Dearme,howinterestingarencontre!Livedallalonehereforseven——wasitsevenyears?——yes,Iremembernow。Existedquiteaunaturel,onemightsay。Howodd!NotthatIknowanythingaboutthatsortofthing,youknow。I’velivedalwaysamongpeople,andamreallyquiteastranger,Iassureyou。Buthonestly,Mr。——Ibegyourpardon——Mr。Grey,howdoyoulikeit?\"
Shehadquietlytakenhischairandthrownhercloakandhoodoveritsback,andwasnowthoughtfullyremovinghergloves。Whateverwerethearguments,——andtheyweredoubtlessmanyandprofound,——
whatevertheexperience,——anditwasdoubtlesshardandsatisfyingenough,——bywhichthisunfortunatemanhadjustifiedhislifeforthelastsevenyears,somehowtheysuddenlybecametrivialandterriblyridiculousbeforethissimplebutpracticalquestion。
\"Well,youshalltellmeallaboutitafteryouhavegivenmesomethingtoeat。Wewillhavetimeenough;Barkercannotfindhiswaybackinthisfogto-night。Nowdon’tputyourselvestoanytroubleonmyaccount。Barkerwillassist?\"
Barkercameforward。Gladtoescapethescrutinyofhisguest,thehermitgaveafewrapiddirectionstothePrincessinhernativetongue,anddisappearedintheshed。Leftamomentalone,MissPortfiretookaquick,half-audible,feminineinventoryofthecabin。\"Books,guns,skins,ONEchair,ONEbed,nopictures,andnolooking-glass!\"ShetookabookfromtheswingingshelfandresumedherseatbythefireasthePrincessre-enteredwithfreshfuel。ButwhilekneelingonthehearththePrincesschancedtolookupandmetMissPortfire’sdarkeyesovertheedgeofherbook。
\"Bob!\"
ThePrincessshowedherteeth。
\"Listen。Wouldyouliketohavefineclothes,rings,andbeadslikethese,tohaveyourhairnicelycombedandputupso?Wouldyou?\"
ThePrincessnoddedviolently。
\"Wouldyouliketolivewithmeandhavethem?Answerquickly。
Don’tlookroundforHIM。Speakforyourself。Wouldyou?Hush;
nevermindnow。\"
Thehermitre-entered,andthePrincess,blinking,retreatedintotheshadowofthewhale-boatshed,fromwhichshedidnotemergeevenwhenthehomelyrepastofcoldvenison,shipbiscuit,andteawasserved。MissPortfirenoticedherabsence:\"Youreallymustnotletmeinterferewithyourusualsimpleways。Doyouknowthisisexceedinglyinterestingtome,sopastoralandpatriarchalandallthatsortofthing。ImustinsistuponthePrincesscomingback;really,Imust。\"
ButthePrincesswasnottobefoundintheshed,andMissPortfire,whothenextminuteseemedtohaveforgottenallabouther,tookherplaceinthesinglechairbeforeanextemporizedtable。Barkerstoodbehindher,andthehermitleanedagainstthefireplace。MissPortfire’sappetitedidnotcomeuptoherprotestations。Forthefirsttimeinsevenyearsitoccurredtothehermitthathisordinaryvictualmightbeimproved。Hestammeredoutsomethingtothateffect。
\"Ihaveeatenbetter,andworse,\"saidMissPortfire,quietly。
\"ButIthoughtyou——thatis,yousaid——\"
\"Ispentayearinthehospitals,whenfatherwasonthePotomac,\"
returnedMissPortfire,composedly。Afterapauseshecontinued:
\"YourememberafterthesecondBullRun——But,dearme!Ibegyourpardon;ofcourse,youknownothingaboutthewarandallthatsortofthing,anddon’tcare。\"(Sheputuphereye-glassandquietlysurveyedhisbroadmuscularfigureagainstthechimney。)
\"Or,perhaps,yourprejudices——Butthen,asahermityouknowyouhavenopolitics,ofcourse。Pleasedon’tletmeboreyou。\"
Tohavebeenstrictlyconsistent,thehermitshouldhaveexhibitednointerestinthistopic。Perhapsitwasowingtosomequalityinthenarrator,buthewasconstrainedtobeghertocontinueinsuchphrasesashisunfamiliarlipscouldcommand。Sothat,littlebylittle,MissPortfireyieldedupincidentandpersonalobservationofthecontestthenraging;withthesamehalf-abstracted,half-
unconcernedairthatseemedhabitualtoher,shetoldthestoriesofprivation,ofsuffering,ofendurance,andofsacrifice。Withthesameassumptionoftimiddeferencethatconcealedhergreatself-control,shetalkedofprinciplesandrights。Apparentlywithoutenthusiasmandwithouteffort,ofwhichhismorbidnaturewouldhavebeensuspicious,shesangthegreatAmericanIliadinawaythatstirredthedepthsofhersolitaryauditortoitsmassivefoundations。Thenshestoppedandaskedquietly,\"WhereisBob?\"
Thehermitstarted。Hewouldlookforher。ButBob,forsomereason,wasnotforthcoming。Searchwasmadewithinandwithoutthehut,butinvain。ForthefirsttimethateveningMissPortfireshowedsomeanxiety。\"Go,\"shesaidtoBarker,\"andfindher。SheMUSTbefound;stay,givemeyourovercoat,I’llgomyself。\"Shethrewtheovercoatoverhershouldersandsteppedoutintothenight。Inthethickveiloffogthatseemedsuddenlytoinwrapher,shestoodforamomentirresolute,andthenwalkedtowardthebeach,guidedbythelowwashofwatersonthesand。
Shehadnottakenmanystepsbeforeshestumbledoversomedarkcrouchingobject。ReachingdownherhandshefeltthecoarsewirymaneofthePrincess。
\"Bob!\"
Therewasnoreply。
\"Bob。I’vebeenlookingforyou,come。\"
\"Go’way。\"
\"Nonsense,Bob。Iwantyoutostaywithmeto-night,come。\"
\"Injinsquawnogoodforwaugeewoman。Go’way。\"
\"Listen,Bob。Youaredaughterofachief:soamI。Yourfatherhadmanywarriors:sohasmine。Itisgoodthatyoustaywithme。
Come。\"
ThePrincesschuckledandsufferedherselftobeliftedup。Afewmomentslaterandtheyre-enteredthehut,handinhand。
WiththefirstredstreaksofdawnthenextdaytheerectBarkertouchedhiscapatthedoorofthehut。Besidehimstoodthehermit,alsojustrisenfromhisblanketednestinthesand。Forthfromthehut,freshasthemorningair,steppedMissPortfire,leadingthePrincessbythehand。Handinhandalsotheywalkedtotheshore,andwhenthePrincesshadbeensafelybestowedinthesternsheets,MissPortfireturnedandheldoutherowntoherlatehost。
\"Ishalltakethebestofcareofher,ofcourse。Youwillcomeandseeheroften。Ishouldaskyoutocomeandseeme,butyouareahermit,youknow,andallthatsortofthing。Butifit’sthecorrectanchoritething,andcanbedone,myfatherwillbegladtorequiteyouforthisnight’shospitality。Butdon’tdoanythingonmyaccountthatinterfereswithyoursimplehabits。
Goodby。\"
Shehandedhimacard,whichhetookmechanically。
\"Goodby。\"
Thesailwashoisted,andtheboatshovedoff。Asthefreshmorningbreezecaughtthewhitecanvasitseemedtobowapartingsalutation。Therewasarosyflashofpromiseonthewater,andasthelightcraftdartedforwardtowardtheascendingsun,itseemedforamomentupliftedinitsglory。
