently. The drawing shook in his hand. "No," he +said; "nothing wrong. Quite the contrary. It's exactly like her in some +ways." + +"You don't _look_ crazy, Lance; but how can you possibly know whether +it's like or not?" + +"Oh, I mean--I forgot; you never saw Adela--Miss Jessie, I mean." + +"No," said Hedson. "I take, now. Like _her_, eh?" + +Lance nodded silently. To him the picture resembled Adela more than +Jessie. + + + + +CHAPTER XI. + +LANCE RETURNS. + + +April, coming to thaw the ice on Northern streams, and to mould the +first buds that started out timidly as a young artist's efforts at +creation, also dissolved the spell of solitude which had so long +encompassed Jessie. + +Lance was ready to build the paper-mill, and had written that he would +take the rail southward as soon as possible. It had been agreed at +Christmas-time that the wedding should come off in May or June. Activity +began in the turpentine plantation; the trees were "boxed" and "tapped;" +the sap commenced to flow. The air grew milder, the stars shone with a +more hazy lustre in the night heavens, and birds renewed their notes in +the thickets about the manor, or flew with transient greetings over the +lonely land, on their mission of heralding the return of spring to +higher latitudes. But Jessie could not rid herself of the mournfulness +and the partial lethargy that had so long clung to her. She knew that +Lance was coming, and her heart throbbed the more warmly: she waited +eagerly to feel his arms clasped round her. Yet a lingering fear +persuaded her that the happiness might still be deferred or, in the end, +frustrated. + +It was in such a mood that she leaned, one evening, on the railing of +the old veranda, vaguely musing and inclined to sadness. There was no +certainty as to the hour of Lance's advent, for he had not named a time, +and into that far-off nook where she lived the lightning of the +telegraph never penetrated. But of late Jessie had adopted a custom of +straying out upon the veranda, as if she expected to see Lance +approaching. + +Suddenly she heard the click and crunch of unwonted wheels upon the +drive near the house. She started up and listened, in a tremor of +incredulous delight. The sounds drew nearer; presently a light flashed +across the moist branches of the shade-trees, and the next moment she +beheld the lanterns of a carriage, dimly illuminating its battered +varnish, the smoking backs of two horses and the muffled torso of a +sable driver. Then Lance's young, energetic face appeared in the square +of the carriage-door, faintly roseate with the light from the house. He +was fumbling at the door-handle before the wheels stopped turning. + +The sable driver subsided completely into the depths of his sableness, +as the two figures clasped each other at the top of the steps. + +"Ah, Ned, I have waited for you so long!" + +"And so have I for you, dear." + +"Do you know, I felt almost as if I were that poor Gertrude, waiting and +waiting still?" + +"You _are_, dearest--you are _my_ Gertrude!" + +And then the colonel, always discreet, allowed himself to be seen in the +hallway, prepared to welcome the wanderer. + +Lance barely restrained himself until the next day before seeking an +opportunity to tell Jessie about the drawing which Hedson had brought +from England. + +"You've written me next to nothing about Adela Reefe," he said to her. +"But I suppose you have kept on taking charge of her letters for +Dennie." + +"Oh yes," said Jessie; "he brought them all the way up to me. Poor +fellow!" + +"Why do you call him that?" + +"It seems so severe for him, having her stay away at such a distance, +and for so long. He's dreadfully in love with her." + +"Yes, I know he is," Lance confessed. "Those times when I was with him +so much, and you hardly liked it, I was talking with him about her and +trying to console him. He let me into his confidence, and told me how he +was afraid he had driven her from him and should never get her back. But +Sylv used to send an encouraging message, now and then. Has he sent any +more?" + +"Sylv has hardly written at all," said Jessie. + +Lance mused aloud: "That's strange." + +"Yes," responded his sweetheart, in a tone as if she were about to say +more; but she did not go on. + +At this point Lance thought it best to bring forward his little +surprise. Excusing himself, he went to his room and came back with the +drawing. "By the way," he began, reseating himself, "I wonder if Adela +has changed much in looks, under the influence of education. It would be +curious to see her, wouldn't it?" + +"I saw her," said Jessie, "just before she went back, after you left us, +at Christmas." + +"Well, then, you can tell. What do you think of this?" And her lover +produced the portrait. + +Jessie stared at it in some astonishment. "Where under the sun did that +come from?" she exclaimed. "Was it done for you?" + +"What do you think of it?" he repeated. + +"It isn't perfect," was the answer; "but still, I should know it, I +think. Why, Ned, are you cheating me? It isn't meant for Adela, is it? +You naughty boy, I could almost think it was an attempt to show how _I_ +shall look when I'm stouter! It's a joke." + +"Then you think it's like you?" he inquired. "Does it strike you?" + +"I won't say another word, until you tell me _what_ it is." + +"It is a picture of Gertrude Wylde," Lance returned. + +Then there was silence for a moment. Jessie took the drawing and looked +at it intently. Her voice was low, and quivered with a sort of +frightened tremor when she next spoke. "Why didn't you tell me at first, +Ned? And what did you mean by speaking as if it were Adela Reefe? It +_is_ like her; and it is like me, too. Oh, what this secret? What is the +meaning of it all?" + +"As well as I can make it out," said Lance, "the meaning is that Adela +is a direct descendant of Gertrude Wylde, and a kinswoman of yours. The +only thing remaining, in my mind, is to find out whether her father or +his family came from Croatan. If that is proved--" + +"And if that is proved, what then?" + +"I know of nothing to follow, except that we should recognize her as a +relative." + +"Never!" cried Jessie. "This is a mere dream. It's impossible to prove +her descent from our stock. I can have nothing to do with her." + +Her vehemence was such that another man might have suspected some +underlying motive of feminine jealousy. But Lance merely laughed. "Oh, +there's no legal claim involved," said he, lightly. "Of course, I don't +expect that anything tremendous is going to happen, even if she does +turn out to be of your blood. But suppose we appoint your father +arbitrator as to this portrait?" + +Jessie consented, and they referred the picture to Colonel Floyd. + +"If this is a well-authenticated reproduction," said the colonel, +deploying his finest hand-book manner, "the appearances would seem to +indicate some connection. 'Pon my soul, I never noticed any resemblance +till now; but while the similarity to our Jessie is perceptible, it is +not nearly so pronounced as the likeness to this Adela Reefe. Is it +possible that an inherited type of countenance should last so long, +under such conditions? Very singular; very strange!" + +He did not evince enthusiasm, and he paced the room restlessly. + +"What we want is to go and see old Mr. Reefe," suggested Lance, "and ask +him about Croatan." + +The colonel fell in with this proposition; and on the morrow they rode +down to Hunting Quarters. It was not an easy matter to draw Reefe into +conversation; but they at last succeeded in pinning him down to facts, +and, without discovering their purpose, he assured them that, to the +best of his knowledge, his predecessors had lived in the region of +Croatan, until the time of his father, who crossed Pamlico Sound and +settled near Hunting Quarters. To make a clean breast of it, he also +admitted that his stock probably contained Indian blood; but of this he +was rather proud than otherwise. + +"It is settled," said Lance, when he came to tell Jessie the result of +the inquiry. "There can be no reasonable doubt now. I must go up and let +Adela and Sylv know about it at once." + +Jessie leaned back in her chair and fixed her mild gray eyes upon him. +She had never looked more captivating than at that instant, the +side-part in her hair giving an accent of dainty self-reliance to her +whole pose and demeanor. "Let me ask you a question," she said. + +"Willingly." + +"About poor Dennie. Has it ever occurred to you, Ned, that you may be +doing him a great injury by sending Adela off in this way, and throwing +her with Sylv?" + +"No, of course not," answered Lance, somewhat nettled. "Would I have +been a party to it if I had thought so?" But the mention of Sylv in this +sort of way caused him an inward shudder. If there were any peril of +Dennie's losing Adela, why should it be Sylv who should win her? + +"I think you are helping to separate them," Jessie continued, "and you +ought to reflect, and stop. Besides, why should you go on so, mixing +yourself up in her affairs?" + +"I'm not. I ought at least to see her and tell her my discovery." + +Jessie suddenly rose. "I _hate_ that woman!" she cried, sharply. And, at +the same instant, Lance saw his engagement ring flashing upon her +finger. + +"You shall not hate her," he declared, with passion. "She is your +kinswoman--one of us. It isn't right that you should say that, and I +won't endure it." + +"Never mind whether you will endure it or not," Jessie retorted. "She +has occupied enough of your attention already." + +"My dear child," Lance remonstrated, "it's impossible that you should be +jealous of that girl! But what else can you mean? What do you demand?" + +"I think that you ought to just drop her, from this time on," said +Jessie, closing her lips decisively. + +There are scientific thinkers who tell us that the will is not a cause, +but merely a state of consciousness resulting from previous conditions +of the nerves and the emotions. However this may be, Lance's will +asserted itself in strong opposition to Jessie's. The probability that +Adela was a lineal descendant of Gertrude Wylde appealed strongly to his +imagination. Now that his theory seemed so well established, he was +resolved to have her kinship acknowledged; and, further, he experienced +a strong attraction toward her, the stress of which he did not fully +comprehend. He himself represented the man who had loved Gertrude, who +had vainly searched for and lost her. Was it not fair that he should +have some hand in the destiny of the girl thus reclaimed, after the +lapse of centuries, from the oblivion which had overtaken Gertrude's +life? + +"I will not drop her," he said, unyieldingly. "And, what's more, Jessie, +I am going to see her, and shall stand by her." + + + + +CHAPTER XII. + +SYLV'S TROUBLE. + + +Exactly what was to be the issue of Lance's sentiment respecting Adela, +it would have been hard to say. No fatal breach had as yet been made in +his relations with Jessie; yet they parted, after the difference which I +have just detailed, with a coldness that promised ill; and, for the +first time, Lance met the issue that had for weeks past unobtrusively +put itself in his way. If Jessie would persist in being so narrow, so +unsympathetic, what was to come? And if any trouble from this source +should divide them, what was there left to him? Facing this alternative, +Lance was forced to perceive that the interest which he had allowed +himself to feel in Adela had, unawares, grown into a dangerous emotion. +In one way it seemed absurd. In another, it was tragical. Did he +actually, in view of the rupture which now seemed likely to occur +between himself and Jessie, contemplate such a possibility as giving his +life up to Adela? If he were to do that, the question of treachery to +his humble friend, Dennis De Vine, would be involved. Nevertheless, some +unseen power seemed to propel him toward an erratic solution of this +sort. He wondered whether at last the yearning of his ancestor, long +ago, was fated to meet fulfilment by his own union with the latest +offspring of Gertrude Wylde. No! he would not think of it: he refused to +surrender himself to such fantasies. And still he could not escape their +importuning. + +He was involved in a struggle. He did not know what to make of it; but +he resolved to maintain his own dignity, first, by going to see Adela, +and then, after that, everything concerning Jessie and himself might be +righted. Meanwhile he kept one idea firmly before him, which was, to +remain true to Jessie so long as she would let him do so without +sacrificing Adela. + +But before he had time to carry out his determination of seeing Adela, +an unlooked-for incident occurred, which altered the situation +materially. + +The last bell for the day had sounded at the "academy" where Adela +pursued her studies, or rather was pursued by them, for they followed +her steps from morning to night in a race with which it was hard to keep +even, notwithstanding her prowess. The bell signified freedom for a +brief period. When it sounded she was allowed to go out for a walk, the +usual discipline of the school having been relaxed in her favor, to +admit of her taking her recreation in Sylv's company. Sylv was duly +accredited as Dennie's ambassador, to look after Adela's welfare; hence +it was considered very proper that he should see her every day. In this +way he had taken a great many walks with her. + +When the bell rang, therefore, he met her at the gate of the garden +surrounding the academy, and they strolled away together. Had Lance seen +them at that moment, he would have been surprised by the noticeable +change which had come over them both. Adela had now been at school some +ten months--nearly a year--and her steady application, with the loss of +that out-door life to which she had been accustomed, had subdued the +color in her cheeks, though it had not made them pale. The delicate +brown tinge was always there. But the stiff black hair that had formerly +blown so carelessly about her head was demurely combed and orderly, now, +and a serene, womanly thoughtfulness had somehow drifted into the lines +of her face, making its wild beauty sweeter. + +Sylv, too, had acquired a more polished air. It was not a gawky polish. +His clothes were very plain, but he appeared at ease in them; and +although his tangled beard was reduced to comparative trimness, it +hinted nothing of the incipient dandy. On the whole, they were a very +serious and simple pair, who would have looked extremely "countrified" +in Richmond, and still more so in New York. But they had altered very +much since the days on the shore. + +Had Lance seen them then, he would have been surprised--and perhaps +displeased--by another thing. This was, that as they moved down the road +leading away from the town, they looked so like a pair of lovers. + +Ah, while they had been growing so neat and orderly on the surface, and +had come to show marks of the educational mould, had they possibly +undergone another change of an opposite kind, within? Were their hearts +as well regulated, as calm, as their dress and their faces? + +Through the long period of their sojourn together, they had lived upon +hopes, interests, ambitions common to both. Adela had been fired with +zeal for her new occupation; they had talked over their daily successes +or reverses every afternoon; and though I have not said much about +Sylv's natural refinement, and his quiet, persuasive quality, these two +things--combined with constant association--had exercised a great +influence upon Adela. Imperceptibly she had grown into a life which +belonged to them alone, apart from every one else. + +"How did you get along to-day?" asked Sylv. + +"All right," said Adela. "But the algebra was hard. It seems as if I +couldn't think of anything but squares and roots and coefficients. It +appears to me like I'll have to extract the square root of my head right +soon; and if I do, there won't be anything left." + +"You're getting tired, I reckon," Sylv suggested. "Maybe you ought not +to work so much. How would it suit you, Deely, to go home for a few days +and rest?" + +"Oh, vacation's coming in a few weeks," she answered, wearily. "It ain't +that, Sylv. I ain't tired with the work; but it's because my life seems +so queer, and I don't know what I want. I don't want to stay here, or to +go home. I'm afraid I'll never be happy any more." + +They were now in a quiet spot outside of the town. Some willows grew +beside the road, which was here carried over a small bridge that covered +the gurgling flow of a brook. Sylv stopped short, and eyed her +meditatively. + +"Not happy?" he questioned. "Why not, Deely? Wouldn't you be if you were +with Dennie again?" + +Adela paused, too. "I can't tell," she said. "I don't know what is the +matter with me, but I don't seem to be satisfied with anything, Sylv. I +never can go back to what I was, but I don't see that I can go forward, +either." + +"But Dennie loves you just the same," said Sylv, rather falteringly. + +The girl clasped her hands and gazed absently in front of her. "I know +he does," she said, in an inert way. "I know it well enough." + +"And you know he has been trying to learn to read, just to please you, +and so as to keep up with you as well as he can." + +"Yes." But still her face did not lighten. The gathering sadness +deepened upon it, if anything. "Oh, why did I come here!" she suddenly +cried, despairingly. "If Mr. Lance had not sent me! Ah, what was the +use?" + +Sylv regarded her compassionately, but he was himself undergoing an +anguish that it seemed impossible to withstand. + +"Come," he said, soothingly, "let's go down yonder among the trees and +talk about it. We'll see if there isn't some way of making you happy. I +reckon the time has come for a change, and we ought to see what is +needed." + +She yielded, as though he were entitled to lead her. Taking his hand, +she walked with him down on to the young grass at the side of the +highway, and in among the trees alongside the "run." In the retired nook +that they came to they seated themselves, while the spring breeze +murmured through the light leaves above them, unsuspicious of any woe in +the minds of these two young persons. + +"I was angry with Dennie," said Adela, speaking low, "and that was why I +left him to come here. But he has been so good, and so patient." + +"Yes, that he has!" Sylv corroborated, fervently. "Why don't you go back +to him?" + +The gaze which Sylv fixed upon her, in asking this question, was very +unlike that of an impartial and philosophic adviser. His eyes burned +with a rapacious though restrained fire. Yet his tone was composed. + +Adela broke into moaning. "Why do you ask me that?" she exclaimed. "Oh, +don't you _know_ how hard it is to go back? Do you think it can ever be +the same? I don't want that kind of life any more: I am for something +different now. You see, all this studying and thinking and reading has +given me a new idea, and there's no one to take a share in it. When I go +back and marry Dennie that part of me will be alone. What am I to do; +oh, what _am_ I to do?" + +Her distress was so acute that she gave way to tears, which she +helplessly tried to press back with a hand at her eyes. + +"Don't cry, Deely," said Sylv, taking her other hand. "You're tired out, +and you're troubling yourself, but you don't need to. By and by you'll +be happy; never fear!" + +Adela clung to his hand instinctively. "You're a kind fellow, Sylv," +said she, ceasing to sob. "I know you wish me well. But it's all over +with me. I ought not to think of anything but Dennie. If I can make +_him_ happy, why--I ought--to be satisfied." But the stifled tone in +which she uttered the words showed how far she fell short of that duty. + +Sylv longed to speak more tenderly to her. The touch of her trusting +hand in his was maddening. He would have laid down his life, at that +instant, to comfort her; and if he was ready to sacrifice his own, what +mattered the life and happiness of any other? But there was only one way +in which he felt sure that he could secure lasting comfort to her, so +far as one man might; and that way he dared not propose. Why had he not +foreseen this difficulty and this peril in time to evade them? He had +imagined that his whole life depended on books, and here he found that +it was nothing as compared with a woman. He had indulged in the tranquil +belief that he was a disinterested student; but now he awoke to the fact +that he was a reckless lover! + +"Deely," he exclaimed, rising, but still keeping her hand in his, "if +you don't love Dennie enough to go back to him, you must not do it!" + +"And break his heart?" she asked, looking up at him with an effort at +reproach. + +"I speak to you as his brother," answered Sylv--"his brother, whom he +sent here of his own accord to watch over you; and I say that it would +be wrong. You would not be happy yourself, and you would find it +impossible to make him happy." + +Adela drew her hand away. "But I have promised him! And I will keep my +promise." + +As she spoke she rose erect: he could hear her close her teeth with a +grating sound. + +"I don't intend to argue about it," he said. "You are free to settle +everything your own way. It appeared to me like I must tell you my +opinion. That's the end of it, Deely." He paused. "I got a letter from +Mr. Lance; says he's got back, and is coming up to see you. But _I_ am +going away to-morrow." + +Adela started violently. "_You_ going away!" Then she trembled toward +him and laid her hands on his shoulders. "Oh no, no! Don't leave me now, +Sylv. Don't go away!" + +"I must," he replied. "I've got through. I've done all I can. I must go +back to work for Mr. Lance." + +Adela's hands still rested on his arms. He could hardly move them +otherwise than to enfold and sustain her. Unable to support herself, she +drooped and sank toward him for an instant. + +"Dear--dear--sister," he almost groaned, "don't despair! Don't give way! +I wish I could save you from suffering." + +She recovered herself and stood upright before him, looking into his +eyes. She trembled, and he longed to embrace her once more, holding her +to his heart for as long as he should live. But neither of them made any +movement toward such a renewal of her dependence upon him. Steadily, yet +with a kind of doubt and fear, they gazed at one another; and the whole +story of their hearts was made clear. But not one word of passion was +uttered. + +"I must leave--must leave to-morrow," Sylv repeated, as they started +simultaneously to go back to the school; "and I think I will send Dennie +up here." Instead of advancing this proposition with the courage he +wanted to show, he made it sound like the knell of all their hopes. +Nerving himself, he added: "Shall I tell him you've forgiven him?" + +This time, by a prodigious effort, he spoke bravely; yet his eyes, +without his knowledge, seemed to beg her to come to the aid of his +failing fortitude. + +"Shall I tell him?" + +"Yes." + +"And that you're ready to go with him now?" The faltering look had +vanished. A white, still light of triumph rested on his paling face. + +"Yes," said Adela again, with trembling lips. + + + + +CHAPTER XIII. + +LANCE AND ADELA. + + +Sylv was on the point of beginning his journey, when Lance walked into +his boarding-place with a hearty salutation. + +"Isn't this very sudden?" he asked, with pronounced astonishment at +Sylv's new move. + +"It looks so to you," said the young man. "But I've been thinking it +over a long time. It isn't best for me to stay here." + +Lance saw that something was held in reserve, but could not conjecture +what. "Suit yourself, Sylv," he returned. "If you're satisfied, I ought +to be." + +"Besides," said Sylv, with the air of having already given one reason, +"I ought to do some of that work I promised for you." + +"It _would_ be an advantage to begin exploring the swamp before warm +weather comes on," Lance agreed. + +"Well, sir, I'm ready to go at it right straight off," said the other. + +There was a disproportionate grimness in his tone and manner, Lance +imagined. The declaration had apparently cost him an effort. + +"Lord bless me, Sylv," he exclaimed, abruptly, "how thin and pale you've +grown! I didn't fairly notice it until this moment. It evidently won't +do you any harm to have a change." + +"No, sir. I have not been feeling well." + +"All right. Wait till the afternoon train, and I'll go back to Beaufort +with you. I only want to see Adela for a while. Will you come along?" + +He did not really want Sylv to accompany him; and perhaps this was +manifest in his way of speaking. Yet he was somewhat surprised when the +young man, turning aside and pretending to adjust some of the articles +in the forlorn miniature trunk he had been packing, said: "No, thank +you, Mr. Lance. I said good-by to her last night." + +"It's just as well, that way," said Lance, nervously. "I have something +important to tell her, and it will be better to see her alone." + +Sylv straightened up, and glanced at him almost fiercely. A suspicion +occurred to him. "Something important?" he asked. But he did not dare to +demand particulars. + +Nor did it reassure him much, either, to have Lance answer, "Yes; I'll +tell you about it afterward." + +For his part, Lance, in noticing Sylv's abstracted behavior, recalled +what Jessie had said as to throwing the young fellow so much with Adela, +and wondered whether there was any confirmation of her fear in the +constraint which had overtaken his _protégé_. But he was so anxious to +see Adela, that he did not stop to reflect on that point more than a +moment. + +Ushered by the matronly principal of the academy into its scrupulously +dusted but threadbare parlor, he awaited the girl's advent with a good +deal of trepidation. The window-blinds were closed, and the interior was +pervaded by a mock twilight. When Adela at last made her appearance, her +figure, from the opposite side of the room, looked so dim and uncertain +that Lance was strongly reminded of the first time he ever saw her--the +time that she rose out of the earth, as it were, and again crumbled back +into it. + +"Miss Reefe!" he said, scarcely above a murmur. + +"Oh, Mr. Lance! Sylv told me you were coming." And she approached him +through the dimness of the room, groping, one might say. + +They shook hands formally, and to Lance's distraught fancy it seemed as +if her fingers withdrew themselves with the recoil of absolute dislike +from the touch of his own. + +"You're not glad to see me, I'm afraid," he began, boldly. + +"Oh yes--yes I am. What makes you think so?" + +"I can hardly tell, but I think I should know if you were. It is so dark +here I can barely see you. Shall I open a shutter?" He made a movement +to do so. + +"It is light enough for me," Adela answered; and he at once desisted +from his purpose. "Won't you sit down?" she asked. + +He accepted the invitation. + +They conversed for a few moments about her studies and about what he +himself had been doing since they last met. But at length he said: "You +never would be able to guess, Adela, why I have come to see you to-day. +You told me a very interesting story once--do you remember?--about your +people. That was a legend; but now I have a true story to tell _you_, +which is connected with yours. Would you like to hear it?" + +"I always like stories better than anything," said the girl. "Do tell it +to me." + +Thereupon Lance narrated the tale with which we are familiar, adding the +details of the picture, the first clew which he had caught in her +resemblance to Jessie, and the extraordinary coincidence of the old +rhyme from Wharton Hall. Adela listed intently, without interposing a +syllable; but he could hear her breath coming and going, and +occasionally she sighed. She was seated in a chair near his own; but, +though his eyes were growing used to the gloom of the apartment, he felt +her presence more by the warm irradiation of her vitality through the +air than by actual vision. From time to time there was an audible flurry +of light feet and flitting skirts in the passageway without, or in the +rooms above, indicating the movement of young women from one point to +another of the scanty scholastic edifice; and once a desk-bell rang +punctiliously from a distance. But otherwise they were uninterrupted. As +Lance proceeded with his story, the dimness of the light and the random +brushing of the breeze against the shutters aided a species of +hallucination that laid hold of him. While he retraced the mazes and the +by-paths of the tradition that led back so far into the forests and the +obscurity of an earlier epoch, the gloom of the wilderness itself seemed +to surround him; the leaves of an unknown forest-land muttered and +rustled in his ears; he felt like an explorer; he was making his way, he +could fancy, toward the goal of his long striving and his harassed +desire. Should he not meet, at the end of his wanderings, the object of +his search? + +When he had finished the story he said: "_You_ have Indian blood in your +veins, Adela." + +Her voice permeated the dusk slowly and hesitatingly: "Yes. But how do +you know?" + +"I have seen your father, and he has told me." Lance rose and stepped +toward the window. "Gertrude Wylde was your ancestress," he declared, +"and she was the same woman as Ewayeá in your legend. It is I who have +discovered this, and I have brought you, at last, out of all that +mystery!" + +Flinging the shutters open he stood there, looking toward her. Adela at +the same instant left her seat and placed herself before him. Then, for +the first time, he could see the change that had crept over her +features. + +"Good God!" he cried. "What has happened?" + +Adela spread her hands out in timid deprecation. "I don't know," she +said. "What do you mean?" + +"You are so much more--you have grown so like Jessie since I saw you," +Lance returned, well-nigh gasping. "If it were not for that darker +tint--" + +"Mr. Lance," she interrupted, "what can you be thinking of? Why do you +talk so excitedly, and why did you come here to tell me this?" + +"Because," he said, "I have been intensely interested in the problem. I +believe you belong to the line of Gertrude Wylde. If you do, you +represent the woman whom my ancestor loved, and you are closely related +to Jessie Floyd. Do you suppose it makes any difference to me that +Indians came into that line? No; I see in you the lineal descendant of +Gertrude, and a kinswoman of the Floyds. I wish to have it clearly +understood that you and they are of one family. You must take the place +that belongs to you." + +"What place?" Adela sighed. "Can you tell what place mine is?" + +"Of course I can. Haven't I said what I thought?" But while Lance +uttered these words, he noticed how sad and wan she looked, and he also +felt the difficulty of bringing her within the circle of life to which +he belonged. + +"You have made a great mistake," she replied. "I am only Adela Reefe, +and I cannot be anything else. Did Sylv tell you? I am going away from +here. I shall not stay any longer, for I promised to be Dennie's wife, +and I am going to marry him as soon as he comes for me." + +"To be Dennie's wife!" exclaimed Lance, instinctively treating the idea +as though he had not heard of it before. "Yes; yes; I suppose you are to +be. But why should that prevent your being one of us? You will be a +kinswoman, a cousin, just the same." + +Adela gathered herself up, and spoke with resolution. "I don't know if +you are right," she said, "but any way, Mr. Lance, if I _am_ a kinswoman +and a cousin, do you think Miss Jessie will want to have me for one?" + +The best that Lance could do was to parry this direct thrust. "If you +are so," he answered, "what difference can her wish make?" + +"I will tell you, easy enough," Adela retorted, proudly. "It is just +that I won't have anything to do with people who don't want me for one +of them. If I had ever supposed that coming up here to school would make +it seem as if I wanted to do that, I wouldn't have come. Oh, I didn't +know all this when I came! No, no! And I'm sorry I did it. I tried to be +grateful to you, Mr. Lance, and I do thank you for your good meaning; +but I'm sorry I came." + +"Adela," he said, rather coldly, "I can't let you talk in this way. You +are proud and angry, and don't know what you're saying. Remember that, +whatever happens, I stand by you." + +"I don't want any one to stand by me," she returned. "I am all alone, +and I will stay so. Suppose you had never come here, Mr. Lance; who +would have guessed that I had anything to do with that old English +family? I could not have guessed it myself, even. I know you've tried to +help me, and now you want to make something different of me from what I +always was before. But I'm going back to marry Dennie, and the best +thing you can do is to leave me where you found me, and forget all about +me. I shall just be Dennie's wife; that's all. I don't ask to be +anything else." + +It may seem to you unreal that Lance should have been so much exercised +regarding Adela's happiness and her future, especially since he was +bound to Jessie Floyd by the most sacred promises. Unreal it is, I +grant, to people who live by the tinkle of the horse-car, the tick of +the clock, and the reading of the newspaper. But this individual, +impracticable man--so like many other men who, in dissimilar +circumstances, conceive themselves to be prodigiously practical--was +bent upon an idea. And he was determined to carry out his idea. He cared +more for his theory than he did for himself or for any one besides. It +was his ambition to be impartial--to secure the recognition of all +rights which he thought were in need of vindication. And so far did he +carry that desire, that he was really somewhat bewildered by it; in +consequence whereof he held himself ready, at this especial moment, to +sacrifice one great obligation to a lesser obligation. + +"I'm not going to be satisfied with this result," he said. "I am +determined that it shall not be in vain that I have sought you out and +found you. Listen to me, Adela! It is a question of justice--in fact, of +simple humanity--and I'm bound to have justice done. You may go back to +Hunting Quarters, if you like, any day, and marry Dennie; but you ought +not to ask to be dropped out of our lives. I wish to see you put where +you belong. If you have changed your mind, and do not want to marry +Dennie, only tell me so. Your happiness is at stake, and it shall be +preserved at all hazards." + +"How can you preserve it better than I can?" Adela demanded. + +Lance delayed his answer, inwardly trembling. It may be that we ought +not to inquire into the wild and erratic impulses that assailed him at +that instant; but, amid their dizzying influence, he held fast to the +ideal of honesty on all sides. + +"Very likely I can't," he replied, calmly. "But I wish to say that, if +anything should go wrong, if any trouble should come to you, I may be +counted on as your friend--no matter who opposes." + +Adela melted at once into frank dependence. "Oh, Mr. Lance," she said, +"I have sorrows, like other people, and I don't know what they will +bring at last; so if you _will_ help me when I need help, I shall be +glad! But please don't think about me now; only let me go--let me go!" + +And with this sorry climax the interview ended, Lance retiring with an +inexplicable sense of defeated endeavor. In some way, which he was not +able to analyze as yet, his dream had been exploded. The unravelling of +the mystery of Gertrude Wylde had been to him a romance of the most +fascinating kind; but now that the romance had culminated, no one seemed +to know what to do with it. Apparently he had followed a +will-o'-the-wisp, when he expected any good to attend his success in +ferreting out Adela's identity; for it had put him at odds with Jessie, +and it brought no pleasure to Adela herself. + + + + +CHAPTER XIV. + +DENNIE'S TROUBLE. + + +With heavy hearts both Lance and Sylv accomplished their journey to +Beaufort late that afternoon; and on the way Lance explained to his +companion the new light in which Adela must be regarded. + +Sylv, however, said little, and appeared anxious to reach home, where he +could consult with Dennie. + +He found his brother busily engaged in completing a ditch across the +neck of the headland, which he had finally, in deference to the wishes +of Aunty Losh, undertaken to dig, to the end that her live-stock might +be kept from straying over to the mainland. "I am fearsome o' the +tides," said Dennie, as he had said long ago; "but aunty wants this hyar +for to be done, and so I am doin' on it." + +The docile, plodding industry of his brother smote upon Sylv with a +singular reproach. He could not throw off the conviction that he himself +had been essentially idle in his devotion to book-learning, while Dennie +had remained so faithful to the dull duties at home. + +"Dennie," he said, "I got some good news for you." + +"Ye mean that ar?" queried Dennie, halting in his toil, with his shovel +in the loose ground. "I ain't had no good news for a long sight, Sylv. +What mout it be?" + +"Deely's coming back to you." + +Dennie stood stock still and wiped the sweat from his brow. Then he +touched his grimy knuckles to his eyelids; but, without betraying +emotion in any other way, except by the softening of his voice, he said: +"I'm glad on't, Sylv. Ar' she a-comin' back because she want to?" + +"Yes; oh yes! There couldn't be any other reason, could there, Dennie?" + +"Well, I warn't right sure," said Dennie. "No; I reckon they aren't no +other reason." Seizing the shovel, he made a few more plunges with it +into the soil. "Well, I'm right glad on't, Sylv. When ar' she comin'?" + +"Now, I'll tell you how it is," Sylv returned, assuming an expository +manner. "Deely thinks you've been a right good boy, and she allows she +was impatient with you. But, then, you were impatient too. She's made up +her mind to let go the rest of her school term, and she's waiting for +you now up at the city. All you've got to do is to go there and get +her." + +Dennie abandoned his work for the moment, and gazed at his brother +affectionately. "Thank ye kindly, Sylv. Ye been a good brother to me. +Oh, it don't 'pear true! I don't make out how it's so; but I waited and +sarved kind o'patient, Sylv, and all to once it comes out squar'. +Deely's been fair to me, old man, and so ha' you been. Wall, it's more'n +I desarve." + +With the guilty knowledge of a hidden love for Adela in his heart, Sylv +would rather have faced the threatening muzzle of his brother's gun, as +it had once been pointed at him, than to have stood up before the glance +of trust and affection which Dennie now directed toward him. But, thank +Heaven, his conscience was clean. He had not betrayed the trust. He had +preserved his honor, and had left Adela free. + +"Don't think about what you deserve," he said, "but just you go and do +what she expects you to. You go up there and fetch her back." + +"Did she ask ye to tell me that, Sylv?" + +"Yes." + +"Then I'll do it! But I ar' got to dig this hyar ditch first off, don't +you see I have? 'Cause I tole aunty I would, and she'd be a heap sight +put out if I didn't. But ye'll go up to the city with me, won't ye, +Sylv? I'd feel lonesome and quar' ef ye didn't." + +"I'm right sorry, Dennie; but I can't. I've got to do some work for Mr. +Lance, and I ought not to go back." + +However, when Dennie was ready to take his departure Sylv came to him +with a sealed letter. "I can't go with you, Dennie," he repeated; "but +there's a few words I wanted to say to Deely, and you might as well +carry them, I thought." + +Dennie conscientiously dumped the missive into his hat; and, with a last +joyous whisk of his red beard, took leave of his brother. + +His impatience to see Adela caused him to spurn the faithful dug-out as +a means of travel, and he went by rail. + +In the long months of separation from his sweetheart he had succeeded in +carrying out a great self-improvement. The hope of making himself worthy +to recover her was the mainstay of his gallant persistence in this work, +and it had wrought a wonderful effect. He was still the same Dennie--his +temperament could not be remodelled--but from being irascible, +hot-headed, untrustworthy, he had come to exercise a self-control that +made him seem uncommonly gentle. What he gained in that direction he had +to hold by untiring vigilance and firm will; but a succession of +victories convinced him that now, when the reward was held out to him, +he could prove his fitness to receive it. + +A driving rain poured down upon North Carolina as he left the coast. The +sea showed its white teeth at Hatteras and all along the sandy spits and +islands that fringe that shore. Every one said that still uglier weather +was likely to come soon. But to Dennie the drenching showers and the +hurly-burly of the winds only enhanced the gladness in his heart. He +basked in the delicious glow of cosiness which children feel when snugly +housed from pelting storms that they can watch at ease. The slow-paced +cars seemed to him to glide ahead with wonderful swiftness--his own +happy anticipation lent speed to the wheels--and the humming rails +echoed and rang again with one continual song of hope, hope, hope. + +How many fond, encouraging things he would say to Adela! How bright he +would make the prospect for her! He would show her, beyond question, +that she need never undergo any trials or troubles which he could +prevent. + +It was not so easy to do all this, at first, as he had imagined it would +be. On meeting, they were both rather quiet. Dennie took her hand +bashfully: he discovered all at once that he was in the presence of a +superior being. The muscles of his right arm, also, appeared to succumb +to a peculiar disorder, and would not act when he wanted to throw that +arm around her waist. Good Lord! was he afraid? Had he been afraid to +clasp her in his arm a year before? But gradually this paralytic attack +wore itself out: he sat down beside her, and presently his right hand +was visible to his own eyes, resting easily at a point on the right side +of her belt. + +"I'm glad to be with ye again, Deely," he said, carefully eliminating as +much of the gruffness as he could from his strong out-of-doors voice. + +But the hearty gruffness that remained was, somehow, very agreeable to +Adela. "Dear old Dennie," she said, in a gentle, musing way, as if she +were speaking of him to some third person. + +"And ye're glad, too, be ye, Deely?" he asked, gazing at her +indulgently, but with some vestiges of anxious doubt. + +"Yes, Dennie, I'm glad to be with you; you're so good now. And I like to +see you happy." + +"That's a puss," said the big fellow, but instantly felt astonishment at +his own familiarity. Finding, too, that he was instinctively patting her +with his hand, he promptly stopped, because it struck him that his hand +was too rough, and he might hurt or crush her. He drew it softly away to +a more normal position. "Why, they tell me," he resumed, "that ye're a +great lady now--a sort o' prin_cess_, or su'thin' that way, I didn't +know for sure ye'd want to see me or have me hangin' round ye no more." + +And then he laughed at the deceptiveness and the wild humor of his own +speech. + +"Oh, Dennie," she implored, "don't talk about that! What difference does +it make?" + +"Ye needn't bat yer eyes," he replied. "I ain't 'shamed on it, if ye +ain't. Why Sylv, he said how ye war just as good as Miss Jessie, 'cause +ye war born away back out'n the same family; leastways, some one else +did the bornin' for ye, them ar times. But I--well, _I_ allays thought +ye war a heap sight better'n Miss Jessie or any one else." + +"I know that, Dennie. You always loved me true. Oh, it was wrong for me +to come away from you so!" + +Adela leaned her head upon him, and began to sob slightly. This +proceeding was to totally unlooked for, that Dennie was amazed. + +"Thar, thar," he said, "ye'd oughtn't for to cry when I come back to ye. +No; ye had the right on't, Deely. I warn't fit, then, and I wouldn't ha' +been a fip better ef ye hadn't ha' left me be. It ar' all right, I tell +ye. But fust, when I saw ye just now, thinks I, ye've changed so, and ye +look so sort o' ironed up all careful, ye won't care nothin' for a old +rough boy like Dennie no more. But if ye're goin' to cry, Deely, why, I +want for to stop ye; and I do think it war all right, your leavin' me." + +"Oh no, no," she reaffirmed, still weeping. "I did you a great wrong, +Dennie!" + +Dennie's face became apprehensive for a moment; but that look quickly +dissolved, and he permitted himself a subdued laugh. "It are enough to +make a man laugh," he said, in excuse, "to think o' my forgivin' ye; but +if ye feel ye done wrong, why, I'll say I forgive ye, Deely. I do +forgive ye, right free." + +She had made the only confession she could. Indeed, what was there to +reveal, except that in her long companionship with Sylv she had learned +to love him, before she comprehended what was happening, and that she +had honestly, at a fearful cost, stifled that love so far as might be, +in order to remain true to the man she had promised to wed? But to tell +this would in itself be to dishonor her vow. + +She looked up to Dennie with streaming eyes, and her hand sought his. +"Thank you, thank you!" she murmured. "I have suffered a great deal +here, Dennie--away from you. I know you have suffered too. But you are +generous and kind; and now I hope we can forget all the pain." + +Dennie, in listening to her, was strongly impressed with the feeling +that he was hearing something read from a book, so sharp was the +contrast between her utterance and his. But the contents of the +supposititious book were very soothing and acceptable. He turned quickly +to her, and for the first time since his arrival they embraced each +other with thorough self-forgetfulness. + +"But, Deely," he said, "I ain't like ye ar'. I ain't got l'arnin' the +way ye have now. Don't ye reckon that ar'll disapp'int ye?" + +"No; not a bit," she answered, warmly; "you'll be kind and good to me, +Dennie, and I will be a good wife to you. All I want is for you to take +me away from here. Take me home!" + +There was an almost desperate energy in her voice. The truth was, +Dennie's presence acted upon her as a restorative, and awakened many +memories of the simple and happier time when they had played together +and grown up together and carried on their courtship by the shore. +Despite her love for Sylv--or perhaps in consequence of it--she threw +herself upon Dennie's protection with an eagerness she would not have +believed possible until she met him face to face. His big figure, his +glowing cheeks, his heavy hands and rough accent--all brought to her a +whiff of the salt air in which she had been born and bred. Her secret +misery was dulled by his trusting companionship; she was lulled into +reveries of some existence of comparative peace, in which she would be +able to fulfil her ideal of duty and find her recompense in so doing. + +"Take ye home, dear girl! Why, that's what I'm wantin' to do," he +rejoined, tenderly. And, fired by the thought, he went on to tell her +where they would make the home; how Sylv and he were going to take part +in Lance's wide-reaching plans; how he would perhaps have something to +do with the paper-mill or the market gardens that were to replace the +swamp; and how happy she and he could be. + +Adela entered eagerly into all these glowing particulars. A new life +opened before her, which she believed would be beautified with all sorts +of unexpected happiness; and she was filled with thanksgiving because +she had clung resolutely to her plighted troth. + +"We'll go to-morrow!" cried Dennie, with enthusiasm. "D'ye think ye can +make out to be ready, Deely?" + +"I could be ready to-day," she replied, "if there's a train." + +Dennie, wonderful to relate, had provided himself with a time-table, +though the "summer arrangement" of the railroad to Beaufort was not +complicated. He resorted to his hat to find it. But as he plucked the +printed slip from its place in the inner band of the hat his eye lighted +on Sylv's letter. Until that moment he had entirely forgotten that he +was a usurper of the postal function. + +"Dog-gone it!" he exclaimed, "I come mighty near not givin' you this. +It's from Sylv." + +Adela stripped away tho yellow envelope with startled haste; and on a +poor sheet of blue-ruled note-paper she read these words: + + "DEAR DEELY: I did not mean to write anything, but the feeling + comes over me that I ought to say good-by to you and Dennie. I + have decided that my life here has been a failure, and I am + going away. I shall not come back. Mr. Lance thinks I have gone + to do something for him, but it is no use to look for me, + because no one can find me. + + "I love you and Dennie, and want you to be happy together. + Remember that, and do not mourn over me any more than if I had + died. You know we cannot help dying. If I could do any good by + staying I would; but I am certain it is better for me to go. + + "Tell Dennie I trust him to make you happy. I believe in him + and love him. Good-by. SYLV." + +Dennie awaited the result of her reading in dumb expectancy, and saw the +look of horror in her face, but could not account for it. + +Adela shrieked aloud. "Oh, he is dead!" she cried. "He meant to kill +himself! Help, Dennie, help! What are we to do?" + +She stretched out her hand, with the letter in it; but Dennie only shook +his head, in helpless bewilderment. + +"I can't read it," he said, piteously. "I don't know enough, Deely. That +ar writin'--Deely, what ails ye? What's he said there?" + +The mistress of the academy came running in, alarmed by the girl's +outcry. + +"Sylv is going to kill himself," Adela repeated. "He says he's going +away; but I know--oh, I know what he means! See, Dennie; that's what he +says." And again she held the letter toward him, distractedly. "He says +good-by to you and me. Can we go to-day? Is there any train?" + +Dennie offered the mistress his time-table, which to him was merely an +illegible curiosity--a memento of his unprecedented journey. + +Without looking at it, however, she drew out her watch with a sharp tug +at the silken guard that held it. "Yes, you have time," she announced, +"if you hurry. I'll bring your things, Miss Reefe." + +She disappeared. + +"Tell me 'bout it, Deely," said Dennie, fumbling hopelessly with the +letter, which he had now taken into his sunburned hands. + +Adela set foot upon her agitation, and rapidly read the letter over to +him. + +Dennie appeared to be stunned. "Suicide?" he said. "What for? Hev you +got any right for to think that ar?" His tone was indignant. "What call +ar' he got to kill hisself? Sylv--our Sylv, I tell ye. My brother!" + +"Because he hadn't anything left to live for! He was miserable," Adela +answered, with vengeful emphasis. "It is Mr. Lance did it--sending me +here. No! _I_ did it, because I would not tell him what I felt. I wanted +to be true to you." + +The truth burst upon Dennie like a flood, and his fierce temper rose to +meet it. For an instant a blinding light flashed dazzingly by across +everything that surrounded him; he grew giddy, and Adela had no more +important existence in his eyes than the table and the chairs around +him, or the lifeless walls of the room. His single desire was, in his +rage, to destroy something, to create havoc and ruin, answering to the +ruin of his own hopes. But the next instant he felt as if he were among +the pines, with his gun aimed at Sylv; and the thought that Sylv at this +very instant might be lying dead somewhere brought a ghastly picture +before his eyes. The whirl of maddening light passed away, and he stood +humiliated, mournful, calm, motionless. + +"Then it's true at last!" he said, hoarsely. "You loved that man--my +brother--and he loved you." + +For a moment Adela could not speak. Her lips moved, without sound. At +last she answered: "Yes. But I never told him, and he said nothing to +me. 'Twas only after we came here." + +Dennie replied in a voice that made her think of the muffled breaking of +the waves on the distant coast. "I was fearsome of it, Deely, but I +swore I wouldn't think on't. It ar' best I know it now. We'll go and +look for--for Sylv. If he ar' alive, I'll bring you to him." + + + + +CHAPTER XV. + +ELBOW-CROOK SWAMP. + + +Without notice Hedson had appeared on the scene; he was hospitably +received by Colonel Floyd, and asked Lance to show him over the ground +in which the as yet unborn syndicate was expected to invest. + +Accompanied by Sylv they were occupied in a general survey of the swamp, +from the outside, at the time when Dennie was talking with Adela in +Newbern. "Yes, yes; fine country for a cemetery," said the hale but +sceptical Hedson. "To come down to bed-rock on this thing," he added, +turning to Lance, "the expense of paring off the natural growth and +filling in here would be enormous, to say nothing of what the lawyers +call 'supplementary proceedings.' You know what that means, don't you, +Mr. De Vine?" Here he included Sylv in the favored list of those for +whom his remarks were intended. + +The upshot of the exploratory drive was that Hedson gave a semi-adverse +judgment; notwithstanding which he began to consult with himself +inaudibly as to the best mode of going to work to buy some of the waste +land in question on his private account. + +Sylv showed an unmistakable eagerness to begin his task of investigating +the interior of the swamp, and before he parted from Lance for the day +he took him aside and told him that he should be in the swamp by +daylight of the next morning. + +Hedson and the colonel found plenty to talk about that evening, and +Lance was left alone with Jessie. + +The conversation that passed between these two was somewhat ruffled. +Jessie found fault with her lover because he had gone to Newbern against +her will, and Lance assured her that his eccentric interest in Adela +Reefe was now appeased: he had done all that he wished to, in disclosing +to her the probable relationship with the Floyds, and would henceforth +leave her affairs, for the most part, alone. But Jessie was not content +with that declaration. + +"If she comes back here to live, as you say she is about to do," she +asked, "what do you expect?" + +"Simply that we shall receive her as one of us," said Lance. "I have +befriended her and the De Vine boys, and I intend to keep on. They are +inevitably a part of my system and my plans now." + +"Then you are going to overturn everything," Jessie asserted. + +In short, silly though it was, they quarrelled more seriously than they +had done hitherto. + +Jessie, there is reason to believe, was very unhappy in consequence, and +passed a wretched night. And Lance scarcely slept a wink. He lay +restless on his bed, turning and tossing, until it seemed to him that he +veered this way or that with the varying gusts of the tempestuous wind +that hourly grew more turbulent, until Fairleigh Manor shook in its +angry clutch. + +"How the wind roars!" he growled aloud, starting from a half doze; and +after vainly waiting a while longer for repose he got up, dressed +himself, and went out. + +The earliest gray of daybreak was visible in the eastern sky, but the +atmosphere was so surcharged with storm that he fancied he could hear +the seething of the angry ocean in the blasts that whirled around him, +though he was not within ten miles of the open sea. + +An hour after he had left the manor a worn-out wagon from Beaufort drew +up in front of the door, and Dennie alighted. Dennie raised such a +clamor at the door that at last the inmates began to arouse themselves. +Jessie was the first to respond to the summons. She gathered hastily +from Dennie the object of his untimely call, and learned that Adela was +with him in the wagon. They were looking for Sylv; had been detained at +Beaufort, and were only just arrived; so they had come at once to the +manor to ask Lance if he knew anything of Sylv's whereabouts, since +Lance had been mentioned in the letter of farewell. But, a servant being +sent to Lance's room, it was discovered that he was not at home; and +Dennie forthwith started to drive to the shore, hoping that he might get +some clew from Aunty Losh. + +Imagine Jessie's wonder and anxiety when she found that Lance had +disappeared! Her conscience had already stung her for the absurdity of +her quarrel with him; but now that he was out of reach, and that Dennie +had brought to her the apprehension of something tragic impending over +Sylvester, her excitement rose to fever-height. Daylight broadened while +she sat up, nervous and speculating, amid the noises of the disturbed +household; and the wind-storm increased in violence every moment, +keeping pace with her terror and her perplexity. Filled with +forebodings, and finding it impossible to remain inactive, she completed +her toilet, had one of the stable-hands called, and, leaving word for +her father that she had gone to the headland in quest of Lance, she +started to drive through the plantations. + +Hunting Quarters being the nearer point, Dennie dropped the reins when +the jaded team which he drove brought him to a fork in the roadway, and +told Adela to drive to her father's house. He himself set out on a full +run for Aunty Losh's, and never paused until he reached the cabin-door. + +Aunty Losh reported that Sylv had risen before dawn and gone toward +Elbow-Crook Swamp, saying that he had something to do there for Mr. +Lance. + +The storm raged more furiously than ever. The ocean could be heard +thundering at the outer bulwarks of the coast irresistibly. The great +billows were actually at that moment surging far beyond their wonted +limits and shaking the very roots of the low hills out by Hatteras, +though Dennie could not see them there. He could guess the tumult that +was in progress at Ocracoke and lower; the air was full of mist and +flying spray; the sea was literally pulling down the outer sand-heaps, +eating into them, doing its best to tear open a new inlet; and the +waters of the Sound were furrowed, foaming, and uncontrollable. Yet +Dennie could not delay. He began at once to retrace his course, heading +for the swamp, for he had several miles to go. It was only for an +instant, as he crossed the planks over the ditch he had so recently +made, that he observed how the water from the Sound was boiling through +the artificial channel. + +He went on in headlong haste. + +Before he had been twenty minutes out of sight Jessie drove up to within +a few rods of the ditch, and sped across the intervening space. Her +coachman warned her not to go thither. "You'll be blown away, missy," he +cried, despairingly. "Dis yer am a hurricane, and de hosses can't stan' +it much longer." + +But, if she heard him, she paid no attention. In a few moments she had +crossed the narrow planks, which, bedded though they were in the earth, +trembled at the assaults of the wind. She had no more than vanished +among the trees around the cabin when the tide, rushing in renewed +volumes through the ditch, swept away the frail bridge as if it had been +straw. The banks began to crumble; and the coachman, barely able to +guide his horses, whipped up and drove away as well as he could, in +search of aid. + +Dennie got over the ground with marvellous rapidity, taking the shortest +line for the swamp. The wind was blowing inland, and bore him along with +it; so, when he had gone two thirds of the way, it seemed to him that +but a few minutes had elapsed. He was on the regular road, now; but it +was providential, nevertheless, that he should encounter in that spot +another man. He hailed him loudly, amid the howling of the wind; and the +man, turning round, proved to be Lance! He, too, was on his way to the +swamp. Going forth aimlessly, he had made up his mind to join Sylv, if +he could find him, in the proposed expedition. Alarmed by the prodigious +force of the tempest, however, he would have turned back and endeavored +to regain the manor, if he had not met Dennie. + +A few hasty words gave him knowledge of the threatened catastrophe; and +the two men joined forces in the forlorn attempt to find Sylv and +prevent his self-destruction. + +Dennie knew where a boat could be had to launch upon the devious river +that ran through the swamp; and, fortunately, it turned out that Sylv +had not taken this boat for himself. + +Together they entered the gloomy jungle. They not only plunged into the +desperate undertaking of trying to save the life of another man, who had +resorted to this convenient cover with the evident purpose of never +emerging thence, but they also engaged in a struggle which, for +themselves, was very like a life-and-death matter. + +For some time they could not use their boat. They were obliged to drag +it through a tangled mass of roots and vines and treacherous brake, +until they could reach the stream. The exertion they made was almost +super-human, and would have been impossible to them except under the +terrible incentive that drew them on. Only when they were afloat, and +paddling warily along the dubious and unfamiliar current, did they +understand how their labor had sapped their strength. And only then, +also, did they perceive that they had passed from a world of uproar and +elemental upheaving into a realm as secluded and quiet as a tomb. + +The mighty winds, it is true, rumbled through the tops of the trees +under which they were buried; but the dense mass of boughs and springing +verdure that walled in the secret places of the swamp, as with a hundred +separate walls, would not permit that wild commotion of the outer air to +reach them. Birds had fled hither from the hurricane, and even dared to +chirp in the lonely and forsaken thickets of this uncouth wilderness. +Day was spreading above the thick canopy of boughs, and was pouring its +light all round the vast area of the swamp at its edges; but here, +within, there reigned a perpetual and awful twilight. The slow, brown +stream ran on ahead, turning here and there, opening into blind creeks, +sprawling through the dusk like some great snaky thing with a hundred +sinuous arms and feelers; but it was rather by instinct and touch than +by any other means that the two men in the canoe traced the main body of +the slimy current. No landmarks were to be counted on there: the points +of the compass were obliterated. + +The swamp was the home of oblivion. They moved through it as through a +place set apart for those who are condemned to a death in life. + +From time to time they shouted aloud. Having no weapons with them, they +could make no other signal. They called to Sylv, with a hope that he +might answer to them from the next bend in the stream, or from some +adjoining depth of bough and bramble. Yet always the same dead silence +swallowed up the sound of their voices, and no human response came back. +The raw air, the shade, the moisture of the oozing current, gradually +invaded them with a chill that seemed to run through their very bones; +but it was with a more deadly chill that they gazed into one another's +eyes, and thought, without saying it, that perhaps they were even then +pushing their way over the liquid grave in which Sylv might have sought +relief. + +How long they urged that ghostly chase it would not be easy to say: they +could form no judgment of the time. But at last Dennie caught sight of +what appeared to be a ruddy flame on a low island in the muddy flood, +some distance in advance. Neither of the paddlers was quite positive +that it was a real flame, but they put new vigor into their strokes, and +hallooed again. Once more, no answer. + +Still, the flame grew more distinct. The canoe swept rapidly forward and +rubbed against the roots and sediment of the tiny island. No other boat +was moored there, but the fire flickered and spurted up more vividly. +Beside it they beheld Sylv, haggard, inert, and seemingly unconscious of +their approach. + +"Sylv! Sylv!" cried Dennie. + +"What are you doing here?" Lance demanded. + +Sylv shrank back, then started to his feet; the flame-light--looking so +garish in that gloomy place--thrown upward on to his wan checks in such +wise as to make them seem more hollow than they were in fact. + +"I came here to die," he answered, without emotion. "Why did you follow +me? It would have been over before long." + +They heard the booming of the storm-wind in the trees overhead, like the +groan of some remote unknown multitude of sufferers; and it chimed in +well with the lonely reverberation of his voice. + +"It is over now!" Lance exclaimed. "Don't you see that we won't let you +die? It was mad of you to think of such a thing, Sylv!" + +Dennie drew close to his brother swiftly, and put his arm around him, as +though to guard him from an unseen enemy. + +"Sylv," he said, "it ar' all fixed and done. Deely loves ye--she have +told me--and I see that I ain't the one for her. I'm clean done with all +that ar foolishness, Sylv, and I told her she'd got to marry ye, anyhow. +Steady away now, Sylv. D'ye listen to me?" + +The burly, red-bearded brother slid his hands down the arms of the +slender, dark-haired one, and held him as if he feared that he might +still break away and escape. + +Lance, looking on, thought he had never seen anything more tender, more +brave and manly, than Dennie's expression and attitude. He had never, he +thought, heard finer sweetness in a man's voice than came from Dennie's +lips. + +Sylv broke down. "Dennie, boy," he cried; and then paused, choking. +"Dear old Dennie!" (His brother winced at that unconscious repetition of +Adela's phrase.) "I never thought this would come! I was true when I +said I did not love her. I couldn't know what it would be like, then. +But, you see, I tried to get out of the way. Oh, why didn't you let me +die here!" + +The morbid mood which had impelled him to the resource of slow suicide, +by starvation in the swamp, could not at once be dispelled; but by dint +of soothing words and of reminders that they must lose no time in +getting back to the outer world, the two allies prevailed over Sylv's +melancholy. + +"Where's your boat?" asked Lance. + +"I set it adrift," was the answer. + +A fresh peril was thus intruded upon them; for the canoe would hold +three persons only with the greatest precautions. + +"You uns go, and then one can come back for me," Dennie suggested. + +But Lance would not risk leaving him alone. It was decided, therefore, +that they should all embark and make their way to safety, if possible. +The hazard and suspense of the situation, however, roused Sylv up +thoroughly. All his finer qualities reasserted themselves, and he became +the guiding spirit in the endeavor of the party to extricate itself. He +whom the others had come to recall to life was now eager to lead them +out of the dilemma in which they had placed themselves on his account. +But in the anxiety of the moment he forgot one thing. The flame which he +had kindled, like a torch in the gloomy vaults of death, was left +burning; and they had paddled some distance before they remembered their +neglect. + +Meanwhile the lonely beacon, unwatched, had shot out an experimental +tongue to try sundry dry vine-stems hard by. The stems responded with a +brisk crackle. The flames scaled the side of a tree almost instantly, +and ran along the boughs. Thence they transferred themselves with ease +to another tree. Thus, in a few minutes, the blaze spread from the +island into the rest of the dense wood, and became a conflagration. + +The smoke blew lazily toward the occupants of the canoe; then a lurid +glow shone along the murky water. They saw their danger, and paddled +with might and main; but the danger of upsetting the overloaded craft +handicapped them and retarded their progress. + +Soon the glow came nearer and burst into actual fire. The whole swamp +seemed to be roofed with writhing flame. The heat was frightful: birds +flew away madly through the labyrinth; the shadowy shapes of wild +creatures scurried through the tangle, and scared serpents slipped out +from their lairs, trailing across the sluggish stream. All the while the +fire pursued the three human fugitives with what seemed a vindictive +intelligence: the long draperies of gray moss caught the sparks, +flashing them on in vivid festoons, and wrapping the forest in a +magnificent combustion. + +Blinded, stifled, and dizzy, the canoeists were at last obliged to +abandon their narrow bark and push their way through the fearful maze on +shore. Luckily, however, when they were driven to this extreme they had +come nearly to the edge of the wilderness. + +Each struggling for himself, Lance and Sylv suddenly achieved safety: +they set foot upon the solid ground, and felt the fierce wind from the +sea. But at that juncture Dennie, who was behind them, stumbled, and was +caught in the mire. The hissing mass of flame advanced upon him, and +Sylv, seeing his danger, turned to help him. + +Lance tried to hold Sylv back. He fought with him, in his desire to +prevent what he thought a certain sacrifice of two lives instead of one. +But Sylv, nerved by an ecstatic force, sprang away from him and reached +his brother's side. How it was done neither Lance nor Sylv could say +afterward; but the attempt succeeded, and Sylv dragged Dennie out of +danger, though not unscathed. The intense heat had blistered their faces +and hands even in the few moments that it had to work upon them; and +Dennie, hurt by the fall of a heavy branch which had struck his leg, lay +in the road, unable to rise. + + + + +CHAPTER XVI. + +"I LIVE, HOW LONG I TROW NOT." + + +One might well have supposed that the period of final destruction had +come on that eventful day. Wind, fire, and sea all combined to make it a +memorable one. For, while Lance and the De Vines were going through +their adventures in Elbow-Crook Swamp, the incoming tides, fomented by +the winds, not only swept away the paltry planking that joined Aunty +Losh's headland to the main shore, but also proceeded to crunch up and +dissolve a large portion of her real estate. + +The freakish inroads of the sea on the North Carolina coast are scarcely +subjects for exaggeration, because they themselves outdo fancy. The +ocean thereabouts has an occasional fit of map-making. Not content with +changing the soundings as it pleases, it sometimes closes up an old +inlet, at a single mad flurry, or insists upon opening a new avenue in +any place that may suit its convenience. And so, at this particular +crisis, having thundered at the outer gates and found no admission, it +sent a heavy tide into the Sound, and played havoc there. The green +waters, ordinarily manageable enough, converted themselves into +cataracts. They heaved, frothed, billowed and raged, until Aunty Losh's +demesne, once an innocent promontory, became a very perilous and +uncomfortable island. + +The watery ditch turned into a rushing tide-way; then it became a deep +channel; and lastly it widened into an angry reach of turbulent waves, +which could be crossed only by boat. All this transformation, be it +remembered, was accomplished in a few hours. + +Meanwhile, Aunty Losh and Jessie cowered in the little cabin on the +dwindling territory, and expected every moment to be swallowed up by the +surges that lashed so wildly around them. + +But the retreating coachman had known what he was about. He had gone at +once to Hunting Quarters, where he had found Adela, who was herself +distracted with anxiety for Sylv, and therefore in a perfect mood for +venturing upon the wildest scheme of rescue that could be imagined. It +so chanced that the dug-out was harbored in a cove which the girl could +reach. The rude sloop clung there, thumping heavily on the bottom, and +lurching now and then against the shore, with an impact that would have +smashed any other sort of craft at short notice. But this was precisely +what she was made for, and so she endured the strain. + +Adela prepared to take her out to the now isolated cabin, and bring off +the inmates. Old Reefe remonstrated. He said it was certain death to go; +that no boat could live in such a wind on a short, shallow sea; and that +his daughter must wait until the storm abated. + +"No," cried Adela; "I am going, whether it's death or not! How do you +know what will happen to them out there if I wait? The cabin itself may +be swept away, and poor old aunty in it. Then, Dennie is there, and--and +perhaps Sylv." For one instant, as she uttered this name, her voice +sank. "If they had any boat, 'twould be another thing. But they're cut +off--they can't help themselves--and I'm going." + +The brave girl hardly believed that she could make the trip in safety, +but she thanked her stars that Dennie had brought her up to handle a +tiller--and the rest she left to Providence. + +The water was swashing up close to the door of the little hut, and Aunty +Losh and Jessie sat within, holding on to each other in silence when, +through the deep, prolonged roar of the tempest, they fancied that they +heard a shout--a woman's shout. Simultaneously with it there came a +thud, like the dropping of some heavy weight upon the ground just +outside of the house. "Lord be praised!" Aunty Losh exclaimed, "Thar +ain't nothin' could do that ar but the ole dug-out. Open the do', Miss +Jessie." + +Jessie considered this as a command to invite dissolution into their +fragile shelter; but she obeyed. + +In a few moments they were on board the sloop, bouncing and reeling +through the violent waves. By this time Colonel Floyd, having also +received the alarm, reached the spot on horseback. Waiting with old +Reefe on the shore, he noted every motion of the plunging sail, which +was let out barely enough to give the dug-out headway. Adela stood at +the helm, strong and masterful as a man, but with a quick, feminine eye +for every chance or change of the terrific gale, and with a touch that +responded instantly to her observation. She ignored her two passengers +absolutely. + +But when, after several escapes from foundering and a weary battle of +tacking from one point to another, the sloop rounded, with her heavy +prow, into the cove and touched the land, the girl dropped down in the +stern, exhausted. + +There had been no time for delay or inquiry, and indeed it would have +been impossible to talk in the over-powering bluster of the storm, while +fighting a way through it; but Adela had been very much astonished both +by Jessie's presence at the cabin, and by the absence of Dennie. She now +tried to learn from Aunty Losh what had become of him; but the poor old +woman's mind was in such confusion from fright and from the suddenness +of her rescue that she could not furnish much enlightenment. As for +Jessie, she had gone to the headland without any knowledge of Lance's +actual whereabouts, but thinking it probable that her lover would go +there, since she had heard something vaguely about his arrangements with +Sylv. It was now noon, and the suspense in which she remained about +Lance, joined to Adela's fearful dread concerning Sylv, would not permit +them to rest. The colonel, who had been thrown into a wild excitement by +the failure both of his daughter and of Lance to return to the house, +hugged Jessie close to his heart with silent prayers of thanksgiving, +and wrung Adela's hand with gratitude, while the tears ran down his +cheeks. The carriage had followed him with fresh horses, bringing dry +wraps, food, and restoratives; and the colonel insisted that the best +thing to be done was for the three women to get in and go at once to the +manor with him. + +Meanwhile Sylv and Lance, helping the disabled Dennie between them, had +arrived at the house, and were taking care of the sufferer. + +I need not detail the recitals and explanations that followed. I will +say only that Jessie treated Adela like a sister that day, and ever +afterward. It was strange, mysterious, yet beautiful, to Lance's eyes, +to see them together; one of them the latest offspring of Gertrude +Wylde, rescued from oblivion--coaxed back, as it were, from the forest +shadows and the red race to her own race and kin--the other a descendant +of Gertrude's cousin, to-day rescued by her kinswoman from the engulfing +waters of the Sound. The whims and prejudices that had hampered Jessie +before were now totally dissolved; and Lance's dream was realized, after +all. The wild thought which had crossed his mind, of devoting his life +to Adela, proved to be simply a perversion of the ardent desire which he +had felt, that she ought to be included somehow in the lines of +relationship and love prescribed by her ancestry. His allegiance to +Jessie, never really shaken, was perfect and enduring. But these results +would never have come about had not the actors in the curious drama +remained, through all their troubles, sound and sincere of heart. They +had, every one, risen somewhat higher than they were when their +relations began. Each had advanced in his or her own way. Sylv strove +upward by means of intellectual effort and by will; Dennie attained to +as lofty a standard of conduct through the working out of instinct and +passion. But in whatever manner they had proceeded, all were true. + +The wild storm went down that night, though the rolling sea and the +curling breakers of the Sound continued to heave for hours, throwing out +in the darkness broad lines and crests of phosphorescence that made them +look like fluid white fire. Then the rain came, in torrents; and it was +well that it came, for the danger to the inflammable pine-plantations, +from the conflagration in Elbow Crook, had become alarming. Not even the +sullen fierceness of that furnace--in which the swamp-woods, with all +their intricacies of flickering boughs, like some gigantic red coral +work, were melting down--could withstand the providential rain-streams. +The fire faded away as if by magic; and the next day, when Hedson went +out, with scores of other gazers, to look at the expanse of charred +_débris_ where the wood had been, he remarked tersely (but in an +undertone) to Lance: "That property is now worth just one hundred +percent more for our purpose than it was day before yesterday. The +clearing has been done free of charge." + +By the middle of the summer the county awoke to the fact that a +syndicate of Northern capitalists had purchased the tract and were going +to develop it into a prodigious vegetable garden. The reed-pulp +paper-mill went up; there was an immense quantity of ditching and +levelling carried on in the swamp. Little houses began to make their +appearance; now dwellers came to live in them; and a school and church +were found to be necessary. There is now a flourishing community in that +place; and while Lance, I am glad to say, has made a good deal of money, +his pleasure has grown largely from the knowledge that he has brought +about improvements which others also enjoy. Sylv acts as his chief +adviser and confidential agent. + +Dennie's accident left him somewhat lame, but he has still found it +possible to be of service in some of Lance's undertakings. He prefers, +however, to retain a degree of independence by living on the island with +Aunty Losh, and following more or less his old employment in a superior +dug-out schooner, which has replaced the sloop. On the island he has +remained ever since the marriage of Sylv and Adela and their +installation in a pretty house which was built for them, near enough to +the manor to make it convenient for the children of Jessie and Adela to +meet often when they shall grow a little older. + +One slight question came up, I must admit, as to who had the best right +to appropriate the old Wharton Hall motto. Sylv acknowledged that it +belonged primarily to Lance, by inheritance from Guy Wharton; but, then, +had it not been handed down to Adela as well? The point was settled +without dispute; for Sylv's house was built before Lance was ready to +remodel the manor, and when the plans were submitted to Lance he +proposed--with Jessie's permission--that he should be allowed to +contribute as his gift a tablet for the hall, on which were to be shown +(not cut in, but raised in bold relief) the lines beginning + + "I live, how long I trow not." + +Dennie has no new house and no old motto. I cannot suppose that he is +altogether a contented man; but I believe he is happy in having taken +the right course. + +"My old heart do ache for ye, Dennie," said Aunty Losh to him, about the +time of the wedding. "There ain't much on't left at my time o' life; but +what there be of heart in me do ache, for sure. But ye done right, boy. +'Tain't no use tryin' to drive a woman. It's mighty like when ye tryin' +to make a passel o' hens come into the house; and ye chase 'em up and +say, 'Shoo!' and gits 'em a'most to the do'; and then they jist run +straight past it. No; ye can't drive a woman, Dennie, if she's sot her +mind ag'in it. That's what." + +Dennie looked up from the tackle he was mending, and smiled. "Wal, +aunty," he said, "you and me make out to git along pretty squar' +together, don't we? I don't want for to drive ye, and ye can't look to +drive me, neither. _I_ don't complain." + +The last three words will do for his motto; and they make a sufficiently +honorable one. + + + + +MAJOR BARRINGTON'S MARRIAGE. + + + + +I. + +Major Barrington before the acquisition of his military title was a +rather shapely gentleman, with a fine, carrot-tinted complexion and +strong, reddish whiskers, corresponding well with it, and branching out +on either side of his chin with a valiant air. + +Nor did his appearance greatly alter, immediately after passing from the +condition of plain citizen to that of a defender of his country. His +chin (which was shaven, and had a pretty little dent in the bottom of +it) came for a time more prominently before the public, being carried +somewhat higher in the air; but otherwise you would hardly have known +what a great man he was. + +It happened thus: The War of the Rebellion had been going on for about a +year, and Mr. Zadoc S. Barrington was a boarder in the respectable but +shabby mansion of one Mrs. Douce, in East Thirtieth Street, New York--a +short, pale, dusty-looking woman, who had under her threadbare wing a +maiden relative, Natalia by name. Natalia was alternately visitor and +boarder, according as her slender income gave out or held out, and the +consequence of this variable status was an equally variable disposition +on the part of the aunt toward the niece. Mrs. Douce had naturally a dry +heat of temper, which was possibly the source of that pulverous look +about the face already noticed; and it was only by turning on periodical +smiles, like the spray from a watering-cart, that she was able to allay +the gritty particles of her irritability in the presence of paying +boarders. It was to be expected, therefore, that during Natalia's +impecunious seasons her aunt should relapse into unmitigated dustiness, +and puff her discontent, so to speak, in dreary little gusts at the +forlorn maiden. + +Being forlorn, was it strange that Natalia should look to Barrington for +sympathy? Not at all. By degrees he thus came--without any movement on +his own part--to take an important place in her daily experience. A +variety of little hopes and illusions, of which her life had been pretty +well divested before, and which she alone could not have revived, sprung +up spontaneously under the most casual glance of Zadoc S. For example, +though she had no appetite for Mrs. Douce's feeble dinners, she could +get up a fictitious enjoyment of them by looking at the robust +Barrington, whose bold coloring and hearty appearance deceived her as to +the real measure of his relish for that dreary cookery. + +Barrington was not dangerously youthful, but neither was Natalia. +Financially he was not prosperous, but she was decidedly not so. Heaven +only knows how, during the years of his residence in New York, he had +contrived to subsist. It was not on any scientific principle of survival +that he persisted; but rather on the principle of the fallen sparrow. +Still, he was a portly sparrow, and must have needed a good deal to keep +him on his feet. But he remained on his feet--he never soared. And yet, +such as he was, Natalia--let us confess it with a becoming amount of +maiden timidity--yes, Natalia had begun to love him. + + +II. + +But she did not tell her love. She let concealment feed upon her +cheek--which, to be accurate, was not damask, but rather of the quality +of sarsnet. However, before her appearance had had time to suffer by +this process, an unexpected proceeding on the part of Barrington led her +to reveal her sentiment--to surprise and, one might say, surround him. +Did capture follow? Let us see. + +At this period his affairs were very low. He was a prospective patentee, +a filer of caveats for little inventions, which no one could have been +hired to infringe, the most ingenious point of which was their perfect +adaptability for not making money. He was also by turns an agent for +books, subscription engravings, sewing-machines, and what not. He did +everything but succeed. Finally he conceived the idea of a new vegetable +lamp-oil that could be made from floating oily matter to be found in any +swamp. He had made close computation of the swampy land in the whole +State of New York, which could be bought for a trifle, and turned into +sources of boundless wealth. For a time he fed the flame of hope with +this visionary fluid; but a serious lamp explosion, resulting from one +of his experiments, deprived him at once of half his whiskers and all +his expectations. There was indeed one resource left him, the nature of +which we may discover presently; but he hesitated to avail himself of +it, because it might compromise his independence. In fact, a certain +steady effort to be a man and to keep his self-respect, in spite of his +many failures, was Barrington's finest trait, and always gave me a +liking for him, notwithstanding his weakness. + +By the time his singed whiskers had regained their pristine vigor, and +when the war had passed through its first year, there drove up to Mrs. +Douce's door, one day, an express wagon with a trunk in it. The +startling thing about this was that the trunk (which was made of +sole-leather) was quite new, and had painted on it, with terrific +distinctness, this legend: + + CAPT. Z. S. BARRINGTON, U. S. A. + +The painted end of the trunk happened to be nearest the house. Now, Mrs. +Douce was at that very moment in her reception-room on the ground +floor--a sort of little bin or wine-cooler of a room, where (having +nothing better to cool) she kept callers, and sometimes herself--and +from there she spied the appalling arrival. She did not know, which was +the fact, that Barrington, tired of his sparrow's life on the pavements +of the metropolis, had been in correspondence with friends at +Washington, who had secured him the promise of a commission on his +applying for it. He had not at once made such application, but had gone +off with much high beating of the heart, and ordered the trunk, as a +preliminary, feeling perhaps that the final step would be easier to take +after committing himself thus far. + +Mrs. Douce, I say, not knowing this, opened the door for the expressman +in a great flurry of excitement. "Now, indeed," thought she, +melodramatically, "I begin to feel what war is!" + +Then she ran up-stairs herself, to inform Barrington that the trunk had +come. But he was equal to the emergency. With an unshaken demeanor the +hero rose from the table at which he had been conducting a busy and +wholly useless correspondence, and looked at Mrs. Douce with a +magnificent calm, which gave her a strange sensation of having +penetrated some great general's headquarters. Then he proceeded +down-stairs to parley with the expressman, who for a moment seemed to +take the place of a flag-of-truce bearer, or some kind of military +ambassador. + +As Barrington descended he heard Natalia in the drawing-room conducting +to its close an extensive piece of music, with a copious rumbling of low +notes and a twittering of high ones, which was apparently reluctant to +be brought to a close at all. The sound touched his heart, somehow; but +he went on. It also touched Mrs. Douce, who had followed; but she did +_not_ go on. + + +III. + +She stopped in the narrow passage, just by a niche containing a tall and +bilious-complexioned alabaster vase, with scraggly arms, which had +always impressed her as giving the house a great advantage over other +boarding-houses. (That vase, by the way, had levied its tax in many a +bill.) But now it seemed gloomily symbolic; everything had begun to seem +unnatural and suggestive since that trunk appeared. She fancied the vase +was like a "storied urn," containing the ashes of some valiant warrior +who should no more wield the humble breakfast-knife at her devastated +table. Overcome with emotion, she passed on and pushed open the +drawing-room door. + +"Natalia," she exclaimed, impressively, "guess what has happened!" As +the expressman, with fate-like footsteps, tramped up-stairs, carrying +the trunk on his shoulder, Barrington, who came after him, noticed that +the rumbling and twittering of the piano had ceased, and that his +landlady had disappeared. The two women were, in fact, conversing in +agitated whispers on the other side of the closed parlor door. + +"Well, never did I think to lose _him_!" exclaimed Mrs. Douce. + +"Poor aunt!" said Natalia; "and so late in the season, too." + +"It isn't that so much," interrupted the other, severely; "but it hurts +me that he should have been so sudden and so secret." + +"Perhaps he thought we--" Natalia paused, and blushed. "But why _should_ +he think we'd urge him to stay?" + +"Hark! is he coming down again?" said her aunt. No; it was merely the +expressman. He thumped his way down to the street door. They heard the +wagon drive off, and for a moment afterward they held their breath, as +if a battle had been raging near them, and the heavy current of the +fight had now swept by, leaving them in suspense, lest it should return. +Then the dignified step of Barrington resounded on the staircase. He +came to the door, and opened it. "I ought," he began, stepping in with a +smile, "to explain matters a little." + +Mrs. Douce's mood was like that of elderly matrons at the wedding of a +young friend. She hardly knew whether to laugh or cry. "Oh," she +returned, in the breathless, short-of-supplies manner usual with her in +awkward situations, "oh--no--explanation is needed, Mr. Barrington!" +and, after a short pause, simpering, "I'm sure." + +Natalia, meanwhile, stood in a shrinking, drooping attitude near the +battered rosewood piece of furniture from which she had been drawing +music, and looked a good deal like one of those young ladies in old +colored prints who devote themselves to standing mournfully under +weeping willows, among headstones. + +"Well, you see," proceeded Barrington, who took Mrs. Douce's denial at +its worth, "I didn't say anything, because--well, it wasn't quite +settled." + +"Then you're not _sure_ of going to the war?" Natalia burst forth, with +pathetic eagerness. (Barrington noticed that her heightened color was +becoming to her.) + +"Sure?" answered he, cruelly; "oh, yes; humanly speaking, I suppose it's +sure enough. I--good gracious!--I only--" + +These incoherent phrases were drawn out by the effect his statement had +produced. Natalia's eyelids fell at his words. She was trying to repress +a tendency to sob. By the time the hero had discovered this a tear had +found its way into sight beneath her eyelashes. + +"There!" cried Mrs. Douce, sternly. "Any one might have known it. _We_ +aren't made of sole-leather, Mr. Barrington. [He said to himself it was +lucky she had told him this.] Common humanity and friendship ought to +have shown you what this suddenness would lead to." + +"I can't help it," murmured her niece, referring to the tears now +hurrying down her face, and misled by the matron's angry tone and her +own confusion into the idea that _she_ was being scolded. (She was at +this time without money.) + +"Of course you can't, dear," said the aunt, soothingly. "As if any one +with any considerateness, or average humanity, I may say, would suppose +you could! I am not the woman to blame you for giving way under the +circumstances, Natalia. It only shows you've got a heart, while _some_ +people--Mr. Barrington, excuse me, but I must speak out." However, she +didn't speak out any further, but wound up with: "Anyway, it can't be +worse than it is [though nobody had intimated that it could be]. You've +decided to leave me. Well, that's what I must expect, I suppose." And +she dropped into a chair, and patted her thumbs together, as if there +were some crushing sarcasm in the action, which satisfied her wounded +feelings. + +Barrington succumbed to remorse. Besides, Natalia's unhappiness aroused +his sympathy, and he became angry--without knowing whether he had a +right to be so--at Mrs. Douce's taking the part of a comforter. He +fancied he could do this even better than she. "Of course," he said, +stiffly, "I don't expect to leave you without compensation for not +giving notice. I shall pay you for two or three weeks extra." + +He felt a dreadful sinking of the pocket as he spoke; but dignity +required the sacrifice. The landlady did not respond for an instant; her +eyes wandered about with a pained, prophetic air. "What have I done," +she cried, "to bring this upon me? Mr. Barrington, have I ever asked you +more than we agreed upon? _Have_ I treated my family meanly? You have +been in this house two years, and I know you can't point to anything. +What have I done to be insulted so?" she demanded of the faded +window-curtains. + +A moment of silence followed this outburst; then she swept out of the +room, with a thin rustle of her black dress, and left the prospective +captain and Natalia alone. + + +IV. + +Miss Douce put away her handkerchief in a business-like manner, and +looked at Barrington with soft appeal. "Ah, why didn't you tell?" + +"Tell? My dear Miss Douce, I had no idea--" + +"Thoughtless man, not to foresee!" + +"I didn't suppose your aunt would be so much annoyed." + +"Oh, I didn't mean _that_!" said Natalia, growing judiciously pettish. + +"What then?" + +"Not _her_," said the maiden, significantly. + +"Really, Miss Douce," said Barrington, "you have surprised me--I had no +idea--" + +"Don't, for pity's sake, tell me again that you had no idea!" exclaimed +Natalia. + +"I beg your pardon, I meant to say something." + +"What good can it do to say anything, when you have done your best to +break our hearts?" she demanded. And here she brought out the +handkerchief again, and began to look dangerously tearful. + +"Goodness!" said the unfortunate man. "I'm sure I didn't mean to. I +would a good deal rather stay at home than have you feel this way." + +"You have caused me great suffering, whether you meant to or not," +declared Miss Douce, with a quaver in her voice. Then, replying to his +devotion: "Will you give up going, to prove your words? Will you stay at +home?" + +Barrington felt the glory upon his horizon beginning to fade. He braced +himself by a chair with one hand; with the other he took Natalia's. "Do +you ask this as a personal favor?" he said. + +Miss Douce was weeping slightly again. "I don't want you to go," she +answered, shyly, turning away her head. "Yes, for my sake, stay!" + +At this crisis Rawsden, one of the junior boarders, who had just +returned from business and had been met at the reception-bin by Mrs. +Douce with news of the dread trunk, passed up-stairs and caught a +glimpse of the tableau, from the hall. "Aha," he muttered (for he was a +cynical youth)--"Hector and Andromache!" And then he glided on and up to +his remote chamber. + +Zadoc S. still hesitated a moment. "I shall not go immediately, in any +case," he said, gently. "I shall be here some days yet." + +"But why go at all?" urged the Andromache. "Is it irrevocable?" + +"No," he answered, unguardedly. "I--I haven't got my commission yet. I'm +only expecting it." + +There was a sudden revulsion of feeling on this announcement. Barrington +became aware that his position was not so heroic as it had been, and +Natalia began to blush violently at having betrayed her feelings on a +sham emergency. But, as it happened, neither of them thought of getting +out of the trouble by laughing. + +"You see, now, why I kept it to myself," he proceeded, awkwardly, after +some delay. + +Miss Douce had released her hand, and now rose abruptly. "Oh, yes," she +said; "I suppose it was all very foolish of me--but--you will forgive +me?" + +"I assure you, I feel honored," cried Zadoc, warmly, "by your +solicitude. And, if I dared--if you would allow me--" + +Let me here confess that I haven't the slightest notion what Barrington, +in that moment of impulse, was going to say. But explanation is made +unnecessary by the fact that Miss Douce didn't allow him to finish. + +"Don't say any more," she begged. "It is too painful. I must go and find +my aunt, Mr. Barrington, to tell her there's a hope of your staying. For +if your commission _shouldn't_ come--" + +"I should wait, of course," he responded, captivated by her glance. + +Naturally, after this, he went up to the room which Mrs. Douce's fancy +had transformed into a headquarters, and wrote to his Washington friends +not to get the commission. Of course, too, Mrs. Douce came gently +rapping at his door, in the evening, with a face as solemn as an +obituary notice, and with his bill in her pocket, whereon she had +obediently registered the item of compensatory payment, which she had so +scornfully rejected in the afternoon. Quite of course he said, with +dignity: "You may leave the bill, but I have decided not to go." And +then, by sequence, she affirmed--her face irradiated with joy--that she +had brought the bill very reluctantly, in the first place, and, if he +would excuse her, she thought she would _not_ leave it. + +As a further matter of course, Miss Natalia, being informed of the +abandonment of warlike measures, pretended not to care anything about +the episode, and to feel that it was rather an impertinence than +otherwise to bring it to her notice. + +On the other hand, little Rawsden had been cracking his joke about +Hector, etc., to a Miss Sneef, a rather pretty young boarder, whom he +honored by confiding to her his more successful sarcasms; and, when she +imparted to him, next day, the news of Barrington's capitulation, he had +the presence of mind to smile pallidly and look as if he had known all +about it from an early period of his existence. Without changing his +tone, he muttered, dryly: "Antony and Cleopatra!" + + +V. + +The two parties most concerned said nothing about it to each other for +days. But the interval was not unemployed. Mrs. Douce, having now +discovered her niece's inclination (if she had not known it before), was +allured by a calculation, based on the fact that Barrington had always +managed to pay his bills, and on the hope that if Natalia were to become +Mrs. Barrington two permanent paying boarders might be secured, with +possibly, in time, a half price besides. "One of these days, after all," +she said to Barrington, whom she took an early opportunity of seeing +alone, "you will be going off and leaving me, I fear." + +"Oh, no," said he; "I've really given up the war!" + +"But there are other things than war." + +"Other things to carry me away, do you mean? Or other disasters?" + +"Well, not exactly disasters," said Mrs. Douce, hastily; "I mean +marriage." + +"You don't call that a disaster, then?" Barrington inquired, wickedly. +"But what on earth has put this into your head?" + +"It's much easier to get into my head than war. If you could think of +such an unnatural thing as going to war, you might easily decide to +marry," was the landlady's equivocal conclusion. + +"What, I?" exclaimed Barrington, trying not to grow red, but doing so. +"I see I've made you suspicious." + +At this juncture a faint ghostly voice was heard rising from the +basement, where the cook had long been buried, to the third-story +banister, where they were talking. "Mrs. Douce, Mrs. Douce!" And Mrs. +Douce, giving him an arch look, observed, with a dry laugh: "I don't +know what you're plotting." Then she obeyed the voice. + +Whether this talk was the cause, or whether it was owing to the interest +which Miss Natalia Douce's behavior with regard to the military trunk +excited, Barrington's attention was more closely directed to her now, +and he observed in her from day to day a deepening melancholy. She +became listless, and fell into reveries. She played more than usual on +the piano in the dowdy parlor, behind the bilious-looking but +aristocratic vase; but there was less rumbling and twittering in her +music than formerly, and there were more pensive strains. She played +"Make me no Gaudy Chaplet" and nocturnes by sundry composers; she sang +"The Three Fishers." All this was the more interesting, in that there +was no apparent personal application in the music she choose, since no +one had insisted upon her accepting a gaudy chaplet, and she was not +wedded as yet to a fisherman. But one evening Barrington, coming down a +few minutes before dinner, entered the parlor as she was wrenching from +the key-board the last phrases of a funeral march in the "Songs without +Words." He listened attentively until she had finished; then, after a +moment's reflection, called out from the arm-chair he had taken: "But +why do you play such mournful things, nowadays, Miss Natalia, especially +before dinner? No wonder you have no appetite." + +Natalia didn't answer, but got up in silence and made for the door. On +the way, however, she turned toward him with a look of indignation and a +terrible flash of the eye. The next instant she was gone. She did not +appear at dinner. + +"What do you suppose is the matter with your niece?" Barrington blandly +asked the aunt, at table. "I made a casual remark about her playing, +just now, and she left the room without a word." + +Mrs. Douce did not answer the question until the next day, when she came +to Barrington's room. "I've found out all about it, now," she said. "The +idea of asking me what was the matter, when you had been speaking to her +in that way!" + +"Good Lord!" cried Harrington, nettled. "What way? It was innocent +enough; and I really don't like those tunes." + +"After all that has happened!" continued the landlady, casting up her +eyes. + +"Well, _what_ has happened?" he demanded. + +"Why, your thinking of going to the war--and--and Natalia's feeling +badly, and--well, you understand, though I can't explain myself, you've +put me out so with your abruptness." + +"It's always my abruptness or my suddenness," complained Barrington. +"No; I _don't_ understand you." + +Mrs. Douce's dusty face hardened and dried till it became a very desert +of physiognomy. "Well," she said, "you are not a boy, and I--well, I am +old enough, I suppose," with a catch of the breath, "to be your mother. +So we may as well speak plainly. You see that Natalia is deeply +interested in you; you consented for her sake to give up going to the +front; and now you coolly abandon her. Not content with that, you begin +to taunt her with her melancholy. I little expected this, Mr. +Barrington. I little expected it." + +"Oh, you're unjust!" said Zadoc S. + +"At least, you'll admit you've wounded her feelings and ought to +apologize," was the rejoinder. + +"Perhaps so," he confessed, feeling sorry for Natalia. + +"Go and see her," urged his landlady, gently, though still with +something of the desert atmosphere in her voice. "Speak to her about +it." + +"I will." + +"But, remember there's only one thing can make your conduct consistent +and restore her happiness." + +"You mean," said Barrington, exploring the dent in his chin with his +forefinger--"you mean, propose?" Then, as if this were quite out of the +question, he shook his head vigorously, smiling. "Of course not that; +but I don't see what else you can mean." + +"Nothing else," said the voice of the desert. + +"It's impossible," he rejoined, quietly. + +"You _must_," responded the voice. + +Then Barrington delivered a crushing blow. "I have promised to marry +some one else," he said, with great composure. + +To Mrs. Douce's gasping, broken, indignant queries he replied that the +lady's name was Magill, and that she was a widow possessed of ample +means. There had long been an understanding between them, he declared, +but he had been unwilling to marry without an independent property of +his own. Unable to acquire this, he had hoped at least to gain +distinction in the army. That hope he had sacrificed out of pure +sympathy for Miss Natalia Douce's distress; and now he had concluded to +marry without further delay. + + +VI. + +I pass over the period of internal convulsion in the Douce hearts, +widowed and maiden, which followed Barrington's disclosure. For a time +their disconcertment was so obvious that Rawsden had it all his own way +in making contemptuous remarks about them to Miss Sneef; and to judge +from the conversation of these two singular young people, you would have +supposed that nothing could give them such exquisite delight as to prove +that all human beings are unspeakably false and absurd, and that if they +could but have succeeded in showing each other--Miss Sneef on her part, +and Rawsden on his--how they two were the falsest and absurdest of all, +their happiness would have been complete. + +But Natalia soon rallied from the shock of Barrington's engagement to +Mrs. Magill, at least far enough to begin an exasperating warfare of +innuendo, which, though it stabbed her own heart as well, brought a balm +of revenge to her own wounds, but left Barrington quivering under the +petty blows. She made frequent allusions to that neglected trunk +belonging to the non-existent Captain Barrington, U.S.A.; affected to +believe that he kept in it a complete set of defunct accoutrements, +which she begged him to put on some time and show to the "family;" and +in general taunted him most unfairly with his abandonment of his whilom +noble resolve to seek the martial field. + +Before long the entire "family" of boarders had joined more or less +actively in this guerilla attack; and the worst of it was, that they +always kept just beyond the pseudo-captain's range. He couldn't retort +upon them without losing his dignity. At last he hit upon a masterly +defence. One day he said to Natalia, carelessly, at the table: "Oh, as +to my uniform that you've been asking about, I'll show it to you +to-night! I am going to drill." + +The effect was gratifying. Natalia grew pale at the thought that her +cruel sneers had actually driven Barrington (whom she continued to adore +in spite of his desertion) back to the cannon's mouth, so to speak. The +other boarders were also deeply impressed, in their several degrees. +These emotions were considerably modified, yet not wholly effaced, when +the military aspirant finally appeared in his trappings; for he did not +wear the United States uniform. He was clothed in the splendors of a +militia major. He revealed to the little group of fellow-boarders, who +had assembled with a sort of hushed solemnity to inspect him, that for +some time he had been getting up a new, independent cavalry company, of +which he was now the commander. + +"And you're all organized?" asked one gentleman, gazing at the major as +if he were an entire company in himself. + +"Yes; first drill to-night," said Barrington, with a business-like air, +lighting a cigar, and looking quite terrific. + +"Thought a company was commanded by a captain, and not a major," +observed Rawsden, rescuing himself from a secret feeling almost of +admiration, and becoming cynical again, just in time to retain the +approval of Miss Sneef, who gave him a sagacious glance. + +"Yes, that's the common way," said the officer, with superior +indifference; "but in consideration of my zeal and expense in getting up +the company, which is very large, I rank as Major of the National Guard +of the State." Then, with striking precision, he executed a brilliant +retreat from the parlor, slammed the street-door, as he went out below, +with a report like a cannon, and left the awe-struck boarders to spend a +miserably peaceful evening, in a state of deep humility, while he reaped +the first honors of his new career. + + +VII. + +There was much question among them as to where he had got the money for +this great undertaking; but Mrs. Douce shrewdly suspected that the +widow's gold had something to do with it. She was right. Mrs. Magill's +money had gilded the major's uniform and the spurs whereby he was now +hoping to leap into the saddle of fame. + +Still, there was no immediate sign of the threatened marriage for some +time after this. Barrington took part in sundry parades, and he and his +company were freely mentioned in the papers. But the widow remained so +entirely in the background that Natalia almost believed she was a myth; +and there was no change in Zadoc's military life, except that the +letters U. S. A. on the trunk were replaced with N. Y. S. N. G. Then +came the tremendous day when Barrington's cavalry were ordered out, with +other militia, to resit the rebel invasion of Pennsylvania. I will spare +the reader the hardships of that campaign. It is enough that the gallant +major should have undergone them; and, to tell the truth, he was not +slow to make the most thereof. He never went into a fight, and hardly so +much as heard the snapping of a cap or the drawing of a sabre while his +company was at the front; for they were kept marching and +counter-marching, for strategic purposes, guarding supply-trains or +small batches of prisoners; but he was a hero, for all that, when he +returned. He had been obliged to forego shaving during his fortnight's +absence, and this gave him a suitably battered and realistic look. I'm +sorry to say he was in no hurry about shaving after he came back. He +deliberately made capital of that stubby growth on his chin and upper +lip, and it lent great effect to his tales of suffering with mud and +rains, and beds of hard wood in barns, and to the agony he expressed at +not having met the craven foe. + +Rawsden and Miss Sneef attempted to turn these narratives to ridicule, +but the effort failed signally. Barrington was a success. He had always +been trying to be one, on some solid basis or other. Now he had become +so on no basis at all. + + +VIII. + +Mrs. Magill was satisfied with her investment, but she wished now to +make it permanent. In short, she thought in time that the major should +fulfil his promise of marriage. It is scarcely necessary to say that, +meanwhile, his resplendent military renown had redoubled his +fascinations for the pensive Natalia; and that maiden's faithful +admiration and devout sympathy with him in the dangers to which he had +lately been exposed had begun to make an impression on his simple, +pompous and sanguine middle-aged heart. In all this time the two women +who divided his affections and interests had not once met. Being charged +with their rival influences, it almost seemed as if the major, while +uniting them in his mind, had possessed a sort of chemical power of +keeping them apart. But now he became extremely anxious to bring them +into each other's society. The pretext he found was that of private +theatricals. He proposed to Mrs. Magill that an entertainment in this +line should be gotten up at the drill-room of the company, which was a +sort of riding-school arena, easily transformed into a theatre. She +consented at length, but only on the understanding that this was to be +Barrington's last grand frolic before settling down to married life. + +"Yes," said Barrington, in vague terms; "I sha'n't want to remain single +any longer." But he was a good deal alarmed to find himself wondering, +at that very moment, which lady it was that he intended to marry. + +Mrs. Magill and Natalia were made acquainted, and among them the three +soon completed their plans for the performance. The piece selected was +Boucicault's farce, "Wanted--a Widow." The major had pressed Mrs. Magill +to take a part, but, with a becoming distaste for publicity, she +declined, and Natalia was induced to play in her stead. Considering the +title of the farce, the widow's abstention was certainly judicious; but +I think she would have been better pleased to see Natalia in the rôle of +Lady Blanche Mountjoy, rather than that of the successful widow, Mrs. +Lovebird. Lady Blanche was taken by Miss Sneef, who, being young and +pretty, yet withal sceptical by nature, made a success of the part. Mrs. +Magill, whose eyes began to survey Natalia in the appalling light of a +rival, after the first interview, took care to be present at all the +rehearsals, as you may believe; and a little real drama, for which no +rehearsal was needed, began to move within the fictitious one. + + +IX. + +Mrs. Magill was a short and rather fleshy person, with a bland +countenance, in which the experiences of her forty years--good and bad +alike--had agreed to get under shelter of a placid and non-committal +tinge of pink, there to make what pretence they could of not being +experiences at all. There was the same discreet, uncommunicative look +about her hair, which she wore stamped down along her forehead, with the +severe simplicity of a butter-pat. Natalia's face, on the contrary, +showed whatever she had been through. Thus, the widow and the unmarried +woman trenched on each other's provinces, and promptly took a dislike +one to another. + +The farce in hand, as all my readers may not remember, turns upon the +fact that _Henry Revel_ (Barrington), having been jilted by a lady who +became _Mrs. Lovebird_, has taken to reckless courses, and finally +becomes a heavy debtor, in hiding from the sheriff. In this dilemma he +gayly advertises for a rich widow, "with immediate possessions," and his +whereabouts thus come to the knowledge of _Amy Lovebird_, now widowed, +who deserted him originally only to marry a rich man who could save her +father from ruin. She seeks Harry at once, in order to explain and to +draw him back to herself. When he receives her response to his +advertisement, however, pride and resentment make him unwilling to +profit by her wealth. Meanwhile, _Amy's_ friend, _Lady Blanche_, plans a +stratagem to test him, so that it may appear whether he receives his +former flame's advances out of mercenary policy, or with the old-time +affection. She persuades Amy to appear before him as if in great +poverty, while she herself (_Lady Blanche_) writes him a letter, stating +her fortune and a fictitious age, and requesting a meeting to consider +the matrimonial project. When Harry meets Amy and hears this made-up +story of her poverty, although his early love remains unabated, he +decides to see the other widow, Lady Blanche, whose letter he has just +received, to marry her, and to use the money thus acquired for the +relief of _Mrs. Lovebird_. This decision, of course, makes him appear +for a time false to _Amy_; and the motive of the piece is, accordingly, +that of the hero's struggle between the powers of love and of money. +Since he finally marries _Mrs. Lovebird_, the superficial moral of the +play was favorable to Mrs. Magill, considered with reference to +Barrington's vacillations, because the major's affair with her antedated +the first springing up of a sentiment for Natalia, and, moreover, she +was rich. So the widow had no fear as to the moral influence of the +drama upon his mind. But the deeper lesson of this amusing composition +is that of fidelity to love without money; so, as a matter of fact, it +had a powerful effect in attaching the major to Natalia. At first he +thought little about it. But, as the rehearsals went on, he found that +theatricals, being an art, and having the magic of art, sometimes give +one a strange, new interest in the real person, exhibited under subtly +novel circumstances; and he began to think it would be pleasant to +follow up his imaginary devotion to Natalia with a real passion. + + +X. + +In proportion as this feeling of the major's grew, Mrs. Magill tired of +seeing him perpetually going through the farce with Natalia, and coming +out as her tried and trusted lover. She resolved to hasten the date of +the performance, perhaps also hoping, furtively, that Natalia wouldn't +be ready, and would therefore fail disgracefully. + +On his part, Barrington, to whom the new partiality for Natalia had made +the rehearsals increasingly pleasant, found also that the conflict +between this and his promise to Mrs. Magill brought in an element of +painfulness. He became exceedingly blue, and even treated the widow +morosely. + +"Zadie," said she, one evening, as they walked home from the drill-room, +"what ails you? I thought you were going to get so much amusement out of +these theatricals." + +"I wish I'd never gone into them!" he answered, gloomily. + +"How unkind to say that, after the condition we made about them!" This +allusion didn't improve his temper. + +"I don't forget my promise, though I _am_ sorry," he said, dubiously. + +"Sorry about the promise, you mean?" asked the widow, with an archness +that failed for want of a street-lamp to light it up. + +"You wouldn't like it if I should says yes," he retorted. + +"Oh, if you're sorry," she exclaimed, haughtily, "we'll give up +the"--here the major became attentive and eager--"the theatricals +altogether!" she concluded. + +"The theatricals," muttered he, disappointed; "I thought you were going +to say--But no! We'll play the farce out, and, when it's done, we'll +have the wedding. Does that satisfy you?" + +"It's very wrong of you to talk of it that way," said Mrs. Magill, too +sagacious to lose her temper. "But I know you'll regret it." And so, +holding him firmly by the arm, she carried him off to the door, where +they parted. + + +XI. + +At length, the evening of the performance came, and all the independent +cavalry, and their friends, assembled to look at it. Rawsden was +unusually cynical that day, and came near disabling Miss Sneef for her +part by the number and variety of his pessimistic remarks. But this was +due merely to his own inward trepidation on her behalf; and it was with +a strange whirl of by no means cynical emotion, raging underneath his +calm dress-coat and well-starched shirt-bosom, that he left her at the +dressing-room, and took his own place in the audience. As for +Barrington, the contradiction of moods into which he had fallen excited +him to great energy, and he consequently achieved a brilliant success in +the first part of the piece. Mrs. Magill sat refulgent and +diamond-flashing in her place, drinking in the praise of the major, +which was murmured on all sides; these bright moments compensated her +for all the pain of the rehearsals. But between the first and second +scenes the curtain fell, to allow the arranging of a new "set." The +shadow of that descending curtain was destined to darken seriously the +widow's fair prospect. + +Just as the audience were getting impatient for the second scene, an +audible disturbance arose on the stage, in the midst of which the green +cloth was rolled up, revealing a pictured street. No one "came on," +however; and as a moment elapsed, and the disturbance increased, Mrs. +Magill suspected something wrong. Then Natalia burst out on the +astonished spectators, through the right entrance, with a distracted +air, crying out, with apparent unconsciousness of the lifted curtain, +"What! Major Barrington has cut his head open? Where?" + +Some of the audience began to laugh, several ladies screamed, and the +cavalrymen were divided between a wish to comfort their frightened +guests and the duty of running to their commander's aid, when Barrington +appeared from the sides, moving mechanically, and with a distinct wound +on his forehead. At this sight Natalia, who had but half crossed the +stage, paused, screamed sharply and spread out her hands, seeking +support. Meanwhile the stage-manager had got the curtain started down, +and it dropped silently upon the unexpected tableaux. + +By the time it had touched the boards Mrs. Douce had reached the +dressing-room. She now stood leaning over her niece, who had fainted, +and was lying in a chair. Mrs. Magill, being of inferior velocity, was +much longer in making her way to the stage through the crowd of excited +people now hurrying to and fro. A hack had already been ordered for +Barrington, who was sitting behind the street in Lady Blanche's +drawing-room, with his head bound up, and looking rather pale. The hero +of a hundred failures, he had at last managed to get a genuine hurt. + +"Oh, horrible, horrible!" cried Mrs. Magill. "Speak to me, Zadie; how +did it happen? Can no one tell me?" + +"We were just getting up Lady Blanche's chandelier in great style," +exclaimed the manager, "when Major Barrington came along, and--" + +"No more, no more, for mercy's sake!" entreated the widow, with a +shudder. + +"Yes," continued the manager, with severe accuracy; "he hit his head +against it." + +"Mrs. Douce," cried Mrs. Magill, "run out and get my things for me--at +once--please." + +"I'm sorry," said the landlady, rather sharply, "but I can't leave +Natalia." Here some one came forward, and said the hack had arrived. + +"You see," protested the widow, "I _must_ have my things." But Mrs. +Douce devoted herself to Natalia, obliviously. + +Barrington had by this time been got on his feet, and was walking slowly +toward the stage-door, the arm of a fellow-officer under his own. + +"Major," cried the exasperated widow, "stop!" And, as she spoke, she +stepped in front of him. + +Barrington did stop; but he looked feebly peevish, and in a tone of +disgust said, plainly, "Do let me alone, can't you?" There could be no +doubt as to his words. + +The conflict over his remains, which seemed likely a moment before to +become obstinate received a check in this utterance from, as it were, +the very dead. Mrs. Magill fell back in horror, and the major was +triumphantly borne away with Natalia. + + +XII. + +The farce was never finished; but the assembled company set about the +dance which had been planned to succeed it. Rawsden and Miss Sneef +enjoyed this very much, in their superior way, and, in fact, the +breakdown of the histrionic effort made those youthful misanthropists +thoroughly hilarious. The events of the next few days, after the "caving +in" of the Major's head (as Rawsden described it), furnished him with +still further material for entertainment. + +Mrs. Magill resumed the field early the next morning, seeking to visit +her poor major. This Mrs. Douce prevented her from doing by powerful and +imaginative descriptions of Barrington's condition, and citations from +medical authority. + +Mrs. Magill then proposed to hire a room in the house. But Mrs. Douce +solemnly averred she had no room to spare. Still, the next day Mrs. +Magill came, with a carriage full of things, including light bedding, to +occupy the enemy's country, and declared she would bivouac in the +parlor. + +"But the parlor belongs to my boarders," said Mrs. Douce. "Use of parlor +included, those are the terms." + +"Then I'll take the reception-room." + +"The door is very narrow," said Mrs. Douce, scrutinizing the massive +form of the invader so insinuatingly as to make the non-committal pink +in Mrs. Magill's cheeks give place to an angry red. + +Mrs. Magill turned, and called out of the open door to the +carriage-driver to bring in the bedding, etc. "Recollect," she said, +severely, to Mrs. Douce, "he is my husband that is to be." + +The landlady looked inquiringly at the driver, and then, as if +correcting her impression, said: "Oh, the major? That makes no +difference. Those things shall not come in! Besides, it isn't at all +certain that he is." + +"Not certain? How can you dare?" + +"He says so himself." + +"Then he's out of his mind," said Mrs. Magill, calmly. + +"He was," replied Mrs. Douce. + +"I won't converse with you," said Mrs. Magill. + +"Then please order your man not to bring in those things." + +But Mrs. Magill refusing, "_I_ will tell him," announced Mrs. Douce, +stepping out to do so. + +Mrs. Magill, with great presence of mind, instantly shut the spring-lock +door and began to walk up-stairs. There was a furious rattling at the +door-handle, from the outside, followed by violent ringing. But no one +came to open, until the widow had gained the first landing. Mrs. Douce, +being admitted at last, swiftly mounted after her. It was a fearful +chase; but there was no way of heading off the intruder now. + +They went up another flight. But Mrs. Douce over-reached her opponent by +calling out, in a loud voice: "You can't see him, Mrs. Magill! _Mrs. +Magill!_ Mrs. Magill!" + +Immediately after this they heard the lock working in Barrington's door. +The major was safe in his intrenchments. + +Nothing daunted, however, Mrs. Magill strode forward and knocked. There +was no answer except a slight cough, probably caused by the officer's +sudden exertion in locking his door. "Major," said the widow, in a +gentle tone, "do you hear me?" Echoless silence received her words. She +began again, with a considerably increased alertness of voice: "Major! +Are you engaged or not?" + +"Very much so," answered Zadoc from within, and with a startlingly +robust and comfortable voice for an invalid. + +"I mean, to me," explained Mrs. Magill, with annoyance. "Mrs. Douce, +here, has the face to declare that you are not. I wish the question +answered in her presence. Are you engaged to be married?" + +"I am sorry not to be able to open the door," responded the evasive +Barrington. "It fatigues me to talk in this way, so I hope you'll be +satisfied with my answering this one question." + +"Well," said the widow, more affably, "say you are--" + +"I _are_ engaged to be married," promptly struck in the major, with +untimely jocoseness. + +"_Am_, you mean," Mrs. Magill corrected. But silence had resumed its +reign on the other side of the door. + +"Very well, that will do," she concluded, somewhat as a prose Portia +finishing a cross-examination in a modern law-court might have done. She +shot upon Mrs. Douce a glance of scorn, saying, "I shall come again +to-morrow," and then proudly departed. + + +XIII. + +But she did not come on the morrow. Barrington sent her a note, which +effectually prevented her doing so. + +"Dear madam," it said, "our remarkable--not exactly interview, but +conversation, this morning, may have misled you. My reference to an +engagement of marriage was to another than the one you had in mind--in +point of fact, my very recent engagement to marry Miss Natalia Douce. + +"You will pardon the mental reservation in my reply, when you reflect +that I made it out of regard to your feelings. Those feelings I am sorry +to disturb in any way, and I believe you will see that it is the truest +consideration for them that leads me to give up the design we once +cherished. Our understanding, too, was that when the farce was finished +we would marry. The farce was never finished; the condition was not +fulfilled; and therefore our agreement is dissolved. I have just sent in +my resignation to the company, and shall dispose of the horse according +as you may desire. The uniform I will retain (since it would not fit any +one else), as also the respect for you, which has long been entertained +by + + "Your friend, + "ZADOC S. HARRINGTON." + +To this note the major never got any reply. In due time, therefore, his +marriage with Natalia, being unimpeded, took place very quietly, and, +after going off for a small wedding journey, the husband and wife came +back to a pair of Mrs. Douce's small rooms, and began to live in them. + +Yes; this corpulent, middle-aged sparrow of a major had decided in favor +of idealism--prosaic though the form in which it was presented to +him--as against money and ease without honest affection. He threw aside +the only success he had ever achieved, which was due to the opulent +siren, Mrs. Magill, and fell back to his old shabby independence, with a +poverty-stricken little wife to share it. I don't say it was good +political economy; I dare say it was very bad sociology; and perhaps I +ought to show how some dire catastrophe came upon him in consequence. +The only obstacle in the way is, that it didn't. He remained reasonably +happy ever after. + +By this it is not to be understood that he prospered materially. As a +matter of fact, he had a terribly hard time. There were the old +struggles, the old uncertainties of fortune to be faced, with new +anxieties added. His own opinions and his wife's were at times far from +being in unison. + +After a time, too, he found himself a father; and, though I don't doubt +his little infant girl brought him compensations, he grew visibly older. +His once courageous complexion, which I have described as carrot-tinted, +lapsed slowly toward the hue of turnips when in a boiled state; +and--melancholy change!--his dainty martial chin, with the dent in the +bottom of it, was hidden by a practical red beard, while his hair became +proportionately thin on top of his head. If Mrs. Magill cared for +revenge she probably took it now, in the contemplation of his hard +career and the alterations in his appearance. He felt this a little, I +know; for, as we were walking together one day near Worth's monument, he +suddenly changed our course, with a hasty, "May as well go this way;" +and I perceived the wealthy widow coming toward us. + +We were not quick enough to escape her, and Barrington winced at her +expression. Yet I am equally certain that he never regretted his choice. + +Luckily for Rawsden's slight remaining toleration of mankind, he left +Mrs. Douce's before the baby was added to the other household ornaments. +Now that I think of it, Miss Sneef had previously left the house, and +Rawsden's critical mood grew upon him so rapidly that he, too, found a +change necessary. In fact, he followed Miss Sneef. + +Yet he continued to bestow a share of his amused contempt upon Mr. and +Mrs. Barrington from a distance. + +"Barrington got a taste for the drama that time," he once said to me, +recalling the private theatricals, "and he keeps it up well. I think his +piece will have a long run." + +"What piece?" + +"_The Ex-Bachelor and his Baby!_" said the little wretch. "A +tragic-comedy--by the whole strength of the company." + +I think I should have kicked Rawsden for this, but that something in his +manner hinted an inconsistent envy of the major. And he presently went +on to say that as for Miss Sneef and himself, although not believing at +all in the necessity of sentiment and all that sort of thing, they had +concluded--since they didn't seem to be able as yet to get tired of each +other--that they would try marriage, and see what that would do for +them. + +Such was the distorted little tribute of this _nil admirari_ youth to +the element of real manliness he could not fail to see in Barrington's +marriage. + + + + +"BAD PEPPERS." + + + + +I. + + +"You see, I want to strike down to Bad Peppers." + +These words were pronounced by the third person at my right on the +bench. The bench, it must be explained, was covered with red velvet, and +situated in the cabin of a steamer. And the steamer was the _Weser_, +bound for Bremen. + +I could not imagine at the moment what "Bad Peppers" meant; and the +remark--uttered at our first dinner on board--came out with such +ludicrous distinctness, in the midst of the clatter at table, that I +made haste to observe the individual from whom it proceeded. I beheld a +rough but impressive head, with cheeks of a settled red, and beetling +grizzly hair, looking out over the board in a dogged, half-perplexed, +but good-humored way, though the owner of the head was evidently +unconscious that he had said anything open to comment. He was a man, I +should say, of forty-six; but as I looked at him now in the glare of the +skylight above, the simplicity and frankness in his face were so marked, +that I could not help imagining the short gray curls turned to golden +brown, and feeling the momentary pity that comes over one in looking at +an elderly person who reminds one of childhood, yet is hopelessly far +removed from it. I felt a little sorry for a man with this kind of a +face attempting so large a task as crossing the ocean to Europe, and I +was a little amused at the idea, too. + +He was talking earnestly to my handsome friend Fearloe, who sat on this +side of him; but I observed that he was watched with a certain +patronizing scrutiny by a young German opposite. + +"Yes, you see I couldn't get rid of this rheumatism anywhere," he +continued, "and so I took a friend's advice and started for Europe. They +say that Bad Peppers will fix up the worst case you ever saw better than +any amount of medicine. Anyway, I'm going to try it." + +Peppers as a cure for rheumatism! What could he mean? And if this was to +be the remedy, why go to Europe to try it? But he proceeded: + +"And that's the reason, you see, why I want to strike right down to Bad +Peppers." + +The mystery began to grow less opaque. Possibly he might mean by "strike +down" that he wished to reduce his diet to the article in question; but +I thought it more likely that Bad Peppers was a place which he had made +his objective point. I determined to ask Fearloe at the earliest +opportunity, and therefore drew him away as soon as dinner was over. + +"Who is your new acquaintance?" I inquired. + +"He reports himself as Steven Steavens, a wholesale grocer from +Philadelphia." + +"And he's going to Europe to cure his rheumatism? Europe ought to be +flattered, certainly," said I; and I am afraid we both laughed rather +scornfully at our unsuspecting fellow-traveller, who was pacing another +part of the deck with a fierce meerschaum pipe in his mouth. "But tell +me what he means by this Bad Peppers. Is it a place? I'm sure I never +heard of one by that name." + +"Of course," said Fearloe, "it's a place, but that isn't the right name. +He means a resort of some note for invalids in the canton of St. Gall, +Switzerland--Bad Pfeiffers, or Pfeiffers's Baths--south of the Lake of +Constance, and near the Rhine: a very picturesque spot, too." + +"You've been there, then?" + +"Yes," answered Fearloe, who, I may remark by the way, had been nearly +everywhere--out of America. He was one of those Yankees of the later +generations who are born with a genius for belying their own +nationality. When he was in England, the English would actually claim +him for one of themselves, in the face of positive denial from his own +countrymen; though I must do him the justice to say that he made no +merit of this, and never allowed newspaper paragraphs to be written +about it. In France he was frequently taken for a Frenchman; and in +Italy his fine statuesque features and rich dark beard, with the aid of +a good Roman accent, might easily cause him to pass for a descendant of +one of the old patrician families. In consequence he was very apt to be +looked upon as a foreigner during his occasional flights through his +native land, and possessed accordingly a remarkable power over the +hearts of sundry republican young women; for women love to pay homage to +a judicious male superiority, and this is the reason the daughters of +our nation delight in foreign manners, which assume that grandeur of the +male that most Americans are too polite and timid to assert. These +things being so, I do not wonder that Fearloe was a little conceited on +one point--his success in impressing the female heart. + +"You speak so well of the place," I continued, after a pause, "that I've +a great mind to 'strike down' there myself. Do you advise it?" + +"By all means, Middleby, after you've seen the Exposition. Paris will be +hot, and you will need a change of some sort." + +"I hope it won't be a change to rheumatism," I replied, with another +laugh. I had not noticed that Steavens had come nearer to us as I spoke; +but the word "rheumatism" seemed to attract him, and roused the only +association with the Old World which he as yet enjoyed. + +"You gentlemen have been to Europe before?" he said, advancing, and +taking me in with a half-inquiring nod, as if my acquaintance with so +foreign-looking a person as Fearloe was sufficient guarantee of my +experience in travelling. "Now I would consider it a favor, gentlemen, +if you would come down with me to the smoking-room. We can have a little +something to drink, and then we can talk this thing over." + +Fearloe smiled condescendingly. + +"This thing?" inquired I (perhaps not with the utmost respect, since his +sentence struck me as rather too informal for the very beginning of a +chance acquaintance). "You mean the Bad--" + +"The whole of it," broke in Mr. Steavens. "The European continent--Bad +Peppers, Paris, and all the rest of it. You've been there, and know just +what a fellow ought to see and do, and now I'm away from my store, I've +got a little time to sit down and think over what _I_'ll do. So, if you +don't object, gentlemen--" + +"Not at all," Fearloe hastened to assure him, being always ready for +novel encounters. + +"I can't tell you anything about Pfeiffers's Baths," said I, trying to +be companionable too, "for I never heard of them before; but whatever I +do know is at your service." + +As we moved toward the gangway the grocer turned to Fearloe, and asked, +in an undertone, "What does he call it? Feiffers? That ain't right, is +it? My friend that set me on going there, he said Peppers. I thought, +first off, he meant they put red peppers in the water when you bathe; +but he said no, it was the name of the man that started the place, he +guessed." + +"You can pronounce it either way," said Fearloe, magnanimously. + +"Well, I prefer Peppers," declared Steavens, with an air of relief. "But +it's kind of queer, now, that your friend, Mr. What's-his-name--" + +"Middleby," I suggested, claiming my place in the colloquy. + +"--Middleby," he continued, without embarrassment, transferring the +remark to me. "Ain't it queer, Mr. Middleby, that you never heard of the +place? I thought everybody knew about Bad Peppers." + +I was foolish enough to be irritated at this presumption on the part of +the child-like grocer, and had a great mind to hint that he preferred a +wrong pronunciation of the name because peppers were in the line of his +business; but I contented myself with saying that I thought there were +places in Europe a good deal better known than the baths. + +In the smoking-room we found the young German who had cast his critical +eye upon Steavens at dinner. He introduced himself as Herr Scharlach, +and in order to make matters clear, he drew from his pocket a printed +list of the passengers, which had been distributed just before we +sailed, on which he put a cross against each of our names and his own, +as he had already done with several others in the catalogue. He was a +young man somewhere in the thirties, with a clear blue eye that gleamed +like a sword, a high forehead, and a soft complexion deepened by +tropical sunburn. He could have been identified as a German anywhere, +from the air he had of holding a balance of power in all earthly +affairs; and when he checked off our names, I couldn't help thinking +that he was collecting data for use in some future military campaign, or +else for a biographical dictionary of the whole human race. + +"Ain't from Philadelphia, are you?" queried Steavens, in a friendly +tone, implying that the other probably _was_ from that city. "We have a +good many Germans there." + +"No," said Scharlach, "Brazil." After which he lit a cigarette he had +been rolling in his thin fingers, and puffed smoke from his nostrils in +such a way as to suggest that any aperture for confidential conversation +was permanently closed. + +"Now here," said our confiding acquaintance, after we had pledged one +another in several mild beverages suited to a first day out on the briny +deep--"here's a list of places my friend made out that I want to kind of +take in on my way to the springs and back." And he produced from his +pocketbook a narrow crumpled white paper, on which were pencilled the +weighty names of Paris, Rome, Madrid, Vienna, St. Petersburg, Dresden, +Antwerp, Heidelberg, and Munich. I give them in the order in which they +occurred. "I suppose that's all right, ain't it?" he concluded, glancing +at each of us in turn, as if the success of his tour depended on our +good opinion. + +"Why, yes," said Fearloe, "the places are all right, but you'll have to +travel a good deal to include them all. I don't see how you're to get at +them on the way to the baths." + +"Oh, of course I shall have to branch off a little; but then the +distances over there don't compare with ours," returned Mr. Steavens, +hopefully. + +"I'm not so sure of that," rejoined my friend, with a malicious air of +there being some slight room for doubt. "Your first jaunt, from Paris to +Rome, will be five hundred miles--five times as far as from Philadelphia +to New York. After that you must count at least a thousand to Madrid, a +thousand more from there to Vienna, and then twelve hundred, or over, to +St. Petersburg." Steavens almost turned pale. He hastily set down the +glass which he was carrying to his lips. "Besides," continued Fearloe, +"you can't go to Rome at all before winter." + +"Hold on!" cried the other, looking as if the sense of solid reality +were slipping away from him. "Has anybody got a map here? Let's settle +one thing at a time. You know what I want to do first is to strike down +to Bad Peppers. I'd like to settle just how that stands." + +Scharlach immediately went to his state-room, and returned promptly with +a large and perfect map of the Continent, showing all the railroads and +post-roads. Seeing this, I was tempted to make some sarcastic remark +about his thorough German equipment; but I remembered Sedan, and +shuddered. He was soon busily engaged in tracing out certain lines of +travel with his long pink finger, the nail of which was whitish, and +edged with black--according strangely with the Prussian national colors. +I thought Scharlach took a peculiar interest in Pfeiffers, and seemed +oddly familiar with it. He furnished our fellow-passenger with full +details about the place; how it was situated on the Tamina River--which +Steavens, with a friendly reminiscence of New York politics, instantly +transformed into "Tammany" River; how the mountains were piled around +its wild gorge seven or eight thousand feet high; how the healing waters +flow only in summer, and are brought to the hotel by an aqueduct; and so +on. All this seemed to reassure the rheumatic grocer very much; and +having got "Peppers" definitely fixed in his mind again, and becoming +familiar with the map, he once more grew self-confident about his list +of cities, and nothing could avail to dissuade him from adhering to the +exact order in which his unknown adviser had jotted them down. So, for +the time, we abandoned the attempt. + +There is hardly a circle more merciless in its criticisms than a body of +first-cabin passengers on one of the European steamers; and Steavens +soon became an object of amusement to most of us. His simplicity, +openness, and perfectly good-humored, almost joyous, ignorance, made him +an easy prey. But he proved to be a "good sailor," and was very gallant +toward the ladies. The strangest part of it was that they rather liked +him, and took his side against our covert ridicule. I suppose I must +admit that this, instead of altering our opinions concerning him, only +added a slight bitterness to a spirit of fun which would otherwise have +been quite innocent; and we got into a way of looking at him with +sarcastic hostility. When I say "we" I refer more particularly to +Fearloe, the German, Scharlach, and myself, who, having been thrown with +him more than the others on the first day of the voyage, regarded him as +a sort of comic exhibition under our special supervision. + +This rather absurd bond of union between us led to some degree of +intimacy with Scharlach, who disclosed--greatly to the enhancement of +our interest in Steavens's journey--that he, likewise, was going to +Pfeiffers. His errand, moreover, was a romantic one. Five years before +he had fallen in love with the orphaned niece of a rich merchant in +Berlin; but feeling his cause to be hopeless, at least as regarded the +girl's uncle, so long as he had nothing but his personal appearance and +a very elaborate education to support his suit, Scharlach had preferred +to retain the hold of friendship while starting out to better his +condition; and accordingly he had never made a positive declaration of +his passion, but had gone to Brazil, where he succeeded in gaining a +moderately handsome fortune. His friends had kept him informed of +Fräulein Raslaff's movements. As yet she had not married, from which he +augured hopefully for his future; but her uncle had become an invalid, +and they were now about resorting to Pfeiffers for his health, whither +Scharlach, of course, purposed following them, in order to learn his +fate. + +He requested us urgently to say nothing about this to any of our +fellow-voyagers, and we even kept the secret of his destination from +Steavens. But that could not prevent Fearloe and myself from privately +talking over Scharlach's prospects a little. My own opinion was that +such cool self-possession as his course showed might not impress a woman +so favorably as it did us, and I said I was by no means sure that +Scharlach would win, after all. Fearloe did not agree with me here, and +stroked his beard with an air of restrained certainty as he replied: "I +see, Middleby, you fancy that women want something more startling +romantic than that. But they are very practical, too; and I think you'll +find Miss Raslaff will appreciate such sensible devotion as this of our +Brazilian emigrant." As I have said, Fearloe knew the effect he could +produce on women, and was proud of it; and when he uttered this remark +it was plain that he thought he had settled the question. + + +II. + +As I left the steamer at Southampton, and went up to London for a few +days, I parted with Steavens before the voyage was completed. It was +nearly a week later that I met Fearloe again, in Paris. We went together +to dine at a neat little two-franc place in the Rue St. Honoré, which we +had formerly haunted, and during dinner he suddenly asked, with a +roguish look, "Who do you think I saw yesterday?