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diff --git a/2858-h/2858-h.htm b/2858-h/2858-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..d8fd173 --- /dev/null +++ b/2858-h/2858-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,7225 @@ +<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?> + +<!DOCTYPE html + PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" + "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd" > + +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" lang="en"> + <head> + <title> + Cressy, by Bret Harte + </title> + <style type="text/css" xml:space="preserve"> + + body { margin:5%; background:#faebd0; text-align:justify} + P { text-indent: 1em; margin-top: .25em; margin-bottom: .25em; } + H1,H2,H3,H4,H5,H6 { text-align: center; margin-left: 15%; margin-right: 15%; } + hr { width: 50%; text-align: center;} + .foot { margin-left: 20%; margin-right: 20%; text-align: justify; text-indent: -3em; font-size: 90%; } + blockquote {font-size: 97%; font-style: italic; margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%;} + .mynote {background-color: #DDE; color: #000; padding: .5em; margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 95%;} + .toc { margin-left: 10%; margin-bottom: .75em;} + .toc2 { margin-left: 20%;} + div.fig { display:block; margin:0 auto; text-align:center; } + div.middle { margin-left: 20%; margin-right: 20%; text-align: justify; } + .figleft {float: left; margin-left: 0%; margin-right: 1%;} + .figright {float: right; margin-right: 0%; margin-left: 1%;} + .pagenum {display:inline; font-size: 70%; font-style:normal; + margin: 0; padding: 0; position: absolute; right: 1%; + text-align: right;} + pre { font-style: italic; font-size: 90%; margin-left: 10%;} + +</style> + </head> + <body> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Cressy, by Bret Harte + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Cressy + +Author: Bret Harte + +Release Date: May 27, 2006 [EBook #2858] +Last Updated: March 4, 2018 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: UTF-8 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK CRESSY *** + + + + +Produced by Donald Lainson; David Widger + + + + + +</pre> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> + <h1> + CRESSY + </h1> + <p> + <br /> + </p> + <h2> + By Bret Harte + </h2> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> + <blockquote> + <p class="toc"> + <big><b>CONTENTS</b></big> + </p> + <p> + <br /> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0001"> <big><b>CRESSY</b></big> </a> + </p> + <p> + <br /> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0001"> CHAPTER I. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0002"> CHAPTER II. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0003"> CHAPTER III. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0004"> CHAPTER IV. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0005"> CHAPTER V. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0006"> CHAPTER VI. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0007"> CHAPTER VII. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0008"> CHAPTER VIII. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0009"> CHAPTER IX. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0010"> CHAPTER X. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0011"> CHAPTER XI. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0012"> CHAPTER XII. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0013"> CHAPTER XIII. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0014"> CHAPTER XIV. </a> + </p> + </blockquote> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0001" id="link2H_4_0001"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> <br /> <br /> + </p> + <h1> + CRESSY + </h1> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0001" id="link2HCH0001"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER I. + </h2> + <p> + As the master of the Indian Spring school emerged from the pine woods into + the little clearing before the schoolhouse, he stopped whistling, put his + hat less jauntily on his head, threw away some wild flowers he had + gathered on his way, and otherwise assumed the severe demeanor of his + profession and his mature age—which was at least twenty. Not that he + usually felt this an assumption; it was a firm conviction of his serious + nature that he impressed others, as he did himself, with the blended + austerity and ennui of deep and exhausted experience. + </p> + <p> + The building which was assigned to him and his flock by the Board of + Education of Tuolumne County, California, had been originally a church. It + still bore a faded odor of sanctity, mingled, however, with a later and + slightly alcoholic breath of political discussion, the result of its + weekly occupation under the authority of the Board as a Tribune for the + enunciation of party principles and devotion to the Liberties of the + People. There were a few dog-eared hymn-books on the teacher's desk, and + the blackboard but imperfectly hid an impassioned appeal to the citizens + of Indian Spring to “Rally” for Stebbins as Supervisor. The master had + been struck with the size of the black type in which this placard was + printed, and with a shrewd perception of its value to the round wandering + eyes of his smaller pupils, allowed it to remain as a pleasing example of + orthography. Unfortunately, although subdivided and spelt by them in its + separate letters with painful and perfect accuracy, it was collectively + known as “Wally,” and its general import productive of vague hilarity. + </p> + <p> + Taking a large key from his pocket, the master unlocked the door and threw + it open, stepping back with a certain precaution begotten of his + experience in once finding a small but sociable rattlesnake coiled up near + the threshold. A slight disturbance which followed his intrusion showed + the value of that precaution, and the fact that the room had been already + used for various private and peaceful gatherings of animated nature. An + irregular attendance of yellow-birds and squirrels dismissed themselves + hurriedly through the broken floor and windows, but a golden lizard, + stiffened suddenly into stony fright on the edge of an open arithmetic, + touched the heart of the master so strongly by its resemblance to some + kept-in and forgotten scholar who had succumbed over the task he could not + accomplish, that he was seized with compunction. + </p> + <p> + Recovering himself, and re-establishing, as it were, the decorous + discipline of the room by clapping his hands and saying “Sho!” he passed + up the narrow aisle of benches, replacing the forgotten arithmetic, and + picking up from the desks here and there certain fragmentary pieces of + plaster and crumbling wood that had fallen from the ceiling, as if this + grove of Academus had been shedding its leaves overnight. When he reached + his own desk he lifted the lid and remained for some moments motionless, + gazing into it. His apparent meditation however was simply the combined + reflection of his own features in a small pocket-mirror in its recesses + and a perplexing doubt in his mind whether the sacrifice of his budding + moustache was not essential to the professional austerity of his + countenance. But he was presently aware of the sound of small voices, + light cries, and brief laughter scattered at vague and remote distances + from the schoolhouse—not unlike the birds and squirrels he had just + dispossessed. He recognized by these signs that it was nine o'clock, and + his scholars were assembling. + </p> + <p> + They came in their usual desultory fashion—the fashion of country + school-children the world over—irregularly, spasmodically, and + always as if accidentally; a few hand-in-hand, others driven ahead of or + dropped behind their elders; some in straggling groups more or less + coherent and at times only connected by far-off intermediate voices + scattered on a space of half a mile, but never quite alone; always + preoccupied by something else than the actual business on hand; appearing + suddenly from ditches, behind trunks, and between fence-rails; cropping up + in unexpected places along the road after vague and purposeless detours—seemingly + going anywhere and everywhere but to school! So unlooked-for, in fact, was + their final arrival that the master, who had a few moments before failed + to descry a single torn straw hat or ruined sun-bonnet above his visible + horizon, was always startled to find them suddenly under his windows, as + if, like the birds, they had alighted from the trees. Nor was their moral + attitude towards their duty any the more varied; they always arrived as if + tired and reluctant, with a doubting sulkiness that perhaps afterwards + beamed into a charming hypocrisy, but invariably temporizing with their + instincts until the last moment, and only relinquishing possible truancy + on the very threshold. Even after they were marshalled on their usual + benches they gazed at each other every morning with a perfectly fresh + astonishment and a daily recurring enjoyment of some hidden joke in this + tremendous rencontre. + </p> + <p> + It had been the habit of the master to utilize these preliminary + vagrancies of his little flock by inviting them on assembling to recount + any interesting incident of their journey hither; or failing this, from + their not infrequent shyness in expressing what had secretly interested + them, any event that had occurred within their knowledge since they last + met. He had done this, partly to give them time to recover themselves in + that more formal atmosphere, and partly, I fear, because, notwithstanding + his conscientious gravity, it greatly amused him. It also diverted them + from their usual round-eyed, breathless contemplation of himself—a + regular morning inspection which generally embraced every detail of his + dress and appearance, and made every change or deviation the subject of + whispered comment or stony astonishment. He knew that they knew him more + thoroughly than he did himself, and shrank from the intuitive vision of + these small clairvoyants. + </p> + <p> + “Well?” said the master gravely. + </p> + <p> + There was the usual interval of bashful hesitation, verging on nervous + hilarity or hypocritical attention. For the last six months this question + by the master had been invariably received each morning as a veiled + pleasantry which might lead to baleful information or conceal some query + out of the dreadful books before him. Yet this very element of danger had + its fascinations. Johnny Filgee, a small boy, blushed violently, and, + without getting up, began hurriedly in a high key, “Tige ith got,” and + then suddenly subsided into a whisper. + </p> + <p> + “Speak up, Johnny,” said the master encouragingly. + </p> + <p> + “Please, sir, it ain't anythin' he's seed—nor any real news,” said + Rupert Filgee, his elder brother, rising with family concern and frowning + openly upon Johnny; “it's jest his foolishness; he oughter be licked.” + Finding himself unexpectedly on his feet, and apparently at the end of a + long speech, he colored also, and then said hurriedly, “Jimmy Snyder—HE + seed suthin'. Ask HIM!” and sat down—a recognized hero. + </p> + <p> + Every eye, including the master's, was turned on Jimmy Snyder. But that + youthful observer, instantly diving his head and shoulders into his desk, + remained there gurgling as if under water. Two or three nearest him + endeavored with some struggling to bring him to an intelligible surface + again. The master waited patiently. Johnny Filgee took advantage of the + diversion to begin again in a high key, “Tige ith got thix,” and subsided. + </p> + <p> + “Come, Jimmy,” said the master, with a touch of peremptoriness. Thus + adjured, Jimmy Snyder came up glowingly, and bristling with full stops and + exclamation points. “Seed a black b'ar comin' outer Daves' woods,” he said + excitedly. “Nigh to me ez you be. 'N big ez a hoss; 'n snarlin'! 'n + snappin'!—like gosh! Kem along—ker—clump torords me. + Reckoned he'd skeer me! Didn't skeer me worth a cent. I heaved a rock at + him—I did now!” (in defiance of murmurs of derisive comment)—“'n + he slid. Ef he'd kem up furder I'd hev up with my slate and swotted him + over the snoot—bet your boots!” + </p> + <p> + The master here thought fit to interfere, and gravely point out that the + habit of striking bears as large as a horse with a school-slate was + equally dangerous to the slate (which was also the property of Tuolumne + County) and to the striker; and that the verb “to swot” and the noun + substantive “snoot” were likewise indefensible, and not to be tolerated. + Thus admonished Jimmy Snyder, albeit unshaken in his faith in his own + courage, sat down. + </p> + <p> + A slight pause ensued. The youthful Filgee, taking advantage of it, opened + in a higher key, “Tige ith”—but the master's attention was here + diverted by the searching eyes of Octavia Dean, a girl of eleven, who + after the fashion of her sex preferred a personal recognition of her + presence before she spoke. Succeeding in catching his eye, she threw back + her long hair from her shoulders with an easy habitual gesture, rose, and + with a faint accession of color said: + </p> + <p> + “Cressy McKinstry came home from Sacramento. Mrs. McKinstry told mother + she's comin' back here to school.” + </p> + <p> + The master looked up with an alacrity perhaps inconsistent with his + cynical austerity. Seeing the young girl curiously watching him with an + expectant smile, he regretted it. Cressy McKinstry, who was sixteen years + old, had been one of the pupils he had found at the school when he first + came. But as he had also found that she was there in the extraordinary + attitude of being “engaged” to one Seth Davis, a fellow-pupil of nineteen, + and as most of the courtship was carried on freely and unceremoniously + during school-hours with the full permission of the master's predecessor, + the master had been obliged to point out to the parents of the devoted + couple the embarrassing effects of this association on the discipline of + the school. The result had been the withdrawal of the lovers, and possibly + the good-will of the parents. The return of the young lady was + consequently a matter of some significance. Had the master's protest been + accepted, or had the engagement itself been broken off? + </p> + <p> + Either was not improbable. His momentary loss of attention was Johnny + Filgee's great gain. + </p> + <p> + “Tige,” said Johnny, with sudden and alarming distinctness, “ith got thix + pupths—mothly yaller.” + </p> + <p> + In the laugh which followed this long withheld announcement of an increase + in the family of Johnny's yellow and disreputable setter “Tiger,” who + usually accompanied him to school and howled outside, the master joined + with marked distinctness. Then he said, with equally marked severity, + “Books!” The little levee was ended, and school began. + </p> + <p> + It continued for two hours with short sighs, corrugations of small + foreheads, the complaining cries and scratchings of slate pencils over + slates, and other signs of minor anguish among the more youthful of the + flock; and with more or less whisperings, movements of the lips, and + unconscious soliloquy among the older pupils. The master moved slowly up + and down the aisle with a word of encouragement or explanation here and + there, stopping with his hands behind him to gaze abstractedly out of the + windows to the wondering envy of the little ones. A faint hum, as of + invisible insects, gradually pervaded the school; the more persistent + droning of a large bee had become dangerously soporific. The hot breath of + the pines without had invaded the doors and windows; the warped shingles + and weather-boarding at times creaked and snapped under the rays of the + vertical and unclouded sun. A gentle perspiration broke out like a mild + epidemic in the infant class; little curls became damp, brief lashes limp, + round eyes moist, and small eyelids heavy. The master himself started, and + awoke out of a perilous dream of other eyes and hair to collect himself + severely. For the irresolute, half-embarrassed, half-lazy figure of a man + had halted doubtingly before the porch and open door. Luckily the + children, who were facing the master with their backs to the entrance, did + not see it. + </p> + <p> + Yet the figure was neither alarming nor unfamiliar. The master at once + recognized it as Ben Dabney, otherwise known as “Uncle Ben,” a + good-humored but not over-bright miner, who occupied a small cabin on an + unambitious claim in the outskirts of Indian Spring. His avuncular title + was evidently only an ironical tribute to his amiable incompetency and + heavy good-nature, for he was still a young man with no family ties, and + by reason of his singular shyness not even a visitor in the few families + of the neighborhood. As the master looked up, he had an irritating + recollection that Ben had been already haunting him for the last two days, + alternately appearing and disappearing in his path to and from school as a + more than usually reserved and bashful ghost. This, to the master's + cynical mind, clearly indicated that, like most ghosts, he had something + of essentially selfish import to communicate. Catching the apparition's + half-appealing eye, he proceeded to exorcise it with a portentous frown + and shake of the head, that caused it to timidly wane and fall away from + the porch, only however to reappear and wax larger a few minutes later at + one of the side windows. The infant class hailing his appearance as a + heaven-sent boon, the master was obliged to walk to the door and command + him sternly away, when, retreating to the fence, he mounted the uppermost + rail, and drawing a knife from his pocket, cut a long splinter from the + rail, and began to whittle it in patient and meditative silence. But when + recess was declared, and the relieved feelings of the little flock had + vent in the clearing around the schoolhouse, the few who rushed to the + spot found that Uncle Ben had already disappeared. Whether the appearance + of the children was too inconsistent with his ghostly mission, or whether + his heart failed him at the last moment, the master could not determine. + Yet, distasteful as the impending interview promised to be, the master was + vaguely and irritatingly disappointed. + </p> + <p> + A few hours later, when school was being dismissed, the master found + Octavia Dean lingering near his desk. Looking into the girl's mischievous + eyes, he good-humoredly answered their expectation by referring to her + morning's news. “I thought Miss McKinstry had been married by this time,” + he said carelessly. + </p> + <p> + Octavia, swinging her satchel like a censer, as if she were performing + some act of thurification over her completed tasks, replied demurely: “Oh + no! dear no—not THAT.” + </p> + <p> + “So it would seem,” said the master. + </p> + <p> + “I reckon she never kalkilated to, either,” continued Octavia, slyly + looking up from the corner of her lashes. + </p> + <p> + “Indeed!” + </p> + <p> + “No—she was just funning with Seth Davis—that's all.” + </p> + <p> + “Funning with him?” + </p> + <p> + “Yes, sir. Kinder foolin' him, you know.” + </p> + <p> + “Kinder foolin' him!” + </p> + <p> + For an instant the master felt it his professional duty to protest against + this most unmaidenly and frivolous treatment of the matrimonial + engagement, but a second glance at the significant face of his youthful + auditor made him conclude that her instinctive knowledge of her own sex + could be better trusted than his imperfect theories. He turned towards his + desk without speaking. Octavia gave an extra swing to her satchel, tossing + it over her shoulder with a certain small coquettishness and moved towards + the door. As she did so the infant Filgee from the safe vantage of the + porch where he had lingered was suddenly impelled to a crowning audacity! + As if struck with an original idea, but apparently addressing himself to + space, he cried out, “Crethy M'Kinthry likth teacher,” and instantly + vanished. + </p> + <p> + Putting these incidents sternly aside, the master addressed himself to the + task of setting a few copies for the next day as the voices of his + departing flock faded from the porch. Presently a silence fell upon the + little school-house. Through the open door a cool, restful breath stole + gently as if nature were again stealthily taking possession of her own. A + squirrel boldly came across the porch, a few twittering birds charging in + stopped, beat the air hesitatingly for a moment with their wings, and fell + back with bashfully protesting breasts aslant against the open door and + the unlooked-for spectacle of the silent occupant. Then there was another + movement of intrusion, but this time human, and the master looked up + angrily to behold Uncle Ben. + </p> + <p> + He entered with a slow exasperating step, lifting his large boots very + high and putting them down again softly as if he were afraid of some + insecurity in the floor, or figuratively recognized the fact that the + pathways of knowledge were thorny and difficult. Reaching the master's + desk and the ministering presence above it, he stopped awkwardly, and with + the rim of his soft felt hat endeavored to wipe from his face the meek + smile it had worn when he entered. It chanced also that he had halted + before the minute stool of the infant Filgee, and his large figure + instantly assumed such Brobdingnagian proportions in contrast that he + became more embarrassed than ever. The master made no attempt to relieve + him, but regarded him with cold interrogation. + </p> + <p> + “I reckoned,” he began, leaning one hand on the master's desk with + affected ease, as he dusted his leg with his hat with the other, “I + reckoned—that is—I allowed—I orter say—that I'd + find ye alone at this time. Ye gin'rally are, ye know. It's a nice, + soothin', restful, stoodious time, when a man kin, so to speak, run back + on his eddication and think of all he ever knowed. Ye're jist like me, and + ye see I sorter spotted your ways to onct.” + </p> + <p> + “Then why did you come here this morning and disturb the school?” demanded + the master sharply. + </p> + <p> + “That's so, I sorter slipped up thar, didn't I?” said Uncle Ben with a + smile of rueful assent. “You see I didn't allow to COME IN then, but on'y + to hang round a leetle and kinder get used to it, and it to me.” + </p> + <p> + “Used to what?” said the master impatiently, albeit with a slight + softening at his intruder's penitent expression. + </p> + <p> + Uncle Ben did not reply immediately, but looked around as if for a seat, + tried one or two benches and a desk with his large hand as if testing + their security, and finally abandoning the idea as dangerous, seated + himself on the raised platform beside the master's chair, having + previously dusted it with the flap of his hat. Finding, however, that the + attitude was not conducive to explanation, he presently rose again, and + picking up one of the school-books from the master's desk eyed it + unskilfully upside down, and then said hesitatingly,— + </p> + <p> + “I reckon ye ain't usin' Dobell's 'Rithmetic here?” + </p> + <p> + “No,” said the master. + </p> + <p> + “That's bad. 'Pears to be played out—that Dobell feller. I was + brought up on Dobell. And Parsings' Grammar? Ye don't seem to be a using + Parsings' Grammar either?” + </p> + <p> + “No,” said the master, relenting still more as he glanced at Uncle Ben's + perplexed face with a faint smile. + </p> + <p> + “And I reckon you'd be saying the same of Jones' 'Stronomy and Algebry? + Things hev changed. You've got all the new style here,” he continued, with + affected carelessness, but studiously avoiding the master's eye. “For a + man ez wos brought up on Parsings, Dobell, and Jones, thar don't appear to + be much show nowadays.” + </p> + <p> + The master did not reply. Observing several shades of color chase each + other on Uncle Ben's face, he bent his own gravely over his books. The act + appeared to relieve his companion, who with his eyes still turned towards + the window went on: + </p> + <p> + “Ef you'd had them books—which you haven't—I had it in my mind + to ask you suthen'. I had an idea of—of—sort of reviewing my + eddication. Kinder going over the old books agin—jist to pass the + time. Sorter running in yer arter school hours and doin' a little + practisin', eh? You looking on me as an extry scholar—and I payin' + ye as sich—but keepin' it 'twixt ourselves, you know—just for + a pastime, eh?” + </p> + <p> + As the master smilingly raised his head, he became suddenly and + ostentatiously attracted to the window. + </p> + <p> + “Them jay birds out there is mighty peart, coming right up to the + school-house! I reckon they think it sort o' restful too.” + </p> + <p> + “But if you really mean it, couldn't you use these books, Uncle Ben?” said + the master cheerfully. “I dare say there's little difference—the + principle is the same, you know.” + </p> + <p> + Uncle Ben's face, which had suddenly brightened, as suddenly fell. He took + the book from the master's hand without meeting his eyes, held it at arm's + length, turned it over and then laid it softly down upon the desk as if it + were some excessively fragile article. “Certingly,” he murmured, with + assumed reflective ease. “Certingly. The principle's all there.” + Nevertheless he was quite breathless and a few beads of perspiration stood + out upon his smooth, blank forehead. + </p> + <p> + “And as to writing, for instance,” continued the master with increasing + heartiness as he took notice of these phenomena, “you know ANY copy-book + will do.” + </p> + <p> + He handed his pen carelessly to Uncle Ben. The large hand that took it + timidly not only trembled but grasped it with such fatal and hopeless + unfamiliarity that the master was fain to walk to the window and observe + the birds also. + </p> + <p> + “They're mighty bold—them jays,” said Uncle Ben, laying down the pen + with scrupulous exactitude beside the book and gazing at his fingers as if + he had achieved a miracle of delicate manipulation. “They don't seem to be + afeared of nothing, do they?” + </p> + <p> + There was another pause. The master suddenly turned from the window. “I + tell you what, Uncle Ben,” he said with prompt decision and unshaken + gravity, “the only thing for you to do is to just throw over Dobell and + Parsons and Jones and the old quill pen that I see you're accustomed to, + and start in fresh as if you'd never known them. Forget 'em all, you know. + It will be mighty hard of course to do that,” he continued, looking out of + the window, “but you must do it.” + </p> + <p> + He turned back, the brightness that transfigured Uncle Ben's face at that + moment brought a slight moisture into his own eyes. The humble seeker of + knowledge said hurriedly that he would try. + </p> + <p> + “And begin again at the beginning,” continued the master cheerfully. + “Exactly like one of those—in fact, as if you REALLY were a child + again.” + </p> + <p> + “That's so,” said Uncle Ben, rubbing his hands delightedly, “that's me! + Why, that's jest what I was sayin' to Roop”— + </p> + <p> + “Then you've already been talking about it?” intercepted the master in + some surprise. “I thought you wanted it kept secret?” + </p> + <p> + “Well, yes,” responded Uncle Ben dubiously. “But you see I sorter agreed + with Roop Filgee that if you took to my ideas and didn't object, I'd give + him two bits* every time he'd kem here and help me of an arternoon when + you was away and kinder stand guard around the school-house, you know, so + as to keep the fellows off. And Roop's mighty sharp for a boy, ye know.” + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + * Two bits, i. e., twenty-five cents. +</pre> + <p> + The master reflected a moment and concluded that Uncle Ben was probably + right. Rupert Filgee, who was a handsome boy of fourteen, was also a + strongly original character whose youthful cynicism and blunt, honest + temper had always attracted him. He was a fair scholar, with a possibility + of being a better one, and the proposed arrangement with Uncle Ben would + not interfere with the discipline of school hours and might help them + both. Nevertheless he asked good-humoredly, “But couldn't you do this more + securely and easily in your own house? I might lend you the books, you + know, and come to you twice a week.” + </p> + <p> + Uncle Ben's radiant face suddenly clouded. “It wouldn't be exactly the + same kind o' game to me an' Roop,” he said hesitatingly. “You see thar's + the idea o' the school-house, ye know, and the restfulness and the quiet, + and the gen'ral air o' study. And the boys around town ez wouldn't think + nothin' o' trapsen' into my cabin if they spotted what I was up to thar, + would never dream o' hunting me here.” + </p> + <p> + “Very well,” said the master, “let it be here then.” Observing that his + companion seemed to be struggling with an inarticulate gratitude and an + apparently inextricable buckskin purse in his pocket, he added quietly, + “I'll set you a few copies to commence with,” and began to lay out a few + unfinished examples of Master Johnny Filgee's scholastic achievements. + </p> + <p> + “After thanking YOU, Mr. Ford,” said Uncle Ben, faintly, “ef you'll jest + kinder signify, you know, what you consider a fair”— + </p> + <p> + Mr. Ford turned quickly and dexterously offered his hand to his companion + in such a manner that he was obliged to withdraw his own from his pocket + to grasp it in return. “You're very welcome,” said the master, “and as I + can only permit this sort of thing gratuitously, you'd better NOT let me + know that you propose giving anything even to Rupert.” He shook Uncle + Ben's perplexed hand again, briefly explained what he had to do, and + saying that he would now leave him alone a few minutes, he took his hat + and walked towards the door. + </p> + <p> + “Then you reckon,” said Uncle Ben slowly, regarding the work before him, + “that I'd better jest chuck them Dobell fellers overboard?” + </p> + <p> + “I certainly should,” responded the master with infinite gravity. + </p> + <p> + “And sorter waltz in fresh, like one them children?” + </p> + <p> + “Like a child,” nodded the master as he left the porch. + </p> + <p> + A few moments later, as he was finishing his cigar in the clearing, he + paused to glance in at the school-room window. Uncle Ben, stripped of his + coat and waistcoat, with his shirt-sleeves rolled up on his powerful arms, + had evidently cast Dobell and all misleading extraneous aid aside, and + with the perspiration standing out on his foolish forehead, and his + perplexed face close to the master's desk, was painfully groping along + towards the light in the tottering and devious tracks of Master Johnny + Filgee, like a very child indeed! + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0002" id="link2HCH0002"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER II. + </h2> + <p> + As the children were slowly straggling to their places the next morning, + the master waited for an opportunity to speak to Rupert. That beautiful + but scarcely amiable youth was, as usual, surrounded and impeded by a + group of his small female admirers, for whom, it is but just to add, he + had a supreme contempt. Possibly it was this healthy quality that inclined + the master towards him, and it was consequently with some satisfaction + that he overheard fragments of his openly disparaging comments upon his + worshippers. + </p> + <p> + “There!” to Clarinda Jones, “don't flop! And don't YOU,” to Octavia Dean, + “go on breathing over my head like that. If there's anything I hate it's + having a girl breathing round me. Yes, you were! I felt it in my hair. And + YOU too—you're always snoopin' and snoodgin'. Oh, yes, you want to + know WHY I've got an extry copy-book and another 'Rithmetic, Miss + Curiosity. Well, what would you give to know? Want to see if they're + PRETTY” (with infinite scorn at the adjective). “No, they ain't PRETTY. + That's all you girls think about—what's PRETTY and what's curious! + Quit now! Come! Don't ye see teacher lookin' at you? Ain't you ashamed?” + </p> + <p> + He caught the master's beckoning eye and came forward, slightly abashed, + with a flush of irritation still on his handsome face, and his chestnut + curls slightly rumpled. One, which Octavia had covertly accented by + twisting round her forefinger, stood up like a crest on his head. + </p> + <p> + “I've told Uncle Ben that you might help him here after school hours,” + said the master, taking him aside. “You may therefore omit your writing + exercise in the morning and do it in the afternoon.” + </p> + <p> + The boy's dark eyes sparkled. “And if it would be all the same to you, + sir,” he added earnestly, “you might sorter give out in school that I was + to be kept in.” + </p> + <p> + “I'm afraid that would hardly do,” said the master, much amused. “But + why?” + </p> + <p> + Rupert's color deepened. “So ez to keep them darned girls from foolin' + round me and followin' me back here.” + </p> + <p> + “We will attend to that,” said the master smiling; a moment after he added + more seriously, “I suppose your father knows that you are to receive money + for this? And he doesn't object?” + </p> + <p> + “He! Oh no!” returned Rupert with a slight look of astonishment, and the + same general suggestion of patronizing his progenitor that he had + previously shown to his younger brother. “You needn't mind HIM.” In + reality Filgee pere, a widower of two years' standing, had tacitly allowed + the discipline of his family to devolve upon Rupert. Remembering this, the + master could only say, “Very well,” and good-naturedly dismiss the pupil + to his seat and the subject from his mind. The last laggard had just + slipped in, the master had glanced over the occupied benches with his hand + upon his warning bell, when there was a quick step on the gravel, a + flutter of skirts like the sound of alighting birds, and a young woman + lightly entered. + </p> + <p> + In the rounded, untouched, and untroubled freshness of her cheek and chin, + and the forward droop of her slender neck, she appeared a girl of fifteen; + in her developed figure and the maturer drapery of her full skirts she + seemed a woman; in her combination of naive recklessness and perfect + understanding of her person she was both. In spite of a few school-books + that jauntily swung from a strap in her gloved hand, she bore no + resemblance to a pupil; in her pretty gown of dotted muslin with bows of + blue ribbon on the skirt and corsage, and a cluster of roses in her belt, + she was as inconsistent and incongruous to the others as a fashion-plate + would have been in the dry and dog-eared pages before them. Yet she + carried it off with a demure mingling of the naivete of youth and the + aplomb of a woman, and as she swept down the narrow aisle, burying a few + small wondering heads in the overflow of her flounces, there was no doubt + of her reception in the arch smile that dimpled her cheek. Dropping a half + curtsey to the master, the only suggestion of her equality with the + others, she took her place at one of the larger desks, and resting her + elbow on the lid began to quietly remove her gloves. It was Cressy + McKinstry. + </p> + <p> + Irritated and disturbed at the girl's unceremonious entrance, the master + for the moment recognized her salutation coldly, and affected to ignore + her elaborate appearance. The situation was embarrassing. He could not + decline to receive her as she was no longer accompanied by her lover, nor + could he plead entire ignorance of her broken engagement; while to point + out the glaring inappropriateness of costume would be a fresh interference + he knew Indian Spring would scarcely tolerate. He could only accept such + explanation as she might choose to give. He rang his bell as much to avert + the directed eyes of the children as to bring the scene to a climax. + </p> + <p> + She had removed her gloves and was standing up. + </p> + <p> + “I reckon I can go on where I left off?” she said lazily, pointing to the + books she had brought with her. + </p> + <p> + “For the present,” said the master dryly. + </p> + <p> + The first class was called. Later, when his duty brought him to her side, + he was surprised to find that she was evidently already prepared with + consecutive lessons, as if she were serenely unconscious of any doubt of + her return, and as coolly as if she had only left school the day before. + Her studies were still quite elementary, for Cressy McKinstry had never + been a brilliant scholar, but he perceived, with a cynical doubt of its + permanency, that she had bestowed unusual care upon her present + performance. There was moreover a certain defiance in it, as if she had + resolved to stop any objection to her return on the score of deficiencies. + He was obliged in self-defence to take particular note of some rings she + wore, and a large bracelet that ostentatiously glittered on her white arm—which + had already attracted the attention of her companions, and prompted the + audible comment from Johnny Filgee that it was “truly gold.” Without + meeting her eyes he contented himself with severely restraining the + glances of the children that wandered in her direction. She had never been + quite popular with the school in her previous role of fiancee, and only + Octavia Dean and one or two older girls appreciated its mysterious + fascination; while the beautiful Rupert, secure in his avowed predilection + for the middle-aged wife of the proprietor of the Indian Spring hotel, + looked upon her as a precocious chit with more than the usual propensity + to objectionable “breathing.” Nevertheless the master was irritatingly + conscious of her presence—a presence which now had all the absurdity + of her ridiculous love-experiences superadded to it. He tried to reason + with himself that it was only a phase of frontier life, which ought to + have amused him. But it did not. The intrusion of this preposterous girl + seemed to disarrange the discipline of his life as well as of his school. + The usual vague, far-off dreams in which he was in the habit of indulging + during school-hours, dreams that were perhaps superinduced by the + remoteness of his retreat and a certain restful sympathy in his little + auditors, which had made him—the grown-up dreamer—acceptable + to them in his gentle understanding of their needs and weaknesses, now + seemed to have vanished forever. + </p> + <p> + At recess, Octavia Dean, who had drawn near Cressy and reached up to place + her arm round the older girl's waist, glanced at her with a patronizing + smile born of some rapid free-masonry, and laughingly retired with the + others. The master at his desk, and Cressy who had halted in the aisle + were left alone. + </p> + <p> + “I have had no intimation yet from your father or mother that you were + coming back to school again,” he began. “But I suppose THEY have decided + upon your return?” + </p> + <p> + An uneasy suspicion of some arrangement with her former lover had prompted + the emphasis. + </p> + <p> + The young girl looked at him with languid astonishment. “I reckon paw and + maw ain't no objection,” she said with the same easy ignoring of parental + authority that had characterized Rupert Filgee, and which seemed to be a + local peculiarity. “Maw DID offer to come yer and see you, but I told her + she needn't bother.” + </p> + <p> + She rested her two hands behind her on the edge of a desk, and leaned + against it, looking down upon the toe of her smart little shoe which was + describing a small semicircle beyond the hem of her gown. Her attitude, + which was half-defiant, half-indolent, brought out the pretty curves of + her waist and shoulders. The master noticed it and became a trifle more + austere. + </p> + <p> + “Then I am to understand that this is a permanent thing?” he asked coldly. + </p> + <p> + “What's that?” said Cressy interrogatively. + </p> + <p> + “Am I to understand that you intend coming regularly to school?” repeated + the master curtly, “or is this merely an arrangement for a few days—until”— + </p> + <p> + “Oh,” said Cressy comprehendingly, lifting her unabashed blue eyes to his, + “you mean THAT. Oh, THAT'S broke off. Yes,” she added contemptuously, + making a larger semicircle with her foot, “that's over—three weeks + ago.” + </p> + <p> + “And Seth Davis—does HE intend returning too?” + </p> + <p> + “He!” She broke into a light girlish laugh. “I reckon not much! S'long's + I'm here, at least.” She had just lifted herself to a sitting posture on + the desk, so that her little feet swung clear of the floor in their saucy + dance. Suddenly she brought her heels together and alighted. “So that's + all?” she asked. + </p> + <p> + “Yes.” + </p> + <p> + “Kin I go now?” + </p> + <p> + “Yes.” + </p> + <p> + She laid her books one on the top of the other and lingered an instant. + </p> + <p> + “Been quite well?” she asked with indolent politeness. + </p> + <p> + “Yes—thank you.” + </p> + <p> + “You're lookin' right peart.” + </p> + <p> + She walked with a Southern girl's undulating languor to the door, opened + it, then charged suddenly upon Octavia Dean, twirled her round in a wild + waltz and bore her away; appearing a moment after on the playground + demurely walking with her arm around her companion's waist in an + ostentatious confidence at once lofty, exclusive, and exasperating to the + smaller children. + </p> + <p> + When school was dismissed that afternoon and the master had remained to + show Rupert Filgee how to prepare Uncle Ben's tasks, and had given his + final instructions to his youthful vicegerent, that irascible Adonis + unburdened himself querulously: + </p> + <p> + “Is Cressy McKinstry comin' reg'lar, Mr. Ford?” + </p> + <p> + “She is,” said the master dryly. After a pause he asked, “Why?” + </p> + <p> + Rupert's curls had descended on his eyebrows in heavy discontent. “It's + mighty rough, jest ez a feller reckons he's got quit of her and her + jackass bo', to hev her prancin' back inter school agin, and