CONTENTS
JIMMY\'SBIGBROTHERFROMCALIFORNIA
THEYOUNGESTMISSPIPER
AWIDOWOFTHESANTAANAVALLEY
THEMERMAIDOFLIGHTHOUSEPOINT
UNDERTHEEAVES
HOWREUBENALLEN\"SAWLIFE\"INSANFRANCISCO
THREEVAGABONDSOFTRINIDAD
AVISIONOFTHEFOUNTAIN
AROMANCEOFTHELINE
BOHEMIANDAYSINSANFRANCISCO
UNDERTHEREDWOODS
JIMMY\'SBIGBROTHERFROMCALIFORNIA
Asnightcreptupfromthevalleythatstormyafternoon,Sawyer\'sLedgewasatfirstquiteblottedoutbywindandrain,butpresentlyreappearedinlittlenebulousstar-likepointsalongthemountainside,asthestragglingcabinsofthesettlementwereonebyonelitupbytheminersreturningfromtunnelandclaim。Thesestarswereofvaryingbrilliancythatevening,twonotablyso——onethateventuallyresolveditselfintoamany-candledilluminationofacabinofevidentfestivity;theotherintoaglimmeringtaperinthewindowofasilentone。Theymighthaverepresentedtheextrememutationsoffortuneinthesettlementthatnight:thecelebrationofastrikebyRobertFalloner,aluckyminer;andthesick-bedofDickLasham,anunluckyone。
Thelatterwas,however,notquitealone。HewasministeredtobyDaddyFolsom,aweakbutemotionalandaggressivelyhopefulneighbor,whowassittingbesidethewoodenbunkwhereontheinvalidlay。Yettherewassomethingperfunctoryinhisattitude:
hiseyeswerecontinuallystrayingtothewindow,whencetheilluminatedFallonerfestivitiescouldbeseenbetweenthetrees,andhisearsweremoreintentonthesongsandlaughterthatcamefaintlyfromthedistancethanonthefeverishbreathingandunintelligiblemoansofthesufferer。
Neverthelesshelookedtroubledequallybytheconditionofhischargeandbyhisownenforcedabsencefromtherevels。Amoreimpatientmoanfromthesickman,however,broughtachangetohisabstractedface,andheturnedtohimwithanexaggeratedexpressionofsympathy。
\"Incourse!Lordy!Iknowjestwhatthosepainsare:kinderezefyouwashavin\'atoothpulledthathadrootsbranchin\'alloverye!
My!I\'vejesthad\'emsobadIcouldn\'tkeepfromyellin\'!That\'shotrheumatics!Yes,sir,Ioughterknow!And\"(confidentially)
\"thesing\'lerthingabout\'emisthattheygetworsejestasthey\'regoingoff——sorterwringin\'yerhandandpunchin\'yeinthebacktosay\'Good-by。\'There!\"hecontinued,asthemansankexhaustedlybackonhisrudepillowofflour-sacks。\"There!didn\'tItellye?Ye\'llbeallrightinaminit,andezchipperezajaybirdinthemornin\'。Oh,don\'ttellmeaboutrheumatics——I\'vebinthar!On\'yminewasthecoldkind——thathangsonlongest——yoursisthehot,thatburnsitselfupinnotime!\"
IftheflushedfaceandbrighteyesofLashamwerenotenoughtocorroboratethissymptomofhighfever,thequick,wanderinglaughhegavewouldhaveindicatedthepointofdelirium。ButthetoooptimisticDaddyFolsomreferredthisacttoimprovement,andwentoncheerfully:\"Yes,sir,you\'rebetternow,and\"——hereheassumedanairofcautiousdeliberation,extravagant,asallhisassumptionswere——\"Iain\'tsayin\'that——ef——you——was——to——rise——up\"(veryslowly)\"andheaveablanketortwooveryourshoulders——jestbywayo\'caution,youknow——andleanin\'onme,kindermeanderovertoBobFalloner\'scabinandtheboys,itwouldn\'tdoyouaheapo\'good。
Changeso\'thiskindisoftenprescribedbythefaculty。\"Anothermoanfromthesufferer,however,hereapparentlycorrectedDaddy\'stoofavorableprognosis。\"Oh,allright!Well,perhapsyeknowbest;andI\'lljestrunovertoBob\'sandsayhowasyeain\'tcomin\',andwillbebackinajiffy!\"
\"Theletter,\"saidthesickmanhurriedly,\"theletter,theletter!\"
Daddyleanedsuddenlyoverthebed。ItwasimpossibleforevenhishopefulnesstoavoidthefactthatLashamwasdelirious。Itwasastrongfactorinthecase——onethatwouldcertainlyjustifyhisgoingovertoFalloner\'swiththenews。Forthepresentmoment,however,thisaberrationwastobeacceptedcheerfullyandhumoredafterDaddy\'sownfashion。\"Ofcourse——theletter,theletter,\"hesaidconvincingly;\"that\'swhattheboyshevbinsingin\'jestnow——
\'Good-by,Charley;whenyouareaway,Writemealetter,love;sendmealetter,love!\'
That\'swhatyouheard,andamightypurtysongitistoo,andkinderclingstoyou。It\'swonderfulhowthesethingsgetsinyourhead。\"
\"Theletter——write——sendmoney——money——money,andthephotograph——
thephotograph——photograph——money,\"continuedthesickman,intherapidreiterationofdelirium。
\"Incourseyouwill——to-morrow——whenthemailgoes,\"returnedDaddysoothingly;\"plentyofthem。Jestnowyoutrytogetasnooze,willye?Hol\'on!——takesomeo\'this。\"
Therewasananodynemixtureontherudeshelf,whichthedoctorhadleftonhismorningvisit。Daddyhadacomfortablebeliefthatwhatwouldrelievepainwouldalsocheckdelirium,andheaccordinglymeasuredoutadosewithaliberalmargintoallowofwastebythepatientinswallowinginhissemi-consciousstate。Ashelaymorequiet,mutteringstill,butnowunintelligibly,Daddy,waitingforamorecompleteunconsciousnessandtheopportunitytoslipawaytoFalloner\'s,casthiseyesaroundthecabin。HenoticednowforthefirsttimesincehisentrancethatacrumpledenvelopebearingaWesternpost-markwaslyingatthefootofthebed。Daddyknewthatthetri-weeklyposthadarrivedanhourbeforehecame,andthatLashamhadevidentlyreceivedaletter。
