Twentyyearsinthepenitentiary!
Davidlookedupatthejudgeandsmiled。
Menhavebeenknowntosmilethatwaywhenthecar-wheelcrashesovertheirlegs,orabulletletstheairthroughtheirlungs。
Allthatfollowedwouldhaveseemedmoreterribleifithadnotappearedtobesoremote。Davidhadtoassurehimselfoverandoverthatitwasreallyhewhowasputinthatdisgracefuldress,andlockedinthatshamefulwalkfromcorridortowork-
room,fromwork-roomtochapel。Theworkwasnotmuchmoremonotonousthanthattowhichhehadbeenaccustomedintheoffice。Here,asthere,onewasreprovedfornotdoingtherequiredamount,butneverpraisedforextraordinaryefforts。Here,asthere,theworkersregardedeachotherwithdislikeandsuspicion。Here,asthere,workwasapenaltyandnotapleasure。
Itisthenightsthataretobedreadedinapenitentiary。Speecheasesthebrainoffreemen;butthemancondemnedtoeter-
nalsilenceisboundtoenduretorments。
Thought,whichmightbeadiversion,be-
comesacurse;itisapainfuldiseasewhichbecomeschronic。Itdoesnottakelongtoforgetthedaysoftheweekandthemonthsoftheyearwhentimebringsnovariance。
Daviddruggedhimselfondreams。Heknewitwasweakness,butitwasthewineofforgetfulness,andheindulgedinit。Hewentoverandover,inendlessrepetition,everysceneinwhichZoeLeBaronhadfigured。
HelearnedbyapaperthatshehadgonetoEurope。Hewasgladofthat。Fortherewerehoursinwhichheimaginedthathisfatemighthavecausedherdistress——notmuch,ofcourse,butperhapsanoccasionalhourofsympatheticregret。Butitwaspleasanternottothinkofthat。Hepre-
ferredtorememberthehourstheyhadspenttogetherwhileshewasteachinghimthejoyoflife。
Howlovelyhergrayeyeswere!Deep,yetbright,andfullofsilentlittlespeeches。
Theroomsinwhichheimaginedherasmovingwerealwayssplendid;thegownssheworewereofrustlingsilk。Heneverinanydream,wakingorsleeping,associatedherwithpovertyorsorroworpain。Gayandbeautiful,shemovedfromcitytocity,inthesevisionsofDavid\'s,lookingalwaysatwonderfulthings,andfindinglaughterineveryhappening。
Itwassixmonthsafterhisentranceintohissilentabodethatalettercameforhim。
\"Byrights,Culross,\"saidthewarden,\"I
shouldnotgivethislettertoyou。Itisn\'tthesortweapproveof。Butyou\'reinforagoodspell,andifthereisanythingthatcanmakelifeseemmoretolerable,Idon\'tknowbutyou\'reentitledtoit。Atleast,I\'mnotthemantodenyittoyou。”
Thiswastheletter:——
\"MYDEARFRIEND,——Ihopeyoudonotthinkthatallthesemonths,whenyouhavebeensufferingsoterribly,Ihavebeenthink-
ingofotherthings!ButIamsureyouknowthetruth。YouknowthatIcouldnotsendyouwordorcometoseeyou,orIwouldhavedoneit。WhenIfirstheardofwhatyouhaddone,Isawitallasithap-
pened,——thatdreadfulscene,Imean,inthesaloon。IamsureIhaveimaginedevery-
thingjustasitwas。Ibeggedpapatohelpyou,buthewasveryangry。Yousee,papawassopeculiar。Hethoughtmoreoftheappearancesofthings,perhaps,thanoffacts。Itinfuriatedhimtothinkofmeasbeingconcernedaboutyouorwithyou。
Ididnotknowhecouldbesoangry,andhisangerdidnotdie,butfordaysitcastsuchashadowovermethatIusedtowishIwasdead。OnlyIwouldnotdisobeyhim,andnowIamgladofthat。WewereinFrancethreemonths,andthen,cominghome,papadied。Itwasonthevoyage。Iwishhehadaskedmetoforgivehim,forthenIthinkIcouldhaverememberedhimwithmoretenderness。Buthedidnothingofthekind。Hedidnotseemtothinkhehaddonewronginanyway,thoughIfeelthatsomewaywemighthavesavedyou。IambackhereinChicagointheoldhome。ButIshallnotstayinthishouse。Itissolargeandlonesome,andIalwaysseeyouandfatherfacingeachotherangrilythereintheparlorwhenIenterit。SoIamgoingtogetmesomecoseyroomsinanotherpartofthecity,andtakemyaunt,whoisasweetoldlady,tolivewithme;andIamgoingtodevotemytime——allofit——andallofmybrainstogettingyououtofthatterribleplace。Whatistheuseoftellingmethatyouareamurderer?DoInotknowyoucouldnotbebroughttohurtanything?