rigged out + like ez if she'd been to a fire in a milliner's shop.” + </p> + <p> + “You shouldn't allow your personal dislikes, Rupert, to provoke you to + speak of a fellow-scholar in that way—and a young lady, too,” + corrected the master dryly. + </p> + <p> + “The woods is full o' sich feller-scholars and sich young ladies, if yer + keer to go a gunning for 'em,” said Rupert with dark and slangy + significance. “Ef I'd known she was comin' back I'd”—he stopped and + brought his sunburnt fist against the seam of his trousers with a boyish + gesture, “I'd hev jist”— + </p> + <p> + “What?” said the master sharply. + </p> + <p> + “I'd hev played hookey till she left school agin! It moutn't hev bin so + long, neither,” he added with a mysterious chuckle. + </p> + <p> + “That will do,” said the master peremptorily. “For the present you'll + attend to your duty and try to make Uncle Ben see you're something more + than a foolish, prejudiced school-boy, or,” he added significantly, “he + and I may both repent our agreement. Let me have a good account of you + both when I return.” + </p> + <p> + He took his hat from its peg on the wall, and in obedience to a suddenly + formed resolution left the school-room to call upon the parents of Cressy + McKinstry. He was not quite certain what he should say, but, after his + habit, would trust to the inspiration of the moment. At the worst he could + resign a situation that now appeared to require more tact and delicacy + than seemed consistent with his position, and he was obliged to confess to + himself that he had lately suspected that his present occupation—the + temporary expedient of a poor but clever young man of twenty—was + scarcely bringing him nearer a realization of his daily dreams. For Mr. + Jack Ford was a youthful pilgrim who had sought his fortune in California + so lightly equipped that even in the matter of kin and advisers he was + deficient. That prospective fortune had already eluded him in San + Francisco, had apparently not waited for him in Sacramento, and now seemed + never to have been at Indian Spring. Nevertheless, when he was once out of + sight of the school-house he lit a cigar, put his hands in his pockets, + and strode on with the cheerfulness of that youth to which all things are + possible. + </p> + <p> + The children had already dispersed as mysteriously and completely as they + had arrived. Between him and the straggling hamlet of Indian Spring the + landscape seemed to be without sound or motion. The wooded upland or ridge + on which the schoolhouse stood, half a mile further on, began to slope + gradually towards the river, on whose banks, seen from that distance, the + town appeared to have been scattered irregularly or thrown together + hastily, as if cast ashore by some overflow—the Cosmopolitan Hotel + drifting into the Baptist church, and dragging in its tail of wreckage two + saloons and a blacksmith's shop; while the County Court-house was stranded + in solitary grandeur in a waste of gravel half a mile away. The + intervening flat was still gashed and furrowed by the remorseless engines + of earlier gold-seekers. + </p> + <p> + Mr. Ford was in little sympathy with this unsuccessful record of frontier + endeavor—the fortune HE had sought did not seem to lie in that + direction—and his eye glanced quickly beyond it to the pine-crested + hills across the river, whose primeval security was so near and yet so + inviolable, or back again to the trail he was pursuing along the ridge. + The latter prospect still retained its semi-savage character in spite of + the occasional suburban cottages of residents, and the few outlying farms + or ranches of the locality. The grounds of the cottages were yet uncleared + of underbrush; bear and catamount still prowled around the rude fences of + the ranches; the late alleged experience of the infant Snyder was by no + means improbable or unprecedented. + </p> + <p> + A light breeze was seeking the heated flat and river, and thrilling the + leaves around him with the strong vitality of the forest. The vibrating + cross-lights and tremulous chequers of shade cast by the stirred foliage + seemed to weave a fantastic net around him as he walked. The quaint odors + of certain woodland herbs known to his scholars, and religiously kept in + their desks, or left like votive offerings on the threshold of the + school-house, recalled all the primitive simplicity and delicious wildness + of the little temple he had left. Even in the mischievous glances of + evasive squirrels and the moist eyes of the contemplative rabbits there + were faint suggestions of some of his own truants. The woods were + trembling with gentle memories of the independence he had always known + here—of that sweet and grave retreat now so ridiculously invaded. + </p> + <p> + He began to hesitate, with one of those revulsions of sentiment + characteristic of his nature: Why should he bother himself about this girl + after all? Why not make up his mind to accept her as his predecessor had + done? Why was it necessary for him to find her inconsistent with his ideas + of duty to his little flock and his mission to them? Was he not assuming a + sense of decorum that was open to misconception? The absurdity of her + school costume, and any responsibility it incurred, rested not with him + but with her parents. What right had he to point it out to them, and above + all how was he to do it? He halted irresolutely at what he believed was + his sober second thought, but which, like most reflections that take that + flattering title, was only a reaction as impulsive and illogical as the + emotion that preceded it. + </p> + <p> + Mr. McKinstry's “snake rail” fence was already discernible in the lighter + opening of the woods, not far from where he had halted. As he stood there + in hesitation, the pretty figure and bright gown of Cressy McKinstry + suddenly emerged from a more secluded trail that intersected his own at an + acute angle a few rods ahead of him. She was not alone, but was + accompanied by a male figure whose arm she had evidently just dislodged + from her waist. He was still trying to resume his lost vantage; she was as + resolutely evading him with a certain nymph-like agility, while the sound + of her half-laughing, half-irate protest could be faintly heard. Without + being able to identify the face or figure of her companion at that + distance, he could see that it was NOT her former betrothed, Seth Davis. + </p> + <p> + A superior smile crossed his face; he no longer hesitated, but at once + resumed his former path. For some time Cressy and her companion moved on + quietly before him. Then on reaching the rail-fence they turned abruptly + to the right, were lost for an instant in the intervening thicket, and the + next moment Cressy appeared alone, crossing the meadow in a shorter cut + towards the house, having either scaled the fence or slipped through some + familiar gap. Her companion had disappeared. Whether they had noticed that + they were observed he could not determine. He kept steadily along the + trail that followed the line of fence to the lane that led directly to the + farm-building, and pushed open the front gate as Cressy's light dress + vanished round an angle at the rear of the house. + </p> + <p> + The house of the McKinstrys rose, or rather stretched, itself before him, + in all the lazy ungainliness of Southwestern architecture. A collection of + temporary make-shifts of boards, of logs, of canvas, prematurely decayed, + and in some instances abandoned for a newer erection, or degraded to mere + outhouses—it presented with singular frankness the nomadic and + tentative disposition of its founder. It had been repaired without being + improved; its additions had seemed only to extend its primitive ugliness + over a larger space. Its roofs were roughly shingled or rudely boarded and + battened, and the rafters of some of its “lean-to's” were simply covered + with tarred canvas. As if to settle any doubt of the impossibility of this + heterogeneous mass ever taking upon itself any picturesque combination, a + small building of corrugated iron, transported in sections from some + remoter locality, had been set up in its centre. The McKinstry ranch had + long been an eyesore to the master: even that morning he had been mutely + wondering from what convolution of that hideous chrysalis the bright + butterfly Cressy had emerged. It was with a renewal of this curiosity that + he had just seen her flutter back to it again. + </p> + <p> + A yellow dog who had observed him hesitating in doubt where he should + enter, here yawned, rose from the sunlight where he had been blinking, + approached the master with languid politeness, and then turned towards the + iron building as if showing him the way. Mr. Ford followed him cautiously, + painfully conscious that his hypocritical canine introducer was only + availing himself of an opportunity to gain ingress into the house, and was + leading him as a responsible accomplice to probable exposure and disgrace. + His expectation was quickly realized: a lazily querulous, feminine outcry, + with the words, “Yer's that darned hound agin!” came from an adjacent + room, and his exposed and abashed companion swiftly retreated past him + into the road again. Mr. Ford found himself alone in a plainly-furnished + sitting-room confronting the open door leading to another apartment at + which the figure of a woman, preceded hastily by a thrown dishcloth, had + just appeared. It was Mrs. McKinstry; her sleeves were rolled up over her + red but still shapely arms, and as she stood there wiping them on her + apron, with her elbows advanced, and her closed hands raised alternately + in the air, there was an odd pugilistic suggestion in her attitude. It was + not lessened on her sudden discovery of the master by her retreating + backwards with her hands up and her elbows still well forward as if warily + retiring to an imaginary “corner.” + </p> + <p> + Mr. Ford at once tactfully stepped back from the doorway. “I beg your + pardon,” he said, delicately addressing the opposite wall, “but I found + the door open and I followed the dog.” + </p> + <p> + “That's just one of his pizenous tricks,” responded Mrs. McKinstry + dolefully from within. “On'y last week he let in a Chinaman, and in the + nat'ral hustlin' that follered he managed to help himself outer the pork + bar'l. There ain't no shade o' cussedness that or'nary hound ain't up to.” + Yet notwithstanding this ominous comparison she presently made her + appearance with her sleeves turned down, her black woollen dress “tidied,” + and a smile of fatigued but not unkindly welcome and protection on her + face. Dusting a chair with her apron and placing it before the master, she + continued maternally, “Now that you're here, set ye right down and make + yourself to home. My men folks are all out o' door, but some of 'em's sure + to happen in soon for suthin'; that day ain't yet created that they don't + come huntin' up Mammy McKinstry every five minutes for this thing or + that.” + </p> + <p> + The glow of a certain hard pride burned through the careworn languor of + her brown cheek. What she had said was strangely true. This raw-boned + woman before him, although scarcely middle-aged, had for years occupied a + self-imposed maternal and protecting relation, not only to her husband and + brothers, but to the three or four men, who as partners, or hired hands, + lived at the ranch. An inherited and trained sympathy with what she called + her “boys's” and her “men folk,” and their needs had partly unsexed her. + She was a fair type of a class not uncommon on the Southwestern frontier; + women who were ruder helpmeets of their rude husbands and brothers, who + had shared their privations and sufferings with surly, masculine + endurance, rather than feminine patience; women who had sent their loved + ones to hopeless adventure or terrible vendetta as a matter of course, or + with partisan fury; who had devotedly nursed the wounded to keep alive the + feud, or had received back their dead dry-eyed and revengeful. Small + wonder that Cressy McKinstry had developed strangely under this sexless + relationship. Looking at the mother, albeit not without a certain respect, + Mr. Ford found himself contrasting her with the daughter's graceful + femininity, and wondering where in Cressy's youthful contour the + possibility of the grim figure before him was even now hidden. + </p> + <p> + “Hiram allowed to go over to the schoolhouse and see you this mornin',” + said Mrs. McKinstry, after a pause; “but I reckon ez how he had to look up + stock on the river. The cattle are that wild this time o' year, huntin' + water, and hangin' round the tules, that my men are nigh worrited out o' + their butes with 'em. Hank and Jim ain't been off their mustangs since sun + up, and Hiram, what with partrollen' the West Boundary all night, watchin' + stakes whar them low down Harrisons hev been trespassin'—hasn't put + his feet to the ground in fourteen hours. Mebbee you noticed Hiram ez you + kem along? Ef so, ye didn't remember what kind o' shootin' irons he had + with him? I see his rifle over yon. Like ez not he'z only got his + six-shooter, and them Harrisons are mean enough to lay for him at long + range. But,” she added, returning to the less important topic, “I s'pose + Cressy came all right.” + </p> + <p> + “Yes,” said the master hopelessly. + </p> + <p> + “I reckon she looked so,” continued Mrs. McKinstry, with tolerant + abstraction. “She allowed to do herself credit in one of them new store + gownds that she got at Sacramento. At least that's what some of our men + said. Late years, I ain't kept tech with the fashions myself.” She passed + her fingers explanatorily down the folds of her own coarse gown, but + without regret or apology. + </p> + <p> + “She seemed well prepared in her lessons,” said the master, abandoning for + the moment that criticism of his pupil's dress, which he saw was utterly + futile, “but am I to understand that she is coming regularly to school—that + she is now perfectly free to give her entire attention to her studies—that—that—her—engagement + is broken off?” + </p> + <p> + “Why, didn't she tell ye?” echoed Mrs. McKinstry in languid surprise. + </p> + <p> + “SHE certainly did,” said the master with slight embarrassment, “but”— + </p> + <p> + “Ef SHE said so,” interrupted Mrs. McKinstry abstractedly, “she oughter + know, and you kin tie to what she says.” + </p> + <p> + “But as I'm responsible to PARENTS and not to scholars for the discipline + of my school,” returned the young man a little stiffly, “I thought it my + duty to hear it from YOU.” + </p> + <p> + “That's so,” said Mrs. McKinstry meditatively; “then I reckon you'd better + see Hiram. That ar' Seth Davis engagement was a matter of hern and her + father's, and not in MY line. I 'spose that Hiram nat'rally allows to set + the thing square to you and inquirin' friends.” + </p> + <p> + “I hope you understand,” said the master, slightly resenting the + classification, “that my reason for inquiring about the permanency of your + daughter's attendance was simply because it might be necessary to arrange + her studies in a way more suitable to her years; perhaps even to suggest + to you that a young ladies' seminary might be more satisfactory”— + </p> + <p> + “Sartain, sartain,” interrupted Mrs. McKinstry hurriedly, but whether from + evasion of annoying suggestion or weariness of the topic, the master could + not determine. “You'd better speak to Hiram about it. On'y,” she hesitated + slightly, “ez he's got now sorter set and pinted towards your school, and + is a trifle worrited with stock and them Harrisons, ye might tech it + lightly. He oughter be along yer now. I can't think what keeps him.” Her + eye wandered again with troubled preoccupation to the corner where her + husband's Sharps' rifle stood. Suddenly she raised her voice as if + forgetful of Mr. Ford's presence. + </p> + <p> + “O Cressy!” + </p> + <p> + “O Maw!” + </p> + <p> + The response came from the inner room. The next moment Cressy appeared at + the door with an odd half-lazy defiance in her manner, which the master + could not understand except upon the hypothesis that she had been + listening. She had already changed her elaborate toilet for a long + clinging, coarse blue gown, that accented the graceful curves of her + slight, petticoat-less figure. Nodding her head towards the master, she + said, “Howdy?” and turned to her mother, who practically ignored their + personal acquaintance. “Cressy,” she said, “Dad's gone and left his + Sharps' yer, d'ye mind takin' it along to meet him, afore he passes the + Boundary corner. Ye might tell him the teacher's yer, wantin' to see him.” + </p> + <p> + “One moment,” said the master, as the young girl carelessly stepped to the + corner and lifted the weapon. “Let ME take it. It's all on my way back to + school and I'll meet him.” + </p> + <p> + Mrs. McKinstry looked perturbed. Cressy opened her clear eyes on the + master with evident surprise. “No, Mr. Ford,” said Mrs. McKinstry, with + her former maternal manner. “Ye'd better not mix yourself up with these + yer doin's. Ye've no call to do it, and Cressy has; it's all in the + family. But it's outer YOUR line, and them Harrison whelps go to your + school. Fancy the teacher takin' weppins betwixt and between!” + </p> + <p> + “It's fitter work for the teacher than for one of his scholars, and a + young lady at that,” said Mr. Ford gravely, as he took the rifle from the + hands of the half-amused, half-reluctant girl. “It's quite safe with me, + and I promise I shall deliver it into Mr. McKinstry's hands and none + other.” + </p> + <p> + “Perhaps it wouldn't be ez likely to be gin'rally noticed ez it would if + one of US carried it,” murmured Mrs. McKinstry in confidential + abstraction, gazing at her daughter sublimely unconscious of the presence + of a third party. + </p> + <p> + “You're quite right,” said the master composedly, throwing the rifle over + his shoulder and turning towards the door. “So I'll say good-afternoon, + and try and find your husband.” + </p> + <p> + Mrs. McKinstry constrainedly plucked at the folds of her coarse gown. + “Ye'll like a drink afore ye go,” she said, in an ill-concealed tone of + relief. “I clean forgot my manners. Cressy, fetch out that demijohn.” + </p> + <p> + “Not for me, thank you,” returned Mr. Ford smiling. + </p> + <p> + “Oh, I see—you're temperance, nat'rally,” said Mrs. McKinstry with a + tolerant sigh. + </p> + <p> + “Hardly that,” returned the master, “I follow no rule, I drink sometimes—but + not to-day.” + </p> + <p> + Mrs. McKinstry's dark face contracted. “Don't you see, Maw,” struck in + Cressy quickly. “Teacher drinks sometimes, but he don't USE whiskey. + That's all.” + </p> + <p> + Her mother's face relaxed. Cressy slipped out of the door before the + master, and preceded him to the gate. When she had reached it she turned + and looked into his face. + </p> + <p> + “What did Maw say to yer about seein' me just now?” + </p> + <p> + “I don't understand you.” + </p> + <p> + “To your seein' me and Joe Masters on the trail?” + </p> + <p> + “She said nothing.” + </p> + <p> + “Humph,” said Cressy meditatively. “What was it you told her about it?” + </p> + <p> + “Nothing.” + </p> + <p> + “Then you DIDN'T see us?” + </p> + <p> + “I saw you with some one—I don't know whom.” + </p> + <p> + “And you didn't tell Maw?” + </p> + <p> + “I did not. It was none of my business.” + </p> + <p> + He instantly saw the utter inconsistency of this speech in connection with + the reason he believed he had in coming. But it was too late to recall it, + and she was looking at him with a bright but singular expression. + </p> + <p> + “That Joe Masters is the conceitedest fellow goin'. I told him you could + see his foolishness.” + </p> + <p> + “Ah, indeed.” + </p> + <p> + Mr. Ford pushed open the gate. As the girl still lingered he was obliged + to hold it a moment before passing through. + </p> + <p> + “Maw couldn't quite hitch on to your not drinkin'. She reckons you're like + everybody else about yer. That's where she slips up on you. And everybody + else, I kalkilate.” + </p> + <p> + “I suppose she's somewhat anxious about your father, and I dare say is + expecting me to hurry,” returned the master pointedly. + </p> + <p> + “Oh, dad's all right,” said Cressy mischievously. “You'll come across him + over yon, in the clearing. But you're looking right purty with that gun. + It kinder sets you off. You oughter wear one.” + </p> + <p> + The master smiled slightly, said “Good-by,” and took leave of the girl, + but not of her eyes, which were still following him. Even when he had + reached the end of the lane and glanced back at the rambling dwelling, she + was still leaning on the gate with one foot on the lower rail and her chin + cupped in the hollow of her hand. She made a slight gesture, not clearly + intelligible at that distance; it might have been a mischievous imitation + of the way he had thrown the gun over his shoulder, it might have been a + wafted kiss. + </p> + <p> + The master however continued his way in no very self-satisfied mood. + Although he did not regret having taken the place of Cressy as the + purveyor of lethal weapons between the belligerent parties, he knew he was + tacitly mingling in the feud between people for whom he cared little or + nothing. It was true that the Harrisons sent their children to his school, + and that in the fierce partisanship of the locality this simple courtesy + was open to misconstruction. But he was more uneasily conscious that this + mission, so far as Mrs. McKinstry was concerned, was a miserable failure. + The strange relations of the mother and daughter perhaps explained much of + the girl's conduct, but it offered no hope of future amelioration. Would + the father, “worrited by stock” and boundary quarrels—a man in the + habit of cutting Gordian knots with a bowie knife—prove more + reasonable? Was there any nearer sympathy between father and daughter? But + she had said he would meet McKinstry in the clearing: she was right, for + here he was coming forward at a gallop! + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0003" id="link2HCH0003"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER III. + </h2> + <p> + When within a dozen paces of the master, McKinstry, scarcely checking his + mustang, threw himself from the saddle, and with a sharp cut of his riata + on the animal's haunches sent him still galloping towards the distant + house. Then, with both hands deeply thrust in the side pockets of his + long, loose linen coat, he slowly lounged with clanking spurs towards the + young man. He was thick-set, of medium height, densely and reddishly + bearded, with heavy-lidded pale blue eyes that wore a look of drowsy pain, + and after their first wearied glance at the master, seemed to rest + anywhere but on him. + </p> + <p> + “Your wife was sending you your rifle by Cressy,” said the master, “but I + offered to bring it myself, as I thought it scarcely a proper errand for a + young lady. Here it is. I hope you didn't miss it before and don't require + it now,” he added quietly. + </p> + <p> + Mr. McKinstry took it in one hand with an air of slightly embarrassed + surprise, rested it against his shoulder, and then with the same hand and + without removing the other from his pocket, took off his soft felt hat, + showed a bullet-hole in its rim, and returned lazily, “It's about half an + hour late, but them Harrisons reckoned I was fixed for 'em and war too + narvous to draw a clear bead on me.” + </p> + <p> + The moment was evidently not a felicitous one for the master's purpose, + but he was determined to go on. He hesitated an instant, when his + companion, who seemed to be equally but more sluggishly embarrassed, in a + moment of preoccupied perplexity withdrew from his pocket his right hand + swathed in a blood-stained bandage, and following some instinctive habit, + attempted, as if reflectively, to scratch his head with two stiffened + fingers. + </p> + <p> + “You are hurt,” said the master, genuinely shocked, “and here I am + detaining you.” + </p> + <p> + “I had my hand up—so,” explained McKinstry, with heavy deliberation, + “and the ball raked off my little finger after it went through my hat. But + that ain't what I wanted to say when I stopped ye. I ain't just kam enough + yet,” he apologized in the calmest manner, “and I clean forgit myself,” he + added with perfect self-possession. “But I was kalkilatin' to ask you”—he + laid his bandaged hand familiarly on the master's shoulder—“if + Cressy kem all right?” + </p> + <p> + “Perfectly,” said the master. “But shan't I walk on home with you, and we + can talk together after your wound is attended to?” + </p> + <p> + “And she looked purty?” continued McKinstry without moving. + </p> + <p> + “Very.” + </p> + <p> + “And you thought them new store gownds of hers right peart?” + </p> + <p> + “Yes,” said the master. “Perhaps a little too fine for the school, you + know,” he added insinuatingly, “and”— + </p> + <p> + “Not for her—not for her,” interrupted McKinstry. “I reckon thar's + more whar that cam from! Ye needn't fear but that she kin keep up that + gait ez long ez Hiram McKinstry hez the runnin' of her.” + </p> + <p> + Mr. Ford gazed hopelessly at the hideous ranch in the distance, at the + sky, and the trail before him; then his glance fell upon the hand still + upon his shoulder, and he struggled with a final effort. “At another time + I'd like to have a long talk with you about your daughter, Mr. McKinstry.” + </p> + <p> + “Talk on,” said McKinstry, putting his wounded hand through the master's + arm. “I admire to hear you. You're that kam, it does me good.” + </p> + <p> + Nevertheless the master was conscious that his own arm was scarcely as + firm as his companion's. It was however useless to draw back now, and with + as much tact as he could command he relieved his mind of its purpose. + Addressing the obtruding bandage before him, he dwelt upon Cressy's + previous attitude in the school, the danger of any relapse, the necessity + of her having a more clearly defined position as a scholar, and even the + advisability of her being transferred to a more advanced school with a + more mature teacher of her own sex. “This is what I wished to say to Mrs. + McKinstry to-day,” he concluded, “but she referred me to you.” + </p> + <p> + “In course, in course,” said McKinstry, nodding complacently. “She's a + good woman in and around the ranch, and in any doin's o' this kind,” he + lightly waved his wounded arm in the air, “there ain't a better, tho' I + say it. She was Blair Rawlins' darter; she and her brother Clay bein' the + only ones that kem out safe arter their twenty years' fight with the + McEntees in West Kaintuck. But she don't understand gals ez you and me do. + Not that I'm much, ez I orter be more kam. And the old woman jest sized + the hull thing when she said SHE hadn't any hand in Cressy's engagement. + No more she had! And ez far ez that goes, no more did me, nor Seth Davis, + nor Cressy.” He paused, and lifting his heavy-lidded eyes to the master + for the second time, said reflectively, “Ye mustn't mind my tellin' ye—ez + betwixt man and man—that THE one ez is most responsible for the + makin' and breakin' o' that engagement is YOU!” + </p> + <p> + “Me!” said the master in utter bewilderment. + </p> + <p> + “You!” repeated McKinstry quietly, reinstalling the hand Ford had + attempted to withdraw. “I ain't sayin' ye either know'd it or kalkilated + on it. But it war so. Ef ye'd hark to me, and meander on a little, I'll + tell ye HOW it war. I don't mind walkin' a piece YOUR way, for if we go + towards the ranch, and the hounds see me, they'll set up a racket and + bring out the old woman, and then good-by to any confidential talk betwixt + you and me. And I'm, somehow, kammer out yer.” + </p> + <p> + He moved slowly down the trail, still holding Ford's arm confidentially, + although, owing to his large protecting manner, he seemed to offer a + ridiculous suggestion of supporting HIM with his wounded member. + </p> + <p> + “When you first kem to Injin Spring,” he began, “Seth and Cressy was goin' + to school, boy and girl like, and nothin' more. They'd known each other + from babies—the Davises bein' our neighbors in Kaintuck, and + emigraten' with us from St. Joe. Seth mout hev cottoned to Cress, and + Cress to him, in course o' time, and there wasn't anythin' betwixt the + families to hev kept 'em from marryin' when they wanted. But there never + war any words passed, and no engagement.” + </p> + <p> + “But,” interrupted Ford hastily, “my predecessor, Mr. Martin, distinctly + told me that there was, and that it was with YOUR permission.” + </p> + <p> + “That's only because you noticed suthin' the first day you looked over the + school with Martin. 'Dad,' sez Cress to me, 'that new teacher's very + peart; and he's that keen about noticin' me and Seth that I reckon you'd + better giv out that we're engaged.' 'But are you?' sez I. 'It'll come to + that in the end,' sez Cress, 'and if that yer teacher hez come here with + Northern ideas o' society, it's just ez well to let him see Injin Spring + ain't entirely in the woods about them things either.' So I agreed, and + Martin told you it was all right; Cress and Seth was an engaged couple, + and you was to take no notice. And then YOU ups and objects to the hull + thing, and allows that courtin' in school, even among engaged pupils, + ain't proper.” + </p> + <p> + The master turned his eyes with some uneasiness to the face of Cressy's + father. It was heavy but impassive. + </p> + <p> + “I don't mind tellin' you, now that it's over, what happened. The trouble + with me, Mr. Ford, is—I ain't kam! and YOU air, and that's what got + me. For when I heard what you'd said, I got on that mustang and started + for the school-house to clean you out and giv' you five minutes to leave + Injin Spring. I don't know ez you remember that day. I'd kalkilated my + time so ez to ketch ye comin' out o' school, but I was too airly. I hung + around out o' sight, and then hitched my hoss to a buckeye and peeped + inter the winder to hev a good look at ye. It was very quiet and kam. + There was squirrels over the roof, yellow-jackets and bees dronin' away, + and kinder sleeping-like all around in the air, and jay-birds twitterin' + in the shingles, and they never minded me. You were movin' up and down + among them little gals and boys, liftin' up their heads and talkin' to 'em + softly and quiet like, ez if you was one of them yourself. And they looked + contented and kam. And onct—I don't know if YOU remember it—you + kem close up to the winder with your hands behind you, and looked out so + kam and quiet and so far off, ez if everybody else outside the school was + miles away from you. It kem to me then that I'd given a heap to hev had + the old woman see you thar. It kem to me, Mr. Ford, that there wasn't any + place for ME thar; and it kem to me, too—and a little rough like—that + mebbee there wasn't any place there for MY Cress either! So I rode away + without disturbin' you nor the birds nor the squirrels. Talkin' with Cress + that night, she said ez how it was a fair sample of what happened every + day, and that you'd always treated her fair like the others. So she + allowed that she'd go down to Sacramento, and get some things agin her and + Seth bein' married next month, and she reckoned she wouldn't trouble you + nor the school agin. Hark till I've done, Mr. Ford,” he continued, as the + young man made a slight movement of deprecation. “Well, I agreed. But + arter she got to Sacramento and bought some fancy fixin's, she wrote to me + and sez ez how she'd been thinkin' the hull thing over, and she reckoned + that she and Seth were too young to marry, and the engagement had better + be broke. And I broke it for her.” + </p> + <p> + “But how?” asked the bewildered master. + </p> + <p> + “Gin'rally with this gun,” returned McKinstry with slow gravity, + indicating the rifle he was carrying, “for I ain't kam. I let on to Seth's + father that if I ever found Seth and Cressy together again, I'd shoot him. + It made a sort o' coolness betwixt the families, and hez given some + comfort to them low-down Harrisons; but even the law, I reckon, recognizes + a father's rights. And ez Cress sez, now ez Seth's out o' the way, thar + ain't no reason why she can't go back to school and finish her eddication. + And I reckoned she was right. And we both agreed that ez she'd left school + to git them store clothes, it was only fair that she'd give the school the + benefit of 'em.” + </p> + <p> + The case seemed more hopeless than ever. The master knew that the man + beside him might hardly prove as lenient to a second objection at his + hand. But that very reason, perhaps, impelled him, now that he knew his + danger, to consider it more strongly as a duty, and his pride revolted + from a possible threat underlying McKinstry's confidences. Nevertheless he + began gently: + </p> + <p> + “But you are quite sure you won't regret that you didn't avail yourself of + this broken engagement, and your daughter's outfit—to send her to + some larger boarding-school in Sacramento or San Francisco? Don't you + think she may find it dull, and soon tire of the company of mere children + when she has already known the excitement of”—he was about to say “a + lover,” but checked himself, and added, “a young girl's freedom?” + </p> + <p> + “Mr. Ford,” returned McKinstry, with the slow and fatuous misconception of + a one-ideaed man, “when I said just now that, lookin' inter that kam, + peaceful school of yours, I didn't find a place for Cress, it warn't + because I didn't think she OUGHTER hev a place thar. Thar was that thar + wot she never had ez a little girl with me and the old woman, and that she + couldn't find ez a grownd up girl in any boarding-school—the home of + a child; that kind o' innocent foolishness that I sometimes reckon must + hev slipped outer our emigrant wagon comin' across the plains, or got left + behind at St. Joe. She was a grownd girl fit to marry afore she was a + child. She had young fellers a-sparkin' her afore she ever played with 'em + ez boy and girl. I don't mind tellin' you that it wern't in the natur of + Blair Rawlins' darter to teach her own darter any better, for all she's + been a mighty help to me. So if it's all the same to you, Mr. Ford, we + won't talk about a grownd up school; I'd rather Cress be a little girl + again among them other children. I should be a powerful sight more kam if + I knowed that when I was away huntin' stock or fightin' stakes with them + Harrisons, that she was a settin' there with them and the birds and the + bees, and listenin' to them and to you. Mebbee there's been a little too + many scrimmages goin' on round the ranch sence she's been a child; mebbee + she orter know suthin' more of a man than a feller who sparks her and + fights for her.” + </p> + <p> + The master was silent. Had this dull, narrow-minded partisan stumbled upon + a truth that had never dawned upon his own broader comprehension? Had this + selfish savage and literally red-handed frontier brawler been moved by + some dumb instinct of the power of gentleness to understand his daughter's + needs better than he? For a moment he was staggered. Then he thought of + Cressy's later flirtations with Joe Masters, and her concealment of their + meeting from her mother. Had she deceived her father also? Or was not the + father deceiving him with this alternate suggestion of threat and of + kindliness—of power and weakness. He had heard of this cruel phase + of Southwestern cunning before. With the feeble sophistry of the cynic he + mistrusted the good his scepticism could not understand. Howbeit, glancing + sideways at the slumbering savagery of the man beside him, and his wounded + hand, he did not care to show his lack of confidence. He contented himself + with that equally feeble resource of weak humanity in such cases—good-natured + indifference. “All right,” he said carelessly; “I'll see what can be done. + But are you quite sure you are fit to go home alone? Shall I accompany + you?” As McKinstry waived the suggestion with a gesture, he added lightly, + as if to conclude the interview, “I'll report progress to you from time to + time, if you like.” + </p> + <p> + “To ME,” emphasized McKinstry; “not over THAR,” indicating the ranch. “But + p'rhaps you wouldn't mind my ridin' by and lookin' in at the school-room + winder onct in a while? Ah—you WOULD,” he added, with the first + deepening of color he had shown. “Well, never mind.” + </p> + <p> + “You see it might distract the children from their lessons,” explained the + master gently, who had however contemplated with some concern the infinite + delight which a glimpse of McKinstry's fiery and fatuous face at the + window would awaken in Johnny Filgee's infant breast. + </p> + <p> + “Well, no matter!” returned McKinstry slowly. “Ye don't keer, I s'pose, to + come over to the hotel and take suthin'? A julep or a smash?” + </p> + <p> + “I shouldn't think of keeping you a moment longer from Mrs. McKinstry,” + said the master, looking at his companion's wounded hand. “Thank you all + the same. Good-by.” + </p> + <p> + They shook hands, McKinstry transferring his rifle to the hollow of his + elbow to offer his unwounded left. The master watched him slowly resume + his way towards the ranch. Then with a half uneasy and half pleasurable + sense that he had taken some step whose consequences were more important + than he would at present understand, he turned in the opposite direction + to the school-house. He was so preoccupied that it was not until he had + nearly reached it that he remembered Uncle Ben. With an odd recollection + of McKinstry's previous performance, he approached the school from the + thicket in the rear and slipped noiselessly to the open window with the + intention of looking in. But the school-house, far from exhibiting that + “kam” and studious abstraction which had so touched the savage breast of + McKinstry, was filled with the accents of youthful and unrestrained + vituperation. The voice of Rupert Filgee came sharply to the master's + astonished ears. + </p> + <p> + “You needn't try to play off Dobell or Mitchell on ME—you hear! Much + YOU know of either, don't you? Look at that copy. If Johnny couldn't do + better than that, I'd lick him. Of course it's the pen—it ain't your + stodgy fingers—oh, no! P'r'aps you'd like to hev a few more boxes o' + quills and gold pens and Gillott's best thrown in, for two bits a lesson? + I tell you what! I'll throw up the contract in another minit! There goes + another quill busted! Look here, what YOU want ain't a pen, but a + clothes-pin and a split nail! That'll about jibe with your dilikit gait.” + </p> + <p> + The master at once stepped to the window and, unobserved, took a quick + survey of the interior. Following some ingenious idea of his own regarding + fitness, the beautiful Filgee had induced Uncle Ben to seat himself on the + floor before one of the smallest desks, presumably his brother's, in an + attitude which, while it certainly gave him considerable elbow-room for + those contortions common to immature penmanship, offered his youthful + instructor a superior eminence, from which he hovered, occasionally + swooping down upon his grown-up pupil like a mischievous but graceful jay. + But Mr. Ford's most distinct impression was that, far from resenting the + derogatory position and the abuse that accompanied it, Uncle Ben not only + beamed upon his persecutor with unquenchable good humor, but with + undisguised admiration, and showed not the slightest inclination to accept + his proposed resignation. + </p> + <p> + “Go slow, Roop,” he said cheerfully. “You was onct a boy yourself. + Nat'rally I kalkilate to stand all the damages. You've got ter waste some + powder over a blast like this yer, way down to the bed rock. Next time + I'll bring my own pens.” + </p> + <p> + “Do. Some from the Dobell school you uster go to,” suggested the darkly + ironical Rupert. “They was iron-clad injin-rubber, warn't they?” + </p> + <p> + “Never you mind wot they were,” said Uncle Ben good-humoredly. “Look at + that string of 'C's' in that line. There's nothing mean about THEM.” + </p> + <p> + He put his pen between his teeth, raised himself slowly on his legs, and + shading his eyes with his hand from the severe perspective of six feet, + gazed admiringly down upon his work. Rupert, with his hands in his pockets + and his back to the window, cynically assisted at the inspection. + </p> + <p> + “Wot's that sick worm at the bottom of the page?” he asked. + </p> + <p> + “Wot might you think it wos?” said Uncle Ben beamingly. + </p> + <p> + “Looks like one o' them snake roots you dig up with a little mud stuck to + it,” returned Rupert critically. + </p> + <p> + “That's my name.” + </p> + <p> + They both stood looking at it with their heads very much on one side. “It + ain't so bad as the rest you've done. It MIGHT be your name. That ez, it + don't look like anythin' else,” suggested Rupert, struck with a new idea + that it was perhaps more professional occasionally to encourage his pupil. + “You might get on in course o' time. But what are you doin' all this for?” + he asked suddenly. + </p> + <p> + “Doin' what?” + </p> + <p> + “This yer comin' to school when you ain't sent, and you ain't got no call + to go—you, a grown-up man!” + </p> + <p> + The color deepened in Uncle Ben's face to the back of his ears. “Wot would + you giv' to know, Roop? S'pose I reckoned some day to make a strike and + sorter drop inter saciety easy—eh? S'pose I wanted to be ready to + keep up my end with the other fellers, when the time kem? To be able to + sling po'try and read novels and sich—eh?” + </p> + <p> + An expression of infinite and unutterable scorn dawned in the eyes of + Rupert. “You do? Well,” he repeated with slow and cutting deliberation, + “I'll tell you what you're comin' here for, and the only thing that makes + you come.” + </p> + <p> + “What?” + </p> + <p> + “It's—some—girl!” + </p> + <p> + Uncle Ben broke into a boisterous laugh that made the roof shake, stamping + about and slapping his legs till the crazy floor trembled. But at that + moment the master stepped to the perch and made a quiet but discomposing + entrance. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0004" id="link2HCH0004"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER IV. + </h2> + <p> + The return of Miss Cressida McKinstry to Indian Spring and her interrupted + studies was an event whose effects were not entirely confined to the + school. The broken engagement itself seemed of little moment in the + general estimation compared to her resumption of her old footing as a + scholar. A few ill-natured elders of her own sex, and naturally exempt + from the discriminating retort of Mr. McKinstry's “shot-gun,” alleged that + the Seminary at Sacramento had declined to receive her, but the majority + accepted her return with local pride as a practical compliment to the + educational facilities of Indian Spring. The Tuolumne “Star,” with a + breadth and eloquence touchingly disproportionate to its actual size and + quality of type and paper, referred to the possible “growth of a grove of + Academus at Indian Spring, under whose cloistered boughs future sages and + statesmen were now meditating,” in a way that made the master feel + exceedingly uncomfortable. For some days the trail between the McKinstrys' + ranch and the school-house was lightly patrolled by reliefs of susceptible + young men, to whom the enfranchised Cressida, relieved from the dangerous + supervision of the Davis-McKinstry clique, was an object of ambitious + admiration. The young girl herself, who, in spite of the master's + annoyance, seemed to be following some conscientious duty in consecutively + arraying herself in the different dresses she had bought, however she may + have tantalized her admirers by this revelation of bridal finery, did not + venture to bring them near the limits of the play-ground. It struck the + master with some surprise that Indian Spring did not seem to trouble + itself in regard to his own privileged relations with its rustic + enchantress; the young men clearly were not jealous of him; no matron had + suggested any indecorum in a young girl of Cressy's years and antecedents + being intrusted to the teachings of a young man scarcely her senior. + Notwithstanding the attitude which Mr. Ford had been pleased to assume + towards her, this implied compliment to his supposed monastic vocations + affected him almost as uncomfortably as the “Star's” extravagant eulogium. + He was obliged to recall certain foolish experiences of his own to enable + him to rise superior to this presumption of his asceticism. + </p> + <p> + In pursuance of his promise to McKinstry, he had procured a few elementary + books of study suitable to Cressy's new position, without, however, taking + her out of the smaller classes or the discipline of the school. In a few + weeks he was enabled to further improve her attitude by making her a + “monitor” over the smaller girls, thereby dividing certain functions with + Rupert Filgee, whose ministrations to the deceitful and “silly” sex had + been characterized by perhaps more vigilant scorn and disparagement than + was necessary. Cressy had accepted it as she had accepted her new studies, + with an indolent good-humor, and at times a frankly supreme ignorance of + their abstract or moral purpose that was discouraging. “What's the good of + that?” she would ask, lifting her eyes abruptly to the master. Mr. Ford, + somewhat embarrassed by her look, which always, sooner or later, frankly + confessed itself an excuse for a perfectly irrelevant examination of his + features in detail, would end in giving her some severely practical + answer. Yet, if the subject appealed to any particular idiosyncrasy of her + own, she would speedily master the study. A passing predilection for + botany was provoked by a single incident. The master deeming this study a + harmless young-lady-like occupation, had one day introduced the topic at + recess, and was met by the usual answer. “But suppose,” he continued + artfully, “somebody sent you anonymously some flowers.” + </p> + <p> + “Her ho!” suggested Johnny Filgee hoarsely, with bold bad recklessness. + Ignoring the remark and the kick with which Rupert had resented it on the + person of his brother, the master continued: + </p> + <p> + “And if you couldn't find out who sent them, you would want at least to + know what they were and where they grew.” + </p> + <p> + “Ef they grew anywhere 'bout yer we could tell her that,” said a chorus of + small voices. + </p> + <p> + The master hesitated. He was conscious of being on delicate ground. He was + surrounded by a dozen pairs of little keen eyes from whom Nature had never + yet succeeded in hiding her secrets—eyes that had waited for and + knew the coming up of the earliest flowers; little fingers that had never + turned the pages of a text-book, but knew where to scrape away the dead + leaves above the first anemone, or had groped painfully among the lifeless + branches in forgotten hollows for the shy dog-rose; unguided little feet + that had instinctively made their way to remote southern slopes for the + first mariposas, or had unerringly threaded the tule-hidden banks of the + river for flower-de-luce. Convinced that he could not hold his own on + their level, he shamelessly struck at once above it. + </p> + <p> + “Suppose that one of those flowers,” he continued, “was not like the rest; + that its stalks and leaves, instead of being green and soft, were white + and stringy like flannel as if to protect it from cold, wouldn't it be + nice to be able to say at once that it had lived only in the snow, and + that some one must have gone all that way up there above the snow line to + pick it?” The children, taken aback by this unfair introduction of a + floral stranger, were silent. Cressy thoughtfully accepted botany on those + possibilities. A week later she laid on the master's desk a limp-looking + plant with a stalk like heavy frayed worsted yarn. “It ain't much to look + at after all, is it?” she said. “I reckon I could cut a better one with + scissors outer an old cloth jacket of mine.” + </p> + <p> + “And you found it here?” asked the master in surprise. + </p> + <p> + “I got Masters to look for it when he was on the Summit. I described it to + him. I didn't allow he had the gumption to get it. But he did.” + </p> + <p> + Although botany languished slightly after this vicarious effort, it kept + Cressy in fresh bouquets, and extending its gentle influence to her + friends and acquaintances became slightly confounded with horticulture, + led to the planting of one or two gardens, and was accepted in school as + an implied concession to berries, apples, and nuts. In reading and writing + Cressy greatly improved, with a marked decrease in grammatical solecisms, + although she still retained certain characteristic words, and always her + own slow Southwestern, half musical intonation. This languid deliberation + was particularly noticeable in her reading aloud, and gave the studied and + measured rhetoric a charm of which her careless colloquial speech was + incapable. Even the “Fifth Reader,” with its imposing passages from the + English classics carefully selected with a view of paralyzing small, + hesitating, or hurried voices, in Cressy's hands became no longer an + unintelligible incantation. She had quietly mastered the difficulties of + pronunciation by some instinctive sense of euphony if not of + comprehension. The master with his eyes closed hardly recognized his + pupil. Whether or not she understood what she read he hesitated to + inquire; no doubt, as with her other studies, she knew what attracted her. + Rupert Filgee, a sympathetic if not always a correct reader, who boldly + took four and five syllabled fences flying only to come to grief perhaps + in the ditch of some rhetorical pause beyond, alone expressed his scorn of + her performance. Octavia Dean, torn between her hopeless affection for + this beautiful but inaccessible boy, and her soul-friendship for this + bigger but many-frocked girl, studied the master's face with watchful + anxiety. + </p> + <p> + It is needless to say that Hiram McKinstry was, in the intervals of + stake-driving and stock-hunting, heavily contented with this latest + evidence of his daughter's progress. He even intimated to the master that + her reading being an accomplishment that could be exercised at home was + conducive to that “kam” in which he was so deficient. It was also rumored + that Cressy's oral rendering of Addison's “Reflections in Westminster + Abbey” and Burke's “Indictment of Warren Hastings,” had beguiled him one + evening from improving an opportunity to “plug” one of Harrison's boundary + “raiders.” + </p> + <p> + The master shared in Cressy's glory in the public eye. But although Mrs. + McKinstry did not materially change her attitude of tolerant good-nature + towards him, he was painfully conscious that she looked upon her + daughter's studies and her husband's interests in them as a weakness that + might in course of time produce infirmity of homicidal purpose and become + enervating of eye and trigger-finger. And when Mr. McKinstry got himself + appointed as school-trustee, and was thereby obliged to mingle with + certain Eastern settlers,—colleagues on the Board,—this + possible weakening of the old sharply drawn sectional line between “Yanks” + and themselves gave her grave doubts of Hiram's physical stamina. + </p> + <p> + “The old man's worrits hev sorter shook out a little of his sand,” she had + explained. On those evenings when he attended the Board, she sought higher + consolation in prayer meeting at the Southern Baptist Church, in whose + exercises her Northern and Eastern neighbors, thinly disguised as “Baal” + and “Astaroth,” were generally overthrown and their temples made desolate. + </p> + <p> + If Uncle Ben's progress was slower, it was no less satisfactory. Without + imagination and even without enthusiasm, he kept on with a dull laborious + persistency. When the irascible impatience of Rupert Filgee at last + succumbed to the obdurate slowness of his pupil, the master himself, + touched by Uncle Ben's perspiring forehead and perplexed eyebrows, often + devoted the rest of the afternoon to a gentle elucidation of the mysteries + before him, setting copies for his heavy hand, or even guiding it with his + own, like a child's, across the paper. At times the appalling uselessness + of Uncle Ben's endeavors reminded him of Rupert's taunting charge. Was he + really doing this from a genuine thirst for knowledge? It was inconsistent + with all that Indian Spring knew of his antecedents and his present + ambitions; he was a simple miner without scientific or technical + knowledge; his already slight acquaintance with arithmetic and the scrawl + that served for his signature were more than sufficient for his needs. Yet + it was with this latter sign-manual that he seemed to take infinite pains. + The master, one afternoon, thought fit to correct the apparent vanity of + this performance. + </p> + <p> + “If you took as much care in trying to form your letters according to + copy, you'd do better. Your signature is fair enough as it is.” + </p> + <p> + “But it don't look right, Mr. Ford,” said Uncle Ben, eying it + distrustfully; “somehow it ain't all there.” + </p> + <p> + “Why, certainly it is. Look, D A B N E Y—not very plain, it's true, + but there are all the letters.” + </p> + <p> + “That's just it, Mr. Ford; them AIN'T all the letters that ORTER be there. + I've allowed to write it D A B N E Y to save time and ink, but it orter + read DAUBIGNY,” said Uncle Ben, with painful distinctness. + </p> + <p> + “But that spells d'Aubigny!” + </p> + <p> + “It are.” + </p> + <p> + “Is that your name?” + </p> + <p> + “I reckon.” + </p> + <p> + The master looked at Uncle Ben doubtfully. Was this only another form of + the Dobell illusion? “Was your father a Frenchman?” he asked finally. + </p> + <p> + Uncle Ben paused as if to recall the trifling circumstances of his + father's nationality. “No.” + </p> + <p> + “Your grandfather?” + </p> + <p> + “I reckon not. At least ye couldn't prove it by me.” + </p> + <p> + “Was your father or grandfather a voyageur or trapper, or Canadian?” + </p> + <p> + “They were from Pike County, Mizzoori.” + </p> + <p> + The master regarded Uncle Ben still dubiously. “But you call yourself + Dabney. What makes you think your real name is d'Aubigny?” + </p> + <p> + “That's the way it uster be writ in letters to me in the States. Hold on. + I'll show ye.” He deliberately began to feel in his pockets, finally + extracting his old purse from which he produced a crumpled envelope, and + carefully smoothing it out, compared it with his signature. + </p> + <p> + “Thar, you see. It's the same—d'Aubigny.” + </p> + <p> + The master hesitated. After all, it was not impossible. He recalled other + instances of the singular transformation of names in the Californian + emigration. Yet he could not help saying, “Then you concluded d'Aubigny + was a better name than Dabney?” + </p> + <p> + “Do YOU think it's better?” + </p> + <p> + “Women might. I dare say your wife would prefer to be called Mrs. + d'Aubigny rather than Dabney.” + </p> + <p> + The chance shot told. Uncle Ben suddenly flushed to his ears. + </p> + <p> + “I didn't think o' that,” he said hurriedly. “I had another idee. I + reckoned that on the matter o' holdin' property and passin' in money it + would be better to hev your name put on the square, and to sorter go down + to bed rock for it, eh? If I wanted to take a hand in them lots or Ditch + shares, for instance—it would be only law to hev it made out in the + name o' d'Aubigny.” + </p> + <p> + Mr. Ford listened with certain impatient contempt. It was bad enough for + Uncle Ben to have exposed his weakness in inventing fictions about his + early education, but to invest himself now with a contingency of capital + for the sake of another childish vanity, was pitiable as it was + preposterous. There was no doubt that he had lied about his school + experiences; it was barely probable that his name was really d'Aubigny, + and it was quite consistent with all this—even setting apart the + fact that he was perfectly well known to be only a poor miner—that + he should lie again. Like most logical reasoners Mr. Ford forgot that + humanity might be illogical and inconsistent without being insincere. He + turned away without speaking as if indicating a wish to hear no more. + </p> + <p> + “Some o' these days,” said Uncle Ben, with dull persistency, “I'll tell ye + suthen'.” + </p> + <p> + “I'd advise you just now to drop it and stick to your lessons,” said the + master sharply. + </p> + <p> + “That's so,” said Uncle Ben hurriedly, hiding himself as it were in an + all-encompassing blush. “In course lessons first, boys, that's the motto.” + He again took up his pen and assumed his old laborious attitude. But after + a few moments it became evident that either the master's curt dismissal of + his subject or his own preoccupation with it, had somewhat unsettled him. + He cleaned his pen obtrusively, going to the window for a better light, + and whistling from time to time with a demonstrative carelessness and a + depressing gayety. He once broke into a murmuring, meditative chant + evidently referring to the previous conversation, in its—“That's so—Yer + we go—Lessons the first, boys, Yo, heave O.” The rollicking marine + character of this refrain, despite its utter incongruousness, apparently + struck him favorably, for he repeated it softly, occasionally glancing + behind him at the master who was coldly absorbed at his desk. Presently he + arose, carefully put his books away, symmetrically piling them in a + pyramid beside Mr. Ford's motionless elbow, and then lifting his feet with + high but gentle steps went to the peg where his coat and hat were hanging. + As he was about to put them on he appeared suddenly struck with a sense of + indecorousness in dressing himself in the school, and taking them on his + arm to the porch resumed them outside. Then saying, “I clean disremembered + I'd got to see a man. So long, till to-morrow,” he disappeared whistling + softly. + </p> + <p> + The old woodland hush fell back upon the school. It seemed very quiet and + empty. A faint sense of remorse stole over the master. Yet he remembered + that Uncle Ben had accepted without reproach and as a good joke much more + direct accusations from Rupert Filgee, and that he himself had acted from + a conscientious sense of duty towards the man. But a conscientious sense + of duty to inflict pain upon a fellow-mortal for his own good does not + always bring perfect serenity to the inflicter—possibly because, in + the defective machinery of human compensation, pain is the only quality + that is apt to appear in the illustration. Mr. Ford felt uncomfortable, + and being so, was naturally vexed at the innocent cause. Why should Uncle + Ben be offended because he had simply declined to follow his weak + fabrications any further? This was his return for having tolerated it at + first! It would be a lesson to him henceforth. Nevertheless he got up and + went to the door. The figure of Uncle Ben was already indistinct among the + leaves, but from the motion of his shoulders he seemed to be still + stepping high and softly as if not yet clear of insecure and engulfing + ground. + </p> + <p> + The silence still continuing, the master began mechanically to look over + the desks for forgotten or mislaid articles, and to rearrange the pupils' + books and copies. A few heartsease gathered by the devoted Octavia Dean, + neatly tied with a black thread and regularly left in the inkstand cavity + of Rupert's desk, were still lying on the floor where they had been always + hurled with equal regularity by that disdainful Adonis. Picking up a slate + from under a bench, his attention was attracted by a forgotten cartoon on + the reverse side. Mr. Ford at once recognized it as the work of that + youthful but eminent caricaturist, Johnny Filgee. Broad in treatment, + comprehensive in subject, liberal in detail and slate-pencil—it + represented Uncle Ben lying on the floor with a book in his hand, + tyrannized over by Rupert Filgee and regarded in a striking profile of two + features by Cressy McKinstry. The daring realism of introducing the names + of each character on their legs—perhaps ideally enlarged for that + purpose—left no doubt of their identity. Equally daring but no less + effective was the rendering of a limited but dramatic conversation between + the parties by the aid of emotional balloons attached to their mouths like + a visible gulp bearing the respective legends: “I luv you,” “O my,” and + “You git!” + </p> + <p> + The master was for a moment startled at this unlooked-for but graphic + testimony to the fact that Uncle Ben's visits to the school were not only + known but commented upon. The small eyes of those youthful observers had + been keener than his own. He had again been stupidly deceived, in spite of + his efforts. Love, albeit deficient in features and wearing an improperly + short bell-shaped frock, had boldly re-entered the peaceful school, and + disturbing complications on abnormal legs were following at its heels. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0005" id="link2HCH0005"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER V. + </h2> + <p> + While this simple pastoral life was centred around the school-house in the + clearing, broken only by an occasional warning pistol-shot in the + direction of the Harrison-McKinstry boundaries, the more business part of + Indian Spring was overtaken by one of those spasms of enterprise peculiar + to all Californian mining settlements. The opening of the Eureka Ditch and + the extension of stagecoach communication from Big Bluff were events of no + small importance, and were celebrated on the same day. The double occasion + overtaxing even the fluent rhetoric of the editor of the “Star” left him + struggling in the metaphorical difficulties of a Pactolian Spring, which + he had rashly turned into the Ditch, and obliged him to transfer the + onerous duty of writing the editorial on the Big Bluff Extension to the + hands of the Honorable Abner Dean, Assemblyman from Angel's. The loss of + the Honorable Mr. Dean's right eye in an early pioneer fracas did not + prevent him from looking into the dim vista of the future and discovering + with that single unaided optic enough to fill three columns of the “Star.” + “It is not too extravagant to say,” he remarked with charming deprecation, + “that Indian Spring, through its own perfectly organized system of inland + transportation, the confluence of its North Fork with the Sacramento + River, and their combined effluence into the illimitable Pacific, is thus + put not only into direct communication with far Cathay but even remoter + Antipodean markets. The citizen of Indian Spring taking the 9 A. M. + Pioneer Coach and arriving at Big Bluff at 2.40 is enabled to connect with + the through express to Sacramento the same evening, reaching San Francisco + per the Steam Navigation Company's palatial steamers in time to take the + Pacific Mail Steamer to Yokohama on the following day at 8.30 P. M.” + Although no citizen of Indian Spring appeared to avail himself of this + admirable opportunity, nor did it appear at all likely that any would, + everybody vaguely felt that an inestimable boon lay in the suggestion, and + even the master professionally intrusting the reading aloud of the + editorial to Rupert Filgee with ulterior designs of practice in the + pronunciation of five-syllable words, was somewhat affected by it. Johnny + Filgee and Jimmy Snyder accepting it as a mysterious something that made + Desert Islands accessible at a moment's notice and a trifling outlay, were + round-eyed and attentive. And the culminating information from the master + that this event would be commemorated by a half-holiday, combined to make + the occasion as exciting to the simple school-house in the clearing as it + was to the gilded saloon in the main street. + </p> + <p> + And so the momentous day arrived, with its two new coaches from Big Bluff + containing the specially invited speakers—always specially invited + to those occasions, and yet strangely enough never before feeling the + extreme “importance and privilege” of it as they did then. Then there were + the firing of two anvils, the strains of a brass band, the hoisting of a + new flag on the liberty-pole, and later the ceremony of the Ditch opening, + when a distinguished speaker in a most unworkman-like tall hat, black + frock coat, and white cravat, which gave him the general air of a festive + grave-digger, took a spade from the hands of an apparently hilarious chief + mourner and threw out the first sods. There were anvils, brass bands, and + a “collation” at the hotel. But everywhere—overriding the most + extravagant expectation and even the laughter it provoked—the spirit + of indomitable youth and resistless enterprise intoxicated the air. It was + the spirit that had made California possible; that had sown a thousand + such ventures broadcast through its wilderness; that had enabled the sower + to stand half-humorously among his scant or ruined harvests without fear + and without repining, and turn his undaunted and ever hopeful face to + further fields. What mattered it that Indian Spring had always before its + eyes the abandoned trenches and ruined outworks of its earlier pioneers? + What mattered it that the eloquent eulogist of the Eureka Ditch had but a + few years before as prodigally scattered his adjectives and his fortune on + the useless tunnel that confronted him on the opposite side of the river? + The sublime forgetfulness of youth ignored its warning or recognized it as + a joke. The master, fresh from his little flock and prematurely aged by + their contact, felt a stirring of something like envy as he wandered among + these scarcely older enthusiasts. + </p> + <p> + Especially memorable was the exciting day to Johnny Filgee, not only for + the delightfully bewildering clamor of the brass band, in which, between + the trombone and the bass drum, he had got inextricably mixed; not only + for the half-frightening explosions of the anvils and the maddening smell + of the gunpowder which had exalted his infant soul to sudden and + irrelevant whoopings, but for a singular occurrence that whetted his + always keen perceptions. Having been shamelessly abandoned on the veranda + of the Eureka Hotel while his brother Rupert paid bashful court to the + pretty proprietress by assisting her in her duties, Johnny gave himself up + to unlimited observation. The rosettes of the six horses, the new harness, + the length of the driver's whiplash, his enormous buckskin gloves and the + way he held his reins; the fascinating odor of shining varnish on the + coach, the gold-headed cane of the Honorable Abner Dean: all these were + stored away in the secret recesses of Johnny's memory, even as the + unconsidered trifles he had picked up en route were distending his + capacious pockets. But when a young man had alighted from the second or + “Truly” coach among the REAL passengers, and strolled carelessly and + easily in the veranda as if the novelty and the occasion were nothing to + him, Johnny, with a gulp of satisfaction, knew that he had seen a prince! + Beautifully dressed in a white duck suit, with a diamond ring on his + finger, a gold chain swinging from his fob, and a Panama hat with a broad + black ribbon jauntily resting on his curled and scented hair, Johnny's + eyes had never rested on a more resplendent vision. He was more romantic + than Yuba Bill, more imposing and less impossible than the Honorable Abner + Dean, more eloquent than the master—far more beautiful than any + colored print that he had ever seen. Had he brushed him in passing Johnny + would have felt a thrill; had he spoken to him he knew he would have been + speechless to reply. Judge then of his utter stupefaction when he saw + Uncle Ben—actually Uncle Ben!—approach this paragon of + perfection, albeit with some embarrassment, and after a word or two of + unintelligible conversation walk away with him! Need it be wondered that + Johnny, forgetful at once of his brother, the horses, and even the + collation with its possible “goodies,” instantly followed. + </p> + <p> + The two men turned into the side street, which, after a few hundred yards, + opened upon the deserted mining flat, crossed and broken by the burrows + and mounds made by the forgotten engines of the early gold-seekers. + Johnny, at times hidden by these irregularities, kept closely in their + rear, sauntering whenever he came within the range of their eyes in that + sidelong, spasmodic and generally diagonal fashion peculiar to small boys, + but ready at any moment to assume utter unconsciousness and the appearance + of going somewhere else or of searching for something on the ground. In + this way appearing, if noticed at all, each time in some different + position to the right or left of them, Johnny followed them to the fringe + of woodland which enabled him to draw closer to their heels. + </p> + <p> + Utterly oblivious of this artistic “shadowing” in the insignificant person + of the small boy who once or twice even crossed their path with affected + timidity, they continued an apparently confidential previous interview. + The words “stocks” and “shares” were alone intelligible. Johnny had heard + them during the day, but he was struck by the fact that Uncle Ben seemed + to be seeking information from the paragon and was perfectly submissive + and humble. But the boy was considerably mystified when after a tramp of + half an hour they arrived upon the debatable ground of the + Harrison-McKinstry boundary. Having been especially warned never to go + there, Johnny as a matter of course was perfectly familiar with it. But + what was the incomprehensible stranger doing there? Was he brought by + Uncle Ben with a view of paralyzing both of the combatants with the + spectacle of his perfections? Was he a youthful sheriff, a young judge, or + maybe the son of the Governor of California? Or was it that Uncle Ben was + “silly” and didn't know the locality? Here was an opportunity for him, + Johnny, to introduce himself, and explain and even magnify the danger, + with perhaps a slight allusion to his own fearless familiarity with it. + Unfortunately, as he was making up his small mind behind a tree, the + paragon turned and with the easy disdain that so well became him, said: + </p> + <p> + “Well, I wouldn't offer a dollar an acre for the whole ranch. But if YOU + choose to give a fancy price—that's your lookout.” + </p> + <p> + To Johnny's already prejudiced mind, Uncle Ben received this just contempt + submissively, as he ought, but nevertheless he muttered something “silly” + in reply, which Johnny was really too disgusted to listen to. Ought he not + to step forward and inform the paragon that he was wasting his time on a + man who couldn't even spell “ba-ker,” and who was taught his letters by + his, Johnny's, brother? + </p> + <p> + The paragon continued: + </p> + <p> + “And of course you know that merely your buying the title to the land + don't give you possession. You'll have to fight these squatters and + jumpers just the same. It'll be three instead of two fighting—that's + all!” + </p> + <p> + Uncle Ben's imbecile reply did not trouble Johnny. He had ears now only + for the superior intellect before him. IT continued coolly: + </p> + <p> + “Now let's take a look at that yield of yours. I haven't much time to give + you, as I expect some men to be looking for me here—and I suppose + you want this thing still kept a secret. I don't see how you've managed to + do it so far. Is your claim near? You live on it—I think you said?” + </p> + <p> + But that the little listener was so preoccupied with the stranger, this + suggestion of Uncle Ben's having a claim worth the attention of that + distinguished presence would have set him thinking; the little that he + understood he set down to Uncle Ben's “gassin'.” As the two men moved + forward again, he followed them until Uncle Ben's house was reached. + </p> + <p> + It was a rude shanty of boards and rough boulders, half burrowing in one + of the largest mounds of earth and gravel, which had once represented the + tailings or refuse of the abandoned Indian Spring Placer. In fact it was + casually alleged by some that Uncle Ben eked out the scanty “grub wages,” + he made by actual mining, in reworking and sifting the tailings at odd + times—a degrading work hitherto practised only by Chinese, and + unworthy the Caucasian ambition. The mining code of honor held that a man + might accept the smallest results of his daily labor, as long as he was + sustained by the prospect of a larger “strike,” but condemned his + contentment with a modest certainty. Nevertheless a little of this + suspicion encompassed his dwelling and contributed to its loneliness, even + as a long ditch, the former tail-race of the claim, separated him from his + neighbors. Prudently halting at the edge of the wood, Johnny saw his + resplendent vision cross the strip of barren flat, and enter the cabin + with Uncle Ben like any other mortal. He sat down on a stump and awaited + its return, which he fondly hoped might be alone! At the end of half an + hour he made a short excursion to examine the condition of a blackberry + bramble, and returned to his post of observation. But there was neither + sound nor motion in the direction of the cabin. When another ten minutes + had elapsed, the door opened and to Johnny's intense discomfiture, Uncle + Ben appeared alone and walked leisurely towards the woods. Burning with + anxiety Johnny threw himself in Uncle Ben's way. But here occurred one of + those surprising inconsistencies known only to children. As Uncle Ben + turned his small gray eyes upon him in a half astonished, half questioning + manner, the potent spirit of childish secretiveness suddenly took + possession of the boy. Wild horses could not now have torn from him that + question which only a moment before was on his lips. + </p> + <p> + “Hullo, Johnny! What are ye doin' here?” said Uncle Ben kindly. + </p> + <p> + “Nothin'.” After a pause, in which he walked all round Uncle Ben's large + figure, gazing up at him as if he were a monument, he added, “Huntin' + blackberrieth.” + </p> + <p> + “Why ain't you over at the collation?” + </p> + <p> + “Ruperth there,” he answered promptly. + </p> + <p> + The idea of being thus vicariously present in the person of his brother + seemed a sufficient excuse. He leap-frogged over the stump on which he had + been sitting as an easy unembarrassing pause for the next question. But + Uncle Ben was apparently perfectly satisfied with Johnny's reply, and + nodding to him, walked away. + </p> + <p> + When his figure had disappeared in the bushes, Johnny cautiously + approached the cabin. At a certain distance he picked up a stone and threw + it against the door, immediately taking to his heels and the friendly + copse again. No one appearing he repeated the experiment twice and even + thrice with a larger stone and at a nearer distance. Then he boldly + skirted the cabin and dropped into the race-way at its side. Following it + a few hundred yards he came upon a long disused shaft opening into it, + which had been covered with a rough trap of old planks, as if to protect + incautious wayfarers from falling in. Here a sudden and inexplicable fear + overtook Johnny, and he ran away. When he reached the hotel, almost the + first sight that met his astounded eyes was the spectacle of the paragon, + apparently still in undisturbed possession of all his perfections—driving + coolly off in a buggy with a fresh companion. + </p> + <p> + Meantime Mr. Ford, however touched by the sentimental significance of the + celebration, became slightly wearied of its details. As his own room in + the Eureka Hotel was actually thrilled by the brass band without and the + eloquence of speakers below, and had become redolent of gunpowder and + champagne exploded around it, he determined to return to the school-house + and avail himself of its woodland quiet to write a few letters. + </p> + <p> + The change was grateful, the distant murmur of the excited settlement came + only as the soothing sound of wind among the leaves. The pure air of the + pines that filled every cranny of the quiet school-room, and seemed to + disperse all taint of human tenancy, made the far-off celebrations as + unreal as a dream. The only reality of his life was here. + </p> + <p> + He took from his pocket a few letters one of which was worn and soiled + with frequent handling. He re-read it in a half methodical, half patient + way, as if he were waiting for some revelation it inspired, which was slow + that afternoon in coming. At other times it had called up a youthful + enthusiasm which was wont to transfigure his grave and prematurely + reserved face with a new expression. To-day the revelation and expression + were both wanting. He put the letter back with a slight sigh, that sounded + so preposterous in the silent room that he could not forego an embarrassed + smile. But the next moment he set himself seriously to work on his + correspondence. + </p> + <p> + Presently he stopped; once or twice he had been overtaken by a vague + undefinable sense of pleasure, even to the dreamy halting of his pen. It + was a sensation in no way connected with the subject of his + correspondence, or even his previous reflections—it was partly + physical, and yet it was in some sense suggestive. It must be the + intoxicating effect of the woodland air. He even fancied he had noticed it + before, at the same hour when the sun was declining and the fresh odors of + the undergrowth were rising. It certainly was a perfume. He raised his + eyes. There lay the cause on the desk before him—a little nosegay of + wild Californian myrtle encircling a rose-bud which had escaped his + notice. + </p> + <p> + There was nothing unusual in the circumstance. The children were in the + habit of making their offerings generally without particular reference to + time or occasion, and it might have been overlooked by him during + school-hours. He felt a pity for the forgotten posy already beginning to + grow limp in its neglected solitude. He remembered that in some folk-lore + of the children's, perhaps a tradition of the old association of the + myrtle with Venus, it was believed to be emblematic of the affections. He + remembered also that he had even told them of this probable origin of + their superstition. He was still holding it in his hand when he was + conscious of a silken sensation that sent a magnetic thrill through his + fingers. Looking at it more closely he saw that the sprigs were bound + together, not by thread or ribbon, but by long filaments of soft brown + hair tightly wound around them. He unwound a single hair and held it to + the light. Its length, color, texture, and above all a certain + inexplicable instinct, told him it was Cressy McKinstry's. He laid it down + quickly, as if he had, in that act, familiarly touched her person. + </p> + <p> + He finished his letter, but presently found himself again looking at the + myrtle and thinking about it. From the position in which it had been + placed it was evidently intended for him; the fancy of binding it with + hair was also intentional and not a necessity, as he knew his feminine + scholars were usually well provided with bits of thread, silk, or ribbon. + If it had been some new absurdity of childish fashion introduced in the + school, he would have noticed it ere this. For it was this obtrusion of a + personality that vaguely troubled him. He remembered Cressy's hair; it was + certainly very beautiful, in spite of her occasional vagaries of coiffure. + He recalled how, one afternoon, it had come down when she was romping with + Octavia in the play-ground, and was surprised to find what a vivid picture + he retained of her lingering in the porch to put it up; her rounded arms + held above her head, her pretty shoulders, full throat, and glowing face + thrown back, and a wisp of the very hair between her white teeth! He began + another letter. + </p> + <p> + When it was finished the shadow of the pine-branch before the window, + thrown by the nearly level sun across his paper, had begun slowly to reach + the opposite wall. He put his work away, lingered for a moment in + hesitation over the myrtle sprays, and then locked them in his desk with + an odd feeling that he had secured in some vague way a hold upon Cressy's + future vagaries; then reflecting that Uncle Ben, whom he had seen in town, + would probably keep holiday with the others, he resolved to wait no + longer, but strolled back to the hotel. The act however had not recalled + Uncle Ben to him by any association of ideas, for since his discovery of + Johnny Filgee's caricature he had failed to detect anything to corroborate + the caricaturist's satire, and had dismissed the subject from his mind. + </p> + <p> + On entering his room at the hotel he found Rupert Filgee standing moodily + by the window, while his brother Johnny, overcome by a repletion of + excitement and collation, was asleep on the single arm-chair. Their + presence was not unusual, as Mr. Ford, touched by the loneliness of these + motherless boys, had often invited them to come to his rooms to look over + his books and illustrated papers. + </p> + <p> + “Well?” he said cheerfully. + </p> + <p> + Rupert did not reply or change his position. Mr. Ford, glancing at him + sharply, saw a familiar angry light in the boy's beautiful eyes, slightly + dimmed by a tear. Laying his hand gently on Rupert's shoulder he said, + “What's the matter, Rupert?” + </p> + <p> + “Nothin',” said the boy doggedly, with his eyes still fixed on the pane. + </p> + <p> + “Has—has—Mrs. Tripp” (the fair proprietress) “been unkind?” he + went on lightly. + </p> + <p> + No reply. + </p> + <p> + “You know, Rupe,” continued Mr. Ford demurely, “she must show SOME reserve + before company—like to-day. It won't do to make a scandal.” + </p> + <p> + Rupert maintained an indignant silence. But the dimple (which he usually + despised as a feminine blot) on the cheek nearer the master became + slightly accented. Only for a moment; the dark eyes clouded again. + </p> + <p> + “I wish I was dead, Mr. Ford.” + </p> + <p> + “Hallo!” + </p> + <p> + “Or—doin' suthin'.” + </p> + <p> + “That's better. What do you want to do?” + </p> + <p> + “To work—make a livin' myself. Quit toten' wood and water at home; + quit cookin' and makin' beds, like a yaller Chinaman; quit nussin' babies + and dressin' 'em and undressin' 'em, like a girl. Look at HIM now,” + pointing to the sweetly unconscious Johnny, “look at him there. Do you + know what that means? It means I've got to pack him home through the town + jist ez he is thar, and then make a fire and bile his food for him, and + wash him and undress him and put him to bed, and 'Now I lay me down to + sleep' him, and tuck him up; and Dad all the while 'scootin' round town + with other idjits, jawin' about 'progress' and the 'future of Injin + Spring.' Much future we've got over our own house, Mr. Ford. Much future + he's got laid up for me!” + </p> + <p> + The master, to whom those occasional outbreaks from Rupert were not + unfamiliar, smiled, albeit with serious eyes that belied his lips, and + consoled the boy as he had often done before. But he was anxious to know + the cause of this recent attack and its probable relations to the + fascinating Mrs. Tripp. + </p> + <p> + “I thought we talked all that over some time ago, Rupe. In a few months + you'll be able to leave school, and I'll advise your father about putting + you into something to give you a chance for yourself. Patience, old + fellow; you're doing very well. Consider—there's your pupil, Uncle + Ben.” + </p> + <p> + “Oh, yes! That's another big baby to tot round in school when I ain't + niggerin' at home.” + </p> + <p> + “And I don't see exactly what else you could do at Indian Spring,” + continued Mr. Ford. + </p> + <p> + “No,” said Rupert gloomily, “but I could get away to Sacramento. Yuba Bill + says they take boys no bigger nor me in thar express offices or banks—and + in a year or two they're as good ez anybody and get paid as big. Why, + there was a fellow here, just now, no older than you, Mr. Ford, and not + half your learnin', and he dressed to death with jewelry, and everybody + bowin' and scrapin' to him, that it was perfectly sickenin'.” + </p> + <p> + Mr. Ford lifted his eyebrows. “Oh, you mean the young man of Benham and + Co., who was talking to Mrs. Tripp?” he said. + </p> + <p> + A quick flush of angry consciousness crossed Rupert's face. “Maybe; he has + just cheek enough for anythin'.” + </p> + <p> + “And you want to be like him?” said Mr. Ford. + </p> + <p> + “You know what I mean, Mr. Ford. Not LIKE him. Why YOU'RE as good as he + is, any day,” continued Rupert with relentless naivete; “but if a jay-bird + like that can get on, why couldn't I?” + </p> + <p> + There was no doubt that the master here pointed out the defectiveness of + Rupert's logic and the beneficence of patience and study, as became their + relations of master and pupil, but with the addition of a certain fellow + sympathy and some amusing recital of his own boyish experiences, that had + the effect of calling Rupert's dimples into action again. At the end of + half an hour the boy had become quite tractable, and, getting ready to + depart, approached his sleeping brother with something like resignation. + But Johnny's nap seemed to have had the effect of transforming him into an + inert jelly-like mass. It required the joint exertions of both the master + and Rupert to transfer him bodily into the latter's arms, where, with a + single limp elbow encircling his brother's neck, he lay with his + unfinished slumber still visibly distending his cheeks, his eyelids, and + even lifting his curls from his moist forehead. The master bade Rupert + “good-night,” and returned to his room as the boy descended the stairs + with his burden. + </p> + <p> + But here Providence, with, I fear, its occasional disregard of mere human + morality, rewarded Rupert after his own foolish desires. Mrs. Tripp was at + the foot of the stairs as Rupert came slowly down. He saw her, and was + covered with shame; she saw him and his burden, and was touched with + kindliness. Whether or not she was also mischievously aware of Rupert's + admiration, and was not altogether displeased with it, I cannot say. In a + voice that thrilled him, she said:— + </p> + <p> + “What! Rupert, are you going so soon?” + </p> + <p> + “Yes, ma'am—-on account of Johnny.” + </p> + <p> + “But let me take him—I can keep him here to-night.” + </p> + <p> + It was a great temptation, but Rupert had strength to refuse, albeit with + his hat pulled over his downcast eyes. + </p> + <p> + “Poor dear, how tired he looks.” + </p> + <p> + She approached her still fresh and pretty face close to Rupert and laid + her lips on Johnny's cheek. Then she lifted her audacious eyes to his + brother, and pushing back his well-worn chip hat from his clustering + curls, she kissed him squarely on the forehead. + </p> + <p> + “Good-night, dear.” + </p> + <p> + The boy stumbled, and then staggered blindly forward into the outer + darkness. But with a gentleman's delicacy he turned almost instantly into + a side street, as if to keep this consecration of himself from vulgar + eyes. The path he had chosen was rough and weary, the night was dark, and + Johnny was ridiculously heavy, but he kept steadily on, the woman's kiss + in the fancy of the foolish boy shining on his forehead and lighting him + onward like a star. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0006" id="link2HCH0006"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER VI. + </h2> + <p> + When the door closed on Rupert the master pulled down the blind, and, + trimming his lamp, tried to compose himself by reading. Outside, the + “Great Day for Indian Spring” was slowly evaporating in pale mists from + the river, and the celebration itself spasmodically taking flight here and + there in Roman candles and rockets. An occasional outbreak from revellers + in the bar-room below, a stumbling straggler along the planked sidewalk + before the hotel, only seemed to intensify the rustic stillness. For the + future of Indian Spring was still so remote that Nature insensibly + re-invested its boundaries on the slightest relaxation of civic influence, + and Mr. Ford lifted his head from the glowing columns of the “Star” to + listen to the far-off yelp of a coyote on the opposite shore. + </p> + <p> + He was also conscious of the recurrence of that vague, pleasurable + recollection, so indefinite that, when he sought to identify it with + anything—even the finding of the myrtle sprays on his desk—it + evaded him. He tried to work, with the same interruption. Then an uneasy + sensation that he had not been sufficiently kind to Rupert in his foolish + love-troubles remorsefully seized him. A half pathetic, half humorous + picture of the miserable Rupert staggering under the double burden of his + sleeping brother and a misplaced affection, or possibly abandoning the one + or both in the nearest ditch in a reckless access of boyish frenzy and + fleeing his home forever, rose before his eyes. He seized his hat with the + intention of seeking him—or forgetting him in some other occupation + by the way. For Mr. Ford had the sensitive conscience of many imaginative + people; an unfailing monitor, it was always calling his whole moral being + into play to evade it. + </p> + <p> + As he crossed the passage he came upon Mrs. Tripp hooded and elaborately + attired in a white ball dress, which however did not, to his own fancy, + become her as well as her ordinary costume. He was passing her with a bow, + when she said, with complacent consciousness of her appearance, “Aren't + you going to the ball to-night?” + </p> + <p> + He remembered then that “an opening ball” at the Court-house was a part of + the celebration. “No,” he said smiling; “but it is a pity that Rupert + couldn't have seen you in your charming array.” + </p> + <p> + “Rupert,” said the lady, with a slightly coquettish laugh; “you have made + him as much a woman-hater as yourself. I offered to take him in our party, + and he ran away to you.” She paused, and giving him a furtive critical + glance said, with an easy mingling of confidence and audacity, “Why don't + YOU go? Nobody'll hurt you.” + </p> + <p> + “I'm not so sure of that,” replied Mr. Ford gallantly. “There's the + melancholy example of Rupert always before me.” + </p> + <p> + Mrs. Tripp tossed her chignon and descended a step of the stairs. “You'd + better go,” she continued, looking up over the balusters. “You can look on + if you can't dance.” + </p> + <p> + Now Mr. Ford COULD dance, and it so chanced, rather well, too. With this + consciousness he remained standing in half indignant hesitation on the + landing as she disappeared. Why shouldn't he go? It was true, he had half + tacitly acquiesced in the reserve with which he had been treated, and had + never mingled socially in the gatherings of either sex at Indian Spring—but + that was no reason. He could at least dress himself, walk to the + Court-house and—look on. + </p> + <p> + Any black coat and white shirt was sufficiently de rigueur for Indian + Spring. Mr. Ford added the superfluous elegance of a forgotten white + waistcoat. When he reached the sidewalk it was only nine o'clock, but the + windows of the Court-house were already flaring like a stranded steamer on + the barren bank where it had struck. On the way thither he was once or + twice tempted to change his mind, and hesitated even at the very door. But + the fear that his hesitation would be noticed by the few loungers before + it, and the fact that some of them were already hesitating through + bashfulness, determined him to enter. + </p> + <p> + The clerks' office and judges' chambers on the lower floor had been + invaded by wraps, shawls, and refreshments, but the dancing was reserved + for the upper floor or courtroom, still unfinished. Flags, laurel-wreaths, + and appropriate floral inscriptions hid its bare walls; but the coat of + arms of the State, already placed over the judges' dais with its + illimitable golden sunset, its triumphant goddess, and its implacable + grizzly, seemed figuratively to typify the occasion better than the + inscriptions. The room was close and crowded. The flickering candles in + tin sconces against the walls, or depending in rude chandeliers of + barrel-hoops from the ceiling, lit up the most astounding diversity of + female costume the master had ever seen. Gowns of bygone fashions, creased + and stained with packing and disuse, toilets of forgotten festivity + revised with modern additions; garments in and out of season—a + fur-trimmed jacket and a tulle skirt, a velvet robe under a pique sacque; + fresh young faces beneath faded head-dresses, and mature and buxom charms + in virgin' white. The small space cleared for the dancers was continually + invaded by the lookers-on, who in files of three deep lined the room. + </p> + <p> + As the master pushed his way to the front, a young girl, who had been + standing in the sides of a quadrille, suddenly darted with a nymph-like + quickness among the crowd and was for an instant hidden. Without + distinguishing either face or figure, Mr. Ford recognized in the quick, + impetuous action a characteristic movement of Cressy's; with an + embarrassing instinct that he could not account for, he knew she had seen + him, and that, for some inexplicable reason, he was the cause of her + sudden disappearance. + </p> + <p> + But it was only for a moment. Even while he was vaguely scanning the crowd + she reappeared and took her place beside her mystified partner—the + fascinating stranger of Johnny's devotion and Rupert's dislike. She was + pale; he had never seen her so beautiful. All that he had thought + distasteful and incongruous in her were but accessories of her loveliness + at that moment, in that light, in that atmosphere, in that strange + assembly. Even her full pink gauze dress, from which her fair young + shoulders slipped as from a sunset cloud, seemed only the perfection of + virginal simplicity; her girlish length of limb and the long curves of her + neck and back were now the outlines of thorough breeding. The absence of + color in her usually fresh face had been replaced by a faint magnetic + aurora that seemed to him half spiritual. He could not take his eyes from + her; he could not believe what he saw. Yet that was Cressy McKinstry—his + pupil! Had he ever really seen her? Did he know her now? Small wonder that + all eyes were bent upon her, that a murmur of unspoken admiration, or + still more intense hush of silence moved the people around him. He glanced + hurriedly at them, and was oddly relieved by this evident participation in + his emotions. + </p> + <p> + She was dancing now, and with that same pale restraint and curious quiet + that had affected him so strongly. She had not even looked in his + direction, yet he was aware by the same instinct that had at first + possessed him that she knew he was present. His desire to catch her eye + was becoming mingled with a certain dread, as if in a single interchange + of glances the illusions of the moment would either vanish utterly or + become irrevocably fixed. He forced himself, when the set was finished, to + turn away, partly to avoid contact with some acquaintances who had drifted + before him, and whom politeness would have obliged him to ask to dance, + and partly to collect his thoughts. He determined to make a tour of the + rooms and then go quietly home. Those who recognized him made way for him + with passive curiosity; the middle-aged and older adding a confidential + sympathy and equality that positively irritated him. For an instant he had + an idea of seeking out Mrs. Tripp and claiming her as a partner, merely to + show her that he danced. + </p> + <p> + He had nearly made the circuit of the room when he was surprised by the + first strains of a waltz. Waltzing was not a strong feature of Indian + Spring festivity, partly that the Church people had serious doubts if + David's saltatory performances before the Ark included “round dances,” and + partly that the young had not yet mastered its difficulties. When he + yielded to his impulse to look again at the dancers he found that only + three or four couples had been bold enough to take the floor. Cressy + McKinstry and her former partner were one of them. In his present + exaltation he was not astonished to find that she had evidently picked up + the art in her late visit, and was now waltzing with quiet grace and + precision, but he was surprised that her partner was far from being + equally perfect, and that after a few turns she stopped and smilingly + disengaged her waist from his arm. As she stepped back she turned with + unerring instinct to that part of the room where the master stood, and + raised her eyes through the multitude of admiring faces to his. Their eyes + met in an isolation as supreme as if they had been alone. It was an + attraction the more dangerous because unformulated—a possession + without previous pledge, promise, or even intention—a love that did + not require to be “made.” + </p> + <p> + He approached her quietly and even more coolly than he thought possible. + “Will you allow me a trial?” he asked. + </p> + <p> + She looked in his face, and as if she had not heard the question but was + following her own thought, said, “I knew you would come; I saw you when + you first came in.” Without another word she put her hand in his, and as + if it were part of an instinctive action of drawing closer to him, caught + with her advancing foot the accent of the waltz, and the next moment the + room seemed to slip away from them into whirling space. + </p> + <p> + The whole thing had passed so rapidly from the moment he approached her to + the first graceful swing of her full skirt at his side, that it seemed to + him almost like the embrace of a lovers' meeting. He had often been as + near her before, had stood at her side at school, and even leaned over her + desk, but always with an irritated instinct of reserve that had equally + affected her, and which he now understood. With her conscious but pale + face so near his own, with the faint odor of her hair clinging to her, and + with the sweet confusion of the half lingering, half withheld contact of + her hand and arm, all had changed. He did not dare to reflect that he + could never again approach her except with this feeling. He did not dare + to think of anything; he abandoned himself to the sense that had begun + with the invasion of her hair-bound myrtle in the silent school-room, and + seemed to have at last led her to his arms. They were moving now in such + perfect rhythm and unison that they seemed scarcely conscious of motion. + Once when they neared the open window he caught a glimpse of the round + moon rising above the solemn heights of the opposite shore, and felt the + cool breath of mountain and river sweep his cheek and mingle a few escaped + threads of her fair hair with his own. With that glimpse and that + sensation the vulgarity and the tawdriness of their surroundings, the + guttering candles in their sconces, the bizarre figures, the unmeaning + faces seemed to be whirled far into distant space. They were alone with + night and nature; it was they who were still; all else had receded in a + vanishing perspective of dull reality, in which they had no part. + </p> + <p> + Play on, O waltz of Strauss! Whirl on, O love and youth! For you cannot + whirl so swiftly but that this receding world will return again with + narrowing circle to hem you in. Faster, O cracked clarionet! Louder, O too + brazen bassoon! Keep back, O dull and earthy environment, till master and + pupil have dreamed their foolish dream! + </p> + <p> + They are in fancy alone on the river-bank, only the round moon above them + and their linked shadows faintly fluttering in the stream. They have drawn + so closely together now that her arm is encircling his neck, her soft eyes + uplifted like the moon's reflection and drowning into his; closer and + closer till their hearts stop beating and their lips have met in a first + kiss. Faster, O little feet! swing clear, O Cressy's skirt and keep the + narrowing circle back! . . . They are again alone; the judges' dais and + the emblazoning of the State caught in a single whirling flash of + consciousness are changed to an altar, seen dimly through the bridal veil + that covers her fair head. There is the murmur of voices mingling two + lives in one. They turn and pass proudly down between the aisles of + wondering festal faces. Ah! the circle is drawing closer. One more quick + whirl to keep them back, O flying skirt and dainty-winged feet! Too late! + The music stops. The tawdry walls shut in again, the vulgar crowds return, + they stand pale and quiet, the centre of a ring of breathless admiring, + frightened, or forbidding faces. Her arms fold like wings at her side. The + waltz is over. + </p> + <p> + A shrill feminine chorus assail her with praises, struck here and there + with a metallic ring of envy; a dozen all-daring cavaliers, made reckless + by her grace and beauty, clamor for her hand in the next waltz. She + replies, not to them, but to him, “Not again,” and slips away in the crowd + with that strange new shyness that of all her transformations seems the + most delicious. Yet so conscious are they of their mutual passion that + they do not miss each other, and he turns away as if their next meeting + were already an appointed tryst. A few congratulate him on his skill. + Johnny's paragon looks after him curiously; certain elders shake hands + with him perplexedly, as if not quite sure of the professional consistency + of his performance. Those charming tide-waiters on social success, the + fair, artfully mingling expectation with compliment, only extract from him + the laughing statement that this one waltz was the single exception + allowed him from the rule of his professional conduct, and he refers them + to his elder critics. A single face, loutish, looming, and vindictive, + stands on among the crowd—the face of Seth Davis. He had not seen + him since he left the school; he had forgotten his existence; even now he + only remembered his successor, Joe Masters, and he looked curiously around + to see if that later suitor of Cressy's was present. It was not until he + reached the door that he began to think seriously of Seth Davis's jealous + face, and was roused to a singular indignation. “Why hadn't this great + fool vented his jealousy on the openly compromising Masters,” he thought. + He even turned and walked back with some vaguely aggressive instinct, but + the young man had disappeared. With this incident still in his mind he + came upon Uncle Ben and Hiram McKinstry standing among the spectators in + the doorway. Why might not Uncle Ben be jealous too? and if his single + waltz had really appeared so compromising why should not Cressy's father + object? But both men—albeit, McKinstry usually exhibited a vague + unreasoning contempt for Uncle Ben—were unanimous in their + congratulations and outspoken admiration. + </p> + <p> + “When I see'd you sail in, Mr. Ford,” said Uncle Ben, with abstract + reflectiveness, “I sez to the fellers, 'lie low, boys, and you'll see + style.' And when you put on them first steps, I sez, 'that's French—the + latest high-toned French style—outer the best masters, and—and + outer the best books. For why?' sez I. 'It's the same long, sliding stroke + you see in his copies. There's that long up sweep, and that easy curve to + the right with no hitch. That's the sorter swing he hez in readin' po'try + too. That's why it's called the po'try of motion,' sez I. 'And you ken bet + your boots, boys, it's all in the trainin' o' education.'” + </p> + <p> + “Mr. Ford,” said Mr. McKinstry gravely, slightly waving a lavender-colored + kid glove, with which he had elected to conceal his maimed hand, and at + the same moment indicate a festal occasion: “I hev to thank ye for the way + you took out that child o' mine, like ez she woz an ontried filly, and put + her through her paces. I don't dance myself, partikly in that gait—which + I take to be suthin' betwixt a lope and a canter and I don't get to see + much dancin' nowadays on account o' bein' worrited by stock, but seein' + you two together just now, suthin' came over me, and I don't think I ever + felt so kam in my life.” + </p> + <p> + The blood rushed to the master's cheek with an unexpected consciousness of + guilt and shame. “But,” he stammered awkwardly, “your daughter dances + beautifully herself; she has certainly had practice.” + </p> + <p> + “That,” said McKinstry, laying his gloved hand impressively on the + master's shoulder, with the empty little finger still more emphasized by + being turned backward in the net; “that may be ez it ez, but I wanted to + say that it was the simple, easy, fammily touch that you gev it, that took + me. Toward the end, when you kinder gathered her up and she sorter dropped + her head into your breast-pocket, and seemed to go to sleep, like ez ef + she was still a little girl, it so reminded me of the times when I used to + tote her myself walkin' by the waggin at Platt River, that it made me wish + the old woman was here to see it.” + </p> + <p> + Still coloring, the master cast a rapid, sidelong glance at McKinstry's + dark red face and beard, but in the slow satisfaction of his features + there was no trace of that irony which the master's self-consciousness + knew. + </p> + <p> + “Then your wife is not here?” said Mr. Ford abstractedly. + </p> + <p> + “She war at church. She reckoned that I'd do to look arter Cressy—she + bein', so to speak, under conviction. D'ye mind walkin' this way a bit; I + want to speak a word with ye?” He put his maimed hand through the master's + arm, after his former fashion, and led him to a corner. + </p> + <p> + “Did ye happen to see Seth Davis about yer?” + </p> + <p> + “I believe I saw him a moment ago,” returned Mr. Ford half contemptuously. + </p> + <p> + “Did he get off anythin' rough on ye?” + </p> + <p> + “Certainly not,” said the master haughtily. “Why should he dare?” + </p> + <p> + “That's so,” said McKinstry meditatively. “You had better keep right on in + that line. That's your gait, remember. Leave him—or his father—it's + the same thing—to ME. Don't YOU let yourself be roped in to this yer + row betwixt me and the Davises. You ain't got no call to do it. It's + already been on my mind your bringin' that gun to me in the Harrison row. + The old woman hadn't oughter let you—nor Cress either. Hark to me, + Mr. Ford! I reckon to stand between you and both the Davises till the cows + come home—only—mind YOU give him the go-by when he happens to + meander along towards you.” + </p> + <p> + “I'm very much obliged to you,” said Ford with disproportionately sudden + choler; “but I don't propose to alter my habits for a ridiculous + school-boy whom I have dismissed.” The unjust and boyish petulance of his + speech instantly flashed upon him, and he felt his cheek burn again. + </p> + <p> + McKinstry regarded him with dull, red, slumbrous eyes. “Don't you go to + lose your best holt, Mr. Ford—and that's kam. Keep your kam—and + you've allus got the dead wood on Injin Springs. I ain't got it,” he + continued, in his slowest, most passionless manner, “and a row more or + less ain't much account to me—but YOU, you keep your kam.” He + paused, stepped back, and regarding the master, with a slight wave of his + crippled hand over his whole person, as if indicating some personal + adornment, said, “It sets you off!” + </p> + <p> + He nodded, turned, and re-entered the ball-room. Mr. Ford, without + trusting himself to further speech, elbowed his way through the crowded + staircase to the street. But even there his strange anger, as well as the + equally strange remorse, which had seized him in McKinstry's presence, + seemed to evaporate in the clear moonlight and soft summer air. There was + the river-bank, with the tremulous river glancing through the dreamy mist, + as they had seen it from the window together. He even turned to look back + on the lighted ball-room, as if SHE might have been looking out, too. But + he knew he should see her again to-morrow, and he hurriedly put aside all + reserve, all thought of the future, all examination of his conduct, to + walk home enwrapped in the vaguer pleasure of the past. Rupert Filgee, to + whom he had never given a second thought, now peacefully slumbering beside + his baby brother, had not gone home in more foolish or more dangerous + company. + </p> + <p> + When he reached the hotel, he was surprised to find it only eleven + o'clock. No one had returned, the building was deserted by all but the + bar-keeper and a flirting chambermaid, who regarded him with aggrieved + astonishment. He began to feel very foolish, and half regretted that he + had not stayed to dance with Mrs. Tripp; or, at least, remained as a quiet + onlooker apart from the others. With a hasty excuse about returning to + write letters for the morning's post, he took a candle and slowly + remounted the stairs to his room. But on entering he found himself + unprepared for that singular lack of sympathy with which familiar haunts + always greet our new experiences; he could hardly believe that he had left + that room only two hours before; it seemed so uncongenial and strange to + the sensation that was still possessing him. Yet there were his table, his + books, his arm-chair, his bed as he had left them; even a sticky fragment + of gingerbread that had fallen from Johnny's pocket. He had not yet + reached that stage of absorbing passion where he was able to put the loved + one in his own surroundings; she as yet had no place in this quiet room; + he could scarcely think of her here, and he MUST think of her, if he had + to go elsewhere. An extravagant idea of walking the street until his + restless dream was over seized him, but even in his folly the + lackadaisical, moonstruck quality of such a performance was too obvious. + The school-house! He would go there; it was only a pleasant walk, the + night was lovely, and he could bring the myrtle-spray from his desk. It + was too significant now—if not too precious—to be kept there. + Perhaps he had not examined it closely, nor the place where it had lain; + there might be an additional sign, word, or token he had overlooked. The + thought thrilled him, even while he was calmly arguing to himself that it + was an instinct of caution. + </p> + <p> + The air was quieter and warmer than usual, though still characteristic of + the locality in its dry, dewless clarity. The grass was yet warm from the + day-long sun, and when he entered the pines that surrounded the + schoolhouse, they had scarcely yet lost their spicy heat. The moon, riding + high, filled the dark aisles with a delicious twilight that lent itself to + his waking dreams. It was not long before to-morrow; he could easily + manage to bring her here in the grove at recess, and would speak with her + there. It did not occur to him what he should say, or why he should say + it; it did not occur to him that he had no other provocation than her + eyes, her conscious manner, her eloquent silence, and her admission that + she had expected him. It did not occur to him that all this was + inconsistent with what he knew of her antecedents, her character, and her + habits. It was this very inconsistency that charmed and convinced him. We + are always on the lookout for these miracles of passion. We may doubt the + genuineness of an affection that is first-hand, but never of one that is + transferred. + </p> + <p> + He approached the school-house and unlocking the door closed it behind + him, not so much to keep out human intrusion as the invasion of bats and + squirrels. The nearly vertical moon, while it perfectly lit the playground + and openings in the pines around the house, left the interior in darkness, + except the reflection upon the ceiling from the shining gravel without. + Partly from a sense of precaution and partly because he was familiar with + the position of the benches, he did not strike a light, and reached his + own desk unerringly, drew his chair before it and unlocked it, groped in + its dark recess for the myrtle spray, felt its soft silken binding with an + electrical thrill, drew it out, and in the security of the darkness, + raised it to his lips. + </p> + <p> + To make room for it in his breast pocket he was obliged to take out his + letters—among them the well-worn one he had tried to read that + morning. A mingling of pleasure and remorse came over him as he felt that + it was already of the past, and as he dropped it carelessly into the empty + desk it fell with a faint, hollow sound as if it were ashes to ashes. + </p> + <p> + What was that? + </p> + <p> + The noise of steps upon the gravel, light laughter, the moving of two or + three shadows on the ceiling, the sound of voices, a man's, a child's, and + HERS! + </p> + <p> + Could it be possible? Was not he mistaken? No! the man's voice was + Masters'; the child's, Octavia's; the woman's, HERS. + </p> + <p> + He remained silent in the shadow. The school-room was not far from the + trail where she would have had to pass going home from the ball. But why + had she come there? had they seen him arrive? and were mischievously + watching him? The sound of Cressy's voice and the lifting of the + unprotected window near the door convinced him to the contrary. + </p> + <p> + “There, that'll do. Now you two can step aside. 'Tave, take him over to + yon fence, and keep him there till I get in. No—thank you, sir—I + can assist myself. I've done it before. It ain't the first time I've been + through this window, is it, 'Tave?” + </p> + <p> + Ford's heart stopped beating. There was a moment of laughing + expostulation, the sound of retreating voices, the sudden darkening of the + window, the billowy sweep of a skirt, the faint quick flash of a little + ankle, and Cressy McKinstry swung herself into the room and dropped + lightly on the floor. + </p> + <p> + She advanced eagerly up the moonlit passage between the two rows of + benches. Suddenly she stopped; the master rose at the same moment with + outstretched warning hand to check the cry of terror he felt sure would + rise to her lips. But he did not know the lazy nerves of the girl before + him. She uttered no outcry. And even in the faint dim light he could see + only the same expression of conscious understanding come over her face + that he had seen in the ball-room, mingled with a vague joy that parted + her breathless lips. As he moved quickly forward their hands met; she + caught his with a quick significant pressure and darted back to the + window. + </p> + <p> + “Oh, 'Tave!” (very languidly.) + </p> + <p> + “Yes.” + </p> + <p> + “You two had better wait for me at the edge of the trail yonder, and keep + a lookout for folks going by. Don't let them see you hanging round so + near. Do you hear? I'm all right.” + </p> + <p> + With her hand still meaningly lifted, she stood gazing at the two figures + until they slowly receded towards the distant trail. Then she turned as he + approached her, the reflection of the moonlit road striking up into her + shining eyes and eager waiting face. A dozen questions were upon his lips, + a dozen replies were ready upon hers. But they were never uttered, for the + next moment her eyes half closed, she leaned forward and fell—into a + kiss. + </p> + <p> + She was the first to recover, holding his face in her hands, turned + towards the moonlight, her own in passionate shadow. “Listen,” she said + quickly. “They think I came here to look for something I left in my desk. + They thought it high fun to come with me—these two. I did come to + look for something—not in my desk, but yours.” + </p> + <p> + “Was it this?” he whispered, taking the myrtle from his breast. She seized + it with a light cry, putting it first to her lips and then to his. Then + clasping his face again between her soft palms, she turned it to the + window and said: “Look at them and not at me.” + </p> + <p> + He did so—seeing the two figures slowly walking in the trail. And + holding her there firmly against his breast, it seemed a blasphemy to ask + the question that had been upon his lips. + </p> + <p> + “That's not all,” she murmured, moving his face backwards and forwards to + her lips as if it were something to which she was giving breath. “When we + came to the woods I felt that you would be here.” + </p> + <p> + “And feeling that, you brought HIM?” said Ford, drawing back. + </p> + <p> + “Why not?” she replied indolently. “Even if he had seen you, I could have + managed to have you walk home with me.” + </p> + <p> + “But do you think it's quite fair? Would he like it?” + </p> + <p> + “Would HE like it?” she echoed lazily. + </p> + <p> + “Cressy,” said the young man earnestly, gazing into her shadowed face. + “Have you given him any right to object? Do you understand me?” + </p> + <p> + She stopped as if thinking. “Do you want me to call him in?” she said + quietly, but without the least trace of archness or coquetry. “Would you + rather he were here—or shall we go out now and meet him? I'll say + you just came as I was going out.” + </p> + <p> + What should he say? “Cressy,” he asked almost curtly, “do you love me?” + </p> + <p> + It seemed such a ridiculous thing to ask, holding her thus in his arms, if + it were true; it seemed such a villainous question, if it were not. + </p> + <p> + “I think I loved you when you first came,” she said slowly. “It must have + been that that made me engage myself to him,” she added simply. “I knew I + loved you, and thought only of you when I was away. I came back because I + loved you. I loved you the day you came to see Maw—even when I + thought you came to tell her of Masters, and to say that you couldn't take + me back.” + </p> + <p> + “But you don't ask me if I love you?” + </p> + <p> + “But you do—you couldn't help it now,” she said confidently. + </p> + <p> + What could he do but reply as illogically with a closer embrace, albeit a + slight tremor as if a cold wind had blown across the open window, passed + over him. She may have felt it too, for she presently said, “Kiss me and + let me go.” + </p> + <p> + “But we must have a longer talk, darling—when—when—others + are not waiting.” + </p> + <p> + “Do you know the far barn near the boundary?” she asked. + </p> + <p> + “Yes.” + </p> + <p> + “I used to take your books there, afternoons to—to—be with + you,” she whispered, “and Paw gave orders that no one was to come nigh it + while I was there. Come to-morrow, just before sundown.” + </p> + <p> + A long embrace followed, in which all that they had not said seemed, to + them at least, to become articulate on their tremulous and clinging lips. + Then they separated, he unlocking the door softly to give her egress that + way. She caught up a book from a desk in passing, and then slipped like a + rosy shaft of the coming dawn across the fading moonlight, and a moment + after her slow voice, without a tremor of excitement, was heard calling to + her companions. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0007" id="link2HCH0007"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER VII. + </h2> + <p> + The conversation which Johnny Filgee had overheard between Uncle Ben and + the gorgeous stranger, although unintelligible to his infant mind, was + fraught with some significance to the adult settlers of Indian Spring. The + town itself, like most interior settlements, was originally a mining + encampment, and as such its founders and settlers derived their possession + of the soil under the mining laws that took precedence of all other + titles. But although that title was held to be good even after the + abandonment of their original occupation, and the establishment of shops, + offices, and dwellings on the site of the deserted places, the suburbs of + the town and outlying districts were more precariously held by squatters, + under the presumption of their being public land open to preemption, or + the settlement of school-land warrants upon them. Few of the squatters had + taken the trouble to perfect even these easy titles, merely holding + “possession” for agricultural or domiciliary purposes, and subject only to + the invasion of “jumpers,” a class of adventurers who, in the abeyance of + recognized legal title, “jumped” or forcibly seized such portions of a + squatter's domains as were not protected by fencing or superior force. It + was therefore with some excitement that Indian Spring received the news + that a Mexican grant of three square leagues, which covered the whole + district, had been lately confirmed by the Government, and that action + would be taken to recover possession. It was understood that it would not + affect the adverse possessions held by the town under the mining laws, but + it would compel the adjacent squatters like McKinstry, Davis, Masters, and + Filgee, and jumpers like the Harrisons, to buy the legal title, or defend + a slow but losing lawsuit. The holders of the grant—rich capitalists + of San Francisco—were open to compromise to those in actual + possession, and in the benefits of this compromise the unscrupulous + “jumper,” who had neither sown nor reaped, but simply dispossessed the + squatter who had done both, shared equally with him. + </p> + <p> + A diversity of opinion as to the effect of the new claim naturally + obtained; the older settlers still clung to their experiences of an easy + aboriginal holding of the soil, and were sceptical both as to the validity + and justice of these revived alien grants; but the newer arrivals hailed + this certain tenure of legal titles as a guarantee to capital and an + incentive to improvement. There was also a growing and influential party + of Eastern and Northern men, who were not sorry to see a fruitful source + of dissension and bloodshed removed. The feuds of the McKinstrys and + Harrisons, kept alive over a boundary to which neither had any legal + claim, would seem to bring them hereafter within the statute law regarding + ordinary assaults without any ethical mystification. On the other hand + McKinstry and Harrison would each be able to arrange any compromise with + the new title holders for the lands they possessed, or make over that + “actual possession” for a consideration. It was feared that both men, + being naturally lawless, would unite to render any legal eviction a long + and dangerous process, and that they would either be left undisturbed till + the last, or would force a profitable concession. But a greater excitement + followed when it was known that a section of the land had already been + sold by the owners of the grant, that this section exactly covered the + debatable land of the McKinstry-Harrison boundaries, and that the new + landlord would at once attempt its legal possession. The inspiration of + genius that had thus effected a division of the Harrison-McKinstry + combination at its one weak spot excited even the admiration of the + sceptics. No one in Indian Spring knew its real author, for the suit was + ostensibly laid in the name of a San Francisco banker. But the intelligent + reader of Johnny Filgee's late experience during the celebration will have + already recognized Uncle Ben as the man, and it becomes a part of this + veracious chronicle at this moment to allow him to explain, not only his + intentions, but the means by which he carried them out, in his own words. + </p> + <p> + It was one afternoon at the end of his usual solitary lesson, and the + master and Uncle Ben were awaiting the arrival of Rupert. Uncle Ben's + educational progress lately, through dint of slow tenacity, had somewhat + improved, and he had just completed from certain forms and examples in a + book before him a “Letter to a Consignee” informing him that he, Uncle + Ben, had just shipped “2 cwt. Ivory Elephant Tusks, 80 peculs of rice and + 400bbls. prime mess pork from Indian Spring;” and another beginning + “Honored Madam,” and conveying in admirably artificial phraseology the + “lamented decease” of the lady's husband from yellow fever, contracted on + the Gold Coast, and Uncle Ben was surveying his work with critical + satisfaction when the master, somewhat impatiently, consulted his watch. + Uncle Ben looked up. + </p> + <p> + “I oughter told ye that Rupe didn't kalkilate to come to day.” + </p> + <p> + “Indeed—why not?” + </p> + <p> + “I reckon because I told him he needn't. I allowed to—to hev a + little private talk with ye, Mr. Ford, if ye didn't mind.” + </p> + <p> + Mr. Ford's face did not shine with invitation. “Very well,” he said, “only + remember I have an engagement this afternoon.” + </p> + <p> + “But that ain't until about sundown,” said Uncle Ben quietly. “I won't + keep ye ez long ez that.” + </p> + <p> + Mr. Ford glanced quickly at Uncle Ben with a rising color. “What do you + know of my engagements?” he said sharply. + </p> + <p> + “Nothin', Mr. Ford,” returned Uncle Ben simply; “but hevin' bin layin' + round, lookin' for ye here and at the hotel for four or five days allus + about that time and not findin' you, I rather kalkilated you might hev + suthin' reg'lar on hand.” + </p> + <p> + There was certainly nothing in his face or manner to indicate the least + evasion or deceit, or indeed anything but his usual naivete, perhaps a + little perturbed and preoccupied by what he was going to say. “I had an + idea of writin' you a letter,” he continued, “kinder combinin' practice + and confidential information, you know. To be square with you, Mr. Ford, + in pint o' fact, I've got it HERE. But ez it don't seem to entirely gibe + with the facts, and leaves a heap o' things onsaid and onseen, perhaps + it's jest ez wall ez I read it to you myself—putten' in a word here + and there, and explainin' it gin'rally. Do you sabe?” + </p> + <p> + The master nodded, and Uncle Ben drew from his desk a rude portfolio made + from the two covers of a dilapidated atlas, and took from between them a + piece of blotting-paper, which through inordinate application had acquired + the color and consistency of a slate, and a few pages of copy-book paper, + that to the casual glance looked like sheets of exceedingly difficult + music. Surveying them with a blending of chirographic pride, orthographic + doubt, and the bashful consciousness of a literary amateur, he traced each + line with a forefinger inked to the second joint, and slowly read aloud as + follows:— + </p> + <p> + “'Mr. Ford, Teacher. + </p> + <p> + “'DEAR SIR,—Yours of the 12th rec'd and contents noted.'” (“I + did'nt,” explained Uncle Ben parenthetically, “receive any letter of + yours, but I thought I might heave in that beginning from copy for + practice. The rest is ME.”) “'In refference to my having munney,”' + continued Uncle Ben reading and pointing each word as he read, “'and being + able to buy Ditch Stocks an' Land'”— + </p> + <p> + “One moment,” said Mr. Ford interrupting, “I thought you were going to + leave out copy. Come to what you have to say.” + </p> + <p> + “But I HEV—this is all real now. Hold on and you'll see,” said Uncle + Ben. He resumed with triumphant emphasis:— + </p> + <p> + “'When it were gin'rally allowed that I haddent a red cent, I want to + explain to you Mister Ford for the first time a secret. This here is how + it was done. When I first came to Injian Spring, I settled down into the + old Palmetto claim, near a heap of old taillings. Knowin' it were against + rools, and reg'lar Chinyman's bizness to work them I diddn't let on to + enyboddy what I did—witch wos to turn over some of the quarts what I + thought was likely and Orrifferus. Doing this I kem uppon some pay ore + which them Palmetto fellers had overlookt, or more likely had kaved in + uppon them from the bank onknown. Workin' at it in od times by and large, + sometimes afore sun up and sometimes after sundown, and all the time + keeping up a day's work on the clame for a show to the boys, I emassed a + honist fortun in 2 years of 50,000 dolers and still am. But it will be + askd by the incredjulos Reeder How did you never let out anything to + Injian Spring, and How did you get rid of your yeald? Mister Ford, the + Anser is I took it twist a month on hoss back over to La Port and sent it + by express to a bank in Sacramento, givin' the name of Daubigny, witch no + one in La Port took for me. The Ditch Stok and the Land was all took in + the same name, hens the secret was onreviled to the General Eye—stop + a minit,'” he interrupted himself quickly as the master in an accession of + impatient scepticism was about to break in upon him, “it ain't all.” Then + dropping his voice to a tremulous and almost funereal climax, he went on:— + </p> + <p> + “'Thus we see that pashent indurstry is Rewarded in Spite of Mining Rools + and Reggylashuns, and Predgudisses agin Furrin Labor is played out and + fleeth like a shad-or contenueyeth not long in One Spot, and that a Man + may apear to be off no Account and yet Emass that witch is far abov rubles + and Fadith not Away. + </p> + <p> + “'Hoppin' for a continneyance + </p> + <p> + “'of your fevors I remain, + </p> + <p> + “'Yours to command, + </p> + <p> + “'BENJ D'AUBIGNY.”' + </p> + <p> + The gloomy satisfaction with which Uncle Ben regarded this peroration—a + satisfaction that actually appeared to be equal to the revelation itself—only + corroborated the master's indignant doubts. + </p> + <p> + “Come,” he said, impulsively taking the paper from Uncle Ben's reluctant + hand, “how much of this is a concoction of yours and Rupe's—and how + much is a true story? Do you really mean?”