Sureenoughtheletteritselfwaslyingagainstthewallbesidehim。Itwasopen。Daddyfeltjustifiedinreadingit。
Itwascurtandbusinesslike,statingthatunlessLashamatoncesentaremittanceforthesupportofhisbrotherandsister——twochildreninchargeofthewriter——theymustfindahomeelsewhere。
Thatthearrearswerelongstanding,andtherepeatedpromisesofLashamtosendmoneyhadbeenunfulfilled。Thatthewritercouldstanditnolonger。Thiswouldbehislastcommunicationunlessthemoneyweresentforthwith。
Itwasbynomeansanovelor,underthecircumstances,ashockingdisclosuretoDaddy。Hehadseensimilarmissivesfromdaughters,andevenwives,consequentonthevaryingfortunesofhisneighbors;nooneknewbetterthanhetheuncertaintiesofaminer\'sprospects,andyettheinevitablehopefulnessthatbuoyedhimup。Hetosseditasideimpatiently,whenhiseyecaughtastripofpaperhehadoverlookedlyingupontheblanketneartheenvelope。Itcontainedafewlinesinanunformedboyishhandaddressedto\"mybrother,\"andevidentlyslippedintotheletterafteritwaswritten。BytheuncertaincandlelightDaddyreadasfollows:——
DearBrother,RitetomeandCissyriteoff。Whyaintyoudoneit?
It\'ssolongsinceyouroteany。MisterReckettssesyoudontcareanymore。Wenyouritesendyourfotograff。FolksheresesIaintgotnobigbrutheranyway,asIdisrememberhislooks,andcantsaywotslikehim。Cissy\'skryin\'allalongofit。I\'vegotahedake。WilliamWalkermakeitakebyablo。SonomoreatpresentfromyourlovinglittlebrutherJim。
Thequick,hystericlaughwithwhichDaddyreadthiswasquiteconsistentwithhisresponsive,emotionalnature;so,too,werethereadytearsthatsprangtohiseyes。Heputthecandledownunsteadily,withacasualglanceatthesickman。Itwasnotable,however,thatthislookcontainedlesssympathyfortheailing\"bigbrother\"thanhisemotionmighthavesuggested。ForDaddywascarriedquiteawaybyhisownmentalpictureofthehelplesschildren,andeageronlytorelatehisimpressionsoftheincident。
Hecastanotherglanceattheinvalid,thrustthepapersintohispocket,andclappingonhishatslippedfromthecabinandrantothehouseoffestivity。Yetitwascharacteristicoftheman,andsoengrossedwashebyhisoneidea,thattotheusualinquiriesregardinghispatientheanswered,\"he\'sallright,\"andplungedatonceintotheincidentofthedunningletter,reserving——withtheinstinctofanemotionalartist——thechild\'smissiveuntilthelast。Asheexpected,themoneydemandwasreceivedwithindignantcriticismsofthewriter。
\"That\'sjustlike\'emintheStates,\"saidCaptainFletcher;
\"darnediftheydon\'tbelievewe\'veonlygottoboreaholeinthegroundandsnakeoutahundreddollars。Why,there\'smywife——withaheapofhosssenseineverythingelse——isalluswonderin\'whyI
can\'trakeinacoolfiftybetwixtonesteamerdayandanother。\"
\"That\'snothin\'tomyolddad,\"interruptedGusHouston,the\"infant\"ofthecamp,abright-eyedyoungfellowoftwenty;\"why,hewrotetomeyesterdaythatifI\'donlypickupasinglepieceofgoldeverydayandjustputitaside,sayin\'\'That\'sforpopperandmommer,\'andnotfoolitaway——itwouldbeallthey\'daskofme。\"
\"That\'sso,\"addedanother;\"theseignorantrelationsisjusttheruino\'theminingindustry。BobFallonerhezbinluckyinhisstriketo-day,buthe\'sadarnedsightluckierinbeingwithoutkithorkinthatheknowsof。\"
Daddywaiteduntilthemomentaryirritationhadsubsided,andthendrewtheotherletterfromhispocket。\"Thatain\'tall,boys,\"hebeganinafalteringvoice,butgraduallyworkinghimselfuptoapitchofpathos;\"justasIwasthinkingallthemverythings,I
kindernoticedthisyerpoorlittlebito\'paperlyin\'tharlonesomelikeandforgotten,andI——readit——andwell——gentlemen——
itjustchokedmerightup!\"Hestopped,andhisvoicefaltered。
\"Goslow,Daddy,goslow!\"saidanauditorsmilingly。ItwasevidentthatDaddy\'ssympatheticweaknesswaswellknown。
Daddyreadthechild\'sletter。But,unfortunately,whatwithhisrealemotionandtheintoxicationofanaudience,hereaditextravagantly,andinterpolatedachild\'slisp(onnoauthoritywhatever),andasimulatedinfantiledelivery,which,Ifear,atfirstprovokedthesmilesratherthanthetearsofhisaudience。
Nevertheless,atitsconclusionthelittlenotewashandedroundtheparty,andthentherewasamomentofthoughtfulsilence。
\"Tellyouwhatitis,boys,\"saidFletcher,lookingaroundthetable,\"weoughttobedoin\'suthin\'forthemkidsrightoff!Didyou,\"turningtoDaddy,\"sayanythin\'aboutthistoDick?\"
\"Nary——why,he\'scleanoffhisheadwithfever——don\'tunderstandaword——andjustbabbles,\"returnedDaddy,forgetfulofhisroseatediagnosisamomentago,\"andhasn\'tgotacent。\"
\"Wemustmakeupwhatwecanamongstusaforethemailgoesto-
night,\"saidthe\"infant,\"feelinghurriedlyinhispockets。
\"Come,anteup,gentlemen,\"headded,layingthecontentsofhisbuckskinpurseuponthetable。
\"Holdon,boys,\"saidaquietvoice。ItwastheirhostFalloner,whohadjustrisenandwasslippingonhisoilskincoat。\"You\'vegotenoughtodo,Ireckon,tolookafteryourownfolks。I\'venone!Letthisbemyaffair。I\'vegottogototheExpressOfficeanyhowtoseeaboutmypassagehome,andI\'lljustgetadraftforahundreddollarsforthatoldskeesicks——what\'shisblamedname?