Isupposeyoumusthavekilledthatpoorman,butthenitwasnotyou,itwasthatdreadfuldrink——itwasMe!Thatiswhatcontinuallyhauntsme。IfIhadbeenabravergirl,andspokenthewordsthatwereinmyheart,youwouldnothavegoneintothatplace。Youwouldbeinnocentto-day。
ItwasIwhowasresponsibleforitall。I
letfatherkillyourheartrighttherebeforeme,andneversaidaword。YetIknewhowitwaswithyou,and——thisiswhatI
oughttohavesaidthen,andwhatImustsaynow——andallthetimeIfeltjustasyoudid。IthoughtIshoulddiewhenI
sawyougoaway,andknewyouwouldnevercomebackagain。OnlyIwassoselfish,Iwassowicked,Iwouldsaynothing。
\"Ihavenorighttobecomfortableandhopeful,andtohavefriends,withyoushutupfromlibertyandhappiness。Iwillnothavethosecomfortablerooms,afterall。
Iwillliveasyoudo。Iwilllivealoneinabareroom。ForitisIwhoamguilty!
AndthenIwillfeelthatIalsoambeingpunished。
\"Doyouhateme?Perhapsmytellingyounowallthesethings,andthatIfelttowardyoujustasyoudidtowardme,willnotmakeyouhappy。Foritmaybethatyoudespiseme。
\"Anyway,Ihavetoldyouthetruthnow。
IwillgoassoonasIhearfromyoutoalawyer,andtrytofindouthowyoumaybeliberated。Iamsureitcanbedonewhenthefactsareknown。
\"Poorboy!HowIdohopeyouhaveknowninyourheartthatIwasnotfor-
gettingyou。Indeed,dayornight,Ihavethoughtofnothingelse。NowIamfreetohelpyou。Andbesure,whateverhappens,thatIamworkingforyou。
\"ZOELEBARON。”
Thatwasall。Justagirlish,constrainedletter,hardlyhintingatthehottearsthathadbeenshedformanywearynights,coylytellingoftheimpatientyoungloveandallthemaidenlyshame。
Davidpermittedhimselftoreaditonlyonce。Thenasuddenresolutionwasborn——
aheroicone。Beforehegottheletterhewasacrushedandunsophisticatedboy;
whenhehadreadit,andabsorbeditsfullsignificance,hebecamesuddenlyaman,capableofagreatsacrifice。
\"Ireturnyourletter,\"hewrote,withoutsuperscription,\"andthankyouforyouranxietyaboutme。Butthetruthis,Ihadforgottenallaboutyouinmytrouble。Youwerenotintheleasttoblameforwhathap-
pened。ImighthaveknownIwouldcometosuchanend。YouthoughtIwasgood,ofcourse;butitisnoteasytofindoutthelifeofayoungman。Itisrathermortifyingtohaveaprivatelettersenthere,becausethewardenreadsthemall。Ihopeyouwillenjoyyourselfthiswinter,andhastentoforgetonewhohadcertainlyforgottenyoutillremindedbyyourletter,whichIreturn。
\"Respectfully,\"DAVIDCULROSS。”
Thatnightsomedeeplinescameintohisfacewhichneverleftit,andwhichmadehimlooklikeamanofmiddleage。
Heneverdoubtedthathisplanwouldsucceed;that,piquedandindignantathisingratitude,shewouldhatehim,andinalittletimeforgetheeverlived,orrememberhimonlytoblushwithshameatherpastassociationwithhim。Hesawherhappy,loved,livingtheusuallifeofwomen,withallthosethingsthatmakeliferich。
Forthereinthesolitudeanunderstand-
ingofdeepthingscametohim。Hewhothoughtnevertohaveawifegrewtoknowwhatthejoyofitmustbe。Heperceivedallthesubtleraptureofweddedsouls。Helearnedwhattheloveofchildrenwas,theprideofhome,theunselfishambitionforsuccessthatspursmenon。Alltheemo-
tionspassedinprocessionatnightbeforehim,trickedoutinpalpableforms。
AburstofgirlishtearswoulddissipatewhateverlingeringpityZoefeltforhim。
Howoftenhesaidthat!Withhersensi-
tivenessshewouldbesuretohateamanwhohadmortifiedher。
Sohefelltodreamingofheragainasmovingamonghappyandluxuriousscenes,exquisitelyclothed,withflowersonherbosomandjewelsonherneck;andhesawmenlovingher,andwasglad,andsawheratlastlovingthebestofthem,andtoldhimselfinthesilenceofthenightthatitwasashewished。
Yetalways,always,fromwearyweektowearyweek,herehearsedthescenes。Theywerehistheatre,hisopera,hislibrary,hislecturehall。