--Steavens!" And Fearloe +here bent his head, bathing his beard in laughter. "Do you know, he has +been in Paris three days and hasn't gone near the Exposition?" + +"Well, that shows a healthy independence," said I. "Is he studying the +Louvre?" + +"No," was the answer; "he has discovered something far more important +than the Louvre or the Exposition--something which seems to reward him +for the whole trip." + +"What can that be?" I queried, rather blankly. + +"He has discovered," said Fearloe, "that _Paris is the place to buy +shirts in_!" + +This, it appeared, was the topic which had engrossed Steavens's mind +when Fearloe met him. The erratic man, after reaching Bremen, had +abruptly decided to come over to the French capital, which he might have +done much more easily and cheaply from Southampton; and the result of +this expensive détour had been a kind of shirt-intoxication. "You've no +idea," added Fearloe, "how neatly he has gotten himself up. He really is +making progress. And the magnificence of the fellow! Why, he says he +shall merely take a single run through the Exposition, and leave all the +rest of Paris till after he has been to Pfeiffers." + +"Fearloe," I said, with a measure of solemnity, "don't scoff at a man +like that. I never before have met an American with quite so much +originality in his treatment of Europe. He must be a genius." + +Nevertheless, we continued to laugh at him, with that superiority of +being less naïf and independent than he which so oddly seems to us a +desirable thing nowadays. And if any one at that time had hinted that +Steven Steavens, with his want of reserve and complete indifference to +what is known as culture, possessed qualities of character more to be +admired than our own, we should not have taken the trouble even to smile +at the critic. + +I did not happen to meet Steavens while in Paris; but in August I +finally acted on Fearloe's chance hint aboard ship, and went to +Pfeiffers myself, where I found not only our enthusiast in shirts, but +also Scharlach and Miss Raslaff, together with that young lady's uncle, +a shrivelled little old man, who had the air of being put away to keep +in his thick white hair and whiskers, like a dried beetle in +cotton-wool. To the rest of us indeed, the old gentleman was of no more +account than a beetle, and appeared to have as little influence on the +lives around him as an insect might. But, as a matter of fact, though he +was so nearly dead, and scarcely stirred a limb, he clutched three lives +in his faded fingers, and held them fast there--his niece's life, +Scharlach's life, and Steavens's life. For I was not long in discovering +that my rheumatic pilgrim had fallen in love with Fräulein Raslaff +almost at first sight. He himself took good care that I should not +remain blind to the fact. He drew me aside, and poured his tale into my +ear, though with somewhat more reserve than he had shown on the steamer +in discussing his plans of travel. + +"How long has this been going on?" I inquired, as we walked together up +and down the hotel terrace overlooking the wild and picturesque valley. + +"Three weeks and a half," he answered. "It's a short time, and it +_seems_ like a short time. I've read in the story papers that when a +man's in love, a few days seem to him like years, and so forth. But I +don't believe it. I know exactly how long I've been here, and yet +there's no doubt about it, I'm in love with that young lady, and am +going to make her my wife if I can. The story papers are wrong, and I'm +right." + +I couldn't help reflecting that this was the same independence I had +praised to Fearloe. "The man has the faculty of knowing exactly what +he's about," thought I, "and that goes a good way toward securing +success." Yet it seemed preposterous that he should have the least +chance with a woman so far removed from him by tastes and traditions as +Fräulein Raslaff. I said to him merely, "Have you spoken to her?" + +"I've tried to feel my way," was his reply. "But that uncle of +hers--he's an old potato-bug, sir. He's _worse_ than a potato-bug. I +don't know what to call him. He won't let any one come near her, and yet +he don't seem to take any pleasure in her himself. He looks just about +dead, but I tell you it's only shamming; the minute another man talks to +Miss Raslaff, he wakes up; it puts life into him, and he flies around +sharp. This is a good country to operate in, though; he can't take the +walks we do with parties sometimes--up to Solitude, and the Belvedere, +and around. I'd just like to see him in the gorge once; _that_ would +finish him." + +The gorge was a very peculiar and rather perilous cavern, higher up in +the valley through which the Tamina runs. + +"Then it's only the uncle that troubles you?" I queried. "You don't feel +afraid of Scharlach?" + +Steavens paused, looking anxious for an instant. Then the child-like +expression which I had marked on my first glimpse of him came out +strongly again. "Do you think he'd be mean enough to stand in my way?" +he asked. + +"But suppose you are standing in his?" I returned. + +Steavens apparently considered this an unnatural view to take. +"Scharlach can get along by himself all right," he asserted. "He might +be disappointed, and it wouldn't ruin him. But me--why, take me, and +what am I without _her_?" I must admit that this humbleness touched me +with its pathos, and I began to range myself on Steavens's side. Then he +concluded, without any pathos at all, "Well, I've got as good a right to +try as he has, any way, and I'm bound to win in the end." + +At length, wishing to soften a possible disappointment, I thought I +ought to toll him how long Scharlach had been hoping to gain Miss +Raslaff's heart. The information startled him considerably; but after a +few moments' silence he struck me on the shoulder, and exclaimed, "Well, +here we are! He's rich and I'm rich; let her choose between us for +something else. If he hadn't made any money out there, I'd say to him, +'Here, my man, I've got the best of you, so I'll stand by, and you can +just walk in and try your chances first.' But seeing we're neck and neck +on that, I don't know that there's anything to do but go ahead." + +And go ahead he assuredly did from that hour. He astounded the old uncle +by remonstrating with him directly against his supervision of Miss +Raslaff. "It ain't fair," he said. "You don't know how to manage things +in this country. I don't say a woman ought to vote; but anyway she ought +to have a right to listen to a man when he wants to tell her what he +thinks of her. Do you suppose I could tell _you_?" (With a glance by no +means politic in its contempt at the desiccated little figure before +him.) "And how am I to talk to her about it when you are around?" + +The result of this attack, which he made in my presence, was a violent +outbreak from the old man; and the next day Steavens was asked to meet +Miss Raslaff and her uncle in their _salon_, to receive from the young +woman herself a confirmation of her uncle's objection to receiving any +attentions from him. The girl was pale, but composed and very beautiful. +I could not make out whether or not she had taken any fancy to my +brusque compatriot, but she acted her part firmly. When at last she +said, in pure English, "My uncle is right; you must not seek my +acquaintance any more--more ardently; let us be quite as we were +before," I declare so sweet a suspicion of a blush came over her checks, +and her voice died away so delicately, like a soft echo heard among the +very hills around us, that I almost fell in love with her myself. A +great change instantly came over Steavens. All his jauntiness, his +unreserve, his child-like confidence, were extinguished at a blow. After +a moment he collected his voice, and said, with great gentleness, "Miss +Raslaff, I will never do anything you ask me not to, so far as speaking +is concerned; but that won't prevent my thinking about you just as much +as ever, and I shall keep just as near the place where you stay as I +can." + +This was the end of the interview, and I thought my countryman had the +best of it. He was very melancholy, though, while I remained at the +baths; and the savage beauty of the place--the rough stream roaring out +of the cavern against whose walls of black calcareous rock, glittering +here and there with feldspar, the faint Alpine rose bloomed pensively, +the shaggy heights above the hotel, and the glimpses of snowy peaks in +the distance--was not suited to restore his cheer. One day we went into +the gorge, with its rocky walls rising two or three hundred feet, and +gradually closing together above, where a bridge of planks cornered into +the solid stone runs for a distance of six thousand paces to the +springs, slippery all the way from the flying river-foam. It was gloomy +and depressing as a scene from the _Inferno_, and bad for a rheumatic +patient, as I reminded Steavens; but he shook his head mournfully, and +said he didn't care. What was worse was the danger of missing a foothold +on the wet and mossy planks, and so being precipitated into the wild +stream beneath; and I breathed more easily when we came out safely +again. But it struck me that this would be a fearful place for two angry +rivals, such as Steavens and Scharlach now were, to meet in. + +It so happened that Scharlach that very day came to me with _his_ tale +of despair. Thinking the field was his own, after Steavens's +discomfiture, he had formally proposed for Miss Raslaff's hand, and had +been rejected. He could not understand it. He had addressed the young +lady with her uncle's permission, and she had refused him. I gathered +from what he said that he had pressed his claim as a matter of right, +that he considered himself to have bought her love by long patience and +the accumulation of a competence, and had put forward this theory with +undue bluntness; for he confessed that she had dismissed him with a cold +anger and disdain that left no hope. We were sitting on the great stone +steps hewn in the height above the hotel as he told me this. "No," he +cried, springing to his feet, at the end, in a sort of fury. "If she had +shown heat of temper, I might have kept up hope. But she petrified me +with her contempt. I am no better than these rocks." He ground his teeth +as he spoke, looking down at the hostelry, sunk at a fearful depth below +us. Then he seized a heavy stone from the earth, and flung it down the +steep, madly crying, "Yes, I am stone now, and there goes my heart +rolling down to crush you!" It stopped before it had gone far; but the +frenzied action was enough to show that the man had lost his balance. +The pent-up force of years, so well controlled till now, had broken +forth at a bound, and was carrying him away. "And it was that fool from +America, that friend of yours," he added, fiercely, turning upon me all +at once, as if I were an enemy--"it was he that did this. It is because +he is a novelty, and because her uncle opposes it, that she has taken a +fancy to him, and thrown aside the man who was a slave to her for eight +years. That's it, I am sure. Take him away! Take your American away!" + +I need not say that I did not obey this command; but I did take myself +away. The truth is, the situation was getting altogether too serious for +my liking. Yet, after I had gone, I felt an incessant curiosity to know +how the affair had resulted. I heard nothing more for some time, until I +came across an acquaintance during the winter, who had met Steavens in +Paris again. This gentleman was telling me how Steavens had been to Rome +early in the winter, and now went about complaining that it was a very +dirty, one-horse town, which couldn't compare with Philadelphia. He also +reported Steavens as gaining some notoriety for his romantic attachment +to a young German lady, whom I had no difficulty in recognizing as +Fräulein Raslaff. It appeared, therefore, that he had as yet made no +headway; but I indulged in a sense of approval when I learned that he +was studying hard, to enlarge his education and his knowledge of +European things. Still, my acquaintance described him as a man who could +never become anything but an American. He had taken the baths under the +necessity of improving his health; he was trying to take European +manners, in the same way, for the sake of improving his chances with +Fräulein Raslaff. Yet he remained immutably hostile to everything +foreign, and to prolong his stay abroad was, therefore, the strongest +sort of devotion he could have shown. + + +III. + +Fearloe knew nothing of these events, having gone to Egypt for the +winter. But more than a year afterward, when I had been at home for some +time, I was one day telling a lady at a dinner party something about +Steavens's eccentricities and absurdities, when she exclaimed: "Oh, I +have heard of that man before! Your friend Mr. Fearloe was telling me +about him." + +I was decidedly annoyed by this, because I had frequently made an +anecdote of Steavens with great effect, and now here was Fearloe +spoiling my fun by telling it in advance. Of course I had confined +myself to narrating the rheumatic pilgrim's strange plan of travel, his +excitement about Parisian shirts, and his unique view of Rome--things +which invariably proved highly amusing--and said nothing of his romance. +I now questioned my companion at dinner, to see if I could learn +anything more about that part of his history, but I could get no +information on that subject. My irritation continued all the evening, +for it is no slight matter when a man who painfully hoards materials for +small conversation, and uses them frequently, finds an insidious friend +depriving him of them. But I had an ample revenge upon Fearloe +afterward, as you shall see. When I next saw him, which was some months +later, he had an experience to recount which certainly put him at my +mercy. I will tell it in his own words. + +"I was staying at North Conway for a few days, late in July, and there +was a most beautiful woman there. I hardly know whether to call her girl +or woman, Middleby, there was such an immortal freshness about her face +and figure, combined with a reflective sadness that showed she had had +more than a girl's experiences. She dressed in black; it was a cool thin +black, that looked--perhaps on account of the calm, sweet face above +it--more airy and summer-like than the most studied of the country +costumes worn by other ladies at the hotel; and she wore bracelets and a +pin of Irish bog-stone set in ebony, that harmonized deliciously with +her personality. You know how that sort of stone sparkles, like a +clouded diamond. Well, there was something about its dim, shrouded flash +that was just like the mystery in her pale face with its surroundings of +black. It struck into me very deep, and excited a desire to pierce the +mystery, to find out what her face meant, and what was at her heart--and +perhaps to place myself in the heart, too. I'll own it frankly. You know +I'm not susceptible, though I've generally made my way pretty well with +the ladies." (Here a flash of Fearloe's old self-complacence on this +point came to light, but quickly died out again.) "I have always cared +more for foreign women, though, than for our own; and this girl or woman +was a German, so I was doubly taken with her. Her name was set down on +the register as--Well, I won't tell you what the name was, just at +present, but it was registered in such a way that I couldn't tell +whether she was maid, wife, or widow. I fixed on the last, in my own +mind, from her wearing black. There was no one with her; none of the +people in the hotel, with whom I talked, knew anything about her. There +could be no question that she was rich; but that was all I could find +out concerning her. + +"It was a delicate business, as you can imagine, to make her +acquaintance in the face of such a state of things; but I managed it, +fortunately, through doing her a little service on the 'piazza,' and +from that I went on to press my society upon her cautiously. In a few +days we were on very good terms, and took a few of the customary walks +and drives in the neighborhood, with other persons at first, and then +alone. I was puzzled to find her so easy as to this, being a foreigner; +but I believe I convinced her of my trustworthiness, and she must have +found out easily, from my acquaintances in the place, just who I was. +Then she seemed to have outgrown foreign prejudices in some way; and I +confess, besides, that I accounted for it at the time by fancying that I +had begun to make some impression upon her. + +"I determined there shouldn't be any doubt about it. Yes, it was a +serious matter, Middleby; I had come to a point when I meant to offer +myself to her the very next day. I got her consent to go to Artists' +Falls, where I meant to lay my passion before her. Hideous name, by the +way--Artists' Falls!" broke off Fearloe, testily. "No affair could have +prospered in a spot with such a shoppy name." + +He relapsed into gloomy reflections, from which I roused him, insisting +that the story should be finished. + +"It was the evening before our intended excursion," he then went on. +"She and I were sitting on a retired part of the piazza, just about +sunset. Everything about us was rarely beautiful; the flush of the +evening just dying away from old Rattlesnake, and the line of the great +peaks at the distant head of the valley, with Washington's dome in the +midst, looking, to the fancy--as you have probably seen them--like giant +ghosts of the great men they commemorate. Then, across the intervale, +with its hundreds of little brooks and its soft elms, we looked at +White-horse Cliff, and that waterfall that seems to flutter from the +distant hill-side like a white banner. You remember? A single star was +poised above it. I shall never forget that scene. It came upon me with a +kind of surprise, after all, that we could have anything so lovely here, +and I began contrasting it with Europe. I wanted to hint something about +going back there, you know--lead up in a sort of way to my intended +declaration in the morning. So it was natural that, in talking of the +other side, and the voyage, and all that, I should begin to tell her +about that odd fellow on the _Weser_ when we went over, you +know--Steavens." + +"Miserable man!" I exclaimed, at this point, remembering my discomfiture +at that dinner. "You told her, and then you found she was some one I had +already met and told before?" + +Fearloe glared at me in amazement, then slowly smiled in a melancholy +manner, and shook his head. "Don't be childish, Middleby," said he; "and +please don't interrupt me. I fancy I know something more about Steavens +than _you_'ve ever told. This particular time I'm describing to you I +was surprised to find that my listener didn't seem to enter into the fun +of the thing. I didn't mention his name, yet I almost suspected she knew +something about the man. But as she didn't relish the absurd side of +him, I thought I'd give her a proper dose of the serious. I went on to +impart what I had learned about a desperate love affair of his at Bad +Pfeiffers; and this, by the by, is news to you, Middleby." + +"Not quite," I said, with a vain smile. (It must be kept in mind that +Fearloe and I had claimed a joint ownership in Steavens as a comic +spectacle, and I was jealous of any other kind of property in him as a +sentimental one.) + +"No?" rejoined Fearloe, rather surprised, but cool. "Well, then, you can +judge how flat I felt on finding that the beginning of his romantic +episode didn't seem to strike her much more than the rest I had said +about him. + +"'You seem rather to despise your compatriot,' she said, when I had got +as far as telling her what I had heard about his rivalry with Scharlach +for the favor of a young lady whom they met at the baths. 'But why +shouldn't he feel the same love and devotion that another might, even if +he were not the most accomplished of his nation?' + +"I answered, 'Ah, that is like you, to defend a man for holding a +generous sentiment. It is to be hoped you would be equally kind in +judging a less out-and-out American who dared to love one of your race.' +(I imagined she blushed just there.) 'But if you had seen this man +Steavens, you would understand just how I look at him. You don't know +much yet about such raw specimens of my kind.' + +"The fact is, Middleby, I put something of a sneer into my words. I was +angry at her liking the man even in fancy. However, I finished my story. + +"'He certainly was very devoted;' I admitted that. 'He was quite as +brave as the other man.'" + +"'No braver, you think?' asked she, quietly, with a tone I did not +comprehend. + +"'You shall decide,' said I. 'The sequel was this: My German gentleman, +Scharlach, got perfectly raving mad, I'm told. He looked upon the lady +as his absolute right, and couldn't be quieted; while Steavens behaved +so calmly that he began to get on terms with the lady and her uncle +again, even after his rebuff. If you have ever been at Pfeiffers,' I +said to her, 'you know the gorge of the Tamina; but you can't guess +what's coming. It happened, one day, that Steavens went in there, when +Scharlach had already gone to the spring, and was coming back along the +foot-bridge.' I can tell you, Middleby, she looked interested when I +came to this--just as you do now. She was startled, too. 'Now, by the +strangest coincidence, the obdurate uncle and his niece also went down +there shortly afterward, not knowing that either of the rivals was in +the cave. They had gone some little way along the dangerous path, when +they heard a terrible shout, like the cry of a wild man. They tried to +make haste forward to see what it meant, after the first moment of +terror, and came in sight of the two men just in time. Scharlach was +making a rush upon Steavens, who stood perfectly still, with a pale +face, but resolute and terribly stern. + +"'He braced himself as well as he could. The shock came. There was a +stout, short struggle, and suddenly Scharlach went over, plunging toward +the rough torrent full of rocks, and was lost.' + +"Then, Middleby, you should have seen that woman's eyes as she sat there +in the twilight. How they flashed, as she rose in her chair! Yet there +was an intense pain in her expression. 'This is too terrible,' she said. +'But no; I must speak now. Mr. Fearloe, did the person who told you this +story also tell you how, when Scharlach fell, Steven tried to hold +him--tried to save the man who had just been seeking his life? Ah, there +his true and great nobility were seen!' + +"'Good heavens, madam,' cried I, 'who are you? You saw them? Then you +must be--' + +"Just then, Middleby, the coach from the station had come up, and the +passengers were getting out. Madame was exclaiming, without heed to my +questions, 'Oh, I cannot bear this! That scene all comes back to me. +Steven! Steven! why are you not here?' And, as if in answer to her +words, the man came up behind her with his travelling-bag in his hand. I +felt as if lightning had struck me! But to _her_, calmness returned in +an instant. She rose, and with her arm in his she said, coldly, 'Steven, +do you remember Mr. Fearloe?' He recalled me at once, and started to +take my hand. But she checked him, and said to him, while looking at me +like ice, 'Ah, it's a pity you remember him, for you must learn now to +forget him!' And with that she wheeled away, carrying him with her." + +"It was Miss Raslaff," I cried. "And how did it happen you didn't know +her?" + +"I had forgotten the name. Ah, my boy, I have been fearfully punished. I +had a conceited contempt for that man, and see how it has been visited +on me." + +"Then she has married him?" + +"By this time, yes. She clung to her savage old uncle till he died, then +came over to marry Steavens, though by condition of the will she must +forfeit all her uncle's money in doing so." + +"Fearloe," I remarked, after a pause, "I think we will neither of us +relate our funny encounter with Steavens any more. What did we, with all +our fancied supremacy, gain by going to Europe, compared with this man? +After all, it was a real inspiration of his to 'strike right down to Bad +Peppers'!" + + + + +THREE BRIDGES. + + + + +I. + +THE IMPORTANCE OF A HAT. + + +Within a distance of about ten miles Shagford River makes three long +curves, each of which is crossed by a bridge. + +The first is for the railroad. The second, thrown across at a point +where the ground is lower, carries a country road from bank to bank. +Still further down is the third, which is of stone, and forms a paved +street connecting the two parts of the factory town of Shagford. + +On the afternoon of a superb summer day a fast train from the north-west +swept around the curve leading to the bridge-head, and emerged upon the +open iron-work structure which bore the double track above the water. +The fireman was shovelling coal, and the engineer had just withdrawn his +hand from a cord which blew the whistle when he caught sight of a man, +in a round Bombay hat, half way across and walking in the same direction +the train was taking. Again he pulled the string, sending out four +hoarse notes: "Lo-ook oout, a-head!" But the man did not step aside, as +would have been expected, on to the line of plank provided for foot +passengers between the tracks. The engineer turned on the air-brake and +shouted; but there was a strong breeze blowing against him; and at best +a voice could hardly rouse a traveller deaf to the steam notes. The last +chance of escape appeared to have passed when the stranger, moved by an +instinct of danger, though hearing nothing, turned his head. + +For the space of a second he confronted the swift, trembling glitter of +steel and brass and the pallid face of the engineer at the cab-window. A +look of unutterable horror convulsed his own features, and he sprang +wildly into the air. Falling again, without being hit by the engine, he +went tumbling down through an interstice of the iron beams into the +muddy water below. The train was soon stopped and reversed. Slowly the +wheels revolved backward--with a solemn, funereal movement, as if +conscious of the inanimate body that might soon be added to their +freight. + +But to the amazement of every one on board, staring frightened into the +river, the hurt man was seen to be already struggling out of the +current, and clambering--wet, hatless, with dripping hair--up the steep +bank they had just left. On reaching the top he began to walk aimlessly +away from the train, as if nothing had happened, but presently sat down +on the ground looking weak and bewildered. + +"Well, if he ain't the coolest hand!" exclaimed the brakeman. "Must be a +new sort of water-rat." This same brakeman, however, was prompt to go +with the conductor to the aid of the stranger. They found him conscious, +but stupefied, and so helped him into the train, which then continued on +its way, bearing him off to Shagford. + +"Where are you bound?" asked the conductor. + +The man, who was of middle age, with a sun-browned face and close +iron-gray whiskers along the upper jaws, felt for his hat and, not +finding it, looked uneasy. "There must be no delay," he said, half to +himself. "I'll tell you in a moment," he added. + +But he sat for some time without speaking; and it was evident that the +shock of his terrible fall had worked confusion in his brain. Even on +reaching Shagford he was unable to collect himself. But they persuaded +him to consult the nearest physician, whom he sought under care of the +young brakeman. This resulted in his being taken temporarily to the +hospital, for, though seemingly without physical injury, he had suffered +so peculiar a mental effect that rest and proper care were thought +advisable. + +Shortly after the occurrence of this singular accident a vehicle crossed +the turnpike bridge, of which mention has been made. The vehicle was a +buggy, occupied by a single figure--that of a man say about +thirty-eight, clothed in a close-fitting suit of mixed brown. He was of +prosperous but not portly aspect, and what was most noticeable in him +was that his eyes scanned the river in a sudden, peculiar way. One might +have said that, emerging from the softly massed trees upon the bank, he +had an uneasy sense of being exposed to unexpected observation on the +open stretch of the bridge. But perhaps the more likely explanation +would be that he was an inquiring, energetic person, who habitually +looked everywhere. Habit or chance, whichever it might be, his alert +vision was not exercised in vain that day. He saw on the river, floating +toward his point of vantage, an upturned hat. Now, this hat was the +identical one which had quitted the head of the unlucky man at the +railroad bridge; for, being made of cork, it was perfectly adapted to +navigation. + +"That's what comes of sharp eyes," said the driver of the buggy aloud, +much as though he were stating a moral maxim which it did him good to +hear. "Who knows but this may turn out important? If anybody's been +drowned, or--" The alternative was lost in a clucking sound with which +he accompanied the urging of his horse; for he had formed a plan. + +The bridge was low; the hat was drifting toward one of the numerous rows +of spiles, hence he believed he could fish it up with his long-handled +whip. Dismounting, and watching his opportunity, he succeeded after a +few moment's novel angling in bringing up, by a noose made of the +lash-end, his piece of flotsam. + +As I have said, this man wore a comfortable mien; his face was smooth, +rosy, firm and beardless, and though the structure of his lips was +rather hard and determined, the corners of the lips indicated constant +readiness for a smile which, however, never culminated when he was +alone. Still, at this moment, a beam of satisfaction rested on his +features. The recovery of the hat presented itself to him in the light +of a virtuous action. Looking into it he saw the owner's name written on +the leather band: "Simeon Piper." As this conveyed no impression, he +turned his attention to a small folded paper stuffed inside of the band +and making a slight bulge in it. On examining what was inscribed upon +the sheet, his countenance changed; the beaming look vanished, and his +eyebrows, always describing an acute angle to the temples, grew sharper +than ever. It was a movement analogous to that of an animal drawing back +its lips before biting, or darting a fang out. His expression, in fact, +had become wolfish. + +What did it mean? Merely that the name he had seen this time was his +own. "Martin E. Hounshell," he read, in a half voice, finding it for an +instant even stranger than the strange name he had encountered just +before. But he had seen other things on the page with his name; things +which he would not articulate even here; certain names and dates for +which he deemed silence the fittest atmosphere. + +Hounshell's next act was to toss the hat back into the river, and he was +about to tear up the paper scrap and send it after the hat, when he +changed his mind. He put the memorandum into an inside pocket and +buttoned up his coat, tapped the surface of the coat snugly, then got +into his buggy and drove on--thoughtful and puzzled, but with equanimity +returning and ready to spring his patent smile in a moment, should he +meet an acquaintance. + +Nevertheless, what had just happened was startling. If the paper which +now lay over his heart had possessed the power of receiving a photograph +from his brain he could not have been more astonished. The invisible had +become visible; what had lain concealed for years in his own mind now +confronted him from without. And who was Simeon Piper--a total +stranger--in whose hat so mysterious a revelation had taken place? +Hounshell's horse dragged that question along unconsciously to the end +of the bridge, where, for the moment, it disappears from our pen +unanswered. + +The small waves flashed lightly around the spiles; a breeze rustled in +the woods, perhaps looking for something it had lost there and never +could find again. The two bridges were deserted; all was silent, dreamy. +Then from the unseen bridge lower down a shrill clamor arose to break +the serenity of the evening; a chorused shriek of twenty unearthly +voices blended together. Unexpected and wild, loudly startling it was, +so that there seemed something uncanny about it. One might have thought +it the cry of monsters discovering human prey, or a mob of witches +revelling in some crime that had been found out there. But as a matter +of fact no one indulged in either of these impossible fancies. Everybody +knew that the uproar came from the mills of Shagford, blowing the hour +of release from work. + + + + +II. + +FATHER, DAUGHTER, AND--WHO ELSE? + + +At this signal the operatives streamed forth like school-children; and +from Hounshell's flannel-mill in particular came one elderly man, who +threw himself with all the energy of a boy into a row-boat that lay at +the waterside, and began oaring his way lustily up-stream. He had not +gone far before he turned the bow into a secluded bay where water-lilies +grew thickly. Here, paddling about and causing the boat to lurch +violently as he stooped over the side, he pulled a few of the flowers. +He looked tired and hard-worked; there was something indescribably +pathetic in his making so much effort after the day's labor. But he did +not seem to see this; and so, after getting a bunch of lilies, he +continued up the river with a business-like stroke that implied some +past familiarity with life on the water. The end of the course was soon +reached; he moored the boat close to a little cottage that stood apart +from the houses of the other working-people, and wore a peculiarly +well-cared-for aspect. + +On one side of the path was a tomato-patch; on the other a minute +flower-garden; a grape-vine laid its flat leaves by one of the windows, +and everything about the place was neat, cosey, sheltered. As the weaver +came up toward it, however, he saw that there were two persons in the +room behind the vine, instead of only one, as he had expected. He +paused, looking in, and saw that it was Hounshell with his daughter. The +mill-owner at that moment took her hand in a somewhat fervent way, +addressing her eagerly, and led her toward the window. Instantly the +girl withdrew her hand and came running out. + +"Oh, father, dear, how lovely! Did you bring them for me?" + +"Who else d'you s'pose, Addie? I'm not courting any one." + +He looked at her quizzically as she received the lilies, his +weather-worn face glowing mildly at the same time, with pride in her +beauty and delight at having pleased her. + +"That's mean of you, father," she said, half offended, yet smiling as +she inhaled the delicate, sweet-almond scent of the blossoms. + +"What? Not to be courting?" he asked, putting his arm fondly around her. +"I can do better than that, lass, by coming home. Four bells have +struck; time for a kiss, you know." Whereupon she put her lips to his +faded, fatherly check. + +Addie was certainly beautiful in her way, and Scofield thought there was +no way to compare with it. She was tall, fresh, dark-eyed; her +complexion was rich with the soft, clear brown which our American sun so +deftly diffuses over a healthy face that ripens in its warmth; and she +always looked as cool, as sparkling and lithe as if she had just stepped +from a bath in the river. You felt that, were you to place your hand on +her shoulder, she would resist springily, like a young bough in the +woods. + +"And you can do a good deal better than I can; that's certain," said +Hounshell to Scofield, breaking in. He had come to the threshold and +witnessed this little passage. + +"You ought not to talk about it before me, anyway," declared Addie, +whose code of propriety never allowed ceremony to stand in the way of +truthfulness. And, having administered this rebuke, she blushed as if it +were she who had offended modesty. + +"Oh, well, don't take on about it!" said the mill-owner, apologetically. +"I don't know how to talk when I get down here. Different up to the +mill; ain't it, Scofield?" Here he winked at the father with humorous +comradeship. Then, turning again to Addie: "All is, I want you to be my +wife, and you know it, and so does the old man. So where's the harm, +talking about? Lord! there ain't nothing high daddy about me. I worked +my way up, and I like working-people; so, 'stid of going round among the +high daddies, I come to you and say I want to marry you. I've seen you +grow into a woman, just like"--the speaker, embarrassed, gazed +helplessly round the garden for a comparison, and proceeded:--"Like one +of those tomaytoes there, when it comes to fruit. And I know all about +you." + +"I don't believe I'm like a tomayto one bit," said Addie, with +conviction. The next moment, allowing herself a saucy smile: "And I +don't know all about you, you see. So there!" + +Her mature admirer did not resent this, but stood really abashed and +disconcerted. "What am I to do, Scofield?" he asked, stepping out on to +the walk. "You see how it goes." + +Addie seized the moment for escaping into the house, while her father, +regarding his employer meditatively, replied: "Take soundings, and then +try again. That's all I can say." + +"I don't know," observed Hounshell, shaking his head. He tried to bring +his regulation smile into play, but the springs would not work. He was +really attached to the girl; and there was a painful longing in his +mind, besides another motive, of which he could not speak. He was +unnerved. + +Presently they went into the house. "Won't you stay to supper?" +suggested Scofield. + +"No, thank'ee. I'm going. Addie!" + +"Yes, sir." She looked at him from her cool, liquid eyes as steadily and +with as much unconsciousness in her clear-lined face as if she had never +heard him speak of marriage. + +"I've a word to say, if you'll come out to the gate." + +"All right." Addie put the cups on the table for her father and herself, +and then followed Hounshell, who bade the weaver good-night. + +"I want you to treat me differently," said the miller, when they were +alone. "This is a very serious matter, and there's more in it than you +think. You ought to consider your father." + +The girl's eyes flashed. "You don't mean," she began, "that you--" + +"No, I don't mean any harm to him, of course. Take me or leave me, he'll +be all right. But if you take me, my father-in-law don't remain in the +weaving-room, by a long shot. I'll make him my partner instid." + +Addie appeared to weigh this. + +"Well, that's right," she said. "He ought to be." Hesitatingly, she went +on: "I know it's generous of you, but--but--" + +"There's another reason, too," the suitor hastened to explain. "I can't +tell you now, but I might afterward. It's very serious. Oh, I can't +stand it, if you don't consent!" he almost groaned. + +She was startled by his strenuous manner. + +"What reason can it be?" she asked, quivering a little. + +"It's been on my heart so long," Hounshell said, pressing both hands on +his chest. "It's there now," he continued, sinking his voice. At the +precise instant of speaking his fingers felt beneath the coat that +fateful fold of paper which the river had brought him, and both arms +fell as if he had been struck. + +"Good God!" he exclaimed, staring at her. + +It seemed to him that she, too, must have felt the paper and its +tell-tale words. + +"What have I been saying?" he asked, in a bewildered tone. + +The change in him within a few moments had been extraordinary, and Addie +experienced a shock. Any one who had seen the wolfish glare of his eyes +on the bridge would have been surprised at the human emotion he now +betrayed. + +"You frighten me," said the girl, shrinking; but she was conscious of +feeling more pity than fright. + +"Don't be frightened," urged Hounshell, trying to speak gently; but his +voice broke. It sounded abject rather than soothing. "I s'pose I'm +making mistakes again. You can't understand me. Only this--think of +this: I shall never get over it if you don't have me. You may do me a +great wrong by turning me off. Can't you consider about this a little +more?" + +"I--I will try to consider, Mr. Hounshell," faltered Addie. + +"Then I'll go; I'll bid you good-night," he said, regaining some of his +customary stiffness. + +"Good-night," she returned. + +He got into the waiting buggy; there was a grinding of wheels, a puff of +whitish dust from them, and then the dusk obliterated him, much to her +relief. She went back into the house slightly paler than when she had +left it. + +"Father," she declared, "I never can marry that man." + +"What! Hounshell?" + +"Yes. There's something strange about him--and wrong." + +"Careful! He's been our best friend, lass; there can't be anything +wrong." + +"All the same, I shall not marry him." + +The old man was hurt. + +"Have you thought over all?" he asked. "You wouldn't be the only +gainer." + +He glanced down at his arm, which still bore marks of sailor's +tattooing, and at his hard hands all day in service at the loom; and +then he sighed, as if despairing of rest. + +"I know, dear father," said his daughter. "Mr. Hounshell would be very +generous to you, so I wish I could do it. But oh, I can't, I can't!" + +She put one hand on his arm and looked piteously into his face. + +"I see how it is," said Scofield. "You have fixed your fancy on Jonah." + +Addie softly moved away. All her color had returned, but she said +nothing. They had barely seated themselves at the table when a knock was +heard. + +"Come in!" cried Addie, and on the entrance of the new-comer, +"Oh--Jonah!" + +"Did you think it was--well, never mind who." + +Jonah, in whose spruce attire, as he now presented himself, it was not +easy to recognize the brakeman of the afternoon train, made this +enigmatical remark rather uneasily, and subsided into regretful silence. + +"Sit down, Jonah, and have some supper," said old Scofield, with a +slight lingering gruffness. + +The young man, however, accepted without compunction; and in a twinkling +Addie had spirited on to the table an extra cup, plate, knife and fork, +which were suspiciously ready to her hand. + +"We had a queer thing happen on the train this afternoon," said Jonah, +as the hot tea roused him into talkativeness again. And he proceeded to +relate the occurrence with which our narrative of these events began. +"Man's name is Piper," he continued--"Simeon Piper. No one knows +anything about him, and he can't tell why he was there or where he was +going. The shock put a screw loose in his brain somewhere, the doctor +says. May get over it, and may not. But they won't keep him at the +hospital long, because there's nothing the matter with him much, except +that." + +"Poor fellow!" Addie murmured. "What will he do when they send him away, +if he doesn't know where he wants to go?" + +"Can't make it out," was Jonah's answer. "Some one ought to take hold +and help him till he gets well." + +Addie made a prompt resolution. + +"We'll take hold; won't we, father? Couldn't you bring him out here, +Jonah?" + +The brakeman reflected a moment. Piper was not young; so there was no +objection on that score. + +"Yes," he said, "I'll bring him out when I get back from my run +to-morrow. They say he seems pretty well-to-do, too. He'll pay board." + +"Never mind if he does," said Miss Scofield, artlessly. "We can be kind +to him just the same." + +It was settled accordingly. + +After supper the two men went out into the garden. They had a serious +subject to talk over, and Jonah began it by saying: + +"The men are pretty near all agreed, Mr. Scofield, and we've got to do +something soon. How is it in your mill?" + +"Hounshell's, you mean," corrected the ex-sailor and weaver, cutting a +piece of tobacco. "Well, I suppose a good many of our hands will go with +you, if it comes to a strike. But I can control a number, I guess; and +I'm bound to tell you that we shall stick to work and stand out ag'in +you." + +"That's bad--bad," mumbled the young railroader, with a troubled air. He +plucked a spear of tall grass and began biting it. "I can't see, +Scofield," he burst out (dropping the "Mr." this time), "why you stick +to that man against all your own interests and the interests of your +fellow-workmen. What's Hounshell compared with them?" + +"He's my friend and benefactor; that's all. Didn't he take care o' my +poor wife the day she died? And when I come back from sea, after a long +cruise and a shipwreck, and my wife was dead, didn't I find that he had +taken my little girl in tow, and was eddicating her? Look here," +Scofield pushed up the sleeve of his coat and shirt and displayed the +dim blue anchor on his fore-arm; "as long as that stays there I'm going +to be true to the man as was true to me," he said. + +"I know all that," said Jonah. "He's done a lot. The others are a little +jealous of you, sometimes; and that's one reason I want you to be with +us. If you ain't, they'll say: 'Oh, yes, it's very fine for Scofield to +stay out! The boss helped him to a nice cottage, and give his daughter a +pianna. But the rest of us have got to look out for ourselves.' That's +what they'll say. And as for me, I say it's barter and trade; that's +what! Hounshell give Addie an education and a pianna, and now he wants +her to give herself in exchange." + +"That ain't the way to look at it," retorted Scofield. "It ain't fair. +And if you mean to insult my daughter by your talk about barter and +trade, why, you'd better--" + +"You're the first to say 'insult,'" Jonah answered, in an angry, +constrained tone. "I love Addie; and I don't believe she'd marry in any +such way. And what's more, I--I kind of hope she'll marry me. There +again, there's another reason why I wanted you to be on our side--now +that we've got everything together, and the railroad hands and mill +hands are ready to move at the same time. But I see it's no use; I've +done my best." + +"No; it's no use," assented the weaver. "I'm doing my best, too." + +Thus it happened that the young man took his departure in some heat; but +it was of her own accord that Addie followed this lover to the gate; and +she did not let him go without a few sweet words to comfort him. + + + + +III. + +LISTENING. + + +Martin Hounshell had three good causes for wishing to marry Addie +Scofield. First, so far as in him lay, he loved her. Secondly, knowing +that opposition was afoot among the men, he feared the influence that +Jonah Brown might obtain over Scofield, should he succeed in his +courtship of the daughter; for he relied much on the sailor-weaver's +loyalty to fight off the trouble. Thirdly, he had some time since been +guilty of a secret misdeed, which he hoped to repair by bestowing +further benefits on the Scofields. + +This evening, after going from the cottage and leaving his horse at +home, he went down to the deserted mill, entered the office, locked +himself in, and then spread out on his desk the discovered memorandum. +The words with which it began were these: "Martin E. Hounshell. Property +delivered, April 13th, 1877. Adelaide Scofield died same day. Husband +returned--." + +The date here was omitted. Below followed the names of certain persons +in California, and two or three other brief notes. + +To the mill-owner, sitting there in the dim candlelight, with a hand +pressed nervously over his lips, this told the whole story. To any one +it would at least suggest suspicion. Should he destroy the paper? He +held it up toward the candle; then hesitated. It might be desirable +first to find out who had written it, and to do this he would keep it as +evidence. No place so unapproachable by others as his own pocket; so he +put it away again. + +The injury he had done to the unsuspecting Scofield had been crowned +with success to himself, but it had tormented him, too. In spite of +having given the man employment and having assisted the daughter, he +could not escape his remorse. But when he should have wedded Addie, and +lifted the weaver into a subordinate partnership, he felt sure that his +mind would be at rest. "As it is," he muttered, "I have done more than +most would have done, to make amends. I can't give up all--the whole +thing. It ain't reasonable. And if I get to be his son-in-law, why, +we're all together, and that squares it." + +But who and where was this other man, this unknown Piper, who carried +dangerous information which might at any moment, if disclosed, give a +sudden check to the comforting plan thus formed? That must be learned +without delay. + +It was not until the next afternoon that, looking over the Shagford +_Minute-Hand_ more carefully than he had had time to do in the morning, +he saw an account of the accident at the railroad bridge, which +accounted for the floating hat. Simeon Piper, then, was in the very +town, at the hospital--perhaps at this instant telling some one the tale +which had come to his knowledge! Preposterous unkindness of fate, to +deal such a blow at this late day! Hounshell only half believed it could +be dealt him; yet when he rose from his chair he felt very weak, and the +solid walls of the mill as he passed outside seemed decidedly rickety. +He very nearly expected them to fall over upon him. As directly as he +could he made his way to the hospital, and by the time he reached it was +aware that his interest in the stranger might appear somewhat singular. +To prevent this he began carelessly, to the attendant: + +"Queer sort of case, that one you had yesterday from the railroad." + +"Yes, a very narrow escape." + +"I read about it in the _Minute-Hand_. How's he getting along?" + +"Very well indeed. He's left us." + +"Left a'ready!" Hounshell wondered if his face looked as white as it +felt. "There's no chance, then--" + +"No chance to see him now," said the attendant, far from suspecting the +anxiety under that word "chance," as used by Hounshell. + +"He's lucky to get off so soon," remarked the latter, a cold +perspiration on his back. "Gone from town, I s'pose." + +"I believe so." + +Hounshell was afraid to ask anything more. He covered his retreat by +discussing his ostensible errand, which was to make arrangements for +possibly sending to the hospital the invalid wife of one of his men. He +had no intention of actually sending her, but he went away leaving an +impression of his remarkable kindness. + +How dear to him was all this false reputation, which cost so little +except in secret mental twinges! He doubted whether a respectability +honestly worked for would have yielded him nearly so keen an enjoyment; +and he was determined to hold on to that which he had gained. Where to +look for Piper, and just how to dispose of him, was the problem now +before him. But he began to feel easier, and his thoughts returned to +the impending labor revolt. + +It was desirable to see Scofield in private, and with this end in view +he drove out to the cottage again at evening. + +On entering the little sitting-room he was annoyed to find a stranger +there comfortably adjusted in a rocking-chair. + +"I didn't know you had company here," he observed frigidly, eying +Scofield. + +"Oh, that won't interfere!" said Scofield. "It's only Mr. Piper; the man +that--" + +"Piper!" ejaculated Hounshell, in a voice harsh with horror. + +The stranger looked up at him astonished. + +"Yes," said the weaver. "Mr. Piper, this is our boss, Mr. Hounshell." + +It was all over--so the miller thought. He stood staring, waiting for +Simeon Piper to spring up with deadly denunciation on his lips. But that +individual merely bowed and inspected his _vis-à-vis_ with a +good-natured air. The only thing worthy of remark about him was that +there was a sort of pained blankness in his face; and as he met +Hounshell's fixed gaze he lifted one hand and pressed his forehead +vaguely for an instant. The other man was quick to take the respite +offered. + +"I'm glad to see you looking so well, Mr. Piper," he said, exhibiting +his smile with great success. "I've heard about your escape." + +Then he looked at Scofield imperiously, and they went out together. + +"What is that man there for?" he demanded, taking the weaver's arm +sharply. + +"Why, he's come out to board; that's all. Do you know him? You seemed a +good deal shaken up." + +"No; I don't know him. I s'pose this labor combination is making me +nervous. I kind of suspect people." + +"Pshaw! This man's an outsider; comes from California. He was a +rancheero, or something, out there, I believe. I can tell you how we +happen to have him here." And the explanation was given. "He's dropped +the bottom out of his memory, like, and wants to wait till he can fit a +new one to it." + +"Oh, that's it!" exclaimed Hounshell, once more secure. He saw that his +name had not been recognized by his enemy; and perhaps the memorandum in +his pocket was the only connecting link that would ever lead to such a +recognition. "Still," he said, "I don't like Jonah's bringing him here. +It won't hurt if you let him go his way this side of next week." + +They then proceeded to a discussion of the state of things in the mill; +and Hounshell went home without attempting an interview with Addie. But +first, after driving a little way, he stopped, went back on foot, and +stealthily looked through the vine-hung window. Addie was reading +something to the robust-looking invalid, who still sat in the +rocking-chair, his face as blank as ever. Her father occupied himself +with carving a small piece of wood, twisting his lips in sympathy with +the knife. Everything was placidly reassuring. + +Hounshell wondered at the thinness of the partition that stood between +him and ruin; but he did not care if it was only an egg-shell, so long +as it did not break. + +But while he was still gazing through the pane, the sound of a distant +train on the railroad came through the night. The watcher was scarcely +aware of it until he saw Piper start up in his chair, listening, with a +roused, intent expression. The girl ceased from her reading; Scofield +stopped his work and looked at their guest. No one spoke in the little +room. The noise of the train grew louder; now it became a rumbling hum +or a rattle--busy, swift, determined in character. It was as if a +gigantic shuttle were being driven through the woof of the darkness, to +carry one more strand into that great web of civilization, woven day and +night continually. But there was something mysterious and warning in the +sound besides. Under the general subdued roar could be heard the sharp +click of the wheels from rail to rail, in definite pulsations; the sound +thus grew so precise one might have suspected that it would break into +speech. Had it not some message to deliver of which this was the vague +prelude? + +That at least was what Piper seemed to hope as he rose excited, finally +gaining his feet, with a quicker intelligence in his face than had been +there before. As if it would be possible to catch the message more +distinctly should he look out, he turned his eyes toward the window. +Hounshell barely missed betraying himself there, but slid away into the +dark swiftly. + +"Was that a face?" Simeon Piper demanded. "No; I see it must have been +an illusion," he added, despondently, once more putting his hand to his +head. + +The father and daughter exchanged looks of pity. + +By this time the cars had got farther off and were less audible. Piper's +agitation died away proportionately, and he sank back into his seat. + +But the same sort of thing happened on the following day when he heard +the distant movement of a train. + +"Listen!" he cried to Addie, who was with him. "Don't you hear? It's +going to say something. I shall get hold of the idea and find out what +is the matter. Listen! listen!" + +Then, as before, the hollow rumble diminished, gradually softened to a +stir no louder than a sigh, and finally was quite lost. Only the baffled +breeze continued its hopeless search among the leafy boughs by the +river. + +"What is it you think you might hear?" asked Addie, gently. + +The strong man looked at her with tears in his eyes. + +"A secret, young lady; a secret! I knew it, and now it is gone. It's +strange that cars should excite me this way, but something has hurt my +brain. You are very kind; and if you go on being so perhaps my mind will +get right again." + +A week passed. Piper listened each day to the passing trains; sometimes +at night too, when he lay alone, and it seemed still more likely that +through its relation with this sound the lost clew might disclose +itself. But all in vain; he was unable to recover what had escaped him. + +During these days Hounshell did not come out to the cottage, but the +labor movement culminated, and all the railroad and mill employés +demanded an advance of wages. + + + + +IV. + +THE THIRD BRIDGE. + + +The employers met in conference, and agreed not to yield--so the strike +began. Scofield, however, and a small group with him, stoutly refused to +join the movement; and some work was still done at Hounshell's. This +encouraged the other mill-owners and directors, and exasperated the men +in revolt. At first everything was quiet and orderly; but as the success +of the laborers grew more doubtful to them, anger and excitement gained +sway. + +"I feel almost afraid for father," said Addie to Simeon Piper, on the +fourth day of the strike. For, in fact, there were now serious threats +of riot. + +"I don't believe they would do him any harm," said the Californian, +easily. "The most they'll do will be to make him stop working, and then +he'll have a holiday." + +"But he won't stop," the girl affirmed, excitedly. "I know father better +than you." + +"Well, then," suggested Piper, still seeking an easy way out, "persuade +your friend Brown--my friend, too--to come over to father's side." + +Piper, with a Western taste for convenience and cordiality, had adopted +this mode of referring to Scofield. + +"But I--I don't want to," faltered Addie, with a soft blush. + +"Hoity-toity!" cried Simeon. "What does that mean?" + +"I want him--the strikers, that is--to win." + +"Against father?" Piper raised his good-humored eyebrows. + +"Oh dear, I wish they were on the same side! I only know I'm fearful. +They'll hurt him; I know they will." + +"Oh, look here," said Piper, "that's all foolishness! But I'll tell you +what: we'll walk down to town and see how things are going." + +"Shall we? Oh, how nice you are, Mr. Piper! Come on, then." + +And they started. + +A great many men were standing about the streets, looking ominous of +ill; but as yet no disturbance was made. The mill stood at one end of +the street-bridge; and as Piper and Addie came up to it they heard the +noise of a crowd approaching around one corner of it. A moment after +they had gained the entrance, this crowd, which numbered some +twenty-five men, armed with thick sticks and some heavy stones, arrayed +itself face to face with them. + +"Where do you lot plan on going?" asked Piper, in a leisurely manner. + +"In here," said some of the group, "to stop them working." + +"I guess not," observed the Californian. His tone was even genial. + +"We'll see," retorted a leader, moving forward. + +The mill-door was fast, but at this moment the bolts were loosed, and +Scofield made his appearance. + +"Addie," he commanded, sternly, "come in, and out of the muss! and you, +too, Piper." + +"You can send daughter in," answered Piper, indicating Addie, who--far +from quailing--looked as serene and fresh as ever. "But I'm going to +stand in front of this door. Now," he continued, with determination, +fronting the rioters, "you leave the old man and his girl alone. If you +don't you've got to fight me. One of your locomotives run me off the +bridge t'other day and didn't kill me; and I guess you can't, either. I +promise to corral the whole herd, if you try to come in here." + +Some of the men showed defiance, but those nearest were in no hurry to +attack. It had suddenly become apparent to them that their antagonist's +shoulders were particularly square and rugged. Scofield wondered whether +his champion knew what he was about; the Piper certainly seemed to be in +possession of all his faculties. + +The leaders began to confer. + +As luck would have it, the owner of the mill, who had been absent, and +was not aware of the immediate danger, just then came up. He had not +seen the crowd until within a few yards. At once a threatening cry +arose: + +"Hounshell!" + +A strange sensation came over Piper; a loud, tumultuous noise following +the word, filled his ears. Was it the rush of the river, or the thunder +of a railroad train? He could not tell; but he shouted suddenly with +fierce exultation: + +"Hounshell--that's the name! Hounshell's the man!" + +His memory had come back to him. + +The strikers, diverted by this new object, turned as if to assault the +"boss;" but Piper was before them. He had darted forward and toward +Hounshell, who, blanched with fear, and thinking Piper in league with +the men, took flight, making for the bridge; the Californian after him. +The little mob, itself bewildered, followed; but Piper had already +clutched the fugitive when it caught up with them. + +"I've got him," he cried. "This man's a fraud. Do you want to know why? +He took the money left to the other man--Scofield--hurrah! that's the +other name. He stole the money, I tell you, and bought that mill, and it +don't belong to him. The mill is Scofield's; d'you hear?" + +"Let go," gurgled Hounshell, trying to wrench himself free. But his +captor shook him once, and he was quiet. + +The workmen crowded up to get a clearer understanding of this +extraordinary statement; and as it broke fully upon them, "Throw him +over the bridge," became their watchword. But by this time several other +persons had advanced over the street bridge, among whom were Jonah and +Scofield. + +"No violence, boys," said Jonah, lifting his voice, which had authority. +"You're disgracing the cause." + +The men became silent, but Scofield was indignant with his ally of a +moment before. + +"What are you doing to the boss?" he demanded, hotly. "You must be +crazy." + +"Yes; he's crazy," said Hounshell, trying to assume the air of a +composed and meritorious person placed at a disadvantage. + +"You must have been yourself," the Californian vehemently declared, +"when you took that legacy to pay to Mrs. Scofield, and then stole it +because she died and no one knew about it. The mill belongs to Scofield, +I say, and I can prove it in a little time." + +"You've got no evidence," asserted Hounshell, very pale and a trifle +wolfish. + +"Evidence! I've got you, and you're chock full of it. I believe I could +shake it right out of you if I tried." + +Piper glared at him, and then, without releasing his hold, made a dive +with one hand at his captive's breast. + +"It's gone," said Hounshell, huskily. "I've burned it." + +"Burned what?" + +"The paper," Hounshell muttered; "your memo--" + +"Oh, you had it, then! You've convicted yourself by that, my fine +scamp." + +"I give up," said the wretched criminal. "Let's go. Take me away--the +mill! Bring Scofield. I give up." + +Seeing that this was best, Simeon acceded. + +"Come along, Scofield," he said. + +Jonah pressed up to Scofield and congratulated him as they went, but the +older man scarcely responded. When they were again at the mill one +striker renewed the idea of coercing the workers. But Jonah imposed his +veto. + +"Not now," he said. + +And Scofield added: + +"Boys, if the mill belongs to me it's settled beforehand. You get your +advance." + +This sent them off with a cheer and the prophecy that the rest of the +bosses would have to follow suit. + +The four men, left alone, entered the office. + +"Is it true?" asked Scofield. + +Hounshell winced, but replied steadily: + +"It's all true." + +The weaver went to the window and put his head on his arm. It was he, +the innocent man, who was overwhelmed by the disgrace of the one who had +wronged him. + +"But how did you find it out?" Jonah asked of Piper. + +"Roundabout," was the answer. "First off, from a man I was hiring on my +ranche. He came from here and spoke about Scofield; said he was a +weaver. I'd heard something about that rich brother in 'Frisco that +hadn't seen the rest of the Scofields for years, and left 'em his money; +so I saw there might be something wrong. I looked it up, and came on +here." + +Jonah took his hand. + +"But you must have known the Scofields, or had some interest in them," +he said, after a moment. + +Simeon Piper looked down; then he looked away; finally he twirled his +thumbs. + +"I could afford the time," he said. "Got money enough. Well, yes, I +suppose you might call it interest. Fact is, I knew Scofield's wife's +sister when she was young. I--didn't marry her. But, then, I never +married any one, you see." + +And with this he faced his questioner, turning upon him a pair of eyes +that beamed as if he had just set forth a remarkably cheerful +circumstance. + +On further inquiry it was understood how Piper had taken the wrong train +for Shagford, and, finding that it branched off, had started foolishly +to walk along the track when overtaken on the bridge. He was now +convinced that a hat was not a good place in which to deposit important +documents. + +Finding that evidence for his conviction could soon be obtained, in +addition to his confession, Hounshell executed a deed of the mill to +Scofield. + +"And what do you propose to do with me?" he asked. "Are you going to get +me locked up?" + +The others held a conference, before answering. Scofield was in favor of +letting the malefactor go, but the decision was at last given to Piper, +who said: + +"I'm sorry for you, Hounshell. It would have been better for you if you +had emigrated some time ago. But as it is, I guess the law'll have to +decide where you're to locate." + +And, subsequently, it did so. + +"Well," said the deposed malefactor, when sentence had been passed, "I'm +almost glad of it." + +A soft summer rain was falling as they led him out of court to go to +prison; and, strangely enough, he had not felt so happy for years. Once +more he was open to the charm of the pattering drops, the sweetness of +refreshed flowers, the cool air, as he had been in boyhood. + +"It's only fair to you," Scofield remarked, forgivingly, "to say that +you showed conscience." + +"Yes--if I'd only followed it," Hounshell answered. "A man ought to +trust his conscience instead of letting it trust him. I tell 'ee it's an +awful sharp creditor when the time does come to pay up." + + + + +IN EACH OTHER'S SHOES. + + + + +I. + + +John Crombie had taken a room at the new apartment building, The Lorne; +having advanced so far in his experience of New York as to be aware that +if he could once establish himself in a house associated by name with +foreign places and titles his chance of securing "position" would be +greatly increased. He did not, however, take his meals in the expensive +café of that establishment, finding it more economical to go to an +outlandish little French restaurant, some distance away, which had been +nicknamed among those of his acquaintance who resorted to it, "The Fried +Cat." This designation, based on a supposed resemblance to the name of +the proprietor, Fricat, was also believed to have value as a sarcasm. + +It was with no pleasant sensations, therefore, that Crombie, waking on a +gray and drizzling morning of November, remembered that he must hie him +to the "Fried Cat" for an early breakfast. He was in a hurry that day; +he had a great deal to do. His room was very small and dark; he bounced +up and dressed himself, in an obscure sort of way, surreptitiously +opening the door and reaching vaguely for his shoes, which stood just +outside, ready blacked. Nor did it add to his comfort to know that the +shoes were very defective as to their soles, and would admit the water +freely from the accumulated puddles of the sidewalks. In fact, he had +been ashamed to expose their bad condition to the porter when he put +them out every night, as he was forced to do, since they were his only +pair. Drawing them on hastily, in order to conceal his mortification +from even his own mind, he sallied forth; and though at the moment of +putting them on a dim sense of something unfamiliar crossed his mind, it +was not until he reached "The Fried Cat" that he became fully aware that +he had carried off some one else's shoes. He turned up the soles, +privately, underneath the low-hanging table-cloth, and by a brief +examination convinced himself that the gaiters did not belong to him. +The test was simple: his feet were unaccountably dry, and there were +none of those breaks in the lower surface of their leather covering +which he had so often been obliged to contemplate. + +He saw at once that the porter of The Lorne had made a mistake, and must +have deposited at another apartment his own very insufficient foot-gear; +but there was no chance now to remedy the confusion. Crombie had barely +time to reach the office where he was employed. + +On an ordinary occasion he would perhaps have gone back to The Lorne and +effected an honorable exchange. This particular day, however, was by no +means an ordinary occasion. Crombie had made up his mind to take a +momentous step; and it was therefore essential that he should appear at +his desk exactly on time. + +He was a clerk in an important engraving company. For several years he +had occupied that post, without any opportunity having presented itself +for a promotion. At the best, even should he rise, what could he expect? +To be cashier, perhaps, or possibly, under exceptional circumstances, a +confidential private secretary. This prospect did not satisfy him; he +was determined to strike for something higher. + +It will naturally be inferred that he was ambitious. I am not in a +position to deny this; but all I can be certain of is, that he was in +love--which is often about the same thing. + +Several times at The Lorne he had met in the hallways or in the elevator +a young lady, who was in no small degree beautiful, and charmed him +still more by her general presence, which conveyed the idea of a +harmonious and lovely character. She had light hair and blue eyes, but +these outward attributes were joined with a serenity and poise of manner +that indicated greater stability than is attributed, as a rule, to +individuals of her type. + +Once he happened to arrive at the main entrance just as this vision of +beauty emerged to take her place in a coupé which was waiting by the +curbstone. She dropped her card-case upon the sidewalk, and Crombie's +heart throbbed with delight as he picked it up, gave it to her, and +received her smiling thanks for his little service. Another time, as he +was descending in the elevator, a door opposite the shaft, on the second +floor, stood open, and he caught a glimpse of the apartment to which it +gave access. The room was finished in soft tints, and was full of +upholstery and hangings that lent it a dim golden atmosphere. In the +middle of it stood the young girl, clad in the palest blue, above which +her hair shone like a golden cloud on some dim evening sky. + +Slight occurrences of this sort had affected him. He learned that she +was the daughter of Littimer, the rich, widowed banker: her name was +Blanche. + + +II. + +In these new, stout shoes that did not belong to him Crombie trod with a +buoyancy and assurance strongly in contrast with the limp and +half-hearted pace to which his old, shabby gaiters had formerly inclined +him. He rattled down the stairs of the elevated station with an alacrity +almost bumptious; and the sharp, confident step that announced his +entrance into the company's office made the other clerks quite ashamed +of their own want of spirit. + +He worked at his desk until noon; but when the bells of Trinity rang +twelve in solemn music over the busy streets, he dropped his pen, walked +with a decisive air the length of the room, and, opening a door at the +other end, presented himself before Mr. Blatchford, the treasurer, who +was also an influential director. + +"Crombie, eh? Well, what is it?" + +"I want to speak with you a moment, sir." + +"Anything important? I'm busy." + +"Yes, sir; quite important--to me. Possibly it may be to you." + +"Fire away, then; but cut it short." Mr. Blatchford's dense, well-combed +gray side-whiskers were directed toward the young man in an aggressive +way, as if they had been some sort of weapon. + +Crombie nonchalantly settled himself in a chair, at ease. + +"I am tired of being a clerk," he said. "I'm going to be a director in +this company." + +"I guess you're going to be an inmate of a lunatic asylum," Mr. +Blatchford remarked, with astonished cheerfulness. + +"That seems as unlikely to me as the other thing does to you," said +Crombie. + +Hereupon Mr. Blatchford became sarcastically deferential. "And just +about when do you propose to become a director?" he asked. + +"In the course of a month. The election, I believe, takes place in +December." + +"Quite right," said his senior, whose urbanity was meant to be crushing. +"Meanwhile, you will need leisure to attend to this little matter. +Suppose I oblige you by saying that the company has no further need of +your services?" + +"Suppose you do. What then?" + +Mr. Blatchford gave way to his anger. "What then? Why, then you would +have to go; that's all. You would be thrown out of employment. You would +have to live on your principal, as long as there was any; and afterward +you would be obliged to find some other work, or beg, or borrow, or--" + +"That's enough," said Crombie, rising with dignity. + +"No, it isn't," the treasurer declared, "for you don't seem to +understand even now. I discharge you, Mr. Crombie, on the company's +behalf, and you may leave this office at once." + +Crombie bowed and went out. "I'm going to be a director, all the same," +he told Mr. Blatchford before he closed the door. Then he collected the +few articles that belonged to him from his desk, and departed, a free +man. He had his future to himself; or else he had no future worth +speaking of; he wasn't sure which. Nevertheless, he felt quite happy. +Such a result as this had seemed to him, in the prospect, hardly +possible; but now that it had arrived he was not discomfited. Unbounded +courage seemed to rise from the stout soles of the alien boots, +percolating through his whole system. He was surprised at himself. He +had intended to use more diplomacy with Mr. Blatchford, and it was no +joke to him to lose his place. But instead of feeling despondent, or +going at once in search of new employment, he cheerfully went about +making calls on several gentlemen who, he thought, might be induced to +aid in his ambitious project. His manner was that of a person sure of +his powers and enjoying a well-earned leisure. It had its effect. Two or +three stockholders of the company joined in agreeing with him that +improved methods could be introduced into its management, and that it +would be a good thing to have in the board, say, two young, fresh, +active men--of whom Crombie, by reason of his experience and training, +should be one. + +"I own a little stock," said the deposed clerk, who had taken the +precaution to obtain a couple of shares by great effort in saving. +"Besides, not having any other engrossing interests at present, I could +give my whole attention to the company's affairs." + +"Quite so," said the merchant whom he was addressing, comfortably. "We +must see if we can get together a majority; no time to be lost, you +know." + +"No, sir. I shall go right to work; and perhaps you will speak to some +of your friends, and give me some names." + +"Certainly. Come in again pretty soon; will you?" + +Crombie saw that he had a good foundation to build upon already. +Blatchford was not popular, even among the other directors; and sundry +stockholders, as well as people having business with the company, had +conceived a strong dislike of him on account of his overbearing manners. +Therefore it would not be hard to enlist sympathy for a movement +obnoxious to him. But it was imperative that the self-nominated +candidate should acquire more of the stock; and to do this capital must +be had. Crombie did not see quite how it was to be got; he had no +sufficient influence with the bankers. + +The afternoon was nearly spent, and he trudged up-town, thinking of the +ways and means. But though the problem was far from solved, he still +continued in a state of extraordinary buoyancy. Those shoes, those +shoes! He was so much impressed by their comfort and the service they +had done him in making a good appearance that he resolved to get a new +pair of his own. He stopped and bought them; then kept on toward The +Lorne, carrying his purchase under his arm without embarrassment. The +cold drizzle had ceased, and the sunset came out clear and golden, +dipping its bright darts into the shallow pools of wet on the pavement, +and somehow mingling with his financial dreams a dream of that fair hair +that gave a glory to Miss Blanche's face. + +On regaining his modest apartment he sent for the boot-boy, and inquired +the whereabouts of his missing shoes. + +"Couldn't tell you, sir," said the servant. "Pretty near all the men's +boots in the house has gone out, you see, and they'll only be coming +back just about now. I'll look out for 'em, sir, and nab 'em as soon as +they show up." + +"All right. Whose are these that I've been wearing?" + +The boy took them, turned them over, and examined them with the eye of a +connoisseur in every part. + +"'Them?' I should say, sir, them was Mr. Littimer's." + +Crombie blushed with mortification. Of all the dwellers in The Lorne, +this was the very one with whom it was the most embarrassing to have +such a complication occur; and yet, strange inconsistency! he had been +longing for any accident, no matter how absurd or fantastic, that could +bring him some chance of an acquaintance with Blanche. + +"Take these boots, dry them right away, and give 'em a shine. Then carry +them up to Mr. Littimer's rooms." He gave the boy a quarter: he was +becoming reckless. + +Now that he had embarked upon a new career, he perceived the impropriety +of a future director in the Engraving Company going to dine at the +"Fried Cat," and so resolved to take his dinner in the gorgeous café of +The Lorne. While he was waiting for the proper moment to descend +thither, he could not get the shoe question out of his mind. Surely, the +boot-boy could not have been so idiotic as to have left that ancient, +broken-down pair at Littimer's threshold! And yet it was possible. +Crombie felt another flush of humility upon his cheeks. Then he wandered +off into revery upon the multifarious errands of all the pairs of boots +and shoes that had gone forth from the great apartment-house that day. +Patter, patter, patter! tramp, tramp!--he imagined he heard them all +walking, stamping, shuffling along toward different parts of the city, +with many different objects, and sending back significant echoes. +Whither had his own ruinous Congress gaiters gone?--to what destination +which they would never have reached had he been in them? Had they +carried their temporary possessor into any such worriment and trouble as +he himself had often travelled through on their worn but faithful soles? + +Breaking off from these idle fancies at length, he went down to the +café; and there he had the pleasure of dining at a table not far from +Blanche Littimer. But, to his surprise, she was alone. Her father did +not appear during the meal. + + +III. + +The fact was that the awful possibility, mere conjecture of which had +frightened Crombie, had occurred. Littimer had received the young man's +shoes in place of his own. + +They happened to fit him moderately well; so that he, likewise, did not +notice the exchange until he had started for his office. He believed in +walking the entire distance, no matter what the weather; and to this +practice he made rare exceptions. But he had not progressed very far +before he became annoyed by an unaccustomed intrusion of dampness that +threatened him with a cold. He looked down, carefully surveyed the +artificial casing of his extremities, and decided to hail the first +unoccupied coupé he should meet. It was some time before he found one; +and when finally he took his seat in the luxurious little bank parlor at +Broad Street, his feet were quite wet. + +His surprise at this occurrence was doubled when, on taking off the +shoes and scrutinizing them more closely, he ascertained that they were +the work of his usual maker. What had happened to him? Was he dreaming? +It seemed to him that he had gone back many years; that he was a poor +young man again, entering upon his first struggle for a foothold in the +crowded, selfish, unhomelike metropolis. He remembered the day when _he_ +had worn shoes like these. + +He sent out for an assortment of new ones, from which, with unnecessary +lavishness, he chose and kept three or four pairs. All the rest of the +day, nevertheless, those sorry Congress boots of Crombie's, which he had +directed his office-boy to place beside the soft-coal fire, for drying, +faced him with a sort of haunting look. However much he might be +occupied with weightier matters, he could not keep his eyes from +straying in that direction; and whenever they rested on that battered +"right" and that way-worn "left," turned up in that mute, appealing +repose and uselessness at the fender, his thoughts recurred to his early +years of trial and poverty. Ah! how greatly he had changed since then! +On some accounts he could almost wish that he were poor again. But when +he remembered Blanche, he was glad, for her sake, that he was rich. + +But if for her sake, why not for others? Perhaps he had been rather +selfish, not only about Blanche, but toward her. His conscience began to +reproach him. Had he made for her a large life? Since her mother's +premature death, had he instilled into her sympathies, tastes, +companionships that would make her existence the richer? Had he not kept +her too much to himself? On the other hand, he had gratified all her +material wants; she could wear what she pleased, she could go where she +chose, she had acquaintances of a sort becoming to the daughter of a +wealthy man. Yet there was something lacking. What did she know about +old, used-up boots and all that pertains to them? What did she know +about indigence, real privation, and brave endurance, such as a hundred +thousand fellow-creatures all around her were undergoing? + +Somehow it dawned upon the old banker that if she knew about all these +things and had some share in them, albeit only through sympathy and +helping, she might be happier, more truly a woman, than she was now. + +As he sat alone, in revery, he actually heaved a deep sigh. A sigh is +often as happy a deliverance as a laugh, in this world of sorrows. It +was the first that had escaped Littimer in years. Let us say that it was +a breathing space, which gave him time for reflection; it marked the +turning of a leaf; it was the beginning of a new chapter in his life. + +Before he left the bank he locked the door of the private parlor, and +was alone for two or three minutes. The office boy was greatly puzzled +the next morning, when he found all the new pairs of shoes ranged intact +in the adjoining cupboard. The old ones were missing. + +Littimer had gone away in them, furtively. He was ashamed of his own +impulse. + +This time be resolutely remained afoot instead of hiring a carriage. He +despatched a messenger to Blanche, saying that sudden business would +prevent his returning to dinner, and continued indefinitely on his +way--whither? As to that he was by no means certain; he knew only that +he must get out of the beaten track, out of the ruts. For an hour or two +he must cease to be Littimer, the prosperous moneyed man, and must tread +once more the obscure paths through which he had made his way to +fortune. He could hardly have explained the prompting which he obeyed. +Could it have had anything to do with the treacherous holes in the +bottoms of those old shoes? + +As it chanced, he passed by the "Fried Cat;" and, dingy though the place +was, he felt an irresistible desire to enter it. Seating himself, he +ordered the regular dinner of the day. The light was dim; the +table-cloth was dirty; the attendance was irregular and distracted. +Littimer took one sip of the sour wine--which had a flavor resembling +vinegar and carmine ink in equal parts--and left the further contents of +his bottle untasted. The soup, the stew, and the faded roast that were +set before him, he could scarcely swallow; but a small cup of coffee at +the end of the well-nigh Barmecide repast came in very palatably. + +In default of prandial attractions, Littimer tried to occupy himself by +looking at the people around him. The omnifarious assembly included +pale, prim-whiskered young clerks; shabby, lonely, sallow young women, +whose sallowness and shabbiness stamped them with the mark of integrity; +other females whose specious splendor was not nearly so reassuring; old +men, broken-down men, middle-aged men of every description, except the +well-to-do. + +"Some of them," Littimer reflected, "are no worse than I am. But are any +of them really any better?" + +He could not convince himself that they were; yet his sympathies, +somehow, went out toward this motley crowd. It appeared to him very +foolish that he should sympathize, but he could not help it. "And, after +all," was the next thought that came to him, "are we to give pity to +people, or withhold it, simply because they are better or worse than +ourselves? No; there is something more in it than that." + +Leaving the "Fried Cat" abruptly, he betook himself to an acquaintance +who, he knew, was very active in charities--a man who worked +practically, and gave time to the work. + +"Do you visit any of your distress cases to-night?" he asked. + +"Yes, I shall make a few calls," answered the man of charity. "Would you +like to go along?" + +"Very much." + +So the two started out together. The places they went to were of various +kinds, and revealed a considerable diversity of misfortune. Sometimes +they entered tenement-houses of the most wretched character; but in +other instances they went to small and cheap but decent lodgings over +the shops on West Side avenues, or even penetrated into boarding-houses +of such good appearance that the banker was surprised to find his +friend's mission carrying him thither. All the cases, however, had been +studied, and were vouched for; and several were those of young men and +women having employment, but temporarily disabled, and without friends +who could help them. + +"You do well to help these beginners, at critical times," said the +banker, with satisfaction, "I take a special interest in them." + +It was almost the same as if he were receiving relief himself. Who +knows? Perhaps he was; but to the outward eye it appeared merely that, +with his friend's sanction, he was dispensing money and offers of good +will to the needy. What a strange freak it was, though, in Littimer! He +kept on with the work until quite late in the evening, regardless of the +risk he ran by continuing out-of-doors when so ill shod. + +I think he had some idea in his mind that he was performing an act of +penance. + + +IV. + +Having waited a reasonable length of time after dinner, Crombie again +left his room, resolved to make a call upon Mr. Littimer, on the plea of +apologizing for having marched away with his shoes. + +He would not run the risk, by sending his card, of being denied as a +stranger; so, notwithstanding much hesitation and tremor, he approached +the door which he had once seen standing open, and knocked. A voice +which he now heard for the second time in his life, but which was so +sweet and crept so naturally into the centre of his heart that the +thought of it seemed always to have been there, answered: "Come in." And +he did come in. + +"Is Mr. Lit--is your father at home?" It seemed to bring him a little +nearer to her to say "your father." + +Blanche had risen from the chair where she was reading, and looked very +much surprised. "Oh," she exclaimed, with girlish simplicity, "I thought +it was the waiter! N-no; he hasn't come home yet." + +"I beg pardon. Then perhaps I'd better call later." Crombie made a +feeble movement toward withdrawal. + +"Did you want to see him on business? Who shall I tell him?" + +"Mr. Crombie, please. It's nothing very important." + +"Oh," said Blanche, with a little blush at her own deception, "haven't I +seen you in the house before? Are you staying here?" + +She remembered distinctly the incident of the card-case, and how very +nice she had thought him, both on that occasion and every time she had +seen him. But as for him, his heart sank at the vague impersonality with +which she seemed to regard him. + +"Yes, I'm here, and can easily come in again." + +"I expect my father almost any moment," she said. "Would you like to +wait?" + +What an absurd question, to one in his frame of mind! "Well, really, it +is such a very small matter," he began, examining his hat attentively. +Then he glanced up at her again, and smiled: "I only wanted to--to make +an apology." + +"An apology!" echoed Blanche, becoming rather more distant. "Oh, dear! +I'm very sorry, I'm sure. I didn't know there'd been any trouble." She +began to look anxious, and turned her eyes upon the smouldering fire in +the grate. So this was to be the end of her pleasant, cheerful reveries +about this nice young man. And the reveries had been more frequent than +she had been aware of until now. + +"There has been no trouble," he assured her, eagerly. "Just a little +mistake that occurred; and, in fact, I was hardly responsible for it." + +Blanche's eyes began to twinkle with a new and amusing interpretation. +"Ah!" she cried, "are you the gentleman who--" Then she stopped short. + +Crombie was placed in an unexpected embarrassment. How could he possibly +drag into his conversation with this lovely young creature so +commonplace and vulgar a subject as shoe-leather! Ignoring her +unfinished question, he asked: "Do you know, Miss Littimer, whether +the--a--one of the servants here has brought up anything for your +father--that is, a parcel, a--" + +"A pair of shoes?" Blanche broke in, her eyes dancing, while her lips +parted in a smile. + +"Yes, yes; that's what I meant." + +"They came up just after dinner," Blanche returned. "Then you _are_ the +gentleman." + +"I'm afraid I am," Crombie owned, and they both laughed. + +Blanche quietly, and with no apparent intention, resumed her chair; and +this time Crombie took a seat without waiting to be invited again. Thus +they fell to talking in the friendliest way. + +"I can't imagine what has become of papa," said Blanche. "He sent word, +in the most mysterious manner, that he had an engagement; and it is so +unusual! Perhaps it's something about the new house he's +building--up-town, you know. Dear me! it does make so much trouble, and +I don't believe I shall like it half as well as these little, cosey +rooms." + +The little, cosey rooms were as the abode of giants compared with +Crombie's contracted quarters; but he drew comfort from what she said, +thinking how such sentiments might make it possible to win even so +unattainable an heiress into some modest home of his own. + +"You don't know till you try it," he replied. "Just think of having a +place all to yourself, belonging to you." + +Blanche lifted her eyebrows, and a little sigh escaped her. She was +reflecting, perhaps, that a place all to herself would be rather lonely. + +"You have never met my father?" she asked. + +"No. I have seen him." + +"Well, I think you will like him when you know him." + +"I don't doubt it!" Crombie exclaimed with fervor, worshipping the very +furniture that surrounded Blanche. "I hope we may become better +acquainted." + +"Only I think, Mr. Crombie, he will owe _you_ an apology now." + +"Why?" + +"For keeping your shoes out so late." + +"_My_ shoes!" said the young man, in vehement surprise. + +"Why, yes. Didn't you know they came to him? The porter said so." + +Crombie grew red with the sense of his disgrace in having his +poverty-stricken boots come to the knowledge of the banker. Really, his +mortification was so great that the accident seemed to him to put an end +to all his hopes of further relations with Blanche and her father. + +"Oh, I assure you," he said, rising, "that makes no difference at all! +I'm sorry I mentioned the matter. Pray tell Mr. Littimer not to think of +it. I--I believe I'd better go now, Miss Littimer." + +Blanche rose too, and Crombie was on the point of bowing a good-night, +when the door opened, and a weary figure presented itself on the +threshold; the figure of a short man with a spare face, and whiskers in +which gray mingled with the sandy tint. He had a pinched, half-growling +expression, was draped in a light, draggled overcoat, and carried an +umbrella, the ribs of which hung loose around the stick. + +"There's papa this moment!" cried Blanche. + +Crombie perceived that escape was impossible, and, in a few words, the +reason of his presence there was made known to the old gentleman. + +Littimer examined the visitor swiftly, from head to foot--especially the +foot. He advanced to the fire, toasted first one and then the other of +the damp gaiters he had on, and at length broke out, in a tone bordering +on reproach: "So you are the owner, are you? Then my sympathy has all +been wasted! Why, I supposed, from the condition of these machines that +I've been lugging around with me half the day, that you must be in the +greatest distress. And, lo and behold! I find you a young fellow in +prime health, spruce and trim, doing well, I should say, and perfectly +happy." + +"I can't help that, sir," retorted Crombie, nettled, but speaking with +respect. "I confess I was very happy until a moment or two ago." + +"What do you mean by that?" the other demanded, with half-yielding +pugnacity. "Till I came in--is that the idea?" + +"Oh, papa!" said Blanche, softly. + +"Well, honey-bee, what's the matter?" her father asked, trying to be +gruff. "Can't I say what I like, here?" But he surrendered at once by +adding: "You may be sure I don't want to offend any one. Sit down, Mr. +Crombie, and wait just a few moments while I go into the other room and +rejuvenate my hoofs, so to speak--for I fear I've made a donkey of +myself." + +He disappeared into an adjoining room with Blanche, who there informed +him artlessly of Crombie's consideration and attentiveness in restoring +the errant shoes. When they came back Littimer insisted upon having the +young man remain a little longer and drink a glass of port with him. +Before taking his departure, however, Crombie, who felt free to speak +since Blanche had retired, made a brief statement in satisfaction of +conscience. + +"You hinted," he said, "that you judged me to be doing well. I don't +want to leave you with a false impression. The truth is, I am not doing +well. I have no money to speak of, and to-day I lost the position on +which I depended." + +"You don't tell me!" Littimer's newly roused charitable impulses came to +the fore. "Why, now you begin to be really interesting, Mr. Crombie." + +"Thanks," said Crombie; "I'm not ambitious to interest people in that +way. I told you only because I thought it fair." + +"Don't be touchy, my dear sir," answered the banker. "I meant what I +said. Come, let's see what can be done. Have you any scheme in view?" + +"Yes, I have," said Crombie, with decision. + +Littimer gave a grunt. He was afraid of people with schemes, and was +disappointed with the young man's want of helplessness. Dependence would +have been an easier thing to deal with. + +"Well," said he, "we must talk it over. Come and see me at the bank +to-morrow. You know the address?" + + +V. + +The next day Crombie called at the bank; but Littimer was not there. He +was not very well, it was said; had not come down-town. Crombie did what +he could toward organizing his fight for a directorship, and then +returned to The Lorne, where he punctually inquired after Mr. Littimer's +health, and learned that the banker's ardor in making the rounds among +distressed people the night before had been followed by reaction into a +bad cold, with some threat of pneumonia. Blanche was plainly anxious. +The attack lasted three or four days, and Crombie, though the affair of +the directorship was pressing for attention, could not forbear to remain +as near as possible to Blanche, offering every aid within his power, so +far as he might without overstepping the lines of his very recent +acquaintance. But the Littimers did not, according to his observation, +number any very intimate companions in their circle, or at least had not +many friends who would be assiduous in such an emergency. Perhaps their +friends were too busy with social engagements. Consequently, he saw a +good deal of Blanche, and became to her an object of reliance. + +Well, it was simply one of those things that happen only in fairy-tales +or in romances--or in real life. Littimer recovered without any serious +illness, and, after a brief conference with Crombie, entered heartily +into the young man's campaign. Crombie showed him just what combinations +could be formed, how success could be achieved, and what lucrative +results might be made to ensue. He conquered by figures and by lucid +common-sense. Littimer agreed to buy a number of shares in the Engraving +Company, which he happened to know could be purchased, and to advance +Crombie a good sum with which to procure a portion of the same lot. But +before this agreement could be consummated, Crombie, with his usual +frankness, said to the banker: + +"I will conceal nothing from you, Mr. Littimer. I fell in love with +Blanche before I knew her, and if this venture of mine succeeds, I shall +ask her to become my wife." + +"Let us attend to business," said Littimer, severely. "Sentiment can +take care of itself." + +Their manoeuvre went on so vigorously that Blatchford became alarmed, +and sent an ambassador to arrange a compromise; but by this time Crombie +had determined to oust Blatchford himself and elect an entirely new set +of men, to compose more than half the Board, and so control everything. + +He succeeded. + +But Littimer did not forget the charitable enthusiasm which had been +awakened by a circumstance on the surface so trivial as the mistake of a +boot-boy. He did not desist from his interest in aiding disabled or +unfortunate people who could really be aided. Some time after Crombie +had achieved his triumph in the Engraving Company, and had repaid +Littimer's loan, he was admitted to a share in the banking business; and +eventually the head of the house was able to give a great deal of +attention to perfecting his benevolent plans. + +When the details of their wedding were under discussion, Crombie said to +Blanche: "Oughtn't we to have an old shoe thrown after the carriage as +we drive away?" + +She smiled; looked him full in the eyes with a peculiar tenderness in +which there was a bright, delicious sparkle of humor. "No; old shoes are +much too useful to be wasted that way." + +Somehow she had possessed herself of that particular, providential pair; +and, though I don't want anybody to laugh at my two friends, I must risk +saying that I suspect Mrs. Crombie of preserving it somewhere, to this +day, in the big new house up-town. + + +THE END. + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's True and Other Stories, by George Parsons Lathrop + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK TRUE AND OTHER STORIES *** + +***** This file should be named 35946-8.txt or 35946-8.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/3/5/9/4/35946/ + +Produced by David Edwards, Mary Meehan North Carolina +History & Fiction was the original source for the images. +and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at +http://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images +generously made available by The Internet Archive) + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: True and Other Stories + +Author: George Parsons Lathrop + +Release Date: April 24, 2011 [EBook #35946] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK TRUE AND OTHER STORIES *** + + + + +Produced by David Edwards, Mary Meehan North Carolina +History & Fiction was the original source for the images. +and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at +http://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images +generously made available by The Internet Archive) + + + + + + +</pre> + + + + + +<h1>TRUE</h1> + +<h3>AND</h3> + +<h1>OTHER STORIES</h1> + +<h2>BY GEORGE PARSONS LATHROP</h2> + +<h3>AUTHOR OF "AN ECHO OF PASSION," "NEWPORT," ETC.</h3> + + +<h3>FUNK & WAGNALLS</h3> + +<h3>1884</h3> + +<h3>NEW YORK<br /> +<span class="smcap">10 and 12 Dey Street</span></h3> + +<h3>LONDON<br /> +<span class="smcap">44 Fleet Street</span></h3> + +<h3><i>All Rights Reserved</i></h3> + +<h3>Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1884, by<br /> +FUNK & WAGNALLS,<br /> +In the Office of the Librarian of Congress at Washington, D. C.</h3> + + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CONTENTS.</h2> + +<!-- Autogenerated TOC. Modify or delete as required. --> +<p> + +<a href="#TRUE">TRUE.</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_I">CHAPTER I. <span class="smcap">Her Eyes were Gray</span></a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_II">CHAPTER II. <span class="smcap">The De Vines</span></a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_III">CHAPTER III. <span class="smcap">Twilight</span></a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_IV">CHAPTER IV. <span class="smcap">A Vision</span></a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_V">CHAPTER V. <span class="smcap">Birthday Tokens</span></a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_VI">CHAPTER VI. <span class="smcap">A New Lesson in Botany</span></a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_VII">CHAPTER VII. <span class="smcap">The Races, and the Motto</span></a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_VIII">CHAPTER VIII. <span class="smcap">Adela's Legend</span></a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_IX">CHAPTER IX. <span class="smcap">Lance and Sylvester</span></a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_X">CHAPTER X. <span class="smcap">The Likeness</span></a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XI">CHAPTER XI. <span class="smcap">Lance Returns</span></a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XII">CHAPTER XII. <span class="smcap">Sylv's Trouble</span></a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XIII">CHAPTER XIII. <span class="smcap">Lance and Adela</span></a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XIV">CHAPTER XIV. <span class="smcap">Dennie's Trouble</span></a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XV">CHAPTER XV. <span class="smcap">Elbow-crook Swamp</span></a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XVI">CHAPTER XVI. "<span class="smcap">I Live, How Long I Trow Not</span>"</a><br /><br /> +<a href="#MAJOR_BARRINGTONS_MARRIAGE">MAJOR BARRINGTON'S MARRIAGE.</a><br /><br /> +<a href="#BAD_PEPPERS">"BAD PEPPERS."</a><br /><br /> +<a href="#THREE_BRIDGES">THREE BRIDGES.</a><br /> +<a href="#I">I. <span class="smcap">The Importance of a Hat</span></a><br /> +<a href="#II">II. <span class="smcap">Father, Daughter, And—who Else?</span></a><br /> +<a href="#III">III. <span class="smcap">Listening</span></a><br /> +<a href="#IV">IV. <span class="smcap">The Third Bridge</span></a><br /><br /> +<a href="#IN_EACH_OTHERS_SHOES">IN EACH OTHER'S SHOES.</a><br /> +</p> +<!-- End Autogenerated TOC. --> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="TRUE" id="TRUE"></a>TRUE.</h2> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_I" id="CHAPTER_I"></a>CHAPTER I.</h2> + +<h3>HER EYES WERE GRAY.</h3> + + +<p>It might have been yesterday, but in simple fact it was three hundred +years ago, that something happened which has an important bearing on +this story of the present.</p> + +<p>Antiquity is a great discourager of the sympathies: the centuries are +apt to weigh like lead on an individual human sentiment. Yet we find it +pleasant sometimes to throw off their weight, and thereby to discover +that it is a mere feather in the scale as against the beating of a +heart.</p> + +<p>I know that when I speak of Guy Wharton as having been alive and in love +in the year 1587, you will feel a certain patronizing pity for +him—because he is not alive now. So do I. But then it is possible that +you will be interested, notwithstanding—because he was a lover. Would +you like to hear what experience he had? I promise not to go through the +history of those three hundred years. The story of Guy is merely the +starting-point of my narrative.</p> + +<p>He was in love with a sweet English girl, Gertrude Wylde, who lived in +Surrey; and she, for her part, was the daughter of a small tenant-farmer +there, well connected as to family, but not well furnished with worldly +goods, Guy's father was a country gentleman; but that circumstance +failed to affect the young man's eyesight and emotions injuriously; he +beheld Gertrude, and he loved her. I can see it all, now, as if it were +something that had happened to myself—how they strolled together in +those wondrous lanes hedged with hawthorn and brier and hazel, which +stray so sweetly over the rolling lands about Dorking; how they met +beneath the old yew tree where, half way up Box Hill, it hung out its +foliage black as night, spotted with strange waxen blossoms of scarlet, +like drops of blood upon a funeral-pall; how they wandered in the +untamed forest of great box trees at the top; what joys they had, what +anxieties beset them.</p> + +<p>"And will thy father indeed take his leave of old England so soon?" he +asked her, when they had reached the brow of the hill.</p> + +<p>"Yes, in truth," she answered, sadly enough, looking out over the white +chalk highlands, and the arborous glades and open downs, to where the +waters of the English Channel showed soft against the hazy sky at the +horizon, like a blue vein on a circling arm. "And that means that I must +take leave of <i>thee</i>, Guy."</p> + +<p>"Never, my darling!" cried Guy, drawing her to him. "If thou goest, I go +as well."</p> + +<p>"What! Forsake all here—estate and fortune and family? Nay, dearest, +that can never be." But, as she spoke these words, Gertrude pressed her +face upon his shoulder and gave way to tears. Then presently, raising +her head and gazing up into his face: "How should it be possible?" she +asked.</p> + +<p>"Easily enough, if thou wilt," he replied. "I would go as thy affianced +husband."</p> + +<p>Thus it was settled that he also should join the colonizing expedition +with which Gertrude's father had resolved to embark, under the patronage +of Sir Walter Raleigh. Its goal was Roanoke Island, Virginia.</p> + +<p>As the lovers walked homeward in company, and parted to go their +separate ways, they felt as if their feet already trod the shores of the +New World. "But when we are there," said Wharton before he left her at +the turnstile that ushered the way to her father's farm—"there we shall +have no more partings."</p> + +<p>Alas, he was but a poor prophet!</p> + +<p>Difficulties came up. Wharton's father violently opposed the plan that +Guy had made. That, however, might not have prevented its execution, had +not a fatal thing happened just at the critical time. On the eve of the +sailing of the expedition, Guy's father died. That which his bitterest +activity while alive failed to effect was accomplished by his white and +silent presence as he lay dead in the old manor-house. At such a moment +Guy could not go away; the unspoken edict of death restrained him +absolutely. Besides, the elder Wharton's affairs were left in a +confusion which it would take long to clear up.</p> + +<p>So the ship sailed without Guy; but you may be sure he was at the wharf +when she weighed anchor, and that he bade a tender farewell to Gertrude, +promising that he would follow with the first convoy that should be sent +to re-enforce and victual the new colony. At the instant when he had to +leave her, she said, as if answering his words, uttered many weeks +before at the turnstile: "Yes, dearest, we shall meet soon in that other +world, and there shall be no more parting."</p> + +<p>Guy did not think of the exact expression, just then; but as he +travelled back to the manor-house, now his own, he kept saying to +himself involuntarily: "That other world? God grant it may not mean the +world beyond!" When he stepped within the door, his eye rested on the +inscription over the great fireplace of the hall:</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"I live, how long I trow not;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">I die, but where I know not;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">I journey, but whither I cannot see:<br /></span> +<span class="i0">'Tis strange that I can merry be."<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>Many a festival had been held beneath the unnoticed shadow of those +solemn lines; the laughter and the cheer, the sobs and murmurs of many a +voice forever hushed, had echoed from the wall where the verses were +graven; but it seemed to him that the motto had never gained its full +meaning until now.</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"I journey, but whither I cannot see."<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>Gertrude had gone out into the great void of the unknown spaces; and he +was to follow her—whither?</p> + +<p>It would indeed have been strange if he could have been merry; and, to +say truth, he was not greatly so; but he kept up his hope indomitably.</p> + +<p>At last everything was arranged: he was ready to go. But he had to wait +for the relief expedition to sail. In those days it was a great +undertaking to prepare for a journey across the Atlantic. Raleigh was +busy, perplexed, anxious: three years went by before Admiral John White +started from Plymouth with three little ships (one for each year) and +two shallops. But when he did start, Guy was on board.</p> + +<p>It had been agreed with the colonists that, if anything went wrong and +they should find it best to look for a new site, they should remove to a +spot fifty miles inland among the friendly Indians, and should carve +upon a tree the name of the place to which they were going. In case +misfortune befell them, a cross was also to be carved above the name of +their destination.</p> + +<p>When, after a five weeks' voyage, Admiral White's vessels approached the +shore of Hatteras, they anchored some miles out, for safety, and sent a +boat in to the shallow Sound. Guy was in the bow of the boat which +steered for Roanoke Island. The crew, when they had come near enough, +blew trumpet-blasts as a signal of their approach, and sang songs of +home—old English glees and madrigals—that had often echoed in the +fields, the groves, the farmhouses of Surrey and Kent. Attracted by the +sound the colonists, they hoped, would make their appearance the sooner. +But how strangely these familiar strains fell upon the ear in the +primeval solitude of those lonely waters, on that lovely April day! So +strangely, indeed, that one might almost fancy the colonists did not +recognize them anymore, and hence failed to respond. Yet the trumpets +continued to ring out on the air, and the gay songs were trolled +cheerily, as the boat drew near the landing-place.</p> + +<p>It may be imagined what an eager lookout Guy kept up at the bow. Ho +believed every moment that, at the next, he should see Gertrude emerging +from the woods and waving her hand to him. Still, not a sign of life had +been given when he stepped ashore.</p> + +<p>The little party began to be oppressed by forebodings. They set out +through the forest, eagerly searching for some token of their +countrymen's presence; but no voice answered their calls, except those +of unaccustomed birds and astonished squirrels; and no trail was found +upon the light brown soil, other than the marks of an Indian moccasin or +the curious dottings made by the feet of furtive animals.</p> + +<p>At last, however, the seekers came to a tree which confronted them with +three rudely carved letters cut upon its side.</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">C. R. O.<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>That was all. There was no indication of the cross, the symbol of +distress. The men burst into exclamations of delight; yet Guy, though +his heart bounded high with reviving hope, suffered a terrible suspense. +The sturdy tree had, as it were, found a voice and spoken; but it had +uttered only one vague, baffling syllable. Of what use was that feeble +clew? Still he pressed on, having no idea which way to turn, but guided +by some inspiration; and presently, shouting to his companions, he +pointed to another conspicuous tree which bore upon its blazed trunk the +full name of the colony's new abiding-place. The letters missing from +the first inscription had doubtless been worn away by storms. The word +engraved upon the fibre of the second tree was "Croatan."</p> + +<p>The friends of the colonists did not know precisely where Croatan lay; +and though Guy urged an immediate exploration, the rest thought it +impracticable. The distance from the ships threatened danger of being +separated from the expedition by some accident, and left alone without +supplies. So, having read the brief message of the departed colonists, +the boat party returned to the little squadron and reported.</p> + +<p>A storm arose; anchors were lost; the supply of fresh water had run low; +and a council called by the Admiral decided that prudence required +taking a southerly course to find some safer harbor; advising also that +an attempt should be made to capture some Spanish vessels and return +with the booty and provisions to find the lost colony. In vain Guy +pleaded, with anguish in every word, that at least one of the ships +should cruise near the coast off which they now lay and await the first +favorable moment for prosecuting the search. The Admiral and his +captains were inexorable; and the southern course was taken.</p> + +<p>None of the vessels ever went back to the aid of the English at Croatan.</p> + +<p>The captain of that one on which Guy Wharton was a passenger turned her +prow toward England after a little time. Once more at home, Guy made +every endeavor to have a new fleet equipped; but all his attempts +failed. He was on the point of selling everything he owned, in order to +fit out at least one ship and carry substantial aid to the exiles, when +certain commercial ventures, in which a great deal of the property left +to him was involved, went amiss and left him helpless. Restless, +unhappy, almost broken-hearted, he entered on the struggle to +re-establish himself; no opportunity occurred for him to sail to +Virginia again; and so much time passed by, that such an undertaking +came to look hopeless. Even could he have gone, what would he have +found? Perhaps Gertrude by this time had died. Or, perhaps, thinking +herself forsaken or forgotten, as the whole community of emigrants +seemingly had been, she might have married one of the colonists.</p> + +<p>The old hope went out of Guy Wharton's life; but though, after some +years, he took a wife, he never lost the pain which this tragedy of his +youth had planted in his breast.</p> + +<p>And they, meanwhile, the vanished exiles—what was their life; what were +their thoughts? How long their hope survived, no one can even guess. +Without resources beyond those which the friendly Croatans themselves +had; living a rude and simple life among the natives in that wild and +lonely land; did they watch day after day for some sign of sail or +fluttering pennon coming up the river, or listen for some sudden +bugle-note or gun-shot, announcing the approach of relief? Did Gertrude +keep up her faith through the weary years, hourly awaiting her +lover?—fancying she heard his voice close by?—then waking again to the +reality of the lonely stream, the fluttering forest-leaves, the uncouth +habitations, the garments of deerskin and the swarthy savage children at +play?</p> + +<p>God only knows; for of all those hundred and fifteen wanderers, men and +women, not one was ever seen among the civilized again. They passed from +the region of the known and the recorded into the vagueness of +unlettered tradition. From the midst of history they were transplanted +into myth. They faded out amid those dusky tribes in the forest, as the +last streak of light in the west fades into darkness at nightfall.</p> + +<p>A hundred years afterward the Indians of the Hatteras shore were +described as declaring with pride that some of their ancestors were +white and could "talk in a book," like the later Englishmen who were +then established in Virginia. It was taken as confirmation of this +story, that some of the Indians who told it had gray eyes.</p> + +<p><i>Her</i> eyes were gray.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_II" id="CHAPTER_II"></a>CHAPTER II.</h2> + +<h3>THE DE VINES.</h3> + + +<p>On a little headland at the southern end of Pamlico Sound where it +narrows in to the waters of Core Sound, a small dwelling-house, half hut +and half cottage, looked forth over the liquid expanses with an air of +long habitude and battered self-reliance. It had but two meagre windows, +and its chimney was short and black, suggesting an old tobacco-pipe; but +the little house leaned comfortably against the low sandy ridge at its +back, and did not seem to mind any of the imperfections in its own +facial aspect. Along the ridge live oaks and red cedars flourished +gracefully, and the ancient structure was closely enfolded at either +side by thickets of that kind of holly known in the region as <i>yaupon</i>, +the polished leaves and warm red berries of which glistened cheerily in +the sunlight. Indeed, the whole place, dilapidated though it was, had +the reassuring appearance of a home; and when from its narrow doorway a +beautiful young woman stepped forth into the breezy afternoon, nothing +more was needed to complete the effect.</p> + +<p>If it was a home before, it now looked the ideal of a home.</p> + +<p>The young woman turned to the holly bushes at the left and began +clipping from them some of their lighter branches, which she let fall +into a large basket, held gracefully against her hip with one rounded +arm, while the other plied the shears. She was tall, but not fair. No +daughter of the gods, but firmly and robustly human; yet, at the same +time, there was in her humanity something noble and inspiriting. Am I +not going too fast? Why talk in this way about a young girl in a calico +gown, cutting holly-sprigs beside a tumble-down old cabin on the Nawth +Ca'liny shore? No, she was not fair as to complexion; her skin was +richly browned by out-door life, though a clear rose-tint shone faintly +through the brown. She was beautiful, nevertheless; and yet—and yet +what was it? It seemed as if that outer hue could never under any +circumstances wear off. But a mere glance at her features would convince +any one that she was not of octoroon or metif parentage. Only it was as +if the sun, watching over her loveliness from birth, and searching into +the depths of her nature, had warmed her blood until it had darkened a +little and her pulses had spread a shadow in their flowing.</p> + +<p>Suddenly she desisted from her work and, bending her head forward, gazed +off across the light green waves that stretched for miles between her +and the low-lying strip of sand that barred out the sea. Had she heard a +distant hail from the boat that was scudding fast toward the headland? +At any rate, there was the burly little craft, careening to the lively +breeze amid a shower of spray, with a recklessness characteristic of the +young helmsman, whom the girl's bright eyes would have recognized even +farther away. And now, as the craft abruptly veered to windward, to +approach the landing, her master's careless handling received a +startling illustration, for she almost broached to; the sails were laid +aback, and for an instant the boat threatened to capsize.</p> + +<p>There was one passenger, an old woman, who sat near the helmsman; and at +this juncture she snatched from her lips a short clay pipe, emitting a +shrill cry of fright, together with an alarmed whiff of smoke—as if she +herself had unexpectedly exploded.</p> + +<p>"Lord save our souls, Dennis! What be you thinkin' on?"</p> + +<p>"All right, auntie!" cried the young man, heartily. "The critter'll +come straight in half a turn." And, exerting all his force, he caused +the dug-out to round into her course again, with the breeze on her +quarter. Two or three minutes later she touched the shore.</p> + +<p>The young woman, having thrown down her basket, stood ready to greet the +new-comers.</p> + +<p>"Well, Deely dear!"</p> + +<p>"Why, Aunty Losh, it don't seem possible that it's you come back again. +And so you're really here."</p> + +<p>"Yes; a'most really—though, as you see just now, I come nearer +drowndin' in front o' my own door, Deely."</p> + +<p>Dennis submitted his stout frame to a convulsive laugh, which for an +instant gave him some resemblance to a dog shaking himself on emerging +from the water, "Drownded in half a fathom," he exclaimed, hilariously. +"I'll be dog-goned if that ain't the cutest, aunty! Why, I'm almost +sorry we didn't overset the old boat, to show you. It would have livened +you up fit to kill."</p> + +<p>"Dennis!" exclaimed Deely, her eyes flashing indignantly, "you ought to +be ashamed."</p> + +<p>"Oh, never mind the boy," Aunty Losh soothingly interposed. "It's his +natur' to be wild, ye know. He ain't never happy unless he's in some +dare-devil scrape. But where's Sylvester?"</p> + +<p>Deely, with eyes cast down, appeared needlessly embarrassed. "He went up +to Beaufort to market," she explained.</p> + +<p>Something in her tone caused Dennis to glance at her rather fiercely, as +if he were jealous. "Yes, that suits <i>him</i>," he muttered, with a trace +of contempt. "Market business is just about what Sylv is good for; +that's what it is."</p> + +<p>"It aren't right to speak so of your only brother, Dennis," said Aunty +Losh, mildly.</p> + +<p>"Oh, dog gone it!" (Dennis reverted to his favorite expletive.) "What +does it matter whose brother he is? I speak my mind. Deely, don't look +so down on me. What's the trouble?"</p> + +<p>"Only you're so rough," said the girl, laying her hand on his arm. "You +know I love you, don't you, Dennie? But it goes against me to hear you +talk so."</p> + +<p>He placed his own rough hand on her smooth one and patted it softly for +an instant; then he moved it somewhat brusquely from its resting-place +on his shoulder, and Deely drew away a step or two.</p> + +<p>"I <i>catch</i> all the fish," he said, "and Sylv <i>takes</i> 'em for himself." +There seemed to be an undertone of double meaning in his remark. But the +next instant he changed from gloom to sunny cheer. "Come, aunty, you +mustn't stand here on the mud. I reckon you've been away so long you'll +be kind o' glad to see the inside of the old cabin again; hey?"</p> + +<p>He was tall and sturdy, this Dennis De Vine; and though he could not +have been described as handsome, his reddish hair and ruddy coloring, +united with the glance of his blue eye and a certain good-humored Irish +daring of expression, made his presence gay and attractive. Aunty Losh +was quick to act on his suggestion, and they all went into the cabin, +which despite its limited frontage spread out sufficiently, within, to +afford rooms for the old woman and her two nephews.</p> + +<p>"Now, aunty," said the girl, "the tarrapin is most ready, and I'll brew +you a good cup of yaupon. I was just cutting some to dry when you came." +And thereupon Adela, taking a handful of the seasoned leaves from their +place of storage in a cupboard, swung the kettle from the fire and +proceeded to infuse this local substitute for tea.</p> + +<p>"My patience, but it's dear to my buddy and heart," Aunty Losh murmured, +as she sipped from the smoking cup. "An' now tell me what's happened +while I been away."</p> + +<p>"Why, Sylv wrote you everything that happened hyar," Adela reminded her, +in some surprise.</p> + +<p>"Oh, I know, I know!" was the rejoinder. "But it didn't seem nachul-like +when I had to have folks read it to me. I didn't mo'n half get it in."</p> + +<p>"There ain't nothin' very novel," said Dennis, "except old Sukey strayed +off on to the main yistiddy." Sukey was the cow.</p> + +<p>"Sho! It'll allays be so, long as I live. Nothin' but stray and find, +stray and find. Ye <i>mout</i> hev dug that ditch across the neck, Dennie, +when ye knowed I wanted it so bad. If you'll do it one o' these +near-comin' days, I'll knit ye a new pair o' socks."</p> + +<p>The headland on which Aunty Losh's house had been built was connected +with the main only by a narrow neck, and it was one of the grievances of +her life that her cow and her two or three sheep, when turned loose to +graze, could so easily make their way to the adjoining territory.</p> + +<p>"I'm fearsome o' the tides," Dennis explained. "They run so strong that +mebbe they'd cut a wider channel than you want, aunty. But I'll try it; +I'll dig that ditch by-and-by—or arterward."</p> + +<p>The talk then turned to other matters, and Miss Jessie Floyd was +mentioned, the daughter of an ex-Confederate colonel who lived a few +miles inland on an "estate" of some dozen acres, magnificently entitled +"Fairleigh Park."</p> + +<p>"Miss Jessie's been down hyar two or three times," Adela said, "to buy +bluefish and tarrapin for the manor; and she was very kind to the boys. +Wasn't she, Dennie?"</p> + +<p>"That she was. She brought us jelly, one time." Dennis gently smacked +his lips, in a reminiscent way.</p> + +<p>"I reckon she hain't brought any money, though," his aunt skeptically +meditated, aloud. "Any company up at the manor?"</p> + +<p>"Why, yes," said the girl. "There's a young gen'l'man from the Nawth—a +sort of English chap, I reckon; anyhow, he comes from New York. Mr. +Lance; that's what they call him. I hain't seen him, but Dennis can tell +you."</p> + +<p>"Certain shore," said Dennis. "That's his name. He's got idees about +buildin' up. He wants to eddicate folks all round—sort of free snack of +knowledge for everybody."</p> + +<p>"I reckon he'll be eddicating Miss Jessie to fall in love with him," +Adela observed. "That's what."</p> + +<p>"Well, I sha'n't find no fault with him if he do," Dennis returned. +"Only he needn't come down hyar away with his idees and all. 'Pears like +him and Sylv 'ud be chancey to take up with one another, though."</p> + +<p>"What makes you think that?" Aunty Losh asked, with a trace of +apprehension.</p> + +<p>"'Cause Sylv don't think of nothin' now but book-larnin', and he's been +hevin' talks with that ar fellow."</p> + +<p>"Sylv'll be goin' off and leavin' us one o' these days," the old woman +mused, as she put a match to the short pipe she had been filling for +herself.</p> + +<p>"Oh no, aunty! You ortenter think he'd be so mean!" Deely protested, +with energy.</p> + +<p>Dennis turned upon her, angered. "You keep still, d'you har!" he +exclaimed. "What matters if he do go? I reckon I can take car o' you and +aunty, all by myself, when it comes to that."</p> + +<p>Deely was evidently impressed by his dictatorial manner, but she assumed +a haughty air. "<i>I</i> reckon it's about time for me to go," she retorted, +"if you can't be more civil. Just when aunty hain't no more'n set her +foot inside o' home, too." And, despite her tone, there was a slight +appearance about the girl's lips and eyelids as if she would like to +cry.</p> + +<p>"Oh, well; I didn't mean nothin', you know I didn't," Dennis answered, +becoming penitent. "And when you go," he added, "I'm a-goin' with you as +far as your dad's."</p> + +<p>The rising trouble was thus allayed, and all three were soon engaged +again in talking over the news, or the local affairs of the last few +weeks. For Aunty Losh had achieved one of the most remarkable events of +her life, in going to see some of her relatives at Norfolk, Virginia. +She had much to tell about the journey and the ways of the people in +that great city, and dwelt especially upon the hardship she had been +compelled to suffer in drinking "China tea," instead of that far +superior docoction, yaupon. The young people, in their turn, gradually +discovered many little items which they must impart to her.</p> + +<p>Aunty Losh, strange as it may seem, was the sole female representative +of a stock which once gave promise of making itself distinguished. Her +lineage was traceable from a certain Major De Vine, a young Irishman +who, stirred by the sympathy that led the natives of two widely separate +but oppressed countries to join the cause of the American colonies, had +enlisted in the cavalry corps raised by Count Pulaski to join the +Continental army, during our Revolution. Pulaski was a Pole, and De Vine +an Irishman, but they had the same inspiration: they fought for freedom +in America with the hope that their own people might also become free. +De Vine performed many a gallant deed, in the course of the war, and +rose to be a major; but the consciousness of his good service was his +only recompense.</p> + +<p>At the peace he retired from the struggle poor, and ill fitted to make +his way by other means than the sword. He settled in the South, where +the soil was not favorable for such a man as he. What little property he +possessed was soon lost. Moreover, he and his children having +surrendered to the reigning prejudice against work, there was no way +open to a retrieval of even the meagre comfort they had at first +commanded. The family, failing to make any advantageous alliance by +marriage—which, indeed, would scarcely have been possible in their +circumstances—soon declined into still deeper poverty. The Major died, +followed by all his children excepting one son, who drifted across the +border into North Carolina; and his posterity became a part of that +strange population known as "poor whites."</p> + +<p>Listless and inefficient as those people are, germs of energy are known +to have been fostered among them, which have sometimes developed; and +the De Vines always retained enough of their ancestral vigor to +counteract their ancestral pride, as well as their sense of unmerited +misfortune, and to keep them somewhat above the general hopeless +prostration of the class into which they had fallen.</p> + +<p>Aunty Losh, widowed by the Rebellion, and left childless, had settled in +the little hut on the headland, with her two nephews, mere boys at the +time, but now grown to efficient manhood. The elder one, Dennis, was +stalwart and courageous, and became a successful fisherman on a small +scale. Sylvester had also assisted in the common support, and together +they had made a little headway. But in Sylvester the ambition for +something higher had awaked: he had not only learned to read, but had +actually become a student, and was now taking steps toward what seemed +to his aunt and brother the attainment of a distant and dangerous +witchcraft—namely, making himself a lawyer. Neither of them believed +that he would ever accomplish this chimerical design, but Sylvester's +scheme was always present to them in the guise of an impending danger, +which was just as dreadful as if it had been realized. In fact, it was +worse, because it seemed to them a spell in which he had been caught, +and to which his life would ultimately be sacrificed. They regarded him +with the mingled envy and commiseration that we are apt to bestow upon +those who have the strength to devote themselves to an idea which we +think is going to prove a failure.</p> + +<p>Dennis, on the contrary, had never troubled himself to learn anything +beyond that which his own instinct and contact with the forces around +him could teach. There was a vague tradition stored up in the dust-heaps +of Aunty Losh's mind, to the effect that his ancestor, the Major, had +once at the siege of Savannah cut his way through the British with a +detachment of Pulaski's Legion, and that in so doing he had slain with +his own hand eleven of the enemy. Well, it was with the same sort of +desperate rush that Dennis cut his way through the problems of +existence. He was good for a short, sharp struggle, but he was not +steady, and had no ability to plan long manœuvres or patient +campaigns.</p> + +<p>A streak of fierceness remained in him, also, derived from the man who +had been so deadly to his enemies when placed in a perilous dilemma. As +there were no British opposed to him, it did not manifest itself in just +the same way; and, thus far, being temperate in his habits and having no +foes so far as any one knew, he had not slain anybody. But his +passionate impulses asserted themselves plainly enough at times, to the +discomfort not only of others, but also of himself.</p> + +<p>Here they were, then, these three people, the remote offspring of that +old Revolutionary officer, living humbly on the North Carolina shore, +unlike as possible to what Major De Vine might at one time have supposed +his descendants would be, yet bearing his blood in their veins, and +acting out every day his traits or those of some still earlier +progenitor, with as much exactness as if what they did and said had been +a part written for them in a play.</p> + +<p>They knew nothing about the romance of Guy Wharton and Gertrude Wylde, +so far back, so musty with age as it seems, yet so alive and fragrant, I +think, when we pluck it out from the crumbled ruins of the past where it +grew. They knew nothing of the deposit of stones in the waters up by +Shallowbag Point, near Roanoke, which—being of foreign character—are +probably the ballast of one of Raleigh's vessels thrown overboard there, +in the stress of weather; nothing, except that Dennis had learned to +steer clear of it at low tide. But when you consider the destiny that +had befallen the family of the gallant young Revolutionary fighter, how +much did it differ from that of the English colonists whose race had +been extinguished in savagery? The change which had taken place was, +essentially, of the same kind.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_III" id="CHAPTER_III"></a>CHAPTER III.</h2> + +<h3>TWILIGHT.</h3> + + +<p>When the group at Aunty Losh's cabin had finished what they had to say, +Adela Reefe rose to go; and Dennis, taking his gun from a corner of the +room, prepared as a matter of course to accompany her.</p> + +<p>"Sun'll be goin' down," he remarked, languidly, "by the time I'm +a-comin' back, and I'll have a right smart call to get a few birds."</p> + +<p>"I wish ye was goin' t'other way," Aunty Losh said, fretfully. "Ye mout +see suthin' o' Sylv. It's quare he don't come 'long when he knows his +old aunty's a-waitin' for him."</p> + +<p>"Oh, he's young, aunty. You got to give him some play," said Dennis, +with fine sarcasm, though he knew well enough that his younger brother +was more mature and better balanced than he.