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««<»OCOW nSOWTION liST CHART 
 
 (ANSI and rSO TEST CHART No. 2) 
 
 A 
 
 APPLIED IIVHGF l„ 
 
 165J Eojt Moin Str«et 
 
 Roch««#r, N«w Tori. 14609 USA 
 
 (716) M2 - 0300 - Phofw 
 
 (716) 38a - 5989 - Fo* 
 
THE STROLLERS 
 
 r 
 
II 
 
II 
 
_ ' -* 
 
% 
 
 'W^^^^M^"^ 
 
 ^y^TiioL} i$}{s 
 
 y^ 
 
 \ 
 
 r 
 
 e>(. 
 
 ■■iiK..SONl.isHi-R 
 
 Kadiant in youth ANn TH« 
 
 ^If.NOWl.EDuR OF SITCES.S 
 
 MrLKor) ||ACi,fcN . . 
 
r- 
 
 r-^' ' 
 
 ■4^. 
 
T HE STRO LLERS 
 
 By FREDERIC S. ISHAM 
 
 WITH ILLUITKATIONS BY 
 
 HARRISON FISHER 
 
 TORONTO 
 McLEOD & ALLEN 
 
 I»tJBLI8HElis 
 
r 
 
 I i;: 
 
 511 
 
 ^^. V 
 
i 
 
 -.., . .,^yy 
 
CONTENTS 
 
 fnuava 
 
 THB MABQUIS- HONEniOON 
 
 BOOK I 
 
 ON THE CIRCUIT IN THP u,,,^ 
 CHorn WILDERXESS 
 
 I raKTBAVBLEBs'FBntND 
 
 n A NBW ABBIVAI, 
 niANINcOHPBBffltNsai^^,,^^ 
 IV OBMN OBOW THB BUSHM. O. 
 
 V A CONFEBBNO. IN THB KIICHBN 
 
 "'""""^^^HBOFTHBCHABIOT 
 Vn 8W0UBNIN0 IN ABCADU 
 Vin FUPPINO THB SHILUNO 
 « S4MPUN0 THB VINTAOBS 
 I 8KAUN0 THB COMPACT 
 « THB Qc,„ OP THB SOLDOB 
 *II AN BCCBNTBIO jaiMB 
 
 O 
 
 M 
 
 n 
 
 » 
 
 M 
 
 M 
 
 UO 
 
 121 
 
 U9 
 
 M 
 
 r-.i^r 
 
CONTENTS 
 
 OBAfTSB 
 
 nu THE COJUNO OF UTILE THTODEB 
 WV THE ATTACK ON THE manok 
 XV A HASH EXli' 
 XVI THE COUNCIl, AT THE TOWN PUMP 
 XVn THE HAND FBBBY 
 
 rxam 
 
 m 
 m 
 tm 
 
 BOOK II 
 
 DESTINY AND THE MARIONETTE 
 I THE FASTIDIOUS MABQUIS 
 n ONLJ AN INCIDENT 
 ni AT THE BACE8 
 IV LEAB AND JULIET 
 V THE MEETINQ BENEATH THE OAKS 
 VI A BLOT IN THE 'SCUTCHEON 
 VII A CYNICAL BABD 
 VHI THE SWEETEST THINO IN NATUBE 
 IX A DEBUT IN THE CRESCENT CITY 
 X LAUQHTER AND TEABS 
 XI THE PASSING OP A PINE GENTLEMAN 
 XII IN THE OLD CEMETEBY 
 . Xln AN INCONGRUOUS BOLB 
 
 2M 
 
 asi 
 
I 
 
 CONTENTS 
 BOOK III 
 
 OUPTU '^^^ ^'NAL CUE 
 
 'OmMOKINOTHEConBT.IABl, 
 n OHM A SHADOW 
 
 " ™0M OAB8ET TO OABDBN ' 
 
 IT THB BEST OF UFE 
 
 T IBEr^Wm'STlDlNOS 
 W THB CODNCII, OF WAB 
 
 TO A marnNG on thb modnt 
 
 Vin A FAIB PENITBNT 
 
 K comrs- MisTicK witohbbim 
 
 X CONSTANCE AND IHKSOLDim 
 
 'Aea 
 
 an 
 
 at 
 
 Ml 
 
 ." =' .i rf'i'i 'i'ik'rr 
 
PROLOGUE 
 
 •■tii:.:if. 
 

THE STROLLERS 
 
 PROLOGUE 
 
 THE MARQUJS' HONEYMOON 
 
 Old Dniry Lane rang with applause for the per- 
 formance of Madame Carew. Of British-French par- 
 entage, she was a recognized peer among the favorite 
 actresses on the English stage and a woman whose 
 attractions of face and manner were of a high order. 
 She came natunflly by her talents, being a descendant 
 of Madame de Panilnac, famed as an actress, con- 
 fidante of Louise-Benedicte, Duchessedu Maine, who 
 originated the celebrated nuits blanches at Sceaux 
 during the close of Louis XIV's reign. 
 ^ The bill for the evening under consideration was 
 "Adrienne Lecouvreur" and in no part hadthe actress 
 been more natural and effective. Her triumph was 
 secure, for as the prologue says : 
 
 "Your judgment given— your sentence mu«t remain; 
 No writ of error lies— to Drury Lane." 
 
 3 
 
 # 
 
* THE STROLLERS 
 
 lown, the worn-out dowan>ra »i,. 
 
 The player had every stimulus to appear at her best 
 
 U7-1 monstrous fine woman." 
 
 With rare discretion and spirit had the inff., i j 
 ^ queenly figure in that ri Jd^^oss ttierL' Sh ' 
 
 -^J^^C^Sa£~- 
 
 ^^ftrr"^-^ ''~''^' notorioUd : 
 
 lady of msolent, patrician bearing. The anticinated 
 
 SZZ ""tn'-'"' ^' ^'^'>' °' ^•'^ noMem ri 
 mnvT^'^ "' '^''"'""^ '^^y^l '"ghtly, as though 
 ZZ ^'u T °^'T»^-«^ emotfon. Only for a 
 rrXf ''^1=",^^' '"- fi-ing her blazing :;«! 
 upon the two and lifting her arm threateningfy, [he 
 
PROLOGUE J 
 
 fa^ nf .i ""•*""'"• ^ P""°' overspread the 
 
 the drll "^T"' ^'"^ '"' '^''y •'^^ •»c'. behind 
 of thltTTv""""'' "' " '" ^'='^- At the conclusion 
 
 stood as m a trance; her face was pale, her fi<rure 
 seemed changed to stone and the light lent out o!Z 
 
 qu.ckly The woman by the marquis' side, who had 
 trembed at . st. now forced a llugh, as'she saidi 
 
 Jtth S'r'""' '^"^^•" Together they 
 had M^^' ^ T"^"*"'" "S'^tting the temerity which 
 had ed h,m to bring his companion to the theat^ 
 t^red^; ^"^*^'"'y ""n^^ved. and, when they en: 
 tered tl^e carriage, they seated themselves as far apart 
 
 her part dislikmg him just as cordially 
 
 Next day the critics referred to the scene with glow- 
 ng words wh.le in the cofTee houses they disc^ sTd 
 the proposition: Should an actress feel the eZS 
 
 tt: ^r^' ' "^'^ ' "=^'^^' ^-'-^ 'he marqutS 
 the different amounts of the performa>,ce, whence 
 and h,s cc...panion found themselves in the oM rta^ 
 cc«ch .„ rouu ior Brighton. He felt no re^e f!^ 
 h.s action-had not the Prince of Wales bZhl T 
 gentlemen of his kingdom that it wrflshTonab et 
 desert actresses ? Had he not left the "divine PerdL" 
 tojanguish, after snubbing her right royally in hX 
 
 ■^ 
 
6 THE STROLLERS 
 
 Disdainfully the lady in the coach regarded her hus- 
 band and it was evident that the ties of affection which 
 bound these two travelers together on life's road were 
 neither strong nor enduring. Yet they were traveling 
 together; their way was the same; their destination— 
 but that belongs to the future. The marquis had been 
 relieved in his mind after a consultation with a dis- 
 tmguished barrister, and, moreover, was pleased at 
 the prospect of leaving this island of fogs for the sunny 
 shores of France. Thrtimes were exciting ; the coun- 
 try, on the verge of proposed electoral reforms. But 
 in France the new social system had sprung into ex- 
 istence and— lamentable fact!— duty towards one's 
 country had assumed an empire superior to ancient 
 devotion toward kings. 
 
 To stem this tide and attach himself closely to King 
 Charles X was the marquis' ambitious purpose. For 
 this he had espoused a party in marrying a relative of 
 the royal princess, thus enhancing the ties that bound 
 him to the throne, and throwing to the winds his Per- 
 dita whose charms had once held him in folly's chains. 
 Did he regret the step? Has ravening aspiration any 
 compunction ; any contrite visitings of nature ? What 
 did the player expect ; that he would violate preced- 
 ence; overthrow the fashionable maxims of good 
 George IV; become a slave to a tragi-comic performer 
 and cast his high destiny to the winds? Had ever a 
 gentleman entertained such a project? Vows? Wit- 
 ness the agreeable perjuries of lovers; the pleasing 
 pastime of fond hearts! Every titled rascallion lied 
 
PROLOGUE 
 
 •tt n^r If her' mT'" ""' ^^ "" J'""'^^" Wild by 
 
 o her if"tL f *"' ''^^'' ^ "^''' *h« *°«« 
 lor ner, it a farce of a ceremony was reearded a. t^;„„ 
 
 =««dssoluble knot-let her tl exa^ty Sy 
 who thought herself the king's spouse; pL I tTere 
 thl ^^Tf /"'^ ceremonies, and wives and w^es 
 
 ,;h^' "'m ^'^^^ '^'^ °^''" *''^'°»d. the lady by his 
 s.de smded disagreeably from time to time and n^ 
 
 glance. Had she fathomed his secret ? Else whv thaf 
 emmently superior air; that mamier whSh sK 
 plamly as spoken words: "Now I have leanied ^ • 
 o do >f he should play the tyrant. Now I^^e a lav 
 to liberty, equality, fratemityl"- And be^lh Z 
 
 of ^he marnage tie or the disorder of conjugaf afflc- 
 
 s:^s;-;:^;^s--=s^s: 
 
8 
 
 THE STROLLERS 
 
 Of her reception in the old New Yort -n, . . 
 
 verdict of the ohalan, r,t -7 Theater; the 
 
 Shakespeare toxww"f l^ 'T" ^'«"" ^ ^ t^ 
 
 moretC;ohJd^^'';„^rS^ *°-*"''^"°"' "«'" 
 
 tions or tea in the c^l i!l!^ f '"P °^«'" <=°nfec- 
 
 unnecessao. to dwel „ " ^.°1 "^^ **'''^'-'' « 
 
 become aToIunCexThi"! ''''•' ""* *« P'^yer 
 
 former h'fe for S7new h^ . ' "^^ '°'*=S°'"^ ^er 
 
 scnetimes beget tte^t'eS 'XPl '°™' '•"' J"^ 
 
 been no occas^ for tht SS, ' ^°"" '"^' 
 
:r; the 
 in tb 
 , heL 
 onfec- 
 — it is 
 Jiayer 
 e lier 
 It joy 
 have 
 
 BOOK I 
 
 ON THE CIRCUIT IN THE 
 WILDERNESS 
 
CHAPTER I 
 
 THE fM'/ELERS' FRIEND 
 
 It was a drizzly day in the Shadengo Valley A 
 mist had settled down upon the old inn; lost to view 
 was the landscape with its varied foliage. Only 
 the immediate foreground was visible to a team- 
 ster who came down the road-the trees with drippinR 
 branches, and the inn from the eaves of whfch water 
 tell to the ground with depressing monotony; the well 
 with Its pail for watering die horses and the log trough 
 in whose limpid waters a number of speckled trout 
 were swimmmg. The driver drew up his horses be- 
 fore the Travelers' Friend-as the place was named 
 — and called out imperatively : 
 "Hullo fterer 
 
 No one appearing, he leaned over and hnpatienthr 
 rapped on the door with the heavy oak butt-end of 
 his whip Still there was no response. Again he 
 knocked, this time louder than before, and was prepar- 
 ing fo.- an even more vigorous assault upon the unhos- 
 pitable entrance, when the door swung back and the 
 landlord, a tall, gaunt individual, confronted the driver 
 
12 
 
 THE STROLLERS 
 
 
 "Well, r heard ye," he said testily. "Are ye com- 
 ing in or shall I bring it out ?" 
 
 "Bring it out," was the gruflf response of the dis- 
 gruntled teamster. 
 
 Shortly afterwards mine host reappeared with a 
 tankard of generous dimensions. The teamster raised 
 It ; slowly drained it to the bottom ; dropped a coin into 
 the landlord s hand; cracked his whip in a lively man- 
 ner and moved on. The steam from his horses min- 
 g-led with the mist and he was soon swallowed up 
 although the cheerful snap of his whip could yet be 
 heard Then that became inaudible and the boniface 
 who had stood for a brief space in the doorway, empty 
 tankard in hand, re-entered the house satisfied that no 
 more transient patronage would be forthcoming at 
 present. ' 
 
 Going through an outer room, called by courtesy a 
 parlor, the landlord passed into an apartment which 
 served as dming-room, sitting-room and bar. Here 
 the glow of a wood fire from the well swept hearth 
 and the aspect of the varied assortment of bottles 
 glasses and tankards, gave more proof of the fit- 
 ness of the appellation on the creaking sign of the 
 road-house than appeared from a superficial survey of 
 Its exterior and far from neat stable yard, or from that 
 Chilly, forbidding room, so common especially in Amer- 
 ican residences in those days, the parlor. Any doubt 
 regardmg the contents of the hospitable looking bot- 
 tles was dispelled by such prominent inscriptions in 
 gilt letters as "Whisky," "Brandy" and "Rum " To 
 
THE TRAVELERS' ERiEND tj 
 
 add to the effect, between the decanters were ranged 
 glass jars of striped peppermint and winter-green 
 candies, while a few lemons suggested pleasing 
 possibilities of a hot sling, spiced rum flip or Tom 
 and Jerry. The ceiling of this dining-room was black- 
 ened somewhat and the huge beams overhead gave an 
 Idea of the substantial character of the construction 
 of the plate. That fuel was plentiful, appeared in 
 evidence in the open fireplace where were burning 
 two great logs, while piled up against the wall were 
 many other good-sized sections of hickory. 
 
 Seated at a respectful distance from this cheerful 
 conflagration was a young man of perhaps five-and- 
 twenty, whose travel-stained attire indicated he had 
 but recently been on the road. Upon a chair near by 
 were a riding-whip and hat, the latter spotted with 
 mud and testifying to the rough character of the road 
 over which he had come. He held a short pipe to his 
 hps and blew clouds of smoke toward the fire, while 
 upon a table, within arm's length, rested a glass of 
 some hot mixture. But in spite of his comfortable 
 surroundings, the expression of his face was not that 
 of a person in harmony with the Johnsonian conclu- 
 sion, "A chair in an inn is a throne of felicity." His 
 countenance, well bronzed as a weather-tried troop- 
 er's, was harsh, gloomy, almost morose; not an un- 
 handsome face, but set in such a severe cast the ob- 
 server involuntarily wondered what experience had 
 indited that scroll. Tall, large of limb, muscular, as 
 was apparent even in a restful pose, he looked an 
 
'4 THE STROLLERS 
 
 adilete of the roost approved type, active and power- 
 Mine host, having found his guest taciturn, had 
 hrniseU become genial, and now remarked as he en- 
 tered: "How do you find the punch? Is it to your 
 uking?" 
 
 "Yes," shortly answered the stranger, without rais- 
 mg his eyes from a moody regard of the fire. 
 
 'TTou're from France, I guess?" continued the land- 
 tord, as he seated himself on the 'H)posite side of the 
 fireplate. "Been here long? Where you going?" 
 Without waiting for an answer to his first question he 
 exercised his time-honored privilege of demanding any 
 and all iafonnation from wayfarers at the Travelers' 
 Frieiid. 
 
 "I say, where you going?" he repeated, turning over 
 a log and sending a shower of sparks up the flue. 
 
 With no change of countenance the ^-^uest silenUy 
 reached for his punch, swallowed a portion of it, re- 
 placed the glass on the table and resumed ms smoking 
 as though oblivious of the other's presence. Momen- 
 tarily disconcerted, the landlord devoted himself once 
 more to the fire. After readjusting a trunk of old 
 hickory.on the great andirons and gazing absently for 
 a moment at the huge crane supporting an iron kettle 
 of boiling water, mine host tipped back in nis chair, 
 braced his feet against the wall, lighted a vile-smelling 
 pipe and again returned valiantly to the attack, re- 
 solved to learn more about his guest. 
 "I hear thii^s are kind of onsettled in France?" 
 
THE TRAVELERS' FRIEND 15 
 
 he observed diplomatically, emitting a cloud of smoke. 
 "I see in a Syracuse paper that Louis Philippe is no 
 longer king; that he and the queen have fled to En- 
 gland. Perhaps, now,"— mwardly congratulatmg him- 
 self on his shrewdness — "yon left Paris for political 
 reasons?" 
 
 The stranger deHherately emptied his pipe and thrust 
 it into his pocket, while the landlord impatiently 
 awaited the response to his pointed query. When it 
 came, however, it was not calculated to allay the curi- 
 osity of his questioner. 
 
 "Is it your practice," said the young man coldly, in 
 slow but excellent English, "to bark continuously at 
 the heels of your guests ?" 
 
 "CMi, 10 oflFense meant I No offense I Hope none'll 
 be taken," stammered the landlord. 
 
 Ther. he rtcovered himself and his dignity by draw- 
 u<g forth a huge wine-colored silk handkerchief, set 
 with white polka-dots, and ostentatiously and vigor- 
 ously using it. This ear-splitting operation having 
 once more set him up in his own esteem, he resumed 
 his attentions to the stranger. 
 
 "I didn't know," he added with an outburst of hon- 
 esty, "but what you mig^ be some nobleman in dis- 
 guise." 
 
 "A nobleman!" said the other with ill-concealed 
 contempt. "My name is Saint-Prosper; plain Ernest 
 Saint-ftosper. I was a soldier. Now I'm an adven- 
 turer. There you have it ali in a nut-shell." 
 
i6 
 
 THE STROLLERS 
 
 "Well, you l«,k like a soldier," he remarked. "You 
 
 F^ct toTeln "'°^\-^» -ho came over f^ 
 rrance to help us m the Revolution." 
 
 grew volu"bIe'L v""^ """""^ "'''^'''^^ ** landlord 
 "w! i '" ^*'' continued reserved. 
 
 heretl5:;V:rrsrte'«t'^M"'\'r^.' *°"' "«-* 
 I,- '•» _iurKatate, he said confidentiallv "W^ 
 
 have our land barons, descendants of the patrLs and 
 bolters. , too. who are making a big stand against feu- 
 
 allTiTT.''\'"°^''''' *° P««»' tf-^ subject in 
 all Its deu.ls to the soldier; how the tenants were pro- 
 testing agamst the enforcement of what Zy Zl 
 deemed unjust claims and were demanding Se atel^ 
 t.on o permanent leaseholds ; how they oplly rested 
 
 .te'^Kr °' ""'^•'"' '■^•' -augurateTan a^^^ 
 iZlT T *"' '^'^ 'y^"""'"' landlordism. His 
 lengthy and ra. 'ling dissertation was finally broken in 
 uiK« by a rumbimg on the road, as of carria^th^" 
 drawmg near, and the sound of voices The „^„ 
 ^t the tK,niface to the window, anjl" Jg ouHe 
 
 horses, which came dashing up with a gr4 sembS 
 of animation for a vehicle of its weigte, fo lowed by 
 a^wagon. loaded with diversified and Uy para^er- 
 
 "Some troopers, I guess." commented the landlord 
 
THE TRAVELERS' FRIEND „ 
 
 discontentedly, "they're sta^- fX' ' " *''**^' 
 
 Ti,« •'^ Stage-folk, sure enough " 
 
 The wagon, which contained several^r^t 
 driven into the stable v=.rH i. . ™ persons, was 
 "drops" and < Ws " Zr' "' " *"^ ""'°='<'«d °f 
 
 prison, and so orileTeTa"^ ' "^^^ ' ^ '°^«'' '^ 
 and a jerk and afinl. fl ^'»e« ^"ach. with a rattle 
 
 stopped^t he fr^nfdtfTor" •*'' ''"'='''' ""'P' 
 the driver opened Itc:. ottrvSetdTtf ' 
 same t me two othpr m»„ A. , . '*^'*' *"d at the 
 
 against the wL Ld «ta l! '^"S ''""''' '""««=«' 
 the top. TheTidtrd no' '"^'^ ''"'"^''^d ^o™ 
 the inn a ITf "^ "°°^ ^* *''*= ^"trance of 
 
 if the"rveir hXrZdin'? '1^- ^'^^•"^• 
 
 glowing countenai^e Sh '"..*'''= traditional 
 
 "use hoW;':^;hr^t„TS uir- .r° 
 
 were doomed to disappointaenT^ ^" '*' *'^ 
 
 tenorTnhf ct:S" fi't *^';^ ^'^ ^^ the in- 
 whose feet we^ei '/•"''' ""'""'P °'^ '^^y 
 
 ]^nemhrX/:2:irfn::Se^- 
 
 second, a young woman who hastilv C'l u ' 
 
I8 
 
 THE STROLLERS 
 
 m- 
 
 Then followed a dark melancholy individual, the 
 utility man, whose waistcoat of figured worsted was 
 much frayed and whose "tooth-pick" collar was the 
 worse for the journey. He preceded a more natty 
 person in a bcttle-green, "shad-belly" coat, who strove 
 to carry himself as though he were fashionably dressed, 
 mstead of wearing clothes which no longer could con- 
 ceal their shabbiness. The driver, called in tiieatrical 
 parlance "the old man," was a portly personage in a 
 blue coat with velvet collar and gih buttons, a few of 
 which were missing; while the ruffles of his shirt 
 were in sad plight, for instead of protruding elegantly 
 a good three or even four inches, their glory had gone 
 and they lay ignominiously flattened upon the bosom 
 of the wearer. A white choker rivaled in hue the 
 tooth-pick collar of the melancholy individual. 
 
 The tavern's stable boy immediately began to remove 
 the trunks into the main hallway. This overgrown, 
 husky lad evidently did not share his employer's dis- 
 approval of the guests, for he gazed in open-eyed 
 wonder at the sisters, and then, with increasing awe, 
 his glance strayed to the young girt. To his juvenile 
 imagination an actress appeared in the glamour of a 
 veritable goddess. But she had ob'.'iously that tender 
 consideration for others which belongs to humanity, 
 for she turned to the old man with an affectionate 
 ■ fmile, removing from his shoulders the wet Petersham 
 overcoat, and, placing it on a chair, regarded him with 
 a look of filial anxiety. Yet their appearance belied 
 the assumption of such relationship; he was hearty, 
 
THE TRAVELERS' FRIEND ,9 
 daughter of the South, a fig.,re more fitting for groves 
 
 ^^^b, the tin, old lady, .ho, i„ a iar^ Srr:^" 
 
 ;;A have,, at last I A« you the landlord ?" 
 Yes, ma am, testily replied that person. 
 
 tbmmy thai sh.vers ran up and down the back of the 
 host when he took it eineerlv "w. ,. T ■ i 
 tragedy weather, sir r^""^^- ^^ ^' ^avmg fine 
 
 bt"Lu.' " °"''' '""*"°''"" ^"'"""ded the would- 
 
 th:*sit;:?r^'"'^"°'''"'"-=^^-^«''-^ 
 
 m^t'd h:^steT *"= •^^ ^°°"' '" ^'^^ ''°--" - 
 
 sta^Id fr^l^^^t^Shei^ilt^^^^^^^ 1 ^^''"-'^' 
 fi«,ii n j^.:°"'*"""«'P'ess confusion, but 
 
 Stlto h : '" *"' ''^'"^''y *° "«her the om 
 pany mto the tap-room with • 
 
 thi^'^r"'"..'^'' ' ^^' *>"* ^^ f°^ ihe best room 
 h^ gentleman '-indicating the reticent guestl°^2' 
 ready occupies it." * 
 
 The young man at the fire.thus forced prominently 
 mto notice, arose slowly. "'nmentiy 
 
90 
 
 THE STROLLERS 
 
 "You are mistaken, landlord," he said curtly, hardly 
 glancing at the players. "I no longer occupy it since 
 these ladies have come." 
 
 "Your complaisance does credit to your good nature, 
 sir," exclaimed the old man. "But we can not take 
 advantage of it." 
 
 "It is too good of you," remarked the elder sister 
 with a glance replete with more gratitude than the oc- 
 casion demanded. "Really, though, we could not think 
 of it." 
 
 "Thank you; thank you," joined in the wiry old 
 lady, bobbing up and down like a miniature figure 
 moved by the unseen hand of the showman. "Allow 
 me, sirl" And she gravely tendered him a huge 
 snuff-box of tortoise shell, which he declined; where- 
 upon she continued : 
 
 "You do not use it? New fashions; new habits! 
 Though whether for the better is not for me to say." 
 
 She helped herself to a liberal portion and passed 
 the box to the portly old gentleman. Here the land- 
 lord, in a surly tone, told the stable boy to remove the 
 gentleman's things and show the ladies to their rooms. 
 Before going, the girl in the provoking hood— now 
 unfastened, and freeing sundry rebellious brown curls 
 where the moisture yet sparkled like dew— turned to 
 the old man : 
 
 "You are coming up directly? Your stock wants 
 changing, while your ruffles"— laughing— "are dis- 
 graceful I" 
 "Presently, my dear; presently!" he returned. 
 
m!»':tmL^.^'^:mm^F^,.^ 
 
 •THE TRAVELERS' FR END . 
 
 The members of the company mountc-J :-.-■ KroaJ 
 
 ordered ruffles-who wiped his heavy boots on a door 
 
 English fasaion with his coat-tails under his arms 
 rubbmg h.s hands and dicing himself betre The 
 
 ihl^ fj^^S^^^/'We time of year, sir," he observed to 
 he soldier, who had returned to his seat bef" t^ 
 table Twice on the road we nearly broke down and 
 once the wagon dumped our properties in the ditch 
 
 rl™?t '• '° "''.^ "^""^ "°"^ the ladies heaped 
 reproaches upon these gray hairs. This, sir, to the 
 
 srst:rt;f ^^'^ °"^ "' "^^ "- -'•^p^ ^" °^ 
 
 The other did not answer immediately, but re^rded 
 he speaker with the look of one not rLily d^Cd 
 o make acquaintances. His conclusions were appar- 
 
 :Sthrr?2;^'''~'^-^^p--'^-" 
 
 "You are the manager, I presume '" 
 
 strlLe?°"R!^' ^T"" "*"™''' ""= '«1««"0"3 
 stranger But my duties are manifold. As driver 
 of the chariot, I endure the constant apprehensiJi o 
 wrecking my company by the wayside. As assiW 
 
 t^e^ 'ole'X^ K^H "°* ""' ^ ^'^^^ '' '^ -™ 
 reaurera^H . '"""''°''"=' """^ "cense-procurer. 
 
 THE PRO*^f ftT 
 
 SCARBORO 
 JBLIC LtBRARi 
 
k^LM^.M.m& 
 
 THE STROLLERS 
 
 "A life of variety," observed the young man, politely 
 if indiflferently. 
 
 "Yes ; full of ups and downs, as the driver of the 
 property wagon said when we entered this hilly dis- 
 trict," replied the manager, with the contentment of a 
 man who has found a snug haven after a hard ride in 
 a comparatively unbroken country. "Affluence we 
 may know, but poverty is apt to be our companion." 
 
 To this the other deemed no response necessary and 
 a silence fell between them, broken only by the simmer- 
 ing water in the iron kttt'e, the sputtering of the 
 sap in the burning logs and the creaking without 
 of the long balancing pole that suspended the moss- 
 covered bucket. The wind sighed in the chi :iney 
 and the wooing flames sprang to meet it, while the 
 heart of the fire glowed in a mass of coals between 
 the andirons. 
 
 The old gentleman before the blaze began to outrival 
 the kettle in steaming; from his coat-tails a thin veil 
 of mist ascended, his face beaming through the va- 
 por with benign felicity. Then he turned and toasted 
 the other side and the kettle reigned supreme until he 
 thawed once more and the clouds ascended, surround- 
 ing him like Jupiter on the celestial mount. At that 
 the kettle hummed more angrily and the old gentle- 
 man's face beamed with satisfaction. 
 
 "A snug company, sir," he said, finally, glowing 
 upon the impassive face before him, "like a tight ship, 
 ran weather a little bad weather. Perhaps you noticed 
 our troupe? The old lady is Mrs. Adams, She is 
 
> JS^ 
 
 THE TRAVELERS' FRIEND 23 
 
 nearly seventy, but can dance a horn-pipe or a reel with 
 the best of them. The two sisters are Kate and Susan 
 Duran, both coquettes of the first water. Our juve- 
 nile man is a young Irishman vho thinks much of his 
 dress and little of the cultivation of mind and man- 
 ners. Then," added the old man tenderly, "there is 
 my Constance." 
 
 He paused abruptly. "Landlord, a pot of ale. My 
 throat is hoarse from the mist. Fancy being for hours 
 on a road not knowmg where you are! Your good- 
 fortune, sir I" Lifting the mug. "More than once 
 we lurched like a cockle-shell." 
 
 The conversation at this point was interrupted by 
 the appearance of the juvenile man. 
 
 "Mr. Barnes, the ladies desire your company im- 
 mediately." 
 
 The manager hurriedly left the room and the new- 
 comer regarded his retiring f:gure with a twinkle in 
 his eye. Then he took a turn around the room in 
 stilted fashion— like one who '\..-rried about with him 
 his piu, boxes and galleries"— and observed : 
 
 "Faith, Mr. Barnes' couch is not a bed of roses. 
 It is better to have the fair ones dangling after you, 
 than to be running at their every beck and call." 
 
 Here he twisted his mustache upward. 
 
 "A woman is a strange creature," he resumed. "If 
 she calls and you come once, your legs will be busy fot 
 the rest of your natural days." 
 
 He seemed about to continue his observations along 
 this philosophical line, when the manager appeared in 
 
THE STROLLERS 
 
 24 
 
 4t thr"M'^'* '''"^""' '■" *e othe -s eyes 
 n.W '""°"' '^^-^ "-^-^ » ^hade less acrimo- 
 
 coiab;:;ct;^;:„5.- ^"-^ -«,_. .. sues a 
 
 stairs." °°'^- ^"'W a fire up- 
 
 chatiothrblSrl;, 7" °^ -"^^ -d drawing a 
 earned rest! '^ '^ "'" """^^ """^ *° «"i°y a wfll- 
 
 valley. The SrSL fn. '""^ *^"'S''' ""^d the 
 P'-Pefthe old^^'K' hrw d '""^ *^ ^='*- 
 
 teriouslyinettteTtS wrutf'' """•' '"^''- 
 «ttled the windows and iTed", 7?'"^ -^ "'''''' 
 venturesome rose whi^ h^r T / "* "'*'-''''■ » 
 «ory of the ol^i^n VJ' h^'"™'^'"*'' *° ^l'- ''"^^nd 
 
 % 
 
THE TRAVELERS- FRIEND .5 
 reinHd un- ^'^'' P."'^''' ^''h 'he moisture 
 
 appeared a mTLTatse fo ^Ldt'^"" ^"''' '^^ 
 deny himself olenfifni il • ^ """^' "O"" ""« *<> 
 brewed aT ^ '"'''"'"' °^ ^^^ri^n home- 
 
 in l"art^-a':?ele"al?'' °'"'"'''' '•'■^ P-t--ter 
 
 combination of culinarv nH 'r • . '"P^^t'ng this 
 you will in due Se^°l ^ '"'"^ =°««« °f which 
 stroller when th^t, '^ ''^- ^'^' *»' 'he poor 
 
 ajnostjttt:ir„t':?rE:S:'c3^r^f^^ 
 
 *aw„ by six or eight torts " ^^""'y'^*"''^ wagons, 
 
 for he concluded wJh -r" ^Sem^^^^ <='^--., 
 progress, if my diagnosis^ th?, ""^^ '' ^ 
 
 grances be correct" "^ Penetrating fra- 
 
 di4"^iT^r„vrer ^r ^'-^ --^--^ 
 
 -h^ncebut^uahCaXhe^LrS-^ 
 
26 
 
 THE STROLLERS 
 
 "TTie lovely littfe monster " saM K",.. . j ■ . , 
 ::Mo„sterr cried Susa„%Sa"S .'-'"'""^'^• 
 
 forktddt Td;"?"'^ ■"'"^'''"^'' -^^' "-"e and 
 
 aZ^' '^°"''^-°^ *' "^^^^^ °^ *e di.hr' remarked 
 Adonis, so pointedly that the latidlnr^v ^ [ 
 
 overwhelmed with confusion nea^dtptd^^^^^^^^^^^^^ 
 
 ter, miniature porker and al . Where3 k^/'"': 
 
 a^idT^ef "" ^i '^•°"^"''- -'^^^ -^ - 
 anrl a/- u^'''''^ '" ^ ^^^^in proprietary way 
 -i^d^Adoms henceforth became less open in Ws a^: 
 
 c^as Jed took lorm and substance and were arranged 
 m temptmg yanety around the appetizing and S 
 
 Sl IT"^""^- ''''''' ^'^^ boiled and bTked 
 
 hams speckled with cloves, plates of doughnuts and 
 ixrnd cake, beet root and apple sauce. Beforf «S 
 
THE TRAVELERS' FRIEND 27 
 
 iVl'h.f^""'- f°°i^ ^°""'"^ -""^ °^ home-brewed 
 ale that earned with it a palpable taste of the hops 
 
 There IS nothing of the stage repast about this " 
 commented the manager. ' 
 
 To which Kate, having often partaken of the con- 
 ventional banquet of the theater, waved her bLTIn 
 anjrr^, "^""''^ '°-'^^' ^"^ ^'^^ ''^ resistance 
 "Suppose, now, by some necromancy our youne and 
 tender fri«,d here on the platter should .^ ZJed 
 to a cleverly fashioned block of wood, painted S 
 
 S'moulr^°^^"' ''''''' -''' ^ --^- 'PP'e'lL 
 The manager, poising the carving knife, replied: 
 
 possibility of any such transformation " 
 
 And he cut the "ambrosian fat and lean" with a firm 
 hand, eying the suckling steadfastly the while as if 
 to preclude any exhibition of Hindoo mysticism, while 
 the buxom lass, the daughter of the boniface, with 
 round arms bared, bore sundry other dishes from 
 place to place until the plates were heaped with an 
 assortment of viands. 
 
 "Well, my dear, how are you getting on?" said the 
 manager to the young actress, Constance, as he helld 
 h.mself to the crackle. "Have you everything y":' 
 
 She nodded brightly, and the stranger who was seat- 
 ed some distance from her glanced up; his gaze 
 
^ 
 
 THE STROLLERS 
 
 rested on her for a moment and then returned in cold 
 contemplation to the fare set before him 
 
 Yet was she worthy of more than passing scrutiny 
 The glean, of ^he lamp fell upon her well-tuLd fi^ 
 
 shadow that rested on her brow beneath the crown of 
 
 .^\ ,7'" " "^^ '''^"'''" '^'^''' striped with 
 tt ' , '"^^r:i'"='i^^''" after the style of the day, 
 the sleeves being finished with lace and the skirt ful 
 and iJowing. Her heavy brown tresses were arranged 
 
 broul? f ^''"7."' ^"'•'^ °" the neck, the remainder 
 brought forward in plaits and fastened at the top of 
 the forehead with a simple pearl ornament. 
 
 If the young girl felt any interest in the presence of 
 the taciturn guest she concealed it, scarcely looking 
 at hm, and joming but rarely in the conversation 
 Susan, on the other hand, resorted to sundry coquet- 
 
 "I fear, sir, that you find our poor company intru- 
 sive, smce we have forced you to become one of us'" 
 she said, toying with her fork, and thereby displaying 
 a white and shapely hand. ^^ 
 
 His impassive blue eyes met her sparkling ones 
 I_ am honored in being admitted to your feUow- 
 smp, he returned perfunctorily. 
 
 "Only poor players, sir I" exclaimed Hawkes depre- 
 catmgly, w,th the regal gesture a stage monarch might 
 use ,n settmg forth the perplexities of royal pre-emi- 
 nence. 
 
Id 
 
 re 
 
THE TRAVELERS' FRIEND 
 
 29 
 
 "As a hos he S^ once more at the stranger. 
 
 words," said Kate td^^ '" ^^"^ '''^'' »<« ^^ir 
 ^^ sam Kate, mdicatrng the remains of the re- 
 
 tenlnSndttXerrV'; ™^-^^' »" 
 
 Here the dark-hLr ~l°^t r ""t 
 
 concluded. There «,:.« „ /f • ' ^ '''""«'" being 
 
 of manner, a the man, "',°^ ^'' "=""' brusquenesf 
 
 and taking'h" ha™r "^^'"^ "^^ - "is chair 
 
 You are going to retire, my dear? Th=,f • ■ .. 
 
 l^Z """t "" "^'^ "^y- t^^'velin^" ^' " ''^'■ 
 
 of the company with a ^it tV"7^ ''r, "«= -' 
 through the doorway her 11 * *' ''"' P»^^«d 
 
 a nail i„ the ^a^ Pre' ""'"f ^"° «"'&'" "Pon 
 
 her low excwL^^J^nTetap; t!e '' T'=''' 
 stranger, and, quittine his niL. f^? ^ ^''' °^ *he 
 and she, with half "fned h ad anH ^ "' '" '•="' 
 PO^ed, looked down u^„ hiT ^"'' ^^-^^""^ 
 
 sHeTweThracS::;:/'^ -'--^ *he dress, and 
 with formal deferetexr'"',: ^''='' ''^ '^'""'ed 
 raised his head hTs 'Ld f n ' ""^'^'^ °" ^^ he 
 Weak-looking hall un 2.7'?;^ '''" """""^h the 
 
Mm-' 
 
 *> ^«E STROLLERS 
 
 the landlord's daughter h.f„ u- 
 
 P»n. She had spread oS^^.j""; '^■■«'" ''>« -anning- 
 
 *« applying the oId-Eo„l ''' °' •"■' ^'^ «d 
 prevention of rheumatism buT? *=°"'".^"«=« ^r the 
 «;« not on this commTndablH'"*^ ''""'''«' mind 
 she s.,hed so% and th^ob r^^ ^^^'^ ^' ^^ 
 
 i>re=':hr";sT/---r 
 ~-d -^ ir d aisSrr'' '"^^ -- 
 
 ""fl there was not a wrinkle!^?, '''^"'''''' ""= »'«d, 
 terpane, after which, Le a ' L^= ^now-white .oun- 
 f^rvjce, she shouIder;d the wf^l''"^'"^ '" '^°'n««ic 
 handle, mun„„red "goodL^h^ !.""" ^''^ ''« long 
 
 a l^lcony and of takS^^s ° •''^""^-"^'''nf. but of 
 
 Absently the strTn^ ^ '" * *°"h. 
 jahle: 'in^rS'mf^l^'..!' *''^'-''^ on the 
 "David's Tears" and thT-^, t^^T ^"'hmetic," 
 Catechism"-all useful \JrJ?'r' ^""^ «"" 
 
 calculated long to engross^eatten? 1"^' '"* "°' 
 Tummg from these prosaic l^" °^ ^^ traveler, 
 the chamber drew as^de L "' "'^ °"*="I«"' of 
 
 and looked out. ""' '"'■'^'° of the window 
 
 shiS-:;:.r-xrhS^*^^-''--were 
 
 P'l^es that descenKjn the^T ^''"'" ■" 'he 
 Not far was the dark mZ%T^ '° '^^ ^°"nd. 
 
"^^ 
 
 Njitf^riJr'S;' 
 
 THE TRAVELERS' FRIEND 31 
 
 now sounding like the filing of a saw and again chang- 
 ing in character to the tinkling of a bell. A dog 
 howIf.l for a moment in the barn-yard, and then, ap- 
 pai^..,y satisfied with having given this evidence of 
 watchfulness, re-entered his house of one room and 
 curled himself upon the straw in his parlor, after which 
 nothing more was heard from him. 
 
 Drawing the curtains of his own couch, a large, four- 
 posted affair, sleep soon overpowered the strange- • 
 but sleep, broken and fitful I Nor did he dream only 
 of France and of kings running away, of American 
 land barons and of "bolters." More intrusive than 
 these the faces of the strollers crept in and dis- 
 turbed his slumbers, not least among which were 
 the features of the dark-eyed girl whose gown had 
 caught as she passed through the doorway. 
 
CHAPTER II 
 
 A NEW ARRIVAL 
 
 The crowing of the cock awakened the French trav- 
 elo-, and, going to the window, he saw that daylight 
 had thrown its first shafts upon the unromantic barn- 
 yard scene while in the east above the hill-tops spread 
 the early flush of morning. The watch-dog had left 
 his one-roomed cottage and was promenading before it 
 
 r f f f/ ^f.*"'"" ""'"• *" ^^^ P«»"P °f a satisfied 
 land-holder, his great undershot jaw and the extraor- 
 dinary outward curve of his legs proclaiming an 
 untarnished pedigree. The hens were happily en- 
 gaged m scratching the earth for their breakfast- the 
 rooster, no Idnger crestfallen, was strutting in the 
 sunshine, while next to the bam several gruntine 
 squealing pigs struggled for supremacy in the trough 
 From the cow-shed came an occasional low and soon a 
 slip-shod maid, yawning mightily, appeared, pail in 
 hanid, and moved across the yard to her early morning 
 
 Descending the stairs and making his way to the 
 barn, the soldier called to Sandy, the stable boy, who 
 (32) 
 
A NEW ARRIVAL 
 
 33 
 
 was performing his ablutions by passing wet fingers 
 through a shock of i ed hair, to saddle his horse. The 
 sleepy lad led forth a large but shapely animal, and 
 soon the stranger was galloping across the country, 
 away from the village, now down a gentle declivity, 
 with the virgin forest on either side, then through a 
 tract of land where was apparent the husbandry of 
 the people. 
 
 After a brisk pace for some miles, he reined in 
 his horse, and, leisurely riding in a circuit, returned 
 on the road that crossed the farming country back of 
 the tavern. Around him lay fields of rye and buck- 
 wheat sweet with the odor of the bee-hive ; Indian com, 
 whose silken tassels waved as high as those of Fred- 
 eri-k's grenadiers', and yellow pumpkins nestling to 
 the ground like gluttons that had partaken too abun- 
 dantly of mother earth's nourishment. Intermingling 
 with these great oblong and ovoid gourds, squashes, 
 shaped like turbans and many-cornered hats, appeared 
 in fantastic profusion. 
 
 The rider was rapidly approaching the inn, when a 
 sudden turn in the highway, as the road swept around 
 a wind-break of willows, brought him upon a young 
 woman who was walking slowly in the same direction. 
 So fast was the pace of his horse, and so unexpected 
 the meeting, she was almost under the trampling feet 
 before he saw her. Taken by surprise, she stood as if 
 transfixed, when, with a quick, decisive effort, the 
 rider swerved his animal, and, of necessity, rode full 
 tilt at tlie fence and willows. She felt the rush of 
 
34 
 
 THE STROLLERS 
 
 fen;. ,. ^T^"' '"''"^' "f* "^'='^' d««r the rail- 
 ^"'h . r"';^^'' the bulwark of branches. She 
 gazed at the wmd-break; a little to the right, or the 
 left where the heavy boughs were thickly interlaced 
 ^d the nder's expedient had proved serious or h „: 
 self but chance~he had no time for choice-had 1 
 rected h.m to a vulnerable point of leaves and twig 
 Before she had fairly recovered herself he r4S 
 at an opemng on the other side of the willow sWn, 
 
 £ loUr^r ' "•"•^^ °^ ^^'^' '^ •"^^ ''-- 
 
 With quivering nostrils, the animal appeared pos- 
 sessed of unquenchable spirit, but his mast^s b^a^ng 
 oimZT'^'r "^PP-'-'^hed, with an expressiof 
 It u T'"'^ '"^ '°"'=^"' °" his face, the young 
 girl whom the manager had addressed as Constance 
 
 said ^ftT' ^'f°" ■°' ^''^'"^ "'='""<='» y°"'" he 
 sam. It was careless, inexcusable I" 
 
 smile. '^'" * ""'" startling," she admitted, with a faint 
 
 "Only a little!" he broke in gravely. "If I had not 
 seen you just when I did—" ^ "aa not 
 
 ';You would not have turned your horse-at sucH 
 a risk to yourself I" she added. 
 
 "Risk to myself 1 From what?" A whimsical light 
 encroached on the set look in his blue eyes. ^jX 
 
 s::; 1:?^^ '" ^°" ^^^^ "°^ ^^ -'^ ^- hav"; 
 
 ^ Jhe smile brightened. "Oh, I think you deserve 
 
A NEW ARRIVAL 
 
 35 
 
 "I am not so sure," he returned, glancing down at 
 her. 
 
 Slanting between the lower branches of the trees 
 the sunshine touched the young girl's hair in flickering 
 spots and crep* down her dress like caressing hands 
 of light, until her figure, passing into a solid shadow, 
 left these glimmerings prone upon the dusty read 
 behind her. The "brides," or strings of her little 
 muslin cap, flaunted in the breeze and a shawl of China 
 crape fluttered from her shoulders. So much of her 
 dusky hair as defied concealment contrasted strongly 
 with the calm translucent pallor of hor face. The 
 eyes. nJone, belittled the tranquillity of countenance; 
 against the rare repose of features, they were the 
 more eloquent, shining beneath brows, delicately 
 defuied but strongly marked, and shaded by long up- 
 turned lashes, deep in tone as a sloe. 
 "You are an early riser," he resumed. 
 "Not always," she replied. "But after yesterday it 
 seemed so bright outdoors and the country so lovely I" 
 His gaze, following hers, traversed one of the hol- 
 lows. Below yet rested deep shadows, but upon the 
 hillside a glory celestial enlivened and animated the 
 surrounding scene. Scattered houses, constituting the 
 little hamlet, lay in the partial shade of the swelling 
 land, the smoke, with its odor of burning pine, rising 
 lazily on the languid air. In the neighboring field a 
 farm hand was breaking up the ground with an old- 
 fashioned, pug-nosed "dirt-rooter;" soil as rich as 
 that of Egypt, or the land, Gerar, where Isaac reaped 
 
36 
 
 THE STROLLERS 
 
 his^pIor'J5%^"rl^''"r ''=""^'' °" *e handle of 
 the S H ^'^'^'^^y «"^«=yed the couple on 
 the road. Having at the same time satisfied his 
 cunosny and rested his arms, he grasped the ha„d£ 
 once more and the horses puUed^d tugged a" the 
 primitive implement. ""Bgea at the 
 
 ocl'ed fnM"" ''"1*'' '-""^ ^^' -- thus 
 occupied in surveying the valley and the adjacent 
 
 ^n?'l''"™"°''^^' "«= ^°'^' considering dS 
 
 ground with rebellious energy and tossed his head 
 m mutiny against such procrastination. 
 
 tiu/4ieX.:r '° "" °"'" ^'"^ "'•'• "••^^'"^ 
 
 "He usually does," replied the rider. "Perhaos 
 *;S'ir^''^^"^^"^ Iseeyouhave?;5 
 
 wJ/"7hel'!??;H^ "'''' a part-*ut I know it very 
 
 wniows r .H ' TT^ "'"^'y *^°™ the border of 
 wiUows Leading his horse, he followed 
 
 His features, stem and obdurate in repose relaxed 
 
 •n seventy, while the deep-set blue eye^Lv ,"« 
 
 searching and guarded. This alleviation beS^e Wm 
 
 siirrrnt^^^-'"^^'^-----"^ 
 
 "What is the part'" 
 .tJitS;.'"'^"'"""^^"""'' It i» one of our 
 
A NEW ARRIVAL 37 
 
 "And you like it?" 
 
 wiSdfwr"'"" "'"' " ''' °' '^^^ "- -' 
 ''And who plays the duke?" he continued. 
 Mr. OFlariaty," she answered, a suggestion of 
 amusement m her glance. Beneath the shading of 
 straight, black brows, her eyes were deceptively dark, 
 until scrutmized closely, they resolved themselves into 
 a Clear gray. 
 
 "Ah," he said, recalling Adonis, O'Flariaty's, ap- 
 pearance and, as he spoke, a smile of singular sweet- 
 
 a"toucS:r'i'''^ 'r\ "^ ^•'^"'^^ ^-d- js, 
 
 a touch of the brogue I But I must not decry your no- 
 ble lord I" he added. ' 
 
 "No lord of min' ^he replied gaily. "My lo- J 
 must have a velvet . ^, not frayed, and a sword not 
 tm and >ts most sanguinary purpose must not be to 
 get between his legs and trip him up I Of course 
 when we act in barns—" ' 
 
 "In bamsl" 
 
 "Oh, yes, when we can find them to act in!" 
 
 ihe glanced at him half-mockingly 
 
 horse'" ''^'' ^°" *^^^ °^ "" ^"'- "' °"'y ' P'*"* ^°^ " 
 
 The sound of carriage wheels interrupted his re- 
 
 f^ ;= ^ '*,, ^""^^ '" *' ^^'''°" fr"" whence 
 ^ came they observed a coach doubling the curve 
 betore the willows and approaching at a rapid pace. 
 It was a handsome and imposing equipage, with dark 
 
 The PROPEffT 
 
 SCARBORO 
 "JBLIC L»BRA«: 
 
38 
 
 THE STROLLERS 
 
 crimson body and wheels, preserving much of the 
 grace of ancient outline with the utility of modem 
 springs. 
 
 As they drew aside to permit it to pass the features 
 of its occupant were seen, who, perceiving the young 
 girt on the road— the shawl, half-fallen from her shoul- 
 der revealing the plastic grace of an erect figure- 
 gazed at her with surprise, then thrust his head from 
 the window and bowed with smiling, if somewhat 
 exaggerated, politeness. The next moment carriage 
 and traveler vanished down the road in a cloud of 
 dust, but an alert observer might have noticed an eye 
 at the rear port-hole, as though the person within was 
 supplementing his brief observation from the side 
 with a longer, if diminishing, view from behind. 
 
 Tie countenance of the young giri's companion 
 retrograded from its new-found favor to a more inex- 
 orable cast. 
 
 "A friend of yours?" he said, briefly. 
 
 "I never saw him before," she answered with flash- 
 ing eyes. "Perhaps he is the lord of the manor and 
 thought I was one of his subjects." 
 
 "There are lords in this country, then ?" 
 
 "Lords or patroons, they are called," she replied, her 
 face still flushed. 
 
 At this moment, across the meadows, beyond the 
 fence of stumps— poor remains of primeval monarchs I 
 —a woman appeared at the back door of the inn with 
 a tin horn upon which she blew vigorously, the harsh 
 blasts echoing over hill and valley. The startled swal- 
 
A NEW ARRIVAL 
 
 39 
 
 lows and martins arose from the eaves and fluttered 
 above the roof. The farm hand at the plow released 
 the handle, and the slip-shod maid appeared in the 
 door of the cow-shed, spry and nimble enough at 
 meal time. 
 
 From the window of her room Susan saw them re- 
 turning and looked surprised as well as a bit annoyed. 
 Truth to tell, Mistress Susan, with her capacity for 
 admiring and being admired, had conceived a momen- 
 tary interest in the stranger, a fancy as light as it was 
 ephemeral. That touch of melancholy when his face 
 was in repose inspired a transitory desire for investi- 
 gation in this past-mistress of emotional analysis. But 
 the arrival of the coach which had passed the couple 
 soon diverted Susan's thoughts to a new channel. 
 
 The equipage drew up, and a young man, dressed 
 in a style novel in that locality, sprang out. He wore 
 a silk hat with scarcely any brim, trouseu extremely 
 wide at the ankle, a waist-coat of the dimensions of 
 '745. and large watch ribbons, sustaining ponderous 
 bunches of seals. 
 
 The gallant fop touched the narrow brim of his hat 
 to Kate, who was peeping from one window, and 
 waved a kiss to Susan, who was surreptitiously glanc- 
 ing from another, whereupon both being detected, 
 drew back hastily. Overwhelmed by the appearance 
 of a guest of such manifest distinction, the landlord 
 bowed obsequiously as the other entered the tavern 
 with a supercilious nod. 
 
 To Mistress Susan this incident was exciting while 
 
40 
 
 THE STROLLERS 
 
 it lasted, but when the dandy had disappeared her at- 
 tention was again attracted to Constance and Saint- 
 Prosper, who slowly approached. He paused with his 
 horse before the front door and she stood a moment 
 near the little porch, on either side of which grew 
 sweet-williams, four-o'clocks and larkspur. But the 
 few conventional words were scanty crumbs for the 
 fair eavesdropper above, the young girl soon entering 
 the house and the soldier leading his horse in the di- 
 rection of thft stable. As the latter disappeared around 
 the comer of the tavern, Susan left the window and 
 turned to the mirror. 
 
 "La I" she said, holding a mass of blond hair in one 
 hand and deftly coiling it upon her little head, "I 
 believe she got up early to meet him." But Kate only 
 yawned lazily. 
 
 Retracing his steps from the bam, the soldier 
 crossed the back-yard, where already on the clothes' 
 line evidences of early matutinal industry, a pair of blue 
 over-alls, with sundry white and red stockings, were 
 dancing in the breeze. First the over-alls performed 
 wildly, then the white stockings responded with vim, 
 while the red ones outdid themselves by their shocking 
 abandonment, vaunting skyward as though impelled 
 by the phantom limbs of some Parisian danseuse. 
 
 Making his way by this dizzy saturnalia and avoid- 
 ing the pranks of animated hosiery and the more pon- 
 derous frolics of over-alls, sheets and tablecloths, Saint- 
 Prosper entered the kitchen. Here the farm hand 
 and maid of all work were eating, and the landlord's 
 
A NEW ARRIVAL 
 
 41 
 
 rotund suid energetic wife was bustling before the 
 fireplace. An old iron crane, with various sized pot- 
 hooks and linlcs of chain, swung from the jambs at 
 the will of the housewife. Boneset, wormwood and 
 catnip had their places on the wall, together with ears 
 of com and strings of dried apples. 
 
 Bustling and active, with arms bared to the elbow 
 and white with flour, the spouse of mine host realized 
 the scriptural injunction: "She looketh well to the 
 ways of her household." Deftly she spread the dough 
 in the baking pan ; smoothly leveled it with her pahn ; 
 with nice mathematical precision distributed bits of 
 apple on top in parallel rows; lightly sprinkled it 
 with sugar, and, lo and behold, was fashioned an hon- 
 est, wholesome, Dutch apple cake, ready for the bak- 
 ing 1 
 
 In the tap-room the soldier encountered the new- 
 comer, seated not far from the fire as though his 
 blood flowed sluggishly after his long ride in the 
 chill morning air. Upon the table lay his hat, and he 
 was playing with the seals on his watch ribbon, his 
 legs indolently stretched out straight before him. Oc- 
 casionally he coughed when the smoke, exuding from 
 the damp wood, was not entirely expelled up the 
 chimney, but curled around the top of the fireplace 
 and diffused itself into the atmosphere. Well-built, 
 although somewhat slender of figure, this latest ar- 
 rival had a complexion of tavtrny brown, a living rus- 
 set, as warm and glowing as the most vivid of Vandyke 
 pigments. 
 
+» 
 
 THE STROLLERS 
 
 He raised his eyes slowly as the soldier entered and 
 surveyed him deliberately. From a scrutiny of 
 mere physical attributes he passed on to the more im- 
 portant details of clothes, notine that his sack coat was 
 properly loose at the waist and that the buttons were 
 sufficiently large to pass muster, but also detecting that 
 the trousers lacked breadth at the ankles and that 
 the hat had a high crown and a broad brim, from 
 which he complacently concluded the other was 
 somewhat behind the shifting changes of fashion. 
 
 "Curse me, if this isn't a beastly fire I" he exclaimed, 
 stretching himself still more,, yawning and passing a 
 hand through his black hair. "Hang them, they might 
 as well shut up their guests in the smoke-house with 
 the bacons and hams I I feel as tired as a side of pig, 
 ready to be hung to a dirty rafter," 
 
 With which he pulled himself together, went to the 
 window, raised it and placed a stick under the frame. 
 
 "They tell me there's a theatrical troupe here," he 
 resumed, returning to his chair and relapsing into its 
 depths. "Perhaps you are one of them?" 
 
 "I have not that honor." 
 
 "Honor!" repeated the new arrival with" a laugh. 
 "That's good I That was one of them on the road with 
 you, I'll be bound. You have good taste! Heighol" 
 he yawned again. "I'm anchored here awhile on ac- 
 count of a lame horse. Perhaps though"— brighten- 
 ing— "it may not be so bad after all. These players 
 promise some diversion." At that moment his face 
 wore an expression of airy, jocund assurance which 
 
A NEW ARRIVAL 
 
 43 
 
 faded to visible annoyance as he continued: "Where 
 can that landlord be? He placed me in this kennel, 
 vanished, and left me to my fate. Ah, here he is at 
 last!" As the host aporoached, respectfully inquir- 
 ing: 
 
 "Is there anything' more I can do for you?" 
 ..Z^?'^'" *''='»'"'«'' this latest guest, ironically. 
 Well, better late than never! See that my servant 
 has help with the trunks." 
 
 "Very well, sir; I'll have Sandy look after them. 
 You are going to stay then ?" Shiftirg several bottles 
 on the bar with apparent industry. 
 
 uZ^°'^ "" ^ **"'" '^"™ed t-*!* new-comer lightly. 
 Fate IS a Sphynx, and I am not (Edipus to answer 
 her questions 1" 
 
 The landlord looked startled, paused in his feigned 
 employment, but slowly recovering himself, began 
 to dust a jar of peppermint candy. 
 ''How far is it to Meadtown?" continued the guest. 
 Forty odd miles I Perhaps you are seeking the old 
 patroon manor there? They say the heir is expected 
 any day '-gazing fixedly at the young man— "at least, 
 the anti-renters have received information he is comine 
 and are preparing—" 
 The sprightly guest threw up his hands. 
 "The trunks! the trunks!" he exclaimed in accents 
 of despair. "Look at the disorder of my attire I The 
 pnde of these ruffles leveled by the dew; my wrist- 
 bands m disarray; the odor of the road pervadine mv 
 person! The trunks, I pray you 1" 
 
44 THE STROLLERS 
 
 "Yes, »ir; at once, sir! But first let me introduce 
 you to Mr. Saint-Prosper, of Paris, France. Make 
 yourselves at home, gentlemen I" 
 
 With which tlie speaker hurriedly vanished and soon 
 the bumping and thumping in the hall gave cheering 
 assurance of instructions fulfilled. 
 
 "That porter is a prince among his kind," observed 
 the guest satirically, wincing as an unusual bang over- 
 head shook the ceiling. "But I'll warrant my man 
 won't have to open my luggage after he gets through." 
 Then as quiet followed the racket above— "So you're 
 from Paris, France?" he asked half-quizzically. "Well, 
 it's a pleasure to meet somebody from somewhere. 
 As I, too, have lived— not in vain 1— in Paris, France, 
 we may have mutual friends ?' 
 
 "It is unlikely," said the soldier, who meanwhile 
 had drawn oflf his riding gloves, placed them on the 
 mantel, and stood facing the fire, with his back to the 
 other guest. As he spoke he turned deliberately and 
 bent his penetrating glance on his questioner. 
 
 "Really? Allow me to be skeptical, as I have con- 
 siderable acquaintance there. In the army there's that 
 fire-eating conqueror of the ladies. Gen—" 
 
 "My rank was not so important," interrupted the 
 other, "that I numbered commanders among my per- 
 sonal friends." 
 
 "As you please," said the last guest carelessly, "l 
 had thought to exchange a little gossip with you, but 
 — n'importel In my own veins flows some of the 
 blood of your country." 
 
A NEW ARRIVAL 
 
 45 
 
 For the time his light manner forsook hira. 
 
 "Her tumults have, in a measure, been mine," he 
 continued. "Now she is without a king, I am well- 
 nigh without a mother-land. True; I was not bom 
 there— but it is the nurse the child turns to. Paris 
 was my bonne — a merry abigailt Ala', her vicious 
 brood have turned on her and cast her ribbons in the 
 mire I Untroubled by her own brats, she could extend 
 her estates to the Eldorado of the southwestern seas." 
 He had arisen and, with hands behind his back, was 
 striding to and fro. Coming suddenly to a pause, he 
 asked abruptly: 
 
 "Do you know the Abbe Moneau?" 
 
 At the mention of that one-time subtle confidant 
 of the deposed king, now the patron of republicanism, 
 Saint-Prosper once more regarded his companion atten- 
 tively. 
 
 "By reputation, certainly," he answered, slowly. 
 
 "He was my tutor and is now my frequent cor- 
 respondent. Not a bad sort of mentor, either I" The 
 new arrival paused and smiled reflectively. "Only re- 
 cently I received a letter from him, with private de- 
 tails of the flight of the king and vague intimations 
 of a scandal in the army, lately come to light." 
 
 His listener half-started from his seat and had the 
 speaker not been more absorbed in his own easy flow 
 of conversation than in the attitude of the other, he 
 would have noticed that quick change of manner. Not 
 perceiving it, however, he resumed irrelevantly : 
 
 "You see I am a sociable animal. After .being 
 
46 
 
 THE STROLLERS 
 
 smoky hovel su^^t! Z^Ttu , ' ^^^- E^«" this 
 
 of wine? ' carry sorli- T ^°'" ""^ '" ^ '^""«= 
 necessity of dSn;X . . ""'' '° °''^'**<= '^e 
 
 risL?fS„r;'d^;' the oMier. at the same time 
 in thf d^' ■ ^ '•'^^ "° '""^'-n^ion so early 
 
 "Early?" queried the new-comer "A h,u ■ . . 
 Chateau Cheval Bl^c or Cru ZchJli^uT °1 
 vinous, paves a possible way former 'tS" 
 dSMuner~M.d pork, potat^ a„7 chicoiT A .' 
 S^?i:w ns^h"^^ -anwSr red's 
 
 <* 
 
CHAPTER III 
 
 AN INCOMPREHENSIBLE VENTURE 
 
 Pancakes, grits, home-made sa ige, and. before 
 each guest, an epg that had been pioadly heralded bj 
 the clucking hen but a few hours before- ruly a 
 bountirul breakfast, discrediting the latest guest's an- 
 ticipations! The manager, in high spirits, mercurial 
 as the weather, came down from his room, a bundle of 
 posters under his arm. boisterously greeting Saint- 
 Prosper, whom he encountered in the hall: 
 
 "Read the bill! 'That incomparable comedy. The 
 Honeymoon, by a peerless company.' How does that 
 sound ?" 
 
 "Attractive, certainly," said the other. 
 "Do you think it strong enough? How would 'un- 
 paragoned'do?" 
 
 "It would be too provincial, my dear; too provin- 
 cial! interrupted the querulous voice of the old lady 
 Veiy well. Madam!" the manager replied quickly. 
 You shall be 'peerless' if you wish. Every fence shall 
 proclaim it; every post become loquacious with it " 
 "I was going to the village myself." said the soldier 
 (47) 
 
^ THE STROLLERS 
 
 ^•and wm join you. if you don't .i„d r he added sud- 
 
 and Iicen,e-pr^u"er •• ^"' ''"-P"''"' P^^''-^''" 
 
 -tatTb°4r i';; ir ;""= *"° ^^'^-"^ '^°- *»« 
 
 By posters, written announcements in /h. » 
 The boy and the bell?" 
 
 "rant. « I, oLdl th,^1 ,"'■;"' '",?«"« 
 
A VENTURE ^ 
 
 o.;?i5u,r^ "^-'- "--'»"'»?" asked the 
 
 Still we can usuaHy rent a ha er.!'" ''''^"''"'■ 
 struct tiers of seats Even J k ^ ''^?' ""^ '°"- 
 an acceptable t^e of art Brou' ' ""'" .'"="^" 
 culty is procur^g^hce^^^o p^rtr-""""''' ''"«- 
 You have to get permission to play?" 
 That we do I" sighed the nmnager "Frnn, .i,^ 
 
 a favored bird of oW^rtT P'""'" °^ P"""? as 
 
 top of the shed a^H K.ng Solomon-<rying from the 
 t«in. Barnes Xdfhri' "."Paying its gorgeous 
 as he answTrld: "^ P^rsp.rat.on from his brow, 
 
 irairj;:twr™T- 
 Tai3isCnTt!rrs5srtrs 
 
so 
 
 THE STROLLERS 
 
 among the most formidable leaders of the crusade » 
 an old actor John B. Gough. But here we Je 
 at the supervisor's office. I'll run in and «t the li 
 cense, if you'll wait a moment." ^ 
 
 throu^hSTT' ?''"''^' ^"^ 2^™« disappeared 
 through he door of a one-story wooden buildinij which 
 basted httle in its architectural appearance a^d^e 
 prmcpal decorations consisted of a small window- 
 g^den contaming faded geraniums, and a si«, wiTh 
 sund^ mverted letters. The neighborhooo Tf Xs 
 far from .mposing structure was a rendezvous for mlny 
 
 and to judge from the sidewalk, an ample supply of 
 
 i^ sit P°' "■"' "''^^ '""^''y popular plug toLcco 
 ii u^'P"" '""^'y"^ ^^' surroundings, the Lone 
 
 Jack, or other delectable brand, was uncefemoniousW 
 passed from mouth to mouth with immediate ^Zt 
 pnsmg resuks so far as the sidewalk was co^er^ed 
 Regarding these village yokels with some cun^ the 
 
 mZ " n ^^ ' '"^^«"'= 'y^ °^ 'he audSst 
 ^nh„^l """""f ^■""''t «PP«=aI for favor. To such 
 hobnails must the fair Rosalind say: "I would Wss 
 as many of you as had beards that pleased me" J^d 
 the churls would applaud with their cowhide bootsT 
 
 foul h- ""^r^" '^" '^"-'^ ^"^'^ J-'"' *h7^L><^e" 
 found himself unconsciously frowning at his villa! 
 neighbors until, with an impatient laugh, he re Sed 
 his wandering fancies. What was it to him whetE 
 the players appeared in city or hamlet? Why shouM 
 
A VENTURE j, 
 
 W Jack contingent with no word of explanatl t^ 
 
 p >"^ back so soon ?" asked the young man in sur- 
 ledTrSi • °*!"'"^ *° '^ ''""'^ ''^^^ ' The temperance 
 
 lies a crumb of comfort in the weed I" 
 The manager smoked contemplatively, like a man 
 
Sa 
 
 THE STROLLERS 
 
 ^n^ /u"^ "^ ■"* '"■°''"' ^°rt""«. But as he 
 pondered h,s face gradually lightened with a fain 
 ghmmer of satisfaction. His mind, seeking for a 
 straw caught at a possible -vay out ^f this ifbyrinth 
 of d,fficult,es and in a moment he had straightened up 
 
 ant?v"^Jr*'^''= """■"'■'"'^ "'^="''^- H<= arose buoy 
 antly; before he reached the Inn the crumb of comfort 
 had become a loaf of assurance 
 
 ho^' StLThT/J' """'^^ '"™«=d-t«'y «'«ght mine 
 nost, statmg his desire to give a number of free per- 
 fomances m the dining-room of the hotel. The iL- 
 lord demurred stoutly; he was an inn-keeper, not^he 
 proprietor of a play-house. Were not tavern and the- 
 ater mseparable. retorted Barnes? The country ho« 
 had always been a patron of the histrionic art Be- 
 neath h.s wmdows the masque and interiude were 
 bom The mystery, harlequinade and divertissement 
 found shelter in a pot-house. ^'riusement 
 
 In a word, so indefatigably did he ply arguments 
 appealmg alike to clemency and cupidity^he^cuS 
 fo lowmg such a course-that the landlord at lenrth 
 reluctantly consented, and soon after the dining^ofm 
 w^ transformed into a temple of art; stild" 
 's true, for flats, drops, flies and screens, but at teas 
 more tenable than the roofless theaters of oth^ d" 
 
 out the ir"'^"'-'"''""'"'' **"= P'^'y^" '^d washed 
 ou the public, causing rainy tears to drip from Ophe- 
 
 ha s nose and rivulets of rouge to trickle down my 
 
 Lady Slipaway's marble neck and shoulders. In thi. 
 
A VENTURE 
 
 S3 
 
 W f^. ~" ""^ '^' dining-room into an auditory, 
 they found an attentive observer in the landlord^ 
 daughter who left her pans, plates and platters to 
 To her^h ! r^P"""""^ ^'th round-eyed admiration. 
 10 her that temporary stage was surrounded by gla- 
 mour and romance; a world remote from cook, scul- 
 
 dames, courtly ladies and exalted princesses. 
 
 Possibly interested in what seemed an incompre- 
 hens.be venture-for how could the manager's coffers 
 be replentshed by free performances F-sfint-Pros^e 
 hat afternoon remmded Barnes he had returned fr^ 
 the village without fulfilling his errand 
 
 "Dear met" exclaimed Barnes, his face wrinkling in 
 perplexity "What have I been thinking about? I 
 don t see how I can go now. Hawkes or O'Flariaty 
 cant be spared, what with lamps to polish and cos- 
 tumes to get m order ! Hum !" he mused dubiously. 
 
 It 1 can be of any use, command me," said the sol- 
 dier, unexpectedly. *" 
 
 thiZ-"' ~*''"'™''' """ '"^^"- "^ «"'«• "« 
 
 "Oh, it's a notable occupation," said the other with 
 
 a satirical smile. "Was it not the bill-posters Iho 
 
 caused the downfall of the French dynasty!-' he ad- 
 
 _ "In that case," laughed Barnes, with a sigh of relief 
 go ahead and spread the inflammable dodgers I Paste 
 
 X^I""'"'' '""P' °" *^' '"^'^''^ « the 
 
54 
 
 THE STROLLERS 
 
 bJSS.^f " ■""■ '"" •"•" — »'«< «.. 
 
 "I don't see much harm in 'Hamlpt • » <,,,m *i, 
 
 -^::i^trhi;^U;s^°°"''" -^-^^^ - 
 
 ness*^ 'long!" she retorted with" barn-yard bashful- 
 
 rtr^'^'-r" *''""■ '" '^''^ School for Scandal' ?" asked 
 the smithy's good wife. ' * 
 
 "Once,'' confessed the town official's faded consort 
 her worn face lighting dreamily. "It was on o^ ^' 
 dmg trip to New York. Silas warn't ^ s^irth^I 
 
 ish^'w "^L " '■^^"^^' Samt-P-5= fin- 
 ished postmg" the town. It had been latein A. 
 afternoon before he had altered the poSrs Ind ^t o« 
 on h,s paradoxical mission ; the sun ^s declining whl 
 seleSdT: T""'- ^^"^'"^ ^' ^ cross-To^ad h" 
 
 Ss alreS IT °"7' 'l^ '^"""'"^ announcements 
 was already adorned w.th a dodger, citing the escape 
 
A VENTURE 55 
 
 hlf.-nnf !''"'* '"'' "^""'""^ "^ ''^^^ ^°' his Wre- 
 Sse 4,' s '^ "°^°"^°" <'°<:"Ment in the North in 
 
 clouded, cheerless Around him the fallen leaves gave 
 
 the a.r, they danced in a circle and then broke awav 
 hur^mg helter-skelter in all directions ^' 
 
 _/oor devil 1" he muttered. "A f ugitive-in hiding 
 
 And he nailed one of his own bills over the dodger 
 
 We in the village below like stars winking upwards- 
 the ascendmg smoke from a chimney seemed Tfilm 
 of hce drawn slowly through the air ; fromX villa^ 
 forge came a bnghter glow as the sparks danced ir^ 
 the hammers on the anvils 
 
 J^^^hH" ""' °» his horse's neck, the soldier 
 continued his way, while the sun, out of its citv of 
 
 sp>re, the lields, marked by the plow; the eaunt 
 
 Then the resplendent rays vanished, the battlements 
 crumbled away and night, with its army of shXs 
 mvaded the earth. As Saint-Prosper approachedThe 
 avem set prominently on the brow of the hill, aU was 
 
 doleful doldrums and again complained wildly as the 
 
 «>nght from the fire-place and lamp; above the door 
 
 sc.*p;boro 
 
 U9u«C LJBRARY 
 
S6 
 
 THE STROLLERS 
 
 the light streamed through the open transom upon 
 
 and her features shone strongly i„ relief againsV^e 
 
 proached, and, leaning gracefully upon the paK t 
 s^ument bent over her with smni„riips. ft was the" 
 
 S ThTh'" °' *' ^^'^^-^^ «>vertrim! 
 t^esf on Ih f""*™"" " g^-e rested, not without in- 
 terest, on the pleasmg picture of the young actress it 
 
 th" TtreT v'" "''"^ ^' neater ift^St'o 
 
 How had he made his peace with her? Certainly 
 her manner now betrayed no resentment. WW ^ m^ 
 
 :^"S;!re;tr^^''"'''^-^''''-'-'^^»>''''«^ 
 
 the'S ^ ""'•'I'l ^°" '""■'"•" ^'"•l » *"«»" voice, and 
 with the speaker, as Saint-Prosper entered the inn 
 novered over the young girf, an all-pervading Hy- 
 
 ■M^" 
 
I 
 
 A VENTURE j^ 
 
 perion, with faultless ruffles, white hands, and voice 
 
 SI^"!!^"'?*'-. '^•'^' '^'"'"^ 'he soldier played 
 p.qurt w.th the wiry old lady, losing four shillings to 
 hat an .quated gamester, and, when he had paid the 
 
 iZ *'!'■ y°""fi^ S'"-' "^^ gone and the buoyant beau 
 I 'lad sought diversion in his cups 
 
 « the httle stroller has spirit. How her eyVs flashed 
 
 a"nd"ai-^'! '"'T'"' ''"' '' -1-red some tJ 
 and actmg to make her believe I took her for some 
 one else on the road. Not such an easy conquestTi 
 thought, although I imagine I have put'that Stur 
 ers nose out of joint. But why should I waste time 
 l^r "' '""' *° "" '•"' ^^"°* °«' Land! 
 
 J7^'^'" ""f*"'^'' "'e ''°« behind the bar, where 
 he had been quietly dozing on a stool with h s back 
 against the wall. ^^'^ 
 
 mo'^ng r ""'"'' "'' ''"'* *'" '^ '^^ ^°' "^«= 'o-™""'"^ 
 
 with'Sr^"'""^ "^ ^' ''°''"' -' -0 perhaps. 
 "Perhaps! I'll take no chances. Hang the nair 
 
 wIlTrSer'^H"' '''' °' ■*' ^^^ ^hatVyVdt 
 well wanned and"-nsing-"don't call me in the 
 
 tTTomf "'««' "P «hen I please. Tell my „L„ 
 to come up at onc«^I suppose he's out with the 
 kitchen wenches. I have some orders to give h m for 
 Ae n^orning. Stay-send up a lamp, ^ZZn [ 
 believe that's all fornowl" *"«— weii, i 
 
 S:t 
 
\ 
 
 CHAPTER IV 
 
 "green grow the rushes, oI" 
 
 So well auvertised in the village had-been the the- 
 atrical company and so greatly had the crusade against 
 the pUy and players whetted public curiosity that on 
 the evening of the first performance every bench in 
 the dmmg-room-auditorium-of the tavern had an 
 occupant, while in the rear the standing room was 
 filled by the overflow. Upon the counter of the bar 
 were seated a dozen or more men, including fhe 
 schoolmaster, an itinerant pedagogue who "boarded 
 around" and received his pay in farm products, and 
 the village lawyer, attired in a claret-colored frock 
 coat, who often was given a pig for a retainer, or 
 knotty wood, unfit for rails. 
 
 From his place, well to the front, the owner of the 
 private equipage surveyed the audience with consid- 
 erable amusement and complacency. He was fastidi- 
 ously dressed in double-breasted waist-coat of figured 
 silk, loosely fitting trousers, fawn-colored kid gloves 
 light pumps and silk hose. Narrow ruffles edged his 
 wristbands which were fastened with link buttons 
 (S8) 
 
GREEN GROW THE RUSHES 59 
 while the lining of his evenmg coat was of immacu- 
 late wh.te satm. As he gazed around upon a scene at 
 
 a htte gold case bearing an ivory miniature^^n-' 
 with the eyes of his neighbors bent expectantly un-- 
 h.m extracted therefrom a small, white cylinderf 
 
 What may that be, mister?" inquired an inqtisWe 
 rustjc, placmg his hand on the other's shoulder^ 
 
 ouch and, by way of answer, poised the cylinder m i 
 ^ny holder and deliberately lighted it, to'the ^ ze! 
 ment of h.s questioner. Cigarettes were thr u„. 
 known m that part of the state and the owner^f the 
 coach enjoyed the dubious distinction of being he first 
 to mtroduce them there. "Since which time," Is 
 aromder Barnes in his memoirs "th-.v ^! 
 
 abuse has, I believe, extended^' ' "" ""* '""^ 
 
 The lightwg of the aboriginal American dgarene 
 drw general attention to the smoker and theX'r 
 not a man of modem small pills, but a liberaldU- 
 
 "Azenah, who might he be?" 
 "The heir of the patroon estate, Ezekiel I founH 
 the name on his trunks: 'Edward Mauvnl' " ^ 
 
 He cal iates to, I guess, ef he can I" 
 
 "So th,;^-^ ^l*^'" .^'Snificantly repeated the doctor. 
 
 ^o this .s the foreign heir? He's got wristbands 
 
 hke a woman and hands just as small. wJI^rgloves 
 
 ■tf,^>R>-^«KC-» xi-iima£>- 
 
6o 
 
 THE STROLLERS 
 
 like my darter when she goes to meeting-house I And 
 s.lk socks ! Why. the old patroon didn't wear none 
 
 L w\ u"'^:^''' «^ ""^Sh for him. they 
 say. Wonder how the bam-bumers will take to the 
 s,lk socks? Who's the other stranger, Azeriahv' 
 Indicating w.th his thumb the soldier, who, stand- 
 ing agamst a window casement in the rear of the room 
 was by his height a conspicuous figure in the gather- 
 
 "I don't exactly know. Ezekiel," replied the land- 
 lord regretfully. "Not that I didn't try to find out," 
 he addea honestly, "but he was so close, I couldn't get 
 no hmg from him. He's from Paris, France; may be 
 Louis Philippe himself, for all I know " 
 
 "No; he ain't Louis Philippe," returned the doctor 
 wrth decision, « 'cau.e I seen his likeness in the maga- 
 
 t"^'^l ^ *" .•^°'P'''" '^^•" ^"ggested the boni- 
 lace. tie s so mighty mysterious." 
 
 ^ "Dolphin!" retorted the other contemptuously. 
 There amt no dolphin. There hasn't been no dol- 
 phin since the French Revolution." 
 
 *y,y\! ^j"^"'^ ^°'^ ''"' ""=^^ '"'«'»' > «»a>." said 
 the landlord vaguely. 
 
 fhf'7 T"" *° '"°"**' ""= "^"nation, gleaned by 
 the village doctor, was circulated ; speculation had been 
 nfe ever smce ine doni». of the last patroon regarding 
 his successor, and, ahhongh the locality was beyond 
 the furthermost reach of that land-holder, their interest 
 was none the less keen. The old master of the manor 
 
 P 
 
GREEN GROW THE RUSHES 61 
 
 had been like a myth, much spoken of never seen 
 wthout th, boundaries of his ac«s; but he new ord 
 was a reality, a creditable creation of tailor L« 
 hosier cobbler-which t^des ha^t flo hed uS 
 the old master who bought his clothes, cap Td ^" 
 
 the theatncal performance was thus relieved in a meas- 
 tW !r "'5 ' °" "^ improvised sUge, was so unusS 
 
 gaz'^d"ttt'2med%"l:'" '"*=. '""'"^d''' daughter had 
 
6a 
 
 THE STROLLERS 
 
 wiS"fcw I^'t '*" "presentation was well-balanced, 
 eTeJfti "^''.^ *' "^''"^ f°' f^">t finding 
 
 Ts r'r'"''"?*'""!^*'"'"^- Inthecostume! 
 « IS true, the carp.nsr observer might have detected 
 -- fla^s; notabb a Adonis, a Lpo^tetS 
 plate who strutted about in the large boo^s oi the L^w 
 Countnes. topped with English tLk hose of 1550 
 h.s hand upon the long rapier of Charles II, whflf a' 
 penw.g «,d hat of William III crowned his ^pty 
 
 Kate was Volante; not Tobin's Volante, but one 
 fashioned out of her own characteristics; supine but 
 
 S'withh?' '"* '"''"'"^•- '"°^' '^"* 'f-'i- 
 
 Iittr;.n hJr y "'"'""? " '°^''^ "="^'^ "^^^th her 
 ,!• ^u ' • '"P**" '^^"'* encompassed by a pages 
 tumc; the tnm contour of her figure frankly reveaTed 
 by her vestment, was truly a lad Pressed up'to 'ren" 
 any lover who preferred his friend and his tottle ToWs 
 
 to the f^l- " T' *" *' ^''- ""'^ «nd lissome 
 
 «Snr"t*^* his identity had been divined, and 
 rehshmg, perhaps, the effect of its discovery the 
 young patroon gazed languidly at the playirs u,^«! 
 he entrance of Constance as Juliana, whVh 'forgo 
 
 .on'ifTeVcr"*""^"' ""-*''°"^'^*' ■■" -"t-P'- 
 t.on of the actress. He remarked a girlish form of 
 
GREEN GROW THE RUSHES 63 
 much grace, attired in a..- attractive gown of white 
 satm and s.Iver. as became . bride, with train and low 
 shimmermg bodice, revealing the round a™" w 
 
 Sd ofV'"' "°" •^"^^-"'^^ ■" -"'»-- In- 
 stead of the customary feathers and other ornaments 
 
 of the penod, specified in the text of the play T^ 
 a one softened the effect of her dark hair. vLTi- 
 ferent she appeared in this picturesque Spanish at^re 
 from the lady of the lane, with the coquS cap of 
 mushn and its "brides," c. strings. ^ °^ 
 
 The light that burned within shone from her eyes 
 proud yet gay; it lurked in the comers of her mouth 
 where gravky followed merriment, as silence fXs' 
 laughter when the brook sweeps from The ourwr^ 
 stones to the deeper oools H^r L '^ ^ 
 
 of it.iPlf ,r,A ^^ ^" unconscious 
 
 of tself and scene succeeded scene with a natural 
 charm, reveahng unexpected resources, from pathos to 
 sorrow; from vanity to humility; fr»m sconTto W 
 awakened And when the transilion did Tome J^^ 
 
 pro<Ja.med the golden fetters; passion shone in her 
 'ghu^es defiant though willing, lofty thougThumble 
 joyous though shy. ^ "umoie. 
 
 Was it the heat from the lamps ?_but Mauville's 
 brow became flushed ; his buoyancy seeme. IZtl 
 bruta ; des.re lurked in his lively glances ; Pan gleamed 
 from the curls of Hyperion I •«• gieamed 
 
 The play jogged on its blithesome course to its 
 wonted end; the duke delivered the excellent hom!°y. 
 '•A gentle wife 
 U 'tin the .terling comfort of. m«n'. life," 
 
 I 
 

 6* THE STROLLERS 
 
 and the well-pleased audience were preparing to Ieav« 
 
 whoi Barnes, in a drab jacket and trunks, trimmed 
 
 with green ribbon bows, came forward like the down 
 
 m the circus and addressed the "good people." 
 
