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Laa diagrammes suivants illustrant la mOtfiode. 1 2 3 1 2 3 4 5 6 MiarOCOPY tlSOUITION TIST CHAIT (ANSI ond ISO T6ST CMABT No. 2) |2^ |Z5 tarn ■ 2.2 Ih warn L£ 1 12.0 H 1.8 ISHJ^Li ^i /APPLIED IIWIGE Inc ^F 1653 Eait Main Strwt rjS RochMt«r. N«w York '46U9 USA ^= (716) 482 - 0300 - Phono ^5 (716) 288 - 5989 - Fax C- a^ ^ li CAPTAIN BLUITT 1 C"P'uin Blu:,,i C-S' u.) ■ '' '"^™ yo" have it/ " CAPTAIN BLUITT ^ f^/^ li BY MAX ADELER (CHARLES HEBER CLARK)^— ABTOO. 0, "OUT or TH, „„ty .„.„,•. « ,„„ „ "AN OLD roGsy/' ITC i| rtLUSTSATBD H TORONTO WILLIAM BRIGGS 190a as i PREFACE material designed tosuDolv °„'^°"'' '^°'''' <:°ntaining then that enlargement oWwori r'"?*",'" Concludinf wa» not one offhe need/ o? thTrace n^r^V°°^''^"'^' d.gmty upon him who eng°Led i^^u °f. ""''/i'? «'"'■''' tton to serious matters Mdennla '".'"''' *"^ »"«- -.bring honouMlCS^LS-;,^^^^^^^^^ bc&St've"^'^ °tn''r ^ar'r ^-^ -*-- *° ceived as economic w-sdomanrftT^-' =°'»™°n'y re- public affairs is clo^lT^elat^d to ftS?\'"*° P""^'" '■" with seriousness than hw I^^i »• ^' """ " mingled falsehood pSK'^ Si rS.'' '** ""^ace value" ading as philosop^ "°'"''"** "**!««>'- company of\ leaded Ra&?TrLVv"T' '" ^^e sidering the case, related tnthi •* ^"^bi, after con- Talmul Taanit^f IJ^^I^ tt7s"nd!!!'^ *°" '" *** vi PREFACE Rabbi Baroka, a saintly ascetic, often received visits from Elijah, who would communicate to him the secrets of Heaven. Rabbi Baroka learned from Elijah that every one in Heaven has a companion who is exactly complementary to the person with whom he is placed. Rabbi Baroka entreated Elijah to show to him the man who should be his companion. Thereupon Elijah led him to the market-place, where a jester stood, sur- rounded by a multitude of people, to whom he was supplying amusement. " That is your companion," said Elijah, pointing to the jester. " What have I done," demanded Rabbi Baroka, "that I should be condemned to the company of such a man in Heaven ? " " Scorn him not," responded Elijah. " By cheering the distressed and sorrowful, c.nd diminishing the sadness of human life, that man is doing a better and nobler work than if he should withdraw from society and lead a life of asceticism and solemnity. Learn that there is joyous- ness in Heaven." And so here, in this book, while there is much that shows the serious side of the human existence that is deeply tinged with tragedy, there is also comedy, without which no true story of the life of man can be told. Rabbi Baroka is but half a man ; his other half is the jester. Max Ad^lek. CONTENTS CHAP. I. II. III. IV. V. VI. VII. VUI. IX. X. XI. XII. XIII. XIV. \v. XVI. XVII. XVIII. XIX. XX. XXI. THB MARCH OF INVENTION WALTER DRURY HAS A VISION oV AN ANOBL SAUL TARSEL IN A sailor's snug HARBOUR INVOLVING THE CHURCH MILITANT THE HERO BEARS THE HEROINE HOMEWARD THE CURSE OF CANAAN ... FACE TO FACE . , TWO MEN OF TURLEY . THE HERO BECOMES A PROFESSIONAL MAN . THE ARM OF THE LAW IS EXTENDED . TEMPTATION . . _ KDUCATIONAL INFLUENCES IN TURLEY INTO THE NEW WORLD WHICH IS THE 0L_ THE WAY OF THE TRANSGRESSOR THE SLAVE-CATCHERS THROUGH THE WAY OF THB WILDERNESS POLITICS IN TURLEY. EFFORTS TO SAVE THE COUNTRY DIVINATION AND POLITICS . PRINCE BUNDER POOT SINGH RETURNS TO TURLEY JOU|. IHB COBRA STRIKES . 9 »S • 35 47 6o 7ft 97 III i3» 155 '73 185 300 317 »34 248 263 384 304 323 340 353 ^ CONTENTS XXIII. svmitiNa amd bUss . XXIV. CAPTAIN BLUITT BBHAVES IM MANNER , XXV. FLIOHT. XXVI. LOVB, THE CONSOLM XXVII. PHCEBB TARJEL CK>ES ROME . XXVIII. DUE NORTK XXIX. THREE TWOS ARE THREE , A SURPRISING 3«S 380 390 404 4" 430 439 CAPTAIN BLUITT CHAPTER I THE MARCH OF INVENTION ^^^^''^^■'^•■^''^•'^^^^^ rested his elbow upon the window-sill "Why, what is that?" looklS'i^S'^rn^^nVr '" *" t^<^°- After „ ,*."*' n»ust be ray catapult." 1 have read so much about the machine-and a fcW «» CAPTAIN BLUITT Jt'H" fl^ir?"" ^"^ ''"^'"K *° J*"*?' McGann about it, he offered to make one for me. I guess he has it on the wagon. It looks like it, any vmy' The clergyman seemed much amused. "I really have some curiosity about it myself," he said. 'I haven t given catapults a thought since I read Livy, at school. "Exactly I" said Captain Bluitt. "I got mv ideas about catapulto from Ca;sar. You know how it is ; when you have read and read and read about a thine you want to see It. McGann insisted that he was thorou/hlv familiar with the whole catapult business— kind of a catapult expert, in fact-ancf so I told him .o go ahead and build one. ' ^ "^ }iav? "o doubt at all," said the minister, "that King Uzziah luilt them in Jerusalem. Refer to Second Chronicles, twenty-six." " I don't rememoer hearing of that," said the captain, bo we have sacred as well as profane history behind us. If the thing works I'll lend it to > ,u to give illustrations to your Sunday School. Here comes Urn r""' "'^"" *° ^ "^ ^^^^ ^ ^° *"■* *° The captain and Dr. Frobisher took up their hats as ttey passed through the hall, and came to the front door just as McGann had his hand upon the knocker. I ve brought that catapult around, captain " said McGann, pointing over his shoulder with his thumb to the wagon in the street " Where shall I put it ? " " Is It heavy ? " asked the t aptain. « Oh not so veiy heavj- ; four men can carry it, surely." "I will call Rufiis," said the captain. ^ When Rufus, Captain Bluitt's hired man, had been summpned, he was sent to seek for two other men, who, with Rufus and the driver of the wapon. should carry the machine into the garden. ^ tJiwi ^"■"'''^''S'' s.t°od by the gate waiting, while Captain Bluitt, accompanied by McGann, walkid aroun/ the wagon examining the catapult " It seems to me, judge," remarked the captain, " thai THE MARCH OP IKVEMTION ti iScmSti'onf^lfon' '"°" '" *'* "'"P"'* «■••" «- "I know," responded McGann. "Just as toon aa I began to bt^ld it. new idea, swarmed into my ^nd ^nd I introduced some of them, here and there'^ But you neednt worry, captain. You wanted a catapult and there you have it. I'll bet that for all-around effectiveness the world never saw such a catapult as that befoT' Captain B u.tt looked vexed and disappointed. That s all very well, judge," he said. " but I cold vou ■ particularly I wanted just an old-fashioned cat^pult-a JerLTafem."'*^"'*-"''' '^'*" "^"^ " '"^'^^^ of It "n^7 "'•1''" \"»*««d the judge, -and here you have rhilif -u^' '=*P*'""' '" '"'^ thousand years, and it s hardly pf«s,ble to put together a catapult now ;ithout fclC^ ThV' '°'"t ""'' l'"ees of advanced scrntmc fcelmg There are happy thoughts in that catapult of mine that would make Titus blink." " I ^"PPose we can't help it now," said Captain Bluitt mournfully, "but really I don't ca^ so much to befeve that we should make Titus blink as I do for faithfiTlne^ to history Here is Dr. Frobisher arranging to use thS S,f„'H'"%'^ ' '"''r.' '""^ ^°°^ °f Chronicles to h s Imrf^7^h r'-^l^ ''"^.'1'"= S°'"g t° do it if you ha^ ..xtf ,. .f *'"S '^°"'" "''* "loder^ ideas ? " ^.•11 II • ^"^ ',''*' J""^^' ^'h a downcast look, in which still there were gleams of cheerfulness, « I'm awfil somfif fectiTl'-^'l'^H" "Vr'>'r'>»' you wanted; b^tThe th. L ?h!^ "^ f u*^* ' *=*"' *ork backwatxls towards the old things; I have to push forward or stop. But voXL3* ""'" you see the machine in action, and »n* i ^^r ^"""^ """''• ' *»nt to tell you that you've f^ermadrhw.' catapult for straight business tha'^^^' ever made by the hand of man." At this moment Rufus returned with two sturdv hdpers, and when Judge McGann had given di^^ons Bluitt had designated the spot in 4he garden wh..* h« !• CAPTAIN BLUITT wIshH to have It olaced, the eapttln, the judee and the " I haT^oH^rr'^ ■~?'' *° "" "''« °f the house • J n«ve »pphed for a patent on that thini?" mM th« '"-!J;t"a nattn";" J"*' I^P'l'",^ ♦» '«'""">^'' ^e fact -my? cS; I • "*"'"" ' •'"' °^- ^""'»''"- •Th^m.rMn.f .k''**' J"?«V '*'"»*«' Captain Blultt by HilT^" ' " '^""""'^ °' J^" »'<'• " ^w 'nvented .-„. . ;''"''?"°"'' responded the captain, "it's a little ^paStNWrev'^-.K.'" - *-"-« sai^^e'ttT ?."N^^%grtf-^ ySpiSi attachments and auxiliaries for catapults. They a« all brand-ne«r. Rome began the thing*^; Turley compTetei wkeS^Dr! Frlis!.:"*'''"""''' '°' '"''"''''• "^'^ ^^^ ' " th'l \!'.";i'>".'"s«'«'-=d the judge, <• to begin with, I cushion the throwmg-arm on rubber. That improvement i. "".ft ^'yy "T? heard of it, nor Titus^rither" " ^5''"' ' exclaimed Dr. Frobisher. which "^ '"'"^»« "ny Energizing Fly-Wheel. " You haven't gone and put a fly-wheel on that thintr RiJe"'^"" '""''' Captain^Bluitt. withiS'"^' WhZ?''5n!'°""''' '">' Energizing Reciprocating Fly- wheel, with an accumulator fastened to the Mank- " What for ? " demanded Captain Bluitt : " Titus never Sw.'dc^'torp'" '''"^^ ^ ''-'''''■• "o you'tUT •; I should hardly think so," answered Dr. Frobisher JJi^ ^°" ^'"' ''^' " °'^'" ""'^^ *•>« "Pt»in ^l-^ost "Left it off!" exclaimed the judge. "Whv man al.vel that would hav. spoiled the whole thing ^'mt THE MARCH OF INVENTION ,j Energizing F%?Wheel wiSTtEeT •* '"^"^''^ ^^ ">y "li*"!. '"nyself," replied the dergymau. Let aeexp. . .c to them." ^d JudgeE^. CAPTAIN BLUITT A child can underttand an " Thare U no trouble about it it" "Well," taid Captain BInitt, • it it beyond me." "Now, don't get worried about It and talk in that despondenc way,' said the judge, lorrowfully. "Wait until I open the subject out to you," "Well, then," exolaimed Captain Bluitt, de$».«ately, "godhead and open it out" " 1 will," said the judge. " Now, start at the beginning. What do you want to do with that machine ? " And the judge pointed to it "I wanted to know how Titus worked it at the siege of Jerusalem," said Captain Bluitt wdly, " but Tltui never dreamed of a thing like that, with rubber cushions and fly-wheels." "No," said the judge, with firmness in his voice. " What you want to do, first of all, with a w..capult is to energize it" "Hah!" breathed the captain, not without intimation of contempt " Now, how will you energize it ? " " Don't ask me," said Captain Blui ooking out . the river. "You're the only man who V rmt,' "You start with Torsion." " With what ? " asked Dr. Frobisher. "Torsion. That is the basic principle, if I may _, so, of the ancient catapult You get it by twisting and twisting and twisting the strong rope that you see in the middle there." " How do you twist it ? " asked the captain. "There are many methods. Mine is to use my Energizing Fly- Wheel, which helps to store the energy in the torsion-rope. Then, when it is stored, the Reciprocating Attachment comes into play ; the Ener- S'ring Fly- Wheel starts in the opposite direction, gaining momentum, and the heavily-loaded rim of the wheel takes up the stored force in the torsion-rope. With what result?" " I give It up," said Captain Bluiit, sternly. "There can be but one resiult," answered the judge. say ■The THE MARCH OF IMVENTIOK «S •ult dlaehargei lu miHile with deadly effect -..-»» unergiiinB Fly-Wheel goes rieht on mneuS ^?/j7.nH . ^°", P"' »"°"'«'' """'le in the S^Sre'wt.* bu^i^ -oS S„';.' '"" '"« ^'^-^''-' -iyrrw'S'KS'«>r^ '"^•>' ..ong..uto™atic- ^1^'b')V»'»"»- . Set it and itart it, and it will act FwSher *° "' '"« P"-P«'"»J n>otion,"^«id Dr. lkrt?H,iW^^''"''","**°'"""»'*'«J thejudge. -In S^il ^' ««*<=°very of a new force. That if wherS with^.TuToTbSrn^^'*'"" -'^ ^''P^^ Bluit, .«!iT^"*?*u"' ' ^ T"**^ *e thing out on oaner fi»t U not To^n^K""'^^^'' •' '° thif machl^e.'^^y fd"^ M ^2 ,***r,'^' the machine a caUpult but the Mrr.„^ Multiple Energizing Mome > um iZ'„," ' **'°"'° - Pl*''^* v."*' '' V" ^^^'^ the minister. .ppliedKany^nSirSn^'S^^^^^^^^ one^a.mg. that you could empioy^rrdT-rteiil'; CaS bS' '""' """""^ ''^ 'hat.ure enough I". aid " lUocatf'^'"" '"u"'' ""y "Pectations." said the judee coVianv ?L? •^''V^^* "P » prospectus and orSa ^lerfr;tl • r*^ ''. Captain Blu/tt is willing."*^ renrUr !m ^ w.lmg, judge," said the captain "Isur X I wiirLdi^L:;,""- '^ y°" ^'" t'^e "he tC thaf I wlS"""'* * ""^ «"P*"ter to make me exl^ h remam here, will you. until you le^k woST" i6 CAPTAIN BLUITT i " Oh, no I " answered the captain. "The fact is," continued the judge, " I am a h'ttle bit curious about it myself. Of course I am sure that it will work, because the principle is right, but practical experiment is the final test" " Do you mean to say you never had it at work vet f " asked Captain Bluitt. _ " Of course not I I only drove the last nail at four o clock, and I put the machine right on the wagon to hurry it down to you. You will see the first victory for this great product of human invention." " I'll bet it won't go," said the captain. " You might just as well bet that the sun won't rise to-morrow morning," answered Judge McGann. " I hate a man to look on the dark side of things all the time. You wait till I adjust the fly-wheel and the other ap- pliances, and life '11 look brighter to you. Rufus. roll that wheel over here." Judge McGann removed his coat, and taking up some of the tools that had been brought from the wagon, he laid them upon the frame of the machine, while Rufus and Henry lifted the Energizing Reciprocating Fly- wheel to its place. ^ ' "Force it right upon tiie shaft," directed the judge: and the two men put it into that position. Then the judge began to work in earnest, while Rufus and his companion stood by watching and ready to help Captain Bluitt and Dr. Frobisher, from tiieir place upon the rustic bench, considered the proceeding with curiosity, if not with large hopefulness ; and while they considered it, a young man of twenty-four or twenty-five years came into the garden and approached them. He was a fine-looking fellow, with dark hair and eyes, a ruddy skin, good features, and a graceful figure of middle height. Captain Bluitt greeted him heartily and then, present- ing him to the clergyman, he said : " Dr. Frobisher, this is my nephew, Walter Drury. He has^^ust come over from Donovan to spend Sunday with THE MARCH OF INVENTION ,, When the captain explained to Walter th» «.♦ / the machine upon which Tii,ir. m !;*""^ "^* nature of rnSf-^---^^^^^^^ got LT^iutKe"'?" '''""* ^'^^P"''- I - glad I the Spurn '•4ndTam°1i:/\=:'T"'' ?^«' *em," said but the jidw there h»"^''f'L*°.''''^« you with us ; opinion. "^I d^dn'* wait an Am''-'^ *^ ""f =•""«• '" ""y catapult of the fimcentury^-'"'""'' ^'■="'' ' ^ ^^"'^^a toSilr^TuSe h"t*^^^^ «' ■'-d a nut. " ni have her !ll r«H ■ ^'r" ''"">' screwing up Ru/us. hand meTharcfanL'S '" ' ''" """"*''• ^°-^ accumulator.*''''" '"" "*' •''"''S''- "^M« I Put on the pushedirsii -nffi^k" !?= '--'^r'^^or.^ rather co„p£ated"pi^^^^^^^^^ have been a ••f5:s'^wh1,^l3lL7Sr'''*.^-.-'i the captain. catapuir;roSd ha^el" hfmTnto ^''""'*'?"'- ^^Gann's disgusted with it » ^ ™ '"*° ^" "^'y grave. I'm mSS '^ SlS S^ *•>- - *-V' said the '•Evli'tw'readv'' n^"'' '^^ •'"'^&^' W<""phantly. pi»£''b'7of"SLTtar' "■; 'v*'."j« « j™. I« CAPTAIN BLUITT target at four hundred yards every time. Now, Rufus^ you and Henry take that handle and turn it round and round to the right till I tell you to stop. , . -r,, "What are you doing now, judge? askea ut. Frobisher. " Putting on the Torsion." "You do it with your hands ?" . ^ t» " Of course ; you must give the machme a sUrt it needs what you might call a primary impulse; then it takes care of itself." . ■ , >. i .j « You believe the frame will stand the stram ? asked the captain. „ .. ... ''A\ ell, unless my calculations are all wrong, it wiU stand four times any pull that can be put on it. Us perfectly safe. Bear down hard on that handle, Rufus ; don't be afraid. The Torsion is beginning to tell. " Where is the Momentum ? " asked Captain Bluitt, with the tone of a man whose faith needs strengthening. « Nowhere, now, of course. We'll get that in the fly- wheel. Give her three or four more turns, Rufus, said the inventor, as the workmen began to show signs of fatigue, " only three or four more. "Now," said McGann, " let me put on the safety- brake I There I you can let go, Rufus. "Gentlemen," explained the inventor, as Rufus and his companion released their hold upon the handle and withdrew in a manner that indicated apprehension, the machine is ready for action. Captain Bluitt. you had some regrets because I did not slavishly imitate Titus; and, Dr Frobisher, you feared that there would be diminished opportunity for instruction for your bunday School Fix your eyes upon this Multiple Energizing Momentum Engine-for that is what it is— and you will know in a couple of minutes that Titus wasnt in the came at all, and that if Sunday Schools want to examine the wonders of science they can find them here. Now I start her ! " . , . i j The judge put his hand upon the safety-brake and released the pinion. At once there was a creak and a groan, and the Energizing Reciprocating Fly-Wheel THE MARCH OF INVENTION ,, begwi to revolve with tremendous rapidity A «.r„„j ?u, ^^J'"'"/ and Walter laughed. «.Iel?/''' '"' Momentum ?" inquired Captain Bluitt Then the doctor and Walter laughed again « J'»k"?'l°''? ' *=*"'>" ' -^ the judge, ruefully safer m -"-owing it to them " snouu leel «s°c.piiiiniur *''' '"^'^'""^ ">-•-» y-'" -f^ul7,o'u^?„'dri :L«gCn^^^^^^^ before we go. so as to keep the r^Srsh^pel"^ IZ'Z Blui?*""'^- ^'" '* " y»" Pl*'^' answered Captain Now. Rufu^ you let th.t machine alone «,d keep to CAPTAIN BLUrn* everybody away from it, and I'll come over on Monday »nd see what I can do to repair damages." Next morning, while Captain Bluitt and his sister and Walter Drury were at breakfast, they were startled by bearing piercing screams from the garden. They arose and hurried through the side-door to ascertain what was the matter. Emerging, they discovered Rufus and his wife standing beneath the great apple-tree, in the upper branches of which was lodged, in a disordered condition, a boy of nine years. "Whai is the matter, Rufus?" asked the captam, anxiously. " It's Archibald, sir," said Rufus. " Archibald I How did he get in the tree ? " "Judge McGann's infernal machine throwed him there, sir." ^ ^ While Rufus, with a section of clothes-hne, ascended the apple-tree with a purpose to rescue his son Archibald, Captain Bluitt and his companions went over to look at McGan.i's Multiple Energizing Momentum Engine. The cause of Archibald's precipitation into the apple- tree was plainly apparent. The child had climbed upon the machine with the Torsion tightly set, and while sitting astride of the rubber-cushioned throwing-arm, had put his foot upon the safety-brake. Really it was a victory for McGann ; but, as Captain Bluitt and Walter and Miss Bluitt returned to the house to finish breakfast, the Captain said : " Puella, I shall tell McGanh to-morrow to take that thing away. My interest in catapults is not so keen as it once was." On Monday morning Judge Mcuann called upon Captain Bluitt about nine o'clock, and found him and Miss Bluitt sitting upon the front porch, while the captain looked over a newspaper. After greeting his friends, and accepting an invitation to be seated. Judge McGann said that he had conie around to make any final arrangements that the captain might prefer for disposing of the catapult. Captain Bluitt told the judge of the manner in which the engine THE MARCH OF INVENTION s*^le':S::ie'^U't;i"l *^«><^^. with a fZ of Mtisfartion. Mid • ^ ^^ "■* •"' ■"'"'* of a degree captain, "but I am no?^nl,iJ •'^^'' , ^P""''''' the I am not suLienTly fammKh".."'''^"' ;"f^V='t'y. and around here to know " anv nf th "^ '"''^"' '"dustries operated by Torsion I mn^* hem wants a catapult thing away!^' """* "^''^ ^"^ y°" t° take the kn'^'SlilSni*" J' ot^''.'K'"''P^"« *"■" ''^"''' "-« his may be able toge^t riS off/. T" tho-ghtfully, "we want it." ^ °' " ^""ehow or other ; I don't Mils^Xir" '*' '° *° ^■^'' '' *° *he poor." suggested Archibald yesterday mSg° ""' "'"^ "^"'""^'^ -"h isalLM;^2!S;a>''^^-«-«^^^ "It firmj^ *• I dont want th.s one." sai^. Captain Bluitt. " ItT'" '*!'* the judge. " You said that before " icles?sIwX«ptl'nofi^'"?"1,^°°^°^^^^^^^^^ did with his s:contha"nd ^ta'pultsT' ""^' ""'"^ "^^''^ «.ht^^"d^^lirdVyl?S3«3,^L- -X .-t to *» CAPTAIN BLUITT " 1 nardly know," answered the captoin, " but I'm sure If I were going to fight Indians, I wouldn't care so very much to have that catapult with me." "Well.itistoobad.'fsaid the judge, "but I haven't the least idea what to do with that thing. I hate to break up a machine that is covered all over with the triumphs of inventive genius. Suppose we go out on the lawn and have a look at it ?" on^^^'^fii^^i"''!; ^"f •"" *'^""' »'«* J"<^if« McGann rose and walked to the place where the catapult stood. As they looked at the machine, Davis Cook, the plumber drove up the street in his wagon. He stopped to glance at the catapult. Then he dismounted, hitched hU horse and came to the fence. Presently he said: " May I come in, captain ? " ;• Certainly," responded Captain Bluitt, in a cheery voice, "come right in." "ia:ry AVhen Davis Cook reached the group he looked with curiosity at the engine and asked : "What is that captain?" "A catapult" "What's it fur?" "It was intended to represent an engine of war used by the ancient Romans." " How does it work ? " • u^°" P"M ?reat stone or some other kind of missile in here, said Judge McGann, placing his hand on the tte^'enem "" " " '''"'«''«'"'» t^^iiendous force against "Mighty curious," said Davis Cook. " Where does the power come from ? " ^1°"^°^^' ^''P'^'"^^ the judge. " Torsion from that rope and Momentum from the fly-wheel ; but, unfortu- nately, we had an accident on Saturday and the wheel is missing. ' ""cci u c.^k.'*'""''' '""* *° ^ "" *'''"^ '^^•" **'■*' ^»"'» "Captain," said Judge McGann, with a touch of ,?fL-™\K"»K" manner, "would you care if I should just give the thing one trial at throwing ? " THE MARCH OF INVENTION .3 his'&^i"'";?'*^ the captain, with a doubting look upon just once— not more than once." ' Get .ne a brick-bat, Davis," said the iudffe " Of course the real power of the machine can' be dl^Iop^ wjthoutthe fly-wheel, but maybe I can give you ^i§S of the nature of the performance." ,nnN J K? ^^^'^ °^ ''"'='' '" '^e receiver, the judge sTr^ilS' w1?^ 1^°'T^^ *° "^'"''"S 'he rope. H^Tg wtn l l^ *'"u '"'^ ""'" •>= became much over? anH thi^ .P"'-"" *'^'*'^=*y-''«'^'='''«'thethrowi„g-i.rm. «Hru",*""""S to Captain Bluitt, he said : Which way would you like to have it co ? " Out over the river of course." "Very well, now watch it." The judge released the brake, and as he did so the throwing-arm gave a fierce jump, swerved to the riehf m the gable of Captam Bluitt's house. th/cafapSt had""nf^?ut"'' '"P^" ""^ '''' ^"'^'•" *« to rtTSSgf Kaldt' *° "PP"" •''^ '"'''■ T"™'"S »!,•" ?'°^' J"''^t' *''"'''* *"°"8rh I We'll stop right there I thmk before the machine becomes actually murder^ If T.tus's catapults had been at all like you^, Jerusalem m my judgment, wouldn't have been taken until /omT- tiTy. su« !^ '^^^- ^'' " °"' ' ^* '' •"'* °f h«^«. spiyifilSnti'''^'"''' '""'='^ -dejection, "and I'll Da'vU°Cook"* *° ^'' "'^ °'^"'* machine, do you ?" asked '^^f ' " ^^."^'aimed Captain Bluitt, vigorously , Davis Cook walked around the catapult and looked Xt^F^. '" '^ '"!?'^' "'™&e'« °f some kind. Why don t you raffle it off?" he said at length. h .5 *i.^* ^*?'*'!l ^'"'"' " <'°°'' stop fo"- that I Cart It away this morning." •4 CAPTAIN BLUITT " Do you want it, Davi» i " inquired the judge. "WelK not so very bad. I'm a peace man, but if I should go to war I'd ruther not pull this thing after me. I have a notion, though, to take it off your hands if I can get it for a bargain." "What will you do with it ?" asked Miss Bluitt " Why, the thought occurred to me that I might give it for a birthday present to my wife." " What would she do with it ?" inquired the captain. " Oh, I dunno ; but she's got an oncommon taknt for making things over. It might maybe be fixed up for an ironing- table, or as a frame for a hen-house." "What will you give for it as it stands?" asked the judge. Davis Cook again walked slowly around the catapult, and felt the rope, and examined the timbers ; then he said: " I won't give no money." " What will you give ? " Davis Cook stopped, leaned against the safety-brake, put both hands in his trousers pockets, and after reflect- ing for a moment, said : " I'll tell you what I'll do. I'll trade you two setter pups for it and you to pay for carting it to my house." Judge McGann became red and angry, but when he looked at the stem determination written upon Captain Bluitt's face, he exclaimed : " What do you think Titus would have said to tAat, captain ? " " He would have said 'take it,'" declared the captain. •' I will," said the judge. •' But mark me I That winds me up on classical machinery. I'll never spend another hour on a mechanical idea that is more than two years old." The judge walked towards the gate, forgetting in his excitement and anger to say farewell to his friends. As his hands touched the latch he stopped, and turning to the group upon the lawn, he shouted : " Davis I You may drown those pups I I don't want 'emi" CHAPTER II WALTER DRURY HAS A VISION OF AN ANGEL the st,.e?. I'lrZ'tn^^r^V'^ZT^ "H careless but to have the stimulfwnn «f ^ y°"^^' ""'^ the sweet air and Ihe sunshTne ' ^^""'' "''"'^"^ '" bre^5e%^rthtweKrK^^^^^^^ the street his uncle's boat stvune- to thi ' ""V'?*', i6 CAPTAIN BLUITT very small and apparently insignificant fact turned him away from the river and the beach and the quiet lane. As he passed the garden-gate he thrust it from him to close it and one of the hinges became loose. Look- ing at it, he returned to the garden, walked around the house to the stable, and calling Rufus Potter, Captain Bluitt's hired man, he asked him to set the hinge in place. Then, merely to avoid going back again over the ground he had just now traversed, lie opened the gate at the rear of the garden, and walked along the narrow thoroughfare to the corner of the street which ran from the river-bank up into the town. Turning toward the village, he strolled along without any notion of his destination — or indeed of bis destiny I Faithful observance of Sunday as a day of rest from toil was the practice in Turley. The shops were closed ; no vehicles rolled along the street, excepting now and then a physician passed by in his buggy, or a carriage bore its burden of worshippers to church, or contained men who sought pleasure away from town. Drury observed the groups of people dressed in their best clothing, walking slowly to the houses of worship; he glanced at three or four idlers who sat upon the front porch of the hotel, smoking and talking, and looking as if they wished it were Monday ; he noted that though the grass grew between the cobble-stones in the street- pavement the stones were clean ; he stopped for a moment to watch two young dogs playing upon the grass of the square about the court-house ; when he passed the drug-store he had an impulse, at once resisted, to enter and buy some soda-water, merely that he might appear to be doing something. He heard, without consciously hearing, the bells of the three large churches filling the air with clangour ; and then, as he reached the head of the street, he inclined to turn about and go again to the river to discover if he might not find there something interesting for a spirit having just then no interest in anything, but given over to whim. He stopped ; and at that instant he really heard with WALTER DRURY HAS A VISION tr ' chI,rM.'"t "*'u^i' u" **" •^"P'* °f *« Presbyterian until L^^i.''.''!^'' •'* *" '*»"'""« '^'thout realizing until then that he was near to a church. Gazing through the open door into the vestibule in the tower at the base ^Ja l"*?]'' ••* *=?"''' '*« » white-haired negro with broad shoulders and strong arms pulling the rope that moved the bell away up in the belfry, and as he pulled bowing head and shoulders and body. Drury watched him for a few moments, and was •mused to notice in what manner the negro greeted the f!u '^°,?'*' ?;''° ""^"'^ "'^ ^°°'^' combining the bow 01 the bell-puller with the bow of courtesy, and how the smile changed suddenly to a frown as two or three boys «n through the east door, across the vestibule and out through the north door, tagging the sexton on the way. 1 he fancy took possession of Drury to enter the chureh •nd to look on. He resolved to remain but for a few moments and ther to resume his saunter along the street bo he went on to the door that opened into the body of the church at the rear, near to the pulpit, and going in he took a seat in a position from which he could slip away without attracting a great deal of attention. The organist was engaged in playing the first volun- tary as Drury took a place in the pew. The organ and the choir were directly across the room from him, by the side of the pulpit-platform. Drury merely glanced at u""u L ^^ looked over the congrei;ation and thought the people quite respectable in appearance and nice in their dress. The preacher, Reverend Dr. Frobisher, began by giving out notices. Drury did not heed them. He simply thought the proceeding tiresome, and concluded from the sound of the doctor's voice that he must be a dull preacher, although he was a man of fine appearance. Had Drury listened lie would have noted that a missionary meeting would be held in the church on that very evening, and that an address would be made by a Hindu prince, Bunder Foot Singh, a convert to Chris- tianity ; and had the angel of destiny been near to Drury to wiiisper in his ear, the young man might have learned ^ •• CAPTAIN BLUITT that the diitlnnUhed foreiffner would have no little influence upon iiia hmppinesiln the time to come I .n^lSf " w- "°"*** T"* *"*•«** "»«« wa» • brief prayer Is. !i£.?''\u"* 'n»t«d of opening it he began to count flectJi^h,"f "'n"*"'l'f°i"j« '=hurch; and then he «! hrn'J^melS"* ^"" '""'""' "^ "^*" -''"^ « -'>' wh^'ilJ^T^'"*''!?',"')'*."" memben of the choir, at whom he had not ooked. sat down. At that moment one of the women-s.ngers attracted his attention. She had on a grey bonnet, and she turned her head towards the organ, so that the b.iRht flowers upon the bonSe? Th?hri»'°"y""?"'-. '^*""'°''''*d «t the flower" The head turned agam with the face toward the preacher^ S^l vTi^"* " countenance wliich sent thrills up and down h« body It looked to him like a very sweet fao^ but he was too far away to see it quite distinct^ t"e s*nge'il°°'' ' ^ *''''™ *"''"'" »«" <='°»«'- '» tho^",ff' "^ *i !!°' ** """* P*'>"''»' ''~"ty of the face oUin^H*;';,*''' *"■" '°,r.'''^-.-'y. He rouU not have e" tt inS?I!f.?^v*'"'-*""S*'''"' »" he looked and looked and looked, it seemed to him that he saw a fi^m IL*')SK'^''^r'' '" t°^' grange, wonderful way J^Zu^ other human being he had ever seen, ft actually appeared to him that she had a kind of wS'wm^^ '° '•'"'• °' ^'"'"'•"S *' '""' '" '=°'^"'on rnIUr.''liiVl.''t"''u"P°"> "*^*'i he pulled up his collar; he felt his heart beat faster and his breathing ,.??;" he turned his head away and his mind revolted at the absurdity of his feelings; but he had no loneer any notion of leaving the church. ^ When the minister had read a chapter from the Scrin- tures he announced another hymn, and then the cho^ arose again to smg. Walter fastened his eyes u%n Ac g.rl whom he had noticed, and observed andLw o^y to WALTER DRURY HAS A VISION „ ran?c^^a;'^^:C:rJ°??;^•J'•' -«"« having We, knowledge of m^Kd h«7.7 P°!f"«d ^me .mall •mong the oth^vo'^ ''' ^'"''^ '*''«'«'» her voice pretty! During the ?in^n„ «rfu "'°"«'" *' «tremely none but her T?! h^f^l"^ 'he second verse he heard flowed along with them T.?r7''°Il*'' •"' t°nes «„3 exist Hefistene?to that lo4?i:rrt''^'^ "°t for the "dornmentof whi^h the SCif *^^ *'''**• vo.5.Ta? s.'rrt«:f^ ^°'«' ?'H:i,arc:ntr,ito because the S" to^hllTM" ■ ""e'''^- '» «* passion and oT^rJorlllt^r^ " \"«8e»tion of Scard with the other vS« 'ite^S"?he*h" ~"'''"?°' richest coburine? Of all »h. 1 ^ ^"' harmony ts this is the one tfat canno bet h^.m'^'T *\« """'W. HeaSto t\Lfai?he'j:^[%'"^^^^^^^^ °^ «''"«»• the contralto will seem alll« t^K ' ^° °" '°S«her, and thing of pang and sorrow wh.vV"^ "'^'■* '" " ^ome- -heJely^VltS^^^^^ a^p^cteSyfi:! — S„^-i^H^ st;;i:^a^\:rhttfi'tS'-''=^^^^^^^^^^^ wereuEly Xethii^'n t*^"!" mouths while singing ^ Thefc'L'^ie^%Td74^lt^''Sattd™ down. Walter leaneH h=r.i.- u^ etreated and sat ''ts'srH?" ««"^"»^"'^'- "- JO CAPTAIN BLUITT toke up the collection while the organist played upon his instrument. This operation completed, Drury was filled with delight to hear the player begin the prelude to a sacred song, and to see the girl take a piece of music in hei hand and rise. She would sing alone. If Walter had admired her singing while she had the accompaniment of the voices, he listened with feelings of rapture to her as she interpreted, with the organ-tona below her, a plaintive, flowing melody joinec with devotional words. He looked at her and heard her like a man to whom the vision has come for the first time of that which is beautiful and holy, and existence seemed transformed for him. No longer he saw the walls of a common church surmounted by a mere wooden roof which echoed the voice of a dull speaker ; the little building had become a temple, in which stood a priestess so sweet and pure and divinely fair that he could have worshipped her. It vexed him in a way to perceive that the other people present appeared to regard that lovely music and the lovelier singer, if not quite with indifference, at most with little interest. The minister, sitting in his chair, turned over the pages of his sermon. Two of the deacons whispered across the backs of the pew. The chief soprano singer in the choir covered her mouth with her hand to conceal a yawn, and the negro sexton tip- toed along the side-aisle to summon a physician who sat among the congregation. ... " What are these people made of, that such musi-: does not impress them ? " asked Walter of himself. Willingly would he have had it prolonged all through the remain- ing time of the service ; but the last note sounded, and Dr. Frobisher arose and began his sermon. The discourse might have considered Buddhism or Confucianism or any other ism that morning, and Drury would not have perceived that the preacher had departed from ordinary practice. His senses were concentrated in his optic nerve, and he was hardly conscious for a time of anything but the presence of the girL WALTER DRURY HAS A VISION 3, younP "■.'Slaver" Thf °^J^^'°"*y »« he looked at the to her and manifest ind &%««"„ th^ oT' '° ''"^ singers? Walter wr^ ^„!1 r «. the other women- or/anist adS he^ and fo^X^'l -""""^ ''>^t the blamed; it was Inevhable ^'' ''" '^°"''' "°' »^ There was another pane as the th^„„i,t ^^thS^^hdiSS^^^-- "'! hi hr:, "^""^^ ''^'^' ^d'not e^eTkn^w her na"^: '"' ha'^hL^.^f-ratt 3^.'' ""-'"-.-d I w/ii tha"«rha!:i,XrSt£eTo' "'"?.*^ '''"'^ °^ '°- Then a revlion came '° '°"'"^'='' P°^^">">-ties. wh^rhe^trnL'^^'o^i'nTw^rd'/^^^^ l^'^' '° acquaintance. He r^,^. 'i*'*°"ld attract after close seen w"m« who arTTtt^/dl T"'" '''^" °"« »>^^'^ i ]• CAPTAIN BLUITT ordinary sort of person. This was why the people in the pews seemed unmoved when she sang. Like all girls she must appear commonplace enough to a great many persons among whom she movdl in the humdrum routine of life. At home this girl possibly was cross and tiresome and peevish, and perhaps had other disagreeable qualities, as had all the girls he had ever known. Pshaw I He, Walter Drury, would walk out of the church in a few minutes just the same free man he was when he entered it, and ashamed that he should have permitted himself to be so much agitated by the singing of a pretty lass in a country choir. It might be well, in fact, to get up and go out now before the preacher ended the prosing and permitted the sleepers in the congr^a- tion to come back to consciousness, Another look at her before he turned toward the door I Ah 1 she was indeed comely to look upon. How modest and sensible her costume I That of itself in- dicated refinement of no small measure. How prettily she carried her head I The poise of it suggested firm- ness and confidence, without any touch of pride. Modesty was apparent in her whole bearing, and sweet gentleness. She had reverence too. There was whis- pering and smiling among the other singers, but her lovely face had gravity, and Walter thought she did not once fail to look straight at the minister. She was a good woman, he was sure ; she was even trying to obtain some good from that dull sermon. Her hair seemed to be brown, and her eyes were not dark. The distance was too great to permit the facts to be clearly determined. Her nose, he thought, was small and straight ; and her mouth ! He had thought it charming while she sang ; it seemed even more sweet and beau- tiful in repose. _ As he gazed at her, again that strange feeling came to him that she belonged to him. He tried to discover the exact nature of an impression that his judgment told him could have no justification in reason ; but the effort baffled him, while the impression became stronger. The girl, for the first time since the sermon began. S't^'"1.^^'''"^heS^,°\'l=had attracted her She did now look on^! '^'' ^* ^he prenareH tl '■KCiy to come out that 94 CAPTAIN BLUITT way, he walked quicklv toward the front of the church, and saw the woman for whom he was looking walking down the street, two hundred yards from him. She had gone from the choir to the main aisle, and had come through the great door at the front. A young man walked with her and talked with her. Walter felt angry as he perceived it was the organist He noticed that her figure was fine, with the slender- ness of young womanhood ; that she carried herself gracefully and like a person in vigorous health. In her manner of walking there was a slight swaying motion which to him seemed lovely. He would not have ad- mired kt if any other woman had had it. Her attire appeared even more tasteful and beautiful than he had thought it to be. . ■ , The young man stood by the porch and watched the retreating figures until he was left alone, the congrega- tion having completely dispersed. He was in perplexity. What should he do next ? CHAPTER III SAUL TARSEL suchTn""gei?c X^°„'^aSp^^^ to whom domicle of the apparition Thi^-r" """"^ «"d the Drur,- could obtain at once bv reh, '"/°™«'°n Walter house, for Captain Bluitt aL ^ '^*= "'''""6 to his uncle's Dr. Frobisher^ conSt?o„ aiVif "^ T"* ""em^^rs of people in Turley and a!l abou^fh *''«y knew all the nice from the thought of%\iT-' *''''"• ^ut Walter shrank ?"atter. Somefow wS'"^ '° his aunt about tSe ■n any measure exposed !v^n^LT *°° ^""^^ to £| body who knew h^ " '° *« suspicion of any! wa,k;in1,pttioth:XMr^'\"r *"« -6.. of the church-porch'and saw the wh?/- the ope„ joor to SS^rSn^ ' " ^'^ ''' -P°- o^ the sexton -hf'^kfetLTLiXre'?' "?"«? ««> » huro.. No 35 hf— 36 CAPTAIN BLUITT "I am a stranger here," said Walter, entering the church and taking a seat in one of the pews, where the sexton followed him and stood listening to him, " and I am much interested in the church." " Yes, suh I hit's a mighty fine chu'ch, dat's a fac'. Mighty fine." " You have charge of it ? You're the sexton ? " "Yes, suh!" " What's your name ? " •' Saul, suh I Saul Tarsel." " It sounds like Saul of Tarsus," said Walter. ■' You're not related to him?" he asked with a glimmer of facetiousness. " No, suh ! No, dough it soun's like dat. Hit's dish yer way. My ole marster, en de Souf,hefon' o' de name o' Saul, an' he 'sisted on my mammy callin' me Saul. But you know dere's free Sauls in de Bible ; dere's Saul de fus king, befo' whom David played on de Jew's harp ; a.-"' den dere's Saulomon de wises' man, and den Saul o' Tarsus. Well, den, to 'stinguish me from de odder Sauls dcy gwine to call me Saul o' Tarsus. Den dese yer ignorant niggers who doan 'tend no chu'ch, and goes soun' asleep when dey does 'tend, an' can't read de good Book nohow, dey got to callin' me Tarsel ; an' dat's good 'nough name fo' me who nebber had no las' name when I was a boy." " You were a slave once, then ? " "Yes, suh! Bo'n dat way ; down in Wirginny. But my ol' marster set me free by his will, and when he die I ain' no man's slave no longer. I jes' walk off the planta- tion a free man. But my wife Phoebe, she belong to Cunnel Johnson, and so does our little gal, Liddy, an' when de cunnel die, dsm heirs jes sol' de mammy an' de chile to Jedge Bickerstaff, down in Gawgia; an' dere dey is now." Walter was amused by the old man's talk. As the sexton stood in the aisle, leaning on the pronged pole with which he closed the windows and turned off and on the gas, he looked, with his white, bushy crown of wool, like a brown Neptune holding his trident. SAUL TARSEL ^;^You have a good place he« a, sexton?" asked' a hfX'^^^uSffl^'^SE'; '"?^''''' ^-' « «'• Why. de fus she come to me °„'sav"s^^l ""'*"'"' ^''' Blackstone def ? Dish yer chu' hVl^"!' fba-r" *° 'r^' "= *° mten'in to was' us in dish v!fiJl ' ^" ^J'' ''^''"'' ^o" you 'bserve de kmom^y'ln'^^T!: \ ^hy doan Mrs. Frobisher is the minister's w fe ? " opens up dem win'o;^ .„• n^^^' ^"'^ "^y- 'Saul, ef you plumbago sure ! ClZ rfii ^- "^ '" '''= ''«'". I gets de right home.' De wuds hardlvTr* °i ^ '"^^^ged^to go come Miss Brown an' soS "'".''•=' """"f befo' up liffed. kase ef y^u doanl^ "in df n '^"^ ^" l^^'' '»"«" ^^ a-tryin'tokeepdecongregati^^^ "° "«e an angel preachin'. ^'^^^*"°" f™"" sleepm', ef dey was de;^p:Csri i^„';ro^ "^sr ^i-^ '° ''° -^^ werrysartin. Can't have de chuU wT .^"1 ^"' ''^t'* wm'ows bofe open an' shet at nn ^''^^"^"''■an de street" H:^s^iyel^irjrh: f f^"'^-' '-- de say. -Tarsel, wheffo' you keen a ;«n i "^y^'^^'^'^y ^n' so long? Short rin^ is go<£l a^'?of„"^''' blame bell short.' Dafs what Mars Bul^^r t^ k"^'/ "=" '^'n days sence Docker F'obi^her P^ f^' *"" '* ^in' fo' mus^be rung fuli ten tt;s'";^"i,rm\'" '' ''^" grac^us tr"d^rdof„"""^rt 5f ^^f^^^ ' ' . ^-lar- to / uu^n ueat de ten comma'ments wid 3« CAPTAIN BLUITT dere foolishness I 'Pears to me dat Sunnay School boys is wuss, somehow, dan odder kin's o' boys. I dunno ; but I nebber see no boy dat 'd h *ave right in cbu'ch. Dere's dem boys o' Miss Pottah's. " Miss Pottah she bring de hull o' her eight chilluns to chu'ch ebery Sunnay, an' de way dey bodder de folks in de 'jinin' pews is suprisin'. De oldah boys dey sits dere an' jes wiggle an' wiggle, endurin' de sermon, twel I declar' I doan see how Miss Pottah eber keeps dem in panties. An' sometimes dey gits to fightin' one anudder in de mos' scand'lus manner, twel Doctah F'obisher has to stop de discausc an' look at 'em savage ober his specs. Dey nearly worry de life outen Majah Gridley in de nex' pew in front. Majah Gridley he a kin'-hearted man, who doan wan' to make no row wid a pusson in chu'ch ; but las' Sunnay Miss Pottah she bring de baby to chu'ch, and dat chile so res'less she neber still half-a- minit. Fus yer an' den dere, a-movin' an a-talkin' an' a-goin' on all de time I Dat baby of Miss Pottah's put me in min' o' one o' dem 'petual motion machines Jedge McGann sez he gwine to make. An' affer chu'ch was out, Majah Gridley he come to me an' he sez, ' Tarsel, sumpin sholy got to be done wid dem Pottah chilluns, mos' sholy sumpin I I doan min',' sez he, ' dare wrigglin' an' dare res'lessness, an' I kin stan' it, hard as it is, when dem boys rubs dare noses wid de sleeves o' dare jackets ; but, Tarsel,' sez he, ' when dat baby reach ober fr -n de mudder's lap an' pat de bal' place on my head twice endurin' de sermon, de en' is reached I Tarsel,' sez he, 'I draws de line at dat 1 ' Yes, suh ! dem's de werry wuds Majah Gridley sez to me. ' I draws de line at de Pottah baby pattin' my bal' head endurin' de sermon. Soonah dan Stan' dat any longer I jines de 'Piscopals,' sez he." " I must go," said Walter, laughing and rising from his seat, as if he cared to hear no more. But as he stood by the pew door, he added : " Yes, you have a very nice church here, very nice. Good music, too ; good organ and good choir. By the way, who is the organist, Tarsel ? " "Dat's Dokker F'obisher's son, suh, Mars. Lucky SAUL TARSEL j, mish«r. an- . mighty fine young g^mman he i,, suh. ^sr7att^„T^^rdVra'i« tnf ''^^ ^'" by herself? " " '"' '™"' '■°«'. an' sang all sinpn"' "'"''' '"' °"'- ' "'°"Eht she was rather a fair good fo' dish yer ol' yearth" * *''"°* '°° '■NlmT? 'shJ"''" ''''•/,'?" '"'y ••" "=■"= was f fader he is Mars "?„T„ '^'^^V, IJo'-y Hamilton. Her >.r at Vbfnr ttsi^'^nt^mVa^nfe '^°- wffe'aSrghr "" °' ""■- ^^' '- -vC,'- to"b„y ^°; wifetd^ c^ifd^rafeTo^u r°"^^ ^°' "^^ P-chaTry-our "Yes, suh!" ^ do"y^r^^nf ° •."^'* """'^"^ '"'"-- How much more .n- J. much AJ!lTZ^^ I ^ oj- - " Yes^suh''f'?trr ^'"'■'^1"^ ''""^^^ y« t° get ?" eighT huS ii:%zTj^i'^ ^onA^'-f^' odder day 'iS^Lt Rachel "we^- P.'''/V'= ^^ P^^^-^h de doan .Jw mulh^^l darSeff efshf S^aem^ tf * 40 CAPTAIN PLUITT chillun* she 'bleedged to weep, I s'posc, but, marster, Ise a weepin' an' a weepin', offen an' ofTen, fo' bofe de wife an' de chile — my wife an' r-y chile." " It does seem hard, surely," said Drury. " Yes, suh, hard I dat's de wud. An' sometimes I wunner, when de pasture's a prayin' all 'round de yearth fo' dem heathens, an' fo' dis an' fo' dat, he doao frow in jes a little prayin' fo' de of man right yer, who sets home wid de heart .1 bleedin' an' de tears a flowin' fo' his own flesh an' blood. Dat's what I wunner. " I ain' eot no grudge agin de po' heathens. Dey has troubles o dere own an' miseries 'nough to bodder dem, an' when dey tek up de c'lections fur 'em Ise willin' to frow in my penny wid de res' ; but hit 'pears to me dat when de chu'ch done a c'lectin' fur de heathen an' got shet o' dem, 'twouldn't be ongracious to han' aroun' de plate to h.-lp dish yer Chris'n brack man to get his arms aroun' his wife an' liddle gal." Walter handed him another silver piece and said : " I think so too, Saul. And now I must say good- morning," and Walter went into the street. As he walked down the street towards his uncle's house, the young man foimd that a marvellous change had come into his life. When he left the house he had been self-absorbed and self-contented. He had had what he would have considered, if he had thought of it at all, the happiness of indifference to the lives of other people than those with whom he had ties of blood, and with whom also his relations were firmly established and clearly understood upon both sides. The current of his life and of his thoughts and purposes ran in the familiar and natural channels of selfishness. How he should make his way in this tough old world, how he should cultivate his understanding, how he should obtain satis- faction in the pursuit of pleasure, how he should climb higher and higher, and how he should become rich — these were the matters that seemed to him important, and it was worth while that he should spend upon the effort to obtain them all the physical asd intellectual force that he possessed. I I SAUL TARSEL he had won all the^«7hl? •."'?~*'*«' « while. When firmlv upon tt «one, Vfa.^e'1 "^''r ^^^^^^ *"» f'^" shoufd have time enough to Ire%»"l.'^°'*""«' then he a purely sentimental lature^l^heThX!? """'•" °' thought, he would beein to IrJu u J***^ sometimes whom he would ch^S"and p^t fr^"' •"■" ^1' * *'^*' nwe girls he knew and sLnM u """"^ '*"» ""'ny unimpassioned delLratene^ if 1"°"'' *'*'' f" "-"ne choose a partner inS^V '"*'°" ^ " ''« *"« «° miS.°*WongVKoSor°'1 *■''' -^'f-"-- that the choice of other de^rableohJ:^!.!" '" ~?P»"^'n with hearsay, at least, thlt loveleL marrilU/t' ''' ''"'=>^ f'*"" of horror. But if he had trie^ tT^ ^**'* »" ^'^^^nt closely, he would probably h",ve^m'''''Tl"'' ^"''J«t had got everything readvanV^j'''',*'"" when he calendar and say .^thrd^; h,, ~"'^,?'?"ce at the able to look about him trannnill ""^ ^^ ^°"'d ^ severely critical sp rit ?nd hav^'i^^ " ^'^^ '" " girl of girls for him he woulH „,l^ 1 T'^'^^ 'he very his affections, and^ist perm 1 1^^ ''"'^'^'•''"ght.valve of pared conditions, t'o co^e to a gfow ""'" P™P^''^ P"^' mind"ih^;^t'le'';rS.^^^^^^^^^ ^°"-<^ with his body. He h-.d simply ^efthematte^tr"^ '° '°^' *""«=■ recognizing some coLiderabl^ and i/'^'"-' ''°''"''"*> force in sex-attraction hi.t h, • decidedly pleasine of the tremenrus meanin^r^i""."?"""" ^^''teve? phrase, "falling i^ We^f ■"v°i?'^ I". '•>«' f-mihar experienced ycjth appears to L n^f *^u'='' *° 'he in- aspects and suggestions °' *"h°"* humorous ^nSri^'hl Sef t^'^ ^alfrlo^ H°" ^''^^ S""''^/ said. "Yes, some day or other 'wh^' ^'^ight have preliminaries of life have aH ^^ Sff *•"= "^^^sary I have had an opportunitv to Jl -^'^ *"*"&=''. and mind all the concoS" dr^ 'f """« *'* » clear veiy decidedly not nowT" "^"'"«'»"«:«'; hut not now; 4* CAPTAIN BLUITT Now, however, happened to be the time. He could have no doubt about the nature of the experience that had come to him, although never before had he en- countered anything even akin to it. He wai conscious of a strange kind of exaltation, so that his step was lighter and his spirit full of exhilaration while, at the very same time, he was weighed down by fear which bordered upon hopelessness. Yes, the sun seemed to shine with more intense bright- ness ; the atmosphere was sweeter and purer ; the trees were more beautiful with their leaves fluttering in the wind ; the old town appeared to have less kinship with the prosy and the commonplace; the idlers upon the hotel porch were not quite so much objects of indifference to him as they had loeen when he came up the street. There was a lustrous blueness to the sky and a folded, shadowy, rolling loveliness in the clouds that he had not noticed before. He was lifted up so that existence had strange joyousness, and his powers seemed so much enlarged, so highly charged with intensity and en- thusiasm, that he really felt as if he could accomplish anything. Anything, provided he could be sure that his life would no longer be solitary. For, running with this wonderful music «'i'''. l.iu come into his soul, was a deep undertone cT ■:,;.iii ;s Yes, he was ready to confess that the life of that other being had brought rapture to his soul, but what if no responsive note were struck in her spirit ? Looked at in the light of cold common-sense, surely it was more than absurd for him to expect that, because the vision of a lovely girl standing afar from him had thrilled him to the centre of his being, she should have had a correspond- ing sensation. She had scarcely looked at him. He had heard often of spiritual phenomena which seemed to show that soul may touch soul without words and with- out regard for distances ; but incidents of this kind often have a very unsubstantial basis. One cannot quite prove the truth of assertion in such a case. There may be hallucination, or mere coincidence, or sheer fabrication. SAUL TARSEL ^, He had heard oftener of men infatuated with womi^n who scorned and rejected them, and the ^ Sence In these instances was of indisputable soundness Tobvc fs one o"f th".".""' '° ^ '°^*='^ '" return-that, he thought, inlfi^ ^ commonest experiences ; and that the mis- he act'that 1"" ?'"5"'^^"'l genuine was proved by deatirrltherthan/"";r »omet,mcs prefers and seeks death rather than to endure the suffering imposed upon Jl b°M '•*'"'" ^'^ ^^"" 'o himself, "filled with un- speakable joy.and with my life, and alllife, presented to me m a new and wondrously beautiful aspect because I ThJ ^Tu^ ^"' ^^"^ " -church and heard her s n„ tTmesi' r '"''.«°"= 'L""""- ^' ^he has done hundreds of trseektcTown''',''" '''""'■■'■• i° ''''' with her family tLf 1, u pleasures, without even remembering tha she happened to see a strange young maTSnf in the opposite pew and looking It her. l"m a foo to o^cXnTe"''*" "^ - "■"<='' ^^-"^'^ ^y - -denary an i.t,n-' "If *''e"'"\".' that ended with clear proof of fool- Fil!t k P' 7^oe'«'tupI He was perfectiv certain Thi.tha.TJ'' '•"■"J^'i* than le. W. Sto"5o -ir. k S J T '° '•.'" ", •"■«e=ly, » «nexpeet.l5 I 11 44 CAPTAIN BLUITT considered the new force that had infused his spirit, he thought within himself that he would joyfully sut — ler these things, everything that he had or could get, j . to have that other soul joined with his. " Yes," he said, " no task can be too severe, no burden too heavy, no sacrifice too great, but that I will joyfully do, and bear, and endure if I can have the prize for mine I " As he thus thought, in a half-delirium of ecstasy and pam, his eyes chanced to rest upon a name upon the door of the house by which he passed. He saw the name without, for an instant, recognizing it, but as he looked his mind seemed to clear itself by an effort, and he became conscious that the name was Hamilton. His heart beat faster, and he felt more buoyant than ever. "It is her house. She lives there I" he said. He examined the building with a quick glance. It was a plain but handsome brick house, the walls coming to the side-walk, the outside shutters wide open, but the interior screened by pretty white curtains. Walter walked onward, but he turned to look at the house. He did not like to stop ; so he passed on to the next street, turned down it, walked around the block, and, going to the other side of the main street, reduced his gait so as to give him the minimum of motion, and obser\ed the Hamilton mansion with eaeer attention. " " What wouldn't I give to be in that house now ? " he said. "A simple matter, too! Thousands of people have gone there. Young Frobisher has entered there often,' and there was a pang in that thought "You ring the door-bell," said Walter. " the servant comes ; you enter the hall and pass into the parlour, and then SHE comes 1 " He felt as if he were afire. " And she is in there now, and people talk with her actually as if that were nothing, and with them this day will roll by just as yesterday rolled by with me, and those dull, stupid people with her will have no idea that here i.s a human being nearly wild with the fury of a passion that con- tumes him. How odd it is," he thought, " that they SAUL TARSEL tt„"i'J:a«n/tl^dm^r7' ^^^''^^^^ common looking. He mun hur,^ on*"' " '"="'''"'• ^he saw him I will win her if man <^„ w^n h *>" go into that house ; when we shall wSkthlseX^u'.^.i''^ *'""' ^'" c"™" house together ^m^'andwf/e.--''^*'*'^'"' ^"'^ ^"'" ^^at ihen he felt more iovful Th» m.w H^^ to be settled, even^ ifriaso^^di^Stmh^^ weS' "^'n 1he%rh\fAnoVr^'"^ '» "P^"- »>« Waitingjhe turned to loot, ftK-^*"^ T'" *e door, the garl'en and the roi^gteriot ?„'Vhf '"' b'"">'°'"' summer noontide. Like al „a " p ^^^^ u"? °' '•>« shining stream seemed to fh« * ^'^"* !""»• the linessLver MorT^LTJ^" ^°""^ ■""" *° "^^^ '"ve- A ne|resrs2r^i;it%"ri,'"t«d him to enter, yellow than brown rnLln!^ yellow-brown, but more straight rse.rp7stran«?^;h]l'''' ^'f' <=heek-bones. a her race, and w^?h iet b^ Jw - ^lt ^"^'^^^ ^°' °« of Walter, ks he boLd at her ZV^^'-'^T'^ ^^ *'> fierceness that he had never 'ir.^"!, I","'=™ "« ^nd in^the eyes of an untamSi^^r ^'^ '^'°"' "^'P^^^ shejostr3!;r;Sn^SK-i„«'^^ ^"^-- - Ca^ttS^tt'e'^-Hrd^^rr \-7-* ■•" She was a runaway sllVe She h,,? "°u H' hi^'tory. mother resold int^o sUverv to nfff'^''". ''^^ '^'*^' '"'I separated from their ch^NHrJ 'H^l^ent masters and from each oth^rXanSt"' '3 ho''', "''']''''" P*««» her soul had come abitter L^i ^opelessly ; and into f^m which thesr,e'suRre"pLScef Ih*"'^ '^TJ^ that, for hen«lf, she would ha^^te^ Sd she" fi 4« CAPTAIN BLUITT from the home of her mistress and lougfat refuge In Turley in the service of Captain Bluitt Before she ran away her mistress had urged her to marry, and she had refused : " No, I doan marry. I doan bring no slaves into the world. No slave wid my blood in him I Never I * The SCARBORO . UBlIC LIbRARr CHAPTER IV IN A SAILOR'S SNUG HARBOUR .l^"A? Walter reached Captain Bluitt's house it was almost the hour for the Sunday dinner .r^Zt^^'u f "['* ^'"'"' *« '"■"ther of Walter Drury-s mother had been a sea-faring man during the larger part of his Ife His father had commanded I merchint ship, and his desire was that the boy should follow the same profession ; and so at an early age Elijah had been removed from school and placed ujion a ship'commanl^S by a friend of his father. Here he learned by experience busine« ofa'saTof °' ""^'^"'^ ''"'' hardW the In his youth he had some liking for the life, but as he grew older it became so distasteful to him tha he would have quitted it, but that he had had no training irany otter industo'. and that the whole of the small property m -^K •>" ft^^r ''t dMth was in ships. MorJw^ hoi f "j •** ^'^ *?' '■°'"'8 the seas. He would have preferred science or literature, or one of the so-called feamed professions, but he had not enough orffnaS ^ITZ 'I PV u'*i"" i° *'°P« f"' '"ccess along thes^ linM, and he felt that he was too old to begin tasks cSo^" ''°"" "^'^ '^" '^^"'^ **> S™ t He did, however, read much in the leisure hours he 47 CAPTAIN BLUITT :'t found during his voyages, and while his stock of infor- mation enlarged, his hunger for it became more intense. Three or four years before he quit the sea, his ship lay in the Bay of Naples. It was his first visit to that part of the world, and a miscarriage of freights upon the railway compelled him to remain at Naples for several weeks. He used the opportunity to visit Rome, of which at that time he knew al. lost nothing. Finding a skilful ^uide who spoke English, Captain Blultt spent nearly two weeks in exploring the city, and with the experiences of each succeeding day his wonder and his enthusiasm increased. He regarded it as mu'h the most interesting place that he had ever seen, and the Romans as the greatest of all peoples, ancient or modern. He made up his mind to inform himself respecting the Romans, their history and their great city ; and so he bought every book in the English language that he could find that would help him, and returned to his vessel with his baggage loaded with literature, and his eagerness for historical study so much quickened that the duties of his position as commander of a ship seemed almost insufferably commonplace and tiresome. This fondness for Rome and Romans had not been diminished by increasing years. He carried it with him upon the return voyage, and even through the exciting period when good fortune permitted him to make heavy gains from the movements which followed the discovery of the California gold deposits. Captain Bluitt's ship was in the Pacific at that time. He had just completed a voyage to Valparaiso when the news came of the rush across the isthmus to California. He sailed to Panama, carrying a cargo of provisions. He crammed his ship with eager gold-hunters, who paid heavy charges for transportation, and when he reached San Francisco he sold his cargo for prices that seemed to him to make him rich. In this kind of business he continued for three years, and then, doubling the Horn, he sailed home with a comfortable fortune, resolved to give up life upon the sea. IN A SAILOR'S SNUG HARBOUR 45 Blui>t tt,-„ . * '""""= to nim and to his sister Puella this t.i<^L^z::^\i^'tCy.c^' ''T ""* ^""^ an^Ste^h'^d'teed^aboTr '"-'u" ""='«'" house ; when he first enS ito^L^i'V*""'?""' '"*««'■' still found objecu to attract his Sinn'"'"?' ""''. ^^ What IS that, uncle ? " '» ^ " • Captain Bluitt smiled, and as if he w»r- 11.,,. earnest, answered : ' "* '^*'^" ""'^ half in "That is a Lar, my son— a Lar." .. A*^ gaiter's turn to smile. a Lar ?" ■■' ^'^^^ "'^^ °° ^^ PUt you up to getting " It is an old Roman idea, you know i \„a <. i,- j of notion we might as well have „„» -ri t ' """"^ sented the dead ancestor and ^.P V"^ ^' "^P^^" of household deitiM Th«, .*' ^^^^^ *«« a sort '.ivT >*•••> r$ r i so CAPTAIN BLUITT " Well, well I Lares and Penates I They are queer things to find in Turley I And this Lar represents our ancestors, does he ? " " I'd be sorry to think any of mine ever looked like that," remarked Miss Fuella. " Oh ! I suppose nobody ever expected to make absolutely exact likenesses," said the captain. "The klea, I think, is that one Lar, just one, stands for the whole lot of your folks that have preceded you." " This is a rough little fellow to represent so many good people," said Walter, lifting the image and examin- ,^mg it " I picked up him and the other two in India. They were given to me by a ^friend of mine in Calcutta ; a fine fellow, too, Thompson was ; and he had a sad fate : he was murdered by his servant I brought them home, and when I unpacked them the fancy struck me that one would do for a Lar and the other two for Penates. Don't you think, Walter, that those two at the ends are about as near right for Penates as we could reasonably expect ? " " I don't know that I am much of a judge of such things, but if Penates usually were homely to the point of exciting consternation, I should say that they will answer." " Perfectly hideous I Walter, aren't they ? " asked Miss Bluitt " You know," said the captain, " the old Roman idea was to place the Lar on the hearth and to put the Penates in the pantry ; but your aunt didn't like to have them there, and really I suppose it does not make much difference anyway, does it ? " " 1 should think not," answered Walter. "The Roman father of the family," continued Captain Bluitt, " used to pray every morning to the Lar, just to start the day right" "I am awfully afraid your uncle will get to doing that," said Miss Bluitt "Think of idolatry in this house, Walter!" " No I " said the captain, " I don't think I Aall go that IN A SAILOR'S SKUC HARBOUR j, Bluifj' ^'**^' "'^ "'''^ '^ •°"««^" ^'id Miss g^t. I d.dnt .=md it; the doctor's intenti^"^ "I fully explained to him," said Miss Bhiitt "rt,* brother never thought of such a thing.^ "* '^^ hadp^^--fe^-ivU.^Iha. have suchWhenish^hTSslutT/gabout/^'^P'* *° wal/«'that'Z'^f Walter pointing to a table by the tabK'„!^'lK^ .Captain Bluitt, turning toward the 5* CAPTAIN BLUITT II I "Why?" " Well, both their noses are flattened, but this one has what looks to me more like a Roman nose." Captain Bluitt might have been disposed to continue discussion of the famous twins, but just then the dinner- bell rang, and Walter, who longed for a chance to ask about Miss Hamilton, was not sorry to permit Romulus and Remus to repose once more upon the table. The captain, however, still had his mind upon Roman things, and when dinner had begun he said : " You care a little about Rome, I suppose, my boy ?" " Oh yes I of course, a little." "Ah I there was a great people I Never was such a people, in my judgment I " continued Captain Bluitt " What wouldn't I give to have lived among them I " " It must have been horrid," said Miss Bluitt " I am so glad we didn't." "Tb-'nk what it must have been, Walter, to know Scipio Africanus and the Mother of the Gracchi ! And what a rascal that man Tarquin was I He's the man, isn't he, to whom some old writer applied the phrase 'lusus naturae' — naturally loose?" " I hardly think so," said Walter, laughing. "And there is Numa Pompilius! What a man he must have been I I am going to see him in heaven, sure." " Maybe he won't be there," said Walter. "Maybe you won't be there, brother," added Miss Bluitt, " if you really do begin to care too much for idols." " I will see him if we are both there," said the captam sternly. " Wasn't it smart, Walter, for that man in the far-off time to work out the problem of the seasons ? No instruments, no mathematics worth speaking of— nothing to help him I I've often wondered how he managed it I would like to give him some points in navigation." " Not in heaven, brother I " "You don't know. Just as likely as not navigation is used there. Nobody can tell." " I'm afraid," responded Miss Bluitt, " there may be IN A SAILOR'S SNUG HARBOUR 53 queer things and queer people In the other world. Supoose, for example, Goliath should be there I" v«„ P.f.'J^^..*^'?Ai''°"'*'.'*' thotwonyme.ifl were you, Puella," said the capuin. Walter, in the hope of diverting the conversation, re- marked that he should be compeUed to leave Turlev upon that very evening. ' " I am sorry, my son," said the captain. « I am very sorry. And how are you getting along in that buslneM or commercial travellmg ? Not much in it ? " "I have failed completely," said Walter, sadly. "I am positively sure of one thing— that I was never bom for a salesman. There is a complete trade-paralysis, apparently, a^ soon as I reach a given market I am disgusted with the business." .*■ Walter," remarked the captain, " I knew you would fail. You were not built for that kind of thine. You are naturally a writer and a speaker. I heard you speak once, and I saw right off that you have the gift. It is actually wicked to put a man like you at hawking notions around the land ; positively wicked I " " But I must earn my living, somehow I" fj' Tirf.'"'''J i"* 7°" can't do it at work you're not fit &n H If Ti. "r" \^'' ""'"'=1 "^'^ "'"'y a" the men that „^-,..fi "1*^ fools are no fools, but just misfits. The world s full of globular men who have cubical jobs." I m afraid so," said Walter, smiling. •1 ri ^°"'" P'*'*' ""y ^°"' t° start with. Have you a gift for fishing ? Fish I and let gunning alone. Is your call for submarine diving? Very well I Don't go into the flying machine business! I tell you, Wakerf much of the misery in the world is caused by men gettine into wrong places. I ought never to have been a sailor prJfi^r?'' ""^ *° ^*' *" education and to be a college now" «1S w'"u°*fi! ■=*!' i"^ *••« °'" ^ a™ answering now, saiq Walter, "but it is not perfectly clear » Ifyou yearn for botany," said Captain Bluitt with emph^is, keep away from astronomy. Don't put a boy at doctoring if nature intended him to play the French 54 CAPTAIN BLUITT horn t Walter, the world b out of jotnt, tomehow. If things were as they ought to be, there would be a right place for ever/ man, and a good husband for every woman." Walter began to hope that his opportunity was near at hand to speak of the matter that most interested him. "Yes, sir!" continued CapUin Bluitt, striking the table with the butt of the handle of his knife. "There is a good husband for every woman and a good wife for every man— somewhere ; and if they meet, they know each other instantly." " I don't believe it," said Miss Bluitt. " You don't believe it, because some couples that are made for each other never meet. That's what I say 1 The world has been disjointed ; but that doesn't change the fact" " The tramps seem to have missed their right places," observed Walter. " Very well ! " said the caotain, sharply, "and how do you account for tramps ? " " I don't try to account / them." "But I dot" exclaim 1 1 Captain Bluitt. " It is this way : — A man whose father had a wrong job marries a girl whose father had a wrong job, and whose mother was the daughter of another misfit. Their son is a tramp sure." " A hereditary misfit f " suggested Walter. ' Just so t the man has almost every particle of original force £0 twisted and Lalf-paralyzed that he can't tell what he is good for." " Then you don't blame a tramp for being a tramp ? " asked Walter. " Not severely," responded the captain, with a bene- volent look upon his face. "The man is born that way. Hereditary influence overpowers him. He can't help himself. Do you know what I would do if I were very rich ?" " What ? " asked Puella and Walter in one breath. " I would start a factory and call it the Misfit Mill I would make things that nobody wants, and I would fill IN A SAILOR'S SIWG HARBOUR 55 the mill with operatives, not one of whom Itnowi how to do anything— juft spend the money on them. How do you think that would work, Walter ?" "You would never have done for a professor of political economy, uncle, that's certain." " Maybe not," 'esponded the captain. " I wouldn't try to run the mill for science, but for philanthropy. I should like to find out what each man would do if he could do as he pleased. I have an idea that every human creature, Vay down in his soul, unknown to him- self, perhaps, has a capacity for some kind of work. What he wants is a chance. In my Misfit Mill he should have a chance. If he had a turn for mechanics, let him start some mechanical job. If poetry were his line, I'd give bim pen and ink and paper and set him to turning out poetry. I'd say to each one, 'Now, my man, you never had a chance to follow your natural inclination, and I m gomg to give you one. Tell me what thing you d rather do than to do any other thing, and I'll give you living wages for doing it" " Eating and sleeping would be found the most agree- able occupation for most of them, I guess," said Puella Bluitt " No, I don't believe it," answered her brother; " but maybe I m wrong ; perhaps a long succession of inter- marriages by misfits can root out a man's original love for his own work. I'd like to try the experiment, anyway." "You weren't at churcl: this morning, Walter?" asked Miss Puella, somewhat weary of talk upon a subject about which she had heard much upon previous occasions. "Yes, I was at your church," answered Walter. " Why, I didn't see you there." " I sat over near the door by the pulpit." " What did you think of Dr. Frobisher's preaching ? " "Very good I Very good indeed I " Walter hoped that his aunt would not question him more closely along that line. • "And our music 7" asked his aunt ;. Isn't she lovely ? Did you particu- S6 CAPTAIN BLUITT Walter's interest at once became strong. " Ah, that was fine, very fine I Your ornnist ia — ? " " Dr. Frot .her*! son— Lochinvar. Stupid name, Isn't it?" '■ I I!ked th« singing even better than the pla)ring, i) rticularly the singing of that young contralto.' Walter endeavoured to say this In a manner expressive of no great interest ; but his uncle's attention was arrested by something in the tone of the young man's voice, and he was not slow in his perceptions. He looked sharply at Walter. Puella answered without suspicion. " Oh ! that is Dorothea Hamilton. A charming voice and manner, too I larly notice her, Walter ? " Walter felt the flush creep over his face, and there was an impulse to clear his throat, before he answered : " Yes ; I thought her voice fine ; but I was not quite near enough to see her face with perfect distinctness." "She is just sweet," said his aunt. "That's the only word for her. I shouldn't like anything better than for you to get a wife like that." Walter laughed as if to appear to treat the suggestion lightly. " Oh I that kind of thing is far in the future for me," he said. " And don't you hurry it, my boy, either," remarked the captain. " When you meet the right one you will know her, and it's not safe to try to force things until you do meet and know her." "There is no danger that I shall do that, said Walter. " Because, my son," continued Captain Bluitt, " while a misfit occupation is bad, a misfit marriage is as near to clear misery as you can get this side of the grave. And then," said the captain, taking up the subject with the tone of a man who had reached impregnable con- clusions, and as if Walter were in pressing need of wise counsel upon this particular subject "and then I'll tell you, look out for posterity when you take up this marrying business. You don't marry the girl IN A SAILOR'S 'Ni - HARBOUR 57 only; you many papa and mamma, and the cousins and the aunte, and all the mi«:ellaneou, relations, .Ide- ways, forwards, backwards and cat-a-comer. Yoii also take on gnndpa and grandma, and ereat-srandM and gteat-grandma. eight or ten of these^nayfe- "^ u X°" **" **" ^y- •"■other," said Puella. No ; it never hurts a sensible man to look the facts squarely m the face. The girl b lovely, is she ? Veiv rtX *J'^ *""• " >'°" P'"«- But grandpa \^ a little bit shady, one way or another ; or great^rand- pa, one or the other of them, wouldn't have^it tSl^-^"' S'^' " "'*>' "y: °' ««newhere else al^ng the line there was an ancestor whose reputation wasn't clear white. Now. the poor girl can't help frbuTmy son, you may put it down in your memorandum-boofc as a certainty, that in one of her boys or girl, (and yours), the crooked streak that the forefather had wUl come out. and maybe in all of them. It's like a cast in the eye. Now, my son, don't you marry a heredi- tary squint,— physical or moral." said'wSteT'''' °^^'^'^ '° ^°" ^°' *^* suggestion," Captain Bluitt became contemplative. Toying with his glass he said : '^ * " "I've seen two brothers, both fine fellows, marry. One Picked out a high-bred girl, even better than hir?: self. The other married a pretty girl who had no brine- mgup and no family worth noticing. Their children grew up and didnt know one another. Their er?.nd- children were as far apart as the Tropic of Cancer to- from the Arctic Circle. That's the way the thingtoesT A man can't fly too high when he is out for a I^ partner.' '" that the Hamiltons are not nice people ? " " Oh, no I certainly not I didn't have them in my mind at idl I was speaking generally. No, no I I don't warm to John Hamilton very much myself, but I know of nothi^ against him, and his wife is one of the saints. You know, Walter. I don't care much for the old-tim^ 5 ! j8 CAPTAIN BLUITT saints that some church people oay attention to. May- be they were saints and maybe tney weren't The chances I think are about even ; but I'm very fond of the home- salnts. I know about them. They are tolerably scarce around Turley— dreadfully scarce, we might say, jper- haps — but John Hamilton's wife is one of them. And John is all right too, I guess, but he has a long way to go, I should say, before he can edge in among the saints." " His daughter is one, I think," added Puella. " So do 1," said the captain, heartily. * Yes ; she is hard to beat, that's a fact But," continued Bluitt, taking up the talk about matrimony, " there's one thing more I might say to a young man who is looking for a wife. Quite likely it isn't necesskry in your case, Walter, but I have really known men to court papa and mamma first, instead of courting the girl. Now that's just fatal! What you want is the girl. Start there I You may get papa and mamma and the whole caravan of relations with you ; but what good will that do if the girl won't have you f On the other hand, if the girl says yes, it can't make much difference— that is in the long run— if the entire clan says no." The captain and his sister and Walter left the table and entered the hbrary. "You w:!! stay with us until to-morrow, Walter, won t you ? " asked his aunt " No, I am sorry, but I must drive down to Donovan to-night 1 should like to stoy " (and Walter thought ho* much it would please him to go to the church again and to see and hear Miss Hamilton), "but I must attend to my business, poor as it is, and business requires me to be in Donovan at an earlier hour to-morrow than I could reach there if I stayed here all night" « I should like you to hev that Indian prince who is to speak. Everybody says he is very eloquent and interesting," ' Wal*?r cared little for this eloquent person, or hi» speeches, or his cause, but he answered: " It is too bad, but I must go. I hope to return on IN A SAILOR'S SNUG HARBOUR j, I What will you do then } " " I know a man connected with nn» «f *i,. j m The PROPERTf' SCAR BO R® UBLIC LI6RARr I I CHAPTER V INVOLVING THE CHURCH MILITANT Leaving his uncle's house at seven o'clock on Sunday evening in a buggy, Walter Drury drove slowly up the street, walking his horse so that he might look again at the house in which lived Miss Hamilton. As he came near he saw her, in a lovely dress of white muslin, stand- ing upon the side-porch which opened upon the garden. She had some bright-coloured flowers in her hand and she was alone. She seemed to be looking out towards the river. Walter gazed intently at her. She turned her head and saw him. He thought she recognized him ; he even thought he could perceive the colour flush her cheeks ; but instantly she wheeled about and entered the house. She was more beautiful as she had stood there, bare-headed, and in the simple dress, than she had been in church. He looked at the windows of the house as he drove slowly by, and he believed that he had another glimpse of her within the parlour. He was not sure that she was not looking at him at such distance behind the window as permitted her to be in some measure screened. Walter urged the horse onward, while he formed another resolution to know her and to win her, if that could be accomplished. Out beyond the boundaries of the town he drove, while the shadows of the evening deepened towards twilight, and as he pushed on, his mind was so much absorbed by reflection upon the strange experience that had come to 60 INVOLVING THE CHURCH MILITANT 6. Rev. Dr. Mallow and^e I„L„"'P' -'y- '=°"veying the Singh, ^vho were dr?vi„e over from ft""'''' ^"""^^ P°°' noble and dusky Oti^^TZ^iT ^°°°^an. so that the Frobisher-scoSeS ^ '"'''"' '° *''' ^'^- 1^'- f/^Jor?