Rodman the Keeper: Southern Sketches

tempt, and, worse than all, the laughter, had st

gave no account of myself coming over on the stage; I remember, too, that I spoke of the moonlight whisky-makers myself, and that I made no effort to find out w

He banished the subject of her mistake at once, and began talking to her about herself. He asked many questions, and she answered them humbly, as a Lenten penitent might answer a father confessor. She seemed to feel as though she owed him everything he chose to take. She let him enter and walk through her life and mind, through all her hopes and plans; one or two closed doors he noted, but did not try to open, neither did he let her see that he had discovered

association, reopened the building, and put in Honor as librarian, at a salary of two hundred dollars a year. To account for this, he was obliged, of course, to be much interested in Ellerby; his talk was that the place must eventually become a summer resort, and that money could be very well invested there. He therefore invested it. Discovering, among other things, pink marb

ppy over the library that Wainwright felt himself already repaid.

d then during the winter that followed-packages which the librarian, of course, was obliged to acknowledge, answering at the same time the questions of the letters which accompanied them. Stephen's letters were always formal; they might have be

ime it had come about that he was teaching the librarian. She needed instruction, certainly; and the steps that led up to it had b

he tryi

Honor; Wainwright had told Adelaide the whole story. He also showed to her the librarian's little letters whenever they came, and she commented upon th

t the woman in whose society he finds himself particularly comfortable has an especial liking for and dependence upon himself; immediately he makes it all a favor and kindness to her, and is happy. So Adelaide came with Stephen, and did make him more comfortable. His barren room bloomed with fifty things which came out of her trunks and her ingenuity

the ground; then she began to act. She sent for John R

es given with the nymphs and fairies all made doubly beautiful by ros

he girl had fathomless eyes, exquisite coloring, the form of

l in love!-a girl so impulsive, so ignorant of the world. That is

he?" sai

warmly. "She is not awakened yet, her prince has not made himself known to he

if she lo

s; it would not be a diffic

ent, although she looked at him with undisguised wistfulness, a lingering gaze that seemed to entrea

g water to gain an inch's length on the next boat. He was brown and big, with a rolling gait; the edge of a boat tilted at one hair's-breadth from going over entirely, was his idea of a charming seat; under a tree before a camp-fire, with something more than a suspici

e inn. She arranged a series of excursions in a great mountain-wagon shaped like a boat, and tilted high up behind, with a canvas cover over a framework, like a Shaker bonnet, and drawn by six slow-walking horses. The wagoner being a postilion, they had the wagon to themselves; they filled the interstices with Eliot children and baskets, and explored the wilder roads, going on foot up the steep banks above, drinking from the

s, Wainwright still

y have been no more real love than at the North, but there was more of the manner of it. The second month came to its end; it was now August. Mrs. Kellinger had sent many persons to the library; she had roused up a general interest in it; villagers now went there regularly for books, paying a small subscription-fee, which was added to Honor's salary. Honor thanked her for this in a rather awkward way. Mrs. Eliot, who was present, did not consider the matter of co

said Stephen, whe

d

hy

ted in a new study of character, Stephen; you are really doing the child a world of good too; although, as usual, I confess that my interest in

easure on all sorts of occasions. "She is the best-hearted woman in the wor

r benefactor, and she really wished to learn; but she was young, and impulsive, and-a girl. There was little conversation save upon the lessons, with the exception of one subject. The man of th

ears would spring to her eyes with her own earnestness; many a time she lost herself entirely while pleading with her whole soul. H

id in a low tone; then he put his

med to her a very simple act, praying for any

as drumming on the window-sill; Stephen was motionless. Yet Royce, springing up and smiling, his blue eyes gleaming, and frank gladness on his face, was a picture that women remember; while Stephen, rising without change of expression, was a silent contradiction to their small power, which is never agreeable. They all sat talking for an hour, Mrs. Eliot and Mrs. Kellinger contributing most of the sentences. Royce was in gay spirits; Honor rather silent. Suddenly there came a sharp, cracking sound; they all ran to the window. Through the m

man who was shot?"

cked down from behind with a club by this fellow, who is a liquor-seller here in the village. The blow was on the skul

every limb, her lips trembled, and her chin

it all mean?"

