,,short ,,stories ,,for ,,english ,,courses ,,edited ,,with ,,introduction ,,and ,,notes ,,by ,,rosa ,m4 ,r4 ,,mikels ,,shortridge ,,high ,,school1 ,,indianapolis1 ,,ind4 ,,contents ,,preface ,,introduction ,,requirements ,,of ,,the ,,short ,,story ,,how ,,this ,,book ,,may ,,be ,,used ,,the ,,first ,,christmas-,,tree ,henry van ,dyke ,a ,,french ,,tar-,,baby ,joel ,chandler ,harris ,,sonny',s ,,christenin' ,ruth ,mc,enery ,stuart ,,christmas ,,night ,,with ,,satan ,john ,fox1 ,jr4 ,a ,,nest-,,egg ,james ,whitcomb ,riley ,,wee ,,willie ,,winkie ,rudyard ,kipling ,,the ,,gold ,,bug ,edgar ,allan ,poe ,,the ,,ransom ,,of ,,red ,,chief ,o4 ,henry ,,the ,,freshman ,,full-,,back ,ralph ,d4 ,paine ,,gallegher ,richard ,harding ,davis ,,the ,,jumping ,,frog ,mark ,twain ,,the ,,lady ,,or ,,the ,,tiger8 ,frank ,r4 ,stockton ,,the ,,outcasts ,,of ,,poker ,,flat ,francis ,bret ,harte ,,the ,,revolt ,,of ,,mother ,mary ,e4 ,wilkins ,freeman ,,marse ,,chan ,thomas ,nelson ,page ,,posson ,,jone' ,george ,w4 ,cable ,,our ,,aromatic ,,uncle ,henry ,cuyler ,bunner ,,quality ,john ,galsworthy ,,the ,,triumph ,,of ,,night ,edith ,wharton ,a ,,messenger ,mary ,raymond ,shipman ,andrews ,,markheim ,robert ,louis ,stevenson4 ,,preface ,why must we confine the reading of our children to the older literary classics8 ,this is the question asked by an ever- increasing number of thoughtful teachers4 ,they have no wish to displace or to discredit the classics4 ,on the contrary1 they love and revere them4 ,but they do wish to give their pupils something additional1 something that pulses with present life1 that is characteristic of to-day4 ,the children1 too1 wonder that1 with the great literary outpouring going on about them1 they must always fill their cups from the cisterns of the past4 ,the short story is especially adapted to supplement our high- school reading4 ,it is of a piece with our varied1 hurried1 efficient ,american life1 wherein figure the business man's lunch1 the dictagraph1 the telegraph1 the telephone1 the automobile1 and the railway limited4 ,it has achieved high art1 yet conforms to the modern demand that our literature--since it must be read with despatch1 if read at all--be compact and compelling4 ,moreover1 the short story is with us in almost overwhelming numbers1 and is probably here to stay4 ,indeed1 our boys and girls are somewhat appalled at the quantity of material from which they must select their reading1 and welcome any instruction that enables them to know the good from the bad4 ,it is certain1 therefore1 that1 whatever else they may throw into the educational discard when they leave the high school1 they will keep and use anything they may have learned about this form of literature which has become so powerful a factor in our daily life4 ,this book does not attempt to select the greatest stories of the time4 ,what tribunal would dare make such a choice8 ,nor does it attempt to trace the evolution of the short story or to point out natural types and differences4 ,these topics are better suited to college classes4 ,its object is threefold3 to supply interesting reading belonging to the student's own time1 to help him to see that there is no divorce between classic and modern literature1 and1 by offering him material structurally good and typical of the qualities represented1 to assist him in discriminating between the artistic and the inartistic4 ,the stories have been carefully selected1 because in the period of adolescence nothing read fails to leave its mark2 ,footnote3 ,g ,stanley ,hall1 ,adolescence1 vol4 ,,ii4 they have also been carefully arranged with a view to the needs of the adolescent boy and girl4 ,stories of the type loved by primitive man1 and therefore easily approached and understood1 have been placed first4 ,those which appealed in periods of higher development follow1 roughly in the order of their increasing difficulty4 ,it is hoped1 moreover1 that this arrangement will help the student to understand and appreciate the development of the story4 ,he begins with the simple tale of adventure and the simple story of character4 ,as he advances he sees the story develop in plot1 in character analysis1 and in setting1 until he ends with the psychological study of ,markheim1 remarkable for its complexity of motives and its great spiritual problem4 ,both the selection and the arrangement have been made with this further purpose in view-- to keep the heart warm1 reinforcing all its good motives1 preforming choices1 universalizing sympathies4 ,footnote3 ,ibid4 ,it is a pleasure to acknowledge1 in this connection1 the suggestions and the criticism of ,mr4 ,william ,n4 ,otto1 ,head of the ,department of ,english in ,shortridge ,high ,school1 ,indianapolis2 and the courtesies of the publishers who have permitted the use of their material4 ,,introduction ,i ,,requirements ,,of ,,the ,,short ,,story ,critics have agreed that the short story must conform to certain conditions4 ,first of all1 the writer must strive to make one and only one impression4 ,his time is too limited1 his space is too confined1 his risk of dividing the attention of the reader is too great1 to admit of more than this one impression4 ,he therefore selects some moment of action or some phase of character or some particular scene1 and focuses attention upon that4 ,life not infrequently gives such brief1 clear-cut impressions4 ,at the railway station we see two young people hurry to a train as if fearful of being detained1 and we get the impression of romantic adventure4 ,we pass on the street corner two men talking1 and from a chance sentence or two we form a strong impression of the character of one or both4 ,sometimes we travel through a scene so desolate and depressing or so lovely and uplifting that the effect is never forgotten4 ,such glimpses of life and scene are as vivid as the vignettes revealed by the search-light1 when its arm slowly explores a mountain-side or the shore of a lake and brings objects for a brief moment into high light4 ,to secure this single strong impression1 the writer must decide which of the three essentials-- plot1 character1 or setting--is to have first place4 ,as action appeals strongly to most people1 and very adequately reveals character1 the short-story writer may decide to make plot pre-eminent4 ,he accordingly chooses his incidents carefully4 ,any that do not really aid in developing the story must be cast aside1 no matter how interesting or attractive they may be in themselves4 ,this does not mean that an incident which is detached from the train of events may not be used4 ,but such an incident must have proper relations provided for it4 ,thus the writer may wish to use incidents that belong to two separate stories1 because he knows that by relating them he can produce a single effect4 ,shakespeare does this in ,macbeth4 ,finding in the lives of the historic ,macbeth and the historic ,king ,duff incidents that he wished to use1 he combined them4 ,but he saw to it that they had the right relation1 that they fitted into the chain of cause and effect4 ,the reader will insist1 as the writer knows1 that the story be logical1 that incident #a shall be the cause of incident #b1 incident #b of incident #c1 and so on to the end4 ,the triangle used by ,freytag to illustrate the plot of a play may make this clear4 ,,ac is the line of rising action along which the story climbs1 incident by incident1 to the point ,c2 ,c is the turning point1 the crisis1 or the climax2 ,,cb is the line of falling action along which the story descends incident by incident to its logical resolution4 ,nothing may be left to luck or chance4 ,in life the element of chance does sometimes seem to figure1 but in the story it has no place4 ,if the ending is not the logical outcome of events1 the reader feels cheated4 ,he does not want the situation to be too obvious1 for he likes the thrill of suspense4 ,but he wants the hints and foreshadowings to be sincere1 so that he may safely draw his conclusions from them4 ,this does not condemn1 however1 the surprise ending1 so admirably used by ,o4 ,henry4 ,the reader1 in this case1 admits that the writer has played fair throughout1 and that the ending which has so surprised and tickled his fancy is as logical as that he had forecast4 ,to aid in securing the element of suspense1 the author often makes use of what ,carl ,h4 ,grabo1 in his ,the ,art of the ,short ,story1 calls the negative or hostile incident4 ,incidents1 as he points out1 are of two kinds--positive and negative4 ,the first openly help to untangle the situation2 the second seem to delay the straightening out of the threads or even to make the tangle worse4 ,he illustrates this by the story of ,cinderella4 ,the appearance of the fairy and her use of the magic wand are positive1 or openly helpful incidents1 in rescuing ,cinderella from her lonely and neglected state4 ,but her forgetfulness of the hour and her loss of the glass slipper are negative or hostile incidents4 ,nevertheless1 we see how these are really blessings in disguise1 since they cause the prince to seek and woo her4 ,the novelist may introduce many characters1 because he has time and space to care for them4 ,not so the short-story writer3 he must employ only one main character and a few supporting characters4 ,however1 when the plot is the main thing1 the characters need not be remarkable in any way4 ,indeed1 as ,brander ,matthews has said1 the heroine may be a woman1 the hero a man1 not any woman or any man in particular4 ,thus1 in ,the ,lady or the ,tiger8 the author leaves the princess without definite traits of character1 because his problem is not what this particular woman would do1 but what ,a woman would do4 ,sometimes1 after reading a story of thrilling plot1 we find that we do not readily recall the appearance or the names of the characters2 we recall only what happened to them4 ,this is true of the women of ,james ,fenimore ,cooper's stories4 ,they have no substantiality1 but move like veiled figures through the most exciting adventures4 ,setting may or may not be an important factor in the story of incident4 ,what is meant by setting8 ,it is an inclusive term4 ,time1 place1 local conditions1 and sometimes descriptions of nature and of people are parts of it4 ,when these are well cared for1 we get an effect called atmosphere4 ,we know the effect the atmosphere has upon objects4 ,any one who has observed distant mountains knows that1 while they remain practically unchanged1 they never look the same on two successive days4 ,sometimes they stand out hard and clear1 sometimes they are soft and alluring1 sometimes they look unreal and almost melt into the sky behind them4 ,so the atmosphere of a story may envelop people and events and produce a subtle effect upon the reader4 ,sometimes the plot material is such as to require little setting4 ,the incidents might have happened anywhere4 ,we hardly notice the absence of setting in our hurry to see what happens4 ,this is true of many of the stories we enjoyed when we were children4 ,for instance1 in ,the ,three ,bears the incidents took place1 of course1 in the woods1 but our imagination really supplied the setting4 ,most stories1 however1 whatever their character1 use setting as carefully and as effectively as possible4 ,time and place are often given with exactness4 ,thus ,bret ,harte says3 ,as ,mr4 ,john ,oakhurst1 gambler1 stepped into the main street of ,poker ,flat on the morning of the twenty-third of ,november1 #ahej1 he was conscious of a change in its moral atmosphere since the preceding night4 ,this definite mention of time and place gives an air of reality of the story4 ,as to descriptions1 the writer sifts them in1 for he knows that few will bother to read whole paragraphs of description4 ,he often uses local color1 by which we mean the employment of epithets1 phrases1 and other expressions that impart a feeling for the place4 ,this use of local color must not be confused with that intended to produce what is called an impressionistic effect4 ,in the latter case the writer subordinates everything to this effect of scene4 ,this use of local color is discussed elsewhere4 ,perhaps the writer wishes to make character the dominant element4 ,then he subordinates plot and setting to this purpose and makes them contribute to it4 ,in selecting the character he wishes to reveal he has wide choice4 ,human nature is the same1 wherever you find it1 we are fond of saying4 ,so he may choose a character that is quite common1 some one he knows2 and1 having made much of some one trait and ignored or subordinated others1 bring him before us at some moment of decision or in some strange1 perhaps hostile1 environment4 ,or the author may take some character quite out of the ordinary3 the village miser1 the recluse1 or a person with a peculiar mental or moral twist4 ,but1 whatever his choice1 it is not enough that the character be actually drawn from real life4 ,indeed1 such fidelity to what literally exists may be a hinderance to the writer4 ,the original character may have done strange things and suffered strange things that cannot be accounted for4 ,but1 in the story1 inconsistencies must be removed1 and the conduct of the characters must be logical4 ,life seems inconsistent to all of us at times1 but it is probably less so than it seems4 ,people puzzle us by their apparent inconsistencies1 when to themselves their actions seem perfectly logical4 ,but1 as ,mr4 ,grabo points out1 ,in life we expect inconsistencies2 in a story we depend upon their elimination4 ,the law of cause and effect1 which we found so indispensable in the story of plot1 we find of equal importance in the story of character4 ,there must be no sudden and unaccountable changes in the behavior or sentiments of the people in the story4 ,on the contrary1 there must be reason in all they say and do4 ,another demand of the character story is that the characters be lifelike4 ,in the plot story1 or in the impressionistic story1 we may accept the flat figures on the canvas2 our interest is elsewhere4 ,but in the character story we must have real people whose motives and conduct we discuss pro and con with as much interest as if we knew them in the flesh4 ,a character of this convincing type is ,hamlet4 ,about him controversy has always raged4 ,it is impossible to think of him as other than a real man4 ,whenever the writer finds that the characters in his story have caused the reader to wax eloquent over their conduct1 he may rest easy3 he has made his people lifelike4 ,setting in the character story is important1 for it is in this that the chief actor moves and has his being4 ,his environment is continually causing him to speak and act4 ,the incidents selected1 even though some of them may seem trivial in themselves1 must reveal depth after depth in his soul4 ,whatever the means by which the author reveals the character--whether by setting1 conduct1 analysis1 dialogue1 or soliloquy--his task is a hard one4 ,in ,markheim we have practically all of these used1 with the result that the character is unmistakable and convincing4 ,stories of scenes are neither so numerous nor so easy to produce successfully as those of plot and character4 ,but sometimes a place so profoundly impresses a writer that its demands may not be disregarded4 ,robert ,louis ,stevenson strongly felt the influence of certain places4 ,certain dank gardens cry aloud for murder2 certain old houses demand to be haunted2 certain coasts are set apart for shipwreck4 ,other spots seem to abide their destiny1 suggestive and impenetrable4 ,perhaps all of us have seen some place of which we have exclaimed3 ,it is like a story6 ,when1 then1 scene is to furnish the dominant interest1 plot and character become relatively insignificant and shadowy4 ,the pressure of the atmosphere1 says ,brander ,matthews1 holds our attention4 ,the ,fall of the ,house of ,usher1 by ,edgar ,allan ,poe1 is a story of this kind4 ,it is the scene that affects us with dread and horror2 we have no peace until we see the house swallowed up by the tarn1 and have fled out of sight of the tarn itself4 ,the plot is extremely slight1 and the ,lady ,madeline and her unhappy brother hardly more than shadows4 ,it must not be supposed from the foregoing explanation that the three essentials of the short story are ever really divorced4 ,they are happily blended in many of our finest stories4 ,nevertheless1 analysis of any one of these will show that in the mind of the writer one purpose was pre-eminent4 ,on this point ,robert ,louis ,stevenson thus speaks3 ,there are1 so far as ,i know1 three ways and three only of writing a story4 ,you may take a plot and fit characters to it1 or you may take a character and choose incidents and situations to develop it1 or1 lastly1 you may take a certain atmosphere and get actions and persons to express and realize it4 ,when to this clear conception of his limitations and privileges the author adds an imagination that clearly visualizes events and the verbal magic by which good style is secured1 he produces the short story that is a masterpiece4 ,,how ,,this ,,book ,,may ,,be ,,used ,this book may be used in four ways4 ,first1 it may serve as an appetizer4 ,even the casual reading of good literature has a tendency to create a demand for more4 ,second1 it may be made the basis for discussion and comparison4 ,by using these stories1 the works of recognized authors1 as standards1 the student may determine the value of such stories as come into his home4 ,third1 these selections may be studied in a regular short-story course1 such as many high schools have1 to illustrate the requirements and the types of this form of narration4 ,the chapter on ,the ,requirements of the ,short ,story will be found useful both in this connection and in the comparative study of stories4 ,fourth1 the student will better appreciate and understand the short story if he attempts to tell or to write one4 ,this does not mean that we intend to train him for the literary market4 ,our object is entirely different4 ,no form of literature brings more real joy to the child than the story4 ,not only does he like to hear stories2 he likes to tell them4 ,and where the short-story course is rightly used1 he likes to write them4 ,he finds that the pleasure of exercising creative power more than offsets the drudgery inevitable in composition4 ,a plan that has been satisfactorily carried out in the classroom is here briefly outlined4 ,the teacher reads with the class a story in which plot furnishes the main interest4 ,this type is chosen because it is more easily analyzed by beginners4 ,the class discusses this1 applying the tests of the short story given elsewhere in this book4 ,then a number of short stories of different types are read and compared4 ,next1 each member of the class selects from some recent book or magazine a short story he enjoys4 ,this he outlines and reports to the class4 ,if this report is not satisfactory1 the class insists that either the author or the reporter be exonerated4 ,the story is accordingly read to the class1 or is read and reported on by another member4 ,the class is then usually able to decide whether the story is faulty or the first report inadequate4 ,next the class gives orally incidents that might or might not be expanded into short stories4 ,the students soon discover that some of these require the lengthy treatment of a novel1 that others are good as simple incidents but nothing more1 and that still others might develop into satisfactory short stories4 ,the class is now asked to develop original plots4 ,since plots cannot be produced on demand1 but require time for the mind to act subconsciously1 the class practises1 during the period of incubation1 the writing of dialogue4 ,for these the teacher suggests a list of topics1 although any student is free to substitute one of his own4 ,among the topics that have been used are3 ,johnny goes with his mother to church for the first time1 ,mrs4 ,hennessy is annoyed by the chickens of ,mrs4 ,jones1 ,albert applies for a summer job4 ,sometimes the teacher relates an incident1 and has the class reproduce it in dialogue4 ,by comparing their work with dialogue by recognized writers the youthful authors soon learn how to punctuate and paragraph conversation1 and where to place necessary comment and explanation4 ,they also discover that dialogue must either reveal character or advance the story2 and that it must be in keeping with the theme and maintain the tone used at the beginning4 ,a commonplace dialogue must not suddenly become romantic in tone1 and dialect must not lapse into ordinary ,english4 ,,introduction ,the original plots the class offers later may have been suggested in many ways4 ,newspaper accounts1 court reports1 historical incidents1 family traditions--all may contribute4 ,sometimes the student proudly declares of his plot1 ,i made it out of my own head4 ,these plots are arranged in outline form to show how incident #a developed incident #b1 that incident #c1 and so on to the conclusion4 ,the class points out the weak places in these plots and offers helpful suggestions4 ,this co-operation often produces surprisingly good results4 ,a solution that the troubled originator of the plot never thought of may come almost as an inspiration from the class4 ,criticism throughout is largely constructive4 ,after the student has developed several plots in outline1 he usually finds among them one that he wishes to use for his story4 ,this is worked out in some detail1 submitted to the class1 and later in a revised form to the teacher4 ,the story when complete is corrected and sometimes rewritten4 ,most of the class prefer to write stories of plot1 but some insist upon trying stories of character or of setting4 ,these pupils are shown the difficulties in their way1 but are allowed to try their hand if they insist4 ,sometimes the results are good2 more often the writer1 after an honest effort1 admits that he cannot handle his subject well and substitutes a story of plot4 ,in any case the final draft is sure to leave much to be desired2 but even so1 the gain has been great4 ,the pupil writer has constantly been measuring his work by standards of recognized excellence in form and in creative power2 as a result he has learned to appreciate the short story from the art side4 ,moreover1 he has had a large freedom in his work that has relieved it of drudgery4 ,and1 best of all1 he has been doing original work with plastic material2 and to work with plastic material is always a source of joy1 whether it be the mud that the child makes into pies1 the clay that the artist moulds into forms of beauty1 or the facts of life that the creative imagination of the writer shapes into literature4 ,,the ,,first ,,christmas ,,tree ,a ,,story ,,of ,,the ,,forest ,,by ,,henry ,,van ,,dyke ,this story is placed first because it is of the type that first delighted man4 ,it is the story of high adventure1 of a struggle with the forces of nature1 barbarous men1 and heathen gods4 ,the hero is a hunter of demons1 a subduer of the wilderness1 a woodman of the faith4 ,he seeks hardships and conquers them4 ,the setting is the illumitable forest in the remote past4 ,the forest1 like the sea1 makes an irresistible appeal to the imagination4 ,either may be the scene of the marvellous and the thrilling4 ,quite unlike the earliest tales1 this story is enriched with description and exposition2 nevertheless1 it has their simplicity and dignity4 ,it reminds us of certain of the great ,biblical narratives1 such as the contest between ,elijah and the prophets of ,baal and the victory of ,daniel over the jealous presidents and princes of ,darius4 ,in ,the ,first ,christmas ,tree1 as in many others of these stories1 a third person is the narrator4 ,but the hero may tell his own adventures4 ,i did this4 ,i did that4 ,thus ,i felt at the conclusion4 ,instances are ,defoe's ,robinson ,crusoe and ,stevenson's ,kidnapped4 ,but whether in the first or third person1 the story holds us by the magic of adventure4 ,,the ,,first ,,christmas ,,tree ,footnote3 ,from ,the ,first ,christmas ,tree1 by ,henry ,van ,dyke4 ,copyright1 #ahig1 by ,charles ,scribner's ,sons4 ,i ,,the ,,call ,,of ,,the ,,woodsman ,the day before ,christmas1 in the year of our ,lord #gbb4 ,broad snow-meadows glistening white along the banks of the river ,moselle2 pallid hill-sides blooming with mystic roses where the glow of the setting sun still lingered upon them2 an arch of clearest1 faintest azure bending overhead2 in the centre of the aerial landscape the massive walls of the cloister of ,pfalzel1 gray to the east1 purple to the west2 silence over all1--a gentle1 eager1 conscious stillness1 diffused through the air like perfume1 as if earth and sky were hushing themselves to hear the voice of the river faintly murmuring down the valley4 ,in the cloister1 too1 there was silence at the sunset hour4 ,all day long there had been a strange and joyful stir among the nuns4 ,a breeze of curiosity and excitement had swept along the corridors and through every quiet cell4 ,the elder sisters1--the provost1 the deaconess1 the stewardess1 the portress with her huge bunch of keys jingling at her girdle1-- had been hurrying to and fro1 busied with household cares4 ,in the huge kitchen there was a bustle of hospitable preparation4 ,the little bandy-legged dogs that kept the spits turning before the fires had been trotting steadily for many an hour1 until their tongues hung out for want of breath4 ,the big black pots swinging from the cranes had bubbled and gurgled and shaken and sent out puffs of appetizing steam4 ,st4 ,martha was in her element4 ,it was a field-day for her virtues4 ,the younger sisters1 the pupils of the convent1 had forsaken their ,latin books and their embroidery-frames1 their manuscripts and their miniatures1 and fluttered through the halls in little flocks like merry snow-birds1 all in black and white1 chattering and whispering together4 ,this was no day for tedious task-work1 no day for grammar or arithmetic1 no day for picking out illuminated letters in red and gold on stiff parchment1 or patiently chasing intricate patterns over thick cloth with the slow needle4 ,it was a holiday4 ,a famous visitor had come to the convent4 ,it was ,winfried of ,england1 whose name in the ,roman tongue was ,boniface1 and whom men called the ,apostle of ,germany4 ,a great preacher2 a wonderful scholar2 he had written a ,latin grammar himself1--think of it1--and he could hardly sleep without a book under his pillow2 but1 more than all1 a great and daring traveller1 a venturesome pilgrim1 a high-priest of romance4 ,he had left his home and his fair estate in ,wessex2 he would not stay in the rich monastery of ,nutescelle1 even though they had chosen him as the abbot2 he had refused a bishopric at the court of ,king ,karl4 ,nothing would content him but to go out into the wild woods and preach to the heathen4 ,up and down through the forests of ,hesse and ,thuringia1 and along the borders of ,saxony1 he had wandered for years1 with a handful of companions1 sleeping under the trees1 crossing mountains and marshes1 now here1 now there1 never satisfied with ease and comfort1 always in love with hardship and danger4 ,what a man he was6 ,fair and slight1 but straight as a spear and strong as an oaken staff4 ,his face was still young2 the smooth skin was bronzed by wind and sun4 ,his gray eyes1 clear and kind1 flashed like fire when he spoke of his adventures1 and of the evil deeds of the false priests with whom he contended4 ,what tales he had told that day6 ,not of miracles wrought by sacred relics2 not of courts and councils and splendid cathedrals2 though he knew much of these things1 and had been at ,rome and received the ,pope's blessing4 ,but to-day he had spoken of long journeyings by sea and land2 of perils by fire and flood2 of wolves and bears and fierce snowstorms and black nights in the lonely forest2 of dark altars of heathen gods1 and weird1 bloody sacrifices1 and narrow escapes from murderous bands of wandering savages4 ,the little novices had gathered around him1 and their faces had grown pale and their eyes bright as they listened with parted lips1 entranced in admiration1 twining their arms about one another's shoulders and holding closely together1 half in fear1 half in delight4 ,the older nuns had turned from their tasks and paused1 in passing by1 to hear the pilgrim's story4 ,too well they knew the truth of what he spoke4 ,many a one among them had seen the smoke rising from the ruins of her father's roof4 ,many a one had a brother far away in the wild country to whom her heart went out night and day1 wondering if he were still among the living4 ,but now the excitements of that wonderful day were over2 the hour of the evening meal had come2 the inmates of the cloister were assembled in the refectory4 ,on the dais sat the stately ,abbess ,addula1 daughter of ,king ,dagobert1 looking a princess indeed1 in her violet tunic1 with the hood and cuffs of her long white robe trimmed with fur1 and a snowy veil resting like a crown on her snowy hair4 ,at her right hand was the honored guest1 and at her left hand her grandson1 the young ,prince ,gregor1 a big1 manly boy1 just returned from the high school4 ,the long1 shadowy hall1 with its dark-brown rafters and beams2 the double rows of nuns1 with their pure veils and fair faces2 the ruddy glow of the slanting sunbeams striking upwards through the tops of the windows and painting a pink glow high up on the walls1--it was all as beautiful as a picture1 and as silent4 ,for this was the rule of the cloister1 that at the table all should sit in stillness for a little while1 and then one should read aloud1 while the rest listened4 ,it is the turn of my grandson to read to-day1 said the abbess to ,winfried2 we shall see how much he has learned in the school4 ,read1 ,gregor2 the place in the book is marked4 ,the tall lad rose from his seat and turned the pages of the manuscript4 ,it was a copy of ,jerome's version of the ,scriptures in ,latin1 and the marked place was in the letter of ,st4 ,paul to the ,ephesians1--the passage where he describes the preparation of the ,christian as the arming of a warrior for glorious battle4 ,the young voice rang out clearly1 rolling the sonorous words1 without slip or stumbling1 to the end of the chapter4 ,winfried listened smiling4 ,my son1 said he1 as the reader paused1 that was bravely read4 ,understandest thou what thou readest8 ,surely1 father1 answered the boy2 it was taught me by the masters at ,treves2 and we have read this epistle clear through1 from beginning to end1 so that ,i almost know it by heart4 then he began again to repeat the passage1 turning away from the page as if to show his skill4 ,but ,winfried stopped him with a friendly lifting of the hand4 ,not so1 my son2 that was not my meaning4 ,when we pray1 we speak to ,god2 when we read1 it is ,god who speaks to us4 ,i ask whether thou hast heard what ,he has said to thee1 in thine own words1 in the common speech4 ,come1 give us again the message of the warrior and his armor and his battle1 in the mother-tongue1 so that all can understand it4 ,the boy hesitated1 blushed1 stammered2 then he came around to ,winfried's seat1 bringing the book4 ,take the book1 my father1 he cried1 and read it for me4 ,i cannot see the meaning plain1 though ,i love the sound of the words4 ,religion ,i know1 and the doctrines of our faith1 and the life of priests and nuns in the cloister1 for which my grandmother designs me1 though it likes me little4 ,and fighting ,i know1 and the life of warriors and heroes1 for ,i have read of it in ,virgil and the ancients1 and heard a bit from the soldiers at ,treves2 and ,i would fain taste more of it1 for it likes me much4 ,but how the two lives fit together1 or what need there is of armor for a clerk in holy orders1 ,i can never see4 ,tell me the meaning1 for if there is a man in all the world that knows it1 ,i am sure it is none other than thou4 ,so ,winfried took the book and closed it1 clasping the boy's hand with his own4 ,let us first dismiss the others to their vespers1 said he1 lest they should be weary4 ,a sign from the abbess2 a chanted benediction2 a murmuring of sweet voices and a soft rustling of many feet over the rushes on the floor2 the gentle tide of noise flowed out through the doors and ebbed away down the corridors2 the three at the head of the table were left alone in the darkening room4 ,then ,winfried began to translate the parable of the soldier into the realities of life4 ,at every turn he knew how to flash a new light into the picture out of his own experience4 ,he spoke of the combat with self1 and of the wrestling with dark spirits in solitude4 ,he spoke of the demons that men had worshipped for centuries in the wilderness1 and whose malice they invoked against the stranger who ventured into the gloomy forest4 ,gods1 they called them1 and told strange tales of their dwelling among the impenetrable branches of the oldest trees and in the caverns of the shaggy hills2 of their riding on the wind-horses and hurling spears of lightning against their foes4 ,gods they were not1 but foul spirits of the air1 rulers of the darkness4 ,was there not glory and honor in fighting with them1 in daring their anger under the shield of faith1 in putting them to flight with the sword of truth8 ,what better adventure could a brave man ask than to go forth against them1 and wrestle with them1 and conquer them8 ,look you1 my friends1 said ,winfried1 how sweet and peaceful is this convent to-night1 on the eve of the nativity of the ,prince of ,peace6 ,it is a garden full of flowers in the heart of winter2 a nest among the branches of a great tree shaken by the winds2 a still haven on the edge of a tempestuous sea4 ,and this is what religion means for those who are chosen and called to quietude and prayer and meditation4 ,but out yonder in the wide forest1 who knows what storms are raving to-night in the hearts of men1 though all the woods are still8 who knows what haunts of wrath and cruelty and fear are closed to-night against the advent of the ,prince of ,peace8 ,and shall ,i tell you what religion means to those who are called and chosen to dare and to fight1 and to conquer the world for ,christ8 ,it means to launch out into the deep4 ,it means to go against the strongholds of the adversary4 ,it means to struggle to win an entrance for their ,master everywhere4 ,what helmet is strong enough for this strife save the helmet of salvation8 ,what breastplate can guard a man against these fiery darts but the breastplate of righteousness8 ,what shoes can stand the wear of these journeys but the preparation of the gospel of peace8 ,shoes8 he cried again1 and laughed as if a sudden thought had struck him4 ,he thrust out his foot1 covered with a heavy cowhide boot1 laced high about his leg with thongs of skin4 ,see here1--how a fighting man of the cross is shod6 ,i have seen the boots of the ,bishop of ,tours1--white kid1 broidered with silk2 a day in the bogs would tear them to shreds4 ,i have seen the sandals that the monks use on the highroads1--yes1 and worn them2 ten pair of them have ,i worn out and thrown away in a single journey4 ,now ,i shoe my feet with the toughest hides1 hard as iron2 no rock can cut them1 no branches can tear them4 ,yet more than one pair of these have ,i outworn1 and many more shall ,i outwear ere my journeys are ended4 ,and ,i think1 if ,god is gracious to me1 that ,i shall die wearing them4 ,better so than in a soft bed with silken coverings4 ,the boots of a warrior1 a hunter1 a woodsman1--these are my preparation of the gospel of peace4 ,come1 ,gregor1 he said1 laying his brown hand on the youth's shoulder1 come1 wear the forester's boots with me4 ,this is the life to which we are called4 ,be strong in the ,lord1 a hunter of the demons1 a subduer of the wilderness1 a woodsman of the faith4 ,come6 ,the boy's eyes sparkled4 ,he turned to his grandmother4 ,she shook her head vigorously4 ,nay1 father1 she said1 draw not the lad away from my side with these wild words4 ,i need him to help me with my labors1 to cheer my old age4 ,do you need him more than the ,master does8 asked ,winfried2 and will you take the wood that is fit for a bow to make a distaff8 ,but ,i fear for the child4 ,thy life is too hard for him4 ,he will perish with hunger in the woods4 ,once1 said ,winfried1 smiling1 we were camped by the bank of the river ,ohru4 ,the table was spread for the morning meal1 but my comrades cried that it was empty2 the provisions were exhausted2 we must go without breakfast1 and perhaps starve before we could escape from the wilderness4 ,while they complained1 a fish-hawk flew up from the river with flapping wings1 and let fall a great pike in the midst of the camp4 ,there was food enough and to spare4 ,never have ,i seen the righteous forsaken1 nor his seed begging bread4 ,but the fierce pagans of the forest1 cried the abbess1--they may pierce the boy with their arrows1 or dash out his brains with their axes4 ,he is but a child1 too young for the dangers of strife4 ,a child in years1 replied ,winfried1 but a man in spirit4 ,and if the hero must fall early in the battle1 he wears the brighter crown1 not a leaf withered1 not a flower fallen4 ,the aged princess trembled a little4 ,she drew ,gregor close to her side1 and laid her hand gently on his brown hair4 ,i am not sure that he wants to leave me yet4 ,besides1 there is no horse in the stable to give him1 now1 and he cannot go as befits the grandson of a king4 ,gregor looked straight into her eyes4 ,grandmother1 said he1 dear grandmother1 if thou wilt not give me a horse to ride with this man of ,god1 ,i will go with him afoot4 ,,ii ,,the ,,trail ,,through ,,the ,,forest ,two years had passed1 to a day1 almost to an hour1 since that ,christmas eve in the cloister of ,pfalzel4 ,a little company of pilgrims1 less than a score of men1 were creeping slowly northward through the wide forest that rolled over the hills of central ,germany4 ,at the head of the band marched ,winfried1 clad in a tunic of fur1 with his long black robe girt high about his waist1 so that it might not hinder his stride4 ,his hunter's boots were crusted with snow4 ,drops of ice sparkled like jewels along the thongs that bound his legs4 ,there was no other ornament to his dress except the bishop's cross hanging on his breast1 and the broad silver clasp that fastened his cloak about his neck4 ,he carried a strong1 tall staff in his hand1 fashioned at the top into the form of a cross4 ,close beside him1 keeping step like a familiar comrade1 was the young ,prince ,gregor4 ,long marches through the wilderness had stretched his limbs and broadened his back1 and made a man of him in stature as well as in spirit4 ,his jacket and cap were of wolf- skin1 and on his shoulder he carried an axe1 with broad1 shining blade4 ,he was a mighty woodsman now1 and could make a spray of chips fly around him as he hewed his way through the trunk of spruce-tree4 ,behind these leaders followed a pair of teamsters1 guiding a rude sledge1 loaded with food and the equipage of the camp1 and drawn by two big1 shaggy horses1 blowing thick clouds of steam from their frosty nostrils4 ,tiny icicles hung from the hairs on their lips4 ,their flanks were smoking4 ,they sank above the fetlocks at every step in the soft snow4 ,last of all came the rear guard1 armed with bows and javelins4 ,it was no child's play1 in those days1 to cross ,europe afoot4 ,the weird woodland1 sombre and illimitable1 covered hill and vale1 tableland and mountain-peak4 ,there were wide moors where the wolves hunted in packs as if the devil drove them1 and tangled thickets where the lynx and the boar made their lairs4 ,fierce bears lurked among the rocky passes1 and had not yet learned to fear the face of man4 ,the gloomy recesses of the forest gave shelter to inhabitants who were still more cruel and dangerous than beasts of prey1--outlaws and sturdy robbers and mad were- wolves and bands of wandering pillagers4 ,the pilgrim who would pass from the mouth of the ,tiber to the mouth of the ,rhine must travel with a little army of retainers1 or else trust in ,god and keep his arrows loose in the quiver4 ,the travellers were surrounded by an ocean of trees1 so vast1 so full of endless billows1 that it seemed to be pressing on every side to overwhelm them4 ,gnarled oaks1 with branches twisted and knotted as if in rage1 rose in groves like tidal waves4 ,smooth forests of beech-trees1 round and gray1 swept over the knolls and slopes of land in a mighty ground-swell4 ,but most of all1 the multitude of pines and firs1 innumerable and monotonous1 with straight1 stark trunks1 and branches woven together in an unbroken flood of darkest green1 crowded through the valleys and over the hills1 rising on the highest ridges into ragged crests1 like the foaming edge of breakers4 ,through this sea of shadows ran a narrow stream of shining whiteness1--an ancient ,roman road1 covered with snow4 ,it was as if some great ship had ploughed through the green ocean long ago1 and left behind it a thick1 smooth wake of foam4 ,along this open track the travellers held their way1--heavily1 for the drifts were deep2 warily1 for the hard winter had driven many packs of wolves down from the moors4 ,the steps of the pilgrims were noiseless2 but the sledges creaked over the dry snow1 and the panting of the horses throbbed through the still1 cold air4 ,the pale-blue shadows on the western side of the road grew longer4 ,the sun1 declining through its shallow arch1 dropped behind the tree-tops4 ,darkness followed swiftly1 as if it had been a bird of prey waiting for this sign to swoop down upon the world4 ,father1 said ,gregor to the leader1 surely this day's march is done4 ,it is time to rest1 and eat1 and sleep4 ,if we press onward now1 we cannot see our steps2 and will not that be against the word of the psalmist ,david1 who bids us not to put confidence in the legs of a man8 ,winfried laughed4 ,nay1 my son ,gregor1 said he1 thou hast tripped1 even now1 upon thy text4 ,for ,david said only1 ',i take no pleasure in the legs of a man4' ,and so say ,i1 for ,i am not minded to spare thy legs or mine1 until we come farther on our way1 and do what must be done this night4 ,draw the belt tighter1 my son1 and hew me out this tree that is fallen across the road1 for our camp-ground is not here4 ,the youth obeyed2 two of the foresters sprang to help him2 and while the soft fir-wood yielded to the stroke of the axes1 and the snow flew from the bending branches1 ,winfried turned and spoke to his followers in a cheerful voice1 that refreshed them like wine4 ,courage1 brothers1 and forward yet a little6 ,the moon will light us presently1 and the path is plain4 ,well know ,i that the journey is weary2 and my own heart wearies also for the home in ,england1 where those ,i love are keeping feast this ,christmas eve4 ,but we have work to do before we feast to-night4 ,for this is the ,yuletide1 and the heathen people of the forest have gathered at the thunder-oak of ,geismar to worship their god1 ,thor4 ,strange things will be seen there1 and deeds which make the soul black4 ,but we are sent to lighten their darkness2 and we will teach our kinsmen to keep a ,christmas with us such as the woodland has never known4 ,forward1 then1 and let us stiffen up our feeble knees6 ,a murmur of assent came from the men4 ,even the horses seemed to take fresh heart4 ,they flattened their backs to draw the heavy loads1 and blew the frost from their nostrils as they pushed ahead4 ,the night grew broader and less oppressive4 ,a gate of brightness was opened secretly somewhere in the sky2 higher and higher swelled the clear moon-flood1 until it poured over the eastern wall of forest into the road4 ,a drove of wolves howled faintly in the distance1 but they were receding1 and the sound soon died away4 ,the stars sparkled merrily through the stringent air2 the small1 round moon shone like silver2 little breaths of the dreaming wind wandered whispering across the pointed fir-tops1 as the pilgrims toiled bravely onward1 following their clue of light through a labyrinth of darkness4 ,after a while the road began to open out a little4 ,there were spaces of meadow-land1 fringed with alders1 behind which a boisterous river ran1 clashing through spears of ice4 ,rude houses of hewn logs appeared in the openings1 each one casting a patch of inky blackness upon the snow4 ,then the travellers passed a larger group of dwellings1 all silent and unlighted2 and beyond1 they saw a great house1 with many outbuildings and enclosed courtyards1 from which the hounds bayed furiously1 and a noise of stamping horses came from the stalls4 ,but there was no other sound of life4 ,the fields around lay bare to the moon4 ,they saw no man1 except that once1 on a path that skirted the farther edge of a meadow1 three dark figures passed by1 running very swiftly4 ,then the road plunged again into a dense thicket1 traversed it1 and climbing to the left1 emerged suddenly upon a glade1 round and level except at the northern side1 where a swelling hillock was crowned with a huge oak-tree4 ,it towered above the heath1 a giant with contorted arms1 beckoning to the host of lesser trees4 ,here1 cried ,winfried1 as his eyes flashed and his hand lifted his heavy staff1 here is the thunder-oak2 and here the cross of ,christ shall break the hammer of the false god ,thor4 ,,iii ,,the ,,shadow ,,of ,,the ,,thunder-,,oak ,withered leaves still clung to the branches of the oak3 torn and faded banners of the departed summer4 ,the bright crimson of autumn had long since disappeared1 bleached away by the storms and the cold4 ,but to-night these tattered remnants of glory were red again3 ancient blood-stains against the dark-blue sky4 ,for an immense fire had been kindled in front of the tree4 ,tongues of ruddy flame1 fountains of ruby sparks1 ascended through the spreading limbs and flung a fierce illumination upward and around4 ,the pale1 pure moonlight that bathed the surrounding forests was quenched and eclipsed here4 ,not a beam of it sifted downward through the branches of the oak4 ,it stood like a pillar of cloud between the still light of heaven and the crackling1 flashing fire of earth4 ,but the fire itself was invisible to ,winfried and his companions4 ,a great throng of people were gathered around it in a half-circle1 their backs to the open glade1 their faces towards the oak4 ,seen against that glowing background1 it was but the silhouette of a crowd1 vague1 black1 formless1 mysterious4 ,the travellers paused for a moment at the edge of the thicket1 and took counsel together4 ,it is the assembly of the tribe1 said one of the foresters1 the great night of the council4 ,i heard of it three days ago1 as we passed through one of the villages4 ,all who swear by the old gods have been summoned4 ,they will sacrifice a steed to the god of war1 and drink blood1 and eat horse-flesh to make them strong4 ,it will be at the peril of our lives if we approach them4 ,at least we must hide the cross1 if we would escape death4 ,hide me no cross1 cried ,winfried1 lifting his staff1 for ,i have come to show it1 and to make these blind folk see its power4 ,there is more to be done here to-night than the slaying of a steed1 and a greater evil to be stayed than the shameful eating of meat sacrificed to idols4 ,i have seen it in a dream4 ,here the cross must stand and be our rede4 ,at his command the sledge was left in the border of the wood1 with two of the men to guard it1 and the rest of the company moved forward across the open ground4 ,they approached unnoticed1 for all the multitude were looking intently towards the fire at the foot of the oak4 ,then ,winfried's voice rang out1 ,hail1 ye sons of the forest6 ,a stranger claims the warmth of your fire in the winter night4 ,swiftly1 and as with a single motion1 a thousand eyes were bent upon the speaker4 ,the semicircle opened silently in the middle2 ,winfried entered with his followers2 it closed again behind them4 ,then1 as they looked round the curving ranks1 they saw that the hue of the assemblage was not black1 but white1--dazzling1 radiant1 solemn4 ,white1 the robes of the women clustered together at the points of the wide crescent2 white1 the glittering byrnies of the warriors standing in close ranks2 white1 the fur mantles of the aged men who held the central place in the circle2 white1 with the shimmer of silver ornaments and the purity of lamb's-wool1 the raiment of a little group of children who stood close by the fire2 white1 with awe and fear1 the faces of all who looked at them2 and over all the flickering1 dancing radiance of the flames played and glimmered like a faint1 vanishing tinge of blood on snow4 ,the only figure untouched by the glow was the old priest1 ,hunrad1 with his long1 spectral robe1 flowing hair and beard1 and dead- pale face1 who stood with his back to the fire and advanced slowly to meet the strangers4 ,who are you8 ,whence come you1 and what seek you here8 ,his voice was heavy and toneless as a muffled bell4 ,your kinsman am ,i1 of the ,german brotherhood1 answered ,winfried1 and from ,england1 beyond the sea1 have ,i come to bring you a greeting from that land1 and a message from the ,all-,father1 whose servant ,i am4 ,welcome1 then1 said ,hunrad1 welcome1 kinsman1 and be silent2 for what passes here is too high to wait1 and must be done before the moon crosses the middle heaven1 unless1 indeed1 thou hast some sign or token from the gods4 ,canst thou work miracles8 ,the question came sharply1 as if a sudden gleam of hope had flashed through the tangle of the old priest's mind4 ,but ,winfried's voice sank lower and a cloud of disappointment passed over his face as he replied3 ,nay1 miracles have ,i never wrought1 though ,i have heard of many2 but the ,all-,father has given no power to my hands save such as belongs to common man4 ,stand still1 then1 thou common man1 said ,hunrad1 scornfully1 and behold what the gods have called us hither to do4 ,this night is the death night of the sun-god1 ,baldur the ,beautiful1 beloved of gods and men4 ,this night is the hour of darkness and the power of winter1 of sacrifice and mighty fear4 ,this night the great ,thor1 the god of thunder and war1 to whom this oak is sacred1 is grieved for the death of ,baldur1 and angry with this people because they have forsaken his worship4 ,long is it since an offering has been laid upon his altar1 long since the roots of his holy tree have been fed with blood4 ,therefore its leaves have withered before the time1 and its boughs are heavy with death4 ,therefore the ,slavs and the ,wends have beaten us in battle4 ,therefore the harvests have failed1 and the wolf-hordes have ravaged the folds1 and the strength has departed from the bow1 and the wood of the spear has broken1 and the wild boar has slain the huntsman4 ,therefore the plague has fallen on our dwellings1 and the dead are more than the living in all our villages4 ,answer me1 ye people1 are not these things true8 ,a hoarse sound of approval ran through the circle4 ,a chant1 in which the voices of the men and women blended1 like the shrill wind in the pine-trees above the rumbling thunder of a waterfall1 rose and fell in rude cadences4 ,o ,thor1 the ,thunderer1 ,mighty and merciless1 ,spare us from smiting6 ,heave not thy hammer1 ,angry1 against us2 ,plague not thy people4 ,take from our treasure ,richest of ransom4 ,silver we send thee1 ,jewels and javelins1 ,goodliest garments1 ,all our possessions1 ,priceless1 we profter4 ,sheep will we slaughter1 ,steeds will we sacrifice2 ,bright blood shall bathe thee1 ,o tree of ,thunder1 ,life-floods shall lave thee1 ,strong wood of wonder4 ,mighty1 have mercy1 ,smite us no more1 ,spare us and save us1 ,spare us1 ,thor6 ,thor6 ,with two great shouts the song ended1 and a stillness followed so intense that the crackling of the fire was heard distinctly4 ,the old priest stood silent for a moment4 ,his shaggy brows swept down over his eyes like ashes quenching flame4 ,then he lifted his face and spoke4 ,none of these things will please the god4 ,more costly is the offering that shall cleanse your sin1 more precious the crimson dew that shall send new life into this holy tree of blood4 ,thor claims your dearest and your noblest gift4 ,hunrad moved nearer to the handful of children who stood watching the red mines in the fire and the swarms of spark-serpents darting upward4 ,they had heeded none of the priest's words1 and did not notice now that he approached them1 so eager were they to see which fiery snake would go highest among the oak branches4 ,foremost among them1 and most intent on the pretty game1 was a boy like a sunbeam1 slender and quick1 with blithe brown eyes and laughing lips4 ,the priest's hand was laid upon his shoulder4 ,the boy turned and looked up in his face4 ,here1 said the old man1 with his voice vibrating as when a thick rope is strained by a ship swinging from her moorings1 here is the chosen one1 the eldest son of the ,chief1 the darling of the people4 ,hearken1 ,bernhard1 wilt thou go to ,valhalla1 where the heroes dwell with the gods1 to bear a message to ,thor8 ,the boy answered1 swift and clear3 ,yes1 priest1 ,i will go if my father bids me4 ,is it far away8 ,shall ,i run quickly8 ,must ,i take my bow and arrows for the wolves8 ,the boy's father1 the ,chieftain ,gundhar1 standing among his bearded warriors1 drew his breath deep1 and leaned so heavily on the handle of his spear that the wood cracked4 ,and his wife1 ,irma1 bending forward from the ranks of women1 pushed the golden hair from her forehead with one hand4 ,the other dragged at the silver chain about her neck until the rough links pierced her flesh1 and the red drops fell unheeded on the snow of her breast4 ,a sigh passed through the crowd1 like the murmur of the forest before the storm breaks4 ,yet no one spoke save ,hunrad3 ,yes1 my ,prince1 both bow and spear shalt thou have1 for the way is long1 and thou art a brave huntsman4 ,but in darkness thou must journey for a little space1 and with eyes blindfolded4 ,fearest thou8 ,naught fear ,i1 said the boy1 neither darkness1 nor the great bear1 nor the were-wolf4 ,for ,i am ,gundhar's son1 and the defender of my folk4 ,then the priest led the child in his raiment of lamb's-wool to a broad stone in front of the fire4 ,he gave him his little bow tipped with silver1 and his spear with shining head of steel4 ,he bound the child's eyes with a white cloth1 and bade him kneel beside the stone with his face to the east4 ,unconsciously the wide arc of spectators drew inward toward the centre1 as the ends of the bow draw together when the cord is stretched4 ,winfried moved noiselessly until he stood close behind the priest4 ,the old man stooped to lift a black hammer of stone from the ground1--the sacred hammer of the god ,thor4 ,summoning all the strength of his withered arms1 he swung it high in the air4 ,it poised for an instant above the child's fair head--then turned to fall4 ,one keen cry shrilled out from where the women stood3 ,me6 take me6 not ,bernhard6 ,the flight of the mother towards her child was swift as the falcon's swoop4 ,but swifter still was the hand of the deliverer4 ,winfried's heavy staff thrust mightily against the hammer's handle as it fell4 ,sideways it glanced from the old man's grasp1 and the black stone1 striking on the altar's edge1 split in twain4 ,a shout of awe and joy rolled along the living circle4 ,the branches of the oak shivered4 ,the flames leaped higher4 ,as the shout died away the people saw the lady ,irma1 with her arms clasped round her child1 and above them1 on the altar-stone1 ,winfried1 his face shining like the face of an angel4 ,,iv ,,the ,,felling ,,of ,,the ,,tree ,a swift mountain-flood rolling down its channel2 a huge rock tumbling from the hill-side and falling in mid-stream2 the baffled waters broken and confused1 pausing in their flow1 dash high against the rock1 foaming and murmuring1 with divided impulse1 uncertain whether to turn to the right or the left4 ,even so ,winfried's bold deed fell into the midst of the thoughts and passions of the council4 ,they were at a standstill4 ,anger and wonder1 reverence and joy and confusion surged through the crowd4 ,they knew not which way to move3 to resent the intrusion of the stranger as an insult to their gods1 or to welcome him as the rescuer of their darling prince4 ,the old priest crouched by the altar1 silent4 ,conflicting counsels troubled the air4 ,let the sacrifice go forward2 the gods must be appeased4 ,nay1 the boy must not die2 bring the chieftain's best horse and slay it in his stead2 it will be enough2 the holy tree loves the blood of horses4 ,not so1 there is a better counsel yet2 seize the stranger whom the gods have led hither as a victim and make his life pay the forfeit of his daring4 ,the withered leaves on the oak rustled and whispered overhead4 ,the fire flared and sank again4 ,the angry voices clashed against each other and fell like opposing waves4 ,then the chieftain ,gundhar struck the earth with his spear and gave his decision4 ,all have spoken1 but none are agreed4 ,there is no voice of the council4 ,keep silence now1 and let the stranger speak4 ,his words shall give us judgment1 whether he is to live or to die4 ,winfried lifted himself high upon the altar1 drew a roll of parchment from his bosom1 and began to read4 ,a letter from the great ,bishop of ,rome1 who sits on a golden throne1 to the people of the forest4 ,hessians and ,thuringians1 ,franks and ,saxons4 ,in nomine ,domini1 sanctae et individuae trinitatis1 amen6 ,a murmur of awe ran through the crowd4 ,it is the sacred tongue of the ,romans3 the tongue that is heard and understood by the wise men of every land4 ,there is magic in it4 ,listen6 ,winfried went on to read the letter1 translating it into the speech of the people4 ',we have sent unto you our ,brother ,boniface1 and appointed him your bishop1 that he may teach you the only true faith1 and baptize you1 and lead you back from the ways of error to the path of salvation4 ,hearken to him in all things like a father4 ,bow your hearts to his teaching4 ,he comes not for earthly gain1 but for the gain of your souls4 ,depart from evil works4 ,worship not the false gods1 for they are devils4 ,offer no more bloody sacrifices1 nor eat the flesh of horses1 but do as our ,brother ,boniface commands you4 ,build a house for him that he may dwell among you1 and a church where you may offer your prayers to the only living ,god1 the ,almighty ,king of ,heaven4' ,it was a splendid message3 proud1 strong1 peaceful1 loving4 ,the dignity of the words imposed mightily upon the hearts of the people4 ,they were quieted1 as men who have listened to a lofty strain of music4 ,tell us1 then1 said ,gundhar1 what is the word that thou bringest to us from the ,almighty4 ,what is thy counsel for the tribes of the woodland on this night of sacrifice8 ,this is the word1 and this is the counsel1 answered ,winfried4 ,not a drop of blood shall fall to-night1 save that which pity has drawn from the breast of your princess1 in love for her child4 ,not a life shall be blotted out in the darkness to-night2 but the great shadow of the tree which hides you from the light of heaven shall be swept away4 ,for this is the birth-night of the white ,christ1 son of the ,all-,father1 and ,saviour of mankind4 ,fairer is ,he than ,baldur the ,beautiful1 greater than ,odin the ,wise1 kinder than ,freya the ,good4 ,since ,he has come to earth the bloody sacrifices must cease4 ,the dark ,thor1 on whom you vainly call1 is dead4 ,deep in the shades of ,niffelheim he is lost forever4 ,his power in the world is broken4 ,will you serve a helpless god8 ,see1 my brothers1 you call this tree his oak4 ,does he dwell here8 ,does he protect it8 ,a troubled voice of assent rose from the throng4 ,the people stirred uneasily4 ,women covered their eyes4 ,hunrad lifted his head and muttered hoarsely1 ,thor6 take vengeance6 ,thor6 ,winfried beckoned to ,gregor4 ,bring the axes1 thine and one for me4 ,now1 young woodsman1 show thy craft6 ,the king-tree of the forest must fall1 and swiftly1 or all is lost6 ,the two men took their places facing each other1 one on each side of the oak4 ,their cloaks were flung aside1 their heads bare4 ,carefully they felt the ground with their feet1 seeking a firm grip of the earth4 ,firmly they grasped the axe-helves and swung the shining blades4 ,tree-god6 cried ,winfried1 art thou angry8 ,thus we smite thee6 ,tree-god6 answered ,gregor1 art thou mighty8 ,thus we fight thee6 ,clang6 clang6 the alternate strokes beat time upon the hard1 ringing wood4 ,the axe-heads glittered in their rhythmic flight1 like fierce eagles circling about their quarry4 ,the broad flakes of wood flew from the deepening gashes in the sides of the oak4 ,the huge trunk quivered4 ,there was a shuddering in the branches4 ,then the great wonder of ,winfried's life came to pass4 ,out of the stillness of the winter night1 a mighty rushing noise sounded overhead4 ,was it the ancient gods on their white battle-steeds1 with their black hounds of wrath and their arrows of lightning1 sweeping through the air to destroy their foes8 ,a strong1 whirling wind passed over the tree-tops4 ,it gripped the oak by its branches and tore it from its roots4 ,backward it fell1 like a ruined tower1 groaning and crashing as it split asunder in four great pieces4 ,winfried let his axe drop1 and bowed his head for a moment in the presence of almighty power4 ,then he turned to the people1 ,here is the timber1 he cried1 already felled and split for your new building4 ,on this spot shall rise a chapel to the true ,god and his servant ,st4 ,peter4 ,and here1 said he1 as his eyes fell on a young fir-tree1 standing straight and green1 with its top pointing towards the stars1 amid the divided ruins of the fallen oak1 here is the living tree1 with no stain of blood upon it1 that shall be the sign of your new worship4 ,see how it points to the sky4 ,let us call it the tree of the ,christ-child4 ,take it up and carry it to the chieftain's hall4 ,you shall go no more into the shadows of the forest to keep your feasts with secret rites of shame4 ,you shall keep them at home1 with laughter and song and rites of love4 ,the thunder-oak has fallen1 and ,i think the day is coming when there shall not be a home in all ,germany where the children are not gathered around the green fir-tree to rejoice in the birth-night of ,christ4 ,so they took the little fir from its place1 and carried it in joyous procession to the edge of the glade1 and laid it on the sledge4 ,the horses tossed their heads and drew their load bravely1 as if the new burden had made it lighter4 ,when they came to the house of ,gundhar1 he bade them throw open the doors of the hall and set the tree in the midst of it4 ,they kindled lights among the branches until it seemed to be tangled full of fire-flies4 ,the children encircled it1 wondering1 and the sweet odor of the balsam filled the house4 ,then ,winfried stood beside the chair of ,gundhar1 on the dais at the end of the hall1 and told the story of ,bethlehem2 of the babe in the manger1 of the shepherds on the hills1 of the host of angels and their midnight song4 ,all the people listened1 charmed into stillness4 ,but the boy ,bernhard1 on ,irma's knee1 folded by her soft arm1 grew restless as the story lengthened1 and began to prattle softly at his mother's ear4 ,mother1 whispered the child1 why did you cry out so loud1 when the priest was going to send me to ,valhalla8 ,oh1 hush1 my child1 answered the mother1 and pressed him closer to her side4 ,mother1 whispered the boy again1 laying his finger on the stains upon her breast1 see1 your dress is red6 ,what are these stains8 ,did some one hurt you8 ,the mother closed his mouth with a kiss4 ,dear1 be still1 and listen6 ,the boy obeyed4 ,his eyes were heavy with sleep4 ,but he heard the last words of ,winfried as he spoke of the angelic messengers1 flying over the hills of ,judea and singing as they flew4 ,the child wondered and dreamed and listened4 ,suddenly his face grew bright4 ,he put his lips close to ,irma's cheek again4 ,oh1 mother6 he whispered very low1 do not speak4 ,do you hear them8 ,those angels have come back again4 ,they are singing now behind the tree4 ,and some say that it was true2 but others say that it was only ,gregor and his companions at the lower end of the hall1 chanting their ,christmas hymn3 ',all glory be to ,god on high4 ,and to the earth be peace6 ,good-will1 henceforth1 from heaven to men ,begin1 and never cease4' ,a ,,french ,,tar-,,baby ,,by ,,joel ,,chandler ,,harris ,the fable was one of the first tributaries to the stream of story- telling4 ,primitive man with a kind of fine democracy claimed kinship with the animals about him4 ,so ,hiawatha learned the language and the secrets of birds and beasts1 ,talked with them whene'er he met them1 ,called them ,hiawatha's ,brothers4 ,out of this intimacy and understanding grew the fable1 wherein animals thought1 acted1 and talked in the terms of human life4 ,this kind of story is illustrated by the ,fables of ,aesop1 the animal stories of ,ernest ,thompson-,seton1 the ,jungle ,books of ,rudyard ,kipling and the ,uncle ,remus stories of ,joel ,chandler ,harris4 ,the fable is a tale rather than a true short-story4 ,a ,,french ,,tar-,,baby ,footnote3 ,from ,evening ,tales1 by ,joel ,chandler ,harris4 ,copyright1 #ahic1 by ,charles ,scribner's ,sons4 ,in the time when there were hobgoblins and fairies1 ,brother ,goat and ,brother ,rabbit lived in the same neighborhood1 not far from each other4 ,proud of his long beard and sharp horns1 ,brother ,goat looked on ,brother ,rabbit with disdain4 ,he would hardly speak to ,brother ,rabbit when he met him1 and his greatest pleasure was to make his little neighbor the victim of his tricks and practical jokes4 ,for instance1 he would say3 ,brother ,rabbit1 here is ,mr4 ,fox1 and this would cause ,brother ,rabbit to run away as hard as he could4 ,again he would say3 ,brother ,rabbit1 here is ,mr4 ,wolf1 and poor ,brother ,rabbit would shake and tremble with fear4 ,sometimes he would cry out3 ,brother ,rabbit1 here is ,mr4 ,tiger1 and then ,brother ,rabbit would shudder and think that his last hour had come4 ,tired of this miserable existence1 ,brother ,rabbit tried to think of some means by which he could change his powerful and terrible neighbor into a friend4 ,after a time he thought he had discovered a way to make ,brother ,goat his friend1 and so he invited him to dinner4 ,brother ,goat was quick to accept the invitation4 ,the dinner was a fine affair1 and there was an abundance of good eating4 ,a great many different dishes were served4 ,brother ,goat licked his mouth and shook his long beard with satisfaction4 ,he had never before been present at such a feast4 ,well1 my friend1 exclaimed ,brother ,rabbit1 when the dessert was brought in1 how do you like your dinner8 ,i could certainly wish for nothing better1 replied ,brother ,goat1 rubbing the tips of his horns against the back of his chair2 but my throat is very dry and a little water would hurt neither the dinner nor me4 ,gracious6 said ,brother ,rabbit1 ,i have neither wine-cellar nor water4 ,i am not in the habit of drinking while ,i am eating4 ,neither have ,i any water1 ,brother ,rabbit1 said ,brother ,goat4 ,but ,i have an idea6 ,if you will go with me over yonder by the big poplar1 we will dig a well4 ,no1 ,brother ,goat1 said ,brother ,rabbit1 who hoped to revenge himself--no1 ,i do not care to dig a well4 ,at daybreak ,i drink the dew from the cups of the flowers1 and in the heat of the day ,i milk the cows and drink the cream4 ,well and good1 said ,brother ,goat4 ,alone ,i will dig the well1 and alone ,i will drink out of it4 ,success to you1 ,brother ,goat1 said ,brother ,rabbit4 ,thank you kindly1 ,brother ,rabbit4 ,brother ,goat then went to the foot of the big poplar and began to dig his well4 ,he dug with his forefeet and with his horns1 and the well got deeper and deeper4 ,soon the water began to bubble up and the well was finished1 and then ,brother ,goat made haste to quench his thirst4 ,he was in such a hurry that his beard got in the water1 but he drank and drank until he had his fill4 ,brother ,rabbit1 who had followed him at a little distance1 hid himself behind a bush and laughed heartily4 ,he said to himself3 ,what an innocent creature you are6 ,the next day1 when ,brother ,goat1 with his big beard and sharp horns1 returned to his well to get some water1 he saw the tracks of ,brother ,rabbit in the soft earth4 ,this put him to thinking4 ,he sat down1 pulled his beard1 scratched his head1 and tapped himself on the forehead4 ,my friend1 he exclaimed after a while1 ,i will catch you yet4 ,then he ran and got his tools 7for ,brother ,goat was something of a carpenter in those days7 and made a large doll out of laurel wood4 ,when the doll was finished1 he spread tar on it here and there1 on the right and on the left1 and up and down4 ,he smeared it all over with the sticky stuff1 until it was as black as a ,guinea negro4 ,this finished1 ,brother ,goat waited quietly until evening4 ,at sunset he placed the tarred doll near the well1 and ran and hid himself behind the trees and bushes4 ,the moon had just risen1 and the heavens twinkled with millions of little star-torches4 ,brother ,rabbit1 who was waiting in his house1 believed that the time had come for him to get some water1 so he took his bucket and went to ,brother ,goat's well4 ,on the way he was very much afraid that something would catch him4 ,he trembled when the wind shook the leaves of the trees4 ,he would go a little distance and then stop and listen2 he hid here behind a stone1 and there behind a tuft of grass4 ,at last he arrived at the well1 and there he saw the little negro4 ,he stopped and looked at it with astonishment4 ,then he drew back a little way1 advanced again1 drew back1 advanced a little1 and stopped once more4 ,what can that be8 he said to himself4 ,he listened1 with his long ears pointed forward1 but the trees could not talk1 and the bushes were dumb4 ,he winked his eyes and lowered his head3 ,hey1 friend6 ,who are you8 he asked4 ,the tar-doll didn't move4 ,brother ,rabbit went up a little closer1 and asked again3 ,who are you8 ,the tar-doll said nothing4 ,brother ,rabbit breathed more at ease4 ,then he went to the brink of the well1 but when he looked in the water the tar-doll seemed to look in too4 ,he could see her reflection in the water4 ,this made ,brother ,rabbit so mad that he grew red in the face4 ,see here6 he exclaimed1 ,if you look in this well ,i'll give you a rap on the nose6 ,brother ,rabbit leaned over the brink of the well1 and saw the tar- doll smiling at him in the water4 ,he raised his right hand and hit her--bam6 ,his hand stuck4 ,what's this8 exclaimed ,brother ,rabbit4 ,turn me loose1 imp of ,satan6 ,if you do not1 ,i will rap you on the eye with my other hand4 ,then he hit her--bim6 ,the left hand stuck also4 ,then ,brother ,rabbit raised his right foot1 saying3 ,mark me well1 little ,congo6 ,do you see this foot8 ,i will kick you in the stomach if you do not turn me loose this instant4 ,no sooner said than done4 ,brother ,rabbit let fly his right foot-- vip6 ,the foot stuck1 and he raised the other4 ,do you see this foot8 he exclaimed4 ,if ,i hit you with it1 you will think a thunderbolt has struck you4 ,then he kicked her with the left foot1 and it also stuck like the other1 and ,brother ,rabbit held fast his ,guinea negro4 ,watch out1 now6 he cried4 ,i've already butted a great many people with my head4 ,if ,i butt you in your ugly face ,i'll knock it into a jelly4 ,turn me loose6 ,oho6 ,you don't answer8 ,bap6 ,guinea girl6 exclaimed ,brother ,rabbit1 ,are you dead8 ,gracious goodness6 ,how my head does stick6 ,when the sun rose1 ,brother ,goat went to his well to find out something about ,brother ,rabbit4 ,the result was beyond his expectations4 ,hey1 little rogue1 big rogue6 exclaimed ,brother ,goat4 ,hey1 ,brother ,rabbit6 ,what are you doing there8 ,i thought you drank the dew from the cups of the flowers1 or milk from the cows4 ,aha1 ,brother ,rabbit6 ,i will punish you for stealing my water4 ,i am your friend1 said ,brother ,rabbit2 don't kill me4 ,thief1 thief6 cried ,brother ,goat1 and then he ran quickly into the woods1 gathered up a pile of dry limbs1 and made a great fire4 ,he took ,brother ,rabbit from the tar-doll1 and prepared to burn him alive4 ,as he was passing a thicket of brambles with ,brother ,rabbit on his shoulders1 ,brother ,goat met his daughter ,beledie1 who was walking about in the fields4 ,where are you going1 ,papa1 muffled up with such a burden8 ,come and eat the fresh grass with me1 and throw wicked ,brother ,rabbit in the brambles4 ,cunning ,brother ,rabbit raised his long ears and pretended to be very much frightened4 ,oh1 no1 ,brother ,goat6 he cried4 ,don't throw me in the brambles4 ,they will tear my flesh1 put out my eyes1 and pierce my heart4 ,oh1 ,i pray you1 rather throw me in the fire4 ,aha1 little rogue1 big rogue6 ,aha1 ,brother ,rabbit6 exclaimed ,brother ,goat1 exultingly1 ,you don't like the brambles8 ,well1 then1 go and laugh in them1 and he threw ,brother ,rabbit in without a feeling of pity4 ,brother ,rabbit fell in the brambles1 leaped to his feet1 and began to laugh4 ,ha-ha-ha6 ,brother ,goat1 what a simpleton you are6--ha-ha-ha6 ,a better bed ,i never had6 ,in these brambles ,i was born6 ,brother ,goat was in despair1 but he could not help himself4 ,brother ,rabbit was safe4 ,a long beard is not always a sign of intelligence4 ,,sonny',s ,,christening ,,by ,,ruth ,mc,e,n,e,r,y ,,stuart ,this is the story of character1 in the form of dramatic monologue4 ,there is only one speaker1 but we know by his words that another is present and can infer his part in the conversation4 ,this story has the additional values of humor and local color4 ,,sonny',s ,,christenin' ,footnote3 ,from ,sonny1 a ,christmas ,guest1 by ,ruth ,mc,enery ,stuart4 ,copyright1 #ahif1 by ,the ,century ,co4 ,reprinted by special permission4 ,yas1 sir1 wife an' me1 we've turned ',piscopals--all on account o' ,sonny4 ,he seemed to prefer that religion1 an' of co'se we wouldn't have the family divided1 so we're a-goin' to be ez good ',piscopals ez we can4 ,i reckon it'll come a little bit awkward at first4 ,seem like ,i never will git so thet ,i can sass back in church 'thout feelin' sort o' impident--but ,i reckon ,i'll chirp up an' come to it1 in time4 ,i never was much of a hand to sound the amens1 even in our own ,methodist meetin's4 ,sir8 ,how old is he8 ,oh1 ,sonny's purty nigh six--but he showed a pref'ence for the ',piscopal ,church long fo' he could talk4 ,when he wasn't no mo' 'n three year old we commenced a-takin him round to church wherever they held meetin's1--',piscopals1 ,methodists or ,presbyterians1--so's he could see an' hear for hisself4 ,i ca'yed him to a baptizin' over to ,chinquepin ,crik1 once-t1 when he was three4 ,i thought ,i'd let him see it done an' maybe it might make a good impression2 but no1 sir6 ,the ,baptists didn't suit him6 ,cried ever' time one was douced1 an' ,i had to fetch him away4 ,in our ,methodist meetin's he seemed to git worked up an' pervoked1 some way4 ,an' the ,presbyterians1 he didn't take no stock in them at all4 ,ricollect1 one ,sunday the preacher1 he preached a mighty powerful disco'se on the doctrine o' lost infants not 'lected to salvation--an' ,sonny8 ,why1 he slep' right thoo it4 ,the first any way lively interest he ever seemed to take in religious services was at the ',piscopals1 ,easter ,sunday4 ,when he seen the lilies an' the candles he thess clapped his little hands1 an' time the folks commenced answerin' back he was tickled all but to death1 an' started answerin' hisself--on'y1 of co'se he'd answer sort o' hit an' miss4 ,i see then thet ,sonny was a natu'al-born ',piscopal1 an' we might ez well make up our minds to it--an' ,i told ,,her so1 too4 ,they say some is born so4 ,but we thought we'd let him alone an' let nature take its co'se for a while--not pressin' him one way or another4 ,he never had showed no disposition to be christened1 an' ever sence the doctor tried to vaccinate him he seemed to git the notion that christenin' an' vaccination was mo' or less the same thing2 an' sence that time1 he's been mo' opposed to it than ever4 ,sir8 ,oh no1 sir4 ,he didn't vaccinate him2 he thess tried to do it2 but ,sonny1 he wouldn't begin to allow it4 ,we all tried to indoose 'im4 ,i offered him everything on the farm ef he'd thess roll up his little sleeve an' let the doctor look at his arm--promised him thet he wouldn't tech a needle to it tell he said the word4 ,but he wouldn't4 ,he 'lowed thet me an' his mamma could git vaccinated ef we wanted to1 but he wouldn't4 ,then we showed him our marks where we had been vaccinated when we was little1 an' told him how it had kep' us clair o' havin' the smallpock all our lives4 ,well1 sir1 it didn't make no diff'ence whether we'd been did befo' or not1 he 'lowed thet he wanted to see us vaccinated ag'in4 ,an' so1 of co'se1 thinkin' it might encour'ge him1 we thess had it did over--tryin' to coax him to consent after each one1 an' makin' pertend like we enjoyed it4 ,then1 nothin' would do but the nigger1 ,dicey1 had to be did1 an' then he 'lowed thet he wanted the cat did1 an' ,i tried to strike a bargain with him thet if ,kitty got vaccinated he would4 ,but he wouldn't comp'omise4 ,he thess let on thet ,kit had to be did whe'r or no4 ,so ,i ast the doctor ef it would likely kill the cat1 an' he said he reckoned not1 though it might sicken her a little4 ,so ,i told him to go ahead4 ,well1 sir1 befo' ,sonny got thoo1 he had had that cat an' both dogs vaccinated--but let it tech hisself he would not4 ,i was mighty sorry not to have it did1 'cause they was a nigger thet had the smallpock down to ,cedar ,branch1 fifteen mile away1 an' he didn't die1 neither4 ,he got well4 ,an' they say when they git well they're more fatal to a neighborhood 'n when they die4 ,that was fo' months ago now1 but to this day ever' time the wind blows from you'west ,i feel oneasy1 an' try to entice ,sonny to play on the far side o' the house4 ,well1 sir1 in about ten days after that we was the down-in-the- mouthest crowd on that farm1 man an' beast1 thet you ever see4 ,ever' last one o' them vaccinations took1 sir1 an' took severe1 from the cat up4 ,but ,i reckon we're all safe-t guarded now4 ,they ain't nothin' on the place thet can fetch it to ,sonny1 an' ,i trust1 with care1 he may never be exposed4 ,but ,i set out to tell you about ,sonny's diristenin' an' us turnin' ',piscopal4 ,ez ,i said1 he never seemed to want baptism1 though he had heard us discuss all his life both it an' vaccination ez the two ordeels to be gone thoo with some time1 an' we'd speculate ez to whether vaccination would take or not1 an' all sech ez that1 an' then1 ez ,i said1 after he see what the vaccination was1 why he was even mo' prejudyced agin' baptism 'n ever1 an' we 'lowed to let it run on tell sech a time ez he'd decide what name he'd want to take an' what denomination he'd want to bestow it on him4 ,wife1 she's got some ',piscopal relations thet she sort o' looks up to1--though she don't own it1--but she was raised ,methodist an' ,i was raised a true-blue ,presbyterian4 ,but when we professed after ,sonny come we went up together at ,methodist meetin'4 ,what we was after was righteous livin'1 an' we didn't keer much which denomination helped us to it4 ,an' so1 feelin' friendly all roun' that-a-way1 we thought we'd leave ,sonny to pick his church when he got ready1 an' then they wouldn't be nothin' to undo or do over in case he went over to the ',piscopals1 which has the name of revisin' over any other church' performances--though sence we've turned ',piscopals we've found out that ain't so4 ,of co'se the preachers1 they used to talk to us about it once-t in a while1--seemed to think it ought to be did1--'ceptin'1 of co'se1 the ,baptists4 ,well1 sir1 it went along so till last week4 ,sonny ain't but1 ez ,i said1 thess not quite six year old1 an' ther seemed to be time enough4 ,but last week he had been playin' out o' doors bare- feeted1 thess same ez he always does1 an' he tramped on a pine splinter some way4 ,of co'se1 pine1 it's the safe-t-est splinter a person can run into a foot1 on account of its carryin' its own turpentine in with it to heal up things2 but any splinter thet dast to push itself up into a little pink foot is a messenger of trouble1 an' we know it4 ,an' so1 when we see this one1 we tried ever' way to coax him to let us take it out1 but he wouldn't1 of co'se4 ,he never will1 an' somehow the ,lord seems to give 'em ambition to work their own way out mos' gen'ally4 ,but1 sir1 this splinter didn't seem to have no energy in it4 ,it thess lodged there1 an' his little foot it commenced to swell1 an' it swole an' swole tell his little toes stuck out so thet the little pig thet went to market looked like ez ef it wasn't on speakin' terms with the little pig thet stayed home1 an' wife an' me we watched it1 an' ,i reckon she prayed over it consider'ble1 an' ,i read a extry psalm at night befo' ,i went to bed1 all on account o' that little foot4 ,an' night befo' las' it was lookin' mighty angry an' swole1 an' he had limped an' ouched6 consider'ble all day1 an' he was mighty fretful bed-time4 ,so1 after he went to sleep1 wife she come out on the po'ch where ,i was settin'1 and she says to me1 says she1 her face all drawed up an' workin'1 says she3 ,honey1 says she1 ,i reckon we better sen' for him an' have it did4 ,thess so1 she said it4 ,sen' for who1 wife8 says ,i1 an' have what did8 ,why1 sen' for him1 the ',piscopal preacher1 says she1 an' have ,sonny christened4 ,them little toes o' hisn is ez red ez cherry tomatoes4 ,they burnt my lips thess now like a coal o' fire an'--an' lockjaw is goin' roun' tur'ble4 ,seems to me1 says she1 when he started to git sleepy1 he didn't gap ez wide ez he gen'ly does--an' ,i'm 'feered he's a-gittin' it now4 ,an'1 sir1 with that1 she thess gathered up her apron an' mopped her face in it an' give way4 ,an' ez for me1 ,i didn't seem to have no mo' backbone down my spinal colume 'n a feather bolster has1 ,i was that weak4 ,i never ast her why she didn't sen' for our own preacher4 ,i knowed then ez well ez ef she'd 'a' told me why she done it--all on account o' ,sonny bein' so tickled over the ',piscopals' meetin's4 ,it was mos' nine o'clock then1 an' a dark night1 an' rainin'1 but ,i never said a word--they wasn't no room round the edges o' the lump in my throat for words to come out ef they'd 'a' been one surgin' up there to say1 which they wasn't--but ,i thess went out an' saddled my horse an' ,i rid into town4 ,stopped first at the doctor's an' sent him out1 though ,i knowed't wouldn't do no good2 ,sonny wouldn't 'low him to tech it2 but ,i sent him out anyway1 to look at it1 an'1 ef possible1 console wife a little4 ,then ,i rid on to the rector's an' ast him to come out immejate an' baptize ,sonny4 ,but nex' day was his turn to preach down at ,sandy ,crik1 an' he couldn't come that night1 but he promised to come right after services nex' mornin'--which he done--rid the whole fo'teen mile from ,sandy ,crik here in the rain1 too1 which ,i think is a evidence o' ,christianity1 though no sech acts is put down in my book o' evidences where they ought rightfully to be4 ,well1 sir1 when ,i got home that night1 ,i found wife a heap cheerfuler4 ,the doctor had give ,sonny a big apple to eat an' pernounced him free from all symptoms o' lockjaw4 ,but when ,i come the little feller had crawled 'way back under the bed an' lay there1 eatin' his apple1 an' they couldn't git him out4 ,soon ez the doctor had teched a poultice to his foot he had woke up an' put a stop to it1 an' then he had went off by hisself where nothin' couldn't pester him1 to enjoy his apple in peace4 ,an' we never got him out tell he heered us tellin' the doctor good-night4 ,i tried ever' way to git him out--even took up a coal o' fire an' poked it under at him2 but he thess laughed at that an' helt his apple agin' it an' made it sizz4 ,well1 sir1 he seemed so tickled that ,i helt that coal o' fire for him tell he cooked a good big spot on one side o' the apple1 an' et it1 an' then1 when ,i took it out1 he called for another1 but ,i didn't give it to him4 ,i don't see no use in over-indulgin' a child4 ,an' when he knowed the doctor was gone1 he come out an' finished roastin' his apple by the fire--thess what was left of it 'round the co'e4 ,well1 sir1 we was mightily comforted by the doctor's visit1 but nex' mornin' things looked purty gloomy ag'in4 ,sonny's ,christenin' ,that little foot seemed a heap worse1 an' he was sort o' flushed an' feverish1 an' wife she thought she heard a owl hoot1 an' ,rover made a mighty funny gurgly sound in his th'oat like ez ef he had bad news to tell us1 but didn't have the courage to speak it4 ,an' then1 on top o' that1 the nigger ,dicey1 she come in an' 'lowed she had dreamed that night about eatin' spare-ribs1 which everybody knows to dream about fresh pork out o' season1 which this is ,july1 is considered a shore sign o' death4 ,of co'se1 wife an' me1 we don't b'lieve in no sech ez that1 but ef you ever come to see yo' little feller's toes stand out the way ,sonny's done day befo' yesterday1 why1 sir1 you'll be ready to b'lieve anything4 ,it's so much better now1 you can't judge of its looks day befo' yesterday4 ,we never had even so much ez considered it necessary thet little children should be christened to have 'em saved1 but when things got on the ticklish edge1 like they was then1 why1 we felt thet the safest side is the wise side1 an'1 of co'se1 we want ,sonny to have the best of everything4 ,so1 we was mighty thankful when we see the rector comin'4 ,but1 sir1 when ,i went out to open the gate for him1 what on top o' this round hemisp'ere do you reckon ,sonny done8 ,why1 sir1 he thess took one look at the gate an' then he cut an' run hard ez he could--limped acrost the yard thess like a flash o' zig-zag lightnin'--an' 'fore anybody could stop him1 he had clumb to the tip top o' the butter-bean arbor-- clumb it thess like a cat--an' there he set1 a-swingin' his feet under him1 an' laughin'1 the rain thess a-streakin' his hair all over his face4 ,that bean arbor is a favoryte place for him to escape to1 'cause it's too high to reach1 an' it ain't strong enough to bear no grown-up person's weight4 ,well1 sir1 the rector1 he come in an' opened his valise an' 'rayed hisself in his robes an' opened his book1 an' while he was turnin' the leaves1 he faced 'round an' says he1 lookin' at me ,direc'1 says he3 ,let the child be brought forward for baptism1 says he1 thess that-a-way4 ,well1 sir1 ,i looked at wife1 an' wife1 she looked at me1 an' then we both thess looked out at the butter-bean arbor4 ,i knowed then thet ,sonny wasn't never comin' down while the rector was there1 an' rector1 he seemed sort o' fretted for a minute when he see how things was1 an' he did try to do a little settin' fo'th of opinions4 ,he 'lowed1 speakin' in a mighty pompious manner1 thet holy things wasn't to be trifled with1 an' thet he had come to baptize the child accordin' to the rites o' the church4 ,well1 that sort o' talk1 it thess rubbed me the wrong way1 an' ,i up an' told him thet that might be so1 but thet the rites o' the church didn't count for nothin'1 on our farm1 to the rights o' the boy6 ,i reckon it was mighty disrespec'ful o' me to face him that-a-way1 an' him adorned in all his robes1 too1 but ,i'm thess a plain up- an'-down man an' ,i hadn't went for him to come an' baptize ,sonny to uphold the granjer of no church4 ,i was ready to do that when the time come1 but right now we was workin' in ,sonny's interests1 an' ,i intended to have it understood that way4 ,an' it was4 ,rector1 he's a mighty good1 kind-hearted man1 git down to the man inside the preacher1 an' when he see thess how things stood1 why1 he come 'round friendly1 an' he went out on the po'ch an' united with us in tryin' to help coax ,sonny down4 ,first started by promisin' him speritual benefits1 but he soon see that wasn't no go1 and he tried worldly persuasion2 but no1 sir1 stid o' him comin' down1 ,sonny started orderin' the rest of us christened thess the way he done about the vaccination4 ,but1 of co'se1 we had been baptized befo'1 an' we nachelly helt out agin' that for some time4 ,but d'rec'ly rector1 he seemed to have a sudden idee1 an' says he1 facin' 'round1 church-like1 to wife an' me1 says he3 ,have you both been baptized accordin' to the rites o' the church8 ,an' me1 thinkin' of co'se he meant the ',piscopal ,church1 says3 ,no1 sir1 says ,i1 thess so4 ,and then we see that the way was open for us to be did over ag'in ef we wanted to4 ,so1 sir1 wife an' me we was took into the church1 then an' there4 ,we wouldn't 'a' yielded