</p> + +<p>But his demeanor underwent a change as soon as he had passed out of the +doorway with Adela. The air of lazy jesting disappeared; his face became +earnest, and he walked with a kind of meekness beside the girl, looking +at her guardedly with a devotion that did not lose the grace of a single +motion of her lithe figure. Leaving the headland, they took the +direction of Hunting Quarters, a fishing village several miles distant, +where Adela lived alone with her father, a nondescript personage +depending for his livelihood upon equally nondescript and fragmentary +lore of a supposed medical character. Old Reefe, to say truth, was held +in awe by some of the simple neighborhood folk, as a man possessed of +mysterious and magical powers.</p> + +<p>The two had gone some distance without speaking, when Dennis began +abruptly: "I got somethin' to say to ye, Deely, what I was waitin' to +say till aunty come back. It didn't seem everyways fair to say it +afore."</p> + +<p>"What in time is it wouldn't be fair for you to say to me, Dennie?" she +asked, turning her face quickly toward him, her lips parted in a smile, +or perhaps only in eagerness.</p> + +<p>"Why, when you was comin' over, tendin' me and Sylv and the cabin, it +didn't look like it was right," Dennis said. "But now there's a free +course, and I want to lay for home."</p> + +<p>"That's a good word," Adela threw in, seeing him pause.</p> + +<p>"Yes, and you know what I'm after. I want ye to say when you'll marry +me."</p> + +<p>Deely, at this, was quick to avert her glance. She remained silent.</p> + +<p>"Well, what's in the wind now?" he persisted. "Ain't ye goin' to pass me +an answer?"</p> + +<p>"What <i>can</i> I say to you?" she returned, earnestly. "I love you, Dennie, +as I told you long ago; and I want to be your wife. But where are we to +go? What have we got to live on?"</p> + +<p>Adela's speech varied from the customary manner of the locality to a +more precise and refined utterance, according to her mood; for she had +shared in Sylv's progress to the extent of taking lessons from him in +reading. This had caused her to observe Miss Jessie Floyd's +pronunciation, and that of the few other cultivated persons whom she +occasionally saw, so that she had learned to copy it. The instant she +found herself in opposition to Dennis, she unconsciously assumed that +superior accent, the effect of which upon him was by no means +mollifying.</p> + +<p>"Oh, don't go for to go on that tack now!" he exclaimed. "I've hearn +enough on it a'ready. I mean squar' talk now, and I ain't goin' to be +fooled, neither."</p> + +<p>"Answer <i>my</i> question, then," said the girl, peremptorily. "That's no +more than fair."</p> + +<p>"Why, there ain't no trouble," Dennis assured her, becoming amiable +again. "I reckon we can make out to live together as well as we can +separate one from t'other."</p> + +<p>"How?"</p> + +<p>"Just like we do now. 'Pears to me the fish 'll bite as easy when they +know they've got to make a dinner for we uns, stead o' for Aunty and +Sylv, and the tarrapin 'll walk up to be cotched, and ground-nuts and +rice 'll allays be plenty."</p> + +<p>"Yes, yes, Dennie; but who's goin' to take keer of Aunty Losh?" said +Adela, dropping back into the easier way of talking.</p> + +<p>The young man's face fell, and he wrinkled his forehead. "That's a fact; +that's a fact," he murmured, sadly. "Poor ole aunty! She's been a true +mammy to we uns, and it ain't nachul to leave her be by herself. But +Sylv mout take keer on her, Deely."</p> + +<p>"Sylv's younger than you," she objected. "'Tain't his portion to do +that."</p> + +<p>"Mebbe he ar young," said Dennis; "but he's got a darn'd sight cuter +head, some ways, than I have. And you mind now what I say, Deely, this +hyar thing has got to stop one o' these hyar days. If it hadn't been for +Sylv's mopin' over them books, and a-glowerin' and tryin' to make his +self too wise, I'd a-been a heap better fixed."</p> + +<p>"But Sylv wouldn't a-been," was the answer; "and he's worth thinkin' on +a little."</p> + +<p>Dennis laughed scornfully. "A little! He's a heap too much wuth thinkin' +on."</p> + +<p>Adela ceased walking, and faced round upon him, at the same time +brushing away with one hand a tress of her crispy black hair, which the +wind had blown across her eyes. She wanted to meet his gaze directly. +"What do you mean by that?" she demanded.</p> + +<p>Dennis was her match for belligerency. "I mean," he said, "that that ar +youngster takes up too much 'tention. Thar ar'n't no time for +considerin' on no one else. It's allays Sylv's ways and Sylv's idees, +and he can't do nothin' for himself, but some one else hev got to do it +for him. An' here am I, one month arter another, findin' the ways for +him and aunty to live, lettin' alone myself; whiles he goes smellin' +arter them old books what's made o' yaller hide that ain't no better +than the skin off'n our Sukey's back. An' that's whar the bits and the +dollars go, that you and I might be enjoyin' if 'twarn't for his +dog-goned concayt of lawyer's jawin' and politics and parla<i>ments</i>. +That's what! An' I'm tired on it, I tell ye. What I mean?" Here the +young fellow's handsome, free-colored face became clouded with passion +that darkened it as with the shadows of a thunder-cloud. "I mean, Deely, +that if you are a-goin' to put Sylv up agin me, every chance comes +along, thinkin' o' his good and not o' mine, ye're not nigh so lovin' o' +me as ye are o' him. D'ye un'stan' me, now?"</p> + +<p>Adela shrank back slightly, as if he had levelled a sudden blow at her. +Then she replied: "If that's all ye got to say to me, Dennie De Vine, ye +can just go back on your tracks to the cabin, and I'll go to the +Quarters alone."</p> + +<p>Dennis forgot his anger in anxiety. "But there's the tide-way ye can't +cross," he said.</p> + +<p>"I've done it afore now, by myself," replied the girl. "'Twant for +nothin' you learned me to row and sail. Ah, Dennie"—her under-lip +trembled as she spoke—"it ar'n't right in you to treat me so. If you'd +only remember those times when we were children! You was always good to +me, then. Why ar'n't you good to me now? I feel just the same about you +as I did in those way-off days. I never loved any but you—and old dad."</p> + +<p>The poor child's head was drooping, as she finished; and, but for pride, +she would have wept.</p> + +<p>"All right, then, Deely," began Dennis. "If that's so, I'm sorry—I +started for to say, I'm glad. Only, give me your squar' promise that you +won't let him stand in the way no more. I've kept my hand to the helm, +and I've waited. I've been waitin' a long time. Sylv won't never be no +'count, if he go on as he ar', and we won't be no 'count, nuther. Only +say the word that you'll marry me soon, and that you ain't goin' to let +Sylv stand in the way."</p> + +<p>"But you said I cared more for him than I do for you," Adela objected, +less inclined to make peace than before.</p> + +<p>"Well then, you can say you don't," he suggested.</p> + +<p>"No, I'll never tell you so!" she cried, her eyes flashing. She laid a +hand upon her bosom, which was heaving. "There's somethin' here, Dennie, +makes it hard to say it. I can't! I can't!"</p> + +<p>What she intended by this was no more than that, if he could not trust +her without such assurance, it was impossible for her to speak. But +Dennis took it quite otherwise.</p> + +<p>"By God, it's true, all an' all!" he stormed. He paused an instant, +seemingly dazed, and then went on: "I didn't fairly believe it afore, +but a little black devil come allays whisperin' it into my ear, when I +was alone, and I couldn't get him out'n my mind. It was Sylv, Sylv, +Sylv—my own brother! Oh yes, you can bet I began to see it, then! I +done my best, and I've waited; but it's <i>him</i> you love, and now I'm to +be throwed over, <i>I</i> am. <i>I'm</i> the one that don't count nary fip. An' +now I believe it, you needn't be afeared. I believe it, and I <i>know</i> +it."</p> + +<p>Adela was stung by his doubt, and, recoiling from it, made her next move +in precisely the opposite direction to that which her heart prompted her +to take.</p> + +<p>"You've done your best?" she echoed, tauntingly. "And what's that? +Mighty little. You can't read, like—like Sylv."</p> + +<p>"Sylv be d—d!" shouted her lover. "If ye say another word, I'll kill +him!"</p> + +<p>Adela Reefe stood before him, quite calm and unshaken. However she might +fear his violence toward others, she felt no alarm for herself. She knew +her power.</p> + +<p>"No, you won't kill him, Dennie," she said. "You're not wicked: you +can't do that wrong. But I'm goin' to tell you what you'll do. You're to +leave me here, and go back by yourself, as I said."</p> + +<p>Dennis tossed out a little defiant laugh. "No, I ain't a-goin', nuther. +You'll see me walkin' right alongside o' you till we get to old man +Reefe's, and then I'm a-goin' to tell him the whole yarn, and we'll fix +the weddin'."</p> + +<p>"You will go straight back to aunty's," she reaffirmed, quietly.</p> + +<p>Dennis's features softened into a pleading expression. "You'll let me go +as far as the tide-way?" he petitioned.</p> + +<p>"No."</p> + +<p>He hesitated, but presently turned and walked a few steps over the +ground they had just traversed. His gun was slung in the bend of his +right arm. Once more he reverted to her, appealingly, but without a +word.</p> + +<p>"You must go," said Adela, gently, standing on one of the little +hummocks into which the land was broken, with the glow of the sinking +sun irradiating her brown and rosy cheeks, her dark gray eyes, and wild +black hair.</p> + +<p>Dennis obeyed. She remained stationary, watching him as he withdrew.</p> + +<p>But before he had gone out of earshot, he called out to her, defiantly, +like a truant schoolboy: "I'm not goin' back to aunty's. Some o' those +birds yonder got to smell powder, fust."</p> + +<p>Accordingly, he sauntered along over the uneven ground, scanning the +narrow territory, the stretches of adjacent marsh, and the clear, +pink-illumined air around him, for snipe or plover. He was the picture, +outwardly, of careless ease and confident health; but, inwardly, he was +far from being placid. There was a turmoil of clashing sentiments and +impulses within him, which he did not understand. He was not sure as to +what he thought, nor could he have told what he felt: he knew only that +he was thwarted, miserable, and angry. He was hurt and helpless, and +drifting on toward some fresh injury, the nature of which he could not +foresee and did not so much as try to guess; for he had no more control +over the passions that tossed his soul than if they had been a raging +sea. Yet, all the while, his gunner's instinct was alert, and the winged +creatures doomed for his prey could not, even had they been gifted with +understanding, have guessed that he was about to avenge his own wounds +by those he would inflict on them.</p> + +<p>Adela waited a few moments where she stood; for she, too, was +distressed, and hardly knew which way to turn. The thought of the dreary +home of the herb-doctor, to which she must return, was not alluring; but +she could not go after Dennis, either, to make up with him. Suddenly she +heard a short, hollow report, that was lost immediately in the echoless +spaces over land and water. She started; an indescribable dread seized +her. Why, at that instant, did she think of the foolish threat—empty as +his gun-barrel—which Dennis had made against his brother?</p> + +<p>It was nothing but a flying plover that he had knocked out of existence; +she could guess that well enough. But she did not stay to reflect. Like +a frightened thing seeking shelter, she sprang from her place, along the +open stretch, taking the opposite edge of the open ground to that which +Dennis had chosen, and ran lightly on under shelter of the low hillocks, +so as to reach some spot abreast of him.</p> + +<p>A strange sight—this maiden running so featly under the sunset-light on +one side, while her unconscious lover strolled along the other! She +glided over the sod with a swiftness and an intuitive caution worthy of +an Indian. Then all at once she halted, so promptly that it might have +been with a premonition of the shock of sound that came almost +simultaneously from a second discharge of the gun—nearer, this time; +much nearer; so near that Adela, standing still, quivering but not +breathless, heard the faint rush of several shot that fell with a sharp +"pat" on the ground, close by her. Glancing up, she saw a small bird +driving through the sky, with dropped feet and frantic little wings, +which seemed to melt away out of sight in a moment, as if by magic. +Dennis had tried too high a shot and missed his aim.</p> + +<p>Adela did not flinch, but she continued on her way more slowly.</p> + +<p>Dennis also proceeded, popping at the feathered game now and then. He +did not fire again toward the quarter where Adela was lurking; she half +wished that he would. The dangerous greeting of those leaden pellets +would be better than no message at all. She longed to cross over and +speak to Dennis, but could not persuade herself to. He, meanwhile, +gathered only two small birds; the rest that came in his way either +escaped or fell out of reach among the sedges. Slinging the little +creatures into his pocket, indifferently, he went on; and when he +reached the point where he should have diverged toward the cabin, he +resolved to strike into the pine-woods and meet the Beaufort road.</p> + +<p>Moody and dissatisfied, he was not inclined to shut himself up in +solitude at this hour with Aunty Losh; for he knew that Sylv, though he +had set out for Beaufort before sunrise, was not likely to have +accomplished the return journey before now. It was a distance of more +than fifteen miles; Sylv had taken his load of fish on a borrowed wagon +which must be left at the town, and therefore would be obliged to foot +the whole way back. Dennis preferred to wait on the road and meet him +there.</p> + +<p>Possibly Adela had suspected that he would do this. At all events, on +arriving where she could see him if he had been going toward the hut, +she discovered that he must have taken the other course, and she, too, +protected by the trees which now were frequent enough to afford a cover, +slipped cautiously into the piny woods.</p> + +<p>Dennis had not gone far along the rough thoroughfare when a second +figure appeared, moving toward him in the gradual twilight, between the +ranks of long-leaved pines. It was the figure of a man, young and of +vigorous frame, but slightly bent; though that may have been due only to +fatigue or revery. His face was darkened, rendered still more serious in +its thoughtful expression by a straggling beard, which, however, grew in +a picturesque entanglement that added character, instead of obscuring +it. He was dressed with a modest style and care that made an outward +difference between him and the ordinary dwellers on that shore, but his +clothes were of simple "sheep's gray." Under his arms he carried two +books, heavy tomes, the smoky yellow of which, discernible even in that +fading light, showed that they were the ripe husks in which the fruits +of the law are stored.</p> + +<p>This was Sylvester.</p> + +<p>Dennis waited in the shadow of the trees until Sylv came nearly abreast +of him.</p> + +<p>"Hullo, Sylv," he said.</p> + +<p>The younger brother gave a start, and stopped abruptly in the rutty +roadway, looking toward the speaker. Then, with a smile of singular +frankness and sweetness, he said in a low, unperturbed voice: "Why, +Dennie, I wasn't looking to find you here. Seems queer, but I was +thinking so hard, all alone, that you almost frightened me."</p> + +<p>He spoke with great precision, as was natural in a person of his +studious turn, but without the least primness or affectation. Carefully +transferring a ponderous volume from its place under his right arm-pit +to his left hand, he held the other hand out for a greeting. "Seems as +if I'd been away a week," he said, wearily. "Has aunty come?"</p> + +<p>Dennis made no motion to take the proffered hand. "Yes," he said, "she's +thar, and she's waitin' for ye."</p> + +<p>His manner was so unusual, so withdrawn, that Sylv was surprised, and +let his right arm fall to his side.</p> + +<p>"Why, what's the trouble?" he asked. "You're not like yourself, Dennie. +You are dispirited."</p> + +<p>"Anybody could see that," answered the senior in a surly tone, "without +those thar long words. Yes, I am sort o' down; I'm out o' gear. That's +the fact."</p> + +<p>"Well, let's go along to the cabin," Sylv proposed, throwing into his +words a soothing tenderness as unconscious as that of a woman's voice. +"Whatever's ailing, we'll consult over it there."</p> + +<p>"No," said his brother, refusing to stir. "I want to talk to you hyar."</p> + +<p>"I'm downright tired," Sylv objected, mildly. "I've been walking so +long. I made a good trade, though, Dennie. See here."</p> + +<p>He laid his books down in the road, and put his hand into his pocket. +Then he withdrew it suddenly, looking alarmed, and began to search +another pocket. Dennis waxed visibly impatient. Finally, plunging into a +third receptacle, Sylv brought to light five silver dollars. "That's +what I got!" he exclaimed, triumphantly.</p> + +<p>"That all!" cried Dennis. "Oh, I knowed it, I knowed it! And those thar +books—you worked shares on 'em."</p> + +<p>"Yes, I found I could get those, too," said Sylv, with honest +exultation.</p> + +<p>Dennis emitted a groan. "Ye've done it agin," he muttered, gloomily. +"Now look hyar, Sylv, ye wisht a second; I'm goin' to give ye my mind. +You're a-takin' the life right out'n me and ruinin' my hopes, and I +ain't stood out about it afore; but dog-gone me if I don't stand out +now. I wouldn't 'a' keered if it hadn't been none but me and aunty, +but—" Here the unhappy man's voice broke. His right arm was occupied +with holding his gun, but he raised his left and wiped away upon the +sleeve the moisture which had gathered in his eyes. "But when it comes +to Deely," he continued, "I ain't a-goin' to let things run as they +hev."</p> + +<p>With the instinct of the collector, Sylv stooped and picked up his +books; but, as he rose, he offered to Dennis the money which he held. "I +don't understand," he said, looking puzzled. "What are you talking +about?"</p> + +<p>Dennis remained immobile in the shadow of the pines, ignoring the +younger man's gesture. "Keep your money," he said. "D'ye think I'm a +highway robber, to stop ye for what ye've got? It's bad enough that ye +barter away our livin'; but 'tain't that I'm a-thinkin' on. Ye've took +Deely away from me. That's worse; a heap sight worse!"</p> + +<p>His brother gazed blankly at him, apparently not understanding. "Deely?" +he said. "<i>I</i> didn't take her. What d' you mean. Where is she?"</p> + +<p>"Coward!" cried Dennis, growing violent.</p> + +<p>At that word Sylv quivered visibly, and drew himself up, with a pride he +had not shown before.</p> + +<p>Dennis, after pausing, went on: "D'ye dar' to tell me ye don't know what +I mean? Deely's home, but I've been a-talkin' with her, and I know it's +so and ain't no other way. She sees how you been a-playin' it on me, but +'tain't no 'count to her. She wants you to go right on, the same way. +'Tain't nothin' to her that you hold us off from bein' married, by that +foolishness and studyin' o' yourn. It's cl'ar as day she thinks a heap +more on you than she does on me. An' I tell ye ye're the one that's to +blame. Ye done it, and ye knowed it. Ye took her heart away from me."</p> + +<p>A new perception broke upon Sylv. He contemplated Dennis with a sort of +curiosity, and a smile stirred the loose dark beard about his lips. Any +one but his angry brother might have seen that he regarded the idea of +his being enamored of a woman with a disdain curbed only by a sense of +the comic.</p> + +<p>"So you stand up here and tell me that, do you?" he retorted. "Well, all +I've got to say, Dennie, is that you're acting like a fool."</p> + +<p>Dennis's hand clutched the stock of the gun, nervously, under the strain +of the effort he made to control himself. "No, I ain't," he declared. "I +been a fool afore, but I ain't one now. I see the whole thing, I tell +ye. She's set her heart on you, and you've set yourn on her."</p> + +<p>Sylv braced himself a little, and looked resolute. "Now I give you fair +warning," he said. "I tell you square that I don't care about Adela +Reefe more than as a sister—my sister and your wife that is to be. Are +you going to deny my word?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, I am," the other asserted, doggedly.</p> + +<p>"And you're going on, after that, to assert that I took her love away +from you?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, I am."</p> + +<p>"Then I say, <i>you lie</i>!" Sylv returned, hotly. The same passionateness +that ruled Dennis was present in him, also, though well concealed under +his habitual calm; but it had broken loose now.</p> + +<p>In an instant Dennis lifted his gun to an aim. "No man can say that to +me," he thundered.</p> + +<p>His finger slid down to the trigger, and he drew the hammer back.</p> + +<p>Sylv stood in the road, unmoved, the books under his arms. "It's too +easy a shot," he said, quickly, but in a low voice. "Besides, I can't +fire back."</p> + +<p>"You won't have any call for that," Dennis assured him, grimly. He spoke +coolly, but his rage completely mastered him.</p> + +<p>"Stop!" cried Sylv, when the gun-mouth seemed about to burst into flame.</p> + +<p>"Stop!"</p> + +<p>The syllable was repeated from the woods close by them. Was it an echo? +No; that was impossible; there was no echo in that place, and both men +knew it. Besides, there was a different tone in the voice which seemed +to ring out from the shadow of the pines—an accent of alarm and agony, +unlike the peremptory cry which Sylv had uttered.</p> + +<p>Dennis brought down his gun, instantly. "What's that?" he exclaimed, +thoroughly unnerved. He felt as if some supernatural warning had been +given him.</p> + +<p>"It sounded," said Sylv, "like—" Here he checked himself, and stared +across the road, trying to make out something among the trees.</p> + +<p>Dennis turned in the same direction, and in a moment they had both moved +thither, and were straining their eyes to discover the source of the +sound. But their scrutiny was in vain: nothing appeared. It is true, +they fancied a noise as of some one stirring, some one making a hasty +retreat; but that might have been only the wind that came with stealthy +swiftness from the ocean side and set all the murmurous branches in +movement. Was there a figure flying through the piny arcade? Of that, +also, they could not be sure; for the twilight had increased more and +more, and darkness seemed to ooze through the air like a palpable +exudation from the gummy trees.</p> + +<p>The brothers faced half around and exchanged a peculiar glance that was +tinged with awe. But Dennis fell to trembling.</p> + +<p>"Hyar! Take it!" he said, in a voice of horror. "Take the gun, Sylv. I +was crazy. What was I a-doin' just now? Oh, take it away from me; don't +let me touch it!"</p> + +<p>Sylv, on the point of complying, paused and said slowly: "No, Dennie, I +won't take it. You didn't think what you were doing. I trust you."</p> + +<p>Still shaking, Dennis looked at him with a dumb, bewildered gratitude.</p> + +<p>"Come," said his brother, stepping again into the path.</p> + +<p>Dennis followed him, but as they left the spot he said: "It war like +Deely's voice, Sylv. She saved me, this time."</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_IV" id="CHAPTER_IV"></a>CHAPTER IV.</h2> + +<h3>A VISION.</h3> + + +<p>That which Adela had seen and overheard so startled and horrified her, +it raised such a war of emotions, that she was unable to reflect upon +what she ought to do. In coming through the woods, obedient to the vague +need she felt of following Dennis, she had heard the rising voices of +the disputants, and when she reached a spot where she could command a +view, she beheld her lover with his gun raised, on the very verge of +committing murder.</p> + +<p>For a moment her every faculty was paralyzed. Had the weapon been +levelled at herself, her dread would have been less freezing: she could +have been brave and active on her own behalf. To see another person +threatened with mortal danger, and he the brother of Dennis, was +different. In the presence of impending crimes, human beings seem to +yield to a painless lethargy like that which is said to overcome the +victim of a tiger, even before the claws have made a single wound. The +extreme of terror suspends the faculty of feeling, as of action; and +this is what renders possible the enactment of the most dreadful deeds +in broad day, before a crowd of witnesses.</p> + +<p>To shriek would have been the easy resource of some women. Adela Reefe +did not know how to shriek. She might have bounded forward, to stay +Dennis's hand or divert his aim; but her muscles failed her as if they +had been caught and webbed with invisible cords. Besides, any sudden +movement might have resulted only in precipitating a tragic end.</p> + +<p>Just then it was that Sylv called out; and Adela echoed him, +half-unconsciously, but with a wilder earnestness. The two exclamations +dissolved the spell that had held her. The crisis was over, and the +catastrophe had been warded off. What was she to do next? If she +appeared, the effect of her sharp outcry might be lost; Dennis might be +maddened to some fresh outbreak worse than the first, by the knowledge +that she had seen him in that awful situation. The difficulties, the +quarrel that might ensue, were she to confront the brothers then, would +be full of peril. There was nothing for it but to hide; and, gliding +from tree to tree, she made her escape.</p> + +<p>It was a long time before she finally reached her father's house at +Hunting Quarters that night; for, driven by the agitation which followed +the episode in the woods, and troubled by a cloud of doubts, wonders, +and anxieties that rose upon her mind, she wandered restlessly along the +shore, as homeless and unfettered as the marsh-ponies that were tossing +their manes above the dim, low line of that outer strip of land which, +across the Sound, ran out thirty or forty miles under the evening sky +toward Ocracoke and Hatteras.</p> + +<p>Now it happened that Mr. Edward Lance, the guest at Colonel Floyd's, had +been out on a solitary excursion of scientific inquiry, diversified by +fishing, along that same sandy barrier. He stayed later than he +expected; and, boating over to the main in the nightfall, he came +walking along the uneven and indented shore, on his way to Fairleigh +Park, while Adela was still abroad.</p> + +<p>Lance was sorry to be so late, but he had abundant material for +agreeable revery with which to occupy himself until he should get back +to the society of Miss Jessie and her father. Some three weeks had +passed since he had come to the hospitable shelter of the colonel's +roof, and he had had time to become much interested in other things than +the errand which had originally brought him hither.</p> + +<p>The young man, it should be explained, was a New Yorker, whose tastes +were cultivated and progressive; fortunately for him, he likewise had +money enough to admit of following his bent.</p> + +<p>"He is the son of my agent's former partner in business," Colonel Floyd +had told his daughter, when he received the letter which led to his +sending Lance an invitation to visit them. "You don't know his name, my +dear, and indeed it is unfamiliar to me. Mr. Lance senior died some +years since, before my relations with Mr. Hedson, who was in business +with him, began. But I understand that he is an accomplished young +gentleman, who wishes to inquire into the resources of our State—more +especially the coast-belt."</p> + +<p>"That's where <i>we</i> live, isn't it, pa?" Miss Jessie inquired.</p> + +<p>"Yes, my child," said the colonel, impressively. "He desires to study +our fisheries and other industries—with a view, perhaps, to +establishing some manufacturing or agricultural enterprise. It would not +be at all strange, Jessie, if he were to put capital into something in +our neighborhood. I think he may invest. Yes; he is probably seeking a +field for his capital."</p> + +<p>Colonel Floyd said all this as if he were reading a letter or quoting +from a cyclopædia. That was his habitual way of saying things. I should +hardly call it an affectation, but he seldom spoke at any length without +producing the effect of his being a standard work of reference, which +would always tell you exactly what you wanted to know, and would state +it in the best language.</p> + +<p>He was a slender man, with a small but well-shaped head encased in +closely cut hair that had begun to silver; the gray and the black +intermingled, and shone with a glimmering changefulness, like the sheen +of mica. He wore spectacles, and had that precise, tactical expression +noticeable in Confederate veterans of the war and so wholly at variance +with our conventional idea of the romantic Southern type. As the colonel +held the lease of a turpentine plantation which he was working, near his +own modest estate, he was naturally interested in the development of the +"coast-belt," and was disposed to welcome the young Northern capitalist +of whom his agent, Hedson, spoke so highly.</p> + +<p>"What do you say, my daughter?" he asked Jessie, after a pause. "Would +it be agreeable to you to have a visitor? Shall we invite Mr. Lance to +stay with us?"</p> + +<p>He inspected her kindly through his glasses, as if she had been some +harmless little prisoner of war.</p> + +<p>"It shall be just as you like, pa dear," said Jessie, artlessly. "And if +Mr. Lance is coming—why, there's no other place for him to stay. Is +there?"</p> + +<p>The unsuspicious would have been forced to suppose, from the forlorn +manner in which Miss Jessie cast her eyes around, that she regretted the +absence of any convenient hostelry for the stranger's harborage.</p> + +<p>The veteran, however, saw through her, or fancied that he did. At all +events, he knew that the solitude of the Park, with only a few liberated +slaves and the old housekeeper for company, could not be much more +desirable for his daughter than the presence of a promising young man +like Lance.</p> + +<p>Accordingly, it was settled that Lance should come. Here he was, then, +fully established, and—thanks to the perfect hospitality of the old +officer—rejoicing in an unexpected sense of being thoroughly at home in +those warm latitudes. It was now the end of July—a hot time to be so +far South—but Lance's satisfaction with his new surroundings was so +great, that he had decided to remain through the summer, and already +began to think that that period would seem all too short.</p> + +<p>While his scientific eye had been riveted upon the processes of +turpentine manufacture, on the number and kinds of food-fish inhabiting +the shallows of the sea, and on the feasibility of turning Elbow Crook +Swamp into a luxuriant market-garden, a finer vision—which he possessed +in common with some others of us who belong to the masculine side of our +species—had been occupied with the dainty yet commanding outline of +Jessie Floyd's face; the saucy charm of her dark hair parted on one +side; her novel, half-childish, yet imperious ways.</p> + +<p>He was thinking of her, now, as he traversed the bit of open, +marsh-bordered land alongside the pines, where Dennis and Adela had +taken their unpropitious walk, that day.</p> + +<p>The sun had set long before; the twilight had deepened and deepened +until all at once it seemed to meet, in its meditativeness, a thought, +an inspiration, a celestial surprise—and the moon rose, silent and +beautiful, like the embodiment of that thought.</p> + +<p>A panorama of memory passed before Lance's mind, embracing pictures of +all the things he had observed during the day, and all that he had seen +since he came to North Carolina. He stood there alone, with the ocean +moaning subduedly beyond the sandy dunes, four miles away, yet audible +through the plash of the nearer waters of the Sound, across which the +warm breeze brought its voice to him. He saw in fancy the green waves, +the ardent sunshine, the low shore with huts or hamlets clustering +occasionally in some favoring nook, surrounded by evergreen oaks and +other verdant growths; the chalky lighthouses, the random sails of +shore-fishers; the green, inaccessible marshes that fringed so much of +the mainland. The poor folk he had met in his rambles, hearty, simple, +ignorant and superstitious, came back to his eye in groups, with the +surroundings amid which he had happened to encounter them. The gloomy +recesses of Elbow Crook Swamp filled in the background of his +memory-pictures; wild birds rose and flew across the sky, as it seemed; +and all the while Lance was oppressed with a sense of the great natural +resources of the region, against which its loneliness, the prevailing +ague, and the shiftless languor of the population opposed themselves as +a dead-weight on all improvement. Yet, stranger and alone though he was, +his soul expanded with the idea of somehow bettering the condition of +affairs and making life there brighter and more prosperous.</p> + +<p>Then he, too, emerged from revery as the twilight had from its +sombreness, and faced clearly the new thought that glowed upon him like +the large, sweet moon so dreamily brooding in the sky.</p> + +<p>Suddenly he was aware of a shape looming up in the faint moonlight not +far from him; the form of a woman, half of whose body was concealed by a +curve of the ground, in such a way that it might have been thought she +was just rising out of the earth.</p> + +<p>The woman was looking seaward. She did not observe his presence.</p> + +<p>Such an apparition would, in any case, have given pause to a preoccupied +man upon whom it came without warning; but there was a special reason +why it should affect Lance in an extraordinary manner. Her face offered +itself to him in profile, and was so irradiated by the nocturnal light +that it came out clearly against the sky. Seeing it thus, Lance was +instantly—I might say, appallingly—struck by its resemblance to a face +he had many times seen, one that, in fact, he had been thinking about +only a little while before.</p> + +<p>The face was like a darker profile of Jessie Floyd, touched with +moonlight.</p> + +<p>At first, of course, Lance thought that he must be suffering from +hallucination; that the day's exposure to the sun had affected his brain +and brought out in a visible form the thought of Jessie, which had been +so constantly with him. But the unknown woman stirred, and he saw that +she was real. Hereupon he scanned her more carefully, guessing that at +least the resemblance which he traced was an illusion. No; it remained +intact. He could not get rid of it. Clearly, the resemblance was real, +no less than the woman.</p> + +<p>I have hinted that Lance was of a modestly scientific turn; but he also +had in his constitution many susceptibilities whereof science as yet +knows little, and the phenomenon so abruptly thrust upon his notice +stirred these susceptibilities to their depths. He did not at all know +what to make of it. A fear crossed him that he was becoming as +superstitious as the ignorant folk on whom he had lately shed the balm +of his pity. What did this strange presence and resemblance mean or +portend? Was there not some omen hidden in them?</p> + +<p>Another thing disturbed him, affecting his mind very much as a sudden +contact with the supernatural might have done. In Lance's family, which +had sprung from England, fragments of an old story were still extant, +about an ancestor who had been involved with one of the colonizing +expeditions to Virginia. He did not recall every particular of the +story, but sundry items of it were quite distinct. It was said that this +early predecessor had fallen in love with an Indian girl, from whom he +had been cruelly separated; or that he had come to these virgin shores +in search of some one whom he had lost: accounts differed as to that. +But Lance's belief was, that this long-dead member of his long-dead +English family had been in quest of his plighted wife, and that he had +somehow missed her, returning to England alone. Virginia, in those days, +included the territory of North Carolina—the very place to which Lance +had drifted, propelled by a rather vague purpose and a desire for +knowledge as well as recreation. There was nothing very remarkable in +this, perhaps. The young man himself had not thought much about it; for +one does not have time, in the present age, to linger over little +coincidences and bits of ancient family gossip. The old tale had once or +twice flitted through his mind since his installation at the colonel's +manor, but it was not a thing he would have considered worth mentioning.</p> + +<p>Nevertheless, because of those occult susceptibilities which I have +mentioned, at the moment of encountering this mysterious woman with her +face turned seaward, the remembrance flashed up over his mental horizon +like a kindling beacon-fire. A marvelling awe took hold of him, and for +his life he could not have shaken off the fantasy that made him conceive +of her as a projection from the shadowy past, an image that typified the +lost mistress, or the forgotten Indian maiden, with whom his ancestor's +life-history had been linked. The circumstance that she was gazing +eastward also had an effect upon him; he could easily have persuaded +himself that she was waiting for her vanished lover to come to her over +the waves.</p> + +<p>But the fancied resemblance to Jessie—that was the most bewildering +element of all. Why should it occur to him? And why should he feel such +an unwonted shiver running through his veins?</p> + +<p>The simplest way to banish all this nonsense was, doubtless, to go +forward and speak to the girl. The good nature of the inhabitants, Lance +knew, made such an informality excusable; but, as he was about to try +that solution of his perplexity, and find out who this woman really was, +the figure began to descend the slope on the farther side from him, and +disappeared so noiselessly that she seemed to have crumbled and dropped +back into the earth from which she came.</p> + +<p>Lance stood still; that curious warm shiver thrilled his veins anew. +Then he turned away and resumed his tardy progress toward the distant +manor-house, muttering aloud: "How can I be such a fool?"</p> + +<p>But the vision, notwithstanding, remained imprinted on his +consciousness, and troubled him.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_V" id="CHAPTER_V"></a>CHAPTER V.</h2> + +<h3>BIRTHDAY TOKENS.</h3> + + +<p>The next morning ushered in Miss Jessie Floyd's birthday anniversary. +The emancipated housemaid, ancient Sally, had given Lance timely warning +of this occasion, and he had taken the precaution to send to New York +for a present which he thought might be acceptable.</p> + +<p>The question as to what sort of a gift he should select had been a hard +one to decide. If the truth must be told, he had allowed himself the +inappropriate but impassioned notion that he would like to give her a +ring; inappropriate because he had not yet succeeded in effecting those +preliminaries which justify a young man in giving a ring to a young +woman; though, except for that, it was exactly what would best have +conveyed his sentiments. Just why an ornament for a lady's hand should +have this potent significance, when it is her ear that receives the +lover's confession, was not perfectly clear to him; yet it was plain +that there was no insurmountable objection to his offering Miss Jessie a +pair of ear-drops. He therefore ordered some pearl ones, hoping to +please her. To please himself, he ordered a ring. But the little packet +which lay beside her plate at the breakfast-table, that morning, +contained only the ear-drops. The ring was securely locked in Lance's +private consciousness and his trunk.</p> + +<p>Perhaps in order to appease his own self-reproaches for cherishing this +jewelled secret, but also to prevent any embarrassment in Jessie's +receiving a costly trifle from him, Lance thought it best to let Colonel +Floyd know of his intention beforehand. He did so, late in the evening, +after returning from his solitary expedition.</p> + +<p>"I hope this will be quite agreeable to you, sir," he ventured, with +becoming deference, when he had explained.</p> + +<p>The colonel remembered that he himself had once been young, and probably +found it easy to gauge the effort it cost his youthful friend to +maintain this deference in a case where he was positive that he had an +inalienable right to do as he pleased.</p> + +<p>"My dear Lance," he replied, "neither my daughter nor myself can need +any outward token to assure us of the kindly feeling you entertain +toward us. That is the only reason why I might regret that you have +decided to offer one. A simple congratulation or good wishes would have +been enough, I assure you; but I appreciate your thoughtfulness, and +Jessie, I am sure, will be delighted."</p> + +<p>"Thank you, colonel. Then it is all right," said Lance, decisively, +feeling as if he had just snapped the cover tight over the pearls and +rescued them from loss.</p> + +<p>They were sitting in the room which the colonel, with innocent grandeur, +called his library, surrounded with a few editions of English and Latin +classics, flanked by rows of obsolete works largely relating to +politics; and they were engaged in the unscholarly pastime of sipping +whiskey and water. It may be that the beverage had softened the colonel +into a pensive mood.</p> + +<p>"Speaking of congratulations," he said, "these anniversaries begin to +make me think that my Jessie perhaps hasn't got so much to be +congratulated for."</p> + +<p>"I think she has a great deal," said his guest, with some fervor. "More +than I have, at any rate. She still has her father—" his listener +smiled sedately—"she has her old home, and—and herself!"</p> + +<p>Lance had not known in advance that he was going to wind up with those +words, and was himself rather astonished at them.</p> + +<p>The colonel braced his neck and looked at the young man somewhat +narrowly for an instant; after which he subsided, and observed, +good-humoredly: "That is saying a good deal, too. What I had in mind, +however, was the changed condition of everything here—the melancholy +changes that have come since the war. When Fairleigh Park, sir, embraced +five hundred acres instead of twelve, and when I had a hundred good +niggers, it was a very different matter. Why, sir, even in this poor +house there was hardly a stick or a rag left on my return from the +field. My books"—here the colonel waved his arm with proprietary pride +at the faded volumes on his shelves—"my books fortunately had been +removed to Wilmington, where my wife and daughter were in the care of +friends; but a foraging party of the Northern soldiery came here, sir, +in my absence, and, though there wasn't a soul opposed them, they broke +the mirrors, chopped my piano into kindling, stabbed and maimed the +pictures on the walls, and tore the hangings into shreds. Yes, sir, that +was the noble revenge they took upon me for daring to fight in defence +of my native land. Ah, I must not recall those things," he added, +recovering himself. "Thank God, we are a united country once more, and I +don't regret my share of the loss. But I was also thinking, sir, of +Jessie's mother."</p> + +<p>The veteran leaned his head on his hand, unable to speak further. There +was a quivering of the muscles in his good old, honest, disciplinarian +face, that touched Lance's heart.</p> + +<p>"I can understand what a loss that has been to you," he said, +gently—"and to Miss Jessie."</p> + +<p>The colonel raised his head again, and looked with determination at the +opposite wall, mustering his self-control.</p> + +<p>Lance resumed, with some hesitation, but impelled to speak at this +precise moment, though he had not contemplated doing so. "I—I have +reflected a great deal about Miss Jessie," he said.</p> + +<p>Colonel Floyd's attention was prompt and watchful at once. He regarded +the speaker with mingled friendliness and jealousy. "You are very good, +my friend," said he.</p> + +<p>The younger man smiled involuntarily. "I see no great merit in my +thinking of her. I can't help it."</p> + +<p>His host hemmed, and gave evidence, by his restless manner, of being ill +at ease. "I don't know that I fully understand you," he began, moved by +a conviction that he did understand with the greatest distinctness.</p> + +<p>"Well," said Lance, "I suppose it ought to be very easy to explain +myself; but I find it extremely difficult. I have thought about Miss +Jessie—I wish it were possible to add in any way to her happiness."</p> + +<p>The colonel rose. "Pray say nothing more," he begged, not unkindly, but +with some reserve.</p> + +<p>"I will say nothing, if you prefer, beyond this: that her welfare and +her future cannot possibly be of greater moment to you than to me."</p> + +<p>Lance looked at the colonel squarely until he had finished, and then he +dropped his eyes. There was no mistaking the purport of his tone, which +went farther than his words.</p> + +<p>"My dear fellow," said the colonel, stretching out his hand, "from what +I have seen of you I like you; I may say, I esteem you. If you have +anything to say which concerns Jessie more than it does me, tell it to +her."</p> + +<p>The other accepted his hand, and pressed it. They stood thus for a +moment, before parting for the night, and Lance saw that the old soldier +approved of him. A strange feeling also came over him, that his host and +he met not so much on the basis of a possible father-and-son +relationship as on that of brotherhood. There was a community in their +love for Jessie; each felt the depth of the other's devotion to her, +different though it was from his own; and to Lance this mutual trust was +of good omen.</p> + +<p>Before the breakfast-hour they met again in the pleasant dining-room. +The colonel was mixing a mint-julep by an open window which gave upon +the garden.</p> + +<p>"I'm not feeling quite well," he said, "and so concluded to tone myself +up a little. It's a great thing to have a Virginian's grave in your +garden."</p> + +<p>"Virginian's grave" was the facetious term, as Lance had learned, +applied to a bed of mint; in allusion to the theory that where a +Virginia gentleman is buried the plant essential to his favorite +beverage in life will spring up and multiply.</p> + +<p>He laughingly declined to share in the refreshment, and the two said +little to each other. Their talk of the night before lingered with them +in the form of a slight constraint, mixed with suspense.</p> + +<p>But Jessie put all this to flight, when she slipped into the room fresh +as the morning sunbeams. She was quick to notice the white packet on the +table.</p> + +<p>"Oh, how lovely of you, pa," she exclaimed as she opened it, "to take so +much trouble! Why, they're exquisite!"</p> + +<p>She held the case up admiringly.</p> + +<p>The colonel glanced over at their guest, a slight smile wrinkling his +bronzed cheeks with fine lines like those in old engravings; and there +was a trace of guiltiness in his look, as if he and Lance had been +fellow conspirators.</p> + +<p>"Don't thank me, my dear," he said. "It's Mr. Lance who was lovely."</p> + +<p>"Oh!" cried Jessie. She fastened her eyes on Lance, with a sort of +reproach; and his heart sank.</p> + +<p>"They're beautiful, though," she continued. "Thank you <i>so</i> much, Mr. +Lance. Then you didn't get anything for me, pa? Well, I shall have a +kiss, anyway." And she ran toward him.</p> + +<p>The old man's gray mustache appeared to revive, as he received the +salute and gave one in return. "Look under your plate, child," he said, +"and you'll find something, will do to give you a treat when we go up to +the races at Newbern."</p> + +<p>Jessie trotted back to her place, and the treasure under the plate +proved to be a gold eagle. Another demonstration of filial fondness +ensued, and they all sat down in a good humor; albeit Lance suffered a +feeling of unenviable exclusion.</p> + +<p>But in a moment or two Jessie jumped up again, and, with the earrings in +her hand, went to the glass to put them on. She faced around brightly +from her reflected image there, to thank Lance again. "I never <i>dreamed</i> +of getting anything so nice," she said, frankly.</p> + +<p>And Lance told himself that he, on the contrary, had many times dreamed +of some creature as captivating as she was, but had never quite expected +to find the realization. He wondered how, in this solitude and with no +one to set her the example, she could have grown up into such charming +womanliness.</p> + +<p>The doors of Fairleigh Manor, excepting in the most inclement weather, +stood always open—a symbol of the owner's frank and hospitable heart. +And now when the breakfast was over and Jessie had betaken herself with +the two gentlemen to the little morning-room across the hall, a train of +darkies—men and women—presented itself at the entrance, bringing good +wishes and simple gifts to their young mistress. First of all came old +Sally, who folded the fair maiden in her faithful arms and covered her +forehead and neck with kisses. Lance, with his abstract theories of +equality and his concrete prejudices, which made equality impossible, +was rather amazed at this proceeding. He did not relish the spectacle of +the black face in such close proximity to the white one. Involuntarily +he turned toward the colonel, expecting to find in him some support for +his own displeasure; but there was a kindly light in the colonel's eye, +and he looked on with approval as the servants approached, one after +another, to give greeting in their several ways—the women with less +effusion than was permitted to Sally, and the men with awkward bows or +friendly grins that attested their speechless affection. Those who +shared in this demonstration were elderly servants who had once been +slaves, though they were accompanied by a few younger ones—their +children, born in freedom. They all brought flowers and leaves; the +fragrant yellow jessamine being a favorite form of tribute, alternating +with festoons of the trailing vines found in Elbow Crook Swamp, baskets +adorned with gray moss, and little ornaments of woven straw.</p> + +<p>The colonel's face grew radiant and tender as he watched them. "Faithful +creatures!" he said, in undertone to Lance. "Most of my people stayed by +me when the fight was over. I told them they were free to go where they +liked, that they didn't belong to me any more, and I couldn't tell +whether I could give them work—much less support them. But they +wouldn't go. They clung round me; and little by little we all got on our +feet again. They said: 'You's been a good massa to us, and we ain't +gwine to leave you now yore in trouble, Massa Cunnel.' And so we built +up, together, what small prosperity there is here now. I had fed and +clothed them, Lance, and spent many thousand dollars in buying them, but +they did not forget everything, as many white people do. I little +thought it would be my old slaves who would help me out in the hour of +need—I to whom <i>they</i> had always looked for help. But so it was. My +God, it has been worth all the cost and the suffering! We are more human +than we were."</p> + +<p>The veteran planter was deeply affected; and, as he spoke, a mist seemed +to clear away from the young man's mind, and he beheld the simple +ceremony that was taking place, in a transfigured light.</p> + +<p>Here, close to his eyes, was an act in the endless changes and +developments through which humanity is forever passing: the lifting up, +the pulling down, the growth of new types and phases, the subsidence of +old forms of life, accompanied by the survival of certain among their +features.</p> + +<p>One of the negroes, bolder than the rest, after wishing Jessie happiness +all her days, said he knew it wasn't right to ask her for anything now, +but if she "would only give him a little book to read in." ... The book +was instantly forthcoming. Jessie went to her secretary, and took one +from the slender row of volumes on its upper shelf. But at this Sally +came forward again.</p> + +<p>"Why, missy," she said softly, in Jessie's ear, where Lance's pearl was +trembling, "ole Scip ain't no 'count. He war on'y coachman, you know, +befo'. He didn't nevah b'long to <i>you</i> and the missus. But I come from +<i>yo'</i> side de house, yo' know I does; and now yo' dun gone give him +suffin', why I'd kin' o' like dat ar pink frock what you mos' got fru +wearin'. 'Tain't good nuff for yo', nohow, missy, and ole Sally she'd be +mighty glad on't, ef you don' want it no mo'."</p> + +<p>So Jessie laughed, and sent Sally up-stairs to get the garment of her +desire; and from that moment on the reception was metamorphosed into an +exchange of gifts.</p> + +<p>The darkies brought in their vines and clusters, and laid them on the +table or draped them with primitive art about the room, until it became +a sort of bower, verdant and perfumed with their offerings; and Jessie +sat there like an unaffected little queen, distributing tokens to this +and that adherent. She knew their humble demands were not prompted by +greed, but that they simply loved the old custom of receiving something +from their mistress, and could not give it up even though times were so +greatly changed.</p> + +<p>Lance had now fully entered into the spirit of the scene, and the fancy +struck him that it was a repetition of the old story of savages on the +New World shores worshipping the first white person who came among them.</p> + +<p>What if these negroes had been the aborigines, and his Jessie—or Miss +Jessie, rather—had been that Gertrude Wylde whom tradition told of, +receiving their homage? The idle query of imagination, thus propounded, +brought up to him with renewed force the vision, still unexplained, +which had crossed his path on the sea-shore.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VI" id="CHAPTER_VI"></a>CHAPTER VI.</h2> + +<h3>A NEW LESSON IN BOTANY.</h3> + + +<p>In the cool of the afternoon the Floyds and their guest took a drive, +rattling gayly on, in the old carry-all, which was the colonel's chariot +of state, over many miles of light-earthed road screened for the most +part by groves of pine.</p> + +<p>The old gentleman discoursed to Lance a good deal about the country and +the people, and gave vent to his natural regret that the class once +dominant had yielded more and more to a hard, pushing set, who were no +doubt doing much to increase the general welfare, but lacked the graces +and the repose of the whilom aristocracy. The young Northerner's own +conviction was that the old aristocracy had succumbed to a relentless +law of nature, for which he entertained the admiration that he believed +all natural laws were entitled to; but he could not help regretting +somewhat the fate that had overcome his friends and their kind; and it +was borne in upon him strongly that so fine a flower of heredity as +Jessie appeared to be—however defective the structure of the species to +which she belonged—ought not to be involved in this decadence.</p> + +<p>You will observe that I am giving you his thoughts in the formal and +strictly rational phraseology which it pleased him to adopt. Plainly +speaking, he was very much in love with Jessie, and did not care a rap +about natural laws or anything else, if they conflicted with her +happiness or his chances of winning her.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile, as they passed Elbow Crook Swamp, which the road skirted for +a considerable distance, he reverted, with every appearance of absorbed +interest, to his scheme for reclaiming that tract and converting it into +a source of wealth and the means of building up a prosperous, highly +intelligent community. The swamp covered a territory of many hundreds of +acres. It was rank with cypress, evergreen, oak, and laurel, from which +parasitic gray mosses depended in endless garlands, locked in the +embrace of luxuriant vines, that hung or crept down to the edge of that +slow brown stream, the angular turnings of which gave the place its +name. The rich, alluvial soil in which all this greenery rooted held a +promise of unlimited fertility; but the only profit which men derived +from the splendid waste was found in the cane-brakes, that yielded +succulent fodder for hogs or cattle. Lance imagined in this wild expanse +a possibility of great results, which might play in well with his +humanitarian schemes. He had brooded over the matter ever since first +seeing the spot; but the commercial and educational interest attaching +thereto was not the only one that kept him thinking about it. Its +mysteriousness, its lone solemnity; the frowning masses of dense and +forbidding trees; its impenetrability in parts; the danger and +savageness of its hidden depths—all these had wrought upon and excited +him, until it became impossible for him to get the swamp out of his +mind, and he felt that it was somehow connected with his destiny.</p> + +<p>In answer to his exposition of his schemes, the colonel, who was fond of +a classical allusion, said: "That's all very fine, Lance; but you +propose a labor beside which Hercules slaying the Lernean Hydra would be +insignificant. You know, that myth is supposed to refer to the draining +of a morass. Hercules was the first man who discovered the still +mythical disease of malaria, and tried to kill it."</p> + +<p>But Lance was not to be discouraged by banter. When they got back to the +mansion the colonel judiciously disappeared, and the two young people +were left alone on the veranda. Lance began to talk over his theories +anew with Jessie, as they sat there just outside the window of the +morning-room whence the scent of the pine-boughs, the jessamine, and +flowering vines drifted toward them in occasional puffs of fragrant air.</p> + +<p>"The people here need so much help, so much enlightening," he said. "I +can't give up the idea that something might be done in the way of +elevating them."</p> + +<p>"Oh, that's only because you're so restless," said Jessie. "You come +from the North, and you find it so dull here that you have to think of +something to keep you busy."</p> + +<p>Her lips pretended that they were smiling with indolent mockery; but she +looked so charming, and the contrast between her gray eyes and the +Spanish jauntiness of her dark hair was so attractive, that the young +man began to think opposition was the pleasantest form of encouragement.</p> + +<p>"No," he said, quite earnestly; "I don't think it's mere restlessness. I +mean what I say, and I can't help it. And certainly it isn't dull here +for me."</p> + +<p>He fixed his eyes for a moment on the boards of the veranda-floor, as if +meditating. Jessie, in her turn, considered him. In his loose blue +flannel suit, with a soft straw hat perched upon his thoughtful head, +but throwing no shadow on his features, to which a small brown mustache +gave additional emphasis, he certainly was handsome; she had never +denied to herself that he was handsome, but she was just now especially +impressed with the fact.</p> + +<p>"I am going to tell you something curious," he said, lifting his eyes +unexpectedly, so that she turned hers quickly toward the garden. He had +evidently arrived at the result of his meditation. "It has several times +occurred to me," he continued, "that my interest in this locality may +have a queer, remote sort of origin that no one would ever suspect."</p> + +<p>"Why, what's that?" asked Jessie, in a dreamy tone, feeling sure now +that he could not be going to speak of her, since she was neither +"queer" nor "remote."</p> + +<p>Thereupon Lance went on to relate to her the legend of Gertrude Wylde +and Guy Wharton, as well as he could from the stories which he +remembered to have heard half jestingly repeated in his father's +household. "I am directly descended from Guy Wharton," he stated, in +conclusion, "but my name is different, because the male line died out +and my father belonged to the posterity of one of the daughters. It's +true, all that romance happened a hundred miles or more from here, way +up by Roanoke, and I didn't think of it in the least when I started to +make this visit; but, some way or other, the thing has come back into my +mind, and I begin to fancy that by an occult law of thought it may +account for my interest in this place—at least, partly."</p> + +<p>Jessie was absorbed by his narration, as her attentiveness and her eager +interruptions had shown; but what she said was: "It must be a very +occult law indeed." She also emitted a little impertinent laugh, which +she did not mean to be impertinent.</p> + +<p>Lance was somewhat taken aback. "I dare say it's all foolishness," he +admitted; "and there are other elements of interest which are much more +obvious."</p> + +<p>She was sorry to have brought such confusion upon him, and hastened to +revive the conversation.</p> + +<p>They got to talking about the negroes; and Lance, alluding to the scene +that morning, proceeded to speculate on the problem of the colored race. +"There is something very fine in their relation to you," he said, "but +it belongs to a phase that has passed away. They ought to be educated, +too."</p> + +<p>"I'm sure," Jessie answered, "we educate them as much as we can. Didn't +you see me give Scip a book? And I've helped to cultivate Aunt Sally's +æsthetic tastes by letting her have my pink frock. What more can you +ask?"</p> + +<p>"You insist upon making fun of me," said Lance, forcing a smile, though +a trifle mortified by her lack of enthusiasm. "But you know I'm right."</p> + +<p>"Indeed I don't know it!" exclaimed Miss Jessie, vigorously. "You want +to change everything, but you can't tell what you would get by the +change. You would like to cut down those splendid old trees in the +swamp, and turn it into fresh vegetables and berries for New York. But +the trees are much nobler than the berries, or even wild-flowers."</p> + +<p>"Oh no, I beg your pardon; they're not!" said Lance. "Most of the trees +around here are simply monsters. They represent rude, primitive types of +vegetation; they are the earliest specimens of Nature's effort to +produce flowering plants. Why, the common ox-eye daisy is a far more +refined product than they."</p> + +<p>"Oh, dear me," cried Jessie, "I never heard that. How much you know! But +I like daisies, too; I don't want any of these things destroyed."</p> + +<p>"They sha'n't be, then," Lance declared, with offhand omnipotence.</p> + +<p>After that, he branched out into an informal lecture on the +relationships of various plants and flowers, trying, in the sketchy way +that he had learned from cheerfully popular books of science, to give +her some conception of the evolution of new types and the persistence of +old ones in the flora of the earth, together with the manifold delicate +ties of kinship between the different existing forms.</p> + +<p>"Then, they are all one big family!" said Jessie, her face lighting with +a sympathy that Lance reverently recorded as being maternal. She was as +much pleased as if she had discovered a new set of thoroughly desirable +relatives. "But oh, Mr. Lance," she added, quickly reflecting, "doesn't +that prove that all these types have got to exist? You say that after +one crude attempt has been followed by a better development, specimens +of the old sort continue—like the pine trees. Now, it seems to me that +it's just the same with the human family. We're all related, but we're +very unlike; and while some of us have gone on improving, the others +have stayed just as they were. The negroes and the poor whites around +here are our monsters—for you say the pine trees are monsters—but if +we have the pines, why shouldn't we have the others?"</p> + +<p>She clapped her hands, in her glee at the argument she had discovered; +and it must be admitted that Lance was nonplussed by her swift sagacity.</p> + +<p>"But then you must remember," he said, after pausing, "that the human +creation has a much greater capacity for growth than the vegetable; and +we ought to help it forward in its growth. There's Sylvester De Vine as +an example. See how he's rising above his condition! I take the greatest +interest in that young fellow, and I believe I'm bound to assist him as +far as I can."</p> + +<p>"Yes, that's true," Jessie acknowledged. "But it's very nice to have all +these contrasts. I don't want them abolished."</p> + +<p>Lance could not but be aware that he didn't want them abolished, either. +Would he have been willing to obliterate all the differences that +existed between Jessie and the majority of the surrounding population? +Did he want all other women to be just like her? On the contrary, the +reason why he preferred her was that she represented a higher +development, a "more specialized" form, an exception to the common mass +of inferior beings.</p> + +<p>"You're right," he said. "It <i>is</i> nice to have the contrasts. I admit +myself vanquished."</p> + +<p>In her triumph Jessie rose from the cane chair where she had sat +reclining. "Oh, how splendid!" she cried. "I never expected such a +victory. I must find pa, and tell him how I've vanquished you."</p> + +<p>Lance also rose, but to detain her. "Don't go yet," he said; "I have +something else to say. You have conquered me in another way, too, and I +want to hear from you whether you will accept my surrender." In saying +this he drew a little closer, and gazed with earnest expectancy into her +face.</p> + +<p>The sudden stillness and frightened silence with which Jessie at first +met his advance were not exactly what one would expect in a conqueror. +After an instant, however, she regained her self-possession. Her natural +merriment and archness returned as she asked, with her head leaning +sideward: "Is the surrender unconditional, Mr. Lance?"</p> + +<p>"No. There is one condition, of supreme importance. Ah! Miss Jessie, you +understand. Will you listen to me?"</p> + +<p>"I can't promise, but I'll try," said Jessie, in a faltering tone. +Imperceptibly, as it were, she resumed her place in the chair, and +waited. The sun was declining; a faint rumor of odd clucking cries came +from the turkey-field at the end of the grounds; but otherwise the air +was still, and a spicy coolness stole in to them from the +pine-plantations and the distant Sound. "Now tell me," she said, softly.</p> + +<p>You may be sure Lance eagerly complied. With an eloquence that had never +been his before, he told her what he thought of her; how he loved her, +and wished her to be his wife. In his confession he likewise mingled +unpremeditated touches about the daisies and the pines, and all that +marvel of nature of which they had been talking; and he made her see how +to him she was the culminating blossom of creation.</p> + +<p>"If you could only guess," he ended, hopeless of conveying all that he +wished to, "what a delight your presence is to me—how it is almost +enough just to look at you and watch every movement that you make!"</p> + +<p>So fine and frank was Jessie's maiden mind, that she no longer thought +of concealment. "Why, then you know," she answered, with the surprise of +a child, "exactly how I feel about <i>you</i>!"</p> + +<p>I do not care to describe what happened after that; for in the first +place it belongs only to those two lovers, and in the second place I +know it could not be described without tarnishing the pure beauty of it.</p> + +<p>In the long interchange of confidences that followed their union, Lance +was moved to tell Jessie of the woman he had seen in the moonlight, the +night before. "Strange, that she should have made me think of you and of +the old Wharton story, isn't it? Who do you suppose she could have +been?"</p> + +<p>"I can't imagine," said Jessie. "Perhaps you had a moonstroke; isn't +there such a thing? Or, perhaps it was a ghost."</p> + +<p>When they came in to tea they found the colonel carefully dozing over +the market columns of his newspaper. "May I go and get the ring?" +whispered Lance, who had owned to her the secret of his hopeful +purchase.</p> + +<p>Jessie gave a silent assent. He returned quickly, and slipped the emblem +on to her finger.</p> + +<p>"Mr. Lance has been telling me the most wonderful things!" said Jessie +to her father, as they sat at table. "All about flowers and legends and +ghosts."</p> + +<p>She was holding up a cup at that instant, for the servant to take, and +the colonel noticed the sparkle of the new ring on her hand. His eyes +threw back an answering sparkle; he gazed fondly at his daughter for an +instant, and then, with forgiving kindness, at Lance.</p> + +<p>"Miss Jessie refers to an old family history," the young man hastily +explained. "I mean the Wyldes and Whartons. It wouldn't seem so +wonderful to you, sir."</p> + +<p>The colonel threw himself back in his chair, with raised eyebrows. "The +Wyldes!" he exclaimed. "You never told me you knew <i>my</i> family history. +How does it happen? Or is it, perhaps, only a coincidence of name? By +George, it strikes me as <i>very</i> wonderful!"</p> + +<p>As Lance, in his turn, showed equal astonishment, it became necessary +for him to ask questions; and, by a rapid interchange of replies, they +arrived at an extraordinary revelation. The colonel raked out from his +library a dingy and ruinous old "family tree," by which ocular +demonstration was given of his descent from a branch of the identical +Surrey Wyldes that the Gertrude of Lance's story belonged to. Puzzling +out the different lines on the old diagram, which represented a trunk +and branches, with here and there a big circle like some impossible +fruit or an abnormal knot in the wood of the "tree"—the said knots or +circles representing fathers of families—they ascertained that the Miss +Wylde whose life-current had long ago blended with that of the Floyds +was a first cousin of Gertrude Wylde, who had been Guy Wharton's +lady-love.</p> + +<p>The colonel glowed with interest and enthusiasm. "I never came upon +anything more thrilling," he declared, roundly.</p> + +<p>"But you never said a word about the Wyldes," said Jessie, to Lance. "If +you had, I could have told you there was some connection between us and +them."</p> + +<p>"I didn't think of it," he assured her, "because there was a sort of +doubt in my mind whether the girl was English or an Indian—as I told +you. But I knew the name of Wylde was mixed up with the affair, anyhow; +and the more I reflect upon it, the more clearly it comes back to me +that Gertrude Wylde was the woman whom Guy Wharton came to this country +to find, and who was lost here."</p> + +<p>They referred once more to the "family tree," and detected there, surely +enough, a small branch terminating suddenly with the names of Matthew +Wylde and his daughter Gertrude, accompanied by the inscription: +"Emigrated to America, 1587."</p> + +<p>The colonel, much excited, now brought forth a faded tome devoted to the +history of North Carolina. Turning its pages, he unearthed the record of +Raleigh's expedition and the search-party that came after it. But the +names of the emigrants, of course, were not given.</p> + +<p>"I remember," said he, musingly, "that I read of this incident, years +ago, and was struck with it. But I should never have imagined that it +concerned a collateral branch of my own ancestry. How singular! The +Floyds immigrated to this country long after that time, and yet here am +I, their representative, who have spent my life in this spot, so near +where Gertrude Wylde disappeared from civilization—and I never knew of +it!"</p> + +<p>The discovery supplied them with a theme for meditation and remark, that +lasted the rest of the evening.</p> + +<p>Jessie bestirred herself, in the midst of a revery which had enveloped +all three, after they had talked for some time, saying: "How much it's +like the flowers! We're all one great family—at least, <i>nearly</i> one."</p> + +<p>"Yes," echoed Lance, "nearly one!"</p> + +<p>She blushed, and rose to say good-night.</p> + +<p>After she had gone, the colonel came to Lance and, drawing his arm +around him, said: "God bless you, my boy—and her. I see how it is, and +I'm satisfied."</p> + +<p>"So am I," said Lance; "except that no man is good enough for her."</p> + +<p>What a night that was! Did ever darkness close round a pair more happy +than Lance and Jessie? The great heavens seemed to Lance the only canopy +that overhung his slumbers; for the thoughts and images that filled his +dreaming brain rose beyond the barriers of roof and wall, and included a +vast realm of peaceful joy, in which the stars burned ever mildly. He +had taken a spray of the yellow jessamine with him to his room. He +fancied that its fragrance repeated to him all night long, in +untranslatable sweetness, the name so like its own and now so dear to +him: "Jessie—Jessie—Jessie." And the knowledge that she was a late +comer in the line of the woman whom his ancestor had loved, contributed +still another element to his trance of silent rejoicing.</p> + +<p>Yet, through the whole delicious maze of happiness, he was aware of a +surmise which had not presented itself while he had been awake. It was +this: since Jessie had the Wylde blood in her veins, and the woman whom +he had met by the shore so strongly suggested a resemblance to Jessie, +might there not be some hidden bond between them, dating from the lost +Gertrude?</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VII" id="CHAPTER_VII"></a>CHAPTER VII.</h2> + +<h3>THE RACES, AND THE MOTTO.</h3> + + +<p>It so happened that Lance, up to this point in his sojourn with the +Floyds, had never, to his knowledge, seen Adela Reefe, although she had +come once or twice to the house while he was there. On a single occasion +he had ridden with Jessie to the cottage at the headland, and had met +"the De Vine boys." Becoming interested in Sylvester and his ambitions, +he had stopped to see him at other times in the course of his excursions +roundabout, and had also received one or two visits from him at +Fairleigh Park. He had, to be sure, heard something of Adela Reefe; but +the fact that he lacked the smallest idea as to what she looked like was +the absent link in his knowledge, which made it impossible to guess who +the mysterious girl of the night encounter might be. In fact, he never +so much as thought of Adela, and he gave up the riddle as one not likely +to be solved. But an event was now approaching which brought him sudden +enlightenment.</p> + +<p>The date of the races to be held at Newbern had been fixed—somewhat +early in the season, it is true—for a time shortly after the +occurrences which I have already described; and this affair was the +excuse for a general rally of inhabitants from the surrounding +districts. Colonel Floyd meant to attend it, with a large part of his +household, and Lance, as a matter of course, was going with him.</p> + +<p>Dennis De Vine had also looked forward to the festival as the excuse for +a great holiday. It had been his intention to take Aunty Losh, Adela, +and Sylv in his dug-out sloop, and sail a hundred miles up the Neuse +River, to the scene of the merrymaking. But the quarrel with Sylv, which +had come so near to a fatal result, threw a cloud over him, and for a +time threatened to mar the pleasure of this prospect.</p> + +<p>The day after that incident Dennis disappeared from the cabin, and was +not seen there again until evening. He was supposed to be out fishing, +and did, I believe, actually pass his time in sailing outside the +network of sandy spits and islands, as if engaged in trolling for +bluefish; but when he returned he brought but few trophies of the hook. +I know that during the afternoon he beached his boat on the inner shore +beyond Ocracoke, and took to wandering disconsolately along the dreary +dunes. The hour of sunset approached as he found himself near the old +graveyard of Portsmouth. It was a rough, melancholy, neglected spot; and +the thick-sown graves lay near the racing tides that the land which held +the dead was gradually crumbling away, and delivered to the sea, from +time to time, its mournful burden of forgotten humanity.</p> + +<p>Dennis, while trudging unconsciously hither, had been lost in mingled +reflections upon the quarrel—alternately grateful for his escape from +crime, and remorseful for the passionate temper which had almost swept +him on, without premeditation, to the consummation of a terrible deed. +All at once he became aware that he stood at the edge of this grim and +pathetic graveyard. A shudder ran through him.</p> + +<p>"To think," he muttered, "that I was nigh on to bringin' Sylv to such a +place as this! And then how would I ha' felt? Oh, God, forgive me! We +die soon enough, the best way we can fix it. Why should one man want to +kill another?"</p> + +<p>Near the water the ground was ragged and worn away, where the chafing of +the tides had carried it off piecemeal; and from the gaunt earth several +coffins projected, which were soon to fall a prey to the waves. Dennis +gazed upon them with a fascinated horror, and as he looked it seemed to +him that in the mouldering receptacle of death nearest to him he could +see something bright shining through the crevices of the boarding that, +warped by long inhumation, leaned partly open. For a moment the wild +fancy presented itself that impossible wealth, in the shape of sparkling +jewels, had been buried with the unknown inmate of the coffin. He bent a +little closer to examine it. At that instant the bank beneath crumbled +slightly—some of the sandy soil slipped into the water—and a fresh +breeze, sweeping in from the sea, shook the side-plank so that it fell, +disclosing the dusty and shapeless contents. Sweat started to the brow +of Dennis; he beheld there a row of toads, sitting inert and hideous +inside the coffin, with glittering eyes.</p> + +<p>No more awful example of the ghastiliness of burial could have +confronted him than that. The sight redoubled the agony he was already +suffering, and with a staggering motion he turned to retrace his steps.</p> + +<p>Dennis was not a reflective man; perhaps he had never before meditated +very deeply on the transitoriness of life, and the thousand ways in +which oblivion is forever clutching at us, obliterating the few poor +traces of our existence that are left when we depart from this world. +But the conjunction of circumstances, bringing such a sight to him at +that precise moment, wrought powerfully on his mind. "If I could only +change!" he said to himself, as he plodded back to his boat. "If I could +only be better!"</p> + +<p>Yet he was by no means certain that he could improve.</p> + +<p>Throughout the next few days he devoted himself to Sylv with a careful +tenderness that was almost pathetic. He offered to do him little +services; he tried to exhibit an interest in Sylv's reading; he was +anxious not to have Slyv expose himself to any undue fatigues or risks +or dangers. He would not let him go out in the boat.</p> + +<p>"'Pears like you thought you was married a'ready and Sylv was your +baby," Aunty Losh observed, with kindly sarcasm, noticing his unwonted +solicitude. "But I'm glad on't, Dennie. Bein' as you're older'n him, it +ar' right, and I'm glad on't." And thereupon she again betook herself to +"paddling" snuff, with a pleasant sense of duty performed.</p> + +<p>Sylv understood his brother's contrition, but did his best to banish all +remembrance of their saturnine controversy in the wood. "How 'bout +Beaufort," he asked, as the time approached for making the final +arrangements; "have you seen Deely?"</p> + +<p>Now, the truth was that neither of them had seen Deely for several days; +she had stayed at home punctiliously, dreading to meet Sylvester by +chance, and dreading still more to see Dennis, after what she had +overheard.</p> + +<p>"No," said Dennis; "but I will see her."</p> + +<p>Accordingly he went over to the so-called Doctor Reefe's house at +Hunting Quarters, the next day. Adela was at home, but she came out of +the house to receive him, and did not ask him in.</p> + +<p>"I'm not going," she said at first, facing him with a reserved majesty +like that of some wild princess.</p> + +<p>"Why not?" he inquired, his eyes still downcast.</p> + +<p>"Because I'm afraid. Something might happen."</p> + +<p>Dennis shot a swift, indignant glance at her. "What'd happen, I'd like +to know?"</p> + +<p>"I didn't mean anything," said Adela. "I'm not going; that's what." She +saw that she had been too abrupt, and she was determined not to disclose +that she knew anything of the altercation.</p> + +<p>But Dennis besought her in every way he could think of. "I won't talk to +you so, like I did last time," he said, penitently. "I know I'm a rough +kind o' fellow. I ain't got no temper—or mebbe I got too much. But I'm +sorry for what I done, and sorry for mor'n what you know, Deely. I'll +promise to be good if ye'll go."</p> + +<p>And so, at last, she consented.</p> + +<p>Old Reefe regarded the races as a matter of business, being in the +habit, I regret to say, of selling considerable quantities of his +untrustworthy herb-medicines on these occasions. He was peculiar and of +a solitary turn, and had his own way of going to Newbern. He started +three or four days in advance, on foot, and did more or less peddling in +the sparsely settled country through which he passed. This arrangement +was also quite satisfactory to Dennis. His sloop was made out of two +large hollowed cypress logs—as is the custom in those latitudes, where +the hard knocks that boats must endure on the shoals soon wear out any +lighter craft—and the accommodations aboard were limited; there was +really no room for "ole man Reefe."</p> + +<p>To people leading so plain and secluded a life as that of the shore, you +may imagine what a change and what an outlook of wild excitement this +extensive trip to Newbern afforded. Adela was always interested in the +boat; Dennis had given her lessons in sailing, and often let her take +the helm. Once on board, her old delight returned; doubts and troubles +vanished, and it was soon a gay party that sat beneath the sail, now +briskly speeding midway up the five-mile-wide current, now tacking from +side to side.</p> + +<p>An informal, impromptu sort of fair clustered around the races, +embracing booths and stalls for the sale of various trumpery, with +perhaps a circus in a tent, or merely a nomadic little "show," +consisting chiefly of over-colored pictures, that hung upon the canvas +wall, flapping and trembling in the breeze as if frightened by their own +mendacity. Then, as I have said, "Doctor" Reefe went about, lean and +sombre, with grayish hair straggling round his dark cheeks, to hawk his +"great Indian remedies," although it did not appear that there were any +Indians to be remedied. Adela, who possessed a knack for making +ornamental baskets and bead-work, likewise availed herself of the brief +season to sell some of her pretty wares, in a modest and desultory way.</p> + +<p>Lance, Jessie, and Colonel Floyd occupied themselves at first with +looking at the trotters and watching the false starts, the true starts, +the judges incessantly ringing a bell in the most confusing way, and the +fine, steady rush of the horses around the track, with small sulkies and +eager drivers apparently glued to their haunches. But after a time, when +a number of heats had been run, there was an intermission, and Lance and +Jessie began to stroll about in the crowd, examining the limited means +of entertainment, while the colonel talked with some of his cronies +among the horse-owners. Blacks and whites were slowly sauntering from +point to point, chiefly in separate groups, and our friends kept on the +edge of the white crowd. There was a fresh odor of bruised grass in the +air, from the treading of many feet, and the beating of a drum sounded +from the small tent where an outrageous effigy of the Great Giant of +Tartary alternately swelled out threateningly and crumpled itself up +ineffectually, as the gusts of wind came and went that fluttered the +streamers above him.</p> + +<p>Here and there a game of some sort was in progress, though without +enlisting much energy from the participants, except in one +instance. The exception was due to a newly introduced sport—that of +"egg-jumping"—the point of which was that each contestant, in trying to +make the longest jump, should carry an egg in either hand. The natural +tendency to close the fingers at the moment of leaping was relied on to +make jumpers crush the eggs; and most of them came to grief in that way, +for a failure to bring either egg intact through the experiment ruined +the competitors chance for that time. The enterprising individual who +presided over this game had put up several cheap prizes, among which was +a brilliant neckerchief for feminine adornment, and charged each person +who entered the sum of five cents, the low rate being due to the fact +that the eggs consumed were no longer marketable; and their condition +was supposed to increase the dismay of the defeated.</p> + +<p>The men toed a chalk line on the grass, and jumped from it successively. +The line never lacked for the boots of some ambitious contestant ready +to make his attempt; and as Lance reached the spot with his companion, +the stalwart form of Dennis De Vine was discovered there, gathering +itself together for a saltatory effort. He had set his heart on winning +the neckerchief for Adela; but, with the eyes of the spectators upon +him, he was conscious of being in an absurd position, and his greatest +difficulty seemed to be to suppress a smile that was broadening on his +lips. Twice or thrice he seemed on the point of jumping, but each time +he paused to give way to a bashful guffaw and stamp his bouts on the +ground with humorous emphasis. Finally he nerved himself, and, +readjusting the fragile burdens in either fist, made his spring. For an +instant the sunlight showed brightly on his ruddy cheeks and red hair as +he flew from the line, rising a few inches from the sod. Then he landed +suddenly, several feet away, slipped, and went down, with the yolks +gushing in yellow spurts from the shells. A roar of laughter rose from +the crowd.</p> + +<p>Dennis looked a little angry, but hastened to rub off the egg-yolks on +the grass, and, producing another five cents, took his stand at the line +again. He waited for one or two companions in misfortune to repeat his +failure; but there was no awkward merriment about him, this time. He was +too intent upon success. Holding the new eggs firmly and lightly, +swinging his arms and then keeping them well up as he started, he made +his second energetic venture; and when his feet struck the turf he +raised the two small white objects triumphantly. They were unbroken.</p> + +<p>He was rewarded with plaudits and shouts of approbation—the length of +the jump was respectable—and, with a reluctant flourish of the +kerchief, the proprietor of the game awarded him that prize.</p> + +<p>"Good for you, Dennie!" cried a deep and rather musical voice near +Lance.</p> + +<p>He turned, and recognised Sylv. "Why, how are you?" he asked, cordially.</p> + +<p>He would have stepped toward him and shaken hands, but Sylv merely took +off his hat, bowing, and gave no sign of expecting further advances. The +truth was, he was afraid of Jessie, whose notions of caste made her +think it proper to keep these folk at a distance in public places.</p> + +<p>"Come," she said to her lover; "let us be going back to the racecourse."</p> + +<p>"I wanted to speak a moment with De Vine," Lance objected, mildly. "I +intend to make him part of my schemes; don't you see?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, well, not here; not now," said Jessie. "He's not your friend, if he +<i>is</i> to be your workman. And this is hardly the place."</p> + +<p>"Very well," he assented, though not wholly pleased.</p> + +<p>But by this time Dennis had elbowed his way through the press of +onlookers, bearing his prize like a victorious banner, and Jessie all at +once became interested in seeing what he would do with it. "Look!" she +exclaimed, abandoning her position of careful reserve. "He's going to +give it to his sweetheart—Adela Reefe. Don't you remember my telling +you about her? She's really a handsome girl—very handsome. And that +reminds me—I <i>must</i> buy one of her baskets or boxes. She'd be +dreadfully disappointed if I didn't."</p> + +<p>The result was that Jessie impulsively carried him off in pursuit of +Dennis, whom Sylv also followed.</p> + +<p>Old Reefe, mounted on a box under the spreading branches of a tree, not +far away, was dispensing his medicaments with an impressively stoical +air, now and then addressing the bystanders in a curiously grave manner, +quite at variance with the usual volubility of nostrum-dealers; and near +him Adela was moving to and fro with a bundle of her handiwork on her +arm, waiting for purchasers, but never soliciting them. Aunty Losh +smoked her pipe serenely in the background, beneath the shade of the +trees.</p> + +<p>Lance and Jessie witnessed the pleasant little scene that was enacted, +of Dennie's presenting the scarf loyally to his lady-love, and her +unfeigned satisfaction in receiving it, while Sylv stood apart for a +moment, and then came up to take a share in describing his brother's +achievement. They all three broke into smiles and laughter at the +recital.</p> + +<p>But Lance stood motionless with astonishment. "Is <i>that</i> Adela Reefe?" +he inquired.</p> + +<p>"Certainly," Jessie assured him. "Why shouldn't she be?"</p> + +<p>Lance was too much surprised to answer. It appeared to him certain, at +the very first glance, that this was the same young woman who had of +late been so often in his mind; and, as she looked so much like his +recollection of her, the resemblance to Jessie which he had before +imagined also struck him now. But he could not as yet be quite sure that +it existed. He waited until they came nearer before making up his mind +on this point.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile Jessie pressed forward, and he with her. She greeted Adela +with smiles, nodded with the affability of a natural superior to Dennis, +and congratulated them both on his success, in a way that made them feel +that she had bestowed a favor. She then began to examine Adela's +stock-in-trade, holding up the different articles that took her fancy, +turning them this way and that, and bringing out their meek decorative +value by the sunniness of the light from her own eyes. "This is pretty. +<i>That's</i> remarkably good!" she said, like a connoisseur inspecting rare +bric-à-brac. "Oh, I <i>must</i> have this box of bark and moss! And that +belt—just see how quaint it is, Ned."</p> + +<p>Lance quietly received each piece that she selected, and kept every one; +so that when she had done choosing and he had paid for them, Adela +conceived that it would be unnecessary to sell anything more that day.</p> + +<p>The belt which Lance was called upon to admire especially was made of +simple undressed leather, but it was embroidered with a design in +varicolored beads, so original and ingenious that the thing became +positively charming. Through the pattern there ran a series of angular +lines that suggested an inscription; as this, however, seemed to be only +a whim of the designer, and was illegible, it fell into the general plan +of ornament, with an effect like that of hieroglyphics. Miss Jessie's +cavalier glanced at it hastily, as they moved away, and was decidedly +pleased with the acquisition. But he had no time to consider it, and he +was, moreover, exceedingly occupied with the result of the closer +scrutiny he had given to Adela.</p> + +<p>It had confirmed his idea that there was a degree of likeness in her +features to Jessie's; and the fact so impressed him, that he forgot to +seize the chance which had offered of a chat with Sylv. He said to the +young man only: "I want to see you soon, De Vine, about an important +matter. Come up to the manor when you can."</p> + +<p>It was impossible to keep the subject out of his mind, as he returned to +the racecourse with Jessie; and it recurred again and again that night, +which he passed, with the Floyds, in the house of friends at Newbern. A +whole rout of bewildering surmises and baffled guesses beset him. If +Adela really looked at all like his Jessie, why, he asked himself, had +not others discovered it? Why hadn't Jessie herself remarked the fact? +But then, on the other hand, the thing was so unlikely, and the +positions of the two women were so far apart, that no one here would be +apt to notice or for a moment consider such a supposition.</p> + +<p>It was not until they were once more, at Fairleigh Park that he looked a +second time at the belt which they had bought From Adela. Sitting with +Jessie and her father, in the evening, when they were talking over the +experience on the rail and at the races, he glanced over the various +purchases which had been made, most of them of a more ambitious sort; +but when they came to the belt, he studied it with a good deal of care, +feeling an interest both in its novelty and in the maker.</p> + +<p>Did he dream, or was this another illusion? The angular pattern in the +midst of the design, which he had before noticed, unexpectedly assumed a +meaning to his eyes. The more sharply he scanned it, the less he doubted +his senses, for the beaded lines took with increasing clearness the +forms of letters; and, on tracing these out, one after another, he saw +that they composed a series of words arranged in coherent +order—briefly, a motto.</p> + +<p>I am not afraid of being old-fashioned. Therefore I shall ask my reader +if he ever came upon any sight—ever was smitten, either in thought or +in reading, by any feeling that set a thousand flame-points tingling +around his brain, and sent irresistible waves of cold, nervous thrill +down his spine. By this I do not mean a thrill of horror, but of supreme +and overwhelming emotion that instantly suggests your being in the grasp +of some more than human power—the power of endless, ideal forces, +directed upon the human organism from without, as the harper's hand is +directed with omnipotent sweep upon the strings of his instrument. If my +reader, as aforesaid, has had such experience, he will understand the +strange, exalting shock of wonder and awe that vibrated through Lance's +system when he discerned in the wording on the belt:</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"I journey whither I cannot see.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">'Tis strange that I can merry be."<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>The old motto of Wharton Hall, in Surrey, England, was perfectly +familiar to him, because he had visited the place with his father, on +one of their journeys abroad, and having noted down the lines, which +still remained engraven on the wall, he had committed them to memory. +And here was the last half of that quatrain, obscurely inscribed—as if +the embroiderer had hardly understood their full significance—on the +handiwork of Adela Reefe. Could there be anything more astounding than +this? Did Adela know the origin of those verses? And if she did, what +momentous secret did the fact involve?</p> + +<p>The next moment, naturally enough, a simple and matter-of-fact solution +occurred to him. Adela might have learned the motto from the Floyds.</p> + +<p>"Do you see how it reads?" he asked, holding up the bead-work so that +Jessie could survey the whole pattern.</p> + +<p>"No," said she.</p> + +<p>He pointed out the letters with his finger, and gradually spelled the +inscription through, until she caught its purport.</p> + +<p>"How very odd!" she exclaimed, at the end. But the look with which she +accompanied the remark showed that the verses touched no chord of memory +or knowledge in her mind. "Where do you suppose the girl got the idea?" +she concluded.</p> + +<p>The quivering sensation which Lance had felt, at first, renewed itself. +He laid the belt down, and, as he did so, his hands trembled.</p> + +<p>"Do <i>you</i> know anything about this motto?" he said, appealing to the +colonel.</p> + +<p>But the colonel was also a blank on the subject.</p> + +<p>Lance, therefore, was reduced to telling them where he had seen it. In +doing this he was quite methodical, but he could not conceal the +peculiar agitation which affected him.</p> + +<p>Both the colonel and his daughter were much impressed by his strange +disclosure, and were utterly at a loss to account for the reappearance +of the traditional rhymes in a way so unlooked for; but they did not +take the mystery so much to heart as Lance did.</p> + +<p>"It's not only extraordinary, but incredible," he affirmed. "I must see +that girl and ask her about it."</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VIII" id="CHAPTER_VIII"></a>CHAPTER VIII.</h2> + +<h3>ADELA'S LEGEND.</h3> + + +<p>Jessie was not much inclined to give heed to her lover's curiosity about +Adela, and his desire to consult her respecting the enigma which had so +piqued him. But he continued so persistent, that she was obliged to +humor him; and before a week passed he persuaded her to ride with him to +Hunting Quarters and search out the mysterious maiden.</p> + +<p>Both Adela and her father were at home, the latter being engaged, when +the visitors entered, with some jugs and bottles, in which were stored +his marvellous decoctions. Promptly desisting from his work, he invited +the young pair to seat themselves; and Adela, who was just then +stitching at some of her semi-savage contrivances, also rose to offer +welcome.</p> + +<p>The interior of the house at Hunting Quarters was rude enough. The room +in which these four people met was badly lighted from two small windows +facing toward Core Sound, one of which was open, so that the dull +booming of the sea continually entered, supplying an uncouth refrain to +their conversation. On one side was a large hearth; on the other, a door +leading to the remaining part of the house—what there was of it. The +furniture was scanty: a table, a bench, a couple of stools, some shelves +holding bottles, boxes, a few books and various cooking utensils as well +as dishes. The lack of sufficient seats for guests was supplied by +several blocks of wood sawed off from the stumps of trees; and to these +primitive perches old Reefe and his daughter resorted, in order to make +room for their callers.</p> + +<p>Jessie presented an excuse for coming, to the effect that Aunt Sally was +desirous of having a bottle of Doctor Reefe's famous specific; but, when +this business was over, she turned the conversation to Adela's work.</p> + +<p>"Mr. Lance is ever so much pleased with those things you let us have," +she said. "And I can assure you he takes the greatest interest in some +of them. I think he wants to ask you how you sew the beads, and how you +make those moss-boxes."</p> + +<p>Adela laughed. "I don't know," she said. "I've done it so long—ever +since I was a tiny girl. Ain't it so, dad?"</p> + +<p>Old Reefe, thus referred to, gave a nod, without saying anything. But +Lance took advantage of the cue Jessie had given him to go into +particulars with Adela as to her mode of manufacture and the several +beauties of the articles she produced. Finally he came around to the +subject of the belt and the pattern woven upon it. "Have you got any +more of those?" he asked.</p> + +<p>"No," said Adela; "it was the last—the one you took. I can make +another, if you want. I've got it all in my head."</p> + +<p>"And the rhyme, too?" Lance inquired, eagerly.</p> + +<p>"What? What's that?" Adela appeared a little dazed.</p> + +<p>"I mean the words," he explained. "Didn't you know there were words in +it?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, that part along the middle," said the girl. Her gray eyes took on a +far-off, dreamy expression. "Yes; they are words."</p> + +<p>Lance controlled his excitement, which still seemed to him causeless and +rather annoying. "I wonder if I read them right?" he hazarded. "Would +you like to see how they looked to me?"</p> + +<p>He drew out a bit of paper on which he had written them, and showed it +to her. The action seemed to rouse her taciturn father slightly. But +Adela gazed at the paper, and said, with an incredulous laugh: "Oh, no, +they don't look like that!"</p> + +<p>"Can you read?" Lance demanded.</p> + +<p>"Yes, a little; but they don't look like that."</p> + +<p>"Well, at any rate, they mean something," he retorted; "and this is what +they mean."</p> + +<p>He read the rhyme aloud, and their eyes met.</p> + +<p>"Yes," she admitted; "I suppose that's how it goes;" and she crooned the +distich over, as if singing to herself.</p> + +<p>"But what I want to know," he continued, "is how you got it. How did you +come to know it?"</p> + +<p>Adela remained silent; but her father spoke, after a pause, in a +serious, hollow voice. "It is very old," he said. "It is a great charm. +We have always known it."</p> + +<p>"How do you mean—'you'?"</p> + +<p>"Our people," replied the old man, gravely.</p> + +<p>"But not all the people around here," Lance interposed. "Miss Jessie +doesn't know it."</p> + +<p>Reefe made a gesture of dissent that approached the disdainful. "No," he +exclaimed, with a sort of gutteral grunt after the word; "<i>she</i> don't +know—of course."</p> + +<p>"But <i>I</i> have known it well," Lance said. "I saw it years ago in +England."</p> + +<p>"You?" cried Reefe, with the first indication of marked feeling that he +had betrayed during the interview. "Who are you, then?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, I'm a humble citizen named Lance!" said the young man, quietly. +"But I know that motto; it has been in our family for a long time."</p> + +<p>The old man seemed to withdraw suddenly into himself. "It is a great +charm," he repeated, slowly. "Wonderful! It keeps off harm and trouble. +My father gave it to me."</p> + +<p>"Where did he find it?" Lance inquired.</p> + +<p>"He found it far, far back," Reefe responded. But his tone was so vague, +and his expression grew so introspective, that Lance half imagined that +the old face was growing still older—immeasurably more ancient—as he +gazed upon it, and that the speaker was removing himself, by some occult +spell, into a distant past.</p> + +<p>"You spoke of our people," he said, at length. "Did you mean your +family?"</p> + +<p>"Where we came from. Our people—over there," the herb doctor answered, +pointing uncertainly to his right, in a direction, Lance noticed, which +signified farther to the North, up the Sound.</p> + +<p>"Yes, they always had that charm," Adela now said. "I don't know why. +Who can tell? It all comes from the old story of the Indians and the +white folks."</p> + +<p>Her father appeared to have lapsed into a semi-trance, or to be dozing; +but Adela looked aroused; her interest was kindled, and she was +evidently prepared to be communicative.</p> + +<p>"Oh, is there a story?" Jessie cried. "Why, I never heard it. Do tell +us, Deely!"</p> + +<p>Some judicious urging was required before the girl would speak; but, in +the end, the inquisitive lovers succeeded in persuading her, and at last +she narrated to them the legend of her "people," the substance of which +shall here be given, though not precisely in her language.</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<p>A great many years ago—as many as there are buds on a tree—an old man +dwelt in a wigwam beside the sweet waters, with his only child, a +beautiful girl. They had come out of the sea together, no man could +remember when; but, while the other people in the wigwams were dark and +red, these were almost white. They had been so long in the sea that the +foam of the waves, touching their faces, had made them so white. And the +old man loved his daughter very much. They spoke a strange language +together, but when others talked to them, they replied in the words that +all understood.</p> + +<p>The old man had no name; but his daughter was called Ewayeá, which meant +Lullaby or Rest-Song. She, too, loved her father. They lived for each +other; and the old man seemed always waiting for something, uneasy and +troubled, but Ewayeá made him rest and sang him to sleep; and he slept +much, and was happy. But when he was resting, Ewayeá would go to the top +of a little hill near the wigwam and look far away, seeming also to +expect that some one would come.</p> + +<p>By and by he came. His name was Sharp Arrow; and he came suddenly, as if +some hand had bent a bow and sent him there swiftly. He loved Ewayeá, +but at first she did not love him, because she had not waited for him, +and he was a red color; and she told him he must go and stay in the sea +and let the foam dash over him, to wash his face and make him white. +Then he went away, but when he came back his face was still red; and the +Old-man-without-a-name told him that he could not have his daughter. But +Sharp Arrow stayed there, and he flew in and out of the forest, always +returning to the maiden with love and with some presents, or bringing +food to her father. So at last he struck her heart. It bled for him, and +she longed to go with him, to comfort him, and be happy herself. But she +said: "Not yet, not yet! The Old-man-without-a-name would die if I left +him now. I must sing him to sleep many times before we go."</p> + +<p>Her father saw that she loved Sharp Arrow, and he was very jealous. He +looked at the young man with enmity, while his face every day grew +harder, more angry, and stern, like iron. Often, too, he spoke to Ewayeá +in the strange language, and pointed to the East, as if he would have +her go there. But she only shook her head and sighed; and sometimes she +wept.</p> + +<p>The summer flew away, and the birds flew away to find it. But those two +lovers did not know it had gone, for their hearts were warm, and +thoughts of love grew in them, like the leaves of June. The days parted, +one from another, and the seasons separated; but for Ewayeá and her +lover there was no separation. They were man and wife. Their two +children played in the shade of the forest, and Ewayeá sang lullabies to +them. She taught Sharp Arrow charms and spells. She gave him words out +of a book. Her children learned the strange language; and she looked at +the trees, the water and the sky, and made them talk as they had not +talked till then. And Sharp Arrow promised that her spells should never +be forgotten among his people if she should die.</p> + +<p>But she never died.</p> + +<p>The old man slept a long while; then at last he woke. And when he woke +his face was wrinkled with anger—it was hard like ice in the sweet +waters—and when he looked at Sharp Arrow the look seemed to freeze the +young man's face, so that hatred stiffened it into a hardness like that +of the old man's. Then, one night in winter, the old man came to the +door of his wigwam and stood there like a spirit. He beckoned to Sharp +Arrow, with one finger upraised; the moonlight gleamed white on his +bitter white face, and behind him there was much white snow. "I am +dead," he said to Sharp Arrow, "and you must come with me!"</p> + +<p>The look of hate was still in all his features; and as Sharp Arrow rose +to obey the command, his own face reflected that hatred. The moonlight +fell on him, too—his face grew white in it—and no one could have told +which face was most like the other, then. But he went forward, and +followed the old man.</p> + +<p>Just at that moment Ewayeá awoke from her sleep beside the children. She +stretched out her arms, tried to catch her husband and hold him, and saw +him pass away out of her reach; saw her father, also, standing beyond, +and beckoning.</p> + +<p>"Father! father!" she cried, "why do you leave me? Where are you going?" +And to her husband she cried: "Oh my heart, my heart, come back to me!"</p> + +<p>But they gave no heed to her. The old man moved away, noiseless, on feet +of air—always turning backward that icy, malignant gaze—and the young +man followed, staring fixedly, helplessly upon him, with the same dumb +and frozen wrath upon his own countenance.</p> + +<p>And so, as if they had been spirits, they passed noiselessly on and on, +disappearing in the pale night and the snow, until all that Ewayeá could +see in the quarter where they had vanished was the crescent of the +sinking moon, like an uplifted, crooked finger, beckoning some one to +follow.</p> + +<p>Ewayeá hoped that they would come back. At first she wanted to go after +them, but when she tried to move she could not: her limbs were as weak +and cold as snow, and invisible arms were thrown around her, holding her +back. There was nothing for her to do but to wait. When the spring came +again she was always waiting and watching. She stayed every day in the +same place, looking out and expecting her father and her lover to +return; but still they came not. At last she ceased to speak: she sat +there motionless and voiceless on the ground, ever longing for them, but +afraid to stir, for fear that they would come back and not find her. The +years passed, and her children grew up and departed, carrying with them +the spells and charms they had learned. Yes; they went away and forgot +their mother, who sat there so patiently. But she never once called to +them, and only waited—waited—waited. They say she is still waiting in +that spot. Summer after summer has blossomed above her, and the new +leaves have started and rustled with surprise as they caught sight of +her, and have whispered one another all day long about the strangeness +of her silent presence. The slow autumns, one after another, have +wreathed her brow with weird, unnatural flame; and the snows of many, +many winters have crept around her feet and drifted higher until they +almost buried her. But she cares nothing for all these changes; does not +even turn her head one way or the other, but simply gazes straight +forward, expectantly, just as she used to when she went to the top of +the little hill looking eastward. In summer, again, come the butterflies +and softly touch her cheek with sympathetic wings, as they hover around; +the humming-birds flash and tremble near her lips, as if expecting to +find honey there; and other birds look curiously with their bright eyes +into hers that make no answer, while the squirrels that chatter on the +boughs near by, and nibble nuts, seem to wonder that she does not ask to +share their food. Still, she gives heed to nothing. She crouches low, +and her weary head has drooped; and the leaves and dust have fallen +thick upon her from the underbrush that has sprung up so rankly about +her; so that sometimes you might think she was not a woman at all, but +only a mound of earth. Yet she is not dead. No! The rains and winds, of +course, have worn away the expression from her face, until it looks dull +and sad and lifeless; but, for all that, she is not dead. Her arms and +knees must have grown very tired in the long vigil she has been keeping, +and one would suppose they would have crumbled into earth before now. +But, you see, the wild vines have reached out from the surrounding trees +to support her; and they have encircled her lovingly, lending their +strength, that she may not fail of her purpose.</p> + +<p>No; she is not dead. If you could only discover the exact place, you +would find her still alive. But we do not know where it is.</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<p>All four remained silent for a few moments, after Adela had finished her +legend. Lance had listened with profound attention; and the shadowy, +fantastic outlines of the narrative were so extraordinary, that he was +at first too much astonished and perplexed to know what to think or say +about it. Clearly enough, that which the girl had told might be +interpreted as a sequel to the history of Gertrude Wylde, after his +ancestor, Guy Wharton, had lost trace of her. It was impossible to say +just what the tradition, now so vague and impossible, had originally +come from. But the blending of the white and Indian races at which it +hinted, the looking eastward, and the idea of endless waiting and +expectancy that ran all through it—did not these things point plainly +toward the old romance with which his family was connected?</p> + +<p>He did not believe that his imagination alone was responsible for these +suggestions, because Adela could not possibly know what he knew—her +story was an inheritance so carefully guarded, that even Jessie had not +heard it until now—and yet here were these salient details that fitted +on so naturally to his own tradition, and supplemented it. Then, too, +there was the old, transmitted rhyme. Ah, that was the clew! It clinched +all the parts of his guess-work together.</p> + +<p>"Was Ewayeá one of your people, then?" he asked, at length.</p> + +<p>Adela looked at him with surprise, as if he were asking about something +which had already been explained.</p> + +<p>"Why, I thought I said so," she answered. "We <i>came</i> from her."</p> + +<p>Old Reefe, roused perhaps by Lance's voice, opened his eyes, and, +hearing his daughter's statement, nodded a silent corroboration.</p> + +<p>"And that charm," Lance continued—"the one that you put on the +belt—came from her, too? Did she teach it to her children?"</p> + +<p>"Yes; that came from her, too," said Adela.</p> + +<p>Lance turned toward Jessie in a bewildered way, gazing at her as if he +expected her to say or do something which would dispel the phantasm that +was growing so like a reality. But Jessie only reflected his amazement +in the glance which she gave him in return.</p> + +<p>"Isn't this very remarkable?" he said.</p> + +<p>"Very," said Jessie. "It's a perfect puzzle. I don't see what to make of +it. But, Adela," she went on, addressing the girl, "why have you never +told me this before?"</p> + +<p>Adela responded only with a reticent smile, and her luminous gray eyes +roved from Jessie to Lance and back again without betraying what she +thought.</p> + +<p>"We don't tell it," muttered her father. "It was our story—only for +us."</p> + +<p>"But you <i>have</i> told it now," Jessie argued. "You've told Mr. Lance, and +he is a stranger." Here Jessie blushed, and corrected herself: "Any way, +he <i>was</i> a stranger to you."</p> + +<p>The old man raised his hand to point at Lance; and—by an odd +coincidence—his forefinger, separated from the others, was curved with +a beckoning emphasis, as if he were himself the Old-man-without-a-name +of the legend. "<i>He</i> is one of us," he declared.</p> + +<p>"I'm not so sure of that!" Lance exclaimed, feeling that the mystery was +going almost too far. "I don't see it at all."</p> + +<p>"You knew the charm," old Reefe retorted; and his eyes twinkled +obscurely, as he fixed them upon his visitor.</p> + +<p>"That doesn't prove that I'm one of you," said Lance, rising, for the +situation vexed him; he was becoming indignant. "It only shows that my +people in England knew the rhyme long before yours were heard of."</p> + +<p>Jessie rose as well. "I don't see what your father is thinking of," she +observed, frigidly, to Adela. "Mr. Lance belongs to a very old family."</p> + +<p>Something like a sarcastic chuckle seemed to escape from Reefe's bearded +lips; but he remained quite impassive. It was impossible to tell whether +or not he had made any sound.</p> + +<p>"Before I go," Lance began, desperately, "I wish you'd tell me what this +legend means. Did you have Indian ancestors, as well as English?"</p> + +<p>He fixed his gaze intently and strenuously upon Adela as he spoke.</p> + +<p>"I told you all I could," Adela answered, evasively; and began to resume +her work upon one of the moss-boxes.</p> + +<p>Reefe looked at him, with a trace of defiance now. "We have as good +blood as any," he averred. "But we ask you no questions, and I don't see +that we've got a call to answer any more. If ye want any yarb +medicine—" And there he paused, indicating that he was ready for +business.</p> + +<p>There could not have been a completer collapse of the climax which Lance +had thought to force. He turned away in disgust. "Come, Jessie," he +said, "let us go." And Jessie was more than ready to accede.</p> + +<p>But before they went he thanked Adela for her story, and bade good-by to +her and her father. As he faced them in doing this, he noticed once more +the baffling resemblance between Adela and Jessie, which their +unlikeness in stature and general bearing rendered all the more +peculiar; and the gray eyes of the Reefes troubled him by their +enigmatic expression. The conviction was strong in his mind, that the +cause of their silence was that they really had nothing more definite to +tell him about their ancestry than what they had imparted. Yet he wished +that they had not stopped at this point. Why did they have gray eyes? +And yet, why should they not have them? Save for a slight bronze or +coppery hue in their complexions, they were of the same European race +that Lance and Jessie belonged to.</p> + +<p>Nevertheless, their eyes and their strange legend pursued and haunted +him long after he and Jessie had cantered away from the herb-doctor's +door.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_IX" id="CHAPTER_IX"></a>CHAPTER IX.</h2> + +<h3>LANCE AND SYLVESTER.</h3> + + +<p>So mingled and conflicting were the considerations in Lance's mind, on +leaving the Reefes, that he was not sure he would want to see Adela +again. But his mood soon changed; he was not able to evade the +importance which she had assumed for him.</p> + +<p>"I hope you are satisfied now," said Jessie, as they rode homeward +together.</p> + +<p>"No, I'm not," he answered. "I suspect myself of being very much +<i>dis</i>satisfied."</p> + +<p>Somehow he did not dare to speak to her, as yet, of the theory he +entertained, that Adela was a descendant of Gertrude Wylde. And how +could he tell her that he thought they looked alike?</p> + +<p>But within a few days, so incessantly did the notion pursue him, that he +was forced to make a limited confession of it. Jessie observed that he +was preoccupied and thinking of something which he would not tell her. +"Do let me know what it is that troubles you, Ned," she whispered to +him, laying her arm gently around his neck one evening on the veranda, +when she found him brooding there alone.</p> + +<p>Thereupon he made his disclosure, and was rewarded by a rather +tumultuous dialogue, in which Jessie demonstrated clearly that she was +not pleased with the idea which he presented.</p> + +<p>"But how can it be any other way, Jessie?" he demanded, reproachfully. +"Everything leads up to this conclusion; and, surely, if Adela Reefe +represents to-day the line of that poor girl, Gertrude, who would have +been your own cousin if you had been living then, how can we be +indifferent to the fact that the same blood is in your veins and hers?"</p> + +<p>"I won't have it so!" Jessie returned. "I don't care if it is. And, +besides, she has Indian blood; that makes all the difference. It is no +longer the same."</p> + +<p>Lance bethought him of those reported cases in which the stock of +negroes and whites had been blended, and he feared that it would be next +to hopeless for him to overcome Jessie's aversion. Still he said: "But +that is so far off, child. She is so like us now, that I can't help +thinking of her as if she might be a kinswoman of yours—can't help +taking an interest in her welfare."</p> + +<p>"Never say that to me again!" cried Jessie. "No one in that class shall +be considered as a kinswoman of mine. If you are going to give yourself +up to such fancies as these, you may as well choose between them and +me."</p> + +<p>Her tone exasperated Lance, but he controlled himself. "Dearest," he +said, "I have given myself up only to you. You know it; don't you?"</p> + +<p>Then Jessie showed contrition, and humbly, while the tears rose to her +eyes, acknowledged her hastiness; and the little quarrel proved to be +only a convenient groundwork for new demonstrations of mutual +tenderness. But there remained in Lance's mind a residuum of doubt, lest +his betrothed should not fully sympathize with all his impulses, his +desire to be true to every one who could justly make a claim upon him. +He did not abandon the project, which had unconsciously been taking +shape, of somehow including Adela in his schemes of improvement.</p> + +<p>While this dubious colloquy was fresh in his thoughts, it chanced that +Sylvester De Vine, responding to the invitation he had thrown out at the +races, trudged up to the manor to see him. Lance's love affair, and the +misty problem concerning Adela, had not prevented him from giving a good +deal of meditation to his plans, which he had also talked over with +Colonel Floyd, regarding investment in new enterprises. Consequently, he +was primed for the interview with Sylv.</p> + +<p>At that time the process of making paper from the refuse of Louisiana +sugar-cane, commonly called "bagasse," had scarcely been thought of; +Lance, at any rate, had never heard it suggested; but it had occurred to +him that the glutinous reeds, which grew in such unmeasured abundance +along this marshy North Carolina coast, might be utilized in +paper-manufacture; and he had annexed the idea to his other pet desire +of reclaiming Elbow Crook Swamp. He was anxious to enlist Sylv in both +these enterprises, having already ascertained that the young fellow was +far more receptive and progressive than Colonel Floyd. What he needed +was an assistant who would give time and energy to the preliminary steps +and experiments, animated by faith and assisted by due compensation in +money.</p> + +<p>"Would you undertake to explore the swamp for me, and give me a detailed +report?" he asked Sylv.</p> + +<p>"It would be very difficult," Sylv answered, "and would take time. I +might do it for you, though, by and by."</p> + +<p>"Oh, there's no immediate hurry. You can wait a while. I shall probably +have to go North during the winter on business and to arrange about +mobilizing capital to work with here. I want to find out what is +practicable before I do anything serious. But, in the meanwhile, we +might start in on a trial of the reed-pulp for paper."</p> + +<p>Sylv pulled his tangled beard meditatively, and replied: "That won't +help me much with my law studies."</p> + +<p>"Yes, it will, indirectly," Lance declared. Then, after reflecting, he +added: "I'll tell you what I'll do! I'll give you some assistance for +the present, so that you can go on reading. It won't do you any harm. +Afterward, you can undertake my job."</p> + +<p>It was not to be wondered at that, from this beginning, they should go +on to speak of Adela. "She astonishes me," said Lance. "I did not expect +to find any one like her here. It's a pity that she can't have a chance +to develop, too."</p> + +<p>Sylv cast a sharp glance at the young philanthropist. It may have been +that the remark threw a new light for him upon Lance, or upon Adela.</p> + +<p>"Yes, it would be a good thing for her," he replied, with moderate +enthusiasm. "She's engaged to marry my brother—Dennie."</p> + +<p>This was news to Lance, and it took him by surprise. Somehow, his first +sensation was one of disappointment, though he could not have explained +to himself or anyone else why. In Sylv's accent, also, there was a vague +hint of despondency, as he made his announcement. Possibly it was the +first sign of a sentiment which he had not, up to that time, suspected. +The two men dropped into silence for a moment.</p> + +<p>"Well," said Lance, with abrupt energy, "that's all right, I suppose. +And <i>I'm</i> engaged to Miss Jessie. It will be all the pleasanter to have +you and Dennie and Adela working with us for a common end."</p> + +<p>It was taking a sanguine view, to suppose that such a harmony could be +maintained; but it gave Sylv great pleasure, although he saw the +difficulties in the way. His face lighted with surprise, which gradually +changed to quiet satisfaction.</p> + +<p>The two men talked long and earnestly, and by the time Sylv set out for +home they had agreed that they would try to persuade Adela to go to +school at Newbern, Lance undertaking the expenses.</p> + +<p>"I'm not main certain Dennie'll let her," Sylv warned him, as they +parted.</p> + +<p>"But he ought to be very glad to have her go," Lance replied. He had no +misgivings on that score.</p> + +<p>Sylv was brimming with eagerness and anticipation for Adela's future as +it expanded before his vision, in the light of his friend's generous +offer; and it was a new experience to him to be treated as an equal, +almost a companion, by one so much above him in position and fortune. +Altogether, he felt very happy. His desire for intellectual improvement +was so single and controlling, that he was able to extend to another the +same congratulation he gave himself; and the prospect just opened for +Adela filled him with keen, unselfish delight. As he had told Dennie, +his regard for her was simply that of a brother; and it was only in the +opportunity as presented to a sister that he rejoiced. Yet he found, +when he came to mention the matter to Dennie, that it threatened to +renew in some measure the trouble which had recently come between them.</p> + +<p>"I'm glad for <i>your</i> luck, Sylv," said Dennie, in a cordial tone, "But +'pears to me you uns might kinder be satisfied with polishin' and +rubbin' on your own brains and makin' 'em all smooth and shiny, 'thout +interferin' with Deely. 'Pears to me like she ar' good enough the way +she ar' now. That's what."</p> + +<p>"So she is," Sylv assented. "But it would make her happier, and she'd +have a heap more real pleasure in life, if she could be educated. She +was very glad to learn to read, you know. Now, this is one chance out of +a thousand; she may never get another."</p> + +<p>Dennie, however, was not open to argument. He looked with favor on the +scheme of Sylv's receiving money and employment from Lance, partly +because it would gratify his brother and partly because it would lighten +his own cares and bring him nearer to marriage with Deely; but if Deely +was to be included in the abstract movement for unnecessary culture, he +would be as badly off as before.</p> + +<p>In spite of Dennie's opposition, Sylv could not relinquish the plan; and +he had the imprudence to broach it with Deely on his own account. She +did not manifest any pronounced desire to enter into it, but they talked +of it several times, and it was evident that she was considering it.</p> + +<p>Dennie heard of these consultations, of course, and reproached his +brother. He exerted great force of self-command, and avoided any +outbreak of temper; he was resolved never to be jealous again. But Sylv +saw that the subject was a dangerous one, and he promised not to urge it +upon Deely any further. Sorrowfully and apologetically he conveyed to +Lance the information of this obstacle to Deely's acceptance of his +proposal, and said that he feared she could do nothing about it.</p> + +<p>It was reserved for Dennie himself to bring about, unwillingly, the +consummation of Lance's philanthropic design.</p> + +<p>There was to be a wedding-party at a house in the woods, near Hunting +Quarters, to which the young people were invited. Dennie came to Reefe's +early, in order to escort Deely to the scene of the ceremony; and on +their way to the wedding he spoke of the school idea.</p> + +<p>"We ought to be goin' to the parson, 'stead of your goin' to that thar +school," he said. He urged her again to fix the time for their marriage.</p> + +<p>Deely still demurred. "I'm only nineteen," she answered. "I reckon I +won't be too old if I do wait a while."</p> + +<p>Dennie was very much put out by her obduracy. "I don't know what to make +out'n the way you go on," he complained. "Mebbe you're goin' to that +thar school, after all."</p> + +<p>"'Twouldn't be strange if I did," said she, although she had in reality +abandoned the thought.</p> + +<p>He persisted in urging his wishes; she continued in a contrary mood; and +Dennie at last refused to talk. They completed their walk to the house +of the hymeneal merrymaking in a bitter silence, both very miserable. +But Deely possessed the advantage of expressing her unhappiness by means +of the greatest gayety, while Dennie had to fall back upon the more +ordinary masculine resource of looking glum and morose.</p> + +<p>There was an abundance of corn-whiskey and of "common doin's," as well +as of "chicken fixin's" with other delicacies, at the supper and dance +which followed the brief formality of the wedding-service. The +simple-hearted and jolly guests proceeded to have a very good time; and +while the bride and groom remained in one corner, happy at being +ignored, the rest shuffled to and fro in a lively jig, stamping their +heels, indulging in sundry gratuitous capers, and shouting with +laughter. Dennie, meanwhile, devoted a much closer attention than was +needful to the corn-whiskey, the forcible quality of which he could have +ascertained by a single drink.</p> + +<p>It may have been due to his diligence in reducing the supply of the +beverage that, as the hilarity of the others increased, and as Deely +grew more and more excited with the dance, his depression and gloom +deepened portentously. He had taken no part in the dancing, and had +begun by affecting to watch Deely's energetic share in it with +indifference. But it was impossible for him to keep up this pretence, +and the climax came when he saw his betrothed giving her hand for the +third or fourth time to Dan Billings, a handsome young fisherman against +whom she knew that Dennie cherished a special grudge.</p> + +<p>Dennie stepped forth upon the floor that trembled with the heavy tread +of the athletic revellers, and, shoving his way between the astonished +pairs of youths and maidens, struck a commanding posture.</p> + +<p>"This hyar's enough!" he screamed, confronting Deely. "It's time to go +home; and I'm goin' to take ye with me right now. D'ye hear?"</p> + +<p>Tho old fiddler, mounted on a box at one side of the room, stopped the +frantic discord he had been sawing from the strings, and began +mechanically to rosin his bow with a lump of the best virgin-pine rosin.</p> + +<p>"I could ha' heard you if you'd stayed over t'other side," Deely +retorted, her dark cheeks flaming angrily; "if you war goin' to shout +out so, what do you want to come so close?"</p> + +<p>"I say," repeated Dennie, in a more subdued voice, "I'm goin' along, and +I mean for to take you with me. Dan Billings ain't goin' to dance with +you no more this night."</p> + +<p>Upon this Billings, who was a vigorous young fellow, asserted his +rights, and gave Dennie to understand roundly that no one should dictate +to him his choice of partners, "when the lady was willin'."</p> + +<p>A serious result was imminent; for Billings, elated by his apparent +success with Deely, became increasingly noisy and bumptious, and retorts +flew hotly from one man to the other, until Billings raised his fist to +strike a blow at Dennie. When it came to that, Deely stepped between the +wranglers, and prevented their fighting.</p> + +<p>"Now <i>you're</i> wrong, Dan!" she exclaimed, "You both ought to be ashamed, +making me so much trouble. But there sha'n't be a fight, whatever. I'm +goin' home this minute, along with Dennie."</p> + +<p>The other girls had drawn aside, dumb and frightened, and the men were +disposed in a group around the chief actors, feeling that they ought to +interfere, but restrained by a respect for the privilege of fighting, +which they might some time wish to exercise on their own account. +Billings relaxed his clinched fingers, quite abashed at being so +abruptly robbed of his dignity as Deely's champion; but it took a few +moments to cool Dennie's wrath. He insisted that the fisherman had "told +him insults," and must be punished.</p> + +<p>"I'm waiting," Deely reminded him. "You said you was going, and now I'm +ready."</p> + +<p>The bride and groom remained oblivious of all this stir, but the bride's +mother came forward, urging Deely not to leave them. The girl, however, +would not yield. Every one could see that she was greatly incensed at +Dennie's conduct, but there was a decisive calm about her that made +persuasion useless. She had, in fact, arrived at a conclusion much more +far-reaching, which she lost no time in imparting to Dennie when they +had left the house.</p> + +<p>"My mind's made up," she said to him, without heat. "I've borne your +tantrums as long as I can, and it's no use. By and by it'll get so that +I can't have any will or way of my own, and I don't think you'll ever be +any better, Dennie, until I'm far away where you can't tease me. Yes; +I've made up my mind. I'm goin' to that school."</p> + +<p>To Dennie the announcement was like a knell. His burst of temper had +left him much quieter and, as usual, rather ashamed; and he felt that +Deely's intention of punishing him was quite justifiable. Still, he +could not as yet believe that she would carry it out.</p> + +<p>"You won't treat me so hard as that," he protested. "Think it over +another time, Deely. Everything'd be all right if you'd only marry me."</p> + +<p>"I don't want to talk about it," was her answer. "I've decided, now, and +I'm goin' away."</p> + +<p>In the course of the next few days her lover was forced to recognize +that she was in earnest, and her resolve irrevocable. An extra session +at the small academy for young ladies which Lance had selected was about +to begin; and, through Sylv, Adela obtained a conference with him on the +subject of going thither. Old Reefe put in some objections; but as Adela +was determined he gave way, and the final arrangements were soon made.</p> + +<p>The conference just referred to took place near the manor. Lance met +Sylv and Adela in the grounds, by appointment, and talked over the +details with them. But just as they were bidding him good-by Colonel +Floyd came strolling along; and Lance, in walking back to the house with +him, told him, full of enthusiasm, what he had done. The colonel seemed +to think it rather strange.</p> + +<p>"My dear fellow, what has put this into your head?" he asked.</p> + +<p>"Why, it seems to me the most natural thing in the world," Lance +replied. "It grew out of my plans, when I was consulting young De Vine. +Besides"—he hesitated an instant—"something leads me to feel a +peculiar interest in this young woman."</p> + +<p>"Evidently," said the colonel, "or you never would become her +benefactor." But he volunteered no criticism further than to say: "I'm +not altogether sure, Lance, that you are doing wisely."</p> + +<p>"If you think," said his prospective son-in-law, "that there's any good +reason why I shouldn't befriend her, I suppose I could abandon the +thing, though I've committed myself now."</p> + +<p>The colonel devoted a few moments to reflection, under cover of his +spectacles. Then he said: "No, I am not clear that there is any +sufficient reason. It struck me as odd, and may seem so to others. But +then, in your character—You see, you are something of a professed +philanthropist, and people will learn to understand it on that ground. +Otherwise—" Once more he broke off, and resumed: "You are the next +thing to a married man, now, which makes it proper enough for you to +take the poor girl under your wing. Perhaps you had better talk with +Jessie about it."</p> + +<p>Somehow the phrase "poor girl" grated slightly upon Lance's ear. Nor did +he relish the prospect of debating with Jessie the wisdom of his +proceeding; but it was plain that he would have to do so. It was true +there had been no trace of the clandestine in his undertaking, and he +had asked Sylv to bring Adela to the garden only because he considered +the whole transaction as a side-issue, in which he was separately +concerned; hence he preferred not to thrust it upon the colonel or his +daughter. But it was also true that Jessie's vigorous rejection of his +theory about Adela had made him less sure of her approval than he would +have liked to be.</p> + +<p>By one of the surprises frequent in the moods of women, even though one +supposes their views to be settled on a particular point, it turned out +that Jessie, when consulted, did not oppose his design.</p> + +<p>"I have been thinking over what you said, dear, about educating people," +she announced to him, "and perhaps you are right. If you're wrong, +you'll find it out by an experiment. So all I have to say is, 'Go +ahead.' That's the way you'd like to have me put it, isn't it?"</p> + +<p>Her whole manner was sweet and trustful; she wanted to make amends to +him. But, unless I am mistaken, Lance's effort on behalf of Adela was +not entirely to her taste.</p> + +<p>Thus, while they endeavored to keep up a good understanding, an entering +wedge of doubt and possible division had been put in place.</p> + +<p>The day having come for Adela's departure, difficulty arose as to her +escort, if she was to have any. Aunty Losh was not precisely the person +to introduce her at a Young Ladies' Academy; and Dennis also felt +himself to be inadequate for that duty. Sylv, as was natural, refrained +from offering his services. Neither was it possible for Lance to +accompany her. The end of it was that Aunty Losh and Dennis went with +her by wagon as far as Beaufort, and there she took the train alone for +Newbern. Lance had been to the city and prepared the way for her, so +that she might be received by the principal of the school, at the +station.</p> + +<p>But the time which followed was a dreary period to poor Dennis. Knowing +his own faults, and that his loss in Adela's exile had been brought on +by himself, he made no remonstrance after he saw that her purpose could +not be altered. But his wonted cheeriness and energy forsook him as soon +as she had gone; he performed his daily tasks in a listless and +perfunctory way; he talked little, and did not forget his misery long +enough to smile. On the other hand, he abstained from complaint; but +occasionally, when alone with Aunty Losh, he would confer with her +briefly about Adela and the change that had occurred. The jealousy that +took root with such ease in his uncultivated mind, and sprang up there +like a weed at the slightest encouragement, soon began to flourish again +on a suspicion that Lance must have some interested motive in helping +Adela. Aunty Losh, it must be said, was not a good counsellor. Much as +Dennis tried to conceal this new source of trouble, it was perfectly +apparent to her; and, because Dennis was her favorite and she +instinctively aided against all innovations, she fanned the flame +instead of quenching it.</p> + +<p>"I reckon Deely may be your wife one o' these hyar days," she said, when +they had been discussing his affairs and Lance's connection with them +over a cup of yaupon. "Who would ha' thout you wouldn't been her husband +now? But there's an old sayin' what's in my head, that the man as has +got his hand on the back o' the chair is mighty often the one as sits +down in it."</p> + +<p>Dennis saw the application, and was filled with alarm. Possibly it had +its effect in prompting him to seek assistance from Sylv; but his +loneliness, and the harassing thought that Adela might also be lonely, +or that something might go amiss in her new surroundings, where he could +not be present to help her, had a great deal to do with his impulse. +Besides, in contrition both for his jealousy of Sylv and his general +disagreeableness toward his betrothed, he fancied that it would be a +fine thing to show that he cared for her at a distance, and that he +trusted his brother.</p> + +<p>"Sylv," said he, one evening, while they were finishing the bestowment +of the day's catch in the shed at one side of the cabin, where they kept +the fish cool by means of spring water—"Sylv, I'd like right well to +have you do somethin' for me."</p> + +<p>"Say the word, Dennie," Sylv returned.</p> + +<p>"I—I want you to go up thar to the city and stay thar, whar ye can see +Deely and make her feel like she had a real, true friend—some one to +'tend on her as I mout, if I was fit—and to help her if she want any +help. Dog-gone it! Mebbe it's foolish, and I reckon she ar' happy enough +and won't need nothin', but 'pears like I couldn't stand it, the way +'tis now. I want ye to go, Sylv—for me."</p> + +<p>"You ask <i>me</i> to do this, Dennie?" said Sylv. "Why did you think of <i>my</i> +going? Why not go yourself?"</p> + +<p>"'Cause I'm not fit for't. An' what's more, she don't want me. She said +she war a-goin' away, so's she could be alone, and I could be alone. An' +I couldn't do nothin' if I was thar, Sylv."</p> + +<p>"I see. It would be some comfort to you if I were to go. If you're sure +you want it, Dennie, I reckon I can manage."