— + </p> + <p> + “Hold on, Mr. Ford!” interrupted Uncle Ben, suddenly fumbling in the + breast-pocket of his red shirt, “I reckoned on your being a little hard + with me, remembering our first talk 'bout these things—so I allowed + I'd bring you some proof.” Slowly extracting a long legal envelope from + his pocket, he opened it, and drew out two or three crisp certificates of + stock, and handed them to the master. + </p> + <p> + “Ther's one hundred shares made out to Benj Daubigny. I'd hev brought you + over the deed of the land too, but ez it's rather hard to read off-hand, + on account of the law palaver, I've left it up at the shanty to tackle at + odd times by way of practising. But ef you like we'll go up thar, and I'll + show it to you.” + </p> + <p> + Still haunted by his belief in Uncle Ben's small duplicities, Mr. Ford + hesitated. These were certainly bona fide certificates of stock made out + to “Daubigny.” But he had never actually accepted Uncle Ben's statement of + his identity with that person, and now it was offered as a corroboration + of a still more improbable story. He looked at Uncle Ben's simple face + slightly deepening in color under his scrutiny—perhaps with + conscious guilt. + </p> + <p> + “Have you made anybody your confidant? Rupe, for instance?” he asked + significantly. + </p> + <p> + “In course not,” replied Uncle Ben with a slight stiffening of wounded + pride. “On'y yourself, Mr. Ford, and the young feller Stacey from the bank—ez + was obligated to know it. In fact, I wos kalkilatin' to ask you to help me + talk to him about that yer boundary land.” + </p> + <p> + Mr. Ford's scepticism was at last staggered. Any practical joke or foolish + complicity between the agent of the bank and a man like Uncle Ben was out + of the question, and if the story were his own sole invention, he would + have scarcely dared to risk so accessible and uncompromising a denial as + the agent had it in his power to give. + </p> + <p> + He held out his hand to Uncle Ben. “Let me congratulate you,” he said + heartily, “and forgive me if your story really sounded so wonderful I + couldn't quite grasp it. Now let me ask you something more. Have you had + any reason for keeping this a secret, other than your fear of confessing + that you violated a few bigoted and idiotic mining rules—which, + after all, are binding only upon sentiment—and which your success + has proved to be utterly impractical?” + </p> + <p> + “There WAS another reason, Mr. Ford,” said Uncle Ben, wiping away an + embarrassed smile with the back of his hand, “that is, to be square with + you, WHY I thought of consultin' you. I didn't keer to have McKinstry, + and”—he added hurriedly, “in course Harrison, too, know that I + bought up the title to thur boundary.” + </p> + <p> + “I understand,” nodded the master. “I shouldn't think you would.” + </p> + <p> + “Why shouldn't ye?” asked Uncle Ben quickly. + </p> + <p> + “Well—I don't suppose you care to quarrel with two passionate men.” + </p> + <p> + Uncle Ben's face changed. Presently, however, with his hand to his face, + he managed to manipulate another smile, only it appeared for the purpose + of being as awkwardly wiped away. + </p> + <p> + “Say ONE passionate man, Mr. Ford.” + </p> + <p> + “Well, one if you like,” returned the master cheerfully. “But for the + matter of that, why any? Come—do you mind telling me why you bought + the land at all? You know it's of little value to any but McKinstry and + Harrison.” + </p> + <p> + “Soppose,” said Uncle Ben slowly, with a great affectation of wiping his + ink-spotted desk with his sleeve, “soppose that I had got kinder tired of + seein' McKinstry and Harrison allus fightin' and scrimmagin' over their + boundary line. Soppose I kalkilated that it warn't the sort o' thing to + induce folks to settle here. Soppose I reckoned that by gettin' the real + title in my hands I'd have the deadwood on both o' them, and settle the + thing my own way, eh?” + </p> + <p> + “That certainly was a very laudable intention,” returned Mr. Ford, + observing Uncle Ben curiously, “and from what you said just now about one + passionate man, I suppose you have determined already WHO to favor. I hope + your public spirit will be appreciated by Indian Spring at least—if + it isn't by those two men.” + </p> + <p> + “You lay low and keep dark and you'll see,” returned his companion with a + hopefulness of speech which his somewhat anxious eagerness however did not + quite bear out. “But you're not goin' yet, surely,” he added, as the + master again absently consulted his watch. “It's on'y half past four. It's + true thar ain't any more to tell,” he added simply, “but I had an idea + that you might hev took to this yer little story of mine more than you + 'pear to be, and might be askin' questions and kinder bedevlin' me with + jokes ez to what I was goin' to do—and all that. But p'raps it don't + seem so wonderful to you arter all. Come to think of it—squarely + now,” he said, with a singular despondency, “I'm rather sick of it myself—eh?” + </p> + <p> + “My dear old boy,” said Ford, grasping both his hands, with a swift + revulsion of shame at his own utterly selfish abstraction, “I am overjoyed + at your good luck. More than that, I can say honestly, old fellow, that it + couldn't have fallen in more worthy hands, or to any one whose good + fortune would have pleased me more. There! And if I've been slow and + stupid in taking it in, it is because it's so wonderful, so like a fairy + tale of virtue rewarded—as if you were a kind of male Cinderella, + old man!” He had no intention of lying—he had no belief that he was: + he had only forgotten that his previous impressions and hesitations had + arisen from the very fact that he DID doubt the consistency of the story + with his belief in Uncle Ben's weakness. But he thought himself now so + sincere that the generous reader, who no doubt is ready to hail the + perfect equity of his neighbor's good luck, will readily forgive him. + </p> + <p> + In the plenitude of this sincerity, Ford threw himself at full length on + one of the long benches, and with a gesture invited Uncle Ben to make + himself equally at his ease. “Come,” he said with boyish gayety, “let's + hear your plans, old man. To begin with, who's to share them with you? Of + course there are 'the old folks at home' first; then you have brothers—and + perhaps sisters?” He stopped and glanced with a smile at Uncle Ben; the + idea of there being a possible female of his species struck his fancy. + </p> + <p> + Uncle Ben, who had hitherto always exercised a severe restraint—partly + from respect and partly from caution—over his long limbs in the + school-house, here slowly lifted one leg over another bench, and sat + himself astride of it, leaning forward on his elbow, his chin resting + between his hands. + </p> + <p> + “As far as the old folks goes, Mr. Ford, I'm a kind of an orphan.” + </p> + <p> + “A KIND of orphan?” echoed Ford. + </p> + <p> + “Yes,” said Uncle Ben, leaning heavily on his chin, so that the action of + his jaws with the enunciation of each word slightly jerked his head + forward as if he were imparting confidential information to the bench + before him. “Yes, that is, you see, I'm all right ez far as the old man + goes—HE'S dead; died way back in Mizzouri. But ez to my mother, it's + sorter betwixt and between—kinder unsartain. You see, Mr. Ford, she + went off with a city feller—an entire stranger to me—afore the + old man died, and that's wot broke up my schoolin'. Now whether she's + here, there, or yon, can't be found out, though Squire Tompkins allowed—and + he were a lawyer—that the old man could get a divorce if he wanted, + and that you see would make me a whole orphan, ef I keerd to prove title, + ez the lawyers say. Well—thut sorter lets the old folks out. Then my + brother was onc't drowned in the North Platt, and I never had any sisters. + That don't leave much family for plannin' about—does it?” + </p> + <p> + “No,” said the master reflectively, gazing at Uncle Ben, “unless you avail + yourself of your advantages now and have one of your own. I suppose now + that you are rich, you'll marry.” + </p> + <p> + Uncle Ben slightly changed his position, and then with his finger and + thumb began to apparently feed himself with certain crumbs which had + escaped from the children's luncheon-baskets and were still lying on the + bench. Intent on this occupation and without raising his eyes to the + master, he returned slowly, “Well, you see, I'm sorter married already.” + </p> + <p> + The master sat up quickly. + </p> + <p> + “What, YOU married—now?” + </p> + <p> + “Well, perhaps that's a question. It's a good deal like my beein' an + orphan—oncertain and onsettled.” He paused to pursue an evasive + crumb to the end of the bench and having captured it, went on: “It was + when I was younger than you be, and she warn't very old neither. But she + knew a heap more than I did; and ez to readin' and writin', she was thar, + I tell you, every time. You'd hev admired to see her, Mr. Ford.” As he + paused here as if he had exhausted the subject, the master said + impatiently, “Well, where is she now?” + </p> + <p> + Uncle Ben shook his head slowly. “I ain't seen her sens I left Mizzouri, + goin' on five years ago.” + </p> + <p> + “But why haven't you? What was the matter?” persisted the master. + </p> + <p> + “Well—you see—I runned away. Not SHE, you know, but I—I + scooted, skedaddled out here.” + </p> + <p> + “But what for?” asked the master, regarding Uncle Ben with hopeless + wonder. “Something must have happened. What was it? Was she”— + </p> + <p> + “She WAS a good schollard,” said Uncle Ben gravely, “and allowed to be + sech, by all. She stood about so high,” he continued, indicating with his + hand a medium height. “War little and dark complected.” + </p> + <p> + “But you must have had some reason for leaving her?” + </p> + <p> + “I've sometimes had an idea,” said Uncle Ben cautiously, “that mebbee + runnin' away ran in some fam'lies. Now, there war my mother run off with + an entire stranger, and yer's me ez run off by myself. And what makes it + the more one-like is that jest as dad allus allowed he could get a devorce + agin mother, so my wife could hev got one agin me for leavin' her. And + it's almost an evenhanded game that she hez. It's there where the + oncertainty comes in.” + </p> + <p> + “But are you satisfied to remain in this doubt? or do you propose, now + that you are able, to institute a thorough search for her?” + </p> + <p> + “I was kalkilatin' to look around a little,” said Uncle Ben simply. + </p> + <p> + “And return to her if you find her?” continued the master. + </p> + <p> + “I didn't say that, Mr. Ford.” + </p> + <p> + “But if she hasn't got a divorce from you that's what you'll have to do, + and what you ought to do—if I understand your story. For by your own + showing, a more causeless, heartless, and utterly inexcusable desertion + than yours, I never heard of.” + </p> + <p> + “Do you think so?” said Uncle Ben with exasperating simplicity. + </p> + <p> + “Do I think so?” repeated Mr. Ford, indignantly. “Everybody'll think so. + They can't think otherwise. You say you deserted her, and you admit she + did nothing to provoke it.” + </p> + <p> + “No,” returned Uncle Ben quickly, “nothin'. Did I tell you, Mr. Ford, that + she could play the pianner and sing?” + </p> + <p> + “No,” said Mr. Ford, curtly, rising impatiently and crossing the room. He + was more than half convinced that Uncle Ben was deceiving him. Either + under the veil of his hide-bound simplicity he was an utterly selfish, + heartless, secretive man, or else he was telling an idiotic falsehood. + </p> + <p> + “I'm sorry I can neither congratulate you nor condole with you on what you + have just told me. I cannot see that you have the least excuse for + delaying a single moment to search for your wife and make amends for your + conduct. And if you want my opinion it strikes me as being a much more + honorable way of employing your new riches than mediating in your + neighbors' squabbles. But it's getting late and I'm afraid we must bring + our talk to an end. I hope you'll think this over before we meet again—and + think differently.” + </p> + <p> + Nevertheless, as they both left the schoolhouse, Mr. Ford lingered over + the locking of the door to give Uncle Ben a final chance for further + explanation. But none came. The new capitalist of Indian Spring regarded + him with an intensification of his usual half sad, half embarrassed smile, + and only said: “You understand this yer's a secret, Mr. Ford?” + </p> + <p> + “Certainly,” said Ford with ill-concealed irritation. + </p> + <p> + “'Bout my bein' sorter married?” + </p> + <p> + “Don't be alarmed,” he responded dryly; “it's not a taking story.” + </p> + <p> + They separated; Uncle Ben, more than ever involved in his usual + unsatisfactory purposes, wending his way towards his riches; the master + lingering to observe his departure before he plunged, in virtuous + superiority, into the woods that fringed the Harrison and McKinstry + boundaries. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0008" id="link2HCH0008"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER VIII. + </h2> + <p> + The religious attitude which Mrs. McKinstry had assumed towards her + husband's weak civilized tendencies was not entirely free from human + rancor. That strong loyal nature which had unsexed itself in the one idea + of duty, now that duty seemed to be no longer appreciated took refuge in + her forgotten womanhood and in the infinitesimally small arguments, + resources, and manoeuvres at its command. She had conceived a singular + jealousy of this daughter who had changed her husband's nature, and who + had supplanted the traditions of the household life; she had acquired an + exaggerated depreciation of those feminine charms which had never been a + factor in her own domestic happiness. She saw in her husband's desire to + mitigate the savage austerities of their habits only a weak concession to + the powers of beauty and adornment—degrading vanities she had never + known in their life-long struggle for frontier supremacy—that had + never brought them victorious out of that struggle. “Frizzles,” + “furblows,” and “fancy fixin's” had never helped them in their exodus + across the plains; had never taken the place of swift eyes, quick ears, + strong hands, and endurance; had never nursed the sick or bandaged the + wounded. When envy or jealousy invades the female heart after forty it is + apt to bring a bitterness which knows no attenuating compensation in that + coquetry, emulation, passionate appeal, or innocent tenderness, which + makes tolerable the jealous caprices of the younger woman. The struggle + for rivalry is felt to be hopeless, the power of imitation is gone. Of her + forgotten womanhood Mrs. McKinstry revived only a capacity to suffer + meanly and inflict mean suffering upon others. In the ruined castle of her + youth, and the falling in of banqueting hall and bower, the dungeon and + torture-chamber appeared to have been left, or, to use her own metaphor, + she had querulously complained to the parson that, “Accordin' to some + folks, she mout hev bin the barren fig-tree e-lected to bear persimmums.” + </p> + <p> + Her methods were not entirely different from those employed by her + suffering sisterhood in like emergencies. The unlucky Hiram, “worrited by + stock,” was hardly placated or consoled by learning from her that it was + only the result of his own weakness, acting upon the 'cussedness of the + stock-dispersing Harrisons; the perplexity into which he was thrown by the + news of the new legal claim to his land was not soothed by the suggestion + that it was a trick of that Yankee civilization to which he was meanly + succumbing. She who had always been a rough but devoted nurse in sickness + was now herself overtaken by vague irregular disorders which involved the + greatest care and the absence of all exciting causes. The attendance of + McKinstry and Cressy at a “crazy quilting party” had brought on “blind + chills;” the importation of a melodeon for Cressy to play on had + superinduced an “innerd rash,” and a threatened attack of “palsy creeps” + had only been warded off by the timely postponement of an evening party + suggested by her daughter. The old nomadic instinct, morbidly excited by + her discontent, caused her to lay artful plans for a further emigration. + She knew she had the germs of “mash fever” caught from the adjacent river; + she related mysterious information, gathered in “class meeting,” of the + superior facilities for stock raising on the higher foot-hills; she + resuscitated her dead and gone Missouri relations in her daily speech, to + a manifest invidious comparison with the living; she revived even the + incidents of her early married life with the same baleful intent. The + acquisition of a few “biled shirts” by Hiram for festive appearances with + Cressy painfully reminded her that he had married her in “hickory;” she + further accented the change by herself appearing in her oldest clothes, on + the hypothesis that it was necessary for some one to keep up the + traditions of the past. + </p> + <p> + Her attitude towards Cressy would have been more decided had she ever + possessed the slightest influence over her, or had even understood her + with the intuitive sympathies of the maternal relations. Yet she went so + far as to even openly regret the breaking off of the match with Seth + Davis, whose family, at least, still retained the habits and traditions + she revered; but she was promptly silenced by her husband informing her + that words “that had to be tuk back” had already passed between him and + Seth's father, and that, according to those same traditions, blood was + more likely to be spilled than mingled. Whether she was only withheld from + attempting a reconciliation herself through lack of tact and opportunity + remains to be seen. For the present she encouraged Masters's attentions + under a new and vague idea that a flirtation which distracted Cressy from + her studies was displeasing to McKinstry and inimical to his plans. + Blindly ignorant of Mr. Ford's possible relations to her daughter, and + suspecting nothing, she felt towards him only a dull aversion as being the + senseless pivot of her troubles. Seeing no one, and habitually closing her + ears to any family allusion to Cressy's social triumphs, she was unaware + of even the popular admiration their memorable waltz had excited. + </p> + <p> + On the morning of the day that Uncle Ben had confided to the master his + ingenious plan for settling the boundary disputes, the barking of + McKinstry's yellow dog announced the approach of a stranger to the ranch. + It proved to be Mr. Stacey—not only as dazzlingly arrayed as when he + first rose above Johnny Filgee's horizon, but wearing, in addition to his + jaunty business air, a look of complacent expectation of the pretty girl + whom he had met at the ball. He had not seen her for a month. It was a + happy inspiration of his own that enabled him to present himself that + morning in the twin functions of a victorious Mercury and Apollo. + </p> + <p> + McKinstry had to be summoned from an adjacent meadow, while Cressy, in the + mean time, undertook to entertain the gallant stranger. This was easily + done. It was part of her fascinations that, disdaining the ordinary real + or assumed ignorance of the ingenue of her class, she generally exhibited + to her admirers (with perhaps the single exception of the master) a + laughing consciousness of the state of mind into which her charms had + thrown them. She understood their passion if she could not accept it. This + to a bashful rustic community was helpful, but in the main unsatisfactory; + with advances so promptly unmasked, the most strategic retreat was apt to + become an utter rout. Leaning against the lintel of the door, her curved + hand shading the sparkling depths of her eyes, and the sunlight striking + down upon the pretty curves of her languid figure, she awaited the attack. + </p> + <p> + “I haven't seen you, Miss Cressy, since we danced together—a month + ago.” + </p> + <p> + “That was mighty rough papers,” said Cressy, who was purposely dialectical + to strangers, “considering that you trapsed up and down the lane, past the + house, twice yesterday.” + </p> + <p> + “Then you saw me?” said the young man, with a slightly discomfited laugh. + </p> + <p> + “I did. And so did the hound, and so, I reckon, did Joe Masters and the + hired man. And when you pranced back on the home stretch, there was the + hound, Masters, the hired man, and Maw all on your trail, and Paw bringin' + up the rear with a shot-gun. There was about a half a mile of you + altogether.” She removed her hand from her eyes to indicate with a lazily + graceful sweep this somewhat imaginative procession, and laughed. + </p> + <p> + “You are certainly well guarded,” said Stacey hesitatingly; “and looking + at you, Miss Cressy,” he added boldly, “I don't wonder at it.” + </p> + <p> + “Well, it IS reckoned that next to Paw's boundaries I'm pretty well + protected from squatters and jumpers.” + </p> + <p> + Forceful and quaint as her language was, the lazy sweetness of her + intonation, and the delicate refinement of her face, more than atoned for + it. It was unconventional and picturesque as her gestures. So at least + thought Mr. Stacey, and it emboldened him to further gallantry. + </p> + <p> + “Well, Miss Cressy, as my business with your father to-day was to try to + effect a compromise of his boundary claims, perhaps you might accept my + services in your own behalf.” + </p> + <p> + “Which means,” responded the young lady pertly, “the same thing to ME as + to Paw. No trespassers but yourself. Thank you, sir.” She twirled lightly + on her heel and dropped him that exaggerated curtsey known to the + school-children as a “cheese.” It permitted in its progress the glimpse of + a pretty little slipper which completed his subjugation. + </p> + <p> + “Well, if it's only a fair compromise,” he began laughingly. + </p> + <p> + “Compromise means somebody giving up. Who is it?” she asked. + </p> + <p> + The infatuated Stacey had reached the point of thinking this repartee if + possible more killing than his own. + </p> + <p> + “Ha! That's for Miss Cressy to say.” + </p> + <p> + But the young lady leaning back against the lintel with the comfortable + ease of being irresponsibly diverted, sagely pointed out that that was the + function of the arbitrator. + </p> + <p> + “Ah well, suppose we begin by giving up Seth Davis, eh? You see that I'm + pretty well posted, Miss Cressy.” + </p> + <p> + “You alarm me,” said Cressy sweetly. “But I reckon he HAD given up.” + </p> + <p> + “He was in the running that night at the ball. Looked half savage while I + was dancing with you. Wanted to eat me.” + </p> + <p> + “Poor Seth! And he used to be SO particular in his food,” said the witty + Cressy. + </p> + <p> + Mr. Stacey was convulsed. “And there's Mr. Dabney—Uncle Ben,” he + continued, “eh? Very quiet but very sly. A dark horse, eh? Pretends to + take lessons for the sake of being near some one, eh? Would he were a boy + again because somebody else is a girl?” + </p> + <p> + “I should be frightened of you if you lived here always,” returned Cressy + with invincible naivete; “but perhaps then you wouldn't know so much.” + </p> + <p> + Stacey simply accepted this as a compliment. “And there's Masters,” he + said insinuatingly. + </p> + <p> + “Not Joe?” said Cressy with a low laugh, turning her eyes to the door. + </p> + <p> + “Yes,” said Stacey with a quick, uneasy smile. “Ah! I see we mustn't drop + HIM. Is he out THERE?” he added, trying to follow the direction of her + eyes. + </p> + <p> + But the young girl kept her face studiously averted. “Is that all?” she + asked after a pause. + </p> + <p> + “Well—there's that solemn school-master, who cut me out of the waltz + with you—that Mr. Ford.” + </p> + <p> + Had he been a perfectly cool and impartial observer he would have seen the + slight tremor cross Cressy's soft eyelids even in profile, followed by + that momentary arrest of her whole face, mouth, dimples, and eyes, which + had overtaken it the night the master entered the ball-room. But he was + neither, and it passed quickly and unnoticed. Her usual lithe but languid + play of expression and color came back, and she turned her head lazily + towards the speaker. “There's Paw coming. I suppose you wouldn't mind + giving me a sample of your style of arbitrating with him, before you try + it on me?” + </p> + <p> + “Certainly not,” said Stacey, by no means displeased at the prospect of + having so pretty and intelligent a witness in the daughter of what he + believed would form an attractive display of his diplomatic skill and + graciousness to the father. “Don't go away. I've got nothing to say Miss + Cressy could not understand and answer.” + </p> + <p> + The jingling of spurs, and the shadow of McKinstry and his shot-gun + falling at this moment between the speaker and Cressy, spared her the + necessity of a reply. McKinstry cast an uneasy glance around the + apartment, and not seeing Mrs. McKinstry looked relieved, and even the + deep traces of the loss of a valuable steer that morning partly faded from + his Indian-red complexion. He placed his shot-gun carefully in the corner, + took his soft felt hat from his head, folded it and put it in one of the + capacious pockets of his jacket, turned to his daughter, and laying his + maimed hand familiarly on her shoulder, said gravely, without looking at + Stacey, “What might the stranger be wantin', Cress?” + </p> + <p> + “Perhaps I'd better answer that myself,” said Stacey briskly. “I'm acting + for Benham and Co., of San Francisco, who have bought the Spanish title to + part of this property. I”— + </p> + <p> + “Stop there!” said McKinstry, in a voice dull but distinct. He took his + hat from his pocket, put it on, walked to the corner and took up his gun, + looked at Stacey for the first time with narcotic eyes that seemed to + drowsily absorb his slight figure, then put the gun back half + contemptuously, and with a wave of his hand towards the door, said: “We'll + settle this yer outside. Cress, you stop in here. There's man's talk goin' + on.” + </p> + <p> + “But, Paw,” said Cressy, laying her hand languidly on her father's sleeve + without the least change of color or amused expression. “This gentleman + has come over here on a compromise.” + </p> + <p> + “On a—WHICH?” said McKinstry, glancing scornfully out of the door + for some rare species of mustang vaguely suggested to him in that + unfamiliar word. + </p> + <p> + “To see if we couldn't come to some fair settlement,” said Stacey. “I've + no objection to going outside with you, but I think we can discuss this + matter here just as well.” His fine feathers had not made him a coward, + although his heart had beaten a little faster at this sudden recollection + of the dangerous reputation of his host. + </p> + <p> + “Go on,” said McKinstry. + </p> + <p> + “The plain facts of the case are these,” continued Stacey, with more + confidence. “We have sold a strip of this property covering the land in + dispute between you and Harrison. We are bound to put our purchaser in + peaceable possession. Now to save time we are willing to buy that + possession of any man who can give it. We are told that you can.” + </p> + <p> + “Well, considerin' that for the last four years I've been fightin' night + and day agin them low-down Harrisons for it, I reckon you've been lied + to,” said McKinstry deliberately. “Why—except the clearing on the + north side, whar I put up a barn, thar ain't an acre of it as hasn't been + shifted first this side and then that as fast ez I druv boundary stakes + and fences, and the Harrisons pulled 'em up agin. Thar ain't more than + fifty acres ez I've hed a clear hold on, and I wouldn't hev had that ef it + hadn't bin for the barn, the raisin' alone o' which cost me a man, two + horses, and this yer little finger.” + </p> + <p> + “Put us in possession of even that fifty acres, and WE'LL undertake to + hold the rest and eject those Harrisons from it,” returned Stacey + complacently. “You understand that the moment we've made a peaceable + entrance to even a foothold on your side, the Harrisons are only + trespassers, and with the title to back us we can call on the whole + sheriff's posse to put them off. That's the law.” + </p> + <p> + “That ar the law?” repeated McKinstry meditatively. + </p> + <p> + “Yes,” said Stacey. “So,” he continued, with a self-satisfied smile to + Cressy, “far from being hard on you, Mr. McKinstry, we're rather inclined + to put you on velvet. We offer you a fair price for the only thing you can + give us—actual possession; and we help you with your old grudge + against the Harrisons. We not only clear them out, but we pay YOU for even + the part they held adversely to you.” + </p> + <p> + Mr. McKinstry passed his three whole fingers over his forehead and eyes as + if troubled by a drowsy aching. “Then you don't reckon to hev anythin' to + say to them Harrisons?” + </p> + <p> + “We don't propose to recognize them in the matter at all,” returned + Stacey. + </p> + <p> + “Nor allow 'em anythin'?” + </p> + <p> + “Not a cent! So you see, Mr. McKinstry,” he continued magnanimously, yet + with a mischievous smile to Cressy, “there is nothing in this amicable + discussion that requires to be settled outside.” + </p> + <p> + “Ain't there?” said McKinstry, in a dull, deliberate voice, raising his + eyes for the second time to Stacey. They were bloodshot, with a heavy, + hanging furtiveness, not unlike one of his own hunted steers. “But I ain't + kam enuff in yer.” He moved to the door with a beckoning of his fateful + hand. “Outside a minit—EF you please.” + </p> + <p> + Stacey started, shrugged his shoulders, and half defiantly stepped beyond + the threshold. Cressy, unchanged in color or expression, lazily followed + to the door. + </p> + <p> + “Wot,” said McKinstry, slowly facing Stacey; “wot ef I refoose? Wot ef I + say I don't allow any man, or any bank, or any compromise, to take up my + quo'r'lls? Wot ef I say that low-down and mean as them Harrisons is, they + don't begin to be ez mean, ez low-down, ez underhanded, ez sneakin' ez + that yer compromise? Wot ef I say that ef that's the kind o' hogwash that + law and snivelization offers me for peace and quietness, I'll take the + fightin', and the law-breakin', and the sheriff, and all h-ll for his + posse instead? Wot ef I say that?” + </p> + <p> + “It will only be my duty to repeat it,” said Stacey, with an affected + carelessness which, however, did not conceal his surprise and his + discomfiture. “It's no affair of mine.” + </p> + <p> + “Unless,” said Cressy, assuming her old position against the lintel of the + door, and smoothing the worn bear-skin that served as a mat with the toe + of her slipper, “unless you've mixed it up with your other arbitration, + you know.” + </p> + <p> + “Wot other arbitration?” asked McKinstry suddenly, with murky eyes. + </p> + <p> + Stacey cast a rapid, half indignant glance at the young girl, who received + it with her hands tucked behind her back, her lovely head bent + submissively forward, and a prolonged little laugh. + </p> + <p> + “Oh nothing, Paw,” she said, “only a little private foolishness betwixt me + and the gentleman. You'd admire to hear him talk, Paw—about other + things than business. He's just that chipper and gay.” + </p> + <p> + Nevertheless, as with a muttered “Good-morning” the young fellow turned + away, she quietly brushed past her father, and followed him—with her + hands still penitently behind her, and the rosy palms turned upward—as + far as the gate. Her single long Marguerite braid of hair trailing down + her back nearly to the hem of her skirt, appeared to accent her demure + reserve. At the gate she shaded her eyes with her hand, and glanced + upward. + </p> + <p> + “It don't seem to be a good day for arbitrating. A trifle early in the + season, ain't it?” + </p> + <p> + “Good-morning, Miss McKinstry.” + </p> + <p> + She held out her hand. He took it with an affected ease but cautiously, as + if it had been the velvet paw of a young panther who had scratched him. + After all, what was she but the cub of the untamed beast, McKinstry? He + was well out of it! He was not revengeful—but business was business, + and he had given them the first chance. + </p> + <p> + As his figure disappeared behind the buckeyes of the lane, Cressy cast a + glance at the declining sun. She re-entered the house, and went directly + to her room. As she passed the window, she could see her father already + remounted galloping towards the tules, as if in search of that riparian + “kam” his late interview had disturbed. A few straggling bits of color in + the sloping meadows were the children coming home from school. She hastily + tied a girlish sun-bonnet under her chin, and slipping out of the back + door, swept like a lissom shadow along the line of fence until she seemed + to melt into the umbrage of the woods that fringed the distant north + boundary. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0009" id="link2HCH0009"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER IX. + </h2> + <p> + Meanwhile, unaware of her husband's sudden relapse to her old border + principles and of the visit that had induced it, Mrs. McKinstry was slowly + returning from a lugubrious recital of her moods and feelings at the + parson's. As she crossed the barren flat and reached the wooded upland + midway between the school-house and the ranch, she saw before her the old + familiar figure of Seth Davis lounging on the trail. In her habitual + loyalty to her husband's feuds she would probably have stalked defiantly + past him, notwithstanding her late regrets of the broken engagement, but + Seth began to advance awkwardly towards her. In fact, he had noticed the + tall, gaunt, plaid-shawled and holland-bonneted figure approaching, and + had waited for it. + </p> + <p> + As he seemed intent upon getting in her way she stopped and raised her + right hand warningly before her. In spite of the shawl and the sun-bonnet, + suffering had implanted a rude Runic dignity to her attitude. “Words that + hev to be took back, Seth Davis,” she said hastily, “hev passed between + you and my man. Out of my way, then, that I may pass, too.” + </p> + <p> + “Not much betwixt you and me, Aunt Rachel,” he said with slouching + deprecation, using the old household title by which he had familiarly + known her. “I've nothin agin you—and I kin prove it by wot I'm yer + to say. And I ain't trucklin' to yer for myself, for ez far ez me and + your'n ez concerned,” he continued, with a malevolent glance, “thar ain't + gold enough in Caleforny to mak the weddin' ring that could hitch me and + Cress together. I want to tell you that you're bein' played; that you're + bein' befooled and bamboozled and honey-fogled. Thet while you're groanin' + at class-meetin' and Hiram's quo'llin' with Dad, and Joe Masters waitin' + round to pick up any bone that's throwed him, that sneakin', hypocritical + Yankee school-master is draggin' your daughter to h-ll with him on the + sly.” + </p> + <p> + “Quit that, Seth Davis,” said Mrs. McKinstry sternly, “or be man enough to + tell it to a man. That's Hiram's business to know.” + </p> + <p> + “And what if he knows it well enough and winks at it? What if he's willin' + enough to truckle to it, to curry favor with them sneakin' Yanks?” said + Seth malignantly. + </p> + <p> + A spasm of savage conviction seized Mrs. McKinstry. But it was more from + her jealous fears of her husband's disloyalty than concern for her + daughter's transgression. Nevertheless, she said desperately, “It's a lie. + Where are your proofs?” + </p> + <p> + “Proofs?” returned Seth. “Who is it sneaks around the school-house to have + private talks with the school-master, and edges him on with Cressy afore + folks? Your husband. Who goes sneakin' off every arternoon with that same + cantin' hound of a school-master? Your daughter. Who's been carryin' on + together, and hidin' thick enough to be ridden out on a rail together? + Your daughter and the school-master. Proofs?