II~~~~~~~~~~/ 
"I beg of you!" he implored. "/i!? you not do me the favor to hear my
reasons? -  ae4




KATE BEAUIM ONT
BY
J. W. DE FOREST.
WITH ILLUSTRATIONS.
BOSTON:
JAMES R. OSGOOD AND COMPANY,
LATE TICKNOR & FIELDS, AND FIELDS, OSGOOD, & CO.
1872.




Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1871,
BY JAMES R. OSGOOD & CO.,
in the Office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington.
UNIVERSITY PRESS: WELCH, BIGELOW, & Co.,
CAMBRIDGE.




KATE BEAUMONT.
CHAPTER I.                  day in a foaming tempest; sailed sixty hours
on her lee bulwark or precious near it; not
1N the good old times before the Flood, in a passenger able to keep his legs, and only
the times which our retired silver-gray two able to eat; steward and stewardess
politicians allude to when they say, " There flying wildly from state-room to state-room;
were giants in those days," the new, com- in short, a howling, rolling, disgusting, mismodious, and elegant steamship Mersey set erable sixty hours of it. It is such kind of
out on her first voyage across the Atlantic.  weather which has decided what peoples
The Mersey was one of a line of steamers shall rule the seas and do the great colonizwhich htid lately been set up between Eng- ings.
land and the United States of America. On    At last the wind folds its hands, and the
the side of England this line sailed from  sea doffs its battle plumes; the waves are
Liverpool, one of' the mightiest of the coin- fine enough to be admired and not too,nercial queens, or perhaps we should say fine for comfortable travelling; passengers
deities, of the world, - a deity whose storm- resurrect, break away from that undertaker,
winged and steam-winged angels fly to all the steward, and come on deck, much occulands, and whose temples of trade resound pied in mutual staring, never having seen
with all tongues. On the side of the United each bther before. The two who have not
States it sailed from a city less known to the been sick are of course out, and are smoking
human race at large, but wh;ch we Amer- their cigars with an heroic air, as much as
icans shall recognize when we come to it.  to say," Old sea-dogs! "  They seem to be
This city thought the strongest kind of old acquaintance, and familiar ones for they
beer of itself.  It held that in intellects  hit each other in the ribs and address each
morals, and manners it stood head and other with, " I say, Duffy," and " I say, Bill
shoulders above any other American muni- Wilkins."  Just now there is some bantercipality.  It believed, to use a French ing going on between them as to a young
phrase, that it marched at the head of lady who is looking out of the companion
civilization, at least so far as concerned the door wistfully.
Western continent.  There was, also, a gen-   "Wilkins, go and offer your arm," says
eral faith in this city that nothing had pre- Duffy.  " Family trades at your shop."
vented it from being the commercial metrop-   "0, get out," returns Wilkins, with an air
olis of the Republic but a lack of sufficient of despising Duffy as being a man who does
commerce.  A sufficient commerce it had, not know when to joke. "I know where I
therefore, decided to have; and, as the first ought to put myself, if you don't."
step towards this end, the first step towards   "I say, Wilkins, you don't like that,"
hlltdling off the mercantile rivalry of New  chuckles Duffy, his flat, expressionless face
YVrk, the first, step towards monopolizing puckering with a simper which he, mistaken
thle export and import business of a vast man, supposes to be sly.
bItc!~ country, it had established this line of   "Don't like what? " demands Wilkins,
steamers; the next step being a sort of' in- rather too scornfully for mere pleasantry.
formal proclamation, runnin(g from mouth to   "Calling your bran-new store a shop,"
mouth, to the effect that every citizen of the grins Duffy, clearly one of the smallest of
city, and of the State attached to it, must wits.
go in said line, and send his goods by it,   " That's just like you, I)uffy.  I never
however slow and costly it Inioght be.    knew you make a joke, but what you had to
Well, the Mersey, built in Engr land, owned explain it."
mainly by Englishmen, and manned by an    Duffy, considerably cut up, keeps on smilEnglish crew, but commanded by a home- ing like a wax doll, and tries to think of
made captain, had started on her first voyage.  something severe.
She started at night; came to light next   "By Jehu, somebody ought to offer her




4                            KATE BEAUMONT.
an arm," resumes Wilkins, his dusky, twink- his assistance because she needed it, and
ling, good-humored eyes, glancing sideways not with the slightest thought towards flirtat the young lady. She really wants to get ing.
out here. If it was any of the Beaumonts   " Do you wish to go aft? " he had venthat I know, I'd venture."              tured to ask as he passed her in the breezy'Bill Wilkins, I never saw you modest house on deck which enclosed the companbefore," says Duffy, at last laying hands ion-way. "I judged so by your looking out.
on a bit of satire. "Must be somebody's May I offer you my arm  and give you a
threatened to give you a licking."       seat? "
And 0, how Duffy enjoyed his hit, and   " I was waiting for my aunt," she replied.
how eagerly he looked out of the corner of " But she does not seem to come."
his eye at Wilkins, as if expecting to see   Then, finding it very uncomfortable there,
himl too enjoy it!                      with the wind sucking through the door in
Scorning to reply, Wilkins, an intelligent- a gale, she passed her hand over his sleeve,
looking, civil-mannered man, though evi- saying, "If you will take me to a seat, I will
dently not aristocratic, was about stepping be much obliged to you."
out in the direction of the young lady,   "We have had a hori ible time of it," he
when he saw something which checked was remarking as they passed the respecthim.                                     ful Duffy and Wilkins. "The weather has
"' Go along, Bill," whispered Duffy, giv- treated us like enemies and criminals."
ing his friend a dig under the ribs. " One   "I am  so glad to get on deck once
of us ought to help her."                more! " she said, her face lighting and col" No. She's got some one. Jehu! what oring like an eastern sky under the rising
a tall fellow! By Jehu! that man could of the sun. " 0, how beautiful the ocean
wade ashore. Shut up now, Duffy. They're is!"
coming this way.  Don't make a fool of   He looked down upon her with pleasure
yourself all the time. I can stand it, but because of her admiration. Who at twentyother folks can't."                      four does not see eighteen as childhood, and
Duffy shut up, and both men drew aside rejoice in exhibiting marvels to it, and symrespectfully  as the  young lady passed pathizewith itswonder! Thenext moment,
them, her gloved fingers just touching the remembering what had been asked of him,
arm of the tall gentleman who escorted her. he halted and placed a chair for her.
The young lady's face was handsome, and,   " Thank you," she said.  " Don't let me
what is more, it was interesting. It was as trouble you further.  I see that my aunt is
different from the commonplace handsome coming. You are very good."
face as a cultivated voice is different from    Thus liberated, or rather perhaps grathe cackle or twang of the ordinary untu  ciously dismissed from his charge, the tall
tored windpipe.  Quite young; not more young man quietly touched his brimless
than eighteen apparently; maidenly purity cloth cap, turned on his heel with the digthere, of course. But this purity was so re- nity natural to giants, walked to the other
markable, it amounted to something so like a side of the quarter-deck, leaned a yard or
super;or intelligence, that it almost imposed( so over the bulwark, and watched the swift
upon the beholder, at the same time that it whirls of white and blue water, as they boiled
attracted him. In short, this was one of out from under the paddle-box and raced
those rare countenances in which girlish in- along the ship's side.
nocence rises to the nobleness of matronly   The aunt, a stoutish lady, inviolably
dignity, without losing its own appealing veiled, - clearly not disposed to be blown
grace.  As she passed our two prattlers on to pieces before fellow-passengers,- was in
the quarter-deck, even the stolidly jocose charge of a far stouter man, the captain of
Dulff became humble in remembrance of the Mersey. The captain got the aunt a
the way he had jabbered about her, feeling c(hair, slapped it down in a jolly way alongmuch as a man might feel who should dis- side the niece, and then planted himself
cover that he had been- saying sly things bolt upright in front of the two. babbling
of Santa Cecilia or the Mater Amabilis. 0  and boasting louder than the weather, as if
potent influence of mere speechless, unob- he were all tpeaking-trumpet.
trusive, carefully veiled and yet splendidly   "Yes, a fine ship, noble ship. Never
visible womanly purity!  It has done, how  commanded a better. Twelve, thirteen,
much we cannot fully discover or declare, fourteen knots.  Make the passage before
towards civilizing and sanctifying the other you could dress a salad.  It's the beginsex.                                    ning. ladies, of a great enterprise.  At last
This young lady lifted her face a little our State will stand on its own feet, do its
shyly and let with perfect self-possession own business, put its money in its own
toward the man whose arm supported her. pocket. Independent of New York?  Of
It was obvious enough that she did not course we will be.  It's high time.  Don't
know him, and that she had only accepted you think so?  I agree with you."




KATE BEAUMONT.                                    5
Captain Brien talked loud and bragged piggish,yet furtive, quick-glancing eyes. In
much, partly because he was of Celtic blood an instant he had warned himself: " This
and born in Ireland (only a baby at the man is not to be fooled with, at least not at
time; raised in the American marine), and times; and this is one of the times."
partly because he had found that passengers,   "You are right, sir," he said, dropping
and especially women were cheered and his trunpet bluster to a confidential, honest
humbuggred by that sort of thing.  After a undertone. "New York has an immense
certain amount of his hurrah-boys gabble, start."
he felt that he had done his duty by the   " Only two vessels in the line, I believe,"
ladies, and he prepared to leave them. It continued the passenger.
was time; he was running out of conversa-' Only two," answered the captain briefly,
tion.; when he had shouted and huzzaed a not caring to continue the conversation,
little, he had done; such was Captain Brien since he could not splash and spout and
as a member of society. So he glared at the play the whale in it.
helmsman; then he threw a glance aloft, as   " And the other is not yet built?"
if he were still in a sailing-vessel and car-   "Not yet built," softly admitted the capried top-gallants; then, with a sudden lurch tain.  He began to look around him  for
and a sharp shuffle, he was away. Next he duty: leaking at this rate was not agreewas looking over the side, not far from the able nor wise.
tall young gentleman, guessing at the ship's   The passenger saw that the subject was
speed by the flight of the water. As he was no longer a welcome one, and he dropped
about to move off —the uneasy, restless, it. There was a silence of a few seconds,
hyena-like creature - the giant lassoed him  during which the captain glanced two or
with a question.                        three times at the young man, as if trying
"W ell, Captain Brian," he said, with in vain to call him to mind, or as if struck
the air of one who may have money to with his appearance. An imposing young
invest, " how is the new line to succeed?"  fellow  really; height something quite ex"Succeed? Prodigious! " promptly shout- triordinary; could hardly have measured
ed the skipper, in his'loud cracking voice; less than six feet four. His face, too, nota voice full of cheerful and almost frolicsome withstanding its fine pink and white combrag and bluster; a voice which had an plexion, and notwithstanding the softness of
undertone of humbug. " Sure to pay. Pay his curling blond hair and long blond whisright off.  Keep paying.  First great step kers, was not such a face as one prefers to
in the right direction.'Change the channels shake a fist at. Although the features were,
of trade in our country."               in general, pleasing, the cheekbones were
Captain Brien was very short and very somewhat broad and the jaws were strong,
thick; what our Southern mountaineers showing a character full of pluck and perwould call a chunk of a man; not protuber- severance. In expression it was charming;
ant nor even corpulent, yet every ounce of a there was a wealth of both dignity and betwo-hundred-pounder.  His face was flat, nignity in it; it reminded one of the porbroad, nearly four square, ponderous in traits of Washington.
jowl, with cheeks as plump and solid as a   " We have had rough weather," he said
pig's. His complexion was a dark, rich, and presently.  "This is my first morning on
curiously mottled mixture of sun-tanning my legs. Who are my fellow-passengers,
and whiskey-tanning. So long as you mere- may I ask?"
ly looked at him, you thou;ht him a bluff,   "All the right sort, sir," shouted the capfrlnk, honest sailor; but the moment you tain, for surely this was a subject that he
heard him talk, you suspected him of being might brag upon, without giving offence.
a humbug; admitting, however, that he " All of the right sort, and from the right
might be a good-hearted as well as a jolly spot," he blustered ahead.  "Such people
one.                                    as I like to carry. A most elegant lady,
"It is not easy to chance the channels of sitting over there just now, a perfect lady,
trade," observed the tall young gentleman. sir. Her niece is one of the most charm" It frequently takes centuries to do that. ing, innocent, modest, - bless you, just the
New York has an immense start."          kind that we raise and brag of-just our
A serious-minded person he seemed to own best kind, sir.  Her brother Tom,
be; one of those persons who love to speak too -"   The captain stbpped here, and
veracities and to hear veracities uttered; looked at his helmsman, headstays, bobstays,
who, perhaps, takes some offence when you etc. It seemed as if he had not so very
offer them  a mess of undisguisable clap- much to say in favor of the brother Tom.
trap.                                      " What is the name? " inquired the tall
Captain Brien looked up quickly at hear- gentleman, who doubtless had his reasons
ing his enthusiastic prophecies questioned. for wanting to know.
He did not frankly turn his face of bronze   " The name is Chester; no, beg pardon,
and mahogony; he merely slewed his gray, the aunt's name is Chester, - Mrs. Chester.




6                            KATE BEAUMIONT.
The young lady's name is Beaumont. The just fbur times what thery would be to New
Beaumnonts of Hartland!"  repeated the York, taking in boardoat the St. Nicholas,
captain, proudly.                        a course through the theatres, and a blow
The tall young gentleman did not start; out generally. It cuts down all my profits
he merely looked as if he had heard before and eats into the capital. I think, by Jehu,
of the Beaumonts of Hartland; he also we'd better let importing alone. It may do
looked as if he were not pleased at meeting from a seaport; but hang Ile if I ever try
them.                         ~          importing into an inland village again. If
Ever been in Hlrtland? " inquired the we had n't been as green as swamp mneadcaptain. "' Lovely village, - town, I should ows, we would n't have been got out of our
say."                                    little two-penny shops on any such business.
"I have been there," was the brief and And I believe the whole line will turn out a
dry answer.                             flam.  0, it's all very well as a spree
"Perhaps you have known the Beau- That's it, a big spree. But we can't make
monts, then'?  I dare say they would be fortunes on spreeingit."
pleased ti -"                              At this moment the tall passenger passed
"I never knew them," interrupted the them  on his way forward to the wait.
youngster, more dryly than before.       Duffy followed him with his eyes, then hur" In a little company like this —" con- ried to the companion-way, and took a long,
tinuld Captain Brien.                   sly look, then came back, staring inquiringly
"I dare say I may make their acquaint- at his chum.
ance, at a proper time."                   "I say, Bill Wilkins, how about that felHis intentions towards an immediate in- low?" he demanded.
troducti)n being thus bluffed, the captain'Big chap," returned Wilkins, turning
fell silent, and looked once more at his his face upward and surveying every point
hlnsmnan, bobstays, jackstays, etc.     of the horizon.' low many days more of it? " inquired   "' Yes, but who is he?" persisted Duffy.
the passenger, after some seconds of grave   " How should I know? " returned Wilmeditation, his face meanwhile turned from  kins, trying to look indifferent, but unable
the Beaumont group, as if he might wish to to conceal annoyance.
avoid recognition.                         "Don't know him, eh? " continued Duf-'"How many days? Why that depends, fy, smiling and triumphant  "Ever live in
you know. The weather comes in there. Hartland?"
So does the newness of the engine.  I   " Yes, of course I"ve lived in Hartland,
should n't like to prophesy, Mr. McMas- twenty years or thereabouts. But he's no
ter."                                    Hartland man."
The young man gave the captain a singu-   "He may have been a Hartland boy,
lar glance, had the air of being about to though."
speak, and then checked himself.  Could it   Wilkins squared his back on Duffy, and
be that his name was not McMaster, and walked aft; but Duffy would not be got rid
that he had reasons for letting the error go of in this fashion; he followed, and continuncorrected? After another meditation, he ued his subject.
swung slowly away from the captain, his   "Don't know him, hey?   You know
back still toward Mrs. Chester and Miss those people opposite, don't you?"
Beaumont, strode forward to the waist of   "Whamt, Mrs. Chester and Miss Beauthe vessel, lighted a cigar, and smoked in mont?  Yes, I know who they are."
deep thought.' And where they live?"
Meanwhile Wilkins and Duffy, the latter   "Yes, and where they live."
with his narrow gray eyes constantly fixed   "Well, you know the people on the other
on the tall passenger, were conversing about hill?"
the'ir own affairs.                        " What other hill?"
" Duffy, how much do you suppose we ve   " 0, now make believe you can't undermlele by going to England?" queried Wil- stand anything," said the indignant Duffy.
kins, puckering the corners of his mouth " Why, the other hill. Other side of the
into satirical wrinkles.                 town.  Straight back of your store. Two
"' MIde?  How should I know?  Foot it miles back."
up at the end of the season. What do you   Wilkins would not answer, and persisted
thiink we've made, yourself?"            in staring at every nook and corner of the
"Made blasted fools of ourselves."     weather, as if he did n't hear his gabbling
"0, you'd better jump overboard, and comrade.
done with it. You're always looking at   "That's one of the -" began Duffy.
the black si(le of things. How do you fig-   " Shut up! " broke in Wilkins.
ure that out?"                            "The  youngest one," went on Duffy.'Well, figure;t yourself; you can cipher, " Been abroad eight years, studying and
can't you?  Expenses going and coming travelling.  Changed wonderfully.  I ci



KATE BEAUMONT.                                    7
phered him  out, though.  I tell you, it's So there was nothing for Mr. McMaster to
Frank -"                                 do but to return the girl's zephyr-like salu"Shut up, for God's sake," implored Wil- tation, to glance rapidly at the faces oi'
kins.                                    aunt and nephew, and then quietly fall to
"' Yes, and you knew it all the while, and eating.
would n't tell me of it," complained the ag-   Meantime Duffy and Bill Wilkins, paired
grieved Duffy.                           away farther down the table, looked on
" Yes, I did know it all the while," ad- breathlessly out of the corners of their eyes.
mitted Wilkins.  "I recognized him  the They expected, it is not best now to say
evening we came aboard. And I did n't precisely what, but clearly it was something
tell you of it; and do you know why? "    remarkable.  Duffy whispered, " That's
Without answering or apparently noticing curious, hey, Wilkins? "  Wilkins respondthis question, Duffy pursued: " Yes, by ed with a grunt which signified as plainly as
jiminy, that's him. Sold him peanllts an(I possible, 1" Shut up! "  And when Duffy
candy many a time. I'11 go and shake failed to understand, and so stated in an
hands with him."                         audible whisper, Wilkins hissed back beHe started to goforward.   Wilkins caught tween his teeth, "By Jehu! if you don't
him by the skirt of his black swallow-tailed shut up, I change my seat."  Whereupon
coat and hauled him back.                Duffy, turning very red under the reproof,
"Don't be a blasted fool!"           looked  around fiercely at the listening
"Why not? " demands the innocent waiter and called for a bottle of chanlDuffy.                                  pagne, being a man who under such snub"Because it's ridiculous to be a blasted bings needed spirituous encouragement.
fool all the while, and because it makes mins-   Presently Mirs. Chester began a coversachief. Do you want to get up a muss on tion with the mysterious giant. Mrs. Chester
board? There are those Beaumnonts, - th t was aristocratic; in fact, she was in a genyoung doose of a Tom Beaumont.  I)ou't eral way disagreeably haughty; not at all
you remember all the trouble between the the sort of lady who habitually seeks intertwo families? "                         course with strangers. But the giant was
" 0, exactly," returns the abashed DusTy. - barring his too great height - decidedly
"'0, exactly!" scornfully ro peats Wil- handsome; and, what is more fascinating
kins. " Well, you see it now, don't you? still to a woman, he had an air of <istincThey don't know him. He passes for Mr. tion.
McMaster on board. I heard the captain   "Then why not be pleasant? " she
call him so, and he answered to it. He's thought. " Such a little party as we have'
quite right. It ain't best they should know. on board; awkward not to speak to one's
him."                                   vis-a-els. moreover, he has been civil to my
" If they should, there might be a dickens niece "
of a muss," observes the at last enlightened   So Mrs. Chester astonished DufFy and
Duffy.                                   Wilkins by saying to the tall gentleman,
"I should guess so, by Jehu," mutters with that sweet smile which haughty and
Wilkins, wrathful at Duffy fbr not having self'conscious people often have, drawing
seen it all before.                     it out of depths of condescension, " The
sea is still a little troublesome, sir. It is
safer on deck for a gentleman than for a
lldy."
CHAPTER II.                   The captain, seated in his Olympus at the
head of the table, immediately thundered
IF Mr. McMaster, as we will call him for his introduction: " Mr. McMaster, let me
the present, expected to keep at a distance present you to Mrs. Chester. Miss Beaufrom the Beaumonts during this voyage, he mont, Mr. Beaumont, Mr. McMaster.  We
was disappointed.                       pre all friends of the line, I believe; travelAfter he was seated at the dinner-table ling comrades. Let's be jolly while we are
the three members present of that family, at sea.  Time enough to be solemn on
the aunt, the niece, and the nephew, fol- shore."
lowed each other into the eating-saloon and   No notice taken of Duffy and Wilkins,
took places opposite him, the young lady nor of other persons around the foot of the
acknowledging by a slight inclination of the table, all of whom Captain Brien knew by
head her remembrance of his service in the instinct to be of a different breed from the
morning. This was what he had not ex- Beaumonts of Hartland.
-pected; in fact, this was just what he sup-   The tall passenger made three slight bows,
posed he had guarded against; but the stew  and each of the Beaumo-its made one. Even
ar(l, being slightly beery that morning, had while he was bowing, the former was querymisundlerstood his five (lollars. and thought le ing to himself whether he ought not to deny
wanted to be close to the belle of the stealmmem. the name of McMaster, and make public




8                            KATE BEAUMONT.
the one which belonged to him. But he   The tall young man obviously hesitated
decided against it; and evidently it was about contradicting a woman; then he
an important decision; one could see that seemed to find a reason for speaking plainly,
by the wink which Duffy threw at Wilkins; even at the risk of giving offence.
a wink which the cautious Wilkins totally    "I admit those and a few others," he said.
ignored.                                 "But how few they all are! And we are a
" I think, madam, that we shall now have nation of thirty millions. We have been a
a quiet time, at least for a few days," said civilized people a hundred years and more.
the so-called Mr. McMaster, in a full, round I can't account for the sparseness of our
tone, and with a cultivated accent, very crop of great intellects. I sometimes fear
pleasant to hear. (' The barometer seems that our long backwoods life has dwarfed
to promise as much."                     the national brain, or that our climate is not
" O, does it?" smiled the lady. "I am  fitted to develop the human plant in perfecso glad anything can prophesy in these tion. Our painting can't get into Europedays. Well, we ought to be patient, even an exhibitions.  Our sculpture has only
with a long voyage. It is homeward. It is done two or three things which have attowards our dear native country. I shall tracted European attention. Our scientific
be so delighted to see its shores again! If men, with three or four exceptions, confine
you have been absent as long as we, you themselves to rehearsing European discovmust be able to symnpathize with me."    eries. Our histories are good second-class;
"I have been in Europe eight years, Mrs. so are our poems, the best of them. I don't
Chester."                                understand it. There is only one poor comSpasmodic winking here from Duffy, who fort. It is not given to every nation to prothought the secret was coming out and the duce a literature.  There have been hunmuss at hand.                            dreds of nations, and there have been only
" Eight years! " exclaimed Mlrs. Chester. six or eight literatures."
"And I was gone only one year. How can   Evidently this Mr. McMaster, or whatan American stay abroad eight years? "    ever his name might be, was a frank and
"I have been engaged in a course of resolute fellow, if not a downright wilful one.
studies which made the time pass very At the same time his manner was perfectly
rapidly."                                courteous, and his cultivated voice was even
"0 O, I understand. My niece has been insinuating, though raised in contradiction.
three years at school in England and In sp:ite of annoyance at hearing her native
France. We ran over after her, and took l nd criticised and her ovn importance
a year on the Continent. Europe is the tl ereby considerably depreciated, Mrs. Chesbest place, I suppose, for a thorough edu- ter was confirmed in her opinion that he was
cation. But eight years! Dear me! how  a youth of good blood.
glad you must be to return!".         How can an American attack his own
"I can't quite say that.  I leave great country? " was her only remonstrance, and
things behind me. Compared with Amer- that sweetened by a smile.
ica, Europe is a completed and p rfect   "I beg your pardon; I don't call it atsocial edifice."                         tacking. If I should discover a leak in our
" Excuse me!" objected Mrs. Chester, vessel here, I should feel it my duty to tell
quite sincerely and warmly. " I don't con- the captain of it. How can we mend our
sider them our equals. Look at their hordes imperfections so long as we persuade each
of brutal peasants. And even their aristo- other that we are already perfect? "
crats, I don't consider them equal to our   "By Jove, you're right there, sir," put
gentlemen and ladies, our untitled nobility. in Tom Beaumont, a genteel but devil-mayWhere will you find anything in Europe  care looking youth, perhaps twenty-one or
to compare with our best families? "     twenty-two years old. " If I see a fellow
Duffy whispered to Wilkins, "' That's so," going wrong, especially if he's a friend of
and Wilkins, in reply, muttered, " Confound mine, I say to him right off,' Look here, old
her! "                                   chap, allow me to tell you, by Jove, that
The tall gentleman waived the compari- that sort of thing won't do.' Yes, sir,"
son of manners; he alluded, he said civilly, continued Tom who had taken a straight
to art, literature, and science.         cocktail before dinner and was now drink" But look at our list of noble names," ing liberally of champagne, "your doctrine
urged Mrs. Chester, pushing on from victory suits my ideas exactly. As to America, I
to victory. " The authors of the Federalist, hurrah for it, of course. We can whip the
— Legare, Cooper, Irving, Bancroft, -  world, if we could get at it. But when it
Washington Irving."                      comes to palaces and picture-galleries and
The lady's lore, it will be perceived, was that sort of thing, by Jove, we're in the
of early days; she had read " the books swamps; we're just nowhere. We haven't
which no gentleman's library should be anything to show. What can you take a
without."                                man round to when he travels amongst us?




KATE BEAUMONT.                                  9
The only thing we can offer to pass the time stranger were concerned; the genial Tom
is just a drink. Show him up to a bar; alone making an occasional grab at them.
that's what we have to come to. And It was noticeable that while this lady talked
that's the reason, by Jove, that we're always with Mr. McMaster, she was mellifluous and
nipping."                              smiling; but from  the moment her own
It seemed as if Mr. McMaster thought family joined in the discussion, she acquired
that Tom had nipped too much that morn- a sub-acid flavor. " One of those women
ing to allow of his conversation being prof- who have a temper of their own by their
itab'e. He turned to the sister.  He had, own firesides," judged her new acquaintby the way, no business to turn to her ance. When the meal was over, however,
Even Mr. Duffy, though not very bright, all parties rose from the table on seemingly
wvas aware of that; he showed it by hitting excellent terms with each other.
his knee against the knee of his friend Wil-   Once on deck, Mr. Duffy drew his friend
kins; for Duffy could not endure to have Wilkins aside by the elbow and muttered ill
an idea without letting some one know it. profound amazement, "Ever see anything
Nevertheless, a brief and rather shy con- like that, Bill Wilkins?"
versation took place between Mr. McMaster   The prudent Wilkins, looking as nonand Miss Kate Beaumont.                 committal as a mummy, responded by an
Yes, she agreed with him, at least in part; incomprehensible grunt.
she had been long enough abroad to like   "What would old Belmont have said, if
people abroad; the English she liked very he'd happened in? " pursued Duffy.
much; the French not so well The Eng-   Wilkins looked cautiously about him:
lish were so frank and straightforward and " Don't speak so loud, man. You'11 split
honest! You could depend on them. It with it."
was strange that it should be so; but it'I hain't mentioned the other name," deseemed to her that life was more simple with clared Duffy.
them than with other people; they had less   " Yes, but by Jehu, you want to. I know
guile and pretence than oth r people. Per- you, Duffy. By Jehu, I'd rather trust my
haps, she admitted, she had seen the best grandmother with a secret than you. I
side.                                   wish to Heavewn you'd shut up on the whole
He looked pleased; seemed to- think it subject till we get ashore. If you don't,
much t) her credit that she should see the there'll be a fuss aboard."
best side; probably thought that only good   " 0, you be hanged, Bill Wilkins! " repeople can fully discover goodness.    torted Duffy, walking away in great offence,
W' omen. are fortunate in being so situ- and would not speak to his friend again for~
ated as to see mainly the best side," he half an hour.
added.  "I have sometimes thought it   Meantime the Beaumonts, clustered in a.
would be an angelic existence to see all the little group on deck, were discussing this
good there is in the world and none of the Mr. McMaster.
evil."                                    - Seen him before, by Jove!" muttered.
Whether Miss Kate felt that there was a Tom, bringing his fist down on the arm of
compliment in this, or whether she per- his chair. "By Jove, Aunt Marian, I've
ceivedl that the young gentleman looked at seen him before. Where was it?"
her very steadily, she colored a little. He   "Ton, I wish you would n't by Jove it
noticed it, and immediately stopped talking quite so constantly in my presence," replies.
to her; he was astonished and indignant at Mrs. Chester. "' You seem to take me for,
his own folly; what right had he to be pay- one of your own fellows, as you call them."'
ing her compliments? The girl's face and   "By - I beg your pardon; there it pops,
ail and in inner had actually made him for- again," says Tom.  "I was going to say
get who she was. No wonder; if not a per- it would n't do at all among the fellows.
fectly beau iful face, it was a perfectly Takes something stronger than that to make'
charming one; one of the faces that make thetm look around."
both man and woman long to offer kindness.   " I care very little how you address them,"
An oval contour, features faintly aquiline, retorts Mrs. Chester with peppery dignity.
abundant chestnut hair, soft hazel eyes, a "What I do care for is how you address.
complexion neither (lark nor light, a con- me."
stant delicate color in the cheeks, were not   "Well, all right. Beg pardon, as I saidl
enough to explain the whole of the fascina- befbre. Catch another hold. Who is this.
tion. It was the expression that did the tall chap? 
beholder's business; it was the sweetness.   " He looks like so many young Englishthe purity, the unmeant dignity; it was the men," suggests Kate. " Only he is taller."'
indescribable.                            "So he does," nods Tom.  "Perhaps:
Mrs. Chester once more grasped the reins that's it. Dare say I saw him in England,
of time conversation; and was allowed to and took him for a John Bull. Tfhough,
have them, so far as her niece and the by - never Imin(l, aunt - did n't let it out
2




10                            KATE BEAUMONT.
- trv another barrel - what was I going to creature; consequently he was a gentleman.
say?  Oh! I c.an't for the life of me rernem- Mrs. Che.ter sent for him to join in whist
ber where I did see him. Was it in Scot- parties, and Tom clapped hiln on the shoulland?  Give it up."                      der with proffers of drinks and cigars.
* "At all events, he is a gentleman," de-   As for him, he wished heartily that they
cides Mrs. Chester. " I did n't hear him by would let him alone, until there came a time
Joving it at us."                         when he could not wish it, at least not
"Come, Aunt Marian! " said the young heartily.  In his first interview with them
man, speaking with sudden seriousness and he had contradicted Mrs. Chester's glorificaeven dignity.  "Allow me to suggest that tion of America, not altogether.because he
that is going a great ways. Do you notice did ndt agree with her and because it was
that you insinuated that I am not a gentle- his nature to be sincere and outspoken, but
man?"                                    partly also to leave a bad impression of himMrs. Chester appeared to be struck by the self upon her mind, and so evade an awkprotest; she looked up at her nephew with war(l intimacy. It was awkward in more
surprise and gravity.                     ways than one. His time was valuable to
"Tom, you are quite right," she said, "I him; he had in his state-room thick German
trust you will always repel that insinuation, volumes of minet alogy and metallurgy which
from whomsoever it comes. I did not mean he wanted to master; and he had proposed
it."                                      to make this voyage an uninterrupted course
"All right," returned the youngster, drop- of study. In the second place, there was
ping back into the easy, good-natured way between this family and his family a disawhich was habitual with him. " Now, if you greement too inveterate and serious to be
don't mind it, I'11 l1ght up."           rubbed out by a chance acquaintance.
During this short tiff; Kate Beaumont   At times he regretted that he had not at
glanced gravely and thoughtfully from one first announced his name and individuality.
to the other of the pair. It was evident He had not done it, from good motives; he
that she had been long enough away from  despised and detested the old family quarrel;
her relations to forget their characters a he did not want to be dragged into it perlittle, and t'tat she was studying them with sonally; did not want a voyage of pouting
an interest almost amounting to anxiety.    and perhaps of open hostil ty.  A moomen"So you like the English, Kate?" recom- tary impulse, an impulse strengthened by
mences Tom, with a bantering smile. - the the surprise of finding himself face to face
smile of a good-hearted tease. "Honest, with Beaumonts, had induced him  to acsteady-going chaps are they?  I wonder cept the false name which somehow had
how you will like us.  Seen any Americans fallen upon him. Now that he had time to
yet that you fmcy? What do you say to think over the matter coolly, was the impulse
me?"                                      to be regretted?  On the whole, no; not"You are my brother, Tom."              withstanding that he hated to sail under
" O, that's all, is it. What if I was n't? false colors, no; notwithstanding that he
I almost wish I was n't.  What a fancy I was in a ridiculous position, no.  As Mcwould take zo you!  You'd have an off r Master he could go through the voyage
this trip. P rhaps you will, as it is. This peaceably; and after it was over, he should
Mr. McMaster is looking a good deal your never meet.the Beaumonts again; although
way."                                     they lived within a few miles of each other,' Nonsense, Tom! " And Kate colored there was no chance of a meeting.
as innocent g;rls do under such remarks.    But if he voyaged with  these people
i" So I sav," put io Mrs. Chester. "' Tom, under a false name, he must not become
you talk like a school-girl. They babble intimate with them.  On this, for the first
about matches in that style."             two or three days, he was resolved; and on
"Do they!" wonders Tom. "News to this, after two or three days, he was not so
me. Thought I'd suggested a new train of resolved. The temptation which led him
thought to Kate.  But this Mr. McMas- into this change of feeling, the strongest
ter -"                                    temptation to wlich a man can be subjected,
In short, there was much talk among the was a woman. It the youngster needs exBeaumonts concerning this Mr. McMaster. cuse, let us remember that for the last four
For various reasons, and especially perhaps years he had been studying with a will, and
because of the mystery attaching to him, he had had scarcely an idea or a sentiment outwas a favorite.  On board ship any subject side ofchemistry, mineralogy, and metallurgy.
of curiosity is a delight, and any tolerably He had rarely spoken to a woman, except
fine fellow may get the name of a Crichton. his elderly, hard working landlady, and the
Even the fact that the young man did not fat, plain daughter of his landlady. It' there
seek the Beaumonts was rather a recom- had been any pretty girls in the little town
mendat'on to people who were so sure of of G6ttingen, he had failed to see them.
their own position. He was not a pushing For four years he had not been in love, nor




KATE BEAUMONT.                                  11
thought of being in love. And, all of a however, would by no means do; we must
sudden, here he was face to face with a simply indicate how things went.
young lady who was handsome enough and   In the first place, there was Mrs. Chester's
sweet enough to make a'sensation in any flirtation.  She was nearly forty-four years
society, and who, in the desert of the Mer- old, and yet she was not too old for coquetsey, with only Mrs. Chester and the stew- ry, or at least she did not think so.  More
ardess for rivals, seemed of course the love- elderly people are thus minded than the
liest of women.                          young, imagine; many a man well stricken
She was a mighty temptation. He could in years has thoughts of captivating some
not help'looking at her and studying her. chit of a girl; he not only wants to win her
If she needed helping from a dish within hand, but he trusts that he may win her
reach of h;s long arm, he must perforce an- heart; actually hopes, the deluded sentici)ate the wailer. If she wanted to walk ion, to inspire her with love.  Same with
the deck, and her fly-away, devil-may-care s )me wormen; can't believe they  have
brother was larking below amQng the beer- p issed the age of fascinating; make eyes at
bottles and punch-glasses, he could not help young dandies who don't understand it at
savini, " Allow me." If she asked questions all; would beggar themselves for a husband
about life in Germany or about the studies of twenty-two.
in a German university, he did not know    Mrs. Chester was well preserved; comlhow to evade telling her many things, and plexion brunette, but tolerably clear, -1rom
so making an interesting conversation. Each a distance; dark hazel eyes, still remarkably
lYnk in this intercourse seemed in itself so bright, - also from a distance; hair very
unimportant!  And yet the whole made black, to be sure, but honestly her own,
such a chain!                           even to the color; a long face, but not lean,
Of course, this intimacy, so singular to and with high and rather fine features; on
those who knew all its circumstances, could the whole, a distingru;,hed countenance.'Her
not fail to draw the sidelong wonder of form had not kept quite so well, being obMessrs. Wilkins and Duffy. As the tall viously a little too exuberant, notwithstandyounog man anti the graceful young woman ing the cunning of dress-makers. What was
pace the quarter-deck in company, Duffy, repellant about her, at le 1st to an attentive
clotbinog his flat face'with puckers of deep and sensitive observer; was her smile.  It
meaning, pokes a spasmodic elbow into his was over-sweet; its cajolery was too visible;
friend's ribs and mumbles: "I say, Bill it did not fascinate; it put you on your
Wrilkins, that's the queereststart out. That guard. Even her eyes, with all their fine
may be a love affair before we get home. color and sparkle, were not entirely pleasing,
What then?"                             being too watchful and cunning and at times'l Humph!" grunts Wilkins,- a grunt too combative.  On the whole, it was the
of contemptuous unbelief, - that fool of a face of a woman who had long been a flirt,
Duffy!                                  who had long been a leader of fashion, who
" If it should," pursues Duffy, dimpling had seen trouble without getting any good
and simpering, "it might collap-e the out of it, who had ended by becoming somewhole fight; put a complete stopper on it." thing of a tartar, and all without ceasing to
Wilkins utters another incredulous, scorn- be a flirt.
ful grunt and turns away; that Duffy is too   Mrs. Chester was a widow. A country
much of a ninny to be listened to with any belle in her youth, a city lady during middle
patience.                                life, she had lost her husband within the last
"I did n't say it would," explains Duffy. six years, found herself without a fortune,
"I said it might.  Old Beaumont himself and retired upon a wealthy brother. Disapwould n't -"                             pointed woman; thought she had not had
"Shut up!" mutters Wilkins, grinding her fair share oflife'ssweetness; stilluneasily
his teeth through his cigar, but looking inno- seeking after worldlyjoys. Old enough to be
cently, diplomatically, at the foam  in the Mr. McMaster's mother, old enough to matsteamer's wake. If that secret was to be ronize him wisely in society, she was unable
divulgf-d on boalrd, it should not be the fault to give herself the good advice to keep from
of the tongue, or face, or eye, of Bill Wilkins. flirting with him.  She had courted his acquaintance at the table of the Mersey for
his own sake. It was not because he had
been civil to her niece; it was because she
CHAPTER  III.                wanted him  to be sweet upon herself.
Could n't help it; old habits too strong for
A LONG voyage. There was time in it for her sense; old habits and a born tendency.
quite a little romance. And the time was not   Of course, he did not understand her.' No
misimproved, for, if we should narrate mi- man of twenty-four can have the least susnutely all that happened on board the picion that an elderly or middle-aged woman
Mersey, we should have a volume. That, wants him to flirt with her. Mr. McMaster




12                          KATE BEAUMONT.
(not his real name, please to remember) careful, however, not to utter the query
helped Mrs. Chester around the vessel in aloud, lest babbling Duffy should repeat it
the innocence of ignorance. He did not and make mischief. " Well," he continues,
want her company, but could not help get- still speaking in strict confidence to himting it. " Mr McMaster, will you oblige me self, "that's the way with all youngsters,
with your arm up these stairs? " And then pretty much. Women will get the better
he was in for a long, prattling promenade of them. They've tripped me pretty often."
on deck:  " Mr. McMaster, will you please (Mr. Wilkins, now nigh on to forty, has not
take me into the cabin?"  And then he been badly tripped as yet, being still unmarfound himself caught in a maelstrom  of ried.)  "That girl might upset me now,
whist. He had meant to keep away froIn well as I know her breed. Pretty girl, devilthe Beaumonts; but he could not manage it ish pretty girl, and looks like a good one,
because of Mrs. Chester. The result was too, in spite of her breed."
- the terribly pregnant result - that he saw    There are moments when our tall fellow
a great deal of Miss Kate.             wonders at himself as much as Wilkins
Pretty soon, say in about a week, there wonders at him. He is one of the wisest of
was a muddle. While he was talking to youngsters; at least he has that reputation
Mrs. Chester, and while Mrs. Chester sup- among his acquaintance; he has even had
posed that she was his point of interest, he it with himself.  Though of an impulsive
was really talking fbr the sake of Miss race, and partly because he is aware that he
Beaumont.  The aunt, as innocent of any is of such a race, he has proposed to himsuch gentle purpose as a bald eagle, gath- self to be practical, has set up practicalered these two chickens under her chaperonic mindedness as his nirvana, and has stubbornwings and brooded in them thoughts of each ly, self-repressively striven after it.  For
other. Had she known what she was doing, years he has not meant to do anything which
she would have snapped at Kate, insulted was not worth while, nor even to do anyMr. McMaster, shut herself up in her state- thing which was not the best thing to do.
room, and had a fit of the sulks.      Many of his younger associates have conResults were hastened by rough weather. sidered him  disagreeably well-balanced;
Mrs. Chester, losing her sea-legs once more, have felt reproved, cramped, and chilled by
became to a certain extent bedridden, or his rational conversation and sound. examlay about the decks inert. By this time our ple; would have liked him better if he had
tall young fiiend was under a spell which had more emotions, enthusiasms, and whims.
promised pleasures and would not let him    And this sagacious youth has allowed his
see dangers.                           heart to draw him into a scrape; as the
" Miss Beaumont, you need some one to philosophical Wilkins puts the case, a woassist you"; "Miss Beaumont, shall I annoy man has got the better of him. At the
you if I walk with you?"              breakfast-table, no matter what may have
He can't help saying these things; sees been his resolves during the night, he can't
the folly of them, no doubt, but still says keep his eyes from bidding Kate Beaumont
them; resolves that he will do nothing of the something kinder than good morning. If
sort, and breaks his resolution; very clear- he sees her in need of a chair, he can't
headed youth, but getting ungovernable help bringing her one. If he finds her p.about the heart.  Of course one likes him  cing the unsteady deck alone (her aunt
the better for this weakness, and would rolled in shawls. and her brother talking
hardly have a man of twenty-four behave horse below to boozing companions), he must
differently.  But the result?  Long walks offer her his arm, or jump overboard. When
and long talks; getting more interested every Mrs. Chester, anxious in her least sickish
day; cannot learn too much about Miss hours to have him near her, proposes an
Beaumont; finds her school-girl reminis- evening family party of whist, he takes the
cences more delightful than chemistry. The cards. And, subsequent on the game,.when
young lady, handsome by daylight, seems to the riper lady leans back in a corner, does
him a goddess by moonlight. He experien- her dizzy best to be agreeable, and, despite
ces a pure, exquisite, almost unearthly pleas- herself, falls into a series of dozings, how
ure in looking down at her bright, innocent can he quit Miss Beaumont, or how be dull
face, and seeing it look up at him. He does with her?  One little weakness after ana great deal of reading (not in chemistry) other makes a whole day of unwisdom and
in the cabin, Miss Beaumont being always wrong-doing.
one listener, if not the only one. What a   Excuse him? Of course we can, and do
change has come over him, and how rapidly it joyfully. We do not forget that pregnant
it has come!  If this thing is to go on as it saying, " A woman in the same house has
has' beaun, he will soon be indisputably in so many devilish chances at a fellow"; and
love. And then?                        we remember that in a ship she has even' Wonder if he ain't getting himself into more chances than in a house. Miss Kate
a scrape? " thinks the diplomatic Wilkins, had no rival young lady on board the Mer



KATE BEAUMONT.                                   13
sey. She had not even a rival, at least not this young man received a shock. The
for a long time past, in the emotional memn- irrepressible Duffy, blind as a bat fromn
ory of Mr. McMaster. He was like Adam  coming out of the bright cabin on to the
alone when he first beheld Eve the un- murky deck, halted a few feet from Mr. Meknown. The over-soul of his sex, the great Master without seeing him, planted his back
necessity of loving some one of the other against the weather bulwark, rested his
sex, the universal instinct which is too stronc  lazy elbows upon it, puffed gently at his
for any individuality, had begun to take cigar, and mumbled to the invisibly deprecomplete possession of him, and to upset his cating Wilkins, " Seems to me that tall chap
boasted common sense, self command, and is getting himself either into a marriage or
so forth  A man may be upright and sensi- a fight."
ble; but a man's a man for a' that.        The subject of the observation immediIt was simple folly. He knew perfectly ately stole away to meditate. This outside
well who were the Beaumonts; he was in- comment, this voice of the world at large,
formed, at least in a general way, of the more potent than any of his own reflections,
long feud between them and his own fain- startled him  into a terrible sense of h s
ily; he could not show for his conduct a ray situation. What brought the comment more
of the excuse called ignorance. Before his forcibly home to him was a suspicion, amountmind's eye rose the two houses: the roof ing almost to a certainty, that the speaker
of the one visible from  the roof of the knew him. Duffy he had long since recogother; separated by only four miles of nized, and Wilkins also; but he had beGod's blooming, joyous earth; yet never lieved until n w that they did not re nember
an act or message of friendship between him. Absent eight years; a boy when he
them; rather a ceaseless interchange of left home; grown twelve inches or more
wrongs and hate. It is one of the rare since then, broad shoulders, side whiskers,
cases of a spite which has outlasted two mustache, and all that; — he must surely
generations, and which is so violent in its be changed beyond recognition. Now he
deeds and so loud in its words that all men believed that these two had found him out;
know of it. It is a stand-point, a fixed and consequently he felt as if he were
fact; no one expects it to pass away. And standing on a mine. Any day the Beauyet, knowing all this bitter history, he has monts might be informed who he was; anl
become surreptitiously intimate with Beau- then what judgment would they pass upon
monts, and has dared even to pay surrepti- him to his face?
t ous courtship to a Beaumont girl.        " You a g ntleman! " they would sneer,
Of course he reproved and bullied him- or perhaps storm. " Sneak among us an i
self for it with distressing plainness. "What listen to our talk under a false name! Even
do I mean? " he said; and meanwhile he if you were -an indifferent person, such conmeant nothing. He no more proposed to duct would be shabby. As things are befall in love than a man proposes to get tween our families, it is scoundrelly."
drunk who takes glass after glass of a liquor   Andl then wuld arise the old, stupid,
which is too pleasant to be refused. And hateful quarrel, more violent perhaps thtn
still less did he intend to make this charm- ever, and to some extent rational in its vioing and innocent young lady fall in love lence, because justified by his folly.
with himself.  That, he thought, would be   A young man has a vast power of redishonorable; for there could be no g od pentance. When he sees that he has comend to it. It was, humanly speaking, im- mitted an error, he sees it in awful proporpossible thAt a Miss Beaumont should marry tions.  Our giant lay awake over his sin
one of his family; and if it should happen, nearly all that night, and writhed in spirt
it would almost certainly divide her from  over it all the following day. A gentleman
her own blood, and so make her more or sensitively a gentleinan, what one m;ght call
less wretched for life. So, marriage being chivalrous, what one might even call quix
out of the question, all love-making was otic, yes, chivalrous in spite of his assumed
futility, and was even wickedness. He did name, quixotic' in spite of his long struggrle
not purpose it; resolved over and over that to be practical. he was tormented by rehe would have none of it; and all the morse. How could a man of honor, who
while;, l-d by the great race instinct of had caught hims-lf falling by surprise into
loving, went on with it. Terrible downfall a dishonorable, action, how could he do suf:
for a man of solid sense and strong princi- ficient penance?  Moreover, his blunder
pies, born into high ideas of gentlemanli- might lead to- disastrous consequences;
ness, bred for years among philosophers, what chivalrous feat could he perform to
accustomed to do analyses and other ac- prevent them?  After a severe storm of
curate things, able to analyze even himself, emotions, after suffering spiritually more in
and so thoroughly a responsible being.   one day than a nation of s vages could sufOn the twelfth day of the voyage, some fer in a month, he hit upon one of the most
time in the still, Jloudy, sombre evening, irrational and yet perhaps one of the most




14                           KATE BEAUMONT.
natural plans that could be imagined. Only puzzled on. " If it was a joke? - Well, I
a young man could have devised it, or at don't know what I ought to tell you, Mr.
least have decided upon it. The young are Me -"
so wise and so foolish! They are such in-   The moment she began to pronounce the
spired idiots! Sometimes uninspired ones! name McAlister, she remembered the quarIt was a moonlit autumn evening, strange- rel which it represented.  She stopped; her
lyv sunmmer-like for the season, when he led hand fell out of his arm; she stood away
lMiss Beaumont on deck alone, ostensibly to from him and stared at him.
take a walk with her, but really to carry   "Ibeg of you! "he implored. "Will you
out his plan.                            not do me the favor to hear my reasons? I
We can imagine the hesitation and futility appeal to you as a woman, who cannot symof his first steps toward a confession. There pathize with these old bitternesses, and who
Nwere two persons in him: the one intent must wish for - at least not enmity. You
upon being straightforward and prompt; had a brother on board. I did not want to
the other shying and balking.  All the resume the ancient quarrel with him.  I
young fellow's introductions seemed to lead hate the whole affair. It is a point of farmin a circle and bring him back to where he ily honor, I know; it seems to be held a
had started. So hard is it to avow an error duty to keep up the feud.  But I have
which is both intellectual and moral, when learned other ideas. The quarrel appears
one is anxious to preserve the respect of to me - I beg you will excuse my friankthe listener, not to mention a tip-end of ness - simply barbarous. I have no more
self-respect. It seems at the moment as if sympathy with it than I have with a scalpconfession were a new crime, instead of a hunt. Well, you can guess what I had in
justifying virtue.                       view.  I wanted a peaceful voyage.  I
At last, out of patience with himself, Mr. wanted not to be known to you or your relMcMaster (we will soon give his true name) atives in any manner whatever.  I assure
made a direct plunge at his subject.     you, on the word of a gentleman, that those
"Miss Beaumont, I beg your attention were my motives for letting my name go
for a moment to a very serious matter."  unrevealed. Can you blame me for them? "
There was no start from this most inno-   Kate, in spite of her astonishmont and a
cent of young ladies. A girl more expe- certain measure of alarm, felt that she w s
rienced in society, or in novels, or in rev- called upon to be a woman, and she was
eries, would have sniffed an offer of mar- capable of being one.  After drawing a
riage. This one was ingenuous enough to long breath to make sure of her voic(e, 1bha
be merely puzzled, to turn up her hand- said quietly, and with a really dignifie 
some face in the moonlight with calm won- firmness, "No, Mr. McAlister, I cannot
der, to say with perfect simplicity as he hes- blame you."
itated, " What is it? "                   " I thank you sincerely," he replied, so
"My name is not McMaster," he pro- greatly relieved that he was almost joyous.
ceeded; then, after scowling a moment, "It " I did not expect so much kindness.  I
is McAlister.                            only hoped it."
" I beg you will hear me out," he hurried    " I have lived away from home, like youron, anticipating that she would leave him, self," she went on. "I suppose I have lost
perhaps before he could begin his apology.  some of the home ideas. But," she added,
But Kate was as yet simply puzzled. after a moment of reflection, "I am going
Four years of absence from home, of far- home."
away ideas and of hard study, had rendered    "Yes, I know what you mean," he said.
some of the notions and feelings of her "You cannot control your circumstances.
childhood'vague to her, so that the word I must give you up as an acquaintance."
"Mc Alister" did not at first rouse an asso-   Kate, looking frankly up at him, her
ciation.                                 handsome face spiritualized by the moon"I don't know how the captain got the light, nodded her head with a rather sad
idea that my name was McMaster," pursued gravity.
the penitent. " Perhaps my illegible hand-   " There is one thing more," he proceeded.
writing; I engaged my passage by letter. "I am going to Hartland. I shall perhaps
Never mind. He introduced me by that be seen there and recognized by some of
namle. I thought - it was a great mistake. your family.  Then this deceit, this unit looks like unhandsome conduct - but I happy deceit of mine, will be discovered.
honestly thought it best to -let it pass."  And then the old quarrel may blaze up hot"It was odd," hesitated Kate, feeling that ter than before."
she ought to say something, and not know-   "I hope not," murmured Kate, fearing
ing what to say.                         however that so it would be.
"You cannot blame me more severely   "It is for that that I have told you what I
than I blame myself," he added.          have," he explained. "I have made my con"I did not mean to blame you" Kate'fession to you. I have begged your pardon.




KATE BEAUMONT.                                   15
If you should say thus much to your father and inexperienced in the gravities of life,
and brothers, they might perhaps be per- to be called on to decide such questions.
suaded that I meant no insult.  It would She would consult her aunt; no, that would
pain me horribly," he declared, stamping not answer at all; that might lead to great
his foot slightly, and scowling at himself, mischief.  Her native sense — a wisdom
"if I should find that I had rekindled the which one might almost say was not of this
old spite."                              world - enabled her to regain her self-posKate's head had drooped; it seemed to session and make a ju1dicious answer.
her that a heavy load was being laid upon   "We will speak to each other," she murher; she could not tell what to decide and imured. "But I must not walk with you
to promise.                              alone any more. I will still call you Mr.
MeAlister.(we give him his true name at McMaster."
last) was also perplexed, and for a time   At the top of the cabin stairway she left
silent. The weightiest part of his plan was him, obviously in great trembling of body
still unfinished, and he was in great doubt and agitation of spirit; so that, as he turned
whether he ought to carry it out.        away, he was full of remorse at having
"No; even that is insufficient," he broke given her such a shock.
out, shaking his head. " There is still room    Some minutes later he remembered that
to claim an impertinence, an insult. I am  she had not answered his offer of marriage,
justified in telling you all that is upon my and, walking hastily up and down the darkmind. Let me offer you one more repara- ling deck, he fell to querying whether
tion, Miss Beaumont. It is myself  I'lay she ever would answer it.
all that I am at your feet. I suppose you
will refise me. Never mind, I amn sincere.
I shall not chance. You need make no reply now.  But whenever you choose to                 CHAPTER  IV.
speak, your answer shall be binding. Do
not go. One single word.  You can tell   WHEN Kate Beaumont came to breakyour fimily this; I wish you to tell them. fast on the morning after that unexpected
All the consequences that may attach to and astonishing offer of marriage, our friend
this step I am prepared to take. I shall McAlister saw, by the pallor of her face
live and die by it."                     and the bluish circles around her eyes, that
Kate was stupefied.  Wonderful as the she had not slept.
interview had been thus far, she had not ex-   A smaller-souled man might have been
petted any such ending as this. While he proud of accomplishing at least thus much
(no flirt, be it understood) had supposed for ravage in a woman's spirit, especially after
days back that he was paying her unmnis- she had not deigned to accept that offer
takable attentions, she was so little of a flirt which is the greatest of all man's offers,
that she had not guessed his meaning. The and had not even deigned to notice it. But
time had passed pleasantly; she had begun this young fellow, we must understand once
to respect and admire and even like this tall for all, had nothing petty about his soul
young gentleman; but that was all that had any more than about his physique. A gencome into her heart or head.  And now, tleman, a kind-hearted gentleman, full of
ban g! bang! one shot after another; here respect for the girl whom he had terrified,
was a mask thrown off and a lover falling at, and even to a certain extent loving her, he
her feet.  She was not angry; she had no looked with humiliation and remorse upon
recollection just then of the family feud; his work.
she was simply amazed, and in a certain   "No sleep?" he gasped in his heart
sense shocked. It was as if he had taken a " Was it I who kept her awake? I might
liberty; as if, for instance, he had tried to have known it; shame on me for not having
kiss her; and he almost a stranger, a nine foreseen it! -  a man who has looked int,)
days' acquaintance!                      medicine, as well as other science! But
The first words that she found to say have I not done for the best, in the end?
were. " Mr. MIcAlister, I cannot talk to you. Was it not incumbent upon me that I
I think I ought to go."                  should say all that I did say?  After insultAnd in her confusion and alarm she was ing her - under the circumstances it was
about to leave him and traverse the stag- an insult — by forcing my forbidden comgering deck alone.                       pany upon her incognito, could I do less
" Let me help you," he begged, offering his than place my whole self at her feet, to be
arm so gently and with such dignity that spurned if she chose?  Certainly not; I
she took it. "Please allow me one word must be right there; every gentleman
more.  How  may I address you during would say so."
the rest of the voyage?  As an acquaint-   So he saw it; looked at it, you observe,
ance, I hope."                           through the most chivalrous of spectacles;
It was terrible to Kate, young as she was through spectacles, too, whi. h, unawares to




16                           KATE BEAUMONT.
him, were colored by more or less of love's hearted, anxious about the result of his late
glamour. A young man who has been a great step, and fearful lest his incognito
little smitten is not to be trusted with rea- might yet work mischief, so that he was not
soning about the lady who has moved him. in spirits to bear the first woman who chose
He has fallen among the most amiable de- to take his arm.  Accordingly he went
lusions, and is plundered of his wits with- heavily laden with Mrs. Chester, and, quite
out being aware of it. He is as much at unintentionally, he gave her cause to susthe mercy of this one subject as a country pect it. There was a slowness about joingreenhorn is at the mercy of a professional ing her; there was a troubled absent-mirtdgambler. But we will not now judge the edness while convoying her; at times he exwisdom of Mr. McAlister's plan; we shall cused himself from the whist parties on very
see in the course of time how it turned out.  slight grounds; at other times he was to
No more walks and talks alone with busy with his books (scientific stuff) that
Kate Beaumont. In lieu of her, Mrs. Ches- he did not look up when she passed.
ter; ocean being quiet again, that Venus   The annoyed Mrs. Chester, just like a
rises from the depths; and finds plenty of conceited old flirt, suspected a rival. She
chances to attract McAlister, or rather to watched the gentleman, noted his expresgrab himn. It was, " Steward, please say to sion when his eyes fell upon her niece, and
Mr. McMaster that we are making up a guessed the cause of his indifference to herparty of whist "; or, " Captain Brien, if you self. Then followed some sly pumping of
are going on deck, have the kindness to tell Kate: " A very handsome man, this Mr.
Mr. McMaster that we ladies are quite McMaster."
alone in the cabin "; or, " Tom, you walk   "Do you think so, aunt? " replies the
so unsteadily that I should really be obliged girl, who really had not fixed opinions as to
if you would get Mr. McMaster to relieve the man's beauty, so little was her heart
you."                                   touched.  " He is so very tall!  Too tall."
Velvet glove, though hand of iron, you   Mrs. Chester, a veteran trickster, could
see; a domineering soul, but gracious lan- not see through one thing, and that was
guage. Indeed, it must not be guessed from  feminine sincerity. She inferred at once
any light-minded remarks of ours that Mrs. that, because Kate had questioned the genChester was either vulgar or stupid. On the tleman's handsomeness, therefore she did
contrary, she was a woman whom most of think him handsome. A good deal afraid of
us, if we should meet her in society, would such a fresh rival, and also remembering
treat with profound respect.  What with her chaperonic duty towards her niece, she
some force of character, considerable ex- immediately uttered the warning cluck, " I
perience in the ways of the world, and a wish we knew better who he is."
high and mighty family position, she was a   Kate, who did know who he was, and
figure of no little dignity. Only men of a who had been thinking about the offer of
seared character laughed at her, and they marriage and the family feud, was by this
only when by themselves. The laughter was time coloring sumptuously. New alarm  on
mainly about her fancy for young fellows the part of Mrs. Chester; the girl already
It was alnost a mania with her; it had in love with this stranger, it may be; there
grown upon her during her married life must be an avalanche of chaperonic diswith a husband twenty years her senior; couragement.
and now that she was a somewhat elderly   "We have n't the least knowledge of
widow, she was fairly possessed by it. him," she broke out, almost spitefully, for
There was always a youngster dangling at her temper was quick and not easily held
her apron-strings, held there by Heaven in rein.  "He is the most singularly unknows what mature female magic, and mak- communicative and even evasive person!
ing both himself and her more ridiculous I am half suspicious at times that we have
than should be.                          done wrong in encouraging his advances."
But our fr;end Mr. McAlister did not (PoorMcAlister! hehad madenone.) "We
love to dangle. He was not of the dangling may find that we have a - what do you
sort; modestly but intelligently conscious call it in English? - a commris voyageur on
of his own value; tolerably well aware, too, our hands. Of course travelling companthat he could not dangle gracefully; for ions can be got rid of. That is why I have
one thing, much too tall for it. Moreover, allowed him to play whist with us, and so
although his liking for Kate Beaumont was on. But even in travelling companions one
sufficient to make him try to like every one wants a little less mystery. "
who belonged to her, he could not fancy   " I thought you liked the mystery, aunt,"
Mrs. Chester. He discovered in the lady, remonstrated Kate, who, for some reason,
as he thought, a certain amount of hardness perhaps only an emotion, had not been
an(l falseness; and, gentle, sincere, frank quite pleased to hear Mr. McAlister called
almost to bluntness, he could not yearn a bagman.
after such a person. Besides, he was sore-   " O, I have been interested by it a little,"




KATE BEAUMONT.                                  17
admitted Mrs. Chester, who had indeed instant remembered him, and called, "Mr.
been greatly interested by it, having gone Duffy!"
so far as to suspect the youngster of' being a   He halted, his flat, doughy face coloring
German baron, and all because he read up to the eyes, and all his veins thrilling
High Dutch scientific books. " Yes, the with excitement, under the honor of being
mystery has been amusing. Anything to addressed by Mrs. Chester.
pass the time at sea. But we must be care-   " I am right, am I not? " asked the lady.
ful about him."                          " It is Mr. Duffy of Hartland? "
After a moment's meditation, she added   "Why, Mrs. Chester!" stammered the
with sincere eagerness: "I really wish we simple, modest man. " Just so. Mr. Duffy
knew something.  Tom gets nothing out of of Hartland.  Had the pleasure of sellhim; does n't try, I suppose. Has he never ing you goods now and then, ma'am," he
dropped a word to you, Kate, by which added, not being above his business and
you could guess him out."                wishing to show  an agreeable humility.
Mrs. Chester's eyes suddenly became "' How have you enjoyed your voyage, Mrs.
very sharp, and under them Kate colored Chester??"
again. The girl was grievously burdened   Before continuing the conversation, the
with her secret; not accustomed to have lady signed to him to take a chair beside
an idea of such magnitude about her; ac- her, sweetening and enforcing the invitation
quiring womanliness under the pressure, with a smile. Lifting his hat and leelincg as
but acquiring it painfully.              if he ought to remove the shoes from off his
" Why should he tell me anything?" feet, Duffy seated himself
she asked, fairly driven into a hateful   " The voyage has been fairly pleasant,"
equivocation by her relative's reconnois- resumed Mrs. Chester.  " A little lonely, I
sance.                                   must say, —such a small company! I should
Mrs. Chester was more or less informed have claimed your acquaintance before, Mr.
and infuriated. Evidently, as she decided, Duffy, if I had recognized you. Why did n't
this man had told Kate something about you speak to me?  Hartland people ought
himself: If he had done that, if he had felt not to be strangers, especially when theyfree or felt obliged to open his history to meet away from home."
the girl, it was because he was in a state to   " Beg  pardon," smirked  Duffy, quite,
open his heart to her. Engaged in love- abashed at his error. " Did n't feel exactly
skirmishes since her earliest teens, Mrs. sure you would recall me. You see, Mrs.
Chester was always on the alert for love- Chester, I never had the pleasure of speakskirmishes.  Although she kept her self- ing to you except across the counter, and
possession under her discovery, she in the that ain't always a claim."
depths of her soul bounded with excite-   "Ah, yes! we live so far from the town!"
ment. There were no more words on the said the lady, in sidelong apology for not
matter; frankness was almost impossible having invited the shopkeeper to the Beau —
with this woman, except in overpowering mont mansion.  But Duffy needed no such.
anger; but she resolved to keep a constant apology; he had never expected to be asked
eye on Kate,'and to ferret out Mr. Mc- into that "old-time" society; he felt himself
Master.                                  more than well treated in being spoken to,
An hour later, sittinog on deck alone (a once a year by Mrs. Chester.  Still, he was
spider prefes to watch in solitude), she ob- so far encouraged by this graciousness,
served Messrs. Duffy and Wilkins engaged that he ventured to cross his legs and thus
in muttered conversation, and discovered by put himself more at ease on the small of his
Duffy's nods and jerks of the elbow that the back.
talk referred to her man of mystery.  That   "Been on the  Continent, Mrs. Chesblathering Duffy! just the person to pump ter," he proceeded, slightly rubbing his
successfully!  She knew him well by sight hands.
as a " store-keeper" in Hartland; why had   "Ah, indeed? And how did you like the.
she been so awkwardly haughty as not to Continent? "
recognize him heretofore?  With the de-   "No. I have n't been there.  Beg your
tective instinct of woman, she fixed at once pardon. I meant your party."
upon Duffy as a subject for her catechism,   " O yes. A delightful tour. Andl have.
rather than upon the diplomatic-faced Wil- you only seen England? Really, Mr. Duffy;
kins.                                    you should hove given, a month or two to,
After a while her predestined victim  the Continent."
dropped away from his comrade, and saun-   "Could n't, Mrs. Chester. That's the
tered up and down the deck alone, hands in way with a business man;t he has to go,
pocket, fingering his small change, and cal- where he has to; always on his muscle -
culating his profits.  The second time that mean business.  I went over to look into
he passed her, Mrs. Chester leaned sudden- importing, and it took up every snip of time
ly forward in her chair, as if she had that that I could spare from home."
3




18                           KATE BEAUMONT.
"I am so sorry. However, I ought not I to catch her breath, bend her eyes to the
to regret it, except fobr your sake. Your deck with an expression of remembrance,
business is of the greatest consequence to and say in a quiet tone, " So it is Frank
Hartland. You men of enterprise are our McAlister. He has been called, I under- our main-stay. I hope, Mr. Duffy, that stand, Mr. McMaster," she presently added.
you met others of our townsmen abroad, en-    " Well, yes - McMaster - McAlister
gaged in profiting by the new line."   — some mistake perhaps," suggested the
"None that 1 know  of.  0, yes; Mr. gentle-minded Duffy.' May be, too, that
Wilkins here; but we went together."     he let it go so, not wishing to be unpleasant' And how few Hartland people we have to you. Beg pardon. You know the old
on the steamer," added Mrs. Chester, by difficulty. Excuse me for mentioning it.
way of closing this preliminary prattle and I fbrgot myself, Mrs. Chester."
gliding on to the subject of her man of   "No offence, Mr. Duffy," replied the
mystery. " Only you two gentlemen and lady, proud of the feud as of a family heirmy party."                              loom, unmistakably  aristocratic.  " The
"N-no, -  y-yes,"  stammered  Duffy, thing is a matter of public notoriety, I beglancing uneasily at McAlister, just then lieve."
pacing the midships, his lofty blond head    She changed the conversation; there was
plainly visible. Mrs. Chester had also seen some talk about the fine sights of London;
the young man there, and she now noted presently Duffy perceived that he had stayed
the merchant's singular glance towards long enough and went.
him.                                       "' I'll bet you one thing," whispered the
" Do you know  that gentleman? " she scoffing Wilkins when they were alone toasked, as quick as lightning and with telling gether. " You've been letting out everydirectness.                              thing to Mrs Chester."," N-no. Ah, yes. " That is. Let me see.   " No, sir," weakly replied the conscienceWhat is his name? " was the blundering re- stricken and abashed Duffy. " Hang me, if
sponse of the entangled Duffy.           I tell her anything of that," he tried to blusMrs. Chester would not help him; she ter. Then, under pretence of wanting a
might have suggested that the name was cigar, he went below in great bitterness of
McMaster, but she was too sly to do it; she spirit to get a drink, mentally cursing himhad guessed that Duffy knew something self, Wilkins, Mrs. Chester, and women
about the youngster, and she was resolved generally. "Bla-ast the women! " groaned
to make him tell it; if he would not, he the humble telltale.  "They always will
must do his own lying, without assistance bore things out of a feller."
from her.                                  But Duffy is of no account, and we must
" I see," she added.  "To tell the truth, lay him aside like a sucked orange, just obI have had my suspiciins all along.  Can't serving that the secret was worth nothing
you put me out of doubt? It would be quite in his bosom, while now it is where it may
a favor.'"                               bear fruit. It makes a difference with a coal
Duffy was scarlet; he looked about for of fire whether it is in a potato-bin or a
Wilkins; did n't see him and drew a long powder-magazine.
breath.                                    The nature and history of the quarrel be"That, Mrs. Chester," he began, leaning tween the Beaumonts and the McAlisters
forward and speaking in a whisper. "Well, will be told in due season. Just here it is
I've been wondering all the while you did n't only necessary to say that Mrs. Chester,
recognize him.  Thought perhaps you did. notwithstanding her twenty years of marCould n't tell what to m4ke of it. Why, riage, was what she called " Beaumont all
it's Frank, the youngest.  Been in Europe through," keeping up family prejudices and
eight years. Changed as much as ever I grudges with the family loyalty of a woman,
saw a teller."                           and, for instance, abominating the McAlis" Oh! " responded Mrs. Chester, who was ters as her father had abominated them bestill quite in the dark, not knowing much fore her.  A  sly and spiteful breed she
of the McAlisters. " So it's the youngest? thought thl m; people whose strength it
Frank?"                                was to strike when you were not looking;
"Yes.  And they do say he's the best people always ready to take a mean advanof the lot," continued the pacificatory Duffy, tage of the noble Beaumonts.  What could
anxious to prevent a " muss."  "I do sup- such a woman think when she learned that
pose, if there's a decent fellow on that hill, Frank McAlister, son of that old fox (as she
a fellow who don't want to make trouble for called him) Donald McAlister, had been
nobody, it's this same Frank McAlister."   palming himself upon her as a stranger,
At the word "' McAlister " Mrs. Chester accepting her pettings under a feigned name,
came very near bursting out with an amazed allowing her to pinch his arm (if she did
and excited " Oh! "  It cost her all her pinch it), and - well, and so on? A trick,
strength as a social gymnast to enable her she decided; a mean and dastardly trick;




KATE BEAUMONT.                                  19
perhaps a piece of espionage; perhaps a for old heads to conceive that young heads
studied insult. One or the other; it was have lost their pulpiness, until the junior
some one of these things; and whichever it craniums knock it into the senior ones by
was, it was an outrage.                  dint of well-directed and vigorous but"' I'11 teach him!" she muttered, as she ting.
remembered pretty phrases which she had   Late in the evening (no whist after tea
murmured to the young man, and suspected that day) Mrs. Chester's load of wrath behim of having laughed at them in his sleeve. cam'e so intolerable that she manfully re"Playing his jokes on a lady!" gurgled solved to bear it alone no longer. She sent
this vain, excitable, easily angered, and not for Tom to her state-room, saying to herself
so easily pacified woman. " An insult to that here was business for masculine muscle,
our whole race! " was another stinging re- and that it was high time for her nephew to
flection, envenomed by a family pride as show himself a chip of the old Beaumont
strong as corrosive sublimate.  People of timber.
average unsuspiciousness and mild temper   But the McAlister firebrand, notwithwill find it hard to imagine how entirely this standing that it had dropped into Mrs.
elderly baby looked at the offensive side of Chester's powder-magazine of a temper, was
the discovered deceit, and how suddenly prevented from producing an immediate exfurious she had become over it. Not a sup- plosion by a deluge of still more tremendous
position crossed her mind that McAlister intelligence.
had meant no harm, or had meant only   When the nephew presented himself, he
good.  She instantaneously imputed hos- looked surprisingly sober for the time of day,
tility to him, and in return she was in- and evidently had something very serious
stantaneously hostile.                   on his mind.
Well, what to do about it? Cut the man,   " Tom, come in and shut the door," began
of course; but that was not enough for good Mrs. Chester. " I have something very imold Beaumont hate, inflamed by a new  portant to tell you."
wrong; he must be visited with a more effi-   "Yes, and, by Jove, and I've got somecacious punishment.  Revenge, however, thing to tell you, and, by Jove, I may as
was easier to wish for than to devise, even well tell it," responded the youngster.
with spiteful Marian Beaumont Chester, the   "What is it?" asked the lady, suspecting
cause heretofore of more than one quarrel that her secret was out, and half disappointbetween man and man.  To be sure, if she ed at not being the first to publish it.
should tell her harum-scarum nephew what   "The ship is on fire," said Tom. " Yes,
had happened, he was just the youngster by Jove, on fire, as sure as you're born.
to take a pint of whiskey aboard, break Yes, it is."
out copiously in profane language, make
a scandal at all events, and pick a fight,
perhaps. But Tom, adroit and audacious
as he was in squabbles, did not seem to              CHAPTER V.
her a match for this cool-headed giant.
Furthermore, Mrs. Chester remembered that   THE news that the Mersey was on fire
all the responsibility of an immediate dis- drove the McAlister affair as clean out of
agreement would rest upon her, and did not Mrs. Chester's head as a cannon-ball could
find herself quite willing to shoulder it alone. have done.
Had the whole family been here, had there   That was Mrs. Chester; capable of emobeen some weighty soul at hand to set her tions as fiery as ignited gunpowder; but
on, or even to hold her back, how promptly capable of holding only one charge at a
and loudly would her voice have been raised time. Moreover, there was a certain refor war  As it was, responsibility, man's stricted sense in which this worldly and
special burden, how should she shoulder it? spunky woman was naturally religious. I
Not a word did she whisper to her niece, do not say that she was satisfactorily denor had she a thought of consulting her. vout; nor do I undertake to remember
So simply and single-mindedly angry was whether she was or was not a church comshe, that she had actually forgotten her sus- municant; my whole statement amounts to
picion that Kate knew or guessed who this this, that she believed heartily in the other
man was, as well as her other suspicion that world, and was afraid of it. Not that she
there was some small matter of heart intelli- thought of it profitably or often; she only
gence between the two. She merely re- trembled at it when it seemed near. If she
membered the girl as a child, quite inca- was possessed of a devil, as some of her
pable of feeling or deciding properly concern- enemies and some even of her relatives
ing such a grave situation as this, and no asserted, it must have been that devil who,
more to be consulted as to the family honor when he was sick, a monk would be.
than if she were still a denizen of cradles   For the present the secret of the incognito
and trundle-beds. It is generally difficult was not divulged, and Tom Beaumont was




20                           KATE BEAUMONT.
not st'boyed at the foe of his family. In could to the lumbered hatchway, tried to
fact, not ten minutes had elapsed before peer through the boiling whirls of smoke,
Mrs. Chester, having flown to the captain came back to the anxious ladies, and refor consolatory assurances, and got nothing ported -nothing. Tom Beaumont, by this
which satisfied her, was looking up into the time as tipsy as Duffy, and much more
grave, calm, benignant face of Frank Mc- noisy in his liquor, was back and forth conAlister, and asking of it news of life or tinually, talking unreportable nonsense.
death.                                     "0, why can't you find out something,
"I believe," said the deep, mellow voice some of you? " was the cry of the angered
of the young man, "that the fire has been and terrified Mrs. Chester. " Where is that
discovered in the hold; or, rather, it has Captain Brien? I want him to come here
been suspected there. Investigations are go- and tell me what is the matter. I want to
ing on now which will let us know whether give him a piece of my mind. How dare
there is any real cause for alarm.  If there he load his ship with combustibles!  He
is fire, it is in the cargo; probably a case has n't heard the last of this. Not if he
of spontaneous combustion; badly stored gets us ashore, he has n't heard the last of
chemicals, it may be."                  it. I'11 follow him up. I'll ruin him."
"What a shame! " burst forth Mrs.   "Cap'n Brien'sh all right," declared
Chester, trembling with anger as well as Tom. " Cap'n Brien'sh a gentleman. He's
fear. " Whoever put such things on board up there, workin' like a beaver. Don't y'
ought to be hung."                       hear him holler?"  Here a ludicrous idea
"They are not mine," he observed, in struck the young gentleman, and he reanswer to her sudden glare of accusation. peated with an exasperating smile, "Nigger
"Indeed, I don't know as yet that there is in a wood-pile, don't y' hear him holler?"
anything of the kind below. Only, it seems   "Tom! " implored Kate Beaumont, who
likely.  Otherwise, how  account for the seemed even more moved by her brother's
fire?" added this investigator.         condition than by the common danger.
" I shall go and see what is there," she   " O yes, - all right," laughed the youngcried, making a rush in her dressing-gown ster. " Got little too much aboard.  Go
towards the stairway.                    on deck again'n' cool off. All right pretty
"It is of no use, madam," ventured Mr. soon."
Wilkins, who had just come below. " Can't   " O, what a miserable set  " gasped Mrs.
get near the place.  They're taking out Chester, stamping with impatience. "Is
cargo, and the deck is all littered up; the there no clergyman on board? I never will
Devil's own mess —beg pardon. Nothing go to sea again without a clergyman on
to be seen but smoke coming out of the board. Is there nobody here who can pray?
hatchway. I don't see, by Jehu, how'those I would give all I'm worth for a prayersailors can stand it down there. 0, I s'pose meeting. I wish I had brought old Miriam.
it'll all come out right," he concluded, see- She could pray for us."
ing the terror of Mrs. Chester.            She glared around upon the men, angry
At this moment Duffy arrived, wyith an that none of them could pray for her. Kate
air of bringing a glass or two of grog to the Beaumont turned away gravely, walked
rescue, inside his jacket.               with bended head to her state-room  and
" The Spouter! " he said, apparently con- closed the door upon herself. Was it to
tinuing A conversation with Wilkins.  "I lift a supplication to Heaven for deliverance,
say, Bill Wilkins, the Spouter'd cool her or for resignation?  McAlister hoped so,
off in no time."                         believed so with inexpressible tenderness
"What is the Spouter?" eagerly asked of spirit, and sent his soul after her.
-Mrs. Chester.                             " I think we had better make some prep" Our fire-engine, Mrs. Chester.  Hart- arations," he presently said to Mrs. Chesland fire-engine. I'm cap'n of the comp'ny. ter, as she paced the cabin with clasped'Member, Mrs. Chester, how  Hutch Hol- hands and lifted eyes. " The coast cannot
land's store got fire,'n' we put the m'chine be far off. We may reach it in boats, if it
at it?  Had the m'chine out'n' on the spot comes to that. May 1' advise you to make
in five minutes. Took up posish at the up a little package of such things as you
corner -"                               must save, and to tell Miss Beaumont to do
Mrs. Chester, totally uninterested in the the same? I hope it will not be so bad as
prowess of the Spouter, since it could not that. But we had best prepare."
bel-) her, turned her back impatiently on   Mrs. Chester gave him a stare, and then
the fsomewhat tipsy Duffy, while Wilk;ns hurried to her room. The young man had
grasped him by the arm and led him  to decided that, as for himself, he was ready;
the other end of the cabin, saying, "Here, he wanted nothing but his overcoat and the
tell me about it."                      life-preserver which hung over his berth;
Serious hours passed. Now and then a it was folly to think of cumbering a boat
man went on deck, crawled as near as he with books and baggage. He now fell to




KATE' BEAUMONT.                                21
pacing the cabin quietly; and in so doing smirking slightly, notwithstanding a gloomy
he approached the group of Wilkins and under-thought about the fire in the hold;
Duffy.                                  and McAlister surveying him gravely, re" I say," called Duffy, looking up with a flecting on what he had said, rather than
fixed, absurd smile, and striking his fist noticing how he said it.
hospitably on the table in front of him.   "Well, what was I driving at?" resumed
" Take seat, Mr. Mc - McAlister.  Know  Duffy.  "What was it, Biil Wilkins'?
you. Knew you ten days ago. Sit down Did n't stop with Hutch Holland's burnover there. Talk about Hartland."      out. Told ye that before."
" O you drunken blatherskitel " growled   " I should think so," growled Wilkins.
the disgusted Wilkins, pushing away as if " Forty times. Full load every haul."
to rise from the table.                   "O, I know - petrolem  down there,"
"Hold on, Bill Wilkins," said Duffy, continued Duffy, jerking his head toward
grasping his friend tightly. " Mr. Wilkins, the forward part of the ship. " That's the
Mr. Mc- McAlister. Both Hartland men. reason water won't catch hold. Want sand.
Talking about Hartland."               Won't bring about anything till we get
"Beg your pardon, sir," muttered Wil- some sand. An' where's sand? Bottom
kins, addressing McAlister. " He's always of the ocean. Bound to bust - that's what
that way when he takes a spoonful. He's the matter- settled to bust —bet yer
has n't had but two glasses under him, and pile on't. Let's have some more whiskey.
here he is higher than any other man would I'11 go'n' hunt the steward."
be on a quart."                           As he rose, Wilkins caught him by the
"Only two glasses," declared Duffy, try- arm and jerked him down again, more efing to look sober. " Not tight. Just trying fectually than tenderly.
to cheer the - the occasion. You see, Mr.   "No, no, Duffy! We don't want any.
McAlister -"                            And you're drunk enough for the whole
Wilkins squinted a look of apology to- ship's company."
wards the young gentleman.                "But Mr. McAlister wants whiskey,"
"Never mind," muttered  the  latter. insisted Duffy. "Let go of me, Bill Wil"Disguise is probably of no importance kins."
now. I had my reasons."                  "Nothing for me," objected McAlister,
"Certainly," nodde4 Wilkins; while the raising his voice a little, and awing the
eager and smiling Duffy, who had not no- fuddled man into his seat.
ticed this aside, went on with his babble.  "Well, all right, then," assented Duffy.
" You see - talking of Hartland -'mem- " If you say so, that settles it. I only drink
ber the fire there four years ago?  0, you myself on these occasions. Wilkins here
was n't there, excuse me. Hutch Holland's ought to take some.  Ie's scared, Wilkins
store.'Member me - Duffy- keep store is, I say, Wilkins, ain't you scared? "
there - right opposite Wilkins?  Cap'n of   "Yes, by Jehu, I am," confessed Wilkins.
the fire-engine.  Spouter! Had her out "I wish to gracious I was ashore."
in five minutes. Hose busted. Took out a   "Want to live, don't you, Wilkins?"
length. Busted again. Took out'nother continued Duffy, still keeping up his fixed,
length. Rammed her close up to the ole silly smile. "Find it pleasant world, don't
shanty.  Let drive into the cellar —ten you, Wilkins?  Like to catch'nother hold
tons of cold water - cleaned cistern all out. on't? "
Well, could n't stop the blasted thing.   "Yes, I'd take a contract to live five
Why?  Well, here't is - petrolem afire-  hundred years," said the frank Wilkins, not
don't ye see? Filled the cellar full of water, apparently a frightened man, either. "I'n' higted the pe-tro-le-um," slowly this time, like it. I've had a good time here. I don't
resolved to pronounce it. "Went on blaz- feel sure that I shall ever be let into another
ing'n' ripping'n' roaring just the same. world that'11 be so pleasant to me. I'd
Floated — rose to the top,'n' burnt like take a contract f r five hundred years, and
fury — did n't care how much water there after that I believe I'd be willing to take
was. More water the better. How should another."
I know?  Nobody said petrolem — pe-tro-   "An' be shipwrecked!" asked Duffy,
le-um, hang it! If I'd known'bout petro-. still simpering.
lem, I'd'a' pitched in sand,'n' smothered   " Yes, and b" shipwrecked."
it. But water! kept me slinging water on   "An' fail, Wilkins?  Bust up'n' fail,
to petrolem. Would n't stay on it. Petro- now'n' then?"
lem  rose to the surface'n' burnt right' Yes, throw in as many failures as you
straight along. Caught the floor at last, like, and all sorts of other bothers."'n' sailed up like sky-rocket. That's the   "Well, Wilkins," said Duffy, speaking
way the ole shanty went. None of my fault. with extreme gravity, as if he were really
Nobody said petrolem - pe-tro-le-um."   called on to decide something, - "well,
He paused a moment; his friend Wilkins Wilkins, don't know but I'gree with you."




22                           KATE BEAUMONT.
"Wilkins would n't like it in Heaven,"   "What! not out?" exclaimed Wilkins.
he added, turning to McAlister. "Not a   "Confound it, no!" in a growl of wrath'ligious man. Now, I'm'ligious; had ad- and impatience.
vantages. But Wilkins, let him  have his   " Captain," said McAlister, in his calmly
own way,'n' Wilkins would n't go to authoritative way, "it seems to me that
Heaven, -- not till all the other places was in such a state of things you had better
shut up."                                tell the passengers plainly what to look
At this moment Tom Beaumont slid like for. It may save a panic when the crisis
an avalanche into the cabin, got up with comes."
much rubbing of his back, berated the brass   " Well, the case is just here," returned
edges of the stairs, and began to beat the captain, slowly and sadly. "We can't
aft.                                    get at the fire. It's low down in the hold,
"'Another of'em!" muttered Wilkins. and yet water won't flood it. Can't unload
" By Jehu, here's what's a going. I can't enough to reach the spot. No man can stay
stand so much blathering when I'm  sober below a half-minute.  [ don't know  what
myself."                                 the deuce is burning down there. It sends
Leaning forward, he whispered in Duffy's up a smoke that no human being can face.
ear, "Shut up about that name, will you, It's chemicals, or some kind of oil, and yet
now?"                                   there's nothing of the sort on the freight"Name? O yes,McAlister. Keep shady. bill. Well, if it's oil, water will only do
Secret of a gentleman, - word of a gentle- harm; raise the stuff, you see, and set the
man, I mean."                            deck afire; then we're gone. What I've
And as Tom approached the table, Wil- done is to batten down the hatches, to
kins and McAlister left it together, proceed- keep out the air and smother the flame.
ing towards the deck.                    If only the stuff will burn out without catch" Those two fools!" muttered Wilkins. ing the ship! We're heading now for the
"' They'11 get water enough in their rum, by nearest land."
Jehu, if they're not looked after. They'll11   "Shove her right along and run her high
be so drunk they could n't jump into a boat and dry," assented Wilkins, cheeringly.
if it was as big as a continent. Hope you'll   " That's all that can be done," groaned
excuse Duffy, sir. He's not that way often. the captain.
It only takes a thimbleful to capsize him.   "How  far to land? " queried McAlisGood, peaceable, well-meaning fellow. Don't ter.
know a better intentioned man.  I like   " About three hundred miles. The boat
him, though he is a doughhead, especially is going her very prettiest. If we can only
when he's tight."                       keep in her twenty-four hours! "
Meeting the steward, he whispered hur-  "Had you not better say all this below?"
riedly: "Look here. Close up your gin insisted McAlister. "Passengers will take
palace, and lose the key. Some people on a captain's word for everything."
board have crowded themselves too full   "I'11 come down. But my God! is n't
already. Lose the key right square off."  it horrible! First ship I ever lost, gentle"' You don't seem to be alarmed out of men'; and I fifty-five! By heavens, I'd
your wits," said McAlister.              rather have died than seen this day. I hate
"' O, I can stand this sort of thing so so. to face those women.  There's that girl.
I've had adventures before now. Still I I had a daughter once. I hate to meet that
was honest in what I said to Duffy; I don't girl."
mean to die as long as I can help it; don't   And Captain Brien, all bluster and humwant to die a particle. Hang me if I see bug swept out of him, wiped away honest
anything gay in it."                    tears of misery.
On deck they perceived, by the light of   "By Jehu, yes, we must save that girl,"
the stars and a deck-lamp or two, that no struck in Wilkins, energetically.
more smoke was curdling up from  the   " Yes!" said McAlister with solemnity.
hatchway.  The captain, too, instead of   A few minutes later, the dozen or so of
being forward superintending the struggle passengers were gathered in silence about
with the fire, was standing near the helms- the captain in the cabin. He told his story,
man, looking now at a chart and now at the much as he had told it on deck, and then
compass.                                 added, in a business-like way, as if he were
"All out, Captain?" asked McAlister, issuing directions for an ordinary disemdrawing a deep breath of relief.  "Shall I barkation: "Now for your duty. Make up
tell the ladies? "                      your little packets for the boats. Get some
Raising his heavy-lided eyes, red and ship-bread about you. And then keep cool
watery from the effects of the smoke into and stand by. When I want you, I'11 call
which they had been peering, the skipper for you. I'm very sorry, ladies and gentlegave his two passengers a sullen, noncom- men. It's not my fault. I did n't stow
mittal stare.                           the ship. That's all."