MissPortfirekeptherword。IfthoughtfulcareandintelligentkindnesscouldregeneratethePrincess,herfuturewassecure。Anditreallyseemedasifshewereforthefirsttimeinclinedtoheedthelessonsofcivilizationandprofitbyhernewcondition。Anagreeablechangewasfirstnoticedinherappearance。Herlawlesshairwascaughtinanet,andnolongerstrayedoverherlowforehead。HerunstablebustwasstayedandupheldbyFrenchcorsets;herplantigradeshufflewaslimitedbyheeledboots。Herdresseswereneatandclean,andsheworeadoublenecklaceofglassbeads。Withthisphysicalimprovementtherealsoseemedsomemoralawakening。Shenolongerstolenorlied。Withthepossessionofpersonalpropertycamearespectforthatofothers。
Withincreaseddependenceonthewordofthoseabouthercameathoughtfulconsiderationofherown。Intellectuallyshewasstillfeeble,althoughshegrappledsturdilywiththesimplelessonswhichMissPortfiresetbeforeher。Butherzealandsimplevanityoutranherdiscretion,andshewouldoftensitforhourswithanopenbookbeforeher,whichshecouldnotread。Shewasafavoritewiththeofficersatthefort,fromtheMajor,whosharedhisdaughter’sprejudicesandoftenyieldedtoherpowerfulself-will,tothesubalterns,wholikedhernonethelessthattheirnaturalenemies,thefrontiervolunteers,haddeclaredwaragainstherhelplesssisterhood。Theonlyrestraintputuponherwasthelimitationofherlibertytotheenclosureofthefortandparade;
andonlyoncedidshebreakthisparole,andwasstoppedbythesentryasshesteppedintoaboatatthelanding。
ThereclusedidnotavailhimselfofMissPortfire’sinvitation。
ButafterthedepartureofthePrincesshespentlessofhistimeinthehut,andwasmorefrequentlyseeninthedistantmarshesofEelRiverandontheuplandhills。Afeverishrestlessness,quiteopposedtohisusualphlegm,ledhimintosingularfreaksstrangelyinconsistentwithhisusualhabitsandreputation。ThepurseroftheoccasionalsteamerwhichstoppedatLogportwiththemailsreportedtohavebeenboarded,justinsidethebar,byastrangebeardedman,whoaskedforanewspapercontainingthelastwartelegrams。Hetorehisredshirtintonarrowstrips,andspenttwodayswithhisneedleoverthepiecesandthetatteredremnantofhisonlywhitegarment;andafewdaysafterwardthefishermenonthebayweresurprisedtoseewhat,onnearerapproach,provedtobearudeimitationofthenationalflagfloatingfromasparabovethehut。
Oneevening,asthefogbegantodriftoverthesand-hills,thereclusesataloneinhishut。Thefirewasdyingunheededonthehearth,forhehadbeensittingthereforalongtime,completelyabsorbedintheblurredpagesofanoldnewspaper。Presentlyhearose,and,refoldingit,——anoperationofgreatcareanddelicacyinitstatteredcondition,——placeditundertheblanketsofhisbed。Heresumedhisseatbythefire,butsoonbegandrummingwithhisfingersonthearmofhischair。Eventuallythisassumedthetimeandaccentofsomeair。Thenhebegantowhistlesoftlyandhesitatingly,asiftryingtorecallaforgottentune。Finallythistookshapeinaruderesemblance,notunlikethatwhichhisflagboretothenationalstandard,toYankeeDoodle。Suddenlyhestopped。
Therewasanunmistakablerappingatthedoor。Thebloodwhichhadatfirstrushedtohisfacenowforsookitandsettledslowlyaroundhisheart。Hetriedtorise,butcouldnot。Thenthedoorwasflungopen,andafigurewithascarlet-linedhoodandfurmantlestoodonthethreshold。Withamightyefforthetookonestridetothedoor。ThenextmomenthesawthewidemouthandwhiteteethofthePrincess,andwasgreetedbyakissthatfeltlikeabaptism。
Totearthehoodandmantlefromherfigureinthesuddenfurythatseizedhim,andtofiercelydemandthereasonofthismasquerade,washisonlyreturntohergreeting。\"Whyareyouhere?didyoustealthesegarments?\"heagaindemandedinhergutturallanguage,asheshookherroughlybythearm。ThePrincesshungherhead。
\"Didyou?\"hescreamed,ashereachedwildlyforhisrifle。
\"Idid?\"
Hisholdrelaxed,andhestaggeredbackagainstthewall。ThePrincessbegantowhimper。Betweenhersobs,shewastryingtoexplainthattheMajorandhisdaughterweregoingaway,andthattheywantedtosendhertotheReservation;buthecuthershort。
\"Takeoffthosethings!\"ThePrincesstremblinglyobeyed。Herolledthemup,placedtheminthecanoeshehadjustleft,andthenleapedintothefrailcraft。Shewouldhavefollowed,butwithagreatoathhethrewherfromhim,andwithonestrokeofhispaddlesweptoutintothefog,andwasgone。
\"Jessamy,\"saidtheMajor,afewdaysafter,ashesatatdinnerwithhisdaughter,\"IthinkIcantellyousomethingtomatchthemysteriousdisappearanceandreturnofyourwardrobe。Yourcrazyfriend,therecluse,hasenlistedthismorningintheFourthArtillery。He’sasplendid-lookinganimal,andthere’stherightstuffforasoldierinhim,ifI’mnotmistaken。He’sinearnesttoo,forheenlistsintheregimentorderedbacktoWashington。
Blessme,child,anothergobletbroken;you’llruinthemessinglassware,atthisrate!\"
\"HaveyouheardanythingmoreofthePrincess,papa?\"
\"Nothing,butperhapsit’saswellthatshehasgone。Thesecursedsettlersareattheiroldcomplaintsagainaboutwhattheycall’Indiandepredations,’andIhavejustreceivedordersfromhead-
quarterstokeepthesettlementclearofallvagabondaborigines。
Iamafraid,mydear,thatastrictconstructionofthetermwouldincludeyourprotegee。\"
ThetimeforthedepartureoftheFourthArtilleryhadcome。Thenightbeforewasthickandfoggy。Atoneo’clock,ashotontherampartscalledouttheguardandrousedthesleepinggarrison。
Thenewsentry,PrivateGrey,hadchallengedaduskyfigurecreepingontheglacis,and,receivingnoanswer,hadfired。Theguardsentoutpresentlyreturned,bearingalifelessfigureintheirarms。Thenewsentry’szeal,joinedwithanex-frontiersman’saim,wasfatal。
Theylaidthehelpless,raggedformbeforetheguard-housedoor,andthensawforthefirsttimethatitwasthePrincess。
Presentlysheopenedhereyes。Theyfellupontheagonizedfaceofherinnocentslayer,buthaplywithoutintelligenceorreproach。
\"Georgy!\"shewhispered。
\"Bob!\"
\"All’ssamenow。Megetplentywellsoon。Memakenomorefuss。
MegotoReservation。\"
Thenshestopped,atremorranthroughherlimbs,andshelaystill。ShehadgonetotheReservation。Notthatdevisedbythewisdomofman,butthatonesetapartfromthefoundationoftheworldforthewisestaswellasthemeanestofHiscreatures。
THEILIADOFSANDYBAR。
Beforenineo’clockitwasprettywellknownallalongtheriverthatthetwopartnersofthe\"AmityClaim\"hadquarrelledandseparatedatdaybreak。Atthattimetheattentionoftheirnearestneighborhadbeenattractedbythesoundsofaltercationsandtwoconsecutivepistol-shots。Runningout,hehadseen,dimly,inthegraymistthatrosefromtheriver,thetallformofScott,oneofthepartners,descendingthehilltowardthecanyon;amomentlater,York,theotherpartner,hadappearedfromthecabin,andwalkedinanoppositedirectiontowardtheriver,passingwithinafewfeetofthecuriouswatcher。LateritwasdiscoveredthataseriousChinaman,cuttingwoodbeforethecabin,hadwitnessedpartofthequarrel。ButJohnwasstolid,indifferent,andreticent。