^^^nt::^,J^^^^^^^^ td'f ^th ^ea. and the Presbyterian ch"uVrf Turiey „-' " ^'*?' "' man, not stout but hM«ii,, k -u ^■. ^ * *** » We broad shouldew Wh=nX '"'i'7'*'' ""^'■^^ frame, and high°wi"ove?ed whh'^vl^'*'*-. "'" head, long and chin were ^Zu^Ja^- J!"^ ^"^y ^^''' ^is nose his golden s^cfadL^' '^ '""'^'^ "y^' ^°°^'"^ °"t from ha^'h^d^rfet.ter.^Ws''^""^''' ''>"'" «-'!'' *» regarded him IT Tman "f more" t£n ^"^' =, ^^^ """>« Long ago he had wr^t^n o\^ u, "^"^' learning, ship oTtte Pentateuch whi^^P'''*'' "?°" *•«= authof- anf really a/S2chttttir ^''~=">' °^°''-- fag of ihew"°ot So£on '^ '=°"^!i'='*'' *« — controversy, be^aVe^?°feSvtf t'S'"" -^^ advanced ; and there was a rJr^r. ^ ™^ opmions "ThelmpindinJciSir'^Mi k"'?"""" °^^'^ "PO" twenty P^ a|o ^iL^d't'^K*" " ^^ ''"' P«ach«I. came doCfrom'the^ubit th?,M*"t'^,"'- ^s he trustees, insisted that\r£ld re S't^'n'^th'' 1'^,*''= «ng Sunday, which he rfiH ,-« /u ^^ ' °° ™* follow- «.Wi?;, evifas's^^Sed S''thTI^"u«h°o^.'^r ' Then the church-offiora =n.. cnurch on Sunday. that a discou«e of such hieYJ.^"^"''"""."' <=°''side.^ with concerns of nat^nt^^ "nportance, dealing really upon itse^-^dofKctL •?!'• ''^"W go further to publish it, anf theSor'granTte r™ "T^^^ genuine effort to feel hnmku k f^ ^f request, with a «snse that he wL reillv .^ *' ^"* "?" ^'* » strong St CAPTAIN BLUITT I fell away, and the doctor ibr years had looked now and then upon the remaining eight hundred, tied up with twine and thrown paper, and lying dust-covered in the closet beneath one of his book-cases ; and, as he looked, he sometimes sighed and had a deepened impression that worldly things after all, at the very best, are little more than vanity. But the days of excitement and eager expectation, and craving for a swifter forward movement, had now passed awoy. The fiery zeal for the conversion of the world to better things had burned itself out. Long ago he had been enveloped and smothered by the con- viction that any large part of the task of uplifting the race was beyond his power. Still, he held firmly to the old faith. Still, he did really try to believe that he kept himself ready for the day wbien the summons should come for him. But he had almost stopped preaching to sinners. The truths were so old, surely everybody must know them by heart by this time ; and most of the good texts had been preached threadbare. All of his new sermons were addressed to believers, and this seemed to be not an indefensible practice, for only believers, or people who were believed to be believers, came to church. There were no young men in the congregation, except- ing a few who were kept there by habit or family influ" ence, or by some little interest in the music of the church societies. The greater aamber of the members were women and girls, whom he eould not regard as frightful offenders, and who seemed te be quite satisfied with his preaching. In truth, the church hod gone to sleep with respect to spiritual things, and the good pastor's piety, thouj^ sound and genuine, had much of somnolcn<^ in it Sometimes the dt, in Great Briu^^LrnTforefath'' ''T"^ *'«« haS hers had come to thiscontfnen? faS "' ^°^<="'°'her of to her one of the mo.t !. ? '?«rthan 1704. It was history that her rther's"^"'."^ '^'J^ °^ '^^^ f'"^" operated with FranWinf^ »«at-grandfather had cZ Braddock's famous IS traS'cal"^ ^"^'?»' '°'^ Ge"«^ name of this ancestor wS S^fif'^ii" '755- The always alluded to him aT Po^ ' ""• **"• Frcbisher °r General Smith; an?aWiouJS'^'f""Tf =""=' Smith^ angry with Mrs. Frob.'sher un?n ^'"'""^''a Burns, when that for the life of her^Vco" T^°"=^'°"' ''"^ ^d Smith in Franklin's own narra?; ^ ^,"^."° *^ace of any that if any Smith had h«n '"" °^ *« movement and r^^ha^e been a'meSXTC t'^'l^^^^SH FrQbisher had a letter sior,!^ k lu *"''hn was, Mrs wntten at Carlisle, Pe"nsTa„1arnd 'of 'T'" ^mit^ Wayne, and that he was s-fv^-i ^^'"''^' Anthony wh.ie trying to rally tl^^surS ''T'^^ " PaoU troop^ Mrs. Frebisher daimenn 1 TlP«"'<=-''tricken grandfather and General Wa'° '^'=*' ">*' her father's persons who did not lo7e th-f^K 7"' *he only two father used to ha^e a lettS'wrhte^/"'? '""^ «^d. h^r by General Wayne, after the war ~ *°> g«ndfath noble conduct on tta fatal lfLh?""1^'''S him of hi. pay a visit to the Mnerai-. k^^' ^^ «l"ne him to Pennsylvania. This^rm^rtLM^ff '" Chester County put. Mrs. Frgbisie^s cC to h^r' •' "^^'"^ ^""^ ^a^' yTa^rst^i^-'^'-atrl^r^rfn'^f^gir; ^Xl'^^.^'^^ti'^'^^^^''-^ •--' that her Metcalf of Animingo!^ Frobisher's own phrase, "a 66 CAPTAIN BLUITT The Metcalfa owned half-a-doien large plantatioM In the Aramingo neighbourhood, and for nearly a century they had been prominent people in that region. Colonel Jabei N. Metcalf, her mothei^s father, had fought a duel with Judge OFinerty in 1803, and Mr». Frebisher not infrequently referred to this bloodleis combat in such language as became the wife ot a Presbyterian pastor, but still a close observer might have discerned in her manner and tone a certain gleam of exulution, which appeared to indicate that she regarded her grandfather's participation in this engage- ment not without feelings of pride. ,1. More than once she had expressed in terms 01 mucn fervour her gratitude that the elder Metcalf had not been slain in this aristocratic encounter ; and one day when she had breathed her thankfulness for the fourth or fifth time at a meeting of the General Culture Society, Mrs. McGuire, a perfectly plebeian person, was mean enough to whisper to Florabella Burns that she wished O Fmeny s bullet had gone home. . Mrs. FrQbisher's prominence in all the societies, ana her assumption of authority generally, found acquiescence that would probably not have been yielded without a struggle, but for the well-known fact that the mmister-s wife had money in her own right It may be imagined that, whatever her spiritual condition, Mrs. Frebisher was not physically torpid. She was a small woman, with small features and with blue-erey eyes conveying the impression of intensity of charwter. Mrs. Frobish. ^ad force. She managed every woman's society in . church, and m Sunday School she tanght the infat... class. Her strong pomt was thought to be black-board work, supplying object lessons to the infant eye and mind. . . . . Some adult persons who came m to hear her and to see her, sometimes were ungracious enough to say that thev did not understand these lessons; but nobody knows where the fault really lay. Perhaps there was indeed some reason for the apprehension expressed by one visitor, that the unfortunate children would come out INVOLVIKO THB CHURCH MILITANT 6, public school woSldm.!^h5- ^^^ ^^^ «"*««d the Thus affecting, and even terrifying, tales were n«n.«wi they saturat(& the?r nl^hln ^\^ '**'"' *"* water, the^ were whirled off?nte^^^^ ^S^'^ Then of pneumonia and with no hooe at^n^f ilTl'^' ^H^"^ ™s alleged law of immediate retribution has by to 6S CAPTAIN BLUITT meana unvarying operation. Many of them had their own secret memories of larcenous proceedings with jam, during which none was dropped upon pinarore or floor, , and which were productive of deliciousness of sensation of which jam seemed incapable when it had been pro- cured under less irregular and sinful circumstances ; and some of them were the familiar friends of boys who, in defiance of environing perils, often went Ashing on Sunday, and came safely home to bear verbal testimony to the delights of the practice, and presenting visible evidence, in the shape of bunches of fish, that the pastime had not been without consequences of substantial value. Thus it may be feared that, as the years rolled by, the young minds, having compared the written testimony of persons whom they did not know, with the evidence supplied by personal experience and by observation of the conduct of persons whom they did know, may really have reached tile conclusion that there must be something seriously defective in the assertion that vicious behaviour produces hurtful results, or else that stealing jam and fishing on Sunday are performances which contain no element of evil. There was one favourite writer for children— a favourite with the parents — ^who, inspired with a praiseworthy desire to impel them into paths of peace, produced certain volumes which were classed under the general name of Allegories. In these little stories the characters were children. The books were bound in black, to begin with, so that they were dismal and discouraging merely to look at, as they lay upon the table at home. One of them began with a graphic description of a place called the Desert of Zin. That word Zin, which greeted the infant mind upon the very first page, had in it something that was sinister and fear-inspiring. Sin was bad enough, but sin could be partly comprehended. Zin, however, appeared to have some sort of a kinship to sin, and yet to be infinitely and incomprehensibly more dreadful. Even if Zin had been a place of waving trees and fountains and flowers and birds, it would have been open to grave suspicions that behind these beautiful INVOLVmc THE CHURCH MIUTANT «, • do well to keep «»|?^?ts ab^«» fiP'*''*"^*''"" ""d *oM having any .nSring Srt w" -n*"- ^"'Z'"' <"" '"'"'n dead, forbidding desert in^k^t represented as a dreary life but prickirS to Stch"r„r/'"'' °f ve^etabT* •nimal lif^ excepting !nake«-n-? '' •'"'' y""' «"d no bite and poison yoo, ""'^ »corp,ons. ever alert to througLafeJ'wfck'^^onf bl''' '""'^ -"'«« P"" worst kill a snake whh a stick '.^ ""^ y°" "" « the d'e at sundown; but the h.hi* ** "?'!' '°'''"'» »«" to outlines, of the 'sZ,ion' S"' '/"> ""^'^ ">« very ■Mured presence of scomten? "u'^u^T"' ""<' «» ">« errant boys appeared to ttthrt''!J''>' '" ^^t '"»' a particular sen^ terr L Evl ' heil^h™?' °/ 2'» «» he would like very much to TZ^ healthy boy felt as if the kindly autho7a»ured him ^h***^,?"""'-- •>« this wildemesiof Zin in1h^»n ''' '=°"''* not do, for the old rolling SoVo^"y;h7r''**dthi;p^t cactus-planted, scorpion-haunted H.^T'^ "=«»» the human life thit eve^^ g^"''d t^'L'""^ ^"^ *« , Some .en. bold b^ys^^ Aat^^n*^^ """»' ''"«• look presented by the author »? ' .." "'»» the out- of the journey with fh-1^ ' *''*y "=°"ld face the horrora these hid SS^ 2ed n,^r/!l1 ^'^' '" t^' b^" but the writer"ortrlfctn^w'ih'e''"H''M**''^ J"« he was too acute to sunni5=I: T '"* ^hild-mind, and ing the -iseri^lV^thSatr" The'^h!^" fordiminish- Ulnc and Bertram and Ala "' L^ ^^^ "^"""""^^ pris we« Hilda and Ethe S^rta "nd n"'"?' ""«* **« belongmg to no children k^own,^ Ii""''»'-''ames Amencan Sunday School scholar Li "" P*"" ""le •nmd the notion that abo^thSevL";^^'^"^ *° "»'» »^«™f«'v" there was someU^ingdfishZnd^^' «" Prls All through the book Ulric and h7m » ""<»"ny- the desert, striving in a desperate "^ ^"^^'^ """^ manner to reach !ome ktaTof ^ ProS t'°7''«'"^ off somewhere, and a« th» c y°n"sed Land, away thoughtful mind '.^"„i't=.^"'il^LS<;l'.<>oI child o^f I .«j ---Y""/ ocnooi child of I and read, he was likely to rea^ I »• CAPTAIN BLunr Om oooeluloa that the best thing the Pioirlsed Und had to offer wun't worth tU that misery, and finally to BteJPromlsed Land ancf were lort somewhere In the Tte author had another book which made an Im- presslon upon some of his child-readtrs that half a eentuor has not availed to elTace. It was wiled 7->(I W^.^TL„ '^"'^ W character was a very human ^u "/ ^ }^y "■"*** Adrian. 1 his boy, apparently wW^llSf "* r the matter the kind ofserfous^eSo^ ri^-'^'^i" the «.e of rightly• T*"' Army met tte foe face Jascinatmg influence upon Adrian's mind. Just what it SSr butT'*.'^'*?^ '° ''"""^'""y w« not whollj fo!!f' ^ V***. ♦«°'Pt«tion came to him in an allurine But Adrian was not permitted to go very far. Half- iSi.l'jfIS? *^' **PC°!'"5 '■"'^ a^ bottom"^ pifl actually bottomless-had been arranged, and the un- §S: I'SSh' "^ •=?!:"« ?•"»»"«• >'«° 't and fell «?fj f'^thful members of the Great Army not only *•" "?.'•». ^ut the author explains that they could ml^ »^ ''"f'"'. ?*■ 'ccelerated, in accordance, it may be presumed, with the law of graviution jro,^m nJ the movement of falling bodies. govemmg That was an awful story. No doubt many a poor little ff;!„"tn "^"V'-:^ *•"««"? nerves Ld'^Jepng wh^ ^^ *? ^ ^^^^ "' *« ''»*nes* and wondenni ft*d been thrust without consent or connivance on his INVOLVING THE CHURCH MILITANT ,. began to grow in yew, to h^ ifi »h- r. °^ '• T^ *• »" « wy rate, and tolet the c^n'^! '^"?.r""'' «««*. con^q.cnces ju,t stand oSii ^^ with reipect to ^idai'ooftat'b^lt^fiira.r" "•'? •»'• t'« •en^. but ~M.h indeed shouK!in'?'''"'"'"°"- •"isc, he would havrwSrf'lK*''r'^.,""~">'n'>n- «ould ;ak. them un i n H I. . ''''° '°''«' tt'"", and trying b;. ..b „-,;„P to ■m^/thT!. r** '"If" *^'^' «' w^o. veo- .•-.a.on-,trei'5:r.»°ve'"iSlo-a •topped at the d. ofope.kf/So n- ' v' .'''^ ' ^'^^ Sau Tarsel was too busy with theiMi '"^''^'^"- ^twTy. «rvce, at the carriage^, but Dr F nl^^'T ''V"^' «* looking for the guests, and quicW^t "'''"' ^1^'" ''^ •tudy, and opening the d«,?of tSl . '•' *'^"' '' '■ •>1« two visitors to defend. "" '*''"^'^> '"'«-' tho When they had done so Dr nr.ii •t«nger to hi. fcllow^If^S^n^l^i Tk*""''' '"^ «* «nd courtly grace of the^S^^n' m.H. ° ".PP««nce favourable impression upon Dr F^u^u '"'">«'''■»»« .r-ys did upon those who^„VtLe S?& Se fi into the study. Dr. Frobhher Wt th.^'^K ''*'^ ^"^"^ praise of the prince th^t h=^ !^ **t the words of clergymen had n^ t^„ ""^ 'ZL'^ m™ •?°"' «"" was . choice man, and Sie doct™ Mamfestly, this lleve that the highest elnf-f I '^,8^'*t'''ed to be- waiting and curioL^SLK ^k°"' °^ *•"« "°*d <" b« fjilfilled, ^P" '" '''« P«»w were about to 7« CAPTAIN BLUITT !* 1 ■ 1 ^**.. ■ ""^-looking fellow, and he presented a singularly handsome figure as, with the two clergymen, he walked out upon the pulpit platform and sat upon one of the three chairs placed there. He was tall, slender, well-proportioned, straight Upon his head he wore a white turban which he did not remove, and his body was clothed in grey silk, with loose trousers and loose-fitting coat of Eastern pattern while around his waist was a rich blue silk sash, fastened at the side, and with the fringed ends falling almost to the floor. The hue of his skin was brown, light brown, while his hair and heavy moustache were jet black. So were his eyes, which seemed to have extraordinary brilliancy Everybody thought his countenance full of manly beauty, and that it manifested singular intellectual power. He was completely self-possessed. He knew that hundreds of people were looking at him, but he seemed at ease, unconscious of the presence of the congregation and indeed manifesting plainly that he was accustomed to prominence, omage, and to admiration. With reverence of demeanour and action he partici- pated in the devotional exercises, and he listened with close attention when Dr. Mallow read the Scriptures and when the choir sang an anthem. The anthem was lovely and aflTecting, and Mrs. Fro- bisher thought he wiped away a tear as the music went on ; but of this she was not positively certain ; for he had passed his handkerchief over his face more than once during the exercises. When sermon-time came, Dr. Mallow rose and said that the congregation was about to be addressed by one of the trophies of tlie missionary effort. Many converts had been made among the natives of India as the result of heroic, devoted, self-sacrificing en- deavour upon the pari: of faithful men and women who had gone thither to carry to souls darkened by centuries of heathenism the blessed light of the ever- lasting GospeL But now, in these last days, it had coipe kingly place, whose ancestors ?or,nU ""'" "^^^ "'''d « «t upon thrones and w elded ,~\"°"'" "=*="'""«* had power of life and death over ntr^tP'"?,,.""'^ exercised H.S noble friend. B^nSer pj^t q"'' !!"'['°"* "^ P"P'e- Christian, at such loTto hirn^f infl"^''' ''*i '^"=°"« a «spect as no American c"uW ^nn*'"'''' *'^«*'°''' a"d accepted the Truth and turnip conceive, and having way, he had found his lonS *"' **"=P' '" ^^e right evitable in the case of a conve^lf '"^ °"'' " ''as in- and desolate and oppressed mJ^i""'"; *°. **" f^'^om He had resolved to d«nf. ^™'^';*, °^ *" owi race, uplifting the pa^ahs of l^d" .^f'^ 1° *^« *°'k?f and despised, and in VJJlJt'- P'°P> *ho were outcast physical: and religious degrldatio^' -"Peakable S Pnncehad consec^ted ^e^^holeof h- ° *" '^"'''^ '^e and now he had come to thrchn?t^- ',°'? ^*" '"ort""*. P«?ple who have the light of hkrh^f ",''"'? *° ask of the fru>t of religion, to hefo h^m J? civilization, the direct the hope that the church in Tnrl-. ' ^^ ^J' "Pressing »>«"«. Then he introduc^^B^'C sf t **"'' °^ thine inheritance " "''''" ^^« 'hee the heathen for hp rtSj^rtlfe^S* 5:!;« T"* »°- "''■d he He spoke English wtho^t^h.'*?,' P''^ "^ the room. His languageias fdlSs^nVh'^fcl^T'^ of accent of his meaning, and now anH t? •! ' '^'^arly interpretive of poetic beauty Nature made\'- "^'"^"j' had a kind than phrase or vocal tone th^r^ w 'J" *" ^?^°'- -""re -nner Which touched thl'sS.l'^f Si^h^Sd^^^s.^' M CAPTAIN BLUITT emotion. Before the prince had spoken ten minutes all the women m the church were in twra, and DrFroWsher was seen to apply his handkerchief t^ his ey«^erS times m a suspicious manner ^ Bunder Foot Singh spoke for three-quarters of an tf S^' h^H ^'k?! °t ^1' ''""» "°"'d have b^n sor^ ^had doubled the length of his discourse. ^ rJZa^" ?' ''°?"'' *» deacons began to take the collection and as they brought the fillld plateT to the platform there was visible proof of the fact tha? Ae pnnce had the kind of eloquence which can influence even the reluctant pocket-book. "nnuence Dr. Frobisher then announced that the distinguished stranger would return to Turley in a few mS to remam for some time. The minister expr^sed Ae feeU & from on"? "'^ ""^^^ ^'^ anticipated this longer nilln. T '" *']•'"" •"* ""'' ^" '»>« people thin, present owed one of the most noble, uplifJ^nR and ^th;'?"!^ 'r^"^ **y had ever Ssten4 Ihen the doctor closed the services with prayer. the DlatfofrT's^H ^' *"'',**^ ^'"■'^'""'=" "^^^^ "P"" rh?.Jl '/"** f*""*' P'-°'n'nent members of the AmnnaT,' ^°'^'' *? ^ P'«ented to the stranger Among them was John Hamilton, who clasped thr pnnce's hand, thanked him for his address. and"?^mised ^Tin *""" "' *'"'" ^ "^""^^ *»'"« '« Tuiley hoi'' }"^««^«o™'''e events do cast their shadows before shadow if iVr."f",.''°'''1.'^='"^ ''*'"'"'^ «t «"« "" h Sa' dusl^**hS, '*'"'" •"'«'"» ''^ P^'h " »>« clasped But he saw nothing, as men in such cases alwav. hI*^ ** ""^ '^"'* ^"" »' enthusiasm for the That was the common feeling. Mrs. Frobisher voiced It when she said to Mrs. Gridley : w"™" voicea -Now we know what the words mean, 'speaklne with ontoryl So noble in bearing, tool Vou can see the WVOLVmo THB CHURCH MILITANT „ Blood does tell, always, prince in eveor UaMment out i" whil'^rl'here r"^ '"" ^ '"-"'o' ?'ve "Perfectly horrid," „idSrs fZTu'"^ Mrs. Gridley tified beyond expreisi" I ,half «h^'; " ^ '^^^ ""''•- the detestable thine r emov!?J^ V '^f '™^*ees to have '^t't^t^ernTot^V^^^^""-'" """• ^'"' fehcity, but if Bunker P^ts^'u.'T'' °/ complete that ^.mething was wro^ w tjf th^ ''' "'i °'''='^«1 ««ond hymn, he had not mln^f^^L^'^^" f*"""? the the fact The probabiiat "^ 'tt' '\'.""^'="'"«ne« of with machineiy of that UlnA J. '"' acquaintance tion, was not fam liar and Ch "" "'«'h°d^of o^ra! nature has been surrendered to fhe' c """" 5'''°^ ^1^°^ fallen race, could not reS^nablv h, "'"' °^ uplifting a his attention, even moSarilv to %*if P""''.*^ '° '!''•«« the'S^sT^L"-""'"' "^'^ ^^'J' «'ven „o little trouble to Fa:rS"urc'ht'"s" ta''^^ T"'^ --ic. at Dr for tl«t purpose.'^\Twi"tlC^t"hatl^°:j''^ «"'•««« b? devout, and to obtain profit tnr^'J^"^ ^"^ to discourses; but mori. 7i!, ^ "°"* the preacher', .poken to'after'ch^rch St The" ^^ ''I ^ ^- ?° jMch « *ay as to conve/the imn^i^ "' u*"* """wered had been engaged with ^UrV?f^^'°'' ^^^ his mind eloquence wL during ove/ Sm A ^'"> *'' <'°«°''» who sat in the side L«^ and «.nw **,'" '""'h, those McGann. while the ShTr w^ ^'T^ "« J"dgo noticed a far-away loSHn IL^^ ^P^aWng. usually mental part were^n^JS S J,n Iff ■ ''"*' "^ '^ "'» «nd pressures and cen^V of Jf "^'^^^nng cog-wheels Pff: '* CAPTAIN BLUITT through all the mental processes which enahieA W- .„ Invent his famous water-motor ^^ ''''" *° nght outside of the church door fl^.w-f !• the boy played truant. anTLlTuncleTarS waTS upon to blow, which he did with feelini of in^lL i- h^^^t '°1!'"' """P^sation as blower. ar,«^<^^u her to have him sent to bed early on Friday a^&l.^i„ mghts,and permit him to sleep late on's^uSS^^J Sunday mommgs so that he might, as it were sl«n^„ ahead w.th the result that mere^satSed nlture wouU keep him awake on Sundays • hut fh. ™„Vv wu'a ^at the plan could harSfyX' m'adet To^k'in"^ 5;S^wT„r^3^pTatir^Wilt;° '^^t' usual hour, a.d n->v^r ?X to^^J^^ ^^ ^^P"" f ..*« dawn on Sat.:day and Sunday mornTn« |he'^*' even so imprudent as to hin^ that thI^Z'A,,.w ^^ ftat any boy could do whife JSn'l'hL^nV o'f "S? Frobisher s long prayer. She said pl^-nly thTt she coSd hardly keep awake herself, and the trusteesincirn^ ^ believe that there was an hereditary ten^ to exce^ s)ve sleepiness in her family. ^ ""*^" Judge McGann worked out his plan for a motor wh.vt. of°wH S%r"''^ ^y P'^^""^ '■^'" th?wate°^vtk, of which there was more than enoueh • and h- ' structed a working model in wood that reaUydM se^m to contain a promise of high efficiency Th.K? ? r tru^ce. agreed to bear the Lttf^Sructi^.^h"/ INVOLVING THE CHURCH MILITANT „ Sa^^rJ AX^SIHLf'T^ -' '"-■l over to the Sunday Sch^r'*'' "^^^ '^^ *" librarian fo? ve?;ra°[- tt;"firiT:^si„"r.-r"^' -*-* during the opening volunta^ i' h l'''! "°^J' '*""« nght in themiddleof thesecoT^dhvm^fK''"* '"y™"' »>« witii a liuge sob. and rS to „*''" "'«?." "'"PP'd Judge McGann and Da,^3 (^1,° ^° °"- Thereu^n while the choir stmggJeS a^oT. '^^t'^""' *''"' ^^t'. accompaniment, an7fn tiptoes^ th^"^°"' -"^'""nentai the cellar door and di^Sed In ° r"'" *""' *« they returned, and the iuri1» „ 'ii. ? * '^'^ moments pulpit, where br. FroWsher^lri^f *««'/ up to the explained tt»>t the pressure H^hM"^ ?"' "°t'=«s, and ftom the oijx. proba^^bTb^a ,^omoH'"lf,^"'y '^^^" °ff dovm at 4; rmilro^ sUtion '"^"""""^^ ""'"g its tender hutjn^ thT-ev^t^-Kli' ath"* V'^ --'".. both Judge McGann a^D^?C^^f=°"»Pf. and £ that evening, Uncle Tarael wi dlUH '^^y*'' =' ''°"«= the scenes and toannhtT^ was called upon to go behind On the next SuK S r"..*" *^' bellols-handM convulsive sob relansed ^?^ 7 *= "'ST*" with another the third ven,e oX se^' Vh'""" "' ""= beginning of Davis Cook rose and St&*"d the judge fnd door They could be heard^v fh!^ °''^^ ^^^ ""ar >ng about the failurrof S™ "congregation scold- cellar^ Itwasplai„%°Lj^^,°'°J^.they3t^ i„ the 'ng off a nut with his mont-t It^I^ ^°°^ was twist- said m an ango^ tone, "a&'S"'' """'' '''^ i"«>8« the monkey-wre^ch, Tnswefed ^'"^ ""*=*""y "°'^' '^th -tj|J^S;™.^-^ora things. and breSlerTnd^n"^^ ^d^ Z'" 1^ '^-•"' -°* «sumcd his seat it was^th Tve^^ ^'"^^' *^<=Gann -n began to smooth doL^ ^tt X'nTCk tSJ 7» CAPTAIN BWPTT "thirdly," rrobisher passed on into PeS'ps'"h'2yr^"^£^„n'"« *?? *™^ that 2L , '"^''"ne'y. to smnmon again to aerri^rtS wsL's^'om^r"/' -^^^s^ «f »k u '^ . ™* motor during tJ»e sinnnir rf m. THE PRnPERT/ SCARBORO ^USliC library CHAPTER VI '^K HERO BEARS T«» — » ^^ "^"^ ^'^ HEROINE HOMEWARD the people, for all rim- ? ^ Graver's Point sn ^w ground Snd a^eig-X^ 5°^-. ™'fh' ha,:i\%^ Na ure in ,„ch fashionM to E"'' Z"' *°^« "«» ^ •chjevMjem by the hand o?^" *''»<«' -nypossiW^ P«pendfcular im^fh "Pf*"'' ^ ^'^''Ply. mSStwl iS? a«rf.t the t^^'Cer'd-n"'^ fo' ^W^r\l^ of any draught. *"*' '^^P «°"gh to float a^J streaiT' A fcl*Uds"w^J'; P^J*^*''* boldly into th. '^dsurmountedTndtSrsSTA'^ach 4'7„^J^ Ae road and the cliff ZTT^, ^ "''e' J but, between hundred feet «w- ^^ * plateau not lew fK. • fl°-nnfpU]^»''« t«™ed and twisted. CI^^S' 'i:?^' feroS^Ve^r'tolheSlrth'^^P'^^l foHofte^^ and .-.iip.vi,ion"':a,^tu^-X-conS:„"d' ^^ut were benches and chaire, II «« CAPTAIN BLUITT whereon a Turley person might sit in the shade amid the sweet odours of the resinous bushes and look up the nver, down the river, or across the river, whilst the summer breeze, whether it blew from north or blew from south, brought with it coolness and refreshing. It was creditable to Turley, not wise usually when it dealt officially with matters of public enjoyment, that it should have obtained possession of this lovely place, and should have consented cheerfully to bear the cost of adorning it and maintaining it. The Point was near enough to the town to permit the authorities easily to care for it, and to make it a secure and proper place for women and children to visit without other protection, and yet it was far enough away, and so shrouded and shut-in by the foliage of iu vegeUtion, that there was seclusion in agreeable measure for those who wished for it When the sun grew warm in the summer days, all Turley that had time to spare came to the Point ; and while the little children romped and played, and the wide-eyed babies stared from their coaches as they always do, as if their minds were filled with unutterable astonishment at the wonderfulness of the wonderful world into which they had come ; and while the boys went in to swim from the bath-houses upon the beach below and filled the air with merriment, and the many women and the few men strolled about or sat and talked in the later hours of the afternorn, sometimes the Turley brass band would enter the pavilion, and with horn and drum and flageolet make music for the company. The Turiey brass band always did its best. Perhaps this was not the best that was within the reach of any band the rolling earth around — the worid is so big— but the band, while afiecting modesty, really believed that it was best ; or, to make some kind of a concession, that no band played any better than the Turley band played. One thing the band had resolved upon. It would never again engage in a contest with other bands, because in these rivalries the judges are always governed by prejudice even if they have skill enough in music to HERO BEARS THE HEROINE HOMEWARD , months before the^n; J' *5'' Poetised for e^ht German bandmwterwhol^^aH""'^''.*' '"'*«'on Ta years in the VuitedsZ- "^""^ fo"- »ix and .half dieered the oiganiS LV "^ J° Washington/he LwT ''""If ''~™ B»rS\Sh th!!'^fi""f '^''' ""'ess t^™.,, •" "° ''°"»>' that JuXrh.^ f ''P' P"^. there tomed seat, so that Perfidy Shtl^ In?^'''" ^"^ '^^■ fhis most nefarious and Li» • '"">«>ned thereon, •eem actually to have^„ "Jf:?'"? '"hsUtution dM medal was giVen to a ™th!^l. 5m*' '°'" *hile the eoU ers, and the silver medal wm ^^t 5 i ^''''"' Trumpet- Horn and Flute Coros oTb,"'''^ "^ the Bame«t bronje medal went to fh» ?'™egat. New lersw S. fn'T'\^'"^ hadt«^^,r;,'«"d °/ «^)con and which, the Turlev banrf ^ • "f" 'o"" a drumm-r rules of the Germ^ p^eceotor'T''^'^'^' ^'°'«ed a^^he key or Jingled a triangle ^^ ""=^ *'"" '» fi«ec.-cd , hfted hjs helmet to wipi Krehe«^°!. ""'*"='■ ^^'^ «">• hand, charged fuJl with dis«?i^ *5?."<' turning to the by the right flank, .^ chS tol^,? r*"*^"' A^ it came home, resolved nevw ^,;^V'"'°" '" "'ence. and the level of true Jt rt. ^*'" '° attempt to unlift »„ "Pon whom FS^Sldtfl^ri'^lP^^ptions of Sd° rormTurleythehandw^sapp..,,,,^^^^ I ** CAPTAIN BLunr tocritldMn always beins blunted by tho nquimnents of loyalhr, and by fiimUiarity with &e general benevo- lence of the organization. And aa the band, of a summer afternoon, came out to the Point and spread its sheeu in the pavilion, and began to toot and rumble and thump, the loiterers in the little park, sitting there and looking out over the flowing river and breathing the soft, sweet air, gave welcome to the music and applause to the musicians, while they rejoiced that Turley had such a pleasure-ground, such a view upon the noble river, and such a chance to hear such a band provide harmonies so noble. Two women, a matron and a maid, sat alone upon Graver's Point in the shade of a spreading tree, near to the edge of the cliflT in the morning of Tuesday of the week which Walter Drury had begun by going to church in Turley. ' » » The matron was Mrs. Florabella Bums ; her com- panion was Dorothea Hamilton. Two or three children played in the park, back toward the highway, and two or three nursemaids idly watched them, and cared for infants sleeping in coaches. It was too early in the day for the throng to attend. The two women sat together upon one of the slatted benches looking out upon the sun-lit river, whereon a ship with great masts and furled sails, and with a tug- boat leading her, moved slowly up the stream against the swift-rushing tide. Mrs. Bums had her fingers busily employed with some kind of knitting, upon which now and then she dropped her eyes. Miss Hamilton held in one hand a closed book that she had thought to read, but she had not yet opened it. She liked better the Ulk with her agreeable companion, and so hand and book rested upon her lap, while she watched the craft upon the river. Mrs. Bums was fair to look upon, for what more charming creature is there than a woman who has reached the age of forty with her complexion unfaded, her face as smooth as if she were only twenty, her form ™>0 MUM TH. H„Oim HOM»«B . the youngw woman whose ev°"^''* '""'='' '» the life "f but in whon, Mrs ttL'K"" had been „a^:; ne.s of character that Sir^nnf?'^ •"'eetness and loveli- common anywhere? ""^ '=°'""'<'n '«> Turiey-inot summer mornine tTJit )^'^"' .1^". *°'™ <"> this warm wind tl,at drifted^o°r'L^p"«*''' the shade '" 'he g«S2 talk; and better stKtLSLtl^t^^^^ fthl° '^V ~«PanionsWpa^rrf '"'*'"='* '■"«»d« other people. Not always in'^iL ^1°"" *=°''*«rt with •ilence and »elf-comm„m-^^*d'" '^'"^ •""• »°°'««'nes fa kee^st pleasure. ^' '^°^ companionship find iu to the ground, "of the C^l ™'' "" *" ball of Uiread Sunday. Do 'you kn:^^^^^^^^.^''^^'''^^^- I heard you didn't." said Miss hI^! *''*' "«»»'" • ^''^"'"" '^'' *° -'her Sit she heard you MlCXOCOrV HESOUITION TEST CHAIT (ANSI and ISO TEST CHART No. 2) 1.0 I.I 12.8 13.2 1.4 1^ lil^ m m /IPPLIED IN/MGE Inc 1653 East Moirt Stroal Roch«»ter, New York 14609 USA (7t6) *B2 - 0300 - Phont (716) 288- 59B9 - F(w «4 CAPTAIN BLUITT didn't fancy him. But what do you think she guessed was the reason ? " "What?" Miss Hamilton laughed. "She said she thought it must be because you are an Episcopalian., and disliked to have persons preach who are not in the apostolical succession 1 " Mrs. Burns smiled and said : " How absurd ! I don't know myself precisely why I regarded him unfavourably. Certainly his appearance and manner and speech were fine. But there was a look in his eyes that seemed to me to be — well, what shall I say f — of a kind to excite distrust." "Do you know that I felt in the same way?" said Miss Hamilton. "Well, then, I am right," answered Mrs. Bums. ">yomen often have a kind of intuition about such things which is better than reasoning or evidence. You are just the kind of woman who would be likely to possess that faculty." "All the other women in the church thought the man wonderful," said Dorothea. " Mrs. Frobisher's enthusiasm was unbounded." " Yes, he is wonderful," answered Mrs. Bums, " but that is not the point. Is he sincere ? This is the im- portant question. Mrs. Frobisher is the sort of woman who would not have the intuition I have referred to. She is too emotional, too intense, too likely to be attracted by outward appearances." "You saw the splendid diamond the Indian worcunon his breast ? " " Every woman in the room noticed that ; but you and I, perhaps, were almost alone in thinking that the money locked up in that magnificent jewel would do much to help the pariahs." " I did think so," answered Dorothea. "Of course. My way would have been to say to him : — ' Sell your diamond first and then come to Turley to scrape up what you can among a lot of poor Presby- terians. Do you know, Dorry, that I saw the man HERO BEARS THE HEROINE HOMEWARD 85 looking at you with some fervour of admiration while you were smging that solo ? " "No ! I knew nothing of it I should have been embarrassed if I had observed it Perhaps he is a musician himself?" " Quite likely ; but he will wait a good while before he hears any music more lovely than that you gave to him " "Don't say that I shall think you are making fun of me. " No ! You sing as if your soul had mingled with your voice." "So it does, maybe," answered Dorothea, with a smile. « Music is more to me than merr sound." " How do you mean ? " " I am sure I cannot exivlain myself clearly ; but you know, after all, what we call the voice, in singing, is not simply the operation of air upon the vocal cords." " No I " " The cords are an instrument operated by something: by what ? Why, of course, by the spiritual nature, the soul, or whatever we may call it, of the singer. Far more truly than when we speak, does the soul manifest itself in singing ; I mean the right kind of singing The soul sings, doesn't it, when the performer feels deep emotion in directing the voice?" "Yours does, anyhow, I should think," responded Mrs. Burns. Dorothea did not answer for a moment Her cheek flushed, and her eyes looked out over the wide waters beneath and beyond. Eyes of bluish-grey, clear bright penetrating. When she looked straight at you, those eyes seemed to have a peculiar force, as if they saw far into the recesses of the spirit The girl had no self- consciousness ; there was perfect artlessness, conveying the impression of immeasurable purity. Indeed, was it not, as Florabella Bums had often said as she observed Dorothea's apparently complete unconsciousness of her physical beauty and of her vocal gifts, that the soul was pure ? pure with that kind of purity which one day will permit vision of the Almighty ! To have known such a u CAPTAIN BLUITT woman is a high form of religious experience. Blessed is the man who can call such a woman wife I "Jhere is something about music," said Dorothea, speaking again, " that is mysterious and inexplicable to me. You say it is air-vibration, and so it is. But what amazing power it sometimes has to touch the feelings I not the nerves, not any part of the physical sensibilities, but that part which is moved, for instance, when one engages in earnest prayer." " What is the quality, do you think ? " " I have often wondered. Back of the science of music as it is composed and written, back of the physical action, back of everytning heard or seen, is a quality which appears to me to belong to the other world— to some world that is near to us, but hidden from us. You remember what the Bible says about the singing of the morning stars, and what Shakespeare also says of the singing orbs. Maybe they do indeed sing ; but that is physical, if it is a fact I would rather hear a human soul sing ; that is to me a vibration from heaven." "What a curious thing it is too," continued the girl, " that the minor keys should always be sad ! How can anybody account for that strange fact ? The very same notes that are in the minor keys are in the major keys, but, because they follow in a changed order, one is joyous and the other often melancholy enough to make you cry." "Did you ever associate colours with the keys?" asked Mrs. Bums. Dorothea turned to her, and with an eager look upon her face, exclaimed : " Have you noticed that, too ? " "Why, yes," answered Mrs. Burns. "I never gave the subject much thought, but the key of F major always seems to me to have a light blue colour." " How delightful I " answered Dorothea, smiling. " I thought that was my own private, personal discovery." "And the key of G major never fails to sueeest yellow." *^ "Yes ; with me, F major is light blue, and the shade HERO BEARS THE HEROINE HOMEWARD 87 of the blue deepens as the flats increase, until you get down to D flat major, and that is dark purple. How sombre and melancholy that key is ! G major is yellow, and the colour deepens with the added sharps until E major is dark orange, and F sharp major is almost a deep crimson. All the minor keys are pale cold erevs of various shades Isn't it wonderful ? Doesn't it show that music has hidden in it things that connect it strangely with other apparently different things?" .i,„.m'.? strange," said Mrs. Burns, "that both of us snould have had similar impressions of the matter, but after all, I am not sure that there is anything but a te phenonienon. Music represents vibrations which reach our brains through our ears. Colour repre- sents vibrations which reach our brains through our u""ij "^°°^«. n°' seem unreasonable that Nature should produce similar impressions by means of different kinds of vibrations, does it ? " "Perhaps not; but there are other particulars about music which no physical reasons can explain. It is the only science I know of that seems to have relations with spiritual things. No wonder it has been the belief alwavs that the angels sing." new, , think," said Mrs. Burns. " I have a friend who knows a Scotch musician who thinks he has found the mSeJ/'^'"^"'^ °'" *''' ^''°^''^ P'^''''' '" P°P"'*' Scottish " That's a queer idea, isn't it ? " " \ don't remember the whole of his theory ; but he is convinced, for example, that the colours and even the design of the British flag are imbedded somehow in Crod Save the Queen,' and that only red and white and Banner'"'^ *''' *° ''"""'^ '" ^^ 'Star-Spangled " It is incredible," said Dorothea. " Vejy likely," replied Mrs. Burns, "but musicians are apt to be queer. Don't marry a musician, Dorry," said ^L cr""*"' ,''"'>*'>'• ~'"'"e ''a'=k to practical matters. She was fonder of them. 88 CAPTAIN BLUITT " And why not ? " at"}!^^^!?/ ***"'" '?'*' Mrs Bums, starting a new row of h« knitting "music may be heavenly, and probably It IS, but my observation is that musicians are often the I?v^lf/^'''''''it P~P'5 HP°" ^'"^^' ^"'J ">e hardest to live SS Cn'Si ^l!^°" """'' °- y- •>-' 'o "^**aps they are unusually sensitive ? " ' It may be ; but they are apt also to be, I think unusually conceited and selfish, and likely to make thei; w,v«i unhappy The fact is that a man who is always playing with the emotions is not half as safe a man for l^"SivVa.iSy'*° '■• '"°-a'-o'bedinearthlyand "But we should hardly like to have husbands who are th a kind heart t^ht a bread-and-butter-producing ouality. than an twinl-ri^ f'-P"'-*"^ ['^^ ""''" *« conviction that h^JKl »^\'' *• ''«*v«"'y vocation, from which bread-and-butter-hunting ought not to divert him." with "l '"***"*' *° ^'^°^ '""*=•> a**""' »t." said Dorry "But I do." replied Mrs. Bums positively, "and I want to warn you.' "I am in no danger, I think," said Dorothea. Lots of married misery would be avoided," con- to"f5^ fn"i„^""'M''^!j''>"l" '" *«' fi"' place wh^m m,ntL I I'^'i'"'?"'* '" "«^ ^~"d place, how to manage a husband after marriage." « M°i ^f"'' * '*'='P* ' " asked Dorothea. «i.K ,^ - / *^." ^"^ f. '^'? ^°' "loosing a husband, for each '■.ase has its peculiarities ; but it is easy enough to HERO BEARS THE HEROINE HOMEWAR] 89 £^& '" •"""'^'"^ • ^"-'''y e°od "•- after you "For instance?" w elementary, fundamental, instinctive Th^n ,1, you have him, coddle him I " ™""'^*- Then, when "Coddle him 1" »d g, of. ™„„ r^ ^„ riSi'^' The younger woman looked troubled. spea'TttT'way" "''' "' "^ "<" «''« *° ^^-^ ^ou littie'Yang'o^rr^t "^^^ilTrl, "^^^ «''™^' -''•» « if I loved some one df :>rlv I «hr>iiM „„» • ?^ **' And that is holy, isn't it f" f «"• I i! ii §• CAPTAIN BLUITT from Him and to Him. There is ipiritual •ttnictlon, and then fusion, until two become one. Forgive me for being flippant about a sacred thing. You are better fitted to teach me, than I to teach you, my dear." As Mrs. Burns spoke, Dorothea turned her head to look out upon the river. She might have intended to respond to her companion, but before she could do so, she sprang up in excitement and exclaimed : " Look at that child I " One of the smallest of the little girls who had been running about the pavilion, had wandered to the very edge of the cliff, and sitting down, had extended her feet beyond the frail bordering of sod that surmounted the rock. It had long been thought by careful persons that the Turiey government should have put a railing at this place ; but the duty had been neglected. The child was in a most perilous position. A slight movement of its body, the smallest crumbling of the earth, would have tumbled it down the rock into deep water below. '^ Dorothea Hamilton ran forward with flushed cheeks and eager steps, and approached the little girl, who turned her head and actually began to slip over the brink of the precipice as Dorothea, flinging herself flat upon the ground, grasped the child's dress and held her. Even then, had not the hold been firm, and the dress- stuff stout, the child would have been lost. But Dorothea did not relax her grasp, and in a moment Mrs. Bums, the girl's nurse, and two or three other women were at hand, and the chUd was drawn back to safety. " Well done. Dony I " said Mrs. Bims. " Well done I You are a heroine. You have saved that child's life I " And Mrs. Burns held out her hand that she might help her friend to rise. Dorothea made an effort to get up, but found she could not do so. "I Must have sprained my ankle," she said. "It pains me dreadfully." Calling another woman to her assistance, Mrs. Bums »ERO BEARS THE HEROINE HOMEWARD ,t Wt?t*h."K'!T"!:'"*"' Dorothea and almost carried aitting "^ ~" "'" ""* **"• S""" had been rof-i'"**°i!?lv° '"^'"y ankle-joint must really be dislo- m' "''**« '"ffwer as she sat down. •^ "^ °'*'°- hurt foof """ '""°'^*' *' '*°' *"'* "«=■"■"« '■«»"' *>>« ha^dKie'f ibo^'itV''"'"'" ••'' '*'''• '^ *"' "« "■" cann^ot?XaX"" '''* '"'"'«'''•"««' Dorothea."! "We shall have to send to town for a carriage of ZTt^rl^y ='" ""'^ -- - - "-w &1 " I /f e a wagon coming from town now, ma'am," said Hamlon'/"""''- " *''^''' *" ~"''' ^' '' '° "^^^ Mht Mrs. Bums walked out towards the highway, and In a moment found that the vehicle was a buggC^ in wWch sat the fami ar and welcome figure of Dr. Qudch. „n C,M^"if '^.'°t.'""!.*° **°P' ''"d a* the doctor drove "P.,^'^' her at the edge of the rock, she said : « ww^ i^"^''=''' hut I am glad to see you I" " What IS the matter f" "Dorry Hamilton has sprained lier ankle, so that she b unable to walk. Won't you look at it.'and then- then— maybe you will help us to carry her home" A^Jft "\*-''^ *'^"' '■*•" '='■'' *he physician, getting down fron his carnage and tying his horse to a tfee. ^ her, here is Dr. Quelch, who has turned up at exactly do^n1hlro;^!£:,x••"^''°p''"•'° *"• ^^°'«* "'-y- Dorry laughed and said : II There is nobody I would rather see just now." "Tsil . K*?™"'" '^H *h' doctor, as he examined it Not so bad as it might be, but you must not put your foot upon the ground Tor at least a week. I will biid it up in a better way. The irfiysician went to his carriage and returned with 9« CAPTAIN BLUITT a bandage and »ome liquid material. Wettine the ankle thoroughly he bound it tightly, and then m\^ B«m! ^" "'='» Dorothea couJd be lifted upon it half-way to the floor of the carnage upon which she could then contriv^ to step Wait a moment," said the doctor. " Here is another carriage coming up the road and bound fo^ Turfev Maybe we can arrange for it to take you. wWle I pul" on to help my patient who urgently needs W" ^ Ihe carnage came nearer. "There is but one person in it A young man too ^ZTl- ?\ " the Story-books," he s^id! ^"ng 'Ms the brave knight coming to rescue the fair lady " ^' »„ J. ^}'^"Ser reached the place where the party .t.X)d and looked curiously at the group. ^^ asked Dr.Velch.''' ''°" ^°'"^ "^'* °" *^ '^"'^y'" " Yes, sir." responded the occupant of the buggy. ■SM HERO BEAM THE HEROINE HOMEWARD „ Ycu ..., Dr. Quelch '■re not • Twley No," said the youth, who Miss "- man, I think?" .ugge^tg^j was looking rather < there. :riy I am •t Miss Hamilton, "but I half hoU, Captam^Bluitt'snephew"Wilter'DS5 he sSlI DortSr* '^^t'^^ 7V '« '-''>'." man ! Here is a friend or J " "!f ^''^^ »'«• y°'"^B ankle so vha^hecaSwakl' '^^°u^'^ '""'d h^' home, but I must ne^^l-T i„ • ^ "^^ "'^"' '<> *«•« her Willyou takeTr?"^^* " important case to do «,. from'^hJ fe^'^hPi":^"''" .'«*!? Walter. leaping was filled wi?f joy Lal^^^re*^ her. Hi. heail No, no, no," exclaimed Walter " Vn„ „.t . ^ ^. _Vhy not? "asked Walter, comjan'ioa ' " '""''""^ '°"'''^>' »°° '" ^^ Dorothea', .^M*!: n "" '^"^'^ '■"'» the buggy. i>4;,ns is\c rlss iL^'r ladies were in question?" c»«>ained mud when Walter laughed, and s/id: I I ; rni you CAPTAIN BLunr I^ tm delighted to have an opportunity to lerve troSd^SwSi^SiV^ "" ^•.•"- W. ho«e "Are you ready f asked Walter. -Yo^'^'re'^WnS""- ''"^ """'"" '^'^"'''^ ^""•*•• It wai the fint word the had .poken. He had heard .^ h?** '^^°T- "?.«cognii«| it at once. In hS •oul he wa. a httle bit envioua of Mn. Burn.. He wi^ed .he could have walked. Imagine h"m *n S^ carriageactually by the .fde of thi. womtn who for thrSS miiSi ^"'^ *'""'■ *"''^"' '"««" W. The horw .tarted out at a walk. Walter felt that for ^^ ^Tfc^ilJ'' T'** '"'.''"y B° "'^^'y enough to pleai to ™,rf^« . "iT ""PJ ''°.f '° *•>« carriageTlndifcrent to puddle, and to mud. Mr.. Bums talked with him at intervals, but Dorry did not speak again. Two or three time, when Walter turned his head to fw .u u "''■■• ^"'■",' "^ *° ■""»'«'■ her. or in pretenf ^ that the buggy must be watched as well as the horse he -wDorry's eyes fastened upon him. She droj^d hej eyehd. when he looked at fier, but really sheTd not Mem conscious that her gaze had been fixed upon blm. fu "SF^^u i'*" """^ *'•'*' '• 'n » 'Jeep «vSle. He thought he had never seen such wonderful eyes or so sweet a face. He could not tell if he were really in her thoughts, or if she were thinking of the pain of her hurt foot, or if she were merely diffident with a stranger. But he was conscious of swelling joy in his soul wWch would pour out in a flood when he should be alone and without restraint Now he must think of the horse he must consider decorum, he must not manifest a trace of feeling, he must hide everything and pretend that he was just a dull fellow, plodding along in the mud for court*./, rake. The joy would have been transformed to rapture could K ^''j pereeived that the girl knew him as the youth .he had seen m church, whom .he had looked at from ' Walter felt that for CapUnn Bluitt] ^low'eno^,h'".'""' '"""■ ""^'y BO (fat' M I ''l 4 ,i HERO BEAM THE HEROINE HOMEWARD 9, slfnS^=fr' ""** P*^ ■* ^°^ ''^hind the curtains on feeling that, somehow, he belongVd to her *^ in«r The r™ "•"'^""^'y «a"" that she had this feel- .ome com«o„p,ac.,T^^^ *<> »"- Ha^^tfnT^r'"^ *"* ^^'^ •"■* ^"PP"' »^'- Mr. "How did you know the house ? " aslced Mrs. Bums. Walter coloured, as he answered: ° ««* "unis. 1 he name is upon the door " But Dorothea guessed that the youth had had M. atten^^ion strongly directed to the hou^ on Sund«. and the thought was not displeasing to her. ^' ** Helping Mr* Burns to dismount. Walter tiVrf rt,- ?.^^ ft .K*''!?'"^"' *'•'•='' ^°^" Hamilton came ^^ He Mi^^'*">«'f f"* "^'""''d home to lunchwn D^^aS^dS*^ *"' '*'='' '''-"* *« -"-* to l«A^°''i.''''f ''°""« gentleman was so good as to oiit u> 5?^e'"us hom^^' """ "^ **•" "y '^^ ««'« "S - £2 yo?n^gSS«:;'K^"ite';L"fom'e^^ T suspicion that. If Mis. Burns had SLH ve,^ nirr*" '^ won.«,. rather than a veo^ nice' ^.77^^°^^ :tl il 96 CAPTAIN BLUITT she would not have been averse to a further and much closer acquaintance with Walter. " Thank you," said Hamilton to Drury. " ' am much indebted to you." " Mr. Drury," said Mrs. Burns, " is Captain Bluitt's nephew." " Ah I " exclaimed Mr. Hamilton, looking as if he did not feel very much interest in the fact. " My compli- ments to Captain Bluitt You have been very kind." In the effort to help Miss Hamilton to descend from the carriage, Walter stood upon one side of the step, and her father upon the other. "I will carry you into the house, my dear," said Hamilton, " if you can manage to put your well foot on the step of the buggy." Both men extended their hands, but as the hurt foot was upon the side towards Walter, the girl's weight fell chiefly upon him, when her arm below the elbow rested on his hands, and he fairly lifted her while her foot sought the step hidden by her skirt. As that fair burden weighed upon him, Walter thought himself nearer to perfect bliss than he had ever before been able to come. Really perfect bliss would have been reached if he could have had the privilege of carrying her across the side-walk to the house. As she touched the carriage-step, and just before she withdrew her arm from Walter's hand, she said to him, with the very sweetest smile he had ever seen, and the loveliest soft voice he had ever heard : "And I thank you so much! You have been so kind I It will give me pleasure to have you call at our house." As her father carried her into the house, followed by Mrs. Burns, who had bidden farewell to Walter, John Hamilton said to his daughter, with an air of slight vexation : " It was hardly worth while, Dorry, I think, to propose to cultivate the boy's acquaintance." CHAPTER VII THE CURSE or CANAAN shiJld7ep^;e f at/'L^d'era"^!' ^' "•"^'^«°» the return of the Hindu prh^^- to T 1 ^"""?"'n» before be handed to him for t^ra^smiwln t\~ *^'". '* ~">«* where literaJly millions of nf wif • ^° ''" ""'^e 'and. ness. and invoHl^^ tl^olf fn^'^uf ' V"'«' dark-' awaited the regeneratintr !?«„! 'ncredible degradation, from Turleyand Xrimfw "■='* °^ ^^ remittances the^armt/of ahS:;ctratfo"n*°"'" '''''' '^^^'^ ^- tributions to the Parish fi.n J ^"j °^ soliciting con- feirly good that! ff she\tt1CH |\i"d'««onf were earnestness she manifL^eH I* ?u *°v *' ""^ *'* the Poot would return tolfa^ichh'^'^"?""'''^' B""<^«' that he had done in hisl/rm^^ oHSft SToS^ Vu°Z^ pSnSf j^'i^r-t^far^ir r^'if •>- -"• lectures, and bread-and-«ke st?.V*"?''"t''°^''. «d commonly employed in b^h^if ^i A ""'^ °^^' devices bring the precious tn^Siso^"/ ^r ?'"*'"' ''^"rt *<> sciousness of a lost and ^in^ ^''^'?1? *° *« un- resolved to obtain rLneJ by d.wT' ^7- ^^'"^her to citizens ofTurley whomV thnf.'^."°u,'' *PP««tion to whom the unspe^alT^ ±ffj'f"|'l^^''l'= *° g'^e. and hkely to appeal with tellinfforce '^* '^ "'^' "'""'^ be 97 ■ i ■I ii 9» CAPTAIN BLUITT Captain Bluitt's good circumstance* and known gener- osity induced her to present the matter first to him. whnii^i i*' "?.,''°"'>t he had had visible evidence, While m India, of the horrors surrounding pariah exist- ence, and would be willing, not only to give money to the great cause, but to bear witness that Bunder Foot Singh had employed no terms of exaggeration in depict- ing the misery in which these unfortunate people were involved, 9ne bright autumnal afternoon she started for her visit in company with her sister-in-law, Mrs. Metcalf. of Virginia, who was staying with her. Mrs. Metcalf was one of the Doodys of QuiUiponic, persons of highest quality, and believed by some to have in their veins blood that had swirled through the ven- tricles of kings— native American kings. As the two women walked slowly down the street toward the river, it might have been observed that Mrs. Metcalf had what may be called, perhaps, the Talleyrand poise for her head; the chin slightly upturned, and the eyelids drooping. This manner was thought to convey an intimation of a degree of haughtiness. It was cultivated by all the Metcalfs excepting the very poorest of the poor rela- tions. Mrs. Frgbisher employed it, but with such diminished elevation of the chin as might be considered becoming in the wife of a clergyman, and her natural alertness made difficult the acquirement of the habit of drooping her eyelids. Turning the corner, Liie visitors came to Captain Bluitts gate, and, as Mrs. Frebisher lifted the latch she said, in a subdued voice, to Mrs. Metcalf • ' "You understand that these are quite plain pe«' BluiJ?^idT„.Xwsher to°Bi^r ^"'". ^"'^ Captain entered the house whifetLn^' ''."'^ *' *^° ^o-nen M«. Metca°f wis flushed "T*"'' ^'°'''' *« ''""r- into a chair In'^'^e";; four andT/?'''''!.'^^^PP*='^« - °ft«» / u. 1 was perfectly amazed to find her toe CAPTAIN BLUITT ^|! IhT.n,!?."' I*" ^""y 'r""* rae. as I told you. without livinVw!^* "• I "="*' dreamed that she was Sshfg^""''"- y°"' '>'=- '" Turley. It is perfect; "• Shlf^ "V^ f ?" •'r ""*" "°»v-" said Mrs. Frobisher posifivel^ . ^-'^^Z" ^''t- " °»^'='" «id Mrs Met«Jf « The inrw!.„?' r °'^ ""y ri'naway servants ? " Mrs. rXsher who"?eU thTth'"' '''^'K""'>'«." --d S^Tt'js'i".'.^ "^'""^ '"» Bluitts^'^rdtil^^t ; Becky?" exckijnri thj BluUtj, toinhtr. THE CURSE OF CANAAN " b«r^f tS ITK '^ K -'^ Captain B.„lt, have us do about it, ma'am ? " ''""''^ >">" """h to nconvenience, and I am wilHn^ t^ .^ *f '"^J"' V"" *<> to Becky, but I cannot afford to InS^ •'°"" ''"'" *'"'« so valuable as she is » ° '°'* * P'«=« of property Cai'rVuit^ShThe^rirt/'a^"'' '^"""^'j''' -'d certain about it. " *"»" who is quite mS, Sh :a '*' '° ^° '•■« ' ■' "Claimed M«. hailly'S:^;;!^''^;;;-'^^^^^^^^^^ "to deal muffins ( " "*"*' *"C" penc-ctly lovely pone- . almost'Sll'" *° """'^ ">'""" «'-d Mrs. Metcalf ^ftfeV^St^^Tuirfcl,^? '"'-^^ '"^ return to you, of course W i Z^ ''hai' urge her to never do so unless force' is used " '°"''^'"' '^' ^'" beitre...''-" ^^''' ^"- Metcalf. -The woman abouutKut iithfshould'"' ' '•T ^- "« "o doubt " If you will te s^ k;„H° ^ Pu' . -' --bstinate and ■' Metcalf, " we mfX t^t^ *° "?""! '''^ ''"«^." said M„ hadgrektinflu^?ew*7hre™°"'''^''- ' ''»''« ^'-a;^ to com:"ittJ:P//J^Bl"'tt. "suppose you ask Becky defy her mistress and her emnM "'" ??* ^■" ''""Pl/ make a scene. What wonfn ^ ^"?-. , ^« "ball only husband to come iS:^,^"" *'j'"'5.°!i.**'''"^ "^ woman ? The fact that he I I cW "'''>' '"'"' tbe some weight with her." clergyman may have fi. le* CAPTAIN BLUnr not avail " ^ *°"' Pcrauasion if persuasion will herself witli the ^ker" * ^ "" '"« »''• **" defwd wiZ;7ak7o"Dr''F;li?h^ "i"' ^'«''""«'' ri*'"?. "I CaptarBluiM. we «S!''^°"* '«• Mi»s BluitTand ".atter. but I viiH defeT refe^nce toT"^^"' 1"°*''" come again to talk with the womanV" ^''*" '^' *« and|?rsK«XStc^,;^-^^^ BluiJ'-bTpre^"'^!;' !)?»" ?"'**«<' Mi., matter to her in Mer.™a,„«.".w^»''''',r '° P"""* <*« -.,:£ trrj^a tar- ^ -- topSfelSe'tu^ ^°'"^» ^'^^<'-- -'^ •!-» the'v^&='S„^tr:„f 3 ti^SrJS- seated at his call, and ou"etlv tZth^ i * ''^"^'- ^''^ «■"« the maste; of thl Se ' P'""* '"^'»"«* *« *« by ben^'evofent'S fi' ttlli?^""^" ^*« ^-ble, with a an impregna"^,!' '^it d"hal aClaS ^n^ '" ''?' his power of persuasion mL mJ ,?^ confidence in looking determM^ but' »n^- ^'^^^ ^^ beside him, PuellaVreraTherintheWtl"* i^^P^''" »'"'" ""d THE CURSE OF CANAAN ,^ her mind wm M y mid* ud^"^,.? k '^"."^ foy Wnd. m ir had In them « Uk wh!^^ '»« ^er piercing black eye. humility. • '°*"' *"'=^ contained no wgge.tion of of^ic^t'4tJ7eZetrwT^^^^^ ^"'^ »-• been accustomed VemLT« I '"'hority, that he had who had strayed from the n^Z"/'^^'""^ '° P^^"* he would lead backTeain tS M« °'''"*;*"'^=- *"'' '^''o™ "Rebecca." he wM "v^,„ T "'^ "Shteousness. here desires that you shouW ST"^ "'^u'""'^ '""t^'" home and you. duty Yo "^ill^"" ""'^^ ^'^ *« }-<"« "Di» is my home M°sterF'fK- 1°' *'".y°" "°» ' " yer.„o„l«ss M^.ter ^S'U t^^^J^^^^ way7t\r """"^ y°""«^";an' I owns myself. d.f. de "T^lTaJT^h^lalfdVetro'; o^^''' °^- ^"""•^''- you Mrs. Metcalfs property" '°""*'y' "'*''«» " De white folks make dat law I Hn=n' supphes warrant for you7kfnrfm .♦'*',''."' °f God- «.uld read the Bi-.I^^Lu wou"d find ^r* ''""; " J^" Stay. I will read it for™ ^"*'" ''^- ^S se;;;"ntsl"a^L'^^'"^-£"Sr|,^--n; . servant of I04 CAPTAIN BLUITT i I ! ■)«-f -26. Ai.d he taid, Blessed be the Lord God of Shem, and Canaan shall be his servant. " '37. God shall enlarge Japheth, and he shall dwell in the tents of Shem, and Canaan shall be his servant.' "Thus you see the heartless irreverence which Ham, the father of Canaan, displayed towards his eminent parent, whose piety had just saved him from the deluge, presented the immediate occasion of this remarkable prophecy. The Almighty, foreseeing the total degrada- tion of the race of Ham, to which you belonp Rebecca, ordained them to slavery under the descendants of Shem and Japheth, doubtless because He judged ii to be their fittest condition." " I don't see dat Becky Slifer got any 'sponsibility for dat business." •'In another place," said the doctor, "we find that Abiaham had three hundred and eighteen bond-servants in his house, and among them some ' bought with his money.' And so also Sarah, his wife, had an Egyptian slave, Hagar, who fled from her severity, !»nd the angel of the Lord commanded the fugitive to return to her mistress and submit herself See Genesis xvi. 9. The case exactly resembles yours, Rebecca, excepting that your mistress has never been severe." " I dunno none o' dem folks. Ef de Gyptian woman went back widout being tuck, I got no 'pinion o' her good sense." " Becky," observed the captain, feeling that he should say something on the law's side. "Apart from the Bible, slavery was universal in the Roman empire. Many slaves, in fact, were superior to their masters in intelli- gence." " Was dem brack people, Mr. Bluitt ? " asked Becky. " Well, n-n-o, I think not, I'm not sure, but " " Werry well, den, ef de white folks want to be slaves, Ise willin' enough. I doan' make no 'bjection. I'm 'bjectin' to Becky Slifer." " The Roman slaves were taken in war, and they were railed servi," continued Captain Bluitt, intending to finish his interjectory remark. THE CURSE OF CANAAN ,05 .n!I^Ii^',»f."*»'if"''' f*',**,P^- Fl^bisher. "both in Exodus In f.!f ii mm'* '• 0*' Seriptur.1 warrant for slavery. .Uv^^Ar »K 't ''.u" "^ '""/' *"» '•nstruc^ed to make rtaves of the heathen around them, and in Exodus xxi. 20 it is expressly declared that the slave Ms money'— that is property. ' ' H Is dat 'ligion ? " asked Becky. "It was an arrangement expressly sanctioned by your Heavenly Father and you fight against Him when you retuse to accept. •HaI^^'' u '• ^'°'>'"»''<^'- «f dat's "-eliBion. den Ise not iigiou* Ise a pagan. Hoo-dooin' is better 'n dat" JJr. Frobisher looked shocked and grieved. «,„ Jh ???! ''r' '" "*■' ^""Ix ""y i°^ ^o"*". '■» '» hardly worth while for me to tell you that, in the New Testa- ment, Paul expressly directed Onesimus, a runaway sUve like you, to return to his master." " Did he go ? " asked Becky. "Of course." "But I won't I "said Becky. "Becky!'' exclaimed Mrs. Metcalf, "it is perfectly scandalous for you to speak in that manner to this distmgu.shed clergyman. You needn't be so bold and *|"=y-^^We,maybe able to find a way to compel you "I'll never go back alive," said Becky, '"less I go down there a free woman to help odder black people to "You may find that the law is stronger than you are." said Mrs. Metcalf angrily. ' ' "^De law can't keep me from jumpin' into de river." said Becky. ' «".^'{i y°" "V" hear such wild talk?" asked Mrs. Metcalf of Miss Puella. "Her mind must be dis- ordered. „." No evidence of it appears in her muffins," answered Miss Bluitt. ^ " I wish to point out to you further," said Dr. Frobisher that although there were hundreds of thousands of slaves IP ^he world when our Saviour was here He never ie< CAPTAIN BLUITT n uttered one word of condemnation of tne initltutlon, not one I" " Did He lay tUvery was right ?" asked Becky. " Fo' ef He did, I doan' wan' to know Him." " I am afraid, Rebecca," said the doctor, shaking hit head sadly, " you are incorrigible. I had no idea that any one in this community had such wild and wrong notions. You cannot hope to go to heaven unless you have very different feelings from those you entertain now." " Does de brack people go to the same heaven as de white folks ? " asked Becky. " I suppose they do ; in fact, I may say positively that they do," replied the minister. "Isdeyfrcedere?" "No doubt they are. There is nothing in the Scrip- tures to indicate anything to the contrary. Yes, all ar« free there ; but this is not heaven, Rebecca. Here we groan and toil and suffer that we may reach that better place." " Den it 'pears to me 's If God don' wan' no slavery where He is," said Becky. " Our knowledge of that holy place is obscure, my good woman. And besides, it is necessary that we obey the rules laid down for our guidance here. Our happi- ness in the hereafter def i upon our obedience to the commandments given f( ae direction of our conduct in this world, and your ( in duty, in this view, is to yield to your mistress." Captain Bluitt's sympathy for Becky had been grow- ing during the conversation, and her boldness increased his favour for her. "Mrs. Metcalf and Dr. Frobisher," he said, "althcugh it is a fact that slavery existed from the earliest ages, and was in operation in Rome so far back as the time when Tarquin was expelled, I can't say that I ever cared much for it. Anyhow, those times were diflfcrent from these times, and I don't like the thing the way we ha^'e it This woman here doesn't want to go back, and I am quite willing to have her stay here. It's a pity to THB CUR8B OF CANAAN ,07 In'^h!? ^"" ','S"* '.V •"'' P**«P* to get up . Wg row in the town. MI tell you what I'll dS, Mii MetcaJf- I'll buy vour cUlm to Becky if you don't put it .t too Utsre a figure. What do you say ? " ^ intS^ted'l'" "''"'f ~"''' '-pond. Becky .harply M,"^^*!l'.*'°» *""• "<•"• o' yo' money a-buyintr me ^u'«fc!; .'"^ """•=•• '•'•'•K"' f"' yo- kin'ne,rbut ef my»?r «'""°'"-K'™n,e de money, for I b'iongl to Mri. Metcairi face was flushed with anger. tain nZft*'* ^V T^^ '" ***^' '"«>'"' ""»""«' to Cap. tain Bluitt. you bad woman f No I » she said, turning to the captain « I will not sell her. I will bring her K •gain and have her well whipped for her misconduct^ k Tjl:"'?".''*'^P°''''^e'y shocking." said PucUa "I SKrli"'' '' ^^-IdmakeLrcompfetely indifferent ti «11 the refinmg mfluences of home " fear 'perlllrlh,^""' '"^ ^"'.'"K- """^ "^ ""K«^ <" "f "Ise »orry to 'fend you. Miss Emmy, but I mus* Mswer when I'se spoken to ; and Mr. F'ob she" he w^n^ "Xt** ''l*T '° '^y t° have me whipped." yes, Rebecca." said the doctor, "yes. I will sav it Stripes not exceeding forty were ap^in^ed to oSrs n Israel by d>vine authority, and^r Master hIS used a scuurge of ,.,all cords, when He drove the moTev- idTlw^^Jr^'l Your mistress has a humfn rigLJto urt^liK aS'.^^" ='"'"■ ""^'^ *"• las^my rk.'°?.d' Km^S^' ^''""'^' "<^- ''^ " "ow perfectly dreaHful ! " exclaimed Dr. Frobisher "No wonder you are indifferent to the plain teaching of Scnpture. and the obligations of religion, if ySu^are io8 CAPTAIN BLUITT II "Dey fetched de blood when dey done lash my father," said Becky, quietly. " I seen it wid my own eyes." " But no doubt he had done wrong. They did not kill him. You have threatened to commit murder," said the minister. " It is dreadful." " Dey sol' him away from his wife an' chilluns, an' dat's wuss dan killin', Mister F'obisher." " No, Rebecca, no," replied the clergyman, " not worse. The separation of families is indeed an unfortunate re- quirement of some of the exigencies that present them- selves under the operation of this divinely-appointed institution. No doubt it is a part of the curse pro- nounced upon the descendants of Canaan, for we must remember that it was a curse, and not a blessing ; but murder, of which you speak so lightly, is prohibited by the Ten Commandments. It is always a frightful crime." "Does you wan' me to love God, Mr. F'obisher?" asked Becky. " Why, my poor woman, that is necessarily my most earnest desire. Surely I do." " You wants me to love Him because He cussed me ?" " Rebecca," said the doctor, with less positiveness of assurance in his tone than he had when he began, " we sinful, finite creatures, made with His hands, have no right to question the strange dispensations of His providence. His ways are not our ways. Our simple duty is humble submission to the plain declaration of His will. When in His inspired Word He declares, ' Servants, be obedient to them that are your masters,' we have but one thing to do — you have but one thing to do — to obey ; you must obey your mistress." " I doan' want to make no trouble," said Becky calmly, " nor to sass Miss Emmy, nor you, nor to 'fend Miss Bluitt, and Mister Bluitt, but when you ask me to love God who cussed me, an' de missis who whips me, Ise 'bleeged to say I can't, and I won't." Miss Bluitt really felt admiration for the woman. Her sympathies went out to her, and she was glad Becky was defiant, glad on Becky's account, and not sorry because of Becky's surpassing power with pone-muffins. THE CURSE OF CANAAN 109 "f^^-yoHrango/'saidPuella. the g oui pa" ld%o:^ 'ih'"'^"'^'" 'f'" Mrs. Metcalf. as of Mrs. Frobisher's s^ter •^^' ^''""^ '" '"^^ P^P^^X an«SeS„ThS '•'? To th&^'''^ ^"^"^- -* cn^gh. W to W.P a-.oo^^^Are^Tcris^j'^^ wh;,^Sa^^^^„j;°^;j^;H5 «ptain. "A captS^ "'^ ''P'"^^ ^^^ °° ^he road," suggested the j^^;- Then I will insist that she shall take the poker with Captain Bluitt laughed. kitcSn""''""'' "'""' " ""S^' 'f '■* '"^ not held inour figSt^Sere^VXlllTLfr ' TV^ somebody is going to beatU rPoking v"h 'f "l'" '^ no more wicked than whipping «Tth\ wh^""^ no CAPTAIN BLUITT i f " Not a bit," said the captain. " I tliink I should really prefer it" Miss Bluitt went to the kitchen, where Becky was tranquilly employed in her customary work, precisely as If she had never heard of Mrs. Metcalf and Dr. Frobisher. "Becky," said Puella, "Captain Bluitt and I are dreadfully sorry for you ; we do not want to lose you, with your faithful service and devoted earnestnesss, and the lovely way you have of making puddings and other nice desserts ; but yet we hardly like to array ourselves openly against Mrs. Metcalf and the law." " Doan' you min', Miss Puella," said Becky, turning her head to look at her employer. " I ken tak care o' dem. Dey doan' bodder me. Ise not a g. 