KATE BEAUMONT.                                 23
And, glad to get out of it, glad to escape and the engines kept each other hard at
from those blank faces which all seemed to work.  So far as McAlister could judge
reproach him, the captain slowly wheeled (andhe was not, of course, easy to please
his short, solid body towards the stairway, in the matter), everything was being done
to go on deck and resume his sleepless that could be done.
watch.                                    " How goes it?" he asked, meeting the
" O you wretch! " Mrs. Chester burst out skipper in one of his trottings back and
in a tremulous scream. )' O you worthless, forth between the engine and the wheel.
villanous — "                             "Beautiful!"  The captain was almost
"Hush, Aunt, hush!" begged Kate Beau- gay, his doomed boat was running so gamemont, seizing her elder relative around the ly.'"That engine is charming. It's like
waist, and trying to draw her towards her a young lady dancing. Fourteen knots!
state-room.                             Never saw the beat of it in a boat of this
"What'sthat? What's the row?" called size. Is n't it too hard!" he exclaimed,
Tom  Beaumont, now  half crazed with striking his clubs of fists together and
liquor. "Who's a fightin'? Who wants to stamping his fat feet, as short and broad as
fight?  Let me in."                    a bear's paws. " Here's this little angel of'Never mind," whispered Wilkins, hurry- a boat gone to smash! And all for some
ing the captain towards the stairs. "The blasted cargo- the Davy Jones knows
woman's hysterical, and the boy's drunk. what - that ought n't to have been shipped,
You get on deck, captain. It's all right."   would n't have been if I'd done the stowTom meanwhile has rushed up to Kate, ing. 0 - by - jimmy!"
his face full of maudlin affection, and his   And, lowering his head like an angry
right hand under his coat skirt. " Anybody bull, the captain butted on toward the
insulted you? say, sis? "             helmsman.
" No, Tom," cried the girl, full of shame   Going below and traversing the cabin,
and terror. " O, do try to be quiet! " And McAlister overheard Tom Beaumont snorhere she burst into tears.              ing whole nightmares in his state-room, and
Wilkins ran back, caught the young Mrs. Chester either whimpering or scolding
lunatic by the elbow, and walked him aft in hers. As he passed the door of the latwith a confidential air, whispering, " Tell ter, Kate Beaumont came out and began
you all about it.  It's nothing but your walking backward and forwards, apparently
aunt's got the hysterics."              without noticing him. He looked over his
"' 0, thaht's it? " drawled Tom, falling shoulder pitifully at the pallor of the girlish
back from him to the length of his. arm, face.
and staring with head on one side. " Let   "Miss Beaumont," he thought he might
her have'em! "                         say, " may I walk with you?"
"Yes, that's it. But we must get to   She took his arm mechanically, and preswork. Make your little bundles for the ently she raised her eyes to him, as if sudboats. There," pushing him coaxingly on denly remembering who he was and what
to a settee; "you lie down out of the way, had passed between them. Well, it was no
won't you?  Let me strap up your duds. time for family feuds; it was no occasion
Want your overcoat? "                   for nice delicacy in choosing one's companAnd so on,- the adroit and self-pos- ions; she continued to walk by his side and
sessed Wilkins! - thoroughly accustomed lean upon him.
to bummers! In three minutes the wretched   "I trust and believe this will end well,"
youngster was asleep, leaving Wilkins at he said, longing to cheer her.
liberty to make his preparations for him,   "You are very kind," she replied. "I
and then to go about his own.           am  afraid I have not treated you well,
All the crew were up all night getting Mr.- Mr. McMaster. I don't know. If I
ready to quit the ship at a moment's notice. have done wrong, I beg your pardon."
There were men enough to manage four' You have done everything right. I
large boats; and these boats were sufficient shall always respect you."
to carry thrice as many passengers as there   There seemed to be some comfort in this;
were, with stores sufficient for a fortnight's of course not comfort enough for the hour.
voyage; so that, barring accident or ternm-   "You are bearing this bravely," he went
pest, there was every probability of getting on, admiring her even then.
all hands safely to land. Kegs of water,   "I could bear it, if I only had' help."
boxes of hard-bread, cases of preserved Anid the girl, only eighteen, remember,
meats, etc., were ranged along the deck, sobbed. "Mr. McAlister, I want to ask
ready for embarkation.  Captain Brien's one thing of you. We two women will be
variegated face gleamed and reddened every cared for. But who will care for my brothfew minutes in the light of the binnacle er?  Will- will you?"
lamp, or in the glow which poured out of1 "I pledge myself to it! "
the doors of the furnace-room. The firemen   " O how good you are!"  It was no time




24                           KATE BEAUMONT.
to reflect that she was placing herself under   "I'm going for that steward," resumed
deep obligations to a man who had asked her Duffy, after a minute more of dolorous medhand in marriage. It is probable that, un- itation. " I can't stand this sort of thing
der the terrible circumstances of the crisis, without a drink."
she did not think of it. Standing on the   "No use," said Wilkins. "They always
verge of the other world, this world's entan- lose the key of the spirit-room at such times.
glements were very vague.              It's a thing that happens constant.  Hc
" Could not you and I," he asked, " when won't find it for you. 0, come back! Look
we get home, put an end to this feud? "    here I've got a little drop myself; there,
"I don't know. It might be. I will try," turn up that flask."
she replied, with a feeling as if she were   "There's water in it," declared Duffy
talking in a dream.                    indignantly, after a long taste. "What the
" Let us pledge ourselves here to try," he old boy did you go and put water in it for,
begged. " Will you do it?"            Bill Wilkins?"
"Yes," she promised.                    " Well, it was wrong, I know," grinned
"And I," he added.                   Wilkins, who had " thinned out" his whisThen he insisted upon her lying down on key of a set purpose and for Duffy's good.
one of the long settees of the cabin. " We "Wrong as a general thing. Wrong in
may have a hard day to-morrow," he said, principle. But never mind. It won't be
"' and you must endeavor now to sleep. I the water part of it that'11 hurt you. There,
will keep watch."                      that'll do; hand over."
In such style passed the remainder of the   Seeing Tom Beaumont come on deck,
night on board the slowly consuming Mer- Wilkins snatched the flask from the sucking
sey.                                   Duffy and hid it in his breast-pocket.
The youngster had slept all night, taken
a late but hearty breakfkst, and was now
perfectly sober.
CHAPTER VI.                   " How are you, gentlemen?" he nodded,
in his free-and-easy, though graceful and
ALL next day the tame demon of fire and not uncourteous way. " Not up all night, I
the wild demon of fire struggled with each hope. By Jove, I used my time; slept from
other for the Mersey. The engines never one end to t' other."
relaxed the vehement jog of their highest   "I think an eternity of sleep, yes, or an
speed; and the conflagration below never eternity of cat naps, would be right pleasceased its muttering, lapping, and gnawing. ant," said Wilkins.
"We're running for land like a man   " I'd go in for it," muttered Duffy, " unthat's snake-bit running for a whiskey- der the circumstances."
mill," observed Wilkins, squinting with half-   " How are things? " asked Tom.
closed, calculating eyes at the racing bub-   "Pretty hot amidships," was Duffy's bland
bles alongside.                        reply. Feeling his whiskey a little, Duffy;
"' By George, I wish I could run for a not so scared as he had been a minute bewhiskey-mill," softly grumbled Duffy, who, fore.
having got sober overnight, was now in   "The doose!" growled Tom. "I undersustained low spirits. " Pretty time to close stood down below that we would make land,
bar. Now's just the chance to hand round sure. Hot, is it? By Jove, if the thing
something cheering."                   breaks through, we've got, by Jove, to wade
"Lord bless you, man I you don't want into the boats and make a long pull of it."
to go off by spontaneous combustion, do   " That's so," assented Duffy, gathering
you?  You'11 catch fire soon enough and courage every-minute, as the liquor climbs
stay alight long enough, without troubling higher in his tottlish head.
yourself to kindle up."                   " Two hundred miles to skip yet; take us
Wilkins seemed to be joking, but he about sixteen hours. That fetches us ashore
was not; he had a way of saying his most somewhere near midnight. But, if we have
serious things in this jester fashion; he was to paddle, Davy Jones knows when we'11 get
at this moment sincerely anxious to keep there."
his friend from getting drunk and being   " H-11!" is the compendious comment
drowned; nor was he at all unmindful of the of Tom Beaumont, not frightened in the
gravity of his own danger.             strict sense of the word, but realizing the
"I don't want to get corned, no such situation.
thing," insisted Duffy. " I was n't upset  In talk more or less like this, in occasional
last night, though you thought I was. I can investigations as to the growing heat of the
tell you everything I said."            deck, in inquiries concerning the working
" Lord!  don't!"  implored   Wilkins. of the furnace and the speed of the ship,
"Hutch Holland's store. Petroleum  and and in much impatient walking or gloomy
sand. Know it all by heart."           smoking, these gentlemen pass the day. We




KATE BEAUMONT.                                 25
must however add, to the credit of Tom  are brethren. Besides, I had placed myself
Beaumont, that he runs below every hour at your disposal."
or two, to sav a word of cheer to his aunt   She did not answer this last phrase, nor
or sister.  The dissipated youngster is did she even color over it. In her trouble
brave beyond question, and not altogether she perhaps did not hear it, or had for the
lacking in the finer emotions.          moment forgotten his offer of marriage.
" I do hope, Tom," says Kate, taking him  The consequence of her silence was that he
by the arms and looking him sadly in the believed he had done wrong in alluding to
eyes, -" I do hope you won't drink one the offer; and the consequence of this was,
drop to-day.  You took altogether too that he wished to make reparation for his
much last night.  You made me ashamed fault by thinking only of her comfort and
and frightened.  I thought, what if you safety.
should die in that state I And what help   "Have you finished your preparations?"
could ybu have been to us? "            he asked.
" By Jove, sis, don't! " begs Tom, trying   " I have a little packet. I believe there
to laugh, but wilting a little. " It was n't is nothing more to do."
the correct thing; no, by Jove, it was n't;   "How  admirably brave you are!" he
and I beg your pardon, do, indeed. You said, as he had said once before.
see I was surprised into it, this thing com-   "0 no I  I am very anxious. I would
ing on so sudden. All right to-day; not give —O, what wouldn't I give —to be
the first drop. In fact, can't find it. Stew- ashore."
ard got his wits about him and lost the key.   " And yet you govern yourself! "he obBy Jove, I came near giving him  a welt; served, wanting to kneel down and kiss her
but he's right, and I know it; gave him a hand. " But you need more rest. Let me
dollar. Told him to hold on to his old key beg you to try to sleep as much as possible
till I was ashore. If I'm to drown, it's this morning. The day is better than the
more like a gentleman to drown sober. Go- night for that. We can see the extent of
ing down drunk all very well for common our danger best by day, and you can be got to
sailors. But our sort can look the thing the boats the easier if it should be necessary."
square in the face. 0, don't you be anx-   "I will lie down in the saloon," she reious. You are not in danger. Every man plied, after having made one step toward
on board is going t: devote himself to sav- her state-room. The twin room was occuing you. I'll save you myself, by Jove, pied by Mrs. Chester; and that lady's voice
without any help. As for Aunt, there, that's could be heard steadily reading the Scriptdifferent. I'm glad, by Jove, the old lady ures, for she was in such a fright that she
is getting a scare."                    did not care if all the world knew it; re" O Tom! "                            solved, at all events, that Heaven should
"Yes, I am. Hope it'11 do her good know it.
about the region of the temper.  What' Such was the life above and below on
keeps her so still?   Reading her Bible, board the unlucky Mersey, as she made her
hey?  Time she did.'T ain't often she desperate rush shoreward.  All day there
makes eyes at the patriarchs. Reckon she was a dreary watching and waiting; at
must have forgotten where to look for times hope predominant, as if by infection,
them."                                 and every one expecting a safe deliverance;
"Tom, stop!  Our aunt is our aunt. tlhen again a sorrowful, paralyzing chill setYou must not say such things about her, tling upon every spirit. The captain, who
and I must not hear them."             knew the situation best, and, like a wise of"By Jove, sis, you'd go straight to ficer, knew  more than he told, chiefly
heaven, would n't you?"  exclaims the dreaded two dangers. The fire might burn
harum-scarum boy, staring at Kate in a kind through the wooden sheathing, melt the
of worshipping wonder.                  copper, and let in a flood of water which
A few minutes later the girl met Frank would sink the steamer in a few minutes.
McAlister, and said to him hastily and with Or the vessel, driving headlong toward a
a touching shame:  "I need not ask of you shore little frequented except by wrecks,
to-day what I did last night. My brother and of which he knew nothing except by
is capable of taking care of himself. You his charts, might strike some hidden rock
must take care of yourself. I thank you." or sandbar, and go to pieces far from land.
" I shall still have an eye to you all," he No tilne was there for soundings; death,
replied. "I shall do what I can," he added snarling and te.aring below, was creeping
soberly, remembering how little it might nearer every moment; the hot breath of
be.                                    the imprisoned tiger was stealing thicker
"I don't know how I could have asked and thicker through the seams of the planksuch a thing of you," she went on, her mind ing; the risk that there was in delay
reverting to the feud between the families.  seemed greater than the risk that there was
"In such times as this all human beings in speed.
4




26                           KATE BEAUMONT.
Still, the bright morning passed safely; had come at last, as death always comes,
then a humid afternoon, full of sailing mists with paralyzing suddenness. Who could tell
and shadows, came and went; and at last whether the now untended boiler would not
the Mersey was plunging over the sombre explode? Who could tell how soon the wawaters of a starless evening. All this while ter which was pouring in below would sink
the wind held fair, balmy, and moderate, the vessel?  Every one felt that there was
and the sea not too high for boats to be no time to spare; nearly every one was
launched and to live.                    wildly bent on saving himself]
Eight bells in the evening; there were   Below decks the scene was different.
already high hopes on board the vessel; The change in the vessel's movement had
the lookout aloft was straining his eyes to at first been imperceptible, and, even when
catch an outline or a light; the captain, noticed, did not for a minute or two create
wearied to death, but constantly on deck, terror. Kate Beaumont went up to Frank
was rubbing his hands with a little air of McAlister with a face which expressed only
cheeriness.  At this moment there came a slight wonder, mingled perhaps wiih a
a change; there was a different feeling un- little hope, and said, " What is it? "
der the feet; people thought, without saying   " I beg pardon," he replied, starting up
so, " What is the matter"                from a doze on one of the settees, " 1 did
At first insensibly, but in a very short not observe anything."
time quite obviously, there was a diminu-   "I - don't-know,",he murmured, listion of elasticity and a slowing of speed. tening  attentively between  her words.
Some of the passengers below had a sensa- " Something - singular."
tion as if the ship were in port and coming   Just then Mrs. Chester appeared, dropquietly to dock. Others, who were on deck ping her Bible at the door of the state-room,
and could see no cause for this singular and running toward them joyfully.
change, thought with sudden terror of the   " We are there! " she laughed. " O, I
calmness of death stealing upon the convul- knew it. I knew we should be saved. This
sions of a man in delirium.              horrible voyage! Ths horrible, horrible
"What's all this?" called'Wilkins, as voyage! over at last  O Kate, I am so
Brien ran by him towards the waist. The happy! "
captain  stumbled  on without answering,   The gladness of supposed escape had
and the passenger hurriedly followed him, made a child of her; she was laughing
suspecting, with an awful sinking of the aloud, and ready tc dance, with her groundheart, that the end had come. Amidships less elation.
they were met by men - stokers and en-   " O, to think it is over!" she prattled.
gineers- rushing up out of the engine- "What a horrible thing it would have been
room, some uttering curses, and others inar- to drown at sea! Or to burn' " she added,
ticulate cries of terror, while one, recogniz- with a shudder. " O, that was the worst.
ing his officer, said sharply, " Water around But it is all over. VWe are coming into
the furnace! "                           port. How can we praise Captain Brien
"Sure?" screamed the captain.  Yes, enough!  The dear, good man!  I could
there was no doubt of it; a strange hissing, kiss him, black and blue and brown as he
a new noise on board the steamer, sent up is. He has managed things so admirably!
its horrible confirmation; it was certain that Really, if women might do such things, I
the fire had let in the ocean, and that the am in a fit state to propo e to him. -- Not
two were fighting below for the mastery. It talk so, Kate?  Why not;?  What a prim,
was a frightful struggle of the two giant ele- cold little piece you are! Such escapes
ments as to which should destroy the crea- don't come once in a lifetime; no, thank
tion of man's industry and exterminate the Heaven! not once in a lifetime. I own it.
creator.  The menagerie of natural forces I am half crazy with joy. What is that? "
had risen upon their tamer. The demons   The panic above had by this time broken
were in full and triumphant insurrection.   out in a clamor which could not well be
Meantime confused sounds of terror rang misunderstood. The startled woman turned
all over the dark decks; the panic reached short and stared anxiously at McAlister,
below, too, and passengers ran up, shouting who had delicately withdrawn to a little
to know their fate.                      distance.
" Sound the pumps," called the captain;   " Go on deck and see I " she ordered, forand presently a voice answered, " Three getting who he was.  "Go on deck and
feet in the hold, sir."                 find out where we are. 0, if I am mis" Pump away, men," was the next order; taken!" she added, as he vanished. "It
and the thud and rattle of the pumps con- can't be. I won't have it. 0, why don't
tinued. Then pealed another voice," Look they stop that horrible trampling and shoutout for an explosion," followed by a tramp- ing? Let me alone, Kate. I will go up
ling of feet rushing towards the boats. The there. I must see."
ultimate peril, long as it had ben expected,   McAlister returned, running  down the




KATE BEAUMONT.                                   27
cabin stairs, very orave and a little pale. the waist had suddenly started and curled
Mrs. Chester extended her hands toward up, and the smouldering hell within the
him with an agonized gesture of entreaty.  hull, finding vent at last, sent up tongues of
"Don't tell me I " she shivered. In the flame, licking at its prey like a boa. The
next breath she screamed, " O, what is the motion forward had ceased, and the ship,
matter? "                               settling in a manner sensible to every one,
- " Get ready as quickly as possible," said wallowed with a sickly feeling among the
the young man. " We must go ashore in waves.  Its doom from the fire was imthe boats."                              minent; but its doom from the ocean was
"The ship is sinking," wailed Mrs. Ches- still more threatening. The panic-mad sailter. " 0, 1 feel it I That worthless, villa- ors and stokers had gathered around the
nous captain! "                          starboard boat and were preparing t-) send
" Don't," begged Kate. " Do be calm. 0, her down the side, some already crowding
what shall we do? "                      into her, and others loosening the falls. It
McAlister took the girl under his arm  was a lamentable and shameful exhibition
and hurried her toward the stairway, follow- of cowardice, selfishness, and cruelty. It
ing Mrs. Chester, who was already rushing would not be easy to cite a worse case.
thither. In the confusion and hurry of the   "We can't go with th6se drunkards,"
crisis all the little packets, as well as the cried the captain. "They would capsize
life-preservers, were forgotten in the state- us."
rooms.                                     He was addressing McAlister and Tom
Meanwhile matters had been made nearly Beaumount, who had brought up Mrs. Chesd sperate on deck by the misbehavior of the ter and Kate from below, and were taking
crew. A portion, at least, of the sailors them forward to the waist. Every one on
and firemen had, it seems, got at the spirit- deck, it must be understood, was now perroomz during the day and supplied them- fectly recognizable in the light of the hissselves with whiskey. Several were more ing  explosions of flame which shot up
or less intoxicated; moreover, they could from the volcano below, only from time to
be seen taking bottles out of their pockets time clouded by volumes of smoke.
and drinking; it was to be feared that the  4" Come aft," ordered the captain. Next,
alcoholic mischief had only begun to do its raising his voice to a yell: " Every sober
work. Already there was a gang of these man aft! Stand by to let go the quarter
fellows around each of the larger boats, boats. But keep out of them. I'll shoot the
throwing in provisions and kegs of water first one who steps in without orders."
after a reckless fashion, running against   Then, levelling his pistol at a fellow who
each other, cursing, pushing, ani even strik- had laid hands on the fall tackle of one of
ing.                                     the small boats, he shouted. " Stand back
" Hold hard there I " shouted the captain, there I My God, this is a mutiny."
as he saw some of them grasping the tackle
falls  " N, one gets into the boats without
orders. Passengers first. Ladies first."
But the men kept at their wild, hurry-             CHAPTER  VII.
ino, bungling work, without answering him,
and perhaps without hearing him.           THE  Mersey burning and sinking at
"By Heavens!" groaned Brien. "It's once; a rabble of drunken, panic-stricken
a worse lot than I thought. Steward I Mr. sailors and firemen tumbling into the large
McMaster! Some one hurry up those la- boats; the few passengers, the ship's officers,
dies. Avast, men. Don't let that boat go. and perhaps a dozen of the crew, huddled
Come out of her, every one of you! "    around the quarter-deck boats; the captain
Findinog them ungovernable, he ran below  stamping, threatening, pistol in hand, diafter his pistols; for he too had been caught rectinog the embarkation; -such was the
unprepared by the sudden spring of the disorderly and unpromising state of afcatastrophe. Coming back, he was caught fairs.
on the stairway by Mrs. Chester, who clung   Brien's pistol was not the only one flourto him in a sort of delirium  of terror, at ished, for Tom Beaumont and Wilkins drew
once reproaching and imploring, until he and cocked revolvers, and even the mild Dufloosened himself by main force.          fy produced a derringer.  Under the moral
Daring this brief interval the crisis, aided effect of this artillery, the getting of things
by the drunkenness and panic of the crew, and people into the boats began to go on
had hurried alone with the terrible swift- as it should aboard an Anglo-Saxon wreck.
ness which it had shown from the outset. " Heave in those water breakers"; in they
One of the large midship boats had been went with a " Yo-hee-oh." "Now the bread
let go by the run, and was dragging bottom- boxes "; and the bread boxes followed.
up and stove alongside, with two or three " Here, you, sir, man the starboard boat;
men drowning under it. Several planks in Mr. Wilson, take charge of the other one."




28                           KATE BEAUMONT.
Two trustworthy men were now in each every living soul had abandoned the vessel,
little craft, ready to cast off tackles on and the crowded boats were pulling rapidly
touching the water, and to make fast tow- away to escape the flurry of her foundering.
lines. "Let go, slowly; ease away, men, It was a gloomy and ill-promising voyage,
steady; there she floats."              that upon which they were now entering.
"Now  then, ladies," and the captain The wreck, already low in the water, but
turned to his passengers. "Mrs. Chester blazing throughout its midships and sending
first."                                  up superb piles of flame from its paddleMrs. Chester, far more eager to go first boxes, only made the darkness of ocean visithan the captain was to have her, went ble. A considerable sea was running, tossdown a rope in the grasp of a stout sailor, ing the little craft uncomfortably, if not
clutching him as if she meant to tear and dangerously, and sending in splashes of
devour him.                              spray which soon made all equally wet. In
" Now, Miss Beaumont," was the captain's a few minutes every one was chilled through,
next call. " Look alive, there below. Haul notwithstanding that the temperature was
up under the counter. Some strong man mild and almost summer-like.  McAlister
here for Miss Beaumont."                 and Tom Beaumont combined in wrapping
"I!"  shouted Tom, pushing a sailor all the blankets around Kate.
aside. "I'll take care of my sister. Hold   "It is useless," she. smiled; "I shall only
on to me, Kate."                         be the wetter for them."
"O  Tom! be careful," was the girl's   Mrs. Chester, sunk in discomfort and deprayer as she threw her arms around.the spair too deep for words, gave no sign of
young fellow's neck.                     existence, except groaning.
"Hold hard!" screamed the captain.   "This is ugly, ain't it, Wilkins? " mutBut it was too late; the boy had missed his tered the shivering Duffy.
hold or lost it; and both brother and sister'This is a big lot better than going clean
went into the dark ocean. There was a under," returned Wilkins, his elbows on his
general groan, a rush to the bulwarks, and a knees and his head between his hands. " By
hesitation. Who could swim? It is a noto- Jove, the more miserable I am, the more I
rious fact that sailors are seldom good swim- want to live. It's always so."
mers. Now came another splash; it was   "Sick, Wilkins? "  presently  inquired
our tall McAlister, who had gone under with Duffy.
a header; and then there followed an awful   "No, I just don't like to look at it. Show
suspense.                                me land, and I'11 sit up straight enough."
"H Iere's one," shouted a sailor in the boat,   " We are all right now," struck up the
leaning over and dragging in some wet ob- captain from the sternsheets, falling into his
ject. It was Tom Beaumont, no more able characteristic strain of bragging and humto swim than to fly, and saved by the mer- bug, no doubt because he thought it would
est accident, happening to rise in the right cheer the women. "It's only a little wetplace. His first words were, " Where is she?" ting. See land to-morrow, and tell our
He had scarcely strangled this out, when stories at home next day. In a month from
there was a general cry of joy from all those now it will all be a good joke. We would n't
staring men, standing as they were on a have missed it for anything."
burning and sinking wreck. The light of the    " Except me," he added to himself, reflames showed a head on the surface, twenty membering ruefully his damaged fame as a
feet astern of the small boat, and under it, sailor, and his injured prospects s chief
almost submerged by it, another head, this commander in the new line.
last being that of a man, while the first was   Baling almost constantly, the unfortunates
that of a woman. It was McAlister, laden rowed due west, making what headway
and almost borne under by the weight of the could be made. They had sailed for half an
girl whom he was striving to save.       hour when of a sudden the broad flicker of
" Drop the boat astern," roared Captain light behind them vanished, and, looking
Brien. "Give him a hand."                backward, they could no longer see the
In another minute the two were drawn Mersey.
in board, the girl pale, cold, and nearly    "It seems like the death of a friend,"
strangled still, the man breathless with his murmured Kate.  "I am sorry for the poor
struggle under water. There was no time ship."
fobr changing of clothing; the steady sinking   "That's so," answered Captain Brien, his
of the ship gave warning that the embarka- heart warming more than ever towards the
tion must hasten; and all that could be girl. "She was a beautiful boat, wasn't
done for the wet ones was to bring them  she?"
some blankets from the nearest state-room.    "I'm glad the miserable thingf is sunk,"
This was the only accident to the party mumbled Mrs. Chester, who never quite
on the quarter-deck. In twenty minutes or forgave anybody or anything which had
thereabouts from the springing of the leak caused her trouble.




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KATE BEAUMONT.                                 29
Presently Kate Beaumont said in a low    No words can describe the blandness
voice to Frank McAlister: "It was you and the unctuous flattery of the Major's
who saved me. Was it not?"               manner. It was like warm olive-oil, poured
"' I was so fortunate," he replied in a tone over your head and flying all down your
which was like an utterance of thanks beard and vestments in an instant.  No
giving.                                 time was allowed you for resistance; before
"  knew it. But I have been so stupe- you could think, there was the Major letfled! I shall be indebted to you all my life." ting it on from his inexhaustible cruet. His
"No," he said, and would perhaps have utterance was soft and cajoling, running
been tempted to try to press her hand, had through a wide gamut of affettuoso tones, a
it not been defended from  him  by wet favorite close being high soprano or falsetto.
blankets.                               His face was prematurely wrinkled with
And so that conversation, meaning we will smirking and grimacing. It was haunted
not undertake to say how much, came to an with smiles which appeared and vanished
end.                                   like fire-flies. Now one shone out on his
But we must not prolong this voyage. cheekbone; now another glimmered on his
It was an adventure which had nothing forehead; now a third capered along his
more to signalize it than what has been de- wide mouth. Then again his whole counscribed. In the morning there was a cry of tenance broke up into them, putting you in
" Sail ho"; then came deliverance from  mind of the flashings of a shattered lookdanger and discomfort; then a short trip to ing-glass, or the radiances of a breezy sheet
Charleston, South Carolina. It was their of water in the sunshine.'As for his thin,
destination. Yes, the Mersey was the first genteel figure, it was so lubricated with
and only boat of the famous line which constant bowing and gesturing, that it was
Charleston attempted to call into being for as supple as an eel.
the sake of having  direct trade with   Meanwhile there was a slyness in his
England and setting herself right before the gray eyes and humorous twinkling in the
world as the maritime rival of New York.   crow's-feet at their corners, which caused
In Charleston the Southern hotel par you to doubt whether he were not secretly
excellence, the house where the great planter laughing at you under his mask of flattery.
of those days stopped when he returned The truth is that the Major did amuse
from Europe, or when he came to the city himself with the simplicity of human vanity.
with his family to do shopping and attend He complimented upon principle; he had
the races, was the Charleston Hotel. It was made a formula for his guidance in this matin the huge front piazza of this house that ter, and he stuck to it in practice; as TalFrank McAlister, refreshed, newly attired, leyrand (was it?) said,' Lie always, somebrushed, and anointed, encountered that thing will stick," so he said, "Flatter
ancient friend of his family, Major John always, something will stick."  But we
Lawson, the descendant (so said the Major) must not consider him  as some straightof the De Lauzuns.                     forward, bitter persons did, a mere hypo" Why, my dear fellow! Why, my de-ar crite. He was a good fellow; liked honestly
fel-low!" cried the Major, smiling up to to make people feel comfortable; offered
his eyebrows aud shaking hands for a min- them compliments, because he had little else
ute together, though gently, tendqrly, O  to spare.
how affectionately! " Why, is it possible!   McAlister gave the Major a brief and
why, is it paw-si-ble!" he went on, in a plain statement of his life abroad. There
high, ecstatic soprano of wonder, somewhat had been four years at Oxford, three
as if he were talking to a child. "And so years at Gottingen, and  one year in
it is you, is it?" patting his shoulder. travel.
"Why, bless my body, so it is. I would n't   "You are a prodigy," grinned and fluted
have known you. What an amazing develop- the Major, his voice quavering high into
ment!" and the Major fell back a yard falsetto.  "Why, you are a praw-di-gy.
to stare at the young giant with an air of You must be a miracle of learning. There
plavful, petting amazement.  "Taller by is n't another man in the State who has
three inches than your grenadier of a fa- passed his life to such advantage.  You
ther! Why, if the old Frederick of Prussia have come home to lift us poor South-Carohad been alive, you would have been kid- linians out of the slough of our ignorance
napped for his retiment of giants. The Pots- and conceit. And the son, too, of my exdam regiment," explained the Major, not a cellent old friend Judge McAlister! I am
little proud of this bit of military history. delighted beyond measure."
"But no; you don't want to be told how   "' There is much for me to learn, no doubt,
you have grown; )ou have been at other as well as something to teach," replied
and wiser business as well. Why, tell me Frank, in his manly, plain way, so different
all about it. Why, I could listen to you from the frisky, supple graces of the Major.
forever."                              "I do believe, however, that I shall have




30                           KATE BEAUMONT.
something to tell you, that is, in a year or - a nice sort of a commonplace fellow
two."                                    named Duffy, I believe, - and accidentally,
"' 0, but you have something to tell us quite accidentally, heard the story from him.
now."  And the soft Lawson fingers patted And so you saved Miss Kate Beaumont's
the huge McAlister arm. " You must begin life?   What a  wonderful - providence,
at once."                                shall we call it?  I told you truly, that you
" I suspect," continued Frank, "that there were a marked man, a man set apart for
is wealth in the State which we know little some extraordinary destiny.  And Miss
about. There are mines to be sunk yet in Beaumont?  I have n't seen her since she
our up-country. And this shore region, if was a mere child.  How did you like the
I am not much mistaken is crammed with young lady?"
phosphates."                               " An admirable girl," said the brave McPhosphates! The word was beyond the Alister, not without, a slight blush. " What
Major's tether.  He did not know what I saw of her led me to respect her prophosphates might be, and did not believe foundly."
he should care. He proceeded to smother   The Major's small, cunning gray eyes
the youngster's learning with appropriate twinkled with the joy of a veteran intriguer,
compliment.                              not to say matchmaker.' "Ah, there comes out the old canny   " Why, my dear fellow! why, my d-e-a-r
Scotch blood," he smiled. " Or is it Scotch- fel-low!" he whispered, snuggling up to the
Irish? Ah, Scotch! A most intelligent and youngster, and fondling his mighty arm.
industrious people. The best practical race "If this should end in a reconciliation
that we have in the State. Brave, too; brave between the families, what an event! South
as lions; what a race! Tbe perfervidum Sco- Carolina could afford to rejoice in the loss
torurn is world-wide famous. By the way, of the Mersey.  What a romance I  Why
halve you letters from your father? I have n't not?  Romeo and Juliet in the Soutll.?
met him, bless my body I for months."    Bless me, my dear young friend, why not?
"Yes, I found letters here.  My father, Stranger things have happened."
I thank you, is well. The whole family   "You forget the fate of Romeo and
also."                                   Juliet," replied McAlister, with a gravity
"A' nd you visit them  soon, of course? which reveale: how seriously he was taking
Return to the paternal hearth?  Do give this matter.
my kindest regards, my most profound re-   But the Major would not hear of carrying
spects, to your father. Noble man I A pillar, out the parallel; be guessed like ligiltning
sir i! A pillar of society! And, by the way, at his young friend's state of mind, and he
- bless me, how could I forget it, — but prophesied smooth things; indeed, when
what an escape! Saved from the sea and did he ever prophesy any other?
from  fire! You must be a marked man,   " O no!" he laughed, waving away the
set apart for some wonderful fate.  But suggestion of a tragedy.   "Nothing of
the Mersey lost!l Our steamer lost! Our the sort, my dear Mr. McAlister. We shall
steamer! What a calamity I What," and see, if you only wish it, a better ending than
here the Major's voice fairly whimpered, that. Why, bless you, man, the Beaumonts
"a ca-lam-i-ty!  And, by the way," de- are not barbarians of the Middle Ages.
scending to a confidential whisper, "you had They - I remember the old feud - I reBeaumonts aboard.  Your old —enemies. spect your natural prejudices — but they,
I hope nothing disagreeable."            you will excuse me for saying so, are South
" Embarrassments," answered the young Carolina gentlemen. They have the polish
man, slightly shrugging his shoulders.   and humanity -you will surely pardon me
" Dear me I I am  excessively grieved. - of the nineteenth century."
But nothing that -will lead to a - a?"    " I am sure that I wish to think well of
inquired the old gossip, imitating the motion them. I will tell you, moreover, that I only
of raising a pistol.                     wait an opportunity to show them that I
"' O no. At least, I trust not. I sincerely feel kindly towards them."
hope not."                                 " An opportunity!" smiled and fifed the' "Let us hope so," said the Major, in a Major, --  an opportunity! It has come,
tone which reminded one of the formula, and you have improved it. Improved it
"Let us pray."   VVWhy, it would be infa- nobly, superbly, beautifully. Now it:iP their
mous," he went on. "In view of your noble turn.  You have. saved the life of their
behavior, it would be in the highest degree daughter and sister. They must thank you.
unreasonable. Saved the young lady's life, They must call upon you.  They will. We
I understand.  Ah! I surprise you; you shall see. Then, Romeo and Juliet, with
had no idea that your fame would find you a happy ending. Yes," closed the Major,
out so soon. Modest," - another patting fairly singing his hint for a pastoral, "Rohere, -" moest, mod-est I But, you see, me-o and Jul-iet in South Car-o-li-na!"
I met one of your Hartland business-men,   " They - the men, I mean - must call




KATE BEAUMONT.                                  31
on me, of course or the matter is ended," "If we could only put an end to it! No
observed McAlister. He spoke slowly and less than nine valuable lives have been sacgr.avely; he was sincerely anxious to re- rificed to this Moloch since I came to the
ceive that peacemaking visit; he did not age of manhood, -four McAlisters and five
care how plainly the Major should perceive Beaumonts; not to mention the side difficulhis anxiety; indeed, he scarcely thought of ties which it has brought about between
him at the moment.                      friends of' the two houses, - the Montagues
" Certainly.  They must. If they don't and Capulets," he poetically added. " I well
they are -   Well, let us be charitable. remember the excitement, the furor, which
But I can't conceive that they should not was raised by the — the meeting between
call. It is Tom, I believe, who is with the your excellent father and Randolph Beauladies.  Well, Tom  is young; but Tom  mont, the elder brother of Peyton. The State
knows what chivalry demands; born of one fairly shuddered with anxiety. Fairly shudof our own good families; a race of gentle- dered "  And the Major shook himself in
men,- excuse me. Of course Tom Beau- his black dress-coat. " Both men practised
mont will make his bow to you before he for months, -for months, sir! Each knew
leaves Charleston."                     it must come. Prepared himself, sadly and
And the Major, in his excellent, gossiping sternly, like a gentleman. Randolph declared
soul, meant to call on Tom and flatter him  that he would spoil McAlister's handsome
into doing what was handsome. It must be face for him. Your father was a remarkably
understood that this man was by instinct a fine-looking fellow; not like you, who resemmatchmaker; he liked women, liked to ble your mother, — but still handsome. Inpay court to them, liked to see others do the deed, he is now; a king of men; a Saul!
same; and now, guessing that Frank was Well, sir, Randolph practised at the head;
smitten with Miss Beaumont, he wanted had a figure set up for that purpose in his
him to woo her and win her. Besides, what yard;. used to hit the top of it with beautiful
a charming history, what an inexhaustible precision; really beau-ti-ful! O f your father's
theme of conversation with ladies, what a preparations I will say nothing. Perhaps
subject to decorate all over with flowers the subject is unpleasant to you. But it was
from Shakespeare, would be this healing of a stern necessity. He must take his prean old family feud by means of a love-match! cautions or he -must forfeit his valuable life.
For the Major was a litterateur, in the ama- Well, the day came; no preventing it. An
teur sense; could quote eternally from  admirable exhibition of courage. Two shots
standard authors, especially in verse; wrote in quick succession. Randolph Beaumont
also a kint  of poetical prose, much admired sent a shot through McAlister's hair, and fell
by some of the women to whom he read it.  with a ball in his own heart.  My God,
But Major Lawson had other strong what an excitement!  The whole State
points. He did love - as what South-Car- shook, sir!'.'
olinian of those days did not love? - to talk   Me Alister had listened to this reminisabout fighting.  Wars duels, adventures cence with an amount of disrelish which
with robbers, putting down of insurrections, surprised himself. It was not the first time
and even family feuds, were all pure honey that he bad heard the story, and heretofore
to him. He groaned over them, to be sure; he had always heard it with interest. But
but his lamentation was simple humbug; it childhood's ideas had more or less died out
was the merest rose-water philanthropy; in of him; during the last few years a passion
his soul he feasted on them. Next to love- for studies had dulled the combative instinct
making, and far beyond politics, he revelled within him; and within the past week Miss
in talking of combats. Not that he had ever Kate Beaumont had made him hate the famhad a fight; there was no man in the State ily feud.
more pacific. His title of Major did not   "I never beard my father allude to the
signify war, nor even so much as service in tragedy but once," he said to the Major,
the militia. He had been an aide-de-camp rather coldly.' "It was only a word, and I
to a Governor; just an honorary aide-de- thought it was a word of regret."
camp, with nothing to do; that was the   The old gossip started. Had he made a
whole sum of his martial life. His title. too, mistake in chanting to the son the prowess
was really Captain, for he was only a Major of the father?
by courtesy, fa.miliar friends having breveted   " O, of course I " he hurriedly assented.
him at their dinner-tables.              " Your father is a wise, practical, humane
Well, this peaceful, courteous creature gentleman. Could n't look upon the matmust now turn to the old bloody feud between ter otherwise than as a woful necessity, mere
the Beaumnonts and the McAlisters, and self-preservation.  Certainly."
pr4ttle of it with something like a licking of   And so the Major suspended his raw-head
the chops.                               and bloody-bones reminiscences. It was a
"Terrible history I " he said, with the disappointment to him, for there were still
sorrow of a dog over a toothsome bone. several nice joints to pick, and, dear me,




32                           KATE BEAUMONT.
how sweet they were! There, for instance,          CHAPTER VIII.
was the late duel between R. Bruce McAlister, our Frank's senior brother, and   LET US skip on to Hartland, ahead of Mr.
the present eldest son of the house of Beau- Frank McAlister, and see what immediate
mont. No deaths, to be sure; only a shot chance he has for putting an end to the
through a leg and another through an arm; family feud.
but even so much was s,vory.              Is there any possible reader of this story,
"Sad, sad business! " groaned the Major, who does not know what a church fair is?
bringing down the corners of his mouth deco- The Presbyterian church of Hartland has
rously, as people will do at funerals and the no steeple, except a little, undignified, rustylike, even when they don't care a straw. white bob of a belfry, which puts irrever" All politics, — purely result of politics; ent people in mind of a wart, or a baby's
not bitterness, I am glad to say. Simply a nose, or a docked puppy-dog's tail. After
struggle between high-minded gentlemen, having slumbered for years over the pointeach of whom honestly and sadly believes less state of their tabernacle. the members
the other mistaken. Oppos;tion, as you are of the congregation have suddenly awakno doubt aware, between the supporters of ened to a sense of the absurdity of its apthe electoral system and the so-called parish pearance, and have resolved (as one old
representation. Your family, as original up- farmer expressed it) to grow  a steeple.
country gentlemen, naturally support the Every one of them  has built imaginary
former.  The Beaumonts, as original low- spires in his soul, and has perhaps tumbled
country people, are the extreme advance out of them in dreams. The result of all
guard of the parishes."                 this longing is a church fair in the court" That is it, is it? " said Frank. " I never house.
knew before whatwas the origin of the dispute.   The court-house is not only the palais de
I was such a mere boy when I left home."  justice and the h6tel de ville of a Southelrn shire
" That, and other things similar. Bless town, but is also its political club-room, its
my soul!" and here the Major fluted his theatre, opera, lecture-hall, and coliseum. In
sweetest, " have I got to teach you the an- it the party leaders shout, " Fellow-citizens,
tiquities, the fasti, of your family? Why, we have arrived at a national crisis," with
the first McAlister of Hartland - your noble other words to that effect. In it the sciendeceased grandfather — was one of the sup- tific or historic or theologic gentlemen, who
porters of our grand old Horry - Marion's have been "' invited " by the village lyceum,
Horry - in his efforts to establish the com-'wipe their spectacles, look at their manumon-school system in South Carolina. Nat- scripts, and begin, "Ladies and gentlemen
urally on the side of the people. A born of Hartland," or whatever the place may
Gracchus. And yet nature's gentleman, the be. In it the musical concerts, tableaux vitruest of aristocrats."                  vants and charades of native talent unfold
" A supporter of education," said Frank. their enchantments. In it strolling actors,
"Well, I thank him for that. I am of his nigger or other minstrels, black-art magiparty.  Depend upon it, Major, that our cians and exhibitors of panoramas, make
State needs education, and that I shall do enough to pay their hotel bills and get on
my poor best towards educating it."     to the next town.  In short, the court"Amen!" pronounced the Major, sol- house is the academe of all exceptional inemnly, as if it were the thing that he had struction and amusement.
most at heart.  "Well, my best wishes.   On the ground that the pews of the
Delighted to have seen you, - de-light-ed! church will not give free circulation to the
Carry my respects to your family. And as business of a fair, and on the further ground
for the Beaumonts," he added with a know- that the prosperity of every religious body
ing, —matchmaking, tender whisper; "they is intimately connected with the public
will call on you," in a lower whisper; "they good, that crafty and  potent seigneur,
will," almost inaudible.                 Judge McAlister, has secured the courtAnd so, nodding and smiling, and, one room gratis for the use of his society, notm;ght almost say, kissing his fingers, Major withstanding much dumb jealousy on the
Lawson ambled away.                      part of Methodists, Baptists, etc.  The
Would the Beaumonts call?  Would greasy wooden seats have been "' toted off";
Tom Beaumont come to say a civil word to the tobacco-stained floor has been scrubbed
the man who had saved his sister's life? Or into a speckled cleanliness; there are plenwould he, remembering only the ancient ty of gayly decked tables, with pretty girls
hostility of the two names, leave Charleston smiling over them; there are alcoves of
without a sign of friendship?           greenery, glowing with other pretty girls;
Such were the questions which chased the walls are fine with flowers, drapery, and
each other through the brain of the young festooned paper: it is a very lively and very
gentleman who paced alone the piazza of pleasant spectacle. The squeezing, buying,
the Charleston Hotel.                    prattling, laughing, and staring crowd enjoys




KATE BEAUMONT.                                  33
the scene heartily. A decent and civil crowd keeper; he stood five feet eight in his
it is, although far from being purely aristo- boots, and pawed the kerosene-lit air; he
cratic, for it exhibits many plain people, howled in his manly fashion until the blood
many  unfashionable garments and some of small urchins curdled with horror. A
homespun ones. No negroes, barring a few  terrible nondescript; long gray fur, such as
as attendants: the slave population is to one sees in travelling-rugs; a head wonderhave an evening by itself; then there will fully like that of a stuffed bear; the tail of
be goggling wonder and roaring laughter.   an alligator. After much roaring and clankEven now there is plenty of noisy amuse- ing, and a good deal more of speechifying
ment, for the Howling Gyascutus is on exhi- from his exhibitor, he was led away behind
bition, and what a funny beast it is!    a green cambric curtain, followed by laugh-'The howlinggyascutus, ladies and gentle- ter, s.mping, and clapping.
men!" calls one of the junior managers   A little later, Wallace McAlister, next
from a stage at the upper end of the hall, -  oldest of the breed to Frank, strolled out
"the howling gyascutus!" he proclaims, fiom unknown recesses, his pleasant, plain
leading out what seems to be a hairy quad- face unusually flushed, and his prematurely
ruped, with very thick and long hind legs bald crown damp with perspiration.
and very short fore ones. " I have the honor,   "0  Wally! " laughed his sister Mary,
ladies and gentlemen, to be the first to ex- beckoning him to her alcove. " How could
hibit to the human race this remarkble ani- you make such a guy of yourself!  But
mal. The howling gyascutus is the wonder of really, it was funny."
the age, - at least for the present occasion.   "Just to get it done," said Wallace, - a
fIe humps himself up to the dizziest sum- good-natured reason, which was quite charmits of the persimmon-tree, and devours acteristic of him.  "Everybody else was
green persimmons by the peck without afraid of being undignified.  But, after I
puckering. - a feat accomplished by no oth- had volunteered to be gyascutus," he added,
er living creature. He has been known to looking a little disgusted, " the fools put in
eat a pickaninny from wool to heel, as if he Bent Armitage as keeper. I did n't know
were a card of gingerbread.  His strength who was holding the chain till it was too
is supposed to be equal to that of Samson, late."
and he would pull down a temple of Dagon   "Was n't it stupid in them!" murmurede
if he could find one, which he cannot in Mary. " But never mind."
this virtuous community. His howl is the   It must be understood that Bentley Armienvy of auctioneers, deputy-sheriffs, and tage was a connection of the Beaumonts,
congressmen." (Here the nondescript roars and so not entirely to the taste of the Mcin a manner which may be described as Alisters.
nothing less than human.)  "It is not re-   " Somebody had to be gyascutus and start
corded that any other specimen of the breed the thing," continued Wallace, apologizing
has ever been captured. It is not believed for himself. "A fellow must do something
that this one could have been overcome and to get the fair along."
brought here, but for his lurking desire to   " 0, it's very well," nodded Mary, cheerlook at the beautiful ladies whom I see be- ingly. " You howled to perfection.  Now
fore me." (Loud applause from the dandies go and buy something. Do buy something
of IIartland, every one glancing at his par- of Jenny Devine, - won't you?"
ticular Dalcinea.)  " Such is the force of   Mary's eyes were very appealing. Jenthe howling gyascutus that he defies the ny Devine was her friend, her pet, her wonunassisted power of the human biceps and der. It was odd, too, or rather it was not
other more unnamable muscles. If I should at all odd. for Mary was quiet and very
let him loose, you would see this magnifi- good, while Jenny was rather hoydenish and
cent court-house" (" Hi! hi!" from the bigr- over-coquettish.  There she was, peeping
ger boys, appreciating the irony of the ad- out of' an alcove of hemlock a few steps farjective) " disappear in his jaws like the ther on, a dangerous looking fairy, rather of
bubbles that swim on the beaker's brim and the brunette order, sparkling with black
break on the lips they're meeting. There eyes, glistening with white teeth, and one,
would be a scene of destruction which the shoulder poked high out of her dress for a
past cannot parallel, and which the future temptation.
would look upon with a palpitation of the   "WWhat does Jenny Devine want of me? "
heart and other sentimental organs. I as- mumbled modest Wallace.  "A bald old,
sure you, ladies and gentlemen, that, not- fellow like me!"
withstanding this enchanted chain and other   "You are not old," whispered Mary, colfavorable influences too numerous to be men- oring with sympathy for his mortification as;
tioned, it takes all my strength to hold he alluded to his defect. " Do go!"
him."                                      For Mary wanted to bring about a match
Here of course the gyascutus went into between this brother whom she loved and
a paroxysm.  He ran at the shins of his Jenny Devine whom she also loved.
5




34                            KATE BEAUMONT.
" Stop! don't go now," she hastily added, ing her best amid the evergreens of her
" Vincent Beaumont is talking to her."   alcove, and Heaven has not been chary to
"Oh I" returned Wallace, casting a side- him of the pride and love of a father. Furlong glance, rather watchful than hostile, thermore (very characteristic, this) he has
toward the representative of the inimical carefully calculated what the fair will cost
race.                                    him, and finds it barely one half of what he
It may as well be explained here that at would have been expected to pay, had the
this period the men of the rival houses did expense of the steeple been raised by subspeak to each other when they met by scription. Finally, it is his ancient, delibchance in society, but that they met as little erate, and judicious custom to look espeas possible and their speaking was of the cially benignant upon public occasions.
briefest description. As for their respective   But the Judge must not at this time be
women folks, no communication ever passed described fully.  If we should attempt to
between them.                            do him justice, he would betray us into
Until Vincent Beaumont goes his way, great lengths.  An exhaustive study of him
and Wallace can find a chance to drop into would fill a bigger volumet   than the pyramid
the toils of Jenny Devine, let us amuse and of Cheops. We must let this monument
instruct ourselves by studying Judge Don- go; we must open the door for him as he
ald McAlister. How bland and benignant swings out of the court-room; we must turn
this mighty personage looks as he paces to more manageable personages.
grandly from table to table, and says a few    " Great is avoirdupois," said Vincent
no doubt fitting words to every lady, not to  Beaumont to Jenny Devine, as he watched
mention intermediate hand-shakings with the departure of the somewhat ponderous
every male creature! He a fighter of duels, senior.
a champion of a family feud, an obstacle to   "What do you mean?" asked the young
the millennium of peace! Why, bless you, lady, suspecting one of Vincent's sarcasms
he is obviously one solid chunk of goodness; and not willing to lose the full flavor of it.
his philanthropy shines out of his large face   " Character goes by weight. Every large
like a Drummond light out of the lantern of man gets a certain amount of reverence
a lighthouse; his very accessories, as, for which does n't fairly belong to him. There
instance, his scratch and spectacles, beam  is the Judge. for instance. Just because he
amity. One would say, after taking a cur- is an inch or so over six feet, and exhibits
sory glance at him, that here is an incarna- the outlines of an elephant when he stoops to
tion of the words,'" Peace on earth and good- pick up his hat, even I feel inclined to fall
will to men."                           into his wake."
His very figure has outlines which seem    " He is a much finer man than you think,"
to radiate promises of tranquillity and mercy. said Miss Jenny, one of those young ladies
It is not that he is corpulent, fobr although who rule by pertness.
he weighs at least two hundred and thirty,   "Thank Heaven!"
he is so tall that he carries his avoirdupois   "And he is a much older man than
well. But get behind him; notice the fim- you."
inine slope of his shoulders; survey the   "Thank Heaven again! "
wotnanly breadth of his hips. Is that a   " What do you mean? "
fbrm, lofty and vigorous as it is, which one   " There is a chance that he won't last my
couples with the idea of pugnacitv? It is time."
the build, not of a gladiator, but of a "gen-   "Ain't you ashamed of yourself, Mr.
tle giant," and that too of the female order. Beaumont?"
Even his walk is matronly; the great   It was a common phrase with Jenny, and
"second joints " wheeling slowly and with she meant almost nothing by it. In reality
dignity; the large knees almost touching as Vincent's sub-acid prattle gave her vast
they pass each other; the deliberate feet amusement and pleasure. Sarcasm was the
pointing tranquilly outwards; the coat-tails young man's strong point in conversation,
swinging like petticoats.  Not that the causing a few to admire him immensely and
Judge is ludicrous, unless it be to very a great many to dislike him. A born trait
light-minded persons, such as would " speak in him, the legacy perhaps of his F ench
disrespectfully of the equator." He is not, -  ancestors, he had greatly increased his proit must be emphatically repeated, — he is ficiency in it by familiarity with a certain
not fat nor clumsy.  He simply has the chaffing French society, for he had studied
form which is most common to tall men who medicine in Paris. A doctor, by the way,
have developed into a certain measure of he would not be called, for he had cut the
portliness.                              profession immediately on returning home,
It is proper to state that he has a blander and never prescribed unless for one of his
air than usual. His wife has managed the father's negroes.
fair successfully, and he sympathizes with   "And there is our downy friend, the
her satisfaction. His only daughter is look- gyascutus," he continued, glancing with a




KATE BEAUMONT.                                 35
scornful languor at Wallace McAlister.   "I bid ten dollars at once," calmly re"As he weighs eighty pounds less than his marked Vincent, looking Jenny gravely in
father, I suppose I may say a word about the face.
him."                                     " So do I," said Wallace, his loose blue
"You may praise him as much as you eyes wandering in a troubled way, for he
like," said Jenny, an audacious coquette, thought all of a sudden that the girl might
who liked to play off one man against make a bad wife.
another.                                 " Here, take each one," returned Jenny.
Vincent was annoyed; not that he cared " Five dollars apiece."
about Jenny Devine, but that he wanted   There was a moment of hesitation durher to care about him; for he too was a ing which each man queried whether he
flirt, and a flintily selfish one. He could were not bound to demand the pair. Then
scarce forbear turning his satire upon the Wallace's good-nature put down his irrigirl herself.                          tated sense of honor, and handing Jenny
"I mean to praise him," he replied. "His a five-dollar piece, he took a single glove.
humility in playing  gyascutus deserves Vincent did the same, thrust his glove peteulogium. And that he should accept my ulantly into a pocket, bowed in silence to
relative — the relative of a Beaumont, re- the lady, and turned to go.
member —for his keeper! I can't imagine a   " Wait, Mr. Beaumont," called Jenny,
more graceful and delicate advance towards who saw the eyes of fifty women fixed on
a reconciliation of the families. I should her triumph, and was not willing to let it
like to pat him on the head, as one does a end so abruptly. " Trading is over, and we
filzzy-crowned baby.  Do you think he are about to talk. Both you gentlemen loveto
would let me?"                         talk dearly. So do I. Let us have a delightAll this was nuts to Jenny, amused by ful time of it. Mr. Beaumont, we are very
the satire and delighted with the jealousy. much obliged to you for coming here. ConNot a bad-hearted girl, but a decidedly mis- sidering that you are an Episcopalian, and
chievous one; something of the pet monkey don't believe that our church is a church,
in her brilliant composition; fond of mak- your conduct is very liberal, and we ought
ing a sensation and of being a torment. to thank you. Don't you think so, Mr. McResolving on a great blow for notoriety, she Alister?"
poked up one of her bare shoulders with a'I do indeed," assented the much-endursaucy air of power which a more experi- ing Wallace.
enced belle would not have ventured, and   He said it to please the lady, but he said
throwing out a rosy hand authoritatively, it stiffly and dryly, for the situation was not
beckoned Wallace to come to her. What a an agreeable one to him. Moreover he did
triumph it would be if she could make a not like the habitual sneer which played
Beaumnont and a McAlister stand side by around Vincent's flexible mouth. All the
side before her table and meekly play the Beaumonts were unpleasant to him, and
rivals! No other girl in Hartland Distr'tct especially this would-be witty mocker.
had ever attempted such a feat.           " I have been exceedingly entertained,"
The unwilling but fascinated Wallace ap- returned Vincent, with a slight, Frenchified
proached.  Vincent, anxious to avoid the bow, half a shrug  "Mr. McAlister here
meeting, was held fast by an idea that it has been good enough to be very amusing."
would be ridiculous to go. It was like the    The young Beaumont, it must be exnearing of two ships of war, each of whom  plained, had conceived an inflammatory
is a stranger to the other's purpose, and is suspicion that these two were in combinatherefore silently clearing for action. Per- tion to put him at a disadvantage, with the
sons in the crowd looked on with anxious purpose of laughing at him after his departsurprise, querying whether the young men ure.
were about to draw pistols, or whether the   Wallace colored at the reference to his
millennium were at hand.                undignified exhibition as a gyascutus.
" Mr. Beaumont - Mr. McAlister," said   "I had no special intention of troubling
the triumphant, reckless, dangerous Miss you to laugh, Mr. Beaumont," he observed
Jenny.                                 in a rather too positive tone.
The two men bowed; there could be no   " We are often most amusing when we
quarrelling before ladies: they were as cour- least mean it," was the snaky answer.  " I
teous as if they were friends.          have seen people who never knew how
"I want you two to bid against each comic they were," added Vincent, his pugother for this pair of gloves," said the mis- nacity rising as he tasted first blood.
chief-maker.  Then the thought of the   Wallace, who was not quick at repartrouble that such a contest might cause tee (unless thinking of a retort next day
dropped into her giddy head, and she has- can be called quick), simply stared his intily added, "The bidding is not to go above dignation. Jenny Devine saw that there
ten dollars."                           was a quarrel, and rushed in with some of




36                          KATE BEAUMONT.
her girlish prattle, hoping to make things   " All right," laughed Wallace, putting his
pleasant again. But the mischief was done; arm around her waist and helping her up
the smouldering fire of the old feud had stairs. "It's all right, Molly."
been blown to a flame; the two young men   There was dire trouble, of course; but, as
were in a state of mind to shoot each other. he believed, he could not stop it; and that
Jenny saw so much of the ill-humor, and being the case, he would say nothing about
was so far alarmed by it, that when Vincent it!
again bowed himself away she did not
detain him. She now talked. to Wallace,
with the intention of keeping him from
following the other. But he was moody;              CHAPTER IX.
he could not answer her, and hardly heard
her; and at last, in a girlish pet, she let   "  HI - Yah! - Ho! - Mars Peyt!him go.                                 Gwine ter git up to-day?"
Knowing that he had been satirized, and   This incantation is heard in the bedroom
feeling that he had been insulted, Wallace of the Honorable Peyton Beaumont. It is
watched Vincent until he left the hall and pronounced by a shining, jolly youngster of
then hastened after him.                a negro, seated on the bare clean pitch-pine
" Mr. Beaumont," he called, when they floor, his legs curving out before him like
were both in the moonlit street.        compasses, a blacking-brush held up to his
"Well, sir? " returned Vincent, facing mouth for further moistening, and an aristoabout.                                  cratic-looking boot drawn over his left hand
"' I don't know exactly how to take what like a gauntlet. The incantation is responded
you have said to me," continued Wallace.  to by a savage grunt from a long bundle on
" I don't find that I am  bound to assist a tousled bed, out of which bundle peeps
you, sir," was the cool reply.          a grizzled and ruffled topknot, and some
Wallace's hot temper immediately boiled portion of a swarthy face framed in ironover; he muttered  some indistinct but gray beard and whiskers. After the grunt
evidently angry words.                  comes a silence which is followed in turn by
" Perhaps you would be good enough to a snore so loud and prolonged that it resay  something  comprehensible," sneered minds one of the long roll of a drum-corps.
Vincent.                                  The negro resumes his work, whistling
" Yes, sir! " burst out Wallace. " I will the while in a sort of whisper and bobbing
be kind enough to say that I consider your his head in time to the tune. Presently he
style of innuendo not gentlemanly.  Do pauses and takes a look at the bundle of
you hear me, sir? Not gentlemanly!"    bedclothes. " Ain't gwine ter wake up yit;
" I comprehend perfectly," replied Vin- mighty sleepy dis mornin'." More brushing,
cent, in a furious rage at once, but still pre- whistling, and bobbing. Then another look.
serving the clear even tone of his tenor "Done gone fas' asleep agin; guess I'll catch
voice. "' I will send you my answer."'nother hold." There is a small table near
" Very good," said Wallace, and the two him, with a bottle on it and glasses.  Hand
separated without another word, the one goes up; bottle is uncorked; liquor is demounting his horse and riding away, the canted; very neatly done indeed.  More
other turning to re-enter the court-house.   brushing, whistling, and keeping time, just
Meantime Mary McAlister had rushed at to lull the sleeper.  Hand seeks the table
Jenny Devine, whispering, " Where is my once more; glass brought down and empbrother?"                              tied; set back in its place; no jingle. Then
" I don't know," answered the flirt, sud- further brushing, and the job is finished.
denly very much alarmed, but trying to   His work done, the negro got up with
smile. " He is about somewhere."        an "O  Lordy!" walked to the bedside,
"He is n't. What did you make him  dropped the boots with a bang, and shouted,
talk with that Mr. Beaumont for? O Jenny! "Hi! Mars Peyt! "
I thought you were a friend."             " Clear out! " growled Mars Peyton, and
Jenny rustled out of her alcove, caught made a lunge with a muscular hand, *so
Mary by the arm and hurried her towards hairy that it might remind one of the paw
the door, saying, " Let us look for him."    of an animal.
On the stairway they met Wallace, slowly   There was a rapid rectification of the fronascending. He was very grave, but at sight tier on the part of the darky; he retreated
of them  a smile came over his homely, towards a doorway which led into what was
pleasant face, and he said cheerily, " What obviously a dressing-room. At a safe disnow? Do you want anything?"          tance from the bed he halted and yelled
Mary flew to him. " Is there any trouble, anew, " Hi! Mars Peyt! "
Wally?" she whispered. " You know how    Mars Peyt disengaged one hand entirely
our mother would feel. O Wally, if there from  the bedclothes, seized the top of a
is any trouble, do stop it! "          boot and slung it at the top of the negro,




KATE BEAUMONT.                                  37
who dodged grinning through the door just scars of duels and rencontres, and the lifeas the projectile banged against it.     blood of more than one human being was
" Hi! Yah! Ho! ho, Mars Peyt " he crusted on his soul. At the same time he
shouted this timne with an intonation of tri- could snap like a cross child, break crockery,
umph, aware that his toughest morning job and kick chairs. Perhaps we ought partly
was over and pleased at having accom- to excuse his fits of passion on the score ot
plished it without barking a shin.       nearly constant and often keen physical
"Now  den, Mars Peyt, you dress you- suffering. People, in speaking of his temself," he continued. "When you's ready, per, said, "Brandy"; but it was mainly
I'11 fix you cocktail."                 brandy in it, secondary forms,- broken
"Fix it now," huskily growled the lord sleep, an inflamed alimentary canal, and
of the manor. " I'm dressing, - confound gout.
you!"                                     Meanwhile he had traits of gentleness
Such was the Honorable Peyton Beau- which occasionally astonished the people
mont; something like a big, wilful, passion- who were afraid of him. While he could
ate boy; such at least he was on many fly at his children in sudden furies, he was
occasions. As for his difficulty in waking passionately fond of them, supported them
up of mornings, we must excuse him on the generously, and spoiled them with petting.
ground that he slept badly of nights. Went Barring chance oaths and kicks which were
to bed on brandy; honestly believed he surprised out of him, he was kind to his neshould rest the better for it; after two hours groes, feeding them liberally, and keeping
of travelling or fighting nightmare, woke them  well clothed. As proud as Lucifer
up; dull pain and increasing heat in the and as domineering as Beelzebub, he could be
back of his head; pillow baking hot. and charmingly courteous to equals and friends.
hot all over; not another wink till morning.   "How you fine that, Mars Peyt? " asked
Then came a short, feverish nap; then this Cato, when the cocktail had been hastily
brushing, whistling, shouting Cato:- who clutched and greedily swallowed.
would n't throw boots at him?  But Cato   "Devilish thin."  Voice, however, the
was continued in the office of valet because smoother and face blander for it.
he was the only negro in the house who had   " Make you'nother? "
the impudence to bring about a thorough    " Yes."  Mellow growl, not exclusively
waking, and because Mr. Beaumont was savage, much like that of a placated tiger.
determined to be up at a certain hour. He   This comedy, by the way, was played
was not the sort of man to let himself be every morning, with a variation Sundays.
be tten, not even by his own physical neces- Mr. Beaumont, having vague religious nosities.                                  tions about him, and being willing to make
What was he like when he entered the a distinction in days, took three cocktails on
dressing-room in shirt and trousers, with the the Sabbath, besides lying in bed later.
streaky redness of soap and water about his   The shaving commenced; the patient
sombre face, and plumped heavily into a bristling occasionally, but growing milder;
high-backed oak arm-chair, to receive his the operator supple, cautious, and talkative,
cocktail and to be shaved by Cato? At first slowly getting the upper hands.
glance he might seem to be a clean but very   " Now  hold you head still. You jerk
savage buccaneer. It would be easy to im- that way, an' you'11 get a cut. How you
agine such a man grasping at chances for s'pose I can shave when you's slammin'
duels and following the scent of a family feud. you face round like it was a do'? "
His broad, dark red face, overhung by tou-   " Cato, I really need another cocktail this
sled iron-gray hair and set in a stiff iron- morning.  Had a precious bad night of
gray beard, -had just this one merit, of being it."
regular in outline and feature.  Otherwise   "No, you don', now.'T ain't Sunday toit was terrible; it was nothing less than day. Laws bless you, Mars Peyt, ho, ho!
alarming. Paches, the Athenian admiral you's mos''ligious man I knows of, he, he!
who massacred the garrison of Notium, befo' breakfus. You'd jes like t' have Sunmight well have had such a countenance. day come every day in the week, so's you
In the bloodshot black eyes (suffused with could have three cocktails. No you loll',
the yellow of habitual biliousness), in the no sech thing.'Tain't good for you.'stricture of the Grecian mouth, in the cattish There, liked to cut you tha-n.  Hold you
tremblings of the finely turned though hairy nose roun', dere." (Pushing the noble Greek
nostrils, and in the nervous pointings of the proboscis into place with thumb and finger )
bushy eyebrows, there was an expression of "Now then shut up you mouf; I'se gwine
intense pugnacity, as fiery as powder and as to lather. Them's um. This yere's fuslong-winded as death.                    rate soap. Makes a reg'lar swamp o' lathIn fact, he had all sorts of a temper. It was er."
as sublime as a tiger's and as ridiculous as   " Well, hurry up now," growls Mr. Beaua monkey's. His body was marked by the mont, a little sore because he can't have his




38                          KATE BEAUMON'T.
third cocktail. " Don't stand there all day   " The quarrelsome beasts! " snorted Beaustaring at the soap-brush."            mont. "Always picking a fight with our
" What's Mars Vincent up to this morn- family. Trying to get themselves into dein'? " suggests Cato, seeking to lull the ris- cent company that way. It's always been
ing storm with the oil of gossip.      so, ever since they came to this district;
"What is he up to?" demands Peyton always!  We had peace before.  Why,
Beaumont with a fierce roll of the eyes: —  Vincent, it's the most unprovoked insult
as much as to say, If anybody is up to any- that I ever heard of. What had you said?
thing without my permission, I'11 break his Nothing but what was- was socially allowhead.                                   able - parliamentary. And he to respond
" Flyin' roun' greasin' his pisti!s an' talk- with a brutality! No gentleman! A Beauin' softly with Mars Bent Armitage. Don' mont no gentleman!  By heavens, he delike the looks of it."                 serves to be shot on sight, shot at the first
Mr. Beaumont uttered an inarticulate street-corner, like a nigger-stealer.  He
growl and was clearly anxious to have the does n't deserve a duel. The code is too
dressing over. At last he was shaved; his good for him."
noble beard was combed and his martial   "That sort of thing won't do now, at
hair brushed upward; he rose with a strong least not among our set."
grip on the arms of his chair and slipped   "It did once. It did in my day. You
his arm into his extended coat. He was young fellows are getting so cursed fastidmuch improved in appearance from what he ious. Well, if it won't do, then - "
had been; he still looked fierce, but not un-   Mr. Beaumont took a sudden wheel and
couth, nor altogether uncourtly. One might walked the piazza in grave excitement.
say a gentlemanly Turk, or even a sultan; When he returned to face the young man,
for there is something patrician in the ex- he said with undisguisable anxiety: " Well,
pression and port of the man.           my boy! You know the duties of a gentleIn his long, columned piazza, whither he man. I don't see that I am permitted to inwent at once to get a breath of the morning terfere."
freshness which came in over his whitening   "I have put things into the hands of
cotton-fields, he met his eldest son, Vincent. Bentley Armitage," added Vincent.
The young gentleman was sauntering slowly,   " Very good.  Do as well as anybody,
his hands in the skirt-pockets of. his shoot- seeing his brother is n't here. Come, let us
ing-jacket, a pucker of thoughtfulness on his have breakfast."
brow, and the usual satirical smile rubbed   At the breakfast-table appeared only these
out. With dark, regular features, just a bit two men, and the second son, Poillsett.
pugnacious in expression, he resembled his There was not a white woman in the house,
father as a fresh young gamecock resembles though we must not blame Mr. Beaumont
an old one tattered by many a conflict.    for the deficiency, inasmuch as he had esA pleasant morning greeting was ex- poused and lost two wives, and had been
changed, the eyes of the parent softening at known to try at least once for a third. His
the sight of his son, and the latter brighten- eldest daughter, Nellie, was married to Raning with an air of confidence and cordiality. dolph Armitage, of Brownville District;
It was strange to see two such combative his only other daughter, Kate, and his siscreatures look so amiably upon each other. ter, Mrs. Chester, were, as we know, in
Clearly the family feeling was very strong Charleston.
among the Beaumonts.                      For some minutes Poinsett, a fat, tranInstead of shouting, " What's this about quil, pleasantly spoken, and talkative fellow
pistols? " as he had meant to do, Mr. Beau- of perhaps twenty-five, bore the expense (as
mont gently asked, "What's the news, the French say) of the conversation.
Vincent? "                               " Our feminine population will be home
Then came the story of the previous soon, I venture to hope," he said, among
evening's adventure. It was related to this other things. "Then, it is to be cheerfully
effect: there had been some ironical spar- believed, we shall come out of our slough of
ring between a Beaumont and a McAlister; despond. American men, if you will excuse
thereupon the McAlister had said, substan- me for saying so, are as dull and dry as
tially, " You are no gentleman."       the Devil. They manage matters better in
"How came you to go near the clown? " France, and on the Continent generally,
growled Peyton Beaumont, his hairy nos- and even in England. There, yes, even in
trils twitching and his thick eyebrows charg- England, common prejudice to the contrary
ing bayonets.                           notwithstanding, the genus homo is social.
"He approached me, while I was talking Conversation goes on in those countries. I
to Miss Jenny Devine."                  don't say but that we Southerners are ahead
Vincent did not think it the honorable of our Northern brethren; but even we
thing to explain that the young lady was bear traces of two hundred years in the formuch to blame for the unpleasantness.  est.  We do speak; there is much mono



KATE BEAUMONT.                                    39
roguing, and I perform my share of it; but   Mr. Beaumont was in a fit state to break
as for talking, quick interchange of ideas, glasses and overturn the table. His black
fair give and take, we are on a par with eyes were bloodshot; his bushy eyebrows
Cooper's noble savage. Let me hope that were dancing and pointing as if they were
I don't wound your patriotism.  I admit going through smallsword exercise; there
that I have an immoral lack of prejudices. was a dull flame of blood all over his dark
But I want to know if you don't find life cheeks and  yellowish  mottled  forehead.
here just a little dull? "                Vincent, the medical graduate of Paris,
"Why the deuce don't you go to work, surveyed his father through half-shut eyes,
then? " burst out IPeyton Beaumont. " Here and thought out the diagnosis, " Temporayou two fellows are as hizghly educated as rily insane."  There was no audible remonty can make you. You are a lawyer, sponse to the senior's good old-fashioned
graduated at Berlin.  Vincent is a doctor, Beaumont burst of rage.
graduated at Paris.  And yet you do noth-   After some minutes of silence, during
ing; never either of you had a case; don't which Poinsett smilingly poured himself a
want one."                                second cup of coffee (holding that he could
"AX1, work! that is dull too," admitted do it better than any waiter), the father
the smiling, imperturbable Poinsett. "Idle- recovered his composure somewhat, and
ness is dull; but work is duller. I confess added gravely: " Of course this is a serithat it is a sad fact, and painful to me to ous matter. I hope, trust, and believe that
consider it.  So let us change the subject. Vincent will receive no harm. If he does "
Mlost noble Vincent, you seem to be in the (here his eyebrows bristled again), i" I shall
doldrums this morning."                   take the field myself."
"lie has an affair on his hands," mut-   "We will see," smiled Poirisett.  "My
tered the father of the family.           impression is that my turn comes in some"A h!" said Poinsett, with a slight eleva- where."
tion of the eyebrows, comprehending per-   Here Cato, head waiter as well as valet,
fectly that a duel was alluded to.        put in his oar.
" Another McAlister impertinence," pur-   "That's so  Mars Poinsett.  We all
sued Mr. Beaumont, and proceeded to tell has our turn, fightin' these yere McAlisthe story with great savageness.          ters."
"Wallace!" exclaimed- Poinsett, "I confess   "Why, what have you been at, Cato?"
that I am the least bit surprised. I thought asked the young man.  "Challenging the
Wallace an amiable, soporific creature like Judge?  Or pulling the wool of his old
myself. But the spirit of the breed — the mauma? "
oversoul of the McAlisters —is too much' No, sah. Yah, yah. I don' go roun'
for his individuality.  We are drops in a challengin' white folks; knows my business
river. I shall fight, too, some day, though better.  An' when I pulls wool, I pulls he
I don't at all crave it. Vincent, if I can do wool.  Jes had a tackle yesterday with
anything for you, I am entirely at your ser- Matt McAlister, the Judge's ole man that
vice."                                    waits on him. Matt he sets out,'cause he's
Vincent's smile was noticeably satirical. yaller, an' comes from Virginny, that he's
He was disagreeably amused with Poinsett's better than we is, we Souf Carliny niggahs.
coolness over another's duel.  And he did So every time I sees him  I sasses him.
not believe that Poinsett could be easily Yesr mornin', I meets him  down to the
got to fight.                             sto' — Mars Bill Wilkins's sto', don' ye
"I suppose that Bent Armitage will do know?- kinder lookin' roun' for bar'l o'
all that is necessary," he said.          flour.' So,' says I,  Boss,' says I,' how is
"Let us hop- that the loading of the pis- things up to your ole shanty?'  He's a
tols will be all that is necessary," replied kinder gray ole fellow, don' ye know? pultPoinsett.  " Let us hope that Wally will tin' on airs like he was Noah, an' treatin'
bend his stiff knees, and confess that we everybody like they's childern, rollin' his
march at the head of civilization."       eyes out o' the corners kinder, an' crossin'
"By heavens, I want him shot," broke in his arms jes as the Judge does.  So he
Beaumont the elder. "I can't understand looked at me, an', says he,'Boy, who is
you young fellows, with your soft notions. you?' Says I,' I'm Cato Beaumont.' So
I belong to the old sort.  There used to be says he,' I thought it mought be some o'
shooting in my day. Here is the most un- that breedin'.' Says I,'I was jes happenprovoked and brutal outrage that I ever in' down here to teach you your manners.'
heard of. This beast calls a Beaumont no So says he,' Boy, my manners was learned
gentleman. And here you hope there'll be befo' you ever heerd they was sech things.'
an apology, an(. that end it. I want Vin- Then I kinder tripped him, an' he kinder
cent to hit hi~n. I want the fellow shelved; tripped me, an' then I squared off and
I don't care if he's killed; by heavens, I fotched back, an' says I —"
don't."                                     " Why did n't you hit him? " roared the




40                          RKATIE BEAUMONT.
Hon. Mr. Beaumont, who ha(l been listen- exclaimed Beaumont, holding her back at
ing with great interest. "What did you arm's length to worship her.
say another word for? "                   Vincent and Poinsett already stood by
"I was jes gwine to tell you what I said," waiting their turns for an embrace. It was
returned Cato. "But now,'fore gracious, clear enough that, whatever defects there
you done made me forget it. I said a heap might be in this Beaumont breed, the lack
to him."                                of family feeling was not one of them.
" And so there was n't any fight after all,"   Meantime Mrs. Chester and Tom were
inferred the smiling Poinsett.  "And no- coming through the house, the former chatbody got hurt. Heaven favors the brave."  tering steadily in a high, joyful soprano, and
"It did-n't'zactly come to a wrastle," the latter roaring his lion-cub content in
confessed Cato. "But I'specs it would, fobr slangy exclamations.
I was gittin' powerful mad: only jes as I   The scene contrasted with the pistol pracwas thinkin' o' gwine at him one o' Mars tice of the oak grove somewhat as paradise
Wikins's clerks come cat, an' says he, contrasts with the inferno.' Boys, don' make so much noise'; an' so I   Of the paradise and the inferno, which is
quit."                                  to win?
Beaumont senior gave forth a mild growl
of disapprobation, as deeply mellow as the
anger of waters in caves of the sea-shore.
"Cowardly niggers," was one sound which              CHAPTER X.
came from him; and yet, although he despised negroes for being cowardly, he did   "WHY didn't you write that you had
not blame them for it; he knew that chiv- reached Charleston? " demanded Mr. Beaualry, prowess, and the like were properly mont, when the first tornado of greeting
white man's business.                   had blown over.' I have been very anxHalf an hour after breakfast pistol-shots ious for the last few days," added this affecresounded from an oak grove in the rear of tionate old gladiator.
the mansion. Vincent was practising; had   " Write?  Did write," answered Tom.
a board five feet eight inches high planted.' Sent off a three-decker of a letter. You'll
in the ground; hit the upper part of it with get it in an hour or so. Came up in the
fascinating accuracy.  "' Getting my hand same train with us probably. The mail serin," he remarked to his father when the vice is n't worth a curse. But hain't you
latter came out to look on; and presently got your papers?  So you don't know anythe elder gentleman became interested, and thing about the shipwreck?  Shipwrek!
made a few exemplary shots himself. The Yes.  Do you think I'd come home in
two men were in the midst of this cheering Charleston store-clothes if I had n't been
recreation when Cato came running upon shipwrecked?  Trunks and steamer gone
them w;th frantic gestures and a yell of to the bottom of What's-his-name's locker."
"Mars Peyt!  Stage come!  Miss Kate   And then came the story, Mrs. Chester
come! "                                  and Tom telling it at once, the former in a
"What's that, you rascal?" roared Beau- steady gush of keen treble, and the latter
mont, his grim face suddenly transformed in boisterous ejaculatory barytone. We will
into the likeness of something half angelic, pass over this two-horse narrative, and
so honest and pure and fervent was its joy. come promptly to the amazement of Mr.
Plunging a hairy hand into his pocket, he Peyton Beaumont when he learned that
drew out a grip of coins, threw them at the there had been a McAlister on board the
ne ro, and started for the house on a run Mersey, breaking bread daily with his siswhich knocked him out of his wind in ter and his children.
twenty paces. Then he halted, and shouted   " What the - Why the -" he commenced
back, " Vincent, hide those pistols. Cato, and recommenced.  Then; like a pistolif you say a word about this business, I'11 shot, " How did he behave himself? "
skin you."                                His eyes began to flame and his phalanxes
Then away again, on a plethoric canter, of eyebrows to bring down their pikes, in
to meet his youngest daughter, his darling.  suspicion of some insult which he would be
In the rear piazza of the house a tall and called upon to avenge.
lovely girl rushed into his arms with a cry   " Did n't know  him at first," explained
of "Father!" to which he responded with Tom.  "Did n't find him  out till — till I
a sound which was much like a sob of glad- got ashore. Played possum. Incognito."
ness.  There were tears of joy shed by   "Incognito!" trumpeted Mr. Beaumont.
somebody; it was impossible to say whether " The scoundrel!"
they came from Kate's eyes or from her   " Incognito!" repeated Vincent and Poinfather's; but they were dried between their sett, exchanging a look which also said,
nestling, caressing cheeks.             " The scoundrel! "
"Why, Kate 1 what a woman you are  "   Kate flushed deeply; of course she re



KATE BEAUMONT.                                  41
membered the offer of marriage and the Mrs. Chester, bewildered by some blarney
salvation from death; but either she did of the Major's (who had told her that Frank
not think it wise at that moment to speak raved - " Yes, my dear madam, fairly
in the young man's defence, or she could raved" - about her) seized an opportunot muster the courage.                  nity to meet the handsome youngster in
" And he dared to make your acquaint- one of the passages. There he explained
ance under his incognito! " clarioned away the motives of his incognito, expressed his
the senior Beaumont.  "I never heard of respect for, the Beaumont name, and sagasuch infamous trickery, never!  It's the ciously added some incense for herself. Of
most outrageous insult that ever our family course, too, he was wise enough not to say a
was subjected to. By heavens, I am stu- word about his offer to her niece. The repefied. I can't believe it. And yet it is suit of this conversation, and of some judiso like a McAlister. A mean, sneaking, un- cious remarks from Kate on the way up to
derhanded lot. Possums! Foxes! Ca-ts! " Hartland, was that Mrs. Chester (very weak
This last word in a hiss and with a brist- on the subject of yonggmen, remember) was
ling worthy of the most belligerent of old half inclined to borget the family feud and
Toms.                                    quite willing to say a good word for Frank
"I say," began Tom. Then he turned to Mc Alister.
the two women.  "Now look here. You   "I at least acquit him of bad motives,"
two ought to tell how the thing went. It'11 she spunkily added, firing up under her
come best from a lady," explained Tom, brother's glare of angry amazement.
who did not think that a male Beaumont   "Just so," put'in Tom. " The chap did
ought to be a peacemaker, not at least in a play possum, but I don't believe he meant
matter of McAlisters.                    any harm. Said he wanted to keep out of a
" It certainly was very singular conduct," quarrel, and 1 feel bound to believe him."
twittered Mrs. Chester. "I was excessively   " Then he must be a coward," scoffed
indignant when. I first discovered the mys- Beaumont senior.
tery. But -"                               "Scarcely," said Tom.  "Did n't show
" But what? " broke in Beaumont senior. that style. Tell him about it, aunt, or sis,
"What the d- dickens are you driving at? " one of you."
Kate, who was sitting on a sofa beside   "Papa, he saved my life," whispered Kate,
her father, slipped her hand around his hler voice failing at thought of that awful
neck, pulled his red-granite cheek toward monignt. " I went ten feet under water."
her and kissed it. She remembered what a   Her father caught her as if he himself
pet she had been in her childhood, and she was rescuing her from death.
had perceived within the last few minutes   " You went - ten feet - under water! "
that she was a pet still, and she felt now  he gasped. And he looked for a momont
that it was time to begin to use her power. as if he could cry ten feet of water at the
Beaumont fondled her with his mighty arm, thought of her danger and deliverance.
and uttered a chastened, not unmelodious   "And he saved her, after I'd lost her,"
growl like that of a panther at the approach added Tom, walking up to Kate and kissing
of his favorite keeper.                  her. " I tell you, I ain't a going to be very
"But the truth is," continued Mrs. Ches- hard on a fellow that did that. He went
ter, " it is a very strange story, I am aware. clean under, slap into the middle of the
It seems incredible, in one of that family. ocean, right off' the stern of the wreck;"
But I really believe the young man had   "By heavens!" uttered Mr Beaumont.
good motives."                           It was almost a groan; his solid old heart
The truth further is, that Mrs. Chester was throbbing unusually; he felt as if he
had had a few pleasant words of explana- were going to have a stroke of some sort.
tion and of parting with " the young man " Presently he lookedup, his swarthy-red forein the hall of the Charleston Hotel. Tom  head wrinkled all over with perplexity, and(
had not called on Frank McAlister; no, gave Vincent a stare which said, " How
Tom could not shoulder the responsibility about that duel?"
of such a move as that; he must leave the   The young man's habitual smile of selfwhole matter to the elders of his tribe. sufficiency and satire was gone. Respecta"Look here, now," he had said to Major bly affected for the moment, he earnestly
Lawson, when the latter suggested the wished that the difficulty with Wallace had
visit; "I ain't ungrateful to the chap for not happened, and queried whether he were
saving my sister's life; but then you know  not bound, as a gentleman, to fire in the air.
the bloody old row; he's a McAlister, you'But what is your opinion about this busisee."  And then the Major had replied: ness, Kate? " asked Poinsett. " You have
" My de-ar young fellow, you are, I have no said nothing."
doubt, perfectly judicious; see your ex-   The girl threw off her beautiful timidity,
eel-lent father first."                  and spoke out with beautiful firmness: —
But woman may do what man must not.   "Of course, I am under the greatest obli,
6




42                           KATE BEAUMONT.
gations to Mr. McAlister. And, even if I   Mrs. Chester rustled her skirts in perwere not, I should have nothing to say plexity, and Tom's eyes asked counsel of his
against him. I don't know whether he did father.
right or not in concealing his name -"     " My dear Kate, don't be flustered," said
4" He did n't," Mr. Beaumont could not Poinsett, seeing that the child looked frighthelp muttering, while Vincent and Poinsett ened at the sensation she had created.
shook their chivalrous heads.            " What you have said was a perfectly nat"But that began with an accident," con- ural thing to say, and, from the usual hutinued Kate. "; The captain made a mis- man point of view, a perfectly rational one.
take: he thought McAlister was McMaster; At the same time I suspect that we Beauand then he let it go so. He said that he monts, not being of the ordinary human
did it for the sake of peace; and I believe mould, are not fitted to discuss such a prophim. He seemed to be a gentleman. I be- osition without time for meditation. I aplieve every word he said."               prehend that we had better lay it aside until
" So do I," added Mrs. Chester, remem- our eyes have somewhat recovered fronom the
bering how tall he was, and what a fine first dazzle. Suppose you proceed, some
complexion he had.                       one of you, or all three of you, with the
"And I," confirmed Tom, rather hesitat- shipwreck."
ingly, as if it were not quite the thing for a   The counsel seemed to suit the feelings
Beaumont to say.                         of every one. Mr. Beaumont stopped his
" We are in what vulgar people call a walk, nestled down again by his daughter's
fix," laughed that easy old shoe of a Poin- side, and listened quietly to the threefold
sett. "My dear little Kate," playing with narrative.  Not another word concerning
her chestnut ringlets, " if lie had n't saved the feud was said during the interv ew.
you, we should have gone mad, every soul of   But, two hours later, the story of thte duel
us. Nofurther use for our sanity. But since got wind among the new-comers.  Mrs.
he has saved you, we are in sloughs of per- Chester, seated in her room amid old dresses
plexity. My respected father and my much- which it was now necessary to make over.
esteemed brothers (descendants of the De listened to a stream  of respectable gossip
Beaumonts of Yvetot and other places), we from her ancient maid and foster-sister, Miare threatened with the loss of our family riam, a tall, dignified, and of course middleinstitution, our race palladium. The feud aged negress, leaner and graver than is
with the McAlisters has been to us more usual with her species.
than our coat of arms. I may almost call it   "Laws, Miss Marian!" said Miriam,
the Beaumont established religion.  It is using the girlish title which she had always
impossible to conceal the fact that it has re- given to her born mistress.' Skacelv a
ceived a rude shock.  Are we to drop away thing to wear! And all them trunks full of
from the creed of our forefathers? Are we beautiful things gone to the bottom of the
to have no faith? A merely human mind -  sea! Well, honey, it's a warnin' of the
such as I grieve to say mine is - recoils at Lord's not to set our hearts on the vanities
the prospect."                           of this world.  We oughter feel mighty
Vincent, somewhat recovered from  his grateful to him when he takes the trouble
first emotion, gazed through half-shut eyes to warn us. The blessed Lord he's been
at the joker, and inclined once more to fight powerful good to ye, Miss Marian. Must n't
his duel seriously. Beaumont senior got up, forgit he's saved yer life, honey. Gin ye
strode like a lion about the room, glared one more chance to set yer face straight for
once or twice at Poinsett, and growled, his city. An' perhaps he had other plans,
"This isjesting, sir, on avery serious matter." too. Perhaps he saw ye was comin' to a
"I understand my brother," struck in time when ye wouldn't be able to wear the
Kate, with a clear, sweet, firm note, which fine fixin's. We'se no idea gin'lly, how
sounded like a challenge from a cherub's keerfully the Lord looks after us."
clarion, if cherubs carry such an article.   " What do you mean, Miriam? " demanded
" Why should n't the quarrel end? "     Mrs. Chester,, pettishly. (' Do you mean to
All the men stared. Even Poinsett had say I'm getting old? I don't see it."
not meant half so much. The words were   "Laws, honey, you's young enough.
audacious beyond any remembered standard Never see no lady hold out better'n you do.
of comparison. Words of such import had Must say it: that's a fact. But I'se talkin'
perhaps never before been uttered in the of somethin' more solemn than growin' old.
family.                                  You may be called on fo' long, if the Lord
Mr. Beaumont halted abruptly, and gave don't help in his mighty mercy, to put on
the girl a look of astonishment and inquiry mournin'."
which seemed to ask, " Have we a queen    "Who's sick? " demanded Mrs. Chester,
over us?"                               more curious than anxious.
Poinsett made a gesture of taking off a   "It's Mars Vincent is sick. He's sick
hlt, and whispered smilingly, "' Portia 1 "    with sin an' wrath an' anger. Perhaps he's




KATE BEAUMONT.                                  43
sick unto death. They's gwine to be another She had forgotten her usual gossiping induel, Miss Marian."                     terest in duels. She was leaning back in
Mrs. Chester loked up from  her old her arm-chair, reflecting with a seriousness
dresses; duels had always been very inter- which wrinkled her fbrehead more than she
esting to her. She had been the cause of would have liked, had she seen it.
two, and they were pleasant remembrances.   "Miriam, we must try to stop this," was
She liked to hear of such things and to her conclusion.
talk of them, as much as that non-comba-   " Why, bless your darlin' heart! " burst
tant hero-worshipper, Major Lawson.      out the negress. "Why, laws bless you,
"They've been tryin' to keep it shet honey!  Has the blessed Lord touched
from you an' Miss Katy," continued Miriam. your sperit at last? Never heerd you say
"' Mars Vincent tole Cato he'd boot him, if that sort o' thing befo', never.  Stop it?
he let on. But I'm gwine to tell of it, an' Why, we'll try, honey, hopin' the Lord'11
I'm gwine to bear my witness agin it. It's help us. But how's we gwine to work?'
Satan's works, this yere duelling is, an' Who's we to go at?"
I'm gwine to say so. I don't care who'Go and call Miss Kate," ordered Mrs.
hears me. Mars Vincent may boot me if he Chester.
likes, I ain't afeard of bootin;."         "Miss Katy?   That poor, dear, little
"Vincent sha' n't hurt you," declared thing?  Gwine to tell her about it, an' she
Mrs. Chester, with that feeling of loyalty jes come home this very day?"
towards an adherent which made a South-   "Go and call her," repeated Mrs. Cheserner of old days fight for his slave, and ter, who cared little for any one's feelings,
makes a Southerner of these days fight for so that she compassed her ends.
his dlog.                                  Kate came in, hair down and shoulders'That's you, Miss Marian.  I know'd bare, more charming than usual. Elderly
you'd say jest that. But you need n't git Miriam  devoured her with her eyes, but
mad on my'count.  The Lord he'll take kept a discreet silence as to her lovelicare of me. Bless your soul, he allays does. ness, remembering " Miss Marian's " jealous
But about this duelling. It's Satan's works, spirit. The story of the duel was told.
as I'se sayin' ever sence the Lord had   "O dear!" was the brief utterance of
mercy on me, though you don't think so. Kate's vast sorrow  and despair, as she
You has white folkses notions, all for seated herself on a stool and clutched her
fightin' an' shootin'. It's Satan's works, an' hands over her knees.
I've prayed agin it; prayed many a time   "Laws bless you, chile.! " was the answerthere might never be another duel in this ing groan of Miriam. " I did n' want Miss
fam'ly; prayed for this poor bloodstained Marian to go for to tell you.  The Lord
fam'ly, all covered with blood an' wounds; help this poo' fam'ly! Allays in trouble! "
duels on duels an' allays duels, ever sence I   "' But do you think he'11 be shot? " asked
can'member; never hear of no sech folks Kate.
for it. But'pears like Satan's got the upper   " What, Mars Vincent?  Dear me, chile,
hands of my prayers, an' here's Mars Vin- he may be. He's been shot twice."
cent led away by him, prehaps to his own   "But can't it be stopped? "
destruction."                              "That is what I called you in for," said
" But who is it with? " demanded Mrs. Mrs. Chester. "I don't believe this quarrel
Chester, vastly more interested in the news rests upon anything very important. I think
than in the sermonizing which accompa- it ought to be stopped. I do, indeed, Beaunied it.                                 mont as I am, and Beaumont all over. But
" With Wally McAlister, that other poo' who's to stop it? What can you do  "?
fightin' creetur, the Lord have mercy on his   " Can't my grandfather do something?"
soul! "                                 suggested the girl.' McAlister! " exclaimed Mrs. Chester, in  "' The very man!" shouted and laughed
sudden excitement, not at all pleasurable.   Miriam, jumping up from her squatting pos-; Yes.  Some mis'able chipper at the ture on the floor and waving her arms as if
Presbyterian fair, not enough for two gos- in benediction. " Jes the very man. Send
lins to hiss about. Mars Vincent he kinder over for Colonel Kershaw. Laws me, when
sassed WVally, an' then Wally he kinder I'se in trouble, I goes first to the Lord, an'
sassed Mars Vincent, and now Bent Armi- he gen'rally sends me to Colonel Kershaw.
tage he's been over with the challenge, an' Why did n' I ever think of him  befo'?
it's to be some time this week. An' jes's Specs I'se gittin' old an' foolish."
likely's not one o' them poo' silly creeturs'11   "Yes, your grandfather will come into
be standin' befo' the bar of God befo' play very nicely," said Mrs. Chester, who'nother Sunday comes roun'. Won't be able did not fancy the old gentleman overmuch,
to call the Judge out there, if the judgment principally because she was somewhat afraid
don't suit him."                         of him.
Mrs. Chester had dropped her dresses.   "I'11 cut right out an' start off a nigger




44                           KATE BEAUMONT.
after him," volunteered Miriam. " You, Miss   There was a little scream and rustle beKaty, you jes write him a little letter, askin' hind him; it was the cry and the approach
him  to come right away to see you, jes of-girlish love. The next moment Kate,
saved from shipwreck, you know. Tell him  always a worshipper of her grandfather and
not to fail on no account; you wants to see still fanatical in the old faith, was on his
him powerful, this very day."            shoulder and in his arms.
In ten minutes a mounted negro was gal-   "Why, my dear little child!" said the
loping over the few miles of country which old man. " Why, my grand young lady!"
separated the Beaumont from the Kershaw  he added, setting her back to get a fair
plantation.  Late in  the afternoon the view of her. " Ah, I never shall hold you
Colonel arrived, bringing with him  our in my lap again," he changed, one more of
gracious friend, Major Lawson.           the joys of life gone. " Shall I? shall I?"
Colonel John Kershaw was one of those he laughed when she told him that he would.
noble souls who look all their nobility.   Next Major Lawson seized the girl, clingIn his youth he had been a very handsome ing to and patting her hand and staring at
man, and( at eighty he was venerably beau- her face and smiling.  "Beautiful creatiful.  His long aquiline face, strangely ture!" he murmured.  "Beautiful creawrinkled into deep furrows which were ture!" he whispered.  " Beau-ti-ful creaalmost folds, was a sublime composition of ture! " he sighed into silence. But he was
dignity, serenity, and benevolence.  You in earnest, not flattering purposely nor even
would have been tempted to say that a consciously; quite out of himself and quite
great sculptor could not have imagined any- sincere.  "How like your mother! " he
thing better suited to typify an intelligent, continued to flute.  "Dear me, how like
good, and grand old age. Indeed, this head your grandfather!  Colonel, your image!
had been wrought patiently with both great Your continuator.  All your virtues and
strokes and tender touches by the mightiest more than your graces! "
of all sculptors.  Perhaps no man ever   Notwithstanding the differences of sex
looked upon it without feeling that it called and years, the resemblance between the
for entire confidence and respect. Its moral two faces was indeed remarkable. Looking
grandeur of expression was heightened by at the old man, you could see where the
the crown of nearly snow-white, though still girl got her almost sublime expression of
abundant hair which rose from the deeply dignity, purity, and sweetness.
channelled forehead, and swept down over   "' 0, go long, she's all Kershaw," solilohis massive neck. Even the stoop which quized black Miriam, her arms akimbo,
diminished the height of his tall figure worshipping the pair.  "An' her mother
seemed to add to the spiritual impressive- was, too, poor thing!  Though how  she
ness of his appearance.                  could marry sech a tearer as Mars Peyt,
Colonel Kershaw's countenance perfectly beats me.  Wal, women is women, an'
expressed his character.  He was one of they's most all fools, specially when it
those simple, pure, honorable, sensible coun- comes to marryin'. I s'pose it's for some
try gentlemen (of whom one meets more wonderful good end, or the Lord he would n'
perhaps in our Southern States than in make'em so."
most other portions of this planet) who   In short, the Colonel had an ovation from
strike one as having a reserve of moral and. the whole household, male and female, white,
intellectual power too great for their chances black, and yellow.  Beaumont senior was
of action, and who lead one to trust that almost petulant with jealousy, as he often
WTashingtons will still be forthcoming when had been before on such occasions; for he,
their country needs.  For the readers of too, domineering and passionate as he was,
this story it is perhaps a sufficient proof of desired to be worshipped, especially by his
the weight and humanity of his influence, youngest daughter.
that, since his daughter had married a   Presently the visitors were led away by
Beaumont, there had been only two duels grinning negroes to their rooms over the
between that race  and the McAlisters, columned veranda, which ran along the
although there had been endless political whole front of the mansion. Half an hour
differences and other bickerings. In doing later, when the Colonel had washed off' the
this much towards quelling the family feud, dust of travel and combed his noble mane of
it was generally acknowledged that Colonel silver, there was a little tap at his door and
Kershaw had done wonders.                a silvery call, " Grandpapa.","How do you do, Beaumont? " he said   The old man started with pleasure; he
in a deep, tremulous, mellow voice. "I had been wondering whether she would
have come to stay a day or so with you, and come to him; he had thought of it several
I knew you would be glad to see Lawson, times.
who had just arrived to cheer me up. So   " Why, come in, my darling! " and openMrs. Chester, and Kate, and Tom have got ing the door for her, he led her proudly to a
home?  Where are the dear people?"    chair.