Oh,Ricketts\"——hemadeamemorandumfromtheletter——\"andI\'llsenditbyexpress。Meantime,youfellowssitdownthereandwritesomething——youknowwhat——sayingthatDick\'shurthishandandcan\'twrite——youknow;butaskedyoutosendadraft,whichyou\'redoing。Sabe?That\'sall!I\'llskipovertotheexpressnowandgetthedraftoff,andyoucanmailtheletteranhourlater。SoputyourdustbackinyourpocketsandhelpyourselvestothewhiskeywhileI\'mgone。\"Heclappedhishatonhisheadanddisappeared。
\"Theregoesawhiteman,youbet!\"saidFletcheradmiringly,asthedoorclosedbehindtheirhost。\"Now,boys,\"headded,drawingachairtothetable,\"let\'sgetthisyerletteroff,andthengobacktoourgame。\"
Pensandinkwereproduced,andananimateddiscussionensuedastothemattertobeconveyed。Daddy\'spleaforanextendedexplanatoryandsympatheticcommunicationwasoverruled,andtheletterwaswrittentoRickettsonthesimplelinessuggestedbyFalloner。
\"ButwhataboutpoorlittleJim\'sletter?Thatoughttobeanswered,\"saidDaddypathetically。
\"IfDickhurthishandsohecan\'twritetoRicketts,howinthunderishegoin\'towritetoJim?\"wasthereply。
\"Butsuthin\'oughterbesaidtothepoorkid,\"urgedDaddypiteously。
\"Well,writeityourself——youandGusHoustonmakeupsomethin\'
together。I\'mgoingtowinsomemoney,\"retortedFletcher,returningtothecard-table,wherehewaspresentlyfollowedbyallbutDaddyandHouston。
\"Yecan\'twriteitinDick\'sname,becausethatlittlebrotherknowsDick\'shandwriting,evenifhedon\'trememberhisface。
See?\"suggestedHouston。
\"That\'sso,\"saidDaddydubiously;\"but,\"headded,withelasticcheerfulness,wecanwritethatDick\'says。\'See?\"
\"Yourhead\'slevel,oldman!Justyouwadeinonthat。\"
Daddyseizedthepenand\"wadedin。\"Intosomewhatdeepanddifficultwater,Ifancy,forsomeofitsplashedintohiseyes,andhesniffledonceortwiceashewrote。\"Suthin\'likethis,\"hesaid,afterapause:——
DEARLITTLEJIMMIE,——Yourbigbrotherhavin\'hurthishand,wantsmetotellyouthatotherwaysheisallhunkyandA1。Hesayshedon\'tforgetyouandlittleCissy,youbet!andhe\'ssendin\'moneytooldRickettsstraightoff。Hesaysdon\'tyouandCissymindwhetherschoolkeepsornotaslongasbigBrotherDickholdsthelines。Hesayshe\'dhavewrittenbefore,buthe\'sbinfollerin\'upaleadmightyclose,andexpectstostrikeitrichinafewdays。
\"Youain\'tgotnosabeaboutkids,\"saidDaddyimperturbably;
\"they\'vegottobehumoredlikesickfolks。Andtheywanteverythin\'big——theydon\'ttakenostockinthingseztheyare——
eveneftheyhev\'emworsethantheyare。\'So,\'\"continuedDaddy,readingtopreventfurtherinterruption,\"\'hesaysyou\'rejusttokeepyoureyesskinnedlookin\'outforhimcomin\'homeanytime——
dayornight。Allyou\'vegottodoistositupandwait。Hemightcomeandevensnakeyououtofyourbeds!Hemightcomewithfourwhitehorsesandaniggerdriver,orhemightcomedisguisedasanornarytramp。Onlyyou\'vegottobekeenonwatchin\'。\'(Yesee,\"interruptedDaddyexplanatorily,\"that\'lljestkeepthemkidslively。)\'HesaysCissy\'stostopcryin\'rightoff,andifWillieWalkerhitsyerontherightcheekyoujustslugoutwithyourleftfist,\'cordin\'toScripter。\'Gosh,\"ejaculatedDaddy,stoppingsuddenlyandgazinganxiouslyatHouston,\"there\'sthatblamedphotograph——Icleanforgotthat。\"
\"AndDickhasn\'tgotoneintheshop,andneverhad,\"returnedHoustonemphatically。\"Golly!thatstumpsus!Unless,\"headded,withdiabolicalthoughtfulness,\"wetakeBob\'s?Thekidsdon\'trememberDick\'sface,andBob\'saboutthesameage。Andit\'saregularstarpicture——youbet!BobhadittakeninSacramento——inallhiswarpaint。See!\"Heindicatedaphotographpinnedagainstthewall——areallystrikinglikenesswhichdidfulljusticetoBob\'slongsilkenmustacheandlarge,browndeterminedeyes。\"I\'llsnakeitoffwhiletheyain\'tlookin\',andyoujamitintheletter。Bobwon\'tmissit,andwecanfixitupwithDickafterhe\'swell,andsendanother。\"
Daddysilentlygraspedthe\"infant\'s\"hand,whopresentlysecuredthephotographwithoutattractingattentionfromthecard-players。
Itwaspromptlyinclosedintheletter,addressedtoMasterJamesLasham。The\"infant\"startedwithittothepost-office,andDaddyFolsomreturnedtoLasham\'scabintorelievethewatcherthathadbeendetachedfromFalloner\'stotakehisplacebesidethesickman。