hunting for the stills, and these outlaws will kill

rage! Are th

lett

rs to exec

ad

taken effect, and that in a safe place in the shoulder. Royce, all on fire for the side of justice, wrote and telegraphed for troops, using the detective's signature; he went himself fifteen miles on horseback to send the dispatch. There were troops at the State capital; they had been up to the mountains before on the same business; they were, indeed, quite accustom

things that a village so large as Ellerby

d Stephen. "Custom makes law in these regions: moonlight whisky has always been made, and th

officials and Northerners too,

letters per day. The Department at Washington had its attention decisively

fingers; Royce, with his eagle eyes and impatient glance; and this delicate-handed, pink-cheeked boy, conferring together, was like a scene from a play. The detective, slow and cautious, studied the maps; Royce, in a hot hurry about everything, paced up and down; Allison examined his almond-shaped nail

es, and gave a ball, with the village fiddlers for musicians and her old black cook's plum-cake for refreshments. Royce was to accompany the troops; Adelaide had not been

wright, that even your money

ll," sai

ison too. But Allison had no invitation. Royce went to Mrs. Eliot, and begged

uniform-" suggested Mrs. Eliot

else with him, I fea

surveyed these habiliments and their owner with wonder. He himself, coming from New York, with all the baggage he wanted, had

uslin which had been several times washed and repaired; there was no flow to her drapery, and she looked awkward. She was pale and silent. Mrs. Kellinger, clothed to the chin and wrists, with no pronounced color about her, was the one noticeable woman present. Royce did not dance. He found the rooms hot and the people tiresome; he was in a

sound; men were running out of the mill opposite and gazing curiously up the road. Honor was at the window in a flash, Stephen beside her. The troops were ret

her voice was but a whisper. She stood b

behind them, and followed the wagon toward the village. Everybody did the same; the houses were emptied of their dwellers.

with the most intrepid, daring courage to the very last. It seemed that they had fallen into an ambuscade, and had accomplished nothing. Singularly enough, the

e, when he had rather absurdly pretended that he could not make it stay buttoned; and she had tapped him on the cheek reprovingly for his sentimental looks

cried like a child. Honor went out of the room hastily; she hardly noticed that Stephen was with her. When she reached the ravine, she, too, sank down on the grass, out of sight of the house, and sobbed as though he

e darkened room before he was carried out: Stephen saw her do it. After the funeral, Brother Bethuel and Honor went away together; Stephen returned to the inn. Adelaide had taken upon herself the task of answering the letters. Allison had no father or mother, but his other relatives and friends were writing. Royce, his one young burst of grief over, went about sternly, his whole soul set on revenge. Now troops came: an officer of the United States army had been killed, and the Department was aroused at last. There were several officers at Ellerby now, older men than Allison and more experienced; a new expedition was to be sent into the mountains to route these banditti and make an end of them. Royce was going as guide; he knew wh

e some allusion to their morning hours. She said it simp

d away like a ghost-so like one that Stephen himself did not see her go. He followed her, however, almost immediately; it was too late for her to go through the village alone. He was some distance behind her. To his surprise, she did not go homeward, but walked rapidly down toward the river-road. There was fickle moonlight now and then; he dropped still farther behind, and followed her, full of conjecture, which was not so much curiosity as pain. It was still early in th

Honor?" he said, showing hi

ck, and gasped

Stephen Wainwright. I am alone

up to him and

entreatingly. "I am on an

in your pla

can

n. But you

, then?" she said,

ll me what it is, an

ou, you c

hy

w; and, besides

ng you ask me to

yth

yth

ted, looki

ive me yo

d

enormous thing you

ow it

!" she cried suddenly, with a h

t to him. Stephen took off his hat, and waited, bareheaded. It was but a moment; then she rose. "My cousin, Richard Eliot, my uncle's eldest son, has been

in is Mast

e right, follow it until you come to Brother Bethuel's house; you can not miss it; it is the only on

t into the moonlight; give me both

all hazards, and turned darkly red, the deep, almost painful, blush of the brunette. Her hands shook