Herehearsedthemagainthereonthecars。Heneverweariedofthem。Tobesure,otherthoughtshadcometohimatnight。Muchthattomostmenseemscom-
plexandpuzzlinghadgrowntoappearsimpletohim。Inawayhisbrainhadquickenedanddeepenedthroughtheyearsofsolitude。Hehadthoughtoutagreatmanythings。Hehadreadafewgoodbooksanddigestedthem,andthevisionsinhishearthadkepthimfrombeingbitter。
Yet,suddenlyconfrontedwithliberty,turnedlooselikeapasturedcolt,withoutmasterorrein,hefeltonlyconfusionanddismay。Hemightbeexpectedtofeelex-
ultation。Heexperiencedonlyfright。Itispreciselythesamewiththeliberatedcolt。
Thetrainpulledintoabustlingstation,inwhichthemultitudinousnoiseswerethrownbackagainfromthearchedironroof。Therelentlesshasteofallthepeoplewasinexpressiblycrueltothemanwholookedfromthewindowwonderingwhitherhewouldgo,andif,amongallthethousandsthatmadeupthatvastandthrobbingcity,hewouldeverfindafriend。
ForamomentDavidlongedevenforthatunmaternalmotherwhohadforgottenhiminthehourofhisdistress;butshehadbeendeadformanyyears。
Thetrainstopped。Everyonegotout。
Davidforcedhimselftohisfeetandfollowed。
Hehadbeendrivenbackintotheworld。
Itwouldhaveseemedlessterribletohavebeendrivenintoadesert。Hewalkedtowardthegreatirongates,seeingthepeopleandhearingthenoisesconfusedly。
Asheenteredthespacebeyondthegrat-
ingsomeonecaughthimbythearm。Itwasalittlemiddle-agedwomaninplainclothes,andwithsadgrayeyes。
\"IsthisDavid?\"saidshe。
Hedidnotspeak,buthisfaceansweredher。
\"Iknewyouwerecomingto-day。I\'vewaitedalltheseyears,David。Youdidn\'tthinkIbelievedwhatyousaidinthatletterdidyou?Thisway,David,——thisisthewayhome。”
TwoPioneersITwastheyearofthesmall-pox。ThePawneeshaddiedintheircoldtepeesbythefifties,thesoldierslaydeadinthetrencheswithoutthefort,andmanyagayFrenchvoyageur,whohadthoughttogosingingdowntheMissourionhisfur-ladenraftinthespringtime,wouldneveragainseethelightsofSt。Louis,orthecoinofthemightyChoteaucompany。
Ithadbeenawinteroftragedies。TherigorsoftheweatherandthescourgeofthediseasehadbeenfoughtwithIndiancharmandwithCatholicprayer。Bothwereequallyunavailing。Ifamanwastakensickattheforttheyputhiminawarmroom,broughthimajugofwateronceaday,andlefthimtofindoutwhathisconstitutionwasworth。Generallyhere-
covered;forthesurgeon\'ssupplieshadbeenexhaustedearlyintheyear。ButtheIndians,intheirtorment,rushedintotheriverthroughtheice,andreturnedtorollthemselvesintheirblanketsanddieinungroaningstoicism。
Everyonehadgrownbitterandhard。
Theknivesofthetrappersweresharp,andnotonewhitsharperthantheirtempers。
SomeonesaidthatthefriendlyPawneeswereconspiringwiththeSioux,whowerealwaystreacherous,tosackthesettlement。
Thetrappersdoubtedthis。TheyandthePawneeshadbeenfriendsmanyyears,andtheyhadtogetherkilledtheSiouxinfourfamousbattlesonthePlatte。Yet——whoknows?Therewaspestilenceintheair,andithadsomehowgotintomen\'ssoulsaswellastheirbodies。
So,atleast,FatherdeSmetsaid。Healonedidnotdespair。Healonetriedneithercharmnorcurse。Hedressedhimanaltarinthewilderness,andheprayedatit——butnotforimpossiblethings。Wheninaday\'sjourneyyoucomeacrosstwolodgesofIndians,sixtysoulsineach,lyingdeadanddistortedfromtheplagueintheirdesolatetepees,youdonotpray,ifyouareamanlikeFatherdeSmet。Yougoontothenextlodgewherethelivingyetare,andteachthemhowtoavoiddeath。
Besides,whenyouareyoung,itismucheasiertoactthantopray。Whenthechil-