Meanwhiletherainfellsteadilyandtheshadowscrepthigherandhigherupthemountain。TowardsmidnightthestarpointsfadedoutonebyoneoverSawyer\'sLedgeevenastheyhadcome,withthedifferencethattheilluminationofFalloner\'scabinwasextinguishedfirst,whilethedimlightofLasham\'sincreasedinnumber。Later,twostarsseemedtoshootfromthecentreoftheledge,trailingalongthedescent,untiltheywerelostintheobscurityoftheslope——thelightsofthestage-coachtoSacramentocarryingthemailandRobertFalloner。Theymetandpassedtwofainterlightstoilinguptheroad——thebuggylightsofthedoctor,hastilysummonedfromCartervilletothebedsideofthedyingDickLasham。
TheslowingupofhistraincausedBobFallonertostartfromahalfdozeinaWesternPullmancar。Asheglancedfromhiswindowhecouldseethattheblindingsnowstormwhichhadfollowedhimforthepastsixhourshadatlasthopelesslyblockedtheline。Therewasnoprospectbeyondtheinterminablesnowylevel,thewhirlingflakes,andthemonotonouspalisadesofleaflesstreesseenthroughittothedistantbanksoftheMissouri。Itwasaprospectthatthemountain-bredFallonerwasbeginningtoloathe,andalthoughitwasscarcelysixweekssinceheleftCalifornia,hewasalreadylookingbackregretfullytothedeepslopesandthefreesongoftheserriedranksofpines。
Theintensecoldhadchilledhistemperateblood,evenastherigorsandconventionsofEasternlifehadcheckedhissincerityandspontaneousflowofanimalspiritsbegotteninthefrankintercourseandbrotherhoodofcamps。HehadjustfledfromtheartificialitiesofthegreatAtlanticcitiestoseekoutsomeWesternfarminglandsinwhichhemightputhiscapitalandenergies。Theunlooked-forinterruptionofhisprogressbyalong-forgottenclimateonlydeepenedhisdiscontent。Andnow——thattrainwasactuallybacking!
Itappearedtheymustreturntothelaststationtowaitforasnow-ploughtocleartheline。Itwas,explainedtheconductor,barelyamilefromShepherdstown,wheretherewasagoodhotelandachanceofbreakingthejourneyforthenight。
Shepherdstown!ThenametouchedsomedimchordinBobFalloner\'smemoryandconscience——yetonethatwasvague。ThenhesuddenlyrememberedthatbeforeleavingNewYorkhehadreceivedaletterfromHoustoninforminghimofLasham\'sdeath,remindinghimofhispreviousbounty,andbegginghim——ifhewentWest——tobreakthenewstotheLashamfamily。Therewasalsosomeallusiontoajokeabouthis(Bob\'s)photograph,whichhehaddismissedasunimportant,andevennowcouldnotrememberclearly。Forafewmomentshisconscienceprickedhimthatheshouldhaveforgottenitall,butnowhecouldmakeamendsbythisprovidentialdelay。Itwasnotatasktohisliking;inanyothercircumstanceshewouldhavewritten,buthewouldnotshirkitnow。
ShepherdstownwasonthemainlineoftheKansasPacificRoad,andashealightedatitsstation,thebigthroughtrainsfromSanFranciscosweptoutofthestormydistanceandstoppedalso。Heremembered,ashemingledwiththepassengers,hearingachildishvoiceaskifthiswastheCaliforniantrain。Herememberedhearingtheamusedandpatientreplyofthestation-master:\"Yes,sonny——
heresheisagain,andhere\'sherpassengers,\"ashegotintotheomnibusanddrovetothehotel。Hereheresolvedtoperformhisdisagreeabledutyasquicklyaspossible,andonhiswaytohisroomstoppedforamomentattheofficetoaskforRicketts\'
address。Theclerk,afteraquickglanceofcuriosityathisnewguest,gaveittohimreadily,withasomewhatfamiliarsmile。ItstruckFalloneralsoasbeingoddthathehadnotbeenaskedtowritehisnameonthehotelregister,butthiswasasavingoftimehewasnotdisposedtoquestion,ashehadalreadydeterminedtomakehisvisittoRickettsatonce,beforedinner。Itwasstillearlyevening。
Hewaswashinghishandsinhisbedroomwhentherecamealighttapathissitting-roomdoor。Fallonerquicklyresumedhiscoatandenteredthesitting-roomastheporterusheredinayoungladyholdingasmallboybythehand。But,toFalloner\'sutterconsternation,nosoonerhadthedoorclosedontheservantthantheboy,withahalf-apologeticglanceattheyounglady,utteredachildishcry,brokefromher,andcalling,\"Dick!Dick!\"ranforwardandleapedintoFalloner\'sarms。
ThemereshockoftheonsetandhisownamazementleftBobwithoutbreathforwords。Theboy,witharmsconvulsivelyclaspinghisbody,wasimprintingkissesonBob\'swaistcoatindefaultofreachinghisface。AtlastFallonermanagedgentlybutfirmlytofreehimself,andturnedahalf-appealing,half-embarrassedlookupontheyounglady,whoseownface,however,suddenlyflushedpink。Toaddtotheconfusion,theboy,insomereactionofinstinct,suddenlyranbacktoher,franticallyclutchedatherskirts,andtriedtoburyhisheadintheirfolds。
\"Hedon\'tloveme,\"hesobbed。\"Hedon\'tcareformeanymore。\"
