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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/26499-h.zip b/26499-h.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..e610484 --- /dev/null +++ b/26499-h.zip diff --git a/26499-h/26499-h.htm b/26499-h/26499-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..cca5300 --- /dev/null +++ b/26499-h/26499-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,8340 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" + "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd"> + +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en"> + <head> + <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html;charset=iso-8859-1" /> + <meta http-equiv="Content-Style-Type" content="text/css" /> + <title> + The Project Gutenberg eBook of The Jucklins, by Opie Read + </title> + <style type="text/css"> +/*<![CDATA[ XML blockout */ +<!-- +body { + margin-left: 10%; + margin-right: 10%; +} + + h1,h2,h3,h4,h5,h6 { + text-align: center; /* all headings centered */ + clear: both; +} +h2,h5.head {margin: 0em auto 0em auto;} +p { + margin-top: .75em; + text-align: justify; + margin-bottom: .75em; + text-indent: 2em; +} + +hr { margin: 100px auto 50px auto; + height: 1px; + border-width: 1px 0 0 0; + border-style: solid; + border-color: #4f7440; + width: 60%; + clear: both; + } +hr.hr2 {margin: auto auto 5em auto;} +hr.hr3 {margin: 5em auto 0em auto; width: 100px;} +hr.hr4 {margin: 0em auto 5em auto; width: 100px;} +hr.hr5 {margin: 5em auto 0em auto; width: 70%;} +hr.hr6 {margin: 0em auto 5em auto; width: 70%;} + +ul {list-style: none; margin: 0em auto 0em auto;} + +table {margin: 2em auto 2em auto; text-align: center; border-collapse: collapse;} +td {vertical-align: top;} +.tdc {text-align: center; text-indent: 0;} +.tdl {text-align: left; padding-right: .5em; text-indent: 0;} +.tdr {text-align: right; padding-left: 2em; padding-right: 2em; text-indent: 0;} +.tdr2 {text-align: right; padding-left: 2em; padding-right: 2em; text-indent: 0; border-right: 1px solid #4f7440;} + +.pagenum { /* uncomment the next line for invisible page numbers */ + /*visibility: hidden;*/ + position: absolute; + left: 95%; + font-size: 10px; + font-weight: normal; + font-variant: normal; + font-style: normal; + letter-spacing: normal; + text-indent: 0em; + text-align: right; + color: #999999; + background-color: #ffffff; + } /* page numbers */ + + +.blockquot { + margin-left: 10%; + margin-right: 10%; +} + +.center {text-align: center; text-indent: 0em;} +.u {text-decoration: underline;} +.left {text-align: left; text-indent: 0em; padding-left: 6em;} +.smcap {font-variant: small-caps;} +.blockad {margin: 0em auto 0em auto; width: 15em;} +.figcenter { + margin: 2em auto 1em auto; + text-align: center; +} +.figc {margin: 5em auto 5em auto; text-align: center;} +.figc2 {margin: 2em auto 8em auto; text-align: center;} + +.title {font-size: 3em; letter-spacing: 8px; text-indent: 0em;} +.novel {font-size: 1.5em;} +.author {font-size: 1.8em;} +.noi {text-indent: 0em} +.boxad {border: 3px dotted #4f7440; background-color: #e2f0de; width: 350px; margin: 5em auto 5em auto; text-align: center;} +.tn {border: 1px solid #4f7440; background-color: #e2f0de; padding: 1em; + width: 400px; margin: 5em auto 5em auto; text-align: center;} +.mt0 {margin-top: 0em;} +.mb0 {margin-bottom: 0em;} +.mt {margin-top: 8em;} +// --> +/* XML end ]]>*/ + </style> + </head> +<body> + + +<pre> + +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Jucklins, by Opie Read + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Jucklins + A Novel + +Author: Opie Read + +Release Date: August 31, 2008 [EBook #26499] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE JUCKLINS *** + + + + +Produced by Mark C. Orton, Linda McKeown, Jacqueline Jeremy +and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at +https://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + +</pre> + + +<h2>Contents</h2> +<hr class="hr3" /> +<table summary="contents"> +<tr> +<th class="tdc"><small>Chapter</small></th> +<th class="tdr2"><small>Page</small></th> +<th class="tdc"><small>Chapter</small></th> +<th class="tdr"><small>Page</small></th> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdr">I.</td> +<td class="tdr2"><a href="#i">9</a></td> +<td class="tdr">XII.</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#xii">165</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdr">II.</td> +<td class="tdr2"><a href="#ii">22</a></td> +<td class="tdr">XIII.</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#xiii">173</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdr">III.</td> +<td class="tdr2"><a href="#iii">30</a></td> +<td class="tdr">XIV.</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#xiv">182</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdr">IV.</td> +<td class="tdr2"><a href="#iv">40</a></td> +<td class="tdr">XV.</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#xv">200</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdr">V.</td> +<td class="tdr2"><a href="#v">50</a></td> +<td class="tdr">XVI.</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#xvi">209</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdr">VI.</td> +<td class="tdr2"><a href="#vi">71</a></td> +<td class="tdr">XVII.</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#xvii">225</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdr">VII.</td> +<td class="tdr2"><a href="#vii">84</a></td> +<td class="tdr">XVIII.</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#xviii">235</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdr">VIII.</td> +<td class="tdr2"><a href="#viii">103</a></td> +<td class="tdr">XIX.</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#xix">253</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdr">IX.</td> +<td class="tdr2"><a href="#ix">118</a></td> +<td class="tdr">XX.</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#xx">275</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdr">X.</td> +<td class="tdr2"><a href="#x">135</a></td> +<td class="tdr">XXI</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#xxi">286</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdr">XI.</td> +<td class="tdr2"><a href="#xi">147</a></td> +</tr> +</table> + +<hr class="hr2" /> + +<h1>THE JUCKLINS</h1> + +<div class="figc" style="width: 466px;"> +<img src="images/covers.jpg" width="466" height="600" alt="" title="" /> +</div> + +<div class="boxad"> +<h2 class="head">OPIE READ'S<br /> +SELECT WORKS</h2> +<div class="left"> +<ul> +<li>Old Ebenezer</li> +<li>The Jucklins</li> +<li>My Young Master</li> +<li>A Kentucky Colonel</li> +<li>On the Suwanee River</li> +<li>A Tennessee Judge</li> +</ul></div> +<h5 class="head">Works of Strange Power and Fascination</h5> +<div class="blockad"> +<p class="noi mt0 mb0"><small>Uniformly bound in extra cloth, gold tops, ornamental covers, uncut +edges, six volumes in a box,</small></p> +<p class="center mt0 mb0"><big>$6.00</big><br /> +<small>Sold separately, $1.00 each.</small></p> +</div> +</div> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 339px;"> +<img src="images/illus-005.jpg" width="339" height="600" alt="" title="" /> +</div> + + + + + +<p class="center mt"><span class="u">OPIE READ'S SELECT WORKS</span><br /> +<br /> +<span class="title">THE JUCKLINS</span><br /> +<br /> +<span class="novel">A NOVEL</span><br /> +<br /><br /> +BY<br /> +<br /> +<span class="author">OPIE READ</span><br /><br /><br /> + +Author of "Old Ebenezer," "My Young Master," "On the Suwanee<br /> +River," "A Kentucky Colonel," "A Tennessee Judge," "The<br /> +Colossus," "Emmett Bonlore," "Len Gansett," "The<br /> +Tear in The Cup, and Other Stories," "The<br /> +Wives of The Prophet."</p> + +<hr class="hr3" /> + +<h3>ILLUSTRATED</h3> + +<hr class="hr4" /> + +<h5>CHICAGO<br /> +<span class="smcap">Laird & Lee, Publishers</span> +</h5> + +<hr class="hr5" /> +<p class="center">Entered according to Act of Congress in the year eighteen<br /> hundred and +ninety-six, by<br /> +WILLIAM H. LEE,<br /> +In the office of the Librarian of Congress at Washington.<br /> +(ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.)</p> +<hr class="hr6" /> + + + +<div class="figc2" style="width: 504px;"> +<img src="images/illus-009.jpg" width="504" height="600" alt="" title="" /> +</div> + + + + +<h1><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_9" id="Page_9">[9]</a></span> +THE JUCKLINS</h1> + +<h2><a name="i" id="i"></a>CHAPTER I.</h2> + + +<p>The neighbors and our family began to laugh at me about as far back as I +can remember, and I think that the first serious remark my father ever +addressed to me was, "Bill, you are too lazy to amount to anything in +this life, so I reckon we'll have to make a school teacher of you." I +don't know why he should have called me lazy; I suppose it must have +been on account of my awkwardness. Lazy, why, I could sit all day and +fish in one place and not get a bite, while my more industrious +companions would, out of sheer exhaustion of patience, be compelled to +move about; and I hold that patience is the very perfection of industry.</p> + +<p>In the belief that I could never amount to anything I gradually +approached my awkward manhood. I grew fast, and I admit that I was +always tired; and who is more weary than a sprout of a boy? My brothers +were active of body and quick of judgment, and I know that Ed, my oldest +brother, won the admiration of the neighborhood when he swapped horses +with a stranger and cheated him unmercifully. How my father did laugh, +and mother laughed, too, but she told Ed that he must never do such a +thing again. With what envy did I look upon this applause.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_10" id="Page_10">[10]</a></span> I knew that +Ed's brain was no better than mine; and as I lay in bed one night I +formed a strong resolve and fondly hugged it unto myself. I owned a +horse, a good one; and I would swap him off for two horses—I would +cheat some one and thereby win the respect of my fellows. My secret was +sweet and I said nothing. By good chance a band of gypsies came our way; +I would swindle the rascals. I went to their camp, leading my horse, and +after much haggling, I came home with two horses. It was night when I +reached home, and I put my team into the stable, and barred up my secret +until the sun of a new day could fall upon it. Well, the next morning +one of the horses was dead, and the other one was so stiff that we had +to shove him out of the stall. My father snorted, my poor mother wept, +and for nights afterward I slipped out and slept in the barn, burrowed +under the hay that I might not hear the derisive titter of my brother +Ed.</p> + +<p>We lived in northern Alabama, in a part of the country that boasted of +the refinement and intelligence of its society. When I was alone with +boys much younger than myself I could say smart things, and I had a hope +that when I should go into formal "company" I would, with one evening's +achievement, place myself high above the numbskulls who had giggled at +me. The time came. There was to be a "party" at the house of a neighbor, +and I was invited. I had a suit of new clothes, and after dressing +myself with exceeding care, I set out, strong of heart, for the field of +victory. But I weakened when I saw the array<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_11" id="Page_11">[11]</a></span> of blooded horses hitched +without, and heard the gay laughter within, a merriment rippling and +merciless; and I stood on the porch, sick with the sense of my +awkwardness. I was too big, and I knew that I was straining my clothes. +Through the window I could see a trim fellow laughing with a girl, and I +said to myself, "If I can catch you out somewhere I will maul you." I +was not acquainted with him, but I hated him, for I knew that he was my +enemy. To an overgrown young fellow, ashamed of his uncouth, steer-like +strength, all graceful youths are hateful; and he feels, too, that a +handsome girl is his foe, for girls with pretty mouths are nearly always +laughing, and why should they laugh if they are not laughing at him? +Long I stood there, stretching the seams of my clothes, angry, wishing +that the house might catch fire. I heard footsteps, and looking about, +recognized a member of the household, an old and neglected girl. I was +not afraid of her, and I bowed. And I felt a sudden looseness, a giving +away of a part of my gear. She called me Mr. Hawes, the very first time +that any one had called me anything but Bill; she opened the door and +bade me go in. I had to duck my head as I stepped forward, and there I +was inside the room with the light pouring over me. I took one step +forward, and stumbled over something, and then a tittering fool named +Bentley, exclaimed: "Hello, here comes little Willie." I don't know how +I got out. I heard a roar of laughter, I saw grinning faces jumbled +together, and then I was outside, standing with my hot hand resting<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_12" id="Page_12">[12]</a></span> in +the frost on the top rail of a fence. Some one was urging me to come +back—the neglected girl—but I stood there silent, with my hot hand +melting the frost. I went out into the moon-lighted woods, seized a +sapling and almost wrenched it from the ground. Down the road I went +toward home, but I turned aside and sat on a log. I felt a sense of pain +and I opened my hands—I had been cutting my palms with my nails. But in +this senseless fury I had made up my mind. I would waylay Bentley and +beat him. Hour after hour I sat there. Horses began to canter by; up and +down the road there was laughter and merry chatting. The moon was full, +and I could plainly see the passers-by. Suddenly I sprang from the log +and seized a bridle rein. A girl shrieked and a man cut my hand with a +whip, and I jerked the horse to his knees. Bentley shouted that he would +kill me if I did not let go, but I heeded not; I jerked him off his +horse, kicked his pistol across the road, mashed his mouth, slammed him +against the ground. The shrieking girl cried out that I was a brute, and +I told her that I could whip her whole family, a charming bit of +repartee, I thought, but afterward I remembered that her family +consisted of herself and an aged grandmother, and I sent her an abject +apology. Bentley's horse cantered away, and I left the fellow lying in +the road, with the girl standing over him, shrieking for help. It was +all done in a minute, and with jolting tread I stalked away before any +one came up. Of course there was a great scandal. My poor mother was +grieved<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_13" id="Page_13">[13]</a></span> and humiliated, ashamed to meet any of the neighbors; and my +father swore that instead of becoming a school teacher I ought to turn +out as a highwayman. My brothers thought to have some fun with me, but I +frightened them with a roar, and for a time they were afraid to smile in +my presence. I was almost heartbroken over my disgrace. Without undue +praise I can say that I was generous and kindhearted; even as a child I +had shown almost a censurable unselfishness; I had given away my +playthings, and my sensibilities were so tender that I could not bear +the sight of a suffering animal, and I remember that an old man laughed +at me because I could not cut the throat of a sheep when the poor thing +had been hung up by the heels. And now I was put down as a heartless +brute. Bentley's face constantly haunted me. I was afraid that he might +die, and once when I heard that he was not likely to get well, I was +resolved to go to him, to beg his pardon. Two weeks had passed; it was +night and rain was pouring down, but I cared naught for the wetting. I +found Bentley sitting up with his face bandaged. His mother frowned at +me when she opened the door and saw me standing there under the drip, +and it was some time before she asked me to come in, and I have thought +that she would have driven me off had not the sight of me, wet and +debased, aroused her pity. Bentley held out his hand when I entered the +room, and he said, "I don't blame you, Bill. It was mean of me, but I +wanted to be smart." I was so full, so choked with emotion, that it was +some time before<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_14" id="Page_14">[14]</a></span> I could say a word. But after a time I spoke of the +rain, and told him that I thought that I had heard a wildcat as I came +along, which was a lie, for I had heard nothing save the wind and the +rain falling on the dead leaves. He laughed and said that he did not +suppose that I would have been very much frightened had the cat jumped +at me. Then I told him that I was the biggest coward on earth, and +sought to prove it by offering to let him kick me as long as he might +find it amusing. I told him that everybody despised me for the way I had +beaten him, everybody, including my own family, and that I deserved the +censure of all good people. We talked a long time, and he laughed a +great deal, but when I told him that I was coming over to work for him +three weeks, his eyes grew brighter with tears. This filled me up again +and I could do nothing but blubber. After a long time I asked him if he +would do me a favor, and he said that he would. Then I took out a watch +that I had brought in a buckskin bag, and I said, "Here is a thing that +used to belong to my grandfather, and it was given me by mother when I +was ten years old. It is a fine time-piece and is solid. Now, I want you +to take it as a present from me. You said you would do me a favor." But +he declared that he could not take it. "Why, I would despise myself if I +did," said he. I told him that I would despise myself if he did not. His +mother, who had left us alone, came in, smiling, and said that I must +not think of parting with so valuable a watch, the mark of my +grandfather's gentility, but I put the watch<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_15" id="Page_15">[15]</a></span> on the table and plunged +out into the rain and was gone. Bentley's mother returned the watch the +next day, and then there went about the neighborhood a report that I was +so much afraid of Bentley's revenge that I had tried to buy him off with +a watch. Bentley had said that I should not work for him, but when the +time for breaking up the land came, I went over and began to plow the +field. His mother came out and compelled me to quit, but I went back at +night and plowed while other people slept; and thus I worked until much +of his corn-land was broken up. The neighbors said that I had gone +insane, and a few days afterward, when I met a woman in the road, she +jerked her old mare in an effort to get away, and piteously begged me +not to hurt her. I made no further attempt to get into "company," and +thus, forced back upon myself, I began to form the habits of a student; +and to aid me in my determination to study law, I decided to teach +school. So, when I was almost grown—or, rather, about twenty-three +years old, for I appeared to keep on growing—I went over into another +neighborhood and took up a school. And they called me "Lazy Bill." I +couldn't understand why, for I am sure that I attended to my duties, +that I played town ball with the boys, that I even cut wood all day one +Saturday; but confound them, they called me lazy. I spoke to one of the +trustees; I called his attention to the fact that I worked hard, and he +replied that the hardest working man he had ever seen was a lazy fellow +who worked merely as a "blind." To sleep after the sun<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_16" id="Page_16">[16]</a></span> rises is a great +crime in the country, and sometimes I sat up so late with my books that +I had to be called twice for breakfast. And no amount of work could have +offset this ignominy. I taught school during three years, and found at +the end of that time that I was no nearer a lawyer's office. Once I +called on an old judge, the leading lawyer in a neighboring village, and +told him that if he would take me I would work for my clothes, and the +humorous old rascal, surveying me, replied: "I have not contemplated the +starting of a woolen mill. Why don't you go to work?" he asked. I told +him that I was at work, that I taught school, but that I wanted to be a +lawyer. He laughed and said that teaching school was not work—declared +it to be the refuge of the lazy and the shiftless. I then ventured to +remark that the South would continue to be backward as long as the +educator was put down as a piece of worthless rubbish. I went away, and +a few days later one of the trustees called on me and said that I had +declared their children to be ignorant rubbish, and that therefore they +wanted my services no longer. I returned home. My brothers were gone, +and my parents were in feeble health. My father died within a year, and +soon my mother followed him. The farm was poor and was mortgaged, and +empty-handed I turned away. I heard that a school teacher was wanted up +in North Carolina, near the Tennessee line, and I decided to apply for +the place. I walked to the railway station, twenty miles distant. I have +said that I went away empty-handed. I did not; I<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_17" id="Page_17">[17]</a></span> carried a trunk, light +with clothes and heavy with books. I had put my trunk on the railway +platform and was striding up and down when I saw two men, well-dressed, +rich-looking, standing near. This amounted to nothing, and I would not +mention it but for the fact that it was at this moment that I received +my first encouragement. One of the men, speaking to his companion, +remarked: "Devilish fine-looking fellow. I'd give a great deal to be in +his shoes, to have his strength and his youth." I turned away, eager to +hear more, yet afraid lest the other man might say something to spoil it +all. But he did not. "Yes," he replied, "but he doesn't know how +fortunate he is. Gad, he looks like an imported bull."</p> + +<p>The train came and I was whirred away, over streams, below great hanging +rocks; but I thought not of the grandeur of the rocks nor of the beauty +of the streams, for through my mind was running the delicious music of +the first compliment that had ever been paid me. And I realized that I +had outgrown the age of my awkwardness, that strength was of itself a +grace to be admired, that I should feel thankful rather than remember +with bitterness the days of my humiliation. I observed a woman looking +at me, and there was interest in her eyes, and I knew that she did not +take kindly to me simply because she was an old and neglected girl, for +she was handsome. Beside her sat a man, and I could see that he was +eager to win her smile. He hated me, I could see that, but he couldn't +laugh at me. I noticed that my hands and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_18" id="Page_18">[18]</a></span> feet were not over large, and +this was a sort of surprise, for I recalled hearing a boy say that my +foot was the biggest thing he ever saw without a liver in it. I reached +back and wiped out the past; I looked out at a radiant cloud hanging low +in the west, and called it the future. Fool? Oh, of course. I had been a +fool when a boy, and was a fool now, but how much wiser it was to be a +happy fool.</p> + +<p>I was to leave the train at Nagle station, and then to go some distance +into the country, which direction I knew not. I made so bold as to ask +the handsome lady if she knew anything of the country about Nagle, and +she smiled sweetly, and said that she did not, that she was a stranger +going South. I had surmised as much, and I spoke to her merely to see +what effect it would have on the man who sat beside her. Was my +new-found pride making me malicious? I thought it was, and I censured +myself. The lady showed a disposition to continue the talk, but the man +drove me into silence by remarking: "I suppose there is something novel +about one's first ride on the cars." How I did want to reach out and +take hold of his ear, but I thought of Bentley and subsided. When I +arose to get off at my station, I thought that the lady, as I passed +her, made a motion as if she would like to give me her hand. This might +simply have been the prompting of my long famished but now over-fed +conceit, my bloating egotism, but I gave the woman a grateful thought as +I stood on the platform gazing at the train as it faded away in the dusk +that appeared to come down the road to meet it.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_19" id="Page_19">[19]</a></span>I had expected to alight at a town, but the station was a lonely place, +a wagon-maker's shop, the company's building and a few shanties. I asked +the station master if he knew where the school teacher was wanted, and +he answered that from the people thereabouts one must be needed in every +household.</p> + +<p>"And I should think," I replied, giving him what I conceived to be a +look of severe rebuke, "that a teacher of common decency and politeness +is most needed of all."</p> + +<p>"I reckon you are right," he rejoined. "Is he the man you are looking +for?"</p> + +<p>"I don't want to get into trouble here," said I, "but I insist upon fair +treatment and I'm going to have it."</p> + +<p>"All right, sir. Now, what is it you want to know?"</p> + +<p>"Why, I was told that there was an opening for a school teacher in this +neighborhood."</p> + +<p>"And so there is, but don't you know that no neighborhood could be proud +of such a fact? Therefore, you ought to be more careful as to how you +make your inquiries."</p> + +<p>I saw that he wanted to joke with me and I joked with him. And I soon +found that this was the right course, for he invited me into his office +and insisted upon my sharing his luncheon, cold bread and meat and a tin +bucket of boiling coffee. I soon learned that he was newly graduated +from a school of telegraphy, and that this was his first position. He +had come from a city and he gave me the impression that he was buried +alive; he said that he had entered an oath in his book that if some one +didn't<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_20" id="Page_20">[20]</a></span> get off at his station pretty soon he would set the whole thing +on fire and turn train robber. "Don't you think that would be a pretty +good idea?" he asked, laughing.</p> + +<p>"It would be a pretty dangerous one, at least," I answered.</p> + +<p>"Yes, but without danger there is never any fun. My old man insisted +upon my taking that night-school course; and the professor of the +institution held out the idea that I could be a great man within a short +time after graduating; led me to believe I could get charge of a big +office in town, but here I am stuck up here in these hills. No rags +about here at all."</p> + +<p>"No what?"</p> + +<p>"Rags, calico, women—catch on?"</p> + +<p>"You mean no society, to speak of."</p> + +<p>"That's it. Oh, away off in the country it's all right, but I can never +go more than three miles from this miserable place. You'll have to go +about fifteen miles."</p> + +<p>"How do you know?"</p> + +<p>"Why, an old fellow from a neighborhood about that far away came out +here the other day and sent off a dispatch, telling some man off, I +don't remember where, to send a teacher out there."</p> + +<p>"And one might have come by this time," I suggested, with a sense of +fear.</p> + +<p>"No, you are the only one that has put in an appearance, and the only +one that is likely to come. I understand that they don't treat teachers +very well out there."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_21" id="Page_21">[21]</a></span>"How so?"</p> + +<p>"The boys have a habit of ducking them in the creek, I hear."</p> + +<p>"Oh, is that all? Be fun for me."</p> + +<p>"You won't think so after you see those roosters. Let me see. Take the +Purdy road out there, and go straight ahead to the east, and when you +think you have gone about fifteen miles, ask for the house of Lim +Jucklin. The last teacher, I understand, boarded at his house."</p> + +<p>"You appear to know a good deal about it."</p> + +<p>"Well, the truth of it is, I do, for the last teacher came and went this +way. And he told me like this: 'The thing opened up all right, plenty of +rags, but that evening some of the young fellows came to me and said +that unless I brought some sort of treat the next morning they would put +me in the creek; said that they hated to do it, but that time-honored +customs must be observed. I didn't bring any treat and I went into the +creek. Then I left.' Yes, that's what he said, and I concluded that as +for me I would rather be here. It isn't so lively, but it is a good deal +dryer. But you can't get there to-night. Better take a shake-down here +with me till morning, and then you may catch some farmer going that way +with a wagon."</p> + +<p>I thanked him for this courtesy, and readily accepted it. And the next +morning, with my trunk on my shoulder, I set out upon what I conceived +to be my career in life.</p> + + + +<hr /> + +<h2><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_22" id="Page_22">[22]</a></span> +<a name="ii" id="ii"></a>CHAPTER II.</h2> + + +<p>The month was April, and the day was blithe, with no blotch in the sky. +The country was rough, the road was pebbly in the bottoms and flinty on +the hills, but there was a leaping joy everywhere; in the woods where +the blue-jays were shouting, down the branch where the woodpecker tapped +in an oak tree's sounding board. It must have been a low-hanging +ambition to be thrilled with the prospect of teaching school, or was it +buoyant health that made me happy? I eased down my trunk, and boyishly +threw stones away off into an echoing hollow. A rabbit ran out into the +road and stopped, and with a stone I knocked it over. Tenderly I picked +it up, felt its fluttering heart, and groaned inwardly when the little +heart was stilled. I called myself a murderer, an Anglo-Saxon brute, to +kill a harmless creature merely upon a devilish impulse, and in the +gravelly ground I began to dig a grave with my knife, and I was so much +taken up with this work and with my grief, that I heeded not the +approach of a wagon.</p> + +<p>"What are you doing there?" some one called.</p> + +<p>I looked up. A farmer had stopped his blowing horses and was looking at +me. "I'm digging a grave," I answered.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_23" id="Page_23">[23]</a></span>"Diggin' a grave? Why, who's dead?"</p> + +<p>"A rabbit." He moved uneasily, and gave me a searching look. And I saw +that he took me to be insane. "I killed the poor thing," I explained, +"killed it out of mere wantonness, and I am so grief-stricken that I am +going to do the best I can for the poor thing—going to give it a +Christian burial."</p> + +<p>The man laughed. "I wish you would kill the last one of them," he said. +"Set out as nice a young orchard as you ever saw last winter, and the +devilish rabbits killed every one of the trees."</p> + +<p>"Then I am not so much of a murderer after all," I replied. "I might +have known that rabbits are not altogether harmless. How far do you go +on this road?"</p> + +<p>"About ten miles."</p> + +<p>"Will you let me ride with you?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, be glad to have you."</p> + +<p>I put the rabbit into his grave, raked the dirt on him with my +foot—hardly a Christian-like way, I admit—placed my trunk into the +body of the wagon, and took a seat beside the man. And there was +something about him that at once interested me. His hat was off and the +breeze was stirring his grizzly hair. His nose was large and thin, and +when he turned his face square upon me, I saw that his eyes were gray +and clear. He wore no coat, his shirt sleeves were rolled back, and +though he must have been more than fifty years old, I could see that he +had enormous<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_24" id="Page_24">[24]</a></span> strength in his arms. And he was looking at me admiringly, +for he said, "You must be pretty much of a man."</p> + +<p>"I am not a child except in my lack of wisdom," I answered.</p> + +<p>"Gad, you talk like a preacher. Which way are you going?"</p> + +<p>"Over to Lim Jucklin's house."</p> + +<p>He gave me another square look and remarked, "That's my name."</p> + +<p>"You don't tell me so?"</p> + +<p>"Didn't you hear me tell you so?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, but——"</p> + +<p>"Well, then, I did tell you so."</p> + +<p>"I am delighted to meet you, sir. I am a school teacher, and I hear that +one is wanted in your neighborhood."</p> + +<p>He looked at me from head to foot, and replied: "I shouldn't wonder but +you are the right man. What's your name?"</p> + +<p>I told him and after a few moments of silence he asked, "Any kin to the +Luke Hawes that fought in the Creek war?"</p> + +<p>"He was my grandfather."</p> + +<p>"Ah, hah, and my daddy fit with him—was a lieutenant in his company. +Let's shake hands. Whoa, boys." He stopped his horses, got up, shook +down the wrinkled legs of his trousers and reached forth his hand.</p> + +<p>"You are a stranger in North Caroliny," he said when he had clucked to +his horses.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_25" id="Page_25">[25]</a></span>"Yes, I am a stranger everywhere you might put it," I answered. "I am +from Alabama, but the people made so much fun of me in the community +where I was brought up that I am even a stranger there."</p> + +<p>"What did they make fun of you about?"</p> + +<p>"Because I was overgrown and awkward."</p> + +<p>"Whoa, boys! Let's shake hands again. I got it the same way when I was a +boy, and I come in one of never gettin' over it."</p> + +<p>We drove on and had gone some distance when he asked: "Do you know all +about 'rithmetic?"</p> + +<p>"I at least know the multiplication table."</p> + +<p>"It's more than I do. Get up there, boys. And down in my country they +think that a man that don't know all about 'rithmetic is a fool. I have +often told them that there wan't no record of the fact that the Saviour +was good at figgers, except figgers of speech, but they won't have it +that a man is smart unless he can go up to a barn and cover one side of +it with eights and sevens and nines and all that sort of thing. I've got +a daughter that's quicker than a flash—took it from her mother, I +reckon—and I have a son that's tolerable, but I have always been left +in the lurch right there. But I can read all right, and I know the Book +about as well as the most of them, but that makes no difference down in +our neighborhood. The pace down there is set by Old General Lundsford. +He knows all about figgers and everything else, for that matter, but +figgers is his strong holt. He owns nearly everything;<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_26" id="Page_26">[26]</a></span> is a mighty +'ristocrat and don't bend very often; lives in the house that his +grandfather built, great big brick, and never had no respect for me at +all until I wallowed him in the road one day about thirty odd years ago. +And along about ten years after that he found out that he had a good +deal of respect for me. What do you know about game chickens?"</p> + +<p>"Not very much; I simply know that they are about the bravest things +that live."</p> + +<p>He gave me another one of his square looks and replied: "There is more +wisdom in such talk as that than there could be crowded into a wheat +bin. But, do you know that people make fun of me because I admire a game +rooster? They do. I don't want to fight 'em for money, you know; I'm a +good church member and all that sort of thing; I believe the Book from +one end to the other; believe that the whale swallowed Jonah, I don't +care if its throat ain't bigger than a hoe-handle; believe that the vine +growed up in one night, and withered at mornin'; believe that old Samson +killed all them fellers with the jaw-bone—believe everything as I tell +you from start to finish, but I'll be blamed if I can keep from fightin' +chickens to save my life. And I always keep two beauties, I tell you. +Not long ago my wife ups and kills Sam and fed him to a preacher. +Preacher was there, hungry, and the other chickens were parading around +summers on the other side of the hill, but my wife she ups and kills +Sam, a black beauty, with a pedigree as long as<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_27" id="Page_27">[27]</a></span> a plow-line. And, sir, +while that man was chawin' of my chicken he gave me a lecture on +fightin' roosters."</p> + +<p>"You spoke of your son and daughter. Do they attend school?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, no; they are grown long ago."</p> + +<p>"Then how is it that the teacher usually boards at your house?"</p> + +<p>"I don't know; but they do. Reckon they jest fell into the habit. My +house is handy, for one thing; ain't more than three miles from the +school—jest a nice, exercisin' sort of walk. Whoa, boys! Sorter have to +scotch 'em back goin' down here. Saw a man get killed down there one +day; horse kicked him, and do you see that knob over there where them +hickory trees are? I had a hard time there one night. A lot of +foot-burners come to my house one night durin' the war and took me out +and told me that if I didn't give them my money they would roast my +shanks. I didn't have any money and I told them so, but they didn't +believe me; and so they brought me right over there where them hickories +are, tied me, took off my shoes and built up a fire at my feet; but +about the time they had got me well blistered, along come some Yankee +soldiers and nabbed 'em. And a few minutes after that there wasn't +anything agin their feet, I tell you, not even the ground. Well, we are +gettin' pretty close to home now."</p> + +<p>"But we haven't come fifteen miles from the station, have we?"</p> + +<p>"Well, you had come about five mile before I overtook<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_28" id="Page_28">[28]</a></span> you and we have +come nearly ten since then. These hosses are travelers. Oh, I reckon +we've got about three more miles to go yet."</p> + +<p>The country was old, with here and there a worn-out and neglected field. +A creek wound its way among the hills, deep and dark in places, but +babbling out into a broad and shiny ford where we crossed. One moment +the scene was desolate, with gullied hill-sides, but further on and off +to the right I could see poetic strips of meadow land, and further yet, +upon a hill-top, stood a grim old house of brick and stone. We turned +off to the right before coming abreast of this place, and pursued a +winding course along a deep-shaded ravine, not rough with broken ground, +but graceful with grassy slopes and with here and there a rock. My +companion pointed out his house, what is known as a double log building, +with a broad passage way between the two sections. A path, so hard and +smooth that it shone in the sun, ran down obliquely into the ravine, and +at the end of it I saw a large iron kettle overturned, and I knew that +this marked the spring. I liked the place, the forest back of it, the +steep hills far away, the fields lying near and the meadow down the +ravine. I hate a new house, a new field, a wood that looks new; to me +there must be the impress of fond association, and here I found it, the +spring-house with moss on its roof, the path, a great oak upon which +death had placed its beautiful mark—a bough of misletoe.</p> + +<p>"You hop right out and go in and make yourself at<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_29" id="Page_29">[29]</a></span> home, while I take +care of the horses," said the old man. "Go right on," he added, for he +saw that I was hesitating. "You don't need an introduction. Jest say +that you are Whut'sname and that you are the new school teacher."</p> + +<p>"But I don't know yet that I am to be the teacher."</p> + +<p>"Well, then, tell 'em that you are Whut'sname and that you don't know +whether you are to be the teacher or not."</p> + +<p>"But won't you stop long enough to introduce me?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, I reckon I mout. Come on. There is wife in the door, now."</p> + +<p>He did not go as far as the door; he simply shouted: "Here's a man, +Susan. He can tell you his name, for blamed if I ain't dun forgot."</p> + + + +<hr /> + +<h2><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_30" id="Page_30">[30]</a></span> +<a name="iii" id="iii"></a>CHAPTER III.</h2> + + +<p>Into this household I was received with open-handed graciousness. +Nothing can be more charming than the unconscious generosity of simple +folk. To this family I applied the word simple and cut myself with a +cool smile at my own vanity. Was I not a countryman and as rustic-minded +as they? But I had come from another community, had crossed a state line +and the lines of several counties, and besides I took to myself the +credit of having read many a cunning book, and therefore these people +were surely more simple than I. Traveling unquestionably gathers +knowledge, but the man who reads has ever a feeling that he is the +proper critic of the man who has simply observed.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Jucklin gave me a strong grasp of welcome, apologized for the lack +of order that I must surely find in the house and conducted me to the +sitting-room, a large apartment, with a home-woven carpet on the floor. +A turkey wing, used for a fan, hung beside the enormous fire-place, and +on the broad mantelpiece, trimmed with paper cut in scollops, an old +Yankee clock was ticking. The woman shook a cat out of a hickory rocking +chair and urged me to sit down. She knew that I must be tired after<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_31" id="Page_31">[31]</a></span> my +long ride, and she said that if I would only excuse her for a moment she +would go down to the spring-house and get me a glass of milk, to give me +strength wherewith to wait until she could stir about and get something +to eat. And above all, I must pardon Limuel's abruptness of manner. But +really he meant nothing by it, as I would find out when I should become +better acquainted with him. She was a little, black-eyed woman, +doubtless a descendant of a Dutch family that had come to the colony at +an early date, for she reminded me of my mother, and I know that +mother's grandfather was a Dutchman. I begged Mrs. Jucklin not to go +after the milk, but she ran away almost with the lightness of a girl. In +truth, to think of the milk made me shudder; I couldn't bear the thought +of it. During the hard times at the close of the war, when I was a +child, we had to drink rye coffee, and I remember that once the cows got +into the rye field and gave rye milk. The coffee and the milk together +had made me sick, and ever since then I had looked upon milk with a +reminiscent horror. But there she came with it.</p> + +<p>"My dear madam," I pleaded, "I would much rather not drink it."</p> + +<p>"Oh, but you must, for I know you are tired out."</p> + +<p>"But I don't drink milk."</p> + +<p>"And it is because you can't find any like this. Just taste it, then."</p> + +<p>The old man came stalking into the room and I gave him an appealing +look. "I gad, Susan," said he, "let him<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_32" id="Page_32">[32]</a></span> alone. Don't you reckon he's +got sense enough to know what he wants? Take the stuff away."</p> + +<p>With a sigh of disappointment she placed the tumbler upon the +mantelpiece. "Where's Alf?" the old man asked.</p> + +<p>"Gone over to the General's to help about something."</p> + +<p>"Where's Guinea?"</p> + +<p>"She's about somewhere. That's her in the passage, I think. Guinea?" +There was no reply, save of hastening footsteps, and a moment later a +young woman entered the room. She was not very tall, but she was +graceful, and her dark eyes were dashed with mischief. She reminded me +of the woman whom I had seen on the train; her smile was the same, but +her eyes were brighter. She had a peculiar laugh, a musical cluck, and +at first sight I was glad that I had met her, but a moment later I was +afraid that she was going to laugh at me. The old man did not introduce +me; his wife did not know my name, and I sought to speak my name, but +had lost it just at that moment and could merely splutter something. I +was not much embarrassed, though; I recalled what I had heard the two +men say, and behind me was the strong brace of a woman's kindly regard.</p> + +<p>"We are glad to see you," said the girl, looking straight at me. I +replied that I was glad to see her, and then we both laughed; she with +her musical cluck and I with a goat-like rasp, it seemed to me. We all +drew up about the fire-place, a habit in the country, and it was then +that I thought of the open-handed graciousness of the household.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_33" id="Page_33">[33]</a></span> Had I +correctly caught this girl's name, Guinea? And with a countryman's +frankness I asked if that were her name.</p> + +<p>"Well, no," said Mrs. Jucklin, speaking for her, "it ain't her sure +enough name, but it's all that she goes by. And it came about in this +way: A long time ago, when she was a little bit of a girl, she was +toddlin' about the yard with a checked dress on, and one of the +neighbors lookin' at her said that she looked exactly like a little +guinea chicken, and ever since then we have called her Guinea. Her right +name is Angeline."</p> + +<p>"Her right name is what?" the old man asked, looking up.</p> + +<p>"Angeline," I said.</p> + +<p>"Well, it's the first time I ever heard of it."</p> + +<p>"Now, Limuel, why do you want to act that way? A body would think that +you don't know anything about your own family."</p> + +<p>"Never heard of it before," said the old man.</p> + +<p>"You are surely the most provokin' man I ever saw, Limuel. You know the +very day we named the child, and now you pretend——"</p> + +<p>"Pretend? I don't pretend nothin'. Can't blame a man for never hearin' +of the name, can you?"</p> + +<p>"Mister," she said, turning to me, "please don't pay any attention to +him. He'd pester me nearly to death if I'd let him. But come, Guinea, we +must stir about and get something to eat."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_34" id="Page_34">[34]</a></span>The mother and the daughter went out into a kitchen detached from the +main part of the house, and the old man looked at me and laughed. And +after a moment of chuckling he said: "I reckon that I've got two of the +finest in the world."</p> + +<p>"Children?" I asked.</p> + +<p>"No, game roosters. One's named Sam and the other's named Bob."</p> + +<p>"I thought you said that Sam had been eaten by the preacher."</p> + +<p>"Oh, that Sam was, but I've got another one. I always have a Sam and a +Bob. When a Sam dies I get another Sam, and likewise with a Bob. But you +know what's a fact? I never allow 'em to fight to a finish. If I did the +sport would be gone. You must never let one rooster know that the other +one can whip him, for if you do there won't be any fight after that—you +must always keep each one believin' that he is the best man. I reckon +I've had more than a hundred, but I never let 'em fight to a finish. My +folks here don't care nothin' about fun—they even frown on it, Alf with +the rest, and I hold that he ought to know better, bein' a man, but so +it is. I've got a chicken house back here, with a high picket fence +around it, and I keep it locked, I tell you. Have to, or the preachers +would eat up my sport, and this ain't findin' no fault with their +doctrine, for I believe the Book from kiver to kiver. After we get a +snack we'll slip off and have a set-to. What do you say?"</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_35" id="Page_35">[35]</a></span>I hardly knew what to say. I was afraid to decline, lest I might lose +his good opinion, and I was loth to accept the invitation, fearing that +I might lower myself in the estimation of the women; but while I was +casting about the old man relieved me by saying: "However, we've got +plenty of time before us. It's always well to hold a good thing in +reserve, you know. After dinner we'll go over and see Old Perdue and +find out if you can arrange with him about the school. He's got the +whole thing in charge. General Lundsford has charge of nearly everything +else, but he don't take much stock in free schools. He argues that +nothin' that's free is any good, and in the main he's about right; but +we've had some pretty good schools here, the only trouble bein' to keep +the teachers out of the creek. What education my son Alf has he picked +up about home, here, but Guinea was sent off to school, way over at +Raleigh."</p> + +<p>"I am glad to see that you thought so much of the importance of training +her mind," I remarked.</p> + +<p>He gave me a troubled look, moved uneasily, as I had seen him move when +I told him that I was burying a rabbit, ran his fingers through his +upright, bristling hair and for a long time was silent. And as I looked +at him I fancied that he was trying to think of something to say, +something to lead my mind away from what he had already said. I had seen +the quaint, half-comical side of his nature, and now I saw that he could +be thoughtful, and in his serious mood his face was strong and rugged.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_36" id="Page_36">[36]</a></span> +His beard, cropped close, reminded me of scraps of wire, some of them +rusted; and when he wiped his mouth with the back of his hand I wondered +that he did not scratch the skin off.</p> + +<p>Guinea came to the door and told us that the meal was ready. The old man +got up, with a return of his comical air, and told me to follow him. The +girl continued to stand near the threshold and as I drew near unto her +she said: "This door wasn't cut quite high enough for you, was it? Look, +father, he has to duck his head. The boys may have a time putting him +into the creek." She was now talking to her father, but was looking at +me, so I took it upon myself to answer her. "Yes, for you have called +attention to the fact that my legs are long and the rascals may have +hard running with trying to catch me."</p> + +<p>"Oh," she replied, "but I was thinking of your strength rather than your +swiftness. Come this way. Father has run off and left you."</p> + +<p>The old man had stepped down out of the passage and had gone some +distance toward a small house surrounded by a picket fence.</p> + +<p>"You go with her," he called, looking back, "and I'll be there pretty +soon."</p> + +<p>"No telling when he will come now," the girl remarked, walking close +beside me. "He's got two of the most spiteful chickens out there you +ever saw, and whenever anything goes wrong with him he bolts right out +there, no matter who is here, and makes those vicious things peck<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_37" id="Page_37">[37]</a></span> at +each other. Mother and I try hard to reform him, but we can't."</p> + +<p>It was Mrs. Jucklin's time-grayed privilege to apologize for the +scantiness of her fare, and this she did with becoming modesty and +regret. She had not expected company; the regular dinner hour was over +long ago, and somehow she never could understand why she couldn't get a +meal out of the regular time. But if I would only give her a chance she +would reclaim herself. She called my attention to the corn bread; +declared that it was not fit to be eaten, and she didn't know what made +the stove act that way. But the milk she knew was good. Oh, she had +forgotten that I didn't drink milk. Guinea smiled at me and clucked at +her mother. "Don't pretend that you like anything just to please her," +she said, when Mrs. Jucklin had turned about to keep a hoe-cake from +burning. "All you've got to do is to say nothing until she gets +through—that, and simply to remember that she enjoys it."</p> + +<p>While we were eating we heard a voice crying: "Hike, there, Sam; get him +down, Bob! Hike there!"</p> + +<p>"They are warming up to their work," Guinea remarked, and her mother +sighed; and then she began to talk louder than was her wont, striving to +drown the old man's voice. "It isn't any use, mother," said the girl. +"The gentleman will find it out sooner or later."</p> + +<p>"And I suppose," said I, "that you think that you may find out my name +sooner or later. Please pardon me for<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_38" id="Page_38">[38]</a></span> not introducing myself. My name +is——"</p> + +<p>"Hike, there, Bob! Get him down, Sam! Now you are at it! Hike, there!"</p> + +<p>"My name is Hawes, William Hawes, and I am from Alabama."</p> + +<p>"And you have come to teach the school?" said the girl.</p> + +<p>"Yes, if I can make the arrangements."</p> + +<p>"But is there anything very satisfying in such an occupation?" she +asked.</p> + +<p>I felt then that she placed no very high estimate upon my worth, and on +her part this was but natural, for among country people school-teaching +is looked upon as a lazy calling.</p> + +<p>"I have not chosen teaching as my real vocation," I answered.</p> + +<p>"Hike, there, I tell you! Hike!"</p> + +<p>"It is my aim to be a lawyer, to be eloquent, to stir emotions, to be +strong in the presence of men. My earlier advantages, no matter how I +sought to turn them about, gave me no promise of reaching the bar; I had +good primary training, but in reality I had to educate myself, and in +the work of a teacher I saw a hope to lead me onward."</p> + +<p>"Came within one of letting them fight to a finish," said the old man, +stepping into the room.</p> + +<p>"Limuel, why will you always humiliate me?" his wife asked, placing a +chair for him.</p> + +<p>"Humiliate you! Bless your life, I wouldn't humiliate you. The only +trouble is that you are tryin' to make<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_39" id="Page_39">[39]</a></span> me fit a garment you've got, +ruther than to make the garment fit me. I ain't doin' no harm, Susan, +and it's my way, and you can't very well knock the spots off'en a +leopard nur skin an Etheopian. Here comes Alf."</p> + +<p>The son was a young fellow of good size, shapely, and with his mother's +black eyes. Guinea introduced me to him, and at once I felt that I +should like to win his friendship. The old man explained my presence +there. "And now," said he, "I want you to go over to old Perdue's with +him after dinner and see if any arrangements can be made. He's goin' to +board with us, and I want to tell you right now that he is from good +stock; his grandaddy was the captain of the company that my daddy fit in +durin' the Creek war, and from what I learn I don't reckon there was +ever sich fightin' before nor since. What are they doin' over at the +General's?"</p> + +<p>"Nothing much," Alf answered. "They started to plow this morning, but it +is still most too wet."</p> + +<p>"Was Millie at home?" Guinea asked.</p> + +<p>"I think so, but I suppose you know that Chid isn't."</p> + +<p>"Never mind that," the old man spoke up. "Leave all cuttin' and slashin' +to folks that ain't no kin to each other. You've been to dinner, have +you, Alf? Well, hitch the mare to the buckboard and go with this +gentleman over to old Perdue's."</p> + + + +<hr /> + +<h2><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_40" id="Page_40">[40]</a></span> +<a name="iv" id="iv"></a>CHAPTER IV.</h2> + + +<p>At the end of the passage, facing the ravine, I stood and talked to +Guinea, while Alf was hitching the mare to the buck-board. The sun was +well over to the west, pouring upon us, and in the strong light I noted +the clear, health-hue of her complexion. A guinea chicken, swift and +graceful, ran round the corner of the house, and, nodding toward the +fowl, I said: "I am talking to her namesake and she is jealous."</p> + +<p>I thought that the shadow of a pout crossed her lips, but she smiled and +replied: "If my real name were not so ugly I'd insist upon people +calling me by it. I hate nicknames."</p> + +<p>"But sometimes they are appropriate," I rejoined.</p> + +<p>"But when they are," she said, laughing, "they never stick. It's the +disagreeable nickname that remains with us."</p> + +<p>"Is that the philosophy you learned at Raleigh?" I asked.</p> + +<p>She shrugged her shapely shoulders, laughed low in her throat and +answered: "I haven't learned philosophy at all. It doesn't take much of +a stock of learning for a girl who lives away out here."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_41" id="Page_41">[41]</a></span>"But she might strive to learn in order to be fitted for a better life, +believing that it will surely come."</p> + +<p>"How encouraging you are, Mr. Hawes. After a while you may persuade me +that I am really glad that you came."</p> + +<p>"You have already made me glad," I replied.</p> + +<p>"Have I? Then mind that I don't make you sorry. Alf's waiting for you."</p> + +<p>As we drove toward Perdue's I wondered what could have caused old man +Jucklin's change of manner at the time he had spoken of sending his +daughter away to be educated. Surely, he could not deplore the grace and +refinement which this schooling had given her. Would it be well to ask +Alf? No; he could but regard such a question as a direct impertinence.</p> + +<p>The mare trotted briskly and the rush of cool air was delicious. The +road was crooked, holding in its elbows bits of scenery unsuspected +until we were upon them, moss growing under great rocks, weeping in +eternal shade, a bit of water blazing in the sun, a hickory bottom, +where squirrels were barking; and from everywhere came the thrilling +incense of spring.</p> + +<p>Alf, though a farmer, had not the stoop of overwork, nor that sullenness +that often comes from a life-long and close association with the soil; +he was chatty, talked to his mare, talked to me and whistled to himself. +He pointed out a cave wherein British soldiers had been forced to take +refuge to save themselves from the pursuit of victorious<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_42" id="Page_42">[42]</a></span> patriots, but +what they had supposed was a refuge was, indeed, a trap, for the +patriots smoked them out and took them to General Green's camp. We drove +upon a hill top, and, looking across a valley, I saw a large brick house +on a hill not far beyond. And I recognized it as a place that I had seen +earlier in the day. "It's where General Lundsford lives," said Alf, +following my eyes with his own. "We go by there. He used to own a good +many negroes and some of them still hang about him. Most of his land is +poor, but enough of it is rich to make him well off. And proud! He's +proud as a blooded horse. Most of the very few old-timers that are left +in this part of the country. We are getting somewhat Yankeefied, +especially away over to the east where so many northern people come of a +winter. But he doesn't take much to it—still cuts his wheat with a +cradle."</p> + +<p>We drove down into the valley, crossed a rude stone bridge, and slowly +went up the other side. The mare, brisk from having been pent up, showed +a disposition to quicken her pace, but Alf held her back, searching with +his strong eyes the yard, the summer house in the garden hard by and the +orchard off to the left. I looked at him and his face was eager and hard +set, but his eyes, though strained, were soft and glowing. I spoke to +him, but he heeded me not, but just at that moment he drew himself +straighter and gazed toward the house. And I saw a woman crossing the +yard. The road ran close to the low, rough stone wall, and when we had<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_43" id="Page_43">[43]</a></span> +come opposite the gate Alf stopped the mare and got out to buckle a +strap. But I noticed that he was looking more at the house than at the +strap. A broad porch, or gallery, as we term it, ran nearly half way +round the house, and out upon this a girl stepped and stood looking over +us at the hills far away. I saw Alf blush, and the next moment he had +sprung upon the buck-board and was driving off almost furiously. I +wondered why he should be afraid of her. He was not overgrown, not +awkward, but lithe, and I knew that he loved her and that his own +emotion had frightened him.</p> + +<p>Perdue lived but a short distance beyond the General's place, and soon +we were there, talking to the old fellow out at the fence. When I told +him my business he looked sharply at me, appearing to measure me from +head to foot; and he said I was, no doubt, the man he had been longing +to see. "And now," said he, after we had talked for a time, "if you are +willing to take this school and go ahead with it, all right. I am +determined that the boys and girls of this community shall get an +education even if they choke the creek with teachers. If I had full +swing I'd raise a lot of men and go around and club the big boys. Oh, it +hasn't been this way very long. We've had first-rate schools here, but +those devilish Aimes boys are so full of the old Harry—but we'll fix +'em. The ground will be all right for plowin' to-morrow, and the big +boys will have to work until the corn is laid by, but I reckon you'll +get a pretty fair turn-out. There's enough money<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_44" id="Page_44">[44]</a></span> appropriated to have a +rattlin' good school, and if you'll stick by me we'll have it."</p> + +<p>I told him that I would stick by him. "All right," said he, "see that +you do. Let me see. This is Friday. You hold yourself in readiness to +begin Monday mornin', and to-morrow I will ride around the neighborhood +and spread the news."</p> + +<p>So that was settled. Briskly we drove away, and again upon nearing the +house of the old General, Alf pulled the mare back into a walk. This +time, though, he did not stop, but as we slowly passed he swept the +house and the yard with his eager glance. The sun was down when we +reached home. How long the day had been, what a stretch of time lay +between the going down of the sun now and its rising, when I had +shouldered my trunk at the railway station!</p> + +<p>As I was getting down in front of the door I heard Mr. Jucklin calling +me, and when I answered he came forward out of the passage and said that +he wanted to see me a moment. He led the way and I followed him into the +dark shadow of a tree. "I forgot to tell you not to say anything about +that," said he.</p> + +<p>"About what?" I asked.</p> + +<p>"About wallowin' him—the old General. He requested me not to mention +it, bein' so proud, and I told him that I wouldn't, and I don't know +what made me speak of it to-day, but I did."</p> + +<p>"Oh, I won't mention it," I spoke up rather sharply,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_45" id="Page_45">[45]</a></span> for I was +disappointed that he had not told me something of importance.</p> + +<p>"All right. And I am much obleeged to you. He is one of the proudest men +in the world and he don't want anybody to suspect that any feller ever +wallowed him; but I want to tell you right now that I have wallowed a +good many of 'em in my time. Are you goin' to teach the school?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, the arrangements have been made, and I am to begin work Monday +morning."</p> + +<p>"Good enough. Well, we'll go on in now and eat a snack, for I reckon the +women folks have got it about ready."</p> + +<p>We went early to bed. The house was but a story and a half high, and I +was to room with Alf, up close to the clap-board roof. I could not stand +straight, except in the middle of the apartment, but I was comfortable, +for I had a good bed, and there was plenty of air coming in through two +large windows, one on each side of the chimney at the end, toward the +south. While the dawn was drowsiest, just at the time when it seems that +one moment of dreamy dozing is worth a whole night of soundest sleep, +Alf got up to go afield to his plow, and as the joints of the stairway +were creaking under him as he went down I turned over for another nap, +thankful that after all the teaching of a school was not the hardest lot +in life. And I was deliciously dreaming when Guinea called me to +breakfast.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_46" id="Page_46">[46]</a></span>I spent the most of the day in my room, getting ready for my coming +work. Against the chimney I built a shelf and put my books upon it; I +turned a large box into a writing table, and of a barrel I fashioned an +easy-chair. My surroundings were rude, but I was pleased with them; +indeed, I had never found myself so pleasantly placed. And when Alf came +up at night he looked about him and with a smile remarked: "You must own +that lamp that we read about. Wish you would rub it again and get my +corn out of the grass." He looked tired and I wondered why he did not go +to bed, but he strode up and down the room, smoking his pipe. He was +silent and thoughtful, refilling his pipe as soon as the tobacco was +burned out; but sometimes he would talk, though what he said I felt was +aimless.</p> + +<p>"I've some heavier tobacco than that," I said.</p> + +<p>"This will do, though it is pretty light. Raised on an old hill."</p> + +<p>He sat down and continued to pull at his pipe, though the fire was out. +He leaned with his elbow on the table; he moved as if his position were +uncomfortable; he got up, went to the window, looked out, came back, +resumed his seat and after looking at the floor for a few moments said +that he thought that it must be going to rain.</p> + +<p>"Perhaps so," I replied, "but that's not what you wanted to say."</p> + +<p>He gave me a sharp glance, looked down and then<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_47" id="Page_47">[47]</a></span> asked: "How do you +know?"</p> + +<p>"I know because I can see and because I'm not a fool."</p> + +<p>"Anybody ever call you a fool?" he asked, with a sad laugh. He leaned +far back and looked up at the clapboards.</p> + +<p>"That has nothing to do with it, Alf. Pardon me. Mr. Jucklin, I should +have said. The truth is, it seems that I have known you a long time."</p> + +<p>"And when you feel that way about a man," he quickly spoke up, "you make +no mistake in accepting him as a friend. Call me Alf. What's your first +name?" I told him, and he added: "And I'll call you Bill. No; the truth +is I didn't care to say that I thought it was going to rain; I don't +give a snap for rain, except the rain that is pouring on my heart. You +remember that girl that came out upon the gallery. I know you do, for no +man could forget her. You know that Guinea asked me if Millie was at +home. Well, that was Millie Lundsford, the old General's daughter. We +have lived close together all our lives, but I have never known her very +well, and even now I wouldn't go there on a dead-set visit. She and +Guinea went off to school together and are good friends. Guinea tries to +plague me about her at times, not knowing that I really love her. I +couldn't go off to school, didn't care any too much for education, but +since that girl came home and I got better acquainted with her I have +felt that I would give half my life to know books, so that I could talk +to her; and since then I have been studying, with Guinea to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_48" id="Page_48">[48]</a></span> help me. +And you don't know how glad I was when I heard that you had come here to +teach school, for I want to study under you. But secretly," he added. "I +can't go to the school-house; I don't want her to know that I am so +ignorant."</p> + +<p>I reached over and took hold of his hand. "Alf, to teach you shall be +one of my duties. But don't put yourself down as ignorant, for you are +not."</p> + +<p>He grasped my hand, and, looking straight into my eyes, said: "I wish I +knew as much and was as good-looking as you. Then I wouldn't be afraid +to go to her and ask her to let me win her love, if I could. To-morrow +you go over to the General's, pretending that you want to get his advice +about the school, and I will go with you. Hang it, Bill, you may be in +love one of these days."</p> + +<p>"Why, Alf, I don't see why either of us should be afraid to go to the +General's house. Go? Of course, we will. But you make me laugh when you +say that if you were only as good-looking as I am. Let me tell you +something." I briefly told him the uneventful story of my life, that +ridicule had found me while yet I was a toddler and had held me up as +its target. "You might have grown too fast," he remarked when I had +concluded, "but you have caught up with yourself. To tell you the truth, +you would be picked out from among a thousand men. Where did you get all +those books? I don't see how you brought them with you in that trunk, +and with your other things."</p> + +<p>"The other things didn't take up much room," I answered,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_49" id="Page_49">[49]</a></span> and, turning +to the books, I began to tell him something about them, but I soon saw +that his mind was far away. "Yes, we will go over there to-morrow," said +I, and his mind flew back.</p> + +<p>"And walk right in as if we owned half the earth," said he, but I knew +that he felt not this lordly courage, knew that already he was quaking. +"Oh, I'll go right in with you," he said. "You lead the way and I'll be +with you."</p> + +<p>When I had gone to bed a remark that he had made was sweeping like a +wind through my mind: "Hang it, Bill, you may be in love one of these +days." I was already in love—in love with Guinea.</p> + + + +<hr /> + +<h2><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_50" id="Page_50">[50]</a></span> +<a name="v" id="v"></a>CHAPTER V</h2> + + +<p>Alf was still asleep when I arose from my bed the next morning. I stood +at the head of the stairs and looked back at his handsome, though +sun-browned face, and I felt a strange and strong sympathy for him, but +I had not begun to agonize in my love; it was so new that I was dazzled. +When I went down stairs Guinea was feeding the chickens from the kitchen +window, and the old man was walking about the yard, with his slouch hat +pulled down to shut out the slanting glare of the sun. But he saw me +and, calling me, said that he would now show me his beauties. And just +then I heard Guinea's voice: "If he starts to make them fight you come +right away and leave him, Mr. Hawes," she said. "We don't allow him to +fight them on Sunday."</p> + +<p>"Miss Smartjacket," the old man spoke up, "I hadn't said a word about +makin' 'em fight. Hawes, these women folks don't want a man to have no +fun at all. As long as a man is at work it's all right with the women; +they can stand to see him delve till he drops, but the minit he wants to +have a little fun, why, they begin to mowl about it. Of course, I'm not +goin' to let 'em fight on Sunday. But a preacher would eat one of 'em<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_51" id="Page_51">[51]</a></span> +on Sunday. All days belong to 'em. It's die dog or eat the hatchet when +they come round. And yet, as I tell you, I believe in the Book from +kiver to kiver. Step out here, Hawes."</p> + +<p>I thought that I received from Guinea a smile of assent, and I followed +him. The enclosure wherein he kept his chickens was almost as strong as +a "stockade." The old man unfastened a padlock and bade me enter. I +stepped inside, and when the master had followed me he was greeted with +many a cluck and scratching, the welcome of two game cocks in a wire +coop, divided into two apartments by a solid board partition. "I jest +wanted you to look at 'em and size 'em merely for your own +satisfaction," said the old man, fondly looking upon his shimmering +pets. "This red one over here is Sam, and that dominecker rascal is Bob. +Ah, Lord, you don't know what comfort there is in a chicken, and how a +preacher can eat a game rooster is beyond my understandin'. But I'm with +him, you understand, from kiver to kiver. Keep quiet there, boys; no +fight to-day. Must have some respect, you know."</p> + +<p>He took a grain of corn from his pocket, placed it between his teeth, +and with a grin on his face got down on his knees and held his mouth +near the bars of Sam's cage. The rooster plucked out the grain of corn, +and Bob, watching the performance, began to prance about in jealous +rage. "Never you mind, Bob," said the old man, getting up and dusting +his knees. "I know your tricks. Held<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_52" id="Page_52">[52]</a></span> one out to you that way not long +ago, and I wish I may never stir agin if you didn't take a crack at my +eye, and if I hadn't ducked I'd be one-eyed right now. But they are +callin' us to breakfust. Bound to interfere with a man one way or +another."</p> + +<p>It was with great care that Alf prepared himself to go with me to the +General's house. Out under a tree in the yard he placed a mirror on a +chair and there he sat and shaved himself. Then he went upstairs to put +on a suit of clothes which never had been worn, and anon I heard him +calling his mother to help him find buttons and neckwear that had been +misplaced. And he shouted to me not to be impatient, that he was doing +the best he could. Impatient! I was sitting in the passage, leaning back +against the wall, and near the steps Guinea stood, looking far out over +the ravine. She had donned a garb of bright calico, with long, +green-stemmed flowers stamped upon it, and I thought that of all the +dresses I had ever beheld this was the most beautiful and becoming. She +hummed a tune and looking about pretended to be surprised to see me +sitting there, and for aught I know the astonishment might have been +real, for I had made no noise in placing my chair against the wall.</p> + +<p>"I ought not to be humming a dance tune on Sunday," she said, stepping +back and standing against the opposite wall, with her hands behind her.</p> + +<p>"I don't see how the day can make music harmful," I replied.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_53" id="Page_53">[53]</a></span>"The day can't make music harmful," she rejoined. "But I can't sing. +Sometimes when I can't express what I am thinking about I hum it. How +long are you and Alf going to be away?"</p> + +<p>"As long as it suits him," I answered. "I have decided to have no voice +as to the length of our stay."</p> + +<p>"Then you are simply going to accommodate him. How kind of you. And have +you always so much consideration for others? If you have you may find +your patience strained if you stay here."</p> + +<p>"To stand any strain that may be placed upon our patience is a virtue," +I remarked—sententious pedagogue—and she lifted her hands, clasped +them behind her head, looked at me and laughed, a music sweet and low. +Just then Alf came out upon the passage, looking down at himself, first +one side and then the other; and it was with a feeling of close kinship +to envy that I regarded his new clothes. He apologized for having kept +me waiting so long, but in truth I could have told him that I should +have liked to wait there for hours, looking at the graceful figure of +that girl, standing with her hands clasped behind her brown head.</p> + +<p>The distance was not great and we had decided to walk, and across a +meadow, purpling with coming bloom, we took a nearer way. I said to Alf +that one might think that he was a stranger at the General's house, and +he replied: "In one way I am. I have been there many a time, it is true, +but always to help do something."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_54" id="Page_54">[54]</a></span>"Is the family so exclusive, then?" I asked.</p> + +<p>"Oh, they are as friendly as any people you ever saw, but, of course, I +naturally place them high above me. The old General doesn't appear to +know that I have grown to be a man; always talks to me as if I were a +boy—wants to know what father's doing and all that sort of thing. He +doesn't give a snap what father's doing."</p> + +<p>"And the girl. How does she talk to you?" It was several moments before +he answered me.</p> + +<p>"I was just trying to think," he said. "To tell you the truth, I don't +know how she talks to me. I can't recall anything she has ever said to +me. She calls me Alf and I call her Miss Millie, and we laugh at some +fool thing and that's about all there is to it. But I know that the old +man would never be willing for me to marry her. He is looking pretty +high for her or he wouldn't have spent so much money on her education."</p> + +<p>"But, of course, the girl will have something to say," I suggested.</p> + +<p>"I don't know as to that," he replied; "but, of course, I hope so. You +can't tell about girls—at least, I can't. The old General married +rather late in life and has but two children. His wife died several +years ago. Chydister, the boy, or, rather, the man—for he's about my +age—is off at a medical college. He doesn't strike me as being so +alfired smart, but they say that he's got learning away up in G. The old +man says that he is going to make him the best doctor in the whole +country, if colleges can do it, and I<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_55" id="Page_55">[55]</a></span> reckon they can. He and I have +always got along pretty well; he used to stay at our house a good deal."</p> + +<p>We crossed the creek, by leaping from one stone to another, and pursued +a course along a rotting rail fence, covered with vines. And from over +in the low ground came the "sqush" of the cows as they strode through +the rank and sappy clover. We crossed a hill whereon stood a deserted +negro "quarter"—the moldering mark of a life that is now dreamy and +afar off—and after crossing another valley slowly ascended the rounding +bulge of ground, capped by the home of the General. Alf had begun to +falter and hang back, and when I sought gently to encourage him he +remarked: "But you must remember that this is the first time that I have +ever been here with new clothes on, and I want to tell you that this +makes a big difference."</p> + +<p>"It has been some time since I went anywhere with new clothes on," I +replied, which set him laughing; but his merriment was shut off when I +opened the gate. Behind the house, where the ground sloped toward the +orchard, there were a number of cabins, old, but not deserted, for negro +children were playing about the doors and from somewhere within came the +low drone of a half-religious, half-cornshucking melody. An old dog got +up from under a tree, but, repenting of the exertion, lay down again; a +turkey loudly gobbled, a peacock croaked, and a tall, bulky, old man +came out upon the porch.</p> + +<p>"Walk right in," he called, and shouting back into the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_56" id="Page_56">[56]</a></span> hallway he +commanded some one to bring out three chairs. And even before we had +ascended the stone steps the command had been obeyed by a negro boy. +"Glad to meet you, sir," he said when Alf had introduced me. "You have +come to teach the school, I believe. Old man Perdue was over and told me +about it. Sit down. What's your father doing, Alf?"</p> + +<p>"Can't do anything to-day," Alf answered, glancing at me.</p> + +<p>"I suppose not. All the folks well? Glad to hear it," he added before +Alf could answer him. "It's been pretty wet, but it's drying up all +right."</p> + +<p>He wore a dressing gown, befigured with purple gourds, was bare-headed +and I thought that he wore a wig, for his hair was thick and was curled +under at the back of his neck. His face, closely shaved, was full and +red; his lips were thick and his mouth was large. I could see that he +was of immense importance, a dominant spirit of the Old South, and my +reading told me that his leading ancestor had come to America as the +master of a Virginia plantation.</p> + +<p>"Henry!" the old General called. "Fetch me my pipe. Henry!"</p> + +<p>"Comin'," a voice cried from within. His pipe was brought and when it +had been lighted with a coal which Henry carried in the palm of his +hand, rolling it about from side to side, the General puffed for a few +moments and then, looking at me, asked if I found school-teaching to be<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_57" id="Page_57">[57]</a></span> +a very profitable employment.</p> + +<p>"The money part of it has been but of minor consideration," I answered. +"My aim is to become a lawyer, and I am teaching school to help me +toward that end."</p> + +<p>He cleared his throat with a loud rasp. "I remember," said he, "that a +man came here once from the North with pretty much the same idea. It was +before the war. We got him up a school, and by the black ooze in the +veins of old Satan, it wasn't long before he was trying to persuade the +negroes to run away from us. I had a feather bed that wasn't in use at +the time, and old Mills over here had a first-rate article of tar on +hand, and when we got through with the gentleman he looked like an +arctic explorer. Where are you from, sir?"</p> + +<p>I told him, and then he asked: "The name is all right, and the location +is good. My oldest brother knew a Captain Hawes in the Creek war."</p> + +<p>"He was my grandfather," I replied. He looked at me, still pulling at +his pipe, and said: "Then, sir, I am, indeed, glad to see you. Alf, +what's your father doing?"</p> + +<p>"Nothing, sir; it's Sunday," Alf answered, blushing. The old General +looked at him, cleared his throat and said: "Yes, yes. Folks all well?"</p> + +<p>I heard the door open and close and I saw Alf move, even as his father +had moved when he came upon me in the road. I heard light foot-falls in +the hall, and then out stepped a girl. She smiled and nodded at Alf and +the General introduced me to her. Alf got up, almost<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_58" id="Page_58">[58]</a></span> tumbled out of his +chair and asked her to sit down. "Oh, no, keep your seat," she said. +"I'm not going to stay but a minute." She walked over to a post and, +leaning against it, turned and looked back at us. She wore a flower in +her hair, and in her hand she held a calacanthus bud. She was rather +small, with a petulant sort of beauty, but I did not think that she +could be compared with Guinea, for all of Alf's raving over her. Her +cheeks were dimpled, and well she knew it, for she smiled whenever +anything was said, and when no word had been spoken she smiled at the +silence.</p> + +<p>"Alf, what has become of Guinea?" she asked. "It seems an age since I +saw her."</p> + +<p>"She was over here last, I think," Alf answered.</p> + +<p>"Ahem—m—" came from the General. "You'll be counting meals on each +other, like the Yankees, after a while," he said. "Why don't you quit +your foolishness; and if you want to see each other, go and see. I don't +know what your feelings are in the matter, sir," he added, turning to +me, "but I don't see much good in this so-called public school system. +And of all worthless things under heaven it is a negro that has caught +up a smattering of education. God knows he's trifling enough at best, +but teach him to read and he's utterly worthless. I sent a negro to the +postoffice some time ago, and he came along back with my newspaper +spread out before him, reading it on the horse. And if it hadn't been +for Millie I would have ripped the hide off him."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_59" id="Page_59">[59]</a></span>"He didn't know any better," the girl spoke up. "Poor thing, you scared +him nearly to death."</p> + +<p>"Yes, and I immediately gave him the best coat I had to square myself, +not with him, but with myself," said the old man. "But I hold that if +the negro, or anyone else, for that matter, is to be a servant, let him +be a servant. I don't want a man to plow for me simply because he can +read. Confound him, I don't care whether he can read or not. I want him +to plow. When I choose my friends it is another matter. Your father go +to church to-day, Alf?"</p> + +<p>"I don't know, sir," Alf answered, moving about in his chair, and then +in his embarrassment he got up and stammeringly begged the girl to sit +down.</p> + +<p>"Why, what's all this trouble and nonsense about," the General asked, +looking first at the girl and then at Alf. "'Od zounds, there oughtn't +to be any trouble about a chair. Fifty of them back in there."</p> + +<p>Alf dropped back and the girl laughed with such genuine heartiness that +I thought much better of her, but still I did not think that she was at +all to be compared with Guinea. The General yelled for Henry to bring +him another coal, and when his pipe had been relighted he turned to me +and said: "You don't find the old North State as she once was, sir. Ah, +Lord, the ruin that has gone on in this world since I can remember. And +yet they say we are becoming more civilized. Zounds, sir, do you call it +civilization to see hundreds of fields turned out to persimmon bushes +and broom sedge? Look over there,"<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_60" id="Page_60">[60]</a></span> he added, waving his hand. "I have +seen the time when that was almost a garden. What do you want?" The last +remark was addressed to the negro boy who had suddenly appeared. +"Dinner? Yes, yes. Come, Mr. Hawes, and you, Alf. This way. Get out!" A +dog had come between him and the door. "Devilish dogs are about to take +the place, but they are no account, not one of them. Lie around here and +let the rabbits eat up the pea vines. Even the dogs have degenerated +along with everything else."</p> + +<p>I walked with the General, and, looking back, I was pleased to see that +Alf had summoned courage enough to follow along beside the girl. We were +shown into a long dining-room, with a great height of ceiling. The house +had been built in a proud old day, and all about me I noted a dim and +faded elegance. The General bade us sit down, and I noticed that his +tone was softened. He mumbled a blessing over a great hunk of mutton +and, broadly smiling upon me, told me that he was glad to welcome me to +his board. "The school-teacher," said he, "modifies and refines our +native crudeness. Yes, sir, you have a great work, a work that you may +be proud of. Had education more broadly prevailed, had the people North +and South better understood one another, there would have been no bloody +disruption. Now, gentlemen, I must request you to help yourselves, +remembering that such as I have is freely yours. When age comes on apace +there is nothing more inspiring than to see the young and the vigorous +gathered about us. And it is thus that the evening<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_61" id="Page_61">[61]</a></span> of live is +brightened. Henry, pass the bread to Mr. Jucklin, and the peas, the very +first of this backward season, I assure you. Mr. Hawes, can you recall +the face of your noble grandfather?"</p> + +<p>"No, General; he died many years before I can remember."</p> + +<p>"A pity, I assure you, for what is more spurring to our ambition than to +recall the features of a noted relative. Some of this lettuce, Mr. +Hawes? A sleepy, but withal a soothing, dish. My daughter, I must +request you to help yourself. Charming weather we have, Mr. Hawes, with +the essence of youth and hope in the air."</p> + +<p>How completely had his manner changed. His eyes, which had seemed hard +and cold when he had waved his hand and looked out over the yellow sedge +grass, were beaming now with kindly light, and his voice, which I had +thought was coarse and gruff, was vibrant with notes of stirring +sympathy. Alf, heartened by the old gentleman's streaming courtesy, +spoke a low word to the girl who sat beside him, and she nodded, +smiling, but with one ear politely lent to the familiar talk of her +father.</p> + +<p>After dinner we were shown into the library, wherein were many law +books, and the General, catching the longing glance that I shot at them, +turned with bewitching patronage, bowed and said:</p> + +<p>"You have expressed your determination to become acquainted with the law +and to practice the wiles of its logic; and so, if you can make no +better arrangements, I pray,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_62" id="Page_62">[62]</a></span> sir, that you make this room your office."</p> + +<p>Alf's eyes bulged out at this, doubtless looking upon me as the most +fortunate man alive, and in my country bluntness I blurted: "You are the +kindest man I ever saw."</p> + +<p>In this room we talked for two hours or more, and the afternoon—or the +evening, as we say in the South—was well pronounced when I declared +that it was time for us to go. Alf looked up surprised, and in a voice +sad with appeal, he asked if it were very late. I could have given him +the exact time, but was afraid to take out my grandfather's +watch—afraid that the General and his daughter might think that I was +seeking to make a display, so I simply said: "Yes, time that we were +going."</p> + +<p>"Don't be in a hurry, gentlemen," the General protested; "don't let a +trivial matter rob us of your society."</p> + +<p>Alf pulled back, but I insisted, and so we took our leave. The old +gentleman came out upon the porch with us. "Henry!" he yelled, turning +about, "who the devil left that gate open? Go and shut it, you lazy +scoundrel. Those infamous new-comers over on the creek take my place for +a public highway. And I hope to be hung up by the heels if I don't fill +the last one of them full of shot."</p> + +<p>"I'll never forget you," Alf remarked as we walked along, down through +the meadow. "You have stood by me, and you bet your life I don't forget +such things. Of course, I have known the old man ever since I can +remember, but he never treated me so well before. And<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_63" id="Page_63">[63]</a></span> when the time +comes, if I can get him in that dining-room I don't believe he'll refuse +me. It's a blamed big pity that I can't talk as you can, but you just +stick to me and I will talk all right after a while."</p> + +<p>"Oh, I'll stick to you," I replied, "but I didn't notice that I talked +in a way to amount to anything. I felt as stupid as an ass looks. What +did the girl say? You were talking to her very earnestly over by the +window."</p> + +<p>"To save my life, I can't recall anything she said, Bill, but I know +that every word she spoke was dripped honey. I'd almost give my life to +take her in my arms and hug her just once. Ever feel that way about a +girl?"</p> + +<p>I was beginning to feel just exactly that way, but I told him no, +whereupon he said: "But you may one of these days, and whenever you do, +you call on me to help you, and I'll do it, I don't care who the girl is +or how high up she may stand. Many a night I have lain in bed and wished +that Millie might be going along the road by herself and that about +three men would come up and say something out of the way to her, just so +I could spring out and wipe the face of the earth with them. I'm not as +big as you are, but for her I'll bet I can whip any three men you ever +saw. By the way, don't even speak Millie's name at home. The folks don't +know that I'm in love with her. There's one thing that stands in my +favor."</p> + +<p>"What is it?" I asked. He looked up at me, but was silent, and becoming +interested by his manner I was about to repeat the question, when he +said: "I'm not at liberty<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_64" id="Page_64">[64]</a></span> to speak of it yet. You've noticed that +Guinea has more education than I have. Well, her education has something +to do with the point that's in my favor, but I've said too much already +and we'd better drop the subject."</p> + +<p>I was burning to know more, for I recalled the change of manner that had +come over Mr. Jucklin at the time he spoke of having sent his daughter +away to school, and I was turning this over and over in my mind, when +Alf said: "A young fellow named Dan Stuart often goes to see Millie, and +I don't know how much she thinks of him, but some of his people are high +flyers, and that may have an influence in his favor. Doc Etheredge, out +here, is his cousin, and old man Etheredge owned nearly a hundred and +fifty negroes at one time. But when that girl stands up at the altar to +marry some one else, they will find me there putting in my protest."</p> + +<p>When we reached home I found Guinea sitting under a tree, reading, and I +had joined her when the old man called me. Looking about I saw him +standing at the end of the house, beckoning to me. "I want to see you a +minute," he said, as I approached him. I wondered whether he was again +going to show me his chickens, and it was a relief when he conducted me +in an opposite direction. He looked back to see if we were far enough +away, and then, coming closer to me, he said: "This is the way I came to +do it."</p> + +<p>"Do what?" I asked, not over pleased that he should have called upon me +to leave the girl.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_65" id="Page_65">[65]</a></span>"Wallow him, the old General. He claimed that my hogs had been gettin' +into his field, and I told him that I didn't feel disposed to keep my +hogs up when everybody else's were runnin' at large, and then he called +me a scoundrel and we clinched. I took him so quick that he wasn't +prepared for me, and I give a sort of a hem stich and down he went, +right in the middle of the road. And there I was right on top of him. He +didn't say a word, while I was wallowin' him, but when I let him up, he +looked all round and then said: 'Lim Jucklin, if I thought anybody was +lookin' I'd kill you right here. You are the first man that ever +wallowed a Lundsford and lived, and the novelty of the thing sorter +appeals to me. You know that I'm not afraid of the devil, and keep your +mouth shut about this affair, and we'll let it drap.' And he meant just +what he said, and I did keep my mouth shut, not because I was afraid of +his hurtin' me, but because I was sorry to humiliate him. Ever hear of +John Mortimer Lacey? Well, shortly after that him and Lundsford fit a +duel and Lacey went to New Orleans and died there. So, don't say +anything about it."</p> + +<p>"About what? Lacey's going to New Orleans and dying there?"</p> + +<p>"No, cadfound it all, about my wallerin' the General."</p> + +<p>"I won't," I answered, and then I thought to touch upon a question that +had taken a fast hold upon me. "By the way, you spoke of having sent +your daughter to school at Raleigh——"</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_66" id="Page_66">[66]</a></span>"The devil I did! Well, what's that got to do with you or with anyone +else, for that matter? I'll be—you must excuse me, sir," he quickly +added, bowing. "I'm not right bright in my mind at times. Pecked right +at my eye, and if I hadn't dodged I'd be one-eyed this minute—yes, I +would, as sure as you are born. But here, let us drop that wallowin' +business and that other affair with it, and not mention it again. Don't +know why I done it in the first place, but I reckon it was because I'm +not right bright in my mind at times. You'll excuse my snap and snarl, +won't you? Go on back there, now, and talk about your books."</p> + +<p>"I am the one to ask pardon, Mr. Jucklin. I ought to have had better +sense than to touch upon something that didn't concern me. I guess there +must be a good deal of the brute in me, and it seems to me that I spend +nearly half my time regretting what I did the other half."</p> + +<p>"Why, Lord love your soul, man, you haven't done nothin'. But you draw +me close to you when you talk of regrettin' things. I have spent nearly +all my life in putty much that fix. After you've lived in this +neighborhood a while you'll hear that old Lim has been in many a fight, +but you'll never hear that anybody has ever whupped him. You may hear, +though, that he has rid twenty mile of a cold night to beg the pardon of +a man that he had thrashed. We'll shake hands right here, and if you say +the word we'll go right now and make them chickens fight. No, it's +Sunday. Kiver to kiver, you understand. Go on back<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_67" id="Page_67">[67]</a></span> there, now."</p> + +<p>With Guinea I sat and saw the sun go down behind a yellow gullied hill. +From afar up and down the valley came the lonesome "pig-oo-ee!" of the +farmers, calling their hogs for the evening's feed. We heard the flutter +of the chickens, flying to roost, and the night hawk heard them, too, +for his eager, hungry scream pierced the still air. On a smooth old rock +at the verge of the ravine the girl's brother stood, arms folded, +looking out over the darkening low land, and from within the house, +where Mrs. Jucklin sat alone, there came a sad melody: "Come, thou fount +of every blessing."</p> + +<p>The girl's eyes were upward turned. "Every evening comes with a new +mystery," she said. "We think we know what to expect, but when the +evening comes it is different from what it was yesterday."</p> + +<p>"And it is thus that we are enabled to live without growing tired of the +world and of ourselves," I replied. "And I wish that I had come like the +evening—with a mystery," I added.</p> + +<p>I heard her musical cluck and even in the dusk I could see the light of +her smile. "But why should you want to come with a mystery?" she asked.</p> + +<p>"To inspire those about me with an interest regarding me. Even the stray +dog is more interesting than the dog that is vouched for by the +appearance of his master. I never saw a pack-peddler that I did not long +to know something of his life, his emotions, the causes that sent<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_68" id="Page_68">[68]</a></span> him +adrift, but I can't find this interest in a man whom I understand."</p> + +<p>She laughed again. "But haven't you some little mystery connected with +your life?" she asked.</p> + +<p>"None. I have read myself into a position a few degrees above the +clod-hopper, but that's all. If there were a war, I would be a soldier, +but as there is no war, I am going to be a lawyer."</p> + +<p>"It would be nice, I should think, to stand up and make speeches," she +said. "But wouldn't you rather be a doctor?"</p> + +<p>I don't know why I said it, but I replied that I hated doctors, and she +did not laugh at this, but was silent. I waited for her to say +something, but she uttered not a word. It was now dark, and I could just +discern Alf's figure, standing on the rock. The song in the house was +hushed.</p> + +<p>"I don't really mean that I hate doctors," I said, seeking to right +myself, if, indeed, I had made a mistake; and she simply replied: "Oh." +"I mean that I should not like to practice medicine," I added, and again +she said: "Oh." A lamp had been lighted in the sitting-room, and thither +we went, to join Old Lim and his wife, who were warm in the discussion +of a religious question. The Book said that whatever a man's hands found +to do he must do, and, therefore, he held that it was right to do almost +anything on Sunday.</p> + +<p>"Even unto the fighting of chickens?" his wife asked.</p> + +<p>"Oh, I knowed what you was a-gittin' at. Knowed it<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_69" id="Page_69">[69]</a></span> while you was +a-beatin' the bush all round. When a woman begins to beat the bush, it's +time to look out, Mr. Hawes. I came in here just now, and I knowed in a +minute that wife, there, was goin' to accuse me of havin' a round with +Sam and Bob, but I pledge you my word that I didn't. Just went in and +exchanged a few words with 'em. Man's got a right to talk to his +friends, I reckon; but if he ain't, w'y, it's time to shut up shop."</p> + +<p>Alf came in and, with Guinea, sang an old song, and their father sat +there with the tears shining in his eyes. He leaned over, and I heard +him whisper to his wife: "Did have just a mild bit of a round, Susan, +and I hope that you and the Lord will forgive me for it. If you do I +know the Lord will. I'm an old liar, Susan."</p> + +<p>"No, you are not, Lemuel," she answered, in a low voice. "You are the +best man in the world, and everybody loves you."</p> + +<p>I saw him squeeze her wrinkled hand.</p> + +<p>I could not sleep, but in a strange disturbance tossed about. Alf was +talking in a dream. I got up and sat for a time at the window, looking +out toward the gullied hill that had turned out the light of the sun. On +the morrow my work was to begin. And what was to be the result? Was it +intended that I should reach the bar and win renown, or had I been +listed for the life of a pedagogue? Was my love for the girl so new that +it dazzled me? No, it was now a passion, wounded and sore. But why? By +that little word, "Oh." I put on my clothes, tip-toed down<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_70" id="Page_70">[70]</a></span> stairs and +walked about the yard. The moon was full, low above the scrub oaks. A +streak of shimmering light ran down toward the spring, and over it I +slowly strode. I heard the water gurgling from under the moss-covered +spring-house, and I saw the leaf-shadow patch-work moving to and fro +over the smooth slabs of stone. Long I stood there, looking at the +pictures, listening to the music; and turning back toward the house, I +had gone some distance when I chanced to look up, and then, thrilled, I +slowly sank upon my knees. At one of the large windows, in the northeast +end of the house, stood Guinea, in a loose, white robe, the light of the +full moon falling upon her. Behind her head her hands were clasped, and +she stood there like a marble cross. Her face was upward turned, and the +low yellow moon was bronzing her brown hair—a glorified marble cross, +with a crown of gold, I thought, as I bowed in my worship. My forehead +touched the path, and when I lifted my head—the cross was gone.</p> + + + +<hr /> + +<h2><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_71" id="Page_71">[71]</a></span> +<a name="vi" id="vi"></a>CHAPTER VI.</h2> + + +<p>We ate breakfast early the next morning, while the game cocks were yet +crowing in their coop. When I went down I heard the jingling of trace +chains, and I knew that the old man was making ready to plow the young +corn. I had insisted upon walking to the school-house, telling Alf that +all I wanted was to know the direction, but he declared that it was no +more than just that I should be driven over the first morning of the +session. So, together we went on the buck-board. Guinea had laughingly +told me not to be afraid of the creek, that the large boys were at home, +plowing, and as we were skirting the gullied hill I glanced back and saw +her standing in the yard, looking after us. The road lay mostly through +the woods, with many a turn and dip down among thick bushes to cross a +crooked stream. Sometimes we came upon small clearings, where +tired-looking men were grubbing new-land for tobacco, and I remember +that a half-grown boy, with a sullen look, threw a chunk at us and +viciously shouted that if we would stop a minute he would whip both of +us. I imagined that he was kept from school by the imperious demand of +the tobacco patch, and I sympathized with him in his wrath against +mankind. A little<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_72" id="Page_72">[72]</a></span> further along we came within sight of an old log +house, and then the laughter of children reached our ears. We had +arrived at the place where my work was to begin. Alf put me down, and, +saying that he must get back home, drove away; and a hush fell upon the +children as I turned toward the house. Inside I found a cow-bell, and +when I had rung the youngsters to their duties, I made them a short +speech, telling them that I was sure we should become close friends. I +had some difficulty in arranging them into classes, for it appeared that +each child had brought an individual book. But I was glad to see that +old McGuffy's readers prevailed, for in many parts of the South they had +been supplanted by books of flimsy text, and now to see them cropping up +gave me great pleasure. There they were, with the same old lessons that +had fired me with ambition, the words of Shakspeare and the speeches of +great Americans.