KATE BEAUMONT.                                  45
"Do you want anything?" she asked.                 CHAPTER  XI.
"I am housekeeper," she added with a smile,
shaking a bunch of keys.                   WITH  slow, heavy steps Colonel Ker"And Mrs. Chester?  I hope she is not shaw descended the stairs, seeking for some
discontented."                           one who would aid him in preventing the
"Papa settled the thing himself.  You duel.
know papa. But I don't think aunt cares   Meeting the head of the family, he took
for the trouble.  So we are all pleased. his arm, -led him out upon the lawn in front
But O, I am so delighted to see you! And of the house, and asked, "Beaumont, when
you have n't changed; you are so like your- is this affair between Vincent and Wallace
self.  Is n't it nice that grandpapas don't McAlister to come off? "
grow?  I am going to be silly with you; I   " O, so you have heard of it! " stared
am going to behave very little. You make Beaumont. " I am sorry. Come off? I unme feel just like a child again. I want to derstand it is to be day after to-morrow."
sit in your lap as I used to do. Just this   "It is a very unfortunate business, Beauonce, at any rate."                      mont.  Under the circumstances, doubly
She installed herself on her throne, unfortunate. Only a few days ago Frank
slipped a hand over his shoulder and smiled McAlister saved Kate's life.  And now
in his face.                             Frank's brother and Kate's brother are to
" Is n't it doleful for you to live all alone? shoot each other."
I wish our houses could be moved alongside   "Yes, by heavens it is unfortunate!"
each other. I hate to think of you all admitted Beaumont with loud candor, very
alone."                                  creditable to him.  "It's a devilish ugly' I have my land and my people to take piece of business, under the circumstances.
care of, dear. The time passes. Perhaps It's, by heavens, the awkwardest thing in
I am all the more fond of my friends for be- my experience. I wish it had n't happened.
ing a little lonely. Lawson was really very I wish- under the  circumstances, you
kind to come and see me. I was quite understand —that Vincent was honorably
obliged to him."                         out of it. That insolent, boorish, blasted
"Grandpapa, I am going to trouble you," McAlister ought to apologize.  A more
was the girl's next speech. Her face sud- villanous, brutal insult I never heard of.
denly lost the petting, gleeful, childlike ex- Calling a Beaumont no gentleman! Good
pression which had shone from it hitherto. heavens!"  Here his eyebrows bristled,
It assumed womanliness; it ripened at once and he breathed short and hard with rage.
into a grave maturity; it was dignified, anx- "But, under the circumstances, I would
ious, and yet remained beautiful; perhaps say take his apology," he resumed. "Yes,
it was even more lovely than before.     Colonel, I've come to that.  I have, in" It is too bad in me, but I must worry deed."
you," she went on. " There are very seri-   And Mr. Beaumont seemed to think he
ous matters passing here. There is to be a had come a long way in the path of peace
duel, grandpapa."                        and good-will toward men.
"A duel! " he repeated, his noble old phys-   "But, if no apology arrives, then what? 
iognomy becoming still nobler with regret.  gravely inquired the octogenarian.
" It is a quarrel between Vincent and   "Why then, I don't see —  What can
Wallace McAlister."                      Vincent do?  He's pinned. No getting
" The old story," murmured the Colonel, out of it. Must go out. Good heavens! I
shaking his head at bloody reminiscences. don't want him to fight. But a gentleman
" My child, tell me all you know about it. can't accept such language. You know as
We may be able to prevent it."           well as I do, Colonel, that he can't."
" But first I must tell you something else,"   " But under the circumstances," persisted
she said, blushing slightly.  "There are Kershaw, not domineeringly, but meditaspecial reasons why a duel between the fam- tively.
ilies should not happen now. It would be, I   "Yes, I know, - the circumstances,"
think, a great scandal."                 almost groaned Beaumont. " We are unThen she hurried through the story of her der obligations to those people. First time,
salvation from death by Frank McAlister.  by heavens! But so it is.  And, as I said,
"My dear, Lawson told me this," said I'd like to have the thing settled, of course
the Colonel. " Yes, as you think, a duel honorably."
would be a scandal. It would be not only a   He was not a little in awe of the old
crime, but a shame. I will see your brother. gentleman.  Kershaw had long ago fought
I will go at once."                      duels, and, moreover, he had served gal"O, thank you!  You will succeed," lantly in the war of 1812; thus he was a
cried Kate, her face flushing with hope.    chevalier sans reproche in the eyes of fight"Let us hope so. But I may not. This ing men, and even Beaumonts must respect
old, old quarrel 1"                      his record.  Such a gentleman, too; he




46                          KATE BEAUMONT.
could no more counsel an unworthy deed man's easy salute. " Glad to see you lookthan he could do it; it was not supposed ing so hearty, sir."
that he could so much as conceive of any-   "You are well, I hope, sir? " bowed Kerthing dishonorable. And here he was medi- shaw. " And your brother and his wife? "
tating, and evidently meditating how  to   " All peart, I thank you. Never betstop the duel, and so keeping his son-in-law ter."
on the anxious seat.  At last came his   Bentley was a tall young man, rather too
decision, uttered in the impressive tones of slender to be well built, with a swinging,
old age, - tones which gave it the weight free-and-easy carriage.  He had a round
of an oracle.                          face, a moderately dark complexion, a deep
"I think, Beaumont, that, considering and healthy color, coarse and long chestnut
what we owe to the McAlisters, Vincent hair, and a small curling mustache.  The
might honorably withdraw the challenge, as- smile with which he spoke was a very curisigning our obligation as the cause of the ous one, being marked by a drawing up of
withdrawal."                            the right corner of his mouth into the
"You don't mean it!" gasped Beaumont. cheek, wbich gave it an almost unpleas"Withdraw the challenge! Why, Colonel, antly quizzical expression. There was somewhy, good heavens! "                 thing odd, something provincial, or one
All his respect for the old man (and he might say old-fashioned, in his tone of voice
d;d respect him above any other being that and pronunciation; but you were disposed
he knew of) could hardly keep him from  to infer from his manner that this peculiarity
exploding with anger.                   was the result of an affectation, rather than'" That is my advice," proceeded Ker- of a lack of habit of good society. It was
shaw, gently.'You know who I am and evident enough that he used such rural
what my opinion is worth. I solemnly be- terms as " peart " and " hearty " in the way
lieve that, in withdrawing the challenge on of slang.
that ground, Vincent would not only do a   "Excuse me, Mr. Armitage, for being
gentlemanly thing, but would do the only direct with you," said Kershaw. " I underthing that a gentleman in his position should stand that you are the second of Vincent in
do."                                   this affair with Wallace McAlister."
Beaumont was cowed by this great au-   "Just so, Colonel," replied Bent, striding
thority, and, after some further ejaculations, along beside the old man, and speaking
lapsed into perplexed silence.          as composedly as if it were a question of
" Are you willing, my dear Beaumont, possum-hunting. His gait, by the way, was
that I should advise Vincent to this step? " singular, his right foot coming down at every
inquired the Colonel.                   step with a slap. as if it were an ill-hung'~ Well, well, have it your own way," re- wooden one. This was the result of a shot
turned the other, a little impatiently. "' You received in a duel (he generally spoke of it
ought to know; of course you do know. I as his snake-bite), which had caused a parput the whole matter in your hands. You tial paralysis of the lifting muscle.
have my consent, if you can get Vincent's.   Kershaw now repeated what he had said
But for God's sake, Culonel, remember that to Beaumont, advising and urging that Vinthe honor of the family is in your hands."  cent should withdraw his challenge.
He writhed as if he were handing over   "I don't think that cock would fight,
his whole fortune to be the gage of some Colonel." coolly judged Bentley. "I allow
more than doubtful speculation.        due weight to the motive which you suggest.
" If the step is taken, I will make it known It is a hefty one.  But withdrawing a chalthat it is taken by my advice," promised lenge, without a previous withdrawal of the
Kershaw.                               affront, is a step which has no sufficing pre"Ah!" breathed Beaumont, much re- cedent, at least so far as I know. I prelieved.                                sume that, if it were left to my principal, he
"' Who is Vincent's second? " asked the would not consent to it."
Colonel.                                 "tI am speaking with the knowledge of'Bentley Armitage. And there — speak Mr. Beaumont senior," continues the paof the Devil, you know - there he comes. tient and persevering peacemaker. " Have
Well now, you won't mind my quitting you any objection to my discussing this
you; you won't take it hard, Kershaw?  I point with Vincent in your presence?"
don't object to your proposition; but I   ":Not the slightest, Colonel. Walk this
don't want to be responsible for it"   way. We'11 nose him out in the oak grove,
" I thank you, Beaumont, for letting me I reckon. You see, Colonel, aside from
assume the responsibility."            other considerations, this move might be
And so they parted, the Honorable dodg- taken  advantage of by the McAlisters.
ing shamefacedly into the house, and the They might do bales of bragging over it.
Colonel ad(vancing to meet Armitage.   Just imagine old Antichrist blowing his
" Colonel, good evening," was the young trumpet."




KATE BEAUM ONT.                                 47
"Who? " inquired the elder, with a puz- to subordinate myself too entirely to the -
zled and rather shocked stare.           we will say duties of the family. After I
"I beg pardon. I mean Judge MeAlister. have obtained my personal reparation from
It's a poor joke which pleases our friend, Mr. Wallace McAlister, I am willing to
Mr. Beaumont. — It's a compliment to enter into an expression of our common
your mas'r, anyway," he added with a obligation to Mr. Frank McAlister. What
smile, addressing Miriam, who was just then does my second think?"
passing the couple.                        "Just to oblige the Colonel," explained
" Ah, Mars Bent!" replied the pious Bentley, "I agree to throw the affair ennegress. " You best quit that kind o' jokin' tirely out of my hands, and replace it enbefob' you gits into t' other world. You may tirely in yours. That is, with your perlaugh on t' other side o' your mouf yet, mission, you understand. So why not play
Mars Bent."                              your own cards, Vincent?"
Bentley took his reproof good-humoredly,   "Come  into  the  house, gentlemen,"
curling up his odd smile into the dimple of begged the Colonel.
h s right cheek, and nodding pleasantly to   "Why so? " asked Vincent.
Mi iam.                                    "The affair is a family affair. I must
"There's Vincent," was his next remark. beg leave to insist upon that view of it. It
"Hul-loo, there! Hold your horses.- Col- is so complicated with family obligations
onel, excuse me for yelling. My clapper and proprieties, that it cannot be treated
doesn't work well to-day. I mean my separately.  Such is my opinion and such
right foot; it flops more than usual. I call will be public opinion. Let me beg of you
it my clapper, and the other one my clip- to discuss it in family council. I ask this as
per."                                    a personal favor. I ask it as a great favor."
"( Can't that trouble be cured? " inquired   If Kershaw's request was a strange one,
Kershaw, with honest interest.           and if he supported it by neither precedent
"; Don't suppose it. In fact, know it can't. nor sufficient argument, it must be rememI am doctor enough to know that."        bered that he was very old and very good,
Yes, Bentley was a physician; had grad- and was, in short, the most venerable being
uated at Philadelphia.  By the way, it is whom these two young men knew. After a
perfectly amazing how many medical gen- brief hesitation, Vincent nodded an unwilltlemen there are in the South. A literary ing assent, and the three walked back to the
fi-ienl tells me th:tt, during a six months' house. Passing the door of the diningexperience among the smaller towns and room, Bentley Armitage, who was lagging a
ruder taverns of the slave States, he slept little behind the others because of his
with nearly a hundred doctors. Concerning "snake-bite," was arrested  by a vision.
Bentley it is almost needless to add, that, Kate was looking out upon him, beautiful
being a planter of considerable means, he enough to fascinate him and eager enough
never prescribed, except for his own ne- to flatter him.
groes.                                     "Mr. Armitage," she called,- in her
"I should be very glad to obtain your anxiety it was a whisper, - unmeant, but
influence on the side of peace in this affair," intoxicating compliment.
continued Kershaw. "' We are both con-  "' Miss Beaumont."  And Bentley bowed
nections of the family."                 in the stiff way common to men with " game
"Exactly, Colonel," answered Bentley, legs." " My relative, I venture to put it.
remembering with the utmost nonchalance 1 have n't had the pleasure of meeting you
that his brother Randolph was the husband before in five years."
of Peyton  Beaumont's eldest daughter.   " Yes, and I have grown and all that,"
"We!l, I will say this much, that I've no replied Kate, trying to laugh and look coobjection to any course that my principal quettish, for she was hysterically eager to
will accept."                            please him.
Half disgusted with this cool and irrev-   "Mr. Armitage, after five years, the first
eretit youngster, Kershaw pushed on in thing is that I want a favor of you."
thoughtful silence, and soon met Vincent.   "To hear is to obey," said  Bentley,
" A proposition," was Bentley's brief in- quoting from  the " Arabian  Nights," —
tro luction to the matter in hand. "The favorite reading of his.
Colonel has something to suggest which I   Desperation made Kate eager, audacious,
approve of his suggestin."               and straightforward.
Vincent, his habitual ironical smile dis-   "I know all about this duel," she went
missed for the present, bowed respectfully, on. " I don't know whether you consider it
and listened without a word until the old proper for me to talk about it. But I must.
man had stated his proposition. When he Do you think, Mr. Armitage, that I like to
spoke it was with a perfectly calm  de- come home and find my brother on the
meanor and a bland finish of intonation.  point of risking his life?"
" It appears to me that I am called upon   Bentley wanted to say that he was not




48                           KATE BEAUMONT.
responsible for the duel, but did not feel that ing that things were going against peace,
the code of honor justified him in such a and remembering his promise to Kate.
speech.                                   Vincent stared.  Was his second to be
"It would n't be natural," he admitted. against him? Was Bent Armitage going to'I don't suppose you do like it. Very sorry turn peacemaker?
for the circumstances."                   "I did assent," he muttered, fixing his'"It makes me miserable." (Here there half-shut eyes on the floor, and softly
was a quiver of the mouth which moved clutching his hands to keep down his irriBentley to his fingers' ends.)  "If you can tability.
say anything, - and I am sure you can say   " Gentlemen," resumed the patient Kersomething, - do say it. Do give me your shaw, " 1 have but a few words to say. I
help to make peace. I am sure you can do not propose to attack the code duello.
find a word to say, I don't know what. You Although it is repugnant to my feelings, at
will oblige me so much. You will oblige least in these latter years, I do not propose
my grandfather.  You will do right.  I to ignore it. I know how thoroughly it is
kniow it must be right to stop this duel fixed in your views of life and in the habits
Won't you, Mr. Armitage, can't you, do me of our society. I consent, though not with
this great favor? "                    satisfaction, that you should in general be
There was no resistance possible. There guided by it. But the code does not inwas a hand laid upon Bentley Armitage clude the whole of human duty and honor;
stronger than the code duello. He promised you will admit thus much. There are other
that he would throw his influence -- or, as proprieties and gentilities.  Now on this
he slangily phrased it, drop his little ballot extraordinary occasion it seems to me that
-on the side of peace. Kate gave him a these other proprieties and gentilities are
smile which sutggested a better world, and more imperious than the demands of the
sent him  on his way a softer-hearted man code. You, Beaumont, have had a daughthan he had ever been before.           ter saved from death by a McAlister. You,
In a few minutes there was what might Vincent, have had a sister saved from death
be called a family parliament in the long by a McAlister. Under the circumstances,
parlor.  Mr. Beaumont, his three sons, is it right for Beaumonts to shoot McAlisColonel Kershaw, and Bent Armitage sat ters?  I put one duty against another.
as gravely as Indian sachems in a council.  I say that the obligation of gratitude over" We ought to have calumets and wam- balances the obligation of vindication of
pum belts," whispered Bentley to Tom; gentility.  What I propose, therefore, is
but the youngster, reverent of the code this: withdraw the challenge, because of
duello and of the family honor, declined to the debt of gratitude; make that debt the
smile.                                  express ground of the withdrawal. If Mr.
" Gentlemen, this is an extraordinary oc- Wallace McAlister does not then retract
casion," said Colonel Kershaw, rising as if his epithet, he will, in my opinion, prove
to address the United States Senate.    himself ungentlemanly, stolid, and brutal,
"' It is, indeed," burst out Vincent, unable and we can afford to despise his comments.
to control the excitability of his race. " I What do you say, my dear Beaumont? "
believe I am the first gentleman who ever   "By heavens, Kershaw! By heavens!"
had his family called in to prevent him from  stuttered Beaumont.  " It's puzzling, by
demanding reparation for an insult. It is a heavens. Well, if you must know what I
most extraordinary and embarrassing situa- think, I admit that you have made a strong
tion. I make my protest against the absurd- point, Kershaw. A very strong point inity of it."                             deed, Kershaw. We don't want to go before
"' You're right, old fellow," declared Tom. the world as ungrateful and that sort of
Tom was young, and he was boyish for his thing. That is n't gentlemanly. On the
age' like all boys, he felt it necessary to whole, Kershaw, - well, on the whole, I
take the warlike side of things; it seemed say, taking into view all the circumstances,
to establish his courage and make a man of you know, - I don't see any valid objection
him.  "I'd like to have this thing blow  to your proposition. Hem. I don't object.
over," he continued. "I was mightily in That's just it; I don't object."
favor of having it blow over. But after the   With these words, Beaumont bowed his
challenge has been sent, don't see how you bristling head in great perplexity, wondercan withdraw it. That's where I draw my ing whether he had done right or wrong.
line "                                  Colonel Kershaw and Bent Armitage both," You are interrupting the Colonel," said glanced anxiously at Vincent. The curious
Vincent, who felt that everybody was inter- Lawson, who had been dodging about the
fering with his business, and so was petu- hall and had overheard most of the proceedlant with everybody.                   inas, peeped through a door-crack to get a
" I understand that my principal assented view of the same young gladiator.  The
to this council," put in Bent Armitage, see- fat Poinsett nodded his large head two or




KATE BEAUMONT.                                  49
three times, as if in assent to the peace to hear him refuse Kate this great and pasproposition, but said nothing. Tom, over- sionately sought-fbr boon.  One after anwhelmed by his father and the Colonel other, Kershaw, Bent Armitage, Poinsett,
together, stared vacantly at the floor.  and Tom followed him. The pleading sister
"I venture to say that I see no valid and the sullen brother were left alone.
cause for objection," observed Bentley Armitage, remembering Kate.
"I do," burst out Vincent, looking up
angrily at Armnitage. " I wish it under-            CHAPTER  XII.
stood that I am as grateful as I ought to be
to Mr. Frank McAlister for his act-of com-   WE shall know in due time what success
mon humanity. But when it comes to with- Kate had in pleading with Vincent to withdrawing a challenge, - good heavens! I draw his challenge.
had abundant provocation, and I have it   While the girl, aided by her grandfather,
still. Let Wallace McAlister withdraw his was resisting the demon of duels in the
epithet. Ile is at full liberty to do so. That Beaumont house, Mr. Frank MWAlister was
is where peace should begin."            maintaining an equally dubious contest with
Major Lawson left his post near the door, the same monster under his paternal roofand skipped across the hall into the dining- tree.
room. In ten seconds more Kate Beau-   We must hurry over the scene of his armont, as pale and mild as a saint newly taken rival at home. There had been a pleasant
to glory, came out of the dining-room, family drama; there had been warm welcrossed the hall, and entered the awful come for the returned wanderer. The defamily council. Bentley Armitage rose and liberate and solemn Judge was not the kind
offered a chair. Poinsett smiled with an of man to fly into a spasm of emotion, like
amused look, and beckoned her to his side. his excitable enemy, Peyt Beaumont; but
Kershaw held out his hand, and Vincent he had a calm sufficiency of the true parentturned away his head. Mr. Beaumont said, al stuff in him, and he was proud of his
in a tone of much wonder and faint remon- gigintic, handsome son, full of all the wisstrance, " Kate! "                      dom of the East; he gave him a vigorous
The girl, without noticing any of the oth- hand-shaking, and looked for an instant
ers, advanced upon Vincent, seated herself like kissing him. Mrs. McAlister, a tall,
beside hin, looked eagerly in his averted pale, gray, mild, loving woman, took the
face, and seized one of his hands.       Titan to her arms as if he were still an in"O Vincent, this is my first night at fant. Mary worshipped him, as girls are
home in four years," she said in a trembling apt to worship older brothers, at least when
voice. " I shall not sleep to-night. I shall they are big and handsome. Bruce, the
do nothing but see my brother brought eldest son, was all that a South Carolina
home-"   She could not finish this sen- gentleman should be on such an occasion..
tence. "And my first night at home! You Wallace at once gloried in Frank's grandeur
could make it such a happy one, Vincent! and beauty, and wilted wofully under a
Don't you think anything of my being saved sense of his own inferiority.
from death? There was no hope for me,   The story of the shipwreck was told to,
if it had not been for this man's brother. I affectionately breathless listeners; and then
had bid good by to you all."             came, almost by necessity, the saving of Miss.
Here her father's grim face had a shock; Beaumont from a watery grave.
he twisted his mouth oddly, and rolled his   "I have some hope," added Frank, with,
eyes like a lunatic; he was trying to keep the blush of a man who feels far more than
from blubbering. Colonel Kershaw clasped he says, " that the incident may pave the,
his wrinkled hands suddenly, as if return- way to a reconciliation of the families."
ing thanks to Heaven, or praying. Lawson,   "Heaven grant it!" murmured Mrs. Mclistening in the hall, capered from one foot Alister, her face illuminated with hope 4,f
to the other as if he were on hot iron plates, peace and perhaps with foresight of love
and drew his cambric handkerchief.       and marriage.
"I don't want such a duel as this," Kate  "' Amen! " responded the Judge in a per-.
went on. " It does seem to me so horribly functory, head-of-the-family, not to say bea —
unnatural. Not this time, Vincent; don't (dle-like, manner. One of those model mene
fight this time. Do make this my first who set an example, you know; one of,
night at home a happy one. 0, I will be those saints who keep up appearances, even
so grateful to you; I will be such a sister to at home.
you I Dear, can't you answer me?"         " By George, it ought to," muttered WalMr. Beaumont rose abruptly and got him- ly, conscience-stricken about his duel. " It
self out of the room. Hie did not fully want ought to bring about a reconciliation. But,
his son to do what he still considered not by George, there's no telling."
quite chivalrous; and yet he could not bear   Then, at a proper moment, when only the
7




50                           KATE BEAUMONT.
three brothers were together, came the story of this man. He put strangers at ease in
of the quarrel with Vincent. It must be an instant; he made them feel with a look
understood that among the McAlisters duels that they were his valued friends; he so
were not such common property, such sub- impressed them in a minute that they never
jects of genial family conversation, as among forgot him in all their lives. It would not
the Beaumonts. The MeAlisters fought as be easy to find another man who had such
promptly as their rivals; but, Scotch-like an appearance of thinking altogether of othand Puritan-like, they treated fighting as a ers and not at all of himself.
matter not to be bragged of and gossiped   "It is an unusual step, Frank," said
about; they drew a decorous veil over their Bruce, in a mellow, deep, and yet weak
occasional excesses in the way of homicide. voice. " It was of course not ventured upon
When a McAlister boy got into an unpleas- without the full consent of the other party.
antness, he never mentioned it to father, I accepted the position solely with the hope
mother, or sister, not even after the shots of diminishing Wallace's danger."
had been exchanged. The Judge believed   " Well 1 " assented Frank with a groan.
that duelling was sometimes necessary; but " And now, Bruce, tell me the whole thing.
he did not want to have the air of encour- What is the exact value of the provocaaging it: first, because he was a father and tion?"
cared for his sons' lives; second, because   In a quiet tone and without a sign of inhe had a certain character to maintain in dignation Bruce related the story of the
the district.  Mrs. McAlister, a religious difficulty.
and tender-hearted woman, looked upon the   "Beaumont's manner and words were
code of honor with steady horror. Mary irritatingly sarcastic," he concluded. "Waltormented her brothers by crying over their lace naturally resented it."
perils, even when those perils had passed   " Still, all that he said was - was parliaand were become glories.                 mentary," urged Frank. " Wallace, I don't
We can imagine Frank's disgust and grief want to judge you; but it does seem to me
when he learned that there was to be an- that you might have spared your reply; it
other Beaumont and McAlister duel.  He was terribly severe. Could n't you apolopleaded against it; he inveighed against it; gize? If I were in your place, I would. I
he sermonized against it.                would, indeed."
" Frank, you make me think of converted   Wallace stared, rubbed his head medicannibals coming home to preach to their tatively, and then shook it decidedly.
tribe," said Wallace, smiling amiably, but  "' And for this you mean to fight? " purunmoved and unconvinced.                 sued Frank.'"Actually mean to draw a
"W' ho is your second? "asked Frank, pistol on your fellow-man?  The whole
hoping to find more wisdom in that assist- thing - I mean the code duello — is a barant than in the principal.               barity. I was brought up to reverence it.
"' Bruce," replied Wallace with a queer From this time I abjure it."
grimace, somewhat in the way of an apology.   " Fight?  Well, yes," returned Wallace,
" Bruce! Your own brother? " exclaimed again rubbing his prematurely bald crown;
the confounded Frank.  "W Thy, that is hor- not quite bald, either; simply downy. " Of
rible. And is n't it something unheard of? course I will fight.  Not that I admire
It strikes me as an awful scandal."     fighting. It's the reasoning of beasts, sir.
"' It is unusual," admitted Wallace. " But And as for the duello, well, I look on it as
Vincent Beaumont makes no objection to it, you do; I consider it out of date, barbarous.
and, moreover, he has chosen his own con- But society —our society, I mean — denection, Bent Armitage. Besides," he added, mands it. If society says a gentleman must
looking at his elder brother with an almost - noblesse oblige -why, that settles it. If
touching confidence, "Bruce will fight me it says a gentleman should wear a beaver,"
better than any other man could."       lifting his hat and gesturing with it, " why,
Bruce McAlister was a man of about six he must get one. Disagreeable thing; ugly
feet, too slender and too lean to be hand- and uncomfortable; just look at it. Look
some in a gladiatorial sense, but singularly at my head, too. Bald at twenty-eight!
graceful. Although not much above thirty, That's the work of a black, hot beaver.
his face was haggard and marked by an air But since it's the distinguishing topknot of
of lassitude. He was a consumptive. Per- a gentleman, I submit to it. Just so with
haps the disease had increased the charm of the duello.  I think it's blasted nonsense,
his expression. His large hazel eyes, sunk and yet I can't ignore it. As for the Beauas they were in sombre hollows, had a mel- monts, I don't want to be shooting at Beauancholy tenderness which was almost more monts. Just as willing to let them alone as
than human. His face was so gentle, so re- to let anybody else alone. But when a
fined, so gracious, that it charmed at first Beaumont ruffles me, and society says,' Let's
sight. There was no resisting the sweet see how he takes it,' why I take it with pissmile, the flattering bow and petting address tols. Very sorry to do it, but don't see how I




KATE BEAUMONT.                                51
can help it. I suppose my position is a weak apology, won't you? By heavens, I never
one. Logic don't support it, and God won't thought a Beaumont could be so human.
approve it. Know all that. Not going to Anything, Bruce; I'll sign anything. This
fool myself with trying to prove that I don't is new times, something like the millennium.
know it. And, by George, I wish I could What would our ancestors say? Frank, by
make my reason and practice agree. Wish George, this is your work, and it's a big
I could, and know I can't."           job.  In saving the girl's life you have
" Would you mind leaving this matter to saved mine, perhaps, and Vincent's. Three
our elders?" asked Frank, the idea of a lives at one haul! How like the Devil- I
family council occurring to him as it had oc- mean how like an angel- you do come
curred to Colonel Kershaw.             down on us! By George, old fellow, I'm
"0  Lord! don't!"  begged Wallace. amazingly obliged to you. I am, indeed.'You could n't beat me out of it, but you'd Is that thinff ready, Bruce? Let's have it.
bother me awfully. You'd have mother oiln There!  Wow, Bruce, if you'll be kind
your side, sure, and she's an army. Yes, enough to transmit that in your very best
by George, she's one of those armies that manner -  By the way, old fellow, I'm very
are marshalled by the Lord of hosts," de- much obliged to you for standing by me.
dared Wallace, stopping to meditate upon I'm devilish lucky in brothers."
the perfections of his mother. " She is a   "I do hope that this is the beginning of
peacemaker," he resumed. "I've heard her the ending of the family feud," was the
say that she almost regretted having a boy; next thing heard from Frank.
if her children were only all girls, this feud   " Well, I don't mind," agreed Wallace.
might have died out. By George, I would   "You ought to say more than that,"
n't mind being one of the girls.  I might urged Frank. " One friendly step deserves
have been handsomer. I might have kept another. You have been fairly beaten so
my hair, too; not being obliged to wear a far in the race of humanity by this Beaubeaver." Here he rubbed the "fuzzy" mont."
summit of his head with rueful humor.   "Yes, he has got the lead," conceded
"By heavens! -bald at twenty-eight! It's Wallace. "For once I knock under to a
an ugly defect."                       Beaumont. The fact confounds me; it fairly
He was so cheerful and resolute, notwith- takes the breath out of me. But will he
standing the shadow ot death which lay last?  Can the blasted catamounts become
across his to-morrow, that Frank was in friendly?"
despair.                                 "Try them," said Frank. "I propose a
At this hopeless stage of the conversa- call on them."
tion a negro brought in word that "Mars   " Wallace  has  apologized,"  observed
Bent Armitage wanted to see Mars Bruce." Bruce. "The next advance should come
Bruce went to another room, received from the Beaumont side."
Armitage with an almost affectionate cour-   " We ought to give more than we receive,"
tesy, talked with him for a few moments in a lectured Frank.  1"It is the part of true
low tone, and waited on him to his horse as gentlemen, as the word is understood in our
tenderly as if he were a lady. When he times, or should be understood."
returned to his two brothers there was in'It is worth considering," admitted Bruce;
his usually melancholy eyes something like " it is worth while to suggest the idea to our
a smile of pleasure.                   father."
"1 I am the bearer of remarkable news,"   "And mother," was Frank's energetic
he said calmly. " The duel can now be amendment, to which Bruce did not think
honorably avoided."                   it best to reply. The honor of the family
"How?" demanded the eager Frank.    was very dear to him, and he did not be"What!" exclaimed the astonished Wal- lieve that women were qualified to judge
lace.                                 its demands, much as he respected the
" Hear this," continued Bruce, opening a special good sense of his mother.
letter. "' On behalf of my principal, Mr.
Vincent Beaumont, I withdraw the chal-   Back to the Beaumonts one must now
lenge sent to Mr Wallace McAlister. The hasten,'to learn how  they received the
sole motive of this withdrawal is the sense apology. Vincent glanced through Wallace's
of obligation on the part of Mr. Beaumont letter without changing expression, nodded
and his family toward Mr. Frank McAlister as a man nods over a compromise which is
for saving the life of Miss Catherine Beau- only half satisfactory, read it aloud to his
mont.' Signed, Bentley Armitage."      father and brothers (with a sister listening
"By George!" exclaimed Wallace, and in the next room), and then filed it away
continued to say by George for a considera- among his valuable papers, all without a
ble time. " I owe him an apology," he pres- word of comment. Beaumont senior was
ently broke out. "If I don't owe him one, gratified, and then suddenly enraged, and
I'll give him one.  Bruce, write me an then gratified again, and so on.




52                           KATE BEAUMONT.
"Why, Kershaw, the fellow has some above fifty-five, was shaky with pains and
streaks of gentility in him," he admitted, diseases. S&,veral times during the transit
with a smile of wonder and satisfaction, of four miles the younger suddenly checked
walking up and down with the pacific, his horse and turned his nose homeward,
manageable air of a kindly, led horse. But saying, " By heavens, I can't do it, Kershaw.
presently he gave a start and a glare, like a No, by heavens!"
tiger who hears hunters, and broke out in a   " Come on, my dear Beaumont," mildly
snarl: "Why the deuce didn't he say all begged the venerable Colonel. " You will
this at first?  He ought to have apologized never regret it.  It is the noblest chance
at once.'The scoundrel!!"             you ever had to be magnanimous."
After some further thought, he added in a   "'Do you think so, Kershaw?  Well,
mild growl: "Well, it might have been magnanimity is a gentlemanly thing.  By
worse. After all, the blockhead has made heavens, that was a devilish fine thing that
it clear that he does n't mean to take ad- Vincent did. It put a feather in his cap as
vantage of Vincent's magnanimity. Yes, high as the plume of the Prince of Wales.
magnanimity!" he trumpeted,, ooking about Moral courage and dignity! By heavens,
for somebody to dispute it.' By heavens, I am proud of the boy."
Vincent, you have been as magnanimous as   "So am I," said Kershaw.
a duke, by heavens!"                     "Are you? " grinned the delighted BeauHere the magician who had wrought mont. "By heavens, I'm delighted to hear
thus much of peace into the woof of hate you say so. I was afraid you did n't apprecame smiling and glowing into the room, ciate Vincent. But I ought to have known
slipped her arm through that of her eldest better; every gentleman would appreciate
brother, and whispered: " So it has ended him. The man who now does n't apprewell, Vincent. I am so much obliged to ciate Vincent, he's — he's an ass and a
you! I am so happy!"                   scoundrel," declared Beaumont, beginning
Next she glided over to her father and to tremble with rage at the thought of enpossessed herself of his hairy hand, saying, countering and chastising such a miscreant.' Come, your man-business has gone all "Well, Kershaw," he added, "let us go
right; come and show me where to put my on."
flower-beds."                             After a little he added in a tone of
She was bent,- the audacious young apology, " Some people might say that this
thing, it seemed incredible when you looked errand is the business of a younger man.
at her sweet, girlish face,- but she was But my sons are not related to Kate as you
bent upon taming these fine, fighting pan- and I are. The girl springs directly from
thers; and she was bringing to bear upon your veins and mine; and consequently we
the work a beautiful combination of tender- are the proper persons to thank the man
ness, of patient management and gentle who saved her life.  Don't you think so,
imperiousness; she was inspired to attempt Kershaw?"
a labor far beyond her years. The trying   " Certainly," replied the patient Colonel,
circumstances which surrounded her had who had already advocated that view with
matured her with miraculous rapidity, and all his eloquence.
brought into bloom at once all her nobler   Presently they discovered the McAlister
moral and stronger mental qualities. She house, and here Beaumont came to another
was like those youthful generals who have halt. This time his resistance was more
performed  prodigies because they were obstinate than before; it was like the strugcalled upon to perform prodigies, and did gle of an ox when he smells the blood of
not yet know that prodigies were humanly the slaughter-block.
impossible. No doubt it was well for the   "Kershaw, I can't go to that house,"
girl that Heaven had given her so much he said, his face and air full of tragic digbeauty and such an imposingly sweet ex- nity.  "That house is the abode of the
pression of dignity and purity. A plainer enemies of my race.  There is a man in
daughter and sister, no matter how good that house who has my brother's blood on
and wise and resolute, might not have ac- his hands. I can't go there; no, Kershaw,
comnplished such wonders.               by God!"
We will not follow her and her father   His voice trembled; it was full of anguish
into the garden; we will simply say that and anger; it was a groan and a menher flower-beds bore great fruit, and that ace.
shortly.                                  The Colonel made no remonstrance and
For on the following day two horsemen no spoken reply. He took off his hat and
left the mansion of the Beaumonts and rode bared his long white hair to the sun, as if in
towards the mansion of the McAlisters. respect to Beaumont's emotion.  In this
They rode mainly at a walk, the reason attitude he waited silently for the storm of
being that one of them was over eighty feeling to rage itself out.
years old, while the other, although not   "My father never would have entered




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"Kershaw, I can't go to that house" he said   Page, I//,52
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KATE BEAUMONT.                                  53
that houwe," continued Beaumont.  "No               CHAPTER  XIII.
McAlister ever crossed mly threshold. There
has been nothing but hate and blood between   THE McAlister mansion was a very simius. It has always been so, and it must lar affair to the Beaumont mansion.
always be so. I am too old to learn new    Speaking with severe truthfulness, and
ways."                                   without regard to the proud illusions of
Still the Colonel sat silent and uncovered, Hartland District, it had no claim  to be
with his long silver hair shining under the styled a mansion, except on account of its
hot sun. The sight of this humility and size alone. It was a plain, widespreading
patience seemed to trouble Beaumont.     mass of wood-work, in two stories, with
i" You can't feel as I do, Kershaw," he plenty of veranda and more than enough
said. "' Of course you can't."           square pillars, the white paint of the buildl"' Let us try to make the future unlike the ing itself rather rusty, and the green blinds
past," returned the Colonel, in a tone which not altogether free from fractures and palsy.
was like that of prayer.                   Negro children, a ragged, sleek, and jolly
Beaumont shook his head more in sad- tribe of chattels, ran grinning to hold the
ness than in anger.                     horses of Colonel Kershaw and the Honora"This young man, Frank McAlister, has ble Mr. Beaumont. Matthew, the Judge's
already begun the work," continued the special and confidential servant, waited on
Colonel. " Shall Kate's father and grand- them with dignified obsequiousness into the
father foil him?"                       long, soberly furnished parlor, and received
Beaumont began to tremble in every with jesuitical calmness (covering inward
limb; he was weak with his diseases, and immense astonishment and suspicion) their
this struggle of emotions was too much for request to see Mr. Frank McAlister. After
him; he held on to his saddle-bow to keep delivering this message to his young master,
himself from growing dizzy.              he added in a whisper, "Better see your
" I don't feel that I can do it, Kershaw," shootin'-irons is all right, sah. Them Beauhe said, in a voice which had one or two monts you know, sah."
emnbryo sobs in it, How, indeed, weakened    "I never carry the cursed, barbarous
as he was by maladies, could he choose be- traps," replied the young man, in noble
tween all the family feelings of his past and wrath, and hurried off to welcome his visthe totally new duty now before him, with- itors. He was tranquil, however, when he
out being shaken?                       entered the parlor; he had a wise, delicate
"Beaumont," was the closing appeal of perception that it would not do to rush upon
the Colonel,' you will, I hope, allow me to Beaumonts with an effusion of friendship;
go on alone and return thanks for the life he must in the first place try to divine from
of my granddaughter."                   the demeanor of these potent seniors how
"' No, by heavens! " exc-laiamed the father, they wished to be treated.  Moreover, it
turning his back at once on all his bygone was his nature, as it is that of most giants,
life, its emotions, its beliefs, its acts, and to be tranquil in manner.  When the three
traditions. "No. If you must go, I go with met, it was Colonel Kershaw, outranking
you."                                   the others by reason of age, who spoke first.
"God bless you, my dear Beaumont!".  "My name is Kershaw," he said with
said Kershaw, his voice, too, perhaps a little simple dignity.  " This is my son-in-law,
unsteady.                                Mr. Peyton Beaumont. We have called to
After some further riding  Beaumont thank you for saving the lite of our dear
added: "But we will see the boy alone. child, Catherine Beaumont."
Not the Judge. I won't see the Judge.   "Yes!! " unexpectedly added Beaumont.
If I meet that old fox, I shall quarrel with He had forgotten where lie was; for the
him.  I can't stand a fox when he's as moment he had no emotion but gratitude;
big as an elephant and as savage as a his fervent "Yes" sounded like an amen!
hyena."                                    There was so much feeling and such unA little later he asked: "You're sure disguised feeling in what these men said,
Lawson thinks well of this step?'"    that Frank at once lost his Titanic serenity.
" He approves of it thoroughly," declared    "Gentlemen, you overwhelm  me," he
the Colonel. " He considers it the only burst out, wringing first one hand and then
thing we can do, since the apology has been another. " You overwhelm me with your
made."                                   kindness. I can't express my obligations to
"Well, Lawson ought to know what's you."
gentlemanly," said Beaumont.  " Lawson    So catching was the young fellow's agitahas always been a habitue' of our society. tion, that Beaumont's combustible heart
By heavens! if Lawson does n'tknow what's took fire, and he shook hands again, and asgentlemanly, he's an ass."             tonished the listening angels by saying, " God
An-l so at last they were at the door of bless you, my dear sir! God bless you!"
the McAlister mansion.                     "I would have lost my life willingly to




54                           KATE BEAUMONT.
save her," pursued Frank, hailing these Frank. Finally, my excellent wife would
friendly hearts with difficulty out of his be immensely gratified by peace, and her
storm  of feeling. "I never saw another gratification is one of the many things that
human being who seemed to me so pure and I am  bound to live for."  Such is a brief,
noble."                                  unadorned, and therefore unjust summary
Kate's father was dazed with gratified of the reflections of the Judge.
paternal affection and pride; he had not a   But when he was actually summoned
thought for the fact that it was a McAlister to meet his visitors, his politic thoughts
who uttered these compliments; nor did it changed to emotions. He remembered that
even occur to him  that the young man duel of bygone days; remembered how he
might be simply in love with the girl.    (then a young man) threw down his fatal
"By heavens, I thank you," he went on, pistol and burst into tears; remembered
while the hand-shaking, that mute, eloquent how he had mounted his horse and fled
gratitude, also went on.  "By heavens, sir, from  his lifeless victim  as he would not
I am glad I came to see you."            have fled from any living being.  He tremMeantime he was dimly aware of, and un- bled at the thought of meeting in kindness
consciously delighted with, the height, size, the brother of the Beaumont whose blood
brilliant color, and noble expression of the was upon his soul.  For a few  seconds he
youngster.                               walked the library with such a rush of
After a little further talk, all of this emotions in his heart that it seemed to him
passionate, interjectional, truly meridional as if the seconds were years. Then he
nature, Frank exploded a proposition which checked himself; he rearranged his wig;
for the moment stunned Beaumont like the he rearranged his countenance. He was
bursting of a shell.                     once more the calm, dignified, gracious,
"But, gentlemen, I am doing you injus- smiling Donald McAlister, such as Harttice,' he said. " The head of the family alone land District had known him  for twenty
can properly respond to this compliment. years past.
Will you allow me to call my father to re-   And so, presently, the chiefs of the Monceive you? He would be gratified beyond tagues and Capulets of South Carolina were
measure."                                fkce to face and inclining their venerable
Meet that enchanted wiggery, that ele- craniums towards each other with a stiff,
phantine fox, that diplomatic foe till death, dignified courtesy, which made one think
that murderer of a brother, Judge Mc Alister! of kings bowing with their crowns on.
All Peyton Beaumont's breeding, all his There was a hesitation about going further;
consciousness that he was one of the repre- the McAlister hand advanced slightly and
sentatives of South Carolina gentility and the Beaumont hand did not stir; it seemed
courtesy, could not restrain him from start- as if unavenged ghosts would not let them
ing backward a little, with a leonine quiver- exchange the grasp of friendship. But after
ing of mustaches and bristling of eyebrows. a moment the instinct of hand-shaking was
He wanted to refuse; he looked at Kershaw  too much for them; they met as Southern
to utter the refusal for him; and, like Hec- gentlemen are accustomed to meet; the
tor seeking a spear of Pallas, he looked in once hostile digits were intermingled.
vain. The old peacemaker had a sudden   To Frank the anxious lover, and to Kerillumination to the effect that now was the shaw the philanthropic peacemaker, it was
time to bring about a reconciliation between a wondrous spectacle. A looker-on, unacthe families.                            quainted with preliminary tragedies, would,
"Mr. McAlister, you will do us a great however, have seen and heard nothing refavor," he said in his venerable, tremulous markable. There were two grave, dignified
bass voice.                              gentlemen shaking hands with bowed heads
Beaumont broke out in a cold perspira- and eyes dropped to the floor. Each said,' I
tion, made a slight bow, and awaited his hope I see you well, sir," and each replied,
fate in silence.                         "I thank you, sir.7' No regrets over the
The Judge, sitting at that moment in his savage past; neither reproach nor apology,
library, already knew of these visitors, and not even by the most circuitous hint; not
had decided how he would receive them, the faintest allusion, in short, to the family
should he be called to that business. " Feud feud. The Judge was simply all that a gramay as well fall to the ground, if it will," cious host in commonplace circumstances
he had briefly reasoned. "No nonsensical should be. He got out his blandest smile;
sentiment about it on my side.  If we with his own large plump hands he wheeled
were once friends with those tinder-heads up arm-chairs for his visitors; he rang the
of Beaumonts, we might contrive to manage bell and ordered refreshments. His mind
them, and so always carry the district in- settled by these little offices, he said as he
stead of almost never carrying it.  More- seatedhimself," Gentlemen,Iam immensely
over, this girl being the probable sole heir indebted to you for this visit. It is one of
of Kershaw, there is a fine match there for the highest honors of my life."




KATE BEAUMONT.                                   55
"The  old, palavering foxl" thought the enchanted wiggeries, and been someBeaumont; and replied aloud, "Judge, it is what deluded  and humanized by them.
an honor to us. It is a matter of duty also," Well, I ought to praise him for it." Which
he added.  "You are aware, doubtless, of he did in his roundabout, jocose, adroit
our great obligations to your magnificent fashion.
son here."                                 "Yes, certainly, Poinsett," replied the
"1 am most grateful that my son could reassured and gratified Beaumont. " The
be of service to your superb daughter," re- only thing to be done, under the circumplied the Judge. "From what I hear of stances. As for going any further, as for
her I should say that no man would hesi- continuing to wave olive-branches, well,
tate to risk his life on her account."   we'11 see how these fellows behave themAll of a sutdden they were drifting to- selves. By heavens, we'11 wait and see."
wards each other at a most unexpected    But the great reward which the father
rate. This praising of each other's children received fbr his embassy of gratitude came
was a sure method of touching each other's from  the charming little queen who had
hard hearts. Insincerity? not a bit of it; sent him on it. It was a score of kisses; it
not on this subject.  Who would n't admire was a clinging of fondling arms; it was a
Kate?  Who would n't admire Frank? rubbing of a satin forehead against his bull
Beaumont, whosejudgment was the weather- neck.
cock of his feelings, ceased saying to him-   "Well, am  I as good as grandpapa,
self at every breath that McAlister was a now?" asked Beaumont, always a little
humbugging scoundrel, and innocently mar- jealous of the adored Kershaw.
velled at finding in hinm so much of sense   " Yes," laughed Kate. " You have done
and goodness and truth. The Judge, though ever so much more to please me than he
less easily cajoled than  his visitor, was could do. I comprehend perfectly, papa,
neverthelesss so gratified with this call from  what a sacrifice you have made for my sake.
his haughty old foeman, with the glimpse Jumped on your pride, have n't you?  The
of that fine possible match for Frank, and old Beaumont pride! And the old Beauwith the vistas of desirable political combi- mont pugnacity, too! O, I comprehend it
nations, that he was well lubricated with all, you dear, good papa i I am not a siumsatisfaction The usually earnest and rather pleton."
grim eyes of the two men were presently   "Not a bit of it," said Beaumont. And
beaming in quite a hum mn manner. The con- thought to himself: " What an amazingly
versationgradually lost its tone of ceremony intelligent girl! I never saw a grown woand became social. The serving of madeira man with half her intelligence; by heavens,
and brandy introduced the subjects, so well I never did."
known to antique Souta Carolina gentle-  "' And now, what else? " he asked aloud,
men, of vintages, cellaring, and bottling. growlirl,- a little bit, for she might demand
In short, the Colonel and Frank aiding too much.
zealously, there was a comfortable unimpor-  ",Papa, I think that if the McAlisters
tant talk of some twenty minutes.        want to make friends on this, we ought to
This is the entire substance of that let them."
famous call of the Hon. Peyton Beaumont   " Well, yes," assented magnanimous papa.
on Judge Donald McAlister, commonly "That is just what I was saying to Poinbelieved to be the first friendly passage sett."
between them  in their whole lives. We   He felt as if a new career of greatness
shall see in due time whether it came to so were being opened to him; as if it were
much in the millennial and matrimonial well worthy of his character and position to
way as was doubtless hoped for by our let people make friends with him, if they
gentle giant, Frank.                     wanted to; as if that kind of thing might be
It was an astonishing event for the time. a fitting close to the life even of a chivalrous
Beaumont rode home in a state of wonder Beaumont.
over it, and filled his household with equal   In a day or two, delightful to relate,
amazement when he told his adventure. there came a call from  "those fellows,"
Vincent, usually a prudently silent young meaning the Judge and Frank and Wallace.
man, stared at his father with much such They were received in due state and with
an expression as he would have worn had proper setting forth of refreshments by
the old gentleman confessed that he had Beaumont senior, Vincent, and Poinsett;
been standing on his head. Tom wandered but the beneficent Kershaw being absent,
out of the house in a partially unsettled somewhat of the shadow of the old feud
condition of mind, querying, perhaps, what seemed to fall upon the interview, notwithwas the further use for Beaumonts in this standing Frank's best efforts at sunshine;
world, since they were no longer to fight and when the visitors departed it cannot be
McAlisters.  Poinsett smiled and said to said that the hosts had any fervent desire to
himself, "' So my father has ventured amoug see them again.




56                           KATE BEAUMONT.
Fortunately for the chances of the millen- though the compass no longer pointed north;
nium, there were women of a truly wo- as though the Gulf Stream had changed its
manly nature in both these bellicose fami- course.  Moreover, where did  Hartland
lies. Pious and maternal Mrs. McAlister stand now, with its famous family feud gone
and brother-worshipping Mary McAlister to Heaven, or otherwheres? The place had
longed for the holiness and salvation of last- lost its monument; it had begun to reseming peace. Kate Beaumont, the sweet, first ble other middle-sized villages; there was
cause of all pleasantness thus far, had like- an awful likelihood that it would become
wise her admirable reasons for wishing to dull.
see the feud buried forever.  Mrs. Chester   Our own sole but sharp regret with realso desired harmony, for she wanted with gard to this reconciiiationi is that we have
all her coquettish old heart to resume cornm- not been able to sketch it fully in all its
munications with her handsome Titan, and stages, giving, for instance, a little of the
she was the woman to go after what she thankful, saintly conversation of Mrs. Mewanted with the eager scramble of a terrier Alister, and a little more of the impish
after a rat. By the way, we can hardly graciosities of Mrs. Chester.  But time
insist too much upon the fancy of this well- presses; the  reconciliation  had  its sepreserved lady for flirting with young men. quences; we must quit the eddies and
It was a passion with her; some people said head down stream.
it was a monomania; some went so far as to    One result of the new order of things was
think that she was insane on this point. that Frank McAlister, in one of his visits to
What with her reckless imagination, her the Beaumont house, had a iftete-a-te  with
ancient habits of coquetry, and her exces- Mrs. Chester, which the lady contrived to
sive vanity, she had become thoroughly in- make very pleasant to herself. Another'
fatuated with the idea of' getting Frank result was that on a second and happier'McAlister to dangle about her.          occasion he met Kate Beaumont alone, some
Accordingly, the following rose-colored favoring fairy having sent the aunt off on a
sequence of events took place. Mrs. Chester, drive with Bent Armitage, and inveigled the
in her wild, impulsive way (such a mere brothers into a hunting expedition, and put
child, as one kindly remembers), dropped the father to bed with the gout. It was the
in alone upon the McAlister ladies and first time that the two young people had
prattled gleefully for two hours, denouncing met without witnesses since the shipwreck.
the feud with the gayest of smiles and pray- Naturally they talked of their great triumph,
ing in the sprightliest manner that there the reconciliation of the families.
might be no more bloodshed between the' "So we have won a victory," said Frank.
families. Hereupon Mrs. McAlister and "Or rather, you have. What wonders you
her daughter made an immediate call at the have accomplished! "
Beaumont house, and were received with   "Don't overestimate me!" Kate blushed,
absolute festivity and pettings by the two remembering how much she had longed for
females who there presided. The interview  this victory and how hard she had struggled
was all honest good-nature and gladness, for it. "Everybody has helped. I am so
unmixed with suspicion or ceremoniousness. grateful to your father and brother and
The four ladies were in a new, spring-like mother and sister fir making the path of
state of emotion, fit to intermingle their peace so easy to us. But my father and
hearts' tendrils and bloom into quick flowers brothers have been amazingly good, too.
of friendship.  Mrs. McAlister and Mary You must praise them to me a little."
on one side, and Kate on the other, fell in  "'I do," replied Frank, fervently.  " I
love at first sight. Mrs. Chester remained wish they knew how kindly I think of them.
tender towards her Titan alone, but that of And your grandfather, - what a wonderful
course involved amicable results, at least for old man! what a god among men! "
the present. And the visit being thus joy-   "Is n't he? " said Kate, her eyes sparkgiving, it was quickly returned and was ling.
followed by others.                        "He has the charm of a beautiful woman,"
Thus at last we have, not only peace, but declared Frank, enthusiastic about the Colfrequent and fond comimunings between the onel on his own account and enthusiastic
Montagues and Capulets of Hartland Dis- about him because he was the grandfather
trict. An amazing olive-tree surely, and of Kate. "You have only to ste him to
more wonderful to its beholders than any, worship him."
supposable amount of bloody laurels. The   The girl was too innocent to suspect a
orange-plant of the Indian juggler, spring- compliment to herself, or to see an insidious
ing tirom the seed and producing fruit inside advance towards love-making, in this talk
of twenty minutes, would not have been about beautiful women.
half so much of a marvel to Messrs. Wilkins,   " Mr. McAlister, I hm glad you have
Duffy, and their fellow-citizens. They were found him out " she said simply.  " I wish
a little wild in those days; they felt as you would call on him. He would be de



KATE BEAUMONT.                                   57
lighted to see you. He has only Major up quizzically into his cheek, and rolled his
Lawson with him."                        eyes at Mrs. Chester in a way that said,,; "What an excellent-hearted man the "Never mind her."  That lady did not see
Major is! " replied Frank.             the smile, but she perceived that Kate had
"Is n't he?" said Kate, in her honest received encouragement from some one, and
way, really liking the friendly, amiable she turned sharply upon Armitage.
Major.                                     " What is your opinion? " she demanded
There was not much sense of humor angrily. "You seem to have one."
in these two young persons. They were   "My opinion  isn't yours," answered
straightforward, earnest souls, mainly capa- Bent, in his odd, frank way.
ble of seeing the interior goodness of other   "Oh! " gasped Mrs. Chester. She was
people, and not to be diverted from such in a rage, but she said nothing further, for
insight by any external oddities.  What at that moment a new idea struck her. This
they could discern in Lawson was, not his Armitage, she decided with the keenness
extravagant flatteries, his sentimentalities, of an old flirt, had defended Kate because
and his flutings, but his quickness of sympa- he liked her. It was well; he should have
thy, his warmth of friendship, and his gentle the chit; he should take her out of the way.
humanity.                                From that minute.Mrs. Chester elected her
Well, there was a long conversation, and niece to be the wife of Bentley Armitage.
it led to a promenade on the veranda, Kate's
fingers resting lightly on Frank's arm.
While they were thus pleasantly engaged,
and presenting the prettiest prophecy possi-        CHAPTER  XIV.
ble of a walk together through life, there was
a sound of horses' feet, and Mrs. Chester and   "I BEGIN to be afraid that Kate is a wild
Bent Armitage pulled up before them. It sort of girl," said Mrs. Chester to Bent Armis not possible to paint in words the glare of itage, as soon as she was alone with him
suspicion, jealousy, and spite which shot again.
from the aunt's eyes as she caught sight of   " It's astonishing you never discovered it
her niece arm in arm with Frank McAlister. before," replied Bent, ironically smiling on
The next instant she regained her self-posses- the side of his mouth which was farthest
sion and put on a smile which might have from Mrs. Chester and hidden from  her
melted platinum. In a minute more she vision.
was leading in the conversation, seemingly   Kate Beaumont wild? Bent knew better,
the gayest and happiest old hoyden that and Mrs. Chester ought to know better, and
ever wore tight bootees.  In another min- he believed that she did know better. But
ute she had separated the two - shall we the lady was quite in earnest, for she had
venture thus early to call them lovers?  been scared by the fact of her niece reAn adroit creature was Mrs. Chester. ceiving Frank McAlister alone, and her
Wonderfully clever ways had she of bringing alarm had given rise to a sudden suspicion,
about her foolish ends. She did not bluntly almost amounting to a belief that the girl
call Frank to herself, as a duller intriguer was a daring coquette.
might have done.  She beckoned Kate   "I have an idea that you like wild girls,"
aside to listen to some trifling household continued Mrs. Chester.
matter; then she summoned Armitage to   "Well, I hang about you a good deal,"
express his opinion upon the girl's decision; answered Bent, one side of his face all serithen, leaving these two together, she skipped ousness, and the other full of satire.
over to Frank, apologized for deserting him,   "0, pshaw!" returned  the lady, not
and trotted him away. The result, of course, however ungrateful.  "I alluded to your
was that the young man soon found that he fancy for that dreadful coquette, your cousin
had finished his call and must hasten home. Jenny."
Now it was that Mrs. Chester turned upon   " Jenny is so happy in being my cousin,
Kate and scolded her for receiving Mr.. that she does n't want to be anything nearMcAlister alone.                         er," said Bent. " And I am equally con" Where was your father?  Gout?  He tented."
ought to have got up, if he had forty gouts.   "Then you are pretty sure to fall in love
He had no business to allow of such an with this other wild piece," pursued cuninterview. We are not on sufficiently fa- ning Mrs. Chester. " Well, you might do
miliar terms with that family. It is only yes- worse. Kate has her good qualities."
terday that we spoke to them."             Armitage turned grave;  the lady had
Kate looked so shocked under this attack plainly broached a subject which to him
that she immediately secured the sympathy was serious; and joker as he was, he had
of Bent Armitage, although he too had felt no jest ready for the occasion.
a twinge at seeing her alone with McAlister.   "Your brother married her half-sister,"
He gave her one of his queer smiles, curling said Mrs. Chester, guessing that her batter8




58                           KATE BEAUMONT.
ies were beginning to tell. So they were; tete-a-tetes between the two; she did her
the young man was no longer laughing at best to get the girl's head full of this admirer.
her; he was listening to her eagerly and In these days Mr. Frank McAlister was
even anxiously; he was ready at the moment sometimes gloomily jealous of Mr. Bentley
to look to her as a friend and counsellor.    Armitage.
"It would be so natural! " she went on.   By similar managements and enchant"I don't think any one would be astonished. ments Mrs. Chester obtained various interShe would not go out of the family."    views with the handsome giant, about whom
Armitage was too profoundly moved, and she had[ gone bewitched. It' there is a huwe might even say disturbed, to be able to man figure more pitiably ludicrous than an
answer. The one thing that he had in his old beau crazy after fresh girls, who sack
mind, or for the moment could have there, him and avoid him and giggle at him, it is
was this f:act, that Mrs. Chester approved surely an old belle angling for the attenof his wooing her niece. He dropped away tions of young men who bear with her wrinfrom her presently; in fact, he was encour- kled oglings simply because she is a woman.
aged to take his leave; and before long he But laughable as such a creature is, she may
was doing just what Mrs. Chester wanted be very inconvenient. The honest, courtehim to do; that is, he was sauntering about ous, kind-hearted Frank was as much inthe house to look for Kate. Not that he  commoded by his alert admirer as a horse by
meant to propose to her; O no, he knew  a gadfly. He could not shake her off; for
that things were not by any means far in the first place he had not the unfeeling
enough advanced for that; but he wanted levity which helps some men to do such
to be near her and to try to begin a courtship. things; and in the second place he was inIt must be understood that social matters stinctively eager to stand well with all
were unusually lively in these days at the Kate's relatives. But his patience under the
Beaumont place.  Colonel Kershaw  rode load of Mrs. Chester did some damage by
over often to take dinner or to pass the leading her to believe that he liked to
night; not a talkative man, for his good  hold her. So she gave him much of her
old heart was apt to utter itself mainly company and of her gratitude, and one might
through his air of venerable benignity; his perhaps say, speaking loosely, of her love.
remarks being at once infrequent and admi-   We are absolutely driven to risk being
rable, like the rare opening of bottles of tedious concerning this eccentric, this alprecious wine. With him always came Ma- most irrational woman.  Amid the many
jor Lawson, his puckered face and twinkling callers, and especially the many young men
eyes beaming sympathy upon all, and his who now frequented the Beaumont house,
attuned  voice fluting universal praises. she disported herself as one who is in her
(The ironical Vincent pretended to marvel element, darting and dodging and chatterthat the Major did not have a slave stand ing like a swallow. All hospitality, she rang
behind him with a pitchpipe, like Tiberius for refreshments at every new arrival, and
Gracchus; and asserted that he was capable seriously bothered several youthful heads
of paying extravagant compliments to the in- with the Beaumont madeira and cognac.
ternal fires, apropos of earthquakes and other ~ Her voice could be heard rising above all
destructive convulsions.)  Furthermore, the others, except when her brother struck in
McAlisters, especially the women, and with his clangorous trumpet. Loud laughFrank, made their calls now and then, labor- ter, slappings with her fan, smart pattings
ing to keep up the entente cordiale. Of on the floor w;th the toe of her bootee, and
other visitors, whom we have not time to bridlings which imitated sweet sixteen, testiknow familiarly, a large proportion were fled to her relish of the wit of the gentledashing young fellows on horseback, at- men. She was a woman who got intoxitracted by the fame of a girl who was already cated with conversation, especially when
reputed the bell of the district.       there was a flavoring of flirtation in it. She
But no one was on hand so often or stayed was capable of dignity; but that was generso long as Bent Armitage. As we ought per- ally when she was miserable or angry; in
haps to have stated before, he was sojourn- her good humors she was excited, mercurial,
ing with his aunt, Mrs. Devine, the mother noisy.  All day she was as busy as a bee;
of Jenny, whose plantation was only two for when there was no company she premiles away. He dropped in diurnally upon pared for it; shutting herself' in her room
the Beaumonts, sometimes with, but oftener to remodel and adorn old dresses; attendwithout, his coquettish cousin, talking his ing to the job personally in her own characcopious, light-minded slang serenely to all teristic fashion; dashing breadths together
visitors, telling countless queer stories which awry, and then flinging them  at Miriam  to
were the delight of the master of the house, be set right, -being very proud of the
and paying more or less sidelong, cautious rapidity with which she did things very
courtship to Kate. Mrs. Chester helped badly. And out of all this hurly-burly she
him; she arranged traps which ended in I drew the only happiness that she knew.




KATE BEAUMONT.                                  59
Of course, specks of gloom would sail in while you ask for some one else and talk to
among the sunshine. Once, when Mrs. Ches- some one else."
ter was perhaps a little unwell, Miriam found   The young man had begun by blushing
her shedding tears over the recollection of to his forehead, but he ended by bursting
the trunks full of fine clothes which had into a paroxysm of laughter. He laughed
gone down in the Mersey. At times she with the wonder and amusement of an unfell into great rages because certain wilful sophisticated countryman to whom  some
young gentlemen had showed plainly that one explains the mystery of the pea under
they preferred to talk to Kate rather than the thimble.
to her. When sorrows like these crushed   But the hint was not lost upon him. The
her she pouted in her room, snapped at next time he set out for the Beaumont
Miriam, sniffed at her niece, and would not house he was preceded by a feinting column
speak at table.  Philosophically speaking, in the person of the good-natured, self-sacriit was amazing that the same woman could ficing Wallace, fully instructed as to the
be at one time such a sunburst of hilarity stratagem  which he was to execute, and
and at another such a cloud of sulking and grinning to himself over the same.  On
snarling. Vincent once lost his temper so arriving, Wallace asked for Mrs. Chester,
far as to tell her that when she was not a and immediately took that lady off on a
cataract she was a dismal swamp. But see- drive. Twenty minutes later Frank made
sawing was her nature; she was nothing if his appearance, and of course saw  Miss
not mercurial. Had some power suddenly Kate, " with no one nigh to hinder."  This
blessed her with equanimity, she would trick was played repeatedly; the brothers
have ceased to be Mrs. Chester.         seeking to allay suspicion by coming someThis curious woman and her incommodi- times separately and sometimes together;
ous flirtation had been a subject of study but the elder one always possessing himself
with Major Lawson. The sly, good-hearted of the aunt, while the other was assiduous
old beau had had experience enough in flir- about the niece.
tation to comprehend the sly, selfish old   "I say, Frank, this is rather heavy on
belle. He perceived that she was smitten me," Wallace at last remonstrated. " Somewith Frank McAlister, and he guessed that times the old girl is devilish sulky, and
her ancient, made-over coquetries must sometimes she is too loving.  I don't know,
be very embarrassing to the youngster, by George, but what I shall have the misalthough the latter bore himself under them  fortune to cut you out yet in her affections.
with the serenity and sweetness of a martyr. I occasionally fear she'11 make a grab at me,
Moreover, the somewhat sentimental Major in spite of my bald head. (Bald at twentywanted to see his Romeo and Juliet drama eight, by George! )  I wish you'd hurry
played out happily; he wanted the Mon- up your little matter.  I don't feel as if I
tagues and Capulets of Hartland District could stand above four or five more races
united in lasting peace by a marriage with Mauma Chester in the saddle. She's
between Frank and Kate. By Jove, what a a remarkably worrying jockey to go under,
delightful story it would be to recount to by George."
his lady friends in Charleston   And by   "O, hold on, Wally!" begged Frank,
Jove, too, sir, it would be a good thing, an who was not making so much progress as
eminently beneficent event, sir, a result he desired in his "little matter."  Miss
that any gentleman might desire and labor Kate, we have sentimental reason to fear,
for.                                    was in some respects an old head on young
" My de-ar fellow, allow me," he at last shoulders. She no doubt liked Frank betsaid to Frank, drawing him  mysteriously ter than any other young men; but she
to one side and patting him tenderly on did not yet like him enough to risk all other
the sleeve.  "Ydu are injudicious- you means of happiness for his sake. Suppose
really are - excuse me. Why, you should n't she should become engaged to him, and percome here alone. A wise general does not haps go so far as to marry him; and supadvance all his forces in one column. He pose that then there should be another outsends up a feint attack to draw the enemy's break of that old, mighty feud, so full of
fire. He occupies the hostile attention by angering memories?  Where would she be
side movements while he delivers the real with reference to her father and brothers
assault on the vital point. My de-ar fellow, and grandpapa?  Separated from  them?
you certainly will excuse me, you must try Their enemy? Not to be thought of! Imto excuse me. I am giving advice. It is an possible!
assumption. It is an offence. Promise me   Meantime Mrs. Chester, not quite a fool
that you won't be annoyed. Well, confid- in a general way, and in love matters not
ing in your good-nature, I venture to go on. easily imposed upon except by herself, made
When you call, bring an ally. Br;ng your out to see through the cutthroat game of
brother Wallace, for instance. Let him ask which she was the victim. For one whole
for Mrs. Chester and talk to Mrs. Chester, night and the following forenoon she brooded




60                           KATE BEAUMONT.
over the discovery with alternate ragings   On the evening of that day, having
and tears. In the afternoon, when Wallace dragged her brother out into the moonlit
McAlister called and sent up his compli- garden, she began upon him with, " Well,
ments to know if she would ride, she had a Peyton Beaumont!  You are managing
spasm of desire to rush down stairs and pull things finely, I should say."
out what hair was left him, and she with'Hullo I What's the row now?" dedifficulty so far controlled herself as to send manded Peyton, scenting battle at once and
back regrets that she could see no one on charging with all his eyebrows.
acmount of a headache.                     " I'11 tell you what's the row," continued
"Hurrah!" thought Wallace, and can- the sister.  "Here is this Kershaw estate
tered away to call on Jenny Devine, totally going straight out of the family."
forgetting to warn the coming Frank that   "What the devil is the Colonel going to
Mrs. Chester would be at home. That in- do with his estate?" asked the alarmed
furiated lady watched him out of sight, and Beaumont. " Not going to cut Kate off."
then watched for the appearing of his   "Kate will be the heir of it, won't she?
brother.                                 Well, Kate is being courted, and Kate will
"Miriam!" she suddenly called. " There get married."
comes Frank McAlister to court my niece.   " I suppose she will, some day," sighed
I won't have this thing going on. Those the father. "I suppose she will. Girls do.
McAlisters! Low, mean, nasty' crackers'! But how can I keep the Kershaw estate in
I won't have it. It's my duty to prevent it. the family!  My boys can't marry their
Hurry down and tell him Miss Kate is out. own sister."
Do you hear me?  Hurry!"                  "There is Bentley Armitage, the brother
Now Miriam knew two things: she knew, of your son-in-law. That would be in the
in the first place, that Miss Kate was family."
at home; in the second place she knew    Beaumont uttered  a sound between a
her mistress's silly weakness for juvenile groan and a grunt.  As near as he could
beaux.                                   make out from what he heard, the brother
"I don' go for to do it," she said to her- of Bentley Armitage was not a model
self, a's she walked away. "Idon' tell no of husbands, and  did not render his
lies, an' I don' help out no foolishness. If daughter Nellie very happy. Bent was a
Miss Marian is gwine to court young men jolly fellow; he told hosts of capital stories;
an' gwine to hender true lovers, she may he was very amusing; he soothed the gout.
jess work at it alone. I'se a square woman, But for all that, Beaumont did not find that
I is. I has a conscience, bless de Lord I "   he hankered after any more Armitages for
As she passed Kate's room she opened sons-in-law.
the door softly, beckoned the girl to ap-   "But you don't want a McAlister?"
proach, put her finger to her lips, and whis- furiously remonstrated the lady.
pered, "Come, Miss Katy. Come down to   "How  a McAlister?" inquired Beauthe front do', quick. I'se got suthin' to mont, with something like a shaking of the
show ye."                                mane at the sound of the so long detested
Kate was of course curious; she glided name. "What McAlister?"
down to the front door; the negress opened    "Frank,"  gasped  Mrs. Chester, her
it; there was Frank!                     naughty, sensitive old heart giving one
" Can't tell him  now she ain't to home," great throb of tenderness over the monosylthought the conscientious Miriam; and lable, mighty as was her jealousy and spite.
walked back to her mistress with the truth-   "Frank! " echoed the father,- "Frank!"
ful report, " Miss Kate was at the do' herself."   He broke away, walked a few steps in
"Waiting for him!"  almost shrieked silence, turned back suddenly, and repeated
Mrs. Chester.                            in a gentle voice,' Frank?"
"Did n' know he was thar," declared   "Yes," trembled Mrs. Chester.
Miriam.  "The dear chile was puffec'ly   "Why, good God, Marian, he saved her
s'prised."                              life! Why, good God, what could I say to
i"I won't have this," asseverated Mrs. him?"
Chester. "I must interfere. I am going   " O  it has n't gone so far as that,"
down."                                   laughed  the  lady, a  bit hysterically.
"Laws, honey. you'se got a headache,"'There is time yet to stop it from going
said Miriam. " You jess better lie down." so far as that. I don't think she cares for
In reply Mrs. Chester flew at her chattel, him yet.  You can stop her from learning
boxed her ears and drove her out of the to care for him. You can send her off
room. Then, sobbing with rage, she threw  visiting."
herself on a sofa; got up presently, bathed   Beaumont made no answer; he did not
her face and looked at it in the glass; went want to send her off visiting; he could not
back to the sofa in despair and remained spare the sight of her.
there.                                     "Would you make her miserable for




KATE BEAUMONT.                                  61
life?" argued the anxious aunt. "Suppose   "No danger, I tell you," interrupted
she should marry this man, and then the Beaumont, his temper rising at her opposiold feud should break out again?"        tion, as a wave breaks into roar and foam
"Good God, I might lose my daughter for- over a reef. " I tell you there's no danger
ever," returned Beaumont, aghast. "Good whatever. Kate is not only a doosed brilGod, I must send her away. Well, she must liant girl, -yes, doosed brilliant, by heavens,
go to Randolph Armitage's.  She must go if I do say it, - but she's a girl of extraorto her sister."                          dinary common sense. If I should hint to
" We can send her up under the care of her the trouble which might coule from her
Bentley Armitage," slyly added Mrs. Ches- marrying a McAlister; if I should once say
ter..                                    to her,'Now, Kate, you see it might separate us,' she never would think of it. I tell
you, I trust to her common sense. And by
CHAPTER  XV.                 heavens," he added, his eyebrows beginning
to bristle, " I want you to trust to it."
IsN the battle of life the new generation is   As Mrs. Chester had no efficient quantity
always beating the old, outwitting it, out- of the grace in question, she did not believe
fighting it, outnumbering it, and driving it in it as a motive of action with other people.
off the field.                             "Well, good by to the Kershaw estate,"
But we will not enlarge upon this huge she replied, trying to bring the financial
reflection; it would carry us far beyond the point of view to bear upon her brother.
limits of our story. We will simply say,   " Good by to it and welcome! " roared
before dismounting from  its elephantine Beaumont, indignant at this thrusting of
back, that because Kate Beaumont was a filthy lucre under his honorable nose. "What
child, she was too much for a father. When the Old Harry do I care for the Kershaw
her bristly, grisly genitor, one of the most estate? I am  a Beaumont, and the decombative and domineering of men, pro- scendant of Beaumonts.  Who are you?  I
pounded to her his notion of sending her on thought we looked only to honor, in our
a visit to her sister, she at once dissipated it family. Money! You can't turn my head
by saying that she would rather not go.  by talking money. I know the value of
4 "Don't want to make Nellie a visit!" re- the thing.  But, by heavens, I wouldn't
plied Peyton Beaumont, believing that he swerve a hair for the sake of it. I'd blow
ought to insist, and doubting whether he my brains out first. And as for Kate's
could.                                  marrying against my wishes, you knQw she'Why, papa!" said Kate, in a tone of won't do it and I know it. There's no use
good-natured wonder and reproof. " Have in talking about it."
you forgotten? "                          " No, there's no use in talking about it,"
"Forgotten what?"                     replied Mrs. Chester, with what might be
"Don't you really know what I mean?" called a snapping-turtle irony.
persisted the girl, a little chagrined.    Stung by her brother's charge that she''Pon my honor, I don't."             was no true Beaumont, angered by his in" O papa! My birthday I Nineteen next convenient obstinacy, and still more by his
Tuesday."                               loud, overbearing voice, she suddenly and
"Bless my body!" exclaimed Beaumont, petulantly gave up her hopeless contest (as
looking uncommonly ashamed of himself. a child drops a hammer which has cracked
"Bless my body, how could I forget it! its fingers), and marched off with short,
Well, of course I knew it all the while. It spunky stampings, reminding one of that
had only slipped my mind for a-"   Here famous step between the sublime and the
he recollected his conspiracy with  Mrs. ridiculous  Her hips had become of late
Chester, and fell suddenly dumb, querying years An inch or so too wide to permit her
whether his wits were not beginning to fail to locomote thus with grace or dignity.
him.                                     They gave her skirts a quick, jerking swing,
" Of course I want to keep it here," said which, as seen from behind, was more farciKate.                                    cal than majestic. The fat washerwoman or'" Of course you do," assented Beaumont, chambermaid of low comedy walks by prefready to knock down anybody who objected erence in this manner. As Peyton Beauto it.                                   mont looked after her, he grinned with a
"Why shouldn't Nellie come to us?" kind of amused rage, and muttered, " By
asked Kate.                              Jove, what a goose Marian can make of her-;" She shall," declared Beaumont. "Write self."
her a letter and ask her to come. Give her   But after Mrs. Chester had got to her
my best love, and tell her I insist upon it."  room, and had, so to speak, stuck out her
It was in vain that Mrs. Chester made lips behind the door for half an hour, she
assault upon this new disposition of events discovered some consolation and hope in
as soon as she heard of it.             the fact that Nellie Armitage was coming.