 _ "In the golden age," said the father of Juliana 
 
 ^eat men treated actors like servants, and, if they 
 
 offended, their ears were cut off. Are we, in brave 
 
 America, returning to the days when they tossed an 
 
 actor m a blanket or gave a poet a hiding? Shall we 
 
 stifle an art which is the purest inspiration of 
 
 Athenian genius? The law prohibits our performing 
 
 and charging admission, but it does not debar us from 
 
 taking a collection, if"-with a bow in which dignity 
 
 and humility were admirably mingled— "you deem the 
 
 laborer worthy of Ms hire ?" 
 
 This novel epilogue was received with laughter and 
 applause, but the audience, although good-natured 
 contained its proportion of timid souls who retreat 
 before the passing plate. The rear guard began to 
 show faint signs of demoralization, when MauviUe 
 sprang to his feet. Pan had disappeared behind his 
 leafy covert ; it was the careless, self-possessed man of 
 the world who arose. 
 
 "I am not concerned about the ethics of art " he 
 said hghtly, "but the ladies of the company may rount 
 me among their devout admin s. I am sure," he 
 added, bowing to the manage with ready grace, "if 
 they were as charming in the old days, after the lords 
 tossed the men, they made love to the women." 
 "There were no actresses in those days, sir," cor- 
 
#. 
 
 GREEN GROW THE RUSHES 65 
 
 rected Barnes, resenting the flippancy of his aristo- 
 cratic auditor. 
 
 "No actresses?" retorted the heir. "Then why did 
 people go to the theater? However, without further 
 argument, let me be the first contributor." 
 
 "The prodigall" said the doctor in an aside to the 
 landlord. "He's holding up a piece of gold. It's the 
 first time ever patroon was a spendthrift I" 
 
 But Mauville's words, on the whole, furthered the 
 manager's project, and the audience remained in its 
 integrity, while Balthazar, a property helmet in hand, 
 descended from his palace and trod the aisles in his 
 drab trunk-hose and purple cloak, a royal mendicant, 
 in whose pot soon jingled the pieces of silver. No 
 one shirked his admission fee and some even gave 
 in excess ; the helmet teemed with riches ; once it had 
 saved broken heads, now it repaired broken fortunes, 
 its properties magical, like the armor of Pallas. 
 
 "How did you like the play, Mr. Saint-Prosper?" 
 said Barnes, as he approached that person. 
 
 "Much; and as for the players"— a gleam of humor 
 stealing over his dark features—" 'peerless' was not 
 too strong." 
 
 "'Your approbation likes me most, my lord,'" 
 quoted the manager, and passed quickly on with his 
 tin pot, in a futile eflfort to evade the outstretched 
 hand of his whilom helper. 
 
 Thanking the audience for their generosity and com- 
 plimenting them on their intelligence, the self-con- 
 stituted lord of the treasury vanished once more be- 
 
66 
 
 THE STROLLERS 
 
 hmd the curtain. The orchestra of two struck up a 
 negro melody; the audience rose again, the women 
 hngenng to exchange their last innocent gossip about 
 prayer-meeting, or about the minister who "knocked 
 the theologic dust from the pulpit cushions in the good 
 oM orthodox way," when some renegade exclaimed: 
 Clear the room for a dance I" 
 
 Jerusha's shawl straightway fell from her shoulders; 
 Hannahs bonnet was whipped from her head; Na- 
 thaniel paused on his way to the stable yard to Iwing 
 out the team and a score of willing hands obeyed the 
 mjunction amid laughing encouragement from the 
 young women whose feet. already were tapping the 
 floor m anticipation of the Virginia Reel, Two Sisters, 
 Hulls Victory, or even the waltz, "lately imported 
 from the Rhine." A battered Cremona appeared like 
 magic and 
 
 "In hU ihlrt of check and Ullowed hair 
 The fiddler tat in hit bull-ruih chair," 
 
 while "Twas Monnie Musk in busy feet and Monnie 
 Musk by heart"~old-fashioned "Monnie Musk" with 
 "first couple join right hands and swing," "forward 
 six" and "across the set" ; an honest dance for country 
 folk that only left regrets when it came to "Good Night 
 for aye to Monnie Musk," although followed by the 
 singing of "Old Hundred" or "Come, ye Sinners, Poor 
 and Needy," on the homeward journey. 
 
 In the parlor the younger lads and lasses were play- 
 ing "snap and catch 'em" and similar games. The 
 portly Dutcli clock gazed down benignly on the 
 
GREEN GROW THE RUSHES (>y 
 
 scene, its face shining good-humoredly like the round 
 visage of some comfortable burgher. "Green grow the 
 rushes, O I" came from many merry-makers. "Kiss her 
 quick and let her go" was followed by scampering of 
 feet and laughter which implied a doubt whether the 
 lad had obeyed the next injunction, "But don't you 
 muss her ruffle, Ol" Forming a moving ring around 
 a young girl, they sang: "There's a rose in the garden 
 for you, young man." A rose, indeed, or a rose-bud, 
 rather, with ruffles he was commanded not to "muss," 
 but which, nevertheless, suffered sadly I 
 
 Among these boys and girls, the patroon discovered 
 Constance, no longer "to the life a duchess," with 
 gown in keeping with the "pride and pomp of exalted 
 station," but attired in the simple dress of lavender 
 she usually wore, though the roses still adorned her 
 hair. Shunning the entrancing waltz, the inspiring 
 "Monnie Musk" and the cotillion, lively when set to 
 Christy's melodies, she had sought the more juvenile 
 element, and, when seen by the land baron, was cir- 
 cling around with fluttering skirts. Joyous, merry, 
 there was no hint now in her natural, giriish ways of 
 the capacity that lay within for varied impersona- 
 tions, from the lightness of coquetry to the thrill of 
 tragedy. 
 
 He did not know how it happened, as he stood there 
 watching her, but the next moment he was imprisoned 
 by the group and voices were singing: 
 
 "There he stands, the booby; who will have him for 
 his beauty?" 
 
 
6B 
 
 THE STROLLERS 
 
 ,nJl!j°^ "" '°°'' ■''"^''•^ : •" had m. ;, his selection 
 and the next moment his am, was im; .;,,,.„„ j^ 
 around the actress's waist. 
 "Kiss her quick and let her go I" 
 Amid the mad confusion he strove to obey the com- 
 ««.d b„t a pantmg voice murmured "no, not" a ^r 
 of dark eyes gazed into his for an instant, defiantly, and 
 ^Pl.ant wa.st slipped from his impassioned grasp; h"s 
 e^r hps, mstead of touching that glowing ch^only 
 grazed a curl that had become loosened, and. lifore 
 he could repeat the attempt, she had passed from his 
 anns. with laughing lips and eyes. ° "°n> ".s 
 
 "Play fair I" shouted the lads. "He should 'kiss 
 her qmck and let her go."' 
 'm he let her go first I" said the others. 
 Kiss her quick,' " reiterated the boys. 
 He can't now," answered the girls 
 
 the^lfm.'°°''^T "'^ "''"'"• "^""^^ y°« «""« 
 the ruffles, O I and the game went on. The old clock 
 gossiped gleefull,, its tongue repeating as pSnJt 
 
 "Let-her-go I-ho f-ho I-one-two-three I" 
 Three o'clock! Admonishingly rang out the hour 
 he jovial face of the clock looking sterner than w^ 
 
 pit upon a smful congreg'aUon. Encugh of "sn«ch- 
 
GREEN GROW THE RUSHES 69 
 
 and-catch'era ;" enough of Hull'. Victory or the Opera 
 Reel; let the weary fiddler descend from his bnll-rush 
 
 i™ sLTrf '""'' °' *•*" "•" be seen in the 
 !wT !k^ ! merry-making began to wane and 
 
 already the sound of wagon-wheels rattled over the 
 log road away from the tevem. Yes, tliey were sing- 
 ing and, as Hepsibeth leaned ; t head on Josiah's 
 shoulder, they uplifted their voices in the gLd old 
 orthodox hymn, "Come, Ye Sinners," for l^us they 
 courted and worshiped in olden times. 
 
 "Good-night, every one I" said a sweet voice, as Con- 
 stance passed calmly on, with not a ruffle mussed. 
 
 Good-night," answered the patroon. a sparkle in 
 hweyes. "I was truly a booby." l«r«e in 
 
 "What can you mean ?" she laughed 
 ^J^ere's many a slip 'twixt-lip and lipl" exclaimed 
 
 «S'?''*^!l''"r','°'°'" *''* y*'""^ eirl turned, and 
 as she did so her look rested on the soldier. His g ance 
 
 sorted 1'^"* ^'Tf ' '^''' "^'"^ •*• *«»•»>" 
 T'lZ *" r'l^' *'°*'y """"""^ the suirs. 
 ^llu ':?y' ''"I'h* I^t^on never took his eyes 
 
 i7j T** f * "^^ ^""•'*'^- Afar, rising ^^d 
 falhng on the clear air, sounded the voices of the 
 
 "Prafae God from whom all bleulngs flow; 
 Pralee Him all creatuna here below;" 
 
70 
 
 THE STROLLERS 
 
 and finally, softer and softer, until the melody melted 
 mto silence : 
 
 "Pr«tae Him aborcye Hetvenlj H-o-t-t— » 
 '^One good turn deserves another," said Barnes to 
 bamt-Prosper, when Susan and Kate had likewise re- 
 tired. "Follow me, sir— to the kitchen! No ques- 
 tions; but cornel" ^ 
 
 ■^ 
 
 '■n 
 
 ww^^rm. 
 
CHAPTER V 
 
 A CONFERENCE IN THE KITCHEN 
 
 A keen observer might have noticed that the door 
 of the inn kitchen had been kept swinging to and fro 
 as certain ones in the audience had stolen cautiously, 
 but repeatedly, in and out of the culinary apartment 
 while the dancing and other festivities were in prog- 
 ress. The itinerant pedagogue was prominent in 
 these mysterious movements which possibly accounted 
 for his white choker's being askew and his disposition 
 to cut a dash, not by declining Greek verbs, but by in- 
 clmmg too amorously toward Miss Abigail, a maiden 
 lady with a pronounced aversion for frivolity. 
 
 The cause of the schoohnaster's froUcsome deport- 
 ment was apparent to the soldier when he followed 
 Barnes into the kitchen, where, in a secluded comer, 
 near the hospitoble oven, in the dim light of a tallow 
 dip, stood a steaming punch bowl. A log smoldered 
 ui the fire-place, casting on the floor the long shadows 
 of the andirons, while a swinging pot was reflected on 
 the ceilmg like a mighty eclipse. Numerous recesses, 
 contammc pans and plates that gleamed by day, were 
 (71) 
 
"KaOCOfr >ESO'JITION TBI CHART 
 
 (ANSI and ISO TEST CHART No. 2) 
 
 jS APPLIED IIVU^GE IPC 
 
 ^^ 1653 Eoil Uoin Si.-«» 
 
 BVS RochBlUr, N*w York 14609 USA 
 
 ^= (716) 482 - 030O - Phon* 
 
 ^S ("6) 2e8-59rn -Fox 
 
7i 
 
 THE STROLLERS 
 
 ^And you certainly gather«i in the contents of their 
 
A CONFERENCE j^ 
 
 Sded' ;:ter ? ° ' ~"<^- »«^ ' I' tided us over ; 
 
 antidotes to the S^r^v "'""^ *"' ^PP"-"' 
 ive spectator dispUvil S ,"'' '"^'""='* "^ P»^^ 
 
 bonny lasses. b.^edXsu'irfi:,d"'K"'^ •"" "^ 
 maids, as clean as fhl^!, *^nw fields, buxom serving 
 
 matro;s. norTve's^^ o'lSIk" Jj^'f -' '"'' "^"^ 
 rural fashion. '"'* '""'"^ "» wholesome 
 
 f"!":::; 1" f ^^ i:2.T^r^ ^-^-.^ at 
 
 warh^ted by hi! sh n p^^dX fo"'"'."'""" '"■ 
 fore himl-ihe vouncm, ■ * '""^^ ^""n"* be- 
 
 of indiffer«ce to friSn' "T"" -"^^^ ^'"» °"« 
 over-sanguine^S T', "°' "^P^^^' ^^' *« 
 met. like AewoTdSS" itched'"; .'^°"''' *« •>»'- 
 as it was emptied ? S »f ! ^ '*'*'''' '**'' »* ^ 
 maakger's „e« re.Srr " ''"! * '™^*'''ft ? '"'« 
 
 queried de„:4 ^tmTh' \r'' *» *«^ 
 Ponirily elated, was notThr • "*"• "'"'""^ '«"- 
 
 character of «fi;e'rfoLn^""^*^ ""' P^^«^'°"* 
 ings. performances," with voluntary offer- 
 
 pe^re"d^Lr;^rs ''"^ •^"^^'' -•■^ » *- 
 
 would the people flock to t I "^\ ''^'^'^ 
 
 be found? Plavs rf™,'f L ^"t where is t to 
 
 Flays don t grow on bushes, even in this 
 
 I 
 
 # 
 
74 
 
 Iff 
 : i 
 
 THE STROLLERS 
 
 I 
 
 agricultural district. And I have yet to discover anv 
 dramatists hereabouts, unless"— jocularly— "you are 
 a Tom Taylor or a Tom Robertson in disguise. Are 
 you sure you have never courted the divine muse' 
 Men of position have frequently been guilty of that 
 folly, SU-." 
 
 ^ "But once," answered the other in the same tone 
 At college ; a political satire." 
 "Was it successful?" 
 
 "Quite so— I was expelled for writing it I" 
 "Well,'.' retorted Barnes, irrelevantly, "you have at 
 least mildly coquetted with the muse. Besides I dare 
 say, you have been behind the scenes a good deal. 
 The green room is a fashionable rendezvous. Where 
 are you going? And what-if I may ask-is your 
 business?" ■ 
 
 "I am on my way to New Orleans," said the traveler 
 after a moment's hesitation. "My business, fortune- 
 getting. In sugar, tobacco, or indigo-culture I" 
 
 "New Orieans I" exclaimed the manager, poising the 
 hdle in mid air. "That, too, is our destination. We 
 have an engagement to play there. Why not join our 
 band? Write or adapt a play for us. Make a temper- 
 ance drama of your play I" 
 
 "You are a whimsical fellow," said the stranger, 
 smiling. "Why don't you write the play yourself?" 
 
 "I? An unread, illiterate dotard I Why, I never 
 had so much as a day's schooling. As a lad I slept 
 with the rats, held horses, swept crossings and lived 
 likeamuQlirk! Me write a play 1 I might let fall ^ 
 
A CONFERENCE 75 
 
 suggestion Here and there; how to set a flat, or where 
 to drop a fly; to plan an entrance, or to arrange an 
 
 tTk " \l!°; ';' *■"= '^°""''^^ '''''' *° his last J It 
 "4 deference-"a scholar to write a dramii." 
 
 Thus you disqualify me," laughed the other, draw- 
 mg out a pipe which he fUIed, and lighted with a coal 
 he d in he iron grip of the antique tongs. "If it were 
 only to help plant a battery or stand in a gap I" hel d 
 grimly, replacing the tongs against the ofd brick oven 
 at one side o the grate. "But to beset King Bacchus 
 in three actsi To storm his castle in the Lt; Se 
 the walls m the second, and blow up all the kinT'! 
 horses and all the king's men in the last-ttat feT 
 deed, serious warfare I" ' 
 
 ' '7™*=' '' *•" be a roundabout way to New Orleans " 
 contmued the manager, disregarding his^mpSs 
 
 rjr , ' '* y°" '*° °°* '•'«<>^in the company of 
 lose in time. If you are a philosopher, you can study 
 human nature through the buflPoon and the mummer 
 
 tlTatr ?f "*"""^'' "^^ "^ ^"^ forestT toTo": 
 ritcom^aTshSr '^ -'-. here is free, though 
 
 His listener gazed thoughtfully into the fir« Was 
 
 to himTT °i ^'"""^ *" ^P'y-h'^^ life a'irac^e 
 to him ? An adventurer himself, was he drawn toward 
 
 ^^^nl "'""?• '"' ^"""^ *he iZonH 
 
 aUvTStuH. ."Ik ""-^ ^'^^« '"^^-^^ '" *e compar- 
 . auve 8ohtud« of the circuit on the wilderness ? 
 
■ I 
 
 76 THE STROLLERS 
 
 As he sat before the glow, the light of the burning 
 shagbark, playing elfishly above the dying embers, out- 
 lined the stalwart, yet active figure and the impenetra- 
 ble, musing features. But when, with an upward 
 shower of sparks, the backlog fell asunder and the 
 wanmg flame cast yet more gloomy shadows behind 
 them, he leaned back in his heavy, hewn chair and 
 again bent an attentive look upon the loquacious 
 speaker. 
 
 "Or, if you desire," resumed the manager after some 
 hesitation, "it might b -come a business venture as well 
 as a pleasure jaunt. Here is a sinking ship. Will 
 fte salvage warrant helping us into port ; that is, New 
 Orleans? There hope tells a flattering tale. The 
 company is well equipped; has a varied repertoire, 
 while Constance"-tenderly-"is a host in herself. 
 If you knew her as I do; had watched her art grow" 
 —his voice trembled— "and to thmk, sometimes I do 
 not know where the next day's sustenance may come 
 from! That she"— ' 
 
 He broke off abruptly, gazing at his companion half- 
 apologetically. "We players, sir," he resumed, "pre- 
 sent a jovial front, but"_tapping his breast-"few 
 know what is going on here I" 
 
 "Therein," said the younger man, emptying his pipe, 
 you have stated a universal truth." He pushed a 
 smoldering log with his foot toward the remnants of 
 the onbers. "Suppose I were so minded to venture" 
 —and he mentioned a modest sum— "in this hazard 
 and we patched up the play together r 
 
A CONFERENCE 77 
 
 "You don't mean it?" cried the manager, eagerly 
 Then he regarded the other suspiciously : " YouS 
 posa IS not mspired through sympathy ?" ^ 
 
 Why not through the golden prospects you have 
 so doquently depicted?" replied Saint-P^ospe'r, cowj 
 
 ger Success will come; it must come. You have 
 seen Constance but once. She Uves in eve^r charac! 
 ter to her heart's core. How does she do h ? ^o 
 can tell? It's inborn. A heritage to her 1" 
 
 His voice sank low with emotion. "Yes," he mur- 
 oXr^n^ ^"^ '" '"•* '"-ghtfully, as though an- 
 
 Sr7K sai? Zl ' °°^'"^ "P- "She's a brave 
 always sm^«. '" T' ^"^ ''='''^' ''he would 
 
 fin7us her^r-r'' ^'.'•'"f ''" »" "^ ^'«' '^-"g -<• 
 nnausnerel he exclaimed. "One last run I -r^ .1, 
 
 success of the temperance drama r ^ ""' 
 
 ,J;"r* *r r""^"'' 'hey had parted for their re- 
 st'SrNo ""*".'"' °"'^ '""^ '"''"°'<' -« 'eft down- 
 he h»H ^'^ ''' ''""' ''°'" hehind the bar. where 
 he had been apparently dozing and secretly listening 
 through the half-opened door leading into the kitehen^ 
 he had much difficulty to restrain his laughter ' 
 
 THE PROPER! 
 
 SCARtORO 
 U3LIC HBRARY 
 
ts 
 
 THE STROLLEI S 
 
 'That's a good one to tell Ezekiel," he muttered 
 turning out the lights and sweeping the ashes on the 
 hearth to the back of the grate. "To the temperance 
 drama r 
 
CHAPTER VI 
 
 THE DEPARTURE OF THE CHAWOT 
 
 n,V^*" **,''''l' ^"""^^ *<= *»'""• *e Shadows Of 
 thfn.r'M°*'^ Withdrawn, ushering in the day of 
 
 t J 7r '^^'"^- ^ ^'"^'« ''«*' " the very top 
 .sorted from Us sylvan neighbors, was bathedlS' 
 
 darrjn d'o ""'^^ '^' ^^''-'^^^ benediction o 
 oay Down, down, came the dark shade, pursued bv 
 
 nd tt' T '^^ 'f'' ''°^ °' '"« hill' ™diaSl 
 Returning from the stable, where he had been look 
 
 fore the mn, when a flower fell at his feet, and, rfanc- 
 ng over h.s shoulder, he perceived Susii,, whotas 
 leaning from her window. The yentm^iZT 
 which had Clambered as high ^L'^Z^ ^s' 
 gone plucked, alas, by the way warded of^;r 
 quette. Samt-Prosper bowed, and stooped for the 
 aspmng but now hapless flower which lafin the dust 
 
 You have joined the chariot, I hear?" said Sut,! 
 
 i-or the present," he replied. 
 
 (79) 
 
 5 ♦'■ 
 
So 
 
 THE STROLLERS 
 
 "And what parts will you play?" »he continued, 
 with smiling mquisitiveness. 
 
 "None." 
 
 "What a pity I You would make a handsome lover " 
 T^en she blushed. "Ludi What am I saying? Be- 
 sides -maliciously-"! believe yo . have eyes for 
 some one else. 3ut remember,"-shaking her finger 
 and with a coquettish turn of the head— "I am an ac- 
 tress and therefore vain. I must have the best part 
 in the new piece. Don't forget that, or I'll not travel 
 m the same chariot with you." And Susan disap- 
 peared. ^ 
 
 "Ah, Kate," she said, a moment later, "what a fine- 
 looking young man he isl" 
 "Who?" drawled her sister. 
 "Mr. Saint-Prosper, of course." 
 "He is large enough," retorted Kate, leisurely. 
 
 Large enough! O, Kate, what a phlegmatic crea- 
 ture you are I" 
 
 "Fudge I" said the other as she left the chamber 
 Entenng the tavern, the soldier was met by the wiry 
 o d kdy who bobbed into the breakfast room and ex- 
 plamed the kind of part that fitted her like a glove 
 her prejudices being strong against modem plays. 
 
 Give me dramas Hke 'Oriana,' 'The Rival Queens' 
 or Webster s pieces," she exclaimed, quoting with 
 much fire for her years : 
 
 " 'We are only like dead wallt or vaulted graves!' " 
 "And do not forget the 'heavy' in your piece I" called 
 
THE DEPARTURE 
 
 8i 
 
 i 
 •I 
 
 ■ '>mething you can 
 
 out Hawkes across the table, 
 dig your teeth in I" 
 
 "Nor the 'juvenile lead," chimed in the Celtic 
 Adonis. 
 
 "Adonis makes a great hit in a small part," lauehed 
 Kate, appearing at the door. " 'My lord, the carriage 
 wwaitrngl'" ^ 
 
 "My lady, your tongue is too sharp 1" exclaimed 
 Adonis, nettled. 
 
 "And put in a love scene for Adwiis anr' myself" 
 she contmued, lazily floating into the room. "He is 
 so fond of me, it would not be like acting I" 
 
 This bantering was at lenjfh interrupted by the ap- 
 peaiance of the chariot and the property wagon at the 
 front door, ready for the journey. The rumbling of 
 the vemcles, the resounding hoofs and the resonant 
 voice of the stable boy awakened the young lord of the 
 •nanor m his chamber above. He stretched himself 
 sleepily, swore and again composed himself for slum- 
 ber, when the noise of a property trunk, thunping its 
 
 JZilTf ' 'r ^^'" ' "^^ "' ' ^' ^^^^ 
 nim into hfe and consciousness. 
 
 "H^ the worid come to an end.'" he muttered. 
 
 boxes and slammmg and banging of portable gLs 
 ^^oyed h.m more than he would confess. Withthe 
 hTlT J^ patch-work of heptagons of different 
 hues and pattems-around his shoulders, clothing him 
 
82 
 
 THE STROLLERS 
 
 began to dress ^ """"^'^ ^^""^ him, hf 
 
 mi^eTo:?tw" :,tf'= ? ^'^ ^-"^ d«w near, 
 good cheer, havUforer f I P»«'"? ^"est with 
 the PlaKrs'had "^4rj:°f'S h'Vn-' ^'""^^ 
 Arabella, looked sad aL petive h"I ^^'""• 
 
 ^wtrr:::'i--sfr^ 
 
 as ever «tnca ed a' oa^h' f"" ,"' ' '''^"''"^" 
 team, playfu, throutj, ? . * Quagmire. The 
 
 the rein';, Ldstr;,'™^-^^^^^^^^^^ '"^^"='' « 
 shot through space L a°„ ^4^ ^^^ '^^"-"^ 
 
 traveling costume JbMTpS'^'r." '" ^ 
 and, after the fashion oitZ/ ^1^ °^ ''** ^'ot^, 
 
 velvet. Susan ;asattreH ^^' ">"'' °^ ^«''' "nd 
 ■•mmensely Jl J^^^^ l^Tstl iti^ •'""'''"^ ^^ 
 sleeves of the pagoda foi^ 'C '-*"'' J»^q"ette with 
 spirits as fronT^-V ^he party seemed in hieh ' 
 
 of the mossi'r'if "?/': 'T''' °^^^ ^^e edge 
 
 surveyed the^paX^^'^. °^^^d ^'''" ^"^ 
 
 jreparations for departure. How well 
 
 :sfc/ 
 
THE DEPARTURE 
 
 83 
 
 ul u'^r!r.°^ ^" ^*" '^«'"«= the young girl! 
 H had told h>mself white was her best'adommm 
 
 net and the bow of nbbons beneath her chin 
 
 th.^. "^ ^T^ •""* '•''= ^°°^' handsome I" muttered 
 
 the eyes I How they canlighteni But there'rtha 
 adventurer with her " a. ftT- c ^ "*' 
 
 crossed the yard to th. ^^'^ °^ ""= «>W'er 
 
 .ing rid of 2 r th-rusi" 'i:/i:: 
 
 o^^ed the shutters widerjistening and wlhi„^g"L^,: 
 
 he:;^s.£^r,2^ •■" '"' ^^°^^>- -^-^" "e 
 
 to'Irs'tri'tllror"' r *° ^"^'^ ^ ^°""=*-" retire 
 
 Pose;rini HdT;;urto«er"^'^ "^'"'^- "^ ^P" 
 
 V?dta?Lr"£:"r -f' °"'X the words, 
 
 assist her to the t^^^'^.^'^^e^TuVX-ff" 
 pns^spring into the wagon himself '"""" ^"" 
 
 .and^rof^£"i:f-"^fV^-r- exclaimed the 
 What can"; meJnV ^/r' V' ^°'"^ *■'"' ''^- 
 
^ THE STROLLERS 
 
 soon ackiowledged to himseThrSn^ ^°^'?'' •"" 
 
 according to the proSl nH^ ^'"'* '^'*'*" '^'^ 
 the farewell nfeht^^' ""'' *'^'' "'° *«»''«« : 
 
 the property wagon ^ '''"''' '^'^ »"™«' 'o 
 
 co^p^satl^ .L^^pls.t'ol Sg^u-"^'--"' '"^ 
 Depart!" she laughed quickly. 
 
 ;;As you see," returned the other, immovably. 
 
THE DEPARTURE 
 
 8S 
 
 His words and fhe„S4^:'t ^J J -y'" 
 g^red up«. each detail of costume an'd o^tCjV^ 
 
 the horses sprang forward, and the stable boy a con ' 
 fused tangle of leg. and arms, was shot as f r^' "^^ 
 pul among the sweet-williams. The abruptZarture' 
 
CHAPTER VII 
 
 SOJOURNING IN ARCADIA 
 
 _ Calm and still was the morning; the wandering air 
 just stirred the pendulous branches of the elms and 
 maples and, in the clear atmosphere, the russet hills 
 were sharp^. outlined. As they swung out into the 
 road, with Hans, the musician, at the reins, 4he youne 
 girl removed her bonnet and leaned back in the chair 
 
 lolleT*' "'"'''' ^^^^ ^'"^ ^'^^"'^ '^^ •'"'=""' ^ 
 The throne, imposing on the stage, now appeared but 
 a flimsy article of furniture, with frayed and torn 
 upholstering, and carving which had long since lost 
 Its gilded magnificence. Seated amid the jumble of 
 theatrical appliances and accoutrements-scenery 
 rolled up rug-fashion, property trunks, stage clock 
 lamps and ctaperies-she accepted the situation grace- 
 fully, even finding nothing strange in the presence of 
 the soldier. New faces had come and gore in the 
 company before, and, when Barnes had complacently 
 informed her Saint-Prosper would journey with the 
 Pla/ers to New Orleans in a semi-business capacity 
 (86) "^ ^' 
 
SOJOURNING IN ARCADIA 87 
 
 the arrangement appeared conformable to precedent. 
 The manager's satisfaction augured well for the im- 
 portance of the semi-business role assumed by the 
 stranger, and Barnes' friendliness was perhaps in 
 some degree unconsciously reflected in her manner; 
 an attitude the soldier's own reserve, or taciturnity 
 had not tended to dispel. So, his being in the 
 property wagon seemed no more singular than 
 Hans' occupancy of the front seat, or if Adonis, 
 Hawkes, or Susan had been there with her. She was' 
 accustomed to free and easy comradeship; indeed, 
 knew no other life, and it was only assiduous atten- 
 tions, like those of the land baron's, that startled and 
 disquieted her. 
 
 As comfortably as might be, she settled back in the 
 capacious, threadbare throne, a slender figure in its 
 depths-^nore adapted to accommodate a corpulent 
 Henry Villi— and smiled gaily, as the wagon, in 
 avoiding one rut, ran into another and lurched some- 
 what violently. Saint-Prosper, lodged on a neighbor- 
 mg trunk, quickly extended a steadying hand. 
 "You see how precarious thrones are I" he said. 
 "There isn't room for it to more than totter," she re- 
 plied lightly, removing her bonnet and lazily swing- 
 ing It from the arm of the chair. 
 
 "Then it's safer than real thrones," he answered 
 watchmg the swaying bonnet, or perhaps, contrasting 
 the muscular, bronzed hand he had placed on the chair 
 with the smooth, rtrhite one which held the blue rib- 
 
88 
 
 THE STROLLERS 
 
 • bons; a small, though firm, hand to grapple with the 
 »4^ mmotaur, Lifel i- 
 
 She slowly wound the ribbons around her fingers. 
 Oh, you mean France," she said, and he looked 
 away with sudden disquietude. "Poor monarchsl 
 Their road is rougher than this one." 
 * ,:^ "Rougher truly I" 
 
 '■!•■'?*•» ■ "Yott l^^^ France ?" she asked suddenly, after study- 
 ";9&^*i^gWj^ sidelong glances his reserved, im- 
 
 His gaze returned to her-to the bonnet now resting 
 l4|pfr# . "^ ""■ 'ap— to the hand beside it. 
 
 "It is my native land," he replied. 
 
 "Then why did you leave it— in its trouble?" she 
 asked impulsively. 
 
 : "Why?" he repeated, regarding her keenly; but in 
 a moment he added: "For several reasons. I re- 
 turned from Africa, from serving under Bugeaud, to 
 
 .7 *"„'■*** ^^S waving in Paris; the king fled!" 
 
 "Oh," she said, quickly, "a king should—" 
 
 "What?" he asked, as she paused. 
 
 "I was going to say it was better to die like a kine 
 than — " * 
 
 "Than live an outcast!" he concluded for her a 
 shadow on his brow. ' 
 
 She nodded. "At any rate, that is the way they al- 
 ways do in the plays," she added brightly. "But you 
 were saying you found your real king fled ?" 
 
 His heavy brows contracted, though he answered 
 readil> enough: "Yes, the king had fled. A kins- 
 
I 
 
 SOJOURNING IN ARCADIA 89 
 
 man in whose house I had been reared then bade me 
 head a moveiqe^ for the restoration of the royal 
 fugitive. For i^Sft object? The regency was doomed. 
 The king, a May-fly I" 
 
 "And so you refused ?" 
 
 "We quarreled ; he swore like a Gascon. His little 
 puppet should yet sit in the chair where Louis XIV 
 had lorded it I I, who owed my commission to his no- 
 ble name, was a republican, a deserter 1 The best way 
 out of the difficulty was out of the country. First it 
 was England, then it was here. To-morrow — where ?" 
 he added, in a lower tone, half '., himself. 
 
 "Where?" she repeated, lightly. "That is our case, 
 too." 
 
 He looked at her with sudden interest. "Yours is 
 an eventful life, Miss Carew." 
 
 "I have never known any other," she said, simply, 
 adding after a pause: "My earliest recollections 
 are associated with my mother and the stage. As a 
 child I watched her from the wings. I remember a 
 grand voice and majestic presence. When the au- 
 dience broke into applause, my heart throbbed with 
 pride." 
 
 But as her thoughts reverted to times past, the 
 touch of melancholy, invoked by the memory of her 
 mother, was gradually dispelled, as fancy conjured 
 other scenes, and a flickering smile hovered over the 
 lips whose parting displaced that graver mood. 
 
 "Once or twice I played with her, too," she added. 
 "I thought it nice to be one of the little princes in 
 
 mmm 
 
$6 
 
 THE STROLLERS 
 
 ^^^^ItTtrTZ^^ ^="--" '='-''- One „i,ht 
 and said- 7 had « ^'""""^" *°°k -"e on his taee 
 wicked oid uLe hadn'S "' "^'"^ """ ^ » ^^e 
 "e had gone, my Shel SeT "''.r '' ^•'- 
 ton Irving. I t^h £ vT^ ITf^^.'^"'''"^- 
 
 you^not«a«e.d?;rhoC^-^^^^^^^ "^'^ ^^^ 
 laughed/"' ''''°"''' '' ^<^ wanted more," she 
 
 sa2r^StS^^HTh"^"i^°'-''--er- 
 
 ish countenance ^^orthJn a^d'^-*"™'"*^ " '""?" 
 road. '^ *" ^^ pointing down the 
 
 Of th?r^Xe\«2: ^>^r °"^ °^ '""^ <=-"- 
 lands of leatheranH . • '"*^'™' *yP«' hung on 
 
 notun„ker:ssrdV^t/t:2t?"^^^^^ 
 
 artd the road Tair the ' '" '•'"^ "'^^ ^^^ "o' f«sh 
 torn and practS^p Sud^tTr '°"°"^'' *at cus- 
 The pass^ger ami. u ' '''^"'"8^ °^ *« <=oach. 
 wearing coJu^LriU'^^ith^^Ir"^' '^'^^^' 
 catchers attached, were tc«w«^ °' '^''"- •- 
 
SOJOURNING IN ARCADIA 91 
 
 Old Hundred, seemed as spry and cheery as when he 
 started. 
 
 "Morning," he said, briskly, drawing in his horses. 
 "Come back, have ye, with yer troupe? What's the 
 neuws from Alban-y?" 
 
 "Nothing, except Texas has been admitted as a 
 State," answered Barnes. 
 
 "Sho I We air coming on I" commented the Methu- 
 selah of the road. 
 
 "Coming on 1" groaned a voice in the vehicle, and the 
 florid face of an English traveler appeared at the door. 
 "I say, do you call this 'coming on 1' I'm nearly gone, 
 don't you know I" 
 
 "Hil— ge' long!— steady there!" And Old Hun- 
 dred again whipped up his team, precipitating a lady 
 into the lap of the gentleman who was "nearly gone," 
 and well-nigh completing his annihilation. 
 
 In less time than when a friendly sail is lost in the 
 mist. Old Hundred's bulky land-wherry passed from 
 view, and the loldier again turned to his companion. 
 But she was now intent on some part in a play 
 which she was quietly studying and he contented him- 
 self with lighting that staple luxury of the ^arly 
 commonwealth, a Virginia stogie, observing her from 
 time to time over the glowing end. With the book 
 upon her knee, her head downcast and partly turned 
 from him, he could, nevertheless, through the mazy 
 convolutions and dreamy spirals of the Indian weed, 
 detect the changing emotions which swept over her, 
 as in fancy she* assumed a role in the drama. Now the 
 
9» 
 
 THE STROLLERS 
 
 wherefore R~lT '^ f " '°'°''* "°t where or 
 wneretore. Rocked m the cradle of mtc =^j x 
 
 tel »i^ ^ '^'' ""'""^ '•'« »«=at, compact little 
 
 tLlST ^"^' •"' "" "'* co„so.atio„'"frfhe 
 
 Confronted by the deserted house, where thev hnH 
 
 tTC'd'Sh "'"'• '""^ ^^^ n°^'--*^ ': 
 
 to proc^d, and their journey was resumed with some 
 i^°"fT '° '^' "^-^"P^"*^ °f the coach whS, nl 
 tan' TH ' P^^SP--" g«"eon. st^SfbH 
 squall. They had advanced in this manner for 
 
SOJOURNING IN ARCADIA 
 
 93 
 
 some distance through furrow and groove, when 
 the vehicle gave a sharper lurch down a deeper rut; 
 a crash was followed by cries of affright and the char- 
 iot abruptly settled on one side. Barnes held the 
 plunging horses in control, while the gentlemen scram- 
 bled to the ground and assisted the ladies to dismount. 
 
 "Any one hurt ?" asked the manager from his box. 
 
 "No damage done — except to the coach," said 
 Hawkes. 
 
 By this time the horses had become quiet and Barnes, 
 now that the passengers were rescued, like- a good 
 skipper, left the quarter deck. 
 
 "We couldn't have chosen a better place for our 
 lunch," he remarked philosophically. "How fortunate 
 we should have broken down where we did I" 
 
 "Very fortunate I" echoed the old lady ironically. 
 
 The accident had happened upon a slight plateau, of 
 which they accordingly took possession, tethering the 
 horses to graze. From the branches overhead the 
 squirrels surveyed them as if asking what manner of 
 people were these, and the busy woodpecker ceased his 
 drumming, cocking his head inquisitively at the intru- 
 ders; then shyly drew away, mounting spirally the 
 trunk of the tree to the hole, chiseled by his strong 
 beak for a nest. As Barnes gazed around upon the 
 pleasing prospect, he straightway became the duke in 
 the comedy of the forest. 
 
 "Ha, my brothers in exile," he exclaimed, "are not 
 these woods more free from peril than the envious 
 court?" 
 
94 
 
 THE STROLLERS 
 
 ton, greens and a foaming pot " 
 
 ^^ ger. ijut, at least, we have a well-filled ham- 
 
 iv,cf., 1- •^^P^'^' *™ Barnes, actor, manager bill 
 
 r^S eXZTf ''^' ^"^^ '"^''^•^^ --^ 
 „i,^ J . • P °' J"'"*"" and wheelwripht T1,a 
 
 pecker had vanished in his snug chamber, and ^r 
 
SOJOURNING IN ARCADIA 95 
 
 forest dwellers of noctunial habiu were now abroad, 
 their name legion like the gad-abouts of a pc ilous 
 city. 
 
 "There!" exclaimed the manager, surveying his 
 handiwork. "The ^us is ready I But there is little 
 use going on to-night. I am not sure of the road 
 and here is a likely spot to pass the night." 
 
 "Likely to be devoured by wild beasts," said Kate, 
 with a shudder. 
 
 "I am sure I see two glistening eyesl" exclaimed 
 Susan. 
 
 "Fudge!" observed the elastic old lady. "That's 
 the first time you have been afraid of two glistening 
 eyes." 
 
 "There's a vast diflference between wolves and men," 
 murmured Susan. 
 
 "I'm not so sure of that," returned the aged cynic. 
 
 But as the light of day was withdrawn a great 
 fire sprang up, illumining the immediate foreground. 
 The flames were cheering, drawing the party more 
 closely together. Even Hawkes partly discarded 
 his tragedy face; the old lady threw a bundle of fifty 
 odd years from her shoulders as easily as a wood-car- 
 rier would cast aside his miserable stack of fagots, 
 while Barnes forgot his troubles in narrating the har- 
 rowing experience of a company which had penetrated 
 the west at a period antedating the settlement of the 
 Michigan and Ohio boundary dispute. 
 
 The soldier alone was silent, curiously watching the 
 play of light and shade on the faces of the strollers, 
 
* THE STROLLERS 
 
 SJ' Z^ 'Sr'^''' °" "■* ^-^u- of 
 old the h«rt of VZ^^r'r^ *«=■■«« oak. so 
 
 eighty shell, the \iZJz:^ii\:r^''^ «»•» « 
 
 clearly outlined, but a«Lst^h7f / I '"*'*" *" 
 furrowed background Te^^'. ,",'",'« 'oughly- 
 cate to buffet with stones Tdh^JT ''*''* ''"'* '*''«- 
 experience was a foreZeTof th/» "'' ^'"' ^''' 
 wandering life, but anXr ime the m"?^*^ "" *" 
 be turned to diversion Thl u ""'"'P "'^^t "ot 
 traverse sunny by-waw • tS Hr,'\T"^ "°* ^''^''y' 
 •najestic ann of thT^k *fl '^ ''*^ ««"»« from the 
 «ruck the earth pres^H h T^ °^ '^ "^m as it 
 "HowdoyrenirS- ^^" ''*" '^'=y°" ^ come. 
 
 and Its sweets, hasn't it? V«Z' ,. • ^* '** '''"^" 
 «" added, glancnV Ln^T""^ '''■'''«''' '"Su- 
 
 "B«t after kll^Sn'r^uchltf *k ^^^ «^''- 
 yo" « you are in ^ Zl'v "" ?h " '"'^'^ *° 
 Pemitted her to g^stStZ' i„t J v '^'^^'^ 
 Ignored the opportunity for rf T '"' ^^^^ "e 
 
 «l^d a littie jrC2 ori^^aS"""'' "° '"^ 
 
 she cS: r "Cut?"'''''"'" *'^ -"^^"'- ." 
 
 s°:e:;:^s:??^-^^s 
 
 coC^ Crew had a part to study." he retu«.. 
 "A part to study!" In mock consternation. "Ho^ 
 
SOJOURNING IN ARCADIA 97 
 
 I hate studying parts 1 They say what you wouldn't, 
 and don't say what you would I But I'm off to bed " 
 rising impatiently. "I'm getting sleepy I" 
 
 "Sleepyl" echoed Barnes. "Take your choice I The 
 Hotel du Omnibus"— indicating the chariot— "or 
 the Villa Italienne?"— with a gesture toward a tent 
 made of the drop curtain upon the walls of which was 
 the picture of an Italian scene. 
 
 "The chariot for me," answered Susan. "It is more 
 mgli and dry and does not suggest spiders and other 
 crawlmg things." 
 
 "Good-night, then, and remember a good conscience 
 makes a hard bed soft." 
 
 "Thai I shall sleep on down. I Jiaven't had a 
 chance -with a sigh-"to damage my conscience 
 tetely. But when I strike civilization again"-and 
 busan shoot her head eloquently to conclude hci sen- 
 tence "Oh, yes ; if beds depend on conscience, boughs 
 would be feathers for me to-night." With which half- 
 langhmg, half-defiant conclusion, Susan tripped to the 
 chanot, pausing a moment, however, to cast a reproach- 
 ful glance over her shoulder at Saint-Prosper before 
 vamshmg in the cavernous depths of the vehicle of the 
 muses. 
 
 Her departure was the signal for the dispersing of 
 tiie party to their respective couches. Now the fire 
 sank lower, the stars came out brighter and the moon 
 arose Md traveled majestically up the heavens, taking 
 a brief but comprehensive survey of the habitations 
 of mortals, and then, as if satisfied with her scnitiny, 
 sailed back to the horizon and dropped out of sight 
 
CHAPTER VIII 
 
 FLIPPING THE SHILLING 
 
 thlvounr ^ T"°"' ^'"^ ^^'''^ h« had viewed 
 «^e young g,rl „,ght after night were reawakened 
 
 ^ed^^haToartedT '"* *" ''''"■ "'^ ^^"^ism wH t 
 
 —ted vamty ; another had whipped her off before 
 
 ♦t, T^u""! ''"" '^''^"'' y°» t^" -"e he was goine with 
 the. P^ he demanded of the landlord while sSg^is 
 
 (98) 
 
FLIPPING THE SHILLING 99 
 
 "He — who?" asked the surprised innkeeper. 
 "That adventurer you have been harboring here. 
 How far's he going with them?" 
 
 "I don't know. The night after the performance 
 I heard the manager ask him to join the company ; to 
 write a temperance play." 
 
 "Temperance play I" sneered Mauville. "The fool's 
 gone with them on account of a woman." 
 
 "I did think he was mighty attentive to one of the 
 actresses," said the landlord, reflectively. "The one 
 with them melting eyes. Purty good-looking I Quiet 
 and lady-like, tool So he's gallivanting after her? 
 Well, well, I guess actresses be all alike." 
 
 "I guess they are," added the heir savagely. "And 
 this one took me in," he thought to himself. "Hold- 
 ing me oS and playing with him, the jade!" Then 
 he continued aloud: "Where are they going?" 
 
 "Didn't hear 'em say," answered the other, "and I 
 didn't like to appear too curious." 
 
 "You didn't ?" returned Mauville, ironically. "You 
 must have changed lately." 
 
 "I don't know as I understand you quite," replied 
 the landlord with sudden dignity. "But here's your 
 carriage and your things are all on. I guess your ten- 
 ants will be glad to see you," he -continued, not resist- 
 ing a parting shot. 
 
 "Curse the tenants I" muttered the guest in ill-humor, 
 as he strode from the tavern without more ado. 
 
 He was soon on his way, partly forgetting his vexa- 
 tion in new anticipations, and traveling with spirit to 
 
100 
 
 THE STROLLERS 
 
 Th. r«T ' f '? ^' "'^'^''^ ^'^ that afternoon. 
 The residence of the old patroons, a lordly mano' 
 where once lavish hospitality had been displayed "a 
 
 whicht: f r^" ^^''^ ^^'" °^ hamn^eUil L 
 whKh the family arms were interwoven, leading into 
 a fine avenue of trees. The branches of the mo e 
 majestic met overhead, forming a sylvan ..rch thaTa! 
 most obscured the blue sky by day and the sUrs by 
 night. Ga«ng through this vista, a stately portico 
 appeared, with Corinthian columns, affording'anTv~ 
 mg termination of the view. The grounds bore ev - 
 dence of neglect in the grass growing knee-high and 
 rank with weeds; the flower beds almost oblitlatrd 
 a corn-crib sunk to one side like a quadrupeTgone' 
 
 ^H^^T^r" *'^ '"'^'^ *^' struggled vfi^; 
 through the leaves and rubbish barring its passage 
 across the estate The fence resembled The "compa^ 
 front of an awkward squad, each picket being more 
 or les. mdependent of its neighbor, with here and there 
 a break or gap in the ranks. 
 
 roa?lf/H*'°"^'' '^' ^^^' ""'^""y °^"^' » "°i«less 
 th^. ,s K r""? °'*' *^' '^°'- '^^ heir could see 
 that the broad wmdows, with their quaint squares of 
 glass, were unwashed, the portico unswept and the 
 brass finishings of the front door unpolished. At the 
 right of the steps leading to the portico, moss-covered 
 and almost concealed by a rose-bush, stood a huge 
 block of granite upon which rested the "lifting-stone " 
 as It was called, of one of the early masters. This not 
 inconsiderable weight the new retainers had been re- 
 
FLIPPING THE SHILLING loi 
 
 quired to lift in days of old, or failing, the patroon 
 would have none of their services, for he wanted only 
 h'sty, broad-backed varlets for farmers or— when need 
 were — soldiers. 
 
 In answer to repeated summons from the ponderous 
 knocker, shufflinry footsteps were finally heard within, 
 the door was o^-ened a few inches and the gleaming 
 teeth of a great, gaunt dog were thrust into the open- 
 ing, followed by an ominous growling. Mauville 
 sprang back a step; the snarling resolved itself into 
 a yelp, as some one unceremoniously dragged the canine 
 back; the door was opened wider and a brawny figure, 
 smoking a long-stemmed pipe, barred the way. The 
 dog,^ but partly appeased, peered from behind the 
 man's sturdy legs, awaiting hostilities. The latter, 
 an imperturbable Dutchman, eyed the intruder askance, 
 smoking as impassively in his face as one of his ances- 
 tors before William the Testy. From his point of 
 vantage on the threshold the care-taker looked down 
 upon the master so indifferently, while the dog glared 
 so viciously that the land baron cried angrily : 
 
 "Why the devil don't you get out of the way and call 
 oflf that beast?" 
 
 The man pondered. "No one but the heir would 
 give orders like that," he said, so accustomed to speak- 
 ing his thoughts in the solitude of the great rooms, 
 that he gave way to the habit now. "This must be the 
 heir." 
 
 Slowly the care-taker moved aside, the hound shift- 
 ing his position accordingly, and Mauville entered, 
 
103 
 
 THE STROLLERS 
 
 • ^zing around with some interest, for the interior of 
 
 wSd Id T u" '■'" ""' ''' '^*'""~d -"d rose- 
 wood, and the mahogany wainscoting, extendifur al 
 
 srr" ?• "" "^^•^ ^'^'^ ^^' w-'^ K 
 
 carvmgs the stairway suggested woody rioting in 
 balustrades hfting „p to the support of the hfa,^ 
 beams m the ceihng. The fumishhgs were L W 
 mg but dust obscured the mirror-Iik^ surface of Th^ 
 mahogany tables, the heavy draperies were taneed o 
 renovation, while a housewife would have viewed with 
 despair he condition of brass and ebony inl^d <^W 
 nets, ancient tapestries, and pictures, well-nigh defa«d 
 
 Sir^Godfrey Kneller, Benjamin West and the elder 
 
 Having casually surveyed his new home, the heir 
 was reminded of the need for refreshment aftLhs 
 long journey, and, turning to the care-taker, asked hta 
 sTli;^tH""^''^''°""• ^"^ -rvam smot^ 
 ques ion while the rear guard maintained unabated 
 hostility between the man's firmly-planted feet. ThS 
 abruptly, without removing his pipe, the guardian S 
 the manor ejaculated: su^aian ot 
 
 "Short-cakes and oly-koeks." 
 
 rJ^^ ^'^7 '^"f""^' '^'"'^ ^'' >»ee with his light 
 cane and demanded to be shown to the library, wK 
 he^would have these outlandish dishes served 
 
 And bring with them, Mynheer Oly-koeks, a bot- 
 
FLIPPING tH£ SHILLING I03 
 
 tie of wine," ha continued. "At the same time, chain 
 up the dog. He eyes me with such hungry hostility 
 that, gad! I believe he's an anti-renter I" 
 
 Mauville was ushered into a large room, where great 
 leather-bound volumes filled the oak shelves to the 
 ceiling. The care-taker turned, and, with echoing foot- 
 steps, slowly departed, followed by his faithful four- 
 *"oted retainer. It is true the latter paused, swung 
 liaif-aroui (1 and regarded the land-owner with the 
 look of a sulky and rebellious tenant, but, summoned 
 by a stem "OloflFel" from his master, the dog reluct- 
 antly pattered across the hard-wood floor. 
 
 In surveying his surroundings, the land baron's at- 
 tention was attracted by a coat-of-arms deeply carved 
 m the massive wood of the book-case— on a saltire 
 sable, a fleur-de-lys or. This head of heraldic flowers 
 appeared to interest Mauville, who smiled grimly. 
 "From what I know of my worthy ancestors," he 
 muttered, "and their propensities to prey on their fel- 
 low-men, I should say a more fitting device would be 
 that of Lovett of Astwell: Gules, three wolves pas- 
 sant sable, in pale." 
 
 Pleased with his own humor, he threw himself upon 
 a couch near the window, stretching himself luxu- 
 riously. Soon the man reappeared with the refresh- 
 ments and a bottle of old-fashioned, substantial girth, 
 which he uncorked wth marked solicitude. 
 "Where are the oly-koeks?" exclaimed the heir. 
 The watchman pointed to a great dish of dark blue 
 willow-ware pattern. 
 
to* 
 
 THE STROLLERS 
 
 »!.. ? ' ^°"«*»""' ' "»•«> MauviUe. "You know where 
 tte family lawyer lives? Have my man dri ve vou to 
 his house and bring him here at once " ^ 
 
 As the care-taker ajrain disappeared the heir bent 
 over the curiously shaped bottle Tdelight f or wl^ 
 tte cork was drawn a fragrance lilled tb!LsS±^. 
 meat as from a bouquet. "pan- 
 
 "Blessings on the Mcestor who laid down this 
 winel" he muttered. "Mav hio ThrS^^ ^ • 
 sniff it, These o.y-koekfa^ ll Ld'^irpte'Vi: 
 man, Ten Breecheses, or whatever he is X is 
 
 rch'=?hrh.^°"f "'"^;. ^'*''°"^'^ ' '•-''thi'S 
 much of his housekeeping," ruminated Mauville as 
 
 he observed a herculean spider weaving a web from 
 
 an old volume of Giraldus Cambrensis, antiW to 
 
 he classical works of one Joseph of Exeter The e 
 
 MJm:i:n:T'-^'"^ ^^^ ^'^ cobwebsTtd 
 which ttr 1 *'* '""^''""^ •"*'=«''' *« «««=« to 
 
 fh, K. J^!u- P°"'*'=^°"'' tomes had sunk-but serving 
 the bloodthirsty purpose of the nimble architect ^2 
 
 -nd tlT ^^"''*'!"f «y h^d i"st bobbed into the net 
 
 :;« Kr '"^"' '''"' •''''«'"''' carnivorous zest wal 
 scra,:ibhng for it, when the guardian of thTL 
 -turned with the family solic^o^aTt L m^ S 
 bore m his arms a bundle of papers which after^b^ 
 
 hellTr ^f'"^' "^ ^P^^^' ^Pon the^abl" He 
 helped himself to a glass of burgundy and proceeded 
 forthwith to enter into the histoiTof his trust 
 Mynheer, the patroon. Mauville's predecessor, a 
 

 FLIPPING THE SHILLING 105 
 
 lonely, arrogant man, had held tenaciously to the im- 
 mense tracts of land acquired in the colonial days by 
 nominal purchase. He had never married, his desire 
 for an heir being discounted by his aversion for the 
 other sex, until as the days dragged on, he found him- 
 self bed-ridden and childless in his old age. Un- 
 fortunately the miser can not take his acres into Para- 
 dise, and the patroon, with many an inward groan, 
 cast about him for some remote relative to whom he 
 would reluctantly transfer his earthly hereditaments. 
 These were two: one a man of piety, who prayed 
 with the tenants when they complained of their lot; 
 the «ther, Mauville, upon whom he had never set 
 eyes. 
 
 When the earliest patroons had made known to the 
 \yest India Company their intention of planting colo- 
 nies in New Netherland, they had issued attractive 
 maps to promote their colonization projects. Among 
 those who had been lured to America by these enticing 
 advertisements was an ancestor of Edward Mauville. 
 Incurring the displeasure of the governor for his god- 
 less views, this Frenchman was sent to the pillory, or 
 whipping post, and his neighbors were about to cast 
 out the devil of irreverence in good old-fashioned 
 manner, when one of Mynheer's daughters interceded, 
 carried off the handsome miscreant, and— such was her 
 imperious way I— married him I He was heard in after 
 years to aver that the whipping would have been the 
 milder punishment, but, be that as it may, a child was 
 bom unto them who inherited the father's adventure- 
 
to6 
 
 The strollers 
 
 Ss'Stf r'"' ''"'''"' ''"^^^'^ •''« home, joined 
 
 hands with some ocean-rovers and sailed for that oas 
 
 ure-ground of buccaneers, the Caribbean sea Of'^h 
 
 ubsequent h.story various stories may be found in the 
 
 chromcles of New Orleans and Louisiana. 
 
 The only other person who might have any ore 
 
 adTIn'^a* mis"- "^ "" ^ '^^^^ '"'' «-"-- wh° 
 K from \ """^ ""°"^ '^' ^"'«^"=' P'-«=«ch- 
 
 bv the rl^ ?'"P' '"'^ '^'""'' "Little Thunder- 
 by the red men because of his powerful voice; a lineal 
 
 the first domm.e of the patroons, who served for one 
 housand guilders, payable in meat or drink twen! 
 
 g: « ;t'' "' ^''''' '"' '-° fi^l^i- oi 'butter 
 men TV.'u°"'' °^ "'^ ^^^^«=^' ^^ile the white 
 men cheated their bodies. Now and then, in those 
 early days, the children of the forest protest d against 
 th.s evangehzmg process and carried off the^ 
 domm.e to the torture stake, where they plucked^ 
 
 J ?rrr''i.''"' ^' "'"™^'' ^'* ^ «"=h zest to 
 h.s task of landing these simple souls in Paradi,e as 
 hose who employed him displayed in making an earth- 
 !hem " °"' °' ''' '^"'^ ''^ '"" ■"«> '«ft •'-hi 
 When by this shrewd system the savages were 
 gradually saved, and incidentally exterminated. Little 
 
 .l^r f \r?^''°" ^'' ^°"^ ^'^ '^^ became a pen- 
 sioner of Mynheer the Patroon, earning his bread by 
 an occasional sermon to the tenants, exhorting them 
 to thrift and industry, to be faithful and multipV a^d 
 
1 
 
 FLIPPING THE SHILLING 107 
 
 to pay their rents promptly. As Mynheer's time drew 
 near he sent for his attorney and commanded him to 
 look up the life, deeds and character of Edward Mau- 
 ville. 
 
 "This I did," said the lawyer, "and here it is." 
 Waving a roll of papers before his interested listener. 
 
 "A nauseating mess, no doubt," carelessly remarked 
 the land baron. 
 
 "Oh, sir I" deprecated the lawyer, opening the roll. 
 "'Item: Religion; pupil of the brilliant Jesuit, Abbe 
 Moneau. Item: Morals; Exhibit A, the affair with 
 Countess in Paris, where he was sent to be edu- 
 cated after the fashion of French families in New 
 Orleans ; Exhibit B — ' " 
 
 "Spare me," exclaimed Mauville. "Life is weari- 
 some enough, but a biography—" He shrugged his 
 shoulders. "Come to your point." 
 
 "Of course, sir, I was only trying to carry out his 
 instructions. The same, sir, as I would carry out 
 yours 1" With an ingratiating smile. Whereupon the 
 attorney told how he had furnished the patroon this 
 roll and fastened it to his bed, so that he might wind and 
 unwind it, perusing it at his pleasure. This the dying 
 man did, sternly noting Ae damaging facts ; thinking 
 doubtlessly how traits will endure for generations- 
 aye, for ages, in spite of the pillory !— the while Little 
 Thunder was roaring petitions to divinity by his bed- 
 side, as though to bluster and bully the Almighty into 
 granting his supplications. The patroon glanced from 
 his pensioner to the roll; from the kneeling man to 
 
 . ;"% 
 
io8 
 
 THE STROLLERS 
 
 that prr "^ous list of peccadillos, and then h#. cTU^ 
 "Roui or sham," he said the first time. 
 
 ardent ant.-renter, a leader of "bolters," a thu^erer of 
 
 heifTf^S manon ''"■"" '" '"""=""^' *"' ^°-S" 
 
 "But let him thunder awav «ir" .,:j c 
 -Hi„,l, "Xhe estate's Sn::;. f^rL'^^J: 
 troon cant come back to change his mind H^, 
 
 '^ asTCt '%""= ^°^^' " ''''^'^ -"^ ^"^^ 
 spot as befitted his disposition, but restful withal 
 
 Aye and the marble slab's above him, which remlS 
 
 me th. on y a month before he took to his bed h^wS 
 
 mokmg h,s p,pe on the porch, when his glance MX 
 
 Lr^ J. r^"r°"" ^"'''''^"'y •>« ^'^"d- towards " 
 bent h.s back and raised it a full two inches. 'So much 
 
 nlTe ';.■ ^'^«-'^^- But age heard Wm and 
 
 now he ,es w.th a stone on him he can not lift while 
 you s.r"-to his listener, deferentially-"are sole hel 
 to the estate and to the feud." 
 
:l 
 
 I 
 
 I 
 
 FLIPPING THE SHILLING 109 
 
 "A feud goes with the property?" remarked Mau- 
 ville carelessly. 
 
 "The tenants object to paying rent," replied Scroggs, 
 sadly. "They're a sorry lot r 
 
 "Evade their debts, do they?" said the land baron 
 languidly. "What presumption to imitate their bet- 
 ters I That won't do ; I need the money." 
 
 "They claim the rights of the landlord originated in 
 fraud—" 
 
 "No doubt I" Yawning. "My ancestors were 
 rogues I" 
 
 "Oh, sir" — deprecatorily. 
 
 "If the tenants don't pay, turn them out," interrupted 
 Mauville, listlessly, "if you have to depopulate the 
 country." 
 
 Having come to an understanding with his client, 
 the lawyer arose to take his departure. 
 
 "By the way," he said, obsequiously, selecting a yel- 
 low, well-worn bit of paper from his bundle of docu- 
 ments, "it may interest you to keep this yourself. It 
 is the original deed for all these lands from the squaw 
 Pewasch. You can see they were acquired for a few 
 shillings' worth of 'wet and dry goods' and seventeen 
 and a half ells of duffels." 
 
 "The old patroons could strike a rare bargain," mut- 
 tered the heir, as he casually surveyed the ancient 
 deed, and then, folding it, placed it in his breast pocket. 
 "For a mere song was acquired — " 
 
 "A vast principality," added the solicitor, waving his 
 hand toward the fields and meadows far in the distance. 
 
 ♦ 
 
 m 
 
9 
 
 CHAPTER IX 
 
 SAMPLING THE VINTAGES 
 
 Having started the wheels of justice fafrly moving 
 with Scroggs at the throttle, the new land baron soon 
 discovered that he was not in consonance with the 
 great commoner who said he was savage enough to 
 prefer the woods and wilds of Monticello to all the 
 pleasures of Paris. In other words, those rural de- 
 lights of his forefathers, the pleasures of a closer inti- 
 macy with nature, awoke no responsive chord in Mau- 
 ville's breast, and he began to tire before long of a 
 patriarchal existence and crullers and oly-koeks and 
 playing the fine lord in solitary grandeur. 
 
 The very extent of the deserted manor carried an 
 overwhelmmg sense of loneliness, especially at this 
 season when nature was dying and triumphal tu.ts of 
 decay were replacing the vernal freshness of the for- 
 ests, flaunting gaudy vestments that could not, how- 
 ever, conceal the sadness of the transition. The days 
 were growing shorter and the leaden-colored vapors 
 driven by the whip of that taskmaster, the wind, re- 
 placed the snow-white clouds becalmed in the tender 
 ' (no) 
 
SAMPLING THE VINTAGES in 
 
 depths of ether. Soon would the hoar frost crystal- 
 lize on grass and fence, or the autumn rains de- 
 scend, dripping mournfully from the water spouts 
 and bubbling over the tubs. Already the character of 
 the dawn was changed to an almost sullen awakening 
 of the day, denoting a seeming uneasiness of the hid- 
 den forces, while an angry passing of the glowing orb 
 replaced the Paphian sunset. 
 
 In nook and cranny, through the balustrades and 
 woody screens of the ancient house, penetrated the 
 wandering ciu-rents of air. The draperies waved mys- 
 teriously, as by a hidden hand, and, at nightfall, the 
 floor of satin and rosewood creaked ominously as if be- 
 neath the restless footsteps of former inmates, moving 
 from the somber hangings of the windows to the pearl- 
 inlaid harpsichord whose melody was gone, and thence 
 up the broad stair-case, pausing naturally at th;; land- 
 ing, beneath which had assembled gay gatherings in 
 the colonial days. And such a heedless phantom 
 gi'oup — fine gentlemen in embroidered coats, bright 
 breeches, silk stockings and peruke, and, peeping 
 through ethereal lace wristbands, a white hand fit for 
 no sterner toil than to flourish with airy grace a gold- 
 headed cane; ladies with gleaming bare shoulders, 
 dressed in "cumbrous silk that with its rustling made 
 proud the flesh that bore it !" The imaginative listener 
 could almost distinguish these footfalls, as the blind 
 will recognize the tread of an unseen person. 
 
 To further add to the land baron's dissatisfaction 
 over his heritap:e, "rent-day"— that all-important day in 
 
 # 
 
*:af'^: 
 
 112 
 
 THE STROLLERS 
 
 • 
 
 been dropped from thTmn^ f '"'"^^-^ ^^h^ve 
 
 ancient hoHdaytTiu"^';;;^'^^"^.^'' '^ "^-y «" 
 
 of time. No'^Io„g';So^"„ ''"■'•= "''""^■^ 
 troon's pleasure IhZ TT \°'^ ^^^'^^^ th^ pa- 
 
 have been as o^sole e as a™ IT ' I''' ■'^'^ ""■^'■' 
 ^ev^ for an the obseAa^^l Ss ^orir ' '^^ *° 
 »'^V^^"r^:^^rS^- desert 
 
 ^£ a*; tt, td" "" ~o'S'S 
 
 years ago." ''"'^ ''^^'^ «»«"' four hundred 
 
 He's a reS Golf,5!^'"7'''' °'='^' ">« tollman! 
 purple-. Se'Srei' "A '" '^" '""--'"g 
 
^M^^d 
 
 ' 1 
 
 SAMPLING TP-Ji VfNTi.GES 113 
 
 around it ; radmt as of old, w!xn strain of music had 
 been heard w.thm and many hgu.co pissed the win- 
 dows. But now there was light, and not hfe, and a so"- 
 .tary ant.-renter on the lonely road regarded with sur- 
 prise the unusual illumination. 
 
 "What does it mean?" asked Little Thunder-for 
 of Parad^!"'"'"^ '"'^ '''"'''"^' '^ ^'■*°'" '''' ^ates 
 
 Well might he ask, for the late Mynheer, the Fa- 
 troon, had been a veritable bat for darkness; a few 
 
 he played the prowler, not the grand lord; a recluse 
 who hovered over his wine butts in the cellar and g oat! 
 ed over them while he touched them not; a hen^ t 
 
 tIe°smoW^","^ ^'"^ '" ^"^ •'"<^''-> bending oTe 
 the smoky fire-place, and not a lavender-scented gentle- 
 ma. who a.red himself in the drawing-room, rSe 
 
 Z^T^T"^ ""^^^ "''^"'^ *° P^'y him homag" 
 Lmie Thunder, standing with folded arms in the dark 
 road, gloDmy as Lucifer, almost expected to see the 
 
 ^s^^"" "'"^ - °^ ^-^ -'- 0I t; 
 
 Hour after hour passed, midnight had come and 
 gone, a^d st.U the lights glowed. sLed in th^ Hbra" 
 wuh the curtams drawn, were the land baron Td 
 Scn^ggs, a surveyor's map between them and a do^n 
 bottles around them. Before Ma.ville stood sevTra" 
 
 fhe 1?.^"'""'"^ *'"^^ °' ^"'°"^ vintages whlh 
 the land baron compared and sipped, held to theT<iht 
 and mhaled after the manner of a conkoi«eur s^^^g 
 
 ■ ;*j«^- 
 
£^ 
 
 114 
 
 THE STROLLERS 
 
 a cellar. He was unduly dignified and stately, but the 
 attorney appeared decidedly groggy. The latter's ideas 
 clashed against one another like pebbles in a child's 
 rattle, and, if the round table may be supposed to rep- 
 resent the earth, as the ancient geographers imagined 
 it, Scrogg's face was surely the glowing moon shining 
 upon it. 
 
 Readily had the attorney lent himself to the new 
 order of procedure. With him it was: "The king 
 is dead! Long live the king!" He, who had found 
 but poor, pickings under the former master— dry crust 
 fees for pleadings, demurrers or rejoinders— now an- 
 ticipated generous booty and spoil. Alert for such 
 crumbs as might fall from a bountiful table; keen 
 of scent for scraps and bits, but capable of a mighty 
 mouthful, he paid a courtier's price for it all ; wheed- 
 ling, pandering, ready for any service, ripe for any 
 revelry. With an adulator's tact, he still strove stren- 
 uously to hold the thread of his companion's conver- 
 sation, as Mauville said : 
 
 "Too old, Scroggs ; too old !" Setting down a glass 
 of burgundy in which fine particles floated through the 
 magenta-hued liquid. "It has lost its luster, like a 
 woman's eyes when she has passed the meridian. Good 
 wine, like a woman, has its life. First, sweetly inno- 
 cent, delicately palatable, its blush like a maiden of 
 sixteen ; thpn glowing with a riper development, more 
 passionate in hue, a siren vintage; finally, thin, waning 
 and watery, with only memories of the deeper, rosy- 
 bued days, Now here, my good, but muddled friend, 
 
,i 
 
$^mM JL 
 
 SAMPLING THE VINTAGES 115 
 
 is your youthful maiden 1" Holding toward the lamp 
 a glass, clear as crystal, with luster like a gem. "Danc- 
 mg eyes; a figure upright as a reed; the bearing of a 
 nymph; the soul of a water lily before it has opened 
 Its leaves tc the wooing moonlight I" 
 
 "-SC.^^-^°^ ^°" ^° °'"" «daimed Scroggs. 
 What w.th a sampling this and sampling that, my 
 
 he cellar the old patroons put down we haven't tried, 
 
 m(;J ^;?/°„'''^'' '^^ ^P''"8:. I am of the sage's 
 mmd-Of all men who take wine, the moderate Ly 
 enjoy it, says Master Bacon, or some one else " 
 
 Pass the bottle I" answered the other. "Gently 
 man I Don't disturb its repose, and remember it d s- 
 dams the perpendicular." 
 
 "So will I soon," muttered Scroggs. "I hooe vn„'1l 
 excuse me, sir. but that last drop of^euve Qi^rwas 
 tf^ wh.i.cord that started the top going, and' on my 
 word -raising his hands to his head-"I feel like 
 holdmg it on to keep it from spinning off " 
 
 Spimiing or not, you shall try this vintage"-the 
 young man s eyes gleamed with such fire as fhone in 
 the glass-"and drink to Constance Carew I" 
 
 Constance Carew!" stammered the other desper- 
 ately swallowing the toast ^ 
 
 taste'"sthtlf "•' '="''1"' *^ ^'^'^- "A ba'--- 
 "A rf=.n ^ ^ ^-"^"^' ''"' agreeable," he observed 
 ytttZ7 r"^.f "°^^' ' It carries no warnTg ; 
 
 glances a on<- ", ' ^°'"-"°"' '^'^"'=«^ -hofe 
 glances at once place you on the defensive. This 
 
116 
 
 THE STROLLERS 
 
 maiden vintage, just springing into glorious woman- 
 hood comes over you like a spring-time dream." 
 Who— who is she?" muttered Scroggs 
 "She is not in the scroll you prepared for my 
 lamented kmsman, eh? They are, for the most part, 
 deep red, dark scarlet-that list of fair dames I She 
 doesn t belong to them-yet I No title, man ; not even 
 a society lady. A stroller, which is next door to a 
 vagrant." 
 
 "Well, sir, she's a woman and that's enough " re- 
 plied the lawyer. "And my opinion is, it's better to 
 .1 ve nothmg to do with 'em." 
 This sententious remark seemed to arouse Scroggs 
 to momentary vivacity. 
 
 "Now there was my Lord Hamerton, whose pict- 
 ure is up-stairs," he went on quickly, like a man who 
 IS bent on grasping certain ideas before they escape 
 mm. He brought a beautiful woman here-carried 
 her off, they say from England-and installed her as 
 mistress of the manor. I have heard my father say 
 that his great-grandfather, who was my lord's solicitor 
 said that b..fore his death my lord desired to make her 
 his wife having been brought to a sense of the sinful 
 life he had led by a Puritan preacher. But at that 
 this woman straightened herself up. surveyed him with 
 scorn, and, laughing like a witch, answered: 'Thev 
 say marriages are made in heaven, my lord-and you 
 
 al.H r", ^° "^ ^"'"^ '^^'^ ^'thout ha4g 
 atoned, and. as for my lady who refused to become an 
 
SAMPLING THE VINTAGES 117 
 
 honest woman, I am sure she was damned !" concluded 
 Scroggs triumphantly. 
 
 "No doubt! So this wicked lord abducted her, 
 Scroggs?" he added thoughtfully. "A man of spirit,' 
 until the Puritans got after him and showed him the 
 burning pit and frightened him to that virtue which 
 was foreign to his inclinations. My lady was right in 
 refusing to honor such a paltry scoundrel with her 
 hand. But it takes courage, Scroggs, to face ever- 
 lasting damnation." 
 
 "They say, too, there was a spice of revenge about 
 her unwillingness to give her hand to my lord " re- 
 sumed the narrator, unmindful of the interruption 
 "This Puritan father said nothing but marriage with 
 her would save Hamerton from the sulphurous flames 
 and so my lady refused to sanctify their relations and 
 rescue her lord from perdition !" 
 
 "A pleasant revenge I" laughed the land baron. "He 
 made life a hell for her and she gave him an eternity 
 of It. But take a little of this white wine, man. We've 
 drunk to the roses of desire, and now should drink to 
 the sanctified lilies. Her neck, Scroggs. is like a lily, 
 and her hand and her brow I Beneath that whiteness 
 her eyes shine with a tenderness inviting rays of oas- • 
 sion to kindle them. Drink I" 
 
 But the other gave a sudden lurch forward. "My 
 lady-refused-perdition!" he muttered, and his head 
 dropped to the board. 
 
 "Wake up, man; drink!" commanded the master. 
 
ii8 
 
 THE STROLLERS 
 
 Jush same— they ought to have been married," said 
 h.s companion drowsily. "They lived together so-so 
 III I And then to place himself beyond reach of fur- 
 ther temptation from the bottle, he quietly and natu- 
 rally slid under the table. 
 
 The patroon arose, strode to the window, which he 
 hfted and the night air entered, fanning his hot brow. 
 The leaves, on high, rustled like fallin- rain. The 
 e ms tossed their branches, striking one another in 
 blmd confusion. The long grass whispered as the 
 breeze stirred it like the surface of an inland lake. 
 Withering flowers gave up their last perfume, while 
 a storm-cloud fled wildly across the heavens. Some 
 of the restlessness of the external world disturbed that 
 silent dark figure at the window; within him, conflict- 
 ing passions jarred like the boughs of the trees and 
 his fancies surged like the eddying leaves. 
 
 "The roses of desire— the sanctified lilies!" he mut- 
 tered. 
 
 As he stood there the stars grew pale; the sky trem- 
 bled and quivered before the advent of morn. A 
 heavy footstep fell behind him, and, turning, he be- 
 held the care-taker. 
 
 "Not in bed yet, 0!y-koeks?" cheerfully said the 
 land baron. 
 
 "I am just up." 
 
 "In that case, it is time for me to retire," returned 
 the master, with a yawn. "This is a dull place, Oly- 
 koeks ; no life ; no variety. Nothing going on !" 
 
 The servant glanced at the fprmidable array of bot- 
 
■ r 
 
 -'4- 
 
 4-: 
 
 SAMPLING THE VINTAGES I19 
 
 ties. "And he calls this a quit^ life!" thought the 
 care-taker, losing his impassiveness and viewing the 
 table with round-eyed wonder. 
 
 "Nothing going on?" iie said aloud. "Mynheer, 
 the Patroon, complained of too much life here, with 
 people taking farms all around. But, if you are dull, 
 a farmer told me last night there was a company of 
 strolling players in Vanderdonkville — " 
 
 "Strollers!" exclaimed Mauville, wheeling around. 
 "What are they called?" 
 
 "Lord; I don't know, sir. They're show-folks, and 
 that's all—" 
 
 "Do many strolling players come this way ?" 
 
 "Not for weeks and months, sometimes! The old 
 patroon ordered the schout to arrest them if they en- 
 tered the wyck." 
 
 "Is Vanderdonkville in the wyckf" asked the land 
 baron quickly. 
 
 "No. It was separated f- m the wyck when Rickert 
 Jacobus married — " 
 
 "Never mind the family genealogy I Have the 
 coach ready at nine — " 
 
 "To-night?" 
 
 "This morning," replied Mauville, lightly. "And, 
 meanwhile, put this to bed," indicating Scroggs, who 
 was now snoring like a bag-pipe with one arm lov- 
 ingly wound around a leg of the library table. 
 
 The care-taker hoisted the attorney on his broad 
 shoulders, his burden still piping as they crossed the 
 hall and mounted the stairway. Having deposited 
 
lao 
 
 THE STROLLERS 
 
 unheard, the m,chtZJ,^}°'^ '° *«•«' but not 
 
 step, appeared on th« ^ 7 ' *"'' *'astic n 
 
 cam-age' waTl°Lg '""' '"^'='' '"^"^ -»>ich his 
 
 whot^retlLareXlhr ^J^J '''''' °'^-'^-''^- 
 steps. '^ *' *'"' ^""<» °f his master's foot- 
 
 ■•ng'tmLh^ehicr^'" '='"^''^'' '■'^ P^'-". spring- 
 
 pi,r::^;Ss;rs:^^ir"^-«-'''" 
 
 the warfare betwee^ ?„dwT / "''"^ P'°°^ that 
 begun in earnVsHor Ifl 1 '^'^ *"""'* ''''' '"^eed 
 through the Sow of rt,'-?' '"''^"'^ •="'"'ed 
 '•"iuring the oc"udL 5 '''' '"'*''°"*' ''°*«ver, 
 
 MauvilfedashS^"! theTr^ '^ "" ^«««' 
 '•ng his revolver at whS Le f^"^?^ "'^' '''•■^'«^^- 
 ure. But a flutter.^ • "l^*""*'' ^'as a fleeing fig- 
 
 h.rds was the on? resuh" ^ ""^' '"^ *<= ^^'^ 
 PU«SuS^ "" '*^ ^'"^ *o •- ««ght by even a 
 
 •i--. 
 
CHAPTER X 
 
 I 
 
 SEALING THE COMPACT 
 
 "The show troupe has come to town," said the tall, 
 lank postmaster to every one who called, and the words 
 passed from mouth to mouth, so that those who did 
 not witness the arrival were soon aware of it. Punch- 
 inello and his companions never attracted more atten- 
 tion from the old country peasants than did the char- 
 iot and its occupants, as on the day after their night in 
 the woods they passed through the main thorou^fare 
 of the village where they were soon to appear. 
 
 Children in woolen dresses of red retinet, or in 
 calico Vandykes and aprons, ran after the ponderous 
 vehicle with cries of delight ; the staid, mature contin- 
 gent of the population shook their heads disapprov- 
 ingly, while viewing with wonder the great lumbering 
 coach, its passengers inside and out, and, behind, the 
 large wagon with its load of miscellaneous trap- 
 pings. Now on the stage throne lolled the bass viol 
 player, even as Jacques assumed the raiment of the 
 Duke of Aranza, reclining the while in his chair of 
 state. Contentment was written upon his face, and 
 
 (121) 
 
 J 
 
122 
 
 THE STROLLERS 
 
 ceries. West India gS anTev? '"''' '"'™*'' ^<^ 
 Pensed. But the =,nf^^ ? '^*" ''^"8^' *«« dis- 
 
 castor ;n anTru^b'^e STn"7'^ "'°'"^'' 
 as senna, manna and other i""'"''' '"' ^^" 
 which both youne ,„d nM , concoctions with 
 
 ^ocer. haberis"h!r:"a'd°lS:t '^r^oitr "t ^"^ 
 substantial personatr^ .„ t.i . !. ^ ""'' O"* 
 
 <"" «.b£™,^rt" '^1 «» l^-r of hf. 
 
 was an array of b<^ts ^ ^" ^he racing of which 
 disco„so.ateLtiine;rerf '"' ''"^ ^ ""'"'-^ °^ 
 . ^°" w="' to "-egister, do you?" said the I,n^i ^ 
 
f-M* 
 
 
 SEALING THE COMPACT 123 
 
 house is rather full with the fellers from the ark. Or," 
 he added, by way of explanation in answer to the man- 
 ager's look of surprise, "Philadelphia freight wagons, 
 I suppose you would call them. But we speak of 
 them as arks, because they take in all creation. Them's 
 the occupants, making a Mount Ararat of the porch. 
 They're down-hearted, because they used to liquor up 
 here and now they can't, for the town's temperance." 
 
 "I trust, nevertheless, you are prepared for a season 
 of leg^itimate drama," suggested Barnes. 
 
 The other shook his head dubiously. "The town's 
 for lectures clear through," he answered. "They've 
 been making a big fuss about show folks." 
 
 The manager's countenance did not fall, however, 
 upon hearing this announcement; on the contrary, it 
 shed forth inscrutable satisfaction. 
 
 No sooner were they settled in far from commodi- 
 ous quarters than preparations for the future were 
 seriously begun ; and now the drama proceeded apace, 
 with Barnes, the moving spirit. Despite his asser- 
 tion that he was no scholar, the manager's mind was 
 the storehouse of a hundred plays, and in that deposit- 
 ory were many bags of gold and many bags of chaflF. 
 From this accumulation he drew freely, frankly, in 
 the light-fingered fashion of master playx'rights and 
 lesser theatrical thimble-riggers. 
 
 Before the manager was a table— the stage !— upon 
 which were scattered miscellaneous articles, symbols 
 of life and character. A stately salt-cellar repre- 
 sented the leading lady; a pepper box, the irascible 
 
124 
 
 THE STROLLERS 
 
 Barnes gr^veirdeCtST ^'°°"' *^ '°^- 
 s«ne to Saint-Prosoer nni ./ ^*^'''" °' the 
 collaborator, "ab^Zng J it 1 '°'^'" '^^'^ 
 manager i„ his a„fr.v J. ^^'■«' wrote the 
 diary, "the swo d fo thr^lf J ^^""^"^ «"d 
 Champ de Mars for the Sn^' '"/ '^ ^'°* °f the 
 And yet not with the & 5- °^ '^ ''""^^^ '«"?•" 
 other military gentlemen whT''" °' Burgoy„e, or 
 -ci sock. On'^h ™rary s?r '°'"^^ '""^ ""»''- 
 Pation to his leaning thTt'f "^ ^"^ '^' '^^• 
 his eye betrayed his d sine W ' '"''^'''=^' "^"t in 
 ief « his own' fitness foThrSr X ""'r ^'^'- 
 I laid out an act reminded him nf'. "^ '*"' "^e way 
 •with the outriders rdsW^Tshlrfb^-^^^'^P-^^ 
 arrayed for swift service Tndth. ^' ' '^' <=^^="0' 
 readily on, carrying wfth them /h "^ '""'^'''"^ 
 strength of the movemem" ' "^^ P'°t. or 
 
 -l^ird^thrPe::;:^^^;^^- -^ P^pper box re. 
 the loving Cruet, S thTc„^aTd " '"^ '"^' °^ 
 Barnes, who like the immortal S ^"'=!!"*'"^' than 
 turn his hand to ahnosH^nhW t J"P'^' <=°"W 
 fg-d in painting sceneS^ 7' ^^^^ """usly en- 
 h"^e wagon, containinrporLr^H """^f' -'h » 
 dashed off with a celeritv fh=f , P°"'"y' ^as 
 
SEALING THE COMPACT 125 
 
 green of a rural landscape grazed sheep so life-like 
 that, as Hawkes observed, it actually seemed "they 
 would eat the scenery all up." But finally sets and play 
 were alike finished, and results demonstrated that the 
 manager was correct in his estimate of such a drama, 
 which became a forerunner of other pieces of this 
 kind, "The Bottle," "Fruits of the Wine Cup," "Aunt 
 Dinah's Pledge," and "Ten Nights in a Bar Room." 
 In due time the drama was given in the town hall, 
 after the rehearsals had been witnessed by a commit- 
 tee from the temperance league, who reported that the 
 play "could not but exercise a good influence and was 
 entertaining withal ... We recomni.,nd the li- 
 cense to be issued and commend the drama to all Good 
 Templars." Therefore, the production was not only 
 well attended, but play and players were warmly re- 
 ceived. The town hall boasted a fairly commodious 
 platform which now served the purpose of a stage, 
 and— noteworthy circumstance I — there were gas jets 
 for footlights, the illuminating fluid having at that 
 early date been introduced in several of the more pro- 
 gressive villages. Between the acts, these yellow 
 lights were turned low, and— running with the cur- 
 rent of popular desire— the orchestra, enlarged to 
 four, played, by special request, "The Old Oaken 
 Bucket." 
 