</p> + +<p>"There ain't no more doubt on it," answered Dennie, "than when I put my +helm down to starboard to get the east breeze, steerin' north'ard. There +ain't no one else I can count on, Sylv, 'less it be you. An', Sylv, I—I +trust you; I got faith in you!"</p> + +<p>He held out his rough hand, and Sylv grasped it firmly. There were tears +in Dennie's eyes, seeing which Sylv pressed his brother's weather-beaten +palm the harder.</p> + +<p>"All right, Dennie. I won't fail you."</p> + +<p>And so the compact was made.</p> + +<p>Sylv was absolutely honest in what he said. He knew but one ambition, +and the gaining of any woman's love had never formed a part of it. Why +was it, then, that his spirits rose so at the thought of being near +Adela once more?</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_X" id="CHAPTER_X"></a>CHAPTER X.</h2> + +<h3>THE LIKENESS.</h3> + + +<p>You remember how little Lance had seen of Adela Reefe, and that he knew +her scarcely at all. But this makes it the stranger, and rendered it at +the time all the more unaccountable to him, that, on her removal from +his neighborhood, he should have been afflicted with a sense of vacancy, +and should have suffered from the melancholy which one might expect to +feel when suddenly separated from a dear friend. Was he not engaged to +Jessie, and thoroughly contented in his love? Moreover, Adela had not +entered into his life as an important factor. Yet, now that she was +gone, he perceived how quickly and completely the web of surmises which +he had thrown around her had taken him also into its tangles. Her +identity and destiny had engaged his thoughts far more deeply than he +had guessed.</p> + +<p>Acting on his offer of assistance, and obeying Dennie's wish, Sylv +presently came to him to suggest that he would like to go to Newbern to +pursue his studies.</p> + +<p>"But I have just made arrangements," Lance told him, "to put up a small +building where we can experiment with reed-pulp; and I expected you to +assist me."</p> + +<p>Not without embarrassment, Sylv made known the special reason proposed +by Dennie for his going. Lance thought the plan a rather curious one, +and allowed himself a queer, vicarious jealousy on Dennie's account, at +the notion of his being so far from Adela when his brother should be in +the same town with her. But he had promised to help Sylv; so he +consented to send him to Newbern and maintain him there for a while, the +cost to be returned in future services.</p> + +<p>"Perhaps Dennie will take a hand with me in the pulp experiments," he +reflected.</p> + +<p>Thus it came to pass that a shed was built in the woods not far from the +manor, where a boiler and a small beater and washer were placed, +convenient to the limited water supply from a "run" or creek. An +experienced vatman was sent for from the North; Dennie was engaged to +collect and haul reeds, and aid in other ways when he could. All this +involved a good deal of expense, and the colonel watched the work with +suppressed horror at the young man's extravagance. But the experiments +went on, and Lance became enthusiastic over the details of drying the +reeds, getting the mixture of caustic alkali just right for boiling, and +trying rags in various proportions. Finally he was able to produce from +the vat a few sheets of tolerably good hand-made paper, on which he +fancied that he could see already inscribed a record of the profits that +were to be his.</p> + +<p>It took many weeks, however, to accomplish that much. At first Jessie +entered into the new enterprise with great interest, and made it doubly +charming to him; but after a while, finding that it consumed her lover's +time and distracted his attention from her, she began to regard the +fascinating shed, with its boiler and engine and rude apparatus, as a +dangerous rival. Nothing daunted by such symptoms of her discontent as +he observed, Lance continued his application with a fervor that seemed +to her little less than fanatical. Meanwhile he saw Dennie very often, +and was constantly in receipt of news about Adela from him.</p> + +<p>Indeed, since neither Aunty Losh nor Dennie had ever become enslaved to +the luxury of reading, it was necessary for Lance to interpret Adela's +letters to them. These epistles, in the beginning, were somewhat slight +and informal. They would begin thus: "I write to inform you that I am +enjoying good health. I hope you are the same." But as she went on with +her studies, and as the various particulars of her new life appealed +more decidedly to her attention, her style became more familiar and +cordial; she described what happened at the school, day by day, and +often lit up her account of events with flashes of humor that, to Lance, +were delightful. She hit off some of the absurdities of modern routine +education with a surprising sharpness of perception, and was greatly +amused at the old theologian who attended to the religious instruction +of the girls. He had shown her some books of Hebrew, the characters in +which reminded her of her own invented patterns in silk and beads. But +withal it transpired from what she wrote, that she made astounding +progress in her lessons. She quickly outstripped her classmates in their +work, and was promoted to a higher grade. Lance wondered whether this +were due to the stored-up energy of a nature that was in some respects +primitive, or whether it came from inherited aptitude—an aptitude +derived partly, through the dim centuries, from Gertrude Wylde. Several +times she alluded to Lance, and sent to him reserved messages of +friendly thanks for his kindness; but perhaps she would not have written +so familiarly on other topics if she had known that he was to see her +letters. The truth was, it had not occurred to her that her betrothed +and his aunt would apply to Lance to decipher her letters. And Lance, +embarrassed by these references to himself, refrained from disclosing +them.</p> + +<p>Inevitably, from the supervision which thus fell to his lot over +everything Adela did or said or thought, so far as her letters formed a +record, it ensued that his interest in her increased. I am afraid he +watched those letters with an alertness not to be excused, for some +trace of a thoughtfulness respecting him, equal to his own toward her; +and when she addressed to him directly a short communication, to tell +him how she was getting on, and how grateful she was for his assistance, +it was in a mood closely akin to disappointment that he read it through +without having detected a word that could be construed as indicating +even a commencement of friendship.</p> + +<p>Now and again he contemplated turning the letters over to Jessie, and +felt a desire to talk with her about the progress of his pupil. But he +fancied that she would receive the confidence coldly, and he forbore to +say anything, except in the most general terms. Why, in the mean time, +he should expect anything more from Adela than a formal recognition of +indebtedness, was a riddle to him; but nevertheless he knew that he was +unsatisfied.</p> + +<p>It should be understood that his peculiar state of mind was not at any +one time clearly apparent to him; he merely caught glimpses of it. His +preoccupation with the paper manufacture all the while kept his +attention busy, and it was but dimly that he perceived what was going on +in other regards. But when his experiments had reached their +culmination, and he had decided to build a mill and begin operations, it +became necessary for him to go North. He resolved to run up to Newbern, +first, and see Adela Reefe, before bidding good-by to Jessie. This +intention he was about to confide to Jessie, when one morning she +unexpectedly presented herself at the engine-shed, at the moment when he +was perusing a recent letter from his charge.</p> + +<p>"So I've found you at last!" cried Jessie, standing by the sill of the +open shed-door, wrapped in a light shawl, with a broad hat bent archly +over her head, and looking wonderfully pretty. She caught sight of the +letter. "Aha!" she said. "I thought you came here to work. But it's only +make-believe, I see. Well, I've a great mind to write you letters myself +and send them down to you here to read."</p> + +<p>"Oh, it's only a letter from Adela Reefe," Lance answered. "Dennie De +Vine brought it; he's just gone away again. Would you like to see it?"</p> + +<p>The vatman was occupied at the other end of the shed. Jessie took the +letter and glanced at it; then returned it to her lover, indifferently. +"Deely seems to be quite contented," she observed. "When are you going +to finish, Ned?"</p> + +<p>"Finish? You mean what I'm doing here? Why, I can go with you now, if +you want."</p> + +<p>"I wish you would, then. I feel just like having a little walk and talk. +You're going away so soon, it's only fair I should see something of +you."</p> + +<p>"I know that, dearest," said Lance, "and I'm afraid I've spent too much +time over this business. It's only fair to me, too, that we should be +together."</p> + +<p>They sauntered away in company, and strolled through the woods. "I have +been thinking," he told her, "that I ought to start in two or three +days. But I must see Adela and Sylv first. I don't want to go North +without knowing just how they seem up there, in their new life."</p> + +<p>A change came over Jessie's manner. "You mustn't go!" she said, with +sudden vehemence. "It isn't right, Ned."</p> + +<p>"Not right, my dear. Why?" Lance bent his earnest, clean-cut features to +look down at her more searchingly.</p> + +<p>But Jessie lowered her eyes, and would not meet his glance. "Oh, I have +watched you," she said, "and you are often talking with Dennie; you talk +about that girl, I am sure. And now she is writing to you. Don't you +think you have done enough for her, without going to see her?"</p> + +<p>"Perhaps so," said Lance, his energetic mind arrested by a sudden +discontent, and by a wonder as to whether he had unconsciously fallen +into error. "But surely you don't allow yourself to be troubled about +it, do you?"</p> + +<p>"Why, no," Jessie answered. "It would be foolish to do that. Why should +I? Only, it may be that you don't think what you're doing, Ned. She is +not our <i>friend</i>, and she never can be. I have agreed that you should be +her benefactor if you want to. But think how it might seem for you to go +up there and call on her. Isn't it too much?"</p> + +<p>"I will do as you think best, my dear," Lance assented.</p> + +<p>"Thank you," said Jessie, at once growing radiant.</p> + +<p>They passed on through the sun-flecked gallery of the spicy woods, +chatting on various topics, and were outwardly quite content. But Lance +could not banish the idea that he had been deprived of something which +was his right; and Jessie, for her part, was not nearly so serene as she +appeared to be. A subtle intuition had warned her that Lance was wrapped +up in his care for Adela to an extent which he himself was not able to +measure. The circumstance weighed upon her with increasing force; and +many times at night she had been awakened by her own tears, only to fret +out the solitary hours with vain questionings and attempts at +reassurance. Her trouble seemed needless and absurd; but somehow Adela +Reefe came flitting across her dreams, and even darkened her waking +moments, like a shadow revived from the past, that had the power to blot +out the vivid and sunny present.</p> + +<p>That evening the lovers looked over some old miniatures of former Floyds +and of the Wyldes, from whom the colonel traced his inheritance. In +every one of the female faces Lance instinctively hunted for traits that +should account for Jessie's features; but he could not find any. Not +only was he baffled in the search, but when he retired to rest the old +puzzle as to the similarity between Jessie's face and Adela's grew upon +him, as more complicated and less easy to shake off than ever.</p> + +<p>A few nights afterward his hands clasped Jessie's cheeks as he bade her +farewell, on his departure for Beaufort, where he was to take a +coast-wise steamer for New York.</p> + +<p>It was late October. There was a chill in the air. The leaves of the +deciduous trees had turned, and were already falling. The pines were +rusty in places, their needles showered to the ground in great numbers; +the snow-goose had already been heard piping in the air, on its +southward flight; and the waves of the Sound and the sea, as they broke +upon the shore, seemed to shiver with a knowledge of approaching winter. +But Jessie stood with her lover on the veranda, in the darkness; and her +face rested so yieldingly in his palms that Lance half imagined he could +carry it away with him. There in the night it was like a picture painted +long ago and dimmed by time, yet shining out through the obscurity with +its youth and loveliness and passion still intact. No; he could not +carry it bodily away with him, but he could take it in his heart; and so +he did, holding it there long after the farewell kiss had left his lips.</p> + +<p>But after he reached New York, and during the long months of winter, the +magic of fancy played strange tricks with the image he had brought in +his heart. Strive as he would, he could not prevent it from wavering and +flickering, as it were, and occasionally taking on a darker hue, so that +he seemed at times to be contemplating Adela, instead of Jessie.</p> + +<p>One of the first things he did was to hunt up some old memoranda in +which the tradition concerning Guy Wharton was definitely set down. This +cleared up his recollection of it; and his next act was to write to a +lawyer of his acquaintance in England, who knew something about the +Wharton history, asking him to use his best endeavors to get some +authentic likeness of Gertrude Wylde.</p> + +<p>Unfolding to Hedson, his father's old partner, the paper-mill project, +and finding it received with favor, he next exerted himself to form a +small syndicate for purchasing and reclaiming the swamp-lands, since +that undertaking would require more capital than he cared to venture. +But the swamp was not the Treasury of the United States, nor was it a +fantasy of such vast dimensions as the Panama Canal; so the syndicate +could not be formed. For capital, despite all the cant about its +conservatism, is really moved by extremes: it is allured either by a +dead certainty or by an equally defunct impossibility. Elbow Crook Swamp +was a something between the two.</p> + +<p>"Wait until spring," Hedson advised. "Then you will have time to +explore; and, besides, I may get down there myself to take a look!"</p> + +<p>Hedson enjoyed the harmless pride of believing that anything at which +Hedson had "taken a look," and was able to speak well of, must +necessarily glitter like gold to his brother bondholders.</p> + +<p>This affair and others detained Lance a long time. His mind was fixed on +settling in North Carolina, at least for the first years of his married +life, and he was anxious to get all his investments in good order before +making the change. At Christmas he took a flying trip to Fairleigh Park, +and enjoyed a brief season of jollity and of companionship with Jessie; +but he was soon back again among the snowy streets. He had seen Sylv, +but would not permit himself an interview with Adela. On his return +Hedson informed him that he was about to sail for England, being called +thither by business, to be absent a couple of months. Lance had received +no news from his legal friend in London, and did not indeed expect +anything valuable from that source; the records of the Surrey Wyldes +were doubtless too scattered to be traceable, and it was scarcely +possible that any vestige of Gertrude's features would have been +retained among the possessions of the Whartons. But, not wishing to +forego any chance, he petitioned Hedson to see the solicitor and +co-operate with him. The acute perception of the American man of +business might perhaps aid the careful British lawyer in getting at +something, even in so sentimental an inquiry. Lance would have gone +himself, so active was his interest in the question, had it not been for +his reluctance to place the ocean between himself and Jessie.</p> + +<p>Toward the end of February Hedson sent him a half-page letter, which +ended with the words: "Think I have got something for you." Exasperating +silence followed this communication. But, in latter March, Hedson landed +at New York, and brought Lance a drawing. "It's from an old picture," he +said. "Had the devil's own time getting it; but I bored everybody +concerned, until they couldn't stand it any longer, and had to help me +ferret it out."</p> + +<p>"And you're sure this was Gertrude Wylde?" asked Lance.</p> + +<p>"Why, my boy, you don't think I'd say so if I wasn't sure, do you? +Besides, look at this curious monogram on the back. It seems to be two +Gs and two Ws intertwined. You see, G. W. alone would stand for either +Gertrude Wylde or Guy Wharton—a singular coincidence. The fact that the +letters are repeated seems to show that Wharton had noticed this and +resolved that his initials should be linked with hers, which were the +same, so that in that way at least they might be united. It's a mark of +identity. But why do you ask?" he added. "Is there anything wrong about +it?"</p> + +<p>Lance was excited, evidently. The drawing shook in his hand. "No," he +said; "nothing wrong. Quite the contrary. It's exactly like her in some +ways."</p> + +<p>"You don't <i>look</i> crazy, Lance; but how can you possibly know whether +it's like or not?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, I mean—I forgot; you never saw Adela—Miss Jessie, I mean."</p> + +<p>"No," said Hedson. "I take, now. Like <i>her</i>, eh?"</p> + +<p>Lance nodded silently. To him the picture resembled Adela more than +Jessie.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XI" id="CHAPTER_XI"></a>CHAPTER XI.</h2> + +<h3>LANCE RETURNS.</h3> + + +<p>April, coming to thaw the ice on Northern streams, and to mould the +first buds that started out timidly as a young artist's efforts at +creation, also dissolved the spell of solitude which had so long +encompassed Jessie.</p> + +<p>Lance was ready to build the paper-mill, and had written that he would +take the rail southward as soon as possible. It had been agreed at +Christmas-time that the wedding should come off in May or June. Activity +began in the turpentine plantation; the trees were "boxed" and "tapped;" +the sap commenced to flow. The air grew milder, the stars shone with a +more hazy lustre in the night heavens, and birds renewed their notes in +the thickets about the manor, or flew with transient greetings over the +lonely land, on their mission of heralding the return of spring to +higher latitudes. But Jessie could not rid herself of the mournfulness +and the partial lethargy that had so long clung to her. She knew that +Lance was coming, and her heart throbbed the more warmly: she waited +eagerly to feel his arms clasped round her. Yet a lingering fear +persuaded her that the happiness might still be deferred or, in the end, +frustrated.</p> + +<p>It was in such a mood that she leaned, one evening, on the railing of +the old veranda, vaguely musing and inclined to sadness. There was no +certainty as to the hour of Lance's advent, for he had not named a time, +and into that far-off nook where she lived the lightning of the +telegraph never penetrated. But of late Jessie had adopted a custom of +straying out upon the veranda, as if she expected to see Lance +approaching.</p> + +<p>Suddenly she heard the click and crunch of unwonted wheels upon the +drive near the house. She started up and listened, in a tremor of +incredulous delight. The sounds drew nearer; presently a light flashed +across the moist branches of the shade-trees, and the next moment she +beheld the lanterns of a carriage, dimly illuminating its battered +varnish, the smoking backs of two horses and the muffled torso of a +sable driver. Then Lance's young, energetic face appeared in the square +of the carriage-door, faintly roseate with the light from the house. He +was fumbling at the door-handle before the wheels stopped turning.</p> + +<p>The sable driver subsided completely into the depths of his sableness, +as the two figures clasped each other at the top of the steps.</p> + +<p>"Ah, Ned, I have waited for you so long!"</p> + +<p>"And so have I for you, dear."</p> + +<p>"Do you know, I felt almost as if I were that poor Gertrude, waiting and +waiting still?"</p> + +<p>"You <i>are</i>, dearest—you are <i>my</i> Gertrude!"</p> + +<p>And then the colonel, always discreet, allowed himself to be seen in the +hallway, prepared to welcome the wanderer.</p> + +<p>Lance barely restrained himself until the next day before seeking an +opportunity to tell Jessie about the drawing which Hedson had brought +from England.</p> + +<p>"You've written me next to nothing about Adela Reefe," he said to her. +"But I suppose you have kept on taking charge of her letters for +Dennie."</p> + +<p>"Oh yes," said Jessie; "he brought them all the way up to me. Poor +fellow!"</p> + +<p>"Why do you call him that?"</p> + +<p>"It seems so severe for him, having her stay away at such a distance, +and for so long. He's dreadfully in love with her."</p> + +<p>"Yes, I know he is," Lance confessed. "Those times when I was with him +so much, and you hardly liked it, I was talking with him about her and +trying to console him. He let me into his confidence, and told me how he +was afraid he had driven her from him and should never get her back. But +Sylv used to send an encouraging message, now and then. Has he sent any +more?"</p> + +<p>"Sylv has hardly written at all," said Jessie.</p> + +<p>Lance mused aloud: "That's strange."</p> + +<p>"Yes," responded his sweetheart, in a tone as if she were about to say +more; but she did not go on.</p> + +<p>At this point Lance thought it best to bring forward his little +surprise. Excusing himself, he went to his room and came back with the +drawing. "By the way," he began, reseating himself, "I wonder if Adela +has changed much in looks, under the influence of education. It would be +curious to see her, wouldn't it?"</p> + +<p>"I saw her," said Jessie, "just before she went back, after you left us, +at Christmas."</p> + +<p>"Well, then, you can tell. What do you think of this?" And her lover +produced the portrait.</p> + +<p>Jessie stared at it in some astonishment. "Where under the sun did that +come from?" she exclaimed. "Was it done for you?"</p> + +<p>"What do you think of it?" he repeated.</p> + +<p>"It isn't perfect," was the answer; "but still, I should know it, I +think. Why, Ned, are you cheating me? It isn't meant for Adela, is it? +You naughty boy, I could almost think it was an attempt to show how <i>I</i> +shall look when I'm stouter! It's a joke."</p> + +<p>"Then you think it's like you?" he inquired. "Does it strike you?"</p> + +<p>"I won't say another word, until you tell me <i>what</i> it is."</p> + +<p>"It is a picture of Gertrude Wylde," Lance returned.</p> + +<p>Then there was silence for a moment. Jessie took the drawing and looked +at it intently. Her voice was low, and quivered with a sort of +frightened tremor when she next spoke. "Why didn't you tell me at first, +Ned? And what did you mean by speaking as if it were Adela Reefe? It +<i>is</i> like her; and it is like me, too. Oh, what this secret? What is the +meaning of it all?"</p> + +<p>"As well as I can make it out," said Lance, "the meaning is that Adela +is a direct descendant of Gertrude Wylde, and a kinswoman of yours. The +only thing remaining, in my mind, is to find out whether her father or +his family came from Croatan. If that is proved—"</p> + +<p>"And if that is proved, what then?"</p> + +<p>"I know of nothing to follow, except that we should recognize her as a +relative."</p> + +<p>"Never!" cried Jessie. "This is a mere dream. It's impossible to prove +her descent from our stock. I can have nothing to do with her."</p> + +<p>Her vehemence was such that another man might have suspected some +underlying motive of feminine jealousy. But Lance merely laughed. "Oh, +there's no legal claim involved," said he, lightly. "Of course, I don't +expect that anything tremendous is going to happen, even if she does +turn out to be of your blood. But suppose we appoint your father +arbitrator as to this portrait?"</p> + +<p>Jessie consented, and they referred the picture to Colonel Floyd.</p> + +<p>"If this is a well-authenticated reproduction," said the colonel, +deploying his finest hand-book manner, "the appearances would seem to +indicate some connection. 'Pon my soul, I never noticed any resemblance +till now; but while the similarity to our Jessie is perceptible, it is +not nearly so pronounced as the likeness to this Adela Reefe. Is it +possible that an inherited type of countenance should last so long, +under such conditions? Very singular; very strange!"</p> + +<p>He did not evince enthusiasm, and he paced the room restlessly.</p> + +<p>"What we want is to go and see old Mr. Reefe," suggested Lance, "and ask +him about Croatan."</p> + +<p>The colonel fell in with this proposition; and on the morrow they rode +down to Hunting Quarters. It was not an easy matter to draw Reefe into +conversation; but they at last succeeded in pinning him down to facts, +and, without discovering their purpose, he assured them that, to the +best of his knowledge, his predecessors had lived in the region of +Croatan, until the time of his father, who crossed Pamlico Sound and +settled near Hunting Quarters. To make a clean breast of it, he also +admitted that his stock probably contained Indian blood; but of this he +was rather proud than otherwise.</p> + +<p>"It is settled," said Lance, when he came to tell Jessie the result of +the inquiry. "There can be no reasonable doubt now. I must go up and let +Adela and Sylv know about it at once."</p> + +<p>Jessie leaned back in her chair and fixed her mild gray eyes upon him. +She had never looked more captivating than at that instant, the +side-part in her hair giving an accent of dainty self-reliance to her +whole pose and demeanor. "Let me ask you a question," she said.</p> + +<p>"Willingly."</p> + +<p>"About poor Dennie. Has it ever occurred to you, Ned, that you may be +doing him a great injury by sending Adela off in this way, and throwing +her with Sylv?"</p> + +<p>"No, of course not," answered Lance, somewhat nettled. "Would I have +been a party to it if I had thought so?" But the mention of Sylv in this +sort of way caused him an inward shudder. If there were any peril of +Dennie's losing Adela, why should it be Sylv who should win her?</p> + +<p>"I think you are helping to separate them," Jessie continued, "and you +ought to reflect, and stop. Besides, why should you go on so, mixing +yourself up in her affairs?"</p> + +<p>"I'm not. I ought at least to see her and tell her my discovery."</p> + +<p>Jessie suddenly rose. "I <i>hate</i> that woman!" she cried, sharply. And, at +the same instant, Lance saw his engagement ring flashing upon her +finger.</p> + +<p>"You shall not hate her," he declared, with passion. "She is your +kinswoman—one of us. It isn't right that you should say that, and I +won't endure it."</p> + +<p>"Never mind whether you will endure it or not," Jessie retorted. "She +has occupied enough of your attention already."</p> + +<p>"My dear child," Lance remonstrated, "it's impossible that you should be +jealous of that girl! But what else can you mean? What do you demand?"</p> + +<p>"I think that you ought to just drop her, from this time on," said +Jessie, closing her lips decisively.</p> + +<p>There are scientific thinkers who tell us that the will is not a cause, +but merely a state of consciousness resulting from previous conditions +of the nerves and the emotions. However this may be, Lance's will +asserted itself in strong opposition to Jessie's. The probability that +Adela was a lineal descendant of Gertrude Wylde appealed strongly to his +imagination. Now that his theory seemed so well established, he was +resolved to have her kinship acknowledged; and, further, he experienced +a strong attraction toward her, the stress of which he did not fully +comprehend. He himself represented the man who had loved Gertrude, who +had vainly searched for and lost her. Was it not fair that he should +have some hand in the destiny of the girl thus reclaimed, after the +lapse of centuries, from the oblivion which had overtaken Gertrude's +life?</p> + +<p>"I will not drop her," he said, unyieldingly. "And, what's more, Jessie, +I am going to see her, and shall stand by her."</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XII" id="CHAPTER_XII"></a>CHAPTER XII.</h2> + +<h3>SYLV'S TROUBLE.</h3> + + +<p>Exactly what was to be the issue of Lance's sentiment respecting Adela, +it would have been hard to say. No fatal breach had as yet been made in +his relations with Jessie; yet they parted, after the difference which I +have just detailed, with a coldness that promised ill; and, for the +first time, Lance met the issue that had for weeks past unobtrusively +put itself in his way. If Jessie would persist in being so narrow, so +unsympathetic, what was to come? And if any trouble from this source +should divide them, what was there left to him? Facing this alternative, +Lance was forced to perceive that the interest which he had allowed +himself to feel in Adela had, unawares, grown into a dangerous emotion. +In one way it seemed absurd. In another, it was tragical. Did he +actually, in view of the rupture which now seemed likely to occur +between himself and Jessie, contemplate such a possibility as giving his +life up to Adela? If he were to do that, the question of treachery to +his humble friend, Dennis De Vine, would be involved. Nevertheless, some +unseen power seemed to propel him toward an erratic solution of this +sort. He wondered whether at last the yearning of his ancestor, long +ago, was fated to meet fulfilment by his own union with the latest +offspring of Gertrude Wylde. No! he would not think of it: he refused to +surrender himself to such fantasies. And still he could not escape their +importuning.</p> + +<p>He was involved in a struggle. He did not know what to make of it; but +he resolved to maintain his own dignity, first, by going to see Adela, +and then, after that, everything concerning Jessie and himself might be +righted. Meanwhile he kept one idea firmly before him, which was, to +remain true to Jessie so long as she would let him do so without +sacrificing Adela.</p> + +<p>But before he had time to carry out his determination of seeing Adela, +an unlooked-for incident occurred, which altered the situation +materially.</p> + +<p>The last bell for the day had sounded at the "academy" where Adela +pursued her studies, or rather was pursued by them, for they followed +her steps from morning to night in a race with which it was hard to keep +even, notwithstanding her prowess. The bell signified freedom for a +brief period. When it sounded she was allowed to go out for a walk, the +usual discipline of the school having been relaxed in her favor, to +admit of her taking her recreation in Sylv's company. Sylv was duly +accredited as Dennie's ambassador, to look after Adela's welfare; hence +it was considered very proper that he should see her every day. In this +way he had taken a great many walks with her.</p> + +<p>When the bell rang, therefore, he met her at the gate of the garden +surrounding the academy, and they strolled away together. Had Lance seen +them at that moment, he would have been surprised by the noticeable +change which had come over them both. Adela had now been at school some +ten months—nearly a year—and her steady application, with the loss of +that out-door life to which she had been accustomed, had subdued the +color in her cheeks, though it had not made them pale. The delicate +brown tinge was always there. But the stiff black hair that had formerly +blown so carelessly about her head was demurely combed and orderly, now, +and a serene, womanly thoughtfulness had somehow drifted into the lines +of her face, making its wild beauty sweeter.</p> + +<p>Sylv, too, had acquired a more polished air. It was not a gawky polish. +His clothes were very plain, but he appeared at ease in them; and +although his tangled beard was reduced to comparative trimness, it +hinted nothing of the incipient dandy. On the whole, they were a very +serious and simple pair, who would have looked extremely "countrified" +in Richmond, and still more so in New York. But they had altered very +much since the days on the shore.</p> + +<p>Had Lance seen them then, he would have been surprised—and perhaps +displeased—by another thing. This was, that as they moved down the road +leading away from the town, they looked so like a pair of lovers.</p> + +<p>Ah, while they had been growing so neat and orderly on the surface, and +had come to show marks of the educational mould, had they possibly +undergone another change of an opposite kind, within? Were their hearts +as well regulated, as calm, as their dress and their faces?</p> + +<p>Through the long period of their sojourn together, they had lived upon +hopes, interests, ambitions common to both. Adela had been fired with +zeal for her new occupation; they had talked over their daily successes +or reverses every afternoon; and though I have not said much about +Sylv's natural refinement, and his quiet, persuasive quality, these two +things—combined with constant association—had exercised a great +influence upon Adela. Imperceptibly she had grown into a life which +belonged to them alone, apart from every one else.</p> + +<p>"How did you get along to-day?" asked Sylv.</p> + +<p>"All right," said Adela. "But the algebra was hard. It seems as if I +couldn't think of anything but squares and roots and coefficients. It +appears to me like I'll have to extract the square root of my head right +soon; and if I do, there won't be anything left."</p> + +<p>"You're getting tired, I reckon," Sylv suggested. "Maybe you ought not +to work so much. How would it suit you, Deely, to go home for a few days +and rest?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, vacation's coming in a few weeks," she answered, wearily. "It ain't +that, Sylv. I ain't tired with the work; but it's because my life seems +so queer, and I don't know what I want. I don't want to stay here, or to +go home. I'm afraid I'll never be happy any more."</p> + +<p>They were now in a quiet spot outside of the town. Some willows grew +beside the road, which was here carried over a small bridge that covered +the gurgling flow of a brook. Sylv stopped short, and eyed her +meditatively.</p> + +<p>"Not happy?" he questioned. "Why not, Deely? Wouldn't you be if you were +with Dennie again?"</p> + +<p>Adela paused, too. "I can't tell," she said. "I don't know what is the +matter with me, but I don't seem to be satisfied with anything, Sylv. I +never can go back to what I was, but I don't see that I can go forward, +either."</p> + +<p>"But Dennie loves you just the same," said Sylv, rather falteringly.</p> + +<p>The girl clasped her hands and gazed absently in front of her. "I know +he does," she said, in an inert way. "I know it well enough."</p> + +<p>"And you know he has been trying to learn to read, just to please you, +and so as to keep up with you as well as he can."</p> + +<p>"Yes." But still her face did not lighten. The gathering sadness +deepened upon it, if anything. "Oh, why did I come here!" she suddenly +cried, despairingly. "If Mr. Lance had not sent me! Ah, what was the +use?"</p> + +<p>Sylv regarded her compassionately, but he was himself undergoing an +anguish that it seemed impossible to withstand.</p> + +<p>"Come," he said, soothingly, "let's go down yonder among the trees and +talk about it. We'll see if there isn't some way of making you happy. I +reckon the time has come for a change, and we ought to see what is +needed."</p> + +<p>She yielded, as though he were entitled to lead her. Taking his hand, +she walked with him down on to the young grass at the side of the +highway, and in among the trees alongside the "run." In the retired nook +that they came to they seated themselves, while the spring breeze +murmured through the light leaves above them, unsuspicious of any woe in +the minds of these two young persons.</p> + +<p>"I was angry with Dennie," said Adela, speaking low, "and that was why I +left him to come here. But he has been so good, and so patient."</p> + +<p>"Yes, that he has!" Sylv corroborated, fervently. "Why don't you go back +to him?"</p> + +<p>The gaze which Sylv fixed upon her, in asking this question, was very +unlike that of an impartial and philosophic adviser. His eyes burned +with a rapacious though restrained fire. Yet his tone was composed.</p> + +<p>Adela broke into moaning. "Why do you ask me that?" she exclaimed. "Oh, +don't you <i>know</i> how hard it is to go back? Do you think it can ever be +the same? I don't want that kind of life any more: I am for something +different now. You see, all this studying and thinking and reading has +given me a new idea, and there's no one to take a share in it. When I go +back and marry Dennie that part of me will be alone. What am I to do; +oh, what <i>am</i> I to do?"</p> + +<p>Her distress was so acute that she gave way to tears, which she +helplessly tried to press back with a hand at her eyes.</p> + +<p>"Don't cry, Deely," said Sylv, taking her other hand. "You're tired out, +and you're troubling yourself, but you don't need to. By and by you'll +be happy; never fear!"</p> + +<p>Adela clung to his hand instinctively. "You're a kind fellow, Sylv," +said she, ceasing to sob. "I know you wish me well. But it's all over +with me. I ought not to think of anything but Dennie. If I can make +<i>him</i> happy, why—I ought—to be satisfied." But the stifled tone in +which she uttered the words showed how far she fell short of that duty.</p> + +<p>Sylv longed to speak more tenderly to her. The touch of her trusting +hand in his was maddening. He would have laid down his life, at that +instant, to comfort her; and if he was ready to sacrifice his own, what +mattered the life and happiness of any other? But there was only one way +in which he felt sure that he could secure lasting comfort to her, so +far as one man might; and that way he dared not propose. Why had he not +foreseen this difficulty and this peril in time to evade them? He had +imagined that his whole life depended on books, and here he found that +it was nothing as compared with a woman. He had indulged in the tranquil +belief that he was a disinterested student; but now he awoke to the fact +that he was a reckless lover!</p> + +<p>"Deely," he exclaimed, rising, but still keeping her hand in his, "if +you don't love Dennie enough to go back to him, you must not do it!"</p> + +<p>"And break his heart?" she asked, looking up at him with an effort at +reproach.</p> + +<p>"I speak to you as his brother," answered Sylv—"his brother, whom he +sent here of his own accord to watch over you; and I say that it would +be wrong. You would not be happy yourself, and you would find it +impossible to make him happy."</p> + +<p>Adela drew her hand away. "But I have promised him! And I will keep my +promise."</p> + +<p>As she spoke she rose erect: he could hear her close her teeth with a +grating sound.</p> + +<p>"I don't intend to argue about it," he said. "You are free to settle +everything your own way. It appeared to me like I must tell you my +opinion. That's the end of it, Deely." He paused. "I got a letter from +Mr. Lance; says he's got back, and is coming up to see you. But <i>I</i> am +going away to-morrow."</p> + +<p>Adela started violently. "<i>You</i> going away!" Then she trembled toward +him and laid her hands on his shoulders. "Oh no, no! Don't leave me now, +Sylv. Don't go away!"</p> + +<p>"I must," he replied. "I've got through. I've done all I can. I must go +back to work for Mr. Lance."</p> + +<p>Adela's hands still rested on his arms. He could hardly move them +otherwise than to enfold and sustain her. Unable to support herself, she +drooped and sank toward him for an instant.</p> + +<p>"Dear—dear—sister," he almost groaned, "don't despair! Don't give way! +I wish I could save you from suffering."</p> + +<p>She recovered herself and stood upright before him, looking into his +eyes. She trembled, and he longed to embrace her once more, holding her +to his heart for as long as he should live. But neither of them made any +movement toward such a renewal of her dependence upon him. Steadily, yet +with a kind of doubt and fear, they gazed at one another; and the whole +story of their hearts was made clear. But not one word of passion was +uttered.</p> + +<p>"I must leave—must leave to-morrow," Sylv repeated, as they started +simultaneously to go back to the school; "and I think I will send Dennie +up here." Instead of advancing this proposition with the courage he +wanted to show, he made it sound like the knell of all their hopes. +Nerving himself, he added: "Shall I tell him you've forgiven him?"</p> + +<p>This time, by a prodigious effort, he spoke bravely; yet his eyes, +without his knowledge, seemed to beg her to come to the aid of his +failing fortitude.</p> + +<p>"Shall I tell him?"</p> + +<p>"Yes."</p> + +<p>"And that you're ready to go with him now?" The faltering look had +vanished. A white, still light of triumph rested on his paling face.</p> + +<p>"Yes," said Adela again, with trembling lips.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XIII" id="CHAPTER_XIII"></a>CHAPTER XIII.</h2> + +<h3>LANCE AND ADELA.</h3> + + +<p>Sylv was on the point of beginning his journey, when Lance walked into +his boarding-place with a hearty salutation.</p> + +<p>"Isn't this very sudden?" he asked, with pronounced astonishment at +Sylv's new move.</p> + +<p>"It looks so to you," said the young man. "But I've been thinking it +over a long time. It isn't best for me to stay here."</p> + +<p>Lance saw that something was held in reserve, but could not conjecture +what. "Suit yourself, Sylv," he returned. "If you're satisfied, I ought +to be."</p> + +<p>"Besides," said Sylv, with the air of having already given one reason, +"I ought to do some of that work I promised for you."</p> + +<p>"It <i>would</i> be an advantage to begin exploring the swamp before warm +weather comes on," Lance agreed.</p> + +<p>"Well, sir, I'm ready to go at it right straight off," said the other.</p> + +<p>There was a disproportionate grimness in his tone and manner, Lance +imagined. The declaration had apparently cost him an effort.</p> + +<p>"Lord bless me, Sylv," he exclaimed, abruptly, "how thin and pale you've +grown! I didn't fairly notice it until this moment. It evidently won't +do you any harm to have a change."</p> + +<p>"No, sir. I have not been feeling well."</p> + +<p>"All right. Wait till the afternoon train, and I'll go back to Beaufort +with you. I only want to see Adela for a while. Will you come along?"</p> + +<p>He did not really want Sylv to accompany him; and perhaps this was +manifest in his way of speaking. Yet he was somewhat surprised when the +young man, turning aside and pretending to adjust some of the articles +in the forlorn miniature trunk he had been packing, said: "No, thank +you, Mr. Lance. I said good-by to her last night."</p> + +<p>"It's just as well, that way," said Lance, nervously. "I have something +important to tell her, and it will be better to see her alone."</p> + +<p>Sylv straightened up, and glanced at him almost fiercely. A suspicion +occurred to him. "Something important?" he asked. But he did not dare to +demand particulars.</p> + +<p>Nor did it reassure him much, either, to have Lance answer, "Yes; I'll +tell you about it afterward."</p> + +<p>For his part, Lance, in noticing Sylv's abstracted behavior, recalled +what Jessie had said as to throwing the young fellow so much with Adela, +and wondered whether there was any confirmation of her fear in the +constraint which had overtaken his <i>protégé</i>. But he was so anxious to +see Adela, that he did not stop to reflect on that point more than a +moment.</p> + +<p>Ushered by the matronly principal of the academy into its scrupulously +dusted but threadbare parlor, he awaited the girl's advent with a good +deal of trepidation. The window-blinds were closed, and the interior was +pervaded by a mock twilight. When Adela at last made her appearance, her +figure, from the opposite side of the room, looked so dim and uncertain +that Lance was strongly reminded of the first time he ever saw her—the +time that she rose out of the earth, as it were, and again crumbled back +into it.</p> + +<p>"Miss Reefe!" he said, scarcely above a murmur.</p> + +<p>"Oh, Mr. Lance! Sylv told me you were coming." And she approached him +through the dimness of the room, groping, one might say.</p> + +<p>They shook hands formally, and to Lance's distraught fancy it seemed as +if her fingers withdrew themselves with the recoil of absolute dislike +from the touch of his own.</p> + +<p>"You're not glad to see me, I'm afraid," he began, boldly.</p> + +<p>"Oh yes—yes I am. What makes you think so?"</p> + +<p>"I can hardly tell, but I think I should know if you were. It is so dark +here I can barely see you. Shall I open a shutter?" He made a movement +to do so.</p> + +<p>"It is light enough for me," Adela answered; and he at once desisted +from his purpose. "Won't you sit down?" she asked.</p> + +<p>He accepted the invitation.</p> + +<p>They conversed for a few moments about her studies and about what he +himself had been doing since they last met. But at length he said: "You +never would be able to guess, Adela, why I have come to see you to-day. +You told me a very interesting story once—do you remember?—about your +people. That was a legend; but now I have a true story to tell <i>you</i>, +which is connected with yours. Would you like to hear it?"</p> + +<p>"I always like stories better than anything," said the girl. "Do tell it +to me."</p> + +<p>Thereupon Lance narrated the tale with which we are familiar, adding the +details of the picture, the first clew which he had caught in her +resemblance to Jessie, and the extraordinary coincidence of the old +rhyme from Wharton Hall. Adela listed intently, without interposing a +syllable; but he could hear her breath coming and going, and +occasionally she sighed. She was seated in a chair near his own; but, +though his eyes were growing used to the gloom of the apartment, he felt +her presence more by the warm irradiation of her vitality through the +air than by actual vision. From time to time there was an audible flurry +of light feet and flitting skirts in the passageway without, or in the +rooms above, indicating the movement of young women from one point to +another of the scanty scholastic edifice; and once a desk-bell rang +punctiliously from a distance. But otherwise they were uninterrupted. As +Lance proceeded with his story, the dimness of the light and the random +brushing of the breeze against the shutters aided a species of +hallucination that laid hold of him. While he retraced the mazes and the +by-paths of the tradition that led back so far into the forests and the +obscurity of an earlier epoch, the gloom of the wilderness itself seemed +to surround him; the leaves of an unknown forest-land muttered and +rustled in his ears; he felt like an explorer; he was making his way, he +could fancy, toward the goal of his long striving and his harassed +desire. Should he not meet, at the end of his wanderings, the object of +his search?</p> + +<p>When he had finished the story he said: "<i>You</i> have Indian blood in your +veins, Adela."</p> + +<p>Her voice permeated the dusk slowly and hesitatingly: "Yes. But how do +you know?"</p> + +<p>"I have seen your father, and he has told me." Lance rose and stepped +toward the window. "Gertrude Wylde was your ancestress," he declared, +"and she was the same woman as Ewayeá in your legend. It is I who have +discovered this, and I have brought you, at last, out of all that +mystery!"</p> + +<p>Flinging the shutters open he stood there, looking toward her. Adela at +the same instant left her seat and placed herself before him. Then, for +the first time, he could see the change that had crept over her +features.</p> + +<p>"Good God!" he cried. "What has happened?"</p> + +<p>Adela spread her hands out in timid deprecation. "I don't know," she +said. "What do you mean?"</p> + +<p>"You are so much more—you have grown so like Jessie since I saw you," +Lance returned, well-nigh gasping. "If it were not for that darker +tint—"</p> + +<p>"Mr. Lance," she interrupted, "what can you be thinking of? Why do you +talk so excitedly, and why did you come here to tell me this?"</p> + +<p>"Because," he said, "I have been intensely interested in the problem. I +believe you belong to the line of Gertrude Wylde. If you do, you +represent the woman whom my ancestor loved, and you are closely related +to Jessie Floyd. Do you suppose it makes any difference to me that +Indians came into that line? No; I see in you the lineal descendant of +Gertrude, and a kinswoman of the Floyds. I wish to have it clearly +understood that you and they are of one family. You must take the place +that belongs to you."</p> + +<p>"What place?" Adela sighed. "Can you tell what place mine is?"</p> + +<p>"Of course I can. Haven't I said what I thought?" But while Lance +uttered these words, he noticed how sad and wan she looked, and he also +felt the difficulty of bringing her within the circle of life to which +he belonged.</p> + +<p>"You have made a great mistake," she replied. "I am only Adela Reefe, +and I cannot be anything else. Did Sylv tell you? I am going away from +here. I shall not stay any longer, for I promised to be Dennie's wife, +and I am going to marry him as soon as he comes for me."</p> + +<p>"To be Dennie's wife!" exclaimed Lance, instinctively treating the idea +as though he had not heard of it before. "Yes; yes; I suppose you are to +be. But why should that prevent your being one of us? You will be a +kinswoman, a cousin, just the same."</p> + +<p>Adela gathered herself up, and spoke with resolution. "I don't know if +you are right," she said, "but any way, Mr. Lance, if I <i>am</i> a kinswoman +and a cousin, do you think Miss Jessie will want to have me for one?"</p> + +<p>The best that Lance could do was to parry this direct thrust. "If you +are so," he answered, "what difference can her wish make?"</p> + +<p>"I will tell you, easy enough," Adela retorted, proudly. "It is just +that I won't have anything to do with people who don't want me for one +of them. If I had ever supposed that coming up here to school would make +it seem as if I wanted to do that, I wouldn't have come. Oh, I didn't +know all this when I came! No, no! And I'm sorry I did it. I tried to be +grateful to you, Mr. Lance, and I do thank you for your good meaning; +but I'm sorry I came."</p> + +<p>"Adela," he said, rather coldly, "I can't let you talk in this way. You +are proud and angry, and don't know what you're saying. Remember that, +whatever happens, I stand by you."</p> + +<p>"I don't want any one to stand by me," she returned. "I am all alone, +and I will stay so. Suppose you had never come here, Mr. Lance; who +would have guessed that I had anything to do with that old English +family? I could not have guessed it myself, even. I know you've tried to +help me, and now you want to make something different of me from what I +always was before. But I'm going back to marry Dennie, and the best +thing you can do is to leave me where you found me, and forget all about +me. I shall just be Dennie's wife; that's all. I don't ask to be +anything else."</p> + +<p>It may seem to you unreal that Lance should have been so much exercised +regarding Adela's happiness and her future, especially since he was +bound to Jessie Floyd by the most sacred promises. Unreal it is, I +grant, to people who live by the tinkle of the horse-car, the tick of +the clock, and the reading of the newspaper. But this individual, +impracticable man—so like many other men who, in dissimilar +circumstances, conceive themselves to be prodigiously practical—was +bent upon an idea. And he was determined to carry out his idea. He cared +more for his theory than he did for himself or for any one besides. It +was his ambition to be impartial—to secure the recognition of all +rights which he thought were in need of vindication. And so far did he +carry that desire, that he was really somewhat bewildered by it; in +consequence whereof he held himself ready, at this especial moment, to +sacrifice one great obligation to a lesser obligation.</p> + +<p>"I'm not going to be satisfied with this result," he said. "I am +determined that it shall not be in vain that I have sought you out and +found you. Listen to me, Adela! It is a question of justice—in fact, of +simple humanity—and I'm bound to have justice done. You may go back to +Hunting Quarters, if you like, any day, and marry Dennie; but you ought +not to ask to be dropped out of our lives. I wish to see you put where +you belong. If you have changed your mind, and do not want to marry +Dennie, only tell me so. Your happiness is at stake, and it shall be +preserved at all hazards."</p> + +<p>"How can you preserve it better than I can?" Adela demanded.</p> + +<p>Lance delayed his answer, inwardly trembling. It may be that we ought +not to inquire into the wild and erratic impulses that assailed him at +that instant; but, amid their dizzying influence, he held fast to the +ideal of honesty on all sides.</p> + +<p>"Very likely I can't," he replied, calmly. "But I wish to say that, if +anything should go wrong, if any trouble should come to you, I may be +counted on as your friend—no matter who opposes."</p> + +<p>Adela melted at once into frank dependence. "Oh, Mr. Lance," she said, +"I have sorrows, like other people, and I don't know what they will +bring at last; so if you <i>will</i> help me when I need help, I shall be +glad! But please don't think about me now; only let me go—let me go!"</p> + +<p>And with this sorry climax the interview ended, Lance retiring with an +inexplicable sense of defeated endeavor. In some way, which he was not +able to analyze as yet, his dream had been exploded. The unravelling of +the mystery of Gertrude Wylde had been to him a romance of the most +fascinating kind; but now that the romance had culminated, no one seemed +to know what to do with it. Apparently he had followed a +will-o'-the-wisp, when he expected any good to attend his success in +ferreting out Adela's identity; for it had put him at odds with Jessie, +and it brought no pleasure to Adela herself.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XIV" id="CHAPTER_XIV"></a>CHAPTER XIV.</h2> + +<h3>DENNIE'S TROUBLE.</h3> + + +<p>With heavy hearts both Lance and Sylv accomplished their journey to +Beaufort late that afternoon; and on the way Lance explained to his +companion the new light in which Adela must be regarded.</p> + +<p>Sylv, however, said little, and appeared anxious to reach home, where he +could consult with Dennie.</p> + +<p>He found his brother busily engaged in completing a ditch across the +neck of the headland, which he had finally, in deference to the wishes +of Aunty Losh, undertaken to dig, to the end that her live-stock might +be kept from straying over to the mainland. "I am fearsome o' the +tides," said Dennie, as he had said long ago; "but aunty wants this hyar +for to be done, and so I am doin' on it."</p> + +<p>The docile, plodding industry of his brother smote upon Sylv with a +singular reproach. He could not throw off the conviction that he himself +had been essentially idle in his devotion to book-learning, while Dennie +had remained so faithful to the dull duties at home.</p> + +<p>"Dennie," he said, "I got some good news for you."</p> + +<p>"Ye mean that ar?" queried Dennie, halting in his toil, with his shovel +in the loose ground. "I ain't had no good news for a long sight, Sylv. +What mout it be?"</p> + +<p>"Deely's coming back to you."</p> + +<p>Dennie stood stock still and wiped the sweat from his brow. Then he +touched his grimy knuckles to his eyelids; but, without betraying +emotion in any other way, except by the softening of his voice, he said: +"I'm glad on't, Sylv. Ar' she a-comin' back because she want to?"</p> + +<p>"Yes; oh yes! There couldn't be any other reason, could there, Dennie?"</p> + +<p>"Well, I warn't right sure," said Dennie. "No; I reckon they aren't no +other reason." Seizing the shovel, he made a few more plunges with it +into the soil. "Well, I'm right glad on't, Sylv. When ar' she comin'?"</p> + +<p>"Now, I'll tell you how it is," Sylv returned, assuming an expository +manner. "Deely thinks you've been a right good boy, and she allows she +was impatient with you. But, then, you were impatient too. She's made up +her mind to let go the rest of her school term, and she's waiting for +you now up at the city. All you've got to do is to go there and get +her."</p> + +<p>Dennie abandoned his work for the moment, and gazed at his brother +affectionately. "Thank ye kindly, Sylv. Ye been a good brother to me. +Oh, it don't 'pear true! I don't make out how it's so; but I waited and +sarved kind o'patient, Sylv, and all to once it comes out squar'. +Deely's been fair to me, old man, and so ha' you been. Wall, it's more'n +I desarve."</p> + +<p>With the guilty knowledge of a hidden love for Adela in his heart, Sylv +would rather have faced the threatening muzzle of his brother's gun, as +it had once been pointed at him, than to have stood up before the glance +of trust and affection which Dennie now directed toward him. But, thank +Heaven, his conscience was clean. He had not betrayed the trust. He had +preserved his honor, and had left Adela free.</p> + +<p>"Don't think about what you deserve," he said, "but just you go and do +what she expects you to. You go up there and fetch her back."</p> + +<p>"Did she ask ye to tell me that, Sylv?"</p> + +<p>"Yes."</p> + +<p>"Then I'll do it! But I ar' got to dig this hyar ditch first off, don't +you see I have? 'Cause I tole aunty I would, and she'd be a heap sight +put out if I didn't. But ye'll go up to the city with me, won't ye, +Sylv? I'd feel lonesome and quar' ef ye didn't."</p> + +<p>"I'm right sorry, Dennie; but I can't. I've got to do some work for Mr. +Lance, and I ought not to go back."</p> + +<p>However, when Dennie was ready to take his departure Sylv came to him +with a sealed letter. "I can't go with you, Dennie," he repeated; "but +there's a few words I wanted to say to Deely, and you might as well +carry them, I thought."</p> + +<p>Dennie conscientiously dumped the missive into his hat; and, with a last +joyous whisk of his red beard, took leave of his brother.</p> + +<p>His impatience to see Adela caused him to spurn the faithful dug-out as +a means of travel, and he went by rail.</p> + +<p>In the long months of separation from his sweetheart he had succeeded in +carrying out a great self-improvement. The hope of making himself worthy +to recover her was the mainstay of his gallant persistence in this work, +and it had wrought a wonderful effect. He was still the same Dennie—his +temperament could not be remodelled—but from being irascible, +hot-headed, untrustworthy, he had come to exercise a self-control that +made him seem uncommonly gentle. What he gained in that direction he had +to hold by untiring vigilance and firm will; but a succession of +victories convinced him that now, when the reward was held out to him, +he could prove his fitness to receive it.</p> + +<p>A driving rain poured down upon North Carolina as he left the coast. The +sea showed its white teeth at Hatteras and all along the sandy spits and +islands that fringe that shore. Every one said that still uglier weather +was likely to come soon. But to Dennie the drenching showers and the +hurly-burly of the winds only enhanced the gladness in his heart. He +basked in the delicious glow of cosiness which children feel when snugly +housed from pelting storms that they can watch at ease. The slow-paced +cars seemed to him to glide ahead with wonderful swiftness—his own +happy anticipation lent speed to the wheels—and the humming rails +echoed and rang again with one continual song of hope, hope, hope.</p> + +<p>How many fond, encouraging things he would say to Adela! How bright he +would make the prospect for her! He would show her, beyond question, +that she need never undergo any trials or troubles which he could +prevent.</p> + +<p>It was not so easy to do all this, at first, as he had imagined it would +be. On meeting, they were both rather quiet. Dennie took her hand +bashfully: he discovered all at once that he was in the presence of a +superior being. The muscles of his right arm, also, appeared to succumb +to a peculiar disorder, and would not act when he wanted to throw that +arm around her waist. Good Lord! was he afraid? Had he been afraid to +clasp her in his arm a year before? But gradually this paralytic attack +wore itself out: he sat down beside her, and presently his right hand +was visible to his own eyes, resting easily at a point on the right side +of her belt.</p> + +<p>"I'm glad to be with ye again, Deely," he said, carefully eliminating as +much of the gruffness as he could from his strong out-of-doors voice.</p> + +<p>But the hearty gruffness that remained was, somehow, very agreeable to +Adela. "Dear old Dennie," she said, in a gentle, musing way, as if she +were speaking of him to some third person.</p> + +<p>"And ye're glad, too, be ye, Deely?" he asked, gazing at her +indulgently, but with some vestiges of anxious doubt.</p> + +<p>"Yes, Dennie, I'm glad to be with you; you're so good now. And I like to +see you happy."</p> + +<p>"That's a puss," said the big fellow, but instantly felt astonishment at +his own familiarity. Finding, too, that he was instinctively patting her +with his hand, he promptly stopped, because it struck him that his hand +was too rough, and he might hurt or crush her. He drew it softly away to +a more normal position. "Why, they tell me," he resumed, "that ye're a +great lady now—a sort o' prin<i>cess</i>, or su'thin' that way, I didn't +know for sure ye'd want to see me or have me hangin' round ye no more."</p> + +<p>And then he laughed at the deceptiveness and the wild humor of his own +speech.</p> + +<p>"Oh, Dennie," she implored, "don't talk about that! What difference does +it make?"</p> + +<p>"Ye needn't bat yer eyes," he replied. "I ain't 'shamed on it, if ye +ain't. Why Sylv, he said how ye war just as good as Miss Jessie, 'cause +ye war born away back out'n the same family; leastways, some one else +did the bornin' for ye, them ar times. But I—well, <i>I</i> allays thought +ye war a heap sight better'n Miss Jessie or any one else."</p> + +<p>"I know that, Dennie. You always loved me true. Oh, it was wrong for me +to come away from you so!"</p> + +<p>Adela leaned her head upon him, and began to sob slightly. This +proceeding was to totally unlooked for, that Dennie was amazed.</p> + +<p>"Thar, thar," he said, "ye'd oughtn't for to cry when I come back to ye. +No; ye had the right on't, Deely. I warn't fit, then, and I wouldn't ha' +been a fip better ef ye hadn't ha' left me be. It ar' all right, I tell +ye. But fust, when I saw ye just now, thinks I, ye've changed so, and ye +look so sort o' ironed up all careful, ye won't care nothin' for a old +rough boy like Dennie no more. But if ye're goin' to cry, Deely, why, I +want for to stop ye; and I do think it war all right, your leavin' me."</p> + +<p>"Oh no, no," she reaffirmed, still weeping. "I did you a great wrong, +Dennie!"</p> + +<p>Dennie's face became apprehensive for a moment; but that look quickly +dissolved, and he permitted himself a subdued laugh. "It are enough to +make a man laugh," he said, in excuse, "to think o' my forgivin' ye; but +if ye feel ye done wrong, why, I'll say I forgive ye, Deely. I do +forgive ye, right free."</p> + +<p>She had made the only confession she could. Indeed, what was there to +reveal, except that in her long companionship with Sylv she had learned +to love him, before she comprehended what was happening, and that she +had honestly, at a fearful cost, stifled that love so far as might be, +in order to remain true to the man she had promised to wed? But to tell +this would in itself be to dishonor her vow.</p> + +<p>She looked up to Dennie with streaming eyes, and her hand sought his. +"Thank you, thank you!" she murmured. "I have suffered a great deal +here, Dennie—away from you. I know you have suffered too. But you are +generous and kind; and now I hope we can forget all the pain."</p> + +<p>Dennie, in listening to her, was strongly impressed with the feeling +that he was hearing something read from a book, so sharp was the +contrast between her utterance and his. But the contents of the +supposititious book were very soothing and acceptable. He turned quickly +to her, and for the first time since his arrival they embraced each +other with thorough self-forgetfulness.</p> + +<p>"But, Deely," he said, "I ain't like ye ar'. I ain't got l'arnin' the +way ye have now. Don't ye reckon that ar'll disapp'int ye?"</p> + +<p>"No; not a bit," she answered, warmly; "you'll be kind and good to me, +Dennie, and I will be a good wife to you. All I want is for you to take +me away from here. Take me home!"</p> + +<p>There was an almost desperate energy in her voice. The truth was, +Dennie's presence acted upon her as a restorative, and awakened many +memories of the simple and happier time when they had played together +and grown up together and carried on their courtship by the shore. +Despite her love for Sylv—or perhaps in consequence of it—she threw +herself upon Dennie's protection with an eagerness she would not have +believed possible until she met him face to face. His big figure, his +glowing cheeks, his heavy hands and rough accent—all brought to her a +whiff of the salt air in which she had been born and bred. Her secret +misery was dulled by his trusting companionship; she was lulled into +reveries of some existence of comparative peace, in which she would be +able to fulfil her ideal of duty and find her recompense in so doing.</p> + +<p>"Take ye home, dear girl! Why, that's what I'm wantin' to do," he +rejoined, tenderly. And, fired by the thought, he went on to tell her +where they would make the home; how Sylv and he were going to take part +in Lance's wide-reaching plans; how he would perhaps have something to +do with the paper-mill or the market gardens that were to replace the +swamp; and how happy she and he could be.</p> + +<p>Adela entered eagerly into all these glowing particulars. A new life +opened before her, which she believed would be beautified with all sorts +of unexpected happiness; and she was filled with thanksgiving because +she had clung resolutely to her plighted troth.</p> + +<p>"We'll go to-morrow!" cried Dennie, with enthusiasm. "D'ye think ye can +make out to be ready, Deely?"</p> + +<p>"I could be ready to-day," she replied, "if there's a train."</p> + +<p>Dennie, wonderful to relate, had provided himself with a time-table, +though the "summer arrangement" of the railroad to Beaufort was not +complicated. He resorted to his hat to find it. But as he plucked the +printed slip from its place in the inner band of the hat his eye lighted +on Sylv's letter. Until that moment he had entirely forgotten that he +was a usurper of the postal function.</p> + +<p>"Dog-gone it!" he exclaimed, "I come mighty near not givin' you this. +It's from Sylv."</p> + +<p>Adela stripped away tho yellow envelope with startled haste; and on a +poor sheet of blue-ruled note-paper she read these words:</p> + +<blockquote><p>"<span class="smcap">Dear Deely:</span> I did not mean to write anything, but the feeling +comes over me that I ought to say good-by to you and Dennie. I +have decided that my life here has been a failure, and I am +going away. I shall not come back. Mr. Lance thinks I have gone +to do something for him, but it is no use to look for me, +because no one can find me.</p> + +<p>"I love you and Dennie, and want you to be happy together. +Remember that, and do not mourn over me any more than if I had +died. You know we cannot help dying. If I could do any good by +staying I would; but I am certain it is better for me to go.</p> + +<p>"Tell Dennie I trust him to make you happy. I believe in him +and love him. Good-by. <span class="smcap">Sylv.</span>"</p></blockquote> + +<p>Dennie awaited the result of her reading in dumb expectancy, and saw the +look of horror in her face, but could not account for it.</p> + +<p>Adela shrieked aloud. "Oh, he is dead!" she cried. "He meant to kill +himself! Help, Dennie, help! What are we to do?"</p> + +<p>She stretched out her hand, with the letter in it; but Dennie only shook +his head, in helpless bewilderment.</p> + +<p>"I can't read it," he said, piteously. "I don't know enough, Deely. That +ar writin'—Deely, what ails ye? What's he said there?"</p> + +<p>The mistress of the academy came running in, alarmed by the girl's +outcry.</p> + +<p>"Sylv is going to kill himself," Adela repeated. "He says he's going +away; but I know—oh, I know what he means! See, Dennie; that's what he +says." And again she held the letter toward him, distractedly. "He says +good-by to you and me. Can we go to-day? Is there any train?"</p> + +<p>Dennie offered the mistress his time-table, which to him was merely an +illegible curiosity—a memento of his unprecedented journey.</p> + +<p>Without looking at it, however, she drew out her watch with a sharp tug +at the silken guard that held it. "Yes, you have time," she announced, +"if you hurry. I'll bring your things, Miss Reefe."</p> + +<p>She disappeared.</p> + +<p>"Tell me 'bout it, Deely," said Dennie, fumbling hopelessly with the +letter, which he had now taken into his sunburned hands.</p> + +<p>Adela set foot upon her agitation, and rapidly read the letter over to +him.</p> + +<p>Dennie appeared to be stunned. "Suicide?" he said. "What for? Hev you +got any right for to think that ar?" His tone was indignant. "What call +ar' he got to kill hisself? Sylv—our Sylv, I tell ye. My brother!"</p> + +<p>"Because he hadn't anything left to live for! He was miserable," Adela +answered, with vengeful emphasis. "It is Mr. Lance did it—sending me +here. No! <i>I</i> did it, because I would not tell him what I felt. I wanted +to be true to you."</p> + +<p>The truth burst upon Dennie like a flood, and his fierce temper rose to +meet it. For an instant a blinding light flashed dazzingly by across +everything that surrounded him; he grew giddy, and Adela had no more +important existence in his eyes than the table and the chairs around +him, or the lifeless walls of the room. His single desire was, in his +rage, to destroy something, to create havoc and ruin, answering to the +ruin of his own hopes. But the next instant he felt as if he were among +the pines, with his gun aimed at Sylv; and the thought that Sylv at this +very instant might be lying dead somewhere brought a ghastly picture +before his eyes. The whirl of maddening light passed away, and he stood +humiliated, mournful, calm, motionless.</p> + +<p>"Then it's true at last!" he said, hoarsely. "You loved that man—my +brother—and he loved you."</p> + +<p>For a moment Adela could not speak. Her lips moved, without sound. At +last she answered: "Yes. But I never told him, and he said nothing to +me. 'Twas only after we came here."</p> + +<p>Dennie replied in a voice that made her think of the muffled breaking of +the waves on the distant coast. "I was fearsome of it, Deely, but I +swore I wouldn't think on't. It ar' best I know it now. We'll go and +look for—for Sylv. If he ar' alive, I'll bring you to him."</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XV" id="CHAPTER_XV"></a>CHAPTER XV.</h2> + +<h3>ELBOW-CROOK SWAMP.</h3> + + +<p>Without notice Hedson had appeared on the scene; he was hospitably +received by Colonel Floyd, and asked Lance to show him over the ground +in which the as yet unborn syndicate was expected to invest.</p> + +<p>Accompanied by Sylv they were occupied in a general survey of the swamp, +from the outside, at the time when Dennie was talking with Adela in +Newbern. "Yes, yes; fine country for a cemetery," said the hale but +sceptical Hedson. "To come down to bed-rock on this thing," he added, +turning to Lance, "the expense of paring off the natural growth and +filling in here would be enormous, to say nothing of what the lawyers +call 'supplementary proceedings.' You know what that means, don't you, +Mr. De Vine?" Here he included Sylv in the favored list of those for +whom his remarks were intended.</p> + +<p>The upshot of the exploratory drive was that Hedson gave a semi-adverse +judgment; notwithstanding which he began to consult with himself +inaudibly as to the best mode of going to work to buy some of the waste +land in question on his private account.</p> + +<p>Sylv showed an unmistakable eagerness to begin his task of investigating +the interior of the swamp, and before he parted from Lance for the day +he took him aside and told him that he should be in the swamp by +daylight of the next morning.</p> + +<p>Hedson and the colonel found plenty to talk about that evening, and +Lance was left alone with Jessie.</p> + +<p>The conversation that passed between these two was somewhat ruffled. +Jessie found fault with her lover because he had gone to Newbern against +her will, and Lance assured her that his eccentric interest in Adela +Reefe was now appeased: he had done all that he wished to, in disclosing +to her the probable relationship with the Floyds, and would henceforth +leave her affairs, for the most part, alone. But Jessie was not content +with that declaration.</p> + +<p>"If she comes back here to live, as you say she is about to do," she +asked, "what do you expect?"</p> + +<p>"Simply that we shall receive her as one of us," said Lance. "I have +befriended her and the De Vine boys, and I intend to keep on. They are +inevitably a part of my system and my plans now."</p> + +<p>"Then you are going to overturn everything," Jessie asserted.</p> + +<p>In short, silly though it was, they quarrelled more seriously than they +had done hitherto.</p> + +<p>Jessie, there is reason to believe, was very unhappy in consequence, and +passed a wretched night. And Lance scarcely slept a wink. He lay +restless on his bed, turning and tossing, until it seemed to him that he +veered this way or that with the varying gusts of the tempestuous wind +that hourly grew more turbulent, until Fairleigh Manor shook in its +angry clutch.</p> + +<p>"How the wind roars!" he growled aloud, starting from a half doze; and +after vainly waiting a while longer for repose he got up, dressed +himself, and went out.</p> + +<p>The earliest gray of daybreak was visible in the eastern sky, but the +atmosphere was so surcharged with storm that he fancied he could hear +the seething of the angry ocean in the blasts that whirled around him, +though he was not within ten miles of the open sea.</p> + +<p>An hour after he had left the manor a worn-out wagon from Beaufort drew +up in front of the door, and Dennie alighted. Dennie raised such a +clamor at the door that at last the inmates began to arouse themselves. +Jessie was the first to respond to the summons. She gathered hastily +from Dennie the object of his untimely call, and learned that Adela was +with him in the wagon. They were looking for Sylv; had been detained at +Beaufort, and were only just arrived; so they had come at once to the +manor to ask Lance if he knew anything of Sylv's whereabouts, since +Lance had been mentioned in the letter of farewell. But, a servant being +sent to Lance's room, it was discovered that he was not at home; and +Dennie forthwith started to drive to the shore, hoping that he might get +some clew from Aunty Losh.</p> + +<p>Imagine Jessie's wonder and anxiety when she found that Lance had +disappeared! Her conscience had already stung her for the absurdity of +her quarrel with him; but now that he was out of reach, and that Dennie +had brought to her the apprehension of something tragic impending over +Sylvester, her excitement rose to fever-height. Daylight broadened while +she sat up, nervous and speculating, amid the noises of the disturbed +household; and the wind-storm increased in violence every moment, +keeping pace with her terror and her perplexity. Filled with +forebodings, and finding it impossible to remain inactive, she completed +her toilet, had one of the stable-hands called, and, leaving word for +her father that she had gone to the headland in quest of Lance, she +started to drive through the plantations.</p> + +<p>Hunting Quarters being the nearer point, Dennie dropped the reins when +the jaded team which he drove brought him to a fork in the roadway, and +told Adela to drive to her father's house. He himself set out on a full +run for Aunty Losh's, and never paused until he reached the cabin-door.</p> + +<p>Aunty Losh reported that Sylv had risen before dawn and gone toward +Elbow-Crook Swamp, saying that he had something to do there for Mr. +Lance.</p> + +<p>The storm raged more furiously than ever. The ocean could be heard +thundering at the outer bulwarks of the coast irresistibly. The great +billows were actually at that moment surging far beyond their wonted +limits and shaking the very roots of the low hills out by Hatteras, +though Dennie could not see them there. He could guess the tumult that +was in progress at Ocracoke and lower; the air was full of mist and +flying spray; the sea was literally pulling down the outer sand-heaps, +eating into them, doing its best to tear open a new inlet; and the +waters of the Sound were furrowed, foaming, and uncontrollable. Yet +Dennie could not delay. He began at once to retrace his course, heading +for the swamp, for he had several miles to go. It was only for an +instant, as he crossed the planks over the ditch he had so recently +made, that he observed how the water from the Sound was boiling through +the artificial channel.</p> + +<p>He went on in headlong haste.</p> + +<p>Before he had been twenty minutes out of sight Jessie drove up to within +a few rods of the ditch, and sped across the intervening space. Her +coachman warned her not to go thither. "You'll be blown away, missy," he +cried, despairingly. "Dis yer am a hurricane, and de hosses can't stan' +it much longer."</p> + +<p>But, if she heard him, she paid no attention. In a few moments she had +crossed the narrow planks, which, bedded though they were in the earth, +trembled at the assaults of the wind. She had no more than vanished +among the trees around the cabin when the tide, rushing in renewed +volumes through the ditch, swept away the frail bridge as if it had been +straw. The banks began to crumble; and the coachman, barely able to +guide his horses, whipped up and drove away as well as he could, in +search of aid.</p> + +<p>Dennie got over the ground with marvellous rapidity, taking the shortest +line for the swamp. The wind was blowing inland, and bore him along with +it; so, when he had gone two thirds of the way, it seemed to him that +but a few minutes had elapsed. He was on the regular road, now; but it +was providential, nevertheless, that he should encounter in that spot +another man. He hailed him loudly, amid the howling of the wind; and the +man, turning round, proved to be Lance! He, too, was on his way to the +swamp. Going forth aimlessly, he had made up his mind to join Sylv, if +he could find him, in the proposed expedition. Alarmed by the prodigious +force of the tempest, however, he would have turned back and endeavored +to regain the manor, if he had not met Dennie.</p> + +<p>A few hasty words gave him knowledge of the threatened catastrophe; and +the two men joined forces in the forlorn attempt to find Sylv and +prevent his self-destruction.</p> + +<p>Dennie knew where a boat could be had to launch upon the devious river +that ran through the swamp; and, fortunately, it turned out that Sylv +had not taken this boat for himself.</p> + +<p>Together they entered the gloomy jungle. They not only plunged into the +desperate undertaking of trying to save the life of another man, who had +resorted to this convenient cover with the evident purpose of never +emerging thence, but they also engaged in a struggle which, for +themselves, was very like a life-and-death matter.</p> + +<p>For some time they could not use their boat. They were obliged to drag +it through a tangled mass of roots and vines and treacherous brake, +until they could reach the stream. The exertion they made was almost +super-human, and would have been impossible to them except under the +terrible incentive that drew them on. Only when they were afloat, and +paddling warily along the dubious and unfamiliar current, did they +understand how their labor had sapped their strength. And only then, +also, did they perceive that they had passed from a world of uproar and +elemental upheaving into a realm as secluded and quiet as a tomb.</p> + +<p>The mighty winds, it is true, rumbled through the tops of the trees +under which they were buried; but the dense mass of boughs and springing +verdure that walled in the secret places of the swamp, as with a hundred +separate walls, would not permit that wild commotion of the outer air to +reach them. Birds had fled hither from the hurricane, and even dared to +chirp in the lonely and forsaken thickets of this uncouth wilderness. +Day was spreading above the thick canopy of boughs, and was pouring its +light all round the vast area of the swamp at its edges; but here, +within, there reigned a perpetual and awful twilight. The slow, brown +stream ran on ahead, turning here and there, opening into blind creeks, +sprawling through the dusk like some great snaky thing with a hundred +sinuous arms and feelers; but it was rather by instinct and touch than +by any other means that the two men in the canoe traced the main body of +the slimy current. No landmarks were to be counted on there: the points +of the compass were obliterated.</p> + +<p>The swamp was the home of oblivion. They moved through it as through a +place set apart for those who are condemned to a death in life.</p> + +<p>From time to time they shouted aloud. Having no weapons with them, they +could make no other signal. They called to Sylv, with a hope that he +might answer to them from the next bend in the stream, or from some +adjoining depth of bough and bramble. Yet always the same dead silence +swallowed up the sound of their voices, and no human response came back. +The raw air, the shade, the moisture of the oozing current, gradually +invaded them with a chill that seemed to run through their very bones; +but it was with a more deadly chill that they gazed into one another's +eyes, and thought, without saying it, that perhaps they were even then +pushing their way over the liquid grave in which Sylv might have sought +relief.</p> + +<p>How long they urged that ghostly chase it would not be easy to say: they +could form no judgment of the time. But at last Dennie caught sight of +what appeared to be a ruddy flame on a low island in the muddy flood, +some distance in advance. Neither of the paddlers was quite positive +that it was a real flame, but they put new vigor into their strokes, and +hallooed again. Once more, no answer.</p> + +<p>Still, the flame grew more distinct. The canoe swept rapidly forward and +rubbed against the roots and sediment of the tiny island. No other boat +was moored there, but the fire flickered and spurted up more vividly. +Beside it they beheld Sylv, haggard, inert, and seemingly unconscious of +their approach.</p> + +<p>"Sylv! Sylv!" cried Dennie.</p> + +<p>"What are you doing here?" Lance demanded.</p> + +<p>Sylv shrank back, then started to his feet; the flame-light—looking so +garish in that gloomy place—thrown upward on to his wan checks in such +wise as to make them seem more hollow than they were in fact.</p> + +<p>"I came here to die," he answered, without emotion. "Why did you follow +me? It would have been over before long."</p> + +<p>They heard the booming of the storm-wind in the trees overhead, like the +groan of some remote unknown multitude of sufferers; and it chimed in +well with the lonely reverberation of his voice.</p> + +<p>"It is over now!" Lance exclaimed. "Don't you see that we won't let you +die? It was mad of you to think of such a thing, Sylv!"</p> + +<p>Dennie drew close to his brother swiftly, and put his arm around him, as +though to guard him from an unseen enemy.</p> + +<p>"Sylv," he said, "it ar' all fixed and done. Deely loves ye—she have +told me—and I see that I ain't the one for her. I'm clean done with all +that ar foolishness, Sylv, and I told her she'd got to marry ye, anyhow. +Steady away now, Sylv. D'ye listen to me?"</p> + +<p>The burly, red-bearded brother slid his hands down the arms of the +slender, dark-haired one, and held him as if he feared that he might +still break away and escape.</p> + +<p>Lance, looking on, thought he had never seen anything more tender, more +brave and manly, than Dennie's expression and attitude. He had never, he +thought, heard finer sweetness in a man's voice than came from Dennie's +lips.</p> + +<p>Sylv broke down. "Dennie, boy," he cried; and then paused, choking. +"Dear old Dennie!" (His brother winced at that unconscious repetition of +Adela's phrase.) "I never thought this would come! I was true when I +said I did not love her. I couldn't know what it would be like, then. +But, you see, I tried to get out of the way. Oh, why didn't you let me +die here!"</p> + +<p>The morbid mood which had impelled him to the resource of slow suicide, +by starvation in the swamp, could not at once be dispelled; but by dint +of soothing words and of reminders that they must lose no time in +getting back to the outer world, the two allies prevailed over Sylv's +melancholy.</p> + +<p>"Where's your boat?" asked Lance.</p> + +<p>"I set it adrift," was the answer.</p> + +<p>A fresh peril was thus intruded upon them; for the canoe would hold +three persons only with the greatest precautions.</p> + +<p>"You uns go, and then one can come back for me," Dennie suggested.</p> + +<p>But Lance would not risk leaving him alone. It was decided, therefore, +that they should all embark and make their way to safety, if possible. +The hazard and suspense of the situation, however, roused Sylv up +thoroughly. All his finer qualities reasserted themselves, and he became +the guiding spirit in the endeavor of the party to extricate itself. He +whom the others had come to recall to life was now eager to lead them +out of the dilemma in which they had placed themselves on his account. +But in the anxiety of the moment he forgot one thing. The flame which he +had kindled, like a torch in the gloomy vaults of death, was left +burning; and they had paddled some distance before they remembered their +neglect.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile the lonely beacon, unwatched, had shot out an experimental +tongue to try sundry dry vine-stems hard by. The stems responded with a +brisk crackle. The flames scaled the side of a tree almost instantly, +and ran along the boughs. Thence they transferred themselves with ease +to another tree. Thus, in a few minutes, the blaze spread from the +island into the rest of the dense wood, and became a conflagration.</p> + +<p>The smoke blew lazily toward the occupants of the canoe; then a lurid +glow shone along the murky water. They saw their danger, and paddled +with might and main; but the danger of upsetting the overloaded craft +handicapped them and retarded their progress.</p> + +<p>Soon the glow came nearer and burst into actual fire. The whole swamp +seemed to be roofed with writhing flame. The heat was frightful: birds +flew away madly through the labyrinth; the shadowy shapes of wild +creatures scurried through the tangle, and scared serpents slipped out +from their lairs, trailing across the sluggish stream. All the while the +fire pursued the three human fugitives with what seemed a vindictive +intelligence: the long draperies of gray moss caught the sparks, +flashing them on in vivid festoons, and wrapping the forest in a +magnificent combustion.</p> + +<p>Blinded, stifled, and dizzy, the canoeists were at last obliged to +abandon their narrow bark and push their way through the fearful maze on +shore. Luckily, however, when they were driven to this extreme they had +come nearly to the edge of the wilderness.</p> + +<p>Each struggling for himself, Lance and Sylv suddenly achieved safety: +they set foot upon the solid ground, and felt the fierce wind from the +sea. But at that juncture Dennie, who was behind them, stumbled, and was +caught in the mire. The hissing mass of flame advanced upon him, and +Sylv, seeing his danger, turned to help him.</p> + +<p>Lance tried to hold Sylv back. He fought with him, in his desire to +prevent what he thought a certain sacrifice of two lives instead of one. +But Sylv, nerved by an ecstatic force, sprang away from him and reached +his brother's side. How it was done neither Lance nor Sylv could say +afterward; but the attempt succeeded, and Sylv dragged Dennie out of +danger, though not unscathed. The intense heat had blistered their faces +and hands even in the few moments that it had to work upon them; and +Dennie, hurt by the fall of a heavy branch which had struck his leg, lay +in the road, unable to rise.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XVI" id="CHAPTER_XVI"></a>CHAPTER XVI.</h2> + +<h3>"I LIVE, HOW LONG I TROW NOT."</h3> + + +<p>One might well have supposed that the period of final destruction had +come on that eventful day. Wind, fire, and sea all combined to make it a +memorable one. For, while Lance and the De Vines were going through +their adventures in Elbow-Crook Swamp, the incoming tides, fomented by +the winds, not only swept away the paltry planking that joined Aunty +Losh's headland to the main shore, but also proceeded to crunch up and +dissolve a large portion of her real estate.</p> + +<p>The freakish inroads of the sea on the North Carolina coast are scarcely +subjects for exaggeration, because they themselves outdo fancy. The +ocean thereabouts has an occasional fit of map-making. Not content with +changing the soundings as it pleases, it sometimes closes up an old +inlet, at a single mad flurry, or insists upon opening a new avenue in +any place that may suit its convenience. And so, at this particular +crisis, having thundered at the outer gates and found no admission, it +sent a heavy tide into the Sound, and played havoc there. The green +waters, ordinarily manageable enough, converted themselves into +cataracts. They heaved, frothed, billowed and raged, until Aunty Losh's +demesne, once an innocent promontory, became a very perilous and +uncomfortable island.</p> + +<p>The watery ditch turned into a rushing tide-way; then it became a deep +channel; and lastly it widened into an angry reach of turbulent waves, +which could be crossed only by boat. All this transformation, be it +remembered, was accomplished in a few hours.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile, Aunty Losh and Jessie cowered in the little cabin on the +dwindling territory, and expected every moment to be swallowed up by the +surges that lashed so wildly around them.</p> + +<p>But the retreating coachman had known what he was about. He had gone at +once to Hunting Quarters, where he had found Adela, who was herself +distracted with anxiety for Sylv, and therefore in a perfect mood for +venturing upon the wildest scheme of rescue that could be imagined. It +so chanced that the dug-out was harbored in a cove which the girl could +reach. The rude sloop clung there, thumping heavily on the bottom, and +lurching now and then against the shore, with an impact that would have +smashed any other sort of craft at short notice. But this was precisely +what she was made for, and so she endured the strain.</p> + +<p>Adela prepared to take her out to the now isolated cabin, and bring off +the inmates. Old Reefe remonstrated. He said it was certain death to go; +that no boat could live in such a wind on a short, shallow sea; and that +his daughter must wait until the storm abated.</p> + +<p>"No," cried Adela; "I am going, whether it's death or not! How do you +know what will happen to them out there if I wait? The cabin itself may +be swept away, and poor old aunty in it. Then, Dennie is there, and—and +perhaps Sylv." For one instant, as she uttered this name, her voice +sank. "If they had any boat, 'twould be another thing. But they're cut +off—they can't help themselves—and I'm going."</p> + +<p>The brave girl hardly believed that she could make the trip in safety, +but she thanked her stars that Dennie had brought her up to handle a +tiller—and the rest she left to Providence.</p> + +<p>The water was swashing up close to the door of the little hut, and Aunty +Losh and Jessie sat within, holding on to each other in silence when, +through the deep, prolonged roar of the tempest, they fancied that they +heard a shout—a woman's shout. Simultaneously with it there came a +thud, like the dropping of some heavy weight upon the ground just +outside of the house. "Lord be praised!" Aunty Losh exclaimed, "Thar +ain't nothin' could do that ar but the ole dug-out. Open the do', Miss +Jessie."</p> + +<p>Jessie considered this as a command to invite dissolution into their +fragile shelter; but she obeyed.</p> + +<p>In a few moments they were on board the sloop, bouncing and reeling +through the violent waves. By this time Colonel Floyd, having also +received the alarm, reached the spot on horseback. Waiting with old +Reefe on the shore, he noted every motion of the plunging sail, which +was let out barely enough to give the dug-out headway. Adela stood at +the helm, strong and masterful as a man, but with a quick, feminine eye +for every chance or change of the terrific gale, and with a touch that +responded instantly to her observation. She ignored her two passengers +absolutely.</p> + +<p>But when, after several escapes from foundering and a weary battle of +tacking from one point to another, the sloop rounded, with her heavy +prow, into the cove and touched the land, the girl dropped down in the +stern, exhausted.</p> + +<p>There had been no time for delay or inquiry, and indeed it would have +been impossible to talk in the over-powering bluster of the storm, while +fighting a way through it; but Adela had been very much astonished both +by Jessie's presence at the cabin, and by the absence of Dennie. She now +tried to learn from Aunty Losh what had become of him; but the poor old +woman's mind was in such confusion from fright and from the suddenness +of her rescue that she could not furnish much enlightenment. As for +Jessie, she had gone to the headland without any knowledge of Lance's +actual whereabouts, but thinking it probable that her lover would go +there, since she had heard something vaguely about his arrangements with +Sylv. It was now noon, and the suspense in which she remained about +Lance, joined to Adela's fearful dread concerning Sylv, would not permit +them to rest. The colonel, who had been thrown into a wild excitement by +the failure both of his daughter and of Lance to return to the house, +hugged Jessie close to his heart with silent prayers of thanksgiving, +and wrung Adela's hand with gratitude, while the tears ran down his +cheeks. The carriage had followed him with fresh horses, bringing dry +wraps, food, and restoratives; and the colonel insisted that the best +thing to be done was for the three women to get in and go at once to the +manor with him.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile Sylv and Lance, helping the disabled Dennie between them, had +arrived at the house, and were taking care of the sufferer.</p> + +<p>I need not detail the recitals and explanations that followed. I will +say only that Jessie treated Adela like a sister that day, and ever +afterward. It was strange, mysterious, yet beautiful, to Lance's eyes, +to see them together; one of them the latest offspring of Gertrude +Wylde, rescued from oblivion—coaxed back, as it were, from the forest +shadows and the red race to her own race and kin—the other a descendant +of Gertrude's cousin, to-day rescued by her kinswoman from the engulfing +waters of the Sound. The whims and prejudices that had hampered Jessie +before were now totally dissolved; and Lance's dream was realized, after +all. The wild thought which had crossed his mind, of devoting his life +to Adela, proved to be simply a perversion of the ardent desire which he +had felt, that she ought to be included somehow in the lines of +relationship and love prescribed by her ancestry. His allegiance to +Jessie, never really shaken, was perfect and enduring. But these results +would never have come about had not the actors in the curious drama +remained, through all their troubles, sound and sincere of heart. They +had, every one, risen somewhat higher than they were when their +relations began. Each had advanced in his or her own way. Sylv strove +upward by means of intellectual effort and by will; Dennie attained to +as lofty a standard of conduct through the working out of instinct and +passion. But in whatever manner they had proceeded, all were true.</p> + +<p>The wild storm went down that night, though the rolling sea and the +curling breakers of the Sound continued to heave for hours, throwing out +in the darkness broad lines and crests of phosphorescence that made them +look like fluid white fire. Then the rain came, in torrents; and it was +well that it came, for the danger to the inflammable pine-plantations, +from the conflagration in Elbow Crook, had become alarming. Not even the +sullen fierceness of that furnace—in which the swamp-woods, with all +their intricacies of flickering boughs, like some gigantic red coral +work, were melting down—could withstand the providential rain-streams. +The fire faded away as if by magic; and the next day, when Hedson went +out, with scores of other gazers, to look at the expanse of charred +<i>débris</i> where the wood had been, he remarked tersely (but in an +undertone) to Lance: "That property is now worth just one hundred +percent more for our purpose than it was day before yesterday. The +clearing has been done free of charge."</p> + +<p>By the middle of the summer the county awoke to the fact that a +syndicate of Northern capitalists had purchased the tract and were going +to develop it into a prodigious vegetable garden. The reed-pulp +paper-mill went up; there was an immense quantity of ditching and +levelling carried on in the swamp. Little houses began to make their +appearance; now dwellers came to live in them; and a school and church +were found to be necessary. There is now a flourishing community in that +place; and while Lance, I am glad to say, has made a good deal of money, +his pleasure has grown largely from the knowledge that he has brought +about improvements which others also enjoy. Sylv acts as his chief +adviser and confidential agent.</p> + +<p>Dennie's accident left him somewhat lame, but he has still found it +possible to be of service in some of Lance's undertakings. He prefers, +however, to retain a degree of independence by living on the island with +Aunty Losh, and following more or less his old employment in a superior +dug-out schooner, which has replaced the sloop. On the island he has +remained ever since the marriage of Sylv and Adela and their +installation in a pretty house which was built for them, near enough to +the manor to make it convenient for the children of Jessie and Adela to +meet often when they shall grow a little older.</p> + +<p>One slight question came up, I must admit, as to who had the best right +to appropriate the old Wharton Hall motto. Sylv acknowledged that it +belonged primarily to Lance, by inheritance from Guy Wharton; but, then, +had it not been handed down to Adela as well? The point was settled +without dispute; for Sylv's house was built before Lance was ready to +remodel the manor, and when the plans were submitted to Lance he +proposed—with Jessie's permission—that he should be allowed to +contribute as his gift a tablet for the hall, on which were to be shown +(not cut in, but raised in bold relief) the lines beginning</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"I live, how long I trow not."<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>Dennie has no new house and no old motto. I cannot suppose that he is +altogether a contented man; but I believe he is happy in having taken +the right course.</p> + +<p>"My old heart do ache for ye, Dennie," said Aunty Losh to him, about the +time of the wedding. "There ain't much on't left at my time o' life; but +what there be of heart in me do ache, for sure. But ye done right, boy. +'Tain't no use tryin' to drive a woman. It's mighty like when ye tryin' +to make a passel o' hens come into the house; and ye chase 'em up and +say, 'Shoo!' and gits 'em a'most to the do'; and then they jist run +straight past it. No; ye can't drive a woman, Dennie, if she's sot her +mind ag'in it. That's what."</p> + +<p>Dennie looked up from the tackle he was mending, and smiled. "Wal, +aunty," he said, "you and me make out to git along pretty squar' +together, don't we? I don't want for to drive ye, and ye can't look to +drive me, neither. <i>I</i> don't complain."</p> + +<p>The last three words will do for his motto; and they make a sufficiently +honorable one.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="MAJOR_BARRINGTONS_MARRIAGE" id="MAJOR_BARRINGTONS_MARRIAGE"></a>MAJOR BARRINGTON'S MARRIAGE.</h2> + +<h3>I.</h3> + +<p>Major Barrington before the acquisition of his military title was a +rather shapely gentleman, with a fine, carrot-tinted complexion and +strong, reddish whiskers, corresponding well with it, and branching out +on either side of his chin with a valiant air.</p> + +<p>Nor did his appearance greatly alter, immediately after passing from the +condition of plain citizen to that of a defender of his country. His +chin (which was shaven, and had a pretty little dent in the bottom of +it) came for a time more prominently before the public, being carried +somewhat higher in the air; but otherwise you would hardly have known +what a great man he was.</p> + +<p>It happened thus: The War of the Rebellion had been going on for about a +year, and Mr. Zadoc S. Barrington was a boarder in the respectable but +shabby mansion of one Mrs. Douce, in East Thirtieth Street, New York—a +short, pale, dusty-looking woman, who had under her threadbare wing a +maiden relative, Natalia by name. Natalia was alternately visitor and +boarder, according as her slender income gave out or held out, and the +consequence of this variable status was an equally variable disposition +on the part of the aunt toward the niece. Mrs. Douce had naturally a dry +heat of temper, which was possibly the source of that pulverous look +about the face already noticed; and it was only by turning on periodical +smiles, like the spray from a watering-cart, that she was able to allay +the gritty particles of her irritability in the presence of paying +boarders. It was to be expected, therefore, that during Natalia's +impecunious seasons her aunt should relapse into unmitigated dustiness, +and puff her discontent, so to speak, in dreary little gusts at the +forlorn maiden.</p> + +<p>Being forlorn, was it strange that Natalia should look to Barrington for +sympathy? Not at all. By degrees he thus came—without any movement on +his own part—to take an important place in her daily experience. A +variety of little hopes and illusions, of which her life had been pretty +well divested before, and which she alone could not have revived, sprung +up spontaneously under the most casual glance of Zadoc S. For example, +though she had no appetite for Mrs. Douce's feeble dinners, she could +get up a fictitious enjoyment of them by looking at the robust +Barrington, whose bold coloring and hearty appearance deceived her as to +the real measure of his relish for that dreary cookery.</p> + +<p>Barrington was not dangerously youthful, but neither was Natalia. +Financially he was not prosperous, but she was decidedly not so. Heaven +only knows how, during the years of his residence in New York, he had +contrived to subsist. It was not on any scientific principle of survival +that he persisted; but rather on the principle of the fallen sparrow. +Still, he was a portly sparrow, and must have needed a good deal to keep +him on his feet. But he remained on his feet—he never soared. And yet, +such as he was, Natalia—let us confess it with a becoming amount of +maiden timidity—yes, Natalia had begun to love him.</p> + + +<h3>II.</h3> + +<p>But she did not tell her love. She let concealment feed upon her +cheek—which, to be accurate, was not damask, but rather of the quality +of sarsnet. However, before her appearance had had time to suffer by +this process, an unexpected proceeding on the part of Barrington led her +to reveal her sentiment—to surprise and, one might say, surround him. +Did capture follow? Let us see.</p> + +<p>At this period his affairs were very low. He was a prospective patentee, +a filer of caveats for little inventions, which no one could have been +hired to infringe, the most ingenious point of which was their perfect +adaptability for not making money. He was also by turns an agent for +books, subscription engravings, sewing-machines, and what not. He did +everything but succeed. Finally he conceived the idea of a new vegetable +lamp-oil that could be made from floating oily matter to be found in any +swamp. He had made close computation of the swampy land in the whole +State of New York, which could be bought for a trifle, and turned into +sources of boundless wealth. For a time he fed the flame of hope with +this visionary fluid; but a serious lamp explosion, resulting from one +of his experiments, deprived him at once of half his whiskers and all +his expectations. There was indeed one resource left him, the nature of +which we may discover presently; but he hesitated to avail himself of +it, because it might compromise his independence. In fact, a certain +steady effort to be a man and to keep his self-respect, in spite of his +many failures, was Barrington's finest trait, and always gave me a +liking for him, notwithstanding his weakness.</p> + +<p>By the time his singed whiskers had regained their pristine vigor, and +when the war had passed through its first year, there drove up to Mrs. +Douce's door, one day, an express wagon with a trunk in it. The +startling thing about this was that the trunk (which was made of +sole-leather) was quite new, and had painted on it, with terrific +distinctness, this legend:</p> + +<blockquote><p><span class="smcap">Capt. Z. S. Barrington, U. S. A.</span></p></blockquote> + +<p>The painted end of the trunk happened to be nearest the house. Now, Mrs. +Douce was at that very moment in her reception-room on the ground +floor—a sort of little bin or wine-cooler of a room, where (having +nothing better to cool) she kept callers, and sometimes herself—and +from there she spied the appalling arrival. She did not know, which was +the fact, that Barrington, tired of his sparrow's life on the pavements +of the metropolis, had been in correspondence with friends at +Washington, who had secured him the promise of a commission on his +applying for it. He had not at once made such application, but had gone +off with much high beating of the heart, and ordered the trunk, as a +preliminary, feeling perhaps that the final step would be easier to take +after committing himself thus far.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Douce, I say, not knowing this, opened the door for the expressman +in a great flurry of excitement. "Now, indeed," thought she, +melodramatically, "I begin to feel what war is!"</p> + +<p>Then she ran up-stairs herself, to inform Barrington that the trunk had +come. But he was equal to the emergency. With an unshaken demeanor the +hero rose from the table at which he had been conducting a busy and +wholly useless correspondence, and looked at Mrs. Douce with a +magnificent calm, which gave her a strange sensation of having +penetrated some great general's headquarters. Then he proceeded +down-stairs to parley with the expressman, who for a moment seemed to +take the place of a flag-of-truce bearer, or some kind of military +ambassador.</p> + +<p>As Barrington descended he heard Natalia in the drawing-room conducting +to its close an extensive piece of music, with a copious rumbling of low +notes and a twittering of high ones, which was apparently reluctant to +be brought to a close at all. The sound touched his heart, somehow; but +he went on. It also touched Mrs. Douce, who had followed; but she did +<i>not</i> go on.</p> + + +<h3>III.</h3> + +<p>She stopped in the narrow passage, just by a niche containing a tall and +bilious-complexioned alabaster vase, with scraggly arms, which had +always impressed her as giving the house a great advantage over other +boarding-houses. (That vase, by the way, had levied its tax in many a +bill.) But now it seemed gloomily symbolic; everything had begun to seem +unnatural and suggestive since that trunk appeared. She fancied the vase +was like a "storied urn," containing the ashes of some valiant warrior +who should no more wield the humble breakfast-knife at her devastated +table. Overcome with emotion, she passed on and pushed open the +drawing-room door.</p> + +<p>"Natalia," she exclaimed, impressively, "guess what has happened!" As +the expressman, with fate-like footsteps, tramped up-stairs, carrying +the trunk on his shoulder, Barrington, who came after him, noticed that +the rumbling and twittering of the piano had ceased, and that his +landlady had disappeared. The two women were, in fact, conversing in +agitated whispers on the other side of the closed parlor door.</p> + +<p>"Well, never did I think to lose <i>him</i>!" exclaimed Mrs. Douce.</p> + +<p>"Poor aunt!" said Natalia; "and so late in the season, too."</p> + +<p>"It isn't that so much," interrupted the other, severely; "but it hurts +me that he should have been so sudden and so secret."</p> + +<p>"Perhaps he thought we—" Natalia paused, and blushed. "But why <i>should</i> +he think we'd urge him to stay?"</p> + +<p>"Hark! is he coming down again?" said her aunt. No; it was merely the +expressman. He thumped his way down to the street door. They heard the +wagon drive off, and for a moment afterward they held their breath, as +if a battle had been raging near them, and the heavy current of the +fight had now swept by, leaving them in suspense, lest it should return. +Then the dignified step of Barrington resounded on the staircase. He +came to the door, and opened it. "I ought," he began, stepping in with a +smile, "to explain matters a little."</p> + +<p>Mrs. Douce's mood was like that of elderly matrons at the wedding of a +young friend. She hardly knew whether to laugh or cry. "Oh," she +returned, in the breathless, short-of-supplies manner usual with her in +awkward situations, "oh—no—explanation is needed, Mr. Barrington!" +and, after a short pause, simpering, "I'm sure."</p> + +<p>Natalia, meanwhile, stood in a shrinking, drooping attitude near the +battered rosewood piece of furniture from which she had been drawing +music, and looked a good deal like one of those young ladies in old +colored prints who devote themselves to standing mournfully under +weeping willows, among headstones.</p> + +<p>"Well, you see," proceeded Barrington, who took Mrs. Douce's denial at +its worth, "I didn't say anything, because—well, it wasn't quite +settled."</p> + +<p>"Then you're not <i>sure</i> of going to the war?" Natalia burst forth, with +pathetic eagerness. (Barrington noticed that her heightened color was +becoming to her.)</p> + +<p>"Sure?" answered he, cruelly; "oh, yes; humanly speaking, I suppose it's +sure enough. I—good gracious!—I only—"</p> + +<p>These incoherent phrases were drawn out by the effect his statement had +produced. Natalia's eyelids fell at his words. She was trying to repress +a tendency to sob. By the time the hero had discovered this a tear had +found its way into sight beneath her eyelashes.</p> + +<p>"There!" cried Mrs. Douce, sternly. "Any one might have known it. <i>We</i> +aren't made of sole-leather, Mr. Barrington. [He said to himself it was +lucky she had told him this.] Common humanity and friendship ought to +have shown you what this suddenness would lead to."</p> + +<p>"I can't help it," murmured her niece, referring to the tears now +hurrying down her face, and misled by the matron's angry tone and her +own confusion into the idea that <i>she</i> was being scolded. (She was at +this time without money.)</p> + +<p>"Of course you can't, dear," said the aunt, soothingly. "As if any one +with any considerateness, or average humanity, I may say, would suppose +you could! I am not the woman to blame you for giving way under the +circumstances, Natalia. It only shows you've got a heart, while <i>some</i> +people—Mr. Barrington, excuse me, but I must speak out." However, she +didn't speak out any further, but wound up with: "Anyway, it can't be +worse than it is [though nobody had intimated that it could be]. You've +decided to leave me. Well, that's what I must expect, I suppose." And +she dropped into a chair, and patted her thumbs together, as if there +were some crushing sarcasm in the action, which satisfied her wounded +feelings.</p> + +<p>Barrington succumbed to remorse. Besides, Natalia's unhappiness aroused +his sympathy, and he became angry—without knowing whether he had a +right to be so—at Mrs. Douce's taking the part of a comforter. He +fancied he could do this even better than she. "Of course," he said, +stiffly, "I don't expect to leave you without compensation for not +giving notice. I shall pay you for two or three weeks extra."</p> + +<p>He felt a dreadful sinking of the pocket as he spoke; but dignity +required the sacrifice. The landlady did not respond for an instant; her +eyes wandered about with a pained, prophetic air. "What have I done," +she cried, "to bring this upon me? Mr. Barrington, have I ever asked you +more than we agreed upon? <i>Have</i> I treated my family meanly? You have +been in this house two years, and I know you can't point to anything. +What have I done to be insulted so?" she demanded of the faded +window-curtains.</p> + +<p>A moment of silence followed this outburst; then she swept out of the +room, with a thin rustle of her black dress, and left the prospective +captain and Natalia alone.</p> + + +<h3>IV.</h3> + +<p>Miss Douce put away her handkerchief in a business-like manner, and +looked at Barrington with soft appeal. "Ah, why didn't you tell?"</p> + +<p>"Tell? My dear Miss Douce, I had no idea—"</p> + +<p>"Thoughtless man, not to foresee!"</p> + +<p>"I didn't suppose your aunt would be so much annoyed."</p> + +<p>"Oh, I didn't mean <i>that</i>!" said Natalia, growing judiciously pettish.</p> + +<p>"What then?"</p> + +<p>"Not <i>her</i>," said the maiden, significantly.</p> + +<p>"Really, Miss Douce," said Barrington, "you have surprised me—I had no +idea—"</p> + +<p>"Don't, for pity's sake, tell me again that you had no idea!" exclaimed +Natalia.</p> + +<p>"I beg your pardon, I meant to say something."</p> + +<p>"What good can it do to say anything, when you have done your best to +break our hearts?" she demanded. And here she brought out the +handkerchief again, and began to look dangerously tearful.</p> + +<p>"Goodness!" said the unfortunate man. "I'm sure I didn't mean to. I +would a good deal rather stay at home than have you feel this way."</p> + +<p>"You have caused me great suffering, whether you meant to or not," +declared Miss Douce, with a quaver in her voice. Then, replying to his +devotion: "Will you give up going, to prove your words? Will you stay at +home?"</p> + +<p>Barrington felt the glory upon his horizon beginning to fade. He braced +himself by a chair with one hand; with the other he took Natalia's. "Do +you ask this as a personal favor?" he said.</p> + +<p>Miss Douce was weeping slightly again. "I don't want you to go," she +answered, shyly, turning away her head. "Yes, for my sake, stay!"</p> + +<p>At this crisis Rawsden, one of the junior boarders, who had just +returned from business and had been met at the reception-bin by Mrs. +Douce with news of the dread trunk, passed up-stairs and caught a +glimpse of the tableau, from the hall. "Aha," he muttered (for he was a +cynical youth)—"Hector and Andromache!" And then he glided on and up to +his remote chamber.</p> + +<p>Zadoc S. still hesitated a moment. "I shall not go immediately, in any +case," he said, gently. "I shall be here some days yet."</p> + +<p>"But why go at all?" urged the Andromache. "Is it irrevocable?"</p> + +<p>"No," he answered, unguardedly. "I—I haven't got my commission yet. I'm +only expecting it."</p> + +<p>There was a sudden revulsion of feeling on this announcement. Barrington +became aware that his position was not so heroic as it had been, and +Natalia began to blush violently at having betrayed her feelings on a +sham emergency. But, as it happened, neither of them thought of getting +out of the trouble by laughing.</p> + +<p>"You see, now, why I kept it to myself," he proceeded, awkwardly, after +some delay.</p> + +<p>Miss Douce had released her hand, and now rose abruptly. "Oh, yes," she +said; "I suppose it was all very foolish of me—but—you will forgive +me?"</p> + +<p>"I assure you, I feel honored," cried Zadoc, warmly, "by your +solicitude. And, if I dared—if you would allow me—"</p> + +<p>Let me here confess that I haven't the slightest notion what Barrington, +in that moment of impulse, was going to say. But explanation is made +unnecessary by the fact that Miss Douce didn't allow him to finish.</p> + +<p>"Don't say any more," she begged. "It is too painful. I must go and find +my aunt, Mr. Barrington, to tell her there's a hope of your staying. For +if your commission <i>shouldn't</i> come—"</p> + +<p>"I should wait, of course," he responded, captivated by her glance.</p> + +<p>Naturally, after this, he went up to the room which Mrs. Douce's fancy +had transformed into a headquarters, and wrote to his Washington friends +not to get the commission. Of course, too, Mrs. Douce came gently +rapping at his door, in the evening, with a face as solemn as an +obituary notice, and with his bill in her pocket, whereon she had +obediently registered the item of compensatory payment, which she had so +scornfully rejected in the afternoon. Quite of course he said, with +dignity: "You may leave the bill, but I have decided not to go." And +then, by sequence, she affirmed—her face irradiated with joy—that she +had brought the bill very reluctantly, in the first place, and, if he +would excuse her, she thought she would <i>not</i> leave it.</p> + +<p>As a further matter of course, Miss Natalia, being informed of the +abandonment of warlike measures, pretended not to care anything about +the episode, and to feel that it was rather an impertinence than +otherwise to bring it to her notice.</p> + +<p>On the other hand, little Rawsden had been cracking his joke about +Hector, etc., to a Miss Sneef, a rather pretty young boarder, whom he +honored by confiding to her his more successful sarcasms; and, when she +imparted to him, next day, the news of Barrington's capitulation, he had +the presence of mind to smile pallidly and look as if he had known all +about it from an early period of his existence. Without changing his +tone, he muttered, dryly: "Antony and Cleopatra!"</p> + + +<h3>V.</h3> + +<p>The two parties most concerned said nothing about it to each other for +days. But the interval was not unemployed. Mrs. Douce, having now +discovered her niece's inclination (if she had not known it before), was +allured by a calculation, based on the fact that Barrington had always +managed to pay his bills, and on the hope that if Natalia were to become +Mrs. Barrington two permanent paying boarders might be secured, with +possibly, in time, a half price besides. "One of these days, after all," +she said to Barrington, whom she took an early opportunity of seeing +alone, "you will be going off and leaving me, I fear."</p> + +<p>"Oh, no," said he; "I've really given up the war!"</p> + +<p>"But there are other things than war."</p> + +<p>"Other things to carry me away, do you mean? Or other disasters?"</p> + +<p>"Well, not exactly disasters," said Mrs. Douce, hastily; "I mean +marriage."</p> + +<p>"You don't call that a disaster, then?" Barrington inquired, wickedly. +"But what on earth has put this into your head?"</p> + +<p>"It's much easier to get into my head than war. If you could think of +such an unnatural thing as going to war, you might easily decide to +marry," was the landlady's equivocal conclusion.</p> + +<p>"What, I?" exclaimed Barrington, trying not to grow red, but doing so. +"I see I've made you suspicious."</p> + +<p>At this juncture a faint ghostly voice was heard rising from the +basement, where the cook had long been buried, to the third-story +banister, where they were talking. "Mrs. Douce, Mrs. Douce!" And Mrs. +Douce, giving him an arch look, observed, with a dry laugh: "I don't +know what you're plotting." Then she obeyed the voice.</p> + +<p>Whether this talk was the cause, or whether it was owing to the interest +which Miss Natalia Douce's behavior with regard to the military trunk +excited, Barrington's attention was more closely directed to her now, +and he observed in her from day to day a deepening melancholy. She +became listless, and fell into reveries. She played more than usual on +the piano in the dowdy parlor, behind the bilious-looking but +aristocratic vase; but there was less rumbling and twittering in her +music than formerly, and there were more pensive strains. She played +"Make me no Gaudy Chaplet" and nocturnes by sundry composers; she sang +"The Three Fishers." All this was the more interesting, in that there +was no apparent personal application in the music she choose, since no +one had insisted upon her accepting a gaudy chaplet, and she was not +wedded as yet to a fisherman. But one evening Barrington, coming down a +few minutes before dinner, entered the parlor as she was wrenching from +the key-board the last phrases of a funeral march in the "Songs without +Words." He listened attentively until she had finished; then, after a +moment's reflection, called out from the arm-chair he had taken: "But +why do you play such mournful things, nowadays, Miss Natalia, especially +before dinner? No wonder you have no appetite."</p> + +<p>Natalia didn't answer, but got up in silence and made for the door. On +the way, however, she turned toward him with a look of indignation and a +terrible flash of the eye. The next instant she was gone. She did not +appear at dinner.</p> + +<p>"What do you suppose is the matter with your niece?" Barrington blandly +asked the aunt, at table. "I made a casual remark about her playing, +just now, and she left the room without a word."</p> + +<p>Mrs. Douce did not answer the question until the next day, when she came +to Barrington's room. "I've found out all about it, now," she said. "The +idea of asking me what was the matter, when you had been speaking to her +in that way!"</p> + +<p>"Good Lord!" cried Harrington, nettled. "What way? It was innocent +enough; and I really don't like those tunes."</p> + +<p>"After all that has happened!" continued the landlady, casting up her +eyes.</p> + +<p>"Well, <i>what</i> has happened?" he demanded.</p> + +<p>"Why, your thinking of going to the war—and—and Natalia's feeling +badly, and—well, you understand, though I can't explain myself, you've +put me out so with your abruptness."</p> + +<p>"It's always my abruptness or my suddenness," complained Barrington. +"No; I <i>don't</i> understand you."</p> + +<p>Mrs. Douce's dusty face hardened and dried till it became a very desert +of physiognomy. "Well," she said, "you are not a boy, and I—well, I am +old enough, I suppose," with a catch of the breath, "to be your mother. +So we may as well speak plainly. You see that Natalia is deeply +interested in you; you consented for her sake to give up going to the +front; and now you coolly abandon her. Not content with that, you begin +to taunt her with her melancholy. I little expected this, Mr. +Barrington. I little expected it."</p> + +<p>"Oh, you're unjust!" said Zadoc S.</p> + +<p>"At least, you'll admit you've wounded her feelings and ought to +apologize," was the rejoinder.</p> + +<p>"Perhaps so," he confessed, feeling sorry for Natalia.</p> + +<p>"Go and see her," urged his landlady, gently, though still with +something of the desert atmosphere in her voice. "Speak to her about +it."</p> + +<p>"I will."</p> + +<p>"But, remember there's only one thing can make your conduct consistent +and restore her happiness."</p> + +<p>"You mean," said Barrington, exploring the dent in his chin with his +forefinger—"you mean, propose?" Then, as if this were quite out of the +question, he shook his head vigorously, smiling. "Of course not that; +but I don't see what else you can mean."</p> + +<p>"Nothing else," said the voice of the desert.</p> + +<p>"It's impossible," he rejoined, quietly.</p> + +<p>"You <i>must</i>," responded the voice.</p> + +<p>Then Barrington delivered a crushing blow. "I have promised to marry +some one else," he said, with great composure.</p> + +<p>To Mrs. Douce's gasping, broken, indignant queries he replied that the +lady's name was Magill, and that she was a widow possessed of ample +means. There had long been an understanding between them, he declared, +but he had been unwilling to marry without an independent property of +his own. Unable to acquire this, he had hoped at least to gain +distinction in the army. That hope he had sacrificed out of pure +sympathy for Miss Natalia Douce's distress; and now he had concluded to +marry without further delay.</p> + + +<h3>VI.</h3> + +<p>I pass over the period of internal convulsion in the Douce hearts, +widowed and maiden, which followed Barrington's disclosure. For a time +their disconcertment was so obvious that Rawsden had it all his own way +in making contemptuous remarks about them to Miss Sneef; and to judge +from the conversation of these two singular young people, you would have +supposed that nothing could give them such exquisite delight as to prove +that all human beings are unspeakably false and absurd, and that if they +could but have succeeded in showing each other—Miss Sneef on her part, +and Rawsden on his—how they two were the falsest and absurdest of all, +their happiness would have been complete.</p> + +<p>But Natalia soon rallied from the shock of Barrington's engagement to +Mrs. Magill, at least far enough to begin an exasperating warfare of +innuendo, which, though it stabbed her own heart as well, brought a balm +of revenge to her own wounds, but left Barrington quivering under the +petty blows. She made frequent allusions to that neglected trunk +belonging to the non-existent Captain Barrington, U.S.A.; affected to +believe that he kept in it a complete set of defunct accoutrements, +which she begged him to put on some time and show to the "family;" and +in general taunted him most unfairly with his abandonment of his whilom +noble resolve to seek the martial field.</p> + +<p>Before long the entire "family" of boarders had joined more or less +actively in this guerilla attack; and the worst of it was, that they +always kept just beyond the pseudo-captain's range. He couldn't retort +upon them without losing his dignity. At last he hit upon a masterly +defence. One day he said to Natalia, carelessly, at the table: "Oh, as +to my uniform that you've been asking about, I'll show it to you +to-night! I am going to drill."</p> + +<p>The effect was gratifying. Natalia grew pale at the thought that her +cruel sneers had actually driven Barrington (whom she continued to adore +in spite of his desertion) back to the cannon's mouth, so to speak. The +other boarders were also deeply impressed, in their several degrees. +These emotions were considerably modified, yet not wholly effaced, when +the military aspirant finally appeared in his trappings; for he did not +wear the United States uniform. He was clothed in the splendors of a +militia major. He revealed to the little group of fellow-boarders, who +had assembled with a sort of hushed solemnity to inspect him, that for +some time he had been getting up a new, independent cavalry company, of +which he was now the commander.</p> + +<p>"And you're all organized?" asked one gentleman, gazing at the major as +if he were an entire company in himself.</p> + +<p>"Yes; first drill to-night," said Barrington, with a business-like air, +lighting a cigar, and looking quite terrific.</p> + +<p>"Thought a company was commanded by a captain, and not a major," +observed Rawsden, rescuing himself from a secret feeling almost of +admiration, and becoming cynical again, just in time to retain the +approval of Miss Sneef, who gave him a sagacious glance.</p> + +<p>"Yes, that's the common way," said the officer, with superior +indifference; "but in consideration of my zeal and expense in getting up +the company, which is very large, I rank as Major of the National Guard +of the State." Then, with striking precision, he executed a brilliant +retreat from the parlor, slammed the street-door, as he went out below, +with a report like a cannon, and left the awe-struck boarders to spend a +miserably peaceful evening, in a state of deep humility, while he reaped +the first honors of his new career.</p> + + +<h3>VII.</h3> + +<p>There was much question among them as to where he had got the money for +this great undertaking; but Mrs. Douce shrewdly suspected that the +widow's gold had something to do with it. She was right. Mrs. Magill's +money had gilded the major's uniform and the spurs whereby he was now +hoping to leap into the saddle of fame.</p> + +<p>Still, there was no immediate sign of the threatened marriage for some +time after this. Barrington took part in sundry parades, and he and his +company were freely mentioned in the papers. But the widow remained so +entirely in the background that Natalia almost believed she was a myth; +and there was no change in Zadoc's military life, except that the +letters U. S. A. on the trunk were replaced with N. Y. S. N. G. Then +came the tremendous day when Barrington's cavalry were ordered out, with +other militia, to resit the rebel invasion of Pennsylvania. I will spare +the reader the hardships of that campaign. It is enough that the gallant +major should have undergone them; and, to tell the truth, he was not +slow to make the most thereof. He never went into a fight, and hardly so +much as heard the snapping of a cap or the drawing of a sabre while his +company was at the front; for they were kept marching and +counter-marching, for strategic purposes, guarding supply-trains or +small batches of prisoners; but he was a hero, for all that, when he +returned. He had been obliged to forego shaving during his fortnight's +absence, and this gave him a suitably battered and realistic look. I'm +sorry to say he was in no hurry about shaving after he came back. He +deliberately made capital of that stubby growth on his chin and upper +lip, and it lent great effect to his tales of suffering with mud and +rains, and beds of hard wood in barns, and to the agony he expressed at +not having met the craven foe.</p> + +<p>Rawsden and Miss Sneef attempted to turn these narratives to ridicule, +but the effort failed signally. Barrington was a success. He had always +been trying to be one, on some solid basis or other. Now he had become +so on no basis at all.</p> + + +<h3>VIII.</h3> + +<p>Mrs. Magill was satisfied with her investment, but she wished now to +make it permanent. In short, she thought in time that the major should +fulfil his promise of marriage. It is scarcely necessary to say that, +meanwhile, his resplendent military renown had redoubled his +fascinations for the pensive Natalia; and that maiden's faithful +admiration and devout sympathy with him in the dangers to which he had +lately been exposed had begun to make an impression on his simple, +pompous and sanguine middle-aged heart. In all this time the two women +who divided his affections and interests had not once met. Being charged +with their rival influences, it almost seemed as if the major, while +uniting them in his mind, had possessed a sort of chemical power of +keeping them apart. But now he became extremely anxious to bring them +into each other's society. The pretext he found was that of private +theatricals. He proposed to Mrs. Magill that an entertainment in this +line should be gotten up at the drill-room of the company, which was a +sort of riding-school arena, easily transformed into a theatre. She +consented at length, but only on the understanding that this was to be +Barrington's last grand frolic before settling down to married life.</p> + +<p>"Yes," said Barrington, in vague terms; "I sha'n't want to remain single +any longer." But he was a good deal alarmed to find himself wondering, +at that very moment, which lady it was that he intended to marry.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Magill and Natalia were made acquainted, and among them the three +soon completed their plans for the performance. The piece selected was +Boucicault's farce, "Wanted—a Widow." The major had pressed Mrs. Magill +to take a part, but, with a becoming distaste for publicity, she +declined, and Natalia was induced to play in her stead. Considering the +title of the farce, the widow's abstention was certainly judicious; but +I think she would have been better pleased to see Natalia in the rôle of +Lady Blanche Mountjoy, rather than that of the successful widow, Mrs. +Lovebird. Lady Blanche was taken by Miss Sneef, who, being young and +pretty, yet withal sceptical by nature, made a success of the part. Mrs. +Magill, whose eyes began to survey Natalia in the appalling light of a +rival, after the first interview, took care to be present at all the +rehearsals, as you may believe; and a little real drama, for which no +rehearsal was needed, began to move within the fictitious one.</p> + + +<h3>IX.</h3> + +<p>Mrs. Magill was a short and rather fleshy person, with a bland +countenance, in which the experiences of her forty years—good and bad +alike—had agreed to get under shelter of a placid and non-committal +tinge of pink, there to make what pretence they could of not being +experiences at all. There was the same discreet, uncommunicative look +about her hair, which she wore stamped down along her forehead, with the +severe simplicity of a butter-pat. Natalia's face, on the contrary, +showed whatever she had been through. Thus, the widow and the unmarried +woman trenched on each other's provinces, and promptly took a dislike +one to another.</p> + +<p>The farce in hand, as all my readers may not remember, turns upon the +fact that <i>Henry Revel</i> (Barrington), having been jilted by a lady who +became <i>Mrs. Lovebird</i>, has taken to reckless courses, and finally +becomes a heavy debtor, in hiding from the sheriff. In this dilemma he +gayly advertises for a rich widow, "with immediate possessions," and his +whereabouts thus come to the knowledge of <i>Amy Lovebird</i>, now widowed, +who deserted him originally only to marry a rich man who could save her +father from ruin. She seeks Harry at once, in order to explain and to +draw him back to herself. When he receives her response to his +advertisement, however, pride and resentment make him unwilling to +profit by her wealth. Meanwhile, <i>Amy's</i> friend, <i>Lady Blanche</i>, plans a +stratagem to test him, so that it may appear whether he receives his +former flame's advances out of mercenary policy, or with the old-time +affection. She persuades Amy to appear before him as if in great +poverty, while she herself (<i>Lady Blanche</i>) writes him a letter, stating +her fortune and a fictitious age, and requesting a meeting to consider +the matrimonial project. When Harry meets Amy and hears this made-up +story of her poverty, although his early love remains unabated, he +decides to see the other widow, Lady Blanche, whose letter he has just +received, to marry her, and to use the money thus acquired for the +relief of <i>Mrs. Lovebird</i>. This decision, of course, makes him appear +for a time false to <i>Amy</i>; and the motive of the piece is, accordingly, +that of the hero's struggle between the powers of love and of money. +Since he finally marries <i>Mrs. Lovebird</i>, the superficial moral of the +play was favorable to Mrs. Magill, considered with reference to +Barrington's vacillations, because the major's affair with her antedated +the first springing up of a sentiment for Natalia, and, moreover, she +was rich. So the widow had no fear as to the moral influence of the +drama upon his mind. But the deeper lesson of this amusing composition +is that of fidelity to love without money; so, as a matter of fact, it +had a powerful effect in attaching the major to Natalia. At first he +thought little about it. But, as the rehearsals went on, he found that +theatricals, being an art, and having the magic of art, sometimes give +one a strange, new interest in the real person, exhibited under subtly +novel circumstances; and he began to think it would be pleasant to +follow up his imaginary devotion to Natalia with a real passion.</p> + + +<h3>X.</h3> + +<p>In proportion as this feeling of the major's grew, Mrs. Magill tired of +seeing him perpetually going through the farce with Natalia, and coming +out as her tried and trusted lover. She resolved to hasten the date of +the performance, perhaps also hoping, furtively, that Natalia wouldn't +be ready, and would therefore fail disgracefully.</p> + +<p>On his part, Barrington, to whom the new partiality for Natalia had made +the rehearsals increasingly pleasant, found also that the conflict +between this and his promise to Mrs. Magill brought in an element of +painfulness. He became exceedingly blue, and even treated the widow +morosely.</p> + +<p>"Zadie," said she, one evening, as they walked home from the drill-room, +"what ails you? I thought you were going to get so much amusement out of +these theatricals."</p> + +<p>"I wish I'd never gone into them!" he answered, gloomily.</p> + +<p>"How unkind to say that, after the condition we made about them!" This +allusion didn't improve his temper.</p> + +<p>"I don't forget my promise, though I <i>am</i> sorry," he said, dubiously.</p> + +<p>"Sorry about the promise, you mean?" asked the widow, with an archness +that failed for want of a street-lamp to light it up.</p> + +<p>"You wouldn't like it if I should says yes," he retorted.</p> + +<p>"Oh, if you're sorry," she exclaimed, haughtily, "we'll give up +the"—here the major became attentive and eager—"the theatricals +altogether!" she concluded.</p> + +<p>"The theatricals," muttered he, disappointed; "I thought you were going +to say—But no! We'll play the farce out, and, when it's done, we'll +have the wedding. Does that satisfy you?"</p> + +<p>"It's very wrong of you to talk of it that way," said Mrs. Magill, too +sagacious to lose her temper. "But I know you'll regret it." And so, +holding him firmly by the arm, she carried him off to the door, where +they parted.</p> + + +<h3>XI.</h3> + +<p>At length, the evening of the performance came, and all the independent +cavalry, and their friends, assembled to look at it. Rawsden was +unusually cynical that day, and came near disabling Miss Sneef for her +part by the number and variety of his pessimistic remarks. But this was +due merely to his own inward trepidation on her behalf; and it was with +a strange whirl of by no means cynical emotion, raging underneath his +calm dress-coat and well-starched shirt-bosom, that he left her at the +dressing-room, and took his own place in the audience. As for +Barrington, the contradiction of moods into which he had fallen excited +him to great energy, and he consequently achieved a brilliant success in +the first part of the piece. Mrs. Magill sat refulgent and +diamond-flashing in her place, drinking in the praise of the major, +which was murmured on all sides; these bright moments compensated her +for all the pain of the rehearsals. But between the first and second +scenes the curtain fell, to allow the arranging of a new "set." The +shadow of that descending curtain was destined to darken seriously the +widow's fair prospect.</p> + +<p>Just as the audience were getting impatient for the second scene, an +audible disturbance arose on the stage, in the midst of which the green +cloth was rolled up, revealing a pictured street. No one "came on," +however; and as a moment elapsed, and the disturbance increased, Mrs. +Magill suspected something wrong. Then Natalia burst out on the +astonished spectators, through the right entrance, with a distracted +air, crying out, with apparent unconsciousness of the lifted curtain, +"What! Major Barrington has cut his head open? Where?"