\"Mechoppeewood,menofightee,\"washissereneresponsetoallanxiousqueries。\"ButwhatdidtheySAY,John?\"Johndidnotsabe。ColonelStarbottledeftlyranoverthevariouspopularepithetswhichagenerouspublicsentimentmightacceptasreasonableprovocationforanassault。ButJohndidnotrecognizethem。\"Andthisyer’sthecattle,\"saidtheColonel,withsomeseverity,\"thatsomethinksoughterbeallowedtotestifyag’in’aWhiteMan!Git——youheathen!\"
Stillthequarrelremainedinexplicable。Thattwomen,whoseamiabilityandgravetacthadearnedforthemthetitleof\"ThePeacemakers,\"inacommunitynotgreatlygiventothepassivevirtues,——thatthesemen,singularlydevotedtoeachother,shouldsuddenlyandviolentlyquarrel,mightwellexcitethecuriosityofthecamp。Afewofthemoreinquisitivevisitedthelatesceneofconflict,nowdesertedbyitsformeroccupants。Therewasnotraceofdisorderorconfusionintheneatcabin。Therudetablewasarrangedasifforbreakfast;thepanofyellowbiscuitstillsatuponthathearthwhosedeadembersmighthavetypifiedtheevilpassionsthathadragedtherebutanhourbefore。ButColonelStarbottle’seye——albeitsomewhatbloodshotandrheumy——wasmoreintentonpracticaldetails。Onexamination,abullet-holewasfoundinthedoorpost,andanother,nearlyopposite,inthecasingofthewindow。TheColonelcalledattentiontothefactthattheone\"agreedwith\"theboreofScott’srevolver,andtheotherwiththatofYork’sderringer。\"Theymusthevstoodaboutyer,\"saidtheColonel,takingposition;\"notmor’nthreefeetapart,and——
missed!\"TherewasafinetouchofpathosinthefallinginflectionoftheColonel’svoice,whichwasnotwithouteffect。Adelicateperceptionofwastedopportunitythrilledhisauditors。
ButtheBarwasdestinedtoexperienceagreaterdisappointment。
Thetwoantagonistshadnotmetsincethequarrel,anditwasvaguelyrumoredthat,ontheoccasionofasecondmeeting,eachhaddeterminedtokilltheother\"onsight。\"Therewas,consequently,someexcitement——and,itistobefeared,nolittlegratification——
when,atteno’clock,YorksteppedfromtheMagnoliaSaloonintotheonelongstragglingstreetofthecamp,atthesamemomentthatScottlefttheblacksmith’sshopattheforksoftheroad。Itwasevident,ataglance,thatameetingcouldonlybeavoidedbytheactualretreatofoneortheother。
Inaninstantthedoorsandwindowsoftheadjacentsaloonswerefilledwithfaces。Headsunaccountablyappearedabovetheriver-
banksandfrombehindbowlders。Anemptywagonatthecross-roadwassuddenlycrowdedwithpeople,whoseemedtohavesprungfromtheearth。Therewasmuchrunningandconfusiononthehillside。
Onthemountain-road,Mr。JackHamlinhadreineduphishorse,andwasstandinguprightontheseatofhisbuggy。Andthetwoobjectsofthisabsorbingattentionapproachedeachother。
\"York’sgotthesun,\"\"Scott’lllinehimonthattree,\"\"He’swaitin’todrawhisfire,\"camefromthecart;andthenitwassilent。Butabovethishumanbreathlessnesstheriverrushedandsang,andthewindrustledthetree-topswithanindifferencethatseemedobtrusive。ColonelStarbottlefeltit,andinamomentofsublimepreoccupation,withoutlookingaround,wavedhiscanebehindhim,warninglytoallnature,andsaid,\"Shu!\"
Themenwerenowwithinafewfeetofeachother。Ahenranacrosstheroadbeforeoneofthem。Afeatheryseed-vessel,waftedfromawaysidetree,fellatthefeetoftheother。And,unheedingthisironyofnature,thetwoopponentscamenearer,erectandrigid,lookedineachother’seyes,and——passed!
ColonelStarbottlehadtobeliftedfromthecart。\"Thisyercampisplayedout,\"hesaid,gloomily,asheaffectedtobesupportedintotheMagnolia。Withwhatfurtherexpressionhemighthaveindicatedhisfeelingsitwasimpossibletosay,foratthatmomentScottjoinedthegroup。\"Didyouspeaktome?\"heaskedoftheColonel,droppinghishand,asifwithaccidentalfamiliarity,onthatgentleman’sshoulder。TheColonel,recognizingsomeoccultqualityinthetouch,andsomeunknownquantityintheglanceofhisquestioner,contentedhimselfbyreplying,\"No,sir,\"withdignity。Afewrodsaway,York’sconductwasascharacteristicandpeculiar。\"Youhadamightyfinechance;whydidn’tyouplumphim?\"saidJackHamlin,asYorkdrewnearthebuggy。\"BecauseI
hatehim,\"wasthereply,heardonlybyJack。Contrarytopopularbelief,thisreplywasnothissedbetweenthelipsofthespeaker,butwassaidinanordinarytone。ButJackHamlin,whowasanobserverofmankind,noticedthatthespeaker’shandswerecold,andhislipsdry,ashehelpedhimintothebuggy,andacceptedtheseemingparadoxwithasmile。
WhenSandyBarbecameconvincedthatthequarrelbetweenYorkandScottcouldnotbesettledaftertheusuallocalmethods,itgavenofurtherconcernthereto。Butpresentlyitwasrumoredthatthe\"AmityClaim\"wasinlitigation,andthatitspossessionwouldbeexpensivelydisputedbyeachofthepartners。Asitwaswellknownthattheclaiminquestionwas\"workedout\"andworthless,andthatthepartners,whomithadalreadyenriched,hadtalkedofabandoningitbutadayortwobeforethequarrel,thisproceedingcouldonlybeaccountedforasgratuitousspite。Later,twoSanFranciscolawyersmadetheirappearanceinthisguilelessArcadia,andwereeventuallytakenintothesaloons,and——whatwasprettymuchthesamething——theconfidencesoftheinhabitants。Theresultsofthisunhallowedintimacyweremanysubpoenas;and,indeed,whenthe\"AmityClaim\"cametotrial,allofSandyBarthatwasnotincompulsoryattendanceatthecountyseatcametherefromcuriosity。
Thegulchesandditchesformilesaroundweredeserted。Idonotproposetodescribethatalreadyfamoustrial。Enoughthat,inthelanguageoftheplaintiff’scounsel,\"itwasoneofnoordinarysignificance,involvingtheinherentrightsofthatuntiringindustrywhichhaddevelopedthePactolianresourcesofthisgoldenland\";and,inthehomelierphraseofColonelStarbottle,\"Afussthatgentlemenmighthevsettledintenminutesoverasocialglass,eftheymeantbusiness;orintensecondswitharevolver,eftheymeantfun。\"Scottgotaverdict,fromwhichYorkinstantlyappealed。Itwassaidthathehadsworntospendhislastdollarinthestruggle。
InthiswaySandyBarbegantoaccepttheenmityoftheformerpartnersasalifelongfeud,andthefactthattheyhadeverbeenfriendswasforgotten。Thefewwhoexpectedtolearnfromthetrialtheoriginofthequarrelweredisappointed。Amongthevariousconjectures,thatwhichascribedsomeoccultfeminineinfluenceasthecausewasnaturallypopular,inacampgiventodubiouscomplimentofthesex。\"Mywordforit,gentlemen,\"saidColonelStarbottle,whohadbeenknowninSacramentoasaGentlemanoftheOldSchool,\"there’ssomelovelycreatureatthebottomofthis。\"ThegallantColonelthenproceededtoillustratehistheory,bydiverssprightlystories,suchasGentlemenoftheOldSchoolareinthehabitofrepeating,butwhich,fromdeferencetotheprejudicesofgentlemenofamorerecentschool,Irefrainfromtranscribinghere。ButitwouldappearthateventheColonel’stheorywasfallacious。Theonlywomanwhopersonallymighthaveexercisedanyinfluenceoverthepartnerswastheprettydaughterof\"oldmanFolinsbee,\"ofPovertyFlat,atwhosehospitablehouse——