 The song had just sprung into popularity, and, in a 
 moment, men, women and children had added their 
 voices to the instruments. It was not the thrill of tem- 
 perance fanaticism that stirred their hearts, but it was 
 
126 
 
 THE STROLLERS 
 
 the memories of the «m • 
 
 r>tes of "raisings" id ot W 1 "if J^ ' *^ '^^'^n* 
 ^'hen the fanner cut rye J,th " ^^^'''^ ceremonies; 
 °"t with his flai,; wh4"butter ^' '"' *''^"''«i '•' 
 money" and whea pairth. f"** ^^^ ^--« Pm 
 
 ^ "How solemnly thjtlk T"'"'^'- 
 North, Mr. Ban,« |"1 J' */' amusements in the 
 
 entrances. "What a c^aTto ^h/r^'" °"^ °^ ^^e 
 South I" ""'"*' to the South— the wicked 
 
 The manager turned sharply 
 
 , "A"'''"eTuwfcTm':;eVV^^^^^^ ^^- ^-ii.e." 
 dramatic muse is whS ' fj'.^'™''' "°* *"« 
 ^as a goddess; i„ R^^,' ^^°""'" ^ Greece, she 
 ^Pnghtly dame; now TltJi^T^' '" ^"^'^nd, a 
 you have a recruit l^'eev'"^'"-'*'^'^ P"^^"^- But 
 "You mean Saint-Prosper'" 
 
 — i:?/„rurv;s';"-^^^^ 
 
 fme glancing around as tho gh"eek „?' '' '"^ ^'^^ 
 
 Circumstances 1 Whaf .if ^^'""S^ ^ome one. 
 the manager. ^''^' ''''""'«'an«s ?" demanded 
 
 -^l^'i'7;hrv"ir''"^''^ '^^'^ "--'^ ••". of 
 
 Carew," he added, hT eye ^f ;^'' ^ ^^ ^iss 
 >d must congratulate her '1:''"'^ "^^tening. 
 Cursed dusty ho^S it'" B? v" P-^-mancf 
 h.s handkerchief as he moved awL"'""^ ''^''" -'«' 
 *vnat business has he behmH .1" 
 
 behmd the scenes anyway?" 
 
 ( 
 
SEALING THE COMPACT 
 
 127 
 
 grumbled the -nanager. "Dusty hole, indeed! Con- 
 found his impudence I" But his attention being drawn 
 to the pressing exigencies of a first night, Barnes soon 
 forgot his irritation over this unwarranted intrusion 
 in lowering a drop, hoisting a fly or readjusting a flat 
 to his liking. 
 
 The land baron meanwhile crossed to the semi- 
 darkness at the rear of the stage behind the boxed 
 scene, where he had observed the young girl waiting 
 for the curtain to rise on the last act. A single light 
 on each side served partly to relieve the gloom; to 
 indicate the frame-work of the set scene and throw in 
 shadow various articles designed for use in the play. 
 As she approached Mauville, who stood motionless in 
 an unlighted spot, the pale glow played upon her a 
 moment, white on her neck, in sheen on the folds of 
 her gown, and then she stepped into the shadow, where 
 she was met by a tall figure, with hand eagerly out- 
 stretched. 
 
 "Mr. Mauville I" she exclaimed, drawing back at 
 the suddenness of the encounter. 
 
 His restless eyes held hers, but his greeting was 
 conventional. 
 
 "Did I not say the world was small and that we 
 might meet again ?" 
 
 "Of course, we are always meeting people and part- 
 ing from them, ' she replied unconcernedly. 
 
 He laughed. "With what de.ightful indifference 
 you say that 1 You did not think to see me again ?" 
 
138 
 
 THE STROLLERS 
 
 "Yes." "« continued. 
 
 "I need not have asked " h- 
 
 "a historical or C'n .• °plT '■"\'"' ' P^*^^ Xou 
 cJd costumes. If ft C'^^„P'^; ;«h the picture^e 
 ap^ar ,„ those dramas, if hTd '?""'' ^°" "''""W 
 of Ae peace in the distrirt." '° ''""^ '^^^'Y Justice 
 
 hastf ed"t^ ':S"%Z: T"^ —^"t and he 
 yo^-' fear, however, I an, j.^^j^.^^^ 
 
 -7^^-£:;^:jir-'°-'-erto 
 
 ^deci to turn andle rhf ' "'"' ^"'^ -as h , ? 
 
 this mpulse was succeeded h """"^ graciously, but 
 ^ed, the prevailing s'i'',,^^ "^^^^er feeli„g, ^^ 
 ^he would have seel, thaThe, r'" "''^ ^^e^id 
 h>s hand and he quicIcTv „^L «'™^ ^''awl touched 
 ;t immediately. I tl77he " '° "'^ "P^' -'^a S 
 the gesture. The orchS^ '""'?'' °"' ""aware of 
 
SEALING THE COMPACT 
 
 129 
 
 glared, the din of voices subsiding; and the curtain 
 rose. 
 
 Rwnaining in the background, the land baron 
 watched the young girl approach the entrance to the 
 stage, where she stood, intent, one hand resting against 
 the scenery, her dress upheld with the other- the 
 glimmer from the foot-lights, reflected through the 
 opemng, touching her face; suddenly, with a graceful 
 movement, she vanished, and her laughing voice 
 seemed to come from afar. 
 
 Was it for this he had made his hasty journey' To 
 be treated with indifference by a wandering player- 
 he the patroon, the unsuccessful suitor of a stroller! 
 She, who appeared in taverns, in bams, perhaps, was 
 as cold and proud as any fine lady, untroubled about 
 the moiTow, and, as he weighed this phase of the mat- 
 ter, the d baron knew not whethe- he loved her 
 most i ncr beau.y or hated her for the slight she put 
 upon h.m. But love or hate, it was all one. anc 
 told himself he would see the adventure to the end 
 
 How do you do. Mr. Mauville?" said a gay but 
 hushed voice, interrupting his ruminations, and Susan 
 '".f"™" '"'^ """^ ^'S^*- stockings, greeted him. ' 
 1 he better for seeing you. Mistress Susan." Non- 
 chalantly surveying her from head to foot 
 
 She bore his glance with the assurance of a prettv 
 woman who knows she is looking her best. 
 
 "Pooh!" Curtesying disdainfully. "I don't be- 
 lieve you! You came to see some one else. Well"— 
 ligluly-"she is already engrossed." 
 
»30 
 
 THE STROLLERS 
 
 ■I should infer h. 
 Not a little Jealous >»i,. 
 
 «£7;;;:^^''^'-^-^--«n«.o„tHe 
 
 «8r. No* S(^„er'haKel"^I!' ""r^** ''^ 'h'" bait- 
 her outburst. ..Ho^^J'^^^^^ than she regrette, 
 
 otang though she dL have th l!"*' ^ ^''^ ^n'y 
 take what we can get I" *^ '^'^ P""" and we 
 
 But she's a lovelv diVI I" 
 .^-n's eyes flas^Cir'"^^'' *"<> '-d baron. 
 How clever of youl v 
 
 ^""l You twist and tun, one'a 
 
 1 
 
SEALING THE COMPACT 131 
 
 words about and give them a different meaning from 
 what was intended. If I wanted to catch you up—" 
 
 ;A truce I" he exclaimed. "Let us take each other 
 seriously, hereafter. Is it agreed?" She nodded. 
 
 Well, seriously, you can help me and help yourself " 
 
 "How?" doubtfully. 
 
 "Why not be allies?" 
 
 "What for?" 
 
 "Mutual service." 
 
 "Oh!" dubiously. 
 
 "A woman's 'yes' I" 
 
 "No," with affirmative answer in her eyes. 
 
 He believed the latter. 
 
 "We will seal the compact then." 
 And he bent over and saluted Mistress Susan on the 
 lips. She became as rosy as the flowers she carried 
 and tapped him playfully with them. 
 
 ••For shame! La! What must you think of me >" 
 
 1 hat you are an angel." 
 "How lovely I But I mi'st go." 
 "May I see you after the play ?" 
 "Yes." 
 
 ••Do not fail me, or the soldier will not transfer his 
 affections to you !" iranster nis 
 
 "If he dared!" And she shook her head def^ntly 
 as she tripped away. ^ 
 
 scomi^'^iTi,'"""""''''* ^'"^'"^' •''^ «P^ '^"^""ff 
 scornfully The one is a pastime; the other"-he 
 
 paused and caught his breath-"a passion!" 
 But he kept his appointment with Susan, escorting 
 
133 
 
 THE STROLLERS 
 
 eqwpagotothedoorj ^^' "^d-ordered his 
 
 t'-e^uJirLSrd, :he„r' "'°"''"^"' -''«'' 
 
 ""e of their thievinglce^r" ',^/'^? Let me sil 
 "nt gesture. "Nol riH» ♦ ^ ''^ '"^'^e a signifi. 
 ^ha'l not prevent «,e"' "' "'^'•*' These Jacotos 
 
 -^'^^^ZS:;^Z ^""^ ^"^ '-^o'^^ers 
 
 "ey '^'d »ot promise sucrdScomJ ""'^'"■^^' * J°- 
 
 been expected, the coach be W^'* ""'^^^ ^ave 
 
 for mght traveling. ^„ ,th^ "^'^■='% constructed 
 
 seats the space was filled bvl ^'^'"°"'' '^'^^«' the 
 
 to the puT>ose, which in thi, '^ *="'''"°°. adapted 
 
 of the vehicle\„to a sTe t:i~"^rl"''''^^'-- 
 
 «ons. With piHows to uTuTSTh '"""'^ ''■™"'- 
 
 baron stretched himself ^Zh^Z " '""H^"^' ">« land 
 
 gazed through the window aS "^" ' '' '°"=''' ^"'^ 
 
 the heavens, while though of ea'."?:'!^"'"' "^"'^ °f 
 
 burners faded into thin fir '""'""'^"'''ers and ban,- 
 
 few on his elbow and looWnf "''"■• ^«'«"?him! 
 
 '^'^^■^.--^-'^'ieSrp:^tvrs;r 
 
 
SEALING THE COMPACT ,33 
 
 red, a maple amid evergreens. Behind this somber 
 commumty of pines, stiflf as a band of Pu ka„ e^Ts 
 surrounding the bright-hued maple, a Hester in that' 
 
 ~ThurnT' '"^"^^^^^ '^^ ^'-dSr'^ o^' 
 Little Thunder s habitation, a twc^story abode of mod- 
 
 S'th. 1 7J^ '^^ '■*''= y^'-'' »>"'«d the mom. 
 
 *h» 1, Tu f ^^^y engaged in chopping wood near 
 ^^'S^^.rS^l^tS-tS 
 wl.« he stood in stupid wo„det»enf as the itdtt' 
 
 ma';t' """'• '''^■''•"'^''^" --'-'y asked the 
 
 not* to serir °' ^"'-burners. Mynheer, to ask you 
 noi to serve any more writs " 
 
 malf si "^fJV^"" *'"' *° ''^'" "^ ^'th the law- 
 iTrtrl Lc?.!U oT'ff""^ "^ portmanteau into the 
 iioraiy and —as Oloffe's upper lip drew back— "te;,rt. 
 your dog to know me." ^^* 
 
 "He belonged to the old master. Mynheer Whe„ 
 hediec «ie dog ,ay near his grave dayCdnighP'^" 
 
 While th^c^chman drove the tired^S^trd X' 
 t«rn. There s somethmg i„ it I want. Bring it 
 
134 
 
 THE STROLLERS 
 
 here." As he passed into the librarv "v r 
 
 « there, I am sure. Ah. here Se J-'a T '* 
 
 &iri'; "« -'^ ">-- i h^sZ; 
 
 "h^ltor^^reLtl^i:- *^e patroon. 
 appear before me I I We "Irt ^ "' ^"-nmoned to 
 any one with a writ • a^If J k -^"^ ^°"-"°' »" ^^^ve 
 of your rascally. peltifoS'triS "sS""' °' ""^ 
 
 -stnTst^Lnr^err*"^'-''^-' 
 
 i 
 
 I 
 
I 
 
 I 
 
 CHAPTER XI 
 
 THE QUEST OF THE SOLDIER 
 
 Several bleak days were followed by a little June 
 weather in October. A somnolent influence rested 
 everywhere. Above the undulation of land on the 
 horizon were the clouds, like heavenly hills, reflecting 
 their radiance on those earthly elevations. The celes- 
 tial mountains and valleys gave wondrous perspective 
 to the outlook, and around them lay an atmosphere, 
 unreal and idyllic. 
 
 On such a morning Susan stood at a turn in the 
 road, gazing after a departing vehicle with ill-con- 
 cealed satisfaction and yet withal some dubiousness. 
 Now that the plan, suggested by Mauville, had not 
 miscarried, certain misgivings arose, for there is a 
 conscience in the culmination wanting in the concep- 
 tion of an act. As the partial realization of the situa- 
 tion swept over her, she gave a gasp, and then, the 
 vehicle having meanwhile vanished, a desperate spirit 
 of bravado replaced her momentary apprehension. 
 She even laughed nervously as she waved her hand- 
 (135) 
 
^36 
 
 T«E STROLLESS 
 
 'Bon 
 
 I •^•^"rred to Susan she lol t k.'" *° ''" "^e, it 
 
 P'con from herself. The 'uri J T" '° '''^^^ *«- 
 
 i she turned abruptly and V/^ ''P' ««"ghtened- 
 
 ButWfootsteps'sit.J^^Z-J^^^*"^^^^ ''« t°-.' 
 '"%• ^^^^ ^"^ sJie paused thought- 
 
 "th "4'?ve''rtll:: h-J^! '°» ^«>"'" she murmured, 
 
 «ant°«r2t:«XSw\^*r ^ "^ '''^ ""'- 
 hut ever and anon el^cW^^ ! '''^ P'^-^l^ed them 
 
 ^'l thought came^rh?/;"""^,^"^. The I^' 
 
 blossoms were red. the hue of " ^'^^' »"'""« 
 
 them on the sward 1h '"' '"<^ ^he threw 
 
 ^'"^ds on her dress """'nscicusly rubbed her 
 
 started slowly toward the vl°'"^' •»■* ««»% again 
 proached the hotel, where 7il^' """^'^^ ^ ^he ap- 
 °n tl,e veranda. h1 Lt, '"T"'"'"^ "'^ ^oldi^ 
 haste proclaimed her a mi''''" '^"""tenance and 
 "Oh, dearl Oh H f ''"^'' °' '"«ster. 
 
 "W^ere is Mr. Bal^es?" " ""'''^^'^ "^Wly. 
 
 verves '" "" "*"«'•' Miss Duran?" c 
 
 very little was the matter fJc Suspecting 
 
 not all of a twitter ' °' ^"''^ ^'^ nothing, if 
 
 "Constance has been carried offi" 
 
OUEST OF THE SOLblER 
 
 J37 
 
 "Carried off!" He regarded her as if he thought 
 she had lost ner senses. 
 
 "Yes; abducted I" 
 
 "AMuctedlBy whom?" 
 
 "I — I did not see his face I" she gasped. "And it is 
 all my fault ! I asked her to take a walk I Oh, what 
 shall I do?" Wringing her hands in anguish that was 
 half real. "We kept on and on — it was so pleasant ! 
 — until we had passed far beyond the outskirts of the 
 village. At a turn in the road stood a coach — a cloak 
 was thrown over my head by some one behind — I must 
 have fainted, and, when I recovered, she was gone. 
 Oh, dear I Oh, dear!" 
 
 "When did it happen?" As he spoke the young 
 man left the veranda. Grazing contentedly near the 
 porch was his horse and Saint-Prosper's hand now 
 rested on the bridle. 
 
 "I can't tell how long I was unconcious.," said the 
 seemingly hysterical young woman, "but I hurried 
 here as soon as I recovered myself." 
 
 "Where did it occur? Down the road you came'" 
 
 "Ye-es." 
 
 Saint-Prosper vaulted into the saddle. "Tell the 
 manager to see a magistrate," he said. 
 
 "But you're not going to follow them alone?" began 
 Susan. "Oh dear, I feel quite faint again ! If you 
 would please help me into the — " 
 
 By way of answer, the other touched his horse 
 deeply with the spur and the mettlesome an-'mal 
 reared a-id plunged, then, recalled by the sharp voice 
 
»38 
 
 THE STROLLERS 
 
 P 
 
 .."How quixotic I" she 7hr u"""^''''*'"°«"«'- 
 •But he won't catch them " * ° fj discontentedly, 
 thought, as she turned ^'JT '"" ~"^°«ng after- 
 Soon the <ioM;«, l '"* manager. 
 
 tHoroughtnt \:tS^^^^^^^ ''«!■ d^wn the main 
 I'ttle town, was be^-oTd th! ™' ««sgivi„gs i„ the 
 
 Jny- The coun^^^Vwarwr ,°/ ^'"''^ ^'^■ 
 by deep cuts from t«ffic jurW / ' ^^'^'^^ '""^ked 
 horse's hoofs nwg o«with eZ ""^ 'P*"' «"d the 
 gardless of all save th^ ? «hilaratmg rhythm. Re. 
 yet forbore to pri s the tf'' 'r^''"'' '"^^ ^der 
 «fteraconside«br„eml he ''''"'"^ °"'^ -^en, 
 and drew rein at the fork q' *° '"°""^' ''^^ 
 
 gently through the valkv , "^'^ '° ** "'^ht ran 
 the luxuriant foIiaLS^PP^r-t'y tenninating i„ 
 ;^^;tream.strf^------^^^ 
 
 Pound, but the earth "s^„ 5"'"'^ "^'"'■"ed the 
 tracks of wheels so maTv t '^ ■'"^ ^""' «»d the « 
 tmguish the old marks S 1 ^'^ ""^^^^'We to dis- ' 
 there was none; the rirdter'^. ^"*" ^'^-P<"* 
 <=ould but blindly sur^^e th 'v f '• '""^ *'"= ""'d'er 
 after some hesitatio„Te !„' ''^^'"''tion, selecting 
 
 the^«oj^us,autum:a,t£,Sr """^"^ •"*' 
 
QUEST OF THE SOLDIER 139 
 
 ing, bright as the chapel of a darkened monastery, he 
 discerned a fanner in a buckboard approaching from 
 the opposite direction. The swift pace of the rider 
 and the leisurely jog of the team soon brought them 
 together. 
 
 "Did you pass a coach down the road ?" asked the 
 soldier. 
 
 "No-a," said the farmer, deliberately, as his fat 
 horses instinctively stood stock still; "didn't pass no- 
 body." 
 
 "Have you come far?" 
 "A good ways." 
 
 "Yea would have met a coach, if it Lad passed here 
 an hour ago ?" 
 
 "I guess I would," said the man. "This road leads 
 straight across the country." 
 
 "Where does the other road at the fork go?" 
 
 "To the patroon village. There's a reform orator 
 there to-day and a barn-burners' camp-fire." 
 
 Without waiting to thank his informant, Saint- 
 Prosper pulled his horse quickly around, while the 
 man m the buckboard gradually got under way, until 
 he had once more attained a comfortable, slow gait 
 Indeed, by the time his team had settled down to a 
 sleepy jog, in keeping with the dreamy haze, hanging 
 upon the upland, his questioner was far down the road. 
 
 When, however, the soldier once more reached the 
 fork, and took the winding way across a more level 
 country, he moderated his pace, realizing the need of 
 husbandmg his horse's powers of endurance. The 
 
140 
 
 THE STROLLERS 
 
 II 
 
 Se7p^S„1co^Kist'J?tr\"° '''■'''«'«•«' nor 
 '"«• And yet, not far^a!?*"" *^* P«''tonU p„v- 
 Patroons, the hot-bed of th! f ' ''°"'^'»^ °^ ">« 
 
 the Democn^tic pa«yf ?hV"h»T''"^'"^"<=''es of 
 tive-minded men^and the 't k"^""' ** <=°n«=rva- 
 -e refot«,ers. .ho sXthT^d l"^'" ^ P™^- 
 Af^er impatiently ridiW a^ LT ""« ^«-«nters. 
 thw delectable re^on hf ^ °' "°'-«= 'trough 
 
 I«troon village, a dusier of m"'"^" ''^^'^ »«=«- the 
 meadows. Here the Td LronHr'' *«= '""* «»d 
 f"' the tenants comfortable hT "'^^^''"y *««1^ 
 
 «a- and grist mills. But^he °dT '"' ^P'« ban,s 
 away, and that rugged Zce^^^°^^ ^'^ ^"""Wed 
 5^'««d by a nef ;lfe"S °; f «>««g« had been 
 ^"^^l^^'^nggr^^^^^^^.f^o^^^. with clap- 
 ^ In the historic mark^^i ^""'^ ''^randas. 
 ;-» the street, w"e ail? "'■"'"P'-I-- rode 
 holders of both sexes and ,n " """'*'• of lease- 
 f^h* « arms to th? deceit i '^'' ''■°™ *«= P«»y 
 «« listening to the floSlTr ?^ '"^'^ «^d- 
 •"aker. This forum of the ^^,' °* '^ "■'«<= ^Peech- 
 sextette of well-g« J^!, *Jf P!°P''= was shadedT , # 
 cal DemosthenesS^i^:'^,;, Jh« platfo™ of theV 
 , Woe to thee, Om^M T """ ** ''*'^- 
 P'e of Chemosh ' jf vn.^r u °" "* ""^one, O neo- 
 
 Prosper drew near. "Aw ke ? '^"/''=' "' S^-t- 
 
 Now „ the time to malctrs'ldr/ *^ '^"^^ ^•" 
 
 a standi Forswear all alfc- 
 
QUEST OF THE SOLDIER 141 
 
 giance to the new patroon ; this Southern libertine and 
 despot from the land of slavery t" 
 
 The grandam wagged her head approvingly; the 
 patriarch stroked his beard with acquiescence and 
 strong men clenched their fists as the spokesn.an 
 mouthed their real or fancied wrong's. It was an 
 earnest, implacable crowd ; men with lowering brows 
 merely glanced at the soldier as he rode forward; 
 women gazed more intently, but were quickly lured 
 back by the tripping phrases of the mellifluous speaker. 
 
 On the outskirts 01 the gathering, near the road, 
 stood a tall, beetling individual whom Saint-Prosper 
 addressed, reining in his horse near the wooden rail, 
 which answered for a fence. 
 
 "Dinn& ye ken I'm listening.'" impatiently retorted 
 the other, with a fierce frown. "Gang your way, 
 mon," he added, churlishly, as he turned his back. 
 
 Judging from the wrathful faces directed toward 
 him, the lease-holders esteemed Saint-Prosper a polit- 
 ical disturber, afHliating with the other faction of the 
 Democratic oarty, and bent, perhaps, on creating 
 dissension at the tenants' camp-fire. The soldier's im- 
 patience and anger were ready to leap forth at a word ; 
 he wheeled fiercely upon the weedy Scot, to demand 
 peremptorily the information so uncivilly withheld, 
 when a gust of wind blowing something light down the 
 road caused his horse to shy suddenly and the rider 
 to glance at what had frightened the animal. Aftar a 
 brief scrutiny, he dismounted quickly and examined 
 
'42 
 
 THE STROLLERS 
 
 more attentively the ob,W 
 "'ver, upon which ^ippel^jZ^ P^P"** ^hh a red 
 conventional Greek SJ'%'"'V '''''^ of ^e 
 «nd beneath, the title, 'Se H^n^ "^ ,"'* Comedy 
 b-ndrng. albeit soiled by the i?.?*^°°"- The brigh 
 2 "^ '^- 'eaves in the bre^Har' ''"'' ""= «"«- 
 and incidentally attracted ^ ^ """'•^ the horse 
 Across the iomberS „ ',"'""°" «' ''« "las^^r 
 «>"oyant hand the nCe „f ,,"'''^'^''°'^ -«* t«ced iL" 
 ^ But the soldier nell. ^ ''"""S^ actress, 
 ''ad he not noticed thTst„r '"' ~»fin„ation, for 
 on the ioun,ey of th c^S'T* '^'^ '" »>« 1^ 
 •^oq^ent message. a>uld °.^^ J' ^** a mute, bw 
 plainly if she 1,;^ . ^^^ have sdoU„ 
 
 7f^ -tfontlnhrne^'V""'' an^s edT 
 sticking plaster" by the LnM '!'%^°^«="ment and 
 had hoped the manager waX .^"""'"'tedly she 
 wtmsted the message to tW ^"""'^'"^ her when she 
 -ho Plied his vocaC:;; 'b^''"*^ ^ '"^". Cha„ct 
 'nfiton or the bronze Franklfn ' ""* ""* Wash- 
 S sy " "''''^^ ""' ' ''"'"""" °^ ™°'^ 
 tJ'ep^pLtLS h°s coatT^l'^ ''«-''«'°n. thrust 
 
CHAPTER XII 
 
 AN ECCENTRIC JAILER 
 
 "For a man who can't abide the sex, this is a pre- 
 dicament," muttered the patroon's jackal, as the coach 
 in which he found himself sped rapidly along the 
 highway. "Here am I as much an abductor as ray lord 
 who whipped his lady from England to the colonies 1" 
 Gloomily regarding a motionless figure on the seat 
 opposite, and a tace like ivory against the dark cush- 
 ions. "Curse the story ; telling it led to this 1 How 
 white she is; like driven snow; ahnost as if — " 
 
 And Scroggp, whose countenance lost a shade of its 
 natural flush, going from flame-color to salmon hue, 
 bent with sudden apprehension over a small hand which 
 hung from the seat. 
 
 "No; it's only a swoon," he continued, relieved, feel- 
 ing her wrist with his knobby fingers. "How she 
 struggled I If it hadn't been for smothering her with 
 the cloak— but the job's done and that's the end of it." 
 
 Settling back in his seat he watched her discontent- 
 edly, alternately protesting against the adventure, and 
 consoling himself weakly with the remembrance of the 
 (143) 
 
144 
 
 THE STROLLERS 
 
 duly obtrusive, again cLfT. '''"^ ""= ^""ner un 
 
 "Why couldn't thp n,» 
 ^'th his bottle?" he i^ m" ^"^'^ ""'"'"ned conten, 
 
 P«-;^^aX'su';?;edhe";/^^"= ^-P' "^ ."ancc 
 » '«« of hair loosened ;S";'"=f' '^"""' ^"ich flo^^' 
 ""usual pallor of her chell Jh "^''=- ^ave for thi 
 2- but as he watched hVlT''''''^^ •'«='' ^4- 
 ^ he sullenly nerved himself f„!^ ''"^^'^ ''''^' 
 the aspect of those bead'Ht. *''' ''"counter. At 
 
 ■" « ease. like a snake Siwr^ ''^'"'^ """ough 
 a tremor of half-recollS^i" "^""^ «" "dversa J. 
 'he color flooded her f^' M T '" '"=' ^^ and 
 back the straggling Jk of .^.'^'''"■■^^"y. sweeping 
 -;«.out removing L eyes He'' t l^"''' "^-'^ 
 thIrr^°^*«"^h'fted^n;asSr ""^^ ■^'^ "P^cted 
 'hat steady stare, until, JdZ L T """""^' ^"^ 
 he burst out : "'"S" the silence intolerable 
 
 '''-ords?r.;rStt';r'^ *•''"- hear 
 ' **' "" ™«nta^ to them, 
 
AN ECCENTRIC JAILER 145 
 
 Her glance, however, strayed to the narrow window, 
 and then wandered back to the well-worn interior of 
 the coach. Suddenly, as the startling realization of 
 her position came to her, she uttered a loud cry, sprang 
 toward the door, and, with nervous fingers, strove to 
 open it. The man's face became more rubicund as 
 he. placed a detaining hand on her shoulder, and 
 roughly thrust her toward the seat. 
 
 "Make the best of it I" he exclaimed peremptorily. 
 "You'd better, for I'm not to be trifled with." 
 
 Recoiling from his touch, she held herself aloof 
 with such aversion, a sneer crossed his face, and he 
 observed glumly : 
 
 "Oh, I'm not a viper ! If you're put out, so am I." 
 
 "Who are you ?" she demanded, breathlessly. 
 
 "That's an incriminating question. Ma'am," he re- 
 plied. "In this case, though, the witness has no objec- 
 tion to answering. I'm your humble servant." 
 
 His forced drollery was more obnoxious than his ill- 
 humor, and, awakening her impatience, restored in a 
 measure her courage. He was but a pitiful object, 
 after all, with his flame-cokired visage, and short, 
 crouching figure ; and, as her thoughts passed from the 
 brutal part he had played on the road to her present 
 situation, she exclaimed with more anger than appre- 
 hension : 
 
 "Perhaps you will tell me the meaning of this out- 
 rage — your smothering me — forcing me into this coach 
 — and driving away — ^where?" 
 
 His face became once more downcast and moody. 
 
146 
 
 THE STROLLERS 
 
 Shakespeare, Ma'am. Let us alkli!? !"l ^ """^ ""^ 
 -d the parts you. as an actrlsfp^eS^^^^^ ^"* ^ 
 
 dui'erS^d ''""" '''"" ^-^" ^"^ Cried, sub- 
 "What i^ it you asked?" 
 
 ^les, I remember." Shamlv "v . 
 we were driving? Across S ^°" '»'"«''« where 
 meaning of thislouiage j t,:?" '^^ ^''^ '^ "«= 
 actions spring from wf .' """^ y°" «'"ed it? All 
 
 The rest'of t!e X^Xhi::?"''''' *":! •=«^- 
 
 •nsolently into her face wi i hu , ^ ^'"^ 
 
 "But you have toM L u ^^"*'' °" ''" knees. 
 
 i»? to remain^ t:S oThS"^'i ^'^ "P"'=''' *'"- 
 hension. °* ''*"^" ^"d '<> hide her appre- 
 
 "Do you call that nothing? You h,v- .w 
 mate cause-ca«j„ ««ca„., w -?^ *^ approxi- 
 «ke Bacon, your s^T'^,,^"*,." ?"P'd? No, for 
 not." ^ "' '^^s fantastical' channs move me 
 
 faction in her co^'dS„ ' '^"^'"' * '=''"^'»h '"'tis- 
 "Whatwasit,then? Cupiditv n„ 
 
 
AN ECCENTRIC JAILER 147 
 
 ly. "The weapons of education only unfit you for the 
 plow. You stint, pinch, live on nothing 1" He 
 rubbed his dry hands together. "It was crumbs and 
 scraps under the parsimonious regime ; but now the 
 prodigal has come into his own and believes in honest 
 wages and a merry life." 
 
 Wonderingly she listened, the scene like a gro^ 
 tesque dream, with the ever-moving coach, the lonely 
 road, the dark woods, and— so near, she could almost 
 place her hand upon him— this man, muttering and 
 mumbling. He had offered her the key of the mystery, 
 but she had failed to use it. His ambiguous, loose 
 talk, only perplexed and alarmed her; the explanation 
 was none at all. 
 
 As he watched her out of the comer of his eye, 
 weighing doubt and uncertamty, new ideas assailed 
 him. After all she had spirit, courage 1 Moreover, 
 she was an actress, and the patroon was madly in love 
 with her. , »■ 
 
 "If we were only leagued together.Jfcw we could 
 strip him I" he thought. 
 
 His head dropped contemplatively to his breast, and 
 for a long interval he remained silent, abstracted, 
 while the old springless coach, with many a joh and 
 jar, covered mile after mile ; up the hills, crowned with 
 bush and timber; across the table land ; over the plank 
 bridges spanning the brooks and rivulets. More re- 
 conciled to his part and her presence, his lips once or 
 twice parted as if he were about to speak, but closed 
 again. He even smiled, showing his amber-hued 
 
148 
 
 THE STROLLERS 
 
 teett, nodding hi, head in a fri«,wi . . 
 J II come out all right mJP^ ''"'"«'' « to say 
 
 «'" ^Wch.i„deeTiafhSTh''\"^''^°'»«"°f 
 h«n unsettled, bereft of^as " T"!" ^^' ''«''>ved 
 
 n«mfestly growing JesVhST'h^' "*'"'"«''• h* ^^ 
 "most unbearable At ev^^"' ^" ^''^e-Hance became 
 
 «-*»«: her like a iZZ^ZT"' '''' '«='' ^'■ 
 Jeep perfectly still, ^iut i "hT"'"'' ^'''^"^"^ to 
 do next? ft ^as not an i^"'" ^"^ "'«"?* warder 
 consulted a, massive watch ^ "'*' ''°^«^er. He 
 "^l iunci, time andttP wt"^-" 
 Sh 'f " ^■■^'^ "^d » drop WiJ""' y^ P«"»ission, 
 She turned her head aw, i ^°" J"'" «e?" 
 her curt refusal, he d' f '". ' "°' ''"«=<»'«rted by 
 " seat and open;d t ft/ ";'^''^' *«- from beneaSh 
 drop" was obviously fii:"/*^'''*<='= '» <> "bite and a 
 -hich g«w to the dfmSSr^f "'^'■'">' ^"-^ "d^op," 
 
 '"'" less attentive to h^ nrit,""^"' °* *« ^'ne made 
 recepucle to his lips shf ^r; 'u' '^ ^' «fr«dT 
 the wmdow and a pL ^.J'T""' ^^r anns th«,ugh 
 a possible clue for any one^L ??''' ^'°^ ^er hand 
 For some time she had^!^/ "V?'" ^°"°* the co^f 
 '"d when it came, the catra^wf ^ """ °P^«"4' 
 Scroggs finished his ^p%T" '"*'*'"^ '^ ^'"^e^ 
 fon' he began. HereTh^' boS"f:rr''^ P'^-'S 
 The patroon village!" h/. , ^ ^'°™ ''" hand 
 *:°"- "I'd forgotten we wtre^^'T^ '" ~"''tej: 
 •" gathered in the squart J^" "^^ ^^ they're 
 
AN ECCENTRIC JAILER 149 
 
 He cast a quick glance at her. "You're all ready to 
 call for help," he sneered, "but I'm not ready to part 
 company yet." 
 
 Hastily drawing up one of the wooden shutters, he 
 placed himself near the othe " window, observing fierce- 
 ly ; "I don't propose you shall undo what's being done 
 for you. Let me hear from you" — jerking his finger 
 toward the square — ^"and I'll not answer for what 
 I'll do." But in spite of his admonition he read such 
 determination in her eyes, he felt him.<ielf baffled. 
 
 "You intend to make trouble I" he cried. And put- 
 ting his head suddenly through the window, he called 
 to the driver: "Whip the horses through the market 
 place I" 
 
 As the afifrighted animals sprang forward he blocked 
 the window, placing one hand on her shoulder. He 
 felt her escape from his grasp, but not daring to leave 
 his post, he leaned out of the window when they were 
 opposite the square, and shook his fist at the anti- 
 renters, exclaiming: 
 
 "I'll arrest every mother's son of you I I'll evict 
 you — ^jail you for stealing rent I" 
 
 Drowned by the answering uproar, "The patroon's 
 dogl" "Bullets for deputies I" the emissary of the 
 land baron continued to threaten the throng with his 
 fist, until well out of ear-shot, and, thanks to the level 
 road, beyond reach of their resentment. Not that they 
 strove to follow him far, for they thought the jackal 
 bad taken leave of his senses. Laughter mingled 
 with their jeers at the absurd figure he presented. 
 
tremblmg with excitemenf t^', ^°"?8^ «->' who, 
 to h- u P'>'' when he tossprflf ^ , operation 
 
 •1':=^ away and left h ^ !°"J' "^^ '^en the ^^' £j 
 -.ous of the hateful voTcf','"J*''«^' "^^'^^Y cS 
 tnne^totimeaddressin/her ' '" <=°™f«»>-°n C 
 
 to the poor company of h.r .u '^''"^ersation. Left 
 the miscarriage of her h ^°"^'"^' ^^e dwelt uoI„ 
 
AN ECCENTRIC JAILER 151 
 
 more villages and if they did, he wouM : iHoubtedly 
 find means to prevent her making !r .,?£ known. 
 Unless — and a glimmer of hope flick'.' cl .i"o,i)^ii .u^r 
 thoughts I — her warder carried his r'y,a.ioni. > i p<,int 
 where vigilance ceased to be a virtiv. Iio^'isider- 
 ately he stopped at the crucial jii'.fkin . -.viib .i;l the 
 signs of contentment and none ■■ drow ■.■.^r,. 
 
 So minutes resolved themselves into Iv i .. n.ii the 
 day wore on. Watching the sun-rays iMih^ th, loj. 
 of the forest below them, she noted how f-i .. J e silver 
 disk was descending. The day which had sctuied inter- 
 minable now appeared but too short, and she would 
 gladly have recalled those fleeting hours. Ignorant 
 of the dir«:tion in which they had been traveling, she 
 realized that the driver had been unsparing and the dis- 
 tance covered not inconsiderable. The mystery of the 
 assault, the obscurity of the purpose and tho vagueness 
 of their destination were unknown quantities which, 
 added to the declining of the day and tiie brewing 
 terrors of the night, were well calculated to terrify 
 and crush her. 
 
 Despairingly, she observed how the sun dipped, smd 
 ever dipped toward the west, when suddenly a sound 
 afar rekindled her fainting spirits. Listening more 
 attentively, she was assured imagination had not de- 
 ceived her ; it was the faint patter of a horse's hoofs. 
 Nearer it drew ; quicker beat her pulses. Moreover, it 
 was the rat-a-tat of galloping. Some one was pur- 
 suing the coach on horseback. Impatient to glance 
 behind, ahe only refrained for prudential reasons. 
 
isa 
 
 ^«^ STRoLLElii; 
 
 Inimersed in his own <»., . 
 was unmindful of tiT.f '*''^"'= '^'^ her iaile,% 
 
 ^^o was the ho,,~_ . W'ndow. 
 
 "««rly abreast, and ^^^l""'";''* horsen.a^'*^^ 
 «°'red itself into clangor X ,h °.' *'"' S^'opin/^.' 
 
 ■atop the coach 1" 
 
 P^cl^ets, when the yZZZr^ ^'^ '^"^''t one of i^ 
 
 ••"f- she thou'^i^.Tetrof ';;f ,^.':''^''' ^^^- 
 
 •You wild-cat I" her i.T "^ *°'*er. 
 throw her off ' "^^ ^'"'^^ "claimed, strcggMng to 
 
AN ECCENTRIC JAILER 153 
 
 Not succeeding, he raised his free aim in a flurry 
 of invective. 
 
 "Curse you, will you let go I" 
 
 "Quick I Quick I" she called out, holding him more 
 tightly. 
 
 A flood of BiUingsgate flowed from his lips. "Let 
 go, or—" 
 
 But before he could in his blind passion strike her 
 or otherwise vent his rage, a revolver was clapped to 
 his face through the window, and, with a look of sur- 
 prise and terror, his valor oozing from him, he 
 crouched back on the cushions. At the same time 
 the carriage door was thrown open, and Edward Mau- 
 ville, the patroon, stood in the entrance 1 
 
 Oiiy an instant his eyes swept her, observing the 
 flushed cheeks and disordered attire, reading her won- 
 der at his unexpected appearance, and— to his satis- 
 faction I-her relief as well; only an instant, during 
 which the warder stared at him open-mouthed— and 
 then his glance rested on the now thoroughly sober 
 lunb of the law. 
 "Get out I" he said, briefly and harshly. 
 "But," began the other with a sickly grin, intended 
 to be ingratiating, "I don't understand— this Unex- 
 pected manner— this forcible departure from— " 
 
 Coolly raising his weapon, the patroon deliberately 
 covered the hapless jailer, who unceremoniously 
 scrambled out of the door. The land baron laughed, 
 replaced his revolver and, turning to the young giri 
 removed his hat. e s • 
 
IS4 
 
 THE STROLLERS 
 
 ^- Vou can tell me whaf ^ ?:™"'T' ^ *-" ««=* 
 «'ong. The manor hou«mvte'?^'''«**«dn^^ 
 far fnw here. If I cL LT^ ^^^'^ •"»"«• « "<>* 
 ^p ' ^ can be of any service, command 
 
 havm^SSed wltr^- T"^ '"'° '"^ --age. 
 the vehicle had ds^^^rt'^i^^rive off. Un«l' 
 
 the road, but when ftCSsJ^, °°*'. ""'"""'^"^ « 
 himself en , stone '^^ ^""" "^ht, he seated 
 
 3p.rat,on from his bmw. "WeH l5 .r'^'' .*' P*'" 
 my humble habitation, but VdtL^ '^T !"'''' '"»» 
 •^der some circumsta^as r """"^ "^ "'''^ 
 
CHAPTER XIII 
 
 THE COMING OF LITTLE THUNDER 
 
 The aftemcxm was waning ; a^inst the golden west- 
 em sky the old manor house loomed in solemn majesty, 
 the fields and forests emphasizing its isolation in the 
 darkening hour of sunset, as a coach, with jaded 
 horses, parsed through the avenue of trees and ap- 
 proached the broad portico. A great string of trailing 
 vine bad been torn from the walls by the wind and 
 now waved mournfully to and fro with no hand to ad- 
 just it. In the rear was a huge-timbered bam, the 
 door of which was unfastened, swinging oo its rasty 
 hinges with a creaking and moaning sound. 
 
 As gaily as in the days when the periwigged coach- 
 man had driven the elaborate equipage of the early 
 patroons through the wrought-iron gate this modem 
 descendant entered the historic portals, not to be met, 
 however, by servitors in knee breeches at the front 
 door, but by the solitary care-taker who appeared on 
 the portico in considerable disorder and evident state 
 of excitement, accompanied by the shaggy dog, 
 Oloffe. 
 
 (ISS) 
 
 ^^<» 
 
156 
 
 THE STROLLERS 
 
 "ot.c,„g MauviUe's com^ "^ °i'^ ?'««- without 
 r^-«.t...p«en-„^-e^.™e^^^ 
 
 "But ,ou have sta'^Ue^^P"^ ^'^ ^^ S- 
 
 observe the occupant S thtfirsTf "^^"'^' »°^° 
 threw up his hSnds i„ coL/ ""^ "'"' '^e servant 
 "aster who drank all „Lrsh^rL'*'°"- H^re was a 
 v>s.ted strollers, and now b^-f " "^'' ^-^ P-^-y' 
 f ^J"«. That the stran^eb!) ^^' °"^ °^ '••«» to the 
 ""mediately „ade up h'^S *>« a player, Oly-koets 
 -yed aversion a^d ertT' t"*'' ''^ -"^ 
 girded sorcerers and witches st '"'^ '*"''=''' '^ 
 he observed in that quick eWK T ^"> beautiful 
 dangerous; she ap^X^' ''"! ^''^^fore the mo^e 
 her apparent eriKIrt W ' ^ ""^ ^""""t^ 
 a new source of trouble in i "' "' °nee saw 
 
 the threads were not l^dv's '*^"""=^' '^ though 
 without the introduction of „^ «««ic,ently entangl^ 
 he P-rfonnerl-into th" o 1 T'"""-''"'' "he a Lt' 
 
 "Fasten the iron ^^"7*^:' """ ' 
 manded Mauville, h. -•"« Jr/^^J^^''--," briefly con,- 
 
 tetJX?-=;i:^^^ 
 
 '"'"'^'^^^^^■^"-P-to^..a„ceatthe 
 
LITTLE THUNDER 
 
 IS7 
 
 coach, expressive of his estimate of his master's light 
 conduct and his apprehension of the outcome, disap- 
 peared to obey this order. 
 
 "May I assist you, Miss Carew?" said the land baron 
 deferentially, offering his arm to the young girl, whose 
 pale but observant face disclosed new demur and in- 
 quiry. 
 
 "But you said we would go right on?" she returned, 
 drawing back with implied dissent. 
 
 "When the horses are changed I If you will step 
 out, the carriage will be driven to the bam." 
 
 Reluctantly she obeyed, and as she did so, the pa- 
 troon and the coachman exchanged pithy glances. 
 ^^ "Look sharp!" commanded the master, sternly. 
 "Oh, he won't run away," added Mauville quickly, in 
 answer to her look of surprise. "He knows I could 
 find him, and"— fingering his revolver— "will not 
 disoblige me. Later we'll hear the rogue's story." 
 
 The man's averted countenance smothered a clandes- 
 tine smile, as he touched the horses with his whip and 
 turned them toward the bam, leaving the patroon 
 and his companion alone on the broad portico. Sweep- 
 ing from a distant grove of slender poplars and snowy 
 birch a breeze bore down upon them, suddenly bleak 
 and frosty, and she shivered in the nipping air. 
 
 "You are chilled I" he cried. "If you would but 
 go into the house while we are waiting! Indeed, if 
 you do not, I shall wonder how I have offended you t 
 It will be something to remember"— half lightly, half 
 seriously— "that you have crossed my threshold I" 
 
IS8 
 
 '^ 
 
 I ^ 
 
 THE STROLLERS 
 
 »"> Je. his accents so ^^^.^ "* '^ ""*«««Wed 
 hesitation, Constance ent^ed fo ,„ f^' ' '"°'""'*'« 
 Sweeping aside the hea^ drlHeH" ""^ "" P^'"*- 
 he permitted the goIde7shafN /I'"" *'"= "'"''°'^. 
 enter the hall, riZ^^ ^^'? °^ ^^e ebbing day to 
 
 the faded pictu^s and wS^'r r^ '"""""ating 
 of the massive stainvay S^" ''^?'"'^ *«^ '""""gs 
 of apprehension sei^rihe^^"!" t " '"^^"'"'"ddfr 
 
 her self-rehance and courage r,f '"*'''' '" ^^''-^ ȣ 
 and mournful plaie whert ? " ^'"'='1 the solemn 
 
 «? save morWd memoZ^::^/";!''"'"'^-^^"^ 
 existence was signifiT^^L *''""'' ""= ^a^ty of 
 
 dian summer daySri """".'"' "^^'^ *« I"" 
 ^ though pressing a sp^dVrt"^' '"^ ""^ "^-y- 
 of the season andTni^^^trf"" '" ""^ ^"'^ 
 surroundings of Octo™ ''"™ '° t''* ''Ptinute 
 
 Involuntarily the «ri i„„ j 
 the light rested o;\f/L:rt:s *'' T"""' ""- 
 watched that radiance shTf^ T' '^'^ ** Mauvilfc 
 ««ght With mystic col^rSS t.t "^' '^ '^ 
 h-m to this end was stS^l? ^*.'''*^ P'°«Pt-'l 
 'ntrusive doubts. The v^^nJ" •'^' j'^^'P^ting any 
 ^med but a web of e„S.W '"^*=^«=™^ ^heen 
 of silence became an i^Sih, '"^''."'tion. A span 
 no sight of fresh horseT^^':,^"'^ '° ""'' '^'th 
 home journey. "^ °^ Preparation for the 
 
 "What takes him so lono-v i. 
 •mpatience. "It is getting fcat'er '""' ^'^' *•'* 
 
LITTLE THUNDER 
 
 1 59 
 
 "It is late," he answered. "Almost too late to go 
 on I You are weary and worn. Why not rest here 
 to-night?" 
 
 "Rest here?" she repeated, with a start of surprise. 
 
 "You are not fit to drive farther. To-morrow we 
 can return." 
 
 "To-morrow!" she cried. "But— what do you 
 mean?" 
 
 "That I must insist upon your sparing yourself!" 
 he said, firmly, although a red spot flushed his cheek. 
 
 "No ; no ! We must leave at once !" she answered. 
 
 He smiled reassuringly. "Why will you not have 
 confidence in me?" he asked. "You have not the 
 strength to travel all night— over a rough road — after 
 such a trying day. For your own sake, I beg you to 
 give up the idea. Here you are perfectly safe and 
 may rest undisturbed." 
 
 'Please call the horses at once I" 
 
 An impatient expression furrowed his brow. He 
 had relied on easily prevailing upon her through 
 her gratitude ; continuing in his disinterested role for 
 yet some time ; resuming the journey on the morrow, 
 carrying her farther away under pretext of mistaking 
 the road, until — Here his plans had faded into a 
 vague perspective, dominated by unreasoning self-con- 
 fidence and egotism. 
 
 But her words threatened a rupture at the outset 
 
 that would seriously alter the status of the adventure. 
 
 "It is a mistake to go on to-night," he said, with a 
 
 dissenting gesture. "However, if you are determined 
 
i6o 
 
 THE STROLLERS 
 
 "Not ^erel-sheTlJ'^?^'^'^' JooWngoi 
 
 to|dtje«tocha„^^H:rrs:'"C:!r'^' "^°- 
 
 Not Oly-k^eks S ; • °r "P'»n«ion. 
 
 behind the'Si ai - ?"' '"''""^'' ^""^ 
 the young Jrf !°th ^ \^'"^ *"'"«^'' ^^e window. 
 
 .'Why don't you hitch up the grays?" 
 swef "=" - no horse. i„ the ba^ ca«e the an- 
 
 b«?S;w*;r''::iti'^i'^r '^" - ^•''^ '^^ 
 
 P«g from thTwind~ Se ; °''"' ''^^*''^' ^^''P- 
 moi^ into the ban, °l "' ' '^V'"' '"^''^''^ °«* 
 
 now, although his iive^ 1 ^ She could place him 
 
 shabby clothes; she. Sh^i."^" f "'"''■-' '°^ 
 
 this changed a^r.arancT '"'""'^''^ ^ ^P"** »* 
 
 "Why not n,a.c the best of itr said MauWlle. 
 
 i 
 
LITTLE THUNDER 
 
 i6i 
 
 
 softly, but with glance sparkling in spite of himself. 
 "After all, are you not giving yourself needless ap- 
 prehensions? You are at home here. Anything you 
 wish shall be yours. G>nsider yourself mistress ; me, 
 one of your servants I" 
 
 Ahnost imperceptibly his manner had changed. In- 
 stinctive misgivings which had assailed her in the coach 
 with him now resoh . 1 themselves into assured fears. 
 Something she -could not explain had aroused her 
 suspicions before they reached the manor, but his 
 words had glossed these inward qualms, and a feeling 
 of obligation suggested trust, not shrinking; but, with 
 his last words, a full light illumined her faculties ; an 
 association of ideas revealed his intent and perform- 
 ance. 
 
 "It was you, then," she said, slowly, studying him 
 with steady, penetrating glance. 
 
 "You I" she repeated, with such contempt that he 
 was momentarily disconcerted. "The man in the 
 carriage— he was hired by you. The driver— his 
 face is familiar. I remember now where I saw him — 
 in the Shadengo Valley. He is your coachman. Your 
 rescue was planned, to deceive me. It deceived even 
 your man. He had not expected that. Your reassur- 
 ing me was false; the plan to change horses a trick 
 to get me here — " 
 
 "If you would but listen — " 
 
 "When"— her eyes ablare— "will this farce end?" 
 
 Her words took him unawares. Not that he dreaded 
 the betrayal of his actual purpose. On the contrary, 
 
I63 
 
 THE STROLLERS 
 
 the disinterested ZTLw^l^^^f of dj^ding 
 
 "When it ends in « T„ ^^ •" •»<* »«'mied. 
 
 stancel" he said swiftly '"°°"' "^ *''^ Cbn- 
 
 Pirolir-riefi^lrr ;^ '" '' 
 went aversion was nara^f^ *' that for a mo- 
 
 Again she lookeTwCZt 1°, Z^ "T' '-'"^• 
 
 fieWs and foists n,«SX" '""'"''' °*^ 
 
 nesltf h^Sr fl°;.t'^-^^^^^^ ve^ Bold- " 
 
 trate in his own pro^„ce ? W^ i' "'^ '^»- 
 thought, waste the goE";;:L^^^'jj^-' he "^ 
 
 heed now ; a study of Dhv«.v,rU * '"*' ''"t one 
 
 son background '^^^ '^"^y- '^^t a crim- 
 
 ^'^^^^Hfy^'^r^r':'^' » *« wiiden.essr 
 you. mysh;„ld™„^r',°*'^*''°"'<»««opento 
 
 a poor prophet if you would notl ^°" ^ ^ "^ 
 
 It is not always Ly 7oJl Tl^" ""'^^ « *°^ 
 audience, but meaT'colt fouTt:: ""^^ »» 
 would be on every one's LV v ^^ >'°'"' "a™' 
 jaded world likeTfresi Jhe" '" V"" ^"^ 
 to artless art as an antWoteVo^ ^"^' '°^ ""» 
 of the players are wStrralr ^'^^ ?'* 
 W.11 seem like a new-grovv. whit:,^ ^ ^°""^ ^-« 
 
 <iid n^t'^'o^ XrijnXT'V " ^^'" ' ^"^ 
 s"n shot beneath an obstructing 
 
LITTLE THUNDER 
 
 163 
 
 branch, and long, searching shafts found access to 
 the room. Mauville moved forward impetuously, un- 
 til he stood on the verge of the sunlight on the satin- 
 wood floor. 
 
 "May I not devote myself to this cause, Constance?" 
 he continued. "You are naturally resentful toward me 
 now. But can I not show you that I have your welfare 
 at heart ? If you were as ambitious as you are attrac- 
 tive, what might you not do? Art is long; our days 
 are short ; youth flies like a summer day." 
 
 His glance sought hers questioningly ; still no reply ; 
 only a wave of blood surged over her neck and brow, 
 while her eyes fell. Then the glow receded, leaving 
 her white as a snow image. 
 
 "Gmie," he urged. "May I not find for you those 
 opporttmities ?" 
 
 He put out his eager hand as if to touch her. Then 
 suddenly the figure in the window came to life and 
 shrank back, with widely opened eyes fixed upon his 
 face. His gaze could not withstand hers, man of the 
 world though he was, and his free manner was replaced 
 by something resembling momentary embarrassment. 
 Conscious of this new and annoying feeling, his ego- 
 tism rose in arms, as if protesting against the novel 
 sensation, and his next words were correspondingly 
 violent. 
 
 "Put off your stage manners I" he exclaimed. "You 
 are here at my pleasure. It was no whim, my carry- 
 ing you off. After you left I wait to the manor, where 
 I tried to forget you. But nights of revelry — why 
 
 ^1 
 
 f^ 
 
•"OOCOfY IBOUITION TBI CHART 
 
 (ANSI ond ISO TEST CHADT No. 2) 
 
 /APPLIED IM^CE In 
 
 .. \Ki Eq«| Main StrMt 
 '«S foch«t«r, Naw Yorli 14609 US* 
 = (716) *82 - 0300 - Phofi« 
 (716) 28a- 5989 -Fo« 
 
■«* THE STROLLERS 
 
 « »!» h.. L .fcoitr^^^,'.™'* """" .iK». 
 
 foolish fancies How Svn'''^' ' '"''"^^^'' « 
 you be pleased; annoyTd ' riT'".?' ^°"" 
 witla air-castles like the „„ . *^'"P*^'' "^ »'ancy 
 But you had no wtVof wdclr"'''n'"*"' '°-^ 
 «e, and hurried away! I 00^"' ^'l'^^'^ "^'^'d to 
 ««d; the next best w'ay was thS " "'" '°" "" ^ ^^^ 
 
 ■He concluded with an ;,r,„. ■ ' . 
 eagerly seeking t^e L't TI^'^T^ ^^^'"«' «" g»-e 
 part, but his c^nfessfon sZed V'.""^ °' ''^°^ °n h^r 
 g«tive of tender posslSTeiS^-^^-^^ ''^' '^- 
 ness and obduracy In » „ ,^^P^"sed now but cold- 
 the distance sepamin"hrht'°" °' '^«»? he forgot 
 able worId;thetraScfcieriin ;' '''"" '""^ ^'""i^ 
 of Vanity Fairl !^^ S X^"'"'^ ~"""''°"' 
 b-m now the one unparf^„ii '"^^ **' "^e was to 
 other memories ""P^'^Soned entirety, overriding 
 
 --^"c^s°^strr^r"'^^<'^-con-' 
 
 — andsP Allthea^^LXordr: .^^ 
 
LITTLE THUNDER 
 
 I6S 
 
 them, and they extend as wide in the other direction 
 ihese— my name— are yours!" 
 
 A shade of color swept over her brow. 
 
 "Answer me," he urged. 
 
 "Drive back and I will answer you." 
 
 J^l''^ ''.f-5'' '"'^ ^°" '^"' '^"eh at me," he retorted, 
 moodily. You would make a woman's bargain with 
 
 |ls yours a man's with me ?" Contemptuously, 
 what more can I do?" 
 
 "Undo wh?t you have done. Take me back I" 
 
 "I would cut a nice figure doing thatl No; you 
 shall stay here." •' 
 
 He spoke angrily; her disdain at his proposal not 
 only injured his pride but awoke his animosity. On 
 the other hand, his words demonstrated she had not 
 improved her own position. If he meant to keep her 
 there he could do so, and opposition made him only 
 more obstinate, more determined to press his advan- 
 tage. Had she been more politic— Juliana off the 
 stage as well as on-she, whose artifice was glossed 
 by artlessness — * 
 
 Her lashes drooped; her attitude became less ajr- 
 gressive; her eyes, from beneath their dark curtains, 
 rested on him for a moment. What it was in that 
 glance so efl^ective is not susceptible to analysis. Was 
 ■t the appeal that awakened the quixotic sense of 
 honor; the helplessness arousing compassion; the irre- 
 wstible quality of a brimming eye so fatal to mascu- 
 
i66 
 
 THE STROLLERS 
 
 !fdis'in"!f*!r "^^ P°«*'^«''««? Whatever it was 
 .t dolled the contraction on the land baronw!^' 
 and-desp.te his threats, vo.s.-he was s^a^d by 
 
 ;Torgive me," he said, tenderly. 
 You will drive back?" 
 
 county laughs at me. k TliJtS^ 1':^'^ 
 
 regarded her once more cruelly. S^^^ ' 
 
 "I wrnJ"^*^ "!f r^'' '°° ^•" h« A coldly 
 oerfcrt "°;P"''=P^«'' ^°^ ^^h^arsal, although y^u we« 
 
 j:?than^s.!!:L^sr ^r '"^ '"^ 
 
 better compliment" '""''''"^'y- ^ «« W you no 
 thot^h'r;^rfl.tht^^'^-^-«''e.aughe^^ 
 "Bravol" he exclaimed. 
 
 without, the door burst open, and the driver of the 
 
 L etdi; ^^*'"«M«-" "y fear, unceremont Sy 
 entered the room. The patroon turned on bim en- 
 
LITTLE THUNDER 
 
 167 
 
 raged, but the latter without noticing his master's dis- 
 pleasure, exclaimed hurriedly: 
 
 "The anti-renters are coming I" 
 
 The actress uttered a slight cry and stepped toward 
 the window, when she was drawn back by an irresisti- 
 ble force. 
 
 "Pardon me," said a hard voice, from which all 
 passmg compunction had vanished. "Be kind enough 
 to come with me." 
 
 "I will follow you, but-" Her face expressed the 
 rest. 
 
 "This way then I" 
 
 He released her and together they mount-d the 
 stairway For a long time a gtatle footfall had not 
 passed those various landings; not since the ladies in 
 hoops, with powdered hair, had ascended or descend- 
 ed, with attendant cavaliers, bewigged, beruffled, be- 
 dizened. The land baron conducted his companion 
 to a distant room up stairs, the door of which he 
 threw open. 
 "Go in there," he said curtly. 
 She hesitated on the threshold. So remote was it 
 from the main part of the great manor, the apartment 
 had all the requirements of a prison. 
 
 "You needn't fear," he continued, reading her 
 thoughts. "I'm not going to be separated from you 
 —yet! But we can see what is going on here." 
 
 Again she mutely obeyed him, and entered the room. 
 It was a commodious apartment, where an excellent 
 view was offered of the surrounding country on three 
 
i68 
 
 THE STROLLERS 
 
 sides But looking from the window to discern his 
 assailants, Mauvil.e could see nothing save the fields 
 and openinpi, fnnged by the dark groves. The out- 
 houses and barns were but dimly outlined, while scat- 
 tered trees here and there dotted the open soaces 
 w.th small, dark patches. A single strea^^^? r^^e 
 mgered m the west. A tiny spot, moving through 
 the obscunty, proved to be a cow, peacefully wander- 
 mg over the dewy grass. The whirring sound of a 
 d.vmg mght-hawk gave evidence that a thing of life 
 was mspectmg the scene from a higher point of vant- 
 age. 
 
 ^ From that narrow, dark crimson ribbon, left behind 
 by the flauntmg sun, a faint reflection entered the ereat 
 open wmdows of the chamber and revealed Mauville 
 gazmg wuhont, pistol in hand; Constance leaning 
 against the curtains and the driver of the coach stand- 
 ing in the center of the room, quaking inwardly and 
 
 nSM^r^^'*^'^- ^'"^ '"^'-"^"^d had found an 
 old blunderbuss somewhere, useful once undoubtedly 
 but of questionable service now 
 
 faiJJffr*"!' J'^'^T^' ^"^ "°' '^*"™«<'- Having 
 faithfully closed and locked all the iron shutters, he 
 had crept out of a cellar window and voluntarily re- 
 signed as care-taker of the manor, with itc burda, of 
 dangers and vexations. With characteristic prudence 
 he had timed the period of his departure with the be- 
 ginning of the end in the fortunes of the old patroon 
 meTM'--J!'" ^°™-'°"d, gathering dJng the 
 hfe of Mauville's predecessor, was now ready to burst 
 
LITTLE THUNDER 
 
 169 
 
 the impending catastrophe hastened by the heir's want 
 of discretion and his failure to adjust difficuhies ami- 
 rably. That small shadow, followed by a smaller 
 shadow passing through the field, were none other 
 than Oly-koeks and Oloffe, who grew more and more 
 imperceptible until they were finally swallowed up 
 and seemingly lost forever in the darkness of the frinee 
 of the forest. ^ 
 
 A branch of a tree grated against the window as 
 Mauville looked out over the peaceful vale to the rib- 
 bon of red that was being slowly withdrawn as by some 
 mysterious hand. Gradually this adornment, growing 
 shorter and shorter, was wound up while the shadows 
 of the out-houses became deeper and the meaaow lands 
 appeared to recede in the distance. As he scanned 
 the surrounding garden, the land baron's eye fell upon 
 an mdistinct figure stealing slowly across the sward in 
 the partial. darkness. This object was immediately 
 followed by another and yet another. To the obser- 
 ver s surprise they wore the headgear of Indians 
 
 Suddenly the patroon heard the note of the whip- 
 poorwill, the nocturnal songster that mourns unseen. 
 It was succeeded by the sharp tones of a saw-whet 
 and the distmct mew of a cat-bird. A wild pigeon 
 began to coo softly in another direction and was an- 
 swered by a thrush. The listener vaguely realized 
 that all this unexpected melody came from the Indians 
 who had by this time surrounded the house and who 
 took this method of communicating with one another. 
 An mterval of portentous silence was followed by a 
 
i;d 
 
 THE STROLLERS 
 
 loud knocking at the front door, which din reverber- 
 ated through the hall, echoing and re-echoing the vie- 
 orons summons. MauviUe at this leaned from the 
 wmdow and as he did so, there arose a hooting from 
 the sward as though bedlam had broken loose. Main- 
 taining his post, the heir called out: 
 
 "What do you want, men ?" 
 J^JJT 7^''\t''\ demonstration became more 
 turbulent, and, amid the threatening hubbub, voices 
 
 Aroused to a fever of excitement by the shooting of 
 
 IndJrT: ?" """'" "° '°"8"' '^^^^«' stealthy 
 Indians, but a notous assemblage of anti-renters, ex- 
 pressing their determination in an ominous chorus: 
 Hang the land baron I" 
 
 In the midst of this far from reassuring uproar a 
 voice arose like a trumpet: s i' "-r a 
 
 mZllV^' ""^engers of the Lord, made strong by 
 
 "You are the messenger of the devil, Little Thun- 
 der, Mauville shouted derisively. 
 
 A crack of a rifle admonished the land baron that the 
 jest mig^t have cost him dear. 
 
CHAPTEii XIV 
 
 THE Attack on t;{e manor 
 
 After this brief hostile outbreak in the garden below 
 the right wing, Mauville prepared to make as effective 
 defense as lay in his power and looked around for his 
 aid, the driver of the coach. But that quaking indi- 
 vidual had taken advantage of the excitement to dis- 
 appear. Upon hearing the threats, followed by the 
 singing of bullets, and doubting not the same treat- 
 ment accorded the master would be meted out to the 
 servant, the coachman's fealty so oozed from him 
 that he dropped his blunderbuss, groping his way 
 through the long halls to the cellar, where he 
 concealed himself in an out-of-the-way comer beneath 
 a heap of potato sacks. In that vast subterranean place 
 he congratulated himself he would escape with a whole 
 skin, his only regret being rertain unpaid wages which 
 he considered as good as lost, together with the master 
 who owed them. 
 
 Mauville, however, would have little regretted the 
 disappearance of this poor-spirited aid, on the theory 
 a craven follower is worse than none at all, had not this 
 (170 
 
173 
 
 THE STROLLERS 
 
 discovery bee^ followed quickly by the rea.. : tion tKat 
 Je young g,rl. too, had availed herseH of th opponu- 
 mt>wh,le he was at the window and vanished 
 
 Why, the idippery jade's gone I' he exclaimed, star- 
 mg around the room, confounded for the m« 
 Then recovenng himself, he hurriedly left the chZ- 
 ber, more apprehensive lest she should get out of X 
 manor than that the tenants should get In 
 
 ful.yl%rhar"'^'-"=^''°"^''*'''-'"^ <'-''- 
 For the moment he almost forgot the ami-renters 
 and detenmned to find her at all Wd. He hTstl y 
 traversed the upper hall, but was rewarded whh no 
 sight of her. He gazed down the stairs eagerfy wi"h 
 
 of the h ^"'J^""'"' ''"' """ «<=^ *°-''^'' the rea 
 
 of the house and made good her escape from one of 
 
 the back or side entrances. 
 "Yes ; she's gone," he repeated. "What a fool I was 
 
 to have trusted her to herself for a moment 1" 
 
 A new misgiving arose, and he started. What if 
 she had succeeded in leaving the manor? He knew 
 and distrusted Little Thunder and his cohorts. WhaT 
 respect would they have for her? For a.; i,e had done 
 It was, nevertheless, intolerable to think .he migh°I' 
 m possible danger-from others save himself I A wav^ 
 of compunction swept over him. After all, he loved 
 her, and, loving her, could not bear to think of anv 
 calamity befalling her. He hated her for tricig hS^ 
 
ATTACK ON THE MANOR ,73 
 
 feared for her, for the pass to which he had brought 
 her; cared for her beyond the point his liking had 
 reached for any other woman. A mirthless lau H 
 escaped him as he stood at the stairway looking down 
 the empty hall. k »n 
 
 "Surely I've gone daft over the stroller I" he thought 
 as hiE own position recurred to him in all its serious- 
 ness. "Well, what's done is done! Let them come I" 
 His eyes gleamed. 
 
 With no definite purpose of searching further he 
 nevertheless walked mechanically down the corridor 
 toward the other side of the manor and suddenly, to 
 his surprise and satisfaction, discerned Constance in 
 c blmJ passage, where she had inadvertently fled. 
 
 At the end of this narrow hall a window looked al- 
 most directly out upon the circalar, brick dove-cote 
 now an indistinct outline, and on both sides were 
 doors, one of which she was vai- y enri ,voring to 
 open when he approached. Immediate! v 
 in her efforts ; flushed and panting, she 
 dim light of the passap Quiet, un*' 
 for the cooing in the cote, haa succeeded 
 demonstration ; the anti-renters Were evii 
 Jng their forces to prevent the land baron 
 planning an assault on the manor. 
 
 In his momentary satisfaction at finding I Mau- 
 yille overlooked the rear prospect of a more ^^hy, 
 >f not final, separation, and surveyed the ou girl 
 with a suddtn, swift joyousness, but the fear an 1 r^- 
 
 ne desisted 
 
 .rood in the 
 
 *en save 
 
 '• loisy 
 
 rang- 
 
 ttape or 
 
'74 
 
 THE STROLLERS 
 
 forlJ"v'"J" •"" ^*'""" ''"^'■'«"«d hl» concern 
 £l£ " '"'" '"""""' **'* ""^''-^^ by harsh" 
 
 S L, ^''^"''"'•'- \^ this spot has no strategic ad- 
 vsnts^s. suppose we change our base of defense?" 
 
 Reahzmg how futile would be resistance, she accom- 
 panied him once more to the chamber in th, ■ 
 Where he had detenmned to^makTw "ast defr.!' 
 After dosing and locking .he door, he lighted ™Tof 
 
 f^^^h'""'"''' °" *"* '"*"'•''• Th« ""certain glow 
 from the great candelabra, covered with dust likf th^ 
 white marble itself, and evidently placed t^^r^nv 
 years before revealed faded deco«L,i.d a cemn/ 
 water-stained as from a defective roof. Between the 
 eTeSd r'*^ «""*'^ ^'' '^'^'' » -ciem mir^ 
 
 hS si cIose?T"J- ^"-[.^y-heer. the Patroon. had 
 
 ai^ln^ i ^ '"""''^ *•"' •" ••»<« shut out both 
 
 air and sunlight from his rooms. 
 
 The fWckering glare fell upon the young actress 
 
 Klverthafr • "f r"""" '"P'^''''°"' ''^°°d- 
 hf mln »^"''. *''"'' "^t ^"^ lease-holders to 
 
 the manor on that night of nights. It was intolera- 
 
 thev fh "?/°°"" "''' '^' "°*^ •"■« *««hoW than 
 Sin? hi rf'^' "P* '"' ^"y ""-"'«*• "°t only 
 
 bf For /% "' ^'"'""^ '■"PP'""^ ^'°'" W'' very 
 "ps. For. of the outcome he could have little doubt. 
 
 K-»0i 
 
ATTACK ON THE MANOR i;s 
 
 although determined to sell dearly that which they 
 sought. 
 
 The violent crash of a heavy body at the iront of 
 the house and a tumult of voices on the porch suc- 
 ceeded by a din in the hall, announced that the first bar- 
 rier h^-* been overcome and the anti-renters were in 
 possession of the lower floor of the manor. Mauville 
 had started toward the door, when the anticipation in 
 the young girl's eyes held him to the spot. Inacces- 
 sible, she was the more desired; her reserve was fuel 
 to his flame, and, at that moment, while his life hung 
 in the balance, he forgot the rebuff he had received and 
 how she had nearly played upon him. 
 
 Words fell from his lips, unpremeditated, eloquent 
 voicmg those desires which had grown in the solitude 
 of the manor. Passionately he addressed her, knowing 
 the climax to his diflSculties was at hand. Once near 
 her, he could not be at peace without her, he vowed 
 and this outcome had been inevitable. All this he ut- 
 tered impetuously, at times incoherently, but as he con- 
 cluded, she -only clasped her hands helplessly, solely 
 conscious of the uproar below which spread from the 
 main hall to the adjoining rooms. 
 
 "They are coming— they are coming!" she said, and 
 Mauville stopped short. 
 
 But while anger and resentment were at strife 
 within him, some one tried, the door of the chamber 
 and finding it locked, set tip a shout. Immediately 
 the prowlers in the wings the searchers in the kitchen 
 and all the stragglers below congregated in the main 
 
 BTIBSKJillE- 
 
I 
 
 176 
 
 THE STROLLERS 
 
 hall; footsteps were heard ascending rapidly, panstnu 
 .n doubt at the head of the stairway, not toowinf 
 whether to turn to the right or to the left 
 •^ere they are I" called out the man at the door. 
 You meddlesome fooll" exclaimed Mauville, lift- 
 ing a revolver and discharging it in the direction- of 
 the voice Evidently the bullet, passing through the 
 panel of the door, found its mark, for the report was 
 followed by a cry of pain. 
 
 This plaint was answered from the distance and 
 soon a number of anti-renters hastened to the spot. 
 MauviUe, m vicious humor, moved toward the thresh- 
 old. One of the panels was alrtady broken and an 
 arm thrust into the opening. The land baron bent 
 forward and coolly clapped his weapon to the member, 
 the loud discharge being succeeded by a howl from the 
 wounded lease-holder. Mauville again raised his 
 weapon when an exclamation from the actress caused 
 him to turn quickly, in time to see a figure spring un- 
 expectedly into the room from the balcony. The land 
 baron stood in amazement, eying the intruder who 
 had appeared so suddenly from an unguarded quarter, 
 but before he could recover his self-possession, his 
 hand was struck heavily and the revolver fell with a 
 clatter to the floor. 
 
 . His assailant quickly grasped the weapon, present- 
 ing It to the breast of the surprised land-owner, who 
 looked, not into the face of an unknown anti-renter, 
 but mto the stern, familiar countenance of Saint- 
 Prosper. 
 
 %■ 
 
CHAPTER XV 
 
 A HASTY EXIT 
 
 The afternoon following the soldier's departure 
 from the patroon village went by all too slowly, his 
 jaded horse's feet as heavy as the leaden moments. 
 That he had not long since overtaken the coach was 
 inexplicable, unless Susan had been a most tardy mes- 
 senger. True, at the fork of the road he had been mis- 
 led, but should before this have regained what he had 
 lost, unless he was once more on the wrong thorough- 
 fare. As night fell, the vastness of the new world 
 impressed the soldier as never before; not a creature 
 had he met since leaving the patroon village ; she whom 
 he sought might have been swallowed up in the im- 
 mensity of the wilderness. For the first time his 
 task seemed as if it mi^ht be to no purpose ; his con- 
 fidence of the morning had gradually been replaced by 
 consuming anxiety. He reproached himself that he 
 had not pressed his inquiries further at the patroon 
 village, but realized it was now too late for regrets; 
 go on he must and should. 
 
 Along the darkenmg road horse and rider continued 
 (177) 
 
 #■ 
 
1/8 
 
 THE STROLLERS 
 
 the rems sharply, as the animal stumbled from sheer 
 
 weanness With one hand he stroked encourag njy 
 
 the foam flecked arch of the horse's neck; the other 
 
 holding the reins, was clenched like a steel gtove 
 
 Leavmg the brow of a hill, the horseman expecfanUy 
 
 fixed h,s,gaze ahead, when suddenly on his righ" a 
 
 s.de thoroughfare lay before him. As he Ir w rdn 
 
 the «r^ »';he turn, peering before him through 
 
 the gathermg darkness, a voice from the trees called 
 
 out unexpectedly} ""*'' 
 
 "Hitch up in here I" 
 
 At this peremptory summons the soldier gazed 
 qmckly m the direction of the speaker. ThJugK 
 grove where the trees were so slender and s^rsely 
 pta«ted the eye could penetrate the thicket, he'^w a 
 tand of horsemen dismounting and tying their ani- 
 r Lv , ' *^ something unreal, grotesque even, 
 numtr ''T^^'': ''"* 't ^'"^ '■ot until one of their 
 number stepped from the shadow of the trees 
 
 ^eir head-dress and garb to be that of Indians 
 Recalling all he had heard of the masquerading ma" 
 
 Tn?""^ T7JT °^ *■= >»'i-renters.\he soldi r at 
 o^ce concfuded he had encountered a party of them, 
 bent upon some nefarious expedition. That he was 
 taken for one of their number seemed equally evident. 
 
 «Th?n ''r' *' """'"^ "««'"• impatiently. 
 
 The patroon is at the manor with his city trollop It's 
 
 tune we were moving." »- '» 
 
A HASTY EXIT 
 
 »79 
 
 An exclamation fell from the soldier's lips. The 
 patroon I — his ill-disguised admiration for the actress I 
 — ^his abrupt reappearance the night of the temperance 
 drama I Any uncertainty Saint- Prosper might have 
 felt regarding the identity of him he sought, or the 
 reason for that day's work, now became compelling 
 certitude. But for the tenants, he might have ridden 
 by the old patroon house. As it was, congratulating 
 himself upon this accidental meeting rather than his 
 own shrewdness, he quickly dismounted. A moment's 
 thought, and he followed the lease-holders. 
 
 In the attack on the manor, his purpose, apart 
 from theirs, led him to anticipate the general 
 movement of the anti-renters in front of the house 
 and to make his way alone, aided by fortuitous circum- 
 stances, to the room where the land baron had taken 
 refuge. As he sprang into this chamber the young 
 girl's exclamation of fear was but the prelude to an 
 expression of gladness, while Mauville's consterna- 
 tion when he found himself disarmed and powerless, 
 was as great as his surprise. For a moment, there- 
 fore, in his bearing bravado was tempered with hesi- 
 tancy. 
 
 "You here?" stammered the land baron, as he in- 
 voluntarily recoiled from his own weapon. 
 
 The soldier contemptuously thrust the revolver into 
 his pocket. "As you see," he said coldly, "and in a 
 moment, they"— indicating the door— "will be here!" 
 
 "Yo think to turn me over to them I" exclaimed the 
 other V. ilently. "But you do not know me I This is 
 
i8o 
 
 THE STROLLFRS 
 
 no quarrel of yours. Give me my weapon, and let me 
 fight it out with them I" 
 
 The »oIdie.-'s glance rested for a moment on the 
 young girl and his face grew stem and menacing. 
 
 "By heaven, I am half-minded to take you at your 
 word I But you shall have one chance-a slender one I 
 There is the window; it opens on the portico I" 
 
 "And if I refuse?" 
 
 "They have brought a rope with them. Go, or 
 hang I" , 
 
 The heir hesitated, but as he pondei«d, the anti- 
 renters were effectually shattering th. heavy door, 
 regaling themselves with threats taught them by the 
 politicians who had advocated their cause on the 
 stump, preached it in the legislature, or grown elo- 
 quent over it in the constitutional assembly. 
 
 "The serfs are here! The drawers of water and 
 hewers of wood have arisen I Hang the land baron I 
 Hang the feudal lord I" 
 
 A braver man than Mauville might have been cowed 
 by that chorus. But after pausing irresolutely, weigh- 
 ing the chances of life and death, gazing jealously 
 upon the face of the apprehensive girl, and venom- 
 ously at the intruder, the heir finally made a virtue of 
 necessity and strode to the window. With conflict- 
 ing emotions struggling in his mind— futy toward the 
 lease-holders, hatred for the impassive mediator— he 
 yet regained, in a measure, an outwardly calm bearing. 
 "It's a poor alternative," he said, shortly, flashing a 
 
A HASTY EXIT 
 
 iSi 
 
 last glance at the actress. "But it's the best that of- 
 fers I" 
 
 So saying, he sprang upon the balcony— none too 
 soon, for a moment later the door burst open and an 
 incongruous element rushed into the room. Many 
 were attired in outlandish head-dresses, embroidered 
 moccasins and fringed jackets, their faces painted in 
 various hues, but others, of a bolder spirit, had dis- 
 dained all subterfuge of disguise. Not until then did 
 the soldier discover that he had overlooked the possible 
 unpleasantness of remaining in the land baron's stead, 
 for the anti-renters promptly threw themselves upon 
 him, regardless of his companion. The first to grapple 
 with him was a herculean, thick-ribbed man, of ex- 
 traordinary stature, taller than the soldier, if not so 
 well-knit; a Goliath, indeed, as Scroggs had deemed 
 him, with arms long as windmills. 
 
 "Stand back, lads," he roared, "and let me throw 
 him I" And Dick, the tollman, rushed at Saint- Pros- 
 per with furious attack ; soon they were chest to chest, 
 each with his chin on his opponent's right shoulder, 
 and each -xsping the other around the body with 
 joined hai 
 
 Dick's muscles grew taut, like mighty whip-cords ; 
 his chest expanded with power ; he girded his loins for 
 a great effort, and it seemed as if he would make 
 good his boast. Held in the grasp of those arms, 
 tight as iron bands, the soldier siaggered. Once more 
 the other heaved and again Saint-Prosper nearly fdL 
 his superior agility alone saving him. 
 
l82 
 
 THE STROLLERS 
 
 Then slowly, almost imperceptibly, the soldier man- 
 aged to face to the right, twisting so as to place his 
 eft hip agamst his adversary-his only chance: a 
 tnck of wrestling unknown to his herculean, but 
 clumsy oppon«,t. Gathering all his strength in ^ last 
 drtermmed effort, he stooped forward suddenly and 
 hfted m h.s turn. One portentous moment-* mo- 
 ment of doubt and suspense-and the proud tepre- 
 ZT 1 ^' "-"'-""rners was hurled ov^^" 
 shoulder of the soldier, landing with a crash on the 
 floor where he lay, dazed and immovable. 
 
 Breathing hard, his chest rising and falling with 
 labored effort, Saint-Prosper fell back against the wall. 
 The anti-renters quickly recovering from their sur- 
 prise, gave him no time to regain his strength, and 
 the contest promised a speedy and disastrous conclu- 
 
 flr^i" w 'u '^''"■' "^^^ ^""^"^^^y « white figure 
 flashed before him, confronting the tenants with pale 
 face and shming eyes. A slender obstacle; onlVa 
 giriish form, yet the fearlessness of her manner the 
 eloquence of her glanc^-for her Ups were sileiit!- 
 kept them back for the instant. 
 
 But fiercer passions were at work among them, the 
 desire for retaliation and bitter hatred of the pat/oon 
 which speedily dissipated any feeling of compunction 
 or any tendency to waver. 
 
 "Kill him before his lady love!" cried a piercing 
 voice from behmd. "Did they not murder my hus 
 band before me? Kill him, if you are men I" 
 
 And pressmg irresistibly to the front appeared th« 
 
A HASTY EXIT 
 
 '83 
 
 woman whose husband had been shot by the deputies. 
 
 ,^T !^Tuf' ""^^ ***' ^"^ matronly, flamed with 
 uncontrollable passions. 
 
 "Are only the poor to suflfer?" she continued, as her 
 
 "Back woman I" exclaimed one of the barn-bur- -rs 
 sternly. This is no place for you." 
 
 "Who has a better right to be here?" retorted the 
 woman. 
 
 "But this is not womsn's work I" 
 
 "Woman's work I" Fiercely. "As much woman's 
 work as for his tniii to try to save him! Oh, let me 
 see nim ! 
 
 Gently the soldier, now partly recovering his 
 strength, thrust the young girl behind him, as push- 
 mg to the foreground the woman regarded him venge- 
 fuUy But m her .yes the hatred and bitter aversion 
 faded slowly, to be replaced by perplexity, which in 
 turn gave way to wonder, while the uplifted arm 
 raised threateningly against him. fell passively to her 
 side. At first, astonished, doubting, she did not speak, 
 then her lips moved mechanically. 
 
 "That is not the land baron," she cried, staring at 
 him m disappointment that knew no language. 
 
 "The woman is right," added a masquerader. "I 
 know MauviUe, too, for he told me to go to the devil 
 when I asked him to wait for his rent." 
 
 At this unexpected announcement, imprecations and 
 murmurs of incredulity were heard on all sides. 
 
184 
 
 THE STROLLERS 
 
 "Wwnan would you shield your husband's mur. 
 aererf exclaimed an over-zealous bani-bumer 
 
 'Shield him I" she retorted, as if aroused from a 
 s„T,H ;"°' ^'°'"°the«forthatl But this 
 >s not the patroon. His every feature is burned into 
 
 hL'^1 / ''" y°" •' " ""* "«• Yet he should be 
 nere. Did I not see him driving toward the manor?" 
 And she gazed wildly around. 
 
 For a moment, following this impassioned outburst 
 their rough gl^ces sought one another's, and the sol- 
 tilftie^ ^^ advantage of this cessation of hos- 
 
 *'No ; I am not the land baron," he interposed. 
 "T^ ^"^V" er°*'^«' a disappointed lease-holder, 
 rhen who the devil are you? An. anti-renter?" he 
 added, suspiciously. 
 
 "He must be an enemy of the land bar(m," inter- 
 rupted the woman, passing her hand across her brow. 
 He was with us in the grove. I saw him ride up and 
 took hmi to be a barn-burner. He crossed the 
 meadow with us. I saw his face ; distinctly as I see it 
 now I He asked me about the patroon-yes, I re- 
 
 r^[h"hTm'r"' "'^' "" ''' ''''' *•= *°-» *■«• 
 
 "I am no friend of his," continued the soldier in a 
 firm voice "You had one purpose in seeking him; 
 
 LT u ^r "^"'"^ °^ '^'^ ^'^y- I w« follow- 
 ing hun, when I met you in the grove." 
 
 "Then how came you here— in this room ?" 
 