</p> + +<p>Some of the audience began to laugh, several ladies screamed, and the +cavalrymen were divided between a wish to comfort their frightened +guests and the duty of running to their commander's aid, when Barrington +appeared from the sides, moving mechanically, and with a distinct wound +on his forehead. At this sight Natalia, who had but half crossed the +stage, paused, screamed sharply and spread out her hands, seeking +support. Meanwhile the stage-manager had got the curtain started down, +and it dropped silently upon the unexpected tableaux.</p> + +<p>By the time it had touched the boards Mrs. Douce had reached the +dressing-room. She now stood leaning over her niece, who had fainted, +and was lying in a chair. Mrs. Magill, being of inferior velocity, was +much longer in making her way to the stage through the crowd of excited +people now hurrying to and fro. A hack had already been ordered for +Barrington, who was sitting behind the street in Lady Blanche's +drawing-room, with his head bound up, and looking rather pale. The hero +of a hundred failures, he had at last managed to get a genuine hurt.</p> + +<p>"Oh, horrible, horrible!" cried Mrs. Magill. "Speak to me, Zadie; how +did it happen? Can no one tell me?"</p> + +<p>"We were just getting up Lady Blanche's chandelier in great style," +exclaimed the manager, "when Major Barrington came along, and—"</p> + +<p>"No more, no more, for mercy's sake!" entreated the widow, with a +shudder.</p> + +<p>"Yes," continued the manager, with severe accuracy; "he hit his head +against it."</p> + +<p>"Mrs. Douce," cried Mrs. Magill, "run out and get my things for me—at +once—please."</p> + +<p>"I'm sorry," said the landlady, rather sharply, "but I can't leave +Natalia." Here some one came forward, and said the hack had arrived.</p> + +<p>"You see," protested the widow, "I <i>must</i> have my things." But Mrs. +Douce devoted herself to Natalia, obliviously.</p> + +<p>Barrington had by this time been got on his feet, and was walking slowly +toward the stage-door, the arm of a fellow-officer under his own.</p> + +<p>"Major," cried the exasperated widow, "stop!" And, as she spoke, she +stepped in front of him.</p> + +<p>Barrington did stop; but he looked feebly peevish, and in a tone of +disgust said, plainly, "Do let me alone, can't you?" There could be no +doubt as to his words.</p> + +<p>The conflict over his remains, which seemed likely a moment before to +become obstinate received a check in this utterance from, as it were, +the very dead. Mrs. Magill fell back in horror, and the major was +triumphantly borne away with Natalia.</p> + + +<h3>XII.</h3> + +<p>The farce was never finished; but the assembled company set about the +dance which had been planned to succeed it. Rawsden and Miss Sneef +enjoyed this very much, in their superior way, and, in fact, the +breakdown of the histrionic effort made those youthful misanthropists +thoroughly hilarious. The events of the next few days, after the "caving +in" of the Major's head (as Rawsden described it), furnished him with +still further material for entertainment.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Magill resumed the field early the next morning, seeking to visit +her poor major. This Mrs. Douce prevented her from doing by powerful and +imaginative descriptions of Barrington's condition, and citations from +medical authority.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Magill then proposed to hire a room in the house. But Mrs. Douce +solemnly averred she had no room to spare. Still, the next day Mrs. +Magill came, with a carriage full of things, including light bedding, to +occupy the enemy's country, and declared she would bivouac in the +parlor.</p> + +<p>"But the parlor belongs to my boarders," said Mrs. Douce. "Use of parlor +included, those are the terms."</p> + +<p>"Then I'll take the reception-room."</p> + +<p>"The door is very narrow," said Mrs. Douce, scrutinizing the massive +form of the invader so insinuatingly as to make the non-committal pink +in Mrs. Magill's cheeks give place to an angry red.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Magill turned, and called out of the open door to the +carriage-driver to bring in the bedding, etc. "Recollect," she said, +severely, to Mrs. Douce, "he is my husband that is to be."</p> + +<p>The landlady looked inquiringly at the driver, and then, as if +correcting her impression, said: "Oh, the major? That makes no +difference. Those things shall not come in! Besides, it isn't at all +certain that he is."</p> + +<p>"Not certain? How can you dare?"</p> + +<p>"He says so himself."</p> + +<p>"Then he's out of his mind," said Mrs. Magill, calmly.</p> + +<p>"He was," replied Mrs. Douce.</p> + +<p>"I won't converse with you," said Mrs. Magill.</p> + +<p>"Then please order your man not to bring in those things."</p> + +<p>But Mrs. Magill refusing, "<i>I</i> will tell him," announced Mrs. Douce, +stepping out to do so.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Magill, with great presence of mind, instantly shut the spring-lock +door and began to walk up-stairs. There was a furious rattling at the +door-handle, from the outside, followed by violent ringing. But no one +came to open, until the widow had gained the first landing. Mrs. Douce, +being admitted at last, swiftly mounted after her. It was a fearful +chase; but there was no way of heading off the intruder now.</p> + +<p>They went up another flight. But Mrs. Douce over-reached her opponent by +calling out, in a loud voice: "You can't see him, Mrs. Magill! <i>Mrs. +Magill!</i> Mrs. Magill!"</p> + +<p>Immediately after this they heard the lock working in Barrington's door. +The major was safe in his intrenchments.</p> + +<p>Nothing daunted, however, Mrs. Magill strode forward and knocked. There +was no answer except a slight cough, probably caused by the officer's +sudden exertion in locking his door. "Major," said the widow, in a +gentle tone, "do you hear me?" Echoless silence received her words. She +began again, with a considerably increased alertness of voice: "Major! +Are you engaged or not?"</p> + +<p>"Very much so," answered Zadoc from within, and with a startlingly +robust and comfortable voice for an invalid.</p> + +<p>"I mean, to me," explained Mrs. Magill, with annoyance. "Mrs. Douce, +here, has the face to declare that you are not. I wish the question +answered in her presence. Are you engaged to be married?"</p> + +<p>"I am sorry not to be able to open the door," responded the evasive +Barrington. "It fatigues me to talk in this way, so I hope you'll be +satisfied with my answering this one question."</p> + +<p>"Well," said the widow, more affably, "say you are—"</p> + +<p>"I <i>are</i> engaged to be married," promptly struck in the major, with +untimely jocoseness.</p> + +<p>"<i>Am</i>, you mean," Mrs. Magill corrected. But silence had resumed its +reign on the other side of the door.</p> + +<p>"Very well, that will do," she concluded, somewhat as a prose Portia +finishing a cross-examination in a modern law-court might have done. She +shot upon Mrs. Douce a glance of scorn, saying, "I shall come again +to-morrow," and then proudly departed.</p> + + +<h3>XIII.</h3> + +<p>But she did not come on the morrow. Barrington sent her a note, which +effectually prevented her doing so.</p> + +<p>"Dear madam," it said, "our remarkable—not exactly interview, but +conversation, this morning, may have misled you. My reference to an +engagement of marriage was to another than the one you had in mind—in +point of fact, my very recent engagement to marry Miss Natalia Douce.</p> + +<p>"You will pardon the mental reservation in my reply, when you reflect +that I made it out of regard to your feelings. Those feelings I am sorry +to disturb in any way, and I believe you will see that it is the truest +consideration for them that leads me to give up the design we once +cherished. Our understanding, too, was that when the farce was finished +we would marry. The farce was never finished; the condition was not +fulfilled; and therefore our agreement is dissolved. I have just sent in +my resignation to the company, and shall dispose of the horse according +as you may desire. The uniform I will retain (since it would not fit any +one else), as also the respect for you, which has long been entertained +by</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"Your friend,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">"<span class="smcap">Zadoc S. Harrington.</span>"<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>To this note the major never got any reply. In due time, therefore, his +marriage with Natalia, being unimpeded, took place very quietly, and, +after going off for a small wedding journey, the husband and wife came +back to a pair of Mrs. Douce's small rooms, and began to live in them.</p> + +<p>Yes; this corpulent, middle-aged sparrow of a major had decided in favor +of idealism—prosaic though the form in which it was presented to +him—as against money and ease without honest affection. He threw aside +the only success he had ever achieved, which was due to the opulent +siren, Mrs. Magill, and fell back to his old shabby independence, with a +poverty-stricken little wife to share it. I don't say it was good +political economy; I dare say it was very bad sociology; and perhaps I +ought to show how some dire catastrophe came upon him in consequence. +The only obstacle in the way is, that it didn't. He remained reasonably +happy ever after.</p> + +<p>By this it is not to be understood that he prospered materially. As a +matter of fact, he had a terribly hard time. There were the old +struggles, the old uncertainties of fortune to be faced, with new +anxieties added. His own opinions and his wife's were at times far from +being in unison.</p> + +<p>After a time, too, he found himself a father; and, though I don't doubt +his little infant girl brought him compensations, he grew visibly older. +His once courageous complexion, which I have described as carrot-tinted, +lapsed slowly toward the hue of turnips when in a boiled state; +and—melancholy change!—his dainty martial chin, with the dent in the +bottom of it, was hidden by a practical red beard, while his hair became +proportionately thin on top of his head. If Mrs. Magill cared for +revenge she probably took it now, in the contemplation of his hard +career and the alterations in his appearance. He felt this a little, I +know; for, as we were walking together one day near Worth's monument, he +suddenly changed our course, with a hasty, "May as well go this way;" +and I perceived the wealthy widow coming toward us.</p> + +<p>We were not quick enough to escape her, and Barrington winced at her +expression. Yet I am equally certain that he never regretted his choice.</p> + +<p>Luckily for Rawsden's slight remaining toleration of mankind, he left +Mrs. Douce's before the baby was added to the other household ornaments. +Now that I think of it, Miss Sneef had previously left the house, and +Rawsden's critical mood grew upon him so rapidly that he, too, found a +change necessary. In fact, he followed Miss Sneef.</p> + +<p>Yet he continued to bestow a share of his amused contempt upon Mr. and +Mrs. Barrington from a distance.</p> + +<p>"Barrington got a taste for the drama that time," he once said to me, +recalling the private theatricals, "and he keeps it up well. I think his +piece will have a long run."</p> + +<p>"What piece?"</p> + +<p>"<i>The Ex-Bachelor and his Baby!</i>" said the little wretch. "A +tragic-comedy—by the whole strength of the company."</p> + +<p>I think I should have kicked Rawsden for this, but that something in his +manner hinted an inconsistent envy of the major. And he presently went +on to say that as for Miss Sneef and himself, although not believing at +all in the necessity of sentiment and all that sort of thing, they had +concluded—since they didn't seem to be able as yet to get tired of each +other—that they would try marriage, and see what that would do for +them.</p> + +<p>Such was the distorted little tribute of this <i>nil admirari</i> youth to +the element of real manliness he could not fail to see in Barrington's +marriage.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="BAD_PEPPERS" id="BAD_PEPPERS"></a>"BAD PEPPERS."</h2> + +<h3>I.</h3> + + +<p>"You see, I want to strike down to Bad Peppers."</p> + +<p>These words were pronounced by the third person at my right on the +bench. The bench, it must be explained, was covered with red velvet, and +situated in the cabin of a steamer. And the steamer was the <i>Weser</i>, +bound for Bremen.</p> + +<p>I could not imagine at the moment what "Bad Peppers" meant; and the +remark—uttered at our first dinner on board—came out with such +ludicrous distinctness, in the midst of the clatter at table, that I +made haste to observe the individual from whom it proceeded. I beheld a +rough but impressive head, with cheeks of a settled red, and beetling +grizzly hair, looking out over the board in a dogged, half-perplexed, +but good-humored way, though the owner of the head was evidently +unconscious that he had said anything open to comment. He was a man, I +should say, of forty-six; but as I looked at him now in the glare of the +skylight above, the simplicity and frankness in his face were so marked, +that I could not help imagining the short gray curls turned to golden +brown, and feeling the momentary pity that comes over one in looking at +an elderly person who reminds one of childhood, yet is hopelessly far +removed from it. I felt a little sorry for a man with this kind of a +face attempting so large a task as crossing the ocean to Europe, and I +was a little amused at the idea, too.</p> + +<p>He was talking earnestly to my handsome friend Fearloe, who sat on this +side of him; but I observed that he was watched with a certain +patronizing scrutiny by a young German opposite.</p> + +<p>"Yes, you see I couldn't get rid of this rheumatism anywhere," he +continued, "and so I took a friend's advice and started for Europe. They +say that Bad Peppers will fix up the worst case you ever saw better than +any amount of medicine. Anyway, I'm going to try it."</p> + +<p>Peppers as a cure for rheumatism! What could he mean? And if this was to +be the remedy, why go to Europe to try it? But he proceeded:</p> + +<p>"And that's the reason, you see, why I want to strike right down to Bad +Peppers."</p> + +<p>The mystery began to grow less opaque. Possibly he might mean by "strike +down" that he wished to reduce his diet to the article in question; but +I thought it more likely that Bad Peppers was a place which he had made +his objective point. I determined to ask Fearloe at the earliest +opportunity, and therefore drew him away as soon as dinner was over.</p> + +<p>"Who is your new acquaintance?" I inquired.</p> + +<p>"He reports himself as Steven Steavens, a wholesale grocer from +Philadelphia."</p> + +<p>"And he's going to Europe to cure his rheumatism? Europe ought to be +flattered, certainly," said I; and I am afraid we both laughed rather +scornfully at our unsuspecting fellow-traveller, who was pacing another +part of the deck with a fierce meerschaum pipe in his mouth. "But tell +me what he means by this Bad Peppers. Is it a place? I'm sure I never +heard of one by that name."</p> + +<p>"Of course," said Fearloe, "it's a place, but that isn't the right name. +He means a resort of some note for invalids in the canton of St. Gall, +Switzerland—Bad Pfeiffers, or Pfeiffers's Baths—south of the Lake of +Constance, and near the Rhine: a very picturesque spot, too."</p> + +<p>"You've been there, then?"</p> + +<p>"Yes," answered Fearloe, who, I may remark by the way, had been nearly +everywhere—out of America. He was one of those Yankees of the later +generations who are born with a genius for belying their own +nationality. When he was in England, the English would actually claim +him for one of themselves, in the face of positive denial from his own +countrymen; though I must do him the justice to say that he made no +merit of this, and never allowed newspaper paragraphs to be written +about it. In France he was frequently taken for a Frenchman; and in +Italy his fine statuesque features and rich dark beard, with the aid of +a good Roman accent, might easily cause him to pass for a descendant of +one of the old patrician families. In consequence he was very apt to be +looked upon as a foreigner during his occasional flights through his +native land, and possessed accordingly a remarkable power over the +hearts of sundry republican young women; for women love to pay homage to +a judicious male superiority, and this is the reason the daughters of +our nation delight in foreign manners, which assume that grandeur of the +male that most Americans are too polite and timid to assert. These +things being so, I do not wonder that Fearloe was a little conceited on +one point—his success in impressing the female heart.</p> + +<p>"You speak so well of the place," I continued, after a pause, "that I've +a great mind to 'strike down' there myself. Do you advise it?"</p> + +<p>"By all means, Middleby, after you've seen the Exposition. Paris will be +hot, and you will need a change of some sort."</p> + +<p>"I hope it won't be a change to rheumatism," I replied, with another +laugh. I had not noticed that Steavens had come nearer to us as I spoke; +but the word "rheumatism" seemed to attract him, and roused the only +association with the Old World which he as yet enjoyed.</p> + +<p>"You gentlemen have been to Europe before?" he said, advancing, and +taking me in with a half-inquiring nod, as if my acquaintance with so +foreign-looking a person as Fearloe was sufficient guarantee of my +experience in travelling. "Now I would consider it a favor, gentlemen, +if you would come down with me to the smoking-room. We can have a little +something to drink, and then we can talk this thing over."</p> + +<p>Fearloe smiled condescendingly.</p> + +<p>"This thing?" inquired I (perhaps not with the utmost respect, since his +sentence struck me as rather too informal for the very beginning of a +chance acquaintance). "You mean the Bad—"</p> + +<p>"The whole of it," broke in Mr. Steavens. "The European continent—Bad +Peppers, Paris, and all the rest of it. You've been there, and know just +what a fellow ought to see and do, and now I'm away from my store, I've +got a little time to sit down and think over what <i>I</i>'ll do. So, if you +don't object, gentlemen—"</p> + +<p>"Not at all," Fearloe hastened to assure him, being always ready for +novel encounters.</p> + +<p>"I can't tell you anything about Pfeiffers's Baths," said I, trying to +be companionable too, "for I never heard of them before; but whatever I +do know is at your service."</p> + +<p>As we moved toward the gangway the grocer turned to Fearloe, and asked, +in an undertone, "What does he call it? Feiffers? That ain't right, is +it? My friend that set me on going there, he said Peppers. I thought, +first off, he meant they put red peppers in the water when you bathe; +but he said no, it was the name of the man that started the place, he +guessed."</p> + +<p>"You can pronounce it either way," said Fearloe, magnanimously.</p> + +<p>"Well, I prefer Peppers," declared Steavens, with an air of relief. "But +it's kind of queer, now, that your friend, Mr. What's-his-name—"</p> + +<p>"Middleby," I suggested, claiming my place in the colloquy.</p> + +<p>"—Middleby," he continued, without embarrassment, transferring the +remark to me. "Ain't it queer, Mr. Middleby, that you never heard of the +place? I thought everybody knew about Bad Peppers."</p> + +<p>I was foolish enough to be irritated at this presumption on the part of +the child-like grocer, and had a great mind to hint that he preferred a +wrong pronunciation of the name because peppers were in the line of his +business; but I contented myself with saying that I thought there were +places in Europe a good deal better known than the baths.</p> + +<p>In the smoking-room we found the young German who had cast his critical +eye upon Steavens at dinner. He introduced himself as Herr Scharlach, +and in order to make matters clear, he drew from his pocket a printed +list of the passengers, which had been distributed just before we +sailed, on which he put a cross against each of our names and his own, +as he had already done with several others in the catalogue. He was a +young man somewhere in the thirties, with a clear blue eye that gleamed +like a sword, a high forehead, and a soft complexion deepened by +tropical sunburn. He could have been identified as a German anywhere, +from the air he had of holding a balance of power in all earthly +affairs; and when he checked off our names, I couldn't help thinking +that he was collecting data for use in some future military campaign, or +else for a biographical dictionary of the whole human race.</p> + +<p>"Ain't from Philadelphia, are you?" queried Steavens, in a friendly +tone, implying that the other probably <i>was</i> from that city. "We have a +good many Germans there."</p> + +<p>"No," said Scharlach, "Brazil." After which he lit a cigarette he had +been rolling in his thin fingers, and puffed smoke from his nostrils in +such a way as to suggest that any aperture for confidential conversation +was permanently closed.</p> + +<p>"Now here," said our confiding acquaintance, after we had pledged one +another in several mild beverages suited to a first day out on the briny +deep—"here's a list of places my friend made out that I want to kind of +take in on my way to the springs and back." And he produced from his +pocketbook a narrow crumpled white paper, on which were pencilled the +weighty names of Paris, Rome, Madrid, Vienna, St. Petersburg, Dresden, +Antwerp, Heidelberg, and Munich. I give them in the order in which they +occurred. "I suppose that's all right, ain't it?" he concluded, glancing +at each of us in turn, as if the success of his tour depended on our +good opinion.</p> + +<p>"Why, yes," said Fearloe, "the places are all right, but you'll have to +travel a good deal to include them all. I don't see how you're to get at +them on the way to the baths."</p> + +<p>"Oh, of course I shall have to branch off a little; but then the +distances over there don't compare with ours," returned Mr. Steavens, +hopefully.</p> + +<p>"I'm not so sure of that," rejoined my friend, with a malicious air of +there being some slight room for doubt. "Your first jaunt, from Paris to +Rome, will be five hundred miles—five times as far as from Philadelphia +to New York. After that you must count at least a thousand to Madrid, a +thousand more from there to Vienna, and then twelve hundred, or over, to +St. Petersburg." Steavens almost turned pale. He hastily set down the +glass which he was carrying to his lips. "Besides," continued Fearloe, +"you can't go to Rome at all before winter."</p> + +<p>"Hold on!" cried the other, looking as if the sense of solid reality +were slipping away from him. "Has anybody got a map here? Let's settle +one thing at a time. You know what I want to do first is to strike down +to Bad Peppers. I'd like to settle just how that stands."</p> + +<p>Scharlach immediately went to his state-room, and returned promptly with +a large and perfect map of the Continent, showing all the railroads and +post-roads. Seeing this, I was tempted to make some sarcastic remark +about his thorough German equipment; but I remembered Sedan, and +shuddered. He was soon busily engaged in tracing out certain lines of +travel with his long pink finger, the nail of which was whitish, and +edged with black—according strangely with the Prussian national colors. +I thought Scharlach took a peculiar interest in Pfeiffers, and seemed +oddly familiar with it. He furnished our fellow-passenger with full +details about the place; how it was situated on the Tamina River—which +Steavens, with a friendly reminiscence of New York politics, instantly +transformed into "Tammany" River; how the mountains were piled around +its wild gorge seven or eight thousand feet high; how the healing waters +flow only in summer, and are brought to the hotel by an aqueduct; and so +on. All this seemed to reassure the rheumatic grocer very much; and +having got "Peppers" definitely fixed in his mind again, and becoming +familiar with the map, he once more grew self-confident about his list +of cities, and nothing could avail to dissuade him from adhering to the +exact order in which his unknown adviser had jotted them down. So, for +the time, we abandoned the attempt.</p> + +<p>There is hardly a circle more merciless in its criticisms than a body of +first-cabin passengers on one of the European steamers; and Steavens +soon became an object of amusement to most of us. His simplicity, +openness, and perfectly good-humored, almost joyous, ignorance, made him +an easy prey. But he proved to be a "good sailor," and was very gallant +toward the ladies. The strangest part of it was that they rather liked +him, and took his side against our covert ridicule. I suppose I must +admit that this, instead of altering our opinions concerning him, only +added a slight bitterness to a spirit of fun which would otherwise have +been quite innocent; and we got into a way of looking at him with +sarcastic hostility. When I say "we" I refer more particularly to +Fearloe, the German, Scharlach, and myself, who, having been thrown with +him more than the others on the first day of the voyage, regarded him as +a sort of comic exhibition under our special supervision.</p> + +<p>This rather absurd bond of union between us led to some degree of +intimacy with Scharlach, who disclosed—greatly to the enhancement of +our interest in Steavens's journey—that he, likewise, was going to +Pfeiffers. His errand, moreover, was a romantic one. Five years before +he had fallen in love with the orphaned niece of a rich merchant in +Berlin; but feeling his cause to be hopeless, at least as regarded the +girl's uncle, so long as he had nothing but his personal appearance and +a very elaborate education to support his suit, Scharlach had preferred +to retain the hold of friendship while starting out to better his +condition; and accordingly he had never made a positive declaration of +his passion, but had gone to Brazil, where he succeeded in gaining a +moderately handsome fortune. His friends had kept him informed of +Fräulein Raslaff's movements. As yet she had not married, from which he +augured hopefully for his future; but her uncle had become an invalid, +and they were now about resorting to Pfeiffers for his health, whither +Scharlach, of course, purposed following them, in order to learn his +fate.</p> + +<p>He requested us urgently to say nothing about this to any of our +fellow-voyagers, and we even kept the secret of his destination from +Steavens. But that could not prevent Fearloe and myself from privately +talking over Scharlach's prospects a little. My own opinion was that +such cool self-possession as his course showed might not impress a woman +so favorably as it did us, and I said I was by no means sure that +Scharlach would win, after all. Fearloe did not agree with me here, and +stroked his beard with an air of restrained certainty as he replied: "I +see, Middleby, you fancy that women want something more startling +romantic than that. But they are very practical, too; and I think you'll +find Miss Raslaff will appreciate such sensible devotion as this of our +Brazilian emigrant." As I have said, Fearloe knew the effect he could +produce on women, and was proud of it; and when he uttered this remark +it was plain that he thought he had settled the question.</p> + + +<h3>II.</h3> + +<p>As I left the steamer at Southampton, and went up to London for a few +days, I parted with Steavens before the voyage was completed. It was +nearly a week later that I met Fearloe again, in Paris. We went together +to dine at a neat little two-franc place in the Rue St. Honoré, which we +had formerly haunted, and during dinner he suddenly asked, with a +roguish look, "Who do you think I saw yesterday?—Steavens!" And Fearloe +here bent his head, bathing his beard in laughter. "Do you know, he has +been in Paris three days and hasn't gone near the Exposition?"</p> + +<p>"Well, that shows a healthy independence," said I. "Is he studying the +Louvre?"</p> + +<p>"No," was the answer; "he has discovered something far more important +than the Louvre or the Exposition—something which seems to reward him +for the whole trip."</p> + +<p>"What can that be?" I queried, rather blankly.</p> + +<p>"He has discovered," said Fearloe, "that <i>Paris is the place to buy +shirts in</i>!"</p> + +<p>This, it appeared, was the topic which had engrossed Steavens's mind +when Fearloe met him. The erratic man, after reaching Bremen, had +abruptly decided to come over to the French capital, which he might have +done much more easily and cheaply from Southampton; and the result of +this expensive détour had been a kind of shirt-intoxication. "You've no +idea," added Fearloe, "how neatly he has gotten himself up. He really is +making progress. And the magnificence of the fellow! Why, he says he +shall merely take a single run through the Exposition, and leave all the +rest of Paris till after he has been to Pfeiffers."</p> + +<p>"Fearloe," I said, with a measure of solemnity, "don't scoff at a man +like that. I never before have met an American with quite so much +originality in his treatment of Europe. He must be a genius."</p> + +<p>Nevertheless, we continued to laugh at him, with that superiority of +being less naïf and independent than he which so oddly seems to us a +desirable thing nowadays. And if any one at that time had hinted that +Steven Steavens, with his want of reserve and complete indifference to +what is known as culture, possessed qualities of character more to be +admired than our own, we should not have taken the trouble even to smile +at the critic.</p> + +<p>I did not happen to meet Steavens while in Paris; but in August I +finally acted on Fearloe's chance hint aboard ship, and went to +Pfeiffers myself, where I found not only our enthusiast in shirts, but +also Scharlach and Miss Raslaff, together with that young lady's uncle, +a shrivelled little old man, who had the air of being put away to keep +in his thick white hair and whiskers, like a dried beetle in +cotton-wool. To the rest of us indeed, the old gentleman was of no more +account than a beetle, and appeared to have as little influence on the +lives around him as an insect might. But, as a matter of fact, though he +was so nearly dead, and scarcely stirred a limb, he clutched three lives +in his faded fingers, and held them fast there—his niece's life, +Scharlach's life, and Steavens's life. For I was not long in discovering +that my rheumatic pilgrim had fallen in love with Fräulein Raslaff +almost at first sight. He himself took good care that I should not +remain blind to the fact. He drew me aside, and poured his tale into my +ear, though with somewhat more reserve than he had shown on the steamer +in discussing his plans of travel.</p> + +<p>"How long has this been going on?" I inquired, as we walked together up +and down the hotel terrace overlooking the wild and picturesque valley.</p> + +<p>"Three weeks and a half," he answered. "It's a short time, and it +<i>seems</i> like a short time. I've read in the story papers that when a +man's in love, a few days seem to him like years, and so forth. But I +don't believe it. I know exactly how long I've been here, and yet +there's no doubt about it, I'm in love with that young lady, and am +going to make her my wife if I can. The story papers are wrong, and I'm +right."</p> + +<p>I couldn't help reflecting that this was the same independence I had +praised to Fearloe. "The man has the faculty of knowing exactly what +he's about," thought I, "and that goes a good way toward securing +success." Yet it seemed preposterous that he should have the least +chance with a woman so far removed from him by tastes and traditions as +Fräulein Raslaff. I said to him merely, "Have you spoken to her?"</p> + +<p>"I've tried to feel my way," was his reply. "But that uncle of +hers—he's an old potato-bug, sir. He's <i>worse</i> than a potato-bug. I +don't know what to call him. He won't let any one come near her, and yet +he don't seem to take any pleasure in her himself. He looks just about +dead, but I tell you it's only shamming; the minute another man talks to +Miss Raslaff, he wakes up; it puts life into him, and he flies around +sharp. This is a good country to operate in, though; he can't take the +walks we do with parties sometimes—up to Solitude, and the Belvedere, +and around. I'd just like to see him in the gorge once; <i>that</i> would +finish him."</p> + +<p>The gorge was a very peculiar and rather perilous cavern, higher up in +the valley through which the Tamina runs.</p> + +<p>"Then it's only the uncle that troubles you?" I queried. "You don't feel +afraid of Scharlach?"</p> + +<p>Steavens paused, looking anxious for an instant. Then the child-like +expression which I had marked on my first glimpse of him came out +strongly again. "Do you think he'd be mean enough to stand in my way?" +he asked.</p> + +<p>"But suppose you are standing in his?" I returned.</p> + +<p>Steavens apparently considered this an unnatural view to take. +"Scharlach can get along by himself all right," he asserted. "He might +be disappointed, and it wouldn't ruin him. But me—why, take me, and +what am I without <i>her</i>?" I must admit that this humbleness touched me +with its pathos, and I began to range myself on Steavens's side. Then he +concluded, without any pathos at all, "Well, I've got as good a right to +try as he has, any way, and I'm bound to win in the end."</p> + +<p>At length, wishing to soften a possible disappointment, I thought I +ought to toll him how long Scharlach had been hoping to gain Miss +Raslaff's heart. The information startled him considerably; but after a +few moments' silence he struck me on the shoulder, and exclaimed, "Well, +here we are! He's rich and I'm rich; let her choose between us for +something else. If he hadn't made any money out there, I'd say to him, +'Here, my man, I've got the best of you, so I'll stand by, and you can +just walk in and try your chances first.' But seeing we're neck and neck +on that, I don't know that there's anything to do but go ahead."</p> + +<p>And go ahead he assuredly did from that hour. He astounded the old uncle +by remonstrating with him directly against his supervision of Miss +Raslaff. "It ain't fair," he said. "You don't know how to manage things +in this country. I don't say a woman ought to vote; but anyway she ought +to have a right to listen to a man when he wants to tell her what he +thinks of her. Do you suppose I could tell <i>you</i>?" (With a glance by no +means politic in its contempt at the desiccated little figure before +him.) "And how am I to talk to her about it when you are around?"</p> + +<p>The result of this attack, which he made in my presence, was a violent +outbreak from the old man; and the next day Steavens was asked to meet +Miss Raslaff and her uncle in their <i>salon</i>, to receive from the young +woman herself a confirmation of her uncle's objection to receiving any +attentions from him. The girl was pale, but composed and very beautiful. +I could not make out whether or not she had taken any fancy to my +brusque compatriot, but she acted her part firmly. When at last she +said, in pure English, "My uncle is right; you must not seek my +acquaintance any more—more ardently; let us be quite as we were +before," I declare so sweet a suspicion of a blush came over her checks, +and her voice died away so delicately, like a soft echo heard among the +very hills around us, that I almost fell in love with her myself. A +great change instantly came over Steavens. All his jauntiness, his +unreserve, his child-like confidence, were extinguished at a blow. After +a moment he collected his voice, and said, with great gentleness, "Miss +Raslaff, I will never do anything you ask me not to, so far as speaking +is concerned; but that won't prevent my thinking about you just as much +as ever, and I shall keep just as near the place where you stay as I +can."</p> + +<p>This was the end of the interview, and I thought my countryman had the +best of it. He was very melancholy, though, while I remained at the +baths; and the savage beauty of the place—the rough stream roaring out +of the cavern against whose walls of black calcareous rock, glittering +here and there with feldspar, the faint Alpine rose bloomed pensively, +the shaggy heights above the hotel, and the glimpses of snowy peaks in +the distance—was not suited to restore his cheer. One day we went into +the gorge, with its rocky walls rising two or three hundred feet, and +gradually closing together above, where a bridge of planks cornered into +the solid stone runs for a distance of six thousand paces to the +springs, slippery all the way from the flying river-foam. It was gloomy +and depressing as a scene from the <i>Inferno</i>, and bad for a rheumatic +patient, as I reminded Steavens; but he shook his head mournfully, and +said he didn't care. What was worse was the danger of missing a foothold +on the wet and mossy planks, and so being precipitated into the wild +stream beneath; and I breathed more easily when we came out safely +again. But it struck me that this would be a fearful place for two angry +rivals, such as Steavens and Scharlach now were, to meet in.</p> + +<p>It so happened that Scharlach that very day came to me with <i>his</i> tale +of despair. Thinking the field was his own, after Steavens's +discomfiture, he had formally proposed for Miss Raslaff's hand, and had +been rejected. He could not understand it. He had addressed the young +lady with her uncle's permission, and she had refused him. I gathered +from what he said that he had pressed his claim as a matter of right, +that he considered himself to have bought her love by long patience and +the accumulation of a competence, and had put forward this theory with +undue bluntness; for he confessed that she had dismissed him with a cold +anger and disdain that left no hope. We were sitting on the great stone +steps hewn in the height above the hotel as he told me this. "No," he +cried, springing to his feet, at the end, in a sort of fury. "If she had +shown heat of temper, I might have kept up hope. But she petrified me +with her contempt. I am no better than these rocks." He ground his teeth +as he spoke, looking down at the hostelry, sunk at a fearful depth below +us. Then he seized a heavy stone from the earth, and flung it down the +steep, madly crying, "Yes, I am stone now, and there goes my heart +rolling down to crush you!" It stopped before it had gone far; but the +frenzied action was enough to show that the man had lost his balance. +The pent-up force of years, so well controlled till now, had broken +forth at a bound, and was carrying him away. "And it was that fool from +America, that friend of yours," he added, fiercely, turning upon me all +at once, as if I were an enemy—"it was he that did this. It is because +he is a novelty, and because her uncle opposes it, that she has taken a +fancy to him, and thrown aside the man who was a slave to her for eight +years. That's it, I am sure. Take him away! Take your American away!"</p> + +<p>I need not say that I did not obey this command; but I did take myself +away. The truth is, the situation was getting altogether too serious for +my liking. Yet, after I had gone, I felt an incessant curiosity to know +how the affair had resulted. I heard nothing more for some time, until I +came across an acquaintance during the winter, who had met Steavens in +Paris again. This gentleman was telling me how Steavens had been to Rome +early in the winter, and now went about complaining that it was a very +dirty, one-horse town, which couldn't compare with Philadelphia. He also +reported Steavens as gaining some notoriety for his romantic attachment +to a young German lady, whom I had no difficulty in recognizing as +Fräulein Raslaff. It appeared, therefore, that he had as yet made no +headway; but I indulged in a sense of approval when I learned that he +was studying hard, to enlarge his education and his knowledge of +European things. Still, my acquaintance described him as a man who could +never become anything but an American. He had taken the baths under the +necessity of improving his health; he was trying to take European +manners, in the same way, for the sake of improving his chances with +Fräulein Raslaff. Yet he remained immutably hostile to everything +foreign, and to prolong his stay abroad was, therefore, the strongest +sort of devotion he could have shown.</p> + + +<h3>III.</h3> + +<p>Fearloe knew nothing of these events, having gone to Egypt for the +winter. But more than a year afterward, when I had been at home for some +time, I was one day telling a lady at a dinner party something about +Steavens's eccentricities and absurdities, when she exclaimed: "Oh, I +have heard of that man before! Your friend Mr. Fearloe was telling me +about him."</p> + +<p>I was decidedly annoyed by this, because I had frequently made an +anecdote of Steavens with great effect, and now here was Fearloe +spoiling my fun by telling it in advance. Of course I had confined +myself to narrating the rheumatic pilgrim's strange plan of travel, his +excitement about Parisian shirts, and his unique view of Rome—things +which invariably proved highly amusing—and said nothing of his romance. +I now questioned my companion at dinner, to see if I could learn +anything more about that part of his history, but I could get no +information on that subject. My irritation continued all the evening, +for it is no slight matter when a man who painfully hoards materials for +small conversation, and uses them frequently, finds an insidious friend +depriving him of them. But I had an ample revenge upon Fearloe +afterward, as you shall see. When I next saw him, which was some months +later, he had an experience to recount which certainly put him at my +mercy. I will tell it in his own words.</p> + +<p>"I was staying at North Conway for a few days, late in July, and there +was a most beautiful woman there. I hardly know whether to call her girl +or woman, Middleby, there was such an immortal freshness about her face +and figure, combined with a reflective sadness that showed she had had +more than a girl's experiences. She dressed in black; it was a cool thin +black, that looked—perhaps on account of the calm, sweet face above +it—more airy and summer-like than the most studied of the country +costumes worn by other ladies at the hotel; and she wore bracelets and a +pin of Irish bog-stone set in ebony, that harmonized deliciously with +her personality. You know how that sort of stone sparkles, like a +clouded diamond. Well, there was something about its dim, shrouded flash +that was just like the mystery in her pale face with its surroundings of +black. It struck into me very deep, and excited a desire to pierce the +mystery, to find out what her face meant, and what was at her heart—and +perhaps to place myself in the heart, too. I'll own it frankly. You know +I'm not susceptible, though I've generally made my way pretty well with +the ladies." (Here a flash of Fearloe's old self-complacence on this +point came to light, but quickly died out again.) "I have always cared +more for foreign women, though, than for our own; and this girl or woman +was a German, so I was doubly taken with her. Her name was set down on +the register as—Well, I won't tell you what the name was, just at +present, but it was registered in such a way that I couldn't tell +whether she was maid, wife, or widow. I fixed on the last, in my own +mind, from her wearing black. There was no one with her; none of the +people in the hotel, with whom I talked, knew anything about her. There +could be no question that she was rich; but that was all I could find +out concerning her.</p> + +<p>"It was a delicate business, as you can imagine, to make her +acquaintance in the face of such a state of things; but I managed it, +fortunately, through doing her a little service on the 'piazza,' and +from that I went on to press my society upon her cautiously. In a few +days we were on very good terms, and took a few of the customary walks +and drives in the neighborhood, with other persons at first, and then +alone. I was puzzled to find her so easy as to this, being a foreigner; +but I believe I convinced her of my trustworthiness, and she must have +found out easily, from my acquaintances in the place, just who I was. +Then she seemed to have outgrown foreign prejudices in some way; and I +confess, besides, that I accounted for it at the time by fancying that I +had begun to make some impression upon her.</p> + +<p>"I determined there shouldn't be any doubt about it. Yes, it was a +serious matter, Middleby; I had come to a point when I meant to offer +myself to her the very next day. I got her consent to go to Artists' +Falls, where I meant to lay my passion before her. Hideous name, by the +way—Artists' Falls!" broke off Fearloe, testily. "No affair could have +prospered in a spot with such a shoppy name."</p> + +<p>He relapsed into gloomy reflections, from which I roused him, insisting +that the story should be finished.</p> + +<p>"It was the evening before our intended excursion," he then went on. +"She and I were sitting on a retired part of the piazza, just about +sunset. Everything about us was rarely beautiful; the flush of the +evening just dying away from old Rattlesnake, and the line of the great +peaks at the distant head of the valley, with Washington's dome in the +midst, looking, to the fancy—as you have probably seen them—like giant +ghosts of the great men they commemorate. Then, across the intervale, +with its hundreds of little brooks and its soft elms, we looked at +White-horse Cliff, and that waterfall that seems to flutter from the +distant hill-side like a white banner. You remember? A single star was +poised above it. I shall never forget that scene. It came upon me with a +kind of surprise, after all, that we could have anything so lovely here, +and I began contrasting it with Europe. I wanted to hint something about +going back there, you know—lead up in a sort of way to my intended +declaration in the morning. So it was natural that, in talking of the +other side, and the voyage, and all that, I should begin to tell her +about that odd fellow on the <i>Weser</i> when we went over, you +know—Steavens."</p> + +<p>"Miserable man!" I exclaimed, at this point, remembering my discomfiture +at that dinner. "You told her, and then you found she was some one I had +already met and told before?"</p> + +<p>Fearloe glared at me in amazement, then slowly smiled in a melancholy +manner, and shook his head. "Don't be childish, Middleby," said he; "and +please don't interrupt me. I fancy I know something more about Steavens +than <i>you</i>'ve ever told. This particular time I'm describing to you I +was surprised to find that my listener didn't seem to enter into the fun +of the thing. I didn't mention his name, yet I almost suspected she knew +something about the man. But as she didn't relish the absurd side of +him, I thought I'd give her a proper dose of the serious. I went on to +impart what I had learned about a desperate love affair of his at Bad +Pfeiffers; and this, by the by, is news to you, Middleby."</p> + +<p>"Not quite," I said, with a vain smile. (It must be kept in mind that +Fearloe and I had claimed a joint ownership in Steavens as a comic +spectacle, and I was jealous of any other kind of property in him as a +sentimental one.)</p> + +<p>"No?" rejoined Fearloe, rather surprised, but cool. "Well, then, you can +judge how flat I felt on finding that the beginning of his romantic +episode didn't seem to strike her much more than the rest I had said +about him.</p> + +<p>"'You seem rather to despise your compatriot,' she said, when I had got +as far as telling her what I had heard about his rivalry with Scharlach +for the favor of a young lady whom they met at the baths. 'But why +shouldn't he feel the same love and devotion that another might, even if +he were not the most accomplished of his nation?'</p> + +<p>"I answered, 'Ah, that is like you, to defend a man for holding a +generous sentiment. It is to be hoped you would be equally kind in +judging a less out-and-out American who dared to love one of your race.' +(I imagined she blushed just there.) 'But if you had seen this man +Steavens, you would understand just how I look at him. You don't know +much yet about such raw specimens of my kind.'</p> + +<p>"The fact is, Middleby, I put something of a sneer into my words. I was +angry at her liking the man even in fancy. However, I finished my story.</p> + +<p>"'He certainly was very devoted;' I admitted that. 'He was quite as +brave as the other man.'"</p> + +<p>"'No braver, you think?' asked she, quietly, with a tone I did not +comprehend.</p> + +<p>"'You shall decide,' said I. 'The sequel was this: My German gentleman, +Scharlach, got perfectly raving mad, I'm told. He looked upon the lady +as his absolute right, and couldn't be quieted; while Steavens behaved +so calmly that he began to get on terms with the lady and her uncle +again, even after his rebuff. If you have ever been at Pfeiffers,' I +said to her, 'you know the gorge of the Tamina; but you can't guess +what's coming. It happened, one day, that Steavens went in there, when +Scharlach had already gone to the spring, and was coming back along the +foot-bridge.' I can tell you, Middleby, she looked interested when I +came to this—just as you do now. She was startled, too. 'Now, by the +strangest coincidence, the obdurate uncle and his niece also went down +there shortly afterward, not knowing that either of the rivals was in +the cave. They had gone some little way along the dangerous path, when +they heard a terrible shout, like the cry of a wild man. They tried to +make haste forward to see what it meant, after the first moment of +terror, and came in sight of the two men just in time. Scharlach was +making a rush upon Steavens, who stood perfectly still, with a pale +face, but resolute and terribly stern.</p> + +<p>"'He braced himself as well as he could. The shock came. There was a +stout, short struggle, and suddenly Scharlach went over, plunging toward +the rough torrent full of rocks, and was lost.'</p> + +<p>"Then, Middleby, you should have seen that woman's eyes as she sat there +in the twilight. How they flashed, as she rose in her chair! Yet there +was an intense pain in her expression. 'This is too terrible,' she said. +'But no; I must speak now. Mr. Fearloe, did the person who told you this +story also tell you how, when Scharlach fell, Steven tried to hold +him—tried to save the man who had just been seeking his life? Ah, there +his true and great nobility were seen!'</p> + +<p>"'Good heavens, madam,' cried I, 'who are you? You saw them? Then you +must be—'</p> + +<p>"Just then, Middleby, the coach from the station had come up, and the +passengers were getting out. Madame was exclaiming, without heed to my +questions, 'Oh, I cannot bear this! That scene all comes back to me. +Steven! Steven! why are you not here?' And, as if in answer to her +words, the man came up behind her with his travelling-bag in his hand. I +felt as if lightning had struck me! But to <i>her</i>, calmness returned in +an instant. She rose, and with her arm in his she said, coldly, 'Steven, +do you remember Mr. Fearloe?' He recalled me at once, and started to +take my hand. But she checked him, and said to him, while looking at me +like ice, 'Ah, it's a pity you remember him, for you must learn now to +forget him!' And with that she wheeled away, carrying him with her."</p> + +<p>"It was Miss Raslaff," I cried. "And how did it happen you didn't know +her?"</p> + +<p>"I had forgotten the name. Ah, my boy, I have been fearfully punished. I +had a conceited contempt for that man, and see how it has been visited +on me."</p> + +<p>"Then she has married him?"</p> + +<p>"By this time, yes. She clung to her savage old uncle till he died, then +came over to marry Steavens, though by condition of the will she must +forfeit all her uncle's money in doing so."</p> + +<p>"Fearloe," I remarked, after a pause, "I think we will neither of us +relate our funny encounter with Steavens any more. What did we, with all +our fancied supremacy, gain by going to Europe, compared with this man? +After all, it was a real inspiration of his to 'strike right down to Bad +Peppers'!"</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="THREE_BRIDGES" id="THREE_BRIDGES"></a>THREE BRIDGES.</h2> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="I" id="I"></a>I.</h2> + +<h3>THE IMPORTANCE OF A HAT.</h3> + + +<p>Within a distance of about ten miles Shagford River makes three long +curves, each of which is crossed by a bridge.</p> + +<p>The first is for the railroad. The second, thrown across at a point +where the ground is lower, carries a country road from bank to bank. +Still further down is the third, which is of stone, and forms a paved +street connecting the two parts of the factory town of Shagford.</p> + +<p>On the afternoon of a superb summer day a fast train from the north-west +swept around the curve leading to the bridge-head, and emerged upon the +open iron-work structure which bore the double track above the water. +The fireman was shovelling coal, and the engineer had just withdrawn his +hand from a cord which blew the whistle when he caught sight of a man, +in a round Bombay hat, half way across and walking in the same direction +the train was taking. Again he pulled the string, sending out four +hoarse notes: "Lo-ook oout, a-head!" But the man did not step aside, as +would have been expected, on to the line of plank provided for foot +passengers between the tracks. The engineer turned on the air-brake and +shouted; but there was a strong breeze blowing against him; and at best +a voice could hardly rouse a traveller deaf to the steam notes. The last +chance of escape appeared to have passed when the stranger, moved by an +instinct of danger, though hearing nothing, turned his head.</p> + +<p>For the space of a second he confronted the swift, trembling glitter of +steel and brass and the pallid face of the engineer at the cab-window. A +look of unutterable horror convulsed his own features, and he sprang +wildly into the air. Falling again, without being hit by the engine, he +went tumbling down through an interstice of the iron beams into the +muddy water below. The train was soon stopped and reversed. Slowly the +wheels revolved backward—with a solemn, funereal movement, as if +conscious of the inanimate body that might soon be added to their +freight.</p> + +<p>But to the amazement of every one on board, staring frightened into the +river, the hurt man was seen to be already struggling out of the +current, and clambering—wet, hatless, with dripping hair—up the steep +bank they had just left. On reaching the top he began to walk aimlessly +away from the train, as if nothing had happened, but presently sat down +on the ground looking weak and bewildered.</p> + +<p>"Well, if he ain't the coolest hand!" exclaimed the brakeman. "Must be a +new sort of water-rat." This same brakeman, however, was prompt to go +with the conductor to the aid of the stranger. They found him conscious, +but stupefied, and so helped him into the train, which then continued on +its way, bearing him off to Shagford.</p> + +<p>"Where are you bound?" asked the conductor.</p> + +<p>The man, who was of middle age, with a sun-browned face and close +iron-gray whiskers along the upper jaws, felt for his hat and, not +finding it, looked uneasy. "There must be no delay," he said, half to +himself. "I'll tell you in a moment," he added.</p> + +<p>But he sat for some time without speaking; and it was evident that the +shock of his terrible fall had worked confusion in his brain. Even on +reaching Shagford he was unable to collect himself. But they persuaded +him to consult the nearest physician, whom he sought under care of the +young brakeman. This resulted in his being taken temporarily to the +hospital, for, though seemingly without physical injury, he had suffered +so peculiar a mental effect that rest and proper care were thought +advisable.</p> + +<p>Shortly after the occurrence of this singular accident a vehicle crossed +the turnpike bridge, of which mention has been made. The vehicle was a +buggy, occupied by a single figure—that of a man say about +thirty-eight, clothed in a close-fitting suit of mixed brown. He was of +prosperous but not portly aspect, and what was most noticeable in him +was that his eyes scanned the river in a sudden, peculiar way. One might +have said that, emerging from the softly massed trees upon the bank, he +had an uneasy sense of being exposed to unexpected observation on the +open stretch of the bridge. But perhaps the more likely explanation +would be that he was an inquiring, energetic person, who habitually +looked everywhere. Habit or chance, whichever it might be, his alert +vision was not exercised in vain that day. He saw on the river, floating +toward his point of vantage, an upturned hat. Now, this hat was the +identical one which had quitted the head of the unlucky man at the +railroad bridge; for, being made of cork, it was perfectly adapted to +navigation.</p> + +<p>"That's what comes of sharp eyes," said the driver of the buggy aloud, +much as though he were stating a moral maxim which it did him good to +hear. "Who knows but this may turn out important? If anybody's been +drowned, or—" The alternative was lost in a clucking sound with which +he accompanied the urging of his horse; for he had formed a plan.</p> + +<p>The bridge was low; the hat was drifting toward one of the numerous rows +of spiles, hence he believed he could fish it up with his long-handled +whip. Dismounting, and watching his opportunity, he succeeded after a +few moment's novel angling in bringing up, by a noose made of the +lash-end, his piece of flotsam.</p> + +<p>As I have said, this man wore a comfortable mien; his face was smooth, +rosy, firm and beardless, and though the structure of his lips was +rather hard and determined, the corners of the lips indicated constant +readiness for a smile which, however, never culminated when he was +alone. Still, at this moment, a beam of satisfaction rested on his +features. The recovery of the hat presented itself to him in the light +of a virtuous action. Looking into it he saw the owner's name written on +the leather band: "Simeon Piper." As this conveyed no impression, he +turned his attention to a small folded paper stuffed inside of the band +and making a slight bulge in it. On examining what was inscribed upon +the sheet, his countenance changed; the beaming look vanished, and his +eyebrows, always describing an acute angle to the temples, grew sharper +than ever. It was a movement analogous to that of an animal drawing back +its lips before biting, or darting a fang out. His expression, in fact, +had become wolfish.</p> + +<p>What did it mean? Merely that the name he had seen this time was his +own. "Martin E. Hounshell," he read, in a half voice, finding it for an +instant even stranger than the strange name he had encountered just +before. But he had seen other things on the page with his name; things +which he would not articulate even here; certain names and dates for +which he deemed silence the fittest atmosphere.</p> + +<p>Hounshell's next act was to toss the hat back into the river, and he was +about to tear up the paper scrap and send it after the hat, when he +changed his mind. He put the memorandum into an inside pocket and +buttoned up his coat, tapped the surface of the coat snugly, then got +into his buggy and drove on—thoughtful and puzzled, but with equanimity +returning and ready to spring his patent smile in a moment, should he +meet an acquaintance.</p> + +<p>Nevertheless, what had just happened was startling. If the paper which +now lay over his heart had possessed the power of receiving a photograph +from his brain he could not have been more astonished. The invisible had +become visible; what had lain concealed for years in his own mind now +confronted him from without. And who was Simeon Piper—a total +stranger—in whose hat so mysterious a revelation had taken place? +Hounshell's horse dragged that question along unconsciously to the end +of the bridge, where, for the moment, it disappears from our pen +unanswered.</p> + +<p>The small waves flashed lightly around the spiles; a breeze rustled in +the woods, perhaps looking for something it had lost there and never +could find again. The two bridges were deserted; all was silent, dreamy. +Then from the unseen bridge lower down a shrill clamor arose to break +the serenity of the evening; a chorused shriek of twenty unearthly +voices blended together. Unexpected and wild, loudly startling it was, +so that there seemed something uncanny about it. One might have thought +it the cry of monsters discovering human prey, or a mob of witches +revelling in some crime that had been found out there. But as a matter +of fact no one indulged in either of these impossible fancies. Everybody +knew that the uproar came from the mills of Shagford, blowing the hour +of release from work.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="II" id="II"></a>II.</h2> + +<h3>FATHER, DAUGHTER, AND—WHO ELSE?</h3> + + +<p>At this signal the operatives streamed forth like school-children; and +from Hounshell's flannel-mill in particular came one elderly man, who +threw himself with all the energy of a boy into a row-boat that lay at +the waterside, and began oaring his way lustily up-stream. He had not +gone far before he turned the bow into a secluded bay where water-lilies +grew thickly. Here, paddling about and causing the boat to lurch +violently as he stooped over the side, he pulled a few of the flowers. +He looked tired and hard-worked; there was something indescribably +pathetic in his making so much effort after the day's labor. But he did +not seem to see this; and so, after getting a bunch of lilies, he +continued up the river with a business-like stroke that implied some +past familiarity with life on the water. The end of the course was soon +reached; he moored the boat close to a little cottage that stood apart +from the houses of the other working-people, and wore a peculiarly +well-cared-for aspect.</p> + +<p>On one side of the path was a tomato-patch; on the other a minute +flower-garden; a grape-vine laid its flat leaves by one of the windows, +and everything about the place was neat, cosey, sheltered. As the weaver +came up toward it, however, he saw that there were two persons in the +room behind the vine, instead of only one, as he had expected. He +paused, looking in, and saw that it was Hounshell with his daughter. The +mill-owner at that moment took her hand in a somewhat fervent way, +addressing her eagerly, and led her toward the window. Instantly the +girl withdrew her hand and came running out.</p> + +<p>"Oh, father, dear, how lovely! Did you bring them for me?"</p> + +<p>"Who else d'you s'pose, Addie? I'm not courting any one."</p> + +<p>He looked at her quizzically as she received the lilies, his +weather-worn face glowing mildly at the same time, with pride in her +beauty and delight at having pleased her.</p> + +<p>"That's mean of you, father," she said, half offended, yet smiling as +she inhaled the delicate, sweet-almond scent of the blossoms.</p> + +<p>"What? Not to be courting?" he asked, putting his arm fondly around her. +"I can do better than that, lass, by coming home. Four bells have +struck; time for a kiss, you know." Whereupon she put her lips to his +faded, fatherly check.</p> + +<p>Addie was certainly beautiful in her way, and Scofield thought there was +no way to compare with it. She was tall, fresh, dark-eyed; her +complexion was rich with the soft, clear brown which our American sun so +deftly diffuses over a healthy face that ripens in its warmth; and she +always looked as cool, as sparkling and lithe as if she had just stepped +from a bath in the river. You felt that, were you to place your hand on +her shoulder, she would resist springily, like a young bough in the +woods.</p> + +<p>"And you can do a good deal better than I can; that's certain," said +Hounshell to Scofield, breaking in. He had come to the threshold and +witnessed this little passage.</p> + +<p>"You ought not to talk about it before me, anyway," declared Addie, +whose code of propriety never allowed ceremony to stand in the way of +truthfulness. And, having administered this rebuke, she blushed as if it +were she who had offended modesty.</p> + +<p>"Oh, well, don't take on about it!" said the mill-owner, apologetically. +"I don't know how to talk when I get down here. Different up to the +mill; ain't it, Scofield?" Here he winked at the father with humorous +comradeship. Then, turning again to Addie: "All is, I want you to be my +wife, and you know it, and so does the old man. So where's the harm, +talking about? Lord! there ain't nothing high daddy about me. I worked +my way up, and I like working-people; so, 'stid of going round among the +high daddies, I come to you and say I want to marry you. I've seen you +grow into a woman, just like"—the speaker, embarrassed, gazed +helplessly round the garden for a comparison, and proceeded:—"Like one +of those tomaytoes there, when it comes to fruit. And I know all about +you."</p> + +<p>"I don't believe I'm like a tomayto one bit," said Addie, with +conviction. The next moment, allowing herself a saucy smile: "And I +don't know all about you, you see. So there!"</p> + +<p>Her mature admirer did not resent this, but stood really abashed and +disconcerted. "What am I to do, Scofield?" he asked, stepping out on to +the walk. "You see how it goes."</p> + +<p>Addie seized the moment for escaping into the house, while her father, +regarding his employer meditatively, replied: "Take soundings, and then +try again. That's all I can say."</p> + +<p>"I don't know," observed Hounshell, shaking his head. He tried to bring +his regulation smile into play, but the springs would not work. He was +really attached to the girl; and there was a painful longing in his +mind, besides another motive, of which he could not speak. He was +unnerved.</p> + +<p>Presently they went into the house. "Won't you stay to supper?" +suggested Scofield.</p> + +<p>"No, thank'ee. I'm going. Addie!"</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir." She looked at him from her cool, liquid eyes as steadily and +with as much unconsciousness in her clear-lined face as if she had never +heard him speak of marriage.</p> + +<p>"I've a word to say, if you'll come out to the gate."</p> + +<p>"All right." Addie put the cups on the table for her father and herself, +and then followed Hounshell, who bade the weaver good-night.</p> + +<p>"I want you to treat me differently," said the miller, when they were +alone. "This is a very serious matter, and there's more in it than you +think. You ought to consider your father."</p> + +<p>The girl's eyes flashed. "You don't mean," she began, "that you—"</p> + +<p>"No, I don't mean any harm to him, of course. Take me or leave me, he'll +be all right. But if you take me, my father-in-law don't remain in the +weaving-room, by a long shot. I'll make him my partner instid."</p> + +<p>Addie appeared to weigh this.</p> + +<p>"Well, that's right," she said. "He ought to be." Hesitatingly, she went +on: "I know it's generous of you, but—but—"</p> + +<p>"There's another reason, too," the suitor hastened to explain. "I can't +tell you now, but I might afterward. It's very serious. Oh, I can't +stand it, if you don't consent!" he almost groaned.</p> + +<p>She was startled by his strenuous manner.</p> + +<p>"What reason can it be?" she asked, quivering a little.</p> + +<p>"It's been on my heart so long," Hounshell said, pressing both hands on +his chest. "It's there now," he continued, sinking his voice. At the +precise instant of speaking his fingers felt beneath the coat that +fateful fold of paper which the river had brought him, and both arms +fell as if he had been struck.</p> + +<p>"Good God!" he exclaimed, staring at her.</p> + +<p>It seemed to him that she, too, must have felt the paper and its +tell-tale words.</p> + +<p>"What have I been saying?" he asked, in a bewildered tone.</p> + +<p>The change in him within a few moments had been extraordinary, and Addie +experienced a shock. Any one who had seen the wolfish glare of his eyes +on the bridge would have been surprised at the human emotion he now +betrayed.</p> + +<p>"You frighten me," said the girl, shrinking; but she was conscious of +feeling more pity than fright.</p> + +<p>"Don't be frightened," urged Hounshell, trying to speak gently; but his +voice broke. It sounded abject rather than soothing. "I s'pose I'm +making mistakes again. You can't understand me. Only this—think of +this: I shall never get over it if you don't have me. You may do me a +great wrong by turning me off. Can't you consider about this a little +more?"</p> + +<p>"I—I will try to consider, Mr. Hounshell," faltered Addie.</p> + +<p>"Then I'll go; I'll bid you good-night," he said, regaining some of his +customary stiffness.</p> + +<p>"Good-night," she returned.</p> + +<p>He got into the waiting buggy; there was a grinding of wheels, a puff of +whitish dust from them, and then the dusk obliterated him, much to her +relief. She went back into the house slightly paler than when she had +left it.</p> + +<p>"Father," she declared, "I never can marry that man."</p> + +<p>"What! Hounshell?"</p> + +<p>"Yes. There's something strange about him—and wrong."</p> + +<p>"Careful! He's been our best friend, lass; there can't be anything +wrong."</p> + +<p>"All the same, I shall not marry him."</p> + +<p>The old man was hurt.</p> + +<p>"Have you thought over all?" he asked. "You wouldn't be the only +gainer."</p> + +<p>He glanced down at his arm, which still bore marks of sailor's +tattooing, and at his hard hands all day in service at the loom; and +then he sighed, as if despairing of rest.</p> + +<p>"I know, dear father," said his daughter. "Mr. Hounshell would be very +generous to you, so I wish I could do it. But oh, I can't, I can't!"</p> + +<p>She put one hand on his arm and looked piteously into his face.</p> + +<p>"I see how it is," said Scofield. "You have fixed your fancy on Jonah."</p> + +<p>Addie softly moved away. All her color had returned, but she said +nothing. They had barely seated themselves at the table when a knock was +heard.</p> + +<p>"Come in!" cried Addie, and on the entrance of the new-comer, +"Oh—Jonah!"</p> + +<p>"Did you think it was—well, never mind who."</p> + +<p>Jonah, in whose spruce attire, as he now presented himself, it was not +easy to recognize the brakeman of the afternoon train, made this +enigmatical remark rather uneasily, and subsided into regretful silence.</p> + +<p>"Sit down, Jonah, and have some supper," said old Scofield, with a +slight lingering gruffness.</p> + +<p>The young man, however, accepted without compunction; and in a twinkling +Addie had spirited on to the table an extra cup, plate, knife and fork, +which were suspiciously ready to her hand.</p> + +<p>"We had a queer thing happen on the train this afternoon," said Jonah, +as the hot tea roused him into talkativeness again. And he proceeded to +relate the occurrence with which our narrative of these events began. +"Man's name is Piper," he continued—"Simeon Piper. No one knows +anything about him, and he can't tell why he was there or where he was +going. The shock put a screw loose in his brain somewhere, the doctor +says. May get over it, and may not. But they won't keep him at the +hospital long, because there's nothing the matter with him much, except +that."</p> + +<p>"Poor fellow!" Addie murmured. "What will he do when they send him away, +if he doesn't know where he wants to go?"</p> + +<p>"Can't make it out," was Jonah's answer. "Some one ought to take hold +and help him till he gets well."</p> + +<p>Addie made a prompt resolution.</p> + +<p>"We'll take hold; won't we, father? Couldn't you bring him out here, +Jonah?"</p> + +<p>The brakeman reflected a moment. Piper was not young; so there was no +objection on that score.</p> + +<p>"Yes," he said, "I'll bring him out when I get back from my run +to-morrow. They say he seems pretty well-to-do, too. He'll pay board."</p> + +<p>"Never mind if he does," said Miss Scofield, artlessly. "We can be kind +to him just the same."</p> + +<p>It was settled accordingly.</p> + +<p>After supper the two men went out into the garden. They had a serious +subject to talk over, and Jonah began it by saying:</p> + +<p>"The men are pretty near all agreed, Mr. Scofield, and we've got to do +something soon. How is it in your mill?"</p> + +<p>"Hounshell's, you mean," corrected the ex-sailor and weaver, cutting a +piece of tobacco. "Well, I suppose a good many of our hands will go with +you, if it comes to a strike. But I can control a number, I guess; and +I'm bound to tell you that we shall stick to work and stand out ag'in +you."</p> + +<p>"That's bad—bad," mumbled the young railroader, with a troubled air. He +plucked a spear of tall grass and began biting it. "I can't see, +Scofield," he burst out (dropping the "Mr." this time), "why you stick +to that man against all your own interests and the interests of your +fellow-workmen. What's Hounshell compared with them?"</p> + +<p>"He's my friend and benefactor; that's all. Didn't he take care o' my +poor wife the day she died? And when I come back from sea, after a long +cruise and a shipwreck, and my wife was dead, didn't I find that he had +taken my little girl in tow, and was eddicating her? Look here," +Scofield pushed up the sleeve of his coat and shirt and displayed the +dim blue anchor on his fore-arm; "as long as that stays there I'm going +to be true to the man as was true to me," he said.</p> + +<p>"I know all that," said Jonah. "He's done a lot. The others are a little +jealous of you, sometimes; and that's one reason I want you to be with +us. If you ain't, they'll say: 'Oh, yes, it's very fine for Scofield to +stay out! The boss helped him to a nice cottage, and give his daughter a +pianna. But the rest of us have got to look out for ourselves.' That's +what they'll say. And as for me, I say it's barter and trade; that's +what! Hounshell give Addie an education and a pianna, and now he wants +her to give herself in exchange."</p> + +<p>"That ain't the way to look at it," retorted Scofield. "It ain't fair. +And if you mean to insult my daughter by your talk about barter and +trade, why, you'd better—"</p> + +<p>"You're the first to say 'insult,'" Jonah answered, in an angry, +constrained tone. "I love Addie; and I don't believe she'd marry in any +such way. And what's more, I—I kind of hope she'll marry me. There +again, there's another reason why I wanted you to be on our side—now +that we've got everything together, and the railroad hands and mill +hands are ready to move at the same time. But I see it's no use; I've +done my best."</p> + +<p>"No; it's no use," assented the weaver. "I'm doing my best, too."</p> + +<p>Thus it happened that the young man took his departure in some heat; but +it was of her own accord that Addie followed this lover to the gate; and +she did not let him go without a few sweet words to comfort him.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="III" id="III"></a>III.</h2> + +<h3>LISTENING.</h3> + + +<p>Martin Hounshell had three good causes for wishing to marry Addie +Scofield. First, so far as in him lay, he loved her. Secondly, knowing +that opposition was afoot among the men, he feared the influence that +Jonah Brown might obtain over Scofield, should he succeed in his +courtship of the daughter; for he relied much on the sailor-weaver's +loyalty to fight off the trouble. Thirdly, he had some time since been +guilty of a secret misdeed, which he hoped to repair by bestowing +further benefits on the Scofields.</p> + +<p>This evening, after going from the cottage and leaving his horse at +home, he went down to the deserted mill, entered the office, locked +himself in, and then spread out on his desk the discovered memorandum. +The words with which it began were these: "Martin E. Hounshell. Property +delivered, April 13th, 1877. Adelaide Scofield died same day. Husband +returned—."</p> + +<p>The date here was omitted. Below followed the names of certain persons +in California, and two or three other brief notes.</p> + +<p>To the mill-owner, sitting there in the dim candlelight, with a hand +pressed nervously over his lips, this told the whole story. To any one +it would at least suggest suspicion. Should he destroy the paper? He +held it up toward the candle; then hesitated. It might be desirable +first to find out who had written it, and to do this he would keep it as +evidence. No place so unapproachable by others as his own pocket; so he +put it away again.</p> + +<p>The injury he had done to the unsuspecting Scofield had been crowned +with success to himself, but it had tormented him, too. In spite of +having given the man employment and having assisted the daughter, he +could not escape his remorse. But when he should have wedded Addie, and +lifted the weaver into a subordinate partnership, he felt sure that his +mind would be at rest. "As it is," he muttered, "I have done more than +most would have done, to make amends. I can't give up all—the whole +thing. It ain't reasonable. And if I get to be his son-in-law, why, +we're all together, and that squares it."</p> + +<p>But who and where was this other man, this unknown Piper, who carried +dangerous information which might at any moment, if disclosed, give a +sudden check to the comforting plan thus formed? That must be learned +without delay.</p> + +<p>It was not until the next afternoon that, looking over the Shagford +<i>Minute-Hand</i> more carefully than he had had time to do in the morning, +he saw an account of the accident at the railroad bridge, which +accounted for the floating hat. Simeon Piper, then, was in the very +town, at the hospital—perhaps at this instant telling some one the tale +which had come to his knowledge! Preposterous unkindness of fate, to +deal such a blow at this late day! Hounshell only half believed it could +be dealt him; yet when he rose from his chair he felt very weak, and the +solid walls of the mill as he passed outside seemed decidedly rickety. +He very nearly expected them to fall over upon him. As directly as he +could he made his way to the hospital, and by the time he reached it was +aware that his interest in the stranger might appear somewhat singular. +To prevent this he began carelessly, to the attendant:</p> + +<p>"Queer sort of case, that one you had yesterday from the railroad."</p> + +<p>"Yes, a very narrow escape."</p> + +<p>"I read about it in the <i>Minute-Hand</i>. How's he getting along?"</p> + +<p>"Very well indeed. He's left us."</p> + +<p>"Left a'ready!" Hounshell wondered if his face looked as white as it +felt. "There's no chance, then—"</p> + +<p>"No chance to see him now," said the attendant, far from suspecting the +anxiety under that word "chance," as used by Hounshell.</p> + +<p>"He's lucky to get off so soon," remarked the latter, a cold +perspiration on his back. "Gone from town, I s'pose."</p> + +<p>"I believe so."</p> + +<p>Hounshell was afraid to ask anything more. He covered his retreat by +discussing his ostensible errand, which was to make arrangements for +possibly sending to the hospital the invalid wife of one of his men. He +had no intention of actually sending her, but he went away leaving an +impression of his remarkable kindness.</p> + +<p>How dear to him was all this false reputation, which cost so little +except in secret mental twinges! He doubted whether a respectability +honestly worked for would have yielded him nearly so keen an enjoyment; +and he was determined to hold on to that which he had gained. Where to +look for Piper, and just how to dispose of him, was the problem now +before him. But he began to feel easier, and his thoughts returned to +the impending labor revolt.</p> + +<p>It was desirable to see Scofield in private, and with this end in view +he drove out to the cottage again at evening.</p> + +<p>On entering the little sitting-room he was annoyed to find a stranger +there comfortably adjusted in a rocking-chair.</p> + +<p>"I didn't know you had company here," he observed frigidly, eying +Scofield.</p> + +<p>"Oh, that won't interfere!" said Scofield. "It's only Mr. Piper; the man +that—"</p> + +<p>"Piper!" ejaculated Hounshell, in a voice harsh with horror.</p> + +<p>The stranger looked up at him astonished.</p> + +<p>"Yes," said the weaver. "Mr. Piper, this is our boss, Mr. Hounshell."</p> + +<p>It was all over—so the miller thought. He stood staring, waiting for +Simeon Piper to spring up with deadly denunciation on his lips. But that +individual merely bowed and inspected his <i>vis-à-vis</i> with a +good-natured air. The only thing worthy of remark about him was that +there was a sort of pained blankness in his face; and as he met +Hounshell's fixed gaze he lifted one hand and pressed his forehead +vaguely for an instant. The other man was quick to take the respite +offered.</p> + +<p>"I'm glad to see you looking so well, Mr. Piper," he said, exhibiting +his smile with great success. "I've heard about your escape."</p> + +<p>Then he looked at Scofield imperiously, and they went out together.</p> + +<p>"What is that man there for?" he demanded, taking the weaver's arm +sharply.</p> + +<p>"Why, he's come out to board; that's all. Do you know him? You seemed a +good deal shaken up."</p> + +<p>"No; I don't know him. I s'pose this labor combination is making me +nervous. I kind of suspect people."</p> + +<p>"Pshaw! This man's an outsider; comes from California. He was a +rancheero, or something, out there, I believe. I can tell you how we +happen to have him here." And the explanation was given. "He's dropped +the bottom out of his memory, like, and wants to wait till he can fit a +new one to it."</p> + +<p>"Oh, that's it!" exclaimed Hounshell, once more secure. He saw that his +name had not been recognized by his enemy; and perhaps the memorandum in +his pocket was the only connecting link that would ever lead to such a +recognition. "Still," he said, "I don't like Jonah's bringing him here. +It won't hurt if you let him go his way this side of next week."</p> + +<p>They then proceeded to a discussion of the state of things in the mill; +and Hounshell went home without attempting an interview with Addie. But +first, after driving a little way, he stopped, went back on foot, and +stealthily looked through the vine-hung window. Addie was reading +something to the robust-looking invalid, who still sat in the +rocking-chair, his face as blank as ever. Her father occupied himself +with carving a small piece of wood, twisting his lips in sympathy with +the knife. Everything was placidly reassuring.</p> + +<p>Hounshell wondered at the thinness of the partition that stood between +him and ruin; but he did not care if it was only an egg-shell, so long +as it did not break.</p> + +<p>But while he was still gazing through the pane, the sound of a distant +train on the railroad came through the night. The watcher was scarcely +aware of it until he saw Piper start up in his chair, listening, with a +roused, intent expression. The girl ceased from her reading; Scofield +stopped his work and looked at their guest. No one spoke in the little +room. The noise of the train grew louder; now it became a rumbling hum +or a rattle—busy, swift, determined in character. It was as if a +gigantic shuttle were being driven through the woof of the darkness, to +carry one more strand into that great web of civilization, woven day and +night continually. But there was something mysterious and warning in the +sound besides. Under the general subdued roar could be heard the sharp +click of the wheels from rail to rail, in definite pulsations; the sound +thus grew so precise one might have suspected that it would break into +speech. Had it not some message to deliver of which this was the vague +prelude?</p> + +<p>That at least was what Piper seemed to hope as he rose excited, finally +gaining his feet, with a quicker intelligence in his face than had been +there before. As if it would be possible to catch the message more +distinctly should he look out, he turned his eyes toward the window. +Hounshell barely missed betraying himself there, but slid away into the +dark swiftly.</p> + +<p>"Was that a face?" Simeon Piper demanded. "No; I see it must have been +an illusion," he added, despondently, once more putting his hand to his +head.</p> + +<p>The father and daughter exchanged looks of pity.</p> + +<p>By this time the cars had got farther off and were less audible. Piper's +agitation died away proportionately, and he sank back into his seat.</p> + +<p>But the same sort of thing happened on the following day when he heard +the distant movement of a train.</p> + +<p>"Listen!" he cried to Addie, who was with him. "Don't you hear? It's +going to say something. I shall get hold of the idea and find out what +is the matter. Listen! listen!"</p> + +<p>Then, as before, the hollow rumble diminished, gradually softened to a +stir no louder than a sigh, and finally was quite lost. Only the baffled +breeze continued its hopeless search among the leafy boughs by the +river.</p> + +<p>"What is it you think you might hear?" asked Addie, gently.</p> + +<p>The strong man looked at her with tears in his eyes.</p> + +<p>"A secret, young lady; a secret! I knew it, and now it is gone. It's +strange that cars should excite me this way, but something has hurt my +brain. You are very kind; and if you go on being so perhaps my mind will +get right again."</p> + +<p>A week passed. Piper listened each day to the passing trains; sometimes +at night too, when he lay alone, and it seemed still more likely that +through its relation with this sound the lost clew might disclose +itself. But all in vain; he was unable to recover what had escaped him.</p> + +<p>During these days Hounshell did not come out to the cottage, but the +labor movement culminated, and all the railroad and mill employés +demanded an advance of wages.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="IV" id="IV"></a>IV.</h2> + +<h3>THE THIRD BRIDGE.</h3> + + +<p>The employers met in conference, and agreed not to yield—so the strike +began. Scofield, however, and a small group with him, stoutly refused to +join the movement; and some work was still done at Hounshell's. This +encouraged the other mill-owners and directors, and exasperated the men +in revolt. At first everything was quiet and orderly; but as the success +of the laborers grew more doubtful to them, anger and excitement gained +sway.</p> + +<p>"I feel almost afraid for father," said Addie to Simeon Piper, on the +fourth day of the strike. For, in fact, there were now serious threats +of riot.</p> + +<p>"I don't believe they would do him any harm," said the Californian, +easily. "The most they'll do will be to make him stop working, and then +he'll have a holiday."</p> + +<p>"But he won't stop," the girl affirmed, excitedly. "I know father better +than you."</p> + +<p>"Well, then," suggested Piper, still seeking an easy way out, "persuade +your friend Brown—my friend, too—to come over to father's side."</p> + +<p>Piper, with a Western taste for convenience and cordiality, had adopted +this mode of referring to Scofield.</p> + +<p>"But I—I don't want to," faltered Addie, with a soft blush.</p> + +<p>"Hoity-toity!" cried Simeon. "What does that mean?"</p> + +<p>"I want him—the strikers, that is—to win."</p> + +<p>"Against father?" Piper raised his good-humored eyebrows.</p> + +<p>"Oh dear, I wish they were on the same side! I only know I'm fearful. +They'll hurt him; I know they will."</p> + +<p>"Oh, look here," said Piper, "that's all foolishness! But I'll tell you +what: we'll walk down to town and see how things are going."</p> + +<p>"Shall we? Oh, how nice you are, Mr. Piper! Come on, then."</p> + +<p>And they started.</p> + +<p>A great many men were standing about the streets, looking ominous of +ill; but as yet no disturbance was made. The mill stood at one end of +the street-bridge; and as Piper and Addie came up to it they heard the +noise of a crowd approaching around one corner of it. A moment after +they had gained the entrance, this crowd, which numbered some +twenty-five men, armed with thick sticks and some heavy stones, arrayed +itself face to face with them.</p> + +<p>"Where do you lot plan on going?" asked Piper, in a leisurely manner.</p> + +<p>"In here," said some of the group, "to stop them working."</p> + +<p>"I guess not," observed the Californian. His tone was even genial.</p> + +<p>"We'll see," retorted a leader, moving forward.</p> + +<p>The mill-door was fast, but at this moment the bolts were loosed, and +Scofield made his appearance.</p> + +<p>"Addie," he commanded, sternly, "come in, and out of the muss! and you, +too, Piper."</p> + +<p>"You can send daughter in," answered Piper, indicating Addie, who—far +from quailing—looked as serene and fresh as ever. "But I'm going to +stand in front of this door. Now," he continued, with determination, +fronting the rioters, "you leave the old man and his girl alone. If you +don't you've got to fight me. One of your locomotives run me off the +bridge t'other day and didn't kill me; and I guess you can't, either. I +promise to corral the whole herd, if you try to come in here."</p> + +<p>Some of the men showed defiance, but those nearest were in no hurry to +attack. It had suddenly become apparent to them that their antagonist's +shoulders were particularly square and rugged. Scofield wondered whether +his champion knew what he was about; the Piper certainly seemed to be in +possession of all his faculties.</p> + +<p>The leaders began to confer.</p> + +<p>As luck would have it, the owner of the mill, who had been absent, and +was not aware of the immediate danger, just then came up. He had not +seen the crowd until within a few yards. At once a threatening cry +arose:</p> + +<p>"Hounshell!"</p> + +<p>A strange sensation came over Piper; a loud, tumultuous noise following +the word, filled his ears. Was it the rush of the river, or the thunder +of a railroad train? He could not tell; but he shouted suddenly with +fierce exultation:</p> + +<p>"Hounshell—that's the name! Hounshell's the man!"</p> + +<p>His memory had come back to him.</p> + +<p>The strikers, diverted by this new object, turned as if to assault the +"boss;" but Piper was before them. He had darted forward and toward +Hounshell, who, blanched with fear, and thinking Piper in league with +the men, took flight, making for the bridge; the Californian after him. +The little mob, itself bewildered, followed; but Piper had already +clutched the fugitive when it caught up with them.</p> + +<p>"I've got him," he cried. "This man's a fraud. Do you want to know why? +He took the money left to the other man—Scofield—hurrah! that's the +other name. He stole the money, I tell you, and bought that mill, and it +don't belong to him. The mill is Scofield's; d'you hear?"</p> + +<p>"Let go," gurgled Hounshell, trying to wrench himself free. But his +captor shook him once, and he was quiet.</p> + +<p>The workmen crowded up to get a clearer understanding of this +extraordinary statement; and as it broke fully upon them, "Throw him +over the bridge," became their watchword. But by this time several other +persons had advanced over the street bridge, among whom were Jonah and +Scofield.</p> + +<p>"No violence, boys," said Jonah, lifting his voice, which had authority. +"You're disgracing the cause."</p> + +<p>The men became silent, but Scofield was indignant with his ally of a +moment before.</p> + +<p>"What are you doing to the boss?" he demanded, hotly. "You must be +crazy."</p> + +<p>"Yes; he's crazy," said Hounshell, trying to assume the air of a +composed and meritorious person placed at a disadvantage.</p> + +<p>"You must have been yourself," the Californian vehemently declared, +"when you took that legacy to pay to Mrs. Scofield, and then stole it +because she died and no one knew about it. The mill belongs to Scofield, +I say, and I can prove it in a little time."</p> + +<p>"You've got no evidence," asserted Hounshell, very pale and a trifle +wolfish.</p> + +<p>"Evidence! I've got you, and you're chock full of it. I believe I could +shake it right out of you if I tried."</p> + +<p>Piper glared at him, and then, without releasing his hold, made a dive +with one hand at his captive's breast.</p> + +<p>"It's gone," said Hounshell, huskily. "I've burned it."</p> + +<p>"Burned what?"</p> + +<p>"The paper," Hounshell muttered; "your memo—"</p> + +<p>"Oh, you had it, then! You've convicted yourself by that, my fine +scamp."</p> + +<p>"I give up," said the wretched criminal. "Let's go. Take me away—the +mill! Bring Scofield. I give up."</p> + +<p>Seeing that this was best, Simeon acceded.</p> + +<p>"Come along, Scofield," he said.</p> + +<p>Jonah pressed up to Scofield and congratulated him as they went, but the +older man scarcely responded. When they were again at the mill one +striker renewed the idea of coercing the workers. But Jonah imposed his +veto.</p> + +<p>"Not now," he said.</p> + +<p>And Scofield added:</p> + +<p>"Boys, if the mill belongs to me it's settled beforehand. You get your +advance."</p> + +<p>This sent them off with a cheer and the prophecy that the rest of the +bosses would have to follow suit.</p> + +<p>The four men, left alone, entered the office.</p> + +<p>"Is it true?" asked Scofield.</p> + +<p>Hounshell winced, but replied steadily:</p> + +<p>"It's all true."</p> + +<p>The weaver went to the window and put his head on his arm. It was he, +the innocent man, who was overwhelmed by the disgrace of the one who had +wronged him.</p> + +<p>"But how did you find it out?" Jonah asked of Piper.</p> + +<p>"Roundabout," was the answer. "First off, from a man I was hiring on my +ranche. He came from here and spoke about Scofield; said he was a +weaver. I'd heard something about that rich brother in 'Frisco that +hadn't seen the rest of the Scofields for years, and left 'em his money; +so I saw there might be something wrong. I looked it up, and came on +here."</p> + +<p>Jonah took his hand.</p> + +<p>"But you must have known the Scofields, or had some interest in them," +he said, after a moment.</p> + +<p>Simeon Piper looked down; then he looked away; finally he twirled his +thumbs.</p> + +<p>"I could afford the time," he said. "Got money enough. Well, yes, I +suppose you might call it interest. Fact is, I knew Scofield's wife's +sister when she was young. I—didn't marry her. But, then, I never +married any one, you see."</p> + +<p>And with this he faced his questioner, turning upon him a pair of eyes +that beamed as if he had just set forth a remarkably cheerful +circumstance.</p> + +<p>On further inquiry it was understood how Piper had taken the wrong train +for Shagford, and, finding that it branched off, had started foolishly +to walk along the track when overtaken on the bridge. He was now +convinced that a hat was not a good place in which to deposit important +documents.</p> + +<p>Finding that evidence for his conviction could soon be obtained, in +addition to his confession, Hounshell executed a deed of the mill to +Scofield.</p> + +<p>"And what do you propose to do with me?" he asked. "Are you going to get +me locked up?"</p> + +<p>The others held a conference, before answering. Scofield was in favor of +letting the malefactor go, but the decision was at last given to Piper, +who said:</p> + +<p>"I'm sorry for you, Hounshell. It would have been better for you if you +had emigrated some time ago. But as it is, I guess the law'll have to +decide where you're to locate."</p> + +<p>And, subsequently, it did so.</p> + +<p>"Well," said the deposed malefactor, when sentence had been passed, "I'm +almost glad of it."</p> + +<p>A soft summer rain was falling as they led him out of court to go to +prison; and, strangely enough, he had not felt so happy for years. Once +more he was open to the charm of the pattering drops, the sweetness of +refreshed flowers, the cool air, as he had been in boyhood.</p> + +<p>"It's only fair to you," Scofield remarked, forgivingly, "to say that +you showed conscience."</p> + +<p>"Yes—if I'd only followed it," Hounshell answered. "A man ought to +trust his conscience instead of letting it trust him. I tell 'ee it's an +awful sharp creditor when the time does come to pay up."</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="IN_EACH_OTHERS_SHOES" id="IN_EACH_OTHERS_SHOES"></a>IN EACH OTHER'S SHOES.</h2> + +<h3>I.</h3> + + +<p>John Crombie had taken a room at the new apartment building, The Lorne; +having advanced so far in his experience of New York as to be aware that +if he could once establish himself in a house associated by name with +foreign places and titles his chance of securing "position" would be +greatly increased. He did not, however, take his meals in the expensive +café of that establishment, finding it more economical to go to an +outlandish little French restaurant, some distance away, which had been +nicknamed among those of his acquaintance who resorted to it, "The Fried +Cat." This designation, based on a supposed resemblance to the name of +the proprietor, Fricat, was also believed to have value as a sarcasm.</p> + +<p>It was with no pleasant sensations, therefore, that Crombie, waking on a +gray and drizzling morning of November, remembered that he must hie him +to the "Fried Cat" for an early breakfast. He was in a hurry that day; +he had a great deal to do. His room was very small and dark; he bounced +up and dressed himself, in an obscure sort of way, surreptitiously +opening the door and reaching vaguely for his shoes, which stood just +outside, ready blacked. Nor did it add to his comfort to know that the +shoes were very defective as to their soles, and would admit the water +freely from the accumulated puddles of the sidewalks. In fact, he had +been ashamed to expose their bad condition to the porter when he put +them out every night, as he was forced to do, since they were his only +pair. Drawing them on hastily, in order to conceal his mortification +from even his own mind, he sallied forth; and though at the moment of +putting them on a dim sense of something unfamiliar crossed his mind, it +was not until he reached "The Fried Cat" that he became fully aware that +he had carried off some one else's shoes. He turned up the soles, +privately, underneath the low-hanging table-cloth, and by a brief +examination convinced himself that the gaiters did not belong to him. +The test was simple: his feet were unaccountably dry, and there were +none of those breaks in the lower surface of their leather covering +which he had so often been obliged to contemplate.</p> + +<p>He saw at once that the porter of The Lorne had made a mistake, and must +have deposited at another apartment his own very insufficient foot-gear; +but there was no chance now to remedy the confusion. Crombie had barely +time to reach the office where he was employed.</p> + +<p>On an ordinary occasion he would perhaps have gone back to The Lorne and +effected an honorable exchange. This particular day, however, was by no +means an ordinary occasion. Crombie had made up his mind to take a +momentous step; and it was therefore essential that he should appear at +his desk exactly on time.</p> + +<p>He was a clerk in an important engraving company. For several years he +had occupied that post, without any opportunity having presented itself +for a promotion. At the best, even should he rise, what could he expect? +To be cashier, perhaps, or possibly, under exceptional circumstances, a +confidential private secretary. This prospect did not satisfy him; he +was determined to strike for something higher.</p> + +<p>It will naturally be inferred that he was ambitious. I am not in a +position to deny this; but all I can be certain of is, that he was in +love—which is often about the same thing.</p> + +<p>Several times at The Lorne he had met in the hallways or in the elevator +a young lady, who was in no small degree beautiful, and charmed him +still more by her general presence, which conveyed the idea of a +harmonious and lovely character. She had light hair and blue eyes, but +these outward attributes were joined with a serenity and poise of manner +that indicated greater stability than is attributed, as a rule, to +individuals of her type.</p> + +<p>Once he happened to arrive at the main entrance just as this vision of +beauty emerged to take her place in a coupé which was waiting by the +curbstone. She dropped her card-case upon the sidewalk, and Crombie's +heart throbbed with delight as he picked it up, gave it to her, and +received her smiling thanks for his little service. Another time, as he +was descending in the elevator, a door opposite the shaft, on the second +floor, stood open, and he caught a glimpse of the apartment to which it +gave access. The room was finished in soft tints, and was full of +upholstery and hangings that lent it a dim golden atmosphere. In the +middle of it stood the young girl, clad in the palest blue, above which +her hair shone like a golden cloud on some dim evening sky.</p> + +<p>Slight occurrences of this sort had affected him. He learned that she +was the daughter of Littimer, the rich, widowed banker: her name was +Blanche.</p> + + +<h3>II.</h3> + +<p>In these new, stout shoes that did not belong to him Crombie trod with a +buoyancy and assurance strongly in contrast with the limp and +half-hearted pace to which his old, shabby gaiters had formerly inclined +him. He rattled down the stairs of the elevated station with an alacrity +almost bumptious; and the sharp, confident step that announced his +entrance into the company's office made the other clerks quite ashamed +of their own want of spirit.</p> + +<p>He worked at his desk until noon; but when the bells of Trinity rang +twelve in solemn music over the busy streets, he dropped his pen, walked +with a decisive air the length of the room, and, opening a door at the +other end, presented himself before Mr. Blatchford, the treasurer, who +was also an influential director.</p> + +<p>"Crombie, eh? Well, what is it?"</p> + +<p>"I want to speak with you a moment, sir."</p> + +<p>"Anything important? I'm busy."</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir; quite important—to me. Possibly it may be to you."</p> + +<p>"Fire away, then; but cut it short." Mr. Blatchford's dense, well-combed +gray side-whiskers were directed toward the young man in an aggressive +way, as if they had been some sort of weapon.</p> + +<p>Crombie nonchalantly settled himself in a chair, at ease.</p> + +<p>"I am tired of being a clerk," he said. "I'm going to be a director in +this company."</p> + +<p>"I guess you're going to be an inmate of a lunatic asylum," Mr. +Blatchford remarked, with astonished cheerfulness.</p> + +<p>"That seems as unlikely to me as the other thing does to you," said +Crombie.</p> + +<p>Hereupon Mr. Blatchford became sarcastically deferential. "And just +about when do you propose to become a director?" he asked.</p> + +<p>"In the course of a month. The election, I believe, takes place in +December."</p> + +<p>"Quite right," said his senior, whose urbanity was meant to be crushing. +"Meanwhile, you will need leisure to attend to this little matter. +Suppose I oblige you by saying that the company has no further need of +your services?"</p> + +<p>"Suppose you do. What then?"</p> + +<p>Mr. Blatchford gave way to his anger. "What then? Why, then you would +have to go; that's all. You would be thrown out of employment. You would +have to live on your principal, as long as there was any; and afterward +you would be obliged to find some other work, or beg, or borrow, or—"</p> + +<p>"That's enough," said Crombie, rising with dignity.</p> + +<p>"No, it isn't," the treasurer declared, "for you don't seem to +understand even now. I discharge you, Mr. Crombie, on the company's +behalf, and you may leave this office at once."</p> + +<p>Crombie bowed and went out. "I'm going to be a director, all the same," +he told Mr. Blatchford before he closed the door. Then he collected the +few articles that belonged to him from his desk, and departed, a free +man. He had his future to himself; or else he had no future worth +speaking of; he wasn't sure which. Nevertheless, he felt quite happy. +Such a result as this had seemed to him, in the prospect, hardly +possible; but now that it had arrived he was not discomfited. Unbounded +courage seemed to rise from the stout soles of the alien boots, +percolating through his whole system. He was surprised at himself. He +had intended to use more diplomacy with Mr. Blatchford, and it was no +joke to him to lose his place. But instead of feeling despondent, or +going at once in search of new employment, he cheerfully went about +making calls on several gentlemen who, he thought, might be induced to +aid in his ambitious project. His manner was that of a person sure of +his powers and enjoying a well-earned leisure. It had its effect. Two or +three stockholders of the company joined in agreeing with him that +improved methods could be introduced into its management, and that it +would be a good thing to have in the board, say, two young, fresh, +active men—of whom Crombie, by reason of his experience and training, +should be one.</p> + +<p>"I own a little stock," said the deposed clerk, who had taken the +precaution to obtain a couple of shares by great effort in saving. +"Besides, not having any other engrossing interests at present, I could +give my whole attention to the company's affairs."</p> + +<p>"Quite so," said the merchant whom he was addressing, comfortably. "We +must see if we can get together a majority; no time to be lost, you +know."</p> + +<p>"No, sir. I shall go right to work; and perhaps you will speak to some +of your friends, and give me some names."</p> + +<p>"Certainly. Come in again pretty soon; will you?"</p> + +<p>Crombie saw that he had a good foundation to build upon already. +Blatchford was not popular, even among the other directors; and sundry +stockholders, as well as people having business with the company, had +conceived a strong dislike of him on account of his overbearing manners. +Therefore it would not be hard to enlist sympathy for a movement +obnoxious to him. But it was imperative that the self-nominated +candidate should acquire more of the stock; and to do this capital must +be had. Crombie did not see quite how it was to be got; he had no +sufficient influence with the bankers.</p> + +<p>The afternoon was nearly spent, and he trudged up-town, thinking of the +ways and means. But though the problem was far from solved, he still +continued in a state of extraordinary buoyancy. Those shoes, those +shoes! He was so much impressed by their comfort and the service they +had done him in making a good appearance that he resolved to get a new +pair of his own. He stopped and bought them; then kept on toward The +Lorne, carrying his purchase under his arm without embarrassment. The +cold drizzle had ceased, and the sunset came out clear and golden, +dipping its bright darts into the shallow pools of wet on the pavement, +and somehow mingling with his financial dreams a dream of that fair hair +that gave a glory to Miss Blanche's face.</p> + +<p>On regaining his modest apartment he sent for the boot-boy, and inquired +the whereabouts of his missing shoes.</p> + +<p>"Couldn't tell you, sir," said the servant. "Pretty near all the men's +boots in the house has gone out, you see, and they'll only be coming +back just about now. I'll look out for 'em, sir, and nab 'em as soon as +they show up."</p> + +<p>"All right. Whose are these that I've been wearing?"</p> + +<p>The boy took them, turned them over, and examined them with the eye of a +connoisseur in every part.</p> + +<p>"'Them?' I should say, sir, them was Mr. Littimer's."</p> + +<p>Crombie blushed with mortification. Of all the dwellers in The Lorne, +this was the very one with whom it was the most embarrassing to have +such a complication occur; and yet, strange inconsistency! he had been +longing for any accident, no matter how absurd or fantastic, that could +bring him some chance of an acquaintance with Blanche.</p> + +<p>"Take these boots, dry them right away, and give 'em a shine. Then carry +them up to Mr. Littimer's rooms." He gave the boy a quarter: he was +becoming reckless.</p> + +<p>Now that he had embarked upon a new career, he perceived the impropriety +of a future director in the Engraving Company going to dine at the +"Fried Cat," and so resolved to take his dinner in the gorgeous café of +The Lorne. While he was waiting for the proper moment to descend +thither, he could not get the shoe question out of his mind. Surely, the +boot-boy could not have been so idiotic as to have left that ancient, +broken-down pair at Littimer's threshold! And yet it was possible. +Crombie felt another flush of humility upon his cheeks. Then he wandered +off into revery upon the multifarious errands of all the pairs of boots +and shoes that had gone forth from the great apartment-house that day. +Patter, patter, patter! tramp, tramp!—he imagined he heard them all +walking, stamping, shuffling along toward different parts of the city, +with many different objects, and sending back significant echoes. +Whither had his own ruinous Congress gaiters gone?—to what destination +which they would never have reached had he been in them? Had they +carried their temporary possessor into any such worriment and trouble as +he himself had often travelled through on their worn but faithful soles?</p> + +<p>Breaking off from these idle fancies at length, he went down to the +café; and there he had the pleasure of dining at a table not far from +Blanche Littimer. But, to his surprise, she was alone. Her father did +not appear during the meal.</p> + + +<h3>III.</h3> + +<p>The fact was that the awful possibility, mere conjecture of which had +frightened Crombie, had occurred. Littimer had received the young man's +shoes in place of his own.</p> + +<p>They happened to fit him moderately well; so that he, likewise, did not +notice the exchange until he had started for his office. He believed in +walking the entire distance, no matter what the weather; and to this +practice he made rare exceptions. But he had not progressed very far +before he became annoyed by an unaccustomed intrusion of dampness that +threatened him with a cold. He looked down, carefully surveyed the +artificial casing of his extremities, and decided to hail the first +unoccupied coupé he should meet. It was some time before he found one; +and when finally he took his seat in the luxurious little bank parlor at +Broad Street, his feet were quite wet.</p> + +<p>His surprise at this occurrence was doubled when, on taking off the +shoes and scrutinizing them more closely, he ascertained that they were +the work of his usual maker. What had happened to him? Was he dreaming? +It seemed to him that he had gone back many years; that he was a poor +young man again, entering upon his first struggle for a foothold in the +crowded, selfish, unhomelike metropolis. He remembered the day when <i>he</i> +had worn shoes like these.</p> + +<p>He sent out for an assortment of new ones, from which, with unnecessary +lavishness, he chose and kept three or four pairs. All the rest of the +day, nevertheless, those sorry Congress boots of Crombie's, which he had +directed his office-boy to place beside the soft-coal fire, for drying, +faced him with a sort of haunting look. However much he might be +occupied with weightier matters, he could not keep his eyes from +straying in that direction; and whenever they rested on that battered +"right" and that way-worn "left," turned up in that mute, appealing +repose and uselessness at the fender, his thoughts recurred to his early +years of trial and poverty. Ah! how greatly he had changed since then! +On some accounts he could almost wish that he were poor again. But when +he remembered Blanche, he was glad, for her sake, that he was rich.</p> + +<p>But if for her sake, why not for others? Perhaps he had been rather +selfish, not only about Blanche, but toward her. His conscience began to +reproach him. Had he made for her a large life? Since her mother's +premature death, had he instilled into her sympathies, tastes, +companionships that would make her existence the richer? Had he not kept +her too much to himself? On the other hand, he had gratified all her +material wants; she could wear what she pleased, she could go where she +chose, she had acquaintances of a sort becoming to the daughter of a +wealthy man. Yet there was something lacking. What did she know about +old, used-up boots and all that pertains to them? What did she know +about indigence, real privation, and brave endurance, such as a hundred +thousand fellow-creatures all around her were undergoing?</p> + +<p>Somehow it dawned upon the old banker that if she knew about all these +things and had some share in them, albeit only through sympathy and +helping, she might be happier, more truly a woman, than she was now.</p> + +<p>As he sat alone, in revery, he actually heaved a deep sigh. A sigh is +often as happy a deliverance as a laugh, in this world of sorrows. It +was the first that had escaped Littimer in years. Let us say that it was +a breathing space, which gave him time for reflection; it marked the +turning of a leaf; it was the beginning of a new chapter in his life.</p> + +<p>Before he left the bank he locked the door of the private parlor, and +was alone for two or three minutes. The office boy was greatly puzzled +the next morning, when he found all the new pairs of shoes ranged intact +in the adjoining cupboard. The old ones were missing.</p> + +<p>Littimer had gone away in them, furtively. He was ashamed of his own +impulse.</p> + +<p>This time be resolutely remained afoot instead of hiring a carriage. He +despatched a messenger to Blanche, saying that sudden business would +prevent his returning to dinner, and continued indefinitely on his +way—whither? As to that he was by no means certain; he knew only that +he must get out of the beaten track, out of the ruts. For an hour or two +he must cease to be Littimer, the prosperous moneyed man, and must tread +once more the obscure paths through which he had made his way to +fortune. He could hardly have explained the prompting which he obeyed. +Could it have had anything to do with the treacherous holes in the +bottoms of those old shoes?</p> + +<p>As it chanced, he passed by the "Fried Cat;" and, dingy though the place +was, he felt an irresistible desire to enter it. Seating himself, he +ordered the regular dinner of the day. The light was dim; the +table-cloth was dirty; the attendance was irregular and distracted. +Littimer took one sip of the sour wine—which had a flavor resembling +vinegar and carmine ink in equal parts—and left the further contents of +his bottle untasted. The soup, the stew, and the faded roast that were +set before him, he could scarcely swallow; but a small cup of coffee at +the end of the well-nigh Barmecide repast came in very palatably.</p> + +<p>In default of prandial attractions, Littimer tried to occupy himself by +looking at the people around him. The omnifarious assembly included +pale, prim-whiskered young clerks; shabby, lonely, sallow young women, +whose sallowness and shabbiness stamped them with the mark of integrity; +other females whose specious splendor was not nearly so reassuring; old +men, broken-down men, middle-aged men of every description, except the +well-to-do.</p> + +<p>"Some of them," Littimer reflected, "are no worse than I am. But are any +of them really any better?"</p> + +<p>He could not convince himself that they were; yet his sympathies, +somehow, went out toward this motley crowd. It appeared to him very +foolish that he should sympathize, but he could not help it. "And, after +all," was the next thought that came to him, "are we to give pity to +people, or withhold it, simply because they are better or worse than +ourselves? No; there is something more in it than that."</p> + +<p>Leaving the "Fried Cat" abruptly, he betook himself to an acquaintance +who, he knew, was very active in charities—a man who worked +practically, and gave time to the work.</p> + +<p>"Do you visit any of your distress cases to-night?" he asked.</p> + +<p>"Yes, I shall make a few calls," answered the man of charity. "Would you +like to go along?"</p> + +<p>"Very much."</p> + +<p>So the two started out together. The places they went to were of various +kinds, and revealed a considerable diversity of misfortune. Sometimes +they entered tenement-houses of the most wretched character; but in +other instances they went to small and cheap but decent lodgings over +the shops on West Side avenues, or even penetrated into boarding-houses +of such good appearance that the banker was surprised to find his +friend's mission carrying him thither. All the cases, however, had been +studied, and were vouched for; and several were those of young men and +women having employment, but temporarily disabled, and without friends +who could help them.</p> + +<p>"You do well to help these beginners, at critical times," said the +banker, with satisfaction, "I take a special interest in them."</p> + +<p>It was almost the same as if he were receiving relief himself. Who +knows? Perhaps he was; but to the outward eye it appeared merely that, +with his friend's sanction, he was dispensing money and offers of good +will to the needy. What a strange freak it was, though, in Littimer! He +kept on with the work until quite late in the evening, regardless of the +risk he ran by continuing out-of-doors when so ill shod.</p> + +<p>I think he had some idea in his mind that he was performing an act of +penance.</p> + + +<h3>IV.</h3> + +<p>Having waited a reasonable length of time after dinner, Crombie again +left his room, resolved to make a call upon Mr. Littimer, on the plea of +apologizing for having marched away with his shoes.</p> + +<p>He would not run the risk, by sending his card, of being denied as a +stranger; so, notwithstanding much hesitation and tremor, he approached +the door which he had once seen standing open, and knocked. A voice +which he now heard for the second time in his life, but which was so +sweet and crept so naturally into the centre of his heart that the +thought of it seemed always to have been there, answered: "Come in." And +he did come in.</p> + +<p>"Is Mr. Lit—is your father at home?" It seemed to bring him a little +nearer to her to say "your father."</p> + +<p>Blanche had risen from the chair where she was reading, and looked very +much surprised. "Oh," she exclaimed, with girlish simplicity, "I thought +it was the waiter! N-no; he hasn't come home yet."</p> + +<p>"I beg pardon. Then perhaps I'd better call later." Crombie made a +feeble movement toward withdrawal.</p> + +<p>"Did you want to see him on business? Who shall I tell him?"</p> + +<p>"Mr. Crombie, please. It's nothing very important."</p> + +<p>"Oh," said Blanche, with a little blush at her own deception, "haven't I +seen you in the house before? Are you staying here?"</p> + +<p>She remembered distinctly the incident of the card-case, and how very +nice she had thought him, both on that occasion and every time she had +seen him. But as for him, his heart sank at the vague impersonality with +which she seemed to regard him.</p> + +<p>"Yes, I'm here, and can easily come in again."</p> + +<p>"I expect my father almost any moment," she said. "Would you like to +wait?"</p> + +<p>What an absurd question, to one in his frame of mind! "Well, really, it +is such a very small matter," he began, examining his hat attentively. +Then he glanced up at her again, and smiled: "I only wanted to—to make +an apology."</p> + +<p>"An apology!" echoed Blanche, becoming rather more distant. "Oh, dear! +I'm very sorry, I'm sure. I didn't know there'd been any trouble." She +began to look anxious, and turned her eyes upon the smouldering fire in +the grate. So this was to be the end of her pleasant, cheerful reveries +about this nice young man. And the reveries had been more frequent than +she had been aware of until now.</p> + +<p>"There has been no trouble," he assured her, eagerly. "Just a little +mistake that occurred; and, in fact, I was hardly responsible for it."</p> + +<p>Blanche's eyes began to twinkle with a new and amusing interpretation. +"Ah!" she cried, "are you the gentleman who—" Then she stopped short.</p> + +<p>Crombie was placed in an unexpected embarrassment. How could he possibly +drag into his conversation with this lovely young creature so +commonplace and vulgar a subject as shoe-leather! Ignoring her +unfinished question, he asked: "Do you know, Miss Littimer, whether +the—a—one of the servants here has brought up anything for your +father—that is, a parcel, a—"</p> + +<p>"A pair of shoes?" Blanche broke in, her eyes dancing, while her lips +parted in a smile.</p> + +<p>"Yes, yes; that's what I meant."</p> + +<p>"They came up just after dinner," Blanche returned. "Then you <i>are</i> the +gentleman."</p> + +<p>"I'm afraid I am," Crombie owned, and they both laughed.</p> + +<p>Blanche quietly, and with no apparent intention, resumed her chair; and +this time Crombie took a seat without waiting to be invited again. Thus +they fell to talking in the friendliest way.</p> + +<p>"I can't imagine what has become of papa," said Blanche. "He sent word, +in the most mysterious manner, that he had an engagement; and it is so +unusual! Perhaps it's something about the new house he's +building—up-town, you know. Dear me! it does make so much trouble, and +I don't believe I shall like it half as well as these little, cosey +rooms."</p> + +<p>The little, cosey rooms were as the abode of giants compared with +Crombie's contracted quarters; but he drew comfort from what she said, +thinking how such sentiments might make it possible to win even so +unattainable an heiress into some modest home of his own.</p> + +<p>"You don't know till you try it," he replied. "Just think of having a +place all to yourself, belonging to you."</p> + +<p>Blanche lifted her eyebrows, and a little sigh escaped her. She was +reflecting, perhaps, that a place all to herself would be rather lonely.</p> + +<p>"You have never met my father?" she asked.</p> + +<p>"No. I have seen him."</p> + +<p>"Well, I think you will like him when you know him."</p> + +<p>"I don't doubt it!" Crombie exclaimed with fervor, worshipping the very +furniture that surrounded Blanche. "I hope we may become better +acquainted."</p> + +<p>"Only I think, Mr. Crombie, he will owe <i>you</i> an apology now."</p> + +<p>"Why?"</p> + +<p>"For keeping your shoes out so late."</p> + +<p>"<i>My</i> shoes!" said the young man, in vehement surprise.</p> + +<p>"Why, yes. Didn't you know they came to him? The porter said so."</p> + +<p>Crombie grew red with the sense of his disgrace in having his +poverty-stricken boots come to the knowledge of the banker. Really, his +mortification was so great that the accident seemed to him to put an end +to all his hopes of further relations with Blanche and her father.</p> + +<p>"Oh, I assure you," he said, rising, "that makes no difference at all! +I'm sorry I mentioned the matter. Pray tell Mr. Littimer not to think of +it. I—I believe I'd better go now, Miss Littimer."</p> + +<p>Blanche rose too, and Crombie was on the point of bowing a good-night, +when the door opened, and a weary figure presented itself on the +threshold; the figure of a short man with a spare face, and whiskers in +which gray mingled with the sandy tint. He had a pinched, half-growling +expression, was draped in a light, draggled overcoat, and carried an +umbrella, the ribs of which hung loose around the stick.</p> + +<p>"There's papa this moment!" cried Blanche.</p> + +<p>Crombie perceived that escape was impossible, and, in a few words, the +reason of his presence there was made known to the old gentleman.</p> + +<p>Littimer examined the visitor swiftly, from head to foot—especially the +foot. He advanced to the fire, toasted first one and then the other of +the damp gaiters he had on, and at length broke out, in a tone bordering +on reproach: "So you are the owner, are you? Then my sympathy has all +been wasted! Why, I supposed, from the condition of these machines that +I've been lugging around with me half the day, that you must be in the +greatest distress. And, lo and behold! I find you a young fellow in +prime health, spruce and trim, doing well, I should say, and perfectly +happy."</p> + +<p>"I can't help that, sir," retorted Crombie, nettled, but speaking with +respect. "I confess I was very happy until a moment or two ago."</p> + +<p>"What do you mean by that?" the other demanded, with half-yielding +pugnacity. "Till I came in—is that the idea?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, papa!" said Blanche, softly.</p> + +<p>"Well, honey-bee, what's the matter?" her father asked, trying to be +gruff. "Can't I say what I like, here?" But he surrendered at once by +adding: "You may be sure I don't want to offend any one. Sit down, Mr. +Crombie, and wait just a few moments while I go into the other room and +rejuvenate my hoofs, so to speak—for I fear I've made a donkey of +myself."</p> + +<p>He disappeared into an adjoining room with Blanche, who there informed +him artlessly of Crombie's consideration and attentiveness in restoring +the errant shoes. When they came back Littimer insisted upon having the +young man remain a little longer and drink a glass of port with him. +Before taking his departure, however, Crombie, who felt free to speak +since Blanche had retired, made a brief statement in satisfaction of +conscience.</p> + +<p>"You hinted," he said, "that you judged me to be doing well. I don't +want to leave you with a false impression. The truth is, I am not doing +well. I have no money to speak of, and to-day I lost the position on +which I depended."</p> + +<p>"You don't tell me!" Littimer's newly roused charitable impulses came to +the fore. "Why, now you begin to be really interesting, Mr. Crombie."</p> + +<p>"Thanks," said Crombie; "I'm not ambitious to interest people in that +way. I told you only because I thought it fair."</p> + +<p>"Don't be touchy, my dear sir," answered the banker. "I meant what I +said. Come, let's see what can be done. Have you any scheme in view?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, I have," said Crombie, with decision.</p> + +<p>Littimer gave a grunt. He was afraid of people with schemes, and was +disappointed with the young man's want of helplessness. Dependence would +have been an easier thing to deal with.</p> + +<p>"Well," said he, "we must talk it over. Come and see me at the bank +to-morrow. You know the address?"</p> + + +<h3>V.</h3> + +<p>The next day Crombie called at the bank; but Littimer was not there. He +was not very well, it was said; had not come down-town. Crombie did what +he could toward organizing his fight for a directorship, and then +returned to The Lorne, where he punctually inquired after Mr. Littimer's +health, and learned that the banker's ardor in making the rounds among +distressed people the night before had been followed by reaction into a +bad cold, with some threat of pneumonia. Blanche was plainly anxious. +The attack lasted three or four days, and Crombie, though the affair of +the directorship was pressing for attention, could not forbear to remain +as near as possible to Blanche, offering every aid within his power, so +far as he might without overstepping the lines of his very recent +acquaintance. But the Littimers did not, according to his observation, +number any very intimate companions in their circle, or at least had not +many friends who would be assiduous in such an emergency. Perhaps their +friends were too busy with social engagements. Consequently, he saw a +good deal of Blanche, and became to her an object of reliance.</p> + +<p>Well, it was simply one of those things that happen only in fairy-tales +or in romances—or in real life. Littimer recovered without any serious +illness, and, after a brief conference with Crombie, entered heartily +into the young man's campaign. Crombie showed him just what combinations +could be formed, how success could be achieved, and what lucrative +results might be made to ensue. He conquered by figures and by lucid +common-sense. Littimer agreed to buy a number of shares in the Engraving +Company, which he happened to know could be purchased, and to advance +Crombie a good sum with which to procure a portion of the same lot. But +before this agreement could be consummated, Crombie, with his usual +frankness, said to the banker:</p> + +<p>"I will conceal nothing from you, Mr. Littimer. I fell in love with +Blanche before I knew her, and if this venture of mine succeeds, I shall +ask her to become my wife."</p> + +<p>"Let us attend to business," said Littimer, severely. "Sentiment can +take care of itself."</p> + +<p>Their manœuvre went on so vigorously that Blatchford became alarmed, +and sent an ambassador to arrange a compromise; but by this time Crombie +had determined to oust Blatchford himself and elect an entirely new set +of men, to compose more than half the Board, and so control everything.</p> + +<p>He succeeded.</p> + +<p>But Littimer did not forget the charitable enthusiasm which had been +awakened by a circumstance on the surface so trivial as the mistake of a +boot-boy. He did not desist from his interest in aiding disabled or +unfortunate people who could really be aided. Some time after Crombie +had achieved his triumph in the Engraving Company, and had repaid +Littimer's loan, he was admitted to a share in the banking business; and +eventually the head of the house was able to give a great deal of +attention to perfecting his benevolent plans.</p> + +<p>When the details of their wedding were under discussion, Crombie said to +Blanche: "Oughtn't we to have an old shoe thrown after the carriage as +we drive away?"</p> + +<p>She smiled; looked him full in the eyes with a peculiar tenderness in +which there was a bright, delicious sparkle of humor. "No; old shoes are +much too useful to be wasted that way."</p> + +<p>Somehow she had possessed herself of that particular, providential pair; +and, though I don't want anybody to laugh at my two friends, I must risk +saying that I suspect Mrs. Crombie of preserving it somewhere, to this +day, in the big new house up-town.</p> + + +<h3>THE END.</h3> + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's True and Other Stories, by George Parsons Lathrop + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK TRUE AND OTHER STORIES *** + +***** This file should be named 35946-h.htm or 35946-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/3/5/9/4/35946/ + +Produced by David Edwards, Mary Meehan North Carolina +History & Fiction was the original source for the images. +and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at +http://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images +generously made available by The Internet Archive) + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: True and Other Stories + +Author: George Parsons Lathrop + +Release Date: April 24, 2011 [EBook #35946] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK TRUE AND OTHER STORIES *** + + + + +Produced by David Edwards, Mary Meehan North Carolina +History & Fiction was the original source for the images. +and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at +http://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images +generously made available by The Internet Archive) + + + + + + + + + + TRUE + + AND + + OTHER STORIES + + BY GEORGE PARSONS LATHROP + + AUTHOR OF "AN ECHO OF PASSION," "NEWPORT," ETC. + + + FUNK & WAGNALLS + + 1884 + + NEW YORK + 10 AND 12 DEY STREET + + LONDON + 44 FLEET STREET + + _All Rights Reserved_ + + Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1884, by + FUNK & WAGNALLS, + In the Office of the Librarian of Congress at Washington, D. C. + + + + +CONTENTS. + + +TRUE. + +CHAPTER I. HER EYES WERE GRAY + +CHAPTER II. THE DE VINES + +CHAPTER III. TWILIGHT + +CHAPTER IV. A VISION + +CHAPTER V. BIRTHDAY TOKENS + +CHAPTER VI. A NEW LESSON IN BOTANY + +CHAPTER VII. THE RACES, AND THE MOTTO + +CHAPTER VIII. ADELA'S LEGEND + +CHAPTER IX. LANCE AND SYLVESTER + +CHAPTER X. THE LIKENESS + +CHAPTER XI. LANCE RETURNS + +CHAPTER XII. SYLV'S TROUBLE + +CHAPTER XIII. LANCE AND ADELA + +CHAPTER XIV. DENNIE'S TROUBLE + +CHAPTER XV. ELBOW-CROOK SWAMP + +CHAPTER XVI. "I LIVE, HOW LONG I TROW NOT" + + +MAJOR BARRINGTON'S MARRIAGE + + +"BAD PEPPERS" + + +THREE BRIDGES. + +I. THE IMPORTANCE OF A HAT + +II. FATHER, DAUGHTER, AND--WHO ELSE? + +III. LISTENING + +IV. THE THIRD BRIDGE + + +IN EACH OTHER'S SHOES + + + + +TRUE. + + + + +CHAPTER I. + +HER EYES WERE GRAY. + + +It might have been yesterday, but in simple fact it was three hundred +years ago, that something happened which has an important bearing on +this story of the present. + +Antiquity is a great discourager of the sympathies: the centuries are +apt to weigh like lead on an individual human sentiment. Yet we find it +pleasant sometimes to throw off their weight, and thereby to discover +that it is a mere feather in the scale as against the beating of a +heart. + +I know that when I speak of Guy Wharton as having been alive and in love +in the year 1587, you will feel a certain patronizing pity for +him--because he is not alive now. So do I. But then it is possible that +you will be interested, notwithstanding--because he was a lover. Would +you like to hear what experience he had? I promise not to go through the +history of those three hundred years. The story of Guy is merely the +starting-point of my narrative. + +He was in love with a sweet English girl, Gertrude Wylde, who lived in +Surrey; and she, for her part, was the daughter of a small tenant-farmer +there, well connected as to family, but not well furnished with worldly +goods, Guy's father was a country gentleman; but that circumstance +failed to affect the young man's eyesight and emotions injuriously; he +beheld Gertrude, and he loved her. I can see it all, now, as if it were +something that had happened to myself--how they strolled together in +those wondrous lanes hedged with hawthorn and brier and hazel, which +stray so sweetly over the rolling lands about Dorking; how they met +beneath the old yew tree where, half way up Box Hill, it hung out its +foliage black as night, spotted with strange waxen blossoms of scarlet, +like drops of blood upon a funeral-pall; how they wandered in the +untamed forest of great box trees at the top; what joys they had, what +anxieties beset them. + +"And will thy father indeed take his leave of old England so soon?" he +asked her, when they had reached the brow of the hill. + +"Yes, in truth," she answered, sadly enough, looking out over the white +chalk highlands, and the arborous glades and open downs, to where the +waters of the English Channel showed soft against the hazy sky at the +horizon, like a blue vein on a circling arm. "And that means that I must +take leave of _thee_, Guy." + +"Never, my darling!" cried Guy, drawing her to him. "If thou goest, I go +as well." + +"What! Forsake all here--estate and fortune and family? Nay, dearest, +that can never be." But, as she spoke these words, Gertrude pressed her +face upon his shoulder and gave way to tears. Then presently, raising +her head and gazing up into his face: "How should it be possible?" she +asked. + +"Easily enough, if thou wilt," he replied. "I would go as thy affianced +husband." + +Thus it was settled that he also should join the colonizing expedition +with which Gertrude's father had resolved to embark, under the patronage +of Sir Walter Raleigh. Its goal was Roanoke Island, Virginia. + +As the lovers walked homeward in company, and parted to go their +separate ways, they felt as if their feet already trod the shores of the +New World. "But when we are there," said Wharton before he left her at +the turnstile that ushered the way to her father's farm--"there we shall +have no more partings." + +Alas, he was but a poor prophet! + +Difficulties came up. Wharton's father violently opposed the plan that +Guy had made. That, however, might not have prevented its execution, had +not a fatal thing happened just at the critical time. On the eve of the +sailing of the expedition, Guy's father died. That which his bitterest +activity while alive failed to effect was accomplished by his white and +silent presence as he lay dead in the old manor-house. At such a moment +Guy could not go away; the unspoken edict of death restrained him +absolutely. Besides, the elder Wharton's affairs were left in a +confusion which it would take long to clear up. + +So the ship sailed without Guy; but you may be sure he was at the wharf +when she weighed anchor, and that he bade a tender farewell to Gertrude, +promising that he would follow with the first convoy that should be sent +to re-enforce and victual the new colony. At the instant when he had to +leave her, she said, as if answering his words, uttered many weeks +before at the turnstile: "Yes, dearest, we shall meet soon in that other +world, and there shall be no more parting." + +Guy did not think of the exact expression, just then; but as he +travelled back to the manor-house, now his own, he kept saying to +himself involuntarily: "That other world? God grant it may not mean the +world beyond!" When he stepped within the door, his eye rested on the +inscription over the great fireplace of the hall: + + "I live, how long I trow not; + I die, but where I know not; + I journey, but whither I cannot see: + 'Tis strange that I can merry be." + +Many a festival had been held beneath the unnoticed shadow of those +solemn lines; the laughter and the cheer, the sobs and murmurs of many a +voice forever hushed, had echoed from the wall where the verses were +graven; but it seemed to him that the motto had never gained its full +meaning until now. + + "I journey, but whither I cannot see." + +Gertrude had gone out into the great void of the unknown spaces; and he +was to follow her--whither? + +It would indeed have been strange if he could have been merry; and, to +say truth, he was not greatly so; but he kept up his hope indomitably. + +At last everything was arranged: he was ready to go. But he had to wait +for the relief expedition to sail. In those days it was a great +undertaking to prepare for a journey across the Atlantic. Raleigh was +busy, perplexed, anxious: three years went by before Admiral John White +started from Plymouth with three little ships (one for each year) and +two shallops. But when he did start, Guy was on board. + +It had been agreed with the colonists that, if anything went wrong and +they should find it best to look for a new site, they should remove to a +spot fifty miles inland among the friendly Indians, and should carve +upon a tree the name of the place to which they were going. In case +misfortune befell them, a cross was also to be carved above the name of +their destination. + +When, after a five weeks' voyage, Admiral White's vessels approached the +shore of Hatteras, they anchored some miles out, for safety, and sent a +boat in to the shallow Sound. Guy was in the bow of the boat which +steered for Roanoke Island. The crew, when they had come near enough, +blew trumpet-blasts as a signal of their approach, and sang songs of +home--old English glees and madrigals--that had often echoed in the +fields, the groves, the farmhouses of Surrey and Kent. Attracted by the +sound the colonists, they hoped, would make their appearance the sooner. +But how strangely these familiar strains fell upon the ear in the +primeval solitude of those lonely waters, on that lovely April day! So +strangely, indeed, that one might almost fancy the colonists did not +recognize them anymore, and hence failed to respond. Yet the trumpets +continued to ring out on the air, and the gay songs were trolled +cheerily, as the boat drew near the landing-place. + +It may be imagined what an eager lookout Guy kept up at the bow. Ho +believed every moment that, at the next, he should see Gertrude emerging +from the woods and waving her hand to him. Still, not a sign of life had +been given when he stepped ashore. + +The little party began to be oppressed by forebodings. They set out +through the forest, eagerly searching for some token of their +countrymen's presence; but no voice answered their calls, except those +of unaccustomed birds and astonished squirrels; and no trail was found +upon the light brown soil, other than the marks of an Indian moccasin or +the curious dottings made by the feet of furtive animals. + +At last, however, the seekers came to a tree which confronted them with +three rudely carved letters cut upon its side. + + C. R. O. + +That was all. There was no indication of the cross, the symbol of +distress. The men burst into exclamations of delight; yet Guy, though +his heart bounded high with reviving hope, suffered a terrible suspense. +The sturdy tree had, as it were, found a voice and spoken; but it had +uttered only one vague, baffling syllable. Of what use was that feeble +clew? Still he pressed on, having no idea which way to turn, but guided +by some inspiration; and presently, shouting to his companions, he +pointed to another conspicuous tree which bore upon its blazed trunk the +full name of the colony's new abiding-place. The letters missing from +the first inscription had doubtless been worn away by storms. The word +engraved upon the fibre of the second tree was "Croatan." + +The friends of the colonists did not know precisely where Croatan lay; +and though Guy urged an immediate exploration, the rest thought it +impracticable. The distance from the ships threatened danger of being +separated from the expedition by some accident, and left alone without +supplies. So, having read the brief message of the departed colonists, +the boat party returned to the little squadron and reported. + +A storm arose; anchors were lost; the supply of fresh water had run low; +and a council called by the Admiral decided that prudence required +taking a southerly course to find some safer harbor; advising also that +an attempt should be made to capture some Spanish vessels and return +with the booty and provisions to find the lost colony. In vain Guy +pleaded, with anguish in every word, that at least one of the ships +should cruise near the coast off which they now lay and await the first +favorable moment for prosecuting the search. The Admiral and his +captains were inexorable; and the southern course was taken. + +None of the vessels ever went back to the aid of the English at Croatan. + +The captain of that one on which Guy Wharton was a passenger turned her +prow toward England after a little time. Once more at home, Guy made +every endeavor to have a new fleet equipped; but all his attempts +failed. He was on the point of selling everything he owned, in order to +fit out at least one ship and carry substantial aid to the exiles, when +certain commercial ventures, in which a great deal of the property left +to him was involved, went amiss and left him helpless. Restless, +unhappy, almost broken-hearted, he entered on the struggle to +re-establish himself; no opportunity occurred for him to sail to +Virginia again; and so much time passed by, that such an undertaking +came to look hopeless. Even could he have gone, what would he have +found? Perhaps Gertrude by this time had died. Or, perhaps, thinking +herself forsaken or forgotten, as the whole community of emigrants +seemingly had been, she might have married one of the colonists. + +The old hope went out of Guy Wharton's life; but though, after some +years, he took a wife, he never lost the pain which this tragedy of his +youth had planted in his breast. + +And they, meanwhile, the vanished exiles--what was their life; what were +their thoughts? How long their hope survived, no one can even guess. +Without resources beyond those which the friendly Croatans themselves +had; living a rude and simple life among the natives in that wild and +lonely land; did they watch day after day for some sign of sail or +fluttering pennon coming up the river, or listen for some sudden +bugle-note or gun-shot, announcing the approach of relief? Did Gertrude +keep up her faith through the weary years, hourly awaiting her +lover?