'ine back to no plantation. Ise gwine to stay right yer, ef you'll hev me." •■ Have you ? Why, Becky, I am more than willing to have you stay. You heard my brother offer to buy you ? " " If Miss Emmy 'd a tuk de money I'd runned away from you. She ain't got nuffin to sell. Hif s no use fo' Cap'n Bluitt frowin' his money away buyin' free niggers Missy, yo' jes let yo' min' res' easy. Dey doan' tek me! mm dat." ' " I thought, Becky, of advising you to go to see Dr. Quelch. He takes a great deal of interest in coloured people, and knows just what to do where there is trouble like this. Do go to see him." " Ise a gwine out dere dis werry night, missy, ef you lemme go." "Certainly, of course; go and have a good talk with him, but don't tell him we sympathize with you. You know I go to Dr. Frobisher's church, and it might make trouble." " I sez nuffin, missy, nuffin at all. I doan' wan' no trouble. AH I wants is dat dey lemme alone. Dat mmister'U do mo' good. Miss Puella, a-preachin' to white folks dan to coloured people. He ain' got no call to instruc' me." CHAPTER VIII FACE TO FACE Dorothea home. '^^^ "P°" ^'''^h Walter brougtit "nS°;fteS;-K^^^^^ '>^.Mr. Burn, chair in her room, glad to ha^e ?hf "i""' '"l '° 'he easy-' alone with the unfamiHar thonthf u? u'l"*' »"'^ '° be her mind. "'^m^wr thoughts which thronged upon chu'JcTors"„l;iXd-°"g ^" *^ ""-"S- -n the appearance. He had not 1 " ^'i'f =*'='' ''V this man's thing had .-mpres^d he° S'oT^''%' '^'"- *>"' '°"'^^ drove slowly ^pasL the bote and lont'J ''^''.™°°n he eagerly he had looked at it ^H H*^ ^^ '*• How Perhaps she had attracted him T^"'^^'^'^ '^at now. ■'"likely. And then how stra.'e if"' "".l *''*' ^^"'^d '{ all other possible passe^s-bv Ih m'\" '^'' y°"th. Graver's Point wiU a vacant se^i in v''' ''".^* '^^-^hed the very instant when she 1^^;//^^ '"his carriage, and at a httle bit at Dr. QuSs S ^^^ "j^'P ' She laughed happen in story-books. Then I » "»« way things thought how often in real n?e t?^h^'''r '°^' »^ "he experience things more stran™ 7u^'\^^-' °'^" "^H observed, and f„ th^sanSv of" h ''°"- '^"'^ ^^'^ worship was a familiar practice Th- r' 'P'"'' '^''^" « a loving Power who h£ wa ' /ml . '°"'^="''<=d that there in dealing with His childrrn ^ -nystenous and wonderful III iia CAPTAIN BLUITT fi^ upon the journej^SrilyTJfore S"' '*""'' '" "«"«'. she knew so litUe and wh^l.'l? ""'[''='■ O"" of whom And then it Jls.^tf^"''^^ pell'T >°'"l' "^^^ sorrow. How dreaHfnl fh,i P?™aps it might brin? feelings so to otermSer her"tL^'''V'''°'i'*' P"""' h" one who is careleL of her '^'^ "'°"''* "« ^r as she wished.^She 3 .'°J"" '".another channel which would have iSked ■«« ''l,^'^^"''"y'<=''sons would have proved b^ she ,'.^? ""''u' °' P'°°^^ that not been ind^iffe^nt whJi if '"'\*'''''.*'»« yo"th had when he looked a? thtrouse '* ^'' '" *='^"'<='' »°d 4"lLthn;otdtX5:'S^ *;'--^!!3n this learned that lesson well r.n c^ 1 "! ''""^" "e had ^lo^l'Z^V"^;;: tV"'"'-'^^^ - »>« tramped their^ake^' She feU Jl^d'T' ''="°'^' '" *« ">"" for Burns, and th« Mrs Burns w. "'^\"°' '° °" « Mrs. Hamilton, f-r then thef" "Lk. k "°' '° ^"""g « Doriy But indeed, had he n^f^-^/^^'°" ^"^ doubting^ older woman, and talked Ir^^'^K^ ^^ '^^'l «* the Panion ? And had not manv L ' '^^? *° ''" ~"'- married young men ? ^hJl/ °T" "'^ ""Wdle age The., she kfgrdL1n^!^^^'",^"P^"g of jealousy whole subject.^ She would Hi ""T'^'^ '° '^''^'^''^^ 'he and^;:LdTfce'Th:';"f,*''--, ^^^^ "-h^^ for it in her diair forT^^od read "'''' ^"'^ ^"" ''*<='' FACE TO FACE But, fix her eyes on th» « "^ would not rema^^ there ^l' ^' '^' ^""Id, her mine' hfeless. Before she co"dfaSt.^T ''""*'' ''""«"" pJJr^'^P^' •'^^ thought had^fle/'"=P '•■-« -"wning Point, to the journey alonl the m, /j^ ^^^^^ '° Graver"! before their door, and alllvs T./'°'"^' '° '^e hah fellow named Walter D?u^Cs •„ ff ' -"^ '^ '"^nl/ She remembered in what mon T *e picture. h>s as he helped herromT"^'' ^^' *™ ^ad touched the twisted ankle vanishiS ''^^ «^"?&e. The pain of wondered if he hid ci^d fn^"!l '''*' '»°'"«t She experience? Of course ^ot '^"J/''^* ^''gle moment's calTr^r P°"*-'"''^^ '<=qu'-"ed ?o much P^t"' ^"- Mens can this evening. Her heart k.' Perhaps he would occurred to her mind. She 1,*' ""T ''"'V aHh^ down-stairs with a Ittle bir„VK''t ''''= '^°"ld easily t" -hi SigiTt tTt %t -°;:5 A^ Sra s£'° aCtSthafwfcr^sl' ^"^'^>' ^-^'-^her had however, that his opinion wrno"? ^°^".- ^he thought her father also admired ?t ^^d sa 7;t^,rP°'*^«. lut ine evidence seemed tn\l i.^ " became her well tt F.^k""" '^^" ^ fl°wer. No ,°fl '" "^ hair A , father said he lifceH ;l y ,^ "°wer will K- , And so the hours w^nt k K^'"^ he is a man " H "4 CAPTAIN BLUITT th.l K **/ '"'*'*•'' •?'"''"«<> •>« «>"• "^th these emotion, t^em .?** ~"" i° ^ •° unexpectedly, br^C/ wi?b IH.lt^f *"'' ?;?"''?r^"' and tremulous deCht. liked to^L^^': ^^u"' ^,°"y "'"nilton would fot have Ijk^ to adn«t It to herself) that Dorry Hamilton wL In And Walter Drury ? -ro^^d-ow^tteoTa^S'sSS^'lth^^^^^^ couM'T'^'^r °^ '"•"'"^' 'ntoxication He fel 'ks if he wi.,''^^'^ '*•'""'" '>'"'^«'f f'""" shouting I?L feel &.S^,?rC^.-5l';„T?i SPIES' and gettmg an invitation to visit her. Why if he hfn ar^nged it all himself, things couldn^t h^vj^^orked ^u't unw hi h"^' Yes indeed. He wouldn't leave this town until he had visited her. " I'll stpn in f« „;,»>,» r Tu- i » he said. " It would be simiy £? o'f hi^'e father seemed somewhat sour, and he may be disagrel able, but fathers are always that way wiUi hovS^J young men. It is traditional But it is he e^rl whf counts, and that angelic girl seemed to Ukc^^t.^ uked FACE TO FACE Mked me to call ■■ if .1.- call I will, fXr " noth^r^y ^"^^ There was a knock upon the door. "5 me to call, and "Are you there, . Walter? whom he related theTdv"en1„r'^"'r"'^ **'■» P"""*. to of some mdifference.\n1^Che%° ii'' '''^ '^''^ <« «^° Will Lt-mV-- *° ^^'^y -- foTa day. or two. if yo„ a"nt'':&„:fe?;/---f.^vd^^ boy." «p„>d Ws down-stairs. ^ '°°« her leave and went lun^t" %°u WUSha? '°-" '■- ' -"ile befo,. |"°od. He arose and wa ted 'TrtS '^''^ "°' ""'' ^ luncheon he wandered b^ the riL^' P-"^'"" After notion to walk up the street and^r.^"''-, "« had a house but that seemed to hTm^,h° P'?' ?^ Hamilton went down to the river ^uH P*™aps madv sable He tt/r"' and rowlrt°a mWt''' ">' »-** '"- that, he came ashore and went to fhi^ !"Kf- ^'""« °f talk with Rufus Potter ° ** «**'''« and had a youtft"Slis^'pSfcu?ar'^« Ji'°'';^"? companion for a back into the h^use. "nj £n t°' """''• ^'^'t" cam- for the call in the evening^An?hi'/*'P*'i*. '"" ''«h,„g this particular matter was nnfrli 5'* ''°''^^ he done in sat down to thi„kwharheSd^H°"'''"'^i''=" Walter hours before he could decenHvlft "T' ^'^ °' ''«ven are veo. long sometimer ^ """^^ *''" call I Hours Uncle Bluitt wa« t^ j • Walter did not c^" to go'Ve'In"- ^°"°'""' ' ^ut Donovan, and though hS „nl''''^ J"?' come from company, and likely to hi ^^1 ■ "^"t''^ ''*« good fel that he really did not ^re L r"^' "'" y°""& «>«« at just this juncture ; and Ssfdes if°"^"i^'"'""cence, quite so good as his r.»n fk i"' '°""d no comoanv available fompany. ° '^°"«'*''«; that i, to «^, "J tl« CAPTAIN BLUITT Upon the whole, there could really be no harm in walking up the street past the house. He could walk fast, so as to appear to have some important errand, and he need not look at the hoi se more than to glance at it. Nobody could tell that he had no errand at the other end of the town, and he nteded exercise after sitting so long in thj buggy and in the house. So he turned into the street and proceeded at a rather brisk pace— not quite so brisk a pace as he had intended, toward the Hamilton house, and when he reached it the first glance told him that he might look at it as mudi as he wished, for all the blinds were down and nobody appeared upon the side porch or in the garden. He pashed onward with an exultant feeling that he would enter that house to-night, and before his thoughts returned to more common things he found himself in front of the Presbyterian church. The door was open and he went in, having nothing better to do. He felt as if he would like to go up into the choir, and sit in the chair in which his fair singer had sat on Sunday. As he came into the vestibule, he met Uncle Tarsel coming down from the tower. The old man greeted him courteously, having pleasant remembrances of his generosity upon the occasion of his former visit " Looking after the bell, were you ? " asked Walter, as the old man greeted him. " No, suh, no ! not ezzackly. No, suh ; de bell hit's all right. No, jes a cleanin' up an' lookin' after things an' mebbe watchin' dem owls." " Owls I " said Walter, « what owls ? " " Dem owls in de steeple, suh. T'ree ob dem. Dey rooses up yander, an' dey's quite sociable; I sorter fer's 's if I'se some kin to dem." " To the owls ? " exclaimed Walter. " Yes, suh I Dey's bin free sex'ons in dish yer chu'ch, an' dere's free owls in dat steeple. Ef dey was jes owls dere'd be fo' owls er two owls ; er ef dere was daddy an' mammy owl an' baby owl one'd be liddle ; but dere's free of owls an' dey's all brown lek a nigger an' dey Captain Bliiitt An- dcy set an' look at me when I go up dere.' ■ ill Wage in FACE TO FACE „, blink an- Yli^k w"d d!^ hi^" ''''*" ' i? "P '^»™' •"' TarM.| i,™- J .»•* °'8 eye* much'* to say 'Ol' ^F y, long wm us, an bUnk at some odder coloured Kh.SlTys'Uvr™"^'" "°"'^' *** '»="'« ««« ^"""V Mcbbe'^dey" £°detblLT '1'* ^'. "?"°" <>' "''''ben. part. M^hh. ^ u • ." P*"^ ° '^e time an' back yer wings, anyways. "^^ ''*» »n»ela comitcl"°;;;tc:t''i%':rr?r":^^:^'e^ o? i.T" .''J,-^? Pa^'ture Vundin° de tex' a„' vef d"^ Ill CAPTAIN BLUITT 1; hjind oo the bell-oull. ud • feeling in hii throat that appeared to require that he ihould exerciM rather S^,*^'k**";"'"J"'' " !?'• "'•' utterance .h^uld n?t hi marred by huilciness of his voice. him '?„?'i,"'"'°," ''5* J,"' ""•* " »'" '^°°' <:'««d behind Wmjand he placed hU hat upon the rack, he could IW^«n •*1^"^ P"*:?"* *"= '" 'he parlour. Mr. Hamilton was there reading a newspaperrand on the Miss Hamilton, while near to her was a youn^ man ^^'^b^t^Sa^S ' "'"''•' "^ of jealous^pefceU buf^<;idtn°{in^„-^ e?tXt?wttir veo' gracious. Walter liked her at once. She ;,^mbTed her daughter Miss Hamilton smiled most s^e«y m rtewelcomed him. and then she introduced him t7h" ^This. Mr. Drury. U Mr. Frobisher. the son of our While Mrs. Burns with manifest pleasure repeated to ifd? i^H^M '^ u ^ '■^'y °^ ^^*"*''« *»"' by the buggy. «d^ and Mrs. Hamilton repeatedly said. "It was most Sou^h/?*""^ **'• ^'f'"''""" '«"*«» " 'f he really Mr. Frobisher was quite a line young eentleman upon the whole. If hislntellectual qu^litfes were nrt so very remarkable, they were quite ^ual to the merely oniinaiy demand of life, and* his sSdress and bTaring aZ,!^- u^'"^ 'i!°'^y "'''*'' Possible that young Mr Frobisher should not have almost, if not quite fu Oie quahties of a gentleman. There was, in lis bearing perhaps, just a trace of that superciliousness-not much l(^/^f^'^M7'^Y"'\^^P'"^'^ '■" 'be demeanour' far?,^.^L^' Metcalfs; but young Mr. Frobisher was lar too wise to offer any example of this quality in the conditions in which he was now placed. ^ in truth, he strongly admired Dorry Hamilton, and FACB TO FACB »»» would have nude up hb mind definitely to bring her into the chmrmed drde of the Metcalfs, but for two facU to which he could not be completely indiflerent One w«« that he had no other income than that from hit poiitlon as organist, and thii neceuarily was small, with no comforting prospects of enlargement The other, and far less formidable fact, was that his mothei had not been able fully to reconcile herself to the union of the descendant of a proud and aristocratic race with the daughter of a bank cashier, who had only a salary and nothing to leave to his children. Thus, under the restraints of prudent financial con- siderations and of an ambitious and far-sighted parent young Frobisher had not permitted hU warm feelings lor Miss Hamilton to be blown into a flame ; but he was keenly alive to the very great probability that lome otijer youth, more fortunately conditioned, might not only kindle a fire in his own bosom, as he saw the lovely girl, but might sUrt up something like a coDflagiation ,„T''"* ,*** Pi^Po*"* to himself to be very polite to Walter, lest anything short of perfect courtesy should shock MiM Hamilton, but also to refrain from any pretence that he regarded as heroic Walter's trifling sacrifice of his comfort and his shoe-blacking in the movement to bring the hurt girt to her home. Walter tried to give the impression to the company chiefly for papa's sake, that he had just dropped in as I *" P*«*'"B by to inquire about the invalid, as he might have done had she been a homely lady of fifhr- five; but Florabella Burns had a quick eye in such matters, and Florabella Burns knew he wanted to stay and made up her mind that he should stay. The conversation for a while was general, Mrs. Bums exerting her trained powers to bring Walter into pleasant relations with Mr. Hamilton, who indeed softened con- siderably when he discovere ! that Walter's views upon the tanff-question not only ;oincided in a remarkable maitner with his own, but were expressed in particularly forcible terms, and yet with such manifest respect for the r tae CAPTAIN BLUITT Mr; H^^ u" *° '.'^"'^ ^"" "'"* «°"«= degree of fLour Mrs Hamilton always smiled in a bright, intelligent affectionate way when Walter happened to sav a fine tehe"^^"''" T' ''''''' P'^^"^ '° obs^rveTthough with the manner of not particularly noticine it that Ws '"°Bef^rF''''''''= "stener was the |irl upon^the so?a. ' in a lom,°^^/°""^ Frobisher found himself involved in a somewhat warm controversy with Hamilton uoon the subject of the remarkable movement o7 CaHfor^°a ward dn-f?"„7r "" "T' °' '^^ '^"^'^^ of thb ou ! ward drift of treasure unfortunately did nc agree with those of his host and as it was perfectly apfarenr to the cashier hat the organist had no real acquaintance with the subject, he was disposed to be impS wh«e he endeavoured to instruct his antagonist «.,- \"'!u''°"''r^*''°" Pi-oceeded, Mrs. Burns moved fnZ °A n'' '°/^' *"^ ''"San some talk in whicTIhe tZt''fP^T^^''\'""^ Walter, and then she perrnitted W, ?.,"" '°^:'^^' r'^ ^•"^" interruption from her Walter was at his best, and the girl thought it was the very best she had ever known. ^ Florabella Burns had some little thrills herself as she t'ifeirTl '" r^'' -"^""^ ''>«^« t^° creatu es in tb' svmnnth I^^m'^T^"'^ ?'°^"'^ ^'^^ '^e intensity of the sympathy kindled in their souls. fh."!^ ^i"^^ *?"'^'' 5^"' ""^ ^^"°»s subjects that thrust themselves forward to be talked about, and as all the f£l r^'""' '^°'""^ ''^•^'f ■■" 'h« tenderne?s o her voice, the warmer colour in her face, and the brieh[ utterances of a refined intellect stimulated by ?he best tJn Tn^'w"?:""'"^ ^''"°?' "'^•>«d herself young hf, i?: u ^I ^^^i" "'^^ '"^P'''«<1 1° put fervour into his speech, and to shape it to high things and to make It express his best impulses, Florlbella thought of the f^lt f"!™"**" ^ y°"ng ■"»" had responded in such fashion to the passion in her soul, and she felt as "fa sigh would best express her present feelings listeni'ni !^^ ^"^ "'"i"^ '*'*T'^ '° ^^'- *^ ^^e sat there listening and responding, to be almost full. Not quite I I FACE TO FACE ,„ m. If Mrs. Burns would talk to mamma while Luclcv Frob.sher wrest led with papa about the gold queS or, better still if papa and mamma and Florabella and Lucky could drift off somewhere by themseTves there would be greater joyousness. No wonde? she admired Walter when she first met him that morning. SheTo w i.erce,ved that he was far above her highest expectation^ of his character and mental gifts. But she was con scious of something more than this The straZ impression that had come upon her mind before th!t he belonged to her. was now deepened. There slimed doubrthatthr,^ like certainty, 'she could no bnger doubt that this youth was drawn to her. She saw it behmd his bright eyes, she heard it behind the tones of^his voice, .t was evident in his whole mannerto oJ!!^ ''f\*5*' ••"■ '■^P''"'^ ^°"'d express itself as Sh. Vi!f ^"^ T^ '° t" °^" ^°°'"- '"a good cj. She had never before been so happy that she wished to weep, but she was sure she could not Tn any other manner relieve the stress upon her feelings. ^ Suddenly the thought came to Walter that he had SsS7''"T=''.l?"^^^*''^" ^' had intended He ctnSn^e'ros".'/"' ^v^T".' °^«™a^tered his "! ciination. He rose from his chair and began to exDre« his intention, when Mrs. Burns said : ^ " Mr. Drury.if you could conveniently remain lor a little longer tinie, 1 should regard it as a great fa-, our to have you escort me to my home. It is not far away bunhe streets are very dark." ^' ™ Walter resumed his seat as he politely accepted Mrs Bums s mvitation. Thus early in the campafgn he hid acquired a half-conviction that Florabella's^ fu^nction in life had m it something akin to that of a guardian aned and that she was performing the function ta are- s^.! JrS Sg. '"^""- SHe seemed almos"t to Z rei?rr^:;^rLSnVth:t'liiLi^^£X^^ jealous suspicion she had had in the morning |he„ i- zia CAPTAIN BLUITT I i [i 1 to miss r'flthe^^"^''**'"!'^ "•" •"°*"' I <=^n ''fford wu^^ f , '''' V/" " "°' superficial." to s« Sa^gal ™'' •""* P"^^^"- '» ''-' yo" come "1 shall be compelled to remain at home " said Dnr™ and you W.U be very welcome if you cah "' "^' Then Mrs. Burns and Walter bade farewell to fh- others, and as Mr. Hamilton shook wlKL^°d.t Dru^r.'"'" ''" ""' ''^' y°^' -^"Pation i,. Mr. "J have been a commercial traveller," said Walter, FACE TO FACE „j As Walter came down the front steps of the house W«n .r' r' ^" "'■'" '■" ^''' «"d the young man began to make observations about the weath^f a^ wniie waiter was begmnmg to wonder what was the -'^^*.'*i' *^ ^°"'*"' ^''- B"™s asked r " What do you think of her ? " "You'^^^^^i^'' u™"?. ^^°''' ^^ ^"'"«d to reply. throS^agaT" ""'" «''°""°"'" Then he cleared 'iS "S HhTk'Ss^n^,?"'"^' ^^* '^ ^"^'■^ '-^'•• be??oV^nK: whrSsC-^" *' -^"^- «« -"' " Mr Frobisher perhaps has that idea ?" Mrs. Burns laughed again. "Who can tell?' she said. «=.nif"v,°''''l'l ^t' '"'"' '=''"'■'='' °" Sunday," said Walter and thought she sang nicely. How odd it was that I should meet her and know her so soon afterwards '' Very odd ! Fate, maybe." 'Tdo'n^ot C°* ^"?^^^ ^* °""^- Then he said : I do not know Turley very well, Mrs. Burns. D- you live anywhere near to uncle's house?" Yes, a block away." "On the river-bank?" "Yes ; we are almost there. You must come to s«. ?:rl™™X„^?^ ^°" - ^" ^'^ '-• BoToJUi: " No ; only at rare intervals." " But you will come oftener now ? " "4 CAPTAIN BLUITT " I wish I could." Silence. Walter felt as if he should very much like to have Mrs. Burns talk more about Dorothea, but he was shy abou> making any exhibition of his feelings. Mrs. Burns seemed to be considering. Then she said suddenly : " She likes you very much I " Florabella felt the little nervous tremor in Walter's arm as she uttered these words, and he had a strong impulse to blurt out the whole matter to this nice woman, but he simply said : "I am most grateful. Do you think I might call there again to-morrow? Just — just to ask about her hurt foot?" She did not directly answer. They had reached the door of Mrs. Burns's house. She took his hand, thanked him for coming with her, asked him again to visit her, bade him good-bye, and said : " Believe me, Walter, you are a most fortunate young man." Then she went into the house. If Walter had not been in love with Dorothea Hamilton he would have been in love with Mrs. Burns. He felt almost as if Mrs. Burns had authority to speak for the younger woman, and had given him the one assurance that would crown his happiness. The next day, as the afternoon drew towards evening, Walter, with high hope and eager expectation, walked up the street towards the house where Dorothea lived. Before he reached the dwelling he saw her sitting in a wheel-chair upon the side porch where he had seen her on Sunday. She was looking out upon the flower-beds in the garden upon which the porch fronted, and she seemed not to see Walter until he came clear to the garden-gate ; but he was sure he had not escaped her attention. The young man stopped by the gate, touched his hat, and, placing his hand upon the latch, said : " May I come in ? " " Yes," replied Dorothea with a smile. PACE TO FACE „, It was k>nd for you to call so soon again." phJa^thiopy. " *"= "^"^ '•"^'-'^ -*" P«- for his "And you are better?" he asked. ,, Oh, yes ! I shall walk in a day or two " 1 must go away to-morrow, I fear," he said saHlv not^voCu;:;'!irlu^°Z:^^f-°-«-'^ towards Turley, but he answered ^"" °'^"" 'Of course 1 shall con.e whenever I can now tho* •• i;|vf\rwTyi„r^!L-- s^:rL'g=^°^^ '" -^^ "^^ ^■>'- n^ore tZ a" few'hi atTtime"' l"^ ' "'^^^ ^"^y^ wereX^u"'-''' °"' "=''"'•=''' *"= PWerilrchuth. whi^J fetid Sfe •- '''' °"'^ ^°' '^ '■■«'« ." v°" "'*'^* interested, then ?" „ 4.^^' '^deed 1 Very much interested." ing oSe to'me\nd''i°°'°*''="''''^^'"=y^ ^'' '•"'^rest- l?e^atme„t of ft" ' ^"^ ^''>' """^'^ ^'^^^'^'^ "y the to th?-!!!!"^'''''" '^'^'""'"^^'^ Walter. "You are referring " U°would°^t°he T^T ^°" '''°"g'>t 't fi"«= ? " waMeV ^:ut'?uit '-T^" b7pt£r;s I never heard a word of it." perfectly frank, tlA CAPTAIN BLUITT l! I " Dreadful," said Dorothea. " You were not aileep ? " "Ob, not" " No, for I saw you there, wide awake." "You observed me there?" remarked Walter, very wide awake now, at any rate. _ " Well, not particularly. I simply saw a stranger right opposite to me." " He cared more for the singing than for anything else." Dorothea's eyes dropped, and a tinge of colour came into her face. " You like music, don't you ? " " Some kinds of music. The kind I heard on Sunday. After service I remained and looked at the church. I was there again yesterday, and went over and sat in one of the choir seats. Dorothea laughed gently, and then asked : " Are you a musician ? " "Oh, well, just a half-musician. I know something about music. Not very much. But I actually was a music-teacher once." " And only a half-musician ? " " When I say I tacght music once, I mean strictly once — that is, one time." " I don't quite understand." " May I tell you about it ? " "Yes, indeed!" "Why, you know that Uncle Bluitt, who had few chances to learn in his youth, is now quite eager to obtain knowledge. He said to me one day, a year or two ago, that he wished he could have at least enough acquaintance with music to permit him to read it, and I oifered to teach him the rudiments. " Well, he accepted, and we went to the piano and he sat upon the stool like a good pupil. I struck one of the notes with my finger and said, ' Uncle, that is C He looked at it closely and said : ' Why don't you begin at the beginning, with A ? ' I explained to him that it is necessary to start with C, and that as I knew about it and he didn't, he must trust me. To this be agreed. FACE TO FACE ,^ I .aid, -le us Just accent ihlf']^.^ "° '"'P°rtance.! there must be sZe S fo^ VSLIfc!'. t^/ 'f"; There is none that I know „f' r ^ ,' "*^ 'nsisted. Walter, he sa d ' there^- V ''".''^^''''- 'Well, but, alphabet, and they go to work Ind"nCr '""* ^" ">« C. for this key; now whv „nf ^ '^ n"^ °"= ofthem, - w 11 •^l?d'1n rr"^ ''' ^' ""««-• C was picked oit'asthe'L^'"/ '^1^''"' " '"at Elijah wlspickedlt"L'youTnTn,e°' Then'"' ^'"^^ '^^ that you can't explain the fact ? " he kskeJ "j^° V*^"" explain if 'Can your aunt Pu!lL , •^°' ' "" ' don't believe she can" I ,„ ^*''* «*Plain it? ' 'I •aid, / "o".' he Thek he shut the pfa^no^'whedM'' ^ '''^1'' "Plained.' and we went into SeTbrarv .^ around on the stool. tional movement °topp-.dri2tthe"°''';,.^^* «""«- jerk, as it were." ^ ^ '''"'• suddenly; with a be:7^'uct^\UitdTS:.''s?^oit ""'Th'?' ""^ '''''• couMn;t have had better o^unitie^^U TwS and^hef^e%?n"ed^'rth'''l!"^''*^'■''W*''-«"•oush Dorothea%r:eKe'"emtk''"'^ '*"«'' -*•> -hi4 You will do better as a 'writer r fc. j Th' ^Z r'"'^ ''^ « j^urnart" • ' '"'"''^ ^^^ **" .ySa?he^S^„'::^r& --^^^^^^^^ t*at he had a with*^ plainly apparel inter^tft,^"'' '^''° heard him 128 CAPTAIN BLUITT U incentive to diligent effort. I shall try to win your approval." " Aren't the flowers lovely ? " said Dorothea, with an impulse to change the subject of conversation. " Lovely ! Shall I gather some for you ? " " Yes, please do. I wish I could help to pick them." " May I wheel you out upon the path among them ? " asked Walter, eagerly. " It would be a great deal of trouble." Walter took hold of the chair and dexterously dropped it step by step to the level of the garden. Then he pushed it out among the shrubs and flowering plants. He was conscious that he had never been so happy before in his life. The situation seemed so delightful that he could not bear to think that it should ever end. Hew fortunate that papa had found duty strongly urg- ing him to keep away from home that afternoon I He should be angry even with Florabella Burns if she should be so misguided as to call just now. Moving about from place to place, he puUed the flowers and gave them to her. She held some in her hand and some in her lap ; but one sweet flower, red as the sunset, she placed upon the bosom of her dress. He looked at her, with her modest white costume, her soft brown hair, her gentle eyes of blue, and at the features in which all the graces were represented, and he loved her with a passion so strong that he felt any sacrifice he was capable of, a small thing to offer if he could win her love. " Vou are fond of flowers, aren't you ? " she asked. " Yes, but I really care for only one." She looked at him with surprise upon her face. '• Which one ? " she said. " That one upon your dress," he said, pointing to it " Won't you give it to me ? " Only for an instant she hesitated, ind then she said softly, " Yes," and she offered it to him. He made as if he would breathe its fragrance, but she thought as he held it to his face his lips touched it, FACE TO FACE »»9 6^f^xd°°^ '""■ged into her checks ; but she was not "Shall we return to the porch ?" she asked. Walter brought her chair again to the place where It nad been. "I wish you could sing for me," he said. Not here I " she answered. - No, and it will not be well for you to try to move from the chair to the piano-stool. But it would give me such pleasure to hear you again." '' Some other time," she said. " And I may come again ? " "Oh, yes I" she answered, with a little laugh and a She looked away for a moment, and then turning her face towards him, said : ^ "If father and mother were willing, I am sure I should be glad to hear from you how you like ™ur new profession, and how you are getting on." " You will ask your mother, won't you ? " said Walter l^H^l^ u *!/'u''"u '° 5:°"' »"d y°» may show the letter to her and beg her to let you answer " "Yes, I will do that." "I will write very seriously," said Walter, "so that she will thmk me a safe and wise counsellor for " But not too seriously," said Dorothea, smiling. " I am not averse to a bit of fun." w':!w"''.^f ^''"^ °^,T,'" **^ particular," responded Walter. I am more likely to err in the other direction. humor°" ^ ^ endurable without some good "Surely life has not yet been very hard for you?" No I suppose not. But I can see plainly that it is upon the whole, for the mass of men, tragical; but. fortunately, a beneficent Creator has permitted us to see and enjoy the comedy side of it." IJO CAPTAIN BLUITT " Pure, honest fun, I th.nk," taid Dorothea, " Is one of the most innocent and dci.ghtful and helpful tbingi in the world." " Yes, even downright foolery has its uses. How a baby likes to laugh I " The sweetest and purest being in the world," added the girl. "It has a natural passion for fun." " Don't you suppose there will be fun in heaven ? " asked Walter. Dori :hea suddenly became very serious. "Why, I never thought of that. Do you believe it?" "Why not?" " We always think of heaven with a kind of solemn awe. Somehow the idea of laughter there jars our feelings a little bit" " But if the innocent baby likes to laugh, why should not the sinless angels be joyous with laughter ? There "God has is no more crying or pain in heaven." "No tears,' added Ejrothea solemnly, wiped them all away." " And so, if there is singing for joy, why not laughter for joy? Yes, I really believe we shall have fun there. There must be compensation for all the sadness of this sad life." Dorothea smiled, but did not answer, excepting to say: "Perhaps it is so." And so they sat and talked about things earthly and heavenly, while all the earthly things seemed heavenly to both of them, and the sun moved toward the horizon, and the shadows grew long, and he put off from moment to moment the task of saying good-bye, until at last Mrs. Hamilton came to the door and, greeting Walter pleasantly, said to her daughter : " Shouldn't you come in now, dear, before the twilight? You are thinly dressed." " Yes, mother," she answered. "May I put your chair into the house?" asked Walter. FACE TO FACE "Ifyou will be » kind." *'* to kiss th.X've!j h^S' "'" '"' '"" " " ^^ 'hould Mice window :i;e?^k^S for S'an^'i ""h'* f ''tP"»*'» «>• tag toT/Sf''rar:'d'fr'''"'':>''y """.-y- f«ighted fun of^bl"„2i.''|u*l"' '» *^ th,: word.'42« lovei ma I" ""«•— 'i>he love* me I Ye^ ^i II CHAPTER IX TWO MEN OF TURLEY Of Doctor Thomas Quelch the finest thing that can be said is that in his early manhood he discovered the secret of all high and noble living — unselfishness, and all through his long life, now extended nearly to four-score years, he had shaped his character and his conduct upon that principle. He was loved and honoured wherever he was known, and he was widely known. He was a country physician, with a practice actually covering an area of twenty square miles in which were many towns and villages, and there were hundreds of homes within that area to which he came now and then as the most welcome visitor. The domestic secrets that he knew, the sorrows, the pleasures, the crimes, the things kept hidden even from neighbours and friends, would have supplied material for a wonderful history of life in that region. There were families who looked upon him as the good physician, of si^.^lJ..r <.ki!l. who had more than once baulked the assaults c'' '. Mih jpon their dear ones ; others knew him as the kind consoler in sorrow, the wise counsellor in difficulty, the' generous helper in distress, the faithful champion against the attacks of human enemies. He owned more than one mortgage which had never drawn interest in his hands, but which he had bought to save foreclosure; he had shown scores of young men the way of peace and of honour ; he had brought harmony to many a household in which discord had threatened to end with disruption and disgrace; he 132 TWO MEN OF TURLEY in many a contention S^t^Mn.™ ^" ">«*'»« arbiter he had shielded sinninemen 1^^^ ^^"' ""^ '""P'oyed ; that they might have*^ rnother^!''P°»"'-« ""d disgrace foothold in s^iety and more ha^*""'' '•° *:""" *"> was brought back to selfTreL^'" °"' ^{""'"S woman better life, because he could'^ard " h ^^ ""'* '° » and give pity and help where thel« i, "T" ^r^kness. 'Tnter^j^/W W« daily wofk, A^/:"J it: "^r '■" ^'>''='' "« did He was one of the masters nf fK'""""-' shining fame. practised, and no douM had h« '>-^''^"'"" ^^'''^ ^^ operations in the great cities aJ\^'^ *? """duct his strenuously upon pub ic at'^nt^nnV''""*,''''"^"" '^°re known eveo'^ere as a areat 'hv,,V- "^""'i^ '"'^« ^'^ ready and frequent writer and^hf"- ^"^ *«= '^'»'' a fcssional subjects were familiar ?„ /"P*? "P°" P~- Journals, and alway7 Ze '*''''"' °' *''« "'<=dical knowledge and wUh^ound senL ^"""^ ^'''' ^"=""fi<= valuable of all intellectual qualtiiZs ,Y^ "t"'!'-'^' '"°'' a so a moral quality. He was arH^^V^ "'^^'^ " ^ "ot •Iways with refined courtel^^ U '" e°""-°versy, but write an angry word, and u was LZVl'l ™'" "=^'=^ t° vigorous assertions, if it wer^Lc u,''" *° P"' ^ismost an inquiry. He had fouX man^'h-VJ"*" '^I ^°"^ °f had won, but never without aU„w^ -"'"^ ""'^ °ften he esteem of his antago^st ^nd Lm"?-"^ the respect and to pass that in the judgment of^^^*™^" ^'''" ■' "•"« that he had been driven from th.fi fi'^u""!"'* ''' ^^^med by waiting patiently ^^ehS^.Wnv'"' ^^'^ '"'""•d that Victory was never greeted bvhfm V^^ ^''"""y- exultation, but with reserve and h ^v^ ^''Pressions of h.m who had been u^n the ^o„r'-i'^ "^^^ ™P«"<=d among the first to ack^ow ed^^h.^ '""^ *% ^"^ to be other physicians were abTe to nerc.fr!';. Long before Satenrj^rSSr^^^^ atwi,andto.ffS^;'^-^-^-^co.4ter >S4 CAPTAIN BLUITT in this and in other matters, wherein the notions of the times were at variance with his own theories, persons all about the region in which he operated owed not only diminution of bodily misery, but their triumph over disease. It was he who, early in the century, be— le one of the foremost and most vigorous of the chan .ons of the right of women to enter the medical profession, and to practise medicine upon a footing of perfect equality with men. It had been almost a life-long struggle with him. Derision and denunciation met all his efforts at first, and it seemed for a time as if the young man might even jeopard his own right to just consideration from the members of his guild. But he was fearless, daunt- less, persistent, able, resolute. His arguments could not be answered, because there is no argument in reason against the woman-physician ; his energy could not be bafHed ; his boldness could not be tamed ; his earnest- ness of purpose could not be diminished, as year after year he returned in the medical societies to the con- tention which he conducted without cessation in the press. He dared the societies to disown him when he ventured to meet the woman-physician in consultation, and his challenge was never accepted. He took women students into his own office until he found at last the way to organize a college for them ; and so, as his life drew to an end, he rejoiced to see the ancient prejudice fading away, to find an increasing number of the better and wiser men in the profession rallying to his side, and to cherish the reasonable hope and expectation that, not long after his labours were over, the woman's superior fitness to the man for medical treatment of women might have full recognition from the doctors, and, better still, from society. While he fought this good fight with heroic ardour and unrelenting vigour, he was not less vehement and insistent as the opponent of human slavery. He could not remember when he had not hated that institution. His imperative instinct was against it from his earliest yean ; and as age gave him large knowlec^e of the TWO MEN OF TURLEY ,35 meant attack and warfare tnthl.A u •"■" *'**y» slavery at a time Xn tht^!' *"f* "iS'y^ °f *« foes of count^ regarfed an atefitE"' PubKc opinion of the bined the most ab^urd^ill^? • ,f ' ''. ^'"^ ^^° ^m- quahtiesofTman whoharndJhi'r?''' "** ?""«'^°"' respect for the sacrXss of t^e ,Sit fof'n^'o'rf ''™ "'"■ les^; ^d 'JLr^^The'''-^^' ^f Q"^^^^^^^^^^ fear- behalf of his «use and rtTh/"1,°i: '^^ P'»^f°™ '•" vote as he thoS'C^d Lii ,r"! u' ''^^^^ <=''«' ^is toward the concSde^Sby -hTm *^' '^"^"= '""^"'^ han'd'in^h'^eK- th^t" ^tJe^adl fo*' '''^' '° '^'^ '^ slaves to seek libertv in fl.X t '° encourage the begun to show blacVfug& tfe^T/'"::,' ''« '^'^ process which he heloed Z <, ^ *° freedom, the Underground RanroarHV. „""^'' ^'^ "^^^d the town ^ Turiey ~nted T^r' "°' '"''' ^^^ "^e His money found itsTavinfnth"°" "i?°" ^^e line, money.in trusty hands a^dUen, ''°"*''' ^'''^ "'^er and he had found "est" from alf hi ^-7^*^" ?^*"^^ memories of mysteriounnt^l. k°''' ^^f =''"'''=•' h«l night; of rumSfnrvehdes and'^lf P.""'^" "' smothered talk- and ofVh» moving lights, and kitchen at lale hours^fS ff hlS'" °'-'r^- '" '^' morning came ^*^'°°o tiiat had vanished when dawn, to some other place still nearer l^fV'^lJ^'"" to freedom, to manhood! to ho^!„d°,*'= T'' ''^'• Or. .f the pursuit were r^'oi^t^^V^X^^^^^^ 136 CAPTAIN BLUITT the hunted men, women and children for a day or two, that they might have rest and healing while they lay shut in from all curious eyes, and while the way was made ready for speeding them upon their journey. When Dr. Quelch lay dying, this was the work of his well-spent life that filled him with happiest thoughts. This was the duty that would have seemed to him to have earned for him the right to the commendation " Well done, good and faithful servant," if his humility had not far overborne any conception that he might have formed that duty done supplies any basis for a claim to reward or to honour. When we first meet him in this tale, there were few persons in the region about Turley, no matter how many their years, who could remember when his face and figure had not been familiar to them. Out of doors he always wore a high silk hat, conformed to no remembered fashion, rusty, dusty, crumpled, and dilapidated. There was a common belief that it had been new during President Jackson's first administration, but its appear- ance offered evidence in behalf of the theory that it had been constructed much earlier in the century. He seemed to have but one hat, and rather fondly to cherish it ; although the precise ground of his affection was a secret locked in his own bosom. He drove about upon the high-roads in a buggy which looked as if it had never been washed, but which, despite its discouraging appearance, seemed so strong and servic( ible, that some persons, fond of considering such matters, advanced the opinion that Dr. Quelch had discovered the secret of perpetual youth and had im- parted it to his buggy. No one could remember when that buggy had rolled along the turnpike without follow- ing a whitish-grey horse, covered all over with brownish spots, and with an undocked tail upon which the hair was sparse. The horse also seemed to have learned never to g^ow old, and the manner in which he moved right along at a brisk trot without urging, for the doctor never used a whip, might have conveyed the idea to the observer that th? horse was still young, had it not been ], t I N' TWO MKN OF TURLEY ,3, ftSrr„riS„t ^"'•"■'^ '"^^ bo,, or engage t.-me'ihen be^ds were S wTrn ^'!r ^'''•' »' « silver-rimmed spectacles bl^LJ , ' ^"'' ,""'°"S'' ^Is l^indly, bright. pSrshrSd which ^nTone ^'T^^f' into without feeliiie himself in Vh« "* '^°"''' 'o°lf power, of high thoS of pu~ hLrtTf^ f ^"'.'"' "' Never haH n, i-^ i u ^ , ™^''' °' tender feeh'np HeeY^eJlctbte'g^^^^^^^^^ his earnings to permit Lie LV..,^w- *'j^''P'>' "P°" within himself thTLshouMbr«h°"\, "« thought even by his own effort and for thi^HMf^T''' *° ''= "^J*. other method his fed ng wi ^ot ^?"^' ^''l' ^^""^ ''y ""y A wealthy unmanied ^"°* f°'^ "T" ""i* °f horror: physician f^r m^y ytaTs toW Wm h°? K^"^ ^'^ that she should mate ^imhe° sole SLir°He n" .'"^"'^ promise good. Dr. QuelKus^d fn "^ '''^ ."'''''' »>" ance. and it was d isSed amon., h^'^'^P,* *''*= '"'>''"■*- said it should have been ^ ''" '^'''*'^^^' « he me?LTrvlKtey^Td1o't''''T "'^''='' """»- to the man who cons& Ih LnH 'i:''^"'' '*• E^" tion of an intellect that was hLTvf? f ^manifesta- as he thought of it faint^m^ ^f°Iu"iy' "'"^ «me, might be hVt^ of SacfclX tta^h^ *"' ''"^'■^ not wholly pirceive them ^ ^* '"^ 'y« «=°"W anfott'aL'inrtSeS ^">J\'°."« «^«= '''»<^ gone i„ comforting thefr stlsfa A™ eT tTfh*° "^^^ '^"^^ be&e?"tfno^^ufch^^'trtpTTf- ^L '^°""'' ?"' '«' to-fav^re^rfrtJ: S 'tP--- of the Sc^iety of Fri^s^Krul dl^^S^^^ IS* CAPTAIN BLUITT ! II * great cause can have most effective force given to it through the instrumentality of oiganization, Dr. Quelch had dways felt that he could not with comfort and peace put upon him the obligation of any formula pre- pared by a religious society, nor pledge himself always to believe just as other men believed. How could he tell, he had reflected, in what manner time and observa- tion and experience would compel him to change or modify his beliefs ? And so for himself, he thought it wise to stand apart ; or rather, to n.wOg^ize all believers as his brethren, ar-i in his own way, by the impulse supplied by his e:' iple, by the light shed from his own high life, to influence those about him to strive for better thing* in their own lives. When Becky Slifer reached Dr. Quelch's house, tarly in the evening of the day of her talk with Dr. Frobisher, Dr. Quelch was sitting with a lighted lamp in his little office upon the lawn, near by the dwelling-house. The • doctor was writing. The office-floor was covered with well-worn furniture, with piles of books and pamphlets, and with geolc^ical specimens representing the formations of the region all about Turley. Around the walls were bookcases full to overflowing, and in an adjoining room were a sofa and appliances for operating upon patients. When Becky, after knocking upon the door of the office, went in, she courtesied to the {rfiysician, and per- mitted a kindly look to come upon her fierce countenance. She knew the reputation of this man as the friend of the enslaved members of her race. She would have worshipptd him, or given her life for him, if she had been called to perform the one act or the other. Dr. Quelch greeted her politely, and asking her to sit down, leaned back in his chair. " I'se Becky SUfer, Dr. Quelch." " Becky Slifer I Well, Becky, what's the matter ? " " I'se bin a livin' in Mister Bluitt's house dese eight month or mo', an' now Miaa Emmy, dat sei she owpa me. is tfftr me," -fi. H " Becky .... curtsied to the physician." '''■JI3dO»*. TWO MEN OF TVKLKY * y" *T S??" •"«••. dW you ? - *" Aram>ngo'cou„t.5'"^""">' **•***"■• ''"^ Xer ta d. Is she -dated to Mm. Frsbisher?" M^^S:,!"''* "'-«> -^ 'S the Meter. f«„ FobSr.'?""^' '"•''• "'•'^«1 to de brudder of Mi„ de mmister an' dey iSsU »n' ^°'"* *•" mawnin' wid tWngs from de RbK' " h^l' T '^ ">« •-«yln' dem d'e dan go back. deS' Mis^tlJ '^^^^r' d»t fso^n™ self d« r™" ^°- Butlie won7 t? P* "V*^ •"' "V " Y^ su^ "'?•:'„ t' "'■« tT you .rested ?- trouble^i^^^ I dlan- wan' „„ "Hah I " «ud the doctor refll?- *° <=°™«and seeyou." «lf^ wSse^-''^- ^°" -«« to «ay with Mis. yf- If you Ind that thev'14"^ •"'"'''« ^ '^J Wp come at once to my houiL^ TJ°"'3 '° ""^t you. awiy If you can. If^ou ,o .-."l'^ ^° ^^"> you. eet other pe„on come for^me ^1^ '''"■"=' »' •o«« You'rt weny kind, suh I'nT* ^ f POMible." Becky ««« to take her l^vl '*' ''"" '™'"'' »»«•" «.ou|t%rS'*4'^fnd*^te" '"• '«"'«' ^ Captain Bluitt that I will ™„ „ '^'"'^ ^^u might wy td o'clock to-morrow mo^^™"7« to see Wmabo7ten w.ftanybodyinhishouX'idithou'.ri'- *" '»«>'''" wonun who could do S»d^ ''•°^'°'' *° Wmself, "like • «^«^. IwiUasi-tf^pTaTn'^^-^try"^^^^^^^^ i«p 140 CAPTAIN BLunr When Dr. Quelch reached the Blultt mansion on the following morning, he found the captain and his sister awaiting him, but all ready to go out. After greeting him cordially, Captain Bluitt said to the doctor : "Puella ard I have been invited to go over this morning to McGann's to see his new wonderful electric motor, and we have promised to go, Won't you go along?" Captain Bluitt smiled, as if to convey the impression that his faith in the McGann motor was not of the strongest kind. "Electric motor, is it, that he has now?" said the doctor. "The last time I heard from him it was a submarine boat" i " Yes," replied the captain, " but didn't you know that the boat dived automatically over there olT Graver's Point, and never came up again ? " " No," replied the physician. " I hadn't heard of it. Poor man I I hope he will have better luck with this new invention." " He is a very, very good man, I think," said Puella, " even if he is unfortunate. Perhaps the boat will come up somewhere far out at sea, at the Azores, or in the Gulf Stream." " Yes, he is a good man," said Dr. Quelch, " but not completely a wise man. I should like to go over with you to see the motor, but I called to ask you about your servant, Becky. She came to my house last night, and asked me to help her to escape being carried back into slavery." " I advised her to go and see you," said Puella. " She is a first-rate servant, perfectly harmless, and with really a great gift for waffles and clear-starching; and yet Mrs. Metcalf actually threatened to whip her." " I want to say, doctor," remarked Captain Bluitt, " that while I don't wish to encourage runaway slaves, we like this girl, and I shouldn't be sorry to have her kept from being forced to go back to the place and the thing she hates. If you can help her you have my approval, TWO MEN OF TURLEY ,4, Isa^markTb/cVoVarSrckyr" '^'^ J^^'-^^X- She filled the western hor^^ ^"' ''^ *""'' *° '^^ >>•»« «>at 3ee'r?oSeTnl';fo All^,^„r^^ ""^^P**- - been a schoolteacher but T. i^''" y°"th he had upon Wt to eve^'f/J^^;?'*he„he had sold goods was unworthy of c«dit and h^ C^h^''*'^ *""' y-riiy »'«'t^ ^«-Khkh after enH/'"''?'P?' ^'*' months, without anv^rr-^I^^M • f ?«leavounng for six disregard of the acci«o^ r ,'''' *"'* well-meaning s-sys sMr ¥"-">" -^- si *4* CAPTAIN BLUITT But everybody, except the property-ownen and the wholesale grocera, felt terry for McGmii— be wat luch an innocent old lamb of a fellow, with no malice in his heart for anybody, with such clearly demonstrated inability to take care of himself; and to the Turley Whigt took him up as their candidate for justice of the peace. He was elected by an almost unanimous vote, and entered upon his duties apparently with the con- viction that mercy is much more useful than justice, as be certainly thought it much more agreeable; so he could never find it in his heart to inflict a penalty upon any offender brought into his court, if the justice's ingenuity could discover a method by which the prisoner could be permitted to escape. Every vagabond who lived in Turley or happened to stray into Turley thought Judge McGann the most delightful justice of the peace in the state ; and many of uem were indebted to him for small loans represent- ing important fragments of a veiy small salary. For a man who was expecting to have a fine imposed upon him, or to be sent to prison, it was like making a trip into Fairy-Land to have the justice look down with pitying eye on the rascal's t- ters and incrustations, and to have the magistrate call * i up to the seat of justice and hand him a dollar-bill an ay to him : " Go and sin no more I " The judicial cai.-er of McGann concluded when war was declared against Mexico. He began at once to raise a company, which elected him captain, and his friends made up a fund which equipped him with a handsome uniform and a beautiful sword. The judge never could maintain discipline in his com- mand, but, somehow or other, he led it bravely into the fight at Chepultepec, and he came home crowned with glory and with four months' pay in his pocket The entire tramp population of the county wanted to have him made justice again, but the rest of the people preferred that he should seek some occupation in which good-nature would have less harmful consequences. After thinking the matter over the judge concluded Oat he had a call to preach the Gospel, i>.nd so be TWO MEN OF TURLEV ,^, X'Si?n?^c;"t*'i''£orcii^^'"^^^^^ Church for examined the matte "^chS ^h^ ""T '',"' P*««»'y judge mu.t have mSak^ sot^ ^^f""!'"*^"" "»' *^ vocaUiation for. "Mn' Th^"' "*''" ^'"<^ of "PWtual contemplation ohhe subject Uheiurfjl?- Yf^" '"'*''«' the great work of invention dedicated to 4';hich t c'i'i,:^' h^:is' *i?^'"" '»'' • --"- building, one story high. Here h- *" \?™»" fr»mt eepting when he was out in th! i^*"' ^ «°>e. ex- with »me machin?for wh°ch t !t^'^'lf''I*"««W .maU horizonui engr^e't'ii'-in t^e'stK"" """" *° * tannety where JudgT McGMn h J^'"IP'°>'«^ '° the price at an auctiofwhen Te t^n„'^"«'" it for a low handaof a receiver. *t had „o ^f^f '^ T"' '"'» *« there was a glass water-«.m?« ^"'^l'''' *"•* ^Wle in it foraevcrfl y^a^ ^ ^*' "" *""■ *^ "PPeared McGann often filled th' boiler in »K- on steam, banked the fire Md UtM "".""ift turned for hours, while he wLa£e„L P- "^ ""^'J^^ ""> "'ong by felt that it might at anvmL^"°"' "^^^ l"'^ "ear •Iway. «udr ^^ ^ ranonstrated with about it. b» *44 CAPTAIN BLUITT "That boiler! Why, man alive, that to the lafest boiler in the state I You can't generate steam enough to explode that boiler." And really there appeared to be some solid ground for this confidence. The judge's steam-plant, as he called it, had long engaged the curious interest of men who "°:re familiar with steam-practice. The engineer over at the shoe factory in the Third Ward said that if McGann's boiler had been employed in a mill of any importance, where an explosion would damage property and destroy life, it would have been blown into scrap-iron years aga HU view was that it was simply waiting for a good chance. Another expert, the mechanical engineer of the rolling mill down at Donovan, said that McGann's boiler had so completely undermined the ordinary theories about steam boilers that all his convictions, based upon life- long practice, were shaken, and he was prepared to believe anything — even that there was in it an element of the supernatural. There was a boiler-insurance and inspection company up in the city that, out of mere curiosity, sent one of its most competent inspectors down to Turley to look at the boiler one day when the judge had no steam on, because he was going down to Washington to push a slow claim in the Patent Office. After a careful study of the matter, the inspector said that the reason why the water would not flow from the cocks or appear in the glass gauge was that the interior oi the entire boiler was incrusted to the thickness of three or four inches with solid scale. All the openings were blocked but the inlet valve and the outlet. In his written report, which was printed in the monthly bulletin of the company just for the fun of the thing, the inspector said that the boiler did not explode be- cause the scale had gradually formed a new solid stone boiler inside of the iron plates, and that, in all proba- bility, the original iron casing ultimately would slowly oxidize and pass away, leaving the stone boiler safe and s TWO MEN OF TURLEY } m« 'toti ""•" ' '*"'"*'"* "'"•'"o" fo' many article carelessly; and then firing the S afresh hf hand. J?h his fArd^JalTtXr^r' "'°^'' .. V *"' ' **''' *« doctor. ' centu"'l'Ut'"tft"m yr^^^^^ -. ""^ ""^er nail keg, and Dr. Quelch to sit on a iLv h^K?^ lu* " We shall be ready in a few minutes." he sairf « u tV^'d'" """^ '°"^'' '"^'' •" *'^ W«. b« the luckl^' 146 CAPTAIN BLUITT " How delightful," said Miss Bluitt "There is no danger from that boiler out there, is there 7 " asked the captain, half in fun, half in earnest "Not a particle I Not a particle! There's no safer boiler between here and Texas. How foolish some people are I There is more reason to be afraid of a tea-kettle than of that boiler." " I am not a bit afraid of it," said Puella. " Of course not," answered the judge. " Ladies always do have more courage than men I " " You have had many inventions, judge, since I knew you," said Dr. Quelch. " Yes, lots of 'em, and some good ones too," responded McGann. "That is my line. I made a big mistake ever going into any other business." " What became of that electrical poultry feeder you had when I first knew you ? " asked Dr. Quelch. " Couldn't make it g^, somehow. I never understood why. That device certainly was constructed upon correct scientific and economical principles, and it would have been a boon to the poultry industry of our country. You remember the particulars ?" "No." "Why, you see, when men raise poultry for profit, either fcr eggs or meat, they must keep the fowls in some kind of an enclosure, and must feed them regularly in just the right quantities, with nourishing food. Mustn't they?" "Of course." " Mere humanity demands it," said Miss Puella. "Well, my device arranged to do this service auto- matically. You know I had a battery outside the pen, connected by a wire with the feeder. This was sus- pended from a bar or a vertical pole in the chicken- yard, and it swung loose on a kind of a swivel. The main feeder was a hopper with a spout at the bottom, and delivery valves which opened and shut by a time clock regulated by the current. Worked like a charm I" "Yes.* "You put the invention in place ; had the hired man TWO MEN OF TURLEY ^y fill up the hopper in the morning with prepared food. Uie food being inserted in the hopper in layers— say first some com, tlien a layer of small gravel (used in the gizzard, you know), then another layer perhaps of bread-crumbs, then another of powdered oyster shells for the eggs, then a dab or two of sulphur, then more corn and so on ; all packed snug and good in the hopper." ' I see," said the doctor. "Now all being ready, the hired man turned on the waV'hin * » "'*"' ^^''^' '^*" '*^"' ^''^"'* *''*" "1"''* "What happened?" asked the physician. Why, the feeder slowly swung around, the exhaust- valve opened, and threw a quantity of food, strictly graduated quantity of nutriment, far over, say. to the east side of the yard. Then, as the fowls wuld fly A^l *? ^f "■■*.''* ''*'^' '^""'^ automaticaUy shut, and the feeder, with almost human intelligence, would st(y, start on the other circuit, and very, very slowlv swing round, and after a carefully calculated interval provided for by the clock-work, would fling another lot ot food over, say, to the western side of the yard." " How convenient I " said Puella. "Why to the west?" fi,r^°-if? *I" '='''='?«"'' exercise. Being penned up, they will stand around on one leg, or roost on boards and things, unless there is some incentive to motion. Mv teeder not only provided them witli food upon scientific principles, preventing all waste, but also compelled the otherwise inert fowls to keep their bodies in a healthful condition by continued athletic exercise. It was the best thing for chickens ever devised by man " ," And yet it didn't succeed ? " asked Dr. Quelch. !' t;S' ** company formed to market it failed " " What was the matter ? " "Idunnol Bad management, I guess. Spite-work too, I suppose. A newspaper in New York in which I refused to advertise came out with a pretended demon- stration that the interest on the cost of the plant, the expense for one year of running the battfery, and the 148 CAPTAIN BLUITT wages of the hired man to run the hopper, would take more money than the eggs and the chickens together would bring in the market for ten years. He didn't prove It, of course; but the figures impressed large investors, and they grew shy. So the thing failed." " Perfectly shameful I " said Miss Bluitt. " What was the loss to you? " asked Captain Bluitt sympathetically. " O, I don't remember. A good deal. I paid for the patents, and I got nothing from the company but ground- floor stock ; and my first year's salary as president was all paid in preferred stock. I suppose I may say I lost somewhere near two or three thousand dollars. But no matter, I charged it off." "Charged it off? Where, to what?" asked Dr. Quelch. " Just charged it off— to nowhere. It was sunk— gone call It what you please— I let it go. It was not the first time." "No?" "No I have paid for taking out forty-three patents, and I have seven applications now pending. I have lost on forty of the patents— I don't know how much, but It is all charged off, and now I am making a fresh start " "You have abandoned that shell-fish enterprise?" asked Captain Bluitt. "Why yes! Didn't you hear about that ? Bottom fel out of that too. I must have charged off a thousand dollars on that" " Couldn't you get the right kind of oysters ? " asked the captain. "Not oysters— crabs I I never had anything more promising. All along the salt-water coast there are crabs by the thousands of millions, to be had for the taking. Literally myriads of them, and all good to eat • while in the West there are millions of people who never see a crab. My idea was to build refrigerator-cars and to run them direct from the shore to the western markets- quick transit When I began operations I should simply haveflooded the North- West with crabs— the great North- TWO MEN OF TURLEY ,49 West I Think of the farmers out there who never get a sniff or a smell of salt-water food, and here would be these delicious crustaceans dropped at their very door- way, as sweet and nice as if they had just been taken irom tlie sea, and for a merely nominal price I Why a man m Chicago told me he himself would engage to sell one carload of crabs in that single city every day The people would be perfectly wild for them! We should have sent agents all through the west and mailed free cook-books to teach the people how to make devilled crabs and crab-salad. We had everything ready for a great crab campaign all through the North- West" . {^rP^'^^'^ '^°" *° *^^ West I " said Miss Bluitt .. -r?^ ■ '' ^° ' " '"qu'fed Dr. Quelch. "The railroads combined against it. They are the worst enemies of this country. The government oueht to seize and run them. One railroad president refused to give me transportation for my refrigerator-cars and when hard pushed for a reason— when I drove him into a corner and pinned him down, he actually had the nerve to tell me the cars would leak and wet the track I J^inally, when I overcame all his objections, he gave me a rate to Milwaukee that didn't leave me enough margin to pay for the ice. I could have got fair play if I had given ground-floor shares to some of the railroad directors, and the thing would have gone through • but I would rather be poor than stoop to bribery. My total loss in that deal amounted to the value of two r^ fngeratcr-cars, which I charged to profit and loss." " You've had hard luck," said Dr. Quelch. "Yes indeed ; worse luck with my power-saving device even than I had with the crab enterprise." ' " I heard about that," said Captain Bluitt ''Y°}^,'^^^^'' don't you? I know— I don't M(«*, I inow, or almost know, that the water that comes down a hill can be made not only to do work, for a mill but to pump itself back again. The only obstacle that ever existed to such recovery of the spent force was the friction, and I invented an arrangement that annihilated It ; the friction was as if it were not" ISO CAPTAIN BLUITT kh my compensating balance and my «elf-adjust- vity-gear 1 11 bet you I can make Niagara pump "WlthL. ing gravity-t, itself back again. Think of that I " " Wouldn't it be delightful," said Miss Bluitt, " to have Niagara pumped back again ? " "But, just as I had my charter and was about to issue my prospectus, a fool of a professor in the Polytechnic College killed the thing with algebra I There was noth- ing in his demonstration, of course ; but you know how it is : capital is timid, sensitive and scary; and so the money was pulled out, and the company collapsed, after I had put my little all in gear-wheels and suction-rods, which are now nothing but old iron. Too bad I You know Mrs. Frobisher subscribed for a hundred dollars' worth of stock and paid up. Her money had to be spent for sight-lubricators, and when the failure occurred she came at me like a wild-cat and said I ought to be put in prison. Doctor Frobisher preached a sermon which they said was aimed at me, on the text : ' He that maketh haste to be rich shall not be innocent.' I've hastened to be rich, haven't I ? I'd be hastening to the poor-house now if it were not for my electric motor." "Mrs. Frebisher," remarked Miss Bluitt, "is wantine in feeling." * "I thought until yesterday," said the captain, "that you were still engaged in promoting a smoke-con- sumer ? " " Oh, my smoke-consumer? Ah I there was a grand thing I One of the most useful inventions ever devised by man I I do seem to have the worst luck I Of course you heard of that failure ? " " No, I thought it was successful," said the captain. " So it was, mechanically; but not commercially; that is, not in my hands. I worked on that idea right along the lines suggested more than a century ago by Benjamin Franklin, and I prepared a furnace that would have forced perfect combustion— not a bit of smoke from the softest coal. Now, doctor, when you remember that every particle of smoke that comes from a chimney is fuel and stands for dollars, and when you think Out I That's where I am. I wouldn't have taken a hundred thousand dollars for that patent, but I never got a cent, except what I had to charge off." " Well, you havt had hard luck ; and now you are working on an electric motor?" asked Dr. Quelch. »s» CAPTAIN BLUITT You may say working on it, if you want to put it in that way ; but, in fact, the thing is practically completed. I will show it to you right away. Come in here." The judge ushered his friends into the adjoining i oom, in the centre of which stood the motor. Over in the comer was a machine which would now be recognized as a dynamo. The judge called it his "generator." It was attached by a belt to the steam-engine. " Stand over here," he said, " and I will turn the steam mto the engine." The engine began to move, and soon the generator also gave signs of motion and emitted sparks. ; " Don't mind that," said the inventor, as Miss Bluitt, in spite of the fact that she was a woman, edged over towards the window. " It is nothing. It always does that." ' The judge put his hand on a switch. " Now watch the motor," he said. The visitors (ixed their eyes on the motor, and the judge slowly turned the switch. There was no indication that the motor was capable of anything but complete tor- pidity. The judge pushed the switch further over. Still the motor remained inactive. Then he pulled and pushed the switch backwards and forwards several times, with some violence ; but without response from the motor! The judge looked troubled. He reflected for a moment. Then he exclaimed : " Oh, I forgot the current-regulator." He fixed the current-regulator to his satisfaction, and returned to the switch. The motor appeared to be completely indifferent to a great number of energetic vibrations of that implement. McGann let go of the switch, turned on more steam, speeded up the engine, and with a wrench tightened three screws in the generator. Then he put a wooden box under the feed-wire, which drooped upon the floor and returned to the switch. The motor manifested no mdication of activity. •' Captain," said the inventor, "just sec if that wire on the other side of the motor is free from the iron pedestal" TWO MEN OF TURLEY «S3 " Completely," said the captain, touching the wire with his cane. " It's mighty queer," said McGann, with a puzzled look upon his face. " The thing went along all right last night. Went beautifully." The visitors hardly knew what to say. " I believe it's that commutator," said Judge McGann, at last. " I've had no end of trouble with that plagued thing. Just a minute, please." For at least five minutes the judge struggled with the commutator, and then, wiping his fingers on a handful of shavings, he resumed his hold of the switch, saying : " Now she'll go." And she did go. Slowly the motor began to move, and having made three complete revolutions, it came again to a full stop. " Maybe the bearings want oiling," remarked the judge. Seizing the oil-can he applied the lubricant to the bear- ings. Then he looked to see if the belt on the generator slipped, and after taking a twist out of the feed-wire, he turned on the current again. The motor gave a slight preliminary jerk, and then, like a being that had had a better second thought, returned to a state of quiescence. " It seems such a pity, too," remarked Judge McGann, mournfully, " when you have all taken the trouble to come out to see it." " Can't you turn it with your hand ? " asked Puella, with a feeling of acute sympathy for the disappointed man. " Oh, certainly ; but a motor turned by the hand would be such a very poor kind of a motor. It's ways the way with things when you want to show them off," said the judge. " That machine went along yesterday as if it were alive. Let me look at the reciprocating crank. Why yes, that's what's the matter I I put a wooden block under that crank when I closed the place last night, and forgot it. Now she'll go." The jndge removed the block, and flung it to the other end of the room with such violence that it knocked a saw and two cold chisels from the rack and dropped them '54 CAPTAIN BLUITT on the floor. Then he put the awitch on once more, and the motor went around twice. Then something «pit and ■izzled and flamed up with a quick flash, and the motor stopped again. With an expression of intense disgust upon his coun- tenance, the judge dropped the switch and exclaimed : " Burned out again I Hang it I " Then he kicked the motor with a degree of violence and said : " That ends it, doctor! I can't repair that damage in less than a week." The visitors expressed sorrow and sympathy. " Oh, it's all right ; but the plague of it is, captain," said the judge, " I was going to ask you to invest in that thing, and now you'll think it's a failure I But it isn't I No, sir! It's a gold mine." " You won't have to charge it off, you think ? " asked the captain, with dry humour. "What I that motor? Wait till I get it fixed, and you'll say that the man who goes in on the grou.:d-floor is lucky." " Well," said Captain Bluitt, as he and his companions prepared to retire, "you send for me when it is ready, and I'll telk to you about it." The visitors went out into the garden, but the captain said to McGann : " One minute, judge." He took the inventor aside and whispered : " Ae you pressed for money, judge I " " Well," said McGann, " I've got pretty close to the end of the string. I wot-Mn't mind " " I'll send you a chec. r fifty dollars in the morning on account of my first su. ription to the motor." Then, bidding farewell, tiie visitors started homeward. " Poor McGann," said the captain to the doctor, "he has another failure in his hands, sure." CHAPTER X THE HKRO BECOMES A PROFESSIONAL MAN The fact is, Walter Drury, like many other men, had talents which were not known to himself, and not guessed at by his friends until opportunity came to him. Often after he began work upon the Evening Tittus up in the great city, he recalled Uncle Bluitt's assertion that most of the failures may be attributed to misfits, and he thought his uncle right Walter, compelled to earn his living while little more than a boy, had en- deavoured simply to find employment which would give him pay, and as commercial positions were most abund- ant and easiest to get, and as his friends had gone into commercial life, naturally he had attempted to learn business in which buying and selling were done. Traffic was distasteful to him from the beginnings but he thought perhaps this was because boys prefer play to work. He was conscious that his tastes were different from those of other young people with whom he was thrown into business ; but he was not at all sure that any employment would suit his taste, for the only things he cared much for were study and writing, and these seemed to him to offer no promise of daily bread. . And so, in one position after another, he had tried valiantly to play a part as a commercial man, and in every instance complete, humiliating failure greeted him. He began seriously to few that he should never succeed at anything, and some of his relatives had the 155 156 CAPTAIN BLUITT tame apprehension. What he needed was a wise coun- sellor and an open door. He found the first in a youth of Icindred tastes, whom he had met while he was journeying about the country proving that he could not become a salesman. This young man was a reporter upon the Evening Timts, and in speaking with Drury, he expressed his delight with the work and recommended it to Walter. Walter thought he could do such work, and he felt that he should like to do it He perceived that he had better education than his friend, and this increased his con- fidence that he might succeed as a reporter, and perhaps reach greater heights in the profession than those to which his friend aspired. Surrendering with something like joyfulness his last commercial place, Walter entered the office of the Timts as a reporter and plunged into the work with enthusiasm. It was a period when a very bright man upon a very bright paper was certain to have quick appreciation from his readers and his employers ; and Walter was unusually bright He had also very remarkable quickness and clearness as a writer, a fact he had not known. Thus he delighted in composition, and he contributed to the journal matter much in excess of the expectation of the managing authorities, who were not slow to perceive that all of it was good. A youth who could write uncommonly well; who could prepare attractive, original matter, and was willing and eager to do much more than his share of work, was a rare being in that office, as in other newspaper offices ; and Walter was pleasantly surprised to have his pay considerably increased before he had been for two weeks a journalist This and other evidences of appreciation stimulated him strongly, and he strove to do even better. It was a novel experience for him to have work to do that he could do with delight, and the assurance that it was good work intensified his pleasure. As often happens when Fortune begins to smile, she had larger favours waiting for him. THE HERO BECOMES A PROFESSIONAL MAN 157 Almost without warning, two of tiie editors resided from the staff to accept positions upon a journal in a Western city. The manager of the Timlt called Walter into his office, and after relating the fact to him, asked : " Do you think you could fill an editorship ? " " I think so," answered Walter, bravely. " Well, you shall have a chance to try," and he gave the young man the place, his salary being doubled. It may be taken for granted that down in Turley there was a damsel who was informed of all these wonderful achievements and victories and advance- ments, and who read with deep interest the journals sent to her in which, first, were reporter's articles and afterwards editorials, written with such wisdom and positiveness and deep gravity as might have trailed from the pen of a venerable philosopher of sixty years. And with what admiration she examined the dramatic criticisms and the book criticisms prepared by this young editor, who spoke in print about the drama and literature as if mastery of both had been his pastime in years long flown. In his Tetters, which were really almost too frequent, although there seemed in each case to be a positively good reason for writing just at that time, Walter told the story of his successes, and of the crowning success, and expressed the pleasure he found in hard work that was •congenial while it was profitable. He secretly hoped she would find in his triumph some reason for rejoicing, some reason for admiration, and that perhaps some rumour would come to napa's ears of the surprising movement of an inexi ,;rienced youth within three months from the bottom place upon the staff to a position not very far from the top. But while letters and marked newspapers are very useful as messengers, there is something better in seeing face to face; and so Walter found a way to obtain respite for a day from his responsible duties, and that day he would spend in Turley, It was all arranged beforehand, that there was to be a long drive out through the country (to get chestnuts. in I' i «s» CAPTAIN BLUITT II he Mkld In hli letter), and that he wai to spend the evening at Dorothea's house, If the way .' " "•■•' ■" • .