 
# 
 
 A HASTY EXIT 
 
 i8s 
 
 "By the way of a tree, the branch of which reaches 
 to the window." 
 
 "The land baron was in this room a moment ago. 
 Where is he now?" 
 For answer Saint-Prosper pointed to the window. 
 Then you let him—" 
 "We're wasting time," impatiently shouted the barn- 
 burner who had disclaimed the soldier's identity to 
 the patroon. "Cornel" With an oath. "Do you 
 ■ want to lose him after all? He can't be far away. 
 And this one, damn him 1 isn't our man I" 
 
 For a second the crowd wavered, then with a venge- 
 ful shout they shot from the room, disappearing as 
 quickly as they had come. Led by Little Thunder 
 who, bemg a man of peace, had discreetly remained 
 without, they had reached the gate in their headlong 
 pursuit when they were met by a body of horsemen, 
 about to turn into the yard as the anti-renters were 
 hurrying out. At sight of this formidable band the 
 lease-holders immediately scattered. Taken equally 
 by surprise, the others made little effort to intercept 
 them and soon they had vanished over field and down 
 dell. Then the horsemen turned, rode through the 
 aveiue of trees, and drew up noisily before the portico 
 From their window the soldier and his companion 
 observed the abrupt encounter at the entrance of the 
 manor grounds and the dispersion of the lease-holders 
 like leaves before the autumn gusts. Constance, who 
 had breathlessly watched the flight of the erstwhile 
 
iM 
 
 THE STROLLERS 
 
 assailants, felt her <'oubts re-awakened as the horw- 
 men drew up before Oie door. 
 
 "Are they coming back?" she asked, involuntarily 
 clasping the arm of her companion. 
 
 She who had been so courageous and self-controlled 
 throughout that long, trying day, on a sudden felt 
 strangely weak and dependent. He leaned from the 
 narrow casement to command the view below striv- 
 ing to pierce the gloom, and she, following his exam- 
 ple, gazed ovfcr his shoulder. Either a gust of air ■ 
 had extmguished the light in the candelabra on the 
 mantel, or the tallow dip had burnt itself out, for the 
 room was now in total darkness so that they could 
 dmily see. without being seen. 
 
 lied***^ "*" "^ "'^ ** °"^ ""^ ^"^* ^^^•" •"* ^ 
 "Then who are they?" she half-whispered, drawing 
 unconsciously closer in that moment of jeopardy, 1,^ 
 face distant but a curl's length. 
 
 Below the men were dismounting, tying their horses 
 among the trees. Like a noisy band of troopers they 
 were talking excitedly, but their words were indistin- 
 guishable. 
 
 "Why do you suppose they fled from them?" she 
 continued. 
 
 Was it a tendril of the vine that touched his cheek 
 gently? He started, his face toward the haze in the 
 open borderland. 
 
 "Clearly these men are not the lease-holders. They 
 may be seeking you." 
 
 
 mr. 
 
'•» 
 
 A HASTY EXIT 
 
 187 
 
 She turned fagerly from the window. In the dark- 
 ness their hands met. Momentary compunction ma 
 her pause. 
 
 "I haven't yet thanked you I" And he felt the co 
 nervous pressure of her hands on his. "You mi 
 have ridden very hard and very far I" 
 
 His hand closed suddenly upon one of hers. He 
 was not thinking of the ride, but of how she had plact 
 herself beside him in his moment of peril; how si^ 
 had held them— nut long— but a moment— yet fcjmg 
 enough I 
 
 "They're coming in! They're dov»-n stairs!" he 
 exclauned excitedly. 
 
 A flickering light below suddenly threw dini jv- 
 ing shadows upon the ceiling of the hall. she 
 
 spoke she stepped forward and stumbled over the de- 
 bris ai the door. His arm was about her, almost before 
 the startled exclamation had fallen from her lips ; for 
 a moment her shapely, young figure rested against 
 him. But quickly she extricated herself, and they 
 picked their way cautiously over the bestrewn 
 threshold out into the hall. 
 
 At the balustrade, they paused. R( connoitering at 
 the turn, they were afforded full survey of the lower 
 hall where he latest comers had taken possession. 
 Few in nun.bers, the gathering had come to a dead 
 stop, regarding in surprise the broken dcor, and the 
 furniture wantonly demolished. But amid this scene 
 of rack and ruin, an object of especial wonder to the 
 
i88 
 
 THE STROLLERS 
 
 With unusual pallor of far* »!.. . 
 
 little nun ill ^LSthl « ^T^ ''*'°^» *« 
 bearing in tu'^:^^' ^nS'^jT^ ^'^ 
 obscure background. ^•''^ *83mst the 
 
 "Why," he muttered in surnri» ".i,: • 
 pattooni And her,, ifi '""^P"*!' this is not the 
 Mr n^L ■ ' " ^ *"• ""t «nistaken, is the ladv 
 
 Mr. Barnes is so anxious about." i » "le laay 
 
 "Mr. Barnes— he is with you?" 
 It was Constance that sooke. 
 "Yes; but-" ^ 
 
 "Where is he?" 
 
 "We left him a ways down the toad and-" 
 Clasped m the arms of the now jubilant Barnes. 
 
 \ 
 
 «s8l% 
 
CHAPTER XVI 
 
 THB COUNCTL AT THE TOWN PUMP 
 
 Next morning the sun had made but little progress 
 in the heavens and the dew was not yet off the grass 
 when the party, an imposing cavalcade, issued from 
 the manor on the return journey. Their home-com- 
 ing was uneventful. The barn-burners had disap- 
 peared like rabbits in their holes; the manor whose 
 master had fled, df-serted even by the faithful Oly- 
 koeks, was seen for the last time from the brow of the 
 hill, and then, with its gables and extensive wings, van- 
 ished from sight. 
 
 "Well," remarked Barnes as they sped down the 
 road, "it was a happj' coincidence for me that led the 
 anti-renters to the patroon's house last night." 
 
 And he p iceeded to explain how when he had 
 sought the nr. jgistrate, he found that official organiz- 
 ing a poxse comitatus for the purpose of quelling an 
 anticipated uprising of lease-holders. In answer to 
 the manager's complaint the custodian of the law had 
 asserted his first duty was generally to preserve the 
 peace; afterward, he would attend to Barnes' particu- 
 (189) 
 
190 
 
 THE STROLLERS 
 
 lar grievance. Obliged to content himself as best he 
 might with this meager assurance, the manager, at his 
 wits end, had accompanied the party whose way had 
 led them in the direction the carriage had taken, and 
 ^yhose final destination-an unhoped-for consumma- 
 tion 1-had proved the ultimate goal of his own de- 
 sires. 
 
 On reaching, that afternoon, the town where they 
 were playing,' Susan was the first of the company to 
 greet Constance. 
 
 "Now that it's all over," she laughed, "I rather 
 envy you that you were rescued by such a handsome 
 cavalier. 
 
 "Really," drawled Kate, "I should have -referred 
 not being rescued. The owner of a coach, I coat of 
 arms, silver harness, and the best horses in the coun- 
 try I I could drive on forever." 
 
 But later, alone with Susan, she looked hard at her- 
 i>o you fainted yesterday?" 
 
 "Oh, I'm a perfect coward," returned the other, 
 irankly. 
 
 Kate's mind rapidly swept the rough and troubled 
 past; the hap-hazard sea upon which they had em- 
 barked so long ago — 
 
 "Dear me I" she remarked quietly, and Susan turned 
 to conceal a blush. 
 
 Owing to the magistrate's zeal in relating the story 
 of the rescue, the players' success that night was great 
 The hall was filled to overflowing," says the man- 
 ager in his date book. "At the end of tht second act, 
 
\ 
 
 AT THE TOWN PUMP 191 
 
 the little girl was called out, and much to her inward 
 discomfiture the magistrate presented her with a bou- 
 quet and the audience with a written speech. Taking 
 advantage of the occasion, he pointed a political moral 
 from the tale, and referred to his own caikdidacy to 
 the legislature, where he would look after the inter- 
 ests of the rank and file. It was time the land-owners 
 were taught their places—not by violence— Oh, no- 
 no French methods for Americans I— by ballot, not by 
 bullet I Let the people vote for an amendment to the 
 constitution ! 
 
 "As we were preparing to leave the theater, the 
 magistrate appeared behind the scenes. 'Of course, 
 Mr. Barnes, you will appear against the patroon?' he' 
 said. 'His prosecution will do much to fortify the 
 issue.' 
 
 " 'That is all very fine,' I returned, satirically. 'But 
 will the Lord provide while we are trying the case? 
 Shall we find miraculous sustenance? We live by 
 moving on, sir. One or two nights in a place ; some- 
 times, a little longer I No, no ; 'tis necessary to forget, 
 if not to forgive. You'H Iwve to fortify your i.ssue 
 without us.' 
 
 " 'Well, well,' he said, gtwd-naturedly, 'if it's against 
 your interests, I have no wish to press the matter.' 
 Whereupon we shook hands heartily and parted. I 
 looked around for Constance, but she had left the hall 
 with Saint-Prosper. Have I been wise in asking him 
 to join the chariot? I sometinMi IBf regret we are 
 beholden to him—" 
 
 -C- 
 
iga 
 
 THE STROLLERS 
 
 From the Shadengo Valley Barnes' company pro- 
 ceeded by easy stages to Ohio, where the roads were 
 more difficult than any the chariot had yet encoun- 
 tered. On every hs- 1, as they crossed the country, 
 sounded the refrains of that memorable song<am- 
 paign which gave to the state the fixed sobriquet of 
 "Buckeye." Drawing near the capital, where the con- 
 vention was to be held, a log cabin, on an enormous 
 wagon, passed the chariot. A dozen horses fanci- 
 fully adorned were harnessed to this novel vehicle; 
 flowers over-ran the cabin-home, hewn from the buck- 
 eye logs of the forest near Marysville. In every win- 
 dow appeared the faces of merry lads and lasses, and, 
 as they journeyed on, their chorus echoed over field and 
 through forest. The wood-cutter leaned on his ax to 
 listen; the plowman waved his coonskin cap, his 
 wife, a red handkerchief from the doorway of their 
 log cabin. 
 
 "Oh, tell me where the Buckeye cabin was made? 
 
 'Twa. built among the boys who wield the plow and spada, 
 
 Where the log-cabin stands hi the bonnle Buckeye shade." 
 
 From lip to lip the sonf JhmI been carried, until the 
 entire country was singfiifft, and the log-cabin had 
 become a part of the armorial bearings of good citizen- 
 ship, especially applicable to the crests r>f presidents. 
 Well might the people ask: 
 
 U:- 
 
 this great commotion 
 gh?" 
 
AT THE TOWN PUMP 
 
 193 
 
 which the ready chorus answered with great gusto: 
 
 *It it a ball a-rolUng on 
 
 For Tippecanoe and Tyler, tool" 
 
 The least of the strollers' troubles at this crucial 
 period of their wanderings were the bad roads or the 
 effects of song and log-cabin upon the "amusement 
 world," the greatest being a temperance orator who 
 thundered forth denunciations of rum and the theater 
 with the bitterness of a Juvenal inveighing profligate 
 Rome. The people crowded the orator's hall, upon 
 the walls of which hung the customary banners: 
 a serpent springing from the top of a barrel; the 
 steamboat. Alcohol, bursting her boiler and going to 
 pieces, and the staunch craft, Temperance, safe and 
 sound, sailing away before a fair wind. With perfect 
 self-command, gift of mimicry and dramatic gestures, 
 the lecturer swayed his audience ; now bubbling over 
 with witty anecdotes, again exercising his power, of 
 grraphic portraiture. His elixir vitae — animal spirits 
 — ^humanized his effort, and, as Sir Robert Peel played 
 upon the House of Commons "as on an old fiddle," so 
 John B. Gough (for it was the versatile comic singer, 
 actor and speaker) sounded the chords of that homely 
 gathering. 
 
 Whatever he was, "poet, orator and dramatist, an 
 English Gavazzi," or, "mountebank," "humbug," or 
 "backslider," Mr. Gough was, even at that early 
 period, an antagonist not to be despised. He had been 
 out of pocket and out at the elbows — indeed, his ward- 
 
IJ>4 
 
 THE STROLLERS 
 
 lament the coLidi wh7ch b' T', """" '--" 'o 
 «rer into town at the sTml t.W "^^ "^'"^ ^^ lect- 
 ter was heralded undeTThV ' ^"^'^^^^ *" ««= 'at- 
 Ho~ ""''"^ *•«= auspices of the Band of 
 
 The .cmpers ce lectures an^ , i. 
 to the undoing of the strollt .^'^^ '^'■" ^"""Wned 
 clouds rolled 1,p. ou sS ,le '^t'""^ '"'^ ''-'' 
 'ay beneath the bkn of a JrsitttV ' '"' ""= '^"-^ 
 remained indoors, for thJlT '^^'''- ^^P^^ 
 "igns of Hfe Barnes saw frlT ^''*' ""'^ ^^'^ on'r 
 -- the landlordri^^"e™e7t""°''''<=''°'«' 
 raoumfully chewing heir tlf '"■'"'' °^ ««'«. 
 Leicester sheep, wofullv wT^r "°"' ''"^'' ='"'' ^"e 
 huddled togeth r ,S balTsofT^ '". *'' P^''"^«' °' 
 
 'K?<Sra;~^--- 
 
 •agers Tl^^er eI^"" T '^'"''* ^''^ -''•'- 
 them none of Mr. Gou^hT.dh "'^ °^' «^'"«''J f°' 
 Peraace Doctor" Sed '^.'"'"■^,"*^- "The Tem- 
 Waming" admonished laM?f'^= '^Drunkard's 
 "Drunkard's Doom " n„ ^ ^'^' *'"'« as for 
 
 and left him to r* °"' ''''^ *''^' "' "ight be 
 
 not^^Sfo^LlSn^^S^T *^^ — 
 hopelessly indebted, and wh^ u ""^^ources. but 
 
AT THE TOWN PUMP ,95 
 
 Barnes a certain sum after their conversation on the 
 night of t.ie country dance and had also come to his 
 assistance on an occasion when box-office receipts 
 and expenses had failed to meet. Moreover, he 
 had been a free, even careless, giver, not looking after 
 h.s busmess concerns with the prudent anxiety of a 
 merchant whose ventures are ships at the rude mercy 
 o. a troubled sea. To this third application, however, 
 ne did not answer immediately. 
 
 fullj' '' *' ^^"^ ^' ^^^^" ^^ '^'"^ "* ^'^^^' *''°"&ht- 
 " Yes ; it's hard to speak about it to you," replied the 
 manager, with some embarrassment, "but at New 
 Orleans — " 
 
 The soldier encountered his troubled gaze. "See 
 If you can sell my horse," he answered. 
 "You mean—" began the other surprised 
 "Yes." 
 
 "Hanged if I will!" exclaimed the manager. Then 
 he put out his hand impulsively. "I beg your pardon. 
 If I had known-but if we're ever out of this mess 
 1 may give a better account of my stewardship." 
 
 Nevertheless, his plight now was comparable to that 
 of the strollers of old, hunted by beadles from towns 
 and villages, and classed as gypsies, vagabonds and 
 professed itinerants by the constables. He was no 
 better served than the mummers, clowns, jugglers and 
 petty chapmen who, wandering abroad, were deemed 
 rogues and sturdy beggars. Yet no king's censor 
 could have found aught "unchaste, seditious or un- 
 
'9« THE STROLLERS 
 
 no immoral matter "v.h,7 "''' '""-ywds; 
 
 usti.. .eadTS' totr^^ deTjno^r- 
 actors of rollickino- Jr,»»-i J "' "cvise, no notous 
 
 i.i.ts SS.rr'r?'' » « ..» w ™a 
 
 must be fairi;fouehri.^''*''r'^'' the flesh 
 know the scnpLSsfJlng.^"'' *'°" ^"^"^'-^ou 
 
 The other nodded 
 an'oTi^M^ifilhS' ^- - ^ Franlcenstein; 
 
AT THE TOWN PUMP 197 
 
 "Give it up," said the orator, with a smile that singu- 
 larly jllumined Ms thin, but powerful features. "As 
 I gave it upl Into what dregs of vice, what a sink 
 of iniquity was I plunged I The very cleansing of 
 my soul was an Augean task. Knavery, profligacy, 
 laxity of morals, looseness of principles— that ivas 
 what the stage did for me; that was the labor of Her- 
 cules to be cleared away! Give it up, Mr. Barnes!" 
 And with a last penetrating look, he strode out of the 
 office. 
 
 In spite of Barnes' refusal, the soldier offered to 
 sell his horse to the landlord, but the latter curtly de- 
 chned, having horses enough to "eat their heads oflE" 
 during the winter, as he expressed it. His Jeremy 
 CoUier aversion to players was probably at the bottom 
 of this point-blank rebuff, however. He was a stub- 
 bom man, czar in his own domains, a small principality 
 jwunded by four inhospitable walls. His guests— hav- 
 ing no other place to go— were his subjects, or prison- 
 ers, and distress could not find a more unfitting trib- 
 unal before which to lay its case. There was some- 
 thing so malevolent in bis vigilance, so unfriendly 
 in his scrutiny, that to the players he seemed an 
 emissary of disaster, inseparable from their cruel 
 plight. 
 
 Thus it was that the strollers perforce reached a 
 desperate conclusion when making their way from 
 the theater on the last evening. By remaining longer, 
 they would become the more hopelessly involved • in 
 gomg— without their host's permission— they would 
 
198 THE STROLLERS 
 
 be taking the shortest route toward an honorable set- 
 tlement m the near future; a paradoxical flight from 
 the brunt of their troubles, to meet them squarely I 
 This, to Barnes, ample reason for unceremonious de- 
 parture was heartily approved by the company in 
 council assembled around the town pump. 
 
 "Stay and become a county burden, indeed!" ex- 
 claimed Mrs. Adams, tragically. 
 
 f 1^^7/1^ '""■'^'' ""^^ "^ anchored here!" fret- 
 lully added Susan. 
 
 "The council is dissolved, • said the manager 
 promptly, with no one the wiser-except the town 
 
 pump. 
 
 "An ally of Mr. Gough I" suggested Adonis. 
 
 Thus more merrily than could have been expected 
 with such a distasteful enterprise before them, they 
 resumed the.r way. It was disagreeable under foot 
 and they presented an odd appearance, each one with 
 a hght. Mrs. Adams, old campaigner that she was, 
 led the way for the ladies, elastic and chatty as though 
 promenadmg down Broadway on a spring morning. 
 W.th the.r lanterns and the purpose they had in view, 
 they hkened themselves to a band of conspirators. 
 As Barnes marched ahead with his light, Susan play- 
 fully called him Guy Fawkes, of gun-powder fame, 
 whereupon his mind almost misgave him concerring 
 the grave adventure upon which they were embarked. 
 The wind was blowing furiously, doors and windows 
 creaked and all the demons of unrest were moaning 
 that mght m the hubbub of sounds. Save for a flick- 
 
AT THE TOWN PUMP ,99 
 
 ering candle m the hall, the tavern was dark, and land- 
 lord and maids had long since retired to rest. Amid 
 the no.se of the rain and the sobbing of the wind, 
 trmiks were lowered from the window; the chariot 
 and property wagon were drawn from the stable yard 
 and the horses led from their stalls. In a trice tliey 
 were ready and the ladies, wrapped in their cloaks 
 were m the coach. But the clatter of hoofs, the 
 neighmg of a horse, or some other untoward circum- 
 stance, aroused the landlord; a window in the second 
 stoi7 shot up and out popped a head in a night-cap. 
 
 Here!— What are you about?" cried the man. 
 
 Leaving!" said the manager, laconically. 
 The landlord threw up his arms like Shylock at the 
 loss of his money-bags. 
 
 "The reckoning!" he exclaimed. "What about the 
 reckonmg?" 
 
 "Your pound of flesh, sir!" replied Barnes. 
 
 "My score! My score!" shouted the other. "You 
 would not leave without settling it I" 
 
 "Go to bed, sir," was the answer, "and let honest 
 people depart without hindrance. You will be paid 
 out of our first profits." 
 
 But the man was not so easily appeased. "Robbers ! 
 Constable !" he screamed. 
 
 Conceiving it was better to be gone without further 
 parley havmg assured him of their honorable inten- 
 tions, Barnes was about to lash the horses, when Kate 
 suddenly exclaimed : 
 "Where's Constance?" 
 
aoo 
 
 THE STROLLERS 
 
 "Isn't she inside?" asked the manager quidcly. 
 
 "No ; she isn't here." 
 
 "Oh, I sent her back to gH something for me I had 
 forgotten," spoke up Mrs. Adams, "and she hasn't re- 
 turned yet." 
 
 "Sent her back I Madam, you have ruined every- 
 thing!" burst out Barnes, bitterly. 
 
 "Mr. Barnes, I won't be spoken to like a child I" 
 
 "Child, indeed—" 
 
 But the 'querulous words were not uttered, for, as 
 the manager was about to leave the box in considera- 
 ble perturbation, there— gazing down upon them at a 
 wmdow next to that occupied by the landlord— stood 
 Constance I 
 
 For a tippet, or a ruff, or some equally wretched 
 frippery, carelessly left by the old lady, all their plans 
 for deliverance appeared likely to miscarry. Presum- 
 ably, Constance, turned from her original purpose by 
 the noisy altercation, had hurried to the window, where 
 now the landlord perceived her and immediately 
 availed himself of the advantage offered.' 
 
 "So one of you is left behind," he shouted exult- 
 antly. "And it's the leading lady, tool I'll take care 
 she stays here, until after a settlement. I'll stop vou 
 yet I Stealing away in the middle of the night, you— 
 you vagabonds I" 
 
 His voice, growing louder and louder, ended in a 
 shrieking crescendo. Disheartened, there seemed no 
 alternative for the players save to turn back and sur- 
 render unconditionally. Barnes breathed a deep sigh ■ 
 
AT THE TOWN PUMP 201 
 
 •omuch for a tippet l-4heir dash for freedom had 
 b«n but a soror attempt I-„ow he saw visions of 
 pn««, bars and uttered a groan, when the soldier 
 
 n^fuT ""T*^ '" °*" ''°^«= '^'''"'ed forward b^' 
 neath the wmdow and stood upright in his stirrups. 
 IJo not be afraid, Miss Carew," he said 
 
 Fortunately the window was low and the distance 
 mcons,deraWe but Barnes held his breath, hoping^ 
 hazard would deter her. * 
 
 "Do not, my dear I" he began 
 
 S?h i *'/™"^ »""». apparently reassured her, 
 and she stepped upon the sill. ' 
 
 "Quick 1" he exclaimed, and, at the word she 
 dropped mto his upstretched arms. ScarceWhad she 
 es^ped. however, before the landlord w« sL at Z 
 same wmdow. So astonished was he to find her ime 
 sun>nse at first held him speechless; theS he b^st' 
 
 "Come back!" he cried. "Come back, or-" The 
 altemafve was lost in vengeful imprecatio^ ' 
 
 his^d^ ^^'' "^fr '""'' *« -Wi- resumed 
 nis Mddle. Dnve onl" he cried to Barnes as oast 
 the chariot sped his horse, with its double burdeS! 
 
CHAPTER XVII 
 
 THE HAND FERRY 
 
 At a lively gait down the road toward the river gal- 
 loped the horse bearing Saint-Prosper and Constance. 
 The thoroughfare was deserted and the dwelling 
 houses as well as the principal buildings of the town 
 were absolutely dark. At one place a dog ran out to 
 the front gate, disturbed by the unusual noise on the 
 road, and barked furiously, but they moved rapidly 
 on. Now the steeple of the old church loomed weirdly 
 against tlie dark background of the sky and then van- 
 ished. 
 
 On ; on, they went, past the churchyard, with its 
 marble slabs indistinctly outlined in the darkness, like 
 a phantom graveyard, as immaterial and ghostlike it- 
 self as the spirits of the eariiest settlers at rest there 
 beneath the sod. This was the last indication of the 
 presence of the town, the final impression to carry 
 away into the wide country, where the road ran 
 through field and forest. As they sped along, they 
 plunged into a chasm of blackness, caused by the trees 
 on both sides of the road which appeared to be con- 
 (202) 
 
THE HAND FERRY 303 
 
 rtantly closing upon them. In the darkness of that 
 rtypan tunnel, dashing blindly through threatening 
 obscunty, she yet felt no terrors, for a band of «^1 
 seemed to hold her above some pit of "visible night " 
 
 .t,. • °!!^ ^"T^ '"'° ""= ~"^"tively open space, 
 the wmd boomed with all its force, and like anenraged 
 monster, drove the storm-clouds, now rainless, across 
 the sky. Occasionally f e moon appeared throjh 
 
 riIdLTh"7'."^'"'=' J— •"■spiring, momentarf; 
 pidmg the dark vapor, and again was swallowed up 
 by another mass of clouds. A brood of shadow^ 
 eaped around them, like things of life, now dancing in 
 the road or pursuing through the tufts of grass, then 
 vamshmg over the meadows or disapSring i^ 
 murky nooks. But a moment were they^ne and 
 
 ZT ^^"A''^^'^ i" "'^ """'^"' ™"«<=i"g before 
 and behmd, under the very feet of thf horse. 
 
 tti7 t "'' '° '"' ^'"""'"^ ''°°^«- With man^ 
 t^^d m the angry wind, and nostrils dilated, the ani! 
 mal ne.ghed with affright, suddenly leaping aside as 
 a httle nest of unknown dangers lur'ked and^'tS in 
 the ambush of a drift of animated brush ' 
 
 ♦•if ""f .^""P* '*^'^' ^^^ "'1«='- swayed; his grasp 
 tanly held hrm closer. I^sened by the wind and the 
 md mofon, her hair brushed his cheek and fell oler 
 ms shoulder, whipped sharply in the breeze. A 
 ST. fr 'T^'"^ "P°" "'^"' uproariously, sent 
 
 shwic, For a t.m? the;, rpd? in tW? wise, h«r face 
 
204 
 
 THE STROI LirRS 
 
 cold in the rush of wind; his gaze fixed alioad, striv- 
 ing to pierce the gloom, and then he drew rein, hold- 
 ing the horse with some difficulty at a standstill in the 
 center of the thoroughfare. 
 
 With senses numbed by the stirring flight, the young 
 girl had been oblivious to the firmness of the soldier'1 
 sustammg grasp, but now as they paused in the silent, 
 deserted spot, she became suddenly conscious of it 
 The pam-^so fast he held her l-raade her wince. She 
 tjimed her face to his. A glint of light fell on his 
 brow and any lines that had appeared there were 
 erased m the magical glimmer; eagerness, youth, pas- 
 sion alone shone upon his features. 
 
 His arm clasped her even yet more closely, as if in 
 the wildness of the moment he would fiercely draw her 
 to him regardless of all. Did she understand-that 
 with her face so near his, her hair surrounding him, her 
 figure pressed in that close embrace— he must needs 
 speak to her; had, indeed, spoken to her. She was 
 conscious her hand on his shoulder trembled Her 
 cheek was no longer cold; abruptly the warm glow 
 mantled it. Was it but that a momentary cahn fell 
 around them; the temporary hush of the boisterous 
 wmd ? And yet, when again the squall swept by with 
 renewed turmoil, her face remained unchilled She 
 seemed but a child in his arms. How light her own 
 hand-touch compared to that compelling grasp with 
 which he held her! She remembered he had but 
 spoken to her standing in the window, and she had 
 obeyed without a question— without thought of fear 
 
 ■■♦ 
 
THE HAND FEr.RY 305 
 
 S Kr^ -^^ '" *^ ^°-<' "-. *o *aw her- 
 C Jw" "^ '"" *' "^'''"°' '^°*° *e «ad. Miss 
 
 '^IM^? ?''' ''°' '"'""^'^ '' "ft « *e clouds. 
 "Hello-a!" answered the soldier. 
 
 "ThlZfStr''^ ''"'" ^''°"*«'' *« »-^r. 
 
 beS^n^'rlcTLfthr'''" ^"t'' "''^ ''°-' -<« -- 
 
 L.inX'-Ce^Tvi:; tid ^'""' r-' 
 
 clearlakeinthesky. ThechSX „ /"'."l^'"'" " 
 
w^* 
 
 206 
 
 THE STROLLERS 
 
 position and he dashed aboard. With a mighty toss- 
 ing and rolhng, the chariot approached, rattled safely 
 across the gangway, followed by the property wagon 
 and eager hands grasped the rope, extending from 
 shore to shore above the large, flat craft. These hand 
 terries, found in various sections of the country were 
 strongly, although crudely, constructed, their sole 
 means of locomotion in the stationary rope, by means 
 of which the passengers, providing their own power 
 shorr^'^°"^*'°"' '^'^'^ themselves to the opposite 
 The energy now applied to the hempen strand sent 
 the ferry many feet from the shore out into the river 
 where the current was much swifter than usual, owing 
 to the heavy rainfalls. The horses on the great cum- 
 bersome craft were snorting with terror 
 
 Crack I pish I One of the men on the shore used 
 nis revolver, 
 
 "An illogical and foolish way to collect debtS, that I" 
 Pjumbled the manager, tugging at the rope. "If they 
 kill us, how can we requite them for our obligations?" 
 
 The river was unusually high and the current set 
 the boat, heavily loaded, tugging at the rope. How- 
 ever It resisted the strain and soon the craft grated 
 on the sand and the party disembarked, safe from con- 
 stable and bailiff in the brave, blue grass country. 
 Only one mishap occurred, and that to Adonis, who, in 
 his haste, fell into the shallow water. He was as dis- 
 consolate as the young hero Minerva threw into the 
 
THE HAND FERRY 
 
 207 
 
 sea to wrest him from the love of Encharis. But in 
 this case, Eucharis (Kate) laughed immoderately at 
 his discomfiture. 
 
 As Barnes was not sure of the road, the strollers 
 camped upon the bank. The river murmured a seduc- 
 tive cradlc-song to the rushes, and, on the shore, 
 from the dark and ominous background, came the 
 deeper voice of the pines. 
 
 Constance, who had been unusually quiet and 
 thoughtful, gradually recovered her spirits. 
 
 "Here, Mrs. Adams, is your tippet," she said with 
 a merry smile, taking a bit of lace from her dress. 
 
 'Thank you, my dear; I wouldn't have lost it for 
 anything I" said the old lady, effusively, while Barnes 
 muttered something beneath his breath. 
 
 The soldier, who had dismissed the manager's 
 thanks somewhat abruptly, occupied himself arranging 
 the cushions from the chariot on the grass. Suddenly 
 Mrs Adams noticed a crimson stain on his shoulder. 
 'Strr she exclaimed, in the voice of the heroine 
 of Oriana," "you are wounded I" 
 "It is nothing, Madam I" he replied. 
 Stripping oflF his coat, Barnes found the wound was 
 indeed, but slight, the flesh having just been pierced.' 
 How romantic!" gushed Susan. "He stood in front 
 of Constance when the firing began. Now, no one 
 thought of poor me. On the contrary, if I am not mis- 
 taken, Mr. Hawkes discreetly stood behind me." 
 
208 
 
 THE STROLLERS 
 
 "Jokes reflecting upon one's honor are in bad taste " 
 gravely retorted the melancholy actor. 
 
 "Indeed, I thought it no jest at the time 1" replied the 
 other. 
 
 ^'Mistress Susan, your tongue is dangerous 1" 
 "Mr. Hawkes, your courage will never lead you 
 mto danger!" ' 
 
 fenS' ^^ ^^^' ^"^"^' "*'^ '* * *"*""* "*- 
 
 "On the contrary." she said, laughing, "it is a ques- 
 tion of defense." 
 
 "c7''7^ '" "° ^'■S"'n& with a woman," he grumbled, 
 bhe always takes refuge in her tongue." 
 "While you, Mr. Hawkes, take refuge—" 
 But the other arose indignantly and strode into the 
 gloom. Meanwhile Barnes, while dressing the injury 
 discovered near the cut an old scar thoroughly heated! 
 but so large and jagged it attracted his attention. 
 _^ That hurt was another matter," said he, touching 
 
 Was it the manager's iuigers or his words caused 
 Samt-Prosper to wince? "Yes, it was another mat- 
 ter, he replied, hurriedly. "An Arab spear-^r some- 
 thing of the kind I" 
 
 "Tell us about it," prattled Susan. "You have never 
 told us anything about Africa. It seems a forbidden 
 subject. 
 
 lauStd '£'' '" ' ""' '' '"^'''' °'- ^™'" . 
 
THE HAND FERRY 209 
 
 "He WM wed in An»terd«in, 
 Again in far Siam, 
 
 And after Uiis 
 
 Souglit triple bliu 
 And married in Hinduatan," 
 
 sang Susan. 
 
 The soldier made some evasive response to this 
 raillery and then became silent. Soon quiet prevailed 
 in the encampment; only oat of the recesses of the 
 ™c* "^T ^^^ nienacing howl of a vagabond wolf. 
 Such," says Barnes in his note-book, "is the true 
 history of an adventure which created some talk at 
 the time. A perilous, regrettable business at best 
 but we acted according to our light and were enabled 
 thereafter to requite our obligations, which could not 
 have been done had they seized the properties, poor 
 garments of players' pomp; tools whereby we earned 
 our meager livelihood. If, after this explanation, any- 
 one still has aught of criticism, I must needs be silent 
 not controverting his censure. ' 
 
 "With some amusement I learned that our notable 
 belligerent, Mr. Gough, was well-nigh reduced to the 
 same predicament as that in which we found ourselves 
 He could not complain of his audiences, and the Band 
 of Hope gained many recruits by his coming, but 
 through some misapprehension, the customary collec- 
 tions were overlooked. The last night of the lecture, 
 the charman of the evening, at the conclusion 01 the 
 address, arose and said : 'I move we thank Mr. Gough 
 for his eloquent effort and then adjourn.' 
 
310 
 
 THE STROLLERS 
 
 "The motion prevailed, and the gathering was about 
 to disperse when the platform bludgeo^-man S 
 
 w wntmg. that I may offer it for my hotel bill,' said 
 
 "But for this quick wit and the gathering's response 
 to the appeal he would have been in the same bW^t^ 
 us or rather, on the same boat-the old hand L'^' 
 Subsequently, he became a speaker of foreign and Z 
 .onal repute, but at that time he might ha^t«ve"ed 
 
. 1 
 
 BOOK 11 
 DESTINY AND THE MARIONETTES 
 
:i^ 
 
 ^ 
 
CHAPTER I 
 
 THE FASTIDIOUS MARQUIS 
 
 Through the land of the strapping, thick-ribbed pio- 
 neers of Kentucky the strollers bent their course-a 
 country where towns and hamlets were rapidly sprine- 
 ■ng up in the smiling valleys or on the fertile hiH- 
 sides; where new families dropping in, and old ones 
 obeymg the injunction to be "fruitful and multiply" 
 had so swelled the population that the region, but a 
 short time before sparsely settled, now teemed with a 
 sturdy people. To Barnes' satisfaction, many of the 
 roads were all that could have been wished for the 
 turnpike system of the center of the state reflecting un- 
 bounded credit upon its builders. 
 
 If a people may be judged by its highways, Kentucky, 
 thus early, with its macadamized roads deserved a 
 prominent place in the sisterhood of states More- 
 over, while mindful always of her own internal ad- 
 vancement, she persistently maintained an ever-watch- 
 ful eye and closest scrutiny on the parental govern- 
 ment a, i the acts of congress. "Give a Kentuckian 
 a plug of tobacco and a political antagonist and he 
 (213) 
 
 i 
 
»I4 
 
 THE STROLLERS 
 
 ■^^fSf^^' 
 
 
 S^t ' .?'""'°«'"''<= day where'er he may be - 
 ha, been happily said. It was this harjy, horse raish^; 
 
 ess Uay to the administrative councils of the county 
 «t was this rufrged cattle-breeding whislcv dT,»m- ^ ' 
 people which had offered the fearle,, 7,rh T *^ 
 
 spread the country, renown ^.n'rL'.i ^'^ '" 
 
 What sunny memories were woven in th,* • • 
 ag. for the strollers t , Ren.emirco "he or'n^ tX 
 ."ff festivities, and the lads who, having found th"; 
 ears, kissed the lasses of their choice o . ^ 
 ing that folWed-double-si 'kc ;uc ;^^^^^^^^^ 
 pigeon wing or Arkansas hoe-down I A„h n^-",'^' 
 with the remembrance of such pSng dfv rsi'st"^ 
 the yet more satisfying recollecf 'nn. J , """"'^nf were 
 
 generous-minded i,pra:itSrur^^^^^^^^^^ 
 
 "thl'sctJi'oVnV';'" ''°''^' ''°^" *«= Mississippi 
 
 JZ ?!, " P''°*'"8^ *** "°t a thing of the dead 
 »d j»thetic past." and wonderful accouL w re S 
 en of the autocrats of the wheel and the ch^acteri, 
 ics of the ever-changing, ever-capricious rve^ "Ac 
 c dents !" says an early steamboat gaptain "Oh «„ 
 
 t'-^.*r.nfp„uu.,arpr4".o.SS 
 
FASTIDIOUS MARQUIS a.j 
 
 collapse a boiler and blow up sky-hiph. We w u.ed 
 
 to these l...le „,a.ter. and don't mind theW'^ ""^ 
 
 ^None of these trifling incidents was experienced 
 
 to the Munchausens of the period, half of the plea" 
 ure and excitement of the trip. In fact „n,h,n„\l 
 
 darky entered into with diabolical 1 "^'"P»''°" ""e 
 s^edil/Lo/edThat ' '-"'^ ""'' '"^^™"^ ~ff- 
 
 brtHep;^^-— iir-^'--^ 
 
 the S?decrforrL°' ''" '^'J^^ '^'^"^ »° 
 surrounded the Ino ^T'V^ "f "' *' '»'''" 
 busied himself in "ttw'i''"^'": *''''« » ^^bler 
 
 youn, fel,ofwh"o S'Li:; thf.o^ C" ''^^ 
 became the shores, as the boaf, ZZgt if^roJT ^ 
 exertion, steamed on. Qrroirand'uCrS 
 
 ♦ 
 
 iMta 
 
ai6 
 
 THE STROLLERS 
 
 left behind. Now along the banks stretched the showv 
 houses and slave planutions of the sugar planters'; 
 and soon, from the deck of the boat, the dome of the 
 St. Charles and the cathedral towers loomed against the 
 sky. 
 
 Beyond a mile or so of muddy water and a formid- 
 able fleet of old hulks, disreputable barges and "small 
 fry broad-horns," lay Algiers, graceless itself as the un- 
 invitmg foreground ; kjoking out contemplatively from 
 Its squalor at the inspiring view of Nouvelle Orleans, 
 with the freighters, granaries and steamboats, three 
 stones high, floating past; comparing its own inertia 
 —if a aty can be presumed capable of such edifying 
 consciousness!— with the aspect of the busy levee, 
 where cotton bales, sugar hogsheads, molasses casks, 
 tobacco, hemp and other staple articles of the South, 
 formed, as it were, a bulwark, or fortification of peace, 
 for the habitations behind it. Such was the external 
 apijearance— suggestive of commerce— of that little 
 center whose social and bohemian life was yet more 
 mteresting than its mercantile features. 
 
 At that period the city boasted of its Addison of 
 letters— since forgotten; its Feu-de-joie, the peerless 
 dancer, whose beauty had fired the Duke Gambade to 
 that extravagant conduct which made the recipient of 
 those marked attentions the talk of the town ; its i.os- 
 cius of the drama; its irresistible ingenue, the lovely, 
 httle Fantoccini; and its theatrical carpet-knight, 
 M. Grimacier, whose intrigue with the stately and, 
 heretofore, saintly Madame Etalage had, it was said 
 
FASTIDIOUS MARQUIS ,„ 
 
 ravishing perfection „,k! ''^ '^""'"^ t° 
 
 sauce and rho„r- "^ '*^"'' ^^-^^ ^"nnets in 
 
 8a«mer!n^ '•" ^'^P*"^"«s with short en- 
 
 pgements and improvsed theafi-r. tu^, . 
 
 •*~™ of iT^ki""";: " •"'■ '"■' "• 
 
il6 
 
 tHE StRdLLERS 
 
 that busy host what place would be made for her? 
 How easy it seemed to be lost in the legion of workers ; 
 to be crushed in the swaying crowd I It was as though 
 she were entering a room fflled with strangers, and 
 stood hesitating on the threshold. But youth's as- 
 surance soon set aside this gloomy picture; the 
 shadow of a smile lighted her face and her glance 
 grew bright. At twenty che worid is rosy and in the 
 perspective are many castles. 
 
 M ear by the soldier also leaned against the rail, look- 
 ing not, however, at New Orleans but at iier, while 
 all unconscious of his regard she continued to gaze 
 cityward. His face, too, was thoughtful. The hap- 
 hazard journey was approaching its end, and with 
 It, in all likelihood, the bond of union, the alliance of 
 close comradeship associated with the wilderness. She 
 was keenly alive to honor, fame, renown. What mean- 
 ing had those words to him— save for her ? He smiled 
 bitterly, as a sudden revulsion of dark thoughts 
 crowded upon him. He had had his bout; the sands 
 of the arena that once had shone golden now were 
 dust. 
 
 Drawing up to the levee, they became a part of the 
 general bustle and confusion; hurriedly disembarked, 
 rushed about for their luggage, because every one else 
 was rushing; hastily entered carriages of which there 
 was a limited supply, and were whisked off over the 
 rough cobblestones which constituted the principal 
 pavements of the city; catching momentary glimpses, 
 between oscillations, of oyster saloons, fruit and old 
 
FASTIDIOUS MARQUIS 2,9 
 
 rants, and the sign "Furnished Rooms" appearingat 
 
 whThl '"T"'' "'""^^ *''^ thoroughfarfthrough 
 which they drove at headlong pace, bore evidence to 
 the fact that the city harbored many strangers. 
 
 nZt °! '^^' '^""y reached-and what a unique 
 ho telo. ,t wasl "Set the St. Charles down in St 
 Petersburg ' commented a chronicler in 1846. "and you 
 would thmk it a palace; in Boston, anrt^itoor 
 you would christen it a college; in London, and t' 
 
 that day the evolution of the American tavern the 
 prun.t.ve mn. instituted for passengers and w'yT^ring 
 men; the development of the pot-house to the metr^ 
 ^^ hotel, of the rural ale-«o« to the pS^i 
 
 n,!i^l * '"'^"^ ^'°^ ^"""t'y hostelriesi" solilo- 
 ?n comioT"'*'''' "'*"' *•= "'^^^'^y -^« installed 
 Ind mT. ""' '°°"''- ^° •"°^'= i°»* where soap 
 ZSr '"Y'^'^^r'^y. and a comb, without 
 ^ful complement of teeth, does service for all 
 comersr he continued, gazing an,und the apartmen 
 
 rll p ^' *°""'' ^^''^^- "™nk of real gas in^ouj 
 room Barnes, and great chairs, easy a. the ams of 
 Morpheusl Are you comfortable, my'dear?" h^^Ued 
 
 fir^^r'*T''''7u''' '" '^ ''^'°''"*"» "^ replied af- 
 tirmatively, and he aHH«1 • '-r'™ -J? j r ■=« ai 
 
 look around a bit " " ^"^ '**'*" **»'" t° 
 
 I 
 
320 
 
 THE STROLLLRS 
 
 lar^^ '"'■.f'' *"'' '■'""P*"'* •'»" ^tended tfa 
 
 large W-room, where several score of men wer* T 
 joymg their liquors and lunches, and the h^ Tc^ 
 
 by the sk,lful mixer of drinks were as sweet ZTc 
 to the meager, when shortly after he strode "o 
 Oie bar Wearing neither coat nor vest, the barten 
 dePs ruffled shirt displayed a glistening stone S^=" 
 lace collar had a Byronic roll. 
 
 "What will you have, sir?" he said in a well-modu- 
 S™ vo.ce to a big Virginian, who had prSed 
 Barnes mto the room. fcwuea 
 
 in^'t i"!T;," T ,*' '"P'^' "^•^' ^''''•' y°« «« mak- 
 mg it, a l-.Hle whisky straight." 
 
 A bottle of bourbon was set before him and he 
 
 laS theT'"''''= *r "•'"'= '"^ bartend" manipl! 
 lated the more complicated drink. Experiencinir th, 
 fchcty of a man who has entered a higher "Stilt 
 Ae manager ordered a bottle of iced afe, drank iTS 
 
 a'^Jen ^'^f • H^^*'^ *""' ''^ Virgin^L^ed bj 
 a friend, had ordered another julep for the near future 
 and a little "straight" for the iJnmldiate X . 
 Happy days I" said the former 
 ••Md yours happier I" replied the new-comer. 
 ^^Why, It s Utopia," thought Barnes. "Eve.7 one is 
 
 But even as he thus ruminated, his glance fell upoo 
 
FASTIDIOUS MARQUIS 221 
 
 an old man at thu next table whom the waiters treated 
 with such deference the manager concluded he must be 
 some one of no slight importance. This gentleman was 
 th«n, wrmkled and worn, with a face Voltairian in 
 type, his hair scanty, his dress elegant, and his satirical 
 smile like the "flash of a dagger in the sunlight." He 
 was mspecting his bouillon with manifest distrust, ad- 
 justing his eye-glass and thrusting his head close to 
 the plate. The look of suspicion deepened and finally 
 a grimace of triumph illumined his countenance, as 
 he rapped excitedly on the table. 
 
 "Waiter, waiter, do you see that soup?" he almost 
 shouted. 
 
 "Yes, Monsieur le Marquis," was the humble re- 
 sponse. 
 
 "Uok at it well!" thundered the old gentleman. 
 Uo you find nothing extraordinary aboui it?" 
 Again the bouillon was examined, to the amusement 
 01 tne manager. 
 
 "I am sorty, Monsieur le Marquis ; I can detect noth- 
 mg unusual politely responded the waiter, when he 
 had concluded a pains-taking scrutiny with all the 
 
 SgatLl"""""" '""""^ " '"°""^°- - 
 "You are blind I" exclaimed the old man. "See 
 th^' * T^ °f P^se floating in the bouillon, and 
 «^ere. another and another I In fact, here is an 'Archi- 
 P*Iago of Greece!' " This witticism was relieved by 
 •n ironical smile. "Take it away I" 
 
322 
 
 THE STROLLERS 
 
 Jo^^an" ^."Sl;: ^'* *« .off-d«. dish and 
 turbance he haX^;™"'^ ^'''^ °v« the dis- 
 
 its first ^LtenTwl^driXVSSfl^vr °^ 
 
 isnj wefSeS "I'sh'ir'^ ''"P"^'^' ™s salad 
 
 "What It "'"\P'^««'^ed in melted paraffin " 
 
 What do I care about your Daraffin ? \r ■ 
 
 anything more, waiter Ic™,IH ? Nevermind 
 
 What is th I? v/;„ ^°" "°' <«t a mouthful. 
 
 for yours. , .^kheld^ '' ""' ^^^'^ ^■' ''°'"«''i„g 
 
 "Thank you, Monsieur le Marquis." Deferenfi=.n 
 The worst meal I've ev^r hJt a _,"f'««ntially. 
 Europe. Asia and Af i«. TbomLil' ,^^'^" '" 
 
 waited Xf md,vduall" observed Barnes to the 
 "W .-r *?* '*°PP'°fi^ «' the hotel ?» *' 
 
 ■ was here he complimented the cook 
 
FASTIDIOUS MARQUIS 
 
 223 
 
 —what you call 
 But is he here 
 
 and praised the sauces. He is a litth 
 it?— whimsical!" 
 
 "Yes; slightly inclined that way 
 alone?" 
 
 "He is, Monsieur. He loses great sums in the 
 ^blmg rooms. He keeps a box at the theater for 
 the season. He is a prince— a great lord—" 
 ''Even if he calls you 'liar' and 'blockhead'?" 
 "Oh, Monsieur,"— displaying a silver dollar with an 
 expressive shrug of the shoulders— "this is the— what 
 you call it?— balm." 
 "And very good balm, too," said Barnes, heartily. 
 Still grumbling to himself, the marquis reached the 
 mam corridor, where the scene was almost as animated 
 as m the bar and where the principal topic of conver- 
 sation seemed to be horses and races that had been 
 or were about to be run. "I'd put Uncle Rastus' mule 
 against that boss I" "That four-year-old's quick as a 
 runaway nigger 1" "Five hundred, the gelding beats 
 the runaway nigger I" "Any takers on Jolly Rogers ?" 
 were among the snatches of talk which lent Ufe and 
 zest to the various groups. 
 
 Sitting moodily in a comer, with legs crossed and 
 hat upon his knee, was a young man whose careless 
 glance wandered from time to time from his cigar to 
 the passing figures. As the marquis slowly hobbled 
 along, with an effort to appear alert, the young man 
 arose quickly and came forward with a conventional 
 smile, mtercepting the old nobleman near the door 
 
234 
 
 THE STROLLERS 
 
 from ,ou'; r.:Lm i^J^po^S " ' ^" ^°" '--««' 
 
 i m no^ fit to be around; I only came onf -.u 
 a sardonic clmckle-"becau«. th-T -. ? """"" 
 
 be fatal." '* ""= *'°<=*°" said it would 
 
 •^Surely you do not desire—" 
 
 To show them they are impostors? Yes." 
 
 king IS in exile. Why shoulH T JT., "™Wy- My 
 I stay there, herd whh the 2tt,e Ln "^^ ■!"?"''' 
 'Citizen' and every clod 'BrotW '» "^ '""Wa^ 
 though she were Lucres!" " ' *'"* '"''' ^^ ^ 
 
 coItUy :"otd;ys ''rsTf": r^"^^ *° ^^^^y 
 
 ingly nowadays, assented the patroon, sooth- 
 
 lently. "When mv >;«„ /■ "wrquis, vio- 
 
 y wnen my .cmg was driven away by the rab- 
 
FASTIDIOUS MARQUIS 225 
 
 We the ocean was not too broad to separate me from 
 a swmish civilization. I will never go back: I will 
 live there no more I" "«"., 1 win 
 
 barOT*"' '* ^°°^ ""^^^ ^'"' "*' ' '■"'"'■"««' *e land 
 "Your politeness almost reconciles me to stayine" 
 said the old man. more affably. "But I am on my 
 way to the club. What do you say to a rubber?" 
 
 The patroon readily assented. In front of the hotel 
 waited the marquis' carriage, on the door of which 
 was h,s coat-of-arms-argent. three mounts vert, on 
 each a sable bird. Entering this conveyance, they 
 TZIT^ ^'Pi'^''"^ °^" *« stones at a pace which 
 
 to shake the breath of life from his trembling and at- 
 tenuated figure. He jumped -.bout like a parched 
 pea, and when finally they drew up with a jerk and a 
 jolt the marquis was fairly gasping. After an inter- 
 val to recover himself, he took his companion's arm. 
 and. with his assistance, mounted the broad steps lead- 
 ing to the handsome and commodious club house 
 
 on Vh. ? •" ''i"* *'•' "°'''"^"' '•'y'y' «» he paused 
 on the stairs "our pavements are so well-kept in 
 Pans that a drive there in a tumbril to the scaflFold 
 is preferable to a coach in New Orleans!" 
 
CHAPTER II 
 "only an incident" 
 
 baron undoubtedly owed h. f . '"""°'' "'«^ '"""^ 
 of personal violence Ta n^L^' ^' ^'^°"^ '«•<='' 
 Ws own domains, f^ ^ twcTh^'"'' *°''"' *'"'°"' 
 "ed. he had sought redr«. • u *^'' P'««'MlIy ex- 
 his hands tied with '^^ '" '^' "=°"««- ""'y to find 
 
 burden of proof and h^ ; " .""= P"""""" 'ay the 
 
 hehadanticip^edtoltabir-r".'"°'''''«^^^^^^ 
 • case, for ahbis bSjS ''^""'^ '"^ '''"«' "^ 
 At war with his nSihL'"°T' '' '"'^y '""• 
 for the monotony of Tno^lt, ""'' *'*'' ''«'« *«'« 
 him of his native c?y.dete™r.dT'r' "' '*""'"»'" 
 and at a distance waf for T. •.'""^^ '''« '°««'v 
 brief dream of the rehabi Lt" Tu '° '""'•^■^'=- H'^ 
 '>«>"^ht only me^ort S?/H-''''^°'"'"°"-«"h 
 HemadeinquirieTab^ut 'rj^*" '° «s"«sness. 
 P°«. The Uric^l"Z,d J° "^' 'V° "o P- 
 gipsies. "*" ^nie and gone like 
 
 (226) 
 
"ONLY AN INCIDENT" 227 
 
 Saying nothing to any one, except Scroggs, to whom 
 he entrusted a load of litigation, he at length quietly 
 departed in the regular stage, until he reached 
 a point where two strap rails proclaimed the new 
 method of conveyance. Wedged in the small 
 compartment of a little car directly behind a smoking 
 monster, with an enormous chimney, fed with cord- 
 wood, he was borne over the land, and another ^juffing 
 marvel of different construction carried him over the 
 water. Reaching the Crescent City some time before 
 the strollers— his progress expedited by a locomotive 
 that ran full twenty miles an hour I— the land baron 
 found among the latest floating population, comprised 
 of all sorts and conditions, the Marquis de Ligne. 
 The blood of the patroons flowed sluggishly th.ough 
 the land baron's veins, but his French extraction 
 danced in every fiber of his being. After leam- 
 uig the more important and not altogether dis- 
 creditable circumstances about the land baron's an- 
 cestors—for if every gentleman were whipped for 
 godlessness, how many striped backs would there be I 
 —the marquis, who declined intimacy with Tom, Dick 
 and Harry, and their honest butchers, bakers and can- 
 dlestick-makers of forefathers, permitted an acquaint- 
 ance that accorded with his views governing social 
 mtercourse. 
 
 "This is a genuine pleasure. Monsieur le Marquis " 
 observed the land baron suavely, when the two found 
 themselves seated in a card room with brandy and 
 soda before them. "To meet a nobleman of the old 
 
 ■If 
 
 W,- I U 
 
"• THE STROLLERS 
 
 «» we will, outsid*^, arlTrl^ 'he worfj, f„, .^^^^ 
 our best cirele. • "^""^ "* «"*» corrupting 
 
 America. France wa.^! ''"' "°* "^'o^g to 
 
 possessions irttrdays 1 :r' '° ^'" """'^^ 
 Oft- speaking oHheXal vS'^Sl ^ '""''^^ 
 ^r^ money. whici,"4„S,it t^^^ 
 
 stiS: 'S.t'isf^r * r^' "^ "' '<=»"--' 
 "If J. I.- - ™*^* pnvilege to borrow " 
 
 ft .s h-s^ortal Prerogative^answe^Vville 
 
 in/«s"ctS"'' "' '^^^~-' ^^-''"^ ««ard- 
 nolLTto'a'S?"^!''!!''':' ^°^"^- "One does 
 
 "Ye« • T ^« w "^ *° yo""" ancestry " 
 
 *•' ^ ''°"'" "°* «y father regarded £self as 
 
"ONLY AN INCIDENT" 229 
 
 the debtor. Again, we had another distinguished 
 compatriot of yours at our house— General Lafayette." 
 
 "Lafayette 1" repeated the marquis. "Ah, that's an- 
 other matter I A man, bom to rank and condition, 
 voluntarily sinking to the level of the commonalty I 
 A person of breeding choosing the cause of the rout 
 and rabble I How was he received?" 
 
 "Like a king I" laughed Mauville. "A vast con- 
 course of people assembled before the river when he 
 embarked en the 'Natchez' for St. Louis." 
 
 Muttering something about "bourgeoisUI—fpi- 
 cterr the nobleman partook of the liquid consolation 
 before him, which seemed to brighten his spirits. 
 
 "If my doctors could see me now I Dolts! Quacks I" 
 
 "It's a good joke on them," said Mauville, ironic- 
 ally. 
 
 "Isn't it? They forbid me touching stimulanu. 
 Said they would be fatal I Impostors I Frauds! They 
 haven't killed me yet, have they?" 
 
 "If so, you are a most agreeable and amiable ghost," 
 returned Mauville. 
 
 "An amiable ghost!" cackled the old man. "Hal 
 Ha 1 you must have your joke 1 But don't let me have 
 such a ghastly one again. I don't like"— in a lower 
 *°^«— "jests about the spirits of the other world." 
 
 "What! A well-seasoned materialist like you!" 
 
 "An idle prejudice!" answered the marquis. "Only 
 when you compared me to a ghost"— in a half whis- 
 J)er— "it seemed as though I were one, a ghost of my- 
 
 ^ 
 
'^ THE STROLLERS 
 
 self looking back hrouph vear. «* «i 
 
 pleasure I" ^ ^ *" *"* P'easure-years of 
 
 He.r'^siiLcr^^iitrr'.r^-'''' 
 
 "Only o,i business? En^Th? ° ''"*""*'" 
 fair of the heart? You ^ *\r'''""- "^o "f- 
 makes time past-'" '""'* ** "^^i 'Love 
 
 you^Marqis.areLtheonllii.?^""^''"' «"» 
 
 •^outeiT^t^r^^'r^-r^^^^^^^ 
 
 «a»or. The tenants^aTmeSSfrs *'•"?"" 
 I attempted to turn n,«l . . * *«'* theirs, 
 outi I mlgh a Ten .? °^J^^-^^ turned me 
 It was a leSy ofl e^'^'"'^^''' '^ ''°"«''' -est. 
 chuckled in hfs IveT (Jl °\^'l^ ""ust have 
 the intention of hfTjngm?' "'^''* '""^ """^ ''•* 
 noblSj"„'iJj^';p'«te your exclaimed the 
 "Thanks I" Dryly. 
 
 offi';:ai':?^iKttin'^'^ ""'^ "-^ - -t 
 
 Peop'e of distmction nowadays." 
 
i _ i^v. X 
 
 ( 
 
 "OKLY AN INCIDENT" 23, 
 
 "Gad I then I came near joining the ranks of the 
 well-bom angels. But for an accident I should now 
 be a cherub of quality." 
 
 "And how, Monsieur, did you escape such a felici- 
 tous fate?" 
 
 The land baron's face clouded. "Through a stran- 
 ger—a Frenchman— a silent, taciturn fellow— more or 
 less an adventurer, I take it. He caUed himself Saint- 
 •rrosper — 
 
 "Saint-Prosper!" 
 
 The marquis gazed at Mauville with amazement 
 and mcreduhty. He might even have flushed or 
 turned pale, but such a possible exhibition of emotion 
 was lost beneath an artificial bloom, painted by his 
 valet H.S eyes, however, gleamed like candles in a 
 death s head. 
 
 "This Saint-Prosper you met was a soldier?" he 
 asked, and h.s voice trembled. "Ernest Saint-Pros- 
 per. 
 
 "Yes; he was a soldier; served in Africa, I believe. 
 You knew him?" Turning to t'.e marquis in s^^ 
 
 "Knew him I He was my ward, the rascal I" cried 
 he other violently. "He was, but now-ingrate I- 
 traitorl— better if he were dead I" 
 
 "You speak bitterly. Monsieur le Marquis'" said 
 the patroon curiously. 
 
 "Bitterly l_after his conduct !-he is no longer any- 
 thing to me I He is dead tome-dead!" 
 
 "How did he deviate from the line of duty?" asked 
 
'» '•HE STROLLERS 
 
 or commission ?" ^ *'" °* wnission 
 
 'ow. "A family affair I" I,! 1. i '>ecommg taci- 
 
 «ity. "Not wonVX4V tf !S'"^ ^■■'^ '^•^- 
 ing there?" P^i'ngi But what was he do- 
 
 «!5tAis«crr,;-nr'-'^.he 
 
 not already dra^d f^ h.^"*^ *°"''- "«« he 
 
 at the enormity of'theofflslT"*"" '""'^ ^^ 
 speechless. andVLk^JS/^'-^^t he was 
 
 to Uke such a humiliating XS^-' "^^ ^""^ "^^ 
 'and^l^'tS;;^''--^--^" said the 
 
 voice of a^ren-fnrf" P'"""*' »" Diana-the 
 
 fairest con,^rMo:srvs:?jr ^^r " ^°- 
 
 ^^Z^Z^'^^^ZLf'^-'''''^^^- With 
 
 in the desert who ^ '"°"°"'"' '''^•' « '"^eler 
 
 described^^r weH ^heT" " "'?«"■ "Yo« have 
 
 erweil. The features of Diana 1 ft was 
 
"ONLY AN INCIDENT" 233 
 
 at a revival of Vanbruc*'s 'Relapse' I first met Her 
 dressed after the fashion of the Countess of Ossoty! 
 Who would not worship before the figures of Lely?" 
 
 He half closed his eyes, as though gazing in fancy 
 upon the glossy draperies and rosy flesh of those vol- 
 uptuous court beauties, 
 
 "The wooing, begun in the wings, ended in an ivy- 
 covered villa— a retired nook— solitary walks by day 
 —nightingales and moonshine by night. It was a 
 pleasing romance while it lasted, but joy palls on one. 
 Nature abhors sameness. The heart is like Mother 
 Earth— ever varying. T wearied of this surfeit of 
 Paradise and— left her I" 
 
 "A mere incident in an eventful life," said his com- 
 panion, thoughtfully. 
 
 ../3*" °"'^ ^ incident!" repeated the marquis. 
 Only an incident I I had afaiost forgotten it, but 
 your conversation about players and your description 
 of the actress brought it to mind. It had quite passed 
 away ; it had quite passed away I But the cards, Mon- 
 sieur Mauville; the cards I" 
 
CHAPTER III 
 
 ^T THE RACES 
 
 pleased. Their e„^^„™ tf T'^*^" '' ^^^^ 
 begin for about a wwfT^ ""= *''^'"er did not 
 to combine recrS''S";:^::"":'«'^«^ nonaged 
 
 proportions. Assiduously the- J^ J". ".""'^ ^"'" 
 a round .f drives and r m£^ J^«ed themselves to 
 «;ood-land to Carrolton Z^th^ ."!? ^''''""^ «"d 
 Pontchartrain; to Biloxf VT^f '•"=" '°*'' '° Lake 
 French; and t; the batde'i™ ."' ^"'^"«'* °^ the 
 P'^ins of Chalmette SeHotr*^ """^ ^ «>* 
 row encamped, awaitinrorde« ^ ""■ '°''''*" '^ere 
 the Mexican ca^ipail ^or th ^.? *° '^' ^^^t i„ 
 excitement, the tf^r^;ac!ZZt^: ^"' ^*"'^' 
 
 «r„:' '"'' '''^ ^--'- off:;rdntt"Erd-" 
 
 Sunday i„ '39 ten j^^, 'J"!! *' " » related, on one 
 (234) ' "n". 
 
AT THE RACES 235 
 
 where the cowherds, says a chronicler, became so ac- 
 customed to seeing honor satisfied in thi. manner 
 that they paid httle attention to these meetings, pur- 
 sumg their own humble duties, indifferent to the fol- 
 hes of fashionable society. The fencing schools flour- 
 ished—what memories cluster around that odd 
 strange master of the blade, Spedella, a melancholy 
 enigma of a man, whose art embodied much of the 
 finest shading and phrasing peculiar to himself; from 
 whom even many of Bonaparte's discarded veterans 
 were not above acquiring new technique and tempera- 
 ment! Men m those days were most punctiHou, 
 about reputation, but permitted a sufficiently wide 
 latitude m Its interpretation not to hamper themselves 
 or senously interfere with their desires or pleasures 
 Thus virtue did not become a burden, nor honor a 
 
 I t, ..^c''"' '"'" ^P""'^'" °'- t^^^^'". were worn 
 hghtly and befittingly. 
 
 bra^tS"?'^^"' the players' arrival began the cele- 
 
 women from all over the South. The hotels were 
 crowded, the lodging-houses filled, while many of the 
 
 X rt T'^*"'' *^"^ ""^'^ "1«'» to visiting 
 se^^H /k' "^T"""" f-'und the city almost de- 
 t,!l ;k 1 '^"'="^/" discontentedly smoked in soli- 
 tude, the legion of waiters in the hotels and resorts 
 became reduced to a thinly scattered array; whOe 
 even the street venders had "folded their tents" and 
 silently stolen to the race,. On one such memorable 
 
H 
 
 336 
 
 THE STROLLERS 
 
 te 'tV^'.KJ;„r; f' 'Ir H* «"-' «™t- 
 
 P'ayed a winning o'losL J " "?^*' »'«^ t^'X 
 Intrigue and lovlZkZ^ ^' ""^ *''« ^"'^ sex 
 and these d^n^tTof ^V^'T^'' °' ^^- ^nr. 
 and mortals M„ a hevdlv. f"*'^ '^^"««» t^nie- 
 gathering buriy oSo^p°^rT ^» *« ««ed 
 rubbed eJbows with a^L^«r ^T '^^ ^""fy 
 was di*ing„ishaWe Ttrr^' '"*'^*' ^''<«« ««« 
 •^ots of cloth. Th, L^° ,' ."""" «"<* I«ht 
 event., the m,port„nate touH::^ '°"°T °' *^ 
 crowd, plainly^;; evidij b^fi*" """^''^ *''" the 
 ter of his dress, the si»^f v f- P'""""""*! charac- 
 vat pin, and Cr^'i°! Jl' ''■»"'°"'» s^ud* or era- 
 rings. No paltrj Tc/ubhv ,*''T*'°"' °^ ''" ^nger 
 splendent g«t lema^ bu?, "• "^ ""«*' «»» *bisZ. 
 
 Surrounded by a bew nf "".J'*"*' 
 and^paricling. w^a: tr/nfpf oTL ".S^^^''^ 
 
 "■tag. a well-dres^/:„^^P:j-^ «:at multifarious 
 q«.ck retort, she bestowedTer faS^ '"'"'^ '*'* « 
 the evident discomfiture of a vLn^ « ^f'^y- to 
 nue whom she had met sev^Td^^ °^' '" •"' ^t'- 
 
 ''^ 
 
l.^W^.k 
 
 AT THE RACES 
 
 »37 
 
 to any one; it was all very interesting to play one 
 agawst another; to intercept angry gleams; to hold in 
 check clashing suitors-this was exciting and di- 
 vertrng-but she exercised care not to transgress 
 those bounds where she ceased to be mistress of the 
 situation. Perhaps her limits in coquetry were fur- 
 ther set than most women would have ventured to 
 place them, but without this temerity and darine 
 the pastime would have lost its charm for her She 
 might play with edged tools, but she also knev. how 
 to use them. 
 
 Near her was seated Kate, indolent as of yore, now 
 watching her sister with an indulgct. enigmatic ex- 
 pression anon permitting a scornful glance to stray 
 toward Adonis, who. for his part, had eyes only for 
 his companion, a distinct change from country hoi- 
 dens, tavern demoiselles and dainty wenches, with their 
 rough hands and rosy cheeks. This lady's hands 
 were hke nulk; her cheeks, ivory, and Ado.2s 
 m 1 towmg his attentions upon her. had a two-fold 
 purpose: to return tit for tat for Kate's (kuntinjr 
 ways, and to gratify his own ever-fleeting fancy 
 
 In a box, half the length of the grand stand re- 
 moved, some distance back and to the left of Susan's 
 gay party, Constance, Mrs. Adams and the soldier 
 were also observers of this scene of animation. 
 
 Since the manager's successful flight from the land- 
 tord and the consUbles, the relations of the young 
 girl and Samt-Prosper had undergone little change 
 At first, It IS true, with the memory of the wild ride 
 
 I 
 
asB 
 
 THE STROLLERS 
 
 ii 
 
 '•"turbine «co. eZ "orS ":' *"" ""^ ^ '«» 
 « certain reticence had ma £ l""^' *'*"' "■"^''t. 
 the soldier; but, as tim J^"t^ ."jr ■"«""««• toward 
 «'<>'* off. and was sue Jd^d 1 1 *°"''' °' "«^« 
 "f P">ty. In her "yertLll^'' """" fr»"'"«'' 
 thoughtfulness. but Ir nTT ''' "* *'"'""' « Ww 
 quick passing of a summ f*" P*""^ ""an the 
 meadow. TI^shal^roTwef '•°^" ' '"""^ 
 «t">sp^tio„ only meCed th. H r*"''=°''''S«« 
 
 "if tr; ^'---^ -?;i:dtr ' "^ "^^ «»«• 
 
 shadinrSes r T'^^^tT ''' """^ '"* ^'-«c. 
 succeeding events, L tuJbS "';!: *''' '^P''")^ 
 h«r. were calculated to .^s^T h/"' """*"• """"d 
 abstraction. Beneath a om?l- """^ P^°"°«nced 
 ''unKght shot below the W aT.7 ^''^'^'°'-^°^ the 
 that part of the grand s^ndl .' ^'^ ""^ '<'"<='"«' 
 her cheeks, while rreyesThtr T J"'"^ *«™«d 
 the moment. Many of the T T "" «''^''""'' °^ 
 with marked persistency tke^'''!f' 'T'"'"^ ^'^ 
 "one knew, until finally EdftorR." ""^ *''»' ^'^ 
 appealed to. Straws inwl^^''*' S'""^" 'vas 
 »We to satisfy his ^u^Ulrs " ''" ™"''"' -» 
 
 We shV;47o?!:«.tir3- ■"\- - -• 
 
 can tell that now." ^ " ' beauty. We 
 
 "You're right, Straws!" exclaim»^ 
 ^-««.ter. "If she shows Ltn^^e'^rT"-'"' 
 
AT THE RACES 
 
 ^39 
 
 winning?" 
 
 "Four 
 
 "You'd take a long chance on her 
 laughed the philosopher. 
 
 "I'll play you odds on it I" cried the juvenile, 
 to one, damme I I'll risk that on her eyes." 
 
 "Four to one on a lady's eyes, child I Say forty to 
 one, and take the hazard of the die." 
 
 Standing near the rhymster, story-writer and jour- 
 nalist, was a tall young man, dressed in Creole fash- 
 ion. He followed the glances of Straws' questioners 
 and a pallor overspread his dark complexion as he 
 looked at the object of their attention. 
 
 "The stroller!" he exclaimed half audibly. "Her 
 counterpart doesn't exist." 
 
 He stepped back where he could see her more 
 plainly In that sea .( faces, her features alone shone 
 before hun, clearly, insistently. 
 
 "Do you know her, Mr. Mauville?" asked the rhym- 
 ster, observing that steadfast glance. 
 "Know her?" repeated the land baron, starting. 
 Oh, I ve seen her act." 
 
 "Tip me off her points and I'll tip my readers." 
 She is going to play here then?" said the patroon. 
 Yes. What is she like? Does tragedy or com- 
 edy favor her most? You see," he added apologetic- 
 ally when people begin to talk about anybody we 
 Grubstreet hacks thrive on the gossip. It is deplor- 
 able -with regret-"but small talk and tattle bring 
 more than a choice lyric or sonnet. And, heaven 
 help us! -shaking his head-"what a vendible article 
 
*»o 
 
 THE STROLLERS 
 
 • fine scandal is I It sell. f..» r, 
 •"«ion. Penny .'j^J* '?*'. ''k« good, at a Dutch 
 incou.donlyU;^;^,,*^^'^ """"y •« pence. 
 *»fl W I were onlyTZ,'" 1" '" '"^'' "«'^n- 
 ««d poet I" And St«Jri.7//'''""'^«*«»of« 
 fhe questions he had aX *''';''' "^V. forgetting 
 '"g cogitations. ^ '" •"» <"*" "wre interest- 
 
 Without definite puroo*. ♦!. 
 ''«en«J with scant «tS toT'"^' ''''« •»<« 
 ";ove s^pwly toward the actress '/ 1^' **«»" '» 
 'he eyes of the soldier tun,?n\ ." *''« "oment, 
 dock, where the ho«« '^""J. ''^ !"* "^dhng pad- 
 'he figure drawing "^*^^'"? '«» »«. Wl u^U 
 to the manor. EdwarTCS''^ ^ ""'" *"* ""^ 
 approach a dehberate intern^ ^fl ^'j™'"? in his 
 overspread Saint-Prosper^ ?' "''' °^ '"'"='' "Ser 
 'J' «">! by his side But h^ '^'^ "' ^'-'^ « 
 *he had not observed the land J"'""!' ■"'"*1 ^im 
 "«t she was Joolcing i^ S. „^.' ^•"- « '"« mo- 
 *«vori„g to discover Ba^isorT*!!! ^''*^'"^- «"- 
 P»;V m the immense th,^g. *^ **"«*' "^ «>» com- 
 panion and cuttinrshoiTtlh. *"•'"* """^nsoous com- 
 <*"ces of the firs? pubHc Jol^^ "" '"'^'' '«»S- 
 ^^'d.er left the box, ^ '^o!^'"^^ «« « '818, the 
 through the crowd, .^C"^^.'^'* «""» difficulty 
 stairway. The latieS^ f,t "" *" «"'« "«*' the 
 
 altogether of an 3^3^^^"'"'^ '"'P"^'' "ot 
 •>« he immediateiy^^S:,rr;st.'"~-'-' 
 
AT THE RACES 341 
 
 "Ah, Monsieur Saint-Prosper." he observed easily, 
 I little thought to see you here." 
 "Nor I you I" said the other bluntly. 
 The patroon gazed in seeming carelessness from the 
 soldier to the young girl. Saint-Prosper's presence 
 in New Orleans could be accounted for; he had fol- 
 lowed her from the Shadengo Valley across the conti- 
 nent; the drive begun at the country inn-he looking 
 down from the dormer window to witness the start- 
 had been a long one; very different from his own 
 brief flight, with its wretched end. These thoughts 
 coursed rapidly through the land baron's brain; her 
 appearance rekindled the ashes of the past; the fire 
 m his breast flamed from his eyes, but otherwise he 
 made no display of feeling. He glanced out upon 
 the many faces below them, bowing to one woman 
 and smiling at another. 
 
 "Oh, I couldn't stand a winter in the North," re- 
 sumed the patroon, tuniing once more to the soldier. 
 Although the barn-burners promised to make it 
 warm for me I" 
 
 Offering no reply to this sally, Saint-Prosper's gaze 
 continued to rest coldly and expectantly upon the 
 
 SrW,2*'''^ ''"'' •"""^''^ regard,'anTplS 
 tamer between h.m and the young girl, the land baron 
 
 ^h£^I. V'? "''""'J'' "'* glittering eyes met the 
 *i,^ ' ? ^ *"'*'' *'y exchanged were like the 
 thrust and parry of swords. Without wishing to ad- 
 dress the actress-aad thereby risk a public rebuff- 
 
Hi 
 
 THE STROLLERS 
 
 ^ made the soldier h.t^S°'? T"""" ^"^ 
 
 "« I am „« „^"l!^* "°' f'°«: to retaliate, 
 the lane," said ^e tTJl 'f " °"' '"^'"''y of 
 AndhesttovetoSss"^ '*^''^- "^'""•' ^«-" 
 
 T^e soldier did not move. 
 
 theotheri^ha'rS?'"*^ "^ *»^' '^""^-r." continued 
 
 "Not ?f it lies the other way." 
 retortel^t::^;;^ Sl„""^' ""^ <«- ^t concern you?" 
 
 "^ ATu^e^rtr JK ^'y '"'- you have 
 "Especially if heZ S?: i ^^ """''' ~"<^«™." 
 ^." sneered MauvS ^^^H *' '"°'« *"»* «>"»- 
 actresses become so ^ary S S; r** *''«' ""^^ 
 anger the land baron thr7v. outt,- ^'':°"^" ^" »>!, 
 have challenged^ fn»n othTlips "S 7' '' *°"'^ 
 become a holy convent '" *''* ^t^S:* then 
 
 sai7^eSa:n:ZT''^^' -- '- ago." 
 "and now show yoursdf f""^'' weighing each w^d, 
 
 n-f ^ri withrttrrer!!-"" ^°" -««» 
 
 however:r wtTr.Xlo'^-- "Perhaps. 
 A grand tour, enlivens -I^ ° '^* the country! 
 t-e. as well as ZplTofTe^^'f?' °^ '^^ - 
 
AT THE RACES 
 
 243 
 
 "Have you anything further with me?" inferjecied 
 Saint-Prosper, curtly. 
 
 The patroon's blood coursed, burning, through his 
 veins; the other's contemptuous manner stung him 
 more fiercely than language. 
 
 "Yes." he said, meaningly, his eyes challenging 
 Samt-Prosper's. "Have you been at Spedella's fenc- 
 mg rooms ? Are you in practice ?" 
 
 Saint-Prosper hesitated a moment and the land 
 barons face fell. Was it possible the other would 
 refuse to meet him? But he would not let him off 
 easily; there were ways to force-and suddenly the 
 words of the marquis recurring to him, he surveyed 
 the soldier, disdainfully. 
 
 "Gad I you must come of a family of cowards and 
 traitors I But you shall fight or-the public becomes 
 ar^terl And he half raised his arm threateningly. 
 The soldier's tanned cheek was now as pale as a 
 moment before it had been flushed; his mouth set res- 
 olutely as though fighting back some weakness. 
 With lowermg brows and darkening glance he re- 
 garded the land baron. 
 
 ....1'ITt ^}'!''^^S" he said at length, with an effort, 
 that If I killed you, people would want to know the 
 reason. 
 
 The patroon laughed. "How solicitous you are for 
 ler welfare-«nd mine! Do you then measure skill 
 only by mches? If so, I confess you would stand a 
 ftiir chance of despatching me. But your address? 
 Ine St. Charles, I presume." 
 
 MM 
 
Ht 
 
 THE STROLLERS 
 
 The toldier nodded ctirtlv >«<i «. • 
 when loud vorcT^'a^n t '""'**' *° '"^*' 
 
 part of thfS sS^Tt?^ '^°'* *^P^"^^ ^^^ 
 
 ?cco«.p«UedTiTJ;eS«':ra„*S^"'' ■" 
 
 . Mg . thidcet man, the latesTr^!!i"f '' ^^" ' •°>' " 
 
 willin? captivea Th.. ),7V\, *° '"''' ""^"^ '■'•^ 
 
 ^ Of ^-d^.ihe'it^einrr^.rr''''^':^ 
 
 sTu • Tp'^ '^''"^ ^hi had L„ kSd ' r" •;■' 
 
 should she not have h«.,? u "^'^^ ^^'^ 
 
 was old enough toU-^. ' *"' ""'^ " »«y-'' 
 
 enslaver. Susan looked hm C w^J^ ^°' •".' 
 for bewg nice to a child I ^ "** wa» her reward 
 
 co^lplaSSr '""^ """ •^•' *^ *^«*-«t «-. 
 SuZr'iinU^ -hs better than be.„r retorted 
 
 tato« ftivert:r^:;~"ii**' '''^'''' ^'^ ^' ^■ 
 
 and soon all ey« w!rdxlt *"'"^'"' ''^ ** "^^ 
 where the hors^' T^, *" ?** "^' ^ ^e track 
 
 -. as 'He3?rj^trrr.t''ST t 
 
 stimuUting voices of the jockeyT ^ ''^ *^ 
 
 a«se in a body iTkea J ?J" ** »^«» '''and 
 
AT THE RACES 
 
 a4S 
 
 became the hero of the hour; when the small boys 
 outside nearly fell from the trees in their exuberance: 
 of ecstasy, and the men threw their hats in the air 
 and shouted themselves hoarse— even these exhila- 
 rating circumstances failed to reawaken the land bar- 
 on's concern in the scene around him. His eflforts at 
 irdifference were chafing his inmost being; the cloak 
 of insouciance was stifling him ; the primeval man was 
 strurgling for expression, that brute-like rage whose 
 only limits are its own fury and violence. 
 
 A quavering voice, near at bar,', recalled him to 
 himself, and turning, he beheld the marquis approach- 
 ing with mincing manner, the paint and pigments 
 cracked by the artificial smiles wreathing his wrinkled 
 face. In that vast assemblage, amid all the energy, 
 youth and surfeit of vitality, he seemed like a dried 
 and crackling leaf, tossed helplessly, which any foot 
 might crush to dust. The roar of the muhitude sub- 
 sided, a storm dying in the distance ; the ladies sank 
 in their seats— butterflies settling once more in the 
 fields— and Leduc, with drooping head, was led to 
 the paddock, followed by a few fair adorers. 
 
 "I placed the winner. Monsieur Mauville," piped the 
 marquis. "Though the doctors told me the excitement 
 would kill mel What folly I Every new sensation 
 adds a day to life." 
 
 "In your case, certainly. Marquis, for I never saw 
 you looking younger," answered the land baron, with 
 an effort. 
 
 "Youare too amiable, my dear friend! The ladies 
 
246 
 
 THE STROLLERS 
 
 spin?~ll!--«' '"e other. "With ,our 
 
 «Z'1S rjrhis""'*'" ""^"^"P'^'' *"<= <«- 
 would ask you to or«. ^°""^ ^"""<^'^ »"". "I 
 the one you'^^^Kt "^ '° *^ '"''^ ^^ "•-- 
 
 her. WhatareLyimt Jr;"r'^''^^^°'» 
 In the old days they were finder °^ "owadays? 
 
 who is she.?" ^*^'^^t"'^e'.- women sparks. But 
 
 "S" r'"^"''"°""«' the actress ?" 
 
 An actress I" exclaimed the nobleman "A ,, 
 wg creature at any rate 1" """'*=^n- A charm- 
 
 iSe^iSruiy ^ --^ ^^^ -rquis eagerly. 
 "Sometimes it's just as n,»ii » ~ 
 vaguely. "Howolitshe?* ' """"""^ the other 
 "How can you tell?" answered MauviUe 
 
 P'-c,Whenawr.TS;:T-Etiri 
 
AT THE RACES 
 
 447 
 
 put a black mark against her name, for I have always 
 held," continued the nobleman, wagging his head, 
 "that a woman who is a ^«randmother has no business 
 to deceive a younger generation of men. But pre- 
 sent me to Miss Susan at once, my dear friend. I am 
 all impatience to meet her." 
 
 His eagerness permitted no refusal; besides, Mau- 
 ville was not in the mood to enjoy the noMeman's 
 society, and was but too pleased tc turn him over to 
 the tender care of Susan. 
 
 "How do you do. Miss Duran," he said, having 
 made his way to her liox. 
 
 "Where did you drop from?" she asked, in cur- 
 prise, giving him 1.. r hand. 
 "The skies," he returned, with forced lightness. 
 "A fallen angel I" commented Susan. 
 "Gkxjdl Charming 1" cried the marquis, clapping 
 his withered hands. 
 
 "Miss Duran, the Marquis de Ligne has requested 
 the pleasure of meeting you." 
 
 She flashed a smile at him. He bent over her hand ; 
 held it a moment in his icy grasp. 
 
 "The pleasure," said Susan, prettily, not shirkine 
 the ordeal, "ig mine." 
 
 "In which case," added Mauville, half ironically, 
 'I will leave you together to enjoy your happiness." 
 Eagerly availing himself of the place offered at her 
 side, soon the marquis was cackling after the manner 
 of a senile beau of the old school ; relating spicy anec- 
 dotes of dames who had Ion:' departed this realm of 
 
24S 
 
 T"E STROLLERS 
 
 Mr 
 
 ^a» revived i„ hisTidil '^""'"'^ ^°*«r age 
 women wore patches ^mTZir"^" T''™ '^'^^^'^d 
 .7 fote verses on the de^l ^L ^'""'^ gallants 
 "Ae.r virtue resemblera .i*^"' "P""^"*^; ^^^ 
 Quaker's word, the ^estert "T ' ''^'^°"' *e 
 nwn's honor-but to ^f I °^"' ""'^ *e great 
 ^The day's even L hote" ; :" ''*' *™^'«<^ 'W' 
 ?f pleasure finally caoS/ '°°" °^'''-'- 1^* citv 
 «ly to depart. ThTsudd ' "' ^"^'^ •^S'" »P^ 
 themigratbrofa3wUofL™°^"""«« ''^We^ 
 ony, when, if the dajrbrth^r '°™ " "*>- ^o'" 
 forth with ^on^rousra^S t^:^P^f'<«^-<^nes 
 commenced to empty itself ^f *'"" ''"^" ^ve 
 workers. It was a^ ouSoL '""'"'' '''•°"« »"d 
 an mation as is ap^rSTtiTt"^ '"'^ «^« »"d 
 ««-dweners, givinTom a Ud " H V°' " ^''^^ "^ 
 from the action of the"r ti„l ""''."'"^P-to-'^ed hum 
 blooming heather and the "hri T '^'' ^ °'*' t^e 
 f«:" And these hlaXs 2 ».^'°""^"" ^°^- 
 ^«r massacres; ^"r t«S^- '"" P'"'°»'' t°o' 
 Queens"; their cJmbSrth.1^'"' *^ "R'val 
 of that Utopian Cm oft 'r'"''*'' '''^^ '^««''' ' 
 co^^tmistic society "fins'""' ^'^"^ '» '"« 
 
 -ddeS ^appeariStt Con"Lt"'l"'^'^ ^""^ 
 «-— eourtime^-S'rugh^efrrd! 
 