</p> + +<p>By evening my work was well laid out, and as I took my way homeward, +with Guinea in my mind, there was a strong surge within my breast, the +leaping of a determination to win her.</p> + +<p>As I neared home, coming round by the spring, I saw the girl running +down the path, the picture of a young deer, and how that picture did +remain with me, and how on an occasion held by the future, it was to be +vivified.</p> + +<p>"Oh, you have got back safe and dry," she cried, halting upon seeing me. +"Why, I thought you would come back dripping. No, I didn't," she quickly +added. "Don't you<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_73" id="Page_73">[73]</a></span> know I told you that all the large boys were at work? +Wait until I get the jar of butter and I'll go to the house with you."</p> + +<p>"Let me get it for you," I replied, turning back with her.</p> + +<p>"You can't get it," she said, laughing; "you'll fall into the spring. +But, then, you might hold it as a remembrance to temper the severity of +the ducking yet to come."</p> + +<p>"Miss Guinea," I made bold to say, standing at the door of the +spring-house, "do you know that you talk with exceeding readiness?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, do you mean that I am always ready to talk? I didn't think that of +you."</p> + +<p>I reached out and took the jar from her. "You know I didn't mean that," +I said; and, looking up, with her eyes full of mischief, she asked: +"What did you mean, then?"</p> + +<p>"I mean that you talk easily and brightly—like a book."</p> + +<p>"You'd better let me have the jar," she said, holding out her hands. +"I'm afraid that you'll fall and break it, after that. You know that a +man is never so likely to slip as he is when he's trying to compliment a +woman."</p> + +<p>"No, I don't know that, but I do know that a Southern woman ought to +know the difference between flattery and a real compliment."</p> + +<p>"Why a Southern woman?" she asked. She looked to me as if she were +really in earnest and I strove to answer her earnestly.</p> + +<p>"Because Southern women are not given to flirting;<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_74" id="Page_74">[74]</a></span> because they place +more reliance in what a man says, and——"</p> + +<p>"I think you've got yourself tangled up," she said, laughing at me, and +I could but acknowledge that I had; and then it was, in the sweetest of +tones, that she said: "But if I had thought you really were tangled I +would not have spoken of it. Now tell me what you were going to say, and +I promise to listen like a mouse in a corner."</p> + +<p>"No, I'm afraid to attempt it again." I was in advance of her, for the +path was narrow and the dew was now gathering on the grass, but she shot +past me, and, looking back, said beseechingly: "Won't you, please?" The +sun was long since down and the twilight was darkening, but I could see +the eagerness on her face. "Do, please, for I like to hear such things. +I'm nothing but the simplest sort of a girl, as easy to amuse as a +child, and you must remember that you are a great big man, from out in +the world."</p> + +<p>"Come on with that butter!" the old man shouted, and with a laugh the +girl ran away from me. I wondered whether she were playing with me, but +I could not believe that she was. In those eyes there might be mischief, +but there could not be deceit.</p> + +<p>Bed time came immediately after supper. The old man did not go out to +look after his chickens, so tired was he, and there was no song in the +sitting-room. I sat in the passage, where the moonlight fell, and hoped +that the girl might join me, but she did not, and I went to my room,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_75" id="Page_75">[75]</a></span> +where I found Alf, half undressed, sitting on the edge of the bed. I had +sat down and had filled my pipe before he took notice of me, but when I +began to search about for a light he looked up and remarked: "Matches on +the corner of your library."</p> + +<p>"Here's one," I replied, and had lighted the pipe when he said: "Saw her +to-day, Bill—saw her riding along the road with Dan Stuart. She didn't +even look over in the field toward me, but he waved his hand, and I saw +more hatred than friendship in it. Blame it all, Bill, I'm not going to +follow a plow through the dirt all the time. I can do something better, +and after this crop's laid by I'm going to do it. I don't think that she +wants to marry a farmer."</p> + +<p>"What does Stuart do?" I asked. "How can he afford to be riding about +when other men are at work?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, I guess he's pretty well fixed. He's got a lot of negroes working +for him and he raises a good deal of tobacco. No, sir, she didn't even +look toward me."</p> + +<p>"But haven't you passed her house when you were almost afraid to look +toward the porch when you knew that she was standing there?"</p> + +<p>"Of course I have!" he cried. "Yes, sir, I've done that many a +time—just pretended that I had business everywhere else but on that +porch. Ain't it strange how love does take hold of a fellow? It gets +into his heart and his heart shoots it to the very ends of his fingers; +it gets into his eyes, and he can't see anything but love, love +everywhere.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_76" id="Page_76">[76]</a></span> It may catch you one of these days, Bill, and when it does, +you'll know just how I feel."</p> + +<p>I looked at this strong and honest man, this man idolizing an image that +he had enshrined in his soul, and I thought to tell him that, with my +forehead touching the ground, I had worshiped his sister, but no, it was +too delicate a confidence—I would keep it to myself.</p> + +<p>We were astir in the dawn the next day, ate breakfast by the light of a +lamp, but Guinea was not at the table, and I loitered there after the +others were gone out, hoping to see her, but she did not come, and then +I remembered that Mrs. Jucklin was also absent, and that the services of +the meal had been performed by a negro woman.</p> + +<p>When I returned at evening, with the droning of the children's voices +echoing in my ears, it seemed to me that I had been gone an age. I came +again by the spring, but Guinea was not there, but I heard her singing +as I drew near to the house. She was in the passage, gleefully dancing, +with a broom for a partner. When she saw me she threw down the broom and +ran away, laughing; but she came back when she found that I had really +discovered her. "You must think that I am the silliest creature in the +world," she said, "and I don't know that I can dispute you. Millie +Lundsford has just gone home. She and I have been going through with our +old-time play, when, with window curtains wound about us to represent +long dresses, and with brooms to personate the brave knights who had +rescued us from the merciless Turks, we danced in the castle.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_77" id="Page_77">[77]</a></span> And I was +just taking a turn with a duke when you came. What a knight you would +have been."</p> + +<p>"And what an inspiration I should have had to drive me onward and to set +my soul aflame with ambition," I replied, looking into her eyes.</p> + +<p>It must have been my look rather than my words that threw a change over +her; my manner must have told her that I was becoming too serious for +one who had known her so short a time, but be that as it may, a change +had come upon her. She was no longer a girl, gay and airy, with a +romping spirit, but a woman, dignified.</p> + +<p>"Has your work been hard to-day?" she asked.</p> + +<p>"It has been more or less stupid, as it always is," I answered, slowly +walking with her toward the dining-room.</p> + +<p>When we had sat down to the table Alf came in with his new clothes on, +and whispering to me when his sister had turned to say something to her +mother, he said: "Got something to tell you when we go up stairs."</p> + +<p>Mrs. Jucklin was afraid that I did not eat enough; she had heard that +brain workers required much food; her uncle, who had been a justice of +the peace, had told her that it made but small difference what he ate +while engaged in getting out saw logs, but that when he began to +meditate over a case in court he required the most stimulating +provender. "And now," she said, "if there's anything that I can fix for +you, do, please, let me know what it is. Now, Guinea, what are you +titterin' at? And that negro woman doesn't half do her work, either. I +declare to goodness<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_78" id="Page_78">[78]</a></span> I'd rather do everything on the place than to see +her foolin' round as if she's afraid to take hold of anything; and her +fingers full of brass rings, too. I jest told her that she'd have to +take 'em off, that I didn't want to eat any brass. Laws a massy, niggers +are jest as different from what they was as day is from night. Talk to +me about freedom helpin' 'em. But the Lord knows best," she added, with +a sigh of resignation. "If He wants 'em to be free, why, no one ought to +complain, and goodness knows I don't. Yes, they ought to be free," she +went on after a moment of reflection. "Oh, it was a sin and a shame to +sell 'em away from their children. But it's all over now, thank God. +Now, I wonder where your father is, Alf. Never saw sich a man in my +life. Looks jest like he begrudges time enough to eat. There he comes +now."</p> + +<p>The old man came in, covered with dirt. "Alf, is the shot gun loaded?" +he asked, brushing himself.</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir. Why?" We looked at the old fellow, wondering what he meant, +but he made no explanation. Alf repeated his question. "Why?" And the +old man exclaimed: "Oh, nothin'. Jest goin' to blow that red steer's +head off, that's all. Confound his hide. I wish I may die this minute if +I ever had sich a jolt in my life. Went along by him, not sayin' a word +to him, and if he didn't up and let me have both heels I'm the biggest +liar that ever walked a log. Hadn't done a thing to him, mind you; +walkin' along 'tendin' to my own business, when both of his heels flew +at me. And I'll eat a bite and then go and blow his<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_79" id="Page_79">[79]</a></span> head off."</p> + +<p>"Oh, Limuel," his wife protested; "a body to hear you talk would think +that you don't do anything at all but thirst for blood. If the Lord puts +it in the mind of a steer to kick you, why, it ain't the poor creeter's +fault."</p> + +<p>The old man snorted. "And if the Lord puts it in my mind to kill the +steer it ain't my fault, muther. Conscience alive, what are we all +dressed up so about?" he added, looking at Alf. "So much stile goin' on +that a body don't know whuther he's a shuckin' corn or is at a picnic. +Blow his head off as soon as I eat a bite."</p> + +<p>I could see that Alf was anxious to tell me something, and immediately +after supper I went up stairs with him. He took off his coat, and after +dusting it carefully hung it up and sat down. He looked at me as if he +were delighted with the curiosity that I was showing, and then as he +reached for his pipe he began: "I was a-plowing out in the field about +three hours by sun, when I saw Millie come out of the valley like a +larkspur straightening up in the spring of the year, and after waiting a +while, but always with my eye on the house, I quit work, slipped up here +and dressed myself so as to be ready to walk home with her. I was rather +afraid to ask her at first, knowing that this was breaking away from all +my former strings and announcing my determination of keeping company +with her, out and out, and I don't know exactly how I got at it, but I +did, and the first thing I knew I was walking down the road with her. +And this time I do remember what<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_80" id="Page_80">[80]</a></span> she said, but there wasn't anything so +encouraging in it. The fact is she had something to tell me about you."</p> + +<p>"About me? What can she know about me? Probably she was giving you her +father's estimate of me."</p> + +<p>"No, but somebody else's estimate," he replied. "You recollect a fellow +named Bentley?"</p> + +<p>"Bentley? Of course, I do. We lived on adjoining farms, and I have a +sore cause to remember him. But how could she have heard anything about +him?"</p> + +<p>"Well, I'll tell you. Mrs. Bentley is old man Aimes' sister, and she's +over here now on a visit, and when she heard that you were teaching +school in the neighborhood she declared that it would be a mercy if you +didn't kill somebody before you got through. And then she told that you +had waylaid her son one night and come mighty nigh killing him. She said +that she was perfectly willing to forgive you until she saw the scar +left on her son's forehead, and a woman can't very well forgive a scar, +you know. Old Aimes and all his sons are slaughter-house dogs, and they +appeared to take up a hatred against you at once. Don't you remember as +we drove to the school a boy threw a chunk at us as we were passing a +clearing and swore that he could whip us both? Well, that was the +youngest Aimes, and the trick now is, as I understand it, to send him to +school with instructions to do pretty much as he pleases and to take +revenge on you in case you whip him. Millie said that her father swore +that it was a shame and that if you wanted any help from him you could +get<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_81" id="Page_81">[81]</a></span> it. Nobody likes the Aimes family. Came in here several years ago, +and have been kicking up disturbances ever since."</p> + +<p>I told Alf why I had snatched Bentley off his horse, nor in the least +did I shield myself. I even called myself a brute. But I told him of the +season of sorrow and humiliation through which I had passed, that I had +insisted upon giving Bentley the only valuable thing I possessed, that +against his mother's command I had striven to work for him during the +time he was laid up, and that I had even plowed his field at night.</p> + +<p>"I don't know that you were so far wrong in beating him in the first +place," said Alf, "but if you were, your course afterward should have +more than atoned for it. By gracious, I feel that if some one would plow +for me I'd let him maul me until he got tired. Millie said that she was +afraid that something might happen to get you into trouble. She seemed a +good deal concerned about it, for I reckon she's got the noblest and +purest heart of any human being now in the world, and she said that she +thought that if you were to give up the school her father could make +some arrangements for you to study law in Purdy, the county seat. I told +her that you would be delighted to quit teaching under ordinary +circumstances, but that just at present you'd teach or die. Was I +right?"</p> + +<p>"Surely, and I thank you for having defined my position. I wonder if we +can commit an innocent error, an error that will lie asleep and never +rise up to confront us? Now,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_82" id="Page_82">[82]</a></span> I shall have a fine reputation in this +neighborhood."</p> + +<p>"Oh, don't let that worry you, Bill. It'll come out all right. I'd be +willing to have almost any sort of name if it would influence that girl +to talk in my favor as she did in yours. I don't know what to think; +somehow I can't find out her opinion of me. I slily spoke about that +fellow, Dan Stuart, but she didn't say a word. Confound it, Bill, can't +a woman see that she's got a fellow on the gridiron? They can't even +bear to see a hog suffer, but they can smile and look unconcerned while +a man is writhing over the coals. I don't understand it."</p> + +<p>"Nor do I, Alf, but I've been over the coals—I mean that I can well +imagine what it is to be there."</p> + +<p>He lay down, and with his head far back on the pillow, looked upward as +if with his gaze he would bore through the roof and reach the stars. He +was silent for a long time, but when I had blown out the light and had +gone to bed, thinking that he was asleep, I heard him muttering.</p> + +<p>"Talking to me, Alf?" He turned over with a sigh and answered: "No, not +particularly. I was just wondering whether a man ought to try to outlive +a disappointment in love or kill himself and end the matter. We are told +that God is love, and if God is denied to a man, what's the use of +trying to struggle on? I suppose the advantage of knowledge is that it +enables a man to settle such questions at once, but as I am not learned, +having grabbed but a little here and there, I have to worry along with a +thing<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_83" id="Page_83">[83]</a></span> that another man might dismiss at once. What's your idea, Bill?"</p> + +<p>"My idea is that a man ought never to give up; but, of course, there are +times when he is so completely beaten that to fight longer is worse than +useless. But learning cannot settle questions wherein the heart is +involved. The philosopher may kill himself in despair, while the +ignorant man may continue to fight and may finally win. The other day +you spoke of something that was in your favor—something that has to do +with your sister's education. Would you think it impertinent if I ask +you what that something is?"</p> + +<p>"No, I'd not think that," he answered. I had risen up in bed and was +straining my eyes, trying to find his face, to study his expression, but +darkness lay between us. "Not impertinent in the least, but I can't tell +you just now. After a while, if you stay here long enough, you'll know +all about it. Bill, if that young Aimes comes to school and begins any +of his pranks, take him down and I'll stand by you, and people that know +me well will tell you that I mean what I say. The old man has never been +whipped yet, I mean my father, and nobody ever saw his son knock +under."</p> + + + +<hr /> + +<h2><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_84" id="Page_84">[84]</a></span> +<a name="vii" id="vii"></a>CHAPTER VII.</h2> + + +<p>The next morning, when with quick stride, to make up for an anxious +lingering in the passage way, I hastened toward the school, I heard the +gallop of a horse, and turning about, saw old General Lundsford coming +like a dragoon. Upon seeing me he drew in his horse and had sobered him +to a walk by the time he reached a brook, on the brink of which I halted +to let him pass.</p> + +<p>"Why, good morning, Mr. Hawes. Beautiful day, sir. I am going your way a +short distance, and if you'll get up here behind me, sir, you shall +ride."</p> + +<p>I thanked him, telling him that I much preferred to walk. "All right, +sir, and I will get down and walk with you until duty, sir," he said +sonorously, with a bow; "until duty, sir, shall call us apart."</p> + +<p>I urged him not to get down, telling him that I could easily keep pace +with his horse, but he dismounted even before crossing the stream, +preferring, he said, with another bow, to take his chances with me. And +thus we walked onward, the horse following close, now and then "nosing" +his master's shoulder to show his preference and his loyalty. The season +was mellowing and the old gentleman was airily dressed in white, low +shoes neatly polished<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_85" id="Page_85">[85]</a></span> and a Panama hat. He was delighted, he said, to +hear that I was getting along so well with the school, and he knew that +I would be of vast good to the community. "I have heard of the Aimes +conspiracy," said he, "and I am glad that I met you, for I wanted to +talk to you about it. The truth of it all is, not that you once larruped +that fellow Bentley, but that old Aimes wishes to put a sly indignity +upon me by misusing one who has been entertained at my house. That's the +point, sir. He heard that I had given you countenance at my board, and +what his sister afterward told him was an excuse for the exercise, sir, +of his distemper. But, by—I came within one of swearing, sir. I used to +curse like an overseer, but I joined the church not long ago, and I've +been walking a tight rope ever since. But as I was about to say, you are +not going to let those people humiliate you."</p> + +<p>"I am going to do my duty," I answered, "and my duty does not tell me to +be humiliated."</p> + +<p>"Good, sir; first-rate. As a general thing, we do not look for the +highest spirit in a school-teacher—pardon my frankness, for, as you +know, one who is dependent upon a whole community, one who seeks to +please many and varied persons, is not as likely to exhibit that +independence and vigor of action which is characteristic of the man who +stands solely upon honor, with nothing to appease save his own idea of +right. But I forgot. The grandson of Captain Hawes needs no such homily. +The Aimes family is a hard lot, sir, but a gentleman can at all times<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_86" id="Page_86">[86]</a></span> +stand in smiling conquest above a tough. Scott Aimes, a burly scoundrel, +and, therefore, the pet of his father, at one time threatened to +chastize my son Chydister, who is now off at college. And I said not a +word in reply, when my son told me of the threat. I merely pointed to a +shot-gun above the library door and went on with my reading of the death +notices in the newspaper. That gun is there now, sir, and whenever you +want it, speak the word and it shall be yours."</p> + +<p>I laughed to myself and thought that I must be getting on well with the +old General—first the offer of his library and now of his gun—and I +thanked him for the interest which he had shown in me, a mere stranger. +"A well-bred Southerner is never a stranger in the South," said he. "We +are held together by an affection stronger than any tie that runs from +heart to heart in any other branch of the human family. But," he added, +sadly shaking his head, "I fear that this affection is weakening. Our +young men are becoming steeped in the strong commercial spirit of the +North. I should like to continue this pleasant and elevating +conversation, but here's where I am compelled to leave you."</p> + +<p>"Can I assist you to mount?" I asked, hardly knowing what else to say. +He shoved his hat back and looked at me in astonishment. "You are kind, +sir, but I am not yet on the lift." But he instantly recognized that +this was harsh, and with a broad smile he added: "Pardon me for my +shortness of speech, but the truth is that a man<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_87" id="Page_87">[87]</a></span> who has spent much of +his life in the saddle contemplates with horror the time when he must be +helped to his seat."</p> + +<p>"General, I am the one to ask pardon," I replied, bowing in my turn.</p> + +<p>"Oh, no, I assure you!" he exclaimed, mounting his horse with more ease +than I had expected to see. "It was your kindness of heart, sir; a +courtesy, and though a courtesy may be a mistake, it is still a virtue. +Look at that old field out there," he broke off. "Do you call that an +advancement of civilization. By—the tight rope, again—it is +desolation."</p> + +<p>It seemed that while walking he had regarded me as his guest, but that +now, astride his horse and I on foot, he looked upon me as a man whom he +had simply met in the road.</p> + +<p>"A return of prosperity," he said, gathering up his bridle rein, "a fine +return, indeed. About another such a return and this infernal world +won't be fit to live in. I wish you good morning, sir."</p> + +<p>That very day there came to school the sullen-looking boy whom I had +seen in the tobacco patch. I asked him his name and he answered that he +had forgotten to bring it with him. "Perhaps," said I, "it would be well +to go back and get it."</p> + +<p>"If you want it wus'n I do I reckon you better go atter it."</p> + +<p>This set the children to laughing. My humiliation was begun.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_88" id="Page_88">[88]</a></span>"I understand why you have come," said I, "and I must tell you that you +must obey the rules if you stay here. What is your name?"</p> + +<p>"Gibblits," he answered. The children laughed and he stood regarding me +with a leer lurking in the corners of his evil-looking mouth.</p> + +<p>"All right, Mr. Gibblits, where are your books?" He grinned at me and +answered: "Ain't got none."</p> + +<p>"Well, sit down over there and I'll attend to you after a while."</p> + +<p>"Won't set down and won't be attended to."</p> + +<p>"Well, then, I'll attend to you right now." I grabbed him by the collar, +jerked him to me and boxed his jaws. He ran out howling when I turned +him loose, and for a time he stood off in the woods, throwing stones at +the house. The war was begun. And I expected to encounter the Aimes +forces on my way home, but saw nothing of them as I passed within sight +of the house. I hoped to see a look of sweet alarm on Guinea's face, +when I should tell her of the danger that threatened me, and there was +sweetness in her countenance, when I told her, though not a look of +alarm, but a smile of amusement. Was it that she felt no interest in me? +The other members of the family were much concerned, but that was no +recompense for the girl's apparent indifference. The old man snorted, +Mrs. Jucklin was so wrought upon that she strove to prepare me a +soothing dish at supper, but Guinea remained undisturbed. I could not +help but speak to Alf about it<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_89" id="Page_89">[89]</a></span> when we had gone up to our room. "Oh, +you never can tell anything about her," he said. "It's not because she +isn't scared, but because she hates to show a thing of that sort. I'm +mighty sorry it has come about. But there's only one way out—fight out +if they jump on you. I don't know how soon they intend to do anything, +but I'll nose around and come over to the school this evening if I hear +anything. Don't let it worry you; just put it down as a thing that +couldn't be helped."</p> + +<p>It did not worry me—the fact that I might be on the verge of serious +trouble, did not; but the thought of Guinea's careless smile lay cold +upon my heart, and all night I was restless under it. And when I went +down stairs at dawn I met her in the passage way, carrying a light. She +looked up at me, shielding the light with her hand to keep the breeze +from blowing it out, and smiled, and in her smile there was no coolness, +and yet there was naught to show me that she had passed an anxious +night. Ah, love, we demand that you shall not only be happy, but +miserable at our wish. We would dim your eye when our own is blurred; we +would smother your heart when our own is heavy, and would pierce it with +a pain. Upon her children this old world has poured the wisdom of her +gathered ages, and could we look from another sphere we might see the +minds of great men twinkling like the stars, but the human heart is yet +unschooled, yet has no range of vision, but chokes and sobs in its own +emotion, as it did when the first poet stood upon a hill and cried<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_90" id="Page_90">[90]</a></span> +aloud to an unknown God.</p> + +<p>Away across the valley and over the hills the peeping sun was a glaring +scollop when I came out to take my course through the woods toward the +school. I knew that the girl stood in the door behind me. Alf and the +old man were already in the field; I could hear them talking to their +horses; and Mrs. Jucklin was up stairs—Guinea and I were alone. I +turned and looked at her and again she smiled.</p> + +<p>"The world seems to be holding its breath, waiting for something to +happen," she said. "To me it always appears so when there is a lull in +the air just at sunrise."</p> + +<p>"What a fanciful little creature you are," I replied.</p> + +<p>"Little! Oh, you mustn't call me little. I'm taller than mother. I don't +want to be little, although it is more appealing. I want to be +commanding."</p> + +<p>"But what can be more commanding than an appeal?" I asked.</p> + +<p>"Yes, when the appeal is pitiful, but I don't want any one to pity me," +she said, laughing. "You big folks have such a patronizing way. You +don't look well this morning, Mr. Hawes. Is it because you have been +worrying over those wretched Aimes boys? Won't you please forgive me?" +she quickly added. "I don't know why I said that, for I ought to know +that you are not afraid of them."</p> + +<p>"I didn't sleep very well," I answered, "but I was not thinking of the +Aimes boys. Shall I tell you what worried me?"</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_91" id="Page_91">[91]</a></span>"Yes, surely."</p> + +<p>"It may require almost an unwarranted frankness on my part, but I will +tell you. It seemed to me that——" I hesitated. "Go on," she said. +"Well, it seemed that you were strangely unconcerned when I told you +that I was likely to have trouble with those people."</p> + +<p>She stood with her head resting against the door-facing. I looked hard +at her, striving to catch some sign of emotion, but I saw no evidence of +feeling; she was cool and reserved.</p> + +<p>"I don't know why you should have thought that," she said. "Why should I +be so uncharitable. I was very sorry that anything was likely to +interrupt the school."</p> + +<p>"Oh," I replied, and perhaps with some bitterness, "it really amounts to +but little—the threat of those ruffians, I mean—and to speak about it +almost puts me down as a fool. I hope you will forgive me."</p> + +<p>I hastened away, with a senseless anger in my heart, and I think that it +is well that I saw no member of the Aimes family that morning on my way +to school.</p> + +<p>Everything went forward as usual; play-time came, and the children +shouted in the woods, and the hour for dismissal had nearly arrived when +in stalked Alf with a shot-gun. He nodded at me and took a seat far to +the rear of the room, as if careful lest he might interrupt the closing +ceremonies. And when the last child was gone my friend came forward, +shaking his head.</p> + +<p>"What's the trouble now?" I asked, taking down my hat.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_92" id="Page_92">[92]</a></span>"Put your hat right back there, unless you want to wear it in the +house," he said. "I have found out that those fellows are laying for +you, and it won't be safe to start home now; we'll have to wait until +dark. Oh, they'll get you sure if you go now. They have been to town, I +understand, and have come back pretty well loaded up with whisky. Oh, +they are as bold as lions now. But we'll fix them all right. We'll wait +until dark and not go by the road, and to-morrow morning we'll go over +and see what they've got to say."</p> + +<p>"Alf, I don't know how to express my thanks to you. You are running a +great risk——"</p> + +<p>"Don't mention that, Bill. You stood by me, you understand—walked right +into the General's house with me, and I said to myself that if you ever +got into a pinch that I'd be on hand and stand with you. Did you bring a +pistol?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, and I am very glad that I didn't meet one of those fellows as I +came along. However, I should not know one of them if I were to meet him +in the road."</p> + +<p>"But you'll know them after a while. Do these doors lock?"</p> + +<p>"I think not, or, at least, they could be easily forced open. Do you +think they are likely——"</p> + +<p>"They are likely to do anything now," he broke in. "And there are just +four of them big enough to fight—of the boys, I mean, for the old man +has sense enough to keep out of it."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_93" id="Page_93">[93]</a></span>"It is a wonder, then," said I, "that he hasn't sense enough to keep his +sons out of it, as he must know that no good can be the result."</p> + +<p>"That's all true enough," Alf replied, "but I have heard that you can't +argue with the instinct of a brute, and I know that it is useless to +argue with red liquor. Here, let's shove the writing desk against this +door," he added. "Once more, shove again. That's it. Now we'll pile +benches against the other one. We can't do anything with the windows, +but must simply keep out of the way of them."</p> + +<p>"Do you think they will shoot through them?" I asked.</p> + +<p>He halted, with the end of a bench in his grasp, and looked at me. +"Bill, if I didn't know better I'd swear that you are not of the South. +Don't you know that if you enrage white trash it is likely to do +anything? Don't you know that consequences are never counted?"</p> + +<p>"I know all that," I replied, "but I was considering the incentive. I +know that if you give the Cracker a cause he will do most anything, but +have I given him a cause?"</p> + +<p>"You have given him all the excuse he wants. One more bench. That's it. +And now the fury of their fight will depend upon the quantity of liquor +they have with them. I didn't tell any of the home folks that I was +coming here—told them that I might meet you and that we might not be +home until late. I wouldn't be surprised——"</p> + +<p>Out in the woods there was the blunt bark of a short gun, the window +glass was splintered in a circle, a sharp zip and a piece of the clay +"chinking" flew from the opposite<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_94" id="Page_94">[94]</a></span> wall.</p> + +<p>"What did I tell you?" said Alf, looking at me as if pleased with the +proof of his forecast. "You get over on that side and I'll stay here. +Get down on the floor and look through between the logs if you can find +a place, and if you can't punch out the dirt, but be easy; they might +see you. There he is again." The glass in the other window was +shattered. "That's all right," said Alf. "They may charge on us after a +while, and then we'll let them have it. Have you found a place?"</p> + +<p>"I have made one," I answered, lying flat on the floor, gazing out. No +shot had been fired from my side, and I had begun to think that the +entire force was confronting Alf when in the sobering light I saw a man +standing beside a tree not more than fifty yards distant. He appeared to +be talking to some one, for I saw him look round and nod his head. I did +not want to kill him, although the law was plainly on my side, but a man +may stand shoulder to shoulder with the law and yet wound his own +conscience. Another figure came within sight, among the bushes, +appearing to rise out of the leafy darkness, and then there came a loud +shout: "Come out of there, you coward!"</p> + +<p>"Don't say a word," said Alf. "They are trying to locate you. I don't +see anybody yet, and it's getting most too dark now. But I reckon we'd +both better fire to let them know that there is more than one of us. We +don't want to take any advantage of them, you know," he added,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_95" id="Page_95">[95]</a></span> +laughing.</p> + +<p>"It doesn't look as if we were," I answered. "I could kill one of them, +Alf."</p> + +<p>"The devil you could! Then do it. Here, let me get at him."</p> + +<p>"No," I replied, waving him off from my peep-hole. "It is better not to +kill him until we are forced to."</p> + +<p>"But we are forced to now, don't you see? They've shot at us. There you +are!" They had fired a volley, it seemed. "Let me get at him," said Alf.</p> + +<p>"I'll try him," I replied. And I poked the barrel of my pistol through +the crack, pretended to take a careful aim and fired.</p> + +<p>"Did you get him?" Alf asked.</p> + +<p>"Don't know; can't see very well."</p> + +<p>"Well, if I find one of them he's gone," he replied, returning to his +own look-out. And a moment later the almost simultaneous discharge of +both barrels of his gun jarred the house. "Don't know whether I got him +or not," he said, as he drew back and began to reload, "for I couldn't +see very well, but I'll bet he thinks a hurricane came along through the +bushes. It's too dark now to see anything and all we can do is to wait."</p> + +<p>"Wait for what?" I asked.</p> + +<p>"Wait for them to try to break in. They'll try it after they have had a +few more pulls at the bottle, I think. Now let's keep perfectly quiet +and watch."</p> + +<p>The moon had not yet risen and the woods stood about<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_96" id="Page_96">[96]</a></span> us like a black +wall. No wind was abroad, the air in the house was close, and I could +hear my own heart beating against the floor. There was scarcely any use +to look out now, for nothing could be seen, and I arose and sat with my +back against the wall, taking care to keep clear of the small opening +which I had made. It was so dark in the room that I could not see Alf, +but I could hear him, for softly he was humming a tune: "Hi, Bettie +Martin, tip-toe fine." For days he had been heavy with the melancholy of +his love, but now in this hour of danger his heart seemed to be light +and attuned to a rollicking air. I have known many a man to breathe a +delicious thrill in an atmosphere of peril, to feel a leap of the blood, +a gladness, but it was at a time of intense excitement, a sort of epic +joy; but how could a man, lying in the dark, waiting for he knew not +what—how could he put down a weighty care and take up a lightsome tune?</p> + +<p>Down in the hollow a screech owl was crying, and his mate on the +hill-top replied to his call, while in the room near me was the whif of +a bat. And Alf was now so silent that I thought he must have fallen +asleep, but soon I heard him softly whistling: "Hi, Bettie Martin, +tip-tip-toe fine."</p> + +<p>"You seem to be enjoying yourself," said I. "If you had brought a fiddle +we might have a dance."</p> + +<p>I heard him titter as he wallowed on the floor. "This is fun," he said, +"the only real fun I've had since—I was going to say since the war, but +I was too young to go into society at that time."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_97" id="Page_97">[97]</a></span>"What do you think they are up to now, Alf?" I asked.</p> + +<p>"Blamed if I know. Getting tired?"</p> + +<p>"Well, I don't want to stay here all night. What are we waiting for?"</p> + +<p>"It's hard to tell just at present, and if we don't get a more +encouraging report pretty soon we'll break the engagement and go home. +What's that?"</p> + +<p>I listened and at first heard nothing, and was just about to say that it +must be the screech-owl come closer, when from a corner of the house +there came a distant and sharp crackle. I heard Alf scuffle to his feet. +"We are in for it!"</p> + +<p>It was true, for now we could see the light glaring on the bushes and a +moment later a spear of light shot inward, revealing my friend standing +there with his hands buried deep in his pockets. "Those old logs are as +dry as a powder horn," he carelessly remarked. "Won't take long to burn +the thing down."</p> + +<p>"But what are we going to do?" I cried. And now the room was aglow, and +shadows were dancing on the wall.</p> + +<p>"I was just thinking," said he, looking about. "They'll begin shooting +in here as soon as that end is burned out. Wish I had seen that rascal +when he slipped up here to kindle this fire. Helloa, it's spread to the +roof."</p> + +<p>I strove to show him that I could be as calm and as careless as he, but +now I was startled, and excitedly exclaimed: "We shall be burned up like +rats in a barn!"</p> + +<p>"Oh, I reckon not. Here, let's pull up a plank out of the floor and +crawl under and if we can get into the bushes<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_98" id="Page_98">[98]</a></span> we'll be all right. +Here's a crack. But I can't move it," he added, after straining at the +board. "See if you can get your fingers through here."</p> + +<p>I dropped upon my knees and thrust my fingers through the crack. The +fire had now gained such headway that the air was hot and a glare danced +on the wall where the shadow had crept; and we heard the Aimes boys yell +in the woods a short distance off. With all my strength I pulled at the +board; I got off my knees and braced myself, and with a quick jerk the +board came up with a loud rip and I fell backward on the floor.</p> + +<p>"Go ahead," said Alf, quietly standing there, with his gun under his +arm. "Get down through and work your way toward the other end."</p> + +<p>"You go first, Alf."</p> + +<p>"I'm in no hurry. But may be I know of an opening where the sheep come +under in winter. Follow me, then."</p> + +<p>Down we went into the fine and suffocating dust. Here and there the +sheep and the hogs had dug deep beds in their restlessness, when nights +had been cold, but in places the floor was so close to the ground that I +could scarcely crawl through. We heard one end of the roof fall in, and +then a volley was fired from the woods.</p> + +<p>"What did I tell you?" said Alf. "We understand their tactics, any way. +Don't believe you can get through here, Bill. Wait, I can dig down this +lump with my gun. Wish I had a hatchet. Ever notice how handy a hatchet +is?"</p> + +<p>"For God's sake, let me get at it, Alf. I can feel the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_99" id="Page_99">[99]</a></span> heat. The whole +thing will fall down on us in a minute. That'll do; I can squeeze +through."</p> + +<p>Alf crawled into one of the deep beds and reached back to help pull me +through. "Bill, looks like this place was made for you, only I wish they +had made it a trifle bigger. Once more."</p> + +<p>And there I struggled and there he pulled. "I am gone, Alf; I can't get +out. Save yourself if you can."</p> + +<p>"If you can't get out I know you are not gone, Bill," he replied with a +laugh, but it was a laugh of despair rather than of merriment. "Don't +give up. Once more. You are coming. What did I tell you?" And again he +laughed, but not in despair. We were now at the wall, at the very hole +through which the sheep were wont to come in. "You first, this time, +Bill. Sheer off to the left. The bushes are not more than fifteen feet +away."</p> + +<p>With but little difficulty I squeezed through the opening. And now I was +in a hot and dazzling glare. A breeze had sprung up with the flames, and +behind me was a roar, and a crash of the falling beams. I looked not +about me, but straight ahead toward the thicket, now waving as if swept +by a strong wind; and within a minute after reaching the outer air I was +crawling through a thick clump of blackberry briars, with Alf close upon +my heels. We soon came upon a sheep-walk covered with briars, and now we +could make faster time. The Aimes boys were still firing into the +burning house, and it was evident that they had not discovered our +escape.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_100" id="Page_100">[100]</a></span>"We can walk now," Alf whispered. "Turn down here to the right and keep +the shumac bushes between us and them. Now we are all right."</p> + +<p>Not another word was spoken until we had reached a knoll, some distance +away. Then we halted and looked back. And now the old house was but a +blazing heap. Alf was peeping about through the trees, and suddenly his +gaze was set. He cocked his gun and brought it to his shoulder.</p> + +<p>"No," I said. "You will only regret it." I grasped the gun and both +hammers fell upon my hand. "Get back!" he commanded.</p> + +<p>"No," I said, my hand still under the hammers. "You must not."</p> + +<p>He looked hard at me for a moment and then suffered me to take the gun. +The fire was now dying, and, looking to the left, whence the firing had +come, I saw two of the Aimes boys standing under a tree.</p> + +<p>"Bill, I could kill both of them," Alf said, in a sorrowful voice.</p> + +<p>"I know, my dear boy, but you must not. You would always regret it. We +will let the law take charge of them to-morrow."</p> + +<p>"Not to-morrow, Bill, but to-night. To-morrow they will be gone."</p> + +<p>"All right; just as you say. Where is the nearest officer?"</p> + +<p>"A deputy sheriff lives about two miles from here, off<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_101" id="Page_101">[101]</a></span> to the right of +our road home. Come on."</p> + +<p>We came into the road after making a circuit through the woods, and +hastened onward. And we must have gone nearly half the distance to the +deputy's house when we heard the Aimes boys coming behind us, drunk and +whooping. "They think we are burnt up," said Alf; "but we'll show them. +Let's get aside into the bushes, and when they come along we'll let them +have it."</p> + +<p>"We will get aside into the bushes," said I, "but we will not let them +have it. Come over this side. Let me have your gun."</p> + +<p>He let me take the gun, and as he stood near me, waiting for the +ruffians to pass, I thought that he made an unseemly degree of noise, +merely to attract their attention so that he might have an opportunity +to fire at them. "Keep still, Alf," I whispered.</p> + +<p>They came down the road, singing a bawdy song. For a moment I was half +inclined to give Alf his gun, but that early lesson, the waylaying of +Bentley, restrained me. We heard the scoundrels talking between their +outbursts of song. "Piece of roast hog wouldn't go bad jest about now, +Scott. I feel sorter gnawish after my excitement of the evenin'."</p> + +<p>"Wall, if you air hongry and hanker atter hog, why don't you go back +yander and git a piece that we've jest roasted?"</p> + +<p>Alf's hand closed about the barrels of his gun, and strongly he pulled, +but I loosened his grip and whispered:<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_102" id="Page_102">[102]</a></span> "Let them go. There is no honor +and very little revenge in shooting a brute."</p> + +<p>"I reckon you are right," he replied, but he did not whisper, and out in +the road there was a quick scuffling of feet and then a halt. I threw +one arm about Alf and pressed one hand over his mouth.</p> + +<p>"What was that, Scott?"</p> + +<p>"I didn't hear nothin'."</p> + +<p>"Thought I heared somebody a-talkin'."</p> + +<p>"Yes, you thought like Young's niggers—thought buck-eyes was biscuits. +Come on, boys. We'll go over and wake old Josh up and git more licker."</p> + +<p>They passed on, and when I had given Alf the opportunity to speak he +said: "Good. They are going over to a negro's house and we'll get there +about the time they do, and if we can't get anybody but the deputy to +help us we'll have to kill one or two of them. Now keep up with me."</p> + +<p>Off through the woods he went at a trot, leaping logs and splashing +through a brook where it was broad; and I kept well up with him. Already +my mind had ceased to dwell upon the narrowness of our escape; I was +thinking of Guinea as she had stood, shielding the light with her hand.</p> + + + +<hr /> + +<h2><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_103" id="Page_103">[103]</a></span> +<a name="viii" id="viii"></a>CHAPTER VIII.</h2> + + +<p>We were not long in reaching the house of the deputy sheriff. A loud +call brought him out to the fence. And when we had quickly told him what +was wanted, he whistled to express his gratification or his surprise and +I fancied that I saw his hair bristling in the moonlight, for he had +come out bareheaded.</p> + +<p>"Now let me think a minute, boys," said he. "I have been an officer long +enough to know that it ain't much credit to take a fellow after he's +dead—most anybody can do that. What we want is to capture them and to +do that we've got to have more men. Alf, I tell you what you do. You and +your friend slip over to old Josh's and keep watch to see that they +don't get away, and I'll ride as fast as I can and get General Lundsford +and your daddy. What do you say?"</p> + +<p>"I say it's a first-rate plan," Alf answered. "I don't think the General +would like to be left out and I know that father wouldn't. Come on, +Bill."</p> + +<p>The negro's house was not far away, and hastening silently through the +woods we soon came within sight of it, on the side of a hill, at the +edge of a worn-out field. We softened our foot-steps as we drew near +unto the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_104" id="Page_104">[104]</a></span> cabin, and we could hear the ruffians within, singing, +swearing, dancing. We halted at the edge of the woods, within ten feet +of the door, and listened. "Let us slip up and take a peep at them," +said Alf; and carefully we climbed over the old fence, taking care not +to break any of the rotting rails lest we might sound an alarm. We made +not the slightest noise, but just as we were within touching distance of +the cabin, a dog sprang from behind a box in the chimney corner. I don't +know how much noise it might have been his intention to make or whether +he belonged to the stealthy breed of curs whose delight it is to make a +silent lunge at the legs of a visitor, but I do know that he made not a +sound, for I grabbed him by the throat and the first thing he knew his +eyes were popping out between their fuzzy lids. I choked him until I +thought he must be dead, and then, with a swing, I threw him far over +the fence into the woods. We listened and heard him scrambling in the +dried leaves and then he was still. The cabin was built of poles and was +old. Many a rain had beaten against the "chinking" and we had no trouble +in finding openings through which we could plainly see all that went +forward within. Just as I looked in I heard the twang of a banjo, and I +saw the old negro sitting on the edge of a bed, picking the instrument, +while two white men were patting a break-down and two others were trying +to dance. At the fire-place a negro woman was frying meat and baking a +hoe-cake.</p> + +<p>"Generman," said the negro, twanging his strings and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_105" id="Page_105">[105]</a></span> measuring his +words to suit his tune, "don't want right now to be so pertinence—be so +pertinence; but, yes, I'd like to know, hi, hi, hi, yes, like to know +whut you gwine gimme fur dis yere, yes, whut you gwine gimme fur all dis +yere?"</p> + +<p>The patting ceased instantly, and the two men danced not another +shuffle, and one of them, Scott, I afterward learned, cried out: "What, +you old scoundrel, air you dunnin' us already?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, naw, sah, skuze me," said the old negro, "I ain't doin' dat, fur I +dun tole you dat I didn' want ter be pertinence, but dar's some things, +you know, dat er pusson would like ter un'erstan', an' whut I gwine git +fur all dis yere is one o' 'em. I has gib you licker an' I has gib you +music, an' wife, dar, is cookin' supper fur you, an' it ain' no mo' den +reason dat I'd wanter know whut we gwine git fur it."</p> + +<p>"Well, we'll pay you all right enough," replied Scott Aimes. "You've +always treated us white, and you are about the only man in this +neighborhood that has."</p> + +<p>"I thankee, sah," the negro rejoined; "yas, I thankee, sah, fur I jest +wanted ter be satisfied in my mine, an' I tell you dat when er pusson is +troubled in his mine he's outen fix sho nuff. Hurry up dar, Tildy, wid +you snack, fur deze genermen is a-haungry."</p> + +<p>"I hope she won't get it ready any too soon," I whispered to Alf, and +he, with his face close to mine, replied: "You can trust an old negro +woman for that. It won't<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_106" id="Page_106">[106]</a></span> take Parker very long to ride over to the +General's house, and they can pick up father on the way back."</p> + +<p>"Won't your mother and—and Guinea be frightened?"</p> + +<p>"Not much. They've seen the old man go out on the war path more than +once. Let's see what they are doing now."</p> + +<p>Scott had taken the banjo and was turning it over, looking at it. We saw +him take out a knife and then with a twang he cut the strings. "Good +Lawd!" exclaimed the negro, and his wife turned from the fire with a +look of sorrow and reproach, for the distressful sound had told her +accustomed ear that a calamity had befallen the instrument. "Now jest +look whut you done!" the negro cried, and his wife, wiping her hands on +her apron, looked at Scott Aimes and said: "Ef dat's de way you gwine +ack, I'll burn dis yere braid an' fling dis yere meat in de fire. Er +body workin' fur you ez hard ez I is, an' yere you come er doin' dat +way. It's er shame, sah, dat's whut it is. It's er plum shame, I doan +kere ef you is white an me black."</p> + +<p>Scott roughly tossed the banjo into a corner and laughed. "Sounds a +blamed sight better in death than in life," said he.</p> + +<p>"But who gwine pay fur dat death music?" the negro asked.</p> + +<p>"Pay for it!" Scott turned fiercely upon the negro and Alf caught up his +gun. "Wait!" I whispered.</p> + +<p>"Pay for it!" Scott raved. "Why you infernal old scoundrel, do we have +to pay every time we turn round? But<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_107" id="Page_107">[107]</a></span> we'll make it all right with you," +he added, turning away; and Alf lowered his gun.</p> + +<p>"I hopes ter de Lawd you will," said the woman, "fur we needs it bad +enough."</p> + +<p>"You do?" Scott replied. "Well, you'd better be thankful that we don't +blow on you for sellin' whisky without license."</p> + +<p>"Dar ain' no proof o' de fack dat I has sol' none ter-night," said the +old negro, shaking his head.</p> + +<p>"What's that?" Scott demanded, wheeling round.</p> + +<p>"Skuze me, sah, nothin' er tall. Jest er passin' de time o' de day, +sah."</p> + +<p>"Didn't I tell you that we would pay you for everything we got?"</p> + +<p>"Yas, sah, an' you's er generman, sah; yas, I thanks you fur gwinter pay +me."</p> + +<p>"Yo' supper is done an' ef you'll jest gib me room I'll fix de table," +the woman remarked, taking the bread off the griddle.</p> + +<p>"I hear them coming!" Alf whispered. I looked round and saw them at the +fence. They had tied their horses in the woods. We stepped out from the +shadow and held up our hands to enjoin care.</p> + +<p>"I'll go first, and you boys follow me," said the General, cocking his +pistol and letting the hammer down to see if it worked well.</p> + +<p>"Oh, I reckon not," Lim Jucklin replied. "I'm older than you are and you +know it. Come on, boys."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_108" id="Page_108">[108]</a></span>"Older!" the General exclaimed, with such force that we had to tell him +to make less noise. "I am eight months older than you are, and you know +it. Come on, boys."</p> + +<p>Old Lim took hold of him. "This ain't altogether your picnic; the +invertations come from my house, and——"</p> + +<p>"What the devil difference does it make?" the deputy spoke up. "I'm the +only officer present and I'll go first."</p> + +<p>I thought that it was my time to act, and, telling them to follow me, I +reached the door almost at a stride and threw my full weight against it. +The door flew off its hinges and fell on the floor broad-side, and the +Aimes brothers, now seated at a table, were "covered" with guns and +pistols before they had time to stir in their chairs. They appeared to +be horror-stricken at seeing Alf and me, and in a moment their hands +were in the air.</p> + +<p>"Josh," the deputy commanded, "bring us a plow line. Never mind, you +haven't time for that. Take off that bed cord."</p> + +<p>The woman had squeezed herself into a corner, between a "cubbord" and +the wall, but she came out and protested against the use of her bed +cord. "Get that cord!" the deputy commanded. "Move that hand again, +Scott Aimes, and I'll kill you. Here we are," he added, when the negro +had tumbled off the bed-clothes and unfastened the cord. "Now cut it in +four pieces."</p> + +<p>"Fur de Lawd's sake!" the woman shouted, "you ain' gwine treat er pusson +datter way, is you? Fust da cuts de banjo strings an' den yere come de +law an' cuts de bed<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_109" id="Page_109">[109]</a></span> cawd. Laws er massy whut got inter dis worl' no +how."</p> + +<p>"Keep quiet," said the deputy. "Here, big man, tie their wrists and +don't be afraid of hurting them. I've had my eye on you gentlemen for +some time. That's it, give it to them hard. Tie their ankles, too. But +we have only four pieces of rope. Go now and get a plow-line, Josh."</p> + +<p>We put back the table and the chairs and stood our prisoners in the +center of the room, sullen and coarse-featured brutes, and waited for +the negro to come with the plow-line, and presently he appeared with a +new grass rope. "That's just exactly what we want," said the deputy. +"Cut it in four pieces, and, big man," he continued, speaking to me, "I +must again call on you. Tight around the shank and no feelings +considered. That's it; you go at it in the right way—must have tied +chickens for the market. I must really beg pardon of these gentlemen for +not getting a warrant; we were pushed for time and, therefore, we are a +trifle irregular, but my dear sirs, I promise you that you shall have a +warrant just as soon as we get into Purdy. You should be satisfied with +my admitting that I am irregular."</p> + +<p>The General roared with a great laugh. "Your apology is of the finest +feather, the most gracious down," said he, "but our friends must +remember that in an irregularity often lie some of the most precious +merits of this life."</p> + +<p>"If we hadn't been huddled round this here table you wouldn't be havin' +sich fun," said Scott Aimes, quivering under my strong pull at the rope. +"We never did ask<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_110" id="Page_110">[110]</a></span> nothin' but a fair show, but we didn't git it this +time, by a long shot."</p> + +<p>"Silence, brute," the General commanded. "As low as you are, you should +know better than to break in upon the high spirits of a gentleman. Oh, I +have understood you all along. You were working your courage toward me. +Hush, don't you speak a word."</p> + +<p>"Got them all strung?" the deputy asked, examining the ropes. "Good. +Now, Josh, you run over to my house as fast as you can and tell my wife +that you want the two-horse wagon. And hitch it up and come back here as +fast as you can. Go on; I'll pay you for everything."</p> + +<p>"Thankee, sah, I'm gone. It loosens er ole pusson's feet, sah, ter know +dat he gwine be paid. Hard times allus comin' down de big road, er +kickin' up er dust."</p> + +<p>"Are you going?" the deputy stormed. "Confound you; I'll put you in jail +for selling whisky if you are not back here in fifteen minutes."</p> + +<p>"Gone now!" exclaimed the negro, bounding from the door and striking a +trot. "Gone!" we heard him repeat, as he leaped over the fence.</p> + +<p>"Mr. Parker," said Scott Aimes, stretching his neck toward the officer, +"I've jest got one favor to ask of you. Git that bottle over thar an' +give us fellers a drink. It was licker that got us into this here muss, +an' you ought to let licker help us a little now."</p> + +<p>"Old fellow used to keep a grocery over at Blue Lick," the deputy +remarked, looking at me rather than at the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_111" id="Page_111">[111]</a></span> prisoner, "and when a man's +money was all gone he used to say: 'Lord love you, honey, I couldn't +think of letting you take another drop; I'm so much interested in your +welfare that I don't want to see you hurt yourself.' No, +Scottfield"—and now he looked at the prisoner—"I am too much +interested in you to see you throw yourself away. Don't be impatient. +'Just wait for the wagon,' says the old song."</p> + +<p>The old General had sat down, but old Lim continued to stand there, his +arms bare and his teeth hard-set. On his countenance lay the shadow of a +regret, and I have thought that he was grieved at the spoiling of the +fight that he thought should have taken place to reward him for the +trouble of leaving home. The prisoners winced under his gaze, as his +eyes leaped about from one to another. But he said not a word; just +stood there, with his teeth hard-set.</p> + +<p>Soon we heard the wagon, rumbling along the road that skirted the old +field, and we began to set our prisoners near the door, picking them up +and putting them down like upright sticks. The wagon drew up near the +door, the woman held a light for us and we began our work of loading. +And I was glad when the deputy said that he no longer needed our +assistance; I was afraid that he would ask me to drive to town with him.</p> + +<p>"Well," he said, gathering up the lines and glancing back at his load, +"a pretty good haul for these hard times. Whoa, wait a minute. Say, +General, I suppose you have<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_112" id="Page_112">[112]</a></span> heard some talk of my candidacy for the +office of sheriff, and I reckon you have seen to-night whether or not I +am worthy of the trust. It's always well to put in a word in time, you +know. I reckon I've got you all right, Alf, and, big man, wish you could +vote with us this time. Well, I'll let you gentlemen know when you are +wanted at court."</p> + +<p>Old Lim and the General led their horses and walked with Alf and me; and +we heard many a grunt and snort as we told of the burning of the +school-house. Old Lim swore that I ought to have let Alf kill Scott +Aimes, but the General sided with me. "That would have done no good, +Lim," said he. "It's far better as we now have it. I am glad to see, Mr. +Hawes, that you have so much discretion, a most noble quality, sir. Now +as to the loss of the house, that amounts to nothing. It ought to have +been set afire long ago. And I'll tell you what shall be done: A new +building shall be put up at once, not of logs, but of frame, and it +shall be neatly painted to show people that we are keeping up with the +times. Every neighborhood about us has a fine school-house; the old log +huts have disappeared, and we are going to march right in the van, sir. +But I want to tell you right now that it was in those log school-houses +that the greatest men in the nation have been taught; and when I see a +pile of logs out in the woods I fancy that I can hear the classics lowly +hummed."</p> + +<p>"Gentlemen," said old Lim, "if it was day time instead of night I would +invite you to see some of the finest sport<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_113" id="Page_113">[113]</a></span> you ever run across, for I'm +in the humor for it right now. But chickens have a prejudice agin +fightin' at night. Many a time when I had trouble on my mind and +couldn't sleep I've got up and tried to stir their blood, but they want +to nod; that's what they want to do at night—nothin' but nod, unless +you've got light enough, and then if you stir 'em up they'll git so mad +that they'll go it smack to a finish."</p> + +<p>"Talking about those chickens?" the General asked. "Confound them, +they'd have no attraction for me if it were mid-day. But pardon me. I +mean simply that I take no interest in such things."</p> + +<p>Old Lim grunted. "Right here is where I git on my horse," said he. And +he mounted and rode on ahead in moody silence.</p> + +<p>I was now walking beside the General and Alf was just behind me. Several +times the young man sighed distressfully and I knew that something heavy +had fallen upon his mind. Presently he pulled at my coat and as I +dropped back he took my place. "General, you said just now that Bill was +right in not letting me shoot that fellow, Scott Aimes." He hesitated +and was silent for a few moments, striding beside the General, and the +General said nothing—was waiting for him to continue. "Said that I was +wrong," Alf repeated, "and I reckon I was, but I hope you won't say +anything about it—at home."</p> + +<p>"Why not at home, sir? Hah, why not at home? 'Od zounds, can't a +gentleman talk in his own house?"</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_114" id="Page_114">[114]</a></span>Alf began to drop back. "What he means, General," said I, taking his +place, "is that he has so much respect for you that he does not want you +to think ill of him when you are alone, meditating in your own house."</p> + +<p>"Ha, now, a fine whim, but it's a respectful whim and shall be honored, +sir. I don't understand the young men of this day and generation, but I +know what respect means. I don't know that I condemned you, Alf; I spoke +for the most part of the discretion of your friend. Well, gentlemen, +here is where I leave you."</p> + +<p>He threw the bridle reins over the horse's neck and was preparing to +mount, when Alf started forward as if to help him, but I clutched him so +vigorously that he turned upon me and asked what I meant. "Keep still," +I whispered. "I'll tell you after a while."</p> + +<p>By this time the old gentleman was astride his horse. He took off his +hat, bowed with the air of a cavalier, and, bidding us good-night, +galloped off down the road. Then I told Alf why I had held him back, +that I had almost insulted the old man by offering to assist him in +mounting his horse; and Alf stood there actually trembling at the +narrowness of his escape. I know that we should have been burned up had +he been half so badly frightened while we were in the school-house.</p> + +<p>The nights were shortened by the season's approach to the first of May. +It seemed a long time since the twilight had glimmered on the leaves, +and it was past midnight when we reached home. Old Lim had put up his<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_115" id="Page_115">[115]</a></span> +horse and was standing at the draw-bars, waiting for us.</p> + +<p>"For a smart man," said he, "I reckon the General's got about as little +sense as any human now alive. By jings, he's a crank; that's what's the +matter with him; and the first thing he knows people will be keepin' out +of his way."</p> + +<p>A light flashed from the passage and we saw Guinea and her mother +standing on the log step, gazing toward us.</p> + +<p>"It's all right!" the old man cried. "Go on to bed, and don't be +standing around this time of night."</p> + +<p>Alf and I, leaving the old man at the bars, went to the house. "Oh, I'm +so glad you've all got back," said Mrs. Jucklin, striving to be calm, +but whimpering. "Are you sure that you are all safe and sound?"</p> + +<p>Guinea began to laugh. "Of course, they are, mother, don't you see?"</p> + +<p>"But what's your father still standin' out yonder for? I jest know he's +crippled. Limuel, are you hurt?" she cried.</p> + +<p>"Yes, I am hurt, and by a man that prefers to be a crank. Said that he +wouldn't care anything about 'em even if it was daylight."</p> + +<p>"Oh, but you are not shot, are you?" his wife exclaimed, starting toward +him.</p> + +<p>"Go in now, Susan, and don't come foolin' with me. Who said I was shot? +Go on to bed, everybody, and I'll come when I git ready."</p> + +<p>"But you must be hungry, Limuel?"</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_116" id="Page_116">[116]</a></span>"Hungry, the devil—excuse me, ma'm. I'll eat a snack mebby between now +and mornin'."</p> + +<p>"It's no use to talk to him," she said, with a sigh, and, turning to me, +she added: "You and Alf must be nearly starved. We've kept the coffee +warm. Guinea, go and pour it out for 'em."</p> + +<p>"Will you tell me all about the fight?" the girl asked when we entered +the dining-room. "I like to hear about such things."</p> + +<p>I strove to make light of it, but, seeing that this would not satisfy +her, I told of the burning of the house and of the capture of the Aimes +brothers, colored our danger in the house, to see her lips whiten and +her eyes stare; pictured myself as I must have looked when I seized the +dog, to choke him, and to throw him far into the woods—told her all, +except that I had caught the hammers of Alf's gun.</p> + +<p>"I don't see how you kept from killing them when you got the chance," +she said, leaning with her elbows on the table and her chin in her +hands, musing: "I don't understand how you could keep from it."</p> + +<p>Alf threw down his knife and fork and struck the table with his fist. "I +wanted to kill Scott—had a bead on him, but Bill grabbed my gun. +Guinea, I'm glad you stand by me, you and father; but the General thinks +I was wrong, and I was just about to think that everybody's heart was +right but mine. I am glad you are with me, Guinea."</p> + +<p>I looked at her as she sat there, musing; her hair was tangled as if a +storm of thought had swept through<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_117" id="Page_117">[117]</a></span> her head, and sorely I wondered +whether a care for me had been borne through the storm. I forgot the +presence of Alf; I forgot everything except that I would have given my +blood and my soul to please her, and with bitterness I said: "Oh, if I +had known that you wanted him killed I would not only have let Alf kill +him—I would have killed him myself."</p> + +<p>She looked up from her attitude of musing and met my outbreak with a +quiet laugh. "The bigger a man is the sillier he is," she said, still +laughing. "Why, I don't want him dead. I wouldn't like to have anyone +killed. I merely wondered how, having come so close to being burned up, +you could keep from killing him. I thought that I understood most men, +but I don't understand you, Mr. Hawes."</p> + +<p>"Yes, you do!" I cried; "you understand me too well, and that is why you +torture me."</p> + +<p>"What!" exclaimed Alf, springing to his feet, "are you on the gridiron? +Has she got you where somebody has got me? By—there comes mother."</p> + +<p>I looked back as I passed out of the room, and Guinea sat there, musing. +Alf put his arm about me as we went up the stairs. We did not light the +lamp, but sat down in the dark, sat there and for a long time were +silent.</p> + +<p>"Bill, oh, Bill."</p> + +<p>"Yes," I answered.</p> + +<p>"Bill, don't ask me anything. Father may tell you something to-morrow. +God bless you, Bill. You have stood by me. Good-night."</p> + + + +<hr /> + +<h2><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_118" id="Page_118">[118]</a></span> +<a name="ix" id="ix"></a>CHAPTER IX.</h2> + + +<p>It must have been daylight before I worried my way into a sleep that +seemed jagged and sharp-cornered with many an evil turn; and when I +awoke the sun was shining. I looked out, and far across the field I saw +Alf, walking behind his plow. The hour was late for one to rise in the +country, for the sun was far above the tops of the trees. But I cared +not for any impression that might be made by my apparent laziness; my +head was heavy and my heart was crushed. No sound came from below, and +after dressing—and how mean my clothes did look—I sat down at my +writing desk—sat and mused, just as I had seen Guinea sitting, with her +elbows on the table and with her chin in her hands. And Alf would ask +the old man to tell me something. Tell me what?</p> + +<p>I went down stairs. Mrs. Jucklin was sweeping the yard. She put down her +broom upon seeing me and came forward, wiping her hands. I began to +apologize for being so late. "Oh, that makes no difference," she said. +"Alf told us not to wake you. I will go in and fix you something to +eat."</p> + +<p>"Now, don't put yourself to any trouble, for, really, I couldn't eat a +bite; I'm not very well. Where is Mr.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_119" id="Page_119">[119]</a></span> Jucklin?"</p> + +<p>"Why, you must eat something. He's gone to the blacksmith shop broke the +point off his plow against a rock and had to go and get it fixed. He +ought to be back by now. It ain't but a little ways down the road. Are +you goin' over there? Well, if you see him tell him that Guinea and I +are goin' to see Mrs. Parker and won't be back till evenin'. Tell him +that we'll leave everything on the table."</p> + +<p>Down the road I went, looking for the blacksmith shop, and I had not +gone far before I saw the old man coming, with his plow on his shoulder. +He was talking to himself and did not see me until I spoke to him. "Let +me take that plow," I said. "Give it to me. I'm stronger than you."</p> + +<p>"I reckon you are right," he replied, looking up at me with a grin, "but +I can tote it all right enough."</p> + +<p>But I took the plow from him, and walked along with it on my shoulder, +waiting for him to say something.</p> + +<p>"You haven't seen Alf this mornin', have you?" he asked.</p> + +<p>"No; I was asleep when he got up. Why?"</p> + +<p>"Well, jest wanted to know. Alf takes some strange notions into his head +once in a long while, and he had one this mornin'. Told me to tell you +suthin' that very few folks know. Don't know why, unless he thinks more +of you than he does of any other young man. Never saw him take to a +person as he has to you. And I reckon I better tell you. But I hate to +talk about it."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_120" id="Page_120">[120]</a></span>We walked on in silence, and in my impatience I shifted the plow from +one shoulder to the other. "I'll take it when you git tired of it," he +said. "Now, it may be putty hard for you to understand the situation, +and I'm free to say that I can't make it so very plain, but I'll do the +best I can. One day, a long time ago, old General Lundsford came to +me—long after I had wallowed him, you understand. And now as to that +wallowin', why, he could have killed me if he had wanted to. He's game. +Well, he came to me, and about as nearly as I can ricollect said this: +'My son Chydister, strong-headed little rascal that he is, vows an' +declares that when he grows up he is goin' to marry your daughter +Guinea. I'll be frank with you and tell you that I didn't approve of it, +and I scouted the idea, not that your daughter ain't as good as any +girl, but because I don't mind tellin' you, I've got a family name to +keep up. I told him this, but he was so young and so headstrong that he +swore that it made no difference to him. You know they have played +together, up and down the branch, and he thinks there aint nobody like +her. Well, sir, he kept on talkin about it until I knowed that he was +set, and that there wasn't any use to try to turn him, so I began to +think it over seriously. That boy is my life's blood, and I want to +please him in every way I can, and I don't want him to marry beneath +him. I'm goin' to make a doctor out of him, the very best that can be +made, and his companion must be an educated woman. They are goin' to +marry when they grow up in spite of anything we can do,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_121" id="Page_121">[121]</a></span> and now I've +got a request to make of you. I know that you wouldn't let me give you a +cent of money, but as an honest man you can't refuse to let me lend you +enough money to send your daughter to school along with my own daughter; +and whenever you think that you are able to pay me back, all right, and +if you never are able, it will still be all right.'"</p> + +<p>The old man paused, and now I walked, along carrying the plow in front +of me, stumbling, seeing no road, caring not whither my feet might +wander. "I'll take it now," he said, reaching for the plow. "You don't +know how to tote it, nohow."</p> + +<p>I pushed him back and said: "Go on with your story."</p> + +<p>I was walking so fast that he was almost trotting to keep up with me. +"Right there I was weak," he said. "I thought of what a bright creature +my girl was, thought of what education would do for her, thought that I +could soon pay back the money, and I agreed. And I want to tell you that +it has been hot ashes on me ever since. They are goin' to marry all +right enough, but it galls me to think that I had to send her out to +have her educated at another man's expense—cuts me to think that she +wasn't good enough for any man just as I could give her to him. And I'm +goin' to pay back that money if I have to sell this strip of poor dirt, +that's what I'm goin' to do. Yes, sir, even if it's ten years after they +are married. Chyd is off at school now, and has been for a long time; +only comes home for a while at vacation, and it seems to me that if<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_122" id="Page_122">[122]</a></span> +he's goin' to be a doctor it's time he was at it. But I understand that +they are goin' to send him to another place after he gits through with +this one. I don't know much about him, but they say that he's a +first-rate sort of a fellow. Oh, I knowed him well enough when he was +little, but I haven't seen so very much of him since he growed up. +Guinea thinks all the world of him, of course, and says that they were +born for each other. Gimme that plow here. You don't know how to tote it +nohow. I'm not goin' right straight back to the field; I'm goin' to the +house. Them hot ashes is on me an inch thick."</p> + +<p>I let him take the plow; I left him at the draw bars, and with heavy and +dragging feet I climbed up to my room. I sat down to my desk, but not +with elbows resting on the board, not with my chin in my hands; I +couldn't bear to think of that attitude. Now, I understood why she had +said "Oh" with such coolness when I had declared that I hated doctors. +My heart was freezing, my head was hot, and in a fevered fancy I saw +Guinea and that boy playing up and down the rivulet. I saw them wading +in the water; heard him tell her that when they grew up she must be his +wife, and I saw her, holding her dress about her ankles, look up at him +and smile. I knew that he had never been awkward, I knew that he looked +like Bentley, knew that he would have made fun of me, and down in my +heart there was a poisonous hatred, yellow, green, venomous. I am +seeking to hide nothing; I cannot paint myself as a generous and +high-minded man. When<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_123" id="Page_123">[123]</a></span> stirred, I seem to have more rank sap than other +men—less reason, more senseless passion. I roared at the picture, +sitting there gripping the desk, and frightened it away; and to myself I +acknowledged the faults which I now set forth, but an acknowledgment of +a fault is not within itself virtue. The fool's recourse is to call +himself a fool, to upbraid himself, curse himself and then in +graciousness to pardon himself. You might as well reason with a +rattlesnake, striking at you—might as well seek to temporize and argue +with a dog drooling hydrophobic foam, as to tell the human heart what it +ought to do. Reason is a business matter and it can make matches, but it +cannot make love.</p> + +<p>Long I sat there, gripping the desk, gazing at the rafters overhead, +groaning in the lover's conscious luxury of despair. Should I go away? +No; I would stay and see it out. I would be light and gay—a bear's +waltz. I would laugh and rebuke fate; I would punish Guinea for having +played with that boy up and down the brook; I would be all sorts of a +fool.</p> + +<p>The old man's voice came ringing through the air. "Hike, there, Sam; +hike, there, Bob. Get him down. Hike, there!"</p> + +<p>He was having a round with his chickens, to fan off the atmosphere of +humiliation, to blow away the hot ashes that were so thick upon him. I +remembered that I had not delivered Mrs. Jucklin's message, and I +hastened out to the "stockade," and knocked at the gate. "Hike,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_124" id="Page_124">[124]</a></span> there, +boys! Who's that? Whoa, boys, that'll do! Go in there, Sam! Ho, it's +you, eh?" he said, opening the gate. "Sorry, but you didn't git here +quite in time. You had the opportunity, but you flung it away. What, +gone over to Parker's? That's all right. Well, I must be gettin' back to +the field. Looks like the grass will take me in spite of everything I +can do. You'll help until they get the school-house built? Now, I'm much +obleeged to you, but we can't rig up another outfit. Why, yander you go +already," he added, pointing to a wagon load of lumber drawn along the +road. "It's Perdue's wagon. Yander comes another one, with Ren Bowles, +the carpenter, on board. Oh, they are goin' to rush things. I've heard +that already this mornin'. You never saw a neighborhood stirred up much +worse than this one is over that affair, and there is strong talk of +lynchin' them fellers; and this mornin' a party went over to see old +Aimes and told him that if he wan't gone by 10 o'clock they would string +him up, and I reckon he's gone by this time. They are makin' great +heroes oute'n you and Alf, I tell you. A number of 'em wanted to see +you, but Alf wouldn't let 'em wake you up. I saw Parker while I was down +at the shop; he'd jest got back from town; and he told me that the grand +jury that's now in session would indict them fellers to-day, and as +court is already set they may be brought to trial for murderous assault +and arson right away, and I want to tell you that they'll do well if +they save their necks. Parker said that he reckoned you<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_125" id="Page_125">[125]</a></span> and Alf better +go over to Purdy to-morrow. Well, I must git back, for that grass is +musterin' its forces every minute I'm away."</p> + +<p>I worried through the day, saw Guinea in a haze, heard her voice afar +off, and at night I went to bed worn out and limp. Alf did not come up +until some time after I lay down. He came softly whistling a doleful air +to prove that his sympathies were with me, sat down upon the edge of my +bed and remained there a long time motionless and silent. I knew not +what to say to him and he was evidently puzzled as to what he ought to +say to me. Out of the fullness of the heart the mouth may speak, but out +of the heart's fullness there also flows a silence.</p> + +<p>"Bill," he said, reaching over and turning down the light which I had +left brightly burning, "I killed a snake to-day that I reckon must be +six feet long. Came crawling across the field as if he had important +business over in the woods, but he didn't get there. Ever kill many big +snakes?"</p> + +<p>"Not very many," I answered, "but I am well acquainted with them and I +have been bitten by a big snake that lies coiled about the universe, +striking at a heart whenever he sees it."</p> + +<p>He got up, blew out the low blaze of the lamp, and sat down on his own +bed, I could tell from the creaking of the slats; and after a time he +said something about the gridiron on which a man was compelled to +wallow. Ordinarily I would have laughed, hot ashes on the father and hot +coals<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_126" id="Page_126">[126]</a></span> under the son, but now I sighed deeply.</p> + +<p>"Bill, you know, the other day I said that there was something in my +favor, an outgrowth of my sister's education. A family union, don't you +see? But I had no idea when I said it that this very thing would put the +fire under a man that has stood by me. I'm awfully sorry that things had +to be shaped that way. You know what I mean; father told you all about +it. Is it bad, Bill? I won't say a word about it and the old folks don't +suspect a thing, but do you love her much? Tell me just as if she wasn't +any kin to me."</p> + +<p>"Did the martyrs who stood in the fire love their God?" I asked.</p> + +<p>He sighed. "She's got you, Bill. The time has been so short that I +didn't think it could be so bad, but love doesn't look at the clock nor +keep a calendar. Are you going to try to keep on living, Bill?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, I'm going to study law when I get through with this school, and +I'm going to make the law of divorce a specialty. If I can't do I may +undo; I'm going to be a wolf, and whenever I see a man aiming a gun at +another man, I'm not going to catch the hammers. Why, yesterday my heart +was tender because it thought to please her. Discretion! I've got no +discretion. I'm a brute. I murdered an innocent rabbit on my way to your +home—killed it just because I could; and what man is as innocent as a +rabbit? Yes, Alf, I am going to live."</p> + +<p>"But you won't hate Guinea, will you? She couldn't<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_127" id="Page_127">[127]</a></span> help it."</p> + +<p>"Oh, I couldn't hate her. No, I won't hate her; I'm going to stand by, +ready to give her my life whenever I think she needs it."</p> + +<p>And thus we talked, senseless creatures, sighing in the dark. But so it +is with human life everywhere—a foolish chatter and in the dark a +sighing.</p> + +<p>Several days passed and yet we were not summoned to appear at court. I +did not avoid Guinea, neither did I seek her. But often we were +together, sometimes alone, on the oak bench under the tree, at the +spring, on the old and smooth rock at the brink of the ravine; and her +smile none the less bright, was warmer with sympathy. A Sunday had gone +by and Alf had seen Millie, but she was riding to church with Dan +Stuart.</p> + +<p>One evening Parker sent us word to be in Purdy early the next day. And +at dawn the next morning the buck-board stood ready for the journey. +Mrs. Jucklin had worked nearly the night through, baking bread and +roasting chickens to tide us over the trip. Alf complained at the load +we were expected to carry, and this grieved her. "You know there's +nothin' fitten to eat there," she said. "You know that Lum Smith stayed +there three days year before last and come home and was sick for a +month. Mr. Hawes, I appeal to you—make him take it."</p> + +<p>And off we drove with our bread and roasted chickens. The women stood on +the step and shouted at us, and we waved our hands at them as we turned +a bend in the road.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_128" id="Page_128">[128]</a></span> Ours was an important journey, and many of the +neighbors came out as we passed along and cried words of encouragement. +On a hill-top we heard the gallop of a horse, and out of a lane dashed a +girl—Millie. She smiled at us, nodded as her horse jumped, and gave us +a gleam of her white hand as she sped off down into the woods.</p> + +<p>"They tell us that the Savior rode an ass," said Alf, "but we have seen +heaven gallop by on a horse." He stood up and gazed toward the woods. +Our horse gradually came to a standstill, but Alf stood there, gazing, +shading his eyes with his hand. "It ain't the sun that dazzles," he +said. "It's her smile."</p> + +<p>"She'll make a poet of you, Alf."</p> + +<p>"She could do more than that; she could make a man of me."</p> + +<p>I don't know of a more dingy and desolate-looking town than Purdy. The +houses are old, and the streets are rutted. The court-house, in the +center of the square—my temple of fame—is mean and rain-streaked. And +this is what I saw at a glance: An enormous wooden watch, with its paint +cracking off, hanging in front of a jeweler's; the mortar and pestle of +a druggist on top of a post; a brick jail, with a pale face at the bars; +lawyers' signs; doctors' signs; a livery stable, with a negro in front, +pouring water on the wheels of a buggy; a red-looking negro, with a +string of shuck horse collars; a dog in front of the court-house +sniffing at a hog; the tavern, with its bell outside on a pole; men +pitching horse-shoes in the shade; a woman,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_129" id="Page_129">[129]</a></span> with her arms on a gate; a +girl trying to pull a dirty child into a yard; a man in front of a store +stuffing straw into a box; horses tied to racks about the square; men +lolling about the court-house—these features made the face of Purdy.</p> + +<p>We had put up the horse, Alf had gone to see a friend of his and I was +walking past a vacant lot when some one shouted at me, and, turning +round, I saw a man coming toward me. "Helloa, there," he said, coming +up, smiling. "You ought not to forget your old friends."</p> + +<p>"Oh," I replied, recalling his face, "you are the agent at the station +where I got off the train."</p> + +<p>"Yes, used to be," he said, shaking hands with me, "but I'm over here +now, but not as a railroad agent, for there's no road here. I am the +honored and distinguished telegraph operator of this commercial +emporium. Couldn't stay over yonder any longer. No calico—not a rag +there. Got to see the flirt of calico. See that?" A woman was passing. +"You can stand here and see it going along all the time, and you've got +to be mighty respectful toward it, I tell you, for there's a shot-gun in +every house and a father or a brother more than ready to pull both +triggers at once. That's right, I suppose; but it does hamper a fellow +mightily. Ever in St. Louis? That's the place. Muslin and soft goods +everywhere and nine chances to one there ain't a gun in the house. Might +be, you know, but there is so much mull and moriantique and all that +sort of thing that there ain't guns enough to go round, so you can<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_130" id="Page_130">[130]</a></span> +smile and nod on the street; but you can't do it here. Here you've got +to have a three-ply, doubled and twisted introduction before you can +smile even at cottonade. I've been here a week, and hold about the most +responsible position in the town, and society hasn't taken me up yet, +but I reckon it will after a while. I reckon you could get in all right. +They have heard all about your fight—know that you are game, and +nothing counts more than that, for they have an idea that a game fellow +is always a gentleman."</p> + +<p>Just then a boy came up and told him that there was a call. "I'll be +there after a while," the operator replied. "Go on back. I've been +pitching horse-shoes with some fellows," he continued, speaking to me, +"and ain't quite through yet. I'll have to teach him so that he will be +able to tell them that I'm busy when I'm not there. I've found out that +what we want in this life is leisure. People are getting too swift. +There's no need of half the telegraphing that's done. Why don't they +write and save trouble and expense? There goes a nice piece of calico. I +must get acquainted with it, too, I tell you. Well, believe I'll stroll +on back. Come in while you're here. The trial won't take up much of your +time. It's all pretty much cut and dried, anyway."</p> + +<p>At 10 o'clock the Aimes brothers were brought before the bar. The jury +was already selected and the trial was at once taken up. I was put upon +the stand and instructed to tell my story without any fear of reflecting +too much<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_131" id="Page_131">[131]</a></span> credit upon myself. I could see that they wanted a thrilling +recital and I gave it to them. And when Alf followed, he found them +eager for more. The prosecuting attorney made a speech, as red as the +fire that had burned the school-house; the lawyer appointed for the +defence made a few cool remarks, and the case was closed. We were +anxious to take the verdict home with us, and we had made preparations +to remain over night, but the jury came to an agreement without leaving +the box, so we had nothing to do but to return home. The Aimes brothers +were given a term of fifteen years each in the penitentiary.</p> + +<p>The sun was down when we got upon the buck-board, and over the road we +drove, under the stars, our stars, for in sympathy they looked down upon +us. The moon was late, but we preferred the dark—it was sadder.</p> + +<p>"I wonder how it's all going to end," said Alf. "If we could only rip +apart that black thing down the road and look into the future."</p> + +<p>"And if you could rip it," I replied, "if you could and were about to do +so, I would grab your hand with a harder grip than I gave the gun when I +caught the hammers."</p> + +<p>"Then you don't want to know? You'd rather continue to writhe on the +gridiron than to turn over and fall into the fire and end the matter?"</p> + +<p>"Alf," said I, "does it strike you that we are a couple of as big fools +as ever drove along a county road?"</p> + +<p>"Whoa!" he shouted, pulling upon the reins and stopping the horse. And +then he laughed. "Fools; why, two<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_132" id="Page_132">[132]</a></span> idiots are two Solomons compared with +us. Let's stop it; let's be sensible; let's be men."</p> + +<p>"I'm with you, Alf. Shake hands."</p> + +<p>We drove along in silence. After a long time he said: "Here's where she +crossed the road; and do you see that?" he asked, pointing to the Milky +Way. "That was done by the waving of her hand. I wish to the Lord I knew +just how much she thinks of Dan Stuart."</p> + +<p>"Ah, but that wouldn't relieve you," I replied, "for I know how much +Guinea thinks of Chyd Lundsford and feel all the worse for it. There are +always two hopes, walking with a doubt, one on each side, but a +certainty walks alone."</p> + +<p>"I reckon you are right," he rejoined with a sigh. "How many strange +things love will make a man say, things that an unpoisoned man would +never think of. Poisoned is the word, Bill; and I'll bet that if I'd +bite a man it would kill him in a minute."</p> + +<p>"What sort of a fellow is young Lundsford?" I asked, with my teeth set +and my feet braced against the dashboard.</p> + +<p>"Oh, he ain't a bad fellow; he ain't our sort exactly, but he's all +right."</p> + +<p>"Smart and full of poetry, isn't he?"</p> + +<p>"I never heard him say anything that had poetry in it. Don't think he +knows half as much about books as you do. Oh, about certain sorts of +books he does, books with skeletons in them, but knowing all about +skeletons don't make<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_133" id="Page_133">[133]</a></span> a man interesting to a woman. I have read enough +to find that out. Why, I have more than held my own with men that are +well up in special books—have held my own with all except that fellow +Stuart. Now there's Etheredge, that I told you about one day—kin to Dan +Stuart. He's a doctor, and they tell me that he is well educated, but I +never heard him say a thing worth remembering. I reckon old Mrs. Nature +has a good deal to do with it after all."</p> + +<p>They were sitting up waiting for us at home, although it was past the +midnight hour when we drove into the yard. Old Lim snorted when he +learned that the Aimes boys were not to be hanged, but his wife, +merciful creature, was saddened to think that even more mercy had not +been shown them. And then she anxiously inquired whether we had found +ourselves short in the matter of provisions. We told her that we had +brought back nearly all the load which her kindness had imposed upon us, +and then with disappointment she said: "Goodness alive, why didn't you +give it to those poor fellows to take to the penitentiary with 'em, for +I know that there's nothin' there fitten to eat."</p> + +<p>The old man stood looking at her, with his coat off and with his +shirt-sleeves rolled up. "Susan," said he, "I don't want to git mad, I +don't want to go out yander, snatch them chickens out of the coop an' +make 'em nod at each other in the dark, but when you talk that way you +almost drive me—by jings, you almost drive me out there agin that tree, +hard enough to butt the bark off. Do you reckon<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_134" id="Page_134">[134]</a></span> they are takin' them +fellers down there to feed 'em, to fatten 'em up and then turn 'em +loose? Hah, is that your idee? 'Zounds, madam, they are lucky to get +there with their necks. And here you are lamentin' that there's nothin' +at the penitentiary fitten to eat. Go on to bed, Susan, for if you don't +I'm afeered that I'll have to say somethin' to hurt your feelin's, and +then I'd worry about it all night."</p> + +<p>"Now Limuel, what is the use in snortin' round that way? Can't a body +say a word?"</p> + +<p>"It do look like a body can," he rejoined; "and I'm afeered that a body +will, and that's the reason I want you to go to bed."</p> + +<p>Old Lim sat down and the subject was dropped. I noticed his wife looking +anxiously at me, and just as I was about to leave the room she said: +"Mr. Hawes, you'll please pardon me for mentionin' it, but there's a +button off your coat, and I'll be glad to sew it on if you will be so +kind as to leave it down here."</p> + +<p>"No, I will sew it on," Guinea spoke up. "Give me your coat, Mr. Hawes."</p> + +<p>"I will not be the means of keeping you up any longer," I replied, +looking into her eyes, and feeling the thrill of their sweet poison; "I +will do it myself."</p> + +<p>"And rob me of a pleasure?" she asked.</p> + +<p>"No, relieve you of a drudgery. Come on, Alf."</p> + +<p>Two fools went to bed in the dark and sighed themselves to sleep, and +two fools dreamed; I know that one did—dreamed of eyes and smiles and a +laugh like a musical cluck.</p> + + + +<hr /> + +<h2><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_135" id="Page_135">[135]</a></span> +<a name="x" id="x"></a>CHAPTER X.</h2> + + +<p>More than a month passed and they were still working on the +school-house. The simple plan had been drawn with but a few strokes of a +pencil, the sills had been placed without delay, but they had to plane +the boards by hand and that had taken time. Alf and I had again sat at +the old General's table, had listened to his words so rounded out with +kindliness, and upon returning to the porch had heard him storm at +something that had gone amiss. Millie showed her dimples and her pretty +teeth, smiling at Alf and at me, too, but I saw no evidence that she +loved him. Indeed, she had been so much petted that I thought she must +be a flirt, and yet she said nothing to give me that impression. Guinea +was just the same, good-humored, rarely serious. One Sunday I went to +church with her, walked, though the distance was two miles; stood near +the cave wherein the British soldiers had hidden themselves, and talked +of everything save love. I cannot say that I had a sacred respect for +her feelings; I think that I should have liked to torture her, but +something closed my heart against an utterance of its heavy fullness.</p> + +<p>One Saturday afternoon I was told that the school-house would be ready +on the following Monday. I had<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_136" id="Page_136">[136]</a></span> been out many times to view the work, +but I decided to go again to see that everything was complete. I +expected that Alf would go with me, for the corn was laid by, but I +could not find him. His mother told me that he had put on his Sunday +clothes and that she had seen him going down the road. And so I went +alone. The house was done, and what a change from the pile of old logs! +The walls were painted white and the blinds were green. The bushes were +cleared off, and the scorched trees had been cut down, split up and +hauled away. I have never seen a neater picture, and in it I saw not +only the progress of the people, but the respect in which they held me.</p> + +<p>I had come out of the woods on my way home and was on a high piece of +grazing land not far from the house when I saw a man ride up to the yard +fence, dismount, tie his horse and go into the house. This within itself +was nothing, for I had seen many of the neighbors come and go, but a +sudden chill seized upon me now, and there I shook, though the heat of +June lay upon the land; and it was some time before I could go forward, +stumbling, quaking, with my eyes fixed upon the horse tied at the fence. +In the yard behind the house I came upon Mrs. Jucklin, gathering up +white garments that had been spread to dry upon the althea bushes. "Chyd +Lundsford has come," she said, and I replied: "Yes, I know it."</p> + +<p>I stepped upon the passage and passed the sitting-room door without +looking in; I sat down in a rocking chair that had been placed near the +stair-way, sat there and listened<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_137" id="Page_137">[137]</a></span> to a girl's laugh and the low mumble +of a man's voice. "Let us go out where it's cooler," I heard Guinea say, +and I got up with my head in a whirl.</p> + +<p>"Mr. Hawes, this is Mr. Lundsford."</p> + +<p>"Glad to meet you, sir," I said, taking hold of something—his hand, I +suppose. I was urged to sit down again; Guinea said that she would bring +two more chairs, and when I had dropped back between the arms of the +rocker I looked at the man standing there, and a sort of glad +disappointment cleared my vision and placed him before me in a strong +light. He was short, almost fat, and in his thin, whitish hair there was +a hint at coming baldness. The close attention that he had been +compelled to give practical things, the sawing of bones, the tracing of +nerves, the undoing of man's machinery, had given him the cynical look +of a hard materialist. But when he stepped back to take the chair which +Guinea had brought I saw that he moved easily, that he was cool and knew +well how to handle himself. And this drove away the meager joy of my +glad disappointment.</p> + +<p>"I hear you are going to take up school Monday," he said. "Rather late +to begin school just now, I should think."</p> + +<p>"Under ordinary circumstances it would be regarded as late in the +season," I answered, "but we have been so interrupted that we now decide +to have no vacation."</p> + +<p>"I guess you are right. Had a pretty close shave with those fellows, +didn't you? Ought to have killed them<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_138" id="Page_138">[138]</a></span> right there. I've seen Scott. +Thought he was a pretty bright fellow, naturally; rather witty. Would +make a first-rate subject on the slab."</p> + +<p>"Because you thought him witty, sir?" I asked.</p> + +<p>"Of course not; but because he is a good specimen—big fellow." He +looked at me and I thought that he was measuring my chest. "Yes," he +continued, "ought to have killed them. Man's got to take care of +himself, you know, and he can't make it his business to show mercy. Most +all the virtues now are back-woods qualities."</p> + +<p>"I don't believe that," Guinea spoke up. "Every day we read of the +generosity of the world."</p> + +<p>"Oh," he said, passing his short fingers through his thin hair, "you +read about it, and people who want to shine as generous creatures take +particular pains that you shall read about it. You've a great deal to +learn, my dear little woman."</p> + +<p>"And perhaps there is a great deal that she doesn't care to learn," I +ventured to suggest; and I quickly looked at her to see whether I had +made another mistake. I had not, her quiet smile told me, and I felt +bold enough to have thrown him over the fence.</p> + +<p>"What we wish to know and what we ought to know are two different +matters," he said. "But I hold that we ought to know the truth, no +difference what the truth may be. I want facts; I don't want paint. I +don't want to believe that the gilt on the dome goes all the way +through."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_139" id="Page_139">[139]</a></span>"But," said I, "the gilt on the dome doesn't prove that the dome is +rotten; it may be strong with seasoned wood and ribs of iron."</p> + +<p>"Yes," he drawled, "that's all very good, very well put, but it means +nothing. By the way, before we get into a discussion let me invite you +over to our house to-night. Quite a number of young people will drop in. +Not exactly the night, you know; but the old idea that white people +shouldn't go out of a Saturday night, the night reserved for negroes, is +all nonsense. So, I have asked them to come. Alf will come, I suppose, +and so will our little spring branch nymph."