--fancying she heard his voice close by?--then waking again to the +reality of the lonely stream, the fluttering forest-leaves, the uncouth +habitations, the garments of deerskin and the swarthy savage children at +play? + +God only knows; for of all those hundred and fifteen wanderers, men and +women, not one was ever seen among the civilized again. They passed from +the region of the known and the recorded into the vagueness of +unlettered tradition. From the midst of history they were transplanted +into myth. They faded out amid those dusky tribes in the forest, as the +last streak of light in the west fades into darkness at nightfall. + +A hundred years afterward the Indians of the Hatteras shore were +described as declaring with pride that some of their ancestors were +white and could "talk in a book," like the later Englishmen who were +then established in Virginia. It was taken as confirmation of this +story, that some of the Indians who told it had gray eyes. + +_Her_ eyes were gray. + + + + +CHAPTER II. + +THE DE VINES. + + +On a little headland at the southern end of Pamlico Sound where it +narrows in to the waters of Core Sound, a small dwelling-house, half hut +and half cottage, looked forth over the liquid expanses with an air of +long habitude and battered self-reliance. It had but two meagre windows, +and its chimney was short and black, suggesting an old tobacco-pipe; but +the little house leaned comfortably against the low sandy ridge at its +back, and did not seem to mind any of the imperfections in its own +facial aspect. Along the ridge live oaks and red cedars flourished +gracefully, and the ancient structure was closely enfolded at either +side by thickets of that kind of holly known in the region as _yaupon_, +the polished leaves and warm red berries of which glistened cheerily in +the sunlight. Indeed, the whole place, dilapidated though it was, had +the reassuring appearance of a home; and when from its narrow doorway a +beautiful young woman stepped forth into the breezy afternoon, nothing +more was needed to complete the effect. + +If it was a home before, it now looked the ideal of a home. + +The young woman turned to the holly bushes at the left and began +clipping from them some of their lighter branches, which she let fall +into a large basket, held gracefully against her hip with one rounded +arm, while the other plied the shears. She was tall, but not fair. No +daughter of the gods, but firmly and robustly human; yet, at the same +time, there was in her humanity something noble and inspiriting. Am I +not going too fast? Why talk in this way about a young girl in a calico +gown, cutting holly-sprigs beside a tumble-down old cabin on the Nawth +Ca'liny shore? No, she was not fair as to complexion; her skin was +richly browned by out-door life, though a clear rose-tint shone faintly +through the brown. She was beautiful, nevertheless; and yet--and yet +what was it? It seemed as if that outer hue could never under any +circumstances wear off. But a mere glance at her features would convince +any one that she was not of octoroon or metif parentage. Only it was as +if the sun, watching over her loveliness from birth, and searching into +the depths of her nature, had warmed her blood until it had darkened a +little and her pulses had spread a shadow in their flowing. + +Suddenly she desisted from her work and, bending her head forward, gazed +off across the light green waves that stretched for miles between her +and the low-lying strip of sand that barred out the sea. Had she heard a +distant hail from the boat that was scudding fast toward the headland? +At any rate, there was the burly little craft, careening to the lively +breeze amid a shower of spray, with a recklessness characteristic of the +young helmsman, whom the girl's bright eyes would have recognized even +farther away. And now, as the craft abruptly veered to windward, to +approach the landing, her master's careless handling received a +startling illustration, for she almost broached to; the sails were laid +aback, and for an instant the boat threatened to capsize. + +There was one passenger, an old woman, who sat near the helmsman; and at +this juncture she snatched from her lips a short clay pipe, emitting a +shrill cry of fright, together with an alarmed whiff of smoke--as if she +herself had unexpectedly exploded. + +"Lord save our souls, Dennis! What be you thinkin' on?" + +"All right, auntie!" cried the young man, heartily. "The critter'll +come straight in half a turn." And, exerting all his force, he caused +the dug-out to round into her course again, with the breeze on her +quarter. Two or three minutes later she touched the shore. + +The young woman, having thrown down her basket, stood ready to greet the +new-comers. + +"Well, Deely dear!" + +"Why, Aunty Losh, it don't seem possible that it's you come back again. +And so you're really here." + +"Yes; a'most really--though, as you see just now, I come nearer +drowndin' in front o' my own door, Deely." + +Dennis submitted his stout frame to a convulsive laugh, which for an +instant gave him some resemblance to a dog shaking himself on emerging +from the water, "Drownded in half a fathom," he exclaimed, hilariously. +"I'll be dog-goned if that ain't the cutest, aunty! Why, I'm almost +sorry we didn't overset the old boat, to show you. It would have livened +you up fit to kill." + +"Dennis!" exclaimed Deely, her eyes flashing indignantly, "you ought to +be ashamed." + +"Oh, never mind the boy," Aunty Losh soothingly interposed. "It's his +natur' to be wild, ye know. He ain't never happy unless he's in some +dare-devil scrape. But where's Sylvester?" + +Deely, with eyes cast down, appeared needlessly embarrassed. "He went up +to Beaufort to market," she explained. + +Something in her tone caused Dennis to glance at her rather fiercely, as +if he were jealous. "Yes, that suits _him_," he muttered, with a trace +of contempt. "Market business is just about what Sylv is good for; +that's what it is." + +"It aren't right to speak so of your only brother, Dennis," said Aunty +Losh, mildly. + +"Oh, dog gone it!" (Dennis reverted to his favorite expletive.) "What +does it matter whose brother he is? I speak my mind. Deely, don't look +so down on me. What's the trouble?" + +"Only you're so rough," said the girl, laying her hand on his arm. "You +know I love you, don't you, Dennie? But it goes against me to hear you +talk so." + +He placed his own rough hand on her smooth one and patted it softly for +an instant; then he moved it somewhat brusquely from its resting-place +on his shoulder, and Deely drew away a step or two. + +"I _catch_ all the fish," he said, "and Sylv _takes_ 'em for himself." +There seemed to be an undertone of double meaning in his remark. But the +next instant he changed from gloom to sunny cheer. "Come, aunty, you +mustn't stand here on the mud. I reckon you've been away so long you'll +be kind o' glad to see the inside of the old cabin again; hey?" + +He was tall and sturdy, this Dennis De Vine; and though he could not +have been described as handsome, his reddish hair and ruddy coloring, +united with the glance of his blue eye and a certain good-humored Irish +daring of expression, made his presence gay and attractive. Aunty Losh +was quick to act on his suggestion, and they all went into the cabin, +which despite its limited frontage spread out sufficiently, within, to +afford rooms for the old woman and her two nephews. + +"Now, aunty," said the girl, "the tarrapin is most ready, and I'll brew +you a good cup of yaupon. I was just cutting some to dry when you came." +And thereupon Adela, taking a handful of the seasoned leaves from their +place of storage in a cupboard, swung the kettle from the fire and +proceeded to infuse this local substitute for tea. + +"My patience, but it's dear to my buddy and heart," Aunty Losh murmured, +as she sipped from the smoking cup. "An' now tell me what's happened +while I been away." + +"Why, Sylv wrote you everything that happened hyar," Adela reminded her, +in some surprise. + +"Oh, I know, I know!" was the rejoinder. "But it didn't seem nachul-like +when I had to have folks read it to me. I didn't mo'n half get it in." + +"There ain't nothin' very novel," said Dennis, "except old Sukey strayed +off on to the main yistiddy." Sukey was the cow. + +"Sho! It'll allays be so, long as I live. Nothin' but stray and find, +stray and find. Ye _mout_ hev dug that ditch across the neck, Dennie, +when ye knowed I wanted it so bad. If you'll do it one o' these +near-comin' days, I'll knit ye a new pair o' socks." + +The headland on which Aunty Losh's house had been built was connected +with the main only by a narrow neck, and it was one of the grievances of +her life that her cow and her two or three sheep, when turned loose to +graze, could so easily make their way to the adjoining territory. + +"I'm fearsome o' the tides," Dennis explained. "They run so strong that +mebbe they'd cut a wider channel than you want, aunty. But I'll try it; +I'll dig that ditch by-and-by--or arterward." + +The talk then turned to other matters, and Miss Jessie Floyd was +mentioned, the daughter of an ex-Confederate colonel who lived a few +miles inland on an "estate" of some dozen acres, magnificently entitled +"Fairleigh Park." + +"Miss Jessie's been down hyar two or three times," Adela said, "to buy +bluefish and tarrapin for the manor; and she was very kind to the boys. +Wasn't she, Dennie?" + +"That she was. She brought us jelly, one time." Dennis gently smacked +his lips, in a reminiscent way. + +"I reckon she hain't brought any money, though," his aunt skeptically +meditated, aloud. "Any company up at the manor?" + +"Why, yes," said the girl. "There's a young gen'l'man from the Nawth--a +sort of English chap, I reckon; anyhow, he comes from New York. Mr. +Lance; that's what they call him. I hain't seen him, but Dennis can tell +you." + +"Certain shore," said Dennis. "That's his name. He's got idees about +buildin' up. He wants to eddicate folks all round--sort of free snack of +knowledge for everybody." + +"I reckon he'll be eddicating Miss Jessie to fall in love with him," +Adela observed. "That's what." + +"Well, I sha'n't find no fault with him if he do," Dennis returned. +"Only he needn't come down hyar away with his idees and all. 'Pears like +him and Sylv 'ud be chancey to take up with one another, though." + +"What makes you think that?" Aunty Losh asked, with a trace of +apprehension. + +"'Cause Sylv don't think of nothin' now but book-larnin', and he's been +hevin' talks with that ar fellow." + +"Sylv'll be goin' off and leavin' us one o' these days," the old woman +mused, as she put a match to the short pipe she had been filling for +herself. + +"Oh no, aunty! You ortenter think he'd be so mean!" Deely protested, +with energy. + +Dennis turned upon her, angered. "You keep still, d'you har!" he +exclaimed. "What matters if he do go? I reckon I can take car o' you and +aunty, all by myself, when it comes to that." + +Deely was evidently impressed by his dictatorial manner, but she assumed +a haughty air. "_I_ reckon it's about time for me to go," she retorted, +"if you can't be more civil. Just when aunty hain't no more'n set her +foot inside o' home, too." And, despite her tone, there was a slight +appearance about the girl's lips and eyelids as if she would like to +cry. + +"Oh, well; I didn't mean nothin', you know I didn't," Dennis answered, +becoming penitent. "And when you go," he added, "I'm a-goin' with you as +far as your dad's." + +The rising trouble was thus allayed, and all three were soon engaged +again in talking over the news, or the local affairs of the last few +weeks. For Aunty Losh had achieved one of the most remarkable events of +her life, in going to see some of her relatives at Norfolk, Virginia. +She had much to tell about the journey and the ways of the people in +that great city, and dwelt especially upon the hardship she had been +compelled to suffer in drinking "China tea," instead of that far +superior docoction, yaupon. The young people, in their turn, gradually +discovered many little items which they must impart to her. + +Aunty Losh, strange as it may seem, was the sole female representative +of a stock which once gave promise of making itself distinguished. Her +lineage was traceable from a certain Major De Vine, a young Irishman +who, stirred by the sympathy that led the natives of two widely separate +but oppressed countries to join the cause of the American colonies, had +enlisted in the cavalry corps raised by Count Pulaski to join the +Continental army, during our Revolution. Pulaski was a Pole, and De Vine +an Irishman, but they had the same inspiration: they fought for freedom +in America with the hope that their own people might also become free. +De Vine performed many a gallant deed, in the course of the war, and +rose to be a major; but the consciousness of his good service was his +only recompense. + +At the peace he retired from the struggle poor, and ill fitted to make +his way by other means than the sword. He settled in the South, where +the soil was not favorable for such a man as he. What little property he +possessed was soon lost. Moreover, he and his children having +surrendered to the reigning prejudice against work, there was no way +open to a retrieval of even the meagre comfort they had at first +commanded. The family, failing to make any advantageous alliance by +marriage--which, indeed, would scarcely have been possible in their +circumstances--soon declined into still deeper poverty. The Major died, +followed by all his children excepting one son, who drifted across the +border into North Carolina; and his posterity became a part of that +strange population known as "poor whites." + +Listless and inefficient as those people are, germs of energy are known +to have been fostered among them, which have sometimes developed; and +the De Vines always retained enough of their ancestral vigor to +counteract their ancestral pride, as well as their sense of unmerited +misfortune, and to keep them somewhat above the general hopeless +prostration of the class into which they had fallen. + +Aunty Losh, widowed by the Rebellion, and left childless, had settled in +the little hut on the headland, with her two nephews, mere boys at the +time, but now grown to efficient manhood. The elder one, Dennis, was +stalwart and courageous, and became a successful fisherman on a small +scale. Sylvester had also assisted in the common support, and together +they had made a little headway. But in Sylvester the ambition for +something higher had awaked: he had not only learned to read, but had +actually become a student, and was now taking steps toward what seemed +to his aunt and brother the attainment of a distant and dangerous +witchcraft--namely, making himself a lawyer. Neither of them believed +that he would ever accomplish this chimerical design, but Sylvester's +scheme was always present to them in the guise of an impending danger, +which was just as dreadful as if it had been realized. In fact, it was +worse, because it seemed to them a spell in which he had been caught, +and to which his life would ultimately be sacrificed. They regarded him +with the mingled envy and commiseration that we are apt to bestow upon +those who have the strength to devote themselves to an idea which we +think is going to prove a failure. + +Dennis, on the contrary, had never troubled himself to learn anything +beyond that which his own instinct and contact with the forces around +him could teach. There was a vague tradition stored up in the dust-heaps +of Aunty Losh's mind, to the effect that his ancestor, the Major, had +once at the siege of Savannah cut his way through the British with a +detachment of Pulaski's Legion, and that in so doing he had slain with +his own hand eleven of the enemy. Well, it was with the same sort of +desperate rush that Dennis cut his way through the problems of +existence. He was good for a short, sharp struggle, but he was not +steady, and had no ability to plan long manoeuvres or patient +campaigns. + +A streak of fierceness remained in him, also, derived from the man who +had been so deadly to his enemies when placed in a perilous dilemma. As +there were no British opposed to him, it did not manifest itself in just +the same way; and, thus far, being temperate in his habits and having no +foes so far as any one knew, he had not slain anybody. But his +passionate impulses asserted themselves plainly enough at times, to the +discomfort not only of others, but also of himself. + +Here they were, then, these three people, the remote offspring of that +old Revolutionary officer, living humbly on the North Carolina shore, +unlike as possible to what Major De Vine might at one time have supposed +his descendants would be, yet bearing his blood in their veins, and +acting out every day his traits or those of some still earlier +progenitor, with as much exactness as if what they did and said had been +a part written for them in a play. + +They knew nothing about the romance of Guy Wharton and Gertrude Wylde, +so far back, so musty with age as it seems, yet so alive and fragrant, I +think, when we pluck it out from the crumbled ruins of the past where it +grew. They knew nothing of the deposit of stones in the waters up by +Shallowbag Point, near Roanoke, which--being of foreign character--are +probably the ballast of one of Raleigh's vessels thrown overboard there, +in the stress of weather; nothing, except that Dennis had learned to +steer clear of it at low tide. But when you consider the destiny that +had befallen the family of the gallant young Revolutionary fighter, how +much did it differ from that of the English colonists whose race had +been extinguished in savagery? The change which had taken place was, +essentially, of the same kind. + + + + +CHAPTER III. + +TWILIGHT. + + +When the group at Aunty Losh's cabin had finished what they had to say, +Adela Reefe rose to go; and Dennis, taking his gun from a corner of the +room, prepared as a matter of course to accompany her. + +"Sun'll be goin' down," he remarked, languidly, "by the time I'm +a-comin' back, and I'll have a right smart call to get a few birds." + +"I wish ye was goin' t'other way," Aunty Losh said, fretfully. "Ye mout +see suthin' o' Sylv. It's quare he don't come 'long when he knows his +old aunty's a-waitin' for him." + +"Oh, he's young, aunty. You got to give him some play," said Dennis, +with fine sarcasm, though he knew well enough that his younger brother +was more mature and better balanced than he. + +But his demeanor underwent a change as soon as he had passed out of the +doorway with Adela. The air of lazy jesting disappeared; his face became +earnest, and he walked with a kind of meekness beside the girl, looking +at her guardedly with a devotion that did not lose the grace of a single +motion of her lithe figure. Leaving the headland, they took the +direction of Hunting Quarters, a fishing village several miles distant, +where Adela lived alone with her father, a nondescript personage +depending for his livelihood upon equally nondescript and fragmentary +lore of a supposed medical character. Old Reefe, to say truth, was held +in awe by some of the simple neighborhood folk, as a man possessed of +mysterious and magical powers. + +The two had gone some distance without speaking, when Dennis began +abruptly: "I got somethin' to say to ye, Deely, what I was waitin' to +say till aunty come back. It didn't seem everyways fair to say it +afore." + +"What in time is it wouldn't be fair for you to say to me, Dennie?" she +asked, turning her face quickly toward him, her lips parted in a smile, +or perhaps only in eagerness. + +"Why, when you was comin' over, tendin' me and Sylv and the cabin, it +didn't look like it was right," Dennis said. "But now there's a free +course, and I want to lay for home." + +"That's a good word," Adela threw in, seeing him pause. + +"Yes, and you know what I'm after. I want ye to say when you'll marry +me." + +Deely, at this, was quick to avert her glance. She remained silent. + +"Well, what's in the wind now?" he persisted. "Ain't ye goin' to pass me +an answer?" + +"What _can_ I say to you?" she returned, earnestly. "I love you, Dennie, +as I told you long ago; and I want to be your wife. But where are we to +go? What have we got to live on?" + +Adela's speech varied from the customary manner of the locality to a +more precise and refined utterance, according to her mood; for she had +shared in Sylv's progress to the extent of taking lessons from him in +reading. This had caused her to observe Miss Jessie Floyd's +pronunciation, and that of the few other cultivated persons whom she +occasionally saw, so that she had learned to copy it. The instant she +found herself in opposition to Dennis, she unconsciously assumed that +superior accent, the effect of which upon him was by no means +mollifying. + +"Oh, don't go for to go on that tack now!" he exclaimed. "I've hearn +enough on it a'ready. I mean squar' talk now, and I ain't goin' to be +fooled, neither." + +"Answer _my_ question, then," said the girl, peremptorily. "That's no +more than fair." + +"Why, there ain't no trouble," Dennis assured her, becoming amiable +again. "I reckon we can make out to live together as well as we can +separate one from t'other." + +"How?" + +"Just like we do now. 'Pears to me the fish 'll bite as easy when they +know they've got to make a dinner for we uns, stead o' for Aunty and +Sylv, and the tarrapin 'll walk up to be cotched, and ground-nuts and +rice 'll allays be plenty." + +"Yes, yes, Dennie; but who's goin' to take keer of Aunty Losh?" said +Adela, dropping back into the easier way of talking. + +The young man's face fell, and he wrinkled his forehead. "That's a fact; +that's a fact," he murmured, sadly. "Poor ole aunty! She's been a true +mammy to we uns, and it ain't nachul to leave her be by herself. But +Sylv mout take keer on her, Deely." + +"Sylv's younger than you," she objected. "'Tain't his portion to do +that." + +"Mebbe he ar young," said Dennis; "but he's got a darn'd sight cuter +head, some ways, than I have. And you mind now what I say, Deely, this +hyar thing has got to stop one o' these hyar days. If it hadn't been for +Sylv's mopin' over them books, and a-glowerin' and tryin' to make his +self too wise, I'd a-been a heap better fixed." + +"But Sylv wouldn't a-been," was the answer; "and he's worth thinkin' on +a little." + +Dennis laughed scornfully. "A little! He's a heap too much wuth thinkin' +on." + +Adela ceased walking, and faced round upon him, at the same time +brushing away with one hand a tress of her crispy black hair, which the +wind had blown across her eyes. She wanted to meet his gaze directly. +"What do you mean by that?" she demanded. + +Dennis was her match for belligerency. "I mean," he said, "that that ar +youngster takes up too much 'tention. Thar ar'n't no time for +considerin' on no one else. It's allays Sylv's ways and Sylv's idees, +and he can't do nothin' for himself, but some one else hev got to do it +for him. An' here am I, one month arter another, findin' the ways for +him and aunty to live, lettin' alone myself; whiles he goes smellin' +arter them old books what's made o' yaller hide that ain't no better +than the skin off'n our Sukey's back. An' that's whar the bits and the +dollars go, that you and I might be enjoyin' if 'twarn't for his +dog-goned concayt of lawyer's jawin' and politics and parla_ments_. +That's what! An' I'm tired on it, I tell ye. What I mean?" Here the +young fellow's handsome, free-colored face became clouded with passion +that darkened it as with the shadows of a thunder-cloud. "I mean, Deely, +that if you are a-goin' to put Sylv up agin me, every chance comes +along, thinkin' o' his good and not o' mine, ye're not nigh so lovin' o' +me as ye are o' him. D'ye un'stan' me, now?" + +Adela shrank back slightly, as if he had levelled a sudden blow at her. +Then she replied: "If that's all ye got to say to me, Dennie De Vine, ye +can just go back on your tracks to the cabin, and I'll go to the +Quarters alone." + +Dennis forgot his anger in anxiety. "But there's the tide-way ye can't +cross," he said. + +"I've done it afore now, by myself," replied the girl. "'Twant for +nothin' you learned me to row and sail. Ah, Dennie"--her under-lip +trembled as she spoke--"it ar'n't right in you to treat me so. If you'd +only remember those times when we were children! You was always good to +me, then. Why ar'n't you good to me now? I feel just the same about you +as I did in those way-off days. I never loved any but you--and old dad." + +The poor child's head was drooping, as she finished; and, but for pride, +she would have wept. + +"All right, then, Deely," began Dennis. "If that's so, I'm sorry--I +started for to say, I'm glad. Only, give me your squar' promise that you +won't let him stand in the way no more. I've kept my hand to the helm, +and I've waited. I've been waitin' a long time. Sylv won't never be no +'count, if he go on as he ar', and we won't be no 'count, nuther. Only +say the word that you'll marry me soon, and that you ain't goin' to let +Sylv stand in the way." + +"But you said I cared more for him than I do for you," Adela objected, +less inclined to make peace than before. + +"Well then, you can say you don't," he suggested. + +"No, I'll never tell you so!" she cried, her eyes flashing. She laid a +hand upon her bosom, which was heaving. "There's somethin' here, Dennie, +makes it hard to say it. I can't! I can't!" + +What she intended by this was no more than that, if he could not trust +her without such assurance, it was impossible for her to speak. But +Dennis took it quite otherwise. + +"By God, it's true, all an' all!" he stormed. He paused an instant, +seemingly dazed, and then went on: "I didn't fairly believe it afore, +but a little black devil come allays whisperin' it into my ear, when I +was alone, and I couldn't get him out'n my mind. It was Sylv, Sylv, +Sylv--my own brother! Oh yes, you can bet I began to see it, then! I +done my best, and I've waited; but it's _him_ you love, and now I'm to +be throwed over, _I_ am. _I'm_ the one that don't count nary fip. An' +now I believe it, you needn't be afeared. I believe it, and I _know_ +it." + +Adela was stung by his doubt, and, recoiling from it, made her next move +in precisely the opposite direction to that which her heart prompted her +to take. + +"You've done your best?" she echoed, tauntingly. "And what's that? +Mighty little. You can't read, like--like Sylv." + +"Sylv be d--d!" shouted her lover. "If ye say another word, I'll kill +him!" + +Adela Reefe stood before him, quite calm and unshaken. However she might +fear his violence toward others, she felt no alarm for herself. She knew +her power. + +"No, you won't kill him, Dennie," she said. "You're not wicked: you +can't do that wrong. But I'm goin' to tell you what you'll do. You're to +leave me here, and go back by yourself, as I said." + +Dennis tossed out a little defiant laugh. "No, I ain't a-goin', nuther. +You'll see me walkin' right alongside o' you till we get to old man +Reefe's, and then I'm a-goin' to tell him the whole yarn, and we'll fix +the weddin'." + +"You will go straight back to aunty's," she reaffirmed, quietly. + +Dennis's features softened into a pleading expression. "You'll let me go +as far as the tide-way?" he petitioned. + +"No." + +He hesitated, but presently turned and walked a few steps over the +ground they had just traversed. His gun was slung in the bend of his +right arm. Once more he reverted to her, appealingly, but without a +word. + +"You must go," said Adela, gently, standing on one of the little +hummocks into which the land was broken, with the glow of the sinking +sun irradiating her brown and rosy cheeks, her dark gray eyes, and wild +black hair. + +Dennis obeyed. She remained stationary, watching him as he withdrew. + +But before he had gone out of earshot, he called out to her, defiantly, +like a truant schoolboy: "I'm not goin' back to aunty's. Some o' those +birds yonder got to smell powder, fust." + +Accordingly, he sauntered along over the uneven ground, scanning the +narrow territory, the stretches of adjacent marsh, and the clear, +pink-illumined air around him, for snipe or plover. He was the picture, +outwardly, of careless ease and confident health; but, inwardly, he was +far from being placid. There was a turmoil of clashing sentiments and +impulses within him, which he did not understand. He was not sure as to +what he thought, nor could he have told what he felt: he knew only that +he was thwarted, miserable, and angry. He was hurt and helpless, and +drifting on toward some fresh injury, the nature of which he could not +foresee and did not so much as try to guess; for he had no more control +over the passions that tossed his soul than if they had been a raging +sea. Yet, all the while, his gunner's instinct was alert, and the winged +creatures doomed for his prey could not, even had they been gifted with +understanding, have guessed that he was about to avenge his own wounds +by those he would inflict on them. + +Adela waited a few moments where she stood; for she, too, was +distressed, and hardly knew which way to turn. The thought of the dreary +home of the herb-doctor, to which she must return, was not alluring; but +she could not go after Dennis, either, to make up with him. Suddenly she +heard a short, hollow report, that was lost immediately in the echoless +spaces over land and water. She started; an indescribable dread seized +her. Why, at that instant, did she think of the foolish threat--empty as +his gun-barrel--which Dennis had made against his brother? + +It was nothing but a flying plover that he had knocked out of existence; +she could guess that well enough. But she did not stay to reflect. Like +a frightened thing seeking shelter, she sprang from her place, along the +open stretch, taking the opposite edge of the open ground to that which +Dennis had chosen, and ran lightly on under shelter of the low hillocks, +so as to reach some spot abreast of him. + +A strange sight--this maiden running so featly under the sunset-light on +one side, while her unconscious lover strolled along the other! She +glided over the sod with a swiftness and an intuitive caution worthy of +an Indian. Then all at once she halted, so promptly that it might have +been with a premonition of the shock of sound that came almost +simultaneously from a second discharge of the gun--nearer, this time; +much nearer; so near that Adela, standing still, quivering but not +breathless, heard the faint rush of several shot that fell with a sharp +"pat" on the ground, close by her. Glancing up, she saw a small bird +driving through the sky, with dropped feet and frantic little wings, +which seemed to melt away out of sight in a moment, as if by magic. +Dennis had tried too high a shot and missed his aim. + +Adela did not flinch, but she continued on her way more slowly. + +Dennis also proceeded, popping at the feathered game now and then. He +did not fire again toward the quarter where Adela was lurking; she half +wished that he would. The dangerous greeting of those leaden pellets +would be better than no message at all. She longed to cross over and +speak to Dennis, but could not persuade herself to. He, meanwhile, +gathered only two small birds; the rest that came in his way either +escaped or fell out of reach among the sedges. Slinging the little +creatures into his pocket, indifferently, he went on; and when he +reached the point where he should have diverged toward the cabin, he +resolved to strike into the pine-woods and meet the Beaufort road. + +Moody and dissatisfied, he was not inclined to shut himself up in +solitude at this hour with Aunty Losh; for he knew that Sylv, though he +had set out for Beaufort before sunrise, was not likely to have +accomplished the return journey before now. It was a distance of more +than fifteen miles; Sylv had taken his load of fish on a borrowed wagon +which must be left at the town, and therefore would be obliged to foot +the whole way back. Dennis preferred to wait on the road and meet him +there. + +Possibly Adela had suspected that he would do this. At all events, on +arriving where she could see him if he had been going toward the hut, +she discovered that he must have taken the other course, and she, too, +protected by the trees which now were frequent enough to afford a cover, +slipped cautiously into the piny woods. + +Dennis had not gone far along the rough thoroughfare when a second +figure appeared, moving toward him in the gradual twilight, between the +ranks of long-leaved pines. It was the figure of a man, young and of +vigorous frame, but slightly bent; though that may have been due only to +fatigue or revery. His face was darkened, rendered still more serious in +its thoughtful expression by a straggling beard, which, however, grew in +a picturesque entanglement that added character, instead of obscuring +it. He was dressed with a modest style and care that made an outward +difference between him and the ordinary dwellers on that shore, but his +clothes were of simple "sheep's gray." Under his arms he carried two +books, heavy tomes, the smoky yellow of which, discernible even in that +fading light, showed that they were the ripe husks in which the fruits +of the law are stored. + +This was Sylvester. + +Dennis waited in the shadow of the trees until Sylv came nearly abreast +of him. + +"Hullo, Sylv," he said. + +The younger brother gave a start, and stopped abruptly in the rutty +roadway, looking toward the speaker. Then, with a smile of singular +frankness and sweetness, he said in a low, unperturbed voice: "Why, +Dennie, I wasn't looking to find you here. Seems queer, but I was +thinking so hard, all alone, that you almost frightened me." + +He spoke with great precision, as was natural in a person of his +studious turn, but without the least primness or affectation. Carefully +transferring a ponderous volume from its place under his right arm-pit +to his left hand, he held the other hand out for a greeting. "Seems as +if I'd been away a week," he said, wearily. "Has aunty come?" + +Dennis made no motion to take the proffered hand. "Yes," he said, "she's +thar, and she's waitin' for ye." + +His manner was so unusual, so withdrawn, that Sylv was surprised, and +let his right arm fall to his side. + +"Why, what's the trouble?" he asked. "You're not like yourself, Dennie. +You are dispirited." + +"Anybody could see that," answered the senior in a surly tone, "without +those thar long words. Yes, I am sort o' down; I'm out o' gear. That's +the fact." + +"Well, let's go along to the cabin," Sylv proposed, throwing into his +words a soothing tenderness as unconscious as that of a woman's voice. +"Whatever's ailing, we'll consult over it there." + +"No," said his brother, refusing to stir. "I want to talk to you hyar." + +"I'm downright tired," Sylv objected, mildly. "I've been walking so +long. I made a good trade, though, Dennie. See here." + +He laid his books down in the road, and put his hand into his pocket. +Then he withdrew it suddenly, looking alarmed, and began to search +another pocket. Dennis waxed visibly impatient. Finally, plunging into a +third receptacle, Sylv brought to light five silver dollars. "That's +what I got!" he exclaimed, triumphantly. + +"That all!" cried Dennis. "Oh, I knowed it, I knowed it! And those thar +books--you worked shares on 'em." + +"Yes, I found I could get those, too," said Sylv, with honest +exultation. + +Dennis emitted a groan. "Ye've done it agin," he muttered, gloomily. +"Now look hyar, Sylv, ye wisht a second; I'm goin' to give ye my mind. +You're a-takin' the life right out'n me and ruinin' my hopes, and I +ain't stood out about it afore; but dog-gone me if I don't stand out +now. I wouldn't 'a' keered if it hadn't been none but me and aunty, +but--" Here the unhappy man's voice broke. His right arm was occupied +with holding his gun, but he raised his left and wiped away upon the +sleeve the moisture which had gathered in his eyes. "But when it comes +to Deely," he continued, "I ain't a-goin' to let things run as they +hev." + +With the instinct of the collector, Sylv stooped and picked up his +books; but, as he rose, he offered to Dennis the money which he held. "I +don't understand," he said, looking puzzled. "What are you talking +about?" + +Dennis remained immobile in the shadow of the pines, ignoring the +younger man's gesture. "Keep your money," he said. "D'ye think I'm a +highway robber, to stop ye for what ye've got? It's bad enough that ye +barter away our livin'; but 'tain't that I'm a-thinkin' on. Ye've took +Deely away from me. That's worse; a heap sight worse!" + +His brother gazed blankly at him, apparently not understanding. "Deely?" +he said. "_I_ didn't take her. What d' you mean. Where is she?" + +"Coward!" cried Dennis, growing violent. + +At that word Sylv quivered visibly, and drew himself up, with a pride he +had not shown before. + +Dennis, after pausing, went on: "D'ye dar' to tell me ye don't know what +I mean? Deely's home, but I've been a-talkin' with her, and I know it's +so and ain't no other way. She sees how you been a-playin' it on me, but +'tain't no 'count to her. She wants you to go right on, the same way. +'Tain't nothin' to her that you hold us off from bein' married, by that +foolishness and studyin' o' yourn. It's cl'ar as day she thinks a heap +more on you than she does on me. An' I tell ye ye're the one that's to +blame. Ye done it, and ye knowed it. Ye took her heart away from me." + +A new perception broke upon Sylv. He contemplated Dennis with a sort of +curiosity, and a smile stirred the loose dark beard about his lips. Any +one but his angry brother might have seen that he regarded the idea of +his being enamored of a woman with a disdain curbed only by a sense of +the comic. + +"So you stand up here and tell me that, do you?" he retorted. "Well, all +I've got to say, Dennie, is that you're acting like a fool." + +Dennis's hand clutched the stock of the gun, nervously, under the strain +of the effort he made to control himself. "No, I ain't," he declared. "I +been a fool afore, but I ain't one now. I see the whole thing, I tell +ye. She's set her heart on you, and you've set yourn on her." + +Sylv braced himself a little, and looked resolute. "Now I give you fair +warning," he said. "I tell you square that I don't care about Adela +Reefe more than as a sister--my sister and your wife that is to be. Are +you going to deny my word?" + +"Yes, I am," the other asserted, doggedly. + +"And you're going on, after that, to assert that I took her love away +from you?" + +"Yes, I am." + +"Then I say, _you lie_!" Sylv returned, hotly. The same passionateness +that ruled Dennis was present in him, also, though well concealed under +his habitual calm; but it had broken loose now. + +In an instant Dennis lifted his gun to an aim. "No man can say that to +me," he thundered. + +His finger slid down to the trigger, and he drew the hammer back. + +Sylv stood in the road, unmoved, the books under his arms. "It's too +easy a shot," he said, quickly, but in a low voice. "Besides, I can't +fire back." + +"You won't have any call for that," Dennis assured him, grimly. He spoke +coolly, but his rage completely mastered him. + +"Stop!" cried Sylv, when the gun-mouth seemed about to burst into flame. + +"Stop!" + +The syllable was repeated from the woods close by them. Was it an echo? +No; that was impossible; there was no echo in that place, and both men +knew it. Besides, there was a different tone in the voice which seemed +to ring out from the shadow of the pines--an accent of alarm and agony, +unlike the peremptory cry which Sylv had uttered. + +Dennis brought down his gun, instantly. "What's that?" he exclaimed, +thoroughly unnerved. He felt as if some supernatural warning had been +given him. + +"It sounded," said Sylv, "like--" Here he checked himself, and stared +across the road, trying to make out something among the trees. + +Dennis turned in the same direction, and in a moment they had both moved +thither, and were straining their eyes to discover the source of the +sound. But their scrutiny was in vain: nothing appeared. It is true, +they fancied a noise as of some one stirring, some one making a hasty +retreat; but that might have been only the wind that came with stealthy +swiftness from the ocean side and set all the murmurous branches in +movement. Was there a figure flying through the piny arcade? Of that, +also, they could not be sure; for the twilight had increased more and +more, and darkness seemed to ooze through the air like a palpable +exudation from the gummy trees. + +The brothers faced half around and exchanged a peculiar glance that was +tinged with awe. But Dennis fell to trembling. + +"Hyar! Take it!" he said, in a voice of horror. "Take the gun, Sylv. I +was crazy. What was I a-doin' just now? Oh, take it away from me; don't +let me touch it!" + +Sylv, on the point of complying, paused and said slowly: "No, Dennie, I +won't take it. You didn't think what you were doing. I trust you." + +Still shaking, Dennis looked at him with a dumb, bewildered gratitude. + +"Come," said his brother, stepping again into the path. + +Dennis followed him, but as they left the spot he said: "It war like +Deely's voice, Sylv. She saved me, this time." + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + +A VISION. + + +That which Adela had seen and overheard so startled and horrified her, +it raised such a war of emotions, that she was unable to reflect upon +what she ought to do. In coming through the woods, obedient to the vague +need she felt of following Dennis, she had heard the rising voices of +the disputants, and when she reached a spot where she could command a +view, she beheld her lover with his gun raised, on the very verge of +committing murder. + +For a moment her every faculty was paralyzed. Had the weapon been +levelled at herself, her dread would have been less freezing: she could +have been brave and active on her own behalf. To see another person +threatened with mortal danger, and he the brother of Dennis, was +different. In the presence of impending crimes, human beings seem to +yield to a painless lethargy like that which is said to overcome the +victim of a tiger, even before the claws have made a single wound. The +extreme of terror suspends the faculty of feeling, as of action; and +this is what renders possible the enactment of the most dreadful deeds +in broad day, before a crowd of witnesses. + +To shriek would have been the easy resource of some women. Adela Reefe +did not know how to shriek. She might have bounded forward, to stay +Dennis's hand or divert his aim; but her muscles failed her as if they +had been caught and webbed with invisible cords. Besides, any sudden +movement might have resulted only in precipitating a tragic end. + +Just then it was that Sylv called out; and Adela echoed him, +half-unconsciously, but with a wilder earnestness. The two exclamations +dissolved the spell that had held her. The crisis was over, and the +catastrophe had been warded off. What was she to do next? If she +appeared, the effect of her sharp outcry might be lost; Dennis might be +maddened to some fresh outbreak worse than the first, by the knowledge +that she had seen him in that awful situation. The difficulties, the +quarrel that might ensue, were she to confront the brothers then, would +be full of peril. There was nothing for it but to hide; and, gliding +from tree to tree, she made her escape. + +It was a long time before she finally reached her father's house at +Hunting Quarters that night; for, driven by the agitation which followed +the episode in the woods, and troubled by a cloud of doubts, wonders, +and anxieties that rose upon her mind, she wandered restlessly along the +shore, as homeless and unfettered as the marsh-ponies that were tossing +their manes above the dim, low line of that outer strip of land which, +across the Sound, ran out thirty or forty miles under the evening sky +toward Ocracoke and Hatteras. + +Now it happened that Mr. Edward Lance, the guest at Colonel Floyd's, had +been out on a solitary excursion of scientific inquiry, diversified by +fishing, along that same sandy barrier. He stayed later than he +expected; and, boating over to the main in the nightfall, he came +walking along the uneven and indented shore, on his way to Fairleigh +Park, while Adela was still abroad. + +Lance was sorry to be so late, but he had abundant material for +agreeable revery with which to occupy himself until he should get back +to the society of Miss Jessie and her father. Some three weeks had +passed since he had come to the hospitable shelter of the colonel's +roof, and he had had time to become much interested in other things than +the errand which had originally brought him hither. + +The young man, it should be explained, was a New Yorker, whose tastes +were cultivated and progressive; fortunately for him, he likewise had +money enough to admit of following his bent. + +"He is the son of my agent's former partner in business," Colonel Floyd +had told his daughter, when he received the letter which led to his +sending Lance an invitation to visit them. "You don't know his name, my +dear, and indeed it is unfamiliar to me. Mr. Lance senior died some +years since, before my relations with Mr. Hedson, who was in business +with him, began. But I understand that he is an accomplished young +gentleman, who wishes to inquire into the resources of our State--more +especially the coast-belt." + +"That's where _we_ live, isn't it, pa?" Miss Jessie inquired. + +"Yes, my child," said the colonel, impressively. "He desires to study +our fisheries and other industries--with a view, perhaps, to +establishing some manufacturing or agricultural enterprise. It would not +be at all strange, Jessie, if he were to put capital into something in +our neighborhood. I think he may invest. Yes; he is probably seeking a +field for his capital." + +Colonel Floyd said all this as if he were reading a letter or quoting +from a cyclopaedia. That was his habitual way of saying things. I should +hardly call it an affectation, but he seldom spoke at any length without +producing the effect of his being a standard work of reference, which +would always tell you exactly what you wanted to know, and would state +it in the best language. + +He was a slender man, with a small but well-shaped head encased in +closely cut hair that had begun to silver; the gray and the black +intermingled, and shone with a glimmering changefulness, like the sheen +of mica. He wore spectacles, and had that precise, tactical expression +noticeable in Confederate veterans of the war and so wholly at variance +with our conventional idea of the romantic Southern type. As the colonel +held the lease of a turpentine plantation which he was working, near his +own modest estate, he was naturally interested in the development of the +"coast-belt," and was disposed to welcome the young Northern capitalist +of whom his agent, Hedson, spoke so highly. + +"What do you say, my daughter?" he asked Jessie, after a pause. "Would +it be agreeable to you to have a visitor? Shall we invite Mr. Lance to +stay with us?" + +He inspected her kindly through his glasses, as if she had been some +harmless little prisoner of war. + +"It shall be just as you like, pa dear," said Jessie, artlessly. "And if +Mr. Lance is coming--why, there's no other place for him to stay. Is +there?" + +The unsuspicious would have been forced to suppose, from the forlorn +manner in which Miss Jessie cast her eyes around, that she regretted the +absence of any convenient hostelry for the stranger's harborage. + +The veteran, however, saw through her, or fancied that he did. At all +events, he knew that the solitude of the Park, with only a few liberated +slaves and the old housekeeper for company, could not be much more +desirable for his daughter than the presence of a promising young man +like Lance. + +Accordingly, it was settled that Lance should come. Here he was, then, +fully established, and--thanks to the perfect hospitality of the old +officer--rejoicing in an unexpected sense of being thoroughly at home in +those warm latitudes. It was now the end of July--a hot time to be so +far South--but Lance's satisfaction with his new surroundings was so +great, that he had decided to remain through the summer, and already +began to think that that period would seem all too short. + +While his scientific eye had been riveted upon the processes of +turpentine manufacture, on the number and kinds of food-fish inhabiting +the shallows of the sea, and on the feasibility of turning Elbow Crook +Swamp into a luxuriant market-garden, a finer vision--which he possessed +in common with some others of us who belong to the masculine side of our +species--had been occupied with the dainty yet commanding outline of +Jessie Floyd's face; the saucy charm of her dark hair parted on one +side; her novel, half-childish, yet imperious ways. + +He was thinking of her, now, as he traversed the bit of open, +marsh-bordered land alongside the pines, where Dennis and Adela had +taken their unpropitious walk, that day. + +The sun had set long before; the twilight had deepened and deepened +until all at once it seemed to meet, in its meditativeness, a thought, +an inspiration, a celestial surprise--and the moon rose, silent and +beautiful, like the embodiment of that thought. + +A panorama of memory passed before Lance's mind, embracing pictures of +all the things he had observed during the day, and all that he had seen +since he came to North Carolina. He stood there alone, with the ocean +moaning subduedly beyond the sandy dunes, four miles away, yet audible +through the plash of the nearer waters of the Sound, across which the +warm breeze brought its voice to him. He saw in fancy the green waves, +the ardent sunshine, the low shore with huts or hamlets clustering +occasionally in some favoring nook, surrounded by evergreen oaks and +other verdant growths; the chalky lighthouses, the random sails of +shore-fishers; the green, inaccessible marshes that fringed so much of +the mainland. The poor folk he had met in his rambles, hearty, simple, +ignorant and superstitious, came back to his eye in groups, with the +surroundings amid which he had happened to encounter them. The gloomy +recesses of Elbow Crook Swamp filled in the background of his +memory-pictures; wild birds rose and flew across the sky, as it seemed; +and all the while Lance was oppressed with a sense of the great natural +resources of the region, against which its loneliness, the prevailing +ague, and the shiftless languor of the population opposed themselves as +a dead-weight on all improvement. Yet, stranger and alone though he was, +his soul expanded with the idea of somehow bettering the condition of +affairs and making life there brighter and more prosperous. + +Then he, too, emerged from revery as the twilight had from its +sombreness, and faced clearly the new thought that glowed upon him like +the large, sweet moon so dreamily brooding in the sky. + +Suddenly he was aware of a shape looming up in the faint moonlight not +far from him; the form of a woman, half of whose body was concealed by a +curve of the ground, in such a way that it might have been thought she +was just rising out of the earth. + +The woman was looking seaward. She did not observe his presence. + +Such an apparition would, in any case, have given pause to a preoccupied +man upon whom it came without warning; but there was a special reason +why it should affect Lance in an extraordinary manner. Her face offered +itself to him in profile, and was so irradiated by the nocturnal light +that it came out clearly against the sky. Seeing it thus, Lance was +instantly--I might say, appallingly--struck by its resemblance to a face +he had many times seen, one that, in fact, he had been thinking about +only a little while before. + +The face was like a darker profile of Jessie Floyd, touched with +moonlight. + +At first, of course, Lance thought that he must be suffering from +hallucination; that the day's exposure to the sun had affected his brain +and brought out in a visible form the thought of Jessie, which had been +so constantly with him. But the unknown woman stirred, and he saw that +she was real. Hereupon he scanned her more carefully, guessing that at +least the resemblance which he traced was an illusion. No; it remained +intact. He could not get rid of it. Clearly, the resemblance was real, +no less than the woman. + +I have hinted that Lance was of a modestly scientific turn; but he also +had in his constitution many susceptibilities whereof science as yet +knows little, and the phenomenon so abruptly thrust upon his notice +stirred these susceptibilities to their depths. He did not at all know +what to make of it. A fear crossed him that he was becoming as +superstitious as the ignorant folk on whom he had lately shed the balm +of his pity. What did this strange presence and resemblance mean or +portend? Was there not some omen hidden in them? + +Another thing disturbed him, affecting his mind very much as a sudden +contact with the supernatural might have done. In Lance's family, which +had sprung from England, fragments of an old story were still extant, +about an ancestor who had been involved with one of the colonizing +expeditions to Virginia. He did not recall every particular of the +story, but sundry items of it were quite distinct. It was said that this +early predecessor had fallen in love with an Indian girl, from whom he +had been cruelly separated; or that he had come to these virgin shores +in search of some one whom he had lost: accounts differed as to that. +But Lance's belief was, that this long-dead member of his long-dead +English family had been in quest of his plighted wife, and that he had +somehow missed her, returning to England alone. Virginia, in those days, +included the territory of North Carolina--the very place to which Lance +had drifted, propelled by a rather vague purpose and a desire for +knowledge as well as recreation. There was nothing very remarkable in +this, perhaps. The young man himself had not thought much about it; for +one does not have time, in the present age, to linger over little +coincidences and bits of ancient family gossip. The old tale had once or +twice flitted through his mind since his installation at the colonel's +manor, but it was not a thing he would have considered worth mentioning. + +Nevertheless, because of those occult susceptibilities which I have +mentioned, at the moment of encountering this mysterious woman with her +face turned seaward, the remembrance flashed up over his mental horizon +like a kindling beacon-fire. A marvelling awe took hold of him, and for +his life he could not have shaken off the fantasy that made him conceive +of her as a projection from the shadowy past, an image that typified the +lost mistress, or the forgotten Indian maiden, with whom his ancestor's +life-history had been linked. The circumstance that she was gazing +eastward also had an effect upon him; he could easily have persuaded +himself that she was waiting for her vanished lover to come to her over +the waves. + +But the fancied resemblance to Jessie--that was the most bewildering +element of all. Why should it occur to him? And why should he feel such +an unwonted shiver running through his veins? + +The simplest way to banish all this nonsense was, doubtless, to go +forward and speak to the girl. The good nature of the inhabitants, Lance +knew, made such an informality excusable; but, as he was about to try +that solution of his perplexity, and find out who this woman really was, +the figure began to descend the slope on the farther side from him, and +disappeared so noiselessly that she seemed to have crumbled and dropped +back into the earth from which she came. + +Lance stood still; that curious warm shiver thrilled his veins anew. +Then he turned away and resumed his tardy progress toward the distant +manor-house, muttering aloud: "How can I be such a fool?" + +But the vision, notwithstanding, remained imprinted on his +consciousness, and troubled him. + + + + +CHAPTER V. + +BIRTHDAY TOKENS. + + +The next morning ushered in Miss Jessie Floyd's birthday anniversary. +The emancipated housemaid, ancient Sally, had given Lance timely warning +of this occasion, and he had taken the precaution to send to New York +for a present which he thought might be acceptable. + +The question as to what sort of a gift he should select had been a hard +one to decide. If the truth must be told, he had allowed himself the +inappropriate but impassioned notion that he would like to give her a +ring; inappropriate because he had not yet succeeded in effecting those +preliminaries which justify a young man in giving a ring to a young +woman; though, except for that, it was exactly what would best have +conveyed his sentiments. Just why an ornament for a lady's hand should +have this potent significance, when it is her ear that receives the +lover's confession, was not perfectly clear to him; yet it was plain +that there was no insurmountable objection to his offering Miss Jessie a +pair of ear-drops. He therefore ordered some pearl ones, hoping to +please her. To please himself, he ordered a ring. But the little packet +which lay beside her plate at the breakfast-table, that morning, +contained only the ear-drops. The ring was securely locked in Lance's +private consciousness and his trunk. + +Perhaps in order to appease his own self-reproaches for cherishing this +jewelled secret, but also to prevent any embarrassment in Jessie's +receiving a costly trifle from him, Lance thought it best to let Colonel +Floyd know of his intention beforehand. He did so, late in the evening, +after returning from his solitary expedition. + +"I hope this will be quite agreeable to you, sir," he ventured, with +becoming deference, when he had explained. + +The colonel remembered that he himself had once been young, and probably +found it easy to gauge the effort it cost his youthful friend to +maintain this deference in a case where he was positive that he had an +inalienable right to do as he pleased. + +"My dear Lance," he replied, "neither my daughter nor myself can need +any outward token to assure us of the kindly feeling you entertain +toward us. That is the only reason why I might regret that you have +decided to offer one. A simple congratulation or good wishes would have +been enough, I assure you; but I appreciate your thoughtfulness, and +Jessie, I am sure, will be delighted." + +"Thank you, colonel. Then it is all right," said Lance, decisively, +feeling as if he had just snapped the cover tight over the pearls and +rescued them from loss. + +They were sitting in the room which the colonel, with innocent grandeur, +called his library, surrounded with a few editions of English and Latin +classics, flanked by rows of obsolete works largely relating to +politics; and they were engaged in the unscholarly pastime of sipping +whiskey and water. It may be that the beverage had softened the colonel +into a pensive mood. + +"Speaking of congratulations," he said, "these anniversaries begin to +make me think that my Jessie perhaps hasn't got so much to be +congratulated for." + +"I think she has a great deal," said his guest, with some fervor. "More +than I have, at any rate. She still has her father--" his listener +smiled sedately--"she has her old home, and--and herself!" + +Lance had not known in advance that he was going to wind up with those +words, and was himself rather astonished at them. + +The colonel braced his neck and looked at the young man somewhat +narrowly for an instant; after which he subsided, and observed, +good-humoredly: "That is saying a good deal, too. What I had in mind, +however, was the changed condition of everything here--the melancholy +changes that have come since the war. When Fairleigh Park, sir, embraced +five hundred acres instead of twelve, and when I had a hundred good +niggers, it was a very different matter. Why, sir, even in this poor +house there was hardly a stick or a rag left on my return from the +field. My books"--here the colonel waved his arm with proprietary pride +at the faded volumes on his shelves--"my books fortunately had been +removed to Wilmington, where my wife and daughter were in the care of +friends; but a foraging party of the Northern soldiery came here, sir, +in my absence, and, though there wasn't a soul opposed them, they broke +the mirrors, chopped my piano into kindling, stabbed and maimed the +pictures on the walls, and tore the hangings into shreds. Yes, sir, that +was the noble revenge they took upon me for daring to fight in defence +of my native land. Ah, I must not recall those things," he added, +recovering himself. "Thank God, we are a united country once more, and I +don't regret my share of the loss. But I was also thinking, sir, of +Jessie's mother." + +The veteran leaned his head on his hand, unable to speak further. There +was a quivering of the muscles in his good old, honest, disciplinarian +face, that touched Lance's heart. + +"I can understand what a loss that has been to you," he said, +gently--"and to Miss Jessie." + +The colonel raised his head again, and looked with determination at the +opposite wall, mustering his self-control. + +Lance resumed, with some hesitation, but impelled to speak at this +precise moment, though he had not contemplated doing so. "I--I have +reflected a great deal about Miss Jessie," he said. + +Colonel Floyd's attention was prompt and watchful at once. He regarded +the speaker with mingled friendliness and jealousy. "You are very good, +my friend," said he. + +The younger man smiled involuntarily. "I see no great merit in my +thinking of her. I can't help it." + +His host hemmed, and gave evidence, by his restless manner, of being ill +at ease. "I don't know that I fully understand you," he began, moved by +a conviction that he did understand with the greatest distinctness. + +"Well," said Lance, "I suppose it ought to be very easy to explain +myself; but I find it extremely difficult. I have thought about Miss +Jessie--I wish it were possible to add in any way to her happiness." + +The colonel rose. "Pray say nothing more," he begged, not unkindly, but +with some reserve. + +"I will say nothing, if you prefer, beyond this: that her welfare and +her future cannot possibly be of greater moment to you than to me." + +Lance looked at the colonel squarely until he had finished, and then he +dropped his eyes. There was no mistaking the purport of his tone, which +went farther than his words. + +"My dear fellow," said the colonel, stretching out his hand, "from what +I have seen of you I like you; I may say, I esteem you. If you have +anything to say which concerns Jessie more than it does me, tell it to +her." + +The other accepted his hand, and pressed it. They stood thus for a +moment, before parting for the night, and Lance saw that the old soldier +approved of him. A strange feeling also came over him, that his host and +he met not so much on the basis of a possible father-and-son +relationship as on that of brotherhood. There was a community in their +love for Jessie; each felt the depth of the other's devotion to her, +different though it was from his own; and to Lance this mutual trust was +of good omen. + +Before the breakfast-hour they met again in the pleasant dining-room. +The colonel was mixing a mint-julep by an open window which gave upon +the garden. + +"I'm not feeling quite well," he said, "and so concluded to tone myself +up a little. It's a great thing to have a Virginian's grave in your +garden." + +"Virginian's grave" was the facetious term, as Lance had learned, +applied to a bed of mint; in allusion to the theory that where a +Virginia gentleman is buried the plant essential to his favorite +beverage in life will spring up and multiply. + +He laughingly declined to share in the refreshment, and the two said +little to each other. Their talk of the night before lingered with them +in the form of a slight constraint, mixed with suspense. + +But Jessie put all this to flight, when she slipped into the room fresh +as the morning sunbeams. She was quick to notice the white packet on the +table. + +"Oh, how lovely of you, pa," she exclaimed as she opened it, "to take so +much trouble! Why, they're exquisite!" + +She held the case up admiringly. + +The colonel glanced over at their guest, a slight smile wrinkling his +bronzed cheeks with fine lines like those in old engravings; and there +was a trace of guiltiness in his look, as if he and Lance had been +fellow conspirators. + +"Don't thank me, my dear," he said. "It's Mr. Lance who was lovely." + +"Oh!" cried Jessie. She fastened her eyes on Lance, with a sort of +reproach; and his heart sank. + +"They're beautiful, though," she continued. "Thank you _so_ much, Mr. +Lance. Then you didn't get anything for me, pa? Well, I shall have a +kiss, anyway." And she ran toward him. + +The old man's gray mustache appeared to revive, as he received the +salute and gave one in return. "Look under your plate, child," he said, +"and you'll find something, will do to give you a treat when we go up to +the races at Newbern." + +Jessie trotted back to her place, and the treasure under the plate +proved to be a gold eagle. Another demonstration of filial fondness +ensued, and they all sat down in a good humor; albeit Lance suffered a +feeling of unenviable exclusion. + +But in a moment or two Jessie jumped up again, and, with the earrings in +her hand, went to the glass to put them on. She faced around brightly +from her reflected image there, to thank Lance again. "I never _dreamed_ +of getting anything so nice," she said, frankly. + +And Lance told himself that he, on the contrary, had many times dreamed +of some creature as captivating as she was, but had never quite expected +to find the realization. He wondered how, in this solitude and with no +one to set her the example, she could have grown up into such charming +womanliness. + +The doors of Fairleigh Manor, excepting in the most inclement weather, +stood always open--a symbol of the owner's frank and hospitable heart. +And now when the breakfast was over and Jessie had betaken herself with +the two gentlemen to the little morning-room across the hall, a train of +darkies--men and women--presented itself at the entrance, bringing good +wishes and simple gifts to their young mistress. First of all came old +Sally, who folded the fair maiden in her faithful arms and covered her +forehead and neck with kisses. Lance, with his abstract theories of +equality and his concrete prejudices, which made equality impossible, +was rather amazed at this proceeding. He did not relish the spectacle of +the black face in such close proximity to the white one. Involuntarily +he turned toward the colonel, expecting to find in him some support for +his own displeasure; but there was a kindly light in the colonel's eye, +and he looked on with approval as the servants approached, one after +another, to give greeting in their several ways--the women with less +effusion than was permitted to Sally, and the men with awkward bows or +friendly grins that attested their speechless affection. Those who +shared in this demonstration were elderly servants who had once been +slaves, though they were accompanied by a few younger ones--their +children, born in freedom. They all brought flowers and leaves; the +fragrant yellow jessamine being a favorite form of tribute, alternating +with festoons of the trailing vines found in Elbow Crook Swamp, baskets +adorned with gray moss, and little ornaments of woven straw. + +The colonel's face grew radiant and tender as he watched them. "Faithful +creatures!" he said, in undertone to Lance. "Most of my people stayed by +me when the fight was over. I told them they were free to go where they +liked, that they didn't belong to me any more, and I couldn't tell +whether I could give them work--much less support them. But they +wouldn't go. They clung round me; and little by little we all got on our +feet again. They said: 'You's been a good massa to us, and we ain't +gwine to leave you now yore in trouble, Massa Cunnel.' And so we built +up, together, what small prosperity there is here now. I had fed and +clothed them, Lance, and spent many thousand dollars in buying them, but +they did not forget everything, as many white people do. I little +thought it would be my old slaves who would help me out in the hour of +need--I to whom _they_ had always looked for help. But so it was. My +God, it has been worth all the cost and the suffering! We are more human +than we were." + +The veteran planter was deeply affected; and, as he spoke, a mist seemed +to clear away from the young man's mind, and he beheld the simple +ceremony that was taking place, in a transfigured light. + +Here, close to his eyes, was an act in the endless changes and +developments through which humanity is forever passing: the lifting up, +the pulling down, the growth of new types and phases, the subsidence of +old forms of life, accompanied by the survival of certain among their +features. + +One of the negroes, bolder than the rest, after wishing Jessie happiness +all her days, said he knew it wasn't right to ask her for anything now, +but if she "would only give him a little book to read in." ... The book +was instantly forthcoming. Jessie went to her secretary, and took one +from the slender row of volumes on its upper shelf. But at this Sally +came forward again. + +"Why, missy," she said softly, in Jessie's ear, where Lance's pearl was +trembling, "ole Scip ain't no 'count. He war on'y coachman, you know, +befo'. He didn't nevah b'long to _you_ and the missus. But I come from +_yo'_ side de house, yo' know I does; and now yo' dun gone give him +suffin', why I'd kin' o' like dat ar pink frock what you mos' got fru +wearin'. 'Tain't good nuff for yo', nohow, missy, and ole Sally she'd be +mighty glad on't, ef you don' want it no mo'." + +So Jessie laughed, and sent Sally up-stairs to get the garment of her +desire; and from that moment on the reception was metamorphosed into an +exchange of gifts. + +The darkies brought in their vines and clusters, and laid them on the +table or draped them with primitive art about the room, until it became +a sort of bower, verdant and perfumed with their offerings; and Jessie +sat there like an unaffected little queen, distributing tokens to this +and that adherent. She knew their humble demands were not prompted by +greed, but that they simply loved the old custom of receiving something +from their mistress, and could not give it up even though times were so +greatly changed. + +Lance had now fully entered into the spirit of the scene, and the fancy +struck him that it was a repetition of the old story of savages on the +New World shores worshipping the first white person who came among them. + +What if these negroes had been the aborigines, and his Jessie--or Miss +Jessie, rather--had been that Gertrude Wylde whom tradition told of, +receiving their homage? The idle query of imagination, thus propounded, +brought up to him with renewed force the vision, still unexplained, +which had crossed his path on the sea-shore. + + + + +CHAPTER VI. + +A NEW LESSON IN BOTANY. + + +In the cool of the afternoon the Floyds and their guest took a drive, +rattling gayly on, in the old carry-all, which was the colonel's chariot +of state, over many miles of light-earthed road screened for the most +part by groves of pine. + +The old gentleman discoursed to Lance a good deal about the country and +the people, and gave vent to his natural regret that the class once +dominant had yielded more and more to a hard, pushing set, who were no +doubt doing much to increase the general welfare, but lacked the graces +and the repose of the whilom aristocracy. The young Northerner's own +conviction was that the old aristocracy had succumbed to a relentless +law of nature, for which he entertained the admiration that he believed +all natural laws were entitled to; but he could not help regretting +somewhat the fate that had overcome his friends and their kind; and it +was borne in upon him strongly that so fine a flower of heredity as +Jessie appeared to be--however defective the structure of the species to +which she belonged--ought not to be involved in this decadence. + +You will observe that I am giving you his thoughts in the formal and +strictly rational phraseology which it pleased him to adopt. Plainly +speaking, he was very much in love with Jessie, and did not care a rap +about natural laws or anything else, if they conflicted with her +happiness or his chances of winning her. + +Meanwhile, as they passed Elbow Crook Swamp, which the road skirted for +a considerable distance, he reverted, with every appearance of absorbed +interest, to his scheme for reclaiming that tract and converting it into +a source of wealth and the means of building up a prosperous, highly +intelligent community. The swamp covered a territory of many hundreds of +acres. It was rank with cypress, evergreen, oak, and laurel, from which +parasitic gray mosses depended in endless garlands, locked in the +embrace of luxuriant vines, that hung or crept down to the edge of that +slow brown stream, the angular turnings of which gave the place its +name. The rich, alluvial soil in which all this greenery rooted held a +promise of unlimited fertility; but the only profit which men derived +from the splendid waste was found in the cane-brakes, that yielded +succulent fodder for hogs or cattle. Lance imagined in this wild expanse +a possibility of great results, which might play in well with his +humanitarian schemes. He had brooded over the matter ever since first +seeing the spot; but the commercial and educational interest attaching +thereto was not the only one that kept him thinking about it. Its +mysteriousness, its lone solemnity; the frowning masses of dense and +forbidding trees; its impenetrability in parts; the danger and +savageness of its hidden depths--all these had wrought upon and excited +him, until it became impossible for him to get the swamp out of his +mind, and he felt that it was somehow connected with his destiny. + +In answer to his exposition of his schemes, the colonel, who was fond of +a classical allusion, said: "That's all very fine, Lance; but you +propose a labor beside which Hercules slaying the Lernean Hydra would be +insignificant. You know, that myth is supposed to refer to the draining +of a morass. Hercules was the first man who discovered the still +mythical disease of malaria, and tried to kill it." + +But Lance was not to be discouraged by banter. When they got back to the +mansion the colonel judiciously disappeared, and the two young people +were left alone on the veranda. Lance began to talk over his theories +anew with Jessie, as they sat there just outside the window of the +morning-room whence the scent of the pine-boughs, the jessamine, and +flowering vines drifted toward them in occasional puffs of fragrant air. + +"The people here need so much help, so much enlightening," he said. "I +can't give up the idea that something might be done in the way of +elevating them." + +"Oh, that's only because you're so restless," said Jessie. "You come +from the North, and you find it so dull here that you have to think of +something to keep you busy." + +Her lips pretended that they were smiling with indolent mockery; but she +looked so charming, and the contrast between her gray eyes and the +Spanish jauntiness of her dark hair was so attractive, that the young +man began to think opposition was the pleasantest form of encouragement. + +"No," he said, quite earnestly; "I don't think it's mere restlessness. I +mean what I say, and I can't help it. And certainly it isn't dull here +for me." + +He fixed his eyes for a moment on the boards of the veranda-floor, as if +meditating. Jessie, in her turn, considered him. In his loose blue +flannel suit, with a soft straw hat perched upon his thoughtful head, +but throwing no shadow on his features, to which a small brown mustache +gave additional emphasis, he certainly was handsome; she had never +denied to herself that he was handsome, but she was just now especially +impressed with the fact. + +"I am going to tell you something curious," he said, lifting his eyes +unexpectedly, so that she turned hers quickly toward the garden. He had +evidently arrived at the result of his meditation. "It has several times +occurred to me," he continued, "that my interest in this locality may +have a queer, remote sort of origin that no one would ever suspect." + +"Why, what's that?" asked Jessie, in a dreamy tone, feeling sure now +that he could not be going to speak of her, since she was neither +"queer" nor "remote." + +Thereupon Lance went on to relate to her the legend of Gertrude Wylde +and Guy Wharton, as well as he could from the stories which he +remembered to have heard half jestingly repeated in his father's +household. "I am directly descended from Guy Wharton," he stated, in +conclusion, "but my name is different, because the male line died out +and my father belonged to the posterity of one of the daughters. It's +true, all that romance happened a hundred miles or more from here, way +up by Roanoke, and I didn't think of it in the least when I started to +make this visit; but, some way or other, the thing has come back into my +mind, and I begin to fancy that by an occult law of thought it may +account for my interest in this place--at least, partly." + +Jessie was absorbed by his narration, as her attentiveness and her eager +interruptions had shown; but what she said was: "It must be a very +occult law indeed." She also emitted a little impertinent laugh, which +she did not mean to be impertinent. + +Lance was somewhat taken aback. "I dare say it's all foolishness," he +admitted; "and there are other elements of interest which are much more +obvious." + +She was sorry to have brought such confusion upon him, and hastened to +revive the conversation. + +They got to talking about the negroes; and Lance, alluding to the scene +that morning, proceeded to speculate on the problem of the colored race. +"There is something very fine in their relation to you," he said, "but +it belongs to a phase that has passed away. They ought to be educated, +too." + +"I'm sure," Jessie answered, "we educate them as much as we can. Didn't +you see me give Scip a book? And I've helped to cultivate Aunt Sally's +aesthetic tastes by letting her have my pink frock. What more can you +ask?" + +"You insist upon making fun of me," said Lance, forcing a smile, though +a trifle mortified by her lack of enthusiasm. "But you know I'm right." + +"Indeed I don't know it!" exclaimed Miss Jessie, vigorously. "You want +to change everything, but you can't tell what you would get by the +change. You would like to cut down those splendid old trees in the +swamp, and turn it into fresh vegetables and berries for New York. But +the trees are much nobler than the berries, or even wild-flowers." + +"Oh no, I beg your pardon; they're not!" said Lance. "Most of the trees +around here are simply monsters. They represent rude, primitive types of +vegetation; they are the earliest specimens of Nature's effort to +produce flowering plants. Why, the common ox-eye daisy is a far more +refined product than they." + +"Oh, dear me," cried Jessie, "I never heard that. How much you know! But +I like daisies, too; I don't want any of these things destroyed." + +"They sha'n't be, then," Lance declared, with offhand omnipotence. + +After that, he branched out into an informal lecture on the +relationships of various plants and flowers, trying, in the sketchy way +that he had learned from cheerfully popular books of science, to give +her some conception of the evolution of new types and the persistence of +old ones in the flora of the earth, together with the manifold delicate +ties of kinship between the different existing forms. + +"Then, they are all one big family!" said Jessie, her face lighting with +a sympathy that Lance reverently recorded as being maternal. She was as +much pleased as if she had discovered a new set of thoroughly desirable +relatives. "But oh, Mr. Lance," she added, quickly reflecting, "doesn't +that prove that all these types have got to exist? You say that after +one crude attempt has been followed by a better development, specimens +of the old sort continue--like the pine trees. Now, it seems to me that +it's just the same with the human family. We're all related, but we're +very unlike; and while some of us have gone on improving, the others +have stayed just as they were. The negroes and the poor whites around +here are our monsters--for you say the pine trees are monsters--but if +we have the pines, why shouldn't we have the others?" + +She clapped her hands, in her glee at the argument she had discovered; +and it must be admitted that Lance was nonplussed by her swift sagacity. + +"But then you must remember," he said, after pausing, "that the human +creation has a much greater capacity for growth than the vegetable; and +we ought to help it forward in its growth. There's Sylvester De Vine as +an example. See how he's rising above his condition! I take the greatest +interest in that young fellow, and I believe I'm bound to assist him as +far as I can." + +"Yes, that's true," Jessie acknowledged. "But it's very nice to have all +these contrasts. I don't want them abolished." + +Lance could not but be aware that he didn't want them abolished, either. +Would he have been willing to obliterate all the differences that +existed between Jessie and the majority of the surrounding population? +Did he want all other women to be just like her? On the contrary, the +reason why he preferred her was that she represented a higher +development, a "more specialized" form, an exception to the common mass +of inferior beings. + +"You're right," he said. "It _is_ nice to have the contrasts. I admit +myself vanquished." + +In her triumph Jessie rose from the cane chair where she had sat +reclining. "Oh, how splendid!" she cried. "I never expected such a +victory. I must find pa, and tell him how I've vanquished you." + +Lance also rose, but to detain her. "Don't go yet," he said; "I have +something else to say. You have conquered me in another way, too, and I +want to hear from you whether you will accept my surrender." In saying +this he drew a little closer, and gazed with earnest expectancy into her +face. + +The sudden stillness and frightened silence with which Jessie at first +met his advance were not exactly what one would expect in a conqueror. +After an instant, however, she regained her self-possession. Her natural +merriment and archness returned as she asked, with her head leaning +sideward: "Is the surrender unconditional, Mr. Lance?" + +"No. There is one condition, of supreme importance. Ah! Miss Jessie, you +understand. Will you listen to me?" + +"I can't promise, but I'll try," said Jessie, in a faltering tone. +Imperceptibly, as it were, she resumed her place in the chair, and +waited. The sun was declining; a faint rumor of odd clucking cries came +from the turkey-field at the end of the grounds; but otherwise the air +was still, and a spicy coolness stole in to them from the +pine-plantations and the distant Sound. "Now tell me," she said, softly. + +You may be sure Lance eagerly complied. With an eloquence that had never +been his before, he told her what he thought of her; how he loved her, +and wished her to be his wife. In his confession he likewise mingled +unpremeditated touches about the daisies and the pines, and all that +marvel of nature of which they had been talking; and he made her see how +to him she was the culminating blossom of creation. + +"If you could only guess," he ended, hopeless of conveying all that he +wished to, "what a delight your presence is to me--how it is almost +enough just to look at you and watch every movement that you make!" + +So fine and frank was Jessie's maiden mind, that she no longer thought +of concealment. "Why, then you know," she answered, with the surprise of +a child, "exactly how I feel about _you_!" + +I do not care to describe what happened after that; for in the first +place it belongs only to those two lovers, and in the second place I +know it could not be described without tarnishing the pure beauty of it. + +In the long interchange of confidences that followed their union, Lance +was moved to tell Jessie of the woman he had seen in the moonlight, the +night before. "Strange, that she should have made me think of you and of +the old Wharton story, isn't it? Who do you suppose she could have +been?" + +"I can't imagine," said Jessie. "Perhaps you had a moonstroke; isn't +there such a thing? Or, perhaps it was a ghost." + +When they came in to tea they found the colonel carefully dozing over +the market columns of his newspaper. "May I go and get the ring?" +whispered Lance, who had owned to her the secret of his hopeful +purchase. + +Jessie gave a silent assent. He returned quickly, and slipped the emblem +on to her finger. + +"Mr. Lance has been telling me the most wonderful things!" said Jessie +to her father, as they sat at table. "All about flowers and legends and +ghosts." + +She was holding up a cup at that instant, for the servant to take, and +the colonel noticed the sparkle of the new ring on her hand. His eyes +threw back an answering sparkle; he gazed fondly at his daughter for an +instant, and then, with forgiving kindness, at Lance. + +"Miss Jessie refers to an old family history," the young man hastily +explained. "I mean the Wyldes and Whartons. It wouldn't seem so +wonderful to you, sir." + +The colonel threw himself back in his chair, with raised eyebrows. "The +Wyldes!" he exclaimed. "You never told me you knew _my_ family history. +How does it happen? Or is it, perhaps, only a coincidence of name? By +George, it strikes me as _very_ wonderful!" + +As Lance, in his turn, showed equal astonishment, it became necessary +for him to ask questions; and, by a rapid interchange of replies, they +arrived at an extraordinary revelation. The colonel raked out from his +library a dingy and ruinous old "family tree," by which ocular +demonstration was given of his descent from a branch of the identical +Surrey Wyldes that the Gertrude of Lance's story belonged to. Puzzling +out the different lines on the old diagram, which represented a trunk +and branches, with here and there a big circle like some impossible +fruit or an abnormal knot in the wood of the "tree"--the said knots or +circles representing fathers of families--they ascertained that the Miss +Wylde whose life-current had long ago blended with that of the Floyds +was a first cousin of Gertrude Wylde, who had been Guy Wharton's +lady-love. + +The colonel glowed with interest and enthusiasm. "I never came upon +anything more thrilling," he declared, roundly. + +"But you never said a word about the Wyldes," said Jessie, to Lance. "If +you had, I could have told you there was some connection between us and +them." + +"I didn't think of it," he assured her, "because there was a sort of +doubt in my mind whether the girl was English or an Indian--as I told +you. But I knew the name of Wylde was mixed up with the affair, anyhow; +and the more I reflect upon it, the more clearly it comes back to me +that Gertrude Wylde was the woman whom Guy Wharton came to this country +to find, and who was lost here." + +They referred once more to the "family tree," and detected there, surely +enough, a small branch terminating suddenly with the names of Matthew +Wylde and his daughter Gertrude, accompanied by the inscription: +"Emigrated to America, 1587." + +The colonel, much excited, now brought forth a faded tome devoted to the +history of North Carolina. Turning its pages, he unearthed the record of +Raleigh's expedition and the search-party that came after it. But the +names of the emigrants, of course, were not given. + +"I remember," said he, musingly, "that I read of this incident, years +ago, and was struck with it. But I should never have imagined that it +concerned a collateral branch of my own ancestry. How singular! The +Floyds immigrated to this country long after that time, and yet here am +I, their representative, who have spent my life in this spot, so near +where Gertrude Wylde disappeared from civilization--and I never knew of +it!" + +The discovery supplied them with a theme for meditation and remark, that +lasted the rest of the evening. + +Jessie bestirred herself, in the midst of a revery which had enveloped +all three, after they had talked for some time, saying: "How much it's +like the flowers! We're all one great family--at least, _nearly_ one." + +"Yes," echoed Lance, "nearly one!" + +She blushed, and rose to say good-night. + +After she had gone, the colonel came to Lance and, drawing his arm +around him, said: "God bless you, my boy--and her. I see how it is, and +I'm satisfied." + +"So am I," said Lance; "except that no man is good enough for her." + +What a night that was! Did ever darkness close round a pair more happy +than Lance and Jessie? The great heavens seemed to Lance the only canopy +that overhung his slumbers; for the thoughts and images that filled his +dreaming brain rose beyond the barriers of roof and wall, and included a +vast realm of peaceful joy, in which the stars burned ever mildly. He +had taken a spray of the yellow jessamine with him to his room. He +fancied that its fragrance repeated to him all night long, in +untranslatable sweetness, the name so like its own and now so dear to +him: "Jessie--Jessie--Jessie." And the knowledge that she was a late +comer in the line of the woman whom his ancestor had loved, contributed +still another element to his trance of silent rejoicing. + +Yet, through the whole delicious maze of happiness, he was aware of a +surmise which had not presented itself while he had been awake. It was +this: since Jessie had the Wylde blood in her veins, and the woman whom +he had met by the shore so strongly suggested a resemblance to Jessie, +might there not be some hidden bond between them, dating from the lost +Gertrude? + + + + +CHAPTER VII. + +THE RACES, AND THE MOTTO. + + +It so happened that Lance, up to this point in his sojourn with the +Floyds, had never, to his knowledge, seen Adela Reefe, although she had +come once or twice to the house while he was there. On a single occasion +he had ridden with Jessie to the cottage at the headland, and had met +"the De Vine boys." Becoming interested in Sylvester and his ambitions, +he had stopped to see him at other times in the course of his excursions +roundabout, and had also received one or two visits from him at +Fairleigh Park. He had, to be sure, heard something of Adela Reefe; but +the fact that he lacked the smallest idea as to what she looked like was +the absent link in his knowledge, which made it impossible to guess who +the mysterious girl of the night encounter might be. In fact, he never +so much as thought of Adela, and he gave up the riddle as one not likely +to be solved. But an event was now approaching which brought him sudden +enlightenment. + +The date of the races to be held at Newbern had been fixed--somewhat +early in the season, it is true--for a time shortly after the +occurrences which I have already described; and this affair was the +excuse for a general rally of inhabitants from the surrounding +districts. Colonel Floyd meant to attend it, with a large part of his +household, and Lance, as a matter of course, was going with him. + +Dennis De Vine had also looked forward to the festival as the excuse for +a great holiday. It had been his intention to take Aunty Losh, Adela, +and Sylv in his dug-out sloop, and sail a hundred miles up the Neuse +River, to the scene of the merrymaking. But the quarrel with Sylv, which +had come so near to a fatal result, threw a cloud over him, and for a +time threatened to mar the pleasure of this prospect. + +The day after that incident Dennis disappeared from the cabin, and was +not seen there again until evening. He was supposed to be out fishing, +and did, I believe, actually pass his time in sailing outside the +network of sandy spits and islands, as if engaged in trolling for +bluefish; but when he returned he brought but few trophies of the hook. +I know that during the afternoon he beached his boat on the inner shore +beyond Ocracoke, and took to wandering disconsolately along the dreary +dunes. The hour of sunset approached as he found himself near the old +graveyard of Portsmouth. It was a rough, melancholy, neglected spot; and +the thick-sown graves lay near the racing tides that the land which held +the dead was gradually crumbling away, and delivered to the sea, from +time to time, its mournful burden of forgotten humanity. + +Dennis, while trudging unconsciously hither, had been lost in mingled +reflections upon the quarrel--alternately grateful for his escape from +crime, and remorseful for the passionate temper which had almost swept +him on, without premeditation, to the consummation of a terrible deed. +All at once he became aware that he stood at the edge of this grim and +pathetic graveyard. A shudder ran through him. + +"To think," he muttered, "that I was nigh on to bringin' Sylv to such a +place as this! And then how would I ha' felt? Oh, God, forgive me! We +die soon enough, the best way we can fix it. Why should one man want to +kill another?" + +Near the water the ground was ragged and worn away, where the chafing of +the tides had carried it off piecemeal; and from the gaunt earth several +coffins projected, which were soon to fall a prey to the waves. Dennis +gazed upon them with a fascinated horror, and as he looked it seemed to +him that in the mouldering receptacle of death nearest to him he could +see something bright shining through the crevices of the boarding that, +warped by long inhumation, leaned partly open. For a moment the wild +fancy presented itself that impossible wealth, in the shape of sparkling +jewels, had been buried with the unknown inmate of the coffin. He bent a +little closer to examine it. At that instant the bank beneath crumbled +slightly--some of the sandy soil slipped into the water--and a fresh +breeze, sweeping in from the sea, shook the side-plank so that it fell, +disclosing the dusty and shapeless contents. Sweat started to the brow +of Dennis; he beheld there a row of toads, sitting inert and hideous +inside the coffin, with glittering eyes. + +No more awful example of the ghastiliness of burial could have +confronted him than that. The sight redoubled the agony he was already +suffering, and with a staggering motion he turned to retrace his steps. + +Dennis was not a reflective man; perhaps he had never before meditated +very deeply on the transitoriness of life, and the thousand ways in +which oblivion is forever clutching at us, obliterating the few poor +traces of our existence that are left when we depart from this world. +But the conjunction of circumstances, bringing such a sight to him at +that precise moment, wrought powerfully on his mind. "If I could only +change!" he said to himself, as he plodded back to his boat. "If I could +only be better!" + +Yet he was by no means certain that he could improve. + +Throughout the next few days he devoted himself to Sylv with a careful +tenderness that was almost pathetic. He offered to do him little +services; he tried to exhibit an interest in Sylv's reading; he was +anxious not to have Slyv expose himself to any undue fatigues or risks +or dangers. He would not let him go out in the boat. + +"'Pears like you thought you was married a'ready and Sylv was your +baby," Aunty Losh observed, with kindly sarcasm, noticing his unwonted +solicitude. "But I'm glad on't, Dennie. Bein' as you're older'n him, it +ar' right, and I'm glad on't." And thereupon she again betook herself to +"paddling" snuff, with a pleasant sense of duty performed. + +Sylv understood his brother's contrition, but did his best to banish all +remembrance of their saturnine controversy in the wood. "How 'bout +Beaufort," he asked, as the time approached for making the final +arrangements; "have you seen Deely?" + +Now, the truth was that neither of them had seen Deely for several days; +she had stayed at home punctiliously, dreading to meet Sylvester by +chance, and dreading still more to see Dennis, after what she had +overheard. + +"No," said Dennis; "but I will see her." + +Accordingly he went over to the so-called Doctor Reefe's house at +Hunting Quarters, the next day. Adela was at home, but she came out of +the house to receive him, and did not ask him in. + +"I'm not going," she said at first, facing him with a reserved majesty +like that of some wild princess. + +"Why not?" he inquired, his eyes still downcast. + +"Because I'm afraid. Something might happen." + +Dennis shot a swift, indignant glance at her. "What'd happen, I'd like +to know?" + +"I didn't mean anything," said Adela. "I'm not going; that's what." She +saw that she had been too abrupt, and she was determined not to disclose +that she knew anything of the altercation. + +But Dennis besought her in every way he could think of. "I won't talk to +you so, like I did last time," he said, penitently. "I know I'm a rough +kind o' fellow. I ain't got no temper--or mebbe I got too much. But I'm +sorry for what I done, and sorry for mor'n what you know, Deely. I'll +promise to be good if ye'll go." + +And so, at last, she consented. + +Old Reefe regarded the races as a matter of business, being in the +habit, I regret to say, of selling considerable quantities of his +untrustworthy herb-medicines on these occasions. He was peculiar and of +a solitary turn, and had his own way of going to Newbern. He started +three or four days in advance, on foot, and did more or less peddling in +the sparsely settled country through which he passed. This arrangement +was also quite satisfactory to Dennis. His sloop was made out of two +large hollowed cypress logs--as is the custom in those latitudes, where +the hard knocks that boats must endure on the shoals soon wear out any +lighter craft--and the accommodations aboard were limited; there was +really no room for "ole man Reefe." + +To people leading so plain and secluded a life as that of the shore, you +may imagine what a change and what an outlook of wild excitement this +extensive trip to Newbern afforded. Adela was always interested in the +boat; Dennis had given her lessons in sailing, and often let her take +the helm. Once on board, her old delight returned; doubts and troubles +vanished, and it was soon a gay party that sat beneath the sail, now +briskly speeding midway up the five-mile-wide current, now tacking from +side to side. + +An informal, impromptu sort of fair clustered around the races, +embracing booths and stalls for the sale of various trumpery, with +perhaps a circus in a tent, or merely a nomadic little "show," +consisting chiefly of over-colored pictures, that hung upon the canvas +wall, flapping and trembling in the breeze as if frightened by their own +mendacity. Then, as I have said, "Doctor" Reefe went about, lean and +sombre, with grayish hair straggling round his dark cheeks, to hawk his +"great Indian remedies," although it did not appear that there were any +Indians to be remedied. Adela, who possessed a knack for making +ornamental baskets and bead-work, likewise availed herself of the brief +season to sell some of her pretty wares, in a modest and desultory way. + +Lance, Jessie, and Colonel Floyd occupied themselves at first with +looking at the trotters and watching the false starts, the true starts, +the judges incessantly ringing a bell in the most confusing way, and the +fine, steady rush of the horses around the track, with small sulkies and +eager drivers apparently glued to their haunches. But after a time, when +a number of heats had been run, there was an intermission, and Lance and +Jessie began to stroll about in the crowd, examining the limited means +of entertainment, while the colonel talked with some of his cronies +among the horse-owners. Blacks and whites were slowly sauntering from +point to point, chiefly in separate groups, and our friends kept on the +edge of the white crowd. There was a fresh odor of bruised grass in the +air, from the treading of many feet, and the beating of a drum sounded +from the small tent where an outrageous effigy of the Great Giant of +Tartary alternately swelled out threateningly and crumpled itself up +ineffectually, as the gusts of wind came and went that fluttered the +streamers above him. + +Here and there a game of some sort was in progress, though without +enlisting much energy from the participants, except in one +instance. The exception was due to a newly introduced sport--that of +"egg-jumping"--the point of which was that each contestant, in trying to +make the longest jump, should carry an egg in either hand. The natural +tendency to close the fingers at the moment of leaping was relied on to +make jumpers crush the eggs; and most of them came to grief in that way, +for a failure to bring either egg intact through the experiment ruined +the competitors chance for that time. The enterprising individual who +presided over this game had put up several cheap prizes, among which was +a brilliant neckerchief for feminine adornment, and charged each person +who entered the sum of five cents, the low rate being due to the fact +that the eggs consumed were no longer marketable; and their condition +was supposed to increase the dismay of the defeated. + +The men toed a chalk line on the grass, and jumped from it successively. +The line never lacked for the boots of some ambitious contestant ready +to make his attempt; and as Lance reached the spot with his companion, +the stalwart form of Dennis De Vine was discovered there, gathering +itself together for a saltatory effort. He had set his heart on winning +the neckerchief for Adela; but, with the eyes of the spectators upon +him, he was conscious of being in an absurd position, and his greatest +difficulty seemed to be to suppress a smile that was broadening on his +lips. Twice or thrice he seemed on the point of jumping, but each time +he paused to give way to a bashful guffaw and stamp his bouts on the +ground with humorous emphasis. Finally he nerved himself, and, +readjusting the fragile burdens in either fist, made his spring. For an +instant the sunlight showed brightly on his ruddy cheeks and red hair as +he flew from the line, rising a few inches from the sod. Then he landed +suddenly, several feet away, slipped, and went down, with the yolks +gushing in yellow spurts from the shells. A roar of laughter rose from +the crowd. + +Dennis looked a little angry, but hastened to rub off the egg-yolks on +the grass, and, producing another five cents, took his stand at the line +again. He waited for one or two companions in misfortune to repeat his +failure; but there was no awkward merriment about him, this time. He was +too intent upon success. Holding the new eggs firmly and lightly, +swinging his arms and then keeping them well up as he started, he made +his second energetic venture; and when his feet struck the turf he +raised the two small white objects triumphantly. They were unbroken. + +He was rewarded with plaudits and shouts of approbation--the length of +the jump was respectable--and, with a reluctant flourish of the +kerchief, the proprietor of the game awarded him that prize. + +"Good for you, Dennie!" cried a deep and rather musical voice near +Lance. + +He turned, and recognised Sylv. "Why, how are you?" he asked, cordially. + +He would have stepped toward him and shaken hands, but Sylv merely took +off his hat, bowing, and gave no sign of expecting further advances. The +truth was, he was afraid of Jessie, whose notions of caste made her +think it proper to keep these folk at a distance in public places. + +"Come," she said to her lover; "let us be going back to the racecourse." + +"I wanted to speak a moment with De Vine," Lance objected, mildly. "I +intend to make him part of my schemes; don't you see?" + +"Oh, well, not here; not now," said Jessie. "He's not your friend, if he +_is_ to be your workman. And this is hardly the place." + +"Very well," he assented, though not wholly pleased. + +But by this time Dennis had elbowed his way through the press of +onlookers, bearing his prize like a victorious banner, and Jessie all at +once became interested in seeing what he would do with it. "Look!" she +exclaimed, abandoning her position of careful reserve. "He's going to +give it to his sweetheart--Adela Reefe. Don't you remember my telling +you about her? She's really a handsome girl--very handsome. And that +reminds me--I _must_ buy one of her baskets or boxes. She'd be +dreadfully disappointed if I didn't." + +The result was that Jessie impulsively carried him off in pursuit of +Dennis, whom Sylv also followed. + +Old Reefe, mounted on a box under the spreading branches of a tree, not +far away, was dispensing his medicaments with an impressively stoical +air, now and then addressing the bystanders in a curiously grave manner, +quite at variance with the usual volubility of nostrum-dealers; and near +him Adela was moving to and fro with a bundle of her handiwork on her +arm, waiting for purchasers, but never soliciting them. Aunty Losh +smoked her pipe serenely in the background, beneath the shade of the +trees. + +Lance and Jessie witnessed the pleasant little scene that was enacted, +of Dennie's presenting the scarf loyally to his lady-love, and her +unfeigned satisfaction in receiving it, while Sylv stood apart for a +moment, and then came up to take a share in describing his brother's +achievement. They all three broke into smiles and laughter at the +recital. + +But Lance stood motionless with astonishment. "Is _that_ Adela Reefe?" +he inquired. + +"Certainly," Jessie assured him. "Why shouldn't she be?" + +Lance was too much surprised to answer. It appeared to him certain, at +the very first glance, that this was the same young woman who had of +late been so often in his mind; and, as she looked so much like his +recollection of her, the resemblance to Jessie which he had before +imagined also struck him now. But he could not as yet be quite sure that +it existed. He waited until they came nearer before making up his mind +on this point. + +Meanwhile Jessie pressed forward, and he with her. She greeted Adela +with smiles, nodded with the affability of a natural superior to Dennis, +and congratulated them both on his success, in a way that made them feel +that she had bestowed a favor. She then began to examine Adela's +stock-in-trade, holding up the different articles that took her fancy, +turning them this way and that, and bringing out their meek decorative +value by the sunniness of the light from her own eyes. "This is pretty. +_That's_ remarkably good!" she said, like a connoisseur inspecting rare +bric-a-brac. "Oh, I _must_ have this box of bark and moss! And that +belt--just see how quaint it is, Ned." + +Lance quietly received each piece that she selected, and kept every one; +so that when she had done choosing and he had paid for them, Adela +conceived that it would be unnecessary to sell anything more that day. + +The belt which Lance was called upon to admire especially was made of +simple undressed leather, but it was embroidered with a design in +varicolored beads, so original and ingenious that the thing became +positively charming. Through the pattern there ran a series of angular +lines that suggested an inscription; as this, however, seemed to be only +a whim of the designer, and was illegible, it fell into the general plan +of ornament, with an effect like that of hieroglyphics. Miss Jessie's +cavalier glanced at it hastily, as they moved away, and was decidedly +pleased with the acquisition. But he had no time to consider it, and he +was, moreover, exceedingly occupied with the result of the closer +scrutiny he had given to Adela. + +It had confirmed his idea that there was a degree of likeness in her +features to Jessie's; and the fact so impressed him, that he forgot to +seize the chance which had offered of a chat with Sylv. He said to the +young man only: "I want to see you soon, De Vine, about an important +matter. Come up to the manor when you can." + +It was impossible to keep the subject out of his mind, as he returned to +the racecourse with Jessie; and it recurred again and again that night, +which he passed, with the Floyds, in the house of friends at Newbern. A +whole rout of bewildering surmises and baffled guesses beset him. If +Adela really looked at all like his Jessie, why, he asked himself, had +not others discovered it? Why hadn't Jessie herself remarked the fact? +But then, on the other hand, the thing was so unlikely, and the +positions of the two women were so far apart, that no one here would be +apt to notice or for a moment consider such a supposition. + +It was not until they were once more, at Fairleigh Park that he looked a +second time at the belt which they had bought From Adela. Sitting with +Jessie and her father, in the evening, when they were talking over the +experience on the rail and at the races, he glanced over the various +purchases which had been made, most of them of a more ambitious sort; +but when they came to the belt, he studied it with a good deal of care, +feeling an interest both in its novelty and in the maker. + +Did he dream, or was this another illusion? The angular pattern in the +midst of the design, which he had before noticed, unexpectedly assumed a +meaning to his eyes. The more sharply he scanned it, the less he doubted +his senses, for the beaded lines took with increasing clearness the +forms of letters; and, on tracing these out, one after another, he saw +that they composed a series of words arranged in coherent +order--briefly, a motto. + +I am not afraid of being old-fashioned. Therefore I shall ask my reader +if he ever came upon any sight--ever was smitten, either in thought or +in reading, by any feeling that set a thousand flame-points tingling +around his brain, and sent irresistible waves of cold, nervous thrill +down his spine. By this I do not mean a thrill of horror, but of supreme +and overwhelming emotion that instantly suggests your being in the grasp +of some more than human power--the power of endless, ideal forces, +directed upon the human organism from without, as the harper's hand is +directed with omnipotent sweep upon the strings of his instrument. If my +reader, as aforesaid, has had such experience, he will understand the +strange, exalting shock of wonder and awe that vibrated through Lance's +system when he discerned in the wording on the belt: + + "I journey whither I cannot see. + 'Tis strange that I can merry be." + +The old motto of Wharton Hall, in Surrey, England, was perfectly +familiar to him, because he had visited the place with his father, on +one of their journeys abroad, and having noted down the lines, which +still remained engraven on the wall, he had committed them to memory. +And here was the last half of that quatrain, obscurely inscribed--as if +the embroiderer had hardly understood their full significance--on the +handiwork of Adela Reefe. Could there be anything more astounding than +this? Did Adela know the origin of those verses? And if she did, what +momentous secret did the fact involve? + +The next moment, naturally enough, a simple and matter-of-fact solution +occurred to him. Adela might have learned the motto from the Floyds. + +"Do you see how it reads?" he asked, holding up the bead-work so that +Jessie could survey the whole pattern. + +"No," said she. + +He pointed out the letters with his finger, and gradually spelled the +inscription through, until she caught its purport. + +"How very odd!" she exclaimed, at the end. But the look with which she +accompanied the remark showed that the verses touched no chord of memory +or knowledge in her mind. "Where do you suppose the girl got the idea?" +she concluded. + +The quivering sensation which Lance had felt, at first, renewed itself. +He laid the belt down, and, as he did so, his hands trembled. + +"Do _you_ know anything about this motto?" he said, appealing to the +colonel. + +But the colonel was also a blank on the subject. + +Lance, therefore, was reduced to telling them where he had seen it. In +doing this he was quite methodical, but he could not conceal the +peculiar agitation which affected him. + +Both the colonel and his daughter were much impressed by his strange +disclosure, and were utterly at a loss to account for the reappearance +of the traditional rhymes in a way so unlooked for; but they did not +take the mystery so much to heart as Lance did. + +"It's not only extraordinary, but incredible," he affirmed. "I must see +that girl and ask her about it." + + + + +CHAPTER VIII. + +ADELA'S LEGEND. + + +Jessie was not much inclined to give heed to her lover's curiosity about +Adela, and his desire to consult her respecting the enigma which had so +piqued him. But he continued so persistent, that she was obliged to +humor him; and before a week passed he persuaded her to ride with him to +Hunting Quarters and search out the mysterious maiden. + +Both Adela and her father were at home, the latter being engaged, when +the visitors entered, with some jugs and bottles, in which were stored +his marvellous decoctions. Promptly desisting from his work, he invited +the young pair to seat themselves; and Adela, who was just then +stitching at some of her semi-savage contrivances, also rose to offer +welcome. + +The interior of the house at Hunting Quarters was rude enough. The room +in which these four people met was badly lighted from two small windows +facing toward Core Sound, one of which was open, so that the dull +booming of the sea continually entered, supplying an uncouth refrain to +their conversation. On one side was a large hearth; on the other, a door +leading to the remaining part of the house--what there was of it. The +furniture was scanty: a table, a bench, a couple of stools, some shelves +holding bottles, boxes, a few books and various cooking utensils as well +as dishes. The lack of sufficient seats for guests was supplied by +several blocks of wood sawed off from the stumps of trees; and to these +primitive perches old Reefe and his daughter resorted, in order to make +room for their callers. + +Jessie presented an excuse for coming, to the effect that Aunt Sally was +desirous of having a bottle of Doctor Reefe's famous specific; but, when +this business was over, she turned the conversation to Adela's work. + +"Mr. Lance is ever so much pleased with those things you let us have," +she said. "And I can assure you he takes the greatest interest in some +of them. I think he wants to ask you how you sew the beads, and how you +make those moss-boxes." + +Adela laughed. "I don't know," she said. "I've done it so long--ever +since I was a tiny girl. Ain't it so, dad?" + +Old Reefe, thus referred to, gave a nod, without saying anything. But +Lance took advantage of the cue Jessie had given him to go into +particulars with Adela as to her mode of manufacture and the several +beauties of the articles she produced. Finally he came around to the +subject of the belt and the pattern woven upon it. "Have you got any +more of those?" he asked. + +"No," said Adela; "it was the last--the one you took. I can make +another, if you want. I've got it all in my head." + +"And the rhyme, too?" Lance inquired, eagerly. + +"What? What's that?" Adela appeared a little dazed. + +"I mean the words," he explained. "Didn't you know there were words in +it?" + +"Oh, that part along the middle," said the girl. Her gray eyes took on a +far-off, dreamy expression. "Yes; they are words." + +Lance controlled his excitement, which still seemed to him causeless and +rather annoying. "I wonder if I read them right?" he hazarded. "Would +you like to see how they looked to me?" + +He drew out a bit of paper on which he had written them, and showed it +to her. The action seemed to rouse her taciturn father slightly. But +Adela gazed at the paper, and said, with an incredulous laugh: "Oh, no, +they don't look like that!" + +"Can you read?" Lance demanded. + +"Yes, a little; but they don't look like that." + +"Well, at any rate, they mean something," he retorted; "and this is what +they mean." + +He read the rhyme aloud, and their eyes met. + +"Yes," she admitted; "I suppose that's how it goes;" and she crooned the +distich over, as if singing to herself. + +"But what I want to know," he continued, "is how you got it. How did you +come to know it?" + +Adela remained silent; but her father spoke, after a pause, in a +serious, hollow voice. "It is very old," he said. "It is a great charm. +We have always known it." + +"How do you mean--'you'?" + +"Our people," replied the old man, gravely. + +"But not all the people around here," Lance interposed. "Miss Jessie +doesn't know it." + +Reefe made a gesture of dissent that approached the disdainful. "No," he +exclaimed, with a sort of gutteral grunt after the word; "_she_ don't +know--of course." + +"But _I_ have known it well," Lance said. "I saw it years ago in +England." + +"You?" cried Reefe, with the first indication of marked feeling that he +had betrayed during the interview. "Who are you, then?" + +"Oh, I'm a humble citizen named Lance!" said the young man, quietly. +"But I know that motto; it has been in our family for a long time." + +The old man seemed to withdraw suddenly into himself. "It is a great +charm," he repeated, slowly. "Wonderful! It keeps off harm and trouble. +My father gave it to me." + +"Where did he find it?" Lance inquired. + +"He found it far, far back," Reefe responded. But his tone was so vague, +and his expression grew so introspective, that Lance half imagined that +the old face was growing still older--immeasurably more ancient--as he +gazed upon it, and that the speaker was removing himself, by some occult +spell, into a distant past. + +"You spoke of our people," he said, at length. "Did you mean your +family?" + +"Where we came from. Our people--over there," the herb doctor answered, +pointing uncertainly to his right, in a direction, Lance noticed, which +signified farther to the North, up the Sound. + +"Yes, they always had that charm," Adela now said. "I don't know why. +Who can tell? It all comes from the old story of the Indians and the +white folks." + +Her father appeared to have lapsed into a semi-trance, or to be dozing; +but Adela looked aroused; her interest was kindled, and she was +evidently prepared to be communicative. + +"Oh, is there a story?" Jessie cried. "Why, I never heard it. Do tell +us, Deely!" + +Some judicious urging was required before the girl would speak; but, in +the end, the inquisitive lovers succeeded in persuading her, and at last +she narrated to them the legend of her "people," the substance of which +shall here be given, though not precisely in her language. + + * * * * * + +A great many years ago--as many as there are buds on a tree--an old man +dwelt in a wigwam beside the sweet waters, with his only child, a +beautiful girl. They had come out of the sea together, no man could +remember when; but, while the other people in the wigwams were dark and +red, these were almost white. They had been so long in the sea that the +foam of the waves, touching their faces, had made them so white. And the +old man loved his daughter very much. They spoke a strange language +together, but when others talked to them, they replied in the words that +all understood. + +The old man had no name; but his daughter was called Ewayea, which meant +Lullaby or Rest-Song. She, too, loved her father. They lived for each +other; and the old man seemed always waiting for something, uneasy and +troubled, but Ewayea made him rest and sang him to sleep; and he slept +much, and was happy. But when he was resting, Ewayea would go to the top +of a little hill near the wigwam and look far away, seeming also to +expect that some one would come. + +By and by he came. His name was Sharp Arrow; and he came suddenly, as if +some hand had bent a bow and sent him there swiftly. He loved Ewayea, +but at first she did not love him, because she had not waited for him, +and he was a red color; and she told him he must go and stay in the sea +and let the foam dash over him, to wash his face and make him white. +Then he went away, but when he came back his face was still red; and the +Old-man-without-a-name told him that he could not have his daughter. But +Sharp Arrow stayed there, and he flew in and out of the forest, always +returning to the maiden with love and with some presents, or bringing +food to her father. So at last he struck her heart. It bled for him, and +she longed to go with him, to comfort him, and be happy herself. But she +said: "Not yet, not yet! The Old-man-without-a-name would die if I left +him now. I must sing him to sleep many times before we go." + +Her father saw that she loved Sharp Arrow, and he was very jealous. He +looked at the young man with enmity, while his face every day grew +harder, more angry, and stern, like iron. Often, too, he spoke to Ewayea +in the strange language, and pointed to the East, as if he would have +her go there. But she only shook her head and sighed; and sometimes she +wept. + +The summer flew away, and the birds flew away to find it. But those two +lovers did not know it had gone, for their hearts were warm, and +thoughts of love grew in them, like the leaves of June. The days parted, +one from another, and the seasons separated; but for Ewayea and her +lover there was no separation. They were man and wife. Their two +children played in the shade of the forest, and Ewayea sang lullabies to +them. She taught Sharp Arrow charms and spells. She gave him words out +of a book. Her children learned the strange language; and she looked at +the trees, the water and the sky, and made them talk as they had not +talked till then. And Sharp Arrow promised that her spells should never +be forgotten among his people if she should die. + +But she never died. + +The old man slept a long while; then at last he woke. And when he woke +his face was wrinkled with anger--it was hard like ice in the sweet +waters--and when he looked at Sharp Arrow the look seemed to freeze the +young man's face, so that hatred stiffened it into a hardness like that +of the old man's. Then, one night in winter, the old man came to the +door of his wigwam and stood there like a spirit. He beckoned to Sharp +Arrow, with one finger upraised; the moonlight gleamed white on his +bitter white face, and behind him there was much white snow. "I am +dead," he said to Sharp Arrow, "and you must come with me!" + +The look of hate was still in all his features; and as Sharp Arrow rose +to obey the command, his own face reflected that hatred. The moonlight +fell on him, too--his face grew white in it--and no one could have told +which face was most like the other, then. But he went forward, and +followed the old man. + +Just at that moment Ewayea awoke from her sleep beside the children. She +stretched out her arms, tried to catch her husband and hold him, and saw +him pass away out of her reach; saw her father, also, standing beyond, +and beckoning. + +"Father! father!" she cried, "why do you leave me? Where are you going?" +And to her husband she cried: "Oh my heart, my heart, come back to me!" + +But they gave no heed to her. The old man moved away, noiseless, on feet +of air--always turning backward that icy, malignant gaze--and the young +man followed, staring fixedly, helplessly upon him, with the same dumb +and frozen wrath upon his own countenance. + +And so, as if they had been spirits, they passed noiselessly on and on, +disappearing in the pale night and the snow, until all that Ewayea could +see in the quarter where they had vanished was the crescent of the +sinking moon, like an uplifted, crooked finger, beckoning some one to +follow. + +Ewayea hoped that they would come back. At first she wanted to go after +them, but when she tried to move she could not: her limbs were as weak +and cold as snow, and invisible arms were thrown around her, holding her +back. There was nothing for her to do but to wait. When the spring came +again she was always waiting and watching. She stayed every day in the +same place, looking out and expecting her father and her lover to +return; but still they came not. At last she ceased to speak: she sat +there motionless and voiceless on the ground, ever longing for them, but +afraid to stir, for fear that they would come back and not find her. The +years passed, and her children grew up and departed, carrying with them +the spells and charms they had learned. Yes; they went away and forgot +their mother, who sat there so patiently. But she never once called to +them, and only waited--waited--waited. They say she is still waiting in +that spot. Summer after summer has blossomed above her, and the new +leaves have started and rustled with surprise as they caught sight of +her, and have whispered one another all day long about the strangeness +of her silent presence. The slow autumns, one after another, have +wreathed her brow with weird, unnatural flame; and the snows of many, +many winters have crept around her feet and drifted higher until they +almost buried her. But she cares nothing for all these changes; does not +even turn her head one way or the other, but simply gazes straight +forward, expectantly, just as she used to when she went to the top of +the little hill looking eastward. In summer, again, come the butterflies +and softly touch her cheek with sympathetic wings, as they hover around; +the humming-birds flash and tremble near her lips, as if expecting to +find honey there; and other birds look curiously with their bright eyes +into hers that make no answer, while the squirrels that chatter on the +boughs near by, and nibble nuts, seem to wonder that she does not ask to +share their food. Still, she gives heed to nothing. She crouches low, +and her weary head has drooped; and the leaves and dust have fallen +thick upon her from the underbrush that has sprung up so rankly about +her; so that sometimes you might think she was not a woman at all, but +only a mound of earth. Yet she is not dead. No! The rains and winds, of +course, have worn away the expression from her face, until it looks dull +and sad and lifeless; but, for all that, she is not dead. Her arms and +knees must have grown very tired in the long vigil she has been keeping, +and one would suppose they would have crumbled into earth before now. +But, you see, the wild vines have reached out from the surrounding trees +to support her; and they have encircled her lovingly, lending their +strength, that she may not fail of her purpose. + +No; she is not dead. If you could only discover the exact place, you +would find her still alive. But we do not know where it is. + + * * * * * + +All four remained silent for a few moments, after Adela had finished her +legend. Lance had listened with profound attention; and the shadowy, +fantastic outlines of the narrative were so extraordinary, that he was +at first too much astonished and perplexed to know what to think or say +about it. Clearly enough, that which the girl had told might be +interpreted as a sequel to the history of Gertrude Wylde, after his +ancestor, Guy Wharton, had lost trace of her. It was impossible to say +just what the tradition, now so vague and impossible, had originally +come from. But the blending of the white and Indian races at which it +hinted, the looking eastward, and the idea of endless waiting and +expectancy that ran all through it--did not these things point plainly +toward the old romance with which his family was connected? + +He did not believe that his imagination alone was responsible for these +suggestions, because Adela could not possibly know what he knew--her +story was an inheritance so carefully guarded, that even Jessie had not +heard it until now--and yet here were these salient details that fitted +on so naturally to his own tradition, and supplemented it. Then, too, +there was the old, transmitted rhyme. Ah, that was the clew! It clinched +all the parts of his guess-work together. + +"Was Ewayea one of your people, then?" he asked, at length. + +Adela looked at him with surprise, as if he were asking about something +which had already been explained. + +"Why, I thought I said so," she answered. "We _came_ from her." + +Old Reefe, roused perhaps by Lance's voice, opened his eyes, and, +hearing his daughter's statement, nodded a silent corroboration. + +"And that charm," Lance continued--"the one that you put on the +belt--came from her, too? Did she teach it to her children?" + +"Yes; that came from her, too," said Adela. + +Lance turned toward Jessie in a bewildered way, gazing at her as if he +expected her to say or do something which would dispel the phantasm that +was growing so like a reality. But Jessie only reflected his amazement +in the glance which she gave him in return. + +"Isn't this very remarkable?" he said. + +"Very," said Jessie. "It's a perfect puzzle. I don't see what to make of +it. But, Adela," she went on, addressing the girl, "why have you never +told me this before?" + +Adela responded only with a reticent smile, and her luminous gray eyes +roved from Jessie to Lance and back again without betraying what she +thought. + +"We don't tell it," muttered her father. "It was our story--only for +us." + +"But you _have_ told it now," Jessie argued. "You've told Mr. Lance, and +he is a stranger." Here Jessie blushed, and corrected herself: "Any way, +he _was_ a stranger to you." + +The old man raised his hand to point at Lance; and--by an odd +coincidence--his forefinger, separated from the others, was curved with +a beckoning emphasis, as if he were himself the Old-man-without-a-name +of the legend. "_He_ is one of us," he declared. + +"I'm not so sure of that!" Lance exclaimed, feeling that the mystery was +going almost too far. "I don't see it at all." + +"You knew the charm," old Reefe retorted; and his eyes twinkled +obscurely, as he fixed them upon his visitor. + +"That doesn't prove that I'm one of you," said Lance, rising, for the +situation vexed him; he was becoming indignant. "It only shows that my +people in England knew the rhyme long before yours were heard of." + +Jessie rose as well. "I don't see what your father is thinking of," she +observed, frigidly, to Adela. "Mr. Lance belongs to a very old family." + +Something like a sarcastic chuckle seemed to escape from Reefe's bearded +lips; but he remained quite impassive. It was impossible to tell whether +or not he had made any sound. + +"Before I go," Lance began, desperately, "I wish you'd tell me what this +legend means. Did you have Indian ancestors, as well as English?" + +He fixed his gaze intently and strenuously upon Adela as he spoke. + +"I told you all I could," Adela answered, evasively; and began to resume +her work upon one of the moss-boxes. + +Reefe looked at him, with a trace of defiance now. "We have as good +blood as any," he averred. "But we ask you no questions, and I don't see +that we've got a call to answer any more. If ye want any yarb +medicine--" And there he paused, indicating that he was ready for +business. + +There could not have been a completer collapse of the climax which Lance +had thought to force. He turned away in disgust. "Come, Jessie," he +said, "let us go." And Jessie was more than ready to accede. + +But before they went he thanked Adela for her story, and bade good-by to +her and her father. As he faced them in doing this, he noticed once more +the baffling resemblance between Adela and Jessie, which their +unlikeness in stature and general bearing rendered all the more +peculiar; and the gray eyes of the Reefes troubled him by their +enigmatic expression. The conviction was strong in his mind, that the +cause of their silence was that they really had nothing more definite to +tell him about their ancestry than what they had imparted. Yet he wished +that they had not stopped at this point. Why did they have gray eyes? +And yet, why should they not have them? Save for a slight bronze or +coppery hue in their complexions, they were of the same European race +that Lance and Jessie belonged to. + +Nevertheless, their eyes and their strange legend pursued and haunted +him long after he and Jessie had cantered away from the herb-doctor's +door. + + + + +CHAPTER IX. + +LANCE AND SYLVESTER. + + +So mingled and conflicting were the considerations in Lance's mind, on +leaving the Reefes, that he was not sure he would want to see Adela +again. But his mood soon changed; he was not able to evade the +importance which she had assumed for him. + +"I hope you are satisfied now," said Jessie, as they rode homeward +together. + +"No, I'm not," he answered. "I suspect myself of being very much +_dis_satisfied." + +Somehow he did not dare to speak to her, as yet, of the theory he +entertained, that Adela was a descendant of Gertrude Wylde. And how +could he tell her that he thought they looked alike? + +But within a few days, so incessantly did the notion pursue him, that he +was forced to make a limited confession of it. Jessie observed that he +was preoccupied and thinking of something which he would not tell her. +"Do let me know what it is that troubles you, Ned," she whispered to +him, laying her arm gently around his neck one evening on the veranda, +when she found him brooding there alone. + +Thereupon he made his disclosure, and was rewarded by a rather +tumultuous dialogue, in which Jessie demonstrated clearly that she was +not pleased with the idea which he presented. + +"But how can it be any other way, Jessie?" he demanded, reproachfully. +"Everything leads up to this conclusion; and, surely, if Adela Reefe +represents to-day the line of that poor girl, Gertrude, who would have +been your own cousin if you had been living then, how can we be +indifferent to the fact that the same blood is in your veins and hers?" + +"I won't have it so!" Jessie returned. "I don't care if it is. And, +besides, she has Indian blood; that makes all the difference. It is no +longer the same." + +Lance bethought him of those reported cases in which the stock of +negroes and whites had been blended, and he feared that it would be next +to hopeless for him to overcome Jessie's aversion. Still he said: "But +that is so far off, child. She is so like us now, that I can't help +thinking of her as if she might be a kinswoman of yours--can't help +taking an interest in her welfare." + +"Never say that to me again!" cried Jessie. "No one in that class shall +be considered as a kinswoman of mine. If you are going to give yourself +up to such fancies as these, you may as well choose between them and +me." + +Her tone exasperated Lance, but he controlled himself. "Dearest," he +said, "I have given myself up only to you. You know it; don't you?" + +Then Jessie showed contrition, and humbly, while the tears rose to her +eyes, acknowledged her hastiness; and the little quarrel proved to be +only a convenient groundwork for new demonstrations of mutual +tenderness. But there remained in Lance's mind a residuum of doubt, lest +his betrothed should not fully sympathize with all his impulses, his +desire to be true to every one who could justly make a claim upon him. +He did not abandon the project, which had unconsciously been taking +shape, of somehow including Adela in his schemes of improvement. + +While this dubious colloquy was fresh in his thoughts, it chanced that +Sylvester De Vine, responding to the invitation he had thrown out at the +races, trudged up to the manor to see him. Lance's love affair, and the +misty problem concerning Adela, had not prevented him from giving a good +deal of meditation to his plans, which he had also talked over with +Colonel Floyd, regarding investment in new enterprises. Consequently, he +was primed for the interview with Sylv. + +At that time the process of making paper from the refuse of Louisiana +sugar-cane, commonly called "bagasse," had scarcely been thought of; +Lance, at any rate, had never heard it suggested; but it had occurred to +him that the glutinous reeds, which grew in such unmeasured abundance +along this marshy North Carolina coast, might be utilized in +paper-manufacture; and he had annexed the idea to his other pet desire +of reclaiming Elbow Crook Swamp. He was anxious to enlist Sylv in both +these enterprises, having already ascertained that the young fellow was +far more receptive and progressive than Colonel Floyd. What he needed +was an assistant who would give time and energy to the preliminary steps +and experiments, animated by faith and assisted by due compensation in +money. + +"Would you undertake to explore the swamp for me, and give me a detailed +report?" he asked Sylv. + +"It would be very difficult," Sylv answered, "and would take time. I +might do it for you, though, by and by." + +"Oh, there's no immediate hurry. You can wait a while. I shall probably +have to go North during the winter on business and to arrange about +mobilizing capital to work with here. I want to find out what is +practicable before I do anything serious. But, in the meanwhile, we +might start in on a trial of the reed-pulp for paper." + +Sylv pulled his tangled beard meditatively, and replied: "That won't +help me much with my law studies." + +"Yes, it will, indirectly," Lance declared. Then, after reflecting, he +added: "I'll tell you what I'll do! I'll give you some assistance for +the present, so that you can go on reading. It won't do you any harm. +Afterward, you can undertake my job." + +It was not to be wondered at that, from this beginning, they should go +on to speak of Adela. "She astonishes me," said Lance. "I did not expect +to find any one like her here. It's a pity that she can't have a chance +to develop, too." + +Sylv cast a sharp glance at the young philanthropist. It may have been +that the remark threw a new light for him upon Lance, or upon Adela. + +"Yes, it would be a good thing for her," he replied, with moderate +enthusiasm. "She's engaged to marry my brother--Dennie." + +This was news to Lance, and it took him by surprise. Somehow, his first +sensation was one of disappointment, though he could not have explained +to himself or anyone else why. In Sylv's accent, also, there was a vague +hint of despondency, as he made his announcement. Possibly it was the +first sign of a sentiment which he had not, up to that time, suspected. +The two men dropped into silence for a moment. + +"Well," said Lance, with abrupt energy, "that's all right, I suppose. +And _I'm_ engaged to Miss Jessie. It will be all the pleasanter to have +you and Dennie and Adela working with us for a common end." + +It was taking a sanguine view, to suppose that such a harmony could be +maintained; but it gave Sylv great pleasure, although he saw the +difficulties in the way. His face lighted with surprise, which gradually +changed to quiet satisfaction. + +The two men talked long and earnestly, and by the time Sylv set out for +home they had agreed that they would try to persuade Adela to go to +school at Newbern, Lance undertaking the expenses. + +"I'm not main certain Dennie'll let her," Sylv warned him, as they +parted. + +"But he ought to be very glad to have her go," Lance replied. He had no +misgivings on that score. + +Sylv was brimming with eagerness and anticipation for Adela's future as +it expanded before his vision, in the light of his friend's generous +offer; and it was a new experience to him to be treated as an equal, +almost a companion, by one so much above him in position and fortune. +Altogether, he felt very happy. His desire for intellectual improvement +was so single and controlling, that he was able to extend to another the +same congratulation he gave himself; and the prospect just opened for +Adela filled him with keen, unselfish delight. As he had told Dennie, +his regard for her was simply that of a brother; and it was only in the +opportunity as presented to a sister that he rejoiced. Yet he found, +when he came to mention the matter to Dennie, that it threatened to +renew in some measure the trouble which had recently come between them. + +"I'm glad for _your_ luck, Sylv," said Dennie, in a cordial tone, "But +'pears to me you uns might kinder be satisfied with polishin' and +rubbin' on your own brains and makin' 'em all smooth and shiny, 'thout +interferin' with Deely. 