NeitherdoIthinkitcouldbesaidthataslightdeafness,whichmightimpartanembarrassingpublicitytoanystatement——thereverseofourgeneralfeeling——thatmightbeconfidedbyanyonetoherprivateear,wasasufficientreason;foritwaspointedoutthatshealwaysunderstoodeverythingthatTomSparrelltoldherinhisordinarytoneofvoice。Briefly,itwasverypossiblethatDelaware——theyoungestMissPiper——didnotlikeus。YetitwasfondlybelievedbyusthattheothersistersfailedtoshowthatindifferencetoourexistenceshownbyMissDelaware,althoughtheheartburnings,misunderstandings,jealousies,hopesandfears,andfinallythechivalrousresignationwithwhichweatlastacceptedthelongforegoneconclusionthattheywerenotforus,andfarbeyondourreach,isnotapartofthisveraciouschronicle。
EnoughthatnoneoftheflirtationsofhereldersistersaffectedorweresharedbytheyoungestMissPiper。Shemovedinthisheart-breakingatmospherewithsublimeindifference,treatinghersisters\'affairswithwhatweconsideredranksimplicityorappallingfrankness。Theirfewadmirerswhowereweakenoughtoattempttogainhermediationorconfidencehadreasontoregretit。
\"It\'snokindo\'usegivin\'megoodies,\"shesaidtoahelplesssuitorofLouisianaPiper\'swhohadofferedtobringhersomesweets,\"forIain\'tgotnoinfluencewithLu,andifIdon\'tgive\'emuptoherwhenshehearsofit,she\'llnagmeandhateyoulikepizen。Unless,\"sheaddedthoughtfully,\"itwaswintergreenlozenges;Lucan\'tstandthem,oranybodywhoeatsthemwithinamile。\"Itisneedlesstoaddthatthemiserableman,thusputuponhisgallantry,wasobligedinhonortoprovideDelwiththewintergreenlozengesthatkepthimindisfavorandatadistance。
Unfortunately,too,anypredilectionorpityforanyparticularsuitorofhersister\'swasattendedbyevenmoredisastrousconsequences。Itwasreportedthatwhileactingas\"gooseberry\"——aroleusuallyassignedtoher——betweenVirginiaPiperandanexceptionallytimidyoungsurveyor,duringaramblesheconceivedararesentimentofhumanitytowardstheunhappyman。Afteronceortwicelingeringbehindintheostentatiouspickingofawaysideflower,or\"runningonahead\"tolookatamountainview,withoutanyapparenteffectontheshyandspeechlessyouth,shedecoyedhimasidewhilehereldersisterrambledindifferentlyandsomewhatscornfullyon。TheyoungestMissPiperleapedupontherailofafence,andwiththestalkofathimbleberryinhermouthswunghersmallfeettoandfroandsurveyedhimdispassionately。
\"Yedon\'tseemtobeketchin\'on?\"shesaidtentatively。
Theyoungmansmiledfeeblyandinterrogatively。
\"Don\'tseemtobeeitherfolleringsuitnortrumpin\',\"continuedDelbluntly。
\"Isupposeso——thatis,IfearthatMissVirginia\"——hestammered。
\"Speakup!I\'malittledeaf。Sayitagain!\"saidDel,screwinguphereyesandeyebrows。
Theyoungmanwasobligedtoadmitinstentoriantonesthathisprogresshadbeenscarcelysatisfactory。
\"You\'regoin\'ontooslow——that\'sit,\"saidDelcritically。\"Why,whenCaptainSavagemeanderedalongherewithJinny\"(Virginia)
\"lastweek,aforewegotasfarasthishe\'dreeledoffaheapofByronandJamieson\"(Tennyson),\"andsich;andonlyyesterdayJinnyandDoctorBeveridgewasblowin\'thistletopstoknowwhichwasaflirtallalongthetrailpastthecrossroads。Why,yeain\'tpickedezmuchasasingleberryforJinny,letaloneLad\'sLoveorJohnnyJumpupsandKissme\'s,andyekeeptalkin\'acrossme,youtwo,tillI\'mtired。Nowlookhere,\"sheburstoutwithsuddendecision,\"Jinny\'sgoneonaheadinakindo\'huff;butIreckonshe\'sdonethataforetoo,andyou\'llfindher,jestasSpinnerdid,ontheriseofthehill,sittin\'onapinestumpandlookin\'
likethis。\"(HeretheyoungestMissPiperlockedherfingersoverherleftknee,anddrewitslightlyup,——withasublimeindifferencetotheexposureofconsiderablesmall-ankledredstocking,——andwithafar-off,plaintivestare,achievedacolorableimitationofhereldersister\'sprobableattitude。)
\"Thenyoujestgoupsoftly,likeasyouwasabear,andclapyourhandsonhereyes,andsayinadisguisedvoicelikethis\"(hereDelturnedonahighfalsettobeyondanymasculinecompass),\"\'Who\'swho?\'jestlikeinforfeits。\"
\"Butshe\'llbesuretoknowme,\"saidthesurveyortimidly。
\"Shewon\'t,\"saidDelinscornfulskepticism。
\"Ihardlythink\"——stammeredtheyoungman,withanawkwardsmile,\"thatI——infact——she\'lldiscoverme——beforeIcangetbesideher。\"
\"Notifyougosoftly,forshe\'llbesittin\'backtotheroad,so——
gazingaway,so\"——theyoungestMissPiperagainstareddreamilyinthedistance,\"andyou\'llcreepupjustbehind,likethis。\"
\"Butwon\'tshebeangry?Ihaven\'tknownherlong——thatis——don\'tyousee?\"Hestoppedembarrassedly。
\"Can\'thearawordyousay,\"saidDel,shakingherheaddecisively。
\"You\'vegotmydeafear。Speaklouder,orcomecloser。\"
Butheretheinstructionsuddenlyended,onceandforalltime!