epeated Stephen, compelling

with a rush of quick words: "No, no, no! Not

river in a series of little waterfalls. It was wide enough for a horse, and showed the track of Marcher's hoofs. It came out on a flank of the mounta

ed, started slightly, then recovered him

rant as to whether there was or was not a Mrs. Head. There was; but s

, "take me immediate

er stared innocen

he repeated, wit

s herself sent me. I am to warn this Eliot that the tro

rock, the highest ledge of Eagle Knob. Here he stood still and whistled. Stephen sat down, and tried to recover his breath. After a moment or two a whistle answered from above, and the missionary imitated the cry of a night-bird, one, two, three times. He then sat down beside Wainwright, and wiped his forehead. "He will be here in a moment,"

you?" sai

is's messenger;

muttered

d up his hands with a

d; you know you do not.-Lor

o?" said the man. "Di

t you mus

ay. But where am I to go?

said Stephen

he

morr

w m

m; as much

so flush

u say-flush,"

retfully, "But where am I to go now-to-night?" he answered: "Home with me, Dick. I can

same way he had appeared. Then Stephen, who had not risen from his seat, felt a pa

him safely out of the country this time, with your aid, Mr.

single file, and Stephen saw that the man in front of him was tall and powerful. They reached the h

no one suspects me." He closed the horizontal door, and then turned to Wainwri

ng back t

you return wi

ime to-

road," said Brother Bethuel; "I wa

asked Stephen, as the

rst wife. His father has heard nothing of him for s

he doin

rother Bethuel reluctantly. "Lately he has

Dooris k

he was a child, and latterly he has-has

d behave like a civilized man?" said Wainwright, in a

her Bethuel earnestly. "You ar

time-to Australia, if he will go," said Ste

ugh the war-fought bravely, nobly. But, when peace came, there seemed to be no place for him. He was not adapted to-to co

said Stephen dryly. "Will th

clefts in the rocks to the glen where their still is; it is a natural hiding-pl

he

you, Mr. Wainwright, but-I love the Eliots! I have loved them all my life. I was born upon their land, I revered them in childhood, I honored them in youth, I love them in age. They bear one of our great State names; they have been our rulers and our leader

n. "One of this gang shot Allison; w

urned and saw by the lantern's gleam

Stephen, "and you know

k up the glen, and Wainwright, turning into the woods, made his way along in the deep shadows above the road. He met the soldiers after a while, marching sturdily, and remained motionless behind a tree-trunk until

nt, quiet and taciturn as usual. He had succeeded in conveying to the girl, unobserved, a slip of paper, on which was written: "Eliot is hidden in the cellar of Head's house. I am going out

oiled, tired, an

himself like telling the story. "He heard us down in the road, came to meet us, and advised us what to do. It seems that he too has had his suspicions about Eagle Knob, and he took his lantern and guided us up there. We hunted about and fo

it necessary to go aga

eave these mountains until the murderer of Allison is caught

Mrs. Kellinger noted the expression. There was ev

g out!" A woman can deceive admirably in little things; a man can not. He can keep the secret of an assassination, but not of a clam supper. The very cat discovers it. Adelaide went to her room, put on her trim little walking-boots and English round hat, and, slipping quietly out of the house, walked down the road to a wooded knoll she remembered, a little elevation that commanded the valley

ow can amount to anything when lying down in the open air: he must crush with his careless length a good wide space of grass and daisies, or he will inevitably be overcome by the preponderant weight of Nature-the fathomless sky above, the stretch o

sail among the islands of the ?gean and be as young as ever'; and, 'We are poor indeed when we

oticed

es

can I get away unsuspected?" and the

er; then Adelaide made up

a change in you, Stephen. I

ll change as t

is something differe

en. "

your interests are mine. Anything that is for your happiness engrosses me; anything that

en. "

re than that-

hat is love

art. Somebody loved me once, and with all his soul." (Leaning forward with tears in her eyes:) "Take this young g

ght was

et listener to all those first guarded descriptions of yours? Did I not comment upon each and every word of those careful little letters of hers, and follow every possibility of their meaning out to its fullest extent? All this to please you. But, when I came here and saw the child with my own eyes, did I not at once r