'Pears to me like she ar' good enough the way +she ar' now. That's what." + +"So she is," Sylv assented. "But it would make her happier, and she'd +have a heap more real pleasure in life, if she could be educated. She +was very glad to learn to read, you know. Now, this is one chance out of +a thousand; she may never get another." + +Dennie, however, was not open to argument. He looked with favor on the +scheme of Sylv's receiving money and employment from Lance, partly +because it would gratify his brother and partly because it would lighten +his own cares and bring him nearer to marriage with Deely; but if Deely +was to be included in the abstract movement for unnecessary culture, he +would be as badly off as before. + +In spite of Dennie's opposition, Sylv could not relinquish the plan; and +he had the imprudence to broach it with Deely on his own account. She +did not manifest any pronounced desire to enter into it, but they talked +of it several times, and it was evident that she was considering it. + +Dennie heard of these consultations, of course, and reproached his +brother. He exerted great force of self-command, and avoided any +outbreak of temper; he was resolved never to be jealous again. But Sylv +saw that the subject was a dangerous one, and he promised not to urge it +upon Deely any further. Sorrowfully and apologetically he conveyed to +Lance the information of this obstacle to Deely's acceptance of his +proposal, and said that he feared she could do nothing about it. + +It was reserved for Dennie himself to bring about, unwillingly, the +consummation of Lance's philanthropic design. + +There was to be a wedding-party at a house in the woods, near Hunting +Quarters, to which the young people were invited. Dennie came to Reefe's +early, in order to escort Deely to the scene of the ceremony; and on +their way to the wedding he spoke of the school idea. + +"We ought to be goin' to the parson, 'stead of your goin' to that thar +school," he said. He urged her again to fix the time for their marriage. + +Deely still demurred. "I'm only nineteen," she answered. "I reckon I +won't be too old if I do wait a while." + +Dennie was very much put out by her obduracy. "I don't know what to make +out'n the way you go on," he complained. "Mebbe you're goin' to that +thar school, after all." + +"'Twouldn't be strange if I did," said she, although she had in reality +abandoned the thought. + +He persisted in urging his wishes; she continued in a contrary mood; and +Dennie at last refused to talk. They completed their walk to the house +of the hymeneal merrymaking in a bitter silence, both very miserable. +But Deely possessed the advantage of expressing her unhappiness by means +of the greatest gayety, while Dennie had to fall back upon the more +ordinary masculine resource of looking glum and morose. + +There was an abundance of corn-whiskey and of "common doin's," as well +as of "chicken fixin's" with other delicacies, at the supper and dance +which followed the brief formality of the wedding-service. The +simple-hearted and jolly guests proceeded to have a very good time; and +while the bride and groom remained in one corner, happy at being +ignored, the rest shuffled to and fro in a lively jig, stamping their +heels, indulging in sundry gratuitous capers, and shouting with +laughter. Dennie, meanwhile, devoted a much closer attention than was +needful to the corn-whiskey, the forcible quality of which he could have +ascertained by a single drink. + +It may have been due to his diligence in reducing the supply of the +beverage that, as the hilarity of the others increased, and as Deely +grew more and more excited with the dance, his depression and gloom +deepened portentously. He had taken no part in the dancing, and had +begun by affecting to watch Deely's energetic share in it with +indifference. But it was impossible for him to keep up this pretence, +and the climax came when he saw his betrothed giving her hand for the +third or fourth time to Dan Billings, a handsome young fisherman against +whom she knew that Dennie cherished a special grudge. + +Dennie stepped forth upon the floor that trembled with the heavy tread +of the athletic revellers, and, shoving his way between the astonished +pairs of youths and maidens, struck a commanding posture. + +"This hyar's enough!" he screamed, confronting Deely. "It's time to go +home; and I'm goin' to take ye with me right now. D'ye hear?" + +Tho old fiddler, mounted on a box at one side of the room, stopped the +frantic discord he had been sawing from the strings, and began +mechanically to rosin his bow with a lump of the best virgin-pine rosin. + +"I could ha' heard you if you'd stayed over t'other side," Deely +retorted, her dark cheeks flaming angrily; "if you war goin' to shout +out so, what do you want to come so close?" + +"I say," repeated Dennie, in a more subdued voice, "I'm goin' along, and +I mean for to take you with me. Dan Billings ain't goin' to dance with +you no more this night." + +Upon this Billings, who was a vigorous young fellow, asserted his +rights, and gave Dennie to understand roundly that no one should dictate +to him his choice of partners, "when the lady was willin'." + +A serious result was imminent; for Billings, elated by his apparent +success with Deely, became increasingly noisy and bumptious, and retorts +flew hotly from one man to the other, until Billings raised his fist to +strike a blow at Dennie. When it came to that, Deely stepped between the +wranglers, and prevented their fighting. + +"Now _you're_ wrong, Dan!" she exclaimed, "You both ought to be ashamed, +making me so much trouble. But there sha'n't be a fight, whatever. I'm +goin' home this minute, along with Dennie." + +The other girls had drawn aside, dumb and frightened, and the men were +disposed in a group around the chief actors, feeling that they ought to +interfere, but restrained by a respect for the privilege of fighting, +which they might some time wish to exercise on their own account. +Billings relaxed his clinched fingers, quite abashed at being so +abruptly robbed of his dignity as Deely's champion; but it took a few +moments to cool Dennie's wrath. He insisted that the fisherman had "told +him insults," and must be punished. + +"I'm waiting," Deely reminded him. "You said you was going, and now I'm +ready." + +The bride and groom remained oblivious of all this stir, but the bride's +mother came forward, urging Deely not to leave them. The girl, however, +would not yield. Every one could see that she was greatly incensed at +Dennie's conduct, but there was a decisive calm about her that made +persuasion useless. She had, in fact, arrived at a conclusion much more +far-reaching, which she lost no time in imparting to Dennie when they +had left the house. + +"My mind's made up," she said to him, without heat. "I've borne your +tantrums as long as I can, and it's no use. By and by it'll get so that +I can't have any will or way of my own, and I don't think you'll ever be +any better, Dennie, until I'm far away where you can't tease me. Yes; +I've made up my mind. I'm goin' to that school." + +To Dennie the announcement was like a knell. His burst of temper had +left him much quieter and, as usual, rather ashamed; and he felt that +Deely's intention of punishing him was quite justifiable. Still, he +could not as yet believe that she would carry it out. + +"You won't treat me so hard as that," he protested. "Think it over +another time, Deely. Everything'd be all right if you'd only marry me." + +"I don't want to talk about it," was her answer. "I've decided, now, and +I'm goin' away." + +In the course of the next few days her lover was forced to recognize +that she was in earnest, and her resolve irrevocable. An extra session +at the small academy for young ladies which Lance had selected was about +to begin; and, through Sylv, Adela obtained a conference with him on the +subject of going thither. Old Reefe put in some objections; but as Adela +was determined he gave way, and the final arrangements were soon made. + +The conference just referred to took place near the manor. Lance met +Sylv and Adela in the grounds, by appointment, and talked over the +details with them. But just as they were bidding him good-by Colonel +Floyd came strolling along; and Lance, in walking back to the house with +him, told him, full of enthusiasm, what he had done. The colonel seemed +to think it rather strange. + +"My dear fellow, what has put this into your head?" he asked. + +"Why, it seems to me the most natural thing in the world," Lance +replied. "It grew out of my plans, when I was consulting young De Vine. +Besides"--he hesitated an instant--"something leads me to feel a +peculiar interest in this young woman." + +"Evidently," said the colonel, "or you never would become her +benefactor." But he volunteered no criticism further than to say: "I'm +not altogether sure, Lance, that you are doing wisely." + +"If you think," said his prospective son-in-law, "that there's any good +reason why I shouldn't befriend her, I suppose I could abandon the +thing, though I've committed myself now." + +The colonel devoted a few moments to reflection, under cover of his +spectacles. Then he said: "No, I am not clear that there is any +sufficient reason. It struck me as odd, and may seem so to others. But +then, in your character--You see, you are something of a professed +philanthropist, and people will learn to understand it on that ground. +Otherwise--" Once more he broke off, and resumed: "You are the next +thing to a married man, now, which makes it proper enough for you to +take the poor girl under your wing. Perhaps you had better talk with +Jessie about it." + +Somehow the phrase "poor girl" grated slightly upon Lance's ear. Nor did +he relish the prospect of debating with Jessie the wisdom of his +proceeding; but it was plain that he would have to do so. It was true +there had been no trace of the clandestine in his undertaking, and he +had asked Sylv to bring Adela to the garden only because he considered +the whole transaction as a side-issue, in which he was separately +concerned; hence he preferred not to thrust it upon the colonel or his +daughter. But it was also true that Jessie's vigorous rejection of his +theory about Adela had made him less sure of her approval than he would +have liked to be. + +By one of the surprises frequent in the moods of women, even though one +supposes their views to be settled on a particular point, it turned out +that Jessie, when consulted, did not oppose his design. + +"I have been thinking over what you said, dear, about educating people," +she announced to him, "and perhaps you are right. If you're wrong, +you'll find it out by an experiment. So all I have to say is, 'Go +ahead.' That's the way you'd like to have me put it, isn't it?" + +Her whole manner was sweet and trustful; she wanted to make amends to +him. But, unless I am mistaken, Lance's effort on behalf of Adela was +not entirely to her taste. + +Thus, while they endeavored to keep up a good understanding, an entering +wedge of doubt and possible division had been put in place. + +The day having come for Adela's departure, difficulty arose as to her +escort, if she was to have any. Aunty Losh was not precisely the person +to introduce her at a Young Ladies' Academy; and Dennis also felt +himself to be inadequate for that duty. Sylv, as was natural, refrained +from offering his services. Neither was it possible for Lance to +accompany her. The end of it was that Aunty Losh and Dennis went with +her by wagon as far as Beaufort, and there she took the train alone for +Newbern. Lance had been to the city and prepared the way for her, so +that she might be received by the principal of the school, at the +station. + +But the time which followed was a dreary period to poor Dennis. Knowing +his own faults, and that his loss in Adela's exile had been brought on +by himself, he made no remonstrance after he saw that her purpose could +not be altered. But his wonted cheeriness and energy forsook him as soon +as she had gone; he performed his daily tasks in a listless and +perfunctory way; he talked little, and did not forget his misery long +enough to smile. On the other hand, he abstained from complaint; but +occasionally, when alone with Aunty Losh, he would confer with her +briefly about Adela and the change that had occurred. The jealousy that +took root with such ease in his uncultivated mind, and sprang up there +like a weed at the slightest encouragement, soon began to flourish again +on a suspicion that Lance must have some interested motive in helping +Adela. Aunty Losh, it must be said, was not a good counsellor. Much as +Dennis tried to conceal this new source of trouble, it was perfectly +apparent to her; and, because Dennis was her favorite and she +instinctively aided against all innovations, she fanned the flame +instead of quenching it. + +"I reckon Deely may be your wife one o' these hyar days," she said, when +they had been discussing his affairs and Lance's connection with them +over a cup of yaupon. "Who would ha' thout you wouldn't been her husband +now? But there's an old sayin' what's in my head, that the man as has +got his hand on the back o' the chair is mighty often the one as sits +down in it." + +Dennis saw the application, and was filled with alarm. Possibly it had +its effect in prompting him to seek assistance from Sylv; but his +loneliness, and the harassing thought that Adela might also be lonely, +or that something might go amiss in her new surroundings, where he could +not be present to help her, had a great deal to do with his impulse. +Besides, in contrition both for his jealousy of Sylv and his general +disagreeableness toward his betrothed, he fancied that it would be a +fine thing to show that he cared for her at a distance, and that he +trusted his brother. + +"Sylv," said he, one evening, while they were finishing the bestowment +of the day's catch in the shed at one side of the cabin, where they kept +the fish cool by means of spring water--"Sylv, I'd like right well to +have you do somethin' for me." + +"Say the word, Dennie," Sylv returned. + +"I--I want you to go up thar to the city and stay thar, whar ye can see +Deely and make her feel like she had a real, true friend--some one to +'tend on her as I mout, if I was fit--and to help her if she want any +help. Dog-gone it! Mebbe it's foolish, and I reckon she ar' happy enough +and won't need nothin', but 'pears like I couldn't stand it, the way +'tis now. I want ye to go, Sylv--for me." + +"You ask _me_ to do this, Dennie?" said Sylv. "Why did you think of _my_ +going? Why not go yourself?" + +"'Cause I'm not fit for't. An' what's more, she don't want me. She said +she war a-goin' away, so's she could be alone, and I could be alone. An' +I couldn't do nothin' if I was thar, Sylv." + +"I see. It would be some comfort to you if I were to go. If you're sure +you want it, Dennie, I reckon I can manage." + +"There ain't no more doubt on it," answered Dennie, "than when I put my +helm down to starboard to get the east breeze, steerin' north'ard. There +ain't no one else I can count on, Sylv, 'less it be you. An', Sylv, I--I +trust you; I got faith in you!" + +He held out his rough hand, and Sylv grasped it firmly. There were tears +in Dennie's eyes, seeing which Sylv pressed his brother's weather-beaten +palm the harder. + +"All right, Dennie. I won't fail you." + +And so the compact was made. + +Sylv was absolutely honest in what he said. He knew but one ambition, +and the gaining of any woman's love had never formed a part of it. Why +was it, then, that his spirits rose so at the thought of being near +Adela once more? + + + + +CHAPTER X. + +THE LIKENESS. + + +You remember how little Lance had seen of Adela Reefe, and that he knew +her scarcely at all. But this makes it the stranger, and rendered it at +the time all the more unaccountable to him, that, on her removal from +his neighborhood, he should have been afflicted with a sense of vacancy, +and should have suffered from the melancholy which one might expect to +feel when suddenly separated from a dear friend. Was he not engaged to +Jessie, and thoroughly contented in his love? Moreover, Adela had not +entered into his life as an important factor. Yet, now that she was +gone, he perceived how quickly and completely the web of surmises which +he had thrown around her had taken him also into its tangles. Her +identity and destiny had engaged his thoughts far more deeply than he +had guessed. + +Acting on his offer of assistance, and obeying Dennie's wish, Sylv +presently came to him to suggest that he would like to go to Newbern to +pursue his studies. + +"But I have just made arrangements," Lance told him, "to put up a small +building where we can experiment with reed-pulp; and I expected you to +assist me." + +Not without embarrassment, Sylv made known the special reason proposed +by Dennie for his going. Lance thought the plan a rather curious one, +and allowed himself a queer, vicarious jealousy on Dennie's account, at +the notion of his being so far from Adela when his brother should be in +the same town with her. But he had promised to help Sylv; so he +consented to send him to Newbern and maintain him there for a while, the +cost to be returned in future services. + +"Perhaps Dennie will take a hand with me in the pulp experiments," he +reflected. + +Thus it came to pass that a shed was built in the woods not far from the +manor, where a boiler and a small beater and washer were placed, +convenient to the limited water supply from a "run" or creek. An +experienced vatman was sent for from the North; Dennie was engaged to +collect and haul reeds, and aid in other ways when he could. All this +involved a good deal of expense, and the colonel watched the work with +suppressed horror at the young man's extravagance. But the experiments +went on, and Lance became enthusiastic over the details of drying the +reeds, getting the mixture of caustic alkali just right for boiling, and +trying rags in various proportions. Finally he was able to produce from +the vat a few sheets of tolerably good hand-made paper, on which he +fancied that he could see already inscribed a record of the profits that +were to be his. + +It took many weeks, however, to accomplish that much. At first Jessie +entered into the new enterprise with great interest, and made it doubly +charming to him; but after a while, finding that it consumed her lover's +time and distracted his attention from her, she began to regard the +fascinating shed, with its boiler and engine and rude apparatus, as a +dangerous rival. Nothing daunted by such symptoms of her discontent as +he observed, Lance continued his application with a fervor that seemed +to her little less than fanatical. Meanwhile he saw Dennie very often, +and was constantly in receipt of news about Adela from him. + +Indeed, since neither Aunty Losh nor Dennie had ever become enslaved to +the luxury of reading, it was necessary for Lance to interpret Adela's +letters to them. These epistles, in the beginning, were somewhat slight +and informal. They would begin thus: "I write to inform you that I am +enjoying good health. I hope you are the same." But as she went on with +her studies, and as the various particulars of her new life appealed +more decidedly to her attention, her style became more familiar and +cordial; she described what happened at the school, day by day, and +often lit up her account of events with flashes of humor that, to Lance, +were delightful. She hit off some of the absurdities of modern routine +education with a surprising sharpness of perception, and was greatly +amused at the old theologian who attended to the religious instruction +of the girls. He had shown her some books of Hebrew, the characters in +which reminded her of her own invented patterns in silk and beads. But +withal it transpired from what she wrote, that she made astounding +progress in her lessons. She quickly outstripped her classmates in their +work, and was promoted to a higher grade. Lance wondered whether this +were due to the stored-up energy of a nature that was in some respects +primitive, or whether it came from inherited aptitude--an aptitude +derived partly, through the dim centuries, from Gertrude Wylde. Several +times she alluded to Lance, and sent to him reserved messages of +friendly thanks for his kindness; but perhaps she would not have written +so familiarly on other topics if she had known that he was to see her +letters. The truth was, it had not occurred to her that her betrothed +and his aunt would apply to Lance to decipher her letters. And Lance, +embarrassed by these references to himself, refrained from disclosing +them. + +Inevitably, from the supervision which thus fell to his lot over +everything Adela did or said or thought, so far as her letters formed a +record, it ensued that his interest in her increased. I am afraid he +watched those letters with an alertness not to be excused, for some +trace of a thoughtfulness respecting him, equal to his own toward her; +and when she addressed to him directly a short communication, to tell +him how she was getting on, and how grateful she was for his assistance, +it was in a mood closely akin to disappointment that he read it through +without having detected a word that could be construed as indicating +even a commencement of friendship. + +Now and again he contemplated turning the letters over to Jessie, and +felt a desire to talk with her about the progress of his pupil. But he +fancied that she would receive the confidence coldly, and he forbore to +say anything, except in the most general terms. Why, in the mean time, +he should expect anything more from Adela than a formal recognition of +indebtedness, was a riddle to him; but nevertheless he knew that he was +unsatisfied. + +It should be understood that his peculiar state of mind was not at any +one time clearly apparent to him; he merely caught glimpses of it. His +preoccupation with the paper manufacture all the while kept his +attention busy, and it was but dimly that he perceived what was going on +in other regards. But when his experiments had reached their +culmination, and he had decided to build a mill and begin operations, it +became necessary for him to go North. He resolved to run up to Newbern, +first, and see Adela Reefe, before bidding good-by to Jessie. This +intention he was about to confide to Jessie, when one morning she +unexpectedly presented herself at the engine-shed, at the moment when he +was perusing a recent letter from his charge. + +"So I've found you at last!" cried Jessie, standing by the sill of the +open shed-door, wrapped in a light shawl, with a broad hat bent archly +over her head, and looking wonderfully pretty. She caught sight of the +letter. "Aha!" she said. "I thought you came here to work. But it's only +make-believe, I see. Well, I've a great mind to write you letters myself +and send them down to you here to read." + +"Oh, it's only a letter from Adela Reefe," Lance answered. "Dennie De +Vine brought it; he's just gone away again. Would you like to see it?" + +The vatman was occupied at the other end of the shed. Jessie took the +letter and glanced at it; then returned it to her lover, indifferently. +"Deely seems to be quite contented," she observed. "When are you going +to finish, Ned?" + +"Finish? You mean what I'm doing here? Why, I can go with you now, if +you want." + +"I wish you would, then. I feel just like having a little walk and talk. +You're going away so soon, it's only fair I should see something of +you." + +"I know that, dearest," said Lance, "and I'm afraid I've spent too much +time over this business. It's only fair to me, too, that we should be +together." + +They sauntered away in company, and strolled through the woods. "I have +been thinking," he told her, "that I ought to start in two or three +days. But I must see Adela and Sylv first. I don't want to go North +without knowing just how they seem up there, in their new life." + +A change came over Jessie's manner. "You mustn't go!" she said, with +sudden vehemence. "It isn't right, Ned." + +"Not right, my dear. Why?" Lance bent his earnest, clean-cut features to +look down at her more searchingly. + +But Jessie lowered her eyes, and would not meet his glance. "Oh, I have +watched you," she said, "and you are often talking with Dennie; you talk +about that girl, I am sure. And now she is writing to you. Don't you +think you have done enough for her, without going to see her?" + +"Perhaps so," said Lance, his energetic mind arrested by a sudden +discontent, and by a wonder as to whether he had unconsciously fallen +into error. "But surely you don't allow yourself to be troubled about +it, do you?" + +"Why, no," Jessie answered. "It would be foolish to do that. Why should +I? Only, it may be that you don't think what you're doing, Ned. She is +not our _friend_, and she never can be. I have agreed that you should be +her benefactor if you want to. But think how it might seem for you to go +up there and call on her. Isn't it too much?" + +"I will do as you think best, my dear," Lance assented. + +"Thank you," said Jessie, at once growing radiant. + +They passed on through the sun-flecked gallery of the spicy woods, +chatting on various topics, and were outwardly quite content. But Lance +could not banish the idea that he had been deprived of something which +was his right; and Jessie, for her part, was not nearly so serene as she +appeared to be. A subtle intuition had warned her that Lance was wrapped +up in his care for Adela to an extent which he himself was not able to +measure. The circumstance weighed upon her with increasing force; and +many times at night she had been awakened by her own tears, only to fret +out the solitary hours with vain questionings and attempts at +reassurance. Her trouble seemed needless and absurd; but somehow Adela +Reefe came flitting across her dreams, and even darkened her waking +moments, like a shadow revived from the past, that had the power to blot +out the vivid and sunny present. + +That evening the lovers looked over some old miniatures of former Floyds +and of the Wyldes, from whom the colonel traced his inheritance. In +every one of the female faces Lance instinctively hunted for traits that +should account for Jessie's features; but he could not find any. Not +only was he baffled in the search, but when he retired to rest the old +puzzle as to the similarity between Jessie's face and Adela's grew upon +him, as more complicated and less easy to shake off than ever. + +A few nights afterward his hands clasped Jessie's cheeks as he bade her +farewell, on his departure for Beaufort, where he was to take a +coast-wise steamer for New York. + +It was late October. There was a chill in the air. The leaves of the +deciduous trees had turned, and were already falling. The pines were +rusty in places, their needles showered to the ground in great numbers; +the snow-goose had already been heard piping in the air, on its +southward flight; and the waves of the Sound and the sea, as they broke +upon the shore, seemed to shiver with a knowledge of approaching winter. +But Jessie stood with her lover on the veranda, in the darkness; and her +face rested so yieldingly in his palms that Lance half imagined he could +carry it away with him. There in the night it was like a picture painted +long ago and dimmed by time, yet shining out through the obscurity with +its youth and loveliness and passion still intact. No; he could not +carry it bodily away with him, but he could take it in his heart; and so +he did, holding it there long after the farewell kiss had left his lips. + +But after he reached New York, and during the long months of winter, the +magic of fancy played strange tricks with the image he had brought in +his heart. Strive as he would, he could not prevent it from wavering and +flickering, as it were, and occasionally taking on a darker hue, so that +he seemed at times to be contemplating Adela, instead of Jessie. + +One of the first things he did was to hunt up some old memoranda in +which the tradition concerning Guy Wharton was definitely set down. This +cleared up his recollection of it; and his next act was to write to a +lawyer of his acquaintance in England, who knew something about the +Wharton history, asking him to use his best endeavors to get some +authentic likeness of Gertrude Wylde. + +Unfolding to Hedson, his father's old partner, the paper-mill project, +and finding it received with favor, he next exerted himself to form a +small syndicate for purchasing and reclaiming the swamp-lands, since +that undertaking would require more capital than he cared to venture. +But the swamp was not the Treasury of the United States, nor was it a +fantasy of such vast dimensions as the Panama Canal; so the syndicate +could not be formed. For capital, despite all the cant about its +conservatism, is really moved by extremes: it is allured either by a +dead certainty or by an equally defunct impossibility. Elbow Crook Swamp +was a something between the two. + +"Wait until spring," Hedson advised. "Then you will have time to +explore; and, besides, I may get down there myself to take a look!" + +Hedson enjoyed the harmless pride of believing that anything at which +Hedson had "taken a look," and was able to speak well of, must +necessarily glitter like gold to his brother bondholders. + +This affair and others detained Lance a long time. His mind was fixed on +settling in North Carolina, at least for the first years of his married +life, and he was anxious to get all his investments in good order before +making the change. At Christmas he took a flying trip to Fairleigh Park, +and enjoyed a brief season of jollity and of companionship with Jessie; +but he was soon back again among the snowy streets. He had seen Sylv, +but would not permit himself an interview with Adela. On his return +Hedson informed him that he was about to sail for England, being called +thither by business, to be absent a couple of months. Lance had received +no news from his legal friend in London, and did not indeed expect +anything valuable from that source; the records of the Surrey Wyldes +were doubtless too scattered to be traceable, and it was scarcely +possible that any vestige of Gertrude's features would have been +retained among the possessions of the Whartons. But, not wishing to +forego any chance, he petitioned Hedson to see the solicitor and +co-operate with him. The acute perception of the American man of +business might perhaps aid the careful British lawyer in getting at +something, even in so sentimental an inquiry. Lance would have gone +himself, so active was his interest in the question, had it not been for +his reluctance to place the ocean between himself and Jessie. + +Toward the end of February Hedson sent him a half-page letter, which +ended with the words: "Think I have got something for you." Exasperating +silence followed this communication. But, in latter March, Hedson landed +at New York, and brought Lance a drawing. "It's from an old picture," he +said. "Had the devil's own time getting it; but I bored everybody +concerned, until they couldn't stand it any longer, and had to help me +ferret it out." + +"And you're sure this was Gertrude Wylde?" asked Lance. + +"Why, my boy, you don't think I'd say so if I wasn't sure, do you? +Besides, look at this curious monogram on the back. It seems to be two +Gs and two Ws intertwined. You see, G. W. alone would stand for either +Gertrude Wylde or Guy Wharton--a singular coincidence. The fact that the +letters are repeated seems to show that Wharton had noticed this and +resolved that his initials should be linked with hers, which were the +same, so that in that way at least they might be united. It's a mark of +identity. But why do you ask?" he added. "Is there anything wrong about +it?" + +Lance was excited, evidently. The drawing shook in his hand. "No," he +said; "nothing wrong. Quite the contrary. It's exactly like her in some +ways." + +"You don't _look_ crazy, Lance; but how can you possibly know whether +it's like or not?" + +"Oh, I mean--I forgot; you never saw Adela--Miss Jessie, I mean." + +"No," said Hedson. "I take, now. Like _her_, eh?" + +Lance nodded silently. To him the picture resembled Adela more than +Jessie. + + + + +CHAPTER XI. + +LANCE RETURNS. + + +April, coming to thaw the ice on Northern streams, and to mould the +first buds that started out timidly as a young artist's efforts at +creation, also dissolved the spell of solitude which had so long +encompassed Jessie. + +Lance was ready to build the paper-mill, and had written that he would +take the rail southward as soon as possible. It had been agreed at +Christmas-time that the wedding should come off in May or June. Activity +began in the turpentine plantation; the trees were "boxed" and "tapped;" +the sap commenced to flow. The air grew milder, the stars shone with a +more hazy lustre in the night heavens, and birds renewed their notes in +the thickets about the manor, or flew with transient greetings over the +lonely land, on their mission of heralding the return of spring to +higher latitudes. But Jessie could not rid herself of the mournfulness +and the partial lethargy that had so long clung to her. She knew that +Lance was coming, and her heart throbbed the more warmly: she waited +eagerly to feel his arms clasped round her. Yet a lingering fear +persuaded her that the happiness might still be deferred or, in the end, +frustrated. + +It was in such a mood that she leaned, one evening, on the railing of +the old veranda, vaguely musing and inclined to sadness. There was no +certainty as to the hour of Lance's advent, for he had not named a time, +and into that far-off nook where she lived the lightning of the +telegraph never penetrated. But of late Jessie had adopted a custom of +straying out upon the veranda, as if she expected to see Lance +approaching. + +Suddenly she heard the click and crunch of unwonted wheels upon the +drive near the house. She started up and listened, in a tremor of +incredulous delight. The sounds drew nearer; presently a light flashed +across the moist branches of the shade-trees, and the next moment she +beheld the lanterns of a carriage, dimly illuminating its battered +varnish, the smoking backs of two horses and the muffled torso of a +sable driver. Then Lance's young, energetic face appeared in the square +of the carriage-door, faintly roseate with the light from the house. He +was fumbling at the door-handle before the wheels stopped turning. + +The sable driver subsided completely into the depths of his sableness, +as the two figures clasped each other at the top of the steps. + +"Ah, Ned, I have waited for you so long!" + +"And so have I for you, dear." + +"Do you know, I felt almost as if I were that poor Gertrude, waiting and +waiting still?" + +"You _are_, dearest--you are _my_ Gertrude!" + +And then the colonel, always discreet, allowed himself to be seen in the +hallway, prepared to welcome the wanderer. + +Lance barely restrained himself until the next day before seeking an +opportunity to tell Jessie about the drawing which Hedson had brought +from England. + +"You've written me next to nothing about Adela Reefe," he said to her. +"But I suppose you have kept on taking charge of her letters for +Dennie." + +"Oh yes," said Jessie; "he brought them all the way up to me. Poor +fellow!" + +"Why do you call him that?" + +"It seems so severe for him, having her stay away at such a distance, +and for so long. He's dreadfully in love with her." + +"Yes, I know he is," Lance confessed. "Those times when I was with him +so much, and you hardly liked it, I was talking with him about her and +trying to console him. He let me into his confidence, and told me how he +was afraid he had driven her from him and should never get her back. But +Sylv used to send an encouraging message, now and then. Has he sent any +more?" + +"Sylv has hardly written at all," said Jessie. + +Lance mused aloud: "That's strange." + +"Yes," responded his sweetheart, in a tone as if she were about to say +more; but she did not go on. + +At this point Lance thought it best to bring forward his little +surprise. Excusing himself, he went to his room and came back with the +drawing. "By the way," he began, reseating himself, "I wonder if Adela +has changed much in looks, under the influence of education. It would be +curious to see her, wouldn't it?" + +"I saw her," said Jessie, "just before she went back, after you left us, +at Christmas." + +"Well, then, you can tell. What do you think of this?" And her lover +produced the portrait. + +Jessie stared at it in some astonishment. "Where under the sun did that +come from?" she exclaimed. "Was it done for you?" + +"What do you think of it?" he repeated. + +"It isn't perfect," was the answer; "but still, I should know it, I +think. Why, Ned, are you cheating me? It isn't meant for Adela, is it? +You naughty boy, I could almost think it was an attempt to show how _I_ +shall look when I'm stouter! It's a joke." + +"Then you think it's like you?" he inquired. "Does it strike you?" + +"I won't say another word, until you tell me _what_ it is." + +"It is a picture of Gertrude Wylde," Lance returned. + +Then there was silence for a moment. Jessie took the drawing and looked +at it intently. Her voice was low, and quivered with a sort of +frightened tremor when she next spoke. "Why didn't you tell me at first, +Ned? And what did you mean by speaking as if it were Adela Reefe? It +_is_ like her; and it is like me, too. Oh, what this secret? What is the +meaning of it all?" + +"As well as I can make it out," said Lance, "the meaning is that Adela +is a direct descendant of Gertrude Wylde, and a kinswoman of yours. The +only thing remaining, in my mind, is to find out whether her father or +his family came from Croatan. If that is proved--" + +"And if that is proved, what then?" + +"I know of nothing to follow, except that we should recognize her as a +relative." + +"Never!" cried Jessie. "This is a mere dream. It's impossible to prove +her descent from our stock. I can have nothing to do with her." + +Her vehemence was such that another man might have suspected some +underlying motive of feminine jealousy. But Lance merely laughed. "Oh, +there's no legal claim involved," said he, lightly. "Of course, I don't +expect that anything tremendous is going to happen, even if she does +turn out to be of your blood. But suppose we appoint your father +arbitrator as to this portrait?" + +Jessie consented, and they referred the picture to Colonel Floyd. + +"If this is a well-authenticated reproduction," said the colonel, +deploying his finest hand-book manner, "the appearances would seem to +indicate some connection. 'Pon my soul, I never noticed any resemblance +till now; but while the similarity to our Jessie is perceptible, it is +not nearly so pronounced as the likeness to this Adela Reefe. Is it +possible that an inherited type of countenance should last so long, +under such conditions? Very singular; very strange!" + +He did not evince enthusiasm, and he paced the room restlessly. + +"What we want is to go and see old Mr. Reefe," suggested Lance, "and ask +him about Croatan." + +The colonel fell in with this proposition; and on the morrow they rode +down to Hunting Quarters. It was not an easy matter to draw Reefe into +conversation; but they at last succeeded in pinning him down to facts, +and, without discovering their purpose, he assured them that, to the +best of his knowledge, his predecessors had lived in the region of +Croatan, until the time of his father, who crossed Pamlico Sound and +settled near Hunting Quarters. To make a clean breast of it, he also +admitted that his stock probably contained Indian blood; but of this he +was rather proud than otherwise. + +"It is settled," said Lance, when he came to tell Jessie the result of +the inquiry. "There can be no reasonable doubt now. I must go up and let +Adela and Sylv know about it at once." + +Jessie leaned back in her chair and fixed her mild gray eyes upon him. +She had never looked more captivating than at that instant, the +side-part in her hair giving an accent of dainty self-reliance to her +whole pose and demeanor. "Let me ask you a question," she said. + +"Willingly." + +"About poor Dennie. Has it ever occurred to you, Ned, that you may be +doing him a great injury by sending Adela off in this way, and throwing +her with Sylv?" + +"No, of course not," answered Lance, somewhat nettled. "Would I have +been a party to it if I had thought so?" But the mention of Sylv in this +sort of way caused him an inward shudder. If there were any peril of +Dennie's losing Adela, why should it be Sylv who should win her? + +"I think you are helping to separate them," Jessie continued, "and you +ought to reflect, and stop. Besides, why should you go on so, mixing +yourself up in her affairs?" + +"I'm not. I ought at least to see her and tell her my discovery." + +Jessie suddenly rose. "I _hate_ that woman!" she cried, sharply. And, at +the same instant, Lance saw his engagement ring flashing upon her +finger. + +"You shall not hate her," he declared, with passion. "She is your +kinswoman--one of us. It isn't right that you should say that, and I +won't endure it." + +"Never mind whether you will endure it or not," Jessie retorted. "She +has occupied enough of your attention already." + +"My dear child," Lance remonstrated, "it's impossible that you should be +jealous of that girl! But what else can you mean? What do you demand?" + +"I think that you ought to just drop her, from this time on," said +Jessie, closing her lips decisively. + +There are scientific thinkers who tell us that the will is not a cause, +but merely a state of consciousness resulting from previous conditions +of the nerves and the emotions. However this may be, Lance's will +asserted itself in strong opposition to Jessie's. The probability that +Adela was a lineal descendant of Gertrude Wylde appealed strongly to his +imagination. Now that his theory seemed so well established, he was +resolved to have her kinship acknowledged; and, further, he experienced +a strong attraction toward her, the stress of which he did not fully +comprehend. He himself represented the man who had loved Gertrude, who +had vainly searched for and lost her. Was it not fair that he should +have some hand in the destiny of the girl thus reclaimed, after the +lapse of centuries, from the oblivion which had overtaken Gertrude's +life? + +"I will not drop her," he said, unyieldingly. "And, what's more, Jessie, +I am going to see her, and shall stand by her." + + + + +CHAPTER XII. + +SYLV'S TROUBLE. + + +Exactly what was to be the issue of Lance's sentiment respecting Adela, +it would have been hard to say. No fatal breach had as yet been made in +his relations with Jessie; yet they parted, after the difference which I +have just detailed, with a coldness that promised ill; and, for the +first time, Lance met the issue that had for weeks past unobtrusively +put itself in his way. If Jessie would persist in being so narrow, so +unsympathetic, what was to come? And if any trouble from this source +should divide them, what was there left to him? Facing this alternative, +Lance was forced to perceive that the interest which he had allowed +himself to feel in Adela had, unawares, grown into a dangerous emotion. +In one way it seemed absurd. In another, it was tragical. Did he +actually, in view of the rupture which now seemed likely to occur +between himself and Jessie, contemplate such a possibility as giving his +life up to Adela? If he were to do that, the question of treachery to +his humble friend, Dennis De Vine, would be involved. Nevertheless, some +unseen power seemed to propel him toward an erratic solution of this +sort. He wondered whether at last the yearning of his ancestor, long +ago, was fated to meet fulfilment by his own union with the latest +offspring of Gertrude Wylde. No! he would not think of it: he refused to +surrender himself to such fantasies. And still he could not escape their +importuning. + +He was involved in a struggle. He did not know what to make of it; but +he resolved to maintain his own dignity, first, by going to see Adela, +and then, after that, everything concerning Jessie and himself might be +righted. Meanwhile he kept one idea firmly before him, which was, to +remain true to Jessie so long as she would let him do so without +sacrificing Adela. + +But before he had time to carry out his determination of seeing Adela, +an unlooked-for incident occurred, which altered the situation +materially. + +The last bell for the day had sounded at the "academy" where Adela +pursued her studies, or rather was pursued by them, for they followed +her steps from morning to night in a race with which it was hard to keep +even, notwithstanding her prowess. The bell signified freedom for a +brief period. When it sounded she was allowed to go out for a walk, the +usual discipline of the school having been relaxed in her favor, to +admit of her taking her recreation in Sylv's company. Sylv was duly +accredited as Dennie's ambassador, to look after Adela's welfare; hence +it was considered very proper that he should see her every day. In this +way he had taken a great many walks with her. + +When the bell rang, therefore, he met her at the gate of the garden +surrounding the academy, and they strolled away together. Had Lance seen +them at that moment, he would have been surprised by the noticeable +change which had come over them both. Adela had now been at school some +ten months--nearly a year--and her steady application, with the loss of +that out-door life to which she had been accustomed, had subdued the +color in her cheeks, though it had not made them pale. The delicate +brown tinge was always there. But the stiff black hair that had formerly +blown so carelessly about her head was demurely combed and orderly, now, +and a serene, womanly thoughtfulness had somehow drifted into the lines +of her face, making its wild beauty sweeter. + +Sylv, too, had acquired a more polished air. It was not a gawky polish. +His clothes were very plain, but he appeared at ease in them; and +although his tangled beard was reduced to comparative trimness, it +hinted nothing of the incipient dandy. On the whole, they were a very +serious and simple pair, who would have looked extremely "countrified" +in Richmond, and still more so in New York. But they had altered very +much since the days on the shore. + +Had Lance seen them then, he would have been surprised--and perhaps +displeased--by another thing. This was, that as they moved down the road +leading away from the town, they looked so like a pair of lovers. + +Ah, while they had been growing so neat and orderly on the surface, and +had come to show marks of the educational mould, had they possibly +undergone another change of an opposite kind, within? Were their hearts +as well regulated, as calm, as their dress and their faces? + +Through the long period of their sojourn together, they had lived upon +hopes, interests, ambitions common to both. Adela had been fired with +zeal for her new occupation; they had talked over their daily successes +or reverses every afternoon; and though I have not said much about +Sylv's natural refinement, and his quiet, persuasive quality, these two +things--combined with constant association--had exercised a great +influence upon Adela. Imperceptibly she had grown into a life which +belonged to them alone, apart from every one else. + +"How did you get along to-day?" asked Sylv. + +"All right," said Adela. "But the algebra was hard. It seems as if I +couldn't think of anything but squares and roots and coefficients. It +appears to me like I'll have to extract the square root of my head right +soon; and if I do, there won't be anything left." + +"You're getting tired, I reckon," Sylv suggested. "Maybe you ought not +to work so much. How would it suit you, Deely, to go home for a few days +and rest?" + +"Oh, vacation's coming in a few weeks," she answered, wearily. "It ain't +that, Sylv. I ain't tired with the work; but it's because my life seems +so queer, and I don't know what I want. I don't want to stay here, or to +go home. I'm afraid I'll never be happy any more." + +They were now in a quiet spot outside of the town. Some willows grew +beside the road, which was here carried over a small bridge that covered +the gurgling flow of a brook. Sylv stopped short, and eyed her +meditatively. + +"Not happy?" he questioned. "Why not, Deely? Wouldn't you be if you were +with Dennie again?" + +Adela paused, too. "I can't tell," she said. "I don't know what is the +matter with me, but I don't seem to be satisfied with anything, Sylv. I +never can go back to what I was, but I don't see that I can go forward, +either." + +"But Dennie loves you just the same," said Sylv, rather falteringly. + +The girl clasped her hands and gazed absently in front of her. "I know +he does," she said, in an inert way. "I know it well enough." + +"And you know he has been trying to learn to read, just to please you, +and so as to keep up with you as well as he can." + +"Yes." But still her face did not lighten. The gathering sadness +deepened upon it, if anything. "Oh, why did I come here!" she suddenly +cried, despairingly. "If Mr. Lance had not sent me! Ah, what was the +use?" + +Sylv regarded her compassionately, but he was himself undergoing an +anguish that it seemed impossible to withstand. + +"Come," he said, soothingly, "let's go down yonder among the trees and +talk about it. We'll see if there isn't some way of making you happy. I +reckon the time has come for a change, and we ought to see what is +needed." + +She yielded, as though he were entitled to lead her. Taking his hand, +she walked with him down on to the young grass at the side of the +highway, and in among the trees alongside the "run." In the retired nook +that they came to they seated themselves, while the spring breeze +murmured through the light leaves above them, unsuspicious of any woe in +the minds of these two young persons. + +"I was angry with Dennie," said Adela, speaking low, "and that was why I +left him to come here. But he has been so good, and so patient." + +"Yes, that he has!" Sylv corroborated, fervently. "Why don't you go back +to him?" + +The gaze which Sylv fixed upon her, in asking this question, was very +unlike that of an impartial and philosophic adviser. His eyes burned +with a rapacious though restrained fire. Yet his tone was composed. + +Adela broke into moaning. "Why do you ask me that?" she exclaimed. "Oh, +don't you _know_ how hard it is to go back? Do you think it can ever be +the same? I don't want that kind of life any more: I am for something +different now. You see, all this studying and thinking and reading has +given me a new idea, and there's no one to take a share in it. When I go +back and marry Dennie that part of me will be alone. What am I to do; +oh, what _am_ I to do?" + +Her distress was so acute that she gave way to tears, which she +helplessly tried to press back with a hand at her eyes. + +"Don't cry, Deely," said Sylv, taking her other hand. "You're tired out, +and you're troubling yourself, but you don't need to. By and by you'll +be happy; never fear!" + +Adela clung to his hand instinctively. "You're a kind fellow, Sylv," +said she, ceasing to sob. "I know you wish me well. But it's all over +with me. I ought not to think of anything but Dennie. If I can make +_him_ happy, why--I ought--to be satisfied." But the stifled tone in +which she uttered the words showed how far she fell short of that duty. + +Sylv longed to speak more tenderly to her. The touch of her trusting +hand in his was maddening. He would have laid down his life, at that +instant, to comfort her; and if he was ready to sacrifice his own, what +mattered the life and happiness of any other? But there was only one way +in which he felt sure that he could secure lasting comfort to her, so +far as one man might; and that way he dared not propose. Why had he not +foreseen this difficulty and this peril in time to evade them? He had +imagined that his whole life depended on books, and here he found that +it was nothing as compared with a woman. He had indulged in the tranquil +belief that he was a disinterested student; but now he awoke to the fact +that he was a reckless lover! + +"Deely," he exclaimed, rising, but still keeping her hand in his, "if +you don't love Dennie enough to go back to him, you must not do it!" + +"And break his heart?" she asked, looking up at him with an effort at +reproach. + +"I speak to you as his brother," answered Sylv--"his brother, whom he +sent here of his own accord to watch over you; and I say that it would +be wrong. You would not be happy yourself, and you would find it +impossible to make him happy." + +Adela drew her hand away. "But I have promised him! And I will keep my +promise." + +As she spoke she rose erect: he could hear her close her teeth with a +grating sound. + +"I don't intend to argue about it," he said. "You are free to settle +everything your own way. It appeared to me like I must tell you my +opinion. That's the end of it, Deely." He paused. "I got a letter from +Mr. Lance; says he's got back, and is coming up to see you. But _I_ am +going away to-morrow." + +Adela started violently. "_You_ going away!" Then she trembled toward +him and laid her hands on his shoulders. "Oh no, no! Don't leave me now, +Sylv. Don't go away!" + +"I must," he replied. "I've got through. I've done all I can. I must go +back to work for Mr. Lance." + +Adela's hands still rested on his arms. He could hardly move them +otherwise than to enfold and sustain her. Unable to support herself, she +drooped and sank toward him for an instant. + +"Dear--dear--sister," he almost groaned, "don't despair! Don't give way! +I wish I could save you from suffering." + +She recovered herself and stood upright before him, looking into his +eyes. She trembled, and he longed to embrace her once more, holding her +to his heart for as long as he should live. But neither of them made any +movement toward such a renewal of her dependence upon him. Steadily, yet +with a kind of doubt and fear, they gazed at one another; and the whole +story of their hearts was made clear. But not one word of passion was +uttered. + +"I must leave--must leave to-morrow," Sylv repeated, as they started +simultaneously to go back to the school; "and I think I will send Dennie +up here." Instead of advancing this proposition with the courage he +wanted to show, he made it sound like the knell of all their hopes. +Nerving himself, he added: "Shall I tell him you've forgiven him?" + +This time, by a prodigious effort, he spoke bravely; yet his eyes, +without his knowledge, seemed to beg her to come to the aid of his +failing fortitude. + +"Shall I tell him?" + +"Yes." + +"And that you're ready to go with him now?" The faltering look had +vanished. A white, still light of triumph rested on his paling face. + +"Yes," said Adela again, with trembling lips. + + + + +CHAPTER XIII. + +LANCE AND ADELA. + + +Sylv was on the point of beginning his journey, when Lance walked into +his boarding-place with a hearty salutation. + +"Isn't this very sudden?" he asked, with pronounced astonishment at +Sylv's new move. + +"It looks so to you," said the young man. "But I've been thinking it +over a long time. It isn't best for me to stay here." + +Lance saw that something was held in reserve, but could not conjecture +what. "Suit yourself, Sylv," he returned. "If you're satisfied, I ought +to be." + +"Besides," said Sylv, with the air of having already given one reason, +"I ought to do some of that work I promised for you." + +"It _would_ be an advantage to begin exploring the swamp before warm +weather comes on," Lance agreed. + +"Well, sir, I'm ready to go at it right straight off," said the other. + +There was a disproportionate grimness in his tone and manner, Lance +imagined. The declaration had apparently cost him an effort. + +"Lord bless me, Sylv," he exclaimed, abruptly, "how thin and pale you've +grown! I didn't fairly notice it until this moment. It evidently won't +do you any harm to have a change." + +"No, sir. I have not been feeling well." + +"All right. Wait till the afternoon train, and I'll go back to Beaufort +with you. I only want to see Adela for a while. Will you come along?" + +He did not really want Sylv to accompany him; and perhaps this was +manifest in his way of speaking. Yet he was somewhat surprised when the +young man, turning aside and pretending to adjust some of the articles +in the forlorn miniature trunk he had been packing, said: "No, thank +you, Mr. Lance. I said good-by to her last night." + +"It's just as well, that way," said Lance, nervously. "I have something +important to tell her, and it will be better to see her alone." + +Sylv straightened up, and glanced at him almost fiercely. A suspicion +occurred to him. "Something important?" he asked. But he did not dare to +demand particulars. + +Nor did it reassure him much, either, to have Lance answer, "Yes; I'll +tell you about it afterward." + +For his part, Lance, in noticing Sylv's abstracted behavior, recalled +what Jessie had said as to throwing the young fellow so much with Adela, +and wondered whether there was any confirmation of her fear in the +constraint which had overtaken his _protege_. But he was so anxious to +see Adela, that he did not stop to reflect on that point more than a +moment. + +Ushered by the matronly principal of the academy into its scrupulously +dusted but threadbare parlor, he awaited the girl's advent with a good +deal of trepidation. The window-blinds were closed, and the interior was +pervaded by a mock twilight. When Adela at last made her appearance, her +figure, from the opposite side of the room, looked so dim and uncertain +that Lance was strongly reminded of the first time he ever saw her--the +time that she rose out of the earth, as it were, and again crumbled back +into it. + +"Miss Reefe!" he said, scarcely above a murmur. + +"Oh, Mr. Lance! Sylv told me you were coming." And she approached him +through the dimness of the room, groping, one might say. + +They shook hands formally, and to Lance's distraught fancy it seemed as +if her fingers withdrew themselves with the recoil of absolute dislike +from the touch of his own. + +"You're not glad to see me, I'm afraid," he began, boldly. + +"Oh yes--yes I am. What makes you think so?" + +"I can hardly tell, but I think I should know if you were. It is so dark +here I can barely see you. Shall I open a shutter?" He made a movement +to do so. + +"It is light enough for me," Adela answered; and he at once desisted +from his purpose. "Won't you sit down?" she asked. + +He accepted the invitation. + +They conversed for a few moments about her studies and about what he +himself had been doing since they last met. But at length he said: "You +never would be able to guess, Adela, why I have come to see you to-day. +You told me a very interesting story once--do you remember?--about your +people. That was a legend; but now I have a true story to tell _you_, +which is connected with yours. Would you like to hear it?" + +"I always like stories better than anything," said the girl. "Do tell it +to me." + +Thereupon Lance narrated the tale with which we are familiar, adding the +details of the picture, the first clew which he had caught in her +resemblance to Jessie, and the extraordinary coincidence of the old +rhyme from Wharton Hall. Adela listed intently, without interposing a +syllable; but he could hear her breath coming and going, and +occasionally she sighed. She was seated in a chair near his own; but, +though his eyes were growing used to the gloom of the apartment, he felt +her presence more by the warm irradiation of her vitality through the +air than by actual vision. From time to time there was an audible flurry +of light feet and flitting skirts in the passageway without, or in the +rooms above, indicating the movement of young women from one point to +another of the scanty scholastic edifice; and once a desk-bell rang +punctiliously from a distance. But otherwise they were uninterrupted. As +Lance proceeded with his story, the dimness of the light and the random +brushing of the breeze against the shutters aided a species of +hallucination that laid hold of him. While he retraced the mazes and the +by-paths of the tradition that led back so far into the forests and the +obscurity of an earlier epoch, the gloom of the wilderness itself seemed +to surround him; the leaves of an unknown forest-land muttered and +rustled in his ears; he felt like an explorer; he was making his way, he +could fancy, toward the goal of his long striving and his harassed +desire. Should he not meet, at the end of his wanderings, the object of +his search? + +When he had finished the story he said: "_You_ have Indian blood in your +veins, Adela." + +Her voice permeated the dusk slowly and hesitatingly: "Yes. But how do +you know?" + +"I have seen your father, and he has told me." Lance rose and stepped +toward the window. "Gertrude Wylde was your ancestress," he declared, +"and she was the same woman as Ewayea in your legend. It is I who have +discovered this, and I have brought you, at last, out of all that +mystery!" + +Flinging the shutters open he stood there, looking toward her. Adela at +the same instant left her seat and placed herself before him. Then, for +the first time, he could see the change that had crept over her +features. + +"Good God!" he cried. "What has happened?" + +Adela spread her hands out in timid deprecation. "I don't know," she +said. "What do you mean?" + +"You are so much more--you have grown so like Jessie since I saw you," +Lance returned, well-nigh gasping. "If it were not for that darker +tint--" + +"Mr. Lance," she interrupted, "what can you be thinking of? Why do you +talk so excitedly, and why did you come here to tell me this?" + +"Because," he said, "I have been intensely interested in the problem. I +believe you belong to the line of Gertrude Wylde. If you do, you +represent the woman whom my ancestor loved, and you are closely related +to Jessie Floyd. Do you suppose it makes any difference to me that +Indians came into that line? No; I see in you the lineal descendant of +Gertrude, and a kinswoman of the Floyds. I wish to have it clearly +understood that you and they are of one family. You must take the place +that belongs to you." + +"What place?" Adela sighed. "Can you tell what place mine is?" + +"Of course I can. Haven't I said what I thought?" But while Lance +uttered these words, he noticed how sad and wan she looked, and he also +felt the difficulty of bringing her within the circle of life to which +he belonged. + +"You have made a great mistake," she replied. "I am only Adela Reefe, +and I cannot be anything else. Did Sylv tell you? I am going away from +here. I shall not stay any longer, for I promised to be Dennie's wife, +and I am going to marry him as soon as he comes for me." + +"To be Dennie's wife!" exclaimed Lance, instinctively treating the idea +as though he had not heard of it before. "Yes; yes; I suppose you are to +be. But why should that prevent your being one of us? You will be a +kinswoman, a cousin, just the same." + +Adela gathered herself up, and spoke with resolution. "I don't know if +you are right," she said, "but any way, Mr. Lance, if I _am_ a kinswoman +and a cousin, do you think Miss Jessie will want to have me for one?" + +The best that Lance could do was to parry this direct thrust. "If you +are so," he answered, "what difference can her wish make?" + +"I will tell you, easy enough," Adela retorted, proudly. "It is just +that I won't have anything to do with people who don't want me for one +of them. If I had ever supposed that coming up here to school would make +it seem as if I wanted to do that, I wouldn't have come. Oh, I didn't +know all this when I came! No, no! And I'm sorry I did it. I tried to be +grateful to you, Mr. Lance, and I do thank you for your good meaning; +but I'm sorry I came." + +"Adela," he said, rather coldly, "I can't let you talk in this way. You +are proud and angry, and don't know what you're saying. Remember that, +whatever happens, I stand by you." + +"I don't want any one to stand by me," she returned. "I am all alone, +and I will stay so. Suppose you had never come here, Mr. Lance; who +would have guessed that I had anything to do with that old English +family? I could not have guessed it myself, even. I know you've tried to +help me, and now you want to make something different of me from what I +always was before. But I'm going back to marry Dennie, and the best +thing you can do is to leave me where you found me, and forget all about +me. I shall just be Dennie's wife; that's all. I don't ask to be +anything else." + +It may seem to you unreal that Lance should have been so much exercised +regarding Adela's happiness and her future, especially since he was +bound to Jessie Floyd by the most sacred promises. Unreal it is, I +grant, to people who live by the tinkle of the horse-car, the tick of +the clock, and the reading of the newspaper. But this individual, +impracticable man--so like many other men who, in dissimilar +circumstances, conceive themselves to be prodigiously practical--was +bent upon an idea. And he was determined to carry out his idea. He cared +more for his theory than he did for himself or for any one besides. It +was his ambition to be impartial--to secure the recognition of all +rights which he thought were in need of vindication. And so far did he +carry that desire, that he was really somewhat bewildered by it; in +consequence whereof he held himself ready, at this especial moment, to +sacrifice one great obligation to a lesser obligation. + +"I'm not going to be satisfied with this result," he said. "I am +determined that it shall not be in vain that I have sought you out and +found you. Listen to me, Adela! It is a question of justice--in fact, of +simple humanity--and I'm bound to have justice done. You may go back to +Hunting Quarters, if you like, any day, and marry Dennie; but you ought +not to ask to be dropped out of our lives. I wish to see you put where +you belong. If you have changed your mind, and do not want to marry +Dennie, only tell me so. Your happiness is at stake, and it shall be +preserved at all hazards." + +"How can you preserve it better than I can?" Adela demanded. + +Lance delayed his answer, inwardly trembling. It may be that we ought +not to inquire into the wild and erratic impulses that assailed him at +that instant; but, amid their dizzying influence, he held fast to the +ideal of honesty on all sides. + +"Very likely I can't," he replied, calmly. "But I wish to say that, if +anything should go wrong, if any trouble should come to you, I may be +counted on as your friend--no matter who opposes." + +Adela melted at once into frank dependence. "Oh, Mr. Lance," she said, +"I have sorrows, like other people, and I don't know what they will +bring at last; so if you _will_ help me when I need help, I shall be +glad! But please don't think about me now; only let me go--let me go!" + +And with this sorry climax the interview ended, Lance retiring with an +inexplicable sense of defeated endeavor. In some way, which he was not +able to analyze as yet, his dream had been exploded. The unravelling of +the mystery of Gertrude Wylde had been to him a romance of the most +fascinating kind; but now that the romance had culminated, no one seemed +to know what to do with it. Apparently he had followed a +will-o'-the-wisp, when he expected any good to attend his success in +ferreting out Adela's identity; for it had put him at odds with Jessie, +and it brought no pleasure to Adela herself. + + + + +CHAPTER XIV. + +DENNIE'S TROUBLE. + + +With heavy hearts both Lance and Sylv accomplished their journey to +Beaufort late that afternoon; and on the way Lance explained to his +companion the new light in which Adela must be regarded. + +Sylv, however, said little, and appeared anxious to reach home, where he +could consult with Dennie. + +He found his brother busily engaged in completing a ditch across the +neck of the headland, which he had finally, in deference to the wishes +of Aunty Losh, undertaken to dig, to the end that her live-stock might +be kept from straying over to the mainland. "I am fearsome o' the +tides," said Dennie, as he had said long ago; "but aunty wants this hyar +for to be done, and so I am doin' on it." + +The docile, plodding industry of his brother smote upon Sylv with a +singular reproach. He could not throw off the conviction that he himself +had been essentially idle in his devotion to book-learning, while Dennie +had remained so faithful to the dull duties at home. + +"Dennie," he said, "I got some good news for you." + +"Ye mean that ar?" queried Dennie, halting in his toil, with his shovel +in the loose ground. "I ain't had no good news for a long sight, Sylv. +What mout it be?" + +"Deely's coming back to you." + +Dennie stood stock still and wiped the sweat from his brow. Then he +touched his grimy knuckles to his eyelids; but, without betraying +emotion in any other way, except by the softening of his voice, he said: +"I'm glad on't, Sylv. Ar' she a-comin' back because she want to?" + +"Yes; oh yes! There couldn't be any other reason, could there, Dennie?" + +"Well, I warn't right sure," said Dennie. "No; I reckon they aren't no +other reason." Seizing the shovel, he made a few more plunges with it +into the soil. "Well, I'm right glad on't, Sylv. When ar' she comin'?" + +"Now, I'll tell you how it is," Sylv returned, assuming an expository +manner. "Deely thinks you've been a right good boy, and she allows she +was impatient with you. But, then, you were impatient too. She's made up +her mind to let go the rest of her school term, and she's waiting for +you now up at the city. All you've got to do is to go there and get +her." + +Dennie abandoned his work for the moment, and gazed at his brother +affectionately. "Thank ye kindly, Sylv. Ye been a good brother to me. +Oh, it don't 'pear true! I don't make out how it's so; but I waited and +sarved kind o'patient, Sylv, and all to once it comes out squar'. +Deely's been fair to me, old man, and so ha' you been. Wall, it's more'n +I desarve." + +With the guilty knowledge of a hidden love for Adela in his heart, Sylv +would rather have faced the threatening muzzle of his brother's gun, as +it had once been pointed at him, than to have stood up before the glance +of trust and affection which Dennie now directed toward him. But, thank +Heaven, his conscience was clean. He had not betrayed the trust. He had +preserved his honor, and had left Adela free. + +"Don't think about what you deserve," he said, "but just you go and do +what she expects you to. You go up there and fetch her back." + +"Did she ask ye to tell me that, Sylv?" + +"Yes." + +"Then I'll do it! But I ar' got to dig this hyar ditch first off, don't +you see I have? 'Cause I tole aunty I would, and she'd be a heap sight +put out if I didn't. But ye'll go up to the city with me, won't ye, +Sylv? I'd feel lonesome and quar' ef ye didn't." + +"I'm right sorry, Dennie; but I can't. I've got to do some work for Mr. +Lance, and I ought not to go back." + +However, when Dennie was ready to take his departure Sylv came to him +with a sealed letter. "I can't go with you, Dennie," he repeated; "but +there's a few words I wanted to say to Deely, and you might as well +carry them, I thought." + +Dennie conscientiously dumped the missive into his hat; and, with a last +joyous whisk of his red beard, took leave of his brother. + +His impatience to see Adela caused him to spurn the faithful dug-out as +a means of travel, and he went by rail. + +In the long months of separation from his sweetheart he had succeeded in +carrying out a great self-improvement. The hope of making himself worthy +to recover her was the mainstay of his gallant persistence in this work, +and it had wrought a wonderful effect. He was still the same Dennie--his +temperament could not be remodelled--but from being irascible, +hot-headed, untrustworthy, he had come to exercise a self-control that +made him seem uncommonly gentle. What he gained in that direction he had +to hold by untiring vigilance and firm will; but a succession of +victories convinced him that now, when the reward was held out to him, +he could prove his fitness to receive it. + +A driving rain poured down upon North Carolina as he left the coast. The +sea showed its white teeth at Hatteras and all along the sandy spits and +islands that fringe that shore. Every one said that still uglier weather +was likely to come soon. But to Dennie the drenching showers and the +hurly-burly of the winds only enhanced the gladness in his heart. He +basked in the delicious glow of cosiness which children feel when snugly +housed from pelting storms that they can watch at ease. The slow-paced +cars seemed to him to glide ahead with wonderful swiftness--his own +happy anticipation lent speed to the wheels--and the humming rails +echoed and rang again with one continual song of hope, hope, hope. + +How many fond, encouraging things he would say to Adela! How bright he +would make the prospect for her! He would show her, beyond question, +that she need never undergo any trials or troubles which he could +prevent. + +It was not so easy to do all this, at first, as he had imagined it would +be. On meeting, they were both rather quiet. Dennie took her hand +bashfully: he discovered all at once that he was in the presence of a +superior being. The muscles of his right arm, also, appeared to succumb +to a peculiar disorder, and would not act when he wanted to throw that +arm around her waist. Good Lord! was he afraid? Had he been afraid to +clasp her in his arm a year before? But gradually this paralytic attack +wore itself out: he sat down beside her, and presently his right hand +was visible to his own eyes, resting easily at a point on the right side +of her belt. + +"I'm glad to be with ye again, Deely," he said, carefully eliminating as +much of the gruffness as he could from his strong out-of-doors voice. + +But the hearty gruffness that remained was, somehow, very agreeable to +Adela. "Dear old Dennie," she said, in a gentle, musing way, as if she +were speaking of him to some third person. + +"And ye're glad, too, be ye, Deely?" he asked, gazing at her +indulgently, but with some vestiges of anxious doubt. + +"Yes, Dennie, I'm glad to be with you; you're so good now. And I like to +see you happy." + +"That's a puss," said the big fellow, but instantly felt astonishment at +his own familiarity. Finding, too, that he was instinctively patting her +with his hand, he promptly stopped, because it struck him that his hand +was too rough, and he might hurt or crush her. He drew it softly away to +a more normal position. "Why, they tell me," he resumed, "that ye're a +great lady now--a sort o' prin_cess_, or su'thin' that way, I didn't +know for sure ye'd want to see me or have me hangin' round ye no more." + +And then he laughed at the deceptiveness and the wild humor of his own +speech. + +"Oh, Dennie," she implored, "don't talk about that! What difference does +it make?" + +"Ye needn't bat yer eyes," he replied. "I ain't 'shamed on it, if ye +ain't. Why Sylv, he said how ye war just as good as Miss Jessie, 'cause +ye war born away back out'n the same family; leastways, some one else +did the bornin' for ye, them ar times. But I--well, _I_ allays thought +ye war a heap sight better'n Miss Jessie or any one else." + +"I know that, Dennie. You always loved me true. Oh, it was wrong for me +to come away from you so!" + +Adela leaned her head upon him, and began to sob slightly. This +proceeding was to totally unlooked for, that Dennie was amazed. + +"Thar, thar," he said, "ye'd oughtn't for to cry when I come back to ye. +No; ye had the right on't, Deely. I warn't fit, then, and I wouldn't ha' +been a fip better ef ye hadn't ha' left me be. It ar' all right, I tell +ye. But fust, when I saw ye just now, thinks I, ye've changed so, and ye +look so sort o' ironed up all careful, ye won't care nothin' for a old +rough boy like Dennie no more. But if ye're goin' to cry, Deely, why, I +want for to stop ye; and I do think it war all right, your leavin' me." + +"Oh no, no," she reaffirmed, still weeping. "I did you a great wrong, +Dennie!" + +Dennie's face became apprehensive for a moment; but that look quickly +dissolved, and he permitted himself a subdued laugh. "It are enough to +make a man laugh," he said, in excuse, "to think o' my forgivin' ye; but +if ye feel ye done wrong, why, I'll say I forgive ye, Deely. I do +forgive ye, right free." + +She had made the only confession she could. Indeed, what was there to +reveal, except that in her long companionship with Sylv she had learned +to love him, before she comprehended what was happening, and that she +had honestly, at a fearful cost, stifled that love so far as might be, +in order to remain true to the man she had promised to wed? But to tell +this would in itself be to dishonor her vow. + +She looked up to Dennie with streaming eyes, and her hand sought his. +"Thank you, thank you!" she murmured. "I have suffered a great deal +here, Dennie--away from you. I know you have suffered too. But you are +generous and kind; and now I hope we can forget all the pain." + +Dennie, in listening to her, was strongly impressed with the feeling +that he was hearing something read from a book, so sharp was the +contrast between her utterance and his. But the contents of the +supposititious book were very soothing and acceptable. He turned quickly +to her, and for the first time since his arrival they embraced each +other with thorough self-forgetfulness. + +"But, Deely," he said, "I ain't like ye ar'. I ain't got l'arnin' the +way ye have now. Don't ye reckon that ar'll disapp'int ye?" + +"No; not a bit," she answered, warmly; "you'll be kind and good to me, +Dennie, and I will be a good wife to you. All I want is for you to take +me away from here. Take me home!" + +There was an almost desperate energy in her voice. The truth was, +Dennie's presence acted upon her as a restorative, and awakened many +memories of the simple and happier time when they had played together +and grown up together and carried on their courtship by the shore. +Despite her love for Sylv--or perhaps in consequence of it--she threw +herself upon Dennie's protection with an eagerness she would not have +believed possible until she met him face to face. His big figure, his +glowing cheeks, his heavy hands and rough accent--all brought to her a +whiff of the salt air in which she had been born and bred. Her secret +misery was dulled by his trusting companionship; she was lulled into +reveries of some existence of comparative peace, in which she would be +able to fulfil her ideal of duty and find her recompense in so doing. + +"Take ye home, dear girl! Why, that's what I'm wantin' to do," he +rejoined, tenderly. And, fired by the thought, he went on to tell her +where they would make the home; how Sylv and he were going to take part +in Lance's wide-reaching plans; how he would perhaps have something to +do with the paper-mill or the market gardens that were to replace the +swamp; and how happy she and he could be. + +Adela entered eagerly into all these glowing particulars. A new life +opened before her, which she believed would be beautified with all sorts +of unexpected happiness; and she was filled with thanksgiving because +she had clung resolutely to her plighted troth. + +"We'll go to-morrow!" cried Dennie, with enthusiasm. "D'ye think ye can +make out to be ready, Deely?" + +"I could be ready to-day," she replied, "if there's a train." + +Dennie, wonderful to relate, had provided himself with a time-table, +though the "summer arrangement" of the railroad to Beaufort was not +complicated. He resorted to his hat to find it. But as he plucked the +printed slip from its place in the inner band of the hat his eye lighted +on Sylv's letter. Until that moment he had entirely forgotten that he +was a usurper of the postal function. + +"Dog-gone it!" he exclaimed, "I come mighty near not givin' you this. +It's from Sylv." + +Adela stripped away tho yellow envelope with startled haste; and on a +poor sheet of blue-ruled note-paper she read these words: + + "DEAR DEELY: I did not mean to write anything, but the feeling + comes over me that I ought to say good-by to you and Dennie. I + have decided that my life here has been a failure, and I am + going away. I shall not come back. Mr. Lance thinks I have gone + to do something for him, but it is no use to look for me, + because no one can find me. + + "I love you and Dennie, and want you to be happy together. + Remember that, and do not mourn over me any more than if I had + died. You know we cannot help dying. If I could do any good by + staying I would; but I am certain it is better for me to go. + + "Tell Dennie I trust him to make you happy. I believe in him + and love him. Good-by. SYLV." + +Dennie awaited the result of her reading in dumb expectancy, and saw the +look of horror in her face, but could not account for it. + +Adela shrieked aloud. "Oh, he is dead!" she cried. "He meant to kill +himself! Help, Dennie, help! What are we to do?" + +She stretched out her hand, with the letter in it; but Dennie only shook +his head, in helpless bewilderment. + +"I can't read it," he said, piteously. "I don't know enough, Deely. That +ar writin'--Deely, what ails ye? What's he said there?" + +The mistress of the academy came running in, alarmed by the girl's +outcry. + +"Sylv is going to kill himself," Adela repeated. "He says he's going +away; but I know--oh, I know what he means! See, Dennie; that's what he +says." And again she held the letter toward him, distractedly. "He says +good-by to you and me. Can we go to-day? Is there any train?" + +Dennie offered the mistress his time-table, which to him was merely an +illegible curiosity--a memento of his unprecedented journey. + +Without looking at it, however, she drew out her watch with a sharp tug +at the silken guard that held it. "Yes, you have time," she announced, +"if you hurry. I'll bring your things, Miss Reefe." + +She disappeared. + +"Tell me 'bout it, Deely," said Dennie, fumbling hopelessly with the +letter, which he had now taken into his sunburned hands. + +Adela set foot upon her agitation, and rapidly read the letter over to +him. + +Dennie appeared to be stunned. "Suicide?" he said. "What for? Hev you +got any right for to think that ar?" His tone was indignant. "What call +ar' he got to kill hisself? Sylv--our Sylv, I tell ye. My brother!" + +"Because he hadn't anything left to live for! He was miserable," Adela +answered, with vengeful emphasis. "It is Mr. Lance did it--sending me +here. No! _I_ did it, because I would not tell him what I felt. I wanted +to be true to you." + +The truth burst upon Dennie like a flood, and his fierce temper rose to +meet it. For an instant a blinding light flashed dazzingly by across +everything that surrounded him; he grew giddy, and Adela had no more +important existence in his eyes than the table and the chairs around +him, or the lifeless walls of the room. His single desire was, in his +rage, to destroy something, to create havoc and ruin, answering to the +ruin of his own hopes. But the next instant he felt as if he were among +the pines, with his gun aimed at Sylv; and the thought that Sylv at this +very instant might be lying dead somewhere brought a ghastly picture +before his eyes. The whirl of maddening light passed away, and he stood +humiliated, mournful, calm, motionless. + +"Then it's true at last!" he said, hoarsely. "You loved that man--my +brother--and he loved you." + +For a moment Adela could not speak. Her lips moved, without sound. At +last she answered: "Yes. But I never told him, and he said nothing to +me. 'Twas only after we came here." + +Dennie replied in a voice that made her think of the muffled breaking of +the waves on the distant coast. "I was fearsome of it, Deely, but I +swore I wouldn't think on't. It ar' best I know it now. We'll go and +look for--for Sylv. If he ar' alive, I'll bring you to him." + + + + +CHAPTER XV. + +ELBOW-CROOK SWAMP. + + +Without notice Hedson had appeared on the scene; he was hospitably +received by Colonel Floyd, and asked Lance to show him over the ground +in which the as yet unborn syndicate was expected to invest. + +Accompanied by Sylv they were occupied in a general survey of the swamp, +from the outside, at the time when Dennie was talking with Adela in +Newbern. "Yes, yes; fine country for a cemetery," said the hale but +sceptical Hedson. "To come down to bed-rock on this thing," he added, +turning to Lance, "the expense of paring off the natural growth and +filling in here would be enormous, to say nothing of what the lawyers +call 'supplementary proceedings.' You know what that means, don't you, +Mr. De Vine?" Here he included Sylv in the favored list of those for +whom his remarks were intended. + +The upshot of the exploratory drive was that Hedson gave a semi-adverse +judgment; notwithstanding which he began to consult with himself +inaudibly as to the best mode of going to work to buy some of the waste +land in question on his private account. + +Sylv showed an unmistakable eagerness to begin his task of investigating +the interior of the swamp, and before he parted from Lance for the day +he took him aside and told him that he should be in the swamp by +daylight of the next morning. + +Hedson and the colonel found plenty to talk about that evening, and +Lance was left alone with Jessie. + +The conversation that passed between these two was somewhat ruffled. +Jessie found fault with her lover because he had gone to Newbern against +her will, and Lance assured her that his eccentric interest in Adela +Reefe was now appeased: he had done all that he wished to, in disclosing +to her the probable relationship with the Floyds, and would henceforth +leave her affairs, for the most part, alone. But Jessie was not content +with that declaration. + +"If she comes back here to live, as you say she is about to do," she +asked, "what do you expect?" + +"Simply that we shall receive her as one of us," said Lance. "I have +befriended her and the De Vine boys, and I intend to keep on. They are +inevitably a part of my system and my plans now." + +"Then you are going to overturn everything," Jessie asserted. + +In short, silly though it was, they quarrelled more seriously than they +had done hitherto. + +Jessie, there is reason to believe, was very unhappy in consequence, and +passed a wretched night. And Lance scarcely slept a wink. He lay +restless on his bed, turning and tossing, until it seemed to him that he +veered this way or that with the varying gusts of the tempestuous wind +that hourly grew more turbulent, until Fairleigh Manor shook in its +angry clutch. + +"How the wind roars!" he growled aloud, starting from a half doze; and +after vainly waiting a while longer for repose he got up, dressed +himself, and went out. + +The earliest gray of daybreak was visible in the eastern sky, but the +atmosphere was so surcharged with storm that he fancied he could hear +the seething of the angry ocean in the blasts that whirled around him, +though he was not within ten miles of the open sea. + +An hour after he had left the manor a worn-out wagon from Beaufort drew +up in front of the door, and Dennie alighted. Dennie raised such a +clamor at the door that at last the inmates began to arouse themselves. +Jessie was the first to respond to the summons. She gathered hastily +from Dennie the object of his untimely call, and learned that Adela was +with him in the wagon. They were looking for Sylv; had been detained at +Beaufort, and were only just arrived; so they had come at once to the +manor to ask Lance if he knew anything of Sylv's whereabouts, since +Lance had been mentioned in the letter of farewell. But, a servant being +sent to Lance's room, it was discovered that he was not at home; and +Dennie forthwith started to drive to the shore, hoping that he might get +some clew from Aunty Losh. + +Imagine Jessie's wonder and anxiety when she found that Lance had +disappeared! Her conscience had already stung her for the absurdity of +her quarrel with him; but now that he was out of reach, and that Dennie +had brought to her the apprehension of something tragic impending over +Sylvester, her excitement rose to fever-height. Daylight broadened while +she sat up, nervous and speculating, amid the noises of the disturbed +household; and the wind-storm increased in violence every moment, +keeping pace with her terror and her perplexity. Filled with +forebodings, and finding it impossible to remain inactive, she completed +her toilet, had one of the stable-hands called, and, leaving word for +her father that she had gone to the headland in quest of Lance, she +started to drive through the plantations. + +Hunting Quarters being the nearer point, Dennie dropped the reins when +the jaded team which he drove brought him to a fork in the roadway, and +told Adela to drive to her father's house. He himself set out on a full +run for Aunty Losh's, and never paused until he reached the cabin-door. + +Aunty Losh reported that Sylv had risen before dawn and gone toward +Elbow-Crook Swamp, saying that he had something to do there for Mr. +Lance. + +The storm raged more furiously than ever. The ocean could be heard +thundering at the outer bulwarks of the coast irresistibly. The great +billows were actually at that moment surging far beyond their wonted +limits and shaking the very roots of the low hills out by Hatteras, +though Dennie could not see them there. He could guess the tumult that +was in progress at Ocracoke and lower; the air was full of mist and +flying spray; the sea was literally pulling down the outer sand-heaps, +eating into them, doing its best to tear open a new inlet; and the +waters of the Sound were furrowed, foaming, and uncontrollable. Yet +Dennie could not delay. He began at once to retrace his course, heading +for the swamp, for he had several miles to go. It was only for an +instant, as he crossed the planks over the ditch he had so recently +made, that he observed how the water from the Sound was boiling through +the artificial channel. + +He went on in headlong haste. + +Before he had been twenty minutes out of sight Jessie drove up to within +a few rods of the ditch, and sped across the intervening space. Her +coachman warned her not to go thither. "You'll be blown away, missy," he +cried, despairingly. "Dis yer am a hurricane, and de hosses can't stan' +it much longer." + +But, if she heard him, she paid no attention. In a few moments she had +crossed the narrow planks, which, bedded though they were in the earth, +trembled at the assaults of the wind. She had no more than vanished +among the trees around the cabin when the tide, rushing in renewed +volumes through the ditch, swept away the frail bridge as if it had been +straw. The banks began to crumble; and the coachman, barely able to +guide his horses, whipped up and drove away as well as he could, in +search of aid. + +Dennie got over the ground with marvellous rapidity, taking the shortest +line for the swamp. The wind was blowing inland, and bore him along with +it; so, when he had gone two thirds of the way, it seemed to him that +but a few minutes had elapsed. He was on the regular road, now; but it +was providential, nevertheless, that he should encounter in that spot +another man. He hailed him loudly, amid the howling of the wind; and the +man, turning round, proved to be Lance! He, too, was on his way to the +swamp. Going forth aimlessly, he had made up his mind to join Sylv, if +he could find him, in the proposed expedition. Alarmed by the prodigious +force of the tempest, however, he would have turned back and endeavored +to regain the manor, if he had not met Dennie. + +A few hasty words gave him knowledge of the threatened catastrophe; and +the two men joined forces in the forlorn attempt to find Sylv and +prevent his self-destruction. + +Dennie knew where a boat could be had to launch upon the devious river +that ran through the swamp; and, fortunately, it turned out that Sylv +had not taken this boat for himself. + +Together they entered the gloomy jungle. They not only plunged into the +desperate undertaking of trying to save the life of another man, who had +resorted to this convenient cover with the evident purpose of never +emerging thence, but they also engaged in a struggle which, for +themselves, was very like a life-and-death matter. + +For some time they could not use their boat. They were obliged to drag +it through a tangled mass of roots and vines and treacherous brake, +until they could reach the stream. The exertion they made was almost +super-human, and would have been impossible to them except under the +terrible incentive that drew them on. Only when they were afloat, and +paddling warily along the dubious and unfamiliar current, did they +understand how their labor had sapped their strength. And only then, +also, did they perceive that they had passed from a world of uproar and +elemental upheaving into a realm as secluded and quiet as a tomb. + +The mighty winds, it is true, rumbled through the tops of the trees +under which they were buried; but the dense mass of boughs and springing +verdure that walled in the secret places of the swamp, as with a hundred +separate walls, would not permit that wild commotion of the outer air to +reach them. Birds had fled hither from the hurricane, and even dared to +chirp in the lonely and forsaken thickets of this uncouth wilderness. +Day was spreading above the thick canopy of boughs, and was pouring its +light all round the vast area of the swamp at its edges; but here, +within, there reigned a perpetual and awful twilight. The slow, brown +stream ran on ahead, turning here and there, opening into blind creeks, +sprawling through the dusk like some great snaky thing with a hundred +sinuous arms and feelers; but it was rather by instinct and touch than +by any other means that the two men in the canoe traced the main body of +the slimy current. No landmarks were to be counted on there: the points +of the compass were obliterated. + +The swamp was the home of oblivion. They moved through it as through a +place set apart for those who are condemned to a death in life. + +From time to time they shouted aloud. Having no weapons with them, they +could make no other signal. They called to Sylv, with a hope that he +might answer to them from the next bend in the stream, or from some +adjoining depth of bough and bramble. Yet always the same dead silence +swallowed up the sound of their voices, and no human response came back. +The raw air, the shade, the moisture of the oozing current, gradually +invaded them with a chill that seemed to run through their very bones; +but it was with a more deadly chill that they gazed into one another's +eyes, and thought, without saying it, that perhaps they were even then +pushing their way over the liquid grave in which Sylv might have sought +relief. + +How long they urged that ghostly chase it would not be easy to say: they +could form no judgment of the time. But at last Dennie caught sight of +what appeared to be a ruddy flame on a low island in the muddy flood, +some distance in advance. Neither of the paddlers was quite positive +that it was a real flame, but they put new vigor into their strokes, and +hallooed again. Once more, no answer. + +Still, the flame grew more distinct. The canoe swept rapidly forward and +rubbed against the roots and sediment of the tiny island. No other boat +was moored there, but the fire flickered and spurted up more vividly. +Beside it they beheld Sylv, haggard, inert, and seemingly unconscious of +their approach. + +"Sylv! Sylv!" cried Dennie. + +"What are you doing here?" Lance demanded. + +Sylv shrank back, then started to his feet; the flame-light--looking so +garish in that gloomy place--thrown upward on to his wan checks in such +wise as to make them seem more hollow than they were in fact. + +"I came here to die," he answered, without emotion. "Why did you follow +me? It would have been over before long." + +They heard the booming of the storm-wind in the trees overhead, like the +groan of some remote unknown multitude of sufferers; and it chimed in +well with the lonely reverberation of his voice. + +"It is over now!" Lance exclaimed. "Don't you see that we won't let you +die? It was mad of you to think of such a thing, Sylv!" + +Dennie drew close to his brother swiftly, and put his arm around him, as +though to guard him from an unseen enemy. + +"Sylv," he said, "it ar' all fixed and done. Deely loves ye--she have +told me--and I see that I ain't the one for her. I'm clean done with all +that ar foolishness, Sylv, and I told her she'd got to marry ye, anyhow. +Steady away now, Sylv. D'ye listen to me?" + +The burly, red-bearded brother slid his hands down the arms of the +slender, dark-haired one, and held him as if he feared that he might +still break away and escape. + +Lance, looking on, thought he had never seen anything more tender, more +brave and manly, than Dennie's expression and attitude. He had never, he +thought, heard finer sweetness in a man's voice than came from Dennie's +lips. + +Sylv broke down. "Dennie, boy," he cried; and then paused, choking. +"Dear old Dennie!" (His brother winced at that unconscious repetition of +Adela's phrase.) "I never thought this would come! I was true when I +said I did not love her. I couldn't know what it would be like, then. +But, you see, I tried to get out of the way. Oh, why didn't you let me +die here!" + +The morbid mood which had impelled him to the resource of slow suicide, +by starvation in the swamp, could not at once be dispelled; but by dint +of soothing words and of reminders that they must lose no time in +getting back to the outer world, the two allies prevailed over Sylv's +melancholy. + +"Where's your boat?" asked Lance. + +"I set it adrift," was the answer. + +A fresh peril was thus intruded upon them; for the canoe would hold +three persons only with the greatest precautions. + +"You uns go, and then one can come back for me," Dennie suggested. + +But Lance would not risk leaving him alone. It was decided, therefore, +that they should all embark and make their way to safety, if possible. +The hazard and suspense of the situation, however, roused Sylv up +thoroughly. All his finer qualities reasserted themselves, and he became +the guiding spirit in the endeavor of the party to extricate itself. He +whom the others had come to recall to life was now eager to lead them +out of the dilemma in which they had placed themselves on his account. +But in the anxiety of the moment he forgot one thing. The flame which he +had kindled, like a torch in the gloomy vaults of death, was left +burning; and they had paddled some distance before they remembered their +neglect. + +Meanwhile the lonely beacon, unwatched, had shot out an experimental +tongue to try sundry dry vine-stems hard by. The stems responded with a +brisk crackle. The flames scaled the side of a tree almost instantly, +and ran along the boughs. Thence they transferred themselves with ease +to another tree. Thus, in a few minutes, the blaze spread from the +island into the rest of the dense wood, and became a conflagration. + +The smoke blew lazily toward the occupants of the canoe; then a lurid +glow shone along the murky water. They saw their danger, and paddled +with might and main; but the danger of upsetting the overloaded craft +handicapped them and retarded their progress. + +Soon the glow came nearer and burst into actual fire. The whole swamp +seemed to be roofed with writhing flame. The heat was frightful: birds +flew away madly through the labyrinth; the shadowy shapes of wild +creatures scurried through the tangle, and scared serpents slipped out +from their lairs, trailing across the sluggish stream. All the while the +fire pursued the three human fugitives with what seemed a vindictive +intelligence: the long draperies of gray moss caught the sparks, +flashing them on in vivid festoons, and wrapping the forest in a +magnificent combustion. + +Blinded, stifled, and dizzy, the canoeists were at last obliged to +abandon their narrow bark and push their way through the fearful maze on +shore. Luckily, however, when they were driven to this extreme they had +come nearly to the edge of the wilderness. + +Each struggling for himself, Lance and Sylv suddenly achieved safety: +they set foot upon the solid ground, and felt the fierce wind from the +sea. But at that juncture Dennie, who was behind them, stumbled, and was +caught in the mire. The hissing mass of flame advanced upon him, and +Sylv, seeing his danger, turned to help him. + +Lance tried to hold Sylv back. He fought with him, in his desire to +prevent what he thought a certain sacrifice of two lives instead of one. +But Sylv, nerved by an ecstatic force, sprang away from him and reached +his brother's side. How it was done neither Lance nor Sylv could say +afterward; but the attempt succeeded, and Sylv dragged Dennie out of +danger, though not unscathed. The intense heat had blistered their faces +and hands even in the few moments that it had to work upon them; and +Dennie, hurt by the fall of a heavy branch which had struck his leg, lay +in the road, unable to rise. + + + + +CHAPTER XVI. + +"I LIVE, HOW LONG I TROW NOT." + + +One might well have supposed that the period of final destruction had +come on that eventful day. Wind, fire, and sea all combined to make it a +memorable one. For, while Lance and the De Vines were going through +their adventures in Elbow-Crook Swamp, the incoming tides, fomented by +the winds, not only swept away the paltry planking that joined Aunty +Losh's headland to the main shore, but also proceeded to crunch up and +dissolve a large portion of her real estate. + +The freakish inroads of the sea on the North Carolina coast are scarcely +subjects for exaggeration, because they themselves outdo fancy. The +ocean thereabouts has an occasional fit of map-making. Not content with +changing the soundings as it pleases, it sometimes closes up an old +inlet, at a single mad flurry, or insists upon opening a new avenue in +any place that may suit its convenience. And so, at this particular +crisis, having thundered at the outer gates and found no admission, it +sent a heavy tide into the Sound, and played havoc there. The green +waters, ordinarily manageable enough, converted themselves into +cataracts. They heaved, frothed, billowed and raged, until Aunty Losh's +demesne, once an innocent promontory, became a very perilous and +uncomfortable island. + +The watery ditch turned into a rushing tide-way; then it became a deep +channel; and lastly it widened into an angry reach of turbulent waves, +which could be crossed only by boat. All this transformation, be it +remembered, was accomplished in a few hours. + +Meanwhile, Aunty Losh and Jessie cowered in the little cabin on the +dwindling territory, and expected every moment to be swallowed up by the +surges that lashed so wildly around them. + +But the retreating coachman had known what he was about. He had gone at +once to Hunting Quarters, where he had found Adela, who was herself +distracted with anxiety for Sylv, and therefore in a perfect mood for +venturing upon the wildest scheme of rescue that could be imagined. It +so chanced that the dug-out was harbored in a cove which the girl could +reach. The rude sloop clung there, thumping heavily on the bottom, and +lurching now and then against the shore, with an impact that would have +smashed any other sort of craft at short notice. But this was precisely +what she was made for, and so she endured the strain. + +Adela prepared to take her out to the now isolated cabin, and bring off +the inmates. Old Reefe remonstrated. He said it was certain death to go; +that no boat could live in such a wind on a short, shallow sea; and that +his daughter must wait until the storm abated. + +"No," cried Adela; "I am going, whether it's death or not! How do you +know what will happen to them out there if I wait? The cabin itself may +be swept away, and poor old aunty in it. Then, Dennie is there, and--and +perhaps Sylv." For one instant, as she uttered this name, her voice +sank. "If they had any boat, 'twould be another thing. But they're cut +off--they can't help themselves--and I'm going." + +The brave girl hardly believed that she could make the trip in safety, +but she thanked her stars that Dennie had brought her up to handle a +tiller--and the rest she left to Providence. + +The water was swashing up close to the door of the little hut, and Aunty +Losh and Jessie sat within, holding on to each other in silence when, +through the deep, prolonged roar of the tempest, they fancied that they +heard a shout--a woman's shout. Simultaneously with it there came a +thud, like the dropping of some heavy weight upon the ground just +outside of the house. "Lord be praised!" Aunty Losh exclaimed, "Thar +ain't nothin' could do that ar but the ole dug-out. Open the do', Miss +Jessie." + +Jessie considered this as a command to invite dissolution into their +fragile shelter; but she obeyed. + +In a few moments they were on board the sloop, bouncing and reeling +through the violent waves. By this time Colonel Floyd, having also +received the alarm, reached the spot on horseback. Waiting with old +Reefe on the shore, he noted every motion of the plunging sail, which +was let out barely enough to give the dug-out headway. Adela stood at +the helm, strong and masterful as a man, but with a quick, feminine eye +for every chance or change of the terrific gale, and with a touch that +responded instantly to her observation. She ignored her two passengers +absolutely. + +But when, after several escapes from foundering and a weary battle of +tacking from one point to another, the sloop rounded, with her heavy +prow, into the cove and touched the land, the girl dropped down in the +stern, exhausted. + +There had been no time for delay or inquiry, and indeed it would have +been impossible to talk in the over-powering bluster of the storm, while +fighting a way through it; but Adela had been very much astonished both +by Jessie's presence at the cabin, and by the absence of Dennie. She now +tried to learn from Aunty Losh what had become of him; but the poor old +woman's mind was in such confusion from fright and from the suddenness +of her rescue that she could not furnish much enlightenment. As for +Jessie, she had gone to the headland without any knowledge of Lance's +actual whereabouts, but thinking it probable that her lover would go +there, since she had heard something vaguely about his arrangements with +Sylv. It was now noon, and the suspense in which she remained about +Lance, joined to Adela's fearful dread concerning Sylv, would not permit +them to rest. The colonel, who had been thrown into a wild excitement by +the failure both of his daughter and of Lance to return to the house, +hugged Jessie close to his heart with silent prayers of thanksgiving, +and wrung Adela's hand with gratitude, while the tears ran down his +cheeks. The carriage had followed him with fresh horses, bringing dry +wraps, food, and restoratives; and the colonel insisted that the best +thing to be done was for the three women to get in and go at once to the +manor with him. + +Meanwhile Sylv and Lance, helping the disabled Dennie between them, had +arrived at the house, and were taking care of the sufferer. + +I need not detail the recitals and explanations that followed. I will +say only that Jessie treated Adela like a sister that day, and ever +afterward. It was strange, mysterious, yet beautiful, to Lance's eyes, +to see them together; one of them the latest offspring of Gertrude +Wylde, rescued from oblivion--coaxed back, as it were, from the forest +shadows and the red race to her own race and kin--the other a descendant +of Gertrude's cousin, to-day rescued by her kinswoman from the engulfing +waters of the Sound. The whims and prejudices that had hampered Jessie +before were now totally dissolved; and Lance's dream was realized, after +all. The wild thought which had crossed his mind, of devoting his life +to Adela, proved to be simply a perversion of the ardent desire which he +had felt, that she ought to be included somehow in the lines of +relationship and love prescribed by her ancestry. His allegiance to +Jessie, never really shaken, was perfect and enduring. But these results +would never have come about had not the actors in the curious drama +remained, through all their troubles, sound and sincere of heart. They +had, every one, risen somewhat higher than they were when their +relations began. Each had advanced in his or her own way. Sylv strove +upward by means of intellectual effort and by will; Dennie attained to +as lofty a standard of conduct through the working out of instinct and +passion. But in whatever manner they had proceeded, all were true. + +The wild storm went down that night, though the rolling sea and the +curling breakers of the Sound continued to heave for hours, throwing out +in the darkness broad lines and crests of phosphorescence that made them +look like fluid white fire. Then the rain came, in torrents; and it was +well that it came, for the danger to the inflammable pine-plantations, +from the conflagration in Elbow Crook, had become alarming. Not even the +sullen fierceness of that furnace--in which the swamp-woods, with all +their intricacies of flickering boughs, like some gigantic red coral +work, were melting down--could withstand the providential rain-streams. +The fire faded away as if by magic; and the next day, when Hedson went +out, with scores of other gazers, to look at the expanse of charred +_debris_ where the wood had been, he remarked tersely (but in an +undertone) to Lance: "That property is now worth just one hundred +percent more for our purpose than it was day before yesterday. The +clearing has been done free of charge." + +By the middle of the summer the county awoke to the fact that a +syndicate of Northern capitalists had purchased the tract and were going +to develop it into a prodigious vegetable garden. The reed-pulp +paper-mill went up; there was an immense quantity of ditching and +levelling carried on in the swamp. Little houses began to make their +appearance; now dwellers came to live in them; and a school and church +were found to be necessary. There is now a flourishing community in that +place; and while Lance, I am glad to say, has made a good deal of money, +his pleasure has grown largely from the knowledge that he has brought +about improvements which others also enjoy. Sylv acts as his chief +adviser and confidential agent. + +Dennie's accident left him somewhat lame, but he has still found it +possible to be of service in some of Lance's undertakings. He prefers, +however, to retain a degree of independence by living on the island with +Aunty Losh, and following more or less his old employment in a superior +dug-out schooner, which has replaced the sloop. On the island he has +remained ever since the marriage of Sylv and Adela and their +installation in a pretty house which was built for them, near enough to +the manor to make it convenient for the children of Jessie and Adela to +meet often when they shall grow a little older. + +One slight question came up, I must admit, as to who had the best right +to appropriate the old Wharton Hall motto. Sylv acknowledged that it +belonged primarily to Lance, by inheritance from Guy Wharton; but, then, +had it not been handed down to Adela as well? The point was settled +without dispute; for Sylv's house was built before Lance was ready to +remodel the manor, and when the plans were submitted to Lance he +proposed--with Jessie's permission--that he should be allowed to +contribute as his gift a tablet for the hall, on which were to be shown +(not cut in, but raised in bold relief) the lines beginning + + "I live, how long I trow not." + +Dennie has no new house and no old motto. I cannot suppose that he is +altogether a contented man; but I believe he is happy in having taken +the right course. + +"My old heart do ache for ye, Dennie," said Aunty Losh to him, about the +time of the wedding. "There ain't much on't left at my time o' life; but +what there be of heart in me do ache, for sure. But ye done right, boy. +'Tain't no use tryin' to drive a woman. It's mighty like when ye tryin' +to make a passel o' hens come into the house; and ye chase 'em up and +say, 'Shoo!' and gits 'em a'most to the do'; and then they jist run +straight past it. No; ye can't drive a woman, Dennie, if she's sot her +mind ag'in it. That's what." + +Dennie looked up from the tackle he was mending, and smiled. "Wal, +aunty," he said, "you and me make out to git along pretty squar' +together, don't we? I don't want for to drive ye, and ye can't look to +drive me, neither. _I_ don't complain." + +The last three words will do for his motto; and they make a sufficiently +honorable one. + + + + +MAJOR BARRINGTON'S MARRIAGE. + + + + +I. + +Major Barrington before the acquisition of his military title was a +rather shapely gentleman, with a fine, carrot-tinted complexion and +strong, reddish whiskers, corresponding well with it, and branching out +on either side of his chin with a valiant air. + +Nor did his appearance greatly alter, immediately after passing from the +condition of plain citizen to that of a defender of his country. His +chin (which was shaven, and had a pretty little dent in the bottom of +it) came for a time more prominently before the public, being carried +somewhat higher in the air; but otherwise you would hardly have known +what a great man he was. + +It happened thus: The War of the Rebellion had been going on for about a +year, and Mr. Zadoc S. Barrington was a boarder in the respectable but +shabby mansion of one Mrs. Douce, in East Thirtieth Street, New York--a +short, pale, dusty-looking woman, who had under her threadbare wing a +maiden relative, Natalia by name. Natalia was alternately visitor and +boarder, according as her slender income gave out or held out, and the +consequence of this variable status was an equally variable disposition +on the part of the aunt toward the niece. Mrs. Douce had naturally a dry +heat of temper, which was possibly the source of that pulverous look +about the face already noticed; and it was only by turning on periodical +smiles, like the spray from a watering-cart, that she was able to allay +the gritty particles of her irritability in the presence of paying +boarders. It was to be expected, therefore, that during Natalia's +impecunious seasons her aunt should relapse into unmitigated dustiness, +and puff her discontent, so to speak, in dreary little gusts at the +forlorn maiden. + +Being forlorn, was it strange that Natalia should look to Barrington for +sympathy? Not at all. By degrees he thus came--without any movement on +his own part--to take an important place in her daily experience. A +variety of little hopes and illusions, of which her life had been pretty +well divested before, and which she alone could not have revived, sprung +up spontaneously under the most casual glance of Zadoc S. For example, +though she had no appetite for Mrs. Douce's feeble dinners, she could +get up a fictitious enjoyment of them by looking at the robust +Barrington, whose bold coloring and hearty appearance deceived her as to +the real measure of his relish for that dreary cookery. + +Barrington was not dangerously youthful, but neither was Natalia. +Financially he was not prosperous, but she was decidedly not so. Heaven +only knows how, during the years of his residence in New York, he had +contrived to subsist. It was not on any scientific principle of survival +that he persisted; but rather on the principle of the fallen sparrow. +Still, he was a portly sparrow, and must have needed a good deal to keep +him on his feet. But he remained on his feet--he never soared. And yet, +such as he was, Natalia--let us confess it with a becoming amount of +maiden timidity--yes, Natalia had begun to love him. + + +II. + +But she did not tell her love. She let concealment feed upon her +cheek--which, to be accurate, was not damask, but rather of the quality +of sarsnet. However, before her appearance had had time to suffer by +this process, an unexpected proceeding on the part of Barrington led her +to reveal her sentiment--to surprise and, one might say, surround him. +Did capture follow? Let us see. + +At this period his affairs were very low. He was a prospective patentee, +a filer of caveats for little inventions, which no one could have been +hired to infringe, the most ingenious point of which was their perfect +adaptability for not making money. He was also by turns an agent for +books, subscription engravings, sewing-machines, and what not. He did +everything but succeed. Finally he conceived the idea of a new vegetable +lamp-oil that could be made from floating oily matter to be found in any +swamp. He had made close computation of the swampy land in the whole +State of New York, which could be bought for a trifle, and turned into +sources of boundless wealth. For a time he fed the flame of hope with +this visionary fluid; but a serious lamp explosion, resulting from one +of his experiments, deprived him at once of half his whiskers and all +his expectations. There was indeed one resource left him, the nature of +which we may discover presently; but he hesitated to avail himself of +it, because it might compromise his independence. In fact, a certain +steady effort to be a man and to keep his self-respect, in spite of his +many failures, was Barrington's finest trait, and always gave me a +liking for him, notwithstanding his weakness. + +By the time his singed whiskers had regained their pristine vigor, and +when the war had passed through its first year, there drove up to Mrs. +Douce's door, one day, an express wagon with a trunk in it. The +startling thing about this was that the trunk (which was made of +sole-leather) was quite new, and had painted on it, with terrific +distinctness, this legend: + + CAPT. Z. S. BARRINGTON, U. S. A. + +The painted end of the trunk happened to be nearest the house. Now, Mrs. +Douce was at that very moment in her reception-room on the ground +floor--a sort of little bin or wine-cooler of a room, where (having +nothing better to cool) she kept callers, and sometimes herself--and +from there she spied the appalling arrival. She did not know, which was +the fact, that Barrington, tired of his sparrow's life on the pavements +of the metropolis, had been in correspondence with friends at +Washington, who had secured him the promise of a commission on his +applying for it. He had not at once made such application, but had gone +off with much high beating of the heart, and ordered the trunk, as a +preliminary, feeling perhaps that the final step would be easier to take +after committing himself thus far. + +Mrs. Douce, I say, not knowing this, opened the door for the expressman +in a great flurry of excitement. "Now, indeed," thought she, +melodramatically, "I begin to feel what war is!" + +Then she ran up-stairs herself, to inform Barrington that the trunk had +come. But he was equal to the emergency. With an unshaken demeanor the +hero rose from the table at which he had been conducting a busy and +wholly useless correspondence, and looked at Mrs. Douce with a +magnificent calm, which gave her a strange sensation of having +penetrated some great general's headquarters. Then he proceeded +down-stairs to parley with the expressman, who for a moment seemed to +take the place of a flag-of-truce bearer, or some kind of military +ambassador. + +As Barrington descended he heard Natalia in the drawing-room conducting +to its close an extensive piece of music, with a copious rumbling of low +notes and a twittering of high ones, which was apparently reluctant to +be brought to a close at all. The sound touched his heart, somehow; but +he went on. It also touched Mrs. Douce, who had followed; but she did +_not_ go on. + + +III. + +She stopped in the narrow passage, just by a niche containing a tall and +bilious-complexioned alabaster vase, with scraggly arms, which had +always impressed her as giving the house a great advantage over other +boarding-houses. (That vase, by the way, had levied its tax in many a +bill.) But now it seemed gloomily symbolic; everything had begun to seem +unnatural and suggestive since that trunk appeared. She fancied the vase +was like a "storied urn," containing the ashes of some valiant warrior +who should no more wield the humble breakfast-knife at her devastated +table. Overcome with emotion, she passed on and pushed open the +drawing-room door. + +"Natalia," she exclaimed, impressively, "guess what has happened!" As +the expressman, with fate-like footsteps, tramped up-stairs, carrying +the trunk on his shoulder, Barrington, who came after him, noticed that +the rumbling and twittering of the piano had ceased, and that his +landlady had disappeared. The two women were, in fact, conversing in +agitated whispers on the other side of the closed parlor door. + +"Well, never did I think to lose _him_!" exclaimed Mrs. Douce. + +"Poor aunt!" said Natalia; "and so late in the season, too." + +"It isn't that so much," interrupted the other, severely; "but it hurts +me that he should have been so sudden and so secret." + +"Perhaps he thought we--" Natalia paused, and blushed. "But why _should_ +he think we'd urge him to stay?" + +"Hark! is he coming down again?" said her aunt. No; it was merely the +expressman. He thumped his way down to the street door. They heard the +wagon drive off, and for a moment afterward they held their breath, as +if a battle had been raging near them, and the heavy current of the +fight had now swept by, leaving them in suspense, lest it should return. +Then the dignified step of Barrington resounded on the staircase. He +came to the door, and opened it. "I ought," he began, stepping in with a +smile, "to explain matters a little." + +Mrs. Douce's mood was like that of elderly matrons at the wedding of a +young friend. She hardly knew whether to laugh or cry. "Oh," she +returned, in the breathless, short-of-supplies manner usual with her in +awkward situations, "oh--no--explanation is needed, Mr. Barrington!" +and, after a short pause, simpering, "I'm sure." + +Natalia, meanwhile, stood in a shrinking, drooping attitude near the +battered rosewood piece of furniture from which she had been drawing +music, and looked a good deal like one of those young ladies in old +colored prints who devote themselves to standing mournfully under +weeping willows, among headstones. + +"Well, you see," proceeded Barrington, who took Mrs. Douce's denial at +its worth, "I didn't say anything, because--well, it wasn't quite +settled." + +"Then you're not _sure_ of going to the war?" Natalia burst forth, with +pathetic eagerness. (Barrington noticed that her heightened color was +becoming to her.) + +"Sure?" answered he, cruelly; "oh, yes; humanly speaking, I suppose it's +sure enough. I--good gracious!