</p> + +<p>"I didn't suppose that you believed in nymphs, now that you have gone +out and learned that everything is false," Guinea spoke up.</p> + +<p>"I don't believe in painted ones," he replied, "but you are not +painted."</p> + +<p>"I shall be pleased to come," I remarked, and then I asked him how long +he expected to remain at home.</p> + +<p>"Oh, about a month, I should think. I am gradually getting along and I +don't want to go to school all my life. I want to begin practice next +year."</p> + +<p>"In this neighborhood?" I asked, and he gave me a contemptuous look. +"Well, not if I have any sense left," he answered. "I might ride around +here a thousand years and not win anything of a name. Look at Dr. +Etheredge, fine physician, but what has he done? No, I'm going to a +city, north, I think."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_140" id="Page_140">[140]</a></span>He stayed to supper and this angered me, for I had set my heart on +walking to the General's house with Guinea. Alf had not returned and we +wondered whither he could have gone. And when the time came to go, that +impudent sprig of a doctor asked me if I would ride his horse around by +the road, said that he wanted to walk across the meadows with Guinea. +How I should have enjoyed knocking him on the head, but I thought that +Guinea supplemented his request with a look, and I consented.</p> + +<p>There were many horses tied at the General's fence, and there was +laughter within, when I rode up, and I was reminded of the night when I +had stood with my hot hand melting the frost on the fence. But I thought +of what the men had said on the railway platform, of the woman whom I +had seen on the train, and boldly I walked in. The General met me with a +warm grasp, and was asking me if I had seen his son, when in walked the +young fellow himself, with Guinea beside him. The parlor and the +library, opening one into the other, were well filled with good-humored +young folk, and among them were old people, none the less good-humored. +I was surprised to find myself so much in demand, for every one asked +for an introduction, but with bitterness I knew that it was because I +had come near being burned up in an old house. They played games, but of +this they soon tired; they sang and one of the ladies plucked a +sparkling fandango, and then Chydister Lundsford was called upon for a +speech. He was not at all embarrassed and he talked fairly<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_141" id="Page_141">[141]</a></span> well; and +when he was done they called upon me. I got up with one hand resting on +the piano, and stood there, nervous at first, but strangely steady later +on. I told them that I could not make a speech, but that with their +permission I would tell them a story, one of my own. They cried out that +they would rather have a story than a speech, and I gave them a half +humorous, half pathetic sketch, something that had long been running in +my head and which I intended to write. What a strong confidence came +upon me as I noted the effect of my words! I was drawing a picture and +they were eager to see it; I was playing on a strange, rude instrument, +and how they bent to catch every vibration. I was astonished at myself, +thrilled with myself. And when the climax came, chairs were tipped over +as if in a scramble, and a wild applause broke out. Every hand was +stretched out toward me, every eye was bright with a tear. The old +General grabbed me and, throwing back his great head, almost bellowed a +compliment; and through it all I saw Guinea sweetly smiling. They urged +me to give them another story, were almost frantic in their entreaty; +they had heard the heart-beat of their own life and they must hear it +again. I told another story, one over which I had fondly mused, and +again the hands came out toward me, and again the General bellowed a +compliment. I can scarcely recall anything else that passed that +evening. Yes, I remember that as I was taking my leave, to walk across +the meadows with Guinea and Chyd, Millie stood in front of me. Once or +twice I<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_142" id="Page_142">[142]</a></span> thought that she had something that she would tell me, for her +lips moved, but she said nothing except to bid me good-night.</p> + +<p>And where was Alf all this time? No one had spoken his name; Millie had +not asked me about him. I walked briskly in advance, half happy, but, of +course, with my mind on Guinea, whose low voice reached my ears through +the quiet that lay on the grass-land.</p> + +<p>"Why don't you wait for us?" she cried. I turned about and waited, and +as she came up, holding Chyd's arm, she said: "I hope your success +to-night hasn't turned your head."</p> + +<p>"And I hope that I don't deserve such a suspicion," I answered, not with +bitterness, but with joy to think that she had felt my apparent +indifference.</p> + +<p>"Oh, I don't see anything to cause a spat," said Chyd, straining himself +to take long steps. "Good stuff, of course, but nothing to turn a man's +head—a mere bit of fancy paint. But you ought to write it. Good many +people like nonsense. I mean something light, you know. Two-thirds of +the human family make it their business to dodge the truth. But it is a +good thing for a school-teacher to make himself felt in that way."</p> + +<p>"Perhaps Mr. Hawes doesn't intend to be a teacher all his life," Guinea +replied, speaking in kindliness, but with no interest, as to whether or +not I was to remain a pedagogue.</p> + +<p>"God forbid," I replied. And the young doctor gave me<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_143" id="Page_143">[143]</a></span> a sarcastic +cough. "Man ought to do what he's best fitted for," said he. "Trouble is +that a man generally thinks that he's fitted for something that he +isn't—hates the thing that he can do best."</p> + +<p>"Your knowledge of the practical fortifies you against any advance that +I might make," I replied. "I don't pretend to be practical."</p> + +<p>"Hum, I should think not," he rejoined. "Good deal of a dreamer, I take +it. And you are in the right place. Everything dreams here, the farmers +and even the cattle. Going to pull down the fence, eh? Guinea'll be over +by the time you get it down. What did I tell you? Regular fawn, eh?"</p> + +<p>We had passed out of the meadow. They waited in the road until I +replaced the rails which I had let down. The road ran along the ravine +and home was in sight. I looked across toward the smooth old rock and +saw a dark object upon it. We went down into the ravine and as we were +coming out, a voice cried: "Is that you, Bill?" And instantly Guinea +answered for me. "Yes, Alf. And here's Chyd."</p> + +<p>"How are you, Chyd?" he shouted, and then he added: "Bill, I want to see +you a minute. Stay where you are and I'll come down."</p> + +<p>I halted to wait for him. He stopped a moment to shake hands with Chyd, +and then he hastened to me. "Old man, I've got something to tell you," +he said. "Let's walk down this way—no, not over in the road, but up +the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_144" id="Page_144">[144]</a></span> hollow." He gripped my arm tightly, walked fast, then slowly and +then stopped. "Let's sit down here, Bill." We seated ourselves on a +rock. "You have been over to the General's, along with Chyd and Guinea, +haven't you? Of course, you have—what's the use of asking that? Do you +know what I did to-day? Not long after dinner I went over there +determined to find out how I stood. I was brave until I got nearly to +the house and then my courage failed. I stood by the fence in the +blackberry briars and gazed at the house. After a while I saw her come +out and start down the Ebeneezer road. And then I whipped round and met +her. And as I stood beside the road, waiting for her to come up I +noticed for the first time that the sun was nearly down. For hours I had +been standing in the briars. I pretended not to see her; let on like I +was hunting for a squirrel up in a tree, until she came up. Then I spoke +to her and she started as if she was scared. She said that she was going +over to Lum Smith's to tell the young people to come over at night, and +I asked her if I might walk along with her. She said with a laugh that I +might go part of the way, and then I knew that she was ashamed for any +one to see her with me. This cut me to the red, but I walked along with +her. I felt that I had nothing to say that would interest her, but I +kept on talking, and once in a while she would look up at me and laugh. +At last, and it was just as we came within sight of Smith's place, I +asked her what she really thought of Dan Stuart. I knew that this was a +fool's break, and if it hadn't been I don't suppose<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_145" id="Page_145">[145]</a></span> I would have made +it. She looked up at me, but she didn't laugh this time. I begged her +pardon for my rudeness, and she reminded me that I was only to come a +part of the way with her. I then told her that I would wait for her to +come back. She said that she might not come back that way. I replied +that no matter which way she came back I would see her. She went on, +laughing now, and I waited, but I didn't have to wait long before I saw +her coming. As she came up I asked her if she was ready to grant my +pardon and she wanted to know what about. We walked along together and +she began to tell me about her brother, how smart he was and all that, +and I said that I didn't think that he was as smart as you, Bill; I +wanted to take credit for a friendship I had formed, you see? But a +moment later I was sorry, for I was afraid that she might say something +against you, but she didn't. She said that you were a smart man—a +distinguished-looking man, and that she liked you ever so much. At first +I was pleased, but a second afterward I was jealous of you, Bill. Did +you ever see as blamed a fool as I am? But I didn't hate you, Bill. No, +my heart was warm toward you even while she was praising you—even while +I was jealous. I again asked her what she thought of Dan Stuart, and she +looked up at me and wanted to know if I knew what he thought of her. I +told her that everybody loved her, and that I didn't suppose he was mean +enough not to love her. She said that she knew people who didn't love +her, and I told her that if she would show them to me I would butt<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_146" id="Page_146">[146]</a></span> +their heads together for being such idiots. We were now almost within +sight of the General's home and I was not getting along very fast. I was +determined to make a break. We were on a hill, where the trees were +tall, almost over-lapping the road. To the right ran a path through the +briars, a nearer way home. I asked her to wait and she stopped. The sun +was down and it was now almost dark. And it was then that I told her +that I loved her. I don't know how I acted or what I said, but I know +that I was down in the dust at her feet. She stood there, pale and +trembling, looking around as if she would call for help. I asked her to +marry me, and she laughed, Bill—laughed at me and darted down the path. +Then I went into the woods and roamed about I don't know where; and that +is the reason I wasn't at the gathering to-night. I'm bruised and +crippled, Bill—my heart is sore, but I want to tell you that when she's +standing on the floor with that fellow Stuart, with the preacher in +front of her, I'll be there, putting in my plea. I won't give up as long +as there is a fighting chance left. Don't say a word about it. Forgive +me for dragging you off down here. God knows you've got a deep trouble +of your own. And I wish my word could settle it—I'd speak it, though it +might hurt my chances at the General's. Well, let's go to the house."</p> + + + +<hr /> + +<h2><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_147" id="Page_147">[147]</a></span> +<a name="xi" id="xi"></a>CHAPTER XI.</h2> + + +<p>Guinea and Chyd, old Lim and his wife went to church the next day, +leaving Alf and me alone. Alf held himself in reasonable restraint until +the old people were gone, and then he broke out so violently that I +really feared for his reason. And it was mainly my fault for I read him +a passionate poem, the outcry of a maddened soul, and he swore that it +had been written for him, that it was his, and I caught his spirit and +fancied that he might have written it, for I believed then, as I believe +now, that great things do not come from a quiet heart, that quiet hearts +may criticise, but that they do not create, that genius is a condition, +an agony, a tortured John Bunyan.</p> + +<p>I went to the spring to get a bucket of fresh water, and when I returned +Alf was nowhere to be found. I went out and shouted his name, but no +answer came back. I went out into the woods, walked up and down the +road, but could see nothing of him. The shadows fell short and the old +people and Guinea and Chyd returned from church, and the noon-tide meal +was spread, but Alf came not. But save with me there was no anxiety, as +he was wont to poke about alone they said. Evening, bed-time came. Chyd +went home, and I went up to my room. I heard the old<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_148" id="Page_148">[148]</a></span> man locking the +smoke-house door—heard his wife singing a hymn, heard Guinea's faint +foot-steps as she returned from the gate, whither she went to bid her +lover good-night, and her little feet fell not upon the path, but upon +my heart. I went to bed, leaving the lamp burning low, and was almost +asleep when I heard Alf on the stairs. He ran into the room with both +hands pressed against his head. I sprang up. He ran to me and dropped +upon his knees at the bed-side, dropped and clutched the covering and +buried his face in it. I put my arm about him, knelt beside him, heard +his smothered muttering, and put my face against his. "Bill!" he gasped +in a shivering whisper, "Bill, I have killed him!"</p> + +<p>"Merciful God!" I cried, springing back. He reached round, as if to draw +me down beside him. "Hush, don't let them hear down stairs. Come here, +Bill."</p> + +<p>I lifted him to his feet, turned him round so that I could see his face. +It was horror-stricken. "I have killed Dan Stuart."</p> + +<p>He stood with both hands on my shoulders looking into my eyes.</p> + +<p>"Wait a minute and I'll tell you. It wasn't altogether my fault. He +ought to be dead. He tried to kill me. I left here without any thought +of seeing him; didn't want to see him. I went away over yonder into the +woods. I heard you calling me. Later in the day I came out near the +wagon-maker's shop, and several fellows were sitting there, and I +stopped to answer a question somebody asked<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_149" id="Page_149">[149]</a></span> me, and pretty soon here +came Stuart. He grinned at me, but this didn't make me want to kill him. +Do they hear me down stairs?"</p> + +<p>"Go on, for God's sake!" I urged. "Why did you kill him? Didn't you +know——"</p> + +<p>"I knew everything, Bill. But I didn't want to kill him. I turned away, +and walked up the road, and he came along after me on his horse. And +when we were some distance away he made a slighting remark about Millie. +I wheeled around and he snatched out a pistol and pointed it at me. I +hadn't a thing, and there he was on a horse and with a pistol pointed at +me. There was not a stone, nothing within reach. I was cool, I had +sense, and I told him that he might have his fun, but that I would see +him again. And when he had cursed me and abused me as much as he liked +he rode away, leaving me standing there. I ran over to Parker's and told +him that I wanted a pistol to shoot a dog with, and he gave it to me. +Then I went back to the road and waited. He had gone over to the +General's, I thought, and I knew that he would come back that way. I +would make him swallow his words—I knew that he didn't mean what he +said about Millie—knew that he simply wanted to stir me up and have an +excuse to kill me. So I waited in the road not far from Doc Etheredge's, +waited a long time and at last I heard some one coming on a horse. I +didn't hide; I stood in the middle of the road. A man came up, but it +wasn't him; it was Etheredge. He spoke to me, asked me good-naturedly<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_150" id="Page_150">[150]</a></span> +why I was standing there, and I told him that I was waiting for a dog +that I wanted to kill. He turned into his gate, a short distance off, +and I stood there. After a while I heard another horse, and I knew his +gait—single-foot. It was Stuart. He was singing and he didn't appear to +see me until he was almost on me. His horse shied. 'Who is that?' he +asked, and I told him. 'And you are going to take back what you said,' I +remarked as quietly as I could, 'or I'm going to kill you right here.' +He didn't say a word—he snatched at his pistol and then I fired, and he +fell forward on his horse's neck. The horse jumped and I sprang forward +and caught the body and eased it to the ground—stretched it in the road +and left it. But I went up to Etheredge's house and hallooed, and when +he answered I told him that the dog had come and that his name was Dan +Stuart, and that he would find him lying in the road. I heard him shout +something, but I didn't wait for him to come out, but went into the +woods and came on home. And now I've got to go."</p> + +<p>"Go where?" I asked, facing him round as he strove to turn from me.</p> + +<p>"To town to give myself up. Don't tell the old folks to-night. Tell them +in the morning—tell them that they'll find me in jail."</p> + +<p>I strove to restrain him; I could scarcely believe what he had told me. +I asked him if he had not been dreaming. He shook his head, pulling away +from me. "If you are my friend, Bill, do as I tell you. It's all over +with me now,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_151" id="Page_151">[151]</a></span> and all I can do is to answer to the law." He caught up +his hat. "Tell them at morning; make it as soft as you can—tell them +how I love that girl—tell them that I am crazy. Don't hold me, Bill. I +must go. God bless you."</p> + +<p>He pulled away from me and went down stairs so easily that he made +scarcely a sound. I followed him, begged him to let me go with him, but, +creeping back half way up the stairs, he said: "You can be of more +service to me here. Tell them and to-morrow you can see me in jail. I +don't want them to come and take me there. Do as I tell you, Bill. Don't +let the folks see me in jail. Go on back."</p> + +<p>I went back to the room and sat there all night, and at morning I heard +the old man unlock the smoke-house, heard his wife singing a hymn. I +knew that they expected me at early breakfast, so that I could reach the +school-house in time, for my new session was to begin that morning. So +the sun was not risen when I went down stairs. But nature held up a pink +rose in the east, and the hilltops were glowing, while the valleys were +yet dark. Guinea came out of the sitting-room, and seeing me in the +passage, walking as if I were afraid of disturbing some one, laughed at +me. "Why, what makes you slip along that way? You act as if you were the +first one up. Why, I have already gathered you some flowers to take to +school. And you won't even thank me. Why, Mr. Hawes, what on earth is +the matter?"</p> + +<p>I held up my hand. "There will be no school to-day," I said. "Don't say +a word, please."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_152" id="Page_152">[152]</a></span>"But what's the matter?" she asked, with a look of fright.</p> + +<p>"Come out here under the tree. Will you promise not to scream if I tell +you something?"</p> + +<p>"But what can you tell me to make me scream? Oh——"</p> + +<p>"I'm not going to speak of myself," I broke in, fearing that she might +think that I was going to tell her of my love. "Come out here, please."</p> + +<p>She followed me to the bench under the tree and she stood there +nervously gazing at me as I sat down, waiting for me to speak and yet +afraid to hear me.</p> + +<p>"What is it, please? But don't tell me anything bad—I don't want to +hear anything bad."</p> + +<p>"But you must hear this. Alf—Alf has had a quarrel with Dan Stuart. It +was worse than a quarrel, and has——"</p> + +<p>"Killed him?" she said, gazing at me. "Don't tell me anything."</p> + +<p>She sat down beside me and hid her face. "Alf has gone to town to give +himself up, and we must tell your father and mother. It wasn't +murder—it was self-defence. You go and tell your mother, tell her as +quietly as you can. I see your father out yonder. I will tell him. Tell +her that they got into a quarrel last night."</p> + +<p>She went away without looking back at me, without letting me see her +face, and as I passed the corner of the house I heard her talking and +before I reached the old man I heard a cry from that poor old woman.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_153" id="Page_153">[153]</a></span>Old Lim was at the door of his "stockade," oiling the lock. "Devilish +thing don't work well," he said. "A padlock is generally the best lock +or the worst; you never can tell which. If I could jest git a drap of +the grease into the key-hole I'd soon fix it. But it won't go in, you +see. By jings, the devil has his own way about half the time, and his +influence is mighty powerful the other half. Now, we're gittin' at it. I +reckon we'd better go on to breakfast, though. I almost forgot that you +had to go to your school. Why, man, what the deuce is the matter with +you this mornin'?"</p> + +<p>He dropped the chain to which the lock was fastened and looked steadily +at me. "What's gone wrong, man?"</p> + +<p>"I'm not going to school to-day," I answered, endeavoring to be calm.</p> + +<p>"What's the matter? House burnt down again?"</p> + +<p>"Worse than that, Mr. Jucklin. Alf——"</p> + +<p>"What about him?" he broke in, nervously grabbing the chain.</p> + +<p>"Did you know that he was in love with Millie Lundsford?" I asked, now +determined to be calm.</p> + +<p>"Well, what of it? Young folks are in and out of love with each other +mighty nigh every day in this neighborhood. Is that Susan callin' me? Be +there in a minute!" he shouted. "Hasn't had a row with the old General, +has he?"</p> + +<p>"No, but with Dan Stuart. They quarreled last night and fought and Dan +was killed."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_154" id="Page_154">[154]</a></span>His shoulders drooped; he spoke not, but he jerked the chain, the gate +flew open and he stepped inside and shut it with a slam; and I heard him +fumbling with the fastening that held the door of the coop. I strode +away as fast as I could, went to the school-house to dismiss the +children and to tell them that I knew not when the session would be +resumed. And when I returned everything was quiet. The old man was +slowly walking up and down the spring-house path, evidently waiting for +me.</p> + +<p>"Tell me all about it," he said, when I came up; "tell me from beginnin' +to end."</p> + +<p>And I told him just as Alf had told me. He listened with his mouth half +open, rolling up his shirt-sleeves and then rolling them down again, as +if he knew not what to do with himself.</p> + +<p>"Well," he said, when I was done, "I don't know that I can blame him, +poor feller, but they'll hang him."</p> + +<p>"Do you think so?" I cried, with a start, for I had not dwelt upon that +possibility; it had not occurred to me, so wrapt had I been in thinking +of his own mental distress and the heart-breaking grief of his mother. +"Do you really think so?"</p> + +<p>"I know it—just as clear to me as that sunshine. Stuart's kin folks +have got money and they'll spend every cent of it to put Alf on the +gallows. Etheredge don't like Alf and will spend every cent he's got; +and here we are without money. Yes, they'll hang him."</p> + +<p>"But General Lundsford—won't he stand as Alf's<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_155" id="Page_155">[155]</a></span> friend?"</p> + +<p>The old man shook his head. "He can't, and I don't know that he would if +he could. I mean that he can't and still be true to himself. Ever since +our agreement, the one I told you about, he has been putty open in +talkin' to me, and I know that he wanted Millie to marry Stuart. No, +he's too proud to help us."</p> + +<p>"But can he for family reasons afford not to help us? His son——"</p> + +<p>"Don't speak of that now, if you please, sir. Are you goin' to the +house?"</p> + +<p>"I don't know. I am almost afraid to meet his mother."</p> + +<p>"Don't be afraid of that. She won't reproach you; she knows that you had +nothing to do with it—knows that he never would have killed him if he +had asked your advice and followed it."</p> + +<p>"I don't mean that—I mean that I cannot bear to look upon her grief."</p> + +<p>"She is a Christian, sir. She is praying to her God, and whatever comes +she will trust in Him. The stock that she is from has stood at the +stake, sir."</p> + +<p>We were slowly walking toward the house. Suddenly he clutched my arm +with a grip that reminded me of Alf, and in a voice betraying more +emotion than I had known him to show, asked whether I intended to leave +him. I put my arm about him and pressed him to me, just as if he were +Alf telling me of the love-trouble that lay upon his heart.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_156" id="Page_156">[156]</a></span>"I understand you, God bless you," he said. "Don't say a word; I +understand you. Git on the mare and go to town and find out all you can. +I won't go jest now—can't stand to see my son in jail. But don't say a +word, for I understand you. I reckon the neighborhood is pretty well +alive over it by this time. See if they'll let him go about on bail, but +I don't reckon they will, even if he did give himself up. They'll think +that he done it because he must have knowed that they were bound to +catch him. Go on and do whatever your jedgment tells you, and I know it +will be all right."</p> + +<p>Over the road I went, toward Purdy, and the people who had come out of +their houses to speak words of encouragement to Alf and me when we were +on our way to see the Aimes boys tried, now stood about their doors, +gazing stupidly. At the wagon-maker's shop a crowd was gathered, and I +was recognized as I drew near by young men who had met me at the +General's house the night before—now so long ago, it seemed—and they +came out into the road and urged me to tell them all I knew. I felt that +Etheredge had already stirred in his own coloring, but I told the story +of the tragedy just as I had told it to the old man; and I had gathered +rein to resume my journey when a man rode up. "I'm going back to town!" +he shouted, waving his hand to a man who stood in the door of the +wagon-maker's shop. I rode on and he came up beside me.</p> + +<p>"Are you Mr. Hawes?" he asked, and when I had answered<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_157" id="Page_157">[157]</a></span> him he said: "I +am Dr. Etheredge."</p> + +<p>I bowed and he nodded with distinct coolness. He was not of happy +appearance; he was lean and angular, gray beyond the demand of his +years, and it struck me that he must be given to drink, not because he +was gray, but because there were puffs under his eyes and broken veins +where his skin was stretched over his high cheek-bones.</p> + +<p>"A devil of an affair, this," he said. "Man met in the public highway +and murdered."</p> + +<p>"Don't put it that way," I spoke up, "for perhaps you are not yet +acquainted with the causes that led to it."</p> + +<p>"No cause, sir, should lead to murder."</p> + +<p>"I agree with you there, but many a man has been compelled to kill in +order to save his own life."</p> + +<p>He sneered at me. "But has many a man been compelled to stand for hours +in a public road, and in order to save his own life shoot down an +innocent person? I always held that Alf Jucklin was a dangerous and a +desperate man, and everybody knows that he comes of that breed. I never +did like him; and he took a dislike to me without cause. Stood near a +church in a crowd of men one day when I seemed to be under discussion +and declared that a man to be a doctor ought to be smart and to be smart +a man must say something to prove the thought within him; and then he +asked if any one had ever heard me say anything worth remembering."</p> + +<p>I felt that he wanted to quarrel with me, and I was in the humor to +gratify him. "And did anyone ever hear<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_158" id="Page_158">[158]</a></span> you say a thing worth +remembering?" I asked.</p> + +<p>"Sir!" he snarled.</p> + +<p>"You heard what I said. And I take a degree of cool pleasure in telling +you before we go further that you can't ride a high horse over me."</p> + +<p>"A pedagogue's pedantry," he muttered.</p> + +<p>"A man's truth," I replied. "And by the way," I added, "you appear to be +well horsed. Suppose you ride on ahead."</p> + +<p>"Does this road belong to you, sir?" he demanded, turning a severe brow +upon me.</p> + +<p>"A part of it does, and I am going to ride over that part without +annoyance. Do you understand?"</p> + +<p>"Sir, I can understand impudence even if I can't say a thing worth +remembering. But rather than have words with you I will ride on, not to +accommodate you, but to preserve my own dignity and self-respect."</p> + +<p>"Good!" I mockingly cried, "and if you continue to improve in expression +I shall after a while be forced to believe that Alf's estimate of you +was placed too low."</p> + +<p>"I thank you, sir, for giving me the opportunity to say that a jury's +estimate will hereafter most influence your friend, and that he will be +placed high enough."</p> + +<p>"You continue to improve, Doctor, and I believe that your last remark is +worth remembering. At least, I shall remember it, and when this trouble +is over, no matter what the result may be, I will hold you to account +for it. And to prove that I am in earnest I'll lend you the weight of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_159" id="Page_159">[159]</a></span> +this." And with that I cut at his face with a switch. His horse shied +and the apple tree sprout whistled in the air. He said something about +hoping to meet me again and rode off at a brisk canter. I knew that I +had acted unwisely, felt it even while the impulse was rising fresh and +strong within me, but I was in no humor to bear with him. I rode along +more slowly than I was disposed, to let him pass out of my sight, for +every time I looked up and saw him I felt a new anger. And I was +relieved when a turn in the road placed him beyond my view. I heard a +galloping behind, and, looking round, I saw the old General coming with +a cavalryman's recklessness. He dashed up and did not draw rein until he +was almost upon me.</p> + +<p>"Whoa! I have been trying to overtake you, Hawes. What did I tell you? +Didn't I say that the country was gone? I'll swear I don't know what we +are coming to when a man is shot down in the road like that."</p> + +<p>"General, did you overtake me to ride to town with me?"</p> + +<p>"I did; yes, sir."</p> + +<p>"Then you mustn't talk that way."</p> + +<p>"I beg your pardon, sir. Perhaps I should not have expressed myself in +that manner. Let us ride along and discuss it quietly. Tell me what you +know."</p> + +<p>"It were better, General——"</p> + +<p>"Never mind about your grammar and your bookish phrasing. Tell me what +led up to it."</p> + +<p>"Must I tell you that your daughter is——"</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_160" id="Page_160">[160]</a></span>"By G——, sir, what do you mean?"</p> + +<p>"You needn't turn on me, sir."</p> + +<p>"Surely not. Pardon me. What about it?"</p> + +<p>"I don't know that I ought to tell you—a man of more judgment +wouldn't—but I suppose I must now that I have gone so far. Alf is in +love with your daughter, and on that account Stuart insulted him, abused +him at the point of a pistol."</p> + +<p>Then I told him all that I could, all but the fact that Stuart had +spoken slightingly of the girl, for I knew that this would only enrage +him and, indeed, set him harder against Alf, as he would doubtless +believe that my friend had simply forged a mean excuse. For some +distance after I had told him the story, he rode along in silence, +troubled of countenance and with his head hanging low. But just before +we came into the town he looked up and said: "Poor fool, I can't help +him."</p> + +<p>"But you can see that justice is done."</p> + +<p>"Mr. Hawes, in this instance we may take different views of justice. +Pardon me, but your friendship—and, indeed, I can but honor you for +it—your friendship may cry out against justice."</p> + +<p>"I admit, General, that my friendship is strong, although I have known +the young man but a short time, yet I think that I respect justice."</p> + +<p>"We all think so until justice pinches us," he replied, placing himself +in firm opposition to me, yet doing it kindly. "I am more concerned in +this, Mr. Hawes, than<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_161" id="Page_161">[161]</a></span> you can well conceive. I can say this, but I +cannot follow it up with an explanation. But the fact that he stood +waiting there in the road is what will tell most against him. Had he met +him at another time, under almost any other conditions, it would have +been different, would have taken away the aspect of calculated murder. +Yes, I am deeply concerned and on two accounts. But I cannot mention +them. Dan Stuart was near to me; I had known him all his life and he was +a young man of promise, was popular throughout the community—more +popular than Alf, and this will have its effect."</p> + +<p>"But wasn't he more popular because he had more money?" I asked, and the +old General gave me a look of reproof.</p> + +<p>"Money does not make so much difference in the South, sir. You have been +filling your head with Northern books. It is refinement, sir, real worth +that weighs in the South."</p> + +<p>"I hope not to antagonize you, General, but I am of the South and I have +cause to hold an opposite opinion. Have I not seen the most vulgar of +men held in high favor because they were rich? The mere existence of a +state line does not change human nature. Man is not changed even by the +lines drawn about empires."</p> + +<p>"I admit, sir, that the South has undergone a change, but in my day a +man was measured according to his real worth, not in gold, but in +honorable qualities."</p> + +<p>"It is but natural to look back with the prejudiced eye of affection, +General, and it is respectful that I should not<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_162" id="Page_162">[162]</a></span> argue with you. I turn +here to the livery-stable. Good-morning."</p> + +<p>"I honor you for your consideration, sir," he replied, bowing. "Let us +hope for the best, but I must stand by justice."</p> + +<p>When I had put up my horse I went directly to the jail. A crowd hung +about the doors, eager to see the prisoner. When I told the jailer who I +was he admitted me without a word. Alf sprang from a bench, seeing me +enter the corridor, and came forward to the bars of his cell.</p> + +<p>"Not much room for shaking hands here, Bill," he said, smiling sadly. +"It is already an age since I left home. How are you, old man? Tell me +how they took it. No, don't. I know. Well, I gave myself up and the +sheriff wouldn't believe me at first, but he got it through his head +after a while. He was very kind and when he had locked me in here he +went to see whether I could be let out on bail, but I understand that I +can't. It's all right; I might as well be in here. Bill, I have tried to +feel sorry for killing him, but I can't. I reckon I must be about as +mean as they make them. And it will all come out pretty soon, for court +is still in session and all they've got to do is to rig up their jury +after the inquest and go ahead. I'm going to make the best of it. The +worst feature is the disgrace and suffering at home, and, of course, +that almost tears my heart out when I let it. But to tell you the truth, +I'd rather be hanged than to be on the grid-iron all the time.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_163" id="Page_163">[163]</a></span> Who's +that?"</p> + +<p>Etheredge came into the corridor. He leered at Alf and Alf sneered at +him. "I suppose you found the dog that I told you was lying in the +road—the dog that tried to bite me," said Alf, with a cold smile.</p> + +<p>"Jucklin, I didn't come in here to be insulted."</p> + +<p>"All right, there's the door. Say, there, jailer, you have just let in a +gray rat and I wish you'd come and drive him out."</p> + +<p>I turned to Etheredge and pointed to the door. "I must respect your +wish," he said, speaking to me. "I've an engagement with you—you are to +be my guest," and without another word he strode away.</p> + +<p>I remained with Alf as long as the jailer thought it prudent to let me +stay, and then I went about the town to gather its sentiment. And I was +grieved to find that every one declared it to be cold-blooded murder. My +heart was heavy as I rode toward home, for the old people were looking +to me for encouragement. Guinea met me at the gate. She tried to smile, +but failed.</p> + +<p>"Don't try to look pleased at seeing me," I said. "It is too much of an +effort." And if she could not smile she could give me a look of +gratitude. She went with me to the stable, saying not a word; and when I +had turned the horse loose she followed me to the sitting-room. At the +door I faltered, but Mrs. Jucklin's voice bade me enter. She was sitting +in a rocking-chair, with the Bible in her lap, and placing her hand upon +the book, she thus spoke<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_164" id="Page_164">[164]</a></span> to me: "Don't hesitate to talk, for His rod +and His staff shall comfort me."</p> + +<p>I had not noticed the old man, so bent were my eyes upon his wife, but +now he arose into view, and, coming to me, he whispered: "From the stock +that stood at the stake."</p> + +<p>I told them all I knew, which was not much; and then knelt down and +prayed with them.</p> + + + +<hr /> + +<h2><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_165" id="Page_165">[165]</a></span> +<a name="xii" id="xii"></a>CHAPTER XII.</h2> + + +<p>Stuart was buried the next day, and the mourners passed our house. Mrs. +Jucklin was sitting at the window when the hearse and the buggies came +within sight, and her chin was unsteady as she reached for her book. And +there she sat, holding the old leather-covered Bible in her lap.</p> + +<p>I had thought that Chyd Lundsford would come, with words of +encouragement, but we saw him not, neither that day nor the next. But +four days later I came upon him as I was going to town. He had a gun, +was followed by a number of squirrel-dogs and came out of the woods near +the spot where Alf had eased Stuart from his horse to the ground. I +stopped and bluntly asked him why he had not been over, and he answered +that he was busy preparing for a rigid examination. I asked if they were +going to examine him on the art of killing game, and he laughed and +replied: "No, on the science of killing men. By the way," he added, +looking up into the top of a tree, "how is Alf getting along? Does he +appear to be hopeful?"</p> + +<p>"He is more desperate than hopeful," I answered.</p> + +<p>"Yes, I should think so. Is that a squirrel's nest? I have heard it +hinted that a love-affair had something to do<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_166" id="Page_166">[166]</a></span> with it—an affair pretty +close, at that. Well, I've got nothing to do with it. Can't drive out of +my mind what I have had so hard a time driving into it. Sorry, and all +that sort of thing. That's no squirrel's nest. But if people persist in +being romantic they must expect to have trouble. I'm sorry for the old +folks—must take it rather hard. Good-hearted and simple enough to worry +over it, surely. Well, if you happen to think of it, give Alf my +regards."</p> + +<p>The coroner's jury had returned an expected verdict, influenced largely +by what Etheredge had to say. I had given my testimony, but I could not +make it sound as I wanted it—Alf's own words were against him, as I +repeated them that day. The preliminary trial, the mummery before a +justice of the peace, also went against Alf; the grand jury had brought +in its finding, and the next step was the formal arraignment before the +circuit judge. And I was now on my way to town to engage additional +legal help, as the lawyer whom we had retained appeared to be luke-warm +and half-hearted. I had heard many stories relating to the great force +and ability of an old ex-judge named Conkwright, and I called at his +office, though I had been warned that his price was exceedingly high. He +met me gruffly, I thought, but I soon discovered that he had a heart. I +told Alf's story, now so familiar to my own ears that I fancied that I +could give it with effect, and I must have touched him, for he said: +"Oh, well, I'll go into it and we'll say nothing about the price. I've +been working for nothing all my life, and I don't see<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_167" id="Page_167">[167]</a></span> why I should +change now. Why, of course, he ought to have killed him," and his old +eyes shone as he said it. "Had to kill him. It strikes me that they are +rushing things pretty fast, especially as the docket is covered with +murder cases that have been put over from time to time. That Stuart set +has lots of influence. Beat me for re-election, I know that. But we'll +show them a few things that are not put down in the books. And you don't +want the young lady's name mentioned. Of course, not. Wouldn't be +gallant, eh? Well, I'll go down and see the young fellow some time +to-day. They'll take it up in about a week from now, that is, if we are +ready, and we'll be there. Tell old Jucklin not to fret. He's an old +lion-tamer, I tell you, and if I had any interest in that fellow +Etheredge I'd advise him to walk pretty straight. But the old man has +quieted down mightily of late years."</p> + +<p>Alf had undergone no change. He was glad to know that Conkwright took an +interest in him, but he shook his head when I told him that we were sure +to win.</p> + +<p>"I don't believe it, Bill; don't believe it because I don't feel it. But +don't tell the old folks that I'm not hopeful. Have you seen Millie?"</p> + +<p>"No, and have seen Chyd but once, and then I came upon him in the road."</p> + +<p>"What, hasn't he been to the house? A fine husband he'll make for +Guinea. Tell her that I say she must forbid his coming near her again. +No, don't," he added. "It's better to wait. I wish she loved you, Bill, +but I'm<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_168" id="Page_168">[168]</a></span> afraid she doesn't."</p> + +<p>"I know she doesn't," I replied.</p> + +<p>"Has she said so?"</p> + +<p>"No, but she seems always afraid that I may tell her of my love."</p> + +<p>"And I would if I were you, Bill. No, not yet. Tell father not to come +near me yet a while. He couldn't stand it."</p> + +<p>He had written home, begging his parents and his sister not to think of +seeing him, had actually commanded them not to come near the jail.</p> + +<p>"Mother can stand more than he can, for she's more religious. How about +your school?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, it's all right. The people know that I couldn't teach now, even if +I should try ever so hard, and they are very considerate. They say that +they are willing to wait."</p> + +<p>"God bless them for that, any way. And this reminds me of a preacher +that came in yesterday to pray for me. I thanked him for his kindness, +but told him that some one was at home praying, and that one of her +words had more influence in my behalf than all the prayers he could +utter in a life-time. I merely mention this to show what sort of an +atmosphere I'm in. I didn't like the fellow's looks—understand that he +hasn't been a preacher but a week. Still on suspicion, as they say, +Bill. I was almost crazy, but my mind has cooled wonderfully. A fellow's +mind generally does after he's done the worst he can."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_169" id="Page_169">[169]</a></span>"I hope that my reading of the poem didn't start you off."</p> + +<p>"Oh, no, that had nothing to do with it—relieved me, if anything; set +me to thinking that some one else had been in the same fix. By the way, +a telegraph operator here brings me something nearly every day. Says +that he's a life-long friend of yours. Told me to tell you that he was +about to pick up a piece of calico and take it home with him—said that +you would understand. Now, you go on home and stay there until the +trial. You have almost worn yourself out. You and the General are still +on good terms, I suppose. Wish you could slip over there and see Millie. +Do you know what Chyd's waiting for? He's waiting to see how the trial +goes. Bill, I'm beginning to feel sorry for Stuart. But his face doesn't +come up before me at night with a death-look. There's a good deal of +nonsense about that sort of thing. When I see him he's always sitting on +his horse, cursing me. And that's not very pleasant. Go on, Bill. I have +kept you too long. It's nearly night."</p> + +<p>Old man Jucklin was smartly encouraged when I told him what the ex-judge +had said, and he related a number of anecdotes of the old fellow's early +days on the circuit.</p> + +<p>"Oh, help is comin' our way," old Limuel said, and his wife, pointing to +her book, replied: "It has always been with us."</p> + +<p>"At the stake," he whispered.</p> + +<p>I did not speak of having seen Chyd. I had no right<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_170" id="Page_170">[170]</a></span> to do so, for I +knew that he was now an additional distress. But the next morning when +Guinea and I were alone at the breakfast table she asked me if I had not +met him down the road—said that she had seen him crossing the meadows +with his dogs. I began to quibble and she spoke up spiritedly: "Oh, you +shouldn't hesitate to tell me. It amounts to nothing, I'm sure."</p> + +<p>"I must manage some way to see Millie," I remarked, determined to say no +more about Chyd lest I should lose my temper.</p> + +<p>"I hope you won't go to the house," she replied, her face coloring.</p> + +<p>"I won't, but I didn't know but that I might see her going to a +neighbor's house and then——"</p> + +<p>"No," she broke in, "I hope you won't even do that. She must know how we +feel, and if she had any interest in us she would come over here. No, I +won't say that. I don't know what she may have to contend with. But her +brother could come if he wanted to, but it makes no difference, I'm +sure."</p> + +<p>"Suppose I meet Millie in the road; shall I speak to her?"</p> + +<p>"Surely, but don't ask her why she hasn't been to see us. What did Chyd +say?"</p> + +<p>"Not much of anything—said that so long as people were romantic they +must expect trouble."</p> + +<p>She frowned and thus replied: "A good authority on the evils of +romance."</p> + +<p>"Why not an expert on the thrills of romance?" I asked.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_171" id="Page_171">[171]</a></span> "Hasn't he +played up and down the brook?"</p> + +<p>"So have the ducks," she answered, with a return of her smile. "But let +us not talk about him—I would rather not think about him."</p> + +<p>I could not play the part of a hero; I was not of the stock that had +stood at the stake glorifying the deed with a hymn. I had wanted to drop +the subject, not because it was painful to her, but because it pressed a +spike into my own flesh; but her wish to dismiss him from her mind urged +me to keep him there, to torture her with him. Brute? Surely; I have +never denied it, but I loved her, and in love there is no generosity. +The lover who seeks to be liberal is a hypocrite, a sneak-thief robbing +his own heart.</p> + +<p>"But how can you put him out of your mind if he is worthy of your love?" +I asked. "You did not place him therein, nor can you take him away."</p> + +<p>She looked at me a long time, looked at me and read me; she did not +frown, she smiled not, but searched me with her eyes until I felt that +my motive lay bare under her gaze. "You would help Alf in his trouble," +she said, "but you would throw a trouble at me."</p> + +<p>How sadly she spoke those words, and my heart fell under them and lay at +her feet in sorrow and in humiliation. I strove to beg for pardon, but I +stammered and my words were almost meaningless.</p> + +<p>"Oh, you have my forgiveness, if that is what you are trying to ask for. +Now, please don't say anything more.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_172" id="Page_172">[172]</a></span> I know you didn't mean to make me +feel bad."</p> + +<p>"I think I'd better cut my throat!" I replied, taking up a table knife.</p> + +<p>She laughed at me. "How can a big man be so silly? Cut your throat, +indeed. Why, what have you done to deserve it?"</p> + +<p>"What have I done?" I cried, leaning over the table and making a fumble, +as if I would take her hand—"what have I done? I have wantonly wounded +the divinest creature——"</p> + +<p>She was on her feet in an instant; she put her hands to her ears and +shook her head at me. "No, you must not say that. Don't you see I can't +hear what you say? So, what is the use of saying anything? Think you are +a brute? No, I don't; but you must not talk like that. I can't hear +you—I won't hear you. Oh, don't worry about Mr. Lundsford. He will +kneel at my feet."</p> + + + +<hr /> + +<h2><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_173" id="Page_173">[173]</a></span> +<a name="xiii" id="xiii"></a>CHAPTER XIII.</h2> + + +<p>The next day I took a "turn" of corn to the water-mill, far down the +stream. The old man had not been off the place since Alf went to jail, +and the office of attending to all outside affairs was conferred upon +me. Guinea came out to the corn-crib and stood at the door, looking in +upon me as I tied the mouth of the bag. The old man was not far off, +calling his hogs; a sad cry at any time, but growing sadder, it seemed +to me, as the days wore along.</p> + +<p>"Old Moll will have a load," the girl said; "you and that bag."</p> + +<p>"Yes, if I were to ride on the bag like a boy, but I'm going to walk and +lead her."</p> + +<p>"Oh, that will be nice," she cried. "Nice for Moll. I wish I could go +with you. It's beautiful all down that way; high rocks and pools with +fish in them. It isn't so awfully far, either. I have walked it many a +time."</p> + +<p>"Alone?" I asked, tugging at the string.</p> + +<p>"That doesn't matter. It's the distance I'm talking about. Why, you +haven't asked me to go."</p> + +<p>"But I ask you now," I said, dragging the bag toward the door.</p> + +<p>"No, I won't go now," she replied, making way for me<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_174" id="Page_174">[174]</a></span> to come out.</p> + +<p>"Won't you, please?"</p> + +<p>"No, not since I have come to think about it. I'd have to walk along all +the time with my hands to my ears, for I just know you'd say something I +don't want to hear. You are as cruel as you can be, lately."</p> + +<p>I had taken up the bag to throw it across the mare, but I dropped it +upon the log step.</p> + +<p>"You'll burst it if you don't mind, Mr. Hawes."</p> + +<p>"But I handle it more tenderly than you do my heart!" I cried. "You have +thrown my heart down in the dust and are trying to burst it."</p> + +<p>Her hands flew to her ears. "Oh, I knew you were going to say something +mean. But I can't hear you now. Isn't it an advantage to say what you +please and not hear a word? You can do this way if you want to. No, I +won't go—really, I can't. I mustn't leave mother."</p> + +<p>She ran away toward the house, and I stood watching her until she was +hidden behind the old man's "stockade." Torturer she was, sometimes with +her dignity, but worse with her whimsical, childish ways, when she +seemed to dance on the outer edge of my life, daring me to catch her in +my arms. But was it not my size that made her feel like a child? It must +have been, for whenever she spoke of Chyd she was deeply serious. I was +resentful as I led the old mare toward the mill. Oh, I understood it +all. She had seen that I sought to punish her, had read me as we sat +together at the table, and now she was torturing me.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_175" id="Page_175">[175]</a></span> Well, I would give +her no further opportunity; I would let her lead young Lundsford into +her mind and out again, just as it suited her fancy.</p> + +<p>The coves and nooks and quiet pools that lay along the stream were +dreamful; there was not a mighty rock nor bold surprising bluff to +startle one with its grandeur, but at the end of every view was the +promise of a resting place and never was the fancy led to +disappointment. Now gurgle and drip, now perfect calm, the elm leaf +motionless, the bird dreaming. And had history marched down that quiet +vale a thousand years ago and tinged the water with the blood of man, +how sweetly verse would sing its beauty, from what distances would come +the poet and the artist, the rich man seeking rest—all would flock to +marvel and to praise. Ah, we care but little for what nature has done, +until man has placed his stamp upon it.</p> + +<p>I loitered and mused upon going to the mill and upon returning home. And +when I came within sight of the house I halted suddenly, wondering +whether I had forgotten something. Yes, I had. I had forgotten my +resolve to be cool and dignified under the reading eyes of that girl. I +led the mare to the rear end of the passage and had taken off the bag of +meal when Guinea came out.</p> + +<p>"Mr. Hawes," she said, "I wish you would forgive me for the way I acted +last night and this morning. Now let us be good friends, friends in +trouble, and let us hereafter talk with sense and without restraint. I +am going to be<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_176" id="Page_176">[176]</a></span> frank with you, for I don't see why I should be cramped. +I am not going to pretend not to know—know something, and you must +wait; we must all wait for—for anything that is to come. I hardly know +what I am saying, but you understand me."</p> + +<p>She held out her hand, and I took it, tremulously at first, but I held +it with a firm and manly honesty as I looked into her eyes. "Yes, I +understand you, and it shall be as you say. I have been strong with +every one but you, and I am going to show you that I can be your friend. +Wait a moment. You know what I think, but I will not hint at it again. +It was mean of me—yes, I must say it—it was mean of me to jibe you. +But I'll not do it again. If you only knew what my early life was. I was +the victim of size, an awkward boy, the jest of a neighborhood; and +while I might have outlived some of my awkwardness, I am still +sensitive, for I carry scars."</p> + +<p>"Awkward," she laughed. "Why, I don't see how you could have been called +awkward. Everybody at the General's spoke of how graceful you were, and +really it would make you vain if I were to tell you all that was said."</p> + +<p>The old man came round the house, and Guinea sprang back. I was still +holding her hand. "Hah," he grunted. "Got home all right, eh? Parker was +over here just now and said that the trial had been set for next +Thursday, not quite a week from now, you understand. He seems to think +we are goin' to pull through all right; said that you've made friends +with everybody in the town. That's<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_177" id="Page_177">[177]</a></span> good, both for now and also for +after a while, when you set in as a lawyer. I tell you, Parker's visit +helped us mightily, and Susan has eat a right smart snack, and I didn't +know how hungry I was till right then. You better go to town to-morrow."</p> + +<p>I went in early the next morning and found nothing to serve as a basis +for the hopefulness that Parker had given the old people. Conkwright was +busy with the case, frowning over his papers, but he had no words of +encouragement, except to say that he was going to do the best he could. +But after a while he flashed a gleam of hope by remarking that there was +one important factor in our favor. And eagerly I asked him what it was.</p> + +<p>"It won't do to talk it around," said he, "but we can count on the judge +doing the square thing. He is comparatively new in our district, and the +Stuart influence hasn't taken hold on him—has had no cause to. His +favor, or, at least, his lack of a cause to be directly against us, will +mean a good deal; it will enable us to secure a new trial at any rate."</p> + +<p>As I entered the corridor of the jail I saw Alf's face brighten behind +the bars. "Have you seen Millie?" he asked.</p> + +<p>"No, your sister commanded me not to go near the General's house."</p> + +<p>His countenance fell, but he said: "I reckon she's right. And I didn't +mean that you should make a dead-set call, you know—didn't know but you +might happen to meet<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_178" id="Page_178">[178]</a></span> her. That preacher, the one I told you about, has +been round again, and he declares that I must come into his church. They +do pull and haul a fellow when they get him into a corner, don't they? +Well, I don't see what else can be done now except to go into court and +have the thing over with. I know as well as I know my name that he would +have killed me if I hadn't killed him; not that night, of course, but +some time. I am sorry, though, that I stood there in the road, waiting +for him, for that does look like murder, Bill. But look how he had drawn +his sight between my eyes and abused me for everything he could think +of. And whenever I see him now, there he sits on his horse, with one eye +half shut and the other one looking down the barrel of his revolver at +me. I can see his lips moving and can hear every word he says."</p> + +<p>I went home that day earlier than usual, resolved to keep the old people +in the atmosphere of encouragement which the deputy sheriff had breathed +about them, and I told them that the presiding judge was our friend, and +that old woman put her worn hands in mine and gave me a look of trustful +gratitude. "God rewards the man that seeks to ease an old mother's +heart," she said; and the old man, standing there, with his sleeves +rolled up, threw the droop out of his shoulders, the droop that had +remained with him since that early morning when he stood at the gate of +his "stockade," fumbling with the chain. "And, Susan," he spoke up, "if +we've got two judges on our side we're all right. Let him set down +there,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_179" id="Page_179">[179]</a></span> now. Let him set down, I tell you. When a woman gets hold of a +man she never knows when to turn him loose. I'm tempted now to go and +see him. No," he added, shaking his head, "can't do it—couldn't bear to +see a son of mine locked up like a thief. But it won't be for long. That +judge will say, 'turn that boy loose,' and then—oh, it's all right, +Susan, and a year from now we'll almost forget that it ever took place."</p> + +<p>His wife began to cry, for in this trouble her heart demanded that he +should lean upon her for support, and it appeared to me that whenever he +straightened up to stand alone, she felt that her office was gone.</p> + +<p>"Susan, don't take on that way. Jest as we see our way clear of the +woods, you act like you are lost. Smile, till you find the path, and +then you want to cry. Act like you want the Lord to do it all—don't +want the circuit jedge to do nothin'. That's it, brighten up there now, +and, Guinea, you go out and tell that nigger woman to cook enough for a +dozen folks. Hawes, I've got them chickens down to a p'int that would +make your eyes bulge out."</p> + +<p>"I believe that Bob came very near making one of yours bulge out," I +replied.</p> + +<p>"Ah, didn't he, the old scoundrel. But Sam pecked a grain of corn out of +my mouth this mornin' and never teched a tooth. That's what they call +art, ain't it? Come out with me."</p> + +<p>"Limuel, let him stay with me, won't you?" his wife pleaded.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_180" id="Page_180">[180]</a></span>"Of course, Susan, but don't you reckon a man wants to unstring himself +once in a while? They can't understand us, Hawes. Women know all about +the heart, but they are sometimes off on the soul."</p> + +<p>"You think more of those old chickens than you do of me, anyhow," his +wife whimpered, still resentful that he was not leaning upon her for +support.</p> + +<p>"Did you hear that, Hawes? By jings, sir, you've got to be foolish or a +woman will think you've ceased to love her. The minute you are strong +she thinks you have forgotten her. About the happiest woman I ever saw +was one that had to support a bed-ridden husband. Fact, as sure as I'm +standin' right here. She was the kindest and sweetest thing you ever +saw, but when the feller got up finally and got strong enough to go +about, blamed if she didn't jump on him every time he come in sight."</p> + +<p>"Now, Limuel, you know you are makin' up every word of that."</p> + +<p>"It's the truth, I tell you—knowed the man well."</p> + +<p>"Well, who was he?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, he lived away over yonder on the branch, out of your range."</p> + +<p>"He didn't live anywhere; that's the truth of it."</p> + +<p>"But, Susan, he might have lived anywhere. His name is man and his +wife's name is woman. What, you goin' to cry about it? Now, there, it's +all right. No, there never was such a man. I'm an old liar, that's +what's the matter with me. Never was a man fitten to live with a<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_181" id="Page_181">[181]</a></span> good +woman. Why, bless your life, what would I be without you? Why, you've +been the makin' of me. And a long time ago, when I used to drink licker +and fight, you'd set up and wait for me and you never scolded me, and +that very fact turned me agin licker, for I jest nachully thought that +it was too much work for you to keep up a show of good humor all the +time. Yes, it's all right, and that boy's comin' out of there without a +scar on him, and I'll pay back the money that I owe the General——" He +hastened out of the room, and we heard him yelling at his chickens.</p> + + + +<hr /> + +<h2><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_182" id="Page_182">[182]</a></span> +<a name="xiv" id="xiv"></a>CHAPTER XIV.</h2> + + +<p>I went to town every day, and every night I returned, self-charged with +hope; and now the trial was at hand. When the work of impaneling the +jury was begun, old Conkwright was there with his challenges. How shrewd +he was, how sharp were his eyes. And when night came the panel was far +from complete.</p> + +<p>"It will take a long time at this rate," I said, as we were leaving the +court-room.</p> + +<p>"I don't care if it takes a thousand years; they sha'n't ring in a +stuffed toad on me," replied the ex-judge. "Did you notice that fellow +with a long neck? They've fixed him all right and I knew it. I am not +altogether easy about that short fellow we've got, but I hope he is man +enough to be honest. There is no more trickery anywhere than there is in +a murder trial in this country. Well, they've put their worst men +forward, and I think we shall have better material to-morrow."</p> + +<p>And it appeared that we had, for the jury was sworn in the next +afternoon. The testimony was so short and so direct, the witnesses were +so few that the trial could not last long; and when at home I gave this +as an opinion, the old people were glad, for they declared that it +shortened<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_183" id="Page_183">[183]</a></span> the time of their son's absence. On the day set for the +opening of the argument hundreds of the farmers gave over their work and +rode to town, for the Southerner loves a passionate speech, and the +court-house is still his theater.</p> + +<p>The old man walked down the road with me, but he stopped before we +reached the place where Stuart had been stretched upon the ground.</p> + +<p>"Well," he said, turning back, "I reckon to-day'll finish it. At least +they'll give it to the jury and it oughten't to take 'em long after what +the judge says in his charge to 'em. I feel that it's goin' to be all +right. Don't you?"</p> + +<p>The truth was that I did not, but kindness is not always the truth; so I +said: "Everything looks that way. Conkwright is as sharp as a thorn and +he'll be in their flesh from the beginning to the end."</p> + +<p>"By jings, jest say that again. That ought to settle it right now, hah? +Stay with 'em till they git through, and you'll find us waitin' for you +when you git back."</p> + +<p>I nodded, waved my hand at him and galloped away, and from a hill-top I +looked back and saw him still standing there in the road. Parker caught +up with me and we in turn overtook a man whom I did not care to +encounter—Etheredge. I had seen him every day during the trial, had +caught his blurred eye as I was giving my testimony on the stand, had +heard him tell his damaging story.</p> + +<p>"Ho, there," he said, as I was about to pass him. "Haven't forgotten me, +have you?"</p> + +<p>"My memory is unfortunately so good that it retains<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_184" id="Page_184">[184]</a></span> many objectionable +things," I answered.</p> + +<p>"Glad to hear it; pleased to know that you haven't forgotten our little +engagement."</p> + +<p>He rode along with me. The way was just broad enough for two horses +abreast, and the deputy dropped back. "We need not wait for the +termination of the trial," I replied.</p> + +<p>"That so? Strikes me that you are pretty keen, especially as there is an +officer right behind you. Say, you seem to blame me for the interest I +am taking in this affair. Have you stopped to think of the interest you +are taking in it? Jucklin's no relation of yours and probably never will +be. Did you hear what I said? Probably never will be."</p> + +<p>"Unfortunately I haven't an apple tree sprout with me to-day, Mr. +Etheredge."</p> + +<p>"And it's a good thing for you that you haven't. Do you reckon I'd let +you lash at me while so many people are riding along the road?"</p> + +<p>"I don't suppose you would let me do so at any time if you could help +yourself."</p> + +<p>"Oh, I don't know. Might let you amuse yourself if there were no one in +sight. But I've got nothing against you, young man. I've lived long +enough to forgive an over-grown boy's impulses."</p> + +<p>He could not have cut me deeper; and his sleepy old eyes saw the blood +and he laughed. "Got under your hide a little that time, eh? We've all +got a thin place somewhere in our skin, you know. You needn't look back; +the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_185" id="Page_185">[185]</a></span> officer is right behind us."</p> + +<p>"I wish he were not in sight," I replied.</p> + +<p>"You don't like him, eh? Why, I always thought, he was a pretty good +fellow. But, of course, I am willing to accept your judgment of him. But +if you don't like him why do you wait for him to come up?"</p> + +<p>"I am waiting for you to go on, sir," I replied. "And if you don't I +will knock you off that horse."</p> + +<p>"Very well. I see a man on ahead who is doubtless better company. I +trust, though, that I shall have the pleasure of a closer association +with you at some future time. Good-morning."</p> + +<p>I waited until Parker came up. "Did you get enough of him?" he asked, +laughing. "I knew you would—nearly everybody does. Under the +circumstances it was an insult for him to offer to ride with you."</p> + +<p>"And he and I will have a trouble as soon as this one is settled," I +replied.</p> + +<p>"Oh, I reckon not. I don't see why any man of sense should want to have +trouble with you. Just look how they are flocking to town. Hope they'll +turn out this way and vote for me at the next election for sheriff. +Women, too. See them coming out of that gate?"</p> + +<p>When we rode into the town the streets were thronged and horsemen, +wagons and buggies were thick on the public square. The ginger cake and +cider vender was there, with his stand near the court-house steps, and +the neigh of the colt and the distressful answer of his mother,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_186" id="Page_186">[186]</a></span> tied to +the rack, echoed throughout the town. Dogs, meeting one another for the +first time, decided in their knowing way that they were enemies, but +suddenly became allies in a yelping chase after one of their kind that +came down the street with a tin can tied to his tail.</p> + +<p>I went at once to Conkwright's office and found him with his feet on a +table, contentedly smoking a cob pipe.</p> + +<p>"I was just thinking over some points that I want to make," he remarked +as I entered.</p> + +<p>"And I hope, sir, that you are in the proper humor to make them."</p> + +<p>"Can't tell about that. Oratory is as stealthy and as illusive as a +weazel at night. You never know when he's coming."</p> + +<p>"But do you feel well?" I anxiously inquired.</p> + +<p>"Oh, feel first-rate, but that doesn't make any particular difference. +Sometimes a man may think that he feels well, but when he gets up to +speak he finds that he is simply sluggish. Reckon I'll get through all +right. Do the best I can, any way, and if I fail it can't be helped. +Guess we'd better go over."</p> + +<p>An anxious day that was for me. I looked at Alf, now beginning to grow +pale under his imprisonment, and I saw his resentment rise and fall as +the state's attorney pictured him, waiting, listening with eagerness for +the sound of a horse's hoofs. I was to be a lawyer, to defend men and to +prosecute them for money, and yet I wondered how that bright young +fellow, with the seeming passion of an<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_187" id="Page_187">[187]</a></span> honest outcry, could stand there +and tell the jury that my friend had committed the foulest murder that +had ever reddened the criminal annals of his state. Old man Conkwright +sat, twirling his thumbs, and occasionally he would nod at the jurymen +as if to call their attention to a rank absurdity. But I did not see how +he could offset the evidence and the blazing sentences of that +impassioned prosecutor. At last Conkwright's time had come, and when he +arose and uttered his first word I felt the chill of a disappointment +creeping over me. He was slow and his utterance was as cold as if it had +issued from a frost-bitten mouth. I went out and walked round the town, +to the livery-stable, where a negro was humming a tune as he washed a +horse's back; to the drug-store, where a doctor was dressing a brick-bat +wound in a drunken man's scalp—I walked out to the edge of the town, +where the farming land lay, and then I turned back. I was thinking of my +return home, of the sorrow that I should take with me, of those old +people—of Guinea.</p> + +<p>Some one called me, and facing about I recognized the telegraph operator +coming across a lot. "Glad to see you," he said, coming up and holding +out his hand. "Didn't hear about her, did you?"</p> + +<p>"Hear about whom?" I asked, not pleased that he should have broken in +upon my sorrowful meditation.</p> + +<p>"Mrs. McHenry."</p> + +<p>"No, I've heard nothing. What about her?"</p> + +<p>"Why, there's everything about her. She's my wife—married<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_188" id="Page_188">[188]</a></span> night before +last. Know that piece of calico I pointed out that day, the time I said +I had to be mighty careful? Well, she's it. I'll walk on up with you. +Run it down—run in panting, you might say. Said I had to have her and +she shied at first, but that didn't make any difference, for I was there +three times a day till she saw it wasn't any use to shy any longer; so +she gave in and I caught the first preacher that happened to be hanging +around and he soon pronounced us one and the same kind—something of the +same sort. Go right down that street and you'll see calico on my clothes +line most any time. Say, it will be a pity if they hang that young +fellow. And I'll tell you what I'll do. If they send anything off to any +of the newspapers I'll spell his name wrong. Get even with them some +way, won't we? Yonder comes my boy and I reckon there's a call for me at +the office. They are rushing me now—seems to be the busy season. I've +been to the office twice already to-day."</p> + +<p>Long before I reached the court-house I heard old Conkwright bellowing +at the jury. The windows were full of people and outside men were +standing upon boxes, straining to see the old fellow in his mighty +tirade. I could not get into the room, but I squeezed my way to the door +and stood there, with my blood leaping. Now I could see why they had +called him powerful. His face was aglow, his gray hair was upon end and +his eyes were shooting darts at the jury. I know not how long he spoke, +but I know that suddenly he was silent, looking upward, and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_189" id="Page_189">[189]</a></span> then, +spreading his hands over the jury, said: "May God in his infinite mercy +influence your decision." He sat down, and I noticed then that the air +was cooler with a breeze that sprang up when the sun had set. The +state's attorney made a few remarks, and then the judge delivered his +charge to the jury, an address short, but earnest. Now there was a +shoving and a crush—the jurymen were filing out. I saw them leading Alf +back to the jail, but I did not go to him, so pulled and hauled I was by +hope and fear. But I made my way to the old lawyer, and asked him what +he thought.</p> + +<p>"I don't know," he answered. "Don't you see the disposition there is to +rush everything? I don't think they will be out long."</p> + +<p>"You made a great speech, sir."</p> + +<p>"Wasn't bad, considering the material. We were at a disadvantage. He +stood there in the road, you know, and that is a hard thing to get +round."</p> + +<p>"But the judge must have felt your speech."</p> + +<p>"Why, my son, I don't suppose he heard it."</p> + +<p>I went away and again I walked about the town. It was dusk and the +tavern bell was ringing. On the court-house steps and on the public +square men were discussing the trial and venturing their opinions as to +the result. I heard one man say: "The old soldier made a great fight, +but the odds were against him. Bet ten dollars they find him guilty."</p> + +<p>"There's his friend over there," another man spoke up.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_190" id="Page_190">[190]</a></span> "Don't talk so +loud."</p> + +<p>"Can't help who's there listening; money's here talkin'. Any takers?"</p> + +<p>Not far away there was a wooden bridge over a small stream and thither I +went and leaned upon the rail, listening to the murmur of the water. I +thought that this must be the brook that rippled past our house, and I +went down to the water's edge and bathed my aching head. Then I +remembered that I had eaten nothing since early morning, and I thought +that I would better go to the tavern, and was turning away when I heard +some one cry: "The jury is in and court has met again!" I scrambled up +and hastened toward the court-house, and at the steps I met a number of +men coming out. "It's all over," one of them said to me. "Imprisonment +for life. Conkwright has moved for a new trial and the judge has granted +it."</p> + +<p>I hastened to the jail, whither they had taken Alf. I found him seated +on his bed. He got up when he saw me.</p> + +<p>"Bill," he said, in a voice low and steady, "I am not going to the +penitentiary if you are my friend."</p> + +<p>"And you know that I am, Alf."</p> + +<p>"Then you will lend me your knife."</p> + +<p>"No, Alf, I can't do that—not now. Remember that we have another +chance."</p> + +<p>"I don't mean now—I mean if that last chance fails. Now I want you to +do something for me. You tell father that he must sell his farm +immediately and leave here. Tell<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_191" id="Page_191">[191]</a></span> him that I'll hate him if he doesn't +do as I say. You can stay here and write to him, and if I don't come out +at the next trial, all right, and if I do, I can go to him. It may seem +hard, but he's got to do it. He wouldn't live here, any way. Will you do +it?"</p> + +<p>"I will, for I don't know but it is a good plan. No, he wouldn't live +here. He will do as you request."</p> + +<p>"Well, go on home now and rest. Hanged if you don't look as if you've +been on trial for your life," he added, laughing. "Tell him that I'm not +crushed—that it has come out better than I expected."</p> + +<p>The night was dark, the road was desolate, and I heard the lonesome +lowing of the cattle. And now and then a horseman passed me, for I was +not eager to get home. At a gate near the road-side some one was +standing with a lantern, and just behind me came the rattle of an old +vehicle. I turned aside to let it pass, and as I did the light of the +lantern fell upon me and a voice asked: "That you, Mr. Hawes?"</p> + +<p>"Yes," I answered, turning back into the road and following a buggy.</p> + +<p>"I 'lowed so," said a man in the buggy, "for we don't grow many of your +size about here. I have heard that they used to, but they don't now. +Good many things have happened since that day you come over to see me +about the school. I'm Perdue. And, by the way, there's a hundred dollars +at my house waitin' for you, and if you don't come after it I'll send it +over."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_192" id="Page_192">[192]</a></span>"But you don't owe me anything yet," I replied.</p> + +<p>"Yes, the money's there and it's yourn. You couldn't help not bein' in a +fix to teach. As I say, it's there for you, and you might as well have +it. Sorry for the old folks, tell 'em, but it can't be helped."</p> + +<p>On he drove, shouting back that he would send the money the next day, +and my protest, if, indeed, I entered one, was weak and faltering, for +of all men in that neighborhood I thought that I stood most in need of a +hundred dollars.</p> + +<p>Now I was nearing the house. The hour was late, but a light was burning +in the sitting-room. No one came out, though my horse's hoofs fell hard +enough upon the stones to tell them of my coming; and when I got down at +the gate I found a horse tied to the fence. Some person, eager to bear +evil tidings, had forestalled me. I led my horse to the stable, went to +the house, and had just stepped into the passage when Parker, the deputy +sheriff, came out of the sitting-room. "I thought you'd go on back to +the jail to stay a while, so I came on over to tell them. No trouble, +you know—only a short distance out of my way."</p> + +<p>All within was silent. I stepped inside. The old man was standing with +his back to the fire-place; the old woman sat with her book in her lap +and Guinea stood at the window, looking out into the darkness. I sat +down in silence, for I knew not what to say, and in silence for a time +we remained. The old woman sobbed, clutching<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_193" id="Page_193">[193]</a></span> more tightly her book, and +the old man looked at her sharply and then almost flung himself out of +the room. And a few moments later I heard him shouting: "Hike, there, +Sam! Hike, there, Bob! There's plenty of light; you've got three +lanterns. Hike, there! To a finish, to a finish!"</p> + +<p>"Mrs. Jucklin, it is no time for despair," I said, and Guinea turned +from the window. "We have already secured a new trial, and the next time +it will surely go in our favor. That is the history of nearly all such +cases. Be strong just a little while longer. You have been our prop, and +now you must not let us fall."</p> + +<p>She arose and with an old-time courtesy bowed to me, and Guinea came +forward and held out her hand, and she must have seen a sudden light +leap into my eyes, for she said: "I am Alf's sister and yours, too."</p> + +<p>This came as a repulse to my heart's eager yearning; no sister's +confidences could answer the call that my nature was shouting to her. +But I gulped down a rising soreness of the heart and I said: "I thank +you."</p> + +<p>The old man, with heavy tread, strode into the room. "It was to a +finish," he whispered. His hands were covered with blood. "It was to a +finish, and they are both dead."</p> + +<p>There was a sharp rap at the door. Guinea opened it and in came the old +General. "Mr. Jucklin, can I speak to you in private?" he asked, bowing +to the women.</p> + +<p>"No. What you've got to say, out with it here."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_194" id="Page_194">[194]</a></span>"I would rather say it in private. Why, what's the matter with your +hands?"</p> + +<p>"It was to a finish, sir, and let what you say be to a finish, even if +it is three times as bloody."</p> + +<p>"Oh, I have come out of no hard feelings, sir. Ladies, would you and our +friend, Mr. Hawes, mind retiring?"</p> + +<p>"They are goin' to stay here, sir," the old man replied, rolling up his +sleeves.</p> + +<p>"All right, just as you will, sir. Mr. Jucklin, years ago we entered +into an arrangement——"</p> + +<p>"And I have cursed myself ever since!" the old man exclaimed.</p> + +<p>"Just wait until I get through, if you please. We entered into an +arrangement, prompted by a boy's fancy and warmed by a father's over +indulgence. I know that this is a sore time to come to you, and I don't +want to appear unkind, for my aim is tender, though my determination is +just. Young hearts may whisper to each other, and that whispering may be +music, sir; but in this life there are duties too stern to be melted and +turned aside by a melody. And, sir, one of the most sacred duties that +can fall to the trust of a man is to see that the family name, which is +to survive after he has folded his hands in eternal stillness—pardon my +devious methods, for I assure you that my windings proceed from a +kindness of heart—I say that my duty now is to those who may bear my +name in the future. I trust that I am now sufficiently started to speak +plainly. I don't doubt the real worth and sterling integrity<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_195" id="Page_195">[195]</a></span> of your +stock, Mr. Jucklin, but an agreement that we once made must be set +aside."</p> + +<p>He stood with his broad hat in his hand and out of it he grabbled a +handkerchief and wiped his face. Old Lim gazed steadily at him. "My +words sound cold and formal," the General continued, "and I wish that +they might be warmer and more at ease, but in vain have I tempered with +them. The short of it all is, and I have striven not to say it +bluntly—is that the engagement which has held us in prospective +relationship is hereby broken; but by this I do not mean that your son +is guilty of murder, for in his heart he may see himself justified, but +a decision of court has—and I wish I could find a softer means of +saying it—court has pronounced him guilty, and that places the marriage +out of the question. Bear with me just a moment more, for I assure you +that I am suffering keenly with you, that my heart is in sorrowful +unison with your own. Family pride may be regarded a hobby in this day +when refinement and respectability are sneered at, but it is a virtuous +hobby, and I have held it so long that I cannot put it down. And now, in +so far as there is any question of a financial obligation, we will turn +our backs upon it and forget that it ever existed."</p> + +<p>He put his handkerchief into his hat, changed his hat to his other hand +and stood looking at Jucklin; and I had expected to see the old man leap +off the floor in a rage, but I cannot recall ever having seen a cooler +show of indifference. "I put gaffs on 'em early this mornin' an' kept +'em<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_196" id="Page_196">[196]</a></span> waitin' for the finish, and when it come it come soon," he said.</p> + +<p>"Mr. Jucklin, I had hoped to make myself sufficiently clear. I have +come, sir, to break the engagement that was foolishly arranged by us to +bind your daughter and my son."</p> + +<p>"Bob died first, but Sam could jest stagger, and he fluttered against me +and covered my hands with his blood; and I must apologize for not +washin' 'em, but it is not too late to make some sort of amends. I will +wipe 'em on your jaws, sir!"</p> + +<p>He sprang forward, but I caught him. "You must be perfectly cool and +perfectly sensible, Mr. Jucklin," I said, as quickly as I could, holding +him. "Remember that he is in your house."</p> + +<p>And this quieted him. Even the most pronounced backwoodsman in the South +is sometimes graced with a sudden and almost marvelous courtesy, the +unconscious revival of a long lost dignity; and this came upon the old +man, and, bowing low, he said:</p> + +<p>"I humbly beg your pardon, sir."</p> + +<p>"And I should be a brute not to grant it," the General replied, bowing +in turn. "But I hope that reason rather than the fact of my being under +your roof will govern your conduct."</p> + +<p>During this time, and, indeed, from the moment when the General had +entered the room, Guinea stood beside the rocking-chair in which her +mother was seated; no change<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_197" id="Page_197">[197]</a></span> had come over her countenance, but with +one hand resting on the back of the chair she had remained motionless, +with the exception that she placed her hand on her mother's head at the +moment when I caught the old man in my arms. I saw this, though her +motion was swift, for I was looking at her rather than at her father. +And now the General turned to the girl.</p> + +<p>"My dear," he said. She frowned slightly, but her lips parted with a +cold smile that came out of her heart.</p> + +<p>"My dear child, it is hard for me to say this to you, for I feel that +you can but regard me a feelingless monster that would rend an innocent +and loving heart, and God knows that I now beg your forgiveness, but in +this life cruel things must be done, done that those who come after us +may feel no sting of reproach cast by an exacting society. I am an old +man, my dear, and shall soon be taken to the burial ground where my +fathers sleep in honor. They left me a proud name and I must not soil +it. The oldest stone there is above a breast that braved old Cromwell's +pikemen—the noble heart of a cavalier beat in that bosom—and can you +ask——"</p> + +<p>"I have asked nothing, General."</p> + +<p>"You are a noble young woman."</p> + +<p>"But your son will come to me and kneel at my feet."</p> + +<p>A flush flew over the General's face. "No, it is with his full consent +that I have come. Indeed, I would have put off my coming until a more +befitting day, but he knew his duty and bade me do mine."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_198" id="Page_198">[198]</a></span>"He will kneel at my feet," she said; and he had not replied when we +heard footsteps in the passage—wild footsteps. There was a moment of +sharp clicking at the door latch, as if a nervous hand had touched it, +and then Millie broke into the room. Her face was white, her hair hung +about her shoulders.</p> + +<p>"You have kept me away!" she cried, stamping her feet and frowning at +her father. "Yes, you have kept me away, but I have come and I hate +you."</p> + +<p>The old General was stupefied. "You may tell your cold-blooded son what +to do," she went on, "but my heart is my own. He asked me to marry him +and I will—I will break into the penitentiary and marry him. And you +would have had me marry Dan Stuart. Just before he was killed he told me +he would kill Alf if I said I loved him. I will go to the jail and marry +him there."</p> + +<p>She ran to Guinea, and they put their arms about each other and wept; +and the old woman pressed her book to her bosom and sobbed over it. +Through old Lim's wire-like beard a smile, hard and cynical, was +creeping out, and the General was fiercely struggling with himself. He +had bitten his lip until his mouth was reddening with blood.</p> + +<p>"Come, you are going home with me," he said.</p> + +<p>"I am not!" his daughter cried, with her arms tight about Guinea. "I am +not; I am going to the jail."</p> + +<p>"Then I will take you home."</p> + +<p>"Don't touch me!" she cried, shrinking back into a corner. "Don't touch +me, for I am almost mad. What<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_199" id="Page_199">[199]</a></span> do I care for your pride? What do I care +for the old graveyard? You have tried to break my heart, but I will +marry him. He is worth ten thousand such men as your cold-blooded son. +Don't you touch me, father. Mr. Hawes!" she screamed, "don't let him +touch me."</p> + +<p>The old General had stepped forward as if to lay hands upon her, but he +stepped back, bowed and said: "You are a lady and I am a gentleman, and +these facts protect you from violence at my hands, but I here denounce +you—no, I don't, my daughter. I cannot denounce my own flesh and blood. +I will leave you here to-night, hoping that when this fit of passion is +over reason will lead you home. Good-night."</p> + + + +<hr /> + +<h2><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_200" id="Page_200">[200]</a></span> +<a name="xv" id="xv"></a>CHAPTER XV.</h2> + + +<p>Long we sat there in a calm, after the General left us; and the two +girls, on a bench in a corner, whispered to each other. How wild had +been my guessing at the character of Millie! How could one so shy, so +gentle, so fond of showing her dimples, cast off all timidity and set +herself in opposition to her father's authority and pride? I could but +argue that she was wrong, that she had forgotten her duty, thus to stand +out and violently defy him, and yet I admired her for the spirit she had +shown. And I believed that Guinea was just as determined, just as +passionate. But she was wiser.</p> + +<p>I told the old man what Alf had requested me to tell him, that he must +sell his farm and go away, and he replied that he would. "I don't think, +though, that I can get very much for it. Parker's land joins mine, and +may be I can strike a trade with him. Of course, I don't want to live +here any longer, for no matter what may come now we've got the name. +Susan, I never saw a woman behave better than you have to-night. The old +stock—and I'm with the book from kiver to kiver. And now, Millie, let +me say a word to you. Of course, I know exactly how you feel, and all +that—how that you couldn't help yourself—but<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_201" id="Page_201">[201]</a></span> to-morrow mornin' after +breakfast I would, if I was in your place, go right home and ask my +father's forgiveness. I say if I was in your place, for if you do you +won't have half so much to be sorry for, and in this life I hold that +we're doin' our best when we do the fewest things to regret. What do you +think?"</p> + +<p>"I'm sorry I talked that way, and he's getting old, too. But I had a +cause. He made me stay in the house, and he ought to remember that I am +of the same blood he is and that it's awful to be humiliated. But +there's one thing I'm going to do. When Alf's tried again, I'm going to +tell them what Stuart said. I would have done it this time, but I was +ashamed to say anything about it. I have been nearly crazy, but I'm +awfully sorry that I talked that way. And, oh, suppose he were to die +to-night? I never could forgive myself. I must go home now, Mr. Jucklin. +Yes, I can't stay another minute. You'll go with me, won't you, Mr. +Hawes?"</p> + +<p>"I will gladly do so," I answered.</p> + +<p>"And I will go, too," said Guinea.</p> + +<p>We took a lantern, but the night was so dark that we went round by the +road, rather than over the meadows. Millie said that she scarcely +remembered how she had come, but she thought that she had run the most +of the way. And over and over as we walked along she repeated: "I'm +awfully sorry."</p> + +<p>As we came out of the woods, where the road bent in toward the big gate, +we saw a light burning in the library.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_202" id="Page_202">[202]</a></span> Millie stopped suddenly and +clutched my arm. "Suppose he won't let me come back?" she said. "I don't +know in what sort of a humor I may find him. Mr. Hawes, you go on and +see him first, please?"</p> + +<p>"And I will wait out here," Guinea spoke up, and her voice trembled. "Of +course, I can't go into the house after what has happened. Nobody must +know that I am here."</p> + +<p>I left them standing in the dark, and when I stepped upon the porch I +heard some one walking heavily and slowly up and down the library. On +the door was a brass knocker, and when I raised it and let it fall, the +foot-steps came hastily to the door. A hanging lamp was burning in the +hall, and I saw that the old General himself had opened the door.</p> + +<p>"Oh, it's you Mr. Hawes. I couldn't tell at first. My old eyes are +getting flat, sir. Step into the library."</p> + +<p>"No, I thank you. I have but a moment to stay."</p> + +<p>"Step in, sir," he insisted, almost commanded, and I obeyed. Chyd was +under a lamp, reading a sheep-skin covered book. He looked up as I +entered, nodded, and then resumed his reading.</p> + +<p>"Sit down," said the General.</p> + +<p>"No, I thank you, for, as I say, I have but a moment to remain. Your +daughter is exceedingly sorry that she acted——"</p> + +<p>"Where is she, sir?"</p> + +<p>"She has come with me, but fearing that your resentment——"</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_203" id="Page_203">[203]</a></span>"What, is she out there waiting in the dark? What, my child out there +waiting to know whether she can come into her father's house? I will go +to her, sir. Come, Chyd, let us both go."</p> + +<p>I stepped to the door and stood confronting the old man and his son.</p> + +<p>"You can go, General, if you will, but your son must remain where he +is."</p> + +<p>"What, I don't understand you, sir. How dare you—what do you mean, +sir?"</p> + +<p>"Your son must not come with us. That is what I mean."</p> + +<p>"Not go to welcome his sister home. Get out of my way, sir!"</p> + +<p>"Wait, General. He should not go out there, for the reason that some one +else, out of kindness, has accompanied your daughter and me."</p> + +<p>"Ah, I beg your pardon," said the old man, bowing. "Chyd, stay where you +are."</p> + +<p>Millie was inside the yard, but Guinea was in the road, standing at the +gate. "Come, my child!" the old man called. Millie ran to him and he +took her in his arms. And he lifted her off the ground, slight creature +that she was, and carried her up the steps.</p> + +<p>Guinea took my arm and homeward we went, and not a word was spoken until +we entered the dark woods.</p> + +<p>"You saw Chyd?" she said.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_204" id="Page_204">[204]</a></span>"Yes, and the old gentleman wanted him to come out."</p> + +<p>"To kneel at my feet so soon?"</p> + +<p>"No, to welcome his sister. Are you so anxious for the time to come?"</p> + +<p>"Yes," she answered, without hesitation.</p> + +<p>"And is it because you love him?" I asked bitterly.</p> + +<p>"You and I are to be the best of friends, Mr. Hawes, and you must not +reproach me."</p> + +<p>"Forgive me if I have hurt you," I said, stupidly.</p> + +<p>"But you must not keep on wounding me merely to be forgiven. I said that +he would kneel at my feet, and this may sound foolish to you, but he +will. How do I know? I feel it; I don't know why, but I do. And we are +to leave the old home if father can sell the land. It's better to go, +but it will be still better to come back, and we will. Do you think that +I am merely a simple girl without ambition? I am not; I dream."</p> + +<p>"I know that you are a noble woman."</p> + +<p>"Oh, don't flatter me now. It's first reproach, and then flattery. But +have you thought of the real nobility of some one else—yourself?"</p> + +<p>I strove to laugh, but I know that it must have been a miserable croak. +"I have done nothing to merit that opinion," I replied.</p> + +<p>"Oh, it is a part of your nature to suppress yourself. Do you know that +I expect great things of you? I do."</p> + +<p>"I know one thing that I'm going to do—I am going to buy the old house +and a narrow strip of land—the path<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_205" id="Page_205">[205]</a></span> and the spring. That's all I +want—the house, the path and the spring, with just a little strip +running a short distance down the brook where the moss is so thick. I +have the promise of money from Perdue, and I think that I can borrow +some of Conkwright. Yes, I must have the house and the path and the +spring and the strip of moss-land that lies along the branch. It will be +merely a poetic possession, but such possessions are the richest to one +who has a soul; and no one with a soul will bid against me. It is a mean +man that would bid against a sentiment."</p> + +<p>"You must be nearly worn out," she said, when for some distance we had +walked in silence.</p> + +<p>"I may be, but I don't know it yet. And so long as I don't know it, why, +of course, I don't care."</p> + +<p>For a long time we said nothing. Her hand was on my arm, but I scarcely +felt its weight, except when we came upon places where the road was +rough; and I wished that the way were rougher, that I might feel her +dependence upon me. Once she stepped into a deep rut, and I caught her +about the waist, but when I had lifted her out, she gently released +herself. She said that the road was rougher than she had ever before +found it, and I was ready to swear that it was the most delightful +highway that my feet had trod; indeed, I did swear it, but she warned me +not to use such strong language when I meant to convey but a weak +compliment.</p> + +<p>"Let us walk faster," she said. "It is away past midnight. I do believe +it's nearly day. Can you see your<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_206" id="Page_206">[206]</a></span> watch?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, but I can't see the time."</p> + +<p>"Nobody can see time, Mr. Teacher of Children."</p> + +<p>"But I could not tell the time even if I were to hold the lantern to the +watch."</p> + +<p>"Oh, of course you could. Why do you talk that way?"</p> + +<p>"I am moved to talk that way because I know that the watch, being in +sympathy with me, refuses to record time when I am with you—it +frightens off the minutes in an ecstasy."</p> + +<p>"Nonsense, Mr. Hawes. I do believe daylight is coming. What a night we +have passed, and here I am unable to realize it, and mother is +heart-broken over our disgrace. But I suppose it will fall upon me and +crush me when we have gone away. My brother sentenced to the +penitentiary! To myself I have repeated these words over and over and +yet they don't strike me."</p> + +<p>"Perhaps it is because your mind is on some one else," I replied, with a +return of my feeling of bitterness.</p> + +<p>With a pressure gentle and yet forgetful her hand had been resting on my +arm, but in an instant the pressure was gone like a bird fluttering from +a bough, and out in the road she was walking alone.</p> + +<p>"I earnestly beg your pardon. I scarcely knew what I was saying. Won't +you please take my arm?"</p> + +<p>"To be compelled to drop it again before we have gone a hundred yards?"</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_207" id="Page_207">[207]</a></span>"No, to drop it when we have reached the gate. Won't you, please? I +don't deny that I am a fool. I have always been a fool. My father said +so and he was right. Everybody made fun of me because I was so easily +cheated; and you ought to be willing to forgive a man who was born a +failure. Whenever there has been a mistake to be made I have made it. +Once I was caught in a storm and when I came in dripping, my father said +that I hadn't sense enough to come in out of the rain. But I am stronger +with every one else than I am with you, and——"</p> + +<p>She was laughing at me; but it was a laugh of sympathy, of forgiveness, +and I caught her hand and placed it upon my arm. And so we walked along +in silence, she pressing my arm when the road was rough. Daylight was +coming and we could see the house, dark and lonesome beyond the black +ravine.</p> + +<p>"What a peculiar man the General is," I said, feeling the growing +heaviness of the silence. "I can hardly place him; but I believe he has +a kind heart."</p> + +<p>"Yes," she replied, "he is kind and brave and generous, but over it all +is a weakness."</p> + +<p>"And he is of a type that is fast disappearing," said I. "A few years +more and his class will be but a memory, and then will come almost a +forgetfulness, but later on he will reappear as a caricature from the +pen of some careless and unsympathetic writer."</p> + +<p>We had crossed the ravine and were now at the gate, and here I halted. +"What, aren't you going in?" she asked,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_208" id="Page_208">[208]</a></span> looking up at me, and in the +dim light I could see her face, pale and sad.</p> + +<p>"No," I answered, "I am going to town."</p> + +<p>"At this hour, and when you are so tired?"</p> + +<p>"The horse is rested, and as for myself, my duty must give me vigor."</p> + +<p>"I don't understand you. What can you do in town?"</p> + +<p>"I can bear the divinest of tidings—I can tell Alf that Millie loves +him."</p> + +<p>She stood looking down, and, bending over her, I kissed her hair, and +oh, the heaven of that moment, at the gate, in the dawn; and oh, the +thrilling perfume of her hair, damp with the dew brushed from the vine +and the leaf of the spice-wood bush. And there, without a word, I left +her, her white hands clasped on her bosom; and over the roadway I +galloped with a message on my lips and incense in my soul.</p> + + + +<hr /> + +<h2><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_209" id="Page_209">[209]</a></span> +<a name="xvi" id="xvi"></a>CHAPTER XVI.</h2> + + +<p>The sun was an hour above the tree-tops when I rode up to the +livery-stable, and the town was lazily astir. Merchants were sprinkling +the brick pavements in front of their stores, and on the public square +was a bon-fire of trash swept from the court-house. I hastened to the +jail, and for the first time the jailer hesitated when I applied for +admission. My eagerness, apparent to every one, appeared to be +mistrusted by him, and he shook his head. I told him that he might go in +with me, that my mission was simply to deliver a message.</p> + +<p>"The man has been sentenced," said he, "and I don't know what good a +message can do him. I am ordered to be very strict. Some time ago a man +was in this jail, sentenced to the penitentiary, but he didn't go—a +friend came in and left him some pizen. And are you sure you ain't got +no pizen about you."</p> + +<p>"You may search me."