The Bell in the Fog and Other Stories

om the More?o grandees. Gone were the More?os from all but the archives of California, but the willows and Dr. Hiram Webster were full of years and honors. The ranchos were ranch

, and leased at high rental to a favored few. To dwell on Webster Lake was to hold proud and exclusive position in the community, well worth the at

house; and yet no murder had been done there, no traveller had disappeared behind the sighing trees to be seen no more, no tale of horror claimed it as birthplace. The atmosphere was created by the footprints of time on a dwelling old in a new land. The lawns were unkem

before the desk in his study. His yellow face was puckered; even the wrinkles seemed to wrinkle as he whirled about every few moments and scowled through the trees at the f

ood on the desk and rang it lo

he roared. "See if this damned r

red, and announced that the

evertheless; do you hear? If they don't come I

who has grown old unwillingly, and still hopes, against reason, that youth is not a matter of a few years at the wrong end of life. Her hair was fashionably arranged, but she was attired in a w

sked softly, addressing the

ed about

? Do you think those people will come

ays come, and they h

gh-toned that they'll soon feel independent o

hey have treated you for thi

Do you think the

e they wi

said, with a startling note of t

new frock, Marian.

ld have smiled at his sister's expression of terrified su

"are you-you do not

that you and Abigail are looking shabby, and I don't choose that all these fine f

I don't know anything

xpostulation, and assured him that it was sufficient. She le

loomy Sunday. She was forty-two. She was revolving a problem-a problem she had revolved many times before. For what had she stayed? Had there been an unadmitted hope that these old people must soon die and leave her with an independence with which she could travel and live? She loved Miss Webster, and she had gladly responded to her invitation to leave the New England village, where she was dependent on the charity of relatives, and make her home in the new cou

er entered

am is ill." And she related

d with a perfunctory expression of gratitude the gold piece allotted to her. "

tically; "have you been crying? Don't you feel wel

flung her arms about her companion, t

n years, but you have lived in this dismal old house so long that you have give

although Miss Webster might not be a woman of depths, she

not permit us to enjoy it. I drudged-drudged-drudged, when I was young. Now that I have leisure and-and opportunity to meet people, at least, every chance of happiness has gone f

ou gladly for one year

egrets won't bring things. We've people to entertain to-day, so we must get

above the nape of the neck. As she looked into the glass to-day she experienced a sudden desire to fringe her hair, to put red on her cheeks; longing to see if any semblance of her youthful prettiness could be

eks were thin and colorless, but the skin was fine and smooth. The eyes, which had once been a rich dark blue, were many shades lighter now, but the dulness of age had not possessed them yet. Her set mouth had lost its curves and red, but the teeth were good. The head was fin

k no interest whatever in the "Websters' companion." She hated them all. She had watched them too grow old with a profound

it approached, and the rain beat in. There was no porte-cochère; the guests were obliged to run up the steps t

n this sort of thing is over," she muttered

prudent husband; Mis

ss's hand in both her own as she assured her that the storm had not visited California which could keep her from one of dear Dr. Webster's delightful dinners. As she

adbare. White crocheted tidies lent their emphasis to the hideous black furniture. A table, with marble top, like a graveyard slab, stood in the middle of the room. On it was a bunch of wax flowers in a glass case. On the white plastered walls hung family photographs in narrow gilt frames.

Miss Williams drifted into a chair and gazed dully on the accustomed scene. She had looked on it weekly, with barely an intermission, for a quarter of a century. With a sensation of relief, so sharp that it seemed to underscore the hateful monotony of it a

s plunged into his pockets, gazing on the scene with an expression of ludicrous dismay. In a moment he caught the companion's eye.

let ceremony go, and talk to me. I never saw so many old fogies in my life

l heart-beat for all t

she had not known was left in her slug

us man 'on this side of the bay,' why, of course, I said I'd come. But, gods! I didn't know it would be like this, although Jack said the tail of a wild mustang coul

've lived here for

ged. "You've lived in this

y-four

eg pardon," hastily. "I am a

have known me for most of that time, and it has never occurred to them to wonder how I stoo

oul was filled with pity. "Well,

g. I'm an old woman now, and m

le reply by the entrance of Dr. Webster. The old man was clad in shining broadcloth, whos

ones. "Glad to see you. Didn't think you'd come. Yes, I did, t

narrow creaking stairway to the basement dining-room, an apartment as stark and cheerless

rriedly ladled the soup, announcing that he had a notion to let them help themselves, he was so hungry. Wh

. "It's disgusting to be so ric

plate, the first course was disposed of amidst profound silence. No one dared to t

mic tenets at the kitchen door, but there was no rejoicing in the hearts of the guests. They groan

ys into generous portions,

rrison has no show at all. What say?" His shaggy brows rushed together. He h

was a scarlet Republican. "Clevelan

u think I can't find out what ticket you vote! But I'll find out

th a vicious click. Holt raised his wine-glass nervous

ce. A stout man with a shrewd time-serving face leaned forward. "Don't let i

ll fail, but it's a lie. They can't fail. You needn't worry

" began a man of bile and nerves and m

"I say they can't fail. They haven't failed

" replied the victim, hurriedly. "It doe

n Con. Virginia," interposed Mrs

There isn't a handful of decent ore left in her. No more clodhoppers 'll get rich out of that mine. You haven't been investing, have you?" His fer

that not one of their hard-earned d

Williams; "is this the way he always goe

that is not the only reason. They hope he will leave them those houses when he dies. They certainly deserve that he should. For years, before they owned carriages, they would tramp through wind and rain every Sunday in winter to play billiards with him, to say nothing of the hot days of summer. They have eaten this mid-day dinner that they

ems disgus

it was very attracti

his own game, the old sl

don't!" s

he moment when Dr. Webster should see f

ghed o

afraid of him? He does

personality of the man,

youth, "what are you doing for this world? I hear you are just out o

and bit his lip, but

ung man's head. "Don't even get any more book-learning now, I understand. Nothing but football

nger of the righteously indignant, who knows that he has not the advantages of cool wit and scathing repartee, and, in conseque

foot. Miss Williams fluttered with terror and admiration. The other guests gazed at the youth in

nyway? Who said you could write and ask permission to bring your friends to my house?

who wouldn't be allowed to sit at a table in California if it wasn't for your vulgar money." He pushed back his chair and stood up. "I wish

hurriedly fr

wbridge. His manner was appreciably milder-somewhat dazed-although he by no means gave evidence of being humbled to the dust. The long dinner dragged to its close. The women went up to the parlor to sip tea with Miss Webster and slide up and down the furniture. The men followed the doc

had been born, surrounded by the massive ugly furniture of