AT THE RACES 249 
 
 1 will see you at the hotel, my dearl" he added, as the 
 soldier and Constance moved away. 
 
 Only the merry home-going remained, and the cul- 
 mmation, a dinner at Moreau's, Victor's, or Miguel's 
 the natural epilogue to the days pastime, the tag to 
 the comedy I In the returning throng were Creoles 
 with sky-blue costumes and pahnetto hats; the La- 
 fourche or Attakapas planter; representatives of the 
 older regime and the varied newer populace. Superb 
 equipages mingled in der ocratic confusion with carts 
 and wagons; the broken-winded nag and spavined 
 crowbait-veterans at the bugle call l-pricked up 
 their ea-s and kicked up their heels like cohs in pasture 
 while the delighted darkies thmnped their bony 
 shanks to encourage this brief rejuvenescence 
 
 Those who had lost felt the money well spent; 
 those who had won would be the more lavish m the 
 spending^^ They had simply won a few more pleas- 
 
 T'. SUl? '^°™' "J"'* S°'" ^^e the whirling- 
 wheels. The niggard in pound and pence is a usurer 
 m happmess; a miser driving a hard bargain with 
 pleasure. Better bum the candle at both ends than 
 not bum It at all I In one case, you get light ; in the 
 other nothmg but darkness. Laughter is cheap at 
 wiy price. A castle in the air is almost as durable as 
 Salomons temple. How soon-how soon both fade 
 
 Thus ran the song of the wheels before them and 
 behind them, as the soldier and Constance joined the 
 desultory fag-end of the procession. On either side 
 
350 
 
 THE STROLLERS 
 
 %^^'- 
 
 foliage L "The cW™ o X '^ """^' "'"*'' °' 
 "ote of the swamp owl F^n. "•"''"'' *"*" "■« 
 rhythm, a foil to disc.^nL?'!!""'''"^' " "'««""-ed 
 from a distant pSZ ^•^■«»«<J. ''"s wafted 
 "Wait!" said Constant. 
 
 •noodHy-ataostn^spfce S'"'' 7""'' *«'* "^ 
 
 HiSd^^nafs-'"f-««^"^- 
 
 Jeave New Orleans" ""^ ''°'^ "«>» I ""-ght 
 
 '•B;^rthS;ht°3:;ri:„f, -•--•'<' ■•" -pHse. 
 
 have you chan^ldZmLTp^' ^^^^'"^ "- ^hy 
 ">a he detect a subtle arr,^* -* 
 
 A deep flush mounteS t^ 1^ o ' ''"''•^ '" "'**' 
 suddenly, eagerly. ""'«"«». He bent over her 
 
 "Woulditmatt^r-ifi^entr 
 
 she said lSh% ""'""•■ °"^ -l""''"" with anotherl" 
 
 thelr„%'^l£rj^- J^^^^^^ -. ^elt 
 
 constraint. Perhaos sol ^'^"" "^^ ""« ^n^"'"? 
 
 add in a voice tTenreySr" "'"^ "" '° 
 
 ^'"^""^'''"'^-f^o'ng back to France?" 
 
AT THE RACES 35, 
 
 "To France I" he repeated, quickly. "No"— and 
 stopped. 
 
 Looking up, a half-questioning light in her eyes 
 took flight to his, until suddenly arrested by the hard 
 set expression of his features. Abruptly chilled by 
 she knew not what, her lashes fell. The horses 
 champed their bits and tugged at the reins, impatient 
 of the prolonged pause. 
 "Let us gol" she said in a low, constrained voice. 
 At her words he turned, the harshness dropping 
 from his face like a discarded mask; the lines of de- 
 termination wavering. 
 "Let us gol" she said again, without looking up. 
 He made no motion to obey, until the sound of a 
 vehicle behind them seemed to break the spell and 
 mechamcally he touched the horses with the whip 
 
CHAPTER IV 
 
 '■^AR AND JUUET 
 
 <Jerb^squeezedhe/ha„d,Sg "^^ "' """ *^"- 
 besetlsk''"""'"' '''"'' ^°""S«=r, I would not thus 
 
 . "You flatt. i^^he ; ST?."'*^''" 
 •mpatience of the thick-^t ' , ?'"'"«^ ''*^' '« the 
 «cort the young woS,"lckTo 7° "*-" "'"■*'''^ *« 
 notice the gentlemanTv^r fi, °™- ^ut do you 
 
 "Yes; that^the Sm^.^t"-" ^'"^^^ Susan- 
 who was one of the ^1 f f^'"^""'- ^' ^as he 
 Spanish double matiS Jot n"'" ^"P'" '" *« 
 queen should mariy hfr cousin "?^,'"^*"?ed the 
 ^on of Louis Philbpe Tur '^ ^'' '''''' the 
 
 were not expected to W IL^"''".^*' ''^^ ~"«« 
 
 "-one of Spain faiW di^J^^^l P-i««s for the 
 (252). 
 
LEAR AND JULIET 253 
 
 "How inconsiderate of the queen I Good after- 
 noon, marquis I I have been vastly entertained." 
 
 "And I"— kissing her hand— "enamored I" Then 
 chuckhng: "A week ago my stupid doctors had me 
 aid out m funereal dignity, and now I am making 
 love to a fine woman. Pretty pouting lips 1"— tap- 
 ping her chin playfully_"Like rose-buds I Happy 
 the lover who shall gather the dew I But we meet 
 agam. Mistress Susan ?" 
 
 S,,'!!!^' '^'" ^V"^ "P°" y°"' '""qui"." answered 
 ^ Susan coquettishly, as a thought flashed through her 
 nirnd that it would not be unpleasant to be called 
 Marqu.se," or "Marchioness"_she did not quite 
 know which would be the proper title. It was nearly 
 vesper-tmie with the old nobleman; he seemed but a 
 procrastmatmg presence in the evening of mortal life- 
 a chateau and carriage— 
 
 jy^^ ''1''"" ""* *8ain," said the marquis, in- 
 terrupting these new-bom ambitions 
 
 ;;Neverr Tenderly. "When may I see you?" 
 How importunate you are! Call when you will." 
 But if you are out"— he insisted. 
 
 "So it will!" Rubbing his hands. "Delightfullv 
 uncertam I" he repeated. And he departed ^th manv 
 protestations, taking no more notice of the »£!'« 
 man than if he were a block of wood 
 
aS4 
 
 THE STROLLERS 
 
 "Because he never T!- ? " ^'^ manners." 
 spitefully. ..But": ; ™e ^^ ""T^ ''-"' 
 Jwve yyu expect to take «. T . "^ '"=''«? I be- 
 i A'^hough^ecLTerd^fke:'!';''^''^"^ 
 w« silent and sullen. nurSe Z^'" °"i''"= '■°^''' ""= 
 funded self-s„fficie„e;"'^'„"^'"^ '"J"«d P^de and 
 
 !» him for the novel r««,„ shrji^nll?' ^"''''*^ 
 'ly. parted from him wW, the , ."* '"™ *° ''«'«- 
 entered the hotel, h^IdW W T."^ " duchess,- and 
 swore under his breath af he driv"*' '° ^^^ «>« "e 
 fesult of the quarrel with the lI^V"^" ^'^' ^ « 
 have to risk b^i„g "piSd" for .h' • r"'** P^^^W^ 
 the other hand. wJT^^ " ""^^' Susan, on 
 
 '-d the dinin,::::^ j'ft^ g «JJ* -hen she'«,- 
 
 arotdte c:Srs':rh^S V""^' ' -''« '-"^^d ' 
 upon the wait^wL fonSh t""' ""^''^^ '-"^'^ 
 
LEAR AND JULIET 255 
 
 lateness of the hour had provoked, nor were her 
 thoughts of a character to deter from the zest of eat- 
 ing. 
 
 From the present to the past was but an instant's 
 flight of the mind— thus may the once august years 
 swiftly Md unceremoniously be marshaled by I— and 
 she dwelt in not unpleasing retrospection on an endless 
 field of investigation and discovery and the various 
 experiences which had befallen her in arriving at the 
 presem period of mature knowledge; a proficiency 
 which converted her chosen researches into an exact 
 science. 
 
 Thus meditating and dining— counting on her fin- 
 gers twice over the fair actresses who had become 
 titled ladies, and enviously disbelieving she would 
 jom that triumphant company— Susan was still seated 
 at the table some time later when the soldier glanced 
 m. Imperatively she motioned him to her side and 
 he obeyed with not entirely concealed reluctance, and 
 was so preoccupied, she rallied him upon his reserve 
 
 I believe you and Constance had a quarrel on the 
 road Maliciously. "I hope you were more amia- 
 ble than my companion. He hardly spoke a word 
 and when I left him"-her voice sank to a whisper- 
 1 heard him swear." 
 
 "He pleased you so much earlier in the day that a 
 duel will probably be the outcome." 
 Susan laughed gaily. 
 "A duel I Then my fortune is made. AUthenews- 
 
 
»96 
 
 THE STROLLERS 
 
 .4«rr^a£.rr ^— <' --'H an .. 
 
 -e' Yo„ think ™e heVrtlesfV^^r^'T"'^'* 
 care nothing for either nfl " ""^ '*""? I 
 
 Warned if they are ^ f<^ :2'" '^'^ ^ »™ "»* to be 
 -f either had touched ^tari » Yf 1 "^ "^'^--t 
 «xiw<tish demeanor whl q "l""" '^'™'=<' » 
 
 studied her through Aew^Lf"'^' "=°°"y 
 weed. * "' *'«aths of smoke from his 
 
 "You are wondering whaf .«- ^ 
 she continued, merrirrSlT °( ' '^'*°" ^ »«'" 
 "To unrequited passi^ r ''"^ ""^ ^'''^^ °f ^ine with: 
 
 Her roguish face sparkled as he asked- "w.. , 
 .J^e^dramedthegiassandset^rindS::,:: 
 ^The agar was suspended; the veii cleared between 
 ;;For whom?" he said. 
 
 "Mylovei"" 
 
 ;:Love? No." Coldly. 
 
LEAR AND JULIET 357 
 
 Her lashes veiled the aiure orbs. 
 
 "You think to disarm her with a compliment » How 
 well you understand women I" And, as he rose the 
 pressure of the hand she gave him at parting was 
 Imgering. 
 
 Above in his room, Barnes, with plays and manu- 
 scripts scattered around him, was engaged in writing 
 m his note and date book, wherein autobiography, 
 ledger and journal accounts, and such miscellaneous 
 matter mingled indiscriminately. "To-day she said to 
 me : T am going to the races with Mr. Saint-Prosper.' 
 What did I say? 'Yes,' of course. What can there 
 be m common between Lear and Juliet? Naturally 
 5^ she sometimes turns from an old fellow like me— now' 
 If she were only a slip of a girl again-with her short' 
 frock— her disorder of long ringlets— running and 
 romping — 
 
 "A thousand details pass through my mind, remi- 
 niscences of her girlhood, lightenmg a lonesome life 
 like glimmerings of sunshine in a secluded wood- 
 memories of her mother and the old days when slie 
 played in my New York theater-for Barnes the 
 stroller, was once a metropolitan manager! Her 
 fame had preceded her and every admirer of histri- 
 onic art eagerly awaited her arrival. 
 
 "But the temple of art is a lottei>-. The town that 
 had welcomed her so wildly now went Elssler-mad 
 The gossamer Boatings of this French danseuse pos- 
 
MKWJCOrr KKXUTKM IBT CHART 
 
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 I^S Hoch«t«r, H*< v— . 14609 ^5^ 
 
 ^S (716) *a2 - 0300 - Phone 
 
 ^^ (^'C) ZB8- 5989 -FoK 
 
258 
 
 THE STROLLERS 
 
 tmn preyed upon her. ThlS" T ' P"'^"' <=°»di- 
 a moment became less dim buTher ^'"^ "'^^^ ^°' 
 br^hter. «ore melancholy So^.^'' ^"'^ '»^««'' 
 fa" mto a painful reverie and! I. ™'' '^^ *°"Jd 
 J«^t of her thought wU"^"^"^"*''^ «">- 
 would regard her^daughteJ Jhill " 'f ''""'' ^"e 
 was her only hope, herf„;;%;';"'''"^' 'hmking, She 
 
 Ba;.«;sh::::-d~,X' "°' '"-^^^' ^'• 
 °^bi^K;,/pr:::tn;^*°---^wc 
 
 • 'It will be but suLf-.! '^"'' "'^' week.' ^ 
 other/ she retorted "ot S °"^ ^"^^'^^ '^ «„- 
 °»«' You should i„°rt HitTr '°^ '^ ''■«--' 
 ?ouig down; down him j ",? '^"'''- ^ou are, 
 
 rj"'--e.yourda„^ceraXu^--^^'J 
 
 'A^dyiS..^" --" ^- ^o.. I demanded 
 
 'An^Ut: M^dat; fS^i^.^^ - answe/ 
 for all to permit y;u to brear^ ''^"""^ °'"'' ^<i 
 The tide will change wTaT '°"'''^'- P°°»" 
 . ^mes fools; but they are nmf^f "'u"'^" "«= ^""n^- 
 
 . dancer will have had her Ja^^V" "';/'■"'- The 
 oes to the empty seats and Sow her J'" '^'■'' ''^'• 
 
 -Pons.ve space. Our patltr^r;;:^^;- 
 
LEAR AND JULIET 259 
 
 turn ; they will grow tired of wriggling and twisting, 
 and look again for a more substantial diet.' 
 
 "Matters did, indeed, begin to mend somewhat, 
 when to bring the whole fabric tumbling down on 
 our heads, this incomparable woman fell ill. 
 
 " 'You see? I have ruined you,' she said sadly. 
 
 " 'I am honored, Madam,' was all I could reply. 
 
 "She placed her hand softly on mine and let her 
 luminous eyes rest on me. 
 
 " 'Dear old friend 1' she murmured. 
 
 "Then she closed her eyes and I thought she was 
 sleeping. Some time elapsed when she again opened 
 them. 
 
 " 'Death will break our contract, Mr. Barnes,' she 
 said softly. 
 ^ "I suppose my hand trembled, for she tightened 
 her grasp and continued firmly : 'It is not so terrible, 
 after all, or would not be, but for one thing.' 
 
 " 'You will soon get well, Madam,' I managed to 
 stammer. 
 
 "'No! Do you care? It is pleasant to have one 
 true, kind friend in the world; one who makes a 
 woman believe again in the nobility of human nature. 
 My life has been sad as you know. I should not regret 
 giving it up. Nor should I fear M die. I can not 
 think that God will be unkind to o /ho has done her 
 best ; at least, has tried to. Yet there is one thing that 
 makes me crave for life. My child— what will she do 
 —poor, motherless, fatherless girl— all alone, all alone. 
 
260 
 
 THE STROLLERS 
 
 for hil? T/t r^-*'" y°" P«™i' n,e to care 
 
 "Hn .• 1 , ""f ''^'■'' ^'' "« ""y child r 
 
 see,2d toS"^ ''''u*^''* "^ '"»'' "'hatl Her eyes 
 seemed to blaze with heavenlv fin. n„t i^ ^ 
 
 dwell further upon the sadTvLttlhat led t: the' Z 
 of her noble career. Something of her life ^S 
 heard; something, I sunnised. Unhappy as a wL,/n 
 
 be forgot e^ Bu ITTT '"' ' '''^"^' "-^^^^ to 
 were revlL f^ ^ '° *''°''^ ^'"' '°»^'^ her well 
 
 hernar^^^^E t: TlTlT ''''. ^'"''"^''^ °^ 
 
 fteadfast, seen^I^uZ^XlyZ^ITi'T "' 
 in the darkness of n.Vhf "'"'>'*"'=' ^ feel her eyes 
 
 and oftenX irCs^lr- t/trf^^ 
 *«jnere dressing-room, the ^S trthe^Hi^ , 
 
 rief ''f^'' "' *•"" '^°°' ™''^'y •'■Vned these memo- 
 ries. For a moment the manager looked stLwT 
 one abruDtlv callpH i„„i. » •.• . ""''ea startled, as 
 in£s- theS fL . ,f, *° •"" immediate surronnd- 
 
 *rii)il^rlT" V"^ ^'' ^'"^' ^d he pushed 
 '•CIV'^^'" *°.*''' ^'*' °f the table. 
 Lome m," he said. 
 
 TJe^door opened and Saint-Prosper entered. 
 
 or if you prefer ;;, „t^ T' "^^ °" ** "^t"' 
 J- preter yoi,. p,pe, there's a jar of tobacco on 
 
LEAR AND JULIET 261 
 
 the trunk. Do you find it? I haven 
 ' > bring 
 
 ... . 't had time yet 
 
 to bring order out of chaos. A manager's trunks are 
 anchor^ '"^ *'^'' everything from a needle to an 
 
 Filling his pipe from the receptacle indicated, which 
 lay among old costumes and wigs, the soldier 
 seated himself near an open window that looked out 
 upon a balcony. Through a door at the far end of 
 the balcony a light streamed from a chandelier within 
 playmg upon the balustrade. Once the figure of the 
 young actress stepped for a moment out upon the 
 balcony; she leaned upon the balustrade, looked across 
 the city, breathed the perfume of the flowers, and then 
 quickly vanished. 
 
 "Can you spare me a little time to-morrow morning 
 -early -before rehearsal?" said Saint-Prosper, 
 
 • "^f ' " "*""'«'' *« manager, in surprise. "What 
 
 "A foolish piece of business I 
 New Orleans." 
 
 Barnes uttered an exclamation of annoyance and 
 apprehension. "Here! What is he doing here?" he 
 said. "I thought we had seen the last of him. Has 
 he followed — Constance?" 
 
 "I don't know. We met to-day at the races." 
 
 "It is strange she did not tell me about it," re- 
 marked the manager, without endeavoring to conceal 
 the anxiety this unexpected information aflforded 
 nim. 
 
 The patroon is in 
 
 if 
 
262 
 
 THE STROLLERS 
 
 "She does not know he is here." And Saint-Pros- 
 ^ h !T ! "^T'^ '^' circumstances of his meeting 
 
 rZ-!"^ !°,*^ f "'' "^ '''^Srged into it?" exclaimed 
 Barnes at length, resentfully. "Her name must be- 
 come public property in a broil?" 
 
 A frown darkened the soldier's face, but he replied 
 qu.cWy: "Need any one know ? The land blr^hL 
 not been seen with her." 
 
 "No ; but you have," returned the manager, sudden- 
 ly pausmg and looking down at the other. 
 
 Barnes stood with his hands in his pockets, his >ac' 
 downcast and moody. He felt that events were hap-" 
 penmg over which he had no control, but which were 
 shapmg the destiny of all he loved best. In the dim 
 ight the rugged lines of his countenance were strone- 
 ly. decisively outlined. Turning to the trunk, with a 
 quick neiTous step, he filled a pipe himself. After 
 he had hghted it, he once more contemplated tfie sol- 
 dier, thinking deeply, reviewing the past 
 
 "We We been together for some time, Mr. Saint- 
 Prosper he said, at length. "We have gone through 
 fa.r and rough weather, and"-he paused a mom^t 
 ^fore continumg-"should understand each other 
 You asked me when you came in if you were inter- 
 rupting me, and I told you that you were not. As 
 a matter of fact, you were." 
 
LEAR AND JULIET 263 
 
 And, walking to a table, Barnes took up the note- 
 book. 
 
 "A garrulous, single man must tell his little secrets 
 somewhere," he continued. "Will you look at the 
 pages I was writing when you came in ?' 
 
 Saint-Prosper took the book, and, while he was 
 turning the leaves that were hardly dry, the manager 
 relighted his pipe, owr which he glanced nervously 
 from time to time at his companion. Finally, when 
 the soldier had finished the perusal of the diary 
 Barnes turned to him expectantly, but the other silent- 
 ly laid down the little volume, and, after waiting some 
 moments for him to speak, the manager, as though 
 disappointed by his reticence, breathed a sigh. Then 
 clearing his throat, in a voice somewliat husky, he 
 went on, simply: 
 
 "You will understand now why she is so much to 
 me. I have always wanted to keep her from the 
 world as much as possible ; to have her world, her art I 
 I have tried to keep the shadow of the past from her 
 An actress has a pretty face; and there's a hue and 
 cry! It is not notoriety she seeks, but fame; fame 
 bright and pure as sunlight I" 
 
 "The land baron will not cry abroad the cause of 
 the meeting, said the soldier, gravely. "These fash- 
 ionable affairs need but flimsy pretexts " 
 
 "Flimsy pretexts I" cried Barnes. "A woman's rep- 
 utation—her good name—" 
 "Hush!" said Saint-Prosper. 
 
264 
 
 THE STROLLERS 
 
 %. 
 
 .ZT'ua ^* *^' ^'"' ^^ °^ *"■- ^^"y Con- 
 
 stance had again emerged and now approached 
 
 rounVZ' ,^ '°T^ ^^'^ °^ '^ ^^'y S su- 
 rounded her hke a cloud as she paused before Barnes- 
 apartment. At the throat a deep-falling coUar Ti 
 closely fastened; the sleeves were gathered in « 
 elbow and wrist, and from a "coverchief ." set upon the 
 
 With the light shimmering on the folds of her raiment 
 she stood looking through the open door, re^togS 
 manager and Saint-Prosper. saramgtne 
 
 '•Y2)jr '*t "°* '''°°«?" ^he said to the former. 
 
 You look as though you were talking together very 
 
 seriously?" she added, tuming to SainlprSpln ^ 
 
 Nothing of consequence, Miss Carewl" he replied 
 
 flushing beneath her clear eyes. ^qmea, 
 
 "P"'y about some scenery!" interposed the man- 
 
 from the one to the other. "Some sets that are-" 
 Fhmsy pretexts r I caught that much! I only 
 wanted to ask you about this costume. Is it appropri- 
 ate, do you thmk, for the part we were talking about?" 
 luming around slowly, with arms half-raised 
 
 thuSsSy"' "■' '^'' *='^™'"^'" •'^ '^ <^. - 
 
 "If I only thought that an unbiased crit.'isml" 
 
 JSr I'J'f !'f ^V?r'''^= =•"= ^°°^"^ ^"^''^d the sol- 
 
 M^s'^aSS.'"'^''"^'^- "^"^ '^ ^°" ''^^'' 
 
 At that moment her giriish grace was irresistible. 
 
LEAR AND JULIET 265 
 
 "I think it is not only appropriate, buf-Iooldng 
 at her and not at the costume— "beautiful I" 
 
 A gleam like laughter came into her eyes: nor did 
 she shun his kindling gaze. J-es, nor oia 
 
 "Thank you I" she said, and courtesied low. 
 
 fairiv thZ r""f Spedella's fencing rooms were 
 fa.rty thronged with devotees of the ancient art of 
 punc^urmg. The master of the place was a tall Ital- 
 jan, lank and lean, all bone and muscle, with a Don 
 
 stofM'"^'' '""'"^ " *=^"""' ^■"'''°<'«= «p^«- 
 ^thf .T;- '^**°"°'''We with the chivalrous 
 ta ght-errant of distressed Dulcineas. But every man 
 wrth a bad eye .s not necessarily a rascallion, and 
 Spedella, perhaps, was better than he looked. With 
 a most melancholy glance he was now watching two 
 combatants, novices in feats of arms. Dejection sat 
 upon his brow ; he yawned over a clumsy feinte seconde 
 when h,s sm.ster eyes fell on a figure that had S 
 T7 '.\''"; ^'"""^diately his melancholy van 
 . hed. and he advanced to meet the newcomer with 
 stately cordiality. 
 
 , Z'"^'!!' ^'- ^''"^"'''" '>•= ^^'^^i^^A, extending 
 
 "i^l^^"^' ^^ ^^'' "''^ *•-« grip of death 
 What good fortune brought you here i^' 
 _ "An ill wind, Spedella, rather I" 
 
 "It's like a breath of the old days to see you ;"the old 
 days before you began your wanderings I" 
 
 Get the foils, Spedella; I'll have a bout with the 
 
266 
 
 THE STROLLERS 
 
 master. Gad, you're as ill-looking as ever! It's s«n„ 
 .me since I've touched a foil. I^antTo Ls fmy^; 
 I have a httle affair to-morrow. Hark you. 2 old 
 bngand; I wish to see if I can kill himl"^ ' ^ ^ 
 A lad of spirit I" chuckled the master a irlMm ^t 
 u-terest illumining his caven,ous Ty«. "^u^,f 
 fr.sky l-aj, affair of honor to-day is but nurse^^swrt 
 Two ch.ldre„ with tin swords'are more d^ertTng 
 
 f^cariunrL'^'T' ' ^ ~-'-i-P«r S 
 button w ^^"? '■" " "P'^' *« he can touch a 
 but en because he sells them. And I am wastinj^mv 
 genius with ribbon-venders—" wastmg my 
 
 KTgottet" ' "^ '^""' "™''^- ^""^ ^ '«" - -^ 
 "Goodl" returned the otHer. "You can tell m, 
 
 about your travels as we fence." ""* 
 
 "Hang my travels I" replied the natroon >. a 
 
 ;:^«1^ engaged. "The^ve btou^t'tr^lhl^gtS 
 
 your rambles ?'''^ "°* """'^ ^°" ''"'"^»'* ^ome fr^ 
 your rambles? Fe,„te seconde and decisive tieree! 
 Is long since I've touched a good bladl ^ 
 glove-sellers and perfume-dealersiT '• ^*** 
 
 thetndl^rr' ''"''"* *"'^' ""^ ""'-'" ^^^^ 
 
 h,7 r! r*^"'"^ '^'*'' '*"^°'' when you came Not 
 bad that femt-but dangerous, because of tTe pc«si 
 b.hty of misjudging the attack. Learn the ^Ke 
 
LEAR AND JULIPT 267 
 
 affects to-morrow by quick, simfV tl,:.sts, and then 
 you w.n know what feints to attack him with. xTme 
 .n octave-you quitted the blade in a dangerous po- 
 
 h^tf "?' ""':'' "^ ^'^' '"^"^l Intemperan^ 
 has^befogged your judgment; high-l:,ing has dtamed 
 
 "You have it 1" laughed the land baron. 
 The button of his fo.I touched the old bravo's breast ; 
 the steel was bent like a bow. 
 Spedella forgot his English and swore in soft and 
 
 nbbon-venders were getting on," he said after this 
 euphonious, foreign prelude. "They pay me; I have 
 to keep an eye on them. AH the same," he added 
 generously, "there isn't another man in New OrS„s 
 "°-^"r T'^'^ "^^ stroke-except myself I" 
 moo*l" ' to-morrow?" asked the patroon. 
 
 set^tsTrsorrfritJ-r ^""^''^'^^ "" '-^ 
 
CHAPTER V 
 
 THE MEETING BENEATH THE OAKS 
 
 The mist was lifting from the earth and nature lav 
 wrapped in the rosy peace of daybrealc as the sun's 
 shafts of gold pierced the foliage, illumining the his- 
 tonc ground of the Oaks. Like shining lances, they 
 gleamed from the interstices in the leafy roof to the 
 ^ de>y-bejeweled sward. From this stronghold of elis- 
 !^.?t^T'' •'°*^^*''' *•"= surrounding country 
 bank sheep were browsmg; in the distance Mw-bells 
 tinkled and the drowsy cowherds followed the cattle 
 
 £mZ mt-"'"'' ^"^ '-'^' ^^ ^<^ » 
 
 Beneath the spreading trees were assembled a group 
 of persons variously disposed. A little dapper^ 
 was bending over a case of instruments, as^r^ 
 
 Be-ribboned and be-medaled, the Count de Propriac 
 
 S tt,?' '"™"' '"' ^^™'=^' -'° •'^'^ -^- 
 
 panied the soldier, were consulting over the weamn, 
 
 a magnificent pair of rapiers with'costly Zj^^Z 
 
 (268) 
 
BENEATH THE OAKS 369 
 
 »et with initials and a coronet. Member of an ancient 
 society of France which yet sought to perpetuate the 
 meniory of the old judicial combat and the more mod- 
 ern duel, the count was one of those persons who think 
 they are m honor bound to bear a challenge, without 
 questiomng the cause, or asking the "color of a rea- 
 son. 
 
 "A superb pair of weapons, count I" observed the 
 doctor, rising. 
 
 "Ves," said the person addressed, holding the blade 
 so that the sunlight ran along the steel; "the same 
 Jacques Legres and I fought with I" 
 
 Here the count smiled in a melancholy manner, 
 which left no doubt regarding the fate of the hapless 
 Jacques But after a moment he supplemented this 
 mdubitable assurance by adding specifically : 
 
 "The left artery of the left lung I" 
 
 "Bless my soul!" commented the medical man. 
 But what IS this head in gold beneath the guard ?" 
 
 "Saint Michael, the patron saint of duelists I" an- 
 swered the count. 
 
 "Patron!" exclaimed the doctor. "Weil, all I have 
 to say is, it is a saintless business for Michael." 
 
 The count laughed and turned away with a business- 
 like air. 
 
 "Are you ready, gentlemen?" 
 
 At his words the contestants immediately took their 
 positions. The land baron, lithe and supple, present- 
 ed a picture of insolent and conscious pride, his glance 
 
270 
 
 THE STROLLERS 
 
 S^stf '''""'!"' '"""'"^"■"^ ^'* fi-«r pas- 
 sions as he examined and tested his blade 
 
 iingagel" exclaimed the count 
 With ill-concealed eagerness, Mauville be«n a vi^ 
 
 S^^°SftStri:-^~ 
 
 7s IS" ''"Z '' '""^'' wLTtSst's^'Sy 
 Mauville smiled, but Bam-s groaned inwardly feel 
 
 Nfith^rrr the r'"'^^ ""'' -""^ ^'•- 2. 
 
 ,..If Q ilu °"'*'" spectators doubted the re- 
 
 ^r^«y, the land baron was an incomparable swords- 
 
 "Gaol" muttered the count to himself "Tf nr^^ 
 Jses to be short and sweet " P"^™' 
 
 ^i rr^ -- ri:Ltr^: 
 
 tion was immediately recalled From tt,. r i . 
 land baron bur<,t an - i' • ** ''P^ of the 
 
 thrust, S his "w^b a^ ^ ""' °"'^ P''"'^'* *e 
 graced the s X" o 'hffS' '^ "'^^'^ ">-"' "^'^ 
 
BENEATH THE OAKS 
 
 271 
 
 Nor was the manager's surprise greater than that of 
 
 the count. The latter, amazed this unusual strategem 
 
 should have failed when directed by a wrist as trained 
 
 and an eye as quick as MauviUe's, now interposed. 
 
 tnough I he exclaimed, separating the contestants. 
 
 Demme! it was superb. Honor has been satisfied " 
 
 It IS nothing I- cried the land baron, fiercely. "His 
 
 blade hardly touched me." In his exasperation and 
 
 disappomtment over his failure, Mauville was scarcely 
 
 conscious of his wound. "I tell you it is nothing," he 
 
 repeated. e. »t 
 
 "What do you say, Mr. Saint-Prosper?" asked the 
 count. 
 
 I'l am satisfied," returned the young man, coldly. 
 But Im not!" reiterated the patroon, restraining 
 hmiself with difliculty. "It was understood we should 
 contmue until both were willing to stop!" 
 
 "No," interrupted the count, suavely; "it was under- 
 stood you should continue, if both were willing!" 
 
 "And you're not!" exclaimed the land baron, wheel- 
 ing on Saint-Prosper. "Did you leave the army be- 
 cause — " ' 
 
 "Qaitlemen, gentlemen! let us observe the ptoprie- 
 tiesl expostulated the count. "Is it your intention, 
 
 rl^u2°" °''^'~""°' '° ^""* "y ?""«=**''« 
 
 A fierce new anger gleamed from the soldier's eyes. 
 
 completely transforming his expression and bearing 
 
 His glance quickly swept from the count to Mauville 
 
27a 
 
 THE STROLLERS 
 
 at the studied insult of the latter's words; on his cheek 
 burned a darlc red spot. 
 "Let it go on I" 
 
 The count stepped nimbly from his position between 
 tile two men Again the swords cross^. Z^^, 
 glance bent itself more closely on the figure of the 
 -Jd.er ; noting now how superbly poised wfThis IxJj 
 
 muscular arm I His wnst moved like a machine 
 
 ade« that Mauville's unlooked-for expedient had 
 
 diJ^-He^'!" ^^^r,^'' ''^ ~"'"' *''**'°? the sol- 
 d' . r ? " ' ^*"°'»' *ho has deceived us all " 
 But the land baron's zest only appeared to grow 
 
 n proportion to the resistance he encountered Mhl 
 hist for fightmg mcreased with the music of the blades 
 For some moments he feinted and lunged seeWne 
 an opening, however slight. Again he apSredS 
 upon forcing a quick conclusion, for sudSj with a 
 rush he sought to break over Saint-Prosper's guard 
 and succeeded m wounding the other sli^ly tathe 
 
 arhr.vaS;. "^'^ "' ■ " '^' ^-«'«^p-^ 
 
 But dashing the blood from his eyes with his free 
 hand and without giving way, Saint-Prosper met the 
 assault with a wrist of iron, and the land baron flied 
 to proht by what had seemed a certain advantage 
 The wound had the effect of making the soldier more 
 cautious, and eye, foot and hand were equally true. 
 
BENEATH THE OAKS 273 
 
 Mauville was breathing heavily from his exertions, 
 but the appearance of both men, the supple movements 
 of the one contrasting with the perfect precision of 
 the other, would have delighted those members of 
 the count's society, who regarded these matches as 
 leadmg to a renaissance of chivalry. 
 
 In his fury that his chance had slipped away, 
 after wounding, and, as he supposed, blinding his 
 opponent, Mauville, throwing prudence to the winds 
 recklessly attempted to repeat his rash expedient, 
 and this time the steel of his antagonist gleamed like 
 quicksilver, passing beneath his arm and inflicting a 
 slight flesh wound. Something resembling a look of 
 apprehension crossed the land baron's face. "I have 
 underestimated him I" he thought. "The next stroke 
 will be driven nearer home." 
 
 He felt no fear, however; only mute, helpless rage. 
 In the soldier's hand tie dainty weapon was a thing 
 of marvelous cunning; his vastly superior strength 
 made him practically tireless in this play. Not only 
 tireless; he suddenly accelerated the tempo of the ex- 
 ercise, but behind this unexpected, even passionate, 
 awakening, the spectators felt an unvarying accuracy, 
 a steely coldness of purpose. The blades clicked 
 faster; they met and parted more viciously; the hard 
 light in Saint-Prosper's eyes grew brighter as he 
 slowly thrust back his antagonist. 
 
 Mauville became aware his own vigor was slowly 
 failing him ; instead ' pressing the other he was now 
 obliged to defend himself. He strove to throw off 
 
274 
 
 THE STROLLERS 
 
 the lethargy uresistibly stealing over hini; to shake 
 tte leaden movements from his limbs. He vainly en- 
 deavored to penetrate the mist falling before his eyes 
 
 seem LHT""' •"' t""'^^ "^' """"' "^^ ^°^ 
 seem Idee a figure m a dream. Was it through loss of 
 
 Wood or wearmess, or both?-but he was cognirant 
 
 h.s thrusts had lost force, his plunges vitalitT^ and 
 
 But 17T "r"'"' °^ "^'"'^ P^^^^»^<1 ^ his parries. 
 But he uttered no sound. When would that mist be- 
 come dark and the golden day fuse into inky night? 
 
 n,;„ iT ,""'' ^°^^^y "=''P'^d l'" ^ight he deter- 
 mined to make one more supreme eflfort, and again 
 sprang forward, but was driven back with ease. The 
 knowledge that he was continuing a futile struggle 
 smote hmi to the soul. Gladly would he have we! 
 
 blade through that breast which so far had been im- 
 pemous to h.s efforts. Now the scene went rord 
 and round; the golden day became crimson, scarlet 
 then gray, leaden, somber. Incautiously he bent his' 
 ^m to counter an imaginary lunge, and his antagonist 
 Arust out h,s rapier like a thing of life, transLing 
 Mauvdle's sword arm. He stood his ground bravely 
 for a moment, playmg feebly into space, expecting 
 the fatal stroke! When would it come? Th^n thf 
 slate-colored hues were swallowed in a black cloud. 
 But while his mmd passed into unconsciousness, his 
 breast was openly presented to his antagonist, and 
 even the count shuddered. 
 With his blade at guard, Saint-Prosper remained 
 
BENEATH THE OAKS 275 
 
 motionless; the land baron staggered feebly and then 
 sank softly to the earth. That fatal look, the expres- 
 sion of a duelist, vanished from the soldier's face, 
 and, allowing the point of his weapon to drop to the 
 ground, he surveyed his prostrate antagonist 
 _ "Done like a gentleman!" cried the count, breath- 
 mg more freely. "You had him at your mercy, sir" 
 —to Saint-Prosper— "and spared him." 
 
 A cold glance was the soldier's only response, as 
 without a word he turned brusquely away. Mean- 
 while the doctor, hastening to MauviUe's side, opened 
 his shirt. 
 
 "He is badly hurt?" asked Barnes, anxiously, of the 
 surgeon. ' 
 
 "No; only fainted from loss of blood," replied that 
 gentleman, cheerfully. "He will be around again in 
 a day or two." 
 
 The count put away his blades as carefully as a 
 mother would deposit her babe in the cradle. 
 
 ..Z^"?^^^ P'^* °^ '''''°'7' '"y chicks!" he observed. 
 Worthy of the song of Pindar!" 
 
 "Why not Straws or Phazma?" queried the sur- 
 geon, looking up from his task. 
 
 "Would you have the press take up the affair? 
 There are ateady people who talk of abolishing duel- 
 ing. When they do they will abolish reputation with 
 It. And what's a gentleman got but his honor- 
 demnjel And the royal emissary carefully brushed 
 a cnmson stain from the bespattered saint. 
 
 By this time the land baron had regained conscious- 
 
2j6 
 
 THE STROLLERS 
 
 wl!h'ttl''-'/°""''/ r'*""'y »»»<l«ged. walked, 
 with the assistance of the count, to his carriage. As 
 
 was heard drawing near, and soon it appeared fol- 
 
 th™."!!"!!"'*^ *' ''°"'°'' *''° •«<> accompanied 
 «ie count and his companion to the carriage. 4ui^. 
 
 tl,ri7;" ^l?^^^ **' '°""'' »" •'<= 'e'^ed back against 
 uaksl Really -as the equipage rolled on-"New 
 Orleans ,s fast becoming a civilized center-^emme r 
 
CHAPTER VI 
 
 A BLOT IN THE 'SCUTCHEON 
 
 The iMd baron's injuries did not long keeo him 
 had received deep and bitter wounds. He chaW and 
 
 Z faU^ 'x? '=°r'^ "'«^ -PP^-^d « the clubs 
 Zt /Jl- u- '""'^P^*^'' publicity he took in ill 
 part, fanning h.s mental disorder with brandy, mel- 
 low and insidious with age. But beneath the d«gs 
 
 mmd more than his defeat beneath the Oaks- a 
 figure, on the crude stage of a country tavern : in the 
 manor window; with an aureole around her from the 
 sinking sun; in the grand stand at the races, tr«y 
 dandies smgling her out in all that seraglio of bea^^ 
 I played him too freely," he gn«„ed to the Coun 
 de Propriac. as the latter sat contemplatively nursing 
 
 tl^'^'u^"'^^ "^ "'^ '='"' ^-J offering the la^d 
 baron such poor solace as his company afforded. «I 
 
 much. If I could only meet him again!" 
 
27% 
 
 THE STROLLERS 
 
 The visitor reflectively took the handle of the «Mck 
 from his lips, thrust out his legs and yawned. The 
 count was sleepy, having drowned dull care the night 
 before, and had little sympathy with such spirited talk 
 so early in the day. His lack-luster gaze wandered 
 to the pictures on the wall, the duel between two court 
 ladies for the possession of the Due de Richelieu and an 
 old print of the deadly public contest of Fran9ois de 
 Vivonne and Guy de Jarnac and then strayed languidly 
 to the other paraphernalia of a high-spirited bachelor's 
 rooms— foils, dueling pistols and masks— trappings 
 that but served to recall to the land baron his defeat. 
 - "It would be like running against a stone wall," 
 said the count, finally; "demme if it wouldn't! He 
 could have killed you I" 
 
 "Why didn't he do it, then?" demanded the land 
 baron, fiercely. 
 
 The count shrugged his shoulders, drank his brandy, 
 and handed the bottle to his companion, who helped 
 himself, as though not averse to that sort of medicine 
 for his physical and mental ailments. 
 
 "What's the news?" he asked abruptly, sinking back 
 on his pillow. 
 "The levees are flooded." 
 
 "Hanged if I care if it's another deluge I" said 
 Mauville. "I mean news of the town, not news of 
 the river." 
 
 "There's a new beauty come to town-a brunette- 
 all the bloods are talking about her. Where did she 
 
BLOT IN THE 'SCUTCHEON 279 
 
 come from? WKo is she? These are some of the 
 questions asked. But she's a Peri, at any rate! shy, 
 hard to get acquainted with— at first I An actress-^ 
 Miss Carew I" 
 
 The glass trembled in the patroon's hand. "Do 
 you know her?" he asked unsteadily. 
 
 Smiling, the visitor returned the cane to his lips and 
 gazed mto vacancy, as though communing with agree- 
 able thoughts. 
 
 "I have met her," he said finally. "Yes ; I may say 
 I have met her. Gedl Next to a duel with rapiers 
 IS one with eyes. They thrust at you; you parry; 
 they return, and, demmel you're stabbed! But don't 
 ask me any more— discretion— you understand— be- 
 tween men of the world— demme I"— and the count 
 relapsed into a vacuous dream. 
 
 "What a precious liar he is!" commented the land 
 baron to himself. But his mind soon reverted to the 
 duel once more. "If I had only followed Spedella's 
 advice and studied his favorite parades I" he mut- 
 tered, regretfully. 
 
 "It would have been the same," retorted the count, 
 brutally. "When you lost your temper, you lost your 
 cause. Your work was brilliant; but he is one of 
 the best swordsmen I ever saw. Who is he, anyway ?" 
 "All I know is, he served in Algiers," said Mauville 
 moodily. 
 
 "A demmed adventurer, probably!" exclaimed the 
 other. 
 
ago 
 
 THE STROLLERS 
 
 I d give a good deal to Imow his record," remarked 
 the patroon, contemplatively. "You should be pretty 
 well acquamted with the persomiel of the army ?" 
 
 ^rJl """t"!" '^'=?'^y nowadays." replied the dip- 
 lomat. I have a large acquaintance, but I am not a 
 du-ectory. A person who knows everybody usually 
 
 ^f7%r^^~r''^ '°'°'*'"«' But it seems to 
 me I did know of a Saint-Prosper at the miliury col- 
 ^^J S^""""-; °' was it at the Ecole d'applicaticn 
 d(tat.ma,orr Demmed scapegrace, if I am not mis- 
 taken; sent to Algiers; must be the same. A hell- 
 rake ho!e!-full of Gertnan and French outcasts I 
 KMves, adventureres, ready for plunder and loot I" 
 Here the count, after this outburst, closed his' eyes 
 and seemed almost on the point of dropping oflF. but 
 suddenly straightened himself. 
 
 "„r^n*f^*'!* °"f • °' *''*''*• MauviUe." he said, 
 or 1 11 fall mto a doze. Such a demmed sleepy cH- 
 mate i '^•' 
 
 Soon the count was shuffling and the land baron and 
 he were playing bezique. but in spite of the latter's 
 drowsmess he won steadily from his inattentive com- 
 panion, and, although the noble visitor had some dif- 
 ficulty m keeping his eyes open, what there was of his 
 glance was vigilantly concentrated on his little pile 
 of the com of the reahn. His watchfulness did not 
 relax nor his success desert him, until Mauville finally 
 threw down the cards in disgust, weary alike of such 
 poor luck and the half-nodding automaton confront- 
 mg him; whereupon the count thrust every piece of 
 
BLOT IN THE 'SCUTCHEON 381 
 
 gold carefully away in his pocket, absently reached for 
 his hat, drawled a perfunctory farewell and departed 
 in a brown sindy. 
 
 The count's company, of which he had enjoyed a 
 good deal during the past forty-eight hours, did not 
 improve Mauville's temper, and he bore his own re- 
 flections so grudgingly that inaction became intolera- 
 ble. Besides, certain words of his caller concerning 
 Saint-Prosper had stimulated his curiosity, and, in 
 casting about for a way to confimi his suspicions, he 
 had suddenly determined in what wise to proceed. Ac- 
 cordingly, the next day he left his rooms, his first 
 visit being to a spacious, substantial residence of stone 
 and lime, with green veranda palings and windows 
 that opened as doors, with a profusion of gauzy cur- 
 Uins hanging behind them. This house, the present 
 home of the Marquis de Ligne, stood in the French 
 quarter, contrasting architecturally with the newer 
 brick buildings erected for the American population. 
 The land baron was ushered into a large reception 
 room, sending his card to the marquis by the ueat- 
 appearing colored maid wha answered the door. 
 
 If surroundings indicate the man, the apartments in 
 which the visitor stood spoke eloquently of the mar- 
 quis' teste. Eschewing the stiff, affected classical- 
 ism of the Empire style, the furniture was the best 
 work of Andre Boule and Riesener; tables, with fine 
 marquetry of the last century, made of tulip wood and 
 mahogany; mirrors from Tourlaville; couches 
 with tapestry woven in fanciful designs after Frago- 
 
383 
 
 THE STROLLERS 
 
 nard, m the looms of Beauvais-<ouches that were 
 made for conversation, not repose; cabinets exemp%! 
 
 ^.A J^ exactness, and, without janunhiR 
 opened and shut at the touch. The marquis'™^' 
 
 France, to which he belonged. 
 
 Soon the marquis' servant, a stolid, sober man of 
 vmuous deportment, came down stai.; to inf^X 
 land baron h.s master had suffered a relapse and wa! 
 unable to see any one. ^ "* 
 
 wlet. My master is very ill; more so than I have 
 known him to be in twenty years " 
 
 "You have served the marquis so Ion.?" «,id the 
 visitor, pausmg as he was leaving the room "D^ 
 you remember the Saint-Prosper f^ily?" °° 
 
 Well. Monsieur. General Saint-Prosper and my 
 master were d.sunt kinsn.en and had adjoining land, " 
 Surey the marquis did not pass hs time in tiie 
 country?" observed Mauville. «« m ine 
 
 »^""r. P'f!^"^'^ it to Paris-when my hdy was 
 there I" added Frangois, softly ^ 
 
 In spite of his ill-humor, the shadow of a smile 
 gleamed m the land baron's gaze, and. encouriJ^ 
 that questioning look, the man continued : "Tlfma,^ 
 
 r^d ?rr' ^'-^-P-^P^' were always ^e^. 
 My lady had her own friends." "B^'cr. 
 
BLOT IN THE 'SCUTCHEON 283 
 
 "So I've heard," commented the listener. 
 Franqois- discreet eyes were downcast. Why did 
 the visitor wish to learn about the Saint-Prosper fam- 
 ily? Why instead of going, did he linger and eye 
 the man half-dubiously ? Francois had sold so many 
 of his masters secrets he scented his opportunities 
 with a sixth sense. 
 
 "The marquis and General Saint-Prosper were 
 warn friends?" asked the land baron at length. 
 
 Yes, Monsieur; the death of the latter was a severe 
 shock to the Marquis de Ligne, but, mon Dieuf— 
 hftmg his eyes— -it was as well he did not live to 
 witness the disgrace of his son." 
 
 "His son's disgrace," repeated the land baron, 
 eagerly. 'Oh, you mean running in debt— gamino'— 
 some such fashionable virtue?" " 
 
 "If betraying his country is a fashionable virtue" 
 replied the valet. "He is a traitor.' 
 
 Incredulity overspread the land baron'* features- 
 then, comcident with the assertion, came remembrance 
 of ms conversation with the marquis. 
 "He certainly called him that," ruminated the vis- 
 
 ",?■ !^.°* °"'^ ** '"°''^' """t t*'^ expression of the 
 c'd nobleman's face recurred to him. What did it 
 mean unless it confirmed the deliberate charge of the 
 valet? The land baron forgot his disappointment 
 over his inability to see the marquis, and began to look 
 with more favor on th^, man. 
 "He surrendered a French stronghold," continued 
 
 \ 
 
284 
 
 THE STROLLERS 
 
 the senant, softly. "Not tL-ough fear; oh. no; but 
 Slider'""' '^'^^''' ""''*"■ ^"-*='-K»''«'-. the Moor- 
 "How do you know this?" said the patroon, sharply 
 _ My master has the report of the military board of 
 inquiry," replied the man, steadily. 
 
 "Why has the matter attracted no public attention, 
 It a board of inquiry was appointed ?" 
 
 "The board was a secret one, and the report was 
 suppressed. Few have seen it, except the laTe King 
 of France and my master." 
 
 "And yourself, Fran5ois?" said the patroon, his 
 manner changing. 
 j^Oh, Monsieur!" Deprecatorily. 
 "Since it has been inspected by such good company, 
 I confess curiosity to look at it myself. But your 
 master IS .11 ; I can not speak with him ; perhaps you-" 
 I, Monsieur!" Indignantly. 
 "For five hundred francs, Fransois?" 
 Like oil upon the troubled waters, this assurance 
 wrought a swift change in the vr'et's manner 
 
 To oblige Monsieur!" he answered, softly, but his 
 eyes gleamed like a lynx's. His stateliness was a 
 sham; his perfidy and hypocrisy surprised even the 
 land baron. 
 
 "You have no compunctions about selling a reputa- 
 tion, Francois?" '^ 
 
 "Reputation is that!" said the man, contemptuously 
 snapping his fingers, emboldened by his compact with 
 the caller. "Francs and sous are everything " 
 
BLOT IN THE 'SCUTCHEON 285 
 "Lord, how servants imbibe the ideas of their bet- 
 
 ■ !ri T I "^ P*"°°"' "' ^^ '^ft the house and 
 strode down the graveled walk, decapitating the be- 
 gonias with his cane. 
 
 Furtively the valet watched his departing figure. 
 'Why does he want it?" he thought. 
 ^Then he shrugged his shoulders. "What do I 
 
 "Frangois r piped a shrill and querulous treble from 
 above, dispelling the servant's conjectures 
 
 Ae broad stairway amid a fusillade of epithets from 
 the sick chamber. An hour before the marquis had 
 ordered h.m out of his sight as vehemently as now he 
 summoned him, all of which Francois endured with 
 mimite patience and becoming humility 
 
 n J^'tl'"!? *•"" ^"" ^°y"'^' *he favorite prome- 
 tl^t °. t''«.Creole-French, the land baron went on 
 through various thoroughfares with French-English 
 nomenclature into St. Charles Street, reaching his 
 apartments, which adjoined a well-kn^wn club He 
 was glad to stretch himself once more on his couch 
 filing fatjgued from his efforts, and having ratht' 
 overtaxed his strength. 
 
 But if his body was now inert, his mind was active 
 His thoughts dwelt upon the soldier's reticence h^' 
 disinclmat^n to make acquaintances, and the coTdne 
 with which he had received his, Mauville's, advance 
 n the Shadengo Valley. Why, asked MauCille, ]yZ 
 there and putting the pieces of the tale together, d"d 
 
 -^- 
 
286 THE STROLLERS 
 
 not Saint-Prosper remain with his new-found friends, 
 the enemies of his country? Because, came the ?--' 
 swer, Abd-el-Kader, the patriot of Algerian indepe 
 ence, had been captured and the subjection of tne 
 country had followed. Since Algeria had become a 
 French colony, where could Saint-Prosper have found 
 a safer asylum thnn in America? Whf.o more secure 
 from "that chosen curse" for the man who owes his 
 weal to his country's woe ? 
 
 In his impatience to possess the promised proof, the 
 day passed all too slowly. He even hoped the count 
 would can, although that worthy brought with him all 
 the "flattering devils, sweet poison and deadly sins" of 
 inebriation. But the count, like a poor friend, was 
 absent when wanted, and it was a distinct relief to 
 the land baron when Frangois appeared at his apart- 
 ments in the evening with a buff-colored envelope, 
 which he handed to him. 
 
 "The suppressed report?" asked the latler, weighing 
 it in his hand. 
 
 "No, Monsieur; I could not find that. My master 
 must have destroyed it." 
 
 The land baron made a gesture of disappointment 
 and irritation. 
 
 "But this," Francois hastened to add, "is a letter 
 from the Due d'Aumale, governor of Algeria, to the 
 Marquis de Ligne, describing the affair. Monsieur 
 will find it equally as satisfactory, I am sure." 
 
 "How did you get it?" said the patroon, thought- 
 fully. 
 
BLOT IN THE 'SCUTCH EO N 287 
 
 '■My master left the keys on the dresser." 
 And if he misses this letter—" 
 
 "Oh, Monsieur, I grieve my master is so ill he could 
 not miss anything but his ailments! Those he would 
 willmgly dispense with. My poor master 1" 
 
 'There! Take your long, hypocritical face out of 
 my sight! siid Mauville, curtly, at the same time 
 handing him the promised reward, which Francois 
 calmly accepted. A moment later, however, he drew 
 himself up. 
 
 "Monsieur has not paid for the right to libel my 
 character," he said. 
 
 "Your character!" 
 
 "My character, Monsieur!" the valet replied firmly 
 and bowed in the stateliest fashion of the old school 
 as he backed out of the room with grand obsequious- 
 ness. Deliberately, heavily and solidly, resounded 
 he echoing footsteps of Frangois upon the stairway, 
 like the going of some substantial personage of unim- 
 peachable rectitude. 
 
 As the front door closed sharply the land baron 
 hrew the envelope on the table and quietly surveyed 
 >t, the remnants of his pride rising in revolt. 
 
 Have I then sunk so low as to read private commu- 
 nications or pry into family secrets? Is it a family 
 
 Tf '^?u^J ^''°"''' '' "°' ''=^°"« <=°™"on prop- 
 erty? Why have they protected him? Did the mar- 
 quis wish to spare the son of an old friend' Be- 
 sides -his glance again seeking the envelope-"it is 
 my privilege to learn whether I have fought with a 
 
^ THE STROLLERS 
 
 »^^'T^ ."u" «"*8ade." But even as he medi- 
 Zu Ji' S !, ' .'^P''"*'^ °^ this last argument, while 
 through his brain ran the undercurrent: "He has 
 
 II^H h'T"" ""' P""'"'P* '" P*""'""' "'her than 
 injured hauteur, stirred him. At the same time a 
 
 LT r'\T.*"°" ?'*' ''''' '''''^'' '«'* Saint-Prosper 
 had tricked her and turned her from himself I 
 
 And moving; from the mantel upon which he was 
 M%. ""^' *° ^^^ '*"" '^'^ ""'«•» the 
 
CHAPTER VII 
 
 A CYNICAL BARD 
 
 A dusty Window looking out upon a dusty thorourfi- 
 fare; a dusty room, lighted by the dusty window, and 
 reveahng a dusty chair, a dusty carpet and-proba- 
 bly-a dusty bed I Over the foot and the head of the 
 bed the lodger's wardrobe lay carelessly thrown. He 
 had but to reach up, and lol his shirt was at hand; to 
 reach down, and there were collar and necktie I Presto 
 he was dressed, without getting out of bed, running 
 no risk from cold floors for cold feet, larking tacks or 
 stray n«;dles and f,insl On every side appeared evi- 
 dence of confusion, or a bachelor's idea of order 
 
 Fastened to the head-board of the bed was a box 
 wherem were stored various and divers articles and 
 thmgs. With as little inconvenience as might be im- 
 agined the lodger could plunge his hand into his 
 cupboard and pull out a pipe, a box of matches, a 
 bottle of ink, a bottle of something else, paper and 
 pins, and last but not least, his beloved tin whistle of 
 three holes, variously dignified a fretiau. a fvstele 
 or a galoubet. upon which he played ravishing tunes' 
 (289) 
 
ago 
 
 THE STROLLERS 
 
 ^e poet held tenacfously to but aVSlhTs ^ fe' 
 board his ^^^.^/a.V^, his music cabinet-«Vfr.7loHr 
 ment in this last capacity to a single worW^Th! r^' 
 plete and Classical Precentor fof ^171' . ^ """^ 
 i«| Tunes. Polkas .nTuZJ^lS:^'- ''°"'^''- 
 
 cont?rratXtShtd"L'' ^°°^^" -^' 
 to the rf«fi, /^ • ^"^ '^<=°"'e acclimated 
 
 A bracket on the wall looked as thoueh it m,V),f 
 have been intended for a piece of statuarfor 1 biS 
 
A CYNICAL BARD 
 
 291 
 
 porcelain or china decoration, but had really been 
 set there for his ink-pot, when he was mindful to work 
 in bed, although how the Muse could be induced to 
 set foot in that old nookery of a room could only be 
 explained through the whims and crotchets of that 
 odd young person's character. 
 
 Yet come she would and did, although she got dust 
 on her flowing skirts when she swept across the 
 threshold; dust on her snow-white gown— if the 
 writers are to be believed in regard to its hue !— when 
 she sat down in the only chair, and dust in her eyes 
 when sh" flirted her fan. Fortunate was it for 
 Straws that the Muse is a wayward, freakish gipsy; 
 a straggler in attics ; a vagrant of the streets ; fortu- 
 nately for him she is not at all the nne lady she has 
 been depicted! Doubtless she has her own reasons 
 for her vagaries ; perhaps because it is so easy to soar 
 from the hovel to fairy-land, but to soar from a pal- 
 ace—that is obviously impossible ; it is a height in it- 
 self! So this itinerant maiden ever yawns amid 
 scenes of splendor, and, from time immemorial, has 
 sighed for lofts, garrets, and such humble places as 
 Straws' earthly abode. 
 
 At the present time, however. Straws was alone. 
 This eccentric but lovely young lady had not deigned 
 to visit him that day. Once, indeed, she had just 
 looked in, but whisked back again into the hall, slam- 
 ming the door after her, and the pen, momentarily 
 grasped, had fallen from Straws' hand. Instead of 
 reaching for the ink-bottle he reached in the cupboard 
 
39a 
 
 THE STROLLERS 
 
 mistress that she was AfL.u! u^^^' ^°''""« 
 elselI2l^ c. ^ ' friendly caU on some one 
 
 Indeed, what else could he have <1r»,- : i. . 
 man do when his ladylove detmH^ "^ ""^ 
 
 the best of it ? But Z f !f u- ' *'^* '° ""''« 
 Pipe; not a pt of tl'^r ytl^^t^:, ^" "^ 
 
 i"wf;i?"o72S ""--^^p-" - ^'^^^^^^^^ 
 
 and tirring ^ches a^''' %T °' "'"^""^ *""«* 
 
 •is .^•. '^■jz^'r ,*■'■ «= " 
 
 P.pe of three holes, his instrument hadTLS^e 
 
A CYNICAL BARD 393 
 
 compass; melody followed melody-"The Harp that 
 a>ce hrough Ws Hall," "She is Far from the 
 Land In Death I shall Cata, Recline," and other 
 popular p.eces. When Straws missed a note he went 
 back to find it ; when he erred in a phrase, he patiently 
 
 tion Bid her not shed a tear of sorrow," was, on 
 his first attempt, fraught with exceeding discord, and 
 he was prepanng once more to assault the citadel of 
 
 abrupt knocking at the door, followed by the appear- 
 ance of a face marred by wrath and adorned wUh an 
 enomous pair of whiskers, interrupted his attack. 
 
 than hi' u'^'a .*'"l P*='«'°'* «"tedly, with no more 
 ttan his head m the room, like a Punch and Judy 
 fipire peenng from behind a curtain, "you are ze one 
 gran nuisancer Eet is zat-what you call eet'- 
 whistlel I am crazee— crazee 1" 
 
 allv^'^'PeT '°°'; •*'"/"=P««'5 Straws, sympathetic- 
 ally. Perhaps, if you had a keep—" 
 
 "I am not crazee I" vociferated the man. 
 mnr!^°J P"haps I could tell better, if I could see 
 more of you. Judging from the sample, I confess to 
 curiosity for a full-length view. If you will step In 
 
 "I will not step in I I will step out I I will leave 
 zishousel I will leave-forever!" ^''""eave 
 
 net^^ *« head vanished as suddenly as it had ap- 
 sSy """^ '^ "^ '"^"^ -Jo^ *^ 
 
394 
 
 THE STROLLERS 
 
 Nnw I can understand why Orpheus was tore to 
 P_ -*, ruminated Straws, mournfully surveying the 
 offendmg p,pe. "He played on the I^el Return to 
 S^K: M '•■' r"^'"-P"«-^ the whTstl: 
 He.ghol -yawnmg-<'life is an empty void-which 
 
 7o"i::'d S?"'' ' ""' ^''= ''^^''- What shS 
 attl^uZ!".^ """ '"' "P relinquishing his lounging 
 
 Tort.ers bouillabaisse would about tickle the jaded 
 palate. A most poetic dish, that bouillabaisse I Con- 
 tainmg .11 the fish that swim in the sea and all the 
 
 Get thee behmd me, odoriferous temptation of garlici 
 succulent combination of broth and stew I" 
 
 So saying, Straws sprang from his bed, lighted a 
 charcoal fire in his tiny grate; rummaged a bu«au 
 drawer and drew forth an end of bacon a potato or 
 wo a few apples, an onion and the minor J^rt of a 
 loaf of bread, all of which, except the bread, Teslfced 
 and thrust indiscriminately into' the frying-Jn "^1 
 
 Lrtr"^" ""'^ ''^"'" Next from L^nd The 
 mirror he produced a diminutive coffee pot into wh ch 
 
 i^7''' r •' '"*""'^ '''''' J-' -">-»> oTthe 
 ground beriy, being rather over-nice about his demi- 
 tesse. Having progressed thus far in his preparation 
 
 mltt^ r/r^-P^" '"^'^^"'' '"^-d it se'emed a 
 matter of luck, or good fortune, how that mixture 
 would turn out-he rapped on the floor with tlheS 
 of his boot, like the prince in the fairy tale. summoniTg 
 
A CYNICAL BARD 395 
 
 his attendant good genii, and in a few moments a light 
 tappmg on the door announced the coming of a senri- 
 
 Not a mighty wraith nor spook of Arabian fancy, 
 but a very small girl, or child, with very black hair 
 very wh.te skin and very dark, beautiful eyes. A 
 
 ZA^vltl' °! '""'!'' '^""'y- y** ^''^ ^" d^i^y hands 
 sylphs "^'"^ descended from sprites or 
 
 ''Monsieur called," she said in her pretty dialect. 
 Ves, my dear. Go to Monsieur Tortier's, Celes- 
 tma, and tell him to give you a bottle ot the kind ■ 
 Monsieur Straws always takes." 
 
 "At once. Monsieur," she answered, very gravelv 
 very seriously. And Celestina vanished like a butter- 
 fly that flutters quickly away ' 
 
 sniffin7,f !lT'- ^ ^'^ "^*" ^"•" *''°"S*'t Straws, 
 snrffing at the frying-pan which had begun to sput- 
 ter bravely over the coals, while the coffee pot ^ve 
 forth a fragrant steam. "A good bottle of ^e will 
 
 IfLs"™ " ""*" " ~"^*'°"' *""" P°*-'"*=^ '"*° 
 
 As thus he meditated the first of night's outriders, 
 ts fast-commg shadows, stole through the window 
 fonowmg these swift van-couriers, night's chariot 
 canie galloping across the heavens; in the sky several 
 Me clouds melted like Cleopatra's pearls. Musing 
 
 mo^, V^' "T '"'' "°' "^^^""""^ thoughts no 
 
 mortal ever dreamed before, but turning the bacon 
 and apples and stirring in a few herbs, for no other 
 
asKS 
 
 THE STROLLERS 
 
 oriL^'^' ■^^' ^°""'"' T<^'«' i»t"<«« to .ur- 
 pnie me with an unusually fine bottle. Yes- that i. 
 
 S^ l„r^ ^""^ ^r""'"*^ » "«" <"" "f the 
 r«D^ L.'^r '• ^''"'"» "°*'" •» the child 
 reappeared with footsteps so noiseless the poet saw 
 
 «i7S^Z,r!:>'''"^ '-"''• "^-'- 
 
 thJ^'pSS""""""''' "^' "-"'-o bigger 
 
 *;Please, I'm so sorry I" spoke up Celestina a su. 
 
 ptaous moisture in her eyes «""na, a suj- 
 
 hJf^\^' ""y '•*»'•" '«"««» Straws. "Your 
 heart is as big as his whole body. One of your twr. 
 « more pnedous than his most priceless nj^' """ 
 
 J-^uTd::^':''' ^"^ '-' ''^''' "-•-^•" 
 
 "There I there I" said Straws, wiping her eyes "Of 
 
 It s ternble. but you know the proverb: 'Every cloud 
 has a silver lining.' Perhaps this one has ^J S 
 it had; or a golden one! Think of . cloud of ^d' 
 
f 
 
 A CYNICAL BARD ^ 
 
 Jo'll.'r/t?"^""'''"'* *' ^ "'•'' ^' ""^^^ y°" 
 
 Jiy'*..^-i°r^°"'''"'" '^°"'«''» «''<J-and get the 
 bottle. "said the child in an agony of distress. 
 
 He lifted her on his knee, soothed her and held 
 her m his arms, stroking her dark hair 
 
 "I believe you would," he «,id. "And now, as we 
 haven t got the golden cloud, let us see how we Z 
 get on w.thout >t. How shall we conquer that ogre 
 Monsieur Tort.er? What would you suggest. Cek,.' 
 
 ?l"'"i'°°''*''J"i° *'" ^"'' *'*'' «y" wide-open. 
 
 tell m^*' " ^^ '^ "°*'" "■■«"• S'"*»' "«»«> 
 
 "Why don't you write him a poem?" said Celestina 
 
 A poem I Non-by Jove, you're ri hti An in- 
 spiration, my dear I People like to be Thought what 
 
 hey are not. They want to be praised fof virtue, 
 foreign to themselves. The ass wants to masque^de 
 .^the hon. 'Tis the law of nature. Now Mons^ur 
 1 ^rt-er IS a Jew ; a scrimp ; a usurer I Very well we 
 win celebrate the virtues he hath not in versTand puT! 
 hsh the stanza m the Straws' column. After all we 
 are only following the example of the historians, and 
 hey re an eminently respectable lot of people, aies- 
 SgyrTrr'*'* *•> "«- ^' -^ iCind out the 
 
 The child knelt before the fire, but her glance 
 
ftM.Vi 
 
 k^^^ 
 
 agS 
 
 THE STROLLERS 
 
 strayed from the steaming spout to the poet's face, as 
 he sat on the edge of his bed and rapidly scribbled. 
 By the time the bacon was fairly done and the other 
 condiments in the frying-pan had turned to a dark 
 hue, the production was finished and triumphantly 
 waved in mid air by the now hopeful Straws. 
 
 "I'll just read you a part of it, my dearl" he said. 
 "It's not half bad. But perhaps il would— bore you ?" 
 With exaggerated modesty. 
 
 ' "Oh, I just love your poetry I" cried the girl, enthu- 
 siastically. 
 
 ' "If everybody were only like you now I Isn't it 
 too bad you've got to grow up and grow wiser ? But 
 here's the refrain. There are six stanzas, but I won't 
 trouble you with all of them, my dear. One mustn't 
 drive a willing horse, or a willing auditor." 
 
 And in a voice he endeavored to render melodious, 
 with her rapt glance fixed upon him. Straws reid : 
 
 "Sing, my Muse, the lay of the prodigal hostl 
 
 Who entert here leaveth behind not hope. 
 
 Cour>e follows course; entrfe, relev^ ragoftt. 
 
 Ambrosial sauces, pungent, after luscious soup. 
 The landlord spurs his guestn to fresh attack. 
 
 With fricassee, r4chaufT£ and omelets; 
 A toothsome least that Apicius would fain have 
 served. 
 While wine, divine, new zeal in all begets. 
 Who is this host, my Muse, pray say? 
 Who but that prodigal, Tortierl" 
 
 "There, my dear," concluded Straws, "those feet 
 are pretty wobbly to walk, but flattery moves on lams 
 
^m^ 
 
 A CYNi 
 
 B KRD 
 
 299 
 
 courtesy." counesy-iet me see you make a 
 
 '^T^ fi^Z"^ '^ "^"'"'y «« » «"'e duchess 
 That shou d melt a hMrt «f ^ ^">- ress. 
 
 will appeal in Mr StrW . ^°""''"' T°«'"- 
 
 ^.;;Oh, Monsieur, I can't remember all that!" said the 
 ter 'Sn' m7n~ "''^ '''^" =-^«' '' will be bet- 
 
300 
 
 THE STROLLERS 
 
 conflicting emotions. He experienced in those mo- 
 ments of suspense all the doubts anc" fears of the nest- 
 ling bard or the tadpole litterateur, awaiting the pleas- 
 ure and sentence of the august editor or the puissant 
 publisher. Tortier had been suddenly exalted to the 
 judge's lofty pedestal. Would he forthwith be an im- 
 perial autocrat; turn tyrant or Thersites; or become 
 critic, one of "those graminivorous animals which gain 
 subsistence by gorging upon buds and leaves of the 
 young shrubs of the forest, robbing them of their verd- 
 ure and retarding their progress to maturity"? 
 
 Straws' anxiety was trouble's labor lost. Celes- 
 tina appeared, the glad messenger of success, and now, 
 as she came dancing into the room, bore in her arms 
 the fruits of victory which she laid before the poet 
 with sparkling eyes and laughing lips. 
 
 "So the poem was accepted?" murmured Straws. 
 "Discerning Tortier 1 Excellent dilettante 1 ' Let him 
 henceforth be known as a man of taste!" Here the 
 poet critically examined the bottle. "Nothing, vapid, 
 thin or characterless there 1" he added, holding it be- 
 fore the blaze in the grate. "Positively I'll dedicate 
 my forthco.ning book to him. 'To that worshipful 
 master and patron, the tasteful Tortier 1" What did 
 he say, Celestina, when you tendered him the poem?" 
 "At first he frowned and then he looked thoughtful. 
 And then he gave me some orange syrup. And then 
 — O, I don't want to say!" A look of unutterable 
 concern displacing the happiness on her features. 
 "Say on, my dear!" cried Straws. 
 
'ism. 1 
 
 A CYNICAL BARD 301 
 
 "He— he said he— he didn't think much of it as— O 
 I can't tell you ; I can't 1 1 can't !" 
 
 "Celestina," said the poet sternly, "tell me at once. 
 I command you." 
 
 "He said !.e didn't think much of it as poetry, but 
 that people would read it and come to his caU and— 
 O dear, O dear 1" 
 
 "Beast! Brute 1 Parvenu! But there, don't cry 
 my dear. We have much to be thankful for— we 
 have the bottle." 
 
 "Oh, yes," she said with conviction, and brighten- 
 ing a bit. "We have the bottle." And as she spoke, 
 pop It went, and Celestina laughed. "May I set 
 your table?" she asked. 
 
 "After your inestimable service to me, my dear I 
 find it impossible to refuse," he replied gravely. ' 
 
 "How good you are!" she remarked, placing a 
 rather soiled cloth, which she found somewhere, over 
 a battered tunk. 
 
 "I try not to be, but I can't help it!" answered the 
 poet modestly. 
 
 "No; that's it; you can't help it!" she returned, 
 moving lightly around the room, emptying the con- 
 tents of the frying-pan— now an aromatic jumble- 
 on to a cracked blue platter, and setting knife and 
 fork, and a plate, also blue, before him I "And may 
 I wait on you, too?" 
 
 "Well, as a special favor-" He paused, appear- 
 ing to ponder deeply and darkly. 
 
 Her eyes were bent upon his face with mute appeal. 
 
aoa 
 
 THE STROLLERS 
 
 ^D' 
 
 her suspense so great she stood stock-still in the mid- 
 dle of the floor, frying-pan in hand. 
 
 "Yes ; you may wait on me," he said finally, after 
 perplexed and weighty rumination. 
 
 At that her little feet fairly twinkled, but her hand 
 was ever so careful as she took the coffee pot from 
 the fire and put it near the blue plate. A glass— how 
 well she knew where everything was I— she found in 
 some mysterious corner and, sitting down on the floor, 
 cross-legged like a little Turk, a mere mite almost lost 
 in the semi-obscurity of the room, she polished it as- 
 siduously upon the comer of the table cloth until it 
 shone free from specks of dust; all the time humming 
 very lightly like a bird, or a housewife whose heart is in 
 her work. A strange song, a curious bit of melody 
 that seemed to spring from some dark past and to 
 presage a future, equally sunless. 
 
 "Your supper is ready. Monsieur," she said, rising. 
 
 "And I am ready for it. Why, how nicely the table 
 looks! Really, when we both grow up, I think we 
 should take a silver ship and sail to some silver shore 
 and live together there forever and evermore. How 
 would you like it ?" 
 
 Celestina's lips were mute, but her eyes were full 
 of rapturous response, and then became suddenly 
 shy, as though afraid of their own happiness. 
 
 "May I pour your wine?" she asked, with down- 
 cast lashes. 
 
 "Can you manage it and not spill a drop ? Remem- 
 
-mm-s. 
 
 A CYNICAL BARD 303 
 
 ber Cratinus wept and died of grief seeing his wine- 
 no doubt, this same vintage — spilt I" 
 
 But Straws was not called upon to emulate this 
 classic example. The feat of filling his glass was 
 deftly accomplished, and a moment later the poet 
 raised it with, '"Drink to me only with thine 
 eyes I' " An appropriate sentiment for Celestina who 
 had nothing else to drink to him with. "Won't you 
 have some of this— what shall I call it?— hash, stew 
 or ration ?" 
 "Oh, I've had my supper," she answered. 
 "How fortunate for you, my dear I It isn't exactly 
 a company bill of fare! But everything is what I 
 call snug and cozy. Here we are high up in the 
 world— right under the roof— all by ourselves, with 
 nobody to disturb us — " 
 
 A heavy footfall without ; rap, rap, rap, on the door ; 
 no timid, faltering knock, but a firm application of 
 somebody's knuckles I 
 
 "It's that Jack-in-the-box Frenchman," muttered 
 the writer. "Go to the devil I" he called out. 
 The door opened. 
 
 "You have an original way of receiving visitors!" 
 drawled a languid voice, and the glance of the sur- 
 prised poet fell upon Edward Mauville. "Really, I 
 don't know whether to come in or not," continued the 
 latter at the threshold. 
 
 "I beg your pardon," murmured Straws. "I 
 thought it was a—" 
 
304 
 
 THE STROLLERS 
 
 ^H i 
 
 '^ :• /^^"^ *^ ='*"*• '^"'t apologize! I am 
 uitnidmg Quite a family partyl" ^ Tnt on ^ 
 ^e restmg upon Celestina and the int.^pted Z 
 
 r,,m^u^' ^'^^f * ^"''^' *"''« ^"'"tcoat and fine 
 t^es. he seemed out of place in the attic nook of 
 t'.e Muse; a lordling who had wandered by mistake 
 mtc the wrong room. But he bore himself^™ the 
 ^asy assurance of a man who could adapt htaself 
 to any surroundings; even to Calliope's shabbyTu- 
 
 •<My dear " remarked the disconcerted bard "get 
 a chair for Mr. Mauville. Or-I beg your pardon- 
 would you mind sitting o. ; the bed ? Won't you have 
 some wme? Celestina, bring another glass.'' 
 
 But the girl only stood and stared at the dark 
 comly ^bemg who thus unexpectedly had burst in' 
 
 "There isn't any more," she finally managed to say 
 
 You've got the only glass there is, please !" ^ 
 
 Dear me; dear me I" exclaimed Straws. "How 
 
 glasses do get broken I I have so few occasions to use 
 
 them, too, for I don't very often have visitors." 
 
 You are surprised to see me?" continued Mauville 
 pleasantly seating himself on the edge of the bed' 
 Go on with your supper. You don't mind my sniok- 
 mg while you eat ?" 
 
 "No; the odor of onions is a little strong, isn't it?" 
 laughed the other. "Rather strange, by the by, some 
 
 U. 
 
f 
 
 ' 
 
A CYNICAL BARD 305 
 
 of nature's best restora. ves should be rank ,„H 
 "o.some. while her poisons, bke the U^s^rt are 
 often sweet-smelling and agreeable?" ^ ' "" 
 ^es commentel the land baron; "we mak^ th, 
 worst faces over the medicines that do7s Tn!^ 
 
 "I presume," said Straws, delighted at the prosoect 
 ttre tail all, „„ ,„„^ „ «« to Zr. 
 
 "Heaven forbid I" remarked Mauville "But hn«. 
 are you getting on with your column A surLS 
 news and gossip, I presume? What a busv fnl 
 ZrXTrl .^"''^"^ esca;?th^rgh'ypuT 
 t^^up^tftlirriifL^y'^-"-- ^-^- 
 . The bard shook his h»ad. 
 
 "Bu^tir? 'T '^" '""""^ '" *y" ''«= ^'id gloomily 
 cath I I^d ff T' :"" ^"^ «'"'• Sometimes you 
 
 t JtS;. '^ ""'^ '^ -^^^^ ^- y°<' -ed the pa- 
 
 "And bring up what?" asked the hack 
 Something everybody will read; that will set the 
 gossips talking." " ""* 
 
 "A woman's reputation ?" 
 
 "No; a man's." - TH£ PROPER! 
 
 SCARBORO 
 UBLIC LIBRARY 
 
1 
 
 3o6 
 
 THE STROLLERS 
 
 lil 
 
 That is to be rtgretted," said Straws. "If now 
 It were only a womanW. However, it's the next 
 best thing to start the town a-gossiping. I am much 
 obliged to you for taking the trouble of calling All 
 those stairs to climb, too 1" 
 
 "I was sure you would be glad to hear of it," re- 
 marked the patroon, slowly, studying with his bright, 
 msolent glance, the pale, mtellectual face of the scrib- 
 Dler. 
 
 "Yes; there's only one thing stands in the way " 
 And that?" 
 "I never publish anything I don't believe. Don't 
 misunderstand me, please." Pouring out a glass of 
 wine. 'Unfortunately I am so incredulous! Isn't 
 It a pity? I am suci. a carping cynic; a regular skep- 
 tic that follows the old adage, 'Believe that story 
 false that ought not to be true.' It's such a detriment 
 to my work, too! A pretty scandal at the top of my 
 rolumn would make me famous, while a sprinkling 
 of libels and lampoons would enable me to mo : down 
 a story or two. But, after all, I'd feel lost in the 
 luxury of a first floor front chamber. So, you see 
 nature adjusts herself to our needs." 
 
 "Makes the shell to fit the snail, as it were," com- 
 mented the land baron, patronizingly, gazing around 
 the httle cupboard of a room. "At any rate," he 
 added, in an eflfort to hide his dissatisfaction, "it's a 
 pleasure to become better acquainted with such a- 
 what shall I say ?— whimsical fellow as yourself?" 
 
A CYNICAL BARD 
 
 307 
 
 That s It," returned the bard. "Whimsical I" 
 
 f„™ u '"^ ^°" ^"^ ^""^ ""^y a chance to 
 turn an honest penny or two. if you had not been 
 
 !L-fi'^ ?• 'f./°" «*" "•" ''^"'"''^d the patroon, 
 s^g^ficantly "People, I presume, have even offered 
 to pay you for publishing the compliments of the sea- 
 son about their neighbors ?" 
 
 ., "^fyi answered the scribbler. laughing. "I may 
 »:: "I""? ;'°"e^-"^ f- &o>d. but I also'^have ^I 
 ears. And the ears predominate. I am such an ass 
 iuT *^'".'^t"™^d a fair petitioner's perfumed notel 
 
 fmelH^H"'"'^.'''!!'.''^"'" "°^ ^^'d "^e paper 
 smelt I How dev.hsh it read! The world's idea 
 about the devil always smelling of sulphur and brim- 
 stone IS a slander on that much abused person I 
 can positively affirm that he smells of musk, attar 
 myrrh; as though he had lain somewhere with a 
 lady s sachet or scent-bag." 
 
 "Really you should revise Milton." murmured the 
 land baron, carelessly, his interest quite gone. "But 
 I^must be moving on." And he arose. "Good even- 
 
 "Good nightl" said Straws, going to the door after 
 
 fl^'"?'/'^ f"'- "^ y°" ^^« y°«r way down" 
 
 on the bannisters-they're rather shaky. Well he's 
 gone I" Returning once more to the room "WeVe 
 
 ar'"f,7 '"•''" T^'^' ""y '^'^'' -hen such fashion- 
 able callers visit us I What do you think of him ?" 
 

 3o8 THE STROLLERS 
 
 "He is very— handsome I" replied the child. 
 "Oh, the vanity of the sex I Is he— is he hand- 
 somer than I ?" 
 "Are you— handsome?" she asked. 
 "Eh ? Don't you think so ?" 
 "No-o," she cried, in a passion of distressed truth- 
 fulness. 
 
 "Thank you, my dear I What a flattering creature 
 you'll become, if you keep on as you've begun I How 
 you'll wheedle the men, to be sure I'' 
 "But mustn't I say what I think ?" 
 "Always ! I'm a bad adviser ! Think of bringing 
 up a young person, especially a girl, to speak the 
 truth ! What a tim» she'll have I" 
 
 "But I couldn't do anything else I" she continued, 
 with absorbing and painful anxiety. 
 
 "Don't, then ! I'm instructing you to your destruc- 
 tion, but— don't I I'm a philosopher in the School for 
 Making Simpletons. What will you do when you 
 go out into the broad world with truth for your ban- 
 ner and your heart on your sleeve ?" 
 
 "How could I have my heart on my sleeve?" asked 
 Celestina. 
 "Because you couldn't help it I" 
 "Really and truly on my sleeve?" 
 "Really and truly I" he affirmed, gravely. 
 "How funny I" answered the girl. 
 "No; tragic I But what shall we do now. Celes- 
 tina?" 
 
 "Wash the dishes," said the child, practically. 
 
A CYNICAL BARD 
 
 309 
 
 But, my dear, we won't need them until to-mor- 
 row expostulated the poet. "Precipitancy is a bad 
 fault. Now, if you had proposed a little music, or a 
 fairy tale — " 
 
 "Oh, I could wash them while you played, or told 
 me a story," suggested the child, eagerly. 
 
 "That isn't such a bad idea," commented Straws 
 reflectively. 
 
 "Then you will let me?" she asked. 
 
 "Go ahead 1" said the bard, and he reached for the 
 whistle. 
 
 y . 4lS^" M 
 
CHAPTER VIII 
 
 THE SWEETEST THING IN NATURE 
 
 The city, bustling and animated by day, like an en- 
 ergetic housewife, was at night a gay demoiselle, 
 awakening to new life and excitement. The clerk 
 betook himself to his bowling or billiards and the me- 
 chanic to the circus, while beauty and fashion repaired 
 to the concert room or to the Opera Fran^ais, to listen 
 to Halevy or Donizetti. Restless Americans or Irish- 
 men rubbed elbows with the hurrying Frenchman or 
 Spaniard, and the dignified Creole gentleman of lei- 
 sure alone was wrapped in a plenitude of dignity, 
 computing probably the interest he drew on money 
 loaned these assiduous foreigners. 
 