to him1 thoo an' thoo1 that-a-way ag'in ef his little foot hadn't 'a' been so swole1 an' he maybe takin' his death o' cold settin' out in the po'in'-down rain2 but things bein' as they was1 we went thoo it with all due respects4 ,then he commenced callin' for ,dicey1 an' the dog1 an' the cat1 to be did1 same ez he done befo'2 but1 of co'se1 they's some liberties thet even a innocent child can't take with the waters o' baptism1 an' the rector he got sort o' wo'e-out and disgusted an' 'lowed thet 'less'n we could get the child ready for baptism he'd haf to go home4 ,well1 sir1 ,i knowed we wouldn't never git 'im down1 an' ,i had went for the rector to baptize him1 an' ,i intended to have it did1 ef possible4 ,so1 says ,i1 turnin' 'round an' facin' him square1 says ,i3 ,rector1 says ,i1 why not baptize him where he is8 ,i mean it4 ,the waters o' ,heaven are descendin' upon him where he sets1 an' seems to me ef he's favo'bly situated for anything it is for baptism4 ,well1 parson1 he thess looked at me up an' down for a minute1 like ez ef he s'picioned ,i was wanderin' in my mind1 but he didn't faze me4 ,i thess kep' up my argiment4 ,says ,i3 ,parson1 says ,i1 speakin' thess ez ca'm ez ,i am this minute--,parson1 says ,i1 his little foot is mighty swole1 an' so'e1 an' that splinter-- thess s'pose he was to take the lockjaw an' die--don't you reckon you might do it where he sets--from where you stand8 ,wife1 she was cryin' by this time1 an' parson1 he claired his th'oat an' coughed1 an' then he commenced walkin' up an' down1 an' dreckly he stopped1 an' says he1 speakin' mighty reverential an' serious3 ,lookin' at this case speritually1 an' as a minister o' the ,gospel1 says he1 it seems to me thet the question ain't so much a question of ,,doin' ez it is a question of ,,withholdin'4 ,i don't know1 says he1 ez ,i've got a right to withhold the sacrament of baptism from a child under these circumstances or to deny sech comfort to his parents ez lies in my power to bestow4 ,an'1 sir1 with that he stepped out to the end o' the po'ch1 opened his book ag'in1 an' holdin' up his right hand to'ards ,sonny1 settin' on top o' the bean-arbor in the rain1 he commenced to read the service o' baptism an' we stood proxies--which is a sort o' a dummy substitutes--for whatever godfather an' mother ,sonny see fit to choose in after life4 ,parson1 he looked half like ez ef he'd laugh once-t4 ,when he had thess opened his book and started to speak1 a sudden streak o' sunshine shot out an' the rain started to ease up1 an' it looked for a minute ez ef he was goin' to lose the baptismal waters4 ,but d'rec'ly it come down stiddy ag'in an' he went thoo the programme entire4 ,an' ,sonny1 he behaved mighty purty2 set up perfec'ly ca'm an' composed thoo it all1 an' took everything in good part1 though he didn't p'intedly know who was bein' baptized1 'cause1 of co'se1 he couldn't hear the words with the rain in his ears4 ,he didn't rightly sense the situation tell it come to the part where it says3 ,name this child1 and1 of co'se1 ,i called out to ,sonny to name hisself1 which it had always been our intention to let him do4 ,name yo'self1 right quick1 like a good boy1 says ,i4 ,of co'se ,sonny had all his life heered me say thet ,i was ,deuteronomy ,jones1 ,senior1 an' thet--,i hoped some day when he got christened he'd be the junior4 ,he knowed that by heart1 an' would agree to it or dispute it1 'cordin' to how the notion took him1 and ,i sort o' ca'culated thet he'd out with it now4 ,but no1 sir6 ,not a word6 ,he thess sot up on thet bean-arbor an' grinned4 ,an' so1 feelin' put to it1 with the services suspended over my head1 ,i spoke up1 an' ,i says3 ,parson1 says ,i4 ,i reckon ef he was to speak his little heart1 he'd say ,deuteronomy ,jones1 ,junior4 ,an' with thet what does ,sonny do but conterdic' me flat6 ,no1 not ,junior6 ,i want to be named ,deuteronomy ,jones1 ,senior6 says he1 thess so4 ,an' parson1 he looked to'ards me1 an' ,i bowed my head an' he pronounced thess one single name1 ,deuteronomy1 an' ,i see he wasn't goin' to say no more an' so ,i spoke up quick1 an' says ,i3 ,parson1 says ,i1 he has spoke his heart's desire4 ,he has named hisself after me entire--,deuteronomy ,jones1 ,senior4 ,an' so he was obligated to say it1 an' so it is writ in the family record colume in the big ,bible1 though ,i spelt his ,senior with a little s1 an' writ him down ez the only son of the ,senior with the big ,s1 which it seems to me fixes it about right for the time bein'4 ,well1 when the rector had got thoo an' he had wropped up his robes an' put 'em in his wallet1 an' had told us to prepare for conformation1 he pernounced a blessin' upon us an' went4 ,then ,sonny seein' it was all over1 why1 ,,he ,,come ,,down4 ,he was wet ez a drownded rat1 but wife rubbed him off an' give him some hot tea an' he come a-snuggin' up in my lap1 thess ez sweet a child ez you ever see in yo' life1 an' ,i talked to him ez fatherly ez ,i could1 told him we was all ',piscopals now1 an' soon ez his little foot got well ,i was goin' to take him out to ,sunday-school to tote a banner--all his little ',piscopal friends totes banners--an' thet he could pick out some purty candles for the altar1 an' he 'lowed immejate thet he'd buy pink ones4 ,sonny always was death on pink-- showed it from the time he could snatch a pink rose--an' wife she ain't never dressed him in nothin' else4 ,ever' pair o' little breeches he's got is either pink or pink-trimmed4 ,well1 ,i talked along to him till ,i worked 'round to shamin' him a little for havin' to be christened settin' up on top a bean-arbor1 same ez a crow-bird1 which ,i told him the parson he wouldn't 'a' done ef he'd 'a' felt free to've left it undone4 ',twasn't to indulge him he done it1 but to bless him an' to comfort our hearts4 ,well1 after ,i had reasoned with him severe that-a-way a while1 he says1 says he1 thess ez sweet an' mild1 says he1 ,daddy1 nex' time y'all gits christened1 ,i'll come down an' be christened right--like a good boy4 ,th' ain't a sweeter child in'ardly 'n what ,sonny is1 nowheres1 git him to feel right comf'table1 and ,i know it1 an' that's why ,i have patience with his little out'ard ways4 ,yes1 sir1 says he2 nex' time ,i'll be christened like a good boy4 ,then1 of co'se1 ,i explained to him thet it couldn't never be did no mo'1 'cause it had been did1 an' did ',piscopal1 which is secure4 ,an' then what you reckon the little feller said8 ,says he1 ,yes1 daddy1 but ,s',,pos',,in' ,,mine ,,don',t ,,take4 ,how 'bout that8 ,an' ,i didn't try to explain no further4 ,what was the use8 ,wife1 she had drawed a stool close-t up to my knee1 an' set there sortin' out the little yaller rings ez they'd dry out on his head1 an' when he said that ,i thess looked at her an' we both looked at him1 an' says ,i1 ,wife1 says ,i1 ef they's anything in heavenly looks an' behavior1 ,i b'lieve that christenin' is started to take on him a'ready4 ,an' ,i b'lieve it had4 ,,christmas ,,night ,,with ,,satan ,,by ,,john ,,fox1 ,,jr4 ,all that is literature seeks to communicate power4 ,footnote3 ,de ,quincey1 ,letters to a ,young ,man4 ,here the power communicated is that of sympathizing with ,god's lesser children4 ,the humanitarian story is a long step in advance of the fable4 ,it recognizes the true relations of the animal world to man1 and insists that it be dealt with righteously and sympathetically4 ,,christmas ,,night ,,with ,,satan ,footnote3 ,from ,christmas ,eve on ,lonesome1 by ,john ,fox1 ,jr4 ,copyright1 #aijd1 by ,charles ,scribner's ,sons4 ,no night was this in ,hades with solemn-eyed ,dante1 for ,satan was only a woolly little black dog1 and surely no dog was ever more absurdly misnamed4 ,when ,uncle ,carey first heard that name1 he asked gravely3 ,why1 ,dinnie1 where in h---1 ,uncle ,carey gulped slightly1 did you get him8 ,and ,dinnie laughed merrily1 for she saw the fun of the question1 and shook her black curls4 ,he didn't come f'um ,,that ,,place4 ,distinctly ,satan had not come from that place4 ,on the contrary1 he might by a miracle have dropped straight from some ,happy ,hunting- ,ground1 for all the signs he gave of having touched pitch in this or another sphere4 ,nothing human was ever born that was gentler1 merrier1 more trusting or more lovable than ,satan4 ,that was why ,uncle ,carey said again gravely that he could hardly tell ,satan and his little mistress apart4 ,he rarely saw them apart1 and as both had black tangled hair and bright black eyes2 as one awoke every morning with a happy smile and the other with a jolly bark2 as they played all day like wind-shaken shadows and each won every heart at first sight--the likeness was really rather curious4 ,i have always believed that ,satan made the spirit of ,dinnie's house1 orthodox and severe though it was1 almost kindly toward his great namesake4 ,i know ,i have never been able1 since ,i knew little ,satan1 to think old ,satan as bad as ,i once painted him1 though ,i am sure the little dog had many pretty tricks that the old boy doubtless has never used in order to amuse his friends4 ,shut the door1 ,saty1 please1 ,dinnie would say1 precisely as she would say it to ,uncle ,billy1 the butler1 and straightway ,satan would launch himself at it--bang6 ,he never would learn to close it softly1 for ,satan liked that--bang6 ,if you kept tossing a coin or marble in the air1 ,satan would keep catching it and putting it back in your hand for another throw1 till you got tired4 ,then he would drop it on a piece of rag carpet1 snatch the carpet with his teeth1 throw the coin across the room1 and rush for it like mad1 until he got tired4 ,if you put a penny on his nose1 he would wait until you counted1 one--two-- ,,three6 ,then he would toss it up himself and catch it4 ,thus1 perhaps1 ,satan grew to love ,mammon right well1 but for another and better reason than that he liked simply to throw it around--as shall now be made plain4 ,a rubber ball with a hole in it was his favorite plaything1 and he would take it in his mouth and rush around the house like a child1 squeezing it to make it whistle4 ,when he got a new ball1 he would hide his old one away until the new one was the worse worn of the two1 and then he would bring out the old one again4 ,if ,dinnie gave him a nickel or a dime1 when they went down-town1 ,satan would rush into a store1 rear up on the counter where the rubber balls were kept1 drop the coin1 and get a ball for himself4 ,thus1 ,satan learned finance4 ,he began to hoard his pennies1 and one day ,uncle ,carey found a pile of seventeen under a corner of the carpet4 ,usually he carried to ,dinnie all coins that he found in the street1 but he showed one day that he was going into the ball- business for himself4 ,uncle ,carey had given ,dinnie a nickel for some candy1 and1 as usual1 ,satan trotted down the street behind her4 ,as usual1 ,satan stopped before the knick-knack shop4 ,tum on1 ,saty1 said ,dinnie4 ,satan reared against the door as he always did1 and ,dinnie said again3 ,tum on1 ,saty4 ,as usual1 ,satan dropped to his haunches1 but what was unusual1 he failed to bark4 ,now ,dinnie had got a new ball for ,satan only that morning1 so ,dinnie stamped her foot4 ,i tell you to tum on1 ,saty4 ,satan never moved4 ,he looked at ,dinnie as much as to say3 ,i have never disobeyed you before1 little mistress1 but this time ,i have an excellent reason for what must seem to you very bad manners-- and being a gentleman withal1 ,satan rose on his haunches and begged4 ,you're des a pig1 ,saty1 said ,dinnie1 but with a sigh for the candy that was not to be1 ,dinnie opened the door1 and ,satan1 to her wonder1 rushed to the counter1 put his forepaws on it1 and dropped from his mouth a dime4 ,satan had found that coin on the street4 ,he didn't bark for change1 nor beg for two balls1 but he had got it in his woolly little head1 somehow1 that in that store a coin meant a ball1 though never before nor afterward did he try to get a ball for a penny4 ,satan slept in ,uncle ,carey's room1 for of all people1 after ,dinnie1 ,satan loved ,uncle ,carey best4 ,every day at noon he would go to an upstairs window and watch the cars come around the corner1 until a very tall1 square-shouldered young man swung to the ground1 and down ,satan would scamper--yelping--to meet him at the gate4 ,if ,uncle ,carey1 after supper and when ,dinnie was in bed1 started out of the house1 still in his business clothes1 ,satan would leap out before him1 knowing that he too might be allowed to go2 but if ,uncle ,carey had put on black clothes that showed a big1 dazzling shirt-front1 and picked up his high hat1 ,satan would sit perfectly still and look disconsolate2 for as there were no parties or theatres for ,dinnie1 so there were none for him4 ,but no matter how late it was when ,uncle ,carey came home1 he always saw ,satan's little black nose against the window-pane and heard his bark of welcome4 ,after intelligence1 ,satan's chief trait was lovableness--nobody ever knew him to fight1 to snap at anything or to get angry2 after lovableness1 it was politeness4 ,if he wanted something to eat1 if he wanted ,dinnie to go to bed1 if he wanted to get out of the door1 he would beg--beg prettily on his haunches1 his little red tongue out and his funny little paws hanging loosely4 ,indeed1 it was just because ,satan was so little less than human1 ,i suppose1 that old ,satan began to be afraid he might have a soul4 ,so the wicked old namesake with the ,hoofs and ,horns laid a trap for little ,satan1 and1 as he is apt to do1 he began laying it early-- long1 indeed1 before ,christmas4 ,when ,dinnie started to kindergarten that autumn1 ,satan found that there was one place where he could never go4 ,like the lamb1 he could not go to school2 so while ,dinnie was away1 ,satan began to make friends4 ,he would bark1 ,howdy-do8 to every dog that passed his gate4 ,many stopped to rub noses with him through the fence-- even ,hugo the mastiff1 and nearly all1 indeed1 except one strange- looking dog that appeared every morning at precisely nine o'clock and took his stand on the corner4 ,there he would lie patiently until a funeral came along1 and then ,satan would see him take his place at the head of the procession2 and thus he would march out to the cemetery and back again4 ,nobody knew where he came from nor where he went1 and ,uncle ,carey called him the funeral dog and said he was doubtless looking for his dead master4 ,satan even made friends with a scrawny little yellow dog that followed an old drunkard around--a dog that1 when his master fell in the gutter1 would go and catch a policeman by the coat-tail1 lead the officer to his helpless master1 and spend the night with him in jail4 ,by and by ,satan began to slip out of the house at night1 and ,uncle ,billy said he reckoned ,satan had jined de club2 and late one night1 when he had not come in1 ,uncle ,billy told ,uncle ,carey that it was powerful slippery and he reckoned they'd better send de kerridge after him--an innocent remark that made ,uncle ,carey send a boot after the old butler1 who fled chuckling down the stairs1 and left ,uncle ,carey chuckling in his room4 ,satan had jined de club--the big club--and no dog was too lowly in ,satan's eyes for admission2 for no priest ever preached the brotherhood of man better than ,satan lived it--both with man and dog4 ,and thus he lived it that ,christmas night--to his sorrow4 ,christmas ,eve had been gloomy--the gloomiest of ,satan's life4 ,uncle ,carey had gone to a neighboring town at noon4 ,satan had followed him down to the station1 and when the train started1 ,uncle ,carey had ordered him to go home4 ,satan took his time about going home1 not knowing it was ,christmas ,eve4 ,he found strange things happening to dogs that day4 ,the truth was1 that policemen were shooting all dogs found that were without a collar and a license1 and every now and then a bang and a howl somewhere would stop ,satan in his tracks4 ,at a little yellow house on the edge of town he saw half a dozen strange dogs in a kennel1 and every now and then a negro would lead a new one up to the house and deliver him to a big man at the door1 who1 in return1 would drop something into the negro's hand4 ,while ,satan waited1 the old drunkard came along with his little dog at his heels1 paused before the door1 looked a moment at his faithful follower1 and went slowly on4 ,satan little knew the old drunkard's temptation1 for in that yellow house kind-hearted people had offered fifteen cents for each dog brought to them1 without a license1 that they might mercifully put it to death1 and fifteen cents was the precise price for a drink of good whiskey4 ,just then there was another bang and another howl somewhere1 and ,satan trotted home to meet a calamity4 ,dinnie was gone4 ,her mother had taken her out in the country to ,grandmother ,dean's to spend ,christmas1 as was the family custom1 and ,mrs4 ,dean would not wait any longer for ,satan2 so she told ,uncle ,billy to bring him out after supper4 ,ain't you 'shamed o' yo'self--suh--8 said the old butler1 keeping me from ketchin' ,christmas gifts dis day8 ,uncle ,billy was indignant1 for the negroes begin at four o'clock in the afternoon of ,christmas ,eve to slip around corners and jump from hiding-places to shout ,christmas ,gif'--,christmas ,gif'2 and the one who shouts first gets a gift4 ,no wonder it was gloomy for ,satan--,uncle ,carey1 ,dinnie1 and all gone1 and not a soul but ,uncle ,billy in the big house4 ,every few minutes he would trot on his little black legs upstairs and downstairs1 looking for his mistress4 ,as dusk came on1 he would every now and then howl plaintively4 ,after begging his supper1 and while ,uncle ,billy was hitching up a horse in the stable1 ,satan went out in the yard and lay with his nose between the close panels of the fence--quite heart-broken4 ,when he saw his old friend1 ,hugo the mastiff1 trotting into the gaslight1 he began to bark his delight frantically4 ,the big mastiff stopped and nosed his sympathy through the fence for a moment and walked slowly on1 ,satan frisking and barking along inside4 ,at the gate ,hugo stopped1 and raising one huge paw1 playfully struck it4 ,the gate flew open1 and with a happy yelp ,satan leaped into the street4 ,the noble mastiff hesitated as though this were not quite regular4 ,he did not belong to the club1 and he didn't know that ,satan had ever been away from home after dark in his life4 ,for a moment he seemed to wait for ,dinnie to call him back as she always did1 but this time there was no sound1 and ,hugo walked majestically on1 with absurd little ,satan running in a circle about him4 ,on the way they met the funeral dog1 who glanced inquiringly at ,satan1 shied from the mastiff1 and trotted on4 ,on the next block the old drunkard's yellow cur ran across the street1 and after interchanging the compliments of the season1 ran back after his staggering master4 ,as they approached the railroad track a strange dog joined them1 to whom ,hugo paid no attention4 ,at the crossing another new acquaintance bounded toward them4 ,this one--a half-breed shepherd --was quite friendly1 and he received ,satan's advances with affable condescension4 ,then another came and another1 and little ,satan's head got quite confused4 ,they were a queer-looking lot of curs and half-breeds from the negro settlement at the edge of the woods1 and though ,satan had little experience1 his instincts told him that all was not as it should be1 and had he been human he would have wondered very much how they had escaped the carnage that day4 ,uneasy1 he looked around for ,hugo2 but ,hugo had disappeared4 ,once or twice ,hugo had looked around for ,satan1 and ,satan paying no attention1 the mastiff trotted on home in disgust4 ,just then a powerful yellow cur sprang out of the darkness over the railroad track1 and ,satan sprang to meet him1 and so nearly had the life scared out of him by the snarl and flashing fangs of the new-comer that he hardly had the strength to shrink back behind his new friend1 the half-breed shepherd4 ,a strange thing then happened4 ,the other dogs became suddenly quiet1 and every eye was on the yellow cur4 ,he sniffed the air once or twice1 gave two or three peculiar low growls1 and all those dogs except ,satan lost the civilization of centuries and went back suddenly to the time when they were wolves and were looking for a leader4 ,the cur was ,lobo for that little pack1 and after a short parley1 he lifted his nose high and started away without looking back1 while the other dogs silently trotted after him4 ,with a mystified yelp1 ,satan ran after them4 ,the cur did not take the turnpike1 but jumped the fence into a field1 making his way by the rear of houses1 from which now and then another dog would slink out and silently join the band4 ,every one of them ,satan nosed most friendlily1 and to his great joy the funeral dog1 on the edge of town1 leaped into their midst4 ,ten minutes later the cur stopped in the midst of some woods1 as though he would inspect his followers4 ,plainly1 he disapproved of ,satan1 and ,satan kept out of his way4 ,then he sprang into the turnpike and the band trotted down it1 under flying black clouds and shifting bands of brilliant moonlight4 ,once1 a buggy swept past them4 ,a familiar odor struck ,satan's nose1 and he stopped for a moment to smell the horse's tracks2 and right he was1 too1 for out at her grandmother's ,dinnie refused to be comforted1 and in that buggy was ,uncle ,billy going back to town after him4 ,snow was falling4 ,it was a great lark for ,satan4 ,once or twice1 as he trotted along1 he had to bark his joy aloud1 and each time the big cur gave him such a fierce growl that he feared thereafter to open his jaws4 ,but he was happy for all that1 to be running out into the night with such a lot of funny friends and not to know or care where he was going4 ,he got pretty tired presently1 for over hill and down hill they went1 at that unceasing trot1 trot1 trot6 ,satan's tongue began to hang out4 ,once he stopped to rest1 but the loneliness frightened him and he ran on after them with his heart almost bursting4 ,he was about to lie right down and die1 when the cur stopped1 sniffed the air once or twice1 and with those same low growls1 led the marauders through a rail fence into the woods1 and lay quietly down4 ,how ,satan loved that soft1 thick grass1 all snowy that it was6 ,it was almost as good as his own bed at home4 ,and there they lay--how long1 ,satan never knew1 for he went to sleep and dreamed that he was after a rat in the barn at home2 and he yelped in his sleep1 which made the cur lift his big yellow head and show his fangs4 ,the moving of the half-breed shepherd and the funeral dog waked him at last1 and ,satan got up4 ,half crouching1 the cur was leading the way toward the dark1 still woods on top of the hill1 over which the ,star of ,bethlehem was lowly sinking1 and under which lay a flock of the gentle creatures that seemed to have been almost sacred to the ,lord of that ,star4 ,they were in sore need of a watchful shepherd now4 ,satan was stiff and chilled1 but he was rested and had had his sleep1 and he was just as ready for fun as he always was4 ,he didn't understand that sneaking4 ,why they didn't all jump and race and bark as he wanted to1 he couldn't see2 but he was too polite to do otherwise than as they did1 and so he sneaked after them2 and one would have thought he knew1 as well as the rest1 the hellish mission on which they were bent4 ,out of the woods they went1 across a little branch1 and there the big cur lay flat again in the grass4 ,a faint bleat came from the hill-side beyond1 where ,satan could see another woods--and then another bleat1 and another4 ,and the cur began to creep again1 like a snake in the grass2 and the others crept too1 and little ,satan crept1 though it was all a sad mystery to him4 ,again the cur lay still1 but only long enough for ,satan to see curious1 fat1 white shapes above him--and then1 with a blood-curdling growl1 the big brute dashed forward4 ,oh1 there was fun in them after all6 ,satan barked joyfully4 ,those were some new playmates--those fat1 white1 hairy things up there2 and ,satan was amazed when1 with frightened snorts1 they fled in every direction4 ,but this was a new game1 perhaps1 of which he knew nothing1 and as did the rest1 so did ,satan4 ,he picked out one of the white things and fled barking after it4 ,it was a little fellow that he was after1 but little as he was1 ,satan might never have caught up1 had not the sheep got tangled in some brush4 ,satan danced about him in mad glee1 giving him a playful nip at his wool and springing back to give him another nip1 and then away again4 ,plainly1 he was not going to bite back1 and when the sheep struggled itself tired and sank down in a heap1 ,satan came close and licked him1 and as he was very warm and woolly1 he lay down and snuggled up against him for a while1 listening to the turmoil that was going on around him4 ,and as he listened1 he got frightened4 ,if this was a new game it was certainly a very peculiar one--the wild rush1 the bleats of terror1 gasps of agony1 and the fiendish growls of attack and the sounds of ravenous gluttony4 ,with every hair bristling1 ,satan rose and sprang from the woods--and stopped with a fierce tingling of the nerves that brought him horror and fascination4 ,one of the white shapes lay still before him4 ,there was a great steaming red splotch on the snow1 and a strange odor in the air that made him dizzy2 but only for a moment4 ,another white shape rushed by4 ,a tawny streak followed1 and then1 in a patch of moonlight1 ,satan saw the yellow cur with his teeth fastened in the throat of his moaning playmate4 ,like lightning ,satan sprang at the cur1 who tossed him ten feet away and went back to his awful work4 ,again ,satan leaped1 but just then a shout rose behind him1 and the cur leaped too as though a bolt of lightning had crashed over him1 and1 no longer noticing ,satan or sheep1 began to quiver with fright and slink away4 ,another shout rose from another direction--another from another4 ,drive 'em into the barn-yard6 was the cry4 ,now and then there was a fearful bang and a howl of death-agony1 as some dog tried to break through the encircling men1 who yelled and cursed as they closed in on the trembling brutes that slunk together and crept on2 for it is said1 every sheep-killing dog knows his fate if caught1 and will make little effort to escape4 ,with them went ,satan1 through the barn-yard gate1 where they huddled in a corner--a shamed and terrified group4 ,a tall overseer stood at the gate4 ,ten of 'em6 he said grimly4 ,he had been on the lookout for just such a tragedy1 for there had recently been a sheep-killing raid on several farms in that neighborhood1 and for several nights he had had a lantern hung out on the edge of the woods to scare the dogs away2 but a drunken farm-hand had neglected his duty that ,christmas ,eve4 ,yassuh1 an' dey's jus' sebenteen dead sheep out dar1 said a negro4 ,look at the little one1 said a tall boy who looked like the overseer2 and ,satan knew that he spoke of him4 ,go back to the house1 son1 said the overseer1 and tell your mother to give you a ,christmas present ,i got for you yesterday4 ,with a glad whoop the boy dashed away1 and in a moment dashed back with a brand-new 4#cb ,winchester in his hand4 ,the dark hour before dawn was just breaking on ,christmas ,day4 ,it was the hour when ,satan usually rushed upstairs to see if his little mistress was asleep4 ,if he were only at home now1 and if he only had known how his little mistress was weeping for him amid her playthings and his--two new balls and a brass-studded collar with a silver plate on which was his name1 ,satan ,dean2 and if ,dinnie could have seen him now1 her heart would have broken2 for the tall boy raised his gun4 ,there was a let of smoke1 a sharp1 clean crack1 and the funeral dog started on the right way at last toward his dead master4 ,another crack1 and the yellow cur leaped from the ground and fell kicking4 ,another crack and another1 and with each crack a dog tumbled1 until little ,satan sat on his haunches amid the writhing pack1 alone4 ,his time was now come4 ,as the rifle was raised1 he heard up at the big house the cries of children2 the popping of fire-crackers2 tooting of horns and whistles and loud shouts of ,christmas ,gif'1 ',christmas ,gif'6 ,his little heart beat furiously4 ,perhaps he knew just what he was doing2 perhaps it was the accident of habit2 most likely ,satan simply wanted to go home--but when that gun rose1 ,satan rose too1 on his haunches1 his tongue out1 his black eyes steady and his funny little paws hanging loosely--and begged6 ,the boy lowered the gun4 ,down1 sir6 ,satan dropped obediently1 but when the gun was lifted again1 ,satan rose again1 and again he begged4 ,down1 ,i tell you6 ,this time ,satan would not down1 but sat begging for his life4 ,the boy turned4 ,papa1 ,i can't shoot that dog4 ,perhaps ,satan had reached the stern old overseer's heart4 ,perhaps he remembered suddenly that it was ,christmas4 ,at any rate1 he said gruffly3 ,well1 let him go4 ,come here1 sir6 ,satan bounded toward the tall boy1 frisking and trustful and begged again4 ,go home1 sir6 ,satan needed no second command4 ,without a sound he fled out the barn-yard1 and1 as he swept under the front gate1 a little girl ran out of the front door of the big house and dashed down the steps1 shrieking3 ,saty6 ,saty6 ,oh1 ,saty6 ,but ,satan never heard4 ,on he fled1 across the crisp fields1 leaped the fence and struck the road1 lickety- split6 for home1 while ,dinnie dropped sobbing in the snow4 ,hitch up a horse1 quick1 said ,uncle ,carey1 rushing after ,dinnie and taking her up in his arms4 ,ten minutes later1 ,uncle ,carey and ,dinnie1 both warmly bundled up1 were after flying ,satan4 ,they never caught him until they reached the hill on the outskirts of town1 where was the kennel of the kind-hearted people who were giving painless death to ,satan's four-footed kind1 and where they saw him stop and turn from the road4 ,there was divine providence in ,satan's flight for one little dog that ,christmas morning2 for ,uncle ,carey saw the old drunkard staggering down the road without his little companion1 and a moment later1 both he and ,dinnie saw ,satan nosing a little yellow cur between the palings4 ,uncle ,carey knew the little cur1 and ,while ,dinnie was shrieking for ,satan1 he was saying under his breath3 ,well1 ,i swear6--,i swear6--,i swear6 ,and while the big man who came to the door was putting ,satan into ,dinnie's arms1 he said sharply3 ,who brought that yellow dog here8 ,the man pointed to the old drunkard's figure turning a corner at the foot of the hill4 ,i thought so2 ,i thought so4 ,he sold him to you for--for a drink of whiskey4 ,the man whistled4 ,bring him out4 ,i'll pay his license4 ,so back went ,satan and the little cur to ,grandmother ,dean's--and ,dinnie cried when ,uncle ,carey told her why he was taking the little cur along4 ,with her own hands she put ,satan's old collar on the little brute1 took him to the kitchen1 and fed him first of all4 ,then she went into the breakfast-room4 ,uncle ,billy1 she said severely1 didn't ,i tell you not to let ,saty out8 ,yes1 ,miss ,dinnie1 said the old butler4 ,didn't ,i tell you ,i was goin' to whoop you if you let ,saty out8 ,yes1 ,miss ,dinnie4 ,miss ,dinnie pulled forth from her ,christmas treasures a toy riding-whip and the old darky's eyes began to roll in mock terror4 ,i'm sorry1 ,uncle ,billy1 but ,i des got to whoop you a little4 ,let ,uncle ,billy off1 ,dinnie1 said ,uncle ,carey1 this is ,christmas4 ,all wite1 said ,dinnie1 and she turned to ,satan4 ,in his shining new collar and innocent as a cherub1 ,satan sat on the hearth begging for his breakfast4 ,a ,,nest-,,egg ,,by ,,james ,,whitcomb ,,riley ,this is the simple character sketch in which there is romance treated with a fine reserve4 ,it employs the local color so characteristic of ,mr4 ,riley's poems of ,indiana4 ,a ,,nest-,,egg ,footnote3 ,from ,volume ,,vi of the ,biographical ,edition of the ,complete ,works of ,james ,whitcomb ,riley1 copyright1 #aiac4 ,used by special permission of the publishers1 the ,bobbs-,merrill ,company4 ,but a few miles from the city here1 and on the sloping banks of the stream noted more for its plenitude of chubs and shiners than the gamier two-and four-pound bass for which1 in season1 so many credulous anglers flock and lie in wait1 stands a country residence1 so convenient to the stream1 and so inviting in its pleasant exterior and comfortable surroundings--barn1 dairy1 and spring-house--that the weary1 sunburnt1 and disheartened fisherman1 out from the dusty town for a day of recreation1 is often wont to seek its hospitality4 ,the house in style of architecture is something of a departure from the typical farmhouse1 being designed and fashioned with no regard to symmetry or proportion1 but rather1 as is suggested1 built to conform to the matter-of-fact and most sensible ideas of its owner1 who1 if it pleased him1 would have small windows where large ones ought to be1 and vice versa1 whether they balanced properly to the eye or not4 ,and chimneys--he would have as many as he wanted1 and no two alike1 in either height or size4 ,and if he wanted the front of the house turned from all possible view1 as though abashed at any chance of public scrutiny1 why1 that was his affair and not the public's2 and1 with like perverseness1 if he chose to thrust his kitchen under the public's very nose1 what should the generally fagged-out1 half-famished representative of that dignified public do but reel in his dead minnow1 shoulder his fishing-rod1 clamber over the back fence of the old farmhouse and inquire within1 or jog back to the city1 inwardly anathematizing that very particular locality or the whole rural district in general4 ,that is just the way that farmhouse looked to the writer of this sketch one week ago--so individual it seemed--so liberal1 and yet so independent4 ,it wasn't even weather-boarded1 but1 instead1 was covered smoothly with some cement1 as though the plasterers had come while the folks were visiting1 and so1 unable to get at the interior1 had just plastered the outside4 ,i am more than glad that ,i was hungry enough1 and weary enough1 and wise enough to take the house at its first suggestion2 for1 putting away my fishing-tackle for the morning1 at least1 ,i went up the sloping bank1 crossed the dusty road1 and confidently clambered over the fence4 ,not even a growling dog to intimate that ,i was trespassing4 ,all was open--gracious-looking--pastoral4 ,the sward beneath my feet was velvet-like in elasticity1 and the scarce visible path ,i followed through it led promptly to the open kitchen door4 ,from within ,i heard a woman singing some old ballad in an undertone1 while at the threshold a trim1 white-spurred rooster stood poised on one foot1 curving his glossy neck and cocking his wattled head as though to catch the meaning of the words4 ,i paused4 ,it was a scene ,i felt restrained from breaking in upon1 nor would ,i1 but for the sound of a strong male voice coming around the corner of the house3 ,sir4 ,howdy6 ,turning1 ,i saw a rough-looking but kindly featured man of sixty- five1 the evident owner of the place4 ,i returned his salutation with some confusion and much deference4 ,i must really beg your pardon for this intrusion1 ,i began1 but ,i have been tiring myself out fishing1 and your home here looked so pleasant--and ,i felt so thirsty--and-- ,want a drink1 ,i reckon1 said the old man1 turning abruptly toward the kitchen door1 then pausing as suddenly1 with a backward motion of his thumb--jest foller the path here down to the little brick--that's the spring--and you'll find 'at you've come to the right place fer drinkin'-worter6 ,hold on a minute tel ,i git you a tumbler--there're nothin' down there but a tin4 ,then don't trouble yourself any further1 ,i said1 heartily1 for ,i'd rather drink from a tin cup than a goblet of pure gold4 ,and so'd ,i1 said the old man1 reflectively1 turning mechanically1 and following me down the path4 ',druther drink out of a tin--er jest a fruit-can with the top knocked off--er--er--er a gourd1 he added in a zestful1 reminiscent tone of voice1 that so heightened my impatient thirst that ,i reached the spring-house fairly in a run4 ,well-sir6 exclaimed my host1 in evident delight1 as ,i stood dipping my nose in the second cupful of the cool1 revivifying liquid1 and peering in a congratulatory kind of way at the blurred and rubicund reflection of my features in the bottom of the cup1 ,well-sir1 blame-don6 ef it don't do a feller good to see you enjoyin' of it thataway6 ,but don't you drink too much o' the worter6--'cause there're some sweet milk over there in one o' them crocks1 maybe2 and ef you'll jest1 kindo' keerful-like1 lift off the led of that third one1 say1 over there to yer left1 and dip you out a tinful er two o' that1 w'y1 it'll do you good to drink it1 and it'll do me good to see you at it--,but hold up6--hold up6 he called1 abruptly1 as1 nowise loath1 ,i bent above the vessel designated4 ,hold yer hosses fer a second6 ,here's ,marthy2 let her git it fer ye4 ,if ,i was at first surprised and confused1 meeting the master of the house1 ,i was wholly startled and chagrined in my present position before its mistress4 ,but as ,i arose1 and stammered1 in my confusion1 some incoherent apology1 ,i was again reassured and put at greater ease by the comprehensive and forgiving smile the woman gave me1 as ,i yielded her my place1 and1 with lifted hat1 awaited her further kindness4 ,i came just in time1 sir1 she said1 half laughingly1 as with strong1 bare arms she reached across the gurgling trough and replaced the lid that ,i had partially removed4--,i came just in time1 ,i see1 to prevent father from having you dip into the 'morning's-milk1' which1 of course1 has scarcely a veil of cream over the face of it as yet4 ,but men1 as you are doubtless willing to admit1 she went on jocularly1 don't know about these things4 ,you must pardon father1 as much for his well-meaning ignorance of such matters1 as for this cup of cream1 which ,i am sure you will better relish4 ,she arose1 still smiling1 with her eyes turned frankly on my own4 ,and ,i must be excused when ,i confess that as ,i bowed my thanks1 taking the proffered cup and lifting it to my lips1 ,i stared with an uncommon interest and pleasure at the donor's face4 ,she was a woman of certainly not less than forty years of age4 ,but the figure1 and the rounded grace and fulness of it1 together with the features and the eyes1 completed as fine a specimen of physical and mental health as ever it has been my fortune to meet2 there was something so full of purpose and resolve--something so wholesome1 too1 about the character--something so womanly--,i might almost say manly1 and would1 but for the petty prejudice maybe occasioned by the trivial fact of a locket having dropped from her bosom as she knelt2 and that trinket still dangles in my memory even as it then dangled and dropped back to its concealment in her breast as she arose4 ,but her face1 by no means handsome in the common meaning1 was marked with a breadth and strength of outline and expression that approached the heroic--a face that once seen is forever fixed in memory--a personage once met one must know more of4 ,and so it was1 that an hour later1 as ,i strolled with the old man about his farm1 looking1 to all intents1 with the profoundest interest at his ,devonshires1 ,shorthorns1 ,jerseys1 and the like1 ,i lured from him something of an outline of his daughter's history4 ,there're no better girl 'n ,marthy6 he said1 mechanically answering some ingenious allusion to her worth4 ,and yit1 he went on reflectively1 stooping from his seat in the barn door and with his open jack-knife picking up a little chip with the point of the blade--and yit--you wouldn't believe it--but ,marthy was the oldest o' three daughters1 and hed--,i may say--hed more advantages o' marryin'--and yit1 as ,i was jest goin' to say1 she's the very one 'at didn't marry4 ,hed every advantage--,marthy did4 ,w'y1 we even hed her educated--her mother was a-livin' then--and we was well enough fixed to afford the educatin' of her1 mother allus contended--and we was--besides1 it was ,marthy's notion1 too1 and you know how women is thataway when they git their head set4 ,so we sent ,marthy down to ,indianop'lus1 and got her books and putt her in school there1 and paid fer her keepin' and ever'thing2 and she jest--well1 you may say1 lived there stiddy fer better'n four year4 #j' course she'd git back ever' once-an-a-while1 but her visits was allus1 some-way-another1 onsatisfactory-like1 'cause1 you see1 ,marthy was allus my favorite1 and ,i'd allus laughed and told her 'at the other girls could git married if they wanted1 but ,,she was goin' to be the 'nest-egg' of our family1 and 'slong as ,i lived ,i wanted her at home with me4 ,and she'd laugh and contend 'at she'd as lif be an old maid as not1 and never expected to marry1 ner didn't want to4 ,but she had me sceart onc't1 though6 ,come out from the city one time1 durin' the army1 with a peart- lookin' young feller in blue clothes and gilt straps on his shoulders4 ,young lieutenant he was--name o' ,morris4 ,was layin' in camp there in the city somers4 ,i disremember which camp it was now adzackly--but anyway1 it 'peared like he had plenty o' time to go and come1 fer from that time on he kep' on a-comin'--ever' time ,marthy 'ud come home1 he'd come1 too2 and ,i got to noticin' 'at ,marthy come home a good 'eal more 'n she used to afore ,morris first brought her4 ,and blame ef the thing didn't git to worryin' me6 ,and onc't ,i spoke to mother about it1 and told her ef ,i thought the feller wanted to marry ,marthy ,i'd jest stop his comin' right then and there4 ,but mother she sorto' smiled and said somepin' 'bout men a-never seein' through nothin'2 and when ,i ast her what she meant1 w'y1 she ups and tells me 'at ,morris didn't keer nothin' fer ,marthy1 ner ,marthy fer ,morris1 and then went on to tell me that ,morris was kindo' aidgin' up to'rds ,annie--she was next to ,marthy1 you know1 in pint of years and experience1 but ever'body allus said 'at ,annie was the purtiest one o' the whole three of 'em4 ,and so when mother told me 'at the signs pinted to'rds ,annie1 w'y1 of course1 ,i hedn't no particular objections to that1 'cause ,morris was of good fambly enough it turned out1 and1 in fact1 was as stirrin' a young feller as ever ,i'd want fer a son-in-law1 and so ,i hed nothin' more to say--ner they wasn't no occasion to say nothin'1 'cause right along about then ,i begin to notice 'at ,marthy quit comin' home so much1 and ,morris kep' a- comin' more4 ,tel finally1 one time he was out here all by hisself1 'long about dusk1 come out here where ,i was feedin'1 and ast me1 all at onc't1 and in a straight-for'ard way1 ef he couldn't marry ,annie2 and1 some-way-another1 blame ef it didn't make me as happy as him when ,i told him yes6 ,you see that thing proved1 pine-blank1 'at he wasn't a-fishin' round fer ,marthy4 ,well-sir1 as luck would hev it1 ,marthy got home about a half-hour later1 and ,i'll give you my word ,i was never so glad to see the girl in my life6 ,it was foolish in me1 ,i reckon1 but when ,i see her drivin' up the lane-- it was purt' nigh dark then1 but ,i could see her through the open winder from where ,i was settin' at the supper-table1 and so ,i jest quietly excused myself1 p'lite-like1 as a feller will1 you know1 when they's comp'ny round1 and ,i slipped off and met her jest as she was about to git out to open the barn gate4 ',hold up1 ,marthy1' says ,i2 'set right where you air2 ,i'll open the gate fer you1 and ,i'll do anything else fer you in the world 'at you want me to6' ',w'y1 what's pleased ,,you so8' she says1 laughin'1 as she druv through slow-like and a-ticklin' my nose with the cracker of the buggy-whip4--',what's pleased ,,you8' ',guess1' says ,i1 jerkin' the gate to1 and turnin' to lift her out4 ',the new peanner's come8' says she1 eager-like4 ',yer new peanner's come1' says ,i2 'but that's not it4' ',strawberries fer supper8' says she4 ',strawberries fer supper1' says ,i2 'but that ain't it4' ,jest then ,morris's hoss whinnied in the barn1 and she glanced up quick and smilin' and says1 ',somebody come to see somebody8' ',you're a-gittin' warm1' says ,i4 ',somebody come to see ,,me8' she says1 anxious-like4 ',no1' says ,i1 'and ,i'm glad of it--fer this one 'at's come wants to git married1 and o' course ,i wouldn't harber in my house no young feller 'at was a-layin' round fer a chance to steal away the ,nest-egg1' says ,i1 laughin'4 ,marthy had riz up in the buggy by this time1 but as ,i helt up my hands to her1 she sorto' drawed back a minute1 and says1 all serious-like and kindo' whisperin'3 ',is it ,,annie8' ,i nodded4 ',yes1' says ,i1 'and what's more1 ,i've give my consent1 and mother's give hern--the thing's all settled4 ,come1 jump out and run in and be happy with the rest of us6' and ,i helt out my hands ag'in1 but she didn't 'pear to take no heed4 ,she was kindo' pale1 too1 ,i thought1 and swallered a time er two like as ef she couldn't speak plain4 ',who is the man8' she ast4 ',who--who's the man8' ,i says1 a-gittin' kindo' out o' patience with the girl4--',w'y1 you know who it is1 o' course4--,it's ,morris1' says ,i4 ',come1 jump down6 ,don't you see ,i'm waitin' fer ye8' ',then take me1' she says2 and blame-don6 ef the girl didn't keel right over in my arms--as limber as a rag6 ,clean fainted away6 ,honest6 ,jest the excitement1 ,i reckon1 o' breakin' it to her so suddent-like--'cause she liked ,annie1 ,i've sometimes thought1 better'n even she did her own mother4 ,didn't go half so hard with her when her other sister married4 ,yes-sir6 said the old man1 by way of sweeping conclusion1 as he rose to his feet--,marthy's the on'y one of 'em 'at never married--both the others is gone--,morris went all through the army and got back safe and sound--'s livin' in ,idyho1 and doin' fust-rate4 ,sends me a letter ever' now and then4 ,got three little chunks o' grandchildren out there1 and ,i' never laid eyes on one of 'em4 ,you see1 ,i'm a-gittin' to be quite a middle-aged man--in fact a very middle-aged man1 you might say4 ,sence mother died1 which has be'n--lem-me-see--mother's be'n dead somers in the neighborhood o' ten year4--,sence mother died ,i've be'n a-gittin' more and more o' ,,marthy',s notion--that is1--you couldn't ever hire ,,me to marry nobody6 and them has allus be'n and still is the ',nest-egg's' views6 ,listen6 ,that's her a-callin' fer us now4 ,you must sorto' overlook the freedom1 but ,i told ,marthy you'd promised to take dinner with us to-day1 and it 'ud never do to disappint her now4 ,come on4 ,and1 ah6 it would have made the soul of you either rapturously glad or madly envious to see how meekly ,i consented4 ,i am always thinking that ,i never tasted coffee till that day2 ,i am always thinking of the crisp and steaming rolls1 ored over with the molten gold that hinted of the clover-fields1 and the bees that had not yet permitted the honey of the bloom and the white blood of the stalk to be divorced2 ,i am always thinking that the young and tender pullet we happy three discussed was a near and dear relative of the gay patrician rooster that ,i first caught peering so inquisitively in at the kitchen door2 and ,i am always-- always thinking of ,the ,nest-egg4 ,,wee ,,willie ,,winkie ,,by ,,rudyard ,,kipling ,as the sub-title1 ,an ,officer and a ,gentleman1 indicates1 this is a story of character4 ,mr4 ,kipling1 like ,robert ,louis ,stevenson1 ,james ,whitcomb ,riley1 and ,eugene ,field1 has carried into his maturity an imperishable youth of spirit which makes him an interpreter of children4 ,here he has shown what our ,anglo-,saxon ideals--honor1 obedience1 and reverence for woman--mean to a little child4 ,,wee ,,willie ,,winkie ,,an ,,officer ,,and ,a ,,gentleman4 ,footnote3 ,from ,under the ,deodars1 by ,rudyard ,kipling4 ,copyright1 #ahii1 by ,rudyard ,kipling4 ,reprinted by special permission of ,doubleday1 ,page and ,company4 ,his full name was ,percival ,william ,williams1 but he picked up the other name in a nursery-book1 and that was the end of the christened titles4 ,his mother's ayah called him ,willie-,baba1 but as he never paid the faintest attention to anything that the ayah said1 her wisdom did not help matters4 ,his father was the ,colonel of the #aieth1 and as soon as ,wee ,willie ,winkie was old enough to understand what ,military ,discipline meant1 ,colonel ,williams put him under it4 ,there was no other way of managing the child4 ,when he was good for a week1 he drew good- conduct pay2 and when he was bad1 he was deprived of his good- conduct stripe4 ,generally he was bad1 for ,india offers many chances of going wrong to little six-year-olds4 ,children resent familiarity from strangers1 and ,wee ,willie ,winkie was a very particular child4 ,once he accepted an acquaintance1 he was graciously pleased to thaw4 ,he accepted ,brandis1 a subaltern of the #aieth1 on sight4 ,brandis was having tea at the ,colonel's1 and ,wee ,willie ,winkie entered strong in the possession of a good- conduct badge won for not chasing the hens round the compound4 ,he regarded ,brandis with gravity for at least ten minutes1 and then delivered himself of his opinion4 ,i like you1 said he slowly1 getting off his chair and coming over to ,brandis4 ,i like you4 ,i shall call you ,coppy1 because of your hair4 ,do you ,,mind being called ,coppy8 ,it is because of ye hair1 you know4 ,here was one of the most embarrassing of ,wee ,willie ,winkie's peculiarities4 ,he would look at a stranger for some time1 and then1 without warning1 or explanation1 would give him a name4 ,and the name stuck4 ,no regimental penalties could break ,wee ,willie ,winkie of this habit4 ,he lost his good-conduct badge for christening the ,commissioner's wife ,pobs2 but nothing that the ,colonel could do made the ,station forego the nickname1 and ,mrs4 ,collen remained ,pobs till the end of her stay4 ,so ,brandis was christened ,coppy1 and rose1 therefore1 in the estimation of the regiment4 ,if ,wee ,willie ,winkie took an interest in any one1 the fortunate man was envied alike by the mess and the rank and file4 ,and in their envy lay no suspicion of self-interest4 ,the ,colonel's son was idolized on his own merits entirely4 ,yet ,wee ,willie ,winkie was not lovely4 ,his face was permanently freckled1 as his legs were permanently scratched1 and in spite of his mother's almost tearful remonstrances he had insisted upon having his long yellow locks cut short in the military fashion4 ,i want my hair like ,sergeant ,tummil's1 said ,wee ,willie ,winkie1 and1 his father abetting1 the sacrifice was accomplished4 ,three weeks after the bestowal of his youthful affections on ,lieutenant ,brandis--henceforward to be called ,coppy for the sake of brevity--,wee ,willie ,winkie was destined to behold strange things and far beyond his comprehension4 ,coppy returned his liking with interest4 ,coppy had let him wear for five rapturous minutes his own big sword--just as tall as ,wee ,willie ,winkie4 ,coppy had promised him a terrier puppy1 and ,coppy had permitted him to witness the miraculous operation of shaving4 ,nay1 more--,coppy had said that even he1 ,wee ,willie ,winkie1 would rise in time to the ownership of a box of shiny knives1 a silver soap-box1 and a silver-handled sputter-brush1 as ,wee ,willie ,winkie called it4 ,decidedly1 there was no one except his own father1 who could give or take away good-conduct badges at pleasure1 half so wise1 strong1 and valiant as ,coppy with the ,afghan and ,egyptian medals on his breast4 ,why1 then1 should ,coppy be guilty of the unmanly weakness of kissing--vehemently kissing-- a big girl1 ,miss ,allardyce to wit8 ,in the course of a morning ride ,wee ,willie ,winkie had seen ,coppy so doing1 and1 like the gentleman he was1 had promptly wheeled round and cantered back to his groom1 lest the groom should also see4 ,under ordinary circumstances he would have spoken to his father1 but he felt instinctively that this was a matter on which ,coppy ought first to be consulted4 ,coppy1 shouted ,wee ,willie ,winkie1 reining up outside that subaltern's bungalow early one morning--,i want to see you1 ,coppy6 ,come in1 young 'un1 returned ,coppy1 who was at early breakfast in the midst of his dogs4 ,what mischief have you been getting into now8 ,wee ,willie ,winkie had done nothing notoriously bad for three days1 and so stood on a pinnacle of virtue4 ,i',,ve been doing nothing bad1 said he1 curling himself into a long chair with a studious affectation of the ,colonel's languor after a hot parade4 ,he buried his freckled nose in a tea-cup and1 with eyes staring roundly over the rim1 asked3 ,i say1 ,coppy1 is it pwoper to kiss big girls8 ,by ,jove6 ,you're beginning early4 ,who do you want to kiss8 ,no one4 ,my muvver's always kissing me if ,i don't stop her4 ,if it isn't pwoper1 how was you kissing ,major ,allardyce's big girl last morning1 by ve canal8 ,coppy's brow wrinkled4 ,he and ,miss ,allardyce had with great craft managed to keep their engagement secret for a fortnight4 ,there were urgent and imperative reasons why ,major ,allardyce should not know how matters stood for at least another month1 and this small marplot had discovered a great deal too much4 ,i saw you1 said ,wee ,willie ,winkie calmly4 ,but ve sais didn't see4 ,i said1 ',hut jao6' ,oh1 you had that much sense1 you young ,rip1 groaned poor ,coppy1 half amused and half angry4 ,and how many people may you have told about it8 ,only me myself4 ,you didn't tell when ,i twied to wide ve buffalo ven my pony was lame2 and ,i fought you wouldn't like4 ,winkie1 said ,coppy enthusiastically1 shaking the small hand1 you're the best of good fellows4 ,look here1 you can't understand all these things4 ,one of these days--hang it1 how can ,i make you see it6--,i'm going to marry ,miss ,allardyce1 and then she'll be ,mrs4 ,coppy1 as you say4 ,if your young mind is so scandalized at the idea of kissing big girls1 go and tell your father4 ,what will happen8 said ,wee ,willie ,winkie1 who firmly believed that his father was omnipotent4 ,i shall get into trouble1 said ,coppy1 playing his trump card with an appealing look at the holder of the ace4 ,ven ,i won't1 said ,wee ,willie ,winkie briefly4 ,but my faver says it's un-man-ly to be always kissing1 and ,i didn't fink ,,you',d do vat1 ,coppy4 ,i'm not always kissing1 old chap4 ,it's only now and then1 and when you're bigger you'll do it too4 ,your father meant it's not good for little boys4 ,ah6 said ,wee ,willie ,winkie1 now fully enlightened4 ,it's like ve sputter-brush8 ,exactly1 said ,coppy gravely4 ,but ,i don't fink ,i'll ever want to kiss big girls1 nor no one1 'cept my muvver4 ,and ,i ,,must do vat1 you know4 ,there was a long pause1 broken by ,wee ,willie ,winkie4 ,are you fond of vis big girl1 ,coppy8 ,awfully6 said ,coppy4 ,fonder van you are of ,bell or ve ,butcha--or me8 ,it's in a different way1 said ,coppy4 ,you see1 one of these days ,miss ,allerdyce will belong to me1 but you'll grow up and command the ,regiment and--all sorts of things4 ,it's quite different1 you see4 ,very well1 said ,wee ,willie ,winkie1 rising4 ,if you're fond of ve big girl1 ,i won't tell any one4 ,i must go now4 ,coppy rose and escorted his small guest to the door1 adding-- ,you're the best of little fellows1 ,winkie4 ,i tell you what4 ,in thirty days from now you can tell if you like--tell any one you like4 ,thus the secret of the ,brandis-,allardyce engagement was dependent on a little child's word4 ,coppy1 who knew ,wee ,willie ,winkie's idea of truth1 was at ease1 for he felt that he would not break promises4 ,wee ,willie ,winkie betrayed a special and unusual interest in ,miss ,allardyce1 and1 slowly revolving round that embarrassed young lady1 was used to regard her gravely with unwinking eye4 ,he was trying to discover why ,coppy should have kissed her4 ,she was not half so nice as his own mother4 ,on the other hand1 she was ,coppy's property1 and would in time belong to him4 ,therefore it behooved him to treat her with as much respect as ,coppy's big sword or shiny pistol4 ,the idea that he shared a great secret in common with ,coppy kept ,wee ,willie ,winkie unusually virtuous for three weeks4 ,then the ,old ,adam broke out1 and he made what he called a camp-fire at the bottom of the garden4 ,how could be have foreseen that the flying sparks would have lighted the ,colonel's little hay-rick and consumed a week's store for the horses8 ,sudden and swift was the punishment--deprivation of the good-conduct badge and1 most sorrowful of all1 two days' confinement to barracks--the house and veranda--coupled with the withdrawal of the light of his father's countenance4 ,he took the sentence like the man he strove to be1 drew himself up with a quivering under-lip1 saluted1 and1 once clear of the room1 ran to weep bitterly in his nursery--called by him my quarters4 ,coppy came in the afternoon and attempted to console the culprit4 ,i'm under awwest1 said ,wee ,willie ,winkie mournfully1 and ,i didn't ought to speak to you4 ,very early the next morning he climbed on to the roof of the house--that was not forbidden--and beheld ,miss ,allardyce going for a ride4 ,where are you going8 cried ,wee ,willie ,winkie4 ,across the river1 she answered1 and trotted forward4 ,now the cantonment in which the #aieth lay was bounded on the north by a river--dry in the winter4 ,from his earliest years1 ,wee ,willie ,winkie had been forbidden to go across the river1 and had noted that even ,coppy--the almost almighty ,coppy--had never set foot beyond it4 ,wee ,willie ,winkie had once been read to1 out of a big blue book1 the history of the ,princess find the ,goblins--a most wonderful tale of a land where the ,goblins were always warring with the children of men until they were defeated by one ,curdie4 ,ever since that date it seemed to him that the bare black and purple hills across the river were inhabited by ,goblins1 and1 in truth1 every one had said that there lived the ,bad ,men4 ,even in his own house the lower halves of the windows were covered with green paper on account of the ,bad ,men who might1 if allowed clear view1 fire into peaceful drawing-rooms and comfortable bedrooms4 ,certainly1 beyond the river1 which was the end of all the ,earth1 lived the ,bad ,men4 ,and here was ,major ,allardyce's big girl1 ,coppy's property1 preparing to venture into their borders6 ,what would ,coppy say if anything happened to her8 ,if the ,goblins ran off with her as they did with ,curdie's ,princess8 ,she must at all hazards be turned back4 ,the house was still4 ,wee ,willie ,winkie reflected for a moment on the very terrible wrath of his father1 and then--broke his arrest6 ,it was a crime unspeakable4 ,the low sun threw his shadow1 very large and very black1 on the trim garden-paths1 as he went down to the stables and ordered his pony4 ,it seemed to him in the hush of the dawn that all the big world had been bidden to stand still and look at ,wee ,willie ,winkie guilty of mutiny4 ,the drowsy sais gave him his mount1 and1 since the one great sin made all others insignificant1 ,wee ,willie ,winkie said that he was going to ride over to ,coppy ,sahib1 and went out at a foot-pace1 stepping on the soft mould of the flower-borders4 ,the devastating track of the pony's feet was the last misdeed that cut him off from all sympathy of ,humanity4 ,he turned into the road1 leaned forward1 and rode as fast as the pony could put foot to the ground in the direction of the river4 ,but the liveliest of twelve-two ponies can do little against the long canter of a ,waler4 ,miss ,allardyce was far ahead1 had passed through the crops1 beyond the ,police-posts1 when all the guards were asleep1 and her mount was scattering the pebbles of the river-bed as ,wee ,willie ,winkie left the cantonment and ,british ,india behind him4 ,bowed forward and still flogging1 ,wee ,willie ,winkie shot into ,afghan territory1 and could just see ,miss ,allardyce a black speck flickering across the stony plain4 ,the reason of her wandering was simple enough4 ,coppy1 in a tone of too-hastily-assumed authority1 had told her over night that she must not ride out by the river4 ,and she had gone to prove her own spirit and teach ,coppy a lesson4 ,almost at the foot of the inhospitable hills1 ,wee ,willie ,winkie saw the ,waler blunder and come down heavily4 ,miss ,allardyce struggled clear1 but her ankle had been severely twisted1 and she could not stand4 ,having fully shown her spirit1 she wept1 and was surprised by the apparition of a white1 wide-eyed child in khaki1 on a nearly spent pony4 ,are you badly1 badly hurted8 shouted ,wee ,willie ,winkie1 as soon as he was within range4 ,you didn't ought to be here4 ,i don't know1 said ,miss ,allardyce ruefully1 ignoring the reproof4 ,good gracious1 child1 what are ,,you doing here8 ,you said you was going acwoss ve wiver1 panted ,wee ,willie ,winkie1 throwing himself off his pony4 ,and nobody--not even ,coppy--must go acwoss ve wiver1 and ,i came after you ever so hard1 but you wouldn't stop1 and now you've hurted yourself1 and ,coppy will be angwy wiv me1 and--,i've bwoken my awwest6 ,i've bwoken my awwest6 ,the future ,colonel of the #aieth sat down and sobbed4 ,in spite of the pain in her ankle1 the girl was moved4 ,have you ridden all the way from cantonments1 little man8 ,what for8 ,you belonged to ,coppy4 ,coppy told me so6 wailed ,wee ,willie ,winkie disconsolately4 ,i saw him kissing you1 and he said he was fonder of you van ,bell or ve ,butcha or me4 ,and so ,i came4 ,you must get up and come back4 ,you didn't ought to be here4 ,vis is a bad place1 and ,i've bwoken my awwest4 ,i can't move1 ,winkie1 said ,miss ,allardyce1 with a groan4 ,i've hurt my foot4 ,what shall ,i do8 ,she showed a readiness to weep anew1 which steadied ,wee ,willie ,winkie1 who had been brought up to believe that tears were the depth of unmanliness4 ,still1 when one is as great a sinner as ,wee ,willie ,winkie1 even a man may be permitted to break down4 ,winkie1 said ,miss ,allardyce1 when you've rested a little1 ride back and tell them to send out something to carry me back in4 ,it hurts fearfully4 ,the child sat still for a little time1 and ,miss ,allardyce closed her eyes2 the pain was nearly making her faint4 ,she was roused by ,wee ,willie ,winkie tying up the reins on his pony's neck and setting it free with a vicious cut of his whip that made it whicker4 ,the little animal headed towards the cantonments4 ,oh1 ,winkie6 ,what are you doing8 ,hush6 said ,wee ,willie ,winkie4 ,vere's a man coming--one of ve ,bad ,men4 ,i must stay wiv you4 ,my faver says a man must ,,always look after a girl4 ,jack will go home1 and ven vey'll come and look for us4 ,vat's why ,i let him go4 ,not one man1 but two or three1 had appeared from behind the rocks of the hills1 and the heart of ,wee ,willie ,winkie sank within him1 for just in this manner were the ,goblins wont to steal out and vex ,curdie's soul4 ,thus had they played in ,curdie's garden 7he had seen the picture71 and thus had they frightened the ,princess's nurse4 ,he heard them talking to each other1 and recognized with joy the bastard ,pushto that he had picked up from one of his father's grooms lately dismissed4 ,people who spoke that tongue could not be the ,bad ,men4 ,they were only natives1 after all4 ,they came up to the boulders on which ,miss ,allardyce's horse had blundered4 ,then rose from the rock ,wee ,willie ,winkie1 child of the ,dominant ,race1 aged six and three-quarters1 and said briefly and emphatically1 ,jao6 ,the pony had crossed the river-bed4 ,the man laughed1 and laughter from natives was the one thing ,wee ,willie ,winkie could not tolerate4 ,he asked them what they wanted and why they did not depart4 ,other men with most evil faces and crooked-stocked guns crept out of the shadows of the hills1 till1 soon1 ,wee ,willie ,winkie was face to face with an audience some twenty strong4 ,miss ,allardyce screamed4 ,who are you8 said one of the men4 ,i am the ,colonel ,sahib's son1 and my order is that you go at once4 ,you black men are frightening the ,miss ,sahib4 ,one of you must run into cantonments and take the news that the ,miss ,sahib has hurt herself1 and that the ,colonel's son is here with her4 ,put our feet into the trap8 was the laughing reply4 ,hear this boy's speech6 ,say that ,i sent you--,i1 the ,colonel's son4 ,they will give you money4 ,what is the use of this talk8 ,take up the child and the girl1 and we can at least ask for the ransom4 ,ours are the villages on the heights1 said a voice in the background4 ,these ,,were the ,bad ,men--worse than ,goblins--and it needed all ,wee ,willie ,winkie's training to prevent him from bursting into tears4 ,but he felt that to cry before a native1 excepting only his mother's ayah1 would be an infamy greater than any mutiny4 ,moreover1 he1 as future ,colonel of the #aieth1 had that grim regiment at his back4 ,are you going to carry us away8 said ,wee ,willie ,winkie1 very blanched and uncomfortable4 ,yes1 my little ,sahib ,bahadur1 said the tallest of the men1 and eat you afterwards4 ,that is child's talk1 said ,wee ,willie ,winkie4 ,men do not eat men4 ,a yell of laughter interrupted him1 but he went on firmly--,and if you do carry us away1 ,i tell you that all my regiment will come up in a day and kill you all without leaving one4 ,who will take my message to the ,colonel ,sahib8 ,speech in any vernacular--and ,wee ,willie ,winkie had a colloquial acquaintance with three--was easy to the boy who could not yet manage his r's and th's aright4 ,another man joined the conference1 crying1 ,o foolish men6 ,what this babe says is true4 ,he is the heart's heart of those white troops4 ,for the sake of peace let them go both1 for if he be taken1 the regiment will break loose and gut the valley4 ,,our villages are in the valley1 and we shall not escape4 ,that regiment are devils4 ,they broke ,khoda ,yar's breastbone with kicks when he tried to take the rifles2 and if we touch this child they will fire and rape and plunder for a month till nothing remains4 ,better to send a man back to take the message and get a reward4 ,i say that this child is their ,god1 and that they will spare none of us1 nor our women1 if we harm him4 ,it was ,din ,mahommed1 the dismissed groom of the ,colonel1 who made the diversion1 and an angry and heated discussion followed4 ,wee ,willie ,winkie1 standing over ,miss ,allardyce1 waited the upshot4 ,surely his wegiment1 his own wegiment1 would not desert him if they knew of his extremity4 ,the riderless pony brought the news to the #aieth1 though there had been consternation in the ,colonel's household for an hour before4 ,the little beast came in through the parade-ground in front of the main barracks1 where the men were settling down to play ,spoil-five till the afternoon4 ,devlin1 the ,color-,sergeant of ,e ,company1 glanced at the empty saddle and tumbled through the barrack-rooms1 kicking up each ,room ,corporal as he passed4 ,up1 ye beggars6 ,there's something happened to the ,colonel's son1 he shouted4 ,he couldn't fall off6 ,s'help me1 'e ,,couldn',t fall off1 blubbered a drummer-boy4 ,go an' hunt acrost the river4 ,he's over there if he's anywhere1 an' maybe those ,pathans have got 'im4 ,for the love o' ,gawd don't look for 'im in the nullahs6 ,let's go over the river4 ,there's sense in ,mott yet1 said ,devlin4 ,e ,company1 double out to the river--sharp6 ,so ,e ,company1 in its shirt-sleeves mainly1 doubled for the dear life1 and in the rear toiled the perspiring ,sergeant1 adjuring it to double yet faster4 ,the cantonment was alive with the men of the #aieth hunting for ,wee ,willie ,winkie1 and the ,colonel finally overtook ,e ,company1 far too exhausted to swear1 struggling in the pebbles of the river-bed4 ,up the hill under which ,wee ,willie ,winkie's ,bad ,men were discussing the wisdom of carrying off the child and the girl1 a look-out fired two shots4 ,what have ,i said8 shouted ,din ,mahommed4 ,there is the warning6 ,the pulton are out already and are coming across the plain6 ,get away6 ,let us not be seen with the boy6 ,the men waited for an instant1 and then1 as another shot was fired1 withdrew into the hills1 silently as they had appeared4 ,the wegiment is coming1 said ,wee ,willie ,winkie confidently to ,miss ,allardyce1 and it's all wight4 ,don't cwy6 ,he needed the advice himself1 for ten minutes later1 when his father came up1 he was weeping bitterly with his head in ,miss ,allardyce's lap4 ,and the men of the #aieth carried him home with shouts and rejoicings2 and ,coppy1 who had ridden a horse into a lather1 met him1 and1 to his intense disgust1 kissed him openly in the presence of the men4 ,but there was balm for his dignity4 ,his father assured him that not only would the breaking of arrest be condoned1 but that the good-conduct badge would be restored as soon as his mother could sew it on his blouse-sleeve4 ,miss ,allardyce had told the ,colonel a story that made him proud of his son4 ,she belonged to you1 ,coppy1 said ,wee ,willie ,winkie1 indicating ,miss ,allardyce with a grimy fore-finger4 ,i ,,knew she didn't ought to go acwoss ve wiver1 and ,i knew ve wegiment would come to me if ,i sent ,jack home4 ,you're a hero1 ,winkie1 said ,coppy--a pukka hero6 ,i don't know what vat means1 said ,wee ,willie ,winkie1 but you mustn't call me ,winkie any no more4 ,i'm ,percival ,will'am ,will'ams4 ,and in this manner did ,wee ,willie ,winkie enter into his manhood4 ,,the ,,gold ,,bug ,,by ,,edgar ,,allan ,,poe ,poe was the first ,american short-story writer4 ,others had written stories that were short1 but he was the first to recognize the short-story as having a form and an aim all its own4 ,moreover1 he was willing to admit the public to his laboratory and to explain his process1 for he discounted inspiration and emphasized craftsmanship4 ,in ,the ,philosophy of ,composition he declares that every plot must be elaborated to its denouement before anything is attempted with the pen4 ,it is only with the denouement constantly in view that we can give a plot its indispensable air of consequence1 or causation1 by making the incidents and especially the tone1 at all points1 tend to the development of the intention4 ,he also tells us that he prefers beginning with an effect4 ,having chosen1 in the first place1 an effect that is both novel and vivid1 he decides whether it can be best wrought by incident or tone1 and afterward looks about for such combinations of events1 or tone1 as shall best aid 444 in the construction of the effect4 ,in view of such explanations1 it is interesting to study ,the ,gold ,bug and to see how well the plot has been worked out and the tone established4 ,it is doubtful whether in this story the plot meant to the writer what it means to the reader4 ,the latter likes the adventure with its ingeniously fitted parts1 each so necessary to the whole4 ,but after the gold has been found--and that is the point of greatest interest--the story goes on and on to explain the cryptogram4 ,this1 no doubt1 was to ,poe the most interesting thing about the story1 the tracing of the steps by which the scrap of parchment was deciphered and reasoned upon and made to yield up its secret4 ,as to the time and place1 the strange conduct and character of ,legrand1 the fears and superstitions of ,jupiter1 and the puzzled solicitude of the narrator--all these aid materially in establishing and maintaining the tone4 ,,the ,,gold ,,bug ,footnote3 ,from ,the ,works of ,edgar ,allan ,poe1 published by ,charles ,scribner's ,sons4 ,what ho' what ho' this fellow is dancing mad6 ,he hath been bitten by the ,tarantula4 --,all in the ,wrong4 ,many years ago1 ,i contracted an intimacy with a ,mr4 ,william ,legrand4 ,he was of an ancient ,huguenot family1 and had once been wealthy2 but a series of misfortunes had reduced him to want4 ,to avoid the mortification consequent upon his disasters1 he left ,new ,orleans1 the city of his forefathers1 and took up his residence at ,sullivan's ,island1 near ,charleston1 ,south ,carolina4 ,this island is a very singular one4 ,it consists of little else than the sea sand1 and is about three miles long4 ,its breadth at no point exceeds a quarter of a mile4 ,it is separated from the mainland by a scarcely perceptible creek1 oozing its way through a wilderness of reeds and slime1 a favorite resort of the marsh-hen4 ,the vegetation1 as might be supposed1 is scant1 or at least dwarfish4 ,no trees of any magnitude are to be seen4 ,near the western extremity1 where ,fort ,moultrie stands1 and where are some miserable frame buildings1 tenanted during summer by the fugitives from ,charleston dust and fever1 may be found1 indeed1 the bristly palmetto2 but the whole island1 with the exception of this western point1 and a line of hard white beach on the seacoast1 is covered with a dense undergrowth of the sweet myrtle1 so much prized by the horticulturists of ,england4 ,the shrub here often attains the height of fifteen or twenty feet1 and forms an almost impenetrable coppice1 burdening the air with its fragrance4 ,in the utmost recesses of this coppice1 not far from the eastern or more remote end of the island1 ,legrand had built himself a small hut1 which he occupied when ,i first1 by mere accident1 made his acquaintance4 ,this soon ripened into friendship--for there was much in the recluse to excite interest and esteem4 ,i found him well educated1 with unusual powers of mind1 but infected with misanthropy1 and subject to perverse moods of alternate enthusiasm and melancholy4 ,he had with him many books1 but rarely employed them4 ,his chief amusements were gunning and fishing1 or sauntering along the beach and through the myrtles1 in quest of shells or entomological specimens2--his collection of the latter might have been envied by a ,swammerdamm4 ,in these excursions he was usually accompanied by an old negro1 called ,jupiter1 who had been manumitted before the reverses of the family1 but who could be induced1 neither by threats nor by promises1 to abandon what he considered his right of attendance upon the footsteps of his young ,massa ,will4 ,it is not improbable that the relatives of ,legrand1 conceiving him to be somewhat unsettled in intellect1 had contrived to instil this obstinacy into ,jupiter1 with a view to the supervision and guardianship of the wanderer4 ,the winters in the latitude of ,sullivan's ,island are seldom very severe1 and in the fall of the year it is a rare event indeed when a fire is considered necessary4 ,about the middle of ,october1 #ah--1 there occurred1 however1 a day of remarkable chilliness4 ,just before sunset ,i scrambled my way through the evergreens to the hut of my friend1 whom ,i had not visited for several weeks--my residence being at that time in ,charleston1 a distance of nine miles from the island1 while the facilities of passage and re- passage were very far behind those of the present day4 ,upon reaching the hut ,i rapped1 as was my custom1 and1 getting no reply1 sought for the key where ,i knew it was secreted1 unlocked the door and went in4 ,a fine fire was blazing upon the hearth1 ,it was a novelty1 and by no means an ungrateful one4 ,i threw off an overcoat1 took an armchair by the crackling logs1 and awaited patiently the arrival of my hosts4 ,soon after dark they arrived1 and gave me a most cordial welcome4 ,jupiter1 grinning from ear to ear1 bustled about to prepare some marsh-hens for supper4 ,legrand was in one of his fits--how else shall ,i term them8--of enthusiasm4 ,he had found an unknown bivalve1 forming a new genus1 and1 more than this1 he had hunted down and secured1 with ,jupiter's assistance1 a scaraboeus which he believed to be totally new1 but in respect to which he wished to have my opinion on the morrow4 ,and why not to-night8 ,i asked1 rubbing my hands over the blaze1 and wishing the whole tribe of scaraboei at the devil4 ,ah1 if ,i had only known you were here6 said ,legrand1 but it's so long since ,i saw you2 and how could ,i foresee that you would pay me a visit this very night of all others8 ,as ,i was coming home ,i met ,lieutenant ,g----1 from the fort1 and1 very foolishly1 ,i lent him the bug2 so it will be impossible for you to see it until the morning4 ,stay here to-night1 and ,i will send ,jup down for it at sunrise4 ,it is the loveliest thing in creation6 ,what8--sunrise8 ,nonsense6 no6--the bug4 ,it is of a brilliant gold color--about the size of a large hickory-nut--with two jet black spots near one extremity of the back1 another1 somewhat longer1 at the other4 ,the antennae are-- ,dey aint ,,no tin in him1 ,massa ,will1 ,i keep a-tellin' on you1 here interrupted ,jupiter2 de bug is a goole-bug1 solid1 ebery bit of him1 inside and all1 sep him wing--neber feel half so hebby a bug in my life4 ,well1 suppose it is1 ,jup1 replied ,legrand1 somewhat more earnestly1 it seemed to me1 than the case demanded1 is that any reason for your letting the birds burn8 ,the color--here he turned to me--is really almost enough to warrant ,jupiter's idea4 ,you never saw a more brilliant metallic lustre than the scales emit-- but of this you cannot judge till to-morrow4 ,in the mean time ,i can give you some idea of the shape4 ,saying this1 he seated himself at a small table1 on which were a pen and ink1 but no paper4 ,he looked for some in a drawer1 but found none4 ,never mind1 said he at length1 this will answer2 and he drew from his waistcoat pocket a scrap of what ,i took to be very dirty foolscap1 and made upon it a rough drawing with the pen4 ,while he did this1 ,i retained my seat by the fire1 for ,i was still chilly4 ,when the design was complete1 he handed it to me without rising4 ,as ,i received it1 a low growl was heard1 succeeded by a scratching at the door4 ,jupiter opened it1 and a large ,newfoundland1 belonging to ,legrand1 rushed in1 leaped upon my shoulders1 and loaded me with caresses2 for ,i had shown him much attention during previous visits4 ,when his gambols were over1 ,i looked at the paper1 and1 to speak the truth1 found myself not a little puzzled at what my friend had depicted4 ,well6 ,i said1 after contemplating it for some minutes1 this is a strange scarabaeus1 ,i must confess2 new to me3 never saw anything like it before--unless it was a skull1 or a death's-head1 which it more nearly resembles than anything else that has come under ,,my observation4 ,a death's-head6 echoed ,legrand--,oh--yes--well1 it has something of that appearance upon paper1 no doubt4 ,the two upper black spots look like eyes1 eh8 and the longer one at the bottom like a mouth --and then the shape of the whole is oval4 ,perhaps so1 said ,i2 but1 ,legrand1 ,i fear you are no artist4 ,i must wait until ,i see the beetle itself1 if ,i am to form any idea of its personal appearance4 ,well1 ,i don't know1 said he1 a little nettled1 ,i draw tolerably--,,should do it at least--have had good masters1 and flatter myself that ,i am not quite a blockhead4 ,but1 my dear fellow1 you are joking then1 said ,i1 this is a very passable ,,skull1--indeed1 ,i may say that it is a very ,,excellent skull1 according to the vulgar notions about such specimens of physiology--and your scarabaeus must be the queerest scarabaeus in the world if it resembles it4 ,why1 we may get up a very thrilling bit of superstition upon this hint4 ,i presume you will call the bug scarabaeus caput hominis1 or something of that kind--there are many similar titles in the ,natural ,histories4 ,but where are the antennae you spoke of8 ,the antennae6 said ,legrand1 who seemed to be getting unaccountably warm upon the subject2 ,i am sure you must see the antennae4 ,i made them as distinct as they are in the original insect1 and ,i presume that is sufficient4 ,well1 well1 ,i said1 perhaps you have--still ,i don't see them2 and ,i handed him the paper without additional remark1 not wishing to ruffle his temper2 but ,i was much surprised at the turn affairs had taken2 his ill humor puzzled me--and1 as for the drawing of the beetle1 there were positively ,,no antennae visible1 and the whole ,,did bear a very close resemblance to the ordinary cuts of a death's-head4 ,he received the paper very peevishly1 and was about to crumple it1 apparently to throw it in the fire1 when a casual glance at the design seemed suddenly to rivet his attention4 ,in an instant his face grew violently red--in another as excessively pale4 ,for some minutes he continued to scrutinize the drawing minutely where he sat4 ,at length he arose1 took a candle from the table1 and proceeded to seat himself upon a sea-chest in the farthest corner of the room4 ,here again he made an anxious examination of the paper2 turning it in all directions4 ,he said nothing1 however1 and his conduct greatly astonished me2 yet ,i thought it prudent not to exacerbate the growing moodiness of his temper by any comment4 ,presently he took from his coat pocket a wallet1 placed the paper carefully in it1 and deposited both in a writing-desk1 which he locked4 ,he now grew more composed in his demeanor2 but his original air of enthusiasm had quite disappeared4 ,yet he seemed not so much sulky as abstracted4 ,as the evening wore away he became more and more absorbed in revery1 from which no sallies of mine could arouse him4 ,it had been my intention to pass the night at the hut1 as ,i had frequently done before1 but1 seeing my host in this mood1 ,i deemed it proper to take leave4 ,he did not press me to remain1 but1 as ,i departed1 he shook my hand with even more than his usual cordiality4 ,it was about a month after this 7and during the interval ,i had seen nothing of ,legrand7 when ,i received a visit1 at ,charleston1 from his man1 ,jupiter4 ,i had never seen the good old negro look so dispirited1 and ,i feared that some serious disaster had befallen my friend4 ,well1 ,jup1 said ,i1 what is the matter now8--how is your master8 ,why1 to speak de troof1 massa1 him not so berry well as mought be4 ,not well6 ,i am truly sorry to hear it4 ,what does he complain of8 ,dar6 dat's it6--him neber plain of notin--but him berry sick for all dat4 ,,very sick1 ,jupiter6--why didn't you say so at once8 ,is he confined to bed8 ,no1 dat he aint6--he aint find nowhar--dat's just whar de shoe pinch--my mind is got to be berry hebby bout poor ,massa ,will4 ,jupiter1 ,i should like to understand what it is you are talking about4 ,you say your master is sick4 ,hasn't he told you what ails him8 ,why1 massa1 taint worf while for to git mad bout de matter--,massa ,will say noffin at all aint de matter wid him--but den what make him go about looking dis here way1 wid he head down and he soldiers up1 and as white as a gose8 ,and den he keep a syphon all de time---- ,keeps a what1 ,jupiter8 ,keeps a syphon wid de figgurs on de slate--de queerest figgurs ,i ebber did see4 ,ise gittin to be skeered1 ,i tell you4 ,hab for to keep mighty tight eye pon him noovers4 ,todder day he gib me slip fore de sun up and was gone de whole ob de blessed day4 ,i had a big stick ready cut for to gib him d----d good beating when he did come--but ,ise sich a fool dat ,i hadn't de heart arter all--he look so berry poorly4 ,eh8--what8--ah yes6--upon the whole ,i think you had better not be too severe with the poor fellow--don't flog him1 ,jupiter--he can't very well stand it--but can you form no idea of what has occasioned this illness1 or rather this change of conduct8 ,has anything unpleasant happened since ,i saw you8 ,no1 massa1 dey aint bin noffin onpleasant ,,since den--'twas ,,fore den ,i'm feared--'twas de berry day you was dare4 ,how8 what do you mean8 ,why1 massa1 ,i mean de bug--dare now4 ,the what8 ,de bug--,i'm berry sartain dat ,massa ,will bin bit somewhere bout de head by dat goole-bug4 ,and what cause have you1 ,jupiter1 for such a supposition8 ,claws enuff1 massa1 and mouff too4 ,i nebber did see sich a d----d bug--he kick and he bite ebery ting what cum near him4 ,massa ,will cotch him fuss1 but had for to let him go gin mighty quick1 ,i tell you--den was de time he must ha got de bite4 ,i didn't like de look ob de bug mouff1 myself1 no how1 so ,i wouldn't take hold ob him wid my finger1 but ,i cotch him wid a piece ob paper dat ,i found4 ,i rap him up in de paper and stuff piece ob it in he mouff--dat was de way4 ,and you think1 then1 that your master was really bitten by the beetle1 and that the bite made him sick8 ,i don't tink noffin about it--,i nose it4 ,what make him dream bout de goole so much1 if taint cause he bit by de goole-bug8 ,ise heerd bout dem goole-bugs fore dis4 ,but how do you know he dreams about gold8 ,how ,i know8 why cause he talk about it in he sleep--dat's how ,i nose4 ,well1 ,jup1 perhaps you are right2 but to what fortunate circumstance am ,i to attribute the honor of a visit from you to- day8 ,what de matter1 massa8 ,did you bring any message from ,mr4 ,legrand8 ,no1 massa1 ,i bring dis here pissel2 and here ,jupiter handed me a note which ran thus3 ,,my ,,dear----1 ,why have ,i not seen you for so long a time8 ,i hope you have not been so foolish as to take offence at any little brusquerie of mine2 but no1 that is improbable4 ,since ,i saw you ,i have had great cause for anxiety4 ,i have something to tell you1 yet scarcely know how to tell it1 or whether ,i should tell it at all4 ,i have not been quite well for some days past1 and poor old ,jup annoys me1 almost beyond endurance1 by his well-meant attentions4 ,would you believe it8--he had prepared a huge stick1 the other day1 with which to chastise me for giving him the slip1 and spending the day1 solus1 among the hills on the mainland4 ,i verily believe that my ill looks alone saved me a flogging4 ,i have made no addition to my cabinet since we met4 ,if you can1 in any way1 make it convenient1 come over with ,jupiter4 ,,do come4 ,i wish to see you ,,to-,,night1 upon business of importance4 ,i assure you that it is of the ,,highest importance4 ,ever yours1 ,,william ,,legrand4 ,there was something in the tone of this note which gave me great uneasiness4 ,its whole style differed materially from that of ,legrand4 ,what could he be dreaming of8 ,what new crotchet possessed his excitable brain6 ,what business of the highest importance could ,,he possibly have to transact8 ,jupiter's account of him boded no good4 ,i dreaded lest the continued pressure of misfortune had1 at length1 fairly unsettled the reason of my friend4 ,without a moment's hesitation1 therefore1 ,i prepared to accompany the negro4 ,upon reaching the wharf1 ,i noticed a scythe and three spades1 all apparently new1 lying in the bottom of the boat in which we were to embark4 ,what is the meaning of all this1 ,jup8 ,i inquired4 ,him syfe1 massa1 and spade4 ,very true2 but what are they doing here8 ,him de syfe and de spade what ,massa ,will sis pon my buying for him in de town1 and de debbil's own lot of money ,i had to gib for 'em4 ,but what1 in the name of all that is mysterious1 is your ',massa ,will' going to do with scythes and spades8 ,dat's more dan ,i know1 and debbil take me if ,i don't blieve 't is more dan he know1 too4 ,but it's all cum ob de bug4 ,finding that no satisfaction was to be obtained of ,jupiter1 whose whole intellect seemed to be absorbed by de bug1 ,i now stepped into the boat and made sail4 ,with a fair and strong breeze we soon ran into the little cove to the northward of ,fort ,moultrie1 and a walk of some two miles brought us to the hut4 ,it was about three in the afternoon when we arrived4 ,legrand had been awaiting us in eager expectation4 ,he grasped my hand with a nervous ,,empressement1 which alarmed me and strengthened the suspicions already entertained4 ,his countenance was pale even to ghastliness1 and his deep-set eyes glared with unnatural lustre4 ,after some inquiries respecting his health1 ,i asked him1 not knowing what better to say1 if he had yet obtained the scarabaeus from ,lieutenant ,g--4 ,oh1 yes1 he replied1 coloring violently1 ,i got it from him the next morning4 ,nothing should tempt me to part with that scarabaeus4 ,do you know that ,jupiter is quite right about it6 ,in what way8 ,i asked1 with a sad foreboding at heart4 ,in supposing it to be a bug of ,,real ,,gold4 ,he said this with an air of profound seriousness1 and ,i felt inexpressibly shocked4 ,this bug is to make my fortune1 he continued1 with a triumphant smile1 to reinstate me in my family possessions4 ,is it any wonder1 then1 that ,i prize it8 ,since ,fortune has thought fit to bestow it upon me1 ,i have only to use it properly and ,i shall arrive at the gold of which it is the index4 ,jupiter1 bring me that scarabaeus6 ,what6 de bug1 massa8 ,i'd rudder not go fer trubble dat bug--you mus git him for your own self4 ,hereupon ,legrand arose1 with a grave and stately air1 and brought me the beetle from