—ask anybody. Ask the + children. Look yar—you, Johnny—come here.” + </p> + <p> + He had suddenly directed his voice to a blackberry bush near the trail, + from which the curly head of Johnny Filgee had just appeared. That + home-returning infant painfully disengaged himself, his slate, his books, + and his small dinner-pail half filled with fruit as immature as himself, + and came towards them sideways. + </p> + <p> + “Yer's a dime, Johnny, to git some candy,” said Seth, endeavoring to + distort his passion-set face into a smile. + </p> + <p> + Johnny Filgee's small, berry-stained palm promptly closed over the coin. + </p> + <p> + “Now, don't lie. Where's Cressy?” + </p> + <p> + “Kithin' her bo.” + </p> + <p> + “Good boy. What bo?” + </p> + <p> + Johnny hesitated. He had once seen the school-master and Cressy together; + he had heard it whispered by the other children that they loved each + other. But looking at Seth and Mrs. McKinstry he felt that something more + tremendous than this stupid fact was required of him for grown-up people, + and being honest and imaginative, he determined that it should be worth + the money. + </p> + <p> + “Speak up, Johnny, don't be afeard to tell.” + </p> + <p> + Johnny was not “afeard”—he was only thinking. He had it! He + remembered that he had just seen his paragon, the brilliant Stacey, coming + from the boundary woods. What more poetical and startlingly effective than + to connect him with Cressy? He replied promptly:— + </p> + <p> + “Mithter Thtathy. He gived her a watch and ring of truly gold. Goin' to be + married at Thacramento.” + </p> + <p> + “You lyin' limb,” said Seth, seizing him roughly. But Mrs. McKinstry + interposed. + </p> + <p> + “Let that brat go,” she said with gleaming eyes. “I want to talk to you.” + Seth released Johnny. “It's a trick,” he said, “he's bin put up to it by + that Ford.” + </p> + <p> + But Johnny, after securing a safe vantage behind the blackberry bush, + determined to give them another trial—with facts. + </p> + <p> + “I know mor'n that,” he called out. + </p> + <p> + “Git—you measly pup,” said Seth savagely. + </p> + <p> + “I know Theriff Briggth, he rid over the boundary with a lot o' men and + horthes,” said Johnny, with that hurried delivery with which he was able + to estop interruption. “Theed 'em go by. Maur Harrithon theth his dad's + goin' to chuck out ole McKinthtry. Hooray!” + </p> + <p> + Mrs. McKinstry turned her dark face sharply on Seth. “What's that he sez?” + </p> + <p> + “Nothin' but children's gassin',” he answered, meeting her eyes with an + evil consciousness half loutish, half defiant, “and ef it war true, it + would only sarve Hiram McKinstry right.” + </p> + <p> + She laid her hand upon his shoulder with swift suspicion. “Out o' my way, + Seth Davis,” she said suddenly, pushing him aside. “Ef this ez any + underhanded work of yours, you'll pay for it.” + </p> + <p> + She strode past him in the direction of Johnny, but at the approach of the + tall woman with the angry eyes, the boy flew. She hesitated a moment, + turned again with a threatening wave of the hand to Seth, and started off + rapidly in the direction of the boundary. + </p> + <p> + She had not placed so much faith in the boy's story as in the vague + revelation of evil in Davis's manner. If there was any “cussedness” afoot, + Seth, convinced of Cressy's unfaithfulness, and with no further hope of + any mediation from the parents, would know it. Unless Hiram had been + warned, he was still lulled in his fatuous dream of civilization. At that + time he and his men were in the tules with the stock; to be satisfied, she + herself must go to the boundary. + </p> + <p> + She reached the ridge of the cottonwoods and sycamores, and a few hundred + yards further brought her to the edge of that gentle southern slope which + at last sank into the broad meadow of the debatable ground. In spite of + Stacey's invidious criticism of its intrinsic value, this theatre of + savage dissension, violence, and bloodshed was by some irony of nature a + pastoral landscape of singular and peaceful repose. The soft glacis + stretching before her was in spring cerulean with lupins, and later + starred with mariposas. The meadow was transversely crossed by a curving + line of alders that indicated a rare water-course, of which in the dry + season only a single pool remained to flash back the unvarying sky. There + had been no attempt at cultivation of this broad expanse; wild oats, + mustard, and rank grasses left it a tossing sea of turbulent and + variegated color whose waves rode high enough to engulf horse and rider in + their choking depths. Even the traces of human struggle, the uprooted + stakes, scattered fence-rails, and empty post-holes were forever hidden + under these billows of verdure. Midway of the field and near the + water-course arose McKinstry's barn—the solitary human structure + whose rude, misshapen, bulging sides and swallow-haunted eaves bursting + with hay from the neighboring pasture, seemed however only an extravagant + growth of the prolific soil. Mrs. McKinstry gazed at it anxiously. There + was no sign of life or movement near or around it; it stood as it had + always stood, deserted and solitary. But turning her eyes to the right, + beyond the water-course, she could see a slight regular undulation of the + grassy sea and what appeared to be the drifting on its surface of half a + dozen slouched hats in the direction of the alders. There was no longer + any doubt; a party from the other side was approaching the border. + </p> + <p> + A shout and the quick galloping of hoofs behind her sent a thrill of + relief to her heart. She had barely time to draw aside as her husband and + his followers swept past her down the slope. But it needed not his furious + cry, “The Harrisons hev sold us out,” to tell her that the crisis had + come. + </p> + <p> + She held her breath as the cavalcade diverged, and in open order furiously + approached the water-course, and she could see a sudden check and + hesitation in the movement in the meadow at that unlooked-for onset. Then + she thought of the barn. It would be a rallying-point for them if driven + back—a tower of defence if besieged. There were arms secreted + beneath the hay for such an emergency. She would run there, swing-to its + open doors, and get ready to barricade them. + </p> + <p> + She ran crouchingly, seeking the higher grasses and brambles of the ridge + to escape observation from the meadow until she could descend upon the + barn from the rear. She threw aside her impeding shawl; her brown holland + sun-bonnet, torn off her head and hanging by its strings from her + shoulders, let her coarse silver-threaded hair stream like a mane over her + back; her face and hands were bleeding from thorns and whitened by dust. + But she struggled on fiercely like some hunted animal until she reached + the descending trail, when, letting herself go blindly, only withheld by + the long grasses she clutched at wildly on either side, she half fell, + half stumbled down the slope and emerged beside the barn, breathless and + exhausted. + </p> + <p> + But what a contrast was there! For an instant she could scarcely believe + that she had left the ridge with her husband's savage outcry in her ears, + and in her eyes the swift vision of his furious cavalcade. The boundary + meadow was hidden by the soft lines of graceful willows in whose dim + recesses the figures of the passionate horsemen seemed to have melted + forever. There was nothing now to interrupt the long vista of peaceful + beauty that stretched before her through this lonely hollow to the distant + sleeping hills. The bursting barn in the foreground, heaped with grain + that fringed its eaves and bristled from its windows and doors until its + unlovely bulk was hidden in trailing feathery outlines; the gentle flutter + of wings and soothing twitter of swallows and jays around its open + rafters, and the drifting shadows of a few circling crows above it; the + drowsy song of bees on the wild mustard that half hid its walls with + yellow bloom; the sound of faintly-trickling water in one of those old + Indian-haunted springs that had given its name to the locality; all these + for an instant touched the senses of this hard, fierce woman as she had + not been touched since she was a girl. For one brief moment the joys of + peace and that matured repose that never had been hers flashed upon her; + but with it came the savage consciousness that even now it was being + wrested away, and the thought fired her blood again. She listened eagerly + for a second in the direction of the meadow; there was no report of + fire-arms—there was yet time to prepare the barn for defence. She + ran to the front of the building and seized the latch of the half-closed + door. A little feminine cry that was half a laugh came from within, with + the rapid rustle of a skirt and as the door swung open a light figure + vanished through the rear window. The slanting sunlight falling in the + shadowed interior disclosed only the single erect figure of the + school-master John Ford. + </p> + <p> + The first confusion and embarrassment of an interrupted rendezvous that + had colored Ford's cheeks, gave way to a look of alarm as he caught sight + of the bleeding face and dishevelled figure of Mrs. McKinstry. She saw it. + To her distorted fancy it seemed only a proof of deeper guilt. Without a + word she closed the heavy door behind her and swung the huge cross-bar + unaided to its place. She then turned and confronted him, wiping the dust + from her face and arms with her torn and dangling sun-bonnet in a way that + recalled her attitude on the first day he had met her. + </p> + <p> + “That was Cress with ye?” she said. + </p> + <p> + He hesitated, still gazing at her in wonder. + </p> + <p> + “Don't lie.” + </p> + <p> + He started. “I don't propose to,” he retorted indignantly. “It was”— + </p> + <p> + “I don't ask ye how long this yer's bin goin' on,” she said, pointing to + Cressy's sun-bonnet, a few books, and a scattered nosegay of wild flowers + lying on the hay; “and I don't want to know. In five minutes either her + father will be here, or them hell-hounds of Harrison's who've sold him out + will swarm round this barn to git possesshun. Ef this yer”—she again + pointed contemptuously to the objects just indicated—“means that + you've cast your lot with US and kalkilate to take our bitter with our + sweet, ye'll lift up that stack of hay and bring out a gun to help defend + it. Ef you're meanin' anythin' else, Ford, you'll hide yourself in that + hay till Hiram comes and has time enough to attend to ye.” + </p> + <p> + “And if I choose to do neither?” he said haughtily. + </p> + <p> + She looked at him in unutterable scorn. “There's the winder—take it + while there's time, afore I bar it. Ef you see Hiram, tell him ye left an + old woman behind ye to defend the place whar you uster hide with her + darter.” + </p> + <p> + Before he could reply there was a distant report, followed almost directly + by another. With a movement of irritation he walked to the window, turned + and looked at her—bolted it, and came back. + </p> + <p> + “Where's that gun?” he said almost rudely. + </p> + <p> + “I reckon's that would fetch ye,” she said, dragging away the hay and + disclosing a long trough-like box covered with tarpaulin. It proved to + contain powder, shot, and two guns. He took one. + </p> + <p> + “I suppose I may know what I am fighting for?” he said dryly. + </p> + <p> + “Ye might say 'Cress' ef they”—indicating the direction of the + reports—“happen to ask ye,” she returned with equal sobriety. “Jess + now ye kin take your stand up thar in the loft and see what's comin'.” + </p> + <p> + He did not linger, but climbed to the place assigned him, glad to escape + the company of the woman who at that moment he almost hated. In his + unreflecting passion for Cressy he had always evaded the thought of this + relationship or propinquity; the mother had recalled it to him in a way + that imperilled even his passion for the daughter; his mind was wholly + preoccupied with the idiotic, exasperating, and utterly hopeless position + that had been forced upon him. In the bitterness of his spirit his sense + of personal danger was so far absorbed that he speculated on the chance + bullet in the melee that might end his folly and relieve him of + responsibility. Shut up in a barn with a furious woman, in a lawless + defence of questionable rights—with the added consciousness that an + equally questionable passion had drawn him into it, and that SHE knew it—death + seemed to offer the only escape from the explanation he could never give. + If another sting could have been added it was the absurd conviction that + Cressy would not appreciate his sacrifice, but was perhaps even at that + moment calmly congratulating herself on the felicitousness of the + complication in which she had left him. + </p> + <p> + Suddenly he heard a shout and the tramping of horse. The sides of the loft + were scantily boarded to allow the extension of the pent-up grain, and + between the interstices Ford, without being himself seen, had an + uninterrupted view of the plain between him and the line of willows. As he + gazed, five men hurriedly issued from the extreme left and ran towards the + barn. McKinstry and his followers simultaneously broke from the same + covert further to the right and galloped forward to intercept them. But + although mounted, the greater distance they had to traverse brought them + to the rear of the building only as the Harrison party came to a sudden + halt before the closed and barricaded doors of the usually defenceless + barn. The discomfiture of the latter was greeted by a derisive shout from + the McKinstry party—albeit, equally astonished. But in that brief + moment Ford recognized in the leader of the Harrisons the well-known + figure of the Sheriff of Tuolumne. It needed only this to cap the climax + of the fatality that seemed to pursue him. He was no longer a lawless + opposer of equally lawless forces, but he was actually resisting the law + itself. He understood the situation now. It was some idiotic blunder of + Uncle Ben's that had precipitated this attack. + </p> + <p> + The belligerents had already cocked their weapons, although the barn was + still a rampart between the parties. But an adroit flanker of McKinstry's, + creeping through the tall mustard, managed to take up an enfilading + position as the Harrisons advanced to break in the door. A threatening + shout from the ambuscaded partisans caused them to hurriedly fall back + towards the rear of the barn. There was a pause, and then began the usual + Homeric chaff,—with this Western difference that it was cunningly + intended to draw the other's fire. + </p> + <p> + “Why don't you blaze away at the door, you —— ——! + It won't hurt ye!” + </p> + <p> + “He's afraid the bolt will shoot back!” Laughter from the McKinstrys. + </p> + <p> + “Come outer the tall grass and show yourself, you black, mud-eating + gopher.” + </p> + <p> + “He can't. He's dropped his grit and is sarchin' for it.” Goading laughter + from the Harrisons. + </p> + <p> + Each man waited for that single shot which would precipitate the fight. + Even in their lawlessness the rude instinct of the duello swayed them. The + officer of the law recognized the principle as well as its practical + advantage in a collision, but he hesitated to sacrifice one of his men in + an attack on the barn, which would draw the fire of McKinstry at that + necessarily fatal range. As a brave man he would have taken the risk + himself, but as a prudent one, he reflected that his hurriedly collected + posse were all partisans, and if he fell the conflict would resolve itself + into a purely partisan struggle without a single unprejudiced witness to + justify his conduct in the popular eye. The master also knew this; it had + checked his first impulse to come forward as a mediator; his only reliance + now was on Mrs. McKinstry's restraint and the sheriff's forbearance. The + next instant both seemed to be imperilled. + </p> + <p> + “Well, why don't you wade in?” sneered Dick McKinstry; “who do you + reckon's hidden in the barn?” + </p> + <p> + “I'll tell ye,” said a harsh, passionate voice from the hill-side. “It's + Cressy McKinstry and the school-master hidin' in the hay.” + </p> + <p> + Both parties turned quickly towards the intruder who had approached them + unperceived. But the speech was followed by a more startling revulsion of + sentiment as Mrs. McKinstry's voice rang out from the barn, “You lie, Seth + Davis!” + </p> + <p> + The brief advantage offered to the sheriff in Davis's advent as a neutral + witness, was utterly lost by this unlooked-for revelation of Mrs. + McKinstry's presence in the barn! The fates were clearly against him! A + woman in the fight, and an old one at that! A white woman to be forcibly + ejected! In the whole unwritten code of Southwestern chivalry there was no + such precedent. + </p> + <p> + “Stand back,” he said disgustedly to his followers, “stand back and let + the d——d barn slide. But you, Hiram McKinstry, I'll give YOU + five minutes to shake yourself clear of your wife's petticoats and git!” + His blood was up now—the quicker from his momentary weakness and the + trick of which he thought himself a dupe. + </p> + <p> + Again the fatal signal seemed imminent, again it was delayed. For Hiram + McKinstry, with clanking spurs and rifle in hand stepped from behind the + barn, full in the presence of his antagonists. + </p> + <p> + “Ez to my gitten in five minits,” he began in his laziest, drowsiest + manner, “we'll see when the time's up. But jest now words hev passed + betwixt my wife and Seth Davis. Afore anythin' else goes on yer, he's got + to take HIS back. My wife allows he lies; I allow he lies too, and I stan' + here to say it.” + </p> + <p> + The right of personal insult to precedence of redress was too old a + frontier principle to be gainsaid now. Both parties held back and every + eye was turned to where Seth Davis had been standing. But he had + disappeared. + </p> + <p> + Where? + </p> + <p> + When Mrs. McKinstry hurled her denial from the barn, he had taken + advantage of the greater surprise to leap to one of the trusses of hay + that projected beyond the loft, and secure a footing from which he quickly + scrambled through the open scantling to the interior. The master who, + startled by his voice, had made his way through the loose grain to the + rear, reached it as Seth half crawled, half tumbled through. Their eyes + met in a single flash of rage, but before Seth could utter an outcry, the + master had dropped his gun, seized him around the neck and crammed a thick + handful of the soft hay he had hurriedly snatched up into his face and + gasping mouth. A furious but silent struggle ensued; the yielding hay on + which they both fell deadened all sound of a scuffle and concealed them + from view; masses of it, already loosened by the intruder's entrance, and + dislodged in their contortions began to slip through the opening to the + ground. The master, still uppermost and holding Seth firmly down, allowed + himself to slip with them, shoving his adversary before him; the maddened + Missourian detecting his purpose, made a desperate attempt to change his + position, and succeeded in raising his knee against the master's chest. + Ford, guarding against what seemed to be only a wrestler's strategy, + contented himself by locking the bent knee firmly in that position, and + thus unwittingly gave Seth the looked-for opportunity of drawing the + bowie-knife concealed in his boot leg. He knew his mistake only as Seth + violently freed his arm, and threw it upward for the blow. He heard the + steel slither like a scythe through the hay, and unlocking his hold + desperately threw himself on the uplifted arm. The movement saved him. For + the released body of Seth slipped rapidly through the opening, upheld for + a single instant on the verge by the grasp of the master's two hands on + the arm that still held the knife, and then dropped heavily downward. Even + then, the hay that had slipped before him would have broken his fall, but + his head came in violent contact with some farming implements standing + against the wall, and without a cry he was stretched senseless on the + ground. The whole occurrence passed so rapidly and so noiselessly that not + only did McKinstry's challenge fall upon his already unconscious ears, but + the loosened hay which in the master's struggles to recover himself still + continued to slide gently from the loft, actually hid him from the eyes of + the spectators who sought him a moment afterwards. A mass of hay and wild + oats, dislodged apparently by Mrs. McKinstry in securing her defences, was + all that met their eyes; even the woman herself was unconscious of the + deadly struggle that had taken place above her. + </p> + <p> + The master staggered to an upright position half choked and half blinded + with dust, turgid and bursting with the rush of blood to his head, but + clear and collected in mind, and unremorsefully triumphant. Unconscious of + the real extent of Seth's catastrophe he groped for and seized his gun, + examined the cap and eagerly waited for a renewed attack. “He tried to + kill me; he would have killed me; if he comes again I must kill him,” he + kept repeating to himself. It never occurred to him that this was + inconsistent with his previous thought—indeed with the whole tenor + of his belief. Perhaps the most peaceful man who has been once put in + peril of life by an adversary, who has recognized death threatening him in + the eye of his antagonist, is by some strange paradox not likely to hold + his own life or the life of his adversary as dearly as before. Everything + was silent now. The suspense irritated him, he no longer dreaded but even + longed for the shot that would precipitate hostilities. What were they + doing? Guided by Seth, were they concerting a fresh attack? + </p> + <p> + Listening more intently he became aware of a distant shouting, and even + more distinctly, of the dull, heavy trampling of hoofs. A sudden angry + fear that the McKinstrys had been beaten off and were flying—a fear + and anger that now for the first time identified him with their cause—came + over him, and he scrambled quickly towards the opening below. But the + sound was approaching and with it came a voice. + </p> + <p> + “Hold on there, sheriff!” + </p> + <p> + It was the voice of the agent Stacey. + </p> + <p> + There was a pause of reluctant murmuring. But the warning was enforced by + a command from another voice—weak, unheroic, but familiar, “I order + this yer to stop—right yer!” + </p> + <p> + A burst of ironical laughter followed. The voice was Uncle Ben's. + </p> + <p> + “Stand back! This is no time for foolin',” said the sheriff roughly. + </p> + <p> + “He's right, Sheriff Briggs,” said Stacey's voice hurriedly; “you're + acting for HIM; he's the owner of the land.” + </p> + <p> + “What? That Ben Dabney?” + </p> + <p> + “Yes; he's Daubigny, who bought the title from us.” + </p> + <p> + There was a momentary hush, and then a hurried murmur. + </p> + <p> + “Which means, gents,” rose Uncle Ben's voice persuasively, “that this yer + young man, though fair-minded and well-intended, hez bin a leetle too + chipper and previous in orderin' out the law. This yer ain't no law matter + with ME, boys. It ain't to be settled by law-papers, nor shot-guns and + deringers. It's suthin' to be chawed over sociable-like, between drinks. + Ef any harm hez bin done, ef anythin's happened, I'm yer to 'demnify the + sheriff, and make it comf'ble all round. Yer know me, boys. I'm talkin'. + It's me—Dabney, or Daubigny, which ever way you like it.” + </p> + <p> + But in the silence that followed, the passions had not yet evidently + cooled. It was broken by the sarcastic drawl of Dick McKinstry: “If them + Harrisons don't mind heven had their medders trampled over by a few white + men, why”— + </p> + <p> + “The sheriff ez 'demnified for that,” interrupted Uncle Ben hastily. + </p> + <p> + “'N ef Dick McKinstry don't mind the damage to his pants in crawlin' out + o' gunshot in the tall grass”—retorted Joe Harrison. + </p> + <p> + “I'm yer to settle that, boys,” said Uncle Ben cheerfully. + </p> + <p> + “But who'll settle THIS?” clamored the voice of the older Harrison from + behind the barn where he had stumbled in crossing the fallen hay. “Yer's + Seth Davis lyin' in the hay with the top of his head busted. Who's to pay + for that?” + </p> + <p> + There was a rush to the spot, and a quick cry of reaction. + </p> + <p> + “Whose work is this?” demanded the sheriff's voice, with official + severity. + </p> + <p> + The master uttered an instinctive exclamation of defiance, and dropping + quickly to the barn floor, would the next moment have opened the door and + declared himself, but Mrs. McKinstry, after a single glance at his + determined face, suddenly threw herself before him with an imperious + gesture of silence. Then her voice rang clearly from the barn:— + </p> + <p> + “Well, if it's the hound that tried to force his way in yer, I reckon ye + kin put that down to ME!” + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0010" id="link2HCH0010"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER X. + </h2> + <p> + It was known to Indian Spring, the next day, amid great excitement, that a + serious fracas had been prevented on the ill-fated boundary by the + dramatic appearance of Uncle Ben Dabney, not only as a peacemaker, but as + Mr. Daubigny the bona fide purchaser and owner of the land. It was known + and accepted with great hilarity that “old marm McKinstry” had defended + the barn alone and unaided, with—as variously stated—a + pitchfork, an old stable-broom, and a pail of dirty water, against + Harrison, his party, and the entire able posse of the Sheriff of Tuolumne + County, with no further damage than a scalp wound which the head of Seth + Davis received while falling from the loft of the barn from which he had + been dislodged by Mrs. McKinstry and the broom aforesaid. It was known + with unanimous approbation that the acquisition of the land-title by a + hitherto humble citizen of Indian Spring was a triumph of the settlement + over foreign interference. But it was not known that the school-master was + a participant in the fight, or even present on the spot. At Mrs. + McKinstry's suggestion he had remained concealed in the loft until after + the withdrawal of both parties and the still unconscious Seth. When Ford + had remonstrated, with the remark that Seth would be sure to declare the + truth when he recovered his senses, Mrs. McKinstry smiled grimly: “I + reckon when he comes to know I was with ye all the time, he'd rather hev + it allowed that I licked him than YOU. I don't say he'll let it pass ez + far ez you're concerned or won't try to get even with ye, but he won't go + round tellin' WHY. However,” she added still more grimly, “if you think + you're ekul to tellin' the hull story—how ye kem to be yer and that + Seth wasn't lyin' arter all when he blurted it out afore 'em—why I + sha'n't hinder ye.” The master said no more. And indeed for a day or two + nothing transpired to show that Seth was not equally reticent. + </p> + <p> + Nevertheless Mr. Ford was far from being satisfied with the issue of his + adventure. His relations with Cressy were known to the mother, and + although she had not again alluded to them, she would probably inform her + husband. Yet he could not help noticing, with a mingling of unreasoning + relief and equally unreasoning distrust, that she exhibited a scornful + unconcern in the matter, apart from the singular use to which she had put + it. He could hardly count upon McKinstry, with his heavy, blind devotion + to Cressy, being as indifferent. On the contrary, he had acquired the + impression, without caring to examine it closely, that her father would + not be displeased at his marrying Cressy, for it would really amount to + that. But here again he was forced to contemplate what he had always + avoided, the possible meaning and result of their intimacy. In the + reckless, thoughtless, extravagant—yet thus far innocent—indulgence + of their mutual passion, he had never spoken of marriage, nor—and it + struck him now with the same incongruous mingling of relief and uneasiness—had + SHE! Perhaps this might have arisen from some superstitious or sensitive + recollection on her part of her previous engagement to Seth, but he + remembered now that they had not even exchanged the usual vows of eternal + constancy. It may seem strange that, in the half-dozen stolen and + rapturous interviews which had taken place between these young lovers, + there had been no suggestion of the future, nor any of those glowing + projects for a united destiny peculiar to their years and inexperience. + They had lived entirely in a blissful present, with no plans beyond their + next rendezvous. In that mysterious and sudden absorption of each other, + not only the past, but the future seemed to have been forgotten. + </p> + <p> + These thoughts were passing through his mind the next afternoon to the + prejudice of that calm and studious repose which the deserted school-house + usually superinduced, and which had been so fondly noted by McKinstry and + Uncle Ben. The latter had not arrived for his usual lesson; it was + possible that undue attention had been attracted to his movements now that + his good fortune was known; and the master was alone save for the + occasional swooping incursion of a depredatory jay in search of crumbs + from the children's luncheons, who added apparently querulous insult to + the larcenous act. He regretted Uncle Ben's absence, as he wanted to know + more about his connection with the Harrison attack and his eventual + intentions. Ever since the master emerged from the barn and regained his + hotel under cover of the darkness, he had heard only the vaguest rumors, + and he purposely avoided direct inquiry. + </p> + <p> + He had been quite prepared for Cressy's absence from school that morning—indeed + in his present vacillating mood he had felt that her presence would have + been irksome and embarrassing; but it struck him suddenly and unpleasantly + that her easy desertion of him at that critical moment in the barn had not + since been followed by the least sign of anxiety to know the result of her + mother's interference. What did she imagine had transpired between Mrs. + McKinstry and himself? Had she confidently expected her mother's prompt + acceptance of the situation and a reconciliation? Was that the reason why + she had treated that interruption as lightly as if she were already his + recognized betrothed? Had she even calculated upon it? had she—? He + stopped, his cheek glowing from irritation under the suspicion, and shame + at the disloyalty of entertaining it. + </p> + <p> + Opening his desk, he began to arrange his papers mechanically, when he + discovered, with a slight feeling of annoyance, that he had placed + Cressy's bouquet—now dried and withered—in the same + pigeon-hole with the mysterious letters with which he had so often + communed in former days. He at once separated them with a half bitter + smile, yet after a moment's hesitation, and with his old sense of + attempting to revive a forgotten association, he tried to re-peruse them. + But they did not even restrain his straying thoughts, nor prevent him from + detecting a singular occurrence. The nearly level sun was, after its old + fashion, already hanging the shadowed tassels of the pine boughs like a + garland on the wall. But the shadow seemed to have suddenly grown larger + and more compact, and he turned, with a quick consciousness of some + interposing figure at the pane. Nothing however was to be seen. Yet so + impressed had he been that he walked to the door and stepped from the + porch to discover the intruder. The clearing was deserted, there was a + slight rustling in the adjacent laurels, but no human being was visible. + Nevertheless the old feeling of security and isolation which had never + been quite the same since Mr. McKinstry's confession, seemed now to have + fled the sylvan school-house altogether, and he somewhat angrily closed + his desk, locked it, and determined to go home. + </p> + <p> + His way lay through the first belt of pines towards the mining-flat, but + to-day from some vague impulse he turned and followed the ridge. He had + not proceeded far when he perceived Rupert Filgee lounging before him on + the trail, and at a little distance further on his brother Johnny. At the + sight of these two favorite pupils Mr. Ford's heart smote him with a + consciousness that he had of late neglected them, possibly because + Rupert's lofty scorn of the “silly” sex was not as amusing to him as + formerly, and possibly because Johnny's curiosity had been at times + obtrusive. He however quickened his pace and joined Rupert, laying his + hand familiarly as of old on his shoulder. To his surprise the boy + received his advances with some constraint and awkwardness, glancing + uneasily in the direction of Johnny. A sudden idea crossed Mr. Ford's + mind. + </p> + <p> + “Were you looking for me at the schoolroom just now?” + </p> + <p> + “No, sir.” + </p> + <p> + “You didn't look in at the window to see if I was there?” continued the + master. + </p> + <p> + “No, sir.” + </p> + <p> + The master glanced at Rupert. Truth-telling was a part of Rupert's + truculent temper, although, as the boy had often bitterly remarked, it had + always “told agin' him.” + </p> + <p> + “All right,” said the master, perfectly convinced. “It must have been my + fancy; but I thought somebody looked in—or passed by the window.” + </p> + <p> + But here Johnny, who had overheard the dialogue and approached them, + suddenly threw himself upon his brother's unoffending legs and commenced + to beat and pull them about with unintelligible protests. Rupert, without + looking down, said quietly, “Quit that now—I won't, I tell ye,” and + went through certain automatic movements of dislodging Johnny as if he + were a mere impeding puppy. + </p> + <p> + “What's the matter, Johnny?” said the master, to whom these gyrations were + not unfamiliar. + </p> + <p> + Johnny only replied by a new grip of his brother's trousers. + </p> + <p> + “Well, sir,” said Rupert, slightly recovering his dimples and his + readiness, “Johnny, yer, wants me to tell ye something. Ef he wasn't the + most original self-cocking, God-forsaken liar in Injin Spring—ef he + didn't lie awake in his crib mornin's to invent lies fer the day, I + wouldn't mind tellin' ye, and would hev told you before. However, since + you ask, and since you think you saw somebody around the school-house, + Johnny yer allows that Seth Davis is spyin' round and followin' ye + wherever you go, and he dragged me down yer to see it. He says he saw him + doggin' ye.” + </p> + <p> + “With a knife and pithtolth,” added Johnny's boundless imagination, to the + detriment of his limited facts. + </p> + <p> + Mr. Ford looked keenly from the one to the other, but rather with a + suspicion that they were cognizant of his late fracas than belief in the + truth of Johnny's statement. + </p> + <p> + “And what do YOU think of it, Rupert?” he asked carelessly. + </p> + <p> + “I think, sir,” said Rupert, “that allowin'—for onct—that + Johnny ain't lying, mebbee it's Cressy McKinstry that Seth's huntin' + round, and knowin' that she's always runnin' after you”—he stopped, + and reddening with a newborn sense that his fatal truthfulness had led him + into a glaring indelicacy towards the master, hurriedly added: “I mean, + sir, that mebbee it's Uncle Ben he's jealous of, now that he's got rich + enough for Cressy to hev him, and knowin' he comes to school in the + afternoon perhaps”— + </p> + <p> + “'Tain't either!” broke in Johnny promptly. “Theth's over ther beyond the + thchool, and Crethy's eatin' ithecream at the bakerth with Uncle Ben.” + </p> + <p> + “Well, suppose she is, Seth don't know it, silly!” answered Rupert, + sharply. Then more politely to the master: “That's it! Seth has seen Uncle + Ben gallivanting with Cressy and thinks he's bringing her over yer. Don't + you see?” + </p> + <p> + The master however did not see but one thing. The girl who had only two + days ago carelessly left it to him to explain a compromising situation to + her mother—this girl who had precipitated him into a frontier fight + to the peril of his position and her good name, was calmly eating ices + with an available suitor without the least concern of the past! The + connection was perhaps illogical, but it was unpleasant. It was the more + awkward from the fact that he fancied that not only Rupert's beautiful + eyes, but even the infant Johnny's round ones, were fixed upon him with an + embarrassed expression of hesitating and foreboding sympathy. + </p> + <p> + “I think Johnny believes what he says—don't you, Johnny?” he smiled + with an assumption of cheerful ease, “but I see no necessity just yet for + binding Seth Davis over to keep the peace. Tell me about yourself, Rupe. I + hope Uncle Ben doesn't think of changing his young tutor with his good + fortune?” + </p> + <p> + “No, sir,” returned Rupert brightening; “he promises to take me to + Sacramento with him as his private secretary or confidential clerk, you + know, ef—ef”—he hesitated again with very un-Rupert-like + caution, “ef things go as he wants 'em.” He stopped awkwardly and his + brown eyes became clouded. “Like ez not, Mr. Ford, he's only foolin' me—and—HIMSELF.” + The boy's eyes sought the master's curiously. + </p> + <p> + “I don't know about that,” returned Mr. Ford uneasily, with a certain + recollection of Uncle Ben's triumph over his own incredulity; “he surely + hasn't shown himself a fool or a boaster so far. I consider your prospect + a very fair one, and I wish you joy of it, my boy.” He ran his fingers + through Rupert's curls in his old caressing fashion, the more tenderly + perhaps that he fancied he still saw symptoms of stormy and wet weather in + the boy's brown eyes. “Run along home, both of you, and don't worry + yourselves about me.” + </p> + <p> + He turned away, but had scarcely proceeded half a dozen yards before he + felt a tug at his coat. Looking down he saw the diminutive Johnny. + “They'll be comin' home thith way,” he said, reaching up in a hoarse + confidential whisper. + </p> + <p> + “Who?” + </p> + <p> + “Crethy and 'im.” + </p> + <p> + But before the master could make any response to this presumably + gratifying information, Johnny had rejoined his brother. The two boys + waved their hands towards him with the same diffident and mysterious + sympathy that left him hesitating between a smile and a frown. Then he + proceeded on his way. Nevertheless, for no other reason than that he felt + a sudden distaste to meeting any one, when he reached the point where the + trail descended directly to the settlement, he turned into a longer and + more solitary detour by the woods. + </p> + <p> + The sun was already so low that its long rays pierced the forest from + beneath, and suffused the dim colonnade of straight pine shafts with a + golden haze, while it left the dense intercrossed branches fifty feet + above in deeper shadow. Walking in this yellow twilight, with his feet + noiselessly treading down the yielding carpet of pine needles, it seemed + to the master that he was passing through the woods in a dream. There was + no sound but the dull intermittent double knock of the wood-pecker, or the + drowsy croak of some early roosting bird; all suggestion of the + settlement, with all traces of human contiguity, were left far behind. It + was therefore with a strange and nervous sense of being softly hailed by + some woodland sprite that he seemed to hear his own name faintly wafted + upon the air. He turned quickly; it was Cressy, panting behind him! Even + then, in her white closely gathered skirts, her bared head and graceful + arching neck bent forward, her flying braids freed from the straw hat + which she had swung from her arm so as not to impede her flight, there was + so much of the following Maenad about her that he was for an instant + startled. + </p> + <p> + He stopped; she bounded to him, and throwing her arms around his neck with + a light laugh, let herself hang for a moment breathless on his breast. + Then recovering her speech she said slowly:— + </p> + <p> + “I started on an Injin trot after you, just as you turned off the trail, + but you'd got so far ahead while I was shaking myself clear of Uncle Ben + that I had to jist lope the whole way through the woods to catch up.” She + stopped, and looking up into his troubled face caught his cheeks between + her hands, and bringing his knit brows down to the level of her humid blue + eyes said, “You haven't kissed me yet. What's the matter?” + </p> + <p> + “Doesn't it strike you that I might ask that question, considering that + it's three days since I've seen you, and that you left me, in a rather + awkward position, to explain matters to your mother?” he said coldly. He + had formulated the sentence in his mind some moments before, but now that + it was uttered, it appeared singularly weak and impotent. + </p> + <p> + “That's so,” she said with a frank laugh, burying her face in his + waistcoat. “You see, dandy boy”—his pet name—“I reckoned for + that reason we'd better lie low for a day or two. Well,” she continued, + untying his cravat and retying it again, “how DID you crawl out of it?” + </p> + <p> + “Do you mean to say your mother did not tell you?” he asked indignantly. + </p> + <p> + “Why should she?” returned Cressy lazily. “She never talks to me of these + things, honey.” + </p> + <p> + “And you knew nothing about it?” + </p> + <p> + Cressy shook her head, and then winding one of her long braids around the + young man's neck, offered the end of it to his mouth, and on his sternly + declining it, took it in her own. + </p> + <p> + Yet even her ignorance of what had really happened did not account to the + master for the indifference of her long silence, and albeit conscious of + some inefficiency in his present unheroic attitude, he continued + sarcastically, “May I ask WHAT you imagined would happen when you left + me?” + </p> + <p> + “Well,” said Cressy confidently, “I reckoned, chile, you could lie as well + as the next man, and that, being gifted, you'd sling Maw something new and + purty. Why, I ain't got no fancy, but I fixed up something against Paw's + questioning ME. I made that conceited Masters promise to swear that HE was + in the barn with me. Then I calculated to tell Paw that you came + meandering along just before Maw popped in, and that I skedaddled to join + Masters. Of course,” she added quickly, tightening her hold of the master + as he made a sudden attempt at withdrawal, “I didn't let on to Masters WHY + I wanted him to promise, or that you were there.” + </p> + <p> + “Cressy,” said Ford, irritated beyond measure, “are you mad, or do you + think I am?” + </p> + <p> + The girl's face changed. She cast a half frightened, half questioning + glance at his eyes and then around the darkening aisle. “If we're going to + quarrel, Jack,” she said hurriedly, “don't let's do it BEFORE FOLKS.” + </p> + <p> + “In the name of Heaven,” he said, following her eyes indignantly, “what do + you mean?” + </p> + <p> + “I mean,” she said, with a slight shiver of resignation and scorn, “if you—oh + dear! if IT'S ALL going to be like THEM, let's keep it to ourselves.” + </p> + <p> + He gazed at her in hopeless bewilderment. Did she really mean that she was + more frightened at the possible revelation of their disagreement than of + their intimacy? + </p> + <p> + “Come,” she continued tenderly, still glancing, however, uneasily around + her, “come! We'll be more comfortable in the hollow. It's only a step.” + Still holding him by her braid she half led, half dragged him away. To the + right was one of those sudden depressions in the ground caused by the + subsidence of the earth from hidden springs and the uprooting of one or + two of the larger trees. When she had forced him down this declivity below + the level of the needle-strewn forest floor, she seated him upon a mossy + root, and shaking out her skirts in a half childlike, half coquettish way, + comfortably seated herself in his lap, with her arm supplementing the + clinging braid around his neck. + </p> + <p> + “Now hark to me, and don't holler so loud,” she said turning his face to + her questioning eyes. “What's gone of you anyway, nigger boy?” It should + be