whichexhibitedsomecomfortsandrefinementsrareinthatcrudecivilization——bothYorkandScottwerefrequentvisitors。YetintothischarmingretreatYorkstrodeoneevening,amonthafterthequarrel,and,beholdingScottsittingthere,turnedtothefairhostesswiththeabruptquery,\"Doyoulovethisman?\"Theyoungwomanthusaddressedreturnedthatanswer——atoncespiritedandevasive——whichwouldoccurtomostofmyfairreadersinsuchanexigency。Withoutanotherword,Yorkleftthehouse。\"MissJo\"
heavedtheleastpossiblesighasthedoorclosedonYork’scurlsandsquareshoulders,andthen,likeagoodgirl,turnedtoherinsultedguest\"Butwouldyoubelieveit,dear?\"sheafterwardrelatedtoanintimatefriend,\"theothercreature,aftergloweringatmeforamoment,gotuponitshindlegs,tookitshat,andleft,too;andthat’sthelastI’veseenofeither。\"
Thesameharddisregardofallotherinterestsorfeelingsinthegratificationoftheirblindrancorcharacterizedalltheiractions。WhenYorkpurchasedthelandbelowScott’snewclaim,andobligedthelatter,atagreatexpense,tomakealongdetourtocarrya\"tail-race\"aroundit,ScottretaliatedbybuildingadamthatoverflowedYork’sclaimontheriver。ItwasScott,who,inconjunctionwithColonelStarbottle,firstorganizedthatactiveoppositiontotheChinamen,whichresultedinthedrivingoffofYork’sMongolianlaborers;itwasYorkwhobuiltthewagon-roadandestablishedtheexpresswhichrenderedScott’smulesandpack-
trainsobsolete;itwasScottwhocalledintolifetheVigilanceCommitteewhichexpatriatedYork’sfriend,JackHamlin;itwasYorkwhocreatedthe\"SandyBarHerald,\"whichcharacterizedtheactas\"alawlessoutrage,\"andScottasa\"BorderRuffian\";itwasScott,attheheadoftwentymaskedmen,who,onemoonlightnight,threwtheoffending\"forms\"intotheyellowriver,andscatteredthetypesinthedustyroad。Theseproceedingswerereceivedinthedistantandmorecivilizedoutlyingtownsasvagueindicationsofprogressandvitality。Ihavebeforemeacopyofthe\"PovertyFlatPioneer,\"fortheweekendingAugust12,1856,inwhichtheeditor,undertheheadof\"CountyImprovements,\"says:\"ThenewPresbyterianChurchonCStreet,atSandyBar,iscompleted。ItstandsuponthelotformerlyoccupiedbytheMagnoliaSaloon,whichwassomysteriouslyburntlastmonth。Thetemple,whichnowriseslikeaPhoenixfromtheashesoftheMagnolia,isvirtuallythefreegiftofH。J。York,Esq。,ofSandyBar,whopurchasedthelotanddonatedthelumber。Otherbuildingsaregoingupinthevicinity,butthemostnoticeableisthe’SunnySouthSaloon,’
erectedbyCaptainMat。Scott,nearlyoppositethechurch。CaptainScotthassparednoexpenseinthefurnishingofthissaloon,whichpromisestobeoneofthemostagreeableplacesofresortinoldTuolumne。Hehasrecentlyimportedtwonew,first-classbilliard-
tables,withcorkcushions。Ouroldfriend,’MountainJimmy,’willdispenseliquorsatthebar。Wereferourreaderstotheadvertisementinanothercolumn。VisitorstoSandyBarcannotdobetterthangive’Jimmy’acall。\"Amongthelocalitemsoccurredthefollowing:\"H。J。York,Esq。,ofSandyBar,hasofferedarewardof$100forthedetectionofthepartieswhohauledawaythestepsofthenewPresbyterianChurch,CStreet,SandyBar,duringdivineserviceonSabbatheveninglast。CaptainScottaddsanotherhundredforthecaptureofthemiscreantswhobrokethemagnificentplate-glasswindowsofthenewsaloononthefollowingevening。
ThereissometalkofreorganizingtheoldVigilanceCommitteeatSandyBar。\"
When,formanymonthsofcloudlessweather,thehard,unwinkingsunofSandyBarhadregularlygonedownontheunpacifiedwrathofthesemen,therewassometalkofmediation。Inparticular,thepastorofthechurchtowhichIhavejustreferred——asincere,fearless,butperhapsnotfullyenlightenedman——seizedgladlyupontheoccasionofYork’sliberalitytoattempttoreunitetheformerpartners。Hepreachedanearnestsermonontheabstractsinfulnessofdiscordandrancor。ButtheexcellentsermonsoftheRev。Mr。
DawsweredirectedtoanidealcongregationthatdidnotexistatSandyBar,——acongregationofbeingsofunmixedvicesandvirtues,ofsingleimpulses,andperfectlylogicalmotives,ofpreternaturalsimplicity,ofchildlikefaith,andgrown-upresponsibilities。As,unfortunately,thepeoplewhoactuallyattendedMr。Daws’schurchweremainlyveryhuman,somewhatartful,moreself-excusingthanself-accusing,rathergood-natured,anddecidedlyweak,theyquietlyshedthatportionofthesermonwhichreferredtothemselves,and,acceptingYorkandScott——whowerebothindefiantattendance——ascuriousexamplesofthoseidealbeingsabovereferredto,feltacertainsatisfaction——which,Ifear,wasnotaltogetherChristian-like——intheir\"raking-down。\"IfMr。DawsexpectedYorkandScotttoshakehandsafterthesermon,hewasdisappointed。Buthedidnotrelaxhispurpose。Withthatquietfearlessnessanddeterminationwhichhadwonforhimtherespectofmenwhoweretooapttoregardpietyassynonymouswitheffeminacy,heattackedScottinhisownhouse。Whathesaidhasnotbeenrecorded,butitistobefearedthatitwaspartofhissermon。
Whenhehadconcluded,Scottlookedathim,notunkindly,overtheglassesofhisbar,andsaid,lessirreverentlythanthewordsmightconvey,\"Youngman,Iratherlikeyourstyle;butwhenyouknowYorkandmeaswellasyoudoGodAlmighty,it’llbetimetotalk。\"
Andsothefeudprogressed;andso,asinmoreillustriousexamples,theprivateandpersonalenmityoftworepresentativemenledgraduallytotheevolutionofsomecrude,half-expressedprincipleorbelief。ItwasnotlongbeforeitwasmadeevidentthatthosebeliefswereidenticalwithcertainbroadprincipleslaiddownbythefoundersoftheAmericanConstitution,asexpoundedbythestatesmanlikeA;orwerethefatalquicksands,onwhichtheshipofstatemightbewrecked,warninglypointedoutbytheeloquentB。ThepracticalresultofallwhichwasthenominationofYorkandScotttorepresenttheoppositefactionsofSandyBarinlegislativecouncils。
Forsomeweekspast,thevotersofSandyBarandtheadjacentcampshadbeencalledupon,inlargetype,to\"RALLY!\"Invainthegreatpinesatthecross-roads——whosetrunkswerecompelledtobearthisandotherlegends——moanedandprotestedfromtheirwindywatch-