Forwhethertheyoungmanwasseriouslyanxioustoperfecthimself;
whetherhewastrulygratefultotheyounggirlandtriedtoshowit;whetherhewasemboldenedbythechildishappealofthelongbrowndistinguishingbraiddownherback,orwhetherhesuddenlyfoundsomethingpeculiarlyprovocativeinthereddishbrowneyesbetweentheirthicksethedgeoflashes,andwiththetrimfigureandpiquantpose,andwasseizedwiththathystericdesperationwhichsometimesattackstimidityitself,Icannotsay!Enoughthathesuddenlyputhisarmaroundherwaistandhislipstohersoftsatincheek,pepperedandsaltedasitwasbysun-frecklesandmountainair,andreceivedasoundboxontheearforhispains。
Theincidentwasclosed。Hedidnotrepeattheexperimentoneithersister。Thedisclosureofhisrebuffseemed,however,togiveasingularsatisfactiontoRedGulch。
WhileitmaybegatheredfromthisthattheyoungestMissPiperwasimpervioustogeneralmasculineadvances,itwasnotuntillaterthatRedGulchwasthrownintoskepticalastonishmentbytherumorsthatallthistimeshereallyhadalover!AllusionhasbeenmadetothechargethatherdeafnessdidnotpreventherfromperfectlyunderstandingtheordinarytoneofvoiceofacertainMr。ThomasSparrell。
Nounduesignificancewasattachedtothisfactthroughtheveryinsignificanceand\"impossibility\"ofthatindividual;——alanky,red-hairedyouth,incapacitatedformanuallaborthroughlameness,——
aclerkinageneralstoreattheCrossRoads!HehadneverbeentherecipientofJudgePiper\'shospitality;hehadnevervisitedthehouseevenwithparcels;apparentlyhisonlyinterviewswithheroranyofthefamilyhadbeenoverthecounter。Todohimjusticehecertainlyhadneverseemedtoseekanyneareracquaintance;hewasnotatthechurchdoorwhenhersisters,beautifulintheirSundaygowns,filedintotheaisle,withlittleDelawarebringinguptherear;hewasnotattheDemocraticbarbecue,thatweattendedwithoutreferencetoourpersonalpolitics,andsolelyforthesakeofJudgePiperandthegirls;nordidhegototheAgriculturalFairBall——opentoall。Hisabstentionwebelievedtobeowingtohislameness;toawholesomeconsciousnessofhisownsocialdefects;oraninordinatepassionforreadingcheapscientifictextbooks,whichdidnot,however,addfluencynorconvictiontohisspeech。Neitherhadhetheabstractionofastudent,forhisaccountswerekeptwithanaccuracywhichstruckus,whodealtatthestore,asignoblypractical,andevenmalignant。Possiblywemighthaveexpressedthisopinionmorestronglybutforacertainrudevigorofreparteewhichhepossessed,andasuggestionthathemighthaveatemperonoccasion。\"Themred-hairedchapsisliketobetetchyandtokinderseebloodthroughtheireyelashes,\"hadbeensuggestedbyanobservingcustomer。
Inshort,littleasweknewoftheyoungestMissPiper,hewasthelastmanweshouldhavesuspectedhertoselectasanadmirer。
Whatwedidknowoftheirpublicrelations,purelycommercialones,impliedthereverseofanycordialunderstanding。TheprovisioningofthePiperhouseholdwasentrustedtoDel,withotherpracticaloddsandendsofhousekeeping,notornamental,andthefollowingissaidtobeatruthfulrecordofoneoftheiroverheardinterviewsatthestore:——
TheyoungestMissPiper,entering,displacingaquantityofgoodsinthecentretomakeasidewaysseatforherself,andlookingaroundloftilyasshetookamemorandum-bookandpencilfromherpocket。
\"Ahem!IfIain\'ttakingyouawayfromyourstudies,Mr。Sparrell,maybeyou\'llbegoodenoughtolookhereaminit;——but\"(inaffectedpoliteness)\"ifI\'mdisturbingyouIcancomeanothertime。\"
Sparrell,placingthebookhehadbeenreadingcarefullyunderthecounter,andadvancingtoMissDelawarewithacompleteignoringofherirony:\"Whatcanwedoforyouto-day,MissPiper?\"
MissDelaware,withgreatsuavityofmanner,examininghermemorandum-book:\"Isupposeitwouldn\'tbeshockingyourdelicatefeelingstoomuchtoinformyouthatthecannedlobsterandoystersyousentusyesterdaywasn\'tfitforhogs?\"
Sparrell(blandly):\"Theyweren\'tintendedforthem,MissPiper。
IfwehadknownyouwerehavingcompanyoverfromRedGulchtodinner,wemighthaveprovidedsomethingmoresuitableforthem。
Wehaveafairqualityofoil-cakeandcorn-cobsinstock,atreducedfigures。Butthecannedprovisionswereforyourownfamily。\"
MissDelaware(secretlypleasedatthissarcasticallusiontohersister\'sfriends,butconcealingherdelight):\"Iadmiretohearyoutalkthatway,Mr。Sparrell;it\'sbetterthanminstrelsoracircus。Isupposeyougetitouterthatbook,\"indicatingtheconcealedvolume。\"Whatdoyoucallit?\"
Sparrell(politely):\"TheFirstPrinciplesofGeology。\"
MissDelaware,leaningsidewaysandcurlingherlittlefingersaroundherpinkear:\"Didyousaythefirstprinciplesof\'geology\'
or\'politeness\'?YouknowIamsodeaf;but,ofcourse,itcouldn\'tbethat。\"
Sparrell(easily):\"Ohno,youseemtohavethatinyourhand\"——
pointingtoMissDelaware\'smemorandum-book——\"youwerequotingfromitwhenyoucamein。\"
MissDelaware,afteranaffectedsilenceofdeepresignation:
\"Well!it\'stoobadfolkscan\'tjustspendtheirliveslistenin\'tosucheleganttalk;I\'dadmiretodonothingelse!Butthere\'smyfamilyupatCottonwood——andtheymusteat。They\'rethatlowthattheyexpectmetowastemytimegettingfoodfor\'emhere,insteadofdrinkingintheFirstPrinciplesoftheGrocery。\"
\"Geology,\"suggestedSparrellblandly。\"Thehistoryofrockformation。\"
