Horace Chase

little landing called Tocoi; here they had intrusted themselves to the Atlantic Ocean Railroad. This railroad undertook to convey travellers across the peninsula to the sea-coast, fifteen miles dist

it was to the first car, had a range of about four steps. "I'm ridiculously fidgety, and that's a fact," he said to his wife, laughing at himself. "I can be lazy enough in a Pullman, fo

can be out there with y

de right, or we'll sut'ny run off de track. We ginerally do run off de track 'bout yere." On each side was a dense forest veiled in the gray long moss. Could that be snow between the two black lines of track ahead? No snow, however, was possible in this warm atmosphere; it was but the spectral effect of the moonlight, blanching to an even paler whi

roke into a laugh. "Oh, you do look so funny, Horace! If you could only see yourself! You, so particular about horses that you won't drive anyth

to stop making fun of me?" inquired Chase. "How do you expect to hit St. Augustine to-night if this fast ex

and the music of a banjo, did not think it necessary to stop their gyrations until the heads of the mules actually touched their shoulders. Even then they made no haste in bringing out the fresh team which was to serve as motive power to St. Augustine, and Mr. and Mrs. Chase, leaving the car, strolled up and down

ning into the car with her usual heedlessness, she tripped and nearly f

will break your neck. Why are you

nd woke the lazy Mr. Trone. "Who saw the whole of Switzerland in

ut of sight. "Horace, now that we are here, I wish you would promise to stay. Can't we stay at least unt

I must go to California on business b

f the Willoughbys do that

ung chap, who will put in brains. My California business, however, has nothing to do with the Willoughbys, Ruthie; it's my own private affair, that is. If I succeed, and I think I shall, it'll about double m

ted Ruth. "When it comes to anything connec

spree compared

c!" Then, after a moment, she let her head rest against his shoulder as they

ase answered, covering, as he often did, the deep

lf-past six Mrs. Franklin, Dolly, and Anthony Etheridge were waiting on this platform for the evening train. With them was a fourth pe

Dolly, who, seated on an empty dry

you came south winter before last-don't you see that it makes nearly two years since I have seen her?" Mrs. Kip went on. "In addition, marriage changes a woman'

art he added: "And therefore the more marriage the b

n now. Yet he could not help admiring this doubly widowed Lilian very deeply, after a fashion. And he knew, too-jealously and angrily he kn

n; "otherwise she is unchanged. You will s

able to do for her own family; she was full of glee over the amusements, the entertainments, and especially the change, that surrounded her like a boundless horizon. For her husband denied her nothing; she had only to choose. He was not what is known as set in his ways; he had no fixed habits (save the habit of making money); in everything, therefore, except his business affairs, he allowed his young wife to arrange their life according to her fancy. This freedom, this power, and the wealth, had not yet become an old story to Ruth, and, with the enjoyment which she found in all three, it seemed as if they never would become that. It had been an immense del

moment, she immediately repeated

ration, "But you don't seem to think quite so m

r close attention whenever Horace Chase was present. "How, indeed, can they be? A sister sees one side of her brother's nature, and sees it correctly; a

everal tears of joy. Then she signalled to Juniper, her colored waiter; for, being not only affectionate, but romantic as well, she had brought in her phaeton a bridal ornament, a heart three feet high, made of roses reposing upon myrtle, and this symbol, amid the admiration of all the bystanders, black and white, was now borne forward in the arms of Juniper (who, being a slender lad, staggered under its weight). Ruth laughed and laughed as this edifice was presented to her. But as, amid her mirth, she had kissed the donor and thanked her very prettily,

h gave her a large income for her personal use, independent of all their common expenses; it was upon this income that Ruth had drawn for the restoration of L'Hommedieu, and also for the refurnishing of her mother's house at St. Augustine. "I can't be happy, His Grand, I can't enjoy New York, or our trip to Europe, or anything, unless I feel certain that you are perfectly comfortable in every way," she had said during that first visit at home. "All this money is mine; I am not asked what I do wit

o the mother, though not so much so as it would have been to some women; for it was characteristic of Mrs. Franklin that she had never thought there was anything wrong in being in debt; she had only thought that it was unfortunate. It would not have occurred to her, even in her worst anxieties, to reduce sternl