a glass case in which it was enclosed4 ,it was a beautiful scarabaeus1 and1 at that time1 unknown to naturalists--of course a great prize in a scientific point of view4 ,there were two round1 black spots near one extremity of the back1 and a long one near the other4 ,the scales were exceedingly hard and glossy1 with all the appearance of burnished gold4 ,the weight of the insect was very remarkable1 and1 taking all things into consideration1 ,i could hardly blame ,jupiter for his opinion respecting it2 but what to make of ,legrand's agreement with that opinion1 ,i could not1 for the life of me1 tell4 ,i sent for you1 said he1 in a grandiloquent tone1 when ,i had completed my examination of the beetle1 ,i sent for you1 that ,i might have your counsel and assistance in furthering the views of ,fate and of the bug---- ,my dear ,legrand1 ,i cried1 interrupting him1 you are certainly unwell1 and had better use some little precautions4 ,you shall go to bed1 and ,i will remain with you a few days1 until you get over this4 ,you are feverish and---- ,feel my pulse1 said he4 ,i felt it1 and1 to say the truth1 found not the slightest indication of fever4 ,but you may be ill1 and yet have no fever4 ,allow me this once to prescribe for you4 ,in the first place1 go to bed4 ,in the next---- ,you are mistaken1 he interposed1 ,i am as well as ,i can expect to be under the excitement which ,i suffer4 ,if you really wish me well1 you will relieve this excitement4 ,and how is this to be done8 ,very easily4 ,jupiter and myself are going upon an expedition into the hills1 upon the mainland1 and in this expedition1 we shall need the aid of some person in whom we can confide4 ,you are the only one we can trust4 ,whether we succeed or fail1 the excitement which you now perceive in me will be equally allayed4 ,i am anxious to oblige you in any way1 ,i replied2 but do you mean to say that this infernal beetle has any connection with your expedition into the hills8 ,it has4 ,then1 ,legrand1 ,i can become a party to no such absurd proceeding4 ,i am sorry--very sorry--for we shall have to try it by ourselves4 ,try it by yourselves6 ,the man is surely mad6--but stay--how long do you propose to be absent8 ,probably all night4 ,we shall start immediately1 and be back1 at all events1 by sunrise4 ,and will you promise me1 upon your honor1 that when this freak of yours is over1 and the bug business 7good ,god67 settled to your satisfaction1 you will then return home and follow my advice implicitly1 as that of your physician8 ,yes2 ,i promise2 and now let us be off1 for we have no time to lose4 ,with a heavy heart ,i accompanied my friend4 ,we started about four o'clock--,legrand1 ,jupiter1 the dog1 and myself4 ,jupiter had with him the scythe and spades--the whole of which he insisted upon carrying1 more through fear1 it seemed to me1 of trusting either of the implements within reach of his master1 than from any excess of industry or complaisance4 ,his demeanor was dogged in the extreme1 and dat d----d bug were the sole words which escaped his lips during the journey4 ,for my own part1 ,i had charge of a couple of dark lanterns1 while ,legrand contented himself with the scarabaeus1 which he carried attached to the end of a bit of whip- cord2 twirling it to and fro1 with the air of a conjurer1 as he went4 ,when ,i observed this last1 plain evidence of my friend's aberration of mind1 ,i could scarcely refrain from tears4 ,i thought it best1 however1 to humor his fancy1 at least for the present1 or until ,i could adopt some more energetic measures with a chance of success4 ,in the mean time ,i endeavored1 but all in vain1 to sound him in regard to the object of the expedition4 ,having succeeded in inducing me to accompany him1 he seemed unwilling to hold conversation upon any topic of minor importance1 and to all my questions vouchsafed no other reply than we shall see6 ,we crossed the creek at the head of the island by means of a skiff1 and1 ascending the high grounds on the shore of the mainland1 proceeded in a northwesterly direction1 through a tract of country excessively wild and desolate1 where no trace of a human footstep was to be seen4 ,legrand led the way with decision2 pausing only for an instant1 here and there1 to consult what appeared to be certain landmarks of his own contrivance upon a former occasion4 ,in this manner we journeyed for about two hours1 and the sun was just setting when we entered a region infinitely more dreary than any yet seen4 ,it was a species of tableland1 near the summit of an almost inaccessible hill1 densely wooded from base to pinnacle1 and interspersed with huge crags that appeared to lie loosely upon the soil1 and in many cases were prevented from precipitating themselves into the valleys below merely by the support of the trees against which they reclined4 ,deep ravines1 in various directions1 gave an air of still sterner solemnity to the scene4 ,the natural platform to which we had clambered was thickly overgrown with brambles1 through which we soon discovered that it would have been impossible to force our way but for the scythe2 and ,jupiter1 by direction of his master1 proceeded to clear for us a path to the foot of an enormously tall tulip-tree1 which stood1 with some eight or ten oaks1 upon the level1 and far surpassed them all1 and all other trees which ,i had then ever seen1 in the beauty of its foliage and form1 in the wide spread of its branches1 and in the general majesty of its appearance4 ,when we reached this tree1 ,legrand turned to ,jupiter1 and asked him if he thought he could climb it4 ,the old man seemed a little staggered by the question1 and for some moments made no reply4 ,at length he approached the huge trunk1 walked slowly around it1 and examined it with minute attention4 ,when he had completed his scrutiny1 he merely said3 ,yes1 massa1 ,jup climb any tree he ebber see in he life4 ,then up with you as soon as possible1 for it will soon be too dark to see what we are about4 ,how far mus go up1 massa8 inquired ,jupiter4 ,get up the main trunk first1 and then ,i will tell you which way to go--and here--stop6 take this beetle with you4 ,de bug1 ,massa ,will6--de goole-bug6 cried the negro1 drawing back in dismay--what for mus tote de bug way up de tree8--d----n if ,i do6 ,if you are afraid1 ,jup1 a great big negro like you1 to take hold of a harmless little dead beetle1 why1 you can carry it up by this string--but1 if you do not take it up with you in some way1 ,i shall be under the necessity of breaking your head with this shovel4 ,what de matter now1 massa8 said ,jup1 evidently shamed into compliance2 always want fur to raise fuss wid old nigger4 ,was only funnin anyhow4 ,,me feered de bug6 what ,i keer for de bug8 ,here he took cautiously hold of the extreme end of the string1 and1 maintaining the insect as far from his person as circumstances would permit1 prepared to ascend the tree4 ,in youth1 the tulip-tree1 or ,liriodendron ,tulipifera1 the most magnificent of ,american foresters1 has a trunk peculiarly smooth1 and often rises to a great height without lateral branches2 but1 in its riper age1 the bark becomes gnarled and uneven1 while many short limbs make their appearance on the stem4 ,thus the difficulty of ascension1 in the present case1 lay more in semblance than in reality4 ,embracing the huge cylinder1 as closely as possible1 with his arms and knees1 seizing with his hands some projections1 and resting his naked toes upon others1 ,jupiter1 after one or two narrow escapes from falling1 at length wriggled himself into the first great fork1 and seemed to consider the whole business as virtually accomplished4 ,the ,,risk of the achievement was1 in fact1 now over1 although the climber was some sixty or seventy feet from the ground4 ,which way mus go now1 ,massa ,will8 he asked4 ,keep up the largest branch1--the one on this side1 said ,legrand4 ,the negro obeyed him promptly1 and apparently with but little trouble1 ascending higher and higher1 until no glimpse of his squat figure could be obtained through the dense foliage which enveloped it4 ,presently his voice was heard in a sort of halloo4 ,how much fudder is got for go8 ,how high up are you8 asked ,legrand4 ,ebber so fur1 replied the negro2 can see de sky fru de top ob de tree4 ,never mind the sky1 but attend to what ,i say4 ,look down the trunk and count the limbs below you on this side4 ,how many limbs have you passed8 ,one1 two1 tree1 four1 fibe--,i done pass fibe big limb1 massa1 pon dis side4 ,then go one limb higher4 ,in a few minutes the voice was heard again1 announcing that the seventh limb was attained4 ,now1 ,jup1 cried ,legrand1 evidently much excited1 ,i want you to work your way out upon that limb as far as you can4 ,if you see anything strange1 let me know4 ,by this time what little doubt ,i might have entertained of my poor friend's insanity was put finally at rest4 ,i had no alternative but to conclude him stricken with lunacy1 and ,i became seriously anxious about getting him home4 ,while ,i was pondering upon what was best to be done1 ,jupiter's voice was again heard4 ,mos feerd for to ventur pon dis limb berry far--'tis dead limb putty much all de way4 ,did you say it was a ,,dead limb1 ,jupiter8 cried ,legrand in a quavering voice4 ,yes1 massa1 him dead as de door-nail--done up for sartain--done departed dis here life4 ,what in the name of heaven shall ,i do8 asked ,legrand1 seemingly in the greatest distress4 ,do6 said ,i1 glad of an opportunity to interpose a word1 why come home and go to bed4 ,come now6--that's a fine fellow4 ,it's getting late1 and1 besides1 you remember your promise4 ,jupiter1 cried he1 without heeding me in the least1 do you hear me8 ,yes1 ,massa ,will1 hear you ebber so plain4 ,try the wood well1 then1 with your knife1 and see if you think it ,,very rotten4 ,him rotten1 massa1 sure nuff1 replied the negro in a few moments1 but not so berry rotten as mought be4 ,mought ventur out leetle way pon de limb by myself1 dat's true4 ,by yourself6--what do you mean8 ,why1 ,i mean de bug4 ',tis ,,berry hebby bug4 ,spose ,i drop him down fuss1 and den de limb won't break wid just de weight ob one nigger4 ,you infernal scoundrel6 cried ,legrand1 apparently much relieved1 what do you mean by telling me such nonsense as that8 ,as sure as you let that beetle fall1 ,i'll break your neck4 ,look here1 ,jupiter6 do you hear me8 ,yes1 massa1 needn't hollo at poor nigger dat style4 ,well6 now listen6--if you will venture out on the limb as far as you think safe1 and not let go the beetle1 ,i'll make you a present of a silver dollar as soon as you get down4 ,i'm gwine1 ,massa ,will--deed ,i is1 replied the negro very promptly--mos out to the eend now4 ,,out ,,to ,,the ,,end6 here fairly screamed ,legrand1 do you say you are out to the end of that limb8 ,soon be to de eend1 massa1--o-o-o-o-oh6 ,lord-gol-a-marcy6 what ,,is dis here pon de tree8 ,well6 cried ,legrand1 highly delighted1 what is it8 ,why taint noffin but a skull--somebody bin lef him head up de tree1 and de crows done gobble ebery bit ob de meat off4 ,a skull1 you say6--very well6--how is it fastened to the limb8-- what holds it on8 ,sure nuff1 massa2 mus look4 ,why1 dis berry curous sarcumstanee1 pon my word--dare's a great big nail in de skull1 what fastens ob it on to de tree4 ,well now1 ,jupiter1 do exactly as ,i tell you--do you hear8 ,yes1 massa4 ,pay attention1 then6--find the left eye of the skull4 ,hum6 hoo6 dat's good6 why1 dar aint no eye lef at all4 ,curse your stupidity6 do you know your right hand from your left8 ,yes1 ,i nose dat--nose all bout dat--'tis my lef hand what ,i chops de wood wid4 ,to be sure6 you are left-handed2 and your left eye is on the same side as your left hand4 ,now1 ,i suppose1 you can find the left eye of the skull1 or the place where the left eye has been4 ,have you found it8 ,here was a long pause4 ,at length the negro asked1 ,is de lef eye of de skull pon de same side as de lef hand of de skull1 too8--cause de skull aint got not a bit ob a hand at all-- nebber mind6 ,i got de lef eye now--here de lef eye6 what must do wid it8 ,let the beetle drop through it1 as far as the string will reach-- but be careful and not let go your hold of the string4 ,all dat done1 ,massa ,will2 mighty easy ting for to put de bug fru de hole--look for him dar below6 ,during this colloquy no portion of ,jupiter's person could be seen2 but the beetle1 which he had suffered to descend1 was now visible at the end of the string1 and glistened1 like a globe of burnished gold1 in the last rays of the setting sun1 some of which still faintly illumined the eminence upon which we stood4 ,the scarabaeus hung quite clear of any branches1 and1 if allowed to fall1 would have fallen at our feet4 ,legrand immediately took the scythe1 and cleared with it a circular space1 three or four yards in diameter1 just beneath the insect1 and1 having accomplished this1 ordered ,jupiter to let go the string and come down from the tree4 ,driving a peg1 with great nicety1 into the ground1 at the precise spot where the beetle fell1 my friend now produced from his pocket a tape-measure4 ,fastening one end of this at that point of the trunk of the tree which was nearest the peg1 he unrolled it till it reached the peg1 and thence farther unrolled it1 in the direction already established by the two points of the tree and the peg1 for the distance of fifty feet--,jupiter clearing away the brambles with the scythe4 ,at the spot thus attained a second peg was driven1 and about this1 as a centre1 a rude circle1 about four feet in diameter1 described4 ,taking now a spade himself1 and giving one to ,jupiter and one to me1 ,legrand begged us to set about digging as quickly as possible4 ,to speak the truth1 ,i had no especial relish for such amusement at any time1 and1 at that particular moment1 would most willingly have declined it2 for the night was coming on1 and ,i felt much fatigued with the exercise already taken2 but ,i saw no mode of escape1 and was fearful of disturbing my poor friend's equanimity by a refusal4 ,could ,i have depended1 indeed1 upon ,jupiter's aid1 ,i would have had no hesitation in attempting to get the lunatic home by force2 but ,i was too well assured of the old negro's disposition to hope that he would assist me1 under any circumstances1 in a personal contest with his master4 ,i made no doubt that the latter had been infected with some of the innumerable ,southern superstitions about money buried1 and that his fantasy had received confirmation by the finding of the scarabaeus1 or1 perhaps1 by ,jupiter's obstinacy in maintaining it to be a bug of real gold4 ,a mind disposed to lunacy would readily be led away by such suggestions1 especially if chiming in with favorite preconceived ideas2 and then ,i called to mind the poor fellow's speech about the beetle's being the index of his fortune4 ,upon the whole1 ,i was sadly vexed and puzzled1 but at length ,i concluded to make a virtue of necessity--to dig with a good will1 and thus the sooner to convince the visionary1 by ocular demonstration1 of the fallacy of the opinions he entertained4 ,the lanterns having been lit1 we all fell to work with a zeal worthy a more rational cause2 and1 as the glare fell upon our persons and implements1 ,i could not help thinking how picturesque a group we composed1 and how strange and suspicious our labors must have appeared to any interloper who1 by chance1 might have stumbled upon our whereabouts4 ,we dug very steadily for two hours4 ,little was said2 and our chief embarrassment lay in the yelpings of the dog1 who took exceeding interest in our proceedings4 ,he1 at length1 became so obstreperous that we grew fearful of his giving the alarm to some stragglers in the vicinity2 or1 rather1 this was the apprehension of ,legrand2 for myself1 ,i should have rejoiced at any interruption which might have enabled me to get the wanderer home4 ,the noise was1 at length1 very effectually silenced by ,jupiter1 who1 getting out of the hole with a dogged air of deliberation1 tied the brute's mouth up with one of his suspenders1 and then returned1 with a grave chuckle1 to his task4 ,when the time mentioned had expired1 we had reached a depth of five feet1 and yet no signs of any treasure became manifest4 ,a general pause ensued1 and ,i began to hope that the farce was at an end4 ,legrand1 however1 although evidently much disconcerted1 wiped his brow thoughtfully and recommenced4 ,we had excavated the entire circle of four feet diameter1 and now we slightly enlarged the limit1 and went to the farther depth of two feet4 ,still nothing appeared4 ,the gold-seeker1 whom ,i sincerely pitied1 at length clambered from the pit1 with the bitterest disappointment imprinted upon every feature1 and proceeded1 slowly and reluctantly1 to put on his coat1 which he had thrown off at the beginning of his labor4 ,in the mean time ,i made no remark4 ,jupiter1 at a signal from his master1 began to gather up his tools4 ,this done1 and the dog having been unmuzzled1 we turned in profound silence towards home4 ,we had taken1 perhaps1 a dozen steps in this direction1 when1 with a loud oath1 ,legrand strode up to ,jupiter1 and seized him by the collar4 ,the astonished negro opened his eyes and mouth to the fullest extent1 let fall the spades1 and fell upon his knees4 ,you scoundrel1 said ,legrand1 hissing out the syllables from between his clenched teeth--you infernal black villain6--speak1 ,i tell you6--answer me this instant1 without prevarication6--which-- which is your left eye8 ,oh1 my golly1 ,massa ,will6 aint dis here my lef eye for sartain8 roared the terrified ,jupiter1 placing his hand upon his right organ of vision1 and holding it there with a desperate pertinacity1 as if in immediate dread of his master's attempt at a gouge4 ,i thought so6--,i knew it6 hurrah6 vociferated ,legrand1 letting the negro go1 and executing a series of curvets and caracoles1 much to the astonishment of his valet1 who1 arising from his knees1 looked mutely from his master to myself1 and then from myself to his master4 ,come6 we must go back1 said the latter1 the game's not up yet2 and he again led the way to the tulip- tree4 ,jupiter1 said he1 when we reached its foot1 come here6 was the skull nailed to the limb with the face outward1 or with the face to the limb8 ,de face was out1 massa1 so dat de crows could get at de eyes good1 widout any trouble4 ,well1 then1 was it this eye or that through which you dropped the beetle6--here ,legrand touched each of ,jupiter's eyes4 ',twas dis eye1 massa--de lef eye--jis as you tell me1 and here it was his right eye that the negro indicated4 ,that will do--we must try it again4 ,here my friend1 about whose madness ,i now saw1 or fancied that ,i saw1 certain indications of method1 removed the peg which marked the spot where the beetle fell1 to a spot about three inches to the westward of its former position4 ,taking1 now1 the tape-measure from the nearest point of the trunk to the peg1 as before1 and continuing the extension in a straight line to the distance of fifty feet1 a spot was indicated1 removed1 by several yards1 from the point at which we had been digging4 ,around the new position a circle1 somewhat larger than in the former instance1 was now described1 and we again set to work with the spades4 ,i was dreadfully weary1 but1 scarcely understanding what had occasioned the change in my thoughts1 ,i felt no longer any great aversion from the labor imposed4 ,i had become most unaccountably interested--nay1 even excited4 ,perhaps there was something1 amid all the extravagant demeanor of ,legrand--some air of forethought1 or of deliberation--which impressed me4 ,i dug eagerly1 and now and then caught myself actually looking1 with something that very much resembled expectation1 for the fancied treasure1 the vision of which had demented my unfortunate companion4 ,at a period when such vagaries of thought most fully possessed me1 and when we had been at work perhaps an hour and a half1 we were again interrupted by the violent howlings of the dog4 ,his uneasiness1 in the first instance1 had been evidently but the result of playfulness or caprice1 but he now assumed a bitter and serious tone4 ,upon ,jupiter's again attempting to muzzle him1 he made furious resistance1 and1 leaping into the hole1 tore up the mould frantically with his claws4 ,in a few seconds he had uncovered a mass of human bones1 forming two complete skeletons1 intermingled with several buttons of metal1 and what appeared to be the dust of decayed woollen4 ,one or two strokes of a spade upturned the blade of a large ,spanish knife1 and1 as we dug farther1 three or four loose pieces of gold and silver coin came to light4 ,at sight of these the joy of ,jupiter could scarcely be restrained1 but the countenance of his master wore an air of extreme disappointment4 ,he urged us1 however1 to continue our exertions1 and the words were hardly uttered when ,i stumbled and fell forward1 having caught the toe of my boot in a large ring of iron that lay half buried in the loose earth4 ,we now worked in earnest1 and never did ,i pass ten minutes of more intense excitement4 ,during this interval we had fairly unearthed an oblong chest of wood1 which1 from its perfect preservation and wonderful hardness1 had plainly been subjected to some mineralizing process--perhaps that of the bichloride of mercury4 ,this box was three feet and a half long1 three feet broad1 and two and a half feet deep4 ,it was firmly secured by bands of wrought iron1 riveted1 and forming a kind of trellis-work over the whole4 ,on each side of the chest1 near the top1 were three rings of iron --six in all--by means of which a firm hold could be obtained by six persons4 ,our utmost united endeavors served only to disturb the coffer very slightly in its bed4 ,we at once saw the impossibility of removing so great a weight4 ,luckily1 the sole fastenings of the lid consisted of two sliding bolts4 ,these we drew back--trembling and panting with anxiety4 ,in an instant1 a treasure of incalculable value lay gleaming before us4 ,as the rays of the lanterns fell within the pit1 there flashed upwards1 from a confused heap of gold and of jewels1 a glow and a glare that absolutely dazzled our eyes4 ,i shall not pretend to describe the feelings with which ,i gazed4 ,amazement was1 of course1 predominant4 ,legrand appeared exhausted with excitement1 and spoke very few words4 ,jupiter's countenance wore1 for some minutes1 as deadly a pallor as it is possible1 in the nature of things1 for any negro's visage to assume4 ,he seemed stupefied--thunderstricken4 ,presently he fell upon his knees in the pit1 and1 burying his naked arms up to the elbows in gold1 let them there remain1 as if enjoying the luxury of a bath4 ,at length1 with a deep sigh1 he exclaimed1 as if in a soliloquy3 ,and dis all cum ob de goole-bug6 de putty goole-bug6 de poor little goole-bug1 what ,i boosed in dat sabage kind ob style6 ,aint you shamed ob yourself1 nigger8--answer me dat6 ,it became necessary1 at last1 that ,i should arouse both master and valet to the expediency of removing the treasure4 ,it was growing late1 and it behooved us to make exertion1 that we might get everything housed before daylight4 ,it was difficult to say what should be done1 and much time was spent in deliberation--so confused were the ideas of all4 ,we finally lightened the box by removing two-thirds of its contents1 when we were enabled1 with some trouble1 to raise it from the hole4 ,the articles taken out were deposited among the brambles1 and the dog left to guard them1 with strict orders from ,jupiter neither1 upon any pretence1 to stir from the spot1 nor to open his mouth until our return4 ,we then hurriedly made for home with the chest2 reaching the hut in safety1 but after excessive toil1 at one o'clock in the morning4 ,worn out as we were1 it was not in human nature to do more just now4 ,we rested until two1 and had supper2 starting for the hills immediately afterwards1 armed with three stout sacks1 which by good luck were upon the premises4 ,a little before four we arrived at the pit1 divided the remainder of the booty1 as equally as might be1 among us1 and1 leaving the holes unfilled1 again set out for the hut1 at which1 for the second time1 we deposited our golden burdens1 just as the first streaks of the dawn gleamed from over the tree-tops in the ,east4 ,we were now thoroughly broken down2 but the intense excitement of the time denied us repose4 ,after an unquiet slumber of some three or four hours' duration1 we arose1 as if by pre-concert1 to make examination of our treasure4 ,the chest had been full to the brim1 and we spent the whole day1 and the greater part of the next night1 in a scrutiny of its contents4 ,there had been nothing like order or arrangement4 ,everything had been heaped in promiscuously4 ,having assorted all with care1 we found ourselves possessed of even vaster wealth than we had at first supposed4 ,in coin there was rather more than four hundred and fifty thousand dollars3 estimating the value of the pieces1 as accurately as we could1 by the tables of the period4 ,there was not a particle of silver4 ,all was gold of antique date and of great variety3 ,french1 ,spanish1 and ,german money1 with a few ,english guineas1 and some counters1 of which we had never seen specimens before4 ,there were several very large and heavy coins1 so worn that we could make nothing of their inscriptions4 ,there was no ,american money4 ,the value of the jewels we found more difficulty in estimating4 ,there were diamonds--some of them exceedingly large and fine--a hundred and ten in all1 and not one of them small2 eighteen rubies of remarkable brilliancy2 three hundred and ten emeralds1 all very beautiful2 and twenty-one sapphires1 with an opal4 ,these stones had all been broken from their settings and thrown loose in the chest4 ,the settings themselves1 which we picked out from among the other gold1 appeared to have been beaten up with hammers1 as if to prevent identification4 ,besides all this1 there was a vast quantity of solid gold ornaments3 nearly two hundred massive finger and ear rings2 rich chains--thirty of these1 if ,i remember2 eighty-three very large and heavy crucifixes2 five gold censers of great value2 a prodigious golden punch-bowl1 ornamented with richly chased vine-leaves and ,bacchanalian figures2 with two sword handles exquisitely embossed1 and many other smaller articles which ,i cannot recollect4 ,the weight of these valuables exceeded three hundred and fifty pounds avoirdupois2 and in this estimate ,i have not included one hundred and ninety-seven superb gold watches2 three of the number being worth each five hundred dollars1 if one4 ,many of them were very old1 and as time-keepers valueless1 the works having suffered more or less from corrosion2 but all were richly jewelled and in cases of great worth4 ,we estimated the entire contents of the chest1 that night1 at a million and a half of dollars2 and1 upon the subsequent disposal of the trinkets and jewels 7a few being retained for our own use71 it was found that we had greatly undervalued the treasure4 ,when1 at length1 we had concluded our examination1 and the intense excitement of the time had in some measure subsided1 ,legrand1 who saw that ,i was dying with impatience for a solution of this most extraordinary riddle1 entered into a full detail of all the circumstances connected with it4 ,you remember1 said he1 the night when ,i handed you the rough sketch ,i had made of the scaraboeus4 ,you recollect also1 that ,i became quite vexed at you for insisting that my drawing resembled a death's-head4 ,when you first made this assertion ,i thought you were jesting2 but afterwards ,i called to mind the peculiar spots on the back of the insect1 and admitted to myself that your remark had some little foundation in fact4 ,still1 the sneer at my graphic powers irritated me--for ,i am considered a good artist--and1 therefore1 when you handed me the scrap of parchment1 ,i was about to crumple it up and throw it angrily into the fire4 ,the scrap of paper1 you mean1 said ,i4 ,no3 it had much of the appearance of paper1 and at first ,i supposed it to be such1 but when ,i came to draw upon it1 ,i discovered it1 at once1 to be a piece of very thin parchment4 ,it was quite dirty1 you remember4 ,well1 as ,i was in the very act of crumpling it up1 my glance fell upon the sketch at which you had been looking1 and you may imagine my astonishment when ,i perceived1 in fact1 the figure of a death's-head just where1 it seemed to me1 ,i had made the drawing of the beetle4 ,for a moment ,i was too much amazed to think with accuracy4 ,i knew that my design was very different in detail from this--although there was a certain similarity in general outline4 ,presently ,i took a candle and1 seating myself at the other end of the room1 proceeded to scrutinize the parchment more closely4 ,upon turning it over1 ,i saw my own sketch upon the reverse1 just as ,i had made it4 ,my first idea1 now1 was mere surprise at the really remarkable similarity of outline--at the singular coincidence involved in the fact that1 unknown to me1 there should have been a skull upon the other side of the parchment1 immediately beneath my figure of the scarabaeus1 and that this skull1 not only in outline1 but in size1 should so closely resemble my drawing4 ,i say the singularity of this coincidence absolutely stupefied me for a time4 ,this is the usual effect of such coincidences4 ,the mind struggles to establish a connection--a sequence of cause and effect--and1 being unable to do so1 suffers a species of temporary paralysis4 ,but1 when ,i recovered from this stupor1 there dawned upon me gradually a conviction which startled me even far more than the coincidence4 ,i began distinctly1 positively1 to remember that there had been no drawing on the parchment when ,i made my sketch of the scarabaeus4 ,i became perfectly certain of this2 for ,i recollected turning up first one side and then the other1 in search of the cleanest spot4 ,had the skull been then there1 of course ,i could not have failed to notice it4 ,here was indeed a mystery which ,i felt it impossible to explain2 but1 even at that early moment1 there seemed to glimmer1 faintly1 within the most remote and secret chambers of my intellect1 a glowworm-like conception of that truth which last night's adventure brought to so magnificent a demonstration4 ,i arose at once1 and1 putting the parchment securely away1 dismissed all farther reflection until ,i should be alone4 ,when you had gone1 and when ,jupiter was fast asleep1 ,i betook myself to a more methodical investigation of the affair4 ,in the first place ,i considered the manner in which the parchment had come into my possession4 ,the spot where we discovered the scarabaeus was on the coast of the mainland1 about a mile eastward of the island1 and but a short distance above high-water mark4 ,upon my taking hold of it1 it gave me a sharp bite1 which caused me to let it drop4 ,jupiter1 with his accustomed caution1 before seizing the insect1 which had flown towards him1 looked about him for a leaf1 or something of that nature1 by which to take hold of it4 ,it was at this moment that his eyes1 and mine also1 fell upon the scrap of parchment1 which ,i then supposed to be paper1 ,it was lying half buried in the sand1 a corner sticking up4 ,near the spot where we found it1 ,i observed the remnants of the hull of what appeared to have been a ship's long boat4 ,the wreck seemed to have been there for a very great while2 for the resemblance to boat timbers could scarcely be traced4 ,well1 ,jupiter picked up the parchment1 wrapped the beetle in it1 and gave it to me4 ,soon afterwards we turned to go home1 and on the way met ,lieutenant ,g----4 ,i showed him the insect1 and he begged me to let him take it to the fort4 ,on my consenting1 he thrust it forthwith into his waistcoat pocket1 without the parchment in which it had been wrapped1 and which ,i had continued to hold in my hand during his inspection4 ,perhaps he dreaded my changing my mind1 and thought it best to make sure of the prize at once--you know how enthusiastic he is on all subjects connected with ,natural ,history4 ,at the same time1 without being conscious of it1 ,i must have deposited the parchment in my own pocket4 ,you remember that when ,i went to the table1 for the purpose of making a sketch of the beetle1 ,i found no paper where it was usually kept4 ,i looked in the drawer1 and found none there4 ,i searched my pockets1 hoping to find an old letter1 and then my hand fell upon the parchment4 ,i thus detail the precise mode in which it came into my possession2 for the circumstances impressed me with peculiar force4 ,no doubt you will think me fanciful--but ,i had already established a kind of ,,connection4 ,i had put together two links of a great chain4 ,there was a boat lying on a seacoast1 and not far from the boat was a parchment--,,not ,a ,,paper--with a skull depicted on it4 ,you will1 of course1 ask 'where is the connection8' ,i reply that the skull1 or death's-head1 is the well-known emblem of the pirate4 ,the flag of the death's-head is hoisted in all engagements4 ,i have said that the scrap was parchment1 and not paper4 ,parchment is durable--almost imperishable4 ,matters of little moment are rarely consigned to parchment2 since1 for the mere ordinary purposes of drawing or writing1 it is not nearly so well adapted as paper4 ,this reflection suggested some meaning--some relevancy--in the death's-head4 ,i did not fail to observe1 also1 the ,,form of the parchment4 ,although one of its corners had been1 by some accident1 destroyed1 it could be seen that the original form was oblong4 ,it was just such a slip1 indeed1 as might have been chosen for a memorandum--for a record of something to be long remembered and carefully preserved4 ,but1 ,i interposed1 you say that the skull was ,,not upon the parchment when you made the drawing of the beetle4 ,how then do you trace any connection between the boat and the skull--since this latter1 according to your own admission1 must have been designed 7,god only knows how or by whom7 at some period subsequent to your sketching the scarabaeus8 ,ah1 hereupon turns the whole mystery2 although the secret1 at this point1 ,i had comparatively little difficulty in solving4 ,my steps were sure1 and could afford but a single result4 ,i reasoned1 for example1 thus3 ,when ,i drew the scarabaeus1 there was no skull apparent on the parchment4 ,when ,i had completed the drawing ,i gave it to you1 and observed you narrowly until you returned it4 ,,you1 therefore1 did not design the skull1 and no one else was present to do it4 ,then it was not done by human agency4 ,and nevertheless it was done4 ,at this stage of my reflections ,i endeavored to remember1 and ,,did remember1 with entire distinctness1 every incident which occurred about the period in question4 ,the weather was chilly 7,o rare and happy accident671 and a fire was blazing on the hearth4 ,i was heated with exercise and sat near the table4 ,you1 however had drawn a chair close to the chimney4 ,just as ,i placed the parchment in your hand1 and as you were in the act of inspecting it1 ,wolf1 the ,newfoundland1 entered1 and leaped upon your shoulders4 ,with your left hand you caressed him and kept him off1 while your right1 holding the parchment1 was permitted to fall listlessly between your knees1 and in close proximity to the fire4 ,at one moment ,i thought the blaze had caught it1 and was about to caution you1 but1 before ,i could speak1 you had withdrawn it1 and were engaged in its examination4 ,when ,i considered all these particulars1 ,i doubted not for a moment that ,,heat had been the agent in bringing to light1 on the parchment1 the skull which ,i saw designed on it4 ,you are well aware that chemical preparations exist1 and have existed time out of mind1 by means of which it is possible to write on either paper or vellum1 so that the characters shall become visible only when subjected to the action of fire4 ,zaffre1 digested in aqua regia1 and diluted with four times its weight of water1 is sometimes employed2 a green tint results4 ,the regulus of cobalt1 dissolved in spirit of nitre1 gives a red4 ,these colors disappear at longer or shorter intervals after the material written upon cools1 but again become apparent upon the reapplication of heat4 ,i now scrutinized the death's-head with care4 ,its outer edges-- the edges of the drawing nearest the edge of the vellum--were far more ,,distinct than the others4 ,it was clear that the action of the caloric had been imperfect or unequal4 ,i immediately kindled a fire1 and subjected every portion of the parchment to a glowing heat4 ,at first1 the only effect was the strengthening of the faint lines in the skull2 but1 on persevering in the experiment1 there became visible at the corner of the slip1 diagonally opposite to the spot in which the death's-head was delineated1 the figure of what ,i at first supposed to be a goat4 ,a closer scrutiny1 however1 satisfied me that it was intended for a kid4 ,ha6 ha6 said ,i1 to be sure ,i have no right to laugh at you--a million and a half of money is too serious a matter for mirth--but you are not about to establish a third link in your chain3 you will not find any especial connection between your pirates and a goat2 pirates1 you know1 have nothing to do with goats2 they appertain to the farming interest4 ,but ,i have just said that the figure was ,,not that of a goat4 ,well1 a kid1 then--pretty much the same thing4 ,pretty much1 but not altogether1 said ,legrand4 ,you may have heard of one ,,captain ,kidd4 ,i at once looked on the figure of the animal as a kind of punning or hieroglyphical signature4 ,i say signature2 because its position on the vellum suggested this idea4 ,the death's-head at the corner diagonally opposite had1 in the same manner1 the air of a stamp1 or seal4 ,but ,i was sorely put out by the absence of all else--of the body to my imagined instrument --of the text for my context4 ,i presume you expected to find a letter between the stamp and the signature4 ,something of that kind4 ,the fact is1 ,i felt irresistibly impressed with a presentiment of some vast good fortune impending4 ,i can scarcely say why4 ,perhaps1 after all1 it was rather a desire than an actual belief2--but do you know that ,jupiter's silly words1 about the bug being of solid gold1 had a remarkable effect on my fancy8 ,and then the series of accidents and coincidences-- these were so ,,very extraordinary4 ,do you observe how mere an accident it was that these events should have occurred on the ,,sole day of all the year in which it has been1 or may be1 sufficiently cool for fire1 and that without the fire1 or without the intervention of the dog at the precise moment in which he appeared1 ,i should never have become aware of the death's-head1 and so never the possessor of the treasure6 ,but proceed--,i am all impatience4 ,well2 you have heard1 of course1 the many stories current--the thousand vague rumors afloat about money buried1 somewhere on the ,atlantic coast1 by ,kidd and his associates4 ,these rumors must have had some foundation in fact4 ,and that the rumors have existed so long and so continuously1 could have resulted1 it appeared to me1 only from the circumstance of the buried treasure still ,,remaining entombed4 ,had ,kidd concealed his plunder for a time1 and afterwards reclaimed it1 the rumors would scarcely have reached us in their present unvarying form4 ,you will observe that the stories told are all about money-seekers1 not about money-finders4 ,had the pirate recovered his money1 there the affair would have dropped4 ,it seemed to me that some accident--say the loss of a memorandum indicating its locality--had deprived him of the means of recovering it1 and that this accident had become known to his followers1 who otherwise might never have heard that treasure had been concealed at all1 and1 who1 busying themselves in vain1 because unguided1 attempts to regain it1 had given first birth1 and then universal currency1 to the reports which are now so common4 ,have you ever heard of any important treasure being unearthed along the coast8 ,never4 ,but that ,kidd's accumulations were immense is well known4 ,i took it for granted1 therefore1 that the earth still held them2 and you will scarcely be surprised when ,i tell you that ,i felt a hope1 nearly amounting to certainty1 that the parchment so strangely found involved a lost record of the place of deposit4 ,but how did you proceed8 ,i held the vellum again to the fire1 after increasing the heat1 but nothing appeared4 ,i now thought it possible that the coating of dirt might have something to do with the failure2 so ,i carefully rinsed the parchment by pouring warm water over it1 and1 having done this1 ,i placed it in a tin pan1 with the skull downwards1 and put the pan upon a furnace of lighted charcoal4 ,in a few minutes1 the pan having become thoroughly heated1 ,i removed the slip1 and1 to my inexpressible joy1 found it spotted1 in several places1 with what appeared to be figures arranged in lines4 ,again ,i placed it in the pan1 and suffered it to remain another minute4 ,upon taking it off1 the whole was just as you see it now4 ,here ,legrand1 having reheated the parchment1 submitted it to my inspection4 ,the following characters were rudely traced1 in a red tint1 between the death's-head and the goat3--9999999999999999#ec 99#cje77 #f99 #dhbf7 #d47 #d;,j72#hjf992dh;f#hl,ieo77 #he22 #h9923 99#h;f#hc7hh7e99;f2#df71- #hh99i;e9982',s799t72#dhe72e99;f#b399t72 #dief 99#b7e99-d7h;,h#h992doe#ibhe727;ef#h7d;, ,jj2l 7,j#i2dhjha2h3h;,jl2#dh f#he2d7 #dhet#ebhhoe99#hl7#i2dh27hh2d7;,j #acd1dh7d32afa23ahh9999999999 ,but1 said ,i1 returning him the slip1 ,i am as much in the dark as ever4 ,were all the jewels of ,golconda awaiting me on my solution of this enigma1 ,i am quite sure that ,i should be unable to earn them4 ,and yet1 said ,legrand1 the solution is by no means so difficult as you might be led to imagine from the first hasty inspection of the characters4 ,these characters1 as any one might readily guess1 form a cipher--that is to say1 they1 convey a meaning2 but then1 from what is known of ,kidd1 ,i could not suppose him capable of constructing any of the more abstruse cryptographs4 ,i made up my mind1 at once1 that this was of a simple species--such1 however1 as would appear1 to the crude intellect of the sailor1 absolutely insoluble without the key4 ,and you really solved it8 ,readily2 ,i have solved others of an abstruseness ten thousand times greater4 ,circumstances1 and a certain bias of mind1 have led me to take interest in such riddles1 and it may well be doubted whether human ingenuity can construct an enigma of the kind which human ingenuity may not1 by proper application1 resolve4 ,in fact1 having once established connected and legible characters1 ,i scarcely gave a thought to the mere difficulty of developing their import4 ,in the present case--indeed in all cases of secret writing--the first question regards the ,,language of the cipher2 for the principles of solution1 so far1 especially1 as the more simple ciphers are concerned1 depend on1 and are varied by1 the genius of the particular idiom4 ,in general1 there is no alternative but experiment 7directed by probabilities7 of every tongue known to him who attempts the solution1 until the true one be attained4 ,but1 with the cipher now before us1 all difficulty is removed by the signature4 ,the pun upon the word ',kidd' is appreciable in no other language than the ,english4 ,but for this consideration ,i should have begun my attempts with the ,spanish and ,french1 as the tongues in which a secret of this kind would most naturally have been written by a pirate of the ,spanish main4 ,as it was1 ,i assumed the cryptograph to be ,english4 ,you observe there are no divisions between the words4 ,had there been divisions1 the task would have been comparatively easy4 ,in such case ,i should have commenced with a collation and analysis of the shorter words1 and1 had a word of a single letter occurred1 as is most likely 7'a' or ',i'1 for example71 ,i should have considered the solution as assured4 ,but1 there being no division1 my first step was to ascertain the predominant letters1 as well as the least frequent4 ,counting all1 ,i constructed a table1 thus3 ,of the character #h there are #cc 2 #bf #d #ai t7 #af 99 #ac #e #ab #f #aa tl #h #j #f #ib #e 3#c #d 1 #c ,,if #b -- #a ,now1 in ,english1 the letter which most frequently occurs is 'e'4 ,afterwards the succession runs thus3 a o i d h n r s t n y c f g l m w b k p q x z4 ',e' predominates1 however1 so remarkably that an individual sentence of any length is rarely seen1 in which it is not the prevailing character4 ,here1 then1 we have1 in the very beginning1 the groundwork for something more than a mere guess4 ,the general use which may be made of the table is obvious--but1 in this particular cipher1 we shall only very partially require its aid4 ,as our predominant character is #h1 we will commence by assuming it as the 'e' of the natural alphabet4 ,to verify the supposition1 let us observe if the #h be seen often in couples--for 'e' is doubled with great frequency in ,english--in such words1 for example1 as 'meet1' 'fleet1' 'speed1' 'seen1' 'been1' 'agree' and 'see'4 ,in the present instance we see it doubled no less than five times1 although the cryptograph is brief4 ,let us assume #h1 then1 as 'e'4 ,now1 of all ,,words in the language1 'the' is most usual2 let us see1 therefore1 whether there are not repetitions of any three characters1 in the same order of collocation1 the last of them being #h4 ,if we discover repetitions of such letters1 so arranged1 they will most probably represent the word 'the4' ,on inspection1 we find no less than seven such arrangements1 the characters being3 2#dh4 ,we may1 therefore1 assume that the semicolon represents 't'1 that #d represents 'h'1 and that #h represents 'e'--the last being now well confirmed4 ,thus a great step has been taken4 ,but1 having established a single word1 we are enabled to establish a vastly important point2 that is to say1 several commencements and terminations of other words4 ,let us refer1 for example1 to the last instance but one1 in which the combination 2#dh occurs--not far from the end of the cipher4 ,we know that the semicolon immediately ensuing is the commencement of a word1 and1 of the six characters succeeding this 'the1' we are cognizant of no less than five4 ,let us set these characters down1 thus1 by the letters we know them to represent1 leaving a space for the unknown-- t eeth4 ,here we are enabled1 at once1 to discard the 'th1' as forming no portion of the word commencing with the first 't'2 since1 by experiment of the entire alphabet for a letter adapted to the vacancy1 we perceive that no word can be formed of which this 'th' can be a part4 ,we are thus narrowed into t ee1 and1 going through the alphabet1 if necessary1 as before1 we arrive at the word 'tree' as the sole possible reading4 ,we thus gain another letter1 'r'1 represented by 71 with the words 'the tree' in juxtaposition4 ,looking beyond these words1 for a short distance1 we again see the combination 2#d,s1 and employ it by way of ,,termination to what immediately precedes4 ,we have thus this arrangement3 the tree 2#d799t8#cd9999 the1 or1 substituting the natural letters1 where known1 it reads thus3 the tree thr99998#c;h the4 ,now1 if1 in place of the unknown characters1 we leave blank spaces1 or substitute dots1 we read thus3 the tree thr 4 4 4 h the4 when the word ',,through' makes itself evident at once4 ,but this discovery gives us three new letters1 o1 u1 and g1 represented by 8 and #c4 ,looking now1 narrowly1 through the cipher for combinations of known characters1 we find1 not very far from the beginning1 this arrangement1 #hc7hh1 or egree1 which1 plainly1 is the conclusion of the word 'degree1' and gives us another letter1 d1 represented by t4 ,four letters beyond the word 'degree1' we perceive the combination 2#df72hh99 ,translating the known characters1 and representing the unknown by dots1 as before1 we read thus3 th 4 rtee 4 1 an arrangement immediately suggestive of the word 'thirteen1' and again furnishing us with two new characters1 i and n1 represented by #f and 994 ,referring1 now1 to the beginning of the cryptograph1 we find the combination1 #ec9999994 ,translating1 as before1 we obtain good1 which assures us that the first letter is ,a1 and that the first two words are ',a good4' ,to avoid confusion1 it is now time that we arrange our key1 as far as discovered1 in a tabular form4 ,it will stand thus3 7,more code-,prf7 #e represents a t d #h e #c g #d h #f i 99 n ,i o 7 r 2 t ,we have1 therefore1 no less than ten of the most important letters represented1 and it will be unnecessary to proceed with the details of the solution4 ,i have said enough to convince you that ciphers of this nature are readily soluble1 and to give you some insight into the rationale of their development4 ,but be assured that the specimen before us appertains to the very simplest species of cryptograph4 ,it now only remains to give you the full translation of the characters upon the parchment1 as unriddled4 ,here it is3 ',a good glass in the ,bishop's hostel in the devil's seat twenty- one degrees and thirteen minutes north-east and by north main branch seventh limb east side shoot from the left eye of the death's-head a bee-line from the tree through the shot fifty feet out4' ,but1 said ,i1 the enigma seems still in as bad a condition as ever4 ,how is it possible to extort a meaning from all this jargon about 'devil's seats1' 'death's-heads' and ',bishop's hotels'8 ,i confess1 replied ,legrand1 that the matter still wears a serious aspect1 when regarded with a casual glance4 ,my first endeavor was to divide the sentence into the natural division intended by the cryptographist4 ,you mean1 to punctuate it8 ,something of that kind4 ,but how was it possible to effect this8 ,i reflected that it had been a ,,point with the writer to run his words together without division1 so as to increase the difficulty of solution4 ,now1 a not over-acute man1 in pursuing such an object1 would be nearly certain to overdo the matter4 ,when1 in the course of his composition1 he arrived at a break in his subject which would naturally require a pause1 or a point1 he would be exceedingly apt to run his characters1 at this place1 more than usually close together4 ,if you will observe the ,,ms41 in the present instance1 you will easily detect five such cases of unusual crowding4 ,acting on this hint1 ,i made the division thus3 ',a good glass in the ,bishop's hostel in the ,devil's seat--twenty- one degrees and thirteen minutes--north-east and by north--main branch seventh limb east side--shoot from the left eye of the death's-head--a bee-line from the tree through the shot fifty feet out4' ,even this division1 said ,i1 leaves me still in the dark4 ,it left me also in the dark1 replied ,legrand1 for a few days2 during which ,i made diligent inquiry1 in the neighborhood of ,sullivan's ,island1 for any building which went by the name of the ',bishop's ,hotel'2 for1 of course1 ,i dropped the obsolete word 'hostel4' ,gaining no information on the subject1 ,i was on the point of extending my sphere of search1 and proceeding in a more systematic manner1 when one morning it entered into my head1 quite suddenly1 that this ',bishop's ,hostel' might have some reference to an old family1 of the name of ,bessop1 which1 time out of mind1 had held possession of an ancient manor-house1 about four miles to the northward of the island4 ,i accordingly went over to the plantation1 and reinstituted my inquiries among the older negroes of the place4 ,at length one of the most aged of the women said that she had heard of such a place as ,bessop's ,castle1 and thought that she could guide me to it1 but that it was not a castle1 nor a tavern1 but a high rock4 ,i offered to pay her well for her trouble1 and1 after some demur1 she consented to accompany me to the spot4 ,we found it without much difficulty1 when1 dismissing her1 ,i proceeded to examine the place4 ,the 'castle' consisted of an irregular assemblage of cliffs and rocks--one of the latter being quite remarkable for its height as well as for its insulated and artificial appearance4 ,i clambered to its apex1 and then felt much at a loss as to what should be next done4 ,while ,i was busied in reflection1 my eyes fell on a narrow ledge in the eastern face of the rock1 perhaps a yard below the summit upon which ,i stood4 ,this ledge projected about eighteen inches1 and was not more than a foot wide1 while a niche in the cliff just above it gave it a rude resemblance to one of the hollow-backed chairs used by our ancestors4 ,i made no doubt that here was the 'devil's seat' alluded to in the ,,ms41 and now ,i seemed to grasp the full secret of the riddle4 ,the 'good glass1' ,i knew1 could have reference to nothing but a telescope2 for the word 'glass' is rarely employed in any other sense by seamen4 ,now here1 ,i at once saw1 was a telescope to be used1 and a definite point of view1 ,,admitting ,,no ,,variation1 from which to use it4 ,nor did ,i hesitate to believe that the phrases1 'twenty-one degrees and thirteen minutes1' and 'north-east and by north1' were intended as directions for the levelling of the glass4 ,greatly excited by these discoveries1 ,i hurried home1 procured a telescope1 and returned to the rock4 ,i let myself down the ledge1 and found that it was impossible to retain a seat on it unless in one particular position4 ,this fact confirmed my preconceived idea4 ,i proceeded to use the glass4 ,of course1 the 'twenty-one degrees and thirteen minutes' could allude to nothing but elevation above the visible horizon1 since the horizontal direction was clearly indicated by the words1 'north- east and by north4' ,this latter direction ,i at once established by means of a pocket-compass2 then1 pointing the glass as nearly at an angle of twenty-one degrees of elevation as ,i could do it by guess1 ,i moved it cautiously up or down1 until my attention was arrested by a circular rift or opening in the foliage of a large tree that overtopped its fellows in the distance4 ,in the centre of this rift ,i perceived a white spot1 but could not1 at first1 distinguish what it was4 ,adjusting the focus of the telescope1 ,i again looked1 and now made it out to be a human skull4 ,on this discovery ,i was so sanguine as to consider the enigma solved2 for the phrase 'main branch1 seventh limb1 east side1' could refer only to the position of the skull on the tree1 while 'shoot from the left eye of the death's-head' admitted1 also1 of but one interpretation1 in regard to a search for buried treasure4 ,i perceived that the design was to drop a bullet from the left eye of the skull1 and that a bee-line1 or1 in other words1 a straight line1 drawn from the nearest point of the trunk through 'the shot' 7or the spot where the bullet fell71 and thence extended to a distance of fifty feet1 would indicate a definite point--and beneath this point ,i thought it at least ,,possible that a deposit of value lay concealed4 ,all this1 ,i said1 is exceedingly clear1 and1 although ingenious1 still simple and explicit4 ,when you left the ,bishop's ,hotel1 what then8 ,why1 having carefully taken the bearings of the tree1 ,i turned homewards4 ,the instant that ,i left 'the devil's seat1' however1 the circular rift vanished2 nor could ,i get a glimpse of it afterwards1 turn as ,i would4 ,what seems to me the chief ingenuity in this whole business1 is the fact 7for repeated experiment has convinced me it ,,is a fact7 that the circular opening in question is visible from no other attainable point of view than that afforded by the narrow ledge on the face of the rock4 ,in this expedition to the ',bishop's ,hotel' ,i had been attended by ,jupiter1 who had no doubt observed1 for some weeks past1 the abstraction of my demeanor1 and took especial care not to leave me alone4 ,but on the next day1 getting up very early1 ,i contrived to give him the slip1 and went into the hills in search of the tree4 ,after much toil ,i found it4 ,when ,i came home at night my valet proposed to give me a flogging4 ,with the rest of the adventure ,i believe you are as well acquainted as myself4 ,i suppose1 said ,i1 you missed the spot1 in the first attempt at digging1 through ,jupiter's stupidity in letting the bug fall through the right instead of through the left eye of the skull4 ,precisely4 ,this mistake made a difference of about two inches and a half in the 'shot'--that is to say1 in the position of the peg nearest the tree2 and had the treasure been ,,beneath the 'shot1' the error would have been of little moment2 but 'the shot1' together with the nearest point of the tree1 were merely two points for the establishment of a line of direction2 of course the error1 however trivial in the beginning1 increased as we proceeded with the line1 and1 by the time we had gone fifty feet1 threw us quite off the scent4 ,but for my deep-seated convictions that treasure was here somewhere actually buried1 we might have had all our labor vain4 ,i presume the fancy of ,,the ,,skull--of letting fall a bullet through the skull's eye--was suggested to ,kidd by the piratical flag4 ,no doubt he felt a kind of poetical consistency in recovering his money through this ominous insignium4 ,perhaps so2 still1 ,i cannot help thinking that common-sense had quite as much to do with the matter as poetical consistency4 ,to be visible from the ,devil's seat1 it was necessary that the object1 if small1 should be ,,white2 and there is nothing like your human skull for retaining and even increasing its whiteness under exposure to all vicissitudes of weather4 ,but your grandiloquence1 and your conduct in swinging the beetle --how excessively odd6 ,i was sure you were mad4 ,and why did you insist on letting fall the bug1 instead of a bullet1 from the skull8 ,why1 to be frank1 ,i felt somewhat annoyed by your evident suspicions touching my sanity1 and so resolved to punish you quietly1 in my own way1 by a little bit of sober mystification4 ,for this reason ,i swung the beetle1 and for this reason ,i let it fall from the tree4 ,an observation of yours about its great weight suggested the latter idea4 ,yes1 ,i perceive2 and now there is only one point which puzzles me4 ,what are we to make of the skeletons found in the hole8 ,that is a question ,i am no more able to answer than yourself4 ,there seems1 however1 only one plausible way of accounting for them--and yet it is dreadful to believe in such atrocity as my suggestion would imply4 ,it is clear that ,kidd--if ,kidd indeed secreted this treasure1 which ,i doubt not--it is clear that he must have had assistance in the labor4 ,but1 the worst of this labor concluded1 he may have thought it expedient to remove all participants in his secret4 ,perhaps a couple of blows with a mattock were sufficient1 while his coadjutors were busy in the pit2 perhaps it required a dozen--who shall tell8 ,,the ,,ransom ,,of ,,red ,,chief ,,by ,o4 ,,henry ,this is a plot-story of the kind in which the ,american public delights4 ,the reader enjoys the humor due to situation1 hyperbole1 satire1 and astounding verbal liberties to which the writer is given2 but he enjoys even more the sharp surprise that awaits him in the plot4 ,he has prepared himself for a certain conclusion and finds himself entirely in the wrong4 ,nevertheless1 he admits that the ending is not illogical nor out of harmony with the general tone4 ,bill and ,sam subscribe themselves ,two ,desperate ,men1 but they are so characterized as to prepare us for their surrender of the boy on the father's own terms4 ,it is interesting to know that ,o4 ,henry himself put slight value upon local color4 ,people say that ,i know ,new ,york well6 he says4 ,but change ,twenty-third ,street to ,main ,street1 rub out the ,flatiron ,building and put in the ,town ,hall4 ,then the story will fit just as truly elsewhere4 ,at least1 ,i hope that is the case with what ,i write4 ,so long as your story is true to life1 the mere change of local color will set it in the ,east1 ,west1 ,south1 or ,north4 ,the characters in ',the ,arabian ,nights' parade up and down ,broadway at midday1 or ,main ,street in ,dallas1 ,texas4 ,,the ,,ransom ,,of ,,red ,,chief ,footnote3 ,from ,whirligigs1 by ,o4 ,henry4 ,copyright1 #aiaj1 by ,doubleday1 ,page ,company4 ,reprinted by special permission of ,doubleday1 ,page ,company4 ,it looked like a good thing3 but wait till ,i tell you4 ,we were down ,south1 ,in ,alabama--,bill ,driscoll and myself--when this kidnapping idea struck us4 ,it was1 as ,bill afterward expressed it1 during a moment of temporary mental apparition2 but we didn't find that out till later4 ,there was a town down there1 as flat as a flannel-cake1 and called ,summit1 of course4 ,it contained inhabitants of as undeleterious an self-satisfied a class of peasantry as ever clustered around a ,maypole4 ,bill and me had a joint capital of about six hundred dollars1 and we needed just two thousand dollars more to pull off a fraudulent town-lot scheme in ,western ,illinois with4 ,we talked it over on the front steps of the hotel4 ,philoprogenitiveness1 says we1 is strong in semi-rural communities2 therefore1 and for other reasons1 a kidnapping project ought to do better there than in the radius of newspapers that send reporters out in plain clothes to stir up talk about such things4 ,we knew that ,summit couldn't get after us with anything stronger than constables and1 maybe1 some lackadaisical blood-hounds and a diatribe or two in the ,weekly ,farmers' ,budget4 ,so1 it looked good4 ,we selected for our victim the only child of a prominent citizen named ,ebenezer ,dorset4 ,the father was respectable and tight1 a mortgage fancier and a stern1 upright collection-plate passer and forecloser4 ,the kid was a boy of ten1 with bas-relief freckles1 and hair the color of the cover of the magazine you buy at the news-stand when you want to catch a train4 ,bill and me figured that ,ebenezer would melt down for a ransom of two thousand dollars to a cent4 ,but wait till ,i tell you4 ,about two miles from ,summit was a little mountain1 covered with a dense cedar brake4 ,on the rear elevation of this mountain was a cave4 ,there we stored provisions4 ,one evening after sundown1 we drove in a buggy past old ,dorset's house4 ,the kid was in the street1 throwing rocks at a kitten on the opposite fence4 ,hey1 little boy6 says ,bill1 would you like to have a bag of candy and a nice ride8 ,the boy catches ,bill neatly in the eye with a piece of brick4 ,that will cost the old man an extra five hundred dollars1 says ,bill1 climbing over the wheel4 ,that boy put up a fight like a welter-weight cinnamon bear2 but1 at last1 we got him down in the bottom of the buggy and drove away4 ,we took him up to the cave1 and ,i hitched the horse in the cedar brake4 ,after dark ,i drove the buggy to the little village1 three miles away1 where we had hired it1 and walked back to the mountain4 ,bill was pasting court-plaster over the scratches and bruises on his features4 ,there was a fire burning behind the big rock at the entrance of the cave1 and the boy was watching a pot of boiling coffee1 with two buzzard tail-feathers stuck in his red hair4 ,he points a stick at me when ,i come up1 and says3 ,ha6 cursed paleface1 do you dare to enter the camp of ,red ,chief1 the terror of the plains8 ,he's all right now1 says ,bill1 rolling up his trousers and examining some bruises on his shins4 ,we're playing ,indian4 ,we're making ,buffalo ,bill's show look like magic-lantern views of ,palestine in the town hall4 ,i'm ,old ,hank1 the ,trapper1 ,red ,chief's captive1 and ,i'm to be scalped at daybreak4 ,by ,geronimo6 that kid can kick hard4 ,yes1 sir1 that boy seemed to be having the time of his life4 ,the fun of camping out in a cave had made him forget that he was a captive himself4 ,he immediately christened me ,snake-eye1 the ,spy1 and announced that1 when his braves returned from the warpath1 ,i was to be broiled at the stake at the rising of the sun4 ,then we had supper2 and he filled his mouth full of bacon and bread and gravy1 and began to talk4 ,he made a during-dinner speech something like this3 ,i like this fine4 ,i never camped out before2 but ,i had a pet 'possum once1 and ,i was nine last birthday4 ,i hate to go to school4 ,rats ate up sixteen of ,jimmy ,talbot's aunt's speckled hen's eggs4 ,are there any real ,indians in these woods8 ,i want some more gravy4 ,does the trees moving make the wind blow8 ,we had five puppies4 ,what makes your nose so red1 ,hank8 ,my father has lots of money4 ,are the stars hot8 ,i whipped ,ed ,walker twice1 ,saturday4 ,i don't like girls4 ,you dassent catch toads unless with a string4 ,do oxen make any noise8 ,why are oranges round8 ,have you got beds to sleep on in this cave8 ,amos ,murray has got six toes4 ,a parrot can talk1 but a monkey or a fish can't4 ,how many does it take to make twelve8 ,every few minutes he would remember that he was a pesky redskin1 and pick up his stick rifle and tiptoe to the mouth of the cave to rubber for the scouts of the hated paleface4 ,now and then he would let out a war-whoop that made ,old ,hank the ,trapper1 shiver4 ,that boy had ,bill terrorized from the start4 ,red ,chief1 says ,i to the kid1 would you like to go home8 ,aw1 what for8 says he4 ,i don't have any fun at home4 ,i hate to go to school4 ,i like to camp out4 ,you won't take me back home again1 ,snake-eye1 will you8 ,not right away1 says ,i4 ,we'll stay here in the cave a while4 ,all right6 says he4 ,that'll be fine4 ,i never had such fun in all my life4 ,we went to bed about eleven o'clock4 ,we spread down some wide blankets and quilts and put ,red ,chief between us4 ,we weren't afraid he'd run away4 ,he kept us awake for three hours1 jumping up and reaching for his rifle and screeching3 ,hist6 pard1 in mine and ,bill's ears1 as the fancied crackle of a twig or the rustle of a leaf revealed to his young imagination the stealthy approach of the outlaw band4 ,at last1 ,i fell into a troubled sleep1 and dreamed that ,i had been kidnapped and chained to a tree by a ferocious pirate with red hair4 ,just at daybreak1 ,i was awakened by a series of awful screams from ,bill4 ,they weren't yells1 or howls1 or shouts1 or whoops1 or yawps1 such as you'd expect from a manly set of vocal organs--they were simply indecent1 terrifying1 humiliating screams1 such as women emit when they see ghosts or caterpillars4 ,it's an awful thing to hear a strong1 desperate1 fat man scream incontinently in a cave at daybreak4 ,i jumped up to see what the matter was4 ,red ,chief was sitting on ,bill's chest1 with one hand twined in ,bill's hair4 ,in the other he had the sharp case-knife we used for slicing bacon2 and he was industriously and realistically trying to take ,bill's scalp1 according to the sentence that had been pronounced upon him the evening before4 ,i got the knife away from the kid and made him lie down again4 ,but1 from that moment1 ,bill's spirit was broken4 ,he laid down on his side of the bed1 but he never closed an eye again in sleep as long as that boy was with us4 ,i dozed off for a while1 but along toward sun-up ,i remembered that ,red ,chief had said ,i was to be burned at the stake at the rising of the sun4 ,i wasn't nervous or afraid2 but ,i sat up and lit my pipe and leaned against a rock4 ,what you getting up so soon for1 ,sam8 asked ,bill4 ,me8 says ,i4 ,oh1 ,i got a kind of a pain in my shoulder4 ,i thought sitting up would rest it4 ,you're a liar6 says ,bill4 ,you're afraid4 ,you was to be burned at sunrise1 and you was afraid he'd do it4 ,and he would1 too1 if he could find a match4 ,ain't it awful1 ,sam8 ,do you think anybody will pay out money to get a little imp like that back home8 ,sure1 said ,i4 ,a rowdy kid like that is just the kind that parents dote on4 ,now1 you and the ,chief get up and cook breakfast1 while ,i go up on the top of this mountain and reconnoitre4 ,i went up on the peak of the little mountain and ran my eye over the contiguous vicinity4 ,over toward ,summit ,i expected to see the sturdy yeomanry of the village armed with scythes and pitchforks beating the country-side for the dastardly kidnappers4 ,but what ,i saw was a peaceful landscape dotted with one man ploughing with a dun mule4 ,nobody was dragging the creek2 no couriers dashed hither and yon1 bringing tidings of no news to the distracted parents4 ,there was a sylvan attitude of somnolent sleepiness pervading that section of the external outward surface of ,alabama that lay exposed to my view4 ,perhaps1 says ,i to myself1 it has not yet been discovered that the wolves have borne away the tender lambkin from the fold4 ,heaven help the wolves6 says ,i1 and ,i went down the mountain to breakfast4 ,when ,i got to the cave ,i found ,bill backed up against the side of it1 breathing hard1 and the boy threatening to smash him with a rock half as big as a cocoanut4 ,he put a red-hot boiled potato down my back1 explained ,bill1 and then mashed it with his foot2 and ,i boxed his ears4 ,have you got a gun about you1 ,sam8 ,i took the rock away from the boy and kind of patched up the argument4 ,i'll fix you1 says the kid to ,bill4 ,no man ever yet struck the ,red ,chief but what he got paid for it4 ,you better beware6 ,after breakfast the kid takes a piece of leather with strings wrapped around it out of his pocket and goes outside the cave unwinding it4 ,what's he up to now8 says ,bill1 anxiously4 ,you don't think he'll run away1 do you1 ,sam8 ,no fear of it1 says ,i4 ,he don't seem to be much of a home body4 ,but we've got to fix up some plan about the ransom4 ,there don't seem to be much excitement around ,summit on account of his disappearance2 but maybe they haven't realized yet that he's gone4 ,his folks may think he's spending the night with ,aunt ,jane or one of the neighbors4 ,anyhow1 he'll be missed to-day4 ,to-night we must get a message to his father demanding the two thousand dollars for his return4 ,just then we heard a kind of war-whoop1 such as ,david might have emitted when he knocked out the champion ,goliath4 ,it was a sling that ,red ,chief had pulled out of his pocket1 and he was whirling it around his head4 ,i dodged1 and heard a heavy thud and a kind of a sigh from ,bill1 like a horse gives out when you take his saddle off4 ,a niggerhead rock the size of an egg had caught ,bill just behind his left ear4 ,he loosened himself all over and fell in the fire across the frying pan of hot water for washing the dishes4 ,i dragged him out and poured cold water on his head for half an hour4 ,by and by1 ,bill sits up and feels behind his ear and says3 ,sam1 do you know who my favorite ,biblical character is8 ,take it easy1 says ,i4 ,you'll come to your senses presently4 ,king ,herod1 says he4 ,you won't go away and leave me here alone1 will you1 ,sam8 ,i went out and caught that boy and shook him until his freckles rattled4 ,if you don't behave1 says ,i1 ,i'll take you straight home4 ,now1 are you going to be good1 or not8 ,i was only funning1 says he sullenly4 ,i didn't mean to hurt ,old ,hank4 ,but what did he hit me for8 ,i'll behave1 ,snake-eye1 if you won't send me home1 and if you'll let me play the ,black ,scout to- day4 ,i don't know the game1 says ,i4 ,that's for you and ,mr4 ,bill to decide4 ,he's your playmate for the day4 ,i'm going away for a while1 on business4 ,now1 you come in and make friends with him and say you are sorry for hurting him1 or home you go1 at once4 ,i made him and ,bill shake hands1 and then ,i took ,bill aside and told him ,i was going to ,poplar ,cove1 a little village three miles from the cave1 and find out what ,i could about how the kidnapping had been regarded in ,summit4 ,also1 ,i thought it best to send a peremptory letter to old man ,dorset that day1 demanding the ransom and dictating how it should be paid4 ,you know1 ,sam1 says ,bill1 ,i've stood by you without batting an eye in earthquakes1 fire1 and flood--in poker games1 dynamite outrages1 police raids1 train robberies1 and cyclones4 ,i never lost my nerve yet till we kidnapped that two-legged skyrocket of a kid4 ,he's got me going4 ,you won't leave me long with him1 will you1 ,sam8 ,i'll be back some time this afternoon1 says ,i4 ,you must keep the boy amused and quiet till ,i return4 ,and now we'll write the letter to old ,dorset4 ,bill and ,i got paper and pencil and worked on the letter while ,red ,chief1 with a blanket wrapped around him1 strutted up and down1 guarding the mouth of the cave4 ,bill begged me tearfully to make the ransom fifteen hundred dollars instead of two thousand4 ,i ain't attempting1 says he1 to decry the celebrated moral aspect of parental affection1 but we're dealing with humans1 and it ain't human for anybody to give up two thousand dollars for that forty- pound chunk of freckled wildcat4 ,i'm willing to take a chance at fifteen hundred dollars4 ,you can charge the difference up to me4 ,so1 to relieve ,bill1 ,i acceded1 and we collaborated a letter that ran this way3 ,ebenezer ,dorset1 ,esq43 ,we have your boy concealed in a place far from ,summit4 ,it is useless for you or the most skilful detectives to attempt to find him4 ,absolutely1 the only terms on which you can have him restored to you are these3 ,we demand fifteen hundred dollars in large bills for his return2 the money to be left at midnight to-night at the same spot and in the same box as your reply--as hereinafter described4 ,if you agree to these terms1 send your answer in writing by a solitary messenger to-night at half-past eight o'clock4 ,after crossing ,owl ,creek1 on the road to ,poplar ,cove1 there are three large trees about a hundred yards apart1 close to the fence of the wheat field on the right-hand side4 ,at the bottom of the fence-post1 opposite the third tree1 will be found a small paste-board box4 ,the messenger will place the answer in this box and return immediately to ,summit4 ,if you attempt any treachery or fail to comply with our demand as stated1 you will never see your boy again4 ,if you pay the money as demanded1 he will be returned to you safe and well within three hours4 ,these terms are final1 and if you do not accede to them no further communication will be attempted4 ,,two ,,desperate ,,men ,i addressed this letter to ,dorset1 and put it in my pocket4 ,as ,i was about to start1 the kid comes up to me and says3 ,aw1 ,snake-eye1 you said ,i could play the ,black ,scout while you was gone4 ,play it1 of course1 says ,i4 ,mr4 ,bill will play with you4 ,what kind of a game is it8 ,i'm the ,black ,scout1 says ,red ,chief1 and ,i have to ride to the stockade to warn the settlers that the ,indians are coming4 ,i'm tired of playing ,indian myself4 ,i want to be the ,black ,scout4 ,all right1 says ,i4 ,it sounds harmless to me4 ,i guess ,mr4 ,bill will help you foil the pesky savages4 ,what am ,i to do8 asks ,bill1 looking at the kid suspiciously4 ,you are the hoss1 says ,black ,scout4 ,get down on your hands and knees4 ,how can ,i ride to the stockade without a hoss8 ,you'd better keep him interested1 said ,i1 till we get the scheme going4 ,loosen up4 ,bill gets down on his all fours1 and a look comes in his eye like a rabbit's when you catch it in a trap4 ,how far is it to the stockade1 kid8 he asks1 in a husky manner of voice4 ,ninety miles1 says the ,black ,scout4 ,and you have to hump yourself to get there on time4 ,whoa1 now6 ,the ,black ,scout jumps on ,bill's back and digs his heels in his side4 ,for ,heaven's sake1 says ,bill1 hurry back1 ,sam1 as soon as you can4 ,i wish we hadn't made the ransom more than a thousand4 ,say1 you quit kicking me or ,i'll get up and warm you good4 ,i walked over to ,poplar ,cove and sat around the post-office and store1 talking with the chawbacons that came in to trade4 ,one whiskerando says that he hears ,summit is all upset on account of ,elder ,ebenezer ,dorset's boy having been lost or stolen4 ,that was all ,i wanted to know4 ,i bought some smoking tobacco1 referred casually to the price of black-eyed peas1 posted my letter surreptitiously1 and came away4 ,the postmaster said the mail- carrier would come by in an hour to take the mail on to ,summit4 ,when ,i got back to the cave ,bill and the boy were not to be found4 ,i explored the vicinity of the cave1 and risked a yodel or two1 but there was no response4 ,so ,i lighted my pipe and sat down on a mossy bank to await developments4 ,in about half an hour ,i heard the bushes rustle1 and ,bill wabbled out into the little glade in front of the cave4 ,behind him was the kid1 stepping softly like a scout1 with a broad grin on his face4 ,bill stopped1 took off his hat1 and wiped his face with a red handkerchief4 ,the kid stopped about eight feet behind him4 ,sam1 says ,bill1 ,i suppose you'll think ,i'm a renegade1 but ,i couldn't help it4 ,i'm a grown person with masculine proclivities and habits of self-defence1 but there is a time when all systems of egotism and predominance fail4 ,the boy is gone4 ,i have sent him home4 ,all is off4 ,there was martyrs in old times1 goes on ,bill1 that suffered death rather than give up the particular graft they enjoyed4 ,none of 'em ever was subjugated to such supernatural tortures as ,i have been4 ,i tried to be faithful to our articles of depredation2 but there came a limit4 ,what's the trouble1 ,bill8 ,i asks him4 ,i was rode1 says ,bill1 the ninety miles to the stockade1 not barring an inch4 ,then1 when the settlers was rescued1 ,i was given oats4 ,sand ain't a palatable substitute4 ,and then1 for an hour ,i had to try to explain to him why there was nothin' in holes1 how a road can run both ways1 and what makes the grass green4 ,i tell you1 ,sam1 a human can only stand so much4 ,i takes him by the neck of his clothes and drags him down the mountain4 ,on the way he kicks my legs black-and-blue from the knees down2 and ,i've got to have two or three bites on my thumb and hand cauterized4 ,but he's gone--continues ,bill--gone home4 ,i showed him the road to ,summit and kicked him about eight feet nearer there at one kick4 ,i'm sorry we lose the ransom2 but it was either that or ,bill ,driscoll to the madhouse4 ,bill is puffing and blowing1 but there is a look of ineffable peace and growing content on his rose-pink features4 ,bill1 says ,i1 there isn't any heart disease in your family1 is there8 ,no1 says ,bill1 nothing chronic except malaria and accidents4 ,why8 ,then you might turn around1 says ,i1 and have a look behind you4 ,bill turns and sees the boy1 and loses his complexion and sits down plump on the ground and begins to pluck aimlessly at grass and little sticks4 ,for an hour ,i was afraid for his mind4 ,and then ,i told him that my scheme was to put the whole job through immediately and that we would get the ransom and be off with it by midnight if old ,dorset fell in with our proposition4 ,so ,bill braced up enough to give the kid a weak sort of a smile and a promise to play the ,russian in a ,japanese war with him as soon as he felt a little better4 ,i had a scheme for collecting that ransom without danger of being caught by counterplots that ought to commend itself to professional kidnappers4 ,the tree under which the answer was to be left--and the money later on--was close to the road fence with big1 bare fields on all sides4 ,if a gang of constables should be watching for any one to come for the note1 they could see him a long way off crossing the fields or in the road4 ,but no1 sirree6 ,at half-past eight ,i was up in that tree as well hidden as a tree toad1 waiting for the messenger to arrive4 ,exactly on time1 a half-grown boy rides up the road on a bicycle1 locates the pasteboard box at the foot of the fence-post1 slips a folded piece of paper into it1 and pedals away again back toward ,summit4 ,i waited an hour and then concluded the thing was square4 ,i slid down the tree1 got the note1 slipped along the fence till ,i struck the woods1 and was back at the cave in another half an hour4 ,i opened the note1 got near the lantern1 and read it to ,bill4 ,it was written with a pen in a crabbed hand1 and the sum and substance of it was this3 ,two ,desperate ,men4 ,gentlemen3 ,i received your letter to-day by post1 in regard to the ransom you ask for the return of my son4 ,i think you are a little high in your demands1 and ,i hereby make you a counter- proposition1 which ,i am inclined to believe you will accept4 ,you bring ,johnny home and pay me two hundred and fifty dollars in cash1 and ,i agree to take him off your hands4 ,you had better come at night1 for the neighbors believe he is lost1 and ,i couldn't be responsible for what they would do to anybody they saw bringing him back4 ,very respectfully1 ,,ebenezer ,,dorset4 ,great pirates of ,penzance6 says ,i2 of all the impudent---- ,but ,i glanced at ,bill1 and hesitated4 ,he had the most appealing look in his eyes ,i ever saw on the face of a dumb or a talking brute4 ,sam1 says he1 what's two hundred and fifty dollars1 after all8 ,we've got the money4 ,one more night of this kid will send me to a bed in ,bedlam4 ,besides being a thorough gentleman1 ,i think ,mr4 ,dorset is a spendthrift for making us such a liberal offer4 ,you ain't going to let the chance go1 are you8 ,tell you the truth1 ,bill1 says ,i1 this little he ewe lamb has somewhat got on my nerves too4 ,we'll take him home1 pay the ransom1 and make our get-away4 ,we took him home that night4 ,we got him to go by telling him that his father had bought a silver-mounted rifle and a pair of moccasins for him1 and we were going to hunt bears the next day4 ,it was just twelve o 'clock when we knocked at ,ebenezer's front door4 ,just at the moment when ,i should have been abstracting the fifteen hundred dollars from the box under the tree1 according to the original proposition1 ,bill was counting out two hundred and fifty dollars into ,dorset's hand4 ,when the kid found out we were going to leave him at home he started up a howl like a calliope and fastened himself as tight as a leech to ,bill's leg4 ,his father peeled him away gradually1 like a porous plaster4 ,how long can you hold him8 asks ,bill4 ,i'm not as strong as ,i used to be1 says old ,dorset1 but ,i think ,i can promise you ten minutes4 ,enough1 says ,bill4 ,in ten minutes ,i shall cross the ,central1 ,southern1 and ,middle ,western ,states1 and be legging it trippingly for the ,canadian border4 ,and1 as dark as it was1 and as fat as ,bill was1 and as good a runner as ,i am1 he was a good mile and a half out of ,summit before ,i could catch up with him4 ,,the ,,freshman ,,full-,,back ,,by ,,ralph ,d4 ,,paine ,the chief interest in ,the ,freshman ,full-,back is that of character4 ,the action has real dramatic quality and is staged with the local color of a college contest4 ,but the great value of the action is ethical1 for it shows that one may wrest victory from defeat and that it is a shameful thing to be a coward and a quitter4 ,,the ,,freshman ,,full-,,back ,footnote3 ,from ,college ,years1 by ,ralph ,d4 ,paine4 ,copyright1 #aiji1 by ,charles ,scribner's ,sons4 ,the boyish night city editor glanced along the copy-readers' table and petulantly exclaimed3 ,isn't that spread head ready yet1 ,mr4 ,seeley8 ,it goes on the front page and we are holding open for it4 ,whew1 but you are slow4 ,you ought to be holding down a job on a quarterly review4 ,a portly man of middle age dropped his pencil and turned heavily in his chair to face the source of this public humiliation4 ,an angry flush overspread his face and he chewed at a grayish mustache as if fighting down rebellion4 ,his comrades at the long table had looked up from their work and were eyeing the oldest copy-reader with sympathetic uneasiness while they hoped that he would be able to hold himself in hand4 ,the night city editor felt the tension of this brief tableau and awaited the threatened outbreak with a nervous smile4 ,but ,seeley jerked his green eyeshade so low that his face was partly in eclipse1 and wheeled round to resume his task with a catch of the breath and a tone of surrender in his reply4 ,the head will be ready in five minutes1 sir4 ,the last pages of the story are just coming in4 ,a much younger man1 at the farther end of the table1 whispered to his neighbor3 ,that's cheap and nasty1 to call down old man ,seeley as if he were a cub reporter4 ,he may have lost his grip1 but he deserves decent treatment for what he has been4 ,managing editor of this very sheet1 ,london correspondent before that1 and the crack man of the staff when most of the rest of us were in short breeches4 ,and now ,henry ,harding ,seeley isn't any too sure of keeping his job on the copy-desk4 ,that's what the ,new ,york newspaper game can do to you if you stick at it too long1 murmured the other4 ,back to the farm for mine4 ,it was long after midnight when these two put on their coats and bade the city editor's desk a perfunctory ,good-night4 ,they left ,henry ,harding ,seeley still slumped in his chair1 writing with dogged industry4 ,he's dead tired1 you can see that1 commented one of the pair as they headed for ,broadway1 but1 as usual1 he is grinding out stuff for the ,sunday sheet after hours4 ,he must need the extra coin mighty bad4 ,i came back for my overcoat at four the other morning1 after the poker game1 and he was still pegging away just like that4 ,other belated editors and reporters of the ,chronicle staff drifted toward the elevator1 until the gray-haired copy-reader was left alone in the city room as if marooned4 ,writing as steadily as if he were a machine warranted to turn out so many words an hour1 ,seeley urged his pencil until the last page was finished4 ,then he read and corrected the story1 slipped it through a slit in a door marked ,sunday ,editor1 and trudged out1 while the tower clock was striking three4 ,instead of seeking the chop-house1 wherein the vivacious and tireless youth of the staff were wont to linger over supper1 he turned into a side street and betook himself to a small cafe as yet unfrequented by the night-owls of journalism4 ,seeley was a beaten man1 and he preferred to nurse his wounds in a morbid isolation4 ,his gait and aspect were those of one who was stolidly struggling on the defensive1 as if hostile circumstances had driven him into a corner where he was making his last stand4 ,through the years of his indomitable youth as a reporter of rare ability and resourcefulness1 he had never spared himself4 ,burning the candle at both ends1 with a vitality which had seemed inexhaustible1 he had won step after step of promotion until1 at forty1 he was made managing editor of that huge and hard-driven organization1 the ,new ,york ,chronicle4 ,for five years of racking responsibility1 ,henry ,harding ,seeley had been able to maintain the pace demanded of his position4 ,then came an error of judgment--a midnight decision demanded of a fagged mind--and his #j4,k4 was scrawled upon the first sheet of a story of embezzlement in ,wall ,street4 ,by an incredible blunder the name of the fugitive cashier was coupled with that of the wrong bank4 ,publication of the ,chronicle story started a terrific run on this innocent institution1 which won its libel suit against the newspaper in the amount of one hundred thousand dollars4 ,the managing editor1 two reporters1 and the copy-reader who had handled the fatal manuscript1 were swept out of the building by one cyclonic order from the owner thereof4 ,henry ,seeley accepted his indirect responsibility for the disaster in grim1 manly fashion1 and straightway sought another berth befitting his journalistic station4 ,but his one costly slip was more than a nine-days' scandal along ,park ,row1 and other canny proprietors were afraid that he might hit them in the very vital regions of their pockets4 ,worse than this1 his confidence in himself had suffered mortal damage4 ,the wear and tear of his earlier years had left him with little reserve power1 and he went to pieces in the face of adverse fortune4 ,worked out at forty-five1 was the verdict of his friends1 and they began to pity him4 ,the will to succeed had been broken1 but ,seeley might have rallied had not his wife died during the ebb-tide of his affairs4 ,she had walked hand in hand with him since his early twenties1 her faith in him had been his mainstay1 and his happiness in her complete and beautiful4 ,bereft of her when he stood most in need of her1 he seemed to have no more fight in him1 and1 drifting from one newspaper office to another1 he finally eddied into his old shop as a drudging copy-reader and an object of sympathy to a younger generation4 ,there was one son1 strong1 bright1 eager1 and by dint of driving his eternally wearied brain overtime1 the father had been able to send him to ,yale1 his own alma mater4 ,more or less pious deception had led young ,ernest ,seeley to believe that his father had regained much of his old-time prestige with the ,chronicle and that he had a hand in guiding its editorial destinies4 ,the lad was a ,freshman1 tremendously absorbed in the activities of the autumn term1 and his father was content that he should be so hedged about by the interests of the campus world as to have small time or thought for the grizzled1 taciturn toiler in ,new ,york4 ,this was the kind of man that trudged heavily into the little ,german cafe of an early morning after his long night's slavery at the copy-desk4 ,his mind1 embittered and sensitive to slights like a raw nerve1 was brooding over the open taunt of the night city editor1 who had been an office boy under him in the years gone by4 ,from force of habit he seated himself at a table in the rear of the room1 shunning the chance of having to face an acquaintance4 ,unfolding a copy of the city edition1 which had been laid on his desk damp from the press-room1 ,seeley scanned the front page with scowling uneasiness1 as if fearing to find some blunder of his own handiwork4 ,then he turned to the sporting page and began to read the football news4 ,his son ,ernest had been playing as a substitute with the university eleven1 an achievement which stirred the father's pride without moving his enthusiasm4 ,and the boy1 chilled by his father's indifference1 had said little about it during his infrequent visits to ,new ,york4 ,but now the elder ,seeley sat erect1 and his stolid countenance was almost animated as he read1 under a ,new ,haven date line3 ,the ,yale confidence of winning the game with ,princeton to-morrow has been shattered1 and gloom enshrouds the camp of the ,elis to- night4 ,collins1 the great full-back1 who has been the key-stone of ,yale's offensive game1 was taken to the infirmary late this afternoon4 ,he complained of feeling ill after the signal practice yesterday2 fever developed overnight1 and the consulting physicians decided that he must be operated on for appendicitis without delay4 ,his place in the ,princeton game will be filled by ,ernest ,seeley1 the ,freshman1 who has been playing a phenomenal game in the back-field1 but who is so lacking in experience that the coaches are all at sea to-night4 ,the loss of ,collins has swung the betting around to even money instead of #e to #c on ,yale4 ,the elder ,seeley wiped his glasses as if not sure that he had read aright4 ,ernest had seemed to him no more than a sturdy infant and here he was1 on the eve of a championship football battle1 picked to fight for the old blue4 ,the father's career at ,yale had been a most honorable one4 ,he1 too1 had played on the eleven and had helped to win two desperate contests against ,princeton4 ,but all this belonged to a part of his life which was dead and done for4 ,he had not achieved in after years what ,yale expected of him1 and his record there was with his buried memories4 ,supper was forgotten while ,henry ,seeley wondered whether he really wanted to go to ,new ,haven to see his boy play4 ,many of his old friends and classmates would be there and he did not wish to meet them4 ,and it stung him to the quick as he reflected3 ,i should be very happy to see him win1 but--but to see him whipped6 ,i couldn't brace and comfort him4 ,and supposing it breaks his heart to be whipped as it has broken mine8 ,no1 ,i won't let myself think that4 ,i'm a poor ,yale man and a worse father1 but ,i couldn't stand going up there to-day4 ,even more humiliating was the thought that he would shrink from asking leave of the city editor4 ,saturday was not his day off1 and he so greatly hated to ask favors at the office1 that the possibility of being rebuffed was more than he was willing to face4 ,into his unhappy meditations broke a boisterous hail3 ,diogenes ,seeley1 as ,i live4 ,why1 you old rascal1 ,i thought you were dead or something4 ,glad ,i didn't get foolish and go to bed4 ,here1 waiter1 get busy4 ,seeley was startled1 and he looked much more distressed than rejoiced as he lumbered from his table to grasp the outstretched hand of a classmate4 ,the opera-hat of this ,mr4 ,richard ,giddings was cocked at a rakish angle1 his blue eye twinkled good cheer and youthful hilarity1 and his aspect was utterly care-free4 ,how are you1 ,dick8 said ,seeley1 with an unusual smile which singularly brightened his face4 ,you don't look a day older than when ,i last saw you4 ,still cutting coupons for a living8 ,oh1 money is the least of my worries1 gayly rattled ,mr4 ,giddings4 ,been doing the heavy society act to-night1 and on my way home found ,i needed some sauerkraut and beer to tone up my jaded system4 ,by ,jove1 ,harry1 you're as gray as a badger4 ,this newspaper game must be bad for the nerves4 ,lots of fellows have asked me about you4 ,never see you at the ,university ,club1 nobody sees you anywhere4 ,remarkable how a man can lose himself right here in ,new ,york4 ,still running the ,chronicle1 ,i suppose4 ,i'm still in the old shop1 ,dick1 replied ,seeley1 glad to be rid of this awkward question4 ,but ,i work nearly all night and sleep most of the day1 and am like a cog in a big machine that never stops grinding4 ,shouldn't do it4 ,wears a man out1 and ,mr4 ,giddings sagely nodded his head4 ,course you are going up to the game to-day4 ,come along with me4 ,special car with a big bunch of your old pals inside4 ,they'll be tickled to death to find ,i've dug you out of your hole4 ,hello6 ,is that this morning's paper8 ,let me look at the sporting page4 ,great team at ,new ,haven1 they tell me4 ,what's the latest odds8 ,i put up a thousand at five to three last week and am looking for some more easy money4 ,the alert eye of the volatile ,richard ,giddings swept down the ,new ,haven dispatch like lightning4 ,with a grievous outcry he smote the table and shouted3 ,collins out of the game8 ,great ,scott1 ,harry1 that's awful news4 ,and a green ,freshman going to fill his shoes at the last minute4 ,i feel like weeping1 honest ,i do4 ,who the deuce is this ,seeley8 ,any kin of yours8 ,i suppose not or you would have bellowed it at me before this4 ,he is my only boy1 ,dick1 and the father held up his head with a shadow of his old manner4 ,i didn't know he had the ghost of a show to make the team until ,i saw this dispatch4 ,then1 of course1 you are coming up with me1 roared ,mr4 ,giddings4 ,i hope he's a chip of the old block4 ,if he has your sand they can't stop him4 ,jumping ,jupiter1 they couldn't have stopped you with an axe when you were playing guard in our time1 ,harry4 ,i feel better already to know that it is your kid going in at full-back to-day4 ,no1 ,i'm not going up1 ,dick1 said ,seeley slowly4 ,for one thing1 it is too short notice for me to break away from the office1 and ,i--,i haven't the nerve to watch the boy go into the game4 ,i'm not feeling very fit4 ,stuff and nonsense1 you need a brain cure1 vociferated ,richard ,giddings4 ,you1 an old ,yale guard1 with a pup on the team1 and he a ,freshman at that6 ,throw out your chest1 man2 tell the office to go to the devil--where all newspapers belong--and meet me at the station at ten o'clock sharp4 ,you talk and look like the oldest living grad with one foot in the grave4 ,seeley flushed and bit his lip4 ,his dulled realization of what ,yale had been to him was quickened by this tormenting comrade of the brave days of old1 but he could not be shaken from his attitude of morbid self-effacement4 ,no1 ,dick1 it's no use1 he returned with a tremulous smile4 ,you can't budge me4 ,but give my love to the crowd and tell them to cheer for that youngster of mine until they're blue in the face4 ,mr4 ,richard ,giddings eyed him quizzically1 and surmised that something or other was gravely wrong with his grizzled classmate4 ,but ,seeley offered no more explanations and the vivacious intruder fell to his task of demolishing sauerkraut with great gusto1 after which he nimbly vanished into a cruising hansom with a sense of having been rebuffed4 ,seeley watched him depart at great speed and then plodded toward his up-town lodgings4 ,his sleep was distressed with unhappy dreams1 and during a wakeful interval he heard a knock at his sitting-room door4 ,an office boy from the ,chronicle editorial rooms gave him a note and waited for an answer4 ,seeley recognized the handwriting of the managing editor and was worried1 for he was always expecting the worst to happen4 ,he sighed with relieved surprise as he read3 ,,my ,,dear ,,mr4 ,,seeley3 ,please go to ,new ,haven as soon as possible and do a couple of columns of descriptive introduction of the ,yale-,princeton game4 ,the sporting department will cover the technical story1 but a big steamboat collision has just happened in ,north ,river1 two or three hundred drowned and so on1 and ,i need every man in the shop4 ,as an old ,yale player ,i am sure ,i can depend on you for a good story1 and ,i know you used to do this kind of stuff in fine style4 ,seeley fished his watch from under a pillow4 ,it was after ten o'clock and the game would begin at two4 ,while he hurried into his clothes he was conscious of a distinct thrill of excited interest akin to his old-time joy in the day's work4 ,could he do this kind of stuff in fine style8 ,why1 before his brain had begun to be always tired1 when he was the star reporter of the ,chronicle1 his football introductions had been classics in ,park ,row4 ,if there was a spark of the old fire left in him he would try to strike it out1 and for the moment he forgot the burden of inertia which had so long crushed him4 ,but ,i don't want to run into ,dick ,giddings and his crowd1 he muttered as he sought his hat and overcoat4 ,and ,i'll be up in the press-box away from the mob of old grads4 ,perhaps my luck has turned4 ,when ,henry ,seeley reached the ,yale field the eleven had gone to the dressing-rooms in the training house1 and he hovered on the edge of the flooding crowds1 fairly yearning for a glimpse of the ,freshman full-back and a farewell grasp of his hand4 ,the habitual dread lest the son find cause to be ashamed of his father had been shoved into the background by a stronger1 more natural emotion4 ,but he well knew that he ought not to invade the training quarters in these last crucial moments4 ,ernest must not be distraught by a feather's weight of any other interest than the task in hand4 ,the coaches would be delivering their final words of instruction and the old ,yale guard could picture to himself the tense absorption of the scene4 ,like one coming out of a dream1 the past was returning to him in vivid1 heart-stirring glimpses4 ,reluctantly he sought his place in the press-box high above the vast amphitheatre4 ,the preliminary spectacle was movingly familiar3 the rippling banks of color which rose on all sides to frame the long carpet of chalked turf2 the clamorous outbursts of cheering when an eddy of ,yale or ,princeton undergraduates swirled and tossed at command of the dancing dervish of a leader at the edge of the field below2 the bright1 buoyant aspect of the multitude as viewed en masse4 ,seeley leaned against the railing of his lofty perch and gazed at this pageant until a sporting editor1 long in harness1 nudged his elbow and said3 ,hello6 ,i haven't seen you at a game in a dozen years4 ,doing the story or just working the press-badge graft8 ,that namesake of yours will be meat for the ,tigers1 ,i'm afraid4 ,glad he doesn't belong to you1 aren't you8 ,seeley stared at him like a man in a trance and replied evasively3 ,he may be good enough4 ,it all depends on his sand and nerve4 ,yes1 ,i am doing the story for a change4 ,have you the final line-up8 ,princeton is playing all her regular men1 said the sporting editor1 giving ,seeley his note-book4 ,the only ,yale change is at full-back--and that's a catastrophe4 ,seeley copied the lists for reference and his pencil was not steady when he came to ,full-back1 ,ernest ,t4 ,seeley4 ,but he pulled his thoughts away from the eleven and began to jot down notes of the passing incidents which might serve to weave into the fabric of his description4 ,the unwonted stimulus aroused his talent as if it were not dead but dormant4 ,the scene appealed to him with almost as much freshness and color as if he were observing it for the first time4 ,a roar of cheering rose from a far corner of the field and ran swiftly along the ,yale side of the amphitheatre1 which blossomed in tossing blue4 ,the ,yale eleven scampered into view like colts at pasture1 the substitutes veering toward the benches behind the side-line4 ,without more ado the team scattered in formation for signal practice1 paying no heed to the tumult which raged around and above them4 ,agile1 clean-limbed1 splendid in their disciplined young manhood1 the dark blue of their stockings and the white ,y gleaming on their sweaters fairly trumpeted their significance to ,henry ,seeley4 ,and poised behind the rush-line1 wearing his hard- won university blue1 was the lithe figure of the ,freshman full- back1 ,ernest ,seeley4 ,the youngster1 whose fate it was to be called a forlorn hope1 looked fragile beside his comrades of the eleven4 ,although tall and wiry he was like a greyhound in a company of mastiffs4 ,his father1 looking down at him from so great a height that he could not read his face1 muttered to himself while he dug his nails into his palms3 ,he is too light for this day's work4 ,but he carries himself like a thoroughbred4 ,the boy and his fellows seemed singularly remote from the shouting thousands massed so near them4 ,they had become the sole arbiters of their fate1 and their impressive isolation struck ,henry ,seeley anew as the most dramatic feature of this magnificent picture4 ,he must sit idly by and watch his only son battle through the most momentous hour of his young life1 as if he were gazing down from another planet4 ,the staccato cheers of ,princeton rocketed along the other side of the field1 and the eleven from ,old ,nassau ran briskly over the turf and wheeled into line for a last rehearsal of their machine- like tactics4 ,henry ,seeley was finding it hard to breathe1 just as it had happened in other days when he was waiting for the kick- off and facing a straining ,princeton line4 ,the minutes were like hours while the officials consulted with the captains in the centre of the field4 ,then the two elevens ranged themselves across the brown turf1 there was breathless silence1 and a ,princeton toe lifted the ball far down toward the ,yale goal4 ,it was the young full-back who waited to receive the opening kick1 while his comrades thundered toward him to form a flying screen of interference4 ,but the twisting ball bounded from his too eager arms1 and another ,yale back fell on it in time to save it from the clutches of a meteoric ,princeton end4 ,nervous4 ,hasn't steadied down yet1 exclaimed a reporter behind ,henry ,seeley4 ,but he can't afford to give ,princeton any more chances like that4 ,her ends are faster than chain lightning4 ,the father groaned and wiped the sweat from his eyes4 ,if the team were afraid of this untried full-back1 such a beginning would not give them confidence4 ,then the two lines locked and heaved in the first scrimmage1 and a stocky ,yale half-back was pulled down in his tracks4 ,again the headlong ,princeton defence held firm and the ,yale captain gasped1 ,second down and three yards to gain4 ,the ,yale interferers sped to circle one end of the line1 but they were spilled this way and that and the runner went down a yard short of the needed distance4 ,the ,yale full-back dropped back to punt4 ,far and true the ball soared into the ,princeton field1 and the lithe ,freshman had somewhat redeemed himself4 ,but now1 for their own part1 the sons of ,old ,nassau found themselves unable to make decisive gains against the ,yale defence4 ,greek met ,greek in these early clashes1 and both teams were forced to punt again and again4 ,trick-plays were spoiled by alert end-rushers for the blue or the orange and black1 fiercely launched assaults at centre were torn asunder1 and the longer the contest raged up and down the field the more clearly it was perceived that these ancient rivals were rarely well matched in point of strength and strategy4 ,the ,yale coaches were dismayed at this turn of events4 ,they had hoped to see the ball carried toward the ,princeton goal by means of shrewdly devised teamwork1 instead of which the burden of the game was shifted to one man1 the weakest link in the chain1 the ,freshman at full-back4 ,he was punting with splendid distance1 getting the ball away when it seemed as if he must be overwhelmed by the hurtling ,tigers4 ,once or twice1 however1 a hesitant nervousness almost wrought quick disaster1 and the ,yale partisans watched him with tormenting apprehension4 ,the first half of the game was fought into the last few minutes of play and neither eleven had been able to score4 ,then luck and skill combined to force the struggle far down into ,yale territory4 ,only ten yards more of trampled turf to gain and ,princeton would cross the last white line4 ,the indomitable spirit which had placed upon the escutcheon of ,yale football the figure of a bulldog rampant1 rallied to meet this crisis1 and the hard-pressed line held staunch and won possession of the ball on downs4 ,back to the very shadow of his own goal-posts the ,yale full-back ran to punt the ball out of the danger zone4 ,it shot fairly into his grasp from a faultless pass1 but his fingers juggled the slippery leather as if it were bewitched4 ,for a frantic1 awful instant he fumbled with the ball and wildly dived after it as it caromed off to one side1 bounded crazily1 and rolled beyond his reach4 ,the ,princeton quarter-back had darted through the line like a bullet4 ,without slackening speed or veering from his course1 he scooped up the ball as he fled toward the ,yale goal-line4 ,it was done and over within a twinkling1 and while the ,yale team stampeded helplessly in his wake the devastating hero was circling behind the goal-posts where he flopped to earth1 the precious ball apparently embedded in his stomach4 ,it was a ,princeton touchdown fairly won1 but made possible by the tragic blunder of one ,yale man4 ,while ten thousand ,princeton throats were barking their jubilation1 as many more loyal friends of ,yale sat sad-eyed and sullen and glowered their unspeakable displeasure at the slim figure of the full-back as he limped into line to face the try for goal4 ,the goal was not scored1 however1 and the fateful tally stood five to nothing when the first half ended1 with the blue banners drooping disconsolate4 ,henry ,seeley pulled his slouch hat over his eyes and sat with hunched shoulders staring at the ,yale team as it left the field for the intermission4 ,he had forgotten about his story of the game4 ,the old spectre of failure obsessed him4 ,it was already haunting the pathway of his boy4 ,was he also to be beaten by one colossal blunder8 ,henry ,seeley felt that ,ernest's whole career hung upon his behavior in the second half4 ,how would the lad take his medicine8 ,would it break his heart or rouse him to fight more valiantly8 ,as if the father had been thinking aloud1 the sporting editor at his side observed3 ,he may win the game yet4 ,i like the looks of that boy4 ,but he did make a hideous mess of it1 didn't he8 ,i hope he hasn't got a streak of yellow in him4 ,henry ,seeley turned on his neighbor with a savage scowl and could not hold back the quivering retort3 ,he belongs to me1 ,i want you to understand1 and we'll say nothing about yellow streaks until he has a chance to make good next half4 ,whew-w-w1 why did you hold it out on me1 old man8 gasped the sporting editor4 ,no wonder you kicked me black and blue without knowing it4 ,i hope he is a chip of the old block4 ,i saw you play here in your last game4 ,seeley grunted something and resumed staring at the field4 ,he was thinking of the present moment in the training quarters1 of the muddy1 weary players sprawled around the head coach1 of his wise1 bitter1 stinging rebukes and admonitions4 ,perhaps he would take ,ernest out of the game4 ,but ,seeley was confident that the coaches would give the boy a chance to redeem himself if they believed his heart was in the right place4 ,presently the two teams trotted on the field1 not as nimbly as at their first appearance1 but with dogged resolution in their demeanor4 ,henry ,seeley saw his son glance up at the cheering sections1 as if wondering whether their welcome was meant to include him4 ,one cheer1 at least1 was intended to greet him1 for ,henry ,seeley stood on his chair1 waved his hat1 and thundered3 ',rah1 'rah1 'rah1 for ,yale1 my boy4 ,eat 'em alive as your daddy used to do4 ,the men from ,princeton had no intention of being devoured in this summary fashion4 ,they resumed their tireless1 whirlwind attack like giants refreshed1 and so harried their ,yale foemen that they were forced to their utmost to ward off another touchdown4 ,this incessant battering dulled the edges of their offensive tactics1 and they seemed unable to set in motion a consistent series of advances4 ,but the joy of ,princeton was tempered by the knowledge that this1 her dearest enemy1 was not beaten until the last play had been signalled4 ,and somehow the ,yale machine of muscle1 brains1 and power began to find itself when the afternoon shadows were slanting athwart the arena4 ,with the ball on ,princeton's forty-yard line the chosen sons of ,eli began a heroic advance down the field4 ,it was as if some missing cog had been supplied4 ,straight old-fashioned football it was1 eleven minds and bodies working as one and animated by a desperate resolve1 which carried the ,yale team along for down after down into the heart of ,princeton's ground4 ,perhaps because he was fresher than the other backs1 perhaps because the captain knew his man1 the ball was given to the ,yale full-back for one swift and battering assault after another4 ,his slim figure pelted at the rush-line1 was overwhelmed in an avalanche of striped arms and legs1 but somehow twisted1 wriggled1 dragged itself ahead as if there was no stopping him4 ,the multitude comprehended that this despised and disgraced ,freshman was working out his own salvation along with that of his comrades4 ,once1 when the scrimmage was untangled1 he was dragged from beneath a heap of players1 unable to regain his feet4 ,he lay on the grass a huddled heap1 blood smearing his forehead4 ,a surgeon and the trainer doused and bandaged him1 and presently he staggered to his feet and hobbled to his station1 rubbing his hands across his eyes as if dazed4 ,when1 at length1 the stubbornly retreating ,princeton line had been driven deep down into their end of the field1 they1 too1 showed that they could hold fast in the last extremity4 ,the ,yale attack crumpled against them as if it had struck a stone wall4 ,young ,seeley seemed to be so crippled and exhausted that he had been given a respite from the interlocked1 hammering onslaught1 but at the third down the panting quarter-back croaked out his signal4 ,his comrades managed to rip a semblance of an opening for him1 he plunged through1 popped clear of the line1 fell to his knees1 recovered his footing by a miracle of agility1 and lunged onward1 to be brought down within five yards of the coveted goal-posts4 ,he had won the right to make the last momentous charge4 ,swaying in his tracks1 the full-back awaited the summons4 ,then he dived in behind the interference for a circuit of the right end4 ,two ,princeton men broke through as if they had been shot out of mortars1 but the ,yale full-back had turned and was ploughing straight ahead4 ,pulled down1 dragging the tackler who clung to his waist1 he floundered to earth with most of the ,princeton team piled above him4 ,but the ball lay beyond the fateful chalk-line1 the ,yale touchdown was won1 and the game was tied4 ,the captain clapped ,seeley on the shoulder1 nodded at the ball1 and the full-back limped on to the field to kick the goal or lose a victory4 ,there were no more signs of nervousness in his bearing4 ,with grave deliberation he stood waiting for the ball to be placed in front of the goal-posts4 ,the sun had dropped behind the lofty grand-stands4 ,the field lay in a kind of wintry twilight4 ,thirty thousand men and women gazed in tensest silence at the mud- stained1 battered youth who had become the crowning issue of this poignant moment4 ,up in the press-box a thick-set1 grayish man dug his fists in his eyes and could not bear to look at the lonely1 reliant figure down yonder on the quiet field4 ,the father found courage to take his hands from his face only when a mighty roar of joy boomed along the ,yale side of the amphitheatre1 and he saw the ball drop in a long arc behind the goal-posts4 ,the kick had won the game for ,yale4 ,once clear of the crowds1 ,henry ,seeley hurried toward the training quarters4 ,his head was up1 his shoulders squared1 and he walked with the free stride of an athlete4 ,mr4 ,richard ,giddings danced madly across to him3 ,afraid to see him play were you1 you silly old fool8 ,he is a chip of the old block4 ,he didn't know when he was licked4 ,wow1 wow1 wow1 blood will tell6 ,come along with us1 ,harry4 ,i must shake hands with the youngster1 ,dick4 ,glad ,i changed my mind and came to see him do it4 ,all right1 see you at ,mory's to-night4 ,tell the boy we're all proud of him4 ,seeley resumed his course1 saying over and over again1 as if he loved the sound of the words1 chip of the old block1 blood will tell4 ,this verdict was like the ringing call of bugles4 ,it made him feel young1 hopeful1 resolute1 that life were worth having for the sake of its strife4 ,one thing at least was certain4 ,his son could take his punishment and wrest victory from disaster1 and he deserved something better than a coward and a quitter for a father4 ,the full-back was sitting on a bench when the elder ,seeley entered the crowded1 steaming room of the training house4 ,the surgeon had removed the muddy1 blood-stained bandage from around his tousled head and was cleansing an ugly1 ragged gash4 ,the boy scowled and winced but made no complaint1 although his bruised face was very pale4 ,must have made you feel pretty foggy1 said the surgeon4 ,i shall have to put in a few stitches4 ,it was a deuce of a thump4 ,i couldn't see very well and my legs went queer for a few minutes1 but ,i'm all right now1 thanks1 replied the full-back1 and then1 glancing up1 he espied his father standing near the door4 ,the young hero of the game beckoned him with a grimy fist4 ,henry ,seeley went over to him1 took the fist in his two hands1 and then patted the boy's cheek with awkward and unaccustomed tenderness4 ,sit still1 ,ernest4 ,i won't interfere with the doctor's job4 ,i just wanted to let you know that ,i saw your bully work4 ,it made me think of--it made me think of-- ,henry ,seeley's voice broke curiously and his lip quivered4 ,he had not meant to show any emotion4 ,his son replied with a smile of affectionate admiration3 ,it made you think of your own teams1 didn't it8 ,and ,i was thinking of you in that last half4 ,it helped my nerve a whole lot to remember that my dad never knew when he was licked4 ,why1 even the coaches told me that between the halves4 ,it put more ginger into me than anything else4 ,we've got to keep up the family record between us4 ,the father looked beyond the boy as if he were thinking of a bigger1 sterner game than football4 ,there was the light of a resurrected determination in his eyes1 and a vibrant earnestness in his voice as he said3 ,i'm not worrying about your keeping the family record bright1 ,ernest4 ,and1 however things may go with me1 you will be able to hang fast to the doctrine which helped you to-day1 that your father1 too1 doesn't know when he is whipped4 ,,gallegher ,a ,,newspaper ,,story ,,by ,,richard ,,harding ,,davis ,this is an illustration of a popular type of the short-story4 ,the movement from beginning to end is swift and urgent2 something important is happening all the time4 ,description is reduced to the minimum1 and where it is used does not impede the action4 ,the local color of a great newspaper office in a large city contributes to the impression of orderly activity and haste4 ,gallegher1 moreover1 is the kind of character that enlists sympathy by his youth1 his daring1 and his resourcefulness4 ,,gallegher ,footnote3 ,from ,gallegher and ,other ,stories1 by ,richard ,harding ,davis4 ,copyright1 #ahia1 by ,charles ,scribner's ,sons4 ,we had had so many office-boys before ,gallegher came among us that they had begun to lose the characteristics of individuals1 and became merged in a composite photograph of small boys1 to whom we applied the generic title of ,here1 you2 or ,you1 boy4 ,we had had sleepy boys1 and lazy boys1 and bright1 smart boys1 who became so familiar on so short an acquaintance that we were forced to part with them to save our own self-respect4 ,they generally graduated into district-messenger boys1 and occasionally returned to us in blue coats with nickel-plated buttons1 and patronized us4 ,but ,gallegher was something different from anything we had experienced before4 ,gallegher was short and broad in build1 with a solid1 muscular broadness1 and not a fat and dumpy shortness4 ,he wore perpetually on his face a happy and knowing smile1 as if you and the world in general were not impressing him as seriously as you thought you were1 and his eyes1 which were very black and very bright1 snapped intelligently at you like those of a little black- and-tan terrier4 ,all ,gallegher knew had been learnt on the streets2 not a very good school in itself1 but one that turns out very knowing scholars4 ,and ,gallagher had attended both morning and evening sessions4 ,he could not tell you who the ,pilgrim ,fathers were1 nor could he name the thirteen original ,states1 but he knew all the officers of the twenty-second police district by name1 and he could distinguish the clang of a fire-engine's gong from that of a patrol-wagon or an ambulance fully two blocks distant4 ,it was ,gallegher who rang the alarm when the ,woolwich ,mills caught fire1 while the officer on the beat was asleep1 and it was ,gallegher who led the ,black ,diamonds against the ,wharf ,rats1 when they used to stone each other to their hearts' content on the coal-wharves of ,richmond4 ,i am afraid1 now that ,i see these facts written down1 that ,gallegher was not a reputable character2 but he was so very young and so very old for his years that we all liked him very much nevertheless4 ,he lived in the extreme northern part of ,philadelphia1 where the cotton-and woollen-mills run down to the river1 and how he ever got home after leaving the ,press building at two in the morning1 was one of the mysteries of the office4 ,sometimes he caught a night car1 and sometimes he walked all the way1 arriving at the little house1 where his mother and himself lived alone1 at four in the morning4 ,occasionally he was given a ride on an early milk-cart1 or on one of the newspaper delivery wagons1 with its high piles of papers still damp and sticky from the press4 ,he knew several drivers of night hawks--those cabs that prowl the streets at night looking for belated passengers-- and when it was a very cold morning he would not go home at all1 but would crawl into one of these cabs and sleep1 curled upon the cushions1 until daylight4 ,besides being quick and cheerful1 ,gallegher possessed a power of amusing the ,press's young men to a degree seldom attained by the ordinary mortal4 ,his clog-dancing on the city editor's desk1 when that gentleman was upstairs fighting for two more columns of space1 was always a source of innocent joy to us1 and his imitations of the comedians of the variety halls delighted even the dramatic critic1 from whom the comedians themselves failed to force a smile4 ,but ,gallegher's chief characteristic was his love for that element of news generically classed as crime4 ,not that he ever did anything criminal himself4 ,on the contrary1 his was rather the work of the criminal specialist1 and his morbid interest in the doings of all queer characters1 his knowledge of their methods1 their present whereabouts1 and their past deeds of transgression often rendered him a valuable ally to our police reporter1 whose daily feuilletons were the only portion of the paper ,gallegher deigned to read4 ,in ,gallegher the detective element was abnormally developed4 ,he had shown this on several occasions1 and to excellent purpose4 ,once the paper had sent him into a ,home for ,destitute ,orphans which was believed to be grievously mismanaged1 and ,gallegher1 while playing the part of a destitute orphan1 kept his eyes open to what was going on around him so faithfully that the story he told of the treatment meted out to the real orphans was sufficient to rescue the unhappy little wretches from the individual who had them in charge1 and to have the individual himself sent to jail4 ,gallegher's knowledge of the aliases1 terms of imprisonment1 and various misdoings of the leading criminals in ,philadelphia was almost as thorough as that of the chief of police himself1 and he could tell to an hour when ,dutchy ,mack was to be let out of prison1 and could identify at a glance ,dick ,oxford1 confidence man1 as ,gentleman ,dan1 petty thief4 ,there were1 at this time1 only two pieces of news in any of the papers4 ,the least important of the two was the big fight between the ,champion of the ,united ,states and the ,would-be ,champion1 arranged to take place near ,philadelphia2 the second was the ,burrbank murder1 which was filling space in newspapers all over the world1 from ,new ,york to ,bombay4 ,richard ,f4 ,burrbank was one of the most prominent of ,new ,york's railroad lawyers2 he was also1 as a matter of course1 an owner of much railroad stock1 and a very wealthy man4 ,he had been spoken of as a political possibility for many high offices1 and1 as the counsel for a great railroad1 was known even further than the great railroad itself had stretched its system4 ,at six o 'clock one morning he was found by his butler lying at the foot of the hall stairs with two pistol wounds above his heart4 ,he was quite dead4 ,his safe1 to which only he and his secretary had the keys1 was found open1 and #bjj1jjj in bonds1 stocks1 and money1 which had been placed there only the night before1 was found missing4 ,the secretary was missing also4 ,his name was ,stephen ,s4 ,hade1 and his name and his description had been telegraphed and cabled to all parts of the world4 ,there was enough circumstantial evidence to show1 beyond any question or possibility of mistake1 that he was the murderer4 ,it made an enormous amount of talk1 and unhappy individuals were being arrested all over the country1 and sent on to ,new ,york for identification4 ,three had been arrested at ,liverpool1 and one man just as he landed at ,sydney1 ,australia4 ,but so far the murderer had escaped4 ,we were all talking about it one night1 as everybody else was all over the country1 in the local room1 and the city editor said it was worth a fortune to any one who chanced to run across ,hade and succeeded in handing him over to the police4 ,some of us thought ,hade had taken passage from some one of the smaller seaports1 and others were of the opinion that he had buried himself in some cheap lodging-house in ,new ,york1 or in one of the smaller towns in ,new ,jersey4 ,i shouldn't be surprised to meet him out walking1 right here in ,philadelphia1 said one of the staff4 ,he'll be disguised1 of course1 but you could always tell him by the absence of the trigger finger on his right hand4 ,it's missing1 you know2 shot off when he was a boy4 ,you want to look for a man dressed like a tough1 said the city editor2 for as this fellow is to all appearances a gentleman1 he will try to look as little like a gentleman as possible4 ,no1 he won't1 said ,gallegher1 with that calm impertinence that made him dear to us4 ,he'll dress just like a gentleman4 ,toughs don't wear gloves1 and you see he's got to wear 'em4 ,the first thing he thought of after doing for ,burrbank was of that gone finger1 and how he was to hide it4 ,he stuffed the finger of that glove with cotton so's to make it look like a whole finger1 and the first time he takes off that glove they've got him--see1 and he knows it4 ,so what youse want to do is to look for a man with gloves on4 ,i've been a-doing it for two weeks now1 and ,i can tell you it's hard work1 for everybody wears gloves this kind of weather4 ,but if you look long enough you'll find him4 ,and when you think it's him1 go up to him and hold out your hand in a friendly way1 like a bunco-steerer1 and shake his hand2 and if you feel that his forefinger ain't real flesh1 but just wadded cotton1 then grip to it with your right and grab his throat with your left1 and holler for help4 ,there was an appreciative pause4 ,i see1 gentlemen1 said the city editor1 drily1 that ,gallegher's reasoning has impressed you2 and ,i also see that before the week is out all of my young men will be under bonds for assaulting innocent pedestrians whose only offence is that they wear gloves in mid-winter4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 ,it was about a week after this that ,detective ,hefflefinger1 of ,inspector ,byrnes's staff1 came over to ,philadelphia after a burglar1 of whose whereabouts he had been misinformed by telegraph4 ,he brought the warrant1 requisition1 and other necessary papers with him1 but the burglar had flown4 ,one of our reporters had worked on a ,new ,york paper1 and knew ,hefflefinger1 and the detective came to the office to see if he could help him in his so far unsuccessful search4 ,he gave ,gallegher his card1 and after ,gallegher had read it1 and had discovered who the visitor was1 he became so demoralized that he was absolutely useless4 ,one of ,byrnes's men was a much more awe-inspiring individual to ,gallegher than a member of the ,cabinet4 ,he accordingly seized his hat and overcoat1 and leaving his duties to be looked after by others1 hastened out after the object of his admiration1 who found his suggestions and knowledge of the city so valuable1 and his company so entertaining1 that they became very intimate1 and spent the rest of the day together4 ,in the meanwhile the managing editor had instructed his subordinates to inform ,gallegher1 when he condescended to return1 that his services were no longer needed4 ,gallegher had played truant once too often4 ,unconscious of this1 he remained with his new friend until late the same evening1 and started the next afternoon toward the ,press office4 ,as ,i have said1 ,gallegher lived in the most distant part of the city1 not many minutes' walk from the ,kensington railroad station1 where trains ran into the suburbs and on to ,new ,york4 ,it was in front of this station that a smoothly-shaven1 well- dressed man brushed past ,gallegher and hurried up the steps to the ticket office4 ,he held a walking-stick in his right hand1 and ,gallegher1 who now patiently scrutinized the hands of every one who wore gloves1 saw that while three fingers of the man's hand were closed around the cane1 the fourth stood out in almost a straight line with his palm4 ,gallegher stopped with a gasp and with a trembling all over his little body1 and his brain asked with a throb if it could be possible4 ,but possibilities and probabilities were to be discovered later4 ,now was the time for action4 ,he was after the man in a moment1 hanging at his heels and his eyes moist with excitement4 ,he heard the man ask for a ticket to ,torresdale1 a little station just outside of ,philadelphia1 and when he was out of hearing1 but not out of sight1 purchased one for the same place4 ,the stranger went into the smoking-car1 and seated himself at one end toward the door4 ,gallegher took his place at the opposite end4 ,he was trembling all over1 and suffered from a slight feeling of nausea4 ,he guessed it came from fright1 not of any bodily harm that might come to him1 but at the probability of failure in his adventure and of its most momentous possibilities4 ,the stranger pulled his coat collar up around his ears1 hiding the lower portion of his face1 but not concealing the resemblance in his troubled eyes and close-shut lips to the likenesses of the murderer ,hade4 ,they reached ,torresdale in half an hour1 and the stranger1 alighting quickly1 struck off at a rapid pace down the country road leading to the station4 ,gallegher gave him a hundred yards' start1 and then followed slowly after4 ,the road ran between fields and past a few frame- houses set far from the road in kitchen gardens4 ,once or twice the man looked back over his shoulder1 but he saw only a dreary length of road with a small boy splashing through the slush in the midst of it and stopping every now and again to throw snowballs at belated sparrows4 ,after a ten minutes' walk the stranger turned into a side road which led to only one place1 the ,eagle ,inn1 an old roadside hostelry known now as the headquarters for pothunters from the ,philadelphia game market and the battle-ground of many a cock- fight4 ,gallegher knew the place well4 ,he and his young companions had often stopped there when out chestnutting on holidays in the autumn4 ,the son of the man who kept it had often accompanied them on their excursions1 and though the boys of the city streets considered him a dumb lout1 they respected him somewhat owing to his inside knowledge of dog-and cock-fights4 ,the stranger entered the inn at a side door1 and ,gallegher1 reaching it a few minutes later1 let him go for the time being1 and set about finding his occasional playmate1 young ,keppler4 ,keppler's offspring was found in the wood-shed4 ',tain't hard to guess what brings you out here1 said the tavern- keeper's son1 with a grin2 it's the fight4 ,what fight8 asked ,gallegher1 unguardedly4 ,what fight8 ,why1 ,,the fight1 returned his companion1 with the slow contempt of superior knowledge4 ,it's to come off here to- night4 ,you knew that as well as me2 anyway your sportin' editor knows it4 ,he got the tip last night1 but that won't help you any4 ,you needn't think there's any chance of your getting a peep at it4 ,why1 tickets is two hundred and fifty apiece6 ,whew6 whistled ,gallegher1 where's it to be8 ,in the barn1 whispered ,keppler4 ,i helped 'em fix the ropes this morning1 ,i did4 ,gosh1 but you're in luck1 exclaimed ,gallegher1 with flattering envy4 ,couldn't ,i jest get a peep at it8 ,maybe1 said the gratified ,keppler4 ,there's a winder with a wooden shutter at the back of the barn4 ,you can get in by it1 if you have some one to boost you up to the sill4 ,sa-a-y1 drawled ,gallegher1 as if something had but just that moment reminded him4 ,who's that gent who come down the road just a bit ahead of me--him with the cape-coat6 ,has he got anything to do with the fight8 ,him8 repeated ,keppler in tones of sincere disgust4 ,no--oh1 he ain't no sport4 ,he's queer1 ,dad thinks4 ,he come here one day last week about ten in the morning1 said his doctor told him to go out 'en the country for his health4 ,he's stuck up and citified1 and wears gloves1 and takes his meals private in his room1 and all that sort of truck4 ,they was saying in the saloon last night that they thought he was hiding from something1 and ,dad1 just to try him1 asks him last night if he was coming to see the fight4 ,he looked sort of scared1 and said he didn't want to see no fight4 ,and then ,dad says1 ',i guess you mean you don't want no fighters to see you4' ,dad didn't mean no harm by it1 just passed it as a joke2 but ,mr4 ,carleton1 as he calls himself1 got white as a ghost an' says1 ',i'll go to the fight willing enough1' and begins to laugh and joke4 ,and this morning he went right into the bar-room1 where all the sports were setting1 and said he was going in to town to see some friends2 and as he starts off he laughs an' says1 ',this don't look as if ,i was afraid of seeing people1 does it8' but ,dad says it was just bluff that made him do it1 and ,dad thinks that if he hadn't said what he did1 this ,mr4 ,carleton wouldn't have left his room at all4 ,gallegher had got all he wanted1 and much more than he had hoped for--so much more that his walk back to the station was in the nature of a triumphal march4 ,he had twenty minutes to wait for the next train1 and it seemed an hour4 ,while waiting he sent a telegram to ,hefflefinger at his hotel4 ,it read3 ,your man is near the ,torresdale station1 on ,pennsylvania ,railroad2 take cab1 and meet me at station4 ,wait until ,i come4 ,,gallegher4 ,with the exception of one at midnight1 no other train stopped at ,torresdale that evening1 hence the direction to take a cab4 ,the train to the city seemed to ,gallegher to drag itself by inches4 ,it stopped and backed at purposeless intervals1 waited for an express to precede it1 and dallied at stations1 and when1 at last1 it reached the terminus1 ,gallegher was out before it had stopped and was in the cab and off on his way to the home of the sporting editor4 ,the sporting editor was at dinner and came out in the hall to see him1 with his napkin in his hand4 ,gallegher explained breathlessly that he had located the murderer for whom the police of two continents were looking1 and that he believed1 in order to quiet the suspicions of the people with whom he was hiding1 that he would be present at the fight that night4 ,the sporting editor led ,gallegher into his library and shut the door4 ,now1 he said1 go over all that again4 ,gallegher went over it again in detail1 and added how he had sent for ,hefflefinger to make the arrest in order that it might be kept from the knowledge of the local police and from the ,philadelphia reporters4 ,what ,i want ,hefflefinger to do is to arrest ,hade with the warrant he has for the burglar1 explained ,gallegher2 and to take him on to ,new ,york on the owl train that passes ,torresdale at one4 ,it don't get to ,jersey ,city until four o'clock1 one hour after the morning papers go to press4 ,of course1 we must fix ,hefflefinger so's he'll keep quiet and not tell who his prisoner really is4 ,the sporting editor reached his hand out to pat ,gallegher on the head1 but changed his mind and shook hands with him instead4 ,my boy1 he said1 you are an infant phenomenon4 ,if ,i can pull the rest of this thing off to-night1 it will mean the #e1jjj reward and fame galore for you and the paper4 ,now1 ,i'm going to write a note to the managing editor1 and you can take it around to him and tell him what you've done and what ,i am going to do1 and he'll take you back on the paper and raise your salary4 ,perhaps you didn't know you've been discharged8 ,do you think you ain't a-going to take me with you8 demanded ,gallegher4 ,why1 certainly not4 ,why should ,i8 ,it all lies with the detective and myself now4 ,you've done your share1 and done it well4 ,if the man's caught1 the reward's yours4 ,but you'd only be in the way now4 ,you'd better go to the office and make your peace with the chief4 ,if the paper can get along without me1 ,i can get along without the old paper1 said ,gallegher1 hotly4 ,and if ,i ain't a-going with you1 you ain't neither1 for ,i know where ,hefflefinger is to be1 and you don't1 and ,i won't tell you4 ,oh1 very well1 very well1 replied the sporting editor1 weakly capitulating4 ,i'll send the note by a messenger2 only mind1 if you lose your place1 don't blame me4 ,gallegher wondered how this man could value a week's salary against the excitement of seeing a noted criminal run down1 and of getting the news to the paper1 and to that one paper alone4 ,from that moment the sporting editor sank in ,gallegher's estimation4 ,mr4 ,dwyer sat down at his desk and scribbled off the following note3 ,i have received reliable information that ,hade1 the ,burrbank murderer1 will be present at the fight to-night4 ,we have arranged it so that he will be arrested quietly and in such a manner that the fact may be kept from all other papers4 ,i need not point out to you that this will be the most important piece of news in the country to-morrow4 ,yours1 etc41 ,,michael ,e4 ,,dwyer4 ,the sporting editor stepped into the waiting cab1 while ,gallegher whispered the directions to the driver4 ,he was told to go first to a district-messenger office1 and from there up to the ,ridge ,avenue ,road1 out ,broad ,street1 and on to the old ,eagle ,inn1 near ,torresdale4 ,it was a miserable night4 ,the rain and snow were falling together1 and freezing as they fell4 ,the sporting editor got out to send his message to the ,press office1 and then lighting a cigar1 and turning up the collar of his great-coat1 curled up in the corner of the cab4 ,wake me when we get there1 ,gallegher1 he said4 ,he knew he had a long ride1 and much rapid work before him1 and he was preparing for the strain4 ,to ,gallegher the idea of going to sleep seemed almost criminal4 ,from the dark corner of the cab his eyes shone with excitement1 and with the awful joy of anticipation4 ,he glanced every now and then to where the sporting editor's cigar shone in the darkness1 and watched it as it gradually burnt more dimly and went out4 ,the lights in the shop windows threw a broad glare across the ice on the pavements1 and the lights from the lamp-posts tossed the distorted shadow of the cab1 and the horse1 and the motionless driver1 sometimes before and sometimes behind them4 ,after half an hour ,gallegher slipped down to the bottom of the cab and dragged out a lap-robe1 in which he wrapped himself4 ,it was growing colder1 and the damp1 keen wind swept in through the cracks until the window-frames and woodwork were cold to the touch4 ,an hour passed1 and the cab was still moving more slowly over the rough surface of partly paved streets1 and by single rows of new houses standing at different angles to each other in fields covered with ash-heaps and brick-kilns4 ,here and there the gaudy lights of a drug-store1 and the forerunner of suburban civilization1 shone from the end of a new block of houses1 and the rubber cape of an occasional policeman showed in the light of the lamp-post that he hugged for comfort4 ,then even the houses disappeared1 and the cab dragged its way between truck farms1 with desolate-looking1 glass-covered beds1 and pools of water1 half-caked with ice1 and bare trees1 and interminable fences4 ,once or twice the cab stopped altogether1 and ,gallegher could hear the driver swearing to himself1 or at the horse1 or the roads4 ,at last they drew up before the station at ,torresdale4 ,it was quite deserted1 and only a single light cut a swath in the darkness and showed a portion of the platform1 the ties1 and the rails glistening in the rain4 ,they walked twice past the light before a figure stepped out of the shadow and greeted them cautiously4 ,i am ,mr4 ,dwyer1 of the ,press1 said the sporting editor1 briskly4 ,you've heard of me1 perhaps4 ,well1 there shouldn't be any difficulty in our making a deal1 should there8 ,this boy here has found ,hade1 and we have reason to believe he will be among the spectators at the fight to-night4 ,we want you to arrest him quietly1 and as secretly as possible4 ,you can do it with your papers and your badge easily enough4 ,we want you to pretend that you believe he is this burglar you came over after4 ,if you will do this1 and take him away without any one so much as suspecting who he really is1 and on the train that passes here at #a4bj for ,new ,york1 we will give you #ejj out of the #e1jjj reward4 ,if1 however1 one other paper1 either in ,new ,york or ,philadelphia1 or anywhere else1 knows of the arrest1 you won't get a cent4 ,now1 what do you say8 ,the detective had a great deal to say4 ,he wasn't at all sure the man ,gallegher suspected was ,hade2 he feared he might get himself into trouble by making a false arrest1 and if it should be the man1 he was afraid the local police would interfere4 ,we've no time to argue or debate this matter1 said ,dwyer1 warmly4 ,we agree to point ,hade out to you in the crowd4 ,after the fight is over you arrest him as we have directed1 and you get the money and the credit of the arrest4 ,if you don't like this1 ,i will arrest the man myself1 and have him driven to town1 with a pistol for a warrant4 ,hefflefinger considered in silence and then agreed unconditionally4 ,as you say1 ,mr4 ,dwyer1 he returned4 ,i've heard of you for a thoroughbred sport4 ,i know you'll do what you say you'll do2 and as for me ,i'll do what you say and just as you say1 and it's a very pretty piece of work as it stands4 ,they all stepped back into the cab1 and then it was that they were met by a fresh difficulty1 how to get the detective into the barn where the fight was to take place1 for neither of the two men had #bej to pay for his admittance4 ,but this was overcome when ,gallegher remembered the window of which young ,keppler had told him4 ,in the event of ,hade's losing courage and not daring to show himself in the crowd around the ring1 it was agreed that ,dwyer should come to the barn and warn ,hefflefinger2 but if he should come1 ,dwyer was merely to keep near him and to signify by a prearranged gesture which one of the crowd he was4 ,they drew up before a great black shadow of a house1 dark1 forbidding1 and apparently deserted4 ,but at the sound of the wheels on the gravel the door opened1 letting out a stream of warm1 cheerful light1 and a man's voice said1 ,put out those lights4 ,don't youse know no better than that8 ,this was ,keppler1 and he welcomed ,mr4 ,dwyer with effusive courtesy4 ,the two men showed in the stream of light1 and the door closed on them1 leaving the house as it was at first1 black and silent1 save for the dripping of the rain and snow from the eaves4 ,the detective and ,gallegher put out the cab's lamps and led the horse toward a long1 low shed in the rear of the yard1 which they now noticed was almost filled with teams of many different makes1 from the ,hobson's choice of a livery stable to the brougham of the man about town4 ,no1 said ,gallegher1 as the cabman stopped to hitch the horse beside the others1 we want it nearest that lower gate4 ,when we newspaper men leave this place we'll leave it in a hurry1 and the man who is nearest town is likely to get there first4 ,you won't be a-following of no hearse when you make your return trip4 ,gallegher tied the horse to the very gate-post itself1 leaving the gate open and allowing a clear road and a flying start for the prospective race to ,newspaper ,row4 ,the driver disappeared under the shelter of the porch1 and ,gallegher and the detective moved off cautiously to the rear of the barn4 ,this must be the window1 said ,hefflefinger1 pointing to a broad wooden shutter some feet from the ground4 ,just you give me a boost once1 and ,i'll get that open in a jiffy1 said ,gallegher4 ,the detective placed his hands on his knees1 and ,gallegher stood upon his shoulders1 and with the blade of his knife lifted the wooden button that fastened the window on the inside1 and pulled the shutter open4 ,then he put one leg inside over the sill1 and leaning down helped to draw his fellow-conspirator up to a level with the window4 ,i feel just like ,i was burglarizing a house1 chuckled ,gallegher1 as he dropped noiselessly to the floor below and refastened the shutter4 ,the barn was a large one1 with a row of stalls on either side in which horses and cows were dozing4 ,there was a haymow over each row of stalls1 and at one end of the barn a number of fence- rails had been thrown across from one mow to the other4 ,these rails were covered with hay4 ,in the middle of the floor was the ring4 ,it was not really a ring1 but a square1 with wooden posts at its four corners through which ran a heavy rope4 ,the space inclosed by the rope was covered with sawdust4 ,gallegher could not resist stepping into the ring1 and after stamping the sawdust once or twice1 as if to assure himself that he was really there1 began dancing around it1 and indulging in such a remarkable series of fistic manoeuvres with an imaginary adversary that the unimaginative detective precipitately backed into a corner of the barn4 ,now1 then1 said ,gallegher1 having apparently vanquished his foe1 you come with me4 ,his companion followed quickly as ,gallegher climbed to one of the haymows1 and crawling carefully out on the fence-rail1 stretched himself at full length1 face downward4 ,in this position1 by moving the straw a little1 he could look down1 without being himself seen1 upon the heads of whomsoever stood below4 ,this is better'n a private box1 ain't it8 said ,gallegher4 ,the boy from the newspaper office and the detective lay there in silence1 biting at straws and tossing anxiously on their comfortable bed4 ,it seemed fully two hours before they came4 ,gallegher had listened without breathing1 and with every muscle on a strain1 at least a dozen times1 when some movement in the yard had led him to believe that they were at the door4 ,and he had numerous doubts and fears4 ,sometimes it was that the police had learnt of the fight1 and had raided ,keppler's in his absence1 and again it was that the fight had been postponed1 or1 worst of all1 that it would be put off until so late that ,mr4 ,dwyer could not get back in time for the last edition of the paper4 ,their coming1 when at last they came1 was heralded by an advance-guard of two sporting men1 who stationed themselves at either side of the big door4 ,hurry up1 now1 gents1 one of the men said with a shiver1 don't keep this door open no longer'n is needful4 ,it was not a very large crowd1 but it was wonderfully well selected4 ,it ran1 in the majority of its component parts1 to heavy white coats with pearl buttons4 ,the white coats were shouldered by long blue coats with astrakhan fur trimmings1 the wearers of which preserved a cliqueness not remarkable when one considers that they believed every one else present to be either a crook or a prize- fighter4 ,there were well-fed1 well-groomed clubmen and brokers in the crowd1 a politician or two1 a popular comedian with his manager1 amateur boxers from the athletic clubs1 and quiet1 close-mouthed sporting men from every city in the country4 ,their names if printed in the papers would have been as familiar as the types of the papers themselves4 ,and among these men1 whose only thought was of the brutal sport to come1 was ,hade1 with ,dwyer standing at ease at his shoulder1-- ,hade1 white1 and visibly in deep anxiety1 hiding his pale face beneath a cloth travelling-cap1 and with his chin muffled in a woollen scarf4 ,he had dared to come because he feared his danger from the already suspicious ,keppler was less than if he stayed away4 ,and so he was there1 hovering restlessly on the border of the crowd1 feeling his danger and sick with fear4 ,when ,hefflefinger first saw him he started up on his hands and elbows and made a movement forward as if he would leap down then and there and carry off his prisoner single-handed4 ,lie down1 growled ,gallegher2 an officer of any sort wouldn't live three minutes in that crowd4 ,the detective drew back slowly and buried himself again in the straw1 but never once through the long fight which followed did his eyes leave the person of the murderer4 ,the newspaper men took their places in the foremost row close around the ring1 and kept looking at their watches and begging the master of ceremonies to shake it up1 do4 ,there was a great deal of betting1 and all of the men handled the great roll of bills they wagered with a flippant recklessness which could only be accounted for in ,gallegher's mind by temporary mental derangement4 ,some one pulled a box out into the ring and the master of ceremonies mounted it1 and pointed out in forcible language that as they were almost all already under bonds to keep the peace1 it behooved all to curb their excitement and to maintain a severe silence1 unless they wanted to bring the police upon them and have themselves sent down for a year or two4 ,then two very disreputable-looking persons tossed their respective principals' high hats into the ring1 and the crowd1 recognizing in this relic of the days when brave knights threw down their gauntlets in the lists as only a sign that the fight was about to begin1 cheered tumultuously4 ,this was followed by a sudden surging forward1 and a mutter of admiration much more flattering than the cheers had been1 when the principals followed their hats1 and slipping out of their great- coats1 stood forth in all the physical beauty of the perfect brute4 ,their pink skin was as soft and healthy-looking as a baby's1 and glowed in the lights of the lanterns like tinted ivory1 and underneath this silken covering the great biceps and muscles moved in and out and looked like the coils of a snake around the branch of a tree4 ,gentleman and blackguard shouldered each other for a nearer view2 the coachmen1 whose metal buttons were unpleasantly suggestive of police1 put their hands1 in the excitement of the moment1 on the shoulders of their masters2 the perspiration stood out in great drops on the foreheads of the backers1 and the newspaper men bit somewhat nervously at the ends of their pencils4 ,and in the stalls the cows munched contentedly at their cuds and gazed with gentle curiosity at their two fellow-brutes1 who stood waiting the signal to fall upon1 and kill each other if need be1 for the delectation of their brothers4 ,take your places1 commanded the master of ceremonies4 ,in the moment in which the two men faced each other the crowd became so still that1 save for the beating of the rain upon the shingled roof and the stamping of a horse in one of the stalls1 the place was as silent as a church4 ,time6 shouted the master of ceremonies4 ,the two men sprang into a posture of defence1 which was lost as quickly as it was taken1 one great arm shot out like a piston-rod2 there was the sound of bare fists beating on naked flesh2 there was an exultant indrawn gasp of savage pleasure and relief from the crowd1 and the great fight had begun4 ,how the fortunes of war rose and fell1 and changed and rechanged that night1 is an old story to those who listen to such stories2 and those who do not will be glad to be spared the telling of it4 ,it was1 they say1 one of the bitterest fights between two men that this country has ever known4 ,but all that is of interest here is that after an hour of this desperate brutal business the champion ceased to be the favorite2 the man whom he had taunted and bullied1 and for whom the public had but little sympathy1 was proving himself a likely winner1 and under his cruel blows1 as sharp and clean as those from a cutlass1 his opponent was rapidly giving way4 ,the men about the ropes were past all control now2 they drowned ,keppler's petitions for silence with oaths and in inarticulate shouts of anger1 as if the blows had fallen upon them1 and in mad rejoicings4 ,they swept from one end of the ring to the other1 with every muscle leaping in unison with those of the man they favored1 and when a ,new ,york correspondent muttered over his shoulder that this would be the biggest sporting surprise since the ,heenan- ,sayers fight1 ,mr4 ,dwyer nodded his head sympathetically in assent4 ,in the excitement and tumult it is doubtful if any heard the three quickly repeated blows that fell heavily from the outside upon the big doors of the barn4 ,if they did1 it was already too late to mend matters1 for the door fell1 torn from its hinges1 and as it fell a captain of police sprang into the light from out of the storm1 with his lieutenants and their men crowding close at his shoulder4 ,in the panic and stampede that followed1 several of the men stood as helplessly immovable as though they had seen a ghost2 others made a mad rush into the arms of the officers and were beaten back against the ropes of the ring2 others dived headlong into the stalls1 among the horses and cattle1 and still others shoved the rolls of money they held into the hands of the police and begged like children to be allowed to escape4 ,the instant the door fell and the raid was declared ,hefflefinger slipped over the cross rails on which he had been lying1 hung for an instant by his hands1 and then dropped into the centre of the fighting mob on the floor4 ,he was out of it in an instant with the agility of a pickpocket1 was across the room and at ,hade's throat like a dog4 ,the murderer1 for the moment1 was the calmer man of the two4 ,here1 he panted1 hands off1 now4 ,there's no need for all this violence4 ,there's no great harm in looking at a fight1 is there8 ,there's a hundred-dollar bill in my right hand2 take it and let me slip out of this4 ,no one is looking4 ,here4 ,but the detective only held him the closer4 ,i want you for burglary1 he whispered under his breath4 ,you've got to come with me now1 and quick4 ,the less fuss you make1 the better for both of us4 ,if you don't know who ,i am1 you can feel my badge under my coat there4 ,i've got the authority4 ,it's all regular1 and when we're out of this d---d row ,i'll show you the papers4 ,he took one hand from ,hade's throat and pulled a pair of handcuffs from his pocket4 ,it's a mistake4 ,this is an outrage1 gasped the murderer1 white and trembling1 but dreadfully alive and desperate for his liberty4 ,let me go1 ,i tell you6 ,take your hands off of me6 ,do ,i look like a burglar1 you fool8 ,i know who you look like1 whispered the detective1 with his face close to the face of his prisoner4 ,now1 will you go easy as a burglar1 or shall ,i tell these men who you are and what ,i ,,do want you for8 ,shall ,i call out your real name or not8 ,shall ,i tell them8 ,quick1 speak up2 shall ,i8 ,there was something so exultant--something so unnecessarily savage in the officer's face that the man he held saw that the detective knew him for what he really was1 and the hands that had held his throat slipped down around his shoulders1 or he would have fallen4 ,the man's eyes opened and closed again1 and he swayed weakly backward and forward1 and choked as if his throat were dry and burning4 ,even to such a hardened connoisseur in crime as ,gallegher1 who stood closely by1 drinking it in1 there was something so abject in the man's terror that he regarded him with what was almost a touch of pity4 ,for ,god's sake1 ,hade begged1 let me go4 ,come with me to my room and ,i'll give you half the money4 ,i'll divide with you fairly4 ,we can both get away4 ,there's a fortune for both of us there4 ,we both can get away4 ,you'll be rich for life4 ,do you understand--for life6 ,but the detective1 to his credit1 only shut his lips the tighter4 ,that's enough1 he whispered1 in return4 ,that's more than ,i expected4 ,you've sentenced yourself already4 ,come6 ,two officers in uniform barred their exit at the door1 but ,hefflefinger smiled easily and showed his badge4 ,one of ,byrnes's men1 he said1 in explanation2 came over expressly to take this chap4 ,he's a burglar2 ',arlie' ,lane1 alias ,carleton4 ,i've shown the papers to the captain4 ,it's all regular4 ,i'm just going to get his traps at the hotel and walk him over to the station4 ,i guess we'll push right on to ,new ,york tonight4 ,the officers nodded and smiled their admiration for the representative of what is1 perhaps1 the best detective force in the world1 and let him pass4 ,then ,hefflefinger turned and spoke to ,gallegher1 who still stood as watchful as a dog at his side4 ,i'm going to his room to get the bonds and stuff1 he whispered2 then ,i'll march him to the station and take that train4 ,i've done my share2 don't forget yours6 ,oh1 you'll get your money right enough1 said ,gallegher4 ,and1 sa-ay1 he added1 with the appreciative nod of an expert1 do you know1 you did it rather well4 ,mr4 ,dwyer had been writing while the raid was settling down1 as he had been writing while waiting for the fight to begin4 ,now he walked over to where the other correspondents stood in angry conclave4 ,the newspaper men had informed the officers who hemmed them in that they represented the principal papers of the country1 and were expostulating vigorously with the captain1 who had planned the raid1 and who declared they were under arrest4 ,don't be an ass1 ,scott1 said ,mr4 ,dwyer1 who was too excited to be polite or politic4 ,you know our being here isn't a matter of choice4 ,we came here on business1 as you did1 and you've no right to hold us4 ,if we don't get our stuff on the wire at once1 protested a ,new ,york man1 we'll be too late for tomorrow's paper1 and-- ,captain ,scott said he did not care a profanely small amount for to-morrow's paper1 and that all he knew was that to the station- house the newspaper men would go4 ,there they would have a hearing1 and if the magistrate chose to let them off1 that was the magistrate's business1 but that his duty was to take them into custody4 ,but then it will be too late1 don't you understand8 shouted ,mr4 ,dwyer4 ,you've got to let us go ,,now1 at once4 ,i can't do it1 ,mr4 ,dwyer1 said the captain1 and that's all there is to it4 ,why1 haven't ,i just sent the president of the ,junior ,republican ,club to the patrol-wagon1 the man that put this coat on me1 and do you think ,i can let you fellows go after that8 ,you were all put under bonds to keep the peace not three days ago1 and here you're at it--fighting like badgers4 ,it's worth my place to let one of you off4 ,what ,mr4 ,dwyer said next was so uncomplimentary to the gallant ,captain ,scott that that overwrought individual seized the sporting editor by the shoulder1 and shoved him into the hands of two of his men4 ,this was more than the distinguished ,mr4 ,dwyer could brook1 and he excitedly raised his hand in resistance4 ,but before he had time to do anything foolish his wrist was gripped by one strong1 little hand1 and he was conscious that another was picking the pocket of his great-coat4 ,he slapped his hands to his sides1 and looking down1 saw ,gallegher standing close behind him and holding him by the wrist4 ,mr4 ,dwyer had forgotten the boy's existence1 and would have spoken sharply if something in ,gallegher's innocent eyes had not stopped him4 ,gallegher's hand was still in that pocket1 in which ,mr4 ,dwyer had shoved his note-book filled with what he had written of ,gallegher's work and ,hade's final capture1 and with a running descriptive account of the fight4 ,with his eyes fixed on ,mr4 ,dwyer1 ,gallegher drew it out1 and with a quick movement shoved it inside his waistcoat4 ,mr4 ,dwyer gave a nod of comprehension4 ,then glancing at his two guardsmen1 and finding that they were still interested in the wordy battle of the correspondents with their chief1 and had seen nothing1 he stooped and whispered to ,gallegher3 ,the forms are locked at twenty minutes to three4 ,if you don't get there by that time it will be of no use1 but if you're on time you'll beat the town--and the country too4 ,gallegher's eyes flashed significantly1 and nodding his head to show he understood1 started boldly on a run toward the door4 ,but the officers who guarded it brought him to an abrupt halt1 and1 much to ,mr4 ,dwyer's astonishment1 drew from him what was apparently a torrent of tears4 ,let me go to me father4 ,i want me father1 the boy shrieked1 hysterically4 ,they've 'rested father4 ,oh1 daddy1 daddy4 ,they're a-goin' to take you to prison4 ,who is your father1 sonny8 asked one of the guardians of the gate4 ,keppler's me father1 sobbed ,gallegher4 ,they're a-goin' to lock him up1 and ,i'll never see him no more4 ,oh1 yes1 you will1 said the officer1 good-naturedly2 he's there in that first patrol-wagon4 ,you can run over and say good-night to him1 and then you'd better get to bed4 ,this ain't no place for kids of your age4 ,thank you1 sir1 sniffed ,gallegher1 tearfully1 as the two officers raised their clubs1 and let him pass out into the darkness4 ,the yard outside was in a tumult1 horses were stamping1 and plunging1 and backing the carriages into one another2 lights were flashing from every window of what had been apparently an uninhabited house1 and the voices of the prisoners were still raised in angry expostulation4 ,three police patrol-wagons were moving about the yard1 filled with unwilling passengers1 who sat or stood1 packed together like sheep1 and with no protection from the sleet and rain4 ,gallegher stole off into a dark corner1 and watched the scene until his eyesight became familiar with the position of the land4 ,then with his eyes fixed fearfully on the swinging light of a lantern with which an officer was searching among the carriages1 he groped his way between horses' hoofs and behind the wheels of carriages to the cab which he had himself placed at the furthermost gate4 ,it was still there1 and the horse1 as he had left it1 with its head turned toward the city4 ,gallegher opened the big gate noiselessly1 and worked nervously at the hitching strap4 ,the knot was covered with a thin coating of ice1 and it was several minutes before he could loosen it4 ,but his teeth finally pulled it apart1 and with the reins in his hands he sprang upon the wheel4 ,and as he stood so1 a shock of fear ran down his back like an electric current1 his breath left him1 and he stood immovable1 gazing with wide eyes into the darkness4 ,the officer with the lantern had suddenly loomed up from behind a carriage not fifty feet distant1 and was standing perfectly still1 with his lantern held over his head1 peering so directly toward ,gallegher that the boy felt that he must see him4 ,gallegher stood with one foot on the hub of the wheel and with the other on the box waiting to spring4 ,it seemed a minute before either of them moved1 and then the officer took a step forward1 and demanded sternly1 ,who is that8 ,what are you doing there8 ,there was no time for parley then4 ,gallegher felt that he had been taken in the act1 and that his only chance lay in open flight4 ,he leaped up on the box1 pulling out the whip as he did so1 and with a quick sweep lashed the horse across the head and back4 ,the animal sprang forward with a snort1 narrowly clearing the gate- post1 and plunged off into the darkness4 ,stop6 cried the officer4 ,so many of ,gallegher's acquaintances among the 'longshoremen and mill hands had been challenged in so much the same manner that ,gallegher knew what would probably follow if the challenge was disregarded4 ,so he slipped from his seat to the footboard below1 and ducked his head4 ,the three reports of a pistol1 which rang out briskly from behind him1 proved that his early training had given him a valuable fund of useful miscellaneous knowledge4 ,don't you be scared1 he said1 reassuringly1 to the horse2 he's firing in the air4 ,the pistol-shots were answered by the impatient clangor of a patrol-wagon's gong1 and glancing over his shoulder ,gallegher saw its red and green lanterns tossing from side to side and looking in the darkness like the side-lights of a yacht plunging forward in a storm4 ,i hadn't bargained to race you against no patrol-wagons1 said ,gallegher to his animal2 but if they want a race1 we'll give them a tough tussle for it1 won't we8 ,philadelphia1 lying four miles to the south1 sent up a faint yellow glow to the sky4 ,it seemed very far away1 and ,gallegher's braggadocio grew cold within him at the loneliness of his adventure and the thought of the long ride before him4 ,it was still bitterly cold4 ,the rain and sleet beat through his clothes1 and struck his skin with a sharp chilling touch that set him trembling4 ,even the thought of the overweighted patrol-wagon probably sticking in the mud some safe distance in the rear1 failed to cheer him1 and the excitement that had so far made him callous to the cold died out and left him weaker and nervous4 ,but his horse was chilled with the long standing1 and now leaped eagerly forward1 only too willing to warm the half-frozen blood in its veins4 ,you're a good beast1 said ,gallegher1 plaintively4 ,you've got more nerve than me4 ,don't you go back on me now4 ,mr4 ,dwyer says we've got to beat the town4 ,gallegher had no idea what time it was as he rode through the night1 but he knew he would be able to find out from a big clock over a manufactory at a point nearly three-quarters of the distance from ,keppler's to the goal4 ,he was still in the open country and driving recklessly1 for he knew the best part of his ride must be made outside the city limits4 ,he raced between desolate-looking corn-fields with bare stalks and patches of muddy earth rising above the thin covering of snow1 truck farms and brick-yards fell behind him on either side4 ,it was very lonely work1 and once or twice the dogs ran yelping to the gates and barked after him4 ,part of his way lay parallel with the railroad tracks1 and he drove for some time beside long lines of freight and coal cars as they stood resting for the night4 ,the fantastic ,queen ,anne suburban stations were dark and deserted1 but in one or two of the block-towers he could see the operators writing at their desks1 and the sight in some way comforted him4 ,once he thought of stopping to get out the blanket in which he had wrapped himself on the first trip1 but he feared to spare the time1 and drove on with his teeth chattering and his shoulders shaking with the cold4 ,he welcomed the first solitary row of darkened houses with a faint cheer of recognition4 ,the scattered lamp-posts lightened his spirits1 and even the badly paved streets rang under the beats of his horse's feet like music4 ,great mills and manufactories1 with only a night-watchman's light in the lowest of their many stories1 began to take the place of the gloomy farmhouses and gaunt trees that had startled him with their grotesque shapes4 ,he had been driving nearly an hour1 he calculated1 and in that time the rain had changed to a wet snow1 that fell heavily and clung to whatever it touched4 ,he passed block after block of trim workmen's houses1 as still and silent as the sleepers within them1 and at last he turned the horse's head into ,broad ,street1 the city's great thoroughfare1 that stretches from its one end to the other and cuts it evenly in two4 ,he was driving noiselessly over the snow and slush in the street1 with his thoughts bent only on the clockface he wished so much to see1 when a hoarse voice challenged him from the sidewalk4 ,hey1 you1 stop there1 hold up6 said the voice4 ,gallegher turned his head1 and though he saw that the voice came from under a policeman's helmet1 his only answer was to hit his horse sharply over the head with his whip and to urge it into a gallop4 ,this1 on his part1 was followed by a sharp1 shrill whistle from the policeman4 ,another whistle answered it from a street-corner one block ahead of him4 ,whoa1 said ,gallegher1 pulling on the reins4 ,there's one too many of them1 he added1 in apologetic explanation4 ,the horse stopped1 and stood1 breathing heavily1 with great clouds of steam rising from its flanks4 ,why in hell didn't you stop when ,i told you to8 demanded the voice1 now close at the cab's side4 ,i didn't hear you1 returned ,gallegher1 sweetly4 ,but ,i heard you whistle1 and ,i heard your partner whistle1 and ,i thought maybe it was me you wanted to speak to1 so ,i just stopped4 ,you heard me well enough4 ,why aren't your lights lit8 demanded the voice4 ,should ,i have 'em lit8 asked ,gallegher1 bending over and regarding them with sudden interest4 ,you know you should1 and if you don't1 you've no right to be driving that cab4 ,i don't believe you're the regular driver1 anyway4 ,where'd you get it8 ,it ain't my cab1 of course1 said ,gallegher1 with an easy laugh4 ,it's ,luke ,mc,govern's4 ,he left it outside ,cronin's while he went in to get a drink1 and he took too much1 and me father told me to drive it round to the stable for him4 ,i'm ,cronin's son4 ,mc,govern ain't in no condition to drive4 ,you can see yourself how he's been misusing the horse4 ,he puts it up at ,bachman's livery stable1 and ,i was just going around there now4 ,gallegher's knowledge of the local celebrities of the district confused the zealous officer of the peace4 ,he surveyed the boy with a steady stare that would have distressed a less skilful liar1 but ,gallegher only shrugged his shoulders slightly1 as if from the cold1 and waited with apparent indifference to what the officer would say next4 ,in reality his heart was beating heavily against his side1 and he felt that if he was kept on a strain much longer he would give way and break down4 ,a second snow-covered form emerged suddenly from the shadow of the houses4 ,what is it1 ,reeder8 it asked4 ,oh1 nothing much1 replied the first officer4 ,this kid hadn't any lamps lit1 so ,i called to him to stop and he didn't do it1 so ,i whistled to you4 ,it's all right1 though4 ,he's just taking it round to ,bachman's4 ,go ahead1 he added1 sulkily4 ,get up6 chirped ,gallegher4 ,good-night1 he added1 over his shoulder4 ,gallegher gave an hysterical little gasp of relief as he trotted away from the two policemen1 and poured bitter maledictions on their heads for two meddling fools as he went4 ,they might as well kill a man as scare him to death1 he said1 with an attempt to get back to his customary flippancy4 ,but the effort was somewhat pitiful1 and he felt guiltily conscious that a salt1 warm tear was creeping slowly down his face1 and that a lump that would not keep down was rising in his throat4 ',tain't no fair thing for the whole police force to keep worrying at a little boy like me1 he said1 in shame-faced apology4 ,i'm not doing nothing wrong1 and ,i'm half froze to death1 and yet they keep a-nagging at me4 ,it was so cold that when the boy stamped his feet against the footboard to keep them warm1 sharp pains shot up through his body1 and when he beat his arms about his shoulders1 as he had seen real cabmen do1 the blood in his finger-tips tingled so acutely that he cried aloud with the pain4 ,he had often been up that late before1 but he had never felt so sleepy4 ,it was as if some one was pressing a sponge heavy with chloroform near his face1 and he could not fight off the drowsiness that lay hold of him4 ,he saw1 dimly hanging above his head1 a round disc of light that seemed like a great moon1 and which he finally guessed to be the clock-face for which he had been on the lookout4 ,he had passed it before he realized this2 but the fact stirred him into wakefulness again1 and when his cab's wheels slipped around the ,city ,hall corner1 he remembered to look up at the other big clock-face that keeps awake over the railroad station and measures out the night4 ,he gave a gasp of consternation when he saw that it was half-past two1 and that there was but ten minutes left to him4 ,this1 and the many electric lights and the sight of the familiar pile of buildings1 startled him into a semi-consciousness of where he was and how great was the necessity for haste4 ,he rose in his seat and called on the horse1 and urged it into a reckless gallop over the slippery asphalt4 ,he considered nothing else but speed1 and looking neither to the left nor right dashed off down ,broad ,street into ,chestnut1 where his course lay straight away to the office1 now only seven blocks distant4 ,gallegher never knew how it began1 but he was suddenly assaulted by shouts on either side1 his horse was thrown back on its haunches1 and he found two men in cabmen's livery hanging at its head1 and patting its sides1 and calling it by name4 ,and the other cabmen who have their stand at the corner were swarming about the carriage1 all of them talking and swearing at once1 and gesticulating wildly with their whips4 ,they said they knew the cab was ,mc,govern's and they wanted to know where he was1 and why he wasn't on it2 they wanted to know where ,gallegher had stolen it1 and why he had been such a fool as to drive it into the arms of its owner's friends2 they said that it was about time that a cab-driver could get off his box to take a drink without having his cab run away with1 and some of them called loudly for a policeman to take the young thief in charge4 ,gallegher felt as if he had been suddenly dragged into consciousness out of a bad dream1 and stood for a second like a half-awakened somnambulist4 ,they had stopped the cab under an electric light1 and its glare shone coldly down upon the trampled snow and the faces of the men around him4 ,gallegher bent forward1 and lashed savagely at the horse with his whip4 ,let me go1 he shouted1 as he tugged impotently at the reins4 ,let me go1 ,i tell you4 ,i haven't stole no cab1 and you've got no right to stop me4 ,i only want to take it to the ,press office1 he begged4 ,they'll send it back to you all right4 ,they'll pay you for the trip4 ,i'm not running away with it4 ,the driver's got the collar--he's 'rested--and ,i'm only a-going to the ,press office4 ,do you hear me8 he cried1 his voice rising and breaking in a shriek of passion and disappointment4 ,i tell you to let go those reins4 ,let me go1 or ,i'll kill you4 ,do you hear me8 ,i'll kill you4 ,and leaning forward1 the boy struck savagely with his long whip at the faces of the men about the horse's head4 ,some one in the crowd reached up and caught him by the ankles1 and with a quick jerk pulled him off the box1 and threw him on to the street4 ,but he was up on his knees in a moment1 and caught at the man's hand4 ,don't let them stop me1 mister1 he cried1 please let me go4 ,i didn't steal the cab1 sir4 ,s'help me1 ,i didn't4 ,i'm telling you the truth4 ,take me to the ,press office1 and they'll prove it to you4 ,they'll pay you anything you ask 'em4 ,it's only such a little ways now1 and ,i've come so far1 sir4 ,please don't let them stop me1 he sobbed1 clasping the man about the knees4 ,for ,heaven's sake1 mister1 let me go6 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 ,the managing editor of the ,press took up the india-rubber speaking-tube at his side1 and answered1 ,not yet to an inquiry the night editor had already put to him five times within the last twenty minutes4 ,then he snapped the metal top of the tube impatiently1 and went upstairs4 ,as he passed the door of the local room1 he noticed that the reporters had not gone home1 but were sitting about on the tables and chairs1 waiting4 ,they looked up inquiringly as he passed1 and the city editor asked1 ,any news yet8 and the managing editor shook his head4 ,the compositors were standing idle in the composing-room1 and their foreman was talking with the night editor4 ,well8 said that gentleman1 tentatively4 ,well1 returned the managing editor1 ,i don't think we can wait2 do you8 ,it's a half-hour after time now1 said the night editor1 and we'll miss the suburban trains if we hold the paper back any longer4 ,we can't afford to wait for a purely hypothetical story4 ,the chances are all against the fight's having taken place or this ,hade's having been arrested4 ,but if we're beaten on it-- suggested the chief4 ,but ,i don't think that is possible4 ,if there were any story to print1 ,dwyer would have had it here before now4 ,the managing editor looked steadily down at the floor4 ,very well1 he said1 slowly1 we won't wait any longer4 ,go ahead1 he added1 turning to the foreman with a sigh of reluctance4 ,the foreman whirled himself about1 and began to give his orders2 but the two editors still looked at each other doubtfully4 ,as they stood so1 there came a sudden shout and the sound of people running to and fro in the reportorial rooms below4 ,there was the tramp of many footsteps on the stairs1 and above the confusion they heard the voice of the city editor telling some one to run to ,madden's and get some brandy1 quick4 ,no one in the composing-room said anything2 but those compositors who had started to go home began slipping off their overcoats1 and every one stood with his eyes fixed on the door4 ,it was kicked open from the outside1 and in the doorway stood a cab-driver and the city editor1 supporting between them a pitiful little figure of a boy1 wet and miserable1 and with the snow melting on his clothes and running in little pools to the floor4 ,why1 it's ,gallegher1 said the night editor1 in a tone of the keenest disappointment4 ,gallegher shook himself free from his supporters1 and took an unsteady step forward1 his fingers fumbling stiffly with the buttons of his waistcoat4 ,mr4 ,dwyer1 sir1 he began faintly1 with his eyes fixed fearfully on the managing editor1 he got arrested--and ,i couldn't get here no sooner1 'cause they kept a-stopping me1 and they took me cab from under me--but-- he pulled the note-book from his breast and held it out with its covers damp and limp from the rain1 but we got ,hade1 and here's ,mr4 ,dwyer's copy4 ,and then he asked1 with a queer note in his voice1 partly of dread and partly of hope1 ,am ,i in time1 sir8 ,the managing editor took the book1 and tossed it to the foreman1 who ripped out its leaves and dealt them out to his men as rapidly as a gambler deals out cards4 ,then the managing editor stooped and picked ,gallegher up in his arms1 and1 sitting down1 began