Thefaceoftheyounggirlchanged。Itwasaprettyfaceinitsflushing;inthepalenessandthoughtfulnessthatovercastititwasastrikingface,andBob\'sattentionwasforamomentdistractedfromthegrotesquenessofthesituation。Leaningovertheboyshesaidinacaressingyetauthoritativevoice,\"Runawayforamoment,dear,untilIcallyou,\"openingthedoorforhiminamaternalwaysoinconsistentwiththeyouthfulnessofherfigurethatitstruckhimeveninhisconfusion。Therewassomethingalsoinherdressandcarriagethatequallyaffectedhim:hergarmentsweresomewhatold-fashionedinstyle,yetofgoodmaterial,withanoddincongruitytotheclimateandseason。
Underherroughoutercloaksheworeapolkajacketandthethinnestofsummerblouses;andherhat,thoughdark,wasofroughstraw,plainlytrimmed。Nevertheless,thesepeculiaritieswerecarriedoffwithanairofbreedingandself-possessionthatwasunmistakable。Itwaspossiblethathercoolself-possessionmighthavebeenduetosomeinstinctiveantagonism,forasshecameastepforwardwithcoldlyandclearly-openedgrayeyes,hewasvaguelyconsciousthatshedidn\'tlikehim。Nevertheless,hermannerwasformallypolite,even,ashefancied,tothepointofirony,asshebegan,inavoicethatoccasionallydroppedintothelazySouthernintonation,andaspeechthateasilyslippedattimesintoSoutherndialect:——
\"Isentthechildoutoftheroom,asIcouldseethathisadvanceswereannoyingtoyou,andagooddeal,Ireckon,becauseIknewyourreceptionofthemwasstillmorepainfultohim。Itisquitenatural,Idaresay,youshouldfeelasyoudo,andIreckonconsistentwithyourattitudetowardshim。Butyoumustmakesomeallowanceforthedepthofhisfeelings,andhowhehaslookedforwardtothismeeting。WhenItellyouthateversincehereceivedyourlastletter,heandhissister——untilherillnesskeptherhome——havegoneeverydaywhenthePacifictrainwasduetothestationtomeetyou;thattheyhavetakenliterallyasGospeltrutheverywordofyourletter\"——
\"Myletter?\"interruptedFalloner。
Theyounggirl\'sscarletlipcurledslightly。\"Ibegyourpardon——
Ishouldhavesaidtheletteryoudictated。Ofcourseitwasn\'tinyourhandwriting——youhadhurtyourhand,youknow,\"sheaddedironically。\"Atallevents,theybelieveditall——thatyouwerecomingatanymoment;theylivedinthatbelief,andthepoorthingswenttothestationwithyourphotographintheirhandssothattheymightbethefirsttorecognizeandgreetyou。\"
\"Withmyphotograph?\"interruptedFalloneragain。
Theyounggirl\'scleareyesdarkenedominously。\"Ireckon,\"shesaiddeliberately,assheslowlydrewfromherpocketthephotographDaddyFolsomhadsent,\"thatthatisyourphotograph。
Itcertainlyseemsanexcellentlikeness,\"sheadded,regardinghimwithaslightsuggestionofcontemptuoustriumph。
Inaninstanttherevelationofthewholemysteryflasheduponhim!
TheforgottenpassageinHouston\'sletteraboutthestolenphotographstoodclearlybeforehim;thecoincidenceofhisappearanceinShepherdstown,andthenaturalmistakeofthechildrenandtheirfairprotector,weremadeperfectlyplain。Butwiththisreliefandthecertaintythathecouldconfoundherwithanexplanationcameacertainmischievousdesiretoprolongthesituationandincreasehistriumph。Shecertainlyhadnotshownhimanyfavor。
\"Haveyougottheletteralso?\"heaskedquietly。
Shewhiskeditimpatientlyfromherpocketandhandedittohim。
AshereadDaddy\'scharacteristicextravaganceandrecognizedthefamiliaridiosyncrasiesofhisoldcompanions,hewasunabletorestrainasmile。Heraisedhiseyes,tomeetwithsurprisethefairstranger\'sleveledeyebrowsandbrightlyindignanteyes,inwhich,however,therainwasfastgatheringwiththelightning。
\"Itmaybeamusingtoyou,andIreckonlikelyitwasallaCaliforniajoke,\"shesaidwithslightlytremblinglips;\"Idon\'tknowNo\'therngentlemenandtheirways,andyouseemtohaveforgottenourwaysasyouhaveyourkindred。Perhapsallthismayseemsofunnytothem:itmaynotseemfunnytothatboywhoisnowcryinghisheartoutinthehall;itmaynotbeveryamusingtothatpoorCissyinhersick-bedlongingtoseeherbrother。Itmaybesofarfromamusingtoher,thatIshouldhesitatetobringyouthereinherexcitedconditionandsubjecthertothepainthatyouhavecausedhim。ButIhavepromisedher;sheisalreadyexpectingus,andthedisappointmentmaybedangerous,andIcanonlyimploreyou——forafewmomentsatleast——toshowalittlemoreaffectionthanyoufeel。\"Ashemadeanimpulsive,deprecatinggesture,yetwithoutchanginghislookofrestrainedamusement,shestoppedhimhopelessly。\"Oh,ofcourse,yes,yes,Iknowitisyearssinceyouhaveseenthem;theyhavenorighttoexpectmore;only——only——
feelingasyoudo,\"sheburstimpulsively,\"why——oh,whydidyoucome?\"
HerewasBob\'schance。Heturnedtoherpolitely;begangravely,\"Isimplycameto\"——whensuddenlyhisfacechanged;hestoppedasifstruckbyablow。Hischeekflushed,andthenpaled!GoodGod!