62                           KATE BEAUMONT.
She remembered Nellie as a "true Beau-   " Ah! " growled Beaumont, glancing at
mont," full of the family pride and passion her with an air of comprehension, half pitiand spirit, the fieriest perhaps of Peyton's ful and half angry.
children. Was it not likely that such a   Mrs. Armitage revealed no more; if she
woman would retain much of the feeling of was not happy in her own marriage, she was
the ancient family feud? Was it not almost not disposed to say so; either she had been
certain that she would violently oppose a born with more discretion than was usual
match between her only sister and a Mc- with Beaumonts, or she had acquired it.
Alister?  Poor, bewitched, unreasonable,   "So the feud is ended," was her next
almost irrational Mrs. Chester plucked up observation.
her spirit a little as she looked forward to   "Well, yes; that is, you know —well,
Nellie's arrival.                        we get along," said the father.'"We are
At last Mrs. Armitage came, bringing her giving those fellows a chance to' behave
two children with her, but not her husband. themselves."
This young lady (then only twenty-four   He felt obliged to apologize to a Beauyears old) bore a certain resemblance to her mont for having given up one of the antiqfather. She was of a medium height, with uities and glories of the family.
a figure more compact than is usual in   "Of course you know  best," replied
American women, her chest being uncom- Nellie, with that indifferent air which she
monly full, her shoulders superbly plump, had at times, and which made her appear
and her arms solid. Her complexion was a so unlike her race.
clear brunette, without color; her hair a   "You see this young McAlister had the
very dark chestnut and slightly wavy; her luck to place us under immense obligations
eyes brown, steady, and searching. Barring to him," continued the old fighting-cock.
that the cheek-bones were a trifle too broad " And doosed lucky it was for that blockand the lower jaw a trifle too strong, her head his brother. Vincent would have shot
face was a handsome one, the front view  him as sure as Christmas is coming."
being fairly oval and the profile full of' spirit.   " And how about Kate?  Is she likely to
There was something singular in her ex- marry this Frank McAlister?"
pression; it was a beseeching air, alternat-   "Likely to marry the  Old Harry l"
ing with an air (,fresistance; she seemed in snorted Beaumont, indignant at being
one moment to implore favor, and in the spurred up to this ugly subject again.
next to stand at bay. To all appearance it " Who the dickens told you that norwas the face of a woman who had had sense?"
a stirring and trying heart-history. You' Aunt Marian wrote to me about it."
could not study if long without wishing to   "Aunt Marian is a babbling busybody,"
know what had happened to her.           returned  Beaumont, thrusting his hands
She greeted her relatives with the quick, fiercely into his pockets, as if feeling for a
effervescent excitability of her Huguenot brace ofderringers.
race. A mninute or two later she was ab-   "She told me not to tell you of her letter,
sorbed, indifferent, almost stony. It seemed and so I thought it best to tell you," added
as if something must have partly paralyzed Nellie.
the woman's affections, rendering their ac-   " By Jove! you know her," replied Mation intermittent.                       rian's brother, bursting into a laugh.  " By
"Kate has grown up very handsome," Jove, it's amazing how she lacks common
she quietly and thoughtfully remarked to sense," he added, as if his breed were
her father, when she was alone with him.   famous for it. "In a general way,- I'm
"By Jove!" trumpeted  Peyton Beau- fairly obliged to own it, — whatever Mamont, unable to brag sufficiently of his rian wants done had better not be done.
favorite child, and falling into eloquent It's astonishing!"
silence before the great subject, like a   "If there is any such courtship going on,
heathen prostrating himself to his idol.    I want it stopped," continued Nellie, some"I hope she will have a happy life of it," what of the family excitability beginning to
added Nellie, with the air of one within sparkle in her eyes.
prison-gates who wishes well to those with-   Peyton Beaumont, vain and self-opinionout.                                     ated and pugnacious as he was, would
"Why should n't she?" demanded the always listen to those  privileged, those
father, lifting his stormy eyebrows as an ex- almost sacred creatures, his children.
cited eagle ruffles his feathers. " She has   "Look here, Nellie, I'm glad you came
everything she can want, and we are all down," he said. " I want to talk to you
devoted to her. The baby, you know I " he about this very thing. Not that there is
explained, as if apologizing to his eldest any danger,- 0 no," he explained, motiondaugrhter for so loving the youngest.   ing away the supposition with his thick,
"It is all well enough now. But she may hairy hand. " But then, if things should
get married by and by."                 go on, there might be trouble.  That is,




KATE BEAUMONT.                                  63
you understand, the thing is just possible, with wrath accordingly.  The two were
— I don't say probable, mind, I say pos- treading on the verge of an old battlesible."                                 ground which had been many times fought
"It must not be possible," declared over between them.  Mrs. Chester, an
Nellie.                                  advisatory and meddlesome creature, felt in
"You think so?" stared Beaumont, a all her veins and nerves that she was a
little bothered.  Consideringhis own weak- Beaumont, and that whatever concerned
ness in the presence of Kate, was he abso- any of that breed concerned her. This
lutely sure that he could put the match pretension, so far at least as it extended to
outside of the possibilities, in case she should the children of Peyton Beaumont, Nellie
prefer to bring it inside?             had always violently combated, even from'
" Certainly I think so," affirmed Mrs. infancy. One of her earliest recollections
Armitage, firing up in a way which left no was of scratching Aunt Marian for trying
doubt as to her being a true Beaumont. to slap Tom.  The fight had been renewed
" See here, I want at least one woman in many times, the niece gaining more and
the world to succeed; I want Kate to have more victories as she grew older, for she
a happy married life.  If she marries a was a cleverer woman than Mrs. Chester,
McAlister, what are the chances for it? and also a braver.  It need not be said
You know that family, and you know our that, while there was no outrageous and disown. How long will the two travel to- reputable quarrel, there was no fervent love
gether? You know as well as I do that the lost between them.  But although Aunt
old quarrel is pretty sure to come up again. Marian did not adore Nellie, and was at the
Then where will Kate be?  A woman who moment considerably irritated against her,
is forced to fight her own flesh and blood, she did not, under present circumstances,
God help her!"                          care to fight her.
She said much more to this effect; per-   " Of course you and' your father will do
haps she repeated herself a little, as emo- what is proper," she said, putting on that
tional people are apt to do; she was very air of sulphuric-acid sweetness which so
much in earnest, and hardly knew how to many tartarly people have at command, and
stop.                                   which profits them so little. " You two are
"Well, of course!" neighed Beaumont, Kate's natural guardians," she further conquite roused by her excitement, as one ceded.
horse rears because another plunges. " The   " Certainly!"
thing cannot, must not, and shall not be   She waited to hear something more about
allowed. I'll see to it."               the match, but Nellie had no communica"' You'll see to it i" repeated Nellie, tions to volunteer, and there ensued a brief
amused in spite of her anxiety, and good- silence, insupportable to Mrs. Chester.
naturedlly laughing him to scorn.         " Of course you never could give your
i 4"What d' ye mean? " queried the father, approval," she ventured to resume, smoothtrying to raise his bristles.           ing her niece's hair.
"' You'11 just see that every one of your   "No! " sharply replied Nellie, who would
idiots of children does exactly what he or have answered more graciously if Mrs.
she pleases," explained Nellie.         Chester had kept her hot hands to herself.
"Nonsense!" growled Beaumont, march-   Unamiably as this response was enuning off with all his peacock plumage spread. ciated, the elder lady was so delighted with
To prove to himself that he possessed pater- it that she lost her self-possession, and let
nal austerity, he too)k advantage of the first out a gush of confidence which was impruopportunity to fall afoul of Tom, giving dent.
him a lively blowing up for birching a'Kate will have plenty of offers. I know
negro. Only the lecture being concluded, one fine young man who is desperately in
he drew his cigar-case and presented the love with her.  I am sure that your hus
youngster with one of his costliest Ha- band's brother-"
vanas, the two thereupon smoking what   Nellie turned upon her with -sparkling
might pass for the calumet of peace.    eyes and quivering nostrils.
The case of Frank and Kate soon came   "Bent Armitage? " she demainded. " Is
up between Mrs. Armitage and Mrs. Ches- he courting her? "
ter.                                      4"O no," responded Mrs. Chester, dis"' Of course  not," haughtily affirmed covering her error and at once trying to
Nellie, when her aunt had declared that fib out of it. "I was about to say that
the McAlister match would never do.  "I Bent, as you call him, told me that Pickcns
have discussed the matter with papa. We Pendleton was cracked about her."
will attend to it."                        Which was true enough as regarded
This was saying that the affair was none Pickens Pendleton, only the tale of it had
of Mrs. Chester's business; and that lady not come from Bent Armitage.
so understood the remark, and trembled   Well, each of the ladies had made a dis



64                           KATE BEAUMONT.
covery. Nellie had learned, in spite of her sion, but she was not a little disturbed, and
aunt's prompt dodging, that Bent Armitage her sister perceived it.
was wooing Kate; and Mrs. Chester had   "You don't care for either of them?"
perceived without the slighest difficulty that demanded Nellie, imploringly.  "I don't
such a match would be sternly disfavored want it. Papa doesn't want it."
by Nellie. Both being thus provided with   "I won't care for either of them," was the
matter for grave meditation, they found promise which dropped from  Kate's lips
conversing a weary business, and soon before she realized its gravity. There was
separated.                              conscience and discipline in the girl; she
The next important dialogue of this instinctively and by habit respected and
straightforward and earnest Mrs. Armitage obeyed her elders; she did it naturally and
was with her sister.                    could not help it. But the moment she had
"How  you have grown, Kate!" she given her pledge she grew pale and tried to
laughed, turning her about and standing up turn away from her sister.
to her back to back.  "Pshaw I! you are   " Look here, Kate, this costs you a strugtaller than I am. You ought to know more.> gle," said Nellie, slipping her arm around
I wonder if you do. What did you study the child's waist and kissing her. "Which
abroad? "                               one is it? "
"' 0, everything that is useful," smiled   Kate made no answer, for she had as
Kate. " Only I don't find that I use it. I much as she could do to catch her breath,
think a good cookery-book ought to be the and she was for the moment beyond speakmain class-book of every girls' school. I ing.
wish I knew a hundred receipts by heart."    " Not Bent Armitage? " begged Nellie.
" Well, send for a cookery-book, and go   Kate shook her head.
to getting them by heart."                i" The other? "
" I have," said Kate.                    Kate began to cry.
" Pudding-making and love-making are   "O  Katie!" said Nellie, and began to
woman's chief business," observed Nellie, cry a little herself, being womanish and
shaping her course toward the subject which Beaumontish to that extent that she could
she had on her mind. " They are both im- not easily resist the contagion of emotion.
portant, but I think the last is the most so.   After a moment Kate made a desperate
-Which do you like best of all the men who struggle for some small bit of a voice, and
come here? "                            broke out, "But I don't care so much about
"I don't like any of them," said Kate, him.  Only you surprised me so.  You
for once driven to fib by an awful heart- worried me. You —"
breaking, and blushing profoundly over   "I know, Katie," whispered Nellie, all
her- was it her guilt?                  tenderness now. "I did put things at you
" O, what a monstrous lie!" laughed too hard. Don't be vexed with me. I do
Mrs. Armitage.                           love you. That is the reason. Well, you
" Then what do you ask such questions can't talk of it now. We won't say a word
for? " retorted  Kate, becoming honest more now."
again.                                     "Yes, I can talk of it," declared Kate,
"Because I want to know." said Nellie, collecting her soul bravely. " What is the
lookin  her earnestly in the face.       whole of it?  What is it?"
"Mhen the young man speaks, I will  "Suppose there should be another long
come and tell you," was the evasive an- quarrel with tbe McAlisters?" began Nellie.
swer.                                      "I know. I have thought of that. I will
"But then it will be too late to tell me. think of it."
Your mind will be already made up, and l    0, you are pretty sensible, Kate. Well,
you will accept him or refuse him, and then as for Bent Armitage -"
advice will be useless."                   "You need n't tell me about him. It is
" O, that is the way it goes?"       of no consequence."
"That is the way it went with me."       "I hope not," said Nellie, too anxious to
" Well, you have never repented it," said be quite sure. "Well?"
Kate, who knew nothing of her sister's sor-   " You have my promise," declared Kate,
rows, if sorrows there were.             firmly.
"Let me tell you one thing," answered   "Yes," answered Nellie, meditatively.
Nellie, roused to fresh resolution by this   "Do you suppose I won't keep it?"
remark. " Let me tell you whom not to   "I was n't thinking of that," replied Nelmarry.  Neither Frank  McAlister nor lie, who, now that she had gained her point,
Bent Armitage. If you take the first, you had a sudden, natural, irrational reaction of
will make trouble for yourself; and if you feeling, and did not find herself positive
take the second, he will make trouble for that the promise ought to be kept.'"I
you."                                    was thinking -but never mind now, dear.
Kate struggled to retain her self-posses- Another time."




KATE BEAUMONT.                                    65
CHAPTER  XVI.                 he proposed to test mines and phosphate
beds, and decide whether they could be
MRS. ARMITAGE went through a variety worked profitably; and that for such serof spiritual exercises with regard to this vices he should expect a reasonable compossible match between her sister and Frank pensation.
McAlister.                                  "But will that get a living?" inquired
At first she had been sternly opposed to Mrs. Armitage.  Another reflection, which,
it; then the contagion of Kate's emotion however, she kept to herself was, "Is that
caused her to relent somewhat; next she work for a gentleman?"
reflected upo.n the matter by herself, and    " It may not for a time," laughed Frank.
hardened her heart once more; at last she " Our people don't care much as yet for
met the young man, and in consequence ex- their underground wealth.  Their eyes are
p)eri(nced a further change.              bandaged with cotton. But I have an ambiAlthough she was prepared to find him  tion, Mrs. Armitage. I want to open peoagreeable and h tndsome, she was rather sur- ple's eyes.' I want to develop the natural
prised by his grand figure, his fine face, and wealth of mv State.  I want to be a benepleasant address. His lofty stature did not factor to South Carolina."
seem to her objectionable or even very odd,   " O, that is right," admitted Nellie, thinkfor in the midtland and back country of ing the while that, if he became famous as a
South Carolina, where she had passed her benefactor, he might run for Congress.
life, the human plant grows luxuriantly, six    "Yes, there would be little, to do for a
fiet being a common height, and six feet four time," continued Frank.  " So the other
not unique. Moreover, there are probably part of my plan is to obtain a professorship
few women who (ldo not find a certain mas- in some college."
sive charm in large men.'"No wonder,"   Nellie frowned frankly; he seemed too
thought Nellie, " that Kate likes this fellow, grand a fellow to be a mere professor; she
especially since he saved her life." Never- was already interested in him, and wished
theless, she would study him; she would see him well.
whether he were half as good as he looked;   " If you really want a professorship, I
she would see whether he were good enough should think you might easily get one," she
to make up for being a Mc Alister.        said. " Your father has a great deal of poThere was not much in their interview of litical influence."
the wandering small-talk which is apt to    The serious young man was tempted to
follow introductions; for both Mrs. Armitage smile in the face of the serious young woman.
and Frank were, of that earnest class of souls Of course, scientific enthusiast as he was,
who urually mean something and say it. The he scorned the idea of getting a professorlady, too, had a fervent purpose at heart, and ship through his fathpr's wire-pullings, and
none too much time in which to carry it trusted to earn one by making himself faout.                                      mous, desirable, and necessary as a chemist
"Are you going to live at home, Mr. Me- and metallurgist. But it was not worth
Alister?" she very soon inquired.        while, nor perhaps in good taste, to try to
Frank colored; it seemed as if she were render these matters clear to Mrs. Armitage.
askin(r himl whether he meant to live on his   " Well, you will not starve; your father
father, like so many other sons of well-to-do will see to that," was her next remark, goodplanters; and he remembered that he had naturedly and smilingly uttered, but surely
been in Hartland several weeks without very discouraging.
doing anything chemical or metallurgical.   His father again! It was almost provok"I have n't yet decided where I shall be," ing to have his high and mighty and rehe replied. " But I hope before long to find spected parent flung at his head in this
some place where I can earn my own living." persistent manner.  So far was Frank from
Mrs. Armitage stared; a young gentleman looking to the paternal statesmanship, influof expectations who wanted to earn his own ence, and acres for his bread and butter, that
living was a novelty to her; she was so lihe at heart expected to gain pelf as well aq
puzzled that she smiled in a rather blank honor by his sciences, developing untold
"ashion.                                  wealth and sharing in the profits.
"And how do people earn their own liv-   "Do you expect to find gold-mines in
ing?" she demandted.                      Hartland  District?"  was Nellie's next.
"'I want to earn mine by making other speech.
people rich."                               " No," patiently responded our scientist,.
"I don't understand," said Nellie, more not even marvelling at the depths of her
perplexed than ever, and beginning to query ignorance, though he knew that auriferous
whether this McAlister were not jesting ore out of Hartland was less possible than
with her.                                 sunbeams out of a cucumber.  "I shall
So Frank explained that he had studied have to run  about after my work," he
metallurgy and commercial chemistry; that added.
9




66                           KATE BEAUMONT.
He feared that he was damaging his Nellie, unable to help admiring him for his
chanlces as a suitor for Kate; but he was honesty and his beauty.  " I am sure, Mr.
too honorable to tell anything less than the McAlister, that you are a gentleman. But
truth,                                   have you thought, have you considered?'. Run about," repeated Nellie, quite de- 0, how hard it is to say some things! Well,
cided for the moment that he should not I must speak it out. Here is my young sishave her sister; "I should think it would ter under great obligations to you. And
be pleasanter to stay at home."          you are a McAlister. I know that there is
Frank was discouraged; nobody herea- peace now between our families. But how
bout sympathized with his tenderness for long will it last?  Suppose it should not
chemistry and his passion for metallurgy; last? Would you like to have your name
sometimes he thought he should have to stand between vour wife and her own father
drop his sciences and go to sleep upon cot- and brothers? "
ton, like the rest of South Carolina.      Suddenly remembering that she had as"- You must excuse my frankness," said sumed that he cared to marry her sister,
Mrs. Armitage, who perceived that she had when he had not yet told her so, Nellie
dashed him a little. "It is so strange that stopped in confuision. It was so like her to
I should be talking to you at all! It seems spring forward in that instinctive way; it
as if I were at liberty to say everything."   was so like the emotional, headlong race to
"There has been a prodigious breaking which she belonged.
of the ice between our families."          " I hope, it would never be as you say,"
" Yes; and you broke it. It was a great groaned the young man, frankly acknowlthing to do, and you found a grand way to edging the purpose which had been imputed
do it."                                 to him.
" It was accident," said. Frank, coloring   " Ah - yes," replied Nellie, with a sigh
under this praise from Kate's sister.    of sympathy. Her opposition was weaken"I can't thank you enough for saving ing; she found it very hard to withstand
her," continued Nellie, a little moved.' It this good and handsome lover to his face;
is useless to try to do it."             she was mit:htily tempted to get done with
There was a short silence. The young him by giving him her sister. Discove:ing
man's spirit was beginning to burgeon and her weakness, and deciding that it was her
bloom all over with hope. The lady was duty not to yield to it, she hastened to speak
meditating how she could tear up his hopes, her mind while she had one.
without seeming to him and to herself out-  "' See here, Mr. McAlister. I ask you
rageously ungrateful and hard-hearted.   one thing. I ask it of you as a gentleman;
" Yes, you did a noble thing," she re- yes, and as a friend. I beg of you that, if
sumed.'i I hope you will never have occa- ever you should wish to say a word of love
sion to regret it."                     to Kate, you will not say it without the full
" How! " he exclaimed, in a sudden burst permission of her father."
of earnest bass, at the same titme starting up   He came up to her with a bright smile,
andi pacing the room. " I beg your pardon," seized her hand, pressed it, and in lis thankbe almost immediately added, and sat down fulness kissed it.
again.                                     Nellie's resolution was almost upset; she
" He is very much in love with her," came very near saying, "Take her."
thought Nellie. "What a dreadful business   "I worship her," he whispered. " But
it is! What shall I say to him?"        before I say one word, you shall permit it.
She steeled herself with a remembrance You and your.father shall both permit it."
of her duitv to her sister, and added: i" It   " O, it all amounts to nothing," returned
might have been bette,' it some one else had Nellie, shaking her head with a slightly
saved her."                              hysterical laugh. "Such things are said
The Chinese wall was broken down; the without saying them. If you love her, she
great subject of Kate Beaumont lay open will find it out, though you should never
before them for discussion; and the only -peak again."
question was, whether Frank McAlister   " But you won't send me away?" begged
could summon breath to enter upon it. For Frank, his smile suddenly fading and his
a moment he was like a climber of moun- eyes turning anxious.
tidns, who should discover a barely travers-' No," said Nellie.  " Every woman is a
able path leading to the longed-for summit, big fool on these subjects. I can't send you
and should just then find himself turning away."
dizzy. He absolutely had to make another   Thus ended Mrs. Armitage's first attempt
excursion to the window and back before to prevent a match between her sister and
he was able to say, " Do you think I would Frank McAlister. It had been so far from
take improper advantage of my slight, very a triumph that she had given the young man
slight claim to gratitude? "            a tac:t permission to continue some silent
6" ho, I do not," replied the impulsive sort of courtship, and had at the bottom of




KATE BEAUMONT.                                  67
her heart become little less than his parti- man who loses his estate in silly speculasan. She did not deceive herself as to the tions; perhaps, also, they look upon her as
result of the onslaught; she admitted that one who cheapens and discredits her sex.
one more such victory would beat her com-   All at once Mrs. Chester understood that
pletely; and her sagacious decision was, "I Nellie had found her out and was openly
won't say another word about it."  It was a flouting her.  Exposure and a consciousresolution, as certain metaphysicians inform  ness of "scorn's unmoving finger " are
us, easier for a woman to make than to keep. great  helps to  beclouded  intelligences.
In fact, Nellie was rather an aid than a Although this widow  bewitched was half
bar to Frank in his researches after happi- crazy about Frank McAlister, she could see
ness at the Beaumont mansion, inasmuch somewhat of the absurdity of her position.
as she kept Mrs. Chester from balking and when another plainly pointed it out to her.
worrying him with her venerable assidu- She shook with shame and rage; her pale
ities.  It mlust be understood that the brunette cheek turned ashy; after a little
cracked old flirt had got over her wrath at her black eyes sparkled vindictively.  But
the youngster for playing his brother upon she had enough of self-control to go on with
her while he himself had walks and talks her cuttings and bastings, and to merely
with her niece. She observed that in these mutter, "Yes, the match would make
days he never saw Kate alone; and, not plenty of trouble."
knowing the true re son, she guessed that   " He is enough to fascinate any woman,
he had tired of her. Consequently she once young or old," added Nellie, by way of commore had hopes of — the gracious knows pleting her massacre of this mature innowhat; and with the return of hope came a cent.
resurrection of fondness for her Titan.    Wonders were accomplished by this short
Now Nellie did not mean to smooth the dialogue. Henceforward, so long as Mrs.
course of Frank's love; impulsive as she Armitage remained at the plantation, Aunt
might be, she was no such weathercock Marian ceased making eyes at Frank Mcas that.  But she had grown up in the Alister, or trying to entrap him into moonhabit of fighting Aunt Marian; and, more- light strolls, or doing anything else that
over, she  could not bear to see that was lovelorn, —at least before witnesses.
venerable  chicken make a fool of her- Her reformation was, however, only exterself; for did not her absurdities more nal; she was in reality fully possessed by
or less disgrace the family? As so )n, there- that mighty demon, a heart-affair of middle
fore, as she perceived that Mrs. Chester life; she was reaping the reward of having
was indulging in her time-worn vice of flirt- passed thirty years in no other habit of mind,
ing with a man ever so much her junior, she than that of love-making. She was so far beprepared to open fire upon her. Tre two witched with FrankMcAlisterthat shewould
ladies were sewing by themselves in the have rushed into the madness of marrying
breezy veranda, when Mrs. Armitage com- him, had he proposed it. The case may seem
menced her bombardment with "What a incredible to those who have not witnessed
handsome fellow Frank McAlister is! "   somethin similar. While we all know that
How  easily the slyest of us are hum- elderly men sometimes fall desperately in
bugged when people talk to us about those love with girls, we are not accu-t,med to
wholll we love! It was of no use to Mrs. see elderly women get into hallucinations
Chester that she was a woman, that she over youngsters.  But the marvel somewas a veteran worldling, that she' was an times happens; and it happened to poor
old coquette. The doors of her heart flew  Mrs. Chester.
open at the sound of the name which was her   In these day s she passed much time in
open sesame; and with a throb of pleasure, her room; sometimes lost in reveries which
with the sincere countenance of a gratified were alternately sweet and bitter; somechild she replied, " Yes, indeed!"      times trying on dress after dress and orna" He is trying to catch Kate, and I fear he ment after ornament, not to mention perwill do it," added the cruel Nellie, sending latinas, etc.; sometimes studying herself in
a straight thrust at the unguarded bosom.   the glass and endeavoring to think herself
"' It would be a most outrageous match," youthful, or at least not old. Like Southburst out the surprised and tortured Mrs. erners in general, she found no embarrassChester.                                 ment in the presence of a negro; and so
"It would make more than one of us her ancient maid, Miriam, had plenty of
miserable," continued Nellie, turning the opportunity to observe these prinkings and
blade in the wound; and at the same time prankings.
she gave her discovered, unhappy, ridicu-   "Laws me!" muttered the  indignant
lous, irrational relative a glance of angry mauma.'Ef Miss Marian don't oughter
contempt.  A  woman  who "loves not have the biggest kind of a spankin'"
wisely" gets little pity from other women;   There was no reason why Miriam should
they regard her as men regard a brother- not guess accurately what was the matter




68                           KATE BEAUMONT.
with her mistress.  Mrs. Chester  was son, she launched into an invective against
one of those people who must have sym- the whole race of McAlisters.
pathy; she had always been accustomed to   "Dear me!  Bless my soul!" said the
receive it from her faithful chattel; and she Major, in his most soothing whisper.  "I
demanded it now with a curious frankness.  am excessively grieved that your feelings
" I don't see why Mr. McAlister should should have been hurt by - by circumst.navoid me," she would say plaintively. Then ces unknown to me. What have those truly
she would burst out with sudden vexation: unfortunate people been doing? I trust noth- But in these days no woman can get any ing that an apology will not atone for. Do,
attention who is over twenty."           my dear old friend, - may I not venture to
"Don't see nuffin perticlar'bout Mars call you so? - do confide in me. I will see
Frank," muttered Miriam, lying a little for them  about it," he declared, grandly asher owner's good.                        suming an air of sternness, as Hector might
" O, he is so tall!" exclaimed Mrs. Ches- have put on his helmet. "I will insist upon
ter, in naive ecstasy.  So tall! Perhaps an explanation. By heavens I will, my dear
that was the key to her possession. The friend."
jaded flirt, famished after sensations, had   " O, it is nothing of that sort!" returned
been captivated by a physical novelty. Her Mrs. Chester. "There is nothing to have a
next passion might be for a dwarf, or for quarrel about, I suppose. But — " and here
one of the Siamese Twins.  *             she burst out passionately - "they are so" No woman over twenty has any chance so ungrateful! "
of being noticed here in the country," she   " Un-grate-ful! " gasped the Major, seempresently added, laying on the word country ingly horror-stricken. " Un-grate-fuil! " he
an accent of scorn and spite.            chanted, running his voice through four or
"Miss Marian, you's a big piece beyond five flats, sharps, and naturals.. "Youtwenty," exploded Miriam, losing all pa- you confound me, - you positively do, Mrs.
tience. "You's a young lookin' lady for your Chester. Wh-at a charge! And they were
age. I allows it. But for all that, you ain't supposed to be gentlemen.  Claim to be
what they calls young no longer. I don' such. Pass for such. Ah! - Well?"
keer, Miss Marian, ef you doos git angry. I   And here he looked at her for further'se talkin' for your good, an' I'se gwine to explanations, his hands wide-spread with
talk a heap, an' I'se gwine to talk it out. mock sympathy, and his eves full of real
You's jess altogeder too old to be friskin' eagerness. In truth, the Major was very
roun' a young feller like Mars Frank Mc- anxious, for he did not know but triat some
Alister. He ain't a gwine to wanter frisk serious matter of offence had arisen between
back, an' you can't make him. Now you the families, and he trembled for his Romeo
jess let him alone. He'll think mo' of you aud Juliet romance.
ef you doos; he'll think a heap mo'. An'   " I have been as civil as I could be to Mr.
so'11 everybody.  Thar! that's what I'se Frank McAlister," began Mrs. Chester in a
got to say; an' I've said it; thank the Lord; low tone, which was, perhaps, a little treman' I'11 say it agin."                   ulous.
Mrs. Chester's first impulse, under this   The Major's eyes brightened; so that was
benevolently cruel lecture, was to fly at all the trouble; old flirt jealous about atMiriam and kill her; her next and victori- tentions.
ous impulse was to cover her face with her   " I have certainly shown him all the conhands and shed tears of humiliation and sideration that a lady can properly show to
grief.                                   a gentleman," she continued, her voice gain"Thar now, honey, don't," implored the ing strength, if her reason did not. " I have
suddenly softened Miriam. "Don't cry that done it in kindness. His position here was
way. I'se been mighty hash, I knows. The peculiar.  So lately introduced among us,
Lord forgive me for hurtin' your feelin's."   and under such trying circumstances!  I
And then followed a strange, an almost thought that he needed encouragement, and
pathetic scene of weeping on one side and that some one was bound to give it to him.
coddling on the other, which only ended I have given it. And the result is "- here
when the sorrowful Marian had taken a there was almost a choking in her utterance
dose of chloroform and got to sleep. Corm- - "that he avoids me."
ing out of her nap refreshed, she wandered    "Dear me! But no. It can't be possible.
through a thorny meditation concerning It is n't true." brazenly asserted the Major,
Frank, and struggled up to the top of an alarmed by her evident emotion and fearing
emotional Mount Pisgah whence she looked the worst results for Romeo and Juliet.
upon him with her mind's eye, giving up'My dear old fiend,'" getting hold of her
hope of possession. But this resolve left her hand and squeezing it tenderly, " ou must
in an angry state of mind towards him and be mistaken. Forgive me. I am in earnest.
his family, so that when she next met her I am excited. This is enough to throw any
bland and sympathetic friend, Major Law- man off his balance. Excuse me for speak



KATE BEAUMONT.                                  69
ing plainly: pardon me for contradicting his auditor. By dint of playing interminayou. But you must be mistaken.  Why, it b'y on the same key, he produced in her
was only yesterday that I was talking with what is known to lawyers who have to
him, and the conversation fell upon your- cajole jurymen as a "favorable state of
self, my dear Mrs. Chester, and he was en- mind."  HIe made his female Balaam forget
thusiastic about you. Absolutely enthusi- that she had come out to curse the Mcastic," repeated the Major as glibly as if he Alisters, and brourght her to end the converwere telling the truth. "' Nothing less than sation by uttering their praises.
enthusiastic.  Why, my dear friend, if he   But in doing thus much good he unwitseems to avoid you, it must be attributed to tingly did some mischief, for he reawakened
modesty. He is afraid of wearying you, -  Mrs. Chester's foolish hopes with regard to
afraid of wearying you," he reiterated, fall- her giant, and thus opened the way to furing back and gazing at her respectfully, as ther complications and furies.
if she were a wonder of intellect. " Afraid
of wearying you," he added, reinforcing
his air of deference with a tender smile.
"Nothing else. Modest young man. Mod-               CHAPTER XVII.
e-t! Appreciative, too. Knows your value.
Highly appreciative. I happen to know    So thoroughly deceived was Mrs. Chester
that he appreciates you. Why I happen to by Major Lawson's inventions, that she reknow it, - I am his confidant. His confi- solved to come to an explanation with Frank
dant," insisted the Major, looking whole McAlister, and give him to understand that
volumes of adoration, as if translating them  his fears of wearying her with his society
from McAlister.                          were groundless.
But we can give no idea of the mel-   We will not detail the conversation that
lifluousness, the sugar, and sirup, antl mo- resulted; we will draw a partial veil over
lasses, of this wondrous flatterer.  To ap- this awkward exposure of an unbalanced
preciate his speeches it was necessary to mind; we will skip at once to the finale of
hear them and to watch him as he exuded the discordant duo. Imagine the confusion
them. The petting, the coaxing, the adula- and distress of our modest and kind-hearted
tion that there was in his voice and address Titan when Mrs. Chester, after many inbeggared description.  He was a band of sinuating preambles, took his hand, pressed
music; he played successively on the harp, it tenderly, and said,' Let us be friends.
sackbut, psaltery, and dulcimer, flute, violin, Will you always be my friend? My best
and bassoon; he flew from bass to falsetto friend? "
and b ick again with the agility of a squir-   What made his situation more pitiable
rel scampering up and down a hickory. was that her agitation (a mixture of anxiety,
The repetitious in which he delighted were of womanly shame, and of affection) was so
invariably distinguished  by variations of great as to be unconcealable.
pitch and manner. He said his impressive' I have no intention of being other than
thing in barytone, and then he said it in your friend, madam," replied the unfortutenor, and then he said it in soprano  He nately honest youth.
enforced it the first time with a stare, the   This answer, and especially this " madam,"
second time with an arching of the eye- stunned her. She inferred that he would be
brows, the third time with a long-drawn no more than a friend, and that he looked
smile. Nor did he weaken his effects by upon herasaneld(erlylady. Hadheslapped
hasty or indistinct utterance; he was as de- her in the face, he could hardly have stung
liberate and perspicuous as an experienced her more keenly or repulsed her more
judge delivering a charge to an obviouldy completely than he did by that title of restulid jury; he made a pause after each spect, "'madam."  Dropriing his hand as if
important statement, to give you time to it were a hot iron, she recoiled from him a
swvallow and digest it; and meanwhile he little and walked on in silence, her breast
watched you steadily to see how you bore heaving and her lips very near t), quivering.
his dosing.                                "I hope certainly that we shall always be
To some straightforward, hard-headed friends," hastily added Frank, per(eiving
people, the flattering, pottering Major was that he had pained her, and deeply regretvery tiresome. They saw him depart from  ting it.
their presence with the same joy with which   "' Certainly," mechanically responded Mrs.
you behold a flea hop out of your sleeve Chester, for the moment pathetic and almost
where he has been carrying on his inflam- tragic. In the next breath she grew angry
matory familiaritieq. But to Mrs. Chester and continued, with a touch of hysterical
and other souls, who could endure much irony, "0, certainly, sir! We understand
complimentary serenading, he was more de- each other, I believe! Well, I must go in I
lightful than nightingales.              I am afraid of this damp air. Excuse me,
Well, he talked an hour, and he soothed sir."




70                           KATE BEAUMONT.
And before Frank could say anything to "The roses might have wanted to keep her,
the purpose, she had forced herself from  you know."
him and was in the house.                  Mrs. Armitage gave Frank a glance which
" Upon my honor I don't understand it," said as plainly as eyes could speak, "I coumuttered the stupefied chemist and mineral- fide in your promise."
ogist. "'Is it possible that she really wants   Then, turning to Bent, she ordained:
me to really flirt with her?"          "' You must leave your basket to Mr. McSuch a respect had he for womankind Alister. I want to see you about things at
that he impatiently dismissed this supposi- home."
tion, as he had often dismissed it before.   Surrendering his pleasant charge to his
Because of his born chivalrousness, and still rival, the young man followed Nellie, his
more because of his worship of Kate, he lamed foot slapping the ground in its usual
canonized the whole sex.                 nonchalant style, and his singular, mechanHe was surprised out of his reflections ical smile curling up into his dark red cheek,
by the apparition of Nellie Armitage from a but his heart very ill at ease.
small, thickly trellised grape-arbor close at   " Bent," commenced Nellie when they
his elbow. It was like the dash of a par- were alone, " I have nothing to say to you
tridge from a thicket at one's feet; or rather about your brother. There is enough to
it was more like the spring of a tiger from  tell, but it is the same old story, and there
a jungle; at all events, she startled him  is no use in telling it. The home that I
roundly.  Ile suspected at once that she want to talk to you about is my home here.
had overheard his final words with Mrs. What business have you strolling off alone
Chester, and he grew almost certain of it with my sister? I told you not to do it."
when he came to notice her manner. Nod-   " A fellow does n't want to have the air
ding without speaking, she took his arm and of a boor," he muttered sullenly. "Just
walked on rapidly, her nostrils dilated and look at it now. A lady goes by with a basher quick breath audible. It was evident ket to pick flowers. Can't a man offer to
that she was in a good old-fashioned Beau- hold her basket? Is n't he obliged to do
mont fit of anger.                       it? Would you have him tilt back his chair
"Mrs. Armitage," he said, thinking it and go on smoking? "
best to be at least partially frank, " I fear   " 0, it's easy explaining," returned Nelthat I have vexed your aunt by an awkward lie. " But I am not to be trifled with, Bent.
speech of mine."                         You sha' n't court her. If you do, 1'll tell
" I wish you had boxed her ears," broke my whole story to my father and brothers.
out Nellie. " I wanted to."              Then we'11 see if ever an Armitage enters
He was enlightened: so Mrs. Chester was this house again."
really making love to him; at least Mrs.   Bent was cowed at once and completely;
Armitage believed it. He did not know  the threat was clearly a terrible one to him.
what more to say, and the awkward prom-   "Before God, I don't take Randolph's
enade continued speechlessly.            part," he said. "I know you have cause
"I was not in ambush," the lady at last of complaint enough.  I wish to God he
observed. " I was dozing there -no sleep was - "
last night - hateful letters. Your talking    He stopped with a groan. His brother,
waked me, and I heard -   Well, let us say as he comprehended the matter now in hand,
no more about it. It is abominable. It is was his evil genius, standing between him
disgraceful.  So ridiculous! Oh!!"      and Kate Beaumont. In his grief and an"I beg your pardon? " queried the anx- ger he had come very near to wishing that
ious Frank.  " I must ask one word more. that brother was dead.
You are not blaming me?.'. I don't sustain him," he resumed. " Be"' You are only too patient, Mr. McAlis- sides, Randolph is not a bad fellow at heart.
ter. You are a gentleman. Let us say no He is naturally a good fellow. You know
more about it."                          what it is that makes him raise the devil."
Emerging presently from an alley lined   "You are taking the same road," was
with neglected shrubbery so overgrown that Nellie's judgment. " You will be just like
a camel would have been troubled to look him."
over it, they came upon a litte stretch of   " Never I " declared Bent.  " You shall
flower-beds and discovered Kate gathering see."
materials for her mantel bouquets, while   She marched on with an unbelieving, unBent Armitage stood at her elbow with a pitying face, and he followed her with the
basket. Of the four persons who thus met, air of a criminal who asks for a remission
every one colored more or less with disa- of sentence, and believes that he asks in
greeable surprise.                       vain.
" I took the liberty of forcing my guar- "V Well, I must go, I suppose," he said,
dianship on Miss Beaumont," said Bent, turning towards his horse as they neared
looking apologetically at his sister-in-law. the house. "If you see old Miriam, tell her




KATE BEAUMONT.                                  71
to pray for me," he added with a smile of   "Oh! " scoffed Jenny, incredulously.
bitter humor. "LVhat I want most is to'I tell you she doesn't. Besides, she
break my neck."                          ought not to. It would be the worst thing
"' I am sorry, Bent," replied Nellie, just in the world for her."
a little softened. "But de)pend upon it that   And here came a long argument against
I am doing what is best. Just look at it a match with a MeAlister, going to show that
yourself.  What sort of' a state were you in it would surely end in severing Kate from
yesterday?  You Nvere-"                  her family, that it would make her miserShe was interrupted by Mrs. Chester able for life, etc.
calling from her window to Armitage that   " There is something in that," admitted
she wanted to see Mrs. Devine, and would Jenny.  "Yes, you are right; no doubt
ride home with him.                      about it. Well, take me over there and
"Delighted," grinned Bent. " I shall give me a chance. I don't mind trying to
have somebody to cheer me. Misery loves help Bent a little."
company."                                  " O, do say a word or two for the poor
Just as Kate and Frank returned chat- fellow. As for Mr. McAlister, you need n't
tering and laughing to the house, the two mind him much. Just talk to him now and
people who adored them  cantered hastily then a moment, to keep him from getting
away, not sending a look backward.       in Bent's way. Not that he means to get
Whether we want to or not, and whether in his way."
w3 find it pleasant or not, we must go back   "'Yes," answered Jenny, absent-mindto Mrs. Chester's heart-affairs, trusting soon edly. She was in a revery about this Mr.
to come to an end of them. We will not, MeAlister.  Suppose he should fall in love
however, try to analyze her present feel- with her'?  Suppose she should fall in love
i;,gs; the matter is altogether too compli- with him? Would it be very bad? Would
cate I and indiscriminate. As we value a it be very nice?  O dear!
clear head we must confine ourselves to her   The hospitality of the Beaumont house
intentions, which were lucidly spiteful, mis- was illimlitAble, and nobody was put out
chievous, and full of the devil. It was not when Mrs. Chester brought Jenny Devine
Mrs. Devine whom see wanted to see, but to stay a fortnight.  On the contrary, the
that lady's dangerous flirt of a daughter, little jilt was heartily welcomed, for she was
Jenny; and before the day was out the old a favorite with the young men of the lamily,
coquette and the young one were closeted while Peyton Beaumont still retained his
in camarilla over Kate Beaumont's matri- arch;-patriirchal fancy for pretty women.
monial chances.                          As, moreover, Wallace McAlister soon dis"' You ought to help your cousin," was covered her whereabouts, and two or three
Mrs. Chester's adroit recommendation.    other stricken deer came daily to have their
Cal't he do his own courtship?" sneered wounds enlarged, Jenny had more than
Jenny.'" You'll be asking me next to fight beaux enough. But busy as she was with
h's duels for him."                      her own affairs, she found time to keep her
" I want him to get her," pnursued Mrs. promise to Mrs. Chester, and even to outrun
Chester, too much engaged in her own train it. On the very evening of her arrival she
of thought to notice the sarcasm  on her held a prolonged bedchamuber conference
proteye. "It would be very pleasant for us about love matters with Kate Beaumont.
all to have her married in the family, as it   " And so there is going to be no wedding
were.  We should n't lose the dear child, right away?" said Jenny, after some preyou see."                                liminary catechizing.
Jenny stared and nearly laughed, for this   " No, indeed," replied Kate, with an osphrase, "' the dear child," struck her as both tentation of calmness.
surprising and humorous, as she knew that   " I think he is splendid," continued JenAunt Marian was not given to the family ny, trusting that her friend would be thrown
affections, nor even to counterfeiting them. off her guard and answer, " Is n't he!"
"Besides, it is so desirable to keep the    Getting no response, she added, pettingly,
Kershaw estate in the relationship," con- "So tall!  Such a beautiful complexion!
tinued the eager and absorbed Mrs. Ches- Come now, don't you like him?  Don't you
ter. "I must say that I wish poor Bent like him just a little teenty-taunty bit?"
may succeed."                              "I like everybody as much as that," an"And you want me to try to run off with swered Kate, hurrying to a closet on preFrank Me Alister," laughed Jenny. " That's tence of hanging up a dress.
what you want, is it?"                    "Here, come to the light where I can see
The elder lady's eyes flashed; she was you," said Jenny, seizing her frikend's bare
far enough from wanting that.            arms and drawing her towards the kerosene
"I won't do it," added Jenny. "I believe lam!) which was the Beaunont substitute
Kate likes him."                        for gas. " 0, how you blush!"
"She does n't," affirmed Mrs. Chester.   "Anybody would blush, pulled about and




72                           KATE BEAUMONT.
catechized in this way," protested Kate. him when he beat her. It seemed for two
"How awfully strong you are! and impu- or three days as if she only sta) ed at the
dent I Real impudent!"                  Beaumonts' to receive his visits, and as if
" O, tell me a little bit about it," per- he only came there to see her.  Something
severed Jenny. " Could you refuse him? of a romp and a good deal of a chatterer, she
If he should come and get on Lis knees, lhad a thousand tricks for occupying and
and make himself only five feet high, and amusing men, and killed time for them withsay his little pitty-patty prayer to you, could out their being aware of' it. The field was
you refuse him? "                       the more easily her own for two reasons:
" Yes, I could," declared Kate, amused first, because Kate, mindful of her promise
and perplexed and annoyed all at once.    to her sister, had lately taken to holding'0, yes. But would you?"              the McAlister at a distance; and, second,
"I would," was the answer, uttered in a because that young chieftain, discouraged
changed tonle, somewhat solemnizing.     at being treated with reserve and continJenny let go of Kate's hands, studied her ually hampered by either Mrs. Armitage or
suddenly sobered face for an instant, and Mrs. Chester, had come to a stand in his
believed her.                            courtship.
" Well, Kitty, it's awful," she said at last,   The result of this seeming flirtation bewith a mock-serious twist of her pretty tween the bothered Frank and the feathermouth. " Somebody must console the poor headed Jenny was a sentimental muddle.
man. I'll do it."                        Although Kate kept up a smiling face, she
After a minute of meditation she added, did not at heart like the way things were
"And there's my poor cousin cracked after going, and she grew more reserved than
you. Will you take him?"                 ever towards her admirer. Mrs. Chester
Kate, who at the moment was ready to very rapidly became as jealous of Miss
cry under such teasing, found a relief in Devine as she had been of Miss Beaumont.
answering this question with something like Wallace detected the girl whom he loved
temper, "No!"                           best in making eyes at his handsome brother,
Jenny was so amused by this explosion and fell into a state of mind which was
from her usually quiet friend, that she burst likely to rob him of what hair he had left
into a shriek of laughter.               Nellie Armitage, now that she saw a chance
"Poor Bent!"  she gasped.  "Coffin of loosing Frank as a brotht r-in-law, innumber two. Will they drown themselves, dined to think that her sister might go
I wonder, or take a cup of cold pizen to- farther and fare worse. From all that she
gether?  Pizen, I guess. Mr. McAlister could learn of him, she had come to admit
could n't drown himself without going to that he was morally one of the finest young
the seaside. Just imagine them sitting down fellows in the district. He scarcely drank
to arsenic tea and quarrelling for the first at all; he had never been known to gamble;
drawing."                                he had never been engaged in a squabble.
"Jenny, what does all this mean?" de- There were others, to be sure, as worthy as
manded Kate, seriously. " Have you been he; there were Pickens Pendleton and the
sent here to pump me?"                  Rev. Arthur Gilyard and Dr. Mattieson;
"No, no, no, no, no!" chattered Jenny, but Kate could not be got to care about
"Why, wha-t an idea!"                    any of them. What if the child should
"Excuse me," said Kate. "I must go throw Frank McAlister away, only to pick
now. Good night."                        up Bent Armitage? In short, Nellie began
And, with an exchange of kisses which to lose distinct recollection of the feud with
strikes us as sweetness wasted, the two girls the McAlisters, and to feel a little anxious,
parted and went to bed, the one to laugh if not a little pettish, over this flirtation of
herself to sleep over the interview, and the Jenny Devine.
other to - well, she did not laugh.        An explosion came; but of course it was
The next day, believing that Kate cared neither Kate nor Nellie who brought it
little or nothing for Frank McAlister, and about; and equally, of course, it was Mrs.
believing also that it would be well if she Chester.  That sensitive young thing (only
should never learn to care for him, Jenny forty-five summers, please to remember) let
watched eagerly for the appearance of that her Leart go fully back to Frank as soon as
giant gentleman, and when he came, set her she saw him  entangled with Jenny, and
nets for him. She was fearfully and won- lived a year or so of torture in three or four
derfully successful; she got him away from  days. It is perhaps impossible to write into
her friend and got him  away from Mrs credibility the almost insane jealousy with
Chester; she made him take her to walk which she watched this girl of nineteen
and made him take her to ride. She played coquetting with this youth of twenty-four.
backgammon with him, and euchre and high- But if you could have beheld the spasm
low-jack, crowing over him defiantly when which pinched her lips and the snaky sparkle
she beat him, and making pretty mouths at which shot from her eyes when she discoyv



KATE BEAUMONT.                                   73
ered them together, you would have believed cried a little, and clenched her small fist a
in the reality of her passion. Her emotions number of times, and laughed hysterically
were so strong that her reasoning powers, more than once.
never of any great value, were now not   Thus ended Jenny's visit to the Beauworth a straw to her. She forgot that she monts; but short as it was, it had brought
had done much to start Jenny on her pres- about one important result; it had'led
ent adventure, and thought of her as an Kate's sister to see the value of Kate's lover.
unbidden intruder, impudent, cunning, false, That very afternoon, even while Jenny Deand selfish. She secretly gnashed her teeth vine was having her wickedness borne in
at her, and lay in wait to expel her. After upon her by Mrs. Chester, Nellie had said
a sufficiency of this firing up, she all at once to the young man, in her characteristically
broke through the crust and uttered herself frank way, " How much have you chanced
like a volcano.                         in the last week?"
" I don't know what your mother would   " Not one bit,'' was the earnest and honest
say to all this," she began abruptly. Not reply.
that she meant to be abrupt; in her excite-   "Then I withdraw my opposition," dement it seemed to her that much had been clared Nellie. "You may succeed, if you
said already; that Jenny and everybody can."
else must know what was upon her mind.     "I shall speak to her now," returned
"All what?" demanded the young lady, Frank, his heart throbbing as if it were of
her eyes opening wide at this sound of coin- volcanic nature and communicated with the
ing tempest.  She knew, like all Hartland, internal earthquake forces.
that Mrs. Chester was a tartar; but she was,   "Oh! " gasped Mrs. Armitage, quailing a
nevertheless, surprised by the lunge now  little under the suddenness of the thing, and
made at her; ini fact, Mrs. Chester was wishing, as all women do, to prolong a speccapable of surprising anybody.           tacle of courtship. "0, so quick?  But'0 O, of course," sneered the old coquette, you must see my father first," she added,
not to be foiled by the supposed arts of a recollecting that obstacle, likely, as she knew,
young coquette.                          to be no obstacle at all. (' You surely will
"I don't understand you, Mrs. Chester," see him first? " she begged, feeling that she
declared Jenny, drawing herself up with had no right to command a mln who was
the hauteur of self-respect, and looking her invested with the great authority of love.
assailant firmly in the face.           "' And he is not at home."
"Then it's my duty to make you under-'"I shall wait for his return," was the destand," was the reply of a woman whose cision of a true lover.
reason was dragging at the heels of her
emotion. "I think that, considering you
are not at home, you are flirting pretty
smartly."                                          CHAPTER XVIII.
"' You must be joking! " said the astounded girl. " Why, you brought me here to     WHILE Frank waited for Mr. Beaumont,
what do you mean?"                      in order to ask him whether he might or
"I mean what I say," returned Mrs. Ches- might not propose marriage, he either
ter, perfectly ready to quarrel and fit to go walked up and down before Mrs. Armitage
to a maison de sante. You are flirting scan- in absent-minded silence, or he talked altodalously."                               gether of Kate.
" Why, you old gossip! " exclaimed Jen-   This behavior did not make him tiresome
ny, suddenly and furiously indignant.   to the lady; on the contrary, she found him
Old! — gossip!" gasped Mrs. Chester, incessantly agreeable and fascinating.  A
looking as if a strait-jacket would be a man who has donned the cross of' love, and
blessing to her.                         set his adventurous face toward the holy
".Where is Mr. Beaumont? " demanded city of marriage, is to a woman one of the
Jenny, quite as angry and not a bit intim- most interesting objects that she can lay
idated. "I want to see Mr. Beaumont."   eyes upon, even though he looks for his
Mrs. Chester quailed as a lunatic might crown to some other queen of beauty. To
who should hear his keeper called for.    her mind he is bound on the most impor" He is not at home," she asserted, whi(ch tant and noblest of pilgrimages: the queshappened to be the case, although she did tion of his success or failure impassions her
not know it.                            imagination and kindles her warmest symJenny marched away with the swing of pathies; she can hardly help wishing him
an insulted hoyden; called for her dressing- good fortune, even though he is a stranger.
maid and had her trunks packed; evaded   "But I must weary you, Mrs. Armitage,"
Kate's questions as to the cause of her de- apologized Frank, not knowing the aboveparture; begged the loan of the Beaumont mentioned facts.'"I must seem  terribly
coach, and drove home. On the way she stupid to you."
10




p7ly4                        KATE  BEAUMONT.
" No, indeed," returned  Nellie, inno- It was difficult to guess his age, but he might
cently, and continued to prattle away about have been about forty-five.
her sister, telling every minute more of the   The Judge was escorting this visitor to
subject than she meatt to tell, and reveal- his carriage with al air of solemn politeness
ing through sparkling eyes and flushed and suppressed dislike, such as an elephant
cheeks her satisfaction with the state of miaht wear in bowing out a hyena.
things.'I regret that you can't at least stay to
But this quarter of an hour of delightful dinner, XMr. Choke," he said, smiling all the
expectation was a false portal, not opening way from his broad w, inkled forehead to
to higher felicities.  In place of Peyton his broad double chin. -As for the busiBeaumont came his tropical henchman, ness in hand, you may rely upon me."
Cato, riding up at the usual breakneck speed   "I expect nothing less from your intelliof darkies on horseback, rolling out of his gence and noble ambition. Judge," replied
saddle with the agile bounce of a kicked Mr. Choke, with a smile so sweet that for a
footb ill, and holding forth a letter with the moment Frank failed to notice his squint.
words, " Powerful bad news, Miss Nellie."  Let us now go back an hour or so, and
Mrs. Armitage read to herself and then learn what was "the business in hand."
read aloud the following note from  her Although this combination of beauty and
father: "'Tell Kate — gently, you under- the beast had come unexpectedly to the
stand -- that her grandfather is sick; you McAlister place, and had simnply announced
might say quite sick. On the whole, you himself through Matthew  as I Mr. Choke
had better send her over here to take care of Washington," the Judge had guessed at
of him. I may stay here over night my- once what mighty wire-puller it was Rho
self. Now don't scare the child out of her waited in his parlor, and had thoughtfully
senses. Just send her over here at once."  stalked thither, snuffing the air for political
"You see," said Nellie, looking up at traps and baits and perfidies. He, howevrer,
Frank with something like a pout of disap- remembered his manners when he came
pointment at the postponement of the love face to face with his guest; he uttered a.
business.                                greeting of' honeyed civility which at once
"I see," answered the young man, turn- set on tap all Mr. Choke's metheglin.
ing anxious and gloomy.  "I must come Each of these remarkable men (two of the
another time."                           most remarkable men in our country, -ir!
He started soberly homewards; then, says Jefferson Brick) was by many degrees
after going a quarter of a mile, he had a more polite than the other.
bright thought and returned to escort Kate   "I am delighted to welcome you to South
over to Kershaw's; but, although he thus Carolina, sir," said the Judge, with such a
secured a half-hour with her, he proffered benevolent smile as Saint Peter might have
no manner of courtship, knowing well that on admitting a new saint into Para' ise.'" I
it was no time fbr it. Finally, after seeing have long known the H, n. Mr. Choke by
Lawson and learning from  the troubled reputation. Let, us Lope that you are preman that the good old Colonel was danger- pared to stay with me for some weeks at
ously ill, he once more turned his back on least."
his queen of hearts, the love message still   "You are exceedingly courteous and hosunspoken.                                pitable," replied Mr. Choke.  -' You are
Reaching home, he met in the doorway even more courteous and hospitable than I
his evil genius, and politely bowed to him  expected to find you. The South. Judge
without knowing him. This fateful stran- McAlister, is the land of hospitality and of
ger, this nman who, without the slightest ill- courtesy. It should be. Heave,, has lavwill toward Frank, or the slightest acquaint- ished abundance upon it.  What a soil,
ance with him or his purposes, had come what a climate, and what men I " looking up
to cross his path and make him dire trouble, reverently at the McAlister's lofty summit.
was, in some points, a creature of agreeable " Even the water is a luxury."
appearance, and in others little less than   It must be observed that these two men
horrible. His blond complexion was very flowered out thus in compliments from very
clear, his profile regular and almost Greek, different causes. The host blossomed behis teeth singularly even and white, and his cause he had grown up in doing it, and
smile winning. But he was unusually bald; because all the people whom he knew exhis forehead was so monstrous as to be a pected it; while the guest, an extremely
deformity; his eyes had the most horrible business-like man by nature, was merely
squint that ever a scared child stared at; talking what he considered the fol-de-rol of
his expression was as cunning, unsympa- the country.
thizin(. and pitiless as that of a raccoon or   "We are unworthy of our gifts, and you
fox. His moderate stature was made to do us too much honor, Mr. Choke," chanted
seem  c.lumsily short by over-broad shoul- the Judge, when it came his turn'in the reders, thick limbs, and a projecting ab:lomen. sponses. " I beg pardon. Excuse me for




KATE BEAUMONT.                                   75
having forgotten your proper title. Judge, dropping the conversational roses and lilies
I believe, is it not? "                 which lie had waved hitherto, Choke en"No," returned the visitor, beaming out tered upon business.
a smile of humility which was pure flattery.   "Judge, we want you alongside of us,"
*" I have not yet gained your eminence. I he said with an abruptness which wore the
am merely an attorney-at-law, and of late a charm of sincerity.  "We need just such
member of Congress.  I have no claim to men as you are in Congress.  We need
any address beyond plain Mister."       them terribly."
Merely a member of Congress!  The   It was precisely McAlister's opinion, and
Judge could not prevent the blue philan- he could not help letting his eyes look it,
thropy of his eyes from  turning a little although he waved his hand disclaimingly.
green with envy.  The title of "M. C."'Now don't object," begged Mr. Choke.
had been for more than a quarter of a cen- " I must be earnest, as I have been blunt.
tury the mark of his ambition. To set those I must beg you to consider this matter seiritwo letters to his name he had spent mon- ously. I came here for that purpose; came
ey, gushed eloquence, intrigued, entertained, here solely and expressly for that; hence
flattered, bowed, grinned, lived, almost died, my abruptness. Yes, I came here to beg
and all in vain. Ever since age had quali- you to take your proper place in the Confied him to run for that goal, the State party gress of the United States."
had been an overmatch for the Union party   "O, if I only could! " was the wish of
in his district, and it was always a Beau- the Judge's heart. But he controlled himmont, or some other Calhounite, who had self, wore his dignity as carefully as his wig,
won the Congressional race. At last, two and pursed his mouth with the air of a Cinyears previous to this interview, he had de- cinnatus who does not know whether he
spaired of being called to save his country, will or will not save an ungrateful country.
had publicly announced his final withdrawal   "You are perhaps not aware, Mr. Choke,
from politics, and declinled a candidature.  that I have withdrawn definitely from pubBut the disappointment rankled in his lic life," he said, stroking his chin. This
soul, and he still cherished wild dreams of chin, we must repeat, was on a magnificent
success. His desii e and hope were increased scale; it was even broader than the capaby his contempt and dislike for the men cious forehead which towered above it; it
who had beaten him. In his opinion tie gave its owner's face the proportions of an
Hon. Peyton Beaumont was nothing but a Egyptian gateway.  It had development
well-descended blockhead and rowdy. It forward, as well as breadth of beam. It
was abominable that a man who had the was one of those chins which proudly front
rhetoric of a termagant and the logic of a noses. From  any point of view it was a
school-boy should represent, year after year, great chin.  There was plenty of room
a district which contained within its bounds about it for rubbing, and the Judge now
the copious, ornate, argumentative, and went over it pretty thoroughly, stirring it
learned Juldgre McAlister.  A man who up as if it contained his spare brains.
hoarsely denounced a spade as a spade   " We understand that Beaumont is going
had surely no claims compared witi a man to run again fobr the House," continued Mr.
who blandly reproved it for being an agri- Choke, who did not believe that any old
cultural implement.  M,)reover, Beaumont politician ever withdrew  definitively from
made few speeches in Congress, and those public life, and had no time to waste upon,
few excited bitter opposition. The Judge pretences to that effect. " We don't want
imagined himself as orating amid the echoes him there. He is a marplot. He is a barkof the Hall of Representatives with such ing bull-dog who brings out other bull-dogs.
persuasiveness and suavity as to draw even Every word that he utters loses us votes at
the Senate around him, and to beguile Sum- the North. If he and such as he continue
ner himself into moderation. Yet he was to come to Congress and keep up their stunot elected, and his inferiors were. It was pid howling there, the party will be ruined,
horrible; like the belted knight who was and that shortly."
overcome by the peasant, he cried, " Bitter,   The great, calm, and bland Judge could
bitter! " and, in his revolt at such outrage, scarcely help frowning. It did not please
be could not believe that Heaven would be him to observe that Mr. Choke spoke only
forever unjust.                          of the party. In connection with these matMr. Choke was an experienced detective ters the leader of the moderates of Hartof feeling. Looking modestly at the floor land District always said, " The country! "
with his oblique eye, but studying his host's   "We must get rid of these mules who
face steadily with his direct one, he per- are kicking the organization to pieces," conceived that he had won the game. The tinued the straiahtforward and practical
Judge was anwrily envious; the Judge pas- Choke. " That is the object of my l)resent
sionately desired to go to Congress; the tour. If we can bring into Congress twenty
Judge could be made use of. Suddenly Southerners who will talk moderat'on, we




76                           KATE BEAUMONT.
are saved. It is all important to make a bowed the Judge, virtuously astounded at
break in this phalanx of fire-eaters. It is the hugeness of the bribe, and unable to
almost equally important that the break imagine how he could use it all.
should be made here in South Carolina.   " My best wishes," said Mr. Choke, taking
Divide the voice of this State, and you split off a very modest glass of the McAlister
disunion everywhere.  Am  I right?" in- sherry. " And now allow me to wish you
quired the Hon. Choke, perceiving that it good morning."
was time to flatter the Judge, and stopping   "But, God bless my soul! you must stay
his speech to smile his sweetest.       to dinner," exclaimed the Judge, breathless
" I entirely coincide with you," bowed with this haste.
McAlister, who, anti-Calhounite as he was,   " A thousand thanks. But I really have n't
believed that South Carolina marched at the time. I must gallop over to Newberry,
the head of the nations, and that what she arrange matters with Jackson there, and
did not do would be left undone. He was get on to Spartanburg by the evening train.
a little out of breath, by the way, with fol- A thousand thanks for your lavish hospilowing after the speaker. He was not used tality. Let us hear from you. Good mornto such rapid argumentation and applica- ing."
tion. It was his custom to go over a sub-   And Mr. Choke bustled, smiled, and
ject with long chains of reasoning, staking squinted his way out of the McAlister manthem out deliberately, and often stopping to sion, leaving its master thoroughly astounded
look back on them with satisfaction. Mr. at the unceremoniousness and speed of
Choke was rather too fast for him; had the " these Northerners."
air of hurrying him along by the collar;   But the chief of the Hartland conservamight be said to hustle him considerably. tives was soon himself again. By dint of
The Judge did not quite like it, and yet it fingering that talisman, his broad chin, he
was obviously his interest to listen and ap- rubbed out his emotions and restored his
prove; it was clear that something good judgment.  Once more in a reasoning, inwas coming his way.                      dependent frame of mind, he coolly queried
"Well, we look to you," pursued Mr. whether he should keep his promise to Mr.
Choke, with that bluntness of his which Choke, or break it for some patriotic reason.
was so startling, and yet so flattering, be- He had very little difficulty in deciding that
cause confidential, — "we look to you to he would hold fast to it. There, to be sure,
beat Beaumont."                          was the family feud, certain to " mount" hint
The Judge was like a woman on a sled if he ran for Congress; but it was a burden
drawn over smooth ice by a rapid skater. which lifelong habit had made easy to his
Unable to stop himself, he must hum swiftly shoulders. There, too, was the strong probaalong the glib surface, even though a breath- bility that his candidature might upset
ing-hole should yawn visibly ahead.  He Frank's dish of cream. But if he should
had an instantaneous perception that run- once beat the Beaumonts, if he should once
ning against Beaumont would reopen the show them that he was a rival to be feared,
family feud, and spoil Frank's chances for would they not be all the more likely to
marrying the presumptive heiress of the agree to an alliance, not only matrimonial,
Kershaw estate, besides perhaps leading to but political?  As for the boy's heart, the
new duellings and rencontres. But how  Judge did not think of it. It was so long
could he check his lifelong mania for going since he had been conscious of any such
to Congress, while this strong and speedy organ, that he had forgotten its existence.
Choke was tugging at the cords of it? The On the whole, he would keep his promise;
sagest and solidest of men have their weak on the whole, his word as a gentleman was
and toppling moments. Unable to reflect engaged; especially as revenge and power
in a manner worthy of himself, and incapa- and fame are sweet. But there should be
ble of restraining his ambition until Frank discretion shown in the matter; until his
should have made sure of the Kershaw suc- trap was fairly set, nobody should know of
cession, he sprawled eagerly at full length it, excepting, of course, his trusted and netoward the House of Representatives, and cessary confederates; from the sight of even
agreed to run against Beaumont.          his own family he would hide it, as he knew
"If you need help, you shall have it," in- how to hide things. Meanwhile, before the
stantly promised Choke, anxious to seal the Beaumonts could so much as suspect what
bargain. " Our committee will furnish you he was about, his son might lay an irrevowith the sinews of war. The organization cable hand on the heart of their heiress.
will go deep into its pockets to secure the   "Frank," he said next morning, " you
presence of such a man as Judge McAlister ought to ride over to Kershaw's and inquire
in Congress. You can draw upon us for about the Colonel. If Miss Beaumont is
five thousand dollars. Do you think that still there, present her with my kindest rewill do it? "                            gards and sympathies, and tell her I am
"I should think it highly probable," distressed to hear of her grandfather's ill



KATE BEAUMONT.                                   77
ness. Exceedingly distressed, you know!" said good morning, was a hoarse, sullen
emphasized the Judge., his brow wrinkling mutter.
with an agony that stirred his wig.        "Mr. Beaumont, I have come to ask a
So Frank rode over to Kershaw's, ob- great favor," began Frank, with that abrupttained an interview with Miss Beaumont, ness which perhaps characterizes modest
and spoke the speech which his father had men on such occasions. " I ask your perd(ictated, but not the one which his father mission, sir, to offer myself to your daughhad intended. How could a sensitive, gener- ter."
ous young fellow spring love-traps upon the   Beaumont was certainly in a very unwoman whom he worshipped, while she was wholesome humor. His optics had none of
trembling for the life of her adored grand- the kindness which frequently, if not usufather? This fruitless riding to and fro ally, beamed from  their sombre depths
went on until the Judge became impatient when he greeted the savior of his favorite
and very anxious.  Of the probability of child. Even at the sound of that tremuKershaw's death and the certainty that his lous prayer of love they did not light up
estate woull go to Kate Beaumont he talked with the mercy, or at least sympathy which
repeatedly to his wife, hoping that she would such an orison may rightfully claim. They
be inspired to repeat these things to Frank, emitted an abstracted, suspicious, sulky stare,
and that the boy would be led thereby to much like that of a dog who is in the broodmake haste in his wooing. At times, when ing fit of hydrophobia.
it occurredl to him that he might be ruining   "I don't understand this at all," he rehis son's chances of success and happiness, plie(l, deliberately and coldly. " Your father
he was so far conscience-stricken and re- and you - between you- I don't undermorseful as to wrinkle his forehead and go stand it, I don't, by heavens I It looks as
about the house muttering. In those days though I was being made a fool of," he
guileless Mrs. McAlister could not imagine added, in a louder and angrier tone, his
what it was that made her usually calm and mind reverting to McAlister perfidies of
bland husband nervous and waspish.       other days.
Frank, too, was in sore trouble; he wore   "I beg your pardon, — I don't comprea pinched brow, and grew thin. He afflicted hend," commenced Frank, utterly confused
himself with imaginations of Kersh:tw dy- and dismayed. "I should hope that - "
ing, and of Kate weeping by the bedside.   "Is n't your father preparing to run against
In more selfish moments he cringed at the me for Congress? " interrupted Beaumont,
thought that funereal robes would prevent his black, blood-streaked orbs lighting up to
him for weeks or months from telling the a glare.
girl what was in his heart!  The longer   "I don't believe it!" was the amazed
the great declaration was put off, the more and indignant response.
he feared lest it should be ill received.   The elder man stared at the younger for,
There were whole days in which he felt as what seemed to the latter, a full minute.
if he were already a rejected lover. Even   " Mr. Beaumont, do you suppose I am deMrs. Armitage could not keep up his spirits, ceiving you?" demanded Frank, his face
although she was by this time keenly and coloring high at the ugly suspicion.
obviously interested in  his success, and   After gazing a moment longer, Beaumont
talked to him daily in a very sweet way slowly answered, " No - I don't, - no, by
about her sister.                       Jove! But," he presently added, his wrath
At last, unable to bear his suspense lon- boiling up again, "I think your father is
ger, he resolved that he would at least utter humbugging us both.  I think, by heavhis gentle message to the father, trusting ens -"  He had been about to say somethat some blessed chance would waft it on thing very hard of the elder McAlister's
to the daughter. Anxiety and doubt walked character as to duplicity; but, looking in
with him to the interview; and his heart the frank, manly, anxious face of this
was not lightened by the countenance with younger McAlister, his heart softened a
which he was received. Peyton Beaumont, little; he remembered how Kate had been
always sufficiently awful to look upon, saved from death, and he fell silent.
seemed to be in his grimmest mood that   " It is useless now to ask an answer to
mnorning.  His very raiment betokened a my request," resumed Frank, after a pause.
squally temper.  The neatness of attire   "Yes," said Beaumont. "'Things don't
which marked him when Kate was at home stand well enough between our families.
and saw daily to his adornment had given What you propose would only make worse
way to a bodeful frowsiness.  He had trouble"
dressed himself in a greasy old brown coat    "I will go home and inquire into what
and frayed trousers, as if in preparation for you allege against my father," continued
a rough and tumble. Apparently he had the young man, with a sad dignity. "Meanslept badly; his eyes were watery and blood- time, I beg you to suspend your judgment.
shot, perhaps with brandy; his voice, as he Good morning, sir."




78                           KATE BEAUMONT.
He held out his hanl. Beaumont took back of a chair, and sending his bold blue
it with hesitation, and then shook it with eyes into his father's sly gray ones.
fervor.                                   1" Why, good heavens! Frank," stam" By heavens! I don't know but I'm a mered the Judge " what is all this? "
brute," he said. "If I've hurt your feel-   Frank said nothing, but his face repeated
ings -- and of course I have hurt them - I his question; it demanded a plain answer.
beg your pardon; I do, by heavens! As for   "Why, the fact is, Frank," confessed the
what you propose, - well, wait. For God's Judge, w'th a smile of almost humble depresake, wait. Good morning."               cation, " that I have been badgered, yes, I
More miserable than he had ever been in may say fairly badgered, into trying my
his life before, Frank rode home to call his luck again."
father to an account.                      Uttering a groan or rather a smothered
howl of anger and pain, the young man sat
down hastily, his head swimming.
" But, good heavens! Frank, is there anyCHAPTER  XIX.                thing so extraordinary in it?" asked the
father.
WORDS are a feeble, undisciplined rabble,   "Mr. Beaumont charged you with it,"
able to perform  little true and efficient said Frank, dropping his faceinto his hands.
service. Even the imagination is an un- "I did n't believe it."
certain general who gets no full obedience   "Charged me with it!" repeated the
out of wretched soldiers, and sees not Judge.  "Is it a crime, then?" he dehow to marshal them  so that they may manded, feeling somehow that it was one,
do their best duty.  It seems, at times, yet trying to be indignant.
as if there were nothing real and potent   "It reopens the old account of blood,"
about the human being, except the passion the youth muttered without looking up.
which he can feel and which he cannot   "Not at all. I don't see it," declared the
describe.                                Judge, glad to find a point on which he
Here is a man full of love,- full of the could argue, and grasping at it.
noblest and far the strongest of all passions,   "It breaks my heart," were the next
and this passion so intensified by anxiety words, uttered in a whisper.
and disappointment that it is near akin to   All notion of an argument dropped out
frenzy, - riding furiously homeward to en- of' the Judge's head. A world suddenly
counter his father with a face of white an- opened befbre him in which no ratiocination
ger, and to ask hoarsely, Is it true that you was possible. He became aware of the
have made me wretched for life?  So far presence of emotions which were as mighty
as feeling is concerned, the figure is one of as afreets, and would not listen to logic.
high tragedy.'The youth is mad enough to He was like a man who has den;ed the exbreak his neck without iecking, mad enough istence of devils, and all at once perceives
to conlmit a c(rime without being half con- that they are entering into him and taking
scious of it. He is so possessed by one im- possession.  He was so startlingly and
perious desire, that he cann t take rational powerfully shaken by feelings without and
account of the desires of others. Flying feelings within, that for the first timb in
over the slopes between the Beaumont house many y, ars his healthy blood withdrew
and his home, he is impatience and haste from his face. His cheeks (usually of a redpersonified. He comes in upon his father oak complexion) flecked with ash color, he
with the air of an avenger of blood. Well, sat in silence, watching his si:ent son.
have we described him in such a way that   For some seconds Frank did not look up;
he can be seen and comprehended? Prob- and if he had raised his eyes, he would not
ably not.                                have seen his father; he was gazing at' Is it true, sir, that you are running for Kate Beaumont and bidding her farewell.
Congrress? " were his first words.        " That is all," he bl oke out at last, rising
The Judge dropped back in his large like a denunciatory spectre, and speaking
office-chair, and stared over his spectacles with startling loudness and abruptness, so
at this questioning, this almost menacing little was his voice under command. "I
apparition. It was the first time in his life have nothing more to say, sir."
th;it he had been frightened by one of his   "See here, Frank," called the Judge, as
own children. For a moment he was too the young man strode to the door.
much discomposed to speak. It was really   "I beg your pardon," muttered Frank,
a strange thing to see this large, sagacious, just turning his discomposed  face over his
cunning face, usually so calm and confident shoulder. " I can't speak of it now."
and full of speculation, reduced to such a   He was gone. The Judge looked at the
state of paralysis.                      closed door for a minute as if expecting to
"Is it true, sir?" repeated the young see it reopen and his son reappear.  Slowly
man, resting his tremulous hands on the his eyes dropped, his ponderous chin sank




KATE BEAUMONT.                                  79
upon his deep chest, and he slipped into   "I have no right to stand in your way,
perplexities of thought. For a long time he sir," was the cold, hopeless reply.
emitted no sound, except a regular and for-   " Why no, of course not," was the feeling
cible expulsion of breath through his hairy of Judge McAlister, although he failed to
nostrils, which was a habit of his when say it. It did not seem to him, now that he
engaged in earnest meditation.  At last he had had time to reflect upon the matter,
said in a loud whisper, " Good heavens! that any human being, not even his favorite
He really likes her. Loves her."        son, had a right to stand in his way, espeThen he tried to remember his way back cially when that way led to the House of
thirty-five years and pick up something Representatives.  At the same time. he
which would enable himn to understand repeated to himself, that neither would he
clearly what it was to be in love. In the stand in the boy's road, but, on the connidst of this journey he found himself on a trary, would help him mightily.
platform before a crowd of his fellow-citi-   "It will be all right, Frank," he declared
zens, explaining to them his very eminent blandly and cheerfully, meanwhile looking
fitness for a seat in Congress. Next, after at the ceiling so as not to see the younganother plunge  toward the lang-syne of ster's gloomy face.  "'You will find that
affection, he became aware of the offensive your father is right."
propinquity of Peyton Beaumont, and gave   Thus it was that the Judge's candidature
hitm just fobr once a plain piece of his Mc- went on, and that as a consequence the old
Alister mind, calling him an unreasonable feud blazed out volcanically. Any one who
oldl savage, a selfish, greedy brute, etc.   could have studied the two families at this
"Alh! " gasped the Judge, angrily, re- time, would have judged that they hated
curring to his loud whisper. "Must I quit each other all the more because they had
running for Congress because he demands stricken hands for a few weeks. The Beauit?  What business has he to domineer monts raved against McAlister duplicity,
over me in this fashion? By the heavens and the McAlisters against Beaumont imabove me, I will run and I'll beait him. I'11 periousness and insolence. The Hon. Peybe master for once; I'11 bring him down; ton breathed nothing but brandy and gun-'11 smash him. Then we'11 see whether he powder from ten minutes after he woke up
won't beckon my son back. I'11 make him  to two hours or so after he went to sleep.
glad to accept my son. I'11 make him junp  His boys, even to the fat and philosophic
to get him."                             Poinsett, oiled their duelling-pistols, wore
Of course he was greatly pleased with revolvers  under  their shooting-jackets,
this idea. It laid hands on the goal of the refreshed their memories as to the code of
Capitol, and humiliated the life-long enemy, honor, and held themselves ready to fight
and secur'ed the Kershaw estate, and made at a whistle. The McAlisters, a less aggresFrank happy. Perhaps no man, however sive and fiery people, but abundantly capajudicial-minded by nature  or habit, is ble of the "defensive with offensive returns,"
entirely lucid on the subject of his ruling made similar preparations. The women of
passion. The Judge felt almost sure of the two houses were blandly but firmly
winning his seat in the next Congress, and warned by their men that they must not
quite sure that that success would make all call on each other. There were no advoother successes easy. After some further cates of peace, at least none in a state to
loud breathing, he resumed his whispering  intervene. The good gray head of Kershaw
" I can help Frank. I can do better for was tossing on a sick-pillow; and the pure,
him than he can do for himself. If I give sweet face of Kate was always hovering
up. and he gets the girl by that means, he near it, her soul so absorbed by his peril,
will be a slave to the Beaumonts for life. that she scarcely heard of other troubles.
But let me once lay her father on his back, Nellie Armitage bewilWered by the sudden
and he can make his own terms. Beau- reflux of the traditional hate, and believing
mont will be glad to come to terms with a with her father, that Jmdge McAlister had
family that can beat him. Beaumont will shown himself the most punic of men, had
jump at the marriage. The girl will jump not a word to say for her sister or her sisat it.  Frank will have reason to thank ter's lover. In the rival house the women
ine.'                                    were silent, obedient to their male folk, as
Then came more expulsions of breath, was their custom. Frank, not at liberty to
and then calmness in that mighty breast. speak against his father, not at liberty to
The Judge was tranquil; he had reasoned plead the cause of a heart which nobody
the matter clean out; he had reached a seemed to care for, was voiceless, helpless,
decision.                                and miserable. He wore no revolvers; he
Somewhat of these meditations he re- wanted to be shot at sight.
vealed to Frank at their next interview,   The village of Hartland was charmed
taking care, of course, to deal in delicate with this fresh eruption of its venerated
hints, so as not to hurt the boy's feelings.   volcano. Men, and women, and boys were




80                           KATE. BEAUMONT.
in as delightful an excitement over it as eyes and an  eager, martial expression,
ever were so many physicists over a convul- marched up and down the room like a sension of nature. There was no end to the tinel, striking the floor with a thick black
discussions, and the predictions, and the cane, the handle of which was evidently
bettings. But we cannot listen to all these loaded. Dufly, very soggy with his last litcrowding talkers; we must select some lit- tle drink, was astride of a chair, holding on
tle knot which shall sufficiently chorus to us by the back and staring argumentatively at
public opinion; and perhaps we cannot do Wilkins. Wilkins, his leathery and humorbetter than incline our ears to our old-time ous face much more in earnest than usual,
acquaintance, Wilkins and Duffy. Every was gesturing at Duffy.
evening, after trading hours were over,   All these men, excepting the prudent and
these two friendly rivals in merchandise had strong-headed Wilkins, were solemnly and
a " caucus," sometimes in the "store " of one genteelly the worse for liquor. Jacocks,
and sometimes in that of the other, and dis- notwithstanding that he sat there so quicussed the Beaumlont-McAlister imbroglio etly, was to that exent elevated that he had
with the aid of' other village notables. insisted  on saying grace over the last
These little reunions were very interesting "drinks around," taking off his broadto Wilkins. and at the same time very pro- brimmed hat, and raising his fat hand fbr
voking. flis ancient crony was much in the purpose. General Johnson had been so
liquor at this period of Hartland's history. far from seeing any impropriety in the act,
The excitement which filled the district that he had reverently bowed his head and
had been too much for Duffy. Duffy had dropped a tear upon the floor, muttering
taken to drink to quiet his nervousness, and something about " pious parents." But drunk
his head as we remember, being uncom- as thegentlemen were, they could remember
monly weak, the remedy had increased the that they were gentlemen, and keep up a
disease. He rushed into the imprudence fair imitation of sobriety. Even the jolly
of three " horns " a day, and consequently Jacocks, although he had fallen from his
he was more or less flighty from morning to religious exaltation into a spirit of gayety,
night.                                   was only blandly merry.
" I tell you, Wilkins, it's all right," he'Go on, Duffy," he said, winking at the
affirmed in the course of one of these par- fierce Jobson. " No man who can sit astride
liaments. " All come out right in the end. of a rocking-chair can be beaten in an arguMake up an' marry yet. Bet you a hat ment. Hold fast by your opinion. Only
they will. Bet you a hat, Wilkins. Any don't bet hats; bet drinks for the crowd.
kind of a hat. Black hat or white. Broad The crowd will stand by you."
brim or narrow brim. Bell crown or stove-   "I will," responded Duffy, with obvious
pipe. Bet you a hat, Wilkins."          thickness df speech, - speech as broad as
i" Now don't be a blasted fool!" implored it was long. " I'll bet drinks for the crowd,
Wilkins, for perhaps the tenth time that an' I'11 bet hats for the crowd. I say those
evening. " I don't want to win your hat. two families'11 make it up 3 et; shake han's
I don't want your bet. Just shut up about all roun' an' make't up; imake't up an'
your hat and listen to reason."          marry. Bet you those two families'11 make't
They were in the little room in rear of up. Bet you they will. Bet you drinks for
Duffy's "store"; the room where he kept his the crowd. Bet you hats for tie crowd. Bet
double-barrelled shot-gun and revolver; the you they'11 make't up. Bet you they will."
room where he slept. It was nearly mid-   " O just hear him now! " exclaimed Wilnight; buying and selling were long since kins, driven to desperation by such persistover; several of the village gossips had ent unreason. Then walking up to Genbeen in for an hour; there had been much eral Johnson, he whispered confidentially,
talking and some drinking.  General John- " That's the way he always is, if he takes
son, a little, thin, pale-faced, gray-headed anything. Only had one horn since supper,
man, attired in a black dress-coat, black and here he is drunker than you or I would
satin vest, and black trousers frayed around be on a quart. And those two fellows are
the heels, stood with his back to the Frank- putting him  up to make a fool of himself.
lin stove, his hands behind him, his coat- I don't call it the square thing."
tails parted, apparently under the impres-   "Allow me, Mr. Duffy," interposed the
sion that he was warming himself, although General, thus incited to remonstrate. " And
there was no fire and( the weather was sti- you, my dear Colonel Jacocks, excuse me
fling.  Colonel Jacocks, a plethoric young for disagreeing. Knowing as I do the charlawyer with a good-natured flabby face, and acters of these two families, and having
a moist, laughing eye, sat on Duffy's bed, been intimately familiar with them from my
his fat thighs spreading wide, and his fat youth up, I venture to say that I unhappily
hands in his pockets. Major Jobson (the see no reason to believe that there can be
partner of Jacocks), a slender, very dark any lasting amity between them, especially
and sallow young man, with piercing black in view of the political differences which




KATE BEAUMONT.                                  81
have lately arisen, or rather which have al- there was humor in the repetition of the
ways smouldered beneath their intercourse. old story, although unaware that the joke
Aly impression is, and I cannot tell you how  pointed at himself.
much I regret to insist upon it, that the   " 0, stop," implored Wilkins. " If you go
Beaumonts and McAlisters, incited by a over that confounded bosh again, I'll quit."
family history without parallel in the history   "'But seriously, gentlemen," interrupted
of the world, are destined to remain enemies Major Jobson, perceiving that his favorite
for many years to come, until circumstances, orator and great man, General Johnson, did
more potent than have yet been developed, not enjoy this trifling, — " seriously, gentleshall arise to soothe the passions which boil men, I believe that this feud between the
betwixt them, and lead them  irresistibly Beaumnonts and McAlisters is fuller of
into one common bond of' friendship ce- earthquake throes than in the times of old.
inented by interest and new methods of I believe that we shall shortly behold tragethoug.ht and feeling."                   dies which will make even sturdy old HartGeneral Johnson had a disputed reputa- land recoil with horror.  I believe that
tion as an orator. He could talk in a dif- before the election is over blood will flow in
fuse, inconclusive, incomprehensible manner torrents."
Ior hours together.  His admirers, among   "0, not torrents," objected Jacocks, who
whom was young Jobson, gave him  credit accused his partner of a tendency to Irish
for' flights of eloquence "; these flights oratory, and habitually laughed at him about
being the passages in which he took leave it. " Say drops."
of intelligribility altogether.  On the pres-   "Well, drops then," responded Jobson,
ent occasion, as the reader must have ob- with a fierce roll of his great blazing black
served, he came very near a flight. Jobson eyes. " But drops from the heart, gentlelooked at him with ebony eyes of intense men. Drops of life-blood."
admiration, glanced about the company to   " Meetings are sure," declared General
call attention, and tapped his cane smartly Johnson, thinking how easily he had got
on the floor. But Duffy was neither en- into a number of meetings during his life,
tr-anced, nor convin(ced, nor even interested. and feeling not unwilling to assist at some
liHe had simply his own ideas about the sub- more.
ject in hand, and he was bent solely on   " O, hang it! I hope not," groaned the
utterin(r them.                          humane and pacific Wilkins. It must be
"iThat's so," he declared, just as if the understood, by the way, that had not GenGeneral had agreed with him. " Always eral Johnson been a rather seedy old grantold you fellahs they'd come together. dee, not given to paying his bills, and much
Told you two so months ago.  Told you addicted to accepting treats, Wilkins would
they'd marry an' put an end to the fight. not have been so free and easy with him.
You know it, Bill Wilkins. Told you so on To a Peyton Beaumont or a Donald MeAlboard the Mersey. That's what I said. I ister this modest and sensible storekeeper
said they'd marry an' put an end to the would have been far more reverent.
fight. Don't ye mind how I said so?"'" Your feelings, sir, on this subject honor
"' 0- blast it! " groaned Wilkins.   you, and honor our whole species," melodi" Well, blast it, if you want to. But don't ously began the frayed  and threadbare
ye'member it?  Don't ye'member I said General. "But, sir, you will pardon me,
so? "                                   I hope, for suggesting-"
"Yes, I know you said so. But they   He was interrupted by the sound of unhave n't done it. That's the point. They steady steps in the darkness of the long
have n't done it."                       outer room. Southerners, when not over"But they're goin' to," persisted the in- excited by liquor or anger, are fastidious.
fatuated Duffy.  "Bet you hats for the about giving offence; they are more prucrowd. Bet you they'll make it up an' dent than non-duelling peoples, as to letmarry. That's what I bet on. Bet you ting their opinions reach the wrong ears.
they will."                              The General stopped talking, assumed a
"0 thunder!" responded Wilkins, driven diplomatically bland expression of counteto wrath. " Well, you may lose your hats, nance, and waited for the unknown to show
if you will. Yes, I'll bet five hats with himself. His caution was well timed, for
you. Time. one year from to-night."     the visitor was Tom Beaumont.
"And drinks for the crowd," amended   "Good  evening, gentlemen," said the
Jacocks.                                 youngster, courteously, although he was;
"Yes, drinks for the crowd," agreed Wil- clearly in liquor. " Thought I should find'
kins.                                    somebody hanging up here. We wo-n't go
"And now, Duffy, tell us about Hutch ho-me till morn-ing."
Holland's store," grinned Jacocks.         "Duffy is in for a night of it," whispered
"Took up posish at the corner," com- Major Jobson to Wilkins. "I shall vamos."
menced Duffy, with a muddy idea that   "I must see Duffy out," the faithful Wil11




82                          KATE BEAUMONT.
kins muttered in reply. "If I don't keep           CHAPTER XX.
watch over him, he'll say some blasted stupid thing, and then Beaumont'11 mount  IF Tom fired intentionally, then it must
him."                                  be that Frank looked to him about ten feet
Meantime Tom advanced to a couple of high, for the ball went a yard or two over
whiskey-bottles which stood on the stove, the head of the latter, entering the wall
found a gill or so of liquor in the bottom of only a little below the ceiling.
one of them, poured it out, and drank it   Wilkins took the hint and dodged into
pure. He was as confident and superior as some invisible nook of safety. He was a
if he belonged to a higher scale in creation cool, brave man, and he was pretty well acthan these other men. He even seemed to customed to this sort of thing, but he had a
patronize General Johnson, reverend with rational dislike to being shot for some one
eloquence and honors, and seedy with noble else. General Johnson, that bland, yet hepoverty. Moreover, the respect which he roic habitue of duelling-grounds, advanced
denlanded was accorded to him.  There speechifying through the half-darkness, but
was a silence about him as of courtiers. To fell over a pile of ropes and cords, with his
Wilkins and all the others he represented a hands in his pockets, and lay for some secgreat name, the name of a long-descended onds helpless. The somnolent Jacocks di(}W:and predominant family, the name of the not stir from his seat on Duffly's bed; and
Beaumonts.  They were not humiliated, Duffy, smiling straight whiskeys, remained
but they were deferential; he was not inso- astride of his rocking-chair. The martiallent but he was confident. There was a eyed Jobson hastily pushed the door to with
sort of calm sublimity in the young toper, his loaded cane, and then intrenched himnotwithstanding his thick utterance and self behind the projecting fireplace, remarkridiculous reeling.                     ing, 1" This is cursed ugly."
"i We wo-n't go ho-me till morn-ing,"   The hereditary enemies had a free field
sang Tom. "Who says he will?  Duffy, to themselves for a fight in the dark.
more whiskey. I treat. Here's the cash.   "Where are you?" shouted Tom, so
Roll in the whiskey. None of that, Wil- completely bewildered by drink and the obkins," plunging at the door to prevent the scurity that he turned his back upon the
exit of the person addressed. "1 Over my foe, and fired a couple of barrels into Dufbody, Wilkins."                        fy's dry-goods. Frank plunged toward the
i "Somebody in the store," returned Wil- tlashes, wound his long arms around his
kins, determined to make his escape, if it slender antagonist, pinioned him, disarmed
could be done peaceably.                him, and threw the pistol over a counter.
"' Bring him in," laughed Tom, and flung   "Let go of me," shouted the struggling
the door wide open.                     Toni. "I say, who is that?  Is it you,
To the horror of Wilkins the light from  McAlister?  Let go of me."
the back room disclosed the lofty figure of   "Will you be quiet, you idiot? " deFrank McAlister, who had entered for the manded Frank, who had forgotten that he
purpose of buying some small matter, and wanted to be shot, and fought instinctively
without a suspicloia that he should stumble to keep a whole skin, as other men do.
upon a Beaumont.                         "'O, it's you, is it?" returned Tom.; Ah!" shouted crazy Tom. "There's Then came a string of ferocious threats,
the tall fellow. I'll takt him down a story. and of such abuse as cannot be written.
I'11 razee him."                       But it was useless for the madman t6 scold
Whiskey, the family feud, the pugnacious and scuffle; he was thrown across a chair
instinct of his race, made him forget that with his face downward, and held there; he
lhe owed this man lifelong gratitude. He was as helpless as a mouse in the iron grasp
had not an idea in his buzzing head but the of a trap. At this point Wilkins, judging
sole stupid idea of rushing to the combat.  that the pistol-firing was over, came out of
"For God's sake, get out of this," whis- his unknown hiding-place, and, throwing
pere]t Wilkins, springing forward and push- open the door of the back room, let in light
ing Frank toward the door.  "He's as upon the batrle-field.  General Johnson
crazy as a loon. Get out of this, if you now saw his way clear to disentangle himdon't want mischief."                  self from the coils of rope on which he had
Our gentle giant certainly did not want made shipwreck, and in so doing kicked a
mischief with one of Kate's brothers; but loose bedcord within reach of the combain his surprise and indignation he stood his tants. Frank perceived it and instantly
ground, softly putting Wilkins aside.  grasped it.
The next instant the long room rang with   "Will you give me your word of honor
the report of Tom's pistol, whether fired by to keep quiet?" he demanded.
accident or intention no one could after-   "No, I won't," gasped the captive, still
wards tell, not even the lunatic young roister struggling. " Take your hands off me."
himself.                                  "Then, by heavens! I'll tie you," ex