to unlace his wet and muddy shoes4 ,gallegher made a faint effort to resist this degradation of the managerial dignity2 but his protest was a very feeble one1 and his head fell back heavily on the managing editor's shoulder4 ,to ,gallegher the incandescent lights began to whirl about in circles1 and to burn in different colors2 the faces of the reporters kneeling before him and chafing his hands and feet grew dim and unfamiliar1 and the roar and rumble of the great presses in the basement sounded far away1 like the murmur of the sea4 ,and then the place and the circumstances of it came back to him again sharply and with sudden vividness4 ,gallegher looked up1 with a faint smile1 into the managing editor's face4 ,you won't turn me off for running away1 will you8 he whispered4 ,the managing editor did not answer immediately4 ,his head was bent1 and he was thinking1 for some reason or other1 of a little boy of his own1 at home in bed4 ,then he said1 quietly1 ,not this time1 ,gallegher4 ,gallegher's head sank back comfortably on the older man's shoulder1 and he smiled comprehensively at the faces of the young men crowded around him4 ,you hadn't ought to1 he said1 with a touch of his old impudence1 'cause--,i beat the town4 ,,the ,,jumping ,,frog ,,by ,,mark ,,twain ,this is a story typical of ,american humor4 ,as ,william ,lyon ,phelps says1 ,the essentially ,american qualities of common-sense1 energy1 good-humor1 and ,philistinism fairly shriek from his ,mark ,twain's pages4 ,essays on ,modern ,novelists4 ,,the ,,notorious ,,jumping ,,frog ,,of ,,calaveras ,footnote3 ,pronounced ,cal- e-va ras4 ,,county ,footnote3 ,from ,the ,jumping ,frog and ,other ,sketches1 by ,mark ,twain4 ,copyright1 #aijc1 by ,harper ,bros4 ,in compliance with the request of a friend of mine1 who wrote me from the ,east1 ,i called on good-natured1 garrulous old ,simon ,wheeler1 and inquired after my friend's friend1 ,leonidas ,w4 ,smiley1 as requested to do1 and ,i hereunto append the result4 ,i have a lurking suspicion that ,,leonidas ,w4 ,smiley is a myth2 that my friend never knew such a personage2 and that he only conjectured that if ,i asked old ,wheeler about him1 it would remind him of his infamous ,,jim ,smiley1 and he would go to work and bore me to death with some exasperating reminiscence of him as long and as tedious as it should be useless to me4 ,if that was the design1 it succeeded4 ,i found ,simon ,wheeler dozing comfortably by the bar-room stove of the dilapidated tavern in the decaying mining camp of ,angel's1 and ,i noticed that he was fat and bald-headed1 and had an expression of winning gentleness and simplicity upon his tranquil countenance4 ,he roused up1 and gave me good-day4 ,i told him a friend of mine had commissioned me to make some inquiries about a cherished companion of his boyhood named ,,leonidas ,w4 ,smiley--,,rev4 ,,leonidas ,w4 ,smiley1 a young minister of the ,gospel1 who he had heard was at one time a resident of ,angel's ,camp4 ,i added that if ,mr4 ,wheeler could tell me anything about this ,rev4 ,leonidas ,w4 ,smiley1 ,i would feel under many obligations to him4 ,simon ,wheeler backed me into a corner and blockaded me there with his chair1 and then sat down and reeled off the monotonous narrative which follows this paragraph4 ,he never smiled1 he never frowned1 he never changed his voice from the gentle-flowing key to which he tuned his initial sentence1 he never betrayed the slightest suspicion of enthusiasm2 but all through the interminable narrative there ran a vein of impressive earnestness and sincerity1 which showed me plainly that1 so far from his imagining that there was anything ridiculous or funny about his story1 he regarded it as a really important matter1 and admired its two heroes as men of transcendent genius in finesse4 ,i let him go on in his own way1 and never interrupted him once4 ,rev4 ,leonidas ,w4 ,h'm1 ,reverend ,le--well1 there was a feller here once by the name of ,,jim ,smiley1 in the winter of '#di--or maybe it was the spring of '#ej--;,i don't recollect exactly1 somehow1 though what makes me think it was one or the other is because ,i remember the big flume warn't finished when he first come to the camp2 but anyway1 he was the curiosest man about always betting on anything that turned up you ever see1 if he could get anybody to bet on the other side2 and if he couldn't he'd change sides4 ,any way that suited the other man would suit ,,him--any way just so's he got a bet1 ,,he was satisfied4 ,but still he was lucky1 uncommon lucky2 he 'most always come out winner4 ,he was always ready and laying for a chance2 there couldn't be no solit'ry thing mentioned but that feller'd offer to bet on it1 and take any side you please1 as ,i was just telling you4 ,if there was a horse-race1 you'd find him flush or you'd find him busted at the end of it2 if there was a dogfight1 he'd bet on it2 if there was a cat-fight1 he'd bet on it2 if there was a chicken-fight1 he'd bet on it2 why1 if there was two birds setting on a fence1 he would bet you which one would fly first2 or if there was a camp-meeting1 he would be there reg'lar to bet on ,parson ,walker1 which he judged to be the best exhorter about here1 and so he was1 too1 and a good man4 ,if he even see a straddle-bug start to go anywheres1 he would bet you how long it would take him to get to--to wherever he was going to1 and if you took him up1 he would foller that straddle-bug to ,mexico but what he would find out where he was bound for and how long he was on the road4 ,lots of the boys here has seen that ,smiley1 and can tell you about him4 ,why1 it never made no difference to ,,him--he'd bet on ,,any thing--the dangdest feller4 ,parson ,walker's wife laid very sick once1 for a good while1 and it seemed as if they warn't going to save her2 but one morning he come in1 and ,smiley up and asked him how she was1 and he said she was consid'able better--thank the ,lord for his inf'nite mercy--and coming on so smart that with the blessing of ,prov'dence she'd get well yet2 and ,smiley1 before he thought1 says3 ',well1 ,i'll resk two-and-a-half she don't anyway4' ,thish-yer ,smiley had a mare--the boys called her the fifteen- minute nag1 but that was only in fun1 you know1 because1 of course1 she was faster than that--and he used to win money on that horse1 for all she was so slow and always had the asthma1 or the distemper1 or the consumption1 or something of that kind4 ,they used to give her two or three hundred yards start1 and then pass her under way2 but always at the fag end of the race she'd get excited and desperate like1 and come cavorting and straddling up1 and scattering her legs around limber1 sometimes in the air1 and sometimes out to one side among the fences1 and kicking up m-o-r-e dust and raising m-o-r-e racket with her coughing and sneezing and blowing her nose--and ,,always fetch up at the stand just about a neck ahead1 as near as you could cipher it down4 ,and he had a little small bull-pup1 that to look at him you'd think he warn't worth a cent but to set around and look ornery and lay for a chance to steal something4 ,but as soon as money was up on him he was a different dog2 his under-jaw'd begin to stick out like the fo'castle of a steamboat1 and his teeth would uncover and shine like the furnaces4 ,and a dog might tackle him and bully-rag him1 and bite him and throw him over his shoulder two or three times1 and ,andrew ,jackson--which was the name of the pup--,andrew ,jackson would never let on but what ,,he was satisfied1 and hadn't expected nothing else--and the bets being doubled and doubled on the other side all the time1 till the money was all up2 and then all of a sudden he would grab that other dog jest by the j'int of his hind leg and freeze to it--not chaw1 you understand1 but only just grip and hang on till they throwed up the sponge1 if it was a year4 ,smiley always come out winner on that pup1 till he harnessed a dog once that didn't have no hind legs1 because they'd been sawed off in a circular saw1 and when the thing had gone along far enough1 and the money was all up1 and he come to make a snatch for his pet holt1 he see in a minute how he'd been imposed on1 and how the other dog had him in the door1 so to speak1 and he 'peared surprised1 and then he looked sorter discouraged-like and didn't try no more to win the fight1 and so he got shucked out bad4 ,he give ,smiley a look1 as much as to say his heart was broke1 and it was ,,his fault1 for putting up a dog that hadn't no hind legs for him to take holt of1 which was his main dependence in a fight1 and then he limped off a piece and laid down and died4 ,it was a good pup1 was that ,andrew ,jackson1 and would have made a name for hisself if he'd lived1 for the stuff was in him and he had genius --,i know it1 because he hadn't no opportunities to speak of1 and it don't stand to reason that a dog could make such a fight as he could under them circumstances if he hadn't no talent4 ,it always makes me feel sorry when ,i think of that last fight of his'n1 and the way it turned out4 ,well1 thish-yer ,smiley had rat-tarriers1 and chicken cocks1 and tomcats1 and all them kind of things1 till you couldn't rest1 and you couldn't fetch nothing for him to bet on but he'd match you4 ,he ketched a frog one day1 and took him home1 and said he cal'lated to educate him2 and so he never done nothing for three months but set in his back yard and learn that frog to jump4 ,and you bet you he ,,did learn him1 too4 ,he'd give him a little punch behind1 and the next minute you'd see that frog whirling in the air like a doughnut--see him turn one summerset1 or maybe a couple1 if he got a good start1 and come down flat-footed and all right1 like a cat4 ,he got him up so in the matter of ketching flies1 and kep' him in practice so constant1 that he'd nail a fly every time as fur as he could see him4 ,smiley said all a frog wanted was education1 and he could do 'most anything--and ,i believe him4 ,why1 ,i've seen him set ,dan'l ,webster down here on this floor--,dan'l ,webster was the name of the frog--and sing out1 ',flies1 ,dan'l1 flies6' and quicker'n you could wink he'd spring straight up and snake a fly off'n the counter there1 and flop down on the floor ag'in as solid as a gob of mud1 and fall to scratching the side of his head with his hind foot as indifferent as if he hadn't no idea he'd been doin' any more'n any frog might do4 ,you never see a frog so modest and straightfor'ard as he was1 for all he was so gifted4 ,and when it come to fair and square jumping on a dead level1 he could get over more ground at one straddle than any animal of his breed you ever see4 ,jumping on a dead level was his strong suit1 you understand2 and when it come to that1 ,smiley would ante up money on him as long as he had a red4 ,smiley was monstrous proud of his frog1 and well he might be1 for fellers that had travelled and been everywheres all said he laid over any frog that ever ,,they see4 ,well1 ,smiley kep' the beast in a little lattice box1 and he used to fetch him down-town sometimes and lay for a bet4 ,one day a feller--a stranger in the camp1 he was--come acrost him with his box1 and says3 ',what might it be that you've got in the box8' ,and ,smiley says1 sorter indifferent-like3 ',it might be a parrot1 or it might be a canary1 maybe1 but it ain't--it's only just a frog4' ,and the feller took it1 and looked at it careful1 and turned it round this way and that1 and says3 ',h'm--so 'tis4 ,well1 what's ,,he good for8' ',well1' ,smiley says1 easy and careless1 'he's good enough for ,,one thing1 ,i should judge--he can outjump any frog in ,calaveras county4' ,the feller took the box again1 and took another long1 particular look1 and give it back to ,smiley1 and says1 very deliberate1 ',well1' he says1 ',i don't see no p'ints about that frog that's any better'n any other frog4' ',maybe you don't1' ,smiley says4 ',maybe you understand frogs and maybe you don't understand 'em2 maybe you've had experience1 and maybe you ain't only a amature1 as it were4 ,anyways1 ,i've got ,,my opinion1 and ,i'll resk forty dollars that he can outjump any frog in ,calaveras county4' ,and the feller studied a minute1 and then says1 kinder sad like1 ',well1 ,i'm only a stranger here1 and ,i ain't got no frog2 but if ,i had a frog1 ,i'd bet you4' ,and then ,smiley says1 ',that's all right--that's all right--if you'll hold my box a minute1 ,i'll go and get you a frog4' ,and so the feller took the box1 and put up his forty dollars along with ,smiley's1 and set down to wait4 ,so he set there a good while thinking and thinking to hisself1 and then he got the frog out and prized his mouth open and took a teaspoon and filled him full of quail shot--filled him pretty near up to his chin--and set him on the floor4 ,smiley he went to the swamp and slopped around in the mud for a long time1 and finally he ketched a frog1 and fetched him in1 and give him to this feller1 and says3 ',now1 if you're ready1 set him alongside of ,dan'l1 with his forepaws just even with ,dan'l's1 and ,i'll give the word4' ,then he says1 ',one--two--three--,,git6' and him and the feller touched up the frogs from behind1 and the new frog hopped off lively1 but ,dan'l give a heave1 and hysted up his shoulders--so--like a ,frenchman1 but it warn't no use--he couldn't budge2 he was planted as solid as a church1 and he couldn't no more stir than if he was anchored out4 ,smiley was a good deal surprised1 and he was disgusted too1 but he didn't have no idea what the matter was1 of course4 ,the feller took the money and started away2 and when he was going out at the door1 he sorter jerked his thumb over his shoulder--so --at ,dan'l1 and says again1 very deliberate1 ',well1' he says1 ',i don't see no p'ints about that frog that's any better'n any other frog4' ,smiley he stood scratching his head and looking down at ,dan'l a long time1 and at last he says1 ',i do wonder what in the nation that frog throw'd off for--,i wonder if there ain't something the matter with him--he 'pears to look mighty baggy1 somehow1' ,and he ketched ,dan'l by the nap of the neck1 and hefted him1 and says1 ',why1 blame my cats if he don't weigh five pound6' and turned him upside down and he belched out a double handful of shot4 ,and then he see how it was1 and he was the maddest man--he set the frog down and took out after that feller1 but he never ketched him4 ,and-- ,here ,simon ,wheeler heard his name called from the front yard1 and got up to see what was wanted4 ,and turning to me as he moved away1 he said3 ,just set where you are1 stranger1 and rest easy--,i ain't going to be gone a second4 ,but1 by your leave1 ,i did not think that a continuation of the history of the enterprising vagabond ,,jim ,smiley would be likely to afford me much information concerning the ,rev4 ,,leonidas ,w4 ,smiley1 and so ,i started away4 ,at the door ,i met the sociable ,wheeler returning1 and he button- holed me and re-commenced3 ,well1 thish-yer ,smiley had a yeller one-eyed cow that didn't have no tail1 only just a short stump like a bannanner1 and-- ,however1 lacking both time and inclination1 ,i did not wait to hear about the afflicted cow1 but took my leave4 ,,the ,,lady ,,or ,,the ,,tiger ,,by ,,frank ,r4 ,,stockton ,this is an illustration of the symmetrical plot4 ,it challenges the constructive imagination of the reader to search the story for the evidence that will lead to a logical conclusion4 ,,the ,,lady ,,or ,,the ,,tiger ,footnote3 ,from ,the ,lady or the ,tiger8 by ,frank ,r4 ,stockton4 ,copyright1 #ahhf1 by ,charles ,scribner's ,sons4 ,copyright1 #aiad1 by ,marie ,louise and ,frances ,a4 ,stockton4 ,in the very olden time1 there lived a semi-barbaric king1 whose ideas1 though somewhat polished and sharpened by the progressiveness of distant ,latin neighbors1 were still large1 florid1 and untrammelled1 as became the half of him which was barbaric4 ,he was a man of exuberant fancy1 and1 withal1 of an authority so irresistible that1 at his will1 he turned his varied fancies into facts4 ,he was greatly given to self-communing1 and when he and himself agreed upon anything1 the thing was done4 ,when every member of his domestic and political systems moved smoothly in its appointed course1 his nature was bland and genial2 but whenever there was a little hitch1 and some of his orbs got out of their orbits1 he was blander and more genial still1 for nothing pleased him so much as to make the crooked straight1 and crush down uneven places4 ,among the borrowed notions by which his barbarism had become semified was that of the public arena1 in which1 by exhibitions of manly and beastly valor1 the minds of his subjects were refined and cultured4 ,but even here the exuberant and barbaric fancy asserted itself4 ,the arena of the king was built1 not to give the people an opportunity of hearing the rhapsodies of dying gladiators1 nor to enable them to view the inevitable conclusion of a conflict between religious opinions and hungry jaws1 but for purposes far better adapted to widen and develop the mental energies of the people4 ,this vast amphitheatre1 with its encircling galleries1 its mysterious vaults1 and its unseen passages1 was an agent of poetic justice1 in which crime was punished1 or virtue rewarded1 by the decrees of an impartial and incorruptible chance4 ,when a subject was accused of a crime of sufficient importance to interest the king1 public notice was given that on an appointed day the fate of the accused person would be decided in the king's arena--a structure which well deserved its name2 for1 although its form and plan were borrowed from afar1 its purpose emanated solely from the brain of this man1 who1 every barleycorn a king1 knew no tradition to which he owed more allegiance than pleased his fancy1 and who ingrafted on every adopted form of human thought and action the rich growth of his barbaric idealism4 ,when all the people had assembled in the galleries1 and the king1 surrounded by his court1 sat high up on his throne of royal state on one side of the arena1 he gave a signal1 a door beneath him opened1 and the accused subject stepped out into the amphitheatre4 ,directly opposite him1 on the other side of the enclosed space1 were two doors1 exactly alike and side by side4 ,it was the duty and the privilege of the person on trial to walk directly to these doors and open one of them4 ,he could open either door he pleased4 ,he was subject to no guidance or influence but that of the aforementioned impartial and incorruptible chance4 ,if he opened the one1 there came out of it a hungry tiger1 the fiercest and most cruel that could be procured1 which immediately sprang upon him1 and tore him to pieces1 as a punishment for his guilt4 ,the moment that the case of the criminal was thus decided1 doleful iron bells were clanged1 great wails went up from the hired mourners posted on the outer rim of the arena1 and the vast audience1 with bowed heads and downcast hearts1 wended slowly their homeward way1 mourning greatly that one so young and fair1 or so old and respected1 should have merited so dire a fate4 ,but if the accused person opened the other door1 there came forth from it a lady1 the most suitable to his years and station that his ,majesty could select among his fair subjects2 and to this lady he was immediately married1 as a reward of his innocence4 ,it mattered not that he might already possess a wife and family1 or that his affections might be engaged upon an object of his own selection4 ,the king allowed no such subordinate arrangements to interfere with his great scheme of retribution and reward4 ,the exercises1 as in the other instance1 took place immediately1 and in the arena4 ,another door opened beneath the king1 and a priest1 followed by a band of choristers1 and dancing maidens blowing joyous airs on golden horns and treading an epithalamic measure1 advanced to where the pair stood side by side1 and the wedding was promptly and cheerily solemnized4 ,then the gay brass bells rang forth their merry peals1 the people shouted glad hurrahs1 and the innocent man1 preceded by children strewing flowers on his path1 led his bride to his home4 ,this was the king's semi-barbaric method of administering justice4 ,its perfect fairness is obvious4 ,the criminal could not know out of which door would come the lady4 ,he opened either he pleased1 without having the slightest idea whether1 in the next instant1 he was to be devoured or married4 ,on some occasions the tiger came out of one door1 and on some out of the other4 ,the decisions of this tribunal were not only fair--they were positively determinate4 ,the accused person was instantly punished if he found himself guilty1 and if innocent he was rewarded on the spot1 whether he liked it or not4 ,there was no escape from the judgments of the king's arena4 ,the institution was a very popular one4 ,when the people gathered together on one of the great trial days1 they never knew whether they were to witness a bloody slaughter or a hilarious wedding4 ,this element of uncertainty lent an interest to the occasion which it could not otherwise have attained4 ,thus the masses were entertained and pleased1 and the thinking part of the community could bring no charge of unfairness against this plan2 for did not the accused person have the whole matter in his own hands8 ,this semi-barbaric king had a daughter as blooming as his most florid fancies1 and with a soul as fervent and imperious as his own4 ,as is usual in such cases1 she was the apple of his eye1 and was loved by him above all humanity4 ,among his courtiers was a young man of that fineness of blood and lowness of station common to the conventional heroes of romance who love royal maidens4 ,this royal maiden was well satisfied with her lover1 for he was handsome and brave to a degree unsurpassed in all this kingdom1 and she loved him with an ardor that had enough of barbarism in it to make it exceedingly warm and strong4 ,this love affair moved on happily for many months1 until1 one day1 the king happened to discover its existence4 ,he did not hesitate nor waver in regard to his duty in the premises4 ,the youth was immediately cast into prison1 and a day was appointed for his trial in the king's arena4 ,this1 of course1 was an especially important occasion1 and his ,majesty1 as well as all the people1 was greatly interested in the workings and development of this trial4 ,never before had such a case occurred--never before had a subject dared to love the daughter of a king4 ,in after years such things became commonplace enough1 but then they were1 in no slight degree1 novel and startling4 ,the tiger cages of the kingdom were searched for the most savage and relentless beasts1 from which the fiercest monster might be selected for the arena1 and the ranks of maiden youth and beauty throughout the land were carefully surveyed by competent judges1 in order that the young man might have a fitting bride in case fate did not determine for him a different destiny4 ,of course1 everybody knew that the deed with which the accused was charged had been done4 ,he had loved the princess1 and neither he1 she1 nor any one else thought of denying the fact4 ,but the king would not think of allowing any fact of this kind to interfere with the workings of the tribunal1 in which he took such great delight and satisfaction4 ,no matter how the affair turned out1 the youth would be disposed of1 and the king would take an aesthetic pleasure in watching the course of events which would determine whether or not the young man had done wrong in allowing himself to love the princess4 ,the appointed day arrived4 ,from far and near the people gathered1 and thronged the great galleries of the arena1 while crowds1 unable to gain admittance1 massed themselves against its outside walls4 ,the king and his court were in their places1 opposite the twin doors--those fateful portals1 so terrible in their similarity6 ,all was ready4 ,the signal was given4 ,a door beneath the royal party opened1 and the lover of the princess walked into the arena4 ,tall1 beautiful1 fair1 his appearance was greeted with a low hum of admiration and anxiety4 ,half the audience had not known so grand a youth had lived among them4 ,no wonder the princess loved him6 ,what a terrible thing for him to be there6 ,as the youth advanced into the arena1 he turned1 as the custom was1 to bow to the king4 ,but he did not think at all of that royal personage2 his eyes were fixed upon the princess1 who sat to the right of her father4 ,had it not been for the moiety of barbarism in her nature1 it is probable that lady would not have been there4 ,but her intense and fervid soul would not allow her to be absent on an occasion in which she was so terribly interested4 ,from the moment that the decree had gone forth that her lover should decide his fate in the king's arena1 she had thought of nothing1 night or day1 but this great event and the various subjects connected with it4 ,possessed of more power1 influence1 and force of character than any one who had ever before been interested in such a case1 she had done what no other person had done--she had possessed herself of the secret of the doors4 ,she knew in which of the two rooms behind those doors stood the cage of the tiger1 with its open front and in which waited the lady4 ,through these thick doors1 heavily curtained with skins on the inside1 it was impossible that any noise or suggestion should come from within to the person who should approach to raise the latch of one of them4 ,but gold1 and the power of a woman's will1 had brought the secret to the princess4 ,not only did she know in which room stood the lady1 ready to emerge1 all blushing and radiant1 should her door be opened1 but she knew who the lady was4 ,it was one of the fairest and loveliest of the damsels of the court who had been selected as the reward of the accused youth1 should he be proved innocent of the crime of aspiring to one so far above him2 and the princess hated her4 ,often had she seen1 or imagined that she had seen1 this fair creature throwing glances of admiration upon the person of her lover1 and sometimes she thought these glances were perceived and even returned4 ,now and then she had seen them talking together4 ,it was but for a moment or two1 but much can be said in a brief space4 ,it may have been on most unimportant topics1 but how could she know that8 ,the girl was lovely1 but she had dared to raise her eyes to the loved one of the princess1 and1 with all the intensity of the savage blood transmitted to her through long lines of wholly barbaric ancestors1 she hated the woman who blushed and trembled behind that silent door4 ,when her lover turned and looked at her1 and his eye met hers as she sat there paler and whiter than any one in the vast ocean of anxious faces about her1 he saw1 by that power of quick perception which is given to those whose souls are one1 that she knew behind which door crouched the tiger1 and behind which stood the lady4 ,he had expected her to know it4 ,he understood her nature1 and his soul was assured that she would never rest until she had made plain to herself this thing1 hidden to all other lookers-on1 even to the king4 ,the only hope for the youth in which there was any element of certainty was based upon the success of the princess in discovering this mystery1 and the moment he looked upon her1 he saw she had succeeded4 ,then it was that his quick and anxious glance asked the question1 ,which8 ,it was as plain to her as if he shouted it from where he stood4 ,there was not an instant to be lost4 ,the question was asked in a flash2 it must be answered in another4 ,her right arm lay on the cushioned parapet before her4 ,she raised her hand1 and made a slight1 quick movement toward the right4 ,no one but her lover saw her4 ,every eye but his was fixed on the man in the arena4 ,he turned1 and with a firm and rapid step he walked across the empty space4 ,every heart stopped beating1 every breath was held1 every eye was fixed immovably upon that man4 ,without the slightest hesitation1 he went to the door on the right1 and opened it4 ,now1 the point of the story is this3 ,did the tiger come out of that door1 or did the lady8 ,the more we reflect upon this question1 the harder it is to answer4 ,it involves a study of the human heart which leads us through devious mazes of passion1 out of which it is difficult to find our way4 ,think of it1 fair reader1 not as if the decision of the question depended upon yourself1 but upon that hot-blooded1 semi-barbaric princess1 her soul at a white heat beneath the combined fires of despair and jealousy4 ,she had lost him1 but who should have him8 ,how often1 in her waking hours and in her dreams1 had she started in wild horror and covered her face with her hands as she thought of her lover opening the door on the other side of which waited the cruel fangs of the tiger6 ,but how much oftener had she seen him at the other door6 ,how in her grievous reveries had she gnashed her teeth and torn her hair when she saw his start of rapturous delight as he opened the door of the lady6 ,how her soul had burned in agony when she had seen him rush to meet that woman1 with her flushing cheek and sparkling eye of triumph2 when she had seen him lead her forth1 his whole frame kindled with the joy of recovered life2 when she had heard the glad shouts from the multitude1 and the wild ringing of the happy bells2 when she had seen the priest1 with his joyous followers1 advance to the couple1 and make them man and wife before her very eyes2 and when she had seen them walk away together upon their path of flowers1 followed by the tremendous shouts of the hilarious multitude1 in which her one despairing shriek was lost and drowned6 ,would it not be better for him to die at once1 and go to wait for her in the blessed regions of semi-barbaric futurity8 ,and yet1 that awful tiger1 those shrieks1 that blood6 ,her decision had been indicated in an instant1 but it had been made after days and nights of anguished deliberation4 ,she had known she would be asked1 she had decided what she would answer1 and1 without the slightest hesitation1 she had moved her hand to the right4 ,the question of her decision is one not to be lightly considered1 and it is not for me to presume to set up myself as the one person able to answer it4 ,so ,i leave it with all of you3 ,which came out of the opened door--the lady or the tiger8 ,,the ,,outcasts ,,of ,,poker ,,flat ,,by ,,francis ,,bret ,,harte ,this is often called a story of local color4 ,and it is4 ,it is rich in the characteristics of ,california in the gold-seeking days4 ,it is also classified as a story of setting4 ,and it is4 ,the setting is a determining factor in the conduct of these outcasts4 ,they are men and women as inevitably drawn to the mining camp as the ill- fated ship in ,the ,arabian ,nights was attracted to the lode-stone mountain1 and with as much certainty of shipwreck4 ,these the blizzard of the west gathers into its embrace1 and compels them to reveal their better selves4 ,but it is more than a story of local color and of setting4 ,it is also an illustration of the artistic blending of plot1 character1 and setting1 and of the magical power of youth to see life at the time truly enough1 but to transform it later into something fine and noble4 ,,the ,,outcasts ,,of ,,poker ,,flat ,footnote3 ,from ,the ,luck of ,roaring ,camp1 by ,francis ,bret ,harte4 ,copyright1 #aijf1 by ,houghton ,mifflin ,company4 ,reprinted by special arrangement with ,houghton ,mifflin ,company1 the authorized publishers of ,bret ,harte's works4 ,as ,mr4 ,john ,oakhurst1 gambler1 stepped into the main street of ,poker ,flat on the morning of the twenty-third of ,november1 #ahej1 he was conscious of a change in its moral atmosphere since the preceding night4 ,two or three men1 conversing earnestly together1 ceased as he approached1 and exchanged significant glances4 ,there was a ,sabbath lull in the air1 which1 in a settlement unused to ,sabbath influences1 looked ominous4 ,mr4 ,oakhurst's calm1 handsome face betrayed small concern of these indications4 ,whether he was conscious of any predisposing cause1 was another question4 ,i reckon they're after somebody1 he reflected2 likely it's me4 ,he returned to his pocket the handkerchief with which he had been whipping away the red dust of ,poker ,flat from his neat boots1 and quietly discharged his mind of any further conjecture4 ,in point of fact1 ,poker ,flat was after somebody4 ,it had lately suffered the loss of several thousand dollars1 two valuable horses1 and a prominent citizen4 ,it was experiencing a spasm of virtuous reaction1 quite as lawless and ungovernable as any of the acts that had provoked it4 ,a secret committee had determined to rid the town of all improper persons4 ,this was done permanently in regard of two men who were then hanging from the boughs of a sycamore in the gulch1 and temporarily in the banishment of certain other objectionable characters4 ,i regret to say that some of these were ladies4 ,it is but due to the sex1 however1 to state that their impropriety was professional1 and it was only in such easily established standards of evil that ,poker ,flat ventured to sit in judgment4 ,mr4 ,oakhurst was right in supposing that he was included in this category4 ,a few of the committee had urged hanging him as a possible example1 and a sure method of reimbursing themselves from his pockets of the sums he had won from them4 ,it's agin justice1 said ,jim ,wheeler1 to let this yer young man from ,roaring ,camp--an entire stranger--carry away our money4 ,but a crude sentiment of equity residing in the breasts of those who had been fortunate enough to win from ,mr4 ,oakhurst overruled this narrower local prejudice4 ,mr4 ,oakhurst received his sentence with philosophic calmness1 none the less coolly that he was aware of the hesitation of his judges4 ,he was too much of a gambler not to accept ,fate4 ,with him life was at best an uncertain game1 and he recognized the usual percentage in favor of the dealer4 ,a body of armed men accompanied the deported wickedness of ,poker ,flat to the outskirts of the settlement4 ,besides ,mr4 ,oakhurst1 who was known to be a coolly desperate man1 and for whose intimidation the armed escort was intended1 the expatriated party consisted of a young woman familiarly known as ,the ,duchess2 another1 who had gained the infelicitous title of ,mother ,shipton2 and ,uncle ,billy1 a suspected sluice-robber and confirmed drunkard4 ,the cavalcade provoked no comments from the spectators1 nor was any word uttered by the escort4 ,only1 when the gulch which marked the uttermost limit of ,poker ,flat was reached1 the leader spoke briefly and to the point4 ,the exiles were forbidden to return at the peril of their lives4 ,as the escort disappeared1 their pent-up feelings found vent in a few hysterical tears from ,the ,duchess1 some bad language from ,mother ,shipton1 and a ,parthian volley of expletives from ,uncle ,billy4 ,the philosophic ,oakhurst alone remained silent4 ,he listened calmly to ,mother ,shipton's desire to cut somebody's heart out1 to the repeated statements of ,the ,duchess that she would die in the road1 and to the alarming oaths that seemed to be bumped out of ,uncle ,billy as he rode forward4 ,with the easy good-humor characteristic of his class1 he insisted upon exchanging his own riding-horse1 ,five ,spot1 for the sorry mule which the ,duchess rode4 ,but even this act did not draw the party into any closer sympathy4 ,the young woman readjusted her somewhat draggled plumes with a feeble1 faded coquetry2 ,mother ,shipton eyed the possessor of ,five ,spot with malevolence1 and ,uncle ,billy included the whole party in one sweeping anathema4 ,the road to ,sandy ,bar--a camp that1 not having as yet experienced the regenerating influences of ,poker ,flat1 consequently seemed to offer some invitation to the emigrants--lay over a steep mountain range4 ,it was distant a day's severe journey4 ,in that advanced season1 the party soon passed out of the moist1 temperate regions of the foot-hills into the dry1 cold1 bracing air of the ,sierras4 ,the trail was narrow and difficult4 ,at noon the ,duchess1 rolling out of her saddle upon the ground1 declared her intention of going no farther1 and the party halted4 ,the spot was singularly wild and impressive4 ,a wooded amphitheatre1 surrounded on three sides by precipitous cliffs of naked granite1 sloped gently toward the crest of another precipice that overlooked the valley4 ,it was undoubtedly the most suitable spot for a camp1 had camping been advisable4 ,but ,mr4 ,oakhurst knew that scarcely half the journey to ,sandy ,bar was accomplished1 and the party were not equipped or provisioned for delay4 ,this fact he pointed out to his companions curtly1 with a philosophic commentary on the folly of throwing up their hand before the game was played out4 ,but they were furnished with liquor1 which in this emergency stood them in place of food1 fuel1 rest1 and prescience4 ,in spite of his remonstrances1 it was not long before they were more or less under its influence4 ,uncle ,billy passed rapidly from a bellicose state into one of stupor1 the ,duchess became maudlin1 and ,mother ,shipton snored4 ,mr4 ,oakhurst alone remained erect1 leaning against a rock1 calmly surveying them4 ,mr4 ,oakhurst did not drink4 ,it interfered with a profession which required coolness1 impassiveness1 and presence of mind1 and1 in his own language1 he couldn't afford it4 ,as he gazed at his recumbent fellow-exiles1 the loneliness begotten of his pariah- trade1 his habits of life1 his very vices1 for the first time seriously oppressed him4 ,he bestirred himself in dusting his black clothes1 washing his hands and face1 and other acts characteristic of his studiously neat habits1 and for a moment forgot his annoyance4 ,the thought of deserting his weaker and more pitiable companions never perhaps occurred to him4 ,yet he could not help feeling the want of that excitement which1 singularly enough1 was most conducive to that calm equanimity for which he was notorious4 ,he looked at the gloomy walls that rose a thousand feet sheer above the circling pines around him2 at the sky1 ominously clouded2 at the valley below1 already deepening into shadow4 ,and1 doing so1 suddenly he heard his own name called4 ,a horseman slowly ascended the trail4 ,in the fresh1 open face of the new-comer ,mr4 ,oakhurst recognized ,tom ,simson1 otherwise known as ,the ,innocent of ,sandy ,bar4 ,he had met him some months before over a little game1 and had1 with perfect equanimity1 won the entire fortune--amounting to some forty dollars--of that guileless youth4 ,after the game was finished1 ,mr4 ,oakhurst drew the youthful speculator behind the door and thus addressed him3 ,tommy1 you're a good little man1 but you can't gamble worth a cent4 ,don't try it over again4 ,he then handed him his money back1 pushed him gently from the room1 and so made a devoted slave of ,tom ,simson4 ,there was a remembrance of this in his boyish and enthusiastic greeting of ,mr4 ,oakhurst4 ,he had started1 he said1 to go to ,poker ,flat to seek his fortune4 ,alone8 ,no1 not exactly alone2 in fact --a giggle--he had run away with ,piney ,woods4 ,didn't ,mr4 ,oakhurst remember ,piney8 ,she that used to wait on the table at the ,temperance ,house8 ,they had been engaged a long time1 but old ,jake ,woods had objected1 and so they had run away1 and were going to ,poker ,flat to be married1 and here they were4 ,and they were tired out1 and how lucky it was they had found a place to camp and company4 ,all this the ,innocent delivered rapidly1 while ,piney--a stout1 comely damsel of fifteen--emerged from behind the pine- tree1 where she had been blushing unseen1 and rode to the side of her lover4 ,mr4 ,oakhurst seldom troubled himself with sentiment1 still less with propriety2 but he had a vague idea that the situation was not felicitous4 ,he retained1 however1 his presence of mind sufficiently to kick ,uncle ,billy1 who was about to say something1 and ,uncle ,billy was sober enough to recognize in ,mr4 ,oakhurst's kick a superior power that would not bear trifling4 ,he then endeavored to dissuade ,tom ,simson from delaying further1 but in vain4 ,he even pointed out the fact that there was no provision1 nor means of making a camp4 ,but1 unluckily1 ,the ,innocent met this objection by assuring the party that he was provided with an extra mule loaded with provisions1 and by the discovery of a rude attempt at a log-house near the trail4 ,piney can stay with ,mrs4 ,oakhurst1 said the ,innocent1 pointing to the ,duchess1 and ,i can shift for myself4 ,nothing but ,mr4 ,oakhurst's admonishing foot saved ,uncle ,billy from bursting into a roar of laughter4 ,as it was1 he felt compelled to retire up the canon until he could recover his gravity4 ,there he confided the joke to the tall pine-trees1 with many slaps of his leg1 contortions of his face1 and the usual profanity4 ,but when he returned to the party1 he found them seated by a fire--for the air had grown strangely chill and the sky overcast--in apparently amicable conversation4 ,piney was actually talking in an impulsive1 girlish fashion to the ,duchess1 who was listening with an interest and animation she had not shown for many days4 ,the ,innocent was holding forth1 apparently with equal effect1 to ,mr4 ,oakhurst and ,mother ,shipton1 who was actually relaxing into amiability4 ,is this yer a d--d picnic8 said ,uncle ,billy1 with inward scorn1 as he surveyed the sylvan group1 the glancing fire-light1 and the tethered animals in the foreground4 ,suddenly an idea mingled with the alcoholic fumes that disturbed his brain4 ,it was apparently of a jocular nature1 for he felt impelled to slap his leg again and cram his fist into his mouth4 ,as the shadows crept slowly up the mountain1 a slight breeze rocked the tops of the pine-trees1 and moaned through their long and gloomy aisles4 ,the ruined cabin1 patched and covered with pine boughs1 was set apart for the ladies4 ,as the lovers parted1 they unaffectedly exchanged a kiss1 so honest and sincere that it might have been heard above the swaying pines4 ,the frail ,duchess and the malevolent ,mother ,shipton were probably too stunned to remark upon this last evidence of simplicity1 and so turned without a word to the hut4 ,the fire was replenished1 the men lay down before the door1 and in a few minutes were asleep4 ,mr4 ,oakhurst was a light sleeper4 ,toward morning he awoke benumbed and cold4 ,as he stirred the dying fire1 the wind1 which was now blowing strongly1 brought to his cheek that which caused the blood to leave it1--snow6 ,he started to his feet with the intention of awakening the sleepers1 for there was no time to lose4 ,but turning to where ,uncle ,billy had been lying1 he found him gone4 ,a suspicion leaped to his brain and a curse to his lips4 ,he ran to the spot where the mules had been tethered2 they were no longer there4 ,the tracks were already rapidly disappearing in the snow4 ,the momentary excitement brought ,mr4 ,oakhurst back to the fire with his usual calm4 ,he did not waken the sleepers4 ,the ,innocent slumbered peacefully1 with a smile on his good-humored1 freckled face2 the virgin ,piney slept beside her frailer sisters as sweetly as though attended by celestial guardians1 and ,mr4 ,oakhurst1 drawing his blanket over his shoulders1 stroked his mustachios and waited for the dawn4 ,it came slowly in a whirling mist of snowflakes1 that dazzled and confused the eye4 ,what could be seen of the landscape appeared magically changed4 ,he looked over the valley1 and summed up the present and future in two words1-- ,snowed in6 ,a careful inventory of the provisions1 which1 fortunately for the party1 had been stored within the hut1 and so escaped the felonious fingers of ,uncle ,billy1 disclosed the fact that with care and prudence they might last ten days longer4 ,that is1 said ,mr4 ,oakhurst1 sotto voce to the ,innocent1 if you're willing to board us4 ,if you ain't--and perhaps you'd better not--you can wait till ,uncle ,billy gets back with provisions4 ,for some occult reason1 ,mr4 ,oakhurst could not bring himself to disclose ,uncle ,billy's rascality1 and so offered the hypothesis that he had wandered from the camp and had accidentally stampeded the animals4 ,he dropped a warning to the ,duchess and ,mother ,shipton1 who of course knew the facts of their associate's defection4 ,they'll find out the truth about us ,,all1 when they find out anything1 he added1 significantly1 and there's no good frightening them now4 ,tom ,simson not only put all his worldly store at the disposal of ,mr4 ,oakhurst1 but seemed to enjoy the prospect of their enforced seclusion4 ,we'll have a good camp for a week1 and then the snow'll melt1 and we'll all go back together4 ,the cheerful gaiety of the young man and ,mr4 ,oakhurst's calm infected the others4 ,the ,innocent1 with the aid of pine boughs1 extemporized a thatch for the roofless cabin1 and the ,duchess directed ,piney in the rearrangement of the interior with a taste and tact that opened the blue eyes of that provincial maiden to their fullest extent4 ,i reckon now you're used to fine things at ,poker ,flat1 said ,piney4 ,the ,duchess turned away sharply to conceal something that reddened her cheek through its professional tint1 and ,mother ,shipton requested ,piney not to chatter4 ,but when ,mr4 ,oakhurst returned from a weary search for the trail1 he heard the sound of happy laughter echoed from the rocks4 ,he stopped in some alarm1 and his thoughts first naturally reverted to the whiskey1 which he had prudently cached4 ,and yet it don't somehow sound like whiskey1 said the gambler4 ,it was not until he caught sight of the blazing fire through the still blinding storm1 and the group around it1 that he settled to the conviction that it was square fun4 ,whether ,mr4 ,oakhurst had cached his cards with the whiskey as something debarred the free access of the community1 ,i cannot say4 ,it was certain that1 in ,mother ,shipton's words1 he didn't say cards once during that evening4 ,haply the time was beguiled by an accordion1 produced somewhat ostentatiously by ,tom ,simson1 from his pack4 ,notwithstanding some difficulties attending the manipulation of this instrument1 ,piney ,woods managed to pluck several reluctant melodies from its keys1 to an accompaniment by the ,innocent on a pair of bone castanets4 ,but the crowning festivity of the evening was reached in a rude camp-meeting hymn1 which the lovers1 joining hands1 sang with great earnestness and vociferation4 ,i fear that a certain defiant tone and ,covenanter's swing to its chorus1 rather than any devotional quality1 caused it speedily to infect the others1 who at last joined in the refrain3 ',i'm proud to live in the service of the ,lord1 ,and ,i'm bound to die in ,his army4' ,the pines rocked1 the storm eddied and whirled above the miserable group1 and the flames of their altar leaped heavenward1 as if in token of the vow4 ,at midnight the storm abated1 the rolling clouds parted1 and the stars glittered keenly above the sleeping camp4 ,mr4 ,oakhurst1 whose professional habits had enabled him to live on the smallest possible amount of sleep1 in dividing the watch with ,tom ,simson1 somehow managed to take upon himself the greater part of that duty4 ,he excused himself to the ,innocent1 by saying that he had often been a week without sleep4 ,doing what8 asked ,tom4 ,poker6 replied ,oakhurst1 sententiously2 when a man gets a streak of luck1--nigger-luck1--he don't get tired4 ,the luck gives in first4 ,luck1 continued the gambler1 reflectively1 is a mighty queer thing4 ,all you know about it for certain is that it's bound to change4 ,and it's finding out when it's going to change that makes you4 ,we've had a streak of bad luck since we left ,poker ,flat--you come along1 and slap you get into it1 too4 ,if you can hold your cards right along you're all right4 ,for1 added the gambler1 with cheerful irrelevance1 ',i'm proud to live in the service of the ,lord1 ,and ,i'm bound to die in ,his army4' ,the third day came1 and the sun1 looking through the white- curtained valley1 saw the outcasts divide their slowly decreasing store of provisions for the morning meal4 ,it was one of the peculiarities of that mountain climate that its rays diffused a kindly warmth over the wintry landscape1 as if in regretful commiseration of the past4 ,but it revealed drift on drift of snow piled high around the hut2 a hopeless1 uncharted1 trackless sea of white lying below the rocky shores to which the castaways still clung4 ,through the marvellously clear air1 the smoke of the pastoral village of ,poker ,flat rose miles away4 ,mother ,shipton saw it1 and from a remote pinnacle of her rocky fastness1 hurled in that direction a final malediction4 ,it was her last vituperative attempt1 and perhaps for that reason was invested with a certain degree of sublimity4 ,it did her good1 she privately informed the ,duchess4 ,just you go out there and cuss1 and see4 ,she then set herself to the task of amusing the child1 as she and the ,duchess were pleased to call ,piney4 ,piney was no chicken1 but it was a soothing and ingenious theory of the pair thus to account for the fact that she didn't swear and wasn't improper4 ,when night crept up again through the gorges1 the reedy notes of the accordion rose and fell in fitful spasms and long-drawn gasps by the flickering campfire4 ,but music failed to fill entirely the aching void left by insufficient food1 and a new diversion was proposed by ,piney--story-telling4 ,neither ,mr4 ,oakhurst nor his female companions caring to relate their personal experiences1 this plan would have failed1 too1 but for the ,innocent4 ,some months before he had chanced upon a stray copy of ,mr4 ,pope's ingenious translation of the ,iliad4 ,he now proposed to narrate the principal incidents of that poem--having thoroughly mastered the argument and fairly forgotten the words--in the current vernacular of ,sandy ,bar4 ,and so for the rest of that night the ,homeric demigods again walked the earth4 ,trojan bully and wily ,greek wrestled in the winds1 and the great pines in the canon seemed to bow to the wrath of the son of ,peleus4 ,mr4 ,oakhurst listened with quiet satisfaction4 ,most especially was he interested in the fate of ,ash-heels1 as the ,innocent persisted in denominating the swift-footed ,achilles4 ,so with small food and much of ,homer and the accordion1 a week passed over the heads of the outcasts4 ,the sun again forsook them1 and again from leaden skies the snowflakes were sifted over the land4 ,day by day closer around them drew the snowy circle1 until at last they looked from their prison over drifted walls of dazzling white1 that towered twenty feet above their heads4 ,it became more and more difficult to replenish their fires1 even from the fallen trees beside them1 now half hidden in the drifts4 ,and yet no one complained4 ,the lovers turned from the dreary prospect and looked into each other's eyes1 and were happy4 ,mr4 ,oakhurst settled himself coolly to the losing game before him4 ,the ,duchess1 more cheerful than she had been1 assumed the care of ,piney4 ,only ,mother ,shipton--once the strongest of the party--seemed to sicken and fade4 ,at midnight on the tenth day she called ,oakhurst to her side4 ,i'm going1 she said1 in a voice of querulous weakness1 but don't say anything about it4 ,don't waken the kids4 ,take the bundle from under my head and open it4 ,mr4 ,oakhurst did so4 ,it contained ,mother ,shipton's rations for the last week1 untouched4 ,give 'em to the child1 she said1 pointing to the sleeping ,piney4 ,you've starved yourself1 said the gambler4 ,that's what they call it1 said the woman1 querulously1 as she lay down again1 and1 turning her face to the wall1 passed quietly away4 ,the accordion and the bones were put aside that day1 and ,homer was forgotten4 ,when the body of ,mother ,shipton had been committed to the snow1 ,mr4 ,oakhurst took the ,innocent aside1 and showed him a pair of snowshoes1 which he had fashioned from the old pack- saddle4 ,there's one chance in a hundred to save her yet1 he said1 pointing to ,piney2 but it's there1 he added1 pointing toward ,poker ,flat4 ,if you can reach there in two days she's safe4 ,and you8 asked ,tom ,simson4 ,i'll stay here1 was the curt reply4 ,the lovers parted with a long embrace4 ,you are not going1 too8 said the ,duchess1 as she saw ,mr4 ,oakhurst apparently waiting to accompany him4 ,as far as the canon1 he replied4 ,he turned suddenly1 and kissed the ,duchess1 leaving her pallid face aflame1 and her trembling limbs rigid with amazement4 ,night came1 but not ,mr4 ,oakhurst4 ,it brought the storm again and the whirling snow4 ,then the ,duchess1 feeding the fire1 found that some one had quietly piled beside the hut enough fuel to last a few days longer4 ,the tears rose to her eyes1 but she hid them from ,piney4 ,the women slept but little4 ,in the morning1 looking into each other's faces1 they read their fate4 ,neither spoke2 but ,piney1 accepting the position of the stronger1 drew near and placed her arm around the ,duchess's waist4 ,they kept this attitude for the rest of the day4 ,that night the storm reached its greatest fury1 and1 rending asunder the protecting pines1 invaded the very hut4 ,toward morning they found themselves unable to feed the fire1 which gradually died away4 ,as the embers slowly blackened1 the ,duchess crept closer to ,piney1 and broke the silence of many hours3 ,piney1 can you pray8 ,no1 dear1 said ,piney1 simply4 ,the ,duchess1 without knowing exactly why1 felt relieved1 and1 putting her head upon ,piney's shoulder1 spoke no more4 ,and so reclining1 the younger and purer pillowing the head of her soiled sister upon her virgin breast1 they fell asleep4 ,the wind lulled as if it feared to waken them4 ,feathery drifts of snow1 shaken from the long pine boughs1 flew like white-winged birds1 and settled about them as they slept4 ,the moon through the rifted clouds looked down upon what had been the camp4 ,but all human stain1 all trace of earthly travail1 was hidden beneath the spotless mantle mercifully flung from above4 ,they slept all that day and the next1 nor did they waken when voices and footsteps broke the silence of the camp4 ,and when pitying fingers brushed the snow from their wan faces1 you could scarcely have told from the equal peace that dwelt upon them1 which was she that had sinned4 ,even the ,law of ,poker ,flat recognized this1 and turned away1 leaving them still locked in each other's arms4 ,but at the head of the gulch1 on one of the largest pine-trees1 they found the deuce of clubs pinned to the bark with a bowie knife4 ,it bore the following1 written in pencil1 in a firm hand3 ,,beneath ,,this ,,tree ,,lies ,,the ,,body ,,of ,,john ,,oakhurst1 ,,who ,,struck ,a ,,streak ,,of ,,bad ,,luck ,,on ,,the #b,,nd ,,of ,,november1 #ahej1 ,,and ,,handed ,,in ,,his ,,checks ,,on ,,the #g,,th ,,december1 #ahej4 ,and1 pulseless and cold1 with a ,derringer by his side and a bullet in his heart1 though still calm as in life1 beneath the snow lay he who was at once the strongest and yet the weakest of the outcasts of ,poker ,flat4 ,,the ,,revolt ,,of ,,mother ,,by ,,mary ,e4 ,,wilkins ,,freeman ,this is a story of character against a ,new ,england background4 ,each character is worked out with the delicacy and minuteness of a cameo4 ,each is intensely realistic1 yet1 as in the cameo1 palely flushed with romance4 ,mother1 along with her originality of action and long-concealed ideals1 has the saving quality of common-sense1 which makes its powerful appeal to the daily realities of life4 ,thus when ,father1 dazed by the unexpected revelation of the character and ideals of the woman he has misunderstood for forty years1 stands uncertain whether to assert or to surrender his long-established supremacy1 she decides him in her favor by a practical suggestion of acquiescence3 ,you'd better take your coat off an' get washed--there's the wash-basin--an' then we'll have supper4 ,,the ,,revolt ,,of ,,mother ,footnote3 ,from ,a ,new ,england ,nun and ,other ,stories1 by ,mary ,e4 ,wilkins ,freeman4 ,copyright1 #ahia1 by ,harper ,bros4 ,reprinted by special permission4 ,father6 ,what is it8 ,what are them men diggin' over there in the field for8 ,there was a sudden dropping and enlarging of the lower part of the old man's face1 as if some heavy weight had settled therein2 he shut his mouth tight1 and went on harnessing the great bay mare4 ,he hustled the collar on to her neck with a jerk4 ,father6 ,the old man slapped the saddle upon the mare's back4 ,look here1 father1 ,i want to know what them men are diggin' over in the field for1 an' ,i'm goin' to know4 ,i wish you'd go into the house1 mother1 an' 'tend to your own affairs1 the old man said then4 ,he ran his words together1 and his speech was almost as inarticulate as a growl4 ,but the woman understood2 it was her most native tongue4 ,i ain't goin' into the house till you tell me what them men are doin' over there in the field1 said she4 ,then she stood waiting4 ,she was a small woman1 short and straight- waisted like a child in her brown cotton gown4 ,her forehead was mild and benevolent between the smooth curves of gray hair2 there were meek downward lines about her nose and mouth2 but her eyes1 fixed upon the old man1 looked as if the meekness had been the result of her own will1 never of the will of another4 ,they were in the barn1 standing before the wide-open doors4 ,the spring air1 full of the smell of growing grass and unseen blossoms1 came in their faces4 ,the deep yard in front was littered with farm wagons and piles of wood1 on the edges1 close to the fence and the house1 the grass was a vivid green1 and there were some dandelions4 ,the old man glanced doggedly at his wife as he tightened the last buckles on the harness4 ,she looked as immovable to him as one of the rocks in his pastureland1 bound to the earth with generations of blackberry vines4 ,he slapped the reins over the horse1 and started forth from the barn4 ,,father6 said she4 ,the old man pulled up4 ,what is it8 ,i want to know what them men are diggin' over there in that field for4 ,they're diggin' a cellar1 ,i s'pose1 if you've got to know4 ,a cellar for what8 ,a barn4 ,a barn8 ,you ain't goin' to build a barn over there where we was goin' to have a house1 father8 ,the old man said not another word4 ,he hurried the horse into the farm wagon1 and clattered out of the yard1 jouncing as sturdily on his seat as a boy4 ,the woman stood a moment looking after him1 then she went out of the barn across a corner of the yard to the house4 ,the house1 standing at right angles with the great barn and a long reach of sheds and out-buildings1 was infinitesimal compared with them4 ,it was scarcely as commodious for people as the little boxes under the barn eaves were for doves4 ,a pretty girl's face1 pink and delicate as a flower1 was looking out of one of the house windows4 ,she was watching three men who were digging over in the field which bounded the yard near the road line4 ,she turned quietly when the woman entered4 ,what are they digging for1 mother8 said she4 ,did he tell you8 ,they're diggin' for--a cellar for a new barn4 ,oh1 mother1 he ain't going to build another barn8 ,that's what he says4 ,a boy stood before the kitchen glass combing his hair4 ,he combed slowly and painstakingly1 arranging his brown hair in a smooth hillock over his forehead4 ,he did not seem to pay any attention to the conversation4 ,sammy1 did you know father was going to build a new barn8 asked the girl4 ,the boy combed assiduously4 ,sammy6 ,he turned1 and showed a face like his father's under his smooth crest of hair4 ,yes1 ,i s'pose ,i did1 he said1 reluctantly4 ,how long have you known it8 asked his mother4 ',bout three months1 ,i guess4 ,why didn't you tell of it8 ,didn't think 'twould do no good4 ,i don't see what father wants another barn for1 said the girl1 in her sweet1 slow voice4 ,she turned again to the window1 and stared out at the digging men in the field4 ,her tender1 sweet face was full of a gentle distress4 ,her forehead was as bald and innocent as a baby's1 with the light hair strained back from it in a row of curl-papers4 ,she was quite large1 but her soft curves did not look as if they covered muscles4 ,her mother looked sternly at the boy4 ,is he goin' to buy more cows8 said she4 ,the boy did not reply2 he was tying his shoes4 ,sammy1 ,i want you to tell me if he's goin' to buy more cows4 ,i s'pose he is4 ,how many8 ,four1 ,i guess4 ,his mother said nothing more4 ,she went into the pantry1 and there was a clatter of dishes4 ,the boy got his cap from a nail behind the door1 took an old arithmetic from the shelf1 and started for school4 ,he was lightly built1 but clumsy4 ,he went out of the yard with a curious spring in the hips1 that made his loose home-made jacket tilt up in the rear4 ,the girl went to the sink1 and began to wash the dishes that were piled up there4 ,her mother came promptly out of the pantry1 and shoved her aside4 ,you wipe 'em1 said she2 ,i'll wash4 ,there's a good many this mornin'4 ,the mother plunged her hands vigorously into the water1 the girl wiped the plates slowly and dreamily4 ,mother1 said she1 don't you think it's too bad father's going to build that new barn1 much as we need a decent house to live in8 ,her mother scrubbed a dish fiercely4 ,you ain't found out yet we're women-folks1 ,nanny ,penn1 said she4 ,you ain't seen enough of men-folks yet to4 ,one of these days you'll find it out1 an' then you'll know that we know only what men-folks think we do1 so far as any use of it goes1 an' how we'd ought to reckon men-folks in with ,providence1 an' not complain of what they do any more than we do of the weather4 ,i don't care2 ,i don't believe ,george is anything like that1 anyhow1 said ,nanny4 ,her delicate face flushed pink1 her lips pouted softly1 as if she were going to cry4 ,you wait an' see4 ,i guess ,george ,eastman ain't no better than other men4 ,you hadn't ought to judge father1 though4 ,he can't help it1 'cause he don't look at things jest the way we do4 ,an' we've been pretty comfortable here1 after all4 ,the roof don't leak-- ain't never but once--that's one thing4 ,father's kept it shingled right up4 ,i do wish we had a parlor4 ,i guess it won't hurt ,george ,eastman any to come to see you in a nice clean kitchen4 ,i guess a good many girls don't have as good a place as this4 ,nobody's ever heard me complain4 ,i ain't complained either1 mother4 ,well1 ,i don't think you'd better1 a good father an' a good home as you've got4 ,s'pose your father made you go out an' work for your livin'8 ,lots of girls have to that ain't no stronger an' better able to than you be4 ,sarah ,penn washed the frying-pan with a conclusive air4 ,she scrubbed the outside of it as faithfully as the inside4 ,she was a masterly keeper of her box of a house4 ,her one living-room never seemed to have in it any of the dust which the friction of life with inanimate matter produces4 ,she swept1 and there seemed to be no dirt to go before the broom2 she cleaned1 and one could see no difference4 ,she was like an artist so perfect that he has apparently no art4 ,to-day she got out a mixing bowl and a board1 and rolled some pies1 and there was no more flour upon her than upon her daughter who was doing finer work4 ,nanny was to be married in the fall1 and she was sewing on some white cambric and embroidery4 ,she sewed industriously while her mother cooked1 her soft milk-white hands and wrists showed whiter than her delicate work4 ,we must have the stove moved out in the shed before long1 said ,mrs4 ,penn4 ,talk about not havin' things1 it's been a real blessin' to be able to put a stove up in that shed in hot weather4 ,father did one good thing when he fixed that stove-pipe out there4 ,sarah ,penn's face as she rolled her pies had that expression of meek vigor which might have characterized one of the ,new ,testament saints4 ,she was making mince-pies4 ,her husband1 ,adoniram ,penn1 liked them better than any other kind4 ,she baked twice a week4 ,adoniram often liked a piece of pie between meals4 ,she hurried this morning4 ,it had been later than usual when she began1 and she wanted to have a pie baked for dinner4 ,however deep a resentment she might be forced to hold against her husband1 she would never fail in sedulous attention to his wants4 ,nobility of character manifests itself at loop-holes when it is not provided with large doors4 ,sarah ,penn's showed itself to-day in flaky dishes of pastry4 ,so she made the pies faithfully1 while across the table she could see1 when she glanced up from her work1 the sight that rankled in her patient and steadfast soul--the digging of the cellar of the new barn in the place where ,adoniram forty years ago had promised her their new house should stand4 ,the pies were done for dinner4 ,adoniram and ,sammy were home a few minutes after twelve o'clock4 ,the dinner was eaten with serious haste4 ,there was never much conversation at the table in the ,penn family4 ,adoniram asked a blessing1 and they ate promptly1 then rose up and went about their work4 ,sammy went back to school1 taking soft1 sly lopes out of the yard like a rabbit4 ,he wanted a game of marbles before school1 and feared his father would give him some chores to do4 ,adoniram hastened to the door and called after him1 but he was out of sight4 ,i don't see what you let him go for1 mother1 said he4 ,i wanted him to help me unload that wood4 ,adoniram went to work out in the yard unloading wood from the wagon4 ,sarah put away the dinner dishes1 while ,nanny took down her curl-papers and changed her dress4 ,she was going down to the store to buy some more embroidery and thread4 ,when ,nanny was gone1 ,mrs4 ,penn went to the door4 ,father6 she called4 ,well1 what is it6 ,i want to see you jest a minute1 father4 ,i can't leave this wood nohow4 ,i've got to git it unloaded an' go for a load of gravel afore two o'clock4 ,sammy had ought to helped me4 ,you hadn't ought to let him go to school so early4 ,i want to see you jest a minute4 ,i tell ye ,i can't1 nohow1 mother4 ,father1 you come here4 ,sarah ,penn stood in the door like a queen2 she held her head as if it bore a crown2 there was that patience which makes authority royal in her voice4 ,adoniram went4 ,mrs4 ,penn led the way into the kitchen1 and pointed to a chair4 ,sit down1 father1 said she2 ,i've got somethin' ,i want to say to you4 ,he sat down heavily2 his face was quite stolid1 but he looked at her with restive eyes4 ,well1 what is it1 mother8 ,i want to know what you're buildin' that new barn for1 father8 ,i ain't got nothin' to say about it4 ,it can't be you think you need another barn8 ,i tell ye ,i ain't got nothin' to say about it1 mother2 an' ,i ain't goin' to say nothin'4 ,be you goin' to buy more cows8 ,adoniram did not reply2 he shut his mouth tight4 ,i know you be1 as well as ,i want to4 ,now1 father1 look here-- ,sarah ,penn had not sat down2 she stood before her husband in the humble fashion of a ,scripture woman--,i'm goin' to talk real plain to you2 ,i never have sence ,i married you1 but ,i'm goin' to now4 ,i ain't never complained1 an' ,i ain't goin' to complain now1 but ,i'm goin' to talk plain4 ,you see this room here1 father2 you look at it well4 ,you see there ain't no carpet on the floor1 an' you see the paper is all dirty1 an' droppin' off the walls4 ,we ain't had no new paper on it for ten year1 an' then ,i put it on myself1 an' it didn't cost but ninepence a roll4 ,you see this room1 father2 it's all the one ,i've had to work in an' eat in an' sit in sence we was married4 ,there ain't another woman in the whole town whose husband ain't got half the means you have but what's got better4 ,it's all the room ,nanny's got to have her company in2 an' there ain't one of her mates but what's got better1 an' their fathers not so able as hers is4 ,it's all the room she'll have to be married in4 ,what would you have thought1 father1 if we had had our weddin' in a room no better than this8 ,i was married in my mother's parlor1 with a carpet on the floor1 an' stuffed furniture1 an' a mahogany card-table4 ,an' this is all the room my daughter will have to be married in4 ,look here1 father6 ,sarah ,penn went across the room as though it were a tragic stage4 ,she flung open a door and disclosed a tiny bedroom1 only large enough for a bed and bureau1 with a path between4 ,there1 father1 said she--there's all the room ,i've had to sleep in forty year4 ,all my children were born there--the two that died1 an' the two that's livin'4 ,i was sick with a fever there4 ,she stepped to another door and opened it4 ,it led into the small1 ill-lighted pantry4 ,here1 said she1 is all the buttery ,i've got--every place ,i've got for my dishes1 to set away my victuals in1 an' to keep my milk-pans in4 ,father1 ,i've been takin' care of the milk of six cows in this place1 an' now you're goin' to build a new barn1 an' keep more cows1 an' give me more to do in it4 ,she threw open another door4 ,a narrow crooked flight of stairs wound upward from it4 ,there1 father1 said she1 ,i want you to look at the stairs that go up to them two unfinished chambers that are all the places our son an' daughter have had to sleep in all their lives4 ,there ain't a prettier girl in town nor a more ladylike one than ,nanny1 an' that's the place she has to sleep in4 ,it ain't so good as your horse's stall2 it ain't so warm an' tight4 ,sarah ,penn went back and stood before her husband4 ,now1 father1 said she1 ,i want to know if you think you're doin' right an' accordin' to what you profess4 ,here1 when we was married1 forty year ago1 you promised me faithful that we should have a new house built in that lot over in the field before the year was out4 ,you said you had money enough1 an' you wouldn't ask me to live in no such place as this4 ,it is forty year now1 an' you've been makin' more money1 an' ,i've been savin' of it for you ever sence1 an' you ain't built no house yet4 ,you've built sheds an' cow-houses an' one new barn1 an' now you're goin' to build another4 ,father1 ,i want to know if you think it's right4 ,you're lodgin' your dumb beasts better than you are your own flesh an' blood4 ,i want to know if you think it's right4 ,i ain't got nothin' to say4 ,you can't say nothin' without ownin' it ain't right1 father4 ,an' there's another thing--,i ain't complained2 ,i've got along forty year1 an' ,i s'pose ,i should forty more1 if it wa'n't for that--if we don't have another house4 ,nanny she can't live with us after she's married4 ,she'll have to go somewheres else to live away from us1 an' it don't seem as if ,i could have it so1 noways1 father4 ,she wa'n't ever strong4 ,she's got considerable color1 but there wa'n't never any backbone to her4 ,i've always took the heft of everything off her1 an' she ain't fit to keep house an' do everything herself4 ,she'll be all worn out inside of a year4 ,think of her doin' all the washin' an' ironin' an' bakin' with them soft white hands an' arms1 an' sweepin'6 ,i can't have it so1 noways1 father4 ,mrs4 ,penn's face was burning2 her mild eyes gleamed4 ,she had pleaded her little cause like a ,webster2 she had ranged from severity to pathos2 but her opponent employed that obstinate silence which makes eloquence futile with mocking echoes4 ,adoniram arose clumsily4 ,father1 ain't you got nothin' to say8 said ,mrs4 ,penn4 ,i've got to go off after that load of gravel4 ,i can't stan' here talkin' all day4 ,father1 won't you think it over1 an' have a house built there instead of a barn8 ,i ain't got nothin' to say4 ,adoniram shuffled out4 ,mrs4 ,penn went into her bedroom4 ,when she came out1 her eyes were red4 ,she had a roll of unbleached cotton cloth4 ,she spread it out on the kitchen table1 and began cutting out some shirts for her husband4 ,the men over in the field had a team to help them this afternoon2 she could hear their halloos4 ,she had a scanty pattern for the shirts2 she had to plan and piece the sleeves4 ,nanny came home with her embroidery1 and sat down with her needlework4 ,she had taken down her curl-papers1 and there was a soft roll of fair hair like an aureole over her forehead2 her face was as delicately fine and clear as porcelain4 ,suddenly she looked up1 and the tender red flamed all over her face and neck4 ,mother1 said she4 ,what say8 ,i've been thinking--,i don't see how we're goin' to have any-- wedding in this room4 ,i'd be ashamed to have his folks come if we didn't have anybody else4 ,mebbe we can have some new paper before then2 ,i can put it on4 ,i guess you won't have no call to be ashamed of your belongin's4 ,we might have the wedding in the new barn1 said ,nanny1 with gentle pettishness4 ,why1 mother1 what makes you look so8 ,mrs4 ,penn had started1 and was staring at her with a curious expression4 ,she turned again to her work1 and spread out a pattern carefully on the cloth4 ,nothin'1 said she4 ,presently ,adoniram clattered out of the yard in his two-wheeled dump cart1 standing as proudly upright as a ,roman charioteer4 ,mrs4 ,penn opened the door and stood there a minute looking out2 the halloos of the men sounded louder4 ,it seemed to her all through the spring months that she heard nothing but the halloos and the noises of saws and hammers4 ,the new barn grew fast4 ,it was a fine edifice for this little village4 ,men came on pleasant ,sundays1 in their meeting suits and clean shirt bosoms1 and stood around it admiringly4 ,mrs4 ,penn did not speak of it1 and ,adoniram did not mention it to her1 although sometimes1 upon a return from inspecting it1 he bore himself with injured dignity4 ,it's a strange thing how your mother feels about the new barn1 he said1 confidentially1 to ,sammy one day4 ,sammy only grunted after an odd fashion for a boy2 he had learned it from his father4 ,the barn was all completed ready for use by the third week in ,july4 ,adoniram had planned to move his stock in on ,wednesday2 on ,tuesday he received a letter which changed his plans4 ,he came in with it early in the morning4 ,sammy's been to the post-office1 said he1 an' ,i've got a letter from ,hiram4 ,hiram was ,mrs4 ,penn's brother1 who lived in ,vermont4 ,well1 said ,mrs4 ,penn1 what does he say about the folks8 ,i guess they're all right4 ,he says he thinks if ,i come up country right off there's a chance to buy jest the kind of a horse ,i want4 ,he stared reflectively out of the window at the new barn4 ,mrs4 ,penn was making pies4 ,she went on clapping the rolling-pin into the crust1 although she was very pale1 and her heart beat loudly4 ,i dun' know but what ,i'd better go1 said ,adoniram4 ,i hate to go off jest now1 right in the midst of hayin'1 but the ten-acre lot's cut1 an' ,i guess ,rufus an' the others can git along without me three or four days4 ,i can't get a horse round here to suit me1 nohow1 an' ,i've got to have another for all that wood-haulin' in the fall4 ,i told ,hiram to watch out1 an' if he got wind of a good horse to let me know4 ,i guess ,i'd better go4 ,i'll get out your clean shirt an' collar1 said ,mrs4 ,penn1 calmly4 ,she laid out ,adoniram's ,sunday suit and his clean clothes on the bed in the little bedroom4 ,she got his shaving-water and razor ready4 ,at last she buttoned on his collar and fastened his black cravat4 ,adoniram never wore his collar and cravat except on extra occasions4 ,he held his head high1 with a rasped dignity4 ,when he was all ready1 with his coat and hat brushed1 and a lunch of pie and cheese in a paper bag1 he hesitated on the threshold of the door4 ,he looked at his wife1 and his manner was defiantly apologetic4 ,,if them cows come to-day1 ,sammy can drive 'em into the new barn1 said he2 an' when they bring the hay up1 they can pitch it in there4 ,well1 replied ,mrs4 ,penn4 ,adoniram set his shaven face ahead and started4 ,when he had cleared the door-step1 he turned and looked back with a kind of nervous solemnity4 ,i shall be back by ,saturday if nothin' happens1 said he4 ,do be careful1 father1 returned his wife4 ,she stood in the door with ,nanny at her elbow and watched him out of sight4 ,her eyes had a strange1 doubtful expression in them2 her peaceful forehead was contracted4 ,she went in1 and about her baking again4 ,nanny sat sewing4 ,her wedding-day was drawing nearer1 and she was getting pale and thin with her steady sewing4 ,her mother kept glancing at her4 ,have you got that pain in your side this mornin'8 she asked4 ,a little4 ,mrs4 ,penn's face1 as she worked1 changed1 her perplexed forehead smoothed1 her eyes were steady1 her lips firmly set4 ,she formed a maxim for herself1 although incoherently with her unlettered thoughts4 ,unsolicited opportunities are the guide-posts of the ,lord to the new roads of life1 she repeated in effect1 and she made up her mind to her course of action4 ,s'posin' ,i had wrote to ,hiram1 she muttered once1 when she was in the pantry--s'posin' ,i had wrote1 an' asked him if he knew of any horse8 ,but ,i didn't1 an' father's goin' wa'n't none of my doin'4 ,it looks like a providence4 ,her voice rang out quite loud at the last4 ,what you talkin' about1 mother8 called ,nanny4 ,nothin'4 ,mrs4 ,penn hurried her baking2 at eleven o 'clock it was all done4 ,the load of hay from the west field came slowly down the cart track1 and drew up at the new barn4 ,mrs4 ,penn ran out4 ,stop6 she screamed--stop6 ,the men stopped and looked2 ,sammy upreared from the top of the load1 and stared at his mother4 ,stop6 she cried out again4 ,don't you put the hay in that barn2 put it in the old one4 ,why1 he said to put it in here1 returned one of the haymakers1 wonderingly4 ,he was a young man1 a neighbor's son1 whom ,adoniram hired by the year to help on the farm4 ,don't you put the hay in the new barn2 there's room enough in the old one1 ain't there8 said ,mrs4 ,penn4 ,room enough1 returned the hired man1 in his thick1 rustic tones4 ,didn't need the new barn1 nohow1 far as room's concerned4 ,well1 ,i s'pose he changed his mind4 ,he took hold of the horses' bridles4 ,mrs4 ,penn went back to the house4 ,soon the kitchen windows were darkened1 and a fragrance like warm honey came into the room4 ,nanny laid down her work4 ,i thought father wanted them to put the hay into the new barn8 she said1 wonderingly4 ,it's all right1 replied her mother4 ,sammy slid down from the load of hay1 and came in to see if dinner was ready4 ,i ain't goin' to get a regular dinner to-day1 as long as father's gone1 said his mother4 ,i've let the fire go out4 ,you can have some bread an' milk an' pie4 ,i thought we could get along4 ,she set out some bowls of milk1 some bread1 and a pie on the kitchen table4 ,you'd better eat your dinner now1 said she4 ,you might jest as well get through with it4 ,i want you to help me afterward4 ,nanny and ,sammy stared at each other4 ,there was something strange in their mother's manner4 ,mrs4 ,penn did not eat anything herself4 ,she went into the pantry1 and they heard her moving dishes while they ate4 ,presently she came out with a pile of plates4 ,she got the clothes-basket out of the shed1 and packed them in it4 ,nanny and ,sammy watched4 ,she brought out cups and saucers1 and put them in with the plates4 ,what you goin' to do1 mother8 inquired ,nanny1 in a timid voice4 ,a sense of something unusual made her tremble1 as if it were a ghost4 ,sammy rolled his eyes over his pie4 ,you'll see what ,i'm goin' to do1 replied ,mrs4 ,penn4 ,if you're through1 ,nanny1 ,i want you to go upstairs an' pack up your things2 an' ,i want you1 ,sammy1 to help me take down the bed in the bedroom4 ,oh1 mother1 what for8 gasped ,nanny4 ,you'll see4 ,during the next few hours a feat was performed by this simple1 pious ,new ,england mother which was equal in its way to ,wolfe's storming of the ,heights of ,abraham4 ,it took no more genius and audacity of bravery for ,wolfe to cheer his wondering soldiers up those steep precipices1 under the sleeping eyes of the enemy1 than for ,sarah ,penn1 at the head of her children1 to move all their little household goods into the new barn while her husband was away4 ,nanny and ,sammy followed their mother's instructions without a murmur2 indeed1 they were overawed4 ,there is a certain uncanny and superhuman quality about all such purely original undertakings as their mother's was to them4 ,nanny went back and forth with her light loads1 and ,sammy tugged with sober energy4 ,at five o'clock in the afternoon the little house in which the ,penns had lived for forty years had emptied itself into the new barn4 ,every builder builds somewhat for unknown purposes1 and is in a measure a prophet4 ,the architect of ,adoniram ,penn's barn1 while he designed it for the comfort of four-footed animals1 had planned better than he knew for the comfort of humans4 ,sarah ,penn saw at a glance its possibilities4 ,those great box-stalls1 with quilts hung before them1 would make better bedrooms than the one she had occupied for forty years1 and there was a tight carriage-room4 ,the harness-room1 with its chimney and shelves1 would make a kitchen of her dreams4 ,the great middle space would make a parlor1 by-and- by1 fit for a palace4 ,upstairs there was as much room as down4 ,with partitions and windows1 what a house would there be6 ,sarah looked at the row of stanchions before the allotted space for cows1 and reflected that she would have her front entry there4 ,at six o'clock the stove was up in the harness-room1 the kettle was boiling1 and the table set for tea4 ,it looked almost as home- like as the abandoned house across the yard had ever done4 ,the young hired man milked1 and ,sarah directed him calmly to bring the milk to the new barn4 ,he came gaping1 dropping little blots of foam from the brimming pails on the grass4 ,before the next morning he had spread the story of ,adoniram ,penn's wife moving into the new barn all over the little village4 ,men assembled in the store and talked it over1 women with shawls over their heads scuttled into each other's houses before their work was done ,any deviation from the ordinary course of life in this quiet town was enough to stop all progress in it4 ,everybody paused to look at the staid1 independent figure on the side track4 ,there was a difference of opinion with regard to her4 ,some held her to be insane2 some1 of a lawless and rebellious spirit4 ,friday the minister went to see her4 ,it was in the forenoon1 and she was at the barn door shelling peas for dinner4 ,she looked up and returned his salutation with dignity1 then she went on with her work4 ,she did not invite him in4 ,the saintly expression of her face remained fixed1 but there was an angry flush over it4 ,the minister stood awkwardly before her1 and talked1 ,she handled the peas as if they were bullets4 ,at last she looked up1 and her eyes showed the spirit that her meek front had covered for a lifetime4 ,there ain't no use talkin'1 ,mr4 ,hersey1 said she4 ,i've thought it all over an' over1 an' ,i believe ,i'm doin' what's right4 ,i've made it the subject of prayer1 an' it's betwixt me an' the ,lord an' ,adoniram4 ,there ain't no call for nobody else to worry about it4 ,well1 of course1 if you have brought it to the ,lord in prayer1 and feel satisfied that you are doing right1 ,mrs4 ,penn1 said the minister1 helplessly4 ,his thin gray-bearded face was pathetic4 ,he was a sickly man2 his youthful confidence had cooled2 he had to scourge himself up to some of his pastoral duties as relentlessly as a ,catholic ascetic1 and then he was prostrated by the smart4 ,i think it's right jest as much as ,i think it was right for our forefathers to come over from the old country 'cause they didn't have what belonged to 'em1 said ,mrs4 ,penn4 ,she arose4 ,the barn threshold might have been ,plymouth ,rock from her bearing4 ,i don't doubt you mean well1 ,mr4 ,hersey1 said she1 but there are things people hadn't ought to interfere with4 ,i've been a member of the church for over forty year4 ,i've got my own mind an' my own feet1 an' ,i'm goin' to think my own thoughts an' go my own ways1 an' nobody but the ,lord is goin' to dictate to me unless ,i've a mind to have him4 ,won't you come in an' set down8 ,how is ,mis' ,hersey8 ,she is well1 ,i thank you1 replied the minister4 ,he added some more perplexed apologetic remarks2 then he retreated4 ,he could expound the intricacies of every character study in the ,scriptures1 he was competent to grasp the ,pilgrim ,fathers and all historical innovators1 but ,sarah ,penn was beyond him4 ,he could deal with primal cases1 but parallel ones worsted him4 ,but1 after all1 although it was aside from his province1 he wondered more how ,adoniram ,penn would deal with his wife than how the ,lord would4 ,everybody shared the wonder4 ,when ,adoniram's four new cows arrived1 ,sarah ordered three to be put in the old barn1 the other in the house shed where the cooking-stove had stood4 ,that added to the excitement4 ,it was whispered that all four cows were domiciled in the house4 ,towards sunset on ,saturday1 when ,adoniram was expected home1 there was a knot of men in the road near the new barn4 ,the hired man had milked1 but he still hung around the premises4 ,sarah ,penn had supper all ready4 ,there were brown-bread and baked beans and a custard pie2 it was the supper that ,adoniram loved on a ,saturday night4 ,she had on a clean calico1 and she bore herself imperturbably4 ,nanny and ,sammy kept close at her heels4 ,their eyes were large1 and ,nanny was full of nervous tremors4 ,still there was to them more pleasant excitement than anything else4 ,an inborn confidence in their mother over their father asserted itself4 ,sammy looked out of the harness-room window4 ,there he is1 he announced1 in an awed whisper4 ,he and ,nanny peeped around the casing4 ,mrs4 ,penn kept on about her work4 ,the children watched ,adoniram leave the new horse standing in the drive while he went to the house door4 ,it was fastened4 ,then he went around to the shed4 ,that door was seldom locked1 even when the family was away4 ,the thought how her father would be confronted by the cow flashed upon ,nanny4 ,there was a hysterical sob in her throat4 ,adoniram emerged from the shed and stood looking about in a dazed fashion4 ,his lips moved2 he was saying something1 but they could not hear what it was4 ,the hired man was peeping around a corner of the old barn1 but nobody saw him4 ,adoniram took the new horse by the bridle and led him across the yard to the new barn4 ,nanny and ,sammy slunk close to their mother4 ,the barn doors rolled back1 and there stood ,adoniram1 with the long mild face of the great ,canadian farm horse looking over his shoulder4 ,nanny kept behind her mother1 but ,sammy stepped suddenly forward1 and stood in front of her4 ,adoniram stared at the group4 ,what on airth you all down here for8 said he4 ,what's the matter over to the house6 ,we've come here to live1 father1 said ,sammy4 ,his shrill voice quavered out bravely4 ,what--,adoniram sniffed--what is it smells like cookin'8 said he4 ,he stepped forward and looked in the open door of the harness- room4 ,then he turned to his wife4 ,his old bristling face was pale and frightened4 ,what on airth does this mean1 mother8 he gasped4 ,you come in here1 father1 said ,sarah4 ,she led the way into the harness-room and shut the door4 ,now1 father1 said she1 you needn't be scared4 ,i ain't crazy4 ,there ain't nothin' to be upset over4 ,but we've come here to live1 an' we're goin' to live here4 ,we've got jest as good a right here as new horses an' cows4 ,the house wa'n't fit for us to live in any longer1 an' ,i made up my mind ,i wa'n't goin' to stay there4 ,i've done my duty by you forty year1 an' ,i'm goin' to do it now2 but ,i'm goin' to live here4 ,you've got to put in some windows and partitions2 an' you'll have to buy some furniture4 ,why1 mother6 the old man gasped4 ,you'd better take your coat off an' get washed--there's the wash- basin--an' then we'll have supper4 ,why1 mother6 ,sammy went past the window1 leading the new horse to the old barn4 ,the old man saw him1 and shook his head speechlessly4 ,he tried to take off his coat1 but his arms seemed to lack the power4 ,his wife helped him4 ,she poured some water into the tin basin1 and put in a piece of soap4 ,she got the comb and brush1 and smoothed his thin gray hair after he had washed4 ,then she put the beans1 hot bread1 and tea on the table4 ,sammy came in1 and the family drew up4 ,adoniram sat looking dazedly at his plate1 and they waited4 ,ain't you goin' to ask a blessin'1 father6 said ,sarah4 ,and the old man bent his head and mumbled4 ,all through the meal he stopped eating at intervals1 and stared furtively at his wife2 but he ate well4 ,the home food tasted good to him1 and his old frame was too sturdily healthy to be affected by his mind4 ,but after supper he went out1 and sat down on the step of the smaller door