\"Geology,\"acceptedMissDelawareapologetically;\"thehistoryofrocks,whichissonecessaryforknowingjusthowmuchsandyoucanputinthesugar。SoIreckonI\'llleavemylisthere,andyoucanhavethethingstotedtoCottonwoodwhenyou\'vegotthroughwithyourFirstPrinciples。\"
Shetoreoutalistofhercommissionsfromapageofhermemorandum-book,leapedlightlyfromthecounter,threwherbrownbraidfromherleftshouldertoitsproperplacedownherback,shookoutherskirtsdeliberately,andsaying,\"Thankyouforamostimprovin\'afternoon,Mr。Sparrell,\"saileddemurelyoutofthestore。
AfewauditorsofthisnarrativethoughtitinconsistentthatadaughterofJudgePiperandasisteroftheangelichostshouldputupwithamereclerk\'sfamiliarity,butitwaspointedoutthat\"shegavehimasgoodashesent,\"andthestorywasgenerallycredited。Butcertainlynooneeverdreamedthatitpointedtoanymorepreciousconfidencesbetweenthem。
Ithinkthesecretburstuponthefamily,withotherthings,atthebigpicnicatReservoirCanyon。Thisfestivityhadbeenarrangedforweekspreviously,andwasundertakenchieflybythe\"RedGulchContingent,\"aswewerecalled,asaslightreturntothePiperfamilyfortheirfrequenthospitality。ThePipersisterswereexpectedtobringnothingbuttheirownpersonalgracesandattendtotheministrationofsuchviandsanddelicaciesastheboyshadprofuselysupplied。
ThesiteselectedwasReservoirCanyon,abeautiful,triangularvalleywithverysteepsides,oneofwhichwascrownedbytheimmensereservoirofthePioneerDitchCompany。Thesheerflanksofthecanyondescendedinfurrowedlinesofvinesandclingingbushes,likefoldsoffallingskirts,untiltheybrokeagainintoflouncesofspangledshrubberyoverabroadlevelcarpetofmonkshood,mariposas,lupines,poppies,anddaisies。Temperedandsecludedfromthesun\'sraysbyitsloftyshadows,thedeliciousobscurityofthecanyonwasinsharpcontrasttothefierymountaintrailthatinthefullglareofthenoondayskymadeitstortuouswaydownthehillside,likeastreamoflava,toplungesuddenlyintothevalleyandextinguishitselfinitscoolnessasinalake。
Theheavyodorsofwildhoneysuckle,syringa,andceanothusthathungoveritwerelightenedandfreshenedbythesharpspicingofpineandbay。Themountainbreezewhichsometimesshooktheserratedtopsofthelargeredwoodsabovewithachillfromtheremotesnowpeaksevenintheheartofsummer,neverreachedthelittlevalley。
Itseemedanidealplaceforapicnic。Everybodywasthereforeastonishedtohearthatanobjectionwassuddenlyraisedtothisperfectsite。TheywerestillmoreastonishedtoknowthattheobjectorwastheyoungestMissPiper!Pressedtogiveherreasons,shehadrepliedthatthelocalitywasdangerous;thatthereservoirplaceduponthemountain,notoriouslyoldandwornout,hadbeenrenderedmoreunsafebyfalseeconomyinunskillfulandhastyrepairstosatisfyspeculatingstockbrokers,andthatithadlatelyshownsignsofleakageandsappingofitsouterwalls;that,intheeventofanoutbreak,thelittletriangularvalley,fromwhichtherewasnooutlet,wouldbeinstantlyflooded。Askedstillmorepressinglytogiveherauthorityforthesedetails,sheatfirsthesitated,andthengavethenameofTomSparrell。
Thederisionwithwhichthisstatementwasreceivedbyusall,astheopinionofasedentaryclerk,wasquitenaturalandobvious,butnottheangerwhichitexcitedinthebreastofJudgePiper;
foritwasnotgenerallyknownthatthejudgewastheholderofaconsiderablenumberofsharesinthePioneerDitchCompany,andthatlargedividendshadbeenlatelykeptupbyafalseeconomyofexpenditure,toexpeditea\"sharpdeal\"inthestock,bywhichthejudgeandotherscouldselloutofafailingcompany。Rather,itwasbelieved,thatthejudge\'sangerwasdueonlytothediscoveryofSparrell\'sinfluenceoverhisdaughterandhisinterferencewiththesocialaffairsofCottonwood。ItwassaidthattherewasasharpscenebetweentheyoungestMissPiperandthecombinedforcesofthejudgeandtheeldersisters,whichendedintheformer\'sresoluterefusaltoattendthepicnicatallifthatsitewasselected。
AsDelawarewasknowntobefearlesseventothepointofrecklessness,andfondofgayety,herrefusalonlyintensifiedthebeliefthatshewasmerely\"stickin\'upforSparrell\'sjudgment\"
withoutanyreferencetoherownpersonalsafetyorthatofhersisters。Thewarningwaslaughedaway;theopinionofSparrelltreatedwithridiculeasthedyspepticandenviousexpressionofanimpracticalman。Itwaspointedoutthatthereservoirhadlastedalongtimeeveninitsallegedruinousstate;thatonlyamiracleofcoincidencecouldmakeitbreakdownthatparticularafternoonofthepicnic;thatevenifitdidhappen,therewasnodirectproofthatitwouldseriouslyfloodthevalley,oratbestaddmorethanaspiceofexcitementtotheaffair。The\"RedGulchContingent,\"whoWOULDbethere,wasquiteascapableoftakingcareoftheladies,incaseofanyaccident,asanylamecrankwhowouldn\'t,butcouldonlycroakawarningtothemfromadistance。
Afewevenwishedsomethingmighthappenthattheymighthaveanopportunityofshowingtheirsuperiordevotion;indeed,theprospectofcarryingthehalf-submergedsisters,inaconditionofhelplessloveliness,intheirarmstoaplaceofsafetywasafascinatingpossibility。Thewarningwasconspicuouslyineffective;
everybodylookedeagerlyforwardtothedayandtheunchangedlocality;tothegreatesthopefulnessandanticipationwasaddedthestirringofdefiance,andwhenatlasttheappointedhourhadarrived,thepicnicpartypasseddownthetwistingmountaintrailthroughtheheatandglareinafeverofenthusiasm。