towers。Butoneday,withfifeanddrum,andflamingtransparency,aprocessionfiledintothetriangulargroveattheheadofthegulch。ThemeetingwascalledtoorderbyColonelStarbottle,who,havingonceenjoyedlegislativefunctions,andbeingvaguelyknownasa\"war-horse,\"wasconsideredtobeavaluablepartisanofYork。
Heconcludedanappealforhisfriend,withanenunciationofprinciples,interspersedwithoneortwoanecdotessogratuitouslycoarsethattheverypinesmighthavebeenmovedtopelthimwiththeircast-offcones,ashestoodthere。Buthecreatedalaugh,onwhichhiscandidaterodeintopopularnotice;andwhenYorkrosetospeak,hewasgreetedwithcheers。But,tothegeneralastonishment,thenewspeakeratoncelaunchedintobitterdenunciationofhisrival。HenotonlydweltuponScott’sdeedsandexample,asknowntoSandyBar,butspokeoffactsconnectedwithhispreviouscareer,hithertounknowntohisauditors。Togreatprecisionofepithetanddirectnessofstatement,thespeakeraddedthefascinationofrevelationandexposure。Thecrowdcheered,yelled,andweredelighted,butwhenthisastoundingphilippicwasconcluded,therewasaunanimouscallfor\"Scott!\"
ColonelStarbottlewouldhaveresistedthismanifestimpropriety,butinvain。Partlyfromacrudesenseofjustice,partlyfromameanercravingforexcitement,theassemblagewasinflexible;andScottwasdragged,pushed,andpulledupontheplatform。
Ashisfrowsyheadandunkemptbeardappearedabovetherailing,itwasevidentthathewasdrunk。Butitwasalsoevident,beforeheopenedhislips,thattheoratorofSandyBar——theonemanwhocouldtouchtheirvagabondsympathies(perhapsbecausehewasnotaboveappealingtothem)——stoodbeforethem。Aconsciousnessofthispowerlentacertaindignitytohisfigure,andIamnotsurebutthathisveryphysicalconditionimpressedthemasakindofregalunbendingandlargecondescension。Howbeit,whenthisunexpectedHectorarosefromtheditch,York’smyrmidonstrembled。
\"There’snaught,gentlemen,\"saidScott,leaningforwardontherailing,——\"there’snaughtasthatmanhezsaidasisn’ttrue。I
wasrunouterCairo;IdidbelongtotheRegulators;Ididdesertfromthearmy;IdidleaveawifeinKansas。Butthar’sonethinghedidn’tchargemewith,and,maybe,he’sforgotten。Forthreeyears,gentlemen,Iwasthatman’spardner!——\"Whetherheintendedtosaymore,Icannottell;aburstofapplauseartisticallyroundedandenforcedtheclimax,andvirtuallyelectedthespeaker。
ThatfallhewenttoSacramento,Yorkwentabroad;andforthefirsttimeinmanyyears,distanceandanewatmosphereisolatedtheoldantagonists。
Withlittleofchangeinthegreenwood,grayrock,andyellowriver,butwithmuchshiftingofhumanlandmarks,andnewfacesinitshabitations,threeyearspassedoverSandyBar。Thetwomen,oncesoidentifiedwithitscharacter,seemedtohavebeenquiteforgotten。\"YouwillneverreturntoSandyBar,\"saidMissFolinsbee,the\"LilyofPovertyFlat,\"onmeetingYorkinParis,\"forSandyBarisnomore。TheycallitRiversidenow;andthenewtownisbuilthigherupontheriver-bank。Bytheby,’Jo’saysthatScotthaswonhissuitaboutthe’AmityClaim,’andthathelivesintheoldcabin,andisdrunkhalfhistime。O,Ibegyourpardon,\"addedthelivelylady,asaflushcrossedYork’ssallowcheek;\"but,blessme,Ireallythoughtthatoldgrudgewasmadeup。I’msureitoughttobe。\"
Itwasthreemonthsafterthisconversation,andapleasantsummerevening,thatthePovertyFlatcoachdrewupbeforetheverandaoftheUnionHotelatSandyBar。Amongitspassengerswasone,apparentlyastranger,inthelocaldistinctionofwell-fittingclothesandcloselyshavenface,whodemandedaprivateroomandretiredearlytorest。Butbeforesunrisenextmorninghearose,and,drawingsomeclothesfromhiscarpet-bag,proceededtoarrayhimselfinapairofwhiteducktrousers,awhiteduckovershirt,andstrawhat。Whenhistoiletwascompleted,hetiedaredbandannahandkerchiefinaloopandthrewitlooselyoverhisshoulders。Thetransformationwascomplete。Ashecreptsoftlydownthestairsandsteppedintotheroad,noonewouldhavedetectedinhimtheelegantstrangerofthepreviousnight,andbutfewhaverecognizedthefaceandfigureofHenryYorkofSandyBar。
Intheuncertainlightofthatearlyhour,andinthechangethathadcomeoverthesettlement,hehadtopauseforamomenttorecallwherehestood。TheSandyBarofhisrecollectionlaybelowhim,nearertheriver;thebuildingsaroundhimwereoflaterdateandnewerfashion。Ashestrodetowardtheriver,henoticedhereaschoolhouseandthereachurch。Alittlefartheron,\"TheSunnySouth\"cameinview,transformedintoarestaurant,itsgildingfadedanditspaintrubbedoff。Henowknewwherehewas;and,runningbrisklydownadeclivity,crossedaditch,andstooduponthelowerboundaryoftheAmityClaim。
Thegraymistwasrisingslowlyfromtheriver,clingingtothetree-topsanddriftingupthemountain-side,untilitwascaughtamongthoserockyaltars,andheldasacrificetotheascendingsun。Athisfeettheearth,cruellygashedandscarredbyhisforgottenengines,had,sincetheolddays,putonashowofgreennesshereandthere,andnowsmiledforgivinglyupathim,asifthingswerenotsobadafterall。Afewbirdswerebathingintheditchwithapleasantsuggestionofitsbeinganewandspecialprovisionofnature,andahareranintoaninvertedsluice-box,asheapproached,asifitwereputthereforthatpurpose。
Hehadnotyetdaredtolookinacertaindirection。Butthesunwasnowhighenoughtopaintthelittleeminenceonwhichthecabinstood。Inspiteofhisself-control,hisheartbeatfasterasheraisedhiseyestowardit。Itswindowanddoorwereclosed,nosmokecamefromitsadobechimney,butitwaselseunchanged。Whenwithinafewyardsofit,hepickedupabrokenshovel,and,shoulderingitwithasmile,strodetowardthedoorandknocked。
Therewasnosoundfromwithin。Thesmiledieduponhislipsashenervouslypushedthedooropen。
Afigurestartedupangrilyandcametowardhim,——afigurewhosebloodshoteyessuddenlyfixedintoavacantstare,whosearmswereatfirstoutstretchedandthenthrownupinwarninggesticulation,——
afigurethatsuddenlygasped,choked,andthenfellforwardinafit。
Butbeforehetouchedtheground,Yorkhadhimoutintotheopenairandsunshine。Inthestruggle,bothfellandrolledoverontheground。ButthenextmomentYorkwassittingup,holdingtheconvulsedframeofhisformerpartneronhisknee,andwipingthefoamfromhisinarticulatelips。Graduallythetremorbecamelessfrequent,andthenceased;andthestrongmanlayunconsciousinhisarms。
ForsomemomentsYorkheldhimquietlythus,lookinginhisface。
Afar,thestrokeofawood-man’saxe——amerephantomofsound——wasallthatbrokethestillness。Highupthemountain,awheelinghawkhungbreathlesslyabovethem。Andthencamevoices,andtwomenjoinedthem。
\"Afight?\"No,afit;andwouldtheyhelphimbringthesickmantothehotel?