drencriedforfood,FatherdeSmettookdowntheriflefromthewallandwentoutwithit,comingbackonlywhenhecouldfeedthehungry。Therewereplaceswheretheprairiewasblackwithbuffalo,andtheshydeershowedtheirdelicateheadsamongtheleaflesswillowsofthePapillion。Whenthey——thechildren——werecold,thisyoungmanbroughtinbasketsofbuffalochipsfromtheprairieandbuiltthemafire,orhehungmoreskinsupattheentrancetothetepees。Ifhewantedtocrossariverandhadnoboatathand,heleapedtheuncertainice,or,inclearcurrent,swam,withhisclothesonhisheadinabundle。
AwonderfultravellerforthetimewasFatherdeSmet。TwicehehadgoneasfarasthelandoftheFlatheadnation,andhecouldclimbmountainpassesaswellasanyguideoftheRockies。Hehadbuiltadozenmissions,lyingallthewayfromtheColum-
biatotheKaw。Hehadalwaysajestathistongue\'send,andserveditoutwithasmuchreadinessasaprayer;andhehad,withal,anarmtrainedtodoexecution。
Everymanontheplainsunderstoodtheartofself-preservation。EveninCainsville,overbythecouncilgroundofthewesterntribes,whichwasquitethemostcivilizedplaceforhundredsofmiles,lifewasuncer-
tainwhentheboatscamefromSt。Louiswithbadwhiskeyintheirholds。Butnoonedaredtakelibertieswiththeholyfather。
Thethrustfromhisshoulderwasstraightandsure,andhisfistwashard。
YetitwasnotthesinnerthatFatherdeSmetmeanttocrush。Healwayssupple-
mentedhisactsofphysicalprowesswiththatexplanation。Itwasthesinthathestruckatfromtheshoulder——andmaynotevenananointedonestrikeatsin?
FatherdeSmetcoulddrawafineline,too,betweenthethingswhichwerebadinthemselves,andthethingswhichwereonlyextrinsicallybad。Forexample,therewerethesoupsofMademoiselleNinon。Mam\'selleherselfwasnotabovereproach,buthersoupswere。MademoiselleNinonwastheonlyParisianthinginthesettlement。Andshewascertainlytobeavoided——whichwasper-
hapsthereasonthatnooneavoidedher。ItwasfouryearssinceshehadseenParis。Shewassixteenthen,andshefollowedthefor-
tunesofacertainadventurerwhofounditadvisabletosailforMontreal。NinonhadbeenboredbackinParis,itbeingdullinthemantua-makingshopofMadameGuittar。Ifshehadbeenamanshewouldhavetakentonavigation,andmighthavemadeherselffamousbysailingtosomeunknownpartoftheNewWorld。Beingawoman,shetookaloverwhowasgoingtoNewFrance,andfor-
gottoweepwhenhefoundanearlyandvio-
lentdeath。Andtherewereothersathand,andNinonsailedaroundthecoldbluelakes,pastSaultSt。Marie,andmadeherwayacrosstheportagestotheMississippi,andsodowntothesacredrockofSt。Louis。
Thatwasamerryplace。Ninonhadfaulttofindneitherwiththewinenorthedances。
Theywereallthatonecouldhavedesired,andtherewasnolimittoeitherofthem。
Butstill,afteratime,eventhisgrewtire-
sometooneofNinon\'sspirit,andshetookthefirstopportunitytosailuptheMissouriwithacertainyoungtrapperconnectedwiththegreatfurcompany,andsofoundher-
selfatCainsville,withthebluebluffsrisingtotheeastofher,andthelowwhitestretchesoftheriverflatsundulatingdowntowherethesluggishstreamwounditswaysouthwardcapriciously。
Ninonsoontiredofhertrapper。Foronethingshefoundoutthathewasacoward。Shesawhimrunonceinabuffalofight。ThatwaswhenthePawneestoodstillwithablanketstretchedwideinagaudysquare,andcaughttheheadofthemadanimalfairlyinthetoughfabric;hismus-
tang\'slegstrembledunderhim,buthedidnotmove,——foramustangisthesoulofanIndian,andobeyseachthought;theIndianhimselffelthisheartpoundingathisribs;
butoncewiththatgarmentfastoverthebaffledeyesofthestrugglingbrute,therestwasonlyamatterofjudiciousknife-
thrusts。Ninonsawthis。Sherodepastherlover,andsnatchedthetwistedbullioncordfromhishatthatshehadbraidedandputthere,andthatnightshetieditonthehatofthePawneewhohadkilledthebuffalo。