t she is not

you not see why I sent for him? It was to try her. I have given her every chance to see him, to be with him, to admire him. He is near her own age, and he is a handsome fellow, full of li

of the small, plain, young-old man who was lying on the grass beside her;

let me be your ally in this, too. Is it not best for Honor that I should know everything? Shall I not be her true friend when she is your wife-your sweet young wife, Stephen, in that old house of yours which we will fit up for her together, and where you will let me come and see you, will you not, your faithful, loving cou

s so anxious to guide me, the supposed detective, away fro

de musingly. "That was the reason why she was so pale, and why

not know,

t keep you a moment longer; I will go back to Honor. But, first-God bless you! Do not put yourself into any d

her cheeks. He put one arm around her, touched by her affection; she raised her eyes, and let him look deep into them for

upon the certainty that he would not think she knew he saw it, much less that she intended him to

was walking rapidly down the river-ro

he thought. She next woke up Royce, laughed at his ill nature, flattered him a little, coaxed him into good temper, and finally told him plain

ain outlaw yourself, if I d

for to-day," s

s mo

ld comment. She did. She called him "a good boy," touched the crisp, curling ends of his yellow hair, and asked why he kept them so short; stroked his forehead, and said that, on the whole, he looked quite well. Her heart was beating rapidly as she chatted with him; she listened intently; everything depended upon a chance. Ten minutes before, she had executed a daringly bold action-one of those things which a woman can do once in her life with perfect impunity,

here? I can't see very well.-Is

a crumpled p

g, but I can't quite

he room in a second. The detective went stumbling along after him;

out, keeping his hand on the wa

ide had instantly destroyed it, an

t?" she ask

llers, the one, too, that shot Allison, was hidden in the house of that rascally, deceiving little

How do you kn

n to be anybody around. It was somebody as had a grudge against this man in particular, I suppose. 'Twas scrawly writing, and no spell

sly, and his slippers were coming off. "You had just better go back," he said, not menacingly, but with a dull desperation, as he sat down on the first step of the stairway

aide, departing. She went to her room, d

. . . . . . .

neers. Who would not be a soldier and have such mathematically square pieces of bread, such well-boiled meat on a tin plate, such an exactly measured mug of clear coffee? Who would not wear the ligh

any straw to avenge the death of Allison. The mountaineers and the detectives might fire at each other as long as they enjoyed the pastime; but le

uscle on him anywhere; he had always known that he could not afford anything of that kind, and had let himself alone. As he now walked on, he dreamed. Adelaide's words rang in his ear; he could not forget them. "A woman reads a woman," he said to himself. "Adelaide thinks that I can win her." Then he let his thoughts go: "At last my life will have an object; this sweet young girl will love me, and love

she would pray morning and night just the same, and that he would be there to see her; he said to himself that he would never laugh at her, but would bring his unbelieving heart and l

up the bank, he kept on through the thick hillside-forest. After a moment or two, around the curve came John Royce, walking as if for a

ded, and the slanting hillside slanted still more steeply. He pushed on, keeping his breath as well as he was able, running wherever he could, climbing over rocks and fallen trees. He was so far above the road now that he could not see Royce at all, but he kept his efforts up to the task by imagining that the young man was abreast of him below-which was true. He began to pant a little. The sleeve of his flannel coat had been held and torn by a branch; he had tripped on a round stone, and grazed his knee. He was very tired; he began to lope as the Indians do, making the swing of the joints tell; but he was not long enough to gain any advantage from that gait. At last he met the trail, and turned up the mountain; the ascent seemed steeper now that he was out of breath. His throat was dry; surely, he had time to drink from the brook. He knelt down, but before he could get a drop he heard a sound below, and hurried on. Alarmed, he sprang forward like a hare; he climbed like a cat, he drew himself up by his hands; he had but one thought-to reach the house in time. His coat was torn now in more places than o

rd, and Wainwright, with a signal toward the glen, as if of near danger, disappeared. The cellar was dimly lighted

said Wa

that I would com

ed his eyes toward the other figure; everythin

; "Royce is o

ut cutthroat-looking fellow, seized the money and sprang toward the door. But Honor sprang too, and h