Itwasaprettysighttoviewthissparklingprocession——thegirlscoolandradiantintheirwhite,blue,andyellowmuslinsandflyingribbons,the\"Contingent\"initscleanestducks,andblueandredflannelshirts,thejudgewhite-waistcoatedandpanama-
hatted,withanewdignityborrowedfromthepreviouscircumstances,andthreeorfourimpressiveChinamenbringinguptherearwithhampers——asitatlastdebouchedintoReservoirCanyon。
Heretheydispersedthemselvesoverthelimitedarea,scarcelyhalfanacre,withthefreedomofescapedschoolchildren。Theyweresecureintheirwoodlandprivacy。Theywereoverlookedbynohighroadanditspassingteams;theyweresafefromaccidentalintrusionfromthesettlement;indeedtheywentsofarastoeffecttheexclusivenessof\"clique。\"AtfirsttheyamusedthemselvesbycastinghumorouslydefianteyesatthelonglowDitchReservoir,whichpeepedoverthegreenwalloftheridge,sixhundredfeetabovethem;attimestheyevensimulatedanexaggeratedterrorofit,andonerecognizedhumoristdeclaimedagrotesqueappealtoitsforbearance,withdelightfullocalallusions。Otherspretendedtodiscovernearawoodman\'shut,amongthebeltofpinesatthetopofthedescendingtrail,thepeepingfigureoftheridiculousandenviousSparrell。Butallthiswaspresentlyforgottenintheactualfestivity。Smallaswastherangeofthevalley,itstillallowedretreatsduringthedancesforwaitingcouplesamongtheconvenientlaurelandmanzanitabusheswhichflouncedthemountainside。Afterthedancing,old-fashionedchildren\'sgameswererevivedwithgreatlaughterandhalf-heartedandcoyprotestsfromtheladies;notablyonepastimeknownas\"I\'ma-pinin\',\"inwhichingeniousperformancethevictimwasobligedtostandinthecentreofacircleandpublicly\"pine\"foramemberoftheoppositesex。
SomehilaritywasoccasionedbythemischievousMiss\"Georgy\"Piperdeclaring,whenitcametoherturn,thatshewas\"pinin\'\"foralookatthefaceofTomSparrelljustnow!
Inthislocaltriflingtwohourspassed,untilthepartysatdowntothelong-lookedforrepast。ItwasherethatthehealthofJudgePiperwasneatlyproposedbytheeditorofthe\"Argus。\"Thejudgerespondedwithgreatdignityandsomeemotion。Heremindedthemthatithadbeenhishumbleendeavortopromoteharmony——thatharmonysocharacteristicofAmericanprinciples——insocialashehadinpoliticalcircles,andparticularlyamongthestrangelyconstitutedyetpurelyAmericanelementsoffrontierlife。Heacceptedthepresentfestivitywithitsoverflowinghospitalities,notinrecognitionofhimself——(\"yes!yes!\")——norofhisfamily——
(enthusiasticprotests)——butofthatAmericanprinciple!Ifatonetimeitseemedprobablethatthesefestivitiesmightbemarredbythemachinationsofenvy——(groans)——orthatharmonyinterruptedbytheimportationoflow-tonedmaterialinterests——(groans)——hecouldsaythat,lookingaroundhim,hehadneverbeforefelt——er——that——
Herethejudgestoppedshort,reeledslightlyforward,caughtatacamp-stool,recoveredhimselfwithanapologeticsmile,andturnedinquiringlytohisneighbor。
Alightlaugh——instantlysuppressed——atwhatwasatfirstsupposedtobetheeffectofthe\"overflowinghospitality\"uponthespeakerhimself,wentaroundthemalecircleuntilitsuddenlyappearedthathalfadozenothershadstartedtotheirfeetatthesametime,withwhitefaces,andthatoneoftheladieshadscreamed。
\"Whatisit?\"everybodywasaskingwithinterrogatorysmiles。
ItwasJudgePiperwhoreplied:——
\"Alittleshockofearthquake,\"hesaidblandly;\"amerethrill!I
think,\"headdedwithafaintsmile,\"wemaysaythatNatureherselfhasapplaudedoureffortsingoodoldCalifornianfashion,andsignifiedherassent。Whatareyousaying,Fludder?\"
\"Iwasthinking,sir,\"saidFludderdeferentially,inalowervoice,\"thatifanythingwaswronginthereservoir,thisshock,youknow,might\"——
Hewasinterruptedbyafaintcrashingandcracklingsound,andlookingup,beheldagood-sizedboulder,evidentlydetachedfromsomegreaterheight,striketheuplandplateauattheleftofthetrailandboundintothefringeofforestbesideit。Aslightcloudofdustmarkeditscourse,andthenlazilyfloatedawayinmidair。Butithadbeenwatchedagitatedly,anditwasevidentthatthatsingularlossofnervousbalancewhichisapttoaffectallthosewhogothroughtheslightestearthquakeexperiencewasfeltbyall。Butsomesenseofhumor,however,remained。
\"Looksasifthewaterriskswetookain\'tgoin\'tocoverearthquakes,\"drawledDickFrisney;\"stillthatwasn\'tabadshot,ifweonlyknewwhattheywereaimingat。\"
\"Dobequiet,\"saidVirginiaPiper,hercheekspinkwithexcitement。
\"Listen,can\'tyou?What\'sthatfunnymurmuringyouhearnowandthenupthere?\"
\"It\'sonlythesnow-windplayin\'withthepinesonthesummit。Yougirlswon\'tallowanybodyanyfunbutyourselves。\"
Buthereascreamfrom\"Georgy,\"who,assistedbyCaptainFairfax,hadmountedacamp-stoolatthemouthofthevalley,attractedeverybody\'sattention。Shewasstandingupright,withdilatedeyes,staringatthetopofthetrail。\"Look!\"shesaidexcitedly,\"ifthetrailisn\'tmoving!\"
Everybodyfacedinthatdirection。Atthefirstglanceitseemedindeedasifthetrailwasactuallymoving;wrigglingandundulatingitstortuouswaydownthemountainlikeahugesnake,onlyswollentotwiceitsusualsize。Butthesecondglanceshowedittobenolongeratrailbutachannelofwater,whosestream,liftedinabore-likewallfourorfivefeethigh,wasplungingdownintothedevotedvalley。