ThePawneeswereratherproudoftheepisode,andasfortheFrenchmen,theydidnotmind。TheFrenchhavealwaysbeenveryadaptableinAmerica。Ninonwasuniversallypopular。
Andsowerehersoups。
Everymanhashisprice。FatherdeSmet\'swasthesoupsofMademoiselleNinon。
Fancy!Ifyouhaveaneducatedpalateandareobligedtoeatthestrongdistillationofbuffalomeat,cookedinapotwhichhasbeenwipedoutwiththegreasypetticoatofasquaw!WhenNinoncamedownfromSt。Louisshebroughtwithheragreatboxcontainingneitherclothes,furniture,nortrinkets,butsomethingmuchmorewonderful!Itwasamarvellouscompound-
ingofspicesandseasonings。ThearomaticliquidsshesetbeforetheenchantedmenofthesettlementborenomorerelationtoordinarybuffalosoupthanChateaubrand\'sIndianmaidensdidtooneofthePaw-
neegirls,whoslouchedaboutthesettle-
mentwithnoxioustressesandsullenslavishcoquetries。
FatherdeSmetwouldnotatanytimehavecalledNinonascarletwoman。Butwhenheatethedishofsouportastedthehotcorn-cakesthatsheinvariablyinvitedhimtopartakeofashepassedherlittlehouse,herefrainedwithallthecharityofatrueChristianandanaccomplishedepicurefromeventhinkinghersuch。Andhere-
memberedthewordsoftheSaviour,\"Lethimwhoiswithoutsinamongyoucastthefirststone。”
ToFatherdeSmet\'shealthynaturenothingseemedmoresuperfluousthansin。
Andhewasaversetothinkingthatanycommitteddeedsofwhichheneedbeashamed。Soitwashishabit,especiallyifthedaywaspleasantandhisownthoughtshappy,tosaytohimselfwhenhesawoneofthewildyoungtrappersleavingthecabinofMademoiselleNinon:\"Hehasbeenforsomeofthegoodwoman\'shotcakes,\"
tillhegrewquitetobelievethattheonlyattractionsthattheadroitFrenchwomanpossessedwereofagastronomicnature。
Totellthetruth,theattractionsofMade-
moiselleNinonwerevaried。Tobeginwith,shewastheonlythinginthatwilder-
nesstosuggesthome。Ninonhadageniusforhome-making。Hercabin,inwhichshecooked,slept,ate,lived,hadbecomeaboudoir。
Thewallswerehungwithrareandbeau-
tifulskins;theveryfloormaderichwithhugebearrobes,theirpermeatingodorssubduedbyheavyperfumesbrought,likethespices,fromSt。Louis。Thebed,inday-
time,wasacouchofbeaver-skins;thefire-
placehadbranchingantlersaboveit,onwhichwerehungsomeoftheevidencesofthefairNinon\'scoquetry,suchassilkenscarves,ofthesortthevoyageursfromthefarnorthwore;andnecklacesmadebytheIndiansofthePacificcoastandbroughttoNinonby——butitisnotpolitetoinquireintothesematters。Therewerelittlemoc-
casinsalso,muchdecoratedwithporcupine-
quills,onepairofwhichFatherdeSmethadbroughtfromtheFlatheadnation,andpresentedtoNinonthattimewhenshenursedhimthroughafrightfulrunoffever。
Shewouldtakenomoneyforherpatientservices。
\"Father,\"saidshe,gravely,whenheofferedittoher,\"Iamnotmyselfvirtuous。
ButIhavethedistinctionofhavingpre-
servedtheonlyvirtuouscreatureinthesettlementforfurtherusefulness。Some-
times,perhaps,youwillprayforNinon。”
FatherdeSmetneverforgotthoseprayers。
Thesewerewildtimes,mindyou。Nousetokeepyourskirtscoldlycleanifyouwishedtobeofhelp。Thesemenweresub-
duingacontinent。Theirprimitivequalitiescameout。Courage,endurance,sacrifice,sufferingwithoutcomplaint,friendshiptothedeath,indomitablehatred,unfalteringhope,deep-seatedgreed,splendidgayety——ittakesthesethingstosubdueaconti-
nent。Viceisalsoanincidental,——thatistosay,whatonecallsvice。Thisisbecauseitisthecustomtomeasurethesemenasiftheyweregovernedbythelawsofcivili-
zation,wherethereisneitherlawnorcivilization。