at the right of the barn1 through which he had meant his ,jerseys to pass in stately file1 but which ,sarah designed for her front house door1 and he leaned his head on his hands4 ,after the supper dishes were cleared away and the milk-pans washed1 ,sarah went out to him4 ,the twilight was deepening4 ,there was a clear green glow in the sky4 ,before them stretched the smooth level of field2 in the distance was a cluster of hay-stacks like the huts of a village2 the air was very cool and calm and sweet4 ,the landscape might have been an ideal one of peace4 ,sarah bent over and touched her husband on one of his thin1 sinewy shoulders4 ,father6 ,the old man's shoulders heaved3 he was weeping4 ,why1 don't do so1 father1 said ,sarah4 ,i'll--put up the--partitions1 an'--everything you--want1 mother4 ,sarah put her apron up to her face2 she was overcome by her own triumph4 ,adoniram was like a fortress whose walls had no active resistance1 and went down the instant the right besieging tools were used4 ,why1 mother1 he said1 hoarsely1 ,i hadn't no idee you was so set on't as all this comes to4 ,,marse ,,chan ,a ,,tale ,,of ,,old ,,virginia ,,by ,,thomas ,,nelson ,,page ,here plot1 character1 and setting are happily blended4 ,the story is sufficient to move smoothly and interestingly2 the characters1 both black and white1 reveal the ,southerner at his best2 and the setting not only furnishes an appropriate background for plot and characters1 but is significant of the leisure1 the isolation1 and the pride of the people4 ,,marse ,,chan ,footnote3 ,from ,in ,ole ,virginia1 by ,thomas ,nelson ,page4 ,copyright1 #ahhg1 by ,charles ,scribner's ,sons4 ,one afternoon1 in the autumn of #ahgb1 ,i was riding leisurely down the sandy road that winds along the top of the water-shed between two of the smaller rivers of eastern ,virginia4 ,the road ,i was travelling1 following the ridge for miles1 had just struck me as most significant of the character of the race whose only avenue of communication with the outside world it had formerly been4 ,their once splendid mansions1 now fast falling to decay1 appeared to view from time to time1 set back far from the road1 in proud seclusion1 among groves of oak and hickory1 now scarlet and gold with the early frost4 ,distance was nothing to this people1 time was of no consequence to them4 ,they desired but a level path in life1 and that they had1 though the way was longer1 and the outer world strode by them as they dreamed4 ,i was aroused from my reflections by hearing some one ahead of me calling1 ,heah6--heah--whoo-oop1 heah6 ,turning the curve in the road1 ,i saw just before me a negro standing1 with a hoe and a watering-pot in his hand4 ,he had evidently just gotten over the worm-fence into the road1 out of the path which led zigzag across the old field and was lost to sight in the dense growth of sassafras4 ,when ,i rode up1 he was looking anxiously back down this path for his dog4 ,so engrossed was he that he did not even hear my horse1 and ,i reined in to wait until he should turn around and satisfy my curiosity as to the handsome old place half a mile off from the road4 ,the numerous out-buildings and the large barns and stables told that it had once been the seat of wealth1 and the wild waste of sassafras that covered the broad fields gave it an air of desolation that greatly excited my interest4 ,entirely oblivious of my proximity1 the negro went on calling ,whoo-oop1 heah6 until along the path1 walking very slowly and with great dignity1 appeared a noble-looking old orange and white setter1 gray with age1 and corpulent with excessive feeding4 ,as soon as he came in sight1 his master began3 ,yes1 dat you6 ,you gittin' deaf as well as bline1 ,i s'pose6 ,kyarnt heah me callin'1 ,i reckon8 ,whyn't yo' come on1 dawg8 ,the setter sauntered slowly up to the fence and stopped1 without even deigning a look at the speaker1 who immediately proceeded to take the rails down1 talking meanwhile3 ,now1 ,i got to pull down de gap1 ,i s'pose6 ,yo' so sp'ilt yo' kyahn hardly walk4 ,jes' ez able to git over it as ,i is6 ,jes' like white folks--think 'cuz you's white and ,i'se black1 ,i got to wait on yo' all de time4 ,ne'm mine1 ,i ain' gwi' do it6 ,the fence having been pulled down sufficiently low to suit his dogship1 he marched sedately through1 and1 with a hardly perceptible lateral movement of his tail1 walked on down the road4 ,putting up the rails carefully1 the negro turned and saw me4 ,sarvent1 marster1 he said1 taking his hat off4 ,then1 as if apologetically for having permitted a stranger to witness what was merely a family affair1 he added3 ,he know ,i don' mean nothin' by what ,i sez4 ,he's ,marse ,chan's dawg1 an' he's so ole he kyahn git long no pearter4 ,he know ,i'se jes' prodjickin' wid 'im4 ,who is ,marse ,chan8 ,i asked2 and whose place is that over there1 and the one a mile or two back--the place with the big gate and the carved stone pillars6 ,marse ,chan1 said the darky1 he's ,marse ,channin'--my young marster2 an' dem places--dis one's ,wealls1 an' de one back dyar wid de rock gate-pos's is ole ,cun'l ,chahmb'lin's4 ,dey don' nobody live dyar now1 'cep' niggers4 ,arfter de war some one or nurr bought our place1 but his name done kind o' slipped me4 ,i nuver hearn on 'im befo'2 ,i think dey's half-strainers4 ,i don' ax none on 'em no odds4 ,i lives down de road heah1 a little piece1 an' ,i jes' steps down of a evenin' and looks arfter de graves4 ,well1 where is ,marse ,chan8 ,i asked4 ,hi6 don' you know8 ,marse ,chan1 he went in de army4 ,i was wid 'im4 ,yo' know he warn' gwine an' lef ,sam4 ,will you tell me all about it8 ,i said1 dismounting4 ,instantly1 and as if by instinct1 the darky stepped forward and took my bridle4 ,i demurred a little2 but with a bow that would have honored old ,sir ,roger1 he shortened the reins1 and taking my horse from me1 led him along4 ,now tell me about ,marse ,chan1 ,i said4 ,lawd1 marster1 hit's so long ago1 ,i'd a'most forgit all about it1 ef ,i hedn' been wid him ever sence he wuz born4 ,ez 'tis1 ,i remembers it jes' like 'twuz yistiddy4 ,yo' know ,marse ,chan an' me --we wuz boys togerr4 ,i wuz older'n he wuz1 jes' de same ez he wuz whiter'n me4 ,i wuz born plantin' corn time1 de spring arfter big ,jim an' de six steers got washed away at de upper ford right down dyar blow de quarters ez he wuz a-bringin' de ,chris'mas things home2 an' ,marse ,chan1 he warn' born tell mos' to de harves' arfter my sister ,nancy married ,cun'l ,chahmb'lin's ,torm1 'bout eight years arfterwoods4 ,well1 when ,marse ,chan wuz born1 dey wuz de grettes' doin's at home you ever did see4 ,de folks all hed holiday1 jes' like in de ,chris'mas4 ,ole marster 7we didn' call 'im ,,ole marster tell arfter ,marster ,chan wuz born-befo' dat he wuz jes' de marster1 so7--well1 ole marster1 his face fyar shine wid pleasure1 an' all de folks wuz mighty glad1 too1 'cause dey all loved ole marster1 and aldo' dey did step aroun' right peart when ole marster was lookin' at 'em1 dyar warn' nyar han' on de place but what1 ef he wanted anythin'1 would walk up to de back poach1 an' say he warn' to see de marster4 ,an' ev'ybody wuz talkin' 'bout de young marster1 an' de maids an' de wimmens 'bout de kitchen wuz sayin' how 'twuz de purties' chile dey ever see2 an' at dinner-time de mens 7all on 'em hed holiday7 come roun' de poach an' ax how de missis an' de young marster wuz1 an' ole marster come out on de poach an' smile wus'n a 'possum1 an' sez1 ',thankee6 ,bofe doin' fust rate1 boys'2 an' den he stepped back in de house1 sort o' laughin' to hisse'f1 an' in a minute he come out ag'in wid de baby in he arms1 all wrapped up in flannens an' things1 an' sez1 ',heah he is1 boys4' ,all de folks den1 dey went up on de poach to look at 'im1 drappin' dey hats on de steps1 an' scrapin' dey feets ez dey went up4 ,an' pres'n'y old marster1 lookin' down at we all chil'en all packed togerr down dyah like a parecel o' sheep-burrs1 cotch sight o' ,,me 7he knowed my name1 'cause ,i use' to hole he hoss fur 'im sometimes2 but he didn't know all de chile'n by name1 dey wuz so many on 'em71 an' he sez1 ',come up heah6' ,so up ,i goes tippin'1 skeered like1 an' old marster sez1 ',ain' you ,mymie's son8'' ,yass1 seh1' sez ,i4 ',well1' sez he1 ',i'm gwine to give you to yo' young ,marse ,channin' to be his body-servant1' an' he put de baby right in my arms 7it's de truth ,i'm tellin' yo'671 an' yo' jes' ought to a-heard de folks sayin'1 ',lawd6 marster1 dat boy'll drap dat chile6' ',naw1 he won't1' sez marster2 ',i kin trust 'im4' ,and den he sez3 ',now1 ,sam1 from dis time you belong to yo' young ,marse ,channin'2 ,i wan' you to tek keer on 'im ez long ez he lives4 ,you are to be his boy from dis time4 ,an' now1' he sez1 'carry 'im in de house4' ,an' he walks arfter me an' opens de do's fur me1 an' ,i kyars 'im in my arms1 an' lays 'im down on de bed4 ,an' from dat time ,i was tooken in de house to be ,marse ,channin's body-servant4 ,well1 you nuver see a chile grow so4 ,pres'n'y he growed up right big1 an' ole marster sez he must have some edication4 ,so he sont 'im to school to ole ,miss ,lawry down dyar1 dis side o' ,cun'l ,chahmb'lin's1 an' ,i use' to go 'long wid 'im an' tote he books an' we all's snacks2 an' when he larnt to read an' spell right good1 an' got 'bout so-o big1 old ,miss ,lawry she died1 an' old marster said he mus' have a man to teach 'im an' trounce 'im4 ,so we all went to ,mr4 ,hall1 whar kep' de school-house beyant de creek1 an' dyar we went ev'y day1 'cep ,sat'd'ys of co'se1 an' sich days ez ,marse ,chan din' warn' go1 an' ole missis begged 'im off4 ,hit wuz down dyar ,marse ,chan fust took notice o' ,miss ,anne4 ,mr4 ,hall1 he taught gals ez well ez boys1 an' ,cun'l ,chahmb'lin he sont his daughter 7dat's ,miss ,anne ,i'm talkin' about74 ,she wuz a leetle bit o' gal when she fust come4 ,yo' see1 her ma wuz dead1 an' old ,miss ,lucy ,chahmb'lin1 she lived wid her brurr an' kep' house for 'im2 an' he wuz so busy wid politics1 he didn' have much time to spyar1 so he sont ,miss ,anne to ,mr4 ,hall's by a 'ooman wid a note4 ,when she come dat day in de school-house1 an' all de chil'en looked at her so hard1 she tu'n right red1 an' tried to pull her long curls over her eyes1 an' den put bofe de backs of her little han's in her two eyes1 an' begin to cry to herse'f4 ,marse ,chan he was settin' on de een' o' de bench nigh de do'1 an' he jes' reached out an' put he arm 'roun' her an' drawed her up to 'im4 ,an' he kep' whisperin to her1 an' callin' her name1 an' coddlin' her2 an' pres'n'y she took her han's down an' begin to laugh4 ,well1 dey 'peared to tek' a gre't fancy to each urr from dat time4 ,miss ,anne she warn' nuthin' but a baby hardly1 an' ,marse ,chan he wuz a good big boy 'bout mos' thirteen years ole1 ,i reckon4 ,hows'ever1 dey sut'n'y wuz sot on each urr an' 7yo' heah me67 ole marster an' ,cun'l ,chahmb'lin dey 'peared to like it 'bout well ez de chil'en4 ,yo' see1 ,cun'l ,chahmb'lin's place j'ined ourn1 an' it looked jes' ez natural fur dem two chil'en to marry an' mek it one plantation1 ez it did fur de creek to run down de bottom from our place into ,cun'l ,chahmb'lin's4 ,i don' rightly think de chil'en thought 'bout gittin' ,,married1 not den1 no mo'n ,i thought 'bout marryin' ,judy when she wuz a little gal at ,cun'l ,chahmb'lin's1 runnin' 'bout de house1 huntin' fur ,miss ,lucy's spectacles2 but dey wuz good frien's from de start4 ,marse ,chan he use' to kyar ,miss ,anne's books fur her ev'y day1 an' ef de road wuz muddy or she wuz tired1 he use' to tote her2 an' 'twarn' hardly a day passed dat he didn' kyar her some'n' to school-- apples or hick'y nuts1 or some'n4 ,he wouldn't let none o' de chil'en tease her1 nurr4 ,heh6 ,one day1 one o' de boys poked he finger at ,miss ,anne1 and arfter school ,marse ,chan he axed 'im 'roun' 'hine de schoolhouse out o' sight1 an' ef he didn't whop 'im6 ,marse ,chan1 he wuz de peartes' scholar ole ,mr4 ,hall hed1 an' ,mr4 ,hall he wuz mighty proud o' 'im4 ,i don' think he use' to beat 'im ez much ez he did de urrs1 aldo' he wuz de head in all debilment dat went on1 jes' ez he wuz in sayin' he lessons4 ,heh6 one day in summer1 jes' fo' de school broke up1 dyah come up a storm right sudden1 an' riz de creek 7dat one yo' cross' back yonder71 an' ,marse ,chan he toted ,miss ,anne home on he back4 ,he ve'y off'n did dat when de parf wuz muddy4 ,but dis day when dey come to de creek1 it had done washed all de logs 'way4 ',twuz still mighty high1 so ,marse ,chan he put ,miss ,anne down1 an' he took a pole an' waded right in4 ,hit took 'im long up to de shoulders4 ,den he waded back1 an' took ,miss ,anne up on his head an' kyared her right over4 ,at fust she wuz skeered2 but he tol' her he could swim an' wouldn' let her git hu't1 an' den she let 'im kyar her 'cross1 she hol'in' his han's4 ,i warn' 'long dat day1 but he sut'n'y did dat thing4 ,ole marster he wuz so pleased 'bout it1 he giv' ,marse ,chan a pony2 an' ,marse ,chan rode 'im to school de day arfter he come1 so proud1 an' sayin' how he wuz gwine to let ,anne ride behine 'im2 an' when he come home dat evenin' he wuz walkin'4 ',hi6 where's yo' pony8' said ole marster4 ',i give 'im to ,anne1' says ,marse ,chan4 ',she liked 'im1 an'-,i kin walk4' ',yes1' sez ole marster1 laughin'1 ',i s'pose you's already done giv' her yo'se'f1 an' nex' thing ,i know you'll be givin' her this plantation and all my niggers4' ,well1 about a fortnight or sich a matter arfter dat1 ,cun'l ,chahmb'lin sont over an' invited all o' we all over to dinner1 an' ,marse ,chan wuz 'spressly named in de note whar ,ned brought2 an' arfter dinner he made ole ,phil1 whar wuz his ker'ige-driver1 bring 'roun' ,marse ,chan's pony wid a little side-saddle on 'im1 an' a beautiful little hoss wid a bran'-new saddle an' bridle on 'im2 an' he gits up an' meks ,marse ,chan a gre't speech1 an' presents 'im de little hoss2 an' den he calls ,miss ,anne1 an' she comes out on de poach in a little ridin' frock1 an' dey puts her on her pony1 an' ,marse ,chan mounts his hoss1 an' dey goes to ride1 while de grown folks is a-laughin' an' chattin' an' smokin' dey cigars4 ,dem wuz good ole times1 marster-de bes' ,sam ever see6 ,dey wuz1 in fac'6 ,niggers didn' hed nothin' 't all to do-jes' hed to 'ten' to de feedin' an' cleanin' de hosses1 an' doin' what de marster tell 'em to do2 an' when dey wuz sick1 dey had things sont 'em out de house1 an' de same doctor come to see 'em whar 'ten' to de white folks when dey wuz po'ly4 ,dyar warn' no trouble nor nothin'4 ,well1 things tuk a change arfter dat4 ,marse ,chan he went to de bo'din' school1 whar he use' to write to me constant4 ,ole missis use' to read me de letters1 an' den ,i'd git ,miss ,anne to read 'em ag'in to me when ,i'd see her4 ,he use' to write to her too1 an' she use' to write to him too4 ,den ,miss ,anne she wuz sont off to school too4 ,an' in de summer time dey'd bofe come home1 an' yo' hardly knowed whether ,marse ,chan lived at home or over at ,cun'l ,chahmb'lin's4 ,he wuz over dyah constant4 ',twuz always ridin' or fishin' down dyah in de river2 or sometimes he' go over dyah1 an' 'im an' she'd go out an' set in de yard onder de trees2 she settin' up mekin' out she wuz knittin' some sort o' bright- cullored some'n'1 wid de grarss growin' all up 'g'inst her1 an' her hat th'owed back on her neck1 an' he readin' to her out books2 an' sometimes dey'd bofe read out de same book1 fust one an' den todder4 ,i use' to see 'em6 ,dat wuz when dey wuz growin' up like4 ,den ole marster he run for ,congress1 an' ole ,cun'l ,chahmb'lin he wuz put up to run 'g'inst ole marster by de ,dimicrats2 but ole marster he beat 'im4 ,yo' know he wuz gwine do dat6 ,co'se he wuz6 ,dat made ole ,cun'l ,chahmb'lin mighty mad1 and dey stopt visitin' each urr reg'lar1 like dey had been doin' all 'long4 ,den ,cun'l ,chahmb'lin he sort o' got in debt1 an' sell some o' he niggers1 an' dat's de way de fuss begun4 ,dat's whar de lawsuit cum from4 ,ole marster he didn' like nobody to sell niggers1 an' knowin' dat ,cun'l ,chahmb'lin wuz sellin' o' his1 he writ an' offered to buy his ,m'ria an' all her chil'en1 'cause she hed married our ,zeek'yel4 ,an' don' yo' think1 ,cun'l ,chahmb'lin axed ole marster mo' 'n th'ee niggers wuz wuth fur ,m'ria6 ,befo' old marster bought her1 dough1 de sheriff cum an' levelled on ,m'ria an' a whole parecel o' urr niggers4 ,ole marster he went to de sale1 an' bid for 'em-r but ,cun'l ,chahmb'lin he got some one to bid 'g'inst ole marster4 ,dey wuz knocked out to ole marster dough1 an' den dey hed a big lawsuit1 an' ole marster wuz agwine to co't1 off an' on1 fur some years1 till at lars' de co't decided dat ,m'ria belonged to ole marster4 ,ole ,cun'l ,chahmb'lin den wuz so mad he sued ole marster for a little strip o' lan' down dyah on de line fence1 whar he said belonged to 'im4 ,ev'ybody knowed hit belonged to ole marster4 ,ef yo' go down dyah now1 ,i kin show it to yo'1 inside de line fence1 whar it hed done bin ever sence long befo' ,cun'l ,chahmb'lin wuz born4 ,but ,cun'l ,chahmb'lin wuz a mons'us perseverin' man1 an' ole marster he wouldn' let nobody run over 'im4 ,no1 dat he wouldn'6 ,so dey wuz agwine down to co't about dat1 fur ,i don' know how long1 till ole marster beat 'im4 ,all dis time1 yo' know1 ,marse ,chan wuz agoin' back'ads an' for'ads to college1 an' wuz growed up a ve'y fine young man4 ,he wuz a ve'y likely gent'man6 ,miss ,anne she hed done mos' growed up too--wuz puttin' her hyar up like old missis use' to put hers up1 an' 'twuz jes' ez bright ez de sorrel's mane when de sun cotch on it1 an' her eyes wuz gre't big dark eyes1 like her pa's1 on'y bigger an' not so fierce1 an' 'twarn' none o' de young ladies ez purty ez she wuz4 ,she an' ,marse ,chan still set a heap o' sto' by one 'nurr1 but ,i don' think dey wuz easy wid each urr ez when he used to tote her home from school on his back4 ,marse ,chan he use' to love de ve'y groun' she walked on1 dough1 in my 'pinion4 ,heh6 ,his face 'twould light up whenever she come into chu'ch1 or anywhere1 jes' like de sun hed come th'oo a chink on it suddenly4 ,den' ole marster lost he eyes4 ,d' yo' ever heah 'bout dat8 ,heish6 ,didn' yo'8 ,well1 one night de big barn cotch fire4 ,de stables1 yo' know1 wuz under de big barn1 an' all de bosses wuz in dyah4 ,hit 'peared to me like 'twarn' no time befo' all de folks an' de neighbors dey come1 an' dey wuz a-totin' water1 an' a-tryin' to save de po' critters1 and dey got a heap on 'em out2 but de ker'ige-hosses dey wouldn' come out1 an' dey wuz a-runnin' back'ads an' for'ads inside de stalls1 a-nikerin' an' a-screamin'1 like dey knowed dey time hed come4 ,yo' could heah 'em so pitiful1 an' pres'n'y old marster said to ,ham ,fisher 7he wuz de ker'ige- driver71 ',go in dyah an' try to save 'em2 don' let 'em bu'n to death4' ,an' ,ham he went right in4 ,an' jest arfter he got in1 de shed whar it hed fus' cotch fell in1 an' de sparks shot 'way up in de air2 an' ,ham didn' come back1 an' de fire begun to lick out under de eaves over whar de ker'ige-hosses' stalls wuz1 an' all of a sudden ole marster tu'ned an' kissed ole missis1 who wuz standin' nigh him1 wid her face jes' ez white ez a sperit's1 an'1 befo' anybody knowed what he wuz gwine do1 jumped right in de do'1 an' de smoke come po'in' out behine 'im4 ,well1 seh1 ,i nuver 'spects to heah tell ,judgment sich a soun' ez de folks set up6 ,ole missis she jes' drapt down on her knees in de mud an' prayed out loud4 ,hit 'peared like her pra'r wuz heard2 for in a minit1 right out de same do'1 kyarin' ,ham ,fisher in his arms1 come ole marster1 wid his clo's all blazin'4 ,dey flung water on 'im1 an' put 'im out2 an'1 ef you b'lieve me1 yo' wouldn't a-knowed 'twuz ole marster4 ,yo' see1 he had find ,ham ,fisher done fall down in de smoke right by the ker'ige-hoss' stalls1 whar he sont him1 an' he hed to tote 'im back in his arms th'oo de fire what hed done cotch de front part o' de stable1 and to keep de flame from gittin' down ,ham ,fisher's th'oat he hed tuk off his own hat and mashed it all over ,ham ,fisher's face1 an' he hed kep' ,ham ,fisher from bein' so much bu'nt2 but ,,he wuz bu'nt dreadful6 ,his beard an' hyar wuz all nyawed off1 an' his face an' han's an' neck wuz scorified terrible4 ,well1 he jes' laid ,ham ,fisher down1 an' then he kind o' staggered for'ad1 an' ole missis ketch' 'im in her arms4 ,ham ,fisher1 he warn' bu'nt so bad1 an' he got out in a month to two2 an' arfter a long time1 ole marster he got well1 too2 but he wuz always stone blind arfter that4 ,he nuver could see none from dat night4 ,marse ,chan he comed home from college toreckly1 an' he sut'n'y did nuss ole marster faithful--jes' like a 'ooman4 ,den he took charge of de plantation arfter dat2 an' ,i use' to wait on 'im jes' like when we wuz boys togedder2 an' sometimes we'd slip off an' have a fox-hunt1 an' he'd be jes' like he wuz in ole times1 befo' ole marster got bline1 an' ,miss ,anne ,chahmb'lin stopt comin' over to our house1 an' settin' onder de trees1 readin' out de same book4 ,he sut'n'y wuz good to me4 ,nothin' nuver made no diffunce 'bout dat4 ,he nuver hit me a lick in his life--an' nuver let nobody else do it1 nurr4 ,i 'members one day1 when he wuz a leetle bit o' boy1 ole marster hed done tole we all chil'en not to slide on de straw-stacks2 an' one day me an' ,marse ,chan thought ole marster hed done gone 'way from home4 ,we watched him git on he hoss an' ride up de road out o' sight1 an' we wuz out in de field a-slidin' an' a-slidin'1 when up comes ole marster4 ,we started to run2 but he hed done see us1 an' he called us to come back2 an' sich a whuppin' ez he did gi' us6 ,fust he took ,marse ,chan1 an' den he teched me up4 ,he nuver hu't me1 but in co'se ,i wuz a-hollerin' ez hard ez ,i could stave it1 'cause ,i knowed dat wuz gwine mek him stop4 ,marse ,chan he hed'n open he mouf long ez ole marster wuz tunin' 'im2 but soon ez he commence warmin' me an' ,i begin to holler1 ,marse ,chan he bu'st out cryin'1 an' stept right in befo' ole marster an' ketchin' de whup1 sed3 ',stop1 seh6 ,yo' sha'n't whup 'im2 he b'longs to me1 an' ef you hit 'im another lick ,i'll set 'im free6' ,i wish yo' hed see old marster4 ,marse ,chan he warn' mo'n eight years ole1 an' dyah dey wuz-old marster stan'in' wid he whup raised up1 an' ,marse ,chan red an' cryin'1 hol'in' on to it1 an' sayin' ,i b'longst to 'im4 ,ole marster1 he raise' de whup1 an' den he drapt it1 an' broke out in a smile over he face1 an' he chuck' ,marse ,chan onder de chin1 an' tu'n right 'roun' an' went away1 laughin' to hisse'f1 an' ,i heah 'im tellin' ole missis dat evenin'1 an' laughin' 'bout it4 ',twan' so mighty long arfter dat when dey fust got to talkin' 'bout de war4 ,dey wuz a-dictatin' back'ads an' for'ads 'bout it fur two or th'ee years 'fo' it come sho' nuff1 you know4 ,ole marster1 he was a ,whig1 an' of co'se ,marse ,chan he tuk after he pa4 ,cun'l ,chahmb'lin1 he wuz a ,dimicrat4 ,he wuz in favor of de war1 an' ole marster and ,marse ,chan dey wuz agin' it4 ,dey wuz a- talkin' 'bout it all de time1 an' purty soon ,cun'l ,chahmb'lin he went about ev'ywhar speakin' an' noratin' 'bout ,firginia ought to secede2 an' ,marse ,chan he wuz picked up to talk agin' 'im4 ,dat wuz de way dey come to fight de duil4 ,i sut'n'y wuz skeered fur ,marse ,chan dat mawnin'1 an' he was jes' ez cool6 ,yo' see1 it happen so3 ,marse ,chan he wuz a-speakin' down at de ,deep ,creek ,tavern1 an' he kind o' got de bes' of ole ,cun'l ,chahmb'lin4 ,all de white folks laughed an' hoorawed1 an' ole ,cun'l ,chahmb'lin--my ,lawd6 ,i fought he'd 'a' bu'st1 he was so mad4 ,well1 when it come to his time to speak1 he jes' light into ,marse ,chan4 ,he call 'im a traitor1 an' a ab'litionis'1 an' ,i don' know what all4 ,marse ,chan1 he jes' kep' cool till de ole ,cun'l light into he pa4 ,ez soon ez he name ole marster1 ,i seen ,marse ,chan sort o' lif' up he head4 ,d' yo' ever see a hoss rar he head up right sudden at night when he see somethin' comin' to'ds 'im from de side an' he don' know what 'tis8 ,ole ,cun'l ,chahmb'lin he went right on4 ,he said ole marster hed taught ,marse ,chan2 dat ole marster wuz a wuss ab'litionis' dan he son4 ,i looked at ,marse ,chan1 an' sez to myse'f3 ',fo' ,gord6 old ,cun'l ,chahmb'lin better min'1 an' ,i hedn' got de wuds out1 when ole ,cun'l ,chahmb'lin 'cuse' old marster o' cheatin' 'im out o' he niggers1 an' stealing piece o' he lan'--dat's de lan' ,i tole you 'bout4 ,well1 seh1 nex' thing ,i knowed1 ,i heahed ,marse ,chan--hit all happen right 'long togerr1 like lightnin' and thunder when they hit right at you--,i heah 'im say3 ',cun'l ,chahmb'lin1 what you say is false1 an' yo' know it to be so4 ,you have wilfully slandered one of de pures' an' nobles' men ,gord ever made1 an' nothin' but yo' gray hyars protects you4' ,well1 ole ,cun'l ,chahmb'lin1 he ra'd an' he pitch'd4 ,he said he wan' too ole1 an' he'd show 'im so4 ',ve'y well1' says ,marse ,chan4 ,de meetin' broke up den4 ,i wuz hol'in' de hosses out dyar in de road by dee een' o' de poach1 an' ,i see ,marse ,chan talkin' an' talkin' to ,mr4 ,gordon an' anudder gent'man1 and den he come out an' got on de sorrel an' galloped off4 ,soon ez he got out o' sight he pulled up1 an' we walked along tell we come to de road whar leads off to'ds ,mr4 ,barbour's4 ,he wuz de big lawyer o' de country4 ,dar he tu'ned off4 ,all dis time he hedn' sed a wud1 'cep' to kind o' mumble to hisse'f now and den4 ,when we got to ,mr4 ,barbour's1 he got down an' went in4 ,dat wuz in de late winter2 de folks wuz jes' beginnin' to plough fur corn4 ,he stayed dyar 'bout two hours1 an' when he come out ,mr4 ,barbour come out to de gate wid 'im an' shake han's arfter he got up in de saddle4 ,den we all rode off4 ',twuz late den-good dark2 an' we rid ez hard ez we could1 tell we come to de ole school-house at ole ,cun'l ,chahmb'lin's gate4 ,when we got dar1 ,marse ,chan got down an' walked right slow 'roun' de house4 ,after lookin' 'roun' a little while an' tryin' de do' to see ef it wuz shet1 he walked down de road tell he got to de creek4 ,he stop' dyar a little while an' picked up two or three little rocks an' frowed 'em in1 an' pres'n'y he got up an' we come on home4 ,ez he got down1 he tu'ned to me an'1 rubbin' de sorrel's nose1 said3 ',have 'em well fed1 ,sam2 ,i'll want 'em early in de mawnin'4' ,dat night at supper he laugh an' talk1 an' he set at de table a long time4 ,arfter ole marster went to bed1 he went in de charmber an' set on de bed by 'im talkin' to 'im an' tellin' 'im 'bout de meetin' an' ev'ything2 but he nuver mention ole ,cun'l ,chahmb'lin's name4 ,when he got up to come out to de office in de yard1 whar he slept1 he stooped down an' kissed 'im jes' like he wuz a baby layin' dyar in de bed1 an' he'd hardly let ole missis go at all4 ,i knowed some'n wuz up1 an' nex' mawnin' ,i called 'im early befo' light1 like he tole me1 an' he dressed an' come out pres'n'y jes' like he wuz goin' to church4 ,i had de hosses ready1 an' we went out de back way to'ds de river4 ,ez we rode along1 he said3 ',sam1 you an' ,i wuz boys togedder1 wa'n't we8' ',yes1' sez ,i1 ',marse ,chan1 dat we wuz4' ',you have been we'y faithful to me1' sez he1 'an' ,i have seen to it that you are well provided fur4 ,you want to marry ,judy1 ,i know1 an' you'll be able to buy her ef you want to4' ,den he tole me he wuz goin' to fight a duil1 an' in case he should git shot1 he had set me free an' giv' me nuif to tek keer o' me an' my wife ez long ez we lived4 ,he said he'd like me to stay an' tek keer o' ole marster an' ole missis ez long ez dey lived1 an' he said it wouldn' be very long1 he reckoned4 ,dat wuz de on'y time he voice broke when he said dat2 an' ,i couldn' speak a wud1 my th'oat choked me so4 ,when we come to de river1 we tu'ned right up de bank1 an' arfter ridin' 'bout a mile or sich a matter1 we stopped whar dey wuz a little clearin' wid elder bushes on one side an' two big gum-trees on de urr1 an' de sky wuz all red1 an' de water down to'ds whar the sun wuz comin' wuz jes' like de sky4 ,pres'n'y ,mr4 ,gordon he come1 wid a 'hogany box 'bout so big 'fore 'im1 an' he got down1 an' ,marse ,chan tole me to tek all de hosses an' go 'roun' behine de bushes whar ,i tell you 'bout-off to one side2 an' 'fore ,i got 'roun' dar1 ole ,cun'l ,chahmb'lin an' ,mr4 ,hennin an' ,dr4 ,call come ridin' from t'urr way1 to'ds ole ,cun'l ,chahmb'lin's4 ,when dey hed tied dey hosses1 de urr gent'mens went up to whar ,mr4 ,gordon wuz1 an' arfter some chattin' ,mr4 ,hennin step' off 'bout fur ez 'cross dis road1 or mebbe it mout be a little furder2 an' den ,i seed 'em th'oo de bushes loadin' de pistils1 an' talk a little while2 an' den ,marse ,chan an' ole ,cun'l ,chahmb'lin walked up wid de pistils in dey han's1 an' ,marse ,chan he stood wid his face right to'ds de sun4 ,i seen it shine on him jes' ez it come up over de low groun's1 an' he look like he did sometimes when he come out of church4 ,i wuz so skeered ,i couldn' say nothin'4 ,ole ,cun'l ,chahmb'lin could shoot fust rate1 an' ,marse ,chan he never missed4 ,den ,i beared ,mr4 ,gordon say1 ',gent'mens1 is yo' ready8' and bofe of 'em sez1 ',ready1' jes' so4 ,an' he sez1 ',fire1 one1 two'--an' ez he said 'one1' old ,cun'l ,chahmb'lin raised he pistil an' shot right at ,marse ,chan4 ,de ball went th'oo his hat4 ,i seen he hat sort o' settle on he head ez de bullit hit it1 an' ,,he jes' tilted his pistil up in de a'r an' shot-,,bang2 an' ez de pistil went ,,bang1 he sez to ,cun'l ,chahmb'lin1 ',i mek you a present to yo' fam'ly1 seh6' ,well1 dey had some talkin' arfter dat4 ,i didn't git rightly what it wuz2 but it 'peared like ,cun'l ,chahmb'lin he warn't satisfied1 an' wanted to have anurr shot4 ,de seconds dey wuz talkin'1 an' pres'n'y dey put de pistils up1 an' ,marse ,chan an' ,mr4 ,gordon shook han's wid ,mr4 ,hennin an' ,dr4 ,call1 an' come an' got on dey hosses4 ,an' ,cun'l ,chahmb'lin he got on his hoss an' rode away wid de urr gent'mens1 lookin' like he did de day befo' when all de people laughed at 'im4 ,i b'lieve ole ,cun'l ,chahmb'lin wan' to shoot ,marse ,chan1 anyway6 ,we come on home to breakfast1 ,i totin' de box wid de pistils befo' me on de roan4 ,would you b'lieve me1 seh1 ,marse ,chan he nuver said a wud 'bout it to ole marster or nobody4 ,ole missis didn' fin' out 'bout it for mo'n a month1 an' den1 ,lawd6 how she did cry and kiss ,marse ,chan2 an' ole marster1 aldo' he never say much1 he wuz jes' ez please' ez ole missis4 ,he call me in de room an' made me tole 'im all 'bout it1 an' when ,i got th'oo he gi' me five dollars an' a pyar of breeches4 ,but ole ,cun'l ,chahmb'lin he nuver did furgive ,marse ,chan1 an' ,miss ,anne she got mad too4 ,wimmens is mons'us onreasonable nohow4 ,dey's jes' like a catfish3 you can n' tek hole on 'em like udder folks1 an' when you gits 'im yo' can n' always hole 'em4 ,what meks me think so8 ,heaps o' things--dis3 ,marse ,chan he done gi' ,miss ,anne her pa jes' ez good ez ,i gi' ,marse ,chan's dawg sweet 'taters1 an' she git mad wid 'im ez if he hed kill 'im 'stid o' sen'in' 'im back to her dat mawnin' whole an' soun'4 ,b'lieve me6 she wouldn' even speak to him arfter dat6 ,don' ,i 'member dat mawnin'6 ,we wuz gwine fox-huntin'1 'bout six weeks or sich a matter arfter de dull1 an' we met ,miss ,anne ridin' 'long wid anurr lady an' two gent'mens whar wuz stayin' at her house4 ,dyar wuz always some one or nurr dyar co'ting her4 ,well1 dat mawnin' we meet 'em right in de road4 ',twuz de fust time ,marse ,chan had see her sence de duil1 an' he raises he hat ez he pahss1 an' she looks right at 'im wid her head up in de yair like she nuver see 'im befo' in her born days2 an' when she comes by me1 she sez1 ',good-mawnin'1 ,sam6' ,gord6 ,i nuver see nuthin' like de look dat come on ,marse ,chan's face when she pahss 'im like dat4 ,he gi' de sorrel a pull dat fotch 'im back settin' down in de san' on he hanches4 ,he ve'y lips wuz white4 ,i tried to keep up wid 'im1 but 'twarn' no use4 ,he sont me back home pres'n'y1 an' he rid on4 ,i sez to myself1 ',cun'l ,chahmb'lin1 don' yo' meet ,marse ,chan dis mawnin'4 ,he ain' bin lookin' 'roun' de ole schoolhouse1 whar he an' ,miss ,anne use' to go to school to ole ,mr4 ,hall together1 fur nuffin'4 ,he won' stan' no prodjickin' to-day4' ,he nuver come home dat night tell 'way late1 an' ef he'd been fox-huntin' it mus' ha' been de ole red whar lives down in de greenscum mashes he'd been chasin'4 ,de way de sorrel wuz gormed up wid sweat an' mire sut'n'y did hu't me4 ,he walked up to de stable wid he head down all de way1 an' ,i'se seen 'im go eighty miles of a winter day1 an' prance into de stable at night ez fresh ez if he hed jes' cantered over to ole ,cun'l ,chahmb'lin's to supper4 ,i nuver seen a hoss beat so sence ,i knowed de fetlock from de fo'lock1 an' bad ez he wuz he wan' ez bad ez ,marse ,chan4 ,whew6 he didn' git over dat thing1 seh--he nuver did git over it4 ,de war come on jes' den1 an' ,marse ,chan wuz elected cap'n2 but he wouldn' tek it4 ,he said ,firginia hadn' seceded1 an' he wuz gwine stan' by her4 ,den dey 'lected ,mr4 ,gordon cap'n4 ,i sut'n'y did wan' ,marse ,chan to tek de place1 cuz ,i knowed he wuz gwine tek me wid 'im4 ,he wan' gwine widout ,sam4 ,an' beside1 he look so po' an' thin1 ,i thought he wuz gwine die4 ,of co'se1 ole missis she heared 'bout it1 an' she met ,miss ,anne in de road1 an' cut her jes' like ,miss ,anne cut ,marse ,chan4 ,ole missis1 she wuz proud ez anybody6 ,so we wuz mo' strangers dan ef we hadn' live' in a hundred miles of each urr4 ,an' ,marse ,chan he wuz gittin' thinner an' thinner1 an' ,firginia she come out1 an' den ,marse ,chan he went to ,richmond an' listed1 an' come back an' sey he wuz a private1 an' he didn' know whe'r he could tek me or not4 ,he writ to ,mr4 ,gordon1 hows'ever1 an' 'twuz 'cided dat when he went ,i wuz to go 'long an' wait on him an' de cap'n too4 ,i didn' min' dat1 yo' know1 long ez ,i could go wid ,marse ,chan1 an' ,i like' ,mr4 ,gordon1 anyways4 ,well1 one night ,marse ,chan come back from de offis wid a telegram dat say1 ',come at once1' so he wuz to start nex' mawnin'4 ,he uniform wuz all ready1 gray wid yaller trimmin's1 an' mine wuz ready too1 an' he had ole marster's sword1 whar de ,state gi' 'im in de ,mexikin war2 an' he trunks wuz all packed wid ev'rything in 'em1 an' my chist was packed too1 an' ,jim ,rasher he druv 'em over to de depo' in de waggin1 an' we wuz to start nex' mawnin' 'bout light4 ,dis wuz 'bout de las' o' spring1 you know4 ,dat night ole missis made ,marse ,chan dress up in he uniform1 an' he sut'n'y did look splendid1 wid he long mustache an' he wavin' hyar an' he tall figger4 ,arfter supper he come down an' sez3 ',sam1 ,i wan' you to tek dis note an' kyar it over to ,cun'l ,chahmb'lin's1 an' gi' it to ,miss ,anne wid yo' own han's1 an' bring me wud what she sez4 ,don' let any one know 'bout it1 or know why you've gone4' ',yes1 seh1' sez ,i4 ,yo' see1 ,i knowed ,miss ,anne's maid over at ole ,cun'l ,chahmb'lin's--dat wuz ,judy whar is my wife now--an' ,i knowed ,i could wuk it4 ,so ,i tuk de roan an' rid over1 an' tied 'im down de hill in de cedars1 an' ,i wen' 'roun' to de back yard4 ',twuz a right blowy sort o' night2 de moon wuz jes' risin'1 but de clouds wuz so big it didn' shine 'cep' th'oo a crack now an' den4 ,i soon foun' my gal1 an' arfter tellin' her two or three lies 'bout herse'f1 ,i got her to go in an' ax ,miss ,anne to come to de do'4 ,when she come1 ,i gi' her de note1 an' arfter a little while she bro't me anurr1 an' ,i tole her good-bye1 an' she gi' me a dollar1 an' ,i come home an' gi' de letter to ,marse ,chan4 ,he read it1 an' tole me to have de hosses ready at twenty minits to twelve at de corner of de garden4 ,an' jes' befo' dat he come out ez ef he wuz gwine to bed1 but instid he come1 an' we all struck out to'ds ,cun'l ,chahmb'lin's4 ,when we got mos' to de gate1 de hosses got sort o' skeered1 an' ,i see dey wuz some'n or somebody standin' jes' inside2 an' ,marse ,chan he jumpt off de sorrel an' flung me de bridle an' he walked up4 ,she spoke fust 7'twuz ,miss ,anne had done come out dyar to meet ,marse ,chan71 an' she sez1 jes' ez cold ez a chill1 ',well1 seh1 ,i granted your favor4 ,i wished to relieve myse'f of de obligations you placed me under a few months ago1 when you made me a present of my father1 whom you fust insulted an' then prevented from gittin' satisfaction4' ,marse ,chan he didn' speak fur a minit1 an' den he said3 ',who is with you8' ,dat wuz ev'y wud4 ',no one1' sez she2 ',i came alone4' ',my ,god6' sez he1 'you didn' come all through those woods by yourse'f at this time o' night8' ',yes1 ,i'm not afraid1' sez she1 7,an' heah dis nigger6 ,i don' b'lieve she wuz47 ,de moon come out1 an' ,i cotch sight o' her stan'in' dyar in her white dress1 wid de cloak she had wrapped herse'f up in drapped off on de groun'1 an' she didn' look like she wuz 'feared o' nuthin'4 ,she wuz mons'us purty ez she stood dyar wid de green bushes behine her1 an' she hed jes' a few flowers in her breas'-- right hyah--and some leaves in her sorrel hyar2 an' de moon come out an' shined down on her hyar an' her frock an' 'peared like de light wuz jes' stan'in' off it ez she stood dyar lookin' at ,marse ,chan wid her head tho'd back1 jes' like dat mawnin' when she pahss ,marse ,chan in de road widout speakin' to 'im1 an' sez to me1 ',good-mawnin'1 ,sam4' ,marse ,chan1 he den tole her he hed come to say good-bye to her1 ez he wuz gwine 'way to de war nex' mawnin'4 ,i wuz watchin' on her1 an' ,i tho't1 when ,marse ,chan tole her dat1 she sort o' started an' looked up at 'im like she wuz mighty sorry1 an' 'peared like she didn' stan' quite so straight arfter dat4 ,den ,marse ,chan he went on talkin' right fars' to her2 an' he tole her how he had loved her ever sence she wuz a little bit o' baby mos'1 an' how he nuver 'membered de time when he hedn't 'spected to marry her4 ,he tole her it wuz his love for her dat hed made 'im stan' fust at school an' collige1 an' hed kep' 'im good an' pure2 an' now he wuz gwine 'way1 wouldn't she let it be like 'twuz in ole times1 an' ef he come back from de war wouldn' she try to think on him ez she use' to do when she wuz a little guirl8 ,marse ,chan he had done been talkin' so serious1 he hed done tuk ,miss ,anne's han'1 an' wuz lookin' down in her face like he wuz list'nin' wid his eyes4 ,arfter a minit ,miss ,anne she said somethin'1 an' ,marse ,chan he cotch her urr han' an' sez3 ',but if you love me1 ,anne8' ,when he said dat1 she tu'ned her head 'way from 'im1 an' wait' a minit1 an' den she said--right clear3 ',but ,i don' love yo'4' 7,jes' dem th'ee wuds67 ,de wuds fall right slow--like dirt falls out a spade on a coffin when yo's buryin' anybody1 an' seys1 ',uth to uth4' ,marse ,chan he jes' let her hand drap1 an' he stiddy hisse'f 'g'inst de gate-pos'1 an' he didn' speak torekly4 ,when he did speak1 all he sez wuz3 ',i mus' see you home safe4' ,i 'clar1 marster1 ,i didn' know 'twuz ,marse ,chan's voice tell ,i look at 'im right good4 ,well1 she wouldn' let 'im go wid her4 ,she jes' wrap' her cloak 'roun' her shoulders1 an' wen' 'long back by herse'f1 widout doin' more'n jes' look up once at ,marse ,chan leanin' dyah 'g'inst de gate-pos' in he sodger clo's1 wid he eyes on de groun'4 ,she said ',good-bye' sort o' sorf1 an' ,marse ,chan1 widout lookin' up1 shake han's wid her1 an' she wuz done gone down de road4 ,soon ez she got 'mos' 'roun' de curve1 ,marse ,chan he followed her1 keepin' under de trees so ez not to be seen1 an' ,i led de hosses on down de road behine 'im4 ,he kep' 'long behine her tell she wuz safe in de house1 an' den he come an' got on he hoss1 an' we all come home4 ,nex' mawnin' we all come off to j'ine de army4 ,an' dey wuz a- drillin' an' a-drillin' all 'bout for a while1 an' dey went 'long wid all de res' o' de army1 an' ,i went wid ,marse ,chan an' clean he boots1 an' look arfter de tent1 an' tek keer o' him an' de hosses4 ,an' ,marse ,chan1 he wan' a bit like he use' to be4 ,he wuz so solumn an' moanful all de time1 at leas' 'cep' when dyah wuz gwine to be a fight4 ,den he'd peartin' up1 an' he alwuz rode at de head o' de company1 'cause he wuz tall2 an' hit wan' on'y in battles whar all his company wuz dat he went1 but he use' to volunteer whenever de cun'l wanted anybody to fine out anythin'1 an' 'twuz so dangersome he didn' like to mek one man go no sooner'n anurr1 yo' know1 an' ax'd who'd volunteer4 ,he 'peared to like to go prowlin' aroun' 'mong dem ,yankees1 an' he use' to tek me wid 'im whenever he could4 ,yes1 seh1 he sut'n'y waz a good sodger6 ,he didn' mine bullets no more'n he did so many draps o' rain4 ,but ,i use' to be pow'ful skeered sometimes4 ,it jes' use' to 'pear like fun to 'im4 ,in camp he use' to be so sorrerful he'd hardly open he mouf4 ,you'd 'a' tho't he wuz seekin'1 he used to look so moanful2 but jes' le' 'im git into danger1 an' he use' to be like ole times--jolly an' laughin' like when he wuz a boy4 ,when ,cap'n ,gordon got he leg shot off1 dey mek ,marse ,chan cap'n on de spot1 'cause one o' de lieutenants got kilt de same day1 an' turr one 7named ,mr4 ,ronny7 wan' no 'count1 an' de company said ,marse ,chan wuz de man4 ,an' ,marse ,chan he wuz jes' de same4 ,he didn' never mention ,miss ,anne's name1 but ,i knowed he wuz thinkin' on her constant4 ,one night he wuz settin' by de fire in camp1 an' ,mr4 ,ronny--he wuz de secon' lieutenant--got to talkin' 'bout ladies1 an' he say all sorts o' things 'bout 'em1 an' ,i see ,marse ,chan kinder lookin' mad2 an' de lieutenant mention ,miss ,anne's name4 ,he had been courtin' ,miss ,anne 'bout de time ,marse ,chan fit de duil wid her pa1 an' ,miss ,anne hed kicked 'im1 dough he wuz mighty rich1 'cause he warn' nuthin' but a half-strainer1 an' 'cause she like ,marse ,chan1 ,i believe1 dough she didn' speak to 'im2 an' ,mr4 ,ronny he got drunk1 an' 'cause ,cun'l ,chahmb'lin tole 'im not to come dyah no more1 he got mighty mad4 ,an' dat evenin' ,i'se tellin' yo' 'bout1 he wuz talkin'1 an' he mention' ,miss ,anne's name4 ,i see ,marse ,chan tu'n he eye 'roun' on 'im an' keep it on he face1 and pres'n'y ,mr4 ,ronny said he wuz gwine hev some fun dyah yit4 ,he didn' mention her name dat time2 but he said dey wuz all on 'em a parecel of stuck-up 'risticrats1 an' her pa wan' no gent'man anyway1 an'--,i don' know what he wuz gwine say 7he nuver said it71 fur ez he got dat far ,marse ,chan riz up an' hit 'im a crack1 an' he fall like he hed been hit wid a fence-rail4 ,he challenged ,marse ,chan to fight a duil1 an' ,marse ,chan he excepted de challenge1 an' dey wuz gwine fight2 but some on 'em tole 'im ,marse ,chan wan' gwine mek a present o' him to his fam'ly1 an' he got somebody to bre'k up de duil2 'twan' nuthin' dough1 but he wuz 'fred to fight ,marse ,chan4 ,an' purty soon he lef' de comp'ny4 ,well1 ,i got one o' de gent'mens to write ,judy a letter for me1 an' ,i tole her all 'bout de fight1 an' how ,marse ,chan knock ,mr4 ,ronny over fur speakin' discontemptuous o' ,cun'l ,chahmb'lin1 an' ,i tole her how ,marse ,chan' wuz a-dyin' fur love o' ,miss ,anne4 ,an' ,judy she gits ,miss ,anne to read de letter fur her4 ,den ,miss ,anne she tells her pa1 an'--you mind1 ,judy tells me all dis arfterwards1 an' she say when ,cun'l ,chahmb'lin hear 'bout it1 he wuz settin' on de poach1 an' he set still a good while1 an' den he sey to hisse'f3 ',well1 he earn' he'p bein' a ,whig4' ,an' den he gits up an' walks up to ,miss ,anne an' looks at her right hard2 an' ,miss ,anne she hed done tu'n away her haid an' wuz makin' out she wuz fixin' a rosebush 'g'inst de poach2 an' when her pa kep' lookin' at her1 her face got jes' de color o' de roses on de bush1 and pres'n'y her pa sez3 ',anne6' ,an' she tu'ned roun'1 an' he sez3 ',do yo' want 'im8' ,an' she sez1 ',yes1' an' put her head on he shoulder an' begin to cry2 an' he sez3 ',well1 ,i won' stan' between yo' no longer4 ,write to 'im an' say so4' ,we didn' know nuthin' 'bout dis den4 ,we wuz a-fightin' an' a- fightin' all dat time2 an' come one day a letter to ,marse ,chan1 an' ,i see 'im start to read it in his tent1 an' he face hit look so cu'ious1 an' he han's trembled so ,i couldn' mek out what wuz de matter wid 'im4 ,an' he fol' de letter up an' wen' out an' wen' way down 'hine de camp1 an' stayed dyah 'bout nigh an hour4 ,well1 seh1 ,i wuz on de lookout for 'im when he come back1 an'1 fo' ,gord1 ef he face didn' shine like a angel's6 ,i say to myse'f1 ',um'm6 ef de glory o' ,gord ain' done shine on 'im6' ,an' what yo' 'spose 'twuz8 ,he tuk me wid 'im dat evenin'1 an' he tell me he hed done git a letter from ,miss ,anne1 an' ,marse ,chan he eyes look like gre't big stars1 an' he face wuz jes' like 'twuz dat mawnin' when de sun riz up over de low groun'1 an' ,i see 'im stan'in' dyah wid de pistil in he han'1 lookin' at it1 an' not knowin' but what it mout be de lars' time1 an' he done mek up he mine not to shoot ole ,cun'l ,chahmb'lin fur ,miss ,anne's sake1 what writ 'im de letter4 ,he fol' de letter wha' was in his han' up1 an' put it in he inside pocket--right dyar on de lef' side2 an' den he tole me he tho't mebbe we wuz gwine hev some warm wuk in de nex' two or th'ee days1 an' arfter dat ef ,gord speared 'im he'd git a leave o' absence fur a few days1 an' we'd go home4 ,well1 dat night de orders come1 an' we all hed to git over to'ds ,romney2 an' we rid all night till 'bout light2 an' we halted right on a little creek1 an' we stayed dyah till mos' breakfas' time1 an' ,i see ,marse ,chan set down on de groun' 'hine a bush an' read dat letter over an' over4 ,i watch 'im1 an' de battle wuz a-goin' on1 but we had orders to stay 'hine de hill1 an' ev'y now an' den de bullets would cut de limbs o' de trees right over us1 an' one o' dem big shells what goes ',awhar--awhar--awhar6' would fall right 'mong us2 but ,marse ,chan he didn' mine it no mo'n nuthin'6 ,den it 'peared to git closer an' thicker1 and ,marse ,chan he calls me1 an' ,i crep' up1 an' he sez3 ',sam1 we'se goin' to win in dis battle1 an' den we'll go home an' git married2 an' ,i'se goin' home wid a star on my collar4' ,an' den he sez1 ',ef ,i'm wounded1 kyar me home1 yo' hear8' ,an' ,i sez1 ',yes1 ,marse ,chan4' ,well1 jes' den dey blowed boots an' saddles1 an' we mounted2 an' de orders come to ride 'roun' de slope1 an' ,marse ,chan's comp'ny wuz de secon'1 an' when we got 'roun' dyah1 we wuz right in it4 ,hit wuz de wust place ever dis nigger got in4 ,an' dey said1 ',charge 'em6' an' my king6 ef ever you see bullets fly1 dey did dat day4 ,hit wuz jes' like hail2 an' we wen' down de slope 7,i 'long wid de res'7 an' up de hill right to'ds de cannons1 an' de fire wuz so strong dyar 7dey hed a whole rigiment o' infintrys layin' down dyar onder de cannons7 our lines sort o' broke an' stop2 de cun'l was kilt1 an' ,i b'lieve dey wuz jes' 'bout to bre'k all to pieces1 when ,marse ,chan rid up an' cotch hol' de fleg an' hollers1 ',foller me6' an' rid strainin' up de hill 'mong de cannons4 ,i seen 'im when he went1 de sorrel four good length ahead o' ev'y urr hoss1 jes' like he use' to be in a foxhunt1 an' de whole rigiment right arfter 'im4 ,yo' ain' nuver hear thunder6 ,fust thing ,i knowed1 de roan roll' head over heels an' flung me up 'g'inst de bank1 like yo' chuck a nubbin over 'g'inst de foot o' de corn pile4 ,an' dat's what kep' me from bein' kilt1 ,i 'spects4 ,judy she say she think 'twuz ,providence1 but ,i think 'twuz de bank4 #j' co'se1 ,providence put de bank dyah1 but how come ,providence nuver saved ,marse ,chan8 ,when ,i look' 'roun'1 de roan wuz layin' dyah by me1 stone dead1 wid a cannon-ball gone 'mos' th'oo him1 an' our men hed done swep' dem on t'urr side from de top o' de hill4 ',twan' mo'n a minit1 de sorrel come gallupin' back wid his mane flyin'1 an' de rein hangin' down on one side to his knee4 ',dyar6' says ,i1 'fo' ,gord6 ,i 'specks dey done kill ,marse ,chan1 an' ,i promised to tek care on him4' ,i jumped up an' run over de bank1 an' dyar1 wid a whole lot o' dead men1 an' some not dead yit1 onder one o' de guns wid de fleg still in he han'1 an' a bullet right th'oo he body1 lay ,marse ,chan4 ,i tu'n 'im over an' call 'im1 ',marse ,chan6' but 'twan' no use1 he wuz done gone home1 sho' 'nuff4 ,i pick' 'im up in my arms wid de fleg still in he han's1 an' toted 'im back jes' like ,i did dat day when he wuz a baby1 an' ole marster gin 'im to me in my arms1 an' sez he could trus' me1 an' tell me to tek keer on 'im long ez he lived4 ,i kyar'd 'im 'way off de battlefiel' out de way o' de balls1 an' ,i laid 'im down onder a big tree till ,i could git somebody to ketch de sorrel for me4 ,he wuz cotched arfter a while1 an' ,i hed some money1 so ,i got some pine plank an' made a coffin dat evenin'1 an' wrapt ,marse ,chan's body up in de fleg1 an' put 'im in de coffin2 but ,i didn' nail de top on strong1 'cause ,i knowed ole missis wan' see 'im2 an' ,i got a' ambulance an' set out for home dat night4 ,we reached dyar de nex' evein'1 arfter travellin' all dat night an' all nex' day4 ,hit 'peared like somethin' hed tole ole missis we wuz comin' so2 for when we got home she wuz waitin' for us--done drest up in her best ,sunday clo'es1 an' stan'n' at de head o' de big steps1 an' ole marster settin' in his big cheer--ez we druv up de hill to'ds de house1 ,i drivin' de ambulance an' de sorrel leadin' 'long behine wid de stirrups crost over de saddle4 ,she come down to de gate to meet us4 ,we took de coffin out de ambulance an' kyar'd it right into de big parlor wid de pictures in it1 whar dey use' to dance in ole times when ,marse ,chan wuz a schoolboy1 an' ,miss ,anne ,chahmb'lin use' to come over1 an' go wid ole missis into her charmber an' tek her things off4 ,in dyar we laid de coffin on two o' de cheers1 an' ole missis nuver said a wud2 she jes' looked so ole an' white4 ,when ,i had tell 'em all 'bout it1 ,i tu'ned right 'roun' an' rid over to ,cun'l ,chahmb'lin's1 'cause ,i knowed dat wuz what ,marse ,chan he'd 'a' wanted me to do4 ,i didn' tell nobody whar ,i wuz gwine1 'cause yo' know none on 'em hadn' nuver speak to ,miss ,anne1 not sence de duil1 an' dey didn' know 'bout de letter4 ,when ,i rid up in de yard1 dyar wuz ,miss ,anne a-stan'in' on de poach watchin' me ez ,i rid up4 ,i tied my hoss to de fence1 an' walked up de parf4 ,she knowed by de way ,i walked dyar wuz somethin' de motter1 an' she wuz mighty pale4 ,i drapt my cap down on de een' o' de steps an' went up4 ,she nuver opened her mouf2 jes' stan' right still an' keep her eyes on my face4 ,fust1 ,i couldn' speak2 den ,i cotch my voice1 an' ,i say1 ',marse ,chan1 he done got he furlough4' ,her face was mighty ashy1 an' she sort o' shook1 but she didn' fall4 ,she tu'ned 'roun' an' said1 ',git me de ker'ige6' ,dat wuz all4 ,when de ker'ige come 'roun'1 she hed put on her bonnet1 an' wuz ready4 ,ez she got in1 she sey to me1 ',hev yo' brought him home8' an' we drove 'long1 ,i ridin' behine4 ,when we got home1 she got out1 an' walked up de big walk--up to de poach by herse'f4 ,ole missis hed done fin' de letter in ,marse ,chan's pocket1 wid de love in it1 while ,i wuz 'way1 an' she wuz a- waitin' on de poach4 ,dey sey dat wuz de fust time ole missis cry when she find de letter1 an' dat she sut'n'y did cry over it1 pintedly4 ,well1 seh1 ,miss ,anne she walks right up de steps1 mos' up to ole missis stan'in' dyar on de poach1 an' jes' falls right down mos' to her1 on her knees fust1 an' den flat on her face right on de flo'1 ketchin' at ole missis' dress wid her two han's--so4 ,ole missis stood for 'bout a minit lookin' down at her1 an' den she drapt down on de flo' by her1 an' took her in bofe her arms4 ,i couldn' see1 ,i wuz cryin' so myse'f1 an' ev'ybody wuz cryin'4 ,but dey went in arfter a while in de parlor1 an' shet de do'2 an' ,i heahd 'em say1 ,miss ,anne she tuk de coffin in her arms an' kissed it1 an' kissed ,marse ,chan1 an' call 'im by his name1 an' her darlin'1 an' ole missis lef' her cryin' in dyar tell some on 'em went in1 an' found her done faint on de flo'4 ,judy 7she's my wife7 she tell me she heah ,miss ,anne when she axed ole missis mout she wear mo'nin' fur 'im4 ,i don' know how dat is2 but when we buried 'im nex' day1 she wuz de one whar walked arfter de coffin1 holdin' ole marster1 an' ole missis she walked next to 'em4 ,well1 we buried ,marse ,chan dyar in de ole grabeyard1 wid de fleg wrapped roun' 'im1 an' he face lookin' like it did dat mawnin' down in de low groun's1 wid de new sun shinin' on it so peaceful4 ,miss ,anne she nuver went home to stay arfter dat2 she stay wid ole marster an' ole missis ez long ez dey lived4 ,dat warn' so mighty long1 'cause ole marster he died dat fall1 when dey wuz fallerin' fur wheat--,i had jes' married ,judy den--an' ole missis she warn' long behine him4 ,we buried her by him next summer4 ,miss ,anne she went in de hospitals toreckly arfter ole missis died2 an' jes' fo' ,richmond fell she come home sick wid de fever4 ,yo' nuver would 'a' knowed her fur de same ole ,miss ,anne4 ,she wuz light ez a piece o' peth1 an' so white1 'cep' her eyes an' her sorrel hyar1 an' she kep' on gittin' whiter an' weaker4 ,judy she sut'n'y did nuss her faithful4 ,but she nuver got no betterment6 ,de fever an' ,marse ,chan's bein' kilt hed done strain her1 an' she died jes' fo' de folks wuz sot free4 ,so we buried ,miss ,anne right by ,marse ,chan1 in a place whar ole missis hed tole us to leave1 an' dey's bofe on 'em sleep side by side over in de ole grabeyard at home4 ,an' will yo' please tell me1 marster8 ,dey tells me dat de ,bible sey dyar won' be marryin' nor givin' in marriage in heaven1 but ,i don' b'lieve it signifies dat--does you8 ,i gave him the comfort of my earnest belief in some other interpretation1 together with several spare eighteen-pences1 as he called them1 for which he seemed humbly grateful4 ,and as ,i rode away ,i heard him calling across the fence to his wife1 who was standing in the door of a small whitewashed cabin1 near which we had been standing for some time3 ,judy1 have ,marse ,chan's dawg got home8 ,,posson ,,jone ,,by ,,george ,w4 ,,cable ,bliss ,perry mentions this story as one that presents people and events and circumstances1 blended into an artistic whole that defies analysis4 ,it illustrates dramatic incident1 local color1 and complex character analysis4 ,,posson ,,jone' ,footnote3 ,from ,old ,creole ,days1 by ,george ,w4 ,cable4 ,copyright1 #ahij1 by ,charles ,scribner's ,sons4 ,to ,jules ,st4-,ange--elegant little heathen--there yet remained at manhood a remembrance of having been to school1 and of having been taught by a stony-headed ,capuchin that the world is round--for example1 like a cheese4 ,this round world is a cheese to be eaten through1 and ,jules had nibbled quite into his cheese-world already at twenty-two4 ,he realized this as he idled about one ,sunday morning where the intersection of ,royal and ,conti streets some seventy years ago formed a central corner of ,new ,orleans4 ,yes1 yes1 the trouble was he had been wasteful and honest4 ,he discussed the matter with that faithful friend and confidant1 ,baptiste1 his yellow body-servant4 ,they concluded that1 papa's patience and tante's pin money having been gnawed away quite to the rind1 there were left open only these few easily enumerated resorts3 to go to work--they shuddered2 to join ,major ,innerarity's filibustering expedition2 or else--why not8--to try some games of confidence4 ,at twenty-two one must begin to be something4 ,nothing else tempted2 could that avail8 ,one could but try4 ,it is noble to try2 and1 besides1 they were hungry4 ,if one could make the friendship of some person from the country1 for instance1 with money1 not expert at cards or dice1 but1 as one would say1 willing to learn1 one might find cause to say some ,hail ,marys4 ,the sun broke through a clearing sky1 and ,baptiste pronounced it good for luck4 ,there had been a hurricane in the night4 ,the weed- grown tile-roofs were still dripping1 and from lofty brick and low adobe walls a rising steam responded to the summer sunlight4 ,upstreet1 and across the ,rue du ,canal1 one could get glimpses of the gardens in ,faubourg ,ste4-,marie standing in silent wretchedness1 so many tearful ,lucretias1 tattered victims of the storm4 ,short remnants of the wind now and then came down the narrow street in erratic puffs heavily laden with odors of broken boughs and torn flowers1 skimmed the little pools of rain-water in the deep ruts of the unpaved street1 and suddenly went away to nothing1 like a juggler's butterflies or a young man's money4 ,it was very picturesque1 the ,rue ,royale4 ,the rich and poor met together4 ,the locksmith's swinging key creaked next door to the bank2 across the way1 crouching1 mendicant-like1 in the shadow of a great importing-house1 was the mud laboratory of the mender of broken combs4 ,light balconies overhung the rows of showy shops and stores open for trade this ,sunday morning1 and pretty ,latin faces of the higher class glanced over their savagely pronged railings upon the passers below4 ,at some windows hung lace curtains1 flannel duds at some1 and at others only the scraping and sighing one-hinged shutter groaning toward ,paris after its neglectful master4 ,m4 ,st4-,ange stood looking up and down the street for nearly an hour4 ,but few ladies1 only the inveterate mass-goers1 were out4 ,about the entrance of the frequent cafes the masculine gentility stood leaning on canes1 with which now one and now another beckoned to ,jules1 some even adding pantomimic hints of the social cup4 ,m4 ,st4-,ange remarked to his servant without turning his head that somehow he felt sure he should soon return those bons that the mulatto had lent him4 ,what will you do with them8 ,me6 said ,baptiste1 quickly2 ,i will go and see the bull-fight in the ,place ,congo4 ,there is to be a bull-fight8 ,but where is ,m4 ,cayetano8 ,ah1 got all his affairs wet in the tornado4 ,instead of his circus1 they are to have a bull-fight--not an ordinary bull-fight with sick horses1 but a buffalo-and-tiger fight4 ,i would not miss it-- ,two or three persons ran to the opposite corner1 and commenced striking at something with their canes4 ,others followed4 ,can ,m4 ,st4-,ange and servant1 who hasten forward--can the ,creoles1 ,cubans1 ,spaniards1 ,san ,domingo refugees1 and other loungers--can they hope it is a fight8 ,they hurry forward4 ,is a man in a fit8 ,the crowd pours in from the side-streets4 ,have they killed a so-long snake8 ,bareheaded shopmen leave their wives1 who stand upon chairs4 ,the crowd huddles and packs4 ,those on the outside make little leaps into the air1 trying to be tall4 ,what is the matter8 ,have they caught a real live rat8 ,who is hurt8 asks some one in ,english4 ,personne1 replies a shopkeeper2 a man's hat blow' in the gutter2 but he has it now4 ,jules pick' it4 ,see1 that is the man1 head and shoulders on top the res'4 ,he in the homespun8 asks a second shopkeeper4 ,humph6 an ,americain--a ,west-,floridian2 bah6 ,but wait2 'st6 he is speaking2 listen6 ,to who is he speak--8 ,sh-sh-sh6 to ,jules4 ,jules who8 ,silence1 you6 ,to ,jules ,st4-,ange1 what howe me a bill since long time4 ,sh-sh-sh6 ,then the voice was heard4 ,its owner was a man of giant stature1 with a slight stoop in his shoulders1 as if he was making a constant1 good-natured attempt to accommodate himself to ordinary doors and ceilings4 ,his bones were those of an ox4 ,his face was marked more by weather than age1 and his narrow brow was bald and smooth4 ,he had instantaneously formed an opinion of ,jules ,st4-,ange1 and the multitude of words1 most of them lingual curiosities1 with which he was rasping the wide-open ears of his listeners1 signified1 in short1 that1 as sure as his name was ,parson ,jones1 the little ,creole was a plum gentleman4 ,m4 ,st4-,ange bowed and smiled1 and was about to call attention1 by both gesture and speech1 to a singular object on top of the still uncovered head1 when the nervous motion of the ,americain anticipated him1 as1 throwing up an immense hand1 he drew down a large roll of bank-notes4 ,the crowd laughed1 the ,west-,floridian joining1 and began to disperse4 ,why1 that money belongs to ,smyrny ,church1 said the giant4 ,you are very dengerous to make your money expose like that1 ,misty ,posson ,jone'1 said ,st4-,ange1 counting it with his eyes4 ,the countryman gave a start and smile of surprise4 ,how d'dyou know my name was ,jones8 he asked2 but1 without pausing for the ,creole's answer1 furnished in his reckless way some further specimens of ,west-,floridian ,english2 and the conciseness with which he presented full intelligence of his home1 family1 calling1 lodging-house1 and present and future plans1 might have passed for consummate art1 had it not been the most run-wild nature4 ,and ,i've done been to ,mobile1 you know1 on busi,n,e,s,s for ,bethesdy ,church4 ,it's the on'yest time ,i ever been from home2 now you wouldn't of believed that1 would you8 ,but ,i admire to have saw you1 that's so4 ,you've got to come and eat with me4 ,me and my boy ain't been fed yit4 ,what might one call yo' name8 ,jools8 ,come on1 ,jools4 ,come on1 ,colossus4 ,that's my niggah-- his name's ,colossus of ,rhodes4 ,is that yo' yallah boy1 ,jools6 ,fetch him along1 ,colossus4 ,it seems like a special provi,d,e,n,c,e4- ,jools1 do you believe in a special provi,d,e,n,c,e8 ,jules said he did4 ,the new-made friends moved briskly off1 followed by ,baptiste and a short1 square1 old negro1 very black and grotesque1 who had introduced himself to the mulatto1 with many glittering and cavernous smiles1 as d'body-sarvant of d',rev'n' ,mr4 ,jones4 ,both pairs enlivened their walk with conversation4 ,parson ,jones descanted upon the doctrine he had mentioned1 as illustrated in the perplexities of cotton-growing1 and concluded that there would always be a special provi,d,e,n,c,e again' cotton untell folks quits a-pressin' of it and haulin' of it on ,sundays6 ,je dis1 said ,st4-,ange1 in response1 ,i thing you is juz right4 ,i believe1 me1 strong-strong in the improvidence1 yes4 ,you know my papa he hown a sugah-plantation1 you know4 ',jules1 me son1' he say one time to me1 ',i goin' to make one baril sugah to fedge the moze high price in ,new ,orleans4' ,well1 he take his bez baril sugah--,i nevah see a so careful man like me papa always to make a so beautiful sugah et sirop4 ',jules1 go at ,father ,pierre an' ged this lill pitcher fill with holy-water1 an' tell him sen' his tin bucket1 and ,i will make it fill with quitte4' ,i ged the holy- water2 my papa sprinkle it over the baril1 an' make one cross on the 'ead of the baril4 ,why1 ,jools1 said ,parson ,jones1 that didn't do no good4 ,din do no good6 ,id broughd the so great value6 ,you can strike me dead if thad baril sugah din fedge the more high cost than any other in the city4 ,parce-que1 the man what buy that baril sugah he make a mistake of one hundred pound --falling back--,mais certainlee6' ,and you think that was growin' out of the holy-water8 asked the parson4 ,mais1 what could make it else8 ,id could not be the quitte1 because my papa keep the bucket1 an' forget to sen' the quitte to ,father ,pierre4 ,parson ,jones was disappointed4 ,well1 now1 ,jools1 you know1 ,i don't think that was right4 ,i reckon you must be a plum ,catholic4 ,m4 ,st4-,ange shrugged4 ,he would not deny his faith4 ,i am a ,catholique1 mais--brightening as he hoped to recommend himself anew--not a good one4 ,well1 you know1 said ,jones--where's ,colossus8 ,oh6 all right4 ,colossus strayed off a minute in ,mobile1 and ,i plum lost him for two days4 ,here's the place2 come in4 ,colossus and this boy can go to the kitchen4--,now1 ,colossus1 what ,,air you a-beckonin' at me faw8 ,he let his servant draw him aside and address him in a whisper4 ,oh1 go 'way6 said the parson with a jerk4 ,who's goin' to throw me8 ,what8 ,speak louder4 ,why1 ,colossus1 you shayn't talk so1 saw4 ',pon my soul1 you're the mightiest fool ,i ever taken up with4 ,jest you go down that alley-way with this yalla boy1 and don't show yo' face untell yo' called6 ,the negro begged2 the master wrathily insisted4 ,colossus1 will you do ez ,i tell you1 or shell ,i hev to strike you1 saw8 ,o ,mahs ,jimmy1 ,i--,i's gwine2 but--he ventured nearer--don't on no account drink nothin'1 ,mahs ,jimmy4 ,such was the negro's earnestness that he put one foot in the gutter1 and fell heavily against his master4 ,the parson threw him off angrily4 ,thar1 now6 ,why1 ,colossus1 you most of been dosted with sumthin'2 yo' plum crazy4--,humph1 come on1 ,jools1 let's eat6 ,humph6 to tell me that when ,i never taken a drop1 exceptin' for chills1 in my life--which he knows so as well as me6 ,the two masters began to ascend a stair4 ,mais1 he is a sassy2 ,i would sell him1 me1 said the young ,creole4 ,no1 ,i wouldn't do that1 replied the parson2 though there is people in ,bethesdy who says he is a rascal4 ,he's a powerful smart fool4 ,why1 that boy's got money1 ,jools2 more money than religion1 ,i reckon4 ,i'm shore he fallen into mighty bad company--they passed beyond earshot4 ,baptiste and ,colossus1 instead of going to the tavern kitchen1 passed to the next door and entered the dark rear corner of a low grocery1 where1 the law notwithstanding1 liquor was covertly sold to slaves4 ,there1 in the quiet company of ,baptiste and the grocer1 the colloquial powers of ,colossus1 which were simply prodigious1 began very soon to show themselves4 ,for whilst1 said he1 ,mahs ,jimmy has eddication1 you know-- whilst he has eddication1 ,i has 'scretion4 ,he has eddication and ,i has 'scretion1 an' so we gits along4 ,he drew a black bottle down the counter1 and1 laying half his length upon the damp board1 continued3 ,as a p'inciple ,i discredits de imbimin' of awjus liquors4 ,de imbimin' of awjus liquors1 de wiolution of de ,sabbaf1 de playin' of de fiddle1 and de usin' of by-words1 dey is de fo' sins of de conscience2 an' if any man sin de fo' sins of de conscience1 de debble done sharp his fork fo' dat man4--,ain't that so1 boss8 ,the grocer was sure it was so4 ,neberdeless1 mind you--here the orator brimmed his glass from the bottle and swallowed the contents with a dry eye--mind you1 a roytious man1 sech as ministers of de gospel and dere body- sarvants1 can take a ,,leetle for de weak stomach4 ,but the fascinations of ,colossus's eloquence must not mislead us2 this is the story of a true ,christian2 to wit1 ,parson ,jones4 ,the parson and his new friend ate4 ,but the coffee ,m4 ,st4-,ange declared he could not touch2 it was too wretchedly bad4 ,at the ,french ,market1 near by1 there was some noble coffee4 ,this1 however1 would have to be bought1 and ,parson ,jones had scruples4 ,you see1 ,jools1 every man has his conscience to guide him1 which it does so in-- ,oh1 yes6 cried ,st4-,ange1 conscien'2 thad is the bez1 ,posson ,jone'4 ,certainlee6 ,i am a ,,catholique1 you is a ,,schismatique2 you thing it is wrong to dring some coffee--well1 then1 it ,,is wrong2 you thing it is wrong to make the sugah to ged the so large price --well1 then1 it ,,is wrong2 ,i thing it is right--well1 then1 it ,,is right2 it is all 'abit2 c'est tout4 ,what a man thing is right1 ,,is ,,right2 'tis all 'abit4 ,a man muz nod go again' his conscien'4 ,my faith6 do you thing ,i would go again' my conscien'8 ,mais allons1 led us go and ged some coffee4 ,jools4 ,wat8 ,jools1 it ain't the drinkin' of coffee1 but the buyin' of it on a ,sabbath4 ,you must really excuse me1 ,jools it's again' conscience1 you know4 ,ah6 said ,st4-,ange1 c'est very true4 ,for you it would be a sin1 mais for me it is only 'abit4 ,rilligion is a very strange2 ,i know a man one time1 he thing it was wrong to go to cock-fight ,sunday evening4 ,i thing it is all 'abit4 ,mais1 come1 ,posson ,jone'2 ,i have got one friend1 ,miguel2 led us go at his house and ged some coffee4 ,come2 ,miguel have no familie2 only him and ,joe--always like to see friend2 allons1 led us come yonder4 ,why1 ,jools1 my dear friend1 you know1 said the shamefaced parson1 ,i never visit on ,sundays4 ,never w'at8 asked the astounded ,creole4 ,no1 said ,jones1 smiling awkwardly4 ,never visite8 ,exceptin' sometimes amongst church-members1 said ,parson ,jones4 ,mais1 said the seductive ,st4-,ange1 ,miguel and ,joe is church- member'--certainlee6 ,they love to talk about rilligion4 ,come at ,miguel and talk about some rilligion4 ,i am nearly expire for me coffee4 ,parson ,jones took his hat from beneath his chair and rose up4 ,jools1 said the weak giant1 ,i ought to be in church right now4 ,mais1 the church is right yonder at ,miguel'1 yes4 ,ah6 continued ,st4-,ange1 as they descended the stairs1 ,i thing every man muz have the rilligion he like' the bez--me1 ,i like the ,catholique rilligion the bez-for me it ,,is the bez4 ,every man will sure go to heaven if he like his rilligion the bez4 ,jools1 said the ,west-,floridian1 laying his great hand tenderly upon the ,creole's shoulder1 as they stepped out upon the banquette1 do you think you have any shore hopes of heaven8 ,yass6 replied ,st4-,ange2 ,i am sure-sure4 ,i thing everybody will go to heaven4 ,i thing you will go1 et ,i thing ,miguel will go1 et ,joe--everybody1 ,i thing--mais1 hof course1 not if they not have been christen'4 ,even ,i thing some niggers will go4 ,jools1 said the parson1 stopping in his walk--,jools1 ,i ,,don',t want to lose my niggah4 ,you will not loose him4 ,with ,baptiste he ,,cannot ged loose4 ,but ,colossus's master was not reassured4 ,now1 said he1 still tarrying1 this is jest the way2 had ,i of gone to church-- ,posson ,jone'1 said ,jules4 ,what8 ,i tell you4 ,we goin' to church6 ,will you8 asked ,jones1 joyously4 ,allons1 come along1 said ,jules1 taking his elbow4 ,they walked down the ,rue ,chartres1 passed several corners1 and by and by turned into a cross street4 ,the parson stopped an instant as they were turning and looked back up the street4 ,w'at you lookin'8 asked his companion4 ,i thought ,i saw ,colossus1 answered the parson1 with an anxious face2 ,i reckon 'twa'n't him1 though4 ,and they went on4 ,the street they now entered was a very quiet one4 ,the eye of any chance passer would have been at once drawn to a broad1 heavy1 white brick edifice on the lower side of the way1 with a flag-pole standing out like a bowsprit from one of its great windows1 and a pair of lamps hanging before a large closed entrance4 ,it was a theatre1 honey-combed with gambling-dens4 ,at this morning hour all was still1 and the only sign of life was a knot of little barefoot girls gathered within its narrow shade1 and each carrying an infant relative4 ,into this place the parson and ,m4 ,st4-,ange entered1 the little nurses jumping up from the sills to let them pass in4 ,a half-hour may have passed4 ,at the end of that time the whole juvenile company were laying alternate eyes and ears to the chinks1 to gather what they could of an interesting quarrel going on within4 ,i did not1 saw6 ,i given you no cause of offence1 saw6 ,it's not so1 saw6 ,mister ,jools simply mistaken the house1 thinkin' it was a ,sabbath-school6 ,no such thing1 saw2 ,i ,,ain',t bound to bet6 ,yes1 ,i kin git out4 ,yes1 without bettin'6 ,i hev a right to my opinion2 ,i reckon ,i'm a ,,white ,,man1 saw6 ,no1 saw6 ,i on'y said ,i didn't think you could get the game on them cards4 ',sno such thing1 saw6 ,i do ,,not know how to play6 ,i wouldn't hev a rascal's money ef ,i should win it6 ,shoot1 ef you dare6 ,you can kill me1 but you cayn't scare me6 ,no1 ,i shayn't bet6 ,i'll die first6 ,yes1 saw2 ,mr4 ,jools can bet for me if he admires to2 ,i ain't his mostah4 ,here the speaker seemed to direct his words to ,st4-,ange4 ,saw1 ,i don't understand you1 saw4 ,i never said ,i'd loan you money to bet for me4 ,i didn't suspicion this from you1 saw4 ,no1 ,i won't take any more lemonade2 it's the most notorious stuff ,i ever drank1 saw6 ,m4 ,st4-,ange's replies were in falsetto and not without effect2 for presently the parson's indignation and anger began to melt4 ,don't ask me1 ,jools1 ,i can't help you4 ,it's no use2 it's a matter of conscience with me1 ,jools4 ,mais oui6 'tis a matt' of conscien' wid me1 the same4 ,but1 ,jools1 the money's none o' mine1 nohow2 it belongs to ,smyrny1 you know4 ,if ,i could make jus' ,,one bet1 said the persuasive ,st4-,ange1 ,i would leave this place1 fas'-fas'1 yes4 ,if ,i had thing--mais ,i did not soupspicion this from you1 ,posson ,jone'--- ,don't1 ,jools1 don't6 ,no6 ,posson ,jone'4 ,you're bound to win8 said the parson1 wavering4 ,mais certainement6 ,but it is not to win that ,i want2 'tis me conscien'--me honor6 ,well1 ,jools1 ,i hope ,i'm not a-doin' no wrong4 ,i'll loan you some of this money if you say you'll come right out 'thout takin' your winnin's4 ,all was still4 ,the peeping children could see the parson as he lifted his hand to his breast-pocket4 ,there it paused a moment in bewilderment1 then plunged to the bottom4 ,it came back empty1 and fell lifelessly at his side4 ,his head dropped upon his breast1 his eyes were for a moment closed1 his broad palms were lifted and pressed against his forehead1 a tremor seized him1 and he fell all in a lump to the floor4 ,the children ran off with their infant- loads1 leaving ,jules ,st4-,ange swearing by all his deceased relatives1 first to ,miguel and ,joe1 and then to the lifted parson1 that he did not know what had become of the money except if the black man had got it4 ,in the rear of ancient ,new ,orleans1 beyond the sites of the old rampart1 a trio of ,spanish forts1 where the town has since sprung up and grown old1 green with all the luxuriance of the wild ,creole summer1 lay the ,congo ,plains4 ,here stretched the canvas of the historic ,cayetano1 who ,sunday after ,sunday sowed the sawdust for his circus-ring4 ,but to-day the great showman had fallen short of his printed promise4 ,the hurricane had come by night1 and with one fell swash had made an irretrievable sop of everything4 ,the circus trailed away its bedraggled magnificence1 and the ring was cleared for the bull4 ,then the sun seemed to come out and work for the people4 ,see1 said the ,spaniards1 looking up at the glorious sky with its great1 white fleets drawn off upon the horizon--see--heaven smiles upon the bull-fight6 ,in the high upper seats of the rude amphitheatre sat the gaily- decked wives and daughters of the ,gascons1 from the metaries along the ,ridge1 and the chattering ,spanish women of the ,market1 their shining hair unbonneted to the sun4 ,next below were their husbands and lovers in ,sunday blouses1 milkmen1 butchers1 bakers1 black- bearded fishermen1 ,sicilian fruiterers1 swarthy ,portuguese sailors1 in little woollen caps1 and strangers of the graver sort2 mariners of ,england1 ,germany1 and ,holland4 ,the lowest seats were full of trappers1 smugglers1 ,canadian voyageurs1 drinking and singing2 ,americains1 too--more's the shame--from the upper rivers --who will not keep their seats--who ply the bottle1 and who will get home by and by and tell how wicked ,sodom is2 broad-brimmed1 silver-braided ,mexicans1 too1 with their copper cheeks and bat's eyes1 and their tinkling spurred heels4 ,yonder1 in that quieter section1 are the quadroon women in their black lace shawls--and there is ,baptiste2 and below them are the turbaned black women1 and there is--but he vanishes--,colossus4 ,the afternoon is advancing1 yet the sport1 though loudly demanded1 does not begin4 ,the ,americains grow derisive and find pastime in gibes and raillery4 ,they mock the various ,latins with their national inflections1 and answer their scowls with laughter4 ,some of the more aggressive shout pretty ,french greetings to the women of ,gascony1 and one bargeman1 amid peals of applause1 stands on a seat and hurls a kiss to the quadrooms4 ,the mariners of ,england1 ,germany1 and ,holland1 as spectators1 like the fun1 while the ,spaniards look black and cast defiant imprecations upon their persecutors4 ,some ,gascons1 with timely caution1 pick their women out and depart1 running a terrible fire of gallantries4 ,in hope of truce1 a new call is raised for the bull3 ,the bull1 the bull6--hush6 ,in a tier near the ground a man is standing and calling--standing head and shoulders above the rest--calling in the ,americaine tongue4 ,another man1 big and red1 named ,joe1 and a handsome little ,creole in elegant dress and full of laughter1 wish to stop him1 but the flat-boatmen1 ha-ha-ing and cheering1 will not suffer it4 ,ah1 through some shameful knavery of the men1 into whose hands he has fallen1 he is drunk6 ,even the women can see that2 and now he throws his arms wildly and raises his voice until the whole great circle hears it4 ,he is preaching6 ,ah6 kind ,lord1 for a special providence now6 ,the men of his own nation--men from the land of the open ,english ,bible and temperance cup and song are cheering him on to mad disgrace4 ,and now another call for the appointed sport is drowned by the flat-boatmen singing the ancient tune of ,mear4 ,you can hear the words-- ,old ,grimes is dead1 that good old soul --from ribald lips and throats turned brazen with laughter1 from singers who toss their hats aloft and roll in their seats2 the chorus swells to the accompaniment of a thousand brogans-- ,he used to wear an old gray coat ,all buttoned down before4 ,a ribboned man in the arena is trying to be heard1 and the ,latins raise one mighty cry for silence4 ,the big red man gets a hand over the parson's mouth1 and the ribboned man seizes his moment4 ,they have been endeavoring for hours1 he says1 to draw the terrible animals from their dens1 but such is their strength and fierceness1 that-- ,his voice is drowned4 ,enough has been heard to warrant the inference that the beasts cannot be whipped out of the storm- drenched cages to which menagerie-life and long starvation have attached them1 and from the roar of indignation the man of ribbons flies4 ,the noise increases4 ,men are standing up by hundreds1 and women are imploring to be let out of the turmoil4 ,all at once1 like the bursting of a dam1 the whole mass pours down into the ring4 ,they sweep across the arena and over the showman's barriers4 ,miguel gets a frightful trampling4 ,who cares for gates or doors8 ,they tear the beasts' houses bar from bar1 and1 laying hold of the gaunt buffalo1 drag him forth by feet1 ears1 and tail2 and in the midst of the melee1 still head and shoulders above all1 wilder1 with the cup of the wicked1 than any beast1 is the man of ,god from the ,florida parishes6 ,in his arms he bore--and all the people shouted at once when they saw it--the tiger4 ,he had lifted it high up with its back to his breast1 his arms clasped under its shoulders2 the wretched brute had curled up caterpillar-wise1 with its long tail against its belly1 and through its filed teeth grinned a fixed and impotent wrath4 ,and ,parson ,jones was shouting3 ,the tiger and the buffler ,,shell lay down together6 ,you dah to say they shayn't and ,i'll comb you with this varmint from head to foot6 ,the tiger and the buffler ,,shell lay down together4 ,they ,,shell6 ,now1 you1 ,joe6 ,behold6 ,i am here to see it done4 ,the lion and the buffler ,,shell lay down together6 ,mouthing these words again and again1 the parson forced his way through the surge in the wake of the buffalo4 ,this creature the ,latins had secured by a lariat over his head1 and were dragging across the old rampart and into a street of the city4 ,the northern races were trying to prevent1 and there was pommelling and knocking down1 cursing and knife-drawing1 until ,jules ,st4-,ange was quite carried away with the fun1 laughed1 clapped his hands1 and swore with delight1 and ever kept close to the gallant parson4 ,joe1 contrariwise1 counted all this child's-play an interruption4 ,he had come to find ,colossus and the money4 ,in an unlucky moment he made bold to lay hold of the parson1 but a piece of the broken barriers in the hands of a flat-boatman felled him to the sod1 the terrible crowd swept over him1 the lariat was cut1 and the giant parson hurled the tiger upon the buffalo's back4 ,in another instant both brutes were dead at the hands of the mob2 ,jones was lifted from his feet1 and prating of ,scripture and the millennium1 of ,paul at ,ephesus and ,daniel in the buffler's den1 was borne aloft upon the shoulders of the huzzaing ,americains4 ,half an hour later he was sleeping heavily on the floor of a cell in the calaboza4 ,when ,parson ,jones awoke1 a bell was somewhere tolling for midnight4 ,somebody was at the door of his cell with a key4 ,the lock grated1 the door swung1 the turnkey looked in and stepped back1 and a ray of moonlight fell upon ,m4 ,jules ,st4-,ange4 ,the prisoner sat upon the empty shackles and ring-bolt in the centre of the floor4 ,misty ,posson ,jone'1 said the visitor1 softly4 ,o ,jools6 ,mais1 w'at de matter1 ,posson ,jone'8 ,my sins1 ,jools1 my sins6 ,ah6 ,posson ,jone'1 is that something to cry1 because a man get sometime a litt' bit intoxicate8 ,mais1 if a man keep ,,all ,,the ,,time intoxicate1 ,i think that is again' the conscien'4 ,jools1 ,jools1 your eyes is darkened--oh6 ,jools1 where's my pore old niggah8 ,posson ,jone'1 never min'2 he is wid ,baptiste4 ,where8 ,i don' know w'ere--mais he is wid ,baptiste4 ,baptiste is a beautiful to take care of somebody4 ,is he as good as you1 ,jools8 asked ,parson ,jones1 sincerely4 ,jules was slightly staggered4 ,you know1 ,posson ,jone'1 you know1 a nigger cannot be good as a w'ite man--mais ,baptiste is a good nigger4 ,the parson moaned and dropped his chin into his hands4 ,i was to of left for home to-morrow1 sun-up1 on the ,isabella schooner4 ,pore ,smyrny6 ,he deeply sighed4 ,posson ,jone'1 said ,jules1 leaning against the wall and smiling1 ,i swear you is the moz funny man ,i ever see4 ,if ,i was you ,i would say1 me1 ',ah6 'ow ,i am lucky6 the money ,i los'1 it was not mine1 anyhow6' ,my faith6 shall a man make hisse'f to be the more sorry because the money he los' is not his8 ,me1 ,i would say1 'it is a specious providence4' ,ah6 ,misty ,posson ,jone'1 he continued1 you make a so droll sermon ad the bull-ring4 ,ha6 ha6 ,i swear ,i think you can make money to preach thad sermon many time ad the theatre ,st4 ,philippe4 ,hah6 you is the moz brave dat ,i never see1 mais ad the same time the moz rilligious man4 ,where ,i'm goin' to fin' one priest to make like dat8 ,mais1 why you can't cheer up an' be 'appy8 ,me1 if ,i should be miserabl' like that ,i would kill meself4 ,the countryman only shook his head4 ,bien1 ,posson ,jone'1 ,i have the so good news for you4 ,the prisoner looked up with eager inquiry4 ,las' evening when they lock' you1 ,i come right off at ,m4 ,de ,blanc's house to get you let out of de calaboose2 ,m4 ,de ,blanc he is the judge4 ,so soon ,i was entering--' ,ah6 ,jules1 me boy1 juz the man to make complete the game6' ,posson ,jone'1 it was a specious providence6 ,i win in t'ree hours more dan six hundred dollah6 ,look4 ,he produced a mass of bank-notes1 bons1 and due-bills4 ,and you got the pass8 asked the parson1 regarding the money with a sadness incomprehensible to ,jules4 ,it is here2 it take the effect so soon the daylight4 ,jools1 my friend1 your kindness is in vain4 ,the ,creole's face became a perfect blank4 ,because1 said the parson1 for two reasons3 firstly1 ,i have broken the laws1 and ought to stand the penalty2 and secondly--you must really excuse me1 ,jools1 you know1 but the pass has been got onfairly1 ,i'm afeerd4 ,you told the judge ,i was innocent2 and in neither case it don't become a ,christian 7which ,i hope ,i can still say ,i am one7 to 'do evil that good may come4' ,i muss stay4 ,m4 ,st4-,ange stood up aghast1 and for a moment speechless1 at this exhibition of moral heroism2 but an artifice was presently hit upon4 ,mais1 ,posson ,jone'6--in his old falsetto--de order--you cannot read it1 it is in ,french--compel you to go hout1 sir6 ,is that so8 cried the parson1 bounding up with radiant face--is that so1 ,jools8 ,the young man nodded1 smiling2 but1 though he smiled1 the fountain of his tenderness was opened4 ,he made the sign of the cross as the parson knelt in prayer1 and even whispered ,hail ,mary1 etc41 quite through1 twice over4 ,morning broke in summer glory upon a cluster of villas behind the city1 nestled under live-oaks and magnolias on the banks of a deep bayou1 and known as ,suburb ,st4 ,jean4 ,with the first beam came the ,west-,floridian and the ,creole out upon the bank below the village4 ,upon the parson's arm hung a pair of antique saddle-bags4 ,baptiste limped wearily behind2 both his eyes were encircled with broad1 blue rings1 and one cheek-bone bore the official impress of every knuckle of ,colossus's left hand4 ,the beautiful to take care of somebody had lost his charge4 ,at mention of the negro he became wild1 and1 half in ,english1 half in the gumbo dialect1 said murderous things4 ,intimidated by ,jules to calmness1 he became able to speak confidently on one point2 he could1 would1 and did swear that ,colossus had gone home to the ,florida parishes2 he was almost certain2 in fact1 he thought so4 ,there was a clicking of pulleys as the three appeared upon the bayou's margin1 and ,baptiste pointed out1 in the deep shadow of a great oak1 the ,isabella1 moored among the bulrushes1 and just spreading her sails for departure4 ,moving down to where she lay1 the parson and his friend paused on the bank1 loath to say farewell4 ,o ,jools6 said the parson1 supposin' ,colossus ain't gone home6 ,o ,jools1 if you'll look him out for me1 ,i'll never forget you--,i'll never forget you1 nohow1 ,jools4 ,no1 ,jools1 ,i never will believe he taken that money4 ,yes1 ,i know all niggahs will steal--he set foot upon the gang-plank--but ,colossus wouldn't steal from me4 ,good- bye4 ,misty ,posson ,jone'1 said ,st4-,ange1 putting his hand on the parson's arm with genuine affection1 hol' on4 ,you see dis money-- w'at ,i win las' night8 ,well1 ,i win' it by a specious providence1 ain't it8 ,there's no tellin'1 said the humbled ,jones4 ,providence ' ,moves in a mysterious way ,his wonders to perform4' ,ah6 cried the ,creole1 c'est very true4 ,i ged this money in the mysterieuze way4 ,mais1 if ,i keep dis money1 you know where it goin' be to-night8 ,i really can't say1 replied the parson4 ,goin' to de dev'1 said the sweetly-smiling young man4 ,the schooner-captain1 leaning against the shrouds1 and even ,baptiste1 laughed outright4 ,o ,jools1 you mustn't6 ,well1 den1 w'at ,i shall do wid ,,it8 ,any thing6 answered the parson2 better donate it away to some poor man---- ,ah6 ,misty ,posson ,jone'1 dat is w'at ,i want4 ,you los' five hondred dollar'--'twas me fault4 ,no1 it wa'n't1 ,jools4 ,mais1 it was6 ,no6 ,it ,,was me fault6 ,i ,,swear it was me fault6 ,mais1 here is five hondred dollar'2 ,i wish you shall take it4 ,here6 ,i don't got no use for money4--,oh1 my faith6 ,posson ,jone'1 you must not begin to cry some more ,parson ,jones was choked with tears4 ,when he found voice he said3 ,o ,jools1 ,jools1 ,jools6 my pore1 noble1 dear1 mis-guidened friend6 ef you hed of hed a ,christian raisin'6 ,may the ,lord show you your errors better'n ,i kin1 and bless you for your good intentions--oh1 no6 ,i cayn't touch that money with a ten-foot pole2 it wa'n't rightly got2 you must really excuse me1 my dear friend1 but ,i cayn't touch it4 ,st4 ,ange was petrified4 ,good-bye1 dear ,jools1 continued the parson4 ,i'm in the ,lord's haynds1 and he's very merciful1 which ,i hope and trust you'll find it out4 ,good-bye6--the schooner swang slowly off before the breeze--goodbye6 ,st4 ,ange roused himself4 ,posson ,jone'6 make me hany'ow dis promise3 you never1 never1 ,,never will come back to ,new ,orleans4 ,ah1 ,jools1 the ,lord willin'1 ,i'll never leave home again6 ,all right6 cried the ,creole2 ,i thing he's willin'4 ,adieu1 ,posson ,jone'4 ,my faith'6 you are the so fighting an' moz rilligious man as ,i never saw6 ,adieu6 ,adieu6 ,baptiste uttered a cry and presently ran by his master toward the schooner1 his hands full of clods4 ,st4 ,ange looked just in time to see the sable form of ,colossus of ,rhodes emerge from the vessel's hold1 and the pastor of ,smyrna and ,bethesda seize him in his embrace4 ,o ,colossus6 you outlandish old nigger6 ,thank the ,lord6 ,thank the ,lord6 ,the little ,creole almost wept4 ,he ran down the towpath1 laughing and swearing1 and making confused allusion to the entire ,,personnel and furniture of the lower regions4 ,by odd fortune1 at the moment that ,st4-,ange further demonstrated his delight by tripping his mulatto into a bog1 the schooner came brushing along the reedy bank with a graceful curve1 the sails flapped1 and the crew fell to poling her slowly along4 ,parson ,jones was on the deck1 kneeling once more in prayer4 ,his hat had fallen before him2 behind him knelt his slave4 ,in thundering tones he was confessing himself a plum fool1 from whom the conceit had been jolted out1 and who had been made to see that even his nigger had the longest head of the two4 ,colossus clasped his hands and groaned4 ,the parson prayed for a contrite heart4 ,oh1 yes6 cried ,colossus4 ,the master