Foraninstanttheywereunabletocomprehendeventhenatureofthecatastrophe。Thereservoirwasdirectlyovertheirheads;theburstingofitswalltheyhadimaginedwouldnaturallybringdownthewaterinadozentricklingstreamsorfallsoverthecliffabovethemandalongtheflanksofthemountain。Butthatitssuddenlyliberatedvolumeshouldoverflowtheuplandbeyondandthendescendinapent-upfloodbytheirowntrailandtheironlyavenueofescape,hadbeenbeyondtheirwildestfancy。
TheymetthissmitingtruthwiththatcharacteristicshortlaughwithwhichtheAmericanusuallyreceivestheblowofFateortheunexpected——asifherecognizedonlytheabsurdityofthesituation。Thentheyrantothewomen,collectedthemtogether,anddraggedthemtovantagesoffanciedsecurityamongthebusheswhichflouncedthelongskirtsofthemountainwalls。ButIleavethispartofthedescriptiontothecharacteristiclanguageofoneoftheparty:——
\"Whenthefloodstruckus,itdidnotseemtotakeanystockofusinparticular,butlaiditselfoutto\'gofor\'thatpicnicforallitwasworth!Itwipeditoffthefaceoftheearthinabouttwenty-fiveseconds!Itfirstmadeacleanbreakfromstemtostern,carryingeverythingalongwithit。ThefirstthingIsawwasoldJudgePiper,puttin\'onhisbestlickstogetawayfromabigcanofstrawberryicecreamthatwastrundlingafterhimandtryingtoemptyitselfonhiscollar,wheneverabiggerwaveliftedit。Hewasfollowedbywhatwasleftofthebrassband;thebigdrumjusthumpin\'itselftokeepabreasto\'theicecream,mixedupwithcamp-stools,music-stands,afewChinamen,andthenwhattheycallinthembigSanFranciscoprocessions\'citizensgenerally。\'
Thehullthingsweptupthecanyoninsideo\'thirtyseconds。Then,whatCaptainFairfaxcalled\'thereflexactioninthelawso\'
motion\'happened,anddarnedifthehullblamedprocessiondidn\'tsweepbackagain——thistimealltheheavyartillery,suchascamp-
kettles,lagerbeerkegs,bottles,glasses,andcrockerythatwasleftbehindtakin\'theleadnow,andJudgePiperandthaticecreamcanbringin\'uptherear。Asthejedgepassedusthesecondtime,wenoticedthatthaticecreamcan——hevin\'swallowedwater——waskinderlosingitswind,andweencouragedtheoldmanbyshoutin\'
out,\'Fivetooneonhim!\'Andthen,youwouldn\'tbelievewhatfollowed。Why,darnmyskin,whenthat\'reflex\'metthecurrentattheotherend,itjustswirledaroundagaininwhatCaptainFairfaxcalledthe\'centrifugalcurve,\'andjustwentroundandroundthecanyonlikeezwhenyerwashin\'thedirtouto\'aprospectin\'pan——
everynowandthenwashin\'someoneoftheboysthatwasinit,likescum,upag\'inthebanks。
\"Wemanagedinthiswaytosnakeoutthejudge,jestezhewassailin\'roundonthehomestretch,passin\'thequarterposttwolengthsaheado\'thecan。Agooddealo\'theicecreamhadwashedaway,butittookustenminutestoshakethecrackediceandpowderedsaltouto\'theoldman\'sclothes,andwarmhimupagaininthelaurelbushwherehewasclinging。Thissorto\'\'Herewegoroundthemulberrybush\'kep\'onuntilmosto\'thehumanswasgotout,andonlythefurnitureo\'thepicnicwasleftintherace。
Thenitgotkindermixedup,andwentsloshin\'roundhereandthere,ezthewaterkep\'comin\'downbythetrail。ThenLuluPiper,whatIwasholdin\'upallthetimeinalaurelbush,getsanidea,forallshewaswetanddraggled;andezthethingswentbobbin\'round,shecallsoutthefigureso\'acotillonto\'em。
\'Twocamp-stoolsforward。\'\'Sashayandbacktoyourplaces。\'
\'Changepartners。\'\'Handsallround。\'
\"Shewascleargrit,youbet!Andthejokecaughtonandtheothergirlsjinedin,anditkindercheered\'em,fortheywaswantin\'it。
ThenFludderallowedtopacify\'embysayin\'hejustfiguredupthesizeo\'thereservoirandthesizeo\'thecanyon,andhekalkilatedthatthecubewasaboutekal,andthecanyoncouldn\'tfloodanymore。AndthenLulu——whowaspeartasajayandcouldn\'tbefooled——speaksupandsays,\'What\'sthematterwiththeditch,Dick?\'
\"Lord!thenweknewthatsheknewtheworst;forofcourseallthewaterintheditchitself——fiftymilesofit!——wasdrainin\'nowintothatreservoirandwasboundtocomedowntothecanyon。\"
Itwasatthispointthatthesituationbecamereallydesperate,fortheyhadnowcrawledupthesteepsidesasfarasthebushesaffordedfoothold,andthewaterwasstillrising。Thechatterofthegirlsceased,therewerelongsilences,inwhichthemendiscussedthewildestplans,andproposedtoteartheirshirtsintostripstomakeropestosupportthegirlsbysticksdrivenintothemountainside。Itwasinoneofthoseintervalsthatthedistinctstrokesofawoodman\'saxewereheardhighontheuplandatthepointwherethetraildescendedtothecanyon。Everyearwasalert,butonlythoseononesideofthecanyoncouldgetafairviewofthespot。ThiswasthegoodfortuneofCaptainFairfaxandGeorgyPiper,whohadclimbedtothehighestbushonthatside,andwerenowstandingup,gazingexcitedlyinthatdirection。
\"Someoneiscuttingdownatreeattheheadofthetrail,\"shoutedFairfax。Theresponseandjoyfulexplanation,\"foradamacrossthetrail,\"wasoneverybody\'slipsatthesametime。
Butthestrokesoftheaxewereslowandpainfullyintermittent。
Impatienceburstout。
\"Yelltohimtohurryup!Whyhaven\'ttheybroughttwomen?\"
\"It\'sonlyoneman,\"shoutedthecaptain,\"andheseemstobeacripple。ByJiminy!——itis——yes!——it\'sTomSparrell!\"
Therewasadeadsilence。Then,Igrievetosay,shameanditstwinbrotherragetookpossessionoftheirweakhumanity。Oh,yes!