as quietly reading his Bible; the table o

missionary, rising. "I am h

for a moment to rest, irresolute, and not quite knowing what to say next. The three, close under the thin flooring down below, did not stir,

and began to converse easily with his vis

ind you, Mr. Royce? From my youth, I could never abide t

d placed them behind him, but within easy reach. T

athing with his mouth wide open, so a

hat he must search the house, even at th

ceived stating that one of the outlaws, and the one, too, who shot poor Allison, is conceale

n; his countenance expre

h where and as you please; b

ring which Royce had not seen

ourse, it is but a matter of form. Still, for my own satis

issionary had sprung behind him, and pushed the pistols over the

ried Royce,

h triumph; he made no more resistance in Royce's strong arms than a rag. The

thuel down the stair after him:

open, so that escape would be e

t, and minding Stephen's hold no more than the foot of a fly. The light from the horizontal door above streamed in and showed E

breath, as his face came in among their three faces-Honor's ivory-pallid cheeks, the outlaw's strained attention, and St

" answered Eliot: "that

urprise upon his cousin,

said curtly, shaking his arm free. "

ing his hands deep down in his pockets and squaring his

aid Royce impatiently. "Go up stairs.

Eliot. "She is a S

fine person to talk of ladie

in Honor's eyes;

Wainwright, "because that man

his eye the breadth of his opponent's shoulders and muscle. "Now, then, are you

It is Honor's cousin: that is

o me?" cried Royce angrily. "I tell you that

itor too up stairs, he might not be able to overcome the outlaw in an attack. He set his teeth, therefore, and stood still. His hat was off; the sunset light touched his forehead and yellow hair; the image of strength and young manhood, he confronted them in his elegant attire-confronted the outlaw i

Eliot, probably, had only a knife; if he had had a pistol, he wo

ort. In a few, concise words he explained who Eliot was, and his own great wish to aid him

aid, in a low voice, looking up at his youn

ored with an entreating gaze. Royce threw his head back impatiently. All thi

to see the result of this

fire!" he cried, drawing out h

a pisto

ou thirty

h her shoulders and head, and raising her arms and hands to shield his face. He did not hold her or p

Eliot, in a fury-"leave hi

Royce's face, and frantically trying to cov

nor with him as he went down; a ball had entered his lung under the girl's arm, in the little space left open by the inward curve of her waist. Eliot ran by the two, up the stair,

k up his fallen hand. Wainwright drew away, and watched her with the deepest pain of his life gnawing at his heart. He saw her stroke Royce's hair fondly, as if she could not help it, and saw her begin to sob over his closing eyes and the deepening violet

t there a long time, and that Honor must be noticing him now. He glanced up; she was gazing down at the still face on her lap. He stirred; she motioned impatiently for silence with her hand, but did not raise her eyes. He sat looking at her miserably, and growing old, older with every mome

me to hear all about it-

m, attired himself anew, and sought Adelaide's parlor. Adelaide received him quietly; she said nothing, but came around behind him and kissed his forehead. He looked up at her dumbly. Her eyes filled with tears. In her st

all ended well; that is, he married her after a while, took her away to the North, and was, on the whole, a good husband. But, from first to last, he ruled her, and she never became quite the beauty that Mrs. Kellinger inte

e mountains, and still the revenue detectives are shot. The United States troops go

ade his little compact remarks as before, and appeared unaltered; but he let the lime-light play about him rather more continuously now, and took fewer journ

answer, "Why

ould never have given him more th

E

W. K.

With a Frontispiece from a Drawing by th

ic and readable stor

y passages of great brilliancy and muc

d on thoughtful minds.... The story is a vivid record of personal experience, and, given a nature like that of Mrs. Keith, the consummation is entirely

RS OF A WO

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d with skill and force, and the letters are written with great

ovel. Post 8vo

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o stint of witty interplay as they sojourn through Europe, and the keen thrusts and captious h

st successful stories of the year.-Philadelphia Press. "Frances Waldeaux" shows admirable literary reticence and good character-drawing. The author ne

. Illustrated by Clifford Carleton.

here and there a touch of delightfully amiable banter.... The

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ng one. There is a real vitality about the characters and

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