--I only--" + +These incoherent phrases were drawn out by the effect his statement had +produced. Natalia's eyelids fell at his words. She was trying to repress +a tendency to sob. By the time the hero had discovered this a tear had +found its way into sight beneath her eyelashes. + +"There!" cried Mrs. Douce, sternly. "Any one might have known it. _We_ +aren't made of sole-leather, Mr. Barrington. [He said to himself it was +lucky she had told him this.] Common humanity and friendship ought to +have shown you what this suddenness would lead to." + +"I can't help it," murmured her niece, referring to the tears now +hurrying down her face, and misled by the matron's angry tone and her +own confusion into the idea that _she_ was being scolded. (She was at +this time without money.) + +"Of course you can't, dear," said the aunt, soothingly. "As if any one +with any considerateness, or average humanity, I may say, would suppose +you could! I am not the woman to blame you for giving way under the +circumstances, Natalia. It only shows you've got a heart, while _some_ +people--Mr. Barrington, excuse me, but I must speak out." However, she +didn't speak out any further, but wound up with: "Anyway, it can't be +worse than it is [though nobody had intimated that it could be]. You've +decided to leave me. Well, that's what I must expect, I suppose." And +she dropped into a chair, and patted her thumbs together, as if there +were some crushing sarcasm in the action, which satisfied her wounded +feelings. + +Barrington succumbed to remorse. Besides, Natalia's unhappiness aroused +his sympathy, and he became angry--without knowing whether he had a +right to be so--at Mrs. Douce's taking the part of a comforter. He +fancied he could do this even better than she. "Of course," he said, +stiffly, "I don't expect to leave you without compensation for not +giving notice. I shall pay you for two or three weeks extra." + +He felt a dreadful sinking of the pocket as he spoke; but dignity +required the sacrifice. The landlady did not respond for an instant; her +eyes wandered about with a pained, prophetic air. "What have I done," +she cried, "to bring this upon me? Mr. Barrington, have I ever asked you +more than we agreed upon? _Have_ I treated my family meanly? You have +been in this house two years, and I know you can't point to anything. +What have I done to be insulted so?" she demanded of the faded +window-curtains. + +A moment of silence followed this outburst; then she swept out of the +room, with a thin rustle of her black dress, and left the prospective +captain and Natalia alone. + + +IV. + +Miss Douce put away her handkerchief in a business-like manner, and +looked at Barrington with soft appeal. "Ah, why didn't you tell?" + +"Tell? My dear Miss Douce, I had no idea--" + +"Thoughtless man, not to foresee!" + +"I didn't suppose your aunt would be so much annoyed." + +"Oh, I didn't mean _that_!" said Natalia, growing judiciously pettish. + +"What then?" + +"Not _her_," said the maiden, significantly. + +"Really, Miss Douce," said Barrington, "you have surprised me--I had no +idea--" + +"Don't, for pity's sake, tell me again that you had no idea!" exclaimed +Natalia. + +"I beg your pardon, I meant to say something." + +"What good can it do to say anything, when you have done your best to +break our hearts?" she demanded. And here she brought out the +handkerchief again, and began to look dangerously tearful. + +"Goodness!" said the unfortunate man. "I'm sure I didn't mean to. I +would a good deal rather stay at home than have you feel this way." + +"You have caused me great suffering, whether you meant to or not," +declared Miss Douce, with a quaver in her voice. Then, replying to his +devotion: "Will you give up going, to prove your words? Will you stay at +home?" + +Barrington felt the glory upon his horizon beginning to fade. He braced +himself by a chair with one hand; with the other he took Natalia's. "Do +you ask this as a personal favor?" he said. + +Miss Douce was weeping slightly again. "I don't want you to go," she +answered, shyly, turning away her head. "Yes, for my sake, stay!" + +At this crisis Rawsden, one of the junior boarders, who had just +returned from business and had been met at the reception-bin by Mrs. +Douce with news of the dread trunk, passed up-stairs and caught a +glimpse of the tableau, from the hall. "Aha," he muttered (for he was a +cynical youth)--"Hector and Andromache!" And then he glided on and up to +his remote chamber. + +Zadoc S. still hesitated a moment. "I shall not go immediately, in any +case," he said, gently. "I shall be here some days yet." + +"But why go at all?" urged the Andromache. "Is it irrevocable?" + +"No," he answered, unguardedly. "I--I haven't got my commission yet. I'm +only expecting it." + +There was a sudden revulsion of feeling on this announcement. Barrington +became aware that his position was not so heroic as it had been, and +Natalia began to blush violently at having betrayed her feelings on a +sham emergency. But, as it happened, neither of them thought of getting +out of the trouble by laughing. + +"You see, now, why I kept it to myself," he proceeded, awkwardly, after +some delay. + +Miss Douce had released her hand, and now rose abruptly. "Oh, yes," she +said; "I suppose it was all very foolish of me--but--you will forgive +me?" + +"I assure you, I feel honored," cried Zadoc, warmly, "by your +solicitude. And, if I dared--if you would allow me--" + +Let me here confess that I haven't the slightest notion what Barrington, +in that moment of impulse, was going to say. But explanation is made +unnecessary by the fact that Miss Douce didn't allow him to finish. + +"Don't say any more," she begged. "It is too painful. I must go and find +my aunt, Mr. Barrington, to tell her there's a hope of your staying. For +if your commission _shouldn't_ come--" + +"I should wait, of course," he responded, captivated by her glance. + +Naturally, after this, he went up to the room which Mrs. Douce's fancy +had transformed into a headquarters, and wrote to his Washington friends +not to get the commission. Of course, too, Mrs. Douce came gently +rapping at his door, in the evening, with a face as solemn as an +obituary notice, and with his bill in her pocket, whereon she had +obediently registered the item of compensatory payment, which she had so +scornfully rejected in the afternoon. Quite of course he said, with +dignity: "You may leave the bill, but I have decided not to go." And +then, by sequence, she affirmed--her face irradiated with joy--that she +had brought the bill very reluctantly, in the first place, and, if he +would excuse her, she thought she would _not_ leave it. + +As a further matter of course, Miss Natalia, being informed of the +abandonment of warlike measures, pretended not to care anything about +the episode, and to feel that it was rather an impertinence than +otherwise to bring it to her notice. + +On the other hand, little Rawsden had been cracking his joke about +Hector, etc., to a Miss Sneef, a rather pretty young boarder, whom he +honored by confiding to her his more successful sarcasms; and, when she +imparted to him, next day, the news of Barrington's capitulation, he had +the presence of mind to smile pallidly and look as if he had known all +about it from an early period of his existence. Without changing his +tone, he muttered, dryly: "Antony and Cleopatra!" + + +V. + +The two parties most concerned said nothing about it to each other for +days. But the interval was not unemployed. Mrs. Douce, having now +discovered her niece's inclination (if she had not known it before), was +allured by a calculation, based on the fact that Barrington had always +managed to pay his bills, and on the hope that if Natalia were to become +Mrs. Barrington two permanent paying boarders might be secured, with +possibly, in time, a half price besides. "One of these days, after all," +she said to Barrington, whom she took an early opportunity of seeing +alone, "you will be going off and leaving me, I fear." + +"Oh, no," said he; "I've really given up the war!" + +"But there are other things than war." + +"Other things to carry me away, do you mean? Or other disasters?" + +"Well, not exactly disasters," said Mrs. Douce, hastily; "I mean +marriage." + +"You don't call that a disaster, then?" Barrington inquired, wickedly. +"But what on earth has put this into your head?" + +"It's much easier to get into my head than war. If you could think of +such an unnatural thing as going to war, you might easily decide to +marry," was the landlady's equivocal conclusion. + +"What, I?" exclaimed Barrington, trying not to grow red, but doing so. +"I see I've made you suspicious." + +At this juncture a faint ghostly voice was heard rising from the +basement, where the cook had long been buried, to the third-story +banister, where they were talking. "Mrs. Douce, Mrs. Douce!" And Mrs. +Douce, giving him an arch look, observed, with a dry laugh: "I don't +know what you're plotting." Then she obeyed the voice. + +Whether this talk was the cause, or whether it was owing to the interest +which Miss Natalia Douce's behavior with regard to the military trunk +excited, Barrington's attention was more closely directed to her now, +and he observed in her from day to day a deepening melancholy. She +became listless, and fell into reveries. She played more than usual on +the piano in the dowdy parlor, behind the bilious-looking but +aristocratic vase; but there was less rumbling and twittering in her +music than formerly, and there were more pensive strains. She played +"Make me no Gaudy Chaplet" and nocturnes by sundry composers; she sang +"The Three Fishers." All this was the more interesting, in that there +was no apparent personal application in the music she choose, since no +one had insisted upon her accepting a gaudy chaplet, and she was not +wedded as yet to a fisherman. But one evening Barrington, coming down a +few minutes before dinner, entered the parlor as she was wrenching from +the key-board the last phrases of a funeral march in the "Songs without +Words." He listened attentively until she had finished; then, after a +moment's reflection, called out from the arm-chair he had taken: "But +why do you play such mournful things, nowadays, Miss Natalia, especially +before dinner? No wonder you have no appetite." + +Natalia didn't answer, but got up in silence and made for the door. On +the way, however, she turned toward him with a look of indignation and a +terrible flash of the eye. The next instant she was gone. She did not +appear at dinner. + +"What do you suppose is the matter with your niece?" Barrington blandly +asked the aunt, at table. "I made a casual remark about her playing, +just now, and she left the room without a word." + +Mrs. Douce did not answer the question until the next day, when she came +to Barrington's room. "I've found out all about it, now," she said. "The +idea of asking me what was the matter, when you had been speaking to her +in that way!" + +"Good Lord!" cried Harrington, nettled. "What way? It was innocent +enough; and I really don't like those tunes." + +"After all that has happened!" continued the landlady, casting up her +eyes. + +"Well, _what_ has happened?" he demanded. + +"Why, your thinking of going to the war--and--and Natalia's feeling +badly, and--well, you understand, though I can't explain myself, you've +put me out so with your abruptness." + +"It's always my abruptness or my suddenness," complained Barrington. +"No; I _don't_ understand you." + +Mrs. Douce's dusty face hardened and dried till it became a very desert +of physiognomy. "Well," she said, "you are not a boy, and I--well, I am +old enough, I suppose," with a catch of the breath, "to be your mother. +So we may as well speak plainly. You see that Natalia is deeply +interested in you; you consented for her sake to give up going to the +front; and now you coolly abandon her. Not content with that, you begin +to taunt her with her melancholy. I little expected this, Mr. +Barrington. I little expected it." + +"Oh, you're unjust!" said Zadoc S. + +"At least, you'll admit you've wounded her feelings and ought to +apologize," was the rejoinder. + +"Perhaps so," he confessed, feeling sorry for Natalia. + +"Go and see her," urged his landlady, gently, though still with +something of the desert atmosphere in her voice. "Speak to her about +it." + +"I will." + +"But, remember there's only one thing can make your conduct consistent +and restore her happiness." + +"You mean," said Barrington, exploring the dent in his chin with his +forefinger--"you mean, propose?" Then, as if this were quite out of the +question, he shook his head vigorously, smiling. "Of course not that; +but I don't see what else you can mean." + +"Nothing else," said the voice of the desert. + +"It's impossible," he rejoined, quietly. + +"You _must_," responded the voice. + +Then Barrington delivered a crushing blow. "I have promised to marry +some one else," he said, with great composure. + +To Mrs. Douce's gasping, broken, indignant queries he replied that the +lady's name was Magill, and that she was a widow possessed of ample +means. There had long been an understanding between them, he declared, +but he had been unwilling to marry without an independent property of +his own. Unable to acquire this, he had hoped at least to gain +distinction in the army. That hope he had sacrificed out of pure +sympathy for Miss Natalia Douce's distress; and now he had concluded to +marry without further delay. + + +VI. + +I pass over the period of internal convulsion in the Douce hearts, +widowed and maiden, which followed Barrington's disclosure. For a time +their disconcertment was so obvious that Rawsden had it all his own way +in making contemptuous remarks about them to Miss Sneef; and to judge +from the conversation of these two singular young people, you would have +supposed that nothing could give them such exquisite delight as to prove +that all human beings are unspeakably false and absurd, and that if they +could but have succeeded in showing each other--Miss Sneef on her part, +and Rawsden on his--how they two were the falsest and absurdest of all, +their happiness would have been complete. + +But Natalia soon rallied from the shock of Barrington's engagement to +Mrs. Magill, at least far enough to begin an exasperating warfare of +innuendo, which, though it stabbed her own heart as well, brought a balm +of revenge to her own wounds, but left Barrington quivering under the +petty blows. She made frequent allusions to that neglected trunk +belonging to the non-existent Captain Barrington, U.S.A.; affected to +believe that he kept in it a complete set of defunct accoutrements, +which she begged him to put on some time and show to the "family;" and +in general taunted him most unfairly with his abandonment of his whilom +noble resolve to seek the martial field. + +Before long the entire "family" of boarders had joined more or less +actively in this guerilla attack; and the worst of it was, that they +always kept just beyond the pseudo-captain's range. He couldn't retort +upon them without losing his dignity. At last he hit upon a masterly +defence. One day he said to Natalia, carelessly, at the table: "Oh, as +to my uniform that you've been asking about, I'll show it to you +to-night! I am going to drill." + +The effect was gratifying. Natalia grew pale at the thought that her +cruel sneers had actually driven Barrington (whom she continued to adore +in spite of his desertion) back to the cannon's mouth, so to speak. The +other boarders were also deeply impressed, in their several degrees. +These emotions were considerably modified, yet not wholly effaced, when +the military aspirant finally appeared in his trappings; for he did not +wear the United States uniform. He was clothed in the splendors of a +militia major. He revealed to the little group of fellow-boarders, who +had assembled with a sort of hushed solemnity to inspect him, that for +some time he had been getting up a new, independent cavalry company, of +which he was now the commander. + +"And you're all organized?" asked one gentleman, gazing at the major as +if he were an entire company in himself. + +"Yes; first drill to-night," said Barrington, with a business-like air, +lighting a cigar, and looking quite terrific. + +"Thought a company was commanded by a captain, and not a major," +observed Rawsden, rescuing himself from a secret feeling almost of +admiration, and becoming cynical again, just in time to retain the +approval of Miss Sneef, who gave him a sagacious glance. + +"Yes, that's the common way," said the officer, with superior +indifference; "but in consideration of my zeal and expense in getting up +the company, which is very large, I rank as Major of the National Guard +of the State." Then, with striking precision, he executed a brilliant +retreat from the parlor, slammed the street-door, as he went out below, +with a report like a cannon, and left the awe-struck boarders to spend a +miserably peaceful evening, in a state of deep humility, while he reaped +the first honors of his new career. + + +VII. + +There was much question among them as to where he had got the money for +this great undertaking; but Mrs. Douce shrewdly suspected that the +widow's gold had something to do with it. She was right. Mrs. Magill's +money had gilded the major's uniform and the spurs whereby he was now +hoping to leap into the saddle of fame. + +Still, there was no immediate sign of the threatened marriage for some +time after this. Barrington took part in sundry parades, and he and his +company were freely mentioned in the papers. But the widow remained so +entirely in the background that Natalia almost believed she was a myth; +and there was no change in Zadoc's military life, except that the +letters U. S. A. on the trunk were replaced with N. Y. S. N. G. Then +came the tremendous day when Barrington's cavalry were ordered out, with +other militia, to resit the rebel invasion of Pennsylvania. I will spare +the reader the hardships of that campaign. It is enough that the gallant +major should have undergone them; and, to tell the truth, he was not +slow to make the most thereof. He never went into a fight, and hardly so +much as heard the snapping of a cap or the drawing of a sabre while his +company was at the front; for they were kept marching and +counter-marching, for strategic purposes, guarding supply-trains or +small batches of prisoners; but he was a hero, for all that, when he +returned. He had been obliged to forego shaving during his fortnight's +absence, and this gave him a suitably battered and realistic look. I'm +sorry to say he was in no hurry about shaving after he came back. He +deliberately made capital of that stubby growth on his chin and upper +lip, and it lent great effect to his tales of suffering with mud and +rains, and beds of hard wood in barns, and to the agony he expressed at +not having met the craven foe. + +Rawsden and Miss Sneef attempted to turn these narratives to ridicule, +but the effort failed signally. Barrington was a success. He had always +been trying to be one, on some solid basis or other. Now he had become +so on no basis at all. + + +VIII. + +Mrs. Magill was satisfied with her investment, but she wished now to +make it permanent. In short, she thought in time that the major should +fulfil his promise of marriage. It is scarcely necessary to say that, +meanwhile, his resplendent military renown had redoubled his +fascinations for the pensive Natalia; and that maiden's faithful +admiration and devout sympathy with him in the dangers to which he had +lately been exposed had begun to make an impression on his simple, +pompous and sanguine middle-aged heart. In all this time the two women +who divided his affections and interests had not once met. Being charged +with their rival influences, it almost seemed as if the major, while +uniting them in his mind, had possessed a sort of chemical power of +keeping them apart. But now he became extremely anxious to bring them +into each other's society. The pretext he found was that of private +theatricals. He proposed to Mrs. Magill that an entertainment in this +line should be gotten up at the drill-room of the company, which was a +sort of riding-school arena, easily transformed into a theatre. She +consented at length, but only on the understanding that this was to be +Barrington's last grand frolic before settling down to married life. + +"Yes," said Barrington, in vague terms; "I sha'n't want to remain single +any longer." But he was a good deal alarmed to find himself wondering, +at that very moment, which lady it was that he intended to marry. + +Mrs. Magill and Natalia were made acquainted, and among them the three +soon completed their plans for the performance. The piece selected was +Boucicault's farce, "Wanted--a Widow." The major had pressed Mrs. Magill +to take a part, but, with a becoming distaste for publicity, she +declined, and Natalia was induced to play in her stead. Considering the +title of the farce, the widow's abstention was certainly judicious; but +I think she would have been better pleased to see Natalia in the role of +Lady Blanche Mountjoy, rather than that of the successful widow, Mrs. +Lovebird. Lady Blanche was taken by Miss Sneef, who, being young and +pretty, yet withal sceptical by nature, made a success of the part. Mrs. +Magill, whose eyes began to survey Natalia in the appalling light of a +rival, after the first interview, took care to be present at all the +rehearsals, as you may believe; and a little real drama, for which no +rehearsal was needed, began to move within the fictitious one. + + +IX. + +Mrs. Magill was a short and rather fleshy person, with a bland +countenance, in which the experiences of her forty years--good and bad +alike--had agreed to get under shelter of a placid and non-committal +tinge of pink, there to make what pretence they could of not being +experiences at all. There was the same discreet, uncommunicative look +about her hair, which she wore stamped down along her forehead, with the +severe simplicity of a butter-pat. Natalia's face, on the contrary, +showed whatever she had been through. Thus, the widow and the unmarried +woman trenched on each other's provinces, and promptly took a dislike +one to another. + +The farce in hand, as all my readers may not remember, turns upon the +fact that _Henry Revel_ (Barrington), having been jilted by a lady who +became _Mrs. Lovebird_, has taken to reckless courses, and finally +becomes a heavy debtor, in hiding from the sheriff. In this dilemma he +gayly advertises for a rich widow, "with immediate possessions," and his +whereabouts thus come to the knowledge of _Amy Lovebird_, now widowed, +who deserted him originally only to marry a rich man who could save her +father from ruin. She seeks Harry at once, in order to explain and to +draw him back to herself. When he receives her response to his +advertisement, however, pride and resentment make him unwilling to +profit by her wealth. Meanwhile, _Amy's_ friend, _Lady Blanche_, plans a +stratagem to test him, so that it may appear whether he receives his +former flame's advances out of mercenary policy, or with the old-time +affection. She persuades Amy to appear before him as if in great +poverty, while she herself (_Lady Blanche_) writes him a letter, stating +her fortune and a fictitious age, and requesting a meeting to consider +the matrimonial project. When Harry meets Amy and hears this made-up +story of her poverty, although his early love remains unabated, he +decides to see the other widow, Lady Blanche, whose letter he has just +received, to marry her, and to use the money thus acquired for the +relief of _Mrs. Lovebird_. This decision, of course, makes him appear +for a time false to _Amy_; and the motive of the piece is, accordingly, +that of the hero's struggle between the powers of love and of money. +Since he finally marries _Mrs. Lovebird_, the superficial moral of the +play was favorable to Mrs. Magill, considered with reference to +Barrington's vacillations, because the major's affair with her antedated +the first springing up of a sentiment for Natalia, and, moreover, she +was rich. So the widow had no fear as to the moral influence of the +drama upon his mind. But the deeper lesson of this amusing composition +is that of fidelity to love without money; so, as a matter of fact, it +had a powerful effect in attaching the major to Natalia. At first he +thought little about it. But, as the rehearsals went on, he found that +theatricals, being an art, and having the magic of art, sometimes give +one a strange, new interest in the real person, exhibited under subtly +novel circumstances; and he began to think it would be pleasant to +follow up his imaginary devotion to Natalia with a real passion. + + +X. + +In proportion as this feeling of the major's grew, Mrs. Magill tired of +seeing him perpetually going through the farce with Natalia, and coming +out as her tried and trusted lover. She resolved to hasten the date of +the performance, perhaps also hoping, furtively, that Natalia wouldn't +be ready, and would therefore fail disgracefully. + +On his part, Barrington, to whom the new partiality for Natalia had made +the rehearsals increasingly pleasant, found also that the conflict +between this and his promise to Mrs. Magill brought in an element of +painfulness. He became exceedingly blue, and even treated the widow +morosely. + +"Zadie," said she, one evening, as they walked home from the drill-room, +"what ails you? I thought you were going to get so much amusement out of +these theatricals." + +"I wish I'd never gone into them!" he answered, gloomily. + +"How unkind to say that, after the condition we made about them!" This +allusion didn't improve his temper. + +"I don't forget my promise, though I _am_ sorry," he said, dubiously. + +"Sorry about the promise, you mean?" asked the widow, with an archness +that failed for want of a street-lamp to light it up. + +"You wouldn't like it if I should says yes," he retorted. + +"Oh, if you're sorry," she exclaimed, haughtily, "we'll give up +the"--here the major became attentive and eager--"the theatricals +altogether!" she concluded. + +"The theatricals," muttered he, disappointed; "I thought you were going +to say--But no! We'll play the farce out, and, when it's done, we'll +have the wedding. Does that satisfy you?" + +"It's very wrong of you to talk of it that way," said Mrs. Magill, too +sagacious to lose her temper. "But I know you'll regret it." And so, +holding him firmly by the arm, she carried him off to the door, where +they parted. + + +XI. + +At length, the evening of the performance came, and all the independent +cavalry, and their friends, assembled to look at it. Rawsden was +unusually cynical that day, and came near disabling Miss Sneef for her +part by the number and variety of his pessimistic remarks. But this was +due merely to his own inward trepidation on her behalf; and it was with +a strange whirl of by no means cynical emotion, raging underneath his +calm dress-coat and well-starched shirt-bosom, that he left her at the +dressing-room, and took his own place in the audience. As for +Barrington, the contradiction of moods into which he had fallen excited +him to great energy, and he consequently achieved a brilliant success in +the first part of the piece. Mrs. Magill sat refulgent and +diamond-flashing in her place, drinking in the praise of the major, +which was murmured on all sides; these bright moments compensated her +for all the pain of the rehearsals. But between the first and second +scenes the curtain fell, to allow the arranging of a new "set." The +shadow of that descending curtain was destined to darken seriously the +widow's fair prospect. + +Just as the audience were getting impatient for the second scene, an +audible disturbance arose on the stage, in the midst of which the green +cloth was rolled up, revealing a pictured street. No one "came on," +however; and as a moment elapsed, and the disturbance increased, Mrs. +Magill suspected something wrong. Then Natalia burst out on the +astonished spectators, through the right entrance, with a distracted +air, crying out, with apparent unconsciousness of the lifted curtain, +"What! Major Barrington has cut his head open? Where?" + +Some of the audience began to laugh, several ladies screamed, and the +cavalrymen were divided between a wish to comfort their frightened +guests and the duty of running to their commander's aid, when Barrington +appeared from the sides, moving mechanically, and with a distinct wound +on his forehead. At this sight Natalia, who had but half crossed the +stage, paused, screamed sharply and spread out her hands, seeking +support. Meanwhile the stage-manager had got the curtain started down, +and it dropped silently upon the unexpected tableaux. + +By the time it had touched the boards Mrs. Douce had reached the +dressing-room. She now stood leaning over her niece, who had fainted, +and was lying in a chair. Mrs. Magill, being of inferior velocity, was +much longer in making her way to the stage through the crowd of excited +people now hurrying to and fro. A hack had already been ordered for +Barrington, who was sitting behind the street in Lady Blanche's +drawing-room, with his head bound up, and looking rather pale. The hero +of a hundred failures, he had at last managed to get a genuine hurt. + +"Oh, horrible, horrible!" cried Mrs. Magill. "Speak to me, Zadie; how +did it happen? Can no one tell me?" + +"We were just getting up Lady Blanche's chandelier in great style," +exclaimed the manager, "when Major Barrington came along, and--" + +"No more, no more, for mercy's sake!" entreated the widow, with a +shudder. + +"Yes," continued the manager, with severe accuracy; "he hit his head +against it." + +"Mrs. Douce," cried Mrs. Magill, "run out and get my things for me--at +once--please." + +"I'm sorry," said the landlady, rather sharply, "but I can't leave +Natalia." Here some one came forward, and said the hack had arrived. + +"You see," protested the widow, "I _must_ have my things." But Mrs. +Douce devoted herself to Natalia, obliviously. + +Barrington had by this time been got on his feet, and was walking slowly +toward the stage-door, the arm of a fellow-officer under his own. + +"Major," cried the exasperated widow, "stop!" And, as she spoke, she +stepped in front of him. + +Barrington did stop; but he looked feebly peevish, and in a tone of +disgust said, plainly, "Do let me alone, can't you?" There could be no +doubt as to his words. + +The conflict over his remains, which seemed likely a moment before to +become obstinate received a check in this utterance from, as it were, +the very dead. Mrs. Magill fell back in horror, and the major was +triumphantly borne away with Natalia. + + +XII. + +The farce was never finished; but the assembled company set about the +dance which had been planned to succeed it. Rawsden and Miss Sneef +enjoyed this very much, in their superior way, and, in fact, the +breakdown of the histrionic effort made those youthful misanthropists +thoroughly hilarious. The events of the next few days, after the "caving +in" of the Major's head (as Rawsden described it), furnished him with +still further material for entertainment. + +Mrs. Magill resumed the field early the next morning, seeking to visit +her poor major. This Mrs. Douce prevented her from doing by powerful and +imaginative descriptions of Barrington's condition, and citations from +medical authority. + +Mrs. Magill then proposed to hire a room in the house. But Mrs. Douce +solemnly averred she had no room to spare. Still, the next day Mrs. +Magill came, with a carriage full of things, including light bedding, to +occupy the enemy's country, and declared she would bivouac in the +parlor. + +"But the parlor belongs to my boarders," said Mrs. Douce. "Use of parlor +included, those are the terms." + +"Then I'll take the reception-room." + +"The door is very narrow," said Mrs. Douce, scrutinizing the massive +form of the invader so insinuatingly as to make the non-committal pink +in Mrs. Magill's cheeks give place to an angry red. + +Mrs. Magill turned, and called out of the open door to the +carriage-driver to bring in the bedding, etc. "Recollect," she said, +severely, to Mrs. Douce, "he is my husband that is to be." + +The landlady looked inquiringly at the driver, and then, as if +correcting her impression, said: "Oh, the major? That makes no +difference. Those things shall not come in! Besides, it isn't at all +certain that he is." + +"Not certain? How can you dare?" + +"He says so himself." + +"Then he's out of his mind," said Mrs. Magill, calmly. + +"He was," replied Mrs. Douce. + +"I won't converse with you," said Mrs. Magill. + +"Then please order your man not to bring in those things." + +But Mrs. Magill refusing, "_I_ will tell him," announced Mrs. Douce, +stepping out to do so. + +Mrs. Magill, with great presence of mind, instantly shut the spring-lock +door and began to walk up-stairs. There was a furious rattling at the +door-handle, from the outside, followed by violent ringing. But no one +came to open, until the widow had gained the first landing. Mrs. Douce, +being admitted at last, swiftly mounted after her. It was a fearful +chase; but there was no way of heading off the intruder now. + +They went up another flight. But Mrs. Douce over-reached her opponent by +calling out, in a loud voice: "You can't see him, Mrs. Magill! _Mrs. +Magill!_ Mrs. Magill!" + +Immediately after this they heard the lock working in Barrington's door. +The major was safe in his intrenchments. + +Nothing daunted, however, Mrs. Magill strode forward and knocked. There +was no answer except a slight cough, probably caused by the officer's +sudden exertion in locking his door. "Major," said the widow, in a +gentle tone, "do you hear me?" Echoless silence received her words. She +began again, with a considerably increased alertness of voice: "Major! +Are you engaged or not?" + +"Very much so," answered Zadoc from within, and with a startlingly +robust and comfortable voice for an invalid. + +"I mean, to me," explained Mrs. Magill, with annoyance. "Mrs. Douce, +here, has the face to declare that you are not. I wish the question +answered in her presence. Are you engaged to be married?" + +"I am sorry not to be able to open the door," responded the evasive +Barrington. "It fatigues me to talk in this way, so I hope you'll be +satisfied with my answering this one question." + +"Well," said the widow, more affably, "say you are--" + +"I _are_ engaged to be married," promptly struck in the major, with +untimely jocoseness. + +"_Am_, you mean," Mrs. Magill corrected. But silence had resumed its +reign on the other side of the door. + +"Very well, that will do," she concluded, somewhat as a prose Portia +finishing a cross-examination in a modern law-court might have done. She +shot upon Mrs. Douce a glance of scorn, saying, "I shall come again +to-morrow," and then proudly departed. + + +XIII. + +But she did not come on the morrow. Barrington sent her a note, which +effectually prevented her doing so. + +"Dear madam," it said, "our remarkable--not exactly interview, but +conversation, this morning, may have misled you. My reference to an +engagement of marriage was to another than the one you had in mind--in +point of fact, my very recent engagement to marry Miss Natalia Douce. + +"You will pardon the mental reservation in my reply, when you reflect +that I made it out of regard to your feelings. Those feelings I am sorry +to disturb in any way, and I believe you will see that it is the truest +consideration for them that leads me to give up the design we once +cherished. Our understanding, too, was that when the farce was finished +we would marry. The farce was never finished; the condition was not +fulfilled; and therefore our agreement is dissolved. I have just sent in +my resignation to the company, and shall dispose of the horse according +as you may desire. The uniform I will retain (since it would not fit any +one else), as also the respect for you, which has long been entertained +by + + "Your friend, + "ZADOC S. HARRINGTON." + +To this note the major never got any reply. In due time, therefore, his +marriage with Natalia, being unimpeded, took place very quietly, and, +after going off for a small wedding journey, the husband and wife came +back to a pair of Mrs. Douce's small rooms, and began to live in them. + +Yes; this corpulent, middle-aged sparrow of a major had decided in favor +of idealism--prosaic though the form in which it was presented to +him--as against money and ease without honest affection. He threw aside +the only success he had ever achieved, which was due to the opulent +siren, Mrs. Magill, and fell back to his old shabby independence, with a +poverty-stricken little wife to share it. I don't say it was good +political economy; I dare say it was very bad sociology; and perhaps I +ought to show how some dire catastrophe came upon him in consequence. +The only obstacle in the way is, that it didn't. He remained reasonably +happy ever after. + +By this it is not to be understood that he prospered materially. As a +matter of fact, he had a terribly hard time. There were the old +struggles, the old uncertainties of fortune to be faced, with new +anxieties added. His own opinions and his wife's were at times far from +being in unison. + +After a time, too, he found himself a father; and, though I don't doubt +his little infant girl brought him compensations, he grew visibly older. +His once courageous complexion, which I have described as carrot-tinted, +lapsed slowly toward the hue of turnips when in a boiled state; +and--melancholy change!--his dainty martial chin, with the dent in the +bottom of it, was hidden by a practical red beard, while his hair became +proportionately thin on top of his head. If Mrs. Magill cared for +revenge she probably took it now, in the contemplation of his hard +career and the alterations in his appearance. He felt this a little, I +know; for, as we were walking together one day near Worth's monument, he +suddenly changed our course, with a hasty, "May as well go this way;" +and I perceived the wealthy widow coming toward us. + +We were not quick enough to escape her, and Barrington winced at her +expression. Yet I am equally certain that he never regretted his choice. + +Luckily for Rawsden's slight remaining toleration of mankind, he left +Mrs. Douce's before the baby was added to the other household ornaments. +Now that I think of it, Miss Sneef had previously left the house, and +Rawsden's critical mood grew upon him so rapidly that he, too, found a +change necessary. In fact, he followed Miss Sneef. + +Yet he continued to bestow a share of his amused contempt upon Mr. and +Mrs. Barrington from a distance. + +"Barrington got a taste for the drama that time," he once said to me, +recalling the private theatricals, "and he keeps it up well. I think his +piece will have a long run." + +"What piece?" + +"_The Ex-Bachelor and his Baby!_" said the little wretch. "A +tragic-comedy--by the whole strength of the company." + +I think I should have kicked Rawsden for this, but that something in his +manner hinted an inconsistent envy of the major. And he presently went +on to say that as for Miss Sneef and himself, although not believing at +all in the necessity of sentiment and all that sort of thing, they had +concluded--since they didn't seem to be able as yet to get tired of each +other--that they would try marriage, and see what that would do for +them. + +Such was the distorted little tribute of this _nil admirari_ youth to +the element of real manliness he could not fail to see in Barrington's +marriage. + + + + +"BAD PEPPERS." + + + + +I. + + +"You see, I want to strike down to Bad Peppers." + +These words were pronounced by the third person at my right on the +bench. The bench, it must be explained, was covered with red velvet, and +situated in the cabin of a steamer. And the steamer was the _Weser_, +bound for Bremen. + +I could not imagine at the moment what "Bad Peppers" meant; and the +remark--uttered at our first dinner on board--came out with such +ludicrous distinctness, in the midst of the clatter at table, that I +made haste to observe the individual from whom it proceeded. I beheld a +rough but impressive head, with cheeks of a settled red, and beetling +grizzly hair, looking out over the board in a dogged, half-perplexed, +but good-humored way, though the owner of the head was evidently +unconscious that he had said anything open to comment. He was a man, I +should say, of forty-six; but as I looked at him now in the glare of the +skylight above, the simplicity and frankness in his face were so marked, +that I could not help imagining the short gray curls turned to golden +brown, and feeling the momentary pity that comes over one in looking at +an elderly person who reminds one of childhood, yet is hopelessly far +removed from it. I felt a little sorry for a man with this kind of a +face attempting so large a task as crossing the ocean to Europe, and I +was a little amused at the idea, too. + +He was talking earnestly to my handsome friend Fearloe, who sat on this +side of him; but I observed that he was watched with a certain +patronizing scrutiny by a young German opposite. + +"Yes, you see I couldn't get rid of this rheumatism anywhere," he +continued, "and so I took a friend's advice and started for Europe. They +say that Bad Peppers will fix up the worst case you ever saw better than +any amount of medicine. Anyway, I'm going to try it." + +Peppers as a cure for rheumatism! What could he mean? And if this was to +be the remedy, why go to Europe to try it? But he proceeded: + +"And that's the reason, you see, why I want to strike right down to Bad +Peppers." + +The mystery began to grow less opaque. Possibly he might mean by "strike +down" that he wished to reduce his diet to the article in question; but +I thought it more likely that Bad Peppers was a place which he had made +his objective point. I determined to ask Fearloe at the earliest +opportunity, and therefore drew him away as soon as dinner was over. + +"Who is your new acquaintance?" I inquired. + +"He reports himself as Steven Steavens, a wholesale grocer from +Philadelphia." + +"And he's going to Europe to cure his rheumatism? Europe ought to be +flattered, certainly," said I; and I am afraid we both laughed rather +scornfully at our unsuspecting fellow-traveller, who was pacing another +part of the deck with a fierce meerschaum pipe in his mouth. "But tell +me what he means by this Bad Peppers. Is it a place? I'm sure I never +heard of one by that name." + +"Of course," said Fearloe, "it's a place, but that isn't the right name. +He means a resort of some note for invalids in the canton of St. Gall, +Switzerland--Bad Pfeiffers, or Pfeiffers's Baths--south of the Lake of +Constance, and near the Rhine: a very picturesque spot, too." + +"You've been there, then?" + +"Yes," answered Fearloe, who, I may remark by the way, had been nearly +everywhere--out of America. He was one of those Yankees of the later +generations who are born with a genius for belying their own +nationality. When he was in England, the English would actually claim +him for one of themselves, in the face of positive denial from his own +countrymen; though I must do him the justice to say that he made no +merit of this, and never allowed newspaper paragraphs to be written +about it. In France he was frequently taken for a Frenchman; and in +Italy his fine statuesque features and rich dark beard, with the aid of +a good Roman accent, might easily cause him to pass for a descendant of +one of the old patrician families. In consequence he was very apt to be +looked upon as a foreigner during his occasional flights through his +native land, and possessed accordingly a remarkable power over the +hearts of sundry republican young women; for women love to pay homage to +a judicious male superiority, and this is the reason the daughters of +our nation delight in foreign manners, which assume that grandeur of the +male that most Americans are too polite and timid to assert. These +things being so, I do not wonder that Fearloe was a little conceited on +one point--his success in impressing the female heart. + +"You speak so well of the place," I continued, after a pause, "that I've +a great mind to 'strike down' there myself. Do you advise it?" + +"By all means, Middleby, after you've seen the Exposition. Paris will be +hot, and you will need a change of some sort." + +"I hope it won't be a change to rheumatism," I replied, with another +laugh. I had not noticed that Steavens had come nearer to us as I spoke; +but the word "rheumatism" seemed to attract him, and roused the only +association with the Old World which he as yet enjoyed. + +"You gentlemen have been to Europe before?" he said, advancing, and +taking me in with a half-inquiring nod, as if my acquaintance with so +foreign-looking a person as Fearloe was sufficient guarantee of my +experience in travelling. "Now I would consider it a favor, gentlemen, +if you would come down with me to the smoking-room. We can have a little +something to drink, and then we can talk this thing over." + +Fearloe smiled condescendingly. + +"This thing?" inquired I (perhaps not with the utmost respect, since his +sentence struck me as rather too informal for the very beginning of a +chance acquaintance). "You mean the Bad--" + +"The whole of it," broke in Mr. Steavens. "The European continent--Bad +Peppers, Paris, and all the rest of it. You've been there, and know just +what a fellow ought to see and do, and now I'm away from my store, I've +got a little time to sit down and think over what _I_'ll do. So, if you +don't object, gentlemen--" + +"Not at all," Fearloe hastened to assure him, being always ready for +novel encounters. + +"I can't tell you anything about Pfeiffers's Baths," said I, trying to +be companionable too, "for I never heard of them before; but whatever I +do know is at your service." + +As we moved toward the gangway the grocer turned to Fearloe, and asked, +in an undertone, "What does he call it? Feiffers? That ain't right, is +it? My friend that set me on going there, he said Peppers. I thought, +first off, he meant they put red peppers in the water when you bathe; +but he said no, it was the name of the man that started the place, he +guessed." + +"You can pronounce it either way," said Fearloe, magnanimously. + +"Well, I prefer Peppers," declared Steavens, with an air of relief. "But +it's kind of queer, now, that your friend, Mr. What's-his-name--" + +"Middleby," I suggested, claiming my place in the colloquy. + +"--Middleby," he continued, without embarrassment, transferring the +remark to me. "Ain't it queer, Mr. Middleby, that you never heard of the +place? I thought everybody knew about Bad Peppers." + +I was foolish enough to be irritated at this presumption on the part of +the child-like grocer, and had a great mind to hint that he preferred a +wrong pronunciation of the name because peppers were in the line of his +business; but I contented myself with saying that I thought there were +places in Europe a good deal better known than the baths. + +In the smoking-room we found the young German who had cast his critical +eye upon Steavens at dinner. He introduced himself as Herr Scharlach, +and in order to make matters clear, he drew from his pocket a printed +list of the passengers, which had been distributed just before we +sailed, on which he put a cross against each of our names and his own, +as he had already done with several others in the catalogue. He was a +young man somewhere in the thirties, with a clear blue eye that gleamed +like a sword, a high forehead, and a soft complexion deepened by +tropical sunburn. He could have been identified as a German anywhere, +from the air he had of holding a balance of power in all earthly +affairs; and when he checked off our names, I couldn't help thinking +that he was collecting data for use in some future military campaign, or +else for a biographical dictionary of the whole human race. + +"Ain't from Philadelphia, are you?" queried Steavens, in a friendly +tone, implying that the other probably _was_ from that city. "We have a +good many Germans there." + +"No," said Scharlach, "Brazil." After which he lit a cigarette he had +been rolling in his thin fingers, and puffed smoke from his nostrils in +such a way as to suggest that any aperture for confidential conversation +was permanently closed. + +"Now here," said our confiding acquaintance, after we had pledged one +another in several mild beverages suited to a first day out on the briny +deep--"here's a list of places my friend made out that I want to kind of +take in on my way to the springs and back." And he produced from his +pocketbook a narrow crumpled white paper, on which were pencilled the +weighty names of Paris, Rome, Madrid, Vienna, St. Petersburg, Dresden, +Antwerp, Heidelberg, and Munich. I give them in the order in which they +occurred. "I suppose that's all right, ain't it?" he concluded, glancing +at each of us in turn, as if the success of his tour depended on our +good opinion. + +"Why, yes," said Fearloe, "the places are all right, but you'll have to +travel a good deal to include them all. I don't see how you're to get at +them on the way to the baths." + +"Oh, of course I shall have to branch off a little; but then the +distances over there don't compare with ours," returned Mr. Steavens, +hopefully. + +"I'm not so sure of that," rejoined my friend, with a malicious air of +there being some slight room for doubt. "Your first jaunt, from Paris to +Rome, will be five hundred miles--five times as far as from Philadelphia +to New York. After that you must count at least a thousand to Madrid, a +thousand more from there to Vienna, and then twelve hundred, or over, to +St. Petersburg." Steavens almost turned pale. He hastily set down the +glass which he was carrying to his lips. "Besides," continued Fearloe, +"you can't go to Rome at all before winter." + +"Hold on!" cried the other, looking as if the sense of solid reality +were slipping away from him. "Has anybody got a map here? Let's settle +one thing at a time. You know what I want to do first is to strike down +to Bad Peppers. I'd like to settle just how that stands." + +Scharlach immediately went to his state-room, and returned promptly with +a large and perfect map of the Continent, showing all the railroads and +post-roads. Seeing this, I was tempted to make some sarcastic remark +about his thorough German equipment; but I remembered Sedan, and +shuddered. He was soon busily engaged in tracing out certain lines of +travel with his long pink finger, the nail of which was whitish, and +edged with black--according strangely with the Prussian national colors. +I thought Scharlach took a peculiar interest in Pfeiffers, and seemed +oddly familiar with it. He furnished our fellow-passenger with full +details about the place; how it was situated on the Tamina River--which +Steavens, with a friendly reminiscence of New York politics, instantly +transformed into "Tammany" River; how the mountains were piled around +its wild gorge seven or eight thousand feet high; how the healing waters +flow only in summer, and are brought to the hotel by an aqueduct; and so +on. All this seemed to reassure the rheumatic grocer very much; and +having got "Peppers" definitely fixed in his mind again, and becoming +familiar with the map, he once more grew self-confident about his list +of cities, and nothing could avail to dissuade him from adhering to the +exact order in which his unknown adviser had jotted them down. So, for +the time, we abandoned the attempt. + +There is hardly a circle more merciless in its criticisms than a body of +first-cabin passengers on one of the European steamers; and Steavens +soon became an object of amusement to most of us. His simplicity, +openness, and perfectly good-humored, almost joyous, ignorance, made him +an easy prey. But he proved to be a "good sailor," and was very gallant +toward the ladies. The strangest part of it was that they rather liked +him, and took his side against our covert ridicule. I suppose I must +admit that this, instead of altering our opinions concerning him, only +added a slight bitterness to a spirit of fun which would otherwise have +been quite innocent; and we got into a way of looking at him with +sarcastic hostility. When I say "we" I refer more particularly to +Fearloe, the German, Scharlach, and myself, who, having been thrown with +him more than the others on the first day of the voyage, regarded him as +a sort of comic exhibition under our special supervision. + +This rather absurd bond of union between us led to some degree of +intimacy with Scharlach, who disclosed--greatly to the enhancement of +our interest in Steavens's journey--that he, likewise, was going to +Pfeiffers. His errand, moreover, was a romantic one. Five years before +he had fallen in love with the orphaned niece of a rich merchant in +Berlin; but feeling his cause to be hopeless, at least as regarded the +girl's uncle, so long as he had nothing but his personal appearance and +a very elaborate education to support his suit, Scharlach had preferred +to retain the hold of friendship while starting out to better his +condition; and accordingly he had never made a positive declaration of +his passion, but had gone to Brazil, where he succeeded in gaining a +moderately handsome fortune. His friends had kept him informed of +Fraeulein Raslaff's movements. As yet she had not married, from which he +augured hopefully for his future; but her uncle had become an invalid, +and they were now about resorting to Pfeiffers for his health, whither +Scharlach, of course, purposed following them, in order to learn his +fate. + +He requested us urgently to say nothing about this to any of our +fellow-voyagers, and we even kept the secret of his destination from +Steavens. But that could not prevent Fearloe and myself from privately +talking over Scharlach's prospects a little. My own opinion was that +such cool self-possession as his course showed might not impress a woman +so favorably as it did us, and I said I was by no means sure that +Scharlach would win, after all. Fearloe did not agree with me here, and +stroked his beard with an air of restrained certainty as he replied: "I +see, Middleby, you fancy that women want something more startling +romantic than that. But they are very practical, too; and I think you'll +find Miss Raslaff will appreciate such sensible devotion as this of our +Brazilian emigrant." As I have said, Fearloe knew the effect he could +produce on women, and was proud of it; and when he uttered this remark +it was plain that he thought he had settled the question. + + +II. + +As I left the steamer at Southampton, and went up to London for a few +days, I parted with Steavens before the voyage was completed. It was +nearly a week later that I met Fearloe again, in Paris. We went together +to dine at a neat little two-franc place in the Rue St. Honore, which we +had formerly haunted, and during dinner he suddenly asked, with a +roguish look, "Who do you think I saw yesterday?--Steavens!" And Fearloe +here bent his head, bathing his beard in laughter. "Do you know, he has +been in Paris three days and hasn't gone near the Exposition?" + +"Well, that shows a healthy independence," said I. "Is he studying the +Louvre?" + +"No," was the answer; "he has discovered something far more important +than the Louvre or the Exposition--something which seems to reward him +for the whole trip." + +"What can that be?" I queried, rather blankly. + +"He has discovered," said Fearloe, "that _Paris is the place to buy +shirts in_!" + +This, it appeared, was the topic which had engrossed Steavens's mind +when Fearloe met him. The erratic man, after reaching Bremen, had +abruptly decided to come over to the French capital, which he might have +done much more easily and cheaply from Southampton; and the result of +this expensive detour had been a kind of shirt-intoxication. "You've no +idea," added Fearloe, "how neatly he has gotten himself up. He really is +making progress. And the magnificence of the fellow! Why, he says he +shall merely take a single run through the Exposition, and leave all the +rest of Paris till after he has been to Pfeiffers." + +"Fearloe," I said, with a measure of solemnity, "don't scoff at a man +like that. I never before have met an American with quite so much +originality in his treatment of Europe. He must be a genius." + +Nevertheless, we continued to laugh at him, with that superiority of +being less naif and independent than he which so oddly seems to us a +desirable thing nowadays. And if any one at that time had hinted that +Steven Steavens, with his want of reserve and complete indifference to +what is known as culture, possessed qualities of character more to be +admired than our own, we should not have taken the trouble even to smile +at the critic. + +I did not happen to meet Steavens while in Paris; but in August I +finally acted on Fearloe's chance hint aboard ship, and went to +Pfeiffers myself, where I found not only our enthusiast in shirts, but +also Scharlach and Miss Raslaff, together with that young lady's uncle, +a shrivelled little old man, who had the air of being put away to keep +in his thick white hair and whiskers, like a dried beetle in +cotton-wool. To the rest of us indeed, the old gentleman was of no more +account than a beetle, and appeared to have as little influence on the +lives around him as an insect might. But, as a matter of fact, though he +was so nearly dead, and scarcely stirred a limb, he clutched three lives +in his faded fingers, and held them fast there--his niece's life, +Scharlach's life, and Steavens's life. For I was not long in discovering +that my rheumatic pilgrim had fallen in love with Fraeulein Raslaff +almost at first sight. He himself took good care that I should not +remain blind to the fact. He drew me aside, and poured his tale into my +ear, though with somewhat more reserve than he had shown on the steamer +in discussing his plans of travel. + +"How long has this been going on?" I inquired, as we walked together up +and down the hotel terrace overlooking the wild and picturesque valley. + +"Three weeks and a half," he answered. "It's a short time, and it +_seems_ like a short time. I've read in the story papers that when a +man's in love, a few days seem to him like years, and so forth. But I +don't believe it. I know exactly how long I've been here, and yet +there's no doubt about it, I'm in love with that young lady, and am +going to make her my wife if I can. The story papers are wrong, and I'm +right." + +I couldn't help reflecting that this was the same independence I had +praised to Fearloe. "The man has the faculty of knowing exactly what +he's about," thought I, "and that goes a good way toward securing +success." Yet it seemed preposterous that he should have the least +chance with a woman so far removed from him by tastes and traditions as +Fraeulein Raslaff. I said to him merely, "Have you spoken to her?" + +"I've tried to feel my way," was his reply. "But that uncle of +hers--he's an old potato-bug, sir. He's _worse_ than a potato-bug. I +don't know what to call him. He won't let any one come near her, and yet +he don't seem to take any pleasure in her himself. He looks just about +dead, but I tell you it's only shamming; the minute another man talks to +Miss Raslaff, he wakes up; it puts life into him, and he flies around +sharp. This is a good country to operate in, though; he can't take the +walks we do with parties sometimes--up to Solitude, and the Belvedere, +and around. I'd just like to see him in the gorge once; _that_ would +finish him." + +The gorge was a very peculiar and rather perilous cavern, higher up in +the valley through which the Tamina runs. + +"Then it's only the uncle that troubles you?" I queried. "You don't feel +afraid of Scharlach?" + +Steavens paused, looking anxious for an instant. Then the child-like +expression which I had marked on my first glimpse of him came out +strongly again. "Do you think he'd be mean enough to stand in my way?" +he asked. + +"But suppose you are standing in his?" I returned. + +Steavens apparently considered this an unnatural view to take. +"Scharlach can get along by himself all right," he asserted. "He might +be disappointed, and it wouldn't ruin him. But me--why, take me, and +what am I without _her_?" I must admit that this humbleness touched me +with its pathos, and I began to range myself on Steavens's side. Then he +concluded, without any pathos at all, "Well, I've got as good a right to +try as he has, any way, and I'm bound to win in the end." + +At length, wishing to soften a possible disappointment, I thought I +ought to toll him how long Scharlach had been hoping to gain Miss +Raslaff's heart. The information startled him considerably; but after a +few moments' silence he struck me on the shoulder, and exclaimed, "Well, +here we are! He's rich and I'm rich; let her choose between us for +something else. If he hadn't made any money out there, I'd say to him, +'Here, my man, I've got the best of you, so I'll stand by, and you can +just walk in and try your chances first.' But seeing we're neck and neck +on that, I don't know that there's anything to do but go ahead." + +And go ahead he assuredly did from that hour. He astounded the old uncle +by remonstrating with him directly against his supervision of Miss +Raslaff. "It ain't fair," he said. "You don't know how to manage things +in this country. I don't say a woman ought to vote; but anyway she ought +to have a right to listen to a man when he wants to tell her what he +thinks of her. Do you suppose I could tell _you_?" (With a glance by no +means politic in its contempt at the desiccated little figure before +him.) "And how am I to talk to her about it when you are around?" + +The result of this attack, which he made in my presence, was a violent +outbreak from the old man; and the next day Steavens was asked to meet +Miss Raslaff and her uncle in their _salon_, to receive from the young +woman herself a confirmation of her uncle's objection to receiving any +attentions from him. The girl was pale, but composed and very beautiful. +I could not make out whether or not she had taken any fancy to my +brusque compatriot, but she acted her part firmly. When at last she +said, in pure English, "My uncle is right; you must not seek my +acquaintance any more--more ardently; let us be quite as we were +before," I declare so sweet a suspicion of a blush came over her checks, +and her voice died away so delicately, like a soft echo heard among the +very hills around us, that I almost fell in love with her myself. A +great change instantly came over Steavens. All his jauntiness, his +unreserve, his child-like confidence, were extinguished at a blow. After +a moment he collected his voice, and said, with great gentleness, "Miss +Raslaff, I will never do anything you ask me not to, so far as speaking +is concerned; but that won't prevent my thinking about you just as much +as ever, and I shall keep just as near the place where you stay as I +can." + +This was the end of the interview, and I thought my countryman had the +best of it. He was very melancholy, though, while I remained at the +baths; and the savage beauty of the place--the rough stream roaring out +of the cavern against whose walls of black calcareous rock, glittering +here and there with feldspar, the faint Alpine rose bloomed pensively, +the shaggy heights above the hotel, and the glimpses of snowy peaks in +the distance--was not suited to restore his cheer. One day we went into +the gorge, with its rocky walls rising two or three hundred feet, and +gradually closing together above, where a bridge of planks cornered into +the solid stone runs for a distance of six thousand paces to the +springs, slippery all the way from the flying river-foam. It was gloomy +and depressing as a scene from the _Inferno_, and bad for a rheumatic +patient, as I reminded Steavens; but he shook his head mournfully, and +said he didn't care. What was worse was the danger of missing a foothold +on the wet and mossy planks, and so being precipitated into the wild +stream beneath; and I breathed more easily when we came out safely +again. But it struck me that this would be a fearful place for two angry +rivals, such as Steavens and Scharlach now were, to meet in. + +It so happened that Scharlach that very day came to me with _his_ tale +of despair. Thinking the field was his own, after Steavens's +discomfiture, he had formally proposed for Miss Raslaff's hand, and had +been rejected. He could not understand it. He had addressed the young +lady with her uncle's permission, and she had refused him. I gathered +from what he said that he had pressed his claim as a matter of right, +that he considered himself to have bought her love by long patience and +the accumulation of a competence, and had put forward this theory with +undue bluntness; for he confessed that she had dismissed him with a cold +anger and disdain that left no hope. We were sitting on the great stone +steps hewn in the height above the hotel as he told me this. "No," he +cried, springing to his feet, at the end, in a sort of fury. "If she had +shown heat of temper, I might have kept up hope. But she petrified me +with her contempt. I am no better than these rocks." He ground his teeth +as he spoke, looking down at the hostelry, sunk at a fearful depth below +us. Then he seized a heavy stone from the earth, and flung it down the +steep, madly crying, "Yes, I am stone now, and there goes my heart +rolling down to crush you!" It stopped before it had gone far; but the +frenzied action was enough to show that the man had lost his balance. +The pent-up force of years, so well controlled till now, had broken +forth at a bound, and was carrying him away. "And it was that fool from +America, that friend of yours," he added, fiercely, turning upon me all +at once, as if I were an enemy--"it was he that did this. It is because +he is a novelty, and because her uncle opposes it, that she has taken a +fancy to him, and thrown aside the man who was a slave to her for eight +years. That's it, I am sure. Take him away! Take your American away!" + +I need not say that I did not obey this command; but I did take myself +away. The truth is, the situation was getting altogether too serious for +my liking. Yet, after I had gone, I felt an incessant curiosity to know +how the affair had resulted. I heard nothing more for some time, until I +came across an acquaintance during the winter, who had met Steavens in +Paris again. This gentleman was telling me how Steavens had been to Rome +early in the winter, and now went about complaining that it was a very +dirty, one-horse town, which couldn't compare with Philadelphia. He also +reported Steavens as gaining some notoriety for his romantic attachment +to a young German lady, whom I had no difficulty in recognizing as +Fraeulein Raslaff. It appeared, therefore, that he had as yet made no +headway; but I indulged in a sense of approval when I learned that he +was studying hard, to enlarge his education and his knowledge of +European things. Still, my acquaintance described him as a man who could +never become anything but an American. He had taken the baths under the +necessity of improving his health; he was trying to take European +manners, in the same way, for the sake of improving his chances with +Fraeulein Raslaff. Yet he remained immutably hostile to everything +foreign, and to prolong his stay abroad was, therefore, the strongest +sort of devotion he could have shown. + + +III. + +Fearloe knew nothing of these events, having gone to Egypt for the +winter. But more than a year afterward, when I had been at home for some +time, I was one day telling a lady at a dinner party something about +Steavens's eccentricities and absurdities, when she exclaimed: "Oh, I +have heard of that man before! Your friend Mr. Fearloe was telling me +about him." + +I was decidedly annoyed by this, because I had frequently made an +anecdote of Steavens with great effect, and now here was Fearloe +spoiling my fun by telling it in advance. Of course I had confined +myself to narrating the rheumatic pilgrim's strange plan of travel, his +excitement about Parisian shirts, and his unique view of Rome--things +which invariably proved highly amusing--and said nothing of his romance. +I now questioned my companion at dinner, to see if I could learn +anything more about that part of his history, but I could get no +information on that subject. My irritation continued all the evening, +for it is no slight matter when a man who painfully hoards materials for +small conversation, and uses them frequently, finds an insidious friend +depriving him of them. But I had an ample revenge upon Fearloe +afterward, as you shall see. When I next saw him, which was some months +later, he had an experience to recount which certainly put him at my +mercy. I will tell it in his own words. + +"I was staying at North Conway for a few days, late in July, and there +was a most beautiful woman there. I hardly know whether to call her girl +or woman, Middleby, there was such an immortal freshness about her face +and figure, combined with a reflective sadness that showed she had had +more than a girl's experiences. She dressed in black; it was a cool thin +black, that looked--perhaps on account of the calm, sweet face above +it--more airy and summer-like than the most studied of the country +costumes worn by other ladies at the hotel; and she wore bracelets and a +pin of Irish bog-stone set in ebony, that harmonized deliciously with +her personality. You know how that sort of stone sparkles, like a +clouded diamond. Well, there was something about its dim, shrouded flash +that was just like the mystery in her pale face with its surroundings of +black. It struck into me very deep, and excited a desire to pierce the +mystery, to find out what her face meant, and what was at her heart--and +perhaps to place myself in the heart, too. I'll own it frankly. You know +I'm not susceptible, though I've generally made my way pretty well with +the ladies." (Here a flash of Fearloe's old self-complacence on this +point came to light, but quickly died out again.) "I have always cared +more for foreign women, though, than for our own; and this girl or woman +was a German, so I was doubly taken with her. Her name was set down on +the register as--Well, I won't tell you what the name was, just at +present, but it was registered in such a way that I couldn't tell +whether she was maid, wife, or widow. I fixed on the last, in my own +mind, from her wearing black. There was no one with her; none of the +people in the hotel, with whom I talked, knew anything about her. There +could be no question that she was rich; but that was all I could find +out concerning her. + +"It was a delicate business, as you can imagine, to make her +acquaintance in the face of such a state of things; but I managed it, +fortunately, through doing her a little service on the 'piazza,' and +from that I went on to press my society upon her cautiously. In a few +days we were on very good terms, and took a few of the customary walks +and drives in the neighborhood, with other persons at first, and then +alone. I was puzzled to find her so easy as to this, being a foreigner; +but I believe I convinced her of my trustworthiness, and she must have +found out easily, from my acquaintances in the place, just who I was. +Then she seemed to have outgrown foreign prejudices in some way; and I +confess, besides, that I accounted for it at the time by fancying that I +had begun to make some impression upon her. + +"I determined there shouldn't be any doubt about it. Yes, it was a +serious matter, Middleby; I had come to a point when I meant to offer +myself to her the very next day. I got her consent to go to Artists' +Falls, where I meant to lay my passion before her. Hideous name, by the +way--Artists' Falls!" broke off Fearloe, testily. "No affair could have +prospered in a spot with such a shoppy name." + +He relapsed into gloomy reflections, from which I roused him, insisting +that the story should be finished. + +"It was the evening before our intended excursion," he then went on. +"She and I were sitting on a retired part of the piazza, just about +sunset. Everything about us was rarely beautiful; the flush of the +evening just dying away from old Rattlesnake, and the line of the great +peaks at the distant head of the valley, with Washington's dome in the +midst, looking, to the fancy--as you have probably seen them--like giant +ghosts of the great men they commemorate. Then, across the intervale, +with its hundreds of little brooks and its soft elms, we looked at +White-horse Cliff, and that waterfall that seems to flutter from the +distant hill-side like a white banner. You remember? A single star was +poised above it. I shall never forget that scene. It came upon me with a +kind of surprise, after all, that we could have anything so lovely here, +and I began contrasting it with Europe. I wanted to hint something about +going back there, you know--lead up in a sort of way to my intended +declaration in the morning. So it was natural that, in talking of the +other side, and the voyage, and all that, I should begin to tell her +about that odd fellow on the _Weser_ when we went over, you +know--Steavens." + +"Miserable man!" I exclaimed, at this point, remembering my discomfiture +at that dinner. "You told her, and then you found she was some one I had +already met and told before?" + +Fearloe glared at me in amazement, then slowly smiled in a melancholy +manner, and shook his head. "Don't be childish, Middleby," said he; "and +please don't interrupt me. I fancy I know something more about Steavens +than _you_'ve ever told. This particular time I'm describing to you I +was surprised to find that my listener didn't seem to enter into the fun +of the thing. I didn't mention his name, yet I almost suspected she knew +something about the man. But as she didn't relish the absurd side of +him, I thought I'd give her a proper dose of the serious. I went on to +impart what I had learned about a desperate love affair of his at Bad +Pfeiffers; and this, by the by, is news to you, Middleby." + +"Not quite," I said, with a vain smile. (It must be kept in mind that +Fearloe and I had claimed a joint ownership in Steavens as a comic +spectacle, and I was jealous of any other kind of property in him as a +sentimental one.) + +"No?" rejoined Fearloe, rather surprised, but cool. "Well, then, you can +judge how flat I felt on finding that the beginning of his romantic +episode didn't seem to strike her much more than the rest I had said +about him. + +"'You seem rather to despise your compatriot,' she said, when I had got +as far as telling her what I had heard about his rivalry with Scharlach +for the favor of a young lady whom they met at the baths. 'But why +shouldn't he feel the same love and devotion that another might, even if +he were not the most accomplished of his nation?' + +"I answered, 'Ah, that is like you, to defend a man for holding a +generous sentiment. It is to be hoped you would be equally kind in +judging a less out-and-out American who dared to love one of your race.' +(I imagined she blushed just there.) 'But if you had seen this man +Steavens, you would understand just how I look at him. You don't know +much yet about such raw specimens of my kind.' + +"The fact is, Middleby, I put something of a sneer into my words. I was +angry at her liking the man even in fancy. However, I finished my story. + +"'He certainly was very devoted;' I admitted that. 'He was quite as +brave as the other man.'" + +"'No braver, you think?' asked she, quietly, with a tone I did not +comprehend. + +"'You shall decide,' said I. 'The sequel was this: My German gentleman, +Scharlach, got perfectly raving mad, I'm told. He looked upon the lady +as his absolute right, and couldn't be quieted; while Steavens behaved +so calmly that he began to get on terms with the lady and her uncle +again, even after his rebuff. If you have ever been at Pfeiffers,' I +said to her, 'you know the gorge of the Tamina; but you can't guess +what's coming. It happened, one day, that Steavens went in there, when +Scharlach had already gone to the spring, and was coming back along the +foot-bridge.' I can tell you, Middleby, she looked interested when I +came to this--just as you do now. She was startled, too. 'Now, by the +strangest coincidence, the obdurate uncle and his niece also went down +there shortly afterward, not knowing that either of the rivals was in +the cave. They had gone some little way along the dangerous path, when +they heard a terrible shout, like the cry of a wild man. They tried to +make haste forward to see what it meant, after the first moment of +terror, and came in sight of the two men just in time. Scharlach was +making a rush upon Steavens, who stood perfectly still, with a pale +face, but resolute and terribly stern. + +"'He braced himself as well as he could. The shock came. There was a +stout, short struggle, and suddenly Scharlach went over, plunging toward +the rough torrent full of rocks, and was lost.' + +"Then, Middleby, you should have seen that woman's eyes as she sat there +in the twilight. How they flashed, as she rose in her chair! Yet there +was an intense pain in her expression. 'This is too terrible,' she said. +'But no; I must speak now. Mr. Fearloe, did the person who told you this +story also tell you how, when Scharlach fell, Steven tried to hold +him--tried to save the man who had just been seeking his life? Ah, there +his true and great nobility were seen!' + +"'Good heavens, madam,' cried I, 'who are you? You saw them? Then you +must be--' + +"Just then, Middleby, the coach from the station had come up, and the +passengers were getting out. Madame was exclaiming, without heed to my +questions, 'Oh, I cannot bear this! That scene all comes back to me. +Steven! Steven! why are you not here?' And, as if in answer to her +words, the man came up behind her with his travelling-bag in his hand. I +felt as if lightning had struck me! But to _her_, calmness returned in +an instant. She rose, and with her arm in his she said, coldly, 'Steven, +do you remember Mr. Fearloe?' He recalled me at once, and started to +take my hand. But she checked him, and said to him, while looking at me +like ice, 'Ah, it's a pity you remember him, for you must learn now to +forget him!' And with that she wheeled away, carrying him with her." + +"It was Miss Raslaff," I cried. "And how did it happen you didn't know +her?" + +"I had forgotten the name. Ah, my boy, I have been fearfully punished. I +had a conceited contempt for that man, and see how it has been visited +on me." + +"Then she has married him?" + +"By this time, yes. She clung to her savage old uncle till he died, then +came over to marry Steavens, though by condition of the will she must +forfeit all her uncle's money in doing so." + +"Fearloe," I remarked, after a pause, "I think we will neither of us +relate our funny encounter with Steavens any more. What did we, with all +our fancied supremacy, gain by going to Europe, compared with this man? +After all, it was a real inspiration of his to 'strike right down to Bad +Peppers'!" + + + + +THREE BRIDGES. + + + + +I. + +THE IMPORTANCE OF A HAT. + + +Within a distance of about ten miles Shagford River makes three long +curves, each of which is crossed by a bridge. + +The first is for the railroad. The second, thrown across at a point +where the ground is lower, carries a country road from bank to bank. +Still further down is the third, which is of stone, and forms a paved +street connecting the two parts of the factory town of Shagford. + +On the afternoon of a superb summer day a fast train from the north-west +swept around the curve leading to the bridge-head, and emerged upon the +open iron-work structure which bore the double track above the water. +The fireman was shovelling coal, and the engineer had just withdrawn his +hand from a cord which blew the whistle when he caught sight of a man, +in a round Bombay hat, half way across and walking in the same direction +the train was taking. Again he pulled the string, sending out four +hoarse notes: "Lo-ook oout, a-head!" But the man did not step aside, as +would have been expected, on to the line of plank provided for foot +passengers between the tracks. The engineer turned on the air-brake and +shouted; but there was a strong breeze blowing against him; and at best +a voice could hardly rouse a traveller deaf to the steam notes. The last +chance of escape appeared to have passed when the stranger, moved by an +instinct of danger, though hearing nothing, turned his head. + +For the space of a second he confronted the swift, trembling glitter of +steel and brass and the pallid face of the engineer at the cab-window. A +look of unutterable horror convulsed his own features, and he sprang +wildly into the air. Falling again, without being hit by the engine, he +went tumbling down through an interstice of the iron beams into the +muddy water below. The train was soon stopped and reversed. Slowly the +wheels revolved backward--with a solemn, funereal movement, as if +conscious of the inanimate body that might soon be added to their +freight. + +But to the amazement of every one on board, staring frightened into the +river, the hurt man was seen to be already struggling out of the +current, and clambering--wet, hatless, with dripping hair--up the steep +bank they had just left. On reaching the top he began to walk aimlessly +away from the train, as if nothing had happened, but presently sat down +on the ground looking weak and bewildered. + +"Well, if he ain't the coolest hand!" exclaimed the brakeman. "Must be a +new sort of water-rat." This same brakeman, however, was prompt to go +with the conductor to the aid of the stranger. They found him conscious, +but stupefied, and so helped him into the train, which then continued on +its way, bearing him off to Shagford. + +"Where are you bound?" asked the conductor. + +The man, who was of middle age, with a sun-browned face and close +iron-gray whiskers along the upper jaws, felt for his hat and, not +finding it, looked uneasy. "There must be no delay," he said, half to +himself. "I'll tell you in a moment," he added. + +But he sat for some time without speaking; and it was evident that the +shock of his terrible fall had worked confusion in his brain. Even on +reaching Shagford he was unable to collect himself. But they persuaded +him to consult the nearest physician, whom he sought under care of the +young brakeman. This resulted in his being taken temporarily to the +hospital, for, though seemingly without physical injury, he had suffered +so peculiar a mental effect that rest and proper care were thought +advisable. + +Shortly after the occurrence of this singular accident a vehicle crossed +the turnpike bridge, of which mention has been made. The vehicle was a +buggy, occupied by a single figure--that of a man say about +thirty-eight, clothed in a close-fitting suit of mixed brown. He was of +prosperous but not portly aspect, and what was most noticeable in him +was that his eyes scanned the river in a sudden, peculiar way. One might +have said that, emerging from the softly massed trees upon the bank, he +had an uneasy sense of being exposed to unexpected observation on the +open stretch of the bridge. But perhaps the more likely explanation +would be that he was an inquiring, energetic person, who habitually +looked everywhere. Habit or chance, whichever it might be, his alert +vision was not exercised in vain that day. He saw on the river, floating +toward his point of vantage, an upturned hat. Now, this hat was the +identical one which had quitted the head of the unlucky man at the +railroad bridge; for, being made of cork, it was perfectly adapted to +navigation. + +"That's what comes of sharp eyes," said the driver of the buggy aloud, +much as though he were stating a moral maxim which it did him good to +hear. "Who knows but this may turn out important? If anybody's been +drowned, or--" The alternative was lost in a clucking sound with which +he accompanied the urging of his horse; for he had formed a plan. + +The bridge was low; the hat was drifting toward one of the numerous rows +of spiles, hence he believed he could fish it up with his long-handled +whip. Dismounting, and watching his opportunity, he succeeded after a +few moment's novel angling in bringing up, by a noose made of the +lash-end, his piece of flotsam. + +As I have said, this man wore a comfortable mien; his face was smooth, +rosy, firm and beardless, and though the structure of his lips was +rather hard and determined, the corners of the lips indicated constant +readiness for a smile which, however, never culminated when he was +alone. Still, at this moment, a beam of satisfaction rested on his +features. The recovery of the hat presented itself to him in the light +of a virtuous action. Looking into it he saw the owner's name written on +the leather band: "Simeon Piper." As this conveyed no impression, he +turned his attention to a small folded paper stuffed inside of the band +and making a slight bulge in it. On examining what was inscribed upon +the sheet, his countenance changed; the beaming look vanished, and his +eyebrows, always describing an acute angle to the temples, grew sharper +than ever. It was a movement analogous to that of an animal drawing back +its lips before biting, or darting a fang out. His expression, in fact, +had become wolfish. + +What did it mean? Merely that the name he had seen this time was his +own. "Martin E. Hounshell," he read, in a half voice, finding it for an +instant even stranger than the strange name he had encountered just +before. But he had seen other things on the page with his name; things +which he would not articulate even here; certain names and dates for +which he deemed silence the fittest atmosphere. + +Hounshell's next act was to toss the hat back into the river, and he was +about to tear up the paper scrap and send it after the hat, when he +changed his mind. He put the memorandum into an inside pocket and +buttoned up his coat, tapped the surface of the coat snugly, then got +into his buggy and drove on--thoughtful and puzzled, but with equanimity +returning and ready to spring his patent smile in a moment, should he +meet an acquaintance. + +Nevertheless, what had just happened was startling. If the paper which +now lay over his heart had possessed the power of receiving a photograph +from his brain he could not have been more astonished. The invisible had +become visible; what had lain concealed for years in his own mind now +confronted him from without. And who was Simeon Piper--a total +stranger--in whose hat so mysterious a revelation had taken place? +Hounshell's horse dragged that question along unconsciously to the end +of the bridge, where, for the moment, it disappears from our pen +unanswered. + +The small waves flashed lightly around the spiles; a breeze rustled in +the woods, perhaps looking for something it had lost there and never +could find again. The two bridges were deserted; all was silent, dreamy. +Then from the unseen bridge lower down a shrill clamor arose to break +the serenity of the evening; a chorused shriek of twenty unearthly +voices blended together. Unexpected and wild, loudly startling it was, +so that there seemed something uncanny about it. One might have thought +it the cry of monsters discovering human prey, or a mob of witches +revelling in some crime that had been found out there. But as a matter +of fact no one indulged in either of these impossible fancies. Everybody +knew that the uproar came from the mills of Shagford, blowing the hour +of release from work. + + + + +II. + +FATHER, DAUGHTER, AND--WHO ELSE? + + +At this signal the operatives streamed forth like school-children; and +from Hounshell's flannel-mill in particular came one elderly man, who +threw himself with all the energy of a boy into a row-boat that lay at +the waterside, and began oaring his way lustily up-stream. He had not +gone far before he turned the bow into a secluded bay where water-lilies +grew thickly. Here, paddling about and causing the boat to lurch +violently as he stooped over the side, he pulled a few of the flowers. +He looked tired and hard-worked; there was something indescribably +pathetic in his making so much effort after the day's labor. But he did +not seem to see this; and so, after getting a bunch of lilies, he +continued up the river with a business-like stroke that implied some +past familiarity with life on the water. The end of the course was soon +reached; he moored the boat close to a little cottage that stood apart +from the houses of the other working-people, and wore a peculiarly +well-cared-for aspect. + +On one side of the path was a tomato-patch; on the other a minute +flower-garden; a grape-vine laid its flat leaves by one of the windows, +and everything about the place was neat, cosey, sheltered. As the weaver +came up toward it, however, he saw that there were two persons in the +room behind the vine, instead of only one, as he had expected. He +paused, looking in, and saw that it was Hounshell with his daughter. The +mill-owner at that moment took her hand in a somewhat fervent way, +addressing her eagerly, and led her toward the window. Instantly the +girl withdrew her hand and came running out. + +"Oh, father, dear, how lovely! Did you bring them for me?" + +"Who else d'you s'pose, Addie? I'm not courting any one." + +He looked at her quizzically as she received the lilies, his +weather-worn face glowing mildly at the same time, with pride in her +beauty and delight at having pleased her. + +"That's mean of you, father," she said, half offended, yet smiling as +she inhaled the delicate, sweet-almond scent of the blossoms. + +"What? Not to be courting?" he asked, putting his arm fondly around her. +"I can do better than that, lass, by coming home. Four bells have +struck; time for a kiss, you know." Whereupon she put her lips to his +faded, fatherly check. + +Addie was certainly beautiful in her way, and Scofield thought there was +no way to compare with it. She was tall, fresh, dark-eyed; her +complexion was rich with the soft, clear brown which our American sun so +deftly diffuses over a healthy face that ripens in its warmth; and she +always looked as cool, as sparkling and lithe as if she had just stepped +from a bath in the river. You felt that, were you to place your hand on +her shoulder, she would resist springily, like a young bough in the +woods. + +"And you can do a good deal better than I can; that's certain," said +Hounshell to Scofield, breaking in. He had come to the threshold and +witnessed this little passage. + +"You ought not to talk about it before me, anyway," declared Addie, +whose code of propriety never allowed ceremony to stand in the way of +truthfulness. And, having administered this rebuke, she blushed as if it +were she who had offended modesty. + +"Oh, well, don't take on about it!" said the mill-owner, apologetically. +"I don't know how to talk when I get down here. Different up to the +mill; ain't it, Scofield?" Here he winked at the father with humorous +comradeship. Then, turning again to Addie: "All is, I want you to be my +wife, and you know it, and so does the old man. So where's the harm, +talking about? Lord! there ain't nothing high daddy about me. I worked +my way up, and I like working-people; so, 'stid of going round among the +high daddies, I come to you and say I want to marry you. I've seen you +grow into a woman, just like"--the speaker, embarrassed, gazed +helplessly round the garden for a comparison, and proceeded:--"Like one +of those tomaytoes there, when it comes to fruit. And I know all about +you." + +"I don't believe I'm like a tomayto one bit," said Addie, with +conviction. The next moment, allowing herself a saucy smile: "And I +don't know all about you, you see. So there!" + +Her mature admirer did not resent this, but stood really abashed and +disconcerted. "What am I to do, Scofield?" he asked, stepping out on to +the walk. "You see how it goes." + +Addie seized the moment for escaping into the house, while her father, +regarding his employer meditatively, replied: "Take soundings, and then +try again. That's all I can say." + +"I don't know," observed Hounshell, shaking his head. He tried to bring +his regulation smile into play, but the springs would not work. He was +really attached to the girl; and there was a painful longing in his +mind, besides another motive, of which he could not speak. He was +unnerved. + +Presently they went into the house. "Won't you stay to supper?" +suggested Scofield. + +"No, thank'ee. I'm going. Addie!" + +"Yes, sir." She looked at him from her cool, liquid eyes as steadily and +with as much unconsciousness in her clear-lined face as if she had never +heard him speak of marriage. + +"I've a word to say, if you'll come out to the gate." + +"All right." Addie put the cups on the table for her father and herself, +and then followed Hounshell, who bade the weaver good-night. + +"I want you to treat me differently," said the miller, when they were +alone. "This is a very serious matter, and there's more in it than you +think. You ought to consider your father." + +The girl's eyes flashed. "You don't mean," she began, "that you--" + +"No, I don't mean any harm to him, of course. Take me or leave me, he'll +be all right. But if you take me, my father-in-law don't remain in the +weaving-room, by a long shot. I'll make him my partner instid." + +Addie appeared to weigh this. + +"Well, that's right," she said. "He ought to be." Hesitatingly, she went +on: "I know it's generous of you, but--but--" + +"There's another reason, too," the suitor hastened to explain. "I can't +tell you now, but I might afterward. It's very serious. Oh, I can't +stand it, if you don't consent!" he almost groaned. + +She was startled by his strenuous manner. + +"What reason can it be?" she asked, quivering a little. + +"It's been on my heart so long," Hounshell said, pressing both hands on +his chest. "It's there now," he continued, sinking his voice. At the +precise instant of speaking his fingers felt beneath the coat that +fateful fold of paper which the river had brought him, and both arms +fell as if he had been struck. + +"Good God!" he exclaimed, staring at her. + +It seemed to him that she, too, must have felt the paper and its +tell-tale words. + +"What have I been saying?" he asked, in a bewildered tone. + +The change in him within a few moments had been extraordinary, and Addie +experienced a shock. Any one who had seen the wolfish glare of his eyes +on the bridge would have been surprised at the human emotion he now +betrayed. + +"You frighten me," said the girl, shrinking; but she was conscious of +feeling more pity than fright. + +"Don't be frightened," urged Hounshell, trying to speak gently; but his +voice broke. It sounded abject rather than soothing. "I s'pose I'm +making mistakes again. You can't understand me. Only this--think of +this: I shall never get over it if you don't have me. You may do me a +great wrong by turning me off. Can't you consider about this a little +more?" + +"I--I will try to consider, Mr. Hounshell," faltered Addie. + +"Then I'll go; I'll bid you good-night," he said, regaining some of his +customary stiffness. + +"Good-night," she returned. + +He got into the waiting buggy; there was a grinding of wheels, a puff of +whitish dust from them, and then the dusk obliterated him, much to her +relief. She went back into the house slightly paler than when she had +left it. + +"Father," she declared, "I never can marry that man." + +"What! Hounshell?" + +"Yes. There's something strange about him--and wrong." + +"Careful! He's been our best friend, lass; there can't be anything +wrong." + +"All the same, I shall not marry him." + +The old man was hurt. + +"Have you thought over all?" he asked. "You wouldn't be the only +gainer." + +He glanced down at his arm, which still bore marks of sailor's +tattooing, and at his hard hands all day in service at the loom; and +then he sighed, as if despairing of rest. + +"I know, dear father," said his daughter. "Mr. Hounshell would be very +generous to you, so I wish I could do it. But oh, I can't, I can't!" + +She put one hand on his arm and looked piteously into his face. + +"I see how it is," said Scofield. "You have fixed your fancy on Jonah." + +Addie softly moved away. All her color had returned, but she said +nothing. They had barely seated themselves at the table when a knock was +heard. + +"Come in!" cried Addie, and on the entrance of the new-comer, +"Oh--Jonah!" + +"Did you think it was--well, never mind who." + +Jonah, in whose spruce attire, as he now presented himself, it was not +easy to recognize the brakeman of the afternoon train, made this +enigmatical remark rather uneasily, and subsided into regretful silence. + +"Sit down, Jonah, and have some supper," said old Scofield, with a +slight lingering gruffness. + +The young man, however, accepted without compunction; and in a twinkling +Addie had spirited on to the table an extra cup, plate, knife and fork, +which were suspiciously ready to her hand. + +"We had a queer thing happen on the train this afternoon," said Jonah, +as the hot tea roused him into talkativeness again. And he proceeded to +relate the occurrence with which our narrative of these events began. +"Man's name is Piper," he continued--"Simeon Piper. No one knows +anything about him, and he can't tell why he was there or where he was +going. The shock put a screw loose in his brain somewhere, the doctor +says. May get over it, and may not. But they won't keep him at the +hospital long, because there's nothing the matter with him much, except +that." + +"Poor fellow!" Addie murmured. "What will he do when they send him away, +if he doesn't know where he wants to go?" + +"Can't make it out," was Jonah's answer. "Some one ought to take hold +and help him till he gets well." + +Addie made a prompt resolution. + +"We'll take hold; won't we, father? Couldn't you bring him out here, +Jonah?" + +The brakeman reflected a moment. Piper was not young; so there was no +objection on that score. + +"Yes," he said, "I'll bring him out when I get back from my run +to-morrow. They say he seems pretty well-to-do, too. He'll pay board." + +"Never mind if he does," said Miss Scofield, artlessly. "We can be kind +to him just the same." + +It was settled accordingly. + +After supper the two men went out into the garden. They had a serious +subject to talk over, and Jonah began it by saying: + +"The men are pretty near all agreed, Mr. Scofield, and we've got to do +something soon. How is it in your mill?" + +"Hounshell's, you mean," corrected the ex-sailor and weaver, cutting a +piece of tobacco. "Well, I suppose a good many of our hands will go with +you, if it comes to a strike. But I can control a number, I guess; and +I'm bound to tell you that we shall stick to work and stand out ag'in +you." + +"That's bad--bad," mumbled the young railroader, with a troubled air. He +plucked a spear of tall grass and began biting it. "I can't see, +Scofield," he burst out (dropping the "Mr." this time), "why you stick +to that man against all your own interests and the interests of your +fellow-workmen. What's Hounshell compared with them?" + +"He's my friend and benefactor; that's all. Didn't he take care o' my +poor wife the day she died? And when I come back from sea, after a long +cruise and a shipwreck, and my wife was dead, didn't I find that he had +taken my little girl in tow, and was eddicating her? Look here," +Scofield pushed up the sleeve of his coat and shirt and displayed the +dim blue anchor on his fore-arm; "as long as that stays there I'm going +to be true to the man as was true to me," he said. + +"I know all that," said Jonah. "He's done a lot. The others are a little +jealous of you, sometimes; and that's one reason I want you to be with +us. If you ain't, they'll say: 'Oh, yes, it's very fine for Scofield to +stay out! The boss helped him to a nice cottage, and give his daughter a +pianna. But the rest of us have got to look out for ourselves.' That's +what they'll say. And as for me, I say it's barter and trade; that's +what! Hounshell give Addie an education and a pianna, and now he wants +her to give herself in exchange." + +"That ain't the way to look at it," retorted Scofield. "It ain't fair. +And if you mean to insult my daughter by your talk about barter and +trade, why, you'd better--" + +"You're the first to say 'insult,'" Jonah answered, in an angry, +constrained tone. "I love Addie; and I don't believe she'd marry in any +such way. And what's more, I--I kind of hope she'll marry me. There +again, there's another reason why I wanted you to be on our side--now +that we've got everything together, and the railroad hands and mill +hands are ready to move at the same time. But I see it's no use; I've +done my best." + +"No; it's no use," assented the weaver. "I'm doing my best, too." + +Thus it happened that the young man took his departure in some heat; but +it was of her own accord that Addie followed this lover to the gate; and +she did not let him go without a few sweet words to comfort him. + + + + +III. + +LISTENING. + + +Martin Hounshell had three good causes for wishing to marry Addie +Scofield. First, so far as in him lay, he loved her. Secondly, knowing +that opposition was afoot among the men, he feared the influence that +Jonah Brown might obtain over Scofield, should he succeed in his +courtship of the daughter; for he relied much on the sailor-weaver's +loyalty to fight off the trouble. Thirdly, he had some time since been +guilty of a secret misdeed, which he hoped to repair by bestowing +further benefits on the Scofields. + +This evening, after going from the cottage and leaving his horse at +home, he went down to the deserted mill, entered the office, locked +himself in, and then spread out on his desk the discovered memorandum. +The words with which it began were these: "Martin E. Hounshell. Property +delivered, April 13th, 1877. Adelaide Scofield died same day. Husband +returned--." + +The date here was omitted. Below followed the names of certain persons +in California, and two or three other brief notes. + +To the mill-owner, sitting there in the dim candlelight, with a hand +pressed nervously over his lips, this told the whole story. To any one +it would at least suggest suspicion. Should he destroy the paper? He +held it up toward the candle; then hesitated. It might be desirable +first to find out who had written it, and to do this he would keep it as +evidence. No place so unapproachable by others as his own pocket; so he +put it away again. + +The injury he had done to the unsuspecting Scofield had been crowned +with success to himself, but it had tormented him, too. In spite of +having given the man employment and having assisted the daughter, he +could not escape his remorse. But when he should have wedded Addie, and +lifted the weaver into a subordinate partnership, he felt sure that his +mind would be at rest. "As it is," he muttered, "I have done more than +most would have done, to make amends. I can't give up all--the whole +thing. It ain't reasonable. And if I get to be his son-in-law, why, +we're all together, and that squares it." + +But who and where was this other man, this unknown Piper, who carried +dangerous information which might at any moment, if disclosed, give a +sudden check to the comforting plan thus formed? That must be learned +without delay. + +It was not until the next afternoon that, looking over the Shagford +_Minute-Hand_ more carefully than he had had time to do in the morning, +he saw an account of the accident at the railroad bridge, which +accounted for the floating hat. Simeon Piper, then, was in the very +town, at the hospital--perhaps at this instant telling some one the tale +which had come to his knowledge! Preposterous unkindness of fate, to +deal such a blow at this late day! Hounshell only half believed it could +be dealt him; yet when he rose from his chair he felt very weak, and the +solid walls of the mill as he passed outside seemed decidedly rickety. +He very nearly expected them to fall over upon him. As directly as he +could he made his way to the hospital, and by the time he reached it was +aware that his interest in the stranger might appear somewhat singular. +To prevent this he began carelessly, to the attendant: + +"Queer sort of case, that one you had yesterday from the railroad." + +"Yes, a very narrow escape." + +"I read about it in the _Minute-Hand_. How's he getting along?" + +"Very well indeed. He's left us." + +"Left a'ready!" Hounshell wondered if his face looked as white as it +felt. "There's no chance, then--" + +"No chance to see him now," said the attendant, far from suspecting the +anxiety under that word "chance," as used by Hounshell. + +"He's lucky to get off so soon," remarked the latter, a cold +perspiration on his back. "Gone from town, I s'pose." + +"I believe so." + +Hounshell was afraid to ask anything more. He covered his retreat by +discussing his ostensible errand, which was to make arrangements for +possibly sending to the hospital the invalid wife of one of his men. He +had no intention of actually sending her, but he went away leaving an +impression of his remarkable kindness. + +How dear to him was all this false reputation, which cost so little +except in secret mental twinges! He doubted whether a respectability +honestly worked for would have yielded him nearly so keen an enjoyment; +and he was determined to hold on to that which he had gained. Where to +look for Piper, and just how to dispose of him, was the problem now +before him. But he began to feel easier, and his thoughts returned to +the impending labor revolt. + +It was desirable to see Scofield in private, and with this end in view +he drove out to the cottage again at evening. + +On entering the little sitting-room he was annoyed to find a stranger +there comfortably adjusted in a rocking-chair. + +"I didn't know you had company here," he observed frigidly, eying +Scofield. + +"Oh, that won't interfere!" said Scofield. "It's only Mr. Piper; the man +that--" + +"Piper!" ejaculated Hounshell, in a voice harsh with horror. + +The stranger looked up at him astonished. + +"Yes," said the weaver. "Mr. Piper, this is our boss, Mr. Hounshell." + +It was all over--so the miller thought. He stood staring, waiting for +Simeon Piper to spring up with deadly denunciation on his lips. But that +individual merely bowed and inspected his _vis-a-vis_ with a +good-natured air. The only thing worthy of remark about him was that +there was a sort of pained blankness in his face; and as he met +Hounshell's fixed gaze he lifted one hand and pressed his forehead +vaguely for an instant. The other man was quick to take the respite +offered. + +"I'm glad to see you looking so well, Mr. Piper," he said, exhibiting +his smile with great success. "I've heard about your escape." + +Then he looked at Scofield imperiously, and they went out together. + +"What is that man there for?" he demanded, taking the weaver's arm +sharply. + +"Why, he's come out to board; that's all. Do you know him? You seemed a +good deal shaken up." + +"No; I don't know him. I s'pose this labor combination is making me +nervous. I kind of suspect people." + +"Pshaw! This man's an outsider; comes from California. He was a +rancheero, or something, out there, I believe. I can tell you how we +happen to have him here." And the explanation was given. "He's dropped +the bottom out of his memory, like, and wants to wait till he can fit a +new one to it." + +"Oh, that's it!" exclaimed Hounshell, once more secure. He saw that his +name had not been recognized by his enemy; and perhaps the memorandum in +his pocket was the only connecting link that would ever lead to such a +recognition. "Still," he said, "I don't like Jonah's bringing him here. +It won't hurt if you let him go his way this side of next week." + +They then proceeded to a discussion of the state of things in the mill; +and Hounshell went home without attempting an interview with Addie. But +first, after driving a little way, he stopped, went back on foot, and +stealthily looked through the vine-hung window. Addie was reading +something to the robust-looking invalid, who still sat in the +rocking-chair, his face as blank as ever. Her father occupied himself +with carving a small piece of wood, twisting his lips in sympathy with +the knife. Everything was placidly reassuring. + +Hounshell wondered at the thinness of the partition that stood between +him and ruin; but he did not care if it was only an egg-shell, so long +as it did not break. + +But while he was still gazing through the pane, the sound of a distant +train on the railroad came through the night. The watcher was scarcely +aware of it until he saw Piper start up in his chair, listening, with a +roused, intent expression. The girl ceased from her reading; Scofield +stopped his work and looked at their guest. No one spoke in the little +room. The noise of the train grew louder; now it became a rumbling hum +or a rattle--busy, swift, determined in character. It was as if a +gigantic shuttle were being driven through the woof of the darkness, to +carry one more strand into that great web of civilization, woven day and +night continually. But there was something mysterious and warning in the +sound besides. Under the general subdued roar could be heard the sharp +click of the wheels from rail to rail, in definite pulsations; the sound +thus grew so precise one might have suspected that it would break into +speech. Had it not some message to deliver of which this was the vague +prelude? + +That at least was what Piper seemed to hope as he rose excited, finally +gaining his feet, with a quicker intelligence in his face than had been +there before. As if it would be possible to catch the message more +distinctly should he look out, he turned his eyes toward the window. +Hounshell barely missed betraying himself there, but slid away into the +dark swiftly. + +"Was that a face?" Simeon Piper demanded. "No; I see it must have been +an illusion," he added, despondently, once more putting his hand to his +head. + +The father and daughter exchanged looks of pity. + +By this time the cars had got farther off and were less audible. Piper's +agitation died away proportionately, and he sank back into his seat. + +But the same sort of thing happened on the following day when he heard +the distant movement of a train. + +"Listen!" he cried to Addie, who was with him. "Don't you hear? It's +going to say something. I shall get hold of the idea and find out what +is the matter. Listen! listen!" + +Then, as before, the hollow rumble diminished, gradually softened to a +stir no louder than a sigh, and finally was quite lost. Only the baffled +breeze continued its hopeless search among the leafy boughs by the +river. + +"What is it you think you might hear?" asked Addie, gently. + +The strong man looked at her with tears in his eyes. + +"A secret, young lady; a secret! I knew it, and now it is gone. It's +strange that cars should excite me this way, but something has hurt my +brain. You are very kind; and if you go on being so perhaps my mind will +get right again." + +A week passed. Piper listened each day to the passing trains; sometimes +at night too, when he lay alone, and it seemed still more likely that +through its relation with this sound the lost clew might disclose +itself. But all in vain; he was unable to recover what had escaped him. + +During these days Hounshell did not come out to the cottage, but the +labor movement culminated, and all the railroad and mill employes +demanded an advance of wages. + + + + +IV. + +THE THIRD BRIDGE. + + +The employers met in conference, and agreed not to yield--so the strike +began. Scofield, however, and a small group with him, stoutly refused to +join the movement; and some work was still done at Hounshell's. This +encouraged the other mill-owners and directors, and exasperated the men +in revolt. At first everything was quiet and orderly; but as the success +of the laborers grew more doubtful to them, anger and excitement gained +sway. + +"I feel almost afraid for father," said Addie to Simeon Piper, on the +fourth day of the strike. For, in fact, there were now serious threats +of riot. + +"I don't believe they would do him any harm," said the Californian, +easily. "The most they'll do will be to make him stop working, and then +he'll have a holiday." + +"But he won't stop," the girl affirmed, excitedly. "I know father better +than you." + +"Well, then," suggested Piper, still seeking an easy way out, "persuade +your friend Brown--my friend, too--to come over to father's side." + +Piper, with a Western taste for convenience and cordiality, had adopted +this mode of referring to Scofield. + +"But I--I don't want to," faltered Addie, with a soft blush. + +"Hoity-toity!" cried Simeon. "What does that mean?" + +"I want him--the strikers, that is--to win." + +"Against father?" Piper raised his good-humored eyebrows. + +"Oh dear, I wish they were on the same side! I only know I'm fearful. +They'll hurt him; I know they will." + +"Oh, look here," said Piper, "that's all foolishness! But I'll tell you +what: we'll walk down to town and see how things are going." + +"Shall we? Oh, how nice you are, Mr. Piper! Come on, then." + +And they started. + +A great many men were standing about the streets, looking ominous of +ill; but as yet no disturbance was made. The mill stood at one end of +the street-bridge; and as Piper and Addie came up to it they heard the +noise of a crowd approaching around one corner of it. A moment after +they had gained the entrance, this crowd, which numbered some +twenty-five men, armed with thick sticks and some heavy stones, arrayed +itself face to face with them. + +"Where do you lot plan on going?" asked Piper, in a leisurely manner. + +"In here," said some of the group, "to stop them working." + +"I guess not," observed the Californian. His tone was even genial. + +"We'll see," retorted a leader, moving forward. + +The mill-door was fast, but at this moment the bolts were loosed, and +Scofield made his appearance. + +"Addie," he commanded, sternly, "come in, and out of the muss! and you, +too, Piper." + +"You can send daughter in," answered Piper, indicating Addie, who--far +from quailing--looked as serene and fresh as ever. "But I'm going to +stand in front of this door. Now," he continued, with determination, +fronting the rioters, "you leave the old man and his girl alone. If you +don't you've got to fight me. One of your locomotives run me off the +bridge t'other day and didn't kill me; and I guess you can't, either. I +promise to corral the whole herd, if you try to come in here." + +Some of the men showed defiance, but those nearest were in no hurry to +attack. It had suddenly become apparent to them that their antagonist's +shoulders were particularly square and rugged. Scofield wondered whether +his champion knew what he was about; the Piper certainly seemed to be in +possession of all his faculties. + +The leaders began to confer. + +As luck would have it, the owner of the mill, who had been absent, and +was not aware of the immediate danger, just then came up. He had not +seen the crowd until within a few yards. At once a threatening cry +arose: + +"Hounshell!" + +A strange sensation came over Piper; a loud, tumultuous noise following +the word, filled his ears. Was it the rush of the river, or the thunder +of a railroad train? He could not tell; but he shouted suddenly with +fierce exultation: + +"Hounshell--that's the name! Hounshell's the man!" + +His memory had come back to him. + +The strikers, diverted by this new object, turned as if to assault the +"boss;" but Piper was before them. He had darted forward and toward +Hounshell, who, blanched with fear, and thinking Piper in league with +the men, took flight, making for the bridge; the Californian after him. +The little mob, itself bewildered, followed; but Piper had already +clutched the fugitive when it caught up with them. + +"I've got him," he cried. "This man's a fraud. Do you want to know why? +He took the money left to the other man--Scofield--hurrah! that's the +other name. He stole the money, I tell you, and bought that mill, and it +don't belong to him. The mill is Scofield's; d'you hear?" + +"Let go," gurgled Hounshell, trying to wrench himself free. But his +captor shook him once, and he was quiet. + +The workmen crowded up to get a clearer understanding of this +extraordinary statement; and as it broke fully upon them, "Throw him +over the bridge," became their watchword. But by this time several other +persons had advanced over the street bridge, among whom were Jonah and +Scofield. + +"No violence, boys," said Jonah, lifting his voice, which had authority. +"You're disgracing the cause." + +The men became silent, but Scofield was indignant with his ally of a +moment before. + +"What are you doing to the boss?" he demanded, hotly. "You must be +crazy." + +"Yes; he's crazy," said Hounshell, trying to assume the air of a +composed and meritorious person placed at a disadvantage. + +"You must have been yourself," the Californian vehemently declared, +"when you took that legacy to pay to Mrs. Scofield, and then stole it +because she died and no one knew about it. The mill belongs to Scofield, +I say, and I can prove it in a little time." + +"You've got no evidence," asserted Hounshell, very pale and a trifle +wolfish. + +"Evidence! I've got you, and you're chock full of it. I believe I could +shake it right out of you if I tried." + +Piper glared at him, and then, without releasing his hold, made a dive +with one hand at his captive's breast. + +"It's gone," said Hounshell, huskily. "I've burned it." + +"Burned what?" + +"The paper," Hounshell muttered; "your memo--" + +"Oh, you had it, then! You've convicted yourself by that, my fine +scamp." + +"I give up," said the wretched criminal. "Let's go. Take me away--the +mill! Bring Scofield. I give up." + +Seeing that this was best, Simeon acceded. + +"Come along, Scofield," he said. + +Jonah pressed up to Scofield and congratulated him as they went, but the +older man scarcely responded. When they were again at the mill one +striker renewed the idea of coercing the workers. But Jonah imposed his +veto. + +"Not now," he said. + +And Scofield added: + +"Boys, if the mill belongs to me it's settled beforehand. You get your +advance." + +This sent them off with a cheer and the prophecy that the rest of the +bosses would have to follow suit. + +The four men, left alone, entered the office. + +"Is it true?" asked Scofield. + +Hounshell winced, but replied steadily: + +"It's all true." + +The weaver went to the window and put his head on his arm. It was he, +the innocent man, who was overwhelmed by the disgrace of the one who had +wronged him. + +"But how did you find it out?" Jonah asked of Piper. + +"Roundabout," was the answer. "First off, from a man I was hiring on my +ranche. He came from here and spoke about Scofield; said he was a +weaver. I'd heard something about that rich brother in 'Frisco that +hadn't seen the rest of the Scofields for years, and left 'em his money; +so I saw there might be something wrong. I looked it up, and came on +here." + +Jonah took his hand. + +"But you must have known the Scofields, or had some interest in them," +he said, after a moment. + +Simeon Piper looked down; then he looked away; finally he twirled his +thumbs. + +"I could afford the time," he said. "Got money enough. Well, yes, I +suppose you might call it interest. Fact is, I knew Scofield's wife's +sister when she was young. I--didn't marry her. But, then, I never +married any one, you see." + +And with this he faced his questioner, turning upon him a pair of eyes +that beamed as if he had just set forth a remarkably cheerful +circumstance. + +On further inquiry it was understood how Piper had taken the wrong train +for Shagford, and, finding that it branched off, had started foolishly +to walk along the track when overtaken on the bridge. He was now +convinced that a hat was not a good place in which to deposit important +documents. + +Finding that evidence for his conviction could soon be obtained, in +addition to his confession, Hounshell executed a deed of the mill to +Scofield. + +"And what do you propose to do with me?" he asked. "Are you going to get +me locked up?" + +The others held a conference, before answering. Scofield was in favor of +letting the malefactor go, but the decision was at last given to Piper, +who said: + +"I'm sorry for you, Hounshell. It would have been better for you if you +had emigrated some time ago. But as it is, I guess the law'll have to +decide where you're to locate." + +And, subsequently, it did so. + +"Well," said the deposed malefactor, when sentence had been passed, "I'm +almost glad of it." + +A soft summer rain was falling as they led him out of court to go to +prison; and, strangely enough, he had not felt so happy for years. Once +more he was open to the charm of the pattering drops, the sweetness of +refreshed flowers, the cool air, as he had been in boyhood. + +"It's only fair to you," Scofield remarked, forgivingly, "to say that +you showed conscience." + +"Yes--if I'd only followed it," Hounshell answered. "A man ought to +trust his conscience instead of letting it trust him. I tell 'ee it's an +awful sharp creditor when the time does come to pay up." + + + + +IN EACH OTHER'S SHOES. + + + + +I. + + +John Crombie had taken a room at the new apartment building, The Lorne; +having advanced so far in his experience of New York as to be aware that +if he could once establish himself in a house associated by name with +foreign places and titles his chance of securing "position" would be +greatly increased. He did not, however, take his meals in the expensive +cafe of that establishment, finding it more economical to go to an +outlandish little French restaurant, some distance away, which had been +nicknamed among those of his acquaintance who resorted to it, "The Fried +Cat." This designation, based on a supposed resemblance to the name of +the proprietor, Fricat, was also believed to have value as a sarcasm. + +It was with no pleasant sensations, therefore, that Crombie, waking on a +gray and drizzling morning of November, remembered that he must hie him +to the "Fried Cat" for an early breakfast. He was in a hurry that day; +he had a great deal to do. His room was very small and dark; he bounced +up and dressed himself, in an obscure sort of way, surreptitiously +opening the door and reaching vaguely for his shoes, which stood just +outside, ready blacked. Nor did it add to his comfort to know that the +shoes were very defective as to their soles, and would admit the water +freely from the accumulated puddles of the sidewalks. In fact, he had +been ashamed to expose their bad condition to the porter when he put +them out every night, as he was forced to do, since they were his only +pair. Drawing them on hastily, in order to conceal his mortification +from even his own mind, he sallied forth; and though at the moment of +putting them on a dim sense of something unfamiliar crossed his mind, it +was not until he reached "The Fried Cat" that he became fully aware that +he had carried off some one else's shoes. He turned up the soles, +privately, underneath the low-hanging table-cloth, and by a brief +examination convinced himself that the gaiters did not belong to him. +The test was simple: his feet were unaccountably dry, and there were +none of those breaks in the lower surface of their leather covering +which he had so often been obliged to contemplate. + +He saw at once that the porter of The Lorne had made a mistake, and must +have deposited at another apartment his own very insufficient foot-gear; +but there was no chance now to remedy the confusion. Crombie had barely +time to reach the office where he was employed. + +On an ordinary occasion he would perhaps have gone back to The Lorne and +effected an honorable exchange. This particular day, however, was by no +means an ordinary occasion. Crombie had made up his mind to take a +momentous step; and it was therefore essential that he should appear at +his desk exactly on time. + +He was a clerk in an important engraving company. For several years he +had occupied that post, without any opportunity having presented itself +for a promotion. At the best, even should he rise, what could he expect? +To be cashier, perhaps, or possibly, under exceptional circumstances, a +confidential private secretary. This prospect did not satisfy him; he +was determined to strike for something higher. + +It will naturally be inferred that he was ambitious. I am not in a +position to deny this; but all I can be certain of is, that he was in +love--which is often about the same thing. + +Several times at The Lorne he had met in the hallways or in the elevator +a young lady, who was in no small degree beautiful, and charmed him +still more by her general presence, which conveyed the idea of a +harmonious and lovely character. She had light hair and blue eyes, but +these outward attributes were joined with a serenity and poise of manner +that indicated greater stability than is attributed, as a rule, to +individuals of her type. + +Once he happened to arrive at the main entrance just as this vision of +beauty emerged to take her place in a coupe which was waiting by the +curbstone. She dropped her card-case upon the sidewalk, and Crombie's +heart throbbed with delight as he picked it up, gave it to her, and +received her smiling thanks for his little service. Another time, as he +was descending in the elevator, a door opposite the shaft, on the second +floor, stood open, and he caught a glimpse of the apartment to which it +gave access. The room was finished in soft tints, and was full of +upholstery and hangings that lent it a dim golden atmosphere. In the +middle of it stood the young girl, clad in the palest blue, above which +her hair shone like a golden cloud on some dim evening sky. + +Slight occurrences of this sort had affected him. He learned that she +was the daughter of Littimer, the rich, widowed banker: her name was +Blanche. + + +II. + +In these new, stout shoes that did not belong to him Crombie trod with a +buoyancy and assurance strongly in contrast with the limp and +half-hearted pace to which his old, shabby gaiters had formerly inclined +him. He rattled down the stairs of the elevated station with an alacrity +almost bumptious; and the sharp, confident step that announced his +entrance into the company's office made the other clerks quite ashamed +of their own want of spirit. + +He worked at his desk until noon; but when the bells of Trinity rang +twelve in solemn music over the busy streets, he dropped his pen, walked +with a decisive air the length of the room, and, opening a door at the +other end, presented himself before Mr. Blatchford, the treasurer, who +was also an influential director. + +"Crombie, eh? Well, what is it?" + +"I want to speak with you a moment, sir." + +"Anything important? I'm busy." + +"Yes, sir; quite important--to me. Possibly it may be to you." + +"Fire away, then; but cut it short." Mr. Blatchford's dense, well-combed +gray side-whiskers were directed toward the young man in an aggressive +way, as if they had been some sort of weapon. + +Crombie nonchalantly settled himself in a chair, at ease. + +"I am tired of being a clerk," he said. "I'm going to be a director in +this company." + +"I guess you're going to be an inmate of a lunatic asylum," Mr. +Blatchford remarked, with astonished cheerfulness. + +"That seems as unlikely to me as the other thing does to you," said +Crombie. + +Hereupon Mr. Blatchford became sarcastically deferential. "And just +about when do you propose to become a director?" he asked. + +"In the course of a month. The election, I believe, takes place in +December." + +"Quite right," said his senior, whose urbanity was meant to be crushing. +"Meanwhile, you will need leisure to attend to this little matter. +Suppose I oblige you by saying that the company has no further need of +your services?" + +"Suppose you do. What then?" + +Mr. Blatchford gave way to his anger. "What then? Why, then you would +have to go; that's all. You would be thrown out of employment. You would +have to live on your principal, as long as there was any; and afterward +you would be obliged to find some other work, or beg, or borrow, or--" + +"That's enough," said Crombie, rising with dignity. + +"No, it isn't," the treasurer declared, "for you don't seem to +understand even now. I discharge you, Mr. Crombie, on the company's +behalf, and you may leave this office at once." + +Crombie bowed and went out. "I'm going to be a director, all the same," +he told Mr. Blatchford before he closed the door. Then he collected the +few articles that belonged to him from his desk, and departed, a free +man. He had his future to himself; or else he had no future worth +speaking of; he wasn't sure which. Nevertheless, he felt quite happy. +Such a result as this had seemed to him, in the prospect, hardly +possible; but now that it had arrived he was not discomfited. Unbounded +courage seemed to rise from the stout soles of the alien boots, +percolating through his whole system. He was surprised at himself. He +had intended to use more diplomacy with Mr. Blatchford, and it was no +joke to him to lose his place. But instead of feeling despondent, or +going at once in search of new employment, he cheerfully went about +making calls on several gentlemen who, he thought, might be induced to +aid in his ambitious project. His manner was that of a person sure of +his powers and enjoying a well-earned leisure. It had its effect. Two or +three stockholders of the company joined in agreeing with him that +improved methods could be introduced into its management, and that it +would be a good thing to have in the board, say, two young, fresh, +active men--of whom Crombie, by reason of his experience and training, +should be one. + +"I own a little stock," said the deposed clerk, who had taken the +precaution to obtain a couple of shares by great effort in saving. +"Besides, not having any other engrossing interests at present, I could +give my whole attention to the company's affairs." + +"Quite so," said the merchant whom he was addressing, comfortably. "We +must see if we can get together a majority; no time to be lost, you +know." + +"No, sir. I shall go right to work; and perhaps you will speak to some +of your friends, and give me some names." + +"Certainly. Come in again pretty soon; will you?" + +Crombie saw that he had a good foundation to build upon already. +Blatchford was not popular, even among the other directors; and sundry +stockholders, as well as people having business with the company, had +conceived a strong dislike of him on account of his overbearing manners. +Therefore it would not be hard to enlist sympathy for a movement +obnoxious to him. But it was imperative that the self-nominated +candidate should acquire more of the stock; and to do this capital must +be had. Crombie did not see quite how it was to be got; he had no +sufficient influence with the bankers. + +The afternoon was nearly spent, and he trudged up-town, thinking of the +ways and means. But though the problem was far from solved, he still +continued in a state of extraordinary buoyancy. Those shoes, those +shoes! He was so much impressed by their comfort and the service they +had done him in making a good appearance that he resolved to get a new +pair of his own. He stopped and bought them; then kept on toward The +Lorne, carrying his purchase under his arm without embarrassment. The +cold drizzle had ceased, and the sunset came out clear and golden, +dipping its bright darts into the shallow pools of wet on the pavement, +and somehow mingling with his financial dreams a dream of that fair hair +that gave a glory to Miss Blanche's face. + +On regaining his modest apartment he sent for the boot-boy, and inquired +the whereabouts of his missing shoes. + +"Couldn't tell you, sir," said the servant. "Pretty near all the men's +boots in the house has gone out, you see, and they'll only be coming +back just about now. I'll look out for 'em, sir, and nab 'em as soon as +they show up." + +"All right. Whose are these that I've been wearing?" + +The boy took them, turned them over, and examined them with the eye of a +connoisseur in every part. + +"'Them?' I should say, sir, them was Mr. Littimer's." + +Crombie blushed with mortification. Of all the dwellers in The Lorne, +this was the very one with whom it was the most embarrassing to have +such a complication occur; and yet, strange inconsistency! he had been +longing for any accident, no matter how absurd or fantastic, that could +bring him some chance of an acquaintance with Blanche. + +"Take these boots, dry them right away, and give 'em a shine. Then carry +them up to Mr. Littimer's rooms." He gave the boy a quarter: he was +becoming reckless. + +Now that he had embarked upon a new career, he perceived the impropriety +of a future director in the Engraving Company going to dine at the +"Fried Cat," and so resolved to take his dinner in the gorgeous cafe of +The Lorne. While he was waiting for the proper moment to descend +thither, he could not get the shoe question out of his mind. Surely, the +boot-boy could not have been so idiotic as to have left that ancient, +broken-down pair at Littimer's threshold! And yet it was possible. +Crombie felt another flush of humility upon his cheeks. Then he wandered +off into revery upon the multifarious errands of all the pairs of boots +and shoes that had gone forth from the great apartment-house that day. +Patter, patter, patter! tramp, tramp!--he imagined he heard them all +walking, stamping, shuffling along toward different parts of the city, +with many different objects, and sending back significant echoes. +Whither had his own ruinous Congress gaiters gone?--to what destination +which they would never have reached had he been in them? Had they +carried their temporary possessor into any such worriment and trouble as +he himself had often travelled through on their worn but faithful soles? + +Breaking off from these idle fancies at length, he went down to the +cafe; and there he had the pleasure of dining at a table not far from +Blanche Littimer. But, to his surprise, she was alone. Her father did +not appear during the meal. + + +III. + +The fact was that the awful possibility, mere conjecture of which had +frightened Crombie, had occurred. Littimer had received the young man's +shoes in place of his own. + +They happened to fit him moderately well; so that he, likewise, did not +notice the exchange until he had started for his office. He believed in +walking the entire distance, no matter what the weather; and to this +practice he made rare exceptions. But he had not progressed very far +before he became annoyed by an unaccustomed intrusion of dampness that +threatened him with a cold. He looked down, carefully surveyed the +artificial casing of his extremities, and decided to hail the first +unoccupied coupe he should meet. It was some time before he found one; +and when finally he took his seat in the luxurious little bank parlor at +Broad Street, his feet were quite wet. + +His surprise at this occurrence was doubled when, on taking off the +shoes and scrutinizing them more closely, he ascertained that they were +the work of his usual maker. What had happened to him? Was he dreaming? +It seemed to him that he had gone back many years; that he was a poor +young man again, entering upon his first struggle for a foothold in the +crowded, selfish, unhomelike metropolis. He remembered the day when _he_ +had worn shoes like these. + +He sent out for an assortment of new ones, from which, with unnecessary +lavishness, he chose and kept three or four pairs. All the rest of the +day, nevertheless, those sorry Congress boots of Crombie's, which he had +directed his office-boy to place beside the soft-coal fire, for drying, +faced him with a sort of haunting look. However much he might be +occupied with weightier matters, he could not keep his eyes from +straying in that direction; and whenever they rested on that battered +"right" and that way-worn "left," turned up in that mute, appealing +repose and uselessness at the fender, his thoughts recurred to his early +years of trial and poverty. Ah! how greatly he had changed since then! +On some accounts he could almost wish that he were poor again. But when +he remembered Blanche, he was glad, for her sake, that he was rich. + +But if for her sake, why not for others? Perhaps he had been rather +selfish, not only about Blanche, but toward her. His conscience began to +reproach him. Had he made for her a large life? Since her mother's +premature death, had he instilled into her sympathies, tastes, +companionships that would make her existence the richer? Had he not kept +her too much to himself? On the other hand, he had gratified all her +material wants; she could wear what she pleased, she could go where she +chose, she had acquaintances of a sort becoming to the daughter of a +wealthy man. Yet there was something lacking. What did she know about +old, used-up boots and all that pertains to them? What did she know +about indigence, real privation, and brave endurance, such as a hundred +thousand fellow-creatures all around her were undergoing? + +Somehow it dawned upon the old banker that if she knew about all these +things and had some share in them, albeit only through sympathy and +helping, she might be happier, more truly a woman, than she was now. + +As he sat alone, in revery, he actually heaved a deep sigh. A sigh is +often as happy a deliverance as a laugh, in this world of sorrows. It +was the first that had escaped Littimer in years. Let us say that it was +a breathing space, which gave him time for reflection; it marked the +turning of a leaf; it was the beginning of a new chapter in his life. + +Before he left the bank he locked the door of the private parlor, and +was alone for two or three minutes. The office boy was greatly puzzled +the next morning, when he found all the new pairs of shoes ranged intact +in the adjoining cupboard. The old ones were missing. + +Littimer had gone away in them, furtively. He was ashamed of his own +impulse. + +This time be resolutely remained afoot instead of hiring a carriage. He +despatched a messenger to Blanche, saying that sudden business would +prevent his returning to dinner, and continued indefinitely on his +way--whither? As to that he was by no means certain; he knew only that +he must get out of the beaten track, out of the ruts. For an hour or two +he must cease to be Littimer, the prosperous moneyed man, and must tread +once more the obscure paths through which he had made his way to +fortune. He could hardly have explained the prompting which he obeyed. +Could it have had anything to do with the treacherous holes in the +bottoms of those old shoes? + +As it chanced, he passed by the "Fried Cat;" and, dingy though the place +was, he felt an irresistible desire to enter it. Seating himself, he +ordered the regular dinner of the day. The light was dim; the +table-cloth was dirty; the attendance was irregular and distracted. +Littimer took one sip of the sour wine--which had a flavor resembling +vinegar and carmine ink in equal parts--and left the further contents of +his bottle untasted. The soup, the stew, and the faded roast that were +set before him, he could scarcely swallow; but a small cup of coffee at +the end of the well-nigh Barmecide repast came in very palatably. + +In default of prandial attractions, Littimer tried to occupy himself by +looking at the people around him. The omnifarious assembly included +pale, prim-whiskered young clerks; shabby, lonely, sallow young women, +whose sallowness and shabbiness stamped them with the mark of integrity; +other females whose specious splendor was not nearly so reassuring; old +men, broken-down men, middle-aged men of every description, except the +well-to-do. + +"Some of them," Littimer reflected, "are no worse than I am. But are any +of them really any better?" + +He could not convince himself that they were; yet his sympathies, +somehow, went out toward this motley crowd. It appeared to him very +foolish that he should sympathize, but he could not help it. "And, after +all," was the next thought that came to him, "are we to give pity to +people, or withhold it, simply because they are better or worse than +ourselves? No; there is something more in it than that." + +Leaving the "Fried Cat" abruptly, he betook himself to an acquaintance +who, he knew, was very active in charities--a man who worked +practically, and gave time to the work. + +"Do you visit any of your distress cases to-night?" he asked. + +"Yes, I shall make a few calls," answered the man of charity. "Would you +like to go along?" + +"Very much." + +So the two started out together. The places they went to were of various +kinds, and revealed a considerable diversity of misfortune. Sometimes +they entered tenement-houses of the most wretched character; but in +other instances they went to small and cheap but decent lodgings over +the shops on West Side avenues, or even penetrated into boarding-houses +of such good appearance that the banker was surprised to find his +friend's mission carrying him thither. All the cases, however, had been +studied, and were vouched for; and several were those of young men and +women having employment, but temporarily disabled, and without friends +who could help them. + +"You do well to help these beginners, at critical times," said the +banker, with satisfaction, "I take a special interest in them." + +It was almost the same as if he were receiving relief himself. Who +knows? Perhaps he was; but to the outward eye it appeared merely that, +with his friend's sanction, he was dispensing money and offers of good +will to the needy. What a strange freak it was, though, in Littimer! He +kept on with the work until quite late in the evening, regardless of the +risk he ran by continuing out-of-doors when so ill shod. + +I think he had some idea in his mind that he was performing an act of +penance. + + +IV. + +Having waited a reasonable length of time after dinner, Crombie again +left his room, resolved to make a call upon Mr. Littimer, on the plea of +apologizing for having marched away with his shoes. + +He would not run the risk, by sending his card, of being denied as a +stranger; so, notwithstanding much hesitation and tremor, he approached +the door which he had once seen standing open, and knocked. A voice +which he now heard for the second time in his life, but which was so +sweet and crept so naturally into the centre of his heart that the +thought of it seemed always to have been there, answered: "Come in." And +he did come in. + +"Is Mr. Lit--is your father at home?" It seemed to bring him a little +nearer to her to say "your father." + +Blanche had risen from the chair where she was reading, and looked very +much surprised. "Oh," she exclaimed, with girlish simplicity, "I thought +it was the waiter! N-no; he hasn't come home yet." + +"I beg pardon. Then perhaps I'd better call later." Crombie made a +feeble movement toward withdrawal. + +"Did you want to see him on business? Who shall I tell him?" + +"Mr. Crombie, please. It's nothing very important." + +"Oh," said Blanche, with a little blush at her own deception, "haven't I +seen you in the house before? Are you staying here?" + +She remembered distinctly the incident of the card-case, and how very +nice she had thought him, both on that occasion and every time she had +seen him. But as for him, his heart sank at the vague impersonality with +which she seemed to regard him. + +"Yes, I'm here, and can easily come in again." + +"I expect my father almost any moment," she said. "Would you like to +wait?" + +What an absurd question, to one in his frame of mind! "Well, really, it +is such a very small matter," he began, examining his hat attentively. +Then he glanced up at her again, and smiled: "I only wanted to--to make +an apology." + +"An apology!" echoed Blanche, becoming rather more distant. "Oh, dear! +I'm very sorry, I'm sure. I didn't know there'd been any trouble." She +began to look anxious, and turned her eyes upon the smouldering fire in +the grate. So this was to be the end of her pleasant, cheerful reveries +about this nice young man. And the reveries had been more frequent than +she had been aware of until now. + +"There has been no trouble," he assured her, eagerly. "Just a little +mistake that occurred; and, in fact, I was hardly responsible for it." + +Blanche's eyes began to twinkle with a new and amusing interpretation. +"Ah!" she cried, "are you the gentleman who--" Then she stopped short. + +Crombie was placed in an unexpected embarrassment. How could he possibly +drag into his conversation with this lovely young creature so +commonplace and vulgar a subject as shoe-leather! Ignoring her +unfinished question, he asked: "Do you know, Miss Littimer, whether +the--a--one of the servants here has brought up anything for your +father--that is, a parcel, a--" + +"A pair of shoes?" Blanche broke in, her eyes dancing, while her lips +parted in a smile. + +"Yes, yes; that's what I meant." + +"They came up just after dinner," Blanche returned. "Then you _are_ the +gentleman." + +"I'm afraid I am," Crombie owned, and they both laughed. + +Blanche quietly, and with no apparent intention, resumed her chair; and +this time Crombie took a seat without waiting to be invited again. Thus +they fell to talking in the friendliest way. + +"I can't imagine what has become of papa," said Blanche. "He sent word, +in the most mysterious manner, that he had an engagement; and it is so +unusual! Perhaps it's something about the new house he's +building--up-town, you know. Dear me! it does make so much trouble, and +I don't believe I shall like it half as well as these little, cosey +rooms." + +The little, cosey rooms were as the abode of giants compared with +Crombie's contracted quarters; but he drew comfort from what she said, +thinking how such sentiments might make it possible to win even so +unattainable an heiress into some modest home of his own. + +"You don't know till you try it," he replied. "Just think of having a +place all to yourself, belonging to you." + +Blanche lifted her eyebrows, and a little sigh escaped her. She was +reflecting, perhaps, that a place all to herself would be rather lonely. + +"You have never met my father?" she asked. + +"No. I have seen him." + +"Well, I think you will like him when you know him." + +"I don't doubt it!" Crombie exclaimed with fervor, worshipping the very +furniture that surrounded Blanche. "I hope we may become better +acquainted." + +"Only I think, Mr. Crombie, he will owe _you_ an apology now." + +"Why?" + +"For keeping your shoes out so late." + +"_My_ shoes!" said the young man, in vehement surprise. + +"Why, yes. Didn't you know they came to him? The porter said so." + +Crombie grew red with the sense of his disgrace in having his +poverty-stricken boots come to the knowledge of the banker. Really, his +mortification was so great that the accident seemed to him to put an end +to all his hopes of further relations with Blanche and her father. + +"Oh, I assure you," he said, rising, "that makes no difference at all! +I'm sorry I mentioned the matter. Pray tell Mr. Littimer not to think of +it. I--I believe I'd better go now, Miss Littimer." + +Blanche rose too, and Crombie was on the point of bowing a good-night, +when the door opened, and a weary figure presented itself on the +threshold; the figure of a short man with a spare face, and whiskers in +which gray mingled with the sandy tint. He had a pinched, half-growling +expression, was draped in a light, draggled overcoat, and carried an +umbrella, the ribs of which hung loose around the stick. + +"There's papa this moment!" cried Blanche. + +Crombie perceived that escape was impossible, and, in a few words, the +reason of his presence there was made known to the old gentleman. + +Littimer examined the visitor swiftly, from head to foot--especially the +foot. He advanced to the fire, toasted first one and then the other of +the damp gaiters he had on, and at length broke out, in a tone bordering +on reproach: "So you are the owner, are you? Then my sympathy has all +been wasted! Why, I supposed, from the condition of these machines that +I've been lugging around with me half the day, that you must be in the +greatest distress. And, lo and behold! I find you a young fellow in +prime health, spruce and trim, doing well, I should say, and perfectly +happy." + +"I can't help that, sir," retorted Crombie, nettled, but speaking with +respect. "I confess I was very happy until a moment or two ago." + +"What do you mean by that?" the other demanded, with half-yielding +pugnacity. "Till I came in--is that the idea?" + +"Oh, papa!" said Blanche, softly. + +"Well, honey-bee, what's the matter?" her father asked, trying to be +gruff. "Can't I say what I like, here?" But he surrendered at once by +adding: "You may be sure I don't want to offend any one. Sit down, Mr. +Crombie, and wait just a few moments while I go into the other room and +rejuvenate my hoofs, so to speak--for I fear I've made a donkey of +myself." + +He disappeared into an adjoining room with Blanche, who there informed +him artlessly of Crombie's consideration and attentiveness in restoring +the errant shoes. When they came back Littimer insisted upon having the +young man remain a little longer and drink a glass of port with him. +Before taking his departure, however, Crombie, who felt free to speak +since Blanche had retired, made a brief statement in satisfaction of +conscience. + +"You hinted," he said, "that you judged me to be doing well. I don't +want to leave you with a false impression. The truth is, I am not doing +well. I have no money to speak of, and to-day I lost the position on +which I depended." + +"You don't tell me!" Littimer's newly roused charitable impulses came to +the fore. "Why, now you begin to be really interesting, Mr. Crombie." + +"Thanks," said Crombie; "I'm not ambitious to interest people in that +way. I told you only because I thought it fair." + +"Don't be touchy, my dear sir," answered the banker. "I meant what I +said. Come, let's see what can be done. Have you any scheme in view?" + +"Yes, I have," said Crombie, with decision. + +Littimer gave a grunt. He was afraid of people with schemes, and was +disappointed with the young man's want of helplessness. Dependence would +have been an easier thing to deal with. + +"Well," said he, "we must talk it over. Come and see me at the bank +to-morrow. You know the address?" + + +V. + +The next day Crombie called at the bank; but Littimer was not there. He +was not very well, it was said; had not come down-town. Crombie did what +he could toward organizing his fight for a directorship, and then +returned to The Lorne, where he punctually inquired after Mr. Littimer's +health, and learned that the banker's ardor in making the rounds among +distressed people the night before had been followed by reaction into a +bad cold, with some threat of pneumonia. Blanche was plainly anxious. +The attack lasted three or four days, and Crombie, though the affair of +the directorship was pressing for attention, could not forbear to remain +as near as possible to Blanche, offering every aid within his power, so +far as he might without overstepping the lines of his very recent +acquaintance. But the Littimers did not, according to his observation, +number any very intimate companions in their circle, or at least had not +many friends who would be assiduous in such an emergency. Perhaps their +friends were too busy with social engagements. Consequently, he saw a +good deal of Blanche, and became to her an object of reliance. + +Well, it was simply one of those things that happen only in fairy-tales +or in romances--or in real life. Littimer recovered without any serious +illness, and, after a brief conference with Crombie, entered heartily +into the young man's campaign. Crombie showed him just what combinations +could be formed, how success could be achieved, and what lucrative +results might be made to ensue. He conquered by figures and by lucid +common-sense. Littimer agreed to buy a number of shares in the Engraving +Company, which he happened to know could be purchased, and to advance +Crombie a good sum with which to procure a portion of the same lot. But +before this agreement could be consummated, Crombie, with his usual +frankness, said to the banker: + +"I will conceal nothing from you, Mr. Littimer. I fell in love with +Blanche before I knew her, and if this venture of mine succeeds, I shall +ask her to become my wife." + +"Let us attend to business," said Littimer, severely. "Sentiment can +take care of itself." + +Their manoeuvre went on so vigorously that Blatchford became alarmed, +and sent an ambassador to arrange a compromise; but by this time Crombie +had determined to oust Blatchford himself and elect an entirely new set +of men, to compose more than half the Board, and so control everything. + +He succeeded. + +But Littimer did not forget the charitable enthusiasm which had been +awakened by a circumstance on the surface so trivial as the mistake of a +boot-boy. He did not desist from his interest in aiding disabled or +unfortunate people who could really be aided. Some time after Crombie +had achieved his triumph in the Engraving Company, and had repaid +Littimer's loan, he was admitted to a share in the banking business; and +eventually the head of the house was able to give a great deal of +attention to perfecting his benevolent plans. + +When the details of their wedding were under discussion, Crombie said to +Blanche: "Oughtn't we to have an old shoe thrown after the carriage as +we drive away?" + +She smiled; looked him full in the eyes with a peculiar tenderness in +which there was a bright, delicious sparkle of humor. "No; old shoes are +much too useful to be wasted that way." + +Somehow she had possessed herself of that particular, providential pair; +and, though I don't want anybody to laugh at my two friends, I must risk +saying that I suspect Mrs. Crombie of preserving it somewhere, to this +day, in the big new house up-town. + + +THE END. + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's True and Other Stories, by George Parsons Lathrop + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK TRUE AND OTHER STORIES *** + +***** This file should be named 35946.txt or 35946.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/3/5/9/4/35946/ + +Produced by David Edwards, Mary Meehan North Carolina +History & Fiction was the original source for the images. +and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at +http://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images +generously made available by The Internet Archive) + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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