ot only that, but a care! Nobody stops to think how dreary a lot it is to be always a care. And how hard, hard, never to be able to give, but always to have to accept, accept, and be thankful!" But Dolly, at heart, had a generous nature; she would not cloud even by a look her mother's contentment or the happiness of Ruth. So when

ncis Barracks, at the south end of the town. It was an old coquina house which rose directly from a little-travelled roadway. An open space on the other side of this roadway, and the absence of houses, gave it the air of being "on the bay," as it was called. Chase had taken, for a term of years, another house not far

grow troubled, "But he'll take another view of something else I have in mind," he went on. "If my California project turns out as I hope, it will be absolutely necessary for me to have a confidential man to see to

e had resigned his Charleston place in spite of Ruth, in spite even of Genevieve. He had waited until th

Now that she was rich, she was bent upon helping him; and having found that she could not do it directly, she had turned all her intelligence towards doing it indirectly, through the capable, the willing Genevieve. Mrs. Jared Franklin, Junior, had quietly and skilfully bought land in Asheville (in readiness for the coming railroad); she had an account at the bank; she had come into the possession of bonds and stock; she had enlarged her house, and she had also given herself

own accord consent to give up what was so distasteful to him, she had virtually condoned the underhand partnership between Ruth and Genevieve, arranging the matter with her conscience after her own fashion, by simply turning her head away from the subject entirely. As she had plenty of imagination, she had ended by really convincing herself

lso extraordinarily agreeable to the mother) Madame Genevieve was learning that she could not lead her husband quite so easily as she had supposed she could. In her enjoymen

ll directly, commanding the inlet; from its upper windows one could see over Anastasia Island opposite, and follow miles of the blue southern sea. Ruth's French maid,

and the heart were already there. "I won't stay now," said Mrs. Kip.

out hook on the parlor wall, and Ruth happened a moment before to have placed herself under it, when, having discovered her old guitar in a closet, she had sea

ng?" said Mrs. Franklin, peering

she kissed Ruth; then, retiring to a corner, she seated herself, arranged her feet in an appropriate pose, and crossed her hands in her lap. A little later, when no one was looking, she furtively altered the position of her feet. Then she changed once or twice the arrangement of her hands. This being s

th. She danced for joy when she heard

always been great chums," an

w heightened by all the aids that dress can bestow. Ruth had said to Jared, jokingly, "Wait till you see how pretty I shall be in fine clothes!"

th the equally departed John Kip, her second), now seated herself beside Ruth, and, with the freedom of old friendship, examined her costume. "I know

s being of great beauty. On her left hand she wore the wedding circlet, with her engagement-ring and the philopena guard over it. In ans

tely beautiful skin which sometimes accompanies hair of this hue; her cheeks really had the coloring of peaches and cream; her lips were like strawberries; her neck, arms, and hands were as fair as the inner petals of a tea-rose. With the exception of her imperfect facial outlines, she was as faultlessly modelled as a Venus. A short Venus, it is true, and a well-fed one; still a Ven

d the effect with her head on one side, consideringly. While she was thus engaged, M

with Ruth. "As you are an old resident, however, it's really

go out?" For it was literally out; the old house was built in the Spanish fashion

from Europe, it was only courtesy as well as good policy to remain where he was. For Mrs. Chase was a power. She was a power because her husband would always wish to please

replaced them on Ruth's wrist and hands, with many care

s my selection," he replied, in

said Ruth, touching

alter answered. "I'm afraid he didn't like my taste." He laughed; then turned to another s

d way," Ruth answered. "None of us do.

ssion of great intelligence, she added: "And I should know that you were, all of you, from your thick eyebrows and very

n the women-the murder

er think of associating murderesses with music?

other subjects save our own, we ourselves are presenting precisely the same spectacle. A Beethoven, when it comes to pictures, may find something very taking in a daub representing a plump child with a skipping-rope, and the legend: 'See me jump!' A painter of the highest power may think 'The Sweet By-and-By' on the cornet the acme of musical expression. A distinguished sculptor may appreciate on the stage only negro minstrels or a tenth-rate farce. A gr