KATE BEAUMONT.                                 83
claimed Frank, beside himself with anger last seized his pistol and rushed howling
for the first time in this history.    into the street, no McAlister was in the
In half a minute more Tom was wound neighborhood.
from head to foot in the bedcord, like the   "That's just as right as can be," obLaocoon in his serpents.               served Wilkins, peering out cautiously.
"Merciful God!"  whispered  General " But it is n't, by gracious, any too right.
Johnson to Wilkins. "Tie a gentleman! There'11 be a duel sure. Duffy, you've
I never heard of such a thing in the whole lost your hats."
course of my experience."                " Bet you, I have n't," returned the imLet's go out of here," said the martial- perturbably idiotically smiling Duffy.
eyed Jobson, when he became aware of   " 0, you go to bed and sleep off your
what was going on. "Beaumont might hold quarter of a thimbleful of whiskey," adus responsible."                       vised Wilkins, as he marched homewards.
And, raising a window, he leaped into   This adventure between Tom Beaumont
Duffy's back yard, followed the lead of a and Frank McAlister sent all Hartland
scared cat, made his way into the street., into fits of excitement. For three days
and hastened homeward with his face over hardly any business was transacted in the
his shoulder.  Meantime Jacocks, Duffy, little borough. Duffy, who had seen a litand Wilkins gathered behind the General, tle of the fight, told a great deal; and Joband stared speechlessly at the pinioned son, who had not seen " the first lick " of it,
Beaumont, as much confbunded at his plight told much more. General Johnson narrated
as if they beheld him  paralyzed by the and lectured, and prophesied on every corwand of an enchanter. Probably the oldest ner; and, being invited into various barinhabitant of Hartland could not have re- rooms repeated himself until he grew
membered seeing a " high-tone gentleman " pathetic over "those two noble young men,
subjected to such treatment. But then the by gad, sir"; meanwhile leaning his shininhabitants of Hartland, meaning those of ing elbows for support on a sloppy counter
the masculine gender, rarely lived to be and letting his tears mingle with a thin
old. A good many were carried off early drizzle of tobacco-juice. The only spectaby whiskey, and a considerable number tor of the " unpleasantness " who could not
"died in their boots."                 be got to remember anything about it was
" I wish to prevent him from disgracing the sagacious Wilkins; blandly intent upon
himself," said Frank, recovering somewhat saying nothing which should offend either
of his self-possession, as he remembered that mighty Beaumont, or doughty McAlister,
his captive was Kate's brother. "A ren- and also pleased to go on with his trading
contre is not gentlemen's business."   while others entertained the bummers;
"Mr. McAlister, I approve of your senti- whereby he got into temporary disfavor
ments," murmured General Johnson, grow- with the chivalry of Hartland, a race scorning more cheerful as he saw a duel in ful of prudence and of finance.
prospect. The honor of Hartland and the   If the village was thus excited, imagine
chivalrous repute of its race of patricians the tempest at the Beaumont place.  It
were dlear to the noble old militia-man.  must be understood that Tom  got home
"I shall go now," added Frank, after set- without breaking his neck, fell a slumberting Tom in a chair and giving hYm a last ing in a heap while unbuckling his spurs,
knotting to fasten him in it. "When he was found and put to bed by a helot accuscomes to his senses you will please explain tomed to such duties, and in the morning
the matter to him. His pistol is behind the related his mishap to his father, at least so
counter. Mr. Duffy, I came in to purchase far as he could remember it. Such, by the
something; but it does n't matter now. way, was the candid habit of the junior
Gentlemen, good evening."              Beaumonts; they always went to the head
" Good evening, Mr. McAlister," replied of the family with the tale of their disathe General, touching his seedy beaver, greements. The father was proud of this
while the other three simply bowed without frankness, looked upon it as the behavior
speaking, so fearful were they of drawing of true-born gentlemen, and contrasted it
upon themselves the wrath of the high and favorably with the managements of other
mighty Beaumonts.                      youngsters, who, as he said, sneaked into
" Untie me, won't you? " roared Tom, as their duels.
his eyes followed Frank out of the street   Peyton was utterly astounded by the
door. "I tell you, by --! untie me."   story of the tying, and could not bring him"Yes, yes," assented the pacificatory self to believe it on Tom's unsupported
Wilkins, pretending to pick and pull at the testimony, half suspecting the boy of delibedcord. But he was so judiciously slow rium-tremens or other lunacy. But the
and bungling. that before he had half fin- insult being at least possible, he rode over
ished the disentanglement the gallop of a to the village in search of General Johnson,
horse was heard outside: and when Tom at and obtained a full, finished, and flowery




84                          KATE BEAUMONT.
statement of what had happened at Duffy's. least, a part of the wrong of it is removed
When he got home he was in such a fit of by the fact that Tom had taken the initiarage as nobody could be in but an old-time tive and forced the rencontre.  I don't
Beaumont.  He drank a pint of brandy believe that we should be justified in dethat forenoon without feeling it.      manding any unusual proceedings.  A duel
" Vincent, this is perfectly awful," he simple is all we can ask."
said, drawing a gasp of horror, as he thought   After a long argument Poinsett's judicial
anew of the hitherto unheard-of indignity mind prevailed over the fiery brains of the
which had been inflicted upon a Beaumont. other Beaumonts, and they decided to de"I really don't know what to do, Vincent," mand only a duel simple.
he added almost pathetically.            Does the inhabitant of a more peaceful
" Tom will have to fight him, of course," district than Hartland find himself horrorreplied the eldest son of the family, his face stricken and incredulous over this tremenperfectly calm over this terrible announce- dous family council? The Beaumonts were
ment. " The old obligation is more than not inhabitants of a peaceful district; they
cancelled."                            were the most pugnacious brood of a pecu*" Cancelled! Of course it is," exclaimed liarly pugnacious population; for generation
Beaumont senior. " An insult cancels any after generation they had had an education
obligation. Of course, Tom must fight. He of blood and iron. A Quaker, a New-Engcouldn't stay in the State if he didn't. lander, or even an ordinary Englishman
But how? I never heard of such an out- could not easily comprehend their excitable
rage. What sort of fighting will avenge it? nature. Two centuries, perhaps seven or
- Ah! "                                eight centuries, ot' high feeding, high breedThis " Ah " was a whispered confession ing, habits of dominion, and habits of fightof fearful pain. At that moment one of the ing, had made them unlike the mass of men.
most dolorous of Peyton Beaumont's dis- They were of the nature of blood-horses;
eases gave him a twinge which seemed as they had the force, the courage, the nerif it would separate soul from body. He vousness, the fiery temper, and the dangerstraightened himself, threw his head slowly ousness; they were admirable, and they
backward, grasped the arms of his chair were terrible. There was not one of them,
with both hands, and remained silent for a old man or boys, not even the lazy Poinfew seconds, his forehead beaded with per- sett, who would not have fought to the
spiration, and his eyes fixed in agony. As death, rather than submit to what he
the transport passed he drew another low thought dishonorable. They had a morality
sigh this time a deep breath of relief, and very different from the morality of the hardresumed the conversation.  Not a com- working, law-abiding bourgeois.  It was
plaint, not an explanation, not even a groan. utterly different, and yet it governed as
If the old fellow was something of a savage, strictly. They would no more have fallen
he at all events had the grit of a savage, short of their ideas of honor than Neal Dow
and he was for a moment sublime.       would break the Maine liquor law, or' Does it seem to you, Vincent," he calmly Charles Sumner would trade in niggers.
asked, " that Tom ought to insist upon any If we want to find a parallel to the Beaupeculiar terms?  Fighting over a handker- monts in some other land, we must, I think,
chief, for instance? "                go to the Green Erin of one or two hun"' I don't see it," put in Poinsett. "' Tom's dred years ago, and resurrect the profuse,
own story is that he fired his revolver, and reckless, quarrelsome, heroic O'Neills and
that the other man did not fire. Tom has O'I,earys and O'Sullivans.
already had his shot."                   Tom's challenge found our usually pacific
" Suppose you have your shot on the Frank McAlister in a pugnacious state of
duelling-ground, and then your antagonist mind. He was pale and haggard in these
rushes on you and pulls your nose? " re- days; he ate little and slept scarcely at all,
tnrned Vincent.                        and fretted continually over his troubles;
" Yes; there is your case," said Beaumont the consequence was that his nerves were
senior, turning upon Poinsett. " There is shaky and his temper insurgent, and his
cMAlister's behavior. A most beastly bus- reason far from clear.
iness! Just worthy of a nigger."        " Look at that," he said, handing the car-' I beg your pardon, but I can't see it," tel to his brother, Robert Bruce. " Did you
declared the clear-headed Poinsett, edu- ever hear of such an unreasonable, maligcated to law and logic. "There was no nant little beast?  I disarmed him and tied
duel here. Tom passed an insult and fired him to keep him from committing simple
a pistol, all without immediate provocation. murder and bringing himself to the gallows.
I don't excuse the tying, understand. After The young brute ought to thank me on his
Mc Alister had disarmed Tom, he was at knees. And here he wants to fight me.
liberty to kill him, or to leave him. The By heavens, if it were not for one thing. I
tying was superfluous and insulting. But at don't know but I would; yes, I would - kill




KATE BEAUMONT.                                    85
him. But that is nonsense," he added, after There is no crossing.  There is no hope at
a moment's pause.  "I would do nothingo all. Not the least. I wish I was dead. I
of the sort. I am not bound to fight him, want to die. Yes, let him  fight me; let
and I won't fight him."                   him shoot at me as much as he pleases; let
Bruce, meanwhile, his habitually thought- there be an end of it. I sha' n't fire back.
ful and melancholy eyes fixed on the ground, Understand that, Bruce. I sha' n't fire at
was considering the affair from the point of her brother.  Not at Kate  Beaumont's
view of the code. His conclusion was pre- brother."
cisely the same with that of the logical   His voice broke here and his gigantic
Poinsett.                                 frame shook with sobs; he did not try to
" You had a right to disarm him," he said. conceal his agony, for he was not ashamed
"And you had a right to kill him. But the of it; indeed, he rather gloried in confesstying was an insult. The challenge is en ing that he suffered for her; it was a strange
re'gle."                                  consolation, and it was his only one.  Shall
"What! " exclaimed Frank, astonished we impute the force of his passion to him as
by the argument, and at the same time a weakness, and the greatness of his power
beaten by it. " So, according to the code, of suffering as a littleness?  It would be an
I owe a shot to the man whom I would not error; the nobility of a soul is gauged as
let murder me?  What barbarity!"         much by its emotional, as by its intellectual
" If you had simply disarmed him, he strength; the being who feels is as sublime
would not have had a foot left to stand as the being who thinks.
upon," said Bruce. "I am sorry you tied    Bruce could make no response to his
him."                                     brother's outburst of anguish. There was
"It was an awful outrage!" returned a silence similar in motive to that which
Frank with bitter irony. "I served him  men often keep in the presence of those
right, and committed an outrage. It won't who lament the dead. It was the speechanswer among madmen to be rational."      lessness of sympathy and awe, incapable of
"What will you do? " asked the elder giving help, and conscious that there is no
brother, after a full minute of silence.  comfort.
"Look here, Bruce," Frank bur.t forth    Shall we who do not fight duels, condemn
"I don't c(are one straw for your cursed the young man for accepting the challenge
code of honor. Is is a beastly barbarity; I to the field of honor?  We must remember
hate it and despise it. But I want to be the education of his childhood, the spirit of
shot. I want this very man to shoot me. the society in which he now lived, and the
He saw me save his sister from death when irrationality of overmuch misery.  But alhe had lost her. He is the very man to though he would hazard his life in a way
shoot me; don't you think so? It I want which our reason and his own reason conto be shot, - and I do with all my heart demnned, he would go no further in the path
and soul, - let him do it. You know what of bloobslhed.  He persisted in declaring
is the matter with me, don't you?  I love that he would receive Tom's fire, and that
his sister more than my life. I love her he would not return it.  On this point he
and I have lost her. No use. I stopped would not listen to argument.
this cursed quarrel for a while; I stopped it,   " Then," said Bruce, his own voice waas I thought, forever;'and here it is again. vering a little at last, -" then I will have
It will never end in my time. I give up to nothing more to do with it. You must seek
it. It has beaten me. Even she has joined some other adviser."
in it. I have dared to write to her, and    "I shall choose General Johnson," rehave got no answer. I never can marry plied Frank.
her; and even if I could, it would only be   " The old wretch is murderous," remonto make her miserable; and I would rather strated  Bruce.'He will get you both
die than that.  O my God, how I love her! killed, if possible. He will keep you standAnd she, - she won't give me one line, -  ing there all day to be shot at."
won't say that she does not hate me- like   " So much the better," was the desperate
the rest of her family.  And for all that I response of one of those rational men, who,
love her. Bruce, I wonder if you or any when they do go mad, outpace all others'
one can understand it. I wonder if any madness.
man ever so loved a woman before. I can    Old and shaky as General Johnson was,
call up every expression of her face. I can he no more quailed before the task of seesee her now as plainly as if she were here. ing Frank through his " difficulty " than a
O  my God, what a heaven I can make fashionable dowager shrinksfirom matronizaround me!  But it is a delusion. I am  ing a young belle through a party.  One
like a spirit in hell, seeing paradise afar off. result of this strange choice of a second was
There is a great gulf fixed. My father that Tom Beaumont made a still more sinfixed it. Her brother helps. All the power gular one.
of this damnable old feud goes to widen it.   Our sociable friend Major Lawson, riding




86                          KATE BEAUMONT.
over to the Beaumont place with news of me out of Vincent, of course; and, in fact, I
Kershaw and Kate, heard with horror of the suppose I ought to pick out some other old
projected encounter. The humane, senti- cock. That's what fellows would call the
mental, friendly creature went through correct thing."
instantaneous, terrible exercises of spirit,  "Take me," begged Lawson, turning
and thought like a mill-race. How should pale as he made his great plunge. "My
he stop the duel, save the life of Frank dear young friend, I am quite at your serMcAlister, close up once more the abyss of vice. Take me."
the feud, and bring to a happy ending his   We must do Tom  Beaumont justice.
poem of Romeo and Juliet?  Should he When he was in liquor he was a brute; but
apply for aid to Kershaw or to Kate? when he was sober he was a gentleman at
Alas, the old man was but just convalescing all hazards; that is, as he understood genfrom a perilous illness, and the shock of tility. Knowing full well that Lawson was
such news as this might sweep him back to no fit man to take charge of a duel, and prothe borders of the grave! As for the girl, foundly astonished at his audacity ill proposshe was worn out with watching; moreover ing so to do, he instantly and politely
she had received mysterious letters which accepted his offer. In five minutes more,
paled her young cheeks; she had written still trembling from  head to foot with
answers, and then had torn them up sud- excitement, the Major was off to discuss the
denly, as if under a sense of duty; she was terms of the meeting with General Johnson.
evidently wretched and evidently ailing.   "What! " exclaimed Vincent, when Tom
Clearly she was in no fit condition to wres- informed him  of his choice of a second.
tie with fresh troubles, and it would be both " That old imbecile! He does n't know
cowardly and wicked to drag her into an anything about it."
arena of gladiators. Next the Major had  "' How could I help taking him when he
thoughts of appealing to Frank, and beg- offered? " answered the heroic young roisging him to prevent the duel by an apology. ter.
But the Beaumonts were obviously infuri-   " I don't know," admitted the puzzled
ated to that degree that no act of satisfac- Vincent, after long consideration.
tion would serve which was not a degrada-   Peyton Beaumont was equally amazed
tion. Thus baffled wheresoever he looked and displeased when he heard who was to
for aid, our peacemaker took a desperate manage for his son on the field of honor.
leap into the darkness of the untried, and But on learning that Lawson had himself
resolved to offer himself as Tom's second, proposed the arrangement, his mouth was
with the hope of effecting an arrangement. stopped at once; and though he had seen
Knowing nothing of duels except by report, Tom at the brink of death through the
and his whole humane, peaceable nature Major's inabilityto load pistols, he would
shrinking from participation in them, his not have opened it. It must be admitted
impulse was an inspiration of true heroism. that these Beaumonts, domineering and
" My God, my dear Tom!" said the uncomfortable as they were, had their adMajor, drawing that warlike youngster to mirable points.
one side, and speaking with such earnestness that he forgot to play his usual vocal
variations. " This is a dreadful business;        CHAPTER  XXI.
more dreadful than I had expected. I knew
of the political misunderstanding. I knew    MAJOR LAWSON cherished hopes that he
that the Judge had been unwise enough to should be able to palaver Gene al Johnson
reopen the quarrel with your excellent into some peaceful accommodation of the
father. But I did hope that things might difficulty between  Tom  Beaumont and
get on without bloodshed. Excuse me. I Frank McAlister.
mean no reflections. My remarks have no   But the General had an instinctive feelpersonal bearing. I was simply speaking ing, which he had greatly strengthened by
from general considerations of humanity. venerable sanguinary experience, to the
But allow me. Permit me a friendly ques- effect that accommodations not preceded by
tion or two. I feel deeply interested in gunpowder are a disgrace to high-toned huyour welfare," protested the Major, who in manity, and not to be agreed to by any
reality wished that Tom would drop down right-minded second. In duelling matters
dead. "May I ask who is to be your sec- he was on his familiar hunting-grounds, and
ond?"                                 easily an overmatch for a novice in the in" I wanted Vincent," said Tom, with tricate, tremendous chase. Moreover, one
abominable frankness and calmness. " I babbler is, as a rule, quite able to take care
thought McAlister would take his brother of another; and even the Major was not a
Bruce; then I could have had Vincent, longer winded creature than the old stump
who knows these things like a book. But orator. Thus the latter had his own sweet
he has chosen old Johnson; and that knocks will, courteously balked all attempts at




KATE BEAUMONT.                                   87
effecting  a reconciliation, and  serenely I should not dare do it at this late moment.
brought the two parties face to face.   In my opinion it would be trespassing upon
An I" oldfield," - that is, a deserted clear- his liberty of action. But, bless me, Major!
ing, a plot of' land once alive to humanity, why, you are suffering, you are pale. Don't
and now dead, a few acres gone utterly bar- trouble yourself to explain. I understand
ren except for weeds, bushes, and dwarf it all. You are weighed upon by your sense
pines,- an oldfield, some four or five miles of responsibility. Cheer up, sir," exhorted
from the village, was the place of meeting. the friendly General, nobly taking Lawson's'
Anxious for decorum even in homicide, and hand. " You have done your whole duty as
perhaps more especially in homicide, the a gentleman and a Christian. Your pIhilanGeneral had nmade the arrangenments with thropic and humane conduct claims and obable secrecy, so as totally to baffle the curi- tains my sincere admiration. Let me asosity of the loungers of Hartland. The sure you that you may make your remaining
only persons present were the principals, preparations with a conscience as clear as
the seconds, Dr. Mattieson, a Dr. McAuley, heaven's own azure."  After gazing for a
two negro coachmen, and two negro ser- moment with blear-eyed ecstasy into the
vants; these four last, by the way, being as blue ethereal above, he added briskly,cheerfully interested in the occasion as if " Well, let us hasten. These suspenses are
they were full-blooded white men of the trying. Moreover, we must avoid interruphighest toned origin and habits. The ris- tions; they are always causes of scandal.
ing sun was just beginning to steal through Receive my thanks, Major, for your humane
the stunted trees and burnish to splendor suggestion, and my regrets that I cannot
the drops of dew upon the starveling grass. avail myself of it."
The ground was so staked out as that the   With a profound bow the Major tottered
life-giving light should not dazzle the eyes of away, muttering to himself, " Bloodthirsty
either of the men upon whom it now shone old beast! "
for perhaps the last time.                 Altogether the most excited, anxious, and
Major Lawson, looking very ghastly and alarmed man on the ground was John Lawpiteous, as if he were about to plead for his son. He was face to face with a monstrous
own further existence, walked hastily up to event, with the grandest ceremony of the
that red-eyed destiny, Johnson, and mut- knightly society in which he had been bred,
tered a few words in such an agitated tone with an instant question of life and death.
that they were incomprehensible.         He felt as if he were being presented at
" I beg your pardon?" inquired the tran- court, and also as if he were about to comquil General. "I am obliged to reply that fmit murder. Great responsibilities and duI did not understand you, — my hearing, ties weighed upon him; he must fight his
Major," explained the polite old fellow, man well, and he must load a pistol. These
whose senses were as acute as those of a things, too, these tremendous courtesies, and
young squirrel.                         this momentous business, he must undertake
"Hem 1" uttered the Major, vehemently for the first time; and, to complete his emclearing his throat, for he was both ashamed barrassment, he must undertake them in the
of his agitation and eager to speak. " I was presence of a man who knew' everything,
taking the liberty. my very dear General, while he knew nothing. Every step that
to suggest that it is not too late to - in fact he took, however carefully premeditated,
to prevent bloodshed. To prevent blood- might be an outrageous blunder in the eyes
shed," he repeated, trying to soften Johnson of that critical, cool, abominable old Johnwith a smile and an inflection.          son.
The General, in spite of his habitual ur-   But Lawson's greatest trouble was lest
banity, looked frankly annoyed, not to say somebody should be shot.  If that hapdisgusted.                              pened, how could he ever sleep again, or be
"' Major, have you anything to propose happy while awake?  Especially if Frank
on the part of your principal?" he asked McAlister should fall, never more to rise,
dryly.                                  how would matters stand with social, soft"In case of regrets -of a sufficient apol- hearted John Lawson?  Would his pet,
ogy," stammered Lawson, not knowing how  Kate Beaumont, or even his old friend Kerto proceed. and fearing lest he had already shaw, ever forgive him? The Major would
said more than the code justified.      have given his worldly estate to have the
" Bless me, no," smiled the relieved Gen- loading of both weapons, so that he might
eral, who had absolutely feared a withdrawal charge them with nothing but the softest,
of the challenge, although the scandal did downiest wadding. He wished that he had
not really seem possible. " My dear Ma- the courage to submit to his principal that
jor, I am happy to say - I mean I am sin- it would be well to fire over the head of the
cerely and singularly grieved to state —  other principal. Meanwhile he was loading
that I have no authority to offer an apology. his pistol with great difficulty, for his eves
As for submitting the idea to my principal, were dim with lack of sleep the night pl'c



88                          KATE BEAUMONT.
vious, and his hands were so shaky that he same pathetic, agonized battle. His condropped several caps before he got one on stant pleading was, " Let me die, conscious
the nipple.                            of her alone."
"Rough business beina roused out so   Of a sudden the sun, stealing under the
early in the morning, is n't it, Major? " said branches of a young pine, smote upon his
Tom Beaumont in such a cheerful, cheering eyes and summoned him  to face another
voice, that Lawson turned to stare at the thought. In spite of his wrestling to cling
youngster.                             to the beloved object which was to him
Tom appeared as a Beaumont should on nearly all of earth, he remembered and
such an occasion; he lounged easily about, realized the awful solemnity of that transit
and he had a pretty good color in his which he was near to making. He felt thfat
cheeks. He had come to the field in a he must appeal for strength and comfort to
proud spirit, determined to do himself and a higher power than any human being.
his family honor. He had been so fearful Wrong as he was, he dared to pray, or
that he should look pale at the scratch, that rather he dared not refrain from praying.
he had washed his face repeatedly in cold An irresistible pressure was upon him, and
water before leaving home, and finally had all in the direction of prayer. It did not
given it a rubbing with spirits of hartshorn. command him to repent, but merely to ask
But although Tom was resolved to be- forgiveness and help. It was the hurried
have manfully in this his first duel, he some- instinct of a swimmer overwhelmed by bilhow did not find himself bloodthirsty nor lows and dragged deathward. Without a
even very pugnacious. The near prospect lifting of the eyes or even a moving of the
of death had softened his spirit, and made lips, there passed through his mind somehim almost forgive his antagonist. He had thing like the following words: -
come to remember with gentleness and with   " O Father in heaven, I am here by my
something like gratitude the family obliga- own folly and wickedness.  But I am
tion to this Frank McAlister. By moments broken-hearted, and long to die. Give me
he considered the propriety of firing at least strength  to bear the deserved stroke;
one shot in the air, and very nearly decided strength to bear wounds, suffering, and
that he ought so to do. This gentle change death. Pardon me for rushing upon my
in his feelings he only revealed to others by fate. Thou knowest what a burden has
a single phrase, which was so ill understood fallen upon me. Forgive me for sinking
that it was afterwards credited to him as a under it. Help here, and mercy in eterjest.                                  nity."'" By heavens," he muttered, glancing   You can judge of the keenness of a sorwith a half-smile at his tall antagonist, " if I row which had thus far unseated a strong
wanted to shoot over his head, I could n't."  reason; you can guess at the depth of a
Frank McAltster never once looked at despair which had thus swallowed up a
Tom. The lofty, grand monument of a fel- Christian education. We have no excuses
low stood perfectly quiet, with his arms to offer for what he himself confessed to be
folded, his head bent, and his eyes on the folly and wickedness. We only say that
ground. He was engaged in an obstinate he should be considered as temporarily instruggle to fix his mind entirely, steadily, sane with broken hopes and blighted affecand to the last on Kate Beaumont. He tion.
had passed the night mainly in carrying on   His prayer uttered, he felt strengthened.
this struggle. He had not slept, except in It was a moment incredible to such as have
brief dozings. On awaking from each, his not passed through similar trials. He calmfirst thought had been the duel; no, it had ly advanced to meet death by the help of a
not been so much a thought as a vague fore- woman whom he had lost and a Creator whom
boding, - an uncertain, sombre conscious- he had disobeyed. Impossible as it was,
ness of peril. In the very next breath came these two sustained him. There was on his
a re;'ollection of Kate and a renewal of the face an expression which was almost a smile
effort to settle his soul upon her alone. She as he took the loaded pistol from Uis alert,
had not answered his letters; she had uncomprehending, heartless second. Supdoubtless condemned him because of his ported, yes, and cheered by his illusions, he
father and his family; she had condemned walked to his post or fate and waited. His
-him, without a hearing, to be separated from  eyes were fixed dreamily on the ground;
her forever; he knew, or thought he knew, he still would not look at his adversary.
all that. Never mind; he would love her   There was a short silence.  Lawson,
still, make her the whole of what life re- trembling visibly all over, turned away his
mained to him, think steadily of her and of face and then shaded it with one hand,
nothing but her. Thus had he passed the longing to cover it altogether. The steady
night, striving to reach her through enemies old Johnson, in a firm, clear, shrill voice,
and circumstances; and now, in the near called: "Gentlemen!  Are you ready?
presence of death, he was continuing the One, two, three. Fire!"




KATE BEAUMONT.                                  89
Two reports answered. Each of the com- him; it was a flattery which he had a right
batants kept his position. The tragedy had to share.
crashed by harmlessly.                     " Allow me to express to you my admiraAt the sound of the pistols Major Lawson tion for the gallantry and the knightly
wheeled as quickly as if he had been hit, bearing of your principal," he responded in
and made a step or two toward Frank Mc- his stateliest way. Then, in a more familiar
Alister. Then, remembering himself and tone, "Noble young fellows, both of them,
seeing his favorite standing, he hurried to Lawson. Noble boys, by gad."
his own principal.                         "Certainly," coincided the Major, warm" What the deuce did he fire in the air ly. "Johnson, we are honored in serving
for? " at once demanded Tom.           them. Honored, General, honored."
" Did he?" inquired the amazed Major.   "Yes, sir," affirmed the General, with an
"Why, of course he did," he immediately emphasis rarely equalled, at least in this
added, recovering his presence of mind. world.
"The ball passed thirty feet over your   "My principal only ventures to claim
head."                                   one reservation," added Lawson, apologizing
"I didn't hit him?" were Tom's next for the claim with bow and smile. "IHe
words, in a tone of inquiry.             declines a formal reconciliation, - the usual
Lawson glared over his shoulder in alarm, shaking of hands, General, - nothing but
and then said with a sigh of undisguisable that."
relief, "It appears not."                  "Ah, indeed," replied Johnson, smiling
"There's no pluck in firing at a man also, for he saw a chance to continue the
who won't fire back," Tom quickly added.  duel. " Excuse me, my very dear Major,
Lawson silently grasped the youth's hand but that is a matter which requires considand pressed it warmly.                  eration."
" It seems a little like mere murder," con-   "'The political antagonism of the famitinued Tom. " What do you say?"         lies, you remember," ventured to suggest
"Noble young man! " murmured the the newly alarmed Lawson. "Reasons of
Major. " Noble, gallant, chivalrous young state, if I may venture to use the expresman! " he continued, with real and pro- sion. No personal feeling, I assure you.
found feeling. " Mr. Beaumont, you honor Dear me, no."
your race. Shall I say - shall I have the   "' I shall take great pleasure in laying the
great pleasure of saying — that you demand matter before my principal and requesting
no further satisfaction? You may properly his decision," returned the diplomatic Johndirect me to say it. My dear, noble, distin- son.
guished young friend, you may feel entirely   Frank McAlister, expecting nothing less
Justified in directing it."             than another exchange of shots, had re" Ye-s," drawled Tom, after a moment sumed his struggle to think of no other thing
of reflection which was torture to Lawson. on earth than Kate Beaumont, and was
"Only I won't shake hands. I'11 have standing with arms folded, brows fixed,
another fire first. He may go this time, but eyes drooped, unconscious of all around
I won't shake hands."                   him.
"Noble young man! " sang the Major   "Shake hands? " he said dreamily, when
(though with less fervor than before), as he he at last caught the meaning of the Genturned to meet General Johnson.         eral's elaborate statement of the fresh diffiThat veteran swashbuckler did not look culty. " Of course I don't require it. I
gratified, nor hardly amiable.  He had shall never touch a hand of that family
noted with dissatisfaction that his man had again."
fired in the air and he was in chivalrous  "' Allow me to observe that you have alanxiety lest the duel might be closed by ready shown immense forbearance," sugthat mistaken act of magnanimity, unparal- gested the discomfited Johnson.
leled in the history of his own personal   "That is my part," quietly answered
combats.                                 Frank. "I came here for that."
"I have the honor to inquire whether   "My God! these are new  notions,"
your principal demands any further satisfac- thought the gentleman of an old school, as
tion?" he said with a succinctness and he marched back to make his pacific comgrimness quite foreign to his Ciceronian munication. "In my day men fought till
habits.                                 something happened. What the deuce is to
" We demand nothing more, sir," replied come of all these Quakerly whimwhams?"
Lawson, bowing and smiling, exasperatingly he concluded, with a notion that good sosweet. " The magnanimous and chivalrous ciety might not last his time out.
conduct of your principal induces us to ter-   But the astonishment, and we might say
minate the combat."                     the grief, of the hoary hero were fruitless;
The General was somewhat mollified. A  for once a duel between a Beaumont and a
compliment to his principal was precious to McAlister end. d without bloodshed; in a
12




90                           KATE BEAUMONT.
few minutes more the oldfield was left de- told me everything.  It speaks well for
serted and without a stain.              the fellow, shows that he has good inTom  Beaumont dashed homeward  on stincts,"  admitted  Beaumont, magnanihorseback, and on the way met his father, mously. "Ashamed of his brutal insult,
also mounted.   Although the grim  old you see," he explained. "Willing to take
knight had been able to send his son to the legitimate consequences of it. On the
meet death, he could not help suffering whole —by heavens! Lawson, I wish we
keen anxiety as to his fate. He did not had never met, or never quarrelled."
know that he had the gout that morning,   From  Peyton Beautiont we return to
nor could he drink brandy enough to raise Frank McAlister.  He woul( have been
his spirits. After passing two hours in pa- glad to ride away alone from the duellingtrolling his garden, lighting and throwing ground, but he had not expected to leave it
away a succession of cigars, and roaring to an able-bodied man or even a living one,
Cato every few minutes for juleps, he called and had therefore neglected to bring a
for his fastest horse, thrust his swollen feet horse. The result was that he made his
into the stirrups, and galloped off to meet journey back to Hartland in the same carthe carriages. The father and son encoun- riage with his second. It was a singular
tered each other unexpectedly at the angle tete- a-tete, an interview of gabble with revof a wood.                               ery. The old fellow tattled in lhis uncon" Ah, Tom! " exclaimed Peyton Beau- sciously ferocious way about the duel, and
mot, grasping  the young fellow's hand. about other duels, a long series of chival"All right, my boy?"  Then, impelled by rous horrors, as ghastly and bloorly as so
a strange mixture of emotions, " God bless many ghosts of Banquo. The young fellow
you, my boy I"                           heard not, answered not, and thought only
Next followed some straightforward, busi- of Kate Beaumont. It was not rational
ness-like inquiries as to the circumstances meditation; he did not, for instance, query
of the meeting.                          as to what might be the feelings of the girl
"' You did well, Tom," was his brief com- concerning this meeting between himself
ment.  "On the whole, taking into view  and her brother; he was in no state to marthe previous circumstances of the case, you shal facts or to draw conclusions. His condid well to let him off."               (lition was consciousness, rather than intelIn a subsequent conversation with Lawson ligence; and his consciousness revolved
he expressed himself much more fully on only about the idea that he loved.
this point of the "letting off" of Frank    How he had met her; how she had looked
MeAlister.                               on this occasion, and that, and the other;
" By heavens, Tom is a trump! " he said what had been the tone of her voice, the
proudly. "I knew no son of mine would expression of her eyes. the meaning of' her
do anything in bad taste. Tom did right in gestures; — these thing s and many more
sparing the fellow. And, Lawson, I am  like them thronged through his spirit. Nor
more pleased with the fact than you can were they mere remembrances; they were
imagine. Lawson, by heavens, it's a strange tableaux and audiences; she was in his
thing, but I liked that fellow. I absolutely presence.  She advanced, and passed befelt an affection for him; and what's more, fbre his face, and went sweetly out of sight,
I can't quite get over it;  I can't, by only to come again. Except for an under
heavens! It's a most astonishing circum- voice of deepest despair which whispered,
stance, considering that brutal insult. Why, " Lost, lost I " the revery was indescribably
just think of it; just think of it, Lawson. delicious.
Tied my son! Tied him like a thief, like a   "I hace been happy," he said in his soul.
nigger!  Consider the outrage, Lawson; " I thank her for tt:e purest happiness that
how could he do it?  I would n't have I ever knew. No one, no event, no lapse
thought he could tie one of my sons, or tie of time, can rob me of the fact that I once
any gentleman. I would n't have believed knew her and was daily near her. I am
it of him. I had a high opinion of that fel- still bound, and always shall be bound, to
low.  I almost loved him. He had the owe her greater gratitude than I can utter.
making of a gentleman in him. If he had She created me anew; she has made me
been born in any other family, he would nobler than I was; she lifted me up like a
have become as fine a fellow as you could queen out of mere egotism. Until I met
wish to see. Well, badly as he has behaved her I did not know that I had the power in
to Tom, I'm glad he was n't hurt. I can me to love. She has made me worthy to
never forgive him, never. But I did n't be on the earth. Thanks to her, I have no
want him killed. No, Lawson, no."       shame for myself; I am perfectly wretched,
" He may do well yet," suggested the but I possess my own respect. It is proper
cunning Major.  "You know, I suppose, and beautiful to exist only for another, She
my dear Beaumont, that he fired in the air." has ennobled me."
"Yes. Tom  told me. Of course Tom    At this point he vaguely understood the




KATE BEAUMONT.                                  91
General to say: " Yes, sir. A man ought   Nearing home, Frank met one of his
to shoot his own brothel, sir, if that brother father's negroes on a horse which he had
gives him the lie. He ought to shoot him, been taking to the smith's. Muttering an
as sure as you are born, sir. By gad! that's indistinct farewell to Johnson, he sprang
my solemn opinion, as a gentleman, sir."    out of the carriage, mounted the animal
The next moment the young man was and set off at full speed toward Kershaw's,
lost again in his revery.  "' I have lived, for not even remembering to send word of his
I have loved," he repeated from  Schiller. safety to his brother Bruce. He was wild
" To her beautiful soul be all the praise for with impatience to look once more upon
my redemption from selfishness.  Thanks the house which sheltered Kate, even though
be to Heaven also that she has been wor- he might not enter it. Fortune granted
shipped in a manner worthy of her.  It him  more than he hoped, for he met the
~ mav be that no other woman was ever hon- girl in the Kershaw  barouche.  She had
ored by such an adoration. Thank Heaven that morning heard of the duel, and she was
that I have been deemed fit to confer upon hurrying home to prevent it.
her this great distinction of entire love.   In his exaltation, his little less than madMerely in laying the whole of my heart at ness, Frank dashed up to the carriage and
her feet, I have honored both her and me. stopped it.
Perhaps no other man was ever permitted
so to worship such a worshipful being. My
reward is sufficient, and it is more than I         CHAPTER XXII.
deserve. I have lived to high purpose, and
I am content to die."                      So haggard and pale had Frank become
Here again he caught a few words from  since Kate last saw him, that, although she
the interminably prattling General: "The had recognized him the instant his tall
truth is, that old Hugrh Beaumont, the father form appeared in the distance, yet when he
of Peyton, you know, shot your great-uncle, drew up by her side she almost mistook him
Duncan, quite unnecessarily. In my opin- for a stranger.
ion you would have been justified in remem-   "Mr.," she stammered,-" Mr. McAlisbering that fact to-day, and acting ac- ter."  Then guessing all at once that the
cordingly. Not to mention," etc., etc.   duel had taken place, that he was wounded
Notwithstanding this savage reminiscence, and that Tom was killed, she screamed,
Frank remained in his lovelorn abstraction. "What is the matter?  Why do you speak
His mood was more potent than mere rev- to me? "
ery; it rose to an exaltation which was al-   He had not spoken as yet; and he could
most mania; he was as irrational as those hardly speak now. It was the first time
are who love with their whole being. His that he had ever heard such a voice from
passion was a possession, the object of her, or seen such an expression of agony,
which had usurped the place of himself, so terror, and aversion on her face. In amaze,
that he was not only ruled but absorbed by and scarcely knowing what he said, he
her. The power which she exercised over replied, " Your brother is well."
his spirit was absolutely a matter of pride   " It is n't true," she gasped, scared by his
with him. He wished to be known as her hoarseness and pallor, anti shrinking from
adorer, her infatuated idolater, her helpless him.  "0, is it?" she demanded, hope
slave.  It needed all the natural gravity leaping up in her heart. Then, seeing the
and dignity of his character to prevent him  answer in his face, she reached towards him,
from  babbling of her constantly to his her rich cheeks flushing, her hazel eyes
friends. In riding or walking he had wild sparkling, and her small mouth quivering
impulses to stop people, even though. they with joy. "0, thank you, Mr. McAlister,"
were perfect strangers, and say, " I am no- she whispered. " Then you have not fought."
bler than you think me, for I love Kate   " I wanted him to kill me," was Frank's
Beaumont."                              confession. "I wanted him to, and he would
Let us not jeer at him; let us study him  not."
reverently. If any man is clean of the   " 0, how could you? " she answered, fallworld, it is the lover; if any man is pure in ing back from him with a look of reproach
heart, it is the lover. There is no nobler which seemed like anger. "Cruel - wicked
state of mind, with regard at least to merely man! "
human matters, than that of a man who   The coachman, a grave and fatherly old
loves with his whole being.  The wife's negro belonging to Kershaw, judged that
affection is equal; so is the mother's. he had heard the last words that could ever
There is no diminution of honor in the fact pass between these twc, and softly drove on.
that this sublime and beautiful emnotion is Had he not done so, there would surely have
in a measure its own reward. It is also its been explanations and pleadings on the part
own pain; think of the sorrow of rejection! of Frank, and Kate might at once have parthink of the agony of bereavement!       doned, or even more thmtn pardoned. But




92                           KATE BEAUMONT.
the uncomprehending slave, acting the part   " Ah, my daughter! " he said, taking her
of a deaf and blind fate, divided them be- into his short heavy arms'and pressing her
fore they could think to forbid it.      against his solid chest. " How I have negFrank remained behind, speechless and lected you for the last few days!  What
paralyzed. The first word of harsh reproach have I been about? "
which we receive from one whom we dearly   " Father, was it fair -? " she began, and
love is an avalanche. For a time it puts stopped to recover control of her voice.
out of mind all other calamities and all   "No, it was n't fair," answered old Peyother things whatsoever. To Frank there ton, understanding in a moment and repentseemed to be nothing in the world, nothing ing as quickly. " No, by heavens, it was n't
past or present or future, but those words, fair.  Tom, we ought to have told her.
"Cruel - wicked."  His eyes were on the She's a Beaumont, and she's my own dear
retreating carriage, and he did not move daughter, and she had a right to know everyuntil it was out of sight. Then he started, thing we did. Kate, we have behaved, by
rushing away at full speed, and directing heavens, miserably."
his course toward a wood near the Beaumont   "Well, it is over, and safely," sighed
place, his sole purpose being to reach a stile Kate, laying her head on her father's shoulover which he had once helped  Kate to der. "I thank God for it," she added in a
pass. Finding it, he dismounted and stood whisper.
for a long time contemplating the worm-   "So do I, Kate," replied Beaumont,
eaten rail, repeatedly kissing the spot on touched almost to crying. "I do, by heavwhich he remembered that her foot had ens. I'm a poor, savage, old beast; but I
rested. After an hour in this place, an am thankful, by heavens. I'm glad Tom is
hour made heavenly as well as wretched by out of it safe, and I'm glad the other is out
passing pageants of her form and face, he of it safe."
found himself faint with hunger and fever   "Father, I must go to bed," said the girl,
and rode slowly homeward.                presently. "I am very, very tired."
We must return to Kate.  She had   " Not sick? " demanded Beaumont, starscarcely been driven past the sight of the ing at her in great alarm.
man whom she had called cruel and wicked,   He assisted her up stairs to her room;
ere she longed to call him  to her side. he would not let anybody else do it; he fbr"Why does he drive on?" she thought, got that his feet were masses of gout.
glancing helplessly at the slave, who would When he came down, he said tc Tom,
have stopped had she bidden him. Next "Ride for a doctor; ride like the devil.
she turned in a useless paroxysm of haste, Don't bring any of those d-d surgeons
and looked back at Frank through the rear who were in the duel. Bring somebody
window of the carriage, querying whether else."
he would follow her. "What did I say to   During that day and the next he haunted
him? " she asked. sure that she had uttered the passages which led to his daughter's
something bitter, but not yet able to remem- room. Indifferent to pain, merely cursing
ber what. In great trembling of body and it, he regularly hobbled up stairs to carry
spirit, and finding life a woful perplexity her food with his own hands, affirming that
and burden, she was taken home.          no one else knew how to wait on her
The first of the family to meet her was properly, and denouncing the incapacity
Tom. She drew him to her, kissed him on and stupidity of " niggers." When she was
both cheeks, and then held him back at awake and able to see him, he sat fbr hours
arm's length, looking him sadly in the eyes by her bed, holding her hand, looking at
and saying, "Ah, Tom! How could you?" her, and talking softly.
The next instant, remembering those   "My God, how I have neglected you!"
words, " I wanted your brother to kill me, he groaned; " I don't see how I could have
and he would not," she threw herself into done it. I ought to have known that you
the boy's arms and covered his face with would run yourself down. I ought to have
kisses and tears of gratitude. This staid, stopped it."
simple, pure girl, her eyes humid, her   Such was Peyton Beaumont: he passed
cheeks flushed to burning, and every feature his life in sinning and repenting; and he
alight with unusual emotion, was at the did each with equal fervor. As to the cause
moment eloquent and beautiful beyond of Kate's shattered condition, he had grave
humanity. There never was a finer glow  suspicions that it was not merely watching
and glory on anything earthly than was over Kershaw, and not merely the shock of
then on her exquisite young face. Just in the news of the duel. At times he regretted
this breath her father came to the door, and bitterly the renewal of the feud, and blamed
stood dazzled by his own child. Steeped Judge McAlister very severely for having
in brandy and hot with his chronic pugnaci- brought about the untoward result, being,
ty, he forgot at the sight of Kate every- of course, unable to see that he himself was
thing but Kate.                          at all responsible tierefor. " Unreasonable,




KATE BEAUMONT.                                  93
incomprehensible, hard-hearted, selfish old   "You don't mean," stammered the father,
beast!" he grumbled in perfect honesty, -" you don't mean that she cares for - "
meaning McAlister, and not Beaumont.  "Don't mention his name," interjected
Well, there was no help for it; the only Nellie. "That man, I absolutely hate him.
thing to be done was not to speak of that I did want him shot. He is intolerable.
family in Kate's presence; above all, she Do you know, father, I sympathized with
must not once hear the name of Frank. that man and showed him that I did?  To
This wise decision he communicated dis- think that after that, no matter what the
tinctly to Nellie, and vaguely, but with provocation, he should tie my brother!
great energy of manner, to Mrs. Chester. Grossly iusult my brother! It was not an
As for his boys, he trusted to their sense outrage upon Tom only; it was an outrage
and delicacy as gentlemen, and he trusted upon me and upon Kate."
not in vain.                              "'The scoundrel!" growled Beaumont,
The result was, that, when Kate came his eyes flaming at once, and his bushy eyedown in a day or two to table, anxious to brows working like a forest in a hurricane.
learn all about the quarrel, and to hear the " Nellie, why did n't you tell us this before?
name of McAlister incessantly, she got Tom would have shot him, sure."
never a word on those subjects. It was very   " Ah, - well. On the whole I did not.
unconmforting; it was like being shut in I had liked him so well, that I could not
prison. Open utterance of hate against the quite say the word to have him - hurt. I
McAlisters would have been more tolerable had really liked him; that was it. And
to her than this boding silence with its at- perhaps it is as well; yes, perhaps it is bettendant suspense. Kate had self-command ter. He behaved well in the duel, father? "
and dignity of soul; she would not allow    "Yes," assented Beaumont, a tiger who
her face to show anxiety or sorrow; there had been tamed by his children, and easily
was nothing uncheerful in it, save a pathetic followed their leading. "I He stood up to
lassitude. But at times it seemed to her as the scratch like a man."
if her heart must absolutely break bounds   "And he did n't fire at Tom."
and demand, " Will none of you speak of   "That's true.  He showed penitence.
him?  Is it not enough that I shall never He behaved well."
see him more? Must I not even hear his   "Let him go," added Nellie, after a moname?"                                  ment of revery. "But Kate must not be
She could not relieve herself by struggling allowed to meet him again."
against the feud.  She had fought it once   "Of course, she won't meet him again,"
when fighting it seemed to be a matter of declared Beaumont, lifting his eyebrows in
simple humanity and of affection for her amazement. "How the deuce should she
own race. But now, her soul more or less meet him again?"
laden with Frank McAlister, she could not   " Shall I take her away with me for a few
demand peace without having the air of su- weeks?" asked Mrs. Armitage.
ing for a lover. Indeed, she dared not in-'No," returned the father, promptly.
tro(luce the subject of the family warfare, " Why, good heavens, she has just got home.
lest her fTce should reveal the secret of her I can't spare her yet. But you are not goheart, and even suarest more than was thus ing now," he added. " What do you want
far true. For she maintained to herself to go for?"
that as yet she was not quite in love with   " My husband has written me to come,"
this man. To love him, especially to con- answered Nellie, with that strange look,
fess it to others, when he had not openly half imploring and half defiant, which so
asked for her affection, would be shameful; often came over her face.
and the girl was calmly resolved to endure   Beaumont walked up and down the room,
any suffering rather than descend below  muttering something which sounded like,
her own respect or that of her famnily. So "Hang your husband!"
for several days there was silence in the   "Besides, Aunt Marian quarrels with me
Beaumont prandial and other public con- every day," pursued Mrs. Armitage, forcing
claves concerning Frank McAlister and all a smile.
his breed.' O, never mind Aunt Marian! She quar"I think Kate is getting on very well," rels with everybody and always did and
remarked Peyton Beaumont to his married always will. She can't help it. She grew
daughter. It was not an assertion, but a up that way. And really she is n't so much
query; he did not feel at all certain that to blame for it. She was a spoilt baby. My
Kate was getting on well; he wanted a father could n't govern his only daughter,
woman's opinion about a woman.           and my mother would n't have let him if he
"If saying nothing, and growing paler had wanted to. The consequence was that
every day, is getting on well, you are right," Marian always behaved like the very deuce,
answered  Nellie, in her straightforward, just as she does now.  Yelled, scratched,
business-like, manly way.                fought for sugar, bounced away from tatble,




94                           KATE BEAUMONT.
called her mother names, sulked by the   "Then why did n't you say so? "
twenty-fobur hours, grew up that way and   "I was thinking," said Kate, dreamily.
stayed so. Come, Aunt Marian is too old to   About the corners of her small, pulpy,
cure; she is a fixed fact. No use quarrelling rosy mouth there was a slight droop which
with her. Let her alone and never mind Mrs. Armitage comprehended at once and
her."                                   translated into a long confession of trouble.
" I don't mind her much," said Nellie, She rustled forward, put one of her large
coolly. " I rather think she gets the worst arms around the girl's waist and kissed her
of it."                                 in an eagerly petting way, as a mother
"I rather think so," the father could not kisses her baby. Not a word of explanahelp laughing, pleased that his daughter tion passed between the two; and when
should overmatch his sister.             Nellie spoke again it was only to say,
"4It's a shame, is n't it, that people "Now go and get ready."
should n't govern their children?" con-   "Have you asked papa about it?" detinued Nellie with a smile.              manded Kate.
"A shame? It's downright wickedness," ".I told him I should leave it to you,"
declared Beaumont, who had not a suspicion replied Nellie, in her prompt, decided way.
that he had failed to rule his offspring prop- "I 1 will let him know that you are going."
erly.                                      "He and grandpa Kershaw must both be
Nellie laughed outright.               consulted," said Kate, with tranquil firmness.
"Still, I must go," she resumed.  "I   The next day, all relatives consenting,
have been here nearly a month; it is so willingly or unwillingly, Mrs. Armitage carpleasant to be here! But it is time that I ried her sister from  the scene where she
got back and set to work. There are the had found weariness and sorrow.  Ten
autumn suits for our niggers to be cut out hours of travel in creaky, rolling, staggerand made up."                           ing cars, over a rickety railroad of a bun" Oh!" answered Beaumont, seeing some- dred and thirty miles in length, brought
thing to the purpose in this statement.  them into the mountainous western corner
"' And I want Kate to help me."        of the State, and left them at sundown in
"Pshaw!  You don't want her."         the straggling borough of Brownville.
" She ought to learn that sort of thing."    "We shall perhaps find Randolph here,"
Beaumont uttered a growl of discontent: said Nellie, as they neared the lonely, rushe could not spare his favorite.         tv station-house.'"He wrote me that he
"'I shall leave it to Kate," declared Nellie, should come every evening until I apas she closed the interview, somewhat queen- peared."  Then she added with a someing it over her father.                  what humbled air, " But I don't much exIn the same spirit of benevolent imperi- pect him."
ousness she went off directly to lay the   It was a wife's imbittered confession of
question of the visit before her sister. She the fact that her husband has learned to
had not heretofore meditated her plan; she pay her little attention.
had thought of it while talking with her   The Armitage equipage, a shabby bafather, and immediately resolved upon it; rouche attached by a roughly patched barand she was now as much prepared to urge ness to two noble horses, was at the station;
it as if she had had it in view for weeks. but the only human being about it was a
She meant to suggest it to Kate; and, if it ragged negro coachman; there was no Ranwas opposed, to argue for it; and, if neces- dolph.
sary, quarrel for it. It was one of those   "He would have come if he had expectcases of instantaneous consideration and ed you," was Nellie's too frank comment.
decision for which women, and indeed all " Husbands are fond of novelty. Wait till
emotional people, including Beaumonts, are you get one."
noted.                                     "I am sure you are unjiust to him," said
Kate, however, was not altogether wo- Kate. " Of course he has his business."
manish or Beaumontish; there was some-  "' O yes, of course," replied Nellie, hiding
thing manly, there was something of the the wound which she had been indiscreet
Kershaw nature in her; she was thought- enough to expose. "We women demand
ful, judicial, deliberative, and a little slow. incessantly, and demand more than can be
In her aquiline face, delicate and feminine given. I only thought it worth while to
and beautiful as it was, there was a wait- warn you not to expect too much."
in-g, holdfast power, like that in the face of   "What is that? " asked Kate, anxious
Washington.                              to change the subject of the conversation,
"Don't you mean togo? "demanded Mrs. and pointing to an axe and a coil of rope
Armitage, excitedly, and almost angrily, which lay on the driver's foot-board.
after advocating her plan for ten minutes.  "Dem ar is to mend the kerridge with,
" Yes," replied Kate. " Thank you, Nel- case it breaks down, miss," grinned the
lie. I shall be very glad to go."        coachman.








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Page 95.




KATE BEAUMONT.                                  95
"You don't know our Saxonburg fash-   Kate knew nothing of the domestic troubions," laughed Nellie.  "Family coaches les of her sister. On hearing this reproving
will get shaky if they are kept long enough; growl, she suspected only that Nellie had
and we up-country people almost always wrongly delayed her return home; and bekeep them long enough."                 fore even she got out of the carriage, she tried
" I don't object to old things," said Kate; to take the blame upon herself.  She called
"excepti;.g old family feuds," she added, out, " I dare say it is my fault, Randolph."
un-able to help thinking at every moment of   "What!" he exclaimed, his face chanthe troubles at home.                    ging from  sullenness to gayety.  "Is it
In an hour the high-spirited bays halted Kate?" he asked, helping her down the
champing at the door of Randolph Ar- step and gazing at her with admiration.
mitage's house. It was a strange-looking "What a beauty you have grown! " and he
residence, which had obviously not been kissed her cheek caressingly. "Why, my
created all at once, but in successive parts, dear little sister, you are a thousand times
as the means of the owner increased, and welcome. So my wife waited to bring you?
without regard to aught but interior con- She is always doing better than 1 suspect."
venience. Two stories in height here and   He kissed his wife now, and she calmly
one story there, with one front facing the returned it. Kate of course could not see
south and another the southwest, it ap- that the embrace was on her account. How
peared less like a single building than like should she, whose heart yearned to love and
an accidental collection of buildings.  If be loved, guess easily that husband and wife
three or four small dwellings should be could meet without pleasure.
swept away by a flood, and beached to-   "And here are my youngsters," said Argether without further disposition than that mitage, turning away from Nellie with sinof the random waters, the inchoate result gular suddenness.'"Willie, did you have a
would resemble this singular mansion. It nice long visit?  And you, Freddy?  Did
was, in fact, the nest where the Armitages you both play with grandpapa? "
had grown up through three generations   He lifted them successively, hugged them
fi-om backwoods rudeness to their present with a graceful air of fervor, and set them,rindelur, if grandeur it might be called. down promptly.
There was evidence in the building that   "And now, Kate," he added, offering her
prosperity did not yet haunt it overflowingly. his arm gayly, "let me escort you into my
The white paint which had once decked house for the first time. It is a great honor
the miscellaneous clapboards had become to me and a great pleasure."
ragged and rusty. In a back wing, consti-   All the evening his manner to his guest
toting the kitchen and servants' quarters, was most caressing and flattering. Moreseveral window-panes were broken. The over, he dressed in her honor, laying aside
wooden front steps were somewhat shaky, and his slovenly homespun and coming to the
the enclosing fence fantastically dilapidated. table attired in a way to show his fine figure
The adorning light of a summer day in to advantage. Yet as the hours wore on,
the hour after sundown fell upon Randolph and as Kate's spirits turned to depression
Armitage as he came out to greet his wife under a sense of homesickness and fatigue,
and children. Kate had not met him since she seemed to perceive something disagreeshe was a girl of fourteen: but she perfect- able, or at least something suspicious, under
ly well recollected the glamour of his per- this brilliant surface.  She was like one
sonal beauty, - a beauty which was so who, after gazing with delight on a tide of
great that it fascinate 1 children. In the clear sparkling water, should half think that
exquisite mild radiance of the hour he he discovers a corpse in the translucent
seemed faultlessly beautiful still. He wore abysses. The light of the lamps showed
an old loose coat of gray homespun, but the her that Randolph's face was not all that it
shapeliness of his form could not be hidden. had been in other days; the fervid color
His long black hair, matted and careless as had faded a little, and there were bags
it was, offered superb waves and masses. under the still brilliant eyes, and a jaded
There yet was the Apollonian profile of air as of dissipation. Was it true, too, that
old, the advanced full forehead, the straight there was a shadow of reserve between husnose nearly on a line with it, the delicately band and wife, as if neither were sure of
chiselled mouth, the small but firm chin, possessing the other's sympathy?  What
the straight and smooth cheeks, the many- did it mean, moreover, that they occupied
tinted brown eyes, and  the clear olive separate rooms?
complexion. He still seemed to Kate the   In spite of the girl's efforts to believe that
handsomest man that she had ever seen; all went well in this family which was so
handsomer even than that splendid and near and dear to her, she retired that night
good giant, Frank McAlister.             with a vague impression that she was in a
"' So you have come at last!" were the household haunted by mysteries, if not by
ungracious first words of this Apollo.   misery.




96                           KATE BEAUMONT.
CHAPTER  XXIII.                I come to Sou' Carline. Mought I ask what
you call yourself? "
WHAT blessed restoration there is in the   But, in addition to his beauty, Randolph
sleep and in the health of youth! Palaces had the charm of a flexible character, apt to
of hope and happiness which had tumbled take the bent of his society. It was his
to ruin at eventide are rebuilded ere morn- nature to be hail fellow well met with Satan
ing by these beneficent magicians.       or with the archangel Ithuriel, according
When Kate came to breakfast, after the as he found himself in the company of
refreshing  slumber which even troubled either. He had intelligence to perceive at
hearts know at nineteen, she had forgotten once, and to the full, both the purity of
the bodings of the night before, or renem- Kate Beaumont and the innate grossness
bered them only to scout them. All went of the vilest low-down harridan in the disaright to her eyes in the Armitage dwelling trict. He was as much in place, so far as his
that day and the day following and for behavior went, with the one as with the
many days after. Good, sincere, amiable, other.  The result was, that, as Nellie
unsuspecting of evil, anxious to think well divulged nothing concerning her husband,
of others, she was the easy and contented Kate believed him to be good, and knew
dupe of a skilful though wayward enchanter. him to be charming. She walked with him,
On certain holy festivals good Mahome- rode with him, tried her hand at fishing
tans turn their jackets inside out, and go all under his guidance, learned games of cards
in green, the color of the pro, het. In like of him, read him  the letters which she
manner Randolph Armitage had a garment received from home, talked with him about
of deportment which he could turn accord- the feud, and made him little less than a
ing to the circumstances of time or com- confidant. Of course he agreed with her in
pany, the one side being of the color of the all things; caring little about the family
Devil and his angels, while the other might quarrel, it was easy fobr him to condemn it;
please the eyes of saints, or pure women. despising politics, it was easy for him to
The silver lining of this sable cloud it was bemoan the election difficulty. He had the
now his pleasure to wear outward. Kate coinciding amiability of indifference and
was young and beautiful, and it was one of hypocrisy. Thus it was that this stainless
his amusements to charm young and beau- and unsuspicious girl found in this thortiful women; moreover, the girl might be oughly corrupt man a friend whom she valexpected to bear witness of him among the ued and almost reverenced.
Beaumonts, should he misbehave during   "You don't half appreciate your husher visit; and if he feared anybody on band," she reproached her sister.
earth, it was his puissant relatives by mar-   "Yes, I do," replied Nellie, making an
riage.  So for weeks he controlled the effort of repression which was truly sublime,
seven capital devils who inhabited his soul, and withholding her ready tongue from all
suffering none of them to issue forth and confession or complaint.
disport himself in her presence. He was   "You should be very sweet to him, if
a fond father, a gentle husband, an ami- only on my account," added Kate, with a
able brother-in-law, and a merciful master smile of perfect incomprehension and innoto his slaves. He astonished his wife, and cence. " How kind he is to me! "
almost rewon her heart.  He fascinated   "I am obliged to him, on your account,"
Kate.                                    said the martyr-like wife. " 1 have told him
It was not a difficult matter for him to be so."
thus delightful. He possessed that mighty   "I don't believe it," laughed Kate. " I
glamour of excelling beauty which sheds want you to tell him so in my presence."
attractiveness over even indifferent, even   Just then Randolph entered the room.
misbecoming behavior. So sweet and so It was one of his handsomest moments; his
fair to look upon was his smile, that mere cheeks were flushed, his eyes bright, his air
young girls, mere rude boys, mere untutored elated; moreover, he had dressed himself
crackers, were glad at winning one from  carefully and becomingly. His wife settled
him, and never forgot the pleasant sight all her eyes upon him with such an expression
their lives after. Hundreds of people who as if she were dazzled against her will.
knew him not had stared wonderingly in   "Randolph," she said, her voice waverhis face as he met them, turned to look at ing a little, perhaps with recollection of
him  after he had passed, and eagerly in- the tenderness of other days, "Kate wants
quired his name. All thiough Saxonburg me to thank you again for your kindness to
District, and in the rough surrounding her. I do so with all my heart."
region, he was known as Handsome Armi-  In this speech, so set and ceremonious as
tage. A mountaineer from East Tennessee between husband and wife, there was of
had once stopped him in the street, and course a hidden meaning. It was as much
said: "Stranger, excuse me; but you be as to say, I thank you for restraining yourcertainly the puttiest man I've seen sence self, especially in the presence of my sister.




KATE BEAUMONT.                                  97
Armitage smiled, that smile that said so out his heels, and dashes headlong over his
much; he just moved his lips, those lips pastures. His brain, his stomach, his artethat were so eloquent without speaking; rial structure, or some other physical organ,
then lightly and gracefully he advanced to had gone mad, either with boisterous health
Nellie, lifted her hand, and kissed it. For or with inflammation, and demanded the rea moment the wife was much moved; she lief of violent activity; whether noble or
drew his hand to her and pressed it against vicious was indifferent, only that his habits
her heart. Kate rose, in her eyes a glisten- of life almost necessarily directed the outing of tears, in her heart one of the high- burst towards immorality.  In the horsy
blooded impulses of her father's race, and language of his favorite companions, lewd
stepping quickly up to her brother-in-law, fellows of the baser sort, and mostly of lowkissed his cheek.                        down birth, "he had got his head up for a
~' Thank you, my dear, good child," he spree."
said, turning upon h-r with a flush of sin-   While in this state of mind he met Jim
cere gratification. " You almost tempt me, Saxon, widely and unfavorably known as
you two, to stay at home this evening. Redhead Saxon, a "'low-flung" descendant
But," he added, without the least difficulty, of the rude family which had first settled
and in the same breath, " I have an engage- the district of Saxonburg, and served as the
ment. Don't sit up for me."              mean origin of its name. It was with this
After he had gone Kate said to Nellie, coarse, gaunt, long-legged, hideous despe"I must tell you. You have delighted me. rado and sycophant in homespun that he had
When I came here, - when I first came, -  made the engagement which took him from
I thought that you two were —indifferent. his home during the evening. He had gone
I beg your pardon, both of you."        straight from the exquisite scene with his
"1Ah, Kate!" replied Nellie, "you are wife and Kate Beaumont to a cracker ball.
capable of falling in love. If you were not   Three miles from his house, in a region
you would not care for these things so. of sand and pines and scrub-oaks, there
You can love, and I am sorry for it."    was a clearing which had once supported a
Hours passed after this scene, and Armi- settler's family, and which, as the soil betage did not return.  As the evening wore came exhausted, had degenerated into an
on towards midnight, Nellie's brow grew  oldfield, overgrown with bushes and long
darker and darker with an expression which weeds. In the centre of the oldfield was a
was not so much anxiety as something log-cabin, the clay fallen from its chinks,
sterner.  She looked at last like one who is the boards on its roof warped and awry, its
receiving blows, not in a spirit of angry re- windows without glass, and closed by rude
taliation, but with sullen defiance. Her air shutters, the chimney a ruinous, unshapely
wqs so gloomy and hard that it disturbed mass of stones and mud, the outer air free
her sister.                             to enter at numberless crannies. This cabin.
"H' id you not better send out for him?" was the residence of two " lone women,"
asked Kate. "Do you know Wvhere he has who held it rent free of its charitable owner,
gone?"                                  a wealthy physician of the village. The' Ie sometimes stays out in this way," eldest was Nancy Gile, thirty years old, but
said Nellie, calmly.  " We won't sit up looking thirty-five, yellow-haired, whitelonger fbr him."                        faced, freckled, red-eyed, dirty, ragged,
"But had n't we better?" urged the shiftless, idle, a begzar, and otherwise of
younger woman.                           questionable life. The youngest was Sally
"No, no," replied Nellie, almost imperi- Huggs, a small, square-built, rosy-cheeked,
ously. I would rather you would not. I black-eyed girl of not more than seventeen,
wish you to go to bed."                 who had run away from her mother to seLeaving the two to find such sleep as is cure larger liberty of flirtation.  Nancy
the lot of anxious women, let us follow Ran- Gile had two illegitimate children, and Sally
dolph Armitage and see how he was pass- Huggs was herself an illegitimate child.
ing the night. On the morning of that day The reader can guess at the kind of mothis ~' high-strung " gentleman had risen to rality that adorned the household existence.
find himself under the spell of a mighty   There are no outcasts. People who are
impulse; an impulse which had colne to not in "our society," and not in the circle
him he knew not how, which he could not below that, and not in any circle that we
account for, nor analyze, nor control; an deem society, have still a surrounding of
impulse common with men of dissolute lives, more or less sympathetic humanity, and
and forming the main-spring of their charac- even perhaps a following of admirers. Nanteristic actions. He must break bounds, he cy Gile and Sally Huggs, poor and ignorantmust run away, he must go wild, he must and degraded as they were, had an environhave a spree. lie was no more capable of ment of friends whom they wished to hold
philosophizing upon the possession than a fast, and of enemies whom they desired to
horse is able to state why he snorts, flings propitiate. Consequently, when they one
13




98                           KATE BEAUMONT.
day came into unexpected, almost miracu- steam  generated by this mob of unclean
lous possession of five dollars more than people.  As a perfume, an uproar, and a
was necessary to buy bacon and hominy for spectacle, the crowd was vigorously, one
the morrow, they resolved to raise their might almost say nauseously, interesting.
standing and enlarge their popularity by   To a New-Englan,er or a Pennsylvania
"giving a treat."                        Quaker fresh from the pacific, temperate,
A pound of tallow candles for illumina- educated faces of his birth-land, it would
tion, and three gallons of white raw whiskey not have seemed possible that these visages
for refreshment, summed up their purchases. were American. The general cast of counAs for supper, they trusted, as any other tenance was a lean and hardened wildness,
host of the oldfields would have done, that like that of Albanian mountaineers or Calaeach guest would provide his or her own, brian brigands.  There were no stolid,
and eat it befbre coming.  For music there -square, bull-dog "mugs"; everywhere you
was Sam Tony, a youth of piny woods ex- saw cleverness, or liveliness, or at least cuntraction, as lean and yellow as his own fid- ning; but it was cleverness of a wolfish or
die, and a gratuitous scraper on such occa- foxy nature. The forms, too, were agile,
sions. The invitations had been spread by most of them tall, slender, and bony, the
word of mouth at the previous 1" sale-day" outlines sliowing sharply through the calico
in the village, and had gathered in every gowns or homespun suits.  Four or five
young Saxonburg loafer or cracker who was plump and rosy girls, looking all the plumper
not in open hostility with the household. because of sunburn, were exceptions to the
Even those tramps, the Bibbs, who had no general rule of muscle and sinew. All the
abiding habitation, but slept sometimes in men, through early use of tobacco, and conbrush cabins, and sometimes in the shelter- stant exposure to hardship, were figures of
ing corners of warm  fences, had sent one displeasing lankness.
representative in the shape of a ragged,   The stinted, graceless costumes increased
dirty girl of eighteen, trim and slender and the general ungainliness.  Some of the
graceful in figure, but yellow and ghastly girls were in calico, limp with dirt; others
with exposure and lack of proper nourish- in narrow-chested, ill-fitted, scant-skirted
ment. When handsome Armitage and hide- gowns of the coarsest white cotton, such as
ous Redhead Saxon rode into the benighted was commonly issued to field-hands; others
tangle of the oldfield, Nancy Gile's cabin in the cast-off finery of charity, worn just
was hunmming like a huge beehive with the as it was received, without remaking. Nearnoise of dancing and laughing low-downers, ly all the men had straight, tight trousers,
and flaming from every door and window  insufficient vests, and short-bodied, longand chink with tallow-dip splendor.     tailed frock-coats of gray or butternut home"It looks like a stormning old blow-out," spun.
said Armitage, as he tied his horse's bridle   Scarcely one of these crowding faces had
to the drooping branch of a tree. "Quash," been illuminated or softened by the touch
he added, addressing a negro whom he had of civilization.  If they were less stolid
brought along, also mounted. " stay by these than the countenances of so many Indians,
beasts. Come on, Redhead."              they were not much less savage. Not that
He was already heated wish liquor. His the savagery was perfectly frank and open:
manner and voice had become strangely there was an air of slyness about it and
degraded since that pretty scene at his even of sycophancy; it was the ferocity of
home. In place of his make-believe, yet a bloodhound, waiting to be set on. While
gracious gentility and tenderness there was these people knew how to commit deeds of
a wild, reckless, animal-like excitement. blood, they could go about themr best at the
Perhaps it was more than animal; it may command of a "high-tone gentleman." But
be doubted whether any beast is ever a even to their masters they must have looked
rowdy; we have heard that even a drunken a little untrustworthy. It was evident that
ape has decorum.                        human life, no matter of what dignity and
The one room of the cabin, eighteen feet descent, would be held by them in light esor so by twenty-five, was crammed. In the teem. After all, valuing their own lives
centre eight couples were jostling and el- little, they were not despicable. In spite
bowing through a sort of country dance. of law-abiding prejudices, it is impossible
Squeezing close up to them, and squeezing not to accord some respect to a hearty willagainst the log walls, and filling the two ingness to give and take hard knocks.
doorways, and covering the shaky stairs The best intentioned members of society
which led to the loft, was a mass of young cannot look down with unmixed contempt
men and girls, applauding, yelling, chatter- upon a man who fights like the Devil, aling, laughing, or staring with vacant eyes though they may find him inconvenient and
and mouth. Even the wide-open doors and proper for suppression. Born to be proud
windows and chinks and the gaping chim- of my countrymen, reposing a loving confiney could not carry off all the mephitic dence in their pugnacity and their knack




KATE BEAUMONT.                                 99
at firearms, I would adventure the popula-   "Taller than you could understand if I
tion of this hive in any part of the Abruzzi, should tell you what it means, you cursed
sure that they would make their frontiers ignoramus," returned Armitage, as he tossed
respected and perhaps lay Fra Diavolo un- off the poison.
der contribution. In fact, I should rejoice   At this moment the country dance ended,
to colonize them in those regions, trustinoa and the dancers made a rush toward the
that the drama of the Kilkenny cats might whiskey. Sam Hicks sought to keep posbe re-enacted.                          session of his rosy-cheeked little partner by
Into this genial mob bounced Handsome passing one butternut-clothed arm  around
Armitage with a sense of satisfied sympa- her waist while he poured out for her a
thy and without the slightest consciousness half-tumbler of the Pickens District necthat it was his presence which turned mere tar.
vulgarity into vice and gave the scene its   "Ladies first," said Armitage, pushing
finishing touch of degradation.        him back with a jocose, contemptuous rough" Hurrah, Nancy!" he shouted, seizing hess.
the mistress of the house and whirling   "I was gwine to help a lady," replied
her round in an extemporized waltz, much Hicks, sulkily. " Sally here wants a drink."
to the confusion of the country-dancers.' I'11 give her one myself," persisted the
"Bully for you, old girl! This is a glorious high-flung gentleman. " Do you mean to
blow-out."                              keep her all the evening?  Stand out of
"' Square, I'm right glad to see ye," re- the way! "
turned Nancy Gile, her white face redden-." Let go, my boy," counselled Redhead
ing with pride and pleasure. "I said you Saxon, gliding behind the mountaineer and
mought come. Sally said you would n't."   whispering over his shoulder.  "Mought' Where is she?" asked Armitage.    get a welt acrost yer snoot. Let go to
"Thar she is, Square, dancin' along with catch a better holt."
Sam Hicks."                              Sam cast a pleading look at his girl, then
" Sally, come here," called the high-toned an angry though cowed one at his imgentleman. " Come here, and let's have a posing rival, and gave back grumbling.
look at your cheeks."                   Armitage mixed a drink for Sally, insisted
"Can't," laughed Sally, hot and gay upon her swallowing the whole of it, took
with exercise and attentions, for she was her roughly under his arm and marched her
the belle of the ball. " Got to dance this away.
through. Then I'11 come."                 " You little wretch, why did n't you come
"Who the deuce is Sam Hicks?" de- to me at first?" he scolded, half in jest
manded Armitaae.                       and half in alcoholic earnest. " What do
"He's a Dark Corner man," explained you stick to that booby for? Why don't
Nancy. " He met up with her last sale- you stick to me? "
day, an' took an awful shine to her. Talks   Sally looked up in his face with an exlike he was goin' to marry her. Mebbe he pression which might be described as vulwill."                                  gar shyness or low-bred modesty. She was
"Mebbe he won't," laughed Armitage. dazzled and awed by the handsome, fine
"Well, give us some whiskey. I have n't gentleman who had taken possession of her;
~had a drink for half an hour. Redhead, and at the same time she hankered after
try it."                               plain homespun Sam Hicks, who wanted to
" After you, Square," returned the re- Inarry her.
spectful Redhead, filling a glass for his   "I don't know jest what you're up to,"
superior.  "It's the same old spring I she blurted out spunkily and yet timorousr, ckon. Pickens whiskey, fresh from  the ly.
mill, clar as water, an' strong as pizen.   "And what the deuce is he up to?  GoReckon that'll warm you, Square, to the ing to marry you, is he? "
toes of yer boots."                       Sally made no reply, but she colored a
Armitage took the little tumbler, half coarse blush, and threw a glance at the
full of pure spirit, put its sticky brim to his faithful pursuing Hicks.
handsome mouth, and sipped at the contents.   " You can't go to him," said Armitage.
"Nasty," he said. " But never mind; it " You must dance the next set with me."
does its work. Redhead, this is what kills   And dance he did, playing pranks which
us, and we love it. We are good Clhris- raised shouts of laughter in the rough crowd,
tians; we love our worst enemy."  Then, a throwing fondling grimacers at his partner
recollection of his college reading coming and threatening ones at his rival. The
upon him, he raised the glass on high and dance ended, he let Sally go back to Hicks,
invoked it in the words of the gladiators, only to claim her again as soon as he had
" Ave Coesar! morituri te salutant."  taken another glass of whiskey. A couple
"That's tall talk, Square," grinned the of hours passed much in this way. Aradmiring Redhead.                      mitage seemed possessed to get drunk, to




100                          KATE BEAUMONT.
pay a rude courtship to Sally Huggs, and   At this moment there was a pistol-shot
to torment Sam Hicks. That he could en- from the dense underwood of the forest
joy the coarse farce seems incredible; and which overhung the lane.
yet the stupid, low-lived fact is that he did   " Sam  Hicks, by thunder! " growled
enjoy it. It was a monotonous, uninterest- Saxon, feeling for his revolver.  "Bile
ing, diragreeable, degrading exhibition; and ahead, Square! "
we only describe it because it dramatizes in   Instead of pushing onward as directed,
brief the character of the man when in his Armitage turned his horse toward the spot
cups.  Intoxication had turned him into an where the flash had showed, and put him
insolent, quarrelsome savage; and when we straight at the fence which separated the
add that it always affected him thus, we can narrow path from the wood. But the aniunderstand the habitual expression of his mal floundered in a swampy drain, and, unwifb's face; we know how she came to have able to rise to the obstacle, pitched against
that strange air of half pleading, half stand- it.
ing at bay.                               "Hold on, Square," called Saxon, disLet us hurry. About midnight, Armi- mounting and taking post behind his horse
tage, wild as a madman with drink, tore as behind a breastwork. " Don't go in thar.
Sally Huggs away from her lover for per- He'll pop you, sure."
haps the tenth time, and gave the latter a   But the warning was useless; the crazy
blow which laid him prostrate.         man, shouting with rage, dismounted and
"Quit that, Sam!" shouted Redhead began to climb the fence; in a moment,
Saxon, rushing upon Hicks and stopping drunk as he was, he had reached the top of
his hand as it sought the inside of his home- it. Just then there was another report,
spun coat. " Now get out of here, Sam, coming from the black recesses of the wood;
before mischief is done," continued the faith- and in the same breath Armitage toppled
ful henchman of Armitage. " Don't go to over the fence and fell to the ground; there
fightin' with high-tone gentlemen. They're was a single groan, followed by silence.
too hefty for you, my boy."              " 0 Mars Ranney! Mars Ranney! " presSum Hicks was not an ordinary low- ently whispered the negro, shaking with grief
downer, educated in the depressing vicinity as well as terror.
of great estates, and subservient to the   " Guess your boss has gone up," mutplanting chivalry. He was a mountaineer, tered Redhead Saxon, after a moment of
as independent and fierce and lithe as a listening.
wild-cat, and disposed to fight any man   " O, I'se feared so, I'se feared so," whimwho trespassed upon his rights or person. pered Quash. "0  Mars Saxon, what'11
He tried to get at Armitage, and struggled we do?"
violently with Saxon and three or four   "Dunno, though," continued Redhead.
others who held him, his long yellow hair " That last ball whistled by like it had n't
thrown back from his thin and sunburnt hit nothin'. So did the first one perhaps,
visage, a fine though coarse figure of virile though I did n't notice."
indignation.  But at last, overcome by   After further hearkening he resumed:
numbers, he became sullenly quiet, and suf- "We must git him out of thar.'Quash, I'll
fered himself to be led out of the cabin. hold the bosses. You sneak in an' feel for
Tranquillity was the more easily restored him."
because Armitage was too drunk to care   The negro trembled and hesitated, fearfor the raving of the mountaineer, or even ing another shot from the hidden assassin;
to notice that Sally Huggs soon slipped out for life is dear to slaves.
of the revelry in pursuit of her betrothed.  " Start in, you black cuss," commanded
Half an hour after this " unpleasantness," Redhead, turning his revolver on Quash.
Saxon succeeded in persuading his intoxi-   "I'se gwine," quavered the demoralized
cated patron to mount and set out for home. chattel. " Wait till I catch my bref. I'se
The path led the length of the oldfield, then gwine."
through a wood of young pines and stunt-   Crawling on his hands and knees through
ed cedars, then across other oldfields and the mud and water of the drain, Quash
some natural barrens, and then down a lane slowly approached the fence, displaced a
lined by forests, at the end of which it rail, and slid through the aperture.
touched the high road. For a time the party moved slowly, there being only starlight,
the ground uneven and tangled with vines,        CHAPTER  XXIV.
and Armitage reeling in his saddle. As
they entered the lane Saxon fell back along-   ASLEEP, comfortably, and for the time
side of the negro, and muttered, " Quash, unwakably asleep, lay Randolph Armitage
when we strike the road, we'11 try a gallop. on the damp mossy turf of the forest, not a
You keep on one side of him, an' I'11 keep scratch upon him from Sam Hicks's bullets,
on the other."                         all gone astray in the deceiving moonlight.




KATE BEAUMONT.                                 101
He was gathered up, borne to his horse,   Kate, trembling from head to foot, stared
set astride behind Quash, tightly bound to at him without speaking. She had never
him, and thus taken home. Transportation before seen a man in the last stage of inof this sort being naturally slow, it was two toxication; and in spite of what Nellie had
or three in the morning before Redhead Sax- said, she did not fully comprehend his conon got clear of his responsibility, stealthily dition.
depositing this senseless lump of humanity   "Oh! " she exclaimed.  " What is the
in its usual place of storage, and then hurry- matter with him? Is he - dying?"
ing away on guilty tiptoes after the fashion   "He is dead, - dead drunk," replied the
of boon-companions who bring home drunk- wife.
ards. All this time nothing could waken    "0'  no, Nellie!" implored Kate.
Armitage; he would open his eyes under   " To think how I have loved him! " Nellie
shaking, and keep them open, but he still went on. " That man has had all the good,
slumbered on; he was a limp, inert, incon- all the best that was in my heart. He has
venient mass of stupor. The moderately had it and trampled on it and wasted it till
affectionate and immoderately lazy Quash it is gone. I can hate now, and I hate him."
simply laid him on a sofa and covered him    Kate joined her hands as if pleading with
with a shawl. Then, with the thoughtless- her sister to be silent.
ness of discovery and of consequences char-  "' No man ever had greater love; no man
acteristic of slaves, at least when they are ever despised greater love," continued Nelnegroes, he stretched himself on the bare lie. "I have seen the time when I could
floor and went to sleep, without so much as kneel and kiss the figures of the carpet
locking the door,                        which his feet had rested upon. I worIn this state the two were found at six in shipped him; even after I began to find out
the morning by Nellie Armitage, who could what he was, I worshipped him; I passed
not altogether repress anxiety to know  years in forgiving and worshipping   Once,
whether her husband was alive. She gave when he came home drunk, yes, when he
him one glance, guessed with sufficient ac- came home to abuse me, I would watch over
curacy how he had spent the night, turned him all night in his stupid sleep, and forgive
from  him  in quiet scorn, and awoke the him the moment he spoke to me in the mornblackamoor with her foot.               ing. 0, how handsome he was in my eyes!
" Where have you been with him? " she He fascinated me. That was it; he was
asked.                                   beautiful; I could see nothing else. How I; Hain't been nowhar," responded Quash, did love him for his beauty! And now see
lying without a moment's thought and with how I hate him  and despise him. I can
infantile awkwardness, as " niggers " do.   take a mean and cowardly revenge on him."
"How dare you tell me that? Leave the   She suddenly advanced upon the senseroom."                                  less man, and slapped his face with her open
As Quash crept out Kate Beaumont glided hartd.
in, asking, " Has he returned? Is he hurt? "   " 0, you woman, what are you doing?"
Mrs. Armitage, shaken  by a night of exclaimed Kate, seizing her and drawing
sleeplessness, lost control of herself in this her away. " Nellie, I won't love you!"
emergency; the weariness, the sorrow, the   " Yes, I am hateful," replied Nellie. "Do
shame, and the scorn that were in her face you know why? I can't tell you half the
turned at once into red-hot anger, demand- reasons I have for being hateful. Look at
ing utterance; and though she at first raised that scar," pointing to a mark on her foreher hand instinctively to check her sister's head. "I have never revealed to any one
advance, she immediately dropped it.     how I came to have that. He did it. He
" Come on," she said. "It is time to tell struck me with his doubled fist, and that
the truth. I have hidden my misery long gash was cut by the ring which I gave him."
enough. Come here and look at him. There   Kate sat down, covered her face with her
is a husband; that thing is a husband. hands, and sobbed violently.
What do you think of it? "                 ". It was not the only time," pursued NelArmitage lay perfectly quiet; indeed lie. "He had struck me before, and he has
there was a look about him as if nothing on struck me since.  And there have been
earth could move him; he was the image of other insults; I would not have thought
utter helplessness and clod-like insensibility. that I could have taken them; but from
One eye was partly open, but there was a him, I have learned to take them.  0, if my
horrible glassiness and lifelessness in it, and father and brothers knew! They guess,
it was obvious that he saw nothing. His but they don't know."
face was colorless, except a faint tinting of   " They would kill him, Nellie," whispered
bluish and yellowish shades, as if it were the Kate, looking up piteously, as if' pleading
countenance of a corpse. Yet in spite of this for the man's life.
shocking metamorphosis, his features were   "I know it. But that is not all. I have
so symmetrical that he was handsome still.  become so savage, that it seems to me I




102                          KATE BEAUMON ~.
would not mind that. What I care for is respect for him then, and all affectior
exposure. If they should shoot him, people How could I keep either?  The man wa
would learn why. It would be known that more like a crazy monkey than like a human
I had failed; that Nellie Beaumont could being. His pranks surpass all description.
not live with her husband; that she could There are things that I cannot tell you of,
not lie on her bed after making it; that she for very shame. I did hope, when I brought
had failed as a wife and a woman."       you here, that, for your sake and out of fear
"Is there no such thing as separation?" of our family, he would control himself.
asked Kate. She said it hesitatingly and But he is irreclaimable.  He is contemptiwith a sense of culpability, for the idea of ble. He is horrible."
breaking the marriage bond was shocking   " Nellie, you have a way of talking that
to her.                                  makes my blood run cold," said Kate. " If
" There is.  But who would have the you stay here, will you not be over-tempted
children? Do you suppose I want to leave some day, and do something wrong?"
them here to grpw up drunkards? As long   " I shall never (ommit a crime," replied
as I am with them, they do not taste a drop Mrs. Armitage. "' I am a lady. I would
of the poison which makes a beast of their not disgrace myself and my family by even
father. I don't know whether I could have considering such a thing as poisoning. Is
both the children. Besides, separation is that what you fear? You may be tranquil."
exposure; the courts would have to know    " How dreadful it is even to think of such
everything; the public would know  and things l I never thought before that anybabble; the Beaumonts would know.  I thing in life could be so dreadful."
shall stay and fight it out here until I can   "Well, we will say no more about it tofight no longer. But I wanted some one's day," sighed Nellie. "' I will try never to
sympathy. I wanted at least to tell my speak of this subject to you again. Hereown sister how miserable I am."          after I can bear my troubles better. Some
She stopped, fell on her knees, laid her one knows, some one sympathizes."
head in the girl's lap, and broke out in vio-   There was an embrace, and a mingling
lent crying.                             of tears bet.ween the two sisters, followed by
After a minute she rose, lifted Kate to a long and sad silnce.
her feet, embraced her passionately, and   " Some one has ncme," was Nellie's next
said in a voice which had suddenly become remark. " I heard a carriage drive up to
calm, "This is my first cry in two years. the door. It is probably Bent Armitage.
My heart feels a little less like breaking. Scarcely any one else stops here."
Let us go."                                "I am so glad," said Kate. "W Von't he
"' Do you suppose he has heard? " asked help us? Won't he have some influence? "
the younger woman, glancing at Armitage.    "He has influence when none is wanted.
" Heard? " answered Nellie with a hard At such times as this no one has any influlaugh. " He could n't hear the last trump, ence, at least none for any good end. But
if it should be blown in this room. Is n't Bentley will try to make things easy for us.
he horrible - and handsome? My darling, He is not hard-hearted, and he never bethat is an Armitage. Don't marry one of comes a madman in my presence, although
them. Promise me. You won't?"            he is taking the same road with his brother.' Never," answered Kate.               It is in the blood to go that way."
"I must tell you a great deal," continued   "I wish nothing unpleasant had passed
Nellie, when she had reached her own between him and myself," said Kate, colorroom. " My heart is open and I must let it ing slightly.
run."                                      " Don't care for that," returned Nellie,
During a large part of the day she talked proudly. " You were right in avoiding him,
about her husband, detailing with painful and he knows it. He knows that no Armiminuteness the outrages of his periods of tage has any claim on any Beaumont. My
orgie; how he had upset tables, thrown food only wonder is, that he dared court you
out of the windows, broken dishes furniture, when he knew what his brother had done
mirrors, beaten the servants and children; to me.' If he begins again, tell me of it. I
how he had fallen down and slept all night won't have it, certainly not here. I am misin his dooryard, or been brought home half tress in this house, so far as he is concerned.
dead from accidents or fights.           Remember now; we ask no manner of
"Sometimes it is ridiculous," she said. favors of him; he is just a guest and noth"I have actually laughed to see him lying ing more."
among the ruins of chairs and crockery. It   There was a little glancing into mirrors,
seemed so absurd that any human being a little arranging of curls and shaking out
could become demented enough to beat and of dresses; there was the sacrifice to becom-belabor inanimate things till he gasped with ingness which woman rarely neglects to pay,
fatigue and wore himself out, that I could however unhappy she may be and indiffernot help laughing. Of course I had lost all ent to the eyes that are to pass judgment




KATE BEAUMONT.                                 103
upon her; then they went down to receive so," answered the girl, her face coloring
their visitor. Bent Armitage was walking perceptibly.
the parlor, staring abstractedly at the old   She was almost angry with him for speakfaded engravings which he had seen a thou- ing so carelessly of the feud and so irreversand times, his " clapper," as he called his ently of the McAlisters. Bentley perceived
partially paralyzed foot, slapping the floor that he had made a mistake, and for a
in its usual style, and his queer smile curl- moment looked absolutely frightened as well
ing up into his dark cheek as a confession as embarrassed, so anxious was he to stand
of embarrassment. Remembering Nellie's well with this girl. As to being sorry for
interference between him and her sister, he the renewal of the quarrel between the
feared that he should be received as an Beaumonts and their neighbors, he could
intruder, and he was ill at ease. He was not of course reach that state of grace; in
even humble to an extent which was pa- fact, he could not but rejoice in the event,
thetic; he had laid aside all his self-respect inasmuch as it had relieved him of one whom
in coming here.'" Let me look at her a he knew to be a preferred rival, and made
moment," his face seemed to plead; "then the winning of Kate seem possible. It was
turn me away forever, if you must; at least this new hope, to a certain extent, which
I shall have seen her."                 had brought him to Saxonburg.
"I hope I am  not indiscreet," he said   " Well, I'll go to my nest and arrange
meekly, as he kissed the cheek of his sister- my feathers," he remarked, presently, shufin-law and shook hands with Kate. " I am  fling and slapping his way up stairs.
just up in these diggings from a grand tour   Before attending to his toilet, he stepped
as far as Charleston," he went on, talking into his brother's room. No one was there
slang to gain courage. " I heard at Brown- but Quash, lazily setting things to rights.
ville that you were both here, and I thought   "Hi, Mars Bent," chuckled the darky.
I might venture to rein up for a minute."    "I'se mighty glad for to see you, Mars
"' We are glad to see you," replied Kate; Bent.  You's jess come in good time.
and Nellie added, "You must stay a few  Wah, wah, wah.  You's wanted, Mars
days."                                   Bent."
Bentley brightened a little; loving hopes   "If you's so mighty glad to see me,
rose out of their graves.                brush my boots," returned Bentley, seating
" We may need your assistance," Nellie himself.
explained quietly.                         " Yes, Mars Bent," said Quash, getting
His countenance fell at once. He under- out his brushes cheerfully, quite sure of a
stood that his brother was making trouble; dime, or perhaps a quarter.
that was the reason why he was wanted, or   " Whar's  Mars Ranney?" continued
endured. But, although the revelation was Bentley, imitating the negro dialect and
a painful one to him, he did not turn sullen pronunciation, as he loved to do.
under it. Impelled by a fine movement of   "He jess done gone down sta'rs; dunno
soul, he resolved to serve these women, who whar."
demanded service without offering reward   "Is he on a bender' "
or scarcely thanks. In spite of his slang,   "Yes, marsr."
his back-country roughness of manner, his   "Big one?"
willingness to sh!ed blood on occasion, and   "Well, nuffin pertickler; nuffin great, so
his hereditary tendency to strong drink, fur."
there was a foundation of good and warm    "From fair to middlin', eh?"
feeling in Bentley. He was not such a de-   "Yes, marsr."
testable egotist as his brother; he was capa-   "Could n't you hide his whiskey?"
ble of a love other and stronger than the   "Would n't dast do it, Mars Bent," relove of self.                            plied Quash, looking up earnestly. " Lordy,
"I will stay as long as I can be of use," Mars Bent, you knows how he kerries on.
he said. " Shall I hitch up in the old spot? " He'd jess bust my head."
"I would rather you should take the room    "I s'pose so," growled Bentley. " Well,
next to Randolph's," replied Nellie.     what of it?  You ought to have your
"Just as handy," assented Bentley, at the head bust, Quash. You are a rascal."
same time thinkinking, " So I am to be his   Quash merely sniggered and continued to
keeper."                                 polish away, sure of his dime. The boots
" How are things at Hartland, Miss Beau- were just done when a loud crash of furnimont?" he now inquired.'Everybody ture was heard down stairs, followed by a
chirk there? "                          wrathful shouting.
"All well, thank you," Kate said. "At   " Thar he goes," observed Quash. " Smashleast so my last letters told me."       in' things like he allays doos."
"The fight with the Philistines keeps up,   "Here's your quarter," said Bentley, risI suppose."                             ing hastily. "If vou'11 break his whiskey"  i.h the - the McAlisters? I suppose jug, I'll give you two dollars."