Itwasallofapiece!WhyinthenameofFollyhadn\'thesentforanable-bodiedman。Weretheytobedrownedthroughhiscrankyobstinacy?
Theblowsstillwentonslowly。Presently,however,theyseemedtoalternatewithotherblows——butalas!theywereslower,andifpossiblefeebler!
\"Havetheygotanothercrippletowork?\"roaredtheContingentinonefuriousvoice。
\"No——it\'sawoman——alittleone——yes!agirl。Hello!Why,sureasyoulive,it\'sDelaware!\"
AspontaneouscheerburstfromtheContingent,partlyasarebuketoSparrell,Ithink,partlyfromsomeshameovertheirpreviousrage。Hecouldtakeitasheliked。
Stilltheblowswentondistressinglyslow。Thegirlswerehoistedonthemen\'sshoulders;themenwerehalfsubmerged。Thentherewasapainfulpause;thenacrumblingcrash。Anothercheerwentupfromthecanyon。
\"It\'sdown!straightacrossthetrail,\"shoutedFairfax,\"andapartofthebankonthetopofit。\"
Therewasanothermomentofsuspense。Woulditholdorbecarriedawaybythemomentumoftheflood?Itheld!InafewmomentsFairfaxagaingavevoicetothecheeringnewsthattheflowhadstoppedandthesubmergedtrailwasreappearing。Intwentyminutesitwasclear——amuddyriverbed,butpossibleofascent!Ofcoursetherewasnodiminutionofthewaterinthecanyon,whichhadnooutlet,yetitnowwaspossibleforthepartytoswingfrombushtobushalongthemountainsideuntilthefootofthetrail——nolongeranopposingone——wasreached。Thereweresomemisstepsandmishaps,——flounderingsinthewater,andsomedangerousrescues,——
butinhalfanhourthewholeconcoursestooduponthetrailandcommencedtheascent。Itwasaslow,difficult,andlugubriousprocession——Ifearnotthebest-temperedone,nowthatthestimulusofdangerandchivalrywaspast。Whentheyreachedthedammadebythefallentree,althoughtheywereobligedtomakealongdetourtoavoiditssteepsides,theycouldseehowsuccessfullyithaddivertedthecurrenttoadeclivityontheotherside。
Butstrangelyenoughtheyweregreetedbynothingelse!SparrellandtheyoungestMissPiperweregone;andwhentheyatlastreachedthehighroad,theywereastoundedtohearfromapassingteamsterthatnooneinthesettlementknewanythingofthedisaster!
Thiswasthelastdropintheircupofbitterness!Theywhohadexpectedthatthesettlementwaswaitingbreathlesslyfortheirrescue,whoanticipatedthattheywouldbewelcomedasheroes,wereobligedtomeettheill-concealedamusementofpassengersandfriendsattheirdishevelledandbedraggledappearance,whichsuggestedonlytheblunderingmishapsofanordinarysummerouting!
\"Boatin\'inthereservoir,andfellin?\"\"Playingatcanal-boatintheDitch?\"weresomeofthecheerfulhypotheses。Thefleetingsenseofgratitudetheyhadfeltfortheirdelivererswasdissipatedbythetimetheyhadreachedtheirhomes,andtheirrancorincreasedbytheinformationthatwhentheearthquakeoccurredMr。TomSparrellandMissDelawarewereenjoyinga\"pasear\"intheforest——
hehavingahalf-holidaybyvirtueofthefestival——andthattheearthquakehadrevivedhisfearsofacatastrophe。Thetwohadprocuredaxesinthewoodman\'shutanddidwhattheythoughtwasnecessarytorelievethesituationofthepicnickers。Buttheverymodestyofthisaccountoftheirownperformancehadtheeffectofbelittlingthecatastropheitself,andthepicnickers\'reportoftheirexceedingperilwasreceivedwithincredulouslaughter。
ForthefirsttimeinthehistoryofRedGulchtherewasaseriousdivisionbetweenthePiperfamily,supportedbytheContingent,andtherestofthesettlement。TomSparrell\'swarningwasrememberedbythelatter,andtheingratitudeofthepicnickerstotheirrescuerscommentedupon;theactualcalamitytothereservoirwasmoreorlessattributedtotheimprudentandrecklesscontiguityoftherevelersonthatday,andtherewerenotwantingthosewhoreferredtheaccidentitselftothemachinationsoftheschemingDitchDirectorPiper!
ItwassaidthattherewasastormysceneinthePiperhouseholdthatevening。ThejudgehaddemandedthatDelawareshouldbreakoffheracquaintancewithSparrell,andshehadrefused;thejudgehaddemandedofSparrell\'semployerthatheshoulddischargehim,andhadbeenmetwiththeastoundinginformationthatSparrellwasalreadyasilentpartnerintheconcern。AtthisrevelationJudgePiperwasalarmed;whilehemightobjecttoaclerkwhocouldnotsupportawife,asaconsistentdemocrathecouldnotopposeafairlyprosperoustradesman。AfinalappealwasmadetoDelaware;
shewasimploredtoconsiderthesituationofhersisters,whohadallmademoreambitiousmarriagesorwereabouttomakethem。Whyshouldshenowdegradethefamilybymarryingacountrystorekeeper?