 Soldiers who had been granted leave of absence or 
 had slipped the guard at the camp on Andrew Jack- 
 son's battle-grounc". swaggered through the streets. 
 The change from a diet of pork and beans and army 
 hard tack was so marked that Uncle Sam's young 
 men threw restraint to the winds, took the mask balls 
 by storm and gallantly assailed and made willing 
 prisoners of the fair sex. Eager to exchange their 
 
THE SWEETEST THING 311 
 
 irksome life in camp for the active campaign in Mex- 
 ico, It was small wonder they relieved their impatience 
 by many a valiant dash into the hospitable town. 
 
 Carriages drove by with a rumble and a clatter, re- 
 vealmg a fleeting glimpse of some beauty with full 
 dark eye. Venders of flowers importuned the pass- 
 ers-by, domg a brisk business; the oyster and coflfee 
 stands reminded the spectator of a thoroughfare in 
 London on a Saturday night, with the people congre- 
 gatmg about the street stalls; but the brilliantly illu- 
 mmed places of amusement, with their careless pa- 
 trons plamly apparent to all from without, resembled 
 rather a boulevard scene in the metropolis of France 
 Probably," says a skeptical chronicler, "here and 
 there are quiet drawing-rooms, and tranquil firesides, 
 where domestic love is a chaste, presiding goddess." 
 aut the writer merely presumes such might have been 
 the case, and it is evident from his manner of expres- 
 sion he offers the suggestion, or after-thought, char- 
 itably, with some doubts in his mind. Certainly he 
 never personally encountered the chaste goddess of 
 the hearth, or he would have qualified his words and 
 made his statement more positive. 
 
 From the life of the streets, the land baron turned 
 into a well-lighted entrance, passing into a large, lux- 
 uriously furnished saloon, at one end of which stood 
 a table somewhat resembling a roulette board. Seated 
 on one side was the phlegmatic cashier, and, opposite 
 him, the dealer, equally impassive. Unlike faro— 
 the popular New Orleans game-no deal box waa 
 
313 
 
 THE STROLLERS 
 
 needed, the dealer holding the cards in his hand, while 
 a cavity in the center of the table contained a basket, 
 where the cards, once used, were thrown. A large 
 chandelier cast a brilliant light upon the scene. 
 
 "Messieurs, faites vos jeux," drawled the monoto- 
 nous voice of the dealer, and expectation was keenly 
 written on the faces of the double circle of players— 
 variously disclosed, but, nevertheless, apparent in all ; 
 a transformation of the natural expression of the feat- 
 ures; an obvious nervousness of manner, or where 
 the countenance was impassive, controlled by a strong 
 will, it peculiar glitter of the eyes, betokening the most 
 msatiable species of the gambler. As the dealer be- 
 gan to shuffle together six packs of cards and place 
 them in a row on the table, he called out: 
 "Nothing more goes, gentlemen 1" 
 The rapidity with which the cashier counted the 
 winnings at a distance and shoved them here and there 
 with the long rake was amazing and bewildering to 
 the novice risking a few gold pieces for the first time 
 on the altar of chance. Sorting the gold pieces in 
 even bunches, the cashier estimated them in a moment ; 
 shoved them together; counted an equal amount of 
 fives with his fingers; made a little twirl in the pile 
 on the table; pushed it toward the winning pieces 
 and left them tumbled up together in pleasing con- 
 fusion. 
 "Messieurs, faites vos—" 
 
 And the clinking went on, growing louder and 
 louder, the clinking of gold, which has a particularly 
 
I 
 
 THE SWEEi'EST THING 313 
 
 musicM sound, penetrating, crystalline as the golden 
 bells of Exodus, tinkling in the twilight of the temple 
 on the pnest's raiment. The clinking, clinking, that 
 Imgers m the brain long after, drawing the players 
 to It night after night; an intoxicating murmur 
 singing the desires that dominate the world; the iine- 
 Img that makes all men kin I 
 
 "Oh, dear!" said a light feminine voice, as the 
 rapacious rake unceremoniously drew in a poor di- 
 minutive pile of gold. "Why did I play? iJt it 
 provoking?" 
 
 "You have my sympathy. Mistress Susan," breathed 
 a voice near her. 
 
 Looking around, she had the grace to blush becom- 
 ingly, and approached Mauville with an expressive 
 gesture, leaving Adonis and Kate at the table. 
 
 "Don't be shocked, Mr. Mauville," she began hur- 
 riedly. "We were told it was among the sights, and, 
 having natural curiosity—" 
 
 "I understand. Armed with righteousness, why 
 SJiouid not one go anywhere?" 
 "Why, indeed?" she murmured. 
 •'But I'm afraid I'm taking you from your play ?" 
 I m not going to play any more to-night." 
 "Tired, already?" 
 
 f.hSV *'"';!''!!' ^ ''^^'"'* ^ •=""*• That miserable 
 table has robbed me of everything. All I have left" 
 — piteously— "are the clotl.es on my back." 
 
 •.vir*"'p ! T"^ '"'^' '^ *^ "«"«* ^'th your 
 system. But if a temporary loan—" 
 
314 
 
 THE STROLLERS 
 
 Susan was tempted, gazing longingly at the table, 
 with the fever burning in her. 
 
 "No," she said, finally. "I think I would win, but, 
 of course, I might lose." 
 
 "A wise reservation ! Never place your fortune on 
 the hazard of the die." 
 
 "But I have I What's the use of making good res- 
 olutions now? It's like closing the barn-door after 
 
 "Just sol" he agreed. "But it might have been 
 worse. 
 
 "How?" In dismay. "Didn't that stony-looking 
 man rake in my last gold piece? He didn't even 
 look sorry, either. But what is the matter with your 
 arm? ' The land baron's expression became ominous. 
 You shook hands with your left hand. Oh I see • 
 theduell" Lightly. • ' 
 
 "How did you hear about it?" asked Mauville, irri- 
 tably. 
 
 "Oh, in a roundabout way. Murder will outl 
 And Constance— she was so solicitous alraut Mr 
 Samt-Prosper, but rather proud, I believe, because 
 he" —with a laugh— "came off victorious." 
 
 Susan's prattle, although accompanied by inojcent 
 glances from her blue eyes, was sometimes the most 
 irritating thing in the world, and the land baron 
 goaded beyond endurance, now threw off his careless 
 manner and swore in an undertone by "every devil in 
 Satan's calendar." 
 
THE SWEETEST THING 3,5 
 
 m^^^oCrZ'^'^""" '°"'' =°'"'^"y ""'■■' yo" leave 
 "I ™ .^ . '^"' '^"'"y- "Otherwise-" 
 i- regret to have shocked your ladvshin " t,. 
 mured, satirically ^ 'adyship, he mur- 
 
 Susan's hand trembleH "wru^^ j 
 -^ed. not .thout^prS.- -,S-; 
 
 w^;stn;edS^ -*,tnf — - - 
 
 she'tithTrTreiS"""' ''' '^ ^'^ ~t «<! 
 
 cve^lreled f ''''Tf "■=•""<" to blame. I 
 pe;;[el" '' '' ''°"'' ^ ^^ ^-' Why should 
 "Why?" he interposed, ironically. 
 
 prevent hem from amusing themselves as they wm" 
 It£, ",!''" '°y- t°-'"°"°w, another. ItTen«L" 
 --bjtterly_"a woman comes to consider hersdf S5y 
 
 weUl" hr^'"*°'! 'T"^'"^ ^"^ =""°«»'y- "Well 
 Weill he ejaculated, finally. "Losin? at rZ 
 
 doesn't agree with your temper." ^ '"''' 
 
3i6 
 
 THE STROLLERS 
 
 "Nor being worsted by Saint-Prosper with yours I" 
 she retorted quickly. 
 
 MauviUe looked virulent, but Susan, feeling that 
 she had retaliated in ample measure, recovered her 
 usual equanimity of temper and placed a conciliatory 
 hand sympathetically on his arm. 
 
 "We have both had a good deal to try us, haven't 
 we? But how stupid men are!" she added suddenly 
 As If you could not find other consolation I" 
 He directed toward her an inquiring glance. 
 "Some time ago, while I was acting in London " re- 
 sumed, Susan, thoughtfully, "the leading lady refused 
 to receive the attentions of a certain odious English 
 lord. She was to make her appearance in a piece 
 upon which her reputation was staked. Mark what 
 happened! She was hissed 1 Hissed from the stage ! 
 My lord led this hostile demonstration and all his 
 hired claqueurs joined in. She was ruined; ruined!" 
 concluded Susan, smiling amiably. 
 
 "You are ingenious, Mistress Susan— not to say a 
 trifle diabolical. Your plan—" 
 
 She opened her eyes widely. "I have suggested no 
 plan, she interrupted, hurriedly. 
 
 "Well, let us sit down and I will tell yon about a 
 
 French officer wh(^ But here is a quiet comer. 
 
 Mistress Susan, and if you will promise not to repeat 
 
 It, I will regale you with a bit of interesting gossip." 
 
 I promise— they always do!" she laughed. 
 
 For such a frivolous lady, Susan was an excellent 
 
THE SWEETEST THING 3,7 
 
 listener. She, who on occasions chattered like a map. 
 P e was now silent as a mouse, drinking i„ the^^. 
 ers words w,th parted hps and sparkling^s pTrst 
 
 but not ^i^emSbinSw'rtLT.'"'"'' '"^^"^' 
 writing. ' ^^^^^ °wn hand- 
 
 copj S"2?' "IT '^'^ ""'""■'''" '^^n the duke, "a 
 copy of the secret report of the military tribunal an 
 
 tTcour.L M , '"^P""' '^'^ ''^^ the finding of 
 
 "SaSSof '''"'^,'T °"« °f g"i'ty of treasi. 
 tomh nT '^"L ""** Abd-el-Kader met near the 
 tomb of a marabout. From him the French officer 
 
 zaooot—the first fee of their compact. That ni«.ht 
 when the town lay sleeping, a turLed host aS 
 
 Se I'eT'S" T *'""^'' '"'^ flowering Lt^s 
 w hml The soldiers, surprised, could render little re- 
 s^tance; the ruthless invaders cut them dow^ wh e 
 
 who h^^ h the treacherous onslaught; blood of men 
 who had been h,s fastest friends, among whom he had 
 been so popular for his dauntless cou^ge and dev«- 
 
3i8 
 
 THE STROLLERS 
 
 may-care tementy I But a period, fearfully brief, and 
 the beloved tri-color was trampled in the dust ; the bar- 
 barian flag of the Emir floated in its place. 
 
 "All these particulars, and the part Saint-Prosper 
 played m the terrible drama, Abd-el-Kader, who is 
 now our prisoner has himself confessed. The ne- 
 cessity for secrecy, you, my dear Marquis, will appre- 
 ciate. The publicity of the afl'air now would work 
 incalculable mjury to the nation. It is imperative to 
 preserve the army from the taint of scandal. The na- 
 tion hangs on a thread. God knows there is iniquity 
 abroad, I, who have labored for the honor of France 
 and planted her flag in distant lands, look for defeat 
 not through want of bravery, but from internal causes' 
 A matter like this might lead to a popular uprising 
 against the army. Therefore, the king wills it shall 
 be buried by his faithful servants." 
 
 As Mauville proceeded Susan remained motionless, 
 her eyes growing larger and larger, until they shone 
 hke two lovely sapphires, but when he concluded she 
 gave a little sigh of pleasure and leaned back with a 
 pleased smile. 
 
 "Well?" he said, finally, after waiting some mo- 
 ments for her to speak. 
 
 "How piquantly wicked he isl" she exclaimed, 
 softly. ' 
 
 ^^"Piquamly, indeed!" repeated the land baron, 
 
 "And he carries it without a twinge! What a pet- 
 rified conscience 1" 
 
THE SWEETEST THING 3,, 
 
 litp a ,„ • ^ ■ ""'" * wan more attractivi! 
 
 seriousness, "tWe wt sotir ""''^' ^•"' '"«'''"' 
 When I first saw him r """""^ ^°"^ ^'th him. 
 naiT past but TrtT ! 7' '"' •><= ^<^ had no ordi- 
 
 '•Unsavoo.?" suggested her companion. 
 Afr2 • ~^ Ss^^ ««"- to ta,. about 
 know. like to te^uil Sut thWr ' ''' " "'''=' y°" 
 But the tented field 4^ a tb ^7^'"'"^ "'^P""''^- 
 And once when J ,TA ^^ *°P'<= *i'h him. 
 
 almost rudeTyrvasiv"''^' '"" ^'"''* ^^-» »■«= -- 
 
 indicted for treason .,„i •?. ** "° 1*"°" « to be 
 offense. The Wtonal diH "?" *''^ ^^^^^ *««-• *« 
 the three yea^; ht/ ^tt^xpirS^^DM i"^^^^^^ 
 A^eri<.tomakesureif theTthrt^i'^ -me to 
 of th^e'i";."^ *''°"^'''^ '^^'^ ^'"^'^ ''.another feature 
 
 with^^e ctrWha^, ToTd ^ ''T "^ ^ '^<» 
 
 was. Hevowedr;rd::ji;TiTirr.^^ 
 
330 
 
 THE STROLLERS 
 
 •il . |tf 
 
 "So^wT/l"^'" *"'" *• y°"°f ^"^n. playfully. 
 So that ,s the reason the dear old molly-c^dJe did 
 
 Is t not sf T"'^'' ^' ^"Pl"" "« P'o™»«l? 
 Is It not strange Samt-Prosper has not met him?" 
 
 You forget the marquis has been confined to his 
 room smce h.s brief, but disastrous, courtship of you 
 His mfatuafon seems to have brought him to the 
 verge of dissolution." "^' to we 
 
 "B Jri "°' "^"""^ '^^ P"''^" *•«= «^°"«1. rising. 
 
 be off, too. So glad to have met you I" 
 'You are no longer angry with me'" 
 
 "Need you ask?" Pressing her hand. "Good ev- 
 ening. Mistress Susan 1" ^^ 
 "Good evening^ Oh, by the way, I have an ap- 
 poimment w.th Constance to rehearse a little sce^ 
 
 tSetter? """^"^- "^""'^ ^°" '"'"'' '°^'°^ "^ 
 "With pleasure; but remember your promise." 
 Promise?" repeated the young woman 
 "Not to tell." 
 
 "Oh, of course," said Susan. 
 "But if you shouldn't—" 
 "Then?" 
 "Then you might say the marquis, your friend and 
 
THE SWEETEST THING 321 
 
 admirer, gave you the letter. It would, perhaps, be 
 easier for you to account for it than for me." 
 
 "But if the marquis should learn—" began the 
 other, half-dubiously. 
 "He is too ill for anything except the grave." 
 "Oh, the poor old dear I" 
 
 She looked at the gaming table with its indefatigable 
 players and then turned to Kate and Adonis who ap- 
 proached at that moment. "How did you come out, 
 Adonis ?" 
 "Out," he said, curtly. 
 •Xucky in love, unlucky at"— began Kate. 
 "Then you must be very unlucky in love," he re- 
 torted, "for you were a good winner at cards." 
 
 "Oh, there are exceptions to that rule," said Kate 
 
 lazily, with a yawn. "I'm lucky at both— in New 
 
 Orleans!" 
 
 "I have perceived it," retorted Adonis, bitterly. 
 
 "Don't quarrel," Susan implored. Regardmg the 
 
 table once more, she sighed : "I'm so sorry I came I" 
 
 But her feet fairly danced as she flew towards the 
 
 St. Charles. She entered, airy as a saucy craft, with 
 
 "all sails in full chase, ribbons and gauzes streaming 
 
 at the top," and, with a frou-frou of skirts, burst into 
 
 Constance's room, brimful of news and importance. 
 
 She remained there for some time, and when she left, 
 
 it was noteworthy her spirits were still high. In 
 
 crossing the hall, her red stockings' became a fitting 
 
 color accompaniment to her sprightly step, as she 
 
333 
 
 THE STROLLERS 
 
 njoved over the heavy camet .n.*. • j 
 I'd buy tor ' *' **" '"^'y « l-^droon, 
 
CHAPTER IX 
 
 A DEBUT IN THE CRESCENT aTY 
 
 A versatile dramatic poet is grim Destiny, malting 
 with equal facility tragedy, farce, burletta, masque or 
 mystery. The world is his inn, and, lilce the wander- 
 mg master of interludes, he sets up his stage in the 
 courtyard, beneath the windows of mortals, takes out 
 his figures and evolves charming comedies, stirring 
 melodramas, spirited harlequinades and moving di- 
 vertissement. But it is in tragedy his constructive 
 ability is especially apparent, and his characters, trip- 
 ping along unsuspectingly in the sunny byways, are 
 suddenly confronted by the terrifying mask and real- 
 ize life is not all pleasant pastime and that the Greek 
 philosophy of retribution is nature's law, preserving 
 the unities. When the time comes, the Master of 
 events, adjusting them in prescribed lines, reaches by 
 stem obligation the avoidless conclusion. 
 
 Consulting no law but his own will, the Marquis 
 
 de Ligne had lived as though he were the autocrat of 
 
 fate itself instead of one of its servants, and therefore 
 
 was surprised when the venerable playwright pre- 
 
 (333) 
 
324 
 
 THE STROLLERS 
 
 M^enTr'^'^ denouement. I„ pu„„ance of 
 
 »^, ^!!^ ''°"''"*''^ *° his room, but now he 
 
 "F-r^ ™"V ""^''' *°"^''' diversion. ' 
 
 to-nS^r "' '' "''' """='' '" *^^<= "* *e theater 
 
 ^omic opera, my lord?" 
 
 The marquis made a wimace "Cr^:. 
 side of Paris I" h,. ^Li- I . ."" °P*" °"t- 
 .houlders ^ '^'^"^'^- *'* » ^hrug of the 
 
 ChaSesT '*""" ""'"^ ''«• ''^'"'* «' the St. 
 
 "Yes, my lord." 
 
 "And, by the way, Francois, did you see anything 
 of a large envelope, a buff-colored envelop iZj^ 
 1 left in my secretary?" i^. * muugnt 
 
9 
 
 IN THE CRESCENT CITY 325 
 
 and had the marquis' eyesight been better, he could 
 not have failed to detect the other's agitation. But 
 the valet assumed a bold front; as he asked: 
 "Why should I have stolen it ?" '"" 
 
 "True, why?" grumbled the marquis. "It would 
 be of no service to you. No; you didn't take it. I 
 beheve you honest— in this case t" 
 "Thank you, my lord I" 
 
 "After all, what does it matter?" muttered the no- 
 bleman to himself. "What's in a ?ood name to-day 
 —with traitors v'thin and traitors without? 'Tis 
 loves labor lost . have protected it! We've fos- 
 
 1^i-\T^^^^ ""* °^ '""■'""• The scorpions will 
 be faithful to nothing but their own ends. They'll 
 fight for any master." 
 
 Recalled to his purpose of attending the play by 
 Fransois bringing from the wardrobe sundry articles 
 ofMtirt, the marquis underwent an elaborate toilet 
 recovering his good humor as this complicated opera- 
 tion proceeded. Indeed, by the time it had reached a 
 . triumphant end and the valet had set the marquis before 
 a -mirror, the latter had forgotten his dissatisfaction 
 ^ at the government in his pleasure with himself. 
 ^, "Too much excitement is dangerous, is it ?" he mum- 
 ^ bled. I am afraid there will be none at all. A stage- 
 1 *ruck young woman; a doll-like face, probably a 
 milk-and-water performance! Now, in the old days 
 actors were artists. Yes, artists I" he repeated, as 
 It ne had struck a chord that vibrated in his memory 
 
326 
 
 THE STROLLERS 
 
 Arnving at the theater, he was surprised at % 
 
 rC. ^l *'~'°»i *« '«« °f «rriages; the crowd ^*-^ 
 about the 4^s and in the entrance halll Evidently ifc 
 the cty eagerly sought novelty, and Barnes' company ^i^ 
 offenng new diversion after many weeks of ot«ra 
 Jr f /^^P^^P""'"" °f pleasure-seekers to the^r- 
 tals of the drama. The noise of rattling wheels and 
 the bangmg of carriage doors; the aspect of many 
 f«r ladies, irreproachably gowned; the confusion of 
 voices from venders hovering near the' gallery en- 
 trance—imparted a cosmopolitan atmosphere to the 
 surroundings. *^ 
 
 "You'd think some well-known player was goine to 
 appear, _F«n5oisl" grumbled the marquis^^h" 
 liT '"^''f'^ °"' °f his carriage. "Looks like a 
 
 ArkyPeg^r"'"''^"'**''""^-"'^^''' 
 . .I!** r^hj'^'^ °^ *« nobleman drew up before the 
 bnlhaatly-lighted entrance. Mincingly, the ^rgSs 
 d^momited, assisted by the valet; witWn Je Z'Z 
 
 SweJfLtf ?' •'"'"'r* *' =•'" °^ <" Chesterfield, 
 bowed the people m and out. 
 
 "Your ticket, sir!" said this courteous individual 
 scrapmg unusually low. ""muai,^ 
 
 The marquis M^ved his hand towar* His man, and 
 Franqois produced the bits of pasteboard. Escor»«d 
 to his 1x)<, the nobleman settled himself in an easy 
 chair, after which he stared impudently and inquisi- 
 tively around him. ^ 
 
 And what a heterogeneous assemblage it was; of 
 
mlm 
 
 IN THE CRESCENT CITY 327 
 
 ^!1ZT nat;o„=.lities made up; gay bachelors, rep- 
 resentatives of the western trade and eastern :;anu- 
 facturers; a fa.r sprinkling of the milff% element, 
 seekmg amusement before departing for thefront, their 
 brass buttons and striking new uniforms a grim re 
 
 States and Mexico; cotton brokers, banking agents 
 
 X' >^Tr """ ""^ '^'"'' -"« evidemyS„: 
 ghsh with the.r rosy complexions, and others French by 
 
 „!'U""f "°="'' ^"' '^'"""^ *^ women, dash- 
 tnl^" ., """ ^'"^'°^- P^"""* '^"ti« from Louis- 
 ville, milliner-martyred" daughters of interior plan- 
 
 W . r J'fu ""." "'°'^ '"'"'°"^' '" black giwns 
 that set off their white shoulders I 
 
 In th-s stately asser blage-^o particularize for a 
 ITp! "'^''.r'*'' *''" (erstwhilel) saintly Mad- 
 Tan S' '''''/ru "" '" "^""^^ '""•°"^h ^hite 
 as an angel, and by her side, her carpet knight, an 
 
 extravagant preposterous fop. A few seats fe on" 
 b tin'; r^f ' ')' 'r'y •■'•^^""^' ««'«= Fantoccini a 
 ton2 T 1; I;*"" "^'■^^^'''' *•*" •'«=' P'tiless 
 theTn,,- f xl'^* ^"' ^ shaggy-looking gentleman, 
 the Addison of New Orieans' letters, a most toleran 
 critic, who never spoke to a woman if he could avoid 
 doing so, but who. from his philosophical stool, viewed 
 the sex with a conviction it could do no wrong; a 
 judgment m perspective, as it were I 
 
 ^J^flT*""'. "*''* ""'* ''"°"'°" *° the men; it 
 was the femmme portion of the audience that inter- 
 ested him, and he regarded it with a gloating leer, th". 
 
328 
 
 THE STROLLERS 
 
 I 
 
 expression of a senile satyr. Albeit a little on the 
 seamy s.de of life, his rank and wealth were such 
 that he faKself attracted a good deal of attention, 
 matronly eyes being turned in his direction with not 
 unkindly purport. The marquis perceived the stir 
 his presence occasioned and was not at all displeased - 
 on the contrary, his manner denoted gratification, smil- 
 ing and smirking from bud to blossom and from blos- 
 som to bud I 
 
 How fascinating it w,i= to revel in the sight of so 
 much youth and beauty from the brink of the grave 
 where<ta he stood ; how young it made him feel again I 
 He rubbed his withered hands together in childish 
 delight, while he contemplated the lively charms of 
 I-antoccini or devoted himself to the no less divert- 
 mg scrutiny of certain other dark-haired ladies 
 
 While occupied in this agreeable pastime the noble- 
 man became dimly conscious the debutante had ap- 
 peared and was greeted with the moderate applause 
 of an audience that is reserving its opinion. "Gad " 
 said one of the dandies who was keenly observing the 
 nobleman, "it's fashionable to look at the people and 
 not at the actors 1" And he straightway stared at 
 Hie boxes, assuming a lackadaisical, languishing air. 
 Having taken note of his surroundings to his satisfac- 
 tion, the marquis at length condescended to turn his 
 eye-glass deliberately and quizzically to the stage 
 ffis sight was not the best, and he gazed for some tinui 
 brfore discerning a graceful figure and a pure, oval 
 ■ee, with dark hair and eyes. 
 
 
% 
 
 IN THE CRESCENT CITY 329 
 
 "Humph not a bad stage presence 1" he thought. 
 . Probably plenty of beauty, with a paucity of talent I 
 That s the way nowadays. The voice-why, where 
 have I heard a before? A beautiful voice I What 
 melody, what power, what richness I And the face-" 
 Here he wiped the moisture from his glasses-"if 
 the face .s equal to the voice, she has an unusual com- 
 bination in an artist." 
 
 ..^^'" ^' '^^^^^ ^^^ ^'**^- Suddenly his attenu- 
 ated frame straightened, his hand shook violently and 
 the glasses fell from his nerveless fingers. 
 
 "Impossible!" he murmured. But the melody of 
 those tones continued to fall upon his ears like a voice 
 irom the past. 
 
 When the curtain went down on the first act there 
 was a storm of applause. In New Orleans nothing 
 was done jy halves, and Constance, as Adrienne Le- 
 couvreur, radiant in youth and the knowledge of suc- 
 cess, was called out several times. The Creoles made 
 a vigorous demonstration; the Americans were as 
 pleased in their less impulsive way; and in the loges 
 a 1 the lattices were pushed up, "a compliment to any 
 player, said Straws. To the marquis, the ladies 
 m the loges were only reminiscent of the fashionable 
 dames with bare shoulders and glittering jewels, in 
 
 Wh'l K T °^ °'1 ^'■"'y ^*' '^'^■"^ fr°™ their 
 high tribunals to applaud the Adrieraie of twenty years 
 
 He did not sit in a theater in New Orleans now, but 
 m London town, with a woman by his side who beat 
 
330 
 
 THE STROLLERS 
 
 beneath' the storm of words she knew were directed 
 at her. As in a dream he lingered, plunged in 
 thought, with no longer the cynical, carping expres- 
 sion on his face as he looked at the stage, but awed 
 and wonder-sticken, transported to another scene 
 through the lapse of years that folded their shadowy 
 wings and made the past to-day. Two vivid pictures 
 floated before him as though they belonged to the 
 present : Adrienne, bright, smiling and happy, as she 
 rushed into the green room, with the plaudits of the 
 muhitude heard outside; Adrienne, in her last mo- 
 ments,' betrayed to death I 
 
 They were applauding now, or was it but the mock- 
 ing echo of the past? The curtain had descended, 
 but went up again, and the actress stood with flowers 
 showered around her. Save that she was in the spring- 
 tune of life, while the other had entered summer's 
 season; that her art was tender and romantic, rather 
 than overwhelming and tragic, she .was the counter- 
 part of the actress he had deserted in London; a 
 faithful prototype, bearing the mother's eyes, brow and 
 features; a moving, living picture of the dead, as 
 though the grave had rolled back its stone and she 
 had stepped forth, young once more, trusting and in- 
 nocent. 
 
 The musical bell rang in the wine room, where the 
 worshipers of Bacchus were assembled, the signal 
 that the drop would rise again in five minutes. At 
 the bar the imbibers were passing judgment. 
 
 *# 
 
IN THE CRESCENT CITY 331 
 
 thitr^'r"^ -^""'^ ''°"' '^^^ What do you 
 thmk ? Turning to the local Addison 
 
 nolJ" Tu^ the expression of the audience!" inter- 
 posed another voice. 
 
 "Oh of course, Mr. Mauville, if you, too take her 
 part, that is the end of it I" 
 
 The land baron's smile revealed withering contempt 
 a w,th eyes bright with suppressed excitLenHS 
 h.s face unusually sallow, he joined the group. 
 
 The end of .t !" he repeated, fixing his glance upon 
 tiie captmus dandy. "The beginning you mell^e 
 begmning of her triumphs I" ^ ^""^ 
 
 ce^S'oSr '°" °"° "=""" ''"''*^''^'' ^'"- <>'-'- 
 
 Mauville deliberately turned his back. "And such 
 
 du^es s.t .n jud8me«!" he muttered to the schoTr 
 
 Curse me. Mauville's in a temper to-night I" said 
 
 the spark ,n a low voice. "Been linking. T reckon I 
 
 But It's time for the next act !" 
 
 Punches and juleps were hastily disposed of and the 
 .mbibers quckly sought their placr This suddt 
 mflux, w.th ,ts accompanying laughter and chattering 
 
33» THE STROLLERS 
 
 sudden th^^lT eized hto T'f resemblance? A 
 toward the dL of the I.;™'"'' ""' ''^^'^ around 
 
 appeared '""^"'" ^•'^°"t, inunediately 
 
 and may need ^^1 " ""^ "*'=''"'" *° '^^ ^' 
 
 great a right as any oTthe nS lyt s^Stv ™?/' 
 fetigation in his old a«. h.,f * ^ *"^ ''*■ 
 
 bominaclasswhid mlf; ,k ""*°""«ately he was 
 alike content and disSir' ""' "°' ^'=^^'"' ^^^ "-^ 
 
IN THE CRESCENT CITY 333 
 
 Again those tones floated out from the past; mu- 
 sical, sohl The marquis trembled. Did not the man 
 
 IJolt; did he not remember? Could he not recall the 
 times beyond number when he had heard that voice ; in 
 
 roL7"~''"*"* ^°"'^' *" *''* ^"^"^ °^ ^"S"*'' 
 Suddenly the valet uttered an exclamation ; the stolid 
 aspect of his face gave way to an obvious thrill of in- 
 terest. 
 
 "My lord!" he cried. 
 
 "M excellait actress, Francois; an excellent ac- 
 ^ssl said the marquis, rising. "Is that my coat? 
 Get It for me. What are you standing there for? 
 Your arm I Don't you see I am waiting ?" 
 
 Overwrought and excitable, he did not dare remain 
 for the latter portion of the drama ; better leave before 
 the last act. he told himself, and, dazed by the reap- 
 pearance of that vision, the old man fairly staggered 
 from the box. " 
 
 The curtain fell for the last time, and Barnes, with 
 exultation, stood watching in the wings. She had 
 triumphed, his little girl; she had won the great een- 
 erous heart of New Orleans. He clapped his h^ds 
 furiously, joining in the evidences of approval, and 
 when the ovation finally ceased and she approached, 
 the old manager was so overcome he had not a word 
 to say She looked at him questioningly, and he who 
 had always been her instructor folded her fondly to 
 his breast. ' 
 
3U 
 
 11 1 
 
 THE STROLLERS 
 
 storming Thespian " "*'' ^^K b;^. 
 
 were only here now I g"^*' *«»"''.n'y dear I If she 
 
 H^.^ not ,et c^^^afiery^n'; S"-^'"^^'^ 
 8««us, whose eenerosifv »,,- ^ ^*' O" good 
 And Barnes ha^uTe? wh^T f *'"'^ I^-^Vt 
 hand on his ana. ''"' P'»«'' » detaining 
 
 "No. nol" 
 
 •5r]rn'!!f'^'*'''^^"y°"«"dhe-» 
 ConsUce Is'^wi* r J°" - P'ea-dP" replied 
 all further remon'l'trTnts ^ "" '" ^''"ing:. he forgot 
 
 fe«.-ve board. Go ^ow' a^d^^y^ '''" « *' 
 
CHAPTER X 
 
 LAUGH .ER AND TEARS 
 
 OfiJthrr "' ^''"'"'-h^d been invited. 
 
 Uf an the meny evenmgs in the bohemian world, that 
 was one of the merriest. Next to the young gi;i « 
 Je Count de Propriac, his breast covered witt a do" 
 ble row of medals. Of the toasts drunk to Con^tTc^ 
 
 fortunately no record remains. Of the recolle^i^s 
 of the wiry old lady; the impromptu verse of the 
 rhvmsters; the roaring speech^f Mr. BaLs the 
 
 ^^ t^J'T '°"" '^'^ ^y Susan a„r^tll 
 
 on^the bare facts have descended to the chronicler. 
 
 bo fancy must picture the wreaths of smoke- the 
 
 superabundance of flowers, the fragrance of cigirs 
 
 rSr^/f *.' ^^'"""^ °' fadinffloral beautl^" 
 ^*e pale dark-eyed girl presiding, upon her dusky ha r 
 
 bv^h"^. Tk "' "'"'=' "''^'"^ "" P-testadon 
 
 by Phazma and Straws; the devotion of the count to 
 
 h.s fair neighbor; the almost superhuman pride S 
 
 -(335) 
 
THE STROLLERS 
 
 
 I 
 
 336 
 
 word, of a French song! ^^dtr^ the 
 
 "Adieu i,cour,«lle„,„d 
 Adleul«fl„e.etl..fc™„e.-', 
 Intermixed with thi. .,^ t ■ 
 thoughts reverted to the oe^fo J '*'" *''* «"<^«''» 
 chatter of Susan, he reviewed IT''' !"" '"''''' «>« 
 t«ib of that evening wlthT" *"^ *«»'» ^e de- 
 Pbved in school-houses ^n. . ^^""«^ «'''' *'«' 
 asked himself seated fn;h °' '"*" •""»• he had 
 
 coldly ^itica T^'z^i::": T' """^^'^ «°- 
 
 faces about him i,oniSth,V"^"°"' ^"" °^ 'he 
 who had well-nigTS'nS S''' '"i''"'' °^ »"« 
 ficially vivacious faces of woil' T"""'''' •*« »«i- 
 heartedness and S^? y^S "^ P'^^^^ »« light- 
 had she been, as fat„« anT,^ V ^'°^ '=°"«"' 
 future had not dep^dS 71^"°^ *" *°"^ ^er 
 won an ovation, K?wr^,w' "'8*" When she 
 "ut had sat the^e, lSi,^;,^l'°J«"r J° "«"*"'«' 
 to whom she was now tounH ^ "'""'°"' 
 
 and friendliness. """^ "^^ *"* °^ admiration 
 
 Don't you like hpi- ?" o , • 
 
 LiJ^eher? S EoofcTa'tr *" '^ '"'' «*''^''- 
 "Yes," he had replied *' "^^ "'"W^- 
 
 ^uPn^;s:,^d:Ttt'':src;f:^:'r^-'''--''« 
 
 cam In his brain wTid th. 1. ^'^'' ""= •'"g'c 
 Howed-.stheywere:::;.;^!^^"'"'' 
 
t:...».s, 
 
 .le rank 
 
 v,ii,e>' 
 
 askc he 
 
 !'J .St 
 
 anije and 
 
 'J don' 
 
 ' ev»w no- 
 
 .■ >n. 
 
 "Bu: you 
 
 LAUGHTER AND TEARS 337 
 
 -SeS^w^'^^afrrV'-eiH: 
 
 look, so ple^, He is ve.^ rich. U.'tZr' 
 
 i don t know, answered Saint- t^rcper, brusauelv 
 
 Again the thoughts sureed an' r .. , °™*<l"='y- 
 
 intruded itself I ReacSSfo?^, '"•''"' ^'^ •"*' 
 
 quickly. 
 
 "Don't you ever /eel the tffecu 01 
 young woman. 
 
 His glance chilled her, 1 seen 
 steely! 
 
 "I believe you are sc^-so strong y 
 
 tice^ U," added Susan, with comi, 
 
 doM t have half as good a time I" 
 
 Perhaps I enjoy myself in my way," he answered 
 What IS your way ?" she asked quickly "You d^t" 
 
 ias.^s bnght eyes rested on him curiously "But 
 
 Strata 'rt !!" ^"' °""^ *° Lamentations," said 
 Straws, who had caught her last remarks. 
 Or Revelations!" added Phazma 
 
 cnMl' *'.'°""'' °f t''«i' laughter, Constance looked 
 nght, and. As I was saymg, my dear," from the old 
 
338 
 
 THE STROLLERS 
 
 lady at her Mt 
 -e-re. SS^^.^^^-^^^i'^ attention 
 8Tim guardian of humL „1 ^ """"^ °* J°y-the 
 iron hands move ever™,^ cS'""^''' '"^''P^' ^^ose 
 -finally, Tune reminded bT^' '^.'*"<==" °^ «t«"»-ty 
 surely aaived whrthec. .^^''J^"' '^' '"'"' h^d 
 these festivities, s" he roa^^" 1°"" ''"'^"'^ »P°» 
 well, and the guests deoa^'w °".* ' '"^* ""'ho fare- 
 them flowers if ml^ o/tt'c^.^^-^. ^^"^'"^ -■'" 
 'eft save Constance, thTcounf ^^'T' •""'' *»" had 
 ""anag^r. Barnes CtS^"''''T°''^' '"«' *« 
 holding the soldier Zthet^ T'T''" '"<=°herently. 
 cessive anecdotes =£.'3^1^ "".m^^ '"'° ''««' 
 per, apparently listening l^e^'' T^^^r'-Pros^ 
 Constance, whose convJsaHnnT .^ '^'P'"'"*' ^d 
 
 "As r said to the S r . '°"''' "^^--hear. 
 flies before truth in tur or f "* ^^pain, flatter, 
 %hed the count And th/ •^''' ^''d^noiseUe," 
 he whispered. ^'"^^'""wWfc, j,^ ,> ^^^ ^^^^, 
 
 She withdrew it hastilv ,„j .• 
 i"f . he bowed himseKi TlS"! '"'' ««^'«"«- 
 ^ Leaning against the ch;ir h.Tl "^ *' """«8«'- 
 the glow from the crvsta Vh Z^''" °""'"<^ by 
 shadow, the hand the dMomatha"d''"' ''^^ ''''=« « 
 resting i„ the exposed St otthr'\' '° •"' ''P^ 
 fety went out of her face LTh. ""'hogany, the 
 bn,shed the hair from ^^ brow Z^f f "^'''"^ 
 ^he solder's presence, she glanced abt^^ ^^ 
 
LAUGHTER AND TEARS 339 
 m its wrecked glo^, and, throwing her lace wrao over 
 
 hi^'ss^sXdt^'r "'*"•'!, "-^-^ 
 
 her feet. '^'^ "^"^ ''*'■ *"" ^nd fell at 
 
 "May I not also tell you how elad T a.„__*». . 
 succeeded to-night '" ^ am-that you 
 
 on^apathy. In his a^^llS^' £.^: ,- tpjln^ 
 
 She did' r '"''"■" ^^ "^''' becLe Wghter" 
 
 ebbi'g. ' "°' "^^"^'- «'^ ^^"-ontro: was fSt" 
 
 "You underestimate your favors if v™. t„ 
 are easily forgotten I" ' ^ ^°" ^'^^ ^ey 
 
 A crimson flush extended to her brn«,. ft 
 cern died out of her eyes. ' ' ""'=°"- 
 
 ;;ido not understand." she answered, slowly 
 
 mear-TwlhTSr;:? '^ ''° "°* ""^--<'' '^^^ 
 
 .H;^LS^r:nr-/H:Xr-'^ '° ^^^ 
 Forget what?" she said, coldly " 
 Nameless nothings I" he retiim^^ «* 
 
 glance^nothing to you, perha Js h^t" .. V'""^=' 
 
MO 
 
 THE STROLLERS 
 
 night. It may be"-his voice vibrating with strange 
 earrtestnes»-"for once I want to be myself. For 
 weeks we have been-friends-and then suddenly 
 you begin to treat m^-how? As though I no longer 
 existed! Why did you deceive m^let me drift ^? 
 Because I was mute, did you think I was blind ? Why 
 did I jom the strollers-the land baron accused me of 
 followmg you across the country. He was right- I 
 was following yo i. I would not confess it to my- 
 self before. But I crafess it now I It was a fool's 
 paradise," he ended, bitterly. 
 
 S«e shrank back before his vehement words; some- 
 thmg within her appeared violated; as though his 
 plea had penetrated the sanctity of her reserve 
 
 'Would it not be well to say nothing about decep- 
 ^? she replied, and her dark eyes swept his face, 
 nien, turning from him abruptly, she stepped to the 
 window, and, drawing aside the lace curtains mechan- 
 ically, looked out. 
 
 The city below was yet teeming with life, lights 
 I earning everywhere and shadowy figures passing. 
 Suddenly out of the darkness came a company of 
 soldiers who had just landed, marching through the 
 streets toward the camping ground and singing as 
 they went. e s »» 
 
 The chorus, like a mighty breath of patriotism, 
 "u u f . "^^ *° overflowing. It seemed as though 
 she had heard it for the first time; had never before 
 felt Its potency. All the tragedy of war swept before 
 
nge 
 For 
 nly 
 eer 
 m? 
 Tiy 
 of 
 
 ;i 
 
 ly- 
 >l's 
 
 le- 
 
 lis 
 
 P- 
 ». 
 
 lie 
 ij- 
 
 ts 
 
 ?■ 
 )f 
 
 le 
 
 IS 
 
 '^: 
 
LAUGHTER AND TEARS 34, 
 
 death. the^7 ~St'c^""^'"'"^^^'''- 
 still seemed to mZ ZLl^, ^..""^^ "'" drum-beats 
 head without ^ol;';"^'';'^'' ''^^.'^: ^^e raised her 
 « him to see H! T ^^ P"""'"" "^d 'ooked 
 
 over her ^,t S^ °j J ^r.^"* » ^ 
 tressing dream ^^ ^" '" *»"»« dis- 
 
 T?" " '■'-f"''' It K Pui into »,«, r 
 
342 
 
 THE STROLLERS 
 
 her X"':£v::^z ?• -•'^"-•^^^'-ched 
 
 breast. * *''* P«'»'°n'> that stirred her 
 
 Pr^rt" wagoT-'S °blr;:!r '•»' -^^ « the 
 ■"■ger all mingling in h«-^ ^«P«gnance, scorn and 
 tell me the resf? "^ " '°"''- ^^V <Md you not 
 
 "ci'::Sd:^t:^'£rH,T°"''' '^ ^*"' p-^- 
 
 with aA effort. "" '"P* Parted; he spoke 
 
 ;;The rest?" he said, his brow lowering 
 »es. she answered quicklv "th. 7 • 
 
 S^?;i.p-- -<>t!^i.elirs"£dT 
 
 eyes abruptly fell as th^lh / '^'^ °" '"^ ^''«. h«' 
 had inexplicably touched ft TrT f ""^ ''"honor 
 darkness overspread.-nTv J ^""""^ess he stood, a 
 g'ed within hK i'" ^'=^*""^. « words strug! 
 
 "Why don't you r." 1 ^ 7"T ''' «''°'?' 
 g^p,. J' "go. she cried. "Why don't you 
 
 arotd'Tthl S'-hT' •• ''■"' -heeled sharply 
 'ooX up; coild „i'r °" ""' P^"^^^' h«t she did^J 
 
 Sf'thr^^'-^'r^'-^he was alone. 
 
 the dy.„g hlies on the table, she stepped 
 
LAUGHTER AND TEARS 343 
 toward the threshold, when Barnes rl,.„ 
 indefatigaWe. entered byTnothr 'o Telt t" 
 -P.red wuh festa, intoxication to obset^e^Ta^T 
 
 "What, my dear!" he exclaimed cheerily "H« 
 he gone? Did you make up your little dLenc" 
 D.d^^you settle your quarre, before he lea^sl:; 
 
 ;;For Mexico!" she repeated, mechanically. 
 
THE !■/ 
 
 CHAPTER XI 
 
 G OF A FINE OENTLEHAN 
 
 home a^ 2 „„m T" ^°'''«. ^s they drove 
 
 been particularrltsed ' ""J " "T" ""^ '"'' 
 
 made upon him at siVh; „f Ti,^ «mpression first 
 
 through mer" He ' i^^ .«=t«ss-"se„t a shiver 
 
 wall^'^Tlhrlr^'*^^"'?' *«--«< the side- 
 loomed darkly Sre l^.P*"" *° ^^e house which . 
 suirs where he bSS L^'r '' *"' '°°' °^ "'^ 
 oppressiveness of re a?- i?' .r"'"""^ °* ^''^ 
 
 -o.theva,etjordS^irrr£ 
 
 (344) 
 
A FINE GENTLEMAN 345 
 
 W the sick chamber he had grown to detest I 
 Here alone-having dismissed the sf^ ^^11 
 
 KeVL^ ' " ^"''"^' -"■■'' -"-^o-™ 
 
 life toTr^ ^'"!!"f *° '"■"'= '■* «^™«d to brine 
 eye he Z W V""' '°« **^ *""'"'="' '" ^is mind! 
 w^th fl«J ^ """^ ''^'' *<= 'o^e of his youth 
 wrth flashmg revengeful eyes and noble mein He 
 fowered over the desk, as if shrinking fromTaven^ 
 
 ^^"^^rge^srkft-""-/"^" 
 n,«nb^c.butL^s:!iittjr:,n,ror,i- 
 
 drove hm, .rresistibly to untie that ribbon, to scmt 
 
346 
 
 THE STROLLERS 
 
 •« many old theater programs and to gaze upon a 
 -uma^re „ Wory depicting , woman ^ti^^Zl 
 new of her charms, but whose strildng likeness to 
 
 with strange fear. Some power-surely it could not 
 
 Xll t" *'" ''u"'' """"^ "trenUsIyl^W 
 pelled h,m to open those letters and to read them 
 word for word. The tenderness of the epi f e" 
 
 2.1 P^''ty.*«tch. His eyes were fascinated by 
 ti^ese words m her last letter: "Should you desert 
 me and, your unborn child, your end wiU be miserabl^ 
 
 t^\^':zzr'"''''^' ' "" ^"' ^- -^' -p - 
 
 Suddenly the reader in a frenzy threw the letter to 
 the floor and trampled on it. He regarded the7ace 
 
 ^tf'^T"" *'* ^^ *"*• •"*«<»• =«<> "iashing it 
 mto the drawer, called down maledictions on her 
 He ceased abruptly, weak and wavering. 
 
 Fool! To Irt that woman's memory disturb me. 
 S r . f *"'" prophecy!" And he snapped 
 
 his fingers and dropped the letter in the fire. 
 
 What can her curse avail?" he said aloud. "She 
 IS gone, turned to ashes like that paper and there is 
 no^he^ter this one. All then is nXg-^mp^^JI 
 Z^il^ ^/«d«st. It is this cursed dyspepsia 
 which has made me nervous. Something to comLe 
 me, and theii to bed I" "«npose 
 
A FINE GENTLEMAN 347 
 
 In spite of soothing powders, however, he passed 
 a restless night and arose unrefreshed, but ordered 
 his valet to bring one of his lightest suits, and, hav- 
 ing dressed, he set a white flower upon his coat, while 
 the servant proceeded to apply various pigments to 
 the wrinkled face, until it took on a mocking sem- 
 blance to the countenance of a man fifteen years 
 younger. The marquis leered at himself in the pier- 
 glass and assumed a jauntiness of demeanor he wa« 
 far from feeling. 
 
 "I do not look tired or worried, Francois?" 
 ^ "Not at all, my lord," replied the obsequious valet 
 "I never saw you, my lord, appear so young and well." 
 
 "Beneath the surface, Francois, there is age and 
 weakness," answered the marquis in a melancholy 
 tone. 
 
 "It is but a passing indisposition, my lord," asserted 
 the servant, soothingly. 
 
 "Perhaps. But, Frangois"— peering around— "as 
 I look over my shoulder, do you know what I see?" 
 
 The ahnost hideous expression of the roue's face 
 alarmed the servant. 
 
 "No, my lord, what is it?" 
 
 "A figure stands there in black and is touching me. 
 It is the spirit of death, Frangois. You can not see 
 it, but there it is — " 
 
 "My lord, you speak wildly." 
 
 "I have seen some strange things, Francois. The 
 dead have arisen. And I have received my warning. 
 
»«»>eofy MsoumoN tbt ch*«t 
 
 (ANSI and ISO TEST CHART No. J) 
 
 IM 
 
 l« 
 
 1^ 
 
 1.8 
 
 l^^l^ 
 
 /APPLIED IIVHGE In. 
 
 )653 Edit Wain Strwt 
 
 (716) 4S2 - 0300 - Phon* 
 (716) 288-59B9-Fo« 
 
348 
 
 THE STROLLERS 
 
 The servant brought it tn him t», . . 
 
 awfully over his shouMl "^"J"'" '*=^«'' 
 
 / "vcr nis snoulder once more "V™..- i,..ui. 
 
 tant business I" "° P^™™. "npor- 
 
 n«« who relw by i„ h„"'i!' ;° ■ *"* >"- 
 
 £:C"^' "'T'"'"*' •"-"""' 
 
 TiK csiom,,, fonii.lii|„ <,,„„„ ..fcZ," "■ 
 =-^=;.:a— "^-- 
 
 j;:s^7:-sK'::^-^^car. 
 
 5ame name in London-many years agor '^' 
 
 proudj.'""""' ^'°^^^'^^y" replied the manager. 
 "She was married, was she not, t*--" 
 
A FINE GENTLEMAN 349 
 
 "A scoundrel who took her for his wife in one 
 church and repudiated the ties through another de- 
 nomination I 
 
 ^.'-'^M^.f'"^".'':'^"^"''' marriage!" said the mar- 
 qms^ blandly "An old devicel But what was this 
 lover s name ? 
 
 "This husband's, my lord I" 
 
 "Lover or hu.sband, I fancy it is all the same to her 
 now, sneered the caller. "She has passed the point 
 where reputation matters." 
 
 u'i's^" ''^''"'^*'°" '^ ""y concern, Monsieur le Mar- 
 
 "You knew her?" asked the nobleman, as though 
 the conversation wearied him. "And she was faith- 
 ful to h.s memory ? No scandals-none of those little 
 affairs women of her class are prone to' There"— 
 as Barnes started up indignamly-"spare me your 
 reproaches I I'm too feeble to quarrel. Besides, what 
 is It to me? I was only curious about her— that is 
 all But she never spoke the name of her husband?" 
 Not even to her own child 1" 
 "She does not know her father's name?" repeated 
 the marquis. "But I thank you; Mademoiselle Con- 
 stance IS so charming I must needs call to ask if she 
 were related to the London actress I Good-day, Mon- 
 sieur! You are severe on the lover. Was it not the 
 fashion of the day for the actresses to take lovers, or 
 for the fops to have an opera girl or a comedienne? 
 Uid your most popular performers disdain such diver- 
 sions?" he sneered. "Pardie, the world has suddenly 
 
 -y'' 
 
350 
 
 THE STROLLERS 
 
 . With no thought of direction hU v 
 •ng to himself i„ advnl^ ' ; I ^^ "'°^S. talk- 
 walked mechanically o'n "mil t "'.*':: "°'"'='"- 
 cathedral. The or^n " aTrLr '"''*"** *''« ^^''^ 
 sweet as those of ser^phir^S."'^.'"'' """^^ '^'^^ 
 -d then laughed to hTmse" ''"w fT'.''' *''^ •"«"' 
 •«.d: 'Pleasure has its Hm» ^" ''^^ '^"'t^i'-e 
 
 Make lovt in thy youth alT!n 'm *°°' '^''^ ^'^^om. 
 salvation.' " He rrate^fh f^ '^'' ^"^"'^ '" 'V 
 though he paused ?t tl;^!''^ i'""" ^°^ds, but. al- 
 did not enter *''" *'"^''°'d ^d listened, he 
 
 You are not wpII " ot,. -j 
 I help you.?" ' ^'•^ said, solicitously. "Can 
 
 ash;^:LrhSghTofh^::-r'' ''- '--«'-•=. 
 
 face which regarlrhim wl ''''''°r"*^°^'hat 
 "Go away." "" '^'"' womanly sympathy. 
 
 the 'tt5ra,?',^om:r' '°"- ^°" -« ^'"^ to 
 
 hi's ^k tr i: r^ -r -- '• "^ ^^'' 
 
 resist, so, together-father and 
 
A FINE GENTLEMAN 351 
 
 <faughter!— they entered the cathedral. Side by side 
 they knelt— he to keep up the farce, fearing to un- 
 oeceive her— while yet only mocking words came to 
 the old man's heart, as the bitterness of the situation 
 overwhelmed him. She was a daughter in whom a 
 prmce might have found pride, but he remained there 
 mute, not daring to speak, experiencing all the tor- 
 tures of remorse and retribution. Of what avail had 
 been ambition? How had it overleaped content and 
 ease of mind ! Into what a nest of stings and thorns 
 his loveless marriage had plunged him I And now 
 but the black shadow remained ; he walked in the dark- 
 ness of unending isolation. So he should continue 
 to walk straight to the door of death. 
 
 He scarcely heard the organ or the voice of the 
 priest. The high altar, with its many symbols, sug- 
 gested the thousands that had worshiped there and 
 gone away comforted. Here was abundant testimony 
 of the blessings of divine mercy in the numerous 
 costly gifts and in the discarded crutches, and here 
 faith had manifested itself for generations. 
 
 The marquis' throat was hoarse; he could have 
 spoken no words if he had tried. He laughed in his 
 heart at the gifts of the grateful ones; those crosses 
 of ivory and handsome lamps were but symbols of 
 barbarism and superstition. The tablets, with their 
 inscriptions, "Merci" and "Ex voto," were to him 
 absurd, and he gibed at the simple credulity of the 
 people who could thus be misled. All these evidences 
 of thanksgiving were but cumulative testimony that 
 
35» THE STROLLERS 
 
 pTserorfa-rtat: rrr-- -"^ ^' ^ 
 
 stories. The promise nf {"^^tened over ghost 
 told by priesmo Zand '"'■''""=' '"* "'^ ^^'O' tale 
 
 jhment^eghrsTortrwTihtrr";^""^ 
 
 dehght crept into hi<i Hie, j ■ A mahcious 
 
 a-one in th^ caSdS ^'s ^ ^Tf"^ '''' ''' 
 t>on, enabling him to ^t ■ t^^ ^''*''^'"« divina- 
 these signs ^d s^LLf 21',^ T"''""^ °' ''» 
 mental excitement^„d „«"' '^'''' " ^ ^^^«' "f 
 as his glance on" „ort rZedtL'"?"^' *° '''"'-« 
 . He became dimirdSs th«"^' T""^ ^''■ 
 "1? past them and C T/ . ^^^'^ *«« mov- 
 
 Vchiid,"T;rig t dt:^t r?^-^ r '^■^ -*' 
 
 could be no tumine back n . ! "''"''"'• ^het* 
 the marquis w« a ^ T '' '"^^ ^'"^«="t'> hour; 
 that, in a twi^lLg o'f an?ve"a "" "' "°' '"«'=- 
 all that has transpired anH ^ ' ."*" ""^^ *«=* behind 
 thing within h^ldh^ from rt" '" "''"^''*- ^ome- 
 his own inherent sZtoTi^ "? '° '"^'-P'^^haps 
 his appreciation 1^41^^ °' •*"''^ = 
 order of circumstances I slTn^! *° " """^"^""^ 
 -e from W-estabh hef IbT^tt ^t ^r 
 tn.m of thought passed through W; nfi^d T ,''''.* 
 she was regarding him with clear i*"' '"'''^•^'^ 
 eyes, and he heard her voice- compassranate 
 
 ^hall we go now? The 'services are over " 
 He obeyed without question. '^^ 
 
 Over I" 
 
 Those moments by her siH.. »,«..ij 
 
 / ner side would never return I 
 
A FINE GENTLEMAN 353 
 
 They were about to part to meet no more on earth. He 
 leaned heavily upon her arm and his steps were falter- 
 ing. Out into the warm sunshine they passed, the 
 light revealing more plainly the ravages of time in 
 his face. 
 
 "You must take a carriage," she said to the old 
 man. 
 
 "Thank you, thank you," he replied. "Leave me 
 here on the bench. I shall soon be myself. I am 
 only a little weak. You are good to an old man. 
 May I not"— asking solely for the pleasure of hear- 
 ing her speak— "may I not know the name of one 
 who is kind to an old man?" 
 "My name is Constance Carew." 
 He shook as with the palsy. "A good name, a 
 good name I" he repeated. "I remember years ago 
 another of that name— an actress in London. A very 
 beautiful woman, and good I But even she had her de- 
 tractors and none more bitter than the man who 
 wronged her. You— you resemble her! But there, 
 don't let me detain you. I sh^U do very well here. 
 You are busy, I dare say." 
 
 "Yes, I should be at rehearsal," she replied re- 
 gretfully. 
 
 "At rehearsal!" he repeated, "YesI— yes!— . But 
 the stage is no place for you!" he added, suddenly. 
 "You should leave it — leave it I" 
 
 She looked at him wonderingly. "Is there nothing 
 more I can do for you ?" 
 
 "Nothing! Nothing! Except— no, nothing!" 
 
 VI 
 
354 
 
 THE STROLLERS 
 
 kiss for Te Jst ~lll "° '°"^ "^^ '^-^^ I ^«'* her 
 or tne last time— I am so near the grave—" 
 
 suic caiaboza, and swung around the square arouseH 
 
 tt^dT^'l '''' '^°"' ^'°PP«'' the drivel' ^dS 
 tered the rickety vehide. 
 
 JTTie law office of Mark, and Culver." said the 
 
 S the attn ' TS** ^^«=^"'' ««» ^rawin^g „p 
 fe TnH ul T^' °*<*- Fortunately Culver wai 
 m and. although averse to business on any ^!!! 
 
 express surprise at my lord's story; onj wife till 
 do^. a„,^her in Paris; why. man^krutlS. ^e-' 
 
 wh^ nt ? Z *'^"'^r'-<i«-"s being pSt 
 wJiy not? Culver unobtrusively yawned and wirt. 
 
 fine courtesy, bowed the marquis out. ^ 
 
A FINE GENTLEMAN 355 
 
 Slowly the latter retraced his steps to his home; 
 his feet were heavy as lead; his smile was forced; 
 he glanced frequently over his shoulder, possessed by 
 a strange fantasy. 
 
 ^^ "I think I will lie down a little,' he said to his valet. 
 "In this easy chair; that will do. I am feeling well; 
 only tired. How that mass is repeated in my mind I 
 That is because it is Palestrina, Francois; not because 
 it is a vehicle to salvation, employed by the gibber- 
 ing priests. Never let your heart rule your head, 
 boy. Don't mistake anything for reality. 'What 
 have you seen in your travels?' was asked of Sage 
 Evemere. 'Follies!' was the reply. 'Follies, follies 
 everywhere r We never live; we are always in the 
 expectation of living." 
 
 He made an effort to smile which was little more 
 than a grimace. 
 "A cigar, Fran9ois I" 
 "My lord, are you well ? — " 
 
 The marquis flew into a rage and the valet placed 
 an imported weed in his master's hand. 
 "A lig^t, Frangoisl" 
 
 The valet obeyed. For a moment the strong cigar 
 seemed to soothe the old man, although his hand 
 shook like an aspen as he held it. 
 
 "Now, bring me my Voltaire," commanded the 
 marquis. "The volume on the table, idiot 1 Ah I here 
 is what I wish : 'It takes twenty years to bring man 
 from the state of embryo, and from that of a mere 
 criminal, as he is in his first infancy, to the point when 
 
356 
 
 THE STROLLERS 
 
 t''urieTrkn^^"v'° ^''"™- " ^' '»■'«' thirty cen- 
 
 He puffed feebly at the cigar. 
 
 "It is cold here, Francois." 
 
 The servant consulted the thermometer. 
 
 to. myic^d:"tTi^r " ''-- ^°" - --'-«« 
 
 ma?""Y„T '^ 'hermometer/' commanded the old 
 man You should not lie, Francois. It is a bad 
 fauk m servants. Uave it to your masters 'it ifa 
 pohte v>ce. The privilege of the world's potentates 
 d P lomats and great people. Never fall into Sm 
 
 2£^;s':;r" '' ^°" ^"' ^-" -«- ^- - 
 
 "You can see that I speak the truth, my lord " was 
 the response, as calm as ever, for no hing SurH 
 or ruffled this ideal servant. ""sturbed 
 
 He held out the thermometer for the maramV in 
 
 cigar fell from h.s fingers to the floor. The atten- 
 t.ve valet p,cked it up and threw it into the grL 
 
 I beheve, Francois," stammered the marauis 
 'that the fault lies with me. It is I-I who aTZ 
 ing cold like death " i. who am grow- 
 
 b.e"™' '"''" "^"^"' *^ *=="- -■» -!-""•«- 
 
A FINE GENTLEMAN 357 
 
 " 'Yes ?' you blockhead I" shrieked the master. "Do 
 yoi' know what you are saying?" 
 
 * /ell, no, then, my lord," responded the unmoved 
 va? .. 
 
 "Yes and no!" shouted the marquis in a voice that 
 was wildly discordant. "What do you mean?" 
 
 "Whatever my lord pleases," was the quiet re- 
 sponse. 
 
 "Mon Dieul I'll discharge you." 
 
 The servant only smiled. 
 
 "Why did you smile?" 
 
 "Oh, my k/d— " 
 
 "Was it not that you thought it a good joke for a 
 dying man to discharge his servant ?" 
 
 "My lord is quick to catch the humorous side of 
 anything," returned Francois. 
 
 "Begone, idiot! You are waiting for my death to 
 discharge you. I can see it in your eyes. Yet stay, 
 Francois, for, if you leave me, I shall be alone. You 
 will not leave me?" 
 
 "As my lord desires," was Frangois' response. 
 
 "I imagint I should feel better if I had my foot- 
 bath." 
 
 The servant removed the shoes and silken stock- 
 ings from his master's feet and propped him up in a 
 chair, throwing a blanket over his shoulders and 
 heaping more wood upon the fire in the grate. 
 
 "More fire, >cu idiot!" cried the marquis, peevishly. 
 "Do you not see that I am freezing?" 
 
 _ - •% 
 
3S8 
 
 THE STROLLERS 
 
 "It is ten degrees above tlie temperature my lord 
 
 always ordered," retorted Francois, ^lly ^ "" 
 
 Ten degrees I Oh, you wish to remind me that 
 
 t-ersh^SS^i-—".- 
 
 apparently rambled, for he started to chant a FrTnch 
 
 XTr 'a ' 7'" ^' '""' '""^ ^'"« '-' i " - 
 t^.1 ,U. \'"f "^'l '°"«- The words were dis- 
 mct, although the melody was broken, and the s^. 
 
 lll 7?' f"''°'"*= ^"°"^''- As he concluded^e 
 to mumble about his early love affairs. ^ 
 
 iJah, Francois," he said shrilly, "m be un to 
 morrow as gay as ever. yir,e I'aLur! viTe ^^jl, 
 It was a merry life we led. eh, Francois?" ' 
 Merry mdeed, my lord." 
 "It kept you busy, Francois. There was the little 
 ^sant gjrl on the Rhine. What flaxen hair she Jld 
 and^ey^hkethesky, Yet a word of pn.ise-a',S 
 
 sai!"'*' ""^ '"««'^'iWe," said the valet with mild 
 
 "L«t me see, Francois, what became of her?" 
 i>he drowned herself in the river " 
 
 JJh^*V™'- ^^^''f°'-g°"en. Well, life is meas- 
 ured by pleasures, not by years, and I was the pTce 
 of coxcombs. Up at ten o'clock; no sooner on , 
 
A FINE GENTLEMAN 359 
 
 count of the complexion ; then visits from the trades- 
 people and a drive in the park tc< look at the ladies. 
 It was there I used to meet the English actress. 
 'Twas there, with her, I vowed the park was a gar- 
 den of Eden I What a .c-ene, when my barrister 
 tried to settle the case! Fortunately a marriage in 
 England was not a marriage in France. I saw her 
 last night, Francois"— with an insane look— "in the 
 flesh and blood; as life-like as the night before we 
 took the stage for Brighton !" Suddenly he shrieked 
 and a look of terror replaced the vain, simpering ex- 
 pression. 
 
 "There, Francois I" Gbncing with awe behind him. 
 And truly there stood a dark shadow; a gruesome 
 presence. His face became distorted and he lapsed 
 into unconsciousness. 
 
 The valet gazed at him with indifference. Then he 
 went 10 an inner room and brought a valise which he 
 began packing carefully ? d methodically. After he 
 had completed this operat ,,.he approached the dress- 
 ing table and took up a .lagnificent jeweled watch, 
 which he examined for a moment before thrusting 
 it into his pocket. A snuff box, set with diamonds, 
 and several rings followed. Francois with the same 
 deliberation opened a drawer and took out a small 
 box which he tried to open, and, failing, forced the 
 lid with the poker. At this, my lord opened his eyes, 
 and, in a weak voice, for his strength had nearly de- 
 serted him, demanded: 
 
36o 
 
 THE STROLLERS 
 
 '•mat are you doing, Fran9ois?" 
 
 The marquis' eyes gleamed with rage. He en- 
 
 i^lTu t^r' '"; ''' ^"'"^-^ fai.ed'^in.tdTe 
 ..tT. 7. ''*'"'''"'& and overcome, 
 rhiefl Ingratel" he hissed, hoarsely, 
 i beg you not to excite yourself mv lorH " .,;a 
 the stately valet. "You are 'already v"^ w^k "„'d' 
 It will hasten the end." ^ "" 
 
 "Is this the way you repay me?" 
 '^y lord will not need these things soon " 
 Have you no gratitude?" stammered the raarauis 
 whose physical and. mental condition was trTly S 
 
 'mZ?*'!^"''^ ^°^ ''^'''"^ ^^ '^^^^ ''diot,' 'dog,' and 
 blockhead' nearly all my lifel I am somewhat la^ 
 ing m that quality, I fear." ""mewnat lack- 
 
 "Is there no shame in you ?" 
 "Shame?" repeated Francois, as he proceeded to 
 «nsack another drawer. "There migh? Zf Je^ 
 before I went into your service, my lofd. Ye'; o^ 
 I feh shame for you. It was years ago, in London 
 when you deserted your beautiful wife When I s^w 
 how she worshiped you and what a noble wo^The 
 
 ^^tJst wS^ ' ' H* ""r "^ ''"'' ' --<• °^f h 
 
 greatest blackguards in Europe—" 
 
 fJ^°w^°" scoundrel-" exclaimed the marquis, his 
 face becommg a ghastly hue 
 "Be calm, my lord. You really are in need of all 
 
A FINE GENTLEMAN 
 
 361 
 
 your energy. For years I have submitted to your 
 shameful service. I have been at the beck and call 
 of one of the greatest roues and villains in France. 
 Years of such association would somewhat soil any 
 nature. Another thing, my lord, I must tell you, 
 smce you and I are settling our last accounts. For 
 years I have endured your miserable King Louis 
 Philippe. A king? Bah I He fled from the back 
 door I A coward, who shaved his whiskers for a dis- 
 guise." 
 "No more, rascal I" 
 
 "Rascal yourself, you worn-out, driveling breath 
 of corruption 1 It is so pleasant to exercise a gentle- 
 man's privilege of invective! Ah, here is the purse. 
 Au revoir, my lord. A pUasant -dissolution I" 
 
 But by this time the matquis was speechless, and 
 Francois, taking the valise in hand, deferentially left 
 the room. He locked the door behind him and thrust 
 the key into his pocket. 
 
 ■ 
 
 i 
 
 wmmm. 
 
 mm 
 
 wmmmm 
 
CHAPTER XII 
 
 IK THE OLD CEMETERY 
 
 The engagement at the new St. Charles was both 
 memorable and profitable, The Picayune, before the 
 fifties an audacious sheet, being especially kind to 
 the players. "This paper," said a writer of the 
 day, was as full of witticisms as one of Thack- 
 eray's dreams after a light supper, and, as for Edi- 
 tors Straws and Phazma, they are poets who eat, 
 talk and think rhyme." The Picayune contained a 
 poem addressed to Miss Carew, written by Straws in 
 a cozy nook in the veranda at the Lake End, with his 
 absmthe before him and the remains of an elaborate 
 repast about him. It was then quite the fashion to 
 write stanzas to actresses; the world was not so pro- 
 Mic as It IS now, and even the president of the United 
 States, John Quincy Adams, penned graceful verses 
 to a fair ward of Thalia. 
 
 One noon, a few days after the opening perform- 
 ance, several members of the company were late for 
 rehearsal and Barnes strode impatiently to and fro 
 glancmg at his watch and frowning darkly To 
 (362) 
 
IN THE OLD CEMETERY 
 
 363 
 
 avenge himself for the remissness of the players, he 
 roared at the stage carpenters who were constructing 
 a balcony and to the supers who were shifting flats 
 to the scenery room. The light from an open door 
 at the back of the stage dimly illumined the scene; 
 overhead, in the flies, was intense darkness; while in 
 front, the auditorium yawned like a chasm, in no wise 
 suggestive of the brilliant transformation at night. 
 
 "Ugh I" said Susan, standing in one of the en- 
 trances. "It is like playing to ghosts! Fancy per- 
 forming to an audience of specters! Perhaps the 
 phantoms of the past really do assemble in their old 
 places on occasions like this. Only you can't hear 
 them applaud or laugh." 
 
 "Are you looking for admirers among ghosts ?" re- 
 marked Hawkes, ironically. 
 
 "Don't," she returned, with a little shiver. 
 
 "So, ladies and gentlemen, you are all here at last?" 
 exclaimed Barnes, interrupting this cheerful conversa- 
 tion. "Some- of you are late again to-day. It must 
 not happen again. Go to Victor's, Moreau's, or Mig- 
 uel's, as much as you please. If you have a head- 
 ache or a heartache in consequence, that is your own 
 affair, but I am njt to be kept waiting the next day." 
 
 "Victor's, indeed!" retorted the elastic old ladv 
 "As if — " ' 
 
 "No one supposed. Madam, that at your age"— 
 began the manager. 
 "At my age ! If you think—" 
 "Are you all ready?" interrupted Barres, hastily, 
 
36* 
 
 THE STROLLERS 
 
 loiowing he would be worsted in any argument with 
 
 fostf- /"!;i"'^T '"^"^ "'''^ t'«^^''8«' Act 
 fiistl And the rehearsal began. 
 
 If the audience were specters, the performer, 
 
 moved, apparently -vi.hout rhyme or rei^n, ^^^ 
 
 shadows on the din.ly lighted stage; enacting some 
 
 semblance to scenes of mortal life; their jefts a"d 
 
 gjbes, unnatural in that comparativdy emptjlc" 
 
 t would aTw"^ '""' °' '°"^ "«°- ^" 'he evening 
 Sitv itni^T "" '"""^'"^' l^'sht-colored re 
 
 •'That will do for to-day," said the manager at the 
 Sm" It '^ '"' '^- "T— ow, ifdies and 
 TelT^'be^l^r- '-• And any one who is 
 
 and?oiS;?.t7p£:ers'^3r "''''' ' ^' -^^ 
 
 "It W.11 keep you out of mischief, my dear." replied 
 Barnes, gathering up his manuscripts. ^ 
 
 'Oh, I don't know about that!" returned Miss 
 Susan w>th a defiant toss of the head, as she moved 
 toward the dressing-room where they had left tS 
 wraps. It was a small apartment, fairly bright and 
 cheery. w.th here and there a portrait aga£ the 
 mond ^u'}' dressing-table hung a J^ro^ Z 
 whTchT H ^f r'"" hieroglyphic scrawls, among 
 which could be discerned a transfixed heart, spitted 
 
 L 
 
 ■^«^■ >■. t , 
 
 V,*. 
 
 .A.; 
 
IN THE OLD CEMETERY 
 
 36s 
 
 like a lark on an arrow, and an etching of Lady Gay 
 Spanker, with cork-screw curls. Taglioni, in pencil 
 caricature, her limbs "divinely slender," gyrated on 
 her toes in reckless abandon above this mute record 
 of names now forgotten. 
 
 ';What lovely roses, Constance!" exclaimed Susan, 
 as she entered, bending over a large bouquet on one 
 of Ae chairs. "From the count, I presume?" 
 
 "Yes," indifferently answered the young girl, who 
 was adjusting her hat before the mirror. 
 
 "How attentive he is!" cooed Susan, her tones 
 floating in a higher register. "Poor man! Enjoy 
 yourself while you may, my dear," she went on. 
 "When youth is gone, what is left? Women should 
 sow their wild oats as well as men. I don't call them 
 wild oats, though, but paradisaical oats. The Elysian 
 fields are strewn with them." 
 
 As she spoke, her glance swept her companion 
 searchingly, and, in that brief scrutiny, Susan ob- 
 served with inward complacency how pale the other 
 was, and how listless her manner! Their common 
 secret, however, made Susan's outward demeanor 
 sweetly solicitous and gently sympathetic. Her mind, 
 passing in rapid review over recent events. It not 
 without certain satisfaction upon results. .. ^e, ev- 
 ery night she was still forced to witness Constance's 
 success, which of itself was wormwood and gall to 
 Susan, to stand in the wings and listen to the hateful 
 applause; but the conviction that the sweets of popu- 
 
3« 
 
 THE STROLLERS 
 
 lar favor brought not what they were expected to 
 S;,**"' '" * *''^' "" '"'''*°" *° ^"''"''' ''"»'"- 
 
 «„mJ'"'^ l^owledge is a dangerous thint and can 
 sometimes be made annoying; in Susan's case it was 
 a weapon sharpened with honeyed phrase and con- 
 solatory bearing for she was not slow to discover 
 nor to ava.l herself of the irritating power this knowl- 
 edge gave her Constance's pride and reticence, how- 
 eve made ,t difficult for Susan to discern when her 
 shafts went tn,e. Moreover, although harboring no 
 su p,c.on o Susan's dissimulation, she instinctively 
 held aloof from her and remained coldly unrespon- 
 sive. Perhaps m the depths of Susan's past lurked 
 something indefinable which threw its shadow be- 
 tween them, an inscrutable impediment; and her in- 
 aWity to penetrate the young actress' reserve, how- 
 ever she might wound her, awakened Susan's ^esent- 
 tatTon Si ' ''"' f°o ^orid-wise to display her irri- 
 
 J^nfiH f T" ""''"'' '^''''y "°^' « confidante to 
 confidante, and, turning to her impulsively, said: 
 Let me help you on with your cloak, dear?" 
 
 ex2l,°H!?\^l'*\''*^'^*'' *''«=«". "O'ated from 
 externa dm to the busy streets, where drays went 
 thundermg by, and industry manifested itself in re- 
 soundmg clatter, was a sudden, but not altogether 
 
 fTttT '*"'^.*° ^°"^'*"^*- Without wSing 
 for the manager, who paused at the rear entrance to 
 m'pr.ss his final instructions upon a stolidTSg 
 
IN THE OLD CEMETERY 367 
 
 property-man, she turned quickly into the noisy thor- 
 oughfares. 
 
 On and on her restlessness led her, conscious of the 
 clangor of vehicles and voices and yet remote from 
 them; past those picturesque suggestions of the one- 
 time Spanish rulers in which the antiquarian could 
 detect evidence of remote Oriental infusion; past the 
 silken seductions of shops, where ladies swarmed and 
 hummed like bees around the luscious hive ; past the 
 idlers' resorts, from whence came the rat-a-tat of 
 clinking billiard balls and the louder rumble of 
 falling ten-pins. 
 
 In a window of one of these places, a club with" 
 a reputation for exclusiveness, a young man was 
 seated, newspaper in hand, a cup of black coffee on a 
 small table before him, and the end of a cigar smok- 
 ing on the tray where he had placed it. With a yawn, 
 he had just thrown aside the paper and was reaching 
 for the thick, dark beverage— his hand thin and nerv- 
 ous—when, glancing without, he caught sight of the 
 actress in the crowd. Obeying a sudden i.npulse, U 
 arose, picking ap his hat which lay on a chair be- 
 side him. 
 
 "Yo' order am ready in a moment, Mr. Mauville," 
 said a colored servant, hurrying toward the land 
 baron as the 'latter was leaving. 
 
 "I've changed my mind and don't want it," replied 
 the other curtly. 
 
 And sauntering down the steps of the club with 
 
368 
 
 THE STROLLERS 
 
 |#^'. 
 
 «I-concealed impatience, he turned In the direction 
 the young girl had taken, keeping her retreating fig- 
 ure in view; now, so near her in the crowded street 
 he could almost touch her; then, as they left the devi- 
 ous ways, more distant, but ever with his eyes bent 
 upon her. He had almost spoken, when in the'throng 
 he approached within arm's length, but something- 
 he knew not what-restrained him, and a press of 
 people separated them. Only for a moment, and 
 then he contmued the questionable pleasure of follow- 
 ing her. 
 
 Had she turned, she would probably have seen her 
 pursuer, but absorbed in thought, she continued 
 <» her way. unconscious of his presence. On and on 
 she hurried, until she reached the tranquil outskirts 
 and lingered before the gate of one of the cemeteries. 
 At the same time the land baron slackened his foot- 
 steps, hesitating whether to advance or turn back 
 After a moment's indecision, she entered the ceme^ 
 tery; her figure, receding in the distance, was becom- 
 ing more and more indistinct, when he started for- 
 ward quickly and also passed through the gate 
 
 The annual festival of the dead, following All 
 Samts day, was being observed in the burial ground 
 TTus commemoration of those who have departed in 
 the communion— described by Tertullian in the sec- 
 ond century as an "apostolic tradition," so old was 
 the sacrifice l-was celebrated with much pomp and 
 variety in the Crescent City. In the vicinity of the 
 cemetery gathered many colored marchandes. their 
 
 ^ 
 
IN THE OLD CEMETERY 369 
 
 heads and shoulders draped in shawls and fichus of 
 bright, diversified hues; before them, perambulating 
 booths with baskets of molasses candy or pain-patate. 
 Women, dressed in mourning, bore to the tomb flow- 
 ers and plants, trays of images, wreaths, crosses, an- 
 chors of dried immortelles and artificial roses. Some 
 were accompanied by priests and acolytes with cen- 
 sers, the former intoning the service : 
 
 FUcUum Deus omnium conditor— 
 
 A solemn peace fell upon the young gjri as she en- 
 tered and she seemed to leave behind her all disturb- 
 ing emotions, finding refuge in the supreme tran- 
 quillity of this ancient city of the dead. She was 
 surrounded by a resigned grief, a sorrow so dignified 
 that it did not clash with the sweeter influences of 
 nature. The monotonous sound of the words of the 
 priests harmonized with the scene. The tongue of a 
 nation that had been resolved into the elements was 
 fitting in this place, where time and desolation had 
 left their imprint in discolored marble, inscriptions 
 almost tflfaced, and clambering vines. 
 
 — Animabus famulorum— 
 
 To many the words so mournfully intoned brought 
 solace and surcease from sorrow. The sisters of char- 
 ity moved among the throng with grave, pale faces, 
 mere shadows of their earthly selves, as though they 
 had undergone the first stage of the great metamor- 
 phosis which is promised. To them, who had al- 
 
370 
 
 THE STROLLERS 
 
 Ijeady buried health, vitality and passion was not 
 
 swm^LS IS' frA '"" "'""^ in^Worwordt 
 sweeter than the lullaby crooned by a nurse to a child 
 more sfrrtog than the patriotic hymn to a ^dS' 
 
 rrliTftlLr '"°'' '''^''' ^ ^'^ ~^ 
 Ut ln<iulgenU.m, qu.m «mper opU«runt- 
 The little orphan children heard and heeded nn 
 more than the butterfly which lighted upon the e" 
 
 wa^L'^rorb^^tr'''^' --•'^- "^^ ^' 
 
 PU» luppllcaUonibu. coiitequ«ntur- 
 
 CMStence, his head crammed with those preceots 
 which are devised for the temporal well-being oS 
 
 the b.ack-t.bed^;:eit;r::a;irz;di;; 
 
 st^s. utmiindfu, of the inscription U"h S'h^ 
 ^written by a Johnson, and as unconscious of un! 
 «emly conduct as the insects that hummed in the 
 
 "Hush I" whispered one of the sisters, as a funeral 
 cortege approached. ranerai 
 
IN THE OLD CEMETERY 37, 
 
 The children, wide-eyed in awe ana wonder, de- 
 sisted in their play. 
 
 "It is an '.Id man who died last night," said a .lun 
 qnWy ' "' '° ^°"'*'^'='' "°«i"nK her look of in- 
 
 The silver crucifix shone fitfully ahead, while the 
 
 h„r'"^ J!!. /.?"''**• "'"'^'"^ ^ '""^ °"t aft" the 
 holy symbol, fell upon the ear. And the young girl 
 
 gazed with pity as the remains of the Marquis de 
 Ligne, her father, were borne by. 
 
 Q»l vivl» et regnw. Glorificmn. te. 
 
CHAPTER XIII 
 
 AK INCONGRUOUS ROLE 
 
 Longer and longer trailed the shadow of a tall tomb- 
 stone until as the sun went down, it merged into the 
 general tw.hght like a life lengthening out and out 
 and finally blending in restful darkness. ' Vith that 
 transition came a sudden sense of isolation and lone- 
 mess; the little burial ground seemed the world- 
 the sky, its walls and ceiling. 
 »i,^?'"J'" "'JKhborhood of the gates had vanished 
 the dusky venders, trundling their booths and sUlls 
 citywards. As abruptly had disappeared the bearers 
 of flowers and artificial roses with baskets poised 
 upon their heads, imparting to their figures dignity 
 and erectness. The sad-eyed nuns had wended their 
 
 '"'^°'i'u '^^ ""'" ^"«'^°"' °^ *e departed, sur- 
 rounded by the laughing children and preceded by the 
 priests ^and acolytes. AH the sounds and activities 
 of the day-the merriment of the little ones, the ob- 
 la ions of the priests, the preetings of friends-were 
 foHowed by inertness and languor. Motionless 
 :^gainst the sky spread the branches of the trees, like 
 (372) 
 
AN INCONGRUOUS ROLE 373 
 
 Imes etched there; still were the clambering vines that 
 cbsped monolith and column 
 
 m^^rl?'!?""'' """ '""""'■'■■'''' '"" i" »«»"«•» «ni- 
 
 roanous vociferation dispelled the voiceless peace. 
 
 "For J«ck Mhore't a Craiui, I«<n, 
 With a Jill for ever^y Jack—" 
 
 sangr a hoarse voice as its owner came staggering 
 along one of the walks of the cemetery; for fu h^ 
 song, no blue-water sailor-man, but a boisterous den- 
 
 wh!! tl ^T "r "• =* '''*'"™" °' » keel-boatman, 
 who had somehow found himself in the burial ground 
 and now was beating aimlessly about. How this rol- 
 hckmg wa.f of the grog shop came to wander so far 
 from tne convivial haunts of his kind and to choose 
 this spot for a ramble, can only be explained by the 
 vagaries of inebriety. 
 
 "With a Jill In your wake, 
 A fair port youll make—" 
 
 he continued., when his eye fell upon the figure of a 
 woman, sotne distance ahead, and fairly discernible 
 m the gathering twilight. Immediately the song 
 ceased and he steadied himself, gazing incredulously 
 
 ..L^^ !?"^ "'** '''"' """''«<» his attention. 
 Hello I • he said. "Avast, my dearl" he 
 out. 
 