premised that Cressy's terms of endearment were mainly + negro-dialectical, reminiscences of her brief babyhood, her slave-nurse, + and the only playmates she had ever known. + </p> + <p> + Still implacable, the master coldly repeated the counts of his indictment + against the girl's strange indifference and still stranger entanglements, + winding up by setting forth the whole story of his interview with her + mother, his forced defence of the barn, Seth's outspoken accusation, and + their silent and furious struggle in the loft. But if he had expected that + this daughter of a Southwestern fighter would betray any enthusiasm over + her lover's participation in one of their characteristic feuds—if he + looked for any fond praise for his own prowess, he was bitterly mistaken. + She loosened her arm from his neck of her own accord, unwound the braid, + and putting her two little hands clasped between her knees, crossed her + small feet before her, and, albeit still in his lap, looked the picture of + languid dejection. + </p> + <p> + “Maw ought to have more sense, and you ought to have lit out of the window + after me,” she said with a lazy sigh. “Fightin' ain't in your line—it's + too much like THEM. That Seth's sure to get even with you.” + </p> + <p> + “I can protect myself,” he said haughtily. Nevertheless he had a + depressing consciousness that his lithe and graceful burden was somewhat + in the way of any heroic expression. + </p> + <p> + “Seth can lick you out of your boots, chile,” she said with naive + abstraction. Then, as he struggled to secure an upright position, “Don't + git riled, honey. Of course you'd let them kill you before YOU'D give in. + But that's their best holt—that's their trade! That's all they can + do—don't you see? That's where YOU'RE not like THEM—that's why + you're not their low down kind! That's why you're my boy—that's why + I love you!” + </p> + <p> + She had thrown her whole weight again upon his shoulders until she had + forced him back to his seat. Then, with her locked hands again around his + neck, she looked intently into his face. The varying color dropped from + her cheeks, her eyes seemed to grow larger, the same look of rapt + absorption and possession that had so transfigured her young face at the + ball was fixed upon it now. Her lips parted slightly, she seemed to murmur + rather than speak:— + </p> + <p> + “What are these people to us? What are Seth's jealousies, Uncle Ben's and + Masters's foolishness, Paw and Maw's quarr'ls and tantrums to you and me, + dear? What is it what THEY think, what they reckon, what they plan out, + and what they set themselves against—to us? We love each other, we + belong to each other, without their help or their hindrance. From the time + we first saw each other it was so, and from that time Paw and Maw, and + Seth and Masters, and even YOU and ME, dear, had nothing else to do. That + was love as I know it; not Seth's sneaking rages, and Uncle Ben's sneaking + fooleries, and Masters's sneaking conceit, but only love. And knowing + that, I let Seth rage, and Uncle Ben dawdle, and Masters trifle—and + for what? To keep them from me and my boy. They were satisfied, and we + were happy.” + </p> + <p> + Vague and unreasoning as he knew her speech to be, the rapt and perfect + conviction with which it was uttered staggered him. + </p> + <p> + “But how is this to end, Cressy?” he said passionately. + </p> + <p> + The abstracted look passed, and the slight color and delicate mobility of + her face returned. “To end, dandy boy?” she repeated lazily. “You didn't + think of marrying me—did you?” + </p> + <p> + He blushed, stammered, and said “Yes,” albeit with all his past + vacillation and his present distrust of her, transparent on his cheek and + audible in his voice. + </p> + <p> + “No, dear,” she said quietly, reaching down, untying her little shoe and + shaking the dust and pine needles from its recesses, “no! I don't know + enough to be a wife to you, just now, and you know it. And I couldn't keep + a house fit for you, and you couldn't afford to keep ME without it. And + then it would be all known, and it wouldn't be us two, dear, and our + lonely meetings any more. And we couldn't be engaged—that would be + too much like me and Seth over again. That's what you mean, dandy boy—for + you're only a dandy boy, you know, and they don't get married to backwood + Southern girls who haven't a nigger to bless themselves with since the + war! No,” she continued, lifting her proud little head so promptly after + Ford had recovered from his surprise as to make the ruse of emptying her + shoe perfectly palpable, “no, that's what we've both allowed, dear, all + along. And now, honey, it's near time for me to go. Tell me something good—before + I go. Tell me that you love me as you used to—tell me how you felt + that night at the ball when you first knew we loved each other. But stop—kiss + me first—there, once more—for keeps.” + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0011" id="link2HCH0011"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XI. + </h2> + <p> + When Uncle Ben, or “Benjamin Daubigny, Esq.,” as he was already known in + the columns of the “Star,” accompanied Miss Cressy McKinstry on her way + home after the first display of attention and hospitality since his + accession to wealth and position, he remained for some moments in a state + of bewildered and smiling idiocy. It was true that their meeting was + chance and accidental; it was true that Cressy had accepted his attention + with lazy amusement; it was true that she had suddenly and audaciously + left him on the borders of the McKinstry woods in a way that might have + seemed rude and abrupt to any escort less invincibly good-humored than + Uncle Ben, but none of these things marred his fatuous felicity. It is + even probable that in his gratuitous belief that his timid attentions had + been too marked and impulsive, he attributed Cressy's flight to a maidenly + coyness that pleasurably increased his admiration for her and his + confidence in himself. In his abstraction of enjoyment and in the + gathering darkness he ran against a fir-tree very much as he had done + while walking with her, and he confusedly apologized to it as he had to + her, and by her own appellation. In this way he eventually overran his + trail and found himself unexpectedly and apologetically in the clearing + before the school-house. + </p> + <p> + “Ef this ain't the singlerest thing, miss,” he said, and then stopped + suddenly. A faint noise in the school-house like the sound of splintered + wood attracted his attention. The master was evidently there. If he was + alone he would speak to him. + </p> + <p> + He went to the window, looked in, and in an instant his amiable + abstraction left him. He crept softly to the door, tried it, and then + putting his powerful shoulder against the panel, forced the lock from its + fastenings. He entered the room as Seth Davis, frightened but furious, + lifted himself from before the master's desk which he had just broken + open. He had barely time to conceal something in his pocket and close the + lid again before Uncle Ben approached him. + </p> + <p> + “What mouut ye be doin' here, Seth Davis?” he asked with the slow + deliberation which in that locality meant mischief. + </p> + <p> + “And what mouut YOU be doin' here, Mister Ben Dabney?” said Seth, resuming + his effrontery. + </p> + <p> + “Well,” returned Uncle Ben, planting himself in the aisle before his + opponent, “I ain't doin' no sheriff's posse business jest now, but I + reckon to keep my hand in far enuff to purtect other folks' property,” he + added, with a significant glance at the broken lock of the desk. + </p> + <p> + “Ben Dabney,” said Seth in snarling expostulation, “I hain't got no + quar'll with ye!” + </p> + <p> + “Then hand me over whatever you took just now from teacher's desk and + we'll talk about that afterwards,” said Uncle Ben advancing. + </p> + <p> + “I tell ye I hain't got no quar'll with ye, Uncle Ben,” continued Seth, + retreating with a malignant sneer; “and when you talk of protectin' other + folks' property, mebbe ye'd better protect YOUR OWN—or what ye'd + like to call so—instead of quar'llin' with the man that's helpin' + ye. I've got yer the proofs that that sneakin' hound of a Yankee + school-master that Cress McKinstry's hell bent on, and that the old man + and old woman are just chuckin' into her arms, is a lyin', black-hearted, + hypocritical seducer”— + </p> + <p> + “Stop!” said Uncle Ben in a voice that made the crazy casement rattle. + </p> + <p> + He strode towards Seth Davis, no longer with his habitual careful, + hesitating step, but with a tread that seemed to shake the whole + school-room. A single dominant clutch of his powerful right hand on the + young man's breast forced him backwards into the vacant chair of the + master. His usually florid face had grown as gray as the twilight; his + menacing form in a moment filled the little room and darkened the windows. + Then in some inexplicable reaction his figure slightly drooped, he laid + one heavy hand tremblingly on the desk, and with the other affected to + wipe his mouth after his old embarrassed fashion. + </p> + <p> + “What's that you were sayin' o' Cressy?” he said huskily. + </p> + <p> + “Wot everybody says,” said the frightened Seth, gaining a cowardly + confidence under his adversary's emotion. “Wot every cub that sets yer + under his cantin' teachin', and sees 'em together, knows. It's wot you'd + hev knowed ef he and Roop Filgee hadn't played ye fer a softy all the + time. And while you've bin hangin' round yer fer a flicker of Cressy's + gownd as she prances out o' school, he's bin lyin' low and laffin' at ye, + and while he's turned Roop over to keep you here, pretendin' to give ye + lessons, he's bin gallivantin' round with her and huggin' and kissin' her + in barns and in the brush—and now YOU want to quar'll with me.” + </p> + <p> + He stopped, panting for breath, and stared malignantly in the gray face of + his hearer. But Uncle Ben only lifted his heavy hand mildly with an + awkward gesture of warning, stepped softly in his old cautious hesitating + manner to the open door, closed it, and returned gently:— + </p> + <p> + “I reckon ye got in through the winder, didn't ye, Seth?” he said, with a + labored affectation of unemotional ease, “a kind o' one leg over, and one, + two, and then you're in, eh?” + </p> + <p> + “Never you mind HOW I got in, Ben Dabney,” returned Seth, his hostility + and insolence increasing with his opponent's evident weakness, “ez long ez + I got yer and got, by G-d! what I kem here fer! For whiles all this was + goin' on, and whiles the old fool man and old fool woman was swallowin' + what they did see and blinkin' at what they didn't, and huggin' themselves + that they'd got high-toned kempany fer their darter, that high-toned + kempany was playin' THEM too, by G-d! Yes, Sir! that high-toned, cantin' + school-teacher was keepin' a married woman in 'Frisco, all the while he + was here honey-foglin' with Cressy, and I've got the papers yer to prove + it.” He tapped his breast-pocket with a coarse laugh and thrust his face + forward into the gray shadow of his adversary's. + </p> + <p> + “An' you sorter spotted their bein' in this yer desk and bursted it?” said + Uncle Ben, gravely examining the broken lock in the darkness as if it were + the most important feature of the incident. + </p> + <p> + Seth nodded. “You bet your life. I saw him through the winder only this + afternoon lookin over 'em alone, and I reckoned to lay my hands on 'em if + I had to bust him or his desk. And I did!” he added with a triumphant + chuckle. + </p> + <p> + “And you did—sure pop!” said Uncle Ben with slow deliberate + admiration, passing his heavy hand along the splintered lid. “And you + reckon, Seth, that this yer showin' of him up will break off enythin' + betwixt him and this yer—this yer Miss—Miss McKinstry?” he + continued with labored formality. + </p> + <p> + “I reckon ef the old fool McKinstry don't shoot him in his tracks thar'll + be white men enough in Injin Springs to ride this high-toned, pizenous + hypocrit on a rail outer the settlement!” + </p> + <p> + “That's so!” said Uncle Ben musingly, after a thoughtful pause, in which + he still seemed to be more occupied with the broken desk than his + companion's remark. Then he went on cautiously: “And ez this thing orter + be worked mighty fine, Seth, p'r'aps, on the hull, you'd better let me + have them papers.” + </p> + <p> + “What! YOU?” snarled Seth, drawing back with a glance of angry suspicion; + “not if I know it!” + </p> + <p> + “Seth,” said Uncle Ben, resting his elbows on the desk confidentially, and + speaking with painful and heavy deliberation, “when you first interdoosed + this yer subject you elluded to my hevin', so to speak, rights o' + preemption and interference with this young lady, and that in your + opinion, I wasn't purtectin' them rights. It 'pears to me that, allowin' + that to be gospel truth, them ther papers orter be in MY possession—you + hevin' so to speak no rights to purtect, bein' off the board with this yer + young lady, and bein' moved gin'rally by free and independent cussedness. + And ez I sed afore, this sort o' thing havin' to be worked mighty fine, + and them papers manniperlated with judgment, I reckon, Seth, if you don't + objeck, I'll hev—hev—to trouble you.” + </p> + <p> + Seth started to his feet with a rapid glance at the door, but Uncle Ben + had risen again with the same alarming expression of completely filling + the darkened school-room, and of shaking the floor beneath him at the + slightest movement. Already he fancied he saw Uncle Ben's powerful arm + hovering above him ready to descend. It suddenly occurred to him that if + he left the execution of his scheme of exposure and vengeance to Uncle + Ben, the onus of stealing the letters would fall equally upon their + possessor. This advantage seemed more probable than the danger of Uncle + Ben's weakly yielding them up to the master. In the latter case he, Seth, + could still circulate the report of having seen the letters which Uncle + Ben had himself stolen in a fit of jealousy—a hypothesis the more + readily accepted from the latter's familiar knowledge of the schoolhouse + and his presumed ambitious jealousy of Cressy in his present attitude as a + man of position. With affected reluctance and hesitation he put his hand + to his breast-pocket. + </p> + <p> + “Of course,” he said, “if you're kalkilatin' to take up the quar'll on + YOUR rights, and ez Cressy ain't anythin' more to me, YOU orter hev the + proofs. Only don't trust them into that hound's hands. Once he gets 'em + again he'll secure a warrant agin you for stealin'. That'll be his game. + I'd show 'em to HER first—don't ye see?—and I reckon ef she's + old Ma'am McKinstry's darter, she'll make it lively for him.” + </p> + <p> + He handed the letters to the looming figure before him. It seemed to + become again a yielding mortal, and said in a hesitating voice, “P'r'aps + you'd better make tracks outer this, Seth, and leave me yer to put things + to rights and fix up that door and the desk agin to-morrow mornin'. He'd + better not know it to onct, and so start a row about bein' broken into.” + </p> + <p> + The proposition seemed to please Seth; he even extended his hand in the + darkness. But he met only an irresponsive void. With a slight shrug of his + shoulders and a grunting farewell, he felt his way to the door and + disappeared. For a few moments it seemed as if Uncle Ben had also deserted + the schoolhouse, so profound and quiet was the hush that fell upon it. But + as the eye became accustomed to the shadow a grayish bulk appeared to grow + out of it over the master's desk and shaped itself into the broad figure + of Uncle Ben. Later, when the moon rose and looked in at the window, it + saw him as the master had seen him on the first day he had begun his + lessons in the school-house, with his face bent forward over the desk and + the same look of child-like perplexity and struggle that he had worn at + his allotted task. Unheroic, ridiculous, and no doubt blundering and + idiotic as then, but still vaguely persistent in his thought, he remained + for some moments in this attitude. Then rising and taking advantage of the + moonlight that flooded the desk, he set himself to mend the broken lock + with a large mechanical clasp-knife he produced from his pocket, and the + aid of his workmanlike thumb and finger. Presently he began to whistle + softly, at first a little artificially and with relapses of reflective + silence. The lock of the desk restored, he secured into position again + that part of the door-lock which he had burst off in his entrance. This + done, he closed the door gently and once more stepped out into the moonlit + clearing. In replacing his knife in his pocket he took out the letters + which he had not touched since they were handed to him in the darkness. + His first glance at the handwriting caused him to stop. Then still staring + at it, he began to move slowly and automatically backwards to the porch. + When he reached it he sat down, unfolded the letter, and without + attempting to read it, turned its pages over and over with the + unfamiliarity of an illiterate man in search of the signature. This when + found apparently plunged him again into motionless abstraction. Only once + he changed his position to pull up the legs of his trousers, open his + knees, and extend the distance between his feet, and then with the + unfolded pages carefully laid in the moonlit space thus opened before him, + regarded them with dubious speculation. At the end of ten minutes he rose + with a sigh of physical and mental relaxation, refolded the letter, put it + in his pocket, and made his way to the town. + </p> + <p> + When he reached the hotel he turned into the bar-room, and observing that + it happened to be comparatively deserted, asked for a glass of whiskey. In + response to the barkeeper's glance of curiosity—as Uncle Ben seldom + drank, and then only as a social function with others—he explained:— + </p> + <p> + “I reckon straight whiskey is about ez good ez the next thing for blind + chills.” + </p> + <p> + The bar-keeper here interposed that in his larger medical experience he + had found the exhibition of ginger in combination with gin attended with + effect, although it was evident that in his business capacity he regarded + Uncle Ben, as a drinker, with distrust. + </p> + <p> + “Ye ain't seen Mr. Ford hanging round yer lately?” continued Uncle Ben + with laborious ease. + </p> + <p> + The bar-keeper, with his eye still scornfully fixed on his customer, but + his hands which were engaged in washing his glasses under the counter + giving him the air of humorously communicating with a hidden confederate, + had not seen the school-master that afternoon. + </p> + <p> + Uncle Ben turned away and slowly mounted the staircase to the master's + room. After a moment's pause on the landing, which must have been + painfully obvious to any one who heard his heavy ascent, he gave two timid + raps on the door which were equally ridiculous in contrast with his + powerful tread. The door was opened promptly by the master. + </p> + <p> + “Oh, it's you, is it?” he said shortly. “Come in.” + </p> + <p> + Uncle Ben entered without noticing the somewhat ungracious form of + invitation. “It war me,” he said, “dropped in, not finding ye downstairs. + Let's have a drink.” + </p> + <p> + The master gazed at Uncle Ben, who, owing to his abstraction, had not yet + wiped his mouth of the liquor he had imperfectly swallowed, and was in + consequence more redolent of whiskey than a confirmed toper. He rang the + bell for the desired refreshment with a slightly cynical smile. He was + satisfied that his visitor, like many others of humble position, was + succumbing to his good fortune. + </p> + <p> + “I wanted to see ye, Mr. Ford,” he began, taking an unproffered chair and + depositing his hat after some hesitation outside the door, “in regard to + what I onct told ye about my wife in Mizzouri. P'r'aps you disremember?” + </p> + <p> + “I remember,” returned the master resignedly. + </p> + <p> + “You know it was that arternoon that fool Stacey sent the sheriff and the + Harrisons over to McKinstry's barn.” + </p> + <p> + “Go on!” petulantly said the master, who had his own reasons for not + caring to recall it. + </p> + <p> + “It was that arternoon, you know, that you hadn't time to hark to me—hevin' + to go off on an engagement,” continued Uncle Ben with protracted + deliberation, “and”— + </p> + <p> + “Yes, yes, I remember,” interrupted the master exasperatedly, “and really + unless you get on faster, I'll have to leave you again.” + </p> + <p> + “It was that arternoon,” said Uncle Ben without heeding him, “when I told + you I hadn't any idea what had become o' my wife ez I left in Mizzouri.” + </p> + <p> + “Yes,” said the master sharply, “and I told you it was your bounden duty + to look for her.” + </p> + <p> + “That's so,” said Uncle Ben nodding comfortably, “them's your very words; + on'y a leetle more strong than that, ef I don't disremember. Well, I + reckon I've got an idee!” The master assumed a sudden expression of + interest, but Uncle Ben did not vary his monotonous tone. + </p> + <p> + “I kem across that idee, so to speak, on the trail. I kem across it in + some letters ez was lying wide open in the brush. I picked em up and I've + got 'em here.” + </p> + <p> + He slowly took the letters from his pocket with one hand, while he dragged + the chair on which he was sitting beside the master. But with a quick + flush of indignation Mr. Ford rose and extended his hand. + </p> + <p> + “These are MY letters, Dabney,” he said sternly, “stolen from my desk. Who + has dared to do this?” + </p> + <p> + But Uncle Ben had, as if accidentally, interposed his elbow between the + master and Seth's spoils. + </p> + <p> + “Then it's all right?” he returned deliberately. “I brought 'em here + because I thought they might give an idee where my wife was. For them + letters is in her own handwrite. You remember ez I told ez how she was a + scollard.” + </p> + <p> + The master sat back in his chair white and dumb. Incredible, + extraordinary, and utterly unlooked for as was this revelation, he felt + instinctively that it was true. + </p> + <p> + “I couldn't read it myself—ez you know. I didn't keer to ax any one + else to read it for me—you kin reckon why, too. And that's why I'm + troublin' you to-night, Mr. Ford—ez a friend.” + </p> + <p> + The master with a desperate effort recovered his voice. “It is impossible. + The lady who wrote those letters does not bear your name. More than that,” + he added with hasty irrelevance, “she is so free that she is about to be + married, as you might have read. You have made a mistake, the handwriting + may be like, but it cannot be really your wife's.” + </p> + <p> + Uncle Ben shook his head slowly. “It's her'n—there's no mistake. + When a man, Mr. Ford, hez studied that handwrite—havin', so to + speak, knowed it on'y from the OUTSIDE—from seein' it passin' like + between friends—that man's chances o' bein' mistook ain't ez great + ez the man's who on'y takes in the sense of the words that might b'long to + everybody. And her name not bein' the same ez mine, don't foller. Ef she + got a divorce she'd take her old gal's name—the name of her + fammerly. And that would seem to allow she DID get a divorce. What mowt + she hev called herself when she writ this?” + </p> + <p> + The master saw his opportunity and rose to it with a chivalrous + indignation, that for the moment imposed even upon himself. “I decline to + answer that question,” he said angrily. “I refuse to allow the name of any + woman who honors me with her confidence to be dragged into the infamous + outrage that has been committed upon me and common decency. And I shall + hold the thief and scoundrel—whoever he may be—answerable to + myself in the absence of her natural protector.” + </p> + <p> + Uncle Ben surveyed the hero of these glittering generalities with + undisguised admiration. He extended his hand to him gravely. + </p> + <p> + “Shake! Ef another proof was wantin', Mr. Ford, of that bein' my wife's + letter,” he said, “that high-toned style of yours would settle it. For, ef + thar was one thing she DID like, it was that sort of po'try. And one + reason why her and me didn't get on, and why I skedaddled, was because it + wasn't in my line. Et's all in trainin'! On'y a man ez had the Fourth + Reader at his fingers' ends could talk like that. Bein' brought up on + Dobell—ez is nowhere—it sorter lets me outer you, ez it did + outer HER. But allowin' it ain't the square thing for YOU to mention her + name, that wouldn't be nothin' agin' MY doin' it, and callin' her, well—Lou + Price in a keerless sort o' way, eh?” + </p> + <p> + “I decline to answer further,” replied the master quickly, although his + color had changed at the name. “I decline to say another word on the + matter until this mystery is cleared up—until I know who dared to + break into my desk and steal my property, and the purpose of this + unheard-of outrage. And I demand possession of those letters at once.” + </p> + <p> + Uncle Ben without a word put them in the master's hand, to his slight + surprise, and it must be added to his faint discomfiture, nor was it + decreased when Uncle Ben added, with grave naivete and a patronizing + pressure of his hand on his shoulder,—“In course ez you're taken' it + on to yourself, and ez Lou Price ain't got no further call on ME, they + orter be yours. Ez to who got 'em outer the desk, I reckon you ain't got + no suspicion of any one spyin' round ye—hev ye?” + </p> + <p> + In an instant the recollection of Seth Davis's face at the window and the + corroboration of Rupert's warning flashed across Ford's mind. The + hypothesis that Seth had imagined that they were Cressy's letters, and had + thrown them down without reading them when he had found out his mistake, + seemed natural. For if he had read them he would undoubtedly have kept + them to show to Cressy. The complex emotions that had disturbed the master + on the discovery of Uncle Ben's relationship to the writer of the letters + were resolving themselves into a furious rage at Seth. But before he dared + revenge himself he must be first assured that Seth was ignorant of their + contents. He turned to Uncle Ben. + </p> + <p> + “I have a suspicion, but to make it certain I must ask you for the present + to say nothing of this to any one.” + </p> + <p> + Uncle Ben nodded. “And when you hev found out and you're settled in your + mind that you kin make my mind easy about this yer Lou Price, ez we'll + call her, bein' divorced squarely, and bein', so to speak, in the way o' + gettin' married agin, ye might let me know ez a friend. I reckon I won't + trouble you any more to-night—onless you and me takes another + sociable drink together in the bar. No? Well, then, good-night.” He moved + slowly towards the door. With his hand on the lock he added: “Ef yer + writin' to her agin, you might say ez how you found ME lookin' well and + comf'able, and hopin' she's enjyin' the same blessin'. 'So long.” + </p> + <p> + He disappeared, leaving the master in a hopeless collapse of conflicting, + and, it is to be feared, not very heroic emotions. The situation, which + had begun so dramatically, had become suddenly unromantically ludicrous, + without, however, losing any of its embarrassing quality. He was conscious + that he occupied the singular position of being more ridiculous than the + husband—whose invincible and complacent simplicity stung him like + the most exquisite irony. For an instant he was almost goaded into the + fury of declaring that he had broken off from the writer of the letters + forever, but its inconsistency with the chivalrous attitude he had just + taken occurred to him in time to prevent him from becoming doubly absurd. + His rage with Seth Davis seemed to him the only feeling left that was + genuine and rational, and yet, now that Uncle Ben had gone, even that had + a spurious ring. It was necessary for him to lash himself into a fury over + the hypothesis that the letters MIGHT have been Cressy's, and desecrated + by that scoundrel's touch. Perhaps he had read them and left them to be + picked up by others. He looked over them carefully to see if their meaning + would, to the ordinary reader, appear obvious and compromising. His eye + fell on the first paragraph. + </p> + <p> + “I should not be quite fair with you, Jack, if I affected to disbelieve in + your faith in your love for me and its endurance, but I should be still + more unfair if I didn't tell you what I honestly believe, that at your age + you are apt to deceive yourself, and, without knowing it, to deceive + others. You confess you have not yet decided upon your career, and you are + always looking forward so hopefully, dear Jack, for a change in the + future, but you are willing to believe that far more serious things than + that will suffer no change in the mean time. If we continued as we were, + I, who am older than you and have more experience, might learn the misery + of seeing you change towards ME as I have changed towards another, and for + the same reason. If I were sure I could keep pace with you in your dreams + and your ambition, if I were sure that I always knew WHAT they were, we + might still be happy—but I am not sure, and I dare not again risk my + happiness on an uncertainty. In coming to my present resolution I do not + look for happiness, but at least I know I shall not suffer disappointment, + nor involve others in it. I confess I am growing too old not to feel the + value to a woman—a necessity to her in this country—of + security in her present and future position. Another can give me that. And + although you may call this a selfish view of our relations, I believe that + you will soon—if you do not, even as you read this now—feel + the justice of it, and thank me for taking it.” + </p> + <p> + With a smile of scorn he tore up the letter, in what he fondly believed + was the bitterness of an outraged trustful nature, forgetting that for + many weeks he had scarcely thought of its writer, and that he himself in + his conduct had already anticipated its truths. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0012" id="link2HCH0012"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XII. + </h2> + <p> + The master awoke the next morning, albeit after a restless night, with + that clarity of conscience and perception which it is to be feared is more + often the consequence of youth and a perfect circulation than of any moral + conviction or integrity. He argued with himself that as the only party + really aggrieved in the incident of the previous night, the right of + remedy remained with him solely, and under the benign influence of an + early breakfast and the fresh morning air he was inclined to feel less + sternly even towards Seth Davis. In any event, he must first carefully + weigh the evidence against him, and examine the scene of the outrage + closely. For this purpose, he had started for the school-house fully an + hour before his usual time. He was even light-hearted enough to recognize + the humorous aspect of Uncle Ben's appeal to him, and his own ludicrously + paradoxical attitude, and as he at last passed from the dreary flat into + the fringe of upland pines, he was smiling. Well for him, perhaps, that he + was no more affected by any premonition of the day before him than the + lately awakened birds that lightly cut the still sleeping woods around him + in their long flashing sabre-curves of flight. A yellow-throat, destined + to become the breakfast of a lazy hawk still swinging above the river, was + especially moved to such a causeless and idiotic roulade of mirth that the + master listening to the foolish bird was fain to whistle too. He presently + stopped, however, with a slight embarrassment. For a few paces before him + Cressy had unexpectedly appeared. + </p> + <p> + She had evidently been watching for him. But not with her usual indolent + confidence. There was a strained look of the muscles of her mouth, as of + some past repression, and a shaded hollow under her temples beneath the + blonde rings of her shorter hair. Her habitually slow, steady eye was + troubled, and she cast a furtive glance around her before she searched him + with her glance. Without knowing why, yet vaguely fearing that he did, he + became still more embarrassed, and in the very egotism of awkwardness, + stammered without a further salutation: “A disgraceful thing has happened + last night, and I'm up early to find the perpetrator. My desk was broken + into, and”— + </p> + <p> + “I know it,” she interrupted, with a half-impatient, half uneasy putting + away of the subject with her little hand—“there—don't go all + over it again. Paw and Maw have been at me about it all night—ever + since those Harrisons in their anxiousness to make up their quarrel, + rushed over with the news. I'm tired of it!” + </p> + <p> + For an instant he was staggered. How much had she learned! With the same + awkward indirectness, he said vaguely, “But it might have been YOUR + letters, you know?” + </p> + <p> + “But it wasn't,” she said, simply. “It OUGHT to have been. I wish it had”—She + stopped, and again regarded him with a strange expression. “Well,” she + said slowly, “what are you going to do?” + </p> + <p> + “To find out the scoundrel who has done this,” he said firmly, “and punish + him as he deserves.” + </p> + <p> + The almost imperceptible shrug that had raised her shoulders gave way as + she regarded him with a look of wearied compassion. + </p> + <p> + “No,” she said, gravely, “you cannot. They're too many for you. You must + go away, at once.” + </p> + <p> + “Never,” he said indignantly. “Even if it were not a cowardice. It would + be more—a confession!” + </p> + <p> + “Not more than they already know,” she said wearily. “But, I tell you, you + MUST go. I have sneaked out of the house and run here all the way to warn + you. If you—you care for me, Jack—you will go.” + </p> + <p> + “I should be a traitor to you if I did,” he said quickly. “I shall stay.” + </p> + <p> + “But if—if—Jack—if”—she drew nearer him with a + new-found timidity, and then suddenly placed her two hands upon his + shoulders: “If—if—Jack—I were to go with you?” + </p> + <p> + The old rapt, eager look of possession had come back to her face now; her + lips were softly parted. Yet even then she seemed to be waiting some reply + more potent than that syllabled on the lips of the man before her. + </p> + <p> + Howbeit that was the only response. “Darling,” he said kissing her, “but + wouldn't that justify them”— + </p> + <p> + “Stop,” she said suddenly. Then putting her hand over his mouth, she + continued with the same half-weary expression: “Don't let us go over all + that again either. It is SO tiresome. Listen, dear. You'll do one or two + little things for me—won't you, dandy boy? Don't linger long at the + school-house after lessons. Go right home! Don't look after these men + TO-DAY—to-morrow, Saturday, is your holiday—you know—and + you'll have more time. Keep to yourself to-day as much as you can, dear, + for twelve hours—until—until—you hear from me, you know. + It will be all right then,” she added, lifting her eyelids with a sudden + odd resemblance to her father's look of drowsy pain, which Ford had never + noticed before. “Promise me that, dear, won't you?” + </p> + <p> + With a mental reservation he promised hurriedly—preoccupied in his + wonder why she seemed to avoid his explanation, in his desire to know what + had happened, in the pride that had kept him from asking more or + volunteering a defence, and in his still haunting sense of having been + wronged. Yet he could not help saying as he caught and held her hand:— + </p> + <p> + “YOU have not doubted me, Cressy? YOU have not allowed this infamous + raking up of things that are past and gone to alter your feelings?” + </p> + <p> + She looked at him abstractedly. “You think it might alter ANYBODY'S + feelings, then?” + </p> + <p> + “Nobody's who really loved another”—he stammered. + </p> + <p> + “Don't let us talk of it any more,” she said suddenly stretching out her + arms, lifting them above her head with a wearied gesture, and then letting + them fall clasped before her in her old habitual fashion. “It makes my + head ache; what with Paw and Maw and the rest of them—I'm sick of it + all.” + </p> + <p> + She turned away as Ford drew back coldly and let her hand fall from his + arm. She took a few steps forward, stopped, ran back to him again, crushed + his face and head in a close embrace, and then seemed to dip like a bird + into the tall bracken, and was gone. + </p> + <p> + The master stood for some moments chagrined and bewildered; it was + characteristic of his temperament that he had paid less heed to what she + told him than what he IMAGINED had passed between her mother and herself. + She was naturally jealous of the letters—he could forgive her for + that; she had doubtless been twitted about them, but he could easily + explain them to her parents—as he would have done to her. But he was + not such a fool as to elope with her at such a moment, without first + clearing his character—and knowing more of hers. And it was equally + characteristic of him that in his sense of injury he confounded her with + the writer of the letters—as sympathizing with his correspondent in + her estimate of his character, and was quite carried away with the belief + that he was equally wronged by both. + </p> + <p> + It was not until he reached the schoolhouse that the evidences of last + night's outrage for a time distracted his mind from his singular + interview. He was struck with the workmanlike manner in which the locks + had been restored, and the care that had evidently been taken to remove + the more obvious and brutal traces of burglary. This somewhat staggered + his theory that Seth Davis was the perpetrator; mechanical skill and + thoughtfulness were not among the lout's characteristics. But he was still + more disconcerted on pushing back his chair to find a small india-rubber + tobacco pouch lying beneath it. The master instantly recognized it: he had + seen it a hundred times before—it was Uncle Ben's. It was not there + when he had closed the room yesterday afternoon. Either Uncle Ben had been + there last night, or had anticipated him this morning. But in the latter + case he would scarcely have overlooked his fallen property—that, in + the darkness of the night, might have readily escaped detection. His brow + darkened with a sudden conviction that it was Uncle Ben who was the real + and only offender, and that his simplicity of the previous night was part + of his deception. A sickening sense that he had been again duped—but + why or to what purpose he hardly dared to think—overcame him. Who + among these strange people could he ever again trust? After the fashion of + more elevated individuals, he had accepted the respect and kindness of + those he believed his inferiors as a natural tribute to his own + superiority; any change in THEIR feelings must therefore be hypocrisy or + disloyalty; it never occurred to him that HE might have fallen below their + standard. + </p> + <p> + The arrival of the children and the resumption of his duties for a time + diverted him. But although the morning's exercise restored the master's + self-confidence, it cannot be said to have improved his judgment. + Disdaining to question Rupert Filgee, as the possible confidant of Uncle + Ben, he answered the curious inquiries of the children as to the broken + doorlock with the remark that it was a matter that he should have to bring + before the Trustees of the Board, and by the time that school was over and + the pupils dismissed he had quite resolved upon this formal disposition of + it. In spite of Cressy's warning—rather because of it—in the + new attitude he had taken towards her and her friends, he lingered in the + school-house until late. He had occupied himself in drawing up a statement + of the facts, with an intimation that his continuance in the school would + depend upon a rigid investigation of the circumstances, when he was + aroused by the clatter of horses' hoofs. The next moment the school-house + was surrounded by a dozen men. + </p> + <p> + He looked up; half of them dismounted and entered the room. The other half + remained outside darkening the windows with their motionless figures. Each + man carried a gun before him on the saddle; each man wore a rude mask of + black cloth partly covering his face. + </p> + <p> + Although the master was instinctively aware that he was threatened by + serious danger, he was far from being impressed by the arms and disguise + of his mysterious intruders. On the contrary, the obvious and glaring + inconsistency of this cheaply theatrical invasion of the peaceful + school-house; of this opposition of menacing figures to the scattered + childish primers and text-books that still lay on the desks around him, + only extracted from him a half scornful smile as he coolly regarded them. + The fearlessness of ignorance is often as unassailable as the most + experienced valor, and the awe-inspiring invaders were at first + embarrassed and then humanly angry. A lank figure to the right made a + forward movement of impotent rage, but was checked by the evident leader + of the party. + </p> + <p> + “Ef he likes to take it that way, there ain't no Regulators law agin it, I + reckon,” he said, in a voice which the master instantly recognized as Jim + Harrison's, “though ez a gin'ral thing they don't usually find it FUN.” + Then turning to the master he added, “Mister Ford, ef that's the name you + go by everywhere, we're wantin' a man about your size.” + </p> + <p> + Ford knew that he was in hopeless peril. He knew that he was physically + defenceless and at the mercy of twelve armed and lawless men. But he + retained a preternatural clearness of perception, and audacity born of + unqualified scorn for his antagonists, with a feminine sharpness of + tongue. In a voice which astonished even himself