Whathadhecomefor?Totellthemthatthisbrothertheywerelongingfor——livingfor——perhapsevendyingfor——wasdead!Inhiscrassstupidity,hiswoundedvanityoverthescornoftheyounggirl,hisanticipationoftriumph,hehadforgotten——totallyforgotten——whatthattriumphmeant!PerhapsifhehadfeltmorekeenlythedeathofLashamthethoughtofitwouldhavebeenuppermostinhismind;butLashamwasnothispartnerorassociate,onlyabrotherminer,andhissingleactofgenerositywasintheordinaryroutineofcamplife。Ifshecouldthinkhimcoldandheartlessbefore,whatwouldshethinkofhimnow?Theabsurdityofhermistakehadvanishedinthegrimtragedyhehadseemedtohavecruellypreparedforher。Thethoughtstruckhimsokeenlythathestammered,faltered,andsankhelplesslyintoachair。
Theshockthathehadreceivedwassoplaintoherthatherownindignationwentoutinthebreathofit。Herlipquivered。
\"Don\'tyoumind,\"shesaidhurriedly,droppingintoherSouthernspeech;\"Ididn\'tgotohurtyou,butIwasjustthatmadwiththethoughtofthosepickaninnies,andtheeasywayyoutookit,thatI
cleanforgotI\'dnocalltocatechiseyou!Andyoudon\'tknowmefromtheQueenofSheba。Well,\"shewenton,stillmorerapidly,andinodddistinctiontoherpreviousformalslowSoutherndelivery,\"I\'mthedaughterofColonelBoutelle,ofBayouSara,Louisiana;andhispaw,andhispawbeforehim,hadaplantationtheresincethetimeofAdam,buthelostitandsixhundredniggersduringtheWah!Wewerepoohaspohverty——pawandmawandwefourgirls——andnomoreideaofworkthanababy。ButIhadaneducationattheconventatNewOrleans,andcouldplay,andspeakFrench,andIgotaplaceasschool-teacherhere;IreckonthefirstSouthernwomanthathastaughtschoolintheNo\'th!
Ricketts,whousedtobeourstewardatBayouSara,toldmeaboutthepickaninnies,andhowhelplesstheywere,withonlyabrotherwhooccasionallysentthemmoneyfromCalifornia。IsupposeI
cottonedtothepoohlittlethingsatfirstbecauseIknewwhatitwastobealoneamongststrangers,Mr。Lasham;Iusedtoteachthematoddtimes,andlookafterthem,andgowiththemtothetraintolookforyou。PerhapsRickettsmademethinkyoudidn\'tcareforthem;perhapsIwaswronginthinkingitwastrue,fromthewayyoumetJimmyjustnow。ButI\'vespokenmymindandyouknowwhy。\"
Sheceasedandwalkedtothewindow。
Fallonerrose。Thestormthathadsweptthroughhimwasover。
Thequickdetermination,resolutepurpose,andinfinitepatiencewhichhadmadehimwhathewaswereallthere,andwithitaconscientiousnesswhichhisselfishindependencehadhithertokeptdormant。Heacceptedthesituation,notpassively——itwasnotinhisnature——butthrewhimselfintoitwithallhisenergy。
\"Youwerequiteright,\"hesaid,haltingamomentbesideher;\"I
don\'tblameyou,andletmehopethatlateryoumaythinkmelesstoblamethanyoudonow。Now,what\'stobedone?Clearly,I\'vefirsttomakeitrightwithTommy——ImeanJimmy——andthenwemustmakeastraightdashovertothegirl!Whoop!\"Beforeshecouldunderstandfromhisfacethestrangechangeinhisvoice,hehaddashedoutoftheroom。Inamomenthereappearedwiththeboystrugglinginhisarms。\"Thinkofthelittlescampnotknowinghisownbrother!\"helaughed,givingtheboyareallyaffectionate,ifslightlyexaggeratedhug,andexpectingmetoopenmyarmstothefirstlittleboywhojumpsintothem!I\'veagreatmindnottogivehimthepresentIfetchedallthewayfromCalifornia。Waitamoment。\"Hedashedintothebedroom,openedhisvalise——whereheprovidentiallyrememberedhehadkept,withaminer\'ssuperstition,thefirstlittlenuggetofgoldhehadeverfound——seizedthetinybitofquartzofgold,anddashedoutagaintodisplayitbeforeJimmy\'seagereyes。
Iftheheartiness,sympathy,andcharmingkindnessoftheman\'swholemannerandfaceconvinced,evenwhileitslightlystartled,theyounggirl,itwasstillmoreeffectivewiththeboy。Childrenarequicktodetectthefalseringofaffectedemotion,andBob\'swassogenuine——whateveritscause——thatitmighthaveeasilypassedforafraternalexpressionwithhardercritics。Thechildtrustfullynestledagainsthimandwouldhavegraspedthegold,buttheyoungmanwhiskeditintohispocket。\"Notuntilwe\'veshownittoourlittlesister——wherewe\'regoingnow!I\'mofftoorderasleigh。\"Hedashedoutagaintotheofficeasifhefoundsomereliefinaction,or,asitseemedtoMissBoutelle,toavoidembarrassingconversation。Whenhecamebackagainhewascarryinganimmensebearskinfromhisluggage。Hecastacriticallookatthegirl\'sunseasonableattire。
\"IshallwrapyouandJimmyinthis——youknowit\'ssnowingfrightfully。\"
MissBoutelleflushedalittle。\"I\'mwarmenoughwhenwalking,\"
shesaidcoldly。BobglancedathersmartlittleFrenchshoes,andthoughtotherwise。Hesaidnothing,buthastilybundledhistwoguestsdownstairsandintothestreet。Thewhirlwinddanceofthesnowmadethesleighanindistinctbulkintheglitteringdarkness,andastheyounggirlforaninstantstooddazedlystill,Bobincontinentlyliftedherfromherfeet,depositedherinthevehicle,droppedJimmyinherlap,andwrappedthembothtightlyinthebearskin。Herweight,whichwasscarcelymorethanachild\'s,struckhiminthatmomentasbeingtantalizinglyincongruoustothematronlyseverityofhermanneranditsstrangeeffectuponhim。
Hethenjumpedinhimself,takingthedirectionfromhiscompanion,anddroveoffthroughthestorm。