</p> + +<p>"But I don't know pizen when I see it. Man's got a right to kill +himself, I reckon, but he ain't got no right to rob me of my position as +jailer, and that's what it would do. Write down your message and I'll +take it to him."</p> + +<p>"That would take too long. The judge has granted him<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_210" id="Page_210">[210]</a></span> a new trial and +surely he wouldn't want to kill himself now."</p> + +<p>"Well, I reckon you're right, but still we have to be mighty particular. +I don't know, either but you might be taking him some whisky. Man's got +a right to drink whisky, it's true, but it don't speak well for the +morals and religious standin' of a jailer if he's got a lot of drunken +prisoners on hand; so, if you've got a bottle about you anywhere you'd +better let me take it."</p> + +<p>"I've got no bottle."</p> + +<p>"That so? Didn't know but you might have one. Prohibition has struck +this town putty hard, you know. Search yourself and see if you hain't +got a bottle."</p> + +<p>"Don't you suppose I know whether I've got one or not? But if you want +one you shall have it."</p> + +<p>"S-h-e-e! Don't talk so loud. There's nothin' that sharpens a man's ears +like prohibition. Say," he whispered, "a good bottle costs about a +dollar."</p> + +<p>"Here's your dollar. It's my last cent, but you shall have it."</p> + +<p>"Oh, it ain't my principle to rob a man," he said as he took the money. +"But I do need a little licker this mornin'. Why, I'm so dry I couldn't +whistle to a dog. No pizen, you understand," he added, with a wink, as +he opened the door.</p> + +<p>The drawing of the bolts must have aroused Alf from sleep, for when I +stepped into the corridor he was sitting on the edge of his bed, rubbing +his eyes.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_211" id="Page_211">[211]</a></span>"Helloa, is that you, Bill? What are you doing here this time of day? +Why, I haven't had breakfast yet."</p> + +<p>"I have come to tell you something, and I want you to be quiet while I +tell it."</p> + +<p>"That's all right, old man. Go ahead. I can stand anything now."</p> + +<p>I told him of the scene in the sitting-room, of the walk to the +General's house—told him all except that kiss at the gate. He uttered +not a word; he had taken hold of the bars and was standing with his head +resting upon his arms—had gradually found this position, and now I +could not see his face. Long I stood there, waiting, but he spoke not. +Suddenly he wheeled about, fell upon his bed and sobbed aloud. And so I +left him, and ere I reached the door I knew that his sobbing was a +prayer, that his heart had found peace and rest. Upon a pardon from the +governor he could have looked with cool indifference, for without that +girl's love he cared not to live; but now to know that through the dark +she had fled from her home, rebellious against her father's pride, wild +with love—it was a mercy granted by the Governor of governors.</p> + +<p>I went to see Conkwright and told him of the threat that Stuart had +made, and the old man's eyes glistened. "We ought to have had that girl +on the stand in the first place," he said. "But it was a delicate matter +and, of course, we didn't know that she could bear so strongly upon the +case. It's all right—better as it is, and that boy will get off as sure +as you are sitting there. That threat<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_212" id="Page_212">[212]</a></span> was worse than his standing in +the road, waiting. Yes, sir, it's all right, and you may take up your +school again and go ahead with your work."</p> + +<p>"I don't want to go ahead with it, Mr. Conkwright. I want to study law +with you. The school was only a makeshift, any way. You are getting old +and you need some one to do the drudgery of your office. I will come in +and work faithfully."</p> + +<p>"Don't know but you are right, Billy."</p> + +<p>"I wish, sir, that you wouldn't call me Billy."</p> + +<p>"All right, Colonel."</p> + +<p>"And I don't care to be called Colonel. You may call me Bill, if you +want to, but Billy——"</p> + +<p>"A little too soft, eh? All right. I don't know but you are the very man +I want. You are faithful and you've got a good head. Call again in a day +or two. It has been a long time since I had a partner. Yes, come in +again, and I think we can arrange it."</p> + +<p>"There is something else that I want to speak about, and to me it is of +more importance than——"</p> + +<p>"Love!" the old man broke in, winking at me.</p> + +<p>"I'll tell you, if you'll wait a moment. Then you may place your own +estimate upon it."</p> + +<p>I told him of the broken engagement, of Chyd's indifference, of the old +couple's plan to leave the community, and I unfolded my sentimental +resolve to buy the old house. "And now I must ask a favor," I continued. +"Old man Perdue told me that he would pay me for the time—time<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_213" id="Page_213">[213]</a></span> I have +not taught, but as I am not going to fill out the term it wouldn't be +right to take the money."</p> + +<p>"Ah, and it is law you want to study?"</p> + +<p>"Why, of course. Didn't I make that plain?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, yes. And you don't think it would be right to take the money? Go +ahead, though."</p> + +<p>"I know it wouldn't be right. And what I want to ask of you is this: The +investment will require about two hundred dollars. Won't you lend me +that amount?"</p> + +<p>He scratched his head, scratched his chin, bit off a chew of tobacco, +stretched himself and said: "Well, I have been lending money all my +life, and I don't see why I should stop now. Did you ever hear of +anybody paying back borrowed money except in a poker game? I never did. +Do people really pay back? I don't know what the custom is over in the +part of the country you came from, but the rules are very strict here, +and they are not violated very often—they rarely pay back. And they +never violate the rule with me."</p> + +<p>"My dear sir, I will pay you——"</p> + +<p>"Yes, I know. Oh, you've got the formula down pretty fine. Make a good +lawyer. I've got some money in that safe, that is, if nobody has robbed +me. Let me see if I've been robbed."</p> + +<p>He opened the safe and took out a package of banknotes. "Don't believe +I've been robbed. Rather singular, too," he went on, counting the money. +"Two hundred, you said. Better take two-fifty—you need some clothes.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_214" id="Page_214">[214]</a></span> +Pardon me for being so keen an observer. It really escaped my notice +until this moment. But what you want with the old house is more than I +can understand. No, Billy—Bill, I mean—no, I understand it and it is a +noble quality."</p> + +<p>He rolled up the money, handed it to me and continued to talk. "After +all, sentiment is the only thing in life, but you'd better not tell this +about town—I'd never get another case. Yes, sir, and the poet is the +only man who really lives. Now go on and buy your acre of sentiment, and +when you have closed the bargain, lie down upon your possessions and go +to sleep. Tell the old man that he is a fool for going away, but tell +him also that I don't blame him for being a fool. Yes, sir, I love a +fool, for it's the wise man that puts me to trouble. Give my warmest +regards to that old woman. Let me tell you something: Many years ago I +was a poor young fellow working about the court-house. And the clothes +you've got on now are wedding garments compared with what mine were. +Well, one day I stopped at Jucklin's house to get out of the rain—he +hadn't been married long—and soon after I went into the sitting-room, +the wife began to whisper to the husband, and when she went out, which +she did a moment later, Jucklin turned to me and said: 'Go up stairs, +take off your britches and throw 'em down here, and I'll bring 'em back +to you after a while.' I was actually out at the knees, sir, and I did +as he told me, and when he brought my trousers back they were neatly +patched. Yes, sir, give<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_215" id="Page_215">[215]</a></span> my warmest regards to that old woman, for if +she isn't a Christian there never was one. Well, what are you hanging +around here for? Trying to thank me? Is that it? Well, just go on, my +boy, and we'll attend to that some other time."</p> + +<p>"You know what I feel, Mr. Conkwright, and I will not attempt to thank +you, but I must say that I was never more surprised in a man. I was told +that you were hard and unsympathetic."</p> + +<p>"Sorry you found me out, sir. Let a lawyer get the name of being kind +and they say that he is emotional, but has no logic. Blackstone had to +give up poetry. Well, good-day. I'm busy."</p> + +<p>I ate breakfast at the tavern, nodding over the table; and I was so +sleepy that I could scarcely sit my horse as I rode toward home. The day +was hot and drowsy was the air, in the road and on the hill-side, where +a boy, weary and heavy with the leg-pains of adolescence, was dragging +himself after a plow. Once I dozed off to sleep and awoke under a tree, +the wise old horse knowing that he could take advantage of my sleepiness +to bat his eyes in the shade, and when I spoke to him he started off at +a trot as if surprised to find that he had turned aside from his duty. I +was nearly home and was riding along half asleep when the frightful +squealing of a pig drew my attention down a lane that opened into the +road. The animal was caught under a rail fence and his companions were +running up to him, one after another, and were raking<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_216" id="Page_216">[216]</a></span> him with their +sharp teeth. I got down and fought off the excited beasts, knocked one +of them down for his cruelty, and lifted the fence to liberate the +prisoner; and when he was free his companions, the ones that had been +ripping his hide, ran up to congratulate him upon his good fortune; and +in the whole performance I saw a heartless phase of human life, musing +as I rearranged the rails that had been lifted away, and when I +straightened up there stood Etheredge looking at me.</p> + +<p>"These are my hogs," he said.</p> + +<p>"I didn't know that," I replied, "but I might have known that they were +members of your family."</p> + +<p>"Yes, you might have known a great many things that you have never been +wise enough to find out. But I don't want to lash words with you, Mr. +Hawes. I simply stopped to tell you that a man who would go out of his +way to lift a heavy fence to help a hog is not a bad fellow; and I want +to apologize for anything that I have said to anger you. I have nothing +against you and I don't blame you for sticking to a friend. One of these +days you'll find that I'm not half as bad a fellow as you have had cause +to think me. Let us call off our engagement. Is it a go?"</p> + +<p>"Doctor, I have no desire to kill you, and I think that your death would +be the result of our keeping that engagement."</p> + +<p>"Pretty confident sort of a man, I take it. And after all, bravery is +nothing but a sort of over-confidence. But I don't believe that you +would kill me; I believe that it<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_217" id="Page_217">[217]</a></span> would be the other way, and it is not +out of fear that I propose a setting aside of our indefinite agreement +to meet each other. But be that as it may, we will call it off unless +you insist, and if you do, why, as a gentleman I shall be compelled to +meet you. I am brave enough to confess that I can't help but admire you +morally and physically. In a small way, I was once a demonstrator of +anatomy, and from an outside estimate I must pronounce you as fine a +specimen of manhood as I ever saw. And if you'll come over to the house +we'll take a long drink on the strength of it."</p> + +<p>"The spirit of your hospitality is not lost upon me, Doctor, but the +truth is, I never drink. But with a cheerful willingness I accept your +other proposition—to set aside our engagement. It was no more your +fault than mine."</p> + +<p>"Yes, it was, Mr. Hawes—I wantonly nagged at you. But we will let it +drop. Under present conditions we can't be very good friends, but there +will come a time when you must acknowledge that malice may know what it +is to be honest, if not generous."</p> + +<p>"Don't go now, Doctor; you have interested me. Tell me what you mean."</p> + +<p>"I wish you good-day, Mr. Hawes," was his reply, as he strode off down +the lane. And he left me holding him in a strange sort of regard; he had +flattered me and had hinted at a future generosity. Could it be that he +intended to modify his evidence when again he should appear against<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_218" id="Page_218">[218]</a></span> +Alf? A demonstrator of anatomy—and he could soothe a nerve as well as +expose a muscle. I felt kindly toward him as I rode along, though +blaming myself for my weakness. But I have never known a very large man +who had not some vital weakness—of vanity, egotism, over-generosity, +foolish tenderness—something in ill-keeping with a well-poised +morality. With old Sir John we have more flesh, and, therefore, more of +frailty.</p> + +<p>As I came within sight of the house I saw three men slowly walking about +in the yard, and, upon reaching the gate, I recognized them as Parker, +Jucklin and Perdue. I turned the horse into a lot and joined them.</p> + +<p>"Well," said Jucklin, "it's all over and I have sold out to Parker."</p> + +<p>"Not the house, too!" I cried in alarm.</p> + +<p>The old man smiled and winked at Parker. "Well, not quite," he said. +"Guinea told me what you wanted, and sir, you can have it, though I tell +you right now that it ain't worth much."</p> + +<p>"Will you take two hundred dollars?"</p> + +<p>"Not from you, Bill. You may have the house and the path and the spring +and the strip of moss, for if you haven't earned that and more——"</p> + +<p>"Hold on, Mr. Jucklin. I want the property made over to me in regular +form when I have paid you for it. I will accept of no concession; want +to pay as much as Mr. Parker would have paid, and I have borrowed money +enough to close the deal. You are going away and you will need<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_219" id="Page_219">[219]</a></span> every +cent you can possibly raise; and I demand that you take the two hundred +dollars that I have collected for you. It will be of no use to say that +you will not, for I am determined, and, although you have been very +kind, you will find me a hard man to fight. And remember that there is a +debt to be paid."</p> + +<p>He held out his hand and looked over toward the General's house as I +gripped his rough palm.</p> + +<p>"I have buried 'em over by the edge of the woods," he said; "buried 'em +with their gaffs on. I couldn't help it—they had to fight to a finish. +Yes, it shall be as you say. I will pay what I owe and still have money +enough to get away off somewhere. We'll draw up the papers in town and +have it over with at once."</p> + +<p>"Mr. Hawes, I've got a hundred dollars that's yours," said old man +Perdue. "I have brought the money, and here it is."</p> + +<p>"I can't take it, Mr. Perdue. I haven't earned it, and shall not earn +it. I am not going to teach your school."</p> + +<p>"The deuce you say! Why, my grandson thinks there ain't nobody in the +world like you—says you can whip any livin' man. You must teach that +school."</p> + +<p>"No, I am going to study law with Judge Conkwright."</p> + +<p>"What, with him? Don't you do it. Why, there ain't a harder hearted man +on the face of the earth than he is. Smart as a whip, but he don't go to +church once in five years. Oh, you needn't smile, for it's a fact. Not +once in five years, and what can you expect from a man like that?<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_220" id="Page_220">[220]</a></span> Oh, +he'll grind you into the very ground. Ain't got a particle of feelin'."</p> + +<p>"I expect him to teach me the law and I can get along with my present +stock of religion. But even if he were to offer me his religion, I would +accept it. I know him better than you can ever know him. But we have no +cause to discuss him. No, I can't take your money."</p> + +<p>"But you have earned some of it. Twenty-five dollars, at least."</p> + +<p>"Well, I will take that much."</p> + +<p>"Take it all," said Parker.</p> + +<p>"No, twenty-five," I replied.</p> + +<p>"You are your own boss," Perdue observed; "you know best. Here's your +twenty-five, and I'll make it fifty if you'll send out word that the new +man, whoever he may be, mustn't go into the creek. You are the sort of a +reformer that this community has needed. Well, gentlemen, I've got to +get home. Issue your proclamation, sir, and send for the other +twenty-five."</p> + +<p>Parker said that it was time for him to go, and, adding that he would +meet Jucklin in town, left us at the door.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Jucklin was brighter than I had expected to find her, and when I +told her what Conkwright had said, that Alf would surely be acquitted, +the light of a new hope leaped into her eyes.</p> + +<p>"I told Limuel that God would not permit such a wrong," she said. +"Didn't I, Limuel?"</p> + +<p>"You said something about it, Susan; I have forgot<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_221" id="Page_221">[221]</a></span> exactly what it was. +It's all right if the judge says he knows it. Yes, sir, it's all right. +But we'll leave here all the same. Don't reckon we'll ever come back; +can't stand to be p'inted at. Fight a man in a minit if he p'ints at +me."</p> + +<p>"Oh, Limuel, don't talk about fighting when we are in so much trouble."</p> + +<p>"Fight a man in a minit if he p'ints at me. Knock down a sign-post if it +p'ints at me. Well, we want a little bite to eat. Been about six weeks +since I eat anything, it seems like."</p> + +<p>All this time I was wondering where Guinea could be, and was startled by +every sound. The mother asked me how Alf looked and how he had acted +when I had pictured Millie's leaving home; and I told her mechanically, +wondering, listening; and I broke off suddenly, for I thought there was +a footstep at the door. No, it was a chicken in the passage. They asked +me many questions and I answered without hearing my own words. Mrs. +Jucklin went out to the dining-room and the old man began to talk about +his chickens. He had found them bloody and stiff, and had buried them in +a box lined with an old window curtain. And now there was a step at the +door. I looked up and Guinea stood there, looking back, listening to her +mother. And thus she stood a long time, I thought, and yet she must have +known that I was in the room. Mr. Jucklin spoke to her and she came in, +walking very slowly. Her face was pale, with a sadness that smote my +heart. She sat down and looked out of the window. Mrs.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_222" id="Page_222">[222]</a></span> Jucklin called +the old man, and when he was gone I told Guinea that I had left Alf in a +convulsive joy; and, still looking out of the window, she said: "You are +the noblest man I ever met."</p> + +<p>I sprang to my feet, but quickly she lifted her hand and motioned me +back, though she still looked away. "Sit down, please. Don't you +remember our agreement to be frank with each other?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, I remember it, but frankness means the opposite of restraint."</p> + +<p>"Yes, but frankness should always have judgment behind it."</p> + +<p>"Guinea!" She looked at me. "Guinea, you say that after a while he will +kneel at your feet."</p> + +<p>"Yes, after a while, Mr. Hawes."</p> + +<p>"But let me—let me kneel at your feet now!"</p> + +<p>Slowly she shook her head. "No, Mr. Hawes, you must never do that. +Sometime we may kneel together, but you must never kneel to me. Now we +are frank, aren't we? We may go to church together and hear some one +pray a beautiful prayer, a prayer that may seem the echo of our own +heart-throbs. Sweet is confidence, and I ask you to have confidence in +me. Let me have my way, and when the time is ripe, I will come to you +with my hands held out. Yes, when the time is ripe. And then there will +be no reproaches and nothing to forgive, but everything to worship and +to bless. Oh, I am a great talker when once I am started, Mr. Hawes, and +I think all the time. I<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_223" id="Page_223">[223]</a></span> thought this morning as I stood at the gate, +just as you left me standing; I heard you galloping down the road. And +do you know what I thought of? It was almost profane, but I thought of +the baptizing at the river of Jordan, when the spirit came down like a +dove; and I knew what must have been the thrilling touch of that spirit, +for the holiness of love had touched my hair. No, Mr. Hawes, not now. +There, sit down again and let me talk, for I am started now. Oh, and you +thought that I was dumb and feelingless? You mustn't weep; but as for +me, why, I am a woman and tears are a woman's inheritance. There, I have +said enough, and after this we must speak to each other as +friends—until the time when I shall come to you with my hands held out; +and then I am going to tell you of a woman who loved a man, not with a +halting, half-hearted love, but with a love as broad as God's smile when +the earth is in bloom. You didn't know that I was so persistent, did +you? Isn't it time for a woman to be persistent? No woman has ever kept +silence, they tell us, but women have been constrained to talk around +the subject, festooning it with their insinuating fancies. But women are +more outspoken now and are permitted to be truer to themselves. Yes, you +must have confidence in me; let me indulge my dream a while longer, and +then I will come to you, but until then let us be friends."</p> + +<p>"But won't you let me tell you something now? Won't you let me tell you +that in the moonlight I bowed until my head touched the dust, worshiping +you as you stood——"</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_224" id="Page_224">[224]</a></span>"No, not now; not until I come. And won't you respect my wishes, even if +they are foolish?"</p> + +<p>"Now and forever, angel, your word shall be a divine law unto me."</p> + +<p>"They are calling us," she said. "Come on."</p> + + + +<hr /> + +<h2><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_225" id="Page_225">[225]</a></span> +<a name="xvii" id="xvii"></a>CHAPTER XVII.</h2> + + +<p>In the afternoon I went to town with the old man, to attend upon the +transfer of the property, and I slept in the wagon, conscious of Guinea +when the road was rough, and sweetly dreaming of her when there was no +jolt to disturb my slumber. It was long after midnight when we returned. +I was resolved to go early to bed, for Guinea and her mother were sadly +engaged packing a box with the bric-a-brac upon which time and +association had placed the seal of endearment.</p> + +<p>"Now, I wonder what has become of that old lace curtain," said Mrs. +Jucklin. "I have looked everywhere and can't find it, and I know it was +in the chest up stairs."</p> + +<p>The old man began to scratch his head.</p> + +<p>"I don't know who could have taken it," Mrs. Jucklin went on. "It +couldn't have walked off, I'm sure. Limuel?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, ma'm."</p> + +<p>"Do you know what has become of that old curtain?"</p> + +<p>"What, that ragged old thing that wan't worth nothin'?"</p> + +<p>"Worth nothin'! Why, it belonged to my grandmother."</p> + +<p>"I never heard of that before."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_226" id="Page_226">[226]</a></span>"Oh, yes, you have, and what's the use of talkin' that way? You've known +it all the time."</p> + +<p>"News to me," said the old man.</p> + +<p>"It's not news to you, anything of the sort; but the question is, do you +know what has become of it?"</p> + +<p>"Susan, in this here life many things happen, things that we wish hadn't +happened. I am not sorry that they fit to a finish, for that had to be; +but I am sorry that I wrapped 'em in that curtain when I buried 'em."</p> + +<p>"Gracious alive, what has possessed the man! Oh, you do distress me so. +How could you do such a thing, Limuel? I do believe you have gone daft. +But you go right out there now and dig up them good-for-nothin' chickens +and bring me that curtain. Go right on this minit."</p> + +<p>"What, Susan, and rob the dead and the brave? You wouldn't have me do +that."</p> + +<p>"Go on, I tell you, or I'll go myself, and throw the fetchtaked things +over to the hogs. The idee of wrappin' up them cruel, good-for-nothin' +things in a curtain like that. Oh, I never was so provoked in my life."</p> + +<p>The old man got up and stretched himself. "Bill," said he, "I am +sometimes forced to believe that the women folks are lackin' in human +sympathy. Ma'm, I'll fetch your curtain, but I've got to have somethin' +to wrap around the dead and the brave."</p> + +<p>"Don't you take that apron. Why, if he wouldn't take the best apron I've +got, right out from under my very eyes. And you can't have that stand +cover, either."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_227" id="Page_227">[227]</a></span>"Well, but, by jings, what can I have? Am I a traveler that has jest +stopped here to stay all night? There's no use in talkin'; I'm goin' to +have 'em put away decent. Take me for a barbarian?"</p> + +<p>He went out, and just as I was going up to bed I met him in the passage +way, with a roll of white stuff in his bare arms, and as he stepped into +the room I heard his wife exclaim: "Mercy on me, if he hasn't taken his +best shirt. And what he is goin' to do for somethin' to wear the Lord +only knows."</p> + +<p>I heard Guinea laughing, and then I heard the old man say that what a +man happened to wear would make but little difference with the Lord.</p> + +<p>I was so worn that my sleep that night was dreamless, but when early at +morning they called me to breakfast I knew that during the hours of that +deep oblivion I had been vaguely conscious of a dim and shadowy +happiness; and a vivid truth came upon me with the first glimpse of +sunlight.</p> + +<p>The old man was waiting at the foot of the stairs. "Bill, we are goin' +over to the station right after we eat a bite," he said. "We can't take +but a few things, and we'll leave the most of our trumpery till we git +settled somewhere. Take care of that horse you've been ridin'—he don't +belong to us; was left here by a man some time ago, feller that had to +go away off somewhere to see his folks. So, you jest keep him till he's +called for; and I've left you plenty of corn out there to feed him on. +You can study<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_228" id="Page_228">[228]</a></span> your books here about as well as you can in town, and I +wish you'd sorter look after the things. Parker will drive us over to +the station."</p> + +<p>"And am I to go also?" I asked.</p> + +<p>"No, I believe not. It's Guinea's arrangement and not mine. Let her have +her own way. All women have got their whims, the whole kit an' b'ilin' +of 'em, and you might as well reason with a weather cock. Wait a minit +before we go in. As soon as we git half way settled Guinea will write to +you. I have no idee where I'm goin', but it will be away off somewhere. +It makes me shudder every time I meet a man that I know, and I'd bet a +horse that if I was to meet a cross-eyed feller I'd fight him. If Alf +gits clear he can come to us. And you—I'm sorry you have decided to go +in with Conkwright, for I wanted you to come with Alf."</p> + +<p>"I will come. Nothing shall stand in the way. Mr. Jucklin, have you +noticed——"</p> + +<p>"Yes, I've noticed everything. And it's all right. And Susan has noticed +everything and it's all right with her. There never was a prouder human +than Guinea, sir; the old General's pride is rain water compared to +her'n. And she's got an idee in her head—I don't exactly understand it, +but she's got it there and we'll have to let her keep it till she wants +to throw it aside. I was over to the General's before sun up this +mornin'. He swore that he wouldn't take the money, but I left it under a +brick-bat on the gate post and come away. Well, everything is<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_229" id="Page_229">[229]</a></span> settled, +and all I can say now is, God bless you."</p> + +<p>We were silent at breakfast, and we dared not look at one another. A +wagon came rattling through the gate, and Parker shouted that he was +ready. No one had said a word, but the old man struck the table with his +fist and exclaimed: "I insist on everybody showin' common sense. I don't +want anybody to speak to me. I'll fight in a minit. Git in that wagon +without a word. Hush, now."</p> + +<p>I wanted to lead Guinea to the wagon, to feel again her dependence upon +me, but she pretended to be looking away when I attempted to take her +hand, and so she walked on alone; but I helped her into the vehicle, and +I kissed her hand when she took hold of the seat. She gave me a quick +look and a smile; and the wagon rolled away. I stood on the log step, +watching it, and as it was slowly sinking beyond the hill I saw the +flutter of a handkerchief.</p> + +<p>I went up to my room and sat down, sad that I had seen her going away +from me, yet happy to know that she had left her heart in my keeping. +But the foolishness of this separation struck me with a force that had +been lacking until now, and for a time I felt toward the old man a +hardness that not even a keen appreciation of his kindness and his +drollery could soften. Gradually, however, the truth came to me that Alf +had drawn the plan, and with my arms stretched out toward the hill-top +that had slowly arisen between me and the fluttering handkerchief I +foolishly apologized to the old man. I did more<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_230" id="Page_230">[230]</a></span> foolish things than +that; I improvised a hymn and sang it to Guinea—a chant that, no doubt, +would have been immeasurably funny to the cold-hearted and the sane, but +it brought the tears to my eyes and rendered the rafters just above my +head a work of lace, far away. And at these devotions I might have +remained for hours had not a sharp footfall smote upon my ear. I +hastened down stairs, and at the entrance of the passage stood Chyd +Lundsford, looking about, slowly lashing his leg with a switch.</p> + +<p>"Helloa! Where are all the folks?"</p> + +<p>"They are gone, sir," I answered, stiffly bowing to him.</p> + +<p>"Gone? I don't know that I quite catch your meaning."</p> + +<p>"If it be illusive you have made it so. I said that they were gone, +which means, of course, that they are not here."</p> + +<p>"I understand that all right enough, but do you mean that they are not +in at present or that they have really left home?"</p> + +<p>"They have no home, sir."</p> + +<p>He gave himself a sharp cut with the switch. "It can't have been so very +long since they left, for the old man was over to see father this +morning. Which way did they go? I may overtake them."</p> + +<p>"That would be greatly against their wish, sir."</p> + +<p>"I am not asking for an opinion. I want to know which way they went."</p> + +<p>"I am not at liberty to tell you that. They have gone out into a world +that is as strange to them as America<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_231" id="Page_231">[231]</a></span> was to Columbus."</p> + +<p>"Rot. There isn't a smarter woman anywhere than Guinea. She has read +everything and she knows the world as well as I do. But why are you not +privileged to tell me which way they went? I have something to say that +concerns them closely. Did they go toward town?"</p> + +<p>"Do you suppose that they would go away without first seeing their son?"</p> + +<p>"Then you mean that they went to town. Why the devil can't you speak +out? Why should you stand as a stumbling block?"</p> + +<p>"Why should I stand as a sign post?"</p> + +<p>"Now here, you needn't show your selfishness in this matter. She +wouldn't wipe her feet on you."</p> + +<p>"No, but she would wipe them on you."</p> + +<p>"What!" He took a step forward, but he stepped back again and stood +there, lashing himself with the switch. "My father tells me that you are +a gentleman," he said.</p> + +<p>"And you may safely accept your father's opinion of me," I answered.</p> + +<p>"But you are not striving, sir, to make that opinion good."</p> + +<p>"A good opinion needs no bolstering up."</p> + +<p>"This bantering is all nonsense. I've got nothing against you; I have +simply asked you a civil question."</p> + +<p>"And I hope to be as civil as you are, but out of regard for the +feelings of those old people and their daughter I cannot tell you which +way they went. You couldn't overtake<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_232" id="Page_232">[232]</a></span> them, any way."</p> + +<p>"But I can try."</p> + +<p>"Yes, you could have tried yesterday and the day before, and a week ago, +when they needed your sympathy."</p> + +<p>He dropped his switch, but he caught it up again, and his face was red. +"I might say, sir, that what I have done and that which I have failed to +do is no business of yours, but I feel that there is a measure of +justice in what you say, and I acknowledge that I have been wrong. That +is why I am here now—to set myself right."</p> + +<p>"In matters of business we may correct an error, Mr. Lundsford; we may +rub out one figure and put down another, but a mark made upon the heart +is likely to remain there."</p> + +<p>"I will not attempt to bandy sentimentalities with you, sir. I am a +practical man, a scientist, if you wish; and I came here to tell that +girl that my breaking off the engagement—you must know all about +it—was wrong. I told my father to come, for just at that time I didn't +feel that as a man who looks forward to something a little more than a +name I could afford to marry her. But I was wrong; any living man could +afford to marry her. I was wrong, and that ought to settle it."</p> + +<p>"And I think, sir, that it does settle it as far as you are concerned."</p> + +<p>"Do you mean that she won't marry me? Oh, yes, she will, not out of any +foolish love, but because she would be proud of my success. Well, I may +not overtake her, but<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_233" id="Page_233">[233]</a></span> I will write to her. Yes, that will do as well. +She will want to know how things are getting along here, and will write +to you, and when she does I wish you would show me her letter. What are +you laughing at? Haven't you got any sense at all?"</p> + +<p>"I hope so, but I am not so much of a scientist that I am a fool."</p> + +<p>"No, but you are so much of a fool that you are not a scientist, by a +d——d sight."</p> + +<p>He had me there, and it was his time to laugh, and he did. He was so +tickled that he roared, walking up and down the passage; and he was so +pleased that he held out his hand to shake upon the merit of his joke. I +was not disposed to be surly and I shook hands with him, and he clapped +me on the shoulder, still laughing, and declared that it was a piece of +wit worthy of the dissecting-room, and that he would jolt his fellows +with it.</p> + +<p>"I am glad you are so much pleased," I remarked.</p> + +<p>"Why, don't you think it's good, eh? Of course, you do. Well, it's +better to part laughing, anyway."</p> + +<p>"You are not too much of a scientist to be a philosopher," I said. And I +expected him to continue his line of deduction and to say that I was too +much of a philosopher to be a scientist, but he did not; he sobered and +gravely remarked:</p> + +<p>"Yes, I am devilish sorry that this thing came about, and I hope that +Guinea will not take a romantic view of it. I guess they'll be back +after a while, if Alf is cleared,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_234" id="Page_234">[234]</a></span> and from what I hear I suppose he +will be."</p> + +<p>"May I ask how your sister is?"</p> + +<p>"Certainly. She's all right; doesn't eat much, but her pulse is +normal—little excited, but hardly noticeable. Loves that fellow, +doesn't she? Strong, good-looking boy, but not very practical. Hope +he'll come out all right. Ah, I was going to say something, but it has +escaped me. Oh, yes, you are in love with Guinea. Be frank, now."</p> + +<p>"Yes, I worship her."</p> + +<p>"Hardly the word, but it will do, on an impulse. I think a good deal of +her myself. I said just now that she wouldn't wipe her feet on you, and +I beg your pardon. She may wipe them on you. You are going to stay here, +eh? Well, come over to the house. No reason why there should be any +ill-will between us. Good-day."</p> + +<p>I sat down on the step and watched him until he had ridden out of sight, +and I was pleased that he went toward his home, not that I was afraid of +a renewal of the engagement; I knew that it was forever set aside. But I +felt that his overtaking the wagon would bring an additional trouble to +the father and the mother; indeed, I was afraid that the old man might +kill him. Strange fellow Chyd was, and I liked him as an oddity, as +something wholly different from myself or from any impulsive being. He +was not cruel—he simply had no heart.</p> + + + +<hr /> + +<h2><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_235" id="Page_235">[235]</a></span> +<a name="xviii" id="xviii"></a>CHAPTER XVIII.</h2> + + +<p>I walked about the old place until nearly noon, and then I went to town. +The jailer met me with a doubtful shaking of his scheming head, and I +knew that again he had received orders to be rigid in his discipline, +but I was resolved that the old rascal's appetite for liquor should not +play a second prank upon me; so when he hinted at another bottle I told +him that I had spent so much of my life as a temperance lecturer that it +was against my conscience to buy a favor with whisky. I looked steadily +at him, and he began to wince.</p> + +<p>"Why, to be sure," said he, "but, my dear sir, I didn't buy whisky with +that dollar—bought a ham with it. If I didn't I'm the biggest liar in +the world; and I don't reckon there's a family in this town that needs +another ham right now worse than mine does."</p> + +<p>"That may be, but I can't afford to pay so heavy a price every time I +enter this place. You know that I am associated with the prisoner's +lawyer, but we'll waive that right—I'll go to the sheriff and get an +order from him."</p> + +<p>"Why, my dear sir, that's unnecessary. Walk right in; but remember your +promise not to say anything about that ham. There are a lot of +vegetarians in this town, and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_236" id="Page_236">[236]</a></span> if they hear of my eating meat they'll +hold it against me. Walk in, sir."</p> + +<p>I found Alf in high spirits. Conkwright had called and had assured him +that his day of liberty was not far off. I told him that the old house +was deserted, and he stood musing, looking at me dreamily, as if his +mind were hovering over the scenes of his boyhood. I let him dream, for +I knew the sweetness of a melancholy reverie. Sometimes the soul is +impatient of the body's dogged hold on life, and steals away to view its +future domain, to draw in advance upon its coming freedom—now +lingering, now swifter than a hawk—and then it comes back and we say +that we have been absent-minded. Alf started—his soul had returned. +"And weren't you surprised to see them drive toward town?" he asked.</p> + +<p>"Who, your parents and Guinea? They didn't; they drove toward the +railway station."</p> + +<p>"But they came to town, my dear boy—were here in this jail. They must +have driven round to deceive you, for they knew that you would want to +come with them, and they deceived you to spare you the pain of seeing us +together. And I'm glad you were spared, though mother stood it much +better than I expected. But this was because she firmly believes I'll be +cleared. They haven't been gone a great while—there's a station not far +from this town. Father played another trick on you. Yesterday, when he +came to town to deed over the land, he left you dozing in the wagon and +slipped off round here. I was<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_237" id="Page_237">[237]</a></span> surprised, for I had positively ordered +him not to come. But he set me to laughing before he got in. 'Open that +door by the order of the sheriff!' he cried at the jailer. 'Here's the +order; look at it, but don't you look at me. Fight you in a minit.' And +then he came in, and the first thing he told me was that they had gaffs +on. He said that he had fought hard to keep mother from coming, at night +when the rest were asleep; and I swore that she must not come, but she +did. Bill, you brought me a message that sent me to heaven; and now let +me ask if you know that Guinea loves you? There, don't say a word—you +know it. She told me, standing where you are now—told me everything, +and what a talker she is when once she is started. But you must let her +have her way, and she will come to you, holding out her hands. Have you +seen Millie?"</p> + +<p>"No, not since that night. But I am going to see her."</p> + +<p>Then I told him that Chyd had come to the house—I reproduced the scene, +and Alf's merriment rang throughout the jail.</p> + +<p>"Yes," he said, "you can go over there all right enough. The General +likes you, anyway. I don't know what he thinks of me—still sizes me as +a boy, I suppose; and if he were to come in here now I believe he would +ask me what father was doing. But it makes no difference what he thinks. +The judge tells me that you are going to study law with him. Jumped into +an interesting case right at once, didn't you?"</p> + +<p>We talked a long time and we laughed a great deal, for<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_238" id="Page_238">[238]</a></span> we were in a +paradise, although in a jail. And I left him with a promise that I would +soon bring him a direct word from Millie.</p> + +<p>I found Conkwright in his office, with his slippered feet on a table. He +bade me come in, and he said nothing more, but sat there pressing his +closed eye-lids with his thumb and fore-finger. How square a chin he had +and how rugged was his face, trenched with the deep ruts of many a +combat. His had been a life of turmoil and of fight. He was not born of +the aristocracy. I had heard that he was the son of a Yankee clock +peddler. But to success he had fought his way, over many an aristocratic +failure.</p> + +<p>"Judge, have you finally decided that I may come into your office?"</p> + +<p>"Thought we settled that at first," he replied, without opening his +eyes. "Yes, you may come in; glad to have you, and, by the way, I've got +some work I want you to do right now. A woman was in here to-day to see +if I could get her husband out of the penitentiary. I don't know but I +helped put him there—believe I did. I was busy when she came in, and +when she went away I remembered how poorly she was dressed, and I am +afraid that I didn't speak to her as kindly as I should have. She lives +at the south end of the street behind the jail, left hand side, I +believe. Look in that vest hanging up there and you'll find twenty +dollars in the pocket, right hand side, I think. Take the money and slip +down to that woman's house and give it to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_239" id="Page_239">[239]</a></span> her. But don't let anyone see +you and don't tell her who sent it. Might tell her that the State sent +it as wages due for overtime put in by her husband. And you needn't come +back this evening, for it's time to close up."</p> + +<p>I looked back at him as I stepped out. He had not changed his position +and his eyes were still closed. And this was my first work as a student +of the law—a brave beginning, the agent of a noble design. I found the +place without having to make inquiry, and a wretched hut it was. The +woman was shabby and two ragged children were lying on the floor. I gave +her the twenty dollars—I did more, I gave her a part of the money which +Perdue had given me. I explained that her husband had worked overtime +and that the State, following an old custom, had sent her the wages of +his extra labor. She was not a very good-natured woman; she said that +the State and the rest of us ought to be ashamed of ourselves for having +robbed her of her husband, and she declared that if she ever got money +enough she would sue old Conkwright and the sheriff and everybody else. +I was glad enough to quit that wretched and depressing scene; and in the +cool of the evening I strolled about the town. The business part of the +place was mean, but further out there were handsome old residences, +pillared and vine-clad. And in front of the most attractive one I halted +to gaze at the trees and the shrubbery, dim in the twilight.</p> + +<p>A boy came along and I asked him who lived there and he answered: "Judge +Conkwright."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_240" id="Page_240">[240]</a></span>"He deserves to live in even a better house," I mused, as I turned away; +and just then I was clapped upon the shoulder with a "Helloa, my old +friend"—the telegraph operator. I shook hands with him, and at once he +began to tell me of his affairs. "Getting along all right," he said. +"Haven't got quite as much freedom as I used to have, but I reckon it's +better for me. Wife thinks so much of me that she's jealous of the +boys—don't want me to stay out with them at night. Don't reckon there's +anything more exacting than a rag. But I had to have one. Without calico +there ain't much real fun in this life. But enough of calico's society +is about the enoughest enough a man can fetch up in his mind. Tell you +what—I'll run on home and come back, and then you can go with me."</p> + +<p>"No, I couldn't think of putting you to so much trouble."</p> + +<p>"Won't be any trouble. Simply don't want to surprise her, you know."</p> + +<p>"I'll call on you before long, but now I must go to the tavern."</p> + +<p>"All right, and if I can get off I'll come over to see you. And I'll +tell you what we'll do along about 11 o'clock. We'll go over to +Atcherson's store with a lot of fellers and cook some eggs in the top of +a paste-board hat box. Ever cook them that way? It's a world beater. +Just break the eggs in the lid of the box and put it on the stove and +there you are. Finest stuff you ever eat. But while you're eating you +mustn't let them tell that jug story.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_241" id="Page_241">[241]</a></span> Couldn't eat a bite after that. +Well, I leave you here."</p> + +<p>Fearing that the operator's "rag" might fail in the strict enforcement +of the regulations that had been thrown about the night-time movements +of her husband, that he might break out of the circle of his wife's +fondness and call on me at the tavern, I left that place soon after +supper and resumed my walk about the town. In some distant place where +the land was dry a shower of rain had fallen, for the air was quickened +with the coming of that dusty, delicious smell, that reminiscent incense +which more than the perfume of flower or shrub takes us back to the +lanes and the sweet loitering places of youth. Happiness will not bear a +close inspection; to be flawless it must be viewed from a distance—we +must look forward to something longed for, or backward to some time +remembered; and my happiness on this night was not perfect, for a sense +of loneliness curdled it with regret, but here and there, as I walked +along, I found myself in an ecstasy—my nerves thrilled one another like +crossed wires, electrified. I knew that it might be a long time before I +should hear from Guinea, but I was still drunk with the newness of the +feeling that she loved me.</p> + +<p>Prayer-meeting bells were ringing, and old men and old women came out of +the dark shadow of the trees, into the light that burned in front of a +church—hearts that with age were slow and heavy, praying for the +blessing of an Infinite Mystery. I entered the church and knelt down to +pray, for I am not so advanced a thinker as the man<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_242" id="Page_242">[242]</a></span> who questions the +existence of God; but I must admit that my thoughts were far away from +the mumblings that I heard about me, far, indeed, from the mutterings of +my own lips; and so I went out and sniffed the prayer of nature, the +smell of rain that came from far off down the dusty road.</p> + +<p>Early the next morning I went to Conkwright's office, to tell him that +for a time I preferred to study in the country. The old man was walking +up and down the room, with his hands behind him.</p> + +<p>"Did you find that woman?" he asked.</p> + +<p>"Yes, and I let no one see me."</p> + +<p>"Good. You gave her the twenty dollars, and—is that all you gave her?"</p> + +<p>"Why, that was all you told me to give her."</p> + +<p>"Yes, I know, but didn't you give her some of your own money? Speak out +now. No shilly-shallying with me."</p> + +<p>"Well, she was so wretched that I gave her five dollars of my own +money."</p> + +<p>"You did, eh? The money you borrowed from me, you mean?"</p> + +<p>"No, money that old Perdue thinks I earned. He insisted upon my taking +twenty-five dollars."</p> + +<p>"It's all right, my boy. Yes, it's all right, but you'll have to be more +careful. It is noble to give, but it is not wise to look for an +opportunity. It is better to give to the young than to the old, for the +good we do the youth<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_243" id="Page_243">[243]</a></span> grows with him into a hallowed memory—stimulates +him to help others—while the memory of the aged is fitful. Whenever you +see a boy trying to amount to something, help him, for that is a direct +good, done to mankind. Now to business. Have you read Blackstone?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, but not thoroughly. I have never owned his book."</p> + +<p>"There he is on my desk. I keep him near me. The lawyer who outgrows +that book—well, I may be an old fogy on the subject, so I'll say +nothing more except to commend the treatise to a lawyer as I would the +multiplication table to a student of mathematics. And now let me say +that when you have been with me one year we will begin to talk about +other matters, the question of money, for instance. Don't be +extravagant—don't give money because you don't know what else to do +with it—and I will see that you shall not want for anything. Oh, yes, I +know you are thinking of getting married, but it won't cost much to keep +your wife. We'll fix all that, and if I don't make a lawyer out of you I +am much fooled. You are in love and are mighty sappy just at present, +but you'll come round all right; yes, sir, all right after a while."</p> + +<p>"I think, Judge, that I can study much better out at the old house, and +if you have nothing for me to do I should like to spend several days at +a time out there."</p> + +<p>"Why, is that the way to assist me? What good can you do me by poking +off out there in the woods? Well,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_244" id="Page_244">[244]</a></span> you may for a while. Three days a +week for a time, eh? All right. You are as hard to break in as a steer. +What about those stories you told at the General's house. I hear that +they were great. But don't let people put you down as a story teller, +for when a lawyer gets that reputation, no matter how profound he may +be, the public looks upon him as a yarn-spinner, rather than a thinker. +You might put them in print, but not under your own name. Bill—came +within one of calling you Billy—a great many men succeed in law not +because they are bright, but because they are stupid. I never see a +jackass that I don't think of a judge—some judges that I know. Well, +now, the first and one of the most important things to do is to go over +to that tailor and have yourself measured for a suit of clothes. Did I +say measured? Surveyed is the word," he added, looking at me from head +to foot and then laughing. "Yes, I think that's the word. Well, go on +now."</p> + +<p>When the tailor had completed his "survey" I went to the jail, talked +for a few moments with Alf and then straightway rode to the General's +house. The old man was sitting on the porch, with one foot resting on a +pillow, placed upon a chair. "Get down and come right in!" he shouted; +and as I came up the steps he motioned me away from him and said: "Don't +touch that hoof, if you please. Buttermilk gout, sir. Look out, you'll +tip something over on me. It's a fact—every time I drink buttermilk it +goes to my foot. Too much acid. How are you, anyway?"</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_245" id="Page_245">[245]</a></span>He cautiously reached out his hand and jerked it away when I had merely +touched it. "Didn't sleep a wink last night; and every dog in the county +came over here to bark. I am very glad you have called; glad that you +are too liberal to hold a foolish resentment. And the old folks are +gone. 'Od 'zounds, the way things do turn out. The first thing I know +I'll swear myself out of the church. It was my pride, sir—but by all +the virtues that man has grouped, must we apologize for our pride? Hah, +sir! Must I grovel and beg pardon because I honor my own name? I'll see +myself blistered first. It wasn't old Lim's fault. Confound it all, it +wasn't anybody's fault. Then, sir, must I go crawling around on my belly +like a—like a—like an infernal lizard, sir? I hope not. But it will +come out all right, I think. After Alf is cleared the old people will +come back and all will be well again. What do you want?"</p> + +<p>A negro boy had poked his head out of the hall door and was looking on +with a broad grin. "Dinner!" cried the old man. "But is that the way to +announce it—grinning like a cat? Come back here. Now what do you want?"</p> + +<p>"Dinner is ready, sah," said the boy.</p> + +<p>"Well, that's all right. But don't come round here grinning at me. Hand +me that stick. Oh, I'm not going to hit you with it. Come, Mr. Hawes. +No, I don't want you to help me. I can hobble along best by myself."</p> + +<p>Millie was in the dining-room, and she turned to run when she saw me, +but the old man hobbled into her way,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_246" id="Page_246">[246]</a></span> so she came toward me with +reddening face, and held out her hand. "I am glad to see you," she said. +"Sit over here, please. That's Chyd's seat and he's so particular."</p> + +<p>The son came in, said that he was pleased to see me, sat down, opened a +pamphlet that looked like a medical journal and began to read.</p> + +<p>"Mr. Hawes," said the General, "I understand that you have made +arrangements to study law with Judge Conkwright. And a most fortunate +arrangement, I should think. Smart old fellow, sir; smart, and a good +man to have on your side, but a mighty bad man to have against you—half +Yankee by parentage and whole Yankee by instinct. Millie, is that cat +under the table?"</p> + +<p>"I think not, father," the girl answered, after looking to see if the +cat were there; but this did not satisfy the old man. "You must know, +not think," he said. "There should be no doubt about the matter, for I +must tell you that if he touches my foot I'll kill him. A cat would +travel ten miles and swim a river—and a cat hates water—to claw a +gouty foot. Chyd, just put that book aside if you please."</p> + +<p>The young man folded the pamphlet and shoved it into his pocket. "I've +struck a new germ theory," he said.</p> + +<p>"Yes," replied the General, "and you'll strike a good many more of them +as you go on. I should think that you want facts, not theories."</p> + +<p>"But theories lead to facts," the young man rejoined. "The theory of +to-day may become the scientific truth of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_247" id="Page_247">[247]</a></span> to-morrow."</p> + +<p>"And it may also be the scientific error of the day after to-morrow," I +remarked.</p> + +<p>He looked at me, spoke a word which I did not catch and then was silent, +seeming to have forgotten what he had intended to say. I think that the +word he uttered was "hah," or something to indicate that he had paid but +slight heed to my remark. I did not repeat it, and the talk fell away +from the germ theory.</p> + +<p>"Now, Mr. Hawes," said the General, "I want you to help yourself just as +if you were alone at your own board. It is a pleasure to have you with +us, and an additional pleasure to know, sir, that you are to become a +permanent citizen of this county. Men may think themselves wise when +they apprentice their sons to a trade, averring that the professions are +overcrowded, but that has always been the case, and yet, professional +men have ever been the happiest, for they achieve the most, not in the +gathering of money, but in the uplifting of mankind. My daughter, you +don't appear to be eating anything. I hope that you have not permitted +the timely, though unexpected, visit of Mr. Hawes to affect your +appetite. Chydister, another piece of this mutton? Most nutritious, I +assure you; a fact, however, which is, no doubt, well known to you. Mr. +Hawes, I should think that you would prefer to sleep here at night, +rather than to stay alone in that old house. You are more than welcome +to a room here, sir. And I should like to hear anecdotes of your +grandfather, the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_248" id="Page_248">[248]</a></span> Captain."</p> + +<p>"I shall be in the country but a part of the time during the week, and +my coming and going will be irregular. But for this I should gladly +accept your generous offer. As to my grandfather, I must admit that I +know but little regarding his life."</p> + +<p>"A sad error in your bringing up, sir. In that one particular we +Americans are shamefully at fault. A buncombe democracy has insisted +that it is not essential to look back, but simply to place stress upon +our present force and consequence. That is a self-depreciation, a +half-slander of one's self. Of course, it is not just to despise a man +who has no ancestry, but it is a crime not to honor him if he has a +worthy lineage."</p> + +<p>And thus he talked until the rest of us sat back from the table, and +then, gripping his cane and getting up, he said that he would like to +talk to me privately in the library. Upon entering the room he filled a +clay pipe, handed it to me, gave me a lighted match, filled a pipe for +himself, and then lay down upon an old horse-hair sofa. I placed a +cushion for his foot and he raised up and bowed to me. "I thank you, +sir," he said. "I don't believe that Chyd would have thought of that. I +believe that he will make of himself one of the finest of physicians, +but a man may be a successful doctor and yet a thoughtless and an +indifferent companion. You will please put the right construction upon +what may appear as an over-frankness on my part, for the fact is I have +never regarded you as a stranger; and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_249" id="Page_249">[249]</a></span> I feel that what I say to you +will go no further."</p> + +<p>He was silent and I nodded to him, waiting for him to continue. He moved +his shoulders as if to work himself into an easier position, and then he +resumed his talk. "Of my own volition I would not have gone over to +Jucklin's house to break that engagement—I would have waited—but my +son told me to go, and after I had gone, why, of course, I had to act my +part. But it was simply acting, for my heart was not in it. And I tell +you, sir, that if old Lim had wiped his bloody hands in my face I would +not have struck him. Chydister is proud, but his pride and mine are not +of the same sort. With him everything must bear upon his future standing +as a physician, and to me that has too much the color of business. I +admit that I was grieved to discover that my daughter was in love with +Alf. I don't say that he is not morally worthy of her or of any young +woman, but he is poor and is indifferently educated, with no prospects +save a life of hard work. And I don't believe that I need to apologize +for desiring to see my daughter well situated. Now, my son regrets the +step which he took and which he urged me to take, and at the earliest +moment he will renew the engagement. I think almost as much of Guinea as +I do of my own daughter. Although she is a country girl, who has led a +most simple life, I hold her a remarkable woman—an original and a +thinking woman, sir. And now what I request you to do is this—soften +her resentment, if you can. There are matches at the corner of the +mantelpiece."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_250" id="Page_250">[250]</a></span>My pipe was out. I lighted it, and did not resume my seat, but stood +looking at him.</p> + +<p>"General," said I, "Guinea will never marry your son."</p> + +<p>"The devil you say! Pardon me. I didn't mean to be so abrupt. But why do +you think she will not marry him?"</p> + +<p>"General, it is now your turn to pardon me, sir. She is to be married by +a man who worships her, not a scientist, but a man with a heart—she is +going to be my wife."</p> + +<p>The old man sprang up and in a moment he stood facing me. There was a +footstep at the door and Chydister entered the room.</p> + +<p>"Go ahead with your emotional oratory, but pardon me while I look for my +stethoscope," he said. "I want to see what effect an hour's run will +have on the hearts of a hound and an ordinary cur."</p> + +<p>"Sir!" cried his father, turning upon him, "this is no time to talk of +the hearts of hounds and curs. The hearts of men are at stake."</p> + +<p>"That so? What's up?"</p> + +<p>"What's up, indeed, sir? This man says that Guinea Jucklin will not +marry you."</p> + +<p>"Yes, so he told me. Now I almost know that I put that thing right up +here."</p> + +<p>"'Zounds, man, will you listen to me!"</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir, go ahead. He says she won't marry me. That's his opinion, +undemonstrated—a mere assertion; he has given me no proof."</p> + +<p>"Ah, have you any proof, Mr. Hawes?" the old man<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_251" id="Page_251">[251]</a></span> asked.</p> + +<p>"I have, but it cannot very well be set forth in words; and with much +respect for you, General, I must say that I prefer not to illustrate +it."</p> + +<p>"You see it's rather vague, father. Let me ask if she has said +positively that she will be your wife?"</p> + +<p>"Her lips may have made no promise beyond a figure of speech, and yet +her heart——"</p> + +<p>"Ah, more vague than ever," the young man broke in, looking at his +father as if he were impatient to get away. "I must have left it +somewhere else," he added, and the old General frowned upon him.</p> + +<p>"Chydister, if you lose that woman it is your own fault."</p> + +<p>"Well, no, I can hardly agree with you there, father. If I lose her it +will be the fault of circumstances. Are you done with me?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, you can go," said the General. He stooped, reached back for the +lounge and laboriously stretched himself upon it. Chyd went out and I +remarked that it was time for me to go. The old man made no reply, +seeming not to have heard me, but as I turned toward the door he raised +up and said:</p> + +<p>"I would be a fool, sir, to blame you; and I trust that you will not +blame me for hoping that you are mistaken."</p> + +<p>He lay down again, and I left him. Millie was standing at the gate when +I went out, and she pretended not to see me until I had passed into the +road, and then, with the manner of a surprise, she said: "Oh, I didn't +think<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_252" id="Page_252">[252]</a></span> you were going so soon—thought you and father were having an +argument. Do you see—see him very often?"</p> + +<p>There was a tremulous tenderness in her voice, and I knew that there +were tears in her eyes, and I looked far away down the road, as I stood +there with the gate between us.</p> + +<p>"I have seen him every day," I answered.</p> + +<p>"And does he look wretched and heart-broken?"</p> + +<p>"No, he is happy, for he knows that you love him."</p> + +<p>She caught her breath with a sob and I looked far away down the road.</p> + +<p>"You told him—told him that I did. And I am so thankful to you; I would +do anything for you. I dream of him all the time, and I see you with +him. How terrible it is, shut up there and the sun is so bright for +everyone else. Sometimes I go into the closet and stay there in the +dark, for then I am nearer him. When will you see him again?"</p> + +<p>"I am going back to town to-morrow."</p> + +<p>"Will you please give him this?"</p> + +<p>I reached forth my hand and upon my palm she placed a locket.</p> + +<p>"I know that if you study law, Mr. Hawes, you will get him out. You are +so strong that you can do most anything. Good-bye, and when you write to +Guinea, send her my love."</p> + + + +<hr /> + +<h2><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_253" id="Page_253">[253]</a></span> +<a name="xix" id="xix"></a>CHAPTER XIX.</h2> + + +<p>Four weeks passed and heavy were the days with anxiety, for I had +received no word from Guinea. I thought of a hundred causes that must +have kept her from writing, but, worst of all, I feared that she had +written and that the letter had gone astray.</p> + +<p>One afternoon, having thrown my book aside, weary of causes, reasonings +and developments of law, I sat on a rock near the spring, musing, +wondering, when suddenly I sprang to my feet, with Guinea in my mind, +with Guinea before me, I thought. But this was only for an instant. A +young deer came down the path, gracefully leaping, and my mind flew back +to the time when I had first seen her running down that shining strip of +hard-beat earth. Yes, it was a deer, and it ran down the brook, and +presently I heard the hounds yelping in the woods. I returned to my room +and again I strove to study, but the logical phrasing was harsh to me, +and I threw down the book. I would fish in the pools that lay along the +stream toward the mill. The ground in the yard and about the barn was so +dry that I could find no angle worms, and I decided to dig in the damp +moss-land near the spring. The hoe struck a hard substance and out came +something bright. I stooped to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_254" id="Page_254">[254]</a></span> examine it, and at first I thought that +it was silver, but it was not—it was mica. I scraped off the moss and +the thin strata of earth, and there I found a great bed of the ore. I +dug deeper and it came up in chunks, and it was fine and flawless. My +reading taught me that it was valuable, and I was rejoiced to find that +it was on my own land. I got out as much as I could carry—indeed, I +filled a trunk with it, and then carefully replaced the moss, smoothed +it down and made it look as if it had not been displaced. My blood +tingled with excitement and I was afraid that some one might have seen +me. I took the trunk to my room and split off thin sheets of the mica, +and the more I looked at it the more I was thrilled at the prospect that +now lay, not in the future, but under my touch. And I was not long in +resolving upon a course to pursue. I remembered that into our +neighborhood had come from Nashville, Tenn., a large stove with mica in +the doors, and I thought it would be wise to take my trunk to that city +and by exhibiting its contents induce some one to buy the mine. I +hastened to town, after hiding the trunk, and told Conkwright and Alf +that unexpected business called me away for a few days, and then I +returned home and hired a man to drive me to the railway station. I was +afraid to trust the trunk out of my sight, but I had to let the baggage +man take it, but I charged him to be particular with it, telling him +that it was full of iron ore. He gave it a jerk and declared that it +must be full of lead. When I had come into that community I fancied that +the train was on wings,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_255" id="Page_255">[255]</a></span> but now it appeared to be crawling. Night came +and I was afraid that robbers might assail the train and expose my +secret; but at last I reached Nashville, and then came a worry. How was +I to find the man who had made the stove? I took my trunk to a hotel, +wrapped a chunk of the mica in a handkerchief and set out to look for a +stove dealer. I soon found a hardware establishment, and in I walked +with the hardened air of business, and asked for the proprietor. A +pleasant-looking man came forward, and I asked him what mica was worth. +He looked at me sharply and answered that he was not thoroughly informed +as to the state of the market, but that he thought it was worth all the +way from five to twenty-five dollars a pound. "But mica of the first +quality is scarce," said he, and then he asked if I wanted to buy mica.</p> + +<p>"No, sir, I want to sell it. Is this of good quality?"</p> + +<p>I unwrapped the handkerchief and his eyes stuck out in astonishment. +"Where did you get it?" he asked.</p> + +<p>"Off my land in North Carolina."</p> + +<p>"Have you very much of it?" he asked, scaling off thin sheets with his +knife.</p> + +<p>"Tons of it."</p> + +<p>"You don't say so! Then you've got a fortune. We are not very large +manufacturers and don't use a great deal. How much did you bring with +you?"</p> + +<p>"Only a trunk full."</p> + +<p>"Well, I guess we can take that much. Bring it around."</p> + +<p>I did so, and I could scarcely believe that I had correctly<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_256" id="Page_256">[256]</a></span> caught his +words when he offered me five hundred dollars, though now I know that he +paid me much less than it was worth. He talked a long time with his +partner, and then came back to me with the money, asked my name and a +number of other questions. "Young man," said he, "if we had the ready +means we would buy that mine, but we haven't. Now, I tell you what you +do: Take a sample—this piece—and go at once to Chicago. I know of some +capitalists there who are making large investments in the South, and I +have no doubt that they will be pleased to make you an offer for your +property. Here, I'll write their names on a card. To tell you the truth, +we are to some extent interested with them. Now, don't show this sample +to anyone else, but go straight to Clarm & Ging, Rookery building, +Chicago. Anybody can tell you where it is. Here's the card. We'll +telegraph them that you are coming, so you are somewhat in honor bound, +you understand, not to go elsewhere—we have in some degree sealed the +transaction with a part purchase, you see."</p> + +<p>I walked out of that house, dazed, bewildered with my own luck. And I +took passage on the first train for Chicago. If money could clear Alf, +he would now be cleared, and proudly I mused over the great difference +that I would make between his first and his last trial. But during all +this time I was conscious of a heaviness—the silence of Guinea.</p> + +<p>The train reached Chicago at morning. And now I was in the midst of a +whirl and a roar—a confused babbling<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_257" id="Page_257">[257]</a></span> at the base of Babel's tower. And +as I walked up a street I thought that a tornado had broken loose and +that I was in the center of it. I called a hackman, for my reading +taught me what to do, and I told him to drive me to the Rookery. He +rattled away and came within one of being upset by other vehicles, and I +yelled at him to be more particular, but on he went, paying no attention +to me. After a while he drew up in front of a building as big as a +lopped-off spur of a mountain range; and when I got out I found that the +vitals of the hurricane had shifted with me, for the roar and the +confusion was worse, was gathering new forces. But no one laughed at me, +no one pointed me out, and I really felt quite pleased with myself—a +school-teacher, a lawyer's assistant, expected by a capitalist! I went +under a marble arch-way, and asked a man if he knew Clarm & Ging, and he +pointed to an elevator—I knew what it was—and shouted a number. I got +in and was shot to the eighth floor. I knocked at a door, but no one +opened it. There was no bell to ring, so I knocked louder and still no +one opened the door. This was hardly the courtesy that I expected. But +while I was standing there a man came along and went in without +knocking. I thought that he must be one of the men I was looking for, +and I followed him, but he simply looked round after going in and then +went out again without saying anything. I saw a man sitting at a desk, +and I handed him the card which the hardware dealer had given me. He +looked at it and said: "Yes, you are Hawes, eh? Where's your<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_258" id="Page_258">[258]</a></span> mica."</p> + +<p>I gave it to him, and he looked at it closely through a microscope. "How +deep have you gone?"</p> + +<p>"Not more than six inches."</p> + +<p>"That so? Much of this size?"</p> + +<p>"Train loads, I should think."</p> + +<p>"Ah, hah. How much land does it cover?"</p> + +<p>"Don't know exactly. Haven't investigated."</p> + +<p>And this question set me to thinking. The mine was well on my land, but +it might spread out beyond my lines. It was important that I should buy +several acres surrounding the stretch of moss, and I decided to do this +immediately upon my return home.</p> + +<p>"Let's see," said the capitalist. "This is Friday. Mr. Clarm is out of +town and will not be back until Monday—has a summer home in St. Jo, +Mich., and is over there. It's just across the lake. Suppose we go over +there to-morrow morning. Boat leaves at nine. Be a pleasant trip. All +right."</p> + +<p>He resumed his work as if my acceptance of his proposition was a +foreshadowed necessity. "How did you happen to find it?" he asked, +without looking up from his work.</p> + +<p>"I was digging for angle worms."</p> + +<p>He grunted. "Didn't find any worms, did you?"</p> + +<p>"No, I don't think I did."</p> + +<p>"I know you didn't. Worms and mica don't exist in the same soil. Very +rugged?"</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_259" id="Page_259">[259]</a></span>"Rocks on each side."</p> + +<p>I was determined to be business-like, not to give him information unless +he asked for it; and I sat there, studying him. He was direct and this +pleased me, for it bespoke a quick decision. But after a time I grew +tired of looking upon his absorption, for his mood was unvarying, and he +held one position almost without change, so I began to walk about, +looking at the pictures of factories and of mines, hung on the walls. +The day was hot and the windows were up, and I looked down on the +ant-working industry in the street. How different from the view that lay +out of my window in the old log house; but I was resolved to draw no +long bow of astonishment, for in a man's surprise is a reflex of his +ignorance.</p> + +<p>"What business?" the capitalist asked, still without looking up.</p> + +<p>"None, you might say. Have taught school, but of late I have employed my +time with studying law."</p> + +<p>He looked round at me and then resumed his work. A long time passed. I +heard his watch snap and then he got up.</p> + +<p>"We'll go out and get a bite to eat," he said. "Any particular place?"</p> + +<p>"No," I answered, pleased that he should presume that I was acquainted +with the eating houses of the town.</p> + +<p>We stepped out into the hall and he yelled: "Down!" He shoved me into an +elevator among a number of men and women, and though we were all jammed +together no<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_260" id="Page_260">[260]</a></span> one appeared to notice me; but when we got out a boy +whistled at a companion and yelled: "Hi, Samson!" Mr. Ging darted out +under the arch, and I almost ran over him, when he halted on the +sidewalk to talk to a man. They walked along together for quite a +distance, nodding and making gestures, and when they separated Ging said +to me that he had just bought a subdivision of real estate. At this I +appeared to be pleased, but I was not; I was afraid that before the +close of the deal he might entangle himself in so many transactions that +he could not afford to pay cash for the mica mine. The further we went +the faster he walked, and suddenly he darted through a wall, and the +swinging doors came back and slapped me in the face. We sat down to a +table and Mr. Ging said that I might take whatever I desired, but that +he wanted only a cup of coffee and a piece of apple pie. I was hungry, +had eaten no breakfast and felt as if I could devour a beef steak as big +as a saddle skirt, but I said that coffee and apple pie would do me. He +asked me a number of questions concerning the mine, its distance from a +railway, condition of the wagon roads, and especially did he want to +know whether the local tax assessor made it a point to discriminate +against the non-resident property owner. I caught the spirit of his +quick utterances, and blew out my words in a splutter, striving to be +business-like, but before I could cover all his points he had eaten his +pie and was impatiently waiting for me.</p> + +<p>"Want to go round to-night?" he asked, and before I<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_261" id="Page_261">[261]</a></span> could tell him that +I did want to go round, having but a vague idea as to what he meant, he +added: "And if I can get off this afternoon I'll take you out to the +stock-yards."</p> + +<p>"I would much rather see your finest library," I replied.</p> + +<p>"I guess you've got me there; don't know where it is, but I suppose we +can find it in the directory."</p> + +<p>"I have read of the Art Institute here. You know where that is, I +presume."</p> + +<p>"Y-e-s—low building over on the lake front. But I've never had time to +go into it. Well, suppose we get back to the office."</p> + +<p>I raced with him, but he beat me by a neck, being more accustomed to the +track; and he shouted "Up!" as he darted under the marble arch. I +grabbed him and held him for a moment, told him that I did not care to +go up again so soon, that I would stroll about for a time and see him +after a while.</p> + +<p>"Yes, but you'll come back, eh? I guess we'll take that mine if we can +agree upon terms. We own one in Colorado. Don't fail to come back. Up!"</p> + +<p>I went out into the center of the maelstrom and laughed at him—a +capitalist keeping pace with indigestion, racing against time. Little +wonder that he was bald and pinched.</p> + +<p>I thought that I would find a leisurely place and slowly eat a dinner, +and I did find many places, but none of them was leisurely. I went to a +hotel, and there I ate a meal without running the risk of having my +chair thrown over,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_262" id="Page_262">[262]</a></span> and then I returned to the Rookery. Mr. Ging was +lost in his work, and in a room which opened into his apartment two +girls were hammering a race on writing machines. I walked into this +room, and the girls went on with their work as if I were at home looking +over toward the General's house instead of looking down at them. A bell +tinkled in Ging's room. One of the girls went to him and I heard him +talking rapidly to her, and presently she came back with a pad of paper +in her hand, and furiously attacked her machine. Ging rushed out into +the hall and both machines stopped, and the girls began to nibble at +bon-bons, but a moment later they dashed at their work, for Ging had +returned. I went back into his room, and, glancing round, I saw one of +the girls look up at the ceiling and then down at the floor. I knew that +she was making fun of me, and in my heart I confessed myself her enemy.</p> + +<p>"I'm sorry," said Ging, "but I don't believe I can get off this +afternoon. Clarm's being out of town puts double work on me. But we'll +go round to-night. You've been here quite often, I suppose."</p> + +<p>"Well, not lately," I replied.</p> + +<p>"No? Then we can find a good many things to interest you."</p> + +<p>I went out again and walked about, but I did not venture far beyond the +shadow of the Rookery, for I knew that should I get turned round I would +be ashamed to inquire the way back. I saw a man standing on a box +selling pens.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_263" id="Page_263">[263]</a></span> He had a most fluent use of words, though I could see +that he was not educated. He interested his hearers with humorous +stories, as if his business were first to entertain the public and then +to pick up a living, and for the first time it struck me that +book-knowledge did not embrace everything, that people who simply read +get but a second-hand experience. We must observe form and recognize the +rules which good taste has drawn, but after all the finest form and the +most nearly perfect rule is an inborn judgment. The merest accident may +thrill a dull man with genius. I knew a young man who was commonplace +until he was taken down with a fever, and when he got up his business +sense was gone, but he wrote a parody that made this country shout with +laughter. Thus I mused as I looked at that fellow selling pens. He was a +rascal, no doubt, but I was forced to admire his vivid fancy, his +genius.</p> + +<p>When I returned to the Rookery I found Ging waiting for me. "Now," said +he, "we'll go out for a while and then eat dinner. Would you mind going +out about twelve miles? Train every few minutes. I've got some real +estate that I'd like to show you—might cut an important figure in our +transaction."</p> + +<p>"I don't want it to cut any figure in our transaction," I replied. "I +want to sell the mine for money."</p> + +<p>"Yes, of course, but you might double your money on the real estate."</p> + +<p>"That may be true, but I am not a speculator; and if you<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_264" id="Page_264">[264]</a></span> are not +prepared to pay money, why, it is useless to waste further time."</p> + +<p>"Of course. No time has been wasted and none shall be. You may trust me +when it comes to the question of wasting time. I didn't know but you +might like a home out at Sweet Myrtle. Beautiful place—gas, water, +side-walks, sewers. But if you don't want to go, it's all right. Let me +tell you right now that we are prepared to pay cash for your mine. We +represent millions in the East. Well, we'll go."</p> + +<p>That night we went to a theater, and to me Mr. Ging was a dull +companion. He yawned and stretched through Shakspeare's mighty play, +while I was in a tingling ecstasy. He said that the fellow could not +act, and that may have been true, but to me there was no actor, but a +real Hamlet; no stage, but the court at Elsinore. He said that he would +call at the hotel in time to catch the boat, and I was glad when he left +me to my own thoughts. At 9 o'clock the next morning we went on board a +great white boat, so fresh, so full of interest to me that I was in a +state of delight, of new expectancy, and when we steamed out into the +lake I could scarcely repress a cry of joy so thrilling was the view. I +had never seen a large body of water, had striven to picture the majesty +of a wave, and now I stood with poetry rolling about me—now a deep-blue +elegy, now a limpid lyric, varying in hue with the shifting of a +luminous fleece-work, far above. To have been born and brought up amid +great scenes were surely<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_265" id="Page_265">[265]</a></span> a privilege, but to come upon them for the +first time when the mind is ripe, when the senses are yearning for a new +impression, is indeed a blessing. Short were the sixty miles of our +journey, it seemed to me, but Ging was bored and impatiently he snapped +his watch, and said that we were at least fifteen minutes late. After +having lost all view of the land, how strangely novel was the sight of +the shore, and to fancy myself in a foreign harbor was the most natural +of conceits.</p> + +<p>At the wharf we took a carriage and were driven through the town, out by +many a dreamy orchard side, up a bluff-banked river to a large frame +house, high on a hill. Clarm was walking about in the yard, and with an +ease and politeness which I had not expected—having permitted Ging to +influence my preconception of his partner's character—he shook hands +with me and invited me into the house. The sample of mica was closely +inspected, numerous questions were asked, and after a time Mr. Clarm +said that it would be well for Mr. Ging to go home with me. I had kept +in mind the determination to buy a few more acres of land, and I knew +that this might not be an easy transaction if Ging should accompany me, +thereby exciting a suspicion in Parker's mind, so I replied that I was +not going straightway home, being compelled by other business to stop +for a day in Kentucky. "But it is, of course, necessary for Mr. Ging to +see the mine, and he can start the day after I leave and reach Purdy on +the day I arrive," I added.</p> + +<p>They agreed to this, as Ging was the principal in another<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_266" id="Page_266">[266]</a></span> deal that +must be brought to a close; and after declining an invitation to dinner, +I took my leave, feeling that I was a liar, it is true, but I thought +that my deception was not only pardonable, but, indeed, a commendable +piece of fore-sight. I am free to say that a man, in order to protect +his commercial interests, must be an easy and a nimble liar; and I do +not hold that a man who permits himself to be cheated simply that he may +snatch the chance to tell a truth—I say that I could not regard him a +prudent husband or a wise father. Divide the last cent with a friend, +harden not thy heart against the distressed, but in the warfare of +business seek to steal an enemy's advantage. It was with this argument +that I sought to appease my conscience as I strolled about the town, but +more than once I halted, thinking to tell them the truth. But +judgment—permit me to term it judgment—finally influenced me to let +the false statement stand.</p> + +<p>Out from the town were numerous lanes, soft with turf, and with orchards +on every side. Amid the darkened green I saw the yellowing pear, the red +flash of the apple; and from amid the bushes blackberries peeped like +the eyes of a deer. At the end of a lane was a deep ravine, one side a +grassy slope, the other a terraced vineyard, and up this romantic rent I +walked, in a Switzerland, a France. On the green slope was a cottage, +with a high fence behind it, and as I drew near I thought that it would +be a soothing privilege to enter the house and talk with the humble +people who lived therein. Suddenly there came a shout<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_267" id="Page_267">[267]</a></span> that sent a spurt +of blood to my heart——</p> + +<p>"Hike, there, Sam! Hike, there, Bob—hike, there!"</p> + +<p>I ran to the fence, grasped the top, drew myself up and looked over into +the small inclosure; and there was old Lim Jucklin, down on his knees, +beating the ground with his hat. I let myself drop and ran round the +gate, opened it without noise and stepped inside. The old man now held +one of the chickens by the neck and was putting him into a coop.</p> + +<p>"Oh, it would suit you to fight to a finish, wouldn't it? And you may, +one of these days, as soon as I hear from down yander. Git in there. +Come here, Bob. You've got to go in, too. Caught you on the top-knot, +didn't he? Well, you must learn to dodge better. Ain't quite as peart as +one of the other Bobs I could tell you about. Now, boys, you are all +right, but I want you to understand—-well, since Moses hit the rock!" +he cried, scrambling to his feet. "Hold on, now, don't you tech +me—don't know whether you are Bill or Bill's ghost. By jings, if it +ain't Bill, I'm a calf's rennet. Since Moses hit the rock!"</p> + +<p>He grabbed me and hung upon me, and I put my arm about him. "Don't tell +me nuthin' now, Bill. Don't want to hear a word, for I'm deefer than a +horse block."</p> + +<p>"You have nothing to fear, Mr. Jucklin. I bring good news. Alf isn't out +yet, but he will be. I have other news——"</p> + +<p>"But don't tell me. Deefer than a horse-block. What did I do with that +d——d handkerchief? Take that back<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_268" id="Page_268">[268]</a></span>—kiver to kiver. Had it in my hat +a minit ago. Sand from this here lake shore gits in a feller's eyes. +Ain't got used to it yet. Hope the Lord will excuse me for cussin' like +a sailor. Must have got it from them fellers down on the lake shore. +Kiver to kiver. Now let us go into the house. Door's round there facin' +the holler. Let me go in first; you stand outside. Sand's blowin' up +from the lake and gits in their eyes, too. Ain't used to it yet. Come +on."</p> + +<p>There were hollyhocks in front of the house and among them I stood +waiting for the old man to open the door.</p> + +<p>"Susan," he said, as he stepped into the room, "this here world—this +one right here—is as full of surprises as a chicken is with—with—I +don't know what. Now, don't you take on none, but—come in, Bill."</p> + +<p>The old woman started forward with a cry and threw her arms about me. +"There now," old Lim protested, wiping his eyes, "don't take on that +way. Everything's all right. Set down here now and let's be sensible. +That's it. Oh, she's all right, Bill—her folks stood at the stake. +Guinea's comin' down stairs."</p> + +<p>Toward the stairway I looked, and Guinea stepped down into the room. And +oh, the smile on her lips as she came toward me! But she did not hold +out her hands—she came close to me, and her bended head almost touched +me, but her hands were held behind her, clasped, I could see. "Not yet," +she said, looking up with a smile. "But you must not think ill of me, +must not be provoked. Let me have my whimsical way until my whole life +shall be yours."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_269" id="Page_269">[269]</a></span>"She's talkin' like a book!" the old man cried. "Let her talk like one, +Bill. Don't exactly grab her drift as I'd like to, but I know it's all +right. Gracious alive, why don't you women folks git him something to +eat? And, me, too, for I'm as hungry as the she bear that eat up the +children. I wish you'd all set down. Turn him loose, Susan. Ain't +nothin' the matter with him—hungry as a wolf, that's all. Now we are +gettin' at it."</p> + +<p>With the door open and with a cool breeze blowing, with the sweetness of +ripening fruit in the air, with the hollyhocks nodding at us, we sat in +that modest room, at home in a strange place. I told them all that had +befallen me. I gradually led up to the discovery of the mine. "And now," +I added, "we go back there, not poor, but rich. There is no telling how +many dollars they may give us."</p> + +<p>"Not us, Bill," the old man interposed, slowly shaking his head; "not +us, but you. It's yours, all yours. You bought the land and all that's +on it or under it belongs to you."</p> + +<p>"No, Mr. Jucklin, it belongs to you, to Alf and to me. There will be +enough for us all, but no matter how little, you and Alf shall share it. +I am just beginning fully to realize it—but I know that we are rich. It +is necessary for me to get back at once," I added. "I'll have to buy +some land from Parker, but I told Clarm & Ging that I was going to stop +for a day in Kentucky. I didn't want them to know that I intended to buy +more land. It's none of their business, anyway. So I must be in Purdy +one<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_270" id="Page_270">[270]</a></span> day ahead of Ging. I've got money with me and we'll all start this +evening."</p> + +<p>The old man sadly shook his head. "I can't do it, Bill; can't go back +yet. If he comes clear, without a scratch on him, I'll go back, but if +he don't I'll never see that state again. So we'll wait right here till +after the next trial. Won't settle on anything until then. You go ahead +and attend to everything and let me know how it all comes out. I've been +scared ever since I left there, afraid that I'd hear something by some +chance or other; and I wouldn't let Guinea write to you. Every day I'd +tell her 'not yet.' She wanted to, but I wouldn't let her."</p> + +<p>"You shall have your own way, for I know that everything will come out +right. Conkwright says so, and he knows. How did you happen to find this +place?"</p> + +<p>The old man laughed. "Well, sir, we got on the train, and when the man +asked where we wanted to go I told him we'd go just as far as he did, it +made no difference how far that might happen to be; and every time we'd +change cars I'd tell the other man the same thing. But finally they got +so stuck up that they wouldn't let us get on without tickets, and at +Louisville I bought tickets for Chicago. I didn't know what to do when I +got to Chicago—didn't know what to do when I got to any place, for that +matter; but we poked around, gettin' a bite to eat every once in a +while, and slept in the slambangin'est place I ever saw. The lake caught +me, and I found out how soon the first boat went out, and we got on her +and here we are. When<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_271" id="Page_271">[271]</a></span> I told these here folks where I was from I braced +myself, expectin' to have a fight right there, but I want to tell you +that I was never better treated in my life. All the good folks ain't +huddled together in one community, I tell you; and this knockin' round +has opened my eyes mightily. Why, I rickollect when they sorter looked +down on Conkwright because his father wa'n't born in the South. Yes, +sir, and they gave me work right off—that is, they call it work, but I +call it play—gatherin' fruit. Why, with us, when a feller wanted to +rest he'd go out and gather fruit, if he could find any. Yes, sir, and +I'm goin' to stay right here till the cat makes her final jump one way +or another."</p> + +<p>How fondly they listened as I talked about the old place, of well-known +trees, of the big rock on the brink of the ravine. I even told them that +the General lamented the breaking of the engagement, that he had come as +an agent, that his son was at fault. Guinea smiled at this, and I +thought that her eyes grew darker.</p> + +<p>I learned that my train was not to leave until night. I was glad of +this, for it gave me a sweet lingering time; and in the afternoon Guinea +and I went down to the river.</p> + +<p>"We will get a boat and row up past the island, away up to the beautiful +hills," she said. "But can you row?" she asked, with a look of concern.</p> + +<p>"I have pulled a boat against a swifter current than this." I answered. +"I lived near the bank of a rapid stream."</p> + +<p>We got into a graceful boat and skimmed easily over the water. Now it +was my time to wonder and to muse<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_272" id="Page_272">[272]</a></span> over the changes that had come—to +dream as I looked at her, as she sat, trailing her hand in the water, +her hand, my hand, though she had not let me take it to help her into +the boat. With her a swamp would have been attractive, but here we were +in a paradise. Boats up and down the river; lovers went by, singing. On +one shore the scene was quiet, with easy slopes and with houses here and +there; but the other shore was wild with bluffs, with tangled vines and +monstrous trees that storms had gnarled and twisted. Here a spring +gushed out with a gleeful laugh, and lovers paused to listen, and in its +flow the city oarsman cooled his blistered hands.</p> + +<p>"Guinea, do you see that high bluff up there among the pine trees?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, and isn't it a charming place?"</p> + +<p>"I'm glad you think so?"</p> + +<p>"Why are you glad of that?"</p> + +<p>"Because you—I mean a woman who has had her way—because she may live +there. When at last she is tired of that way, and when she has gone to a +man with her hands held out, he will take her to a house built on that +bluff, a summer home. I'm not joking. Next year there will be a +beautiful home up there. Don't you see, the land is for sale? And in the +house a man is going to write a history of a woman who had her way and +of a man who—well, I hardly know what to say about him, but I am not +going to hide his faults nor cover up his weaknesses."</p> + +<p>"Are you really in earnest, Mr. Hawes?"</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_273" id="Page_273">[273]</a></span>"Yes, I mean every word of it. Wouldn't you—I mean, wouldn't the woman +who had persisted in having her way—wouldn't she like a home up there?"</p> + +<p>In her voice was the musical cluck that so often had charmed me. "She +would be happy anywhere with the man who had permitted her to have her +way, and I know that she would be delighted to live up there. And you—I +mean the man—-wouldn't have any of the trees cut down, would he?"</p> + +<p>"Not one. He would build the house in that open place."</p> + +<p>"Charming," she said. "How sweet a religion could be made of a life up +there, with the river and the hills and the island—beautiful."</p> + +<p>"Guinea, I wish you would tell me something. Did you ever really +love—him?"</p> + +<p>"When I have come to you as I told you I would come, you will not have +to ask me anything."</p> + +<p>"But can you give me some idea as to how long I may have to wait? My +confidence in you is complete, but you must know that to wait is +painful. Suppose that a certain something that you are waiting +for—suppose that nothing should come of it? What then?"</p> + +<p>"No matter what takes place, I will come to you. I know that it must +appear foolish, I know that I am but vague in what I try to make you +understand, but—you will wait a while longer, won't you?"</p> + +<p>Her voice was so pleading, her manner was so full of distress, that I +hastened to tell her that I would wait no<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_274" id="Page_274">[274]</a></span> matter how long she might +deign to hold me off, and that never again could she find cause to +reprove my impatience. She thanked me with a smile and with many an +endearing word, and onward we went, the boats passing us, the songs of +lovers reaching us from above and below. We landed and climbed the +bluff, and I selected the exact spot whereon the house was to be; we +loitered in the shade and counted the minutes as they flew away like +pigeons from a trap, but we could not shoot them and bring them back; so +they were gone, and it was soon time for us to go, for the light of the +sun was weakening. Down the river we went, singing "Juanita," she +rippling the water with her hand, I half-hearted in my rowing, dreamily +wishing that the train might leave me.</p> + +<p>Close to me at the door she stood. The old man was outside, waiting to +go with me to the railway station. She bowed her head and I kissed her +hair.</p> + + + +<hr /> + +<h2><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_275" id="Page_275">[275]</a></span> +<a name="xx" id="xx"></a>CHAPTER XX.</h2> + + +<p>The sun had just gone down, and a man was beating a triangle to announce +that it was lodge-night, when I stepped upon the sidewalk in front of +Conkwright's office. The old man was locking his door. I spoke to him +and he turned about, and, seeing me, merely nodded, threw open the door +and bade me go in. "Mighty glad you've got back," he said. "They are +going to bring that trial on right away, and it will be none too soon +for us, I assure you. Let me open this window. Been about as hot a day +as I ever felt. Well, what have you got to say?"</p> + +<p>"So much that I scarcely know how to begin."</p> + +<p>He grunted. "The prelude to an unimportant story. But, go on."</p> + +<p>Long before I was done with my recital he sat with his eyes wide open, +seeming to wonder whether my reason had slipped a cog.</p> + +<p>"Wonderful," he said. "No, it is not wonderful, nothing is wonderful. +The mere fact that a thing happens proves that there is about it no +element of the marvelous. It is the strange thing that does not occur. +When it does occur it ceases to be strange. And you say he will be here +to-morrow? Now, you let me take charge of him as soon as<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_276" id="Page_276">[276]</a></span> he arrives. If +you don't he will not only get the mine for nothing, but will go away +with your eye teeth. I'll go home to-night and study up this question, +and by to-morrow night I'll know more about it than he does. Yes, sir, a +good deal more, or at least make him think so. You were long-headed in +deciding to slip out there and buy more land, and by the way, Parker is +in town. No, sir, there is no telling what may happen. See Parker +to-night and meet me here to-morrow morning."</p> + +<p>I found Alf reading a letter which Millie had contrived to send him. +Under the light of the smoky lamp his face looked sallow and thin, but +his eyes were full of happiness. "She's got the noblest spirit that ever +suffered, and noble spirits must suffer," he said as he handed me the +letter. "See, she begs my forgiveness for having kept me on the +gridiron. But doesn't one letter atone for a whole year of broiling? Ah, +and you have been broiled, too, haven't you, Bill? Now let them put the +balm on us. The Judge tells me that I am soon to be turned out, and I'll +come out wiser than I was when I came in, for I have improved my time +with reading. Have you heard from the folks?"</p> + +<p>I told him my story, and I told it quietly, but it greatly excited him, +and time and again he thrust his hands through the iron lattice to grasp +me. "So you will go out not only wiser, but a richer man," I said. "You +will not have to go into a field and plow in the blistering heat while +other men are sitting in the shade. All our trouble has been for the +best, and with deep reverence we must acknowledge<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_277" id="Page_277">[277]</a></span> it. And soon we will +go together out to the old place and peacefully smoke our pipes up under +the rafters. Well, I have left you the subject for a pleasant dream, and +I must go now to look for Parker. As I said to your father, there is no +telling how much money we may get, but whatever comes we share."</p> + +<p>"Not if it's very much, Bill. I don't need much; I wouldn't know what to +do with it. But if you could only do one thing it would make me the +happiest man that ever lived."</p> + +<p>"Tell me what it is. It can surely be done."</p> + +<p>"Why, if I could only get the old Morton place. It's about three miles +from the General's, and it used to belong to his grandfather. One of his +aims in life has been to get it back into the family, and if you could +get it for me——"</p> + +<p>"You shall have it."</p> + +<p>"Don't say so, Bill, unless you think there's a chance."</p> + +<p>"It's not a chance, but a certainty. You shall have the place. And what +a delight it will be to the General to visit his daughter there. Now, +don't speculate—let it be settled. Well, I'll see you to-morrow and +tell you how it's all to turn out, but have no fears about getting the +farm."