Andthere,foraweek,thestrickenpartnerlay,unconsciousofaughtbutthevisionswroughtbydiseaseandfear。Ontheeighthday,atsunrise,herallied,and,openinghiseyes,lookeduponYork,andpressedhishand;thenhespoke:——
\"Andit’syou。Ithoughtitwasonlywhiskey。\"
Yorkrepliedbytakingbothofhishands,boyishlyworkingthembackwardandforward,ashiselbowrestedonthebed,withapleasantsmile。
\"Andyou’vebeenabroad。HowdidyoulikeParis?\"
\"So,so。HowdidYOUlikeSacramento?\"
\"Bully。\"
Andthatwasalltheycouldthinktosay。PresentlyScottopenedhiseyesagain。
\"I’mmightyweak。\"
\"You’llgetbettersoon。\"
\"Notmuch。\"
Alongsilencefollowed,inwhichtheycouldhearthesoundsofwood-chopping,andthatSandyBarwasalreadyastirforthecomingday。ThenScottslowlyandwithdifficultyturnedhisfacetoYork,andsaid,——
\"Imighthevkilledyouonce。\"
\"Iwishyouhad。\"
Theypressedeachother’shandsagain,butScott’sgraspwasevidentlyfailing。Heseemedtosummonhisenergiesforaspecialeffort。
\"Oldman!\"
\"Oldchap。\"
\"Closer!\"
Yorkbenthisheadtowardtheslowlyfadingface。
\"Doyemindthatmorning?\"
\"Yes。\"
AgleamoffunslidintothecornerofScott’sblueeye,ashewhispered,——
\"Oldman,tharWAStoomuchsaleratusinthatbread。\"
Itissaidthatthesewerehislastwords。Forwhenthesun,whichhadsooftengonedownupontheidlewrathofthesefoolishmen,lookedagainuponthemreunited,itsawthehandofScottfallcoldandirresponsivefromtheyearningclaspofhisformerpartner,anditknewthatthefeudofSandyBarwasatanend。
MRTHOMPSON’SPRODIGAL
WeallknewthatMr。Thompsonwaslookingforhisson,andaprettybadoneatthat。ThathewascomingtoCaliforniaforthissoleobjectwasnosecrettohisfellow-passengers;andthephysicalpeculiarities,aswellasthemoralweaknesses,ofthemissingprodigalweremadeequallyplaintousthroughthefrankvolubilityoftheparent。\"YouwasspeakingofayoungmanwhichwashungatRedDogforsluice-robbing,\"saidMr。Thompsontoasteeragepassenger,oneday;\"beyouawareofthecolorofhiseyes?\"
\"Black,\"respondedthepassenger。\"Ah,\"saidMr。Thompson,referringtosomementalmemoranda,\"Char-les’seyeswasblue。\"Hethenwalkedaway。Perhapsitwasfromthisunsympatheticmodeofinquiry,perhapsitwasfromthatWesternpredilectiontotakeahumorousviewofanyprincipleorsentimentpersistentlybroughtbeforethem,thatMr。Thompson’squestwasthesubjectofsomesatireamongthepassengers。AgratuitousadvertisementofthemissingCharles,addressedto\"JailersandGuardians,\"circulatedprivatelyamongthem;everybodyrememberedtohavemetCharlesunderdistressingcircumstances。YetitisbutduetomycountrymentostatethatwhenitwasknownthatThompsonhadembarkedsomewealthinthisvisionaryproject,butlittleofthissatirefounditswaytohisears,andnothingwasutteredinhishearingthatmightbringapangtoafather’sheart,orimperilapossiblepecuniaryadvantageofthesatirist。Indeed,Mr。BracyTibbets’sjocularpropositiontoformajoint-stockcompanyto\"prospect\"forthemissingyouthreceivedatonetimequiteseriousentertainment。
PerhapstosuperficialcriticismMr。Thompson’snaturewasnotpicturesquenorlovable。Hishistory,asimpartedatdinner,oneday,byhimself,waspracticaleveninitssingularity。Afterahardandwilfulyouthandmaturity,——inwhichhehadburiedabroken-spiritedwife,anddrivenhissontosea,——hesuddenlyexperiencedreligion。\"IgotitinNewOrleansin’59,\"saidMr。
Thompson,withthegeneralsuggestionofreferringtoanepidemic。
\"Enteryethenarrergate。Parsemethebeans。\"Perhapsthispracticalqualityupheldhiminhisapparentlyhopelesssearch。Hehadnoclewtothewhereaboutsofhisrunawayson;indeed,scarcelyaproofofhispresentexistence。Fromhisindifferentrecollectionoftheboyoftwelve,henowexpectedtoidentifythemanoftwenty-five。
Itwouldseemthathewassuccessful。Howhesucceededwasoneofthefewthingshedidnottell。Thereare,Ibelieve,twoversionsofthestory。One,thatMr。Thompson,visitingahospital,discoveredhissonbyreasonofapeculiarhymn,chantedbythesufferer,inadeliriousdreamofhisboyhood。Thisversion,givingasitdidwiderangetothefinerfeelingsoftheheart,wasquitepopular;andastoldbytheRev。Mr。Gushington,onhisreturnfromhisCaliforniatour,neverfailedtosatisfyanaudience。Theotherwaslesssimple,and,asIshalladoptithere,deservesmoreelaboration。
ItwasafterMr。Thompsonhadgivenupsearchingforhissonamongtheliving,andhadtakentotheexaminationofcemeteries,andacarefulinspectionofthe\"coldhicjacetsofthedead。\"Atthistimehewasafrequentvisitorof\"LoneMountain,\"——adrearyhill-
top,bleakenoughinitsoriginalisolation,andbleakerforthewhite-facedmarblesbywhichSanFranciscoanchoredherdepartedcitizens,andkeptthemdowninashiftingsandthatrefusedtocoverthem,andagainstafierceandpersistentwindthatstrovetoblowthemutterlyaway。Againstthiswindtheoldmanopposedawillquiteaspersistent,——agrizzled,hardface,andatall,crape-boundhatdrawntightlyoverhiseyes,——andsospentdaysinreadingthemortuaryinscriptionsaudiblytohimself。ThefrequencyofScripturalquotationpleasedhim,andhewasfondofcorroboratingthembyapocketBible。\"That’sfromPsalms,\"hesaid,oneday,toanadjacentgrave-digger。Themanmadenoreply。
Notatallrebuffed,Mr。Thompsonatoncesliddownintotheopengrave,withamorepracticalinquiry,\"Didyouever,inyourprofession,comeacrossChar-lesThompson?\"\"Thompsonbed————d!\"
saidthegrave-digger,withgreatdirectness。\"Which,ifhehadn’treligion,Ithinkheis,\"respondedtheoldman,asheclamberedoutofthegrave。
Itwas,perhaps,onthisoccasionthatMr。Thompsonstayedlaterthanusual。Asheturnedhisfacetowardthecity,lightswerebeginningtotwinkleahead,andafiercewind,madevisiblebyfog,drovehimforward,or,lyinginwait,chargedhimangrilyfromthecornersofdesertedsuburbanstreets。Itwasononeofthesecornersthatsomethingelse,quiteasindistinctandmalevolent,leapeduponhimwithanoath,apresentedpistol,andademandformoney。Butitwasmetbyawillofironandagripofsteel。Theassailantandassailedrolledtogetherontheground。Butthenextmomenttheoldmanwaserect;onehandgraspingthecapturedpistol,theotherclutchingatarm’slengththethroatofafigure,surly,youthful,andsavage。
\"Youngman,\"saidMr。Thompson,settinghisthinlipstogether,\"whatmightbeyourname?\"
\"Thompson!\"
Theoldman’shandslidfromthethroattothearmofhisprisoner,withoutrelaxingitsfirmness。
\"Char-lesThompson,comewithme,\"hesaid,presently,andmarchedhiscaptivetothehotel。Whattookplacetherehasnottranspired,butitwasknownthenextmorningthatMr。Thompsonhadfoundhisson。