Thewindanddarknesswerenotfavorabletoconversation,andonlyoncedidhebreakthesilence。\"Isthereanyonewhowouldbelikelytoremember——me——wherewearegoing?\"heasked,inalullofthestorm。
MissBoutelleuncoveredenoughofherfacetoglanceathimcuriously。\"Hardly!YouknowthechildrencameherefromtheNo\'thafteryourmother\'sdeath,whileyouwereinCalifornia。\"
\"Ofcourse,\"returnedBobhurriedly;\"Iwasonlythinking——youknowthatsomeofmyoldfriendsmighthavecalled,\"andthencollapsedintosilence。
Afterapauseavoicecameicily,althoughunderthefurs:\"Perhapsyou\'dpreferthatyourarrivalbekeptsecretfromthepublic?ButtheyseemtohavealreadyrecognizedyouatthehotelfromyourinquiryaboutRicketts,andthephotographJimmyhadalreadyshownthemtwoweeksago。\"Bobrememberedtheclerk\'sfamiliarmannerandtheomissiontoaskhimtoregister。\"Butitneedgonofurther,ifyoulike,\"sheadded,withaslightreturnofherpreviousscorn。
\"I\'venoreasonforkeepingitsecret,\"saidBobstoutly。
Nootherwordswereexchangeduntilthesleighdrewupbeforeaplainwoodenhouseinthesuburbsofthetown。Bobcouldseeataglancethatitrepresentedtheincomeofsomecarefulartisanorsmallshopkeeper,andthatitpromisedlittleforaninvalid\'sluxuriouscomfort。Theywereusheredintoachillysitting-roomandMissBoutelleranupstairswithJimmytopreparetheinvalidforBob\'sappearance。Henoticedthataworddroppedbythewomanwhoopenedthedoormadetheyounggirl\'sfacegraveagain,andpaledthecolorthatthestormhadbuffetedtohercheek。Henoticedalsothattheseplainsurroundingsseemedonlytoenhanceherownsuperiority,andthatthewomantreatedherwithadeferenceinoddcontrasttotheill-concealeddisfavorwithwhichsheregardedhim。Strangelyenough,thislatterfactwasarelieftohisconscience。Itwouldhavebeenterribletohavereceivedtheirkindnessunderfalsepretenses;totaketheirjustblameofthemanhepersonatedseemedtomitigatethedeceit。
Theyounggirlrejoinedhimpresentlywithtroubledeyes。Cissywasworse,andonlyintermittentlyconscious,buthadaskedtoseehim。Itwasashortflightofstairstothebedroom,butbeforehereacheditBob\'sheartbeatfasterthanithadinanymountainclimb。Inonecorneroftheplainlyfurnishedroomstoodasmalltrucklebed,andinitlaytheinvalid。ItneededbutasingleglanceatherflushedfaceinitsaureoleofyellowhairtorecognizethelikenesstoJimmy,although,addedtothatstrangerefinementproducedbysuffering,therewasaspiritualexaltationinthechild\'slook——possiblyfromdelirium——thatawedandfrightenedhim;anawfulfeelingthathecouldnotlietothishopelesscreaturetookpossessionofhim,andhisstepfaltered。
Butsheliftedhersmallarmspatheticallytowardshimasifshedivinedhistrouble,andhesankonhiskneesbesideher。Withatinyfingercurledaroundhislongmustache,shelaytheresilent。
Herfacewasfulloftrustfulness,happiness,andconsciousness——
butshespokenoword。
Therewasapause,andFalloner,slightlyliftinghisheadwithoutdisturbingthatfaintlyclaspingfinger,beckonedMissBoutelletohisside。\"Canyoudrive?\"hesaid,inalowvoice。
\"Yes。\"
\"Takemysleighandgetthebestdoctorintowntocomehereatonce。Bringhimwithyouifyoucan;ifhecan\'tcomeatonce,drivehomeyourself。Iwillstayhere。\"
\"But\"——hesitatedMissBoutelle。
\"Iwillstayhere,\"herepeated。
Thedoorclosedontheyounggirl,andFalloner,stillbendingoverthechild,presentlyheardthesleigh-bellspassawayinthestorm。
Hestillsatwithhisbenthead,heldbythetinyclaspofthosethinfingers。Butthechild\'seyeswerefixedsointentlyuponhimthatMrs。Rickettsleanedoverthestrangely-assortedpairandsaid——
\"It\'syourbrotherDick,dearie。Don\'tyouknowhim?\"
Thechild\'slipsmovedfaintly。\"Dick\'sdead,\"shewhispered。
\"She\'swandering,\"saidMrs。Ricketts。\"Speaktoher。\"ButBob,withhiseyesonthechild\'s,liftedaprotestinghand。Thelittlesufferer\'slipsmovedagain。\"Itisn\'tDick——it\'stheangelGodsenttotellme。\"
Shespokenomore。AndwhenMissBoutellereturnedwiththedoctorshewasbeyondthereachoffinitevoices。Fallonerwouldhaveremainedallnightwiththem,buthecouldseethathispresenceinthecontractedhouseholdwasnotdesired。EvenhisoffertotakeJimmywithhimtothehotelwasdeclined,andatmidnighthereturnedalone。
Whathisthoughtswerethatnightmaybeeasilyimagined。Cissy\'sdeathhadremovedtheonlycausehehadforconcealinghisrealidentity。TherewasnothingmoretopreventhisrevealingalltoMissBoutelleandtooffertoadopttheboy。Buthereflectedthiscouldnotbedoneuntilafterthefuneral,foritwasonlyduetoCissy\'smemorythatheshouldstillkeepuptheroleofDickLashamaschiefmourner。IfitseemsstrangethatBobdidnotatthiscrucialmomenttakeMissBoutelleintohisconfidence,Ifearitwasbecausehedreadedthepersonaleffectofthedeceithehadpracticeduponhermorethananyethicalconsideration;shehadsoftenedconsiderablyinherattitudetowardshimthatnight;hewashuman,afterall,andwhilehefelthisconducthadbeenunselfishinthemain,hedarednotconfesstohimselfhowmuchheropinionhadinfluencedhim。Heresolvedthatafterthefuneralhewouldcontinuehisjourney,andwritetoher,enroute,afullexplanationofhisconduct,inclosingDaddy\'sletterascorroborativeevidence。Butonsearchinghisletter-casehefoundthathehadlosteventhatevidence,andhemusttrustsolelyatpresenttoherfaithinhisimprobablestory。
Itseemedasifhisgreatestsacrificewasdemandedatthefuneral!