104                         KATE BEAUMONT.
Hastening down to the parlor, he discov- maniac off his victim and pushed him out
ered Randolph dancing on the fragments of of the room.
a delicate work-table, a present to Nellie   "You must go," said Nellie to Bentley,
from her brother Vincent.              when they two were alone.
"Halloo!" shouted the drunkard. "Is   "Ah, if he was n't my brother!" exnobody coming?  What am I left alone claimed the young man, furious from his
for?"                                 conflict, " I would finish him."
Just then Kate Beaumont entered the   "But he is your brother, and you can
room; she was very pale, and her soft eyes do no good here, at least not now. You
were dilated with amazement and horror; will have to go."
but she advanced calmly to the maniac and   "What, and leave you with that madsaid, "Randolph, what do you want? "  man! Leave her with him! "
At first he simply glared at her; he   " We can manage him better than you.
seemed to be ready to strike her. Bentley Seeing another man here only makes him
Armitage picked up a leg of the table and want to fight.  We shall be better off
came close to his brother, perfectly resolved without you."
to knock him down if he raised a hand upon  "' I never was called on to do so mean a
Kate.                                 thing before," said Bentley.
" Go away," said Randolph, hoarsely.   "I don't wish to charge you with being
" I did n't call for you. I wanted Nell."   capable of meanness. Besides, it won't be
Bentley made a sign of the head to the mean to do this when I insist upon it."
young lady, and in obedience to it she re-   " Well," assented the young man, unwilltired without a word further.         ingly and sullenly. " But I won't go far" Oho," exclaimed Randolph, discovering ther than Rullet's tavern, on the road to
his brother and turning short upon him. Brownville, you know, five miles from here.
" So you are here. What the --  do you If you need me, you can send a nigger, and
want?"                                I'11 put over."
"I've come to bear a hand generally,"   "Very good," said Nellie. "You will
returned Bentley, endeavoring to smile, but have to take your Brownville carriage back.
anticipating a difficulty, and showing it in You can slip through the garden and meet
his face.                              it below the house. Quash will look to
"You bear a hand somewhere else," your baggage."
screamed Randolph, all at once beside him-   " I never saw him so bad before," mutself with an insane rage, approaching to de- tered Bentley, meaning his brother.
lirium tremens. 1" You bear a hand out of   " He gets worse every time. His constithis house. You leave.  It's my house. tution is breaking down. His nerves are
You've had your share. We divided, did not what they used to be."
n't we?  You took the Pickens land, did n't   "Be sure you send for me slap off, if
you? You've no claim here. You travel. there is any serious trouble," were the fareTake your traps and travel. By the Lord, well words of Bentley.
I am master here. I won't be overcrowded   Randolph Armitage, totally forgetting his
by anybody. Lay down that club. Leave brother's visit, spent the rest of the afterit, and leave here."                   noon in his room, drinking, singing, break" Come, come, Randolph," expostulated ing such furniture as he could break, and at
Bentley. " There's no sense in this, and I last going to sleep among the ruins. The
don't deserve it. I've come to make my- women remained together, talking rarely
self agreeable and bear a hand at anything and sadly, the younger sometimes crying,
you like."                             the elder never.
"I've no use for you, I tell you I've no   " I wonder at you," said Kate once. " I
use for you," Randolph went on screaming, never imagined that a woman could have
utterly out of his senses. "You just hump such fortitude."
yourself and get to your own district. You   "Fortitude!" returned Nellie. "I am
travel, or I'11 -"                    intelligent enough to know that it is not the
Here he caught up a glass lamp and fortitude that you mean. It is mere hardhurled it at his brother's head, the missile ened callousness and want of' feeling. I
narrowly missing its mark and smashing ceased some time ago to be a woman. I
against the wall. Then he made a charge. am a species of brute."
The younger man struck, but unwillingly   This eminently true and simple and
and faintly: his blow only exasperated the clear-headed person showed herself great
assailant. Bentley, far less muscular than by refusing to claim a greatness which did
Randolph, and lame besides, was thrown not belong to her.
and badly hammered. This horrible scene   " If ever I am tried as you have been,
was ended by the entrance of Mrs. Armi- perhaps I shall become as noble as you are,"
tage and several of the house-servants, who was the answer of Kate, faithfully admiring
with great difficulty dragged the drunken her sister.




KATE BEAUMONT.                                 105
When bedtime came the younger woman   "Then, by heavens —!  Look here, you
said, " I shall stay with you to-night."  obstinate fool; don't you know what I'11 do
" You can't," replied Mrs. Armitage. to you?  Don't you know?"
"My husband has a right to come to my   "I know, Randolph," said Nellie.' I
room at any time."                       don't care for your threats."
"Ah!" murmured Kate, recoiling at   The answer to this speech was a sound as
once before the authority of marriage.    of a struggle. Kate hesitated no longer;
"You are not afraid for yourself, are she stepped swiftly into the room. By the
you? " asked Nellie.                    flicker of a candle dying in its socket she
" I had not thought of that," answered the saw Randolph holding his wife down on the
girl. " Besides, my door bolts and locks."  pillow with one hand, while with the other
" Good night," said Nellie, with a kiss. he brandished a long knife.
"You are a great comfort to me. I am
glad that you know everything; I am glad
that I told you, everything, though I did it
in a fit of madness, and it was wrong. I           CHAPTER  XXV.
bear things the better because you know
them. I was growing savage and wicked   THE cry and rush with which Kate enwith lack of sympathy.  Thank you for tered the room startled the tremulous madyour sympathy, darling. Good night."     man, who was attempting murder, or counKate went to her room, fastened her terfeiting it.
door with lock and bolt, then deliberately   " Whooh! " he exclaimed; it was a beastly
unfastened it and left it ajar, fearing a little sound, like the short, explosive growl of a
for herself, but far more for her sister. She surprised dog; but as he uttered it he let
was worn out; it seemed to her that the go of his wife and faced about.
day had been years long; that she had   " 0, it's you, is it? " he stammered, starstepped from  youth to middle age since ing at the girl with watery, uncertain eyes,
morning. Could it be that the degrading and with a grin that was half embarrassed,
and miserable tragedy which she had looked half defiant. "I forgot there was another
upon was marriage? What might be her woman in the house. What the Devil do
own future, even should the feud once more you want?"
be allayed, anti life promise as fairly as it   "Randolph!" exclaimed Kate with an
had done weeks before?  Even should she, imposing air of reproach; then, dropping to
by some incredible chance, become the wife a tone of entreaty, she implored, " Won't
of the man whom she preferred and trusted you go away? "
above all other men, what then? Would   " I want my whiskey," he replied, exposthe end of her once fair hopes be like the ing without shame the degrading motive of
end of the once fair hopes of Nellie? Her his brutality. " She's hidden it."
nlind ran all towards evil foreboding; the   Kate turned on Nellie an appealing glance
future seemed a wilderness, complex, path- which said, " Can't you let him have it?"
less, and sombre; merely to think of it was   " It is not here," answered Mrs. Armitage,
a weariness and sorrow. Yet she was so speaking to her sister. " When I say that
exhausted with the unrest of the previous it is n't here, you may know that it is n't."
night and the emotions of the day, that,   "Do you know where it is? " demanded
even while saying to herself that she should the husband, evidently believing her, unable
never sleep, she lost her consciousness.  to disbelieve her.
After a time some noise partially roused   "I do not," she said, still not looking at
her; it was painful to lose her hold on him.  "I know nothing about it.  If I
slumber, and she strove not to awake; but knew, I would not tell."
the noise persisted, and so alarmingly that   " Then I'11 leave," he growled, after a moof a su Iden she started up in her full senses. ment's hesitation, meanwhile staring at his
It was clear to her now that she heard the knife as if still uncertain whether he would
voice of Randolph in loud altercation with not use it. "That's all I came here for,
his wife; and, hastily slipping on a dressing- Do you suppose I wanted you?"
gown, she glided down a dark passage to   With this parting insult to his wife, he
the door of Nellie's room. The door was turned his bacl on her, reeled by Kate, and
ajar, and there was a faint light within as went out. A few seconds later a howl of
of a candle, but she was so placed that she joyous oaths announced that he had found
could not see the speakers. The conversa- his treasure; the bungling and lazy, and
tion, however, was but too audible.      also, no doubt, timorous Quash having con"Will you tell me -?" demanded the cealed it instead of destroying it.
husband, in a hoarse, thick utterance.     "What shall we do? " asked Kate, who
"No, I will not, Randolph," answered had meanwhile locked the door, and now
Nellie, in that monotone of hers which stood by it listening.
meant unshakable persistence.              "Let him drink," said Nellie, with the
14




106                         KATE BEAUMONT.
sad common-sense born of long trouble. ing ruled by his wife. It is so much more
"It is the easiest way to get rid of him."   manly, more chivalrous, more high-strung
" Is n't it horrible I " Kate could not help to be ruled by a jug! Come, go and do
groaning, still hearkening at the keyhole your packing. I will do mine and the chilfor Randolph's return.                 dren's."
The unhappy wife, invisible in the dark-   An hour or so later the trunks were ready,
ness, made no reply.  Presently Kate be- the little ones dressed, and the carriage at
came alarmed at the silence; she whispered, the door.
" Nellie," and then called aloud; still no an-   "I will go and bid good by to my husswer. The terrible thought crossed the girl band," said Nellie.
that Randolph might actually have stabbed   Kate followed her, fearful lest Randolph
his wife, and that she might now be dying, or might awake and a collision ensue. There
dead. Groping her way to the bedside, she was no trouble; the man lay on the floor,
threw her arms around her sister, dropped stone-blind drunk; an earthquake could not
kisses and tears upon the cool, damp face have shaken that stupor.
which touched hers, and sobbed repeatedly,   " Handsome Armitage! " murmured Nel"Nellie! Nellie!"  But wild as she was lie, looking at the sodden countenance with
with alarm, she perceived soon that the a strange mixture of scorn and grief in her
heart was still beating, and she guessed own pale face. Then turning to Quash,
that this was not death. By the time she who rose drowsily from his usual sleepinghad found matches and lighted a lamp, Nel- place in the passage, she said:'i Take care
lie began to draw the long sighs which mark of him. But tell him nothing about our
restoration from a swoon, and presently going away. Let him find it out for himopened her eyes.                        self.",, I have been faint," she whispered, with   "Yes, missus," yawned Quash, and proa bitter smile. "I didn't know there was ceeded to lie down again, covering his
so much of the woman left in me. I ought shoulders and head with his blanket-coat.
to have got over this sort of thing long ago.   The bays were started off at their s,)eediI am ashamed of myself."                est trot, for ten miles of rough, hilly road
"Nellie, what can I do for you? " asked lay between the Armitage place and the
Kate.                                   Brownville station, and the down train, the
"Nothing. I will get up in a moment, only train of the day, left at six in tilhe
and go to packing."                    morning. At the half-way house, known as
"Are you going to leave him?  Ah, -  Rullet's Tavern, or more commonly as Old
well."                                 John Rullet's, Nellie looked at her watch,
"At all events I shall take you away. and said calmly: "It is useless. We sha' n't
You have seen enough of this, and too get there till after six. We may as well
much. I ought not to have brought you stop and see Bentley."
here at all. It is quite sufficient for one   The younger Armitage, a bad sleeper in
man that he should  make one woman these days, and consequently an early riser,
wretched. It is as much success as is due made his appearance almost immediately.
to a drunkard. My dear, you won't marry  "' Travelling? " he said, with a wretched
a high-strung gentleman, I hope. Marry a attempt at a smile, thinking meanwhile that
Quaker first, or a Yankee pedler, - anything this might be his last interview with Kate.
that does n't get drunk and fight, anything " I rather judge it's the healthiest thing
that isn't high-strung. I hate the word. you can do."
It's a mean, slang word, and it stands for a   " We can't catch the train," replied Nellie.
curse."                                 "We shall have to wait in Brownville till
Kate thought of a man who, as she be- to-morrow morning."
lieved, was not high-strung. It was true   After glancing at his watch, shaking his
that he had fought a duel; it was true also head, and pondering a minute, he remarked:
that he had fought it with her brother; but " I suppose I had better go and amuse Ranthen possibly he could not have helped that; dolph."
there was the code, that savage mystery; it   " Bentley, it is a hard thing to owe you so
was all beyond her judgment. At any rate much," said Nellie.
he did not drink, nor address women with  "' 0, it's all in the family," he smiled.
brutality, nor lead an habitually wild life.  " And it doesn't square the family account
But she could say nothing of him to Nellie, either."
an(l indeed it was useless to think of him,   " Be careful," said Kate, honestly anxious
for there was the family feud, an abyss be- for him
tween him and her.                       He looked greatly pleased; he seemed
" \ill Randolph let you go? " she asked to think it very kind of her merely to care
"His whiskey-jug will attend to that," re- a little for his life; the humility of his gratplied Nellie.  "He has a noble master, itude made it absolutely pathetic.,
has n't he? He prides himself on not be-   "No particular danger, I reckon," he




KATE BEAUMONT.                                107
replied, shaking her hand cordially. "You they did not. Giving up their fruitless
won't mind it, I hope, if you hear of our hunt when night came on, they made a
drinking a little. A prosperous journey to circuit to reach the cabin of Redhead
you. Good by."                          Saxon, and held another festival in his
" Good by, Bentley," said Nellie, bending society.
down and kissing him. "I wish I could do   And now came the climax of the saturnamore for you."                         lia. Randolph, who in his cups would have
It seemed to Bentley also, that he deserved quarrelled with angels or devils, became
more than the kiss of a sister-in-law; but irritated at Saxon for some cause never afternone the less he set about his ill-requited wards heard of, and laid that faithful henchwork promptly and courageously. Rough man prostrate with a fisticuff.
as he was, and in some respects coarsely   "Square, that's low-flung  business,"
vicious, he had certain high notions of gen- roared Saxon, so drunk that he forgot his
tility.  As he turned his back on Kate fealty. " You've no call to hit a chap when
Beaumont, and prepared for his his horrible he ain't a lookin'," he continued, rising with
tMte a-tete with his brother, he said to him- difficulty and by instalments, first on all
self, " Noblesse oblige."              fburs, and so on. " You would n't'a' dared
When he reached the Armitage place, fetch me that lick, ef your brother had n't
Randolph was just coming out of his been here."
drunken slumber. Then followed a tragi-   "You need n't count in Bentley," replied
comedy which, considering that the two Randolph.'"He sha' n't take a hand. I'll
leading actors in it were brothers, was little play it alone."
less than infernal.  Bentley's purpose was   He tried to get off his coat, but in the
to keep Randolph so far under the influence effort went down and struggled some time
of liquor that he should not notice the on the floor with the garment over his head.
absence of his family, or should be indiffer- When he regained his feet he accused Redent to it if he discovered it. To this end head of pushing him, and proceeded to draw
he  drank, jested, gambled, quarrelled, his revolver. At this point Mrs. Saxon, a
exchanged blows even, went through rec- powerful young amazon of at least six feet
onciliations, drank again, squabbled again, in height, rushed upon the scene from the
and so on for twenty-four hours. It must other room of the dwelling, shouting, " Quit
be observed that, although he had not that. No fightin' yere. Ef you want to
sought the spree for its own sake, he did in fight, go out do'."
a certain measure enjoy it. Whiskey tasted   This  pacifying admonition not being
good to him; a little of the excitement of heeded, she  sprang  at her  husband,
alcohol always made him long for more; he scratched him  smartly, and bundled him
was only less of a drunkard than his brother out of the cabin. Then, holding the door
because younger. But for anxiety as to the against him, she turned upon the Armitages,
result, and also for the somewhat burden- and broke out: "Now say. What d' you
some reflection that he was tippling under two want?  You've got the man out of his
compulsion, he would have had a truly own house. S'posin' you try your hand on
delightftil carouse.  Perhaps we ought, the woman. Ain't you a bigh-tone gentlemoreover, to consider that he was a disap- man, Square Armitage?  Then go whar
pointed lover, and that liquor helped to you b'long, an' fight with yer own sort.
drown his sorrow. In short, Bentley had a Oughter be shamed of yerself, pickin' mussdownright honest bender, although he never es with crackers.  Wish I was yer wife,
quite forgot his object in commencing it.   and had the breakin' of ye. I'd learn ye to
The day passed in freaks beyond the go in harness. Don't ye p'int yer shootimagination of monkeys. Whenever Ran- in'-iron at me. I'll take it away from ye,
dolph demanded his family, Bentley invented an' lam yer face with it. You cl'ar. You
some new madness. For instance, late in jest cl'ar, or I'11 light on ye."
the afternoon he proposed that they should   "We'll go," answered Bentley, grinning
mob Nancy Gile, on the plea that Randolph at the scene like an amused monkey and
had been insulted and attacked by her low- surveying the pugnacious housewife with
down following. So, mounting their horses, bland approbation. " Randolph, we're getthey galloped four or five miles to surprise ting the hot end of the poker. Come, old
the 1"lone woman," turned her furniture lady, let us out."
topsy-turvy, drank her last gill of whiskey,   " No sir-ee," declared the contradictory
and then, giving her a couple of dollars to Madam Saxon. "You want to mount my
pay the damages, departed hooting. The old man outside. — Jimmy," she screamed,
next thing was a wild-goose chase through through a crack of the door, " you travel."
swamps and oldfields, on the supposed trail'I won't," vociferated Redhead, who all
of Sam Hicks, both the brothers being now the while was trying to re-enter.
in strenuous earnest and intent upon killinig   "Dog gone these men!" objurgated the
their man if they should find him, which lady. "Why can't they be peaceful like




108                         KATE BEAUMONT.
women-folks? It takes a woman to every and caution him to wait for the word. I'11
man to make him behave."               give the instructions."
"' Let me in! " roared the husband. " Ef   They re-entered thecabin. There were
you don't, I'11 fire through the do'."  Saxon and Randolph Armitage, each propped
" Hold up a minute, Redhead," called up in his corner and holding fast, their faces
Bentley. Then addressing Mrs. Saxon in a very solemn and stolid. Molly's broad physcaressing whisper, meanwhile patting her iognomy twitched all over with suppressed
stalwart shoulder, he added, " Look here, old laughter as she presented the pistol to her
girl. The best way is to powder it out. husband.
Let's have a sham fight. You load your   "Now, Jim, ha'n't you got any last words
husband's pistol and I'11 load Ranney's. for yer woman?" she asked by way of
Blank cratridges, you understand. What joke.
do you say!"                             " Stan' out the way, ole gal," replied
" All right," grinned the amazon, her wide Redhead, thickly.  "An' take care yermouth stretching from ear to ear to embrace self."
the joke. " Git hold of the Square's shoot-   At this moment Randolph, trying to stand
ing-iron. I'11 fix Jimmy's."           independent of his barrel, fell over it and
When the duel was proposed to Randolph, rolled on the floor.
he assented at once with a drunken solem- " Set'm  up agen," muttered Redhead
nity which finely satirized the behavior calmly, and without showing the slightest
usual with principals in real affairs of amusement.
honor, and delivered his revolver to Bentley   By the aid of Bentley the prostrate man
to be discharged and reloaded.         rose and braced himself once more in his
" Hand over ye five-shooter, old man," corner, smiling the monotonous smile of indemanded Mrs. Saxon, rushing out upon toxication.
her husband and disarming him. " We're   " Catch hold," said Bentley, delivering
gwine to hev a duel."                   the revolver. " And don't fire till I give
"Who's a gwine to?" asked Redhead, the word. Gentlemen, listen to the instrucfalling into the cabin.                tions. I shall pronounce the words,'one,
" You be; you an' the Square."       two, three,- fire.' At the word' fire,' you
" You go to —! " retorted the man of the are at liberty to commence, and you will go
house, who, intoxicated as he was, discov- on until you have exhausted your barrels."
ered an absurdity in the proposition.     "That's so," sniggered Molly, cramming
" Redhead, you are a gentleman, I sup- a yard or so of her calico apron into her
pose," began Bentley.                   mouth  to keep from  laughing outright.
"No, I ain't," interrupted Saxon, his rea- "Jim, do you understand?"
son perfectly sound on that point.        " You shut up," snapped Redhead in a
"' Wal, you're a man, ain't ye? " put in tone of impatience which redoubled his
his wife, flying at him  and giving him a wife's amusement.
shake. "You stan' up in that corner till  "Now, then," called Bentley.  "One,
things is ready. Mr. Bent, you set the two, three, - fire."
Square up in t' other corner. Thar's a bar'l   A deliberate firing ensued; it was curithor for him to hold on to."            ous how cool the two drunkards were;
The two principals being placed, the though they could scarcely stand, they meant
seconds went out of doors to prepare the business.
weapons. The ball cartridges in the bar-   "That's all," mumbled Randolph when
rels were discharged, and other cartridges he had exhausted his barrels.
substituted with the bullets broken off.  "No't ain't," called Saxon. "I've got
"' It'11 be mighty slim huntin', won't it? " a charge left."
said Mrs. Saxon, bursting into loud laugh-   " VWell, blaze away, old Redhead," reter. " Would n't my old man be mad, ef turned Randolph, still smiling his alcohohe sensed the thing.  He ain't used to lized smile.
goin' a shootin' with nothin' but powder."  Old Redhead took steady aim, resting
This idea amused her excessively, and his revolver across his left arm, and blazed
she returned to it several times.  " To away to the best of his ability. Randolph
think of Jim firin' away at a feller with fell across his barrel once more, but it was
nothin' but powder! "                  whiskey which upset him, and not a bullet.
" Well, old lady, are you loaded? " asked  6" Square, are you bad hurt?" called
Bentley.                                Saxon, advancing slowly and unsteadily.
" Reckon I be," grinned Molly Saxon. "Square, I'm sorry for it; dog goned if I
revolving the chamber of her pistol with ex- ain't."
perienced dexterity. " No bullets in them.   Then seeing his antagonist rise, with the
Let's see yourn.  All right, my blessed assistance of Bentley, he added, " Did I
stranger. Now what'll we do next?"    miss you, Square?  Wall, I'11 be dog"Just hand your old man his cold iron, rotted!!  However, never mind.  Glad




KATE BEAUMONT.                                 109
you come out of it safe. Bully for you, file, they were beyond enumeration. ExSquare. Stood it like a sojer. Le's shake cepting that the weapons were concealed,
han's."                                 these election scenes resembled the political
There was shaking hands accordingly, as assemblages of the ancient Gauls, who disin more elegant and sober affairs of honor cussed questions of war and peace with
the two late enemies complimenting each spear in hand and buckler on shoulder.
other as high-toned gentlemen, etc., etc., All these  gaunt and long-legged men,
while Molly Saxon fairly capered  and whether clad in "store-clothes" of black
stamped with delight.                    broadcloth, or in short backed, long-tailed
" An' now you two cl'ar," she presently frock-coats of gray or butternut homespun,
whispered to Bentley. " I want room to were as bellicose as so many Scotch Highlarf. Ef I don't hev it, I shall bust."    landers of three hundred years ago.
Bentley hurried his brother away the   It must not be supposed, however, that
more willingly because Saxon, a blazing fighting was continuous or even very frepine-knot in hand, was searching fbr the quent. As every man took it for granted
marks of his bullets, and not finding them, that every other man was armed, discussions
migillt be led to suspect and denounce th  were usually conducted with great civility
trick which had been played, to the mani- of speech, unless the disputants had become
fest risk of further altercation.        inflamed with whiskey. Even if angry words
" You need n't look for'em, Jim," Molly were exchanged and weapons drawn, there
was heard to giggle. "You're too drunk were friends at hand to do the proper
to aim at anythin'. You fired out o' win- amount of coat-tail pulling, and bloodshed
der an' up chimney an' everywhar but at was generally averted. As for such harmhim."                                   less blusterers as Crazy Naylor and Drunk" I'11 be dog-rotted ef I ever see any such en John Stokes, they were allowed to roll
doin's befo'," returned the confounded Jim. each other in the dust at their pleasure, it
" When a man can't hit a house, standin' being understood that they would only furinside on't, he'd better quit shootin'."  nish innocent amusement to their fellowAnd now, as it was getting towards mid- electors.  The fun which these conflicts
night, the Armitages went home. Bentley afforded was increased by the fact that the
was still afraid that Randolph might dis- defeated athlete usually pitched into some
cover the absence of his wife and set out in boy or nigger who had laughed at his overpursuit of her. He resolved to floor him  throw, and kicked him with much swearing
completely, if the thing could be done; he around the nearest corner. Let us state,
commenced a fresh drinking-bout and kept by the way, that John Stokes and Crazy
it up for hours. It was the very saturnalia Naylor were not landless crackers or penniof duing evil that good might come. It was less village loafers. Although they dressed
ludicrous and it was horrible.           in homespun and held such high-caste people as the Beaumonts and McAlisters in
deep reverence, they were well-to-do farmers, owning their five hundred acres and
CHAPTER XXVI.                 their twenty or thirty head of niggers.
John Stokes, in spite of his frequent bendAFFAIRS of state, a shouting of stump- ers, was " captain of patrol " in his " beat,"
orators, and a buzzing of swarming fellow- or magisterial precinct. Crazy Naylor never
citizens recall us to Hartland.          went howling about the streets and making
The canvassing for the election of repre- a spectacle of himself, except when he was
sentatives to Congress was at the boiling- in liquor.
point. There was speechifying, discussion   Notwithstanding the serious sensitiveness
around groceries and at street corners, gen- of Southerners, and the danger of jesting
erous betting and chivalrous squabbling with punctilious men who carry revolvers,
every day. The principals in the contest, mich sly, coarse ridicule was current in the
as well as their partisans, had gone into the Hartland political debates. For instance,
struggle in the highest-toned fashion, pre- John Stokes, a violent adherent of the
pared to clean out the adversaries if the Beaumnonts, set afloat ridiculous tales about
latter persistently refused to hearken to the McAlister chieftain, representing him
reason.  When Peyton  Beaumont went as a man of little less than idiotic simplicity,
forth on his stumping progresses, his sons which was true in so far as this, that the
guarded him  with revolvers under their Judge had not the remotest idea of a joke.
shooting-jackets; while Judge McAlister  "'He go to Congress!" sneered John
was escorted in a similar manner by his Stokes.  " Them  Yankees would  come
warlike progeny, even Frank admitting that games on him an' poke fun at him  from
he must defend his father.  As for the Sunday morning to Saturday night. I'll
Colts and Derringers, and bowies and tooth- tell you what sort of a man he is. The
picks, which were carried by the rank and Judge started out to canvass the district.




110                          KATE BEAUMONT.
How did he do it?  Got up his coach. for he had almost of necessity taken the
Sure as you're born he got up his coach measure of his prim, solemn, unbending faan' four horses to go an' ask poo' men for ther, and had guessed that he could not
their votes. Well, he druv round an' kissed carry Hartland electors against hearty, fullthe young uns an' talked Sabba' school to blooded, off-handed Peyton Beaumont. The
the women folks, an' subscribed to meetin'- Beaumonts would triumph at the ballot-box;
houses an' all that sort of nonsense. An' they would add contempt for his family to
you bet he made mistakes. You bet on it hatred for it; there was not a chance for
an' win every time. Durned ef he did n't him to win their daughter and sister. I-Ie
take  short-haired  Dolly Hicks, - she a was in these days so gloomy, so haggard. so
settin' by the fire wrapped up in blankets unable to sleep, so unable to eat that his
because of the chills, - durned ef he did n't mother became terrified about hinm.
take her for the old man'an' ask her to vote   Of course she had guessed the cause of
for him. Now you don't believe that, you his trouble; a woman and a mother could
fellers of the McAlister crowd. But it's not fail to guess it. But what could she do
true; you bet your best bale on it; old to raise the spirits of her stricken giant, and
Hicks he told me. Now that's a lively man renovate his health, and save his life?  It
to go to Congress from Hartland District was impossible to quiet the family feud, and
and South Carolina. Why, he would n't consequently impossible to get Kate Beauknow a he Yankee from a she one. Them  mont for him. That sovereign remedy befellers up thar in them foreign States would ing out of the question, was there no other?
stock the keerds agin him an' clean him  Time?  Alas, time is very slow in his
out every time. Now look at the Honorable work, and affection abhors waiting. Mrs.
Peyton Beaumont in a poor man's cabin. McAlister knew of a cure which was quicker
He don't come in no coach; he comes a than that and every way more consonant
horseback. He walks in square an' strong, with her own feelings; it occurred to her
like he was to home. He straddles out be- that it would be the best thing in the world
fore the fire, an' parts his coat-tails behind to get another young lady in the place of
him, an' hollers for his tod of plain whiskey, the young lady who had been lost.
an' chaws an' spits like one of the family.   The proposition may shock a sentimental
He don't make no mistakes betwixt the old man, but I suspect that it was both motherly
man an' the old woman. He knows other and womanly. A woman believes in love; if
folks as sure's he knows himself. He knows one love affair fails, she requires that another
the name of every voter in this part of should commence as soon as may be. The
South Carolina an' the name of that voter's single adventure, though very great to her,
dog. He's that kind of a man that rouses is not so great as the passion. Moreover,
your entuzzymuzzy.  He's a man that her sister-women are cheaper in her eyes
South-Carolinians will take a heap  of than they are in ours, and she sees no suffitrouble for. We never had an election yet cient cause why the loss of one of them
but what loads of fellers would pile over should stop a man from using his heart, esthe line from  every district round here, pecially in view of the fact that his heart is,
walkin' or ridin' ten or fifteen miles perhaps in her opinion, his noblest organ.
to give him a lift, an' that too after going   It was in consequence of these reasons
as fur for their own men whar they belong. (which Mrs. McAlister did not of course
An' they're right; they're right in takin' take the trouble to reason upon, not even
all that extra trouble for him; he deserves with herself) that she invited Jenny Deit. I tell you, ef thar's a gentleman in this vine to make a visit under her roof. Stating
district who's fit to stand for the people of the case plainly, she meant to have Frank
this district and South Carolina, it's old fall in love with Jenny, and so forget the
squar'-shouldered, open eyed, true-handed, girl whom he could not get. True, Wallace
big-hearted, high-toned Peyt Beaumont."    was enamored of Miss Devine: the all-see()f course we are not to put absolute faith ing mother was not ignorant of that. But
in the partisan declarations of John Stokes. Wallace, it was pretty certain, could not
There is no doubt that he exaggerated both have her; and, moreover, Wallace did not
the innocence of Judge McAlister and the stand in pressing need of matrimony, not
slightly demagogic courtesy with which being broken in spirits and shattered in
Beaumont did occasionally temper his pa- health; and finally Frank, her youngest
tri.ian haughtiness.                    and handsomest, was her favorite child.
But we must leave the political back- Small, plain, bald-headed Wallace must be
ground of our story and return to the per- sacrificed just a little to save his magnificent,
sonages who occupy its foreground. Very his suffering brother. The plan savored of
sad in these days was Frank McAlister, cruelty, but it was the cruelty of intense
miserable over the past, and despondent affection, perhaps also of wise judgment.
over the future. He did not even believe   Thus it was that pretty, flirting, jolly,
in the success of his party in the election, good-hearted Jenny Devine became an in



KATE BEAUMONT.                                 111
mate of the Me Ali ter mansion.  She did with Wallace's affections; very angry henot come at all unsuspiciously; she guessed cause of the quarrel which had been set up
that coquettish passages awaited her; she between him and Vincent.  She had said
was somewhat like a cat entering a buttery. to herself that Jenny Devine, notwithstandIn the first place, she was accustomed to be ing her good temper and mainly good intenbegged for from house to house to entertain tions, would make no fit wife for a man of
young gentlemen visiting in Hartland, and high character and sensitive feelings. Now
to enliven hops and teas with her music, she forgave all these shortcomings and pecher dancing, her small talk, and her bright cadilloes so completely that she forgot them.
eyes. In the second place, she knew pretty Jenny was no flirt; it was not supposable
pos;tively that Frank McAlister had been that she could jilt Frank; she would acfascinated by Kate Beaumont, and so must cept him and be an excellent wife and a
have found it a sad business to be divided charming daughter.  Mrs. McAlister reafrom her.                                soned about the girl as a lover reasons about
Yes, she was specially wanted; a flirta- the mistress of his heart. Desire and hope
tion or something of that nature was to be did the whole of the argument, and of course
got up between her and this disappointed reached the most agreeable conclusions.
young man; that was the object of Mrs.   To all these feelings and wishes Mary
McAlister. That Jenny was at least will- McAlister assented with the instantaneous
ing to run a risk in the matter is shown by facility and energy of her loving soul. Not
the fa:t that she accepted the invitation. that there was any open talk on the matter
She liked Frank, and she thought no less between the mother and daughter; but the
of him for having liked Kate; for she was latter had the power of divining the mind of
not one of those sensitive girls who recoil the former by sympathy; and the moment
from a man because he has loved some one she divined it she was guided by it. It would
else; she had had too many courting affai s be difficult to find any other two human
ot' her own to be fastidious on that point. beings so much at one in opinion as these
As for cutting out her absent friend, there two. ZWhichever felt first on any given
could be no question of it. Kate had been subject had the lead; the other discovered
cut out already by the revival of the old the feeling by clairvoyance, and at once
hate between the two families. Moreover, shared it; there was no need between them
Kate was not in love with Frank; so much of statement, and much less of argument.
Jenny believed that she had discovered. Thus they were always alike in their creAccordingly, with conscience clear of un- dences, desires, and purposes. Even the
worth, intent, and with heart prepared for action, the ratiocination, and the persuasions
eith,er great or little emotions, she repaired of the respected male folk of their family
with her select armor of finery to the en- could not divide them. Their union was a
chanted palace of the McAlisters, to take singular and interesting, and almost touchthe chances of' such adventures as might ing instance of the potency of mere femibefall her there.                       nine sympathy. Both hated the feud; both
She was received with a gladness, which, abhorred duelling and all bloodshed; both
considering the grave character of the farm- adored Frank, and would have died for him;
ily, was equivalent to festivitv. Mrs. Me- both loved Kate Beaumont, and longed for
Alister fairly leaned towards the girl; she relationship with her; both accepted Jenny
enjoyed her in anticipation as a daughter- Devine when Kate was no longer attainable.
in-law, the chosen one of her favorite son; The unanimity of reason is perhaps grander
she secretly loved her and blessed her in a than this unanimity of the heart, and no
spirit of prophecy. It was the yearning of doubt in the main practically more useful,
a bereaved mother, who trusts that she is but surely not half so beautiful.
yet to obtain a child in place of the one   The tall, thin, gray-haired mother and
that has been taken away. Not but that the tall, slender. chestnut-ringleted daughter,
Mrs. McAlister would still have preferred both shooting rays of love out of large miAl
Kate  as a (laughter; she had no spite eyes, embraced Jenny Devine with the same
against the Beaumont men even, and she tenderness.
loved their loved one dearly. But Kate   " I am so delighted that we have not lost
being lost beyond recovery, she must posi- you as a friend," said Mrs. McAlister. " It
tively have some one in her place, and in seems as if there were no friends of late.
her longing she grasped at Jenny.       Everybody is a partisan."
One result of this craving — a result   "The Beaumonts will not be angry at
which looks like the effect of witchery -  you for coming to us?" asked Mary. " We
was that she at once lost sight of the girl's did hope not when we begged for you. But
defects, though plainly discernible by her you must tell us."
heretofore.  Jenny was a flirt; so Mrs.   "I am  not their kin," replied Jenny.
McAlister had thus far always admitted; "And I anm not a man eit}er.    ) c6am a
she hbd even been angry at her for trifling woman's right to be sweet to everybody.




112                          KATE BEAUMONT.
Don't worry about my good standing with tale of wounded affections.  She forgot herthe Beaumonts. If the Honorable Peyton self; she opened her heart wide to his prolooks glum at me, I shall take his arm and cession of sorrows; and of course it folsmile in his face, and the next I know he lowed that he found her charming. In a
will be patting my head. These old gentle- certain sense she was Jenny Devine and
men are all fools with girls. If you had a Kate Beaumont in one. To talk to her
speck of courage and impudence, Molly, about Kate was the next best thing to talkyou could go and tame him in fifteen min- ing to Kate about herself.
utes. I do believe that, if I were in your   Who has not smiled at the ease with
place, I could make him call on the Judge, which many a grief-stricken widower has
and ask the whole family to dinner."     been won by a woman who sincerely pitied
"'Jenny, I wish we could work such mira- him for the loss of his wife?  Shall we
cles," sighed Mrs. McAlister. "I would go have cause to smile thus at our hitherto unon my knees to do it."                  changeable lover, Frank McAlister'?
" O, you would n't answer at all," laughed   " How tedious I must be to you! " he said
the frank and saucy Jenny. " It would take one day, ashamed of his egotism.
somebody as young as Molly. By the way,   "You are not tedious at all," declared
there is an idea; why, would n't that be Jenny, her cheeks coloring with the enthunice?  Molly you could be Mrs. Peyton siasm of honest and earnest feeling.
Beaumont the third, merely for winking;   "Is it possible that you can like to hear
only, poor thing, you dont know how  to me tell how I love another woman?" he
wink."                                   asked, amazed.
"What nonsense!" protested Mary, in, "'I do like it," said Jenny. "She so nobly
blushing amazement. " Who could imagine deserves it."
such a thing? Nobody but you."             " Miss Devine, you are admirable," he re-' I could make Dr. McAuley imagine it," plied, with profound reverence. " I am aswhispered the teasing Jenny. " Wouldn't tonished at women, the more I know  of
he rage? "                               them. They have so much unselfishness
Mary blushed still deeper, and glanced and sympathy. I think a great heart is nowith maidenly alarm at her mother, who, of bler than a great brain."
course, pretended not to hear, and looked   " Ah, don't give me too much credit,"
all benignity.                           sighed Jenny, dropping her eyes. It occurred
Jenny's frolicsomeness was one cause why to her just then that perhaps she was playing
the McAlisters continually forgave her mis- falsely by her friend, and running risk of
deeds and liked her. They were a grave gen- winning that friend's lover. In the next
eratioh without meaning it, and finding per- breath she said to herself: " But Kate does
sistent gravity a burden; and, like all such, not care for him; she told me so."
they extracted much comfort from jolly peo-   In fact Jenny was becoming interested
ple and craved them as thirsty souls (do water. and even fascinated. At the time this diaThus it may be conceived that Frank logue took place she had been over a week in
McAlister, weighted always with seriousness the McAlister house. During that crowded
of' spirit, and just now crushed under disap- week she had seen much of Frank, and had
pointment. should incline kindly to the com- grown to be his intimate and his confidante.
pany of this prattling and gleesome young She had looked further into his heart than
lady. Because she made him smile in spite she had ever befbre looked into the heart of
of himself, he liked to listen to her. Be- man; and allthat she discovered there had
cause she turned whist into mere fun, he led her to admire him exceedingly; to judge
took a hand as her partner. Presently he that his love was worth any woman's having.
came to walk with her, and then to ride It was not for her; it was for her friend
with her. The intimacy, ripened by his Kate; but would it always be'?  She had
sorrowful tenderness of feeling, burgeoned not distinctly asked herself this momentous
ray)idly into confidences. Before long the question, nor any other that concerned her
subject of Kate Beaumont was broached future relations with Frank. Rather she
between the two, and after that there was had gone on blindly, first sympathizing, then
no end to their talking together.        sympathizing more, then admiring, then
What an enticing, abundant, limitless sub- liking, then -   No, not loving; not at all
ject it was! It was like a Missouri prairie that; at least, not yet. But there was danto a herd of buffalo; there was room there ger of it, and at t;mes she saw the danger.
to browse forever. Little by little Frank   During the evening following this convertold Jenny all that was in his heart, - how  sation she announced her intention of rehe had loved, how he had hoped to win, turning home on the morrow. But Mrs.
and how he had lost. The girl, in spite ot McAlister, in whose opinion things were
her levity, was like almost all other women going on passing well, would not hear of it;
in the matter of quick sympathy, and es- and Mary McAlister, guessing at once her
pecially could not help being touched by a mother's ideas and consenting to them, also




KATE BEAUMONT.                                 113
would not hear of it.  So strenuous was They are sharp-sighted, wonderfully sharptheir opposition, that Jenny gave up her wise sighted; I admit it. But nevertheless they
project and meekly stayed on, not know- do sometimes hang up a scalp for their
ing what might happen to her heart, and daughters which has not yet been taken.
beginning not to care. " I shall be disap- Do you suppose, Mrs. Chester, do you really
pointed in love," she sometimes thought; suppose   "
"but it does not matter a bit; I shall de-   "I know nothing about it," replied the
serve it."                               imbittered lady. "Mrs. Devine makes her
Meantime Wallace McAlister was wretch- boasts and I record them. Miss Jenny
eel with jealousy. His mother saw it and Devine is nothing to me, and Mr. MeAlister
grieved over it, but did not change her is of course less than nothing. 1 merely
Iiln for all her grief. To save Frank, it mention the thing as a matter of common
seemed that Wallace must be sacrificed; it uninteresting gossip."
was very sad that it should be so, but she   "Ah," bowed the Major, smiling unspeakcould not help it. After all, Wally must able compliments at Mrs. Chester, while in
not be a dog in the manger. Unable to get the same breath he investigated her with
Jenny himself, he mfist not prevent her twinkling, analytic eyes. " Of course. Cerfrom saving his brother; that would be the tainly.  Not worthy of your attention.
extreme of selfishness. The unlucky young Certainly not."
man himself thought something like these   " I never was more mistaken in any man
thoughts in his more rational moments. than I was in that Mr. Frank McAlister,"
But none the less he suffered; felt his heart the lady went on vixenishly. "I thought
shrivel when Jenny strolled out with Frank; well of him for a short time; I thought him
clapped his beaver on his poor bald head, good-hearted and a gentleman. He is a
and went off to be miserable alone.     selfish, stupid, low fellow. I never saw
Another person who was troubled and another man so vulgarly and stupidly unalarmed by this sudden intimacy between grateful for civilities. It is well for our famFrank and Jenny was Major John Lawson. ily that we got shut of him and his breed.
He did not learn it from the McAlisters, of, I hope Jenny Devine will catch him. The
whom he saw very little in these days, he little cross jilt is just fit for him, and he is
being still a guest of Kershaw's, and conse- just fit for her.  They will punish each
quently more or less tied to the Beaumonts. other nicely."
It was Mrs Chester who told him of this   " Ah - you think so? " nodded the Manew peril which threatened his romance of jor, hardly able to keep from  grinning in
Romeo and Juliet in South Carolina. Mrs. her face. " Really, how dull we male crea —
Chester had met Mrs. Devine; and Mrs. tures are! Here I had been thinking well
Devine had been over to see Jenny in the of the girl; wishing my young friend VinMcAlister hunting-grounds; and the result cent could catch her; envying him  the
was certain motherly smiles and hints of a chance. God bless my soul,- God bless
prophetic and exultant nature. Thereupon my soul! Mrs. Chester, I am positively not
Mrs. Chester, who had turned to speaking fit to go about the world alone. I need
evil of her lost Titan as strenuously as she your guidance at every moment; absolutely
had once followed after him, spread the re- need it, must have it," he fluted in his finport that he was about to marry the greatest est trills and quavers, cocking his head on
flirt in Hartland  District, namely, Miss one side like a curious parrot, and puckerJenny Devine.                            ing his face into a thousand wrinkles, all
" You don't tell me so, Mrs. Chester! " expressive of adoration and servitude. But
grinned the disquieted Major, when she had the moment he got out of her presence he
exploded this bit of news under his nose muttered, " Spiteful, disappointed old bellike a fire-cracker. " My dear Mrs. Chester, dame! "
you don't seriously believe it! Why, it   " What does the woman lie for in that.
would be a most delightful arrangement," style? " he went on, commencing a long
he continued, recovering his self-possession soliloquy about this worrying bit of gossip.
and wishing to stick some sly pins in Mrs. "I don't believe a word she says. Frank
Chester. " Really delightful! Jenny is an McAlister in love with Jenny Devine!
admirable girl. A little of a flirt, no doubt, Frank McAlister forgotten Kate Beaumont!
as you say. But so are all women until Romeo false to Juliet! Impossible. I can't;
they are married. All the same, she is have been so mistaken ill the young man..
admirable. Deserves him. Deserves any- I know him; I have studied him; I have,
body. I had had hopes, by the way, that she looked him in the eyes; I have sounded
would have caught Vincent. I am a little his character. Sounded it, - sound-ed it,"
disappointed. Do you suppose, Mrs. Ches- he insisted, smirking and twinkling as if he
ter, that our excellent friend Mrs. Devine were talking to some one else than himself
speaks with authority?  Mothers are so and trying to carry conviction to his audiapt to deceive  themselves, you  know. tor. "I must see Romeo," he continued
15




114                          KATE BEAUMONT.
vehemently. " I must say to him,' This won't irrational husband might find her, and not
do; this spoils our drama; this will make willing to lead her old friend into an unthe plot a nullity; this will draw a storm  pleasantness. " We shall do mum h the best
of hisses.' 1 will see him. It will be awk- without you.  Only  let us have  your
ward; it may lead to difficulties; the Beau- Coesar."
monts may scowl at me. But no; the   As Caesar marched behind at a decorous
Beaumonts prize me; they are under obli- distance, the two women had a chance to
gations to me; they know that I fought commune together, and, being women, did
Tom well; yes, fought him well, begad," commune. Nor is it any won(ler either
affirmed the Major aloud, chuckling over that their talk, after fluttering unsatisfied
the recollection of his only duel - as a sec- from subject to subject, should alight upon
ond.  "And if the heathen do rage I must Frank McAlister. Kate did not mean to
defy them. In the name of the poetic uni- speak of him; indeed, she had made a reties, I must deft them. I can't have my solve that she would never utter his name
romance, the darling romance of my life, again; but there seemed to be a magicali
broken up because of an election, a mere power about the man, and he would get
tempest in a teapot, a squabble sure to end himself mentioned.  On the present occain six weeks. God bless my soul, I can't sion he made his entrance upon the scene
have it. It would make me miserable. I by dint of that sorcery which is commonly
should leave this part of the country. And called " an impression."
I have already written to Charleston about   "  have such a strange feeling," said the
my little drama. Prophesied about it, -  girl, when her sister charged her with abbragged over it. I could n't go back to sent-mindedness and inattention. "It seems
Charleston. Where the deuce could I no?" to me that we are about to meet - one of
And, mounting his horse, the Major rode the McAlisters."
off boldly toward the McAlister place, not   "Which one?" demanded Mrs. Armicaring in his desperation what the Beau- tage, crisply.
monts might think o' his confabulating with   Kate hesitated; she did not like to extheir enemies. He neared the house; he pose her weakness; moreover, she fobund
got a view of the garden from the high road; "Frank " a great word to utter.
and there, among the roses be saw - what'?  "I know which one," added Nellie. "Ah,
Frank McAlister walking with Jenny De- Kate, (lo you think a woman does n't undervine, bending over her in a manner which stand such things?  I have had just such
indicated close amity, and holding her —  impressions. O dear, how well I remember
ves, her hand.                           them yet! You make me sad; you make
In his indignation and despair, the Major me think how happy I was once; it is
at once wheeled his horse and galloped, dreadful to look back upon lost happiness.
without drawing rein, to Kershaw's.      O y'es, I can't help understanding you."
"I don't wish you to impute too much to
me," said the girl, gently.' "Kate, let us be frank," returned Nellie.
CH APTER XXVII.                "If we are women, we are Beaumonts. Let
us speak the whole truth as our race does."
NELLIE and Kate passed their twenty-   "I have never failed to do that but two
four hours of detention in Brownville with- or thiree times in my life," murmured Kate,
out disturbance from Randolph Armitage.  remembering with a flush of shame how she
That high flung gentleman had been had once glided by the,direct fact in
stranded by his debauch on the outer reefs prattling with Jenny Devine about Frank
of that horrible country which is haunted McAlister.  "But is there any need of
by the afreets and roes and serpents and talking about this?"
apes of delirium  tremens, remaining for   " Perhaps there is," said Nellie, pensiveseveral days so bruised and shaken with ly. " It is hard to decide whether silence
his shipwreck that he was content to lie in or talk is best. Don't you want to talk
bed and submit to the nursing of Quash and about it?"
Bentley. But the women, not knowing his   Kate made no answer.
wretched state, had no anxiety for him and   She needs sympathy, thought Nellie; she
much for themselves, expecting to see his shall have a chance to demand it.
inflamed visage from minute to minute.   "I know that you like him," she went on
Consequently they sought a refuge from  aloud. " I know that it must pain you to
him, passing the day in the house of a ven- find yourself separated from him for life. I
erable friend of the Beaumont race, and re- don't blame you."
turning in the evening by back streets to   Still Kate spoke not. Denial and conthe hotel.                              fession were both beyond her power; she
" You shall not come with us," said Mrs. walked on silently, with tears in her eves.
Armitage to her host, fearing yet lest her   "Ah well, Kate I" sighed Mrs. Armi



KATE BEAUMONT.                                 115
tage, fully comprehending this dumb suffer-   This man was Frank McAlister. We
ing. "There is nothing left now but to must explain how he came here. South
bear bravely what is and must be. But if Carolina had at last summoned him  to
ever you want a heart to lean upon, here is prove his science; he had been commismine for you, the whole of it."          sioned to report upon an iron-mine in SaxKate caught her sister's arm, bowed her onburg. Half sick and weakly dispirited,
head upon her shoulder, and walked thus his first impulse had been to decline the job
for a few steps, still without speaking.  and continue to coddle his sorrows at home' O my poor darling!" exclaimed Mrs. under the pitying eyes of his mother and
Armitagre, stopping and embracing the girl within prompt reach of the sympathy of
passionately.  "It's lucky that life is n't Jenny Devine. But he made out to rememvery long. It's the best thing about it."   ber that he was a metallurgist and that it
After some further walking she resumed: was high time to magnify his calling. He
"He is better than most men, in spite of bade a grateful good by to Jenny (under
his treatment of Tom. But it is useless to the eyes of Major Lawson, as one happens
talk of him. There is the feud. I suppose to recollect), and left her without suspecting
you must marry some one else when the that he had won her fervent admiration,
time comes."                            not to say a little, be it more or less, of' her
"I won't be married at all," whispered affection. Then he journeyed to his mine
Kate, her mind suddenly reverting to that and collected specimens of the ore for
horror of a husband, Randolph Armitage. analysis; and now here he was, waiting
She was in a state of feeling to believe that like the two ladies for the morning train
all men were like him, except the one man eastward. The presence of Kate in the hofrom whom she was divided forever.      tel parlor he had discovered while taking a
On reaching the hotel they went at once sentimental walk in the moonlit veranda.
to their rooms to prepare for the early start   The one great question which at once ocof the morrow. But presently Kate missed cupied his mind was, should he speak to
her travelling-bag, guessel that she might her. Of course he answered it as a gentlehave left it in the parlor, and went down in man and a man of sense, saying over and
search of it. The room was deserted and over that it would be useless, that it could
darkling, for sojourners in that season were only do harm, that he ought not and would
few, and watchful thrift had turned down not. But on the other hand an impulse
the gas-jets. The girl found her bag, but which cared not for reason or reproof inthere was something in the spacious gloom  sisted  that he must.  Only one word,
and lonesomeness which suited her feelings, pleaded this passionate impulse; what that
and she lingered. There were two sets of word should be it did not suggest; simply
windows; the front ones looked upon the that he must find and utter it. Rationality
street, and the rear ones upon a veranda and sense of propriety fought their battle in
and garden; outside, everything was illu- vain against emotion. After advancing reminated and idealized by the abundant peatedly to the door, and retreating from it
moonlight. Kate walked slowly to and fro, as often, he opened it and was before her.
glancing first at one of the little landscapes   It will be remembered that she had had
and then at the other, and wondering that an impression that he was at hand. That
the world could seem so much more like an impression, absurd as she believed it to be,
abode of happiness than she found it. She had so prepared her for the meeting, that
remained thus for ten or fifteen minutes, she was not surprised by his appearance,
unconscious that she was watched.       and recognized him at once in the obscuriIn the rear veranda a man lurked, trem- ty. She did not, however, speak, further
bling with agitation. The night was cool, than to murmur, " Mr. McAlister."
but he did not notice it; if' it had been   "I beg your pardon," he said humbly.
freez;ng, he would not have noticed it. " I could not help entering."
When Kate approached him  he slipped   It seemed for a moment as if these words
shamLiefacedly away, and when she receded must end the conversation, and he would
lie placed himself once more at one or other have to retire ignominiously without utterof the windows, there to gaze after her with ing a syllable to any purpose. Kate did
an air of anxiety which was like the greedi- not answer him; she knew not what to say.
ness of hunger. Occasionally he started, She believed that he ought not to be there,
as if under some violent impulse, and moved and that she ought not to allow him to retowards a door which opened into the par- main. At the same time it was quite imlor; then as suddenly he checked himself, possible for her to bid him retire. Thus
fell into a meditation and shook his head she stood looking at him, her face flushed
sa(lly; then hastened back to his spying- with excitement, her lips parted as if to
place. It was evident that he wished to speak, but silent.
speak to the girl, and that for some weighty   " I wish to ask your forgiveness, - yes,
reason he did not dare.                 and that of your whole family," recom



116                          KATE BEAUMONT.
menced Frank, luckily remembering his   Before she knew what he was about he
difficulty with Tomni, and so finding some- had taken her hand and kissed it.
thing to say. " I was a brute to tie you-   Meantime Mrs. Armitage, wishing to give
brother and a madman to go out with him. some direction concerning the start in the
There must be some natural want of deli- morning, had gone to her sister's room in
cacy in me. I did not see it then, but I see search of her, and thence descended to the
it now. I see it just in time to repent of it parlor. She appeared just in time to see
uselessly."                              the hand raised and the kiss impressed upon
" Mr. McAlister, I do not want to talk of it.
this," replied Kate, pained at his humbling   " Mr. McAlister, is this proper conduct? "
himself so.                             she demanded, flaming at once into anger.
" No. Of course not. I had no right to " Is this keeping your promise to me? "
speak of it to you."                       Frank's soul was in a confused whirl;
He would go on bowing in the dust; but he tried to look down the. maelstrom
would prostrate himself unnecessarily.   and discover the truth at the bottom of it;'" Don't!" she imposed with the simpli- and he thought he saw that he had not
city and brevity of earnest feeling.' "I am  broken his word in regard to paying court
not angry at you. If I was, angry, it is to Miss Beaumont without her sister's conover."                                   sent.
" Is it possible? " he asked, so grateful   " I was asking her pardon," he said. " I
for what he esteemed unmerited pardon, asked her pardon for ill-treating her brother
that he wanted to fall on his knees, as if to and for going out with him. She granted
a forgiving deity. " This is more than I ever it, and I thanked her."
hoped to hear from you. I have hated my-   He spoke with such a manly self-respect
self for my folly, and believed that you and such a sincerity of tone, that Mrs. Arhated me for it. I thought also that you rmitage could not help believing him. Moremust share the natural feelings of your over, his voice and manner moved her;
family towards me. I have been in despair they were eloquent with uprightness of charover it."                                acter and fervor of emotion; they made a
" Mr. McAlister, you don't know how  music which she had heard and been well
you pain me," Kate could not help saying pleased with heretofore. Her confidence
in reply to this supposition that she could in him and her liking for him returned upon
hate him.                                her with such force that she could not at
"O yes, I have done you injustice," he once go on with her scolding.
went on. "I suppose my thoughts have   " I ask your pardon also for those wrongs,
sprung from my fears. Well, I am greatly Mrs. Armitage," he added presently.
relieved; I am just a little satisfied. You   " O, let them pass," she replied impatientat least forgive me."                    ly, vexed with herself for losing her anger
I' If I blamed you, it was for the duel."   at him. " That has all been cancelled in
" But I did not challenge, and I did not the proper way, I suppose. But what right
fire at him," he insisted, still bent on excus- have you here? Why did you come here?"
ing himself. " I wanted to be shot."       He told her how he happened to be in
" 0, how could you! " shuddered Kate.  Brownville, and added that he had discov"I was in despair. You did not answer ered her sister by accident.
my letters."                               " Then you go down in the train with us
" Perhaps I was wrong. I did not know  to-morrow?" she inquired.
what to do. There was this miserable quar-   " If you object, I will wait over."
rel, and all intercourse forbidden. I did   "I don't see that I have any right to
not like to write, not even to say good by, object," mused Mrs. Armitage. " As things
unless my father knew it."              stand between our families, I have not the
"I ought to have had more patience," least authority over you."
confessed Frank, perpetually ready to con-   " I concede the right and the authority,"
demn himself.                            bowed the young man.
" It does seem to me that you ought, Mr.   "I don't object. It would be asking a
McAlister. I expected a great deal of pa- favor of you, — placing ourselves under an
tience and calmness from you."           obligation."
"' And it is you who have shown all the   "  assure you that I would not so consider
patience and all the good sense," declared it."
the young man, in a passion of humility.   "I tell you that I do not object," repeated' And I have played the part of a madman Nellie, a little annoyed by this bandying of
and an idiot. I am so much your inferior." courtesies with a man to whom she ought not
"0  no! " Kate could not help saying it, to speak at all, as she believed. " But -"
and could not help advancing a little to- she added, and then checked herself.
wards him, she so wanted to console him    Frank waited respectfully.
under his burden of self-reproach.        " I may as well say it," she went on, her




KATE BEAUMONT.                                 117
vexation rising as she found the interview  He pressed it in both his, and barely stopped
more and more embarrassing. " You should short of kissing it. Then turning a last long
not have spoken to my sister. I am not look upon the silent girl on the sofa, he
blaming her; she could not well help lis- left the parlor and went straight to his room
tening; I am  blaming you for speaking. a lighter-hearted man than he had been for
You should not have done it."            a month.
"' You are quite right," admitted Frank   " Ah, Kate! " said Mrs. Armitage, taking
meekly. "I should not have done it."     her sister's arm  and leading her away.
" No, and you certainly should not have " What with a crazy man and an idiotic
done more," persisted the impulsive Nellie, woman, you have had a wretched time.  0,
unable to let well alone.               these lovers! I may as well say the word.
"I know  it," the repelled lover burst He has told you all about it, —with my
forth. " But, Mrs. Armitacre, are you no help.  There is no stopping them.  No
woman at all? " he continued in a whisper, woman really and heartily wants to stop
- a whisper tremulous with passion, - a them. I was fool enough to let him go on,
whisper which Kate overheard.  "Can't and provoke him to go on. I ought to suffer
you concede any latitude to misery? Just for it, and I do. For it was so useless! oh, it
1.,ok at me," he added, turning his thin face was so useless! Come, let us go to our room
to the light. " Am I the same man that I and go to sleep. I wish I could sleep all
was? You at least ought to guess what the while. I wish you could, my poor darthis change in me means. I have borne ling. The insensible hours are the happiest
wretchedness enough in the last month to hours of one's life. Even nightmares are
make me lose my reason. Indeed, I have not so bad as realities. Here is one of the
lost it; I have behaved like a madman; I unhappiest women in the world talking nonhave behaved so, I suppose, this evening. I sense to the next unhappiest. That is what
never meant to speak to your sister until waking lite is.  Let us get to sleep as
I saw her; and then I could not help it. I quickly as possible. If we could sleep half
was driven to ask her forgiveness, and driv- the time, we should just balance accounts
en to humble myself before her all the more between wretchedness and pleasure. It is a
because she forgave me. Why, don't you poor consolation."
know, can't you understand, what has hap-   They were by this time at the door of
pened to me?  Separated from her! sep- Kate's room.  Mrs. Armitage kissed her
arated for life! Can't you imagine what sister, lingered a moment on the threshold,
that means to me?  It means a broken and then entered
heart, if there can be such a thing."      "I can't leave you yet," she said. "It is
"0, stop!" begged Mrs Armitage, as only ten  o'clock, although it seems late
Kate fled to the other end of the room, enough to be morning, to be the next world.
threw herself on a sofa and covered her You will sleep the quicker if we talk awhile.
face. "'0, these men! there is no doing What a comfort talk is to women. How did
anything with them. Don't you see what our poor ancestresses get along before they
mis,,hief you are making?  You should n't learned how to do it, if there ever was such
have come here. Do go away."             a time?"
" No, I should n't have come here," said   " How are we to treat him to-morrow?"
Frank, recovering a little of his self-posses- asked Kate, not even hearing her sister's
sion. "It has only made bad worse."      prattle, though meant to divert her.' Yes," sighed Nellie. " And here I am    "Ah! " returned Mrs. Armitage. " That
p;tying you. How could you charge me is true.  Circumstances have changed since
with not being a woman?"                I allowed him to go in the train. Perhaps,
"0, if I said that, I did you great wrong. when he told his story, I ought to have forI did not know that I said it. I beg your bidden his coining."
pardon."                                   "Are you going to forbid it?" inquired
" It does n't matter. I am not angry with Kate so anxiously that Nellie could not reyou. No, I am not angry with you about ply, Yes.
anything, though I suppose I ought to be.   "It does not seem to matter much," she
If you are really so wretched, how can I be said, after a moment of' hesitation. "'It
angry with you?  But come; all this talk surely cannot matter so very, very much.
is useless, worse than useless.  As long as I shall leave him at liberty in the question.
the quarrel between our families lasts you I shall trust to his judgment."
cannot be near to Kate, nor even to me. If   Did it not occur to her that trusting to
it should ever end, then - perhaps -"    the judgment of a man in love, especially
"So you will still be friendly to me, or at after what had happened during the evenleast not hostile?" he asked, his face so ing, was leaning on a reed?  The truth is
lighting up that it fascinated her.      that Nellie remembered her own time of
"I must not say too much." she answered; loving; she guessed that these two must
but she could not help giving him her hand. long beyond expression to look at each




118                          KATE BEAUMONT.
other, only to look; and in her sympathetic sighed Kate, wearied of the subject of
woman's heart she could not find the hard- marriage, or fancying that she was so.
ness to forbid it.                         They reached the station without seeing
But half an hour later, as she went to her Frank McAlister or learning whether he
own room, she said to herself earnestly, "I would be with them on the train. When
do hope he will stay behind. Will he?"   the cars started he had not yet appeared,
and they supposed that he had remained
behind. Kate was disappointed; she had
hoped to have him near her, though she
CHAPTER  XXVIII.               might not even look at him; she had expected to draw just a little consolation from
WARM hearts, as you already know, had that unsocial propinquity. But, strange to
the Beaumouts; hearts quick to spring and say, Mrs. Armitage was also disappointed,
demanding incessant activity; not, however, in spite of her feeling that his absence was
in the manner of lambs, kids, and other a relief, and that it was for the best.
playful creatures; rather like blood horses,   " I did not expect such discretion," she
puissant for either good or evil.        said to herself; "he is not so mannish a
Mrs. Armitage was like the rest of her man as I took him to be; he is almost too
kind; when she was not hating she was gentlemanly a gentleman."
loving. By nature she was a woman of the   Turning presently to throw a shawl over
marrying sort, disposed to rush into matri- her seat, she saw him standing on the rear
mony herself and to help others do the like. platform of the car, and glancing sidelong
Even now, despite her sad experience in through the window. She was so amused,
wedded life, she believed in making love and, in spite of her uneasiness, so gratified,
and taking the consequences. It was im- that she could scarce forbear laughing outpossible for her to conceive how a person of right.  "I might have known it," she
her own sex could have a heart and not use thought; " he has got there to look at Kate
it. That a girl, under any circumstances, undisturbed; just to look at the back of her
should become an old maid as a matter of bonnet."
preference, was a thing outside of her be-   She absolutely longed to beckon him in
lief  Not to love and not to marry was in and offer him her own place. A few minher eyes to be either a wilful monstrosity or utes later she discovered that he had slyly
a victim of horribly adverse circumstance. entered and was sitting on the rearmost
She was born to think thus, and could not seat, with his face settled straight to the
for twenty-four hours together think other- front.' O dear!" she reflected,' how is
wise, not even under the pressure of her this going to end? I am afraid I shall be
hardest wifely troubles, not even when fly- wickedly weak about it. I have n't half
ing from her husband. It is no wonder hard-heartedness enough for a duenna."
that a woman of such an affectionate and    She was so interested in this love imsympathetic character should  remember broglio, that during most of the journey
Kate's declaration that she would never she forgot her own troubles. She was so bemarry, and should revolt against it.     wildered by it that she could not remerm"See here," she began upon the girl ber her prejudices as a Beaumont, her sage
early in the morning. " I don't like your deliberations as a woman who had seen life,
saying that you will never take anybody at and her anxieties as an elder sister. The
all. You must n't get into that state of near presence of strong love intoxicated a
mind. It is unnatural in a woman.  It nature given to affection and full of sympacan't lead to happiness. I don't believe thy for it. That man behind her, sending
there is any such thing as single-blessed- all his soul through his eyes at Kate's hatness, - at least not for our sex. The phrase ribbons, she could not help thinking of him
is ironical; it really means single misery. continually, coull not help wishing him
There are no contented and cheerful old success. " If it only could be! " she repeatm)ids; you never saw one, and you never edly said to herself; and presently she
will. An old maid is a complete failure. began to inquire, "Why should it not be? "
She is like a man who does not succeed in   Her former fancy for the youngster came
man's careers. Rather than be one, you back upon her in full force; and from likhad better marry a scoundrel, even if you ing him the next step was to consider him
get a divorce from  him. You would at unexceptionable as a match. After an hour
least have some short use of your affections; or so of sympathizing with the longings of
and you would, besides, occupy your mind this faithful and fascinating lover, it seemed
and your time. Now that is the deliberate, clear to her that Kate could not find anserious opinion of a wife who has failed al- other man who would make her so good a
most as completely as a wife can. I want husband. As for the intervening family
you to lay it to heart."                feud, could it not be got rid of by defying
" O, tell me about it some other time," it?  It had blocked the engagement; but




KATE BEAUMONT.                                 119
if the engagement should be brought about' He obeyed her in great anxiety, expecting
by main force, that might block the feud; to be requested to leave the car, and fully
the initiative, the aggressive, counted for so prepared to make the rest of the journey
much in these matters.  She remembered with the baggage-master, or even to jump
two scolding negresses whom she had once off the train if so ordered. This last feat,
seen, one of whom  was pouring forth a by the way, would not have been an emistream of abuse, while the other li ened nently dangerous one, inasmuch as the railwith an air of patient menace, merely mut- road velocity of that region rarely surpassed
tering, "Ef you coughs, you's gone up." ten miles an hour. It must be understood
She smiled at the recollection and said to also that the train had only one passengerherself, "If the quarrel coughs, it is done." car, and that one by no means full. Negroes
In spite'of her conscientiousness, her manly travelled not at all, except as nurses, etc.;
sense of honor, and her strong family feel- the low-down population travelled very liting, Nellie was soon dallying with the idea tle; high-toned people were scarce.
of a. runaway match. Her principles were   "I suppose that you have no provias high anl solid as mountains, but her sions," said Mrs. Armitage to the youngster.
sympathies were as strong as the volcanic " Since you are here, you must share in our
fires which devour mountains. Vigorous in basket. Would you mind turning over the
every point of her character, she was all the seat in front and riding backward'?"
more a changeable creature, a woman of the   "I am  very grateful to you," replied
women.                                   Frank, who would have ridden on a rail to
At last - 0, how impatiently Nellie had be near Miss Beaumont.
waited for it!-the younger sister rose,   Then followed a conversation of several
arranged her travelling-rug, looked about hours, - a conversation managed with good
her and discovered Frank McAlister.  He taste and discretion; not a word as to the
ventured to remove his hat as he caugfht family quarrel or the love affair; all about
her glance, and she just drooped her long travelling, Europe, and other unimpassioned
lashes in acknowledgment of the salute. subjects  Sensible, full of information, and
When she sat down again her cheeks were for the time in good spirits, the young man
rose-beds of blushes, and her hazel eyes was fairly luminous, and more than ever
were full of flashes which blinded her.  dazzled Mrs. Armitage. By the time the
"' Ah, you saw," whispered Nellie, trem- party separated she had arrived at a solid
bling with an excitement which was almost resolve to break up the family feud if possiglee. "I knew  an hour ago that he was ble, and to bring about a match between
there."                                  these two, whether it were possible or not.
" O Nellie, what shall I do? " asked Kate, Of course the male Beaumonts would not
reeling between terror and an irresistible fancy her projects, and perhaps would opgladness.                                pose them domineeringly and angrily. But
" Jump out of the window," advised Nel- she determined to fight them; her long conlie, fairly giggling. Wle must surm ly pardon test with the brutalities of her husband had
her slightly hysterical framle, when we re- made her somewhat of a rebel against men;
member how little she had slept of late.  and besides, the law of the " survival of the
"Nellie, you are laughing at me," said fittest " had blessed her, as it, had blessed
Kate piteously. " It is shabby and cruel of all her breed, with abundant pugnacity.
you."                                     "' I am his sworn ally," she said to her sis-'' So it is. But I can't help laughing. ter as they drove homeward from the HartHe is actually browsing on your bonnet land  station. "If he proposes, do you
trimmings."                              accept him. Then I will go to papa with
" Be still, Nellie," begged the girl, rais- the whole story, and if he is naughty, I will
ing both hands to her cheeks, as if to push appeal to your grandpapa."
back the crowding blushes. " You shall not   "I will neither do nor permit anything of
make me so ridiculous. 0, I wish he had the sort," replied the almost over-tempted
stayed away! Why did n't he?"            Kate, with tears in her eyes.
"It is too absurd," declared Mrs. Armi-   "We will see," prophesied Nellie. "0,
tage, with a nervous start. "' I can't have you good little cry-baby! Kiss me."
him there making an image of himself and   As there had been no time for advisatory
making everybody wonder what we are. I letters, the two ladies were their own hermust bring him up here where he will have alds at the plantation. But while the father
to behave himself."                      and brothers were surprised by their advent,
"O, no!" pleaded Kate. "It will lead they were all the more delighted.  The
to misunderstanding and trouble of all family sympathy was so strong in this race,
sorts."                                 that in the matter of welcoming kinspeople
But, impelled by her nerves, Mrs. Armi- the Beaumont men were more like women
tage sprang to her feet, faced toward the than like the generality of their own sex.
young man, and beckoned him to approach. Moreover, in the dull routine of plantation




120                         KATE BEAUMONT.
life, every event is a gratification, and espe- the man who dares to know it. If ahy
cially every visit.                    man dares to look as though he knew it,
"Why, my babies!" trumpeted Peyton. I'll shoot him."
"This is the blessedest sight I have had in   " You can't shoot the women," said Nela month. So, Kate, you could n't stay away lie.
any longer from  your old father?  God   " We can call out their men," was the
bless you, my darling. And Nellie, - why, reply of a gentleman who knew the customs
I had n't a hope of this, - this is too good. of good society.
So you brought her down, did you? Nellie,   "And every stone thrown into the pudyou were always a wonderful girl; always dle will rile it the more," sighed Nellie.
doing some nice thing unexpectedly. And i "Besides, I don't want blood spilt."
the little fellows, too! Heavens, what boys   " But, good heavens, you don't mean
they are! what boys! "                that I shall bear this abuse of you in paWhen the brothers came in there was an tience, - bear it as though I were a Yanincomprehensible clatter of talk.  These kee pedler or a Dunker preacher! It can't
eight Beaumonts, old and young, babbled be borne."
in a way which would have done honor to   " Father, here is what I want of you,"
their remotest and purest French ancestors. declared Nellie, as emphatic as her parent.
Despite the sad secrets lurking in some of " Bear it as I do. You are surely the least
these hearts, it was a scene of unmixed en- sufferer of the two. All I want is to be aljoyment and abandon. In the gladness of lowed to live apart from my husband. Help
meeting their relatives, even the women me in that; protect me in that. I not only
forgot their troubles.                  do not ask anything more, but I forbid anyNot till the next morning, not till Pey- thing more. In this matter I have a right
ton Beaumont had had time to settle upon to command. I want you to promise me
the factt that his daughters were paler and that there shall be no challenging on my
thinner than when they went away, were account. If you won't promise that, I will
any unpleasant subjects broached. Draw- go back to him."
ing Nellie into his favorite solitude and   After a long argument, and after a good
sanctum, the garden (the old duellist loved deal of bloodthirsty glaring and snuffing the
flowers), he demanded, " What the - what air, Beaumont grumbled an ungracious and
is the matter with you two?  Here I sent only partial assent.
Kate up country to get rosy and hearty,   "Let him  keep away, then," he said,
and she has come back as pale as a lily. shaking his iron-gray mane. "If he wants
And you, too; why, I never saw you so to go on breathing, let him keep out of my
broken down; why, I thought you had a sight."
constitution: what is the matter? "      g" You won't tell the boys anything of'See here, papa," began Mrs. Armitage, this?" begged Nellie, remembering that
and then for a breath was silent. "Well, her influence over her brothers was slighter
ir has come time to act, and of course it is than that over her father.
time to talk," she resumed. " I have had   "W Vhy not? " demanded Beaumont, who
to leave my husband, and I am excusable had half meant to tell the boys, knowing
for telling why."                       well their pugnacity.
"Had to leave your husband!" echoed   "Father, you comprehend why of course.
the father, his bushy eyebrows bristling Do grant me this favor; do promise me. I
and his saffron eyes turning bloodshot. want this whole matter in my own hands.
"The infamous scoundrel!!"             Leave it to my judgment. Promise me not
He was so much of a Beaumont that he to tell them."
never doubted for a moment that his own   And so, unable to resist a child, and
flesh and blood was in the right. He asked above all a daughter, Beaumont sulkily
for no more than the fact that his daughter promised.
had felt herself compelled to leave her bus-   " But of course you will go on staying
band. On that he judged the case at once here," he insisted.
and forever.                              " I don't know where else to stay," groaned
Then came the wretched story; at least Nellie, suddenly wounded by a sense of dea part of it; enough of it.             pendence.
"The infamous scoundrel!" repeated   "My God, my child!" he exclaimed,
Beaumont, breathing hard, like a tiger throwing an arm  around her waist and
scenting prey. "Be tranquil. Be perfect- drawing her close to his side. "Where
ly easy. He won't live the month out."  else should you stay? "
" Have a care what you do," replied   " And my children, too," added the mothNellie  "I don't want the whole world to er, hardly able to keep from sobbing.
know what I have suffered."               "I would like to see anybody get them
"' Who is going to know it? " interrupted away from here," returned Beaumont, squarthe old fire-eater. " By heavens, I'll shoot ing his broad chest as if to face a comba



KATE BEAUMONT.                                 121
tant, and thrusting his hands into his pockets know what you are talking about? I don't
with an air of drawing derringers.      think you do."
Left to himself, he muttered a great deal   "Perhaps not," assented Nellie, sagaabout Armitage, shaking a clenched fist as ciously; she was leading the way to a
if he had the brute before him, elevating change of subject; she was devising a new
his bushy eyebrows as a wild boar raises his approach.
bristles, halting abruptly to stare fiercely at   " Then let us drop the matter," said the
vacancy, etc.                            bothered candidate.
" After all, I fancy that her way of man-  "' I have something to say to you about
aging the scoundrel is the best," he finally Kate," resumed Nellie, opening her second
decided.  "What a woman she is, that parallel. " Did you ever know that Bent
daughter of mine!  What fortitude and Armitage is very fond of her? "
sense! In her place I should have made   "Bent Armitage! " exclaimed the father
fifty scandals long ago. By heavens, these in great wrath. " I'll have no more Armiwomen amaze me, they do indeed.  In tages in my family. I won't have one in
their own business - that is to say, in mat- my house. It's a bad race. They run to
ters that belong to - well in short, their drunkenness and brutality.  One of them
own business, they are wonderful."      is enough and a thousand times too much.
When he thus praised women he of Bent Armuitage may go to the Old Harry.
course meant such as were born ladies, and He can't have my daughter. He sha' n't
more particularly such as were born Beau- speak to her. He sha' n't come here."
ments, though he could hardly have been   "I thought you liked Bent pretty well."
thinking of Mrs. Chester.                 4"So I did, in a fashion. I liked his
Nellie's next notable conversation with gabble and his stories well enough. I've
her father began with a reference to the no objection to hearing him talk now and
controversy with the McAlisters.        then. But when it comes to his paying at" When does the election take place? " tention to Kate, that is quite another thing.
she asked.                              Besides, I didn't fully know  until now
" In about three weeks," calmly respond- what a beast an Armitage can be. I did n't
ed the veteran politician.              thoroughly understand the nature of the
" And the misunderstanding with the breed. Now that I do know all that, I
Judge still continues."                  don't want to see him at all. I don't want
"' Humph," grunted papa.  It occurred any of the crop on my place."
to him  that in discussing his affairs of   "Bent is better than some men," softly
state she was getting beyond woman's busi- said Nellie, remembering his kindness to
ness.                                   herself.
" It would be well to devise some plan to   " I tell you I don't want to hear about
make him give up his opposition," continued him," insisted Beaumont. "The moment
Nellie.                                  you talk of the possibility of his courting
" Humph," repeated Beaumont. He was Kate, I hate him. No more Armitages."
determined not to tidk with her on this sub-   " McAlisters would be better," suggested
ject; he preferred to be left to his own will Nellie.
and judgment in masculine matters.         "Yes, even McAlisters," assented the
"Could n't he be got to withdraw his father.  Although his words were ungracandidature? " pers:sted the daughter.    cious, his manner did not show much bitter" I don't want him to withdraw," snorted ness, for at the moment he thought of
Beaumont, starting like an angered horse, Frank, and how he had once felt kindly
and forgetting his purpose of reticence. towards him.
"I prefer to have him run. I want to beat   " A good deal better," added Nellie.
him."                                      Beaumont stared and bristled. " What
" O," said Nellie, somewhat disappointed. are you talking about now? I can't always
" I had an idea that beating him was not so keep track of you."
certain. Poinsett tells me that it is likely   " Frank McAlister is altogether the best
to be a very close contest."             of the family," said Nellie, picking a flower
" Did Poinsett say that? " asked the fa- or two with a deceptive air of absent-mindther, clearly a little alarmed. " Well, I edness.
must admit that the Judge is working very   The father stared in a puzzled way; but
hard. There is a great deal of money be- at last he gave a humph of assent.
ing spent, — I don't know where it comes   " That's no great matter," he presently
from, - but it does come. By heavens, if I growled. " It does n't take much of a man
get a hold on them!"                    to be the best of the McAlisters."
"It would be a capital thing, then, to in-   "I don't see bow the Judge could have
duce him to withdraw," inferred Nellie>    such a noble fellow for a son," observed
" But how the deuce is it to be done? " Nellie.
answered Beaumont, in a pet. "Do you   "Nor I either," declared  Beaumont,
16




122                          KATE BEAUMONT.
thrown off his guard. "By heavens, he is one; there is Poindexter and Dr. Mattieson
a fine fellow, considering his surroundings. and our clergyman and so on; all nice felHe is a perfect contrast to that sly old fox, lows. But Kate does not care for them.
his father. It's just as though a Roman And for him she does care."
should be the son of a Carthaginian. He   " O Nellie!" groaned Beaumont. " Stop.
has the making of a gentleman in h;m. To I can't talk about this now. Some other
be sure, he did treat Tom -   But never time, when we get out of this fight, if ever
mind about that; he d d his best to make we do. But I can't discuss it now. Do let
amends for it: he did very well. I must me alone.  Do you want to break my
say, Nellie, that I was grieved to break heart?"
with that young fellow. I had begun to   " No, nor Kate's either," said Nellie.
like him."
"Ah, you liked him because he liked
Kate," replied Nellie, insinuating the love
affair into the conversation with admirable        CHAPTER  XXIX.
dexterity.
"'Nonsense!" denied Beaumont. "Well,   THERE is a propensity in the human beof course I did," he immediately confessed, ing when overtaken by trouble to want to
for he -abhorred lying, even to white lies. know the worst.
" Naturally I like to have my children ap-   If it were not for the mystery and the
preciated, and think well of people who do decisiveness of the act of death, the man
appreciate them. I admit, too, that I ad- who is. sweeping down rapids towards a
mire a man for exhibiting a proper percep- cataract would undoubtedly long to reach
tion of character, and especially of such a the plunge. It may even be that to those
noble character as Kate undoubtedly has. who have gone over Niagara the mcment of
But if you mean to say that I meant -"    catastrophe has been a moment of relief
6" No, I don't mean to say that you meant   Like most worried people, Peyton Beauanything," interrupted Nellie. " I will just mont proceeded to seek out the culmination
say what I mean myself. 1 wish that match of his worries; he stumbled on from his tryhad come offL"                          ing talk with Nellie about Kate to a still
"'No, no,"  protested  Beaumont.  "I more trying talk with Kate about herself;
should have lost my daughter. We never he did it against his intention and desire,
can have a year's peace with that family. but he could not help doing it. It so torI can't have Kate married among people mented him to suspect that his pet daughter
who would drag her away from me and set was sorrowing, that he could not rest until
her up to fight me. I did think of it; I ad- he had laid his finger on the pulse of her
mit it. I was taken with that fellow, Frank, sorrow  and made certain of its feverish
and 1 did think of letting him  try his throbbing.
chance.  But what has happened since   First he watched her; he noted the unthen puts an end to the idea forever. No wonted paleness and the sad though sweet
marriage with McAlisters. I can't allow  seriousness of her face; he observed that,
it; I can't consider it. And if you mean to no matter how cheeringly he might prattle
suggest that I ought to favor the match for to her, be could not make her gay. The
the sake of getting rid of my political rival smiles that came on her lips, and the sparkles
and assuring my seat in Congress, you are that rose from the lucid depths of her eyes,
not the child that I have taken you for. were transitory. Her demeanor was similar
Before I would sell one of my daughters in to an overshadowed day, during which the
that way, I would let myself be shelved for- sun steals forth again and again, but only
ever and I would step into my grave."   by moments.
" Don't do me injustice," said Nellie. " If   " My child, I can't bear this," he at last
I hinted at that idea, I laid very little stress broke out; " you are unwell or unhappy,
upon it, even in my own mind. But there and you don't say why. You make me
is one thing that I want you to consider se- anxious and - and miserable."
riously. It is Kate's happiness. You must   Kate glanced at him with a surprised and
understand fully that she likes this young frightened expression. Her feelings were
man, and, as I believe, likes him very much. of such a delicate nature, that to have them
You must understand, too, that he is one of handled by a man, even by a father whom
the best men that she can ever hope to she loved and who worshipped her, was terhave. She may never receive so good an rible. The Creator has seldom fashioned a
offer again. He has n't a vice, not even of being mere sensitive, more maidenly modtemper. You don't want her to marry an est, than was this girl.  Excepting with
Arnmitage."  (A  growl from  Beaumont.) those eyes of a scared fawn, she made no
"Well, there are plenty of Armitages who reply.
don't bear the name. To be sure, there are   " What is it, my darling? " insisted Beauother young fellows as good perhaps as this mont, taking her hands and drawing her




KATE BEAUMONT.                                 123
against his shoulder. " Is it something un- way she leaned against him that she echoed
bearable? "                            his wish with many times his earnestness.
His manner was as tender as if he were a   "I must speak out," he declared.'- It is
mother instead of a father. In view of the my duty as a father. I know  that this
seeming paradox contained in the fact, we young man likes you and wishes to marry
cannot too strenuously repeat that this war- you. If your happiness is concerned, I
like old chieftain, scarred with duels and must know that. Then I will see what I
stained with the heart's blood of more than can do."
one of his fellow-men, was a singularly affec-   Kate could endure no longer; she was
tionate parent. His children were a part fairly driven into a burst of tears and sobof himself; indeed, he held them  as the bing; she clutched her father and buried
finest and most precious part; he would her face in his neck, all the while kissing
have risked fortune and life to right the him. It was the same as to say,' I am very
wrong of any one of them. His parental miserable, but do not be unhappy about it
feeling was all the stronger because of the and do not be vexed with me."
spirit of family which possessed him, as it   " O my poor child! " he repeated several
possessed all his race. His progeny were times, patting her shoulder in a helpless
Beaumonts; he was the sheik, the patriarch way, the most discomforted of comforters.
of the Beaumont tribe; he was responsible   At last she recovered her self-possession
for the welfare of every member of it. This a little, gradually lifting her head until her
family instinct, one of the most natural and lips touched his ear.
beneficent of emotions, the germ from which   "Papa, I will tell you everything," she
hum in society first took its development, whispered. "I did love him, and 0, I do!
was a passion with him.  A noble passion, If you had let him propose to me, I should
we must pause to declare; noble, not only have taken him.  But now it is different.
on account of its manly, unselfish direction Since I have seen how it must always be
and beautiful results, but also on account of between our families, I have decided that I
its fervor; for, as we have already said, and never will marry him, not even if you conas far wiser men have said before us, the sent. I will not risk being put in hostility
grandeur of a sentiment is measured not to my own family. And now let me go,
more by its purpose than by its force.    quick. Let me run."
" Is it more than a Beaumont can en-   The instant he loosened his embrace she
dure? " he repeated gently, though with an rustled out of the room and away to her
appeal to the family pride.             own chamber, shutting the door upon her" No, it is not more," answered Kate, self with a noise of hurry which he could
quivering with her struggle to bear, as an plainly hear.
overladen man quivers under his load.      Peyton Beaumont remained alone in a
The father was not satisfied, for he did state of profound depression. After a while
not want his daughter to suffer at all, and he exploded in a torrent of profane invective
she had tacitly confessed to suffering. His against Judge McAlister, making him alone
strongest impulse, however, was to justify responsible for breaking the peace between
hi Itself.                               the two houses by his attempt to sneak into
" I did not seek this new quarrel," he said. Congress, - the sly, perfidious, rascally old'I can declare truly, that Judge McAlister fox, the humbugging possum, the greedy
forced it upon me. I could live with the raccoon! Finally, making a strong effort
man decently, if he would let me."       at self-control, an effort to crush his proud-' O0 father, I have nothing to say about est aspirations, he exclaimed, " Hang the
those matters. Why do you explain them  House of Representatives! I won't run for
to me?"                                 a seat. Let him have it. For once."
" Because I don't want you to blame me.   But the Honorable Beaumont had other
I can't bear it. I say I could live with business in the world besides that of being
these people. As for the young man, — I a vehicle for domestic and sentimental emomean Mr. Frank McAlister,- I respect tions. When he came to suggest to his sons
him and like him."                       and to his political confederates that he
Kate, in spite of her virginal modesty, thought of throwing up his candidature, he
gave him a glance of gratitude which stung found that they did not look upon him
him. He started, and then resigned him- merely in the light of his duty as a father,
self; the girl did love that man; well, he but expected of him knightly service as a
must bear it.                            champion of State Rights and Southern
"The deuce knows how it has all come principles.
about," he mumbled. " One thing has hap-   "Going to drop us, Beaumont!" exclaimed
pened after another. We are all in a mud- seedy old General Johnson, his eloquent jaw
die of quarrelling. I wish we were out of falling so that he looked like the mummy of
it."                                     an idi,,t. " MWhy, good (God. Beauiorlt, if
She made no answer, but he knew by the our Alexander is to turn his back in the




124                          KATE BEAUMONT.
very moment of crossing the Granicus, what hold fast the banner of South Carolina and
is to become of us?"                    lead her as heretofore onward to victory.
"General, I object to that expression, Duncan McAlister to represent this district'turning the back,"' responded the Honor- at Washington? What a downfall for us
able, his eyebrows ruffling until they made all! Duncan McAlister to stand in your
one think of two "fretful porcupines."  "I place?  What a downfall for you! Ah,
must be allowed to say that I do not con- my dear Beaumont, consider, before it is
sider it a phrase which can be properly quite too late; con-sid-er! "
applied to any act of mine. General, I dis-   We must observe that Beaumont's speechlike the phrase."                       ifying was very unlike the Johnsonian; it
"Metaphor, my dear Beaumont," bowed was mere talk, plain and straightforward
the General, restraining himself (pugna- talk, somewhat disconnected and jerky, but
cious old tiger) for political reasons. " No earnest and often forcible; it consisted in
offence intended, I do assure you. Mere saying outright what he thought and espepoetical metaphor. Moreover, I withdraw  cially what he felt. But although he thus
it. Let us say prosaically and plainly, re- differed from the General in style, and alsigning your candidature. And now, the though he knew in his secret mind that the
matter being thus posed, will you allow me eloquence of the latter was mainly flummery,
to argue upon it?"                      he on the present occasion could not help
"Certainly, General, I shall be most being moved by it. Those magic names,
happy to consider every suggestion you may Hartland  District, South  Carolina, Fort
have to offer."                          Moultrie, Eutaw  Springs, etc., always
" "By G-d, I believe 1'd fight him, if he stirred him, no matter by whom pronounced
did n't," thought Johnson. Then, speaking  or in what connection. He was a true son
with unusual sententiousness by reason of of the sacred soil of his State, and his veins
the pressure of the crisis, he proceeded as thrilled at an allusion to his world-famous
follows:' Changing leaders in the moment parentage. When " the old man eloquent"
of the shock of battle is equivalent to defeat. left the house, he shook hands with him
If we attempt to run any other candidate cordially and thanked him for his friendly
than yourself, particularly at this vital remonstrances.
moment, we shall be beaten. A traitor to    " General, I will consider the matter furSouth Carolina will misrepresent South Car- ther," he said. " If private affairs to which
olina in the Federal Congress from this I cannot allude will permit, I will go on
heretofore most truly and nobly represented  with my candidature. I will decide within
district.  The Southern  phalanx will be two days, and let you know my decision at
broken in its very centre; and into the gap once.  Meantime, not a word, I beg of
will rush the centralizing legions of the you."
North. The sublime flag which our great   "Beaumont, I am the grave," solemnly
Calhoun unfolded will be borne to the responded the General, rising on the toes
ground. It will be defeat all along the line. of his shabby boots; "'I am a sarcophagus
States Rights will be trampled under foot. sealed in the centre of a pyramid. This
Southern principles will be scattered for- secret is cemented in my breast; all I ask
ever. Beaumont, my dear and revered is, may it rot there; may it rot unexburned
Beaumont, you are standing on a tripod of and unsuspected.  By those who fell at
the most fearful responsibility.  Upon you  Fort Moultrie and Eutaw Springs," he was
rests the prediction of our future. Your indistinctly heard to perorate as he deaction will be its prophecy and its creation." scended the steps.
In his " flight of eloquence " the minute   When Beaumont discussed his proposed
old General trembled like a humming-bird. demission with his sons, he encountered
"Pardon the emotion of a veteran who further earnest, though respectful opposisees his flag in danger," he resumed, mas- tion.
tering his alcoholized nerves. " Excuse the   "It seems to me, sir, that our family honearnestness of a legionary who has grown or is concerned in this matter," observed
gray in the service of his State, and who Vincent, more of a Beaumont even than a
now sees the fair fame and even the sover- South-Carolinian.
eign existence of that State imperilled.   " Our family honor I " repeated the father,
Hear me in patience and with solemn con- reddening at the suggestion that he could
sideration, while I implore you not to leave be indifferent to that lofty consideration.
our noble cause to its own unassisted   "I beg your pardon, sir, if I am offensive.
strength in this hour of supreme trial. By It is out of respect for you and regard for
those who conquered at Fort Moultrie, and your reputation that I speak so plainly.
by those who fell at Eutaw Springs and-  Here is the way in which I look at the afahem — at various other places, and by fair. You have said, Follow me; all our
those who dropped from  bloody saddles friends have rallied to your call; now you
beside Marion and Sumter, I conjure you to propose to turn back."