</p> + +<p>I found Parker at the tavern. He told me that I might have a few acres +of land down about the spring, but that I would have to pay a little +more for it than he had paid. "We can't afford to trade for the mere fun +of it," he said. "My father used to do such things and they came mighty +nigh having to haul him to the poor house."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_278" id="Page_278">[278]</a></span>I offered him a sum that pleased him, that must, indeed, have delighted +him, for he offered to go out and set up a feast of cove oysters and +crackers, a great and liberal ceremony in the country; and over the tin +plates in a grocery store the transaction was celebrated. I met him +again early at morning, and before the day was half-grown I saw our +transaction spread upon the records. And at night Ging arrived. I +introduced him to Conkwright. "The Judge will represent me," said I, +"and I will stand by any agreement he may enter into with you."</p> + +<p>"All right," Ging replied. "How far is it out to the mine?"</p> + +<p>"About five miles."</p> + +<p>"Better go out to-night. Haven't any time to lose. Get a rig and we'll +go out."</p> + +<p>"Might as well wait until morning," said the Judge. "We can't do +anything to-night."</p> + +<p>"I know, but by staying there to-night we'll be there right early in the +morning. Get a rig."</p> + +<p>They drove away and I went round to the jail to tell Alf that the old +Morton place was rapidly coming his way. I slept but little that night +and I was nervous the next day, as I sat in the Judge's office waiting +for him to return. At 11 o'clock he drove up alone.</p> + +<p>"Where is Ging?" I asked as the old man got out of the buggy.</p> + +<p>"Gone to the telegraph office. Come in and I'll tell you all about it."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_279" id="Page_279">[279]</a></span>We entered the office and I stood there impatient at his delay, for +instead of telling me, he was silent, walking up and down the room with +his hands under his coat behind him.</p> + +<p>"Did you say he had gone to the telegraph office?"</p> + +<p>"Yes; said he had to communicate with his partner. Think he must have +been somewhat startled at my knowledge of mica; but if he should spring +the subject on me a week from now he would be still more startled—at my +ignorance. In this instance I have been what is termed a case lawyer."</p> + +<p>And still I waited and still he continued to walk up and down the room, +his hands behind him.</p> + +<p>"Communicate with his partner. Did he make an offer?"</p> + +<p>"Well, he hunted around in that neighborhood, but his gun hung fire. The +truth is I set the price myself. There is no doubt as to the value of +the mine—finest in the world, I should think."</p> + +<p>"What did you tell him he could have it for?"</p> + +<p>"Well, I suppose we could get more for it, but I told him that he might +have it for six hundred thousand dollars. I—why, what's wrong with that +offer? Isn't it enough?"</p> + +<p>"Enough! It is more than I dared to dream!" I cried.</p> + +<p>"Ah, hah. And because you don't know anything about mica. It didn't +startle him; simply remarked that he would telegraph to his partner. +He'll take it. He'll give you a check and I'll send it over to +Knoxville, Tenn.—don't<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_280" id="Page_280">[280]</a></span> want this little bank to handle that amount. +What are you going to do with the money?"</p> + +<p>"I'm going to buy the old Morton place for Alf, give the old man as much +as I can compel him to take, and I'm going to build a home on a high +bluff overlooking the St. Jo river, in Michigan. And I don't know yet +what else I may do. It is so overwhelming that my mind is in a tangle. +But I am going to give you——"</p> + +<p>"I don't charge you anything for my services," he broke in, humorously +winking his old eyes. "You are to be my law partner, you know."</p> + +<p>"Ah, that was reserved for time to bring about, in the event that I +should ever become a lawyer, but that possibility is now removed. I'm +not going to study law. The law is very forcible and very logical, but +it is too dry for me. I don't believe that I am practical enough for a +lawyer. I would rather read poetry and luminous prose than to study +rules of civil conduct. I am going to bejewel my house with books and +then I am going to live. I heard you say that the poet was the only man +who really lives, but he is not—those who worship with him live with +him. Yes, I am going to buy old books—I don't like new ones—and in my +library I will rule over the kingdoms of the earth. But I am going to +give you ten thousand dollars."</p> + +<p>"You wouldn't make a very good lawyer, Bill. I suspected it, and now you +prove it. My dear fellow, I have no children, and am getting old, +therefore I have no use for money. Wait a minute. I believe there is a +five thousand<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_281" id="Page_281">[281]</a></span> dollar mortgage on my house. Well, you may lend me ten +thousand, but I don't believe I'll ever pay it back. I can't afford to +violate the rule. When a man lends me money it's gone. And that's right, +for if I thought I had to pay it back I might dodge you. Yes, sir. As I +was driving back to town I came within one of permitting myself to look +upon this happening as a strange affair, but it is not; it's perfectly +natural. Yes, sir. And as soon as the news spreads around, nearly every +man in the community will turn out to hunt for mica, and not a speck of +it will be found. A reminder of the imitators that clamor when the clear +voice of a genius has been heard. If I keep on fooling with this subject +I will regard it as strange, after all. Just think of the ten thousand +things that led to the discovery of that mine. Suppose we could trace +any occurrence back to its source. Take my sitting here, for instance. +Caused, we will say, by a dead cat. My father, a very young fellow at +the time, found a dead cat lying on his father's door-steps, and he +threw it over into a neighbor's yard. The neighbor saw him, came over +and demanded that he be whipped. He was whipped, according to the good, +old religious custom, and he ran away from home, went to many places, +came into this state as a clock peddler, fell in love, married, and here +I am, sitting here—all caused by a dead cat. My mother was the daughter +of a very proud old fellow. She ran away with my father and never again +was she received at home. I may have dreamed it, but it seems that I +remember my mother holding me in<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_282" id="Page_282">[282]</a></span> her arms, pointing to an old brick +house and telling me that my grandfather lived there. Yes, sir, if we +permit our minds to drift that way, everything is strange. Here comes +our man."</p> + +<p>Ging stepped in, mopping his face with a handkerchief. "I'll take it," +he said, and it seemed to me that the room began to turn round. "Let us +fix it up at once," he added. "I have engaged a man to drive me to the +station and I want to take the next train."</p> + +<p>Evening came. The day had been filled with tremors and whirls, so dazed +was I, dreamily listening to details, now startled, now seeming to be +far away—shaking hands, signing papers; and now it was all settled, and +I, on a horse, rode toward home to seek a night of rest in the country. +The moon was full. I heard the sharp clack of hoofs, and, looking back, +I saw a man riding as if it were his aim to overtake me. I jogged along +slowly and Etheredge came up.</p> + +<p>"How are you, Mr. Hawes? I have heard of your wonderful luck and I +congratulate you. I intended to see you in town to-night, but learned +that you had come out here, so I rode fast to overtake you. I have sold +out and will leave here to-morrow morning."</p> + +<p>"What! Then you won't be here at the trial?"</p> + +<p>"I shall not be needed, sir. Now I am going to tell you something and I +hope that in your mind, and in the mind of the public, the good which it +will do may in some measure atone for the wrong——"</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_283" id="Page_283">[283]</a></span>His horse stumbled, and he did not complete the sentence. I was afraid +to say anything, was afraid that eagerness on my part might stir the +vagaries of his peculiar mind and drive him into stubborn silence. So I +said nothing. He rode close to me, reached over and put his hand on my +arm. "Mr. Hawes," he said, leaning toward me, and in the moonlight his +face was ghastly, "Mr. Hawes, Alf Jucklin did not kill Dan Stuart."</p> + +<p>"What!" I cried, bringing my horse to a stand-still and seizing his +bridle-rein.</p> + +<p>"Let us be perfectly calm now, and I'll tell you all about it. Turn +loose my bridle-rein and let us ride on slowly."</p> + +<p>Down the moon-whitened road the horses slowly walked. I waited for him +to continue. "No, sir, Alf didn't kill him. I found him in the road, +after Alf had called me, and I took him into my house and there was not +a mark on him, not one. I stripped him and nowhere was his skin broken. +Dan was born with organic disease of the heart, and for years I had been +treating him. He was sensitive and never spoke of his ailment and I was +the only one who knew the extent of it. Two years ago I told him that he +was likely to die at any minute, and I repeatedly warned him against +fatigue or any sort of agitation. And it was rage that killed him when +Alf's pistol fired. The hammer of Dan's pistol caught in his pocket and +his failure to get it out threw him into a rage and he died. I told the +coroner that he was shot through the breast, and I slyly contrived<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_284" id="Page_284">[284]</a></span> not +to be placed upon my oath. They had Alf's confession, and that was +enough. And no one cared to strip the dead man to examine the wound. It +was a piece of humbuggery, as all coroners' inquests are, and so the +verdict was given. I am a mean man; I acknowledge it—I am narrow and +vindictive, but I would have made a confession of the manner of Dan's +death rather than to see Alf hanged. I knew that there would be a new +trial; I intended to leave the community and I resolved to defer my +statement until just before going. That about covers the case, I think."</p> + +<p>"Will you go with me to a justice of the peace, write out your statement +and swear to it?" I asked, striving to be calm.</p> + +<p>"Certainly. Old Perdue is a justice. We'll go over there."</p> + +<p>The moon was still high as I galloped toward town with the statement in +my pocket. I went straightway to Conkwright's house and with the +door-knocker set every dog in the town to barking.</p> + +<p>"Why, what on earth is the matter?" the Judge asked as he opened the +door. "Oh, it's you, is it, Bill? I've got a negro here somewhere, but +Gabriel might blow a blast in his ear and never stir his wool. Come into +the library."</p> + +<p>He lighted a lamp, and I handed him the doctor's statement. He read it +without the least show of surprise; and, putting the paper into his +pocket, he sat down, closed his eyes, and with his thumb and forefinger +pressed his eye-lids.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_285" id="Page_285">[285]</a></span>"Etheredge is going to leave in the morning," I said.</p> + +<p>"He ought to be sent to the penitentiary. But let him go. Penitentiary +is better off without him. In the morning we will have several of our +leading doctors exhume the body to verify the statement. I'll attend to +it. Yes, sir. A certain form must be observed. A jury will be impaneled, +the statement will be read, and the judge will, in a sort of a charge, +declare that the prisoner is innocent. Some things are strange after +all. A venomous scoundrel, but let him go. Yes, I'll attend to +everything in the morning. You'd better sleep here."</p> + +<p>"No, I'm going to the jail and then to the telegraph office."</p> + + + +<hr /> + +<h2><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_286" id="Page_286">[286]</a></span> +<a name="xxi" id="xxi"></a>CHAPTER XXI.<br /> +<br /> +<small>CONCLUSION.</small></h2> + + +<p>How soft had been the day, how tender the tone of every voice. The road +under the moon was white and from a persimmon tree in an old field came +the trill of a mockingbird. Two happy men were riding toward an old +home.</p> + +<p>"And here is where he fell," said Alf. "I am tempted to get down and +pray. Bill, you don't know what it is to be freed from the conviction +that you have killed a man. He might not have died then if it had not +been for me, but, thank God, I didn't kill him. Yes, here is where I +eased him down. I remembered afterward that I had not seen a drop of his +blood and I was deeply thankful for it. We can almost see the General's +house from here. You saw the old man to-day when he came up and shook +hands with me. He hardly knew what he was about, and he said, 'Alf, +what's your father doing?' But his eyes were full of tears and he had to +wipe them when I told him that I was going to buy the old Morton place. +He thinks you are a great man, Bill, and I honor him for it. To-night we +will sleep in our room and early to-morrow morning I'm going over to see +Millie. Do you think I ought to go to-night? No, I will wait and dream +over it."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_287" id="Page_287">[287]</a></span>In the old room we sat and peacefully smoked our pipes. And after I had +gone to bed, and when I thought Alf was asleep, I heard him talking to +himself. No, it was not talk, it was a chant, and it reminded me of his +mother. I said nothing and I sank to sleep, and strange, mystic words +were in my ears, soothing me down to forgetful slumber.</p> + +<p>We were aroused early at morning by the rattle of a wagon at the door. +The old people—Guinea had come back. Alf dressed quickly and ran down +stairs, and I stuffed my ears that I might hear no sound from below. +After a long time, and while I sat looking out of the window, the old +man came up.</p> + +<p>"By jings, I must have got that dispatch of yourn before you sent it. +Mighty glad to see you again. But don't go down stairs yet. Everybody +down there is as foolish as a chicken with his neck wrung. I tell you +the Lord works things out in his own way. Sometimes we may think that we +could run things better, but I don't believe we could! and, thurfore, I +say, kiver to kiver. Ah, Lord, what a time we have had. Yes, sir, a time +if there ever was one. Alf has jest told me what you intend to do, but +if you think that you are goin' to crowd a lot of money off on me you +are wrong. Give us this old house and see that we don't need +nothin'—but, of course, you'll do that. I thought I'd let 'em fight to +a finish up yander, but I didn't. They looked at me so pitiful that I +called an old feller that happened to be passin' along and told him +that<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_288" id="Page_288">[288]</a></span> he might have 'em. I've got to have a Sam and a Bob. Old +Craighead, that lives about ten miles from here, has some of the finest +in the world. Always wanted 'em, but they were so high that I couldn't +tip-toe and reach 'em. Reckon you could fix it so I could git a couple?"</p> + +<p>"You shall have as many as you want—all of them."</p> + +<p>"I'm a thousand times obleeged to you. Yes, sir; sometimes we think we +could run things better than He does, but I don't reckon we could. We +seen young Lundsford as we driv along jest now. And I think he'll be +over here putty soon, but don't you worry. No, sir, we ain't got nothin' +to worry about now. Believe it would push us to scratch up a worry, +don't you? By jings, though, I hardly know what to do; I step around +here like a blind sheep in a barn, as the feller says. Well, it's +gettin' pretty quiet down there now. Alf got away as soon as he could, +and has gone over to the General's. Hush a minit. Thought I heard Chyd's +voice. Well, I'm going to poke round a little, and it's not worth while +to tell you to make yourself at home."</p> + +<p>He went out, and I heard him humming a tune as he tramped slowly down +the stairs. I took a seat near the window. Voices reached me, and, +looking down through the branches of a mulberry tree, I saw Guinea +sitting on a bench, and near her stood Chyd Lundsford. In his hand he +held a switch and with it he was slowly cutting at a bloom on a vine +that grew about the tree. He was talking. Guinea's face was turned +upward and her hands were<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_289" id="Page_289">[289]</a></span> clasped behind her head. I could look down +into her eyes, but she did not see me, and I felt a sense of +self-reproach at thus watching her, listening for her to speak, and I +thought to get up, but my legs refused to move, and I sat there, looking +down into her eyes. Her face was pale and her lips, which had seemed to +me in bloom with the rich juice of life, were now drawn thin.</p> + +<p>"Of course, I was wrong," he said, "but I'm not the first man that ever +did a wrong. And I should think that as a broad-minded and generous +woman you could forgive me. I don't think that you can find any man who +would take any better care of you than I would. I've got no romance +about me, and why should I have? I can just remember seeing the trail of +that monster called advancement—that mighty thing called progress, +though in the guise of war, and that thing swallowed the romance of this +country. I say that I can remember seeing the fading trail, but I know +its history and I know that if it did not swallow romance it should have +done so. I don't suppose I could ever think as much of any woman as I do +of you, and I know that no woman could make my house so bright and +cheerful. I was afraid of any complication that might hurt my prospects +as a physician, my standing in the opinion of a careful and +discriminating public; so, influenced by that sense of self-protection, +I broke our engagement. But now I beg of you to renew it."</p> + +<p>"On your knees!" she said, without looking at him.</p> + +<p>"Now, Guinea, that's ridiculous. I am willing to make<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_290" id="Page_290">[290]</a></span> all sorts of +amends——"</p> + +<p>"On your knees!" she said.</p> + +<p>"I see that there is no use to appeal to your reason. I suppose, +however, that the way to reason with a woman is to gratify her whim and +then appeal to her sense. It is a foolish thing to do, but in order to +secure a hearing I will do as you say."</p> + +<p>He sank upon his knees. She glanced down at him and then looked up at +the sky. He began to talk, but she stopped him with a motion of her +hand.</p> + +<p>"You have heard the preacher say that we must be born again," she said. +"I have been born again—born into the kingdom of love, and I find +myself in a rapturous heaven. Get up." He obeyed, and she continued. +"And you are so far from this kingdom that I cannot see you—you are off +somewhere in the dark, and to me your words are cold. But there is one +who stands in the light and I must go to him."</p> + +<p>I sprang from my seat and hastened down the stairs. My heart beat fast, +and I trembled. I was frightened like a child, like a timid overgrown +boy, who is called to the table to sit beside a girl whom he slyly +worships; and I ran away—down the path to the spring. I heard her +calling me, and I stood there trembling, waiting for a holy spirit that +was searching for me; and worship made me dumb. She came down the path, +and, seeing me, hastened toward me with her head bent forward and her +hands held out. And I caught her in my arms, swept her off the ground<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_291" id="Page_291">[291]</a></span> +and held her to my beating heart.</p> + +<p>And over the stones the water was laughing, and the strip of green +moss-land flashed in the sun. I saw the old man walking up the ravine, +with his hands behind him, and I caught the faint sound of a tune he was +humming. Slowly her arms came from about my neck, and hand in hand we +walked toward the house, she in the shining path, I on the green sward; +and as we drew near we saw Alf and Millie, standing under a tree, +waiting for us.</p> + +<h3>The End.</h3> + +<div class="tn"> +<p class="center"><strong>Transcriber's Note</strong>:</p> + +<p class="noi">Variations in hyphenated words and inconsistencies<br /> +in dialect have been retained as they appear in<br /> +the original publication.</p> +</div> + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Jucklins, by Opie Read + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE JUCKLINS *** + +***** This file should be named 26499-h.htm or 26499-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/2/6/4/9/26499/ + +Produced by Mark C. 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by Opie Read + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Jucklins + A Novel + +Author: Opie Read + +Release Date: August 31, 2008 [EBook #26499] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE JUCKLINS *** + + + + +Produced by Mark C. Orton, Linda McKeown, Jacqueline Jeremy +and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at +https://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + + + + +THE JUCKLINS + + + + + +--------------------------------------+ + | OPIE READ'S SELECT WORKS | + | | + | Old Ebenezer | + | The Jucklins | + | My Young Master | + | A Kentucky Colonel | + | On the Suwanee River | + | A Tennessee Judge | + | | + |Works of Strange Power and Fascination| + | | + | Uniformly bound in extra cloth, gold | + | tops, ornamental covers, uncut edges,| + | six volumes in a box, | + | $6.00 | + | Sold separately, $1.00 each. | + +--------------------------------------+ + + + + +[Illustration] + + + + + OPIE READ'S SELECT WORKS + + THE JUCKLINS + A NOVEL + + BY + + OPIE READ + + Author of "Old Ebenezer," "My Young Master," + "On the Suwanee River," "A Kentucky Colonel," + "A Tennessee Judge," "The Colossus," "Emmett + Bonlore," "Len Gansett," "The Tear in The Cup, + and Other Stories," "The Wives of The Prophet." + + ILLUSTRATED + + CHICAGO LAIRD & LEE, PUBLISHERS + + Entered according to Act of Congress in the year eighteen + hundred and ninety-six, by + + WILLIAM H. LEE, + + In the office of the Librarian of Congress at Washington. + + (ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.) + + + + +[Illustration] + + + + +THE JUCKLINS + +CHAPTER I. + + +The neighbors and our family began to laugh at me about as far back as I +can remember, and I think that the first serious remark my father ever +addressed to me was, "Bill, you are too lazy to amount to anything in +this life, so I reckon we'll have to make a school teacher of you." I +don't know why he should have called me lazy; I suppose it must have +been on account of my awkwardness. Lazy, why, I could sit all day and +fish in one place and not get a bite, while my more industrious +companions would, out of sheer exhaustion of patience, be compelled to +move about; and I hold that patience is the very perfection of industry. + +In the belief that I could never amount to anything I gradually +approached my awkward manhood. I grew fast, and I admit that I was +always tired; and who is more weary than a sprout of a boy? My brothers +were active of body and quick of judgment, and I know that Ed, my oldest +brother, won the admiration of the neighborhood when he swapped horses +with a stranger and cheated him unmercifully. How my father did laugh, +and mother laughed, too, but she told Ed that he must never do such a +thing again. With what envy did I look upon this applause. I knew that +Ed's brain was no better than mine; and as I lay in bed one night I +formed a strong resolve and fondly hugged it unto myself. I owned a +horse, a good one; and I would swap him off for two horses--I would +cheat some one and thereby win the respect of my fellows. My secret was +sweet and I said nothing. By good chance a band of gypsies came our way; +I would swindle the rascals. I went to their camp, leading my horse, and +after much haggling, I came home with two horses. It was night when I +reached home, and I put my team into the stable, and barred up my secret +until the sun of a new day could fall upon it. Well, the next morning +one of the horses was dead, and the other one was so stiff that we had +to shove him out of the stall. My father snorted, my poor mother wept, +and for nights afterward I slipped out and slept in the barn, burrowed +under the hay that I might not hear the derisive titter of my brother +Ed. + +We lived in northern Alabama, in a part of the country that boasted of +the refinement and intelligence of its society. When I was alone with +boys much younger than myself I could say smart things, and I had a hope +that when I should go into formal "company" I would, with one evening's +achievement, place myself high above the numbskulls who had giggled at +me. The time came. There was to be a "party" at the house of a neighbor, +and I was invited. I had a suit of new clothes, and after dressing +myself with exceeding care, I set out, strong of heart, for the field of +victory. But I weakened when I saw the array of blooded horses hitched +without, and heard the gay laughter within, a merriment rippling and +merciless; and I stood on the porch, sick with the sense of my +awkwardness. I was too big, and I knew that I was straining my clothes. +Through the window I could see a trim fellow laughing with a girl, and I +said to myself, "If I can catch you out somewhere I will maul you." I +was not acquainted with him, but I hated him, for I knew that he was my +enemy. To an overgrown young fellow, ashamed of his uncouth, steer-like +strength, all graceful youths are hateful; and he feels, too, that a +handsome girl is his foe, for girls with pretty mouths are nearly always +laughing, and why should they laugh if they are not laughing at him? +Long I stood there, stretching the seams of my clothes, angry, wishing +that the house might catch fire. I heard footsteps, and looking about, +recognized a member of the household, an old and neglected girl. I was +not afraid of her, and I bowed. And I felt a sudden looseness, a giving +away of a part of my gear. She called me Mr. Hawes, the very first time +that any one had called me anything but Bill; she opened the door and +bade me go in. I had to duck my head as I stepped forward, and there I +was inside the room with the light pouring over me. I took one step +forward, and stumbled over something, and then a tittering fool named +Bentley, exclaimed: "Hello, here comes little Willie." I don't know how +I got out. I heard a roar of laughter, I saw grinning faces jumbled +together, and then I was outside, standing with my hot hand resting in +the frost on the top rail of a fence. Some one was urging me to come +back--the neglected girl--but I stood there silent, with my hot hand +melting the frost. I went out into the moon-lighted woods, seized a +sapling and almost wrenched it from the ground. Down the road I went +toward home, but I turned aside and sat on a log. I felt a sense of pain +and I opened my hands--I had been cutting my palms with my nails. But in +this senseless fury I had made up my mind. I would waylay Bentley and +beat him. Hour after hour I sat there. Horses began to canter by; up and +down the road there was laughter and merry chatting. The moon was full, +and I could plainly see the passers-by. Suddenly I sprang from the log +and seized a bridle rein. A girl shrieked and a man cut my hand with a +whip, and I jerked the horse to his knees. Bentley shouted that he would +kill me if I did not let go, but I heeded not; I jerked him off his +horse, kicked his pistol across the road, mashed his mouth, slammed him +against the ground. The shrieking girl cried out that I was a brute, and +I told her that I could whip her whole family, a charming bit of +repartee, I thought, but afterward I remembered that her family +consisted of herself and an aged grandmother, and I sent her an abject +apology. Bentley's horse cantered away, and I left the fellow lying in +the road, with the girl standing over him, shrieking for help. It was +all done in a minute, and with jolting tread I stalked away before any +one came up. Of course there was a great scandal. My poor mother was +grieved and humiliated, ashamed to meet any of the neighbors; and my +father swore that instead of becoming a school teacher I ought to turn +out as a highwayman. My brothers thought to have some fun with me, but I +frightened them with a roar, and for a time they were afraid to smile in +my presence. I was almost heartbroken over my disgrace. Without undue +praise I can say that I was generous and kindhearted; even as a child I +had shown almost a censurable unselfishness; I had given away my +playthings, and my sensibilities were so tender that I could not bear +the sight of a suffering animal, and I remember that an old man laughed +at me because I could not cut the throat of a sheep when the poor thing +had been hung up by the heels. And now I was put down as a heartless +brute. Bentley's face constantly haunted me. I was afraid that he might +die, and once when I heard that he was not likely to get well, I was +resolved to go to him, to beg his pardon. Two weeks had passed; it was +night and rain was pouring down, but I cared naught for the wetting. I +found Bentley sitting up with his face bandaged. His mother frowned at +me when she opened the door and saw me standing there under the drip, +and it was some time before she asked me to come in, and I have thought +that she would have driven me off had not the sight of me, wet and +debased, aroused her pity. Bentley held out his hand when I entered the +room, and he said, "I don't blame you, Bill. It was mean of me, but I +wanted to be smart." I was so full, so choked with emotion, that it was +some time before I could say a word. But after a time I spoke of the +rain, and told him that I thought that I had heard a wildcat as I came +along, which was a lie, for I had heard nothing save the wind and the +rain falling on the dead leaves. He laughed and said that he did not +suppose that I would have been very much frightened had the cat jumped +at me. Then I told him that I was the biggest coward on earth, and +sought to prove it by offering to let him kick me as long as he might +find it amusing. I told him that everybody despised me for the way I had +beaten him, everybody, including my own family, and that I deserved the +censure of all good people. We talked a long time, and he laughed a +great deal, but when I told him that I was coming over to work for him +three weeks, his eyes grew brighter with tears. This filled me up again +and I could do nothing but blubber. After a long time I asked him if he +would do me a favor, and he said that he would. Then I took out a watch +that I had brought in a buckskin bag, and I said, "Here is a thing that +used to belong to my grandfather, and it was given me by mother when I +was ten years old. It is a fine time-piece and is solid. Now, I want you +to take it as a present from me. You said you would do me a favor." But +he declared that he could not take it. "Why, I would despise myself if I +did," said he. I told him that I would despise myself if he did not. His +mother, who had left us alone, came in, smiling, and said that I must +not think of parting with so valuable a watch, the mark of my +grandfather's gentility, but I put the watch on the table and plunged +out into the rain and was gone. Bentley's mother returned the watch the +next day, and then there went about the neighborhood a report that I was +so much afraid of Bentley's revenge that I had tried to buy him off with +a watch. Bentley had said that I should not work for him, but when the +time for breaking up the land came, I went over and began to plow the +field. His mother came out and compelled me to quit, but I went back at +night and plowed while other people slept; and thus I worked until much +of his corn-land was broken up. The neighbors said that I had gone +insane, and a few days afterward, when I met a woman in the road, she +jerked her old mare in an effort to get away, and piteously begged me +not to hurt her. I made no further attempt to get into "company," and +thus, forced back upon myself, I began to form the habits of a student; +and to aid me in my determination to study law, I decided to teach +school. So, when I was almost grown--or, rather, about twenty-three +years old, for I appeared to keep on growing--I went over into another +neighborhood and took up a school. And they called me "Lazy Bill." I +couldn't understand why, for I am sure that I attended to my duties, +that I played town ball with the boys, that I even cut wood all day one +Saturday; but confound them, they called me lazy. I spoke to one of the +trustees; I called his attention to the fact that I worked hard, and he +replied that the hardest working man he had ever seen was a lazy fellow +who worked merely as a "blind." To sleep after the sun rises is a great +crime in the country, and sometimes I sat up so late with my books that +I had to be called twice for breakfast. And no amount of work could have +offset this ignominy. I taught school during three years, and found at +the end of that time that I was no nearer a lawyer's office. Once I +called on an old judge, the leading lawyer in a neighboring village, and +told him that if he would take me I would work for my clothes, and the +humorous old rascal, surveying me, replied: "I have not contemplated the +starting of a woolen mill. Why don't you go to work?" he asked. I told +him that I was at work, that I taught school, but that I wanted to be a +lawyer. He laughed and said that teaching school was not work--declared +it to be the refuge of the lazy and the shiftless. I then ventured to +remark that the South would continue to be backward as long as the +educator was put down as a piece of worthless rubbish. I went away, and +a few days later one of the trustees called on me and said that I had +declared their children to be ignorant rubbish, and that therefore they +wanted my services no longer. I returned home. My brothers were gone, +and my parents were in feeble health. My father died within a year, and +soon my mother followed him. The farm was poor and was mortgaged, and +empty-handed I turned away. I heard that a school teacher was wanted up +in North Carolina, near the Tennessee line, and I decided to apply for +the place. I walked to the railway station, twenty miles distant. I have +said that I went away empty-handed. I did not; I carried a trunk, light +with clothes and heavy with books. I had put my trunk on the railway +platform and was striding up and down when I saw two men, well-dressed, +rich-looking, standing near. This amounted to nothing, and I would not +mention it but for the fact that it was at this moment that I received +my first encouragement. One of the men, speaking to his companion, +remarked: "Devilish fine-looking fellow. I'd give a great deal to be in +his shoes, to have his strength and his youth." I turned away, eager to +hear more, yet afraid lest the other man might say something to spoil it +all. But he did not. "Yes," he replied, "but he doesn't know how +fortunate he is. Gad, he looks like an imported bull." + +The train came and I was whirred away, over streams, below great hanging +rocks; but I thought not of the grandeur of the rocks nor of the beauty +of the streams, for through my mind was running the delicious music of +the first compliment that had ever been paid me. And I realized that I +had outgrown the age of my awkwardness, that strength was of itself a +grace to be admired, that I should feel thankful rather than remember +with bitterness the days of my humiliation. I observed a woman looking +at me, and there was interest in her eyes, and I knew that she did not +take kindly to me simply because she was an old and neglected girl, for +she was handsome. Beside her sat a man, and I could see that he was +eager to win her smile. He hated me, I could see that, but he couldn't +laugh at me. I noticed that my hands and feet were not over large, and +this was a sort of surprise, for I recalled hearing a boy say that my +foot was the biggest thing he ever saw without a liver in it. I reached +back and wiped out the past; I looked out at a radiant cloud hanging low +in the west, and called it the future. Fool? Oh, of course. I had been a +fool when a boy, and was a fool now, but how much wiser it was to be a +happy fool. + +I was to leave the train at Nagle station, and then to go some distance +into the country, which direction I knew not. I made so bold as to ask +the handsome lady if she knew anything of the country about Nagle, and +she smiled sweetly, and said that she did not, that she was a stranger +going South. I had surmised as much, and I spoke to her merely to see +what effect it would have on the man who sat beside her. Was my +new-found pride making me malicious? I thought it was, and I censured +myself. The lady showed a disposition to continue the talk, but the man +drove me into silence by remarking: "I suppose there is something novel +about one's first ride on the cars." How I did want to reach out and +take hold of his ear, but I thought of Bentley and subsided. When I +arose to get off at my station, I thought that the lady, as I passed +her, made a motion as if she would like to give me her hand. This might +simply have been the prompting of my long famished but now over-fed +conceit, my bloating egotism, but I gave the woman a grateful thought as +I stood on the platform gazing at the train as it faded away in the dusk +that appeared to come down the road to meet it. + +I had expected to alight at a town, but the station was a lonely place, +a wagon-maker's shop, the company's building and a few shanties. I asked +the station master if he knew where the school teacher was wanted, and +he answered that from the people thereabouts one must be needed in every +household. + +"And I should think," I replied, giving him what I conceived to be a +look of severe rebuke, "that a teacher of common decency and politeness +is most needed of all." + +"I reckon you are right," he rejoined. "Is he the man you are looking +for?" + +"I don't want to get into trouble here," said I, "but I insist upon fair +treatment and I'm going to have it." + +"All right, sir. Now, what is it you want to know?" + +"Why, I was told that there was an opening for a school teacher in this +neighborhood." + +"And so there is, but don't you know that no neighborhood could be proud +of such a fact? Therefore, you ought to be more careful as to how you +make your inquiries." + +I saw that he wanted to joke with me and I joked with him. And I soon +found that this was the right course, for he invited me into his office +and insisted upon my sharing his luncheon, cold bread and meat and a tin +bucket of boiling coffee. I soon learned that he was newly graduated +from a school of telegraphy, and that this was his first position. He +had come from a city and he gave me the impression that he was buried +alive; he said that he had entered an oath in his book that if some one +didn't get off at his station pretty soon he would set the whole thing +on fire and turn train robber. "Don't you think that would be a pretty +good idea?" he asked, laughing. + +"It would be a pretty dangerous one, at least," I answered. + +"Yes, but without danger there is never any fun. My old man insisted +upon my taking that night-school course; and the professor of the +institution held out the idea that I could be a great man within a short +time after graduating; led me to believe I could get charge of a big +office in town, but here I am stuck up here in these hills. No rags +about here at all." + +"No what?" + +"Rags, calico, women--catch on?" + +"You mean no society, to speak of." + +"That's it. Oh, away off in the country it's all right, but I can never +go more than three miles from this miserable place. You'll have to go +about fifteen miles." + +"How do you know?" + +"Why, an old fellow from a neighborhood about that far away came out +here the other day and sent off a dispatch, telling some man off, I +don't remember where, to send a teacher out there." + +"And one might have come by this time," I suggested, with a sense of +fear. + +"No, you are the only one that has put in an appearance, and the only +one that is likely to come. I understand that they don't treat teachers +very well out there." + +"How so?" + +"The boys have a habit of ducking them in the creek, I hear." + +"Oh, is that all? Be fun for me." + +"You won't think so after you see those roosters. Let me see. Take the +Purdy road out there, and go straight ahead to the east, and when you +think you have gone about fifteen miles, ask for the house of Lim +Jucklin. The last teacher, I understand, boarded at his house." + +"You appear to know a good deal about it." + +"Well, the truth of it is, I do, for the last teacher came and went this +way. And he told me like this: 'The thing opened up all right, plenty of +rags, but that evening some of the young fellows came to me and said +that unless I brought some sort of treat the next morning they would put +me in the creek; said that they hated to do it, but that time-honored +customs must be observed. I didn't bring any treat and I went into the +creek. Then I left.' Yes, that's what he said, and I concluded that as +for me I would rather be here. It isn't so lively, but it is a good deal +dryer. But you can't get there to-night. Better take a shake-down here +with me till morning, and then you may catch some farmer going that way +with a wagon." + +I thanked him for this courtesy, and readily accepted it. And the next +morning, with my trunk on my shoulder, I set out upon what I conceived +to be my career in life. + + + + +CHAPTER II. + + +The month was April, and the day was blithe, with no blotch in the sky. +The country was rough, the road was pebbly in the bottoms and flinty on +the hills, but there was a leaping joy everywhere; in the woods where +the blue-jays were shouting, down the branch where the woodpecker tapped +in an oak tree's sounding board. It must have been a low-hanging +ambition to be thrilled with the prospect of teaching school, or was it +buoyant health that made me happy? I eased down my trunk, and boyishly +threw stones away off into an echoing hollow. A rabbit ran out into the +road and stopped, and with a stone I knocked it over. Tenderly I picked +it up, felt its fluttering heart, and groaned inwardly when the little +heart was stilled. I called myself a murderer, an Anglo-Saxon brute, to +kill a harmless creature merely upon a devilish impulse, and in the +gravelly ground I began to dig a grave with my knife, and I was so much +taken up with this work and with my grief, that I heeded not the +approach of a wagon. + +"What are you doing there?" some one called. + +I looked up. A farmer had stopped his blowing horses and was looking at +me. "I'm digging a grave," I answered. + +"Diggin' a grave? Why, who's dead?" + +"A rabbit." He moved uneasily, and gave me a searching look. And I saw +that he took me to be insane. "I killed the poor thing," I explained, +"killed it out of mere wantonness, and I am so grief-stricken that I am +going to do the best I can for the poor thing--going to give it a +Christian burial." + +The man laughed. "I wish you would kill the last one of them," he said. +"Set out as nice a young orchard as you ever saw last winter, and the +devilish rabbits killed every one of the trees." + +"Then I am not so much of a murderer after all," I replied. "I might +have known that rabbits are not altogether harmless. How far do you go +on this road?" + +"About ten miles." + +"Will you let me ride with you?" + +"Yes, be glad to have you." + +I put the rabbit into his grave, raked the dirt on him with my +foot--hardly a Christian-like way, I admit--placed my trunk into the +body of the wagon, and took a seat beside the man. And there was +something about him that at once interested me. His hat was off and the +breeze was stirring his grizzly hair. His nose was large and thin, and +when he turned his face square upon me, I saw that his eyes were gray +and clear. He wore no coat, his shirt sleeves were rolled back, and +though he must have been more than fifty years old, I could see that he +had enormous strength in his arms. And he was looking at me admiringly, +for he said, "You must be pretty much of a man." + +"I am not a child except in my lack of wisdom," I answered. + +"Gad, you talk like a preacher. Which way are you going?" + +"Over to Lim Jucklin's house." + +He gave me another square look and remarked, "That's my name." + +"You don't tell me so?" + +"Didn't you hear me tell you so?" + +"Yes, but----" + +"Well, then, I did tell you so." + +"I am delighted to meet you, sir. I am a school teacher, and I hear that +one is wanted in your neighborhood." + +He looked at me from head to foot, and replied: "I shouldn't wonder but +you are the right man. What's your name?" + +I told him and after a few moments of silence he asked, "Any kin to the +Luke Hawes that fought in the Creek war?" + +"He was my grandfather." + +"Ah, hah, and my daddy fit with him--was a lieutenant in his company. +Let's shake hands. Whoa, boys." He stopped his horses, got up, shook +down the wrinkled legs of his trousers and reached forth his hand. + +"You are a stranger in North Caroliny," he said when he had clucked to +his horses. + +"Yes, I am a stranger everywhere you might put it," I answered. "I am +from Alabama, but the people made so much fun of me in the community +where I was brought up that I am even a stranger there." + +"What did they make fun of you about?" + +"Because I was overgrown and awkward." + +"Whoa, boys! Let's shake hands again. I got it the same way when I was a +boy, and I come in one of never gettin' over it." + +We drove on and had gone some distance when he asked: "Do you know all +about 'rithmetic?" + +"I at least know the multiplication table." + +"It's more than I do. Get up there, boys. And down in my country they +think that a man that don't know all about 'rithmetic is a fool. I have +often told them that there wan't no record of the fact that the Saviour +was good at figgers, except figgers of speech, but they won't have it +that a man is smart unless he can go up to a barn and cover one side of +it with eights and sevens and nines and all that sort of thing. I've got +a daughter that's quicker than a flash--took it from her mother, I +reckon--and I have a son that's tolerable, but I have always been left +in the lurch right there. But I can read all right, and I know the Book +about as well as the most of them, but that makes no difference down in +our neighborhood. The pace down there is set by Old General Lundsford. +He knows all about figgers and everything else, for that matter, but +figgers is his strong holt. He owns nearly everything; is a mighty +'ristocrat and don't bend very often; lives in the house that his +grandfather built, great big brick, and never had no respect for me at +all until I wallowed him in the road one day about thirty odd years ago. +And along about ten years after that he found out that he had a good +deal of respect for me. What do you know about game chickens?" + +"Not very much; I simply know that they are about the bravest things +that live." + +He gave me another one of his square looks and replied: "There is more +wisdom in such talk as that than there could be crowded into a wheat +bin. But, do you know that people make fun of me because I admire a game +rooster? They do. I don't want to fight 'em for money, you know; I'm a +good church member and all that sort of thing; I believe the Book from +one end to the other; believe that the whale swallowed Jonah, I don't +care if its throat ain't bigger than a hoe-handle; believe that the vine +growed up in one night, and withered at mornin'; believe that old Samson +killed all them fellers with the jaw-bone--believe everything as I tell +you from start to finish, but I'll be blamed if I can keep from fightin' +chickens to save my life. And I always keep two beauties, I tell you. +Not long ago my wife ups and kills Sam and fed him to a preacher. +Preacher was there, hungry, and the other chickens were parading around +summers on the other side of the hill, but my wife she ups and kills +Sam, a black beauty, with a pedigree as long as a plow-line. And, sir, +while that man was chawin' of my chicken he gave me a lecture on +fightin' roosters." + +"You spoke of your son and daughter. Do they attend school?" + +"Oh, no; they are grown long ago." + +"Then how is it that the teacher usually boards at your house?" + +"I don't know; but they do. Reckon they jest fell into the habit. My +house is handy, for one thing; ain't more than three miles from the +school--jest a nice, exercisin' sort of walk. Whoa, boys! Sorter have to +scotch 'em back goin' down here. Saw a man get killed down there one +day; horse kicked him, and do you see that knob over there where them +hickory trees are? I had a hard time there one night. A lot of +foot-burners come to my house one night durin' the war and took me out +and told me that if I didn't give them my money they would roast my +shanks. I didn't have any money and I told them so, but they didn't +believe me; and so they brought me right over there where them hickories +are, tied me, took off my shoes and built up a fire at my feet; but +about the time they had got me well blistered, along come some Yankee +soldiers and nabbed 'em. And a few minutes after that there wasn't +anything agin their feet, I tell you, not even the ground. Well, we are +gettin' pretty close to home now." + +"But we haven't come fifteen miles from the station, have we?" + +"Well, you had come about five mile before I overtook you and we have +come nearly ten since then. These hosses are travelers. Oh, I reckon +we've got about three more miles to go yet." + +The country was old, with here and there a worn-out and neglected field. +A creek wound its way among the hills, deep and dark in places, but +babbling out into a broad and shiny ford where we crossed. One moment +the scene was desolate, with gullied hill-sides, but further on and off +to the right I could see poetic strips of meadow land, and further yet, +upon a hill-top, stood a grim old house of brick and stone. We turned +off to the right before coming abreast of this place, and pursued a +winding course along a deep-shaded ravine, not rough with broken ground, +but graceful with grassy slopes and with here and there a rock. My +companion pointed out his house, what is known as a double log building, +with a broad passage way between the two sections. A path, so hard and +smooth that it shone in the sun, ran down obliquely into the ravine, and +at the end of it I saw a large iron kettle overturned, and I knew that +this marked the spring. I liked the place, the forest back of it, the +steep hills far away, the fields lying near and the meadow down the +ravine. I hate a new house, a new field, a wood that looks new; to me +there must be the impress of fond association, and here I found it, the +spring-house with moss on its roof, the path, a great oak upon which +death had placed its beautiful mark--a bough of misletoe. + +"You hop right out and go in and make yourself at home, while I take +care of the horses," said the old man. "Go right on," he added, for he +saw that I was hesitating. "You don't need an introduction. Jest say +that you are Whut'sname and that you are the new school teacher." + +"But I don't know yet that I am to be the teacher." + +"Well, then, tell 'em that you are Whut'sname and that you don't know +whether you are to be the teacher or not." + +"But won't you stop long enough to introduce me?" + +"Oh, I reckon I mout. Come on. There is wife in the door, now." + +He did not go as far as the door; he simply shouted: "Here's a man, +Susan. He can tell you his name, for blamed if I ain't dun forgot." + + + + +CHAPTER III. + + +Into this household I was received with open-handed graciousness. +Nothing can be more charming than the unconscious generosity of simple +folk. To this family I applied the word simple and cut myself with a +cool smile at my own vanity. Was I not a countryman and as rustic-minded +as they? But I had come from another community, had crossed a state line +and the lines of several counties, and besides I took to myself the +credit of having read many a cunning book, and therefore these people +were surely more simple than I. Traveling unquestionably gathers +knowledge, but the man who reads has ever a feeling that he is the +proper critic of the man who has simply observed. + +Mrs. Jucklin gave me a strong grasp of welcome, apologized for the lack +of order that I must surely find in the house and conducted me to the +sitting-room, a large apartment, with a home-woven carpet on the floor. +A turkey wing, used for a fan, hung beside the enormous fire-place, and +on the broad mantelpiece, trimmed with paper cut in scollops, an old +Yankee clock was ticking. The woman shook a cat out of a hickory rocking +chair and urged me to sit down. She knew that I must be tired after my +long ride, and she said that if I would only excuse her for a moment she +would go down to the spring-house and get me a glass of milk, to give me +strength wherewith to wait until she could stir about and get something +to eat. And above all, I must pardon Limuel's abruptness of manner. But +really he meant nothing by it, as I would find out when I should become +better acquainted with him. She was a little, black-eyed woman, +doubtless a descendant of a Dutch family that had come to the colony at +an early date, for she reminded me of my mother, and I know that +mother's grandfather was a Dutchman. I begged Mrs. Jucklin not to go +after the milk, but she ran away almost with the lightness of a girl. In +truth, to think of the milk made me shudder; I couldn't bear the thought +of it. During the hard times at the close of the war, when I was a +child, we had to drink rye coffee, and I remember that once the cows got +into the rye field and gave rye milk. The coffee and the milk together +had made me sick, and ever since then I had looked upon milk with a +reminiscent horror. But there she came with it. + +"My dear madam," I pleaded, "I would much rather not drink it." + +"Oh, but you must, for I know you are tired out." + +"But I don't drink milk." + +"And it is because you can't find any like this. Just taste it, then." + +The old man came stalking into the room and I gave him an appealing +look. "I gad, Susan," said he, "let him alone. Don't you reckon he's +got sense enough to know what he wants? Take the stuff away." + +With a sigh of disappointment she placed the tumbler upon the +mantelpiece. "Where's Alf?" the old man asked. + +"Gone over to the General's to help about something." + +"Where's Guinea?" + +"She's about somewhere. That's her in the passage, I think. Guinea?" +There was no reply, save of hastening footsteps, and a moment later a +young woman entered the room. She was not very tall, but she was +graceful, and her dark eyes were dashed with mischief. She reminded me +of the woman whom I had seen on the train; her smile was the same, but +her eyes were brighter. She had a peculiar laugh, a musical cluck, and +at first sight I was glad that I had met her, but a moment later I was +afraid that she was going to laugh at me. The old man did not introduce +me; his wife did not know my name, and I sought to speak my name, but +had lost it just at that moment and could merely splutter something. I +was not much embarrassed, though; I recalled what I had heard the two +men say, and behind me was the strong brace of a woman's kindly regard. + +"We are glad to see you," said the girl, looking straight at me. I +replied that I was glad to see her, and then we both laughed; she with +her musical cluck and I with a goat-like rasp, it seemed to me. We all +drew up about the fire-place, a habit in the country, and it was then +that I thought of the open-handed graciousness of the household. Had I +correctly caught this girl's name, Guinea? And with a countryman's +frankness I asked if that were her name. + +"Well, no," said Mrs. Jucklin, speaking for her, "it ain't her sure +enough name, but it's all that she goes by. And it came about in this +way: A long time ago, when she was a little bit of a girl, she was +toddlin' about the yard with a checked dress on, and one of the +neighbors lookin' at her said that she looked exactly like a little +guinea chicken, and ever since then we have called her Guinea. Her right +name is Angeline." + +"Her right name is what?" the old man asked, looking up. + +"Angeline," I said. + +"Well, it's the first time I ever heard of it." + +"Now, Limuel, why do you want to act that way? A body would think that +you don't know anything about your own family." + +"Never heard of it before," said the old man. + +"You are surely the most provokin' man I ever saw, Limuel. You know the +very day we named the child, and now you pretend----" + +"Pretend? I don't pretend nothin'. Can't blame a man for never hearin' +of the name, can you?" + +"Mister," she said, turning to me, "please don't pay any attention to +him. He'd pester me nearly to death if I'd let him. But come, Guinea, we +must stir about and get something to eat." + +The mother and the daughter went out into a kitchen detached from the +main part of the house, and the old man looked at me and laughed. And +after a moment of chuckling he said: "I reckon that I've got two of the +finest in the world." + +"Children?" I asked. + +"No, game roosters. One's named Sam and the other's named Bob." + +"I thought you said that Sam had been eaten by the preacher." + +"Oh, that Sam was, but I've got another one. I always have a Sam and a +Bob. When a Sam dies I get another Sam, and likewise with a Bob. But you +know what's a fact? I never allow 'em to fight to a finish. If I did the +sport would be gone. You must never let one rooster know that the other +one can whip him, for if you do there won't be any fight after that--you +must always keep each one believin' that he is the best man. I reckon +I've had more than a hundred, but I never let 'em fight to a finish. My +folks here don't care nothin' about fun--they even frown on it, Alf with +the rest, and I hold that he ought to know better, bein' a man, but so +it is. I've got a chicken house back here, with a high picket fence +around it, and I keep it locked, I tell you. Have to, or the preachers +would eat up my sport, and this ain't findin' no fault with their +doctrine, for I believe the Book from kiver to kiver. After we get a +snack we'll slip off and have a set-to. What do you say?" + +I hardly knew what to say. I was afraid to decline, lest I might lose +his good opinion, and I was loth to accept the invitation, fearing that +I might lower myself in the estimation of the women; but while I was +casting about the old man relieved me by saying: "However, we've got +plenty of time before us. It's always well to hold a good thing in +reserve, you know. After dinner we'll go over and see Old Perdue and +find out if you can arrange with him about the school. He's got the +whole thing in charge. General Lundsford has charge of nearly everything +else, but he don't take much stock in free schools. He argues that +nothin' that's free is any good, and in the main he's about right; but +we've had some pretty good schools here, the only trouble bein' to keep +the teachers out of the creek. What education my son Alf has he picked +up about home, here, but Guinea was sent off to school, way over at +Raleigh." + +"I am glad to see that you thought so much of the importance of training +her mind," I remarked. + +He gave me a troubled look, moved uneasily, as I had seen him move when +I told him that I was burying a rabbit, ran his fingers through his +upright, bristling hair and for a long time was silent. And as I looked +at him I fancied that he was trying to think of something to say, +something to lead my mind away from what he had already said. I had seen +the quaint, half-comical side of his nature, and now I saw that he could +be thoughtful, and in his serious mood his face was strong and rugged. +His beard, cropped close, reminded me of scraps of wire, some of them +rusted; and when he wiped his mouth with the back of his hand I wondered +that he did not scratch the skin off. + +Guinea came to the door and told us that the meal was ready. The old man +got up, with a return of his comical air, and told me to follow him. The +girl continued to stand near the threshold and as I drew near unto her +she said: "This door wasn't cut quite high enough for you, was it? Look, +father, he has to duck his head. The boys may have a time putting him +into the creek." She was now talking to her father, but was looking at +me, so I took it upon myself to answer her. "Yes, for you have called +attention to the fact that my legs are long and the rascals may have +hard running with trying to catch me." + +"Oh," she replied, "but I was thinking of your strength rather than your +swiftness. Come this way. Father has run off and left you." + +The old man had stepped down out of the passage and had gone some +distance toward a small house surrounded by a picket fence. + +"You go with her," he called, looking back, "and I'll be there pretty +soon." + +"No telling when he will come now," the girl remarked, walking close +beside me. "He's got two of the most spiteful chickens out there you +ever saw, and whenever anything goes wrong with him he bolts right out +there, no matter who is here, and makes those vicious things peck at +each other. Mother and I try hard to reform him, but we can't." + +It was Mrs. Jucklin's time-grayed privilege to apologize for the +scantiness of her fare, and this she did with becoming modesty and +regret. She had not expected company; the regular dinner hour was over +long ago, and somehow she never could understand why she couldn't get a +meal out of the regular time. But if I would only give her a chance she +would reclaim herself. She called my attention to the corn bread; +declared that it was not fit to be eaten, and she didn't know what made +the stove act that way. But the milk she knew was good. Oh, she had +forgotten that I didn't drink milk. Guinea smiled at me and clucked at +her mother. "Don't pretend that you like anything just to please her," +she said, when Mrs. Jucklin had turned about to keep a hoe-cake from +burning. "All you've got to do is to say nothing until she gets +through--that, and simply to remember that she enjoys it." + +While we were eating we heard a voice crying: "Hike, there, Sam; get him +down, Bob! Hike there!" + +"They are warming up to their work," Guinea remarked, and her mother +sighed; and then she began to talk louder than was her wont, striving to +drown the old man's voice. "It isn't any use, mother," said the girl. +"The gentleman will find it out sooner or later." + +"And I suppose," said I, "that you think that you may find out my name +sooner or later. Please pardon me for not introducing myself. My name +is----" + +"Hike, there, Bob! Get him down, Sam! Now you are at it! Hike, there!" + +"My name is Hawes, William Hawes, and I am from Alabama." + +"And you have come to teach the school?" said the girl. + +"Yes, if I can make the arrangements." + +"But is there anything very satisfying in such an occupation?" she +asked. + +I felt then that she placed no very high estimate upon my worth, and on +her part this was but natural, for among country people school-teaching +is looked upon as a lazy calling. + +"I have not chosen teaching as my real vocation," I answered. + +"Hike, there, I tell you! Hike!" + +"It is my aim to be a lawyer, to be eloquent, to stir emotions, to be +strong in the presence of men. My earlier advantages, no matter how I +sought to turn them about, gave me no promise of reaching the bar; I had +good primary training, but in reality I had to educate myself, and in +the work of a teacher I saw a hope to lead me onward." + +"Came within one of letting them fight to a finish," said the old man, +stepping into the room. + +"Limuel, why will you always humiliate me?" his wife asked, placing a +chair for him. + +"Humiliate you! Bless your life, I wouldn't humiliate you. The only +trouble is that you are tryin' to make me fit a garment you've got, +ruther than to make the garment fit me. I ain't doin' no harm, Susan, +and it's my way, and you can't very well knock the spots off'en a +leopard nur skin an Etheopian. Here comes Alf." + +The son was a young fellow of good size, shapely, and with his mother's +black eyes. Guinea introduced me to him, and at once I felt that I +should like to win his friendship. The old man explained my presence +there. "And now," said he, "I want you to go over to old Perdue's with +him after dinner and see if any arrangements can be made. He's goin' to +board with us, and I want to tell you right now that he is from good +stock; his grandaddy was the captain of the company that my daddy fit in +durin' the Creek war, and from what I learn I don't reckon there was +ever sich fightin' before nor since. What are they doin' over at the +General's?" + +"Nothing much," Alf answered. "They started to plow this morning, but it +is still most too wet." + +"Was Millie at home?" Guinea asked. + +"I think so, but I suppose you know that Chid isn't." + +"Never mind that," the old man spoke up. "Leave all cuttin' and slashin' +to folks that ain't no kin to each other. You've been to dinner, have +you, Alf? Well, hitch the mare to the buckboard and go with this +gentleman over to old Perdue's." + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + + +At the end of the passage, facing the ravine, I stood and talked to +Guinea, while Alf was hitching the mare to the buck-board. The sun was +well over to the west, pouring upon us, and in the strong light I noted +the clear, health-hue of her complexion. A guinea chicken, swift and +graceful, ran round the corner of the house, and, nodding toward the +fowl, I said: "I am talking to her namesake and she is jealous." + +I thought that the shadow of a pout crossed her lips, but she smiled and +replied: "If my real name were not so ugly I'd insist upon people +calling me by it. I hate nicknames." + +"But sometimes they are appropriate," I rejoined. + +"But when they are," she said, laughing, "they never stick. It's the +disagreeable nickname that remains with us." + +"Is that the philosophy you learned at Raleigh?" I asked. + +She shrugged her shapely shoulders, laughed low in her throat and +answered: "I haven't learned philosophy at all. It doesn't take much of +a stock of learning for a girl who lives away out here." + +"But she might strive to learn in order to be fitted for a better life, +believing that it will surely come." + +"How encouraging you are, Mr. Hawes. After a while you may persuade me +that I am really glad that you came." + +"You have already made me glad," I replied. + +"Have I? Then mind that I don't make you sorry. Alf's waiting for you." + +As we drove toward Perdue's I wondered what could have caused old man +Jucklin's change of manner at the time he had spoken of sending his +daughter away to be educated. Surely, he could not deplore the grace and +refinement which this schooling had given her. Would it be well to ask +Alf? No; he could but regard such a question as a direct impertinence. + +The mare trotted briskly and the rush of cool air was delicious. The +road was crooked, holding in its elbows bits of scenery unsuspected +until we were upon them, moss growing under great rocks, weeping in +eternal shade, a bit of water blazing in the sun, a hickory bottom, +where squirrels were barking; and from everywhere came the thrilling +incense of spring. + +Alf, though a farmer, had not the stoop of overwork, nor that sullenness +that often comes from a life-long and close association with the soil; +he was chatty, talked to his mare, talked to me and whistled to himself. +He pointed out a cave wherein British soldiers had been forced to take +refuge to save themselves from the pursuit of victorious patriots, but +what they had supposed was a refuge was, indeed, a trap, for the +patriots smoked them out and took them to General Green's camp. We drove +upon a hill top, and, looking across a valley, I saw a large brick house +on a hill not far beyond. And I recognized it as a place that I had seen +earlier in the day. "It's where General Lundsford lives," said Alf, +following my eyes with his own. "We go by there. He used to own a good +many negroes and some of them still hang about him. Most of his land is +poor, but enough of it is rich to make him well off. And proud! He's +proud as a blooded horse. Most of the very few old-timers that are left +in this part of the country. We are getting somewhat Yankeefied, +especially away over to the east where so many northern people come of a +winter. But he doesn't take much to it--still cuts his wheat with a +cradle." + +We drove down into the valley, crossed a rude stone bridge, and slowly +went up the other side. The mare, brisk from having been pent up, showed +a disposition to quicken her pace, but Alf held her back, searching with +his strong eyes the yard, the summer house in the garden hard by and the +orchard off to the left. I looked at him and his face was eager and hard +set, but his eyes, though strained, were soft and glowing. I spoke to +him, but he heeded me not, but just at that moment he drew himself +straighter and gazed toward the house. And I saw a woman crossing the +yard. The road ran close to the low, rough stone wall, and when we had +come opposite the gate Alf stopped the mare and got out to buckle a +strap. But I noticed that he was looking more at the house than at the +strap. A broad porch, or gallery, as we term it, ran nearly half way +round the house, and out upon this a girl stepped and stood looking over +us at the hills far away. I saw Alf blush, and the next moment he had +sprung upon the buck-board and was driving off almost furiously. I +wondered why he should be afraid of her. He was not overgrown, not +awkward, but lithe, and I knew that he loved her and that his own +emotion had frightened him. + +Perdue lived but a short distance beyond the General's place, and soon +we were there, talking to the old fellow out at the fence. When I told +him my business he looked sharply at me, appearing to measure me from +head to foot; and he said I was, no doubt, the man he had been longing +to see. "And now," said he, after we had talked for a time, "if you are +willing to take this school and go ahead with it, all right. I am +determined that the boys and girls of this community shall get an +education even if they choke the creek with teachers. If I had full +swing I'd raise a lot of men and go around and club the big boys. Oh, it +hasn't been this way very long. We've had first-rate schools here, but +those devilish Aimes boys are so full of the old Harry--but we'll fix +'em. The ground will be all right for plowin' to-morrow, and the big +boys will have to work until the corn is laid by, but I reckon you'll +get a pretty fair turn-out. There's enough money appropriated to have a +rattlin' good school, and if you'll stick by me we'll have it." + +I told him that I would stick by him. "All right," said he, "see that +you do. Let me see. This is Friday. You hold yourself in readiness to +begin Monday mornin', and to-morrow I will ride around the neighborhood +and spread the news." + +So that was settled. Briskly we drove away, and again upon nearing the +house of the old General, Alf pulled the mare back into a walk. This +time, though, he did not stop, but as we slowly passed he swept the +house and the yard with his eager glance. The sun was down when we +reached home. How long the day had been, what a stretch of time lay +between the going down of the sun now and its rising, when I had +shouldered my trunk at the railway station! + +As I was getting down in front of the door I heard Mr. Jucklin calling +me, and when I answered he came forward out of the passage and said that +he wanted to see me a moment. He led the way and I followed him into the +dark shadow of a tree. "I forgot to tell you not to say anything about +that," said he. + +"About what?" I asked. + +"About wallowin' him--the old General. He requested me not to mention +it, bein' so proud, and I told him that I wouldn't, and I don't know +what made me speak of it to-day, but I did." + +"Oh, I won't mention it," I spoke up rather sharply, for I was +disappointed that he had not told me something of importance. + +"All right. And I am much obleeged to you. He is one of the proudest men +in the world and he don't want anybody to suspect that any feller ever +wallowed him; but I want to tell you right now that I have wallowed a +good many of 'em in my time. Are you goin' to teach the school?" + +"Yes, the arrangements have been made, and I am to begin work Monday +morning." + +"Good enough. Well, we'll go on in now and eat a snack, for I reckon the +women folks have got it about ready." + +We went early to bed. The house was but a story and a half high, and I +was to room with Alf, up close to the clap-board roof. I could not stand +straight, except in the middle of the apartment, but I was comfortable, +for I had a good bed, and there was plenty of air coming in through two +large windows, one on each side of the chimney at the end, toward the +south. While the dawn was drowsiest, just at the time when it seems that +one moment of dreamy dozing is worth a whole night of soundest sleep, +Alf got up to go afield to his plow, and as the joints of the stairway +were creaking under him as he went down I turned over for another nap, +thankful that after all the teaching of a school was not the hardest lot +in life. And I was deliciously dreaming when Guinea called me to +breakfast. + +I spent the most of the day in my room, getting ready for my coming +work. Against the chimney I built a shelf and put my books upon it; I +turned a large box into a writing table, and of a barrel I fashioned an +easy-chair. My surroundings were rude, but I was pleased with them; +indeed, I had never found myself so pleasantly placed. And when Alf came +up at night he looked about him and with a smile remarked: "You must own +that lamp that we read about. Wish you would rub it again and get my +corn out of the grass." He looked tired and I wondered why he did not go +to bed, but he strode up and down the room, smoking his pipe. He was +silent and thoughtful, refilling his pipe as soon as the tobacco was +burned out; but sometimes he would talk, though what he said I felt was +aimless. + +"I've some heavier tobacco than that," I said. + +"This will do, though it is pretty light. Raised on an old hill." + +He sat down and continued to pull at his pipe, though the fire was out. +He leaned with his elbow on the table; he moved as if his position were +uncomfortable; he got up, went to the window, looked out, came back, +resumed his seat and after looking at the floor for a few moments said +that he thought that it must be going to rain. + +"Perhaps so," I replied, "but that's not what you wanted to say." + +He gave me a sharp glance, looked down and then asked: "How do you +know?" + +"I know because I can see and because I'm not a fool." + +"Anybody ever call you a fool?" he asked, with a sad laugh. He leaned +far back and looked up at the clapboards. + +"That has nothing to do with it, Alf. Pardon me. Mr. Jucklin, I should +have said. The truth is, it seems that I have known you a long time." + +"And when you feel that way about a man," he quickly spoke up, "you make +no mistake in accepting him as a friend. Call me Alf. What's your first +name?" I told him, and he added: "And I'll call you Bill. No; the truth +is I didn't care to say that I thought it was going to rain; I don't +give a snap for rain, except the rain that is pouring on my heart. You +remember that girl that came out upon the gallery. I know you do, for no +man could forget her. You know that Guinea asked me if Millie was at +home. Well, that was Millie Lundsford, the old General's daughter. We +have lived close together all our lives, but I have never known her very +well, and even now I wouldn't go there on a dead-set visit. She and +Guinea went off to school together and are good friends. Guinea tries to +plague me about her at times, not knowing that I really love her. I +couldn't go off to school, didn't care any too much for education, but +since that girl came home and I got better acquainted with her I have +felt that I would give half my life to know books, so that I could talk +to her; and since then I have been studying, with Guinea to help me. +And you don't know how glad I was when I heard that you had come here to +teach school, for I want to study under you. But secretly," he added. "I +can't go to the school-house; I don't want her to know that I am so +ignorant." + +I reached over and took hold of his hand. "Alf, to teach you shall be +one of my duties. But don't put yourself down as ignorant, for you are +not." + +He grasped my hand, and, looking straight into my eyes, said: "I wish I +knew as much and was as good-looking as you. Then I wouldn't be afraid +to go to her and ask her to let me win her love, if I could. To-morrow +you go over to the General's, pretending that you want to get his advice +about the school, and I will go with you. Hang it, Bill, you may be in +love one of these days." + +"Why, Alf, I don't see why either of us should be afraid to go to the +General's house. Go? Of course, we will. But you make me laugh when you +say that if you were only as good-looking as I am. Let me tell you +something." I briefly told him the uneventful story of my life, that +ridicule had found me while yet I was a toddler and had held me up as +its target. "You might have grown too fast," he remarked when I had +concluded, "but you have caught up with yourself. To tell you the truth, +you would be picked out from among a thousand men. Where did you get all +those books? I don't see how you brought them with you in that trunk, +and with your other things." + +"The other things didn't take up much room," I answered, and, turning +to the books, I began to tell him something about them, but I soon saw +that his mind was far away. "Yes, we will go over there to-morrow," said +I, and his mind flew back. + +"And walk right in as if we owned half the earth," said he, but I knew +that he felt not this lordly courage, knew that already he was quaking. +"Oh, I'll go right in with you," he said. "You lead the way and I'll be +with you." + +When I had gone to bed a remark that he had made was sweeping like a +wind through my mind: "Hang it, Bill, you may be in love one of these +days." I was already in love--in love with Guinea. + + + + +CHAPTER V. + + +Alf was still asleep when I arose from my bed the next morning. I stood +at the head of the stairs and looked back at his handsome, though +sun-browned face, and I felt a strange and strong sympathy for him, but +I had not begun to agonize in my love; it was so new that I was dazzled. +When I went down stairs Guinea was feeding the chickens from the kitchen +window, and the old man was walking about the yard, with his slouch hat +pulled down to shut out the slanting glare of the sun. But he saw me +and, calling me, said that he would now show me his beauties. And just +then I heard Guinea's voice: "If he starts to make them fight you come +right away and leave him, Mr. Hawes," she said. "We don't allow him to +fight them on Sunday." + +"Miss Smartjacket," the old man spoke up, "I hadn't said a word about +makin' 'em fight. Hawes, these women folks don't want a man to have no +fun at all. As long as a man is at work it's all right with the women; +they can stand to see him delve till he drops, but the minit he wants to +have a little fun, why, they begin to mowl about it. Of course, I'm not +goin' to let 'em fight on Sunday. But a preacher would eat one of 'em +on Sunday. All days belong to 'em. It's die dog or eat the hatchet when +they come round. And yet, as I tell you, I believe in the Book from +kiver to kiver. Step out here, Hawes." + +I thought that I received from Guinea a smile of assent, and I followed +him. The enclosure wherein he kept his chickens was almost as strong as +a "stockade." The old man unfastened a padlock and bade me enter. I +stepped inside, and when the master had followed me he was greeted with +many a cluck and scratching, the welcome of two game cocks in a wire +coop, divided into two apartments by a solid board partition. "I jest +wanted you to look at 'em and size 'em merely for your own +satisfaction," said the old man, fondly looking upon his shimmering +pets. "This red one over here is Sam, and that dominecker rascal is Bob. +Ah, Lord, you don't know what comfort there is in a chicken, and how a +preacher can eat a game rooster is beyond my understandin'. But I'm with +him, you understand, from kiver to kiver. Keep quiet there, boys; no +fight to-day. Must have some respect, you know." + +He took a grain of corn from his pocket, placed it between his teeth, +and with a grin on his face got down on his knees and held his mouth +near the bars of Sam's cage. The rooster plucked out the grain of corn, +and Bob, watching the performance, began to prance about in jealous +rage. "Never you mind, Bob," said the old man, getting up and dusting +his knees. "I know your tricks. Held one out to you that way not long +ago, and I wish I may never stir agin if you didn't take a crack at my +eye, and if I hadn't ducked I'd be one-eyed right now. But they are +callin' us to breakfust. Bound to interfere with a man one way or +another." + +It was with great care that Alf prepared himself to go with me to the +General's house. Out under a tree in the yard he placed a mirror on a +chair and there he sat and shaved himself. Then he went upstairs to put +on a suit of clothes which never had been worn, and anon I heard him +calling his mother to help him find buttons and neckwear that had been +misplaced. And he shouted to me not to be impatient, that he was doing +the best he could. Impatient! I was sitting in the passage, leaning back +against the wall, and near the steps Guinea stood, looking far out over +the ravine. She had donned a garb of bright calico, with long, +green-stemmed flowers stamped upon it, and I thought that of all the +dresses I had ever beheld this was the most beautiful and becoming. She +hummed a tune and looking about pretended to be surprised to see me +sitting there, and for aught I know the astonishment might have been +real, for I had made no noise in placing my chair against the wall. + +"I ought not to be humming a dance tune on Sunday," she said, stepping +back and standing against the opposite wall, with her hands behind her. + +"I don't see how the day can make music harmful," I replied. + +"The day can't make music harmful," she rejoined. "But I can't sing. +Sometimes when I can't express what I am thinking about I hum it. How +long are you and Alf going to be away?" + +"As long as it suits him," I answered. "I have decided to have no voice +as to the length of our stay." + +"Then you are simply going to accommodate him. How kind of you. And have +you always so much consideration for others? If you have you may find +your patience strained if you stay here." + +"To stand any strain that may be placed upon our patience is a virtue," +I remarked--sententious pedagogue--and she lifted her hands, clasped +them behind her head, looked at me and laughed, a music sweet and low. +Just then Alf came out upon the passage, looking down at himself, first +one side and then the other; and it was with a feeling of close kinship +to envy that I regarded his new clothes. He apologized for having kept +me waiting so long, but in truth I could have told him that I should +have liked to wait there for hours, looking at the graceful figure of +that girl, standing with her hands clasped behind her brown head. + +The distance was not great and we had decided to walk, and across a +meadow, purpling with coming bloom, we took a nearer way. I said to Alf +that one might think that he was a stranger at the General's house, and +he replied: "In one way I am. I have been there many a time, it is true, +but always to help do something." + +"Is the family so exclusive, then?" I asked. + +"Oh, they are as friendly as any people you ever saw, but, of course, I +naturally place them high above me. The old General doesn't appear to +know that I have grown to be a man; always talks to me as if I were a +boy--wants to know what father's doing and all that sort of thing. He +doesn't give a snap what father's doing." + +"And the girl. How does she talk to you?" It was several moments before +he answered me. + +"I was just trying to think," he said. "To tell you the truth, I don't +know how she talks to me. I can't recall anything she has ever said to +me. She calls me Alf and I call her Miss Millie, and we laugh at some +fool thing and that's about all there is to it. But I know that the old +man would never be willing for me to marry her. He is looking pretty +high for her or he wouldn't have spent so much money on her education." + +"But, of course, the girl will have something to say," I suggested. + +"I don't know as to that," he replied; "but, of course, I hope so. You +can't tell about girls--at least, I can't. The old General married +rather late in life and has but two children. His wife died several +years ago. Chydister, the boy, or, rather, the man--for he's about my +age--is off at a medical college. He doesn't strike me as being so +alfired smart, but they say that he's got learning away up in G. The old +man says that he is going to make him the best doctor in the whole +country, if colleges can do it, and I reckon they can. He and I have +always got along pretty well; he used to stay at our house a good deal." + +We crossed the creek, by leaping from one stone to another, and pursued +a course along a rotting rail fence, covered with vines. And from over +in the low ground came the "sqush" of the cows as they strode through +the rank and sappy clover. We crossed a hill whereon stood a deserted +negro "quarter"--the moldering mark of a life that is now dreamy and +afar off--and after crossing another valley slowly ascended the rounding +bulge of ground, capped by the home of the General. Alf had begun to +falter and hang back, and when I sought gently to encourage him he +remarked: "But you must remember that this is the first time that I have +ever been here with new clothes on, and I want to tell you that this +makes a big difference." + +"It has been some time since I went anywhere with new clothes on," I +replied, which set him laughing; but his merriment was shut off when I +opened the gate. Behind the house, where the ground sloped toward the +orchard, there were a number of cabins, old, but not deserted, for negro +children were playing about the doors and from somewhere within came the +low drone of a half-religious, half-cornshucking melody. An old dog got +up from under a tree, but, repenting of the exertion, lay down again; a +turkey loudly gobbled, a peacock croaked, and a tall, bulky, old man +came out upon the porch. + +"Walk right in," he called, and shouting back into the hallway he +commanded some one to bring out three chairs. And even before we had +ascended the stone steps the command had been obeyed by a negro boy. +"Glad to meet you, sir," he said when Alf had introduced me. "You have +come to teach the school, I believe. Old man Perdue was over and told me +about it. Sit down. What's your father doing, Alf?" + +"Can't do anything to-day," Alf answered, glancing at me. + +"I suppose not. All the folks well? Glad to hear it," he added before +Alf could answer him. "It's been pretty wet, but it's drying up all +right." + +He wore a dressing gown, befigured with purple gourds, was bare-headed +and I thought that he wore a wig, for his hair was thick and was curled +under at the back of his neck. His face, closely shaved, was full and +red; his lips were thick and his mouth was large. I could see that he +was of immense importance, a dominant spirit of the Old South, and my +reading told me that his leading ancestor had come to America as the +master of a Virginia plantation. + +"Henry!" the old General called. "Fetch me my pipe. Henry!" + +"Comin'," a voice cried from within. His pipe was brought and when it +had been lighted with a coal which Henry carried in the palm of his +hand, rolling it about from side to side, the General puffed for a few +moments and then, looking at me, asked if I found school-teaching to be +a very profitable employment. + +"The money part of it has been but of minor consideration," I answered. +"My aim is to become a lawyer, and I am teaching school to help me +toward that end." + +He cleared his throat with a loud rasp. "I remember," said he, "that a +man came here once from the North with pretty much the same idea. It was +before the war. We got him up a school, and by the black ooze in the +veins of old Satan, it wasn't long before he was trying to persuade the +negroes to run away from us. I had a feather bed that wasn't in use at +the time, and old Mills over here had a first-rate article of tar on +hand, and when we got through with the gentleman he looked like an +arctic explorer. Where are you from, sir?" + +I told him, and then he asked: "The name is all right, and the location +is good. My oldest brother knew a Captain Hawes in the Creek war." + +"He was my grandfather," I replied. He looked at me, still pulling at +his pipe, and said: "Then, sir, I am, indeed, glad to see you. Alf, +what's your father doing?" + +"Nothing, sir; it's Sunday," Alf answered, blushing. The old General +looked at him, cleared his throat and said: "Yes, yes. Folks all well?" + +I heard the door open and close and I saw Alf move, even as his father +had moved when he came upon me in the road. I heard light foot-falls in +the hall, and then out stepped a girl. She smiled and nodded at Alf and +the General introduced me to her. Alf got up, almost tumbled out of his +chair and asked her to sit down. "Oh, no, keep your seat," she said. +"I'm not going to stay but a minute." She walked over to a post and, +leaning against it, turned and looked back at us. She wore a flower in +her hair, and in her hand she held a calacanthus bud. She was rather +small, with a petulant sort of beauty, but I did not think that she +could be compared with Guinea, for all of Alf's raving over her. Her +cheeks were dimpled, and well she knew it, for she smiled whenever +anything was said, and when no word had been spoken she smiled at the +silence. + +"Alf, what has become of Guinea?" she asked. "It seems an age since I +saw her." + +"She was over here last, I think," Alf answered. + +"Ahem--m--" came from the General. "You'll be counting meals on each +other, like the Yankees, after a while," he said. "Why don't you quit +your foolishness; and if you want to see each other, go and see. I don't +know what your feelings are in the matter, sir," he added, turning to +me, "but I don't see much good in this so-called public school system. +And of all worthless things under heaven it is a negro that has caught +up a smattering of education. God knows he's trifling enough at best, +but teach him to read and he's utterly worthless. I sent a negro to the +postoffice some time ago, and he came along back with my newspaper +spread out before him, reading it on the horse. And if it hadn't been +for Millie I would have ripped the hide off him." + +"He didn't know any better," the girl spoke up. "Poor thing, you scared +him nearly to death." + +"Yes, and I immediately gave him the best coat I had to square myself, +not with him, but with myself," said the old man. "But I hold that if +the negro, or anyone else, for that matter, is to be a servant, let him +be a servant. I don't want a man to plow for me simply because he can +read. Confound him, I don't care whether he can read or not. I want him +to plow. When I choose my friends it is another matter. Your father go +to church to-day, Alf?" + +"I don't know, sir," Alf answered, moving about in his chair, and then +in his embarrassment he got up and stammeringly begged the girl to sit +down. + +"Why, what's all this trouble and nonsense about," the General asked, +looking first at the girl and then at Alf. "'Od zounds, there oughtn't +to be any trouble about a chair. Fifty of them back in there." + +Alf dropped back and the girl laughed with such genuine heartiness that +I thought much better of her, but still I did not think that she was at +all to be compared with Guinea. The General yelled for Henry to bring +him another coal, and when his pipe had been relighted he turned to me +and said: "You don't find the old North State as she once was, sir. Ah, +Lord, the ruin that has gone on in this world since I can remember. And +yet they say we are becoming more civilized. Zounds, sir, do you call it +civilization to see hundreds of fields turned out to persimmon bushes +and broom sedge? Look over there," he added, waving his hand. "I have +seen the time when that was almost a garden. What do you want?" The last +remark was addressed to the negro boy who had suddenly appeared. +"Dinner? Yes, yes. Come, Mr. Hawes, and you, Alf. This way. Get out!" A +dog had come between him and the door. "Devilish dogs are about to take +the place, but they are no account, not one of them. Lie around here and +let the rabbits eat up the pea vines. Even the dogs have degenerated +along with everything else." + +I walked with the General, and, looking back, I was pleased to see that +Alf had summoned courage enough to follow along beside the girl. We were +shown into a long dining-room, with a great height of ceiling. The house +had been built in a proud old day, and all about me I noted a dim and +faded elegance. The General bade us sit down, and I noticed that his +tone was softened. He mumbled a blessing over a great hunk of mutton +and, broadly smiling upon me, told me that he was glad to welcome me to +his board. "The school-teacher," said he, "modifies and refines our +native crudeness. Yes, sir, you have a great work, a work that you may +be proud of. Had education more broadly prevailed, had the people North +and South better understood one another, there would have been no bloody +disruption. Now, gentlemen, I must request you to help yourselves, +remembering that such as I have is freely yours. When age comes on apace +there is nothing more inspiring than to see the young and the vigorous +gathered about us. And it is thus that the evening of live is +brightened. Henry, pass the bread to Mr. Jucklin, and the peas, the very +first of this backward season, I assure you. Mr. Hawes, can you recall +the face of your noble grandfather?" + +"No, General; he died many years before I can remember." + +"A pity, I assure you, for what is more spurring to our ambition than to +recall the features of a noted relative. Some of this lettuce, Mr. +Hawes? A sleepy, but withal a soothing, dish. My daughter, I must +request you to help yourself. Charming weather we have, Mr. Hawes, with +the essence of youth and hope in the air." + +How completely had his manner changed. His eyes, which had seemed hard +and cold when he had waved his hand and looked out over the yellow sedge +grass, were beaming now with kindly light, and his voice, which I had +thought was coarse and gruff, was vibrant with notes of stirring +sympathy. Alf, heartened by the old gentleman's streaming courtesy, +spoke a low word to the girl who sat beside him, and she nodded, +smiling, but with one ear politely lent to the familiar talk of her +father. + +After dinner we were shown into the library, wherein were many law +books, and the General, catching the longing glance that I shot at them, +turned with bewitching patronage, bowed and said: + +"You have expressed your determination to become acquainted with the law +and to practice the wiles of its logic; and so, if you can make no +better arrangements, I pray, sir, that you make this room your office." + +Alf's eyes bulged out at this, doubtless looking upon me as the most +fortunate man alive, and in my country bluntness I blurted: "You are the +kindest man I ever saw." + +In this room we talked for two hours or more, and the afternoon--or the +evening, as we say in the South--was well pronounced when I declared +that it was time for us to go. Alf looked up surprised, and in a voice +sad with appeal, he asked if it were very late. I could have given him +the exact time, but was afraid to take out my grandfather's +watch--afraid that the General and his daughter might think that I was +seeking to make a display, so I simply said: "Yes, time that we were +going." + +"Don't be in a hurry, gentlemen," the General protested; "don't let a +trivial matter rob us of your society." + +Alf pulled back, but I insisted, and so we took our leave. The old +gentleman came out upon the porch with us. "Henry!" he yelled, turning +about, "who the devil left that gate open? Go and shut it, you lazy +scoundrel. Those infamous new-comers over on the creek take my place for +a public highway. And I hope to be hung up by the heels if I don't fill +the last one of them full of shot." + +"I'll never forget you," Alf remarked as we walked along, down through +the meadow. "You have stood by me, and you bet your life I don't forget +such things. Of course, I have known the old man ever since I can +remember, but he never treated me so well before. And when the time +comes, if I can get him in that dining-room I don't believe he'll refuse +me. It's a blamed big pity that I can't talk as you can, but you just +stick to me and I will talk all right after a while." + +"Oh, I'll stick to you," I replied, "but I didn't notice that I talked +in a way to amount to anything. I felt as stupid as an ass looks. What +did the girl say? You were talking to her very earnestly over by the +window." + +"To save my life, I can't recall anything she said, Bill, but I know +that every word she spoke was dripped honey. I'd almost give my life to +take her in my arms and hug her just once. Ever feel that way about a +girl?" + +I was beginning to feel just exactly that way, but I told him no, +whereupon he said: "But you may one of these days, and whenever you do, +you call on me to help you, and I'll do it, I don't care who the girl is +or how high up she may stand. Many a night I have lain in bed and wished +that Millie might be going along the road by herself and that about +three men would come up and say something out of the way to her, just so +I could spring out and wipe the face of the earth with them. I'm not as +big as you are, but for her I'll bet I can whip any three men you ever +saw. By the way, don't even speak Millie's name at home. The folks don't +know that I'm in love with her. There's one thing that stands in my +favor." + +"What is it?" I asked. He looked up at me, but was silent, and becoming +interested by his manner I was about to repeat the question, when he +said: "I'm not at liberty to speak of it yet. You've noticed that +Guinea has more education than I have. Well, her education has something +to do with the point that's in my favor, but I've said too much already +and we'd better drop the subject." + +I was burning to know more, for I recalled the change of manner that had +come over Mr. Jucklin at the time he spoke of having sent his daughter +away to school, and I was turning this over and over in my mind, when +Alf said: "A young fellow named Dan Stuart often goes to see Millie, and +I don't know how much she thinks of him, but some of his people are high +flyers, and that may have an influence in his favor. Doc Etheredge, out +here, is his cousin, and old man Etheredge owned nearly a hundred and +fifty negroes at one time. But when that girl stands up at the altar to +marry some one else, they will find me there putting in my protest." + +When we reached home I found Guinea sitting under a tree, reading, and I +had joined her when the old man called me. Looking about I saw him +standing at the end of the house, beckoning to me. "I want to see you a +minute," he said, as I approached him. I wondered whether he was again +going to show me his chickens, and it was a relief when he conducted me +in an opposite direction. He looked back to see if we were far enough +away, and then, coming closer to me, he said: "This is the way I came to +do it." + +"Do what?" I asked, not over pleased that he should have called upon me +to leave the girl. + +"Wallow him, the old General. He claimed that my hogs had been gettin' +into his field, and I told him that I didn't feel disposed to keep my +hogs up when everybody else's were runnin' at large, and then he called +me a scoundrel and we clinched. I took him so quick that he wasn't +prepared for me, and I give a sort of a hem stich and down he went, +right in the middle of the road. And there I was right on top of him. He +didn't say a word, while I was wallowin' him, but when I let him up, he +looked all round and then said: 'Lim Jucklin, if I thought anybody was +lookin' I'd kill you right here. You are the first man that ever +wallowed a Lundsford and lived, and the novelty of the thing sorter +appeals to me. You know that I'm not afraid of the devil, and keep your +mouth shut about this affair, and we'll let it drap.' And he meant just +what he said, and I did keep my mouth shut, not because I was afraid of +his hurtin' me, but because I was sorry to humiliate him. Ever hear of +John Mortimer Lacey? Well, shortly after that him and Lundsford fit a +duel and Lacey went to New Orleans and died there. So, don't say +anything about it." + +"About what? Lacey's going to New Orleans and dying there?" + +"No, cadfound it all, about my wallerin' the General." + +"I won't," I answered, and then I thought to touch upon a question that +had taken a fast hold upon me. "By the way, you spoke of having sent +your daughter to school at Raleigh----" + +"The devil I did! Well, what's that got to do with you or with anyone +else, for that matter? I'll be--you must excuse me, sir," he quickly +added, bowing. "I'm not right bright in my mind at times. Pecked right +at my eye, and if I hadn't dodged I'd be one-eyed this minute--yes, I +would, as sure as you are born. But here, let us drop that wallowin' +business and that other affair with it, and not mention it again. Don't +know why I done it in the first place, but I reckon it was because I'm +not right bright in my mind at times. You'll excuse my snap and snarl, +won't you? Go on back there, now, and talk about your books." + +"I am the one to ask pardon, Mr. Jucklin. I ought to have had better +sense than to touch upon something that didn't concern me. I guess there +must be a good deal of the brute in me, and it seems to me that I spend +nearly half my time regretting what I did the other half." + +"Why, Lord love your soul, man, you haven't done nothin'. But you draw +me close to you when you talk of regrettin' things. I have spent nearly +all my life in putty much that fix. After you've lived in this +neighborhood a while you'll hear that old Lim has been in many a fight, +but you'll never hear that anybody has ever whupped him. You may hear, +though, that he has rid twenty mile of a cold night to beg the pardon of +a man that he had thrashed. We'll shake hands right here, and if you say +the word we'll go right now and make them chickens fight. No, it's +Sunday. Kiver to kiver, you understand. Go on back there, now." + +With Guinea I sat and saw the sun go down behind a yellow gullied hill. +From afar up and down the valley came the lonesome "pig-oo-ee!" of the +farmers, calling their hogs for the evening's feed. We heard the flutter +of the chickens, flying to roost, and the night hawk heard them, too, +for his eager, hungry scream pierced the still air. On a smooth old rock +at the verge of the ravine the girl's brother stood, arms