 .:alled 
 
 Echomg in that still place, his harsh tones produced 
 a startling effect, and the figure before him nmed 
 
SfA 
 
 THE STROLLERS 
 
 faster and faster casting a glance behind hef at the 
 man from the river, who with snatches of song! 
 started m uncertain but determined pursuit. As it 
 heavy^ ,3teps sounded nearc, sh^ inched JS 
 pace, with eyes bent upon the distant gate; darker 
 seemed to grow the way; more menacing the shad- 
 ows outstretched across the path. Loudfr crunched 
 the boots on the shell walk; more audible became the 
 words of the song that flowed from his lips, whTn the 
 sound of a sudden and violent altercatL rejta ed 
 the hoarse-toned cadence, an altercation that was of 
 
 and foHo h"^''''^'"^''' ''^ longshoreman oaths, 
 and followed by silence; and then a figure, not that 
 
 :is:d"g?r ""^™"' ^^-"^ *° *^^'^-^ ^e 
 
 "Miss Carewl" exclaimed a well-remembered voice. 
 
 Bewildered, breathing quickly, she gazed from 
 
 Edward MauviUe. who thus unexpectedly accosted 
 
 T\ l\ '." awakening from her day-dream in 
 the hush of that peaceful place, and the su^rising se- 
 
 TsTelS ''.T' '" """^' "^^' '°' thT moment. 
 It seemed something tragic must have happened 
 
 Is he dead?" she asked quickly, unable to with- 
 
 o-^Hn .1' ^ f. :°'" "^^ immovable figure, stretched 
 out m the dim light on the path. 
 
 ful'l7°»l!r'''".'t''' ^'"^'"'' ''"'"'y- =''"°«t th°"ght- 
 fully although his eyes were yet bright from the en- 
 counter. "You can't kill his kind," he added, con- 
 temptuously. "Brutes from coal barges, or raftsmen 
 
AN INCONGRUOUS ROLE 375 
 
 when he fell, and what with that, and the liquor in 
 
 rr;mt"" u"' ''^''"^- H^'" ^"""^ to without 
 remembering what has happened " 
 
 doll!'^"^ T*^"^' *" '^'^ •'^^o" ««lked slowly 
 down the road, away from the gate; she thought he 
 was about to leave her, when he paused, as tfough 
 ^^^'"^J°'f^^hi"S. stooped to the ^ound and 
 returned, holding out a garment. 
 
 awkward?v°^^TV°"\*"''' ^''' ^'^^^'" *»<> «"«. 
 awkwardly The n.ght is cold and you will need 
 
 W C .f^'''^ "o resistance when he placed it over 
 
 ttti'di! • ' ■ "^"^ """conscious of the al- 
 
 "It'^nU"".'^.^'',^' ^'"^ ''^''' S°?" he went on. 
 It wont hurt him"-indicating the motionless body 
 — stay here— the brute I" 
 
 f«?!!,f ^' ^! spoke with some constraint, her eyes, 
 full of doubts, met his, and he felt a flush mantle his 
 face The incongruity of his position appealed forci- 
 
 W t u. f ^^ "°* '^" "^"^"^'"S and following 
 her himself ? Seeing her helpless, alone, in the silen! 
 spot where she had unconsciously lingered too long 
 had he not been almost on the point of addressing her ' 
 Moved by vague desires, had he not already started 
 impetuously toward her, when the man from the river 
 had come rollicking along and insinuated himself after 
 ms fashion in the other's role ? 
 
 ^^d at the sight-the fleeing girl, the drunken, 
 profane waterman l-how his heart had leaped and 
 
376 
 
 THE STROLLERS 
 
 his body had become steel for the encounter; an ex- 
 cess of vigor for a paltry task I Jack, as he called 
 himself, might have been a fighting-man earlier in 
 the day, but nc he had gone down like straw. 
 When the exciteu.^it of this brief coUisici was over, 
 however, the land baron found his position as unex- 
 pected as puzzling. 
 
 As these thoughts swiftly crossed his mind, he 
 could not forbear a bitter laugh, and she, walking 
 more quickly toward the gate, regarded him with in- 
 quiry, not perhaps unmingled with apprehension. 
 A picture o< events, gone by, arose before her like 
 a menacing shadow over the present. He interpreted 
 her glance for what it meant, and angry that she 
 doubted him, angry with himself, said roughly: 
 "Oh, you haven't anything to fear I" 
 Her answering look was so gentle, so sad, an un- 
 wonted feeling of compunction seized him ; he repent- 
 ed of his harshness, and added less brusquely: 
 "Why did you remain so late ?" 
 "I did not realize how late it had become." 
 "Your thoughts must have been very absorbing I" 
 he exclaimed quickly, his brow once more overcast. 
 
 Not difficult was it for him to surmise upon whom 
 her mind had been bent, and involuntarily his jaw set 
 disagreeably, while he looked at her resentfully. In 
 that light he could but dimly discern her face. Her 
 bonnet had fallen from her head; her eyes were bent 
 before Ber, as though striving to penetrate the gather- 
 
AN INCONGRUOUS ROLE 377 
 
 ing darkness. With his sudden spell of jealousy 
 came the temptation to clasp her in his arms in that 
 silent, isolated place, b ;t the figure of the sailor came 
 between him and the desire, while pride, the heritage 
 of the gentleman, fought down the longing. This 
 self-conquest was not accomplished, however, without 
 a Mcrifice of temper, for after a pause, he observed: 
 "There is no accounting for a woman's trste I" 
 She did not controvert this statement, but the start 
 she gave told him the shaft had sped home. 
 
 "An outlaw! An outcast I" exclaimed the patroon, 
 stung beyond endurance by his thoughts. 
 
 Still no reply ; only more hurried footsteps I Around 
 them sounded a gentle rustling; a lizard scrambled 
 out of their path through the crackling leaves; a bat, 
 or some other winged creature, suddenly whirred be- 
 fore them and vanished. They had now approached 
 the gate, through wht i they passed and found them- 
 selves on the road leading directly to the city, whose 
 lights had already begun to twinkle in the dusk. 
 
 The cheering rumble of a carriage and the aspect 
 of the not far-distant town quickened her spirits and 
 imparted elasticity to her footsteps. Upon the land 
 baron they produced an opposite eilect, for he was 
 obviously reluctant to abandon the interview, how- 
 ever unsatisfactory it might be. There was nothing 
 to say, and yet he was loath to leave her; there was 
 nothing to accomplish, and yet he wished to remain 
 with her. For this reason, as they drew near the 
 city, his mood became darker, like the night around 
 
378 
 
 THE STROLLERS 
 
 them. Instinctively, she felt the turbulent passions 
 stirring m his bosom; his sudden silence, his dotrged 
 footsteps reawakened her misgivings. Furtively she 
 regarded him, but his eyes were fixed straight before 
 him on the soft luster above the city, the reflection of 
 the lights, and she knew and mistrusted his thoughts. 
 Although she found his silence more menacing than 
 his words, she could think of nothing to say to break 
 the spell, and so they continued to walk mutely side 
 by side. An observer, seeing them bt . ith the ■ 
 press, a lovers' promenade, with its sott, enfoloing 
 shadows, W9uld have taken them for a well-matched 
 couple, who had no need for language. 
 
 But when they had emerged from that romantic 
 lane and entered the city, the land baron breathed more 
 freely. She was now surrounded by movement and 
 din; the seclusion of the country gave way to the 
 stir of the city; she was no longer dependent on his 
 good offices: his role of protector had ended when 
 they left the cypress walk behind them. 
 
 His brow cleared; he glanced at her with ill-con- 
 cealed admiration; he noticed with secret pride the 
 attention she attracted from passers-by, the sidelong 
 looks of approval that followed her through the 
 busy streets. The land baron expanded into his old 
 self ; he strode at her side, gratified by the scrutiny 
 she invited; assurance radiated from his eyes like 
 some magnetic heat; he played at possession wilfully 
 perversely. "Why not," whispered Hope. "A 
 
 '•%. 
 
AN INCONGRUOUS ROLE ^yg 
 
 woman's mind is shifting ever. Her fancy-a breath I 
 
 i he other is gone. Why " 
 
 "It was not accident my being in the cemetery, Miss 
 Uirew, said Mauville, suddenly covering her with his 
 glance. Meeting her look of surprise unflinchingly, 
 he contmued: "I followed you there; through the 
 streets, into the country! My seeing you first was 
 chance; my presence in the burial ground the result 
 of that chance. The inevitable result!" he repeated 
 softly. "As inevitable as life! Life; what is it? In- 
 fluences which control us; forces which bind us! It 
 IS you, or all ; you or nothing!" 
 
 She did not reply; his voice, vibrating with feeling, 
 touched no answering cho.d. - Nevertheless, a new 
 mexphcable wave of sorrow moved her. It might be 
 he had cared for her as sincerely as it was possible 
 for his wayward heart to care for any one. Ptrhaps 
 time would yet soften his faults, and temper his rash- 
 ness. With that shade of sorrow for him there came 
 compassion as well; compassion that overlooked the 
 past and dwelt on the future. 
 
 She raised her steady eyes. "Why should it be 
 
 I or nothing,' as you put it?" she finally answered 
 
 slowly. Influences may control us in a measure, but 
 
 we may also strive for something. We can always 
 
 strive. ^ 
 
 "For what? For what we don't want ? That's the 
 philosophy of your moralists, Miss Carew," he ex- 
 claimed. "That's your modem ethics of duty. Play- 
 
3a> THE STROLLERS 
 
 Sm ^fo, V n ^''7"= '" ^*"^'"«'" he added, 
 naif resentfully, half imploringly, "strive to care for 
 me but a little. But a littlel" he said a^i^? ^?JZ 
 
 17 ".T'^f- ""'' ^'^ h^ve nothing but a 1 1 
 content to ask, to plead, for but a little " 
 
 ki„wt**?."u '^'"°"'" ''"= '■'=?"'=''- we-rily, yet not un- 
 kindly, "why we should not be friends " 
 
 forfrfr ''*' ^''^«=«^. bitterly. "I do not bee 
 
 you nrgSve°tr ""' °' — gementl Will 
 .She tumid and looked into his eyes, and. before 
 
 she spoke, he knew what her answer wo^ld be 
 
 How can I?" she said, simply. "Why should I 
 
 promise something I can never fulfil?" ^ "''^ ' 
 
 ^_ He held her glance as though loath to hkve it leave 
 
 Ih^'J ^ y°y^in?" he asked, abruptly. 
 
 She shook her head. His gaze fell, seeing no soft- 
 enrag m her clear look. ™ng no sott- 
 
 "You are well named," he repeated, more to himself 
 Jan to her. "Constancel You are constant ta^^ot 
 dislikes as well as your likes." ^ 
 
 "I have no dislike for you," she replied "It a«^« 
 to have been left behind me somewhe« " 
 
 Only indifference, then I" he said, dully 
 
 No; not indifference!" 
 "You do care what-may become of me?" ' 
 
AN INCONGRUOUS ROLE 381 
 
 "Yon should do so much-lx: so much in the world » 
 she answered, thoughtfully. ' 
 
 "^•"^ Peur et sans refrocher he cried half- 
 amused. half-cheerlessly. "What a pity I ™«'yo„!!- 
 
 They were now at the broad entrance of the bril- 
 hamly-hghted hotel. Several loungers, smoking thel 
 af er-dinner cgars, gazed at the couple curioufly. 
 Mauville's a lucky dog," said one. ^ 
 
 Yes; he was bom with a silver spoon," reolied 
 the person addressed. ^ 
 
 l.i^J'^ ^"^'^ *'"■""«* ^^ ^"^'"^ throng, the 
 land baron had regained his self-command, although 
 I1.S face was marked with an unusual pallor. Inhh 
 mmd one thought was paramount-thafthe walk £ 
 gun at the burial-ground was drawing to an end • their 
 last walk; the finale of all between them I Ye^^he 
 could call to mind nothing further to say. His stor^ 
 had been told; the conclusion reached. She, t^ ha^ 
 spoken, and he knew she would never spe;k"if£- 
 
 sT.^;^ f'T '' ""f """"^ '" ^'^^"^' ^^ "«w and 
 
 T^J^'^"^' " **''*""'* "P<^ him he had never 
 
 understood himself and her; that he had never rea'y 
 
 f^nZ, ul °^' .*'"• ^'^ •"•= '"^ ''"ashed, con- 
 thS ' /T '^'^"''- P^''^'°"' «P"^e, fancy, 
 he had seen depth in their shallows, but now looked 
 down and discerned the pebbly bottc;n. AlUhS^Ld 
 much more surged through his brain as he made ^s 
 way through the crowd, and. entering the coSor o 
 
38a 
 
 THE STROLLERS 
 
 "Good-ni^t Miss Carew." he said, gravely. 
 Good-mght ' she replied. And then, on the step.. 
 
 SL^TXr^''"- «'»>■•"'• --'•^^^ 
 
 .n^"* ^!:'^''^' '°^ "thank you I" he knew was 
 all he wou^d ever receive from her. He hardly felt 
 the hand-clasp; he was hardly conscious when she 
 turned away A heavier hand fell upon his shoulder. 
 You sly dogi" said a thick voice. "Well, a judge 
 wJ°°*L- "* "/ J*"**^ °* " i^ondsome woman I 
 
 ^iZZ "^ "P M, ^'* "^^ °" ** ^"'"^ to-morrow. 
 Colonel Ogelby will nde Dolly D. and I'm to ride my 
 
 Gladiator. It'll be a gentlemen's race." 
 
 ^J^t we gentlem..?" growled a professional 
 
 J!f!'"J!'* ^l^^ *^' ^ ^'' ''«"■«» « i«*ey pre- 
 tend to be one I" chuckled the first speake . "What 
 do you say, Mauville?" " 
 
 'mat do I say?" repeated the land baron, striving 
 to collect h.', thoughts. "What-why. I'll make il 
 J^u'S!?. *°""»* " y°« ride your own horse. 
 
 ''Win?" interrupted the proud owner. 
 
 •^o; fall oflF before he's at the second quarter!" 
 Done I" said the man, immediately. 
 
 "Huzza I" shouted the crowd. 
 
 "That's the way they bet on a gentlemen's racer- 
 jeered the gleeful jockey. 
 
AN INCONGRUOUS ROLE 383 
 
 "Drinks on Gladiatorl" exclaimed some one. And 
 as no southern gentleman was ever known to refuse 
 
 riJ?hJ° "•'■""^ °' " *°'^"' *« P»rty ear- 
 ned the discussion to the barroom. 
 
BOOK III 
 THE FINAL CUE 
 

CHAPTER I 
 
 OVERLOOKING THE COURT-YARD 
 
 "In the will of the Marquis de Ligne, probated 
 yesterday, all of the property, real and personal, is 
 left to his daughter, Constance," wrote Straws in his 
 paper shortly after the passing of the French noble- 
 man. "The document states this disposition of prop- 
 erty is made as 'an act of atonement and justice to 
 my daugh':er, whose mother I deserted, taking ad- 
 vantage of the French law to annul my marriage in 
 England.' The legitimacy of the birth of this, his 
 only child, is thereupon fully acknowledged by the 
 marquis after a lapse of many years and long after 
 the heretofore unrecognized wife had died, deserted 
 and forgotten. Thrown on her own resources, the 
 young child, with no other friend than Manager 
 Barnes, battled with the world; now playing in tav- 
 erns or bams, like the players of interludes, the stroll- 
 ers of old, or 'vagabonds', as the great and mighty 
 Junius, from his lofty plane, termed them. The story 
 of that period of 'vagrant' life adt'. ■ ne more chapter 
 (387) 
 
 ■^Sp* - 
 
*j^^sm^M 
 
 388 
 
 THE STROLLERS 
 
 t 
 
 s» ST ^'"■■ '^""^ »» «.j r4 .s 
 
THE COURT-YARD 
 
 389 
 
 M. although the marquis and his lady had no 
 funh^ interest in subsequent events, growing out of 
 
 afforded a theme of gossip for the living and molded 
 the affairs of one m new shape and manner. On the 
 same day this public exposition appeared, Barnes and 
 
 mJ°^1 rT"" "^^'^ '^"''^ '" "^^ >>* office of 
 Marks and Culver, a room overlooking a court-yard 
 
 brightened by statues and urns of flowers. A plaster 
 
 bust of Justmian gazed benignly through the window 
 
 1th H Tvf' °J ^ 'i'.'' "'g^^^'"^ of Jeremy Bentham 
 watched the butterflies, and Hobbes and John Austin, 
 austere ,n portraiture, frowned darkly down upon the 
 flowering garden. While the manager and Co!istance 
 waited for the attorney to appear, they were discuss- 
 ing;, not for the first time, the proviso of the will to 
 which Straws had regretfully alluded. 
 
 "Yes," said Barnes, folding the newspaper which 
 contained Straws' article and placing it in h^ pocket; 
 you should ceruinly give up the stage. We must 
 think of the disappointments, the possible failure, the 
 slender reward. There was your mother-such an 
 actress !-yet toward the last the people flocked to a 
 younger nval. I have often thought anxiously of your 
 future, for I am old-yes, there is no denying iti-and 
 any day I may leave you, dependent solely upon your- 
 sell. 
 
 «w°°i.T.'P**'' "''^ *•'*'-" *^ answered, tenderly. 
 We shall be together many, many years." 
 "Always, if I had my way," he returned, heartily. 
 
390 
 
 THE STROLLERS 
 
 ^«h I ? ' .r" "" "°^ " P^rt °f *« capricious 
 
 pubhc, my dear " he added in a jocular tone, "and 
 may applaud the 'heavy father,' myself, or prattle 
 about prevailmg styles while the buskined tragedian 
 jsstruttmg below your box. Why tur. to a WM. 
 bargam? Fame is a jade, only caught after our illu- 
 sions are gone and she seems not half so sweet as 
 when pursumg her in our dreams !" 
 
 But as he spoke, with forced lightness, beneath 
 which, however, the young girl could readily detect 
 the vein of taxiety and regret, she was regarding him 
 with the clear eyes of affection. His face, seamed 
 with many lines and bearing the deeply engraved 
 hand^vntmg of time, spoke plainly of declining years • 
 every lineament was eloquent with vicissitudes en- 
 dured; and as she discerningly read that varied past of 
 which her own brief career had been a part, there 
 entered her mind a brighter picture of a tranquil life 
 for him at last where in old age he could exchange 
 uncertainty and activity for security and rest. How 
 could she refuse to do as he desired? How often 
 since fate had wrought this change in her life had she 
 asked herself the question? 
 
 Her work, it is true, had grown dearer to her than 
 ever; of late she had thrown herself into her task 
 with an ardor and earnestness lifting each portrayal 
 to a higher plane. Is it that only with sorrow 'cimes 
 the fulness of art; that its golden gates are never 
 swung entirely open to the soul bearing no burden? 
 
THE COURT-YARD 391 
 
 Closed to ruder buffetings, is it only to the sesame of 
 
 f.rv.-^°'^l T P""^^'' 'P""S: magically back? But 
 for h,s sake she must needs pause on the threshold 
 
 o XeT ' '."' '""' ''"' ^"''"'°" ^hich of itself 
 TnT^^lt '""°" °^ " <=^'"'' ""eventful exist- 
 
 Sth;, n5\^'' ^°""^ '"^ ^"" °^ «=°""g<=' but the 
 «ll K? ^'7'"" ™°'" ^^' b^^«: "O'nething i„- 
 exphcable had awakened her fears for him; shf be- 
 heved h.m far ftom well of late, although he laughed 
 at her apprehensions and protested he had never been 
 oetter m his life. 
 
 Now, reading the anxiety in his face as he watched 
 meeting h" '^^^^"""^'y' ^er glance, full of love. 
 
 '■Everything shall be as you wish," she said, softly. 
 You know what is best I" 
 
 The rnanager's face lighted perceptibly, but before 
 he could answer the door opened, and Culver, the 
 attorney, entered. With ruddy countenance and 
 youthful bearing, in antithesis to the hair, silvered 
 with white, he was one of those southern gentlemen 
 who grow old gracefully. The law was his task- 
 master; he practised from a sense of duty, but ever 
 held that those who rushed to court were likely 
 to repeat the experience of Voltaire, who had twice 
 been rumed: once when he lost a law suit; the sec- 
 ond time, when he won one I Nevertheless, people 
 
 TnCn ir"'"^ *° ^"'^'^ ~"'^ -'— ^ 
 "Well. Miss Carew," he now exclaimed, after 
 
392 
 
 THE STROLLERS 
 
 warmly greeting his visitors, "have you disburdened 
 yourself of .-ejudice against this estate? Wealth 
 may be a little hardship at first, but soon you won't 
 mind it." 
 
 "Not a bit I" spoke up Barnes. "It's as easy to get 
 
 used to as-^joverty, and we've had plenty of thatl" 
 
 You know the other condition?" she said half- 
 
 defiantly, half-sadly. "You are to be with me al- 
 
 ways. 
 
 "How can you teach an old dog new tricks?" pro- 
 tested Barnes. "How can you make a fine man about 
 town out of a 'heavy father?' " 
 
 "The 'heavy father' is my father. I never knew any 
 other. I am glad I never did." 
 
 "Hoity-toity I" he exclaimed scofKngly, but pleased 
 nevertheless. 
 
 "You can't put me off that way," she said, decisive- 
 ly, with a sudden flash in her eyes he knew too well 
 to cross. "Either you leave the stage, too, or—" 
 "Of course, my dear, of course—" 
 "Then it's all settled you will accept the encum- 
 brance to which you have fallen heir," resumed 
 Culver. "Even if there had been no will in your fa- 
 vor, the State of Louisiana follows the French law, 
 and the testator can under no circumstances alienate 
 more than half his property, if he leave issue or de- 
 scendants. Had the old will itmained, its provisions 
 could not have been legally carried out." • 
 
 "The old will?" said Barnes. "Then there was an- 
 other will?" 
 
THE COURT-YARD 393 
 
 ''One made before he was aware of your existence, 
 Prosper"'^*' ■" ^''^°'' °^ ^" ^"'^' ^'""='' S'''"'- 
 "Emest Saint-Prosper I" 
 
 Constance's cheeks flamed crimson, and her quick 
 start of sutpr.se did not escape the observant lawyer. 
 te?r'nce*°°' "^ '"^^^^ "^^ *''" ""expected in- 
 "Saint-Prosper was the marquis' ward?" he cried. 
 The attorney transferred his gaze from the expres- 
 sive features of his fair client to the open countenance 
 of the manager. "Yes," he said. 
 Om^tancr^""'*' *'*''* inherited this property but for 
 '■Exactlyl But you knew him, Mr. Barnes?" 
 He was an occupant of the chariot, sir," rephed 
 the manager, with some feeling. "We met in the 
 Shadengo Valley; the company was in sore straits 
 and--and-to make a long story short !-he joined 
 our band and traversed the continent with us. And 
 sohe was the marquis' ward! It seems almost in- 
 credible I 
 
 "Yes," affirmed Culver; "when General Saint- 
 Prosper, his father, died, Ernest Saint-Prosper, who 
 was then but a boy, became the marquis' ward and a 
 member of his household." 
 
 "Well, well, how things do come about!" ruminated 
 Barnes. -To think he should have been the prospec- 
 tive heir, and Constance, the real one I" 
 
394 
 
 THE STROLLERS 
 
 "Where is he now?" asked the attorney, thoueht- 
 lully. 
 
 "He has gone to Mexico; enlisted I But how do 
 you know he — 
 
 "Had expectations? The marquis told me about 
 a quarrel they had had; he was a staunch imperialist; 
 the young man as firm a republican 1 What would 
 be the natural outcome ? They parted in bitter anger." 
 "And then the maiquis made him his heir?" ex- 
 claimed the manager, incredulously. "How do you 
 reconcile that?" 
 
 The attorney smiled. "Through the oddity of my 
 client! 'Draw up my will,' said the marquis to me 
 one day, 'leaving all my property to this republican 
 young dog. That will cut off the distant relatives 
 who made the sign of the cross behind my back as 
 though I were the evil one. They expect it all- he 
 expects nothing I It will be a rare joke. I leave 
 than my affection-and the privilege of having masses 
 said for ray soul.' The marquis was always of a 
 satincal temperament." 
 
 "So it seems," commented the manager. "But he 
 changed his mind and his will again?" 
 "After he met Miss Carew." 
 "Met met" exclaimed Constance, aroused from a 
 maze of reflection. 
 
 "Near the cathedral! He walked and talked with 
 you. 
 
 "That poor old man—" 
 
THE COURT-YARD 395 
 
 "And then came here, acknc pledged you as his 
 daughter, and drew up the final document " 
 
 "That accounts for a call I had from him I" cried 
 
 Barnes, telling the story of the marquis' visit. 
 
 iJtrange, I did not suspect something of the truth at 
 
 the time, he concluded, "for his manner was certainly 
 
 unusual." ■' 
 
 A perplexed light shone in the girl's eyes; she 
 clasped and unclasped her hands quickly, turning to 
 the lawyer. 
 
 "Their quarrel was only a political difference?" she 
 asked at length. 
 
 "Yes," said the other, slowly. "Saint-Prosper re- 
 fused to support the fugitive king. Throughout the 
 parliamentary government, the restoration under 
 Louis XVIII, and the reign of King Charles X the 
 marquis had ever a devout faith in the divine right 
 of monarchs. He annulled his marriage in England 
 with your mother to marry the Duchesse D'Argens a 
 relative of the royal princess. But Charles abdicated 
 and the duchesse died. All this, however, is painful 
 to you, Miss Carew?" 
 
 "Only such as relates to my mother," she replied 
 in a clear tone. "I suppose I should feel grateful for 
 this fortune, but I am afraid I do not. Please eo 
 on." ^ 
 
 Culver leaned back in his chair, his glance bent 
 
 upon a discolored statue of Psyche in the court-yard. 
 
 Had the marquis attended to his garden, lik« Can- 
 
396 
 
 THE STROLLER 5 
 
 3 ! 
 
 ♦ ^ 
 
 dide. or your humble servant, and eschewed the com- 
 pany of kings he might have been as care-free as he 
 was wretched. His monarchs were knocked down 
 like nine-pins. Louis XVHI was a man of str«w; 
 Charles X, a feather-top, and Louis Philippe, a toy 
 ruler. The marquis' domestic life was as unblest as 
 his political career. The frail duchesse left him a 
 progeny of scandals. These, the only oflFspring of 
 the inuiuitous dame, were piquantly dressed in the 
 journals for public parade. Fancy, then, his delight 
 in disinheriting his wife's relatives, and leaving you, 
 his daughter, his fortune and his namel" 
 
 "His name?" she repeated, sadly. With averted 
 face she watched the fountain in the garden. "If he 
 had given it to my mother," she continued, "but 
 now— I do not care for it. Her name is all I want." 
 Her voice trembled and she exclaimed passionately: 
 "I should rather Mr. Saint-Prosper would keep the 
 property and I— my work! After denying my mother 
 and deserting her. how can I accept anything from 
 him?" 
 
 "Under the new will," said Culver, "the estate does 
 not revert to Mr. Saint-Prosper in any event. But 
 you might divide it with him?" he added, suddenly 
 
 "How could I do that?" she asked, without lookine 
 up. ^ 
 
 "Marry him I" laughed the attorney. 
 
 But the jest met with scant response, his fair client 
 :emaming motionless as a sutue, while Barnes gazed 
 at her furtively. Culver's smile gradually faded; un- 
 
THE COURT-YARD 
 
 397 
 
 certain how to proceed, realizing his humor had some- 
 how miscarried, he was not sorry when the manager 
 arose, saying: 
 
 "Well, my dear, it is time we were at the theater " 
 •'Won't you accept this nosegay from my garden, 
 Miss Carew?" urged the lawyer in a propitiatory tone 
 as they were leaving. 
 
 And the attorney not only accompanied them to the 
 door, but down-stairs to the street, where he stood 
 for a moment watching them drive down the thor- 
 oughfare. Then he slowly returned, breathing heav- 
 ily— mvidious contradiction of his youthful assump- 
 tion!— and shaking his head, as he mounted to his 
 room. 
 
 "Culver, you certainly put your foot in it that time 1" 
 he muttered. "How she froze at my suggestion ! Has 
 there been some passage of arms between them' Ap- 
 parently! But here am I, pondering over romances 
 with all this legal business staring me in the face I" 
 His glance swept a chaos of declarations, bills, affida- 
 vits and claims. "Confound the musty old court- 
 house and the bustling Yankee lawyers who set such 
 a disturbing pace! There is no longer gentlemanly 
 leisure in New Orleans." 
 
 He seated himself with a sigh before a neg- 
 lected brief. In the distance the towers of the cathe- 
 dral could be seen, reminding the attorney ^f the ad- 
 jacent halls of justice in the scraggy-looking square, 
 with Its turmoil, its beggars, and apple women in the 
 lobbies ; its ancient, offensive smell, its rickety stairs. 
 
I 
 
 398 
 
 THE STROLLERS 
 
 .^r •""• ''°*«^"- *e plaster bust of JusttaS^"' 
 
 plation of the garden as though turning from the 
 complex jurisprudence of the ancients and m^eml 
 to the smiple existence of butterflies and flowe« 
 
CHAPTER II 
 
 ONLY A SHADOW 
 
 TKere is an aphorism to the effect that one can not 
 spend and have; also, a saying about the whirlwind, 
 both of which in time came home to the land baron. 
 For several generations the Mauville family, bearing 
 one of the proudest names in Louisiana, had held 
 marked prestige under Spanish and French rule, while 
 extensive plantations indicated the commercial ascend- 
 ency of the patroon's ancestors. The thrift of his fore- 
 fathers however, passed lightly over Edward Mau- 
 ville Sent to Paris by Ms mother, a widow, who 
 could deny him nothing, in the course of a few years he 
 had squandered two plantations and several hundred 
 negroes. Her death placed him in undisputed posses- 
 sion of the residue of the estate, when finding the ex- 
 acting details of commerce irksome, in a momem of 
 weakness, he was induced to dispose of some of his 
 possessions to Yankee speculators who had come in 
 with the flood of northern energy. Most of the money 
 thus realized he placed in loose investments, while the 
 (399) 
 
400 
 
 THE STROLLERS 
 
 lu 
 
 ( i 
 
 remainder gradually disappeared in indulging his 
 pleasures. ^ 
 
 At this critical stage in his fortune»-or misfor- 
 tunes-the patroon's legacy had seemed timely, and 
 h.s tnp to the North followed. But from a swa™ of 
 creditors, to a nest of anf— »ers, was out of the 
 frymg-pan into the fire, ha..cning his return to the 
 Crescent City, where he was soon forced to make an 
 assigmnent of the remaining property. A score of 
 hun^ lawyers hovered around the sinking estate, 
 greedily jealous lest some one of their number should 
 batten top gluttonously at this general collation It 
 was the one topic of interest ir. the musty, dusty court- 
 house until the end appeared with the following an- 
 nouncement in the local papers : 
 
 "Annottce/ Vente importante de NigresI Mau- 
 viUe estate in bankruptcy!" 
 
 And thereafter were specified the diflferent tote of 
 negroes to be sold. 
 
 Cdncident with these disasters came news from the 
 North regarding his supposedly immense interests in 
 ^y 7^ „^."'*'- ^ ~"*«t"tional convention had 
 abolished all feudal tenures and freed the fields from 
 baronial burdens. At a breath-like a house of cards 
 -the northern heritage was swept away and about 
 all that remamed of the principality was the worthless 
 ancent deed itself, representing one of the largest 
 colonial grants. 
 
 But even the sale of the negroes and his other 
 merchandise and property failed to satisfy his clamor- 
 
ONLY A SHADOW 401 
 
 ou» creditors or to pay hU gambling debts. Those 
 obligations at crds it was necessary to meet, so he 
 moved out of his bachelor apartments, turned over 
 his expensive furnishings and bric-4-brac to the gam- 
 blers and snapped his fingers at the over-anxious con- 
 stables and lawyers. 
 
 As time went by evidence of his reverses insidiously 
 arept mto his personal appearance. He who had been 
 the leader now clung to the tail-ends of style, and it 
 was a novel sensation when one day he noticed a friend 
 scrutimzmg his garments much in the same critical 
 manner that he had himself erstwhile affected. This 
 glance rested casually on the hat ; strayed carelessly to 
 the waistcoat ; wandered absently to the trousers, down 
 one leg and up the other; superciliously jumped over 
 the waistcoat .wd paused the infinitesimal part of a 
 second on the neck-tie. Mauville learned in that mo- 
 ment how the eye may wither and humble, without 
 giving any ostensible reason for oflfense. The attitude 
 of this mincing fribble, as he danced twittingly awav 
 was the first intimation Mauville had received that he 
 would soon be relegated to the ranks of gay adven- 
 turers thronging the city. He who had watched his 
 estates vanish with an unruffled countenance now be- 
 came disconcerted over the width of his trousers and 
 the shape of his hat. 
 
 His new ..ome was in the house of an aged 
 quadroon who had been a servant in his family many 
 years ago— how long no one seemed to remember!— 
 and who had been his nurse before she had received 
 
403 
 
 THE STROLLERS 
 
 hff freedom. She enjoyed the distinction of beine 
 n^h "■ r r^'^^^hood; her fetishes had / jTef 
 no other witch's possessed, and many of the ne^^I 
 ^^r^u^'l '°"^ "'^''-'"^ *° have'possesL ?^' 
 tTem M "IT'' "^r """''^^ ^'' threshold to ^ 
 Ijr. T^'"'' *'•'" ^^ ^°""d fortune slippW 
 away from h.m and ruin staring him in the face haf 
 
 S"e.^^ '"■'''"tj- ••" '"'^^ t" *is unhalW d 
 
 dJas evi'"' "'" •'^ '='''^^'' ^° --^«. confi- 
 ' But inaction soon chafed his restless nature and 
 drove h.m forth in spite of himself irom the I r^ts 
 m that quarter of the town^here the^ s of S 
 ous-cotored houses formed stTange geometrical fibres 
 and the wmdows were bright «ith flaring head-dr^s7s 
 beneath wh.ch looked out curious visages of ebony 
 t^Se7. °™f ^ '"'" ^"'^" " Peregrifation. hTde': 
 t^rSdr"' ' ""-•= °* ^"^^^ - ""'-''^t-^ 
 Pausing before a doorway, the land baron looked 
 th.s way and that, and seeing only the rotTmg ^ 
 of a p,ckanmny fastened upon him, hurried throS 
 the entrance. Hanging upon the walls were red 3 
 gre^n pods ar>d bunches of dried herbs of unquestion- 
 able vrtue belonging to the old crone's phama- 
 cop«.a. Mauville slowly ascended the dark sSrs 
 andreached his retreat, a small apartment, with £ 
 ture of cane-work and floor covered with .ea-g^ • 
 
 4:\ m 
 
■■# 
 
 NLY A SHADOW 
 
 ^ 403 
 
 the ceiiai low and the windows narrow, opening upon 
 a mm«ture balcony that offered space for one Ld^o 
 
 iJdfn^* ^°'' ^'^'^' "^'^ '^ '"^°'^S voice on the 
 "Yes. auntie," replied the land baron, as an old 
 
 sur^rfii',"^'"' ^'""^ '^' ''^'^''y ^^" "P^" her. and 
 Zl^r, "'°V''' "^"^ ^""^" °" her curiously 
 wnnHed face-five score, or more, for even the ne- 
 groes did not profess to know how old she was. Her 
 Bei,: figure, watery eyes and high shrill voice bore 
 additional testimony to her age. 
 
 "Yo's home krlier dan usuaUearie ?" she resumed. 
 I But yo supper's all ready. Sit down her- " 
 I'm not hungry, auntie." he returned. 
 
 "Yo^waftl"^' "^^TZ ''*= '"""• '^"^hing shrilly. 
 Yo wait I And she disappeared into an adjoining 
 room, soon to emerge with a steaming platter, which 
 She set on the snow-white cover of the little table 
 Removing the lid from the dish, she hobbled back a 
 
 tl.T^" V"^"^, ^" ^"' ^'* triumphant ex- 
 pectation. "Dat make yo' eat." 
 
 •'What a cook you are. mammy 1" he said, lightly. 
 You would give a longing tooth to satiety." 
 * ; De debil blow de fire," she answered, chuckling. 
 
 Then , the devil is a chef dc cuisine. This sauce 
 IS bewitchmg." 
 
404 
 
 THE STROLL 
 
 ^ 
 
 lick 
 
 "Yo' like it?" Delighted. 
 miStV'"" '■" ''""• ^f-. "«- 'y. Old 
 ^No. he only blow de fire." she ^iterated, with . 
 
 "A"f "T •**« to *ee me, mammy r 
 
 here So' whl*rr" ?^''"= *" «='"'"«' »»«« 
 nere Defo who take yo' message about de trooos- 
 
 ^he„ dey go from New Oriels; hot ZAT^l; 
 
 knowTjTll*'"' """"''' ""' ''''"' '»"'<*'y- "You 
 
 "vJ^'k!!""''''" /■" »"»w«^««. shaking her head 
 Yo be berry careful, Mar's'r Edward." 
 
 ^_ Wiat did he want ?" said the land baron, quickly 
 
 itor a shp of paper on wh ch a few word. ».,. 
 written. "What dat mean?" *''' 
 
 ba^hSr.' "" ^"^ ""•^' "^y'" P-hing 
 "Gwine away I" she repeated. "When's yo' gwine?" 
 
 river al^r'' P^'**'^ *'^"'^''* -«: doCtTe 
 Sr. ' ^'"^ ■"" ^"'^'"^ himself i„ a 
 
 "How long yo' gwine away foh?» 
 Perhaps forever, auntie I" 
 
 J'^°\^°^ «*^' ***"■'»'' Edward? Not fob wod?" 
 Ifc nodded and she broke into loud wailing ^o's 
 
 I knows why yo's gwine, Mar's'r Edward. I's h«nl 
 
, ONLY A SHADOW 405 
 
 yo' telldn* about her in yo' sleep. But yo' stay and 
 foh Tu'^^ ^ " '°''-'^'''"" '"^ y""' "^ 'he's^o's. 
 This offer, coming from one of her uncanny reputa- 
 tion, would have been accepted with implicit faith 
 
 to tHst V ' '7"7 '" ^^ '°««'^' -Perstitious 
 to the last degree, but MauvilleJaughed carelessly. 
 
 Pshaw mammy I Do you tink I would fly from 
 a woman? Do I look as though I needed a charm?" 
 
 crone ' """' "^^'^'^ ^°''" "'*'* ** «f«uated 
 
 .Jr^^f u*"*"^ ^'"^ "^'^^ ••«■ P"'=''««d face and 
 she lifted her arms despairingly, rocking her body to 
 
 and fro, while she mumbled unintelligible words which 
 would have caused the negroes to draw away from 
 . her with awe. for the spell was on her. But the land 
 baron only regarded her carelessly as she muttered 
 somethmg pertaining to spells and omens. 
 
 Come, auntie." he said impatiently at last, "you 
 know I don't believe in this tom-foolery." 
 
 She turned to him vehemently. "Don't go whar 
 yo^ thmkm' Ob gwine. honey." she implored. "Yo'll 
 nebber come back, foh suah-foh suahl I see yo' 
 lym dar honey, in de dark valley-whar de mists 
 am nsm-and I hears a bugle soundin'-and de 
 tramp of horses. Dey am all gone, honey-and de mists 
 come back-but yo' am dar-lying dar-de mountains 
 around yo-yo' am dar fo'ebber and ebber and-" 
 Here she broke into wild sobbing and moaning, toss- 
 ing her white hair with her trembling withered arms. 
 
4o6 
 
 THE STROLLERS 
 
 .* 
 
 a moving picture of an inspired dusky sibyl. Mau- 
 
 ville shrugged his shoulders. 
 
 "We're losing time, mammy," he exclaimed. "Stop 
 this nonsense and go pack a few things for me I 
 have some letters to write." 
 
 The old woman reluctantly obeyed, and the land 
 baron penned a somewhat lengthy epistle to his one- 
 time master in Paris, the AhU Moneau, whose disao 
 proval of the Anglo-Saxon encroachments-witness 
 Louisiana !-and zeal for the colonization of the Latm 
 races are matters of history. Having completed his 
 epistle, the land baron placed it in the old crone's hand 
 to mail with: "If that man calls again, tell him I'll 
 meet him to-night," and, leaving the room, shot 
 through the doorway, once more rapidly walking 
 down the shabby thoroughfare. The a? negro 
 woman stumbled out upon the balcony and ^ J after 
 the departing figure still moaning softly to herself 
 and shaking her head in anguish. 
 
 "Fo'ebber and ebber," she repeated in a wailing 
 tone. Below a colored boy gazed at her in wonder- 
 ment. 
 
 "What debblement am she up to now?" he said to 
 a girl seated in a doorway. "When de old witch 
 am like dat — " 
 
 "Come in dar, yo' black imp I" And a vigorous 
 
 a™ pulled the lad abruptly through the opening. 
 
 tf she sees yo', she can strike yo' dead, foh suah!" 
 
 The crone could no longer distinguiah Mauville— 
 her eyes w?r? nearly sightlws-but she continHcd to 
 
ONLY A SHADOW 407 
 
 '^Ikk!'''' "^ri*!"" ^^ '""' *^'^™' "obbing as before- 
 Foebberandebber! Fo'ebber and ebberl" 
 
 lanH ^ "w """" ^ fashionable thoroughfare, the 
 land baron's footstep relaxed and he relapsed into hil 
 languorous, mdolent air. The shadows of tSgh 
 
 lZ/tT"l. T. '''^'' '""' ' Caribbee-s^S 
 breeze was wafted from the gulf across the city It 
 
 swept through the broad avenues and narrow high 
 
 ways, and sighed among the trees of the oldlr^ 
 
 Seatmg h,mself absently n one of the ^ubHc 
 
 ^ches MauviUe removed h. hat to allow the cc« 
 
 Canal Street, where the long rows of gas lights now 
 gleamed through the foliage; thence into a s!de thor 
 
 ing before a doorway, illumined by a single y^ow 
 
 I^e'thfe f ""=' '" '"^ ''''' ^"-^ threaten' d": 
 ZhJ^t T ? *°*^' °''^'=""'y- Mounting two 
 
 thf land h "' "^ ^!!" "^''**^'' "^ '"^^ hall Wow, 
 I„H ^ ^. /'^"''''^ " ''°°^^^y- ^here he paused 
 and knocked. In answer to his summons a slide was 
 
 TaS^hSr ' ^^ "^^-'' ''' -«- «-- 
 
 "Who is it?" 
 
 .W-^.'^''* °;1*' ^'•^'" S''"^'^'" said the caller 
 Mipatiently. "Open the door." 
 
 tolhehT ^'^^''^ '"'^ "'" ^'"'^'^ ^"^ *« ''dmitted 
 n tL« °^ '" "'■^"'^"tion which had its inception 
 in Texas, a society not unlike the Secret Session 
 Legation of the Civil War, having for its object ihe 
 
408 
 
 THE STROLLERS 
 
 ■| }' 
 
 overthrow of the government, the carrying of mails 
 and despatches and other like business. Here was 
 gathered a choice aggregation of Mexican sympathiz- 
 ers, a conclave hostile to the North. Composed of 
 many nationalities, the polished continental adven- 
 turer rubbed shoulders with the Spanish politicians ; 
 the swarthy agents of Santa Anna brushed against the 
 secret enonies of northern aggression. A small bar, 
 unpretentious but convenient, occupied a portion of 
 one end of the room, and a brisk manipulator of juleps 
 presided over this popular comer. 
 
 Half-disdainfuUy, the land baron mingled with the 
 heterogeneous assembly; half-ironically, his eye 
 swept the group at the bar— the paid spy, the needy 
 black-sheep; the patriot, the swashbuckler; men with 
 and without a careei. As Mauville stepped forward, a 
 quiet, dark-looking man, obviously a Mexican, not 
 without a certain distinguished carriage, immediately 
 approached the newcomer. 
 
 "You have come ? Good i" he said, and drew Mau- 
 ville aside. They conversed in low tones, occasionally 
 glancing about them at the others. 
 
 In the hall below the rhythm of a waltz now made 
 itself heard, and the land baron, having received cer- 
 tain papers which committed him to a hazardous serv- 
 ice, prepared to leave. 
 
 "Here's luck I" said a man on his left, raising his 
 glass. At these words several of the company 
 turned. 
 
ONLY A SHADOW 409 
 
 fragnmt juleps were "sent," as the land baron uncere- 
 moniously tore himself away from the group 
 
 They say the floods are rising," said the man with 
 whom Mauville had conferred, at the door . 
 
 All the better if the river's running wild I" an- 
 swered the other. "It will be easier ^runntg S^ 
 
 "Yes," returned the Mexican, extending his hand 
 v^Jh^^a smile; "in this case, there's safly in dL- 
 
 « "i?f ' ^^'^'^gi" replied the land baron, lightly, 
 as he descended the stairs. ' 
 
 v,W .r*'''i"*^ *' ^°°' '*'°* •«= ^« afforded a 
 view through an open door into a large room, lighted 
 
 r,*jry "^P*' *»•'« '^ q"='droon dance, or "soci- 
 ety tell, was m progress. After a moment's hesita- 
 taon he entered and stoci in the glare, watching the 
 waltzers. Around the wall were dusky chap^ons 
 guardmg the.r charges with the watchfulness of old 
 dowagers protecting their daughters from the ad- 
 vances of younger sons. Soft eyes flashed invitingly 
 
 =^"!"i ^f '' '''"*'• '"*' *''* '«^^'^ momentarily 
 attracted Mauville, as he followed the movements of 
 the waltzers and heard the strains of music. Im- 
 pulsively he approached a young woman whose com- 
 plexion was as light as his own and asked her to dance 
 
410 
 
 THE STROLLERS 
 
 ^hT* ""TT *'^ *"' 8^"'""8f to the dreamy 
 rhythm around the room. 
 
 deS t/?i^i''l\°* imagination, hi, thought, wan- 
 S V,n' <l«A-ha.red girl he had met in the Sha- 
 dengo Valley. If this now were she, the partner he 
 tad so unceremoniously summoned to his side. How 
 
 ^cmg. what pl««sure the abandonment to which 
 »he had resigned herself 1 Involuntarily he clasped 
 more tightly the slender waist, and the dark eyes 
 moved by that palpable caress, looked not unkindly fnto 
 rl T' ^T "' ** ^'"""^^ ^' experienced a stLge 
 
 h? ^id. tI^ JTI^ ;" *•"•= ''""'=*• "-'^ """ f>"i"g t° 
 V,M. 7 .' ^" '°°''''' ** ''™ half-shyly, half- 
 
 boldly, aiid the very beauty of her eyes-4he deeo 
 
 S:'r rJr °V quadroo„-smote hL^TkiS.' 
 Ifc felt as though some light he sought shone far be- 
 
 ever before him, but always receding 
 
 ^^^Monsieur is tired?" said the girl, i„ a puzzled 
 
 "cS-nigit.'?"''""^ """*'^' '**''''* •■"' *° " ^'• 
 
 R^^t^^'" 'u* '"P"*^' *°"°''"? his ^treating 
 figure with something like regret 
 
 The evening bells, distinct and mysterious, were 
 
 sounding as he «nerged from New Orleans' Mabille, 
 
 and their crystalline tones, rising and falling on £ 
 
 solemn night, brought to mind his boyhood. Pictu,S 
 
ONLY A SHADOW 
 
 4" 
 
 long forgotten passed before him, as his footsteps led 
 hun far from the brightly-lighted streets to a seques- 
 tered dioroughfare that lay peacefully on the con- 
 fines of the busy city; a spot inviting rest from the 
 turmoil yonder and in accord with the melancholy 
 vibrations of the bells. He stood, unseen in the 
 shadow of great trees, before a low rambling man- 
 sion; not so remote but that the perfume from the 
 garden was wafted to him over the hedge 
 
 "ir'!i^ *Tt'^°Z^" •"= '"'^ scornfully to himself. 
 Edward Mauville sighing at a lady's window like 
 some sentimental serenaderl There's a light yonder 
 Now to play my despairing part, I must watch for her 
 unage. If I were some one else, I shbuld say my heart 
 beats faster than usual. She comes-the fair lady! 
 Now the curtain's down. All that may be seen is her 
 shadow. So, despairing lover, hug that shadow to 
 your breast I" 
 
 He plucked a rose from a bush in her garden, laugh- 
 ing at himself the while for doing so, and as he moved 
 away he repeated with conviction: 
 
 "A shadow! That is all she ever could have been 
 to mel" 
 
CHAPTER III 
 
 1^ 
 
 »KOM CA««ET TO GARDKW 
 
 .nl^il"'^!' "^^ '^° y°" *^^ this is?" Waving 
 something that crackled in mid air ^ 
 
 onl£^' ^^•" ^''^ ^'- fr- her pUux 
 ™!l'f!^''!,*~!'1 ^'**'- "^''» that which Horace 
 
 tress. if you do not-moneyl It is-«,cces«. the 
 timag wh.d, wrecks more lives than cyclones,^ ^ 
 floodsl We were happy enough befor* this came 
 weren't we^Celestina?" "•» came, 
 
 i-2r.S' ""'''' '" '•^' * '*" °* ^-p ««^y 
 
 1 JLV*^ '"f *' '^*'='' "^ •*'«« the book it fairly 
 
 eaped to popularity!" went on the bard. "Why did 
 
 ^advise me to learn a trade? to spoil no mo^ 
 
 r^ams of paper? To spoil reams of p^r and get 
 
 what— this little bit in return I" ^ 
 
 ••U it so very much money?" asked Celestina. 
 
 An enormous amount-one thousand dollars I 
 
 (412) 
 
GARRET TO GARDEN 
 
 413 
 
 And tHe worst of it is, my publishers write there may 
 be more to come." 
 
 "Well," said the child, after a long, thoughtful 
 pause, "why don't you give it away ?" 
 "Hum I Your suggestion, my dear—" 
 "But, perhaps, no one would take i*?" interrupted 
 Celestina. 
 
 "Perhaps they wouldn't I" agreed Straws, rubbing 
 his hands. "So, under the circumstances, let us con- 
 sider how we may cultivate some of the vices of the 
 ridi. It is a foregone conclusion, set down by the 
 philosophers, that misery assails riches. The philos- 
 ophtTs were never rich and therefore they know. Be- 
 sides, they are unanimous on the subject. It only 
 remains to make the best of it and cultivate the vani- 
 ties of our class. Where shall I begin? 'Riches be- 
 tray man into arn^^ance,' saith Addison. Therefore 
 will I be arrogant; while you, my dear, shall be 
 proud." 
 
 "That will be lovely 1" assented Celestina, as a mat- 
 ter of habit. She went to the bed and began smooth- 
 ing the sheets deftly. 
 
 "My dearF' expostulated Straws. "You mustn't 
 do that." 
 
 "Not make the bed !" she asked, in surprise. 
 
 "No." 
 
 "Nor bring your charcoal?" 
 
 "No."' 
 
 "Nor wash your dishes?" 
 
 "Certainly not!" 
 
414 
 
 THE STROLLERS 
 
 ,ni 
 
 n ;Ji 
 
 Celestina dropped on the floor, a picture of mi'iery. 
 Too bad, isn't it?" commented Straws. "But it 
 can't be helped, can it?" 
 
 "ul'"j^^ "''^' *''*'™8f •"«■ •>«»<>• wofully; "it 
 
 can t be helped I But why-why did yon publish it V 
 
 Just what the critics asked, my dear I Why? 
 
 Who knows? Who can tell why the gods invented 
 
 madness? But it's done; for bad, or worse I" 
 
 "For bad, or worse I" she repeated, gazing wist- 
 fully toward the rumpled bed. 
 
 "If somebody tells you fine feathers don't make fine 
 birds, dont believe him," continued the poet. "It's 
 envy that speaks! But what do you suppose I have 
 here?' Producing a slip of paper from his vest 
 pocket. "No; it's not another draft! An advertise- 
 ment! Listen: 'Mademoiselle de Castiglione's select 
 seminary. Young ladies instruatd in the arts of the 
 bon Ion. Finesse, repose, literature! Fashions, eti- 
 quette, languages! P. S. Polkas a specialty!' Ce- 
 lestma, your destiny lies at Mademoiselle de Castigli- 
 01 o's. They will teach you to float into a drawing 
 room— but you won't forget the garret ? They will in- 
 struct you how to sit on gilt chairs— you will think 
 sometimes of the box, or the place by the hearth ? You 
 will become a mistress of the piano— 'By the Coral 
 Strands I Wander,' 'The Sweet Young Bachelor'— 
 but I trust you will not learn to despise altogether 
 the attic pipe ?" 
 
 "You mean," said Celestina, slowly, her face ex- 
 
 It 
 
GARRET T^- GARDEN 
 
 41S 
 
 pressing bewilderment, "I must go away some- 
 where?" 
 Straws nodded. "That's »t ; somewhere I" 
 The girl's eyes flashed; her little hands clenched. 
 "I won't ; I won't !" 
 
 "Then that's the end on'tl" retorted the bard. "I 
 had bought you some new dresses, a trunk with your 
 name on it, and had made arrangements with Made- 
 moiselle de Castiglio- e (who had read 'Straws' 
 Strophes'), but perhaps I could give the dresses away 
 to some other little girl who will be glad to drink at 
 the Pierian— I mean, the Castiglione— spring." 1 
 
 Celestina's eyes were an agony of jealousy; not 
 that she was mercenary, or cared for the dresses, but 
 that Straws should give them to another little girl. 
 Her pride, however, held her in check and she drew 
 herself up with composure. 
 
 "That would be nice— for the other little girl!" she 
 said. 
 
 "The only difficulty is," resumed Straws, "there 
 isn't any otiier little girl." 
 
 At that, Celestina gave a glad cry and flew to him, 
 throwing her arms around his neck. 
 
 "Oh, I will go anywhere you want !" she exclaimed. 
 
 "Get on your bonnet then — before you change your 
 mind, my dear !" 
 
 "And aunt?" asked Celestina, lingering doubtfully 
 on the threshold. 
 
 "Your aunt, as you call that shriveled-up shrew, 
 
4i6 
 
 THE STROLLERS 
 
 consented at once," answered Straws "Her ««„^. 
 heart was filled with th,«i, ..'*'• "^ parental 
 one less mou h to fi,l ^l^r^ "' ** P'°^P«* °f 
 
 to the old ha'r^d?n "l S^^T'shThfr^t' '°"""' 
 tional tears to shed R.^T . ^ *** =°n»«°- 
 
 --^ordJerandllt^":^^^^^ 
 
 .•n-ha^^d*sra^d":i ir ''""^ "^ "" -^^-<'- 
 
 P.e of iS:^ ^j'':;:; -^ Y^ f-tiglione tern- 
 thoughtful, ev« sad, thflt wa? n '"' ''^^ 
 
 crowded streets. A s^rkmHSe ^ "^ " *' 
 poser of b„u,. ,hose oS"S,s^ 7.!^^ -- 
 
 torof'£"pr^H"'"*'°P«'»- Hewasnowdir^ 
 
 i^hudf:'"'^ '^•^^ '"'' s-eStTtirs^::' 
 
 Wrd M «^T'^**«'» «"d wer* like to apperi to a 
 third. Men who at twenty had thrown F«wLi • 
 
 ■"-rdrr ,r .'"' ^°"-^ - eve'To^d'^^rtC 
 
 r^whrtifd^^S:.!!!^. 5'««- -pHaf: 
 
 w, after petting; her 
 
 and kissing her on the cheek 
 
 your 
 
GARRET TO GARDEN 417 
 
 "Do men like her?" asked the child, with prema- 
 ture penetration. 
 
 ^'They did; they do; they will!" answered Straws, 
 epigranunatically. 
 
 "Do you like her?" 
 
 "Oh, that's different! Poets, you know, are the 
 exception to any rule." 
 
 "Why?" 
 
 "Because— Really, my dear, you ask too many 
 questions I" 
 
 Althoug* Straws and Celestina had left the house 
 early in the day, it was noon before they reached the 
 attractive garden, wherein was sequestered the "select 
 sen- -nary." 
 
 In this charming prison, whose walls were overrun 
 with flowering vines, and whose cells were pretty 
 vestal bowers, entered the bard and the young girl, to 
 be met on the front porch by the wardeness herself, a 
 mite of a woman, with wavy yellow hair, fine com- 
 tlexion and washed-out blue eyes. Sensitive almost 
 to shyness, Mademoiselle de Castiglione appeared 
 more adapted for the seclusion of the veil in the 
 Ursuline Church than for the varied responsibilities of 
 a young ladies' institute. At the approach of the 
 poet, she turned, looked sterUed, but finally came for- 
 ward bravely. 
 
 "Oh, I've read it again, Mr. Stmwsr she ex- 
 claimed, impetuously. 
 
 "What?" he returned, sternly, pausing at the foot 
 of the steps. 
 
4i8 
 
 THE STROLLERS 
 
 ^^ 
 
 "Your-your lovely Strophes I" she continutd, tim- 
 Jdly. 
 
 The bard frowned. "All great men profess to 
 scowl at flattery," thought Straws. "She w'U have 
 but a. poor opinion "of me, if I do not appear an 
 oflfended Hector!" 
 
 "Mademoiselle, I excessively dislike compliments," 
 he began aloud, but having gone thus far, his courage 
 and lack of chivalry failed him in the presence of her 
 dismay; he forgot his greatness, and hastened to add 
 with an mgratiating smile: "Except when deUvered 
 by such a charming person!" 
 "Oh, Mr. Straws!" 
 
 "This, Mademoiselle," resumed the bard, "is the 
 young girl I spoke about. Her mother," he addeo in 
 a low voice, "was a beautiful quadnjon; her father" 
 -here Straws menticned a name. The w^rdeness 
 flushed furiously. "Father died; always meant to 
 make it right; didn't; crime of good intentions! 
 Vwago of an aunt; regular termagant; hates the girll 
 Where was a home to be found for her? Where"— 
 gazing around hin>-"save this— F,den? Where a 
 mother— save in one whose heart is the tenderest?" 
 
 Diplomatic Straws! Impulsively the wardeness 
 crossed to Celestir,a; her blue eyes beamed with sen- 
 timent and friendliness. "I will give her my personal 
 attention, she said. And then to the young girl- 
 "We will be friends, won't we?" '^i s s • 
 
 "Yes," replied Celestina, slowly, after a mwnent's 
 
GARRET TO GARDEN 419 
 
 discreet hesitation. She was glad the other did not 
 kiss her like Feu-de-joie. 
 
 "I always like," said the wardeness, "to feel my 
 iittle girls are all my little friends." 
 
 "Mademoiselle," exclaimed the bard, "I'll— I'U ded- 
 icate my next volume of poems to you I" 
 
 "Really, Mr. .Straws!" 
 
 "For every kindness to her, you shall have a verse," 
 he further declared. 
 
 "Then your dedication would be as long as 
 Homer I" she suddenly flashed out, her arm around 
 the child. 
 
 Straws looked at her quickly. It was too bad of 
 him I And that borrowed Don Juan smile! Noth- 
 ing could excuse it. 
 
 Castiglione busied herself with Celestina's ribbons. 
 "Whoever did tie that bow-knot?" she observed. 
 
 "Good-by, Celestina " said Straws. 
 
 Celestina put her arms gravely about his neck and 
 he pressed his lips to her cheek. Then he strode 
 quickly toward the gate. Just before passing out, 
 he looked back. The wardeness had finished ad- 
 justing the ribbon and was contemplatively inspecting 
 St Celestina, as though unconscious of the attention, 
 was gazing after the poet, and when he turned into 
 the road, her glance continued to rest upon the gate. 
 
 s: 
 
CHAPTER IV 
 
 •• 
 
 11 
 
 "the best or LiPK" 
 
 On a certain evening about a month later, the troo- 
 ^ ram, had flooded the thoroughfares, untiT 
 nation td convert ,t into a watery highway of another 
 Venice while a, for Canal Str^.lts nLe waTas 
 apg-cabe as though it were spanned by a Bri^^ ^ 
 a«ghs In the narrow streets the projecting eaves 
 pou^ the water from the rooi to the sidTwalidd! 
 uging the pedestrmns. These minor thoroughfares 
 were tributary to the main avenues and gushed th" 
 npplmg currents into them, as streams supply , 
 
 TdC I ' ^""''P*' ''"^^ «*'-«' swiftly'^A 
 the dirty water tnat choked their gutters. The rata 
 
 withstood the deluge for a time <md then were forced 
 to vanish with their portable stores. T^ X 
 phlegmatic to wmd and weather, sat on his boic, shed 
 ding the moisture from his oil-skm coat and facing a 
 cloud of steam which presumably concealed a horse 
 (420) 
 
"THE BEST OF LIFE" 42, 
 
 I J^K ^^ "'^^r '^'^ *'' downpour made the eafis 
 
 i nf^T J^^'r'"" "'"'^'^ •'^^^ »"d there, skil- 
 fully pJoted beneath swinging signs and low bal- 
 comes, evading awning posts and high hats as best 
 they might. There were as many people out as usual. 
 Un^7 ""t K "^''"^ *° "'"' destinations, even the 
 wi«i the sprighthness of a maid of Gotham 
 Straws, editor and rhymster, was seated on the 
 
 ^!fT^r' "^-^'^"'^ g^lk^ of the little cafi. 
 called the Veranda, sipping his absinthe, smoking a 
 cheroot and watching the rain drip from the roof of 
 the balcony, spatter on the iron railing and form a 
 shower bath for the pedestrians who ventured from 
 beneath the protecting shelter. Before him was paper, 
 
 ^nH ^ ^ir^ '"".'' *'="■"«'» "''=P'''« versifiS 
 and a bottle of mk, while a goose-quill, tool of the 
 tuneful Nme, was expectantly poised in mid air. 
 
 Confound it 1" he said to himself. "I can't write 
 m the attic any more, since Celestina has gone, and 
 appamitly I can't write away from it. Since she 
 left, the dishes haven't been washed; my ork has 
 run down at the heels, and everything is go. g to the 
 dogs generally. And now this last thing has upset 
 me quite. 'In the twinkling of an eye,' says the 
 sacred Book. But 1 must stop thinking, or I'U never 
 ctmplete this poem. Now to make my mind a blank • 
 a fittmg receptacle to receive inspiration!" 
 
 The bard's figure swayed uncertainly on the stool. 
 In the hvely race tlirough a sonnet, it was often, of 
 
Aaa 
 
 THE STROLLERS 
 
 •«i 
 
 late, a matter of doubt with Straws, whether Bacchus 
 or Calliope would prevail at the finish, and to-night 
 the jocund god had had a perceptible start. "Was 
 ever a poet so rhyme-fuddled?" muttered the impa- 
 tient versifier. "An inebriating trade, this poetiz- 
 ing 1" — and he reached for the absinthe. "If I am 
 not careful, these rhymes will put me under the 
 table!" 
 
 "Nappy, eh?" said a voice at his elbow, as a drip- 
 ping figure approached, deposited his hat on one chair 
 and himself in another. The newcomer had a long, 
 Gothic face and a merry-wise expression. 
 
 The left hand of the poet waved mechanically, im- 
 posing silence; the quill dived suddenly to paper, 
 trailed twice across it, and then was cast aside, as 
 Straws looked up. 
 
 "Yes," he replied to the other's interrogation. "It's 
 all on account of Celestina's leaving me. You ought 
 to see my room. Even a poet's soul revolts against 
 it. So what can I do, save make my home amid 
 convivial haunts?" The poet sighed. "And you, 
 Phazma ; how are you feeling?" 
 
 "Sober as a judge 1" 
 
 "Then you shall judge of this last couplet," ex- 
 claimed Straws quickly. "It has cost me much effort. 
 The editor wanted it. It seemed almost too sad a 
 subject for my halting muse. There are some things 
 which should be sacred even from us, Phazma. But 
 what is to be done when the editor-is-chief com- 
 
 
 
"THE BEST OF LIFE" 423 
 
 mands? 'Ours not to reason why I' The poem is a 
 monody on the tragedy at the theater." 
 
 "At the St. Charles?" said Phazma, musingly. "As 
 I passed, it was closed. It seemed early for the per- 
 formance to be over. Yet the theater was dark; all 
 the lights had gone out." 
 
 "More than the lights went out," answered Straws, 
 gravely; "a life went out I" 
 
 "I don't exactly— Oh, you refer to Miss Carew's 
 farewell ?" 
 
 "No; to Barnes' r 
 
 "Barnes' I" exclaimed his surprised listener. 
 
 "Yes ; he is dead ; gone out like the snufif of a can- 
 dle! Died in harness, before the footlights I" 
 
 "During the performance I" cried the wondering 
 Phazma. "Why, only this afternoon I met him, ap- 
 parently hale and hearty, and now— you tell .me he 
 has paid the debt of nature ?" 
 
 "As we must aU pay it," returned Straws. "He 
 acted as if he were dazed while the play was in 
 progress anj I could not but notice it, standing in the 
 wings. The prompter spoke of it to me. 'I don't 
 know what is the matter with Mr. Barnes,' he said, 
 'I have had to keep throwing him his lines.' Even 
 Miss Carew rallied him gently between acts on his 
 subdued manner. 
 
 "'This is our last performance together,' he said 
 absently. She gave him a reproachful look and he 
 added, quickly: 'Do I appear gloomy, ray dear? I 
 never felt happier.' 
 
 
4*» 
 
 The strollers 
 
 tf 
 
 "At the end of the lecond tct he leemed to arotiN 
 himself, when ihe, m iMbelU, said: 'I'll fit his mind 
 to death, for his soul's rest.' He gated at her long 
 and earnestly, his look caressing her wherever she 
 moved. Beginning the prison scene with spirit, he 
 had proceeded tok 
 
 "■RMtonlhuiwIthlir*; 
 If I do lOM thct, I do lOM ■ thint 
 That ROM but fooli would keep—' 
 
 When suddenly he threw up his arms and fell upon 
 the stage, his face toward the audience. With a cry 
 1 shall n*ver forget, Miss Carew rushed to him and 
 took his head in her arms, gazing at him wildly, and 
 caUng to him piteously. The curtain went down, 
 but nothing could be done, and life quickly ebbed. 
 Ctece, only, his lips moved: "Your mother— there I— 
 where the play never ends I' and it was over." 
 
 "It is like a romance," said Phatma, SaaOf, at the 
 conclusion of this narration. 
 
 "Say, rather, reality I The masque is ofwrl In 
 that final sleep Jack Pudding lies with Rosdns; the 
 tragedian does not disdain the mummer, and beauti- 
 ful Q>Iumbine, all silver spangles and lace, is com- 
 pany for the cfowa. Tis the only true republic, 
 Phazma ; death's Utopia I" 
 
 "But to think he should have died with those words 
 of the poet on his lips i"' 
 
 "A coincidence I" answered Straws. "No more no- 
 table than the death of Edmund Kean, who, when be 
 
 » t 
 
 T^ 
 
 iH 
 
 ;■»*:■<■ 
 
"THE BEST OF LIFE" 4,5 
 
 gone I fell back unconsdoui; or that 0/ Tohn ^li». 
 wona, patwd away without a pang." 
 
 n!^^.?- .^'^' •*^« °' y*"" madrigal that'. 
 • good feJlowl What a wretched nigSf S 
 
 nort. Some iimple «ong, PhaanaP' 
 
 " 'yr ' *" J"*"* ' <•«•'»•<« of kalgbU 
 And dunn with dlken irilnt.'" 
 
 "Thou Shalt have it, mon amir 
 And Phazma gaily caught up the refrain, white 
 Straws beat time to the tinkling measures 
 
 The last entry in the date-book, or diary, of Barnes 
 ZTl^^"' "«"'*""* " "dicatingTknowl^ 
 S^It^.r"'^- P'^'he first time in the^ 
 
 5^^'!" """ "«"^"^ ««-« •*««- «• 
 
 - -The first bit of good fortune I erer enjoyed was 
 
426 
 
 THE STROLLERS 
 
 when as a lad in sweeping a crossing in the neighbor- 
 hood of the Strand I found a bright, shining sover- 
 eign. How tightly I grasped it in my little fist that 
 night when I slept in a doorway I I dared not trust 
 it in my pocket. The next night I walked to the 
 ticket-seller at Drury Lane, and demanded a seat 
 down steirs. 'Gallery seats sold around the comer,' 
 said this imposing gentleman with a prodigious 
 frown, and, abashed, I slunk away. My dream of 
 being near the grand people vanished and I climbed 
 once more to my place directly under the roof. 
 
 "My next bit of good fortune happened in this 
 wise. Sheridan, the playwright-orator, attracted my 
 attrition on Piccadilly one day, and, for the delight of 
 gazing upon him, I followed. When he stopped, I 
 stopped; when he advanced, I did likewise. I felt 
 that I was treading in the footsteps of a king. Sud- 
 denly he paused, wheeled about and confronted me, 
 a raw-boned, ragged, awkward lad of fourteen. 
 'What one of my creditors has set you following me?" 
 he demanded. 'None, sir,' I stammered. 'I only 
 wanted to look at the author of "The Rivals." ' He 
 appeared much amused and said: 'Egad I So you 
 are a patron of the drama, my boy?' I muttered 
 something in the affirmative. He regarded my ap- 
 pearance critically. 'I presume you would not be 
 averse to genteel employment, my lad?' he asked. 
 With that he scribbled a moment and handed me a 
 note to the property man of Drury Lane. My heart 
 was too iull; I had no words to thank him. Thg 
 
"THE BEST OF LIFE" ^ 
 
 t«rs were in my eyes, which, noting, he remarked 
 with an assumption of sternness: 'Are you sure w' 
 
 'Z h?S L^"? '" y^-^' At SiTu^ii- 
 
 m«f !. J v* "°" procured me an enra«- 
 
 h!„.^'i, T ^"'°« °" '" *°"Kh writing an aut<v 
 bK^phy, to be read when I am gone-" 
 
 »!, *i^ ^ T^ ^*^* ""'^ *« '« Of the paees in 
 the old date-book are blank. ^*^ 
 
CHAPTER V 
 
 THE lawyer's tidings 
 
 The sudden and tragic death of Constance's foster- 
 father— which occurred virtually as narrated by 
 Straws — set a seal of profour.d sadness on the hearl 
 of the yo^ng girl. "Good sir, adieu 1" she had said 
 in the nunnery scene and the eternal parting had 
 shortly followed. Her affection for the old manager 
 had been that of a loving daughter; the grief she 
 should have experienced over the passing of the mar- 
 quis was transferred to the meraOTv of one who had 
 be<3i a father through love's kinship. In the far- 
 away past, standing at the bier of her mother, the 
 manager it was who had held her childish hand, con- 
 soling her and sharing her affliction, and, in those 
 distant but unforgotten days of trouble, the young 
 girl and the homeless old man became all in all to each 
 other. 
 
 Years had rolled by; the child that prattled by his 
 
 side became the stately girl, but the hand-clasp at that 
 
 grave had never been relinquished. She could not 
 
 pretend to mourn the death of the marquis, her own 
 
 (428) 
 
THE LAWYER'S TIDINGS 429 
 
 father; had he not ever been dead to her; m dead ac 
 the good wife (or bad wife) of that nobleraw ; as dead 
 as Gross Geo ge, and all thi other honored and dU- 
 honored figures of that misty past ? But Barnes' death 
 was the a , I -.. severing of ties, strengthened by years 
 of ten." r . sodati-.. wd, when bis last summons 
 came, ■■ ■ , ' hcr;n "•■•alone. 
 
 Ir P. cia :-.ncier), i nid the crumbling bricks, 
 Ba-rms , ai bur; -1, his aled tomb above ground 
 lwirm,r ,„ ,;. .„„;rn.iic, the answer to the duke's 
 qie.v: - ; „y Sest ct Life is Sleep." After the 
 nianig:-r.c ,',,.v and Coustance's retiren.cnt from the 
 stage, it na»n,-4ily Ilo,.eH that the passengers of the 
 chanot b.-c.,-. separated. Mrs. Adams continued to 
 ptay old woman parts throughout the country re- 
 mainmg springy and buoyant to the last Susan 
 transferred herself and her talents to another stock 
 company performing in New Orleans, while Kate 
 procured an engagement with a traveling organiza- 
 tion. Adonis followed in her train. It had become 
 like second nature to quarrel with Kate, and at the 
 mere prospect of separation, he forthwith was driven 
 to ask her for her hand, and was accepted-on pro- 
 bation, thus departing in leading strings. Hawkes 
 melancholy as of old, drifted into a comic part in a 
 vanety show," acquiring new laurels as a dry come- 
 dian of the old school. But he continued to live alone 
 m the worid, mournfully sufficient unto himself 
 
 Constance remained in New Orleans. There the 
 old manager had found hk final resting place and she 
 
430 
 
 THE STROLLERS 
 
 had no definite desire to go elsewhere. Adrift in 
 the darkness of the present, the young girl was too 
 perplexed to plan for the future. So she remained 
 in the house Barnes had rented shortly befot« his 
 death. An elderly gentlewoman of fallen fortunes, 
 to whom this semi-rural establishment belonged, Con- 
 stance retained as a companion, passing her time qui- 
 etly, soberly, aimost in solitude. This mansion, last 
 remnant of its owner's earthly estate, was roomy and 
 spacious, nestling among the oranges and inviting 
 seclusion with its pretentious wall surrounding the 
 grounds. 
 
 The old-fashioned gentlewoman, poor and proud, 
 was a fitting figure in that ancient house, where in for- 
 mer days gay parties had assembled. But now the 
 principal callers at the old house were the little fat 
 priest, with a rosy smile, who looked after the aged 
 lady's soul, of which she was most solicitous in these 
 later days, and the Count de Propriac, who came os- 
 tensibly to see the elderly woman and chat about gene- 
 alogy and extraction, but was obviously not unmmdful 
 of the presence of the young girl nor averse to seek- 
 ing to mitigate her sorrow. Culver, the lawyer, too, 
 came occasionally, to talk about her aflFairs, but often 
 her mind turned impatiently from figures and markets 
 to the subtle rhythm of Shakespeare. She regretted 
 having left the sUge, feeling the loneliness of this 
 simple existence; yet averse to seeking diversion, and 
 shunning rather than inviting society. As the inert 
 hours crept by, she longed for the forced wakefubies* 
 
THE LAWYER'S TIDINGS 431 
 
 Stint' if °*f d'^y^-happy days of insecurity; 
 fleeting, joyous days, gone now beyond recall 1 
 But while she was striving to solve these new 
 
 Jte by Fate, that arrogant meddler. Calling one mom- 
 ng, Culver, nosegay in hand, was obliged to w^t 
 longer than i!SuaI and employed the intei^l in cTu 
 
 tl^ V ^'"*'/'* t*"* ^''"ity of youngish old gen- 
 tlemen, he gazed mto a tall mirror, framed in the fan- 
 S«? : l^'-'-^'y Venetians; a glass wWc^ Zl 
 
 the light beauty of his noble spouse. Pausing about 
 as long as it would have taken a lady to adjust a curl, 
 he peeped mto a Dutch cabinet of ebony aid mother- 
 of-pearl and was studying a charming creature painted 
 on ivory, whose head like that of Bluebeard's wife was 
 subsequently separated from her lovely shoulders, 
 when a light footstep behind him interrupted his 
 scrutiny. Turning, he greeted the yomig girl, and, 
 with sutely gallantry, presented the nose^y ' 
 
 How well you are looking I" he said. "Though 
 there might be a little more color, perhaps, like some 
 of these flowers. If I were a doctor, I should pre- 
 scribe : Less cloister ; more city I" 
 
 a fttet'^'ile** ''°"'*"' ""*'"^ ^" ^^^^^ ^" '^'*'' 
 "Most patients would like such prescriptions," he 
 
 I 
 
433 
 
 THE STROLLERS 
 
 But aJthough he spoke lightly, his manner was 
 partly forced and he regarded her furtively. Their 
 brief acquaintance had awalcened in him an interest, 
 half-patemal, hal;-curious. Women were an un- 
 known, but beautiful quantity; from the vantage point 
 of a li'e of single blessedness, he vaguely, but quix- 
 otically placed them in the same category with flow- 
 ers, and his curiosity was no harsher than that of a 
 gardener studying some new variety of bud or blos- 
 som. Therefore he hesitated in what he was about 
 to say, shifting in his chair uneasily when they were 
 seated, but finally coming to the point with: 
 
 "Have you read the account of the engagement be- 
 tween th« Mexican and the American forces at Vera 
 Crui?" 
 
 "No; not yet," she admitted. 
 
 "Nor the list of— of casualties?" he continued, h»»i- 
 tatingly, 
 
 "The casualties!" she repeated. "Why—" 
 
 "Saint-Prosper has no further interest in the mar- 
 quis' sous," he said quickly. 
 
 She gazed straight before her. cahn and composed. 
 This absence of any exhibitimi of feeling reassured 
 the attorney. 
 
 "He is— dead?" she asked quietly. 
 
 "Yes." 
 
 "How did he die?" 
 
 "Gallantly," replied the caller, now convinced she 
 bad no interest in the matter, save that of a mere 
 
THE LAWYER'S TIDINGS 433 
 
 acquaintance. "His death is described in half a col- 
 umn. You see he did not live in vain r 
 "Was he— killed in battle?" 
 
 "In a skirmish. His company was sent to break up 
 a band of gruerilla rancheros at Antigua. They am- 
 bushed hun; he drove them out of the thicket but 
 tell— You have dropped your flowers. AUow me I 
 —at the head of his men." 
 ''M the head of his men I" She drew in her breath 
 There passed the last of an ill-fated line," said the 
 lawyer, reflectively. "Poor fellow! He started with 
 such bright prospects, graduating from the military 
 college with unusual honors. Ambitious, light-heart- 
 ed, he went to Africa to carve out a name in the 
 army. But fate was against him. The same ship 
 that took him over carried back, to the msrquis, the 
 story of his brother's disgrace—" 
 "His brother's disgrace I" she exclaimed. 
 Culver nodded. "He sold a French stronghold in 
 Africa, Miss Carew." 
 
 Had the attorney been dosely observing her he 
 would have noticed the sudden look of bewilderment 
 that crossed her face. She stared at him with her 
 soul m her eyes. 
 
 "Ernest Samt-Prosper's— brother?" 
 
 The turmoil of her thoughts held her as by • spell • 
 fa the disruption of a fixed caiclusion her brain was 
 ailed with new and poignant reflections. Uncon- 
 sciously she placed a nervous hand upon his arm 
 
434 
 
 THE STROLLERS 
 
 "Then Ernest Saint-Prosper who wa»-kilkd in 
 Mexico was not the traitor?" 
 
 "Certainly noti" exclaimed Culver, quickly "Ow- 
 mg to the disgrace, I am sure, more than to any other 
 
 unmoumed m some mountain ravine. It is true the 
 nuirqms quarreled with him, disliking not a little the 
 young man's republican ideas, but-my dear young 
 ladyl— youareiU?" »:<"^ young 
 
 tail^er"°» ''" ''*"'""''' ^'^^y' '^"^■"ff t° ™in- 
 **'"i,''' self-possess.on. "How-do you know this?" 
 mough the marquis, himself," he replied, some- 
 what uneasy beneath her steady gaze. "He told me 
 he ston, m order to protect the esUte from any pos- 
 sible pretensions on the part of the traitor. The rene- 
 p.de was reported dead, but the marquis, neverthe- 
 less remamed skeptical. He did not believe in the 
 
 always/ ht^icf''^ '"" "^^"^ "^^ *^' "'""' «- 
 
 The visitor observed a perceptible change in the 
 
 young girl, just what he could not define, b^ to him 
 
 that baffled h.m looked out and met his glance. 
 
 His brother was an officer in the French army?" 
 she asked, as though forcing herself to speak. 
 
 h- uV *r ^^" °'''"' *^ ^"^^^ Saint-Prosper, 
 he had already made a career for himself. How 
 eagerly then, must the younger brother have looked 
 forward to meeting him; to serving with one who, 
 m his young eyes, was all that was brave and noble 
 
THE LAWYER'S TIDINGS 435 
 
 What a bitter awakening from the dream! It is not 
 hose we hate who can injure us most^nly those we 
 love can stab us so deeply I" 
 
 Mechanically she answered the lawyer, and, when 
 he prepared to leave, the hand, given him at i^arting, 
 was as cold as ice. *""""S. 
 
 more'dty'^^''" "' '"''*' ''^"'°'^^'^'^Sb : "less cloister. 
 
 Some hours later, the old lady, dressed in her heavy 
 s.Ik and brocade and with snow-white hair done up in 
 imposmg fashion, rapped on Constance's door, but 
 received no answer. Knocking again, with like re- 
 
 \ VTT'^ ^^^ '°°"'' dis^vering the young girl 
 on the bed, her cheeks tinted like the rose, her eyes 
 with no gleam of recognition in them, and her lips 
 
 IZl'"f^ " m1"! T'^^' °^ '"•' P'^y^- Taking her 
 hand, the old lady found it hot and dry 
 
 "Bless me I" she exclaimed. "She is down with a 
 
 tever. And at once prepared a simple remedy which 
 
 soon silenced the babbling lips in slumber, after which 
 
 she sent for the doctor. 
 
--' J^-^* ; 
 
 CHAPTER VI 
 
 THE COUNCIL OF WAR 
 
 ^_^Adjuta„t, tell Colonel Samt-Pn>sper I wish to see 
 
 The adjutant saluted and turned on his heel while 
 
 Srr^ ^°" "T' ""^ *'"' ^^^ ^^°« Wm 'stud? 
 
 tosk, the hght of two candles on the table brought 
 «to rehef. against the dark shadows, a face of rS 
 ged character and narked determination. Le for a 
 
 Of the mental concentration he bestowed upon the 
 
 "You sent .'or me. General ?" 
 
 .ni^" '""**^' r*"'^' ^^^ **«^ respectfully at the 
 entrance of the tent. 
 
 h>m. I have been studying your drawings of the 
 
 defensive works at San Antonio Garita aad fad them 
 
 entirely comprehensive. A council of officers h^ 
 
 (436) 
 
mm.'w 
 
 COUNCIL OF WAR 437 
 
 bewi caned, and perhaps it will be as well for you to 
 
 "At what time shall I be here, General?" 
 It IS about time w>w." answered the commander- 
 m-chief, consultmg his watch. "You have quite re- 
 covered fpom your wounds?" he added, kindly. 
 Yes, thanl< you, General." 
 "I see by the newspapers you were reported dead. 
 If your frjends read that it will cause them needless 
 
 The commanding general glanced at him in some 
 surpnse. A strange fellow I" he thou^t. "Has he 
 reasons for wishing to be considered dead' How- 
 
 ^"^^.l^T'T^^y '""'"'**• At any rate, he is 
 a good sold>er." And, after a moment, he continued: 
 Cerro Gordo was warm work, but there is warmer 
 yet m store for us. Only Providence, not the Mexi- 
 P ""• f^.,f °P ""• But here are the officers," as 
 General Wlow. Brevet-General Twiggs and a number 
 of other officers entered. 
 
 The commander-in-chief proceeded to give such in- 
 formatmn as he had, touching the approaches to the 
 city. Many of the officers favored operating against 
 San Antonio Garita, others attacking Chapultepec. 
 bamt-Prosper, when called on, sUted that the ground 
 betoi. the San Antonio gate was intersected by many 
 
438 
 
 THE STROLLERS 
 
 irrigating ditches and that much of the ai^iroach was 
 unde/ water. 
 
 "Then you would prefer storming a fortress to tak- 
 ing a ditch?" said one of the generals, satirically. 
 
 "A series of ditches," replied the other. 
 
 "Colonel Saint-Prosper is right," exclaimed the com- 
 manding general. "I had already made up my mind. 
 Let it be the western gate, then." 
 
 And thus was brought to a close out of the most 
 memorable councils of war, for it determined the fate 
 of the City of Mexico. 
 
 Saint-Prosper looked older than when seen in 
 New Orleans, as though he had endured much in that 
 brief but hard campaign. His wound had incapaci- 
 tated him for only a few months, and in spite of the 
 climate and a woful lack of medical attendance and 
 nourishing supplies, his hardy constitution stood him 
 in such stead he was on his feet and in the saddle, 
 while h!3 comrades languished and died in the fierce 
 heat of the temporary hospitals. His fellow-officers 
 knew him as a fearless soldier, but a man reticent 
 about himself, who made a confidant of no one. Liked 
 for his ready, broad military qualities, it was a mat- 
 ter of comment, nevertheless, that no one knew any- 
 thing about him except that he had served in the 
 French army and was hig^y esteemed by General 
 Scott as a daring and pvoficient engineer. 
 