■>! ^omriys wifh a sharp nose and faintly-blue eyes, and w th a tuft of sandy b«rd upon the tip of h.s chm. ^^^old enough to woof and forlunate enough *» g«t. ^^"T.^i^iH' who since her diildhood had been Mrs Freb.sher-sma.d They were married, and Captain Bu.tt bu.lt &' the-n a small frame house at the back of his garden, where they ?"ed inZt Tppiness which follows upon a marriage '°Ha°nnah waTmuch superior to Rufus mentalty, and she had had some education at the public school. The personal appearance of Rufus. to the ordinary observer seem«J unlikely to stir up violent enthusiasm in the ?emTnine bosom''; but Hannah's affection was real, and tTucceeded in presenting Rufus to her m,„d as a man of exalted qualities, phy^'caljtnd mteUectual She thought him fine-looking ; she thought h.m heroic she belie i all the stories he told her of his prowess upon the sfcul and the stimulative influence of her adm.ra on urged Rufus more and more to Pe™it h's .maginaUon to play upon the experiences of a s^""^! 1'^^-""^ ^^L^t uSemei to HannS, and even to Rufus himself, that RuTus ought to have a place by the side of Magellan. Caotein Cook, and the other famous navigators. '?^ufus-^d Captain Bluitt to Dr. Frobisher "never had *e s'r;iatrest glimmer of sense, but he .s faithM.and hP ftoes the small jobs about the place here very well. As1rse*LnThip.^he never.knew f{>,-erUin °n whic^ ^A nf thf shin the rudder is, and I m sure ne usco 10 thfnk that tKmVtss helped to make the ship move through the water, ^e asked me one day when we were taS whaTmade the sun shift from one side of the S?foThe other, and he firmly believed the story when the cook told him that the masts grew out of the bottom "'M^Ser. clean and smart, and bright bustled about the room for a few moments after Walter entered the house, completing her dinner arrangements, while THE HERO BECOMES A PROFESSIONAL MAN i6i she managed four young children who played about the floor. Then she sat down near to Walter, and wiping her clean hands on her clean white apron, she said : " Excuse mc, Mr. Walter, but I'm so glad to see you I I ve heard so much about you, and seen you, too, at a distance, but it's a perfect joy to me to have you in my very own house." " What is your name ? " asked Walter. " My name, given to me in baptism, where my spon- sors then did for me, is Hannah ; but I think it is the most perfectly hateful name, and I would change it in a minute if I could." " Why don't you change it ? " " Well, Mr. Walter, I have few differences with Rufus who IS just a lovely husband, overflowing with tender- ness, but he and I can't agree what name to change Hannah to. I want to be called Gladys, and he wants to call me Myrtle, because he says he can remember Myrtle so much easier than he can remember Gladys though, to save my life, I can't understand why any man's memory should be so deplorable that it can hold on to Myrtle while it lets go of Gladys. I '{lid offer to split the difference with Rufus, and to have him call me Beryl, a perfectly lovely name, but not so sweet as Gladys, but he said Beryl is just as difficult for the memory to retain its grasp of as Gladys, and so we had to drop the whole plan, and he just goes along in the old way and calls me Han." " That sounds well enough, I think," said Walter, in a tone intending to convey comfort. " O, I can stand it, Mr. Walter, from such a man as Rufus I Mr. Walter, you don't know Rufus I He may be plain, and I don't say he ain't, but he has in him many elements of greatness." " Not much chance to display them here, you think? " " No, no, Mr. Walter I Here Rufus is not in his right- ful sphere. He has powers far, far beyond such work as this. " When the assessor asked me to give him the name of Rufus's business, I .said 'mariner,' for that's what L ,6, CAPTAIN BLUITT Rufus really ta. He tends to Cap'n Bluitf s horsM. and makes garden to oblige the cap'n, to whom he is fondly attached ; but Rufus's real occupation is that of a navi- gator of die mighty deep. There's where his affections rand,lf it wL't for me and CaP ° »'"'"v^!±: 'f this very moment would be bounding oer the billows of the fathomless ocean." " It's a dangerous business,' said Walter. "Yes. It takes real courage to be a true mariner, and Rufus has got courage if he ain't got anything else. Many and man/s the time, as he tells me when he Ulks of his wild adventures, that Rufus hasteen out on the very top of the giddy mast, with the bark beneath him pitching like a crazy horse, and threatening to hurl him into the waste of waters ; but Rufus's spirit never quailed. With the wind tearing through the tattered sheete, and the waves raging and roaring and seething with foam, Rufus, from his lofty perch, has looked witt unflinching gaze at the fierce tempest and hur ed defiance at it That's what Rufus told f « hjmflf;^. . "Really a remarkable exhibition of nerve, said ^••And*Si"time when the savage sharks, ferocious with hunger, were lurking around the ship looking for their prey. Rufus dived overboard right among them to rescue a shipmate, and, picking him up. swum with one hand and both legs while he sustained his drowning fellow-being *ith the other hand, and brought him safe and sound to the deck of the vessel. No wonder Cap .. Bluitt is fond of Rufus. The cap'n has seen hun many and many's the time in moments of awful danger, when Rufus was just as tranquil as a man asleep in his pew m church, ani not a nerve in his body quivered, so Rufus '''^AnKis is why Cap'n Bluitt put his hand on Rufus's shoulder one day and said to him. My roan you have in you the making of a great sailor and he ?rould have made Rufus his first leftenant then and there, if Rufus had only understood the mysteries of the Sator-s art. and so Cap'n Bluitt. taking Rufus from THE HERO BECOMES A PROFESSIONAL MAN ,63 ^«„ ^f ^ "°T''** mastered them, and can turn the prow of a great ship anywheres on the trackless ™ Rufus unac-stands navigation, does he ? " ...J !*^'^-- ^."P" ^'"'" has unfolded the whole tn^'^. '"?•''"* little real use is it to Rufus to know about these things, seeine that his fomil,/!!!!? .ronical fate, have decfe^J that^e sho^j ,S *^3Vfe henceforU, upon dry land. But Rufus is determined n5 ^eSlav^o^t^in^th'"' ^IS^^'f ^^' *""• "^ he7actrsfs eveo' day out in the garden there amid the asparaeus- fn,f„,^ r **''i* ""' "Ptain's sexton and other nautical ^»^I1 f"*^'*"1 ." "°°"*'<^« approaches, he mak^ h^ observations, taking latitude and longitude and dis covering what is indeed the true time of dav Ami fL fact that Rufus really does know how to^^rform this tKl°" r^'^'^i" P"^^"^' '" ""y opinionrby th" fart that almost every day he shows that the town-clock is ZofThr^""'?; V^"\^"^ '"«'fr°"' one hour to fou out of the way. Rufus. therefore, disregards the clc^k •nd cames the true time in his watchfand SltWhe thtf" "I^Z "^""^ "«'"°"'"t P«>P>=. whi depend upon ftat worthless town-clock, sometimes complin of C \i£ ^'°°^*''** '^"^"' '"' "'S'^* '■* conclusive," remarked Blui«"hJHf^V' »"°*er thing Rufus learned from Cap'n Bluitt hardly less significant than navigation, and that is r HnJV''*" ?"i" '="''' ^' "^"^ of the Roman numerals I dont pretend to know much about it myself but t^fcTh!:'' h«- a quick grasp of such matSSdl^ tells me they used to use letters of the alphabet instead ?Ll?^'".',V"'""""»: thus IV will stand for 4. and so Kv tern th'^r. " t""^- ^"'■"' ^'^ «> fascinated by caota^nTr he h ?.'^^^5 '" '"^^P ^^' ^""""'s with the h7SA I u""" ^i ^E^gs and fruit and vegetables he sold down here to Mr. Shoemaker', store, in the i«4 CAPTAIN BLUITT Roman numerals, and it was his delight to use them. But he has given up the practice now at Captain Bluitt s earnest personal request." " Why ? " asked Walter. "Because the first month after Rufus began to figger that way he went to the cap'n to settle up, and it appeared from the report that Rufus owed Capn Bluitt a sum of money ranging somewheres near to four hundred thousand dollars or thereabouts and upwards, and Rufus he said to Cap'n Bluitt, ' I don't see how that can be when I only sold eight bushels of potatoes and a few tomats and four pounds of butter and a few stewmg apples, and anyhow,' said Rufus to Cap'n Bluitt, ' it ts difficult for me to know how I am ever going to pay you four hundred thousand dollars and upwards when my wages is but eight dollars a week with milk and eggs and kindling wood throwed in.' Whereupon Cap'n BluiU kindly proceeded to overhaul R»ius's monthly report, and ere long discovered that the mistake was caused by the fact that Rufus misunderstood the cap n when he explained to him the system of Roman numerals, for Rufus misunderstood him to say that M *ood for s, whereas really V stands for 5, and M stands for ic»0, and ro 01 ,and other letters mixed the same way through misuppreliension or Rufus not hearing aright, with the result that the money owed by Rufus to Cap'n Biuitt for the month's transactions, instead of running far up to a staggering sum of hundreds of thousands and upwards, was readily reduced by accurate arithmetical proceedings to eleven dollars and thuty-eight cents. So Rufu* dropped the Roman figgers, and was glad to do it until he could get more practice;, because he said Capn Bluitt might some time feel queer and crooked, and take advantage of him when the report spoke of millions, and maybe seize our household furniture, and put me and Rufus in jail for debt. So now Rufus keeps tally of the butter and pears by cutting notches in the studding- post on the left-hand side as you go in the door of the cow-stable." . , ,,7 , " That really seems to me safer, said Walter. THE HERO BECOMES A PROFESSIONaI. MAN 165 At this juncture Rufus entered the house with his oldest boy, Sammy, and the three other children, who had come from school to eat their dinners. After greeting Walter, Rufus promised to have the mare and the buggy ready for him at ten minutes of two o clock precisely, and Walter returned to the mansion. When Dorry Hamilton came from the house wrapped in her warm grey coat, and carrying a heavy shawl for further protection, if that should be needed upon the nde, Walter felt as he stood by the stone carriage-step ready to help her to climb into the vehicle, as if he were about to have altogether the most delightful experience of hM hfe. She looked so pretty too in the coat of becommg colour and shape, in the silk handkerchief tlkat encircled her throat, and in the tasteful bonnet in which her sweet face was framed. And when she was seated and comfortably tucked in and Walter sat beside her, elbow to elbow, sure that he should have her, and her alone, for his companion for the whole afternoon, it seemed to him as if that old com- plaint he had heard so much, and which he himself had more than once made, about life being tragical, could hardly have any basis in fact. At any rate there are compensations. Tragedy there may be, but nobody can deny that there is a generous proportion of joy, and Walter thought within himself that he would be quite willing to accept some of the tragedy, if he could now and then have such an allotment of pure bliss as had now been bestowed upon him. It was an OctcA)er day, and there was a frosty flavour in the atmosphere, making wraps desirable for comfort and yet it was one of those days bright with sunshinej and rich in the autumnal colourings of nature, when life really seems better worth living than at any other time. As the youth and the maiden, joyous with health and hope, and more joyous still because they had their first glorious f limpses of " that new world which is the old," where the master-passion makes life perpetually rapturous, drove out from the town into tb« lane borderad ,58 CAPTAIN BLUITT with twes crimsoned with *«*««««>«' *'"*^'"''.'*lSy;i^ Ilway^Jard the hflls covered wiA gold, and fairly flaming in the sunshine, Walter said : "What a queer thing it was for the poet to»pe*« °' thesTdavs in the aatuian as -the melancholy dayf ; the Ss'tTf The year.' I ^Wnk they « n<* a b« ^. They seem to me the most dehghtful of ^l*;^*" « So do I." answered his conupanion. " The pot* was ^''"^"•il Wailer, "the heat of the summ«- is ,-. we have coolness and comfort without cold. «>d »a^ r^ is beautiful with colounng c^^ ^f J^S mere verdure is tame. Look at that tr«. it m uice r^aW crimson fire. Summer has notfcmg half so "^""^J" mood we are in affects our view of things ^^^^■JSTeS W^SertA-andit -ay be th^ the world looks so lovely to me now, becan^ I am so '"'Ft^as the boldest thing he had ever said to h«^ She did not reply, but a glance at her face convinced him that she was by no means unhappy. "No do^t it is true." he continued, "that our feeUngs colour everything. I remember a man who was in deep Son Wing to me that the sunshine looked black to him— literally black." « How dreadful I Poor man I ^. . . „„„,^ ,. "It seemed to me like exaggeration, but maybe it was not I am sure that everything seems to have new betraty for me within the last few moothi ^nfour occupation is suited to your tastes— that is the "Writer knew that this was not the only reason, and he euessed that she knew it. but he answered : "^h yes, of course. The sUghtest labour m my old business WM hard and hateful, but now I can do any Santity of work and deliglit in it as if it were pastime^ •How nice that is," she said with sympathy m her THE HERO BECOMES A PROFESSIONAL MAN 167 With masculinvi selfishness, his talk was of bis own things. " Do you know that when I look back at myself as I was— weU, ear.y iist summer, I can't underatand how I found mere exist.;nce endurable; everything seems so cold and uninteresting, and even repulsive." ' !.'i Itf-' i" '^" wiy too," said the girl artlessly. 1 think of that horrid traffic I worked at so haitJ and with so little interest, and then— then, 1 didn't know you. You have been so kind, and your letters have given me so much comfort." _'_' They were poor enough letters, I fear," she said. If you only knew how they helped and comforted me, you would not say so. It was much that I had work to do that I liked, but much also— very, very much —that you cared to read what I had written and to praise it "Because it was so good." she said heartily. " Even lather spoke very warmly la praise of two or three of your articles. ' " Did he ? " said Walter, eagerly. " Yes, several of them, and mother thought they wme wonderful for a man who had had so Uttle experience And as for Florabella Bums— ah I if yoM couid hear the fine things she said about you, your ears would tingle." "Mrs. Burns won't have to develop much further before she turns into a completely-equipped angeL" " I love her so much," said the girl warmly; ' I doo't know why, but I care more for her than for girls of mv own age." ^ " I wish I couid think it is because she praiMs me," said Walter. Th.;re was a tempting opportunity for another jnovemen'; toward perfect bliss, and he could hardly resist it Dorothea laughed lightly, and said : " She praises all my friends." Dorothea felt as if perhaps the crisis had better not be reached in that particular place at that particular moment Walter had a strong impulse to make the plunge and i6S CAPTAIN BLUITT i have it over, but he reflected that he had known the girl but three or four months, that she might not care for him now, or she might not care for him as much as she would do after a while, and that, if the very worst came, it would be singularly unpleasant to have to drive three or four miles homeward in a buggy with a girl who had refused him. And then papa might be more likely to smile upon the underUking when the editor's salary should grow larger. He decided to wait . v * . Then they came to the place where the great chestnut trees, growing in the field upon a high bank, overspread the roadside, and then the bay mare stopped, while Walter, dismounting, hitched her to a small tree, and then helped Dorry to disentangle herself from the wraps and to descend from the vehicle. The ground upon the side of the roadway was strewn thickly with brown leaves, amid which were open chestnut-burs riven asunder (according to popular belieO by the frost, and hidden among the leaves were quantities of chestnuts, brown, fat, and cold to the touch, as they were tempting to the eye. Walter had passed the time when chestnut-seeking, regarded from the standpoint of the mere consumer, had in it incitements to enthusiasm, and Dorothea Hamilton was not eager for it as a m-ians of obtaining supplies for the appetite ; but both of them thought, as they wandered about under the great trees amid the rustling leaves, with no one near to listen to their discourse, with the sunlight sifting through the overhead branches and streaking the dead leaves and the dust with gold, that never before had the gathering of chestnuts had anything like such an infusion of poetic interest as that which was plainly perceptible now. j ,,r ,, As he picked the nuts from the ground, Walter put them into a little basket brought by Dorothea, and when she had a handful she came over to Wm and dropped them into the basket, with what the young man thought such sweet grace that he would have been willing to continue for hours to gather such a harvest if the day THE HERO BECOMES A PROFESSIONAL MAN 169 j«rf^ not «o much shortened itself since the summer- But before the basket was filled, Dorothea said : I think we should stop now and make ready to eo home. The sun is not far from going down." and A^^^'"'!*!'' 5''f''«M'' *« »»<:k part of the buggy, and tiien he helped her m once more and wrapped hw up and untying the mare, got into the vehicle himself jrnd^ drove as slowly as he could upon the homeward HZ,°„.h"p'^'" •":;' ^'i*'' *"•'* ^" °f Ws talk with Hannah Potter, and of Hannah's enthusiasm for Rufus, and of her perfect faith in Rufus. ^ Dorothea laughed heartily, and said : beUa.^ Did she tell you of the present he brought to "No." w^"a ^n^A.^^' "/'*• '^''i'M'" «pl"'ned to her was a plug dog, and very valuable. She has it vet if%^'' '^^'^ *'? "V^r.^ S°°^ ''«^' °f '"a'arial fever ^T^^'^'c^"'"" '^^^^ ^'- Q"«^''='^ "bout it. and re- marked, borne says it's infectious, and some says it's wntagipui^ but what I want to know, doctor.' is it thl7^!f «a"y.&ie." said Walter ; - 1 must remember tliat But what impressed me was that hV; whc who se«ns like a bright woman, has actual!-' pcrs-aadrd Ser- sell that that ungainly creature is sublim- ,'r --oic ' He has tnany elements of greatness," she said to mc ' ' How funny I" said Dorothea. "And >rt." - ,e sai(> "'r7f/'',y.'*"=°"""K*°'>"' "and yet, if she love> , .^; '• « Well, asked Walter, " if she loves him, what then r ' iften t Oh, then no wonder she gloriPes him I " Love, the transformer," said Walter. "Y«i,yes. Is it not so? "exclaimed the girl. "Ifsh> lovM him, all his ungainliness is grace, and his stuoidity wisdom. A woman must have one hero." Afterwards Walter thought himself a fool that he did not give this woman at that very moment a chance to 170 CAPTAIN BLUITT Mv If the had found her hero yet, but toftead he **''How wonderful is the love that can make Rufuf seem heroic I It i« a severe dead-lift that can exalt such a clumsy, ignorant fellow." ,,,,., u u-j Dorothea made no response. She felt that the tad perhaps spoken unwisely. She was convinced by Walter's answer that she had done so. The carriage neared Graver's Point. '.Would you be willing to stop here, just for a moment i asked Walter. " I have never seen the park. You know I did not leave the road when I was here last summer. I want to look at the place where I first met you." She agreed, and again they both dismounted, and when he had made the mare secure, the youth and the eirl walked slowly outward toward the river. The river had on it some of the tints of the setting sun, and when they had looked out in silence upon the flowing stream, they turned, and there off in the west, beyond the hills which began to grow sombre as the lieht was withdrawn from the eastern slopes, all the sky was shining with the splendour of gold and purple and eieen. The few drifting clouds were masses of flame, lad from below, as if all space behind the summits were filled with glory, streamed upward an immeasurable expanse of golden light quivering in the autumn au-. " Isn't it lovely ? " exclaimed Dorothea. ^ " Lovely beyond the possibility of words. ^ "Nothing in all nature is so magnificent as that " No, noUiing." answered Walter. « How absurd it is to try to represent such overwhelmmg bnlhancy with paint I No man can paint that" • <• ,1,. " It seems almost as if it might be an opening of the gates of the Celestial City," said Dorothea, sojeranly. "The elory of the Lord— of the Lord of Hosta 1 " But it is of the earth earthy," said Walter. « Already it begins to fade." ■• u. "And that wiU shine for ever and for ever, she answered. They walked away from the din. THE HERO BECOMES A PROPESSIOKAL MAN 171 "There," said Dorothea, pointing to a bench "Is wherB I sat with Florabella wU I saw the child about to fall over the cliff." "And you rescued it?" asked Walter. l^'That is how I sprained my anltle," she said. I never heard of it before. And so you are a real heroine?" he remarked. u !1?k' "f-.",^ nothing. Any one would have done It without thmking." "But how lucky it was you were hurt," he said. Lucky ? " "For me, I mean. I might never have known you. v«v'^w."°*r.^" ^"j"^'' "* *»' ^""y «"« 'n t'lat sufferS" '"""" *'" *'"^' "" '^"y *^^ y"" Then they rode homeward once more, and he said : I shall never forget that place. Do you know places sometimes acquire a kind of sacredness? and perhaps this^wUl do so. You wiU come here again, will y^u "Oh, yes I" "With me, tool" " Perhaps so." ^f* k". «° ^ *° '°* °^ ""« °' *em, when many year^ had flown, to come to this spot, stricken, afflicted. ^r'fcJ" *!f'"™' i* "'P ^y **»P ; *° ^y- " '« ^^ here we stood and saw the sunset ; here we walked beneath Uie trws; here we looked at the great river, and here we had joy deep, intense, unspeakable— joy that is now but a memory, joy that will not be known again until we meet in heaven— we two ; we two who are one. no matter if infinity lies between us to separate us trium^'hanr"' ^^^ °^ ^'^^^' '""P^'^hable, eternal, " I go back to the city to-night," he said as the carriage slowly entered Turley, while the dusk enveloped the town ' You will write again to me, will you not ? " __ Yes, yes, I will write," she said. " ■"' ■:an not imagine the pleasure I have had to-day in y . company I " continued the youth. MmocorY nsoiuTioN tbt chait (ANSI and ISO TEST CHART No. 2) 1.0 I.I mm2B In ■ ■ zo A /1PPLIED INAHGE Inc 1653 Eoit Main Street Roch«tt»f. New Yorh U609 USA (716) *8! -0300-Ptione (716) 288-5969 - Fa« 1 172 CAPTAIN BLUITT " I have had a delightful time, and I thank you so much." " Good-bye," he said, as she dismounted and prepared to enter the house. " Good-bye," she said, and he thought she looked love at him from those soft grey eyes. He knew that her hand lingered in his, when he pressed it " She is mine," he said to himself as he drove down the street a happy man. And she, as she hurried to her room, to sit and think over and over again of the words he had said, and of his appearance and his tenderness, said to herself, " That is my hero I I am sure he loves mt 1 " CHAPTER XI THE ARM OF THE LAW IS EXTENDED Becky s1ife7!'t°Cap4t„'BS"'r"' "^V «"=°""ten^ her husband the Sulars of ?hT- ' '■^' ''^'""^ '° Metcalf determined to a^nL ^ "icdent. and Mr. return of the fuSeslavftotl^''f"T.-'° ^'^^""^ *« But Mr Metcalf ri.vi : "^ plantation. ever acfed" S^, un1es"°un'd1r ?ht • '^- N° Metcalf passion. It was a oart of th. m^* !?P"''^ °f «t'°''g Metcalf practice to mHn^L ^^'^i-*-'^ "**"«= ^nd thi be in a hS:^ a^ut aTythfn^ ^nhil'^'""" °^ !^PO»e- To ing in ext^rdtaaT/ cfrcumfunces t^ T''^."' ^^"^P'' of mind or body, to make an^ u?'i° $*''"i" agitation manifest want o^ diJSftv ,h^ '"'' r°' " ^"«*' ^"^ *<> Metcalf (unl«s he C • J."'^ of P°'?e J and no neglected dig„itytr3 ind.S??; p^^^'"") '^^ hah'uKhrpX'ert';\:^d''i?''4°^ outinaperfectly^i-?---^ exS^Ss'peSna'f^J^^'Lr^iSr^s^ ''"h'^- ^ have ncKidcd t/hSlT ^T a gfaL"^f ^1^ •74 CAPTAIN BLUITT No Metcalf could condescend to grapple with a negro, any more than with a bull-calf or an unruly swine. It was Mr. Metcalf's purpose that he would have his over- seer send a man who had acquired expertness in slave- catching, to fetch the woman home by the due process of law, and to have him go upon the mission with a suggestion in his mind that, if the law should not work promptly, to bring her home at any rate. The promise of a reward of five hundred dollars for her return had not been withdrawn, nor would it be. After permitting several months to elapse, and having deliberately dispose! of some other and perhaps more important matters Lhat had engaged his mind, Mr, Metcalf one day summoned his overseer, and after giving him the information that had been brought home by Mrs. Metcalf, instructed him to send John Blodgett, the slave-catcher, whose services Mr. Metcalf had more than once before employed, to take possession of Becky Slifer. Blodgett appeared in Turley at the end of the winter, and after determining the fact that the woman was still living quietly with Captain Bluitt, permitted himself to have a period of repose, after the Metcalf fashion, at the hotel. Having considered the situation, and in a leisurely manner made himself acquainted with Captain Bluitt's grounds and mansion, Blodgett concluded to try, first of all, what the processes of the law could do for him. He went, therefore, to a justice of the peace, and making the necessary oath, obtained a warrant for the arrest of Rebecca Sl'fer as a runaway slave. The proposition of the magistrate was that he should have the warrant served by the constable, Blodgett, if necessary, assisting; but Blodgett made objection to this proceeding upon the ground that if two men should approach the woman, her suspicion would be excited, and there might be trouble. " If you will let me do it," he said, " I ".vill arrest her myself, without any fuss, and clap the handcuffs on her and bring her here." THE ARM OF THE LAW |s EXTENDED ,„ Becky was there engaged in her usual work. bhe stopped and looked sharolv at thp int^..^-. u the"ro7?'2n'^ Blodgett, looking at the floor, with see him." " ""^^ '" '''''pointed. "I want;d to " X°" '/"* •*«>■«' <"° you ? " he asked. livinVr?'^°" "^ ■"" y"'' W^^'"' I <»°'-n' yer, but " What's yourname?" m:7^e'l'i'Srh::ita"n?s"i?^ my name, dat's 'miff." "'" ''"°"' Let'meTe"*anrB!ld' f.'" y°" before, somewhere, move? towards her. '°''"" "^'^ ''"'^ '^'^ -^^air and Becky darted towards the door that IpH f,„„ *i. htchen to the house, but Cgett LlrceSe? ht' Tlien she ran to the door that opened to the earden hlX^Jo^^'S^rti^'^Sr^S^^^^^^^ drawing hermanacird aim quickly ata?L1c^^^^ and made another effort to reach the doo? ^"""^ tought with the fury of a tigress, while she called for /■ 5 i t-. ! i ! 176 CAPTAIN BLUITT help. He tried to choke her, but she leaped upon him and flung him over, and the two wrestled and rolled over and over upon the floor. Blodgett felt that he had undertaken almost too much for one man ; he wished he had brought the constable. Becky's cries brought Miss Bluitt to the kitcheii, from the house, and Rufus from the garden. As they entered the room the two combatants were in the fury of the fight, and tc the observers it really seemed as if Becky werj likely to be the victor. Miss Bluitt regarded the scene with amazement and terror. " Separate them, Rufus," she cried. " Pull them apart 1 This is perfectly, perfectly dreadful I " Rufus seemed somewhat timid about meddling with the fighters, but Miss Bluitt urged him forward, and laying her own hands on Becky, with Rufus she pulled her away and raised her to her feet. While Blodgett scrambled upward, Becky stood pant- ing, dishevelled, covered with dust, with eyes glaring at him as if she would like to have one more bout vith him, that she might bring his career to a conclusion then and there. " Becky I what is the matter T What is this terrible uproar about ? " asked Miss Bluitt. " And you man 1 " she said without waiting for a response from Becky, " you wicked, scandalous man, whoever you are I How dare you come into my house and try to kill my servant in this awful manner ? " And Miss Bluitt stamped her foot and glared at Blodgett almost as furiously as Becky did. " Beg pardon, mum," answered Blodgett, looking somewhat shame-faced at being caught in the very act of suffering defeat from a woman, " but I came here as an agent of the law, and this nigger flew at me like a she-cat before I could hardly say a word." " Licked you too I " interjected Rufus. " Rufus I " exclaimed Puella, scamping her foot again, ■' be quiet 1 " " Yes'm," said Rufus, " but I Relieve she kin lick two like him." THE ARM OF THE LAW IS EXTENDED ,„ here a warrant for the arrest of ft ■ "'""°''' " ^ ''^^e resisted my atte„,pt to s^i^^ft" " "'°'"*"- """^ ^"e '■ S^'SelVrrMetLf^r' ^°' *^^^ to take her before a mL!!fr f .' ?'*''=• ^"^ ^ am going „ "No youse not I iTeS l\.°f'^'^" ''^ ^^"' ^^^^^ Becky, fiercely. The u„Tucc«,f? I "? "'^S'"'''^''^-" ''«'"d from her left L'st ^ shrspoke " ''""'"^"'^ ''''"&'«'' hana^e^ ^^^W^^^r ;:^1,^''^^ «'"'•«• Blodgett the l^tWea SVoT;^^' ''°"''^''^''--''. '' I haven't fn^^hTCe^atrmr arl'' '"^''.^ "° <^■•'^- 't. This woman will hTve to p^ hJ^'^' "H'^ ^^ ^"°'^^ --erwho opposes .t.^ No'holy c-^f dlf^'^a^ ^^;^-i,- " r hnT ^ "}"""='' ^°' ^" t" get off? '• can \eiir "°*' '"^''-' "»' ^hf re Zy be. Nobody ■^B'eck?!",*"™"'^ *° ^""^y «"' «"'" he so quietly with the man I wi, send" R^°; ^-^ y°" w"' g° bnng Dr. Quelch. and Iwiirhave "u? /" " '^"^'^*° Gridley, go with you to defend you W|| i'"'>'"^' ^^J^^ Becky thought a while anri th» u y°" consent?" "Missv I'll ™, " ™"e and then she said ■ cncefbX Vi To ^' SLt^elS!:"^ '' "^ -i'^ - Miss Bluitt called Rufus. ^ " Office tVaST'n-^S'^o'S^ f^i° ^"i- «"' S^' to bring the womin back *""■ '""P°*""'g him i,-*!'"'^""'? '"^'^'*'^ that this closed the case alfhn.,»i, he had confessed privatelv to Rlorfo*ff i ^^" moments before the h^r^nJ k ^ *^ ""'^ ■ 'e* r- ■9 i8e CAPTAIN BLUITT the right to seize her person. Who is this manr Nobody knows. He comes here with a letter purport- ing to be written by a certain Metcalf. But the letter may be forged ; or this man may not be the Blodgett named in it ; o: Metcalf may not own any woman named Becky Slifer ; or this woman may not bear that name. I know you too well, your honour, to suppose for a moment that you will employ your authority to hand over this woman, who is presumably a free woman, to this unknown man, to do what he will with her I Your honour, that kind of thing may be done some- times in a slave state, but not here, sir, in a free siate I Never I Never I Think of the dimensions «. f the wrong if this court, appointed to execute justice, should actually condemn a free woman to be sold into slavery, because some covcious ruffian has fancied that he would like to enrich himself by such a nefarious transaction I No, your honour ; let us have, first, proof that Mr. Metcalf owns this woman and has a right to her, and then it will be time to considei what shall be done next I move that this defendant be discharged." " Xebecca Slifer, you are discharged," said the justic: pron ptly. " One moment," said Major Gridley, as Blodgett rose to withdraw. " Your honour, will you permit me to say further that, upon its face and for all we know to the contrary, the action of this man, alleged to be Blodgett, in forcing himself into Captain Bluitt's house and violently assailing this woman in an effort to manacle her, has the appearance of an attempt to kidnap a free black person. This is an offence of a very serious character in this state, and if it can be proved upon any one, the penalties are severe. I am informed by the friends of this woman that they intend to proceed against this assailant, and to have him put under bail upon the charge referred to, unless he shall leave the town within two hours, and I will take pains to see that the threat is made good." Blodgett left the room with his counsel, who said to him when they reached the sidewalk: THE ARM OF THE LAW IS EXTENDED i8i II have that nigger yet," .aid BI^Kip t. to take vo^f r" •=°"1\^'«' ««• They will try again to)o':hryou*':m irke? "'■*"' ' ""' «'^" ^^^ --'' "I'se 'bleeged to you, Miste- Ouelch wernr m„,i, Wde°vCto"' Lr ^?''"' ™"' I stly^whTrel of W ^ ^ "'^'^'' ''■'° ""= =e'"- J'*« "ot feared Knl^*"^ ?^"' J'^^y-" »^'^ the doctor, gettine into hia buggy and gathering the lines into his^hTnd "do i VVhen Rufus, who had obs ed the proceeding in the justice's court with much interest, heafdX decision Misf BruiT"''' '' '"""•' ''°'"'= *° """^ 'h^ "-to Captain Bluitt had returned, and after hearing from «Lr*w'/''* ''""y °[ '^^ ~"t«^t i" hi; kitche„.Te had resolved to go to the magistrates office to L if he could do anything to help Becky *** house''"' "'*""^ ^'"'' " **"= '^P*'''" *"« '"ving the "Well, Rufus? "he said, nt "j^''!!.^ ''* 1^°'" h« ^claimed. " The judge never pave Wm f^"jaii;'°"''"' ""^j"' ^""^''y thVienedTo^put ;• To put whom in jail ? " asktd Miss Bluitt. .. 4 j^^*" ^^'^ he was a kidnapper." captain ^^^ " ''°'"'"^ '^'°""' ^S*'"'" ''^'^^d the "Yes, sir, straight home. Well, Captain Bluitt I pever seen a woman fight like Beck /I The wayshe I' «•» CAPTAIN BLUITT tackled that mkn t I'd nther fight a bear any time I " ' " Very well, Rufus," lald the captain. " Thatll da" " But, one moment," said Miss Biuitt, as Rufus turned to leave the room. " Major Gridley told Blodgett he would arrest him, did he?" " Yes'm ; the major said he was a kidnapper, and he turned around and shook his finger at Blodgett, and told him to git out of the town. I seen him when he dOM it" "Saw whom?" " I seen the major shakin' his finger at Blodgett." Miss Biuitt sighed a sigh of relief, but she had a new trouble upon her mind. She said to Rufus, who stood Kver by the door, fumbling his hat : " Rufus, you shouldn't say you seen him. The proper method of speaking is saw — ' I saw him ' — not when he dotu it, but when he did it." " Yes'm, of course ; that's when I did see him." " You understand, do you ? " "Oh, yes I I understand." "You know, Rufus, seen is the past participle of the verb to see, while what you want to use is the indicative mood, past tense of the verb ; that is, ' I saw.' And in the same manner, did is the past tense, indicative mood of the verb to do. You must say ' when he did it,' not ' when he done it' " " Certainly, ma'm ; that's just right" " I heard you say yesterday to Hannah, Rufus, that you were sorry you went somewhere or other alone, and you used this painful expression : — ' If I'd a knowed you'd a went, I'd a taken you along.' " " Yes'm, that's what I said." " I!ut, Rufu.s, that is dreadful. There is no such word as knowed." " Isn't there, mum ? Where did I ever eet it from, then?" "You should say known. 'If I had known.' To know is an irregular verb and the active voice, first person, singular number, subjunctive mood, past perfect THE ARM OF THE LAW IS EXTENDED 183 3 ^ *"' '*"'^ * in l»d known you would have " Very strange, mum, Isn't It ? " En^ufK " 5^'' . f"\ ' ^°"''^ • '*""■' '• quite impossible whT T*!! '* *•" P*"' tense of tfie verb to J, djii right." ''"* '^"'"'"'- ^"^ **» «" ""' P*"*' " I see," ^d Rufus. thrSHo' ■■'""''"*' "■*;" """"ked Captain Blultt, of IBe old Roman expression, /az-Z/.v/j crimmis— that i. he « »^ «n almost criminal use of participles." Blu,V °. ., *"'' r'"? '" **•*' sentence," continued MIm Now 'Rur. '^''^S! "**** *'"• ^'"' "'^ participle. Now, Rufus. try to be more careful in ..e future in ^akmg, won't you? It is really painful to educated people to listen to such dreadful misuse of language"' 111 try mum answered Rufus, " but you see I never had no schoolm' wuth speakin' of. I aln\ never had no ■uch show as you had, mum." " Rufus I " exclaimed Miss Blultt. " There I vou a doing worse than ever! You mean you have not had good opportunities. I know that,and'^I am ve"y very ^J2., y°^- ^"' «>»y y°" «»«' know thai two negatives make an affirmative, don't you, Rufus ? " "No, mum ; never heard of it before. I don't know what a negative is, even." " He used three," interposed the captain. " The third Puella7" ' '" ""^ '* ''*^'' '" '•'' "<=g«i'«=. oughtn't it, .Ja^^^'°^\ '^•"''"'' *!?.= ?PP°«te of affirmation, of yes," said Miss Bluitt to Rufus. -Ain't never had no- Three times you speak negatively. Once is enough. And there is no such word, Rufus, as ain't, though it is used sometimes for am not You could not say ' I am not had an opportunity,' could you ? " "I might try, mum, but it would be very hard." "Remember that ittver is an adverb, and opportunity IS a common noun, third person, singular number neuter gender, and objective rase." numoer, " Yes'm." i84 CAPTAIN BLUITT m • u ." ^°}^^ ^^y ^ "^"^ ^^'^ a" opportunity,' not a show, Rufus ; and then Aa his wife. He dreaded to present this speculative enter- prise to her. Somehow he felt that it would not appear to her mind to be as alluring as it seemed to him Women are so timid, so unused to business, so emotional until they have to deal with money, and then so cold and practical, and short-sighted, too ! No the mortgage plan would not do. Perhaps he could borrow upon his own note from some of his rich acquaintances— Captain Bluitt, for example. But up^n reflection it r-.ppeared unlikely that they would conseiT to risk so much in a venture of such a kind without outright security; and, if he should P«s?nt the Proposition to a friend, the friend might step in and make the investment for himself. ,. . . , Why not simply take the money from the bank ? Hamilton v-s conscious that that thought had been lurking somewhere in the recesses of his mind from the beginning, but he had tried to suppress 't, to keep t baSk. to hide it even from his own contemplation; but now, when it thrust itself forcibly to the surface, he felt his hea-t leap, and his face redden, and his whole nature thrill with the violence of the shock. . ^ ^ . He clenched his hands, and set his teeth, and started to walk more rapidly. . . , ^ -j ,♦ " No 1 " he said "No 1 not that I Let me get nd at once of that notion. That is madness l" He pushed the thought away from him, and believed that he had parted with it finally. He berame calmer ; but as his mind was tranquillized he found the sugges- tion forcing itself upon him again. It seemed to come up in spite of his strong effort and desire to keep it *"" Su^ose we examine it, anyhow ? No harm can be done by simply looking at the project „ » ■ i " That money can be taken, without the smallest nsk of detection, five thousand dollars at a time. It will TEMPTATION ,jj paying interest to the took and » I wmT. """'^'^ ?' :^^^'r:i^^f^{j ^ -Sufis year i"' S year ou"t for^"'"''' "'?'^ '°i«.'' f"' '^at tank ;j|a"^^S^e^-tSKf^-- to replace th^„tirVsuiril7J '''°''' «"«* *'" the pic"„reVe't7ei"'''K^" ^"^"^^ to consider again on the river-bank of^h;^ '" '"'•'"]"''• "^ "^» «"" hfusS increasedr^'pSefht;:^- fete 'cIV' ?' enSd'. Sdr„fd*Cl.nir; i^ t •''°'"^' -'» sewing. It seemed as if s , Jdenb he Lh ' /""•^'■,"?°n' a new atmosphere-a new world H^ ^'r^^**^ '"*° roused from heavy sleep "* ''^ ''''* » "n*" with Mrs. Burns - hut h. ■ "^ ^^^ fr"" » walk dinner ^2 over and wi^h T/ ?''"°'J "** °' '* ^^en i «« CAPTAIN BI.UITT Later in the evening he began, as was hia custom, to read the evening paper. There seems to be a kind of fatality about such things. Why. when you have the Inflammable material in your mind, is the spark al-trays flying in that direction > The first thing that caight the cashier's eye was the narrative of a bold speculative venture made by a man in New York, who pocketed half a milli jn dollars wth- out turning his hand. This set Hamilton's bram afire : afire with the covetousness and env>' which were ready to blaze upward at such a suggestion. In another part of the paper was the synopsis of a lecture by a scientific man connected with a govern.Tiental institution in Washington, suggesting that the patest mechanical achievements of the conchding half of the century would be made along the line of electrical invention. The lecturer predicted that eno'mo"» \°^- tunes would be gained by the men who should follow the success of the electric telegraph with applications of electricity to locomotion and lighting. Hamilton could hardly restrain his hps from uttenng exclamations as he read these things. The lecturer seemed to be speaking to h'm directly, to urge him to take any risk, that le might be among the first to reap the rich harvest thi was soon to be gathered. But he must no> pevr.iit himself, in the presence ot his family, to dwell upon the subject He put the ioumal by, resolved to take it up again in the morning, and then he forced himself to speak to his wife of domestic and social and other matters of commonplace. While the father set snares for himself, and appeared likely to close his eyes to almost certain consequences which had destroyid more than one man he had known, and hundreds of whom he heard, the daughter, happy in the home which seemed to her to have no shadows, and in the glow of the passion that is most delicious, followed, by means of letters from Walter, the course of his quick advancement. Once or twice in the winter he had found opportunity to nm down to Turley for a short visit, or to spend a Sunday upon which he could TEMPTATION ■95 tinged with pridfthat he Zj ^llf"""^ *'*'' ?'""""» M a public shaker a^qu'ring some reputation world long "|o learned thkt »^, ''"LT';'' ""'' "'"'<=««<« held by men h^ whom ,> f u"^ sometimes is strong ^,elus"ion" buTw' ^^rfiVst^'lnf "7'*'^ "' » somewhat as thiir were 7v fh.„ attempts, marred Pleteness of ine7pc*tnc • H,™ ""=r'°«""» "nd incom- his hearers tliat h^, r„„ •• ^.""""^^fated to him and to as a speYL^w'as'weTSdeV'''' '' ?<'-««' talent aslrSfnti^lVand H^^T'"'^'^^ ^'— demand for hs oratorv w,, .. " ^^'^^--ed that the with abundant oppEfty ?l7mr"^V-° ^"PP'^ •>'■» practice. "PPo«unity to improve his powers by He went upon the .tun'o for thi. flr.f »i . . work. '*'Ser and severer campaign his^ctlier.''''£^''iin'' '^'i!!!*' ''"^ «<»'^«' to that so much success and so n?.f:K '^" ?!"' '"''«ed stimulated his vanity bevond Th- P'1'^«/h°"Id have ness, had he not SseS sturdJ'"'"*^"^ reasonable- permitted him to tlkefn ,„^. .^^ ^°°^. '^"^«' "-hich the value of "poJuKp'pVuT '^''' ""^ ">'""- <>' tioSL ^rfromV-lir"- ;;|'''hr'' of apprecia- r^^w^h^tei^^nVS^rrf^^'-- not ,u,pri J Ssi^'iM"^!"'''';?'"';"',''" 196 CAPTAIN BLUITT Tempted by repeated Invitatloiw, Walter made a Hjtht venture Into the lecture-field. He chose for hii first attempt a church in a country-town miles away from the ereat city, and if he did not win a shming victory, the failure to do so may be attributed rather to unfavour- able circumstance»-chiefly to the character of his audience— than to his unfitness for the task. A Bood while afterwards he wrote and published an account of this experiment, which was not without its humorous aspects. He confessed that the theme had been suggested to his mind by the idols which ranged themselves u' n Uncle Bluitfs mantelpiece. Perhaps tl, narrative, read by Dorothea Hamilton with interest, may be worthy of a place m these paget which tell something of the fortnnes of the youth. Lares and Penates. I had no especial desire to lecture for the benefit of the Fourth Brick Church, but one of the deacons entreated me to do so, and as I had a lecture written upon the general subject of " Home," with the title "Lares and Penates," I consented to deliver it, without any fee, in the chapel adjoining the church. As nothing was charged for admission, the purpose being to take up a collection, the room was quite two- thirds full. I took my seat in a chair upon the platform, and preif:ntly was introduced to thr pastor, upon whom devolved the duty of presenting me to the audience. The good man approached the performance of his task with a rather di couraging air of deep solemnity. He said in effect, that while innocent amusement ought to be encouraged, he questioned the propriety of using it as a means of getting money for the church. He con- fessed to a serious apprehension that the forthcoming discourse was of rather a frivolous nature. For his part he had opposed the scheme of having the lecture, but he had been overruled, and now he wished it to li underetood that he washed his hands of the whole business. TLen he invited me to come forward. IBMPTATION •noring. It wai « .nnll ' T"*" ^ hewd wme one •nd sonorous The .Iee~r «.„v '°"8-''«wn, profound the met •«rene«,^;i*'?h, wuS ^» ^f^ri^dnj 'ngly. It seemed aVeflection^^ ^"Z^"^ ">« ««««»- enduring: it for .while I ciueht "X^ ^ •"?^"""«- ^fter front bench, and by nodd^nXnl .^' ?^» ">*" »" the of my face indicaKat^f wi^h^HT'"^ "" "'«'«Ie» •iMper. He arose and went oi« f ''i? '" ~"« the •nd carefully exam/n^ hTm Thl • S* '"°'^"« ««'• Jj^'f "■"• '° '"« «<'^ of the^teln^-^ SSS f-|ySVS'4^„^-?^"- 1^0 you want h,m I thought perhap. it would be better to let the matter . ^}^^.^'^!::,^^,^ 7 • young man and fqueezing her hand two or S «'*'"' H"i. '"lively conscious that I was looWn^^?!.- *''',*.'"^ ^ l^^ame h's arms, and fixin^hU S uno^™ "V^"'' '"o'^ed deep ."t ;est in the lwtu« h^'l^ "' *"'' »" »'> of foot \ nis. Even Jj^K ' * '^San to feel for her I. couK ee that ^our'n,^'.;-^" "P°V^« «'«""° "fe "ght anc .weeping all fb^ut in ,«* ?"/'"?« ^"^ 'o the seemed to -.ave it tuckt^S . r *'^'=* 'or her foot She he could not':ncoSt\7*^ou';h"H''''''H'^"=h.fo the very edge of his seat ,„^ »? ?\.'"' *»' forward on until I wasTeally afr^fd h" '^rust his foot underneath tumble over uj^nthe flcj,r T'^'*^,* 'J" balance Td at me during the entire^^tfon ^';^°°''!'^.«*"dfastly "Stfo '"^^'^ "^y Ws^exert?oni"°"^'' '^'^ ^''^ *- the -p'S^^'rZTon^^iAiY^r'''^'^'^^ "Po- '" «8d.ng my manuscript so aVterV.^'' 'T' ^''S^"''/ 198 CAPTAIN BLUITT key the wrong way and P"* *e gas out At once I whistled vehemently upon their Snef"'^"^ '* J'^.^j'ng difficulty that the good P^ftor could be hea^ urging that the best thing to do would be to adjourn. A deacon^ ^reruranTtll^tit^Mbe^l^l"^^^^^^^^^^ KKtet:d%he gas lighted and were^eady f«^ fresh start The man who snored slept sweetly ana nctd evenly all through the period of excitement He seemed to enio- uimself thoroughly. Th^n ! came o . : most pathetic and impress ve naiaee in my lecture, and in the very midst of it the Sns ma^suddenly awoke and began to applaud The audience joined him feebly, excepting that the voJne man on the front bench clapped his hands KusTy possibly for the purpose of diverting my Tttentionfrom the fact that his foot was resting at last 'TuteHa^s'n^applause when I.read my concluding oaraaraolL and withdrew to the chair at the back of the Srm^ P^P^e «c«™ed to feel relieved. One deacon S h.?sfc..id at the door, and two others started up the aUle with the collection-baskets. They began with me^ Both «me up and held their baskets at me and I could ^ot wS avoiS dropping -'-'^JiJ^K '? ^fdSco^s befo ^ audience was looking at me. One of the deacons betore •' M"Chtt was going to be a humorous lecture." WhSe collection wis taking, the pastor rose and said he felt it would not be right to permit the oppor- tunity to pL to answer, upon the spot, the argument advanced by the lecturer of the evening in favour of ^HnCupted him to say that he had mif J'*" "ly meaning. 1 had not favoured polygamy. What I said TEMPTATION ,^ Wki^S- *''' '** "^^'"^ eives a widow a third of her late husbands property could not operate where there were four w.dow5 of one man. It wa^I said, a kind of jeT But the pastor, without deigning to look at me went on to say that the most insidious kinds of evil are sorSe hmes disguised as jests, and then he proceeded to free his mind at much length. When he had concluded, the people walked silently out, turning their heads occasionally to look at me and to whisper the results of their observation NoboSy ri^^ f""' ^"/^ '. r^"^"*^ down-stairs in a sullen^ gloomy frame of mind. ' One"of'?h^^^'^^ l^r'^ *T° "*" ^^° ^^« talking. Jot J .u ^'".*''° ^""^ "°* I'sen at the entertainment "sanded :°" "''* ""^ ''=='"™ ^'^ ='''°"*' -«" ^e pel?uU" ^"°"°' '°'"**'''°' " ""ther 'bout tares and CHAPTER XIII I EDUCATIONAL INFLUENCES IN TURLEY In a town so small asTurley.it was unavoidable that every citizen should have contact and acquaint ^iice with all sorts and conditions of men in a manner that would have been unlikely, if not quite impossible, in a great city. A word or a phrase not yet prepared is much netded to designate with precision the class-differences that appear in an American town under such circumstances. The differences of social station and of education are there, manifest and indisputable ; but they cannot be fairly indicated if the humble and less learned folk are called the common people, though there is good Scrip- tural warrant for that phrase, because some of these people would regard the term as offensive, and the persons who should not be included in it would be shame-faced about seeming to convey an intimation that they feel themselves to be uncommon. It will not do to speak of the upper classes, or the superior classes, or the more respectable classes, because these terms also are unkind and often unjust Among the common people of Turley, if that phrase may be used just once, ^ere many men and women of really superior worth to some of those who claimed higher position ; and there were persons of wealth in the town who were indis- putably vulgar, while some persons without wealth, and in the narrowest circumstances, possessed genuine refinement. aoo EDUCATIONAL INFLUENCES IN TURLEV ,oi ™ invention of a more accurate designation • anH «»»;«• coi^'Sl^icnow^etMert'^ l-^"/.'-^ -« neighbourhoods They pa sed Zn7 lu"^ I" **= ''""*= maSy times a dav Th« u^°" ^''^ ^^'^^t' °ften ceptible Men and women ?? «ch c^assSivT""' other man would consent always to gi/e to him the b^? S 1*1 I 1 f H >>: „, CAPTAIN BLUITT courtesy he could command. He could endure plain ?^ and a narrow house, and a threadbare coat, and Sect to invite him to social functions if h's prosper- ouf a-d more learned neighbour would always treat him X a gentleman. Really this did not see-n much to ask • and the expectation was quite as creditable to the man who entertained it, as disregard of so proper a w.sh would have been discreditable to the man who claimed *°^:n':fthXttom of the humbler man's soul was a desire that his self-respect should have some tribute , and besides, he did hav^whether he framed the t.iought rnwo^doTnot. a perfectly warrantable conviction that his manhood had claims to recognition, whether upon the ^^und that all of us are God's creatures, or upon the l^^und, more plainly aPP"'^"^*"/^^ ""^^t ,„] inind. that a citizen with all the political rights that any man can have, has a title of respect from a citizen who Sandrfn that particular upon an exactly equal footing ''U the closer observer should have taken the trouble to look a little more closely, he might have found that lurking in the minds of some of the humbler men, there was reiUy a feeling of superiority to men of the other dSs aearly here was no looking up m reverence. But there w^. in the first place, the sense of greater D^wer tern of the fact that the humbler people having Tmajor^in all the rx,litical parties, absolutely con- trolled the government of the town; and out of this fS developed a sort of conviction that the persons had controDeally should look after and take care of tteplople who had no power to protect themselves, who^did not know practical politics, arid who were wholly unable to manage the more turbulent elemeuts rf the population, especially where political affairs were """Anytody who should have made a resolute tfifort to determine just where the dividing line ran between the up^r and lower classes in Turley m ght have found it perhaps, indicated by the speech of the people. The EDUCATIONAL INFLUENCES IN TURLEY aoj man who used precision in speaking and paid attention to the rules of syntax and avoided slang, nppeared to many of his humbler neighbours to draw the line for himself. He might be a thoroughly good fellow, but plamly enough, he was disposed to differentiate himself from the bone and sinew of the people, and he mieht even be suspected of having a touch of pride. At any rate, his accuracy appeared to reflect in a measure upon the plain man who was incorrect and careless m speech. To the man who always said, " We am t went," the other man who said, " We have not gone/' seemed to be straining the language to the point of affectation ; to be taking a good deal of trouble, and making an unnecessary fuss about a very trifling The ma who never rose above •' I seen him when he done It could not quite understand why another man should engage in the effort required to say " I saw him when he did it " ; and indeed he regarded him with a light feeling of scorn. It looked rather like an attempt to soar above the common dead-level, and to put the plain man in the wrong. The plain man sometimes knew he was wrong when he said, "I knowed;" but "I knowed," and "I seen him, and "I done it" were good enough for ordinary people; they had a familiar, friendly, good-fellowship air about them; they flavoured of genuine republicanisni that puts equality in the first place, and holds that one man is as good as another. If one man is as good as another in political matters why, then, one man's method of speech should be as good as another's; and rules of grammar, even if we know them, are not half so important as the duty of meeting the plain man upon his own ground, without attempting to show him that you know any more than he does. It was an ingenious suggestion made by Mr. Brown pnncipal of the public school, that, as the dividing line between the classes was indicated by correct and incor- rect speech, the two sets of people might be called the «o4 CAPTAIN BLUITT had paisables and the imparsables ; but this notir-. never been accepted in actual practice. ... In Turley, the politicians and the people did not look about them in election-time for the wisest business men to conduct the town's affairs in the local legislature; nor did they seek the citizens having the highest educa- tion and the widest information to direct the business ot the public schools. The plain people had the majority in both parties, and the sure method of pleasing the majorities was to choose for the places men who knew no more and pretended to know no more than the average voter. Men of this kind were pleased to have the honour that came from holding office, and the voters were pleased to have men of their own sort in olhce, and, more than all, pleased to demonstrate year after year that they actually had control. Like most Ameri- cans, they felt certain that they could manage the governmental affairs as well as anybody could. A Itrange fate had excluded them from directing the mills and railroads and great shops ; but they would prove by directing public business that this exclusion was not a reflection upon their cap .xity, but a mere freak of ° ^""was enough to exclude any man from the town council that he managed a large business of his own successfully ; but if this rule might sometimes be broken when the treasury of the town got its affairs mto a tangle, the practice was unvarying which refused to permii any man to go upon the school-board who could tell an adverb from an interjection, or could "bound Indiana when suddenly asked to do so. Acquaintance with a dead language was regarded with particular distrust. The feeling was that there was about such a language something fyf e"Of /"d. s"»s- ter and that the man who had the knowledge m his mind had come into touch with scmething foreign and un-American ; and, beneath such unpatnotic >nfluences might at any moment drift off into hostility to the old flae and hatred of the eagle. "When a language is dead, bury it, I say !" remarked EDUCATIONAL INFLUENCES IN TURLEY «s the president of the school-board at the meeting where &7oTi '^jr°'^ '° '■"''«^- the sfudjTf The board refused even to consider the matter mitted to find a place in the school-board. Ihe people did not complain that he was rich or that was'hiartv 'a^d h^'*^^ "''^'^ ""'? because "htmaS B^thef^ctthnf h ^t"""" '^''P°*'='* t° looseness, ^ut the fact that he was known to like the Romans and ll« 'J'""." " '^°'"^°^*^ for-even to make some reck- Sn^stC'"'"-*'^'''- '^"^'«'^»' "-t^'^ P^^""ice .„='J'j!u^'"f''^f" language," said Mr. Matlack. chair- tX In^H ^='>°°l-~"''"'""'= °" higher educatio"' ough to be good enough for any man." ^ in J^k"^"/!-'^ school-board at all times was an interest- Itudv ih'.* In '=°"'='»Pi^'r . by persons who dS to study the operation of the machinery devised bvthe state government for directing the business connoted with the instruction of the ySung. '•onnectea It was never more interesting than during the time of which this ta e is told. Mr. Brown, the princ^M tCught that one of the most enlivening meetings of the S held in that period was that following his introdu^on wSi^'fh ""'' "f ^f'^ '° *'•'= main^school loom ' " When the regular business of the meeting had been d sposed of. Mr Bunner remarked to the prel-dent that ^ke toTk"?.l°^,'''' '^-"^'^ "^^ P'^^«"*'he should uKe to ask him a question or two resoectina cr.m. matters that had attracted Mr. Bunne^s^attenfior* Ihe president invited the principal to come forward which he did, and when the principal had exp3 willingness to offer any explanations that might S« desired, Mr. Bunner said : ^ nnti~lP?'!i'''^ °°' ? '^'"2 of much importance, but I h^Ii^f^""!*^- P"n<='Pal.or somebody, has placid the " th. .2 if"-^".1:^"' "'■•''' '"^* •' ^°°^ "ke an Indfan, on the shelf m the main school-room. Has the princ bal some notion of teaching the children about Indians?" m8 CAPTAIN BLUITT H "That," said the principal, blandly, "is the bust of Dante ; not of an Indian." . " Oh 1 " exclaimed Mr. Bunner, " I thought it was the headofTecumseh. It looks like him anyhow. "I notice." said the president, "that you call him Dant/. I don't know much about him, but I always thought his name was Dant." "Dant*," replied the principal "With the / pro- nounced like a." »m..i,^ »i,. " Wrote poetry, or something, didn t he? asked tne president. ^ , " He was an Italian poet : a vary great rnan. "Wasn't he a Roman Catholic?" inquired Mr. Matlack. Mr. Matlack was a member of the Know Nothing party, and he was haunted night and day by the conviction that the main purpose of the Popes life was to undermine the foundations of the American "^Welt" said the principal, " I suppose, perhaps, he was You know at that time there was no other ■ ••Yes, I know," replied Mr. Matlack. "I know well enough. They push in everywhere First a bust jnd next one thing, and then another thing. I m opposed to it. I'd like to know who's behind this matter of putting the bust into the school." • • i « x "I take the responsibility," said the pnncipaL i thought that as he was a famous man and a great poet, we might have his likeness before the oWer children. "Tint's the way it always begins," said Mr. Matlack. looking as if the Republic were already lost. Give them an inch to begin with, and theyU take an ell. "I don't believe the taxpayers want the children taught poetry anyhow," said Mr. Bunner. What they want is just a plain, practical education, unlMS Im mistaken. The children had a good deal better be learning figgers and spellin', than lookin' at Dant, m my "^""while the principal is here," said Director Robinson, " 1 should like to ask what is this metnc system that 1 find some of the children trying to learn ? " EDUCATIONAL INFLUENCES IN TURLEY ,07 The principal explained the metric system. Wothmg to do with hymns, with lone metre and Robinson, who sang in the Baptist choir. The prmcipal said it had not "thal'thi ^S^IT"'^ ^T *" l^y" '■"''"'"d Mr. Matlack. .. V » *y**s"> came from France ? " .IT?' '■''P°'"'ed the principal, with strntS"'''"T^'"°^ '""'■'' Mr. Matlack, ^t D^nt^nH^ih""- Y°"J'»rt in with an Italian poet, L»ant, and then you fetch a ong a French svstem w.th names nobody can understand, and after awhie" Tnd sfn^n^^'r^n^"^'"^ *^.' ?,"''^'' ^^« '" the fron^!j„i t^ Z^ f^ ^°^ -^T '•»' Q"«"-' There's a good deal too much foreign mfluence. The despotisms of Eurooe are gettmg a foothold. This country^gooTenough f^ r lav flv A. A*"'"""' V"^ *''" " "" American sK 1 say fly the American flag, and sing American sones and have American systems, and shove the foreS out. We can run our own business. Why don't vou get a bust of General Washington ? " ^ ^ Director Ferguson asked if he might be permitted to Le sSS^r' P""='P»>.andhaving^obtainefSssion ;; Don't you think we are going just a little too fast ? " J In what particular ? - inquired the principal. timel^orVxaSe""'" *'^ ■"""= "''^'"'"'i-* »' *i, mo;U'e!atis^^S?%T^^ur^^ '''''''"'' "'"" ^« " And then," continued Director Ferguson, " I found my boy last night rassling with algebra, and neariv Zn^H""^' '^. ^ *?''',''™ *° ''"'P "f. »nd I°d have it dropped m the school if I run uhe school I never knowed no algebra, and I'll be satisfied if my tev makes out as well as I did." ^ ^ The principal attempted briefly to Indicate the nature and purposes of algebra. "Thafs all very well, Mr. Brown." said Direcfnr Ferguson. " It's your business, of cou^. to c?L forTuch ■o8 CAPTAIN BLUITT things, but we're • practical people, with no noniense about us. Figgers is for figperin', and letters is for let- terin'. There's no use 3f tryit g to figger with letters while there's plenty of figgers to figger with. Now is there i " " You see " began the principal. " I don't care to argue about it," said Mr. Ferguson, interrupting him, " but the fact is, you can't any more substract a from i, like my boy was tryin' to do last night, than you can substract the dinner-bell from the poker. It ain't in the nature of things." The principal did not reply. " My boy also says," continued Mr. Ferguson, " that his teacher won't allow him to say knowed. Why not ?" " Knowed ? " asked the principal. " K-n-o-w-e-d ? " "Yes, knowed. He says the teacher tried to make him say knew." " Of course," said the principal. " Know, knew. That's right; there is no such word as knowed." " I guess there is," answered Director Ferguson, with a scornful laugh. "I guess so too," echoed Mr. Matlack, "and it's a good deal better to say 'knowed,' than to be putting Dant up on the shelf and bringing the children's minds under European influences." "' Knowed ' is not good English," said the principal. " Maybe not," said Mr. Matlack, " but it's good American, and that's the best there is." " You say mowed," asked Mr. Ferguson, " and rowed, and show, sliowed, and stow, stowed, and glow, glowed, don't you ? " "Yes." " Very well, then, you say know, knowed, and grow, growed, and hoe, hoed." And Director Ferguson tipped back his chair, and looked around him like a man who has just won a great victory. The principal gazed at the ceiling. " Now that we are on these subjects," said the presi- dent, " Mr. Brown will pardon me if I bring up another EDUCATIONAL INFLUENCES IN TURLEY ,«, Httlejj,.tter. I don't w.„t to p„.h him too h.rd. president. «abou7ths„ISolo« the course of stuJies" "^"'"W that? been put into that^eaoIetSit.-^^^^^^^^ prinS': °^. rr;%'„?.°|hrt^^;- •• "^^^'"^ '"= respecting ,."?"»««» the beliefs of ancient peoples Bunner ^' ^ "^"-^'"P P^^'-y." remarked Mr. apart from its other Sst^^ ^" * '"'"°""' '"*"«'*. Ml'tPacr '■'°'" ^''=='^' "'" >">" «-y'" asked Mr. "Yes." Greek rehVion too mi^^ f ''^"^ * ''^"•^ ="d Turkey. . the Pop^ Swnd h^'J^ /°" ' P*"* *° "t^rt with, with up to '^ekg jusE' bkre L"eT ?'"?'' '■S"S'°" '^at'owns children 'Jl Low xvhethlrtt ''f^' blamed if those when they've J^;3''J;'r. '^^^^ Americans or not. tie CAPTAIN BLUITT The remwkaWe fact wm th«t the Turley public schools were veiy good schools indeed, for the reason that the principal was a competent man, and the teachers could not secure appointment unless they should pass examinations conducted by the county superintendent, also a competent man, who directed and largely con- trolled the line of study that was pursued The functions of the board were rather closely con- fined to management of the financial business of the schools, and fairness requires the admission that this was very well done. . .^ , .u Besides the public schools, there were m Turley other educational influences of no smalt importance, such as the Star Lecture Course, which had renewed popular favour every succeeding winter ; the two young men's literary societies ; the Science Club, with a membership including all the sceptics and persons who had really soaring intellects ; the Garrick Dramatic Society, com- posed of young men and young women, who presented in a charming manner light dramas for the entertam- ment of Turley, and the cooking school that held sessions all through the cold weather. But, in fact, the impression prevailed among the members that altogether the foremost educational influ- ence in that part of the state, if not of the nation, was the Women's General Culture Club, composed of women of the best social standing, and having for its purpose (to state the fact in simplest terms) the consideration of anything that would tend to enrich and cultivate Mind. , , . .. ^ , Mrs. Frobisher was the zealous and active president of this important organization, and there can be no doubt that its place of meeting was an intellectual centre of immense value in helping Turley to keep itself abreast with the forward movement of the Thought of the world. No report of one meeting of this august body could give any notion of the advanced character of its discus- sions and ite work, and from the mass of valuable papers prepared by the secretary, and printed in the volumes entitled Transactions, it may be well to select certain EDUCATIONAL INFLUENCES IN TURLEY „. S«KwTcc:!:tolli5°l':i *.'"♦ """"'" the Culture President FrcWsher in the chair. interesting a nature at thoU^^ J °'5="»»'°n of *o clined to take upThe JSU"du^,W ?f ^''"= *■*'* ««''■"- received by her yesterdav fS^^»l ' '-"""numcation :^|dpi:cL°dt^rrt«er'- '"^^'^- ^^^^ take up. and consider'the q'SionMerTX'^^^'^ employment of incubators with steam hlaf ^/ '1^ hatch ng of chickens micrht „1» steam-heat for the vigorouf opposhl ofSns who^Z"'^^ f^'''"= ">« unkindness'^'lowards antaT Jd to 4^!^e ?nfT"' uniform tenderness of treatment T^^ °l "''"' removing eees from th.. n.o» J /"* Practice of process J oTfnciMion^LSd'bt rhe^V^* "^' ducer of the p^m ?