folded, +looking out over the darkening low land, and from within the house, +where Mrs. Jucklin sat alone, there came a sad melody: "Come, thou fount +of every blessing." + +The girl's eyes were upward turned. "Every evening comes with a new +mystery," she said. "We think we know what to expect, but when the +evening comes it is different from what it was yesterday." + +"And it is thus that we are enabled to live without growing tired of the +world and of ourselves," I replied. "And I wish that I had come like the +evening--with a mystery," I added. + +I heard her musical cluck and even in the dusk I could see the light of +her smile. "But why should you want to come with a mystery?" she asked. + +"To inspire those about me with an interest regarding me. Even the stray +dog is more interesting than the dog that is vouched for by the +appearance of his master. I never saw a pack-peddler that I did not long +to know something of his life, his emotions, the causes that sent him +adrift, but I can't find this interest in a man whom I understand." + +She laughed again. "But haven't you some little mystery connected with +your life?" she asked. + +"None. I have read myself into a position a few degrees above the +clod-hopper, but that's all. If there were a war, I would be a soldier, +but as there is no war, I am going to be a lawyer." + +"It would be nice, I should think, to stand up and make speeches," she +said. "But wouldn't you rather be a doctor?" + +I don't know why I said it, but I replied that I hated doctors, and she +did not laugh at this, but was silent. I waited for her to say +something, but she uttered not a word. It was now dark, and I could just +discern Alf's figure, standing on the rock. The song in the house was +hushed. + +"I don't really mean that I hate doctors," I said, seeking to right +myself, if, indeed, I had made a mistake; and she simply replied: "Oh." +"I mean that I should not like to practice medicine," I added, and again +she said: "Oh." A lamp had been lighted in the sitting-room, and thither +we went, to join Old Lim and his wife, who were warm in the discussion +of a religious question. The Book said that whatever a man's hands found +to do he must do, and, therefore, he held that it was right to do almost +anything on Sunday. + +"Even unto the fighting of chickens?" his wife asked. + +"Oh, I knowed what you was a-gittin' at. Knowed it while you was +a-beatin' the bush all round. When a woman begins to beat the bush, it's +time to look out, Mr. Hawes. I came in here just now, and I knowed in a +minute that wife, there, was goin' to accuse me of havin' a round with +Sam and Bob, but I pledge you my word that I didn't. Just went in and +exchanged a few words with 'em. Man's got a right to talk to his +friends, I reckon; but if he ain't, w'y, it's time to shut up shop." + +Alf came in and, with Guinea, sang an old song, and their father sat +there with the tears shining in his eyes. He leaned over, and I heard +him whisper to his wife: "Did have just a mild bit of a round, Susan, +and I hope that you and the Lord will forgive me for it. If you do I +know the Lord will. I'm an old liar, Susan." + +"No, you are not, Lemuel," she answered, in a low voice. "You are the +best man in the world, and everybody loves you." + +I saw him squeeze her wrinkled hand. + +I could not sleep, but in a strange disturbance tossed about. Alf was +talking in a dream. I got up and sat for a time at the window, looking +out toward the gullied hill that had turned out the light of the sun. On +the morrow my work was to begin. And what was to be the result? Was it +intended that I should reach the bar and win renown, or had I been +listed for the life of a pedagogue? Was my love for the girl so new that +it dazzled me? No, it was now a passion, wounded and sore. But why? By +that little word, "Oh." I put on my clothes, tip-toed down stairs and +walked about the yard. The moon was full, low above the scrub oaks. A +streak of shimmering light ran down toward the spring, and over it I +slowly strode. I heard the water gurgling from under the moss-covered +spring-house, and I saw the leaf-shadow patch-work moving to and fro +over the smooth slabs of stone. Long I stood there, looking at the +pictures, listening to the music; and turning back toward the house, I +had gone some distance when I chanced to look up, and then, thrilled, I +slowly sank upon my knees. At one of the large windows, in the northeast +end of the house, stood Guinea, in a loose, white robe, the light of the +full moon falling upon her. Behind her head her hands were clasped, and +she stood there like a marble cross. Her face was upward turned, and the +low yellow moon was bronzing her brown hair--a glorified marble cross, +with a crown of gold, I thought, as I bowed in my worship. My forehead +touched the path, and when I lifted my head--the cross was gone. + + + + +CHAPTER VI. + + +We ate breakfast early the next morning, while the game cocks were yet +crowing in their coop. When I went down I heard the jingling of trace +chains, and I knew that the old man was making ready to plow the young +corn. I had insisted upon walking to the school-house, telling Alf that +all I wanted was to know the direction, but he declared that it was no +more than just that I should be driven over the first morning of the +session. So, together we went on the buck-board. Guinea had laughingly +told me not to be afraid of the creek, that the large boys were at home, +plowing, and as we were skirting the gullied hill I glanced back and saw +her standing in the yard, looking after us. The road lay mostly through +the woods, with many a turn and dip down among thick bushes to cross a +crooked stream. Sometimes we came upon small clearings, where +tired-looking men were grubbing new-land for tobacco, and I remember +that a half-grown boy, with a sullen look, threw a chunk at us and +viciously shouted that if we would stop a minute he would whip both of +us. I imagined that he was kept from school by the imperious demand of +the tobacco patch, and I sympathized with him in his wrath against +mankind. A little further along we came within sight of an old log +house, and then the laughter of children reached our ears. We had +arrived at the place where my work was to begin. Alf put me down, and, +saying that he must get back home, drove away; and a hush fell upon the +children as I turned toward the house. Inside I found a cow-bell, and +when I had rung the youngsters to their duties, I made them a short +speech, telling them that I was sure we should become close friends. I +had some difficulty in arranging them into classes, for it appeared that +each child had brought an individual book. But I was glad to see that +old McGuffy's readers prevailed, for in many parts of the South they had +been supplanted by books of flimsy text, and now to see them cropping up +gave me great pleasure. There they were, with the same old lessons that +had fired me with ambition, the words of Shakspeare and the speeches of +great Americans. + +By evening my work was well laid out, and as I took my way homeward, +with Guinea in my mind, there was a strong surge within my breast, the +leaping of a determination to win her. + +As I neared home, coming round by the spring, I saw the girl running +down the path, the picture of a young deer, and how that picture did +remain with me, and how on an occasion held by the future, it was to be +vivified. + +"Oh, you have got back safe and dry," she cried, halting upon seeing me. +"Why, I thought you would come back dripping. No, I didn't," she quickly +added. "Don't you know I told you that all the large boys were at work? +Wait until I get the jar of butter and I'll go to the house with you." + +"Let me get it for you," I replied, turning back with her. + +"You can't get it," she said, laughing; "you'll fall into the spring. +But, then, you might hold it as a remembrance to temper the severity of +the ducking yet to come." + +"Miss Guinea," I made bold to say, standing at the door of the +spring-house, "do you know that you talk with exceeding readiness?" + +"Oh, do you mean that I am always ready to talk? I didn't think that of +you." + +I reached out and took the jar from her. "You know I didn't mean that," +I said; and, looking up, with her eyes full of mischief, she asked: +"What did you mean, then?" + +"I mean that you talk easily and brightly--like a book." + +"You'd better let me have the jar," she said, holding out her hands. +"I'm afraid that you'll fall and break it, after that. You know that a +man is never so likely to slip as he is when he's trying to compliment a +woman." + +"No, I don't know that, but I do know that a Southern woman ought to +know the difference between flattery and a real compliment." + +"Why a Southern woman?" she asked. She looked to me as if she were +really in earnest and I strove to answer her earnestly. + +"Because Southern women are not given to flirting; because they place +more reliance in what a man says, and----" + +"I think you've got yourself tangled up," she said, laughing at me, and +I could but acknowledge that I had; and then it was, in the sweetest of +tones, that she said: "But if I had thought you really were tangled I +would not have spoken of it. Now tell me what you were going to say, and +I promise to listen like a mouse in a corner." + +"No, I'm afraid to attempt it again." I was in advance of her, for the +path was narrow and the dew was now gathering on the grass, but she shot +past me, and, looking back, said beseechingly: "Won't you, please?" The +sun was long since down and the twilight was darkening, but I could see +the eagerness on her face. "Do, please, for I like to hear such things. +I'm nothing but the simplest sort of a girl, as easy to amuse as a +child, and you must remember that you are a great big man, from out in +the world." + +"Come on with that butter!" the old man shouted, and with a laugh the +girl ran away from me. I wondered whether she were playing with me, but +I could not believe that she was. In those eyes there might be mischief, +but there could not be deceit. + +Bed time came immediately after supper. The old man did not go out to +look after his chickens, so tired was he, and there was no song in the +sitting-room. I sat in the passage, where the moonlight fell, and hoped +that the girl might join me, but she did not, and I went to my room, +where I found Alf, half undressed, sitting on the edge of the bed. I had +sat down and had filled my pipe before he took notice of me, but when I +began to search about for a light he looked up and remarked: "Matches on +the corner of your library." + +"Here's one," I replied, and had lighted the pipe when he said: "Saw her +to-day, Bill--saw her riding along the road with Dan Stuart. She didn't +even look over in the field toward me, but he waved his hand, and I saw +more hatred than friendship in it. Blame it all, Bill, I'm not going to +follow a plow through the dirt all the time. I can do something better, +and after this crop's laid by I'm going to do it. I don't think that she +wants to marry a farmer." + +"What does Stuart do?" I asked. "How can he afford to be riding about +when other men are at work?" + +"Oh, I guess he's pretty well fixed. He's got a lot of negroes working +for him and he raises a good deal of tobacco. No, sir, she didn't even +look toward me." + +"But haven't you passed her house when you were almost afraid to look +toward the porch when you knew that she was standing there?" + +"Of course I have!" he cried. "Yes, sir, I've done that many a +time--just pretended that I had business everywhere else but on that +porch. Ain't it strange how love does take hold of a fellow? It gets +into his heart and his heart shoots it to the very ends of his fingers; +it gets into his eyes, and he can't see anything but love, love +everywhere. It may catch you one of these days, Bill, and when it does, +you'll know just how I feel." + +I looked at this strong and honest man, this man idolizing an image that +he had enshrined in his soul, and I thought to tell him that, with my +forehead touching the ground, I had worshiped his sister, but no, it was +too delicate a confidence--I would keep it to myself. + +We were astir in the dawn the next day, ate breakfast by the light of a +lamp, but Guinea was not at the table, and I loitered there after the +others were gone out, hoping to see her, but she did not come, and then +I remembered that Mrs. Jucklin was also absent, and that the services of +the meal had been performed by a negro woman. + +When I returned at evening, with the droning of the children's voices +echoing in my ears, it seemed to me that I had been gone an age. I came +again by the spring, but Guinea was not there, but I heard her singing +as I drew near to the house. She was in the passage, gleefully dancing, +with a broom for a partner. When she saw me she threw down the broom and +ran away, laughing; but she came back when she found that I had really +discovered her. "You must think that I am the silliest creature in the +world," she said, "and I don't know that I can dispute you. Millie +Lundsford has just gone home. She and I have been going through with our +old-time play, when, with window curtains wound about us to represent +long dresses, and with brooms to personate the brave knights who had +rescued us from the merciless Turks, we danced in the castle. And I was +just taking a turn with a duke when you came. What a knight you would +have been." + +"And what an inspiration I should have had to drive me onward and to set +my soul aflame with ambition," I replied, looking into her eyes. + +It must have been my look rather than my words that threw a change over +her; my manner must have told her that I was becoming too serious for +one who had known her so short a time, but be that as it may, a change +had come upon her. She was no longer a girl, gay and airy, with a +romping spirit, but a woman, dignified. + +"Has your work been hard to-day?" she asked. + +"It has been more or less stupid, as it always is," I answered, slowly +walking with her toward the dining-room. + +When we had sat down to the table Alf came in with his new clothes on, +and whispering to me when his sister had turned to say something to her +mother, he said: "Got something to tell you when we go up stairs." + +Mrs. Jucklin was afraid that I did not eat enough; she had heard that +brain workers required much food; her uncle, who had been a justice of +the peace, had told her that it made but small difference what he ate +while engaged in getting out saw logs, but that when he began to +meditate over a case in court he required the most stimulating +provender. "And now," she said, "if there's anything that I can fix for +you, do, please, let me know what it is. Now, Guinea, what are you +titterin' at? And that negro woman doesn't half do her work, either. I +declare to goodness I'd rather do everything on the place than to see +her foolin' round as if she's afraid to take hold of anything; and her +fingers full of brass rings, too. I jest told her that she'd have to +take 'em off, that I didn't want to eat any brass. Laws a massy, niggers +are jest as different from what they was as day is from night. Talk to +me about freedom helpin' 'em. But the Lord knows best," she added, with +a sigh of resignation. "If He wants 'em to be free, why, no one ought to +complain, and goodness knows I don't. Yes, they ought to be free," she +went on after a moment of reflection. "Oh, it was a sin and a shame to +sell 'em away from their children. But it's all over now, thank God. +Now, I wonder where your father is, Alf. Never saw sich a man in my +life. Looks jest like he begrudges time enough to eat. There he comes +now." + +The old man came in, covered with dirt. "Alf, is the shot gun loaded?" +he asked, brushing himself. + +"Yes, sir. Why?" We looked at the old fellow, wondering what he meant, +but he made no explanation. Alf repeated his question. "Why?" And the +old man exclaimed: "Oh, nothin'. Jest goin' to blow that red steer's +head off, that's all. Confound his hide. I wish I may die this minute if +I ever had sich a jolt in my life. Went along by him, not sayin' a word +to him, and if he didn't up and let me have both heels I'm the biggest +liar that ever walked a log. Hadn't done a thing to him, mind you; +walkin' along 'tendin' to my own business, when both of his heels flew +at me. And I'll eat a bite and then go and blow his head off." + +"Oh, Limuel," his wife protested; "a body to hear you talk would think +that you don't do anything at all but thirst for blood. If the Lord puts +it in the mind of a steer to kick you, why, it ain't the poor creeter's +fault." + +The old man snorted. "And if the Lord puts it in my mind to kill the +steer it ain't my fault, muther. Conscience alive, what are we all +dressed up so about?" he added, looking at Alf. "So much stile goin' on +that a body don't know whuther he's a shuckin' corn or is at a picnic. +Blow his head off as soon as I eat a bite." + +I could see that Alf was anxious to tell me something, and immediately +after supper I went up stairs with him. He took off his coat, and after +dusting it carefully hung it up and sat down. He looked at me as if he +were delighted with the curiosity that I was showing, and then as he +reached for his pipe he began: "I was a-plowing out in the field about +three hours by sun, when I saw Millie come out of the valley like a +larkspur straightening up in the spring of the year, and after waiting a +while, but always with my eye on the house, I quit work, slipped up here +and dressed myself so as to be ready to walk home with her. I was rather +afraid to ask her at first, knowing that this was breaking away from all +my former strings and announcing my determination of keeping company +with her, out and out, and I don't know exactly how I got at it, but I +did, and the first thing I knew I was walking down the road with her. +And this time I do remember what she said, but there wasn't anything so +encouraging in it. The fact is she had something to tell me about you." + +"About me? What can she know about me? Probably she was giving you her +father's estimate of me." + +"No, but somebody else's estimate," he replied. "You recollect a fellow +named Bentley?" + +"Bentley? Of course, I do. We lived on adjoining farms, and I have a +sore cause to remember him. But how could she have heard anything about +him?" + +"Well, I'll tell you. Mrs. Bentley is old man Aimes' sister, and she's +over here now on a visit, and when she heard that you were teaching +school in the neighborhood she declared that it would be a mercy if you +didn't kill somebody before you got through. And then she told that you +had waylaid her son one night and come mighty nigh killing him. She said +that she was perfectly willing to forgive you until she saw the scar +left on her son's forehead, and a woman can't very well forgive a scar, +you know. Old Aimes and all his sons are slaughter-house dogs, and they +appeared to take up a hatred against you at once. Don't you remember as +we drove to the school a boy threw a chunk at us as we were passing a +clearing and swore that he could whip us both? Well, that was the +youngest Aimes, and the trick now is, as I understand it, to send him to +school with instructions to do pretty much as he pleases and to take +revenge on you in case you whip him. Millie said that her father swore +that it was a shame and that if you wanted any help from him you could +get it. Nobody likes the Aimes family. Came in here several years ago, +and have been kicking up disturbances ever since." + +I told Alf why I had snatched Bentley off his horse, nor in the least +did I shield myself. I even called myself a brute. But I told him of the +season of sorrow and humiliation through which I had passed, that I had +insisted upon giving Bentley the only valuable thing I possessed, that +against his mother's command I had striven to work for him during the +time he was laid up, and that I had even plowed his field at night. + +"I don't know that you were so far wrong in beating him in the first +place," said Alf, "but if you were, your course afterward should have +more than atoned for it. By gracious, I feel that if some one would plow +for me I'd let him maul me until he got tired. Millie said that she was +afraid that something might happen to get you into trouble. She seemed a +good deal concerned about it, for I reckon she's got the noblest and +purest heart of any human being now in the world, and she said that she +thought that if you were to give up the school her father could make +some arrangements for you to study law in Purdy, the county seat. I told +her that you would be delighted to quit teaching under ordinary +circumstances, but that just at present you'd teach or die. Was I +right?" + +"Surely, and I thank you for having defined my position. I wonder if we +can commit an innocent error, an error that will lie asleep and never +rise up to confront us? Now, I shall have a fine reputation in this +neighborhood." + +"Oh, don't let that worry you, Bill. It'll come out all right. I'd be +willing to have almost any sort of name if it would influence that girl +to talk in my favor as she did in yours. I don't know what to think; +somehow I can't find out her opinion of me. I slily spoke about that +fellow, Dan Stuart, but she didn't say a word. Confound it, Bill, can't +a woman see that she's got a fellow on the gridiron? They can't even +bear to see a hog suffer, but they can smile and look unconcerned while +a man is writhing over the coals. I don't understand it." + +"Nor do I, Alf, but I've been over the coals--I mean that I can well +imagine what it is to be there." + +He lay down, and with his head far back on the pillow, looked upward as +if with his gaze he would bore through the roof and reach the stars. He +was silent for a long time, but when I had blown out the light and had +gone to bed, thinking that he was asleep, I heard him muttering. + +"Talking to me, Alf?" He turned over with a sigh and answered: "No, not +particularly. I was just wondering whether a man ought to try to outlive +a disappointment in love or kill himself and end the matter. We are told +that God is love, and if God is denied to a man, what's the use of +trying to struggle on? I suppose the advantage of knowledge is that it +enables a man to settle such questions at once, but as I am not learned, +having grabbed but a little here and there, I have to worry along with a +thing that another man might dismiss at once. What's your idea, Bill?" + +"My idea is that a man ought never to give up; but, of course, there are +times when he is so completely beaten that to fight longer is worse than +useless. But learning cannot settle questions wherein the heart is +involved. The philosopher may kill himself in despair, while the +ignorant man may continue to fight and may finally win. The other day +you spoke of something that was in your favor--something that has to do +with your sister's education. Would you think it impertinent if I ask +you what that something is?" + +"No, I'd not think that," he answered. I had risen up in bed and was +straining my eyes, trying to find his face, to study his expression, but +darkness lay between us. "Not impertinent in the least, but I can't tell +you just now. After a while, if you stay here long enough, you'll know +all about it. Bill, if that young Aimes comes to school and begins any +of his pranks, take him down and I'll stand by you, and people that know +me well will tell you that I mean what I say. The old man has never been +whipped yet, I mean my father, and nobody ever saw his son knock +under." + + + + +CHAPTER VII. + + +The next morning, when with quick stride, to make up for an anxious +lingering in the passage way, I hastened toward the school, I heard the +gallop of a horse, and turning about, saw old General Lundsford coming +like a dragoon. Upon seeing me he drew in his horse and had sobered him +to a walk by the time he reached a brook, on the brink of which I halted +to let him pass. + +"Why, good morning, Mr. Hawes. Beautiful day, sir. I am going your way a +short distance, and if you'll get up here behind me, sir, you shall +ride." + +I thanked him, telling him that I much preferred to walk. "All right, +sir, and I will get down and walk with you until duty, sir," he said +sonorously, with a bow; "until duty, sir, shall call us apart." + +I urged him not to get down, telling him that I could easily keep pace +with his horse, but he dismounted even before crossing the stream, +preferring, he said, with another bow, to take his chances with me. And +thus we walked onward, the horse following close, now and then "nosing" +his master's shoulder to show his preference and his loyalty. The season +was mellowing and the old gentleman was airily dressed in white, low +shoes neatly polished and a Panama hat. He was delighted, he said, to +hear that I was getting along so well with the school, and he knew that +I would be of vast good to the community. "I have heard of the Aimes +conspiracy," said he, "and I am glad that I met you, for I wanted to +talk to you about it. The truth of it all is, not that you once larruped +that fellow Bentley, but that old Aimes wishes to put a sly indignity +upon me by misusing one who has been entertained at my house. That's the +point, sir. He heard that I had given you countenance at my board, and +what his sister afterward told him was an excuse for the exercise, sir, +of his distemper. But, by--I came within one of swearing, sir. I used to +curse like an overseer, but I joined the church not long ago, and I've +been walking a tight rope ever since. But as I was about to say, you are +not going to let those people humiliate you." + +"I am going to do my duty," I answered, "and my duty does not tell me to +be humiliated." + +"Good, sir; first-rate. As a general thing, we do not look for the +highest spirit in a school-teacher--pardon my frankness, for, as you +know, one who is dependent upon a whole community, one who seeks to +please many and varied persons, is not as likely to exhibit that +independence and vigor of action which is characteristic of the man who +stands solely upon honor, with nothing to appease save his own idea of +right. But I forgot. The grandson of Captain Hawes needs no such homily. +The Aimes family is a hard lot, sir, but a gentleman can at all times +stand in smiling conquest above a tough. Scott Aimes, a burly scoundrel, +and, therefore, the pet of his father, at one time threatened to +chastize my son Chydister, who is now off at college. And I said not a +word in reply, when my son told me of the threat. I merely pointed to a +shot-gun above the library door and went on with my reading of the death +notices in the newspaper. That gun is there now, sir, and whenever you +want it, speak the word and it shall be yours." + +I laughed to myself and thought that I must be getting on well with the +old General--first the offer of his library and now of his gun--and I +thanked him for the interest which he had shown in me, a mere stranger. +"A well-bred Southerner is never a stranger in the South," said he. "We +are held together by an affection stronger than any tie that runs from +heart to heart in any other branch of the human family. But," he added, +sadly shaking his head, "I fear that this affection is weakening. Our +young men are becoming steeped in the strong commercial spirit of the +North. I should like to continue this pleasant and elevating +conversation, but here's where I am compelled to leave you." + +"Can I assist you to mount?" I asked, hardly knowing what else to say. +He shoved his hat back and looked at me in astonishment. "You are kind, +sir, but I am not yet on the lift." But he instantly recognized that +this was harsh, and with a broad smile he added: "Pardon me for my +shortness of speech, but the truth is that a man who has spent much of +his life in the saddle contemplates with horror the time when he must be +helped to his seat." + +"General, I am the one to ask pardon," I replied, bowing in my turn. + +"Oh, no, I assure you!" he exclaimed, mounting his horse with more ease +than I had expected to see. "It was your kindness of heart, sir; a +courtesy, and though a courtesy may be a mistake, it is still a virtue. +Look at that old field out there," he broke off. "Do you call that an +advancement of civilization. By--the tight rope, again--it is +desolation." + +It seemed that while walking he had regarded me as his guest, but that +now, astride his horse and I on foot, he looked upon me as a man whom he +had simply met in the road. + +"A return of prosperity," he said, gathering up his bridle rein, "a fine +return, indeed. About another such a return and this infernal world +won't be fit to live in. I wish you good morning, sir." + +That very day there came to school the sullen-looking boy whom I had +seen in the tobacco patch. I asked him his name and he answered that he +had forgotten to bring it with him. "Perhaps," said I, "it would be well +to go back and get it." + +"If you want it wus'n I do I reckon you better go atter it." + +This set the children to laughing. My humiliation was begun. + +"I understand why you have come," said I, "and I must tell you that you +must obey the rules if you stay here. What is your name?" + +"Gibblits," he answered. The children laughed and he stood regarding me +with a leer lurking in the corners of his evil-looking mouth. + +"All right, Mr. Gibblits, where are your books?" He grinned at me and +answered: "Ain't got none." + +"Well, sit down over there and I'll attend to you after a while." + +"Won't set down and won't be attended to." + +"Well, then, I'll attend to you right now." I grabbed him by the collar, +jerked him to me and boxed his jaws. He ran out howling when I turned +him loose, and for a time he stood off in the woods, throwing stones at +the house. The war was begun. And I expected to encounter the Aimes +forces on my way home, but saw nothing of them as I passed within sight +of the house. I hoped to see a look of sweet alarm on Guinea's face, +when I should tell her of the danger that threatened me, and there was +sweetness in her countenance, when I told her, though not a look of +alarm, but a smile of amusement. Was it that she felt no interest in me? +The other members of the family were much concerned, but that was no +recompense for the girl's apparent indifference. The old man snorted, +Mrs. Jucklin was so wrought upon that she strove to prepare me a +soothing dish at supper, but Guinea remained undisturbed. I could not +help but speak to Alf about it when we had gone up to our room. "Oh, +you never can tell anything about her," he said. "It's not because she +isn't scared, but because she hates to show a thing of that sort. I'm +mighty sorry it has come about. But there's only one way out--fight out +if they jump on you. I don't know how soon they intend to do anything, +but I'll nose around and come over to the school this evening if I hear +anything. Don't let it worry you; just put it down as a thing that +couldn't be helped." + +It did not worry me--the fact that I might be on the verge of serious +trouble, did not; but the thought of Guinea's careless smile lay cold +upon my heart, and all night I was restless under it. And when I went +down stairs at dawn I met her in the passage way, carrying a light. She +looked up at me, shielding the light with her hand to keep the breeze +from blowing it out, and smiled, and in her smile there was no coolness, +and yet there was naught to show me that she had passed an anxious +night. Ah, love, we demand that you shall not only be happy, but +miserable at our wish. We would dim your eye when our own is blurred; we +would smother your heart when our own is heavy, and would pierce it with +a pain. Upon her children this old world has poured the wisdom of her +gathered ages, and could we look from another sphere we might see the +minds of great men twinkling like the stars, but the human heart is yet +unschooled, yet has no range of vision, but chokes and sobs in its own +emotion, as it did when the first poet stood upon a hill and cried +aloud to an unknown God. + +Away across the valley and over the hills the peeping sun was a glaring +scollop when I came out to take my course through the woods toward the +school. I knew that the girl stood in the door behind me. Alf and the +old man were already in the field; I could hear them talking to their +horses; and Mrs. Jucklin was up stairs--Guinea and I were alone. I +turned and looked at her and again she smiled. + +"The world seems to be holding its breath, waiting for something to +happen," she said. "To me it always appears so when there is a lull in +the air just at sunrise." + +"What a fanciful little creature you are," I replied. + +"Little! Oh, you mustn't call me little. I'm taller than mother. I don't +want to be little, although it is more appealing. I want to be +commanding." + +"But what can be more commanding than an appeal?" I asked. + +"Yes, when the appeal is pitiful, but I don't want any one to pity me," +she said, laughing. "You big folks have such a patronizing way. You +don't look well this morning, Mr. Hawes. Is it because you have been +worrying over those wretched Aimes boys? Won't you please forgive me?" +she quickly added. "I don't know why I said that, for I ought to know +that you are not afraid of them." + +"I didn't sleep very well," I answered, "but I was not thinking of the +Aimes boys. Shall I tell you what worried me?" + +"Yes, surely." + +"It may require almost an unwarranted frankness on my part, but I will +tell you. It seemed to me that----" I hesitated. "Go on," she said. +"Well, it seemed that you were strangely unconcerned when I told you +that I was likely to have trouble with those people." + +She stood with her head resting against the door-facing. I looked hard +at her, striving to catch some sign of emotion, but I saw no evidence of +feeling; she was cool and reserved. + +"I don't know why you should have thought that," she said. "Why should I +be so uncharitable. I was very sorry that anything was likely to +interrupt the school." + +"Oh," I replied, and perhaps with some bitterness, "it really amounts to +but little--the threat of those ruffians, I mean--and to speak about it +almost puts me down as a fool. I hope you will forgive me." + +I hastened away, with a senseless anger in my heart, and I think that it +is well that I saw no member of the Aimes family that morning on my way +to school. + +Everything went forward as usual; play-time came, and the children +shouted in the woods, and the hour for dismissal had nearly arrived when +in stalked Alf with a shot-gun. He nodded at me and took a seat far to +the rear of the room, as if careful lest he might interrupt the closing +ceremonies. And when the last child was gone my friend came forward, +shaking his head. + +"What's the trouble now?" I asked, taking down my hat. + +"Put your hat right back there, unless you want to wear it in the +house," he said. "I have found out that those fellows are laying for +you, and it won't be safe to start home now; we'll have to wait until +dark. Oh, they'll get you sure if you go now. They have been to town, I +understand, and have come back pretty well loaded up with whisky. Oh, +they are as bold as lions now. But we'll fix them all right. We'll wait +until dark and not go by the road, and to-morrow morning we'll go over +and see what they've got to say." + +"Alf, I don't know how to express my thanks to you. You are running a +great risk----" + +"Don't mention that, Bill. You stood by me, you understand--walked right +into the General's house with me, and I said to myself that if you ever +got into a pinch that I'd be on hand and stand with you. Did you bring a +pistol?" + +"Yes, and I am very glad that I didn't meet one of those fellows as I +came along. However, I should not know one of them if I were to meet him +in the road." + +"But you'll know them after a while. Do these doors lock?" + +"I think not, or, at least, they could be easily forced open. Do you +think they are likely----" + +"They are likely to do anything now," he broke in. "And there are just +four of them big enough to fight--of the boys, I mean, for the old man +has sense enough to keep out of it." + +"It is a wonder, then," said I, "that he hasn't sense enough to keep his +sons out of it, as he must know that no good can be the result." + +"That's all true enough," Alf replied, "but I have heard that you can't +argue with the instinct of a brute, and I know that it is useless to +argue with red liquor. Here, let's shove the writing desk against this +door," he added. "Once more, shove again. That's it. Now we'll pile +benches against the other one. We can't do anything with the windows, +but must simply keep out of the way of them." + +"Do you think they will shoot through them?" I asked. + +He halted, with the end of a bench in his grasp, and looked at me. +"Bill, if I didn't know better I'd swear that you are not of the South. +Don't you know that if you enrage white trash it is likely to do +anything? Don't you know that consequences are never counted?" + +"I know all that," I replied, "but I was considering the incentive. I +know that if you give the Cracker a cause he will do most anything, but +have I given him a cause?" + +"You have given him all the excuse he wants. One more bench. That's it. +And now the fury of their fight will depend upon the quantity of liquor +they have with them. I didn't tell any of the home folks that I was +coming here--told them that I might meet you and that we might not be +home until late. I wouldn't be surprised----" + +Out in the woods there was the blunt bark of a short gun, the window +glass was splintered in a circle, a sharp zip and a piece of the clay +"chinking" flew from the opposite wall. + +"What did I tell you?" said Alf, looking at me as if pleased with the +proof of his forecast. "You get over on that side and I'll stay here. +Get down on the floor and look through between the logs if you can find +a place, and if you can't punch out the dirt, but be easy; they might +see you. There he is again." The glass in the other window was +shattered. "That's all right," said Alf. "They may charge on us after a +while, and then we'll let them have it. Have you found a place?" + +"I have made one," I answered, lying flat on the floor, gazing out. No +shot had been fired from my side, and I had begun to think that the +entire force was confronting Alf when in the sobering light I saw a man +standing beside a tree not more than fifty yards distant. He appeared to +be talking to some one, for I saw him look round and nod his head. I did +not want to kill him, although the law was plainly on my side, but a man +may stand shoulder to shoulder with the law and yet wound his own +conscience. Another figure came within sight, among the bushes, +appearing to rise out of the leafy darkness, and then there came a loud +shout: "Come out of there, you coward!" + +"Don't say a word," said Alf. "They are trying to locate you. I don't +see anybody yet, and it's getting most too dark now. But I reckon we'd +both better fire to let them know that there is more than one of us. We +don't want to take any advantage of them, you know," he added, +laughing. + +"It doesn't look as if we were," I answered. "I could kill one of them, +Alf." + +"The devil you could! Then do it. Here, let me get at him." + +"No," I replied, waving him off from my peep-hole. "It is better not to +kill him until we are forced to." + +"But we are forced to now, don't you see? They've shot at us. There you +are!" They had fired a volley, it seemed. "Let me get at him," said Alf. + +"I'll try him," I replied. And I poked the barrel of my pistol through +the crack, pretended to take a careful aim and fired. + +"Did you get him?" Alf asked. + +"Don't know; can't see very well." + +"Well, if I find one of them he's gone," he replied, returning to his +own look-out. And a moment later the almost simultaneous discharge of +both barrels of his gun jarred the house. "Don't know whether I got him +or not," he said, as he drew back and began to reload, "for I couldn't +see very well, but I'll bet he thinks a hurricane came along through the +bushes. It's too dark now to see anything and all we can do is to wait." + +"Wait for what?" I asked. + +"Wait for them to try to break in. They'll try it after they have had a +few more pulls at the bottle, I think. Now let's keep perfectly quiet +and watch." + +The moon had not yet risen and the woods stood about us like a black +wall. No wind was abroad, the air in the house was close, and I could +hear my own heart beating against the floor. There was scarcely any use +to look out now, for nothing could be seen, and I arose and sat with my +back against the wall, taking care to keep clear of the small opening +which I had made. It was so dark in the room that I could not see Alf, +but I could hear him, for softly he was humming a tune: "Hi, Bettie +Martin, tip-toe fine." For days he had been heavy with the melancholy of +his love, but now in this hour of danger his heart seemed to be light +and attuned to a rollicking air. I have known many a man to breathe a +delicious thrill in an atmosphere of peril, to feel a leap of the blood, +a gladness, but it was at a time of intense excitement, a sort of epic +joy; but how could a man, lying in the dark, waiting for he knew not +what--how could he put down a weighty care and take up a lightsome tune? + +Down in the hollow a screech owl was crying, and his mate on the +hill-top replied to his call, while in the room near me was the whif of +a bat. And Alf was now so silent that I thought he must have fallen +asleep, but soon I heard him softly whistling: "Hi, Bettie Martin, +tip-tip-toe fine." + +"You seem to be enjoying yourself," said I. "If you had brought a fiddle +we might have a dance." + +I heard him titter as he wallowed on the floor. "This is fun," he said, +"the only real fun I've had since--I was going to say since the war, but +I was too young to go into society at that time." + +"What do you think they are up to now, Alf?" I asked. + +"Blamed if I know. Getting tired?" + +"Well, I don't want to stay here all night. What are we waiting for?" + +"It's hard to tell just at present, and if we don't get a more +encouraging report pretty soon we'll break the engagement and go home. +What's that?" + +I listened and at first heard nothing, and was just about to say that it +must be the screech-owl come closer, when from a corner of the house +there came a distant and sharp crackle. I heard Alf scuffle to his feet. +"We are in for it!" + +It was true, for now we could see the light glaring on the bushes and a +moment later a spear of light shot inward, revealing my friend standing +there with his hands buried deep in his pockets. "Those old logs are as +dry as a powder horn," he carelessly remarked. "Won't take long to burn +the thing down." + +"But what are we going to do?" I cried. And now the room was aglow, and +shadows were dancing on the wall. + +"I was just thinking," said he, looking about. "They'll begin shooting +in here as soon as that end is burned out. Wish I had seen that rascal +when he slipped up here to kindle this fire. Helloa, it's spread to the +roof." + +I strove to show him that I could be as calm and as careless as he, but +now I was startled, and excitedly exclaimed: "We shall be burned up like +rats in a barn!" + +"Oh, I reckon not. Here, let's pull up a plank out of the floor and +crawl under and if we can get into the bushes we'll be all right. +Here's a crack. But I can't move it," he added, after straining at the +board. "See if you can get your fingers through here." + +I dropped upon my knees and thrust my fingers through the crack. The +fire had now gained such headway that the air was hot and a glare danced +on the wall where the shadow had crept; and we heard the Aimes boys yell +in the woods a short distance off. With all my strength I pulled at the +board; I got off my knees and braced myself, and with a quick jerk the +board came up with a loud rip and I fell backward on the floor. + +"Go ahead," said Alf, quietly standing there, with his gun under his +arm. "Get down through and work your way toward the other end." + +"You go first, Alf." + +"I'm in no hurry. But may be I know of an opening where the sheep come +under in winter. Follow me, then." + +Down we went into the fine and suffocating dust. Here and there the +sheep and the hogs had dug deep beds in their restlessness, when nights +had been cold, but in places the floor was so close to the ground that I +could scarcely crawl through. We heard one end of the roof fall in, and +then a volley was fired from the woods. + +"What did I tell you?" said Alf. "We understand their tactics, any way. +Don't believe you can get through here, Bill. Wait, I can dig down this +lump with my gun. Wish I had a hatchet. Ever notice how handy a hatchet +is?" + +"For God's sake, let me get at it, Alf. I can feel the heat. The whole +thing will fall down on us in a minute. That'll do; I can squeeze +through." + +Alf crawled into one of the deep beds and reached back to help pull me +through. "Bill, looks like this place was made for you, only I wish they +had made it a trifle bigger. Once more." + +And there I struggled and there he pulled. "I am gone, Alf; I can't get +out. Save yourself if you can." + +"If you can't get out I know you are not gone, Bill," he replied with a +laugh, but it was a laugh of despair rather than of merriment. "Don't +give up. Once more. You are coming. What did I tell you?" And again he +laughed, but not in despair. We were now at the wall, at the very hole +through which the sheep were wont to come in. "You first, this time, +Bill. Sheer off to the left. The bushes are not more than fifteen feet +away." + +With but little difficulty I squeezed through the opening. And now I was +in a hot and dazzling glare. A breeze had sprung up with the flames, and +behind me was a roar, and a crash of the falling beams. I looked not +about me, but straight ahead toward the thicket, now waving as if swept +by a strong wind; and within a minute after reaching the outer air I was +crawling through a thick clump of blackberry briars, with Alf close upon +my heels. We soon came upon a sheep-walk covered with briars, and now we +could make faster time. The Aimes boys were still firing into the +burning house, and it was evident that they had not discovered our +escape. + +"We can walk now," Alf whispered. "Turn down here to the right and keep +the shumac bushes between us and them. Now we are all right." + +Not another word was spoken until we had reached a knoll, some distance +away. Then we halted and looked back. And now the old house was but a +blazing heap. Alf was peeping about through the trees, and suddenly his +gaze was set. He cocked his gun and brought it to his shoulder. + +"No," I said. "You will only regret it." I grasped the gun and both +hammers fell upon my hand. "Get back!" he commanded. + +"No," I said, my hand still under the hammers. "You must not." + +He looked hard at me for a moment and then suffered me to take the gun. +The fire was now dying, and, looking to the left, whence the firing had +come, I saw two of the Aimes boys standing under a tree. + +"Bill, I could kill both of them," Alf said, in a sorrowful voice. + +"I know, my dear boy, but you must not. You would always regret it. We +will let the law take charge of them to-morrow." + +"Not to-morrow, Bill, but to-night. To-morrow they will be gone." + +"All right; just as you say. Where is the nearest officer?" + +"A deputy sheriff lives about two miles from here, off to the right of +our road home. Come on." + +We came into the road after making a circuit through the woods, and +hastened onward. And we must have gone nearly half the distance to the +deputy's house when we heard the Aimes boys coming behind us, drunk and +whooping. "They think we are burnt up," said Alf; "but we'll show them. +Let's get aside into the bushes, and when they come along we'll let them +have it." + +"We will get aside into the bushes," said I, "but we will not let them +have it. Come over this side. Let me have your gun." + +He let me take the gun, and as he stood near me, waiting for the +ruffians to pass, I thought that he made an unseemly degree of noise, +merely to attract their attention so that he might have an opportunity +to fire at them. "Keep still, Alf," I whispered. + +They came down the road, singing a bawdy song. For a moment I was half +inclined to give Alf his gun, but that early lesson, the waylaying of +Bentley, restrained me. We heard the scoundrels talking between their +outbursts of song. "Piece of roast hog wouldn't go bad jest about now, +Scott. I feel sorter gnawish after my excitement of the evenin'." + +"Wall, if you air hongry and hanker atter hog, why don't you go back +yander and git a piece that we've jest roasted?" + +Alf's hand closed about the barrels of his gun, and strongly he pulled, +but I loosened his grip and whispered: "Let them go. There is no honor +and very little revenge in shooting a brute." + +"I reckon you are right," he replied, but he did not whisper, and out in +the road there was a quick scuffling of feet and then a halt. I threw +one arm about Alf and pressed one hand over his mouth. + +"What was that, Scott?" + +"I didn't hear nothin'." + +"Thought I heared somebody a-talkin'." + +"Yes, you thought like Young's niggers--thought buck-eyes was biscuits. +Come on, boys. We'll go over and wake old Josh up and git more licker." + +They passed on, and when I had given Alf the opportunity to speak he +said: "Good. They are going over to a negro's house and we'll get there +about the time they do, and if we can't get anybody but the deputy to +help us we'll have to kill one or two of them. Now keep up with me." + +Off through the woods he went at a trot, leaping logs and splashing +through a brook where it was broad; and I kept well up with him. Already +my mind had ceased to dwell upon the narrowness of our escape; I was +thinking of Guinea as she had stood, shielding the light with her hand. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII. + + +We were not long in reaching the house of the deputy sheriff. A loud +call brought him out to the fence. And when we had quickly told him what +was wanted, he whistled to express his gratification or his surprise and +I fancied that I saw his hair bristling in the moonlight, for he had +come out bareheaded. + +"Now let me think a minute, boys," said he. "I have been an officer long +enough to know that it ain't much credit to take a fellow after he's +dead--most anybody can do that. What we want is to capture them and to +do that we've got to have more men. Alf, I tell you what you do. You and +your friend slip over to old Josh's and keep watch to see that they +don't get away, and I'll ride as fast as I can and get General Lundsford +and your daddy. What do you say?" + +"I say it's a first-rate plan," Alf answered. "I don't think the General +would like to be left out and I know that father wouldn't. Come on, +Bill." + +The negro's house was not far away, and hastening silently through the +woods we soon came within sight of it, on the side of a hill, at the +edge of a worn-out field. We softened our foot-steps as we drew near +unto the cabin, and we could hear the ruffians within, singing, +swearing, dancing. We halted at the edge of the woods, within ten feet +of the door, and listened. "Let us slip up and take a peep at them," +said Alf; and carefully we climbed over the old fence, taking care not +to break any of the rotting rails lest we might sound an alarm. We made +not the slightest noise, but just as we were within touching distance of +the cabin, a dog sprang from behind a box in the chimney corner. I don't +know how much noise it might have been his intention to make or whether +he belonged to the stealthy breed of curs whose delight it is to make a +silent lunge at the legs of a visitor, but I do know that he made not a +sound, for I grabbed him by the throat and the first thing he knew his +eyes were popping out between their fuzzy lids. I choked him until I +thought he must be dead, and then, with a swing, I threw him far over +the fence into the woods. We listened and heard him scrambling in the +dried leaves and then he was still. The cabin was built of poles and was +old. Many a rain had beaten against the "chinking" and we had no trouble +in finding openings through which we could plainly see all that went +forward within. Just as I looked in I heard the twang of a banjo, and I +saw the old negro sitting on the edge of a bed, picking the instrument, +while two white men were patting a break-down and two others were trying +to dance. At the fire-place a negro woman was frying meat and baking a +hoe-cake. + +"Generman," said the negro, twanging his strings and measuring his +words to suit his tune, "don't want right now to be so pertinence--be so +pertinence; but, yes, I'd like to know, hi, hi, hi, yes, like to know +whut you gwine gimme fur dis yere, yes, whut you gwine gimme fur all dis +yere?" + +The patting ceased instantly, and the two men danced not another +shuffle, and one of them, Scott, I afterward learned, cried out: "What, +you old scoundrel, air you dunnin' us already?" + +"Oh, naw, sah, skuze me," said the old negro, "I ain't doin' dat, fur I +dun tole you dat I didn' want ter be pertinence, but dar's some things, +you know, dat er pusson would like ter un'erstan', an' whut I gwine git +fur all dis yere is one o' 'em. I has gib you licker an' I has gib you +music, an' wife, dar, is cookin' supper fur you, an' it ain' no mo' den +reason dat I'd wanter know whut we gwine git fur it." + +"Well, we'll pay you all right enough," replied Scott Aimes. "You've +always treated us white, and you are about the only man in this +neighborhood that has." + +"I thankee, sah," the negro rejoined; "yas, I thankee, sah, fur I jest +wanted ter be satisfied in my mine, an' I tell you dat when er pusson is +troubled in his mine he's outen fix sho nuff. Hurry up dar, Tildy, wid +you snack, fur deze genermen is a-haungry." + +"I hope she won't get it ready any too soon," I whispered to Alf, and +he, with his face close to mine, replied: "You can trust an old negro +woman for that. It won't take Parker very long to ride over to the +General's house, and they can pick up father on the way back." + +"Won't your mother and--and Guinea be frightened?" + +"Not much. They've seen the old man go out on the war path more than +once. Let's see what they are doing now." + +Scott had taken the banjo and was turning it over, looking at it. We saw +him take out a knife and then with a twang he cut the strings. "Good +Lawd!" exclaimed the negro, and his wife turned from the fire with a +look of sorrow and reproach, for the distressful sound had told her +accustomed ear that a calamity had befallen the instrument. "Now jest +look whut you done!" the negro cried, and his wife, wiping her hands on +her apron, looked at Scott Aimes and said: "Ef dat's de way you gwine +ack, I'll burn dis yere braid an' fling dis yere meat in de fire. Er +body workin' fur you ez hard ez I is, an' yere you come er doin' dat +way. It's er shame, sah, dat's whut it is. It's er plum shame, I doan +kere ef you is white an me black." + +Scott roughly tossed the banjo into a corner and laughed. "Sounds a +blamed sight better in death than in life," said he. + +"But who gwine pay fur dat death music?" the negro asked. + +"Pay for it!" Scott turned fiercely upon the negro and Alf caught up his +gun. "Wait!" I whispered. + +"Pay for it!" Scott raved. "Why you infernal old scoundrel, do we have +to pay every time we turn round? But we'll make it all right with you," +he added, turning away; and Alf lowered his gun. + +"I hopes ter de Lawd you will," said the woman, "fur we needs it bad +enough." + +"You do?" Scott replied. "Well, you'd better be thankful that we don't +blow on you for sellin' whisky without license." + +"Dar ain' no proof o' de fack dat I has sol' none ter-night," said the +old negro, shaking his head. + +"What's that?" Scott demanded, wheeling round. + +"Skuze me, sah, nothin' er tall. Jest er passin' de time o' de day, +sah." + +"Didn't I tell you that we would pay you for everything we got?" + +"Yas, sah, an' you's er generman, sah; yas, I thanks you fur gwinter pay +me." + +"Yo' supper is done an' ef you'll jest gib me room I'll fix de table," +the woman remarked, taking the bread off the griddle. + +"I hear them coming!" Alf whispered. I looked round and saw them at the +fence. They had tied their horses in the woods. We stepped out from the +shadow and held up our hands to enjoin care. + +"I'll go first, and you boys follow me," said the General, cocking his +pistol and letting the hammer down to see if it worked well. + +"Oh, I reckon not," Lim Jucklin replied. "I'm older than you are and you +know it. Come on, boys." + +"Older!" the General exclaimed, with such force that we had to tell him +to make less noise. "I am eight months older than you are, and you know +it. Come on, boys." + +Old Lim took hold of him. "This ain't altogether your picnic; the +invertations come from my house, and----" + +"What the devil difference does it make?" the deputy spoke up. "I'm the +only officer present and I'll go first." + +I thought that it was my time to act, and, telling them to follow me, I +reached the door almost at a stride and threw my full weight against it. +The door flew off its hinges and fell on the floor broad-side, and the +Aimes brothers, now seated at a table, were "covered" with guns and +pistols before they had time to stir in their chairs. They appeared to +be horror-stricken at seeing Alf and me, and in a moment their hands +were in the air. + +"Josh," the deputy commanded, "bring us a plow line. Never mind, you +haven't time for that. Take off that bed cord." + +The woman had squeezed herself into a corner, between a "cubbord" and +the wall, but she came out and protested against the use of her bed +cord. "Get that cord!" the deputy commanded. "Move that hand again, +Scott Aimes, and I'll kill you. Here we are," he added, when the negro +had tumbled off the bed-clothes and unfastened the cord. "Now cut it in +four pieces." + +"Fur de Lawd's sake!" the woman shouted, "you ain' gwine treat er pusson +datter way, is you? Fust da cuts de banjo strings an' den yere come de +law an' cuts de bed cawd. Laws er massy whut got inter dis worl' no +how." + +"Keep quiet," said the deputy. "Here, big man, tie their wrists and +don't be afraid of hurting them. I've had my eye on you gentlemen for +some time. That's it, give it to them hard. Tie their ankles, too. But +we have only four pieces of rope. Go now and get a plow-line, Josh." + +We put back the table and the chairs and stood our prisoners in the +center of the room, sullen and coarse-featured brutes, and waited for +the negro to come with the plow-line, and presently he appeared with a +new grass rope. "That's just exactly what we want," said the deputy. +"Cut it in four pieces, and, big man," he continued, speaking to me, "I +must again call on you. Tight around the shank and no feelings +considered. That's it; you go at it in the right way--must have tied +chickens for the market. I must really beg pardon of these gentlemen for +not getting a warrant; we were pushed for time and, therefore, we are a +trifle irregular, but my dear sirs, I promise you that you shall have a +warrant just as soon as we get into Purdy. You should be satisfied with +my admitting that I am irregular." + +The General roared with a great laugh. "Your apology is of the finest +feather, the most gracious down," said he, "but our friends must +remember that in an irregularity often lie some of the most precious +merits of this life." + +"If we hadn't been huddled round this here table you wouldn't be havin' +sich fun," said Scott Aimes, quivering under my strong pull at the rope. +"We never did ask nothin' but a fair show, but we didn't git it this +time, by a long shot." + +"Silence, brute," the General commanded. "As low as you are, you should +know better than to break in upon the high spirits of a gentleman. Oh, I +have understood you all along. You were working your courage toward me. +Hush, don't you speak a word." + +"Got them all strung?" the deputy asked, examining the ropes. "Good. +Now, Josh, you run over to my house as fast as you can and tell my wife +that you want the two-horse wagon. And hitch it up and come back here as +fast as you can. Go on; I'll pay you for everything." + +"Thankee, sah, I'm gone. It loosens er ole pusson's feet, sah, ter know +dat he gwine be paid. Hard times allus comin' down de big road, er +kickin' up er dust." + +"Are you going?" the deputy stormed. "Confound you; I'll put you in jail +for selling whisky if you are not back here in fifteen minutes." + +"Gone now!" exclaimed the negro, bounding from the door and striking a +trot. "Gone!" we heard him repeat, as he leaped over the fence. + +"Mr. Parker," said Scott Aimes, stretching his neck toward the officer, +"I've jest got one favor to ask of you. Git that bottle over thar an' +give us fellers a drink. It was licker that got us into this here muss, +an' you ought to let licker help us a little now." + +"Old fellow used to keep a grocery over at Blue Lick," the deputy +remarked, looking at me rather than at the prisoner, "and when a man's +money was all gone he used to say: 'Lord love you, honey, I couldn't +think of letting you take another drop; I'm so much interested in your +welfare that I don't want to see you hurt yourself.' No, +Scottfield"--and now he looked at the prisoner--"I am too much +interested in you to see you throw yourself away. Don't be impatient. +'Just wait for the wagon,' says the old song." + +The old General had sat down, but old Lim continued to stand there, his +arms bare and his teeth hard-set. On his countenance lay the shadow of a +regret, and I have thought that he was grieved at the spoiling of the +fight that he thought should have taken place to reward him for the +trouble of leaving home. The prisoners winced under his gaze, as his +eyes leaped about from one to another. But he said not a word; just +stood there, with his teeth hard-set. + +Soon we heard the wagon, rumbling along the road that skirted the old +field, and we began to set our prisoners near the door, picking them up +and putting them down like upright sticks. The wagon drew up near the +door, the woman held a light for us and we began our work of loading. +And I was glad when the deputy said that he no longer needed our +assistance; I was afraid that he would ask me to drive to town with him. + +"Well," he said, gathering up the lines and glancing back at his load, +"a pretty good haul for these hard times. Whoa, wait a minute. Say, +General, I suppose you have heard some talk of my candidacy for the +office of sheriff, and I reckon you have seen to-night whether or not I +am worthy of the trust. It's always well to put in a word in time, you +know. I reckon I've got you all right, Alf, and, big man, wish you could +vote with us this time. Well, I'll let you gentlemen know when you are +wanted at court." + +Old Lim and the General led their horses and walked with Alf and me; and +we heard many a grunt and snort as we told of the burning of the +school-house. Old Lim swore that I ought to have let Alf kill Scott +Aimes, but the General sided with me. "That would have done no good, +Lim," said he. "It's far better as we now have it. I am glad to see, Mr. +Hawes, that you have so much discretion, a most noble quality, sir. Now +as to the loss of the house, that amounts to nothing. It ought to have +been set afire long ago. And I'll tell you what shall be done: A new +building shall be put up at once, not of logs, but of frame, and it +shall be neatly painted to show people that we are keeping up with the +times. Every neighborhood about us has a fine school-house; the old log +huts have disappeared, and we are going to march right in the van, sir. +But I want to tell you right now that it was in those log school-houses +that the greatest men in the nation have been taught; and when I see a +pile of logs out in the woods I fancy that I can hear the classics lowly +hummed." + +"Gentlemen," said old Lim, "if it was day time instead of night I would +invite you to see some of the finest sport you ever run across, for I'm +in the humor for it right now. But chickens have a prejudice agin +fightin' at night. Many a time when I had trouble on my mind and +couldn't sleep I've got up and tried to stir their blood, but they want +to nod; that's what they want to do at night--nothin' but nod, unless +you've got light enough, and then if you stir 'em up they'll git so mad +that they'll go it smack to a finish." + +"Talking about those chickens?" the General asked. "Confound them, +they'd have no attraction for me if it were mid-day. But pardon me. I +mean simply that I take no interest in such things." + +Old Lim grunted. "Right here is where I git on my horse," said he. And +he mounted and rode on ahead in moody silence. + +I was now walking beside the General and Alf was just behind me. Several +times the young man sighed distressfully and I knew that something heavy +had fallen upon his mind. Presently he pulled at my coat and as I +dropped back he took my place. "General, you said just now that Bill was +right in not letting me shoot that fellow, Scott Aimes." He hesitated +and was silent for a few moments, striding beside the General, and the +General said nothing--was waiting for him to continue. "Said that I was +wrong," Alf repeated, "and I reckon I was, but I hope you won't say +anything about it--at home." + +"Why not at home, sir? Hah, why not at home? 'Od zounds, can't a +gentleman talk in his own house?" + +Alf began to drop back. "What he means, General," said I, taking his +place, "is that he has so much respect for you that he does not want you +to think ill of him when you are alone, meditating in your own house." + +"Ha, now, a fine whim, but it's a respectful whim and shall be honored, +sir. I don't understand the young men of this day and generation, but I +know what respect means. I don't know that I condemned you, Alf; I spoke +for the most part of the discretion of your friend. Well, gentlemen, +here is where I leave you." + +He threw the bridle reins over the horse's neck and was preparing to +mount, when Alf started forward as if to help him, but I clutched him so +vigorously that he turned upon me and asked what I meant. "Keep still," +I whispered. "I'll tell you after a while." + +By this time the old gentleman was astride his horse. He took off his +hat, bowed with the air of a cavalier, and, bidding us good-night, +galloped off down the road. Then I told Alf why I had held him back, +that I had almost insulted the old man by offering to assist him in +mounting his horse; and Alf stood there actually trembling at the +narrowness of his escape. I know that we should have been burned up had +he been half so badly frightened while we were in the school-house. + +The nights were shortened by the season's approach to the first of May. +It seemed a long time since the twilight had glimmered on the leaves, +and it was past midnight when we reached home. Old Lim had put up his +horse and was standing at the draw-bars, waiting for us. + +"For a smart man," said he, "I reckon the General's got about as little +sense as any human now alive. By jings, he's a crank; that's what's the +matter with him; and the first thing he knows people will be keepin' out +of his way." + +A light flashed from the passage and we saw Guinea and her mother +standing on the log step, gazing toward us. + +"It's all right!" the old man cried. "Go on to bed, and don't be +standing around this time of night." + +Alf and I, leaving the old man at the bars, went to the house. "Oh, I'm +so glad you've all got back," said Mrs. Jucklin, striving to be calm, +but whimpering. "Are you sure that you are all safe and sound?" + +Guinea began to laugh. "Of course, they are, mother, don't you see?" + +"But what's your father still standin' out yonder for? I jest know he's +crippled. Limuel, are you hurt?" she cried. + +"Yes, I am hurt, and by a man that prefers to be a crank. Said that he +wouldn't care anything about 'em even if it was daylight." + +"Oh, but you are not shot, are you?" his wife exclaimed, starting toward +him. + +"Go in now, Susan, and don't come foolin' with me. Who said I was shot? +Go on to bed, everybody, and I'll come when I git ready." + +"But you must be hungry, Limuel?" + +"Hungry, the devil--excuse me, ma'm. I'll eat a snack mebby between now +and mornin'." + +"It's no use to talk to him," she said, with a sigh, and, turning to me, +she added: "You and Alf must be nearly starved. We've kept the coffee +warm. Guinea, go and pour it out for 'em." + +"Will you tell me all about the fight?" the girl asked when we entered +the dining-room. "I like to hear about such things." + +I strove to make light of it, but, seeing that this would not satisfy +her, I told of the burning of the house and of the capture of the Aimes +brothers, colored our danger in the house, to see her lips whiten and +her eyes stare; pictured myself as I must have looked when I seized the +dog, to choke him, and to throw him far into the woods--told her all, +except that I had caught the hammers of Alf's gun. + +"I don't see how you kept from killing them when you got the chance," +she said, leaning with her elbows on the table and her chin in her +hands, musing: "I don't understand how you could keep from it." + +Alf threw down his knife and fork and struck the table with his fist. "I +wanted to kill Scott--had a bead on him, but Bill grabbed my gun. +Guinea, I'm glad you stand by me, you and father; but the General thinks +I was wrong, and I was just about to think that everybody's heart was +right but mine. I am glad you are with me, Guinea." + +I looked at her as she sat there, musing; her hair was tangled as if a +storm of thought had swept through her head, and sorely I wondered +whether a care for me had been borne through the storm. I forgot the +presence of Alf; I forgot everything except that I would have given my +blood and my soul to please her, and with bitterness I said: "Oh, if I +had known that you wanted him killed I would not only have let Alf kill +him--I would have killed him myself." + +She looked up from her attitude of musing and met my outbreak with a +quiet laugh. "The bigger a man is the sillier he is," she said, still +laughing. "Why, I don't want him dead. I wouldn't like to have anyone +killed. I merely wondered how, having come so close to being burned up, +you could keep from killing him. I thought that I understood most men, +but I don't understand you, Mr. Hawes." + +"Yes, you do!" I cried; "you understand me too well, and that is why you +torture me." + +"What!" exclaimed Alf, springing to his feet, "are you on the gridiron? +Has she got you where somebody has got me? By--there comes mother." + +I looked back as I passed out of the room, and Guinea sat there, musing. +Alf put his arm about me as we went up the stairs. We did not light the +lamp, but sat down in the dark, sat there and for a long time were +silent. + +"Bill, oh, Bill." + +"Yes," I answered. + +"Bill, don't ask me anything. Father may tell you something to-morrow. +God bless you, Bill. You have stood by me. Good-night." + + + + +CHAPTER IX. + + +It must have been daylight before I worried my way into a sleep that +seemed jagged and sharp-cornered with many an evil turn; and when I +awoke the sun was shining. I looked out, and far across the field I saw +Alf, walking behind his plow. The hour was late for one to rise in the +country, for the sun was far above the tops of the trees. But I cared +not for any impression that might be made by my apparent laziness; my +head was heavy and my heart was crushed. No sound came from below, and +after dressing--and how mean my clothes did look--I sat down at my +writing desk--sat and mused, just as I had seen Guinea sitting, with her +elbows on the table and with her chin in her hands. And Alf would ask +the old man to tell me something. Tell me what? + +I went down stairs. Mrs. Jucklin was sweeping the yard. She put down her +broom upon seeing me and came forward, wiping her hands. I began to +apologize for being so late. "Oh, that makes no difference," she said. +"Alf told us not to wake you. I will go in and fix you something to +eat." + +"Now, don't put yourself to any trouble, for, really, I couldn't eat a +bite; I'm not very well. Where is Mr. Jucklin?" + +"Why, you must eat something. He's gone to the blacksmith shop broke the +point off his plow against a rock and had to go and get it fixed. He +ought to be back by now. It ain't but a little ways down the road. Are +you goin' over there? Well, if you see him tell him that Guinea and I +are goin' to see Mrs. Parker and won't be back till evenin'. Tell him +that we'll leave everything on the table." + +Down the road I went, looking for the blacksmith shop, and I had not +gone far before I saw the old man coming, with his plow on his shoulder. +He was talking to himself and did not see me until I spoke to him. "Let +me take that plow," I said. "Give it to me. I'm stronger than you." + +"I reckon you are right," he replied, looking up at me with a grin, "but +I can tote it all right enough." + +But I took the plow from him, and walked along with it on my shoulder, +waiting for him to say something. + +"You haven't seen Alf this mornin', have you?" he asked. + +"No; I was asleep when he got up. Why?" + +"Well, jest wanted to know. Alf takes some strange notions into his head +once in a long while, and he had one this mornin'. Told me to tell you +suthin' that very few folks know. Don't know why, unless he thinks more +of you than he does of any other young man. Never saw him take to a +person as he has to you. And I reckon I better tell you. But I hate to +talk about it." + +We walked on in silence, and in my impatience I shifted the plow from +one shoulder to the other. "I'll take it when you git tired of it," he +said. "Now, it may be putty hard for you to understand the situation, +and I'm free to say that I can't make it so very plain, but I'll do the +best I can. One day, a long time ago, old General Lundsford came to +me--long after I had wallowed him, you understand. And now as to that +wallowin', why, he could have killed me if he had wanted to. He's game. +Well, he came to me, and about as nearly as I can ricollect said this: +'My son Chydister, strong-headed little rascal that he is, vows an' +declares that when he grows up he is goin' to marry your daughter +Guinea. I'll be frank with you and tell you that I didn't approve of it, +and I scouted the idea, not that your daughter ain't as good as any +girl, but because I don't mind tellin' you, I've got a family name to +keep up. I told him this, but he was so young and so headstrong that he +swore that it made no difference to him. You know they have played +together, up and down the branch, and he thinks there aint nobody like +her. Well, sir, he kept on talkin about it until I knowed that he was +set, and that there wasn't any use to try to turn him, so I began to +think it over seriously. That boy is my life's blood, and I want to +please him in every way I can, and I don't want him to marry beneath +him. I'm goin' to make a doctor out of him, the very best that can be +made, and his companion must be an educated woman. They are goin' to +marry when they grow up in spite of anything we can do, and now I've +got a request to make of you. I know that you wouldn't let me give you a +cent of money, but as an honest man you can't refuse to let me lend you +enough money to send your daughter to school along with my own daughter; +and whenever you think that you are able to pay me back, all right, and +if you never are able, it will still be all right.'" + +The old man paused, and now I walked, along carrying the plow in front +of me, stumbling, seeing no road, caring not whither my feet might +wander. "I'll take it now," he said, reaching for the plow. "You don't +know how to tote it, nohow." + +I pushed him back and said: "Go on with your story." + +I was walking so fast that he was almost trotting to keep up with me. +"Right there I was weak," he said. "I thought of what a bright creature +my girl was, thought of what education would do for her, thought that I +could soon pay back the money, and I agreed. And I want to tell you that +it has been hot ashes on me ever since. They are goin' to marry all +right enough, but it galls me to think that I had to send her out to +have her educated at another man's expense--cuts me to think that she +wasn't good enough for any man just as I could give her to him. And I'm +goin' to pay back that money if I have to sell this strip of poor dirt, +that's what I'm goin' to do. Yes, sir, even if it's ten years after they +are married. Chyd is off at school now, and has been for a long time; +only comes home for a while at vacation, and it seems to me that if +he's goin' to be a doctor it's time he was at it. But I understand that +they are goin' to send him to another place after he gits through with +this one. I don't know much about him, but they say that he's a +first-rate sort of a fellow. Oh, I knowed him well enough when he was +little, but I haven't seen so very much of him since he growed up. +Guinea thinks all the world of him, of course, and says that they were +born for each other. Gimme that plow here. You don't know how to tote it +nohow. I'm not goin' right straight back to the field; I'm goin' to the +house. Them hot ashes is on me an inch thick." + +I let him take the plow; I left him at the draw bars, and with heavy and +dragging feet I climbed up to my room. I sat down to my desk, but not +with elbows resting on the board, not with my chin in my hands; I +couldn't bear to think of that attitude. Now, I understood why she had +said "Oh" with such coolness when I had declared that I hated doctors. +My heart was freezing, my head was hot, and in a fevered fancy I saw +Guinea and that boy playing up and down the rivulet. I saw them wading +in the water; heard him tell her that when they grew up she must be his +wife, and I saw her, holding her dress about her ankles, look up at him +and smile. I knew that he had never been awkward, I knew that he looked +like Bentley, knew that he would have made fun of me, and down in my +heart there was a poisonous hatred, yellow, green, venomous. I am +seeking to hide nothing; I cannot paint myself as a generous and +high-minded man. When stirred, I seem to have more rank sap than other +men--less reason, more senseless passion. I roared at the picture, +sitting there gripping the desk, and frightened it away; and to myself I +acknowledged the faults which I now set forth, but an acknowledgment of +a fault is not within itself virtue. The fool's recourse is to call +himself a fool, to upbraid himself, curse himself and then in +graciousness to pardon himself. You might as well reason with a +rattlesnake, striking at you--might as well seek to temporize and argue +with a dog drooling hydrophobic foam, as to tell the human heart what it +ought to do. Reason is a business matter and it can make matches, but it +cannot make love. + +Long I sat there, gripping the desk, gazing at the rafters overhead, +groaning in the lover's conscious luxury of despair. Should I go away? +No; I would stay and see it out. I would be light and gay--a bear's +waltz. I would laugh and rebuke fate; I would punish Guinea for having +played with that boy up and down the brook; I would be all sorts of a +fool. + +The old man's voice came ringing through the air. "Hike, there, Sam; +hike, there, Bob. Get him down. Hike, there!" + +He was having a round with his chickens, to fan off the atmosphere of +humiliation, to blow away the hot ashes that were so thick upon him. I +remembered that I had not delivered Mrs. Jucklin's message, and I +hastened out to the "stockade," and knocked at the gate. "Hike, there, +boys! Who's that? Whoa, boys, that'll do! Go in there, Sam! Ho, it's +you, eh?" he said, opening the gate. "Sorry, but you didn't git here +quite in time. You had the opportunity, but you flung it away. What, +gone over to Parker's? That's all right. Well, I must be gettin' back to +the field. Looks like the grass will take me in spite of everything I +can do. You'll help until they get the school-house built? Now, I'm much +obleeged to you, but we can't rig up another outfit. Why, yander you go +already," he added, pointing to a wagon load of lumber drawn along the +road. "It's Perdue's wagon. Yander comes another one, with Ren Bowles, +the carpenter, on board. Oh, they are goin' to rush things. I've heard +that already this mornin'. You never saw a neighborhood stirred up much +worse than this one is over that affair, and there is strong talk of +lynchin' them fellers; and this mornin' a party went over to see old +Aimes and told him that if he wan't gone by 10 o'clock they would string +him up, and I reckon he's gone by this time. They are makin' great +heroes oute'n you and Alf, I tell you. A number of 'em wanted to see +you, but Alf wouldn't let 'em wake you up. I saw Parker while I was down +at the shop; he'd jest got back from town; and he told me that the grand +jury that's now in session would indict them fellers to-day, and as +court is already set they may be brought to trial for murderous assault +and arson right away, and I want to tell you that they'll do well if +they save their necks. Parker said that he reckoned you and Alf better +go over to Purdy to-morrow. Well, I must git back, for that grass is +musterin' its forces every minute I'm away." + +I worried through the day, saw Guinea in a haze, heard her voice afar +off, and at night I went to bed worn out and limp. Alf did not come up +until some time after I lay down. He came softly whistling a doleful air +to prove that his sympathies were with me, sat down upon the edge of my +bed and remained there a long time motionless and silent. I knew not +what to say to him and he was evidently puzzled as to what he ought to +say to me. Out of the fullness of the heart the mouth may speak, but out +of the heart's fullness there also flows a silence. + +"Bill," he said, reaching over and turning down the light which I had +left brightly burning, "I killed a snake to-day that I reckon must be +six feet long. Came crawling across the field as if he had important +business over in the woods, but he didn't get there. Ever kill many big +snakes?" + +"Not very many," I answered, "but I am well acquainted with them and I +have been bitten by a big snake that lies coiled about the universe, +striking at a heart whenever he sees it." + +He got up, blew out the low blaze of the lamp, and sat down on his own +bed, I could tell from the creaking of the slats; and after a time he +said something about the gridiron on which a man was compelled to +wallow. Ordinarily I would have laughed, hot ashes on the father and hot +coals under the son, but now I sighed deeply. + +"Bill, you know, the other day I said that there was something in my +favor, an outgrowth of my sister's education. A family union, don't you +see? But I had no idea when I said it that this very thing would put the +fire under a man that has stood by me. I'm awfully sorry that things had +to be shaped that way. You know what I mean; father told you all about +it. Is it bad, Bill? I won't say a word about it and the old folks don't +suspect a thing, but do you love her much? Tell me just as if she wasn't +any kin to me." + +"Did the martyrs who stood in the fire love their God?" I asked. + +He sighed. "She's got you, Bill. The time has been so short that I +didn't think it could be so bad, but love doesn't look at the clock nor +keep a calendar. Are you going to try to keep on living, Bill?" + +"Yes, I'm going to study law when I get through with this school, and +I'm going to make the law of divorce a specialty. If I can't do I may +undo; I'm going to be a wolf, and whenever I see a man aiming a gun at +another man, I'm not going to catch the hammers. Why, yesterday my heart +was tender because it thought to please her. Discretion! I've got no +discretion. I'm a brute. I murdered an innocent rabbit on my way to your +home--killed it just because I could; and what man is as innocent as a +rabbit? Yes, Alf, I am going to live." + +"But you won't hate Guinea, will you? She couldn't help it." + +"Oh, I couldn't hate her. No, I won't hate her; I'm going to stand by, +ready to give her my life whenever I think she needs it." + +And thus we talked, senseless creatures, sighing in the dark. But so it +is with human life everywhere--a foolish chatter and in the dark a +sighing. + +Several days passed and yet we were not summoned to appear at court. I +did not avoid Guinea, neither did I seek her. But often we were +together, sometimes alone, on the oak bench under the tree, at the +spring, on the old and smooth rock at the brink of the ravine; and her +smile none the less bright, was warmer with sympathy. A Sunday had gone +by and Alf had seen Millie, but she was riding to church with Dan +Stuart. + +One evening Parker sent us word to be in Purdy early the next day. And +at dawn the next morning the buck-board stood ready for the journey. +Mrs. Jucklin had worked nearly the night through, baking bread and +roasting chickens to tide us over the trip. Alf complained at the load +we were expected to carry, and this grieved her. "You know there's +nothin' fitten to eat there," she said. "You know that Lum Smith stayed +there three days year before last and come home and was sick for a +month. Mr. Hawes, I appeal to you--make him take it." + +And off we drove with our bread and roasted chickens. The women stood on +the step and shouted at us, and we waved our hands at them as we turned +a bend in the road. Ours was an important journey, and many of the +neighbors came out as we passed along and cried words of encouragement. +On a hill-top we heard the gallop of a horse, and out of a lane dashed a +girl--Millie. She smiled at us, nodded as her horse jumped, and gave us +a gleam of her white hand as she sped off down into the woods. + +"They tell us that the Savior rode an ass," said Alf, "but we have seen +heaven gallop by on a horse." He stood up and gazed toward the woods. +Our horse gradually came to a standstill, but Alf stood there, gazing, +shading his eyes with his hand. "It ain't the sun that dazzles," he +said. "It's her smile." + +"She'll make a poet of you, Alf." + +"She could do more than that; she could make a man of me." + +I don't know of a more dingy and desolate-looking town than Purdy. The +houses are old, and the streets are rutted. The court-house, in the +center of the square--my temple of fame--is mean and rain-streaked. And +this is what I saw at a glance: An enormous wooden watch, with its paint +cracking off, hanging in front of a jeweler's; the mortar and pestle of +a druggist on top of a post; a brick jail, with a pale face at the bars; +lawyers' signs; doctors' signs; a livery stable, with a negro in front, +pouring water on the wheels of a buggy; a red-looking negro, with a +string of shuck horse collars; a dog in front of the court-house +sniffing at a hog; the tavern, with its bell outside on a pole; men +pitching horse-shoes in the shade; a woman, with her arms on a gate; a +girl trying to pull a dirty child into a yard; a man in front of a store +stuffing straw into a box; horses tied to racks about the square; men +lolling about the court-house--these features made the face of Purdy. + +We had put up the horse, Alf had gone to see a friend of his and I was +walking past a vacant lot when some one shouted at me, and, turning +round, I saw a man coming toward me. "Helloa, there," he said, coming +up, smiling. "You ought not to forget your old friends." + +"Oh," I replied, recalling his face, "you are the agent at the station +where I got off the train." + +"Yes, used to be," he said, shaking hands with me, "but I'm over here +now, but not as a railroad agent, for there's no road here. I am the +honored and distinguished telegraph operator of this commercial +emporium. Couldn't stay over yonder any longer. No calico--not a rag +there. Got to see the flirt of calico. See that?" A woman was passing. +"You can stand here and see it going along all the time, and you've got +to be mighty respectful toward it, I tell you, for there's a shot-gun in +every house and a father or a brother more than ready to pull both +triggers at once. That's right, I suppose; but it does hamper a fellow +mightily. Ever in St. Louis? That's the place. Muslin and soft goods +everywhere and nine chances to one there ain't a gun in the house. Might +be, you know, but there is so much mull and moriantique and all that +sort of thing that there ain't guns enough to go round, so you can +smile and nod on the street; but you can't do it here. Here you've got +to have a three-ply, doubled and twisted introduction before you can +smile even at cottonade. I've been here a week, and hold about the most +responsible position in the town, and society hasn't taken me up yet, +but I reckon it will after a while. I reckon you could get in all right. +They have heard all about your fight--know that you are game, and +nothing counts more than that, for they have an idea that a game fellow +is always a gentleman." + +Just then a boy came up and told him that there was a call. "I'll be +there after a while," the operator replied. "Go on back. I've been +pitching horse-shoes with some fellows," he continued, speaking to me, +"and ain't quite through yet. I'll have to teach him so that he will be +able to tell them that I'm busy when I'm not there. I've found out that +what we want in this life is leisure. People are getting too swift. +There's no need of half the telegraphing that's done. Why don't they +write and save trouble and expense? There goes a nice piece of calico. I +must get acquainted with it, too, I tell you. Well, believe I'll stroll +on back. Come in while you're here. The trial won't take up much of your +time. It's all pretty much cut and dried, anyway." + +At 10 o'clock the Aimes brothers were brought before the bar. The jury +was already selected and the trial was at once taken up. I was put upon +the stand and instructed to tell my story without any fear of reflecting +too much credit upon myself. I could see that they wanted a thrilling +recital and I gave it to them. And when Alf followed, he found them +eager for more. The prosecuting attorney made a speech, as red as the +fire that had burned the school-house; the lawyer appointed for the +defence made a few cool remarks, and the case was closed. We were +anxious to take the verdict home with us, and we had made preparations +to remain over night, but the jury came to an agreement without leaving +the box, so we had nothing to do but to return home. The Aimes brothers +were given a term of fifteen years each in the penitentiary. + +The sun was down when we got upon the buck-board, and over the road we +drove, under the stars, our stars, for in sympathy they looked down upon +us. The moon was late, but we preferred the dark--it was sadder. + +"I wonder how it's all going to end," said Alf. "If we could only rip +apart that black thing down the road and look into the future." + +"And if you could rip it," I replied, "if you could and were about to do +so, I would grab your hand with a harder grip than I gave the gun when I +caught the hammers." + +"Then you don't want to know? You'd rather continue to writhe on the +gridiron than to turn over and fall into the fire and end the matter?" + +"Alf," said I, "does it strike you that we are a couple of as big fools +as ever drove along a county road?" + +"Whoa!" he shouted, pulling upon the reins and stopping the horse. And +then he laughed. "Fools; why, two idiots are two Solomons compared with +us. Let's stop it; let's be sensible; let's be men." + +"I'm with you, Alf. Shake hands." + +We drove along in silence. After a long time he said: "Here's where she +crossed the road; and do you see that?" he asked, pointing to the Milky +Way. "That was done by the waving of her hand. I wish to the Lord I knew +just how much she thinks of Dan Stuart." + +"Ah, but that wouldn't relieve you," I replied, "for I know how much +Guinea thinks of Chyd Lundsford and feel all the worse for it. There are +always two hopes, walking with a doubt, one on each side, but a +certainty walks alone." + +"I reckon you are right," he rejoined with a sigh. "How many strange +things love will make a man say, things that an unpoisoned man would +never think of. Poisoned is the word, Bill; and I'll bet that if I'd +bite a man it would kill him in a minute." + +"What sort of a fellow is young Lundsford?" I asked, with my teeth set +and my feet braced against the dashboard. + +"Oh, he ain't a bad fellow; he ain't our sort exactly, but he's all +right." + +"Smart and full of poetry, isn't he?" + +"I never heard him say anything that had poetry in it. Don't think he +knows half as much about books as you do. Oh, about certain sorts of +books he does, books with skeletons in them, but knowing all about +skeletons don't make a man interesting to a woman. I have read enough +to find that out. Why, I have more than held my own with men that are +well up in special books--have held my own with all except that fellow +Stuart. Now there's Etheredge, that I told you about one day--kin to Dan +Stuart. He's a doctor, and they tell me that he is well educated, but I +never heard him say a thing worth remembering. I reckon old Mrs. Nature +has a good deal to do with it after all." + +They were sitting up waiting for us at home, although it was past the +midnight hour when we drove into the yard. Old Lim snorted when he +learned that the Aimes boys were not to be hanged, but his wife, +merciful creature, was saddened to think that even more mercy had not +been shown them. And then she anxiously inquired whether we had found +ourselves short in the matter of provisions. We told her that we had +brought back nearly all the load which her kindness had imposed upon us, +and then with disappointment she said: "Goodness alive, why didn't you +give it to those poor fellows to take to the penitentiary with 'em, for +I know that there's nothin' there fitten to eat." + +The old man stood looking at her, with his coat off and with his +shirt-sleeves rolled up. "Susan," said he, "I don't want to git mad, I +don't want to go out yander, snatch them chickens out of the coop an' +make 'em nod at each other in the dark, but when you talk that way you +almost drive me--by jings, you almost drive me out there agin that tree, +hard enough to butt the bark off. Do you reckon they are takin' them +fellers down there to feed 'em, to fatten 'em up and then turn 'em +loose? Hah, is that your idee? 