by its contemptuous + distinctness, he said: “My name IS Ford, but as I only SUPPOSE your name + is Harrison perhaps you'll be fair enough to take that rag from your face + and show it to me like a man.” + </p> + <p> + The man removed the mask from his face with a slight laugh. + </p> + <p> + “Thank you,” said Ford. “Now, perhaps you will tell me which one of you + gentlemen broke into the school-house, forced the lock of my desk, and + stole my papers. If he is here I wish to tell him he is not only a thief, + but a cur and a coward, for the letters are a woman's—whom he + neither knows nor has the right to know.” + </p> + <p> + If he had hoped to force a personal quarrel and trust his life to the + chance of a single antagonist, he was disappointed, for although his + unexpected attitude had produced some effect among the group, and even + attracted the attention of the men at the windows, Harrison strode + deliberately towards him. + </p> + <p> + “That kin wait,” he said; “jest now we propose to take you and your + letters and drop 'em and you outer this yer township of Injin Springs. You + kin take 'em back to the woman or critter you got 'em of. But we kalkilate + you're a little too handy and free in them sorter things to teach school + round yer, and we kinder allow we don't keer to hev our gals and boys + eddicated up to your high-toned standard. So ef you choose to kem along + easy we'll mak' you comf'ble on a hoss we've got waitin' outside, an' + escort you across the line. Ef you don't—we'll take you anyway.” + </p> + <p> + The master cast a rapid glance around him. In his quickness of perception + he had already noted that the led horse among the cavalcade was fastened + by a lariat to one of the riders so that escape by flight was impossible, + and that he had not a single weapon to defend himself with or even + provoke, in his desperation, the struggle that could forestall ignominy by + death. Nothing was left him but his voice, clear and trenchant as he faced + them. + </p> + <p> + “You are twelve to one,” he said calmly, “but if there is a single man + among you who dare step forward and accuse me of what you only TOGETHER + dare do, I will tell him he is a liar and a coward, and stand here ready + to make it good against him. You come here as judge and jury condemning me + without trial, and confronting me with no accusers; you come here as + lawless avengers of your honor, and you dare not give ME the privilege of + as lawlessly defending my own.” + </p> + <p> + There was another slight murmur among the men, but the leader moved + impatiently forward. “We've had enough o' your preachin': we want YOU,” he + said roughly. “Come.” + </p> + <p> + “Stop,” said a dull voice. + </p> + <p> + It came from a mute figure which had remained motionless among the others. + Every eye was turned upon it as it rose and lazily pushed the cloth from + its face. + </p> + <p> + “Hiram McKinstry!” said the others in mingled tones of astonishment and + suspicion. + </p> + <p> + “That's me!” said McKinstry, coming forward with heavy deliberation. “I + joined this yer delegation at the crossroads instead o' my brother, who + had the call. I reckon et's all the same—or mebbe better. For I + perpose to take this yer gentleman off your hands.” + </p> + <p> + He lifted his slumbrous eyes for the first time to the master, and at the + same time put himself between him and Harrison. “I perpose,” he continued, + “to take him at his word; I perpose ter give him a chance to answer with a + gun. And ez I reckon, by all accounts, there's no man yer ez hez a better + right than ME, I perpose to be the man to put that question to him in the + same way. Et may not suit some gents,” he continued slowly, facing an + angry exclamation from the lank figure behind him, “ez would prefer to hev + eleven men to take up THEIR private quo'lls, but even then I reckon that + the man who is the most injured hez the right to the first say and that + man's ME.” + </p> + <p> + With a careful deliberation that had a double significance to the + malcontents, he handed his own rifle to the master and without looking at + him continued: “I reckon, sir, you've seen that afore, but ef it ain't + quite to your hand, any of those gents, I kalkilate, will be high-toned + enuff to giv you the chyce o' theirs. And there's no need o' trapsin' + beyon' the township lines, to fix this yer affair; I perpose to do it in + ten minutes in the brush yonder.” + </p> + <p> + Whatever might have been the feelings and intentions of the men around + him, the precedence of McKinstry's right to the duello was a principle too + deeply rooted in their traditions to deny; if any resistance to it had + been contemplated by some of them, the fact that the master was now armed, + and that Mr. McKinstry would quickly do battle at his side with a revolver + in defence of his rights, checked any expression. They silently drew back + as the master and McKinstry slowly passed out of the school-house + together, and then followed in their rear. In that interval the master + turned to McKinstry and said in a low voice: “I accept your challenge and + thank you for it. You have never done me a greater kindness—whatever + I have done to YOU—yet I want you to believe that neither now nor + THEN—I meant you any harm.” + </p> + <p> + “Ef you mean by that, sir, that ye reckon ye won't return my fire, ye're + blind and wrong. For it will do you no good with them,” he said with a + significant wave of his crippled hand towards the following crowd, “nor me + neither.” + </p> + <p> + Firmly resolved, however, that he would not fire at McKinstry, and + clinging blindly to this which he believed was the last idea of his + foolish life, he continued on without another word until they reached the + open strip of chemisal that flanked the clearing. + </p> + <p> + The rude preliminaries were soon settled. The parties armed with rifles + were to fire at the word from a distance of eighty yards, and then + approach each other, continuing the fight with revolvers until one or the + other fell. The selection of seconds was effected by the elder Harrison + acting for McKinstry, and after a moment's delay by the volunteering of + the long, lank figure previously noted to act for the master. Preoccupied + by other thoughts, Mr. Ford paid little heed to his self-elected + supporter, who to the others seemed to be only taking that method of + showing his contempt for McKinstry's recent insult. The master received + the rifle mechanically from his hand and walked to position. He noticed, + however, and remembered afterwards that his second was half hidden by the + trunk of a large pine to his right that marked the limit of the ground. + </p> + <p> + In that supreme moment it must be recorded, albeit against all + preconceived theory, that he did NOT review his past life, was NOT + illuminated by a flash of remorseful or sentimental memory, and did NOT + commend his soul to his Maker, but that he was simply and keenly alive to + the very actual present in which he still existed and to his one idea of + not firing at his adversary. And if anything could render his conduct more + theoretically incorrect it was a certain exalted sense that he was doing + quite right and was not only NOT a bad sort of fellow, but one whom his + survivors might possibly regret! + </p> + <p> + “Are you ready, gentlemen? One—two—three—fi . . . !” + </p> + <p> + The explosions were singularly simultaneous—so remarkable in fact + that it seemed to the master that his rifle, fired in the air, had given a + DOUBLE report. A light wreath of smoke lay between him and his opponent. + He was unhurt—so evidently was his adversary, for the voice rose + again. + </p> + <p> + “Advance! . . . Hallo there! Stop!” + </p> + <p> + He looked up quickly to see McKinstry stagger and then fall heavily to the + ground. + </p> + <p> + With an exclamation of horror, the first and only terrible emotion he had + felt, he ran to the fallen man, as Harrison reached his side at the same + moment. + </p> + <p> + “For God's sake,” he said wildly, throwing himself on his knees beside + McKinstry, “what has happened? For I swear to you, I never aimed at you! I + fired in the air. Speak! Tell him, you,” he turned with a despairing + appeal to Harrison, “you must have seen it all—tell him it was not + me!” + </p> + <p> + A half wondering, half incredulous smile passed quickly over Harrison's + face. “In course you didn't MEAN it,” he said dryly, “but let that slide. + Get up and get away from yer, while you kin,” he added impatiently, with a + significant glance at one or two men who lingered after the sudden and + general dispersion of the crowd at McKinstry's fall. “Get—will ye!” + </p> + <p> + “Never!” said the young man passionately, “until he knows that it was not + my hand that fired that shot.” + </p> + <p> + McKinstry painfully struggled to his elbow. “It took me yere,” he said + with a slow deliberation, as if answering some previous question, and + pointing to his hip, “and it kinder let me down when I started forward at + the second call.” + </p> + <p> + “But it was not I who did it, McKinstry, I swear it. Hear me! For God's + sake, say you believe me.” + </p> + <p> + McKinstry turned his drowsy troubled eyes upon the master as if he were + vaguely recalling something. “Stand back thar a minit, will ye,” he said + to Harrison, with a languid wave of his crippled hand; “I want ter speak + to this yer man.” + </p> + <p> + Harrison drew back a few paces and the master sought to take the wounded + man's hand, but he was stopped by a gesture. “Where hev you put Cressy?” + McKinstry said slowly. + </p> + <p> + “I don't understand you,” stammered Ford. + </p> + <p> + “Where are you hidin' her from me?” repeated McKinstry with painful + distinctness. “Whar hev you run her to, that you're reckonin' to jine her + arter—arter—THIS?” + </p> + <p> + “I am not hiding her! I am not going to her! I do not know where she is. I + have not seen her since we parted early this morning without a word of + meeting again,” said the master rapidly, yet with a bewildered + astonishment that was obvious even to the dulled faculties of his hearer. + </p> + <p> + “That war true?” asked McKinstry, laying his hand upon the master's + shoulder and bringing his dull eyes to the level of the young man's. + </p> + <p> + “It is the whole truth,” said Ford fervently, “and true also that I never + raised my hand against you.” + </p> + <p> + McKinstry beckoned to Harrison and the two others who had joined him, and + then sank partly back with his hand upon his side, where the slow + empurpling of his red shirt showed the slight ooze of a deeply-seated + wound. + </p> + <p> + “You fellers kin take me over to the ranch,” he said calmly, “and let + him,” pointing to Ford, “ride your best hoss fer the doctor. I don't,” he + continued in grave explanation, “gin'rally use a doctor, but this yer is + suthin' outside the old woman's regular gait.” He paused, and then drawing + the master's head down towards him, he added in his ear, “When I get to + hev a look at the size and shape o' this yer ball that's in my hip, I'll—I'll—I'll—be—a—little + more kam!” A gleam of dull significance struggled into his eye. The master + evidently understood him, for he rose quickly, ran to the horse, mounted + him and dashed off for medical assistance, while McKinstry, closing his + heavy lids, anticipated this looked-for calm by fainting gently away. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0013" id="link2HCH0013"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XIII. + </h2> + <p> + Of the various sentimental fallacies entertained by adult humanity in + regard to childhood, none are more ingeniously inaccurate and gratuitously + idiotic than a comfortable belief in its profound ignorance of the events + in which it daily moves, and the motives and characters of the people who + surround it. Yet even the occasional revelations of an enfant terrible are + as nothing compared to the perilous secrets which a discreet infant daily + buttons up, or secures with a hook-and-eye, or even fastens with a + safety-pin across its gentle bosom. Society can never cease to be grateful + for that tact and consideration—qualities more often joined with + childish intuition and perception than with matured observation—that + they owe to it; and the most accomplished man or woman of the great world + might take a lesson from this little audience who receive from their lips + the lie they feel too palpable, with round-eyed complacency, or outwardly + accept as moral and genuine the hollow sentiment they have overheard + rehearsed in private for their benefit. + </p> + <p> + It was not strange therefore that the little people of the Indian Spring + school knew perhaps more of the real relations of Cressy McKinstry to her + admirers than the admirers themselves. Not that this knowledge was + outspoken—for children rarely gossip in the grown-up sense—or + even communicable by words intelligent to the matured intellect. A + whisper, a laugh that often seemed vague and unmeaning, conveyed to each + other a world of secret significance, and an apparently senseless burst of + merriment in which the whole class joined and that the adult critic set + down to “animal spirits”—a quality much more rare with children than + generally supposed—was only a sympathetic expression of some + discovery happily oblivious to older preoccupation. The childish + simplicity of Uncle Ben perhaps appealed more strongly to their sympathy, + and although, for that very reason, they regarded him with no more respect + than they did each other, he was at times carelessly admitted to their + confidence. It was especially Rupert Filgee who extended a kind of + patronizing protectorate over him—not unmixed with doubts of his + sanity, in spite of the promised confidential clerkship he was to receive + from his hands. + </p> + <p> + On the day of the events chronicled in the preceding chapter, Rupert on + returning from school was somewhat surprised to find Uncle Ben perched + upon the rail-fence before the humble door of the Filgee mansion and + evidently awaiting him. Slowly dismounting as Rupert and Johnny + approached, he beamed upon the former for some moments with arch and yet + affable mystery. + </p> + <p> + “Roopy, old man, I s'pose ye've got yer duds all ready in yer pack, eh?” + </p> + <p> + A flush of pleasure passed over the boy's handsome face. He cast, however, + a hurried look down on the all-pervading Johnny. + </p> + <p> + “'Cause ye see we kalkilate to take the down stage to Sacramento at four + o'clock,” continued Uncle Ben, enjoying Rupert's half sceptical surprise. + “Ye enter into office, so to speak, with me at that hour, when the + sellery, seventy-five dollars a month and board, ez private and + confidential clerk, begins—eh?” + </p> + <p> + Rupert's dimples deepened in charming, almost feminine, embarrassment. + “But dad—?” he stammered. + </p> + <p> + “Et's all right with HIM. He's agreeable.” + </p> + <p> + “But—?” + </p> + <p> + Uncle Ben followed Rupert's glance at Johnny, who however appeared to be + absorbed in the pattern of Uncle Ben's new trousers. + </p> + <p> + “That's fixed,” he said with a meaning smile. “There's a sort o' bonus we + pays down, you know—for a Chinyman to do the odd jobs.” + </p> + <p> + “And teacher—Mr. Ford—did ye tell him?” said Rupert + brightening. + </p> + <p> + Uncle Ben coughed slightly. “He's agreeable, too, I reckon. That is,” he + wiped his mouth meditatively, “he ez good ez allowed it in gin'ral + conversation a week ago, Roop.” + </p> + <p> + A swift shadow of suspicion darkened the boy's brown eyes. “Is anybody + else goin' with us?” he said quickly. + </p> + <p> + “Not this yer trip,” replied Uncle Ben complacently. “Ye see, Roop,” he + continued, drawing him aside with an air of comfortable mystery, “this yer + biz'ness b'longs to the private and confidential branch of the office. + From informashun we've received”— + </p> + <p> + “WE?” interrupted Rupert. + </p> + <p> + “'We,' that's the OFFICE, you know,” continued Uncle Ben with a heavy + assumption of business formality, “wot we've received per several hands + and consignee—we—that's YOU and ME, Roop—we goes down to + Sacramento to inquire into the standin' of a certing party, as per + invoice, and ter see—ter see—ter negotiate you know, ter find + out if she's married or di-vorced,” he concluded quickly, as if abandoning + for the moment his business manner in consideration of Rupert's + inexperience. “We're to find out her standin', Roop,” he began again with + a more judicious blending of ease and technicality, “and her contracts, if + any, and where she lives and her way o' life, and examine her books and + papers ez to marriages and sich, and arbitrate with her gin'rally in + conversation—you inside the house and me out on the pavement, ready + to be called in if an interview with business principals is desired.” + </p> + <p> + Observing Rupert somewhat perplexed and confused with these + technicalities, he tactfully abandoned them for the present, and + consulting a pocket-book said, “I've made a memorandum of some pints that + we'll talk over on the journey,” again charged Rupert to be punctually at + the stage office with his carpetbag, and cheerfully departed. + </p> + <p> + When he had disappeared Johnny Filgee, without a single word of + explanation, fell upon his brother, and at once began a violent attack of + kicks and blows upon his legs and other easily accessible parts of his + person, accompanying his assault with unintelligible gasps and actions, + finally culminating in a flood of tears and the casting of himself on his + back in the dust with the copper-fastened toes of his small boots turning + imaginary wheels in the air. Rupert received these characteristic marks of + despairing and outraged affection with great forbearance, only saying, + “There, now, Johnny, quit that,” and eventually bearing him still + struggling into the house. Here Johnny, declaring that he would kill any + “Chinyman” that offered to dress him, and burn down the house after his + brother's infamous desertion of it, Rupert was constrained to mingle a few + nervous, excited tears with his brother's outbreak. Whereat Johnny, + admitting the alleviation of an orange, a four-bladed knife, and the + reversionary interest in much of Rupert's personal property, became more + subdued. Sitting there with their arms entwined about each other, the + sunlight searching the shiftless desolation of their motherless home, the + few cheap playthings they had known lying around them, they beguiled + themselves with those charming illusions of their future intentions common + to their years—illusions they only half believed themselves and half + accepted of each other. Rupert was quite certain that he would return in a + few days with a gold watch and a present for Johnny, and Johnny, with a + baleful vision of never seeing him again, and a catching breath, + magnificently undertook to bring in the wood and build the fire and wash + the dishes “all of himself.” And then there were a few childish + confidences regarding their absent father—then ingenuously playing + poker in the Magnolia Saloon—that might have made that + public-spirited, genial companion somewhat uncomfortable, and more tears + that were half smiling and some brave silences that were wholly pathetic, + and then the hour for Rupert's departure all too suddenly arrived. They + separated with ostentatious whooping, and then Johnny, suddenly overcome + with the dreadfulness of all earthly things, and the hollowness of life + generally, instantly resolved to run away! + </p> + <p> + To do this he prepared himself with a purposeless hatchet, an inconsistent + but long-treasured lump of putty and all the sugar that was left in the + cracked sugar-bowl. Thus accoutred he sallied forth, first to remove all + traces of his hated existence that might be left in his desk at school. If + the master were there he would say Rupert had sent him; if he wasn't, he + would climb in at the window. The sun was already sinking when he reached + the clearing and found a cavalcade of armed men around the building. + </p> + <p> + Johnny's first conviction was that the master had killed Uncle Ben or + Masters, and that the men, taking advantage of the absence of his—Johnny's—big + brother, were about to summarily execute him. Observing no struggle from + within, his second belief was that the master had been suddenly elected + Governor of California and was about to start with a state escort from the + school-house, and that he, Johnny, was in time to see the procession. But + when the master appeared with McKinstry, followed by part of the crowd + afoot, this quick-witted child of the frontier, from his secure outlook in + the “brush,” gathered enough from their fragmentary speech to guess the + serious purport of their errand, and thrill with anticipation and slightly + creepy excitement. + </p> + <p> + A duel! A thing hitherto witnessed only by grown-up men, afterwards + swaggering with importance and strange technical bloodthirsty words, and + now for the first time reserved for a BOY—and that boy him, Johnny!—to + behold in all its fearful completeness! A duel! of which, he, Johnny, + meanly abandoned by his brother, was now exalted perhaps to be the only + survivor! He could scarcely credit his senses. It was too much! + </p> + <p> + To creep through the brush while the preliminaries were being settled, + reach a certain silver fir on the appointed ground, and with the aid of + his now lucky hatchet, climb unseen to its upper boughs, was an exciting + and difficult task, but one eventually overcome by his short but energetic + legs. Here he could not only see all that occurred, but by a fortunate + chance the large pine next to him had been selected as the limit of the + ground. The sharp eyes of the boy had long since penetrated the disguises + of the remaining masked men, and when the long, lank figure of the + master's self-appointed second took up its position beneath the pines in + full view of him, although hidden from the spectators, Johnny instantly + recognized it to be none other than Seth Davis. The manifest inconsistency + of his appearance as Mr. Ford's second with what Johnny knew of his + relations to the master was the one thing that firmly fixed the incident + in the boy's memory. + </p> + <p> + The men were already in position. Harrison stepped forward to give the + word. Johnny's down-hanging legs tingled with cramp and excitement. Why + didn't they begin? What were they waiting for? What if it were + interrupted, or—terrible thought—made up at the last moment? + Would they “holler” out when they were hit, or stagger round convulsively + as they did at the “cirkiss”? Would they all run away afterwards and leave + Johnny alone to tell the tale? And—horrible thought!—would any + body believe him? Would Rupert? Rupert, had he “on'y knowed this,” he + wouldn't have gone away. + </p> + <p> + “One”— + </p> + <p> + With a child's perfect faith in the invulnerable superiority of his + friends, he had not even looked at the master, but only at his destined + victim. Yet as the word “two” rang out Johnny's attention was suddenly + attracted to the surprising fact that the master's second, Seth Davis, had + also drawn a pistol, and from behind his tree was deliberately and + stealthily aiming at McKinstry! He understood it all now—he was a + friend of the master's. Bully for Seth! + </p> + <p> + “Three!” + </p> + <p> + Crack! Z-i-i-p! Crackle! What a funny noise! And yet he was obliged to + throw himself flat upon the bough to keep from falling. It seemed to have + snapped beneath him and benumbed his right leg. He did not know that the + master's bullet, fired in the air, had ranged along the bough, stripping + the bark throughout its length, and glancing with half-spent force to + inflict a slight flesh wound on his leg! + </p> + <p> + He was giddy and a little frightened. And he had seen nobody hit, nor + nothin'. It was all a humbug! Seth had disappeared. So had the others. + There was a faint sound of voices and something like a group in the + distance—that was all. It was getting dark, too, and his leg was + still asleep, but warm and wet. He would get down. This was very + difficult, for his leg would not wake up, and but for the occasional + support he got by striking his hatchet in the tree he would have fallen in + descending. When he reached the ground his leg began to pain, and looking + down he saw that his stocking and shoe were soaked with blood. + </p> + <p> + His small and dirty handkerchief, a hard wad in his pocket, was + insufficient to staunch the flow. With a vague recollection of a certain + poultice applied to a boil on his father's neck, he collected a quantity + of soft moss and dried yerba buena leaves, and with the aid of his check + apron and of one of his torn suspenders tightly wound round the whole + mass, achieved a bandage of such elephantine proportions that he could + scarcely move with it. In fact, like most imaginative children, he became + slightly terrified at his own alarming precautions. Nevertheless, although + a word or an outcry from him would have at that moment brought the distant + group to his assistance, a certain respect to himself and his brother kept + him from uttering even a whimper of weakness. + </p> + <p> + Yet he found refuge, oddly enough, in a suppressed but bitter denunciation + of the other boys of his acquaintance. What was Cal. Harrison doing, while + he, Johnny, was alone in the woods, wounded in a grown-up duel—for + nothing would convince this doughty infant that he had not been an active + participant? Where was Jimmy Snyder that he didn't come to his assistance + with the other fellers? Cowards all; they were afraid. Ho, ho! And he, + Johnny, wasn't afraid! ho—he didn't mind it! Nevertheless he had to + repeat the phrase two or three times until, after repeated struggles to + move forward through the brush, he at last sank down exhausted. By this + time the distant group had slowly moved away, carrying something between + them, and leaving Johnny alone in the fast coming darkness. Yet even this + desertion did not affect him as strongly as his implicit belief in the + cowardly treachery of his old associates. + </p> + <p> + It grew darker and darker, until the open theatre of the late conflict + appeared enclosed in funereal walls; a cool searching breath of air that + seemed to have crept through the bracken and undergrowth like a stealthy + animal, lifted the curls on his hot forehead. He grasped his hatchet + firmly as against possible wild beasts, and as a medicinal and remedial + precaution, took another turn with his suspender around his bandage. It + occurred to him then that he would probably die. They would all feel + exceedingly sorry and alarmed, and regret having made him wash himself on + Saturday night. They would attend his funeral in large numbers in the + little graveyard, where a white tombstone inscribed to “John Filgee, fell + in a duel at the age of seven,” would be awaiting him. He would forgive + his brother, his father, and Mr. Ford. Yet even then he vaguely resented a + few leaves and twigs dropped by a woodpecker in the tree above him, with a + shake of his weak fist and an incoherent declaration that they couldn't + “play no babes in the wood on HIM.” And then having composed himself he + once more turned on his side to die, as became the scion of a heroic race! + The free woods, touched by an upspringing wind, waved their dark arms + above him, and higher yet a few patient stars silently ranged themselves + around his pillow. + </p> + <p> + But with the rising wind and stars came the swift trampling of horses' + hoofs and the flashing of lanterns, and Doctor Duchesne and the master + swept down into the opening. + </p> + <p> + “It was here,” said the master quickly, “but they must have taken him on + to his own home. Let us follow.” + </p> + <p> + “Hold on a moment,” said the doctor, who had halted before the tree. + “What's all this? Why, it's baby Filgee—by thunder!” + </p> + <p> + In another moment they had both dismounted and were leaning over the half + conscious child. Johnny turned his feverishly bright eyes from the lantern + to the master and back again. + </p> + <p> + “What is it, Johnny boy?” asked the master tenderly. “Were you lost?” + </p> + <p> + With a gleam of feverish exaltation, Johnny rose, albeit wanderingly, to + the occasion! + </p> + <p> + “Hit!” he lisped feebly, “Hit in a doell! at the age of theven.” + </p> + <p> + “What!” asked the bewildered master. + </p> + <p> + But Doctor Duchesne, after a single swift scrutiny of the boy's face, had + unearthed him from his nest of leaves, laid him in his lap, and deftly + ripped away the preposterous bandage. “Hold the light here. By Jove! he + tells the truth. Who did it, Johnny?” + </p> + <p> + But Johnny was silent. In an interval of feverish consciousness and pain, + his perception and memory had been quickened; a suspicion of the real + cause of his disaster had dawned upon him—but his childish lips were + heroically sealed. The master glanced appealingly at the Doctor. + </p> + <p> + “Take him before you in the saddle to McKinstry's,” said the latter + promptly. “I can attend to both.” + </p> + <p> + The master lifted the boy tenderly in his arms. Johnny, stimulated by the + prospect of a free ride, became feebly interested in his fellow sufferer. + </p> + <p> + “Did Theth hit him bad?” he asked. + </p> + <p> + “Seth?” echoed the master, wildly. + </p> + <p> + “Yeth. I theed him when he took aim.” + </p> + <p> + The master did not reply, but the next moment Johnny felt himself clasped + in his arms in the saddle before him, borne like a whirlwind in the + direction of the McKinstry ranch. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0014" id="link2HCH0014"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XIV. + </h2> + <p> + They found the wounded man lying in the front room upon a rudely + extemporized couch of bear-skins, he having sternly declined the + effeminacy of his wife's bedroom. In the possibility of a fatal + termination to his wound, and in obedience to a grim frontier tradition, + he had also refused to have his boots removed in order that he might “die + with them on,” as became his ancestral custom. Johnny was therefore + speedily made comfortable in the McKinstry bed, while Dr. Duchesne gave + his whole attention to his more serious patient. The master glanced + hurriedly around for Mrs. McKinstry. She was not only absent from the + room, but there seemed to be no suggestion of her presence in the house. + To his greater surprise the hurried inquiry that rose to his lips was + checked by a significant warning from the attendant. He sat down beside + the now sleeping boy, and awaited the doctor's return with his mind + wandering between the condition of the little sufferer and the singular + revelation that had momentarily escaped his childish lips. If Johnny had + actually seen Seth fire at McKinstry, the latter's mysterious wound was + accounted for—but not Seth's motive. The act was so utterly + incomprehensible and inconsistent with Seth's avowed hatred of the master + that the boy must have been delirious. + </p> + <p> + He was roused by the entrance of the surgeon. “It's not so bad as I + thought,” he said, with a reassuring nod. “It was a mighty close shave + between a shattered bone and a severed artery, but we've got the ball, and + he'll pull through in a week. By Jove! though—the old fire-eater was + more concerned about finding the ball than living or dying! Go in there—he + wants to see you. Don't let him talk too much. He's called in a lot of his + friends for some reason or other—and there's a regular mass-meeting + in there. Go in, and get rid of 'em. I'll look after baby Filgee—though + the little chap will be all right again after another dressing.” + </p> + <p> + The master cast a hurried look of relief at the surgeon, and re-entered + the front room. It was filled with men whom the master instinctively + recognized as his former adversaries. But they gave way before him with a + certain rude respect and half abashed sympathy as McKinstry called him to + his side. The wounded man grasped his hand. “Lift me up a bit,” he + whispered. The master assisted him with difficulty to his elbow. + </p> + <p> + “Gentlemen!” said McKinstry, with a characteristic wave of his crippled + hand towards the crowd as he laid the other on the master's shoulder. “Ye + heerd me talkin' a minit ago; ye heer me now. This yer young man as we've + slipped up on and meskalkilated has told the truth—every time! Ye + ken tie to him whenever and wherever ye want to. Ye ain't expected to feel + ez I feel, in course, but the man ez goes back on HIM—quo'lls with + me. That's all—and thanks for inquiring friends. Ye'll git now, + boys, and leave him a minit with me.” + </p> + <p> + The men filed slowly out, a few lingering long enough to shake the + master's hand with grave earnestness, or half smiling, half abashed + embarrassment. The master received the proffered reconciliation of these + men, who but a few hours before would have lynched him with equal + sincerity, with cold bewilderment. As the door closed on the last of the + party he turned to McKinstry. The wounded man had sunk down again, but was + regarding with drowsy satisfaction a leaden bullet he was holding between + his finger and thumb. + </p> + <p> + “This yer shot, Mr. Ford,” he said in a slow voice, whose weakness was + only indicated by its extreme deliberation, “never kem from the gun I gave + ye—and was never fired by you.” He paused and then added with his + old dull abstraction, “It's a long time since I've run agin anythin' that + makes me feel more—kam.” + </p> + <p> + In Mr. McKinstry's weak condition the master did not dare to make Johnny's + revelation known to him, and contented himself by simply pressing his + hand, but the next moment the wounded man resumed,— + </p> + <p> + “That ball jest fits Seth's navy revolver—and the hound hes made + tracks outer the country.” + </p> + <p> + “But what motive could he have in attacking YOU at such a time?” asked the + master. + </p> + <p> + “He reckoned that either I'd kill you and so he'd got shut of us both in + that way, without it being noticed; or if I missed you, the others would + hang YOU—ez they kalkilated to—for killing ME! The idea kem to + him when he overheard you hintin' you wouldn't return my fire.” + </p> + <p> + A shuddering conviction that McKinstry had divined the real truth passed + over the master. In the impulse of the moment he again would have + corroborated it by revealing Johnny's story, but a glance at the growing + feverishness of the wounded man checked his utterance. “Don't talk of it + now,” he said hurriedly. “Enough for me to know that you acquit ME. I am + here now only to beg you to compose yourself until the doctor comes back—as + you seemed to be alone, and Mrs. McKinstry”—he stopped in awkward + embarrassment. + </p> + <p> + A singular confusion overspread the invalid's face. “She hed steppt out + afore this happened, owin' to contrairy opinions betwixt me and her. Ye + mout hev noticed, Mr. Ford, that gin'rally she didn't 'pear to cotton to + ye! Thar ain't a woman a goin' ez is the ekal of Blair Rawlins' darter in + nussin' a man and keeping him in fightin' order, but in matters like + things that consarn herself and Cress, I begin to think, Mr. Ford, that + somehow, she ain't exakly—kam! Bein' kam yourself, ye'll put any + unpleasantness down to that. Wotever you hear from HER, and, for the + matter o' that, from her own darter too—for I'm takin' back the + foolishness I said to ye over yon about your runnin' off with Cress—you'll + remember, Mr. Ford, it warn't from no ill feeling to YOU, in her or Cress—but + on'y a want of kam! I mout hev had MY idees about Cress, you mout hev had + YOURS, and that fool Dabney mout hev had HIS; but it warn't the old + woman's—nor Cressy's—it warn't Blair Rawlins' darter's idea—nor + yet HER darter's! And why? For want o' kam! Times I reckon it was left out + o' woman's nater. And bein' kam yourself, you understand it, and take it + all in.” + </p> + <p> + The old look of drowsy pain had settled so strongly in his red eyes again + that the master was fain to put his hand gently over them, and with a + faint smile beg him to compose himself to sleep. This he finally did after + a whispered suggestion that he himself was feeling “more kam.” The master + sat for some moments with his hand upon the sleeping man's eyes, and a + vague and undefinable sense of loneliness seemed to fall upon him from the + empty rafters of the silent and deserted house. The rising wind moaned + fitfully around its bleak shell with the despairing sound of far and + forever receding voices. So strong was the impression that when the doctor + and McKinstry's attending brother re-entered the room, the master still + lingered beside the bed with a dazed sensation of abandonment that the + doctor's practical reassuring smile could hardly dispel. + </p> + <p> + “He's doing splendidly now,” he said, listening to the sleeper's more + regular respiration: “and I'd advise you to go now, Mr. Ford, before he + wakes, lest he might be tempted to excite himself by talking to you again. + He's really quite out of danger now. Good-night! I'll drop in on you at + the hotel when I return.” + </p> + <p> + The master, albeit still confused and bewildered, felt his way to the door + and out into the open night. The wind was still despairingly wrestling + with the tree-tops, but the far receding voices seemed to be growing + fainter in the distance, until, as he passed on, they too seemed to pass + away forever. + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + Monday morning had come again, and the master was at his desk in the + school house early, with a still damp and inky copy of the Star fresh from + the press before him. The free breath of the pines was blowing in the + window, and bringing to his ears the distant voices of his slowly + gathering flock, as he read as follows:— + </p> + <p> + “The perpetrator of the dastardly outrage at the Indian Spring Academy on + Thursday last—which, through unfortunate misrepresentation of the + facts, led to a premature calling out of several of our most + public-spirited citizens, and culminated in a most regrettable encounter + between Mr. McKinstry and the accomplished and estimable principal of the + school—has, we regret to say, escaped condign punishment by leaving + the country with his relations. If, as is seriously whispered, he was also + guilty of an unparalleled offence against a chivalrous code which will + exclude him in the future from ever seeking redress at the Court of Honor, + our citizens will be only too glad to get rid of the contamination of + being obliged to arrest him. Those of our readers who know the high + character of the two gentlemen who were thus forced into a hostile + meeting, will not be surprised to know that the most ample apologies were + tendered on both sides, and that the entente cordiale has been thoroughly + restored. The bullet—which it is said played a highly important part + in the subsequent explanation, proving to have come from a REVOLVER fired + by some outsider—has been extracted from Mr. McKinstry's thigh, and + he is doing well, with every prospect of a speedy recovery.” + </p> + <p> + Smiling, albeit not uncomplacently, at this valuable contribution to + history from an unfettered press, his eye fell upon the next paragraph, + perhaps not so complacently:— + </p> + <p> + “Benjamin Daubigny, Esq., who left town for Sacramento on important + business, not entirely unconnected with his new interests in Indian + Springs, will, it is rumored, be shortly joined by his wife, who has been + enabled by his recent good fortune to leave her old home in the States, + and take her proper proud position at his side. Although personally + unknown to Indian Springs, Mrs. Daubigny is spoken of as a beautiful and + singularly accomplished woman, and it is to be regretted that her + husband's interests will compel them to abandon Indian Springs for + Sacramento as a future residence. Mr. Daubigny was accompanied by his + private secretary Rupert, the eldest son of H. G. Filgee, Esq., who has + been a promising graduate of the Indian Spring Academy, and offers a + bright example to the youth of this district. We are happy to learn that + his younger brother is recovering rapidly from a slight accident received + last week through the incautious handling of firearms.” + </p> + <p> + The master, with his eyes upon the paper, remained so long plunged in a + reverie that the school-room was quite filled and his little flock was + wonderingly regarding him before he recalled himself. He was hurriedly + reaching his hand towards the bell when he was attracted by the rising + figure of Octavia Dean. + </p> + <p> + “Please, sir, you didn't ask if we had any news!” + </p> + <p> + “True—I forgot,” said the master smiling. “Well, have you anything + to tell us?” + </p> + <p> + “Yes, sir. Cressy McKinstry has left school.” + </p> + <p> + “Indeed!” + </p> + <p> + “Yes, sir; she's married.” + </p> + <p> + “Married,” repeated the master with an effort, yet conscious of the eyes + concentrated upon his colorless face. “Married—and to whom?” + </p> + <p> + “To Joe Masters, sir, at the Baptist Chapel at Big Bluff, Sunday, an' Marm + McKinstry was thar with her.” + </p> + <p> + There was a momentary and breathless pause. Then the voices of his little + pupils—those sage and sweet truants from tradition, those gentle but + relentless historians of the future—rose around him in shrill chorus—“WHY, + WE KNOWED IT ALL ALONG, SIR!” + </p> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Cressy, by Bret Harte + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK CRESSY *** + +***** This file should be named 2858-h.htm or 2858-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/2/8/5/2858/ + +Produced by Donald Lainson; David Widger + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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