acknowledged countless mercies4 ,dat's so6 cried the slave4 ,the master prayed that they might still be piled on4 ,glory6 cried the black man1 clapping his hands2 pile on6 ,an' now1 continued the parson1 bring this pore1 backslidin' jackace of a parson and this pore ole fool nigger back to thar home in peace6 ,pray fo' de money6 called ,colossus4 ,but the parson prayed for ,jules4 ,pray fo' de ,,money6 repeated the negro4 ,and oh1 give thy servant back that there lost money6 ,colossus rose stealthily1 and tiptoed by his still shouting master4 ,st4-,ange1 the captain1 the crew1 gazed in silent wonder at the strategist4 ,pausing but an instant over the master's hat to grin an acknowledgment of his beholders' speechless interest1 he softly placed in it the faithfully mourned and honestly prayed for ,smyrna fund2 then1 saluted by the gesticulative1 silent applause of ,st4-,ange and the schooner-men1 he resumed his first attitude behind his roaring master4 ,amen6 cried ,colossus1 meaning to bring him to a close4 ,onworthy though ,i be-- cried ,jones4 ,,amen6 reiterated the negro4 ,a-a-amen6 said ,parson ,jones4 ,he rose to his feet1 and1 stooping to take up his hat1 beheld the well-known roll4 ,as one stunned1 he gazed for a moment upon his slave1 who still knelt with clasped hands and rolling eyeballs2 but when he became aware of the laughter and cheers that greeted him from both deck and shore1 he lifted eyes and hands to heaven1 and cried like the veriest babe4 ,and when he looked at the roll again1 and hugged and kissed it1 ,st4-,ange tried to raise a second shout1 but choked1 and the crew fell to their poles4 ,and now up runs ,baptiste1 covered with slime1 and prepares to cast his projectiles4 ,the first one fell wide of the mark2 the schooner swung round into a long reach of water1 where the breeze was in her favor2 another shout of laughter drowned the maledictions of the muddy man2 the sails filled2 ,colossus of ,rhodes1 smiling and bowing as hero of the moment1 ducked as the main boom swept round1 and the schooner1 leaning slightly to the pleasant influence1 rustled a moment over the bulrushes1 and then sped far away down the rippling bayou4 ,m4 ,jules ,st4-,ange stood long1 gazing at the receding vessel as it now disappeared1 now reappeared beyond the tops of the high undergrowth2 but1 when an arm of the forest hid it finally from sight1 he turned townward1 followed by that fagged-out spaniel1 his servant1 saying1 as he turned1 ,baptiste4 ,miche8 ,you know w'at ,i goin' do wid dis money8 ,non1 m'sieur4 ,well1 you can strike me dead if ,i don't goin' to pay hall my debts6 ,allons6 ,he began a merry little song to the effect that his sweetheart was a wine-bottle1 and master and man1 leaving care behind1 returned to the picturesque ,rue ,royale4 ,the ways of ,providence are indeed strange4 ,in all ,parson ,jones's after-life1 amid the many painful reminiscences of his visit to the ,city of the ,plain1 the sweet knowledge was withheld from him that by the light of the ,christian virtue that shone from him even in his great fall1 ,jules ,st4-,ange arose1 and went to his father an honest man4 ,,our ,,aromatic ,,uncle ,,by ,,henry ,,cuyler ,,bunner ,the title of ,mr4 ,bunner's story is attractive and stimulating to the imagination4 ,the plot is slight1 yet clever in its use of the surprise element4 ,its leading character is a splendid illustration of a hero worshipper who is himself the real hero4 ,the atmosphere is especially good4 ,it is warmed by family affection and fragrant with romance4 ,this romance1 as ,mr4 ,grabo points out in ,the ,art of the ,short ,story1 is suggested rather than recorded4 ,the running away of the ,judge's son and of his little admirer1 the butcher boy1 really lies outside the story proper4 ,with these youthful adventures the story has not directly to do1 but the hints of the antecedent action envelop the story with a romantic atmosphere4 ,the reader speculates upon the story suggested1 and thereby is the written story enriched and made a part of a larger whole4 ,,our ,,aromatic ,,uncle ,footnote3 ,from ,love in ,old ,cloathes and ,other ,stories1 by ,f4 ,c4 ,bunner4 ,copyright1 #ahif1 by ,charles ,scribner's ,sons4 ,it is always with a feeling of personal tenderness and regret that ,i recall his story1 although it began long before ,i was born1 and must have ended shortly after that important date1 and although ,i myself never laid eyes on the personage of whom my wife and ,i always speak as ,the ,aromatic ,uncle4 ,the story begins so long ago1 indeed1 that ,i can tell it only as a tradition of my wife's family4 ,it goes back to the days when ,boston was so frankly provincial a town that one of its leading citizens1 a man of eminent position and ancient family1 remarked to a young kinsman whom he was entertaining at his hospitable board1 by way of pleasing and profitable discourse3 ,nephew1 it may interest you to know that it is ,mr4 ,everett who has the ,,other hindquarter of this lamb4 ,this simple tale ,i will vouch for1 for ,i got it from the lips of the nephew1 who has been my uncle for so many years that ,i know him to be a trustworthy authority4 ,in those days which seem so far away--and yet the space between them and us is spanned by a lifetime of threescore years and ten-- life was simpler in all its details2 yet such towns as ,boston1 already old1 had well established local customs which varied not at all from year to year2 many of which lingered in later phases of urban growth4 ,in ,boston1 or at least in that part of ,boston where my wife's family dwelt1 it was the invariable custom for the head of the family to go to market in the early morning with his wife's list of the day's needs4 ,when the list was filled1 the articles were placed in a basket2 and the baskets thus filled were systematically deposited by the marketboys at the back door of the house to which they were consigned4 ,then the housekeeper came to the back door at her convenience1 and took the basket in4 ,exposed as this position must have been1 such a thing as a theft of the day's edibles was unknown1 and the first authentic account of any illegitimate handling of the baskets brings me to the introduction of my wife's uncle4 ,it was on a summer morning1 as far as ,i can find out1 that a little butcher boy--a very little butcher boy to be driving so big a cart--stopped in the rear of two houses that stood close together in a suburban street4 ,one of these houses belonged to my wife's father1 who was1 from all ,i can gather1 a very pompous1 severe1 and generally objectionable old gentleman2 a ,judge1 and a very considerable dignitary1 who apparently devoted all his leisure to making life miserable for his family4 ,the other was owned by a comparatively poor and unimportant man1 who did a shipping business in a small way4 ,he had bought it during a period of temporary affluence1 and it hung on his hands like a white elephant4 ,he could not sell it1 and it was turning his hair gray to pay the taxes on it4 ,on this particular morning he had got up at four o'clock to go down to the wharves to see if a certain ship in which he was interested had arrived4 ,it was due and overdue1 and its arrival would settle the question of his domestic comfort for the whole year2 for if it failed to appear1 or came home with an empty bottom1 his fate would be hard indeed2 but if it brought him money or marketable goods from its long ,oriental trip1 he might take heart of grace and look forward to better times4 ,when the butcher's boy stopped at the house of my wife's father1 he set down at the back-door a basket containing fish1 a big joint of roast beef1 and a generous load of fruit and vegetables1 including some fine1 fat oranges4 ,at the other door he left a rather unpromising-looking lump of steak and a half-peck of potatoes1 not of the first quality4 ,when he had deposited these two burdens he ran back and started his cart up the road4 ,but he looked back as he did so1 and he saw a sight familiar to him1 and saw the commission of a deed entirely unfamiliar4 ,a handsome young boy of about his own age stepped out of the back- door of my wife's father's house and looked carelessly around him4 ,he was one of the boys who compel the admiration of all other boys--strong1 sturdy1 and a trifle arrogant4 ,he had long ago compelled the admiration of the little butcher- boy4 ,they had been playmates together at the public school1 and although the ,judge's son looked down from an infinite height upon his poor little comrade1 the butcher-boy worshipped him with the deepest and most fervent adoration4 ,he had for him the admiring reverence which the boy who can't lick anybody has for the boy who can lick everybody4 ,he was a superior being1 a pattern1 a model2 an ideal never to be achieved1 but perhaps in a crude1 humble way to be imitated4 ,and there is no hero-worship in the world like a boy's worship of a boy-hero4 ,the sight of this fortunate and adorable youth was familiar enough to the butcher-boy1 but the thing he did startled and shocked that poor little workingman almost as much as if his idol had committed a capital crime right before his very eyes4 ,for the ,judge's son suddenly let a look into his face that meant mischief1 glanced around him to see whether anybody was observing him or not1 and1 failing to notice the butcher-boy1 quickly and dexterously changed the two baskets4 ,then he went back into the house and shut the door on himself4 ,the butcher-boy reined up his horse and jumped from his cart4 ,his first impulse1 of course1 was to undo the shocking iniquity which the object of his admiration had committed4 ,but before he had walked back a dozen yards1 it struck him that he was taking a great liberty in spoiling the other boy's joke4 ,it was wrong1 of course1 he knew it2 but was it for him to rebuke the wrong-doing of such an exalted personage8 ,if the ,judge's son came out again1 he would see that his joke had miscarried1 and then he would be displeased4 ,and to the butcher-boy it did not seem right in the nature of things that anything should displease the ,judge's son4 ,three times he went hesitatingly backward and forward1 trying to make up his mind1 and then he made it up4 ,the king could do no wrong4 ,of course he himself was doing wrong in not putting the baskets back where they belonged2 but then he reflected1 he took that sin on his own humble conscience1 and in some measure took it off the conscience of the ,judge's son--if1 indeed1 it troubled that lightsome conscience at all4 ,and1 of course1 too1 he knew that1 being an apprentice1 he would be whipped for it when the substitution was discovered4 ,but he didn't mind being whipped for the boy he worshipped4 ,so he drove out along the road2 and the wife of the poor shipping-merchant1 coming to the back-door1 and finding the basket full of good things1 and noticing especially the beautiful ,china oranges1 naturally concluded that her husband's ship had come in1 and that he had provided his family with a rare treat4 ,and the ,judge1 when he came home to dinner1 and ,mrs4 ,judge introduced him to the rump-steak and potatoes--but ,i do not wish to make this story any more pathetic than is necessary4 ,a few months after this episode1 perhaps indirectly in consequence of it--,i have never been able to find out exactly--the ,judge's son1 my wife's uncle1 ran away to sea1 and for many years his recklessness1 his strength1 and his good looks were only traditions in the family1 but traditions which he himself kept alive by remembrances than which none could have been more effective4 ,at first he wrote but seldom1 later on more regularly1 but his letters--,i have seen many of them--were the most uncommunicative documents that ,i ever saw in my life4 ,his wanderings took him to many strange places on the other side of the globe1 but he never wrote of what he saw or did4 ,his family gleaned from them that his health was good1 that the weather was such-and-such1 and that he wished to have his love1 duty1 and respects conveyed to his various relatives4 ,in fact1 the first positive bit of personal intelligence that they received from him was five years after his departure1 when he wrote them from a ,chinese port on letter-paper whose heading showed that he was a member of a commercial firm4 ,the letter itself made no mention of the fact4 ,as the years passed on1 however1 the letters came more regularly and they told less about the weather1 and were slightly--very slightly--more expressive of a kind regard for his relatives4 ,but at the best they were cramped by the formality of his day and generation1 and we of to-day would have called them cold and perfunctory4 ,but the practical assurances that he gave of his undiminished-- nay1 his steadily increasing--affection for the people at home1 were of a most satisfying character1 for they were convincing proof not only of his love but of his material prosperity4 ,almost from his first time of writing he began to send gifts to all the members of the family4 ,at first these were mere trifles1 little curios of travel such as he was able to purchase out of a seaman's scanty wages2 but as the years went on they grew richer and richer1 till the munificence of the runaway son became the pride of the whole family4 ,the old house that had been in the suburbs of ,boston was fairly in the heart of the city when ,i first made its acquaintance1 and one of the famous houses of the town4 ,and it was no wonder it was famous1 for such a collection of ,oriental furniture1 bric-a-brac1 and objects of art never was seen outside of a museum4 ,there were ebony cabinets1 book-cases1 tables1 and couches wonderfully carved and inlaid with mother-of-pearl4 ,there were beautiful things in bronze and jade and ivory4 ,there were all sorts of strange rugs and curtains and portieres4 ,as to the china-ware and the vases1 no house was ever so stocked2 and as for such trifles as shawls and fans and silk handkerchiefs1 why such things were sent not singly but by dozens4 ,no one could forget his first entrance into that house4 ,the great drawing-room was darkened by heavy curtains1 and at first you had only a dim vision of the strange and graceful shapes of its curious furnishing4 ,but you could not but be instantly conscious of the delicate perfume that pervaded the apartment1 and1 for the matter of that1 the whole house4 ,it was a combination of all the delightful ,eastern smells--not sandalwood only1 nor teak1 nor couscous1 but all these odors and a hundred others blent in one4 ,yet it was not heavy nor overpowering1 but delightfully faint and sweet1 diffused through those ample rooms4 ,there was good reason1 indeed1 for the children of the generation to which my wife belonged to speak of the generous relative whom they had never seen as ,our ,aromatic ,uncle4 ,there were other uncles1 and ,i have no doubt they gave presents freely1 for it was a wealthy and free- handed family2 but there was no other uncle who sent such a delicate and delightful reminder with every gift1 to breathe a soft memory of him by day and by night4 ,i did my courting in the sweet atmosphere of that house1 and1 although ,i had no earthly desire to live in ,boston1 ,i could not help missing that strangely blended odor when my wife and ,i moved into an old house in an old part of ,new ,york1 whose former owners had no connections in the ,eastern trade4 ,it was a charming and home-like old house2 but at first1 although my wife had brought some belongings from her father's house1 we missed the pleasant flavor of our aromatic uncle1 for he was now my uncle1 as well as my wife's4 ,i say at first1 for we did not miss it long4 ,uncle ,david--that was his name--not only continued to send his fragrant gifts to my wife at ,christmas and upon her birthday1 but he actually adopted me1 too1 and sent me ,chinese cabinets and ,chinese gods in various minerals and metals1 and many articles designed for a smoker's use1 which no smoker would ever want to touch with a ten-foot pole4 ,but ,i cared very little about the utility of these presents1 for it was not many years before1 among them all1 they set up that exquisite perfume in the house1 which we had learned to associate with our aromatic uncle4 ,,foo-,,choo-,,li1 ,,china1 ,january-1 #ah-4 ,,dear ,,nephew ,,and ,,niece3 ,the ,present is to inform you that ,i have this day shipped to your address1 per ,steamer ,ocean ,queen1 one marble and ebony ,table1 six assorted gods1 and a blue ,dinner set2 also that ,i purpose leaving this ,country for a visit to the ,land of my ,nativity on the #fth of ,march next1 and will1 if same is satisfactory to you1 take up my ,abode temporarily in your household4 ,should same not be satisfactory1 please cable at my charge4 ,messrs4 ,smithson ,smithson1 my ,customs ,brokers1 will attend to all charges on the goods1 and will deliver them at your readiness4 ,the health of this place is better than customary by reason of the cool weather1 which ,health ,i am as usual enjoying4 ,trusting that you both are at present in possession of the same ,blessing1 and will so continue1 ,i remain1 dear nephew and niece1 ,your affectionate ,,uncle4 ,this was1 ,i believe1 by four dozen words--those which he used to inform us of his intention of visiting ,america--the longest letter that ,uncle ,david had ever written to any member of his family4 ,it also conveyed more information about himself than he had ever given since the day he ran away to sea4 ,of course we cabled the old gentleman that we should be delighted to see him4 ,and1 late that spring1 at some date at which he could not possibly have been expected to arrive1 he turned up at our house4 ,of course we had talked a great deal about him1 and wondered what manner of a man we should find him4 ,between us1 my wife and ,i had got an idea of his personal appearance which ,i despair of conveying in words4 ,vaguely1 ,i should say that we had pictured him as something mid-way between an abnormally tall ,chinese mandarin and a benevolent ,quaker4 ,what we found when we got home and were told that our uncle from ,india was awaiting us1 was a shrunken and bent old gentleman1 dressed very cleanly and neatly in black broadcloth1 with a limp1 many-pleated shirt-front of old-fashioned style1 and a plain black cravat4 ,if he had worn an old-time stock we could have forgiven him the rest of the disappointment he cost us2 but we had to admit to ourselves that he had the most absolutely commonplace appearance of all our acquaintance4 ,in fact1 we soon discovered that1 except for a taciturnity the like of which we had never encountered1 our aromatic uncle had positively not one picturesque characteristic about him4 ,even his aroma was a disappointment4 ,he had it1 but it was patchouly or some other cheap perfume of the sort1 wherewith he scented his handkerchief1 which was not even a bandanna1 but a plain decent white one of the unnecessarily large sort which clergymen and old gentlemen affect4 ,but1 even if we could not get one single romantic association to cluster about him1 we very soon got to like the old gentleman4 ,it is true that at our first meeting1 after saying ,how d'ye do to me and receiving in impassive placidity the kiss which my wife gave him1 he relapsed into dead silence1 and continued to smoke a clay pipe with a long stem and a short bowl4 ,this instrument he filled and re-filled every few minutes1 and it seemed to be his only employment4 ,we plied him with questions1 of course1 but to these he responded with a wonderful brevity4 ,in the course of an hour's conversation we got from him that he had had a pleasant voyage that it was not a long voyage1 that it was not a short voyage1 that it was about the usual voyage1 that he had not been seasick1 that he was glad to be back1 and that he was not surprised to find the country very much changed4 ,this last piece of information was repeated in the form of a simple ,no1 given in reply to the direct question2 and although it was given politely1 and evidently without the least unamiable intent1 it made us both feel very cheap4 ,after all1 it ,,was absurd to ask a man if he were surprised to find the country changed after fifty or sixty years of absence4 ,unless he was an idiot1 and unable to read at that1 he must have expected something of the sort4 ,but we grew to like him4 ,he was thoroughly kind and inoffensive in every way4 ,he was entirely willing to be talked to1 but he did not care to talk4 ,if it was absolutely necessary1 he ,,could talk1 and when he did talk he always made me think of the ,french-,english ,dictionary for the ,pocket1 compiled by the ingenious ,mr4 ,john ,bellows2 for nobody except that extraordinary ,englishman could condense a greater amount of information into a smaller number of words4 ,during the time of his stay with us ,i think ,i learned more about ,china than any other man in the ,united ,states knew1 and ,i do not believe that the aggregate of his utterances in the course of that six months could have amounted to one hour's continuous talk4 ,don't ask me for the information4 ,i had no sort of use for it1 and ,i forgot it as soon as ,i could4 ,i like ,chinese bric-a-brac1 but my interest in ,china ends there4 ,yet it was not long before ,uncle ,david slid into his own place in the family circle4 ,we soon found that he did not expect us to entertain him4 ,he wanted only to sit quiet and smoke his pipe1 to take his two daily walks by himself1 and to read the daily paper one afternoon and ,macaulay's ,history of ,england the next4 ,he was never tired of sitting and gazing amiably but silently at my wife2 and1 to head the list of his good points1 he would hold the baby by the hour1 and for some mysterious reason that baby1 who required the exhibition of seventeen toys in a minute to be reasonably quiet in the arms of anybody else1 would sit placidly in ,uncle ,david's lap1 teething away steadily on the old gentleman's watch-chain1 as quiet and as solemn and as aged in appearance as any one of the assorted gods of porcelain and jade and ivory which our aromatic uncle had sent us4 ,the old house in ,boston was a thing of the past4 ,my wife's parents had been dead for some years1 and no one remained of her immediate family except a certain ,aunt ,lucretia1 who had lived with them until shortly before our marriage1 when the breaking up of the family sent her ,west to find a home with a distant relative in ,california4 ,we asked ,uncle ,davy if he had stopped to see ,aunt ,lucretia as he came through ,california4 ,he said he had not4 ,we asked him if he wanted to have ,aunt ,lucretia invited on to pass a visit during his stay with us4 ,he answered that he did not4 ,this did not surprise us at all4 ,you might think that a brother might long to see a sister from whom he had been separated nearly all of a long lifetime1 but then you might never have met ,aunt ,lucretia4 ,my wife made the offer only from a sense of duty2 and only after a contest with me which lasted three days and nights4 ,nothing but loss of sleep during an exceptionally busy time at my office induced me to consent to her project of inviting ,aunt ,lucretia4 ,when ,uncle ,david put his veto upon the proposition ,i felt that he might have taken back all his rare and costly gifts1 and ,i could still have loved him4 ,but ,aunt ,lucretia came1 all the same4 ,my wife is afflicted with a ,new ,england conscience1 originally of a most uncomfortable character4 ,it has been much modified and ameliorated1 until it is now considerably less like a case of moral hives2 but some wretched lingering remnant of the original article induced her to write to ,aunt ,lucretia that ,uncle ,david was staying with us1 and of course ,aunt ,lucretia came without invitation and without warning1 dropping in on us with ruthless unexpectedness4 ,you may not think1 from what ,i have said1 that ,aunt ,lucretia's visit was a pleasant event4 ,but it was1 in some respects2 for it was not only the shortest visit she ever paid us1 but it was the last with which she ever honored us4 ,she arrived one morning shortly after breakfast1 just as we were preparing to go out for a drive4 ,she would not have been ,aunt ,lucretia if she had not upset somebody's calculations at every turn of her existence4 ,we welcomed her with as much hypocrisy as we could summon to our aid on short notice1 and she was not more than usually offensive1 although she certainly did herself full justice in telling us what she thought of us for not inviting her as soon as we even heard of ,uncle ,david's intention to return to his native land4 ,she said she ought to have been the first to embrace her beloved brother--to whom ,i don't believe she had given one thought in more years than ,i have yet seen4 ,uncle ,david was dressing for his drive4 ,his long residence in tropical countries had rendered him sensitive to the cold1 and although it was a fine1 clear ,september day1 with the thermometer at about sixty1 he was industriously building himself up with a series of overcoats4 ,on a really snappy day ,i have known him to get into six of these garments2 and when he entered the room on this occasion ,i think he had on five1 at least4 ,my wife had heard his familiar foot on the stairs1 and ,aunt ,lucretia had risen up and braced herself for an outburst of emotional affection4 ,i could see that it was going to be such a greeting as is given only once in two or three centuries1 and then on the stage4 ,i felt sure it would end in a swoon1 and ,i was looking around for a sofa-pillow for the old lady to fall upon1 for from what ,i knew of ,aunt ,lucretia ,i did not believe she had ever swooned enough to be able to go through the performance without danger to her aged person4 ,but ,i need not have troubled myself4 ,uncle ,david toddled into the room1 gazed at ,aunt ,lucretia without a sign of recognition in his features1 and toddled out into the hall1 where he got his hat and gloves1 and went out to the front lawn1 where he always paced up and down for a few minutes before taking a drive1 in order to stimulate his circulation4 ,this was a surprise1 but ,aunt ,lucretia's behavior was a greater surprise4 ,the moment she set eyes on ,uncle ,david the theatrical fervor went out of her entire system1 literally in one instant2 and an absolutely natural1 unaffected astonishment displayed itself in her expressive and strongly marked features4 ,for almost a minute1 until the sound of ,uncle ,david's footsteps had died away1 she stood absolutely rigid2 while my wife and ,i gazed at her spellbound4 ,then ,aunt ,lucretia pointed one long bony finger at me1 and hissed out with a true feminine disregard of grammar3 ,that ain't ,,him6 ,david1 said ,aunt ,lucretia1 impressively1 had only one arm4 ,he lost the other in ,madagascar4 ,i was too dumfounded to take in the situation4 ,i remember thinking1 in a vague sort of way1 that ,madagascar was a curious sort of place to go for the purpose of losing an arm2 but ,i did not apprehend the full significance of this disclosure until ,i heard my wife's distressed protestations that ,aunt ,lucretia must be mistaken2 there must be some horrible mistake somewhere4 ,but ,aunt ,lucretia was not mistaken1 and there was no mistake anywhere4 ,the arm had been lost1 and lost in ,madagascar1 and she could give the date of the occurrence1 and the circumstances attendant4 ,moreover1 she produced her evidence on the spot4 ,it was an old daguerreotype1 taken in ,calcutta a year or two after the ,madagascar episode4 ,she had it in her hand-bag1 and she opened it with fingers trembling with rage and excitement4 ,it showed two men standing side by side near one of those three-foot ,ionic pillars that were an indispensable adjunct of photography in its early stages4 ,one of the men was large1 broad-shouldered1 and handsome-- unmistakably a handsome edition of ,aunt ,lucretia4 ,his empty left sleeve was pinned across his breast4 ,the other man was1 making allowance for the difference in years1 no less unmistakably the ,uncle ,david who was at that moment walking to and fro under our windows4 ,for one instant my wife's face lighted up4 ,why1 ,aunt ,lucretia1 she cried1 there he is6 ,that's ,uncle ,david1 dear ,uncle ,david4 ,there he is ,,not1 replied ,aunt ,lucretia4 ,that's his business partner--some common person that he picked up on the ship he first sailed in--and1 upon my word1 ,i do believe it's that wretched creature outside4 ,and ,i'll ,uncle ,david ,,him4 ,she marched out like a grenadier going to battle1 and we followed her meekly4 ,there was1 unfortunately1 no room for doubt in the case4 ,it only needed a glance to see that the man with one arm was a member of my wife's family1 and that the man by his side1 ,,our ,uncle ,david1 bore no resemblance to him in stature or features4 ,out on the lawn ,aunt ,lucretia sailed into the dear old gentleman in the five overcoats with a volley of vituperation4 ,he did not interrupt her1 but stood patiently to the end1 listening1 with his hands behind his back2 and when1 with her last gasp of available breath1 ,aunt ,lucretia demanded3 ,who--who--who ,,are you1 you wretch8 he responded1 calmly and respectfully3 ,i'm ,tommy ,biggs1 ,miss ,lucretia4 ,but just here my wife threw herself on his neck and hugged him1 and cried3 ,you're my own dear ,uncle ,david1 ,,anyway6 ,it was a fortunate1 a gloriously fortunate1 inspiration4 ,aunt ,lucretia drew herself up in speechless scorn1 stretched forth her bony finger1 tried to say something and failed1 and then she and her hand-bag went out of my gates1 never to come in again4 ,when she had gone1 our aromatic uncle--for we shall always continue to think of him in that light1 or rather in that odor-- looked thoughtfully after her till she disappeared1 and then made one of the few remarks ,i ever knew him to volunteer4 ,ain't changed a mite in forty-seven years4 ,up to this time ,i had been in a dazed condition of mind4 ,as ,i have said1 my wife's family was extinct save for herself and ,aunt ,lucretia1 and she remembered so little of her parents1 and she looked herself so little like ,aunt ,lucretia1 that it was small wonder that neither of us remarked ,uncle ,david's unlikeness to the family type4 ,we knew that he did not resemble the ideal we had formed of him2 and that had been the only consideration we had given to his looks4 ,now1 it took only a moment of reflection to recall the fact that all the members of the family had been tall and shapely1 and that even between the ugly ones1 like ,aunt ,lucretia1 and the pretty ones1 like my wife1 there was a certain resemblance4 ,perhaps it was only the nose--the nose is the brand in most families1 ,i believe--but whatever it was1 ,i had only to see my wife and ,aunt ,lucretia together to realize that the man who had passed himself off as our ,uncle ,david had not one feature in common with either of them--nor with the one-armed man in the daguerreotype4 ,i was thinking of this1 and looking at my wife's troubled face1 when our aromatic uncle touched me on the arm4 ,i'll explain1 he said1 to you4 ,,you tell ,,her4 ,we dismissed the carriage1 went into the house1 and sat down4 ,the old gentleman was perfectly cool and collected1 but he lit his clay pipe1 and reflected for a good five minutes before he opened his mouth4 ,then he began3 ,finest man in the world1 sir4 ,finest ,,boy in the world4 ,never anything like him4 ,but1 peculiarities4 ,had 'em4 ,peculiarities4 ,wouldn't write home4 ,wouldn't--here he hesitated--send things home4 ,i had to do it4 ,did it for him4 ,didn't want his folks to know4 ,other peculiarities4 ,never had any money4 ,other peculiarities4 ,drank4 ,other peculiarities4 ,ladies4 ,finest man in the world1 all the same4 ,nobody like him4 ,kept him right with his folks for thirty-one years4 ,then died4 ,fever4 ,canton4 ,never been myself since4 ,kept right on writing1 all the same4 ,also--here he hesitated again--sending things4 ,why8 ,don't know4 ,been a fool all my life4 ,never could do anything but make money4 ,no family1 no friends4 ,only ,,him4 ,ran away to sea to look after him4 ,did look after him4 ,thought maybe your wife would be some like him4 ,barring peculiarities1 she is4 ,getting old4 ,came here for company4 ,meant no harm4 ,didn't calculate on ,miss ,lucretia4 ,here he paused and smoked reflectively for a minute or two4 ,hot in the collar--,miss ,lucretia4 ,haughty4 ,like him1 some4 ,just like she was forty-seven years ago4 ,slapped my face one day when ,i was delivering meat1 because my jumper wasn't clean4 ,ain't changed a mite4 ,this was the first condensed statement of the case of our aromatic uncle4 ,it was only in reply to patient1 and1 ,i hope1 loving1 gentle1 and considerate1 questioning that the whole story came out--at once pitiful and noble--of the poor little butcher-boy who ran away to sea to be body-guard1 servant1 and friend to the splendid1 showy1 selfish youth whom he worshipped2 whose heartlessness he cloaked for many a long year1 who lived upon his bounty1 and who died in his arms1 nursed with a tenderness surpassing that of a brother4 ,and as far as ,i could find out1 ingratitude and contempt had been his only reward4 ,i need not tell you that when ,i repeated all this to my wife she ran to the old gentleman's room and told him all the things that ,i should not have known how to say--that we cared for him2 that we wanted him to stay with us2 that he was far1 far more our uncle than the brilliant1 unprincipled scapegrace who had died years before1 dead for almost a lifetime to the family who idolized him2 and that we wanted him to stay with us as long as kind heaven would let him4 ,but it was of no use4 ,a change had come over our aromatic uncle which we could both of us see1 but could not understand4 ,the duplicity of which he had been guilty weighed on his spirit4 ,the next day he went out for his usual walk1 and he never came back4 ,we used every means of search and inquiry1 but we never heard from him until we got this letter from ,foo-choo-li3 ,,dear ,,nephew ,,and ,,niece3 ,the present is to inform you that ,i am enjoying the ,health that might be expected at my ,age1 and in my condition of ,body1 which is to say bad4 ,i ship you by to-day's steamer1 ,pacific ,monarch1 four dozen jars of ginger1 and two dozen ditto preserved oranges1 to which ,i would have added some other ,comfits1 which ,i purposed offering for your acceptance1 if it were not that my ,physician has forbidden me to leave my ,bed4 ,in case of ,fatal ,results from this trying ,condition1 my ,will1 duly attested1 and made in your favor1 will be placed in your hands by ,messrs4 ,smithson ,smithson1 my ,customs ,brokers1 who will also pay all charges on goods sent4 ,the ,health of this place being unfavorably affected by the ,weather1 you are unlikely to hear more from1 ,dear ,nephew and ,niece1 ,your affectionate ,,uncle4 ,and we never did hear more--except for his will--from ,our ,aromatic ,uncle2 but our whole house still smells of his love4 ,,quality ,,by ,,john ,,galsworthy ,here the emphasis is upon character4 ,the plot is negligible-- hardly exists4 ,the setting is carefully worked out because it is essential to the characterization4 ,by means of the shoemaker the author reveals at least a part of his philosophy of life--that there is a subtle relation between a man and his work4 ,each reacts on the other4 ,if a man recognizes the ,soul of ,things and strives to give it proper expression1 he becomes an ,artist and influences for good all who come into contact with him4 ,,quality ,footnote3 ,from ,the ,inn of ,tranquillity1 by ,john ,galsworthy4 ,copyright1 #aiab1 by ,charles ,scribner's ,sons4 ,i knew him from the days of my extreme youth1 because he made my father's boots2 inhabiting with his elder brother two little shops let into one1 in a small by-street--now no more1 but then most fashionably placed in the ,west ,end4 ,that tenement had a certain quiet distinction2 there was no sign upon its face that he made for any of the ,royal ,family--merely his own ,german name of ,gessler ,brothers3 and in the window a few pairs of boots4 ,i remember that it always troubled me to account for those unvarying boots in the window1 for he made only what was ordered1 reaching nothing down1 and it seemed so inconceivable that what he made could ever have failed to fit4 ,had he bought them to put there8 ,that1 too1 seemed inconceivable4 ,he would never have tolerated in his house leather on which he had not worked himself4 ,besides1 they were too beautiful--the pair of pumps1 so inexpressibly slim1 the patent leathers with cloth tops1 making water come into one's mouth1 the tall brown riding boots with marvellous sooty glow1 as if1 though new1 they had been worn a hundred years4 ,those pairs could only have been made by one who saw before him the ,soul of ,boot--so truly were they prototypes incarnating the very spirit of all foot-gear4 ,these thoughts1 of course1 came to me later1 though even when ,i was promoted to him1 at the age of perhaps fourteen1 some inkling haunted me of the dignity of himself and brother4 ,for to make boots--such boots as he made--seemed to me then1 and still seems to me1 mysterious and wonderful4 ,i remember well my shy remark1 one day1 while stretching out to him my youthful foot3 ,isn't it awfully hard to do1 ,mr4 ,gessler8 ,and his answer1 given with a sudden smile from out of the sardonic redness of his beard3 ,id is an ,ardt6 ,himself1 he was a little as if made from leather1 with his yellow crinkly face1 and crinkly reddish hair and beard1 and neat folds slanting down his cheeks to the corners of his mouth1 and his guttural and one-toned voice2 for leather is a sardonic substance1 and stiff and slow of purpose4 ,and that was the character of his face1 save that his eyes1 which were gray-blue1 had in them the simple gravity of one secretly possessed by the ,ideal4 ,his elder brother was so very like him--though watery1 paler in every way1 with a great industry--that sometimes in early days ,i was not quite sure of him until the interview was over4 ,then ,i knew that it was he1 if the words1 ,i will ask my brudder1 had not been spoken2 and that1 if they had1 it was his elder brother4 ,when one grew old and wild and ran up bills1 one somehow never ran them up with ,gessler ,brothers4 ,it would not have seemed becoming to go in there and stretch out one's foot to that blue iron- spectacled glance1 owing him for more than--say--two pairs1 just the comfortable reassurance that one was still his client4 ,for it was not possible to go to him very often--his boots lasted terribly1 having something beyond the temporary--some1 as it were1 essence of boot stitched into them4 ,one went in1 not as into most shops1 in the mood of3 ,please serve me1 and let me go6 but restfully1 as one enters a church2 and1 sitting on the single wooden chair1 waited--for there was never anybody there4 ,soon1 over the top edge of that sort of well-- rather dark1 and smelling soothingly of leather--which formed the shop1 there would be seen his face1 or that of his elder brother1 peering down4 ,a guttural sound1 and the tip-tap of bast slippers beating the narrow wooden stairs1 and he would stand before one without coat1 a little bent1 in leather apron1 with sleeves turned back1 blinking--as if awakened from some dream of boots1 or like an owl surprised in daylight and annoyed at this interruption4 ,and ,i would say3 ,how do you do1 ,mr4 ,gessler8 ,could you make me a pair of ,russia leather boots8 ,without a word he would leave me1 retiring whence he came1 or into the other portion of the shop1 and ,i would continue to rest in the wooden chair1 inhaling the incense of his trade4 ,soon he would come back1 holding in his thin1 veined hand a piece of gold-brown leather4 ,with eyes fixed on it1 he would remark3 ,what a beaudiful biece6 ,when ,i1 too1 had admired it1 he would speak again4 ,when do you wand dem8 ,and ,i would answer3 ,oh6 ,as soon as you conveniently can4 ,and he would say3 ,to-morrow fordnighd8 ,or if he were his elder brother3 ,i will ask my brudder6 ,then ,i would murmur3 ,thank you6 ,good-morning1 ,mr4 ,gessler4 ,goot-morning6 he would reply1 still looking at the leather in his hand4 ,and as ,i moved to the door1 ,i would hear the tip-tap of his bast slippers restoring him1 up the stairs1 to his dream of boots4 ,but if it were some new kind of foot-gear that he had not yet made me1 then indeed he would observe ceremony--divesting me of my boot and holding it long in his hand1 looking at it with eyes at once critical and loving1 as if recalling the glow with which he had created it1 and rebuking the way in which one had disorganized this masterpiece4 ,then1 placing my foot on a piece of paper1 he would two or three times tickle the outer edges with a pencil and pass his nervous fingers over my toes1 feeling himself into the heart of my requirements4 ,i cannot forget that day on which ,i had occasion to say to him3 ,mr4 ,gessler1 that last pair of town walking-boots creaked1 you know4 ,he looked at me for a time without replying1 as if expecting me to withdraw or qualify the statement1 then said3 ,id shouldn'd 'ave greaked4 ,it did1 ,i'm afraid4 ,you goddem wed before dey found demselves8 ,i don't think so4 ,at that he lowered his eyes1 as if hunting for memory of those boots1 and ,i felt sorry ,i had mentioned this grave thing4 ,zend dem back6 he said2 ,i will look at dem4 ,a feeling of compassion for my creaking boots surged up in me1 so well could ,i imagine the sorrowful long curiosity of regard which he would bend on them4 ,zome boods1 he said slowly1 are bad from birdt4 ,if ,i can do noding wid dem1 ,i dake dem off your bill4 ,once 7once only7 ,i went absent-mindedly into his shop in a pair of boots bought in an emergency at some large firm's4 ,he took my order without showing me any leather1 and ,i could feel his eyes penetrating the inferior integument of my foot4 ,at last he said3 ,dose are nod my boods4 ,the tone was not one of anger1 nor of sorrow1 not even of contempt1 but there was in it something quiet that froze the blood4 ,he put his hand down and pressed a finger on the place where the left boot1 endeavoring to be fashionable1 was not quite comfortable4 ,id 'urds you dere1 he said4 ,dose big virms 'ave no self- respect4 ,drash6 ,and then1 as if something had given way within him1 he spoke long and bitterly4 ,it was the only time ,i ever heard him discuss the conditions and hardships of his trade4 ,dey get id all1 he said1 dey get id by adverdisement1 nod by work4 ,dey dake it away from us1 who lofe our boods4 ,id gomes to this--bresently ,i haf no work4 ,every year id gets less--you will see4 ,and looking at his lined face ,i saw things ,i had never noticed before1 bitter things and bitter struggle--and what a lot of gray hairs there seemed suddenly in his red beard6 ,as best ,i could1 ,i explained the circumstances of the purchase of those ill-omened boots4 ,but his face and voice made so deep impression that during the next few minutes ,i ordered many pairs4 ,nemesis fell6 ,they lasted more terribly than ever4 ,and ,i was not able conscientiously to go to him for nearly two years4 ,when at last ,i went ,i was surprised to find that outside one of the two little windows of his shop another name was painted1 also that of a bootmaker--making1 of course1 for the ,royal ,family4 ,the old familiar boots1 no longer in dignified isolation1 were huddled in the single window4 ,inside1 the now contracted well of the one little shop was more scented and darker than ever4 ,and it was longer than usual1 too1 before a face peered down1 and the tip-tap of the bast slippers began4 ,at last he stood before me1 and1 gazing through those rusty iron spectacles1 said3 ,mr4--1 isn'd it8 ,ah6 ,mr4 ,gessler1 ,i stammered1 but your boots are really ,,too good1 you know6 ,see1 these are quite decent still6 ,and ,i stretched out to him my foot4 ,he looked at it4 ,yes1 he said1 beople do nod wand good boods1 id seems4 ,to get away from his reproachful eyes and voice ,i hastily remarked3 ,what have you done to your shop8 ,he answered quietly3 ,id was too exbensif4 ,do you wand some boods8 ,i ordered three pairs1 though ,i had only wanted two1 and quickly left4 ,i had1 ,i do not know quite what feeling of being part1 in his mind1 of a conspiracy against him2 or not perhaps so much against him as against his idea of boot4 ,one does not1 ,i suppose1 care to feel like that2 for it was again many months before my next visit to his shop1 paid1 ,i remember1 with the feeling3 ,oh6 well1 ,i can't leave the old boy--so here goes6 ,perhaps it'll be his elder brother6 ,for his elder brother1 ,i knew1 had not character enough to reproach me1 even dumbly4 ,and1 to my relief1 in the shop there did appear to be his elder brother1 handling a piece of leather4 ,well1 ,mr4 ,gessler1 ,i said1 how are you8 ,he came close1 and peered at me4 ,i am breddy well1 he said slowly2 but my elder brudder is dead4 ,and ,i saw that it was indeed himself--but how aged and wan6 ,and never before had ,i heard him mention his brother4 ,much shocked1 ,i murmured3 ,oh6 ,i am sorry6 ,yes1 he answered1 he was a good man1 he made a good bood2 but he is dead4 ,and he touched the top of his head1 where the hair had suddenly gone as thin as it had been on that of his poor brother1 to indicate1 ,i suppose1 the cause of death4 ,he could nod ged over losing de oder shop4 ,do you wand any boods8 ,and he held up the leather in his hand3 ,id's a beaudiful biece4 ,i ordered several pairs4 ,it was very long before they came--but they were better than ever4 ,one simply could not wear them out4 ,and soon after that ,i went abroad4 ,it was over a year before ,i was again in ,london4 ,and the first shop ,i went to was my old friend's4 ,i had left a man of sixty1 ,i came back to one of seventy-five1 pinched and worn and tremulous1 who genuinely1 this time1 did not at first know me4 ,oh6 ,mr4 ,gessler1 ,i said1 sick at heart2 how splendid your boots are6 ,see1 ,i've been wearing this pair nearly all the time ,i've been abroad2 and they're not half worn out1 are they8 ,he looked long at my boots--a pair of ,russia leather1 and his face seemed to regain steadiness4 ,putting his hand on my instep1 he said3 ,do dey vid you here8 ,i 'ad drouble wid dat bair1 ,i remember4 ,i assured him that they had fitted beautifully4 ,do you wand any boods8 he said4 ,i can make dem quickly2 id is a slack dime4 ,i answered3 ,please1 please6 ,i want boots all round--every kind6 ,i will make a vresh model4 ,your food must be bigger4 ,and with utter slowness1 he traced round my foot1 and felt my toes1 only once looking up to say3 ,did ,i dell you my brudder was dead8 ,to watch him was painful1 so feeble had he grown2 ,i was glad to get away4 ,i had given those boots up1 when one evening they came4 ,opening the parcel1 ,i set the four pairs out in a row4 ,then one by one ,i tried them on4 ,there was no doubt about it4 ,in shape and fit1 in finish and quality of leather1 they were the best he had ever made me4 ,and in the mouth of one of the town walking-boots ,i found his bill4 ,the amount was the same as usual1 but it gave me quite a shock4 ,he had never before sent it in till quarter day4 ,i flew downstairs1 and wrote a check1 and posted it at once with my own hand4 ,a week later1 passing the little street1 ,i thought ,i would go in and tell him how splendidly the new boots fitted4 ,but when ,i came to where his shop had been1 his name was gone4 ,still there1 in the window1 were the slim pumps1 the patent leathers with cloth tops1 the sooty riding boots4 ,i went in1 very much disturbed4 ,in the two little shops--again made into one--was a young man with an ,english face4 ,mr4 ,gessler in8 ,i said4 ,he gave me a strange1 ingratiating look4 ,no1 sir1 he said1 no4 ,but we can attend to anything with pleasure4 ,we've taken the shop over4 ,you've seen our name1 no doubt1 next door4 ,we make for some very good people4 ,yes1 yes1 ,i said2 but ,mr4 ,gessler8 ,oh6 he answered2 dead4 ,dead6 ,but ,i only received these boots from him last ,wednesday week4 ,ah6 he said2 a shockin' go4 ,poor old man starved 'imself4 ,good ,god6 ,slow starvation1 the doctor called it6 ,you see he went to work in such a way6 ,would keep the shop on2 wouldn't have a soul touch his boots except himself4 ,when he got an order1 it took him such a time4 ,people won't wait4 ,he lost everybody4 ,and there he'd sit1 goin' on and on--,i will say that for him--not a man in ,london made a better boot6 ,but look at the competition6 ,he never advertised6 ,would 'ave the best leather1 too1 and do it all 'imself4 ,well1 there it is4 ,what could you expect with his ideas8 ,but starvation--6 ,that may be a bit flowery1 as the sayin' is--but ,i know myself he was sittin' over his boots day and night1 to the very last4 ,you see ,i used to watch him4 ,never gave 'imself time to eat2 never had a penny in the house4 ,all went in rent and leather4 ,how he lived so long ,i don't know4 ,he regular let his fire go out4 ,he was a character4 ,but he made good boots4 ,yes1 ,i said1 he made good boots4 ,and ,i turned and went out quickly1 for ,i did not want that youth to know that ,i could hardly see4 ,,the ,,triumph ,,of ,,night ,,by ,,edith ,,wharton ,this is a mystery plot in which the supernatural furnishes the interest4 ,in dealing with the supernatural ,mrs4 ,wharton does not allow it to become horrible or grotesque4 ,she secures plausibility by having for its leading characters practical business men--not a woman1 hysterical or otherwise1 really appears--and by placing them in a perfectly conventional setting4 ,the apparition is not accompanied by blood stains1 shroud1 or uncanny noises4 ,sometimes the writer of the supernatural feels that he must explain his mystery by material agencies4 ,the effect is to disappoint the reader who has yielded himself to the conditions imposed by the author1 and is willing1 for the time at least1 to believe in ghosts4 ,mrs4 ,wharton makes no such mistake4 ,she does not spoil the effect by commonplace explanation4 ,in characterization ,mrs4 ,wharton reveals the power not only to analyze subtly temperaments and motives1 but also to describe vividly with a few words4 ,this phrasal power is illustrated when she says of ,faxon that he had a healthy face1 but dying hands1 and of ,lavington that his pinched smile was screwed to his blank face like a gaslight to a whitewashed wall4 ,,the ,,triumph ,,of ,,night ,footnote3 ,from ,scribner's ,magazine1 ,august1 #aiad4 ,i ,it was clear that the sleigh from ,weymore had not come2 and the shivering young traveller from ,boston1 who had so confidently counted on jumping into it when he left the train at ,northridge ,junction1 found himself standing alone on the open platform1 exposed to the full assault of nightfall and winter4 ,the blast that swept him came off ,new ,hampshire snow fields and ice-hung forests4 ,it seemed to have traversed interminable leagues of frozen silence1 filling them with the same cold roar and sharpening its edge against the same bitter black and white landscape4 ,dark1 searching1 and sword-like1 it alternately muffled and harried its victim1 like a bullfighter now whirling his cloak and now planting his darts4 ,this analogy brought home to the young man the fact that he himself had no cloak1 and that the overcoat in which he had faced the relatively temperate airs of ,boston seemed no thicker than a sheet of paper on the bleak heights of ,northridge4 ,george ,faxon said to himself that the place was uncommonly well named4 ,it clung to an exposed ledge over the valley from which the train had lifted him1 and the wind combed it with teeth of steel that he seemed actually to hear scraping against the wooden sides of the station4 ,other building there was none3 the village lay far down the road1 and thither--since the ,weymore sleigh had not come--,faxon saw himself under the immediate necessity of plodding through several feet of snow4 ,he understood well enough what had happened at ,weymore3 his hostess had forgotten that he was coming4 ,young as ,faxon was1 this sad lucidity of soul had been acquired as the result of long experience1 and he knew that the visitors who can least afford to hire a carriage are almost always those whom their hosts forget to send for4 ,yet to say ,mrs4 ,culme had forgotten him was perhaps too crude a way of putting it4 ,similar incidents led him to think that she had probably told her maid to tell the butler to telephone the coachman to tell one of the grooms 7if no one else needed him7 to drive over to ,northridge to fetch the new secretary2 but on a night like this what groom who respected his rights would fail to forget the order8 ,faxon's obvious course was to struggle through the drifts to the village1 and there rout out a sleigh to convey him to ,weymore2 but what if1 on his arrival at ,mrs4 ,culme's1 no one remembered to ask him what this devotion to duty had cost8 ,that1 again1 was one of the contingencies he had expensively learned to look out for1 and the perspicacity so acquired told him it would be cheaper to spend the night at the ,northridge inn1 and advise ,mrs4 ,culme of his presence there by telephone4 ,he had reached this decision1 and was about to entrust his luggage to a vague man with a lantern who seemed to have some loose connection with the railway company1 when his hopes were raised by the sound of sleigh bells4 ,two vehicles were just dashing up to the station1 and from the foremost there sprang a young man swathed in furs4 ,weymore8--,no1 these are not the ,weymore sleighs4 ,the voice was that of the youth who had jumped to the platform--a voice so agreeable that1 in spite of the words1 it fell reassuringly on ,faxon's ears4 ,at the same moment the wandering station-lantern1 casting a transient light on the speaker1 showed his features to be in the pleasantest harmony with his voice4 ,he was very fair and very young--hardly in the twenties1 ,faxon thought--but his face1 though full of a morning freshness1 was a trifle too thin and fine-drawn1 as though a vivid spirit contended in him with a strain of physical weakness4 ,faxon was perhaps the quicker to notice such delicacies of balance because his own temperament hung on lightly vibrating nerves1 which yet1 as he believed1 would never quite swing him beyond the arc of a normal sensibility4 ,you expected a sleigh from ,weymore8 the youth continued1 standing beside ,faxon like a slender column of fur4 ,mrs4 ,culme's secretary explained his difficulty1 and the newcomer brushed it aside with a contemptuous ,oh1 ,mrs4 ,culme6 that carried both speakers a long way toward reciprocal understanding4 ,but then you must be-- ,the youth broke off with a smile of interrogation4 ,the new secretary8 ,yes4 ,but apparently there are no notes to be answered this evening4 ,faxon's laugh deepened the sense of solidarity which had so promptly established itself between the two4 ,the newcomer laughed also4 ,mrs4 ,culme1 he explained1 was lunching at my uncle's today1 and she said you were due this evening4 ,but seven hours is a long time for ,mrs4 ,culme to remember anything4 ,well1 said ,faxon philosophically1 ,i suppose that's one of the reasons why she needs a secretary4 ,and ,i've always the inn at ,northridge1 he concluded4 ,the youth laughed again4 ,he was at the age when predicaments are food for gaiety4 ,oh1 but you haven't1 though6 ,it burned down last week4 ,the deuce it did6 said ,faxon2 but the humor of the situation struck him also before its inconvenience4 ,his life1 for years past1 had been mainly a succession of resigned adaptations1 and he had learned1 before dealing practically with his embarrassments1 to extract from most of them a small tribute of amusement4 ,oh1 well1 there's sure to be somebody in the place who can put me up4 ,no one you could put up with4 ,besides1 ,northridge is three miles off1 and our place--in the opposite direction--is a little nearer4 ,through the darkness1 ,faxon saw his friend sketch a gesture of self-introduction4 ,my name's ,frank ,rainer1 and ,i'm staying with my uncle at ,overdale4 ,i've driven over to meet two friends of his1 who are due in a few minutes from ,new ,york4 ,if you don't mind waiting till they arrive ,i'm sure ,overdale can do you better than ,northridge4 ,we're only down from town for a few days1 but the house is always ready for a lot of people4 ,but your uncle--8 ,faxon could only object1 with the odd sense1 through his embarrassment1 that it would be magically dispelled by his invisible friend's next words4 ,oh1 my uncle--you'll see6 ,i answer for ,,him6 ,i dare say you've heard of him--,john ,lavington8 ,john ,lavington6 ,there was a certain irony in asking if one had heard of ,john ,lavington6 ,even from a post of observation as obscure as that of ,mrs4 ,culme's secretary1 the rumor of ,john ,lavington's money1 of his pictures1 his politics1 his charities and his hospitality1 was as difficult to escape as the roar of a cataract in a mountain solitude4 ,it might almost have been said that the one place in which one would not have expected to come upon him was in just such a solitude as now surrounded the speakers--at least in this deepest hour of its desertedness4 ,but it was just like ,lavington's brilliant ubiquity to put one in the wrong even there4 ,oh1 yes1 ,i've heard of your uncle4 ,then you ,,will come1 won't you8 ,we've only five minutes to wait1 young ,rainer urged1 in the tone that dispels scruples by ignoring them2 and ,faxon found himself accepting the invitation as simply as it was offered4 ,a delay in the arrival of the ,new ,york train lengthened their five minutes to fifteen2 and as they paced the icy platform ,faxon began to see why it had seemed the most natural thing in the world to accede to his new acquaintance's suggestion4 ,it was because ,frank ,rainer was one of the privileged beings who simplify human intercourse by the atmosphere of confidence and good humor they diffuse4 ,he produced this effect1 ,faxon noted1 by the exercise of no gift save his youth1 of no art save his sincerity2 but these qualities were revealed in a smile of such appealing sweetness that ,faxon felt1 as never before1 what ,nature can achieve when she deigns to match the face with the mind4 ,he learned that the young man was the ward1 and only nephew1 of ,john ,lavington1 with whom he had made his home since the death of his mother1 the great man's sister4 ,mr4 ,lavington1 ,rainer said1 had been a regular brick to him--,but then he is to every one1 you know--and the young fellow's situation seemed in fact to be perfectly in keeping with his person4 ,apparently the only shade that had ever rested on him was cast by the physical weakness which ,faxon had already detected4 ,young ,rainer had been threatened with a disease of the lungs which1 according to the highest authorities1 made banishment to ,arizona or ,new ,mexico inevitable4 ,but luckily my uncle didn't pack me off1 as most people would have done1 without getting another opinion4 ,whose8 ,oh1 an awfully clever chap1 a young doctor with a lot of new ideas1 who simply laughed at my being sent away1 and said ,i'd do perfectly well in ,new ,york if ,i didn't dine out too much1 and if ,i dashed off occasionally to ,northridge for a little fresh air4 ,so it's really my uncle's doing that ,i'm not in exile--and ,i feel no end better since the new chap told me ,i needn't bother4 ,young ,rainer went on to confess that he was extremely fond of dining out1 dancing1 and other urban distractions2 and ,faxon1 listening to him1 concluded that the physician who had refused to cut him off altogether from these pleasures was probably a better psychologist than his seniors4 ,all the same you ought to be careful1 you know4 ,the sense of elder brotherly concern that forced the words from ,faxon made him1 as he spoke1 slip his arm impulsively through ,frank ,rainer's4 ,the latter met the movement with a responsive pressure4 ,oh1 ,i ,,am3 awfully1 awfully4 ,and then my uncle has such an eye on me6 ,but if your uncle has such an eye on you1 what does he say to your swallowing knives out here in this ,siberian wild8 ,rainer raised his fur collar with a careless gesture4 ,it's not that that does it--the cold's good for me4 ,and it's not the dinners and dances8 ,what is it1 then8 ,faxon good-humoredly insisted2 to which his companion answered with a laugh3 ,well1 my uncle says it's being bored2 and ,i rather think he's right6 ,his laugh ended in a spasm of coughing and a struggle for breath that made ,faxon1 still holding his arm1 guide him hastily into the shelter of the fireless waiting room4 ,young ,rainer had dropped down on the bench against the wall and pulled off one of his fur gloves to grope for a handkerchief4 ,he tossed aside his cap and drew the handkerchief across his forehead1 which was intensely white1 and beaded with moisture1 though his face retained a healthy glow4 ,but ,faxon's gaze remained fastened to the hand he had uncovered3 it was so long1 so colorless1 so wasted1 so much older than the brow he passed it over4 ,it's queer--a healthy face but dying hands1 the secretary mused2 he somehow wished young ,rainer had kept on his glove4 ,the whistle of the express drew the young men to their feet1 and the next moment two heavily furred gentlemen had descended to the platform and were breasting the rigor of the night4 ,frank ,rainer introduced them as ,mr4 ,grisben and ,mr4 ,balch1 and ,faxon1 while their luggage was being lifted into the second sleigh1 discerned them1 by the roving lantern gleam1 to be an elderly gray-headed pair1 apparently of the average prosperous business cut4 ,they saluted their host's nephew with friendly familiarity1 and ,mr4 ,grisben1 who seemed the spokesman of the two1 ended his greeting with a genial--and many many more of them1 dear boy6 which suggested to ,faxon that their arrival coincided with an anniversary4 ,but he could not press the inquiry1 for the seat allotted him was at the coachman's side1 while ,frank ,rainer joined his uncle's guests inside the sleigh4 ,a swift flight 7behind such horses as one could be sure of ,john ,lavington's having7 brought them to tall gateposts1 an illuminated lodge1 and an avenue on which the snow had been levelled to the smoothness of marble4 ,at the end of the avenue the long house loomed through trees1 its principal bulk dark but one wing sending out a ray of welcome2 and the next moment ,faxon was receiving a violent impression of warmth and light1 of hothouse plants1 hurrying servants1 a vast spectacular oak hall like a stage setting1 and1 in its unreal middle distance1 a small concise figure1 correctly dressed1 conventionally featured1 and utterly unlike his rather florid conception of the great ,john ,lavington4 ,the shock of the contrast remained with him through his hurried dressing in the large impersonally luxurious bedroom to which he had been shown4 ,i don't see where he comes in1 was the only way he could put it1 so difficult was it to fit the exuberance of ,lavington's public personality into his host's contracted frame and manner4 ,mr4 ,lavington1 to whom ,faxon's case had been rapidly explained by young ,rainer1 had welcomed him with a sort of dry and stilted cordiality that exactly matched his narrow face1 his stiff hand1 the whiff of scent on his evening handkerchief4 ,make yourself at home--at home6 he had repeated1 in a tone that suggested1 on his own part1 a complete inability to perform the feat he urged on his visitor4 ,any friend of ,frank's 444 delighted 444 make yourself thoroughly at home6 ,,ii ,in spite of the balmy temperature and complicated conveniences of ,faxon's bedroom1 the injunction was not easy to obey4 ,it was wonderful luck to have found a night's shelter under the opulent roof of ,overdale1 and he tasted the physical satisfaction to the full4 ,but the place1 for all its ingenuities of comfort1 was oddly cold and unwelcoming4 ,he couldn't have said why1 and could only suppose that ,mr4 ,lavington's intense personality--intensely negative1 but intense all the same--must1 in some occult way1 have penetrated every corner of his dwelling4 ,perhaps1 though1 it was merely that ,faxon himself was tired and hungry1 more deeply chilled than he had known till he came in from the cold1 and unutterably sick of all strange houses1 and of the prospect of perpetually treading other people's stairs4 ,i hope you're not famished8 ,rainer's slim figure was in the doorway4 ,my uncle has a little business to attend to with ,mr4 ,grisben1 and we don't dine for half an hour4 ,shall ,i fetch you1 or can you find your way down8 ,come straight to the dining room--the second door on the left of the long gallery4 ,he disappeared1 leaving a ray of warmth behind him1 and ,faxon1 relieved1 lit a cigarette and sat down by the fire4 ,looking about with less haste1 he was struck by a detail that had escaped him4 ,the room was full of flowers--a mere bachelor's room1 in the wing of a house opened only for a few days1 in the dead middle of a ,new ,hampshire winter6 ,flowers were everywhere1 not in senseless profusion1 but placed with the same conscious art he had remarked in the grouping of the blossoming shrubs that filled the hall4 ,a vase of arums stood on the writing table1 a cluster of strange-hued carnations on the stand at his elbow1 and from wide bowls of glass and porcelain clumps of freesia bulbs diffused their melting fragrance4 ,the fact implied acres of glass --but that was the least interesting part of it4 ,the flowers themselves1 their quality1 selection and arrangement1 attested on some one's part--and on whose but ,john ,lavington's8--a solicitous and sensitive passion for that particular embodiment of beauty4 ,well1 it simply made the man1 as he had appeared to ,faxon1 all the harder to understand6 ,the half-hour elapsed1 and ,faxon1 rejoicing at the near prospect of food1 set out to make his way to the dining room4 ,he had not noticed the direction he had followed in going to his room1 and was puzzled1 when he left it1 to find that two staircases1 of apparently equal importance1 invited him4 ,he chose the one to his right1 and reached1 at its foot1 a long gallery such as ,rainer had described4 ,the gallery was empty1 the doors down its length were closed2 but ,rainer had said3 ,the second to the left1 and ,faxon1 after pausing for some chance enlightenment which did not come1 laid his hand on the second knob to the left4 ,the room he entered was square1 with dusky picture-hung walls4 ,in its centre1 about a table lit by veiled lamps1 he fancied ,mr4 ,lavington and his guests to be already seated at dinner2 then he perceived that the table was covered not with viands but with papers1 and that he had blundered into what seemed to be his host's study4 ,as he paused in the irresolution of embarrassment ,frank ,rainer looked up4 ,oh1 here's ,mr4 ,faxon4 ,why not ask him--8 ,mr4 ,lavington1 from the end of the table1 reflected his nephew's smile in a glance of impartial benevolence4 ,certainly4 ,come in1 ,mr4 ,faxon4 ,if you won't think it a liberty-- ,mr4 ,grisben1 who sat opposite his host1 turned his solid head toward the door4 ,of course ,mr4 ,faxon's an ,american citizen8 ,frank ,rainer laughed4 ,that all right6 444 ,oh1 no1 not one of your pin-pointed pens1 ,uncle ,jack6 ,haven't you got a quill somewhere8 ,mr4 ,balch1 who spoke slowly and as if reluctantly1 in a muffled voice of which there seemed to be very little left1 raised his hand to say3 ,one moment3 you acknowledge this to be--8 ,my last will and testament8 ,rainer's laugh redoubled4 ,well1 ,i won't answer for the 'last4' ,it's the first one1 anyway4 ,it's a mere formula1 ,mr4 ,balch explained4 ,well1 here goes4 ,rainer dipped his quill in the inkstand his uncle had pushed in his direction1 and dashed a gallant signature across the document4 ,faxon1 understanding what was expected of him1 and conjecturing that the young man was signing his will on the attainment of his majority1 had placed himself behind ,mr4 ,grisben1 and stood awaiting his turn to affix his name to the instrument4 ,rainer1 having signed1 was about to push the paper across the table to ,mr4 ,balch2 but the latter1 again raising his hand1 said in his sad imprisoned voice3 ,the seal--8 ,oh1 does there have to be a seal8 ,faxon1 looking over ,mr4 ,grisben at ,john ,lavington1 saw a faint frown between his impassive eyes4 ,really1 ,frank6 ,he seemed1 ,faxon thought1 slightly irritated by his nephew's frivolity4 ,who's got a seal8 ,frank ,rainer continued1 glancing about the table4 ,there doesn't seem to be one here4 ,mr4 ,grisben interposed4 ,a wafer will do4 ,lavington1 you have a wafer8 ,mr4 ,lavington had recovered his serenity4 ,there must be some in one of the drawers4 ,but ,i'm ashamed to say ,i don't know where my secretary keeps these things4 ,he ought1 of course1 to have seen to it that a wafer was sent with the document4 ,oh1 hang it-- ,frank ,rainer pushed the paper aside3 ,it's the hand of ,god--and ,i'm hungry as a wolf4 ,let's dine first1 ,uncle ,jack4 ,i think ,i've a seal upstairs1 said ,faxon suddenly4 ,mr4 ,lavington sent him a barely perceptible smile4 ,so sorry to give you the trouble-- ,oh1 ,i say1 don't send him after it now4 ,let's wait till after dinner6 ,mr4 ,lavington continued to smile on his guest1 and the latter1 as if under the faint coercion of the smile1 turned from the room and ran upstairs4 ,having taken the seal from his writing-case he came down again1 and once more opened the door of the study4 ,no one was speaking when he entered--they were evidently awaiting his return with the mute impatience of hunger1 and he put the seal in ,rainer's reach1 and stood watching while ,mr4 ,grisben struck a match and held it to one of the candles flanking the inkstand4 ,as the wax descended on the paper ,faxon remarked again the singular emaciation1 the premature physical weariness1 of the hand that held it3 he wondered if ,mr4 ,lavington had ever noticed his nephew's hand1 and if it were not poignantly visible to him now4 ,with this thought in his mind1 ,faxon raised his eyes to look at ,mr4 ,lavington4 ,the great man's gaze rested on ,frank ,rainer with an expression of untroubled benevolence2 and at the same instant ,faxon's attention was attracted by the presence in the room of another person1 who must have joined the group while he was upstairs searching for the seal4 ,the new-comer was a man of about ,mr4 ,lavington's age and figure1 who stood directly behind his chair1 and who1 at the moment when ,faxon first saw him1 was gazing at young ,rainer with an equal intensity of attention4 ,the likeness between the two men--perhaps increased by the fact that the hooded lamps on the table left the figure behind the chair in shadow-- struck ,faxon the more because of the strange contrast in their expression4 ,john ,lavington1 during his nephew's blundering attempt to drop the wax and apply the seal1 continued to fasten on him a look of half-amused affection2 while the man behind the chair1 so oddly reduplicating the lines of his features and figure1 turned on the boy a face of pale hostility4 ,the impression was so startling ,faxon forgot what was going on about him4 ,he was just dimly aware of young ,rainer's exclaiming3 ,your turn1 ,mr4 ,grisben6 of ,mr4 ,grisben's ceremoniously protesting3 ,no--no2 ,mr4 ,faxon first1 and of the pen's being thereupon transferred to his own hand4 ,he received it with a deadly sense of being unable to move1 or even to understand what was expected of him1 till he became conscious of ,mr4 ,grisben's paternally pointing out the precise spot on which he was to leave his autograph4 ,the effort to fix his attention and steady his hand prolonged the process of signing1 and when he stood up--a strange weight of fatigue on all his limbs--the figure behind ,mr4 ,lavington's chair was gone4 ,faxon felt an immediate sense of relief4 ,it was puzzling that the man's exit should have been so rapid and noiseless1 but the door behind ,mr4 ,lavington was screened by a tapestry hanging1 and ,faxon concluded that the unknown looker-on had merely had to raise it to pass out4 ,at any rate1 he was gone1 and with his withdrawal the strange weight was lifted4 ,young ,rainer was lighting a cigarette1 ,mr4 ,balch meticulously inscribing his name at the foot of the document1 ,mr4 ,lavington--his eyes no longer on his nephew-- examining a strange white-winged orchid in the vase at his elbow4 ,everything suddenly seemed to have grown natural and simple again1 and ,faxon found himself responding with a smile to the affable gesture with which his host declared3 ,and now1 ,mr4 ,faxon1 we'll dine4 ,,iii ,i wonder how ,i blundered into the wrong room just now2 ,i thought you told me to take the second door to the left1 ,faxon said to ,frank ,rainer as they followed the older men down the gallery4 ,so ,i did2 but ,i probably forgot to tell you which staircase to take4 ,coming from your bedroom1 ,i ought to have said the fourth door to the right4 ,it's a puzzling house1 because my uncle keeps adding to it from year to year4 ,he built this room last summer for his modern pictures4 ,young ,rainer1 pausing to open another door1 touched an electric button which sent a circle of light about the walls of a long room hung with canvases of the ,french impressionist school4 ,faxon advanced1 attracted by a shimmering ,monet1 but ,rainer laid a hand on his arm4 ,he bought that last week for a thundering price4 ,but come along-- ,i'll show you all this after dinner4 ,or ,,he will rather--he loves it4 ,does he really love things8 ,rainer stared1 clearly perplexed at the question4 ,rather6 ,flowers and pictures especially6 ,haven't you noticed the flowers8 ,i suppose you think his manner's cold2 it seems so at first2 but he's really awfully keen about things4 ,faxon looked quickly at the speaker4 ,has your uncle a brother8 ,brother8 ,no--never had4 ,he and my mother were the only ones4 ,or any relation who--who looks like him8 ,who might be mistaken for him8 ,not that ,i ever heard of4 ,does he remind you of some one8 ,yes4 ,that's queer4 ,we'll ask him if he's got a double4 ,come on6 ,but another picture had arrested ,faxon1 and some minutes elapsed before he and his young host reached the dining-room4 ,it was a large room1 with the same conventionally handsome furniture and delicately grouped flowers2 and ,faxon's first glance showed him that only three men were seated about the dining-table4 ,the man who had stood behind ,mr4 ,lavington's chair was not present1 and no seat awaited him4 ,when the young men entered1 ,mr4 ,grisben was speaking1 and his host1 who faced the door1 sat looking down at his untouched soup- plate and turning the spoon about in his small dry hand4 ,it's pretty late to call them rumors--they were devilish close to facts when we left town this morning1 ,mr4 ,grisben was saying1 with an unexpected incisiveness of tone4 ,mr4 ,lavington laid down his spoon and smiled interrogatively4 ,oh1 facts--what are facts6 ,just the way a thing happens to look at a given minute4 ,you haven't heard anything from town8 ,mr4 ,grisben persisted4 ,not a syllable4 ,so you see 444 ,balch1 a little more of that petite marmite4 ,mr4 ,faxon 444 between ,frank and ,mr4 ,grisben1 please4 ,the dinner progressed through a series of complicated courses1 ceremoniously dispensed by a stout butler attended by three tall footmen1 and it was evident that ,mr4 ,lavington took a somewhat puerile satisfaction in the pageant4 ,that1 ,faxon reflected1 was probably the joint in his armor--that and the flowers4 ,he had changed the subject--not abruptly but firmly--when the young men entered1 but ,faxon perceived that it still possessed the thoughts of the two elderly visitors1 and ,mr4 ,balch presently observed1 in a voice that seemed to come from the last survivor down a mine- shaft3 ,if it does come1 it will be the biggest crash since '#ic4 ,mr4 ,lavington looked bored but polite4 ,wall ,street can stand crashes better than it could then4 ,it's got a robuster constitution4 ,yes2 but-- ,speaking of constitutions1 ,mr4 ,grisben intervened3 ,frank1 are you taking care of yourself8 ,a flush rose to young ,rainer's cheeks4 ,why1 of course6 ,isn't that what ,i'm here for8 ,you're here about three days in the month1 aren't you8 ,and the rest of the time it's crowded restaurants and hot ballrooms in town4 ,i thought you were to be shipped off to ,new ,mexico8 ,oh1 ,i've got a new man who says that's rot4 ,well1 you don't look as if your new man were right1 said ,mr4 ,grisben bluntly4 ,faxon saw the lad's color fade1 and the rings of shadow deepen under his gay eyes4 ,at the same moment his uncle turned to him with a renewed intensity of attention4 ,there was such solicitude in ,mr4 ,lavington's gaze that it seemed almost to fling a tangible shield between his nephew and ,mr4 ,grisben's tactless scrutiny4 ,we think ,frank's a good deal better1 he began2 this new doctor-- ,the butler1 coming up1 bent discreetly to whisper a word in his ear1 and the communication caused a sudden change in ,mr4 ,lavington's expression4 ,his face was naturally so colorless that it seemed not so much to pale as to fade1 to dwindle and recede into something blurred and blotted-out4 ,he half rose1 sat down again and sent a rigid smile about the table4 ,will you excuse me8 ,the telephone4 ,peters1 go on with the dinner4 ,with small precise steps he walked out of the door which one of the footmen had hastened to throw open4 ,a momentary silence fell on the group2 then ,mr4 ,grisben once more addressed himself to ,rainer4 ,you ought to have gone1 my boy2 you ought to have gone4 ,the anxious look returned to the youth's eyes4 ,my uncle doesn't think so1 really4 ,you're not a baby1 to be always governed on your uncle's opinion4 ,you came of age to-day1 didn't you8 ,your uncle spoils you 444 that's what's the matter4444 ,the thrust evidently went home1 for ,rainer laughed and looked down with a slight accession of color4 ,but the doctor---- ,use your common sense1 ,frank6 ,you had to try twenty doctors to find one to tell you what you wanted to be told4 ,a look of apprehension overshadowed ,rainer's gaiety4 ,oh1 come--,i say6 444 ,what would ,,you do8 he stammered4 ,pack up and jump on the first train4 ,mr4 ,grisben leaned forward and laid a firm hand on the young man's arm ,look here3 my nephew ,jim ,grisben is out there ranching on a big scale4 ,he'll take you in and be glad to have you4 ,you say your new doctor thinks it won't do you any good2 but he doesn't pretend to say it will do you harm1 does he8 ,well1 then--give it a trial4 ,it'll take you out of hot theatres and night restaurants1 anyhow4444 ,and all the rest of it4444 ,eh1 ,balch8 ,go6 said ,mr4 ,balch hollowly4 ,go ,,at ,,once1 he added1 as if a closer look at the youth's face had impressed on him the need of backing up his friend4 ,young ,rainer had turned ashy-pale4 ,he tried to stiffen his mouth1 into a smile4 ,do ,i look as bad as all that8 ,mr4 ,grisben was helping himself to terrapin4 ,you look like the day after an earthquake1 he said concisely4 ,the terrapin had encircled the table1 and been deliberately enjoyed by ,mr4 ,lavington's three visitors 7,rainer1 ,faxon noticed1 left his plate untouched7 before the door was thrown open to re- admit their host4 ,mr4 ,lavington advanced with an air of recovered composure4 ,he seated himself1 picked up his napkin1 and consulted the gold- monogrammed menu4 ,no1 don't bring back the filet4444 ,some terrapin2 yes4444 ,he looked affably about the table4 ,sorry to have deserted you1 but the storm has played the deuce with the wires1 and ,i had to wait a long time before ,i could get a good connection4 ,it must be blowing up for a blizzard4 ,uncle ,jack1 young ,rainer broke out1 ,mr4 ,grisben's been lecturing me4 ,mr4 ,lavington was helping himself to terrapin4 ,ah--what about8 ,he thinks ,i ought to have given ,new ,mexico a show4 ,i want him to go straight out to my nephew at ,santa ,paz and stay there till his next birthday4 ,mr4 ,lavington signed to the butler to hand the terrapin to ,mr4 ,grisben1 who1 as he took a second helping1 addressed himself again to ,rainer4 ,jim's in ,new ,york now1 and going back the day after to-morrow in ,olyphant's private car4 ,i'll ask ,olyphant to squeeze you in if you'll go4 ,and when you've been out there a week or two1 in the saddle all day and sleeping nine hours a night1 ,i suspect you won't think much of the doctor who prescribed ,new ,york4 ,faxon spoke up1 he knew not why4 ,i was out there once3 it's a splendid life4 ,i saw a fellow--oh1 a really ,,bad case--who'd been simply made over by it4 ,it ,,does sound jolly1 ,rainer laughed1 a sudden eagerness of anticipation in his tone4 ,his uncle looked at him gently4 ,perhaps ,grisben's right4 ,it's an opportunity---- ,faxon looked up with a start3 the figure dimly perceived in the study was now more visibly and tangibly planted behind ,mr4 ,lavington's chair4 ,that's right1 ,frank3 you see your uncle approves4 ,and the trip out there with ,olyphant isn't a thing to be missed4 ,so drop a few dozen dinners and be at the ,grand ,central the day after to-morrow at five4 ,mr4 ,grisben's pleasant gray eye sought corroboration of his host1 and ,faxon1 in a cold anguish of suspense1 continued to watch him as he turned his glance on ,mr4 ,lavington4 ,one could not look at ,lavington without seeing the presence at his back1 and it was clear that1 the next minute1 some change in ,mr4 ,grisben's expression must give his watcher a clue4 ,but ,mr4 ,grisben's expression did not change3 the gaze he fixed on his host remained unperturbed1 and the clue he gave was the startling one of not seeming to see the other figure4 ,faxon's first impulse was to look away1 to look anywhere else1 to resort again to the champagne glass the watchful butler had already brimmed2 but some fatal attraction1 at war in him with an overwhelming physical resistance1 held his eyes upon the spot they feared4 ,the figure was still standing1 more distinctly1 and therefore more resemblingly1 at ,mr4 ,lavington's back2 and while the latter continued to gaze affectionately at his nephew1 his counterpart1 as before1 fixed young ,rainer with eyes of deadly menace4 ,faxon1 with what felt like an actual wrench of the muscles1 dragged his own eyes from the sight to scan the other countenances about the table2 but not one revealed the least consciousness of what he saw1 and a sense of mortal isolation sank upon him4 ,it's worth considering1 certainly---- he heard ,mr4 ,lavington continue2 and as ,rainer's face lit up1 the face behind his uncle's chair seemed to gather into its look all the fierce weariness of old unsatisfied hates4 ,that was the thing that1 as the minutes labored by1 ,faxon was becoming most conscious of4 ,the watcher behind the chair was no longer merely malevolent3 he had grown suddenly1 unutterably tired4 ,his hatred seemed to well up out of the very depths of balked effort and thwarted hopes1 and the fact made him more pitiable1 and yet more dire4 ,faxon's look reverted to ,mr4 ,lavington1 as if to surprise in him a corresponding change4 ,at first none was visible3 his pinched smile was screwed to his blank face like a gas-light to a white-washed wall4 ,then the fixity of the smile became ominous3 ,faxon saw that its wearer was afraid to let it go4 ,it was evident that ,mr4 ,lavington was unutterably tired too1 and the discovery sent a colder current through ,faxon's veins4 ,looking down at his untouched plate1 he caught the soliciting twinkle of the champagne glass2 but the sight of the wine turned him sick4 ,well1 we'll go into the details presently1 he heard ,mr4 ,lavington say1 still on the question of his nephew's future4 ,let's have a cigar first4 ,no--not here1 ,peters4 ,he turned his smile on ,faxon4 ,when we've had coffee ,i want to show you my pictures4 ,oh1 by the way1 ,uncle ,jack--,mr4 ,faxon wants to know if you've got a double8 ,a double8 ,mr4 ,lavington1 still smiling1 continued to address himself to his guest4 ,not that ,i know of4 ,have you seen one1 ,mr4 ,faxon8 ,faxon thought3 ,my ,god1 if ,i look up now they'll ,,both be looking at me6 ,to avoid raising his eyes he made as though to lift the glass to his lips2 but his hand sank inert1 and he looked up4 ,mr4 ,lavington's glance was politely bent on him1 but with a loosening of the strain about his heart he saw that the figure behind the chair still kept its gaze on ,rainer4 ,do you think you've seen my double1 ,mr4 ,faxon8 ,would the other face turn if he said yes8 ,faxon felt a dryness in his throat4 ,no1 he answered4 ,ah8 ,it's possible ,i've a dozen4 ,i believe ,i'm extremely usual- looking1 ,mr4 ,lavington went on conversationally2 and still the other face watched ,rainer4 ,it was 444 a mistake 444 a confusion of memory 444 ,faxon heard himself stammer4 ,mr4 ,lavington pushed back his chair1 and as he did so ,mr4 ,grisben suddenly leaned forward4 ,lavington6 ,what have we been thinking of8 ,we haven't drunk ,frank's health6 ,mr4 ,lavington reseated himself4 ,my dear boy6 444 ,peters1 another bottle4 444 ,he turned to his nephew4 ,after such a sin of omission ,i don't presume to propose the toast myself 444 but ,frank knows4 444 ,go ahead1 ,grisben6 ,the boy shone on his uncle4 ,no1 no1 ,uncle ,jack6 ,mr4 ,grisben won't mind4 ,nobody but ,,you--to-day6 ,the butler was replenishing the glasses4 ,he filled ,mr4 ,lavington's last1 and ,mr4 ,lavington put out his small hand to raise it4 444 ,as he did so1 ,faxon looked away4 ,well1 then--,all the good ,i've wished you in all the past years4 444 ,i put it into the prayer that the coming ones may be healthy and happy and many 444 and ,,many1 dear boy6 ,faxon saw the hands about him reach out for their glasses4 ,automatically1 he made the same gesture4 ,his eyes were still on the table1 and he repeated to himself with a trembling vehemence3 ,i won't look up6 ,i won't 4444 ,i won't 4444 ,his fingers clasped the stem of the glass1 and raised it to the level of his lips4 ,he saw the other hands making the same motion4 ,he heard ,mr4 ,grisben's genial ,hear6 ,hear6 and ,mr4 ,balch's hollow echo4 ,he said to himself1 as the rim of the glass touched his lips3 ,i won't look up6 ,i swear ,i won't6-- and he looked4 ,the glass was so full that it required an extraordinary effort to hold it there1 brimming and suspended1 during the awful interval before he could trust his hand to lower it again1 untouched1 to the table4 ,it was this merciful preoccupation which saved him1 kept him from crying out1 from losing his hold1 from slipping down into the bottomless blackness that gaped for him4 ,as long as the problem of the glass engaged him he felt able to keep his seat1 manage his muscles1 fit unnoticeably into the group2 but as the glass touched the table his last link with safety snapped4 ,he stood up and dashed out of the room4 ,,iv ,in the gallery1 the instinct of self-preservation helped him to turn back and sign to young ,rainer not to follow4 ,he stammered out something about a touch of dizziness1 and joining them presently2 and the boy waved an unsuspecting hand and drew back4 ,at the foot of the stairs ,faxon ran against a servant4 ,i should like to telephone to ,weymore1 he said with dry lips4 ,sorry1 sir2 wires all down4 ,we've been trying the last hour to get ,new ,york again for ,mr4 ,lavington4 ,faxon shot on to his room1 burst into it1 and bolted the door4 ,the mild lamplight lay on furniture1 flowers1 books1 in the ashes a log still glimmered4 ,he dropped down on the sofa and hid his face4 ,the room was utterly silent1 the whole house was still3 nothing about him gave a hint of what was going on1 darkly and dumbly1 in the horrible room he had flown from1 and with the covering of his eyes oblivion and reassurance seemed to fall on him4 ,but they fell for a moment only2 then his lids opened again to the monstrous vision4 ,there it was1 stamped on his pupils1 a part of him forever1 an indelible horror burnt into his body and brain4 ,but why into his--just his8 ,why had he alone been chosen to see what he had seen8 ,what business was it of ,,his1 in ,god's name6 ,any one of the others1 thus enlightened1 might have exposed the horror and defeated it2 but ,,he1 the one weaponless and defenceless spectator1 the one whom none of the others would believe or understand if he attempted to reveal what he knew--,,he alone had been singled out as the victim of this atrocious initiation6 ,suddenly he sat up1 listening3 he had heard a step on the stairs4 ,some one1 no doubt1 was coming to see how he was--to urge him1 if he felt better1 to go down and join the smokers4 ,cautiously he opened his door2 yes1 it was young ,rainer's step4 ,faxon looked down the passage1 remembered the other stairway and darted to it4 ,all he wanted was to get out of the house4 ,not another instant would he breathe its abominable air6 ,what business was it of ,,his1 in ,god's name8 ,he reached the opposite end of the lower gallery1 and beyond it saw the hall by which1 he had entered4 ,it was empty1 and on a long table he recognized