Walter Willoughby; "it has often been noted that

a, Mr. Willoughby, it is certainly true that it is often the good women wh

exclaimed

ral reflections thrown in; the moral reflections make it all right. A plain narrative of an even much less degree

d Mrs. Kip. "Shouldn't pe

he counsel that they read s

ke), with Ruth near by; for it always amused him to hear his wife laugh and talk. The commodore, meanwhile, having assigned to himself from the day of the wedding the task of "helping to civilize the Bubble," never lost an opportunity to tell him stories from his own more cultivated experience-"stories that will give him ideas, and, by Jove! phrases, too. He needs 'em

urned towards the door. "Ruth will have an old man

ge. At least, they need not have it," answered Etherid

oughby. "Your uncles weren't sure you would still be here,

ably," answered Walter, smiling. "I ca

ll, it's true I have never l

ed, and his voice had almost an intonation of complaint.

ng trains and coaches on a full run, seeing three or four cantons, half

t was baddish. There's no hurry here; that's one good thing. The lazi

er accidentally the lamplighters which she had just complete

ou have made!" h

the back, as it were, about her curled strips of paper; she curled them to pl

only grief is that she cannot send them to the Indian missions. You can send a

re-the Indians at the fort?" asked Walter Will

looke

antage of an opportunity to please her. "Nothing easier. We c

Let us go at once, before it i

er. "After travelling all d

ake much stock in Indians myself," he went

Horace.

p, turning her soft eyes towards Etheridge, who w

, commodore. It would never do to let her see an Indian dance at her age," she added, affectionatel

, Chase and Walter Willoughby, Ruth and herself. "And did you hear her 'boat-drive'? She has become so densely confuse

gs which the Dolly Franklins of the world are incapable, with all their c

; towards the water it presents a high, dark, wet surface, against which comes the wash of the ocean, or rather of the inlet; for the harbor is protected by a long, low island lying outside. It is this isl

e and Mrs. Kip. For Mrs. Kip, since her second widowhood, had spent her summers at Asheville, for the sake of "the mountain atmosphere;" ("which means Achilles atmosphere," Mrs. Franklin declared). This evening Walter had felt a distinct sense of annoyance when Dolly had announced her intention of going with them to see the Indian dance, for this would arrange their party in twos. He had no desire for a tête-à-tête

drawbridge. Its water-battery, where once stood the Spanish cannon, looks out to sea. Having outlived its use as a fortification, it was now sheltering temporarily a band of Indians from the far West, most of whom had been sentenced to

lutions, now moving round a large circle in a strange squatting attitude, now bounding aloft. Their dark faces, either from their actual feelings or from the simulated ferocity appropriate to a war-dance, were very savage, and with their half-naked bodies, their whoops an

her husband's arm. Mrs. Kip, aft

ey have probably scalped on the

asked, unab

eyes hopefully. For a Sunday-school was to be established

res are imprisoned here are nothing but virtues upside down," she shouted. "They

Kip, in reply. They were obliged to yell, amid the d

usband, to Walter's amusement, put his hand over her

se there is, the more incessantly women will talk. Ever noticed? They are

y, ten minutes later, Dolly fainted. This in itself was not alarming; with Dolly

was amazed when I saw her h

arts at this time of night. Ruth and Mrs. Franklin had themselves been surprised by Dolly's desire to s

army officer in charge of the Indians; it was waiting outside to take Mrs. March back to the Magnolia Hotel. "The ca

ight now be attacked by pain; he would not trust her to a careless young fellow like Walter. "I'

tion to it, lifted her and helped her down to the phaeton. He was certainly the one to do it, so he thought; his wife's sister was h

amparts, and started homew

light. It was high tide, and the water also glittered as it came lapping against the stones waveringly, so that the granite somehow seemed to waver,

ore (though he was still staggering) held out his hand, saying, "We get off here, of co

ice. If there were two masculine voices, she obeyed the younger. In this case the younger man did not speak. She acquiesced, therefo

oughby, thus deserted, con

erfluous; the dark fort loomed up in massive outlines; a narrow black boat was coming across from the island, and, as there w

poken, Ruth, much amused by this unexpected adventure, was sailing down the inlet. "Oh, how wet! I didn't think of that," Walter had exclaimed as he saw the water in the bottom of the boat; and with a quick movement he had divested himself of his coat, and made a seat of

rts, she gave way to mirth. She laughed so long that Walter began to feel that he knew her better, that he even knew h

and the old mansion which Chase had taken. Then Walter directed the Minorcans towards another flight of water-step

t, with his ruined coat over his arm, he walked b