ItissaidthatheretheyoungestMissPipermadeamemorablereply,andarevelationthetruthofwhichwasnevergainsaid:——
\"YouallwanterknowwhyI\'mgoingtomarryTomSparrell?\"shequeried,standingupandfacingthewholefamilycircle。
\"Yes。\"
\"WhyIpreferhimtothehullcaboodlethatyougirlshavemarriedoraregoingtomarry?\"shecontinued,meditativelybitingtheendofherbraid。
\"Yes。\"
\"Well,he\'stheonlymanofthewholelotthathasn\'tproposedtomefirst。\"
ItispresumedthatSparrellmadegoodtheomission,orthatthefamilyweregladtogetridofher,fortheyweremarriedthatautumn。AndreallyalatercomparisonofthefamilyrecordsshowsthatwhileCaptainFairfaxremained\"CaptainFairfax,\"andtheothersons-in-lawdidnotadvanceproportionatelyinstandingorriches,thelamestorekeeperofRedGulchbecametheHon。SenatorTomSparrell。
AWIDOWOFTHESANTAANAVALLEY
TheWidowWadewasstandingatherbedroomwindowstaringout,inthatvagueinstinctwhichcompelshumanityinmomentsofdoubtandperplexitytoseekthischangeofobservationorsuperiorillumination。NotthatMrs。Wade\'sdisturbancewasofaseriouscharacter。Shehadpassedtheacutestageofwidowhoodbyatleasttwoyears,andtheslightrednessofhersofteyelidsaswellasthedroopofherprettymouthweremerelytherecognizedoutwardandvisiblesignsofthegrievouslymindedreligiouscommunityinwhichshelived。Themourningshestillworewasalsopartlyinconformitywiththesad-coloredgarmentsofherneighbors,andthenecessitiesoftherainyseason。Shewasincomfortablecircumstances,themistressofalargeranchinthevalley,whichhadlatelybecomemorevaluablebytheextensionofawagonroadthroughitscentre。Shewassimplyworryingwhethersheshouldgotoa\"sociable\"endingwith\"adance\"——adaringinnovationofsomestrangers——atthenewhotel,orcontinuetoeschewsuchfollies,thatwere,accordingtolocalbelief,unsuitedto\"avaleoftears。\"
Indeedatthismomenttheprospectshegazedabstractedlyuponseemedtojustifythatlugubriousdescription。TheSantaAnaValley——alongmonotonouslevel——wasdimlyvisiblethroughmovingcurtainsofrainorveilsofmist,totheblackmourningedgeofthehorizon,andhadlookedlikethatformonths。Thevalley——insomeremoteepochanarmoftheSanFranciscoBay——everyrainyseasonseemedtobetryingtoreverttoitsoriginalcondition,and,longaftertheearlyspringhadlaidonitsliberalcolorinstrips,bands,andpatchesofblueandyellow,theblossomsofmustardandlupineglistenedlikewetpaint。NeverthelessonthatrichalluvialsoilNature\'stearsseemedonlytofattenthewidow\'sacresandincreasehercrops。Herneighbors,too,wereequallyprosperous。YetforsixmonthsoftheyeartherecognizedexpressionofSantaAnawasoneofsadness,andfortheothersixmonths——ofresignation。Mrs。Wadehadyieldedearlytothisinfluence,asshehadtoothers,intheweaknessofhergentlenature,andpartlyasitwasmorebecomingthesingulartragedythathadmadeherawidow。
ThelateMr。WadehadbeenfounddeadwithabulletthroughhisheadinasecludedpartoftheroadoverHeavyTreeHillinSonoraCounty。Nearhimlaytwootherbodies,oneafterwardsidentifiedasJohnStubbs,aresidentoftheHill,andprobablyatravelingcompanionofWade\'s,andtheotheranoteddesperadoandhighwayman,stillmasked,asatthemomentoftheattack。Wadeandhiscompanionhadprobablysoldtheirlivesdearly,andagainstodds,foranothermaskwasfoundontheground,indicatingthattheattackwasnotsingle-handed,andasWade\'sbodyhadnotyetbeenrifled,itwasevidentthattheremaininghighwaymanhadfledinhaste。Thehueandcryhadbeengivenbyapparentlytheonlyoneofthetravelerswhoescaped,butashewashasteningtotaketheoverlandcoachtotheEastatthetime,histestimonycouldnotbesubmittedtothecoroner\'sdeliberation。Thefacts,however,weresufficientlyplainforaverdictofwillfulmurderagainstthehighwayman,althoughitwasbelievedthattheabsentwitnesshadbaselydesertedhiscompanionandlefthimtohisfate,or,aswassuggestedbyothers,thathemightevenhavebeenanaccomplice。
Itwasthiscircumstancewhichprotractedcommentontheincident,andthesufferingsofthewidow,farbeyondthatrapidobliterationwhichusuallyovertooksuchaffairsinthefeverishhasteoftheearlydays。ItcausedhertoremovetoSantaAna,whereheroldfatherhadfeeblyrancheda\"quartersection\"inthevalley。Hesurvivedherhusbandonlyafewmonths,leavinghertheproperty,andoncemoreinmourning。Perhapsthiscontinuityofwoeendearedhertoaneighborhoodwheredistinctiveravagesofdiphtheriaorscarletfevergaveakindofsocialpreeminencetoanyhousehold,andshewassosympatheticallyassistedbyherneighborsinthemanagementoftheranchthat,fromanunkemptandwastefulwilderness,itbecamepayingproperty。Theslim,willowyfigure,softred-liddedeyes,anddeepcrapeof\"SisterWade\"atchurchorprayer-meetingwasgratefultothesoulofthesegloomyworshipers,andintimesheherselffoundthatthearmofthesedyspepticsofmindandbodywasneverthelessstrongandsustaining。Smallwonderthatsheshouldhesitateto-nightaboutplungingintoinconsistent,eventhoughtrifling,frivolities。