'Zounds, madam, they are lucky to get +there with their necks. And here you are lamentin' that there's nothin' +at the penitentiary fitten to eat. Go on to bed, Susan, for if you don't +I'm afeered that I'll have to say somethin' to hurt your feelin's, and +then I'd worry about it all night." + +"Now Limuel, what is the use in snortin' round that way? Can't a body +say a word?" + +"It do look like a body can," he rejoined; "and I'm afeered that a body +will, and that's the reason I want you to go to bed." + +Old Lim sat down and the subject was dropped. I noticed his wife looking +anxiously at me, and just as I was about to leave the room she said: +"Mr. Hawes, you'll please pardon me for mentionin' it, but there's a +button off your coat, and I'll be glad to sew it on if you will be so +kind as to leave it down here." + +"No, I will sew it on," Guinea spoke up. "Give me your coat, Mr. Hawes." + +"I will not be the means of keeping you up any longer," I replied, +looking into her eyes, and feeling the thrill of their sweet poison; "I +will do it myself." + +"And rob me of a pleasure?" she asked. + +"No, relieve you of a drudgery. Come on, Alf." + +Two fools went to bed in the dark and sighed themselves to sleep, and +two fools dreamed; I know that one did--dreamed of eyes and smiles and a +laugh like a musical cluck. + + + + +CHAPTER X. + + +More than a month passed and they were still working on the +school-house. The simple plan had been drawn with but a few strokes of a +pencil, the sills had been placed without delay, but they had to plane +the boards by hand and that had taken time. Alf and I had again sat at +the old General's table, had listened to his words so rounded out with +kindliness, and upon returning to the porch had heard him storm at +something that had gone amiss. Millie showed her dimples and her pretty +teeth, smiling at Alf and at me, too, but I saw no evidence that she +loved him. Indeed, she had been so much petted that I thought she must +be a flirt, and yet she said nothing to give me that impression. Guinea +was just the same, good-humored, rarely serious. One Sunday I went to +church with her, walked, though the distance was two miles; stood near +the cave wherein the British soldiers had hidden themselves, and talked +of everything save love. I cannot say that I had a sacred respect for +her feelings; I think that I should have liked to torture her, but +something closed my heart against an utterance of its heavy fullness. + +One Saturday afternoon I was told that the school-house would be ready +on the following Monday. I had been out many times to view the work, +but I decided to go again to see that everything was complete. I +expected that Alf would go with me, for the corn was laid by, but I +could not find him. His mother told me that he had put on his Sunday +clothes and that she had seen him going down the road. And so I went +alone. The house was done, and what a change from the pile of old logs! +The walls were painted white and the blinds were green. The bushes were +cleared off, and the scorched trees had been cut down, split up and +hauled away. I have never seen a neater picture, and in it I saw not +only the progress of the people, but the respect in which they held me. + +I had come out of the woods on my way home and was on a high piece of +grazing land not far from the house when I saw a man ride up to the yard +fence, dismount, tie his horse and go into the house. This within itself +was nothing, for I had seen many of the neighbors come and go, but a +sudden chill seized upon me now, and there I shook, though the heat of +June lay upon the land; and it was some time before I could go forward, +stumbling, quaking, with my eyes fixed upon the horse tied at the fence. +In the yard behind the house I came upon Mrs. Jucklin, gathering up +white garments that had been spread to dry upon the althea bushes. "Chyd +Lundsford has come," she said, and I replied: "Yes, I know it." + +I stepped upon the passage and passed the sitting-room door without +looking in; I sat down in a rocking chair that had been placed near the +stair-way, sat there and listened to a girl's laugh and the low mumble +of a man's voice. "Let us go out where it's cooler," I heard Guinea say, +and I got up with my head in a whirl. + +"Mr. Hawes, this is Mr. Lundsford." + +"Glad to meet you, sir," I said, taking hold of something--his hand, I +suppose. I was urged to sit down again; Guinea said that she would bring +two more chairs, and when I had dropped back between the arms of the +rocker I looked at the man standing there, and a sort of glad +disappointment cleared my vision and placed him before me in a strong +light. He was short, almost fat, and in his thin, whitish hair there was +a hint at coming baldness. The close attention that he had been +compelled to give practical things, the sawing of bones, the tracing of +nerves, the undoing of man's machinery, had given him the cynical look +of a hard materialist. But when he stepped back to take the chair which +Guinea had brought I saw that he moved easily, that he was cool and knew +well how to handle himself. And this drove away the meager joy of my +glad disappointment. + +"I hear you are going to take up school Monday," he said. "Rather late +to begin school just now, I should think." + +"Under ordinary circumstances it would be regarded as late in the +season," I answered, "but we have been so interrupted that we now decide +to have no vacation." + +"I guess you are right. Had a pretty close shave with those fellows, +didn't you? Ought to have killed them right there. I've seen Scott. +Thought he was a pretty bright fellow, naturally; rather witty. Would +make a first-rate subject on the slab." + +"Because you thought him witty, sir?" I asked. + +"Of course not; but because he is a good specimen--big fellow." He +looked at me and I thought that he was measuring my chest. "Yes," he +continued, "ought to have killed them. Man's got to take care of +himself, you know, and he can't make it his business to show mercy. Most +all the virtues now are back-woods qualities." + +"I don't believe that," Guinea spoke up. "Every day we read of the +generosity of the world." + +"Oh," he said, passing his short fingers through his thin hair, "you +read about it, and people who want to shine as generous creatures take +particular pains that you shall read about it. You've a great deal to +learn, my dear little woman." + +"And perhaps there is a great deal that she doesn't care to learn," I +ventured to suggest; and I quickly looked at her to see whether I had +made another mistake. I had not, her quiet smile told me, and I felt +bold enough to have thrown him over the fence. + +"What we wish to know and what we ought to know are two different +matters," he said. "But I hold that we ought to know the truth, no +difference what the truth may be. I want facts; I don't want paint. I +don't want to believe that the gilt on the dome goes all the way +through." + +"But," said I, "the gilt on the dome doesn't prove that the dome is +rotten; it may be strong with seasoned wood and ribs of iron." + +"Yes," he drawled, "that's all very good, very well put, but it means +nothing. By the way, before we get into a discussion let me invite you +over to our house to-night. Quite a number of young people will drop in. +Not exactly the night, you know; but the old idea that white people +shouldn't go out of a Saturday night, the night reserved for negroes, is +all nonsense. So, I have asked them to come. Alf will come, I suppose, +and so will our little spring branch nymph." + +"I didn't suppose that you believed in nymphs, now that you have gone +out and learned that everything is false," Guinea spoke up. + +"I don't believe in painted ones," he replied, "but you are not +painted." + +"I shall be pleased to come," I remarked, and then I asked him how long +he expected to remain at home. + +"Oh, about a month, I should think. I am gradually getting along and I +don't want to go to school all my life. I want to begin practice next +year." + +"In this neighborhood?" I asked, and he gave me a contemptuous look. +"Well, not if I have any sense left," he answered. "I might ride around +here a thousand years and not win anything of a name. Look at Dr. +Etheredge, fine physician, but what has he done? No, I'm going to a +city, north, I think." + +He stayed to supper and this angered me, for I had set my heart on +walking to the General's house with Guinea. Alf had not returned and we +wondered whither he could have gone. And when the time came to go, that +impudent sprig of a doctor asked me if I would ride his horse around by +the road, said that he wanted to walk across the meadows with Guinea. +How I should have enjoyed knocking him on the head, but I thought that +Guinea supplemented his request with a look, and I consented. + +There were many horses tied at the General's fence, and there was +laughter within, when I rode up, and I was reminded of the night when I +had stood with my hot hand melting the frost on the fence. But I thought +of what the men had said on the railway platform, of the woman whom I +had seen on the train, and boldly I walked in. The General met me with a +warm grasp, and was asking me if I had seen his son, when in walked the +young fellow himself, with Guinea beside him. The parlor and the +library, opening one into the other, were well filled with good-humored +young folk, and among them were old people, none the less good-humored. +I was surprised to find myself so much in demand, for every one asked +for an introduction, but with bitterness I knew that it was because I +had come near being burned up in an old house. They played games, but of +this they soon tired; they sang and one of the ladies plucked a +sparkling fandango, and then Chydister Lundsford was called upon for a +speech. He was not at all embarrassed and he talked fairly well; and +when he was done they called upon me. I got up with one hand resting on +the piano, and stood there, nervous at first, but strangely steady later +on. I told them that I could not make a speech, but that with their +permission I would tell them a story, one of my own. They cried out that +they would rather have a story than a speech, and I gave them a half +humorous, half pathetic sketch, something that had long been running in +my head and which I intended to write. What a strong confidence came +upon me as I noted the effect of my words! I was drawing a picture and +they were eager to see it; I was playing on a strange, rude instrument, +and how they bent to catch every vibration. I was astonished at myself, +thrilled with myself. And when the climax came, chairs were tipped over +as if in a scramble, and a wild applause broke out. Every hand was +stretched out toward me, every eye was bright with a tear. The old +General grabbed me and, throwing back his great head, almost bellowed a +compliment; and through it all I saw Guinea sweetly smiling. They urged +me to give them another story, were almost frantic in their entreaty; +they had heard the heart-beat of their own life and they must hear it +again. I told another story, one over which I had fondly mused, and +again the hands came out toward me, and again the General bellowed a +compliment. I can scarcely recall anything else that passed that +evening. Yes, I remember that as I was taking my leave, to walk across +the meadows with Guinea and Chyd, Millie stood in front of me. Once or +twice I thought that she had something that she would tell me, for her +lips moved, but she said nothing except to bid me good-night. + +And where was Alf all this time? No one had spoken his name; Millie had +not asked me about him. I walked briskly in advance, half happy, but, of +course, with my mind on Guinea, whose low voice reached my ears through +the quiet that lay on the grass-land. + +"Why don't you wait for us?" she cried. I turned about and waited, and +as she came up, holding Chyd's arm, she said: "I hope your success +to-night hasn't turned your head." + +"And I hope that I don't deserve such a suspicion," I answered, not with +bitterness, but with joy to think that she had felt my apparent +indifference. + +"Oh, I don't see anything to cause a spat," said Chyd, straining himself +to take long steps. "Good stuff, of course, but nothing to turn a man's +head--a mere bit of fancy paint. But you ought to write it. Good many +people like nonsense. I mean something light, you know. Two-thirds of +the human family make it their business to dodge the truth. But it is a +good thing for a school-teacher to make himself felt in that way." + +"Perhaps Mr. Hawes doesn't intend to be a teacher all his life," Guinea +replied, speaking in kindliness, but with no interest, as to whether or +not I was to remain a pedagogue. + +"God forbid," I replied. And the young doctor gave me a sarcastic +cough. "Man ought to do what he's best fitted for," said he. "Trouble is +that a man generally thinks that he's fitted for something that he +isn't--hates the thing that he can do best." + +"Your knowledge of the practical fortifies you against any advance that +I might make," I replied. "I don't pretend to be practical." + +"Hum, I should think not," he rejoined. "Good deal of a dreamer, I take +it. And you are in the right place. Everything dreams here, the farmers +and even the cattle. Going to pull down the fence, eh? Guinea'll be over +by the time you get it down. What did I tell you? Regular fawn, eh?" + +We had passed out of the meadow. They waited in the road until I +replaced the rails which I had let down. The road ran along the ravine +and home was in sight. I looked across toward the smooth old rock and +saw a dark object upon it. We went down into the ravine and as we were +coming out, a voice cried: "Is that you, Bill?" And instantly Guinea +answered for me. "Yes, Alf. And here's Chyd." + +"How are you, Chyd?" he shouted, and then he added: "Bill, I want to see +you a minute. Stay where you are and I'll come down." + +I halted to wait for him. He stopped a moment to shake hands with Chyd, +and then he hastened to me. "Old man, I've got something to tell you," +he said. "Let's walk down this way--no, not over in the road, but up +the hollow." He gripped my arm tightly, walked fast, then slowly and +then stopped. "Let's sit down here, Bill." We seated ourselves on a +rock. "You have been over to the General's, along with Chyd and Guinea, +haven't you? Of course, you have--what's the use of asking that? Do you +know what I did to-day? Not long after dinner I went over there +determined to find out how I stood. I was brave until I got nearly to +the house and then my courage failed. I stood by the fence in the +blackberry briars and gazed at the house. After a while I saw her come +out and start down the Ebeneezer road. And then I whipped round and met +her. And as I stood beside the road, waiting for her to come up I +noticed for the first time that the sun was nearly down. For hours I had +been standing in the briars. I pretended not to see her; let on like I +was hunting for a squirrel up in a tree, until she came up. Then I spoke +to her and she started as if she was scared. She said that she was going +over to Lum Smith's to tell the young people to come over at night, and +I asked her if I might walk along with her. She said with a laugh that I +might go part of the way, and then I knew that she was ashamed for any +one to see her with me. This cut me to the red, but I walked along with +her. I felt that I had nothing to say that would interest her, but I +kept on talking, and once in a while she would look up at me and laugh. +At last, and it was just as we came within sight of Smith's place, I +asked her what she really thought of Dan Stuart. I knew that this was a +fool's break, and if it hadn't been I don't suppose I would have made +it. She looked up at me, but she didn't laugh this time. I begged her +pardon for my rudeness, and she reminded me that I was only to come a +part of the way with her. I then told her that I would wait for her to +come back. She said that she might not come back that way. I replied +that no matter which way she came back I would see her. She went on, +laughing now, and I waited, but I didn't have to wait long before I saw +her coming. As she came up I asked her if she was ready to grant my +pardon and she wanted to know what about. We walked along together and +she began to tell me about her brother, how smart he was and all that, +and I said that I didn't think that he was as smart as you, Bill; I +wanted to take credit for a friendship I had formed, you see? But a +moment later I was sorry, for I was afraid that she might say something +against you, but she didn't. She said that you were a smart man--a +distinguished-looking man, and that she liked you ever so much. At first +I was pleased, but a second afterward I was jealous of you, Bill. Did +you ever see as blamed a fool as I am? But I didn't hate you, Bill. No, +my heart was warm toward you even while she was praising you--even while +I was jealous. I again asked her what she thought of Dan Stuart, and she +looked up at me and wanted to know if I knew what he thought of her. I +told her that everybody loved her, and that I didn't suppose he was mean +enough not to love her. She said that she knew people who didn't love +her, and I told her that if she would show them to me I would butt +their heads together for being such idiots. We were now almost within +sight of the General's home and I was not getting along very fast. I was +determined to make a break. We were on a hill, where the trees were +tall, almost over-lapping the road. To the right ran a path through the +briars, a nearer way home. I asked her to wait and she stopped. The sun +was down and it was now almost dark. And it was then that I told her +that I loved her. I don't know how I acted or what I said, but I know +that I was down in the dust at her feet. She stood there, pale and +trembling, looking around as if she would call for help. I asked her to +marry me, and she laughed, Bill--laughed at me and darted down the path. +Then I went into the woods and roamed about I don't know where; and that +is the reason I wasn't at the gathering to-night. I'm bruised and +crippled, Bill--my heart is sore, but I want to tell you that when she's +standing on the floor with that fellow Stuart, with the preacher in +front of her, I'll be there, putting in my plea. I won't give up as long +as there is a fighting chance left. Don't say a word about it. Forgive +me for dragging you off down here. God knows you've got a deep trouble +of your own. And I wish my word could settle it--I'd speak it, though it +might hurt my chances at the General's. Well, let's go to the house." + + + + +CHAPTER XI. + + +Guinea and Chyd, old Lim and his wife went to church the next day, +leaving Alf and me alone. Alf held himself in reasonable restraint until +the old people were gone, and then he broke out so violently that I +really feared for his reason. And it was mainly my fault for I read him +a passionate poem, the outcry of a maddened soul, and he swore that it +had been written for him, that it was his, and I caught his spirit and +fancied that he might have written it, for I believed then, as I believe +now, that great things do not come from a quiet heart, that quiet hearts +may criticise, but that they do not create, that genius is a condition, +an agony, a tortured John Bunyan. + +I went to the spring to get a bucket of fresh water, and when I returned +Alf was nowhere to be found. I went out and shouted his name, but no +answer came back. I went out into the woods, walked up and down the +road, but could see nothing of him. The shadows fell short and the old +people and Guinea and Chyd returned from church, and the noon-tide meal +was spread, but Alf came not. But save with me there was no anxiety, as +he was wont to poke about alone they said. Evening, bed-time came. Chyd +went home, and I went up to my room. I heard the old man locking the +smoke-house door--heard his wife singing a hymn, heard Guinea's faint +foot-steps as she returned from the gate, whither she went to bid her +lover good-night, and her little feet fell not upon the path, but upon +my heart. I went to bed, leaving the lamp burning low, and was almost +asleep when I heard Alf on the stairs. He ran into the room with both +hands pressed against his head. I sprang up. He ran to me and dropped +upon his knees at the bed-side, dropped and clutched the covering and +buried his face in it. I put my arm about him, knelt beside him, heard +his smothered muttering, and put my face against his. "Bill!" he gasped +in a shivering whisper, "Bill, I have killed him!" + +"Merciful God!" I cried, springing back. He reached round, as if to draw +me down beside him. "Hush, don't let them hear down stairs. Come here, +Bill." + +I lifted him to his feet, turned him round so that I could see his face. +It was horror-stricken. "I have killed Dan Stuart." + +He stood with both hands on my shoulders looking into my eyes. + +"Wait a minute and I'll tell you. It wasn't altogether my fault. He +ought to be dead. He tried to kill me. I left here without any thought +of seeing him; didn't want to see him. I went away over yonder into the +woods. I heard you calling me. Later in the day I came out near the +wagon-maker's shop, and several fellows were sitting there, and I +stopped to answer a question somebody asked me, and pretty soon here +came Stuart. He grinned at me, but this didn't make me want to kill him. +Do they hear me down stairs?" + +"Go on, for God's sake!" I urged. "Why did you kill him? Didn't you +know----" + +"I knew everything, Bill. But I didn't want to kill him. I turned away, +and walked up the road, and he came along after me on his horse. And +when we were some distance away he made a slighting remark about Millie. +I wheeled around and he snatched out a pistol and pointed it at me. I +hadn't a thing, and there he was on a horse and with a pistol pointed at +me. There was not a stone, nothing within reach. I was cool, I had +sense, and I told him that he might have his fun, but that I would see +him again. And when he had cursed me and abused me as much as he liked +he rode away, leaving me standing there. I ran over to Parker's and told +him that I wanted a pistol to shoot a dog with, and he gave it to me. +Then I went back to the road and waited. He had gone over to the +General's, I thought, and I knew that he would come back that way. I +would make him swallow his words--I knew that he didn't mean what he +said about Millie--knew that he simply wanted to stir me up and have an +excuse to kill me. So I waited in the road not far from Doc Etheredge's, +waited a long time and at last I heard some one coming on a horse. I +didn't hide; I stood in the middle of the road. A man came up, but it +wasn't him; it was Etheredge. He spoke to me, asked me good-naturedly +why I was standing there, and I told him that I was waiting for a dog +that I wanted to kill. He turned into his gate, a short distance off, +and I stood there. After a while I heard another horse, and I knew his +gait--single-foot. It was Stuart. He was singing and he didn't appear to +see me until he was almost on me. His horse shied. 'Who is that?' he +asked, and I told him. 'And you are going to take back what you said,' I +remarked as quietly as I could, 'or I'm going to kill you right here.' +He didn't say a word--he snatched at his pistol and then I fired, and he +fell forward on his horse's neck. The horse jumped and I sprang forward +and caught the body and eased it to the ground--stretched it in the road +and left it. But I went up to Etheredge's house and hallooed, and when +he answered I told him that the dog had come and that his name was Dan +Stuart, and that he would find him lying in the road. I heard him shout +something, but I didn't wait for him to come out, but went into the +woods and came on home. And now I've got to go." + +"Go where?" I asked, facing him round as he strove to turn from me. + +"To town to give myself up. Don't tell the old folks to-night. Tell them +in the morning--tell them that they'll find me in jail." + +I strove to restrain him; I could scarcely believe what he had told me. +I asked him if he had not been dreaming. He shook his head, pulling away +from me. "If you are my friend, Bill, do as I tell you. It's all over +with me now, and all I can do is to answer to the law." He caught up +his hat. "Tell them at morning; make it as soft as you can--tell them +how I love that girl--tell them that I am crazy. Don't hold me, Bill. I +must go. God bless you." + +He pulled away from me and went down stairs so easily that he made +scarcely a sound. I followed him, begged him to let me go with him, but, +creeping back half way up the stairs, he said: "You can be of more +service to me here. Tell them and to-morrow you can see me in jail. I +don't want them to come and take me there. Do as I tell you, Bill. Don't +let the folks see me in jail. Go on back." + +I went back to the room and sat there all night, and at morning I heard +the old man unlock the smoke-house, heard his wife singing a hymn. I +knew that they expected me at early breakfast, so that I could reach the +school-house in time, for my new session was to begin that morning. So +the sun was not risen when I went down stairs. But nature held up a pink +rose in the east, and the hilltops were glowing, while the valleys were +yet dark. Guinea came out of the sitting-room, and seeing me in the +passage, walking as if I were afraid of disturbing some one, laughed at +me. "Why, what makes you slip along that way? You act as if you were the +first one up. Why, I have already gathered you some flowers to take to +school. And you won't even thank me. Why, Mr. Hawes, what on earth is +the matter?" + +I held up my hand. "There will be no school to-day," I said. "Don't say +a word, please." + +"But what's the matter?" she asked, with a look of fright. + +"Come out here under the tree. Will you promise not to scream if I tell +you something?" + +"But what can you tell me to make me scream? Oh----" + +"I'm not going to speak of myself," I broke in, fearing that she might +think that I was going to tell her of my love. "Come out here, please." + +She followed me to the bench under the tree and she stood there +nervously gazing at me as I sat down, waiting for me to speak and yet +afraid to hear me. + +"What is it, please? But don't tell me anything bad--I don't want to +hear anything bad." + +"But you must hear this. Alf--Alf has had a quarrel with Dan Stuart. It +was worse than a quarrel, and has----" + +"Killed him?" she said, gazing at me. "Don't tell me anything." + +She sat down beside me and hid her face. "Alf has gone to town to give +himself up, and we must tell your father and mother. It wasn't +murder--it was self-defence. You go and tell your mother, tell her as +quietly as you can. I see your father out yonder. I will tell him. Tell +her that they got into a quarrel last night." + +She went away without looking back at me, without letting me see her +face, and as I passed the corner of the house I heard her talking and +before I reached the old man I heard a cry from that poor old woman. + +Old Lim was at the door of his "stockade," oiling the lock. "Devilish +thing don't work well," he said. "A padlock is generally the best lock +or the worst; you never can tell which. If I could jest git a drap of +the grease into the key-hole I'd soon fix it. But it won't go in, you +see. By jings, the devil has his own way about half the time, and his +influence is mighty powerful the other half. Now, we're gittin' at it. I +reckon we'd better go on to breakfast, though. I almost forgot that you +had to go to your school. Why, man, what the deuce is the matter with +you this mornin'?" + +He dropped the chain to which the lock was fastened and looked steadily +at me. "What's gone wrong, man?" + +"I'm not going to school to-day," I answered, endeavoring to be calm. + +"What's the matter? House burnt down again?" + +"Worse than that, Mr. Jucklin. Alf----" + +"What about him?" he broke in, nervously grabbing the chain. + +"Did you know that he was in love with Millie Lundsford?" I asked, now +determined to be calm. + +"Well, what of it? Young folks are in and out of love with each other +mighty nigh every day in this neighborhood. Is that Susan callin' me? Be +there in a minute!" he shouted. "Hasn't had a row with the old General, +has he?" + +"No, but with Dan Stuart. They quarreled last night and fought and Dan +was killed." + +His shoulders drooped; he spoke not, but he jerked the chain, the gate +flew open and he stepped inside and shut it with a slam; and I heard him +fumbling with the fastening that held the door of the coop. I strode +away as fast as I could, went to the school-house to dismiss the +children and to tell them that I knew not when the session would be +resumed. And when I returned everything was quiet. The old man was +slowly walking up and down the spring-house path, evidently waiting for +me. + +"Tell me all about it," he said, when I came up; "tell me from beginnin' +to end." + +And I told him just as Alf had told me. He listened with his mouth half +open, rolling up his shirt-sleeves and then rolling them down again, as +if he knew not what to do with himself. + +"Well," he said, when I was done, "I don't know that I can blame him, +poor feller, but they'll hang him." + +"Do you think so?" I cried, with a start, for I had not dwelt upon that +possibility; it had not occurred to me, so wrapt had I been in thinking +of his own mental distress and the heart-breaking grief of his mother. +"Do you really think so?" + +"I know it--just as clear to me as that sunshine. Stuart's kin folks +have got money and they'll spend every cent of it to put Alf on the +gallows. Etheredge don't like Alf and will spend every cent he's got; +and here we are without money. Yes, they'll hang him." + +"But General Lundsford--won't he stand as Alf's friend?" + +The old man shook his head. "He can't, and I don't know that he would if +he could. I mean that he can't and still be true to himself. Ever since +our agreement, the one I told you about, he has been putty open in +talkin' to me, and I know that he wanted Millie to marry Stuart. No, +he's too proud to help us." + +"But can he for family reasons afford not to help us? His son----" + +"Don't speak of that now, if you please, sir. Are you goin' to the +house?" + +"I don't know. I am almost afraid to meet his mother." + +"Don't be afraid of that. She won't reproach you; she knows that you had +nothing to do with it--knows that he never would have killed him if he +had asked your advice and followed it." + +"I don't mean that--I mean that I cannot bear to look upon her grief." + +"She is a Christian, sir. She is praying to her God, and whatever comes +she will trust in Him. The stock that she is from has stood at the +stake, sir." + +We were slowly walking toward the house. Suddenly he clutched my arm +with a grip that reminded me of Alf, and in a voice betraying more +emotion than I had known him to show, asked whether I intended to leave +him. I put my arm about him and pressed him to me, just as if he were +Alf telling me of the love-trouble that lay upon his heart. + +"I understand you, God bless you," he said. "Don't say a word; I +understand you. Git on the mare and go to town and find out all you can. +I won't go jest now--can't stand to see my son in jail. But don't say a +word, for I understand you. I reckon the neighborhood is pretty well +alive over it by this time. See if they'll let him go about on bail, but +I don't reckon they will, even if he did give himself up. They'll think +that he done it because he must have knowed that they were bound to +catch him. Go on and do whatever your jedgment tells you, and I know it +will be all right." + +Over the road I went, toward Purdy, and the people who had come out of +their houses to speak words of encouragement to Alf and me when we were +on our way to see the Aimes boys tried, now stood about their doors, +gazing stupidly. At the wagon-maker's shop a crowd was gathered, and I +was recognized as I drew near by young men who had met me at the +General's house the night before--now so long ago, it seemed--and they +came out into the road and urged me to tell them all I knew. I felt that +Etheredge had already stirred in his own coloring, but I told the story +of the tragedy just as I had told it to the old man; and I had gathered +rein to resume my journey when a man rode up. "I'm going back to town!" +he shouted, waving his hand to a man who stood in the door of the +wagon-maker's shop. I rode on and he came up beside me. + +"Are you Mr. Hawes?" he asked, and when I had answered him he said: "I +am Dr. Etheredge." + +I bowed and he nodded with distinct coolness. He was not of happy +appearance; he was lean and angular, gray beyond the demand of his +years, and it struck me that he must be given to drink, not because he +was gray, but because there were puffs under his eyes and broken veins +where his skin was stretched over his high cheek-bones. + +"A devil of an affair, this," he said. "Man met in the public highway +and murdered." + +"Don't put it that way," I spoke up, "for perhaps you are not yet +acquainted with the causes that led to it." + +"No cause, sir, should lead to murder." + +"I agree with you there, but many a man has been compelled to kill in +order to save his own life." + +He sneered at me. "But has many a man been compelled to stand for hours +in a public road, and in order to save his own life shoot down an +innocent person? I always held that Alf Jucklin was a dangerous and a +desperate man, and everybody knows that he comes of that breed. I never +did like him; and he took a dislike to me without cause. Stood near a +church in a crowd of men one day when I seemed to be under discussion +and declared that a man to be a doctor ought to be smart and to be smart +a man must say something to prove the thought within him; and then he +asked if any one had ever heard me say anything worth remembering." + +I felt that he wanted to quarrel with me, and I was in the humor to +gratify him. "And did anyone ever hear you say a thing worth +remembering?" I asked. + +"Sir!" he snarled. + +"You heard what I said. And I take a degree of cool pleasure in telling +you before we go further that you can't ride a high horse over me." + +"A pedagogue's pedantry," he muttered. + +"A man's truth," I replied. "And by the way," I added, "you appear to be +well horsed. Suppose you ride on ahead." + +"Does this road belong to you, sir?" he demanded, turning a severe brow +upon me. + +"A part of it does, and I am going to ride over that part without +annoyance. Do you understand?" + +"Sir, I can understand impudence even if I can't say a thing worth +remembering. But rather than have words with you I will ride on, not to +accommodate you, but to preserve my own dignity and self-respect." + +"Good!" I mockingly cried, "and if you continue to improve in expression +I shall after a while be forced to believe that Alf's estimate of you +was placed too low." + +"I thank you, sir, for giving me the opportunity to say that a jury's +estimate will hereafter most influence your friend, and that he will be +placed high enough." + +"You continue to improve, Doctor, and I believe that your last remark is +worth remembering. At least, I shall remember it, and when this trouble +is over, no matter what the result may be, I will hold you to account +for it. And to prove that I am in earnest I'll lend you the weight of +this." And with that I cut at his face with a switch. His horse shied +and the apple tree sprout whistled in the air. He said something about +hoping to meet me again and rode off at a brisk canter. I knew that I +had acted unwisely, felt it even while the impulse was rising fresh and +strong within me, but I was in no humor to bear with him. I rode along +more slowly than I was disposed, to let him pass out of my sight, for +every time I looked up and saw him I felt a new anger. And I was +relieved when a turn in the road placed him beyond my view. I heard a +galloping behind, and, looking round, I saw the old General coming with +a cavalryman's recklessness. He dashed up and did not draw rein until he +was almost upon me. + +"Whoa! I have been trying to overtake you, Hawes. What did I tell you? +Didn't I say that the country was gone? I'll swear I don't know what we +are coming to when a man is shot down in the road like that." + +"General, did you overtake me to ride to town with me?" + +"I did; yes, sir." + +"Then you mustn't talk that way." + +"I beg your pardon, sir. Perhaps I should not have expressed myself in +that manner. Let us ride along and discuss it quietly. Tell me what you +know." + +"It were better, General----" + +"Never mind about your grammar and your bookish phrasing. Tell me what +led up to it." + +"Must I tell you that your daughter is----" + +"By G----, sir, what do you mean?" + +"You needn't turn on me, sir." + +"Surely not. Pardon me. What about it?" + +"I don't know that I ought to tell you--a man of more judgment +wouldn't--but I suppose I must now that I have gone so far. Alf is in +love with your daughter, and on that account Stuart insulted him, abused +him at the point of a pistol." + +Then I told him all that I could, all but the fact that Stuart had +spoken slightingly of the girl, for I knew that this would only enrage +him and, indeed, set him harder against Alf, as he would doubtless +believe that my friend had simply forged a mean excuse. For some +distance after I had told him the story, he rode along in silence, +troubled of countenance and with his head hanging low. But just before +we came into the town he looked up and said: "Poor fool, I can't help +him." + +"But you can see that justice is done." + +"Mr. Hawes, in this instance we may take different views of justice. +Pardon me, but your friendship--and, indeed, I can but honor you for +it--your friendship may cry out against justice." + +"I admit, General, that my friendship is strong, although I have known +the young man but a short time, yet I think that I respect justice." + +"We all think so until justice pinches us," he replied, placing himself +in firm opposition to me, yet doing it kindly. "I am more concerned in +this, Mr. Hawes, than you can well conceive. I can say this, but I +cannot follow it up with an explanation. But the fact that he stood +waiting there in the road is what will tell most against him. Had he met +him at another time, under almost any other conditions, it would have +been different, would have taken away the aspect of calculated murder. +Yes, I am deeply concerned and on two accounts. But I cannot mention +them. Dan Stuart was near to me; I had known him all his life and he was +a young man of promise, was popular throughout the community--more +popular than Alf, and this will have its effect." + +"But wasn't he more popular because he had more money?" I asked, and the +old General gave me a look of reproof. + +"Money does not make so much difference in the South, sir. You have been +filling your head with Northern books. It is refinement, sir, real worth +that weighs in the South." + +"I hope not to antagonize you, General, but I am of the South and I have +cause to hold an opposite opinion. Have I not seen the most vulgar of +men held in high favor because they were rich? The mere existence of a +state line does not change human nature. Man is not changed even by the +lines drawn about empires." + +"I admit, sir, that the South has undergone a change, but in my day a +man was measured according to his real worth, not in gold, but in +honorable qualities." + +"It is but natural to look back with the prejudiced eye of affection, +General, and it is respectful that I should not argue with you. I turn +here to the livery-stable. Good-morning." + +"I honor you for your consideration, sir," he replied, bowing. "Let us +hope for the best, but I must stand by justice." + +When I had put up my horse I went directly to the jail. A crowd hung +about the doors, eager to see the prisoner. When I told the jailer who I +was he admitted me without a word. Alf sprang from a bench, seeing me +enter the corridor, and came forward to the bars of his cell. + +"Not much room for shaking hands here, Bill," he said, smiling sadly. +"It is already an age since I left home. How are you, old man? Tell me +how they took it. No, don't. I know. Well, I gave myself up and the +sheriff wouldn't believe me at first, but he got it through his head +after a while. He was very kind and when he had locked me in here he +went to see whether I could be let out on bail, but I understand that I +can't. It's all right; I might as well be in here. Bill, I have tried to +feel sorry for killing him, but I can't. I reckon I must be about as +mean as they make them. And it will all come out pretty soon, for court +is still in session and all they've got to do is to rig up their jury +after the inquest and go ahead. I'm going to make the best of it. The +worst feature is the disgrace and suffering at home, and, of course, +that almost tears my heart out when I let it. But to tell you the truth, +I'd rather be hanged than to be on the grid-iron all the time. Who's +that?" + +Etheredge came into the corridor. He leered at Alf and Alf sneered at +him. "I suppose you found the dog that I told you was lying in the +road--the dog that tried to bite me," said Alf, with a cold smile. + +"Jucklin, I didn't come in here to be insulted." + +"All right, there's the door. Say, there, jailer, you have just let in a +gray rat and I wish you'd come and drive him out." + +I turned to Etheredge and pointed to the door. "I must respect your +wish," he said, speaking to me. "I've an engagement with you--you are to +be my guest," and without another word he strode away. + +I remained with Alf as long as the jailer thought it prudent to let me +stay, and then I went about the town to gather its sentiment. And I was +grieved to find that every one declared it to be cold-blooded murder. My +heart was heavy as I rode toward home, for the old people were looking +to me for encouragement. Guinea met me at the gate. She tried to smile, +but failed. + +"Don't try to look pleased at seeing me," I said. "It is too much of an +effort." And if she could not smile she could give me a look of +gratitude. She went with me to the stable, saying not a word; and when I +had turned the horse loose she followed me to the sitting-room. At the +door I faltered, but Mrs. Jucklin's voice bade me enter. She was sitting +in a rocking-chair, with the Bible in her lap, and placing her hand upon +the book, she thus spoke to me: "Don't hesitate to talk, for His rod +and His staff shall comfort me." + +I had not noticed the old man, so bent were my eyes upon his wife, but +now he arose into view, and, coming to me, he whispered: "From the stock +that stood at the stake." + +I told them all I knew, which was not much; and then knelt down and +prayed with them. + + + + +CHAPTER XII. + + +Stuart was buried the next day, and the mourners passed our house. Mrs. +Jucklin was sitting at the window when the hearse and the buggies came +within sight, and her chin was unsteady as she reached for her book. And +there she sat, holding the old leather-covered Bible in her lap. + +I had thought that Chyd Lundsford would come, with words of +encouragement, but we saw him not, neither that day nor the next. But +four days later I came upon him as I was going to town. He had a gun, +was followed by a number of squirrel-dogs and came out of the woods near +the spot where Alf had eased Stuart from his horse to the ground. I +stopped and bluntly asked him why he had not been over, and he answered +that he was busy preparing for a rigid examination. I asked if they were +going to examine him on the art of killing game, and he laughed and +replied: "No, on the science of killing men. By the way," he added, +looking up into the top of a tree, "how is Alf getting along? Does he +appear to be hopeful?" + +"He is more desperate than hopeful," I answered. + +"Yes, I should think so. Is that a squirrel's nest? I have heard it +hinted that a love-affair had something to do with it--an affair pretty +close, at that. Well, I've got nothing to do with it. Can't drive out of +my mind what I have had so hard a time driving into it. Sorry, and all +that sort of thing. That's no squirrel's nest. But if people persist in +being romantic they must expect to have trouble. I'm sorry for the old +folks--must take it rather hard. Good-hearted and simple enough to worry +over it, surely. Well, if you happen to think of it, give Alf my +regards." + +The coroner's jury had returned an expected verdict, influenced largely +by what Etheredge had to say. I had given my testimony, but I could not +make it sound as I wanted it--Alf's own words were against him, as I +repeated them that day. The preliminary trial, the mummery before a +justice of the peace, also went against Alf; the grand jury had brought +in its finding, and the next step was the formal arraignment before the +circuit judge. And I was now on my way to town to engage additional +legal help, as the lawyer whom we had retained appeared to be luke-warm +and half-hearted. I had heard many stories relating to the great force +and ability of an old ex-judge named Conkwright, and I called at his +office, though I had been warned that his price was exceedingly high. He +met me gruffly, I thought, but I soon discovered that he had a heart. I +told Alf's story, now so familiar to my own ears that I fancied that I +could give it with effect, and I must have touched him, for he said: +"Oh, well, I'll go into it and we'll say nothing about the price. I've +been working for nothing all my life, and I don't see why I should +change now. Why, of course, he ought to have killed him," and his old +eyes shone as he said it. "Had to kill him. It strikes me that they are +rushing things pretty fast, especially as the docket is covered with +murder cases that have been put over from time to time. That Stuart set +has lots of influence. Beat me for re-election, I know that. But we'll +show them a few things that are not put down in the books. And you don't +want the young lady's name mentioned. Of course, not. Wouldn't be +gallant, eh? Well, I'll go down and see the young fellow some time +to-day. They'll take it up in about a week from now, that is, if we are +ready, and we'll be there. Tell old Jucklin not to fret. He's an old +lion-tamer, I tell you, and if I had any interest in that fellow +Etheredge I'd advise him to walk pretty straight. But the old man has +quieted down mightily of late years." + +Alf had undergone no change. He was glad to know that Conkwright took an +interest in him, but he shook his head when I told him that we were sure +to win. + +"I don't believe it, Bill; don't believe it because I don't feel it. But +don't tell the old folks that I'm not hopeful. Have you seen Millie?" + +"No, and have seen Chyd but once, and then I came upon him in the road." + +"What, hasn't he been to the house? A fine husband he'll make for +Guinea. Tell her that I say she must forbid his coming near her again. +No, don't," he added. "It's better to wait. I wish she loved you, Bill, +but I'm afraid she doesn't." + +"I know she doesn't," I replied. + +"Has she said so?" + +"No, but she seems always afraid that I may tell her of my love." + +"And I would if I were you, Bill. No, not yet. Tell father not to come +near me yet a while. He couldn't stand it." + +He had written home, begging his parents and his sister not to think of +seeing him, had actually commanded them not to come near the jail. + +"Mother can stand more than he can, for she's more religious. How about +your school?" + +"Oh, it's all right. The people know that I couldn't teach now, even if +I should try ever so hard, and they are very considerate. They say that +they are willing to wait." + +"God bless them for that, any way. And this reminds me of a preacher +that came in yesterday to pray for me. I thanked him for his kindness, +but told him that some one was at home praying, and that one of her +words had more influence in my behalf than all the prayers he could +utter in a life-time. I merely mention this to show what sort of an +atmosphere I'm in. I didn't like the fellow's looks--understand that he +hasn't been a preacher but a week. Still on suspicion, as they say, +Bill. I was almost crazy, but my mind has cooled wonderfully. A fellow's +mind generally does after he's done the worst he can." + +"I hope that my reading of the poem didn't start you off." + +"Oh, no, that had nothing to do with it--relieved me, if anything; set +me to thinking that some one else had been in the same fix. By the way, +a telegraph operator here brings me something nearly every day. Says +that he's a life-long friend of yours. Told me to tell you that he was +about to pick up a piece of calico and take it home with him--said that +you would understand. Now, you go on home and stay there until the +trial. You have almost worn yourself out. You and the General are still +on good terms, I suppose. Wish you could slip over there and see Millie. +Do you know what Chyd's waiting for? He's waiting to see how the trial +goes. Bill, I'm beginning to feel sorry for Stuart. But his face doesn't +come up before me at night with a death-look. There's a good deal of +nonsense about that sort of thing. When I see him he's always sitting on +his horse, cursing me. And that's not very pleasant. Go on, Bill. I have +kept you too long. It's nearly night." + +Old man Jucklin was smartly encouraged when I told him what the ex-judge +had said, and he related a number of anecdotes of the old fellow's early +days on the circuit. + +"Oh, help is comin' our way," old Limuel said, and his wife, pointing to +her book, replied: "It has always been with us." + +"At the stake," he whispered. + +I did not speak of having seen Chyd. I had no right to do so, for I +knew that he was now an additional distress. But the next morning when +Guinea and I were alone at the breakfast table she asked me if I had not +met him down the road--said that she had seen him crossing the meadows +with his dogs. I began to quibble and she spoke up spiritedly: "Oh, you +shouldn't hesitate to tell me. It amounts to nothing, I'm sure." + +"I must manage some way to see Millie," I remarked, determined to say no +more about Chyd lest I should lose my temper. + +"I hope you won't go to the house," she replied, her face coloring. + +"I won't, but I didn't know but that I might see her going to a +neighbor's house and then----" + +"No," she broke in, "I hope you won't even do that. She must know how we +feel, and if she had any interest in us she would come over here. No, I +won't say that. I don't know what she may have to contend with. But her +brother could come if he wanted to, but it makes no difference, I'm +sure." + +"Suppose I meet Millie in the road; shall I speak to her?" + +"Surely, but don't ask her why she hasn't been to see us. What did Chyd +say?" + +"Not much of anything--said that so long as people were romantic they +must expect trouble." + +She frowned and thus replied: "A good authority on the evils of +romance." + +"Why not an expert on the thrills of romance?" I asked. "Hasn't he +played up and down the brook?" + +"So have the ducks," she answered, with a return of her smile. "But let +us not talk about him--I would rather not think about him." + +I could not play the part of a hero; I was not of the stock that had +stood at the stake glorifying the deed with a hymn. I had wanted to drop +the subject, not because it was painful to her, but because it pressed a +spike into my own flesh; but her wish to dismiss him from her mind urged +me to keep him there, to torture her with him. Brute? Surely; I have +never denied it, but I loved her, and in love there is no generosity. +The lover who seeks to be liberal is a hypocrite, a sneak-thief robbing +his own heart. + +"But how can you put him out of your mind if he is worthy of your love?" +I asked. "You did not place him therein, nor can you take him away." + +She looked at me a long time, looked at me and read me; she did not +frown, she smiled not, but searched me with her eyes until I felt that +my motive lay bare under her gaze. "You would help Alf in his trouble," +she said, "but you would throw a trouble at me." + +How sadly she spoke those words, and my heart fell under them and lay at +her feet in sorrow and in humiliation. I strove to beg for pardon, but I +stammered and my words were almost meaningless. + +"Oh, you have my forgiveness, if that is what you are trying to ask for. +Now, please don't say anything more. I know you didn't mean to make me +feel bad." + +"I think I'd better cut my throat!" I replied, taking up a table knife. + +She laughed at me. "How can a big man be so silly? Cut your throat, +indeed. Why, what have you done to deserve it?" + +"What have I done?" I cried, leaning over the table and making a fumble, +as if I would take her hand--"what have I done? I have wantonly wounded +the divinest creature----" + +She was on her feet in an instant; she put her hands to her ears and +shook her head at me. "No, you must not say that. Don't you see I can't +hear what you say? So, what is the use of saying anything? Think you are +a brute? No, I don't; but you must not talk like that. I can't hear +you--I won't hear you. Oh, don't worry about Mr. Lundsford. He will +kneel at my feet." + + + + +CHAPTER XIII. + + +The next day I took a "turn" of corn to the water-mill, far down the +stream. The old man had not been off the place since Alf went to jail, +and the office of attending to all outside affairs was conferred upon +me. Guinea came out to the corn-crib and stood at the door, looking in +upon me as I tied the mouth of the bag. The old man was not far off, +calling his hogs; a sad cry at any time, but growing sadder, it seemed +to me, as the days wore along. + +"Old Moll will have a load," the girl said; "you and that bag." + +"Yes, if I were to ride on the bag like a boy, but I'm going to walk and +lead her." + +"Oh, that will be nice," she cried. "Nice for Moll. I wish I could go +with you. It's beautiful all down that way; high rocks and pools with +fish in them. It isn't so awfully far, either. I have walked it many a +time." + +"Alone?" I asked, tugging at the string. + +"That doesn't matter. It's the distance I'm talking about. Why, you +haven't asked me to go." + +"But I ask you now," I said, dragging the bag toward the door. + +"No, I won't go now," she replied, making way for me to come out. + +"Won't you, please?" + +"No, not since I have come to think about it. I'd have to walk along all +the time with my hands to my ears, for I just know you'd say something I +don't want to hear. You are as cruel as you can be, lately." + +I had taken up the bag to throw it across the mare, but I dropped it +upon the log step. + +"You'll burst it if you don't mind, Mr. Hawes." + +"But I handle it more tenderly than you do my heart!" I cried. "You have +thrown my heart down in the dust and are trying to burst it." + +Her hands flew to her ears. "Oh, I knew you were going to say something +mean. But I can't hear you now. Isn't it an advantage to say what you +please and not hear a word? You can do this way if you want to. No, I +won't go--really, I can't. I mustn't leave mother." + +She ran away toward the house, and I stood watching her until she was +hidden behind the old man's "stockade." Torturer she was, sometimes with +her dignity, but worse with her whimsical, childish ways, when she +seemed to dance on the outer edge of my life, daring me to catch her in +my arms. But was it not my size that made her feel like a child? It must +have been, for whenever she spoke of Chyd she was deeply serious. I was +resentful as I led the old mare toward the mill. Oh, I understood it +all. She had seen that I sought to punish her, had read me as we sat +together at the table, and now she was torturing me. Well, I would give +her no further opportunity; I would let her lead young Lundsford into +her mind and out again, just as it suited her fancy. + +The coves and nooks and quiet pools that lay along the stream were +dreamful; there was not a mighty rock nor bold surprising bluff to +startle one with its grandeur, but at the end of every view was the +promise of a resting place and never was the fancy led to +disappointment. Now gurgle and drip, now perfect calm, the elm leaf +motionless, the bird dreaming. And had history marched down that quiet +vale a thousand years ago and tinged the water with the blood of man, +how sweetly verse would sing its beauty, from what distances would come +the poet and the artist, the rich man seeking rest--all would flock to +marvel and to praise. Ah, we care but little for what nature has done, +until man has placed his stamp upon it. + +I loitered and mused upon going to the mill and upon returning home. And +when I came within sight of the house I halted suddenly, wondering +whether I had forgotten something. Yes, I had. I had forgotten my +resolve to be cool and dignified under the reading eyes of that girl. I +led the mare to the rear end of the passage and had taken off the bag of +meal when Guinea came out. + +"Mr. Hawes," she said, "I wish you would forgive me for the way I acted +last night and this morning. Now let us be good friends, friends in +trouble, and let us hereafter talk with sense and without restraint. I +am going to be frank with you, for I don't see why I should be cramped. +I am not going to pretend not to know--know something, and you must +wait; we must all wait for--for anything that is to come. I hardly know +what I am saying, but you understand me." + +She held out her hand, and I took it, tremulously at first, but I held +it with a firm and manly honesty as I looked into her eyes. "Yes, I +understand you, and it shall be as you say. I have been strong with +every one but you, and I am going to show you that I can be your friend. +Wait a moment. You know what I think, but I will not hint at it again. +It was mean of me--yes, I must say it--it was mean of me to jibe you. +But I'll not do it again. If you only knew what my early life was. I was +the victim of size, an awkward boy, the jest of a neighborhood; and +while I might have outlived some of my awkwardness, I am still +sensitive, for I carry scars." + +"Awkward," she laughed. "Why, I don't see how you could have been called +awkward. Everybody at the General's spoke of how graceful you were, and +really it would make you vain if I were to tell you all that was said." + +The old man came round the house, and Guinea sprang back. I was still +holding her hand. "Hah," he grunted. "Got home all right, eh? Parker was +over here just now and said that the trial had been set for next +Thursday, not quite a week from now, you understand. He seems to think +we are goin' to pull through all right; said that you've made friends +with everybody in the town. That's good, both for now and also for +after a while, when you set in as a lawyer. I tell you, Parker's visit +helped us mightily, and Susan has eat a right smart snack, and I didn't +know how hungry I was till right then. You better go to town to-morrow." + +I went in early the next morning and found nothing to serve as a basis +for the hopefulness that Parker had given the old people. Conkwright was +busy with the case, frowning over his papers, but he had no words of +encouragement, except to say that he was going to do the best he could. +But after a while he flashed a gleam of hope by remarking that there was +one important factor in our favor. And eagerly I asked him what it was. + +"It won't do to talk it around," said he, "but we can count on the judge +doing the square thing. He is comparatively new in our district, and the +Stuart influence hasn't taken hold on him--has had no cause to. His +favor, or, at least, his lack of a cause to be directly against us, will +mean a good deal; it will enable us to secure a new trial at any rate." + +As I entered the corridor of the jail I saw Alf's face brighten behind +the bars. "Have you seen Millie?" he asked. + +"No, your sister commanded me not to go near the General's house." + +His countenance fell, but he said: "I reckon she's right. And I didn't +mean that you should make a dead-set call, you know--didn't know but you +might happen to meet her. That preacher, the one I told you about, has +been round again, and he declares that I must come into his church. They +do pull and haul a fellow when they get him into a corner, don't they? +Well, I don't see what else can be done now except to go into court and +have the thing over with. I know as well as I know my name that he would +have killed me if I hadn't killed him; not that night, of course, but +some time. I am sorry, though, that I stood there in the road, waiting +for him, for that does look like murder, Bill. But look how he had drawn +his sight between my eyes and abused me for everything he could think +of. And whenever I see him now, there he sits on his horse, with one eye +half shut and the other one looking down the barrel of his revolver at +me. I can see his lips moving and can hear every word he says." + +I went home that day earlier than usual, resolved to keep the old people +in the atmosphere of encouragement which the deputy sheriff had breathed +about them, and I told them that the presiding judge was our friend, and +that old woman put her worn hands in mine and gave me a look of trustful +gratitude. "God rewards the man that seeks to ease an old mother's +heart," she said; and the old man, standing there, with his sleeves +rolled up, threw the droop out of his shoulders, the droop that had +remained with him since that early morning when he stood at the gate of +his "stockade," fumbling with the chain. "And, Susan," he spoke up, "if +we've got two judges on our side we're all right. Let him set down +there, now. Let him set down, I tell you. When a woman gets hold of a +man she never knows when to turn him loose. I'm tempted now to go and +see him. No," he added, shaking his head, "can't do it--couldn't bear to +see a son of mine locked up like a thief. But it won't be for long. That +judge will say, 'turn that boy loose,' and then--oh, it's all right, +Susan, and a year from now we'll almost forget that it ever took place." + +His wife began to cry, for in this trouble her heart demanded that he +should lean upon her for support, and it appeared to me that whenever he +straightened up to stand alone, she felt that her office was gone. + +"Susan, don't take on that way. Jest as we see our way clear of the +woods, you act like you are lost. Smile, till you find the path, and +then you want to cry. Act like you want the Lord to do it all--don't +want the circuit jedge to do nothin'. That's it, brighten up there now, +and, Guinea, you go out and tell that nigger woman to cook enough for a +dozen folks. Hawes, I've got them chickens down to a p'int that would +make your eyes bulge out." + +"I believe that Bob came very near making one of yours bulge out," I +replied. + +"Ah, didn't he, the old scoundrel. But Sam pecked a grain of corn out of +my mouth this mornin' and never teched a tooth. That's what they call +art, ain't it? Come out with me." + +"Limuel, let him stay with me, won't you?" his wife pleaded. + +"Of course, Susan, but don't you reckon a man wants to unstring himself +once in a while? They can't understand us, Hawes. Women know all about +the heart, but they are sometimes off on the soul." + +"You think more of those old chickens than you do of me, anyhow," his +wife whimpered, still resentful that he was not leaning upon her for +support. + +"Did you hear that, Hawes? By jings, sir, you've got to be foolish or a +woman will think you've ceased to love her. The minute you are strong +she thinks you have forgotten her. About the happiest woman I ever saw +was one that had to support a bed-ridden husband. Fact, as sure as I'm +standin' right here. She was the kindest and sweetest thing you ever +saw, but when the feller got up finally and got strong enough to go +about, blamed if she didn't jump on him every time he come in sight." + +"Now, Limuel, you know you are makin' up every word of that." + +"It's the truth, I tell you--knowed the man well." + +"Well, who was he?" + +"Oh, he lived away over yonder on the branch, out of your range." + +"He didn't live anywhere; that's the truth of it." + +"But, Susan, he might have lived anywhere. His name is man and his +wife's name is woman. What, you goin' to cry about it? Now, there, it's +all right. No, there never was such a man. I'm an old liar, that's +what's the matter with me. Never was a man fitten to live with a good +woman. Why, bless your life, what would I be without you? Why, you've +been the makin' of me. And a long time ago, when I used to drink licker +and fight, you'd set up and wait for me and you never scolded me, and +that very fact turned me agin licker, for I jest nachully thought that +it was too much work for you to keep up a show of good humor all the +time. Yes, it's all right, and that boy's comin' out of there without a +scar on him, and I'll pay back the money that I owe the General----" He +hastened out of the room, and we heard him yelling at his chickens. + + + + +CHAPTER XIV. + + +I went to town every day, and every night I returned, self-charged with +hope; and now the trial was at hand. When the work of impaneling the +jury was begun, old Conkwright was there with his challenges. How shrewd +he was, how sharp were his eyes. And when night came the panel was far +from complete. + +"It will take a long time at this rate," I said, as we were leaving the +court-room. + +"I don't care if it takes a thousand years; they sha'n't ring in a +stuffed toad on me," replied the ex-judge. "Did you notice that fellow +with a long neck? They've fixed him all right and I knew it. I am not +altogether easy about that short fellow we've got, but I hope he is man +enough to be honest. There is no more trickery anywhere than there is in +a murder trial in this country. Well, they've put their worst men +forward, and I think we shall have better material to-morrow." + +And it appeared that we had, for the jury was sworn in the next +afternoon. The testimony was so short and so direct, the witnesses were +so few that the trial could not last long; and when at home I gave this +as an opinion, the old people were glad, for they declared that it +shortened the time of their son's absence. On the day set for the +opening of the argument hundreds of the farmers gave over their work and +rode to town, for the Southerner loves a passionate speech, and the +court-house is still his theater. + +The old man walked down the road with me, but he stopped before we +reached the place where Stuart had been stretched upon the ground. + +"Well," he said, turning back, "I reckon to-day'll finish it. At least +they'll give it to the jury and it oughten't to take 'em long after what +the judge says in his charge to 'em. I feel that it's goin' to be all +right. Don't you?" + +The truth was that I did not, but kindness is not always the truth; so I +said: "Everything looks that way. Conkwright is as sharp as a thorn and +he'll be in their flesh from the beginning to the end." + +"By jings, jest say that again. That ought to settle it right now, hah? +Stay with 'em till they git through, and you'll find us waitin' for you +when you git back." + +I nodded, waved my hand at him and galloped away, and from a hill-top I +looked back and saw him still standing there in the road. Parker caught +up with me and we in turn overtook a man whom I did not care to +encounter--Etheredge. I had seen him every day during the trial, had +caught his blurred eye as I was giving my testimony on the stand, had +heard him tell his damaging story. + +"Ho, there," he said, as I was about to pass him. "Haven't forgotten me, +have you?" + +"My memory is unfortunately so good that it retains many objectionable +things," I answered. + +"Glad to hear it; pleased to know that you haven't forgotten our little +engagement." + +He rode along with me. The way was just broad enough for two horses +abreast, and the deputy dropped back. "We need not wait for the +termination of the trial," I replied. + +"That so? Strikes me that you are pretty keen, especially as there is an +officer right behind you. Say, you seem to blame me for the interest I +am taking in this affair. Have you stopped to think of the interest you +are taking in it? Jucklin's no relation of yours and probably never will +be. Did you hear what I said? Probably never will be." + +"Unfortunately I haven't an apple tree sprout with me to-day, Mr. +Etheredge." + +"And it's a good thing for you that you haven't. Do you reckon I'd let +you lash at me while so many people are riding along the road?" + +"I don't suppose you would let me do so at any time if you could help +yourself." + +"Oh, I don't know. Might let you amuse yourself if there were no one in +sight. But I've got nothing against you, young man. I've lived long +enough to forgive an over-grown boy's impulses." + +He could not have cut me deeper; and his sleepy old eyes saw the blood +and he laughed. "Got under your hide a little that time, eh? We've all +got a thin place somewhere in our skin, you know. You needn't look back; +the officer is right behind us." + +"I wish he were not in sight," I replied. + +"You don't like him, eh? Why, I always thought, he was a pretty good +fellow. But, of course, I am willing to accept your judgment of him. But +if you don't like him why do you wait for him to come up?" + +"I am waiting for you to go on, sir," I replied. "And if you don't I +will knock you off that horse." + +"Very well. I see a man on ahead who is doubtless better company. I +trust, though, that I shall have the pleasure of a closer association +with you at some future time. Good-morning." + +I waited until Parker came up. "Did you get enough of him?" he asked, +laughing. "I knew you would--nearly everybody does. Under the +circumstances it was an insult for him to offer to ride with you." + +"And he and I will have a trouble as soon as this one is settled," I +replied. + +"Oh, I reckon not. I don't see why any man of sense should want to have +trouble with you. Just look how they are flocking to town. Hope they'll +turn out this way and vote for me at the next election for sheriff. +Women, too. See them coming out of that gate?" + +When we rode into the town the streets were thronged and horsemen, +wagons and buggies were thick on the public square. The ginger cake and +cider vender was there, with his stand near the court-house steps, and +the neigh of the colt and the distressful answer of his mother, tied to +the rack, echoed throughout the town. Dogs, meeting one another for the +first time, decided in their knowing way that they were enemies, but +suddenly became allies in a yelping chase after one of their kind that +came down the street with a tin can tied to his tail. + +I went at once to Conkwright's office and found him with his feet on a +table, contentedly smoking a cob pipe. + +"I was just thinking over some points that I want to make," he remarked +as I entered. + +"And I hope, sir, that you are in the proper humor to make them." + +"Can't tell about that. Oratory is as stealthy and as illusive as a +weazel at night. You never know when he's coming." + +"But do you feel well?" I anxiously inquired. + +"Oh, feel first-rate, but that doesn't make any particular difference. +Sometimes a man may think that he feels well, but when he gets up to +speak he finds that he is simply sluggish. Reckon I'll get through all +right. Do the best I can, any way, and if I fail it can't be helped. +Guess we'd better go over." + +An anxious day that was for me. I looked at Alf, now beginning to grow +pale under his imprisonment, and I saw his resentment rise and fall as +the state's attorney pictured him, waiting, listening with eagerness for +the sound of a horse's hoofs. I was to be a lawyer, to defend men and to +prosecute them for money, and yet I wondered how that bright young +fellow, with the seeming passion of an honest outcry, could stand there +and tell the jury that my friend had committed the foulest murder that +had ever reddened the criminal annals of his state. Old man Conkwright +sat, twirling his thumbs, and occasionally he would nod at the jurymen +as if to call their attention to a rank absurdity. But I did not see how +he could offset the evidence and the blazing sentences of that +impassioned prosecutor. At last Conkwright's time had come, and when he +arose and uttered his first word I felt the chill of a disappointment +creeping over me. He was slow and his utterance was as cold as if it had +issued from a frost-bitten mouth. I went out and walked round the town, +to the livery-stable, where a negro was humming a tune as he washed a +horse's back; to the drug-store, where a doctor was dressing a brick-bat +wound in a drunken man's scalp--I walked out to the edge of the town, +where the farming land lay, and then I turned back. I was thinking of my +return home, of the sorrow that I should take with me, of those old +people--of Guinea. + +Some one called me, and facing about I recognized the telegraph operator +coming across a lot. "Glad to see you," he said, coming up and holding +out his hand. "Didn't hear about her, did you?" + +"Hear about whom?" I asked, not pleased that he should have broken in +upon my sorrowful meditation. + +"Mrs. McHenry." + +"No, I've heard nothing. What about her?" + +"Why, there's everything about her. She's my wife--married night before +last. Know that piece of calico I pointed out that day, the time I said +I had to be mighty careful? Well, she's it. I'll walk on up with you. +Run it down--run in panting, you might say. Said I had to have her and +she shied at first, but that didn't make any difference, for I was there +three times a day till she saw it wasn't any use to shy any longer; so +she gave in and I caught the first preacher that happened to be hanging +around and he soon pronounced us one and the same kind--something of the +same sort. Go right down that street and you'll see calico on my clothes +line most any time. Say, it will be a pity if they hang that young +fellow. And I'll tell you what I'll do. If they send anything off to any +of the newspapers I'll spell his name wrong. Get even with them some +way, won't we? Yonder comes my boy and I reckon there's a call for me at +the office. They are rushing me now--seems to be the busy season. I've +been to the office twice already to-day." + +Long before I reached the court-house I heard old Conkwright bellowing +at the jury. The windows were full of people and outside men were +standing upon boxes, straining to see the old fellow in his mighty +tirade. I could not get into the room, but I squeezed my way to the door +and stood there, with my blood leaping. Now I could see why they had +called him powerful. His face was aglow, his gray hair was upon end and +his eyes were shooting darts at the jury. I know not how long he spoke, +but I know that suddenly he was silent, looking upward, and then, +spreading his hands over the jury, said: "May God in his infinite mercy +influence your decision." He sat down, and I noticed then that the air +was cooler with a breeze that sprang up when the sun had set. The +state's attorney made a few remarks, and then the judge delivered his +charge to the jury, an address short, but earnest. Now there was a +shoving and a crush--the jurymen were filing out. I saw them leading Alf +back to the jail, but I did not go to him, so pulled and hauled I was by +hope and fear. But I made my way to the old lawyer, and asked him what +he thought. + +"I don't know," he answered. "Don't you see the disposition there is to +rush everything? I don't think they will be out long." + +"You made a great speech, sir." + +"Wasn't bad, considering the material. We were at a disadvantage. He +stood there in the road, you know, and that is a hard thing to get +round." + +"But the judge must have felt your speech." + +"Why, my son, I don't suppose he heard it." + +I went away and again I walked about the town. It was dusk and the +tavern bell was ringing. On the court-house steps and on the public +square men were discussing the trial and venturing their opinions as to +the result. I heard one man say: "The old soldier made a great fight, +but the odds were against him. Bet ten dollars they find him guilty." + +"There's his friend over there," another man spoke up. "Don't talk so +loud." + +"Can't help who's there listening; money's here talkin'. Any takers?" + +Not far away there was a wooden bridge over a small stream and thither I +went and leaned upon the rail, listening to the murmur of the water. I +thought that this must be the brook that rippled past our house, and I +went down to the water's edge and bathed my aching head. Then I +remembered that I had eaten nothing since early morning, and I thought +that I would better go to the tavern, and was turning away when I heard +some one cry: "The jury is in and court has met again!" I scrambled up +and hastened toward the court-house, and at the steps I met a number of +men coming out. "It's all over," one of them said to me. "Imprisonment +for life. Conkwright has moved for a new trial and the judge has granted +it." + +I hastened to the jail, whither they had taken Alf. I found him seated +on his bed. He got up when he saw me. + +"Bill," he said, in a voice low and steady, "I am not going to the +penitentiary if you are my friend." + +"And you know that I am, Alf." + +"Then you will lend me your knife." + +"No, Alf, I can't do that--not now. Remember that we have another +chance." + +"I don't mean now--I mean if that last chance fails. Now I want you to +do something for me. You tell father that he must sell his farm +immediately and leave here. Tell him that I'll hate him if he doesn't +do as I say. You can stay here and write to him, and if I don't come out +at the next trial, all right, and if I do, I can go to him. It may seem +hard, but he's got to do it. He wouldn't live here, any way. Will you do +it?" + +"I will, for I don't know but it is a good plan. No, he wouldn't live +here. He will do as you request." + +"Well, go on home now and rest. Hanged if you don't look as if you've +been on trial for your life," he added, laughing. "Tell him that I'm not +crushed--that it has come out better than I expected." + +The night was dark, the road was desolate, and I heard the lonesome +lowing of the cattle. And now and then a horseman passed me, for I was +not eager to get home. At a gate near the road-side some one was +standing with a lantern, and just behind me came the rattle of an old +vehicle. I turned aside to let it pass, and as I did the light of the +lantern fell upon me and a voice asked: "That you, Mr. Hawes?" + +"Yes," I answered, turning back into the road and following a buggy. + +"I 'lowed so," said a man in the buggy, "for we don't grow many of your +size about here. I have heard that they used to, but they don't now. +Good many things have happened since that day you come over to see me +about the school. I'm Perdue. And, by the way, there's a hundred dollars +at my house waitin' for you, and if you don't come after it I'll send it +over." + +"But you don't owe me anything yet," I replied. + +"Yes, the money's there and it's yourn. You couldn't help not bein' in a +fix to teach. As I say, it's there for you, and you might as well have +it. Sorry for the old folks, tell 'em, but it can't be helped." + +On he drove, shouting back that he would send the money the next day, +and my protest, if, indeed, I entered one, was weak and faltering, for +of all men in that neighborhood I thought that I stood most in need of a +hundred dollars. + +Now I was nearing the house. The hour was late, but a light was burning +in the sitting-room. No one came out, though my horse's hoofs fell hard +enough upon the stones to tell them of my coming; and when I got down at +the gate I found a horse tied to the fence. Some person, eager to bear +evil tidings, had forestalled me. I led my horse to the stable, went to +the house, and had just stepped into the passage when Parker, the deputy +sheriff, came out of the sitting-room. "I thought you'd go on back to +the jail to stay a while, so I came on over to tell them. No trouble, +you know--only a short distance out of my way." + +All within was silent. I stepped inside. The old man was standing with +his back to the fire-place; the old woman sat with her book in her lap +and Guinea stood at the window, looking out into the darkness. I sat +down in silence, for I knew not what to say, and in silence for a time +we remained. The old woman sobbed, clutching more tightly her book, and +the old man looked at her sharply and then almost flung himself out of +the room. And a few moments later I heard him shouting: "Hike, there, +Sam! Hike, there, Bob! There's plenty of light; you've got three +lanterns. Hike, there! To a finish, to a finish!" + +"Mrs. Jucklin, it is no time for despair," I said, and Guinea turned +from the window. "We have already secured a new trial, and the next time +it will surely go in our favor. That is the history of nearly all such +cases. Be strong just a little while longer. You have been our prop, and +now you must not let us fall." + +She arose and with an old-time courtesy bowed to me, and Guinea came +forward and held out her hand, and she must have seen a sudden light +leap into my eyes, for she said: "I am Alf's sister and yours, too." + +This came as a repulse to my heart's eager yearning; no sister's +confidences could answer the call that my nature was shouting to her. +But I gulped down a rising soreness of the heart and I said: "I thank +you." + +The old man, with heavy tread, strode into the room. "It was to a +finish," he whispered. His hands were covered with blood. "It was to a +finish, and they are both dead." + +There was a sharp rap at the door. Guinea opened it and in came the old +General. "Mr. Jucklin, can I speak to you in private?" he asked, bowing +to the women. + +"No. What you've got to say, out with it here." + +"I would rather say it in private. Why, what's the matter with your +hands?" + +"It was to a finish, sir, and let what you say be to a finish, even if +it is three times as bloody." + +"Oh, I have come out of no hard feelings, sir. Ladies, would you and our +friend, Mr. Hawes, mind retiring?" + +"They are goin' to stay here, sir," the old man replied, rolling up his +sleeves. + +"All right, just as you will, sir. Mr. Jucklin, years ago we entered +into an arrangement----" + +"And I have cursed myself ever since!" the old man exclaimed. + +"Just wait until I get through, if you please. We entered into an +arrangement, prompted by a boy's fancy and warmed by a father's over +indulgence. I know that this is a sore time to come to you, and I don't +want to appear unkind, for my aim is tender, though my determination is +just. Young hearts may whisper to each other, and that whispering may be +music, sir; but in this life there are duties too stern to be melted and +turned aside by a melody. And, sir, one of the most sacred duties that +can fall to the trust of a man is to see that the family name, which is +to survive after he has folded his hands in eternal stillness--pardon my +devious methods, for I assure you that my windings proceed from a +kindness of heart--I say that my duty now is to those who may bear my +name in the future. I trust that I am now sufficiently started to speak +plainly. I don't doubt the real worth and sterling integrity of your +stock, Mr. Jucklin, but an agreement that we once made must be set +aside." + +He stood with his broad hat in his hand and out of it he grabbled a +handkerchief and wiped his face. Old Lim gazed steadily at him. "My +words sound cold and formal," the General continued, "and I wish that +they might be warmer and more at ease, but in vain have I tempered with +them. The short of it all is, and I have striven not to say it +bluntly--is that the engagement which has held us in prospective +relationship is hereby broken; but by this I do not mean that your son +is guilty of murder, for in his heart he may see himself justified, but +a decision of court has--and I wish I could find a softer means of +saying it--court has pronounced him guilty, and that places the marriage +out of the question. Bear with me just a moment more, for I assure you +that I am suffering keenly with you, that my heart is in sorrowful +unison with your own. Family pride may be regarded a hobby in this day +when refinement and respectability are sneered at, but it is a virtuous +hobby, and I have held it so long that I cannot put it down. And now, in +so far as there is any question of a financial obligation, we will turn +our backs upon it and forget that it ever existed." + +He put his handkerchief into his hat, changed his hat to his other hand +and stood looking at Jucklin; and I had expected to see the old man leap +off the floor in a rage, but I cannot recall ever having seen a cooler +show of indifference. "I put gaffs on 'em early this mornin' an' kept +'em waitin' for the finish, and when it come it come soon," he said. + +"Mr. Jucklin, I had hoped to make myself sufficiently clear. I have +come, sir, to break the engagement that was foolishly arranged by us to +bind your daughter and my son." + +"Bob died first, but Sam could jest stagger, and he fluttered against me +and covered my hands with his blood; and I must apologize for not +washin' 'em, but it is not too late to make some sort of amends. I will +wipe 'em on your jaws, sir!" + +He sprang forward, but I caught him. "You must be perfectly cool and +perfectly sensible, Mr. Jucklin," I said, as quickly as I could, holding +him. "Remember that he is in your house." + +And this quieted him. Even the most pronounced backwoodsman in the South +is sometimes graced with a sudden and almost marvelous courtesy, the +unconscious revival of a long lost dignity; and this came upon the old +man, and, bowing low, he said: + +"I humbly beg your pardon, sir." + +"And I should be a brute not to grant it," the General replied, bowing +in turn. "But I hope that reason rather than the fact of my being under +your roof will govern your conduct." + +During this time, and, indeed, from the moment when the General had +entered the room, Guinea stood beside the rocking-chair in which her +mother was seated; no change had come over her countenance, but with +one hand resting on the back of the chair she had remained motionless, +with the exception that she placed her hand on her mother's head at the +moment when I caught the old man in my arms. I saw this, though her +motion was swift, for I was looking at her rather than at her father. +And now the General turned to the girl. + +"My dear," he said. She frowned slightly, but her lips parted with a +cold smile that came out of her heart. + +"My dear child, it is hard for me to say this to you, for I feel that +you can but regard me a feelingless monster that would rend an innocent +and loving heart, and God knows that I now beg your forgiveness, but in +this life cruel things must be done, done that those who come after us +may feel no sting of reproach cast by an exacting society. I am an old +man, my dear, and shall soon be taken to the burial ground where my +fathers sleep in honor. They left me a proud name and I must not soil +it. The oldest stone there is above a breast that braved old Cromwell's +pikemen--the noble heart of a cavalier beat in that bosom--and can you +ask----" + +"I have asked nothing, General." + +"You are a noble young woman." + +"But your son will come to me and kneel at my feet." + +A flush flew over the General's face. "No, it is with his full consent +that I have come. Indeed, I would have put off my coming until a more +befitting day, but he knew his duty and bade me do mine." + +"He will kneel at my feet," she said; and he had not replied when we +heard footsteps in the passage--wild footsteps. There was a moment of +sharp clicking at the door latch, as if a nervous hand had touched it, +and then Millie broke into the room. Her face was white, her hair hung +about her shoulders. + +"You have kept me away!" she cried, stamping her feet and frowning at +her father. "Yes, you have kept me away, but I have come and I hate +you." + +The old General was stupefied. "You may tell your cold-blooded son what +to do," she went on, "but my heart is my own. He asked me to marry him +and I will--I will break into the penitentiary and marry him. And you +would have had me marry Dan Stuart. Just before he was killed he told me +he would kill Alf if I said I loved him. I will go to the jail and marry +him there." + +She ran to Guinea, and they put their arms about each other and wept; +and the old woman pressed her book to her bosom and sobbed over it. +Through old Lim's wire-like beard a smile, hard and cynical, was +creeping out, and the General was fiercely struggling with himself. He +had bitten his lip until his mouth was reddening with blood. + +"Come, you are going home with me," he said. + +"I am not!" his daughter cried, with her arms tight about Guinea. "I am +not; I am going to the jail." + +"Then I will take you home." + +"Don't touch me!" she cried, shrinking back into a corner. "Don't touch +me, for I am almost mad. What do I care for your pride? What do I care +for the old graveyard? You have tried to break my heart, but I will +marry him. He is worth ten thousand such men as your cold-blooded son. +Don't you touch me, father. Mr. Hawes!" she screamed, "don't let him +touch me." + +The old General had stepped forward as if to lay hands upon her, but he +stepped back, bowed and said: "You are a lady and I am a gentleman, and +these facts protect you from violence at my hands, but I here denounce +you--no, I don't, my daughter. I cannot denounce my own flesh and blood. +I will leave you here to-night, hoping that when this fit of passion is +over reason will lead you home. Good-night." + + + + +CHAPTER XV. + + +Long we sat there in a calm, after the General left us; and the two +girls, on a bench in a corner, whispered to each other. How wild had +been my guessing at the character of Millie! How could one so shy, so +gentle, so fond of showing her dimples, cast off all timidity and set +herself in opposition to her father's authority and pride? I could but +argue that she was wrong, that she had forgotten her duty, thus to stand +out and violently defy him, and yet I admired her for the spirit she had +shown. And I believed that Guinea was just as determined, just as +passionate. But she was wiser. + +I told the old man what Alf had requested me to tell him, that he must +sell his farm and go away, and he replied that he would. "I don't think, +though, that I can get very much for it. Parker's land joins mine, and +may be I can strike a trade with him. Of course, I don't want to live +here any longer, for no matter what may come now we've got the name. +Susan, I never saw a woman behave better than you have to-night. The old +stock--and I'm with the book from kiver to kiver. And now, Millie, let +me say a word to you. Of course, I know exactly how you feel, and all +that--how that you couldn't help yourself--but to-morrow mornin' after +breakfast I would, if I was in your place, go right home and ask my +father's forgiveness. I say if I was in your place, for if you do you +won't have half so much to be sorry for, and in this life I hold that +we're doin' our best when we do the fewest things to regret. What do you +think?" + +"I'm sorry I talked that way, and he's getting old, too. But I had a +cause. He made me stay in the house, and he ought to remember that I am +of the same blood he is and that it's awful to be humiliated. But +there's one thing I'm going to do. When Alf's tried again, I'm going to +tell them what Stuart said. I would have done it this time, but I was +ashamed to say anything about it. I have been nearly crazy, but I'm +awfully sorry that I talked that way. And, oh, suppose he were to die +to-night? I never could forgive myself. I must go home now, Mr. Jucklin. +Yes, I can't stay another minute. You'll go with me, won't you, Mr. +Hawes?" + +"I will gladly do so," I answered. + +"And I will go, too," said Guinea. + +We took a lantern, but the night was so dark that we went round by the +road, rather than over the meadows. Millie said that she scarcely +remembered how she had come, but she thought that she had run the most +of the way. And over and over as we walked along she repeated: "I'm +awfully sorry." + +As we came out of the woods, where the road bent in toward the big gate, +we saw a light burning in the library. Millie stopped suddenly and +clutched my arm. "Suppose he won't let me come back?" she said. "I don't +know in what sort of a humor I may find him. Mr. Hawes, you go on and +see him first, please?" + +"And I will wait out here," Guinea spoke up, and her voice trembled. "Of +course, I can't go into the house after what has happened. Nobody must +know that I am here." + +I left them standing in the dark, and when I stepped upon the porch I +heard some one walking heavily and slowly up and down the library. On +the door was a brass knocker, and when I raised it and let it fall, the +foot-steps came hastily to the door. A hanging lamp was burning in the +hall, and I saw that the old General himself had opened the door. + +"Oh, it's you Mr. Hawes. I couldn't tell at first. My old eyes are +getting flat, sir. Step into the library." + +"No, I thank you. I have but a moment to stay." + +"Step in, sir," he insisted, almost commanded, and I obeyed. Chyd was +under a lamp, reading a sheep-skin covered book. He looked up as I +entered, nodded, and then resumed his reading. + +"Sit down," said the General. + +"No, I thank you, for, as I say, I have but a moment to remain. Your +daughter is exceedingly sorry that she acted----" + +"Where is she, sir?" + +"She has come with me, but fearing that your resentment----" + +"What, is she out there waiting in the dark? What, my child out there +waiting to know whether she can come into her father's house? I will go +to her, sir. Come, Chyd, let us both go." + +I stepped to the door and stood confronting the old man and his son. + +"You can go, General, if you will, but your son must remain where he +is." + +"What, I don't understand you, sir. How dare you--what do you mean, +sir?" + +"Your son must not come with us. That is what I mean." + +"Not go to welcome his sister home. Get out of my way, sir!" + +"Wait, General. He should not go out there, for the reason that some one +else, out of kindness, has accompanied your daughter and me." + +"Ah, I beg your pardon," said the old man, bowing. "Chyd, stay where you +are." + +Millie was inside the yard, but Guinea was in the road, standing at the +gate. "Come, my child!" the old man called. Millie ran to him and he +took her in his arms. And he lifted her off the ground, slight creature +that she was, and carried her up the steps. + +Guinea took my arm and homeward we went, and not a word was spoken until +we entered the dark woods. + +"You saw Chyd?" she said. + +"Yes, and the old gentleman wanted him to come out." + +"To kneel at my feet so soon?" + +"No, to welcome his sister. Are you so anxious for the time to come?" + +"Yes," she answered, without hesitation. + +"And is it because you love him?" I asked bitterly. + +"You and I are to be the best of friends, Mr. Hawes, and you must not +reproach me." + +"Forgive me if I have hurt you," I said, stupidly. + +"But you must not keep on wounding me merely to be forgiven. I said that +he would kneel at my feet, and this may sound foolish to you, but he +will. How do I know? I feel it; I don't know why, but I do. And we are +to leave the old home if father can sell the land. It's better to go, +but it will be still better to come back, and we will. Do you think that +I am merely a simple girl without ambition? I am not; I dream." + +"I know that you are a noble woman." + +"Oh, don't flatter me now. It's first reproach, and then flattery. But +have you thought of the real nobility of some one else--yourself?" + +I strove to laugh, but I know that it must have been a miserable croak. +"I have done nothing to merit that opinion," I replied. + +"Oh, it is a part of your nature to suppress yourself. Do you know that +I expect great things of you? I do." + +"I know one thing that I'm going to do--I am going to buy the old house +and a narrow strip of land--the path and the spring. That's all I +want--the house, the path and the spring, with just a little strip +running a short distance down the brook where the moss is so thick. I +have the promise of money from Perdue, and I think that I can borrow +some of Conkwright. Yes, I must have the house and the path and the +spring and the strip of moss-land that lies along the branch. It will be +merely a poetic possession, but such possessions are the richest to one +who has a soul; and no one with a soul will bid against me. It is a mean +man that would bid against a sentiment." + +"You must be nearly worn out," she said, when for some distance we had +walked in silence. + +"I may be, but I don't know it yet. And so long as I don't know it, why, +of course, I don't care." + +For a long time we said nothing. Her hand was on my arm, but I scarcely +felt its weight, except when we came upon places where the road was +rough; and I wished that the way were rougher, that I might feel her +dependence upon me. Once she stepped into a deep rut, and I caught her +about the waist, but when I had lifted her out, she gently released +herself. She said that the road was rougher than she had ever before +found it, and I was ready to swear that it was the most delightful +highway that my feet had trod; indeed, I did swear it, but she warned me +not to use such strong language when I meant to convey but a weak +compliment. + +"Let us walk faster," she said. "It is away past midnight. I do believe +it's nearly day. Can you see your watch?" + +"Yes, but I can't see the time." + +"Nobody can see time, Mr. Teacher of Children." + +"But I could not tell the time even if I were to hold the lantern to the +watch." + +"Oh, of course you could. Why do you talk that way?" + +"I am moved to talk that way because I know that the watch, being in +sympathy with me, refuses to record time when I am with you--it +frightens off the minutes in an ecstasy." + +"Nonsense, Mr. Hawes. I do believe daylight is coming. What a night we +have passed, and here I am unable to realize it, and mother is +heart-broken over our disgrace. But I suppose it will fall upon me and +crush me when we have gone away. My brother sentenced to the +penitentiary! To myself I have repeated these words over and over and +yet they don't strike me." + +"Perhaps it is because your mind is on some one else," I replied, with a +return of my feeling of bitterness. + +With a pressure gentle and yet forgetful her hand had been resting on my +arm, but in an instant the pressure was gone like a bird fluttering from +a bough, and out in the road she was walking alone. + +"I earnestly beg your pardon. I scarcely knew what I was saying. Won't +you please take my arm?" + +"To be compelled to drop it again before we have gone a hundred yards?" + +"No, to drop it when we have reached the gate. Won't you, please? I +don't deny that I am a fool. I have always been a fool. My father said +so and he was right. Everybody made fun of me because I was so easily +cheated; and you ought to be willing to forgive a man who was born a +failure. Whenever there has been a mistake to be made I have made it. +Once I was caught in a storm and when I came in dripping, my father said +that I hadn't sense enough to come in out of the rain. But I am stronger +with every one else than I am with you, and----" + +She was laughing at me; but it was a laugh of sympathy, of forgiveness, +and I caught her hand and placed it upon my arm. And so we walked along +in silence, she pressing my arm when the road was rough. Daylight was +coming and we could see the house, dark and lonesome beyond the black +ravine. + +"What a peculiar man the General is," I said, feeling the growing +heaviness of the silence. "I can hardly place him; but I believe he has +a kind heart." + +"Yes," she replied, "he is kind and brave and generous, but over it all +is a weakness." + +"And he is of a type that is fast disappearing," said I. "A few years +more and his class will be but a memory, and then will come almost a +forgetfulness, but later on he will reappear as a caricature from the +pen of some careless and unsympathetic writer." + +We had crossed the ravine and were now at the gate, and here I halted. +"What, aren't you going in?" she asked, looking up at me, and in the +dim light I could see her face, pale and sad. + +"No," I answered, "I am going to town." + +"At this hour, and when you are so tired?" + +"The horse is rested, and as for myself, my duty must give me vigor." + +"I don't understand you. What can you do in town?" + +"I can bear the divinest of tidings--I can tell Alf that Millie loves +him." + +She stood looking down, and, bending over her, I kissed her hair, and +oh, the heaven of that moment, at the gate, in the dawn; and oh, the +thrilling perfume of her hair, damp with the dew brushed from the vine +and the leaf of the spice-wood bush. And there, without a word, I left +her, her white hands clasped on her bosom; and over the roadway I +galloped with a message on my lips and incense in my soul. + + + + +CHAPTER XVI. + + +The sun was an hour above the tree-tops when I rode up to the +livery-stable, and the town was lazily astir. Merchants were sprinkling +the brick pavements in front of their stores, and on the public square +was a bon-fire of trash swept from the court-house. I hastened to the +jail, and for the first time the jailer hesitated when I applied for +admission. My eagerness, apparent to every one, appeared to be +mistrusted by him, and he shook his head. I told him that he might go in +with me, that my mission was simply to deliver a message. + +"The man has been sentenced," said he, "and I don't know what good a +message can do him. I am ordered to be very strict. Some time ago a man +was in this jail, sentenced to the penitentiary, but he didn't go--a +friend came in and left him some pizen. And are you sure you ain't got +no pizen about you." + +"You may search me." + +"But I don't know pizen when I see it. Man's got a right to kill +himself, I reckon, but he ain't got no right to rob me of my position as +jailer, and that's what it would do. Write down your message and I'll +take it to him." + +"That would take too long. The judge has granted him a new trial and +surely he wouldn't want to kill himself now." + +"Well, I reckon you're right, but still we have to be mighty particular. +I don't know, either but you might be taking him some whisky. Man's got +a right to drink whisky, it's true, but it don't speak well for the +morals and religious standin' of a jailer if he's got a lot of drunken +prisoners on hand; so, if you've got a bottle about you anywhere you'd +better let me take it." + +"I've got no bottle." + +"That so? Didn't know but you might have one. Prohibition has struck +this town putty hard, you know. Search yourself and see if you hain't +got a bottle." + +"Don't you suppose I know whether I've got one or not? But if you want +one you shall have it." + +"S-h-e-e! Don't talk so loud. There's nothin' that sharpens a man's ears +like prohibition. Say," he whispered, "a good bottle costs about a +dollar." + +"Here's your dollar. It's my last cent, but you shall have it." + +"Oh, it ain't my principle to rob a man," he said as he took the money. +"But I do need a little licker this mornin'. Why, I'm so dry I couldn't +whistle to a dog. No pizen, you understand," he added, with a wink, as +he opened the door. + +The drawing of the bolts must have aroused Alf from sleep, for when I +stepped into the corridor he was sitting on the edge of his bed, rubbing +his eyes. + +"Helloa, is that you, Bill? What are you doing here this time of day? +Why, I haven't had breakfast yet." + +"I have come to tell you something, and I want you to be quiet while I +tell it." + +"That's all right, old man. Go ahead. I can stand anything now." + +I told him of the scene in the sitting-room, of the walk to the +General's house--told him all except that kiss at the gate. He uttered +not a word; he had taken hold of the bars and was standing with his head +resting upon his arms--had gradually found this position, and now I +could not see his face. Long I stood there, waiting, but he spoke not. +Suddenly he wheeled about, fell upon his bed and sobbed aloud. And so I +left him, and ere I reached the door I knew that his sobbing was a +prayer, that his heart had found peace and rest. Upon a pardon from the +governor he could have looked with cool indifference, for without that +girl's love he cared not to live; but now to know that through the dark +she had fled from her home, rebellious against her father's pride, wild +with love--it was a mercy granted by the Governor of governors. + +I went to see Conkwright and told him of the threat that Stuart had +made, and the old man's eyes glistened. "We ought to have had that girl +on the stand in the first place," he said. "But it was a delicate matter +and, of course, we didn't know that she could bear so strongly upon the +case. It's all right--better as it is, and that boy will get off as sure +as you are sitting there. That threat was worse than his standing in +the road, waiting. Yes, sir, it's all right, and you may take up your +school again and go ahead with your work." + +"I don't want to go ahead with it, Mr. Conkwright. I want to study law +with you. The school was only a makeshift, any way. You are getting old +and you need some one to do the drudgery of your office. I will come in +and work faithfully." + +"Don't know but you are right, Billy." + +"I wish, sir, that you wouldn't call me Billy." + +"All right, Colonel." + +"And I don't care to be called Colonel. You may call me Bill, if you +want to, but Billy----" + +"A little too soft, eh? All right. I don't know but you are the very man +I want. You are faithful and you've got a good head. Call again in a day +or two. It has been a long time since I had a partner. Yes, come in +again, and I think we can arrange it." + +"There is something else that I want to speak about, and to me it is of +more importance than----" + +"Love!" the old man broke in, winking at me. + +"I'll tell you, if you'll wait a moment. Then you may place your own +estimate upon it." + +I told him of the broken engagement, of Chyd's indifference, of the old +couple's plan to leave the community, and I unfolded my sentimental +resolve to buy the old house. "And now I must ask a favor," I continued. +"Old man Perdue told me that he would pay me for the time--time I have +not taught, but as I am not going to fill out the term it wouldn't be +right to take the money." + +"Ah, and it is law you want to study?" + +"Why, of course. Didn't I make that plain?" + +"Oh, yes. And you don't think it would be right to take the money? Go +ahead, though." + +"I know it wouldn't be right. And what I want to ask of you is this: The +investment will require about two hundred dollars. Won't you lend me +that amount?" + +He scratched his head, scratched his chin, bit off a chew of tobacco, +stretched himself and said: "Well, I have been lending money all my +life, and I don't see why I should stop now. Did you ever hear of +anybody paying back borrowed money except in a poker game? I never did. +Do people really pay back? I don't know what the custom is over in the +part of the country you came from, but the rules are very strict here, +and they are not violated very often--they rarely pay back. And they +never violate the rule with me." + +"My dear sir, I will pay you----" + +"Yes, I know. Oh, you've got the formula down pretty fine. Make a good +lawyer. I've got some money in that safe, that is, if nobody has robbed +me. Let me see if I've been robbed." + +He opened the safe and took out a package of banknotes. "Don't believe +I've been robbed. Rather singular, too," he went on, counting the money. +"Two hundred, you said. Better take two-fifty--you need some clothes. +Pardon me for being so keen an observer. It really escaped my notice +until this moment. But what you want with the old house is more than I +can understand. No, Billy--Bill, I mean--no, I understand it and it is a +noble quality." + +He rolled up the money, handed it to me and continued to talk. "After +all, sentiment is the only thing in life, but you'd better not tell this +about town--I'd never get another case. Yes, sir, and the poet is the +only man who really lives. Now go on and buy your acre of sentiment, and +when you have closed the bargain, lie down upon your possessions and go +to sleep. Tell the old man that he is a fool for going away, but tell +him also that I don't blame him for being a fool. Yes, sir, I love a +fool, for it's the wise man that puts me to trouble. Give my warmest +regards to that old woman. Let me tell you something: Many years ago I +was a poor young fellow working about the court-house. And the clothes +you've got on now are wedding garments compared with what mine were. +Well, one day I stopped at Jucklin's house to get out of the rain--he +hadn't been married long--and soon after I went into the sitting-room, +the wife began to whisper to the husband, and when she went out, which +she did a moment later, Jucklin turned to me and said: 'Go up stairs, +take off your britches and throw 'em down here, and I'll bring 'em back +to you after a while.' I was actually out at the knees, sir, and I did +as he told me, and when he brought my trousers back they were neatly +patched. Yes, sir, give my warmest regards to that old woman, for if +she isn't a Christian there never was one. Well, what are you hanging +around here for? Trying to thank me? Is that it? Well, just go on, my +boy, and we'll attend to that some other time." + +"You know what I feel, Mr. Conkwright, and I will not attempt to thank +you, but I must say that I was never more surprised in a man. I was told +that you were hard and unsympathetic." + +"Sorry you found me out, sir. Let a lawyer get the name of being kind +and they say that he is emotional, but has no logic. Blackstone had to +give up poetry. Well, good-day. I'm busy." + +I ate breakfast at the tavern, nodding over the table; and I was so +sleepy that I could scarcely sit my horse as I rode toward home. The day +was hot and drowsy was the air, in the road and on the hill-side, where +a boy, weary and heavy with the leg-pains of adolescence, was dragging +himself after a plow. Once I dozed off to sleep and awoke under a tree, +the wise old horse knowing that he could take advantage of my sleepiness +to bat his eyes in the shade, and when I spoke to him he started off at +a trot as if surprised to find that he had turned aside from his duty. I +was nearly home and was riding along half asleep when the frightful +squealing of a pig drew my attention down a lane that opened into the +road. The animal was caught under a rail fence and his companions were +running up to him, one after another, and were raking him with their +sharp teeth. I got down and fought off the excited beasts, knocked one +of them down for his cruelty, and lifted the fence to liberate the +prisoner; and when he was free his companions, the ones that had been +ripping his hide, ran up to congratulate him upon his good fortune; and +in the whole performance I saw a heartless phase of human life, musing +as I rearranged the rails that had been lifted away, and when I +straightened up there stood Etheredge looking at me. + +"These are my hogs," he said. + +"I didn't know that," I replied, "but I might have known that they were +members of your family." + +"Yes, you might have known a great many things that you have never been +wise enough to find out. But I don't want to lash words with you, Mr. +Hawes. I simply stopped to tell you that a man who would go out of his +way to lift a heavy fence to help a hog is not a bad fellow; and I want +to apologize for anything that I have said to anger you. I have nothing +against you and I don't blame you for sticking to a friend. One of these +days you'll find that I'm not half as bad a fellow as you have had cause +to think me. Let us call off our engagement. Is it a go?" + +"Doctor, I have no desire to kill you, and I think that your death would +be the result of our keeping that engagement." + +"Pretty confident sort of a man, I take it. And after all, bravery is +nothing but a sort of over-confidence. But I don't believe that you +would kill me; I believe that it would be the other way, and it is not +out of fear that I propose a setting aside of our indefinite agreement +to meet each other. But be that as it may, we will call it off unless +you insist, and if you do, why, as a gentleman I shall be compelled to +meet you. I am brave enough to confess that I can't help but admire you +morally and