 One evening shortly before the skirmish' of An- 
 tigua, a small Mexican town had been ransacked, 
 where were found cattle, bales of tobacco, pulque and 
 
COUNCIL OF WAR 
 
 439 
 
 wine. At the rare feast which followed a veteran 
 drank to his wife; a young man toasted his sweet- 
 heart, and a third, with moist eyes, sang the praises 
 of his mother. In the heart of the enemy's land, 
 amid the uncertainties of war, remembrance car- 
 ried them back to their native soil, rugged New 
 England, the hills of Vermont, the prairies of Illinois, 
 the blue grass of Kentucky. 
 
 "Saint-Prosper 1" they cried, calling on him, when 
 the festivities were at their height. 
 
 "To you, gentlemen," he replied, rising, glass in 
 hand. "I drink to your loved ones I" 
 
 "To your own I" cried a young man, flushed with 
 the wine. 
 
 Saint-Prosper gazed around that rough company, 
 brave hearts softened to tenderness, and, lifting his 
 canteen, said, after a moment's hesitation : 
 "To a princess on a tattered throne I" 
 They looked at him in surprise. Who was this ad- 
 venturer who toasted princesses? The Mexican war 
 had brought many soldiers of fortune and titled gen- 
 tlemen from Europe to the new world, men who took 
 up the cause more to be fighting than that they cared 
 what the struggle was about. Was the "tattered 
 throne" Louis Philippe's chair of state, torn by the mob 
 in the Tuileries ? And what foreign princess was the 
 lady of the throne? But they took up the refrain 
 promptly, good-naturedly, and a chorus rolled out : 
 "To the princess!" • 
 Little they knew she was but a poor stroller; an 
 
440 
 
 THE STROLLERS 
 
 trai.in/beaTdrhiJ'LT^': fjT' ^'L"" '"^ 
 
 of the war-god of Aaah^c. It i^/^:"' ^ '««°' 
 and conflicts which wo^d leva o fhe ^ ^L"""' 
 
 hung o^ the^hlil! '^^ "^ """"'^y «'«* 
 
 atmosphere It uXl , !','''^""« «"<* ""^^ 
 ,rf,^ L ^ '"'^ a deleterious veil befon. tk. 
 
 Of it. relS^^To ti; r o; """"'.^•^ *^"- 
 
COUNCIL OP WAR 44X 
 
 "ITie shade resting on the valley appeared that of a 
 mighty virulent hand. Out of the depths att>se a 
 flock of dark-hued birds, soaring toward the morbific 
 tog; not moving like other winged creatures, with 
 hwmony of motion, but rising without unity, and 
 filling the vale with discordant sounds. Nowhere 
 could these sable bh-ds have appeared more unearthly 
 than m the "dark vafley," as it was called by the 
 natives, where the mists moved capriciously, yet re- 
 mained persistently withm the circumference of this 
 natural cauldron, now falling like a pall and again 
 hovenng in mid air. Suddenly the uncanny birds van- 
 ished among the trees as quickly as they had arisen, 
 and there was something mysterious about their un- 
 warranted disappearance and the abrupt cessation of 
 chmorons cries. 
 
 While viewing this somber scene, Saint-Prosper 
 had made his way to a fittle adobe house which the 
 nahves had b..ilt near the trail that led through the 
 valley. As he approached this hut he encountered a 
 dismal but ksquacious . sentinel, tramping before the 
 partly opened Joor. 
 
 "This is chilly work, guard?" said the young man. 
 pansmg. " 
 
 "Yis, Colonel," replied the soldier, apparently grate- 
 ful for the interruption; "it's a hot foight I prefer to 
 this cool dooty." 
 
 ^Whom are you guarding?" continued the officer. 
 
 A spy, taken m the lines a few days ago. He's 
 
 to be executed this morning at six. But I don't 
 
•«c»ocofy nsoiuTioN tbt chart 
 
 (ANSI ond ISO Tf ST CHART No. 2) 
 
 -APPLIED IM/GE Ine 
 
 1«53 East Uoin Str««t 
 
 Rochtiler, N«« Tor* UM9 US* 
 
 (716) «2-0M0-Phon« 
 
 (716) 288 -5989 -Fox 
 
442 
 
 THE STROLLERS 
 
 think he will moind that, for it's out of his head he is 
 with the malaria." 
 
 "He should have had medical attendance," observed 
 the officer, stepping to the door. 
 
 'Faith, they'll cure him at daybreak," replied the 
 guard. "It's a medicine that niver fails." 
 
 Saint-Prosper pushed open the door. The interior 
 was so dim that at first he could not distinguish the 
 occupant, but when his eyes became accustomed to the 
 darkness, he discovered the figure of the prisoner, 
 who was lying with his back toward him on the ground 
 of the little hut with nothing but a thin blanket beneath 
 him. The only light revealing the barren details of 
 this Indian residence sifted through the small door- 
 way or peered timorously down through a narrow 
 aperture in the roof that served for a chimney. As 
 Samt-Prosper gazed at the prostrate man, the latter 
 moved uneasily, and from the parched lips feU a few 
 words : 
 
 "Lock the doors, Oly-koeksl Hear the songsters, 
 Mynheer Ten Breechesesl Birds of prey, you Dutch 
 varletl What do you think of the mistress of the 
 manor? The serenading anti-renters have come for 
 her." Then he repeated more slowly: "The squaw 
 PewaschI For seventeen and onerhalf ells of duf- 
 fels I A rare principality for the scornful minx I 
 Lord! how the birds sing now around the manor- 
 screech owls, cat-birds, bobolinks I" 
 
 The soldier started back, vivid memories assailing 
 his mind. Who was this man whose brain, independ- 
 
COUNCIL OF WAR 
 
 443 
 
 ent of the corporeal shell, played waywardly with 
 scenes, characters and events, indissolubly associated 
 with his own life? 
 
 "Do you know, Little Thunder, the Lord only re- 
 buked the Pharisees?" continued the prostrate man. 
 "Though the Pharisee triumphs after all I But it was 
 the stroller I wanted, not the principality." 
 
 He stirred quickly, as if suddenly aware of the 
 presence of another in the hut, and, turning, lifted 
 his head in a startled manner, surveying the figure 
 near the doorway with conflicting emotions written 
 on his pallid countenance. Perhaps some fragment 
 of a dream yet lingered in his brain ; perhaps he was 
 confused at the sight of a face that met his excited 
 look with one of doubt and bewilderment, but only 
 partial realization of the identity of the intruder came 
 to him in his fevered condition. 
 
 Arising deliberately, his body, like a machine, obey- 
 ing automatically some unconscious power, he con- 
 fronted the officer, who recognized in him, despite his 
 thin, worn face and eyes, unnaturally bright, the once 
 pretentious land baron, Edward Mauville. Moving 
 toward the door, gazing on Saint-Prosper as though 
 he was one of the figures of a disturbing phantasm, 
 he reached the threshold, and, lifting his hand above 
 his head, the prisoner placed it against one of the sup- 
 ports of the hut and stood leaning there. From the 
 r \tion of his mind's eye, as he doubtlessly, half- 
 k .scious of his weakness, designated the familiar 
 form, he glanced at the sentinel and shook as though 
 
444 
 
 THE STROLLERS 
 
 abruptiy conscious of his situation. Across the valley 
 the soldiers showed signs of bestirring themselves, the 
 smoke of many fires hovering earthward beneath the 
 mist. Drawing his thin frame proudly to its full 
 height, with a gesture of disdain for physical weakness, 
 and setting his keen, wild eyes upon the soldier, Mau- 
 ville said in a hollow tone: 
 
 "Is that really you; Mr. Saint-Prosper? At first 
 I thought you but a trick of the imagination. Well, 
 look your fill upon me I You are my l^emesis ccmie 
 to see the end." 
 
 "I am here by chance, Edward Mauville; an officer 
 in the American army I" 
 
 "And I, a spy in the Mexican army. So are we 
 authorized foes." 
 
 Rubbing his trembling hands together, his eyes 
 shifted from the dark birds to the mists, then from the 
 phantom forests back to the hut, finally resting on 
 his shabby boots of yellow leather. The sunlight 
 penetrating a rift in the mist settled vpoa him as he 
 moved feebly and uncertainly through the doorway 
 and seated himself upon a stooL This sudden glow 
 brought into relief his ragged, unkempt condition, the 
 sallowness of his face, and his wasted form, and Saint- 
 Prosper could not but contrast pityingly this cheerless 
 object, in the garb of a ranchero, with the prepos- 
 sessing, sportive hen- who had driven throu^ the 
 Shadengo Valley. 
 Apparently now the sun wa» grateful to liis bent, 
 
COUNCIL OF WAR 445 
 
 stricken figure, and, basking in it, he recalled his dis- 
 tress of the previous night : 
 
 "This is better. Not long ago I awoke with chat- 
 termg teeth. 'This,' I said, 'is life; a miasma, cold 
 discomfort. Yes, yes ; 1 fever, a miasma, with phan- 
 toms^ fighting you-struggting to choke you-but 
 now -he paused, and fumbling in his pocket, drew 
 out a cigarette case, which he opened, but found 
 empty. A cigar the other handed him he took me- 
 chanically and lighted with scrupulous care. Near 
 St hand the guard, more cheerful under the prospect 
 of speedy relief from his duties, could be heard hum- 
 ming to himself: 
 
 " O""' Teadjr-folejr, you are my darling. 
 You are my looking-glass night and morning—" 
 
 Watching the smoker, Saint-Prosper asked himself 
 how came Mauville to be .serving against his o^vn 
 country, or why he should have enlisted at all this 
 pleasure-seeking man of the world, to whom the hard- 
 ships of a campaign must have been as novel as dis- 
 tasteful. 
 
 "Are you satisfied with your trial?" said the sol- 
 dier at length. 
 
 "Yes," returned MauyiUe, as if breaking from a rev- 
 erie. "I confess I am the secret agent of Santa Anna 
 and would have carried information from your lines. 
 I am here hecause there is more of the Latin than the 
 Anglo-Saxon ia me.^. Many of the old families"— 
 
 
 ._; 
 
 '"^i°&i;" 
 
.1 > 
 
 446 
 
 THE STROLLERS 
 
 with a touch of insane pride-"did not regard the 
 purchase of Louisiana by the United States as a trans- 
 action alienating them from other ties. Fealty is not 
 a commercial commodity. But this," he added, scorn- 
 fully, IS something you can not understand. You 
 soldiers of fortune draw your swords for any master 
 who pays you." 
 
 The wind moaned down the mountain side, and the 
 slender trees swayed and bent; only the heavy and 
 ponderous cactus remained motionless, a formidable 
 monarch receiving obeisance from supple courtiers 
 Like cymbals, the leaves clashed around this aniia- 
 ment of power with its thousand spears out-thrust in 
 all directions. 
 
 The ash fell from the cigar as Mauville held the 
 weed before his eyes. 
 
 "It is an hour-glass," he muttered. "When 
 sm^.ied— Oh, fo<- the power of Jupiter to order four 
 nights in one, the better to pursue his love follies I 
 Love follies," he repeated, and, as a new train of 
 fancy was awakened, he regarded Saint-Prosper ven- 
 omously. 
 
 "Do you know she is the daughter of a marquis?" 
 said Mauville, suddenly. 
 
 "Who?" asked the soldier. 
 
 "The stroller, of course. You can never win her " 
 he added, contemptuously. "She knows all about that 
 African affair." 
 
 Saint-Prosper started violently, but in a moment 
 
COUNCIL OF WAR 447 
 
 Mauviile;s expression .hanged, and he appeared 
 plunged m thought. 
 
 _ "The last time I saw her," he said, half to himself 
 she was dressed in black-her face as noonday-her 
 ha.r b ack as midnight-crowning her with languor- 
 ous allurement I" * 
 
 He repeated the last word several times like a man 
 m a dream. 
 
 "Allurement! allurement!" and again relapsed into 
 a silence that was half-stupor. 
 
 By this time the valley, with the growing of the day 
 began to lose much of its evil aspect, and the eye 
 tempted through glades and vistas, lingered upon gor- 
 geous forms of inflorescence. The land baron slowly 
 blew a wreath of smoke in the air-a circle, mute 
 remmder of eternity l-and threw the end of the 
 cigar mto the bushes. Looking long and earnestly 
 
 "L /'1"°""'^'"^ "^^^' •"= ^'^rt^'J involuntarily. 
 The dark valley-whar de mists am risin'-I see 
 yo da, honey— fo'ebber and fo'ebber— " 
 
 As he surveyed this prospect, with these words 
 rmging m his ears, the brief silerce was broken by 
 a bugle call and the trampling of feet. 
 
 "The trumpet shall sound and the dead shall arise " 
 said the prisoner, turning and facing the soldiers 
 
 '^Ilv''" „ "^°" ^^''^ ''""^ ^°'' '"^•" he asked, quietly. 
 Yes, said the officer in command. "General Scott 
 has granted your request in view of certain circum- 
 stances, and you will be shot, instead of hanged " 
 
 i 
 
 .;i f . 
 
448 
 
 THE STROLLERS 
 
 TKe face of the prisoner lighted wonderfully. He 
 drew himself erect and smiled with some of the as- 
 sumption of the old insolence, that expression Saint- 
 Prosper so well remembered I His features took on 
 a semblance to the careless, dashing look they had 
 borne v. hen the soldier crossed veapons with him at 
 the Oaks, and he neither asked nor intended to give 
 quarter. 
 
 "I thank you," he observed, courteously. "At least, 
 I shall die like a gentleman. I am ready, sir I Do 
 not fasten my hands. A Mauville can die without 
 being tied *r bound." 
 The ofiScer hesitated: "As to that—" he began. 
 "It is a reasonable request," said Saint-Prosper, in 
 a low tone. 
 
 Mauville abruptly wheeled; his face, dark and sin- 
 ister, was lighted with envenomed malignity; an un- 
 naturally clear perception replaced the stupor of his 
 brain, and, bending toward Saint-Prosper, his eye 
 rested upon him with such rancor and malevolence 
 the soldier involuntarily drew away. But one word 
 fell from the land baron's lips, low, vibrating, full of 
 inexpressible bitterness. "Traitor I" 
 
 "Come, come !" interrupted the officer in command 
 of the execution party ; "time is up. As I was told 
 not to fasten your hands, you shall have your wish. 
 Confess now, that is accommodating?" 
 
 "Thanks," returned Mauville carelessly, relapsing 
 into his old manner. "You ajig an obliging fellow I 
 I would do as much for you." 
 
COUNCIL OF WAR 449 
 
 "Not much danger of that," growled the other. 
 "But we'll take the wiU for the deed. Forward, 
 march !" 
 
 After the reverberations, carried from rock to rock 
 with menacing reitcatioo, had ceased, the stilhiess 
 was absolute. Even the song-bird remained fright- 
 ened into silence by those awfui echoes. Then the 
 sun rested like a benediction on the land and the white 
 cross of Cortez was distinctly outlined against the blue 
 sky. But soon the long roll of drums followed this 
 interval of quiet. 
 
 "Fall :nl" "Attention; shoulder arras!" And the 
 sleeping spirit of the Artec war-god floated in the 
 murmur which, increasing in volume, arose to tumult- 
 uous shout. 
 
 "On to Chapultepecl On to Chapultepec !" came 
 from a thousand throats; arms glistened in the sun, 
 bugles sounded resonant in the air, and the pattering 
 noise of horses' hoofs mingled with the stentorian 
 voices of the rough teamsters and the cracking of the 
 whips. Like an irresistible, all-compelling wave, the 
 troops swept out of the valley to hurl themselves 
 against castle and fortress and to plant their colors in 
 the heart of the capital city. 
 
 ^ 
 
■I » 
 
 f 
 
 CHAPTER VII 
 
 A MEETING ON THE MOUNT 
 
 *^J^uM? v', '*' "^ '" * """'y "'"ent Of purple, the 
 royal h, 1 hfted above the valley an Olympiad crest 
 of porphyntic rock into the fathomless blue. Here 
 not Jupiter and his court looked serenely down upon 
 the strugglmg race, "indifferent from their awful 
 
 Sl /u'^"'"''"''* ^°^- ^ ^^'^ vestments, 
 gazed beyond the meadows to the floating flower beds 
 the gardens with their baths, and the sensuous danc- 
 
 Z,^'.;^ ' "'"• *"" " P""""""" between naps, 
 soon faded away; the god yawned, drew Ws 
 cloak of humming bird feathers more closely about 
 hm, and sank back to rest. An uproar then disturbed 
 his paleozoic dreams; like fluttering spirits of the gar- 
 ish past, the butterflies arose in the forest glades- 
 and the voices of old seemed to chant the Aztec psahn :' 
 The horrors of the tomb are but the cradle of the 
 sun, and the dark shadows of death the brilliant lights 
 for the stars." Even so they had chanted when the 
 early free-booters burst upon the scene and beheld 
 the valley with its frame-work of mountains and two 
 (450) 
 
MEETING ON THE MOUNT 
 
 451 
 
 ilcanoes, the Gog and Magog of the table- 
 
 guardia.. 
 land. 
 
 Now again, from the towering column of Monte- 
 zuma's cypress, to the city marked by spires, the 
 thunder rolled and echoed onward even to the rine- 
 clad cliflFs and snow-crowned summits of the rocky 
 giants. Puffs of smoke dotted the valluy beneath 
 the mount, and, as the answering reports reverberated 
 across space, nature's mortars in the inclosure of 
 mountains sent for*h threatening wreaths of white 
 in sympathy with the eight-inch howitzers and six- 
 teen-pounders turned upon the crest of the royal hill. 
 
 When the trees were yet wet with their bath of 
 dew the booming of artillery and the clattering of 
 small arms dispelled that peace which jartock of no 
 harsher discord than the purling of streams and the 
 still, small voices of the forest. Through the groves 
 where the spirit of Donna Marina— the lost love of 
 the marauder— was said to wander, shrieked the round 
 shot, shells and g.-a')e. Through tangled shrubberies, 
 bright with flowers and colored berries, pierced the 
 discharge of canister; the air, fragrant at the dawn 
 with orange blossom and starry jessamine, was 
 nois- .e with suffocating, sulphurous fumes, and, be- 
 neath the fetid shnud, figures in a fog heedlessly 
 trampled the lilies, tl c red roses and "flowers of the 
 heart." 
 
 From the castle on the s-.nmit— mortal trespass 
 upon the immortal pale of the gods!— the upward 
 shower was answered by an iron down -pour, and two 
 
 fl 
 
45« 
 
 THE STROLLERS 
 
 storming parties, with ladders oicfc a«. . a 
 
 «™.Wh«B tenuis r^' '"-^ "»■ 
 
 Surnrised "f .""""S^ '^^'^'^ from small arras. 
 
 was not suffenTto iieS ^'* " ™" ^""' •>"' 
 out all their miserable ambuscades." ^ "^ 
 
 
MEETING ON THE MOUNT 453 
 
 ,fj° '^°<1^ ^ "'•" '•""="'="» "^ g«"«"'. "ill 
 studying the ..tuafon, glancing ♦, the right and the 
 left of the redoubt. "The more fighting They get the 
 more they want. They are not so band-boxy Tthey 
 we«^but remind me of «. old, mongrel dog I once 
 owned. He wasn't much to look at-but I'll tell you 
 ^>XoTy later " A sudden quick decision appearing 
 onhis face. Evidently the working of his mind had 
 been foreign to his words. 
 
 Ji^fr^f"'^^'-". •" "^^^ "^ "?P*«* 'he boys on the 
 other side are gomg up all the time? I promised 
 our troops the honor of pulling down that flag. I'm 
 a man of my word; go ahead and take the batteries 
 tte t^'^*^ '""^ ^^ goate^"beat PiUow to 
 
 A word; a command; they n- t-ed forward; not a 
 toggard m the ranks; not a n • who shirked the 
 leaden shower; not one who failta to oflFer his breast 
 op«ly and fearlessly to the red death which to them 
 might come when it would. Unwaveringly over 
 rocks, chasms and mines, they followed the tall figure 
 of their leader; death underfoot, death overhead I 
 What would courage avail against concealed mines? 
 Yet like a pack of hounds that reck naught while the 
 scent js warm, they pressed forward, ever forward- 
 across the level opening, where some dropped out of 
 the race, and over the ramparts! A brief struggle- 
 confusion, turmoil; something fearful occurring that 
 no eye could see in its entirety through the smoke- 
 
454 
 
 THE STROLLERS 
 
 afterwards, a great shout that announced to the pal- 
 ace on the mount the fate of the intemediaty batter- 
 But there was sharper and more arduous work to 
 come; this, merely a foretaste of the last, fierce stand 
 of the besieged ; a stand in which they knew they were 
 fighting for everything, where defeat meant the second 
 conquest of Mexico ! From the batteries the assailants 
 had captured to the foot of the castle seemed but a 
 little way to them in their zeal; no one thought of 
 weariness, or the toil of the ascent. But one deter- 
 mination possessed them— to end it all quickly to 
 carry everything before them I Their victory at 'the 
 redoubt gave them such sudden, wild confidence that 
 castles seemed no more than ant-hills-to be trampled 
 on I Instinctively every man felt sure of the dayand 
 already experienced the glory of conquering that his- 
 toric hill; that invincible fortress! Over the great 
 valley, so beautiful in its physical features, so in- 
 spiring in Its associations, should hang the stars of 
 the North, with the stars of heaven ! 
 
 The scaling ladders were brought up and planted 
 by the storming party; the first to mount were hurled 
 back, killed or wounded, to the rocks below, but others 
 took their places ; a lodgment was eflfected, and like 
 the water bursting over a dike, a tide of besiegers 
 found ingress. 
 
 Under a galling fire, with shouts that rang above 
 the noise of rifles, they drove the masses of the enemy 
 from their guns; all save one, not a Mexican from his 
 
MEETING ON THE MOUNT 455 
 
 fair skin, who stood confidently beside his piece, an 
 ancient machine, made of copper and strengthened 
 by baads of iron. A handsome face; dead to moral- 
 ity, ahve to pleasure; the face of a man past thirty 
 the expression of immortal one-and-twenty ! A fig- 
 ure from the pages of Ovid, metamorphosed to a gun- 
 ner of Santa Amial The bright radiance from a 
 cloudless sky, the smoke having drifted westward 
 from the summit, fell upon him and his gun 
 
 With inscrutable calmness, one hand fondling the 
 breech, he regarded the fleeting figures and the 
 hoarse-throated pursuers; then, as if to time the op- 
 portunity to the moment, he bent over the gun 
 
 "I wonder if this first-born can sti'l bark!" he mut- 
 tered. 
 
 But an instant's hesitation, friend and foe being 
 fairly intermingled, was fatal to his purpose; the 
 venerable culverin remained silent, and the gunner 
 met hand-t(^hand a figure that sprang from the in- 
 coming host. Simultaneously the rapid firing of a 
 new wave of besiegers from the other side of the cas- 
 tle threw once more a pall of smoke over the scene, 
 and. beneath its mantle, the two men were like figures 
 
 "r^? Tf J" " ^°^' ^"'""«^ "''^^' than seeing each 
 other s blade, divining by touch the cut. pass or ag- 
 gressive thrust. ^ 
 
 "Faugh!" laughed the gunner. "They'll kill us 
 with smoke." 
 
 The discharge of small arms gradually ceased; the 
 fresh breeze again cleared the crest of the mount. 
 
456 
 
 THE STROLLERS 
 
 Aowmgr the white wafls of the structure which had 
 been so obstinately defended; the valley, where the 
 battenes now hy silent, having spoken thd thu^rinl 
 prologue and the alien flag, the regimental <Z"Z 
 tihe invaders, floating from the upper walls. Below 
 t^e t^l!;*t^ A^"'^ *." '^' » ^'^ °^ *hite across 
 Kr J^l^ 'r"^"^' "^ °* "^^^ momentar- 
 l^K T^ ""^^ ""cceeded, after a considerable 
 n^ ' I '^ "'"^'■^"'' °^ "««»■ From the disen! 
 att«np^ to dislodge a party entreached in a ditch, lost 
 the t«g,c .aspect of warfare, and the soldiers who 
 feH seemed no larger than the toy figures of a nur- 
 sery game. 
 
 With the brightaning of the summit to the light 
 l^LZ^^ I'^i*" «»mbatant8 near tbe.cop^r 
 gw ga«^ for the first time into each other-sTi 
 
 S»«S1k*''""*'"* ^''"•=*' ^ """^ crossed \he 
 
 «^' !^*"'y ■***"* "ert- powerless. 
 J/im £»«w/_'rw Ertiest-little Ernest I" he ex- 
 claimed, wonderingly. 
 
 fr^^'th^'l^ '"i" "?!««»''« »*«««. ominously red 
 from the fieree firit assault at the wall, was at his 
 breast, he made no effon to oppose its' th«aS.i„g 
 point, when a grape-shot, swifter than the blade 
 
 from his shoulder^ he swayed from side to side, pas^ 
 mg l» hand before his eyes as one who qu«rions 
 «««l«r evidence, and then sank to the e^h S 
 
MEETING ON THE MOUNT 457 
 
 an arm thrown over the tube of copper. Above his 
 bronzed face the light curls waved Uke those of a 
 Viking; though his clothes were dyed with the san- 
 g«.nai7 hue and his chest rose and fell with labored 
 breathing, it was with an ahnost quizzical glance he 
 regarded the other who stood as if turned to stone. 
 
 vahndly, 'but surprise broke down my guard " 
 
 "Before God, it was not 11" cried the soldier, start- 
 ing from a trance. 
 "And if it were I" With his free arm He feh his 
 
 coolly. "Swords break no bones." 
 »lj^^l f* f *58«»." said the other, as Ke turned. 
 
 « T^L!°'! 7° '^^ ^'' •'"''? Get no one, or 
 if-for boyish dayst-you want to serve me, lend me 
 your tanteen." -^ u uic 
 
 thiSr^"^ •«" it to his lips, and he drank 
 
 "That was a drangiit in an oasis. I had the desert 
 m my throat-the desert, the wild desert I What a 
 place to meet! But they caught Abd-el-Kader, and 
 there was nothing for it but to flee I Besides. I am 
 a rolling stone." 
 
 ul'.u^t', ^^ "^^^ ^ '^"y'='» his country and 
 Shed the blood of his comrades, characterize himself by 
 no harsher term was an amazing revelation of the 
 wans character. 
 
 The space around them had become ahnost desert- 
 ed; here and there lay figures on the ground among 
 
458 
 
 THE STROLLERS 
 
 which might be distinguished a sub-lieutenant and 
 mg been both academy and garrison. Their tuition 
 
 ShT' r '"'^ ■""* *^y S^^"> "P their lives 
 beneath the classic walls of their alma mater I The 
 «h.Iaratmg cheering and shouting had subsided; the 
 sad after-flavor succeeded the lust of conquest. 
 
 Ifes contmued the gunner, though the words 
 came w.th an effort. "Firs,., it was the desert. Wha 
 a place to roll and rove! I couldn't help it for the 
 
 a Sr T * \?u ""^^y ^'""^ "°""^* ' " I had been 
 a sarlor I would have deserted the ship. After they 
 captured the prophet, I deserted the desert. So, hey 
 for MexKO, a hilly place for a rolling stone I" ^ 
 
 He gasped, held his hand to his shoulder and 
 brc^ht It away covered with red. But that Saint- 
 Prosper knelt swiftly, sustaining and supporting him, 
 he would have slid to the ground. He smlled- 
 sweetly enough-K.n the stem soldier and placed his 
 moist and stamed hand caressingly on that of his 
 companion. Seeing them thus, it was not difiicult to 
 trace a family hkeness-a similarity in their very 
 djssumlarjty. The older was younger; the younger^ 
 older The gunner's hair was light, his face wild as 
 a gerfalcon beneath; the other's dark, with a counte- 
 nance habitually repressed, but now, at the touch of 
 that dishonored hand, grown cold and harsh; yet de- 
 spite the total difference of expression, the hereditary 
 resemblance could not be stamped out. Even the 
 
 
^lEETING ON THE MOUNT 43, 
 
 to charm. '""^'sformat.on that seldom failed 
 
 ■that's my storv " fi#» 'j 
 a" the problems oi'life a'n'^dS? mT' "" *°"^'' 
 -ni-ed. "As the prophet said -r^ ^ *'"'' '"" 
 
 -u.Ht,o..t\.Xrcofoii-jr^ ' 
 
 S^£-^,^:^ ^° -^ ^'^-W.' reph-ed 
 
 rr-hro^^ -f-f-''^-e;r hitrth^:; 
 
 bathing hili'n U StZ^TlV"^'" ^"" ^^ 
 with luster. "No; i 's iL i h "' ^""^ '''°"« 
 before the sand-st^ » fj!^! t"' k ' **= '^'^ ''°'"- 
 ration gathered bTh!. v .' '""'^ *''*= P^^pi- 
 
 half-defiVntly "TurLt "'' '"/'^^ half-scomfu%. 
 Ti,«, ' ■^ "" ™^ toward the vailev p~, 1 
 
 There s more space; more light!" ^' ^'"^*- 
 
 of mountains; the d sLV • ^ ^ breast-works 
 
 horizon; the lakes whfh '^"" ''""''""^ »" the 
 , "ic laKes which once marked tho \jr . 
 
 Venice, a city of perfume and so^g st LL ^^'-™ 
 
46o 
 
 THE STROLLERS 
 
 fag on the far-away mountains, were soft, deep and 
 velvety But the freedom of the outlook affordri tSe 
 wounded man h'ttle comfort. 
 "The storm I" he said, 
 
 ^J^ " w*^ ?'"*'' "^'"^ •>" ^»~' « of » shadow 
 d«m, before .t. He groped helplessly with his hlZ 
 
 neXTp^'it?"""'"' ^""'''- ^ '^^-''°'-' -y 
 
 denw';!^''^' "'"''' *"'' '"'"•' ^'"''" *e coat, shud- 
 
 drew forth ,T!? ^l" ^'"^ ''"""^ '"^''^ "'""d' «"<> 
 drew forth a leather bag which, he placed in the 
 
 other s trembKng fingers. With an effort, breath ng 
 h^nously. «,d staring hard, as though striving to 
 P«.etme a ^thermg film, the wounded man finally 
 managed to display the contents of the bag, emptying 
 ^em m h.s palm where they glinted and^eaiS "n 
 Je sun s rays. Sapphires, of delicate blue; emeralds 
 w:th vureous luster; opals of brilliant iridescence- 
 but. above all. a ruby of perfect color and extraordi- 
 nary size, cut en cobachon, and exhibiting a marvelous 
 star of many rays ; the ruby of Abd-el-Kader I 
 With a venal expression of delight, the gunner re- 
 
 ZZruy"'"'! stone-from the Sagyin hills, 
 
 IT^L X '^'^- " ''^ ^'^"'"^ fi"^« p'^yed 
 
 But even as he fondled it. a great pain crossed his 
 bre^t, he gnpped his shoulder tight with his free 
 hand clutchmg the precious stones hard in his 
 clenched fist. Thus he remained, how long the other 
 
MEETING ON THE MOUNT 46, 
 TrZd"^Z-ru'"f ^"'^'"^ P^*--' « 'he vein, that 
 
 Th/v u "^^'^ ""= hashish-smokers dream I" 
 
 And he dropped bacic like stone, the cems fallin«- 
 from h,s hand, which twitched spasmodif^y on te 
 ground and then was still. Sain^P«,spcr S„t over 
 'rs^dTo tt'T' '"""r'^' '°' "-^hmtt had 
 
 J^nXS''^'^^'""^"^''^^^--''''"^^"^- 
 
 J^^u"'"^}^^ u''" '^''"*' K^**'«=d the sapphires 
 ««era d» and other gems-flashing testimony '^f that' 
 th^nkess past-^d. leaning against the wJl, gazed 
 afar to the snow-capped volcanoes. Even m he 
 looked, the vapors arose from the solfataras o" the 
 
 and itoaes was thrown into the air. Unnoticed 
 passed the eruption before the gaze of SainSo ^^ 
 whose mmd m a torpor swept dully back to youd^'s 
 o eate season recalling the homage of the yo^ger 
 for the elder brother, a worship as natural as n Jl 
 adoration of the sun. From the sangS^^^j L' fm 
 
 h„„t fv '^'''"* "^ " ""''^^ °^ darkness. With 
 honor w.thm grasp, deliberately be had sought di»! 
 
46a 
 
 THE STROLLERS 
 
 ,5v ■; ''"'' r:=^'""S ^^ "^ame and murder, and child- 
 ishly husbanding green, red and blue pebbles! 
 Weighing the stones in his hand now, Ernest 
 
 the« .hT '~'^'' "* *"" '°"^ -'l bitteriy /or 
 U^ese the honor and pride of an old family had been 
 
 ^iL • !^ ^^ '"'"'"" ^'^ "'d"«'' the reflected 
 hJ^H^^/!?.-'"" m'""" """"'^"hip; distrust which 
 had blighted his military career at the outset. How 
 
 thfr' ':'.•"" ^'^ ^^'""^ '^'^ ''" expectations" 
 the buoyant hopes of youth; the fond anticipation of 
 glory, succeeded by stigma and stain! And. as the 
 miserable perplexing panorama of these later years 
 
 gesture, the gems far from him, over the viaU out 
 toward the valley! ' °"* 
 
 in m^^ '''^'^5 '^'""'' "^ '°'°'' '•"^y fl^^hed a moment 
 
 tow tttT'f .r^'^' "'''' """ *'■*" the rain- 
 bow wts of a falling stream. Lost to sight, they 
 sank m the crystal waters which leaped with a caS 
 Z«""™"; *""''''' *' table-land; only the tiny spec- 
 trum, vivid remmder of their color, still waved arTd 
 wavered from rock to rock above a pellucid po^. 
 
 w^^dedr ^"^ '" "'^ ''^ ''^^'^'•- "-^ y- 
 
 With drawn features, the officer turned. 
 Wo ; I am not wounded." 
 "The general directs you to take this message to 
 the commanding general," continued the little ^de. 
 I believe I may congratulate you, sir, for you will 
 
MEETING ON THE MOUNT ' 463 
 
 Yes, many a lifel" answered the other, placine the 
 tne last time the figure beneath the gun 
 
 two Iir°"^'* '° ^" '^' C"y °' Mexico in a day or 
 two, sir, resumed the aide. "Won't it k. • » 
 
 though, after forced marches and ^I that trtf 
 
 ttl«.lrwf r ^=""'^"^-= "yit'ur Ani 
 irl'^he ^hI ?^''=' "^«t"^«^ of the moment we are, 
 Z J 1, ,^' "^'^ '"'^''^" thoughtfulness. " 'TwH 
 
CHAPTER VIII 
 
 A FAIR PENITENT 
 
 to^f '"*SJ'°" *° ^"'^ ^'^^'^ Taylor, on hi. re- 
 turn froin Mexico, and the inauguration of the carni- 
 val combmed to the observance of a dual festival day 
 
 fields, d.sturhmg the ducks and pelicans, ploughed 
 the no.sy craft bearing "Old Rough and R^" S 
 he open port of the merry-making town. When near 
 « T^fl' ""^ ^«'<=°"'i"g cannon boomed, and the 
 affrighted darkies on the remote plantations shook 
 with dire forebodings of a Mexican invasion. 
 
 The boat rounded at the Place d'Armes, where, 
 beneath a triumphal arch. General Taylor received 
 the crown and chaplet of the people-popular ap- 
 plause-and a salvo of eloquence from the mayor 
 With flymg colors and flourish of trumpets, a pro- 
 cession of civic and military bodies was then fori^ed. 
 he parade finally halting at the St. Charles, whe^e 
 tfie fatted calf had been killed and the succulent ox 
 roasted. Sounding a retreat, the veteran com- 
 (464) 
 
A FAIR PENITENT 465 
 
 ni«nder fell hack upon a private parlor to -ecuperate 
 
 From tlu, «ro .hold, where, however, not all of 
 theenemy^i, friends-could be excluded, thertes 
 c^>^« je^. With: ..rUU«k around tow^'a^;. 
 
 "i'I^LT^^^" ^'^ *' commander at the door. 
 
 falltr /^'"^ *' ^ ^°°^''^ '''«"'«'' Well, don't 
 lall foul of too many juleps." 
 
 With a laughing response, the young .nan pushed 
 
 Sf ^^'theT' ~'^'°'' '"' ^^^ ^"-"^ h^- 
 K» out 00 the busy street. Amid the variegated 
 
 in Kmg Carmval's gay domains, but in a city of rec- 
 
 i^"' .' *"'"" •"= '""' J"^' '^ft W^assoS- 
 ted wrth an imfoigotten presence; the stores, the win- 
 
 Wrth retrospective suggestion of the strollers. 
 
 Even now-and he came to an abrupt standstill- 
 he was stanag at the bill-board of the theater where 
 she had played, the familiar entrance bedecked with 
 buntmg «,d festival inscriptions. Before its clasfc 
 portals appeared the black-letter announcement of .n 
 act by Impecunious Jordan, Ethiopian artist, f^l- 
 Wed by a Tableau of General Scott's Capture of the 
 ^1 tri Mechanically he stepped witJl 
 •nd approached the box office. From the little cup- 
 
 3^' '/'iTT.^' ^°°^"^ ^°"'': «^«" th« t'*« 
 vender of old had been swallowed up by the irony of 
 
466 
 
 THE STROLLERS 
 
 "Yes " Th^ M- " '^'"' "''^ Zach ?" 
 
 Pve legitimate drama here." ' " "*'' '° 
 
 "That was some time ago " saiH *i, 
 reflectively. "The soldier! ri, . * "^ " *•« »>0't. 
 Impecunious JordanV" " '''""'*^'"=- ^^^'^ear 
 
 "I never did." 
 
 "He?ISlSi:„ri"--T'^*''e vender. 
 
 he concluded, with the courf'^.-^"?" '"''"^ ''• "«■." 
 Md all of "6ld Ro„!h ^T '^''P^y"^ toward one 
 "It's the best s«t tftt th h^'^'^'C "^ '^t •'ay- 
 Jate, you know^ Sd as « /".T ''°" «»"' « ««fc 
 
 "How different tt^y ^ult" T'" "^'^^ 
 went to Mexico fresl^ rdi^^rd "'*"", ^hey 
 those that dc^ead beat, dot up,'-'^' "^ ^- 
 
 Passmg through the door Saint Pm.^ 
 ered to his seat in a rennC^V ^'"'-f^rosper was ush- 
 tain, re-decorated s*il? ^"ditorium; new cur- 
 
 the old restSs/;i TXh^ ^i'-' ^ P^^--: 
 
 ^^ ch.,ed co/diti:;::tT4S:;:tt.'S 
 
B] 
 
 
A FAIR PENITENT 467 
 
 rtJi^'l/r/"^ °,""'"'' '^' ''^^' °^ =» broad face 
 m the orchestra and the aspect of a colossal fnr^ 
 nveted his attention. This person was nd h T Lr 
 
 nor less, he was neither older nor younger-seem- 
 ■ngly; he played on his instrument nekher^tter nor 
 worse Youth might fade, honors take S "he 
 appear dZ" t'^'"' '"' "^"=- ^argantuTn ^H^' 
 at Z K f ' '" ^" "'""*' P'-«^«nt' Gazing 
 
 to a forell f^' °^r *.' '°"^ P^"°d of separation 
 dL^c^ ' ^ ' drumming of the woodpecker. 
 
 c^d'S tf -ts^ "'' ^^ "°" '" ^ ''^^'^ -"- 
 
 " Look out for the dandies. 
 Girls, beware ; 
 Look out for their blandishment., 
 
 Dears, take care! 
 For they're always ready-remember this!- 
 10 pilfer from maids an unwilling kiss 
 Oh, mel Oh, my 1 T.Wl There! " (l^a^inary slaf,.) 
 sang and gesticulated a lady in abbreviated skirts 
 
 shyn ni %T'''"^ ^"^ """'^-^ •" -nica! 
 Shyness, and concluding with a flaunting of her 
 
 lown"'"' ru^'T =^"'"Sward, and a lively "break- 
 down. Then she vanished with a hop, skip and a 
 bow, reappeared with a ravishing smile and ^hrew a 
 generous assortment of kis es among the audience! 
 
 ^to 
 
468 
 
 THE STROLLERS 
 
 performance dT fin.,, ^'""t-P'o^Per. finding the 
 die<i^ h„ c" L.- "*^ ^°''<^^« (more youne la- 
 
 with drollery and div.«T t u ^ '''=°rder, armed 
 
 to the Ca te of rh' ." *"""""' '^'y '"^^'^^ed 
 
 tne castle of Chaos, where the wise are fools tl,,. 
 
 oW are young and topsy-t„rvy is the order of the dl^! 
 
A FAIR PENITENT 
 
 469 
 
 As Saint-Prosper stood watching the versicolored 
 
 view i-aith on a golden pedestal, looking more like 
 C^uet^ propelled a dainty figure agaiLt th" S- 
 aier. Involuntarily he out nut i,: , . 
 
 cr^wd melted ike a receding wave, and the'^^ady eS 
 
 ncated herself, breathless as one of the maSs Tn 
 
 I-renzo de Medici's Songs of the Can,iva5. " 
 
 How awkward!" she murmured. "How-" 
 ».• J .<.T*T'' '■^'"^'■"''' unfinished and an exclama 
 
 "Miss Duran I" he exclaimed, equally surorised f«, 
 he Jad thought the strollers sc^ttereVrr fo^ 
 
 s^m!^?" ^*"''«';^ y°« P'^3'"-'" Demurely; at the 
 
 same t.me extending her hand with a fafn flufh 
 
 Yes; I am really and truly marriedl But it is so 
 
 lo^g smce we met, I believe I-literally flew to yo^r 
 
 inlh^lTi"'" '°" '"^'^^'' '"^•" '''= -'"-'«. 
 
 hJ.T^!f"^'r''- "^"' ^°^ '^° y°" happen to be 
 How f J °"^''.' ^°" ^^^"^ '"'=*''• No; onl/wounded^ 
 How fortunate, Of course you came with the othl 
 er . I should hardly know you. I declare you're as 
 Z r1^: ' n' ^""' " " ^''°^'- You look older 
 
470 
 
 THE STROLLERS 
 
 fZif y°«"-^»'veyi„g her face, which had the 
 freshness of morn— "look younger!" 
 h,.v°^ T'"" ^''J"="'n& =<»ne fancied disorder of 
 ha or bonnet "Marriage is a fountain of youth 
 for -with a s.gh-"old maids. Susan Duran spins 
 ter! Horrible! Do you blame me?" "'^"' 'P'"''- 
 For getting married? Not at all. Who is the 
 fortunate man ?" asked Saint-Prosper. 
 
 A mmister; an orthodox minister; a n^ost orth- 
 dox mmister 1" ortfiv,- 
 
 "No?" His countenance expressed his sense of 
 he mcongruuy of the union. Susan one of the eLt • 
 
 t^n rt sTid.'°^'^ ^°''~ °^- "«- ''^«' "t' 
 
 swSd^s^:r"Th:rr;'„^-r i '''''-'': ^"- 
 
 him „« T T , nim— I mean, I saw 
 
 h.m-„o,Imean,Iheardhim! It was enough. All 
 the^ women were m love with him. How could I 
 
 "He must have been very persuasive." 
 
 ../T^f"^,] "' ''°'^*'^ "' ^^^^y "inute. Dress 
 and the devl! I"-casting down her eyes-"S 
 
 ;:^ ml" '"™ ''^ '"•='• "^"•^ «"-^ me to t 
 "Ah " commented the soldier, gazing doubtfully 
 
 upon Susans smart gown, which, with elaborate art 
 
 followed the contours of her figure. 
 "But, of course, one must keep up appearances 
 
 you know," she continued. "What's 'he use of be.' 
 
 mg a mm.ster's wife if you aren't popular with the 
 
A FAIR PENITENT 
 congregation? At least" .!,» .j . 
 th«nl" And Susan tSedtt "*• ^'"' ^^^ °f 
 shod boot and shoS'he X^rT'."'''^"^"- 
 weren't popular, you couldn't tl. i T '°" 
 P«ws," she added! evasively "1. '''''~^ "'^='" 
 and see me-us, I should say " '°" ""'' '°'"'= 
 
 pjrrr urract'r' ^^''-^'■-'^- ^-^ 
 
 Whenever she /at S^ XTilT h'^^^ ''''^ 
 passed quickly over his face 3 •' ^^ ^""^ 
 
 impassive features "Z '^"',^'"^'"ff to read his 
 isonl ThaUst^'h^H . '°°"' ^'^^" "'^ "^nival 
 
 «" on a„;'of ;^u iid"fSr^°"^ ^ ^-^^ - 
 
 «ure, would be delighted to see Jou ""'""' ' ^™ 
 
 Many women would have Irv^t^j 
 circumstances, but Susan', / ^""^^ ""''«'• 'he 
 
 upon his. H;if the n r ^*' '"''" innocently fixed 
 
 t'^accomp^; if !,,tr;„dl''^ ""^"'" ^^'^ '" 
 went with it ^ ^"'' ""= ^•■'^'''"y "mile that 
 
 shortly after you left." "^^^ **''^° *" 
 
 ''111," he said, starting, 
 
 "Quite! But soon recovered I" a ^ ^ 
 'aunched into a narration Of rr'tsthattdi" 
 
473 
 
 THE STROLLERS 
 
 sTi?. /.r"^'"'' °^ * "^ '^ho, having haThls 
 share of the vagaries of fate, is not to be Sen aba^ 
 by new surprises, however singular or traS. |f 
 san expected an expression of regret-^ iL o^ 
 word-over the loss of the marq^s' fortn^ b" 
 either he simulated indifference or passed th!^ J 
 by with philosophical fortitude "" 
 
 •'Poor Barnes!" was his sole comment. 
 
 T:>ffl7'' "c"^"' ''^'^ '°"^'y ^°' Constance at first" 
 rattled on Susan. "But I fancy she will find a ™ 
 
 , Marriage?" he asked soberly. ^^ 
 
 "Well, the engagement is not yet announced " said 
 
 Susan hesrtatingly. "But you know how thin'gs^t 
 
 around? And the count has been so attentiveTv^u 
 
 Wt off" T:''-^' ^°"°* '' -^-^'-? B°u 
 1 must be off. I have an appointment with my hus- 
 band and am already half an hour late " 
 
 Don't let me detain you longer, then, I beg." 
 Oh I don t mind. He's so delightfully jealous 
 when I fail to appear on the stroke of the clik f aT 
 ways imagines I am in some misch-but I mustt't" 
 teU tales out of school! So glad to have m " Tu 
 Come and see me— do!" ^ ' 
 
 And Susan with friendly handclasp and linserin.. 
 ook, tore herself away, the carnival lightnJrtaTef 
 feet and the carnival laughter in her eyel 
 
 He IS m love with her still," she thought "or he 
 wouldn't have acted so indifferent!" Hefmin^M' 
 
A PAIR PENITENT ,„ 
 
 tolic half waitmg at the rendezvous with the patiTe 
 of a Jacob tarrying for a Rachel. But wh.^ she dM 
 finally appear, with hat not perfectly ooLd w\ • 
 « a pretty disarray, she looked so waSy Ir^' 
 
 stem shepherd w.th a crook from Eve's apple tree 
 As thm as a lath and gaunt as a ghost!" rSted 
 
 oi gaiety. Susan always was frank " 
 
 to l2"f r°'"''1"' .'''"''■'y' ^^ P'"'^^'' longenough 
 irn f^ P'' *"" "' ^'"t °"' '" Ws fingers as he 
 strolled mechanically toward the wharves, through the 
 
474 
 
 THE STROLLERS 
 
 of the orange trees with their golden wealth the 
 dniy, were rumbling in the street and S 'w « 
 ti.e sa«e signs of busy traffic-for the caSi had 
 not yet become a legal holiday-that he had observed 
 
 ttv Ja;^:'^?^ Sf r'^' ^^ ^^y ^^^^^^ 
 
 .an^Sf^L^t^hfrrorj-^^^^^ 
 lookmg toward the city, where events, undrLSerof 
 
 agur^ earnest, self-possessed, enter the city gates un- 
 heraWed unknown. He saw her as he IRZ 
 ^^ ^ t''* /'^'demess-flot as fancy might now de- 
 
 player, and as such he loved best to think of her 
 
 Arising out of his physical weakness and the wriod 
 Of maction following the .reaty of peace, hreW 
 •need a sudden homesickness for hirnadve l^r^ 
 
 atl7.^'"""* '^"'=^ '^''' *° breathe thHwUt 
 a.r of the country, where his boyhood had been pasll 
 to hsten to the thunder of the boulevards, to'^^atch 
 the endless, sad-joyful processions. 
 
 K^t Z ttroffic'"T.^."°"°'"'"^' «<»«'-' 
 ^uare.was the office of the Trans-Atlantic Steam- 
 ship Company, where a clerk, with a spray ofle^. 
 mme « h,s coat, bent cordially toward Saint-Proslr 
 .s.the latter ente^d, and. approaching the de^'T 
 
 FrZ^e'? °'"'"'^ " '^"'"'■'"'^ *° '"'•' *°-"«'"°w for 
 "Yes, sir; at twelve o'clock noon." 
 
A FAIR PENITENT 
 
 ^^ ' 47S 
 
 "Very good sir W m '^""'■"'"■ng look, 
 your bTgl^e' WhJfe 1 ,r" '"'■'= """""^ '''hels for 
 St. Charted Verwe I tr T ''"' '°' ■'? The 
 tableaux to-night?^ he L [" ^"'' ^°" ^"'"^ '° 'he 
 
 in the city. .'The^ LfKfT''""^ " """^^^ 
 event. G<id-day " I'M """ ''^ ^^e fashionable 
 paid for and received his tLket ^'?TT" P''""»" 
 The Dauphin is a new sh ' 11 u fJ'""^"' ^"^''^^^ 
 weeks-barring bad Lather in"'*! "°'' '" "-'« 
 
 suiriafirLriasf "T ''^'^ ^- » 
 
 a"y he placed his ticket tnJrLrr."'- ''"'°'"'"'=- 
 answered the employes urtherT '•^'' ""'^°'"'y 
 tions. He was no7^ , mquiries for instruc- 
 
 "eweng.C^?4*r„t""^;/^^'he Daupbin or Her 
 
 expansion arrangement h,^. .J T"^"" Quadruple- 
 the assurance- "F^"" 'J, ^°"^^ ^'" ^rain rang 
 
 the wayTp^e s^eeTt ' "'" "if ''''''■" ^"'^ »« 
 again. ^ ''""' " '^P^'^^^'i itself again and 
 
CHAPTER IX 
 
 "COMUS' MISTICK witcheries" 
 
 That elusive, nocturnal company, "The Mistick 
 
 ^T^ ■ uu°^''''" ^""^ aPPeared-"Comus, deep 
 skilled m all h.s mother's witcheries"-^nd the dwell 
 ers m Phantasmagoria were joyfully numerous 
 More plentiful than at a modem spiucular perfZ: 
 ance, reveled gods, demons and fairies, while the chil- 
 ThT ^'.r. u "" u'^^' °^ masquerading butterflies. 
 J^^ ^ t "'" *''"''*"'• *'"■' ^°'"'" Veglioni, suc- 
 ceeded elaborate tableaux, the "Tartarus," of the an- 
 
 Krewe impersonated Pluto and Proserpine, the 
 fates, harp>es and other characters of the representa- 
 
 Ir w, ^ H' ,^'"^-"'='^ '^d parqdet, the thea- 
 ter was crowded, the spectacle, one of dazzling toilets 
 many of them from the ateliers of the Parisifn mod 
 .stes; a wonderful evolution of Proserpine's toga and 
 
 he mortal robes of the immortal Fates Picture fol 
 
 lowed picture: The expulsion from Paradise; the 
 
 conference of the Gorgons, and the court of p;,de! 
 
 monium, where gluttony, drunkenness. avaricVand 
 
 (476) 
 
 .■^ 
 
 -^n-- 
 
"MISTICK WITCHERIES" 477 
 
 stroke of twelve man^":;' ■om"."''' "'"'"'''' "" '^e 
 
 regimentals from the Jj/«,^ 1, »r ?[ ^"^ *P*" 
 and the induWrabe aTr ' f ' ^ ''™""'' ^»«'' 
 -ere the objects o7hv,tereTt''tXt""'' ^^ 
 nor were themselves indifferent to th T'"'"''' 
 
 of their entertainer, wTf\ ^ complaisance 
 looked blacker that nlht' ''""'''' ''y »''« «""• 
 waists the, cL'^^^I^de'SlriL^-^ °f 
 in contrast with dehcate rnn,„i! • *^ "" '"*^8:ed 
 
 brocade whirled around STh"!.' '='"'^°'<'«'y and 
 dancing aigrettes wTJl!^ ^ ""^"^ uniforms; and 
 shoulder straps ^ '"^"' ^""y"^ «P»«'«s and 
 
 from the fesdvi £ ; wenlt"' ''°"'"^^' ''«''' ^'^^^ 
 and worn, as though ^S"^^°""^ "'»'' ''"' thin 
 service. "If he would Jl ' """°™' ''^^ ^«n 
 laughed, relapsng -no fS h"'^.'"^ *"'"'''" ^^^^ 
 s-n chest sh^e bfretde^Tefar '""•'■'"^ *° ^"^ 
 
 PanSiXtdtf '^'""" ^"^ ^''^' her com- 
 
 -rchXthlch^hf ^^^^^^^^^^ -^ ob- 
 
 ''untres.s of men either ch^eTo dVrt J^dttl^ 
 
478 
 
 THE STROLLERS 
 
 unconscious of. as he deliberately surveyed his sur 
 Strategic.'" * '^""tebarJc from "The Belle's 
 
 ;;Who'lI buy my nostrums?" cried the buffoon 
 hobbTht::: '"'''' ''''' ^°"^' — i"^ - on a 
 poSffor'la'J""' ^^.''''^^^'"' I^P'-^- Here's a 
 
 He«- an V ^ f ""r'"'-'° '^«'' ^ad '"nscien^s. 
 He« s an eye-water for jealous husbands-it thick- 
 ens the v,sual,membrane. Here's something for the 
 clergy_,t ehmmates windy discourses. Here's an 
 :^jL^f'--^ "-- -'-'^on and 
 "And what have you for Wers?" 
 "Nothing," answered the ciown; "love like fever 
 and ague must run its course. Nostrums I Who'll 
 buy my nostrums ?" vvnoii 
 
 claSJi?,!**' ^l'''.^. '"""■■'" «'f''""asticallv ex- 
 
 ■ of ft r ' '^"^''' y°" '^'"'' P°'k« with so.,.0 
 
 of the mihtar, gentlemen?" returr.H her comoanion 
 who wore a toga and carried a lantern. "mS'"" 
 selle Castighone wouldn't let you come, until I prom- 
 ised not to allow you out of my sight " '^ 
 
 donvI^'VT'^ °^J°" '° '^^' ""'■" ^he said, "and I 
 don tmmd about the military gentlemen." 
 . My dear, ,f all women were like you, we poor 
 civilians would not be relegated to the ba k^ou^ 
 
"MISiICK WITCHERIES" 4^ 
 
 TOs!ihl°"S: ', ':" *°"' *°™'' "'her costume, 
 ims-ahem dress !-has a tendency to get between 
 
 Plato, which is the same thing I" 
 
 vou r^^L^'^f '■ "'' ''^''"' °^ Barnes' company 
 
 the wav thfr^ ." ""'"''"^' °^ "^°""«' By 
 
 ii^htT' °"' °^ ^°"'" °''' fri'=°ds here tc^ 
 
 Saint-Prosper felt the color mount to his face and 
 Plenty of men at Service's church now! She's 
 

 48o 
 
 THE STROLLERS 
 
 dressed in Watteau-fashion to-nieht so ;f 
 
 "An^ *u ■ . °'^ *"^ minister's pretty wife I" 
 
 And the minister?" askeH 9a;„f v> ^ 
 
 ically. ^'^ i>amt-Prosper, mechan- 
 
 And Straws' arm stole atout the waist r.f hi. , 
 Wtnoti, •! Sain-Prosper watched iC/ "" 
 
 .•»u\rdi"j"Tr;r,s^i<=^%«- 
 
 shot through the soldier's breast as h^ tnL ^l^ 
 
.^^•^ 
 
 "MISTICK WITCHERIES" 481 
 
 fuming s-ound sharply, the officer observed approach- 
 ;ng a masiced lady, graceful of figure and lacking noth- 
 ing m the numerical strength of her escort. It was to 
 her that these words were addressed by an agile man 
 
 disguise. The lady, who would have attracted at- 
 tention anywhere by her bearing, wore a pardessus 
 of white gauze, fitting close and bordered with a sil- 
 ver band; the sleeves, short; the skirt of white gauze 
 and very ample, as the fashion of the day required- 
 the feet shod m small white silk "bottines"; the hair 
 «n bands, ornamented with wild poppies. Altogether 
 this costume was described by Phazma as "ravishing 
 the gown adorning the lady, an i the lady the gown 
 
 ^liff^u" 'vi ^T '^'"'* *•"= ^''^^" °f voluminous' 
 satin folds, like those of some portrait by Sir Joshua 
 or uainsborough. 
 
 "How could you expect any one not to know you>" 
 contmued the speaker, as this little coterie drew near 
 their masks a pretext for mystery. "You may im- 
 personate, but you can not deceive." 
 
 "That is a poor compliment, since you take me for 
 an actress laughed the lady. An hilarious outburst 
 from an ill-assorted cluster of maskers behind them 
 drowned his reply, and the lady and her attendants 
 passed on. 
 
 Saint-Prosper drew his breath sharply. "She is 
 here, after all," he said to himself. 
 
 "A nostrum for jilted beaux 1" called out a mounte- 
 bank, seeing him standing there, pre-occupied, alone, 
 
483 
 
 THE STROLLERS 
 
 at the same time tendenW a nili « . 
 A Punchinello jarred ;i^iJu' • "^"^ '"' = ?'"«"• 
 *-oi,par<,ier O^theSL^-^''^ "Pordonne. 
 rapturously; a v^Itz^^li"'!"'': ^^''^ '""^'"'^ dwelled 
 Vienna; the swJn oJoTt"'^^ '?' "'"'°"^' '««= °f 
 breathed "Die Schoriner^'T"' ^"^"y- "^""y, 
 
 ^eemedbomfordancS chTr ""i'^'"'^'- ''"'•= '^^^ 
 flushed with exciteSf m ti ''''"."' "''^"'y' ^"e 
 dered the lady w^ewh^^i C ' """r' "°"- 
 but once a year- a moJ Carnival comes 
 
 should swee/.ll cares ^ul TZrT' "'" ^'^^ 
 
 "Said Strephon to Chloo: 'For a ki., 
 S^i"f™ "'""■echoic, of n,/fl"i. 
 Said Chloe to Strephon- ' Wh«f km 
 
 iryou.iUddtol'hegina^nt'.''^::-,.,. 
 
 hummed the lively nymph, as she tripped by. 
 " ^'111,<^'''°«'° Strephon:. For. ld„ 
 
 With it I'll bujr Phj-Ui, , „,„ f^^"',,, 
 
 eony, where ,iV„rt . "■'ran U Ihe l»|. 
 
"MISTICK WITCHERIES" 483 
 l^s ocean with here and there a silvery star like the 
 
 Sr.!,'^""'"' '^^- ='" ""^^'homable sea of ether 
 rtat beat down upon him. Radiant and serene, in the 
 
 seemed suspended on stationary craft peacefully 
 
 mlths of r'°" '""^"^^' ^"PP-sed'^U.rough 
 tnonths of absence, once more found full sway; Su- 
 san s words were recalled by the presence of the count. 
 Suddenly the song of "Die Schonbrunner" ceased 
 withm, and, as its pulsations became hushed, many of 
 
 onv sr'n'" '"'"' ^°^'"* *''^°"^' ^-ght the 'bal- 
 cony. Standmg m the shadow near the entrance 
 
 odn m' *"'" °' ""^"^^'""^ "^y 'his abrupt ex 
 odus the sold.er saw among the other merry-makers, 
 Constance and the count, who passed through the door 
 so near he could almost have touched her 
 
 an'^rV''.^'''" '"''' '*"= "°""*' *" '^^y approached 
 
 "Ah S ^ ^' r''' ""'^ ''"^ •^''^'^ °' the balcony. 
 Ah Madam," he continued to the latter, "if you 
 would only use your good offices in my behalf I Miss 
 Carew is cruelty itself." 
 
 "Why, what has she doneP' asked the good gentle- 
 woman. ^ gcnue- 
 
 ''Insisted upon deserting the ball-room I" 
 In my day," said the elderly ally of the nobleman, 
 you could not drag the young ladies from cotillion 
 t4~m,"^'*''''""^°"'^^*^^'"''''^^-to 
 
 rJ'^^ r"""" ''°"'"' ^'"'""'' y°"' "=""« was often 
 on their lips," returned the count gallantly, who evi- 
 
484 
 
 THE STROLLERS 
 
 played I" ' ""* "> '°^«= the game's well 
 
 Saint-Prosper be„t J s e ° ' u"'"^^" "--"• 
 
 young girl, shadowy but T-"'^" *''" ^^'' "* "^e 
 Of Je bright co„rar„^^; ■„" 1^^^*^^;^ ' 
 nand removed the mask r. r ^ ^azed, her 
 
 - we... In the'siL e'S'T'; '?■ "^ ''"^- 
 ever so .oud.y, as she st^J^u u ""*^'" ''"'''ed 
 garden, a silken h«/'.^^""'"'""^'' 'o^ard the 
 
 <iers;tkeh:XJre^rhouf T"" "^^ ^•'- 
 poppies in her hair "' adornment, save the 
 
 drivrfrrthTrarirhT "' T' ''^-- '^^ 
 
 »oft.y beneath the staTrv ,» . '^'"J""^ '^"'"^d «° 
 ber? Ke dared not h'e'sohe'.-H'^'' ^'^ ^^"'^'"■ 
 brought. a.so, harsher mem ' ^"^ "°*- ^o him. it 
 filled most w/th herLX whii,^" ""' '"'"'' ^^^ 
 over a., e.se and ho.d Wm aS ^ '""'"''"^ '° ^'o^^ 
 to the p.ace where she w« ? '^^^'"^^ 'P«««or. 
 again Ju.iet-the jutet ?/ • '''"^- ^''^ ^^'"'^d 
 stages-the Ju.iet he had ut '"".' /"^^ ^^hoo.-hou.e 
 
 barren stage into a garden of h», transformed the 
 And yet somethW ^ . "'^"'^'"^ation. 
 
 finable new ^a^ fppTared ." ''''''"''■• ^ '"''- 
 
 felt his heart LtingSert ''1 "P°" ''^'- ««^ 
 
 for the moment he^ S Ws"'',"^'' '^ ""^^ '=°'"«^; 
 
 wrgot his jeaiousy i„ watching 
 
"MISTICK WITCHERIES" 485 
 
 IrJ:/%-"'"^ u'"^ *'^'"' °^ P*^^'""^. the languid 
 leatures But the expression of confidence with 
 wkch the count was regarding her. although oste"£ 
 Sir ''""''" *° '-' -'"^-'°"' --<» hL 
 Had she allowed herself to be drawn into a prom- 
 he so wfer'^"'" *'''.*'"^'' '°"'' Involumarny 
 the soldiers face grew hard and stern; the count's 
 tacfcs were so apparent-flattering attemion to the 
 
 bearmg toward the young girl i„ which he would 
 re^y upon pauence and perseverance for the coZm 
 mation of h.s wishes. But certainly Constant dTd 
 not exh.b.t marked preference for his society on fhe 
 
 rd'Shfbar 'n ''~'^^" *° •'- ^^- they 
 of the h , uT ■ ^°^ '^^P'^S the iron railing 
 
 of the balcony she leaned farther out; the flowers of 
 the v,„e, clambering up one of the supports, swayed 
 oS r-a™'.^^' ''"'^ ''' --<> - thTmoi;t Zls 
 
 '•It is cold here," she said, drawing back. 
 Allow me-your wrap!" exclaimed the count 
 spnngmg to her side with great solicitude 
 
 But she adjusted the garment without his assist- 
 
 oIlCCi 
 
 "You must be careful of your health-for the sake 
 
486 
 
 THE STROLLERS 
 
 ^ "Oh. Madan.." hrs^d.'twt/'-S '"'^^^- 
 does not agree with vn.. i ^^^"^- ^iss Catew 
 the girl. «''' ""«^ you, I am sure?" Turning to 
 
 P«ed,X the" fhive^rrT, ''■''"^''''" ^'^ - 
 looked aromid. ^^ "'^'"'y' "^^""^"y. and 
 
 At that moment the lights were h.m-.^ • . 
 garden-another surprise aL^!LV^. °" '" *•«= 
 Krewel-illun,i„ati^^^^s'!!'"^'^ ^l *« Mistick 
 ing a sudden g„re u^Ll; Sco^"'"^'^' '^'^ -'- 
 
 Mfr^diL^'r""*- ;^^'^ "•'^ ^^ ^^'-w 
 
 Why.whiisitr """'°""'" Tra-la-Ia-la-Ia! 
 
 towtdSe'rgrattherck-ofThetl ^'"""^ ^^"^"^ 
 the orchestm^once mo« beg^ t S'°"'- Within, 
 strains of music were waft^ ° ^^^' ""*'• ^ t*-^ 
 masqueraders started towart the M"""' ' '"^* °^ 
 
 At that moment the cathedral rWi, »-_ 
 -twelve times it sounded ln7,f?h ^^ *" ^"'^'^ 
 Mistick K«we, one ^L^'t f^ J*'* '''^°'^-' «>« 
 
 Bee.ehuh;the^£J-i5-^^ 
 
fm 
 
 ■MISTICK WITCHEErES" ,87 
 vices. The first carnival had come to a close 
 
 The propeht 
 
 SCARBORO 
 •J5LIC LIBRAR 
 
CHAPTER X 
 
 CONSTANCE AND THE SOLDrEg 
 
 silvfr;'Jr orhatC -^ -"-""^"'^ted voice; , 
 quiry. ' ^ ' ''«^''**'^ *'* Unobtrusive in- 
 
 Since his period-^r reL,!L. r'"'' ^""^ *=»'«' 
 
 office, and is deserv^of a ^ ' """'*''' '="'''"' *e 
 ■•can annals. "Hrff™,?.^™'"!"' P'''^'^ '" Anier- 
 
 n«s." wrote the inteS'lL"' ^'' °" ^''^- 
 «udyi„g some new exLpfe T;,'' ^"^'' "-^ '^^^ 
 "his conversation was eS. 1 -^T" 'P*^'^'' 
 ^^-withac.turedec=,^;,--:J,«^J^J^ 
 
CONSTANCE 
 
 4%> 
 
 at thV;,M •'"u"°^^''^'='y remarked, gazing down 
 , at the ca ler ■„ the present instance. ^ ^ 
 
 .,J^Colonel Saint-Prosper stopping here?" 
 
 X es ? Doubtfully. 
 •'Is there any reason wKy you shouldn't ?» 
 ihere was a military banquet last nio-hf • . 
 
 Colonel Samt-Prosper?" saiH fl,» i. 
 
490 
 
 THE STROLLERS 
 
 catch my breath That i a 
 two steps at a time, a^d I f^a??'"'"' '''" «<=«' 
 lated me to unusual exiidt.lr' ,";."?*«»«>« «imu- 
 *e «re old and can't Wn ^' '* "P' '» Wet 
 
 keys I" **"' '««P "P with boys «,d mon- 
 
 to^r4*';:„ryr;tt ^o!:^^"' '■"*'°<'"--- the at. 
 
 ''een, bright gaze a *, ' c? .^ u °^ "'^ ^«'"' ^^'h 
 
 «ve to convey a definite fm!?,-*^ *"'' "^omprehen- 
 »"d figure. The Sd?e T""""? °J ""^ "'"er's face 
 'l^^^y'^^'^^t^s^S:' his Visitor's look 
 
 C^-aSfh.S;^;,-^^-- 
 disturbing you ? i E' ,°^ "'^'"v.tation. "I am not 
 
 this is ouVfirst oLetirg °"^ '"°"" °' ^°"' '""ough 
 sJ^Pr^Z.Z t''"'-'"'^'' »^ -•' -umed 
 '•ESyr^.;-;:;^^-^;,jaughed the Wyer. 
 
 «ers in every one's affair" f ^ ^'"'"^ ''"^ «"" 
 you, as it were, from the /«!.. \ . ^<l^»mted with 
 
 "I am unexneZ^, t^''''''°*«-P«sentI'■ 
 tener. satirSr ^^ "'■""" '"^'''^'1 ^ 'i- 
 
 closely. " regarded his visitor more 
 
CONSTANCE 
 "'Of* ^'' 
 
 '■" your favor; [he 2t /„T T "'"'•■ "''= ""^ 
 sume-'-withasSen 1" f''/^';^''''^'''- ' Pre- 
 tention of contestl^h Z. *? >"" ''"^^ "° '"• 
 temity of the child f, es abl si ,'^"7 ' ^^^ ?=" 
 
 Artful Culver was Tot hi ' '^^""•^ ''°"»'t." 
 his own mind that, if the othrr^"^ T"' '° '"''= '" 
 trouble, the lega, proofs o '£„:::! ''T^'^ '° -''» 
 be so easily forth-comin.r n ''''"'"^ *°"'d 
 
 •"Other had passed awav „." ^'' ^'^'"'= ^er 
 child had been bom inT^nH'' T" ^^"''^ 'he 
 quis' rationality, jZ tl^"t"T^'''-~- "^<= '""" 
 hie question, n fact "'t ''?""' *^^ ^ ^'hata- 
 ProsperwasintheS e atto™ '' '""•'" ^aint- 
 'oaring among a cloud „f ^^ ""'"'* ''^'^ heen 
 
 "-. regarding his c^mpa J:«::f,,P°-'''>-hties, and 
 '"grafating smile, he added '"°" '""'"y' 
 
 Besides, when th^ .^,. • 
 
 into his househoTd. there S'Vrl; ''"' *^ =• ^"'W 
 papers drawn 1" ' ""''erstood, no legal 
 
 p-pJri:^^:':^:^-^:^'^"'''^''--^'^--- 
 
 "Just so," return.^ r . °"'^'' "tatter ?" 
 
 "There wa's "m"? ma r '" .'°"'"' ^'"«'""^- 
 Miss Carew requeTted me tl hT'. '''^'^ '=°'"""«'-°" 
 The visitor now drtect.!) /°" '"' ""^'^ge." 
 
 soldier's imperturbable Sri:,T;' ^"^"^ -" '"^ 
 envelope which the attornev "ff Vt '*""' *«"^ the 
 
4?a 
 
 THE STROLLERS 
 
 ]ng completed my errand , V"'' ^""^ "°^. hav- 
 •"^r And the 1,";^^^';"" ^°" ^--^oZ. 
 The younp man', ii, j ^ departed. 
 
 •"essage with tolerable 2„et ~""="'^ °^ '"e brief 
 
 'n^.or.r,'*'"-''-''-" 
 
 "^'"'O" ■""<"/«" .hi. morn. 
 
 CONSTANC. Ca«,w.. 
 
 '"e datorHo':; ir,'t s„t '"^ ="'^- -^ 
 
 ««igled feelings he nelrT ' ""''"^ at it with 
 start, looked at his w^^.T ^"'"' ''"' ""ally with a 
 ha«-filled truni. L::f ;. "-^"tfully regarded he 
 
 Several fellow-officers the firT T'. '''' "'^ ^-« 
 appear, spoke to him a he " J^' ''"^^''^^s to 
 "f what they said or what .: ?• '}' '"'" "^'"vv, 
 afterward remember. Some ot ?"•'' ''^ '^°"''' "° 
 «ep». a gentleman wifh a ," "."''' ^''^ « 'he 
 finally he fonnd himse in a Z*"^ 'T ^"'^P^' ^ut 
 ^here, presumably to the addrl ?'' '•""'"^ ^"'"e- 
 How long the drive seemed^nH ''^'" '" *''« '««er. 
 "age finally stopped anTh; S "'''■7"'" *''« «"- 
 "-^ntally determl^d ft had w ^"^ *"'' ^are, he 
 dnver ga^ed i„ surprise after^H '°° '''°«' The 
 d-d not wait for his chanjebufoj. ^'""'='"*"' ^^o 
 
 ^- the carriage the house was some distance, and 
 
CONSTANCE 
 
 493 
 
 were many floweZ'^Cf ?"^? ' «"'''" ^^ore 
 unusually heavr2 tT '^''/''"'= ""= "'^ *», 
 
 passed without attra«i„r."' o ■ «" S ' ^ T "^'''• 
 he was seated in a great ro^m 1 "' ''°*'^*'"' 
 
 £sh;o„ed height a„T LS Hrfeirv °i°'''- 
 beating fast. How lontr ,Z u ■ ^*" ^" heart 
 
 considerable period Tu^ He'' '""*='. ^° ■""- 
 thing carefully withonf ™ • '^^^"""ed every- 
 
 -n of anyth^;g^r L 3"%^,''^'' ''""''«- 
 mirror; the quaint decoratirnf „ ^'■^'' ""'=<' 
 soft colors c the ruTth' ^ ''"'' ^""'•" t''* 
 
 dred and ono odd Httfe \r'''' ""= ''°°^'- »!«= "un- 
 the chair where he wa! T^' '" "''= "•"«» "ear 
 silver and^Wna- the n Z""'^' '""" '" '^°'y. old 
 
 -d a few mintasS^^^kfte^th" °^''''' "^"''^' 
 but confused scrutinv !!f "' • '""^ '"terminable, 
 
 beat faster s'illasTtallljr'TV'''"^'' ""'^ ^eart 
 the room 1 '^^"''' '°^'^ « *'"te, entered 
 
 contai::rhe'r'l.eTd'fbr! T' ^''"^ ""'-' 
 of a rose-leaf • hlf °^ ^°'°'' "''e the tinge 
 
 sweeping "L'^^ l^^f.^^^!' ^^^^^ beneath th": 
 
 stateLfs of he; present LT T'" "'"^ »"<= 
 he held it he knew not hn > ^^* '""' ''^'- hand ; 
 
4d4 
 
 ^HE STROLLERS 
 
 ^HeW "Mr. Culver bn,„,ht „e , our «es- 
 
 field again." ' " '^'^ *"' "^^ soon took to the 
 
 .^The suspense that fe« between them was oppres- 
 
 saiTS",:^' ''" '^' ^°"^ frle-d^ow." she 
 
 ^V'^Sj^rZ:-^ 7-nes Of the. 
 terlaced her Wers anf h! ^^"decisively she in- 
 
 why .he had ^S^or''hrt'"l *•'«'". wondered 
 
 '''^ed to the window anSTtJ",'"!"'^ ''^ '°«' 
 
 «tting in the dim hghT i^a m^ ' ^'""^ °"'- ««' 
 
 vaguely conscious of her fi " "^..""^^^''in'y. was 
 
 brightness without of the f^ °"*''"'*^ "S^^"* *« 
 
 *e vines on the verandl ^"^' ^'"°^ ^^'^'^ "f 
 
 It is long since we have m^* » «.- 
 
 She did not answ« ij.Tu ?' '*'''' "^J^^ardly. 
 
 not resent her sil«^' St t"/"""^' ^'' ^e dfd 
 
 tinned. '''^"''' ""=•= ^ «w you," he con- 
 
CONSTANCE 
 
 495 
 
 to spring to her side. ^" ""^ '""S^*" 
 
 "Yes, much r she replied. 
 
 ba /"har^a^^h" '°"^'' '"^ ^"^^<^' ^''" folding 
 
 "Only since yesterday." 
 "And you remain some time?" 
 
 At TJ""?^ to^ay-for France." 
 At that a touch of color l^ft »,... t 
 that a darkening shadow Jn ^f' °' **' '"' 
 
 beSi'ShHr ^°-'"-^ -"«i to sti„ the 
 "Constance-what is Jt?" he half-whiso««l 
 She stepped forward suddenly wT^" 
 
 stretched. '"aaeniy, her hands out- 
 
 "I wronged you I" she cried "T 
 I thought the disgrace wa your oTi '""• 
 speak ("she added, passionately 'Th 'J" "°* 
 
 it-and now, would you S n. I ? '"'*""=^ ^°' 
 , "You thought the dTgrTe -« '^""^ ""='' 
 ^'owly. "Not n.y-H.e^rokroriup^^'^rd 
 
496 
 
 THE STROLLERS 
 
 ■ -.*^ 
 
 you suffered— for it?" u^ j 
 you-" HearSliclJ^^'"""'"^^'^- "-'« 
 «P«ssioa traasfiJSs t^ -PProached her, a „e,v 
 face. ^"^ ''" '^on^ed and worn young 
 
 ««" to his arms, and he St. t ''^'"''°"**' ^er- 
 
 With '=onmcti„g emotio^s^^'^cSoLlyrh^^^^ ''"' 
 the surprise and surpassing ni ^ ! ''^''' •■«■' » 
 then, bending, he S hi r"^°* ^-^ ™°"«=»t; 
 flooded her face, LuSfhi! ''P"'./ ^''^^ "^ color 
 even as he regardedler^nrf """ '°"^''* *■'*• ^ut 
 S.^-^'----"-ai^-^^^^^^ 
 
 hadlto'^erTSlZre^'^'t-- =«'^«' -"^'t 
 on every one's lips I" '" ^"^ ''"«'"'• ^our name, 
 
 ^ Jid you thin, you were responsible for another'. 
 His d«k features clouded. 
 
 l«g of the sto^T No LTerf' r"" ''^^ «> •••*- 
 hrother. And7he b!:;;e" ^^t'tLu'/ T.''' 
 loved him from my boyhood! H. .! J"''*''^ ^^^ 
 most joyous fellowl Ev^ Iht r.-.' • '"'*""''«' 
 m Mexico my heart c^,Z . . ^'^'^ " ""y a™s 
 y^ „ my heart could not absolutely turn from 
 
i 
 
 ^•i^^m- 
 
CONSTANCE 
 
 497 
 
 She opened her lips as if to speak, but the shadow 
 on his face kept her silent. 
 
 the firT 7""" '"°/^'' '° •'"P "'^ ^'°'7 from you in 
 the first plac^ foolish reticence, for these matte s 
 follow a man to the ends of the world " 
 
 ' thil?'''" '''" '"''*' "'° '^'""^ '* ^"^ ^ ^^° °«de you feel 
 
 she^^idtt'shrir ' "' ^^'^ """ '- «"^-= y- 
 
 quickly. Not the world I expected to find-where 
 l.fe would hold little of joy or zest-but a mS 
 world ; a beautiful world ; yours 1" ^ 
 
 She half-hung her head. "But then-then-" 
 
 than bht^^ " """°'^' '''"^^-^^-'•- y^* "-- -eet 
 "And now?" 
 
 He did not answe. mmediately. 
 The figure of the count, as he had wen h;^ *t. 
 
 uttf H^' "tt ^"^"^"^ -tere/htlir Kd st 
 understand? She smiled. 
 "And now?" 
 
 w?ht u"„r^^^ ^'«— ^ -«- wLrr-: 
 
 "Shall we go into the garden?" she said, and, open- 
 mg the wmdow, they stepped out upon the vera^a 
 
 In the sky a single large cloud stretched its^Tn 
 a dreamy torpor, too sluggish, apparently to move 
 
498 
 
 THE STROLLERS 
 
 ■ 
 
 "nong the plant, and W„„ ™ '""^ '^'^'^ *«"• 
 their interest morein tr^. ."^ ?^ ""^ '«<' th^: 
 hues or forms tha^^" Je'S ^He'".^' "■^'«'« 
 
 SheTusheStt h"''T' ''''"" '''-•d- 
 her brow. '''^ ''"" '"«' ^'"^ had blown about 
 
 "If I sTv r "'"-8°'"g-«owP' 
 „" ^ stay, It must be— " 
 
 Forever I" she said. "Forever I" 
 
 col?" '"^ '''''' ^' »-«?" «,-d Sus«. to the 
 
 wa:t"Xt"ri„f«-;hi,e emi^a^. He 
 
 stance, who had b«!, ? i **"* *™« « Cbn- 
 ' "Noinecess^ri,!^"-*^- all these occasions, 
 toss of the head "^"sSS^^' T" *^ °" ^«"''^ 
 
 ' '^^^"1^^ -". St^";^.' "^^ -- '-^. ««« 
 
 wanted' thr^nt. 'slS;;'^ ^° -'<> >-.• de- 
 
 yo.Zl7Z^'^:''^''"y^-^om She did. if 
 "Miss Carew?" 
 "Herself 1" 
 
 The nobleman lolled back in his chair, a dark look 
 
CONSTANCE ^ 
 
 on^his face. Here were fine hopes gone a-g.in»,er- 
 
 ance^aJ these Si;, h%^.''""'='''''^-'=^S«««'d- 
 and beau y i Li ^'' '"''^ '» °«^ wealth 
 
 denied Juntr^^^LrorrvtX,^^^^^ ^''^ 
 
 'ong^r..'rtS"rf ^''-^-' after such a 
 
 S:?esr^^ rs--^-^^ 
 
 all about." as it i had brought it 
 
 TBB END 
 

A LIST OP RECENT FICTION OP 
 THE BOWEN-MERRILL COMPANV 
 
'"' '''TfRESTiNG STORY o7 
 FAMILY LIFE. °' 
 
 THE 
 F'IGHTING BISHOP 
 
 By HERBERT M. HOPKINS 
 
 -onderiu, c=afld«c.tita" '"•»«•»" of ""ic.Z.Thf.' 
 
 li mo. 
 
 Cloth, 
 
 ornamental 
 
 #1.50 
 
 _TheBowen.Mer.„ company, ,^^^^,, 
 
'NOTHING BUT PRAISE" 
 
 LAZARRE 
 
 B.MARYHARTWEI.I.CATHERWOOD 
 
 WithsixIUa,tratio„.byAndr«Cstai,„e 
 »» mo. Price, ii.jo. 
 
 The Bowen-Merril. Company. /^^^^;^ 
 
r 
 
 VIVACIOUS ROMANCE OP REVOLU- 
 TIONARy DAYS 
 
 ALICE 0/ OLD 
 
 VINCENNES 
 
 By MAURICE THOMPSON 
 
 Th« AtUnta Centtitutitm uyi: 
 
 "lfc.Thon.pMn who. fclighrful mldB|. h _t» u4 
 
 "neliaw nude hu nputadon ludoiuL ha acliinaj hli 
 
 niM» moke of imiui in tUi lutorical aord tt Rmla. 
 
 nomrjr dayi in the We«." "tmb- 
 
 n> Dtrrtr Daily Nrwt tmjtl 
 
 "There .re three great chepten of fctloB I Brntt'i toMM 
 
 menl on A>hb)- feld, Genenl WelUce'. chenot net, mi 
 
 now Maurice Thomp«„-. duel Ken. «J th. „ai™ 
 
 Alice • flag over old Fort Vmcennee." — -» - 
 
 Tk aicmp rimn-BirMuyi: 
 
 ■To Have end To Hold,' more ritj Uub < T^c. 1^ 
 dieh,' .ach i. Meuric. Thompeon-. „^ iCJT^ 
 mmce, 'Alice of Old Vincennek' iTle, hUStol 
 more artaec and •paatueou than my of la rinb." 
 
 VIRGINIA HARNED EDITION 
 
 rma, with six illustrations dnwn hy F. C. 
 
 Yohn and a frontispiece in color by 
 
 Howard Chandler Christy 
 
 Price, >i.5o 
 
 The Bowen-Merriil Company, h^ta^tBt 
 
Ifj^<