„ k_^^ • ' " '"* "*"• the pro- and" whilf thf^^oSe^TS"" S?' "''"' ~"""°"; did not desire to enclrS^t^J^^T^^rffi fia CAPTAIN BLUITT would pursue trifling causes of complaint, the feeling among the members is that, as the number of domestic fowls is very large, and their feelings presumably are not so wanting in sensitiveness as to warrant complete dis- regard of them, there is at lea"-' reason for discussion of the matter by humane persons whose minds revolt at any act of unkindness towards these helpless friends of man. Interrupting the reading of the letter, Puella Bluitt said she could hardly regard this matter as having any considerable claim upon the attention of a society devoted to general culture. She would not willingly wound the humblest creature or sanction anything likely to inflict the smallest pain ; but she asserted with the confidence of prolonged experience in the raising and care of poultry that the domestic hen cared little whether certain eggs were committed to her functions or not Few animals have less sentiment than hens. She had known hens to sit for weeks upon porcelain eggs, and even portions of brick, and, so far as could be perceived, with perfect indifference to the result. "But how do you know how the hen in her inner consciousness may have felt .' " asked Florabella Bums. Puella Bluitt retorted that while the study of the inner consciousness of hens had never largely engaged her attention, she felt sure that such consciousness could never be sufBcient'v vivid to produce genuine sufTering. Possibly the hen, under such conditions, might have yearnings — undefined yearnings — after something, it knew not what ; but in her view the worst feeling that could be experienced would be only a vague kind of disappointment, and it really seemed to her that a society for general culture would be going very far out of its way to devote much time and intellectual energy to an attempt to measure and to sympathize with the possible chagrin of a hen. Florabella Burns was about to take the floor, when the secretary interposed with the remark that she had not yet read the last sentence of the letter. This gave the reason why the society in the city had taken up the EDUCATIONAL INFLUENCES IN TURLEY aij matter. The feelings of the adult hen had had no consideration. The proposition of the society was based wholly upon solicitude for the chickens , ct unborn. " Why," asked Florabella Burns, ' •houiJ ih<^. t he any more solicitude for a little chicl ;n hatched hy an mcubator than for a little chic.er hatchet^ bv a hen?" ' "The correspondent society," said the secretary, "has been deeply touch ' by the indisputable circumstance that the little chick ns hatched in the incubator can never know a mother's love." Murmurs of sympathy were heard all around them. Florabella Burns said it was outrageous. Puella Bluitt said this was to her a new thought impressive and affecting, and she was sure the society should take action at once. Mrs. Pauline Johnson offered a plea for caution. She protested against precipitate action. Let us be sure of our ground before we commit the society to any line of policy with respect to the subject. Whether the orphaned chickens were less or more unhappy under the conditions supplied by the circumstances of their birth, nobody really knows. Possibly in many cases they may be in fact better off than if the hen, which would naturally havesuperintended the hatching.had not been particularly judicious in the matter of rearing her young. Besides something is to be said for man. Chickens are an important food-product, and any application of scientific principles which tended to enlarge the supply must not be lightly dealt with. Mrs. Sarah Perch said that she thought this view sordid. The total question is, do the young fowls suffer ? If they do, surely no consideration of money or of appetite should be permitted to forbid interference in their behalf. After a general expression of opinion upon the part of the members, the secretary said that a further com- munication upon another but perhaps kindred subject had been received from the society in the city, and she asked that she might read it so that, if the matters •14 CAPTAIN BLUITT should be referred to a committee, the two letters might go over together. No objection being made, the secretary proceeded to read a letter which explained that the city society had encountered rather singular embarrassment in dealing with a case of seeming cruelty to animals in the Zoo- logical Garden. The vice-president, while visiting the Garden recently with some children, had been shocked to observe that the boa-constrictors are fed with live rabbits. After observing with feelings of horror the manifest suffering of the rabbits from terror, she hurried home to call a meeting of the executive committee, which instantly adopted resolutions indignantly pro- testing against the practice of giving living rabbits to the serpents. These resolutions were sent to the president of the Zoo Society, and steps were taken to adopt legal measures to restrain the practice, if the request of the executive committee should not be promptly heeded. To the pain and surprise of the committee a courteous communication was received the next day from the president, explaining that the boa-constrictors cannot eat dead animals. If offered dead food the snakes themselves will perish from hunger. The society there- fore found itself in this extraordinary and most dis- tressing quandary: If it averts suffering from the rabbits, it will inflict suffering upon the snakes. It has a duty to both kinds of animals, and the diffi- culty is to determine just in what direction that duty lies. Mrs. O'Gorman said she perceived no difficulty. She would far rather let all the snakes die than place one dear little rabbit in misery. Mrs. Gwinnett begged however to ui^e that there is no more dreadful method of producing death than by starvation, and it seemed to her a very strange perversion of the functions of a society organized for the express purpose of averting suffering from animals that it should arrange deliberately to inflict upon any brute beast the agonies of death from hunger. EDUCATIONAL INFLUENCES IN TURLEY 2,5 After prolonged discussion, the following resolution was adopted unanimously and with enthusiasm : ■' Resolved, that the Turley Society for General Culture recommend the city society to ascertain if the boa- constrictors cannot be sustained in a condition of health by eating mice, and if so, to urge the substitution of rats and mice for rabbits." The president then suggested that while the society IS deahng with subjects of this nature, it might not waste time if it should take up and discuss the cruel practice of docking horses' tails. The debate that followed developed much unanimity of feeling against the practice referred to; but after several members had spoken, Puclla Bluitt, in giving her reasons for objecting to the abbreviation of horses' tails, said that an animal has few methods of giving visible expression to its feelings. Nature has provided in a very wonderful way, that the movement of the tail commonly known as wagging shall supply such expres- sion, and that to remove the part which is the medium of giving voice as it were to the emotions seemed to her a proceeding of the cruellest character. Florabella Burns rose to ask if she understood the speaker to intend to indicate that horses wag their tails. "Assuredly!" replied Miss Bluitt. " Never I " exclaimed Mrs. Bums. " I have seen them do it." " You are mistaken ; what you regard as wagging is nothing but a movement for driving off flies." "You may interpret it as you will," replied Miss Bluitt "I interpret it as a demonstration signifying gladness. I have seen cows wag their tails in the same manner, under pleasant impulses, and other animals also—monkeys and birds. I have no doubt the rabbits of which we have been speaking do the very same thing when they are in good spirits." "Rabbits have no tails," said the president, "or ho tails worth speaking of." " Very well," responded Miss Bluitt, " they wag what they have. Everybody has witnessed the spectacle." 3t6 CAPTAIN BLUITT " I do trust," said Mrs. Brown, " that this society, devoted to the culture of the human intellect along general lines, will not make itself ridiculous. If we shall go before the community as investigators of the maternal yearning of hens and of the sentimental impulses which urge rabbits to wag their allied tails, I am afraid we shall simply excite derision." Mrs. Brown then moved to lay upon the table any further references to the subject under consideration, and the motion was carried. Pending the motion to adjourn, Miss Bluitt begged permission to state that she held in her hand an invita- tion from Mr. Irwin McGann, inviting the members of the society to visit his studio to witness the operation of his electric motor. Miss Bluitt remarked that she saw the smiles that had come upon the faces of the members as they heard this invitation re&d, but she begged to assure them that this remarkable invention which she herself had regarded as a complete failure, was now actually in full operation, and could be pronounced a triumphant success. Upon motion the invitation was accepted with thanks, and the meeting adjourned. CHAPTER XIV INTO THE NEW WORLD WHICH IS THE OLD Many times as the winter went rolling bv Walter Drury resolved that he would find an oppoftuSky to av long restrained flood of feeling to pour forth ■ but iii«f the nght opportunity never came. He had met her a but ^°r^%°^ ^''- ^T'''""^ ^^'^ ^^'ked home wth her but a confession of love seemed to require some bett« place than the street for its making? and when thev reached her home, and when he caUed at her home^ either young Frobisher was there upon the most frivoCs pretence o see Dorothea about the church-mulk or s^^niVll'^'"^ ° ■ '""'^ °'^" "^'gl^bour had drop~A Z spend the evening, or papa remained in the paVlour with forT lover W if'' '" '^ T^^hing almostVddening tor a lover. Walter strongl;- suspected papa of enter taming a grim and shameless purpose to keep hfmself th7lffjl^ disappointed that he could not speak to t li h^ ^l ^^T\ ^I "'.°"S'^* *" *"t« to herabou? but ;,r,f t ,'"' ^f,^ ^''^ ''"^'^'^ ^>'"°st everything finli^i u Pit'" ^ '°^= y°" ; ^hy not in this Sann J should not make with his lips.' He -.eed not wait for that opportunity. Any day would be a g(!Ld daj m.fk V^?" reflection, this seemed not the very nicest method of expressing for the first time aflectiTn for a "7 ti8 CAPTAIN BLUITT woman. It might even have an appearance of cowardice. How much better, how much more romantic and suitable, to stand face to face with her, and to loolc into the eyes that were always beautiful, and into which he hoped to see a new light come, as his soul went out to meet her soul? He did, in fact, three or four times begin letters con- taining a proposal ; but he tore them up. They seemed stilted and artificial, and as if he were not really in earnest No, the manly way, the true-lover way, was to speak to her. Rapture by mail really might be said to lack some of the best qualities of rapture. He would go down once more to Turley, and would deliberately beforehand prepare a situation in which he could express himself. How much he regretted having neglected to make an avcwal while they were out driving together in the autumn ? And now the spring had come, and soon the summer would be here. How foolish he was to defer the time of his perfect happiness, if indeed she loved him I She would have a right to believe he did not caic for her so very much ; and perhaps some other and less deliberate suitor might appear. Young Frobisner, he remembered, appeared to have elements of impetuosity. Propinquity, he knew, counts for much in these matters, and pro- pinquity to Dorothea Hamilton, if one might be per- mitted to judge from appearances, was getcing to be the main purpose of the existence of Lochinvar Frobisher. And he was a good-looking fellow — or pretty good- looking, Walter thought, for a man of just that kind — a man of small intellectual calibre. Walter had always disliked young Frobisher's habit of hovering about the Hamilton house, and of hovering about Dorothea under the shallow pretext of considering the choir matters. Why didn't he hover over the fat bass-singer or the singularly homely first soprano ? The man was in love with her, and how could Walter know for sure that Dorothea cared so much for Walter Drury, that she might not, while smarting from his neglect, or INTO THE NEW WORLD WHICH IS THE OLD ,,9 JJms^SlrobishS ''^ '"'""' «'"«^ ''--•f -^^ '^^ Walter laughed a little bit to himself, as he considered how well assured in fact he was that the enclrcC arms hf,t .HlT'J!"'"^'' *?" ^°"W never clasp so fair an oK to ex^ctVarh'"'*'"1;^*^'° •'" She hadaifght When the sweet, warm days of early Mav were wi'h"^lL Vnd"? r'' '"^";>'/"'' "^'"- was re^icTn^! with grass and foliage and flowers, that the desolate winter had passed, Walter ran do^n to Turley one morning when his work was done upon his iourn^J and t?Cth«'' "r"*''" house for^a mome'nt o spe"k H. h H • vf"' °"V"^ '° C^Pt*'" Bluitt's dwelling. h»?, ^""u" '°.''^' '^^* he would come, and she had answered that she would be ready. And so after greeting his uncle and his aunt, he called Rufus,^;d he and Rufus went down the steps upon the side of the SZ'^"k to the beach belo^, followed by Captl^ deration ^"^' '"^^ ^"Pervising this smalf nauticl" thJnZ ","'^f '^ ^^u hpat-house. and Rufus took down fte oars, and brought the cushions from the locker and hunted up the rowlocks, and bailed out the few plilfult of water that were in the boat pauiuis n„:^?-^ '^*'^" ^" "'^ "^^'^y- ^"^ the boat was as clean and tidy and pretty as a boat can be, Rufus and Walter pushed It out mto the wat... and tied it to the -^near the steps at the end of the little pier - !,.i^\ftLfu fl*''.^ ''^P'V"' ^ho was beginning to feel as If he should like to go along, if the young people were only married, and clear past the period when three oeool^ are "no company," turned his hwd and said, "He« she comes," and he and Walter and Rufus saw a maiden arsorlf dTesS' ^"'"''P'' '^ '^' '"-t charming of niZi F r^'' ^""^ '? * "?""£ bonnet of really Sur- passing lovehness, carrying in her hand a parasoUnd Tan^. «/" • "^ face, more beautiful than anything w thin range of vision on the most beautiful day of the year CAPTAIN BLurrr I She greeted the captain and Walter and Rufus, and thanked the captain most graciously when he said : " I hope you will have a fine time ; it is a perfect day for the water." Then she sat upon the red cushion in the stern of the boat, while Walter shipped the oars, as Rufus pushed the little craft away from the pier ; and as Walter bent to his task, and the boat glided out upon the surface of the shining water, Rufus shut the doors of the boat- house, and went homeward to tell Hannah about it, and the captain, gazing after them for a while, turned at last upon his heel, and said : " What a fool I was not to marry when I was young I I have a great notion to do so yet." Dorothea watched the rower as with strong hands he swept the oars through the water, until the dainty boat fairly danced across the waves, and she thought how handsome he was, and what manly strength and skill he had, and how wise and learned and gifted he was, and how forlorn and desolate her life would be, could she not sometimes hear from him in those dear letters and sometimes be with him. Now and then he stopped rowing, and held the oars out of the water that the boat might drift, that he might enjoy the scene with her, that he might talk with her and look at her. How gloriously beautiful she seemed sitting there in the after part of the boat ! The great day had come for him. Before they came that way again he would know her mind. They would begin in that boat a journey which would be made together so long as life should last, or he would come back a broken-hearted man, to go alone along a way that would be sorrowful beyond all reach of sorrow that he had ever known. "Why is it," he said to her as he paused from his exercise, " that water always adds so much to the beauty of natural scenery? This Turley view would be nothing without the river." " Is it not beautiful ? " she answered. " Whether it be a river or a lake, or a rippling stream INTO THE NEW WORLD WHICH IS IHE OLD »i or a waterfall, the presence of water never fails to make tne landscape more lovely. I wonder just why ? Water in a cup c 'a basin or a puddle is not especially attractive. Water ? Why, it is just a colourless fluid, H.O ; I don't quite understand it." ' "Nor I," said Dorothea, "but why should we try to analyze it? We don't cai« that it is H,0, but we do care that it is charming to look at." "And useful to boil things in." said Walter, "and to keep our bodies from shrivelling up. It is a serious thing m"'v'*' *° "•'"'* '''*' ""^ '^''i" »•■* two-thirds water? Maybe that is why we like to look at it so much." "It IS just as if you met one of your relatives, you mean? ' ' "Something like that. But then if the earth is our mother, we are brother and sister to the rocks and the grass, and— and— well, and to the mud, also, aren't we ? " " The mud clings to us like a very fond relation, some- times, said Dorothea, "as it did to you, for instance the first day I met you, and you walked by the side of the carriage." "I shall never forget that day," replied Walter: "I thought It was a great day for me." " This is a better one, though, isn't it ? Drifting along the water is so much more delightful than any motion upon land. I wish I could row." "Will you try?" " If you will let me. But I am afraid I can't do it very well.' Walter drew in the oars, and giving her his hand she stepped over the thwart, and took his place while he sat upon the cushion in the stem. She dipped the oars in the water, and began to row with awkwardness which he thought charming. "Were you intending to go up or down the river?" he asked presently. She stopped and looked seriously at him, then at the river-bank, and then she said : "Didn't you say we should row down to Graver's Point ? " i ■ii CAPTAIN BLUITT " That was my idea." "Well, then?" " The reason I spoke was that you first started up the river, and then you appeared to change your mind and headed out to sea." She laughed prettily. " I told you I did not know how to row." " How would it do for you to teke one oar while I sit be de you and row with the other?" "Very nicely." Walter thought that would be the most delightful method of rowing that could be devised ; and so, sitting side by side, and very happy, they sent the boat onward to the point. The bow was grounded upon the sand-beach close by the rocks, and Walter, leaping out, pulled the boat far up on the sand ; then, helping his companion to dis- embark, he took out the anchor, and carried it from the water's edge, and planted it where it would safely hold the boat They clambered up the path hit ran along the side of the promontory toward the iiighway at the rear, and soon they came out upon the little park that crowned the summit No one was there. The grass was fresh and sweet and bright with the vivid green of spring-time, and the trees had their first glory of leaves, and the birds were noisy and active, and the soft wind blew from the south. As they walked slowly along the pathway and looked about them, Dorothea said : " Do you remember that we said as we stood here last autumn that verdure was tame in comparison with the glory of the crimson and the gold that flamed from the trees and the hills? But it does not seem so now does it?" " No ; we could not wish for anything more beautiful than this," said Walter; "but in truth there is no comparison. Each season has its own loveliness and all are lovely." "We are not perfectly conscious of it, when we are INTO THE NEW WORLD WHICH IS THE OLD ..3 Walter "Thi I** all through life. I think" ^nded Jn our youth, could have ,11 m*'^""' '-^ "* '^°' "°*. taught "us wherit S *bl! Sd ', •' '''"""^' "'" ^^^ Dorothea Mk^ow'ff""' '^ """^ ^° '""='' f""." «« it 'wSd teXsStT^'«°°- ^? *.''" ' '"''"" " «•« wasS'i^h^-^infrb^r^Sr^^^^ ^^"-- •:! co„tir,ued Walter.''«bST^rno°[lt i?^?" iast winter," II wiped all the bloom from the poem It rnhhlj ft I should not like it, I think." bhe felt then that she should not like anvfhm^ matter what, that Walter disliked "/thmg, no , „^ CAPTAIN BLUITT has of Juliet .how. him that he did "<>' »«"°* I*'"***'; H^ Jove, her the very n.tant he we. her. If I had t"ou&it at Jl. when I first read the pl«y. I J**'"'^ have^hought thi. merely the poet^ fancy : an Invention tuhout Junterpart in real lifTDo y°« ^no* when I rn'teSd^reSchTh^ first-^eet. they know each other '"'^DryouSel^^^ktd-^'c^o^^^^^^^^^ at him. Her hands were folded upon her lap. and her eves were upon the grass at her feet. *^« Believe it? exclaimed Walter ; " I feel sure that the truest t^e-lo^e is born in that way There are two wuls but the™are only half^souls ; each half knows the other ; and they fly together." .^:^C -oSu KetsSf more than that. °^%tinrrdtftucl"tS;" said Dorothea. „ .'ButTknowof an instance; I can tell you of one. he said. "Well?" " You will listen ? "■On Hummer morning not long ago, a man who cared only for himself, and did not know .f ever he should «« for another, wandered without a thought of worship o"of adventure into a church m a count^^ towm H?sat down and looked about, and thought it all very IJunid unti" suddenly he saw the face of a girl acros !u^«l!rn He was strangely attracted by her; but !JX"she rose and blgan to sing, and before her presently *"« '°^^,, * ," J7 lier He did not know her voice *af »J"^i^^„^^,i°^|^ Jh perfect distinctness, but, Sin up°o^ h's^^wa^ the Conviction that her li e ^mehowrs involved with his. He gained her acquaint- ing an^Tnew her well at last, and every day he lived he fivJ^ her better, and better, and better-and that woman, my dear, was you. moment there wa, iilencf "°' ""**«'• ^or a SheTuI l^C l^T loved me so much." he «id "IIoyeyoudearlv."shesa!d. "Antoh'h'r^Zn'a^''''''"^'^- the veo'firs , „ you dTthJ*' continued ; « I felt from Yes, dear, it s (^od who'J^f J« ^'°"g«d to each other shall put us asunder " ^"^'" ^°" '° ">«• No man «^"^Li;;7oK^3i'".^ifra^"''^ppr was such happiness i^ the world " "" "°' ''''°* ">«« each^ofh/rTeSi'^'a''/^ So'Tn'"' ^^^'-'f- 'ove heard so often, but I never eve^^^rfj ^°'"- ^ have the words." " '^*" K"«*«d the meaning of stlirhelSd £ har ro^'t- ''°'"? "« --<^- "And if any dark davl' s^-n"^ ' '"'^ """""8 '"t- I wonder," he cc.i t-T-ued "if oM ™ • . people who ha.c „.',■■■ .n"!^!, "'"^ married people- each other as n,u.h ... ,hey did TrXI """"^ y^^"' '"^e " They say," she answered ■• tL. T^ "^^ d° ' " spiritual union-and ours will K 'r^" ">^'« ■'« true dearest ?-that the two gro^^te*''"*;, ^'"" '' "°t. " ••Vo^^aS^^.''.?- °^^ -e a^iar„l.?"-^«=- entir?;p1rlaru£\>wlrfrfc^^^^^^^ dearly. I shall try to be like vou »n^ ' '^ } '°^« y°" and strive to resembirme andL,",t ^k" T" '°^= ""= not indeed be one ? " ' ^' *'"^ '^^t- shall we m m6 CAPTAIN BLUITT " Yes," responded Walter, reflectively, -^ one. We grow towards each other, or we grow apart, I suppose i « Apart 1" she exclaimed, with tremor in her voice. "Oh. rwt that Not that I should die if you should turn away from me. No, 1 could not live. He put hi? arm about her. " There is no fear of that, my dearest he said. Ihe strange, irresistible impulse that drove me to you-how marvlllous it wasl-came from the very centre of my souL It saw its own in you." "The impulse was divine." " Yes : and it U infinite— it is for eternity. They sat there, happy, the sunshine of the soft spnng day more glorious, the sweetness of re-born Nature more acutely sweet, because there was in their souls such iov as language cannot express. ^ "Do ylu remember." he said at last, "those Lnes about two lovers ?— ' And on her lover's arm she leant, And round her waist she felt it fold. And so across the hUls they went In that new world, which is the old. Do you remember that ? " "Oh, yes," she said, as she clasped his hand more closely! "And the next verse?" Walter repeated it : " ' Acrou the hills and far away Beyond their utmost purple nm. And deep into the dying day The happy princess followed nun. And you, dearest, are the princess." . .« ui, "Yes. yes," she answered, smiling and looking into his face "aLppy princess, indeed ; and I will follow you, and'love yoa F would suffer for you. and die for you.' He kissed her, and they rose, and, hand-in-hand. looked toward the hills on the far horizon. . u u „j Then they walked slowly toward the road, her hand upon his arm. two conquerors, both triumphant, both yielding themselves to perfect bliss. INTO THE NEW WORLD WHICH IS THE OLD „, 4""t e'^clfffraerto'r !'>' *^ e-«« ■ncl.ne and he said : *° "*^ "^"' they descended, ^,1 .fould ,uy her* for ever, but we must go home f:^^^^^ZS'^^^^^ he hardly bear to break the ;,!ln\u*/?"''."* '^ he could "Will your fathei^andmoS^i ^"^ ^* ^«« ""der: The lobk of haoDinL. o i f'^'^'P* «"«• dear?" other things. ^ J"^ 'hat she had forgotten is drSs^ri/^'o^Ct i"k;i,Vs^ ''^ r -- ^' you." ' ' "' ' ^^ he has prejudice against bei'iiv?/l?:o"L'S;t' ■" ""' '■' '■' — nable, and I and°aL't£Ir l"^;otth\"tr^' • '»«' ••' -'t kind He can have no g^Tu^'^^'li^^y^-'^P^^''^- speak to him?" " *" '^^ ""^"e^- When shall^j forbid me to see you * **"'''''= '^ he should :'ri?l%\"a^rdLi- once he quenched it sad Sm^Thtffl'S.me'bli^^ '^""- '' -"'d be I do ? " *"''° *=°"'« between us. What would '; Oh, never mind," said Walter « w. -n unjust You cannot au^I J^ft, r ^" "o* be quarrel with him Utus^utTh^^°"r '»ther, nor can I seem, doesn't it, as i? the,? cU L "^' ''^- ^"^ " ^oes without the touch of bktemt^'5^ "° -""^ '" tbis world He took up the oars again. " Let me row with you," she said. •*8 CAPTAIN BLUITT I " Is that the better way ? Isn't it my task to toil for you, mv love, in the long journey we are now beginning ? ' , l 4 " No," she said, smiling brightly once more ; no, that is not the way. We are going to toil together, side by side. While you are doing your share, I must be close by you, doing mine. I cannot be happy so far from you as this." , , ^ .4 So then she moved to the place where he was, and sat by him once again, and oars in hand they urged the boat homeward. ... It was late in the afternoon when they reached the little pier by Captain Bluitt's boat-house ; and when Walter had given his hand to his sweetheart to help her to alight, and had tied the boat to the post, they began to climb the steps to the top of the bank. Florabella Burns was there. She had been walkmg upon the river-side of the street, and she saw them coming. She stopped to greet them. As she did so, an odd look came upon her face, and presentiy she said quietly : " I congratulate you both." " How did you know ? " demanded Dorothea, startled, but smiling. . . "My dear," replied Florabella, " I saw it m your eyes. If I had known about it I would have hurried on. Oh^ you dear, sweet girl, how glad I am ! And you, Walter," she said, giving him her hand, « didn't I tell you you were lucky ? " . , . , t " Yes," said Walter. " You are my fairy godmother. You simply rain benedictions." _ ^ "Isn't it just too perfectly lovely for anything,' continued Florabella, joyfully. "To think of you two lovers sailing over the water in pursuit of bliss, and then sailing home again loaded down with it. I wish I could hug you, Dorry. Good-bye, dear. Good-bye, Walter," and Florabella passed onward toward her home, sighing a little and feeling rather downcast. With a final sigh, she said to herself : " What wouldn't I give to taste that happiness agam. embrace, he went away **° ^'' ""« 'ong last JoS&^at^^^.''^'' ^- to "er roo.. that y:*'=^'^:XV?°'^ "P°" ^-^ "v« to-lay with . Well, I don't half like i> h. • .. if" »fra,d she likes him." for h^er'^\^„:5-t»'t li'^e him. He is not the sort of man ^.; What is your objection to him, dear?" asked his whSSntve^eal'^^iJlir ^^''^^^^'^ ""-ess and then, he belongs ?o the Bl^rttr„^' 1 P°o^ ^'a-T ; common people. A gfrl hke Do^ '^ '^L^'"' ''"* ''«/ better. She must aim higher ?°"^ "" '^° ^^"^ "»«=h '• Wdfrdon? Hke" Wm "FT""^ >'°'"'^ «-"" briUiant'match I is fZortfn'i"? ""^"'t '" """ke a should." "nportant for us, too, that she -xiii^neSSr "'hf m- "h^PP>'' J"""-" «orth hllf a millbn douLs 'L to'th™" T*"^/ •"^'' upon a poor newspaper write^ I wn?!^""" -^ ^^^^ consent to it. never 1 It hadSf-, V I "^"^ ^'^^ ««/ said: ^ '"* °^ been reading and latelyr-'""'' '"'^'' >'°" P»^««"larly noticed Lochinvar (30 CAPTAIN BLUITT "Why, no!" exclaimed the clergyman, looking at her with surprise. " Is anything the matter ? "Well my dear, there can be no doubt that ne is becoming more and more interested in that Hamilton eirl— Dorothea. He goes there constantly. ^ " She is in the choir ; that is the only reason. " No, it isn't A mother sees such thmgs clearly. He is ectting to be fond of her. Besides, I notice that he is more indifferent about his meals, and he mopes a cood deal, exactly as if he were m love. « Well, what of it ? She is a fine girl. "But not precisely our kind, dear." ,, . ,, . "You think not? I think the boy could hardly do "no dear, he might do muck better. Any real Metcalf can do better. He should seek for some one in his own station in life." , , , . ^ r "Mary, I thir.'< you carry that kind of thmg too tar. ^'ln"some°resl>ects, yes, and she is bright enough to seek to elevate herself. I very much fear she has completely ensnared Lochinvar. " I wouldn't use just that term, my love, if I were you. The Hamiltons are eminently respectable people. "Of their kind. But no member of my family ever held a position as a hired person in a little bank, on a "Why, I am on a salary myself." "Yes, I know; but it is different. You are in the sacred ministry; you have charge of the highest spiritual interests of the people. It is a profession. All the Metcalfs have been either land-owners or professional "" «"well my love," answered the doctor, reflecting upon some rather forlorn Metcalfs of whom he knew, any one of whom would have been glad to have a salary, I do not s^e what I can do about _it. The boy can't many, at any rate. He has nothing." v ,. . ui^i. "All the more reason then that he should aim high- aim to get an heiress." INTO THE NEW WORLD WHICH IS THE OLD .3, S. ;; Fine! "said Walter. Miss Bluitt laughed. It S^mfStnlSe'd »' °' "° "" *'>^"^ *° '•'•'^^ thiS'^. °" "''''' '^° ^' the women find out such "Why, Walter." said Miss Puella "I know ,-f f the way you came into the house from rt '^°'" slammed the door and ran n„ f.. ' *^ ^'"y yo" at a time. Whei Theard v™ /°"V°°"'> ^^ree steps over! He has her!' I t^ ^ " ^ '^"^ '° «yself: 'It's •>\ir ". ^ '™«'^ you would eet hor" ?..?•■," ?°' '^" e'rfs in the country like her" ' ;; There's not one." said he. ^ " ^*''- ;;rm glad you didn't." said Walter smiling awa?r""'"- ="'• ^'^'y. y°"'" not'laro. right not be very ready to ^«pt me .-"shSl^i.?^' *'" iSt CAPTAIN BLUITT « Humph I" said Captain Bluitt, " I don't see why he should be a fool. You'll make her a fine husband. She might have done a good deal worse." " Fathers are always that way," said Miss Bluitt, with a look of disgust. " And you are getting along so well in your business. I tell you, my son, it surprises me the way you write. Where tiid you ever get the knack ? Not one of our people ever had any turn for writing. It's perfectly astonishing how you turn off an article, and the words you use." " Oh, I guess there is nothing unusual about it," said Walter, with a laugh. " But there is 1 " responded the captain. " Not one of our family could have done it. The fact is, writing is the hardest work I ever have to do. Can't do it at all, in fact I never had any command of w6rds ; and the English language has some of the toughest kind." " I don't know," said Walter. " I never thought so. What words, for example, strike you as being hard ? " " Oh, lots of them. Some words I see in the news- papers continually, I can hardly pronounce at alL" " Such as ? " " Well, words like exiguous and litigious ; and when it comes to fla — flag — flagitious, I am simply out I can hardly say it at all ; or say it anywhere near right And Egypt I Do you have any trouble with Egypt?" " What kind of trouble ? " "To write it." " No, I think not." "The man that invented the word must have been actuated by malice to put three down letters one right after the other. I can hardly write it at all." " You like a word such as Connecticut, do you ? " asked Fuella. " Something like that" "Well, then, I would write about Connecticut, and let Egypt alone." After dinner, and just before Walter was ready to INTO THE NEW WORLD WHICH IS THE OLD ,33 terg^AsU^: ^'P'''" «""■« «'<' to him. Miss Bluitt thing than that as lon| as ^°ou livrVen" '"""'' tell you s^SS ir?oTT''5!P- Now let me objection because vou U^ Hamilton makes any you will make your waTirth/w'li";"" '?''"' that splendid talents you ^ni h^oS''^'" '^'^ y°" you would be Presid-nTof fK- T-". ? t surprise me if can tell him someSel thatTf ^'"*-"= •'"*>"'" you while I live, and ?llea™ vou j. *■". e"'"? to back gone-nearly all, anyhow » ^^ *" ^ ''*^'= ^''" ^ «« and'^:^5ngT.rwtu'?orm and'f t^" *'«"''«> «m. him in^hl haThe sUrted n^X^V"^ ^^° ""^t feeling that life iult at fW '^" *"* homeward way, morefully ch^ed "with bMsV '"°""'"'' =°"''' ""'''^ ^' anlK4^ Si'lotth^e:: '^'' "' ^' '^-' »>« -*« CHAPTER XV E. THE WAY OF THE TRANSGRESSOR After meditating for several days upon the subject of investment in the McGann Electric Motor without reaching a positive conclusion, John Hamilton resolved to visit once more the inventor's workshop, and to try to discover some defective quality in the device, or to confirm his favourable opinion of it His eagerness to iind a way of enlarging his fortune had not been diminished in intensity, but, as he considered the offer made to him by McGann, it began to appear rather less attractive, and to contain smaller promise of great results. The impression made upon his mind by the spectacle of the motor in actual opera- tion, and by McGann's declarations of the possibilities of its application to practical uses, had lost some of its strength when he had reflected upon the subject As he walked up the street after bank-hours on his way to the studio, he said to himself, as if to assure himself of the fact that he had definitely abandoned the project of using the bank's money improperly for this purpose. If he had looked far inside to that hidden self which is the real self, and to examine which is sometimes an unpleasing operation, he would have discovered, perhaps, that he still held in reserve for consideration under very extreme circumstances the notion that money could be had in that way, if all other methods failed. But having persuaded himself that there was no »34 THE WAY OF THE TRANSGRESSOR .„ taking the raSney From thl k u^'?J ^^^ '"'°l'ted ^r had now .ucce^fully °„;Sef anf temptation that he believed, forevw '*«"'«. and put behind him. he .ubj.^tTa"^*t^rrJ"i'rmr""'V° P'^y -'•«' the clearly outlined to H by which Te°' "m'^'*'".'* ^« thousand dollars at oneHm. ^^ "'"^^ ^^^^ five another, with practicaZ no k' *"''."" 'I""' s"™ at of the money'^SI^ S?,c„ "",''"' *« Wthdrawa sUnces with whkh his «~ K?^^ ""'I'' i!?^ "'<=•«»- "It is so safe,"he saT' t^? '' """^^ ''™ '"'""■ar. reason for wonder Aat more If, "''^' ^''^t '•>«* « not availed thems^lvSs of^t^^ " '" "^ "*"«"°n have 4er 'an/tal^n'ti ^sid'er ''"^ ^^ "^ »° enterprise; and, as he ann^,^h I .TJ?"''^ *"y ""ch had reached th^ ^etermlnatTon .''^ ^^^ann's place he the inventor had given h?m *° '''""""'' *« °Pt'0" waS^?i\^ato*'th^^,^;jjr ^l«* "- -gemess of expectancy th^SigSt -^''tS waSrarnr?,Tt^S7ondl" \'!^' ""^^^ the frame of the machinTand LS ''^ P"«»^ " ?<« °f couit^' "" * '""P *«' f""- the biggest fortune in the Hamilton stopped and looked at it f{; P £e^"C un-^'^^K i^^r^." be And, besides, do you reallv fM^ I '^'^cu'ty about it. that you claim forT?'^ ^ '""^ *' '^ing can do all i^mT&.S'^j^'^^ritr^uh^"' ' '^'^ y-- 'l°^l,7-ttoui;ioad^a;yriiVo/°^^^^^^ "^ '°"'*^- •3« CAPTAIN BLUITT "You can't of course ; but I can. I am certain." " But you missed it often before when you felt quite as sure ? " " Maybe so ; but this is different There the thing is, running. There is no guess-work about that Nobody ever made one run before. We have got that far, for sure, anyway." "Yes, but " " It is all right for you to be carefiil, but to tell the truth, I can't wait too long for you to make up your mind. I want the money. If you back out I shall have no trouble to find a man who will go in and stay in." "You have had offers?" " Two or three of them," said the judge. " Any one I know ? " , " I don't know that I ought to tell, but I will say that Captain Bluitt has pretty much said he will invest since I got the machine actually in motion." " Bluitt is considering it, is he ? " " Not considering. He has decided to take your option if you give it up. The fact is, I owe him money, and I shouldn't wonder if he thought this about the only chance to get it back. Anyhow, I am under obligation to him, and I shall be glad to Jo him a favour." Hamilton looked serious. Then he said : "You wouldn't like to have me bring an expert machinist here to give me an opinion of the motor, would you ? " " I don't want to be mean about it Hamilton, but I ask you, now, would you do that >f Y^'^ were in my place, and no patents had been secureid ? No, I can t allow that" " Oh, well," said Hamilton, " ^ suppose it wouldn't be fair to you. Will you g^ve me forty-eight hours more to think it over and to get the money ? " "Yes, but I really must stop there. I want to oblige you, but I have to protect myself. Call it two days, and then you come in or agree to stay out ? " THE WAV OF THE TRANSGRESSOR ,„ There is Bluitt yrith^CLt/ r '^^ '"^ anothe/one that he can make more -Tn^r ^°.''"° **'* ^"ture. so how good it i, ( Th»k tS ^ •=*"?* *°'«=h it, no matter bit^^. •• Th'e'ma?th'o t ge*^ '^l^-^J*'" »>« -" J« poor can't get his little fi.^ f ^^7^ "*" who "end me the i^Lrto make t^r-*"' ®'"'" *°"Wn't men don't do that kind^Ai.- '"^^tment with ; no his own advantage ^ *'""«' """ he will risk it Z ne«^jf![i Sral^ S? SLS" %' »"«-'' "-'- CTongh. as I do-as LyinteU^t "' •*"' P'«'"'y thismotoris amonVmakir a*r„„r" r"''^-'hat but not for me 1 ' * """ey-maker for him to mK/'^Kfor'rt 'Jr/ *'" "'- begun J«?ll have stertS^ to roll UD mo?:!'°"%'''-^''-=«Ptam himself. Ifs nrettv h^t^'^ -^ ".**'"» "^hes for within sight, to I^^S^hedTa'ckTno """ "-"^"^ the position of a hireling I '"'° P°^"="y and very proplri;Cowa ca^l"? "'""'• Wouldn't I work without^any woL ?o^hi '°°'f *°^'^° « hit of take the tool tliit Z\^l^ ■ "T*""' Can't I just %ec^?r°^^^^^^^^^ husineL°",^';rfenTL»/r^V -" -"ose ■ng; but his passionate dei^^e to f'^' °^ ""='' ^««»°"- •I« CAPTAIN BLUITT (a deadly process that I trying to He to oneself!) that he had made no decision; that the matter sUU lay open; but, in truth, If he had dealt candidly with himself he would have perceived that the faul step into cnme had been Uken. It was always a mental process. He had not yet touched the money ; btit he had actually become a thief. . . .u ,. • u* The subject was uppermost in his thought that nignt and in the morning. When he reached the bank id had finished opening the letters and had disposed of some small matters of routine, he conc'uded to ascertain, just for the sake of satisfying his curiosity, how that scheme he had thought of, and thrust aside, really would work. ./■..,. He took a piece of paper and a pen and figured it out. There was no flaw in it. It appeared to him cerUin that no human being could discover the disappearance of ihe money, unless experts should overhaul tii- ■-' ire set of books of the institution, and should expl.rt to the very bottom the bank's resources. That had never been done by anybody within his memory, and probably never would be done. Then he went into the vault, and picked up a package of bills amounting to five thousand dollars, and brought it out, and tossed it carelessly upon his desk. Anybody might look at it, he thought ; he wouldn't make the first motion toward acting as if he were stealing the money. The bills lay there all through the day, and with officers and Jerks coming and going, nobody noticed them. Then as the bank-hours drew to an end, he cleared away some of his papers, and as he did so he tossed the money into the drawer of his desk. Still he tried to make himself believe that the matter was not settled. But presently the time came when the vault must be locked by the teller, and he sat at his desk, and heard the door slam, and the lock click while he made no movement. . . . ^ . . . Then he finished up some writing he thought he had to do, and when it was ended nobody remained but the night-watchman. THE WAY OF THr TRANSGRESSOR .3, He did so shut M. J ■ ""^ POCKet, anyhow" McGa w«t,%\°o%'re^",L!j! ''"P"'»c to vl.it that direction, with his fa« h^ k l ' .' ''^ '"'"«* 'n «>»" usual, and a m n£e^ ^ 'l'.'^ '^??« '"'"'" desperation in his sonL ^ " ""J^fulness and -M'(Se t^KeSlT'i;' P'''^ ••«•'«<' "a'f the monAr home with hi™ i ^^^ resolved) to carry morning.^ ' """* ^^ ""^ to put it back in tS McGann welcomed him, and said • ^^Z ^^l^ i- a, wel, let go the «>. I will wiW your option ^ow"""'^" " ^^^ "^ HamntonTd S h£e *11,>P«> *»>« «'»I-»ce. fulness, he said • Assummg an air of cheer- ^ S^y"::y I It TV): -r «<> ••" -ising a receipt for five thous?nd"dolla7™ •^''='- <^'^ "« ^^Good. exclaimed the inventor. "You'r, . ,„cky asii^ment rL'^o'l^r;;;!^ "-"^on. "a ^--' S^^Sran^d^fceS'^iF?!^^^^^^^ hanA n.one71r4M„l^„'^° "««'''-«". Ha^ton tiats just nothing. When the'motTis pX t^ a40 CAPTAIN BLUITT market you and I will have such stuff as that to throw away." "I hope so," said Hamilton, smiling. "And now about getting the patents?" "I will send in the application to-night," said McGann. "We will be making motors to sell before summer-time has gone." The cashier looked about the shop, and felt some elation as he remembered that he was now one of the proprietors. He patted the motor with his hand as McGann had done on the preceding day. He owned part of it " Let me see you start it up once more, judge, he said. The judge turned the switch, and the machine went into operation, and ran with perfect smoothness, and with really wonderful celerity. "That's all right, 1 believe," exclaimed Hamilton, again patting the motor. " I believe we have hold of a good thing." The cashier returned to -his home, not without some pangs of regret that he had involved himself finally and hopelessly in wrong, but having also a feeling of relief that the struggle was over, the decision made, and the first bold step taken toward better fortune. Being absolutely committed to the crime, the right policy for ban was to keep up his courage, to thrust remorse away from him, and to look steadily forward to the rich harvest he should one day reap. But, indeed, as he sat at dinner that night with his wife and daughter, and as they chatted in the old way about the domestic things, and the church things, and about their friends, he could not resist the impression that he had in a measure sundered himself from them. These familiar topics of conversation no longer interested him very much. He seemed to have left such things behind him, to have drifted away from the mental condition which permitted him to r^ard them. While they talked in the usual manner of the common things, his mind was filled with the thought of his THE WAY OF THE TRANSGRESSOR ,41 transactions on that dav anrf h* h.j - » .dousness that a g Jt SKd'bett'ed C"eln h°m and those who were so dear to him °«tween him He earned a tremendous secret anrt in jk,* \ really, that was a formidable task for a man iho Tt"^ had spiritual sensibility. *''° *'"" " It is fortunate," he thought " that f h. -. print I should never b^fble to Lw! ^ ^'"^ "^J" Q *4» CAPTAIN BLUITT " May we and our loved ones be safe under Thy care. Keep us from all sin. Defend us by Thy mighty power against the attacks of the Evil One and against his secret snares. Strengthen us to resist the wickedness that is in the world. May we walk continually and consciously with God." Hamilton said this with what confidence he could command, but the effort to retain self-control was a great one ; and when the prayer was ended his wife came over to him, and putting her hand on his arm, asked: " Is anything the matter, John ? * She looked at him in such a way that he thought she must suspect him ; but she did not He made some answer about having had a trying day at the bank, and then, after chatting with the women in a pleiisant way, he took up the evening paper, as was his custom, and seemed to bis absorbed in reading. The contact of his mind with religion helped to give him a new impulse. Before he had gone to bed he had half resolved to get the money back from McGann, to replace it in the bank, and to abandon the whole under- taking. During the restless, wakeful night the conclu- sion was wholly reached that within three hours the crime should be as though it had not been done. As soon as breakfast was over, he put on his hat and walked out to McGann's house, feeling better and happier than he had done for several days. "Fortunately," he said, "I reconsidered the step Jn time. It was a narrow escape ; but it is the last time for me. I will never make such a movement again." He reached the house and knocked upon the door. It was opened by the black woman who cooked and kept house for the inventor. "Tell the judge I want to see him at once," said Hamilton. " De jedge ain't yer, mars'r." " Where is he ? Down at the shop ? " " No, suh, he done gone to de city in de fus train dis mawninV THE WAY OF THE TRANSGRESSOR 243 Hamilton's heart sank. '»M^t^ say when he would return ?» Mebbe to-morrow, mebbe not fo' fo' or five davs ■• Hampton turned and walked slowly homeward^\oo hfm .n!?^''"."' e^ =°"'se. had taken the money wUh SavClK? ''°".'" "lH=h °f it^ould be spent It ^nce tTlatel '""^ """^'"^ "*"' purchases. *^Yes. it wS Hammon's'' m1:;'H "^^"^ S^ di^-appointment was over, Sl^h,A^ r^ "^ rpcurred to the alluring argument^ mat to recede If he could do so, might be unwise Oh, well," he said, " it is all right. Inyhow I Ther* it S-^nT P'^V"?,/'"* ""'^ ^'^ ^-th sucraTh ng. lS It stand and 1 will not regret it" He walked down to the bank, where the day oassed as usual without notable incident So rm^!ii,i^ j naturally, indeed, did the b "sine^ glife byX fc w^ incned sometimes to feel that his tiieft was noH reah^, but ^ as if he had dreamed abouUt fl,. . »en he thought how easy it would be to take the second five thousand dollars. He would not hav! rone^Sin'"""" "''" "^^ '''^ sho Jd havrto'*^ -n^^^tio^rLKt* S7Sbyter?hl^i t consider the adoption of methods by whfch tK^rt gage upon the building could be rem^vedTor at W be reduced in dimensions. ^' n^'^lf f ^/'=f Statement by the pastor, concerning the DMd hat the church should be relieved speeSn^from t*e oubhcVh'"f'''i!i"?'' ^'"^'^ Brown.VncUr^S tne public school, asked for suggestions resoectinff the best way of accomplishing the object. "^^^"^ "»* one of the ladies proposed an oyster-supper; another t44 CAITAIN BLUITT thought the commun'ity n'ight be willing to endure one more fair for the a&le of useful and fancy articles ; and still another urged that a concert with " home and foreign talent " would be a sure money-maker. Trustee Wilkins inclined to a magic-lantern show, with some comic pictures ; say views of the Holy Land for the main attraction, and then a bit of fun afterwards, or inter- spersed with the views. Fuella Bluitt spoke about the beauty and usefulness of self-denial, and recommended that everybody should go without butter and caramels for two months, and put the money-equivalent of these articles into mite- boxes. When these and other plans for obtaining money had been offered and urged, Davis Cook, the plumber, and the librarian of the Sunday School, rose for the purpose of making a few observations. " I don't want to oppose none of the schemes pre- sented here to-night," he said, "or to do anything disagreeable to the brethem and sisters who are better Christians than I am, and many of whom have foi^otten more, maybe, than I ever knowed. But I have the interests of this church at heart, and as we have been invited here for the purpose of getting opinions, I think I am free to speak my mind, and I hope I will do so without giving offence to nobody. Each man sees things different, and if I can't see 'em your way, that may not prove you are wrong ; but I've got to tell you how I see 'em, or else jest sit here and keep quiet " This church was organized for the worship of God and for the preaching of the everlasting Gospel. It ain't no shop. It wasn't got up for trade, or for driving bargrains. It's a place where sinners and saints come to pray ; the saints to git comfort from the preached Word, while the sinners git conversion — at least we hope they'll git it. The church, then, is really a kind of little heaven here below, and when a man comes into it he surely oughi to leave worldly things on the outside. Worshipping and dickering ain't got nothing in common, Thaf s the way it strikes a e. THE WAY OF THE TRANSGRESSOR ,45 "Now it seems to me," continued Davis, "that such an organization as that oughtn't to go into the eating- house busmess, or try to sell notions. When you have an oyster-supper for the benefit of the church-and mind you, I don t make no wry faces at oyster-suppers, brethem. if it isn't just the same as saying to the outside world lying in wickedness, 'Come and help the work of spreading the glorious Gospel-tidings by stuff- ing your digestive organs with oysters that you'll have to pay more for. and less of 'em, than you can get anywhere else? ' That's not ray idea of the way pure relipon s going to be spread from pole to pole. If you can bnng a man to realize that he is a sinner by selline him for a quarter in the sanctuary an oyster-stew, about half as good as he can buy in an irreligious place down the street for fifteen cents, you tell me how the thine works, and I'll sit right down and hold my peace. And as for fairs-well, brethem, I don't want to speak nothing harsh against fairs, but it really does seem to me that folks that have a high spiritual calling oughtn t to combme religious purposes with the business of working off pin-cushions and doll-babies, and candy and lemonade, and pie, and perfectly useless fancy work on kind-hearted neighbours who are still in bondaee to their sins. ^ "A magic-lantern show ain't much better, althoueh there is no particular objection to it, as a show, any more than there is to a concert, which I always like to hear, though I ain't got no ear for music. But what I dont like, said Davis, earnestly, "U trying to raise money by any plan that says to a man: 'Give your dollars to religion, and you'll get 'em back quick in the shape of something you can carry home in your pocket or your digestive tract.' Brethern, I think the only way to pay off that mortgage is for you and me to go down into our pockets and to give the last dollar we can spare. Now, I ve done a good deal of talking, and maybe 1 ve hurt somebody's feelings, and I'm sorry if I have. Hut SOS there won't be jest talk, so's I won't seem to •46 CAPTAIN BLUITT give advice I ain't willing to take, I say here and now that I'll subscribe fifty dollars to the fund." There was silence when Davis resumed his seat He looked flushed and excited, but he had the air of a man who had done his duty. After an inter\ al of a few moments, to the astonish- ment of everybody, Judge McGann slowly arose and ■aid: " I will give one hundred dollars." The congregation smiled. The feeling was that the judge would have to borrow the money to make his promise good ; but Hamilton knew where the contribu- tion would come from. Puella Bluitt rose to say that she and Captain Bluitt together would give one hundred dollars. Then the subscriptions stopped for a time. Presently, Trustee Johnson, who had political afSlia- tions, stood up and said : " Two or three days ago I asked Colonel Bly for a contribution to the diurch, and he promised me a hundred dollars. I think I may report this now." Colonel Bly was the Democratic leader of the state, and more than suspected of crooked practices. When Trustee Johnson resumed his seat, Davis Cook ftood up again and said : " I know you don't want to hear me any more, and I don't want to speak any more, but there is times when, as the Bible says — I think it is tY ^ Bible — a man must cry aloud. As I said a while ago, gift-money is the only kind of money a church ought to touch — money presented as a free-will offering from the sheep to the Shepherd. Now, all the money we've got to-night, up to a certain point, is that kind of money. It is honest money, honestly earned by honest people. There ain't no dirt on it, and the people who give it are the Lord's own people. But I want to say that that last subscrip- tion — I mean no offence to brother Johnson — ain't that kind of money. It ain't for me to say where the giver got it from, though there are tough stories around about liis operations. All I know is bk ain't been in business THE WAY OF THE TRANSGRESSOR 147 since he was born, and he's got himself rich, and if he done it honest, he knows more than any other honest man on this here earth. I don't lay down no law for you, brethern, but I lay it down for Davis Cook, when I say I'd rather put another mortgage on the church, than to lift this one with money from a man who appears to me to be serving the Devil a good deal harder than I am trying to serve the Lord." These words provoked an angry remonstrance from Trustee Johnson, who rebuked Davis Cook severely for slandering his neighbour. After some further discussion of the subject, a vote was taken, and the congrega- tion, by a considerable majority, decided to accept Colonel Bly's money. Then the meeting adjourned ; and as John Hamilton walked home with his wife (Lochinvar taking care that Dorothea did not fail of an escort), Mrs, Hamilton said to her husband : " I think Davis Cook is right I do not like fairs and suppers for the help of religious objects ; and I doubt If we should take Colonel Bly's money." "Maybe not," replied Hamilton. "But where on earth, John, did Mr. McGann get the money with which to make that offering? I thought he was very, very poor ? " " I haven't the least idea," said Hamilton. CHAPTER XVI THE SLAVE-CATCHERS When John Blodgett reported to Mr. Metcalfa over- seer the failure of the attempt to obtain possession of Becky Slifer by process of law, the overseer, after reflecting upon the matter for a few moments, said : _ " We won't bother the squire about it He will dis- like to go to the lawyer's office and make affidavits and have trouble, and all that kind of thing. Can't you just kidnap the woman, and bring her along anyhow, without bothering with the law ? " " I suppose I can," answered Blodgett, " but you know it isn't the same thing up there in a free state as it is here. Most of the people will keep hands off, but some of them abolitionists are always around, and always ready to meddle, and they may make trouble." " Well, the five hundred dollars reward is still open to the man that gets the woman, and you might as well have it if you've got nerve enough to take her." " I can do it if any man can." " How will it answer to let the thing lay quiet for a while, until the excitement blows over, and Becky is off her guard, and then take a couple of good men with you, and seize her some night when she is out, and hurry her over the state line?" "All right. I'll undertake it, and if I can get my hands on her again that will end it. I'll take no more chances with her." Thus it was well on towards summer-time, in the »48 THE SLAVE-CATCHERS •49 early day, of June, when Blodgett came again to Turlev ^^^^^^^:^ ^b!^ ^'T "r^^^"'' ^'^«'> *« ^turned ' '*""'** Blodgett rode on horseback, carryine some sm=ll strong cord, and Wild and English a^m^r/wro"' About half-way down the road leading towards th^ enZh to*' PY"'^'"" J"^ » Srove- "»* K but den^ enough to supply a perfectly obscure hidinl-place u,^^ L°'^'/°J"'''e"?'''"'^ *^^^ opened ^drrecVta^o bed^h; "^ **'°l "? f""=* »"d "° hedge'such^ SptSg aTls°"poff "'" '''' "-"'^ *- » -^"^ haKmSlnt^'arare^Ufe^^^^^ aTon'^SSaTcr*''^-"---5fe*:K^ a log from which could be seen distinctly the highly, •so CAPTAIN BLUITT until it turned to the right at a dtsUnce of thice or four hundred yards. Becky was not accustomed to remain out to a late hour. Captain Bluitt required her to be home at ten o'clock, and she was more likely to be earlier than later in reaching the house. The men who watched for her sat smoking and talking in low tones for less than an hour, when English said : " I think she's a-comin'." The other two men looked down the road. " It's a woman, anyhow," said Blodgett. "And she's alone," added Wild. "Alone," said Blodgett, "and not another human being in sight We're in luck to-night, sure; and this bright moonlight tool" "Will she fight?" asked Wild. " She'll fight like a devil," said Blodgett ; " but I guess we'll soon take the fight out of her." " I don't believe she's armed," said English. "No, I don't think so," replied Blodgett, "but you can't tell for sure. She's a lively nigger— built different from most niggers, like a wild-cat. Better keep your eye open for a weapon." " Here she comes,'' said Wild. " That's the woman. I know her walk and her build. Have you got the rope ? " " I have it," said Blodgett. "Jim, you grab her arms, and while she struggles, I'll get in behind her and trip her. Clap something over her mouth as near at the very start as you can. She'll holler." The men crept to the edge of the wood, and placed themselves behind trees. The moon threw the shadows of the trees for a distance of four or five feet upon the road. Becky came along walking sharply, and without sing- ing, as people of her race were used to do when they passed on the roads at night. As she neared the wood she took the other side of the way, keeping well in towards the hedge. She quickened her pace also ; the dread of capture was always in her mind. THE SLAVE-CATCHERS •5» ^iP*»*l[*^ .""'" "***•'*'' «=«« the road toward, her without uttering a word. She atarted to run^find Ing that .he could not escape in that wa!^rte turn^" Thlr^ "^ ^'^^'^ "P "ea'"»t the hedge. Then she screamed for help. r,9"'<=''> boys I" exclaimed Blodgett Wild thrust himself upon her, and tried to seize th, rertJ.no1k^^;^wS'&1^"lM^"" fnTohi;£ulfe.^ '™ '"'P' "°""'^' ■"«» *« ''•>■'« ^t -niSI^'w'^PT"* *•?; *'»'"'<=* t° »eiM her right arm and before she could transfer the knife to the ortS hand or could shake him loose Blodiett Jhin^ k aJz TT "*" "P*** "PO" her w&le she fought with desperate fury, twisting her body, dashing hwXifrln -«« J- u ''u''^'' ""^ B'odEett,and Wild gavi her ami a kick that para yzed it. " Now we'll S«^ ? hollennV said Blodiettf as he look off his^»' "■ 'he must die, tf at man who led her as if she were a brute beast shoi,ld die also, if he were anywhere within her reach. A moment later she heard the sound of wheels. A Jaint gleam of hope shone into her mind. She kniw that the chancM were more than even that no passer-bv would dare to help her. but there was some chance. ^ Dr. Quelch had occasion to visit Turley that night before ten o'clock. His old grey horse turned from tht lane to the turnpike almost of his own accord The doctor sat back in his buggy trusting the horse to keep the middle of the way. as he had been trained to do and the lines hung slack :n the physician's hand, while his thoughts wandered over some subject that for the moment engaged his attention. As the horse jogged along and the doctor meditated the doctor was brought out of his contemplative mood with suddenness. He was astonished to perceive ahead of him and coming towards him, plainly visible in the white hght, a man on horseback, followed by a woman apparently with a rope about ber neck. For a fractional part of a second the spectacle puzzled him. Then the meaning of it flashed upon his mind, and he needed no otner impulse to action. Compelling his horse to walk, and sitting far back Jn *S4 CAPTAIN BLUITT his buggy, so that his face could not be seen, he took out his penknife, and slowly approached the horseman and his captive. Blodgett feared little from the occupant of the buggy, whoever he might be. He felt fully able to take care of himself and of his prey ; the sentiment of the community was always against the runaway slave. Dr. Quelch made as if he would drive past the two persons, but, as he got abreast of Becky, hp leaped out, cut the cord about her neck, that which bound her hands, and that which held the gag in her mouth. Becky had recognized the horse before it came near. She had expected help if the doctor were in the buggy, as she felt sure he was. Before Blodgett could fully grasp the changed situa- tion, before he could utter a word, the freed woman leaped at him, dragged him from his horse, flung him upon the ground, and fastened her h&ndi upon his throat. He struggled inefTectually. He had a pistol, but he could not reach it. She would have killed him, but for Dr. Quelch. "Becky, Becky!" said the doctor, seizing her -".d trying to pull her away from her victim. Releasing his throat, the woman beat Blodgett in the face until she almost blinded him. Dr. Quelch pulled her away. "Get into my carriage, quick," he said to her. She obeyed. Blodgett rose, wild with rage, and put his hand down to get his pistoL "Stop!" said the doctor with a stem voice, "don't you dare to threaten me with a pistol, or I'll have you in jail within an hour for kidnapping." " That woman's a runaway slave, aud I am authorized to take her to her owner, and I'm going to do it too." " No," said the doctor. " No, you're not going to touch her. She is going with me until the law gives her up. You have no right to touch her." " Right enough," said Blodgett, " her master told me to take her." "All I ^now about it," said the physician, "is that you are trying to kidnap a woman who is living in a THE SLAVE-CATCHERS ,55 Becky, under the direction of Dr. Ouelch wa, t^ C.pMnBIuli..„d Mb. Bluli?; taLrSi^tT m i «s« CAPTAIN BLUITT to the scafibld I Cannot the constitution of the United States be amended to prevent such outrages as that?" " I am afraid not," answered the doctor. "Well, but there really must be a writ of habeas corpus, or nisi pritis, or something of that kind, to put a stop to such scandals, or it is useless for us to talk about having a free country." "This is not a free country, Miss Bluitt," said the physician gravely. " This is a slave country." "The Romans in their worst days never dragged women about with ropes on their necks," remarked Captain Bluitt "But why then teach children to sing about 'The land of the free, and the home of the brave ' ? Why have the boys taught to declaim Patrick Henry's speech about ' Give me liberty, or g^re me death ' ? " " Those things are for white people, not for negroes," said the doctor. " Some day God will judge the nation that preaches lies, and treats a black man as if he were lower than a brute." " And what on earth we are going to do for a kitchen woman I don't know," said Miss Bluitt anxiously, as her mind drifted off from politics and poetry to domestic economy. " We shall never again, I fear, have another cook who will equal Becky for corn bread and grilled ham, never I But it was right for you, doctor, to take her away to a place of safety. Her life wouldn't be secure here." When Dr. Quelch had gone, Miss Bluitt discussed the situation with her brother, and an agreement was reached that while active effort was made to obtain the services of a person who should take permanently the vacant place in the kitchen, the wito of Rufus Potter should be invited, and well paid, to prepare the meals for the household. It was not quite certain that Mrs. Potter's methods of dealing with grilled ham, or of projecting waffles into the dining-room, were equal to those employed by Rebecca Slifer, and the heart of Miss Bluitt sank within her one morning as she looked upon the pone-muffins THE SLAVE-CATCHERS »S7 genius oWbe°cl Tt uLnTH"'*!;^'°^'«' '"'^^^ did very well Sd C^rfffnl •' .'t''"''' **"• P°«" celerity: she far surpassed rII^ '" l""" «»"•« ""^tter of eightTncheswhe^e lecTy w!„tee= "°'h'' *' ''«" her energy was actually n^tkssfhrn """• ?"' ' '"'' prepared the mea s at w u " «"''P™ing. She ready thoi^ at Captain BIu,f7"i, ''°'"*' ^""'^ '"»Wng had the whole six of fi^^"/ ''°"*f' '""^ ^^e alway? that MisrBkItt felt sure M^s'l^.^' *''M;'«?' ''°""- ^o ninety meals a day wTtLouMosfn°J h" ~"''' '''^« =°°''«J if such a demand hid suHnfl^^ ^^ P"'*^"''' °' ™''«'. remarkable reTources '"'^ '^'=" """^'^ "P°n her knocked uZ th^^door rnd'°™ ^^J'; "''""''»' P"""? sir. to fAk to vouTr^ '''■ ""■ ""^y ^ ''^^« permission SamS%a"wSrhatnatd' S"ef >? °/ ?'"«• him in rnl^roh S.LieTkn'^?"''"'°^P°"«'P''t were, Cap'n Bluitt "o? fit te t^ r ^ u """ ''^'^ '^ ''' mother's apron-3trin»s wh.r.^t'^"' ^^5'°"'* •''^ '°"ng and protert Wm Tn^'' ^fd^. ^ ^,»" watch over hi,S the idea of that child hfnfj o H '"'^"'/°°'«'«=Ps ; and out of the sight of hisfonH n= t"""^'' '° '^ '^^'ed the awful terrors of the ^rL'^d-n '^'r' ^°'"^ *° '"''« '" '• limp as a ^-^l.f^fJntettT'^y """^-^ ""= " Does Sammy want to go to sea?' •s« CAPTAIN BLumr " To the roaring, rolling tea, tiiat mite of a boy who only the other day, it seems to me, wa« luring in long clothes in his cradle, hardly able to take notice, let alone walking 1 That little bit of a child has heard his dear liither talking often and often of his perilous feats upon the masts of the tossing ships, and of his hair-breadth escapes amid the tumultuous billows, until he's just clean crazy, young as he is, to go as a sailor and face the howling tempest for himself I told Rufus man/s the time that he'd make that dear child discontented with his happy home, hearing his father depicting in such virid terms the startling nature of the wild adventures he had been through and seen ; but Rufus, he would do it, and now the fatal consequences have come at last, and that mere speck of a baby says he'll run away and become a hardy mariner, unless I'll give him leave to go, which I won't, because I should simply break my heart in twain if I did." Mrs. Potter began to cry. " How old is Samuel ?" asked Captain Bluitt. " Just past fifteen, going on sixteen, which he will be on the fourteenth day of July next, and it would be actually wicked for so young a boy and so tender to be allowed vo go wandering among brutal strangers all over the earth, and the wild waste of waters, teari''g his mother's heart-strings ; and so I thought maybe, good C«p'n Bluitt, who was a mariner once yourself, aiid so as a consequence knows how hard and dangerous the life is, and wholly unfit for a small atom of a child that has hardly got the taste of the nursing-bottle out of his mouth, would speak to him and discourage him, and show him hew inexpedient it would be for him to fly from the arms of his loving mother to the stormy ocean. Won't you please, please speak to him, Cap'n Bluitt ? " " Send him over to me," said the captain. " I'll talk him out of it" Mrs. Potter went away, and in a few jnoments Samuel Potter entered the ronm, holding in his hands a battered straw hat, the rim of which he persistently nibbled. He was a stout, rosy fellow, who looked as if he could :^smm Ciipiutn liiuiti] ' S;unu(;l Pc'tttir the iuuin. ' f/'age J5i If II ft- THE 8LAVBCATCHERS S:Tt?:j°S"3Wp' '*'«*"^ '•~'*>' •'O'^'-fon under i«"foVS'"'^'"^*-"''^'^<^ Captain Bl«itt. point- "you start ri^X^^U?" 7»»* to «»«"? 4ht y* will go vma£ &^J°^^l-. '' y°" "tart wrSng take the dirt «d LIS* ° *" ** J'^«'»' ^ont fat^^To?;^ tdl« ^„„„t t„ be.3«,or.„V«,a "Yetsir.'' no sense^I w« to 7^1 ^.^ l*^/**' «"*» « I had r thought I'd w S. 0^^* to**."!?* y""' •»«' uin't it, SmDmyl" °" «" '^ That i what you think, "Yessir." l^>:eS/rtlfe-^.fJ2«4<'3i "Yessir." --> -,r foiS'^s:ri4°:ty*'yL7a;:f^ •"d'^^p ft' I and maybe had w^h^^l *^ "'°'*' '»°y and man, ^- ^"4 S*™^V^i"'«* hadT ""°»'- ""* '^ A bully time, sir." a Wd' ti^r"lW''a tn^ fi^^"" "'"""^«'- ^ »»<» human being. HotlfU ,ite ^' ^^'^' '** "^ « wet deck in Ihe d^ ofC^' with^T '""l;^ °" « pitching and you wet to Ae J^^ o^^^t'^ ™""* "'' the wheel in the black darkne^ o^ L**m"? ? *""L!* you can't see a hand's length in fr^t^? """* '*«' ""*-« «P the rigging when e»e^ li^^k * °^ ^!^ °^ ninofag youover^^d", hI^XSC ^^P"^' ,«o CAPTAIN BLUITT I "Fus'-nite, iJrl " , ^, , _„, "You're misUken, my boy. Vou think you wHI. You let your imagination play with it But you »on t like the cold fact There's no nice warm bed for you to sleep in, and no good cooked things to eat Only a bunk to roll about in without any mattress, and fat pork and crackers and things like that" " I always liked pork, sir." "And then, Samuel, it's i.jadful to thmk of a fice boy like you sailing about ir. those deadly hot climates, getting fevers and thing?, and the first thing the cannibals will swoop down on you and catch you, and there you'll be, with savages skewering you up and cooking you for dinner when you might have been at home, if you had been a good boy, eating your own dinner with your mother's love around you. Be warned in time, my son ? " . , . « " I'd like to see a real cannibal, sir. "■Yes, Sammy, and a live cannibal would like to see you, a stout, well-favoured boy, with fat on him. But supposing you escape the cannibals and the fevers, still there's the sharks always following the ship, and hungry for boys. The chances are two to one you'll fall over- board, and then they'll snap you in half before you can get your breath." " Real sharks ? " . "Yes, terrible fellows, with teeth hke a np-saw, and never eat anything else when they can get boys. And even if the sharks don't get you, you're almost certain to be wrecked some time and cast on a desert island, with no clothes on you, and nothing or next to nothing to eat, and only rain-water to drink. And maybe there you 11 live and live and live, perhaps for years, and never see the face of a human being, and keep alive by catching fish and oysters, and wishing you were safe in your dear mother's arms. Keep away from it, my son! Keep away from it I" " I'd have Friday with me." " Friday ? What Friday ? How do you mean ? " Just like Robinson Crusoe." THE slave<:atchers »6i ».a„t;STa'n. It'i wickert f« J ^ L ' *"""• I'» against that Aiaiwi Ufc mvl^'"^' '^'" *'"> ^"^ "ke no poetryTn ii even He'^j:' " "'*?>" ^ard. There". Hindoos are. and Ci^ aS.; '' *•*"! *•" *"''«"'^d Naples I Why.my^n I iud™^'"^' *''"??'' P'«« ' the loveliest i^T on the eirtjf w ,h t^ °' ^'P'.'' " .moking awa/lnd tJJewSe water «„! fhTlr'T" Ifs just fine! But you want tTwIit ?^i ""* "''>'• up and rich, and can eo there mmf„^\r'"'= ^rown Milor with a mate to kief vo» I^^ '^'''>'' "°* «» * "DoM fh. ..-Ti '''Ck you and swear at you." i^oes the volcano send out fire?" a«If»>rf c,Z. "Sometimes. I suppose But mr-f iIl i S*™™/- go near it Your lu^Vw^nM^ ?°** ''""'y y°" d never among the islands wherth,~°.^° °"' " ^^e Pacific Hu.t%ure h'a^e^Snd C |/°-j*o"tcte^^^ cocoanuts." •-— »<'u uvc on bread-fruit and Sammy^ eyes glistened. ^^' S ?ot?,i*;^p!rrwr„To?a'''°r''^ c'^S:;.^''^^e/fiti?o"^'^^^^^^ make you a p^^^r ^nd AeCTh- ''""^ ^°" '»• "^^ make you walk ?he oknt /nT k"^' y°" ^°'^' ^^Y Sammy? Where are vou th.n Z^"" "" y°" ^en, home/n yo.rl^^^'^Z^^^^y^- ^^^' ^ at They won't do that to me, sir." "StemT""' '^'"''"°"" thaVwouS'te stenTrIX" ^' ^'^^'' ' °° >'°'' ^h-k Sunday Sch^lbS'^Sup'rthew' ^°^ \«'^ go in the hone that 3»? '^ , "'"y y°'^' should depart fromiu" "' '° y°" *'"'= ^'^ y°" »'°>'W not th^n^a'mfn^*^.' '"'' * ««*' «^^ ^^her be a pirute I«l CAPTAIN BLUITT him from Infancy, should have yearning* for piracy 1 Irt little short of scandalous, Samuell ' "Mother says you went to Rome," said Sammy. " I'd like to go there and see it" This was Captain Bluitt's tender point "And well you may, my son. Well you may. But yon can't see it if you go as a sailor" ^ « Is it anywheres near the Dead Sea, sir f "What's that? What? Near the Dead Sea? Why, Samuel, where did you learn about the Dead Sea ? "Sunday School, sir. Mrs. Frfibisher came up and drawed it on the black-board." " Told you it was near Rome, did she ? • I dunno, sir." . . ,^ » "Well now, my son, take my advice and dont go to sea, but if you ever should go, and you should arrange to sail up to Rome by way of the Dead Sea, I want you to write out a full account of the trip, and mail me home a letter about it Yes, Samr.y, that's going to be the most remarkable voyage on lecord. ' " Don't you go that way, sir ? " "You can go that way, if you've actually made up your mind to do it ; if you are set on it ; yes, it is possible, I should think, but I wouldn't make that way the first choice, not if I were fond of travelling along bee-lines. What you want, Samuel, is to go to school and lay your mind alongside your geography lessons. Do you understand Latin ? " " No, sir, not much." . v .. •» "Well, my son, I don't know so very much about it myself, but there's an old Roman proverb that exactly expresses my idea of a boy that goes to sea. num vivmus vivamus, or, too dumb to live. That s what 1 think who followed the sea all my life. Now you go home to your mother and be a good boy, and try to get to be a railroad conductor, or an auctioneer, or something that'll let you stay on dry land." Sammy withdrew ; and that night he ran away from home and, in the great city, shipped as cabm-boy on a brig bound for Liverpool CHAPTER XVII THKOUGH THE WAY OF THE WILDERNESS mgand stumblin? and hi n„^ T^^ '''"' """ch wander- that prepared T"4wf^; \"f' L'ff l '"' *•? ^2*- arranged that the fingfr-posts lottL^^^ '° '"'^= thin'Sr^e^m^t IS^'^dSlfj i^th^' ^^ •^""'"P'>-^ quest; there must be S If 'A": Pr''."""ary of con- acuteness of ecst^y ff Sor L", "^ " ^PJ^^^ *« rememberine haoD^r tMn„ ^ "°*" °'^ Sorrow be anguish. There fs a strZe kfnd „f ".