Itispropertoaddtotheaboveimprobablestory,thattherewasnothingintheyoungman’sappearanceormannerstojustifyit。
Grave,reticent,andhandsome,devotedtohisnewlyfoundparent,heassumedtheemolumentsandresponsibilitiesofhisnewconditionwithacertainseriouseasethatmorenearlyapproachedthatwhichSanFranciscosocietylacked,and——rejected。Somechosetodespisethisqualityasatendencyto\"psalm-singing\";otherssawinittheinheritedqualitiesoftheparent,andwerereadytoprophesyforthesonthesamehardoldage。Butallagreedthatitwasnotinconsistentwiththehabitsofmoney-getting,forwhichfatherandsonwererespected。
Andyet,theoldmandidnotseemtobehappy。Perhapsitwasthattheconsummationofhiswisheslefthimwithoutapracticalmission;perhaps——anditisthemoreprobable——hehadlittleloveforthesonhehadregained。Theobedienceheexactedwasfreelygiven,thereformhehadsethisheartuponwascomplete;andyet,somehow,itdidnotseemtopleasehim。Inreclaiminghisson,hehadfulfilledalltherequirementsthathisreligiousdutyrequiredofhim,andyettheactseemedtolacksanctification。Inthisperplexity,hereadagaintheparableoftheProdigalSon,——whichhehadlongagoadoptedforhisguidance,——andfoundthathehadomittedthefinalfeastofreconciliation。Thisseemedtooffertheproperqualityofceremoniousnessinthesacramentbetweenhimselfandhisson;andso,ayearaftertheappearanceofCharles,hesetaboutgivinghimaparty。\"Inviteeverybody,Char-les,\"hesaid,dryly;\"everybodywhoknowsthatIbroughtyououtofthewine-husksofiniquity,andthecompanyofharlots;
andbidthemeat,drink,andbemerry。\"
Perhapstheoldmanhadanotherreason,notyetclearlyanalyzed。
Thefinehousehehadbuiltonthesand-hillssometimesseemedlonelyandbare。Heoftenfoundhimselftryingtoreconstruct,fromthegravefeaturesofCharles,thelittleboywhomhebutdimlyrememberedinthepast,andofwhomlatelyhehadbeenthinkingagreatdeal。Hebelievedthistobeasignofimpendingoldageandchildishness;butcoming,oneday,inhisformaldrawing-room,uponachildofoneoftheservants,whohadstrayedtherein,hewouldhavetakenhiminhisarms,butthechildfledfrombeforehisgrizzledface。Sothatitseemedeminentlypropertoinviteanumberofpeopletohishouse,and,fromthearrayofSanFranciscomaidenhood,toselectadaughter-in-law。Andthentherewouldbeachild——aboy,whomhecould\"rareup\"fromthebeginning,and——love——ashedidnotloveCharles。
Wewereallattheparty。TheSmiths,Joneses,Browns,andRobinsonsalsocame,inthatfineflowofanimalspirits,uncheckedbyanyrespectfortheentertainer,whichmostofusareapttofindsofascinating。Theproceedingswouldhavebeensomewhatriotous,butforthesocialpositionoftheactors。Infact,Mr。
BracyTibbets,havingnaturallyafineappreciationofahumoroussituation,butfurtherimpelledbythebrighteyesoftheJonesgirls,conductedhimselfsoremarkablyastoattracttheseriousregardofMr。CharlesThompson,whoapproachedhim,sayingquietly:
\"Youlookill,Mr。Tibbets;letmeconductyoutoyourcarriage。
Resist,youhound,andI’llthrowyouthroughthatwindow。Thisway,please;theroomiscloseanddistressing。\"Itishardlynecessarytosaythatbutapartofthisspeechwasaudibletothecompany,andthattherestwasnotdivulgedbyMr。Tibbets,whoafterwardregrettedthesuddenillnesswhichkepthimfromwitnessingacertainamusingincident,whichthefastestMissJonescharacterizedasthe\"richestpartoftheblow-out,\"andwhichI
hastentorecord。
Itwasatsupper。ItwasevidentthatMr。Thompsonhadoverlookedmuchlawlessnessintheconductoftheyoungerpeople,inhisabstractcontemplationofsomeimpendingevent。Whentheclothwasremoved,herosetohisfeet,andgrimlytappeduponthetable。A
titter,thatbrokeoutamongtheJonesgirls,becameepidemicononesideoftheboard。CharlesThompson,fromthefootofthetable,lookedupintenderperplexity。\"He’sgoingtosingaDoxology,\"\"He’sgoingtopray,\"\"Silenceforaspeech,\"ranroundtheroom。
\"It’soneyearto-day,Christianbrothersandsisters,\"saidMr。
Thompson,withgrimdeliberation,——\"oneyearto-daysincemysoncamehomefromeatingofwine-husksandspendingofhissubstanceonharlots。\"(Thetitteringsuddenlyceased。)\"Lookathimnow。
Char-lesThompson,standup。\"(CharlesThompsonstoodup。)\"Oneyearagoto-day,——andlookathimnow。\"
Hewascertainlyahandsomeprodigal,standingthereinhischeerfulevening-dress,——arepentantprodigal,withsad,obedienteyesturnedupontheharshandunsympatheticglanceofhisfather。
TheyoungestMissSmith,fromthepuredepthsofherfoolishlittleheart,movedunconsciouslytowardhim。
\"It’sfifteenyearsagosinceheleftmyhouse,\"saidMr。Thompson,\"arovierandaprodigal。Iwasmyselfamanofsin,OChristianfriends,——amanofwrathandbitterness\"(\"Amen,\"fromtheeldestMissSmith),——\"butpraisebeGod,I’vefledthewrathtocome。
It’sfiveyearsagosinceIgotthepeacethatpassethunderstanding。Haveyougotit,friends?\"(Ageneralsub-chorusof\"No,no,\"fromthegirls,and,\"Passthewordforit,\"fromMidshipmanCoxe,oftheU。S。sloopWethersfield。)\"Knock,anditshallbeopenedtoyou。
\"AndwhenIfoundtheerrorofmyways,andthepreciousnessofgrace,\"continuedMr。Thompson,\"Icametogiveittomyson。ByseaandlandIsoughthimfar,andfaintednot。Ididnotwaitforhimtocometome,whichthesameImighthavedone,andjustifiedmyselfbytheBookofbooks,butIsoughthimoutamonghishusks,and——\"(therestofthesentencewaslostintherustlingwithdrawaloftheladies)。\"Works,Christianfriends,ismymotto。
Bytheirworksshallyeknowthem,andthereismine。\"
TheparticularandacceptedworktowhichMr。Thompsonwasalludinghadturnedquitepale,andwaslookingfixedlytowardanopendoorleadingtotheveranda,latelyfilledbygapingservants,andnowthesceneofsomevaguetumult。Asthenoisecontinued,aman,shabbilydressed,andevidentlyinliquor,brokethroughtheopposingguardians,andstaggeredintotheroom。Thetransitionfromthefoganddarknesswithouttotheglareandheatwithinevidentlydazzledandstupefiedhim。Heremovedhisbatteredhat,andpasseditonceortwicebeforehiseyes,ashesteadiedhimself,butunsuccessfully,bythebackofachair。Suddenly,hiswanderingglancefelluponthepalefaceofCharlesThompson;andwithagleamofchildlikerecognition,andaweak,falsettolaugh,hedartedforward,caughtatthetable,upsettheglasses,andliterallyfellupontheprodigal’sbreast。
\"Sha’ly!yo’d————dol’scoun’rel,hoorarye!\"
\"Hush——sitdown!——hush!\"saidCharlesThompson,hurriedlyendeavoringtoextricatehimselffromtheembraceofhisunexpectedguest。
\"Lookat’m!\"continuedthestranger,unheedingtheadmonition,butsuddenlyholdingtheunfortunateCharlesatarm’slength,inlovingandundisguisedadmirationofhisfestiveappearance。\"Lookat’m!