KATE BEAUMONT.                                125
"Vincent, this is monstrous severe," said leave to add that it would be more than an
Beaumont, half scowling and half cringing. error of conduct; it would be, if I may use
"I beg your pardon, sir, but I can't see the expression, an error of character; it
it differently. If Poindexter, for instance, would mark a man's reputation and future."
had offered himself as candidate, and hld   Beaumont was driven to the wall, and
gone on at it until within ten days or so of' knew not how to defend himself. He could
the election, and then withdrawn without not say to his sons, your sister loves Frank
assigning cause, what should we have said McAlister. The declaration was too tender
of him? I won't suggest the answer."  and too awful for Kate's father to utter even
Beaumont quailed before his son; but the to Kate's brothers.
next instant he thought of his suffering   " Poinsett, you are harder than Vincent,"
daughter; so he turned for help to the fat, he muttered, more in sorrow than in anger.
lazy, indifferent Poinsett.               "I beg pardon, I was philosophizing," said
"W hy not assign cause? " suggested this Poinsett. " I have a habit of considering a
young gentleman.                       thing from a general point of view. It is a
"It is unassignable," and Beaumont shook result, I perhaps mistakenly suppose, of my
his head.                               Germanic education. It leads, I believe, to
Poinsett knew or guessed somewhat of truth. I meant no offence, my very dear
the affair between Kate and Frank, and was father. If I have annoyed you, please lay
not entirely devoid of sympathy with it, it to a system of thought, and not to my inbeing slothfully good-hearted, like many fat tention."
people.                                   " All the same, none of you agree with
" Could you not say that you prefer peace me," grumbled Beaumont, feeling himself
with a neighbor above a seat in Congress? " quite alone among men, and consequently
he asked. "Men have done that sort of much depressed. Notwithstanding his pasthing, and still been widely respected on sionate nature, and, indeed, precisely beearth, and found favor at last with St. cause of it, he lived and moved by the
Peter."                                breath of human beings, and especially by
"I beg pardon; it is too late," broke in that of his own kin.
Vincent. "It should have been thought of   A weak man, the cold-blooded may say;
before, or never. We can't afford to buy but they would not be more than half right.
the friendship of the McAlisters at such a Just because he was sympathetic, he easily
price as must be paid now. Why, this very got people to rally round him, and made a
motive for resigning the candidature is con- pretty good local leader for a party, and
demnatory. Are we afraid of those people? had the name of being a man of act;on, and
Do we want to get a favor out of them? was one.  Moreover, it was only among
Suppose, after all, we should not get it! those who had a strong hold upon his afWhat would be said of our purpose? What fections that he showed himself gentle and
would be said of our disappointment? "    pliable.  The generality of men chiefly
In compactness and in power of rapid al- knew him as headstrong and pugnacious;
lusion, it seems to me that the young man's the Yankee Congressmen at Washington
speech was somewhat Demosthenian, and considered him one of the frightfullest of
gave promise that he might grow into that Southern buabears; and against him the
creature so much admired by the Southern- " Tribune " felt bound to hurl some of its
ers, an able orator. It was evident, more- weightiest Free-Soil thunder. Really, it is
over, that he guessed at the gentle motive amazing how little a great man may be in
which influenced his father. and that he did his own house. One dares to wonder somenot sympathize with it. There was a hard times whether George Washington was auand pitiless substratum to Vincent's charac- gust in the eyes of Mrs. George Washington.
ter: a substratum which frequently came to   Well, within twenty-four hours, revolving
view in the form of irony or a sneering in the same time with the earth, Peyton
smile; not unlike volcanic trap or granite Beaumont swung completely round on his
breaking through the softer materials of axis. As he had decided for the sake of
earth's surface.                       Kate to give up his candidature, so he deMeantime Tom Beaumont, not very quick- cided for the sake of his sons, his honor, his
witted, and understanding the discussion party, and his State, to stick to it. He had
only in part, prowled about the group of let go, as it were, to get a better hold. He
talkers with a sort of showing of the teeth, resolved now that he would fight his very
like a bull-dog who awaits a signal to fight. best; that he would beat and smash the
" On reflection, I take courage to bow to chief of the McAlisters utterly; that he
Vincent's opinion," said Poinsett, waving would bring down his confidence. and pride
away the smoke of his cigar as if it were so forever.  When General Johnson called
much demoralizing sentiment. "' On reflec- again on his political flag-bearer, he found
tion, I beg leave to concede that a with- him breathing forth brandy and battle.
drawal just now would be an error. I beg   "I was all wrong, my old friend," con



126                          KATE BEAUMONT.
fessed Beaumont. "I had a strange mo-   " Oppose your father!" said Mrs. McAlment of weakness, and I came near commit- ister with a spiritual shudder.
ting an error. An error of character," he   "Not precisely that," replied Mary, courrepeated, quoting from Poinsett, whose sub- ageous with the courage of an only daughtle distinction he had much admired. "'I ter. "But you might represent the whole
came near forfeiting my own respect, and I case to him. Perhaps he does not really
fear yours and all men's.  Bless my soul understand about Frank. After all, Frank
a,,d body, what a muddle it would have is his son."
been! Well, henceforth, the motto is, For-   " O, if it was only a family matter, I
ward."                                  should deem it my duty not to quail," ob"Forward to victory, my dear young served the wife. " But there are the Judge's
friend," cackled the General, who, being political plans to be considered," she added
twenty years the senior of the two, and yet with  profound respect.  " There is this
not feeling himself to be very old, naturally great contest, - the interests of the counlooked upon Beaumont as a man in the try."
springtime of life.                        " It seems to me that the country might
Such was the issue at the Beaumont place get along without us. The country is alof the struggle between "common doins" ways in a crisis. It is ridiculous. I almost
and "chicken fixins," or, in other words, be- hate it."
tween the masculine and feminine views of   "1 kary, you must n't say such things.
life.                                    Your father would be shocked at you."
Meantime the same contest was being   "But perhaps he has only looked at the
carried on in the ahosde of the rival family. political side of this matter. Why would
Mrs. McAlister and Mary had discovered n't it be well to show him  both sides?
that Jenny Devine could not fill the aching Why is n't it your duty?" added Mary,
void in Frank's heart, and had sorrowfully using a word which was very potent with
permitted that young lady to return to her her mother.
own home. Then they had hoped that his   And so at last Mrs. McAlister saw her
job in mining analysis would divert him, duty, and, seeing it, went with a trembling
that he would plunge into those mysteries heart and did it.
of metallurgy and chemistry which they   To her exposition of Frank's awful state,
could not see the sense of, and pasture his and of the only d'evice which could pluck
hungry soul on a knowledge which to them  him out of it, the Judge listened with his
was but dry husks. But this hope was a usual bland patience, looking down upon
poor consolation to them; for what woman her with the sagacious, benevolent air of an
can approve of a life without love?     elephant.
Furthermore, Frank returned from Sax-   " My dear, I am glad you have spoken to
onburg in a moody state; working assidu- me of this matter," he said, precisely as if
ously, indeed, over his blow-pipe, crucibles, he had known nothing about it. "Frank's
and other infernal machines; but abstract- happiness and Frank's prospects," he added,
ed, and, as his two adorers thought, more thinking of the Kershaw estate, "certainly
gloomy than ever. This last supposition, deserve my earnest consideration."
by the way, was a mistaken one, for the   Then he meditated quite at his leisure,
youngster had been much cheered by his while his wife quivered with anxiety. He
meeting with Kate. But as jolly, sympa- had already satisfied himself that he could
thizing Jenny Devine was no longer at not carry the electicn; he had carefully
hand to make him laugh over whist and counted noses on both sides, and come to
keep him prattling about the subject nearest that disagreeable conclusion.  Such being
his heart, he (lid appear unusually sombre.  the case, he had coolly and intelligently
Thus the McAlister ladies concluded that said to himself, " Can I not sell out my supnothing would fill his needs but Kate Beau- posed chances to advantage? Beaumont
mont, and that without her he must perish would pay handsomely'to have me quit the
from off the face of the earth, or lead only course; suppose I strike a bargain with
a blighted existence. Of course they were him and get something for nothing. I can
frantic to get hold of the damsel and thrust trust him; he is a straightforward honest
her into his bosom. But how to do it? brute; much as I dislike him, I can trust
Such getting hold was impossible as long as him."
the ftamily quarrel lasted; and the quarrel   Finally, that very morning in fact, he had
would endure while the Judge tried to oust decided that he would be contented, at
Beaumont from Congress. To bring about least for the present, with a certain vacant
their sweet purpose, they must controvert judgeship  of the United States District
the awfill will of their lord and master, and Court, looking forward, of course, to quittrip up his revered political heels. But ting it whenever there should be a good
this sacrilege was horrible to think of, and, chance to strike for something higher.
what was worse, hard to execute.         This honor he believed the other party




KATE BEAUMONT.                                 127
would puissantly recommend him  for, on daughter's chances of happiness. He strove
condition of his relinquishing his congres- to escape from the piteous remembrance;
sional candidature. As for his bargain with but he was like a man who scrambles on
that Northern wirepuller, Mr. - Mr. - the the slippery footing of adverse dreams; he
Judge really could not remember his name leaped and leaped, and made no progress.
at the moment, - and as for the money of O these women, these children; how puisthe Delnocratic National Committee, which santly we are bound to them; how inextrihad been received and spent, he did not cably the varieties of humanity are entancare for such trifles a whiffet. The five gled; how well for the race that it is so!
thcusmnd dollars had strengthened him in   This deep-chested, heavy-shouldered,
the d strict; it was seed sown for a future bushy-browed, lion-eyed, pugnacious gentleharvest; very good.                      nian not only could not help thinking of his
The only thing which troubled him was daughter's troubled heart, but could not
the difficulty of proposing his dicker to help talking about it. One day, looking at
Beaumont" without sacrificing his personal her as she walked with drooping head in
dignity. Here, now, was an opportunity; the garden, he turned with an excited start
here were the women and the young people to Mrs. Armitage, and demanded, " What
ready to aid him; here were the domestic am I to do with that girl?  She mopes
lares and the god of love at his service. He about here as if her own home were a place
smiled very kindly upon his wife as he pro- of confinement, a prison, or a lunatic asyluln,
nounced his decision.                    or something of that sort. I shall have to
"' My dear, I will surprise you," he said. send her over to her grandfather's; that is,
"In consideration of what you tell me, I till the election is over, and all these conam willing to give up my candidature and fbunded uproars."
take the risk of its doing the good you   " Then I shall go too," responded Nellie,
hope."                                   promptly and rather spunkily.  She had
Mrs. McAlister advanced to her husband, lately had more than one argument with
placed her thin arms about his ponderous her father in favor of the McAlister match,
shoulders, anl gave him an embrace of'hon- and she was somewhat irritated because of
ester gratitude than lie deserved.      his persistent opposition to the measure
"' Thank you, my dear," observed the which her heart had desired.
Judge, always a model gentleman, always   "You will!" exclaimed Beaumont with
bensible to a politeness. " We understand a stare. He was no longer the hub of the
one another," he added, as if in irony, but family then; his tribe was to gather around
really quite serious.  " And now please Kate, instead of himself; the new generasendl Frank to me. Or Bruce. No, let it tion was decidedly mounting upon the
be Frank. I presume he is most likely to throne of the old. His face wore an exhave influenc e with Beaumont. I will de- pression of annoyance, but even more of despatch him over there with my message."   pression.
An hour later Frank was on his way to   "Let us talk like men about it, papa,"
the Beaumont house, bearing a letter which continued Nellie, in her heroic way. " Let
Peyton Beaumont was to read, reseal, and us call things by their true names, without
return by his hand. the said letter contain- any fear of the subject or of each other.
ing of course the Judge's offer, couched in Here, because Kate is not happy, you want
the language of pure patriotism.         to send her away from her home, and away
A little later still, after Frank had got from her father and brothers and sister."
beyond recall, Mrs. McAlister reappeared   " For her own good," broke in Beaumont,
before her husband with an anxious face, eagerly. "Things are going disagreeably
asking, " My dear, do you think it is safe here, and she can't want to see them. Befor him?  He is going amonui  our bitter sides, Kershaw is her grandfather, and you
enemies. How could 1 let him!"           know how they pet each other. He can
cheer her. He is such a kind, good old
man! O, he is so damn good! " he added
with a groan of self-depreciation " I wish
CHAPTER  XXX.                 I was half as good. I wish I could respect
myself as I do Kershaw."
IATTERS worked like a seesaw: one end   "Bring him over here," advised Nellie.
of the feud went down, only to see the other   " What? "
go up; McAlister wanted peace just when   "Bring him over here, for a few days.
Beaumont. had taken in fresh fuel for fight. And when Major Lawson returns from his
But with all his sense of the honorable- v;sit to Charleston, bring him too. T!hen
ness of wrath, and of the duty of running at Kate will have all her best friends around
his highest speed for Congress, Beaumont her,  all but one."
could not forget that his wrath and his   Beaumont did not notice the allusion to
running might trample on his youngest Frank McAlister; he was taken up with




128                         KATE BEAUMONT.
considering Nellie's plan, and with dreading low to wait for him, her eyes sparkling with
it. Kershaw, that great pacificator of quar- impatience.  Presently she ran and called
rels, he did not quite want him in the house up the stairway, " Grandpapa, are you never
just now.  From  such a presence there going to come down? "  As he did not anmight emanate an influence which would swer, probably not hearing her, she hurried
once more beguile him into the weakness to his door, drummed on it with eager finof resigning his candidature and washing gers, and said in a tone of loving reproach,
off his war-paint generally. But after due " Why, how long you are!"
argument and solicitation, after it had been   That was always the way with her when
borne in upon him that the old Colonel, in Kershaw came over. She was as impatient
the temporary absence of Lawson, must be to get at him and as greedy of his company
leading a dreary life in his own house, he as a hungry child is impatient and greedy
withdrew an opposition for which he could for its dinner. Moreover, she had absurd,
not allege his reasons and of which he was charming little terrors, if he was long at a
secretly ashamed.  Riding over to Ker- time out of her sight, lest he had hurt himshaw's place, he invited his father-in-law to self, or perhaps died. When she was a
visit him for a fortnight, pressed the point child and visited him fbr short terms at his
with his characteristic cordiality and hospi- plantation, she used so say, night after
tality, and secured an acceptance. So the night, " Promise me, grandpapa, that younext morning the Colonel alighted from his won't die before morning."  The benignant
carriage on the gravel-walk befobre the and affectionate old man, so like her lost
Beaumont door.                          mother, and indeed so like herself, exercised
"' Is n't he beautiful, papa?" whispered a sort of bewitchment over her, which was
Kate, as she and her father hastened to all the more potent because it had begun
greet their venerable visitor.          before the dawn of reason, because it had
" He is the white rose of South Carolinian begun as an instinct. It was in vain that
chivalry," murmured Beaumont. "Not a her other relatives sometimes jealously
leaf fallen by reason of age, and not a stain chafed because of this fascination, and
by reason of sin."                      sometimes good-humoredly laughed at her
The sympathetic and passionate nature for it. On this point she remained sweetly
of this rough fighter enabled him to appre- childish, and could not be otherwise, nor
ciate and worship a character which was wish it.
beyond him.                               The bewitchment was mutual, as such
In truth, the Colonel was beautiful, as affectionate magic often is.  Despite his
healthy and good old men can be beautiful. rational, grave, and one might say rather
He had fully recovered from his late severe slow nature, the old man worshipped the
illness; tc look at him, it seemtd as if he girl as the girl worshipped him. At this
might live twenty years longer. His long moment, when he heard the well-known and
white hair, waving over his heavy, old- expected drumming on his door, his solemn
fashioned coat-collar, was as yet abundant blue eyes and the massive folds of his face
and almost luxuriant. His massive aquiline lighted up with a deep, serene pleasure.
face, rendered only the more expressive by   " Come in, my little girl," his hollow and
deep wrinkles and large folds, was full of tremulous voice called. " I am only brushdignity, intelligence, and sympathy. Eighty ing my hair."
or nearly eighty years. of the life of this  "' Let me brush it," begged Kate; and
world, so generally commonplace, so often would do it, making him sit for the purfull of temptation, so often sorrowful or ex- pose.
asperating, had not dimmed the sunshine of   "It needs cutting, does n't it?" asked
that benignity which must have been the the Colonel, who was in the habit of seekcore of his character. He looked as George ing her guidance, at least in little matters.
Washington might have looked, had he   "Not yet," said Kate. "It is too handreached the same age. He made one think some to cut."
of what an angel might be, could an angel   "Handsome?" asked Kershaw, thinking
become white-haired and wrinkled. Very of her chestnut curls.
tall, and as yet of goodly fulness. he seemed   "It is every bit as white as snow," cona colossal statue erected to physical beauty tinued the girl. "It makes me think of
and moral goodness, grown venerable.   Mont Blanc. What color was it once? "
Kate soon took possession of her pet, and   "' A little darker than yours, child, if I
led him to his room. She wanted to have remember right," said the old man, after
him all to herself, and she wanted the lux:- pausing a moment to send his memory backury of serving him with her own hands. ward many years. " There, you have taken
After prattling for some minutes, after see- trouble enough with it.  Now sit down
ing anew that he was furnished with every- where I can look at you."
thing which he could need, she left him to   " Wait a little," begged Kate. She was
wash off the dust of hYs drive and went be- intent upon making the silver cataract fall




KATE BEAUMONT.                                 129
behind his ears and roll evenly over his aninnies who were kicking up the dust of
coat-collar. The work done, she drew  a the road with their bare black feet, and
childlike smile of satisfaction, and seating walked straight towards the veranda, where
herself in front of him, smiled in his face. stood Peyton Beaumont grimly staring at
Her smile, could he have understood its un- him, a statue of mistrust and amazement.
der-sadness, would have told him that she When he had got within a few yards of his
loved him all the more because the out- father's rival and enemy he halted, lifted
reachings of affection towards another had his hat entirely from his head, and bowed
been rudely put aside.                   without speaking. At the same moment'You don't look in good flesh," said the Tom  Beaumont came out of the door beColonel. His phrase was old-fashioned, but hind his father, and, seeing this most unit suited his venerable mien, and it was expected and somewhat alarming visitor,
made sweet by a tone of tender anxiety. slipped a practised hand under the skirt of'"I am a little thinner than usual," re- his shooti,,g-jacket, obviously feeling for the
plied Kate. A spasm  passed across her handle of a pistol. Frank noted the threatmouth, but she quelled it by an heroic ef- ening gesture; but he did not change counfobrt, and presently tlie smile reappeared.  tenance, nor move a muscle; he remained
" If you are ill, you must tell me," urged with his eyes fixed on the face of Peyton.
Kershaw. " We must have advice."         The latter, after hesitating for a moment,
He knew nothing of her love-affair, and slightly waved his hand in salutation.
suspected nothing; even the garrulous, sym-   "Mr. Beaumont, I beg leave to deliver you
pathetic Lawson had refrained from hinting a friendly letter from my father," said Frank.
it to him.                             -" From your father, sir! " exclaimed Pey" Grandpapa, you are always thinking ton. He reflected for an instant, thought
about other people," observed the girl, will- of his political confederates, thought of the
ing to change the subject of conversation.   feud, too, and added, " I do not feel at lib" Of course," he repliedl, simply. " My erty to receive it, sir."
own affairs are of so little interest."    Tom  Beaumont drew his derringer, supAt this moment Kate's face turned as posing that Frank would draw also, and depale as death. Glancing out of a window  termined to be beforehand with him. But
near her, she had seen Frank McAlister just then Colonel Kershaw stepped slowly
dismounting at the gate, and the idea at into the veranda and laid his hand gently
once crossed her mind that his life was in on the elbow of the aristocratic young desperil.                                   perado.  Tom glanced sideways, recognized
"What is the matter?" inquired Ker- the old man, and  slowly returned the
shaw, who noted her start and dimly per- weapon to his pocket, still however keeping
ceived her change of color.              his hand on it, while he watched Frank
"O, do go down there," she begged, steadily.
springing to her feet and seizing his arm.   "Am  I intruding, Beaumont?" asked' Do go, before there is trouble."       Kershaw.
"What is it? " he repeated, slowly ris-   "Ah!" started Beaumont. "Why no,
ing.                                     certainly not. In my house you are in
i' I don't know," stammered Kate. "What your own. And by the way, Kershaw, by
can he be here for?  It is Mr. Frank Mc- the way -   Mr. McAlister, have the kindAlister."                                ness to wait one instant. - Kershaw, I want
"McAIister! " exclaimed Kershaw, in a your advice. A letter from the Judge," he.
tone which showed that he realized the furill whispered, blowing out his cheeks with an
gravity of the situation. " The young man, air of' demanding amazement. " Shall I
- the tall young man?  I remember. The open it?  Would you?  Would you, inone who saved your life. Of course I re- deed?  Well, perhaps so; decidedly so.
member him. But he should n't be here. Just to see what the scoundrel wants. ExI will go down."                         actly." 9
0, do, do," implored the girl, almost   Turning to Frank, he said, with ceremohurrying him, almost pushing him. " Don't nious civility: " Mr. McAlister, by the adlet any trouble happen."                 vice of Colonel Kershaw, I will now, with
"No, no," said Kershaw, as he stalked your permission, receive the letter. If I
out of the room, leaning forward in the was discourteous to you personally in mymanner of old men when they are in haste. first refusal, I ask excuse."
" But what can he be here for? It is high-   He read the Judge's communication with
ly imprudent."                           mingled feelings. First came the expresWTe shall best see the end of this adven- sion of that gentleman's desire to resign
ture by joining Frank McAlister.  Dis- his candidature to Congress for the sake of
mounting at the high post gate which white- the peace of Hartland and the unity of
ly glared in front of the house, he left his South Carolina. Beaumont approved. He
horse in charge of one of half a dozen pi k- approved promptly, fully, and energetically;
17




130                          KATE BEAUMONT.
for once he was harmonious with Duncan this time quite impulsively in favor of the
McAlikter.  But next came the hint that, Judge, looking upon himself as the patron
ill return for this concessioni, a seat in of his rival, and desiring to do him a good
the United States District Court would be turn.
acceptable.  Beaumont hesitated; there   " Wishes to withdraw from politics, you
were good men of his own party to be see," he remarked blandly. "Well, it is
thought of; his brow  darkened with an about time I should do the same. After
ominous look of dissent. Then he went this campaign, Kershaw,- after this camthrough his rival's elegantly written, digni- paign, you may rely on me. N9 more canflied, and almost pathetic peroration.  It didatures, no more stumpings."
moved him; the expression of noble senti-  If he meant to make a bridge of gold for
ments always moved him; he was just to a retreating enemy, he certainly did his enthat degree simple and sympathetic.  Well, gineering rather neatly. The truth is, that,
what should he do?  Obviously it was his being now anxious to accept his rival's (offer,
personal interest to close with the bargain, he was anxious to have Kershaw advise him
and so get rid of his rival in the coming to accept it.
election. But he was not an ordinary poli-   The good old man responded to the wish
tician; he was honest, high-minded, and un- from good motives of his own. He saw a
selfish, at least so far as he knew how to be; chance before him to turn the swords and
if he was ever moved by interest, it was un- spears of the feud into the ploughshares and
awares.  Thus he had no difficulty in put- pruninlg-hooks of amity.
ting aside this egotistic considerdtion imme-   "I approve of the proposition," he said
diately.                                 slowly and after deliberate consideration.
On the other hand, here was a favor; the "Judge McAlister is better fitted for the
Judge was going to give up his candidature posi ion in question than any other man in
any way; and surely he deserved a favor the upper country. He is our ablest lawyer
in return. The fact that he could say to and our most judicial mind."
Beaumont, " You ought to have the seat in' "I have always admitted it," Beaumont
Congress," made Beaumont want to say, declared, and with entire truth. "He de" You ought to have the vacant judgeship." serves the place."
The heart of this impulsive, unreflecting,   "In appointments to the judiciary there
headlong knight-errant began to warm to- should be no question of partisan politics,"
wards his rival and enemy. He had scarce- affirmed Kershaw.
ly read his letter through before he desired    "Certainly  not," assented  Beaumont.
to serve him. He became, as it were, his " BY heavens! the President who should
partisan. To be sure, old bellicose feelings corlsider politics, in making appointments
boiled and bubbled somewhat in his heart; to the judiciary, ought to be impeached and
but they were kept down in a measure by deposed.'
thoughts of Kate and of Kershaw. On this   There was no questioning his honesty in
score the imlpulses of peace and war re- saying this. He looked like truth incarnate,
mained in even balance.                  and none the less for his bellicose expres"'IThis is very important," he observed, sion.
turning to the old Colonel. " Kershaw, I   "n What a gentleman he is at bottom,"
must have your advice.  Mr. McAlister, thought Frank, only too glad to judge kindly
will you do me the kindness to walk into of Kate's father.
my parlor. Tom, oblige me by seeing that   " Why did n't we come to this before?"
we are not interrupted."                 continued Beaumont, delighted that he had
In the parlor he seated his guests, closed secured Kershaw's adherence, and quite re.
the doors. and then approached Frank.   solved now  to back McAlister. "I shall' Mr. McAlister," he said, " Colonel Ker- rejoice in recommending the Judge to a poshaw's character -"                      sition which he will fill so nobly. And so; "It is sufficient," bowed Franr. " I am  will my friends. I am confident. By heavens I
confident that my father would be willing if they don't I won't run for them; I'11
to intrust any secret to Colonel Kershaw."  throw up my candidature immediately; I
Then the letter was read aloud. A blush will, by heavens! Kershaw, I want you to
inundated Frank's face when he heard Beau- hear witness to that, an(l stand by me in it,"
mont clarion forth his father's demand for a he added, remembering that giving up canquid pro quo, offering to dicker his chance didatures did not come easy to him.
for Congress against a seat in the temple  "'I think our friends will make no objecof justice. For a minute or two he could tions," said the Colonel, knowing that Beaunot look Kershaw or Kate's father in the mont's will and his own would be law to the
face. His shame was only in part removed conservative party in the district.
by Beaumont's calm consideration of the   "I should say not," answered Peyton,
bargain and charitable comment upon it. swelling and ruffling at the idea of opposiBeaumont, it must be understood, was by tion. By heavens! I should like to see the




KATE BEAUMONT.                                131
man who would be fool enough and brute recommendation?  "What do you think,
enough to object to such an appointment," Kershaw?"
he went on, forgetting that he would him-   The Colonel had none of Peyton's herediself have opposed it but for circumstances. tary prejudice against the McAlisters. He'Well, it is understood. Mr. McAlister, replied gently and gravely, " Have no fears,
please do me the favor to say to your father Beaumont.  Whatever McAlister may be
that I assert most cordially to his chivalrous as a politician, in his official character he
proposition. I make this declaration in the is a gentleman. There is not a stain upon
presence of Colonel Kershaw. If I made his professional honor. You have done
it alone, I would be bound by it. And now, well."
Mr. McAlister, a glass of wine together."  "Kershaw, you relieve me inexpressibly,"
He fairly beamed upon the young man. murmured Peyton with a sigh of deep satisThe moment that he could be friends with faction. Then, advancing quickly to Frank,
hi i at all, he was as much his friend as he he took his hand and said, " I trust, with
ever had been. He inclined towards him  you, that this begins a lasting peace."
with all the vivacious promptness of his   As the young man heard this phrase,
mercurial, yet energetic nature.  He let which filled him with inexpressible joy, he
himself remember distinctly that this was heard also a rapid step in the veranda. He
the man who had saved his daughter's life, did not turn, but the others did, and saw
and with whom his daughter's chance of Randolph Armitage advancing, his hand unhappiness was perhaps intertwined. There der his coat as if seeking a pistol, and his
was no mistaking the kindliness which drunken, fierce eyes fixed on Frank McAlglowed in his martial black eyes and his ister.
dark red visage. Frank was instantaneously
as happy as a king is vulgarly supposed to
be.                                              CHAPTER XXXI.
" I am more gratified than I can possibly
express," he said, in a tone which told in-   IT must be remembered that Randolph
finitely more than the words.          Armitage had passed several days on the
After the sherry had been tasted, the verge of delhrium tremens, either caring nothyoung man rose to take his leave, remark- ing for the exodus of his wife and children,
ing, "I must carry this good news to my or anaware of it.
father."                                 But on recovering his wits he wanted
"Add that I cannot sufficiently thank his Israel back, as is apt to be the case
him for sending you on this mission," said with abandoned Pharaohs of our household
Peyton, shaking hands.                 Egypts, however vicious and unloving they
I' I entirely concur with Beaumont in sen- may be. It is such a disgrace to be detilnent," added Kershaw in his brief, weighty serted, and involves such a diminution of
way, few words always, but every oile sweet authority, besides loss of domestic
doubly meant.                          comforts!
*' I trust that this begins a lasting peace."   Conceited, confident in himself, passionventured Frank.                        ately wilful and headlong, he soon deterBeaumont could not decide at once what mined to go in pursuit of Nellie, believing
to answer; but the Colonel, pressing the that at the sight of him she would fall unyoungster's hand warmly, said, "I trust so." der the old fascination and return to her
Frank glanced gratefully at his benign wifely allegiance.  Bentley objected, but
face and glorious crown of white hair, ad- only a little; for not only was he afraid of
miring him as noble young men do admire his brother, but he was in love with Kate;
noble old ones, and thinking him too good and loving Kate, he could not desire that
for this world.                        Armitages and Beaumonts should be sepIn the entry hall they encountered Nellie, arated forever.
who, seeing these demonstrations of amity,   Sober when he left home, Randolph was
saluted Frank with a smile and a few words quiet in demeanor and even somewhat anxof commonplace civility.               ious in spirit. He feared lest his wife or her
During this brief moment Peyton Beau- sister might have told tales on him; and, if
mont had one of those revulsions of feeling that were the case, he would probably have
or opinion to which he was subject. A to listen to a remonstrance from" old man
doubt, a scruple, troubled his sense of honor. Beaumont"; and he knew that when that
He had been accustomed to call Judge Mc- gentleman did remonstrate, it was in the style
Alister an old fox, a carthaginian, a perfidi- of a tornado. But with the fatuity of a shalous rascal. Would a man whom he had low soul, incapable of appreciating its own
thus stigmatized, and as he believed prop- scoundrelism, or of putting itself fkirly in
erly stigmatized, be the right man for the the place of another, he trusted that he
district court bench?  Would he render could easily turn wrath into favor by a week
just ju lgmnent, and honor the Beaumont of sobriety and of the superfine deportment




132                          KATE BEAUMONT.
which he prided himself on being able to "I'll be there. I'm on his trail. I'11 be
assume.                                  there."
At Brownville he heard for the first time   He was as mad as Don Quixote. He was
that Frank had met Nellie there and gone in a state to succor people who did not want
on with her to Hartland. The news was to be succored, and to right wrongs which
angering; the man, being a McAlister, had had never been given, and to see a caitiff in
no right to travel with his family; moreover, every chance comer. He was one of those
it looked as if he had helped the woman to knight-errants who are created by the accorun away. Randolph took a drink and then lade of a bottle.
several drinks.  By the time the train   Reaching the castle which he meant to
started (it was early in the morning, ob- save, just as Frank, Beaumont, and Kerserve) he was in a state to go on drinking. shaw came out of it, he had no difficulty in
He treated himself at every station, and he recognizing his proposed victim. The obaccepted treats from fellow-passengers who vious amicableness of the interview did not
carried bottles in their wayfarings, as is the in the least enlighten this lunatic. In the
genial habit of certain Southerners. Long smiling and happy young man, who was
before he reached Hartland he was fit to shaking hands with the master of the house,
shoot an enemy on sight, and to see an he could only see a villain who had deeply
enemy in the first man who stared at him. injured himself, and who was now assaultHe forgot that the object of his journey was ing or insulting his wife's relatives. Clapto wheedle back his wife to her married ping his hand on the but of his revolver,
wretchedness.  His inflamed brain settled he strode, or rather staggered, towards
down upon the idea that it was his duty as Frank, scarcely observing Beaumont and
a gentleman to chastise Frank McAlister Kershaw.
for abetting Nellie's elopement, and for   It was a singular scene. Frank McAlisdaring to associate himself to Beaumonts. ter, who did not know Armitage by sight,
Clenching his fist and muttering, he carried and did not at all suspect danger to himself,
on imaginary conversations with that crim- towered calmly like a colossal statue, his
inal, reproving him for his impertinence and grave blue eyes just glancing at this menthreatening punishment.                  acing apparition, and then turning a look
"You've no call to speak to a Beau- of inquiry upon Beaumont. The whitemont," he babbled, identifying himself with haired Kershaw, nearly as tall as Frank,
the famous family feud, for which when was gazing blandly into the face of the
sober he did not care a picayune. " My young man,'unconscious  that anything
wife is a Beaumont, sir. She's above you, strange was happening, his whole air full
sir. My people have nothing to do with of benignity and satisfaction. Beaumont,
your people. I'm a Beaumont - by kins- the only one of the three who both saw and
manship. You sha' n't travel with my wife, recognized the intruder, had turned squaresir. You sha' n't go in the same car with ly to face him, eyes flaming, eyebrows bristher. You sha'n't lead her away from her ling, and hands clenched.  It must be
home and her husband.  We'll settle this remembered that he hated Armitage as a
matter, sir. We'll settle it now, sir." And man who had filled Nellie's life with wretchso on.                                   edness. At the first glimpse of his insolent
At the Hartland station his first inquiry approach and air of menace he had been
was for Mr. Frank McAlister. " Never saw  filled with such rage, that if he had had a
him  in my life," he explained.  " Don't pistol he would perhaps have shot him inknow him from Adam. But he's a tall fel- stantly. In a certain sense he would have
low. He's a scoundrel. I'm  after him, been pardonable for such action, for he supI'm on his trail. Seen anything of him? " posed that the drunkard's charge was directFrank's person was more exactly de- ed against himself. There he stood, undisscribed to him by a little, red-eyed, seedy mayed and savage; all the more defiant,
old gentleman, who seemed to be doing because the odds were against him; all the
"the dignified standing round " in the gro- grimmer because he was unarmed, gouty,
eery attached to the station, and in whom  and in no case for battle; as heroic an old
we may no doubt recognize General John- Tartar as ever scowled in the face of death.
son. The General, smelling an affair of When the reeling desperado was within six
honor, and always willing to give chivalry feet of him he thundered out, " You scouna lift, made prompt inquiries as to the drel!"
whereabouts of young McAlister, and pres-   Armitage made no answer to Beaumont,
ently brought word that he had been seen and merely stared at him with an indescribonly half an hour before riding in the direc- ably stupid leer, not unlike the stolid, savage
tion of the Beaumont territories.       grin of an angry baboon. Then, lurching
" Gone to attack my relatives! " muttered a little to one side, he passed him  and
the drunkard, honestly believing at the pushed straight towards Frank, at the same
moment that he loved the Beaumonts. time drawing his revolver. Halting with








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KATE BEAUMONT.                                 133
difficulty, he looked up in the astonished l ing after them down the steps. "You don't
face of the young giant, and demanded in understand it, boys."
a sort of yell, " What y' here for?"      All might have been explained, and fur"I don't understand you, sir," replied ther trouble avoided, but at this moment
Frank. "I don't know you."              there arrived a rescue for Frank, a rescue
"What does this mean?" exclaimed which comprehended nothing, and so did
Beaumont, suddenly realizing  that his harm. It seems that Bruce and Wallace
guest's life was threatened, and trying to McAlister, learning from their mother what
step between him and Armitage.           mission their brother had gone upon, and
"Let me alone," screamed the drunkard. having little confidence in the sense or
" He's run away with my wife."          temper or good faith of their ancient foes,
The coarse suspicion thus flung, upon had decided to mount and fbllow up the adNellie inflamed her father to fury. With- venture. When Armitage's first pistol-shot
out a word he seized his son-in-law, pushed resounded, they were in ambush behind a
him toward the low steps which led down grove not three hundred yards distant. A
from  the veranda, and sent him  rolling few seconds more saw them dashing up to
upon the gravelled walk at their base.   the gate which fronted the veranda, and
Frank had no weapons. He had come blazing away with their revolvers at the
unarmed into the house of the hereditary Beaumonts, who were hurrying towards
enemies of his house. He had resolved to Frank. A  sharp exclamation from  Tom
put it beyond his power to do battle, even told that one bullet had taken effect.
in self-defence, under the roof of Kate's   " Come here, brother I" shouted Wallace.
father. But he now stepped forward has- " Run for your horse."
tily, calling, " This is my affair, Mr. Beau-   Frank sprang to his feet and stared about
mont."                                   him in bewilderment. He saw Tom handKershaw stopped him, placing both hands ling his wounded arm; he saw Vincent and
on his arms, and saying, "You are our Poinsett aiming towards the road; turning
guest. I do not understand this quarrel. his head, he saw Bruce and Wallace, also
But we are responsible for )your safety."    aiming. It was the feud once more; the
At the same moment Beaumont hastened two families were slaughtering each other;
to the door and shouted, " Tom! Vincent! all hope of' peace was perishing in blood.
Nellie! Here, somebody! Bring me my At the top of his speed he ran towards his
pistols! "                              brothers, calling, "' You are mistaken. Stop,
Then he turned to look, for a shot had stop!"
been fired. The overthrown maniac, even   Vincent fired after him. Poinsett, pacific
while stru gling to rise, had discharged one as he was, discharged several barrels, but
barrel of his revolver, aiming, however, as a rather at the men on horseback than at
drunken  man would  naturally aim, and Frank. Torn picked up his pi.~tol w;th his
missing his mark. Kershaw let go of Frank, sound arm and joined in the skirmish. The
stepped a little aside and sat down in a two McAlisters in the highway, sitting
rustic chair, as if overcome by the excite- calmly on their plunging horses, returned
ment of the scene, or by the weakness of bullet for bullet. At least thirty shots were
age. Thus freed for action, the youngster exchanged in as many seconds. That amaplunged towards his unknown and incom- teur of ferocities, chivalrous old General
prehensible enemy, with the intention of Johnson, ought to have been there to cure
disarming him. Two more shots missed his sore eyes with the spectacle. Never behim, and then there was a struggle. Of fore had there been such a general battle
course it was brief; the inebriate went between the rival families as was this hasty,
down almost instantly; his pistol was unforeseen, unpremeditated  combat, the
wrenched out of his hand and flung away; result of a misunderstanding growing natuthen a heavy knee was on his breast and a rally out of lifelong hostility. Peyton Beauhard fist in his neckcloth.              mont alone, knowing that the mele'e was one
At this moment the younger Beaumonts, huge blunder, took no part in it, and indeed
aroused by the firing and by the call of tried hard to stop it, calling, "Gentlemen,
their father, swarmed out upon the veranda, gentlemen! Hear me one instant"
every one with his cocked pistol. Seeing   When Frank reached his brothers there
their broth,:r-in-law (of whose domestic mis- was a streak of blood down his c.heek from
conduct they knew nothing) under the hos- a pistol-shot scratch across his temple.
tile hinds of a McAlister, they naturally Moreover, he was in peril of further harm,
inferred that here was a fresh outbreak of for Randolph Armitage had regained his
the feud, and rushed forward to rescue feet, and followed him, and was now reeltheir relative.                         ing through the gate with a drawn bowie" Stop, gentlemen," called Kershaw, but knife.
he was not heard.                          "For  God's  sake, stop!"  implored'Boys! boys!" shouted Beaumont, limp- Frank, unaware both of his wound and




134                          KATE BEAUMONT.
his danger. "It was not the Beaumonts confidence in her grandfather's influence,
who attacked me. It was some drunken that she did not expect serious trouble.
brute! "                                  The explosion of the pistol surprised her
Wallace made no reply except to spur into a violent fright. To her imagination
past his brother upon the pursuing Armi- the feud was always at hand; it was a
tage and knock him senseless with a pistol- prophet of evil uttering incessant menaces;
but blow over the head.                  it was an assassin ever ready for slaughter.
"Mount your horse," shouted  Bruce. Her instantaneous thought was that the old
"They are reloading. Mount your horse."  quarrel had broken out in a deadly combat
"'I must go and explain," cried Frank, between her pugnacious brothers and the
turning back. " I forbid you to fire," he man of whom she knew full well at the moadded in a terrible voice. " Don't you see ment she loved him. She could not see the
her? "                                  veranda from her window, and she hurried
His dilated eyes were fixed upon Kate down stairs into the front-entry hall. There
Beaumont, who, with the aid of a negro, she heard her father's voice calling for piswas leading Kershaw into the house. When tols, and beheld her sister running one way
she had disappeared and he believed that and her brothers another. In her palpitating
she was in safety, he lifted his clasped anxiety to learn all that this turmoil meant
hands toward heaven, and reeled as if he she stepped into the veranda, and there
would have fallen..           discovered Frank McAlister holding down
" Come, Frank," begged Wallace, throw- Randolph Armitage. Next she heard a
ing his broken pistol at him in his despera- faint voice, —a voice familiar to her and
tion. "Do you want us all shot here? yet somehow strange, -saying earnestly,
Mount your horse."                       "My dear, go in; you will be hurt."
In his confusion and anguish of soul, just   Turning her head, she beheld her grandunderstanding that his brothers would not father in the rustic chair, motioning her
leave him, and that he must ride with them  back. Had she looked at him closely, she
*to save their lives, the young man sprang would have perceived that he was very
into his saddle and galloped away.       pale, and that he had the air of a man
" I ought to go back," he said, after he grievously ill or injured. But she was in
had traversed a few rods. " I must know  no condition to see clearly; the hurry and
if anything has happened to them."       fright of the occasion made everything'This is the second time that you have vague to her; she recognized outlines and
barely escaped being assassinated by those little more. Accustomed to obey her vensavages," replied Bruce, sternly. "If you erable relative's slightest wish, she sprang
are not a maniac, you will come with us."  into the house and shielded herself behind a
"' O, it was a horrible mistake," groaned doorpost.  Then came the sally of her
Frank. "You meant well, but you were brothers; then the trampling of horses
mistaken. The Beaumonts did not attack arriving at full speed, and the calling of
me. It was that madman."                 strange voices from the road; then a crack"' That was Randolph Armitage," said ing of pistol-shots, a hissing of bullets, and
Wallace. " Do you mean the fellow that I a shouting of combatants.  She was in an
knocked down?  That was Peyt Beau- agony of terror, or rather of anxiety, believmont's son-in-law. He is another of the ing that all those men out there were being
murdering tribe. They are all of a piece."  killed, and screaming convulsively in rePerplexed as well as wretched, Frank sponse to the discharges. Without knowmade no reply, and dashed on after his ing it, she was struggling to get into the
brothers. The retreat was a rapid One, veranda; and without knowing it, she was
although two of the horses were wounded, being held back by her sister.
and Bruce had received a shot in the thigh   Next followed  a lull. Nellie leaped
which made riding painful. As there was through the doorway, and Kate at once
now only one pistol among the McAlisters, leaped after her. There were her father
and as their enemies were well armed and and her brothers; they were staring after
had fast steeds within easy call, it was well Frank McAlister and his brothers; these
to distance pursuit.                    last were already turning away. She did
But the Beaumonts did not think of giv- not see Tom's bleeding arm, nor the prosing chase; they were paralyzed by the trate Randolph Armitage. Her impression
shock of an immense calamity.            was that every one had escaped harm, and
At the firing of the first shot Kate was she uttered a shriek of hysterical joy.
sitting by a window of her own bedroom,   But when she turned to look for her
looking out upon the yard through a loop grandfather, she was paralyzed with horror.
in the curtain. We may guess that her His face was of a dusky or ashy pallor, and
object was to get an unobserved glance at he seemed to be sinking from his seat. For
Frank McAlister when he should remount a moment she could not go to him; she
his horse and ride away. She had so much stood staring at him with outstretched arms;




KATE BEAUMONT.                                 135
her whole life seemed to be centred in her replied Vincent. " The wound is in the
dilated eyes. Then seeing black Cato step thigh, and probably a mere flesh wound.
out of a window and approach the old man Let go of him now, and let us get him to
with an air of alarm, she also ran forward bed."
and threw herself on her knees before him,   By this time the hall was crowded with
with the simple cry of" O grandpapa!"    the house-servants, most of them uttering
He was so faint with the shock of his suppressed whimpers of grief, for Kershaw
wound and the loss of blood, that he could was worshipped by these poor people. Unnot answer her and probably could not see der the direction of Vincent, four of the
her. He sat there inert and apparently strongest men took up the settee with its
unconscious, his grand old head drooping heavy load and bore it to a bedroom,
upon his chest, and his long silver hair fall- followed  by the trembling  and  crying
ing around his face.                     Kate.
Of a sudden Kate, who had been on the   "I say, Vincent,"  whispered  Tom.
point of fainlting, was endowed with im- "When you get through with him, take
mense strength. Aided only by the negro a look at me.  I want to know  if any
boy, who trembled and whimpered, " O  bones are smashed."
Mars Kershaw i Mars Kershaw! " she lifted   "You hit?" stared the elder brother.
the ponderous frame of her grandfather, and He took hold of the wounded arm, moved it
led him reeling into the house.          up and dlown, and added, "It's all right,
Tom. Nothing broken."
Meantime Beaumont senior was glowering about him  and asking, "Where the
CHAPTER XXXII.                 deuce is Nellie?"
" She's jess done gone out to look after
BY the time that Kate and the negro had Mars Ranny, what's out thar in the ditch,"
laid the Colonel on a settee in the broad en- explained Cato.
try, he was in a dead faint.               "Al " grunted Peyton; " that's what I
The girl, believing that life was extinct, wanted to tell her.  Drunken beast!  I
fell on her knees by his side, clasping one hope he's dead."
of his drooping hands in both hers, and   A  little later his heart smote him for
staring at his ashy face with dilated eyes, thus leaving his eldest daughter to face her
the whites showing clear around the iris. perplexities and troubles alone. He sought
Feeling, presently, a little flutter at his her out and found that she had already
wrist, she regained some hope, but only so caused her husband to be carried to her
much hope, only such a terrible hope, as to room and laid on her bed.
gasp, " He is dying."                      " Nellie," he whispered, just glancing
Just then the Beaumont men, getting with aversion at the soiled, bloody, and still
news in some way of the catastrophe, hur- insensible drunkard. "I don't want to be
ried into the hall one after the other and hard. He can stay here till he is able to
gathered around the senseless octogenarian. go. But no longer, Nellie; at least I prePeyton was for a moment so overcome by fer not. He is the cause of all this. But
the calamity that he actually lost his head for him there would have been no difficulty.
and called like a frightened child, " Kershaw! Besides, he has been such a brute to you, -
Kershaw!" then, catching sight of Vincent, such a cruel, insulting brute! I don't feel
he turned sharply upon him and demanded, that I can have him here long."
" Why don't you see to him? "             There were tears in Nellie's eyes. It is
"He is living," replied the young man, not easy for a woman to look at blood and
who, it will be remembered, had been bred suffering without pity. As she gazed at
a physician. " Cato, bring some wine and Randolph's disfigured face and thought that
cold water. He has swooned away entire- possibly he might be dying, she could not
ly. He must have been hit early."       help remembering that he had once been
" In my house! " groaned Peyton. "My Handsome Armitage, and that it was not
best friend shot in my own house I "     many years since it had been her greatest
" Why did n't he call for help?" won- joy to worship him. Much reason as she
dered  Tom.  "An old gentleman like had for despising and abhorring him, there
that -"                                  had come into her heart now some sympa"Ah, Tom, you don't know him," mut- thy and tenderness, and she had almost
tered the father. " He is n't the man to thought that she might again endure, might
call for help when his friends are under even again love him. Nevertheless, she
fire."                                  was rational; she admitted that her father
" Are none of you going to do anything? " was right; the man must not stay long in
sobbed Kate. turning a piteous and reproach- this house.
ful stare from face to face.               "I ask nothing more," she said, shakinrg
" My dear sister, he has simply fainted," her head hysterically. " Only that you will




136                         KATE BEAUMONT.
please send for a physician. I don't want look, not even a passing paroxysm of selfishhim to die like a dog."                ness. Neither pain, nor the loss of vital
" He shall not," replied Beaumont, seiz- power, nor the belief that he was drawing
ing and pressing her arm. " Send yourself near his end, could make Kershaw utter a
for everything you want."              complaint or a claim fbr pity. If he had
Hurrying now to Kershaw's room, he words that were pathetic, it was because
found that the old man had recovered his they were touching with self-forgetfulness,
consciousness, and was able to speak.  eloquent with sympathy for others.
" Ah, my dear friend, you are quite your-   After a while Dr. Mattieson, who had
self again," exclaimed Beaumont, his grim  been sent for in all haste, was shown in by
face brightening with a joy which made it Vincent. Then Beaumont and Kate had
beautifil.                             to leave the chamber in order to allow of a
"We will hope for the best," murmured thorough examination of the wound. "W Will
Kershaw. In reality he had little confi- they hurt him? " asked the daughter in the
dence; there were pains in his body which crying tone of a grieving: child; and then,
led him to believe that the ball had glanced without waiting for an:> manswer, she fled to
upwards and made a mortal wound; but her room and locked the door. She felt
Kate's eyes were fixed on him with a pite- that her grief had reduced her to a state of
ous anxiety which would not allow him to moral weakness which was in'antile; and she
utter forebodings.                     had resolved to seek strength at the foot
"0  my dear I " she sighed, partly divin- of that invisible throne which pierces the
ing the affectionate heroism of this sublime heavens. Meantime the father walked softly
utterance, and thanking him for it by press- up and down the hall, expecting evil tidings,
ing his wrinkled hand against her wet face. but striving to hope. At last Vincent came
"' Do not be troubled, my little girl," he out with a grave face.
continued, noticing her tears. " Even if the   "What is it?" demanded Beaumont,
worst comes, it is well. I have lived a long dragging the young man aside. "Not bad,
while with you. I have seen you grow up. I hope."
It is a great deal. I was an old man when   "Very bad," said Vincent. "The ball
you were born."                        has glanced upward and probably pene"You were already wounded when you trated the abdomen. There is only too
told me to go in," said Kate. " 0, why much danger of peritonitis, and of course of
did n't I see it then?"               death."
"It would have made little difference,"   "Death!"  whispered  Beaumont, his
he replied.'I could wait."           ruddy face turning to a brownish pallor.
It was evident that he spoke with diffi- " O my God, no, Vincent! " he absolutely
culty, and that his faintness was returning. begged, smiting his nails into his palms.'" Here, take this, Kershaw," interposed " We can't have it so. Kershaw to die!
Beaumont, pouring out a glass of wine. Kershaw murdered in my house! 0 no,
"My dear child, you must not make him  Vincent! "
talk, and I think you had better go. She   His first thought was grief; his next was
can't help talking to you, Kershaw; she vengeance. His eyes were reddened with
never could."                          tears, but they were also bloodshot with
" 0, don't take me away!" implored the rage.
girl, rendered childish in mind and speech   "O, what an account those brutes have
by her grief. " I won't say a word."   opened for themselves! " he went on hoarsely.
" She will do me no harm," whispered "They have murdered the noblest man I
the invalid. " She helps me."          ever knew.  Murdered my best friend.
Presently, recovering his strength a little, What an account — in the next world -
he added in a clear voice, " Don't trouble and in this! God will remember them.
yourself, my dear Beaumont.  You will But I can't leave it to him," he burst out,
suffer with this standing. Sit down."  after a pause. "I and my boys must take
Quite overcome by this thoughtfulness them in hand. Lest God should forget,"
for himself at such a moment, Peyton turned he added, wiping away with his short, thick,
away with the spasmodic grimace of a man hairy hand the sweat of grief and wrath
who struggles not to weep. When he had which stood on his dark forehead.
somewhat regained his calmness, he dropped   Vincent made no demonstrations and
wearily into an arm-chair, and gazed at Ker- muttered few words. He was a calmer and
shaw with humid eyes.                  more taciturn man than his father, and valThe spectacle was worthy of his or of any ued himself on doing more than he looked
man's wonder and worship. In that dusky or said. He scarcely scowled and his voice
face, seeming already stained with death, was almost soft as he replied, "No one will
- in that noble face, sublimely sweet with blame us, whatever happens."
native goodness and with the good thoughts   "You are right," returned Beaumont.
and deeds of a long life, - there was not a " Public opinion will be with us. Hartland




KATE BEAUMONT.                                 137
can't support desperadoes who shoot such weep nor speak. She seemed to herself to
men as Kershaw."                         be of stone.
Presently a new thought and a very pain-   " Will you send for him? " he asked, after
ful one startled him for a moment out of waiting fbr some time in patient silence, strivthese ideas of vengeance.               ing meanwhile to suppress all utterance of
"Who will tell this to Kate? " he asked. pain.
Almost immediately he added with vehe-   Starting from her chair, Kate reeled out
mence, " I can't."                       of the room on her awful errand, moving by
Vincent, though not a very sensitive or jerks, as if she were a piece of imperfect
affectionate being, was perplexed and made mechanism.  During the half-hour which
no answer.                               elapsed before the arrival of the clergyman,
1" She worships her grandfather," groaned she walked the house without speaking,
Beaumont. "1 I can't tell her he is going to except to whisper now and then, "It is n't
die."                                    true, it is n't true."  Her reason, tried for
Still Vincent offered no suggestion. "I months past by trouble after trouble, nearly
won't tell her," decided the father. "Time sank under this new catastrophe.  She
will let her know all."                 retained intelligence enough, however, to
"It is the best way," assented Vincent. know that her agitation would harm  the' Distribute a great emotion over as many invalid if he should witness it, and to keep
pulsations as possible. It is generally the away from the sick-room  until she should
best way."                               be able to re-enter it calmly. Her father
During the afternoon Kershaw rallied a and sister, fearing for her sanity, sought to
little, and even the physicians began to have condole with her, and to hold her quiet with
faint hopes of him, impossible as it seemed caressing arms.
that so old a man could survive such a   "Let her walk," whispered Vincent. "If
wound. But early in the evening the horri- she could be got to gallop twenty miles, it
ble agony of peritonitis, or inflammation of would be still better. I never saw such
the abdoninal case, declared itself: Won- infatuation," he muttered to himself. " Howderful as was the self-control of the invalid, ever, he is like her, and we are not like her.
he could not help moaning and writhing It is a case of natural sympathy, exaggerunder his torture. No sleep; opiates could ated by circumstances."
not render nature insensible to that pain;   When Kate saw the minister arrive and
all night he was conscious and on the rack. go in to Kershaw, she suddenly became
When in the morning Kate succeeded in calm, and went to her own room, there, no
fighting her way with tears and pleadings doubt, to pray for strength and resignation.
to his bedside, he was a pitiable spectacle.   The Rev. Authur Gilyard was a man of
His face had fallen; his forehead, nose, and twenty-eight or thirty, tall and  slender,
chin were prominent; his eyes were of a slightly bald, his skin fair and very pale,
leaden blue, and surrounded by dark circles; with calm, serious blue eyes, and an expreshis complexion, notwithstanding the fever, sion of natural firmness alternating with an
was ashy and deathlike. His natural ex- acquired gentleness. Firm as he was, howpression of benignity had been so changed by ever, and disciplined as he had been by the
long straining against intolerable anguish, trials and duties of his profession, he falthat, had the girl seen him thus otherwhere, tered when he saw the death-marked face
she would not at once have recognized him. of his venerable parishioner, one of the
Now and then there was a moan; it was chief supporters of his little church, and his
a feeble one, it is true, because he tried own model of deportment and life.
still to hold himself under restraint; but,  i' My dear friend and brother," he began,
breaking as it did through a life-long habit and stopped there, overcome by grief. His
of self-command, it was significant of im- next words were forced from him by deep
mense agony. It was like the last ripple, humility of soul, arising from a sense of his
the feeble remnant of a mighty wave, which own unworthiness to stand forward as a
dies almost without noise among the reeds preceptor to this elder disciple, this man to
of a sloping shore. Little in itself, it told whom from his childhood he had looked up
of a tempest.                            as his superior. " I have come to you," he
"My dear," he whispered to Kate as she said, " to learn how to die."
sat down paralyzed by his side. " I wish to   "My dear pastor, I cannot teach you,"
see our clergyman."                     sighed Kershaw. " Pray that we may both
" 0, you are not going to die," she burst be taught."
out, wringing her hands.                   But we will not ascend farther into the
"My dear, have they not told you? " he solemnities of this more than earthly interanswered.  "Doubtless they meant it in view.
kindness. Neither did they tell me. But   When it was over, the dying man sent
it is so."                               word to his son-in-law that he wished to see
Kate was crushed. She could neither him alone.
18




138                          KATE BEAUMONT.
" Well, Kershaw, what can I do for you? " ton, who thought his friend's reason was
asked Beaumont with assumed cheerfulness beginning to fail.  " But are you not tiras he seated himself by the bedside and took ing yourself?  Had n't you better rest a
the hand of his revered friend.         little? "
" Beaumont, you are a kind-hearted man,"   "I cannot rest, Beaumont. I must not
murmured the Colonel. "'You have warm  rest until I have an answer from  you. I
and generous sympathies."                ask you not to avenge me upon the McAlis"Ah, Kershaw, I am a poor, rough, old ters. Can't you promise it to me?  Beaufellow," returned Peyton, shaking his head. mont, can't you?"
"Beaumont, you love your children,".   Ah, Kershaw, you drive me to the
continued the invalid. "I wish you could wall," groaned Peyton.  "Well - yes, I
love your felow-men as you do your chil- must promise. I do."
dren."                                     " And will you beg of your sons not to
"I do love some of them. I have loved avenge me?"
you, Kershaw-"'Yes, I will do even that," assented P yvHere he stopped a moment, his hard face ton. He did not want to agree to so much,
twitching with emotion, and his grim eyes but he was fairly driven to it by a sudden
filling with tears.                      spasm in Kershaw's face, which he thought." If they were all like you, it would be was the invasion of death.
easy," he went on. " But some of them are   A glass of wine partially restored the
such - such rascals I!  Those McAlisters, invalid, and he continued his plea for hufor instance. How can a man love those manlity.
savages? "                                "I know that I can trust you." he whis"'I was thinking of them," resumed Ker- pered.   "You always keep your word.
shaw. " You know, Beaumont, that I have And now, if I could obtain one other promwanted you all my life - my latter life, at ise from you, I should die contented. Can
least - to be at peace with them. I want you not forgive these men altogether, Beauit now."                                 mont?   Can you not make peace with
"But they have just shot you, Kershaw," them?   Has not this feud shed blood
blurted out Peyton. "I could have for- enough?  Remember that I am one of its
given them before. Now I can't."         victims. I have a right to bear witness
" I can," said the dying man, fixing his against it. Can you not, for my sake as
eyes solemnly on his friend.             well as for the sake of humanity, for the
Beaumont bowed his face under that sake of those whom it still threatens, and
gaze.                                    for the sake of their Creator and yours,
"''Vengeance is mine, saith the Lord,' " can you not promise to do your utmost to
continued Kershaw, his voice falling to a end it? "
whisper under a paroxysm of pain.          It may seem strange that Peyton BeauBeaumont shook his iron-gray head, as if mont should not have told some gentle
the text proffered aid to his vengeance, and falsehood with regard to making peace, for
he could not accept it.                  the purpose of soothing his dying friend.
"It was a misunderstanding," went on But this rough man was profoundly honest;
Kershaw.'" Those young men thought we he would not have uttered a white lie, if he
were attacking their brother."           had thought of it; and he did not even
" But they knew you," persisted Peyton. think of it. No, it was not in his nature to
" They knew that you never did harm to a promise to end the feud. unless he meant to
human being. Why should they fire so as to end it. So, with Kershaw looking at him,
hit you? The miserable, barbarous wretches I as it were, from the other side of the grave,
Kershaw, I never can forgive them, never! " he remained silent until he could come to a
After a short silence, during which he decision. When it was reached, such as it
wrestled with his agony, the old man said was, he uttered it.
deliberately, " We South-Carolinians are   "Yes, Kershaw," he said. "I will - ves,
not a law-abiding people."               I will.do-the best I can. You know how' Not a law-abiding people!" exclaimed old this thing is. You know how it is tanPe'yton, in such surprise that he forgot gled up with our lives and our very natures.
where he was and spoke quite loudly.    Don't make me promise more than I can
" No. We take punishment into our own perform. But I will remember what vou
hands. We cannot wait for the law. We do ask, Kershaw. I will do what I can."
not trust the law. We make of ourselves   " It is enough," said the invalid. "I trust
judge, jury, and executioner. The conse- you and thank you."
quence is that the State is full of homicide.   Here he fainted quite away and was
It is wrong, Beaumont. It is a violation of thought for a time to be dead; but the
the fai;h of man in man. It strikes at the charge of vitality was not yet exhaus; ed,
base of soci,~ty. It tends to barbarism."    and he came back to consciousness. It was
" Kershaw, you astonish me," said Pey. during this insensibility that Lawson ~ rrived




KATE BEAUMONT.                                 139
and was shown into the room. The dying riably results from the intense inflammation
man received him with a smile which tri- of peritonitis. He had, as it were, fought
umphed over a spasm of agony.            with devils for his reason in order that he
" Lawson, I am glad to see you," he said. might bid farewell to those whom he loved,
"I bear this the better for seeing you once and exhort them to a better life. This duty
more. But I can only say a few words. I accomplished, he fell on his field of victory.
must bid you good by quickly. You are a Incoherence came upon him, like reeling
good man, Lawson; you have a gentle, lov- upon a wounded hero; and then followed
ing heart.  I think you never wished a hours on hours of wandering, without one
human being harm. I have seen the sweet- gleam of sanity. The final stage was conle;
ness of your soul and loved you for it. You there were hours more of sleep, or rather of
are one of the children of peace. God re- stupor; he saw nothing, heard nothing, and,
ward you, Lawson. God bless you."        happy at least in this, felt nothing. Then,
It was visible at this moment that the before any one perceived it, he was dead.
Major was not that shallow  and merely   " He is gone," said Beaumont, taking one
babbling being which many people judged of his daughter's hands, and passing an arm
him  to be. Completely overwhelmed by around her waist, as if he would prevent her
this parting from the man whom he loved from flying also to the other world.
and reverenced above all other men, he   For a minute she made no reply, her
could not utter a word be. ond a convulsive, whole soul being absorbed in gazing into the
"Kershaw!"  Then he knelt down sud- face of the dead and searching there for some
denly, hid his face in the bedclothes, and signs of life. At last she said with strange
sobbed audibly.                          deliberation, " All the confidence and symThe invalid next bade a calm farewell to pathy that it has taken all my life to create
Nellie Armitage, to her three brothers, and are gone in one moment."
to Mrs. Chester.                           Having thus summed up the catastrophe
" My dear young friends, I have left that had overtaken her, she fell back on her
something for each of you," was one thing father's shoulder, pallid and apparently
which he said to them. " And in my will I senseless.
have ventured to beg that you - you young
men, I mean - will strive to be at peace
with your fellow-men. I trust that you will       CHAPTER  XXXIII.
not be vexed with me for that exhortation,
and that you will bear it in mind. God   BEFORE Kate fairly recovered from her
guide and bless you all, my dear friends."  fainting fit, her brother Vincent placed a
After this he was left alone, at his own powerful opiate at her lips and she drank
gently hinted request, with Peyton Beau- it, so that the first hours of her bereavement
mont and Kate.                           passed away in sleep, or rather in disturbed
"Hold fast to my hand," he whispered and spasmodic dozing.
to the girl. "I go straight from  you to   Leaving her in the hands of this merciful
your mother."                           insensibility, let us see how others were
At these words the tears burst loose from  affected by the death of Kershaw. Even
Beaunmont's eyelids, and rolled down his previous to that event Peyton Beaumont
grim, unshaven face.                     had made it his duty to exorcise Randolph
" Kershaw, give her my love," he said Armitage from his house. When that highwith impulsive faith, alluding to his dead flung gentleman made his appearance, on
wife. "But I never was worthy of her. the morning after he had been put to bed
God forgive me."                         drunk and with a broken scalp, his fatherKate, with the hand that was free, reached in-law's first words to him were, " Are you
out and took her father's hand. She was able to travel, sir?"
not crying; her grief was too hard to give   " I suppose I am," sullenly replied Ranforth tears; but with all her suffering, she dolph, with a scowl of mingled pain and
could pity.                              anger.
"I will be good to her child, — to my   "Then travel, sir," growled Peyton, the
child," added Beaumont, with a sob.      brown veins in his forehead and the red
" God help you so," replied Kershaw in a veins in his cheeks swelling with wrath.
voice so solemn that it seemed to come   Randolph started, placed one hand to his
from the other world. " God be with you bandaged head as if to repress its beatings,
both."                                   made an evident effort to recover his selfThese were the last rational words that possession, and seemed about to remonstrate.
he spoke. For some time, unobservedly to   " Don't you speak, sir," thundered Beauthose about him and unconsciously to him- mont. " You can't have your wife and chilself, he had been struggling, not only with dren. As a husband and as a father, as
weakness and anguish, but also with the well as in every other way, you have been
co nnlencement of that delirium which inva- a brute. Get out of my house. Get out of




140                         KATE BEAUMONT.
this district. If I find you in the neighbor-   But their plea was useless. Nearly all
hood to-morrow, I'll have you hunted like Hartland believed that they had killed
a wolf.  Not one word, sir. Be offl"   Kershaw, and that in so doing they had
With the air of a cowed but savage cur, committed an abominable crime.  Even
Armitage walked silently out of the house, their assertion that they had not aimed
and that very day quitted Hartland for at the old man was turned against them
parts unknown.                         by this community of marksmen.  John
Sadly and heavily, Beaumont now went Stokes, a fervent adherent of the Beauto find Nellie, and said to her, "My poor monts, be it charitably remembered, exchild, I have sent him away."          pressed very pithily the prevailing opinNellie placed her hands on her father's ion.
shoulders, as if for support, and laid her   "Popped the Colonel by accident, did
head against his cheek so as to hide her they?" said Mr. Stokes, taking a fresh
face. She remembered that it was her own quid aboard and chewing it vigorously,
husband, once very dear to her, who had while he meditated upon the infamy of the
thus been driven out, and she remembered confession. " Sech men no business carryalso that she could not reasonably say a in' shootin'-irons," he resumed, in his leisword against his ignominious expulsion. In urely way. "Why, I consider it one of
that bitter moment she was fully conscious the highest of crimes an' misdemeanors to
of her loneliness, her degradation as a wife, pop a man by accident. I'll leave it out
her failure as a woman. She expressed to all Hartland, if it ain't. Why, look
her wretchedness and her resignation in hyer. Ef I save a man beknownst an' a
one brief sentence, "I have ceased to be a purpose, I may hev good reason for it.
wife."                                 Anyway, I know what I'm  after. I do
" My dear, it was time," murmured Beau- what I set out to do, an' nothin' else. You
mont, in hoarse, tremulous bass. "My dear know how to count on me. You know
child, no one can blame you," he presently what I'11 do next time I put my hand
added in a louder tone. "I should like to under my jacket. Take the Beaumonts,
look the man in the face who would dare now," instanced Mr. Stokes, after another
blame you."                             prolonged grinding. " They don't go round
The next notable event in the household, shootin' the best men in the country by
an event already related, was Kershaw's accident. When they pop you, they mean
death. In the village, in the district, and it. They've shot as many as any other
even in all the midland part of the State, crowd in the State, an' never had no damn
it produced a prodigious excitement. The foolish accident yet, but allays bored the
profound popular respect which had for feller they drew bead on, an' no other.
many years surrounded this "last of the Now thar's men you can tie to; thar's
barons" (as some men called him) blazed men you can hev a confidence in; thar's
up in a flame of wrath against his mur- men you can feel safe with. I tell you, I
derers. All the fighting men of the region, love an' respect them Beaumonts, for what
as well as all the non-fighting men and the they do, an' for what they don't do, for
women, were for once virtuously indignant what they hit an' for what they miss. A
at an assassination.  Even the intimate man that's allays doin' jest what you reckfriends of the McAlisters found it hard to oned he was gwine to do is the man that
excuse them, and their numerous enemies John Stokes swings his old broadbrim for.
were in a state of mind to lynch them gladly, That's so."
had lynching high-toned gentlemen been   After another stern assault upon his
ethically permissible.                 quid, he concluded his virile profession of
The Judge, honestly horrified by the faith, worthy surely of the heroic age.
tragedy, had moral sense enough to foresee   " But as much as I love business, I hate
the storm  which it would arouse, and to foolin' round an' firin' wild. A feller that
shrink from encountering it. He promptly goes about killin' by accident, you can't
published a card in the " Hartland Journal." tell what he'11 do nor whar he'1 stop.
In this card he expressed his sincere grief He may clean out the whole poppylation
fobr the death of Colonel Kershaw; he eulo- by one accident after another. Children
gized the old man's character in a style an' niggers an' stock an' property at large
which strong feeling made eloquent; he ain't safe when sech a feller is loose. He
flatly denied that his sons were responsible can't be trusted. A decent community has
for the homicide, and asked the public to no use for sech a man. In a general way
suspend its judgment until further informa- he oughter be strung up with the nighest
tion. Bruce and Wallace also put forth a grapevine. I don't want to raise a crowd
joint statement, in which they asserted that agin the McAlisters," added Mr. Stokes,
neither of them had aimed at the deceased, remembering that they were high-toned
and that their action in the menlge was a jus- gentlemen and owned hundreds of negroes.
tifiable defence of their brother.'I've allays considered'emn hitherto as




KATE BEAUMONT.                                 141
straight-shootin' men an' tolerably reliable   " In general I disapprove of rencontres,"
men every way, except in politics. I'im  he said to them. "If gentlemen must fight,
willin', as the Judge requests in his keerd, they should fight under the code, in most
to suspend my judgment. But 1 must say cases. But this was an exceptional case.
that so fur, accident or no accident, things It was defence against assassination. You
is agin'em. Yes, sir, as sure as cotton is were unquestionably right, you were right
white an' niggers is black, things is power- in the sight of God and man, in trying to
fully agin'em."                        rescue your brother. The Beaumonts themThings were so much "agin'em," and selves, unreasonable and savage as they
the Judge was so clearly aware of it, that are, must see it. I have no douht that you
he persisted in withdrawing his congres- saved Frank's life.  I approve of your
sional candidature, though dismally uncer- action. Approve?  God bless me, I thank
tain whether Beaumont would now recom- you for it! As for the death of poor Kermend him  for the United States Court. shaw, time will show that your statement is
In explanation of this step he put forth a correct, and that you are not responsible
second caxd, which was dictated, like many for it. All-discovering time and Heaven's
o her political effusions, by a mixture of own justice," perorated the Judge, tremsubtlety and right feeling, but which ex- bling eloquently with his faith and piety.
pressed such admirable sentiments, and   The Judge's affairs took on brightness
expressed them  so well, that it regained quicker than the reader probably sees reafor him a certain measure of popular con- son to hope. The public prejudice against
sideration.                             his family was destined to receive a prompt
"In consequence of the universal horror and potent shock. There was a grand-jury
and grief at the death of the late lamented inquest into the death of Kershaw, and
Colonel John Kershaw," he wrote, " and in necessarily  a  post-mortem  examination.
view of the as yet mysterious circumstances Then was satisfied a craving curiosity
which seem to throw the responsibility of which had kept all Hartland awake of
the tragedy upon members of my family, I nights.  To understand  this inquisitivewithdraw  my name as candidate for the ness, it must be stated that the fighting men
House of Representaitives, merely begging of the region frequently marked their bulmy esteemed fellow-citizens, and especially lets, partly perhaps out of a chivalrous feelmy faithful political friends, to believe that ing that every one ought to take the reit is not an evil conscience which impels sponsibility of his own shots, and partly
me to this step, but solely respect for, and that each might be able to vindicate his
sympathy with, a community mourning its marksmanship by identifying his proper
noblest citizen."                       game. It was a custom which had been
"' At least," thought the Judge, "I have introduced by those leaders in chivalry, or,
a good excuse to send to Mr. Choke and as some few people said, in savagery, the
his committee. And, moreover, I think the Beaumonts.  Of course it was expected by
card must bring people around a little."    all the enemies of the McAlisters that the
It did bring them around somewhat, but fatal bullet would disclose the letter M.
not enough and not soon enough to influ- What then was their astonishment when
ence the election, even had the Judge's the letter was found to be A!
adherents still persisted in considering him    " A!" whispered Vincent, as he handed
a candidate. The voting took place the the tragical bit of lead to his father.
day after Kershaw's death, and resulted in'" A I " gasped Peyton Beaumont, after a
an overwhelming triumph for Peyton Beau- long stare of amazement and a quick glance
mont, two thirds of the electors support- at Vincent.
ing, him and the other third staying at   "It is an ugly hieroglyphic-for us,"
home. The Judge received the news of observed Poinsett, sombrely.
his rival's gigantic success with the calm-   "What! - was it Armitage? " demanded
ness of a strong man accustomed to misfor- Tom, blurting out what the rest had shrunk
tunes.                                  from uttering.
"It is what I looked for," he said to his   " He was the man," responded Beaumont
excellent wife, with whom  he consorted with drooping head. "The calamity is ten
much in his times of trouble. "It was times more dreadful than we knew."
inevitable, —once  my name  withdrawn.   All four were silent for a time, weighed
Well, the clouds must clear up some day. down by the same terrible reflection, that
Heaven," he added, feeling somehow that, upon their house rested the responsibility
because he was chastened, therefore he of the death of Kershaw.
was good, -"Heaven will some day see   "It must have been a pure accident,"
that justice is done me."               said Poinsett at last. "Armitage had nothHe did not even show petulance to Bruce ing against our old friend."
and Wallace because of the calamity which   "It was a stupid drunken accident of a
they had brought upon him.               miserable drunkard and idiot," muttered




142                         KATE BEAUMONT.
Beaumont, dashing tears of grief and rage   When the story of the ownership of the
from his eyes.                         fatal bullet spread through Hartland, there
"One thing puzzles me," resumed Poin- came a mighty change in public sentiment.
sett, whose legal mind was already cross- The McAlisters were cleared of Kershaw's
questioning the circumstances of the trage- blood as if by a hurrah. People wanted
dy.  "Armitage did all his firing befbre Randolph Armitage brought to justice, and
Bruce and Wallace came up. Consequently were not far from ready to lynch him, genthe Colonel must have known that it was tleman as he was. Peyton Beaumont was
not they who hit him. Now, why did he freely criticised (behind his back) for havnot state it?"                        ing allowed his son-in-law to disappear, and
"Wanted to save the honor of our fanl- was even charged with having urged him to
ily " thought Tom.                     escape before his guilt should become known.
"No," sighed Beaumont, shakiag his head. Nor were there wanting low-minded gossips
"Kershaw was our friend, but not to the incapable of appreciating the pugnacious
point of injustice. He was too truthful a old planter's unselfishness and strenuous
man to let the responsibility lie at the sense of honor, who hinted that he had long
wrong door deliberately. It is more likely been waiting for the Kershaw  estate, and
that he thought the secret would perish with had become impatient.  Furthermore, the
him, and so no one would be punished for Beamonts were held accourtable for Armihis death. That was like Kershaw. He tage's breach of hospitality in attacking
had no spite in him. He was the gentlest- Frank under their roof. Bruce and Walhearted man that ever drew breath."    lace were justified for defbnding a brother
But Vincent had a surgeon's explanation, in danger of assassination. In short, popuand it was noticeable that it at once secured lar feeling and opinion had never before run
the assent of his auditors, so chirurgical in so strongly in favor of the McAlisters, and
mind had they become through fightings against their rivals; and had the election
and hearing of fightings.              been held after the inquest, instead of be" Sometimes a man is not at once aware fore it, the Judge might have gone into
that he is hit," he said. "I have seen a Congress by a respectable majority. Of
fellow who had lost first blood insist upon this fact, by the way, he was the first to
going on with his affair, quite unaware that take notice; and he groaned over it in a
he was wounded, and smartly wounded at spirit that was natural, though not praisethat. I have known a fellow, shot through worthy.
the shoulder, who complained that the ball   At last, however, all the circumstances of
had gone down into his thigh, and finally the melee became public, and then Hartland
discovered that the pain in the thigh was settled down to blaming Randolph Armicaused by a second ball which had struck tage alone, considering that tl:e other coinhim there, without causing at first any no- batants had done what was right according
ticeable sensation. It is wonderful what to their knowledge, and so merited, not rephits a man may take in a moment of ex- robation, but eulogy.
citement, without immediately remarking   Nevertheless, the Beaumonts remained
them. I suspect that Kershaw never really in a state of grief, wrath, and humiliation.
knew when he was wounded.  Had he Considering themselves responsible in a
known it I think he would have told us, he measure for their relative, Armitage, they
was naturally so straightforward and frank." were ashamed of his attack upon their fa"l You may be right, Vincent," answered ther's guest, and furious at his homicide of
Bea umout. "I remember something of the their noble Kershaw. The death of the
sort happening to myself."             good old man was an awfil loss to them in
The reminiscence was uttered quietly, more ways than one. He had been not
and no one looked surprised at it, nor were only their adviser in doing what was right,
any questions asked. The Beaumonts never but their egis against criticism when they
babbled about their combats, and rarely had done what was wrong. On the rare
mentioned them, except incidentally or occasions when society dared to condemn
when business demanded it.             them for their battlings and other pecca"What are you going to do with that  " dilloes, they had been able to respond,
asked Tom, as Vincent walked away with " But we keep the friendship of Kershaw,
the proof of Armitage's homicide.      and therefore cannot be very culpable."
"I am going to put it in Mattieson's Without him, they felt less strong than hithhands to exhibit it to the jury," was the erto, and they mourned him on that acresponse                               count, as well as because they had loved
Beaumont gave Tom a grave glance which him.
seemed to ask, " Would you think of con-   It would seem now as if Beaumont ouglht
cealing it?"                          to have fulfilled his promise to Kershaw to
The young fellow dropped his head and do his best at burying the hatchet. But,
made no further remark.                instead of sending pacific messages to the




KATE BEAUMONT.                                 143
Me Alisters, he turned }is back on them and was a series of troubles, billow raging after
on Hartland, and went off to Washington. billow. Its successive shocks had already
He remained absent some weeks, during weakened her, so that she was the less able
which nothing was known of his purposes to withstand the present.
or his doings, except that he was much seen   The human being, bodily and spiritually,
in political circles. From  him, therefore, is a unity. The mind cannot chafe long
we turn to his sorrowing daughter, Kate. without causing the strength of the body
This affectionate, sensitive, puissantly to fail. Sorrowful brooding by day, and
sympathetic nature had been bruised to the nights of broken, unrefreshing sleep, soon
core by the great calamity which had fallen made the girl an invalid, and gave her tile
upon it. Her best and wisest friend, the air of one. Her rich color faded, her limsweet old man of whom she had made a pet pid hazel eyes became dull and despondent,
from her infancy, the being toward whose and her fine figure lost somewhat of its
purity her own pure spirit had instinctively rounded outlines.
inclined, had been torn from her by a hide-   But sadly as the physical languished, the
ous accident, a brutal mistake. At first she spiritual suffered even more. Before long
hal received the blow with an amazement Kate fell into a melancholy which took an
which had the effect of incredulity. This unwholesome theological cast, akin to suoften happens to the afflicted, and it is well perstition.  In her diseased imagination
that it is so. Sorrow, to use the intelligent God became a Moloch, demanding  the
phrase of Vincent Beaumont, is thereby death of the innocents of her heart. She
distributed over a greater number of heart- was possessed by an impression that some
beats, and thus permits the heart to beat on. great sacrifice was demanded of her. What
But day after day passed, and Kershaw  could it be. except the man whom she now
(lid not return. Little by little the girl fully loved, as she was compelled to admit, above
realized her bereavement, and little by little all other living beings?
it appeared that she could not well endure   Heavy laden with this terrible idea, and
it. To those who loved her, and therefore striving in vain to shake it off by efforts of
watched her comnprehendingly, it was a ter- reason, the girl wandered in deserts of gloom.
rible thing to see the storms of grief which Restless with an emotion which claimed to
sometimes came upon her, even when she be remorse, she went from room to room
was striving to maintain a sunny counte- with such a haggard face and abstracted
nance. In the midst of a conversation she gaze as to draw wondering stares from her
would be stricken dumb; her head would relatives.  One whole day she passed alone
fall slowly back, and her eyes turn upward in her chamber, praying that the intoleraas if seeking to pierce other worlds; then, ble cup might pass from her. But the heavwith a quiver of the throat, she would utter ens were of brass; it seemed to her as if
a loud, shuddering sigh. It was only a mo- the sun refused to shine upon her; as if all
mentary spasm, for almost immediately she nature reproved her for her selfish r,,bellion.
would regain her usual air, and perhaps   At last, overcome by the reproaches of
finish a sentence. But short as the tremor her mock conscience, she bowed her will to
had been, her heart had given forth a por- this supposed duty. Kneeling before her
tion of its vitality, and there was less for Bible, sobbing forth supplications for resigtlle purposes of living. There are erup- nation, she promised to expel Frank MA1ltions which at once show the power of the ister from her heart, and to think no more
volcano and eat away its case.          of marrying him, no more of loving him.
Of course her trial was a complicated   She had expected that this vow, could
one, and her grief a legion. In losing her she ever utter it, would give her peace.
best and dearest friend, she had lost her But it did not; something else was now dechances of domestic peace, and her hope of manded of her; the cruel Moloch of broken
b'ing, able to live for love. Who, now that health and shattered nerves was insatiable;
Kershaw was,one, would keep quiet those she must still sacrifice, choosing whatever
wild broods of Beaumont and McAlister was pleasantest and dearest. She must give
men, always ready to fly at each other's up her home, go forth from her own flesh
throats?  What probability was there that and blood, and labor somehow, suffer someshe would ever be able to place her hand in how, alone.
the outreaching hand of him who had won   This new requisition of the mocking spirher heart? Her father and brothers, kind its of invalidism drove her almost frantic.
as they meant to be to her, were so many Unfortunately there was no one in the famcauses of anxiety and terror, such was their ily to whom she would naturally turn for
readiness to expose life and to take it. counsel in such difficulties. Her aunt and
From  her sister, more unfortunate than a brothers were not in any sense spirituallywidow, a wife whose husband was in peril minded; even her sister, notwithstanding
of the gallows, she had no right to demand her puissance of sympathy, could not comconsolation. If she looked to the past, it prehend her. Once, when Kate ventured




144                          KATE BEAUMONT.
to hint some of her dolorous impressions to that they cause, they have given a pulsation.
Nellie, that healthy woman broke out in They are admirable for what they do, and
sound-minded indignation, telling the girl for the power which enables them to do it,
that her scruples were whimsical, and call- and for the health of moral and physical
ing her a silly.                         constitution which supplies this waste of
Under such circumstances it is no won- power.
der that Kate began to receive with pleasure   The life of such a woman is as stormy and
the consolatory visits of the Rev. Arthur as full of exhausting labor, one may almost
Gilyard.                                 say, as that of a Napoleon. She can hardly
be encountered without subjection, and she
cannot be intelligently considered without
CHAPTER  XXXIV.                wonder. Let no one who is not born to do
it, who is not furnished by nature with the
As the Rev. Arthur Gilyard will be of force to do it, hope to rival her.  This
some importance in our story, we must say power of fascinating, of' being fascinated,
a word or two concerning his character.    and still living, is not acquired, but given.
He was a model gentleman, and, making It is unconscious. She who possesses it is
allowance for the narrowness of his moral not aware of the possession. She acts by
education, a model Christian. In all those it, and does not know why she so acts, and
duties of his profession which he clearly saw  does not even see that she so acts.  And
to be duties, he was faithful in the extreme. it is surely one of the mightiest of the gifts
If he had neither public nor private re- that are conferred upon mortals.
proof for some of the characteristics of   But there is another enchanter, very difSouthern society which other societies de- ferent from this one, yet equally wonderful.
nounced as sins, it was because he had not She is not gifted for effort, and she puts
yet been able to decide that they were forth none. She waits, like a deity, for the
unmixed evils.                           worship which is due her, not even perceivHe doubted, for instance, whether duel- ing that it is due. She is as calm in appearling were not an instrument for the devel- ance as Greek art, and as sure of admiraopinent of civilization by elevating the sense tion. She may be called the Washington
of honor a'nd polishing manners. As for of women, as the other is the Napoleon.
slavery, if the Bible did not assail it, why Her purity and nobility of soul, obvious to
should he?  If in these views he was illogi- every worthy beholder, are what draw
cal, antiquated, and provincial, he was at adorers. The more unconscious she is of
least perfectly honest.                  worship and the more indifferent to it, the
These things apart, he was admirable. more she commands it.
By nature proud, ambitious, and combative,   In sorrow, in the sublime forgetfulness of
he had made himself humble, unselfish, and self which grief brings, she is epecially irregentle by assiduous selflculture. The best sistible. W'hoever sees her wishes to comof sons, a fervent friend, a tireless pastor, fort her, and brings offerings of' pity and
an earnest preacher, he was loved in pri- then of love. She inspires the respectful,
vate and respected in public.            the solemnly reverential affection which a
Notwithstanding his peaceful profession, true Catholic feels in gazing upon a Mater
even bellicose Peyton Beaumont admired Dolorosa. A maiden, perhaps, yet already
him heartily, and said of him, " He is a gen- a mother of sorrows, she is at once fascinattleman," sometimes adding, "' Well, of course ing and imposing. Men long to sound her
he is. Good blood, sir; Huguenot blood. sombre mystery, and are willing to use
Even a clergyman, sir, can't be a gentleman their lives to dispel it.
without descent."                          Such at this time was Kate Beaumont.
Such was the man who now came often Her face, of that sweet and dignified aquito console Kate Beaumont, and who very line, which we call Oriental, was both tensoon became infatuated with his mission. der and grand with trouble. Her profound,
In spite of her thinness and pallor, the girl imploring hazel eyes demanded the pity
was still beautifill; and in spite of her de- which she never or rarely asked for in words.
spondency and her fits of silence, she was No man of refined feeling could look on her
fascinating,                             without querying, What is the matter with
There are women who charm  men be- her, and what can I do for her?
cause they take the pains to do it, and who   How could a clergyman, whose profession
take pains because they are themselves inter- it is to utter the mercy of Heaven, fail to be
ested. They are of the nature of magnets; urgent in proffering consolation?  Arthur
they attract potently for the reason that Gilyard performed his duty with emotion,
they are attracted; they are creatures of and he suffered the penalty of so performstrong sympathies and therefore of indefat- ing it. We have not space to show how
igable activity. They win triumphs, but sympathy grew in his heart from one form
they pay for them. For every pulsation into another; we must compress the whole