^ ''*^°"'' "^ sorrow; and that human natnrJj, ^^^"""s even in for it, thongh we S from ^•'°"''' '"'''''= <=«vinff familiar fact thaT!overwhofindSH-P~^".'^ ''>' '^^ their pathway smooth Ld to coveo't wtif °'5- '° '"''''« have a pretext for a quarrel nowlni I "^'^'tn^. wi" ••CWCOfY lESOlUTION TBI CHAIT (ANSI and ISO TEST CHART No. 2) 13.2 m mmi In ■ 20 1.8 1.6 ^ /APPLIED |[VHGE In, g=S'- '653 Eos! Main Strwt E*jS RochMlflr, M«« York 14609 US* r.^5 (^'6) 483 - 0300 ~ F-,on« ^= (716) 288 -5989 -Fox 364 CAPTAIN BLUITT were giants in a way that was actually free from terrors and molestations. The monster that confronted them was a forbidding reality in the shape of a father, the only other man whom the heroine loved, and who lelt himself impelled to deal with this case of passionate affection, as he might have done if his daughter had been a babe with a fancy for a kitten. Much, no doubt, might be done for the amelioration of the condition of suffering lovers if Nature had dis- played larger benevolence in providing for the benig- nancy of fathers. Why a grizzled parent should so often be permitted to believe that he knows what will gratiJy the cravings of the soul of the heioine better than she herself knows, is a hidden mystery, unless confession shall be made that the grey head is not always filled with wisdom, and that to some unfortunate men, as years roll by, love's young dream gradually takes on aspects of nightmare. „ . , r There are fathers who have drifted so far away from all memory of youthful things that they incline to scoff at the theory that two kindred souls, made for each other, know each their own when they meet, and rush together with a passionateness of attraction, as if the forces of all the universe impelled them. Yes, there are men who will deliberately plot that daughters who want love as they want air, shall put it aside and discover if fortune and position will not answer reasonably well as substitutes. . , When fables are to be manufactured, a man who nas a lively fancy can stir the blood of the reader and set his heart a-beating, and supply him with excitement almost up to the point of delirium, if the tribulations of lovers are to be described ; but, alas 1 what shall be done with the plain and prosy facts as frowning Fate, disregarding human fondness for pictures of lively adventure, prepared them for the boy and the giri who met, and loved, and suffered, and wept in Turley ? Sweet she was, indeed, and holy, if the pure soul be holy : but she was not romantic. She was a gentle, »hrinking girl, to whom obedience to her parents had THROUGH THE WAY OF THE WILDERNESS .65 te'Lf.h*/"'':. "^"'"^ ''=''"■'; »"'' *h° would have looked with dread, not unmingled with feelines of hnrnvT upon anything that would have disturbed he^/ ?ather™: WalterDrnr,, fW • ^'"^ .""^^^ ^^^ s^crifi" for waiter Drurj' that involved herself alone; but -acrifice parenu and o'.'h"?":;''" the ties that bound her to her make easily.'" ''"' '°'"'^'"= P«>=«=-that she could not And so it came to pass that the way alone which th,.„ had sauntered hand in hand thus far witl. unbrokin Walter had thought that when th. ™«ij._ came again, he shouf^l hav^^trtnfeholMayThTch S=f K-'t*!!'^'' °' °'*'"' ^y'"g«^ upon the rive? in Z; boat which had once carried a full Icargo of happhiM^- of strolls along the beach in the evenings; oFK »n?oV if^'u* whe'e there had been chestnut-huS and of church services whereat he should hear nothkS but^the vo.ce of one sil,ger; but these things we^„of One Sunday morning in the early summer he couM to x'iS^v" •'■'"fffren? taking th^rain and combg ■ i."j'7' '7'" ^^°''e^ •>« raust go back aeain beforf mght-fall Letters are delightful! but eyf to eyi is better. And so. when he left the train at Turley statU had Sn. '^^ '^''"^'^ '^'^ ^°""<' tha^seS he^ttfriS '?h\r*'*'"'' ^^°"' ''"''""^ *•>« building, ne Discovered that some ceremony, not usual unnn Sunday morning, was in progression ^itS°n. anS findkg S on "'' ''' "P*" ''°°'' ^' '^^'^ l^m what wa! "Baptiiin*. Mars. Druiy" "Baptizing, eh?" baS'.- "^ '^^^ ^^ *' ''»*• •»"* «»" ""' "O '^ •M CAPTAIN BLUITT I Unde Tarsel, serving in the Presbyterian church, w«i a member of the Baptist Society. " It isn't ? " replied Walter. " Why not ? " "It ain' no baptizin' fer no coloured man, nohow. What (pjod is it to sprinkle a liddle water on a brack man when you kin hardly git de tole repravity outen him by puttin' him in de creek an' summergin* him? No use fo' niggers I Didden King Naaman go into de water seben times befo' he was clean.' chock in an' unner, ober his head ? Didden de Utopian Eunuch go down in twel de deep water ? Ef sprinklin' would a' done he could a' set solid in his chariot an' nebber tuk his clothes off once I A liddle spatterin' o' rain won't wash no man I When he gits religion he wants to hunt fo' a swimmin' hole ou' touc^ bottom and come up Walter, indifferent at that moment to the questions involved in the subject, left the old negro and went around to the door at which he had entered the church on that memorable Sunday of his first visit. He took the same seat, and was full of joy that Dorothea saw him at once, and smiled as she sa** him. The singing that morning seemed to him to have heavenly beauty, and indeed as she saw him there and loved him, and knew that he listened with passionate delight, she had such inspiration to sing as she had never had before. It was lovely to sing, not only because he was there, but because deep down in her devout soul was a sentiment of gratitude to the Being who had given to her such happiness, and had made the love of His children for one another so pure and holy and heavenly. She heard the sermon and looked at the preacher, though she turned her eyes now and then upon him ; but for him there was no minister and no discourse. He saw only her, and cared only for her, and as he looked and looked across the pews and the aisles, and saw her sweet face, he loved her more and more dearly. When service was ended, she met him st tho door, THROUGH THE WAY OF THE WILDERNESS ,6, said good-bye, and went home with a strong resolution ^.^^?", ^. i''""«'* '° M«3 Hamilton at a^^r^y moment, in defiance of the fate that restricted the dimensions of his salary """"ca me ln<,^o ^tii'f ?°^°thi^ «' 'he c^oor of her home, agree- i L?k tog/°hen" '" '"' "'*^"'°°"' '•'^' '"^y -'g''' '*'<= And so when the day was older they strolled down She rive?' ^''^' *""• *""'" '^^y °^"^^""8 'he bank It was a lovely June day, and there were boats upon the stream near to the shore, while further away in Ae channel a sh,p drawn by a little tug-boat went glid ng up the stream, and a steam-boat ploughed its way through the waters. The sunshine made the seine more beautiful, and even strict Presbyterian princTpIe! barely availed to restrain the lovers from venturing ou? once more m Captam Bluitt's row-boat n„^%^'l'''J''"L^ *? ^"'^ ^'°' °' »" for a while upon one of the benches placed here and there upon the sward ^ a!^ the pathway and the verge of the bank, Walter pleaded with Dorothea that they might arrange for •"arnage upon a day not too far distant The situation, dear," he said, "is unpleasant for both ^of^"" I ''^^"« °°' fP°ken to your father ; he and your mother do not make me a welcome visitor to your house; our engagement has never been announced It 13 not the right way. The matter must be dealt with »ooner or later, and why not now ? " " I am af/aid," she said. " Mother does not know that we are engaged to be married, though I told her that we had confessed our love to each other. She did not dis- approve, but father, when she told him, did. I do not Delieve he will give his consent easily." "Why should he withhold it ? He cannot have any good reason." ' " No, but father has seemed strange sometimes of i«8 CAPTAIN ELUITT late — not like himself. He is worrying about something, and it irritates him." " Still, he is a just man and a sensible man. It is my clear duty to speak to him. Then I shall learn what his objections are, and perhaps can remove them." " But, oh I Walter, what if he should forbid me to see you?" " That is hardly possible, dear, I think. Why should he inflict pain upon his own daughter, just in pure wantonness ? Perhaps some one has misrepresented me to him ; no doubt I can straighten the matter out when I see him. It would be trying to you, wouldn't it, if he should insist that you should not see me i " " It would be terrible." " And not write to me ? " " I cannot bear to think of it." " Well, dearest, if it comes to that, you may have to choose between us." "Not to be unkind to my father, dear?" " No, you must not be unkind to him ; but if a father chooses, absolutely without any just pretext, to compel a daughter to discard the man she sincerely loves— well, Dorry, the situation is a familiar one. I suppose people view it in each case differently." " Let us not consider it now at all," said Dorothea. "The mere thought of it is painful to me." " You are mine," said Walter, " father or no father." " Yes," she said in a gentle voice. ' Yes, dear, I am yours. I cannot give you up." '• No man shall take you from me, either," answered Walter. "But, as you say, we need not deal with trouble until it comes to us ; but it is not right that we should postpone the settlement of this matter twcause we fear trouble. I wish to be married. My income is large enough to start with. My character and conduct are good. I have excellent health. I do not think your father can discover any just cause for forbidding you to follow your mclination. I will speak to him this very week." " You will write to him to say that you are coming i THROUGH THE WAY OF THE WILDERNESS ,6, are is^ri ^\:t:^^-:-^^]y2 assufeff/?''^ •lY'"'*"' ". ""^y '»'"«'' homeward, "be Tou coVi^:l?;\' Tar "^^t' ^°'°"s- you are miL'VT.'^^ hfgh^'spSirL^rt^t' >vat ktW al„n°."-"'t- Sunday night, and while Walter v»as sitting alone m his room n the great citv Inhn Sr HTmmo„''had "^•"'^ ^"' *°^'=*" ^" *" «'>-S present ^°'"' "P-"^"' unwilling to be *' My daughter," said Hamilton, '• you went out waiting, »n'A°" i!"''^ ^" ''""'"S and rowing with him before month^ H P^'^. y°" """^^ attentions for sS ?. Y .. ""^ ''"'^ *» y°u frequently ? " "These things were displeasing to me from the fir.* I never Iked the man. I ^id not forbW yZo^o tfth him or to receive visits from him, because I disliked to depnve you of pleasure, but I could hardly have beli^^d that your acquaintance with him would go Iny fiXr than mere acquaintance. Now mother tells m^ that he has expressed himself seriously to you ? " " He has." ^ himio ? "^°" '''"" """^ '^'""^ ^°' '"■'" ^"d have told "Hove him." :,Z^y u^"^^^^"' ^^'^ '* ^">' painful to mt I have always known you to be a girl of good judgment and sound sense, whom I could trust to act wisflv in such matters ; but I fear you have not shown SLVS " In what particular, father ? " ,7« CAPTAIN BLUITT "Well, my dear, It is not easy to «'«.pe'''«tiy «P"^j* in such a matter. A young person w'*°"t "P^X^ of the world cannot, even after an «'{Pl«"f''°"> ""^"; stand the view of an older person who has had large exoerience. A boy, if he could see himself as he will be ?oTyea" later, would not. for example comprehend that'^ older self; and so, you must simpy accept my judgment that Drury is not a suitable person for ''°« You have really known very little of him, father." « I know more than you suppose." It was mean for Hamilton to suRFCst that he had private information, whw n fact he had none. « The moment I saw him I too" hU measure. I knew ^lim for a man not worthy °^f"BuVltm"on"child. You say that i have g ^ am sure that he is a singularly high-mmded man. "Girls always have that notion about any one they happen to fancy. It is because they have no «pe^'en«. and are governed by feeling. How many I'vesha,^ been wrecked because sentiment has been permitted to blind women to the truth!" * u,„. " If you think Walter is unworthy, you must have some basis for the opinion, and you will tell me what '* "Veil, for one thing, he belongs with very plain, very common people. The Bluitts are accepted here because they have^means and live well, and are inoiTensive ; but really they are not our social equals. "Father, I think they are. They have some oddit.es but they are thoroughly respecUble. ""d in all Turley there is not a kinder-hearted or more upright man than ^^"Yoa know that Mrs. Frobisher and her friends regard them as their inferiors." « U^s not like you to say that, father. I know you think Mri. Frobisher's family pretensions absurd " No, we have a right to be careful about such things particularly where our children are concerned, it i THROUGH THE WAY OF THE WILDERNESS 171 should permit you to receive this young man, you would have to be intimate with his relations." " I should be perfectly satisfied." " And who are his parents ? I know nothing of them. What is his father's occupation ? " "Both of his parents are dead. His father was a merchant in the city. He failed in the panic of 1837, and died some years later, leaving nothing." "Exactly I leaving nothing. The son has nothing. He has tried one business after another, and has succqeded in none." " He has succeeded in journalism, succeeded wonder- fully." " But that is a miserable business. The pay is always poor. The occupation is precarious. I do not want my daughter to marry so that she shall be condemned to a life of poverty." " Do you want to have her marry for money ? " "Well, not just that; but there are hundreds of attractive men who have wealth, and who would be delighted to have the chance to address you." "Who are they?" " Of course I do not care to designate any one of them." * Suppose I should not want any of them ? " _ " My child, I am far from wishing you to take a sordid view of so important a matter, but one of the things we learn as we grow older is that our feelings may be largely controlled in such cases if we choose to control them." Dorothea began to reg rd her father with less rever- ence than she had done. A feeling of bitterness sprang up in her mind. " I might is well tell you plainly, father," she said, with reddened cheek, and a firm voice, " that I will never consent to marry any man but Walter Drury ; and I must tell you also, that his income is almost as large as yours, and it will be larger." Hamilton could hardly repress the sentiment of dis- gust and indignation with which he heard this declara- tion ; but he said, ccJdly: »7» CAPTAIN BtUITT "Very well; then I must tell you, Jorry, with equal plainness, that I cannot give my consent to your aflfilia- tion with this young man, and I insist that your relations with him shall be broken off. That is my last word upon the subject." Dorothea w thdrew and went to her room to have a good cry. On Thursday night Walter came down to Turley, and went to the Hamilton house with a purpose to periform a difficult task with courage, and yet, rememberi.ig that this man was dear to the woman he loved, with strong restraint upon tongue and temper. " I have the girl," he said, remembering Uncle E'.uitt's counsel, given to him almost a year ago, " an ' her father's feeling is very much a minor consid<.ration." John Hamilton received 'his visitor with politeness, but with marked coldness of demeanour. His mind was made up. He thought himself completely forti- fied against any argument that could be presented to him. He permitted Walter to present his case with- oit any preliminary observations from him, the stern parent " Mr. Hamilton," said Walter, " you know tlie purpose of I ly visit I have formed an attach .iient fc:' Dorothea, which is reciprocated, and it is necessary that I should speak to you of it" " Very necessary," observed Hamilton. " We were attracted to each other the very first time we met, and I am sure there is complete and genuine devotion upon both sides." Hamilton made no answer. He seemed to prefer that Walter should continue. " I am in a good profession. I am successful. I have an income large enough for two young persons to begin life with. I am in sound health, and if you wish to make inquiry respecting my character, I shall be glad to refer you to persons who know me well." " I have no such desire." " You may have looked into the matter," said Walter. " If so, I am confident you obtained no evil report I THROUGH THE WAY OF THE WILDERNESS 273 m * "fc^*""' '■**P*''"'"">'' "> P"™'' ™e to make Dorothea I' I cannot give my consent," said Hamilton. I am deeply sorry to hear you say so; but I wW be frank and sav that I had be^n warned of your dis- approval of the marriage." ' I' I disappi„ve it positively and absolutely." •• As this is of very serious importance to your daughter and to ine and as in some degree it reflects upon me. may I ask that you will be good enough to tell me why you refuse your consent ? " " I think it to the best interest of my child that I ««?•,. '° '• "'*.' *PP*»" '° ">« t° be "-eason enouc-h." Wh^i ^°^ r'''°" '^V'^'- Haniiuon. if I say I think both she and I are entitled to a more specific sUtement of your objections ? She is no ionger a child ; she is a woman ; and it is not a light matter for either of us that even her father should interpose where her most sacred leelings, and mine, are deeply engaged." "Young people often have such feelings more than ?f™JlK "'"'■''''?«;. and frequ '\y exaggerate their strength and their importance. Dorothea is my own daughter, under my authority, and I do not fully admit ^Ln! J ^ j*"i^ °"*'. ?"? s'^ange"-. to demand my reasons for dealing with her in thi.« way or in that "I am far from venturing to question your riehtful measure of authority with her, or her duty to pay respect to you; but surely you cannot be entirely in- different to her wishes where her happiness-the happi- ness of her whole life— is involved." "It is her happiness that I consider when I refuse mv consent," said Hamilton, coldly. ^ wlhe°r ^°" '*''"'' ^ '^*" '"' '"different to it ? " askei ' Really I do not know." " Mr. Hamilton, I ask you to tell me frankly even if you shall hurt my feelings, why you makeobSto me. I waive my pretence to a right £0 demand an answer. I eamesUy beg you to give i!; to me." a •»4 CAPTAIN BLUITT I " I do not like your family, I do not admire you, I think you are in a precarious business, and I consider you liardly deserving of such a wife as my daugliter would make for a suitable man. There I since you insist upon an r^nswer, and that I shall be perfectly candid, I tell you some of my objections." Walter did not at once reply; but repressing his anger, at last he said : " I dislike to make such comparisons, but I am com- pi 'led to say that my father's station in life was quite as high as yours ; that my business is no more precarious titan any other business or profession, and if Dorothea admires me, that seems really more important, under the circu nstances, than that 'her father should do so." " That is not my opinion." "You would then have her suitor seek your favour first?" "Young man," said Hamilton, looking hard at him, " I do not care to be subjected to an inquisition of just that kind." Walter again reflected before speaking. Then he said : "Are you willing that the matter of marriage should be left open for a time, and that I should see Dorothea sometimes and write to her ? Perhaps when you know me better, you may change your opinion." " No, I shall never change it. I wish you to discon- tinue at once all attention to my daughter." " Do you mean that I shall give her up finally I " •• Yes." " Do you not reflect that this would inflict terrible pain upon her ? " " I have fully considered the ajnsequences." " Nor that it may blast her life and mine ? " " Do not talk nonsense," " Is it your irrevocable decision, then, that I must give her up ? •■ It is." "Well, I tell you plainly, I will not do it !" Walter spoke sharply and rose from his chair. » J!^ 1 THROUGH THE WAY OF THE WILDERNESS ,75 Hamilton did not move. " Yes, you will," he said. "I will not I I will never give her up. I have tried to be courteous with you, because you arc 1.' r falhcr I want to speak respectfully to you now? but a faltr-I authority stops .,omcwhere-yoi,- own father's auth tv over you came to an end, and your authority stops right here! I will marry Dorothea without your approval if you will not be just enough to give it" ^PP™^*'' " Hamilton rose and opened the door int he hall. Voung man, he said, " don't come here again • don't attempt to see my daughter, and .f you write "her "„ defiance of my proh.bition.ycur letters will be returned" wlt^ wfM*"' out. wishing he dare strike the man and where /or an^hn'l'"'' ''=''^'' ^^'^ed to the river-ban" wnere for an hour or more he paced to and fro in SexWir/do"' '^'■^''PP°'"'-"». wondering 'wl... He thought of a dozen wild projects for defying Dorothea's father, and for obtai..ing\evenge for h"! for^'n"' .''"' ^'' '•I'^F'""' '°''* him that he^had better form no plans until he could have time for reflection He must, however, see Dorothea and consult MthTt and he resolved to write to Mrs. Burns that very nieht to ask her to invite Miss Hamilton to her hole Ine afternoon of the succeeding week no)l^*i?n"M"'"«'' •"'" ""='<=\home,'and after writing the note to Mrs. Burns, and obtaining from his aunt the pron^ise that it should reach its destination in the morn! .ng, he related to Captain Bluitt and Miss Blu tt! in the fc.v moments that were available before he must take withXf "'''• ^"^ P^'*-'- °f ^- '«er:?- They could hardly express their indignation. savTh»t'^^'''f"'-i'*'l"''' ^^' ^'"'"' "°f his daring to say that our family is not as good as his I Thev are nobodies I Literally nobodies!" ° ^ ''"' ^""y »« " Doirothea is somebody, aunt" fathL^^'itP' ••*"■/ ^r** "*'*• Hamilton, too. But the father ! It « perfecUy scandalous for Uin to make »u^ 176 CAPTAIN BLUITT high pretensions I Why, do you Icnow what his father was?" " Some Icind of a barber or something, I think." " Not a barber, Puella," said the captain. " He was a note and bill broker up in the city." " You told me yourself, brother, that he shaved things, somehow." " No I Florabella Bums said she heard somebody say he shaved notes." " Very well, then ; that's what I say. I knew he shaved something somewhere. It's all the same, and the idea of his son pretending to look down on Walter I You're too good for him, Walter." " Not for Dorry," said Waltfer, smiling. " No, no I she will make you a perfect wife, perfect I And you'll marry her, won't you, in spite of her hcr"d father?" " Yes," replied Walter, " if she will have me." "V.'ell, she will, Wally," said the captain. "I know that angel girl well — indisputably an angel — and you needn't be afraid that she will give you up. As for John Hamilton — well, my boy, I told you I didn't like him, and now you can guess why. He is not my kind of a man — nor yours. Still, you must take your bearings right in dealing with him. You don't want to quarrel with your wife's father if you can help it, do you ? " •' Surely not." "You are his superior in every way," added the captain, as Walter rose to say good-bye, " and for him to make a fling at you about your family not being good enough : well, as Seneca said — or perhaps it was Scipio Africanus, or some one of those people over there — anyhow, some one of them said, nascitur nonfit; and that's what I say : it's nasty and not fit I He ought to be ashamed of himself." On Monday Walter received from Florabella Burns a letter telling him that Dorothea would be at Mrs. Burns's house on Thursday afternoon, and Mrs. Burns, unable to restrain an expression of sympathy for the victims of cruel wrong, added a postscript : THROUGH THE WAY OF THE WILDERNESS »77 "You poor dear things! Isn't it horrid? Doesn't the man remember when he was in love himself? Come to her and wipe her weeping eyes 1 I will be a mother to you both." When Walter on Thursday reached the dwelling of the sympathetic and consolatory Mrs. Burns, that lady met him almost at the door. She had been watching for him. She greeted him warmly, and then she said: " Vou must really excuse me. I am right in the midst of a lot of sewing and other work. Go right in there and see D^rry." When he had embraced her and kissed her, he retained her hand in his, and they sat together upon the sofa. He told her what her father had said to him, and as he spoke the tears came to her eyes. He saw that she had been weeping before he came. " Oh, Walter ! " she said, " what shall we do about it ? " "There are but three possible things to do, dear, so far as I can see. To run away, or to defy your father openly, or to give each other up." "And we can do none of these, of course, can we?" "I don't know," said Walter. "Running away— why you would not wish me to do that, and have public scandal ? We cannot consider that ? " No ; I should not be willing to adopt that plan ; not now, at any rate." " And I can't give you up ? " He leaned over and kissed her : " It is not worth while even to discuss that." "As for defying father— think what that would mean, dear, for me ! I love him, and have always reverenced him, and never once before has he treated me with un- kmdness. If there should be a quarrel— oh, Walter dear, I cannot bear even to think of a quarrel with my lather 1— It would give, mother bitter sorrow; it would destroy our domestic happiness. Dear, there must be some other way of meeting this great trouble?" "Can you think of one? ''^ " Why can we not simply wait ? We are both young ; »7« CAPTAIN BLUITT there i* plenty of time. Something may happen to change father's mind." "And meanwhile I am not to see you, or to hear from you, or to write to you ? " "Dreadful, isn't it?" " Dorry," said Walter, " I should not mind waiting if we could correspond and sometimes meet ; but to be thrust apart for no good reason, senselessly, and to be kept apart — that I am not willing to endure. You are no child. You are in your nineteenth year. Both law and custom make you independent of your parents." " Yes, dear, I know it ; but I can't throw aside my love for them, like an old garment." " I do not wish to speak unkjndly of your father, though he was most unkind to me ; but, unless he can give some reason fa- better than he has given, either to you or me, why you should not be mine, he has no right, moral, civil or parental, to try to override your wishes." " That is true, and I am sure he will see this, after a while, and withdraw his refusal. I told you that he had not been quite like himself lately." " I don't believe he will change," said Walter. " He said he disliked me the first time he saw me, and I felt that he did. No, there is no hope in that direction. I am willing to do almost anything, but I am not willing to be cut off from all communication from you." "Nor would it do, dear, to meet here, would it? I don't like clandestine meetings." "Nor I. I have done nothing to be ashamed of. You are not ashamed of me ; and I consider it unworthy of my self-respect and of yours that we should act stealthily and employ concealment, because your father is outrageously unjust." "Even secret correspondence seems to be not quite honourable, Wf'ter, does it ? " " No ; but not quite so bad as secret meetings. If I were not afraid of a disgraceful scene, I would call to see you at your house, in spite of your father." " No, dear, not that ! Not now I " ** W«Ut Dorry, it looks to me as if you would have THROUGH THE WAY OF THE WILDERNESS 279 to decide whether you care more for your father or for me." " For you, my dearest ; but I can't help caring for him also, and for mother; and what can I do?" " I am not going to insist upon it, at this moment, at any rate ; but I am inclined to think that we shall have to notify your father that we will be married, and then let him do his worst. What can he do ? " "He can make misery for me and for mother; and scandal, in the whole town. Walter, dear, I cannot bear that. He was less considerate than he should have been. He was becoming impatient and losing his temper. "Well, that is what is coming, if it must be. Sooner or later you will be compelled to choose between disobeymg your father or dissolving your relations with me." "Let us wait," she said, gently. "And now I must go. It will not do for me to stay longer. They will suspect me." " Yes, suspect I There it is. You are treated as if you were a criminal." As they rose, she put her arras about his neck and cried. He kissed her tenderly, and said : "Forgive me, if I spoke harshly. We will wait as you say. But I will write to you, and you will answer my letters ? " " Father has forbidden it, but " " But you must write to me," he said. ■ ".^,'''.1' ''*'"'' *''°"' '*' ^^''^ ^"d tfy to determine what 13 right. He kissed her again, and he went to the door with her; and as she walked away, Mrs. Burns came down- stairs. " Walter," she said, "you must not be impatient with Dorry. Wait a while, and the tangle will be straight- ened out, and you will love her more because you had this trouble." Upon his way home in the train that night, Drury resolved that he would try patiently to bear the heavy aSo CAPTAIN BLUITT burden of separation put upon him by an unjust man — to bear it for a time, in the hope that some way would be discovered for removing the burden. But he also determined that he would write to Do: othea in defiance of her father's prohibition. To have no communication would be insupportable. The next day he wrote a letter, and when John Hamilton took it from the post-office, he put it in his pocket and kept it there. For nearly a week Walter waited with increasing impatience for an answer, and then he wrote again. This letter also found its way into Hamilton's pocket Receiving no reply, Walter wrote a third time, directing the letter to the care of Saul Tarsel, who he knew saw Dorothea at the church at least twice every week. When Saul received the letter, he turned to find some one to read the address, and of course the man he turned to was Hamilton. "That is mine," said Hamilton, "it is for my daughter. It is all right," and the letter went into his pocket. Walter was angry and bitter, when, as the days ran by, he found that no response came to him. "She will not write because her father forbids. She cares more for him than for me." He thought to make another venture, and write a letter to be transmitted by Mrs. Burns, but he began to harden his 1. art. " If she loved me truly, she would write with- out waiting to hear from me." He laughed scornfully as he thought of what she had said about loving him instantly. " The two souls made for each other, and that flew together, seem to be badly sundered now. Possibly, Frobisher, being on the ground, finds more favour than he did." He was conscious that this was unjust, but he permitted his bitter humour to dominate him. Man-like, he threw all the blame upon her, and pretended to thi.ik himself the only martyr, and to contemplate his own suffering, as if she too did not suffer. THROUGH THE WAY OF THE WILDERNESS >8i She would not write, for her father's sake, but she thought that if Walter should write to her she could not refuse to answer him. She waited for a letter, waited and waited through weeks of dreariness and heart-ache and bitter grief, but no line came to her from the man she loved. The mother tried to comfort her, but she would not be comforted. Her father observed, but pretended not to notice her sadness; and at any rate he was deep in crime by this time, and consumed by his desire that McOann s motor should show some sign of becoming a profitable investment His heart was hardened by euilt and by covetousness. Walter sent no more letters, and Dorothea still waited lor him. She bought every day the journal for which he wrote, and read eageriy the articles she thought were his. She read and re-read his old letters to her a hundred times and kissed them, and the daguerreotype of him which she kept hidden in her bureau drawer was kissed again and again, when she had looked at it until her eves grew weary. ' She felt that she could sing no more at church, but she must try, and when she sang she looked across to the place where he had first heard her on that Sunday long ago, and then her voice quivered, and she could hardly restrain hei tears. She t sought of the chestnut-hunt, and the row on the nver.and the loitering upon Graver's Point, and she recalled his words, the tones of his voice, the smile upon his face, and all the joyfulness that had made her life so happy. The full summer came, and she walked by the river- bank, and said to herself. " Perhaps he may come to luriey to-day, and I shall meet him. Perhaps he will pass our house, and look for me, as he did once before I knew him. But he did not come, and her heart was desolate. She heard sometimes of him. He spent his vacation at the seaside, sad and tired and longing for one who was far away. But he could not be alone at a great hotel. He !>• CAPTAIN BLUITT must join with the company about him in their pleasures. And 30 up to Turley came stories, carried by eager, observant people, that Walter was the gavest of the party, and that he went about much with a certain alluring Marietta Binns, whom he had known at his boarding-house. And thus the wounded girl in Turley was stabbed again and again by gossip, until her anguish was almost beyond endurance. Sometimes she thought she would write to him, despite her father. Sometimes she thought she would indeed defy her father and give herself to Walter. But, then, what if Walter had grown cold ? What if she had driven him away by her too strong sense of duty to her father? She had heard that men were fickle; that absence diminishes affection ; that a lovelier woman may disturb the devotion of one who has pledged himself to another. But she would not believe that Walter loved her less. No, what could he do, considering her fathers conduct towards him I He could not come to her or write to her. She felt that she would one day reach the condi- tion which would permit her to regard her father's prohibition lightly. Yes, indeed, as she thought of the absent man, and loved him, and yearned for him, and wept for him, she often said to herself, in grim earnest : " If I could have him for mine at any cost, I would pay it I would live in a hovel. I would suffer for food. I would endure any fatigue, I would face any danger — yea, I would, without a moment's hesitation, cut off my hand, or tear out one of my eyes, if I could have his arms around me, and hear him tell me tb^t he loves me. But, alas I there seemed to be no way out. The dark- ness was just black darkness to her soul, and there was but one thing left for her : her religion. She could pray and love and trust ; pray for patience in the great sorrow that had come upon her ; pray and pray and pray that the Divine Father who gave Urn to THROUGH THE WAY OF THE WILDERNESS aSj her would one day give him back again ; and then say to herself over and over, in the words that came to her across the centuries : " Commit thy way unto the Lord ; trust also in Hint, and He shall bring it to pass. Rest in the Lord and wait patiently .it Him." The day was indeed not far disitant when her lover was to come to her again ; but sorrow was to stay with her. CHAPTER XVIII POLITICS IN TURLEY When the August sun grew hot and hotter, until men and women were almost stifled, and the land wa« parched, and there seemed a chance that the river might reach the boiling-point, Billy Grimes and the poli- ticians began to prepare for the fall campaign, as indifferent to the ferocity of the temperature as they were to the fact that grief sat enthroned in Turley, and that hearts were bruised and torn and bleeding. The Primary elections were held in August, when choice was made of candidates whose names should be placed i;pon the party-tickets for the election in October. There was a theory in Turley that if a man really wanted to exercise potent influence in the local govern- ment, he should attend the primary election and help to direct the selection of candidates; and tliere was another and fonder theory, that the people did indeed possess what Billy Grimes and his friends often spoke of in terms of warm praise as the privilege of local self-government. But nobody knew better than Billy that theory in this case was widely separated from practical fact. He was well aware that seventy-five per cent, of the voters paid no attention at all to the primary elections, and he km V if they had done so, Billy and his men would certamly count the votes wrong if the voters should happen to prefer the candidates whom Billy did not want 384 POLITICS IN TURLEY So »8S every year in August a few party men wen>. lazily signified their assent to the ticket that to the polls, and Hill., rf ■ ---- -o ~ »".... ~i»<;iii, lu uic iicKec mat iJUly Grimes had put upon his "slate" far back in the preceding winter-time; and the candidates thus obtained what was regarded as a "regular" nomination. Mr. urimes and the patriots who with him devoted their attention to saving the country, knew that the reeular party-ticket would be elected in October, unless some- thing of a surprising and almost unprecedented nature should occur to induce a few Democrats, belongine to the majority, to gc over to the Whigs, who were the minority. Both Whigs and Democrats believed that the people governed; but Billy Grimes could have told them (though he never did) that while twenty-five per cent of the citizens r?rely went to the polls at all, and while seventy per cent, of those who put the ballot in the box never failed to vote "Oie straight ticket," Mr. Grimes, the slate-maker, really governed Turley, and with power m<»e nearly ibsolute thai; if he had worn a petty crown He governed Turley, rot for the people's sake, or wholly for his own sake, bi-t as the loyal henchman of Colonel Bly, who governed '.he state. Most of the men in Turley belonged to the two great political parties, the Democratic and the Old Line Whig Within a few years a third party had come into exist- ence— the Know Nothing party, which suspected the Fope of cherishing as the main purpose of his life the overthrow of the glorious institutions established by our Revolutionary fathers and cemented (as the orators of the party often said) by th? blood and the tears of patriots. The Know Nothings believed that this ne- farious and destructive design of the Pontiff had more or less hearty approval of foreigners generally, but particularly was it favoured by Europeans who sat on throng and wielded sceptres. These persons were thought to scowl at the menacing spectacle of the young Republic across the Atlantic growing to a giant's strength, and giving out plain intimations that the time was fast coming when beneath its influence a86 CAPTAIN BLUITT thrones would totter, sceptres be wrested from the hands rntoobS"''"'" '-''"''' '^'""'"'^« •- -t '"'i n„K"i *'*^ ^"°* Nothings were few in number and throned' r«';TP""« '}" ^°J^ ""'^ 'he occuprts of tS2 tnrones, really cared much about ihem Blllv r.Wm.. contemplated them with bold disdain except when h« wished to buy one or two votes in a cl^e ejection p u-St *'?. " somewhat pathetic fraement of > Prohibition Party, which regwded th^ comolLe « termination of the traffic in alcoholic teveTagSw the' laL °l^"l really required for bringing heaven to^arth P?nhJh\— .'" Jx^ley there were^o'^more than th«e Prohibitionists, two of them m»li- snj ,u. ^ nobody „.garded. and the'hW a Saptl'steon" T was aggressive and vociferous, but who^w^ SduZn by the community as a harmless enthusiast whose ^ fefef^e-lrti^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ S^'S^lrX'.^-s^e^'^l^l^^r to join the Democn.ts. But in tmth ?t woulf Sps not have been easy for most of the memCs 0^? party to explain clearly why they found themSw« n=.^>,'" '•"' T^ °^ *''*'' '«P«^«ve orjan zatTot .,>^i^ / '" *'"' ?f'* °' thrperfectly respectable citizen, he was a Democrat or Twhi? be«u«. h^^^ ancestors had been Democrats or Whigs, ""^as" famihar declaration that "My father and my sZl ["feiri^y^^??"^'^'''"'' ' -- voted anVSr Thus men who were honest and sincerely patriotic frequently permitted the influence of their d"S relatives to induce them to shut their eyes to tKI character of the persons named upon their pari^Micket and to vote the whole ticket at the elections with I' d,mly.perceiv.a feeling that in doing so thtweTlJot only standing firmly by family tradition Md pS^"^ POLITICS IN TURLEY .g, «un?^ ^"'"""'"^ • «''^'« °f '•'nportance to their community by vot.^n^fi!^'„"' ^ id good work for the other as tV tfit r i- t hn'n °^ ""-^idates or the marked upon t "e (Sdit ' \u r "'°'l "^'" °'"^= "-e- worshlp of ancerto« shL.M l''" '^'l ">*' "^= Chinese upon ™ode.„"Scata^o''i: °fthe"m t"*^' '?«"''' their money, their manhnnJi L!i '^ t"" *° sacrrfice their government to ?!• ^' ""^ '""? "" '"'""ts of probably nev« "ait a vote SSi k ^ '^'"f """• '^''o dear perceoticn of\h, » directed by intelligence and TheTolfd and stolW 'S/l"/"''"'"'' °^ righteousness declare themLlvefml"^' 1' ^'^ ■;«'«'y ""tented to Kiven to the circumstal-e ^h,; ,;f ">?•»««" was always Whigs; a, if the oTd L „1 WhL w'ei;T'S;h°'^^"'= mtcnse, eager and resolute na^,,i? ^if. ,Y^?^ °^ """re not Old iJne; althoS in fact no WV^ Y^J^ "^^ ^*«* discovered or had volKly ,^;eafflfii;"1f°T ^'^ not of the Old Line vaWpti. v il j ""nself who was to explain the d^er^nrTC . ^°^ ^^^ attempted Whigs, iftwo kinds ex^^f/n ''*'''*"",.''''' t*° kinds of Whifs'havrsaid pred : V X?h"''' '"^ °^ '^' Turley meant in fi,,* P'^eciseiy what the words " Old Lini. " OlTl!i„'e" De^lcra?U^L'e'rH ^''-'^-"be well as Old Line wC- but th^"^ ''*.'' "^^^ '>"fd) as and urged and dwelt uoon ,^ tr v P'*"'' *^ stained aqua4ation or^^l"h&/.-::X'-ed a fact and DenTrat" K^htd^'lverrn ='->'%J='^ersonian the state a Democrat »hL °'^1 '" hurley or in school ; but theSl SteTthat f°' ""= J-^'^-^-ian appear and proclaim^mself a Dem^!.r'"J=''^'' '^°''^'^ not confess that he waT a lt"'' y** "''°"'d claim to membershio in fl,- ^°"'^" Democrat, his I tM CAPTAIN BLUITT >> hkd lome sort of compreheniion of the political theories of which Jefferson was the exponent and representative; but most of the Democrats of Turley had been bom in Europe, and even those of them who could read English had not acquired very large acquaintance with American history. Few of these persons had inquiring minds, and they were Jeflersonian Democrats because that was the popular tt\' hod of indicating the source J the party's creed. Tl. would have found it quite as agreeable and reasonable lu be Johnsonian Democrats or Thompsonian Democrats or Parkinsonian Democrats. Among the members of the party were some whose minds yielded now and then to impulses of curiosity, and with these there were dim impressions that the party got its name because it may have been started up in Jenerson County, or that the founder was h man who fought with the British in 1812, or that "JefTersonian" is a word from one of the dead languages indicating the equality of man. The foremost man in the party in the state was Colonel BIy. The colonel often declared in his speeches that he was a JefTersonian Democrat from the crown of his head to the soles of his feet. This always elicited storms of applause from audiences, who felt that the colonel, in thus expressing the fact that JefTersonian Democracy had penetrated and lodged permanently in every fibre of his being, had revealed a truth which gave a heroic flavour to his character while it promised vast, if not clearly perceived, advantages to our common country. Colonel Bly had begun at the very bottom in politics as a " worker " in one of the wards of the largest city in the state. He pushed his way upward with remarkable rapidity, but he never acquired a really firm grip u;;>on the party organization, until he completed successfully what was alluded to at the time as his famous "der!" with the Shiawassee Indians. The colonel was the principal owner of a bank in the town of Donovan. It was a very small bank, with a very large note-issue, and it was regarded by prudent POLITICS IN TURLBY ,,, government a. dlZZ^"SXhJX V^^ ^''^^'^ Indians. To 'hose unfnrt„„..!. u ?i *"* Shiawassee herded upon a releri^at^n ?h!* ^''"*''" °^ ""^ f"'"*. hundred Snd eigh yTou,and H T^T"^^ °^"^ «*<> land purchases TM.Vi ''°"""'' ^°' bounties and BIv. and the Theory waTt"hYtX'''''f '" ^''^ '° Colonel it bodily to the Sl^iawasIeL lin^fi • °"''' *?•"''' ""^'V had quite diiferentplansTrrnn^ ;?""•. ^°'°"«' B'X He procured i^om his bank ?wn 18 '"l^^ transaction", thousand dollars of it, n^?-"^''!?"'''*^ *"'» «ghty he proceeded to the ese?^it7on'',''' '^T''''"^ *•«= 8°". the chief c ' ihe tribe t^lfi°' ^""^"'^ °'"" ^^e notes to came home The Vn^fa^'ledTP' ^" ^""' «"'» '^en guileless red men Lid hav?manat"dK^'>''' '^^°'« ">« present the notes for redemptk.n ^'''' ^^ ""^ ""=*"»■ *<> - .:c:Ti:^t:^j^«aii?"\rr">''t* momei his genius for practical nnll?;. ?^f '^'°'" ">*' and the ondition of h s^ oSs'^^S^ AT^"'*^' fn^a^tf "'' ^'^ —'^ tHcT/at^l^roftX' restive under interfcren^ f '^ '* ""^^^ ^"-^ grown the whole h»wrS"wfnTifT "".^fri ''"'Vn nominated for any offi^I ^il '^ *''' '^''''"''' « ""an to be upon the ticket "^He had mLT'an/r'^'PP^^'"'' ^y of v^oterr;hr„"e;:i^,r, ttri^-sir^^^i *¥> CAPTAIN BLUITT process by which they worked was to select for places upon the ticket the men whom they desired to favour, to have the trained workers vote for these men at the primary elections from which most of the voters remained away, and then to depend upon the enthusiasm of the whole body of Democrats to carry the ticket through on election day — enthusiasm born simply of habit, of ancestral practice, and of the devotion of the Jeffersonian Democrats to the "Grand Old Party" and "the regular ticket." That the ''cket was "regular" was usually enough .or the old ju-'ersonian Democrats, even though it represented both incompetency and rascality. The colonel left the smaller local affairs to the county manager and to the precinct men. All he asked was that the nominees to the st^te offices and to the superior county positions should be first of all faithful to him. Always they were. The colonel was the source of political advancement. The man favoured by him always got a place of some kind under government. The political aspirant upon whom he frowned was lost. Thus he had the friendship and support of a great army of people, t/erj' one of whom hoped to edge himself into a public place with a comfortable salary before he died. This was the secret of the colonel's power. He and his county subordinates had promised every office in the state twenty years ahead, and sometimes had made more promises than could be kept in half a century. But, when any man encountered a broken promise, he was promised something else and, at any rate, he dared not complain, for the colonel's disfavour would have shut the door of hope upon him. By such means the colonel kept his followers faithful ; and although it was a ticklish game, he had played it successfully for twenty years, and there really appeared to be no reason why he should not play it for twenty years more if, unhappily, his life should be so long spared. As the colonel never sought an office for himself, persons of not very alert minds were sometimes puzzled to understand why he should take so much trouble, and do so much hard work, and exercise so much skill in POLITICS IN TURLEY .^^ -?"hViLCd%o"aj"h:r '"^°'-t -rt of to the principles of Thnm,= t S-" ^*'"°" *° devotion perceived that thf .C^ h/m "^^"^T"' . °*''" Pe°Ple inordinate and insatiable W of'" ""= ""' Pl^ce. an some gratification from the m/n''""'"' *".^. *•"■" °l««'"ed great community ofTe ml r""" '° ^'"<='^ •"= ""'ed a * Vr ^ w '"To.rnr/t°h:^^^^^^^^ ^'-^^ notS; b"u? hThaTS^" "ff ^-^^^^ which hTmanaged the Ormocr^t^r ''""'!? *' P="°'^ '" the sources of his later JZ,!?!,^ machine. Some of even to sha?p 4ted peool Th ""l^S^'^'^^'y '^"°^". circulated respect nttran^&„!°"^^^^ ''"d been ■another man in tL|enSarv ' S ''°"''' ''^^'= P»' company would rather nilo" /''** ^ gi-eat railroad irritating and hmMU-liF^ i*"^* ^""^ t^^n have Assembfy was Xio„Sd °" l^P'-'^^^ *"' General control legislation hk^ the n-^ '" ""« «t«e could selected almost everv n.!^! ^ /'^ manager who had him in officTwith hi^ ?wThands'" T '""r ^l"" P"' ceived that the colonel ronM ?! '*u*?^ ^'^^^^ Per- could halt it at any "taee of if, '""'' '<=g'"«latio„ and Houses; and much^ejfraujn VsuT'C" ?i;°"^'' ^''^ staged and stopped sl^ce^ ^J^A'Ss"^^,']^ the T^eTst;'afe/ hTd tlat ''*^*'= ^^—r, and millions. Thelaws^deSateJno n'ilr"'"/ "P '"t° and of course said nothTnf ab^ut "nti^s ' uoo?°;''°"^' of public money. But this r^Z " ."^^^ "Pon deposits banks, and the use of if ^^ ^'"'^^^ *« P'ac^ in institutions The bank ^ t"^"! ^7* much ^o these have sworn that it never naid a Ho^i '^^^''ample, could body for such deposfts K^f. lu* ''°"T °f mterest to any- unpleasant for t?e d ectors'?;^^,^"'^^ 7"'^ have bee^n they ever contributed to the Dern^ ^^"^ ^^^ "^^^ « or ifsuch contributiols^i^;-';:---^^^^^^^^^ lp> CAPTAIN BLUITT three per cent, upon such deposits. The colonel handled all the campaign funds, and never had an audit or an accounting. The colonel had always avoided the incon- venient practice of keeping books. Thus the colonel had plenty of money for himself, and plenty of offices to give to his friends. Popularity could have no more solid basis. But, besides, the colonel was known to all the workers and to many of the rank and file as a mighty good fellow. He was always smiling. He never forgot a man's name, and many an humble voter, who had never ventured to aspire for himself even to the smallest office, had been thrilled through all his nerve- centres to have the colonel, who had not met him for years, come to him at a " grand rally," and clap him on the shoulder and say, " Hello Bill ! " The colonel was a plain man, a man of the people ; neat but modest in his dress ; able to speak like an educated man with the educated, but quite at ease with dislocated syntax and slang when he met alone those helpers and subordinates whom he was pleased to call "the boys." It was said of the colonel by all the boys that " he always stood by his friends." This, and the fact that he was from centre to circumference a Jeffisrsonian Demo- crat, were his only apparent virtues. That he always stood by his friends was constantly reported by the voters who hoped some day to have the privilege of his friendship. And it was true. The man who served him rarely failed to obtain substantial reward, while any of his adherents who got into office, and then got into trouble by misusing the public money, always had the protect- ing arm of the colonel thrown around them. Either the colonel made good the loss, or he had the jury fixed, or he provided the unfortunate man with a place in the consular service. But the one friend whom the colonel always stood by most faithfully was the colonel himself Billy Grimes had control in the county in which Turley was situated ; and he would have been permitted POLITICS IN TURLEY ,,3 classifying him among thieves An ex?m'ni» ' ^ u^ do'n-t ^:VSc&°roar^^?"-P°"^^'' ^-^- " ^-u oldefb&Vou get S*^ ' '^°"''' ''"' y°"'» be much gei'therf'' ""''" '^ ^'^^ P^°P'« "^ '^is town want me to " Don't you worry about the people " answered Grimes. »94 CAPTAIN BLunr " I'll tal.e care of them. They don't intend to let a man like you direct public education, for one thing." " I know too much, do I ? " "I don't know how much you know about some things, but you don't know enough to know that you can't get into office by insulting Colonel Bly." " He owns you, and the School Board, and everything in sight, does he i " " Never mind what he owns. He will down you, or any other man that has the insolence to talk about the way he made his money." "How did he make it, Billy? " " That's his business. You've got no right to meddle with it." " If he stole some of it from me, I have," answered Davis Cook. " You'd better be careful how you talk, or you'll he up to your armpits in a libel-suit the first thing you know. The colonel is a better man than any Presbyterian plumber that ever flourished a monkey-wrench." " Well, Billy, I'll give you a fight, anyway," said Davis. " You may win, bui you won't nave no walk-over." " Win ! ' exclaimed Grimes, with disgust, as he turned to consider some papers that he held in his hands. " Why, Davis, we will just wipe you off the face of the earth. You won't know where you are when the colonel gets through with you." But, in truth, Mr. Grimes had not quite so much con- fidence as he pretended to have. He believed he could defeat Davis Cook, but Cook had many friends in both parties, and he had the great advantage that he was " a poor working-man." Nobody could charge that Davis Cook had affiliations with the aristocracy ; nobody ciiM accuse him of living in opulence, clipping coupons, and riding about in gorgeous equipages, while the sons of honest toil, the hope and mainstay of the country, earned their bread by arduous labour. Davis Cook's hanHs were calloused and grimed ; his face had on it, usually, the smut and smirch of the genuine worker ; he lived modestly ; his people were all plain ; and, besides, he POUTICS IN TURLEY ,,5 ir,!ln=r',^*° everybody as a good fellow, willing to help anybody who was down, always paying good wages and never failing to pay his debts. ^ ' And then, Davis belonged to nine secret and beneficial societies, including the Masons and the Odd Fellows and the Red Men and the Knights of Pythias In some of these orders he held high places of dignity and influence with mysterious names, and on lodge nights he wore strange and wonderful garments, coverld with awe-inspinng symbols. He was the master of some u^Ta °l t'S'''"" erips and grand hailing signs, and tie had at his command almost more passwords than any miiiu not trained in the business could remember, r "t,*S^"'°"f''*' ^y well-informed men, that Davu J 1 ^l"^ , . "* *'"°"S hydrants, and gas-meters, and plumbers' joints and quarter-turn pipes, clrrie^ wi h him a greater accumulation of lodge secrets than any otner man in the county. Billy Grimes, therefore, knew very well that he had no ordinary antagonist to deal with ; and he was not ashamed to engage his sovereign lord, the colonel, in a prolonged consultation respecting the best method to roTn h=° ^^* ^"T °'" ^°""^' "^ * '""t resource, he could have the plumber counted out at the primary, but available '^ *° ''"""^ *''^' ''°^^^ '^ *"^ other were After careful review of the whole situation, and dis- cussion of the availability of several men as candidates to run against Cook, Grimes made up his mind to put Rufus Potter s name upon the ticket This decision had warm approval from the colonel. Rufus seemed to possess many advantages. He was a horny-handed working-man, but he ranked much lower m the scale than Davis Cook, who, after all, was a master-plumber, and might reasonably be classed among the employers and oppressors of labour. This would attract the element in the party who aUays came to the S« f, !2 .ul'l'?- ^"'^".^ *^^ endeared to them, also, by S nt? r u" 'ff ^^'^ ^^* '=^'=" '^^^ '^^'"^ than that 9t Davis Cook. He used more slang, and his disloca- •96 CAPTAIN BLUITT I tions of sjmtax were, as we have seen, little less than appalling to educated people. Rufus, very visibly and emphatically, was a nnan of the common people. He stood near to the bottom. To this was added the not unimportant fact that Rufus had been a sailor, serving under his country's flag, and bearing about with him in Turley the agreeable reputation of a man who had seen the world, and had borne himself well in the midst of dreadful dangers. Rufus was the right man for the place, beyond a doubt, and he was not averse to accepting it. He had never had an idea that he should hold office, but as soon as Grimes proposed to him to try to take one, his mind was inflamed by ambition, and it really seemed to him that public place was the one thing he had needed to round out his life perfectly. But the willingness of Rufus was mere indifference in comparison with the willing less of his wife. She greeted with intense enthusiasm the announcement of the pro- ject, and as her imaginaticn was permitted to play with the subject, it led her on, step by step, until at last she was able to picture Rufus, risen from one office to another, sitting in the White House as President, engaged in drawing a stupendous salary, while she and the eight children drove out in the afternoon, in a barouche lined with pink satin and drawn by four white horses, driven by a liveried coachman, who took orders from her as she sat, clothed in gorgeous raiment, and shaded her eyes with a real lace parasol. It is needless to say that Hannah Potter at once opened the campaign with vigour, or that she began to look upon Davis Cook, whom she had always liked here- tofore, as the enemy of organized society and the foe of liberty. After an active and lively canvass of the Third Ward by Davis Cook in his own behalf, and by the regular party workers in the interests of Rufus Potter, the primary election was held on a Saturday night, late in August. There were only two hundred and twenty Democrats, POLITICS IN TURLBY self-government, and ~"'t^'e^"*'„^'°'^^^^ munity by regaining at homro^l\°^*"!,'=°'"- thirty-four of these forgot thTt th,. "''■ ^"'"^"'^ "nd was to be held upon that niX I P"?"^ «'«=""°n the preceding Saturdav n,-»Lv^ /°'"* *''°''g''t it was the next Sat^rd^y n &. ^ ' '""^ '°'^' "'°"Sht it was sit'r ift^cSil*^^^^^^^^ ."Pon the early in the day. that if hZ^ j f '^^"""^ ""'"d, people to rally to his stlndarS t^"'^"'^ "P°n his own so he had arrangements man. /• ""'• '^'' ^°^^- ""«» Democrats from ^other waris L Pnf°""^ thirty-three ggh^LS°Lre^f an^d Sones^ A"e^ .T' .'^' Gnmes's own men mv» p./r ^u ^ ™ tellers, Bi y that he had th^^^guirnoltaU'n! """'^^^'^ '^^''""^ RuTus7at:bUT.^l!;^\otve'hVm^-'^^^^^ "' r°«- meaning of thisV^ndfrulexL^l^cTSfat^^^^^^^ '^^ ^"" him. The effort staggered hJm^ *' ''^'^ *^°">e to he felt his head swi and hTo„fv'^K"°:r """^ ^^en table to steady himsSf ^ ' •"' ''*'"' "?«" the whSS fnTmlr"*"' ^'^'■°" -^P* --'y over the "that your fa the"s eTementT 7 '° "*''' *"= Wishes, have distinguished recoSn K r e^"=f ">«s would yet his fcllow-count^men wouM no't !.',\' f"'^''^'^ '^' the bold mariner who hrdfnnni I "'^u '°"Ser permit thither upon the tracwL "".!.'' Pf^*'''^^^ ''''''=^«d thousand perils, to remain in i "^^ '^^"="' »'"''' » I toId>.^« so, kufus Vn,„ '8"0«"'»0"s obscurity? •98 CAPTAIN BLUITT Infant minds ; and «ome day, when you have done good and faithful •ervice in the School Board, the visU will open, and when dear Sammy come* back from his voyages, he will find you in Congress, sitting there in the halls of legislation, and directing the destinies of the greatest nation upon this earth. I saw it, Maud, from the very, very first ; and said to myself, when I married your father, that he was born for great things — really great things, such as no mere pipe-twisting, solder- ing plumber ever could be capable of." Rufus heard her with delight, and as he heard, the feeling began to creep over him that perhaps Destiny was indeed leading him towards a higher sphere ; but he was haunted, also, by some sort of fear that he should not be quite certain what to.do when he got there. Davis Cook, defeated by the Democrats, was promptly nominated by the Whigs, who jumped at such a chance to win a victory ; and Davis began at once his canvass of the ward and of the adjacent township which voted with the ward. One of his first visits was paid to Dr. Quelch, the most influential man in the neighbourhood. He found the doctor in his office, and was invited to enter and " I come to see you, doctor," said Davis, " to ask for your vote and support for me for school director." '• I see," said the doctor. " You won't mind, Davis, if I ask you what qualifications you have for the office of director of the public schools ? " " None whatever," replied Davis, with emphasis. " Give me your hand, Davis," said the doctor, rising. " You shall have my vote. I like your frankness. But, Davis, why then are you running for the place i Why do you desire it ? " " Simply because Colonel Bly wants to keep me out. He says I shan't have the place, and I am determined to beat him if I can." " Good I " said the doctor. " The motive is not exactly lofty, but I admire pluck, and I have no admiration for Bly. I will vote for you, but you will not be elected." POLITICS IN TURLEY ,^ "Why not?" "Because the Democrate are running aeainst von a man less capable than you are." "«"'nsi yog a " Potter ? " f..i'i'^?" " ^•"'yhad put up a highly-educated man. full of power, and pre-eminently qualified to perform " You think not ? " " Potter is probably less fit to direct public education LZ\? T".'" ''•f *°""*'''P- T''* feet ««m, to me to make his election almost certain." to'li..T3;:;;ay?*'''' *^' "'^ '* ^ »"' ' •"• 8~"« "Very well. Do your best, and I will sUnd by you but don't expect victory." oyyou, tak^"ht W^ """• *"** P''^'^'*' "P "^ '^*- '"*«'l"'g to " No'"^°" '" * '""^' °'"'" ' " **''*^ ^'- Q"''*''- " Sit down, then. Smoke a pipe. I should like to talk with you a little while." filii^L ^"•*'''^ ^i;'*' ^r^'?''' » P''P« »nd tobacco, and filling a pipe for himself, the two began to smoke. Davis, said th. doctor, "I want some information Vou are a mechanic and an honest man ; and you know you can trust me, if you are willing to reveal seme Jf the secrets of the brotherhood " "Yes," said Davis "ril tell you anything I know Tell you in a minute." * •'"uw. rti'T''"' 2.*"''' '^' "1^ ''*'« *>'« <»««• When I built this house there were thirteen flues upon the plan-heat- flues and smoke-flues. When the house was completed bricC'^ *** '""y °"4 °f th°^e flues was blocTefw^' bricks and mortar. The men who constructed them while constructing them, deliberately dropped brickbaTs SseleTrTh"''"^'''.^'"'' '"'°y'" anTmade them useless. I have heard scores of other people say that ^T?u *'"^ **^ ''""^ "'th their hou«i. ft is in short, the universal practice. I infer that there % a see CAPTAIN BI.UITT motive. Now, Davis, I want to know what it is. Why does a man who takes the trouble to build • hole, simultaneously choke it up?" " I dunno," said Davis, thoughtfully, puffing out the smoke, " but " "One moment," said the doctor. "Before you an- swer, let me say that this same rule appears to operate in all the trades. If you have your shoes re-soled the shoemaker always leaves pegs inside, doesn't ht ? " " Always," said Davis. " Although he knows that you cannot wear shoes in that condition. When a painter comes here to work, he never fails to fill the keyholes in the doors with paint, and to put upon the window-sashes paint which will not dry for i> year, and which makes the sashes immovable. Isn't that so?" " Exactly 1 " said Davis. " I never knowed it to fail." " I had steam-heat put into my house, and of course there is a water-gauge in the boiler in the cellar. For months I could never perceive any water in the gauge, and at last I had the thing torn out, and I found that the workman, in finishing up the job, had driven a wooden plug into the pipe which should feed the gauge. Odd, wasn't it?" " Not at all," said Davis. "That was as good a way as any of making trouble." " While the carpenter was putting the shingles on my east gable," continued the doctor, " I pointed out one particular place where the rain would be likely to come in from a driving south-easterly storm. I asked him to take extra pains to protect that spot, and he said he would. We took out two buckets of water from beneath that very place when the first storm came after the house was built. What would you say to that, Davis ? " " I should say I am surprised you didn't take out four buckets and have three other leaks. But I'll tell you- " Just a moment ! " said the doctor, " let me finish," " You fixed up my bath-room for me." POLITICS IN TURLEY "Ves." !•« nan« ™'/». *°''!,.y°" }^* ' '"tended to put expensive £f^ 1, M^' Milingof the room beneath, and askVd you to make the pipes tight Do you remember ? " " Perfectly." l«'w'ir"/"""'"'^';:*^° y°"' *"* "« P'Pe» did not leak a drop for more than two weeks; but the moment the paper was on the ceiling underneath, and the paper- hangers had gone home, that very moment the pipes ti^e"it ?• • ' °*^'^' '*' "' ""^ y°"' did you thri.r"i*'""'u-'''."' *">; *'«'*•" ^^''d Davis, knocking the ashes from his pipe and refilling it. •• Not just that, but the prpe was bound to leak sooner or later and it was just a part of the general crookedness of things that It waited till the paper was ready." Ouel'^h ** " ^°"' **''°^ *'^"* '*' ^*^" ' " ^^^^ ^^• "Well" said Davis Cook, relighting his pipe and leanmg back in his chair. '• I'll tell you how it iT, only 1 dunno as you will care to listen, for you have to eo away back to get the start of the thing."' ' " Back to what ? " "Well, you see, things was built crooked in this world on piirpwe. There ain't nothing that was arranged to go exactly right. You know better than I do, doctor that If we went sailing along through life smooth and pleasant, like drifting with the tide, we'd never amount to nothing— now would we ? " " No." u»^^y K.^"' '\^" '• "'"*='" ^'e troubles, and there's little troubles. You may lose your money, or your health, or you^ relations, or you may not ; but, anyhow. It 11 rain on the day you fix for a picnic, or your train'U '?te the day you particularly want to make a con- nection with another train, or you'll stub your toe so tnu. *^*"i wMk just as you arrange for a pedestrian tour, or the rain '11 ccme on '-rd when you've left home without your umbrella (diu you ever notice that t) or a dreadful bore 11 drop in to see you just when you [I set CAPTAIN BLUITT thought you'd like to be alone. It'« always that way, Untltf'^ "Ye*." "You start out in life, believing that you re going to have nearly perfect bliss, and lo, and behold I there's something every day in the year, and nearly every hour In the day, to worry and annoy you. Now, why is it, doctor? why is it?" " What ia your theory, Davis ? " "It's lilce this. Here we have, as the books say, evidence of design. The road of life was made rough on purpose. And why ? Doctor, you know well enough. It was made so for our good." " I have heard something like that before, I think," said the doctor. * " Of course I If things was always right, life would be too easy. We need discipline— discipline of adversity. It makes us strong to fight trouble. Our patience is tried, and so we know we have patience, and we get more patience, and so forth. You know all about it." "And you think the man who chokes a flue is appointed to help the thing along?" " Certainly. Probably he never quite means to choke the flue. Some overpowering outside agency directs him, makes him careless, throws him off his guard. He plays his part in the great drama of life. The man who chokes the flue, or fixes a pipe to leak, is working to make men better. You might call him the Angel of Discipline." "You think, then, that the whole matter is super- natural?" " Well, I don't know as I quite call it that. It's just the way things is fixed. You try to toss a book on the table, and it falls on the floor. If you tried to throw it on the floor, it would have fell on the table. You go through your house in the dark, and hold your arms straight in front of you, and an open door goes between your arms, and you hit your nose. You could hardly steer straight enough in broad daylight to get the dioor into the space between your arms, but you do it I POLITICS IN TURLEY jo, a.n t no mtenfon that things 'II go straight." ixrlled vou f^ rZ *''°Ve'" 'hat a hidden power com- ffl ^eak ? •• ^'^ '" ""y bath-roomrso that^t I thought It^al. tISt td^U'g ' ButXrXft pf C'te^fou's iXnTe^ r.-^wZ £ ^^ .T^:arad^d;^-;%f ?« ■" -«S'.^'oSt- hand^-toii mil*'" '^•".'^'S'' '1"""^ ""'^ "''"d'"? h« quallliedTr fch^IH "'"*'"' **''"' y°" '=''' y°" «« "ct rs^a^ate^r^hat^^^^^ wo"uK"ha'°"- J' " '-"y^'y -t^actorj*" teb" would not have been satisfactory if it had been UrJ^, quiet laugh to WmEf"* ""•* *"' °'«^«-*'°°' """^ ''«' * CHAPTER XIX EFFORTS TO SAVE THE COUNTRY To Dorothea Hamilton, sitting quietly in her home, trying to learn how to wait patiently for peace which she felt might never moi/ McGann for the second payment, and by the failure of the motor to fulfil some of the ^''Pectations entertained by the inventor. McGann had spent the summer trying to find a method of carrying the force over longer distances from the generator to the motor. He had zigzagged half a mile of wire upon the ceiling of his shop, and sent the f,^".u '■""S*' '** " ^^ thought, but without any effect upon the motor. ExperimenU showed that he could 3o8 CAPTAIN BLUITT not transmit the power economically for more than one hundred yards, and if he could not, the motor would be of little use. The steam-engine alone would do the work, and do it better. But the judge was sangume, and he telt sure tnat when he had a few more thousand dollars in hand victory would be reached and rich returns would begm to flow in The dollars were to come from Hamilton and from the bank ; and Hamilton had not got even the patents to show for his first investment ; for the office at Washington was indisposed to hurry with a matter so novel and so important. ., /• While John Hamilton engaged in perilous financiering, and his daughter looked out on the sad world through her tears, and Florr.bella lingered in far distent regions, and the motor refused to do its duty, the political campaign gained in fervour as opposing factions strove °I^t?*in'^September a Grand Democratic Rally was to ■» held at Turley, with the Turley Brass Band at the Viead of a procession illuminated by torches and trans- parencies; and there was to be an out-door meeting, whereat several of the most eminent politicians in the state were to explain to the followers of Jefferson, exactly how the country could be saved, "was thought probable that Colonel Bly himself would deign to bl present and to say a few words of cheer to his faithful subjects ; but it was announced as an assured fact that "Our Distinguished Fellow Townsman, Mr. Rufus Potter, will also have the honour of addressing When Rufus saw this announcement in letters of blazing red upon the posters .t the street-corners, he had mingled feelings of exaltation and trepidation. It was much to be designated in letters of that area and that hue as a distinguished citizen, and to find himseit ranked among the orators who were to make the welkin rine with patriotic speeches; but when Rufus thought of himself as in the act of speaking to an audience of Turleyites, his heart sank within him, and there was in EFFORTS TO SAVE THE COUNTRY 309 his knees a tendency to smite together which he had rarely noticed before. T,.,?