Foritcouldnotbedisguisedthattheneighborswerestronglyprejudicedagainsthim。Eventhepreacherimprovedtheoccasiontowarnthecongregationagainstthedangersofputtingoffdutyuntiltoolate。AndwhenRobertFalloner,pale,butself-restrained,leftthechurchwithMissBoutelle,equallypaleandreserved,onhisarm,hecouldwithdifficultyrestrainhisfuryatthepassingofasignificantsmileacrossthefacesofafewcuriousbystanders。
\"ItwasAmyBoutelle,thatwasthe\'penitence\'thatfetchedhim,youbet!\"heoverheard,abarelyconcealedwhisper;andthereply,\"Andit\'sagoodthingshe\'smadeoutofittoo,forhe\'smightyrich!\"
Atthechurchdoorhetookhercoldhandintohis。\"Iamleavingto-morrowmorningwithJimmy,\"hesaid,withawhiteface。\"Good-
by。\"
\"Youarequiteright;good-by,\"sherepliedasbriefly,butwiththefaintestcolor。Hewonderedifshehadheardittoo。
Whethershehadhearditornot,shewenthomewithMrs。Rickettsinsomerighteousindignation,whichfound——aftertheyounglady\'shabit——freeexpression。WhateverwereMr。Lasham\'sfaultsofomissionitwasmostun-Christiantoalludetothemthere,andaninsulttothepoorlittledear\'smemorywhohadforgiventhem。
Weresheinhisshoesshewouldshakethedustofthetownoffherfeet;andshehopedhewould。ShewasalittlesoftenedonarrivingtofindJimmyintears。HehadlostDick\'sphotograph——orDickhadforgottentogiveitbackatthehotel,forthiswasallhehadinhispocket。Andheproducedaletter——themissingletterofDaddy,whichbymistakeFallonerhadhandedbackinsteadofthephotograph。MissBoutellesawthesuperscriptionandCalifornianpostmarkwithavaguecuriosity。
\"Didyoulookinside,dear?Perhapsitslippedin。\"
Jimmyhadnot。MissBoutelledid——andIgrievetosay,endedbyreadingthewholeletter。
BobFallonerhadfinishedpackinghisthingsthenextmorning,andwaswaitingforMr。RickettsandJimmy。Butwhenatapcameatthedoor,heopenedittofindMissBoutellestandingthere。\"IhavesentJimmyintothebedroom,\"shesaidwithafaintsmile,\"tolookforthephotographwhichyougavehiminmistakeforthis。Ithinkforthepresentheprefershisbrother\'spicturetothisletter,whichIhavenotexplainedtohimoranyone。\"Shestopped,andraisinghereyestohis,saidgently:\"Ithinkitwouldhaveonlybeenapartofyourgoodnesstohavetrustedme,Mr。Falloner。\"
\"Thenyouwillforgiveme?\"hesaideagerly。
Shelookedathimfrankly,yetwithafainttraceofcoquetrythattheangelsmighthavepardoned。\"DoyouwantmetosaytoyouwhatMrs。RickettssayswerethelastwordsofpoorCissy?\"
Ayearlater,whenthedarknessandrainwerecreepingupSawyer\'sLedge,andHoustonandDaddyFolsomweresittingbeforetheirbrushwoodfireintheoldLashamcabin,thelatterdeliveredhimselforacularly。
\"It\'samightyqueerthing,thatnewsaboutBob!It\'snotthathe\'smarried,forthatmighthappentoanyone;butthisyeraccountinthepaperofhisweddingbeingattendedbyhis\'littlebrother。\'Thatgetsme!Tothinkallthewhilehewasherehewaslettin\'ontousthathehadn\'tkithorkin!Well,sir,thataccountstomeforonething,——thesing\'lerwayhetumbledtothatletterofpoorDickLasham\'slittlebrotherandsenthimthatdraft!Don\'tyesee?Itwasafellerfeelin\'!Knewhowitwashimself!IreckonyeallthoughtIwaskindersoftreadingthatlettero\'DickLasham\'slittlebrothertohim,butyeseewhatitdid。\"
THEYOUNGESTMISSPIPER
IdonotthinkthatanyofuswhoenjoyedtheacquaintanceofthePipergirlsorthehospitalityofJudgePiper,theirfather,evercaredfortheyoungestsister。Notonaccountofherextremeyouth,fortheeldestMissPiperconfessedtotwenty-six——andtheyouthoftheyoungestsisterwasestablishedsolely,Ithink,byonebigbraiddownherback。Neitherwasitbecauseshewastheplainest,forthebeautyofthePipergirlswasarecognizedgeneraldistinction,andtheyoungestMissPiperwasnotentirelydevoidofthefamilycharms。Norwasitfromanylackofintelligence,norfromanydefectivesocialquality;forherprecocitywasastounding,andhergood-humoredfranknessalarming。