Ain’thenasty?Sha’ls,I’mprowofyer!\"
\"Leavethehouse!\"saidMr。Thompson,rising,withadangerouslookinhiscold,grayeye。\"Char-les,howdareyou?\"
\"Simmerdown,oleman!Sha’ls,who’sth’ol’bloat?Eh?\"
\"Hush,man;here,takethis!\"Withnervoushands,CharlesThompsonfilledaglasswithliquor。\"Drinkitandgo——untilto-morrow——anytime,but——leaveus!——gonow!\"Buteventhen,erethemiserablewretchcoulddrink,theoldman,palewithpassion,wasuponhim。
Halfcarryinghiminhispowerfularms,halfdragginghimthroughthecirclingcrowdoffrightenedguests,hehadreachedthedoor,swungopenbythewaitingservants,whenCharlesThompsonstartedfromaseemingstupor,crying,——
\"Stop!\"
Theoldmanstopped。Throughtheopendoorthefogandwinddrovechilly。\"Whatdoesthismean?\"heasked,turningabalefulfaceonCharles。
\"Nothing——butstop——forGod’ssake。Waittillto-morrow,butnotto-night。Donot——Iimploreyou——dothisthing。\"
Therewassomethinginthetoneoftheyoungman’svoice,something,perhaps,inthecontactofthestrugglingwretchheheldinhispowerfularms;butadim,indefinitefeartookpossessionoftheoldman’sheart。\"Who,\"hewhispered,hoarsely,\"isthisman?\"
Charlesdidnotanswer。
\"Standback,there,allofyou,\"thunderedMr。Thompson,tothecrowdingguestsaroundhim。\"Char-les——comehere!Icommandyou——
I——I——I——begyou——tellmeWHOisthisman?\"
OnlytwopersonsheardtheanswerthatcamefaintlyfromthelipsofCharlesThompson,——
\"YOURSON。\"
Whendaybrokeoverthebleaksand-hills,theguestshaddepartedfromMr。Thompson’sbanquet-halls。Thelightsstillburneddimlyandcoldlyinthedesertedrooms,——desertedbyallbutthreefigures,thathuddledtogetherinthechilldrawing-room,asifforwarmth。Onelayindrunkenslumberonacouch;athisfeetsathewhohadbeenknownasCharlesThompson;andbesidethem,haggardandshrunkentohalfhissize,bowedthefigureofMr。Thompson,hisgrayeyefixed,hiselbowsuponhisknees,andhishandsclaspedoverhisears,asiftoshutoutthesad,entreatingvoicethatseemedtofilltheroom。
\"GodknowsIdidnotsetabouttowilfullydeceive。ThenameI
gavethatnightwasthefirstthatcameintomythought,——thenameofonewhomIthoughtdead,——thedissolutecompanionofmyshame。
Andwhenyouquestionedfurther,IusedtheknowledgethatIgainedfromhimtotouchyourhearttosetmefree;only,Iswear,forthat!Butwhenyoutoldmewhoyouwere,andIfirstsawtheopeningofanotherlifebeforeme——then——then——O,sir,ifIwashungry,homeless,andreckless,whenIwouldhaverobbedyouofyourgold,Iwasheart-sick,helpless,anddesperate,whenIwouldhaverobbedyouofyourlove!\"
Theoldmanstirrednot。Fromhisluxuriouscouchthenewlyfoundprodigalsnoredpeacefully。
\"IhadnofatherIcouldclaim。Ineverknewahomebutthis。I
wastempted。Ihavebeenhappy,——veryhappy。\"
Heroseandstoodbeforetheoldman。\"DonotfearthatIshallcomebetweenyoursonandhisinheritance。To-dayIleavethisplace,nevertoreturn。Theworldislarge,sir,and,thankstoyourkindness,Inowseethewaybywhichanhonestlivelihoodisgained。Goodby。Youwillnottakemyhand?Well,well。Goodby。\"
Heturnedtogo。Butwhenhehadreachedthedoorhesuddenlycameback,and,raisingwithbothhandsthegrizzledhead,hekisseditonceandtwice。
\"Char-les。\"
Therewasnoreply。
\"Char-les!\"
Theoldmanrosewithafrightenedair,andtotteredfeeblytothedoor。Itwasopen。Therecametohimtheawakenedtumultofagreatcity,inwhichtheprodigal’sfootstepswerelostforever。
THEROMANCEOFMADRONOHOLLOW。
ThelatchonthegardengateoftheFolinsbeeRanchclickedtwice。
Thegateitselfwassomuchinshadowthatlovelynight,that\"oldmanFolinsbee,\"sittingonhisporch,coulddistinguishnothingbutatallwhitehatandbesideitafewflutteringribbons,underthepinesthatmarkedtheentrance。Whetherbecauseofthisfact,orthatheconsideredasufficienttimehadelapsedsincetheclickingofthelatchformorepositivedisclosure,Idonotknow;butafterafewmoments’hesitationhequietlylaidasidehispipeandwalkedslowlydownthewindingpathtowardthegate。AttheCeanothushedgehestoppedandlistened。
Therewasnotmuchtohear。Thehatwassayingtotheribbonsthatitwasafinenight,andremarkinggenerallyupontheclearoutlineoftheSierrasagainsttheblue-blacksky。Theribbons,itsoappeared,hadadmiredthisallthewayhome,andaskedthehatifithadeverseenanythinghalfsolovelyasthemoonlightonthesummit。Thehatneverhad;itrecalledsomelovelynightsintheSouthinAlabama(\"intheSouthinAhlabahm\"wasthewaytheoldmanheardit),butthentherewereotherthingsthatmadethisnightseemsopleasant。Theribbonscouldnotpossiblyconceivewhatthehatcouldbethinkingabout。Atthispointtherewasapause,ofwhichMr。Folinsbeeavailedhimselftowalkverygrimlyandcraunchinglydownthegravel-walktowardthegate。Thenthehatwaslifted,anddisappearedintheshadow,andMr。Folinsbeeconfrontedonlythehalf-foolish,half-mischievous,butwhollyprettyfaceofhisdaughter。
ItwasafterwardknowntoMadronoHollowthatsharpwordspassedbetween\"MissJo\"andtheoldman,andthatthelattercoupledthenamesofoneCulpepperStarbottleandhisuncle,ColonelStarbottle,withcertainuncomplimentaryepithets,andthatMissJoretaliatedsharply。\"Herfather’sbloodbeforeherfather’sfaceboiledupandprovedhertrulyofhisrace,\"quotedtheblacksmith,wholeanedtowardthenobleverseofByron。\"Shesawtheoldman’sbluffandraisedhim,\"wasthedirectercommentofthecollege-bredMasters。
MeanwhilethesubjectoftheseanimadversionsproceededslowlyalongtheroadtoapointwheretheFolinsbeemansioncameinview,——along,narrow,whitebuilding,unpretentious,yetsuperiortoitsneighbors,andbearingsomeevidencesoftasteandrefinementinthevinesthatclamberedoveritsporch,initsFrenchwindows,andthewhitemuslincurtainsthatkeptoutthefierceCaliforniasunbyday,andwerenowtouchedwithsilverinthegraciousmoonlight。Culpepperleanedagainstthelowfence,andgazedlongandearnestlyatthebuilding。Thenthemoonlightvanishedghostlikefromoneofthewindows,amaterialglowtookitsplace,andagirlishfigure,holdingacandle,drewthewhitecurtainstogether。ToCulpepperitwasavestalvirginstandingbeforeahallowedshrine;totheprosaicobserverIfearitwasonlyafair-hairedyoungwoman,whosewickedblackeyesstillshonewithunfilialwarmth。Howbeit,whenthefigurehaddisappearedhesteppedoutbrisklyintothemoonlightofthehigh-road。Herehetookoffhisdistinguishinghattowipehisforehead,andthemoonshonefulluponhisface。
Itwasnotanunprepossessingone,albeitatrifletoothinandlankandbilioustobealtogetherpleasant。Thecheek-boneswereprominent,andtheblackeyessunkenintheirorbits。Straightblackhairfellslantwiseoffahighbutnarrowforehead,andsweptpartofahollowcheek。Alongblackmustachefollowedtheperpendicularcurvesofhismouth。Itwasonthewholeaserious,evenQuixoticface,butattimesitwasrelievedbyararesmileofsuchtenderandevenpatheticsweetness,thatMissJoisreportedtohavesaidthat,ifitwouldonlylastthroughtheceremony,shewouldhavemarrieditspossessoronthespot。\"Ioncetoldhimso,\"addedthatshamelessyoungwoman;\"butthemaninstantlyfellintoasettledmelancholy,andhasn’tsmiledsince。\"
Ahalf-milebelowtheFolinsbeeRanchthewhiteroaddippedandwascrossedbyatrailthatranthroughMadronohollow。Perhapsbecauseitwasanearcut-offtothesettlement,perhapsfromsomelesspracticalreason,Culpeppertookthistrail,andinafewmomentsstoodamongtherarelybeautifultreesthatgavetheirnametothevalley。Eveninthatuncertainlighttheweirdbeautyoftheseharlequinmasqueraderswasapparent;theirredtrunks——ablushinthemoonlight,adeepblood-stainintheshadow——stoodoutagainstthesilverygreenfoliage。ItwasasifNatureinsomegraciousmomenthadherecaughtandcrystallizedthegypsymemoriesofthetransplantedSpaniard,tocheerhiminhislonelyexile。