* !![°"''^ ^^^^ dech'ned peremptorily the request of Billy Grimes and the committee for a few eloquent remarks, had not Mrs. Potter strenuously insisted that It would be little short of madness for him to lose so good an opportunity to permit his genius to shin'5 upon a community hitherto far too little appreciative of Its quality; and that the radiance might have assured brilliancy, she undertook for herself the very congenial task of preparing her husband's speech for him. '^ The work of composition would have been easier for her if she could have been permitted to frame it upon her hps, for fluency was one of her gifts ; but while she laboured strenuously to trace the oration upon paper, she was consoled continually with the bright vision offered to her mind by Hope, which represented her far in the future in the act of preparing for Rufus Potter the President-elect of the United States, an inaugural address which she and the children should listen to with rapture, and then drive to the White House with the satin-lined barouche and the four white horses. Regarded ao really her first effort at preparation of a political stump-speech, Mrs. Potter's little piece was not so vep^ bad ; and, in fact, when she had read it to a few of her women-friends, infusing into her manner an intensity of enthusiasm of which Rufus probably was not capable, they made no pretence of concealing their admiration for the speech and for the writer. Mrs. Julia McGlory even went so far as to say that Henry Clay himself could not have done better. The speech was as follows : "Fellow-citizens, your candidate is more used to being recked in the cradle of the mighty deep, where the fierce tempest rages, than in standing upon the platform ; but when my country summons me to help her in the hour of deadly peril, I should deserve a traitor's doom if I did not heed her call I I stand before you as the friend of education and the poor working- Jtft CAPTAIN BLUITT man! I point with pride to my humble birth in a rude cabin in the primeval forest, amidst the glorious mountains of Tennessee, and to these homy hands grimed with painful toil and the sweat of my brow from the earliest years of innocent childhood. Who so fit to guide the education of the young as the father of eight children (three boys and five girls) who in many a battle with the teir>pest and the storm on the bosom of the ocean has seen foreign lands with his own eyes, and knows geography to be true, and by gazing at the stars can steer a mighty ship safely o'er the billows ? " Will you vote against him for a man who sends his only child to a pay-school and becomes the vassal of the rich and the oppressor, or will you rally to the working-man's candidate ^ho pledges himself to have the schools teach navigation, and Roman numerals, and American grammar, and who never seen the starry banner of the free waving upon a foreign shore without feeling his heart beat for his native land, and his bosom heave with emotion as he thinks of General Washington and his immortal words, ' Give me liberty or give me death,' and vote on Tuesday for Rufus Potter for school director, the man who al-.vays done his duty ! " It now developed upon Rufus to commit the speech to memory, and to have it so (irmly lodged in his mind that he should remember e\ .y word of it, amid the excitement and fear of his first appearance upon the platform. Rufus employed diligence in trying to perform the task. Upon his wife's recommendation he learned two lines at a time, and when he had thoroughly mastered them she would have him repeat them to her. His greatest difficulty was that, when he had the first two lines actually imbedded in his intellectual apparatus, so that it seemed as if he would remember them far into eternity, he found that as he passed on to and learned tlie next two lines, the first two had vanished as com- pletely as if they had been written in sand and washed out by the rising tide. H.; went through the entire oration two lines at a •■ He could be heard in the cellar making reference in subdued tones to General Washington " Cattoin llluill] ll-aee 311 RFFORTS TO SAVE THE COUNTRY jtt time, aid when the concluding lines had been acquired, they alone, a mere pitiful fragment of the resounding whole, were held in memory's grasp. The aspiring statesman tried hard. Captain Bluitt found him sitting about the stable, in the dearborn, or the hay-mow, or behind the sn oki;-house, muttering the words of the speech; he could be heard in the cellar, as he poked the furnace or removed the ashes, making reference in subdued tones to General Washington and the glorious mountains of Tennessee, or to his preference for death if liberty should be suddenly snatched away. He gave up his solar observations from the centre of the asparagus bed ; he went about the streets on errands with an air of abstraction, like a man who has something lying heavy on his mind ; he sat up late at night, and missed meals, and forgot to black Captain Bluitt's boots, and began to have a great yearning look in his eyes, as if his soul were reaching out towards ineffable things • and still, after a week of struggle and wrestle and suffer-' ing, Hannah found that there were only six lines that he could really count on, and they were so much con- fused as to be likely to convey to the hearer the im- pression that General Washington was born in the glorious mountains of Tennessee Only one week remained before the meeting, and Mrs. Potter perceived that something must really be done, unless the very first step of the young statesman towards the White House should have disastrous consequences. She rose to the requirements of the occasion. She learned the speech herself; and sacrificing her house- hold duties as much as possible, she followed Rufus about, in the stable, in the garden, and while he was in the house, repeating the words and having him say them after her, until she herself grew weary of them. She could have said them backwards. Neighbours who c.-ime home late at night, and passed the Potter house, went to rest convinced that there was a breach of the amicable relations that had always existed between this loving pair, because they seemed sit CAPTAIN BLUITT to be en^ged in prolonged and sometimes violent altercation. But the voices were those of Rufus and of the wife who had soaring ambition for the husband, and who, far into the hours of darkness, and in the repose of •he chamber, compelled Rufus to follow her in repeating .hat speech which should start him on the road to glory. When the great day came, victory crowned the e (Torts of the assiduous wife, and she felt sure that Rufus had firm hold of his speech at last. He could eat no supper that evening, and while she and the children partook of the meal, Rufus stood back by the stove and repeated the oration over and over, never missing more than two or three words. But he was not happy. Indeed, as he contemplated the prospect it seemed to him hardly less than aopalling. He began to feel that eveii .; ? joy of sitting upon the School Board, and helping ip: r t feet to rlimb that hard old hill of Learning, was purchased dearly at the cost of such suffering as that which he should endure before bed-time. Even when his wife tried to fix his mental gaze upon the White House, and to show him that that home of power and splendour lay directly before him, it seemed somehow to him that the cabin in the rear of Captain Bluitt's garden really had some distinct advantages of its own. Rufus went to the meeting as a prisoner goes to the scaffold. His wife went with him, and four of the older children, and she cheered his tremulous soul with the assurance that she would stand directly beneath the speaker's place upon the platform and hold the paper in her hand ready to prompt him, if memory should forsake him. The Grand Rally of the Jeffersonian Democracy of Turley was held on an open lot just east of the market- house. A platform of rough boards had been built in the centre of the lot, and it was surrounded by a railing, and filled with seats for the members of the local com- mittee, and for other distinguished citizens who should lend the influence of their presence to this f-aat up- EFFORTS TO SAVE THE COUNTRY 3,3 rWng In behalf of the salvation of the country and th. promulgation of sound political principles ^ ^ Around the sides of the platform were many flarino' w^Rurus« """'^ «"d flickered and smolfed an5 When Rufus came near he found a crowd, which OMned a way for h.m and looked at him with curiosi°rrnd high expectation. Mounting the platform" he found and wTcn he V!f"^'"«^ ""f '*"""«f '° --«' «-S "Mr Potter nnt ^" ^"'^fi^ed. he was introduced m Hooic of ri " °^°"^"'"''''''""- '° General Marcus Hook of Clarion, to Captain E. L. P. Maeruder of Cayuga, and to the Honourable Arcturus M^'walte™ Member of Congress from the Sixteenth District ' These were the gifted orators who were to thrill the Jeffersonian Democracy of Turley with elrv^n-n,- j b. in turn held spell-Lund by ^h^'^raS o? Rufu^ surh^loft' ''"' '""' °"' ""'""'J»l= had founZh^self iJ such lofty company, and while he enjoyed the honouT o?;!:e1mTnC?r'octer " ^ '^--'^ire^ Brlr£r;erh':aS^^x^•^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Wn' "'S.''"?"' °^ '^^ ''™'" ''"d the clangorof the ^cl"''''''"'^ '■°''= '" /'r/m,^., as the head of the procession swung around the corner, and l^ean to approach the platform. ' ^^^" '° ^ut^t^T^T^^^i ^^% "*'"=*"'= ^°°^ their seats, and while the band filed off to the side and continued to play in the most clamorous and resolute manner the procession broke ranks with resounding cheers for Colonel By and the whole ticket, and the member, mingled with the crowd that stretched far in f^Tof the platform, and far outward to the right and to the Wien the concluding cadences of the music were a'7^'rij^;~-«°H'' bass-drummer had tTumAd „Ji • .^""P" ^'"y <^""'«s arose, and proposed to organise the meeting by nominating a chSn and enough vice-presidents and secretariL to havTmad- I pohtical party of considerable dimensions, if th^ytd jt4 CAPTAIN BLUITT consented to go off by themselve* and to arrange for a movement of that kind. These officers having been elected by a unanimous vote, and three more really uproarious cheers having been given for the whole ticket, the chairman read the resolutions, which pointed plainly to the fact that the manifest purpose of the existence of the Whig party was to rend asunder and trample under-foot the sacred heritage of the fathers, to reduce the poor working-rnan to a condition of perpetual poverty and serfdom, and to try to elevate to a position of equality with the Caucasian race the Americans of African descent who had been con iemned to a condition of servitude by the curse proLOunced upon their ancestor. This having been made clear to every Democrat oresent. the resolutions weht on to explain that there was but one hope for the country and for the preservation of the institutions for which our patriotic sires had suffered and bled, and but one hope for the working- man so long ground beneath the merciless heel of the rich oppressor, and that was in the triumph of the Democratic party. The crisis was here 1 The time for action had come I The overthrow of Democratic prin- ciples at this important juncture simply meant that the Grand Old Republic, glorious in her history and freighted with hallowed memories and with high promise for the human race, would go reeling downward to everlasting ""-There was no dissenting voice when the meeting was asked to declare if these things were so. All 1 urley heard the shout of affirmation, and the three more cheers for the whole ticket. , , _. ^ ^, The Honourable Arcturus M. Walters, of the Sixteenth District, was then introduced by the chairman and lean- ins far over the railing, with one hand beneath the tans of his coat, and his othe. hand swinging in a vigorous manner through space, he demonstrated »m'd enthusi- astic cheering, that this was the hour when the patriots of the Democratic party must nse in their might and strike the shackles from the arms of the down-trodden EFFORTS TO SAVE THE COUNTRY 315 labourer, If there was any expectation that thii feat would ever be performed. The Honourable Arcturus M. Walters concluded his oration with dramatic recitation of a passage from " The Curse of Kehama," and of a quotation of an impressive nature from " The Veiled Prophet of Khorassan." Mr. Walters had employed these two poetic fragments, according to the estimates of his fw'endg, at more than two hundred and thirty-seven political meetings, and always with powerful effect upon his hearers. As the honourable membtr from the Sixteenth District concluded his oration and resumed his seat, wiping the perspiration from his brow, General Marcus Hook of Clarion came forward and began his speech, as he always did, with two or three amusing anecdotes, which were received with roars of laughter. It was the turn of Rufus next. While the general talked and the audience laughed, Rufus sat upon the front bench filled with horror that almost paralyzed him.- He hardly dared look at the crowd in front of him ; but when he did venture to turn his eyes in that direction, he saw Mrs. Potter close by, smiling and joyful, and waving at him as a cheering sign that he might feel confident, the paper on which his speech was written. He began to search h's rrn 1 i"r>-, and his blood froze in his veins as he discoviT.' I t'.i il 'le could not recall a word of it. Then, sudJtui} , lie saw far out in the crowd the face of Captain Bluitt, who was a Whig, but who was curious to hear Rufus speak. Rufus knew that he should not be able to stand up, much less to repeat the speech that had been written for him. In an incredibly short time. General Marcus Hook completed his oration, and as the applause died aw.iy, the band began to play "The Star Spangled Banner." The hour had come for Rufus! He felt that he would rather die than to undertake the task that lay before him. He had an impulse to vault over the railing at his side and to fly. The crowd was too dense for that. He was almost distracted. But there was a loose board beneath his feet It moved and left an opening when he kicked $i6 CAPTAIN BLUITT it He pushed the board further over, and as the band blew and pounded its way into the last bar but four of the glorious old anthem, Rufus let his feet dangle for a moment in the gap beneath him ; then he slid from his seat, through the crevice to the ground, crawled out upon all-fours to the back of the platform, and ran home and hid himself in the hay-mow. When the chairman rose, he began to say, " We will now have the pleasure of hearing from our esteemed fellow-townsman. Mister " But Billy Grimes came forward, touched his elbow, and whispered to him, and the chairman began again: "Our esteemed fellow-townsman, Mr. Rufus Potter, I regret to say, has been taken suddenly ill, and I now have the pleasure of introducing to you. Captain E. L. P. Magruder of Cayuga." Mrs. Potter walked sadly home with the four children, and not finding Rufus in the house, her instinct directed her to the stable. She stood at the door and called her husband. A response in a faint voice came from the hay-mow, and Rufus descended the ladder. Mrs. Potter was able to persuade herself that he was really ill, and as they walked over to the house she put her arm about him and said : " Never mind, Rufus ; you will have another chance yet; and you'll be elected anyhow." But, as Mrs. Potter lay awake that night and reflected upon the exciting adventures of the evening, it seemed to her that the movement of the family toward the White House was likely to be not so rapid as she had anticipated. The next week the Whigs held their meeting ; and the posters announced that among the speakers would be " oar popular fellow-townsman, Mr. Davis Cook, and Mr. Walter Drury, the distinguished journalist." Walter had been asked to speak in Turley, and he had consented for several reasons. He should like to have his uncle and aunt hear him ; he should be glad to convey to John Hamilton's mind a larger notion of the EFFORTS TO SAVE THE COUNTRY 3,7 Mrmfttin'^E?.'**"''^ ^"^ ^^^""'^ ""'e'^' favour him in pennithng hm have once more a vision of Dorothea, ihe njeetin^ was held in the so-called Academy of Music, which had its auditorium upon the floor tha" was level with the street. It was brilliantly lighted for ThI ^T'!u' ^"'* '"'"=" ""= Turley band, after parad ng about the town, marched into the building emitt n| rnusic of the most exhilarating character, The c3 surged m after it and soon filled all the chairs. =nH fr"'""^." *^« elected, and scores of vice-presidents aditM w-"""^ ''''*^'^' ^"'^ ^•'^n the*^ meeting ™H?fhi" " 1°"' representing that the Democratif party had no other purpose for existence than the over- throw of American institutions. rJ^l"}^f,?^f'"^'' "^^'^ ^ "^""^ >d<^'-=M which was fnwT J- °^ ^""""fng observations, and when he folded up his paper amid tumultuous cheering he mtroduced Davis Cook to the audience ^' .. IX°t" 1" i'""* "''y ^^"' fellow-citizens," said Davis "that I don't pretend to be no orator, but I've nevS seen the time yet when I was afraid to look Turlev people m the face and tell them what I think about things, though maybe what I happen to think mayn't be ot so very much account anyhow. Ja V'" \'?"^'date, as you all know, for school director, and I want to be elected I'm not a-going to claim that I have any particular gift for directing schools, but I am a-gomg to claim that I'm about as good at that business as the men that are a-doing it now. If the lightning would strike every n-an in the School Board wholin"t fi? to manage public education, the board could cast a unanimous vote in the Hereafter before the storm blew oyer. I needn t tell you, who know every mother's son S.t,^'R .. ^T ""i """^'^ '"• education in the bchool Board, taking them as they run, to fit out the smallest infant class in the coloured people's Ebenezer Sunday School ; and while I don't know much, I always knowed enough to know how much I don't know, and to pick out people to do what I can't do. "I have nothing agin Rufus Potter, the Democratic 3«« CAPTAIN BLITITT candidate for the office. So far as I can understand, he's a kind father and a good husband, and a fairish sort of a man at rubbing down a horse and shovelling dirt ; but if Rufus Potter is qualified to direct public education, then Davis Cook is qualified to work a plumber's joint on the Milky Way, and to fix the attraction of gravitation so's it will pull upwards. " I have always been a Democrat, and you are Whigs ; but the way I look at it, national politics has nothing more to do with the business of our School Board than hard-soldering has to do with horse-raci.ig ; and if you elect me, I'll be neither a Whig nor a Democrat in that body, but I'll see to it that the school-tax ain't increased without good reason, and that the children will have the right kind of learning stowed in their little brain-pans. " The reason why I'm not running on the Democratic ticket is, that the man who owns that party and bosses the whole state wouldn't let his serfs here in Turley put me on. He got mad at me, because I opposed letting some of his money come into my church, on the ground that it was probably stolen, and that a church ought to have clean money or stay poor. That's what I say now, and I don't care who hears me. I never seen Colonel Bly steal no money, but it seems pretty near certain that he began life by skinning the Shiawassee Injins, and if he ever earned a dollar since by honest work, he done it on the sly, after dark, for nobody ever seen him do it " I'm no better than my neighbours. I'm just a plain plumber who works hard at a rough business ; but there's written receipts somewhere for all the money I ever got since I earned journeyman's wages ; and if any man knows of a dollar that I have that I didn't get honest, all he has to do is to produce the proof, and I'll pay a hundred dollars back for every dirty dollar he can find in my hands. " I'm a master-plumber, and I'm proud of it. I don't say that Colonel Bly is a master-thief, for I can't prove it ; but if the evidence could be had, and I'd never seen it, I'd bet my horse and wagon against eight cents, that when the documents were produced, they would put the EFFORTS TO SAVE THE COUNTRY 319 w•= ^'"'"t'^ of limitations would serve to keep him out. m!nJ''l! man rules this state, without your leave or Sn"? L^ "' ^' "' ^^l S°* ^"y "^y in the matter, he can t rule me. I am the sole owner of Davis Cook lhl?JZ^V}\°^", "^ ^^^ Democratic meeting the other night about the glorious institutions established by our revolutionary forefathers. What they gave us was liberty and the right to govern ourselves. What w*ve got IS boss government, that robs you while it rules you It would make Thomas Jefferson giddy if he could come Ourrf^h?-'."'' ''""^y ^°'°""' S'y ^"d Billy Grimes h3» ^ Jl °.T*"t^^ °"'' ""'n government, and if we don t want to take the trouble to do that, I'm in favour of hunting about and having a decent despot, who will take care of us right and not pick our pockets while he shouts for the Declaration of Independ^ce .hi' J I f ''°"' *" ' ''*^* e°' t° «»y- Give me a fair ^ffhL, ''"°«'y.°" <;^n fi"d blow-holes in my grammar, and that my spelling is often weak at the joints You'd knock me clean out if you was to push me hard at history, and what I don't know about hieher mathe maUcs would reach from here to Texas Td haTway back again ; but you put me in that School Board an-- stateHLTl d°onV' " '^''^ °' "" *= ''"^^^^ '" '^e" The applause that followed Davis Cook as he turned to resume his seat showed that he had made a strone impression upon the audience. He rose and bowed again him *^^'"' ^ ''"""'^ ""^^^ ''°""'* °^ '^^^"^ ^^'^ given for =.nl\^" ^« *^'; ^'"'y '■°'^ *° 'P'^'^' *"d Captain Bluitt and Aunt Puella, sitting near to the front of the room ^^i^^ t'"^ ^'* ^"^''"es of rapturous admiration ' «ut he had an unseen listener, for whom he would have cared more, had he known that she heard him When Dorothea knew that he would come to TurW o speak at the Whig meeting, her desire to see him and what to do ■ W^T'- T'^r""S. She hardly knew wJiat to do ; but late in the afternoon she put on her ate CAPTAIN BLUITT i bonnet, and walked down by the river-bank, as she often did, in the hope that he would reach town before dark, and would perhaps seek her there. She lingered long upon the bank, until the twilight faded into night, and he did not come. Florabella's house was closed, but she looked eagerly at the Bluitt house. Perhaps he might be there and would see her, and would come forth to greet her. No, there was no indication of his presence. In truth he was on the railway train, speeding toward Turley, while she walked to and fro by the river with eag"' longings in her heart And so she went home to weep once more in the room where so often before she had shed bitter tears. What should she do to have one glimpse of the man she loved ? She could not go alone to the meeting ; she could not ask father o: Tnother to p;o with herj she could not ask to be per— itted to accompany Captain Bluitt and Miss Puella. But when the hour for the meeting came, she went softly down the stairs and out upon the porch at the side of the house. Putting a shawl upon her head and shoulders, she walked out through the garden-gate to the street, and down to the corner of the next street where the Academy of Music was. On the further side of the building was an open lot, and a fence ran the whole length of the structure two or three feet from the wall. Creeping in between the fence and the wall, in the darkness, she was safe from curious eyes, safe from molestation. The windows were just above her head. She could not look into the room, but it was a warm night, and the sashes were lifted, and she could hear every sound that was produced. She listened patiently to the music, to the chairman's speech, to all the preliminary proceedings, and to the observations made by Davis Cook. How her heart beat, and the tears came into her eyes, when she heard Walter's name announced by the chair- man 1 And with what joy she listened to the first EFFORTS TO SAVK THE COUNTRY 3,, ci^XX :S' ont *^^ '^'l."P°" l^" -'.there she had known when Z "'°". ^^^f 't^nge feehng rounded out each e^onntn. ^* ^'^ ""* *hich he when the audience inte?ruoL^V '^^ «"'f«d cheers and clappTng of hands T/^*'" *"'' T'" *'* though, how L' h!d°'n,Sed t^TLTe^^'^' T' ^''" «d and St. "sH-^^rp^ro^u^^^ - -ch .ore KnUfanTlS^Vh'^:^^^^^^^^^ '" ^^ that^vo^e which had always C'rl^u' Z^tfoTZ fl toe'rchSort^ihe^ r\^ '■"" ^''-g'^t the she walked ouVt'oThe'stl'e-A"^^^^^^^^^^ across her face, and went tr, K», t, V "*" '^''^wn filled with del ght, Tnd vet withT' ^"1 '° ^" '°°">' heart as she thfueht of fhi 1, • ^'^f* P*'" a' h" had if hecouldhafeseei her anT.r'^i'l" '"'S^' ^^^^ her. It was teSe?ndeed fh.f i ^^t"* ^,!'.*"'''^'=«=d sweetness was near to her lins hut .1^ J^^ *="? °^ who could h^dlvfrl^ good-n.ght to uncle and aunt X I t 8»« CAPTAIN BLUITT they had gone together, and at the door thr jugh which be had wheeled her in her rolling-chair. " One word of praise from her," he said, as he sauntered out upon the street again, "would be worth all the applause I had to-night. Emptiness! Yes, mere emptiness it is! Life is empty, and all is empty with- out her 1 Oh, my love ! " he said, almost with a sob, as he walked toward the river and his uncle's house, "woe to me if you do not come to me ! My love, my life, I would rather die than that you should not be mine I The pRr'FrjT/ . SCARBORO *J3LIC LIBRARY CHAPTER XX DIVINATION AND POLITICS thf ta^JIL^dinfa'n ^^^^uf «^0' table, beneath Whatsthat? I don't understand you." « r dnnTT'°" • Vfy- '^° y°" believe in it ? " eventabyobSSSe"in^"'" '"'"=/ °f '■°^«Wl'ng chicken! It^f^^f l"^""*" P*^ of animals, chiefly •' I .h^ li 11°?' """='' '" "se in our times." ^ absurd r"" *^""' "°" ^''y- t'other, how perfectly " It strikes you that way, does it i " 3»3 ei ^ 3"4 CAPTAIN BLUITT "Of course." . . , "Well, maybe you're right I guess you are ; but I am trying to keep my mind open about it " But, brotlier, it is simply impossible for you to believe that we can predict future occurrences by examining the organs of chickens 1 I never heard such nonsense. " It does seem unlikely, doesn't it ? Why should the internal arrangements of a pullet have any bearing, for example— well, let us say or the late war with Mexico ? It's hardly reasonable, is it, and yet some of the wisest of the ancient Romans believed it" _ ^^ " How cculd they know about the war with Mexico I "You misunderstand me. I mean they believed that by inspecting a fowl in that manner, they TOuld tell how any war would turn out— who would win." ^ " No Roman with good sense ever thought sa "Yes here's Cicero." said the captain, taking up the book, "he says that 'nearly every one has recourse to the organs of animals,' and that ' our own countrymen have never undertaken any martial enterprise without inspection of organs.' " . ^ ,ry« " Did Cicero actually believe such stutt I "1 haven't read far enough to find out ; but I have a notion he did. Let me read you what the man says : ' The presages which we deduce from examination of a victim^ organs, are founded upon the accurate observa- tions of many centuries.' Then he goes on to say that •Flaminius, in the second Punic War, was about to move his army against Hannibal, when the augur insisted that he should first consult the consecrated chickens. Think of that, Puella 1 Consecrated chickens I "Did he do it?" " I think so." "Well, who beat?" , , , . t, ,. " Cicero doesn't say. I'll have to look that up. But notice that everybody seems to have practised haruspica- tion, and those were the smartest people the world ever saw— the very smartest" , ,. . " I don't care how smart they were, 1 11 never believe such foolishness," WVINATION AND POLITICS 3,5 the' "a%TsnW&'.?t&^^^ °- death, the first time ril'o, » "J'"'" ^^""^ Cisar's ox th;t was"aSdLTnThrart"affi" "'~"=.' '""^ ^"'natd'd that mean?" " How ridrcu& T ^°'"^ *° ^ killed." out aTeart^"'""" ' '^" °^ ~"''»"'' P°«^''>Iy "ve with- foretell.^ events%?e *^^' ^"' "«" "'^er ways of birds. and^Zt';^X-se':^,«^^ a flight of "« WhvTn^."^ they woVedTe'fstem . ^''''°''"'- ' " Wen 'L^"'"\'^°'k ; that was the w^y." instanc"' S Wnd 0"?'^ .^"^'i'-.'' ""^''^d. For tadicate'when itcameuDin -"n^ f■'^^ tliunderstorm . " Suppose, for instance, a cleft in a rh,VI,»„ i- a'"«^<::>d^Thi^Sdkritr^ would a cleH t^cwS-wt TurieT '^' *''^' "w'f ^ ^l^h. Cicero had gl^i^the Ss.""" '°" Just for curiosity's sake ?" — w 3J6 CAPTAIN BLUITT "Yes, of course." . , , Then Captain Bluitt was silent for a few moments, and looked at the Lar on the mantelpiece, while Miss Bluitt sewed. At last he said : ^ j » " Puella, you know I'm going away on Saturday to attend that lawsuit in^New York, and wont be home for a month or more. " Well ? " "And the election comes off on Tuesday, just after I am gone." " Yes " " I should like mighty well to know how that election is going." •' I will write to you at once. , , . . . ^ "Yes of course; but I mean beforehand; about Rufus. ' It can't be possible that the people will put that blockhead into the School Board.' " No." " I wish I knew. Not that it makes any great differ- ence ; but I am curious about it" „ , . ^ Then Captain Bluitt fell silent again. He glanced at his sister, and finally said: " Puella." " Well ? " « I am going to propose something a little bit unusual. Maybe you'll say it's ridiculous. But do you know I have half a notion to try how that chicken-liver busmess will work with Rufus ? Now don't make fun of it I " You're not actually going to be so foolish ? ' * Oh, well I I admit that it is foolish. I have no faith in it, of course. But the Romans were not foolish people. They must have »iad some ground for believing in it. Cicero, you know, lid that it was founded on accurate observations made for centuries. I'd like to see if there is anything in it, one way or the other." i " It is a great pity to waste a good chicken on such nonsense." , .. > " You needn't waste it We will have it for dinner. And, Puella ? " "Well?" DIVINATION AND POLITICS 3,7 it o?*heMl''hnnf "'* "^ '"'"'''i'K ♦» D'- Frobisher about " It M heathenish." It to-morrow, anyhow" K""'K 10 iry ,„i^fi,''*'"*'"u^''. ^'""'" '°'' * considerable leneth of time fnto 'f '.""'^'""^u""' '^°°'' h* reappear^Sfand gS into the house, washed his hands. ^ '^ As he entered the library where Miss Bluitt a»t ir.;"&r'' "-^"^'^ "«' --^ '-* •''"■^'ed't^ « nK* '",1 i* *Vr'' ""^ ' " "<««• his sister. «jn, Weill Im not much used to that kind of thm^. and of course I don't really know Jhat tte ™l« «iw*.*'" ""J"'"'"? peculiar about the chicken ? » to bl iust'^'^liJ^ • '^'^'' gizzard seemed to me wrtain." """'"^'' •"" ^™ »<" P«rf«^y "No cleft in the liver?" ou;h?L\tVi~h!fuid":kini*"'°°''^ '''""' "" "-» •; Then you've lost your faith in Cicero ?" I iu« wanfii^f"*!'' r^ ' ^"^ '■'''»' '" ''™; n°t faith. i A j*"'^ '° '°°'' '"to the theory a little." « w 1. y« " ^^^ed no conclusions ? >' would call finil** "°' «."="/ conclusions; not what you - Wh, f i5 2 "^."^'"''ons ; just impressions." ^ Wtat kmd of impressions ? " PueLX^Z.r'" *'"'' '' t'"""'' *«" <^° y°" know, rueiia. there really was something about the appearance 3»» CAPTAIN ■LUITT of that chicken that forced into my mind the idea that Rufus will be defeated?" " What was the appearance ? " " I don't know. Nothing in particular. Just a vague notion that came to me the moment I began to study the thing." " Maybe if you had another kind of a chicken, you would get another kind of vague notion ? " " Maybe so, but once is enough, I'm not gointf to try it again." "You'll believe in the system, will \ou, if Rufus should be defeated?" " I don't say that ; no, not that ; but I'm glad I tried the experiment anyway, just as a matter of historical interest." " How do you vaot the chicken cooked to-morrow ?' " That chicker ? " "Yes." "Why. l':iella, that is a consecrated chicken." "You said we could eat it." " Well, I did think so last night ; but do you know, Puella, I couldn't eat a particle of it now! I should have a strange kind of feeling that I was taking bites out of Rufus. I have him sort of identified with it in my mind." Then Captain Bluitt took down his volume of Cicero, and began to read the concluding pages of De Divinatione. On the Hay before the election. Colonel Bly, who was stopping at the Eagle Hotel in Turley, found himself far from well. The colonel did not often meddle directly with small local elections, such as that in which Turley was about to engage ; but he was filled with malignant animosity for Davis Cook, and he knew that, with fair play, the chance was good that Davis would be success- ful So he had run down to Turley to lend the influence of his presence to the struggle in which his sfrfs v ere engaged, and to give to them the benefit of his cou isel and of his trained experience, if there should be neces iity to resort to bold measures to overthrow the insolent plumber. DIVINATION AND POLITICS 3,, the commonwealth if the colonel, one dav in thT,- •'^ colon:UtTh?E2rHSera?d'^r"^ "'^* "«-■''' '"« it left him with fsharp ituck of Zu^^^^ ''"' pression of spirits that*^ manifested ^tsJlf''"'* •*'•"' ^'=- wh^n his serf^entured tTSp Sh' h m. '" ™'°" to^;^;r„"r5ulhXl„^°-^^^^^^^^^ colonel decided hTh^^^^nbndE^^^^^^ Birha?f Mn?"on "^ ""r'^'' '!i'= ^°°'"' •>« '■°"nd Colonel zon ally uZ Vat ^i.'rf ' Tf °"" '^^^ stretched hori- Uble t&^d c£e to thS""'' "^'' '^'"^ "P«° « 330 CAPTAIN BLUITT ^ Dr. Quelch had visited the colonel before under some- what similar conditions, and he was able to make an Tccurate diagnosis of the case as soon as he opened the door of the r^m and obtained a whiff of an atmosphere hiehlv charged with alcoholic remmiscences. lofonelBly greeted the physician warmly, put mg aside all evidences of irritability, and assummg that emciousness of manner which he was accustomed to Imo ov with his people in the intervals of his spells. •Fh7ph*ici^» Supplied medicineand advice to b.s patient and then, upon a pressing invitation from the ?olone tarried for a bit of talk. The impendmg e ect.on natoaly presented itself as a theme for conversation. "You feel that you have the election pretty well in hand do you, colonel ? " asked the physician. " Perf^tbr in hand. We shall win, of course. In fact. I miffht say that we haveithe votes counted. "It is really wonderful," said Dr. Quelch, "how you exercise such control; but, of course, you know how to keen your own secrets," and the physician smiled. Kuelch had an impulse to study this creature pst as he would have inclined to inquire respectmg the nature of any other morbid phenomenon. __ " There are no secrets," answered the colonel. You know J., mu-h about it as I do, doctor. I can't g ive yoa any informacion, I imagine." ...» „,. . . _--j "No, I don't know about it. I might make a good cTuess but that would be all." " Well " said Colonel Bly, " I know you are a safe man for me to talk to, although we are not «ipon the same side in politics. The theory upon which I work is this . find out^what a man wants, and then ti.kle h|m wiA the idea that you are going to try to get it for him. Thats the whole of it. That's all I know, anyway. " What do most men want ? ""^C'dSC^'^' you - not^asking for inform- ation. Money, of course, and place. ^ "You can buy any man, then, you think f "It U betternot to make extreme stetements; but DIVINATION AND POLITICS 33, ^?^J^^^ '^y practically any man, or rather, perhaps, almost any man. Those that raw money won't reaS themtwr "?i ^""g^/°' P'^«» and promotion fo themselves or their relations, can usually be reached by You can t give them too much praise. Really it is astonishmg to me sometimes how little df either money Z ^ u7u ^^'^^y '"°'' ""^n. Seven out of ten can be bought cheap, at .iny time." " Women too, you believe ? " "That is a delicate subject," said the colonel, "but I ,K?!-/ "°A'°" ''n" '=^" =^*^"'' ^^^ theory of purchas- ab hty pretty well oyer that sex. But you ha^ to^o a little more carefully. It is a mere matter of price if you have the right kind of consideration to offer " ' obse,l:rSn Qu^efc^' " '"" '"''''" "'''''""' *''"""^"*'" "Maybe it is; but you can cover t1- whole case if you simp y say that every man, with few exceptions, is first of all looking out for himself. He has what thev call the mam chance' steadily in view; or to put it in another slang phrase, he takes care of number one first and last and all the time. Now, doctor, it is hardly necessary to say that, when all hands are hungry to sell the man who comes along with the most money and the best nerve will get what he wants, sure. There is no secret about it I'm never half so anxious to win as me ^i '• '* '° ""^ *'•' ^^^"^ *"'* ^^' '•'"" *° •"*'? "I should hardly suppose a man holding your views ot human nature would think the people fit for self- government." " Fit for self-government ! Why, doctor, the idea is ridiculous. -The mass of them haven't the smallest quahfication for the performance of that function. The best thmg that can happen to them is to have their superiors take care of them. I am their superior, and so are yoa Take a man who always votes a straight ticket, as most of them do, and brags about it Now there's a man who hasa t got ien«e enough to see that if he wanU 33a CAPTAIN BLUITT to help govern, he must discriminate among all the candidates. His one chance is to cut his ticket ; but he prides himself on not doing it. Then, you see, I make the ticket for him, and I've got him. After all, that is my best hold. I would never have the least chance if the voters would always pick and choose among the candidates. The theory is that they will do so; but they don't, and so long as they don't, I can do exactly 8S I please. I control the situation." "I am sorry to say that you seem to have some warrant for your theory," interposed Dr. Quelch.^ " If they were capable of governing themselves, con- tinued Colonel Bly, "they wouldn't let me govern them. The truth is most men like to have somebody to lean on — spmebody to take care of them ; and mighty few of them really know anything about politics and public affairs. Start them to whooping for 'the old flag, and you can lead them anywhere. Men admire success. What have I done to excite enthusiasm? Nothing, except to give some of the crowd offices ; yet they applaud me and run after me as if I were a great public benefactor. I tell you, doctor, that, taking men by and large, they are rather a poor lot— only fit to be directed." . . , ^. "Your opinion, however, runs quite contrary to tne theories upon which the fabric of this government was constructed," said Dr. Quelch, " but maybe our forefathers were wrong." , . ,.. u ^u " Dead wrong as a matter of practice, although Uie theories look and sound well. You can see for yourself how, in actual practice, the people want me to manage them. If I do it I must have compensation for my Ulent and effort I love power and money, and I get both. Isn't it perfectly evident that the people are glad to pay the price? You can't unseat me in this state any more than if I were emperor. No doubt you re a smarter man than I am, and some people might call you a better one ; but if you should run against me in an election, I could beat you in your own community. The reason is I control the machine, and I do so because. DIVINATION AND POLITICS 333 Colonel BIy smiled as he said : I n,.a!! '=°"''^n'* get a nomination without mv consent itn'eTm: ar H^srhiroddV-^r^^^^^^ never enter,Spomks Burthen ?"l'''.?°='°'' "'^' y"" hold of your t W of lil wl ? ' ^"^^""^ '° ^et In^'com oSe re^ v^! '•!" \'"^" '"^e y^ou. well fixed Bly" "Pardormry ^^"* -"""^y'" '=°"«""«d Colonel ^ke alifaJ ^? it."" '^"'^""-^ P'"^"'^' ^^ -^u-d t^ Queich''°"^'" ''" '*'''*'°"' *''°"'<1 '"»v« it." said Dr. th^'S'e warVo^TdtlK";''"*^- ■"1""=" '■" wouldn't have been my way"^''' '° "■'^"^'^ "' »''" '^at "Referring to your political operations" said Tir Quelch, wishing to change the subject o? conversation Cr "'"^'"'y- °f =°"»«- frequently to disregard the vn?^''*''^^'." ^Pswered the colonel, smiling "iust as £tS/ "•^^" ^°" '"^'P "'gSers to run LaTfrom no?worth'wi>"t';''l''J'"'' ^i"' ''"* '^e felt that it was «^JhThe coTo;il. ° '"'' "P "^'^ '"'^"'^^ °f 'he subject "Laws." continued Colonel BIy, "are useful just to ! II ,j4 CAPTAIN BLUITT compel ignorant people to keep hands off, while superior men^U their ow- pockets and get all they want J^* always has been set aside, and it always will be, by great men, wherever it offers obstruction to their purposes — Napoleon, for example." "Well," said Dr. Quelch, "but do you make no dis- tinction between righteousness and unrighteousness ? " Don't you think those are mere words ? The talk about righteousness has its uses. It is good to amuse weak people. That is what the preachers are for. They help me. These terms satisfy sentimentalists, but they are really void of meaning. The only right is uught— triumphant might of brain or muscle. The strong man is right if he wins, and wrong if he loses." " It is your notion, then, that Washington and Bene- dict Arnold, for example,stand about on the same plane ? "Of course now, Dr. Quelch, I am speaking to you as one gentleman to another," said the colonel, and Dr. Quelch felt as a man does who is conscious of a stench reeking in his nostrils. "And what 1 say as a practical politiuan is this— Arnold thought his cause was lost, and he took cash to quit— j"St as I said, toking care oJ himself. If it had been lost, he would have been on top and Washington would have been hanged. Arnold played to win and lost the game, but it was a bold play, and if the game had gone the other way, posterity would have judged him differently. That's my view. Dr Quelch looked grave. He rose from his chair and walked to the window and back again. Stopping in front of Bly, who watched him as if he were studying the doctor quite as keenly as the doctor was studying him, Dr. Quelch said : ^. ■,.. " God is left clear out, of course, in your transactions f Colonel Bly tipped back his chair, feeling that, for his part, the discussion had gone almost far enough. " God ! " exclaimed he. " I've heard a good deal about Him, but He doesn't seem to be in the game at all. Where is He? Why doesn't He talk? Why doesnt He show himself, and interfere? Look at history. Look over the field of human action, and tell me where He DIVINATION AND POLITICS 335 Sr wnlw ^^y didn't He meddle when Cisar stamped tte world under his feet? Why didn't He stop the French Revolution ? Why doesn't He help the suffer n| women and children that call for Him? You th"nk hf up't^eir «usl?'''""^ "™"^^'- "^""y ''°^^"'' G°'» t-ke '"Perhaps He will." replied Dr. Quelch. -rZTi "^''" ""C* '° ^^^ "•" said the colonel. God! I never notice that He lends a hand where the hand ,s most needed. If there is a God. he hdps thos^ ^ TAlf^r ^°' ^°^^"' ■ Can you pray a church out of debt? I guess not! When the church-peoole teaS'ttfnf- ''f'^^' '? ''''P''"e ^"ything that wifi ^,?5 t'^inferior classes that they should submit to be ruled. The church-people don't ask me where I eot l^thTmr*''^^''' °°' ^"^^ Cook, and I'll settle "Your whole view, then," remarked the doctor, "is confined to this life only?" ""^wr, is "Why. certainly. What Is the use of sensible men considering hereafter ? Hereafter ? Doctor, you know well enough that all the evidence supplied by your pro^ fession points to annihilation. You get no trace of the immortality of the soul, now do you? Hereafter? There is none. When a man dies he'^is ust wfped out Depend upon it, the man who wins the game here wins the only game there is." Later in the day the local committee, headed by Billv Grimes, met in Colonel Ely's apartment to give to him an account of the movement of the campaign, to sum up of to- ^ arrangements for the operations »n?"r^ ^"!?*' *** *'. '*"* **"« and handled the papers. ^lf°'"iT *" ^'"^' "*°*<:«" «me in to bring iS receive instructions. Mr Grimes was fully acquainted with the facts respect- L.I™ rr"*"u" '° *" *^'' '""'^'' and he considered the prospect for his party more than encouraging every! where but in the Third Ward, where Davif CookrSe 330 CAPTAIN BLUITT ' renegade and the personal enemy of the revered head of the party, was conducting his battle with such energy and spirit as surprised even the persons who had never suspected the plumber of being a torpid person. Davis had called at every house in the ward ; he had shaken hands with all the men, said gracious words to all the women whom he could see, patted all the children who could walk, kissed nearly all the infants in arms, smiled at the grandmothers, given cigars to all the grandfathers who smoked, and in several instances had gratuitously supplied invaluable professional advice to the hired girls about bath-boilers, spigots and water- backs. He had made a contribution to the Baptist organ-fund, bought six tickets for the Methodist fair; taken fifteen chances in a contest for a gold watch at the Catholic festival, a^nd fixed all the gas-lights for nothing in the room where the Lutherans held their concert, and not only had he used the plain language successfully when arranging with the Friends for repair- ing the spouting on the meeting-house, but he threw off half his bill when he presented it for settlement. During the campaign he rescued Jacob Gessler's little girl from a dog that had attacked her; helped John Dunglinson's wife to mend the harness on her horse when a break occurred in front of Robinson's grocery ; lent Joe Blumenthal five dollars to pay a bill that was pressing him; went bail for two Democrats who were arrested for fighting ; gave the coloured Ebenezer church a new and brilliantly red cushion for the pulpit ; bought a set of American colours for the Turley Boat Club; presented Shakespeare's works bound in blue and gold and with notes, to the Garrick Dramatic Club, and drove home Mrs. McMinniss's cow when he found it astray out on the Donovan road. " He is putting up a stiff fight," said Billy Grimes to Colonel Bly, as the story of these achievements was related. A stiff fight indeed. Davis was a fighter. He would win gloriously, or he would fail, because no man could win against such odds as Biily Grimes and the colonel's oigaaization had on their side. Even Billy, DIVINATION AND POLITICS 33, ttr''"'"'^''''P'-'-'.hadafecli„g of admiration -?h5atL\rt"o &i?::fi^r.* *° « '^ •>« Mr. Grimes. ^ '*" '" *'"> *« faitliful," said the^taskS'be'^e^o^^"^ ='«^ -- -"fident that tSS'^ TTe^oSKdT'r ^^"'--** •■" '»« away from town, and'^would nof J^h' "'"' "^fhese were election. It had been ascertafni? '',°™\'"'t" after the crat,. hitherto faithfu" had H. 1 5'"^ ">*' "^^ ^emo- ?nd would surely vole for him '^S°P«"'y ^^ Dav,s. Gessler. who was imn.it-.Jk ."' °^ '*>*se was Jacob h» child. The otK^fr 1^'''^'^" ^°' *e rescue of of the Knights of PytWas twT''- *° "'«*'""= 'od^ votes he could count ^^,^h^^LJt *?" "'^'? "P"" *hose ^ Now it was known that Th-^ '^""P'^^'"'*- hundred and eightrselen fc'Lr '" *' *''''' ""^ vigorous health, and fulf^ 0^7°*^"* ?' ''°'»«. '"n Davis Cook. ' cnarged with enthusiasm for woSd'liSdyleSu^e^dZrArr" *'"'i: these, defeat hat twelve Know NofhinI had 'l!^'' ''"^ discovered loyalty to their own party and ^" '?i*^"'='='' ^^^ plumber's standard, because fh ^'^ ''^"'^d to the Red Men, or Knight! of Pvlv^ were Odd Fellows, or As Mr Grimes lo^sidlZ't^' ?' !?"r' <^'^''^''^ down of party lines, he slw- ''-'"*»'°"s breaking - a m:n\rlo"£lo:±i°'^-P^^^^^^^^ They whose solicitude for the Etenfn^' Tc ^°'°"«' B>y. *a»just as intense as BilTy wt w °^ '^'^ ^'titutions suggestion. ' *' ^ave warm approval to the 33* CAPTAIN BLUITT room with the depressing information that two of the Prohibitionists, the Baptist deacon and one other man, were going to vote for Davis, because he was a total abstainer and a pronounced advocate of the temperance Billy Grimes felt as If things were giving away bene"'" his feet, and even the colonel could not restrain himself from expressing, in language that no self-respecting printer would consent to put into type, the view taken by him of temperance people generally, and of the Turley plumber in particular. A possible majority of two offered a margin too narrow for safety. Two Democrats might be Uken ill, or might be won over by the astonishing allurements presented by Cook, or might drink to excess, or might encounter any one of, a thousand possible accidents. More men must be had somewhere. But where ? There were eight voters in the almshouse who had been bought up by the Whigs, and who had resisted all efforts to induce them to change their minds. "None of them can read, can they? asked Billy Grimes of the man who brought him the information. «Na" "Well, you give some man ten dollars to steal the ballots the Whigs gave them and to put our ticket in their hands." ^ . „ ^ .u "No," said Colonel Bly, with emphasis, "go to the superintendent and hand him fifty dollars, and tell him to threaten the paupers with half-rations if they don t vote our way, and let him know that he'll lose his ^ob on the first of the month if those fellows vote wrong.' "That will fix them, 1 guess," said Mr. Grimes, with admiration for the coloneL ,_ . u There were six very -Vd and infirm Democrats it tne ward loyal to the party and to the colonel, who could not walk to the polls, and it was Mr. Grimes's custom to bring them to the polls in carriages. He was disgusted to learn that the Whigs this year had hired every public conveyance in the town for the whole of tbt election day, ud thmt the veteran Demo- DIVINATION AND POLITICS 339 «ats would probably have to remain at home. Not a Tm ^' . *•!* P*"^ '" '^'"■'ey °*ned » carriage. One ot Mr. Grimes s lieutenants proposed to bring the veterans around m wheelbarrows, but this suggestion was not accepted, for fear the veterans might regard that method ot conveyance as wanting in dignity. Mr. Grimes solved tne problem by sending a messenger off to the town of Uonovan to engage four Democratic hacks and hack- drivers to come up to Turley to stay all night. By midnight all the reports were in, and victory seemed to be assured for Rufus Potter and the regular r jj'^, r y Grimes went home, feeling tolerably com- fortable, but anxious, and the colonel retired to rest with the conviction that Billy had not been doing so well lately as he once did, and that the time was near when measures might have to be taken to appoint his successor. '^'^ But, in truth, the colonel had no good reason for complamt All the Democrats who were expected to vote for the regular ticket did so, and six of the eight voters in the almshouse, yielding to threats and solicita- tion, polled the Democratic ticket Besides, one of the Prohibitionists suddenly had conscientious scruples in the nirfit about voting the Whig ticket, and he backed out. Thus when the polls closed and the ballots were counted, it was found that Rufus Potter had a majority of sixteen votes. The American methods of hanispicatlon really seemed to have been defective. ! i i» CHAPTER XXI PRINCE BUNDER FOOT SINGH RETURNS TO TURLEY On the day before the election the Indian prince, Bunder Foot Singh, returned to Turley to pay the long- promised visit. His coming had been delayed much beyond the date that had been named by him upon the occasion of his first appiearance in the town ; and this was accounted for by the fact that the Indian had found high favour wherever he had gone, and he had been entreated to prolong his stay among the people who found so much pleasure in his social qualities, and in the manifestations of his really remarkable power as an orator. But at last he came back to Turley, where a welcome, not less hearty and eager than had been given him in other towns, awaited him. Dr. Frobisher was at the little railway-station when the train came in, and Prince Bunder Poot Singh stepped out upon the platform with his satchel in his hand. The loungers about the station gazed curiously at him while he lingered to direct Saul Tarsel's movements with his baggage. He wore a graceful flowing costume of brown colour, tied with a sash of blue silk, and on his head was a white turban. " Not a bit like a black man," said one of the observers, looking at his straight dark hair, his thin arched nose, his beautifully-formed lips. The prince nearly always made a good first impression, and the Turleyites who looked upon his manly beauty as he stood there, tall, straight, and handsome, admired him without reservation. 340 BUNDER FOOT SINGH RETURNS TO TURLEY 34, Stepping into the carriage with Dr. Froblsher he drove to the clergyman's house, where MrTFroWriier met h.m and welcomed him. and declared thit he ,K UviWrL^* had come down from his chamber to the ^l fW K F™*"^her that he considered it right, first of all that he should present his credentials. The minister msisted that this was by no means ?ormX'^'/^ ^'^'"^''' P°°' *°"ld not^p^^mUtte formal ty to be waived ; and soon Dr. Frobisher leaned hat h« visitor's letters were from eminent memberaof the government of India, from leading missfonariil from well-known philanthropists in EnXT from officers of important religious Wieties in Ameri« and Si^T """ ''"^''""" °^ '"""''"" *"^'^^h There is small reason for saying that these oaner. ''J.S^.-'^"'?"!'^'*"'* '^''' ^'- ""d Mrs. FroWshfr iffl additional fervour if that were possible, intoTSr L"^^*^^^' v' '"-^i"" *°"ld makVtheir'pcThouSi' the pnnce was a devoted Christian, having test at hom^ S=c"us^ he ha3 ^ '^"""f* '" P^"*'8^ and'fortu": Because he had experienced conversion, the minister when he had read the Scriptures, invited his ^uest to ead m prayer, and this he did with his soft swwt voice ma manner which Mrs. Frobisher afterwards described as inexpressibly affecting; the doctor himself could n~ use more touching language." No sooner had he been convinced of the truth of the h^^tH ^ ^^!°"' '""^ ^^^ y''^'''"' himself to it, than hi. neart began to yearn for the wretched and foriom »*• CAFTAIN BLUITT pariahs of hit own*lan(L He felt that he must do lome- thing, not only to Improve their phyiical condition, but to bring to their darloened minds the blessed light of the Gospel. Bunder Foot then described the nature of the woric he had done, in establishing schools and missions, and in distributing rations to the hungry, and how much the larger portion of his fortune had been spent in carry- ing forward his plans. When he f< that the good work had grown almost too large even for the wealth of a rich man, the thought had occurred to him that he might obtain help from his fellow-Christians in far-away Europe and America, who had always shown affectionate solicitude for his unhappy fellow-countrymep, and who would no doubt be glad to help him in the important philanthropic task that he had now undertaken. The prince settled down to life in Turley with a declared purpose to extend his visit far into the coming winter. That he might have a Rt place in which to conduct his large correspondence, and to attend to the general business of his mission without interruption or distraction. Dr. Frobisher turned over to him the pastor's study at the church ; and here with a warm fire in the stove, with comfortable chairs, a lounge, a nice table and a book- case, the prince began his work. The doctor's favourite picture of Little Samuel in a devotional attitude, looked down upon him from the wall ; and Saul Tarsel waited in the church, or in the vicinity of the church, to do the bidding of the visitor. " He's jes a brown man, lek I am," said Saul, " but he's one o' de quality folks, while I'se on'y a nigger." The Interest aroused by this visit may be imagined if we will consider how prosy and dull life may become in a small town whose people spent their lives among groceries, shoe-manufacturing and house-keeping, and how the appearance in so dull a community of a being from the Orient, a being wholly unlike any Turleyite, or kinsman of a Turleyite, in colour, dress, or manners, would surely affect the popular imagination. It really fecmed at if a fairy story had been suddenly interwoven BXWDBR POOT SINGH RETURNS TO TURLEY J43 with the dull dr«m« of life; as if • patch of iplendid colour had been projected upon the »ober any of Turleyjan existence. Not only was the visitor a nati/e 01 those mysterious lands of the East where were found civilization* whose origin was lost in the mist* of tradition ; of lands where there was Strang.; learnin*. and whence came the literature that deaf ■/ith the obscurest spiritual problems, but he was a man of a kingly race, carrying in his veins the blood of how many monarchsm whose palaces were gems ot , rictlc. .al^c, and who held the power of life and death lor titicountable centunes over subject populations ! This man of nohl*. ancestry, with history back of him .ind mystci v ib, y him, had actually been projected by Fat: li.to the American town of Turley, where the ligl)t c f civi .ation shone but to show how threadbare and homelv mJ un- interesting common American life may be. Mr. Matlack and some of the other Know Nothings found reason to fear, from the very first, tha: ^e presence of this august and splendid personate in Turieyi dad in raiment wholly unknown in lands where freedom reigned, might begin a movement which would tend to undermine American institutions. Heretofore Mr. Matlack urged, the despots of distant lands had exerted their destructive influences from afar ; but now one of them had boldly invaded the territories of the Republic, and under the disguise of religious enthusiasm was probably beginning to sap the vitality cf our glorious system of free popular government. The man had influence as soon as he entered Turley. That he was handsome was much ; that he had fabulous wealth was more ; but that he was a prince was a stupendous' fact, and Turley, stiffly republican as it had always been could not restrain itself from experiencing a sense of mixed awe and reverence when it considered this person- age of royal lineage. The fine figure of the prince became a familiar object m-on the streeU. He had no affectations, no haughtiness. He went everywhere, and everywhere manifested the absence of reserve which is so often found in personages 344 CAPTAIN BLUITT whose high position is fully assured. It was indeed interesting, and even touching, to observe the refined grace and kindliness with which he met the plainest people, when he encountered them upon the public thoroughfares, exchanging greetings with them ad if there were no distance between them. He acted always like a highly-bred American citizen, and not as Turley would have expected a man to act who was the heir of a line of a hundred princes stretch- ing back into prehistoric times. Even Mr. Matlack grew to like him, though Mr. Matlack persisted in being wary, and in having every- thing ready to counteract any pernicious influence which the prince might be preparing surreptitiously to spring upon Mr. Matlack's beloved country ; and Rufus Potter, who at first stupidly insisted that the prince was a coloured man whom he used to see driving an express wagon in Knoxville in 1847, surrendered his conviction and his prejudice when the prince bowed to h . : ipcn the street and said, " Good-morning, Mr. Potter!" iiufus then frankly confessed that he was mistaken, and that the man he knew in Knoxville had curiy hair, a stub- nose, and a complexion four shades nearer to bla,k. Bunder Foot Singh appeared to be very fond of social functions, where his grace of word and manner almost endeared him to those who had the privilege of Vnowine him closely. * Early in his sojourn Mrs. Frobisher gave a tea at which the prince appeared in yellow satin coat and trousers, with a red sash and a white turban, in the front of which glowed a great ruby of huge value. Nobody knew just how the story got about, but it was generally said that this splendid stone had been in the prince's family since the reign of his ancestor Raj?.h Bunder Boom Peet in the year 407, and that for a thousand years before that time it had been the eye of an idol in the temple of Bamram- jampor^'. The sensation created among the ladies of Turley by the ruby and the yellow satin costume .an hardly be indicated by language. Really it am )unted to emotion BUNDER FOOT SINGH RETURNS TO TURLEY 345 -^eep emotion; and even Florabella Burns, who had come home aga,n. and was unavoidably involved in th^ coumT nf "' ""^"^l^ "°""'' '^'^ person of the prince ll^t.tfy/''!"'^^'^' *"*''• ^^^ excitement and the enthus astc admiration expressed for the orince hv fh» ^sS^^^^^ef-t^lS/ifSS thin"""' "'^'*="'°'"" Some people never believe any- wiKhe*Pr«w7-*' ^u'^'^y *= '■^'""'" connected ^r.,r;n- ^'^"f" '=''"'■*=''■ ^"'^ t° «ch one of them the pnnce graciously came, sometimes in the yellow satin trousers, sometimes in trousers, of crimson s^lk o^ of blue silk, or of white silk, but always wSith/wh.v. turban, and the priceless ancestral ruby wWch td^nce senred the purposes of an impure religioa ' Society in Turley, for a few weeks Ifter the arrival of Bunder Foot Singh^ was really almost too gfddy ?or ite spiritua welfare. Dr. Frobisher hoped that the feverish h':r''he"?!,M''"^''A f'^t'^t'' loS;Talk:;"h%?m""Vo her he told much of the history of his family, and he av that'Trr",°" ^7 n»nd, though she ?ouTd not say that she clearly understood him thAt h!« r,Jit pandfather had been^ devotee, and had fofyeaA s^rne Ses^"of Sck^ '-'^ -^^ ^ '^^ fasteU^rtHf Mrs. Frgbisher explained to him that her ancestor Commissa.y-General Smith, had served wifh Brad?c^°k* Bunrf^^ P "f fy- ^°"S^ "°' surprised, to find t^at Bunder Foot had never heard of Braddock B..t h- manifested most kindly and sympathetlcTnterest when he"ffof1hIt'' ^f""^' ^".''^«='^ -- an offic^^of tne army of that great nation which had brought civiliz- 34tf CAPTAIN BLUITT ation and the Christian faith to idolatroui India, and that the general had been killed upon the battlefield, and brought home in one of the wagons supplied by her ancestor, General Smith. Mrs. Frgbisher more than once mentioned incident- ally, but with emphasis, that her mother was a Metcalf of Aramingo, for she had a feeling in her mind that even some little tawdry shreds of family grandeur had better be waved at this man of splendid ancestry, rather than that he should class her with the vulgar herd of Turley people, most of whom did not know anything of their great-grandfathers, and would have been ashamed of it had they known anything. It was in some degree painful to Mrs. Frgbisher, in whose eyes the Metcalfs had always seemed to possess a very high flavour of aristocracy, to find that they had rather a plebeian look when they were brought directly into the glare of the glorious light that shone from the family records of Bunder Foot Singh and his mighty forefather. Rajah Bunder Boom Feet ; but the depressed feeling passed off when she discovered that the prince really appeared to become more and more deferential in his bearing towards her, after she had informed him for the ninth or tenth time that she herself was a Metcalf of Aramtngo. "Ferhaps, even in his far distant land, amidst the cares of state and the glories of his throne-room, he may have heard something of us." But it was not so. No rumour of the importance of the Metcalfs of Aramingo had been wafted across the seas, and carried by the spny breezes of India into the glorious palace of Bunder Foot Singh. Bunder was indeed impressed in some measure by the strong per- sistence with which Mrs. Frobisher urged upon him the fact that she was a Metcalf of Aramingo, and while he was too prudent to betray to her his interest or his curiosity, he did choose an early opportunity, when he met Florabella Burns alone, to ask her : "Flease, Mrs. Bums, what is a Metcalf?" Dr. Frobisher was grateful to discover that the plea- BimDER FOOT SINGH RETURNS TO TURLEY ui sure* of a rather interne social life had no power to divert Bunder Foot Singh from the purposes of his mission. He took deep interest in the worl< of the church, attend- ing all the services, visiting the prayer-meetings, and participating in the devotions, and sometimes speaking briefly. He had not preached another long sermon to the congregation. He said to Dr. Frobisher that he should prefer to do that upon a later day, when he had more thoroughly arranged his plans, and had acquired better acquaintance with the people of Turley. The prince was well aware that every day he made among the people of the town new friends for himself, and "gained strength for his cause. When he should make his final appeal for help, he would make it with power to hearers who would be in sympathy with him as a friend, as well as a missionary. But the prince jpoke to the Sunday School more than once about life in India, and gave a most impressive and even painful account of the hateful ceremonies con- nected with the car of Juggernaut. The superintendent of the school told his wife that he thought, but was not quite certain, that the prince himself, tefore conversion, had once actually helped to pull the car, and that his aunt had been ground to death beneath its wheels. To the General Culture Society, at the earnest request of the president, Mrs. Frobisher, he spoke twice upon the subject of "The Alleviation of the Condition of the Hindu Women," and his addresses were so persuasive that the society resolved to take up that work at once in a practical way. Bunder Foot Singh seemed inclined to prefer the society of ladies, and he was a favourite with all of them — with all save one. His remarkably good taste was demonstrated by his very warm admiration for Mrs. Burns. Always he showed to her marked attention when he met her at the teas and meetings, and he had called upon her ,--• her house. The feeling in Turiey was that Mrs. Burns might have a chance, before the winter was ended, of participating in the making of a singular and really brilliant match. But this was one 3^ CAPTAIN BLUITT of the cases in which two souls did not simultaneously find themselves filled with reciprocal yearnings. Mrs. Burns did not even feel that the favour for her manifested by the distinguished Oriental had in it any- thing in the nature of a compliment. She had for him a stronger aversion than before, and she refused his invitations to dine with him, to walk with him, or to accept him as an escort to her home from some of the functions. No doubt Bunder was discouraged by the irresponsive conduct of Florabella, but he had the warm impulses of the children of the East, and one afternoon when he had insisted upon seeing her at her own home, he literally flung himself at her feet, and abruptly declared his love for her. ^'lorabella was indigrtant, but self-possessed. Rising, s'le said : "You have no right to make such a declaration to me I 1 cannot hear of such a thing. It is simply shocking for you to address me in this manner." And then, as Bunder took his leave in dismay and anger, she sat down and wrote to Captain Bluitt, with whom in his absence from home she conducted corre- spondence upon business and other matters, an indignant letter relating the occurrence, and declaring thr .. Bunder's conduct was a manifestation of sheer impertinence. When next Mrs. Burns saw Dorothea, she told her also of the incident, and for the first time for months the young girl laughed, and said : " I am so glad you refused him ! He would have taken you off to his Indian palace, and there, covered with jewels and dressed in queer clothes, you would have forgotten me and old Turley, and all your friends." " It was perfectly scandalous," said Florabella, who was too vexed to laugh. " But I will never desert you, my dear," and then she put her arms about Dorothea and kissed her. "We must," she said, "somehow end this dreadful matter of yours with Walter. Oh, why was I not at home to take it up and settle it during the summer i " BUNDER FOOT SINGH RETURNS TO TURLEY 349 JrH^f^H ''11' ^ "^ '""^^ ' ^^'" answered Dorothea " I will talk to him about it" ult?^ °^' '^'■'- B"'"s, what has become of Walter? If he loves me, why does he not write to me ? I hear of ^nf^r^.w'i' T'^ *"°*''" 8'''- It «nnot be-no. it cannot-that he has ceased to care for me I " ' Certamly not! He has too much sense for that whSriT" '*■ ^°"y' '^"' " something wrong of you r "° *"'P'"°"- ^*>*' 'f he /fc^ written to " ThM I shoitid have received his letters " s A^hfrXugh? ^'"' '°^ " """^^ She ^M not wi;iS"t:!':i^'^A'e.?^''- "— ' - »»-"* ■■t I ,„i"t?^'^*"u.''"' ^*'-"&g'ed with motor difficulties and hitches m his workshop, but hope soran? eVtn^al 1« ofT-."" ''^"•' '■" "- -otor.rd rtheVaSfi*^ e;:;"t?ongls'e';;:r"'°"^ °'^^ '°''""' ^''^ -^''='1^«. Miss Bluitt had been out to see the motor acain and was so delighted with it when she saw 't^^v ^n operation, that Judge McGann offered to explata the principles underlying the machine when he should *n to ?,L ^'^ -f^T ^^^"T^^- Thereupon she invited him ^r K i 7"u'"='' ^"'^ ^ "*>^ '^^'l been very lonely ^ -.er brother's absence, it was really delightful to have his original and gifted man with her to revel to her the secrets of one of the most remarkable inventions of tte r:^^^^"" ^'- °f '^^ adventure"s^^!rS HTwaUhedltT" T""^*^' *' valu^oT^h-e motor Mcclnn ftli fZ "" '°"^ 'J.'"'