his coat and cap among the furs of the other travellers4 ,he got into his coat1 unbolted the door1 and plunged into the purifying night4 ,the darkness was deep1 and the cold so intense that for an instant it stopped his breathing4 ,then he perceived that only a thin snow was falling1 and resolutely set his face for flight4 ,the trees along the avenue dimly marked his way as he hastened with long strides over the beaten snow4 ,gradually1 while he walked1 the tumult in his brain subsided4 ,the impulse to fly still drove him forward1 but he began to feel that he was flying from a terror of his own creating1 and that the most urgent reason for escape was the need of hiding his state1 of shunning other eyes' scrutiny till he should regain his balance4 ,he had spent the long hours in the train in fruitless broodings on a discouraging situation1 and he remembered how his bitterness had turned to exasperation when he found that the ,weymore sleigh was not awaiting him4 ,it was absurd1 of course2 but1 though he had joked with ,rainer over ,mrs4 ,culme's forgetfulness1 to confess it had cost a pang4 ,that was what his rootless life had brought him to3 for lack of a personal stake in things his sensibility was at the mercy of such trivial accidents4 444 ,yes2 that1 and the cold and fatigue1 the absence of hope and the haunting sense of starved aptitudes1 all these had brought him to the perilous verge over which1 once or twice before1 his terrified brain had hung4 ,why else1 in the name of any imaginable logic1 human or devilish1 should he1 a stranger1 be singled out for this experience8 ,what could it mean to him1 how was he related to it1 what bearing had it on his case8 444 ,unless1 indeed1 it was just because he was a stranger-a stranger everywhere--because he had no personal life1 no warm strong screen of private egotisms to shield him from exposure1 that he had developed this abnormal sensitiveness to the vicissitudes of others4 ,the thought pulled him up with a shudder4 ,no6 ,such a fate was too abominable2 all that was strong and sound in him rejected it4 ,a thousand times better regard himself as ill1 disorganized1 deluded1 than as the predestined victim of such warnings6 ,he reached the gates and paused before the darkened lodge4 ,the wind had risen and was sweeping the snow into his face in lacerating streamers4 ,the cold had him in its grasp again1 and he stood uncertain4 ,should he put his sanity to the test and go back8 ,he turned and looked down the dark drive to the house4 ,a single ray shone through the trees1 evoking a picture of the lights1 the flowers1 the faces grouped about that fatal room4 ,he turned and plunged out into the road4 ,he remembered that1 about a mile from ,overdale1 the coachman had pointed out the road to ,northridge2 and he began to walk in that direction4 ,once in the road1 he had the gale in his face1 and the wet snow on his moustache and eye-lashes instantly hardened to metal4 ,the same metal seemed to be driving a million blades into his throat and lungs1 but he pushed on1 desperately determined1 the vision of the warm room pursuing him4 ,the snow in the road was deep and uneven4 ,he stumbled across ruts and sank into drifts1 and the wind rose before him like a granite cliff4 ,now and then he stopped1 gasping1 as if an invisible hand had tightened an iron band about his body2 then he started again1 stiffening himself against the stealthy penetration of the cold4 ,the snow continued to descend out of a pall of inscrutable darkness1 and once or twice he paused1 fearing he had missed the road to ,northridge2 but1 seeing no sign of a turn1 he ploughed on doggedly4 ,at last1 feeling sure that he had walked for more than a mile1 he halted and looked back4 ,the act of turning brought immediate relief1 first because it put his back to the wind1 and then because1 far down the road1 it showed him the advancing gleam of a lantern4 ,a sleigh was coming--a sleigh that might perhaps give him a lift to the village6 ,fortified by the hope1 he began to walk back toward the light4 ,it seemed to come forward very slowly1 with unaccountable zigzags and waverings2 and even when he was within a few yards of it he could catch no sound of sleigh-bells4 ,then the light paused and became stationary by the roadside1 as though carried by a pedestrian who had stopped1 exhausted by the cold4 ,the thought made ,faxon hasten on1 and a moment later he was stooping over a motionless figure huddled against the snow-bank4 ,the lantern had dropped from its bearer's hand1 and ,faxon1 fearfully raising it1 threw its light into the face of ,frank ,rainer4 ,rainer6 ,what on earth are you doing here6 ,the boy smiled back through his pallor4 ,what are ,,you1 ,i'd like to know8 he retorted2 and1 scrambling to his feet with a clutch on ,faxon's arm1 he added gaily3 ,well1 ,i've run you down1 anyhow6 ,faxon stood confounded1 his heart sinking4 ,the lad's face was gray4 ,what madness-- he began4 ,yes1 it ,,is4 ,what on earth did you do it for8 ,i8 ,do what8 444 ,why1 ,i 444 ,i was just taking a walk4 444 ,i often walk at night4 444 ,frank ,rainer burst into a laugh4 ,on such nights8 ,then you hadn't bolted6 ,bolted8 ,because ,i'd done something to offend you8 ,my uncle thought you had4 ,faxon grasped his arm4 ,did your uncle send you after me8 ,well1 he gave me an awful rowing for not going up to your room with you when you said you were ill4 ,and when we found you'd gone we were frightened--and he was awfully upset--so ,i said ,i'd catch you4 444 ,you're ,,not ill1 are you8 ,ill8 ,no4 ,never better4 ,faxon picked up the lantern4 ,come2 let's go back4 ,it was awfully hot in that dining-room1 he added4 ,yes2 ,i hoped it was only that4 ,they trudged on in silence for a few minutes2 then ,faxon questioned3 ,you're not too done up8 ,oh1 no4 ,it's a lot easier with the wind behind us4 ,all right4 ,don't talk any more4 ,they pushed ahead1 walking1 in spite of the light that guided them1 more slowly than ,faxon had walked alone into the gale4 ,the fact of his companion's stumbling against a drift gave him a pretext for saying3 ,take hold of my arm1 and ,rainer1 obeying1 gasped out3 ,i'm blown6 ,so am ,i4 ,who wouldn't be8 ,what a dance you led me6 ,if it hadn't been for one of the servants' happening to see you-- ,yes3 all right4 ,and now1 won't you kindly shut up8 ,rainer laughed and hung on him4 ,oh1 the cold doesn't hurt me4 444 ,for the first few minutes after ,rainer had overtaken him1 anxiety for the lad had been ,faxon's only thought4 ,but as each laboring step carried them nearer to the spot he had been fleeing1 the reasons for his flight grew more ominous and more insistent4 ,no1 he was not ill2 he was not distraught and deluded--he was the instrument singled out to warn and save2 and here he was1 irresistibly driven1 dragging the victim back to his doom6 ,the intensity of the conviction had almost checked his steps4 ,but what could he do or say8 ,at all costs he must get ,rainer out of the cold1 into the house and into his bed4 ,after that he would act4 ,the snow-fall was thickening1 and as they reached a stretch of the road between open fields the wind took them at an angle1 lashing their faces with barbed thongs4 ,rainer stopped to take breath1 and ,faxon felt the heavier pressure of his arm4 ,when we get to the lodge1 can't we telephone to the stable for a sleigh8 ,if they're not all asleep at the lodge4 ,oh1 ,i'll manage4 ,don't talk6 ,faxon ordered2 and they plodded on4 444 ,at length the lantern ray showed ruts that curved away from the road under tree-darkness4 ,faxon's spirits rose4 ,there's the gate6 ,we'll be there in five minutes4 ,as he spoke he caught1 above the boundary hedge1 the gleam of a light at the farther end of the dark avenue4 ,it was the same light that had shone on the scene of which every detail was burnt into his brain2 and he felt again its overpowering reality4 ,no--he couldn't let the boy go back6 ,they were at the lodge at last1 and ,faxon was hammering on the door4 ,he said to himself3 ,i'll get him inside first1 and make them give him a hot drink4 ,then ,i'll see--,i'll find an argument4 444 ,there was no answer to his knocking1 and after an interval ,rainer said3 ,look here--we'd better go on4 ,no6 ,i can1 perfectly-- ,you sha'n't go to the house1 ,i say6 ,faxon furiously redoubled his blows1 and at length steps sounded on the stairs4 ,rainer was leaning against the lintel1 and as the door opened the light from the hall flashed on his pale face and fixed eyes4 ,faxon caught him by the arm and drew him in4 ,it ,,was cold out there1 he sighed2 and then1 abruptly1 as if invisible shears at a single stroke had cut every muscle in his body1 he swerved1 drooped on ,faxon's arm1 and seemed to sink into nothing at his feet4 ,the lodge-keeper and ,faxon bent over him1 and somehow1 between them1 lifted him into the kitchen and laid him on a sofa by the stove4 ,the lodge-keeper1 stammering3 ,i'll ring up the house1 dashed out of the room4 ,but ,faxon heard the words without heeding them3 omens mattered nothing now1 beside this woe fulfilled4 ,he knelt down to undo the fur collar about ,rainer's throat1 and as he did so he felt a warm moisture on his hands4 ,he held them up1 and they were red4 444 ,v ,the palms threaded their endless line along the yellow river4 ,the little steamer lay at the wharf1 and ,george ,faxon1 sitting in the veranda of the wooden hotel1 idly watched the coolies carrying the freight across the gang-plank4 ,he had been looking at such scenes for two months4 ,nearly five had elapsed since he had descended from the train at ,northridge and strained his eyes for the sleigh that was to take him to ,weymore3 ,weymore1 which he was never to behold6 444 ,part of the interval-- the first part--was still a great gray blur4 ,even now he could not be quite sure how he had got back to ,boston1 reached the house of a cousin1 and been thence transferred to a quiet room looking out on snow under bare trees4 ,he looked out a long time at the same scene1 and finally one day a man he had known at ,harvard came to see him and invited him to go out on a business trip to the ,malay ,peninsula4 ,you've had a bad shake-up1 and it'll do you no end of good to get away from things4 ,when the doctor came the next day it turned out that he knew of the plan and approved it4 ,you ought to be quiet for a year4 ,just loaf and look at the landscape1 he advised4 ,faxon felt the first faint stirrings of curiosity4 ,what's been the matter with me1 anyhow8 ,well1 over-work1 ,i suppose4 ,you must have been bottling up for a bad breakdown before you started for ,new ,hampshire last ,december4 ,and the shock of that poor boy's death did the rest4 ,ah1 yes--,rainer had died4 ,he remembered4 444 ,he started for the ,east1 and gradually1 by imperceptible degrees1 life crept back into his weary bones and leaden brain4 ,his friend was very considerate and forbearing1 and they travelled slowly and talked little4 ,at first ,faxon had felt a great shrinking from whatever touched on familiar things4 ,he seldom looked at a newspaper1 he never opened a letter without a moment's contraction of the heart4 ,it was not that he had any special cause for apprehension1 but merely that a great trail of darkness lay on everything4 ,he had looked too deep down into the abyss4 444 ,but little by little health and energy returned to him1 and with them the common promptings of curiosity4 ,he was beginning to wonder how the world was going1 and when1 presently1 the hotel-keeper told him there were no letters for him in the steamer's mail-bag1 he felt a distinct sense of disappointment4 ,his friend had gone into the jungle on a long excursion1 and he was lonely1 unoccupied1 and wholesomely bored4 ,he got up and strolled into the stuffy reading- room4 ,there he found a game of dominoes1 a mutilated picture-puzzle1 some copies of ,zion's ,herald1 and a pile of ,new ,york and ,london newspapers4 ,he began to glance through the papers1 and was disappointed to find that they were less recent than he had hoped4 ,evidently the last numbers had been carried off by luckier travellers4 ,he continued to turn them over1 picking out the ,american ones first4 ,these1 as it happened1 were the oldest3 they dated back to ,december and ,january4 ,to ,faxon1 however1 they had all the flavor of novelty1 since they covered the precise period during which he had virtually ceased to exist4 ,it had never before occurred to him to wonder what had happened in the world during that interval of obliteration2 but now he felt a sudden desire to know4 ,to prolong the pleasure1 he began by sorting the papers chronologically1 and as he found and spread out the earliest number1 the date at the top of the page entered into his consciousness like a key slipping into a lock4 ,it was the seventeenth of ,december3 the date of the day after his arrival at ,northridge4 ,he glanced at the first page and read in blazing characters3 ,reported ,failure of ,opal ,cement ,company4 ,lavington's ,name ,involved4 ,gigantic ,exposure of ,corruption ,shakes ,wall ,street to ,its ,foundations4 ,he read on1 and when he had finished the first paper he turned to the next4 ,there was a gap of three days1 but the ,opal ,cement ,investigation still held the centre of the stage4 ,from its complex revelations of greed and ruin his eye wandered to the death notices1 and he read3 ,rainer4 ,suddenly1 at ,northridge1 ,new ,hampshire1 ,francis ,john1 only son of the late4 444 ,his eyes clouded1 and he dropped the newspaper and sat for a long time with his face in his hands4 ,when he looked up again he noticed that his gesture had pushed the other papers from the table and scattered them on the floor at his feet4 ,the uppermost lay spread out before him1 and heavily his eyes began their search again4 ,john ,lavington comes forward with plan for reconstructing ,company4 ,offers to put in ten millions of his own--,the proposal under consideration by the ,district ,attorney4 ,ten millions 444 ten millions of his own4 ,but if ,john ,lavington was ruined8 444 ,faxon stood up with a cry4 ,that was it1 then--that was what the warning meant6 ,and if he had not fled from it1 dashed wildly away from it into the night1 he might have broken the spell of iniquity1 the powers of darkness might not have prevailed6 ,he caught up the pile of newspapers and began to glance through each in turn for the headline3 ,wills ,admitted to ,probate4 ,in the last of all he found the paragraph he sought1 and it stared up at him as if with ,rainer's dying eyes4 ,that--,,that was what he had done6 ,the powers of pity had singled him out to warn and save1 and he had closed his ears to their call1 had washed his hands of it1 and fled4 ,washed his hands of it6 ,that was the word4 ,it caught him back to the dreadful moment in the lodge when1 raising himself up from ,rainer's side1 he had looked at his hands and seen that they were red4 444 ,a ,,messenger ,,by ,,mary ,,raymond ,,shipman ,,andrews ,the ,berserker of the ,north1 because he believed in the directing power of the gods1 knew no fear4 ,death or life--it was meted out by a destiny that could not err4 ,in song and story he has been one of the most attractive figures of the past2 far more attractive in his savage virtues than the more sensuous heroes of ,greece and ,rome4 ,in this story he lives again in the ,american boy who has his ancestor's inexplicable uplift of spirit in the presence of danger and his implicit faith in the ,god of battles and the beauty of holiness4 ,the ideal of ,miles ,morgan is such a man as ,chinese ,gordon1 who1 not only in youth but all through life1 had eyes for the vision splendid4 ,the ethical value of ,a ,messenger may be summed up in the words of the ,general3 ,there is nothing in ,americanism to prevent either inspiration or heroism4 ,a ,,messenger ,footnote3 ,from ,the ,militants1 by ,mary ,r4 ,s4 ,andrews4 ,copyright1 #aijg1 by ,charles ,scribner's ,sons4 ,how oft do they their silver bowers leave1 ,to come to succour us that succour want6 ,how oft do they with golden pineons cleave ,the flitting skyes1 like flying ,pursuivant1 ,against fowle feendes to ayd us militant6 ,they for us fight1 they watch and dewly ward1 ,and their bright ,squadrons round about us plant2 ,and all for love1 and nothing for reward4 ,o6 ,why should heavenly ,god to men have such regard8 --,spenser's ,faerie ,queene4 ,that the other world of our hope rests on no distant1 shining star1 but lies about us as an atmosphere1 unseen yet near1 is the belief of many4 ,the veil of material life shades earthly eyes1 they say1 from the glories in which we ever are4 ,but sometimes when the veil wears thin in mortal stress1 or is caught away by a rushing1 mighty wind of inspiration1 the trembling human soul1 so bared1 so purified1 may look down unimagined heavenly vistas1 and messengers may steal across the shifting boundary1 breathing hope and the air of a brighter world4 ,and of him who speaks his vision1 men say ,he is mad1 or ,he has dreamed4 ,the group of officers in the tent was silent for a long half minute after ,colonel ,wilson's voice had stopped4 ,then the ,general spoke4 ,there is but one thing to do1 he said4 ,we must get word to ,captain ,thornton at once4 ,the ,colonel thought deeply a moment1 and glanced at the orderly outside the tent4 ,flannigan6 ,the man1 wheeling swiftly1 saluted4 ,present my compliments to ,lieutenant ,morgan and say that ,i should like to see him here at once1 and the soldier went off1 with the quick military precision in which there is no haste and no delay4 ,you have some fine1 powerful young officers1 ,colonel1 sail the ,general casually4 ,i suppose we shall see in ,lieutenant ,morgan one of the best4 ,it will take strength and brains both1 perhaps1 for this message4 ,a shadow of a smile touched the ,colonel's lips4 ,i think ,i have chosen a capable man1 ,general1 was all he said4 ,against the doorway of the tent the breeze blew the flap lazily back and forth4 ,a light rain fell with muffled gentle insistence on the canvas over their heads1 and out through the opening the landscape was blurred--the wide stretch of monotonous1 billowy prairie1 the sluggish1 shining river1 bending in the distance about the base of ,black ,wind ,mountain--,black ,wind ,mountain1 whose high top lifted1 though it was almost ,june1 a white point of snow above dark pine ridges of the hills below4 ,the five officers talked a little as they waited1 but spasmodically1 absent- mindedly4 ,a shadow blocked the light of the entrance1 and in the doorway stood a young man1 undersized1 slight1 blond4 ,he looked inquiringly at the ,colonel4 ,you sent for me1 sir8 and the ,general and his aide1 and the grizzled old ,captain1 and the big1 fresh-faced young one1 all watched him4 ,in direct1 quiet words--words whose bareness made them dramatic for the weight of possibility they carried--the ,colonel explained4 ,black ,wolf and his band were out on the war-path4 ,a soldier coming in wounded1 escaped from the massacre of the post at ,devil's ,hoof ,gap1 had reported it4 ,with the large command known to be here camped on ,sweetstream ,fork1 they would not come this way2 they would swerve up the ,gunpowder ,river twenty miles away1 destroying the settlement and ,little ,fort ,slade1 and would sweep on1 probably for a general massacre1 up the ,great ,horn as far as ,fort ,doncaster4 ,he himself1 with the regiment1 would try to save ,fort ,slade1 but in the meantime ,captain ,thornton's troop1 coming to join him1 ignorant that ,black ,wolf had taken the war-path1 would be directly in their track4 ,some one must be sent to warn them1 and of course the fewer the quicker4 ,lieutenant ,morgan would take a sergeant1 the ,colonel ordered quietly1 and start at once4 ,in the misty light inside the tent1 the young officer looked hardly more than seventeen years old as he stood listening4 ,his small figure was light1 fragile2 his hair was blond to an extreme1 a thick thatch of pale gold2 and there was about him1 among these tanned1 stalwart men in uniform1 a presence1 an effect of something unusual1 a simplicity out of place yet harmonious1 which might have come with a little child into a scene like this4 ,his large blue eyes were fixed on the ,colonel as he talked1 and in them was just such a look of innocent1 pleased wonder1 as might be in a child's eyes1 who had been told to leave studying and go pick violets4 ,but as the ,colonel ended he spoke1 and the few words he said1 the few questions he asked1 were full of poise1 of crisp directness4 ,as the ,general volunteered a word or two1 he turned to him and answered with a very charming deference1 a respect that was yet full of gracious ease1 the unconscious air of a man to whom generals are first as men1 and then as generals4 ,the slight figure in its dark uniform was already beyond the tent doorway when the ,colonel spoke again1 with a shade of hesitation in his manner4 ,mr4 ,morgan6 and the young officer turned quickly4 ,i think it may be right to warn you that there is likely to be more than usual danger in your ride4 ,yes1 sir4 ,the fresh1 young voice had a note of inquiry4 ,you will--you will--what was it the ,colonel wanted to say8 ,he finished abruptly4 ,choose the man carefully who goes with you4 ,thank you1 ,colonel1 ,morgan responded heartily1 but with a hint of bewilderment4 ,i shall take ,sergeant ,o',hara1 and he was gone4 ,there was a touch of color in the ,colonel's face1 and he sighed as if glad to have it over4 ,the ,general watched him1 and slowly1 after a pause1 he demanded3 ,may ,i ask1 ,colonel1 why you chose that blond baby to send on a mission of uncommon danger and importance8 ,the ,colonel answered quietly3 ,there were several reasons1 ,general--good ones4 ,the blond baby--that ghost of a smile touched the ,colonel's lips again--the blond baby has some remarkable qualities4 ,he never loses his head2 he has uncommon invention and facility of getting out of bad holes2 he rides light and so can make a horse last longer than most1 and--the ,colonel considered a moment--,i may say he has no fear of death4 ,even among my officers he is known for the quality of his courage4 ,there is one more reason3 he is the most popular man ,i have1 both with officers and men2 if anything happened to ,morgan the whole command would race into hell after the devils that did it before they would miss their revenge4 ,the ,general reflected1 pulling at his moustache4 ,it seems a bit like taking advantage of his popularity1 he said4 ,it is1 the ,colonel threw back quickly4 ,it's just that4 ,but that's what one must do--a commanding officer--isn't it so1 ,general8 ,in this war music we play on human instruments1 and if a big chord comes out stronger for the silence of a note1 the note must be silenced--that's all4 ,it's cruel1 but it's fighting2 it's the game4 ,the ,general1 as if impressed with the tense words1 did not respond1 and the other officers stared at the ,colonel's face1 as carved1 as stern as if done in marble--a face from which the warm1 strong heart seldom shone1 held back always by the stronger will4 ,the big1 fresh-colored young ,captain broke the silence4 ,has the ,general ever heard of the trick ,morgan played on ,sun ,boy1 sir8 he asked4 ,tell the ,general1 ,captain ,booth1 the ,colonel said briefly1 and the ,captain turned toward the higher officer4 ,it was apropos of what the ,colonel said of his incentive faculties1 ,general1 he began4 ,a year ago the youngster with a squad of ten men walked into ,sun ,boy's camp of seventy-five warriors4 ,morgan had made quite a pet of a young ,sioux1 who was our prisoner for five months1 and the boy had taught him a lot of the language1 and assured him that he would have the friendship of the band in return for his kindness to ,blue ,arrow--that was the chap's name4 ,so he thought he was safe2 but it turned out that ,blue ,arrow's father1 a chief1 had got into a row with ,sun ,boy1 and the latter would not think of ratifying the boy's promise4 ,so there was ,morgan with his dozen men1 in a nasty enough fix4 ,he knew plenty of ,indian talk to understand that they were discussing what they would do with him1 and it wasn't pleasant4 ,all of a sudden he had an inspiration4 ,he tells the story himself1 sir1 and ,i assure you he'd make you laugh--,morgan is a wonderful mimic4 ,well1 he remembered suddenly1 as ,i said1 that he was a mighty good ventriloquist1 and he saw his chance4 ,he gave a great jump like a startled fawn1 and threw up his arms and stared like one demented into the tree over their heads4 ,there was a mangy-looking crow sitting up there on a branch1 and ,morgan pointed at him as if at something marvellous1 supernatural1 and all those fool ,indians stopped pow-wowing and stared up after him1 as curious as monkeys4 ,then to all appearances1 the crow began to talk4 ,morgan said they must have thought that spirits didn't speak very choice ,sioux1 but he did his best4 ,the bird cawed out3 ',oh1 ,sun ,boy1 great chief1 beware what you do6' ,and then the real bird flapped its wings and ,morgan thought it was going to fly1 and he was lost4 ,but it settled back again on the branch1 and ,morgan proceeded to caw on3 ',hurt not the white man1 or the curses of the gods will come upon ,sun ,boy and his people4' ,and he proceeded to give a list of what would happen if the ,indians touched a hair of their heads4 ,by this time the red devils were all down on their stomachs1 moaning softly whenever ,morgan stopped cawing4 ,he said he quite got into the spirit of it1 and would have liked to go on some time1 but he was beginning to get hoarse1 and besides he was2 in deadly terror for fear the crow would fly before he got to the point4 ,so he had the spirit order them to give the white men their horses and turn them loose instanter2 and just as he got all through1 off went the thing with a big flap and a parting caw on its own account4 ,i wish ,i could tell it as ,morgan does--you'd think he was a bird and an ,indian rolled together4 ,he's a great actor spoiled1 that lad4 ,you leave out a fine point1 to my mind1 ,captain ,booth1 the ,colonel said quickly4 ,about his going back4 ,oh6 certainly that ought to be told1 said the ,captain1 and the ,general's eyes turned to him again4 ,morgan forgot to see young ,blue ,arrow1 his friend1 before he got away1 and nothing would do but that he should go back and speak to him4 ,he said the boy would be disappointed4 ,the men were visibly uneasy at his going1 but that didn't affect him4 ,he ordered them to wait1 and back he went1 pell-mell1 all alone into that horde of fiends4 ,they hadn't got over their funk1 luckily1 and he saw ,blue ,arrow and made his party call and got out again all right4 ,he didn't tell that himself1 but ,sergeant ,o',hara made the camp ring with it4 ,he adores ,morgan1 and claims that he doesn't know what fear is4 ,i believe it's about so4 ,i've seen him in a fight three times now4 ,his cap always goes off --he loses a cap every blessed scrimmage--and with that yellow mop of hair1 and a sort of rapt expression he gets1 he looks like a child saying its prayers all the time he is slashing and shooting like a berserker4 ,captain ,booth faced abruptly toward the ,colonel4 ,i beg your pardon for talking so long1 sir1 he said4 ,you know we're all rather keen about little ,miles ,morgan4 ,the ,general lifted his head suddenly4 ,miles ,morgan8 he demanded4 ,is his name ,miles ,morgan8 ,the ,colonel nodded4 ,yes4 ,the grandson of the old ,bishop--named for him4 ,lord6 ejaculated the ,general4 ,miles ,morgan was my earliest friend1 my friend until he died6 ,this must be ,jim's son--,miles's only child4 ,and ,jim is dead these ten years1 he went on rapidly4 ,i've lost track of him since the ,bishop died1 but ,i knew ,jim left children4 ,why1 he married --he searched rapidly in his memory-- he married a daughter of ,general ,fitzbrian's4 ,this boy's got the church and the army both in him4 ,i knew his mother1 he went on1 talking to the ,colonel1 garrulous with interest4 ,irish and fascinating she was--believed in fairies and ghosts and all that1 as her father did before her4 ,a clever woman1 but with the superstitious1 wild ,irish blood strong in her4 ,good ,lord6 ,i wish ,i'd known that was ,miles ,morgan's grandson4 ,the ,colonel's voice sounded quiet and rather cold after the ,general's impulsive enthusiasm4 ,you have summed him up by his antecedents1 ,general1 he said4 ,the church and the army--both strains are strong4 ,he is deeply religious4 ,the ,general looked thoughtful4 ,religious1 eh8 ,and popular8 ,they don't always go together4 ,captain ,booth spoke quickly4 ,it's not that kind1 ,general1 he said4 ,there's no cant in the boy4 ,he's more popular for it-- that's often so with the genuine thing1 isn't it6 ,i sometimes think--the young ,captain hesitated and smiled a trifle deprecatingly--that ,morgan is much of the same stuff as ,gordon-- ,chinese ,gordon2 the martyr stuff1 you know4 ,but it seems a bit rash to compare an every-day ,american youngster to an inspired hero4 ,there's nothing in ,americanism to prevent either inspiration or heroism that ,i know of1 the ,general affirmed stoutly1 his fine old head up1 his eyes gleaming with pride of his profession4 ,out through the open doorway1 beyond the slapping tent-flap1 the keen1 gray eyes of the ,colonel were fixed musingly on two black points which crawled along the edge of the dulled silver of the distant river--,miles ,morgan and ,sergeant ,o',hara had started4 ,sergeant6 ,they were eight miles out now1 and the camp had disappeared behind the elbow of ,black ,wind ,mountain4 ,there's something wrong with your horse4 ,listen6 ,he's not loping evenly4 ,the soft cadence of eight hoofs on earth had somewhere a lighter and then a heavier note2 the ear of a good horseman tells in a minute1 as a musician's ear at a false note1 when an animal saves one foot ever so slightly1 to come down harder on another4 ,yessirr4 ,the ,lieutenant'll remimber 'tis the horrse that had a bit of a spavin4 ,sure ,i thot 'twas cured1 and 'tis the kindest baste in the rigiment f'r a pleasure ride1 sorr--that willin' 'tis4 ,so ,i tuk it4 ,i think 'tis only the stiffness at furrst aff4 ',twill wurruk aff later4 ,plaze ,god1 ,i'll wallop him4 ,and the ,sergeant walloped with a will4 ,but the kindest beast in the regiment failed to respond except with a plunge and increased lameness4 ,soon there was no more question of his incapacity4 ,lieutenant ,morgan halted his mount1 and1 looking at the woe-begone ,o',hara1 laughed4 ,a nice trick this is1 ,sergeant1 he said1 to start out on a trip to dodge ,indians with a spavined horse4 ,why didn't you get a broomstick8 ,now go back to camp as fast as you can go2 and that horse ought to be blistered when you get there4 ,see if you can't really cure him4 ,he's too good to be shot4 ,he patted the gray's nervous head1 and the beast rubbed it gently against his sleeve1 quiet under his hand4 ,yessirr4 ,the ,lieutenant'll ride slow1 sorr1 f'r me to catch up on ye1 sorr8 ,miles ,morgan smiled and shook his head4 ,sorry1 ,sergeant1 but there'll be no slow riding in this4 ,i'll have to press right on without you2 ,i must be at ,massacre ,mountain to-night to catch ,captain ,thornton to-morrow4 ,sergeant ,o',hara's chin dropped4 ,sure the ,lieutenant'll niver be thinkin' to g'wan alone--widout me8 and with all the ,sergeant's respect for his superiors1 it took the ,lieutenant ten valuable minutes to get the man started back1 shaking his head and muttering forebodings1 to the camp4 ,it was quiet riding on alone4 ,there were a few miles to go before there was any chance of ,indians1 and no particular lookout to be kept1 so he put the horse ahead rapidly while he might1 and suddenly he found himself singing softly as he galloped4 ,how the words had come to him he did not know1 for no conscious train of thought had brought them2 but they surely fitted to the situation1 and a pleasant sense of companionship1 of safety1 warmed him as the swing of an old hymn carried his voice along with it4 ,god shall charge ,his angel legions ,watch and ward o'er thee to keep2 ,though thou walk through hostile regions1 ,though in desert wilds thou sleep4 ,surely a man riding toward--perhaps through--skulking ,indian hordes1 as he must1 could have no better message reach him than that4 ,the bent of his mind was toward mysticism1 and while he did not think the train of reasoning out1 could not have said that he believed it so1 yet the familiar lines flashing suddenly1 clearly1 on the curtain of his mind1 seemed to him1 very simply1 to be sent from a larger thought than his own4 ,as a child might take a strong hand held out as it walked over rough country1 so he accepted this quite readily and happily1 as from that ,power who was never far from him1 and in whose service1 beyond most people1 he lived and moved4 ,low but clear and deep his voice went on1 following one stanza with its mate3 ,since with pure and firm affection ,thou on ,god hast set thy love1 ,with the wings of ,his protection ,he will shield thee from above4 ,the simplicity of his being sheltered itself in the broad promise of the words4 ,light-heartedly he rode on and on1 though now more carefully2 lying flat and peering over the crests of hills a long time before he crossed their tops2 going miles perhaps through ravines2 taking advantage of every bit of cover where a man and a horse might be hidden2 travelling as he had learned to travel in three years of experience in this dangerous ,indian country1 where a shrub taken for granted might mean a warrior1 and that warrior a hundred others within signal4 ,it was his plan to ride until about twelve-- to reach ,massacre ,mountain1 and there rest his horse and himself till gray daylight4 ,there was grass there and a spring--two good and innocent things that had been the cause of the bad1 dark thing which had given the place its name4 ,a troop under ,captain ,james camping at this point1 because of the water and grass1 had been surprised and wiped out by five hundred ,indian braves of the wicked and famous ,red ,crow4 ,there were ghastly signs about the place yet2 ,morgan had seen them1 but soldiers may not have nerves1 and it was good camping ground4 ,on through the valleys and half-way up the slopes1 which rolled here far away into a still wilder world1 the young man rode4 ,behind the distant hills in the east a glow like fire flushed the horizon4 ,a rim of pale gold lifted sharply over the ridge2 a huge round ball of light pushed faster1 higher1 and lay1 a bright world on the edge of the world1 great against the sky--the moon had risen4 ,the twilight trembled as the yellow rays struck into its depths1 and deepened1 dying into purple shadows4 ,across the plain zigzagged the pools of a level stream1 as if a giant had spilled handfuls of quicksilver here and there4 ,miles ,morgan1 riding1 drank in all the mysterious1 wild beauty1 as a man at ease2 as open to each fair impression as if he were not riding each moment into deeper danger1 as if his every sense were not on guard4 ,on through the shining moonlight and in the shadow of the hills he rode1 and1 where he might1 through the trees1 and stopped to listen often1 to stare at the hilltops1 to question a heap of stones or a bush4 ,at last1 when his leg-weary horse was beginning to stumble a bit1 he saw1 as he came around a turn1 ,massacre ,mountain's dark head rising in front of him1 only half a mile away4 ,the spring trickled its low song1 as musical1 as limpidly pure as if it had never run scarlet4 ,the picketed horse fell to browsing and ,miles sighed restfully as he laid his head on his saddle and fell instantly to sleep with the light of the moon on his damp1 fair hair4 ,but he did not sleep long4 ,suddenly with a start he awoke1 and sat up sharply1 and listened4 ,he heard the horse still munching grass near him1 and made out the shadow of its bulk against the sky2 he heard the stream1 softly falling and calling to the waters where it was going4 ,that was all4 ,strain his hearing as3 he might he could hear nothing else in the still night4 ,yet there was something4 ,it might not be sound or sight1 but there was a presence1 a something--he could not explain4 ,he was alert in every nerve4 ,suddenly the words of the hymn he had been singing in the afternoon flashed again into his mind1 and1 with his cocked revolver in his hand1 alone1 on guard1 in the midnight of the savage wilderness1 the words came that were not even a whisper3 ,god shall charge ,his angel legions ,watch and ward o'er thee to keep2 ,though thou walk through hostile regions1 ,though in desert wilds thou sleep4 ,he gave a contented sigh and lay down4 ,what was there to worry about8 ,it was just his case for which the hymn was written4 ,desert wilds --that surely meant ,massacre ,mountain1 and why should he not sleep here quietly1 and let the angels keep their watch and ward6 ,he closed his eyes with a smile4 ,but sleep did not come1 and soon his eyes were open again1 staring into blackness1 thinking1 thinking4 ,it was ,sunday when he started out on this mission1 and he fell to remembering the ,sunday nights at home--long1 long ago they seemed now4 ,the family sang hymns after supper always2 his mother played1 and the children stood around her--five of them1 ,miles and his brothers and sisters4 ,there was a little sister with brown hair about her shoulders1 who always stood by ,miles1 leaned against him1 held his hand1 looked up at him with adoring eyes--he could see those uplifted eyes now1 shining through the darkness of this lonely place4 ,he remembered the big1 home-like room2 the crackling fire2 the peaceful atmosphere of books and pictures2 the dumb things about its walls that were yet eloquent to him of home and family2 the sword that his great-grandfather had worn under ,washington2 the old ivories that another great-grandfather1 the ,admiral1 had brought from ,china2 the portraits of ,morgans of half a dozen generations which hung there2 the magazine table1 the books and books and books4 ,a pang of desperate homesickness suddenly shook him4 ,he wanted them--his own4 ,why should he1 their best-beloved1 throw away his life--a life filled to the brim with hope and energy and high ideals--on this futile quest8 ,he knew quite as well as the ,general or the ,colonel that his ride was but a forlorn hope4 ,as he lay there1 longing so1 in the dangerous dark1 he went about the library at home in his thought and placed each familiar belonging where he had known it all his life4 ,and as he finished1 his mother's head shone darkly golden by the piano2 her fingers swept over the keys2 he heard all their voices1 the dear never-forgotten voices4 ,hark6 ,they were singing his hymn-- little ,alice's reedy note lifted above the others--,god shall charge ,his angel legions-- ,now6 ,he was on his feet with a spring1 and his revolver pointed steadily4 ,this time there was no mistaking--something had rustled in the bushes4 ,there was but one thing for it to be--,indians4 ,without realizing what he did1 he spoke sharply4 ,who goes there8 he demanded1 and out of the darkness a voice answered quietly3 ,a friend4 ,a friend8 ,with a shock of relief the pistol dropped by his side1 and he stood tense1 waiting4 ,how might a friend be here1 at midnight in this desert6 ,as the thought framed itself swiftly the leaves parted1 and his straining eyes saw the figure of a young man standing before him4 ,how came you here8 demanded ,miles sternly4 ,who are you6 ,even in the dimness he could see the radiant smile that answered him4 ,the calm voice spoke again3 ,you will understand that later4 ,i am here to help you4 ,as if a door had suddenly opened into that lighted room of which he dreamed1 ,miles felt a sense of tranquillity1 of happiness stirring through him4 ,never in his life had he known such a sudden utter confidence in any one1 such a glow of eager friendliness as this half-seen1 mysterious stranger inspired4 ,it is because ,i was lonelier than ,i knew1 he said mentally4 ,it is because human companionship gives courage to the most self-reliant of us2 and somewhere in the words he was aware of a false note1 but he did not stop to place it4 ,the low1 even voice of the stranger spoke again4 ,there are ,indians on your trail1 he said4 ,a small band of ,black ,wolf's scouts4 ,but don't be troubled4 ,they will not hurt you4 ,you escaped from them8 demanded ,miles eagerly1 and again the light of a swift smile shone into the night4 ,you came to save me --how was it8 ,tell me1 so that we can plan4 ,it is very dark yet1 but hadn't we better ride8 ,where is your horse8 ,he threw the earnest questions rapidly across the black night1 and the unhurried voice answered him4 ,no1 it said1 and the verdict was not to be disputed4 ,you must stay here4 ,who this man might be or how he came ,miles could not tell1 but this much he knew1 without reason for knowing it2 it was some one stronger than he1 in whom he could trust4 ,as the new-comer had said1 it would be time enough later to understand the rest4 ,wondering a little at his own swift acceptance of an unknown authority1 wondering more at the peace which wrapped him as an atmosphere at the sound of the stranger's voice1 ,miles made a place for him by his side1 and the two talked softly to the plashing undertone of the stream4 ,easily1 naturally1 ,miles found himself telling how he had been homesick1 longing for his people4 ,he told him of the big familiar room1 and of the old things that were in it1 that he loved2 of his mother2 of little ,alice1 and her baby adoration for the big brother2 of how they had always sung hymns together ,sunday night2 he never for a moment doubted the stranger's interest and sympathy--he knew that he cared to hear4 ,there is a hymn1 ,miles said1 that we used to sing a lot--it was my favorite2 ',miles's hymn1' the family called it4 ,before you came to-night1 while ,i lay there getting lonelier every minute1 ,i almost thought ,i heard them singing it4 ,you may not have heard it1 but it has a grand swing4 ,i always think--he hesitated--it always seems to me as if the ,god of battles and the beauty of holiness must both have filled the man's mind who wrote it4 ,he stopped1 surprised at his own lack of reserve1 at the freedom with which1 to this friend of an hour1 he spoke his inmost heart4 ,i know1 the stranger said gently4 ,there was silence for a moment1 and then the wonderful low tones1 beautiful1 clear1 beyond any voice ,miles had ever heard1 began again1 and it was as if the great sweet notes of an organ whispered the words3 ,god shall charge ,his angel legions ,watch and ward o'er thee to keep2 ,though thou walk through hostile regions1 ,though in desert wilds thou sleep4 ,great ,heavens6 gasped ,miles4 ,how could you know ,i meant that8 ,why1 this is marvellous--why1 this--he stared1 speechless1 at the dim outlines of the face which he had never seen before to-night1 but which seemed to him already familiar and dear beyond all reason4 ,as he gazed the tall figure rose1 lightly towering above him4 ,look6 he said1 and ,miles was on his feet4 ,in the east1 beyond the long sweep of the prairie1 was a faint blush against the blackness2 already threads of broken light1 of pale darkness1 stirred through the pall of the air2 the dawn was at hand4 ,we must saddle1 ,miles said1 and be off4 ,where is your horse picketed8 he demanded again4 ,but the strange young man stood still2 and now his arm was stretched pointing4 ,look1 he said again1 and ,miles followed the direction with his eyes4 ,from the way he had come1 in that fast-growing glow at the edge of the sky1 sharp against the mist of the little river1 crept slowly half a dozen pin points1 and ,miles1 watching their tiny movement1 knew that they were ponies bearing ,indian braves4 ,he turned hotly to his companion4 ,it's your fault1 he said4 ,if ,i'd had my way we'd have ridden from here an hour ago4 ,now here we are caught like rats in a trap2 and who's to do my work and save ,thornton's troop--who's to save them--,god6 ,the name was a prayer1 not an oath4 ,yes1 said the quiet voice at his side1 ,god1--and for a second there was a silence that was like an ,amen4 ,quickly1 without a word1 ,miles turned and began to saddle4 ,then suddenly1 as he pulled at the girth1 he stopped4 ,it's no use1 he said4 ,we can't get away except over the rise1 and they'll see us there2 he nodded at the hill which rose beyond the camping ground three hundred yards away1 and stretched in a long1 level sweep into other hills and the west4 ,our chance is that they're not on my trail after all--it's quite possible4 ,there was a tranquil unconcern about the figure near him2 his own bright courage caught the meaning of its relaxed lines with a bound of pleasure4 ,as you say1 it's best to stay here1 he said1 and as if thinking aloud-- ,i believe you must always be right4 ,then he added1 as if his very soul would speak itself to this wonderful new friend3 ,we can't be killed1 unless the ,lord wills it1 and if he does it's right4 ,death is only the step into life2 ,i suppose when we know that life1 we will wonder how we could have cared for this one4 ,through the gray light the stranger turned his face swiftly1 bent toward ,miles1 and smiled once again1 and the boy thought suddenly of the martyrdom of ,st4 ,stephen1 and how those who were looking saw his face as it had been the face of an angel4 ,across the plain1 out of the mist-wreaths1 came rushing1 scurrying1 the handful of ,indian braves4 ,pale light streamed now from the east1 filtering over a hushed world4 ,miles faced across the plain1 stood close to the tall stranger whose shape1 as the dawn touched it1 seemed to rise beyond the boy's slight figure wonderfully large and high4 ,there was a sense of unending power1 of alertness1 of great1 easy movement about him2 one might have looked at him1 and looking away again1 have said that wings were folded about him4 ,but ,miles did not see him4 ,his eyes were on the fast nearing1 galloping ponies1 each with its load of filthy1 cruel savagery4 ,this was his death coming2 there was disgust1 but not dread in the thought for the boy4 ,in a few minutes he should be fighting hopelessly1 fiercely against this froth of a lower world2 in a few minutes after that he should be lying here still-- for he meant to be killed2 he had that planned4 ,they should not take him--a wave of sick repulsion at that thought shook him4 ,nearer1 nearer1 right on his track came the riders pell-mell4 ,he could hear their weird1 horrible cries2 now he could see gleaming through the dimness the huge head-dress of the foremost1 the white coronet of feathers1 almost the stripes of paint on the fierce face4 ,suddenly a feeling that he knew well caught him1 and he laughed4 ,it was the possession that had held in him in every action which he had so far been in4 ,it lifted his high-strung spirit into an atmosphere where there was no dread and no disgust1 only a keen rapture in throwing every atom of soul and body into physical intensity2 it was as if he himself were a bright blade1 dashing1 cutting1 killing1 a living sword rejoicing to destroy4 ,with the coolness that may go with such a frenzy he felt that his pistols were loose2 saw with satisfaction that he and his new ally were placed on the slope to the best advantage1 then turned swiftly1 eager now for the fight to come1 toward the ,indian band4 ,as he looked1 suddenly in mid-career1 pulling in their plunging ponies with a jerk that threw them1 snorting1 on their haunches1 the warriors halted4 ,miles watched in amazement4 ,the bunch of ,indians1 not more than a hundred yards away1 were staring1 arrested1 startled1 back of him to his right1 where the lower ridge of ,massacre ,mountain stretched far and level over the valley that wound westward beneath it on the road to ,fort ,rain-and-,thunder4 ,as he gazed1 the ponies had swept about and were galloping back as they had come1 across the plain4 ,before he knew if it might be true1 if he were not dreaming this curious thing1 the clear voice of his companion spoke in one word again1 like the single note of a deep bell4 ,look6 he said1 and ,miles swung about toward the ridge behind1 following the pointing finger4 ,in the gray dawn the hill-top was clad with the still strength of an army4 ,regiment after regiment1 silent1 motionless1 it stretched back into silver mist1 and the mist rolled beyond1 above1 about it2 and through it he saw1 as through rifts in broken gauze1 lines interminable of soldiers1 glitter of steel4 ,miles1 looking1 knew4 ,he never remembered how long he stood gazing1 earth and time and self forgotten1 at a sight not meant for mortal eyes2 but suddenly1 with a stab it came to him1 that if the hosts of heaven fought his battle it was that he might do his duty1 might save ,captain ,thornton and his men2 he turned to speak to the young man who had been with him4 ,there was no one there4 ,over the bushes the mountain breeze blew damp and cold2 they rustled softly under its touch2 his horse stared at him mildly2 away off at the foot-hills he could see the diminishing dots of the fleeing ,indian ponies2 as he wheeled again and looked1 the hills that had been covered with the glory of heavenly armies1 lay hushed and empty4 ,and his friend was gone4 ,clatter of steel1 jingle of harness1 an order ringing out far but clear--,miles threw up his head sharply and listened4 ,in a second he was pulling at his horse's girth1 slipping the bit swiftly into its mouth--in a moment more he was off3 and away to meet them1 as a body of cavalry swung out of the valley where the ridge had hidden them4 ,captain ,thornton's troop8 the officer repeated carelessly4 ,why1 yes2 they are here with us4 ,we picked them up yesterday1 headed straight for ,black ,wolf's war-path4 ,mighty lucky we found them4 ,how about you--seen any ,indians1 have you8 ,miles answered slowly3 ,a party of eight were on my trail2 they were riding for ,massacre ,mountain1 where ,i camped1 about an hour-- about half an hour--awhile ago4 ,he spoke vaguely1 rather oddly1 the officer thought4 ,something--stopped them about a hundred yards from the mountain4 ,they turned1 and rode away4 ,ah1 said the officer4 ,they saw us down the valley4 ,i couldn't see you1 said ,miles4 ,the officer smiled4 ,you're not an ,indian1 ,lieutenant4 ,besides1 they were out on the plain and had a farther view behind the ridge4 ,and ,miles answered not a word4 ,general ,miles ,morgan1 full of years and of honors1 has never but twice told the story of that night of forty years ago4 ,but he believes that when his time comes1 and he goes to join the majority1 he will know again the presence which guarded him through the blackness of it1 and among the angel legions he looks to find an angel1 a messenger1 who was his friend4 ,,markheim ,,by ,,robert ,,louis ,,stevenson ,in one of the old ,greek tragedies1 after the actors on the stage have played their parts and the chorus in the orchestra below has hinted mysteriously of crime and retribution1 the doors of the palace in the background suddenly fly apart4 ,there stands the criminal queen4 ,she confesses her crime and explains the reason for it4 ,so sometimes a story opens the doors of a character's heart and mind1 and invites us to look within4 ,such a story is called psychological4 ,sometimes there is action1 not for action's sake1 but for its revelation of character4 ,sometimes nothing happens4 ,this1 says ,bliss ,perry1 may be precisely what most interests us1 because we are made to understand what it is that inhibits action4 ,in the story of this type we see the moods of the character2 we watch motives appear1 encounter other motives1 and retreat or advance4 ,in short1 we are allowed to observe the man's mental processes until we understand him4 ,the emotional value of this story may be stated in the words of ,c4 ,t4 ,winchester3 ,we may lay it down as a rule that those emotions which are intimately related to the conduct of life are of higher rank than those which are not2 and that1 consequently1 the emotions highest of all are those related to the deciding forces of life1 the affections1 and the conscience4 ,,markheim ,footnote3 ,from ,the ,merry ,men and ,other ,tales and ,fables1 by ,robert ,louis ,stevenson1 published by ,charles ,scribner's ,sons4 ,yes1 said the dealer1 our windfalls are of various kinds4 ,some customers are ignorant1 and then ,i touch a dividend on my superior knowledge4 ,some are dishonest1 and here he held up the candle1 so that the light fell strongly on his visitor1 and in that case1 he continued1 ,i profit by my virtue4 ,markheim had but just entered from the daylight streets1 and his eyes had not yet grown familiar with the mingled shine and darkness in the shop4 ,at these pointed words1 and before the near presence of the flame1 he blinked painfully and looked aside4 ,the dealer chuckled4 ,you come to me on ,christmas ,day1 he resumed1 when you know that ,i am alone in my house1 put up my shutters1 and make a point of refusing business4 ,well1 you will have to pay for that2 you will have to pay for my loss of time1 when ,i should be balancing my books2 you will have to pay1 besides1 for a kind of manner that ,i remark in you to-day very strongly4 ,i am the essence of discretion1 and ask no awkward questions2 but when a customer cannot look me in the eye1 he has to pay for it4 ,the dealer once more chuckled2 and then1 changing to his usual business voice1 though still with a note of irony1 ,you can give1 as usual1 a clear account of how you came into the possession of the object8 he continued4 ,still your uncle's cabinet8 ,a remarkable collector1 sir6 ,and the little pale1 round-shouldered dealer stood almost on tip- toe1 looking over the top of his gold spectacles1 and nodding his head with every mark of disbelief4 ,markheim returned his gaze with one of infinite pity1 and a touch of horror4 ,this time1 said he1 you are in error4 ,i have not come to sell1 but to buy4 ,i have no curios to dispose of2 my uncle's cabinet is bare to the wainscot2 even were it still intact1 ,i have done well on the ,stock ,exchange1 and should more likely add to it than otherwise1 and my errand to-day is simplicity itself4 ,i seek a ,christmas present for a lady1 he continued1 waxing more fluent as he struck into the speech he had prepared2 and certainly ,i owe you every excuse for thus disturbing you upon so small a matter4 ,but the thing was neglected yesterday2 ,i must produce my little compliment at dinner2 and1 as you very well know1 a rich marriage is not a thing to be neglected4 ,there followed a pause1 during which the dealer seemed to weigh this statement incredulously4 ,the ticking of many clocks among the curious lumber of the shop1 and the faint rushing of the cabs in a near thoroughfare1 filled up the interval of silence4 ,well1 sir1 said the dealer1 be it so4 ,you are an old customer after all2 and if1 as you say1 you have the chance of a good marriage1 far be it from me to be an obstacle4 ,here is a nice thing for a lady now1 he went on1 this hand glass--fifteenth century1 warranted2 comes from a good collection1 too2 but ,i reserve the name1 in the interests of my customer1 who was just like yourself1 my dear sir1 the nephew and sole heir of a remarkable collector4 ,the dealer1 while he thus ran on in his dry and biting voice1 had stooped to take the object from its place2 and1 as he had done so1 a shock had passed through ,markheim1 a start both of hand and foot1 a sudden leap of many tumultuous passions to the face4 ,it passed as swiftly as it came1 and left no trace beyond a certain trembling of the hand that now received the glass4 ,a glass1 he said hoarsely1 and then paused1 and repeated it more clearly4 ,a glass8 ,for ,christmas8 ,surely not8 ,and why not8 cried the dealer4 ,why not a glass8 ,markheim was looking upon him with an indefinable expression4 ,you ask me why not8 he said4 ,why1 look here--look in it--look at yourself6 ,do you like to see it8 ,no6 nor ,i--nor any man4 ,the little man had jumped back when ,markheim had so suddenly confronted him with the mirror2 but now1 perceiving there was nothing worse on hand1 he chuckled4 ,your future lady1 sir1 must be pretty hard favored1 said he4 ,i ask you1 said ,markheim1 for a ,christmas present1 and you give me this--this damned reminder of years1 and sins1 and follies-- this hand-conscience6 ,did you mean it8 ,had you a thought in your mind8 ,tell me4 ,it will be better for you if you do4 ,come1 tell me about yourself4 ,i hazard a guess now1 that you are in secret a very charitable man8 ,the dealer looked closely at his companion4 ,it was very odd1 ,markheim did not appear to be laughing2 there was something in his face like an eager sparkle of hope1 but nothing of mirth4 ,what are you driving at8 the dealer asked4 ,not charitable8 returned the other1 gloomily4 ,not charitable2 not pious2 not scrupulous2 unloving1 unbeloved2 a hand to get money1 a safe to keep it4 ,is that all8 ,dear ,god1 man1 is that all8 ,i will tell you what it is1 began the dealer1 with some sharpness1 and then broke off again into a chuckle4 ,but ,i see this is a love match of yours1 and you have been drinking the lady's health4 ,ah6 cried ,markheim1 with a strange curiosity4 ,ah1 have you been in love6 ,tell me about that4 ,i1 cried the dealer4 ,i in love6 ,i never had the time1 nor have ,i the time to-day for all this nonsense4 ,will you take the glass8 ,where is the hurry8 returned ,markheim4 ,it is very pleasant to stand here talking2 and life is so short and insecure that ,i would not hurry away from any pleasure--no1 not even from so mild a one as this4 ,we should rather cling1 cling to what little we can get1 like a man at a cliff's edge4 ,every second is a cliff1 if you think upon it--a cliff a mile high--high enough1 if we fall1 to dash us out of every feature of humanity4 ,hence it is best to talk pleasantly4 ,let us talk of each other2 why should we wear this mask8 ,let us be confidential4 ,who knows1 we might become friends8 ,i have just one word to say to you1 said the dealer4 ,either make your purchase1 or walk out of my shop4 ,true1 true1 said ,markheim4 ,enough fooling4 ,to business4 ,show me something else4 ,the dealer stooped once more1 this time to replace the glass upon the shelf1 his thin blond hair falling over his eyes as he did so4 ,markheim moved a little nearer1 with one hand in the pocket of his greatcoat2 he drew himself up and filled his lungs--at the same time many different emotions were depicted together on his face-- terror1 horror1 and resolve1 fascination and a physical repulsion2 and through a haggard lift of his upper lip1 his teeth looked out4 ,this1 perhaps1 may suit1 observed the dealer2 and then1 as he began to re-arise1 ,markheim bounded from behind upon his victim4 ,the long1 skewerlike dagger flashed and fell4 ,the dealer struggled like a hen1 striking his temple on the shelf1 and then tumbled on the floor in a heap4 ,time had some score of small voices in that shop1 some stately and slow as was becoming to their great age2 others garrulous and hurried4 ,all these told out the seconds in an intricate chorus of tickings4 ,then the passage of a lad's feet1 heavily running on the pavement1 broke in upon these smaller voices and startled ,markheim into the consciousness of his surroundings4 ,he looked about him awfully4 ,the candle stood on the counter1 its flame solemnly wagging in a draught2 and by that inconsiderable movement1 the whole room was filled with noiseless bustle and kept heaving like a sea3 the tall shadows nodding1 the gross blots of darkness swelling and dwindling as with respiration1 the faces of the portraits and the china gods changing and wavering like images in water4 ,the inner door stood ajar1 and peered into that leaguer of shadows with a long slit of daylight like a pointing finger4 ,from these fear-stricken rovings1 ,markheim's eyes returned to the body of his victim1 where it lay both humped and sprawling1 incredibly small and strangely meaner than in life4 ,in these poor1 miserly clothes1 in that ungainly attitude1 the dealer lay like so much sawdust4 ,markheim had feared to see it1 and1 lo6 it was nothing4 ,and yet1 as he gazed1 this bundle of old clothes and pool of blood began to find eloquent voices4 ,there it must lie2 there was none to work the cunning hinges or direct the miracle of locomotion--there it must lie till it was found4 ,found6 ay1 and then8 ,then would this dead flesh lift up a cry that would ring over ,england1 and fill the world with the echoes of pursuit4 ,ay1 dead or not1 this was still the enemy4 ,time was that when the brains were out1 he thought2 and the first word struck into his mind4 ,time1 now that the deed was accomplished--time1 which had closed for the victim1 had become instant and momentous for the slayer4 ,the thought was yet in his mind1 when1 first one and then another1 with every variety of pace and voice--one deep as the bell from a cathedral turret1 another ringing on its treble notes the prelude of a waltz--the clocks began to strike the hour of three in the afternoon4 ,the sudden outbreak of so many tongues in that dumb chamber staggered him4 ,he began to bestir himself1 going to and fro with the candle1 beleaguered by moving shadows1 and startled to the soul by chance reflections4 ,in many rich mirrors1 some of home designs1 some from ,venice or ,amsterdam1 he saw his face repeated and repeated1 as it were an army of spies2 his own eyes met and detected him2 and the sound of his own steps1 lightly as they fell1 vexed the surrounding quiet4 ,and still as he continued to fill his pockets1 his mind accused him1 with a sickening iteration1 of the thousand faults of his design4 ,he should have chosen a more quiet hour2 he should have prepared an alibi2 he should not have used a knife2 he should have been more cautious1 and only bound and gagged the dealer1 and not killed him2 he should have been more bold1 and killed the servant also2 he should have done all things otherwise2 poignant regrets1 weary1 incessant toiling of the mind to change what was unchangeable1 to plan what was now useless1 to be the architect of the irrevocable past4 ,meanwhile1 and behind all this activity1 brute terrors1 like the scurrying of rats in a deserted attic1 filled the more remote chambers of his brain with riot2 the hand of the constable would fall heavy on his shoulder1 and his nerves would jerk like a hooked fish2 or he beheld1 in galloping defile1 the dock1 the prison1 the gallows1 and the black coffin4 ,terror of the people in the street sat down before his mind like a besieging army4 ,it was impossible1 he thought1 but that some rumor of the struggle must have reached their ears and set on edge their curiosity2 and now1 in all the neighboring houses1 he divined them sitting motionless3 and with uplifted ear--solitary people1 condemned to spend ,christmas dwelling alone on memories of the past1 and now startlingly recalled from that tender exercise2 happy family parties1 struck into silence round the table1 the mother still with raised finger3 every degree and age and humor1 but all1 by their own hearts1 prying and hearkening and weaving the rope that was to hang him4 ,sometimes it seemed to him he could not move too softly2 the clink of the tall ,bohemian goblets rang out loudly like a bell2 and alarmed by the bigness of the ticking1 he was tempted to stop the clocks4 ,and then1 again1 with a swift transition of his terrors1 the very silence of the place appeared a source of peril1 and a thing to strike and freeze the passer-by2 and he would step more boldly1 and bustle aloud among the contents of the shop1 and imitate1 with elaborate bravado1 the movements of a busy man at ease in his own house4 ,but he was now so pulled about by different alarms that1 while one portion of his mind was still alert and cunning1 another trembled on the brink of lunacy4 ,one hallucination in particular took a strong hold on his credulity4 ,the neighbor hearkening with white face beside his window1 the passer-by arrested by a horrible surmise on the pavement--these could at worst suspect1 they could not know2 through the brick walls and shuttered windows only sounds could penetrate4 ,but here1 within the house1 was he alone8 ,he knew he was2 he had watched the servant set forth sweethearting1 in her poor best1 out for the day written in every ribbon and smile4 ,yes1 he was alone1 of course2 and yet1 in the bulk of empty house above him1 he could surely hear a stir of delicate footing--he was surely conscious1 inexplicably conscious of some presence4 ,ay1 surely2 to every room and corner of the house his imagination followed it2 and now it was a faceless thing1 and yet had eyes to see with2 and again it was a shadow of himself2 and yet again behold the image of the dead dealer1 reinspired with cunning and hatred4 ,at times1 with a strong effort1 he would glance at the open door which still seemed to repel his eyes4 ,the house was tall1 the skylight small and dirty1 the day blind with fog2 and the light that filtered down to the ground story was exceedingly faint1 and showed dimly on the threshold of the shop4 ,and yet1 in that strip of doubtful brightness1 did there not hang wavering a shadow8 ,suddenly1 from the street outside1 a very jovial gentleman began to beat with a staff on the shop-door1 accompanying his blows with shouts and railleries in which the dealer was continually called upon by name4 ,markheim1 smitten into ice1 glanced at the dead man4 ,but no6 he lay quite still2 he was fled away far beyond earshot of these blows and shoutings2 he was sunk beneath seas of silence2 and his name1 which would once have caught his notice above the howling of a storm1 had become an empty sound4 ,and presently the jovial gentleman desisted from his knocking and departed4 ,here was a broad hint to hurry what remained to be done1 to get forth from this accusing neighborhood1 to plunge into a bath of ,london multitudes1 and to reach1 on the other side of day1 that haven of safety and apparent innocence--his bed4 ,one visitor had come3 at any moment another might follow and be more obstinate4 ,to have done the deed1 and yet not to reap the profit1 would be too abhorrent a failure4 ,the money1 that was now ,markheim's concern2 and as a means to that1 the keys4 ,he glanced over his shoulder at the open door1 where the shadow was still lingering and shivering2 and with no conscious repugnance of the mind1 yet with a tremor of the belly1 he drew near the body of his victim4 ,the human character had quite departed4 ,like a suit half-stuffed with bran1 the limbs lay scattered1 the trunk doubled1 on the floor2 and yet the thing repelled him4 ,although so dingy and inconsiderable to the eye1 he feared it might have more significance to the touch4 ,he took the body by the shoulders1 and turned it on its back4 ,it was strangely light and supple1 and the limbs1 as if they had been broken1 fell into the oddest postures4 ,the face was robbed of all expression2 but it was as pale as wax1 and shockingly smeared with blood about one temple4 ,that was1 for ,markheim1 the one displeasing circumstance4 ,it carried him back1 upon the instant1 to a certain day in a fishers' village3 a gray day1 a piping wind1 a crowd upon the street1 the blare of brasses1 the booming of drums1 the nasal voice of a ballad singer2 and a boy going to and fro1 buried over head in the crowd and divided between interest and fear1 until1 coming out upon the chief place of concourse1 he beheld a booth and a great screen with pictures1 dismally designed1 garishly colored3 ,brownrigg with her apprentice2 the ,mannings with their murdered guest2 ,weare in the death-grip of ,thurtell2 and a score besides of famous crimes4 ,the thing was as clear as an illusion2 he was once again that little boy2 he was looking once again1 and with the same sense of physical revolt1 at these vile pictures2 he was still stunned by the thumping of the drums4 ,a bar of that day's music returned upon his memory2 and at that1 for the first time1 a qualm came over him1 a breath of nausea1 a sudden weakness of the joints1 which he must instantly resist and conquer4 ,he judged it more prudent to confront than to flee from these considerations2 looking the more hardily in the dead face1 bending his mind to realize the nature and greatness of his crime4 ,so little a while ago that face had moved with every change of sentiment1 that pale mouth had spoken1 that body had been all on fire with governable energies2 and now1 and by his act1 that piece of life had been arrested1 as the horologist1 with interjected finger1 arrests the beating of the clock4 ,so he reasoned in vain2 he could rise to no more remorseful consciousness2 the same heart which had shuddered before the painted effigies of crime1 looked on its reality unmoved4 ,at best1 he felt a gleam of pity for one who had been endowed in vain with all those faculties that can make the world a garden of enchantment1 one who had never lived and who was now dead4 ,but of penitence1 no1 not a tremor4 ,with that1 shaking himself clear of these considerations1 he found the keys and advanced towards the open door of the shop4 ,outside1 it had begun to rain smartly2 and the sound of the shower upon the roof had banished silence4 ,like some dripping cavern1 the chambers of the house were haunted by an incessant echoing1 which filled the ear and mingled with the ticking of the clocks4 ,and1 as ,markheim approached the door1 he seemed to hear1 in answer to his own cautious tread1 the steps of another foot withdrawing up the stair4 ,the shadow still palpitated loosely on the threshold4 ,he threw a ton's weight of resolve upon his muscles1 and drew back the door4 ,the faint1 foggy daylight glimmered dimly on the bare floor and stairs2 on the bright suit of armor posted1 halbert in hand1 upon the landing2 and on the dark wood-carvings1 and framed pictures that hung against the yellow panels of the wainscot4 ,so loud was the beating of the rain through all the house that1 in ,markheim's ears1 it began to be distinguished into many different sounds4 ,footsteps and sighs1 the tread of regiments marching in the distance1 the chink of money in the counting1 and the creaking of doors held stealthily ajar1 appeared to mingle with the patter of the drops upon the cupola and the gushing of the water in the pipes4 ,the sense that he was not alone grew upon him to the verge of madness4 ,on every side he was haunted and begirt by presences4 ,he heard them moving in the upper chambers2 from the shop1 he heard the dead man getting to his legs2 and as he began with a great effort to mount the stairs1 feet fled quietly before him and followed stealthily behind4 ,if he were but deaf1 he thought1 how tranquilly he would possess his soul6 ,and then again1 and hearkening with ever fresh attention1 he blessed himself for that unresting sense which held the outposts and stood a trusty sentinel upon his life4 ,his head turned continually on his neck2 his eyes1 which seemed starting from their orbits1 scouted on every side1 and on every side were half-rewarded as with the tail of something nameless vanishing4 ,the four-and-twenty steps to the first floor were four-and-twenty agonies4 ,on that first story1 the doors stood ajar1 three of them like three ambushes1 shaking his nerves like the throats of cannon4 ,he could never again1 he felt1 be sufficiently immured and fortified from men's observing eyes2 he longed to be home1 girt in by walls1 buried among bedclothes1 and invisible to all but ,god4 ,and at that thought he wondered a little1 recollecting tales of other murderers and the fear they were said to entertain of heavenly avengers4 ,it was not so1 at least1 with1 him4 ,he feared the laws of nature1 lest1 in their callous and immutable procedure1 they should preserve some damning evidence of his crime4 ,he feared tenfold more1 with a slavish1 superstitious terror1 some scission in the continuity of man's experience1 some wilful illegality of nature4 ,he played a game of skill1 depending on the rules1 calculating consequence from cause2 and what if nature1 as the defeated tyrant overthrew the chessboard1 should break the mould of their succession8 ,the like had befallen ,napoleon 7so writers said7 when the winter changed the time of its appearance4 ,the like might befall ,markheim3 the solid walls might become transparent and reveal his doings like those of bees in a glass hive2 the stout planks might yield under his foot like quicksands and detain him in their clutch2 ay1 and there were soberer accidents that might destroy him3 if1 for instance1 the house should fall and imprison him beside the body of his victim2 or the house next door should fly on fire1 and the firemen invade him from all sides4 ,these things he feared2 and1 in a sense1 these things might be called the hands of ,god reached forth against sin4 ,but about ,god himself he was at ease2 his act was doubtless exceptional1 but so were his excuses1 which ,god knew2 it was there1 and not among men1 that he felt sure of justice4 ,when he had got safe into the drawing room1 and shut the door behind him1 he was aware of a respite from alarms4 ,the room was quite dismantled1 uncarpeted besides1 and strewn with packing cases and incongruous furniture2 several great pier glasses1 in which he beheld himself at various angles1 like an actor on a stage2 many pictures1 framed and unframed1 standing1 with their faces to the wall2 a fine ,sheraton sideboard1 a cabinet of marquetry1 and a great old bed1 with tapestry hangings4 ,the windows opened to the floor2 but by great good fortune the lower part of the shutters had been closed1 and this concealed him from the neighbors4 ,here1 then1 ,markheim drew in a packing case before the cabinet1 and began to search among the keys4 ,it was a long business1 for there were many2 and it was irksome1 besides2 for1 after all1 there might be nothing in the cabinet1 and time was on the wing4 ,but the closeness of the occupation sobered him4 ,with the tail of his eye he saw the door--even glanced at it from time to time directly1 like a besieged commander pleased to verify the good estate of his defences4 ,but in truth he was at peace4 ,the rain falling in the street sounded natural and pleasant4 ,presently1 on the other side1 the notes of a piano were wakened to the music of a hymn1 and the voices of many children took up the air and words4 ,how stately1 how comfortable was the melody6 ,how fresh the youthful voices6 ,markheim gave ear to it smilingly1 as he sorted out the keys2 and his mind was thronged with answerable ideas and images2 church-going children and the pealing of the high organ2 children afield1 bathers by the brookside1 ramblers on the brambly common1 kite fliers in the windy and cloud navigated sky2 and then1 at another cadence of the hymn1 back again to church1 and the somnolence of summer ,sundays1 and the high genteel voice of the parson 7which he smiled a little to recall7 and the painted ,jacobean tombs1 and the dim lettering of the ,ten ,commandments in the chancel4 ,and as he sat thus1 at once busy and absent1 he was startled to his feet4 ,a flash of ice1 a flash of fire1 a bursting gush of blood1 went over him1 and then he stood transfixed and thrilling4 ,a step mounted the stair slowly and steadily1 and presently a hand was laid upon the knob1 and the lock clicked1 and the door opened4 ,fear held ,markheim in a vice4 ,what to expect he knew not1 whether the dead man walking1 or the official ministers of human justice1 or some chance witness blindly stumbling in to consign him to the gallows4 ,but when a face was thrust into the aperture1 glanced round the room1 looked at him1 nodded and smiled as if in friendly recognition1 and then withdrew again1 and the door closed behind it1 his fear broke loose from his control in a hoarse cry4 ,at the sound of this the visitant returned4 ,did you call me8 he asked1 pleasantly1 and with that he entered the room and closed the door behind him4 ,markheim stood and gazed at him with all his eyes4 ,perhaps there was a film upon his sight1 but the outlines of the newcomer seemed to change and waver like those of the idols in the wavering candlelight of the shop2 and at times he thought he knew him2 and at times he thought he bore a likeness to himself2 and always1 like a lump of living terror1 there lay in his bosom the conviction that this thing was not of the earth and not of ,god4 ,and yet the creature had a strange air of the commonplace1 as he stood looking on ,markheim with a smile2 and when he added3 ,you are looking for the money1 ,i believe8 it was in the tones of everyday politeness4 ,markheim made no answer4 ,i should warn you1 resumed the other1 that the maid has left her sweetheart earlier than usual and will soon be here4 ,if ,mr4 ,markheim be found in this house1 ,i need not describe to him the consequences4 ,you know me8 cried the murderer4 ,the visitor smiled4 ,you have long been a favorite of mine1 he said2 and ,i have long observed and often sought to help you4 ,what are you8 cried ,markheim3 the devil8 ,what ,i may be1 returned the other1 cannot affect the service ,i propose to render you4 ,it can1 cried ,markheim2 it does6 ,be helped by you8 ,no1 never2 not by you6 ,you do not know me yet2 thank ,god1 you do not know me6 ,i know you1 replied the visitant1 with a sort of kind severity or rather firmness4 ,i know you to the soul4 ,know me6 cried ,markheim4 ,who can do so8 ,my life is but a travesty and slander on myself4 ,i have lived to belie my nature4 ,all men do2 all men are better than this disguise that grows about and stifles them4 ,you see each dragged away by life1 like one whom bravos have seized and muffled in a cloak4 ,if they had their own control--if you could see their faces1 they would be altogether different1 they would shine out for heroes and saints6 ,i am worse than most2 my self is more overlaid2 my excuse is known to me and ,god4 ,but1 had ,i the time1 ,i could disclose myself4 ,to me8 inquired the visitant4 ,to you before all1 returned the murderer4 ,i supposed you were intelligent4 ,i thought--since you exist--you would prove a reader of the heart4 ,and yet you would propose to judge me by my acts6 ,think of it2 my acts6 ,i was born and ,i have lived in a land of giants2 giants have dragged me by the wrists since ,i was born out of my mother--the giants of circumstance4 ,and you would judge me by my acts6 ,but can you not look within8 ,can you not understand that evil is hateful to me8 ,can you not see within me the clear writing of conscience1 never blurred by any wilful sophistry1 although too often disregarded8 ,can you not read me for a thing that surely must be common as humanity--the unwilling sinner8 ,all this is very feelingly expressed1 was the reply1 but it regards me not4 ,these points of consistency are beyond my province1 and ,i care not in the least by what compulsion you may have been dragged away1 so as you are but carried in the right direction4 ,but time flies2 the servant delays1 looking in the faces of the crowd and at the pictures on the hoardings1 but still she keeps moving nearer2 and remember1 it is as if the gallows itself was striding towards you through the ,christmas streets6 ,shall ,i help you2 ,i1 who know all8 ,shall ,i tell you where to find the money8 ,for what price8 asked ,markheim4 ,i offer you the service for a ,christmas gift1 returned the other4 ,markheim could not refrain from smiling with a kind of bitter triumph4 ,no1 said he1 ,i will take nothing at your hands2 if ,i were dying of thirst1 and it was your hand that put the pitcher to my lips1 ,i should find the courage to refuse4 ,it may be credulous1 but ,i will do nothing to commit myself to evil4 ,i have no objection to a deathbed repentance1 observed the visitant4 ,because you disbelieve their efficacy6 ,markheim cried4 ,i do not say so1 returned the other2 but ,i look on these things from a different side1 and when the life is done my interest falls4 ,the man has lived to serve me1 to spread black looks under color of religion1 or to sow tares in the wheat field1 as you do1 in a course of weak compliance with desire4 ,now that he draws so near to his deliverance1 he can add but one act of service--to repent1 to die smiling1 and thus to build up in confidence and hope the more timorous of my surviving followers4 ,i am not so hard a master4 ,try me4 ,accept my help4 ,please yourself in life as you have done hitherto2 please yourself more amply1 spread your elbows at the board2 and when the night begins to fall and the curtains to be drawn1 ,i tell you1 for your greater comfort1 that you will find it even easy to compound your quarrel with your conscience1 and to make a truckling peace with ,god4 ,i came but now from such a deathbed1 and the room was full of sincere mourners1 listening to the man's last words3 and when ,i looked into that face1 which had been set as a flint against mercy1 ,i found it smiling with hope4 ,and do you1 then1 suppose me such a creature8 asked ,markheim4 ,do you think ,i have no more generous aspirations than to sin1 and sin1 and sin1 and1 at last1 sneak into heaven8 ,my heart rises at the thought4 ,is this1 then1 your experience of mankind8 or is it because you find me with red hands that you presume such baseness8 and is this crime of murder indeed so impious as to dry up the very springs of good8 ,murder is to me no special category1 replied the other4 ,all sins are murder1 even as all life is war4 ,i behold your race1 like starving mariners on a raft1 plucking crusts out of the hands of famine and feeding on each other's lives4 ,i follow sins beyond the moment of their acting2 ,i find in all that the last consequence is death2 and to my eyes1 the pretty maid who thwarts her mother with such taking graces on a question of a ball1 drips no less visibly with human gore than such a murderer as yourself4 ,do ,i say that ,i follow sins8 ,i follow virtues also2 they differ not by the thickness of a nail1 they are both scythes for the reaping angel of ,death4 ,evil1 for which ,i live1 consists not in action but in character4 ,the bad man is dear to me2 not the bad act1 whose fruits1 if we could follow them far enough down the hurtling cataract of the ages1 might yet be found more blessed than those of the rarest virtues4 ,and it is not because you have killed a dealer1 but because you are ,markheim1 that ,i offered to forward your escape4 ,i will lay my heart open to you1 answered ,markheim4 ,this crime on which you find me is my last4 ,on my way to it ,i have learned many lessons2 itself is a lesson1 a momentous lesson4 ,hitherto ,i have been driven with revolt to what ,i would not2 ,i was a bondslave to poverty1 driven and scourged4 ,there are robust virtues that can stand in these temptations2 mine was not so3 ,i had a thirst of pleasure4 ,but today1 and out of this deed1 ,i pluck both warning and riches--both the power and a fresh resolve to be myself4 ,i become in all things a free actor in the world2 ,i begin to see myself all changed1 these hands the agents of good1 this heart at peace4 ,something comes over me out of the past2 something of what ,i have dreamed on ,sabbath evenings to the sound of the church organ1 of what ,i forecast when ,i shed tears over noble books1 or talked1 an innocent child1 with my mother4 ,there lies my life2 ,i have wandered a few years1 but now ,i see once more my city of destination4 ,you are to use this money on the ,stock ,exchange1 ,i think8 remarked the visitor2 and there1 if ,i mistake not1 you have already lost some thousands8 ,ah1 said ,markheim1 but this time ,i have a sure thing4 ,this time1 again1 you will lose1 replied the visitor quietly4 ,ah1 but ,i keep back the half6 cried ,markheim4 ,that also you will lose1 said the other4 ,the sweat started upon ,markheim's brow4 ,well1 then1 what matter8 he exclaimed4 ,say it be lost1 say ,i am plunged again in poverty1 shall one part of me1 and that the worst1 continue until the end to override the better8 ,evil and good run strong in me1 haling me both ways4 ,i do not love the one thing1 ,i love all4 ,i can conceive great deeds1 renunciations1 martyrdoms2 and though ,i be fallen to such a crime as murder1 pity is no stranger to my thoughts4 ,i pity the poor2 who knows their trials better than myself8 ,i pity and help them2 ,i prize love1 ,i love honest laughter2 there is no good thing nor true thing on earth but ,i love it from my heart4 ,and are my vices only to direct my life1 and my virtues to lie without effect1 like some passive lumber of the mind8 ,not so2 good1 also1 is a spring of acts4 ,but the visitant raised his finger4 ,for six-and-thirty years that you have been in this world1 said he1 through many changes of fortune and varieties of humor1 ,i have watched you steadily fall4 ,fifteen years ago you would have started at a theft4 ,three years back you would have blenched at the name of murder4 ,is there any crime1 is there any cruelty or meanness1 from which you still recoil8--five years from now ,i shall detect you in the fact6 ,downward1 downward1 lies your way2 nor can anything but death avail to stop you4 ,it is true1 ,markheim said huskily1 ,i have in some degree complied with evil4 ,but it is so with all3 the very saints1 in the mere exercise of living1 grow less dainty1 and take on the tone of their surroundings4 ,i will propound to you one simple question1 said the other2 and as you answer1 ,i shall read to you your moral horoscope4 ,you have grown in many things more lax2 possibly you do right to be so2 and at any account1 it is the same with all men4 ,but granting that1 are you in any one particular1 however trifling1 more difficult to please with your own conduct1 or do you go in all things with a looser rein8 ,in any one8 repeated ,markheim1 with an anguish of consideration4 ,no1 he added1 with despair1 in none6 ,i have gone down in all4 ,then1 said the visitor1 content yourself with what you are1 for you will never change2 and the words of your part on this stage are irrevocably written down4 ,markheim stood for a long while silent1 and indeed it was the visitor who first broke the silence4 ,that being so1 he said1 shall ,i show you the money8 ,and grace8 cried ,markheim4 ,have you not tried it8 returned the other4 ,two or three years ago1 did ,i not see you on the platform of revival meetings1 and was not your voice the loudest in the hymn8 ,it is true1 said ,markheim2 and ,i see clearly what remains for me by way of duty4 ,i thank you for these lessons from my soul2 my eyes are opened1 and ,i behold myself at last for what ,i am4 ,at this moment1 the sharp note of the doorbell rang through the house2 and the visitant1 as though this were some concerted signal for which he had been waiting1 changed at once in his demeanor4 ,the maid6 he cried4 ,she has returned1 as ,i forewarned you1 and there is now before you one more difficult passage4 ,her master1 you must say1 is ill2 you must let her in1 with an assured but rather serious countenance--no smiles1 no overacting1 and ,i promise you success6 ,once the girl within1 and the door closed1 the same dexterity that has already rid you of the dealer will relieve you of this last danger in your path4 ,thenceforward you have the whole evening--the whole night1 if needful--to ransack the treasures of the house and to make good your safety4 ,this is help that comes to you with the mask of danger4 ,up6 he cried3 up1 friend2 your life hangs trembling in the scales3 up1 and act6 ,markheim steadily regarded his counsellor4 ,if ,i be condemned to evil acts1 he said1 there is still one door of freedom open--,i can cease from action4 ,if my life be an ill thing1 ,i can lay it down4 ,though ,i be1 as you say truly1 at the beck of every small temptation1 ,i can yet1 by one decisive gesture1 place myself beyond the reach of all4 ,my love of good is damned to barrenness2 it may1 and let it be6 ,but ,i have still my hatred of evil2 and from that1 to your galling disappointment1 you shall see that ,i can draw both energy and courage4 ,the features of the visitor began to undergo a wonderful and lovely change3 they brightened and softened with a tender triumph2 and1 even as they brightened1 faded and dislimned4 ,but ,markheim did not pause to watch or understand the transformation4 ,he opened the door and went downstairs very slowly1 thinking to himself4 ,his past went soberly before him2 he beheld it as it was1 ugly and strenuous like a dream1 random as chance-medley--a scene of defeat4 ,life1 as he thus reviewed it1 tempted him no longer2 but on the further side he perceived a quiet haven for his bark4 ,he paused in the passage1 and looked into the shop1 where the candle still burned by the dead body4 ,it was strangely silent4 ,thoughts of the dealer swarmed into his mind1 as he stood gazing4 ,and then the bell once more broke out into impatient clamor4 ,he confronted the maid upon the threshold with something like a smile4 ,you had better go for the police1 said he3 ,i have killed your master4