physically. In a small way, I was once a demonstrator of +anatomy, and from an outside estimate I must pronounce you as fine a +specimen of manhood as I ever saw. And if you'll come over to the house +we'll take a long drink on the strength of it." + +"The spirit of your hospitality is not lost upon me, Doctor, but the +truth is, I never drink. But with a cheerful willingness I accept your +other proposition--to set aside our engagement. It was no more your +fault than mine." + +"Yes, it was, Mr. Hawes--I wantonly nagged at you. But we will let it +drop. Under present conditions we can't be very good friends, but there +will come a time when you must acknowledge that malice may know what it +is to be honest, if not generous." + +"Don't go now, Doctor; you have interested me. Tell me what you mean." + +"I wish you good-day, Mr. Hawes," was his reply, as he strode off down +the lane. And he left me holding him in a strange sort of regard; he had +flattered me and had hinted at a future generosity. Could it be that he +intended to modify his evidence when again he should appear against +Alf? A demonstrator of anatomy--and he could soothe a nerve as well as +expose a muscle. I felt kindly toward him as I rode along, though +blaming myself for my weakness. But I have never known a very large man +who had not some vital weakness--of vanity, egotism, over-generosity, +foolish tenderness--something in ill-keeping with a well-poised +morality. With old Sir John we have more flesh, and, therefore, more of +frailty. + +As I came within sight of the house I saw three men slowly walking about +in the yard, and, upon reaching the gate, I recognized them as Parker, +Jucklin and Perdue. I turned the horse into a lot and joined them. + +"Well," said Jucklin, "it's all over and I have sold out to Parker." + +"Not the house, too!" I cried in alarm. + +The old man smiled and winked at Parker. "Well, not quite," he said. +"Guinea told me what you wanted, and sir, you can have it, though I tell +you right now that it ain't worth much." + +"Will you take two hundred dollars?" + +"Not from you, Bill. You may have the house and the path and the spring +and the strip of moss, for if you haven't earned that and more----" + +"Hold on, Mr. Jucklin. I want the property made over to me in regular +form when I have paid you for it. I will accept of no concession; want +to pay as much as Mr. Parker would have paid, and I have borrowed money +enough to close the deal. You are going away and you will need every +cent you can possibly raise; and I demand that you take the two hundred +dollars that I have collected for you. It will be of no use to say that +you will not, for I am determined, and, although you have been very +kind, you will find me a hard man to fight. And remember that there is a +debt to be paid." + +He held out his hand and looked over toward the General's house as I +gripped his rough palm. + +"I have buried 'em over by the edge of the woods," he said; "buried 'em +with their gaffs on. I couldn't help it--they had to fight to a finish. +Yes, it shall be as you say. I will pay what I owe and still have money +enough to get away off somewhere. We'll draw up the papers in town and +have it over with at once." + +"Mr. Hawes, I've got a hundred dollars that's yours," said old man +Perdue. "I have brought the money, and here it is." + +"I can't take it, Mr. Perdue. I haven't earned it, and shall not earn +it. I am not going to teach your school." + +"The deuce you say! Why, my grandson thinks there ain't nobody in the +world like you--says you can whip any livin' man. You must teach that +school." + +"No, I am going to study law with Judge Conkwright." + +"What, with him? Don't you do it. Why, there ain't a harder hearted man +on the face of the earth than he is. Smart as a whip, but he don't go to +church once in five years. Oh, you needn't smile, for it's a fact. Not +once in five years, and what can you expect from a man like that? Oh, +he'll grind you into the very ground. Ain't got a particle of feelin'." + +"I expect him to teach me the law and I can get along with my present +stock of religion. But even if he were to offer me his religion, I would +accept it. I know him better than you can ever know him. But we have no +cause to discuss him. No, I can't take your money." + +"But you have earned some of it. Twenty-five dollars, at least." + +"Well, I will take that much." + +"Take it all," said Parker. + +"No, twenty-five," I replied. + +"You are your own boss," Perdue observed; "you know best. Here's your +twenty-five, and I'll make it fifty if you'll send out word that the new +man, whoever he may be, mustn't go into the creek. You are the sort of a +reformer that this community has needed. Well, gentlemen, I've got to +get home. Issue your proclamation, sir, and send for the other +twenty-five." + +Parker said that it was time for him to go, and, adding that he would +meet Jucklin in town, left us at the door. + +Mrs. Jucklin was brighter than I had expected to find her, and when I +told her what Conkwright had said, that Alf would surely be acquitted, +the light of a new hope leaped into her eyes. + +"I told Limuel that God would not permit such a wrong," she said. +"Didn't I, Limuel?" + +"You said something about it, Susan; I have forgot exactly what it was. +It's all right if the judge says he knows it. Yes, sir, it's all right. +But we'll leave here all the same. Don't reckon we'll ever come back; +can't stand to be p'inted at. Fight a man in a minit if he p'ints at +me." + +"Oh, Limuel, don't talk about fighting when we are in so much trouble." + +"Fight a man in a minit if he p'ints at me. Knock down a sign-post if it +p'ints at me. Well, we want a little bite to eat. Been about six weeks +since I eat anything, it seems like." + +All this time I was wondering where Guinea could be, and was startled by +every sound. The mother asked me how Alf looked and how he had acted +when I had pictured Millie's leaving home; and I told her mechanically, +wondering, listening; and I broke off suddenly, for I thought there was +a footstep at the door. No, it was a chicken in the passage. They asked +me many questions and I answered without hearing my own words. Mrs. +Jucklin went out to the dining-room and the old man began to talk about +his chickens. He had found them bloody and stiff, and had buried them in +a box lined with an old window curtain. And now there was a step at the +door. I looked up and Guinea stood there, looking back, listening to her +mother. And thus she stood a long time, I thought, and yet she must have +known that I was in the room. Mr. Jucklin spoke to her and she came in, +walking very slowly. Her face was pale, with a sadness that smote my +heart. She sat down and looked out of the window. Mrs. Jucklin called +the old man, and when he was gone I told Guinea that I had left Alf in a +convulsive joy; and, still looking out of the window, she said: "You are +the noblest man I ever met." + +I sprang to my feet, but quickly she lifted her hand and motioned me +back, though she still looked away. "Sit down, please. Don't you +remember our agreement to be frank with each other?" + +"Yes, I remember it, but frankness means the opposite of restraint." + +"Yes, but frankness should always have judgment behind it." + +"Guinea!" She looked at me. "Guinea, you say that after a while he will +kneel at your feet." + +"Yes, after a while, Mr. Hawes." + +"But let me--let me kneel at your feet now!" + +Slowly she shook her head. "No, Mr. Hawes, you must never do that. +Sometime we may kneel together, but you must never kneel to me. Now we +are frank, aren't we? We may go to church together and hear some one +pray a beautiful prayer, a prayer that may seem the echo of our own +heart-throbs. Sweet is confidence, and I ask you to have confidence in +me. Let me have my way, and when the time is ripe, I will come to you +with my hands held out. Yes, when the time is ripe. And then there will +be no reproaches and nothing to forgive, but everything to worship and +to bless. Oh, I am a great talker when once I am started, Mr. Hawes, and +I think all the time. I thought this morning as I stood at the gate, +just as you left me standing; I heard you galloping down the road. And +do you know what I thought of? It was almost profane, but I thought of +the baptizing at the river of Jordan, when the spirit came down like a +dove; and I knew what must have been the thrilling touch of that spirit, +for the holiness of love had touched my hair. No, Mr. Hawes, not now. +There, sit down again and let me talk, for I am started now. Oh, and you +thought that I was dumb and feelingless? You mustn't weep; but as for +me, why, I am a woman and tears are a woman's inheritance. There, I have +said enough, and after this we must speak to each other as +friends--until the time when I shall come to you with my hands held out; +and then I am going to tell you of a woman who loved a man, not with a +halting, half-hearted love, but with a love as broad as God's smile when +the earth is in bloom. You didn't know that I was so persistent, did +you? Isn't it time for a woman to be persistent? No woman has ever kept +silence, they tell us, but women have been constrained to talk around +the subject, festooning it with their insinuating fancies. But women are +more outspoken now and are permitted to be truer to themselves. Yes, you +must have confidence in me; let me indulge my dream a while longer, and +then I will come to you, but until then let us be friends." + +"But won't you let me tell you something now? Won't you let me tell you +that in the moonlight I bowed until my head touched the dust, worshiping +you as you stood----" + +"No, not now; not until I come. And won't you respect my wishes, even if +they are foolish?" + +"Now and forever, angel, your word shall be a divine law unto me." + +"They are calling us," she said. "Come on." + + + + +CHAPTER XVII. + + +In the afternoon I went to town with the old man, to attend upon the +transfer of the property, and I slept in the wagon, conscious of Guinea +when the road was rough, and sweetly dreaming of her when there was no +jolt to disturb my slumber. It was long after midnight when we returned. +I was resolved to go early to bed, for Guinea and her mother were sadly +engaged packing a box with the bric-a-brac upon which time and +association had placed the seal of endearment. + +"Now, I wonder what has become of that old lace curtain," said Mrs. +Jucklin. "I have looked everywhere and can't find it, and I know it was +in the chest up stairs." + +The old man began to scratch his head. + +"I don't know who could have taken it," Mrs. Jucklin went on. "It +couldn't have walked off, I'm sure. Limuel?" + +"Yes, ma'm." + +"Do you know what has become of that old curtain?" + +"What, that ragged old thing that wan't worth nothin'?" + +"Worth nothin'! Why, it belonged to my grandmother." + +"I never heard of that before." + +"Oh, yes, you have, and what's the use of talkin' that way? You've known +it all the time." + +"News to me," said the old man. + +"It's not news to you, anything of the sort; but the question is, do you +know what has become of it?" + +"Susan, in this here life many things happen, things that we wish hadn't +happened. I am not sorry that they fit to a finish, for that had to be; +but I am sorry that I wrapped 'em in that curtain when I buried 'em." + +"Gracious alive, what has possessed the man! Oh, you do distress me so. +How could you do such a thing, Limuel? I do believe you have gone daft. +But you go right out there now and dig up them good-for-nothin' chickens +and bring me that curtain. Go right on this minit." + +"What, Susan, and rob the dead and the brave? You wouldn't have me do +that." + +"Go on, I tell you, or I'll go myself, and throw the fetchtaked things +over to the hogs. The idee of wrappin' up them cruel, good-for-nothin' +things in a curtain like that. Oh, I never was so provoked in my life." + +The old man got up and stretched himself. "Bill," said he, "I am +sometimes forced to believe that the women folks are lackin' in human +sympathy. Ma'm, I'll fetch your curtain, but I've got to have somethin' +to wrap around the dead and the brave." + +"Don't you take that apron. Why, if he wouldn't take the best apron I've +got, right out from under my very eyes. And you can't have that stand +cover, either." + +"Well, but, by jings, what can I have? Am I a traveler that has jest +stopped here to stay all night? There's no use in talkin'; I'm goin' to +have 'em put away decent. Take me for a barbarian?" + +He went out, and just as I was going up to bed I met him in the passage +way, with a roll of white stuff in his bare arms, and as he stepped into +the room I heard his wife exclaim: "Mercy on me, if he hasn't taken his +best shirt. And what he is goin' to do for somethin' to wear the Lord +only knows." + +I heard Guinea laughing, and then I heard the old man say that what a +man happened to wear would make but little difference with the Lord. + +I was so worn that my sleep that night was dreamless, but when early at +morning they called me to breakfast I knew that during the hours of that +deep oblivion I had been vaguely conscious of a dim and shadowy +happiness; and a vivid truth came upon me with the first glimpse of +sunlight. + +The old man was waiting at the foot of the stairs. "Bill, we are goin' +over to the station right after we eat a bite," he said. "We can't take +but a few things, and we'll leave the most of our trumpery till we git +settled somewhere. Take care of that horse you've been ridin'--he don't +belong to us; was left here by a man some time ago, feller that had to +go away off somewhere to see his folks. So, you jest keep him till he's +called for; and I've left you plenty of corn out there to feed him on. +You can study your books here about as well as you can in town, and I +wish you'd sorter look after the things. Parker will drive us over to +the station." + +"And am I to go also?" I asked. + +"No, I believe not. It's Guinea's arrangement and not mine. Let her have +her own way. All women have got their whims, the whole kit an' b'ilin' +of 'em, and you might as well reason with a weather cock. Wait a minit +before we go in. As soon as we git half way settled Guinea will write to +you. I have no idee where I'm goin', but it will be away off somewhere. +It makes me shudder every time I meet a man that I know, and I'd bet a +horse that if I was to meet a cross-eyed feller I'd fight him. If Alf +gits clear he can come to us. And you--I'm sorry you have decided to go +in with Conkwright, for I wanted you to come with Alf." + +"I will come. Nothing shall stand in the way. Mr. Jucklin, have you +noticed----" + +"Yes, I've noticed everything. And it's all right. And Susan has noticed +everything and it's all right with her. There never was a prouder human +than Guinea, sir; the old General's pride is rain water compared to +her'n. And she's got an idee in her head--I don't exactly understand it, +but she's got it there and we'll have to let her keep it till she wants +to throw it aside. I was over to the General's before sun up this +mornin'. He swore that he wouldn't take the money, but I left it under a +brick-bat on the gate post and come away. Well, everything is settled, +and all I can say now is, God bless you." + +We were silent at breakfast, and we dared not look at one another. A +wagon came rattling through the gate, and Parker shouted that he was +ready. No one had said a word, but the old man struck the table with his +fist and exclaimed: "I insist on everybody showin' common sense. I don't +want anybody to speak to me. I'll fight in a minit. Git in that wagon +without a word. Hush, now." + +I wanted to lead Guinea to the wagon, to feel again her dependence upon +me, but she pretended to be looking away when I attempted to take her +hand, and so she walked on alone; but I helped her into the vehicle, and +I kissed her hand when she took hold of the seat. She gave me a quick +look and a smile; and the wagon rolled away. I stood on the log step, +watching it, and as it was slowly sinking beyond the hill I saw the +flutter of a handkerchief. + +I went up to my room and sat down, sad that I had seen her going away +from me, yet happy to know that she had left her heart in my keeping. +But the foolishness of this separation struck me with a force that had +been lacking until now, and for a time I felt toward the old man a +hardness that not even a keen appreciation of his kindness and his +drollery could soften. Gradually, however, the truth came to me that Alf +had drawn the plan, and with my arms stretched out toward the hill-top +that had slowly arisen between me and the fluttering handkerchief I +foolishly apologized to the old man. I did more foolish things than +that; I improvised a hymn and sang it to Guinea--a chant that, no doubt, +would have been immeasurably funny to the cold-hearted and the sane, but +it brought the tears to my eyes and rendered the rafters just above my +head a work of lace, far away. And at these devotions I might have +remained for hours had not a sharp footfall smote upon my ear. I +hastened down stairs, and at the entrance of the passage stood Chyd +Lundsford, looking about, slowly lashing his leg with a switch. + +"Helloa! Where are all the folks?" + +"They are gone, sir," I answered, stiffly bowing to him. + +"Gone? I don't know that I quite catch your meaning." + +"If it be illusive you have made it so. I said that they were gone, +which means, of course, that they are not here." + +"I understand that all right enough, but do you mean that they are not +in at present or that they have really left home?" + +"They have no home, sir." + +He gave himself a sharp cut with the switch. "It can't have been so very +long since they left, for the old man was over to see father this +morning. Which way did they go? I may overtake them." + +"That would be greatly against their wish, sir." + +"I am not asking for an opinion. I want to know which way they went." + +"I am not at liberty to tell you that. They have gone out into a world +that is as strange to them as America was to Columbus." + +"Rot. There isn't a smarter woman anywhere than Guinea. She has read +everything and she knows the world as well as I do. But why are you not +privileged to tell me which way they went? I have something to say that +concerns them closely. Did they go toward town?" + +"Do you suppose that they would go away without first seeing their son?" + +"Then you mean that they went to town. Why the devil can't you speak +out? Why should you stand as a stumbling block?" + +"Why should I stand as a sign post?" + +"Now here, you needn't show your selfishness in this matter. She +wouldn't wipe her feet on you." + +"No, but she would wipe them on you." + +"What!" He took a step forward, but he stepped back again and stood +there, lashing himself with the switch. "My father tells me that you are +a gentleman," he said. + +"And you may safely accept your father's opinion of me," I answered. + +"But you are not striving, sir, to make that opinion good." + +"A good opinion needs no bolstering up." + +"This bantering is all nonsense. I've got nothing against you; I have +simply asked you a civil question." + +"And I hope to be as civil as you are, but out of regard for the +feelings of those old people and their daughter I cannot tell you which +way they went. You couldn't overtake them, any way." + +"But I can try." + +"Yes, you could have tried yesterday and the day before, and a week ago, +when they needed your sympathy." + +He dropped his switch, but he caught it up again, and his face was red. +"I might say, sir, that what I have done and that which I have failed to +do is no business of yours, but I feel that there is a measure of +justice in what you say, and I acknowledge that I have been wrong. That +is why I am here now--to set myself right." + +"In matters of business we may correct an error, Mr. Lundsford; we may +rub out one figure and put down another, but a mark made upon the heart +is likely to remain there." + +"I will not attempt to bandy sentimentalities with you, sir. I am a +practical man, a scientist, if you wish; and I came here to tell that +girl that my breaking off the engagement--you must know all about +it--was wrong. I told my father to come, for just at that time I didn't +feel that as a man who looks forward to something a little more than a +name I could afford to marry her. But I was wrong; any living man could +afford to marry her. I was wrong, and that ought to settle it." + +"And I think, sir, that it does settle it as far as you are concerned." + +"Do you mean that she won't marry me? Oh, yes, she will, not out of any +foolish love, but because she would be proud of my success. Well, I may +not overtake her, but I will write to her. Yes, that will do as well. +She will want to know how things are getting along here, and will write +to you, and when she does I wish you would show me her letter. What are +you laughing at? Haven't you got any sense at all?" + +"I hope so, but I am not so much of a scientist that I am a fool." + +"No, but you are so much of a fool that you are not a scientist, by a +d----d sight." + +He had me there, and it was his time to laugh, and he did. He was so +tickled that he roared, walking up and down the passage; and he was so +pleased that he held out his hand to shake upon the merit of his joke. I +was not disposed to be surly and I shook hands with him, and he clapped +me on the shoulder, still laughing, and declared that it was a piece of +wit worthy of the dissecting-room, and that he would jolt his fellows +with it. + +"I am glad you are so much pleased," I remarked. + +"Why, don't you think it's good, eh? Of course, you do. Well, it's +better to part laughing, anyway." + +"You are not too much of a scientist to be a philosopher," I said. And I +expected him to continue his line of deduction and to say that I was too +much of a philosopher to be a scientist, but he did not; he sobered and +gravely remarked: + +"Yes, I am devilish sorry that this thing came about, and I hope that +Guinea will not take a romantic view of it. I guess they'll be back +after a while, if Alf is cleared, and from what I hear I suppose he +will be." + +"May I ask how your sister is?" + +"Certainly. She's all right; doesn't eat much, but her pulse is +normal--little excited, but hardly noticeable. Loves that fellow, +doesn't she? Strong, good-looking boy, but not very practical. Hope +he'll come out all right. Ah, I was going to say something, but it has +escaped me. Oh, yes, you are in love with Guinea. Be frank, now." + +"Yes, I worship her." + +"Hardly the word, but it will do, on an impulse. I think a good deal of +her myself. I said just now that she wouldn't wipe her feet on you, and +I beg your pardon. She may wipe them on you. You are going to stay here, +eh? Well, come over to the house. No reason why there should be any +ill-will between us. Good-day." + +I sat down on the step and watched him until he had ridden out of sight, +and I was pleased that he went toward his home, not that I was afraid of +a renewal of the engagement; I knew that it was forever set aside. But I +felt that his overtaking the wagon would bring an additional trouble to +the father and the mother; indeed, I was afraid that the old man might +kill him. Strange fellow Chyd was, and I liked him as an oddity, as +something wholly different from myself or from any impulsive being. He +was not cruel--he simply had no heart. + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII. + + +I walked about the old place until nearly noon, and then I went to town. +The jailer met me with a doubtful shaking of his scheming head, and I +knew that again he had received orders to be rigid in his discipline, +but I was resolved that the old rascal's appetite for liquor should not +play a second prank upon me; so when he hinted at another bottle I told +him that I had spent so much of my life as a temperance lecturer that it +was against my conscience to buy a favor with whisky. I looked steadily +at him, and he began to wince. + +"Why, to be sure," said he, "but, my dear sir, I didn't buy whisky with +that dollar--bought a ham with it. If I didn't I'm the biggest liar in +the world; and I don't reckon there's a family in this town that needs +another ham right now worse than mine does." + +"That may be, but I can't afford to pay so heavy a price every time I +enter this place. You know that I am associated with the prisoner's +lawyer, but we'll waive that right--I'll go to the sheriff and get an +order from him." + +"Why, my dear sir, that's unnecessary. Walk right in; but remember your +promise not to say anything about that ham. There are a lot of +vegetarians in this town, and if they hear of my eating meat they'll +hold it against me. Walk in, sir." + +I found Alf in high spirits. Conkwright had called and had assured him +that his day of liberty was not far off. I told him that the old house +was deserted, and he stood musing, looking at me dreamily, as if his +mind were hovering over the scenes of his boyhood. I let him dream, for +I knew the sweetness of a melancholy reverie. Sometimes the soul is +impatient of the body's dogged hold on life, and steals away to view its +future domain, to draw in advance upon its coming freedom--now +lingering, now swifter than a hawk--and then it comes back and we say +that we have been absent-minded. Alf started--his soul had returned. +"And weren't you surprised to see them drive toward town?" he asked. + +"Who, your parents and Guinea? They didn't; they drove toward the +railway station." + +"But they came to town, my dear boy--were here in this jail. They must +have driven round to deceive you, for they knew that you would want to +come with them, and they deceived you to spare you the pain of seeing us +together. And I'm glad you were spared, though mother stood it much +better than I expected. But this was because she firmly believes I'll be +cleared. They haven't been gone a great while--there's a station not far +from this town. Father played another trick on you. Yesterday, when he +came to town to deed over the land, he left you dozing in the wagon and +slipped off round here. I was surprised, for I had positively ordered +him not to come. But he set me to laughing before he got in. 'Open that +door by the order of the sheriff!' he cried at the jailer. 'Here's the +order; look at it, but don't you look at me. Fight you in a minit.' And +then he came in, and the first thing he told me was that they had gaffs +on. He said that he had fought hard to keep mother from coming, at night +when the rest were asleep; and I swore that she must not come, but she +did. Bill, you brought me a message that sent me to heaven; and now let +me ask if you know that Guinea loves you? There, don't say a word--you +know it. She told me, standing where you are now--told me everything, +and what a talker she is when once she is started. But you must let her +have her way, and she will come to you, holding out her hands. Have you +seen Millie?" + +"No, not since that night. But I am going to see her." + +Then I told him that Chyd had come to the house--I reproduced the scene, +and Alf's merriment rang throughout the jail. + +"Yes," he said, "you can go over there all right enough. The General +likes you, anyway. I don't know what he thinks of me--still sizes me as +a boy, I suppose; and if he were to come in here now I believe he would +ask me what father was doing. But it makes no difference what he thinks. +The judge tells me that you are going to study law with him. Jumped into +an interesting case right at once, didn't you?" + +We talked a long time and we laughed a great deal, for we were in a +paradise, although in a jail. And I left him with a promise that I would +soon bring him a direct word from Millie. + +I found Conkwright in his office, with his slippered feet on a table. He +bade me come in, and he said nothing more, but sat there pressing his +closed eye-lids with his thumb and fore-finger. How square a chin he had +and how rugged was his face, trenched with the deep ruts of many a +combat. His had been a life of turmoil and of fight. He was not born of +the aristocracy. I had heard that he was the son of a Yankee clock +peddler. But to success he had fought his way, over many an aristocratic +failure. + +"Judge, have you finally decided that I may come into your office?" + +"Thought we settled that at first," he replied, without opening his +eyes. "Yes, you may come in; glad to have you, and, by the way, I've got +some work I want you to do right now. A woman was in here to-day to see +if I could get her husband out of the penitentiary. I don't know but I +helped put him there--believe I did. I was busy when she came in, and +when she went away I remembered how poorly she was dressed, and I am +afraid that I didn't speak to her as kindly as I should have. She lives +at the south end of the street behind the jail, left hand side, I +believe. Look in that vest hanging up there and you'll find twenty +dollars in the pocket, right hand side, I think. Take the money and slip +down to that woman's house and give it to her. But don't let anyone see +you and don't tell her who sent it. Might tell her that the State sent +it as wages due for overtime put in by her husband. And you needn't come +back this evening, for it's time to close up." + +I looked back at him as I stepped out. He had not changed his position +and his eyes were still closed. And this was my first work as a student +of the law--a brave beginning, the agent of a noble design. I found the +place without having to make inquiry, and a wretched hut it was. The +woman was shabby and two ragged children were lying on the floor. I gave +her the twenty dollars--I did more, I gave her a part of the money which +Perdue had given me. I explained that her husband had worked overtime +and that the State, following an old custom, had sent her the wages of +his extra labor. She was not a very good-natured woman; she said that +the State and the rest of us ought to be ashamed of ourselves for having +robbed her of her husband, and she declared that if she ever got money +enough she would sue old Conkwright and the sheriff and everybody else. +I was glad enough to quit that wretched and depressing scene; and in the +cool of the evening I strolled about the town. The business part of the +place was mean, but further out there were handsome old residences, +pillared and vine-clad. And in front of the most attractive one I halted +to gaze at the trees and the shrubbery, dim in the twilight. + +A boy came along and I asked him who lived there and he answered: "Judge +Conkwright." + +"He deserves to live in even a better house," I mused, as I turned away; +and just then I was clapped upon the shoulder with a "Helloa, my old +friend"--the telegraph operator. I shook hands with him, and at once he +began to tell me of his affairs. "Getting along all right," he said. +"Haven't got quite as much freedom as I used to have, but I reckon it's +better for me. Wife thinks so much of me that she's jealous of the +boys--don't want me to stay out with them at night. Don't reckon there's +anything more exacting than a rag. But I had to have one. Without calico +there ain't much real fun in this life. But enough of calico's society +is about the enoughest enough a man can fetch up in his mind. Tell you +what--I'll run on home and come back, and then you can go with me." + +"No, I couldn't think of putting you to so much trouble." + +"Won't be any trouble. Simply don't want to surprise her, you know." + +"I'll call on you before long, but now I must go to the tavern." + +"All right, and if I can get off I'll come over to see you. And I'll +tell you what we'll do along about 11 o'clock. We'll go over to +Atcherson's store with a lot of fellers and cook some eggs in the top of +a paste-board hat box. Ever cook them that way? It's a world beater. +Just break the eggs in the lid of the box and put it on the stove and +there you are. Finest stuff you ever eat. But while you're eating you +mustn't let them tell that jug story. Couldn't eat a bite after that. +Well, I leave you here." + +Fearing that the operator's "rag" might fail in the strict enforcement +of the regulations that had been thrown about the night-time movements +of her husband, that he might break out of the circle of his wife's +fondness and call on me at the tavern, I left that place soon after +supper and resumed my walk about the town. In some distant place where +the land was dry a shower of rain had fallen, for the air was quickened +with the coming of that dusty, delicious smell, that reminiscent incense +which more than the perfume of flower or shrub takes us back to the +lanes and the sweet loitering places of youth. Happiness will not bear a +close inspection; to be flawless it must be viewed from a distance--we +must look forward to something longed for, or backward to some time +remembered; and my happiness on this night was not perfect, for a sense +of loneliness curdled it with regret, but here and there, as I walked +along, I found myself in an ecstasy--my nerves thrilled one another like +crossed wires, electrified. I knew that it might be a long time before I +should hear from Guinea, but I was still drunk with the newness of the +feeling that she loved me. + +Prayer-meeting bells were ringing, and old men and old women came out of +the dark shadow of the trees, into the light that burned in front of a +church--hearts that with age were slow and heavy, praying for the +blessing of an Infinite Mystery. I entered the church and knelt down to +pray, for I am not so advanced a thinker as the man who questions the +existence of God; but I must admit that my thoughts were far away from +the mumblings that I heard about me, far, indeed, from the mutterings of +my own lips; and so I went out and sniffed the prayer of nature, the +smell of rain that came from far off down the dusty road. + +Early the next morning I went to Conkwright's office, to tell him that +for a time I preferred to study in the country. The old man was walking +up and down the room, with his hands behind him. + +"Did you find that woman?" he asked. + +"Yes, and I let no one see me." + +"Good. You gave her the twenty dollars, and--is that all you gave her?" + +"Why, that was all you told me to give her." + +"Yes, I know, but didn't you give her some of your own money? Speak out +now. No shilly-shallying with me." + +"Well, she was so wretched that I gave her five dollars of my own +money." + +"You did, eh? The money you borrowed from me, you mean?" + +"No, money that old Perdue thinks I earned. He insisted upon my taking +twenty-five dollars." + +"It's all right, my boy. Yes, it's all right, but you'll have to be more +careful. It is noble to give, but it is not wise to look for an +opportunity. It is better to give to the young than to the old, for the +good we do the youth grows with him into a hallowed memory--stimulates +him to help others--while the memory of the aged is fitful. Whenever you +see a boy trying to amount to something, help him, for that is a direct +good, done to mankind. Now to business. Have you read Blackstone?" + +"Yes, but not thoroughly. I have never owned his book." + +"There he is on my desk. I keep him near me. The lawyer who outgrows +that book--well, I may be an old fogy on the subject, so I'll say +nothing more except to commend the treatise to a lawyer as I would the +multiplication table to a student of mathematics. And now let me say +that when you have been with me one year we will begin to talk about +other matters, the question of money, for instance. Don't be +extravagant--don't give money because you don't know what else to do +with it--and I will see that you shall not want for anything. Oh, yes, I +know you are thinking of getting married, but it won't cost much to keep +your wife. We'll fix all that, and if I don't make a lawyer out of you I +am much fooled. You are in love and are mighty sappy just at present, +but you'll come round all right; yes, sir, all right after a while." + +"I think, Judge, that I can study much better out at the old house, and +if you have nothing for me to do I should like to spend several days at +a time out there." + +"Why, is that the way to assist me? What good can you do me by poking +off out there in the woods? Well, you may for a while. Three days a +week for a time, eh? All right. You are as hard to break in as a steer. +What about those stories you told at the General's house. I hear that +they were great. But don't let people put you down as a story teller, +for when a lawyer gets that reputation, no matter how profound he may +be, the public looks upon him as a yarn-spinner, rather than a thinker. +You might put them in print, but not under your own name. Bill--came +within one of calling you Billy--a great many men succeed in law not +because they are bright, but because they are stupid. I never see a +jackass that I don't think of a judge--some judges that I know. Well, +now, the first and one of the most important things to do is to go over +to that tailor and have yourself measured for a suit of clothes. Did I +say measured? Surveyed is the word," he added, looking at me from head +to foot and then laughing. "Yes, I think that's the word. Well, go on +now." + +When the tailor had completed his "survey" I went to the jail, talked +for a few moments with Alf and then straightway rode to the General's +house. The old man was sitting on the porch, with one foot resting on a +pillow, placed upon a chair. "Get down and come right in!" he shouted; +and as I came up the steps he motioned me away from him and said: "Don't +touch that hoof, if you please. Buttermilk gout, sir. Look out, you'll +tip something over on me. It's a fact--every time I drink buttermilk it +goes to my foot. Too much acid. How are you, anyway?" + +He cautiously reached out his hand and jerked it away when I had merely +touched it. "Didn't sleep a wink last night; and every dog in the county +came over here to bark. I am very glad you have called; glad that you +are too liberal to hold a foolish resentment. And the old folks are +gone. 'Od 'zounds, the way things do turn out. The first thing I know +I'll swear myself out of the church. It was my pride, sir--but by all +the virtues that man has grouped, must we apologize for our pride? Hah, +sir! Must I grovel and beg pardon because I honor my own name? I'll see +myself blistered first. It wasn't old Lim's fault. Confound it all, it +wasn't anybody's fault. Then, sir, must I go crawling around on my belly +like a--like a--like an infernal lizard, sir? I hope not. But it will +come out all right, I think. After Alf is cleared the old people will +come back and all will be well again. What do you want?" + +A negro boy had poked his head out of the hall door and was looking on +with a broad grin. "Dinner!" cried the old man. "But is that the way to +announce it--grinning like a cat? Come back here. Now what do you want?" + +"Dinner is ready, sah," said the boy. + +"Well, that's all right. But don't come round here grinning at me. Hand +me that stick. Oh, I'm not going to hit you with it. Come, Mr. Hawes. +No, I don't want you to help me. I can hobble along best by myself." + +Millie was in the dining-room, and she turned to run when she saw me, +but the old man hobbled into her way, so she came toward me with +reddening face, and held out her hand. "I am glad to see you," she said. +"Sit over here, please. That's Chyd's seat and he's so particular." + +The son came in, said that he was pleased to see me, sat down, opened a +pamphlet that looked like a medical journal and began to read. + +"Mr. Hawes," said the General, "I understand that you have made +arrangements to study law with Judge Conkwright. And a most fortunate +arrangement, I should think. Smart old fellow, sir; smart, and a good +man to have on your side, but a mighty bad man to have against you--half +Yankee by parentage and whole Yankee by instinct. Millie, is that cat +under the table?" + +"I think not, father," the girl answered, after looking to see if the +cat were there; but this did not satisfy the old man. "You must know, +not think," he said. "There should be no doubt about the matter, for I +must tell you that if he touches my foot I'll kill him. A cat would +travel ten miles and swim a river--and a cat hates water--to claw a +gouty foot. Chyd, just put that book aside if you please." + +The young man folded the pamphlet and shoved it into his pocket. "I've +struck a new germ theory," he said. + +"Yes," replied the General, "and you'll strike a good many more of them +as you go on. I should think that you want facts, not theories." + +"But theories lead to facts," the young man rejoined. "The theory of +to-day may become the scientific truth of to-morrow." + +"And it may also be the scientific error of the day after to-morrow," I +remarked. + +He looked at me, spoke a word which I did not catch and then was silent, +seeming to have forgotten what he had intended to say. I think that the +word he uttered was "hah," or something to indicate that he had paid but +slight heed to my remark. I did not repeat it, and the talk fell away +from the germ theory. + +"Now, Mr. Hawes," said the General, "I want you to help yourself just as +if you were alone at your own board. It is a pleasure to have you with +us, and an additional pleasure to know, sir, that you are to become a +permanent citizen of this county. Men may think themselves wise when +they apprentice their sons to a trade, averring that the professions are +overcrowded, but that has always been the case, and yet, professional +men have ever been the happiest, for they achieve the most, not in the +gathering of money, but in the uplifting of mankind. My daughter, you +don't appear to be eating anything. I hope that you have not permitted +the timely, though unexpected, visit of Mr. Hawes to affect your +appetite. Chydister, another piece of this mutton? Most nutritious, I +assure you; a fact, however, which is, no doubt, well known to you. Mr. +Hawes, I should think that you would prefer to sleep here at night, +rather than to stay alone in that old house. You are more than welcome +to a room here, sir. And I should like to hear anecdotes of your +grandfather, the Captain." + +"I shall be in the country but a part of the time during the week, and +my coming and going will be irregular. But for this I should gladly +accept your generous offer. As to my grandfather, I must admit that I +know but little regarding his life." + +"A sad error in your bringing up, sir. In that one particular we +Americans are shamefully at fault. A buncombe democracy has insisted +that it is not essential to look back, but simply to place stress upon +our present force and consequence. That is a self-depreciation, a +half-slander of one's self. Of course, it is not just to despise a man +who has no ancestry, but it is a crime not to honor him if he has a +worthy lineage." + +And thus he talked until the rest of us sat back from the table, and +then, gripping his cane and getting up, he said that he would like to +talk to me privately in the library. Upon entering the room he filled a +clay pipe, handed it to me, gave me a lighted match, filled a pipe for +himself, and then lay down upon an old horse-hair sofa. I placed a +cushion for his foot and he raised up and bowed to me. "I thank you, +sir," he said. "I don't believe that Chyd would have thought of that. I +believe that he will make of himself one of the finest of physicians, +but a man may be a successful doctor and yet a thoughtless and an +indifferent companion. You will please put the right construction upon +what may appear as an over-frankness on my part, for the fact is I have +never regarded you as a stranger; and I feel that what I say to you +will go no further." + +He was silent and I nodded to him, waiting for him to continue. He moved +his shoulders as if to work himself into an easier position, and then he +resumed his talk. "Of my own volition I would not have gone over to +Jucklin's house to break that engagement--I would have waited--but my +son told me to go, and after I had gone, why, of course, I had to act my +part. But it was simply acting, for my heart was not in it. And I tell +you, sir, that if old Lim had wiped his bloody hands in my face I would +not have struck him. Chydister is proud, but his pride and mine are not +of the same sort. With him everything must bear upon his future standing +as a physician, and to me that has too much the color of business. I +admit that I was grieved to discover that my daughter was in love with +Alf. I don't say that he is not morally worthy of her or of any young +woman, but he is poor and is indifferently educated, with no prospects +save a life of hard work. And I don't believe that I need to apologize +for desiring to see my daughter well situated. Now, my son regrets the +step which he took and which he urged me to take, and at the earliest +moment he will renew the engagement. I think almost as much of Guinea as +I do of my own daughter. Although she is a country girl, who has led a +most simple life, I hold her a remarkable woman--an original and a +thinking woman, sir. And now what I request you to do is this--soften +her resentment, if you can. There are matches at the corner of the +mantelpiece." + +My pipe was out. I lighted it, and did not resume my seat, but stood +looking at him. + +"General," said I, "Guinea will never marry your son." + +"The devil you say! Pardon me. I didn't mean to be so abrupt. But why do +you think she will not marry him?" + +"General, it is now your turn to pardon me, sir. She is to be married by +a man who worships her, not a scientist, but a man with a heart--she is +going to be my wife." + +The old man sprang up and in a moment he stood facing me. There was a +footstep at the door and Chydister entered the room. + +"Go ahead with your emotional oratory, but pardon me while I look for my +stethoscope," he said. "I want to see what effect an hour's run will +have on the hearts of a hound and an ordinary cur." + +"Sir!" cried his father, turning upon him, "this is no time to talk of +the hearts of hounds and curs. The hearts of men are at stake." + +"That so? What's up?" + +"What's up, indeed, sir? This man says that Guinea Jucklin will not +marry you." + +"Yes, so he told me. Now I almost know that I put that thing right up +here." + +"'Zounds, man, will you listen to me!" + +"Yes, sir, go ahead. He says she won't marry me. That's his opinion, +undemonstrated--a mere assertion; he has given me no proof." + +"Ah, have you any proof, Mr. Hawes?" the old man asked. + +"I have, but it cannot very well be set forth in words; and with much +respect for you, General, I must say that I prefer not to illustrate +it." + +"You see it's rather vague, father. Let me ask if she has said +positively that she will be your wife?" + +"Her lips may have made no promise beyond a figure of speech, and yet +her heart----" + +"Ah, more vague than ever," the young man broke in, looking at his +father as if he were impatient to get away. "I must have left it +somewhere else," he added, and the old General frowned upon him. + +"Chydister, if you lose that woman it is your own fault." + +"Well, no, I can hardly agree with you there, father. If I lose her it +will be the fault of circumstances. Are you done with me?" + +"Yes, you can go," said the General. He stooped, reached back for the +lounge and laboriously stretched himself upon it. Chyd went out and I +remarked that it was time for me to go. The old man made no reply, +seeming not to have heard me, but as I turned toward the door he raised +up and said: + +"I would be a fool, sir, to blame you; and I trust that you will not +blame me for hoping that you are mistaken." + +He lay down again, and I left him. Millie was standing at the gate when +I went out, and she pretended not to see me until I had passed into the +road, and then, with the manner of a surprise, she said: "Oh, I didn't +think you were going so soon--thought you and father were having an +argument. Do you see--see him very often?" + +There was a tremulous tenderness in her voice, and I knew that there +were tears in her eyes, and I looked far away down the road, as I stood +there with the gate between us. + +"I have seen him every day," I answered. + +"And does he look wretched and heart-broken?" + +"No, he is happy, for he knows that you love him." + +She caught her breath with a sob and I looked far away down the road. + +"You told him--told him that I did. And I am so thankful to you; I would +do anything for you. I dream of him all the time, and I see you with +him. How terrible it is, shut up there and the sun is so bright for +everyone else. Sometimes I go into the closet and stay there in the +dark, for then I am nearer him. When will you see him again?" + +"I am going back to town to-morrow." + +"Will you please give him this?" + +I reached forth my hand and upon my palm she placed a locket. + +"I know that if you study law, Mr. Hawes, you will get him out. You are +so strong that you can do most anything. Good-bye, and when you write to +Guinea, send her my love." + + + + +CHAPTER XIX. + + +Four weeks passed and heavy were the days with anxiety, for I had +received no word from Guinea. I thought of a hundred causes that must +have kept her from writing, but, worst of all, I feared that she had +written and that the letter had gone astray. + +One afternoon, having thrown my book aside, weary of causes, reasonings +and developments of law, I sat on a rock near the spring, musing, +wondering, when suddenly I sprang to my feet, with Guinea in my mind, +with Guinea before me, I thought. But this was only for an instant. A +young deer came down the path, gracefully leaping, and my mind flew back +to the time when I had first seen her running down that shining strip of +hard-beat earth. Yes, it was a deer, and it ran down the brook, and +presently I heard the hounds yelping in the woods. I returned to my room +and again I strove to study, but the logical phrasing was harsh to me, +and I threw down the book. I would fish in the pools that lay along the +stream toward the mill. The ground in the yard and about the barn was so +dry that I could find no angle worms, and I decided to dig in the damp +moss-land near the spring. The hoe struck a hard substance and out came +something bright. I stooped to examine it, and at first I thought that +it was silver, but it was not--it was mica. I scraped off the moss and +the thin strata of earth, and there I found a great bed of the ore. I +dug deeper and it came up in chunks, and it was fine and flawless. My +reading taught me that it was valuable, and I was rejoiced to find that +it was on my own land. I got out as much as I could carry--indeed, I +filled a trunk with it, and then carefully replaced the moss, smoothed +it down and made it look as if it had not been displaced. My blood +tingled with excitement and I was afraid that some one might have seen +me. I took the trunk to my room and split off thin sheets of the mica, +and the more I looked at it the more I was thrilled at the prospect that +now lay, not in the future, but under my touch. And I was not long in +resolving upon a course to pursue. I remembered that into our +neighborhood had come from Nashville, Tenn., a large stove with mica in +the doors, and I thought it would be wise to take my trunk to that city +and by exhibiting its contents induce some one to buy the mine. I +hastened to town, after hiding the trunk, and told Conkwright and Alf +that unexpected business called me away for a few days, and then I +returned home and hired a man to drive me to the railway station. I was +afraid to trust the trunk out of my sight, but I had to let the baggage +man take it, but I charged him to be particular with it, telling him +that it was full of iron ore. He gave it a jerk and declared that it +must be full of lead. When I had come into that community I fancied that +the train was on wings, but now it appeared to be crawling. Night came +and I was afraid that robbers might assail the train and expose my +secret; but at last I reached Nashville, and then came a worry. How was +I to find the man who had made the stove? I took my trunk to a hotel, +wrapped a chunk of the mica in a handkerchief and set out to look for a +stove dealer. I soon found a hardware establishment, and in I walked +with the hardened air of business, and asked for the proprietor. A +pleasant-looking man came forward, and I asked him what mica was worth. +He looked at me sharply and answered that he was not thoroughly informed +as to the state of the market, but that he thought it was worth all the +way from five to twenty-five dollars a pound. "But mica of the first +quality is scarce," said he, and then he asked if I wanted to buy mica. + +"No, sir, I want to sell it. Is this of good quality?" + +I unwrapped the handkerchief and his eyes stuck out in astonishment. +"Where did you get it?" he asked. + +"Off my land in North Carolina." + +"Have you very much of it?" he asked, scaling off thin sheets with his +knife. + +"Tons of it." + +"You don't say so! Then you've got a fortune. We are not very large +manufacturers and don't use a great deal. How much did you bring with +you?" + +"Only a trunk full." + +"Well, I guess we can take that much. Bring it around." + +I did so, and I could scarcely believe that I had correctly caught his +words when he offered me five hundred dollars, though now I know that he +paid me much less than it was worth. He talked a long time with his +partner, and then came back to me with the money, asked my name and a +number of other questions. "Young man," said he, "if we had the ready +means we would buy that mine, but we haven't. Now, I tell you what you +do: Take a sample--this piece--and go at once to Chicago. I know of some +capitalists there who are making large investments in the South, and I +have no doubt that they will be pleased to make you an offer for your +property. Here, I'll write their names on a card. To tell you the truth, +we are to some extent interested with them. Now, don't show this sample +to anyone else, but go straight to Clarm & Ging, Rookery building, +Chicago. Anybody can tell you where it is. Here's the card. We'll +telegraph them that you are coming, so you are somewhat in honor bound, +you understand, not to go elsewhere--we have in some degree sealed the +transaction with a part purchase, you see." + +I walked out of that house, dazed, bewildered with my own luck. And I +took passage on the first train for Chicago. If money could clear Alf, +he would now be cleared, and proudly I mused over the great difference +that I would make between his first and his last trial. But during all +this time I was conscious of a heaviness--the silence of Guinea. + +The train reached Chicago at morning. And now I was in the midst of a +whirl and a roar--a confused babbling at the base of Babel's tower. And +as I walked up a street I thought that a tornado had broken loose and +that I was in the center of it. I called a hackman, for my reading +taught me what to do, and I told him to drive me to the Rookery. He +rattled away and came within one of being upset by other vehicles, and I +yelled at him to be more particular, but on he went, paying no attention +to me. After a while he drew up in front of a building as big as a +lopped-off spur of a mountain range; and when I got out I found that the +vitals of the hurricane had shifted with me, for the roar and the +confusion was worse, was gathering new forces. But no one laughed at me, +no one pointed me out, and I really felt quite pleased with myself--a +school-teacher, a lawyer's assistant, expected by a capitalist! I went +under a marble arch-way, and asked a man if he knew Clarm & Ging, and he +pointed to an elevator--I knew what it was--and shouted a number. I got +in and was shot to the eighth floor. I knocked at a door, but no one +opened it. There was no bell to ring, so I knocked louder and still no +one opened the door. This was hardly the courtesy that I expected. But +while I was standing there a man came along and went in without +knocking. I thought that he must be one of the men I was looking for, +and I followed him, but he simply looked round after going in and then +went out again without saying anything. I saw a man sitting at a desk, +and I handed him the card which the hardware dealer had given me. He +looked at it and said: "Yes, you are Hawes, eh? Where's your mica." + +I gave it to him, and he looked at it closely through a microscope. "How +deep have you gone?" + +"Not more than six inches." + +"That so? Much of this size?" + +"Train loads, I should think." + +"Ah, hah. How much land does it cover?" + +"Don't know exactly. Haven't investigated." + +And this question set me to thinking. The mine was well on my land, but +it might spread out beyond my lines. It was important that I should buy +several acres surrounding the stretch of moss, and I decided to do this +immediately upon my return home. + +"Let's see," said the capitalist. "This is Friday. Mr. Clarm is out of +town and will not be back until Monday--has a summer home in St. Jo, +Mich., and is over there. It's just across the lake. Suppose we go over +there to-morrow morning. Boat leaves at nine. Be a pleasant trip. All +right." + +He resumed his work as if my acceptance of his proposition was a +foreshadowed necessity. "How did you happen to find it?" he asked, +without looking up from his work. + +"I was digging for angle worms." + +He grunted. "Didn't find any worms, did you?" + +"No, I don't think I did." + +"I know you didn't. Worms and mica don't exist in the same soil. Very +rugged?" + +"Rocks on each side." + +I was determined to be business-like, not to give him information unless +he asked for it; and I sat there, studying him. He was direct and this +pleased me, for it bespoke a quick decision. But after a time I grew +tired of looking upon his absorption, for his mood was unvarying, and he +held one position almost without change, so I began to walk about, +looking at the pictures of factories and of mines, hung on the walls. +The day was hot and the windows were up, and I looked down on the +ant-working industry in the street. How different from the view that lay +out of my window in the old log house; but I was resolved to draw no +long bow of astonishment, for in a man's surprise is a reflex of his +ignorance. + +"What business?" the capitalist asked, still without looking up. + +"None, you might say. Have taught school, but of late I have employed my +time with studying law." + +He looked round at me and then resumed his work. A long time passed. I +heard his watch snap and then he got up. + +"We'll go out and get a bite to eat," he said. "Any particular place?" + +"No," I answered, pleased that he should presume that I was acquainted +with the eating houses of the town. + +We stepped out into the hall and he yelled: "Down!" He shoved me into an +elevator among a number of men and women, and though we were all jammed +together no one appeared to notice me; but when we got out a boy +whistled at a companion and yelled: "Hi, Samson!" Mr. Ging darted out +under the arch, and I almost ran over him, when he halted on the +sidewalk to talk to a man. They walked along together for quite a +distance, nodding and making gestures, and when they separated Ging said +to me that he had just bought a subdivision of real estate. At this I +appeared to be pleased, but I was not; I was afraid that before the +close of the deal he might entangle himself in so many transactions that +he could not afford to pay cash for the mica mine. The further we went +the faster he walked, and suddenly he darted through a wall, and the +swinging doors came back and slapped me in the face. We sat down to a +table and Mr. Ging said that I might take whatever I desired, but that +he wanted only a cup of coffee and a piece of apple pie. I was hungry, +had eaten no breakfast and felt as if I could devour a beef steak as big +as a saddle skirt, but I said that coffee and apple pie would do me. He +asked me a number of questions concerning the mine, its distance from a +railway, condition of the wagon roads, and especially did he want to +know whether the local tax assessor made it a point to discriminate +against the non-resident property owner. I caught the spirit of his +quick utterances, and blew out my words in a splutter, striving to be +business-like, but before I could cover all his points he had eaten his +pie and was impatiently waiting for me. + +"Want to go round to-night?" he asked, and before I could tell him that +I did want to go round, having but a vague idea as to what he meant, he +added: "And if I can get off this afternoon I'll take you out to the +stock-yards." + +"I would much rather see your finest library," I replied. + +"I guess you've got me there; don't know where it is, but I suppose we +can find it in the directory." + +"I have read of the Art Institute here. You know where that is, I +presume." + +"Y-e-s--low building over on the lake front. But I've never had time to +go into it. Well, suppose we get back to the office." + +I raced with him, but he beat me by a neck, being more accustomed to the +track; and he shouted "Up!" as he darted under the marble arch. I +grabbed him and held him for a moment, told him that I did not care to +go up again so soon, that I would stroll about for a time and see him +after a while. + +"Yes, but you'll come back, eh? I guess we'll take that mine if we can +agree upon terms. We own one in Colorado. Don't fail to come back. Up!" + +I went out into the center of the maelstrom and laughed at him--a +capitalist keeping pace with indigestion, racing against time. Little +wonder that he was bald and pinched. + +I thought that I would find a leisurely place and slowly eat a dinner, +and I did find many places, but none of them was leisurely. I went to a +hotel, and there I ate a meal without running the risk of having my +chair thrown over, and then I returned to the Rookery. Mr. Ging was +lost in his work, and in a room which opened into his apartment two +girls were hammering a race on writing machines. I walked into this +room, and the girls went on with their work as if I were at home looking +over toward the General's house instead of looking down at them. A bell +tinkled in Ging's room. One of the girls went to him and I heard him +talking rapidly to her, and presently she came back with a pad of paper +in her hand, and furiously attacked her machine. Ging rushed out into +the hall and both machines stopped, and the girls began to nibble at +bon-bons, but a moment later they dashed at their work, for Ging had +returned. I went back into his room, and, glancing round, I saw one of +the girls look up at the ceiling and then down at the floor. I knew that +she was making fun of me, and in my heart I confessed myself her enemy. + +"I'm sorry," said Ging, "but I don't believe I can get off this +afternoon. Clarm's being out of town puts double work on me. But we'll +go round to-night. You've been here quite often, I suppose." + +"Well, not lately," I replied. + +"No? Then we can find a good many things to interest you." + +I went out again and walked about, but I did not venture far beyond the +shadow of the Rookery, for I knew that should I get turned round I would +be ashamed to inquire the way back. I saw a man standing on a box +selling pens. He had a most fluent use of words, though I could see +that he was not educated. He interested his hearers with humorous +stories, as if his business were first to entertain the public and then +to pick up a living, and for the first time it struck me that +book-knowledge did not embrace everything, that people who simply read +get but a second-hand experience. We must observe form and recognize the +rules which good taste has drawn, but after all the finest form and the +most nearly perfect rule is an inborn judgment. The merest accident may +thrill a dull man with genius. I knew a young man who was commonplace +until he was taken down with a fever, and when he got up his business +sense was gone, but he wrote a parody that made this country shout with +laughter. Thus I mused as I looked at that fellow selling pens. He was a +rascal, no doubt, but I was forced to admire his vivid fancy, his +genius. + +When I returned to the Rookery I found Ging waiting for me. "Now," said +he, "we'll go out for a while and then eat dinner. Would you mind going +out about twelve miles? Train every few minutes. I've got some real +estate that I'd like to show you--might cut an important figure in our +transaction." + +"I don't want it to cut any figure in our transaction," I replied. "I +want to sell the mine for money." + +"Yes, of course, but you might double your money on the real estate." + +"That may be true, but I am not a speculator; and if you are not +prepared to pay money, why, it is useless to waste further time." + +"Of course. No time has been wasted and none shall be. You may trust me +when it comes to the question of wasting time. I didn't know but you +might like a home out at Sweet Myrtle. Beautiful place--gas, water, +side-walks, sewers. But if you don't want to go, it's all right. Let me +tell you right now that we are prepared to pay cash for your mine. We +represent millions in the East. Well, we'll go." + +That night we went to a theater, and to me Mr. Ging was a dull +companion. He yawned and stretched through Shakspeare's mighty play, +while I was in a tingling ecstasy. He said that the fellow could not +act, and that may have been true, but to me there was no actor, but a +real Hamlet; no stage, but the court at Elsinore. He said that he would +call at the hotel in time to catch the boat, and I was glad when he left +me to my own thoughts. At 9 o'clock the next morning we went on board a +great white boat, so fresh, so full of interest to me that I was in a +state of delight, of new expectancy, and when we steamed out into the +lake I could scarcely repress a cry of joy so thrilling was the view. I +had never seen a large body of water, had striven to picture the majesty +of a wave, and now I stood with poetry rolling about me--now a deep-blue +elegy, now a limpid lyric, varying in hue with the shifting of a +luminous fleece-work, far above. To have been born and brought up amid +great scenes were surely a privilege, but to come upon them for the +first time when the mind is ripe, when the senses are yearning for a new +impression, is indeed a blessing. Short were the sixty miles of our +journey, it seemed to me, but Ging was bored and impatiently he snapped +his watch, and said that we were at least fifteen minutes late. After +having lost all view of the land, how strangely novel was the sight of +the shore, and to fancy myself in a foreign harbor was the most natural +of conceits. + +At the wharf we took a carriage and were driven through the town, out by +many a dreamy orchard side, up a bluff-banked river to a large frame +house, high on a hill. Clarm was walking about in the yard, and with an +ease and politeness which I had not expected--having permitted Ging to +influence my preconception of his partner's character--he shook hands +with me and invited me into the house. The sample of mica was closely +inspected, numerous questions were asked, and after a time Mr. Clarm +said that it would be well for Mr. Ging to go home with me. I had kept +in mind the determination to buy a few more acres of land, and I knew +that this might not be an easy transaction if Ging should accompany me, +thereby exciting a suspicion in Parker's mind, so I replied that I was +not going straightway home, being compelled by other business to stop +for a day in Kentucky. "But it is, of course, necessary for Mr. Ging to +see the mine, and he can start the day after I leave and reach Purdy on +the day I arrive," I added. + +They agreed to this, as Ging was the principal in another deal that +must be brought to a close; and after declining an invitation to dinner, +I took my leave, feeling that I was a liar, it is true, but I thought +that my deception was not only pardonable, but, indeed, a commendable +piece of fore-sight. I am free to say that a man, in order to protect +his commercial interests, must be an easy and a nimble liar; and I do +not hold that a man who permits himself to be cheated simply that he may +snatch the chance to tell a truth--I say that I could not regard him a +prudent husband or a wise father. Divide the last cent with a friend, +harden not thy heart against the distressed, but in the warfare of +business seek to steal an enemy's advantage. It was with this argument +that I sought to appease my conscience as I strolled about the town, but +more than once I halted, thinking to tell them the truth. But +judgment--permit me to term it judgment--finally influenced me to let +the false statement stand. + +Out from the town were numerous lanes, soft with turf, and with orchards +on every side. Amid the darkened green I saw the yellowing pear, the red +flash of the apple; and from amid the bushes blackberries peeped like +the eyes of a deer. At the end of a lane was a deep ravine, one side a +grassy slope, the other a terraced vineyard, and up this romantic rent I +walked, in a Switzerland, a France. On the green slope was a cottage, +with a high fence behind it, and as I drew near I thought that it would +be a soothing privilege to enter the house and talk with the humble +people who lived therein. Suddenly there came a shout that sent a spurt +of blood to my heart---- + +"Hike, there, Sam! Hike, there, Bob--hike, there!" + +I ran to the fence, grasped the top, drew myself up and looked over into +the small inclosure; and there was old Lim Jucklin, down on his knees, +beating the ground with his hat. I let myself drop and ran round the +gate, opened it without noise and stepped inside. The old man now held +one of the chickens by the neck and was putting him into a coop. + +"Oh, it would suit you to fight to a finish, wouldn't it? And you may, +one of these days, as soon as I hear from down yander. Git in there. +Come here, Bob. You've got to go in, too. Caught you on the top-knot, +didn't he? Well, you must learn to dodge better. Ain't quite as peart as +one of the other Bobs I could tell you about. Now, boys, you are all +right, but I want you to understand---well, since Moses hit the rock!" +he cried, scrambling to his feet. "Hold on, now, don't you tech +me--don't know whether you are Bill or Bill's ghost. By jings, if it +ain't Bill, I'm a calf's rennet. Since Moses hit the rock!" + +He grabbed me and hung upon me, and I put my arm about him. "Don't tell +me nuthin' now, Bill. Don't want to hear a word, for I'm deefer than a +horse block." + +"You have nothing to fear, Mr. Jucklin. I bring good news. Alf isn't out +yet, but he will be. I have other news----" + +"But don't tell me. Deefer than a horse-block. What did I do with that +d----d handkerchief? Take that back--kiver to kiver. Had it in my hat +a minit ago. Sand from this here lake shore gits in a feller's eyes. +Ain't got used to it yet. Hope the Lord will excuse me for cussin' like +a sailor. Must have got it from them fellers down on the lake shore. +Kiver to kiver. Now let us go into the house. Door's round there facin' +the holler. Let me go in first; you stand outside. Sand's blowin' up +from the lake and gits in their eyes, too. Ain't used to it yet. Come +on." + +There were hollyhocks in front of the house and among them I stood +waiting for the old man to open the door. + +"Susan," he said, as he stepped into the room, "this here world--this +one right here--is as full of surprises as a chicken is with--with--I +don't know what. Now, don't you take on none, but--come in, Bill." + +The old woman started forward with a cry and threw her arms about me. +"There now," old Lim protested, wiping his eyes, "don't take on that +way. Everything's all right. Set down here now and let's be sensible. +That's it. Oh, she's all right, Bill--her folks stood at the stake. +Guinea's comin' down stairs." + +Toward the stairway I looked, and Guinea stepped down into the room. And +oh, the smile on her lips as she came toward me! But she did not hold +out her hands--she came close to me, and her bended head almost touched +me, but her hands were held behind her, clasped, I could see. "Not yet," +she said, looking up with a smile. "But you must not think ill of me, +must not be provoked. Let me have my whimsical way until my whole life +shall be yours." + +"She's talkin' like a book!" the old man cried. "Let her talk like one, +Bill. Don't exactly grab her drift as I'd like to, but I know it's all +right. Gracious alive, why don't you women folks git him something to +eat? And, me, too, for I'm as hungry as the she bear that eat up the +children. I wish you'd all set down. Turn him loose, Susan. Ain't +nothin' the matter with him--hungry as a wolf, that's all. Now we are +gettin' at it." + +With the door open and with a cool breeze blowing, with the sweetness of +ripening fruit in the air, with the hollyhocks nodding at us, we sat in +that modest room, at home in a strange place. I told them all that had +befallen me. I gradually led up to the discovery of the mine. "And now," +I added, "we go back there, not poor, but rich. There is no telling how +many dollars they may give us." + +"Not us, Bill," the old man interposed, slowly shaking his head; "not +us, but you. It's yours, all yours. You bought the land and all that's +on it or under it belongs to you." + +"No, Mr. Jucklin, it belongs to you, to Alf and to me. There will be +enough for us all, but no matter how little, you and Alf shall share it. +I am just beginning fully to realize it--but I know that we are rich. It +is necessary for me to get back at once," I added. "I'll have to buy +some land from Parker, but I told Clarm & Ging that I was going to stop +for a day in Kentucky. I didn't want them to know that I intended to buy +more land. It's none of their business, anyway. So I must be in Purdy +one day ahead of Ging. I've got money with me and we'll all start this +evening." + +The old man sadly shook his head. "I can't do it, Bill; can't go back +yet. If he comes clear, without a scratch on him, I'll go back, but if +he don't I'll never see that state again. So we'll wait right here till +after the next trial. Won't settle on anything until then. You go ahead +and attend to everything and let me know how it all comes out. I've been +scared ever since I left there, afraid that I'd hear something by some +chance or other; and I wouldn't let Guinea write to you. Every day I'd +tell her 'not yet.' She wanted to, but I wouldn't let her." + +"You shall have your own way, for I know that everything will come out +right. Conkwright says so, and he knows. How did you happen to find this +place?" + +The old man laughed. "Well, sir, we got on the train, and when the man +asked where we wanted to go I told him we'd go just as far as he did, it +made no difference how far that might happen to be; and every time we'd +change cars I'd tell the other man the same thing. But finally they got +so stuck up that they wouldn't let us get on without tickets, and at +Louisville I bought tickets for Chicago. I didn't know what to do when I +got to Chicago--didn't know what to do when I got to any place, for that +matter; but we poked around, gettin' a bite to eat every once in a +while, and slept in the slambangin'est place I ever saw. The lake caught +me, and I found out how soon the first boat went out, and we got on her +and here we are. When I told these here folks where I was from I braced +myself, expectin' to have a fight right there, but I want to tell you +that I was never better treated in my life. All the good folks ain't +huddled together in one community, I tell you; and this knockin' round +has opened my eyes mightily. Why, I rickollect when they sorter looked +down on Conkwright because his father wa'n't born in the South. Yes, +sir, and they gave me work right off--that is, they call it work, but I +call it play--gatherin' fruit. Why, with us, when a feller wanted to +rest he'd go out and gather fruit, if he could find any. Yes, sir, and +I'm goin' to stay right here till the cat makes her final jump one way +or another." + +How fondly they listened as I talked about the old place, of well-known +trees, of the big rock on the brink of the ravine. I even told them that +the General lamented the breaking of the engagement, that he had come as +an agent, that his son was at fault. Guinea smiled at this, and I +thought that her eyes grew darker. + +I learned that my train was not to leave until night. I was glad of +this, for it gave me a sweet lingering time; and in the afternoon Guinea +and I went down to the river. + +"We will get a boat and row up past the island, away up to the beautiful +hills," she said. "But can you row?" she asked, with a look of concern. + +"I have pulled a boat against a swifter current than this." I answered. +"I lived near the bank of a rapid stream." + +We got into a graceful boat and skimmed easily over the water. Now it +was my time to wonder and to muse over the changes that had come--to +dream as I looked at her, as she sat, trailing her hand in the water, +her hand, my hand, though she had not let me take it to help her into +the boat. With her a swamp would have been attractive, but here we were +in a paradise. Boats up and down the river; lovers went by, singing. On +one shore the scene was quiet, with easy slopes and with houses here and +there; but the other shore was wild with bluffs, with tangled vines and +monstrous trees that storms had gnarled and twisted. Here a spring +gushed out with a gleeful laugh, and lovers paused to listen, and in its +flow the city oarsman cooled his blistered hands. + +"Guinea, do you see that high bluff up there among the pine trees?" + +"Yes, and isn't it a charming place?" + +"I'm glad you think so?" + +"Why are you glad of that?" + +"Because you--I mean a woman who has had her way--because she may live +there. When at last she is tired of that way, and when she has gone to a +man with her hands held out, he will take her to a house built on that +bluff, a summer home. I'm not joking. Next year there will be a +beautiful home up there. Don't you see, the land is for sale? And in the +house a man is going to write a history of a woman who had her way and +of a man who--well, I hardly know what to say about him, but I am not +going to hide his faults nor cover up his weaknesses." + +"Are you really in earnest, Mr. Hawes?" + +"Yes, I mean every word of it. Wouldn't you--I mean, wouldn't the woman +who had persisted in having her way--wouldn't she like a home up there?" + +In her voice was the musical cluck that so often had charmed me. "She +would be happy anywhere with the man who had permitted her to have her +way, and I know that she would be delighted to live up there. And you--I +mean the man---wouldn't have any of the trees cut down, would he?" + +"Not one. He would build the house in that open place." + +"Charming," she said. "How sweet a religion could be made of a life up +there, with the river and the hills and the island--beautiful." + +"Guinea, I wish you would tell me something. Did you ever really +love--him?" + +"When I have come to you as I told you I would come, you will not have +to ask me anything." + +"But can you give me some idea as to how long I may have to wait? My +confidence in you is complete, but you must know that to wait is +painful. Suppose that a certain something that you are waiting +for--suppose that nothing should come of it? What then?" + +"No matter what takes place, I will come to you. I know that it must +appear foolish, I know that I am but vague in what I try to make you +understand, but--you will wait a while longer, won't you?" + +Her voice was so pleading, her manner was so full of distress, that I +hastened to tell her that I would wait no matter how long she might +deign to hold me off, and that never again could she find cause to +reprove my impatience. She thanked me with a smile and with many an +endearing word, and onward we went, the boats passing us, the songs of +lovers reaching us from above and below. We landed and climbed the +bluff, and I selected the exact spot whereon the house was to be; we +loitered in the shade and counted the minutes as they flew away like +pigeons from a trap, but we could not shoot them and bring them back; so +they were gone, and it was soon time for us to go, for the light of the +sun was weakening. Down the river we went, singing "Juanita," she +rippling the water with her hand, I half-hearted in my rowing, dreamily +wishing that the train might leave me. + +Close to me at the door she stood. The old man was outside, waiting to +go with me to the railway station. She bowed her head and I kissed her +hair. + + + + +CHAPTER XX. + + +The sun had just gone down, and a man was beating a triangle to announce +that it was lodge-night, when I stepped upon the sidewalk in front of +Conkwright's office. The old man was locking his door. I spoke to him +and he turned about, and, seeing me, merely nodded, threw open the door +and bade me go in. "Mighty glad you've got back," he said. "They are +going to bring that trial on right away, and it will be none too soon +for us, I assure you. Let me open this window. Been about as hot a day +as I ever felt. Well, what have you got to say?" + +"So much that I scarcely know how to begin." + +He grunted. "The prelude to an unimportant story. But, go on." + +Long before I was done with my recital he sat with his eyes wide open, +seeming to wonder whether my reason had slipped a cog. + +"Wonderful," he said. "No, it is not wonderful, nothing is wonderful. +The mere fact that a thing happens proves that there is about it no +element of the marvelous. It is the strange thing that does not occur. +When it does occur it ceases to be strange. And you say he will be here +to-morrow? Now, you let me take charge of him as soon as he arrives. If +you don't he will not only get the mine for nothing, but will go away +with your eye teeth. I'll go home to-night and study up this question, +and by to-morrow night I'll know more about it than he does. Yes, sir, a +good deal more, or at least make him think so. You were long-headed in +deciding to slip out there and buy more land, and by the way, Parker is +in town. No, sir, there is no telling what may happen. See Parker +to-night and meet me here to-morrow morning." + +I found Alf reading a letter which Millie had contrived to send him. +Under the light of the smoky lamp his face looked sallow and thin, but +his eyes were full of happiness. "She's got the noblest spirit that ever +suffered, and noble spirits must suffer," he said as he handed me the +letter. "See, she begs my forgiveness for having kept me on the +gridiron. But doesn't one letter atone for a whole year of broiling? Ah, +and you have been broiled, too, haven't you, Bill? Now let them put the +balm on us. The Judge tells me that I am soon to be turned out, and I'll +come out wiser than I was when I came in, for I have improved my time +with reading. Have you heard from the folks?" + +I told him my story, and I told it quietly, but it greatly excited him, +and time and again he thrust his hands through the iron lattice to grasp +me. "So you will go out not only wiser, but a richer man," I said. "You +will not have to go into a field and plow in the blistering heat while +other men are sitting in the shade. All our trouble has been for the +best, and with deep reverence we must acknowledge it. And soon we will +go together out to the old place and peacefully smoke our pipes up under +the rafters. Well, I have left you the subject for a pleasant dream, and +I must go now to look for Parker. As I said to your father, there is no +telling how much money we may get, but whatever comes we share." + +"Not if it's very much, Bill. I don't need much; I wouldn't know what to +do with it. But if you could only do one thing it would make me the +happiest man that ever lived." + +"Tell me what it is. It can surely be done." + +"Why, if I could only get the old Morton place. It's about three miles +from the General's, and it used to belong to his grandfather. One of his +aims in life has been to get it back into the family, and if you could +get it for me----" + +"You shall have it." + +"Don't say so, Bill, unless you think there's a chance." + +"It's not a chance, but a certainty. You shall have the place. And what +a delight it will be to the General to visit his daughter there. Now, +don't speculate--let it be settled. Well, I'll see you to-morrow and +tell you how it's all to turn out, but have no fears about getting the +farm." + +I found Parker at the tavern. He told me that I might have a few acres +of land down about the spring, but that I would have to pay a little +more for it than he had paid. "We can't afford to trade for the mere fun +of it," he said. "My father used to do such things and they came mighty +nigh having to haul him to the poor house." + +I offered him a sum that pleased him, that must, indeed, have delighted +him, for he offered to go out and set up a feast of cove oysters and +crackers, a great and liberal ceremony in the country; and over the tin +plates in a grocery store the transaction was celebrated. I met him +again early at morning, and before the day was half-grown I saw our +transaction spread upon the records. And at night Ging arrived. I +introduced him to Conkwright. "The Judge will represent me," said I, +"and I will stand by any agreement he may enter into with you." + +"All right," Ging replied. "How far is it out to the mine?" + +"About five miles." + +"Better go out to-night. Haven't any time to lose. Get a rig and we'll +go out." + +"Might as well wait until morning," said the Judge. "We can't do +anything to-night." + +"I know, but by staying there to-night we'll be there right early in the +morning. Get a rig." + +They drove away and I went round to the jail to tell Alf that the old +Morton place was rapidly coming his way. I slept but little that night +and I was nervous the next day, as I sat in the Judge's office waiting +for him to return. At 11 o'clock he drove up alone. + +"Where is Ging?" I asked as the old man got out of the buggy. + +"Gone to the telegraph office. Come in and I'll tell you all about it." + +We entered the office and I stood there impatient at his delay, for +instead of telling me, he was silent, walking up and down the room with +his hands under his coat behind him. + +"Did you say he had gone to the telegraph office?" + +"Yes; said he had to communicate with his partner. Think he must have +been somewhat startled at my knowledge of mica; but if he should spring +the subject on me a week from now he would be still more startled--at my +ignorance. In this instance I have been what is termed a case lawyer." + +And still I waited and still he continued to walk up and down the room, +his hands behind him. + +"Communicate with his partner. Did he make an offer?" + +"Well, he hunted around in that neighborhood, but his gun hung fire. The +truth is I set the price myself. There is no doubt as to the value of +the mine--finest in the world, I should think." + +"What did you tell him he could have it for?" + +"Well, I suppose we could get more for it, but I told him that he might +have it for six hundred thousand dollars. I--why, what's wrong with that +offer? Isn't it enough?" + +"Enough! It is more than I dared to dream!" I cried. + +"Ah, hah. And because you don't know anything about mica. It didn't +startle him; simply remarked that he would telegraph to his partner. +He'll take it. He'll give you a check and I'll send it over to +Knoxville, Tenn.--don't want this little bank to handle that amount. +What are you going to do with the money?" + +"I'm going to buy the old Morton place for Alf, give the old man as much +as I can compel him to take, and I'm going to build a home on a high +bluff overlooking the St. Jo river, in Michigan. And I don't know yet +what else I may do. It is so overwhelming that my mind is in a tangle. +But I am going to give you----" + +"I don't charge you anything for my services," he broke in, humorously +winking his old eyes. "You are to be my law partner, you know." + +"Ah, that was reserved for time to bring about, in the event that I +should ever become a lawyer, but that possibility is now removed. I'm +not going to study law. The law is very forcible and very logical, but +it is too dry for me. I don't believe that I am practical enough for a +lawyer. I would rather read poetry and luminous prose than to study +rules of civil conduct. I am going to bejewel my house with books and +then I am going to live. I heard you say that the poet was the only man +who really lives, but he is not--those who worship with him live with +him. Yes, I am going to buy old books--I don't like new ones--and in my +library I will rule over the kingdoms of the earth. But I am going to +give you ten thousand dollars." + +"You wouldn't make a very good lawyer, Bill. I suspected it, and now you +prove it. My dear fellow, I have no children, and am getting old, +therefore I have no use for money. Wait a minute. I believe there is a +five thousand dollar mortgage on my house. Well, you may lend me ten +thousand, but I don't believe I'll ever pay it back. I can't afford to +violate the rule. When a man lends me money it's gone. And that's right, +for if I thought I had to pay it back I might dodge you. Yes, sir. As I +was driving back to town I came within one of permitting myself to look +upon this happening as a strange affair, but it is not; it's perfectly +natural. Yes, sir. And as soon as the news spreads around, nearly every +man in the community will turn out to hunt for mica, and not a speck of +it will be found. A reminder of the imitators that clamor when the clear +voice of a genius has been heard. If I keep on fooling with this subject +I will regard it as strange, after all. Just think of the ten thousand +things that led to the discovery of that mine. Suppose we could trace +any occurrence back to its source. Take my sitting here, for instance. +Caused, we will say, by a dead cat. My father, a very young fellow at +the time, found a dead cat lying on his father's door-steps, and he +threw it over into a neighbor's yard. The neighbor saw him, came over +and demanded that he be whipped. He was whipped, according to the good, +old religious custom, and he ran away from home, went to many places, +came into this state as a clock peddler, fell in love, married, and here +I am, sitting here--all caused by a dead cat. My mother was the daughter +of a very proud old fellow. She ran away with my father and never again +was she received at home. I may have dreamed it, but it seems that I +remember my mother holding me in her arms, pointing to an old brick +house and telling me that my grandfather lived there. Yes, sir, if we +permit our minds to drift that way, everything is strange. Here comes +our man." + +Ging stepped in, mopping his face with a handkerchief. "I'll take it," +he said, and it seemed to me that the room began to turn round. "Let us +fix it up at once," he added. "I have engaged a man to drive me to the +station and I want to take the next train." + +Evening came. The day had been filled with tremors and whirls, so dazed +was I, dreamily listening to details, now startled, now seeming to be +far away--shaking hands, signing papers; and now it was all settled, and +I, on a horse, rode toward home to seek a night of rest in the country. +The moon was full. I heard the sharp clack of hoofs, and, looking back, +I saw a man riding as if it were his aim to overtake me. I jogged along +slowly and Etheredge came up. + +"How are you, Mr. Hawes? I have heard of your wonderful luck and I +congratulate you. I intended to see you in town to-night, but learned +that you had come out here, so I rode fast to overtake you. I have sold +out and will leave here to-morrow morning." + +"What! Then you won't be here at the trial?" + +"I shall not be needed, sir. Now I am going to tell you something and I +hope that in your mind, and in the mind of the public, the good which it +will do may in some measure atone for the wrong----" + +His horse stumbled, and he did not complete the sentence. I was afraid +to say anything, was afraid that eagerness on my part might stir the +vagaries of his peculiar mind and drive him into stubborn silence. So I +said nothing. He rode close to me, reached over and put his hand on my +arm. "Mr. Hawes," he said, leaning toward me, and in the moonlight his +face was ghastly, "Mr. Hawes, Alf Jucklin did not kill Dan Stuart." + +"What!" I cried, bringing my horse to a stand-still and seizing his +bridle-rein. + +"Let us be perfectly calm now, and I'll tell you all about it. Turn +loose my bridle-rein and let us ride on slowly." + +Down the moon-whitened road the horses slowly walked. I waited for him +to continue. "No, sir, Alf didn't kill him. I found him in the road, +after Alf had called me, and I took him into my house and there was not +a mark on him, not one. I stripped him and nowhere was his skin broken. +Dan was born with organic disease of the heart, and for years I had been +treating him. He was sensitive and never spoke of his ailment and I was +the only one who knew the extent of it. Two years ago I told him that he +was likely to die at any minute, and I repeatedly warned him against +fatigue or any sort of agitation. And it was rage that killed him when +Alf's pistol fired. The hammer of Dan's pistol caught in his pocket and +his failure to get it out threw him into a rage and he died. I told the +coroner that he was shot through the breast, and I slyly contrived not +to be placed upon my oath. They had Alf's confession, and that was +enough. And no one cared to strip the dead man to examine the wound. It +was a piece of humbuggery, as all coroners' inquests are, and so the +verdict was given. I am a mean man; I acknowledge it--I am narrow and +vindictive, but I would have made a confession of the manner of Dan's +death rather than to see Alf hanged. I knew that there would be a new +trial; I intended to leave the community and I resolved to defer my +statement until just before going. That about covers the case, I think." + +"Will you go with me to a justice of the peace, write out your statement +and swear to it?" I asked, striving to be calm. + +"Certainly. Old Perdue is a justice. We'll go over there." + +The moon was still high as I galloped toward town with the statement in +my pocket. I went straightway to Conkwright's house and with the +door-knocker set every dog in the town to barking. + +"Why, what on earth is the matter?" the Judge asked as he opened the +door. "Oh, it's you, is it, Bill? I've got a negro here somewhere, but +Gabriel might blow a blast in his ear and never stir his wool. Come into +the library." + +He lighted a lamp, and I handed him the doctor's statement. He read it +without the least show of surprise; and, putting the paper into his +pocket, he sat down, closed his eyes, and with his thumb and forefinger +pressed his eye-lids. + +"Etheredge is going to leave in the morning," I said. + +"He ought to be sent to the penitentiary. But let him go. Penitentiary +is better off without him. In the morning we will have several of our +leading doctors exhume the body to verify the statement. I'll attend to +it. Yes, sir. A certain form must be observed. A jury will be impaneled, +the statement will be read, and the judge will, in a sort of a charge, +declare that the prisoner is innocent. Some things are strange after +all. A venomous scoundrel, but let him go. Yes, I'll attend to +everything in the morning. You'd better sleep here." + +"No, I'm going to the jail and then to the telegraph office." + + + + +CHAPTER XXI. + +CONCLUSION. + + +How soft had been the day, how tender the tone of every voice. The road +under the moon was white and from a persimmon tree in an old field came +the trill of a mockingbird. Two happy men were riding toward an old +home. + +"And here is where he fell," said Alf. "I am tempted to get down and +pray. Bill, you don't know what it is to be freed from the conviction +that you have killed a man. He might not have died then if it had not +been for me, but, thank God, I didn't kill him. Yes, here is where I +eased him down. I remembered afterward that I had not seen a drop of his +blood and I was deeply thankful for it. We can almost see the General's +house from here. You saw the old man to-day when he came up and shook +hands with me. He hardly knew what he was about, and he said, 'Alf, +what's your father doing?' But his eyes were full of tears and he had to +wipe them when I told him that I was going to buy the old Morton place. +He thinks you are a great man, Bill, and I honor him for it. To-night we +will sleep in our room and early to-morrow morning I'm going over to see +Millie. Do you think I ought to go to-night? No, I will wait and dream +over it." + +In the old room we sat and peacefully smoked our pipes. And after I had +gone to bed, and when I thought Alf was asleep, I heard him talking to +himself. No, it was not talk, it was a chant, and it reminded me of his +mother. I said nothing and I sank to sleep, and strange, mystic words +were in my ears, soothing me down to forgetful slumber. + +We were aroused early at morning by the rattle of a wagon at the door. +The old people--Guinea had come back. Alf dressed quickly and ran down +stairs, and I stuffed my ears that I might hear no sound from below. +After a long time, and while I sat looking out of the window, the old +man came up. + +"By jings, I must have got that dispatch of yourn before you sent it. +Mighty glad to see you again. But don't go down stairs yet. Everybody +down there is as foolish as a chicken with his neck wrung. I tell you +the Lord works things out in his own way. Sometimes we may think that we +could run things better, but I don't believe we could! and, thurfore, I +say, kiver to kiver. Ah, Lord, what a time we have had. Yes, sir, a time +if there ever was one. Alf has jest told me what you intend to do, but +if you think that you are goin' to crowd a lot of money off on me you +are wrong. Give us this old house and see that we don't need +nothin'--but, of course, you'll do that. I thought I'd let 'em fight to +a finish up yander, but I didn't. They looked at me so pitiful that I +called an old feller that happened to be passin' along and told him +that he might have 'em. I've got to have a Sam and a Bob. Old +Craighead, that lives about ten miles from here, has some of the finest +in the world. Always wanted 'em, but they were so high that I couldn't +tip-toe and reach 'em. Reckon you could fix it so I could git a couple?" + +"You shall have as many as you want--all of them." + +"I'm a thousand times obleeged to you. Yes, sir; sometimes we think we +could run things better than He does, but I don't reckon we could. We +seen young Lundsford as we driv along jest now. And I think he'll be +over here putty soon, but don't you worry. No, sir, we ain't got nothin' +to worry about now. Believe it would push us to scratch up a worry, +don't you? By jings, though, I hardly know what to do; I step around +here like a blind sheep in a barn, as the feller says. Well, it's +gettin' pretty quiet down there now. Alf got away as soon as he could, +and has gone over to the General's. Hush a minit. Thought I heard Chyd's +voice. Well, I'm going to poke round a little, and it's not worth while +to tell you to make yourself at home." + +He went out, and I heard him humming a tune as he tramped slowly down +the stairs. I took a seat near the window. Voices reached me, and, +looking down through the branches of a mulberry tree, I saw Guinea +sitting on a bench, and near her stood Chyd Lundsford. In his hand he +held a switch and with it he was slowly cutting at a bloom on a vine +that grew about the tree. He was talking. Guinea's face was turned +upward and her hands were clasped behind her head. I could look down +into her eyes, but she did not see me, and I felt a sense of +self-reproach at thus watching her, listening for her to speak, and I +thought to get up, but my legs refused to move, and I sat there, looking +down into her eyes. Her face was pale and her lips, which had seemed to +me in bloom with the rich juice of life, were now drawn thin. + +"Of course, I was wrong," he said, "but I'm not the first man that ever +did a wrong. And I should think that as a broad-minded and generous +woman you could forgive me. I don't think that you can find any man who +would take any better care of you than I would. I've got no romance +about me, and why should I have? I can just remember seeing the trail of +that monster called advancement--that mighty thing called progress, +though in the guise of war, and that thing swallowed the romance of this +country. I say that I can remember seeing the fading trail, but I know +its history and I know that if it did not swallow romance it should have +done so. I don't suppose I could ever think as much of any woman as I do +of you, and I know that no woman could make my house so bright and +cheerful. I was afraid of any complication that might hurt my prospects +as a physician, my standing in the opinion of a careful and +discriminating public; so, influenced by that sense of self-protection, +I broke our engagement. But now I beg of you to renew it." + +"On your knees!" she said, without looking at him. + +"Now, Guinea, that's ridiculous. I am willing to make all sorts of +amends----" + +"On your knees!" she said. + +"I see that there is no use to appeal to your reason. I suppose, +however, that the way to reason with a woman is to gratify her whim and +then appeal to her sense. It is a foolish thing to do, but in order to +secure a hearing I will do as you say." + +He sank upon his knees. She glanced down at him and then looked up at +the sky. He began to talk, but she stopped him with a motion of her +hand. + +"You have heard the preacher say that we must be born again," she said. +"I have been born again--born into the kingdom of love, and I find +myself in a rapturous heaven. Get up." He obeyed, and she continued. +"And you are so far from this kingdom that I cannot see you--you are off +somewhere in the dark, and to me your words are cold. But there is one +who stands in the light and I must go to him." + +I sprang from my seat and hastened down the stairs. My heart beat fast, +and I trembled. I was frightened like a child, like a timid overgrown +boy, who is called to the table to sit beside a girl whom he slyly +worships; and I ran away--down the path to the spring. I heard her +calling me, and I stood there trembling, waiting for a holy spirit that +was searching for me; and worship made me dumb. She came down the path, +and, seeing me, hastened toward me with her head bent forward and her +hands held out. And I caught her in my arms, swept her off the ground +and held her to my beating heart. + +And over the stones the water was laughing, and the strip of green +moss-land flashed in the sun. I saw the old man walking up the ravine, +with his hands behind him, and I caught the faint sound of a tune he was +humming. Slowly her arms came from about my neck, and hand in hand we +walked toward the house, she in the shining path, I on the green sward; +and as we drew near we saw Alf and Millie, standing under a tree, +waiting for us. + + +The End. + + + +--------------------------------------------------+ + |Transcriber's Note: | + | | + |Variations in hyphenated words and inconsistencies| + |in dialect have been retained as they appear in | + |the original publication. | + +--------------------------------------------------+ + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Jucklins, by Opie Read + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE JUCKLINS *** + +***** This file should be named 26499.txt or 26499.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/2/6/4/9/26499/ + +Produced by Mark C. 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