- ''"'^ ^^" he had heard he S : " ^"'"^ '^'"«' ** '"*<=hine would do, " It is wonderful ; I should like to become part owner SS" CAPTAIN BLUITT of that machine. It would accomplish great Aings for India." Before October was half gone the time had come for John Hamilton to pay to Judge McGann the five thousand dollars representing the second instalment of the purchase-money ; and McGann, of course, was eager to have the payment made. Almost all of the first five thousand had disappeared, and the patents were not yet completed. Hamilton filched the money from the vaults of the bank one afternoon, almost without any feeling of com- punction ; and when the bank was closed he walked out to the workshop and saw McGann. "Is there nothing from Washington j^?" he asked. " No," answered McGann. " The full papers are not here, but that makes no difFerence. They will come before long." " It makes little difference, maybe, whether the patent papers come sooner or later," said Hamilton, " but it will make a big difference, judge, if you don't contrive to have that current carry over a longer distance." " Now, don't worry about that," responded McGann. " That is only a matter of a little more experiment. I have the tneory perfectly in my mind, and I only have to work out the details of the mechanical device." " If you should die, that wouldn't be worth much to me." " My gracious, roan ! " said the judge, "you could get your money back twice over for that motor just as it stands I The patents that are pending will command big prices in five yeaa if I doo't Hve another minute." " Five years ! " saii Hamilton, despondently. " Well, viaei ^oia tive years f " demanded the judge almost angrily "You dor't expect an invention like this, which t«3»er had any precedents to go by, but started right from a brand-new idea, to jump into exist- ence absolutely complete and faultless in five minutes or five monthal Things don't act in that way — not by a great deal." Hamikon did not reply. '■ You'fs di^a tafi t ri, aren't j-ou ? " asked McGaon. BUNDER FOOT SINGH RETURNS TO TURLEY jjt "Not just that ; but " "Well, as I said to you long ago, if you don't want tn go on just drop it. Bluitt will buy you out M sriluitt w,U buy you out; and it isn't four days^nL W Ij^an as good as said to me that he would pur,^oney mto the motor rf I would give him the chance. m"% your claim for you, if you want me to; on% wish ^«rh^^,:^^ 'P"'=>f' fof I "e«d the ^on%'• •" had be^r^n^ "'yP-^'^^t. ^»''d Hamilton, whose fears ofher^Lu *"' d^T^ted by the assurance thai otner people were eager to invest The cashier went over to the iud^e's H^.V n», »« *i.. counted ''""'*"''• ^° "»' ^y "uW be .Sore easily I ?'"'';« =0"«ed them himself, wry carefully Then Judge McGann took them up and^unted tLm n!,* d1X?he'?^-m^'' ''' T^' lying opX'u'pS; 1^* fZ'r^^t two men engaged m sobm further talk about M^r '^'^ "'^"^ ••« Patents, and then Jud« handedWmthT'°T''°"l"''='^"P'- As Haffi nanded him the pen, the cashier happened to look ud and there was Bunder Foot Singh standine out in i£ garden gazing through the window. *^ ^' He had seen the entire transaction. He left the window and came to the door which he n^«1..*''^r*- '^'^if'"^' ^'>"' McGanr'swept tte notes hurriedly mto the drawer of the desk. Fardon me, said Bunder Foot, "but am I in the iNof Well, I should have knocked, but I thought voi were a^one. Judge McGann, and I was ve^ anlll^'uno " I will go," said Hamilton. ••ithnlf,'''"'^"!"'"^ ^""''='' P""''nS "P h« hand, would fit "^T^ "'*"'"■• ' **"*«1 to know if you rwillth^ ^P^" -"r'" y.°'" ■■"vention. judge I I have toCkout fn*" '" ^^"''e." '*''° K«ve me instructions you wonderfol Americans m the way of a new maehiM; 1 .1 jj, CAPTAIN BLurrr and I am convinced that he would wish me to buy fomc of the r?ghU in this remarkable device if he knew about '*"lam'''my sorry » answered Judge McGann."but I can' ^ve^ tKportunity at present Th« mach "e Hotlperfected, and'^lmtil I have it in complete running order f should prefer it to have partners. .._y.. The inventor div. .^^d a little way fiom thf straight line of teS, for le remembered his promise not to mention mmKs connection with the entcrpnsj. * Ah° "Mid the Indian. » no doubt you are right Of cour«: oerfectly right 1 The machine must be complete Sfo«' ■J^u win sell. That is the proper way to do. But whCyou are ready to «ll. you will let my London friend know— will you not ? " I will see about it," said McGann. « I understand." said the Indian to Hamilton ; this wise anS g"S man with the marvellous mind wante to kMp it and make all the money for himself. That is what he is planning to do." ::?n'Xe°':hSd"rhrsell part of hi. ri^ts he wouW probably prefer to favour hU friends in his own town I Well, no one can blame him. It is 'a"^- " '; ;?X And he will have no trouble, I am sure, to find pfe oMnvesU here in Turley. Will you let me see %rartu"nTd ^thnitch and the machine ^f^o^^de^XJo-nSfuT^ex^^^^^^ up both his hands. "Ah! You are a great people, an "'Then hf saw'J^-bye and took his leave, and as he pal^d the tindiX looked around and into the room ^'"'wish that man hadn't come in just at that moment," said Hamilton. . . „ o " He «w nothine, said Mctaann. • ^ u. "I ho^il^t." WM the reply of the cashier, but he feared, also. CHAPTER XXII THE COBRA STRIKES his"/uest?n"l?°"''' "°' ''^'P -"emarking, more than orce as hv fK- 1 ™*n"er. and how h s speech wi warmZ^ As Hamaton heard h.m talk, and talked with him CAPTAIN BLUITT the mind of the cashier *-/'«^^;l5''Sf*whic'h tl. offeree that he h»d comm.tte^^.^t'^XfeU grateful to ever present with h«m i andj« ^ ^^him. and to give Bunder Poot that ^»»« h»^. "^°^,%, so delightful. him entertainment of a character j^^yght. that the It was plain enough, *•»« .*=*°""; \u. -tudio when he In^lUtlmade no obse-auons aUh^^^^^^^^^ looked through thj'^mdow i" ^^^ ^^ uest relating to reUg.on , and. as x quite to understand. ^ " What is that ? . ^ ^^t into tempta- " We entreat our Maker, i-eaa ^^ ^ j^ ^^^. tion.' This seems '"ange to me^ ^^^ ^ ,^„ prehend the conceptwnof ft* ^'« ^,^ ^( the revela- formed. or '»t»?5^! °"?,?^1^en to His poor children, . tion of Himself that He has ptve ^^ would seem to»>e quite -n.poss^o temptation which in such an act " leading them im i^^ Sight open.the d<^' *« J„"^"^'i^*„pting. and it mus temptatfon U the »»« *'""f ^ ^,„''^iu Uy traps for be difficult to »?^l'?^ *•' Xng Ae way in whic'k are «. • that He will draw us a»o"8 ^ But if He cannot "pttlfS: into which - -y na%e pS^ that He will b?urT^U "s^^^^^^^^^^ -'"^ "•'' '"'"'=• ""' te4 disciplined in the true faith ^ ,ittie ^1?I think," «id Hamiton, I «n « ^g/ form of » there. We gf^ **;= .V^* tK«cUe wording of tl^ translation. I ^° "f * ^rfways thought that the mean^ THE COBRA STRIKES ,jj Into tSl^tatS-'' "*• "''*• °' P*'"""' " not. to be led "Th"'^'''**'' probably i„ our way He will li,' '«'"P'»t'°n being from goinp- towards it" '"te'-pose to restrain m •tion ? " °'" '«"" to avoid or escape tempt- Wnd. Now in th^ ^raJe7wTasll """ P»'"«'" •Slivered, as for as may b^^r^lu r """ ** ''''^" b« eveiy kind." ^ °* possible, from temptations of Bu"t hot agn''X:frs Tr '- ''"' "p-" ■>• temptation wliln there is c^ta^^f °' P^^^'d from suppose I say that I hate ^t-n^'y "'* *'>*" fa"; or the idea of the Father's l^fr" ^°"'""^ 'o reconcile he does permft merto fe temotL"'"L"'* '»'* ^^'t weakest." °* tempted where they are he?h:u^t''ofhif?l''4l%«Sf ""^"-•^'' - ••*. « answered : *° '^^'"t temptation But he wiiirca^ti.jlJririr^T''--''-'^ wough, I think, to perceivl Jhat i." . "' ''°*'=^"' '^V makes a man's ^orSl nai^re st'ro"^^'.?"== '° ''"'Ptatioj: ^ 5e„t"al"':he'ra%"Sht"an°d"^ " " -" « » have power to choose whether L*"-,,'^'""^' •"= """st wrong." ^^ wnetiier he will accept right or »n'e^■[co^Sl-^^''„l"^"° t-^mputions to pursue «he way of righT^usn"L t^^'^ "'lH^'f'^ '° ^'W growth at all." ~"'"*^' there could be no spiritual •"P'^.tK.n do«, notalittJe T^^^^^^^^^^^^ MldOCOPY lESCHUTION TBI CHAIT (ANSI and ISO TEST CHART No. 2) Litis ■ 25 1.8 mmtj^ ^ /APPLIED IM/^GE Ine ^^Z '653 East Main Slraat ^S^S Roch«t|«r. N«w York 14609 USA p^fBB (716) 482 -0300-Ptionfl ^^S t^'S) 2S8 - 5989 - Fax »i CAPTAIN BLUITT 35* „^, me to speak to you '° '"Jis a holy one and realizing, as ^["f ^^Ve-npW cause IS a noiy j^ ^ sacrifice w, " » ' ' „ j j^ largest deg'f^«'*?,e foot-principle of our fa'^h- J*"^' ;„ trustworthy man. ne "i<»'^ r „,.d»%..r';«S'r,n"«'»y .*« «■-""■ «^vr- iS5 ™.'Cw' »»'■ "'"^ ""^'° THE COBRA STRIKES stubborn tomai " '''"' "°°'"g ^ '-""•"^ but rather ■^No ^i,W ""?. '■"'? H-niilton's face : your con^uiTi '-• '''^ "°' "=" ' ^ d° n°t understand - snence. The| turlrh^V^Von"}?arilo:,':L= " Yes, you will." d.-s?Sb7panor"'- ^"'^ «-•> "PO" Wsface was TJl°'„'-"'°"}-i" ^« ^*'d desperately . f "e prince did not at once reX u P-cture over the fire-place He s^^^l ^ ^^^"'^ «' '^^ He seized the ivory panerknifi^ "°f'='' ^is legs, toyed with it. Then h^eS " "P°" '^' ^^^^ ^"d doyouThfnk'J^.^-"-^ ^'-tricotor going to turnout HeXt '^sSS*'^ !?"% "--^ '■> trembled, there passed through hTs mind , I? ^.'''''°' "shtmng sr"^-sS-an:^:s?si '"c^^^^oJ^S^^-^^S^^'- an elbiw upo"„°The table "".id't:" f """l' ^°°'> ^-^»'"g round and round with his finders I'^'"^ '-.^ Paper-kniff at his victim. " I know ^I =f : -^ ^^ ^""''^d pleasantly done. Don't look so s^red " '. ""r*! '^'''' "° "a m kindof thing mysel? That moT. ^"" ''='=" '" '"at bought into a gold mine Ff ^ ? ^ success. You've I'd buy you ou^t !n a m'nute at a n'"""'='"'^°"'^'=°"'' yournerve and your foSt v^'TT' '°°- ^ "^^ ■nuch have you L the motof ? .' " " '^'^ "'='^ ""^^ Hamilton did not reply. ^^^^^^^Z^l^^^^^'^^'-- Look. "But a man who [^gofn' to^"''''.''r°"''■""«d.• -eht to help his frie„ls°:feL°tSy^et T.ol^n =*=> CAPTAIN BLUTTT ^fi JS8 was never mean in ^-^^^^^ ^o AaT odfl^ej^ enormous comfort, » «*^'!5 \g°' „ to lift me orer this the Lord's Prayer ; now 1 warn yo little money difficulty. .' I can't do it," said Hamilton ^ ;j ^e M don't ^^"^^"y.^l'^e 'J a thousand dollars to- had not heard him. G.ve me a t ^^^^ ^^^_ ^„j ThrJllA^^e^P-^^^^^^^^ P''- -'^'^^ "^°" "^^t^VuUK"-'^^^^ Nol not that," said Hamilton. ^^^°'\f'XxJ°%our said the prince, with ^l^rySlfdooX^mLro: ni^h^to call upon the ^''^'^'mlttme'tSinlc.- implored Hamilton, "and I wiU see what 1 can do. _ j^ ^ged that. ^ .. Yes. of course ; time to think , yo ^^^^ ^.^^ I shall be most sorry to press y ^^^^ ^^^^ I ihink; but have *e money wyo^^^.^ come to your door ^^ seven ocip ^^ ^^^ At that «°'"«"*;„P°'°ler father sat with Bunder, came into the '°°'"*'*^^et her gracious and courteous. The Indian rose ^o p-eet h^'^^S thing was the as he always was. J^^ e'^„^C an instant she was matter w'^, *»'=\*^!*t'' mbe'« . Sd'^vhen Bunder said t^ her ^^^ , « I have been giving M-J" "^J" ynd and sympathetic. „.y life in India, "^f^f nTm uS a« «"''« ^^"^ i"^- l/is much to ?<=. ,M'S' "^n'^'dear Christian friends.' ''°?'l\^^'rr:y''"slVrX' "that my mother is unable to see you." ^^^ ^^ch I should "Ah I how much I «|'«^' one of the charms Uke to meet her again. B^^^^jt'" ;oduces these lovely that religion has for me, « tnai y i -*..' ::;,"" "" — >. ~. ... ...» .:,. .., ^— If'Se Jj4 II THE COBRA STRIKES -_ Christian households, where .11 j «nd sympathy." ' '^"* *" ^ peace and ..ection MMa%,rn* SkiJ'r "« ^^' good-bye to 'l^y that seemed?^ pZL '■',/''" ^'""^ notfced.^„*° Aen he went to the outer d^™'"!:". 'l^ty" *" ^^'"H; hand with almost affecHona^ 'h -•'''^'""8^ Hamilton's undertone : ""Mfonate heartiness, he said, in an ^'At seven, precisely." "u'^'Jj!^ perfectly well." '•No?'^;4''°!;>i"gyou, father?" Mother has not^c^d H^'" 'J"'^'' "''^ y°"«elf lately. Mother I noticed it?" ' ,^e could hardly co„t.l himself While he spo^e to the I»dia?'4t df anS*i?^ " the matterl Did ^ " Not at allfmy chiwf^Z^' ^^%^"^ y°" ' " ?m quite well; only H^ed-anHtV''"- Ofcou.^not. I >ng things at 'the bank t^^"^ *''!?'' *"= «°">e woi^y dear, and to sleep. You Zfdl'r.^ J^°^ ^" *° l*d. my He Kissed her an1^'-hr "°' ^^^■■^«='» geatarm-chairtfrZ'o?r'fi°" ^/'"°^ f^" '«° the t°Wm.Hamilton tried to J^!!?'''l'?"°" ^'^ been madt «a«fee the situaHo^ Iff "'C"""'"^ *«* ''« St ! j6o CAPTAIN BLUITT KhPh he was feed '>^/' -wiuVe" c'on^oU^S^U '^^Lr^t^LS^^oi:^ th^attcr directly in *'^l/''^caa,e apparent to ««.« he reflected that o"^^^ ?oTpCosiUonr;a"^ng them^lves in a kind of regular nin^SrU^nil'^^lJS'lutdenly swirled off agIi'nlAto%' in^of on^lsio^^^^^^^^^^ «-= -t"'«Th?:"a;ortinVre^^^^^^^^^^^ ^ , '° He laughed 7n a &ful manner, as he remembered ,Ha?h»once .. t^^^^^ ^^ '"^"mnuUc to s^ek for the little written outline of tTfes^Shlt he^Shrrecall Just what his teach.ng ''"Kaped from his chair, opened a df .-^ bs?as solace. He touna 111=^01^. ~v -rtrument at once lr^;^rfJSir=-o h?m^. -rrecaUed the ^^^f-Tsfn utfkdyWaVe no repulsive feature, until it (1) S"> "^^7^^° " (jx Action is sowing ; and reai>- \r^ feiStSs si^ing^ Evil action produces ev.l THE COBRA SrillltES , lesson be made now "°'* "npressive could the »omem\:!i:£"ct'hr^^^^^^ 'J^'T^^ "■•* -^nd. « .-r have to teach that B?ble cL„l^'T *>' ^e ihould blow, under which his mind r«l^H Sunday; and this by another-ncxt Sunday was ' *' '^' "^'^ »*''ft'y t::i':!^,'^ ''^^^ '"-!?up-4 rs°s wind upfet;^- t^^^^^^ _3ut he to« stoS;t;tASV/ar^' *''^'^' T'"- they make his choice. ' ''="°" fr°™ wWch he mdt him. For one thinl, he felt oerfi.! "" ""^ '*'«' '* *ith fo owed aslt mustiVd s?We^„f\'^'''" .''>''' %ht. kill his wife. So flight uoon ih- '^ J"* •=""-. ^ouU o invoVe murder llso^nS mur:?^'"^.^''"'^"'' ^^^ed loved as much as a man can ev?r [ °^ °"« ^hom he ;f there be no return m«nf^t '°l'°*'*°'°an. Flight her again, even S'sSli?;' fe^^ T " ^' not be endured either But ,v *' thought could away, under such conditions hJLT" \^° ''»^« '"n again. He would be cauj ht f • 3''^" '''°"«ht back 1! I '<'k »«• CAPTAIN BLUITT The honoi» that lay that very chair, playing with her. - . in the choice of flight could not be endured even in contemplation. No ; he turned away from that. Murder ? He would not give that any consideration. Detection would be certain ; but he knew, from what be suffered now, that he could not live wiih such a cnnie upon his souL He would put the thought of murder aside, lest the temptation should grow upon him and overmaster him. He even feared to let go th-. control he now held upon his thought, lest some Satanic power should sweep him away ii to a wild frenzy, in which he would be irresistibly driven to bloodshed. No I What- ever else he should do, not murder 1 Suicide ? That was 9o easy j that was the short vay out His mind began to trac!: the way down the street to the river ; only a few hundred yards. He could end it all in ten minutes. And there was a quick method, right here in his own house. If he lived there could be nothing ahead of him but gloom, disgrace, and sorrow. Yes in that very Bible lessen he ha'' just recalled, one of his greatest points was that a deed once done was forever done. There can be no retreat. Why had he not considered that when he took the money from the bank? It seemed to him, now, strange that he should ever have discovered any force in the temptation to take it But the thing was done, and the consequences lay directly before him, the consequences now become so dreadful ; and a plunge into the river would end it all. He thought he cc ild almo.st hear the swash of the vater against the steamboat-pier at the end of the street Dead within ten minutes! But what then? Here was the old question, old as the weary heart and tired soul of man ; old as life itsi.t. He dared not face that question now. He believed the truths of religion. He had often tried to be a Christian. He had really thought himself a follower of Christ That hope in his heart was even now not dead. For him, wicked as he was, even for him, there might oe in some far-off day, in some far-off world, forgiveness. The tears flooded his lids as the thought came to him. But suicide THE COBRA STRIKES . wou|d close that door for evL, t a, . to sin in the irery act of If" ^° **'« ^V •"» own sin • «ach the soul ,^^ta?ned '^CsS:"" '•■ ""'^^ =°">d ""t' •nd his girl think of suicidr ? "' '•"'* '^""'^ »>« wife |akc onpo^rd-Va'rtrilte l:\t "° ""<'- to e=.7h7d7Sh^^^ K n r"- £ thought came to him^.'Mrr ."^"' happiness as the shall be rich ; I caL put k a^f k" V'''"'" '^'" »«cce^ ; ? but the Hindu willl-Pe/know it Wh^"'",' """^ "°^ " pan defy hiro." But as h^ ~ u •^*" ' P"t it back I 'ng3 f„,m the .-iTotor coSd no^'^'^'l*''*' the ean,! began suddenly to consider if h "*°,". ** gathered, he money aIready%tolena„d'^pJ''r''' ""^ borrow 'the thus put the Hi.,du a deS '^ %l .k'"'-\"* ?"«. and Blu.tt, of Dr. Quelch of thr« ,'""'8^''' "'^ Captain means whom hr --new and ^ "'/""^ °ther mJn of ^uld be impos ole T; oblin ,o t" '*'''='«' '^at t S5 a^dt^ritdt'„^£ # r r-- off again, and as the smi^^g face of the H°"f ' "'>'«•' before his imagination, he rfcallerf Jll ^ 'i''" ""»« "P of the subtle viUainj; of fte kI?" •>« 'ad ever heard magicians ; of the genii of%s. *J °I. PO'^oners and charmed serpents and h dec , tr^'"'^"''' ^'^''''.- o( mysterious and terrible an^it.^""!""^^ ■" °fthmg, must have been some awfut soirif?^'"''^ *° '"''" t^^at it Prmce of the Power o7M" I P""^' °^ ^vil-the ">« being from The dre^fi^'ol^l '"' '''°' ^^^ American town, and infLsed it? '"*" **= ''■"''' ' a1 S st^^bS^re^'^os^Lnr^t -°-- "jatter, the thought suddent'"^ ^'=' -considering the f";? to the Indian to morAj: "SX ?.'"'"'. -^ " ^''y not ^°"- held in tru.tr, :„r?a'r^r,nh'arS 384 CAPTAIN BLUITT while, perhaps, some plan may b« «J'»«'* '°' wniWone to him by using ^^^^.^Prg ^^ ^^n^y for the present, at least.' wretched, for- Sunder Foot, and whispered : ^^ da7'?:icreigift'arand^^^^^^^^^ thousand more one week from to-night. Have nerc, take the consequences." „,„.,j„„., forehead as he turned to the library. "Only a beggar, he said. . „,j- t>v Destiny that the man from India. - 0, CHAPTr XXIII SUFFERING AND BLISS thfe^roWwe7w?„*rh1cVB'''H''T '" '^-'«>'«t .uccccded in getSmpu'^^'miJ^f'^ t f■"«^^<^ The captain had not vet s«.n Tk- i J ? Hamilton, heard much about him fr^Vr. n"'"'-"- ^"' ^^ ''«<« from Miss PuelIa^ho had mo.^ ^5ro?fhe'e!'"- ""'' of the visitor, of his .-ersonal grac« «n^%.f t^ eloquencr ing popularity when .h^h.l 1^1°'^''" »«'°n'»^ welc^^ed him to h^ own f '''•j?" brother an. curiosity wasVa°lceJe"d. Zt hSnIeresf ''at" ^J"'"'' promised address in the P,- k . 'y°"'''raake a long- hisg"roSt^orerffar,^"'"-'''''«^ of the political oimMiJn h,H "if™"^ ""* excitements duties at hom. r^}^' """^ ''*«" attentive to his Rufus,he?ou^dSa^.lT^ f° *''' ^**''''= '" search of horses! whSuS walrw'heTe'^f^'ut'" fh^^ ^ '''^ «ptaia ^ ' ' ^''"' " Rufus?" asked th the 365 jjfi CAPTAIN BLUITT "Good-mawnin-, Mars Bluitt ^^J"'- ^"'j,?, ..^"^"'• he's done tuk sick. Rufus has de hyderphoba " Yesterday, suh. In de evenin . « Did he send for the doctor i "Not fo- Dokker Quelch. suh. I^^done dvise Miss Pottah to send fo" Epbr'm Slocum. , '. Wha?d^s Ephraim know about hydrophobia ? •- 1 dunno Mars. Bluitt, dat he's close acq-.ainted w.d de hyderphobTa ; but he's jes good at pow-wowm any o ''"pr-wowingl You don't believe in that kind of *i"lefi, mors"hoiy. None o' dese white positions ■round yerHke Dokker^Quelch. • .bber d'd me "O good «v^ ,1^^ rh.iimatiz Dey ain' no med'cine fo dat misery. ^h"n' [tTd^pain^rsen; fo' EP{'^™. -'Jj^^CwWU- it He does white-washin' too. I doan nure his wnnc wash"nM.u"h"'s sholy got de -side ho U on j.w-wow^n^ Tji' Chewsday two weeks, when I was a-la>_n aouo'eo ^^S rheumatiz.so's I coulden' git offen de flo Km come 'roun' an' done de pow-wow, an de nex mawning I'se jes as limber as an eel. ':Knt'M:4°;';es kep' a wavin' h. han's ober de place an' -yj"" ^rin^^^^^^ Hdout' rcl uriKn'^e^^ ae co^uHn' won't do y;Ktr^3^^rj^s^^^o;:\i^f. dUh yer worl'. Mars. Bluitt 1^ :■K^o me^Mars' stltt. when I has de misery bad dat £ debbifhas sumpin' to do wid d-t A."' com matiz, I ain't got no quarrel wid him, and ef irs SUFFERING AND BUSS jj, Bluitt, you beat de dehbH at hl^ I ^"^^^y"" ^^"■ 'i'gious man, but when rS f,tii „* P'^" S'^'ne. I'se a he has a tail to w^ or wTto fl^^ an' cure mefwedder a feelin'." ^ "^^ '° "ap- Dat's de way I'se S^^'Kt-^SS--e^.Ku. wh|^^?e"^rwrh Sng"''' ''^^ ^P'°" *° "« «y«. matter.' I am^°o glad vou hij"" '"""t things are the «> dearly, and has do^so :! "r^ *''"' '?/" R"^"'' b.Ty\1^!ra|eX"a^uS wreck his ffi^«?lf^"l^,'"'° '»«f"««. *hich will delirium from whShe°j^ff:f^'rbe\rir '"l' ''°"'"= abated" ^" "* *' ^" e^fly moment '■Bitten by a dog, was he ? " " How did this happen ? " ' °f h« con wmdow nearest the & '° '^^^'"'rt'on through the Uy^K'RS;* nSn*''.' "o" •'■- »* [» f«. ap„rt, while "c h J,f, J"? ;f°" "" '««i » ft !%Wyu?S^.''.;i'S JK-M «d hi, r.„ ,„„^ A A j^„ CAPTAIN BLUITT ^.uttered strange words which none of g heare« c^M understand. It was plam fXtall the resources of the C;r»r:SLjf ecrp^urus .igUt he '-J^^ ^.^J^ sTrH^ ah. in a whisper to CaptJn Bluit?; "but no human fo-f ^he sigh - what moment he may break out again ine |^.^^„ sound of water impels h.m 'o become a me Captain Bluitt lookea at the «'^^ "*"' *"t„ping over and the pow-wower for a ■"^^"'•^^'^'e'S When to the washstand, h» P"""** °V* '°^„d yump, and t° Rufus heard it. ^e^bepn o wnthc and J^ P^^ bark, and to gnash h.s teeth " ^^e T't a^' / ^in, as "Singular, very smgular indeed s«d t v^_^^^ ^^ ^'"i will wait here for Dr. Quelch, Hannah. I am -^/^^'tJTs^SXl^ Mnever-acase herleTt ^.n the chair "- fj^fil^^^ir&rw^^^^^^^^^ her hands upon her lap " ha« ^^^could never read about sensitiveness to impressions «X7Xrtisements in Sirio'^r.^cdbLtoKW^^^^^^ SUFFERING AND BLISS KaKS:i.;S%^S=rt', ^-«C' bottle. !„' I'll of patent mJJ^Jli,^ '^^^ '" ^ cellar half- means well, has SQuandVrrj^ u '^"'"»' "^o always illusion that his liver or it .""■ ^"^stance under the vafn four doUam and thirty^se^en cent^ JT^ i- •™'" ''''» he bought for asti^msti^nn t" u . medicines that '-hen hi read ^CtTl'^'J^i. r" '"i*"''de"to<^ appertaining to the lunjs and h^^^T °^ ^'"*= ^'">°"^ , "Not v^5^-'^o^'r.'"«''ed Captain Bluitt "aveyou a J.«°?Ki&5^"'='- "M- hotter, versatior""' """ "°" 'l"^'- He heanj the con- j^, CAPTAIN BLUITT ZX'^rs. Potter, take that po^er -d PUt it into the fire until it is as "««^„^ P°^l:.3"dothe^^^^ have these gentlemen remove Rut u^sc ^.^^ him face downward u^n the bed. Then, i ^^ ^^^ bVrra^s J^^'it IpU^I will callVmorrow '"^ B:. &S X't'down-stairs with Captain Bluitt, who ^^ct you' actually want me to burn the man's back. s:i^s:^.^«eH^^"f--- nearly sixty years and never yei nav<= hydrophobia." n,...lrh drove up to Captain \he next """'"'"g.P'-Q^rand walked around the Bluitt's gate, hitched l^'^,''?!?'.'^"'^/^ he did so he saw house towf the h°me of R"^f- j^^s^.'^^^er.and saw, Saffthe tSut/whirh the grape vmes were *^i"l^tw are you feeling this^-^ing^^^^^^^^^ Rufus stopped work and looked a^juna^^^^ .^ « mhout the burning with the poker ?» ..YesNir; they didn't have to use. t. "Whatcuredyou doyou AinW j„„3 for "Well now. Dr. Q"=^^^' '' ^Tdo y^u kfow, doctor to visit another patient SUFFERING AND BLISS the rites of haruTpkatlon w« ^ " ,"*'? ^™'"« '"to when he perceived in wh°»' «"?Pletely overturned conducted Wsceremo£an"H'j; '''= r!""''''^" Slocum •ense of Dr Ouelch^ h,^ ' ^ ^°'^ *« ^'^ng good Captain BluYtrcSld not fXa! t'°l: ^'^R"^ same evening ut^nFloratl^B '''"''''=*''«'' 'J'" circumstances connected wTfhP r^"™*' *° •*'»*« the phobia, and Xn th, Ti ?,"'^"t', ''"'"='' »' hydro- heartily as her tLtor%'Sd thi°"''"V '^"Shed methods of conjuration the rinf,- ' * ^/ Ephraim's the experiment LSe?hadP^'"^'"'"d 'everted to with the consecrated cSn and h/ '" *« ^°od-shed Puelia, as soon as she Sh . he resolved to remind say nothing rVlorabella or "™ '•°|"e. Positively to ploration of the mysTer^s o? h ''"^^y °^ h« ex- Mrs. Bums was in mIi, "f .^»™spication. and she seemrreLlly ^ad'';" hal'^V""."-' ^2°^ *''"'. a listener. He waTa n£, „ to have Captain Bluitt for a good friend He h J "^'K^hour, and he had been fofher during h"r absenTafd h'h''^ °^ """ ''"=''"="" investments ffr her when she h.ni'"^''' ?°""' g°°d Florabella, lonely andrnotnr,rrt^ ^? ^* ^°""'i and had come to llan on Wm'^n? ^"^ '" ''':^""=''*' ""atters, counsellor. ^"^ ^"^ *° ''^gard him as a wi^ her^te rd"p7;fSrDo°rl°I r P^^ '°' *- - strong affection^j:d'^5.S^1^^;^^^ in his -''^'"to'trlrkt°:.°^^^^^ B'-tt." she away because she is sepamted froTw u^''^^ P'"'"g doubt he is heart-broken for her H^ ^al er and no "No fnd h".°' -.r' ^ '^"^^ ''"^ban^." fatherV giving he u^se'JS' """■ '""°''*' °^ '^t'"-- «- notion to fdZ fej;t rr ■:^... ^ ''='- * ^'^^ .,X°***y where?" ^ Why. A^e, if nowhere else. They can be married „^ CAPTAIN BLUITT in „,y house; .nd then he will have to forghre h«-; Md that will be the end of it ^ ^ ,j^^ « 1 don't know, said the captain. » oo" ' ""• . Dorry has heard nothing, either. ' ™°"'" have some suspicions?" rPlm'SS/Ifraid to breathe th.m. for if they were "Tv ' thl'm'fvli'mUer'hrw^ttcn to her?" WoddSyou'^Wnk so? is it like him to stop even writtagtoher? He can't go to her house; butnolettersl •' He must have written, of course. .. Of course, and where are those letters ? Dorry has never received them." , » j ,.u._, > » "You believe John has pocketed them ? "Well, it is just horrid to thmk of such a thmg , but letteV after letter wouldn't go astray in the mail. '■And then Walter stopped writing because he got °°.pSly"; and the poor girl ».;«'l«\«"78h not '''caftalrBruitfs countenance plainly indicted that a cooperative effort with Mrs. Burns would be far from '".Prir^te°to''wm, too ; or ask him to run down here ***.?^e^well; and Dorry can meet him here »nd a fewTeaTs Ind kisses will blot out the hnieous past, and bring bliss back again." SUFFERING AND BLISS jyj Captain Bluitt looked gnve; but in fact his mind wa. strongly .timulated by thi. talk from the li^ of the handsome Florabella about kisses and bliss. How pleasant it is, Mrs. Burns, to see two yountr people fondly attached to each other as they a« and " Dttur '^ '°"^""^' ^°' ""* °'^"'' «""i^ny"'' '•^ull fi!^*'* """^'^ *** """ continued the captain, that things are arranged beforehand, so that certain men and women are so created that mate is drawn to mate by some mysterious attraction." « AnTl'^S'V w^f°•" 'u''' ^'^ ^"""' «flr^tended to adjust the window-blind, and coughed and resumed his seat " One of the most terrible things in the world for a pan — I don't know of course how it is with a woman — is to be lonely. I have been lonely all my life, for the reason I have given you ; and now I suppose no fine woman would consent to accept such a weather-beaten old hulk of a sailor as I am." Mrs. Burns seemed reluctant to express an opinion of the reasonableness o r unreasonableness of this conjecture ; but Captain Bluitt thought he discerned in her counte- nance a trace of sympathetic feeling. He became bolder : " But my heart is pot weather-beaten," he said. « It yearns for aiTection : affection from a kindred soul ; and I think I know where there is one. I think so. I may be mistaken, but I hope I'm not. I wish I cou'.d be certain it is yours, dear Florabella." The colour came into Mrs. Bums's handsome face. .' oe had guessed that the captain liked her, but she had I, It exjjected courtship so summary. Hesitating for a moment, she said : " It is so difficult to be certain, but " " But you care for me, don't you ?" asked the captain. " You are sure that you care for me a great deal ? " " I have always liked you very much, and you have been so kind to me," she said. " ' Like,' is such a cold word," remarked the captain. " I love you dearly, and I would be filled with joy if you could love me. Can't you do that ? " " I think I can," answered Mrs. Bums, shyly ; but she looked at him and smiled. Captain Bluitt took her hand. " You can, and you will, and you do ? " he asked. " Yes," she said ; "you are very dear to me." " You will be my wife ? " he inquired, tenderly, still holding her hand. " Yes, I will." " And may I kiss you ? " SUFFERING AND BLISS ,„ «.Iccyo„Vpy t.5J.." '^'^^'"•'' *««W."«nd I will Perf^'te ISfK^T^ ft" •"• -'--»• ; What vvill you call me. #& 'af ..*' '"' "« -'d ' ^/ou have «,™e thoughtTbSut 1, dear," .he Why'^n';.^^';';^'^^^^^^^ you know I, Elijah. fitted me out wi^h'^suc" ; „ar„T7r"f /' P~P'«- «ver there it i,. Now Eliiah h 5'i "^*" ' 'magine. But '•nguage of ende^Jmen Ld If J: ''1'^' ''^'f '» the My. to Lij>, it is hideoi. r ^?". "y *° shorten it '^ill do ,^'ut i" I ^".* J "" ' ""'•gino what you name." ""*'**'' '"^ again with a new wh;nl?L'7n'S;i°' • t--J;' ";.^""«' ««Pt captain." """pany, and then I'll just call y^J and you." "'"' ** ">= Romans always said: me ;; Hand in hand." said Florabella. ^^^^i'Z X^:^-^'^ '•>« same; B is fo, .f °«be"a laughed. " Can't we°'li'm'°'J^-'"^'' ""^ ''"« 'n" ' "' er" 'narrie5|"^k'^'3,""«',^''en Walter and ;, , , ^l "Wiv,» ^ *"* captam, ' / are BurnT^' * P^f«"y d«l%htful ideal" exclaimed Mn. 378 CAPTAIN BLUITT " And soon ? " urged the eapUln. •Whenever we c«n bring th«in together and unmgp their wedding, I will be ready," answered Florabella. She was a woman who never failed in prompt action. It it positively painful to turn from such a scene of unmixed felicity to another, which had been prepared by grim Fate, so that a loving heart might be wrung with While e-«tasy was finding its home in the front parlour of Florabella Burns, Lochinvar Frobisher began the journey homeward with Dorothea Hamilton, when the choir-iehearsal had ended. The young man had resolved that the time for him to speak had come, and in desperate disregard of the diminutive dimensions of his salary, and with some faint hope that larger revenue might drift in somehow or other from his mothert interesta in the estates of the Metcalfj of Arammgo, he said to himself that he would avow his love utwn that very night on the way from the church to the Hamutoi house. ». J »!. Dorothea would not take his proffered arm, as the pair left the ch-jrch building, and that seemed discours- ing ; but Lochinvar had a manful purpose not to be d iscourftEcd* "Dorry," he said, for he had known her long, "you and I have been thrown together a good deal, for several years, and have almctt, as it were, grown up m each other's society." . " Yes," she said, and dread came into her soul. • I always thought you liked me a little bit, and I am sure I have liked you ever since I Knew you. But, Dorry we are now man and wonan, and I find 1 have another feeling for you. Dorry I love you.' « Oh, no, no I do not say that I " he exclaimed almost with a sob, and she quickened her steps. « Yes, but I must say it," he answered. " Not now 1 Not now ! " she implored him. " I have no other opportunity. I know I should try to find a better one, but I can't I love you. Is there any hope that you will love me?" SUFFBRING AND BUSS 3,, but ;Lr:iy''rwir„ot':?fu^''r'' •"»■'« y-- «""»ppy. '-uffe,.n^fflfyou«Lotr«urn'n,"^r '^1 J ^»" to try to love me 1 I «n„„f ^ ""^ '°'"- ' ^egr you poor n,.„ ; but I will work fnH?' ''"" ?'"=''• ' «™ • If you love me • Tn^ ™ r " m ""*"' »"«' '"ffer for you 4 me. Vtl.;^!;^;'^-" »»-<» ^y «.» r^d" I neve'i'dSm'^VtVou c^JS foT^' ^T V"^^ --X- to give you pain I ;f^ „ "" •"*• ^' " dreadfGl friend." '^ ' *"" "'"'" «"« for you but as . " It U terrible to hear you «av so " u.M f k- 1. young man. "Perhan. .ft., . ui ' •«'o the unhappy will come ^hen-!-??' ^^^'' " ^'••'e-pcrhap. the time .«; VuSr;T'";li'dS " 2" "-^ °\'^ »"' 'h'rish to her home, "good-bye? Vour.f " "^'^ ""« "«' •gain upon this wbiiS .„^ . "*' "'","■ ''^^ '-^ me have giWj^^u TS^k^l''°\T»'>K'^« me i 1 me and goal-bye" *" *"'' '° <*" ^- ''"rg've ho2;Kyu';^Ko'K' ''"'^j''^ -*«-« *« weep. a«d to thin^^orw!Stcr.nT£r%"l''rfi '" n i i\ CHAPTER XXIV CAPTAIN BLUITT BEHAVES IN A SURPRISING MANNER The address made in the Presbyterian church by Bunder Foot Singh, when he first visited Turley, had eiven such fame to his eloquence, and curiosity Ibout him, and interest in him, had now become so Ereat, that the building was thronged on the Tuesday night when he was to speak again at length upon the subject of his mission. . . , , „ ,,. u- Mrs Frobisher had another delightful talk with him about India and his ancestors and his ancestral home after the early dinner that preceded the meeting, and, filled with the charm of his conversation, she took her place in the pastor's pew with two women-friends who had driven in from the country upon her invitation to hear the distinguished stranger. ,^ , _, , , Mrs. Frobisher nestled down at the farther end ot the pew with a comfortable feeling that a minister's wife does indeed have some privileges; and she was conscious of a sense of superiority to the persons about her, who perhaps had met the prince at social eatherings, but who knew nothing of the delight of the prolonged and uninterrupted conversation in which the nobleman appeared to reveal his finer feelings. She remembered with what emotion she had heard him speak in that church when first he appeared upon the platform, and she anticipated with keen pleasure another opportuity to enjoy his eloquence. The church was really crowded. Thi pews and parts 380 BEHAVES IN A SURPRISING MANNER 38, study door upon the platform to find fn tKhr"" •"" the desk the chapter which he wished to read fMf "^S" glanced at the conereeation thVt h- ^ j r "^'* ** ''^ greater encourageSlX^in J'|?tl'f"r' ■""«=" people would come to the churrh 2^ [• ^° ™*">' % him preach, on Sunday^ ' ' '° "'°"'^'P »"'» '» sat^upon one of the three chairKln^thl £K ratt"Lbrerbro:^''rnKose fl"'> "^'"^ -- with a blue sash arthf wk.^'andT whTt'u'Z""' which was no Jewel Mr» ir,^v,- t. , 'urban, in Fj^L'::'^f;7irahtm\wa\iLrr '•^ ^'• tion joining with the choir^^l^ the singin| ^UhToZT^ vigour as to impart to the worthv n^nT . "V'^'' pang, as he thought of the cold^efs of Se ' on' ''"°'^" "tef '° *'^ ^'"^-'"^ at th"eTabbaSr ~rr'°" cloSg-the^bSoTLr ^ ''''''' ^™"' ^-^«" -«» R.^!l' °"^ ^'°^^^' "°^ '^'^'^ "s in prayer ?'• theX™'^ d:rstSh'i:Te\tr/'' '° '\« «=^^<= °f the pulpit, lifted his rfghria'd a" aPsTJalV''''.K°' congregation to bow their heads ^ "' '^"' '^« He began in a low voice, even/ nr.f» «f i.- u musical, and full of solemnity ^ ^^ "^^^ W f' 38» CAPTAIN BLUITT business, detained him for a few moments, and Puella had gone without him, promising to reserve for him a seat in his own pew. . . ^ . The captain did not tarry for a long time, but when he reached the outer door of the church, just as Bunder Poot had begun to pray, the crowd in the vestibule was so dense that he found difficulty in pushing through it. While he was engaged in finding his way to the inner door he could hear the melodious voice of the Indian, and when he entered the room he saw the figure upon the platform; but the dMance was too great, or the light was too dim, to permit him to discern the features of the man. . . , ^ i c Captain Bluitt walked softly up the aisle, he alone ot all the hundreds of persons present with his eyes wide open The Indian himself had closed his eyes while he poured out his petition before the listeners, whose heads were bowed upon the backs of the pews. As Captain Bluitt came nearer to the speaker, the captain suddenly was conscious that the facf.of. «« Indian was familiar to him. Before he could think about it, something like an electric shock ran through his nerves, and he stopped and put his hand upon the top of the pew beside him. . • j AH about him women were sobbing, as the voice and the words of the speaker became more and more highly charged with feeling. .„ , „ . j When Captain Bluitt stopped. Bunder Foot opened his eyes and saw him. The Indian half completed the sentence upon his lips ; then he paused, stammered, looked about him for half a second, as if to discover the easiest way to escape, and then turned and fled through the doorway into the pastor's study .», n,j„ "Hey there! Stop him I Seize him I Don t let him get away 1 " shouted Captain Bluitt. ^ , ,. . ,. And the captain dashed up to the end of the aisle, overturning two chairs, seriously threatening the equili- brium of Major Gridley, who sat upon another chair, leaping upon the platform, pushing by the astonished pastor, and disappearing through the study door. BEHAVES IN A SURPRISING MANNER jgj himself into the T^'*B„n^; p ^"P"""- ^'"■"^ *rust speechless amazement, mineled with fZv r indignation and strone curio, hf»>, ^elings of may convey some sort of nn^f^n^T..!'^ *•■* '"°'^^ ^^^ congregatio^; tZ now tSeW CaJS B?u tT h' f' *J= and out of breath win, Til! r ^\P"'" l*'"'". hot, red, ^Sl """" "''»°'" '^'=<='''^d t° J"-", when ?)r. Frobisher "One moment. Captain Bhntti i* .• ■• . necessary that you should explan to til r P""'*'^?'/ this extraordinary scene-tS s?ran ' LT^If^f °" rr'sLe^a^re^ raF^p^orSrS has been profenati^a" P^""" '° "^ ''^^' there Captain Bluitt stopped and listened to the pastor he a?ked^°" "^"^ ""' '° *^" y°" '»•- story „grhe;e ? " "Yes." l4a,rt"?^fWe ^LTcS?.^ ^" "^ P"''"^ P'- How perfectly vulgar! " whispered Mrs. Frebisher fl 4 S84 CAPTAIN BLXnTT to h« friends. '• That horrid man I What on earth «„ he have done to frighten that dear Indian B"tl«=niV^/ "Dr. Frobisher and friends,- began Captain Bluit^ clearing his throat and growing redder. ' I n«dn t tel you how sorry I am to malce such a dwturtance. 1 Cdn't the slightest notion of it when I came to the church, but that Indian's a tremendous rascal. "Oh!" exclaimed Mrs. Frobisher. "Worse than that," continued tiie captain, he is a "'JtS^.^-rteUe*' a word of it," said Mrs. Frgbisher almost aloud, and with her face as «d//^.CaPt«n Bluitt's. "It is scandalous to say such ? 'h ng. « He is no prince at all," said the capta'n. Pnnce ! why he was the body-servant of a friend of mine, an Englishman, when' I was in Calcutta ten years ago: a P^t-tou C^w L to be truer asked Dr. Frobisher. who was almost overwhelmed by shame and disgust Md by the consciousness that he was argely responsible for dving Bunder Foot the opportunity to 'mpose upon the.?r!,ple of Turley. Dr. Frobisher felt that he should '^"Xnow it? Surely I I lived in the hou3C of that man's miter with thkt_ man. I was living there when he murdered his master I " . . t. •. _:t.k «f The congregation, keyed to the highest pitch of curiosity and excitement, uttered exclamations. "Horrible ! " said Dr. Frobisher. reaching for a chair, "rX^Te'vili 'recognized me at once. Why did he fly ? The cale proves itself. The sight of my face unnerved him • he knew that his game -as up. His master s name wS Thompson-William Parker Thompson ; or maybe Uwas Barker, instead of Parker. But, anyhow Thomp- son lived in the suburbs of Calcutta in a lovely house He was rich, and he liked me and I liked him, and I we„rover to'stay with him for a week or ten days, wh^e mv ship was unloading and refitting. He lived splendidly, and he*»d a Sepoy servant, one of the handsomest BEHAVES IN A SURPRlsmo MANNER 38, hand and could iS anv hiL ^^.■'^'■°'t'''^^"«f"l saw. Thompson treated Mm ''^"''^". '"g that he ever servant, and I told him hi T''' '''''' '^ ^O" than a but he aughed and sa,^ P ^"^'" '° ^ n,°« careful' for him. he loved hfsm.'"'^ "'""''^ ''« *'lhng to d e Randy/though Ws real nZ^" '°- ,>"^ ""<=d ^hc boy Indian name^lik't^ TJl X f,";""''-"?'*' °^ ^"""^ spend at Thompson's wen 'to Li * "'^^\ ' ^^ to undisturbed; but the fir^thin^ ^ »h' usual and was was a tremendous excitement -and n''"^ ""T',"^ ">"« the night Randy had gmie to h^ ^"5^"' D^ing strangled him in his bed^ Then he h»H^- "u^ '■°°'" ^"^ ready-money that was in Thl , P'^^^ up all the things and the sHveTth n J^hX"" u^'^' "" ^« g°'d the jewels, including a malnS ,"h I'^J!^' "'^ ^^^ finest I ever saw anH h. ^^'y- the biggest and after him, and V"La .r"" ^one! The fc got «:arched the rollfnl Sh for m'" k'^T^' ^"^ they disappeared. And here h„ ™' ''"' ^'^ had wholly actuallypraying"nouroldT"'f' 't"'^'''' P^ying- Now, friends, tha"s the If, r'^^ ^''"'■^''-'he nis«l | another hunt for him, Sd if; VSn "^S- .""' ^^^^^ India, and to the scaffold " " °^^^ e°es to wht'tSsltn'gSrifp^^^^^^^ '''^ -^ •--" to surprising, was John^Harnluon "'^'' "°* completely the feehng?w.U which t'''="'^P!*^P«. '" describing swift %htorSlrmposto; rf"^"'^ '^^ «P°^«^ anf h'm in the assuranr^^h A ^k '^"^ ^^^ "nuch relief for B"t then, hSoh hln *''^ '■*"^*' ^""^ never return «e character of K„ an7h"7,!''^'>' "P°" the d^^"' that Bunder PootS still InH^ " °"'' ^PP^^'^^nsion supphes of money from the c^^h""""' .*° "''t*'" "ew volence would reveal to tZ Tl"'£' '" P"^= ""ale- Hamilton's defakltfon '"'"'' °'^'="=« the fact of ii ii ii: I .1 ^ CAPTAIN BLUITT And M whatever plewure the caiWer felt m he Si^d'oXlnrn tnim had not yet been •^^rHammon came from t^c church d- i^^^^^^ ^e selves from the crowd : " Isn't it terrible, dear ? commit such crimes. things he did in India, man be such a hypocrite i :.\^^i.rwT£!'=creature, with blood o^ hU hands and theft in his heart, posmp as a d^vout^Chnst ^_^^ tS S'P^ r;i^e?t^Cti:n than he^ did to-night ? ^Sit.ST™^!. »6 *«. ^ ■■ '" .^"rSly don't know," answered Hamilton. "•m afraid he collected severahundredJoUaj. J am so glad we gave him o^V^-Ji^'^i^ h\m as'someof r^^prdld.'^^rhe'Vair^ed to fancy you too, , "'=^1 \^^n^ he did," a^s^vered Hamilton. "He BEHAVES m A SURPRISINO MANNER 3,, (ortunat'i that CapUin'au'lu'h''' " «°"«- ^"n't it What would he^no ThS'donW?' ^ .^""^ "'■"" recognized?" "**"" " ^e had not been •• AnrMS''''''"*^. indeed." " Well, my dear? " She pressed his arm closer to her bosom aisSn^d t"S'», „^^ S! f ong that filled the the evening, decided to leave the ^^u"^'^ °'=l''"«n«« of door opening from the pastor's 3°udv^'\?"'"«^'' ^^^ Shalcmg hands with Dr Pr?K- u ^ *°. ^''^ *"•«'• good-night, just as rhrmEste^t'st" fro"m Ji'''"?^ ^fm to the pew to comfort Mrs Frobr.h», u "*' P'atform and not unlikelv fn k-i ^'Sbisher, who was in tears -■thd,^"fromthe°chu7cr' '^'*"'"'' ^-P**'" BkS church, and with his thought fil^ J '"'^^''^ '" the India of which he had just fpokentt t?."" '''" *=="'= '" , One or two persons oLt^H k? ^^ congregation, almost without recognition h^ ""^ 'P°''^ *» h'"-". have covered the eXe d"stance trf h?' V"^ ^' ""'^ht' clear consciousness of surrounrnt 1° i^ 'l"'"* "-^'hout to lift his eyes as he turned the ^''^'k *?^"' =''^n="ng store, where the ligh [n the winH™^"' ''yJ°"^?'s drug! the side-walk he saw tlJ. ^mdow was thrown upon ?f the Hindu'u^ The oVersrdrK"^'^-^''''^ ^°- HoMmg the man fast a^nd pu^" bim swiftl, toward h f I I- I ■ ''? jgj CAPTAIN BLUITT the light, the captain in a moment found that he had "In'/'mftlprBluitt. only me. Plea« don't pull so '""Au"?' «c?aimed the captain "are you c«zy ? Wh^ are'yo" doing in those ^^^^^iJ^'l^^Sk ,o7u™ ?S" Jou^'V^^^S^in- rrthTchu..-. « Well, out with It I" . . ^out the capUin hain't more'n got my hand °"A™ ■f'T „an He in jumps this yer Punder Boot IJ^ »^= "y^""^ i,^^,, pushed me '""'d', slammed the ^oor, ^^^^-there cocked it. and aimed it at T^^j^^iXs?' says I. clothes, quick I' says he. Y^*^'^'^" jdoned that pretty near skeered to deatih. 1 ^T'"^\^ . Them the man was in «'^~*'„°?'!!'ts he 'q-^ck. now, no there clothes you hp on says he. ^^sJ„daysuit, Sitk'e^'zln to lett ^. bu^ I skinned it off in '"'^^'^^^^^^^ and put .;;;rhimTla'^e^i^'^^^^^^^^^ ^^-^ •"■fen Bluitt, it wan't no use a-hesUatirf. .«e'd a could°do th'at You can't Wo-ut a vacuum^ ^.^^ ; "^.ffndYaSk" noi t U^^^^ no chancte. BKHAVKS m A SURPRISING MANNER ,s, pltrJll hEd"Vhf™' ''"^ " !■« '»•««<' down Rufus. You can wJTr v™ . I? 'S""." •='°1"m '» yourn he kinder teuriied andTh, n!*' ^'''°"' ^oard I' VhS out of a gun. ' "■* '""^ *e"t off like a bullet WslrotLrfeY l"courdntwa^VYro"u?.l'"* *° P"' -" now could I ? I eot into '-t j"""*" *''« 'own naked, the street to find ^ou and to tent ^"^ ^'l"''^'"' "own "• I've had a close shave to i^?!!" 7**'" "" there had" apd Rufus San^ c^ '''"•' *'«"'» *hat I've ^^Wh.ch way did the scoundrel go?- asked the ha;d^'?Tuttia';a"Kh^tt''°'"''^^ -■'" '"•» goin'to keep that road h-v .^"'yo" bet he ain't soon as he gTts out aSce He'f ' '° '^"' ''~""<' « man I ever seen " '^ "«« as near a devil as any ga??rt7oKrMr;ac\°s ^^^y'"'" °«« -d chase was be^„,'^bufw?thout JL"u"t'" P°"'"'°"' -<* » FlJSlllJaS^^^^^^^^^ 'opiate to when she had heard of them'she^aid ' '""""«• """^ I distrusted that man from the firsi " •■ nh"i„r At" st'^^ra„t-?'-n't you P " her soft whitelS'and an^looked'L^.^P'l'" ?'"''" ^eld gttl^.theremarkhadi^ifS^^SL^^^Jt.^1 CHAPTER XXV FLIGHT While Turley on Wednesday morning wm still blarine with the excitement created by the exposure and flfglTt of the Hindu impostor ujxjn the oreced.ng eveninl. and while nearly all the Turley people outs.de STthe Presbyterian church were thoroughly emoy.ng a wnsational ^currence which supplied theme for much talk and infused the dull life of the town with some elements of dramatic interest, another incident presented Itself to eive to Turley a still stronger shock. WhenV mornin/papers fro* the great fypanie down to Turley, they contained the narrative of the flfrf," of the teller of one of the city banks, after discovery of the fact that he had stolen a huge sum of money belonging to the institution. Under ordinary circum- stancls Siis narrative would have interested the people of S.e town not a little, but they had in the exposure of Bunder Foot a tragedy of their own that day which was ^"^^o^rSSvS'Jhf ne^ had mighty^^^^^^^^^^ and John Hamilton trembled as he read it. He did no believe that the crime in the city would in any manne involve him, but he could not escape the thought tha he fate whi^h had overtaken the defaulting teller might one day be his. He pondered the matter all day Wednesday while he was at the bank, and on Thursday morning he returned to his desk, not at ease or having Sence. but sure that no peril threatened him immediately. »9» FLIGHT the ^^oStTtVe'^b.'S^lo!:,", !?''"'"«' '» "- these gentlemen, official a„on°r'P''*"'j|L°^'-hauIed by ground, for any kind for!u!S&Ll''fc''«'« •>* no the director* and stock-holHlr. ?. .? !'\'/''"''"?«'nong .hould have been done long '^ *t„ld 'f T"*' ""''^^ •Vill you be so kind a. to live n,^l ^ ^ ^°'"' "»"'• to everything, and to lend thjm hi^^ gentlemen access of their task ? " *"*"• •»«'? '" the performance peS'?o'wmT"f^L?"S<' """"l'"" -'•<" "d whi,- the work oHhe «c:,Vin?'tri,P?'"tS'»'-'>"° '""'' '"t° '"«£""' there, HamUtonr ' ""'^ >'°" '^^-^ ""y of eveo^thing. aU''\ht"„^p c"iof :?^''U° ""^ •'°"°"' Keep a sharp eye all dav 3 „,!. '^^ unnecessary. ^ For John Vmilton the JavofV'^V'^i'' *'"«"'' he almost lost self-control in mak.wT ^%^ '"'""'• «"<« tain composure, while h , mTn^T ^ the effort to main- method of escaping from theT^,5?f .'"'°"' f°' "ome he had been suddenly pTaced ^ "'""'°" '" *hich -il£raffaUty:^^^^^^^^^^ the visitor with them the various bioks and Tf .*? *'"' "'='"' showing ments in the vault in whth P°'"."."e 0"t the compart- d'^tributed, he Ulk^d ch erfX""*"; *"^ """"^^^ -e/e prudence of the bank in hi ■^'"'',*''^" P''ai''ed the made. * """'' '" having such an examination 4^\ttL'lnft2rfor^° »'-!./«- after year H^the Sa-rdTl'k^^ ^^ '-^l^ the account. oveVhatlSl^S-i^^-^^rje^-^^^ i „, CAPTAIN BLUITT Then when the accountants had actually settled down to their work in the president's room, the cashier returned to his own room and seised a precious moment for thought That he must fly, and at once, was certain. At any moment some trace might be found of his theft, and he must go, if he were to go at all, while still he was unsuspected. .... Go, but where ? Strangely enough, he had never considered the possibility of flight, nor prepared for it in his mind. The last desperate emergency which had now thrust itself upon him without warning he had thought of, when he had ventured to think of it, as far off in a future which might indeed never come, ^ut now he must act,' and act without time to consider whither he should go or what he should do. One reflection he had. There was no money in his pocket, and he could not fly without money. He walked into the vault, picked up a small bundle of rotes, thrust them into his pocket, returned to his oHice, l^ ;k up his hat, and walking by the window of the paying teller, said, "I will be back again in five minutes, and left His first thought was to go home before he left the town but this seemed to him inadvisable, for he cou d not bear to reveal the truth to the dear ones who would be startled by his appearance, and then, when the theft should be discovered, he would be sought for at his His inclination was to take a train for the city, but there was no train before the afternoon, and that might be too late. He thought then of hiring a carnage and driving away, but that would permit the bank directors to know upon what road he had gone. Pursuit and arrest would be quick and sure. He could not walk swiftly enough to reach a place of safety before the oflicers of the law would look for him. Plainly he must hide somewhere until night, and then leave the town in a manner which would permit his movements to be ' His mind was in such \ state of excitement and dis- njGHT 999 collared by a policeman S heci^L""", ''" *°'''<» ^e he saw Saul Tarsel enterinA°i'^'"»'!f''dem^^^^^ Presbyterian church, ""'""^ the front door of the Hamilton looked about him nr upon the street near to hL „"' ^° ?*^'' Penwn wn, fn>mtheneighbour[ng^SC'^.f°?^^ "P°" "''^ the church and pushed thruerthe^l?'''^ "*" '"^'''df He closed the door kliT- ?> J? *°°°™'ay- the negro turned anTloSd 1^^ *"?« '"^''ed it. while " Is dat you, Ma« H= ^fu i"*^ *'"' surprise, « Saul. Saul I" exdaSS h\"I a moment," and he leTthe 2a^ i? "\?°T '" ^ere for haven't I?" *'"'• ' ''"'* •!*»/• been kind to you, •; Yes. Mars. Hamilton." t^rn^\ou^Z\y'iM^J^ ,'^Sht ^hey would have stood by you." P' "* '°"e ago. Saul, if i hadn^ " YesTl 'Jirve^s'^o^d' b "'""'■"°"' '^'''•' ^^ain." five dolarsTwa^rtofe""^^?,"^-^ Saul, here's negro the money. ^ ^ "' "nd he handed the ., "K'JSft1;,XrS«-^^^^^ dat fur.. •t just now-great trouble^nT i ' *'=" y°" «" about nottotella^body rmheU ;^,;r''« ^°" '° P^™''* '• WrS- Mars, Johtsho^ "./°" P-™-'" me to." • ^ ''^'"'^ "^ de good Book ef you wants no"Se^X'"^;J;r ir rr •^'-^ ->''' y-. you. Saul?" "aPPens. You won't give me up. will Pan.c-stricken man wwfe ^J „ ' ^^"'' «°"twued the P'ty and -a.ment^'lfi^o^yX^^thl^:^^ 394 CAPTAIN BLUITT and let me go up there, and then lock the door, and keep everyV-idy out, and keep your tongue still, and then come to .ne about seven o'clock to-mght Bring me something to eat and some water. Will you do that?" " Yes, marster." . . . , . j « Don't let any one see you brmging the food anfl water to me. Do it after dark, and don't light the eas in the vestibule, and don't answer any questions if you are asked about me. And, Saul, here's another five dollars for you." , , „„ ^ , " I doan' wan' de money, Mara. John. 1 11 take care of you widout dat." , . ^. '■Take it, take it," said Hamilton, forcing the note upon him. " I want to pay you for your trouble." Then Saul led the way to the tower, and when Hamilton had reached the chamber below the belfry, Hamilton said : . . • c i >> " Bring me up two pew-cushions and a chair, Saul. This having been done, Hamilton said : " Now go down-stairs, lock the door, bring me food and water at seven o'clock, and I will give you further directions." . . .^. . Saul slowly descended the stairs, fastened the door, and went towards the pastor's study, saying to himself : "Ef de gemman ain' clean, stock crazy, den deys sumpin gone wrong down yer at de bank!" The absence of the cashier from the bank startled the president when it was reported to him, and when hour after hour passed by, and still Hamilton did not return, suspicion seemed to strengthen into certainty. A clerk went to his house to ask if he were there, and Mrs. Hamilton received the first of a series of shocks which were to bring anguish to her soul. Then rumour that something was wrong at the bank began to fly about the town, and before any definite information had been obtained by the accountants that the cashier had taken money from the institution, nearly all Turiey had heard that John Hamilton was a defaulter and a fugitive. Here then, right in the heart of the town, was a FLIGHT m to the p^wwc^tl'UK;d''f;od""' A' r' night the total dimensions of (Ae defeir^"*^ '"'^'■' knowh A notice siVn^^ k,. ^u aelalcation were to the d.or of th^ tefk 1-vL »^ P/""'"'' ^'^ ''ffi'^^d and the assurance supplfedbv the /'' *^'' '''\''^""=«' resources of the bank were ^^ *''^«^•n'ners that the that it had assets for h! l seriously impaired, and statements we^erecefvedwiT^ «!, ''^'"■""^^- ^hese positors refrained from mrwL'°"J^""'='='.^"d *e de- upon the institution whe^ff^^ / pressmg demands The police authorities at ;nL'"eean"tr"''\"'r '"S- innocence^ of any CSl of ^3 '" ~""*=^'"<>'«ng while every human befng in the town" h'''"'".^"'^' subject to the abandonment of aT otwT'^ 'H conversation. °*"" topics of his'^trhrtsrc^ku'chS^"^''' ^°°^ ^-" water in the pastoA study he clL^'.^"^- %?'"?" ^'^ to the chamber where hi^' nri,nn ^ '" *^= darkness to him. " prisoner lay, and ministered Hamilton questioned him to learn if th. .,• u . been discovered, and ea^erlv li.fi„ T u-, ^ ■*=""'* *'*'* half ashamed to teU alTfhat he haH^ h ""^j'^ '^ ''"'°"' of the facts that had coSo ^s''pi'3::^^^^^^^^^^ ^°""= „ ; And you will still be faithful to'^e SauT? " h» -^ •■ v.:'ra°.\s-roi^?.' ^- -"' «mt:Lfe^; of toV^exLl?Lr:;;73t'ifVr°kob^° ''".T,*" '"^^ ^-' there, as it neari^^ays Js ^nd tf "^ ' ^' '' '^'ng If it is there will von ,^1 *''^ °"^- "^ '" 't. Coantico tc^SghTsaul?" "^ '^'^ *"°'' '^' "^' to " Hit's two good miles, Ma„. John, but I'U do hit" 39« CAPTAIN BLUITT "Two miles, yes! But I'll pay you ^,fj°' '*;/"f. you can bring the boat back and .t w.U be here all right in the morning, and nobody will know it You will do that, won't you, Saul." ^^ "Yes, Mars. John, I'll do dat, sho. . , . „„ "Verv well, you go down there now, and leave me the k^s of (he church. Come back, and when you get on^he pavement in front of the church, cough-have ffit of coughing-if the boat is there. Then go r^ht back to the river and wait for me. I will find my way *°S regtt^ him. ani'before ten o'clock struck.the cashier hiard the signal. At once he came down into ^e church, and feeling his way along the aisle, he unlocked the door leading to the side street, and slowly opening it. he peered out into the darkness. Nobody WM nfar. Pulling his hat down over his eyes, he I^^p^d upon the^ street, and walked swiftly in the gloom, through alley-ways and unfrequented streets, to ^'"sauf 'stood by the boat awaiting him, and almost joyfully the wretched criminal stepped in and took his seat while the negro thrust the craft into deep water and'kaping in, placed the oars in position, and turned the orow towards the further shore. The tide ran strongly, but the black was a powerful man and a good oarsman, and the boat went swiftly ^^rsl^nafdlhfS^hier, when Turley had been left far behiAd. " I must tell you how all this happened 1 ^s Bundw Foot that got me into this ^terrible trouble. " I kinder 'spicioned dat. Mars. John. "Yes Saul, he threatened me and scared me. ana cheatS' me to get money, and I had to give it to h.n,, laul ; I had to give it to him. I couldn't help myself. « He was de debbil, dat man 1 " "And Saul 1" •• He tSom m^ the eight hundred dollars belonging to you— took that from me, Saul 1 " FUGHT 397 kflkd me." '° ^"^ '* '° •''"'• °' ^^ *°"W have " 0!j> Mars. John," exclaimed the negro, rowine affain but with distinctly diminished energy, " dat ShL^riv wife and my liddle gal right from ^\ Dey's done ^o^^ 'S:L^tjA^y ''-^^ '•" n/bbefs"ee%"u^ RlCwife anflh'nf "'■ '""^^'' ^"* ^^at could I do? £ Sa^sf st! srmet^n^g 'Z ,^.^^'^,"- f^' pay you the money again, yes something And Sauf you won't be ang^, and betray me, will yfu }»' ^^"'■ No, marster, I say I woan', and I mean I woan' ?,M f'".^! ^l ^°°^ ^"^ ^°'Sib you. Ifs wTrry werrv" Whl '.h' '"^"'""''•'^ ""^^^ "'gh a brecklunywli ^ When they came near to the shore, it wks far on Wds midnight, and Hamilton knew' that there w^ Sif nr.tVdSruV^^K-Ae KaS bl^ki'^nTslilthim^f '- -°- -"'^ -'^e »,^^^^' ^° '? ""Jf ,''°"=^ '" *« morning, and see Mrs. Su WtofinH '"' "'r'^'.''" y°" took%e.and thft I to" a„7ofhe'r"pers:nT '° ""'^ *° ^^ «"' -^ -thing stI-o^"''<' refrain froA 'seeC" t-'"' *^* "^"''«ve. he could not ^~. and he addfdf' ^^"'P='*>' ■" his own"'g4J When S I h ^ °*" fr°™ the ro^m whe^^;^'- Q"?'?h ca„,e down-stairs for at "^ '^'^ ^''"= of Sie SleTe""''. ^.^"^ "^'""to"- °' " '^'^ ""o-nents did not sSak aI .*° D°~thea. and speaic. At length he said : cc il 40* CAPTAIN BLUITT n UiMt Vou must have * I will stay here '• My child, your mother is quite ill. some one to help you care for her , " I will do that," said Mrs. Bums. *'"mi"will do very nicely." said the phyB-cian. '^"^ then he glie some directions respectmg the care of the patient. Dorothea should associate the money was gone and said: ^^^.^^ j^^ ^^ J.°'ed'frrU.ls%&uU^Wtment.wiU '^. I will see what can be done," answered Dr. Quelch gravely. "Perhaps I can help^."^. ^i„„e ;„ his little * That night while Saul Tarsel sat atone m ^^^^^^ house, mourning °«' *« ^"^ttae that a way might ^a^d hTSKrgTnrdef of^is hearTshouid ^•"ratified^herewasarapponh^^^^^^^^^ ^^^^ .^ He arose and °P*="~„t'he had never spoken to her. S:^rdStiS:grewtt:^ls\ht"nature^of her errand on this evemng. ^ j^ g^^ ^here she J'd^r^tt^1stce.aW?t:;^rew words of g.eeting '^'^iJ^ey I'Po- W SLSrW was savin' to buy yo" wife?" , ,.,„ "Yes, kinder los it _^ <■ Well, I'se glad yo los it. „ her He ain't yearned none o' yo' money. Yo doan P^i^G^no S"to pay him. dat's de on'y r-on/' rUGHT 403 I'se jes' crazy wild fo'"her'''^'*''"''»'K*'« to either? "I Ifnows Wm°"'°"-^*''^« Bccke^teth's plantation." ;■ Bout fo'teen, I reckon." •■Da?^ "'wV'?"e woman?" whii?"'' what I think. I ai„. ,,,„ ^^, ,^. ^^ j^^^^^. ,"^at's her name?" "I'lU^em."'" ^"^ "^''^ "='»«'> Liddy.- less -nro^^ee'Stho^?"' '»• Vo' has yo" wife an' gal in ,"X° gwinetorun-emoff?" an- d^'o.Vdf wuk toSafd TV '>= '^ -"''W"' fo' it • run off twelve ,;ig°;,^';^„^r^j:'^''h^ "I'se fetch yourn." ^^ "' ^hewsday a week, an' I'll shaking wrhST" '° "* "^^ "•"^'" «'-d Saul, mournfully, )-7yo'ruf':h:ra„?s$;'/r^^^^^^^^ gone. Min' what I ,a„ . ' - K" ^f° t"'° weeks is Doan'yo'showlt to no Thite'^man r> vT- ''°"' "«=• -w.ra^reS'h-Nrhilr-L^-^ — - ^ 1 It' »- , i'! j- I ' t' ilJI CHAPTER XXVI LOVE, THE CONSOLER The wc'ind that had been i. flicted upon Mrs. Hamilton would r>ot h.-al. The skill of the physician, the tv^nder ministrations of her daughter and of Mrs. Burns, the deep sympathy of her friends, the earnest prayers of her pastor, availed nothing. Her heart was broken. Gentle, quiet, devout, pure and humble, the shame that had come to her and to the husband of her youth, and his absence from her as a fugitive before the law, had cinished her. The stricken woman lay upon her bed with hope dead within her, with sorrow that could not be uttered, with love so turned to anguish that the spirit could no longer sustain the feeble body. She lingered for a while, but the end came soon, and Dorothea had lost both father and mother. Walter Drury had been away from home upon an errand for his journal, and did not .'eceive tidings of the tragedies in Turley until his return. What should he do? He reproached himself that he had not sooner made another effort to have communication with the woman he loved, and yet, as he examined the matter, it did seem plain to him that he could have done nothing so long as she regarded her father's mandate with so much respect But now ? The way did indeed seem open, but how should he rush into that he ehold, filled as it was with grief and shame, and find in the father's crime an opportunity to re-establish affectionate relations with LOVE. THE CONSOLER we daughter? It was. ^-r * * determine. He did nnf 5 'V* *"'' '"'Beult matter t« y;arn for him. IJ'tZs ste'L'?" °-«''« "ou d Mrs Ha^i,t„„, «ed sh.-n"''"' "P°" *» day after Walter of that occurrence anrf?''°i'''- '' *' °"«. adv,"in^ Turley. When the funeraf i "'P'""?^ '"■"' '° come to with Dorothea, and dSThe^^"-' ^7" B"^"^ S the ^r," .r'i ^^^ to live with me :;" °^'h«; h°"sehold r-S? o^,'5«J--ffairs a'!;:iTSS>he .aid to Srha^-tK^SV^S^CKS h^f mofe^t^^^^^^^ house in order after^ the clothing and the l,TJ*^a^ »h°"'" ''t"''" "^e took &T™rter •?^"- ' "" """ ^ ''"" "^^ ^'•""' -bout her friend's 4o« CAPTAIN BT.UnT .. 1 h«»e a letter from Wm myelf, to-d»y." «» M* Burn, without rel.ting that >>«' ^P'^^" ^ '^" directi^ to this very condition of thing* '"'T^ written to him to <«.me here at once." «ld ^'v^^')^n::'i:sTzx! wi« he comedo you think?" , „ "There can be no doubt of it He did come, and on that very n.ght Fi«t he went to the house of Mrs. Burn,, but 1~™'"1 '^a* ^^ ^^ rhe^rn^ruV'thH^ri^lerhf^^^^^^^ ^re^Ung V herSh'clrth'at*C:adr' ht "'Warrd '"trlng.'^f^tgt ^he walked up and ictedwh" thought how much hi. beloved one had '" H^t^rd^Xut^'up^rthe stairs, and he went to l?.1^'£.f;jh^^ "'-r S ^ .na bitter world. :Kw yol'wo*:id"iome." she «id, a. she looked up ,t him^Ves dear, I knew it. I knew that you would ?* Ju I d d not eet your letters, dear, or I not you I VY117 " ,.uo»i No •* roiiM not be "Oh, you could not do thati «o, But now, WaUer! I am alon; and desolate. I knew you LOVE, THE CONSOLER 407 would come, and come here. God gave you to me Jo^ .W.V ?;L me'f""TK''°""" ^^^^ -'«' *°""' »»'« Jw voT'ft * ""• ' *'""K« fierceness in "No woman could come between us, dearest " No ; for you are mine. Mine here and mine forever It^J^f- J' "««"«>■ I shall go first; but I \^1 remember in the other world that it is"we twi : you Tnd me ; arid you will come to me there, also, my love I will wait for you ; for my Walter!" and she k^^^'ki^ and put her hand upon his hair. They sat upon the sofa hand in hand, and he told her her an^Tll?'' i''" '1 theafflictions that had come to ft«;;re"and'fol"hif " *''^' "' '""^ """"' "'-"•^ ^^ "er ..Ti?"u ' "*".** "'^y •'*■■"• tJeare't. for a while • she said The house is sacred to me yet, and there are many." many things to do ; and then, poor father will return and I cannot bear to think that he should be homeless." with'^Mrs'Surnsr"" '"' '"°"'' "'"■ ^"j' "°' ^'^ "Not now. not now I "she said. « There is time enough 'o dc.trmine what is the best course. And you wiU ccn.c here often?" ' " Every week." "And write tome?" " Every day, my dear." _ Then Dorothea told Walter how her father had ITI^tJ^^T?'^ '" McGann's invention, and how the bank had taken over the patents. And she told him also what she knew of Bunder Poofs dealings with Hamilton; how, among other things, the Hindu had obtained possession of Saul Tarsel's money . '.?? yo" fee. Walter dear, it was all the work of that terrible Indian. Walter could not reach precisely this conclusion, but he would not deprive her of the satisfaction with which sne rested upon it " I never liked that man," she said. « FlorabeUa and ^Ji 4o8 CAPTAIN BLUITT I both thought there was something wrong about him the first time he came to Turley ; but oh, Walter I I never could have dreamed that he would ruin father I " " You said to me," observed Walter, " that your father had been acting strangely." " That was the reason : the influence of that dreadful man 1 When I came home one night a few weeks ago, I found them in the library together. I had a suspicion that something was the matter, for father was strangely agitated ; but he denied it, when I asked him about it You will not hate father, now that you know the truth, will you, Walter ? " " No." " Because he would never have been so unkind to you if he had been himself. It was unlike him. He was suffering terribly ; but he was not really guilty, was he, dear ? If the Hindu had never met him, he w juld be here with us now, and mother would be here too." Dorothea begran to cry once more, and her lover comforted her. " We must make the best of it, my dear. The past is beyond recall. I will try to find your father, and per- haps the whole trouble with the bank can be arranged. I know a rich man in the city, one of the owners of my newspaper, who is deeply interested in electrical con- trivances. Perhaps I can get him to buy the McGann patents from the bank, and to pay enough to make good the whole loss. Then your father can come home again." Dorothea hesitated for a moment, and then she said : "You will not forsake me because of the disgrace that has come to us?" Walter put his arm about her and kissed her. " Have no fears of that kind, Dorothea. You are not touched by this matter ; and nothing shall ever separate us again. But you cannot live here alone. Let us marry, and then if your father returns he can come with us." " You are willing that he should i " "Yes." I^VE. THE CONSOLER "Not here I Not in this house" church soon again PerW> »? /°' ""^ to go to that - to be marrild in h^ft ••*'- »""« woufd perS „ |"at will do nicely." ha.ye^l^^'^t-cre^r ^^^^^^ that-that-we«. Walter, I Vou have ? " Florabella': thit reXh«1. ^^*= '?""'' ='«««■ 'Aun? «ncle. andTou an/rshaW' "'?' ^I'" ''"d your 'Tiy, "^""^'^ »t the sd -. dJalrlw mth'trSi'tre^ ^^'*='- "N- ^ou you and I have taught th^J'^^M " i" ^°°^ '^mple happiness. But. Do^ the^:"""" '?"''' how to find has been left out. Wh^titT^ °"* ^"^ Person who , "She will te vej^ roUlv^T\°^A"« P«"a?° hvewfth3^uruncle1:„dFlSaW^aV?'''=' O' -'IJ '■he '^ont know how She wiffi,^,,,,,.,^^^ ■ ■ :ll 4»o CAPTAIN BLUITT have a notion she will not care to stay there. Can't we look about, dearest, and find a good husband for her?" Dorothea smiled for the first time in many days as she said : ' " I think your aunt would much rather take care of such a matter herself." When the lovers had talked their plans over and over, and settled everything about their own immediate future, Mrs. Bums came down-stairs and sat with them and rejoiced with them, and consented to all the arrantrements they had made. At last Walter, after congratulating Mrs. Bums upon her engagement, and warmly welcoming her to relation- ship with him, ventured to say : "And, Mrs. Bums, Dorry and I were just wishing so much that Aunt Puella could follow your example and ours." ' "^ Florabella's face became bright with smiles, as she answered mysteriously : "Puella? Don't say a word about it, but do you know I have suspicions that she has an affair of her own just now ? " CHAPTER XXVU Becky Siifer tl-{ Ta«el receivfrf .*''"" ""th near to th. Bro^ Axe '♦' ^* °' ^ Quffe^. ""^ •^oads nearlv n.-J^ .. ' * tavern at th. ^""*er farmer The letter w*,,^^» e ^ '° "'*'«" P°''3essio„ not betiay Mm - ?,'"'"' ""d who h, 71 **" *''an S*«". you know it won't do for 4» '^ «»« to go into the 4ia CAPTAIN BLUITT ^?t ^ *^ »' *«'""'" *' '•''' ""«* ^ •'"n't ii'^e to engage in It. But it seems to me hard luck for a decent hiin hke you not to be able to call his wife and his child hi? Sf ^ V *'i' r" *'•'" ^ " «'°- R"^ s i» going down Thursday mon-ng. and if you choose to go alone in the sleigh with the two horses and a lot of horse-blankeS^ I d just as lief you would. If the load of oats is not t^ heavy coming home, and you happen to run across a couple of worthy people who would like to have a sleieh- nde, you and Rufiis can just tell them to jump in. Do you understand ?" j f . ±jv „w P'^i'^j^ T"™''"^ *••«« ''as a brisk snowstorm Ii,Ku ^ *^ down the street to Captain Bluitfs rS5 w?. ^T u^" J*f* *"'• '•>"= »'■' "« stinging cold. While Rufus hitched the two strong horses to thi sleigh, and Saul filled the vehicle with straw, upon which he placed three or four heavy blankets. Captain Bluitt came into the stable. "It's all right, I reckon, Saul, to make this trip, but you re going to have a cold ride, and maybe a hiavy storm. It might be wise to wait till to-morrow ? " llffV^ ^ you set Mars. Bluitt," replied Saul, with a H tie sinking of the heart. "Jes'asyousez. On'y,Mars. Bluitt, I se wilhn' to chanct it ef you an' Rufus is I doan mm" de col', an' dem bosses is good enough fo' de wus storm dat kin come." » = " Oh, well, go ahead," said the captain. •' But, Rufus " he added, " if there is trouble on the roads comin..*°?l? places upon the only seat in the sleigh, and, with jinglmg bells, drove the horses at a lively trot out towards the turnpike road that led to the Broad «Vxc. There was no trouble to make progression on the PH4 CAPTAIN BLUITT It ft but I embractof and kiuin^ her. "1 declar* to gracious, bu you se growed I I wouldn't a knowed you. My Liddy dat s my gal I And where's mammy ? " Fhcebe sat in a rocking-chair in front of the wide fire- place and the blazing logs. As Saul came into the room she rose feebly, holdii^ fast for support to one of the arms of the chair. Her eyes were filled with tears. "My Saul I" she said. Saul, almost thrusting his daughter aside, leaped towards his wife and clasped her in his arms and kissed her. She sank almost at once into the chair. Saul, dropping upon his knees beside her, put his head upon her shoulder, while Liddy came to him and put her hand upon him. The white people who were present withdrew from' the room. Phoebe stroked and patted the white head that lay upon her. and said: " Yer I is, honey I I'se come to yo' at las'. I'se a free woman I " "My wife I My Phoebe I" "'Peared to me sometimes," said Phoebe, "dat I'd neber see de sight o' yo' agin I I almos' done stop a hopm I But yer we is, Liddy an* me, an' yer's my Saul ; I'se prayed long fur dat Yes, I'se prayed. De Lawd he is gracious, dat's jes' a fac' I He is gracious." "I bin a prayin' too ; an' now you's bofc o' yo' mine fo' good an all. No mo' partin'." " I dunno, honey," said Phcebe, " I'se jes' a po' ol' wrack, good fo' nuffin'. I'se 'fraid I won't stay long wid yo'." . ",^^ y°' * gw'ne to hebben I'se gwine toa But yo' ain' gwine, not now, anyways. Yo' jes' stay wid me." " I'se not wuff much to yo", Saul ; I'se womed out" " Dey sez yo's wuff fo'teen hun'red doUahs, bu' yo's wuff mo'n dat to me. I doan' swap yo' fo' fo'teen million dollahs, no' ten times dat needer." " Dey done chase us hard, Saul. Dey is affer us now wid a hot foot D' yo' tWnk dey ketch us, honey ? Me an' Liddy?" " N<>, dey won'," said SauL " You'se fi«e an' yo' sUyi ^1 1 1 '^"tlain "liiill} ' •% Wife ! My I'hoebe C"*" • I'se f^i^r^' ui.'^U''J^^^ i^r' r« »« «>••«• Vo' you'se an ol' womtn.*^^ '° '"'* *'«'« ^^d nie twd I'«SrV"n1urrd" t'':,T>"'>'' «°' <>- «• «•-' f« off. farmer Robinson and wife and R„f« ««e int. the poSa 'Stad^^'^.S^ '"'"k^^'' « ->" - «>d he might «a4 T^rie"T'i'''"*^°'«''''*»dlie F*mer Robinson an3 hL w^ J" JT^ °f .'b^e hou«. reraain with them for a few d/l ^5?' l" '«* ^^^ wronger. They sa-d U,at sTul t^r. ^"^ "'' »^*"''«' «* Sa^tfng^'^i^hos^l.f ~H^^^^^ ^""P"^ h^/n de ■^Iti^rb^Li^lX.^^P her^^^ wa«,. we put w«n; doan' strike her d«e. d! W "^l.^^^ ""d de 4i< CAPTAIN BLUITT Mrs. Robinson had wrapped Phoebe In blankets, Saul carried her to the sleigh, where she was snugly tucked in with Liddy. Saul and Rnfus took their seats high in the front, and Rufus turned the horses into the lane that led down to the turnpike. Farmer Robinson and his wife watched them with many misgivings, but as the sleigh turned into the main road they shut the door, and took up the duties of the household. Instead of the wind shifting, as Saul had conjectured, it still blew steadily and much more strongly from the north-west Coming from Turley, Rufus and Saul had driven with the wind. Returning, it blew in their faces, cold, strong, and with gathering force. The snow fell more heavily.iand the drifts in the road were so many and so high and dense that, before the sleigh had gone a mile, Rufus began to be scared. The force of the wind was such that the snow upon the drifts was packed down as if it were clay, and the sleigh could not penetrate them. It must ride over them or stop. And the storm became more and mor 'urious as the minutes passed. Th