Thismuchiscertain:gentlemencannotconqueracountry。TheytriedgentlemenbackinVirginia,andtheydied,partlyfromlackofintellect,butmostlyfromlackofenergy。Aftertheyeomenhavefoughttheconqueringfight,itiswellenoughtobringingentlemen,whoaresometimescleverlawmakers,andwholookwellonthronesorinpresidentialchairs。
Buttoreturntothewinterofthesmall-
pox。ItwasthenthatthepriestandNinongrewtoknoweachotherwell。Theybe-
cameacquaintedfirstinthecabinwherefourofthetrapperslaytossingindelirium。
Thehorriblesmellofdiseaseweightedtheair。Outsidewetsnowfellcontinuouslyandthecloudsseemedtorestonlyafewfeetabovethesullenbluffs。Theroomwasbareofcomforts,andverydirty。Ninonlookedaboutwithdisgust。
\"Youpray,\"saidshetothepriest,\"andIwillcleantheroom。”
\"Notso,\"returnedthebroad-shoulderedfather,smilingly,\"wewillbothcleantheroom。”Thusitcamethattheyscrubbedthefloortogether,andmadethechimneysothatitwouldnotsmoke,andwashedtheblanketsonthebeds,andkeptthewood-
pilehigh。Theyalsodevisedventilators,andletinfreshairwithoutexposingthepatients。Theyhadnomedicine,buttheycontinuallyrubbedthesufferingmenwithbear\'sgrease。
\"It\'sbetterthanmedicine,\"saidNinon,afterthetenthday,as,wanwithwatching,sheheldthecoolhandofoneoftherecoveringmeninherown。\"Ifwehadhadmedicinesweshouldhavekilledthesemen。”
\"Youareawomanofremarkablesense,\"
saidtheholyfather,whowaseatingadishofcorn-mealandmilkthatNinonhadjustprepared,\"andawomanalsoofChristiancourage。”
\"Christiancourage?\"echoedNinon;\"doyouthinkthatiswhatyoucallit?Iamnotafraid,no,notI;butitisnotChristiancourage。Youmistakeincallingitthat。”
Thereweretearsinhereyes。Thepriestsawthem。
\"Godleadyouatlastintopeacefulways,\"
saidhe,softly,liftingonehandinblessing。
\"Yourvigilisended。Gotoyourhomeandsleep。YouknowthevalueofthetemporallifethatGodhasgiventoman。
Inthehoursofthenight,Ninon,thinkofthevalueofeternallife,whichitisalsoHistogive。”
Ninonstaredathimamomentwithadawninghorrorinhereyes。
Thenshepointedtothetable。
\"Whateveryoudo,\"saidshe,\"don\'tforgetthebear\'sgrease。”Andshewentoutlaughing。Thepriestdidnotpausetorecommendhersoultofurtherblessing。
Heobeyedherdirections。
Marchwaswearingawaytediously。Theriverwasnotyetopen,andthebelatedboatswithneededsuppliesweremooredfardowntheriver。ManyofthereducedsettlersweredependentonthemeattheIndiansbroughtthemforsustenance。Themudmadetheroadsalmostimpassable;forthefrostlayinasolidbedsixinchesbelowthesurface,andallabovethatwassemi-
liquidmuck。Snowandrainalternated,andthefrightfuldiseasedidnotceaseitsravages。
Thepriestgotlittlesleep。Nowhewasatthebedofalittlehalf-breedchild,smoothingthestraightblacklocksfromthenarrowbrow;nowatthecotofsomehulkingtrapper,whoweptatthepain,butdiedfinallywithagrinofbravadoonhislips;nowinafoultepee,wheresomegravePawneewrappedhismantleabouthim,andgazedwithpropheticandunflinchingeyesintothelandofthehereafter。
Thelittleschoolthattheprieststartedhadbeenlongsinceabandoned。Itwasonlythepreservationoflifethatonethoughtofinthesedays。Andrecklessnesshadmadethemendesperate。Totheravagesofdis-
easewereaddedhorriblemurders。Moralhealthisalwayslowwhenphysicalhealthisso。
Giveanationtwowintersofgrippe,anditwillhaveanepidemicofsuicide。Giveitstarvationandsmall-pox,anditwillhaveacontagionofmurders。Therearesubtlelawsunderlyingthesethings,——lawswhichthephysiciansthinktheycanexplain;buttheyaremistaken。Thereasonisnotsomaterialasitseems。