Butapartfromthissuperficialreason,therewasanotherinstinctiveonedeepdownintherecessesofMrs。Wade\'stimidheartwhichshehadkepttoherself,andindeedwouldhavetearfullyresentedhaditbeenofferedbyanother。ThelateMr。Wadehadbeen,infact,asingularexampleofthiskindoffrivolousexistencecarriedtoaman-likeexcess。Besidesbeingapatronofamusements,Mr。Wadegambled,raced,anddrank。Hewasoftenhomelate,andsometimesnotatall。Notthatthisconductwasexceptionalinthe\"roaringdays\"ofHeavyTreeHill,butithadgivenMrs。Wadeperhapsanunduepreferenceforalesscertain,evenifamoreseriouslife。
Histragicdeathwas,ofcourse,akindofmartyrdom,whichexaltedhiminthefemininemindtoasaintlymemory;yetMrs。Wadewasnotwithoutacertainreliefinthat。Itwasvoiced,perhapscrudely,bythewidowofAbnerDrakeinavisitofcondolencetothetearfulMrs。WadeafewdaysafterWade\'sdeath。\"It\'savaleo\'sorrow,Mrs。Wade,\"saidthesympathizer,\"butithasitsupsanddowns,andIreckenye\'llbefeelin\'soonprettymuchasIdidaboutAbnerwhenHEwastook。Itwasmightysoothin\'andcomfortin\'tofeelthatwhatevermighthappennow,IalwaysknewjustwharAbnerwaspassin\'
hisnights。\"PoorslimMrs。Wadehadnodisquietingsenseofhumortointerferewithherreceptionofthislargetruth,andsheaccepteditwithaburstofreminiscenttears。
Alongvolleyingshowerhadjustpasseddownthelevellandscape,andwasfollowedbyarollingmistfromthewarmsaturatedsoillikethesmokeofthedischarge。Throughitshecouldseeafaintlighteningofthehiddensun,againdarkeningthroughasuddenonsetofrain,andchangingaswithherconflictingdoubtsandresolutions。Thusgazing,shewasvaguelyconsciousofanadditiontothelandscapeintheshapeofamanwhowaspassingdowntheroadwithapackonhisbacklikethetramping\"prospectors\"shehadoftenseenatHeavyTreeHill。Thatmemoryapparentlysettledhervacillatingmind;shedeterminedshewouldNOTgotothedance。
Butasshewasturningawayfromthewindowasecondfigure,ahorseman,appearedinanotherdirectionbyacross-road,ashortercutthroughherdomain。Thisshehadnodifficultyinrecognizingasoneofthestrangerswhoweregettingupthedance。ShehadnoticedhimatchurchonthepreviousSunday。Ashepassedthehouseheappearedtobegazingatitsoearnestlythatshedrewbackfromthewindowlestsheshouldbeseen。Andthen,fornoreasonwhatever,shechangedhermindoncemore,andresolvedtogotothedance。Gravelyannouncingthisfacttothewifeofhersuperintendentwhokepthousewithherinherloneliness,shethoughtnothingmoreaboutit。Sheshouldgoinhermourning,withperhapstheadditionofawhitecollarandfrill。
Itwasevident,however,thatSantaAnathoughtagooddealmorethanshedidofthisnewidea,whichseemedapartoftheinnovationalreadybegunbythebuildingupofthenewhotel。Itwasarguedbysomethatasthenewchurchandnewschoolhousehadbeenopenedbyprayer,itwasonlynaturalthatalighterfestivityshouldinauguratetheopeningofthehotel。\"Ireckonthatdancin\'
isaboutthenextthingtotravelin\'forgettin\'upanappetiteforrefreshments,andthat\'swhatthelandlordiskalkilatin\'tosarve,\"wastheremarkofagloomybutpracticalcitizenontheverandaof\"TheValleyEmporium。\"\"That\'sso,\"rejoinedabystander;\"andInoticeonthatlastboxo\'pillsIgotforchillsthedirectionssaythatalittle\'agreeableexercise\'——nottooviolent——isagreatassistancetotheworkingo\'thepills。\"
\"IreckonthatthatMr。Brookswho\'sdownherelookin\'artermillproperty,gotupthedance。He\'sbinroundtowncanvassin\'allthewomenfolksanddrummin\'uplikelygalsforit。TheysayheactooallysentaninvitetotheWidderWade,\"remarkedanotherlounger。\"Gosh!he\'sgotcheek!\"
\"Well,gentlemen,\"saidtheproprietorjudicially,\"whilewedon\'tintendtohevanyminin\'campfandangosor\'FriscofalalsroundSantaAny——(SantaAnawasproudofitssimpleagriculturalvirtues)——Iain\'tsohard-shelledasnottogivenewthingsafairtrial。And,afterall,it\'sthewomenfolkthathasthesayaboutit。Why,there\'soldMissFordsezshehasn\'tkickedafutsencesheleftMizoori,butwouldn\'tmindtryingitagin。EztoBrookstakin\'thattrouble——well,Isupposeit\'salongo\'hisbein\'
HEALTHY!\"Heheavedadeepdyspepticsigh,whichwasfaintlyechoedbytheothers。\"Why,lookathimnow,ridin\'roundonthatblackhosso\'his,inthewetsincedaylightandnotcarin\'forblindchillsorrhumatiz!\"
Hewaslookingataserape-drapedhorseman,theonethewidowhadseenonthepreviousnight,whowasnowcanteringslowlyupthestreet。Seeingthegroupontheveranda,herodeup,threwhimselflightlyfromhissaddle,andjoinedthem。Hewasanalert,determined,good-lookingfellowofaboutthirty-five,whosesmooth,smilingfacehardlycommendeditselftoSantaAna,thoughhiseyesweredistinctlysympathetic。Heglancedatthedepressedgrouparoundhimandbecameominouslyserious。
\"Whendidithappen?\"heaskedgravely。
\"Whathappen?\"saidthenearestbystander。
\"TheFuneral,Flood,Fight,orFire。WhichofthefourF\'swasit?\"
\"Whatareyetalkin\'about?\"saidtheproprietorstiffly,scentingsomedangeroushumor。