Butspringwasnearinspiteoffallingsnowandthedirtyiceintheriver。Therewasnotevenaflushingofthewillowtwigstotellitby,noraclearingoftheleadensky,——onlythealmanac。YetallmenwerelookingforwardtoitThetrappersputinthefeebledaysofconvalescence,makinglongraftsonwhichtopiletheskinsdriedoverwinter,——afinevariety,worthallbuttheirweightingold。Moneywaseasilygotinthosedays;buttherearecircumstancesunderwhichmoneyisvalueless。
FatherdeSmetthoughtofthisthedaybeforeEaster,asheplungedthroughthemudofthewindingstreetinhisbearskingaiters。Stoutwerehislegs,firmhislungs,asheturnedtobreatheinthewestwind;
clearhissharpandhumorouseyes。Hewasgoingtothelittlechapelwherethemissionschoolhadpreviouslybeenheld。
Herewasarudepulpit,andbackofitamuch-disfiguredvirgin,dressedinturkey-
redcalico。Twocheapcandlesintheirtinsticksguardedthisfigure,andbeneath,onthefloor,wasspreadanotter-skinofperfectbeauty。Theseatswereofpine,withoutbacks,andthewindwhistledthroughthechinksbetweenthelogs。Moreover,theplacewasdirty。Lentenservicehadbeenoutofthequestion。Thelivinghadneithertimenorstrengthtocometoworship;andthedeadwerenotgiventhehonorofaburialfromchurchinthesetimesofterror。
Thepriestlookedabouthimindismay,theplacewassoutterlyforsaken;yettoletEastergobywithoutrecognitionwasnottohisliking。Hehadbeenthenightbeforetoeveryhouseinthesettlement,biddingthepeopletocometodevotionsonSundaymorning。Heknewthatnotoneofthemwouldrefusehisinvitation。Therewasnoherolargerintheeyesoftheseunfortunatesthanthesimplepriestwhowalkedamongthemwithhisunpretentiouspiety。Thepromisesweregivenwithwhisperedbless-
ings,andtherewerevoicesthatbrokeinmakingthem,andhandsthatshookwithhonestgratitude。Thepriest,rememberingthesethings,andalltheawfulsufferingofthewinter,determinedtomaketheser-
vicesymbolic,indeed,oftheresurrectionandthelife,——theannualresurrectionandlifethatcomeseachyear,apalpablemiracle,toteachthedullestthatGodreigns。
\"Howareyougoingtotrimthealtar?\"
criedavoicebehindhim。
Heturned,startled,andinthedoorwaystoodMademoiselleNinon,hershortskirtbeltedwitharedsilkscarf,——thetokenofsometrapper,——heranklesprotectedwithfringedleggins,herheadcoveredwithabe-
ribbonedhatoffelt,suchasthevoyageurswore。
\"Ourdevotionswillbetheonlydecora-
tionswecanhangonit。Butgratitudeisbetterthanblossoms,andhumanitymorebeautifulthangreenwreaths,\"saidthefather,gently。
Itwasacuriousthing,andonethathehadoftennoticedhimself;hegavethiswoman——unworthyasshewas——thebestofhissimplethoughts。
Ninontiptoedtowardthepriestwithonefingercoquettishlyraisedtoinsuresecrecy。
\"Youwillneverbelieveit,\"shewhis-
pered,\"noonewouldbelieveit!Butthefactis,father,Ihavetwolilies。”
\"Lilies,\"criedthepriest,incredulously,\"twolilies?\"
\"That\'swhatIsay,father——twomarvel-
louslyfairlilieswithlittlesceptresofgoldinthem,andleavesaswhiteassnow。Thebulbswerebroughtmelastautumnby——;thatistosay,theywerebroughtfromSt。Louis。
Onlynowhavetheyblossomed。Heavens,howIhavewatchedthebuds!Ihavesaidtomyselfeverymorningforafortnight:
\'Willtheyopenintimeforthegoodfather\'sEastermorningservice?\'ThenI
said:\'Theywillopentoosoon。Buds,\'I
havecriedtothem,\'donotdaretoopenyet,oryouwillbehorriblypassé;ebyEaster。
Havethekindness,willyou,tosaveyour-
selvesforagreatevent。\'Andtheydidit;
yes,father,youmaynotbelieve,butnolaterthanthismorningthesesensibleflowersopeneduptheirleavesboldly,quiteconsciousthattheyweredoingtherightthing,andto-morrow,ifyouplease,theywillbehere。Andtheywillperfumethewholeplace;yes。”
Shestoppedsuddenly,andrelaxedhervivaciousexpressionforoneofpain。
\"Youarecertainlyill,\"criedthepriest。
\"Restyourself。”Hetriedtopushherontooneoftheseats;butasortofconvulsiverigiditycameoverher,veryalarmingtolookat。
\"Youarewornout,\"hercompanionsaidgravely。\"Andyouarechilled。”
\"Yes,I\'mcold,\"confessedNinon。\"ButIhadtocometotellyouaboutthelilies。
But,doyousee,Inevercouldbringmyselftoputtheminthisroomasitisnow。Itwouldbetooabsurdtoplacethemamongthisdirt。Wemustcleantheplace。”
\"Theplacewillbecleaned。Iwillseetoit。Butasforyou,gohomeandcareforyourself。”Ninonstartedtowardthedoorwithanuncertainstep。Suddenlyshecameback。
\"Itistoofunny,\"shesaid,\"thatredcalicothereontheVirgin。Father,Ihavesomelaceswhichweremymother\'s,whowasagoodwoman,andwhichhaveneverbeenwornbyme。TheyareallIhavetorememberFrancebyandthedayswhenI
was——different。IfImightbepermitted——\"
shehesitatedandlookedtimidlyatthepriest。
\"\'Shehathdonewhatshecould,\'\"mur-
muredFatherdeSmet,softly。\"Bringyourlaces,Ninon。”Hewouldhaveadded:
\"Thysinsbeforgiventhee。”Butun-
fortunately,atthismoment,Pierrecameloungingdownthestreet,throughthemud,freshfromFortLaramie。Hisriflewasslungacrosshisback,andafullgame-bagrevealedthefactthathehadamusedhim-
selfonhisway。Hiscurlyandwind-bleachedhairblewoutintime-tornbannersfromtheedgeofhiswidehat。Hispiercing,blackeyeswerethoseofamanwhodrinksdeep,fightshard,andlivesalwaysintheopenair。
Wildanimalshavesucheyes,onlythereisthisdifference:theviciousnessofananimalisnatural;atleastone-halfoftheviciousnessofmanisartificialanddevised。
WhenNinonsawthefrost-reddenedfaceofthisgallantoftheplains,shegavealittlecryofdelight,andthecolorrushedbackintoherface。Thetrappersawher,andgavearudeshoutofwelcome。Thenextmoment,hehadswungherclearofthechapelsteps;andthenthetwowentdownthestreettogether,Pierrepausingonlylongenoughtodoffhishattothepriest。
\"TheVirginwillwearnofreshlaces,\"
saidthepriest,withsomebitterness;buthewasmistaken。Anhourlater,Ninonwasback,notonlywithaboxoflaces,butalsowithacollectionofcosmetics,withwhichsheproceededtomakestartlingthescratchedandfadedfaceofthewoodenVirgin,whowore,afterthecompletionofNinon\'slabors,adecidedlypiquantandsaucyexpression。
TheverymannerinwhichthelacesweredrapedhadasuggestionofNinon\'sstillunforgottenartasamakerofmillinery,andwasreallyaverygoodpresentmentofParisfashionsfouryearspast。Pierre,meantime,amusedhimselfbyfillingupthechinksinthelogswithfreshmud,——acommodityofwhichtherewasnolack,——andothersoftheneighbors,incitedbytheseextraordinaryefforts,washedthedirtfromseats,floor,andwindows,andbroughtfurswithwhichtomakepresentabletheflooraboutthepulpit。
FatherdeSmetworkedharderthananyofthem。Inhishappyenthusiasmhechosetothinkthisenergyonthepartoftheotherswaspromptedbypiety,thoughwellheknewitwasonlyarefugefromtheinsuffer-
ableennuithatpervadedtheplace。Ninonsuddenlycameuptohimwithawhiteface。
\"Iamnotwell,\"shesaid。Herteethwerechattering,andhereyeshadalittleblueglazeoverthem。\"Iamgoinghome。
InthemorningIwillsendthelilies。”
Thepriestcaughtherbythehand。
\"Ninon,\"hewhispered,\"itisonmysoulnottoletyougoto-night。Somethingtellsmethatthehourofyoursalvationiscome。
Womenworsethanyou,Ninon,havecometoleadholylives。Pray,Ninon,praytotheMotherofSorrows,whoknowsthesuf-
feringsandsinsoftheheart。”HepointedtothebefrilledandhighlyfashionableVirginwithherrouge-stainedcheeks。
Ninonshrankfromhim,andthesameconvulsiverigidityhehadnoticedbefore,heldherimmovable。Amomentlater,shewasonthestreetagain,andthepriest,watchingherdownthestreet,sawherenterhercabinwithPierre