KATE BEAUMONT.                                 145
of this passionate evolution into one phrase, it; changing from sofa to settee: always in
- he fell in love.                       movement. At last people began to notice
Now imagine Kate Beaumont in daily how she buzzed about, how incessantly and
intercourse with this pitying, worshipping eagerly she talked, bow oddly her black eyes
young man, and receiving from him the only sparkled.
ideas that could give her any semblance of   "What the doose is the matter with Aunt
peace or joy. What wonder if an impres- Marian? " grumbled Tom, annoyed by her
sion should come upon h-r, like a message humming-bird activity. "I'd as lieve have
delivered by some invisible archangel, com- a basket of hornbugs in the house. If she
manding her to revere her comforter, to should bang against the ceiling and come
imitate his beautiful life, to renounce like down kicking on the floor, I should n't be
him  a dying world, and like him devote astonished."
herself to the good of others?  She had   "She is only a good deal more like
thoughts of entering a hospital as a nurse, herself than usual," observed the philosophor of going abroad as a teacher of the ic Poinsett. "We a e all of us annoying
heathen.  But, woman-like, with all her when we are excessively in character."
self-abnegation, she felt that she needed in   "She is behaving queerly, even for her,"
these labors a fellow-apostle, who should be judged Vincent, the semiphysician.
her support and guide. So also felt and    Well, among her numerous projects,
thought the Rev. Arthur Gilyard, remem- Mrs. Chester conceived that of going to
bering meanwhile that his people had been Washington with Representative Beaumont,
urgent with him to take a wife, and trusting keeping house for him during session time,
that Heaven had shown him one who was giving grand receptions, having members
worthy to share his mission.             of the Cabinet to dinner, coquettinog with
But this strange courtship. this courtship mustached secretaries of legation, and bewhich strove to be unconscious of its own coming nationally famous as a queen of
real nature and purpose, must have the society. A judicious portion of this engo-by for the present. We are called upon chanting prospect, that is to say, such part
to turn to an unpleasant figure in our of it as included having one's own nice
drama. Mrs. Chester is about to make bed and excellent cookery in a capital not
trouble, and must be watched.           famous for such things, she had set before
Notwithstanding a certain constant jeal- the mind's eye of her brother just previous
ousy of Kate, notwithstanding that it al- to his leaving Hartland.
ways annoyed her to see another woman   " I would take a house there, if I could
admired, Aunt Marian's first feeling with have my daughters with me," replied Beauregard to the Gilyard courtship was mainly mont, always a father.
gratification. The harebrained, spiteful old   Mrs. Chester frowned: she did not want
flirt had not yet forgiven Frank McAlister the daughters along; they would be her
for preferring a niece to an aunt; frivolous rivals with the secretaries.
as she seemed, she had sincerity and ear-   "Do you think I could n't take care of
nestness enough to hate him heartily and you, Peyton?" she asked, reproachfully;
to want him  to be miserable. "If Kate "an old housekeeper like me!"
takes this stick of a minister," she said to   "That is n't it," answered Peyton, who
her unamiable self; "it will plague that tall nevertheless had his doubts.  "I don't
brute properly."                        want the expense of a Washington house,.
But we must be more serious than usual and Washington hospitalities, of course,.
with Mrs. Chester.  A  singular change, unless my children, my girls at least, can
capable of germinating ugly consequences, share the pleasure with me. You are very
had come over this always sufficiently sin- kind, Marian," he added, with judgment.
gular woman. Whether it was that the i But, you see, I am an old fool of a father."'
late startling events in the family life had   "I know you are," retorted Mrs. Chester,
shaken her nervous system, or whether it snappishly.  But in another instant this'
was that some constitutional transition or versatile gadfly changed her direction and
some occult decay of health had suddenly decided to accept her nieces.
diminished her power of self-control, at all   " Let the girls eome. if they wish it," she,
events she was in an uncommonly excitable said. " We shall be all the gayer."
state.  She was as restless, dissatisfied, and   "Gayer!"  almost growled Beaumont.
fretful as a teething baby. Always troub- "How can they be gay?  How can they go,
led with plans and wants, she had them  into society at all? You know what a row
now by scores, and had them dreadfully. Armitage has made, and that he has disapEvery day some new project for being peared."
happy was proposed, advocated with pettish   "0, certainly, Nellie can't go," admitted;
eagerness, and dropped for another. She Mrs. Chester, thinking. so much the better.
was as agitated in body as in spirit. She   "Nor will Kate, I am sure," added Beaucould not sit still; into a room, and out of mont.
19




146                          KATE BEAUMONT.
"Why not?  He was only her grand-   "Your father is very anxious to keep
father."                                 house, this coming session," she began. " He
Peyton gave his sister rather a black is sick of' those wretched hotels, and wants
look, and replied, "That is a good deal, his own bed and his own table. His plan is
especially when he was the man he was. to take you and me with him, and have a
My God, we let the dead slip out of mind comfortable home, you know, and give a few
soon enough. Would you have us hurry dinners and receptions, and be somebody in
up our forgetting?"                     society there. It will be so much for his
"You are always snapping at me," said interest, and so much for his comfort too I!
the lady, with a violent gesture which I am so glad he has settled upon it."
showed how slight was her self-command.   Now this was stating the matter pretty
"You are very hard-hearted."             strongly, was it not?  Did Mrs. Chester
Beaumont stared in amazement and in- mean to lie or to exaggerate?  Well, not
dianation. Then, for the first time per- exactly; she did not see that she was lying
haps, he noticed the unusual brilliancy or exaggerating much; perhaps she did not
and unsteadiness of his sister's eye, and see that she was doing so at all. She was
wondered whether she were as well as usual. one of those persons who desire so im[pulDeciding that she was not fit for contro- sively and passionately, that they easily imversy, and that he as a man ought to show  pute their desires to other people.  She
forbearance, he made no answer to her stretched the truth, and annexed what was
attack. She will discover on reflection, he not the truth almost unconsciously.  No
said to himself, who it is that has been doubt, also, her present abnormal nervoushard-hearted.                            ness may account for somewhat of her auHe ought to have known his sister bet- dacity of invention.
ter; she was not a person to see herself' as   " Receptions in Washington!" murmured
ottiers saw her; she was as incapable of Kate.  The sorrowing soul shrank from
introspection as a cat. It is worthy of note, gayeties as an invalid might shrink from a
by the way, as an instance of her versatility, voyage among the chilly glitter of icebergs.
that she had promptly dismissed her inter-   " O, I will see to themn mainly," offered
est in the Gilyard courtship, on discovering Mrs. Chester, that sly child of' forty-five.
that it might interfere with her Washington "You could be in or out, as you wished."
whimwham.                                  "I don't see how I could well avoid them,
"I think you don't sufficiently con- if I were in the house."
sider Kate's interests," she resumed. "Her   "Well, why should you avoid them?"
health, poor child, is suffering.  She ought demanded Mrs. Chester, with  shocking
to be taken away from a place where she cheerfulness.
has met with such affliction.  She needs   "But, dear aunt, I cannot think of it,"
amusement. You ought to have her with replied the girl, piteously.  "How can I
you, whether she wants to go or not. She think of it?"
need n't be very gay, you know," explained   " 0, don't be so weak-minded," exhorted
Mrs. Chester, thinking that she would re- the dear aunt. " Do try to think of someceive the mustached secretaries while Kate body besides yourself;" she added, finding
should sit up stairs and read her Bible. "I one of the most sympathetic beings in the
could take the heaviest part of the enter- world guilty of egotism. "'You ought to
taining off her hands. She could just drive get at your sewing at once," she continued,
about and see the sights and recover her remembering perhaps what a fascinating
cheerfulness."                          business dressmaking is to women, and how
Beaumont grinned, almost audibly. His quickly it can give them a fresh zest for life.
sister had already set up a carriage at his   "If my father really wishes me to go to
expense in Washington.  He said to him- Washington, I must go," said Kate, sadly.
self, How like her!                        But during the day she wrote to her fa" You are right about Kate," he observed, ther; and before long she received a reply,
aloud. "'She does need change of scene leaving the matter entirely to her choice;
and air. Well, when session opens, if she and, armed with this letter, she once more
feels disposed to go with Mae, I will set up a faced her aunt.
house"                                     " There, you have spoiled all," snapped
The next morning he departed for the Mrs. Chester.  "You went and cried to
capital on the mysterious business of which him, and melted him as usual. You are the
we have already spoken.                  most selfish, the slyest, the —"
Mrs. Chester now turned her mind to   " Aunt Marian, you do me injustice," inbringing Kate into the Washington project. terrupted Kate, her eyes opening wide with
Taking advantage of a moment when the the astonishment of maligned innocence.
girl seemed more cheerful than usual, she   "0, do I?  I should think I did. Ha,
went at her with tho smile of an angel, that ha I Well, I suppose so," replied Aunt Mais, of a fallen one.                    rian with incoherent irony. "Perhaps I do




KATE BEAUMONT.                                147
the young man injustice, too," she added, it. Accordingly Mrs. Chester, who did not
more intelligibly.                     desire the match lest it should prevent her
Kate, however, did not understand.  A from going to Washington, had a bone to
blush slightly tinted her cheek, but it did pick with Mrs. Devine.
not refer to the Reverend Gilyard. She  "' I hear that you want your minister to
simply saw that she was attacked, and she marry my niece," was the opening attack
flushed under the outrage.             of this energetic, though desultory woman.
"But I understand, miss," proceeded   The setting hen struck out promptly and
Mrs. Chester, in a truly irrational passion. gallantly in defence of the eggs which she
"A young minister, a sweet-voiced young was hatching.
minister, with solemn, saintly blue eyes, is   "I am sure she could not find a better
a great consolation. 0, I have seen many husband," she replied. "I am sure it is
young girls comforted that way before now! better to marry a man like Mr. Gilyard
I am not a fool, miss. I know my own sex." than to plunge into the dissipations of
The coarse insult pierced even through Washington."
Kate's incredulity that an insult could be   Mrs. Chester was very excitable in these
meant. Without a word she put her hands days, remember; and this attack upon her
to her ears and escaped from her denatural- favorite project touched her where she was
ized tormentor.                        most sensitive.
"' She will tell her father of me," thought   " It seems to me, Mrs. Devine, that you
Mrs. Chester, with a transitory terror. But trouble yourself too much about other peoafter a minute of reflection, or rather of ple's girls," she replied with flashing eyes.
certain emotions which served her in place "' I should say that you had quite enough to
of' it, she burst out violently, "I'11 stop this do with keeping your own duckling out of
courting."                             puddles."
Her next notable dialogue on this subject   " What have you got now to say against
was with Mrs. Devine, the mother of our Jenny?" demanded Mrs. Devine, forgetting
little coquette, Jenny. Mrs. Devine was even her minister in defending her daughter.
one of those mild, soft-spoken women who   Mrs. Chester had nothing special to say
have no mind nor will of their own, but against Jenny; so she changed her front
who, in carrying out the desires of some once more.
adored being, can show the unexpected per-   "And what have you got to say against
sistence and pluck of a setting hen. Unlike Kate's going to Washington? " she asked.
Mrs. Chester in character, and much disap-'I have much to say against it," replied
proving her worldly ways, she nevertheless Mrs. Devine, with the bland but annoying
consorted with her a good deal, because of firmness of people who know that they are
old fellowship in the langsyne of boarding- doing their duty. "I think it would be
school, and because of the intimacy between very wrong to take her into the gay world
Jenny and Kate.                        just when her heart has been softened by
Now Mrs. Devine's heart was bent on the death of dear, good old Colonel Kergetting her darling minister married, and shaw. I think that I am bound, as her
she had settled upon Kate Beaumont as the friend, and as one who wishes her highest
best match attainable for him. Such a dear, good, to bear my testimony against any such
good, lovely girl was surely a very proper step."
prize for such a dear, good, lovely man.   Mrs. Chester would hear no more. She
There was money there, too, and Mr. Gil- was quite unable to restrain the nervous
yard undoubtedly ought to have money, he irritability which of late perpetually gnawed
was so indifferent to it, and knew so little her, and set her flying not only at her felhow to keep it. There had been a time low "humans," but also at cats and dogs,
when Mr's. Devine had pinched and saved and even at things inanimate. She broke
on his account, thinking that perchance he out in such a fit of passion as one seldom
might become the steward of Jenny's mod- sees in a lady outside of a lunatic aylum.
erate fortune. But he had not been so   "I know what you mean by your pious
guided; and the mother had finally had the talk, Sally Devine," she chattered. "You
grace to see that her daughter was unfit to want to keep Kate here so that your stick
be a minister's wife, -had acknowledged of a minister can court her. You are stark
with humility that she was much too crazy about that pale-faced, white-eyed,
thoughtless and gay. And surely Provi- white-livered creature.  You know that
dence was in it; for, if her idol had mar- Kate Beaumont is the best match in the
ried Jenny, he could not have married district, and you want her money and nigKate; and Kate was just the girl to be gers to support him. O, y, u need n't make
able to appreciate the idol and make him  eyes at me as if I were breaking all the Ten
comfortable on his altar.              Commandments at once. I don't care if he
Well, Mrs. Devine had prayed for this is a clergyman. I don't like him. I lon't
match, had intrigued for it, had prophesied like his looks. He has a white liver. HIc's




148                          KATE BEAUMONT.
just that kind of a man that the niggers Devine, are apt to indulge in such concealcall a white-livered man. And he's a poor ments, regarded by stronger heads as prestick of a minister. When he looks at the varications.
(laughter of Peyton Beaumont, he looks   Kate, although a hater of duelling, renaltogether too high for him. Kate Beau- contres, and the like, had what may be
mont is for his betters. She is fit for any called gentlemanly ideas of hospitality and
planter or any politician in the State. of honor.  The fact that a Beaumont had
When you put up your little man to jumIp- insulted a guest under the Beaumont roofing for her, you put him up to making him- tree, roused in her such indignation tha
self ridiculous."                        she forgot her sorrows, forgot her melanMrs. Devine was dumbfounded wi h hor- cholies, and lost somewhat of her habitual
ror and amazement.  Mrs. Chester was gentleness.  As she entered the house and
talking with a violence which even in her advanced upon Mrs. Chester, with a marwas extraordinary. Not only was her lan- ble face and the step of a Juno, she looked
guage violent, but her minner also. Her much more like her spirited sister than like
gestures, her flashing eyes, and her loudness herself. For the first time in this whole
of tone all showed an unwomanly and ab- story she was angry. We regret to use the
normal excitement.  Mrs. Devine  even word in connection with her, it has such
thought, just for one moment, "Is she ugly associations; and yet her anger was
crazy? "                                just, honorable, and becoming.
" I want you to let our Beaumont affairs  "' Aunt Marian," she said, " I hear that
entirely alone," resumed Mrs. Chester, who you have been attacking Mrs. Devine, and
had merely paused to catch her breath. because of my affairs."',"We are able to take care of our own   "I did not;" asserted Aunt Marian.
young lady. Do you take care of yours."   "I do not know what to make of' this,"
At this point, remembering how much replied Kate, steadily gazing into Mrs. ChesJenny had made of Frank McAlister some ter's wandering eyes.  "Mrs. Devine tells
time previous, her anger received a fresh me that you had words with her about my
accession, and she added, "She needs it going to Wasdington."
enough, - the little flirt! "              Mrs. Chester had at first been strangely
Even sense of duty and of martyrdom in afraid of her niece. But as the girl stood
a just cause could not enable Mrs. Devine there calling her to account, she became
to hear more. Insulted through her daugh- suddenly very angry with her, so angry as
ter, and with a sense of degradation in be- to lose all her self control and to forget her
ing made the butt of such glarings and such cunning.
language, she rose and hurried out of the    "Yes, I did have words with her," she
room, crying with vexation.              broke out. " I let her know her place here.
We beg that the reader will not be She wants to prevent our going to Washequally shocked, and shut his eyes upon the ington, and to marry you to that white-livvery name of Mrs. Chester hereafter. ered minister. I let her know that she was
Sooner or later he will learn the true cause an interfering gossip. I did, and I will
of her unwomanly outbreak, and will prob- again."
ably in a measure pardon her for it.       " Aunt Marian, this cannot be," said
It so happened that while hastening Kate, speaking with the steadiness of a
across the yard, Mrs. Devine met Kate Fate.  "This is my father's house, and
Beaumont.  In the weakness of abused guests cannot be insulted in it. If you do
femininity, suffering from  instant outrage, not write an apology to Mrs. Devine, I shall
and remembering also how Mrs. Chester lay the whole matter before him."
had formerly abused Jenny to her face, the W" Will you go to Washington? " was Mrs.
injured woman did not wisely conceal the Chester's only answer.
cause of her weeping.                      " I am not going to Washington," decreed
"I have been insulted by your aunt," she Kate.
sobbed.  "Insulted because I thought it  "' Then I won't stay here another day,"
my duty to protest against your being declared Mrs. Chester in loud anger. "I
dramged  into the vanities and follies of won't stay here to be ground down and
Washington. I have done my duty in this insulted. I'll go and keep house for Bent
house for the last time. I am sorry, but I Armitage."
can't help it."                            Kate did not believe her.  She was
With these words she tore away, rushed mainly occupied in wondering at the wointo her carriage, and was driven off. It man's unusual excitement.  She decided
will be observed that she said nothing about that time would be the best medicine for it,
the Rev. Mr. Gilyard, either because she and that for the present she would say noththought it was right so to do, or because she ing more to irritate her. When Mrs. Chesthought it was wise. Even conscientious ter should come to herself, and should get
people, when of the illogical turn of Mrs. over her disappointment about the collapse








!_ _ _   i _               {1        I   I 
Ills= a;,,
"IZ am driven from my brother's house by my brother's children," answered
Mrs. Chester. - Page i49.




KATE BEAUMONT.                                   149
of the Washington project, she would prob-"   I knew all that," said Bentley, when he
ably have a mild turn and send an apology found a chance to speak. " But where is
to Mrs. Devine. So trusting, Kate left her. Ran now?  That's the point."
But the rext morning Mrs. Chester slyly    "I don't know," replied Mrs. Chester
set off for Saxonburg with bag and baggage, with  curious  dryness  and  indifference.
alighting upon the hospitality of the aston- " Give me some writing-materials.  I want
ished Bentley Armitage, who was keeping to write a letter."
bachelor's hall in his brother's house. And   Pen and paper being furnished, she comthere, inspired perhaps by a bee in her bon- menced writing with singular slowness and
net, she commenced making fresh trouble hesitation, using first her right hand and
for Beaumonts and McAlisters.             then her left.
"I am disguising my hand," she presently
explained. " It is an anonymous letter "
Before Bentley could fairly say, "The
CHLAPTER  XXXV.                 dickens it is!" she added, her eyes flashing
spitefully, "' It is to Frank McAlister."
"WHAT is up now?" were Bent Armi-   Bentley was astonished, but amused. He
tage's first words to Mrs. Chester when she had heard somewhat of the woman's fancy
rustled suddenly into his lonely lodgings.   for the young giant. Was she going, at her
Puzzled by her unexpected advent, he respectable age, to send him a valentine?
supposed that she could only have come to   "I want to make him  miserable," she
bring him some startling news of Randolph, continued.
still a fugitive from such justice as homi-   "I've  no objection," observed  Bent,
cidal high-flung gentlemen had in those days lighting a cigar, and watching her through
to fear in South Carolina.                the smoke. "Sock it to him."
" I am driven from my brother's house by   "I am going to tell him," went on Mrs.
my brother's children," answered Mrs. Ches- Chester, with a sullen, absent-minded air, -
ter in an excited tragical way which struck " I am going to tell him that Kate is enhim as both singular and ludicrous. " Have gaged to Arthur Gilyard."
you a place where I can hide my head? "     Bentley  turned pale and dropped his
1" Lots of places to hide heads in," an- cigar.
swered the reassured Bentley, his queer   " He'11 believe it, and he'll be miserasmile, a smile indescribably and perhaps ble, - he'11 believe it, and he'11 be miseraunintentionally quizzical, curling up into ble," repeated Mrs. Chester, with an air of
one cheek. " This old rookery is just the savage pleasure in the iteration.
spot for hiding heads, or bodies either, for   " But it is n't true?" asked, or rather
that matter.  Any number of handy closets implored, Bentiley.
for skeletons."                             " It is." answered Mrs. Chester.  " And
Mrs. Chester droppel various bundles on 0, ain't I glad of it?  I hate those McAlisthe floor, and then dropped herself with equal ters! "
helplessness into an arm-chair, gasping as   The unhappy youngster reeled to his feet
if she had run all the way from Hartland.   and left the room. When he returned, a
" So the boys have been turning up few minutes later, he had the look of a man
rusty? " inquired Bent, after picking up the who has risen from an illness. Mrs. Chesfallen packages and seeing otherwise to his ter, who had by this time finished and
visitor's baggage.                        directed her letter, went on talking about
"It's the girls," said Mrs. Chester. " I the McAlisters precisely as if she had been
can get along with men"                   talking about them all the while, unconBentley smiled again; she was about scious of his absence.
right there.                                "The feud has lasted seventy years now,"' I had hoped, or rather I was afraid, that she said. " There have been three generayou brought news of Randolph," he added, tions in it.  There have been fourteen
turning grave.                            Beaumonts killed in it and thirteen McAlStarting  off suddenly, like a turbine- isters.  We still owe them one. Just think
wheel when the water is let on, Mrs. Ches- of it: Peyton is the only one left of seven
ter told the whole story of the killing of brothers; all the rest died in their boots, as
Colonel Kershaw.   Her distinctness  of the saying is. Until three years ago, our
memory was wonderful; she related every family has never been out of mourning since
incident of the tragedy  with  amazing I can remember. And now  Kate is in
minutenes, picturesqueness, and fluency; mourning for her grandfather."
she was extremely interesting and even   Bentley softly whistled a plaintive Methamusing.   Another  noteworthy  circum- odist tune whi(h recalled a chorus comstance was that she talked  with  such mencing,'0, there will be mourning,rapidity as to throw off a slight spattering mourning, mourning, mourning."
of foam from her lips.                      " Yes, there has been mourning," said




150                          KATE BEAUMONT.
Mrs. Chester, recognizing the air; "and about, his partially disabled foot slapping
there will be more. It can't stop here. the floor more paralytically than usual.
We owe them one, and we must pay the   " Of course it is too much," replied Mrs.
debt. I don't know  who will do it, but Chester, eagerly. "I don't see how you
somebody will. Your brother missed his can endure it."
mark. He fired at a McAlister, and hit   "I can't," said Bentley, rushing out of
Colonel Kershaw.  Perhaps you'll be the the room.
next one to take up the old quarrel. Ain't  It was evening when this conversation
you Beaumonolt enough?"                  took place. Before bedtime Bent was un" Scarcely," was Bent's dry answer.    der the influence of the hereditary devil of
" O well. You are not married into the his family. In trouble as well as in joy, in
family; but you may be. I thought at one seasons of wrath as well as in seasons of
time you were going to take Kate. Why conviviality in all times of excitement and
did n't you? "                           too often in times of dulness, it was the
"Didn't hear any loud call to do so," custom of the Armitages to bctake themsaid Bent. His words were jocose, but his selves to whiskey. As certain peoples in a
face was tragic.                         state of revolution elevate a tyrant to pow"0, I know," went on Mrs. Chester. er, so this breed, when distracted by emo"That Fratik McAlister got in your way. tious, enthroned alcohol.
He stopped it."                            In the morning, rising from the irr;tation'Did he? " asked Bentley.             of evil slumbers, Bentley resumed his drink"You could have got her, if it hadn't ing before breakfast, keeping it up all day
been for him."                           and for days following.  There were some
False as this undoubtedly was, Bentley strange scenes of carousal in the lonely
had himself supposed it to be true, unwill- mansion. Mrs. Chester, we remember, was
ing to believe that his love had been de- an ardent admirer of men, and especially of
dined simply on account of his own de- young men; and even in her present excitemerits.                                  ment she did not fbrget her old predilection.
"Of course he slandered you," said Mrs. She took to flattering and petting Bent
Chester.                                 Armitage, as she had once flattered and
"O no," protested Bentley, who, not- petted  Frank  McAlister.   She was so
withstanding the credulity of sorrow and thankful for what little attention she got
eagerness, found this hard to credit.    from him, that she did not mind his semi"He began it with his eyes," continued intoxication, and indeed ministered unto it.
Mrs. Chester. " He used to look at you Sloe m xed his liquor and set it before him
and then look at her in a way that was the in a coquettish, hoydenish, juvenile way,
same thing as a warning. She understood sincerely gratified to serve him. She was
him. I could see that she did. After one a cracked old Cleopatra waiting on a young
of those looks, she used to avoid you.  0, rough of an Antony. It was a spectacle
you don't know how quick women are at which could be painted as ludicrous. but
taking hints! I know them. A hint goes which I can only paint as  oful and horrifurther with them than a long argument. ble..They think it over by themselves and make   The more Bent drank, and the more
ever so much out of it. It is the best way irrational and savage he becan e with his
to lead them, to give them little hints and long debauch, the more completely he credwinks. I have found out a thousand things ited Mrs. Chester's tales concerning Frank
that way.  But Frank McAlister didn't McAlister's slanders of himself  For tlhe
stop there. After a while he went on to talk feud he cared nothing; even in his present
to her about you. He said you were a wild state, he knew that he had nothing to
drunkard  and would make her misera- do with'it; his native clearness of head asble."                                    serted itself thus far. But he did believe
Mrs. Chester's disordered imagination in- that Frank had injured him, and he did
vented so rapidly, that her tongue could want to shoot the fellow. He used to go to
hardly keep up with it. She talked so vol- sleep muttering, "Hang Frank McAlister!
ubly and by moments so indistinctly, that Hang all the McAlisters! Hang Frank McBentley found some difficulty in followin  Alister particularly! Hang him particularher. It may seem singular that he should ly!"  Only, in place of the word " hang,"
have credited her babble; but it must be he used a stronger objurgation.
remembered that she had him upon a sub-   Alcohol is a magician. It tears down a
ject where his wits were at a disadvantage; man's natural character in an hour, and
that in talking to him of Kate Beaumont builds him  a new  one. It accomplishes
she used a spell which paralyzed his judg- miracles which remind one of the doctrine
ment.                                    of the transmigration of souls. Under its
" Look here, this is too much," he ex- enchantment your body is forsaken by the
claimed at last, starting up and striding spirit which belongs to it, and entered upuon




KATE BEAUMONT.                                151
by a spirit which you knew not of, any more go," she added, running to the door, shutthan if it came from  another world. ting it upon him and placing her plump
Bentley Armitage, a far better fellow than shoulders against it. "Now I want to know
Randolph, and also furnished with more what you are in Hartland for."
common sense, was presently on his way to   "t How you do jockey me!" he said, with
Hartland to fight Frank McAlister, follow- the magnanimous smile of a man who feels
ing precisely il the steps of his addle-pated that he could resist if he would. " See here,
brother, under the same frenzying influence. Jenny," he added, after a scowl of trouble.
It was the stupid iteration of that stupidest "Is - is Kate Beaumont - is she engaged?
of possessing demons, "' rum-madness."  Mrs. Chester tells me that she is engaged to
But, though playing Randolph's part after the minister, Gilyard. Is it true?"
him, he did it with another port and mask.   Jenny hesitated; a flash passed through
Even in his inebriety he kept his know- her hazel eyes; it was a gleam  of mingled
ing look and quizzical smile, rather exag- reflection and decision.,
gerating them than otherwise. Moreover,   " He has been very attentive to her," she
instead of improvidently depending  for replied. " And if Mrs. Chester told you so,
drink on station bar-rooms and on the bot- why, of course, Mrs. Chester knows."
tles of wayfarers, he carried with him  a   Bentley, his face sobered and ennobled
full demijohn. In his slangy way he called at once by intense grief, advanced to the
this his "wine-press," and when he treated door and seized the knob firmly.
h;s fellow-travellers, which he did often and   " Where are you going?" demanded
liberally, he always said with tiresome rep- Jenny, without giving way.
etition, "Won't you have some of the wine   "I am going back to Saxonburg," he
of astonishment' "  It must be understood whispered.
that he was not helplessly and idiotically   " Right," she said, letting him out. "I
tipsy; that he did not reel and stammer am  sorry for you, Bentley; I am indeed.
and hiccough and talk incoherences. He But you had better go."
was simply in an exasperated nervous state   Unfortunately there was no train up
because of a long spree.               country till the next day. During the evenArrived in Hartland, he had sense enough ing a number of Bentley's boon compannot to go to the Beaumont house, knowing ions found him at the hotel, and beguiled
to a certain extent what his condition was, him into a carouse which lasted till near
and not wishing to present himself thus morning. When he awoke from a brief and
before Kate. He took the one hack of the feverish sleep, he had lost the gentle sentilittle town and drove to the one hotel with ments which Jenny's feminine magnetism
his valise and demijohn.  After tea he had instilled into him, and was ready in his
thought himself sob.Lr enough to face his semi-delbrium to fight the first creature
relatives, the Devines, and repaired to their which approached him, whether it were a
house with the hope of learning that the man, or a royal Bengal tiger, or a turtleGi yard engagement was a fiction.  The dove. He resolved to stay in Hartland and
nmoment that Jenny laid eyes on him, she do battle with Frank McAlister. Part of
detected his status; for being a student of the day he passed in wandering about the
men, she knew him thoroughly, habits, ex- streets, heavy laden with bowie-knife, pispression, and all.'tols, and ammunition, including whiskey,
"What are you here for, Bent?" she waiting for the appearance of his slanderer,
asked at once, with not a little tartness.  But after dinner, meeting with that martfal
" 0, I am around," he replied, trying to young lawyer, Jobson, he communicated his
smile naturally. " I am going to and fro in griefs to him, and under his dictation drew
the earth, like Satan, you know."      up a challenge in the approved style of old
"Exactly," said Jenny. "What are you General Johnson, the document being as
going on in this way for? You'll be doing rhetorical and almost as voluminous as Cicesomething to worry us. Where is your bag- ro's Orations against Verres. This "flight
gage? Why did n't you come here at once? of eloquence " was despatched to its destiYou had better go up stairs and take a nation by the hands of that most bloodthirsty
nap? "                                paradox, invented by the code of honor, and
i' Come, don't jump on a man the minute ironically denominated " a friend."
you see him.," protested Bentley, with a   We must see now how th-e cartel was remomentary sense of humiliation at being so ceived at the McAlister residence.  -
quickly guessed out and so sharply lectured.   Perhaps, however, we ought first to note
"I am a two-legged creature without feath- what was the general state of mind of the
ers, I believe. I don't need a coop."  challenged party, and what had been his
-' I wish you would come here and let us moral history, since we left him retiring
take care of you," insisted Jenny. "You from the me^lee in which Colonel Kershaw
are not fit to be about alone. Shame on had fallen.
you, you great baby I There, you sha' n't   His moral history referred solely to Kate




152                          KATE BEAUMONT.
Beaumont; he thought of nothing else, and remembering the story about Gilyard, and
as it were knew nothing else. But while feeling far more acutely than Wallace that
he thus lived solely for her, he believed that existence was a burden.
she could never live for him. It was not   " Well, what do you mean to do, with
her heirship to a large estate which put her your notions about duelling?" asked Wat
beyond his reach. He was not ashamed to lace.
sue for her because she had become rich;   " I shall deny these ridiculous charges.
he respected himself too much to entertain Then, if he persists in picking a quarrel
that kind of shame, loved her too much to with me, - and I suppose that is his object,
suffer it to trammel him. Besides, he would - I shall defend myself."
one day be rich himself, at least sufficiently   " You mean a rencontre? "
so to live like a gentleman. In his mag-   "I hate the word," said Frank. " But
nanimous and manly opinion, the match poor as life is, I have a right to defend it,
would be an equal one, only for this, that and I shall do so."
Kate was individually far his superior, as   "Of course, you might put him  under
she was far the superior of any man.     bonds to keep the peace," suggested WalBut the perpetual conficts and tragedies, lace, doubtfully.
— that last degrading mnele and that last   " O, is it worth while?" groaned Frank,
horrible tragedy, - how could he bridge almost wishing for a bullet in his brains.
them over so as to reach her?  It seemed   "No," said Wallace. "We'gentlemen
impossible; a sea of blood blown upon by don't do it. We gentlemen are like neceswinds of hate lay between them, — a sea sity; we know no law. Law  is for our
which grew wider and stormier at every inferiors."
attempt to span it. Fate had been so long   "Or for our betters," said Frank.
and violently against him, that it had almost
wearietd him out and stripped him of hope.
But not of desire: he still longed passionately for her; all the more passionately          CHAPTER  XXXVI.
because of disappointments and barriers.
While he was thus fighting weakly with   WITHIN two days after Bent Armitage
despair (as a man fights who only receives left the lonely old house in Saxonburg,
blows and cannot return them) he received Mrs. Chester quitted it also, turning it over
Mrs. Chester's anonymous gossip as to the without the least compunction to the care
Gilyard engagement. At first he declared of the negroes and the rats, and flying back,
to himself with angry contempt that he of all places in the world, to the Beaumont
would not believe it; and then, comparing homestead, against which she had so lately
it with what he knew of the young clergy- shaken off the dust of her feet.
man's visits to the Beaumont place, he did   Jt was singular conduct certainly, but
bel eve it. It may be supposed that life there was one thing which was even more
had very little value in his eyes when, a few  singular than the conduct itself, and that
days later, he opened Bent Armitage's chal- was that it seemed to her perfectly natural.
lenge.                                   It also seemed to her quite natural to throw
He read the challenge with amazement, herself into Kate's arms, kiss her with soband it was surely an amazing paper.  It bings and gaspings of affection, hug and
was as full of specifications as an old-time kiss Nellie in the same ecstatic manner, and
indictment; it charged him  with calum- weep with joy at getting home. A  few
niating Bentley and Randolph Armitage minutes later, her now very peculiar form of
at divers times and in sundry places; in rationality led her to relate with astonishing
short, it contained the whole substance volubility how Bent Armitage had come
of Mrs. Chester's malicious or crazy inven- down to avenge the Beaumonts on their
tions.                                   hereditary enemies, and how it was her,"I wonder he didn't add, and for kick- intention to attend the funeral of Frank
ing up a blamed fuss generally," remarked McAlister in the family carriage, and thereWallace, to whom Frank handed the three from give the survivors of his race a piece
or four sheets of foolscap.  " But I say, old of her mind.
fellow, for a man who pretends to be peace-   Peyton Beaumont was not at home to
able, you get into an awful number of care for his sister in this sad moment. But
squabbles."                              Vincent, a cool and clear-headed young man,
"I know  nothing  about these things," his apprehension quickened by his medical
said Frank. " He must be insane."        knowledge, did all that was necessary. He
"I'11l fight him myself," offered Wallace, soon had his unfortunate aunt in her room
who had lately been- rejected by Jenny and in bed, under the guardianship of two
Devine, and did not feel that life was worth muscular negro mammas. When he came
keeping.                                 out from her he said to his brother Poinsett,
"It is not your business," replied Frank, "' I think you had better ride yourself after




KATE BEAUMONT.                                 153
Mattieson.  Tell him it is a clear case of plague us a good many years yet. I have
delirium."                               great faith in her."
Kate was present, and heard these words.   " I am not thinking entirely of her," replied
A flush started into her pale cheeks, and Kate, musingly. Then, raising her head
clasping her hands she exclaimed, " O Vin- suddenly, like one who resolves to speak in
cent!"  It seemed as if this girl's affections spite of scruples, she asked, " Vincent, how
followed the line of her natural duty, with- much truth has Aunt Marian been capable
out the slightest regard as to whether those of telling this evening?"
allied to her were lovable or not. Gentle   "Who knows? A mixture of truth and
and pacific as she was, abhorring bloodshed error, I suppose."
and all wild ways, we have seen how loyal   Kate walked slowly away, and signed to
and tender she has been to her free-drink- her sister to follow her. When they were
ing, pugnacious father and to her ungovern- alone she said, " Nellie, there is no sense in
able catamounts of brothers, althoulgh their this difficulty, if there is a difficulty, between
flighty and violent tempers have slaughtered Bent and the McAlisters. They cannot
the dearest hopes of her heart and filled the possibly have anything to do with each
outlooks of her life with darkness.  Mrs. other. It must, in some way, be a pure
Chester, too, had been a perpetual plague misunderstanding."
aned perplexity; hardly a day had passed   Nellie reflected with the rapidity of lightbut she had vexed Kate's soul with some ning. It was evident that Kate wished to
foolish interference or spiteful assault; and save the life of the man who loved her, and
at last she had driven her into that to her whom almost certainly she had once loved,
most dreadful of extremities, an  open if indeed she did not love him still.  Should
conflict. Yet the moment that misfortune she be encouraged to talk of the matter, or
settled upon this pest of a blood-relation, should she be checked at once?  It was
the girl was full of pity and sorrow.    impossible for a woman of more than averm I to blame? " she asked, ready to age affection and sentiment to decide otheraccuse herself. " She went away from here wise than in favor-of Frank McAlister.
because of a difficulty with me. Do you   "I have no doubt that Bent is in fault,"
suppose that made her ill?"             said Nellie. "Bent has probably been
"Nonsense!" declared Nellie, somewhat drinking, and when he does that he is a
hardly. " She is always having difficulties. savage, like all his race. The Armitages
If they could hurt her, she would have died are no more fit to have liquor than so
long ago."                               many Seminoles. I sometimes think there
"Don't worry yourself, my dear," said must be Indian blood in them.  Yes, I
Vincent, patting Kate's arm. "This is a suppose Bent is going the way of his famtrouble which has long been hanging over ily; he has been drinking, and wants to
her."                                   fight some one. But what can we do?"
"But she has been very well of late,"   "I cannot ask you to do anything,"
replied the girl. "I never saw her more answered Kate, with tears in her eyes, the
vigorous and clever, — in her way."      pathetic tears of a retired soul which finds
"She has not seen a thoroughly well itself forced to step out into the hard, glarday since I have been able to observe her ing world of action. "' But I must do someintelligently," continued Vincent.  "She thing. Both these men have liked me; I
has been for a long time in a state of owe them kindness for that. I never shall
abnormal excitement. We Beaumonts are be anything to either of them; but i4 is my
all, always, pretty near a brain-fever. Ex- duty to try to save their lives. Moreover,
cept Kare here; and Kate is a Kershaw."  — you can understand it, Nellie, -kthis' She is not in immediate danger, I sup- quarrel may be about me. Well, I shall
pose," quietly observed Nellie, who did not try to stop it; woman as I am, I shall try.
love her aunt, and would not pretend to, not People will say it is not a lady's affair; but
even now.                                I cannot and shall not mind that. A lady
"No," judged Vincent. "Even if the surely cannot be wrong in seeking to save
affair should terminate fatally, it will be a life. I cannot go to Mr. MeAlister, but I cerlingering case."                        tainly shall see Bentley. Will you help me? "
" O Vincent, how calmly you talk of it!"   It was about as impossible for Nellie Armisaid Kate.                              tage to say to her sister, "I will not help
"I am a physician," he answered.'"I  on," as it would have been for her to die
am professional."  Then, patting her arm  outright by a mere effort of will. She reagain, "You are a good, sweet girl; too fleeted just one moment; but in that mogood for use in this world, Katie."     ment she decided to do herself what Kate
"She is just a little bit silly," added proposed to do, — decided, furthermore, that
Nellie, kissing her sister in a pitying way. she would do it without informing the girl
"Come, child, don't worry so much about of her purpose. All that she said was, " Yes,
Aunt Marian.  1 dare say she will live to I will help you."
20




154                          KATE BEAUMONT.
"You are my own darling," cried Kate, rived.  Kate did not know  that Frank
embracing her. "You are the strong and McAlister came four miles every night to
brave part of myself. 0, it is a comfort to look at the windows of her room. Much as
lean upon you!"                        she thought about him, this never entered
"'I am  something, in a weak way, like her imagination.  She languidly watched
a husband, am I not?" returned Nellie, the unknown out of sight, wondered a little
sm;ling away the scene.                  who he might be, went back to her bed, and
" Will you send for Bent here?" asked at last slept.
Kate. " Papa has forbidden his family the   Before the younger sister was up in the
house. But for such a purpose as this -"  morning, the elder had set out on her mis-'"I will see to everything," promised s:on. Nellie had no difficulty in finding
Nellie. "It is late now. Go and sleep. Bent, for he too had risen early, as was his
Leave everything to me."                 custom.
Kate hardly closed her eyes that night.   This ill-starred youth was vvry sad, mainly
The anxieties and sorrows of the last few  because he was a little sick. The liquor
months had got her into a way of lying which had been for the week past his chief
much awake.  Slumber is very largely a motive-force, and almost his food, had bematter of habit; the less you do of it, the come a dose. It had temporarily paralyzed
less you are likely to be able do; and this his digestion, and it palled upon his taste.
troubled soul had acquired an unhappy facili- He had thrown away in disgust the cockty for easy wakings and prolonged vigils. tail which was to prepare him for breakfast;
This night she tossed for hours, often turn- and, deprived of his usual stimulus, shaken
ing her pillow to find a cool spot for her fe- moreover by his long drinking-bout, he was
veled head, and repeatedly rising to seek in low spirits. He was in that state of
refreshment in the damp air that flowed in  mind in which a man sees himself, not merefrom the outer night. Most of the time her ly as others see him, but as his enemies and
mind oscillated between her crazed aunt despisers see him. Remembering how for
and the image of Bent Armitage hunting two days, or perhaps three, he could not tell
Frank McAlister to his death.  She went which, he had been blustering  publicly
through scene after scene in insane asylums, about Hartland, threatening death on sight
and stood witness to a succession of fatal to Frank McAlister in places where Frank
duels.                                   McAlister never went, he queried whether
It was unendurable, and she sought he had not seemed a fool to everybody else,
relief in devotion; but she prayed in vain. and whether he had not, in fact, been a fool.
There is no comfort in the truest piety, as   He thought of going back to Saxonburg;
the case of Cowper bears witness, when it then he had a mad impulse to rush over to
is presided over by a shattered nervous the Beaumont house and propose to Kate;
system. To no wicked soul, to no criminal then, knowing that she would refuse him,
called upon to expiate unparalleled guilt, and probably even decline to see him, he
could the heavens seem more pitiless than queried whether he had not best shoot himthey seemed to this scrupulously unselfish, self. At last it occurred to him that he
this  pathetically  conscientious innocent. might feel the better for a gallop; and, takThe Moloch of superstition which arises ing a horse from the hotel stables, he rode
from deranged health, or overtasked sym- out breakfast'ess into the country, directing
pathies, or a wearied brain, deigned no his course towards the long, low eminence
reply to her petitions but a demand for sac- on which stood the Beaumont residence;
rifice, sacrifice! "I have given him up," for he too wanted to look at the home of
she replied in her despair. "I do give him  Kate. By the way, be had his revolver
up. Only, spare his life."               under his coat and a brace of derringers in
Once an apparition from  the real life his pocket; being not yet decided in mind
of the world - an apparition which would that he would not fire upon Frank McAlister
have moved and troubled her profoundly, if he should see him.
had she understood it -came to give her a   Nellie Armitage, also in the saddle, and
moment of distraction and slight relief followed by a mounted servant, encountered
She had risen, seated herself by the win- him  half a mile from the village.  Both
dow, pushed open the blinds, and was drew rein as they met, the negro remaining
drawing deep gasps of the cool night breeze, at a little distance.
her aching eyes wandering through the   " Good morning, Bent," said Nellie. "I
broad  moonlight.  Suddenly  the  dogs am glad to find you. I came to look for
barked; next there was the trample of a you."
horse's feet advancing slowly and as if with   "I hope you mean kindly," replied the
caution; at last the figure of a horseman young man, with a look which wds both
showed hazily in the road which passed the sullen and piteous.  "I could n't stand
house. It remained a few minutes motion- much of a lecture this morning."  (He
less, and then went the way it had ar- chose to pronounce it "lectur'," accord



KATE BEAUMONT.                                 155
ing to his slangy humor.)  "I feel up to if I am one, he had no right to say it.  It
blowing the top of my head off if any- killed me," he went on, after a brief strugbody I like should scold me.  It's one of gle with his emotion.  "You know that I
the black days."                        loved your sister. Well, she had a right to
The better nature of this youth, so much avoid me.  You had a right to cheeck me.
worthier a man than his thoroughly selfish But he, what business had he to say anyand shameless brother, showed itself in the thing?  O, curse him!"
fact that tears of remorse and humiliation   And here his voice gave way utterly,
rose to his eyelids, and that his glance cow- sinking into a sob or a growl.
ered under the gaze of a noble woman, a   "There is one sure way to clear this up,"
woman whom he respected.                 observed Nellie, not looking at him the while,
"Yes, it is one of the black days " said for his grief touched her.'" My sister will
Mrs. Armitage, surveying gravely and not tell us the absolute truth.  You must go
without pity his haggard face. She well with me and see her."
knew the meaning of that pallor; she had   "Hasn't your father forbidden me his
studied it often in her husband; she had house? " asked Armitage.
seen it before in Bent.                    " If you have scruples about entering it at
"I will be as gentle as things allow." she my invitation, she will come out to meet
went on. " Bentley, is it true that you are you," said Nellie, evading a direct reply.
here to bring about a meeting with one of " Come."
the McAlisters? "                         " I suppose it will be proved to me that I
He had a mind to say that surely no am a fool," muttered Bent, as he rode on by
Beaumont should find fault with him  for her side.
such a purpose as that; but he was a   Presently they halted in the road before
straightforward man, and he remembered the Beaumont mansion. Kate, dressed in
that he was talking to a straightforward black, was sitting in the veranda, anxiously
woman; he decided that it would be in bad awaiting the return of her sister. At a sign
taste to bandv words.                   from Nellie she came hastily down to the
"That is what I waded in here for," he gate and halted there breathless, looking up
replied, almost involuntarily using his slang at Armitage with an expression which was
to carry off his embarrassment; for he partly aversion, partly pleading.  Thin,
recollected  his absurd blustering about haggard, and anxious, her pallor marking
the village, and supposed that Nellie knew  more clearly than health could the exquisite
of it.                                   outline of her Augustan features, her lucid
"Is this on our account?" continued hazel eyes unnaturally large and bright
Nellie. "I heard that you were here to with eagerness, she was beautiful, but also
take up the feud."                       woful and almost terrible. At the first sifght
" That is all nonsense," he burst out. " I of her thus, so changed from what she had
have been — wild; but I know perfectly been when he last met her, Bentley was
well that I am not a Beaumont; I have not horror-stricken  and  terror-stricken.  He
been fool enough to want to meddle in your dismounted and took off his hat; he wanted
family affairs. I have my own quarrel with to prostrate himself at her feet.
this Frank McAlister."                    "Miss Beaumont, are you ill?"  He
It is about Kate, thought Nellie. She could say nothing else, and he could say
did not want to say a word further; she nothing more.
hated to be always. talking with men about   " I am not well," she replied. "How can
her sister; it seemed to make the girl too I be? "
public. But she had undertaken this job of   There seemed to be a complaint in the
sending Bent home, and she must go through words, but there was none in the tone.
with it.                                 Her utterance and her whole manner were
" Does your quarrel refer to one of us? " singularly mild and sweet, even for her.
she asked unflinchingly.                 Gentle as she always had been, she had of
Bent did not speak, and in truth could late searched her conduct with such exagnot speak, but his look said, yes.       gerated  conscientiousness, that she had
" I know it has nothing to do with me," found herself guilty of impatience and tartshe continued.  "B What right have you to ness, remembering with special remorse her
quarrel about her? "                    controversy with Mrs. Chester; and by her
After a long pause Bent answered, " He efforts to curb a petulance which in reality
has slandered me to her."                had no existence she had acquired a bear" I don't believe it," abruptly declared ing which resembled that of one who has
Nellie, remembering Frank's manly face passed years under the discipline of a conand deportment, unmarked by a trace of vent; she was an incarnation of self control,
meanness.                                resgination, and humility.
"He told her that I was a drunkard,"   "Let us say what we have to say at
Bent added with a crimsoning face. "Even once," observed Mrs. Armitage,  who had




156                          KATE BEAUMONT.
also dismounted. "Bentley, can you ask   "As I have employed my life," said Nelyour own questions?"                    lie, bitterly.
" I can't," murmured the young fellow.   " There is nothing left me but to live for
Nellie was too purely a woman not to others," murmured Kate.
pity a man so thoroughly humbled and   Her face was sadly calm, with the calmwretched as was this man. But after. one ness of despair. Suddenly a little light of
merciful glance at him, she turned to her interest and perhaps of pleasure came into
sister and went on firmly: "Kate, I have it. Nellie followed the direction of her sispromised Bent that he shall know the truth. ter's eye and beheld the approaching figure
Is it true, - he has heard so, - is it true of the Rev. Arthur Gilyard.
that Frank McAlister has slandered Bent   "Must that be the end of it?" she
to you? "                               thought. " Is Kate to become his wife, and
Kate's calmness vanished; all her face wear herself to death on his sense of duty?"
filled with excited blood; she answered
hoarsely and almost sternly, "No!"
"In  no way, in nothing?" continued
Nellie.                                           CHAPTER XXXVII.
"In no way, in nothing," repeated Kate,
still with the same air of agitated protest.  WHAT was to be the ultimatum of destiny
Bentley suddenly flushed crimson with an- to Kate Beaumont as a young lady?
ger. HIle had been duped into outrageous   Quite as much interested in this question
folly which had pained the being whom he as Nellie Armitage was Major John Lawson.
worshipped; and in his indignation  he From the time that the girl had returned
burst forth, "Then there is one Beaumont from Europe, a wonder in his eyes of beauty,
much to blame. Your aunt told me this."  and grace, and graciousness, he had fairly
The two women glanced at each other, worshipped her.  The grandfather had
and shrank backward as if under a blow.   broken out in him, as it sometimes will
" It must be spoken," said Nellie, at last. break out in old bachelors.
" Our poor aunt is crazy."                 He never saw Kate and never thought of
"Crazy?" demanded Bentley.            her, but he wanted to pat her hand, to
" She is in the house, under confinement." praise her to her face, to minister unto her
"Crazy!" he repeated. "So am  I. I happiness, to be the good fairy of her filhave been crazy for a week. I always shall ture. He had a daguerreotype of her which
be."                                     he kept constantly with him and looked at
There was another silence, an intensely twenty times a day, if not fifty. He used
tragic one,- one of those silences which to say to himself, and sometimes to his condo not come because there is nothing to say, fidential friends, "If I were young enough
but because all that can be said is too pain- and rich enough and good enough, I would
ful for utterance.                       offer myself to her. Not that I should hope
"' Yes, I am no better than a madman," to be accepted, - certainly not, in no case.
resumed Bentley, suddenly lifting his eyes But I should consider it an honor to be reand staring eagerly at Kate, with the air of fused by her. I should feel it a great privione who bids an everlasting farewell to all lege to be allowed to lay my heart unthat is dear. "' I am and always shall be a noticed at her feet. I should feel that I had
miserable drunkard.  But at least, Miss not lived in vain.'
Beaumont, I will never torment you again.   In truth, this elderly, simple-hearted,
This is the last time that you will see me, sweet-hearted  gentleman  had  been  for
or, I hope, hear of me."                 months little less than foolish over the
Without even offering his hand for a good child. And of late, now that she was the
by, he sprang on his horse and spurred only representative of his deceased friend,
away.                                    the noble, the venerable, the revered KerWhen he was out of sight, Nellie turned shaw, he adored her as if she were more
to her sister and said with a serenity which than human. Impulsively and fervently he
would be amazing, did we not remember transferred to her the allegriance which he
the hardening misery of her married life, had for years paid to the sublime old Col"It is a happy riddance."                onel. How  should he not love her when
"He had never done me any harm," they mourned together'? He gave her his
replied Kate.  "I am very, very sorry for sympathy because of her great bereavement,
him."                                    and demanded hers because of his own
"' Think of the harm he would have done great sorrow. His head bowed, holding her
you, had you liked him."                hand tenderly (but not making eyes, nor
"Perhaps he would not have been the grimacing, nor saying fine things). he softly
same," was the pensive response.'" Perhaps bewailed the death of her granditthlr and
I could not employ my life better than in his friend, so sincerely bewailing it that
trying to reform some such person."      more than once he wept. Vain and yet




KATE BEAUMONT.                                 157
unselfish, whimsical and yet earnest, he was essay (for private readings); perhaps, if it
on the surface something of a bore, but at were possible, into a poem. He grew orabottoml a heart of gold. If, considering his torical; he started backwards and started
tediousness, he was not worth the digging, forwards; he ran from basso up to soprano,
he was at least worth having when he gave and down again; he broke a wineglass and
forth his treasures of affection freely.  did not know it.
It must be understood that, at Kate's re-   Presently, however, he recollected the
quest, he had taken charge of the Kershaw  urgency of the case, and resolved to have a
place until some one who could work it talk with Mrs. Armitage as to her sister.
might be put in permanent tenantry, and IIe was a little afraid of Nellie; there was
that consequently he was able to ride over about her a manly frankness which was
to the Beaumont house every day to visit rendered more potent by a womanly imnpulhis' favorite.  Of course, he saw that his siveness; and this mingling of weight and
other pet, Frank, never came there, and rapidity gave her a momentum which he
that the Rev. Arthur Gilyard came there did not love to encounter. Nevertheless,
very often. Was this young minister going alarmed for his romance, and anxious for
to spoil the romance of " Romeo and Juliet the happiness of his two pets, he sought her
in South Carolina "?  Was he going to pre- out and unfolded to her his mind.
vent an alliance between the Beaumonts   "I am  quite of your opinion," replied
and McAlisters, and thus make himself the Nellie, when she had discerned, through
instrument of prolonging the feud? Major many smiling and flattering circumlocutions,
Lawson, though reverent of clergymen in the fact that the Major did not like the Gilgeneral, and heretofore an admirer of Gil- yard courtship.
yard himself, began to have doubts of his   Lawson was stunned as usual by her dipiety. When he was not talking with him  rectness, but delighted with her assent.
(in which case he of course grinned and   " My dear lady, - gracious lady, as Dante
complimented in his usual fashion) he says,- you fill me with joy," he exclaimed,
watched him with a suspicious air, and, in seizing her hand and patting it in his cafact, rather glared at him, as if he would ressing way.  "I have not had such a
have liked to send him on missionary work moment of gratification for months."
to the Cannibal Islands and get him eaten   "But what can be done?" asked Mrs.
out of the way. With respect to Kate, Armitage. " Kate is her own mistress."
much as he loved her, he almost felt that it   "Go to Mr. Gilyard," replied Lawson,
would be better for her to take poison over firmly; meaning,  however, that Nellie
Frank's dead body, than to become the should go, not he himself. "Hint to him,
happy wife of any other gentleman.       if necessary say to him plainly, that he is
4" What is Mrs. Armitagce about?" he de- standing in the way of much good. Don't
man(led, talking to himself, as was his fre- you see, my dear Mrs. Armitage?  If he
quent custom. " Has she - a woman - a marries Kate, she can't marry Frank McAlwoman too who has suffered -no true wo- ister. Then what means have we left for
manly sentiment with regard to this matter? ending this horrible feud? Pardon me, -
Bless me, I had supposed that Woman had, I really beg your pardon, Mrs. Armitage,
of all the human race, the truest eye for I am speaking severely of your familyfasti,
what is beautiful in life!  And this —this of your hereditary palladium.  But I remarriage - this instead of the other - would member my old, noble, reverend friend Kerbe so unbeautiful, so unartistic! I had sup- shaw, and I venture to utter my mind boldly.
posed that women were our superiors in a I know that it was his earnest desire for
perception of the gracious fitness of things. many years that this quarrel should ternmiThey surely are so in the affairs of ordinary nate. Have I offended you?"
existence. They decorate our houses. To   "Never mind, Major," replied Ne!lie,
them we owe carpets, curtains, tassels, laces, quietly waving her hand as if to brush away
parterres of flowers.  Without them  our his apologies. " I am  altogether of your
dwellings would be bare walls, mere shelters. opinion in this whole matter. We have had
dens.  But for their mesthetic guidance we enough of quarrels. I have seen enough of
should spend our money entirely on the useful, them."
the ponderous, the unamiable  We should   "You delight me beyond expression,have aqueducts and no sofas. fortifications and beyond the power of a Cicero to express,"
noupholstery. And when it comes to making chanted Lawson, his eyes twinkling with an
our lives beautiful with poetry, with the ro- unusual twinkle, as if there were tears of
mance of artistically arranged events, with joy in them. " And now, gracious lady -"
the facts which naturally arise from true sen-   " I will make one more effort for peace,"
timent, is woman - woman - to fail us? "  interrupted Nellie. "I will -   But never
The Major was thinking his best; he felt mind what; you shall know in a day or two."
that he ought to take notes of himself; he   Quite tremulous with his gladne s, the
resolved to put these ideas into his next Major thanked her copiously, squeezed her




158                          KATE BEAUMON T.
hand again and again, and at last fairly   "He will return this evening," added
kissed it by force, subsequently waving af- Nellie. " Will you see him with me to-morfectionate and cheering farewells to her row?"
while he got out of the house, mounted his   " I can talk with him best alone," he resteed, and ambled out of sight.          plied. " Will you allow it?"
The characteristic step which Nellie Ar-   Then, perceiving assent in her eyes, he
mitage decided upon was to go straight to hastily rose, bowed, and got himself away,
Arthur Gilyard with her story and her de- conscious that he was tottering.
mands.                                     " It is worse than I looked for," said Nel"I want a great thing of you," said this lie, as she gazed after him with admiration
sympathetic woman, knowing full well the and pity. "H Ie is to lose her in showing
pain that she gave, and watching it with himself worthy of her."
tile emotion of an angel overseeing the ne-   In the little space which we can allot to
cessary chastening of a saint; " I want you Arthur Gilyard, we must strive to do him
to make peace between us and the McAlis- justice. It was characteristic of him that
ters, so that my unhappy sister may meet the from the moment when he resolved to tear
man who loves her, and whom I believe she out his heart for the good of others, he never
loves. I ask this of you for her sake, and faltered in his purpose. What struggle refor the sake of the father and brothers mained to this clear-headed and heroic sufwhom I want to keep in life, and in the ferer was simply a struggle for resignation.
name of all my relatives who have fallen He would do his duty; oh yes, that would
in this long quarrel."                   be done; that of course. The hardness of
Kate's lover, thus summoned to give her the thing was to do it in a spirit which
up to a preferred lover,' half started to rise should be held acceptable in that unseen
from the chair in which he was sitting, and world which he tried to think of as the only
then dropped his head upon his bosom as if real world. 0, how unreal it seemed to hiln
he had been shot.  His habitually pale as he rode homeward! Earth, this earth
cheeks turned  quite white; he was so of emotions, this passionate, mortal life, they
dizzy that he could not see the woman who were very near and terribly puissant. He
was torturing him; the words that he was like Christian, set upon going through
heard during the next minute were merely the valley of shadows, but seeing Apollyon
as a drumming in his ears.               " straddled quite across the way," dreadful
But, fortunately for his honor as a man, to look upon and threatening woful wounds.
he was of the same heroic mould with the   It was not until he had locked himself
person who demanded of him this tremen- into his accustomed place of devotion that
dous sacrifice, and who had had the great- he could get one glimpse of that sphere
ness to believe that he could be great enough which Kate Beaumont did not yet inhabit,
for it. As he came back to his full con- and where her influence must not reign.
sciousness, he passed rapidly in review the But here, on the threshold of a sanctuary,
precession of horrors which had marked the we stop.
history of the feud, and resolved that he   When, during the next day, he presented
would do what lay in him to close such a himself before Peyton Beaumont, he was so
source of bloodshed, no matter what suffer- pinched and pale that his host asked him
ing the labor might bring him.           if he had been sick.
*' Is it too much to ask? " murmured Nel-   "I have been favored with my usual
lie, her heart almost failing her at the sight health," he replied calmly. " Perhaps the
of his quivering face.                   consciousness of a great and difficult duty
" No duty is too much to ask," were his has weighed upon me more than it would
first words, —words spoken on the rack. have weighed upon a stronger and better
After a moment more of struggling  for man."
breath and purpose, he added, as if by way   Beaumont could hardly fail to understand
of exhortation to himself, "A  Christian that this word "duty" referred to himself;
must not hesitate before duty."         that towards him was coming some plea,
She remained silent; she was revering some remonstrance, or perhaps some reproof.
him. But surely it was also a grand thing High as was his temper, and savage in cerin her that she could be noble enough, in tain points as had been his life, he had an
that eager and anxious moment, to perceive imaginative reverence for religion, and a
his nobility.                            well-bred respect for clergymen. His wide"How can I best serve your purpose?" open black eyes stared into the firm blue
he presently inquired.                   ones of Gilyard with mere grave surprise
"May I beg you to join with me in urging and expectation, not showing a sparkle of
a reconciliation upon my father? " she an- annoyance.
swered.                                    "I beg beforehand that you will hear me
"I will do so, with all my heart," said this patiently until I have discharged my conman whose heart was bleeding.            science," continued the minister.




KATE BEAUMONT.                                159
"Mr. Gilyard, speak boldly," said Pey- grateful. Your father, I believe, and hope,
ton.  "I give you my thanks already, if will end the feud, if it is humanly possiwhat you have to say concerns my conduct." ble."
" It does in part," went on Gilyard. " I   " It will take us a lifetime to thank you
have come solely to beg you to stop the for this," replied Nellie, ready to kneel at
account of blood between your family and the feet of this martyr, who had, as it were,
the McAlisters.  Heretofore more than lighted his own pyre of torture.
once, if I remember, I have ventured to   "I should have done my little long ago,"
speak to you of this matter; but not plainly he said.
enough, and not urgently enough. I did   Then, suddenly remembering that in such
not do mry full duty. I was weakly and a case he might not have loved only to
wickedly vague. I did not clearly set before lose, he added in his heart, "My sin has
you your responsibility, and-I must say found me out." If he had thought of conthe word - your guilt."                fessing his hopeless affection, if he had had
" Guilt! " exclaimed Beaumont, his as- an impulse to utter a complaint and a cry
tonishment very great, and his eyes show- for sympathy, his mouth was sealed now.
ing it.                                Bearing a burden of self-condemnation
"In the presence of God I repeat the which only a saintly nature could heap
word," insisted Gilyard. " It condemns me upon itself, suffering as we solemnly believe
as well as you. I should have uttered it only the perfectly conscientious and the
years ago."                            high-minded can suffer, this noble though
After a moment's reflection, after draw- limited spirit went out speechlessly from
ing a long breath of surprise, Beaumont the household which he had blessed, bearsaid, " We are not the only guilty ones."   ing his cross alone.
"It is too true. The McAlisters also   That very day Judge McAlister received
come under condemnation."              his appointment as Judge of the United
" They do," declared Peyton, his excite- States District Court of South Carolina. This
ment reviving. " I made peace with them  was Beaumont's doing; it was to bring this
once. And they broke it: they broke it."  about that he had spent weeks in Washing" Offer it again," exhorted the minister. ton; it was to this that he had alluded when
"Urge it."                             he told Gilyard that he had prepared a way
"' See here," said Beaumont, after further for peace. He had fought hard for it, comthought. "I can tell you something-a bating the partisan prejudices which ruled
secret, please to observe- which will give at the national capital, and beating down
you pleasure. I have been engaged lately the pretensions of claimants of his own folin preparing a way to peace. Kershaw  lowing. Of course he knew that he was
asked it of me. I pledged him my word not under any practical obligations to Mcon his dea'th-bed, and I have not forgotten Alister, inasmuch as his own election would
it. In a day or two — in a few days at have been a certainty, even had not his
least —I hope to hear from Judge McAlis- rival withdrawn from the canvass. But
ter, hope to receive a friendly message his word had been passed; and that word
from him. In that case I will give him my it had been the pride of his life to keep
hand for life, if he will take it and do what sacred; and in this matter it must be kept
he should to keep it. I will, so help me -  all the more sacred because given to an
It is not easy work, this. But it shall be enemy.
done; it shall, I promise you. Will that   The favor was received in a spirit not
content you?"                          unworthy of that in which it had been
"I am merely a messenger from One conferred. Judge McAlister was not often
who is infinitely greater than I, Mr. Beau- troubled by magnanimous impulses; but
mont," returned Gilyard. "I can only say now the best blood in his mainly selfish
that personally I thank you for this assur- heart boiled to the surface.
ance."                                   " This is Beaumont's work," he said,
i" And I thank you, sir, for coming to handing the commission to Frank, who
me," said Peyton. " I do in all sincerity. happened to be with him at the time. "By
But bless me! you are very pale. Won't heavens, he is a gentleman I "
you have a glass of wine?"               The young man's face flushed crimson;
Mr. Gilyard had understood that peace he saw all the possible consequences of
between the Beaumonts and McAlisters this fine deed; he trusted that there was
meant the cession by him of Kate Beau- set for him  love and happiness. It was
mont to Frank McAlister. On obtaining impossible for the moment that he could
the promise of this peace, the assurance of do more than merely endure his heart
this cession, he had nearly fainted.   beats.  He was either far above or far
It was some minutes before he could below the faculty of speech.
muster fortitude to seek out Mrs. Armitage   "I could not have demanded it," conand say to her, "We have reason to be tinued the father.'That miserable ren



160                         KATE BEAUMONT.
contre had put my claims in chancery. deed, it would be your duty, to yourself and
He is certainly a gentleman."          society. But I am sorry to hear this. It
"' What will you do, sir?" the son could complicates matters; it is dreadfilly inconat last inquire.                       venient."
"What do you mean?"  stared  the   After a moment of worried meditation he
Judge.                                 added, "I am greatly tempted to put this
"If you accept the commission, you will rascal under bonds to keep the peace."
owe an expression of-"                   "It would excite discussion, sir," ob" Gratitude," admitted the Judge, with a served Frank, who knew that certain famigrand bow. "Unquestionably. I shall owe lies were too lofty and honorable to appeal
it, and I will pay it. The gift, to be sure, is to the law for protection against their fbes.
not overwhelming," he added, his conceit, or,   "It would," admitted the Judge of the
as he conceived it to be, his dignity, begin- United States District Court, remembering
ning to come uppermost. " I suppose I had that he was a high-toned gentleman first,
claims to the position which no man could and an expounder of the statutes afterwards.
gainsay. I may say that I had rights. This "I must confess that I hardly know what to
thing, at the least, was due me. But I do in the premises. On the whole, I must,
consider the good-will," he went on, with I think, write to Beaumont, asking his peran air of magnanimity. " A bit of good- mission to call upon him with one or two of
will from an old enemy is doubly an obliga- my family."
tion. Certainly I shall thank Beaumont.   "With our revolvers in our pockets, sir?"
I could not do otherwise so long as my smiled Frank.
name is McAlister."                       "I see no impropriety in that, under the
Heavens, what a pride he had in being circumstances," answered the Judge. " Of
himself, and how  loftily he bugled the course we shall have the gentility and the
word "McAlister! " He was grandiose over sense to keep them out of sight, except in
his gratitude; he would so return thanks the last extremity."
for the favor received as to overpay it;   " On the whole I can suggest nothing bethe would make Beaumont glory in having ter," assented the young man, knowing that
served him.                            his father would do nothing better, though
"I will go in person," added this Arta- it should be suggested by an angel.
xerxes of a country gentleman and local   Anything for a chance to bring the two
politician.                            families together in peace; anything to ob-' I beg pardon," observed Frank. " We tain one more look at Kate Beaumont; anymust take precautions against another mis- thing for love!
understanding. You are not perhaps aware
that there is a second drunken Armitage
on hand."                                       CHAPTER  XXXVIII.
It must be understood that, although
Bentley had already left Hartland, Frank   JUDGE MCALISTER did not call upon his
had not heard of it.                   ancient enemy and present benefactor at"Indeed?" demanded the Judge, not tended by an armed retinue.
minded to get himself shot unnecessarily,   Having made inquiry in the village after
at his time of life.                   Bentley Armitage, and having learned posiThen the young man told the elder how  tively that that unhappy young man had
Bent had challenged him, and was supposed gone to parts unknown, he went alone to
to be lying in wait to take a shot at sight.  the Beaumont place with his calumets and
The father gave the son a queer look. his wampums.
He was saying to himself, "In my day,   There had been an appointment, but,
when a fellow proposed to ambush us, we watches disagreeing, Peyton had miscalcuused to look him up and root him out." lated his visitor's arrival, and was at his.But he could not make this speech to his stables, with all his sons and not far from
son, and especially not under the present half his negroes, inspecting a newly purcircumstances; for the Armitages were kin chased racer.
to the Beaumonts, and with these last it  It was Kate Beaumont who received and
was not well to open a fresh account of welcomed Frank McAlister's father.  She
blood, at least not immediately.       had learned that he was coming, and learned
i" That is bad," he observed, arching his or guessed that it was in peace. In spite of
eyebrows thoughtfully. "I hope you are her conscientious struggles to be calm, in
-taking precautions."                  spite of the spiritual melancholy which had
"I am not ashamed to say that I am  settled upon her, she was in a state of fever-.
keeping out of the lunatic's way. Of course, ish excitement. Would there be a renewal
if he attacks me, I shall defend myself."    of amity?  Would the dry bones of feeli" Unquestionably you would be justified ings and expectations which she believed to
in so doing," declared the man of law. " In- be dead clothe themselves again with life




KATE BEAUMONT.                                 161
and stand upon their feet, a mighty army? gone, the ponderous Judge took a large
How the questions, the doubts, the hopes, white handkerchief out of a capacious pockthe scruples, the self-reproaches, the long- et, slowly wiped away something which obings, the fears, and still the hopes again, scured his sight, and murmured, "Poor —
thronged through her spirit! Impossible to beautiful - creature!"
give more than a feeble and vague idea of   As soon as Beaumont learned that McAlthe contest which agitated her soul and ister had arrived, he hurried to meet him
caused her very flesh to tremble. One word with such speed that he entered the parlor
she kept repeating,  I have given him up, quite out of breath. To honor the occasion
given him up "; repeated it with self-abase- and the visitor, he had dressed himself with
ment, with desperation. Nevertheless she scrupulous care. He had on a blue dresswent forth to greet his father.          coat with gilt buttons, a buff vest also with
When the Judge met her in the veranda, gilt buttons, and buff kerseymere trousers
he saw a girl who had not slept the night tightly strapped under the instep, as was
before, and who was even then striving to the fashion of the time. The strong colors,
lay her heart upon the altar of a Moloch, so suggestive of military uniform, perfectly
but whose face was so colored, and whose became his bold, trooper-like, officer-like
eyes so brightened by fever that she looked expression and the dark ruddiness, almost
the picture of health.                   as deep as mahogany, of his complexion.
"My dear -oung lady!" he said, the ex-. His costume contrasted with the solemn
clamation being actually forced from him  black of the Judge, much as his impetuous
by his amazement at a beauty which was character contrasted with the other's deeven more wonderful now than formerly, liberate subtlety.
because more spiritual.  "I consider it a   " I beg your pardon, Judge, for making
good omen that you should be the first to you wait a single instant," were Peyton's
meet me," he added in the flush of his en- first words, at the same time cordially givthusiasm.                               ing his hand.
" You have my earnest thanks for this   "I have not waited," said McAlister, with
visit, sir," she replied, pressing his hand fer- a certain grave emotion. "I have been
vently, and then dropping it suddenly, with gratified, honored by an interview with your
a strange mixture of impulse and self-re- youngest daughter."
pression.                                  "I am glad that she was here to receive' Heaven bless you, my dear young lady!" you," returned Beaumont, bowing thanks
said the Judge, still in a sort of daze as he for the compliment to his child.
bowed gigantically over her, wondering and   "She is a wonderful woman," declared
admiring.  "You show your native good- the Judge, momentarily forgetting the obness in divining me," he continued, regain- ject of his visit. "I thought I knew her
ing his intellectual self-possession. "I have already; but she always astonishes me. I
come for peace."                         have never seen in any other person su(h
She led him into the parlor with the air expression of feeling and character.  She
of a dethroned and sorrowing but resigned spoke of her grandfather in a way -"
queen, receiving a king who brings sympa-   The Judge stopped. Beaumont bent his
thy.  Her fine figure rendered only the head as if beside a grave.
more willowy and elegant by emaciation   " Lamentable tragedy!" resumed McAland by her closely clinging black dress, she ister. " Mr. Beaumont, I hope it will be the
was an incarnation of grace.            last in the history of our families."
"'I have but one regret," she sighed, her   The Judge, profoundly in earnest, was
eyes turning upward sadly as if seeking her talking above himself. It was the contagion
grandfather.                            of Kate Beaumont's tender nobility of soul,'" Miss Beaumont, I share it," he answered, quite as much as a consciousness of the
understanding her with a quickness which weighty importance of the occasion, which
did him honor.  "I wish John Kershaw  thus elevated him. His host looked at him
could have seen this day."               with surprise and respect, and answered
" I wish so," whispered Kate, almost in- fervently, " I sincerely hope and trust so."
audibly.                                   He too, as well as McAlister, was at his
The Judge rose to his feet and took both moral zenith. He was quite aware that this
her hands tenderly, while a dimness came was one of the most impressive and imporinto his eyes as of half-born tears.    tant moments of his life.  Its gravity ex" My dear child, you have my very heart's alted and purified him; he showed it in his
sympathies," he said.  " VWhat a man he deportment and utterance. Throughout the
was! What a loss!"                      whole interview he exhibited not one vioKate bowed; she could not answer; she lent impulse, not one start of his charactercould not look at him.  She bowed very istic eccentricity of feeling, not one amusing
low, let fall a few bright drops upon the trait of unconscious humor. Never before,
carpet, and left the room. When she had at least not since his days of youthful diffi21




162                          KATE BEAUMONT.
dence, had he been such a calm, contained   His martial and grim face worked with
gentleman as he was during this scene.   emotion, and there was a prayerful, piteous
"Mr. Beauinolt, I am your debtor," re- stare in his black eyes. The Judge rose
sumed McAlister, remembering that he had also, seized and wrung Peyton's hand anew,
come to return thanks.                   and even patted him comfortingly on the
"I have fulfilled my promise. Let us say shoulder. He had not for years been in
no more about it."                       such a state of tender emotion over a man.
"I must say this, that I owe you my ear- He absolutely thought well of Beaumont,
nest gratitude, and give it."            absolutely admired him.
"Judge, your merit has at last been ac-   Soon the conversation became calmer,
knowledged, at least in part. That is all."  turning easily to subjects of an unpathetic
Considering the life-history of these two nature, as is natural with masculine talk.
men, it was surely a grand, as well as per- For a while it was mutually satisfactory;
haps a grandiose, dialogue.              but at last McAlister made a remark which
"You are very kind to express yourself showed his thick-skinned nature, his born
thus," bowed the Judge. Then he fell silent. incapacity for distinguishing what might
He wanted to ask fobr peace.  He remem- offend the feelings of a man of acute senbered Frank, and wanted to give him  a sibility.
chance. But the feud was a very old deni-   "I trust that you will be reassured before
zen of his heart and habits.  It made the long as to the fate of your son-in-law," he
word " peace " a hard one to mouth.      said. " Excuse me," he added, perceiving
Beaumont broke the silence.  He felt a change in his host's countenance. " I wish
that McAlister had said as much as could to say that he could hardly be held culpabe denlanded of him. It was his own turn ble as to the fate of our lamented friend.
now.  His rival must be met half-way. So obvious an accident, you know!"
Moreover, his promise to Kershaw must be   Beaumont's brow had darkened unpleaskept. TIhe two families must, if the thing antly; he did not want to hear about a sonwere possible, be brought into some kind of in-law whom he had despised and hated;
compact, so that bloodshedding at least above all, he did not want to discuss his
should cease.                            character and chances with a McAlister.,"Judge, let me be frank," he began, For an instant it seemed as if he would
speaking slowly, like one who weighs his reply offensively; but after a struggle, he
words, and who speaks because he must. smoothed his forehead and spoke softly.
" There has been a feud between your house What he said, however, was startling.
and mine. I propose that it shall end; that   "He is dead, sir. I am quite reassured
you and I shall do our utmost to end it; that as to his fate. Shot dead, sir, by some
we shall pledge our faith and character to mountaineer or other, in the Dark Corner.
that work. Sir, will you give me your hand Don't trouble yourself to condole with us,
to it? "                                sir."
His face was crimson with his struggle to   The Judge had blundered, and of course
say this.  Judge McAlister's ashy sallow  hel saw it. He bowed meekly, mumbled
countenance, also turned to a deep red. some unnoticed  words of apology, and
Both men felt that it was a weighty agree- passed to other matters. But it seemed
ment to offer and to accept.             well now not to prolong the interview;
"Here is my hand," replied the head of and, having begged Beaumont to do him
the McAlisters.'" Our honor is plighted."  the honor of a visit, he took his leave.
After this great deed had been done they   " Ah! " burst out Peyton, when his vissat down, both at once, two tired and breath- itor had got out of hearing. "How can I
less men. This making of peace had been get on with such a man? Even when he
to them a more wearying effort than would means to be civil he tramples on one's soul."
have been a wrestling-match.               After a little, however, he recovered his
Wv We shall keep this treaty," said the good-nature, and added, with a smile of
Judge, after a moment. "We never fully grim resignation, " But he will die some
and freely and in set terms made it be- day, and, for that matter, so shall I; and
fore."                                   perhaps our children will find each other
" That was our mistake," answered Beau- more endurable. I must use the rest of my
mont.                                    life in trying to give them  a chance to
He seemed absent-minded; he was think- live."
ing of Kershaw.                            Considering the man's sensitive nature
" It is the spirit of my old friend who has and pugnacious habits, the resolution was
done this," he presently exclaimed, rising surely self-sacrificing, and showed not a litand walking the room. "He is stronger in tle paternal affection.
death than he was in life. God forgive me   But Peyton Beaumont became more disfor not having let him see this day and hear tinctly and agreeably reconciled to the idea
these words."                            of peace with the McAlisters, when Frank




KATE BEAUMONT.                                 163
called on him.   The habitually stormy ter; in two months she had recovered her
depths of his eyes grew calm, and a hospita- plumpness, her tints of damask rose, and
ble smile flew like a dove to sit upon his the brightness of her eyes. The moment
wide, strong mouth, as he beheld the almost that life had ceased to be merely a sorrow,
sublime stature and the handsome, gracious, it had ceased to be a disease.
dignified countenance of this gentle giant.   As if to pile miracle on miracle, health
Painful and humiliating as the task was to of body restored  health of mind. The
himn, he apologized for the untoward inci- clouds of superstitious gloom and ascetic
dents of Frank's last visit.             purpose, which had lately wrapped her in
"It was a shameful, horrible breach of wretchedness, rose, grew  thin, dispersed,
hospitality, sir," he said. " But you will vanished, she knew not why, she knew not
surely not hold us accountable, especially as when, but utterly and forever. It was as
we -were the greatest sufferers.  That —  if a terrible enchantment had been lifted
that scoundrel is dead, sir," he added. " He by a spell, restoring her from  cavernous
will make no more mischief."             dungeons to light, froin a false world of
" God have mercy upon him!"  Frank horrors to a real world of happiness. Sudmurmured. Beaumont made no reply; his denly and to her amazement she found hernostrils were distended and his eyebrows self free; she could do what she would with
working; he was thinking of the dead her pure heart and will and life. "No voice
Kershaw and the sorrows of his daughters, nor hideous hum " of her Moloch any longer
not praying for Armitage.                deceived her; and she knew that her late
After some amicable dialogue, the young vows of self-sacrifice were senseless and
man asked leave to pay his respects to the nugatory.  Indeed, she was so perfectly
ladies of the family.                    healthy in spirit that she at times asked
" They will be happy to see you, sir," herself, " Have I been crazed?"  No, she
answered Beaumont, graciously.   "You had not been crazed; but she had been
will find my youngest daughter very much near it.
changed.  She has received  a terrible   It must be understood, by the way, that
blow."                                   Arthur Gilyard had facilitated her recovery
So Frank perceived for himself when he by keeping altogether away from her, so
encountered Kate. It is true that the first that she the more easily got rid of her
s;ght of him brought a flush to her face and impression that it was her duty to become
a tremulous brightness to her eyes; but in his wife. It was the final act of self-abnea moment came the thought that she had gation in this noble spirit to seek a prompt
given him up, turning her to the whiteness dismissal from his parish, and take up his
and coldness of marble; and presently the labor for souls in a distant part of the
tumult subsided into the calm  pallor of State. It was well, no doubt, for his own
physical languor and of grief. Thin as she peace; but it was well also for the peace
was and faded as she was, Frank found her of Kate.
more beautiful than ever. His pity for her   Meantime, the two families remained on
increased his affection magically, and he friendly, and, so far as the women-folk were
thought that he had never before seen her so concerned, on cordial terms. Mrs. McAlisenchanting.  0, blind faithfulness of love, ter and Mar) once more twined the tenadmirable and enviable, deserving reward drils of their hearts around Kate, claiming
and winning it!                         her as one whom they had a right to love
Of course, in this first meeting after great and must love.  It was they who first
calamities, awed by the melancholy of those learned, and who quickly reported to their
eyes whose pathos made the room holy, and son and brother, that the Rev. Arthur,
still believing somewhat in the tale of the Gilyard never came to the Beaumont house,
Gilyard  engagement, Frank  could  not and so could not be troth-plighted to its
breathe a word nor throw out a look of fairest inmate. They threw out hints of
courtship.  The interview passed in talk on encouragement to the young man which.
commonplace subjects, and he retired from  sent the blood through all his six feet and
it so unsatisfied that he thought himself four inches of stature. These affectionate
inhappy.  It had been  a great joy to urgencies were all the more open because
look upon her once more; but he believed the Judge was impatient for a proposal of
that he was doomed never to win her as a  marriage, and actually pushed the women
wife.                                    to push the boy up to it."
Several weeks passed without visible  "' Why does n't he take advantage of the
change in the relations of the two young present favorable circumstances?" said this
people. But meantime Kate's health rapid- unsensitive old gentleman. " A woman who
ly returned to her, and brought with it a is in affliction, and who of course needs
fresh outburst of her girlish beauty. She consolation, is all the more likely to accept
grew well at Hartland; she made a little an offer. IDepend upon it, madam, that I
trip to Charleston, and came back still bet- know  something of human nature.  He




1G64                         KATE BEAUMONT.
ought to speak at once, before any one else know that you will not some day separate
conies in."                             me from my child?"
In a modified form, made delicate and  4" From my wife, sir, you shall never be
pure by a mother's lips, these suggestions separated," answered Frank, returning the
reached Frank's ears.                    other's spasmodic grasp. The two men," I should be so overjoyed to take such a were locked together by their emotions; it
daughter to my heart," said Mrs. McAlister seemed to Beaumont as if he could not
in a cooing, happy tone. " I think, consid- escape, as if a fate held him fast."
ering what she already knows of your feel-   "I know that this marriage will be a
ings, that she would not be shocked if you bond of union for us all," continued Frank,
should speak to her. You need not press speaking for the moment with the sublimity
her for an answer; it would be best not, I of a prophet.
think and feel. But you certainly may tell   " Ah, well, - so let it be," returned Beauher that you have not changed. It would mont, unable to resist this enthusiasm. " Go
be only fair and kind to tell her that."  and find her."
So Frank MIcAlister resolved to tell Kate   Frank raised the hand of Beaumont, and
Beaumont that he had not changed.        suddenly pressed it to his heart. It was a
hand which had shed McAlister blood, but
he forgot that; it was also the hand of his
loved one's father, and that alone he reCHAPTER  XXX1X.                membered..
Next, descending into the garden, where
BEFORE going to the daughter, Frank he had already seen Kate through the twiwent to the father, whose consent it will be light, he sought her amid a perfumed tanremembered that he had once asked but gle of shrubbery and flowers. The faint
not received, matters between the Beau- golden radiance which lingered in the west
monts and McAlisters being then in a revealed her; she appeared to him to be
highly explosive state, smoking with a standing in a delicate, unearthly halo of
promise of lofty flame and red-hot lava. luminousness; she reminded him of MurilHe found the Honorable Peyton in his lo's Immaculate Virgin showing through
veranda, walking up and down with the hazes of aureoles. Although the comparishort, careful steps of a gouty man, and son sprang from  the hot imagination of
smoking a cigar with an air of grinding it.  strong affection, it was not altogether ex" Good evening," said the lord of the travagant. The greatest fact possible to
manor in the strong and rather too trum- young womanhood, the consciousness of
pet-like tone which was habitual with him, loving and of being loved, had given Kate
but at the same time amicably producing a the sweet serenity of a seraph. Moreover,
spare cigar. "Will you join me?"        unmarried though she was, there was about
"I wish to join you for life, Mr. Beau- her something of the Madonna. Her face
mont," replied Frank, not even seeing the had that various richness of expression
proffered Havana.                        which we see in the faces of wives and
It was evide.nt that Kate's father com- mothers so much oftener than in the faces
prellended, and that he was not entirely of maidens. Under suffering her mind and
gratified.  Over his hard and highly col- heart had both expanded, and this developored but expressive face there came a cloud, ment of thought and feeling had given every
which, if not downright displeasure, was feature a new light, rising at times to a fulanxiety. Nevertheless, he looked into his ness of meaning which seemed to comprevisitor's eyes with an air of attentive and hend all womanhood.
respectful meditation.                     There was just one blemish to the pic-'Once more, Mr. Beaumont," continued ture, if so tender a thing may be called a
Frank, unfalteringly, "I come to ask you blemish. There was a tear; it hung upon
to let me tell your daughter that I love her her eyelash as he softly approached her;
with all my heart."                      and when she turned at the sound of his
The simple earnestness of the phrase, footsteps, it fell upon a white rose which
and the tremulous sincerity of the tone in she held to her lips. She had been kissing
which it was uttered, shook all the father the rose because it was her grandfather's
in Peyton.                              favorite flower.
"Look here," he said, throwing away his   "Will you let me spend the future in
cegar, and seizing both of Frank's hands. trying to console you for the past?" he
"I have but a single objection. To your- said, gently taking her hand.
self I have none. I believe in you, Mr.   Yes, such had been her history and such'McAlister; I believe in your head and was his nature, that his first words of love
your heart. But, I sometimes ask myself, to her must be words of comfort.
how long will peace last between our fami-  It was just what she craved; she could
lies, much as we now prize it?  How do I hardly, under any circumstances, have an



KATE BEAUMONT.                                 165
sweredl nay to such a plea; and loving him, and Capulets reconciled! Rolleo and Jutrusting him as she did, she only answered liet to be married! Bless my bodly! I
by leaning on his breast and weeping there. could caper like a nigger. Bless my body!"
It was one of those sublime moments in the   "I have won her," was Frank's simple
life of the soul when it is mightier than the address, when, wearing Kate proudly on his
body; when its emotions are so overpower- arm, he reached Beaumont.
ing that the voice fails at their mere advent   "Take her," replied the father. "Only
and can give them no utterance.         remember that I have put my happiness as
" I will console you for all," he whispered, well as hers in your hand."
his arm  supporting her. "Every breath   He kissed his child repeatedly, and then
that I draw shall be drawn for your happi- resumed his solitary walk and cigar, feeling
ness."                                   deserted and sorrowful.
What further was said between them we   Well, a year more saw many events: the
will not repeat. The few syllables which marriage of Frank McAlister to Kate Beauthey exchanged had to their souls a fulness mont; the young man's installation over
and richness of meaning which would not the Kershaw estate, he giving up science as
appear to those who should read  them. a thing not yet required by Carolinians;
Their lips, touched by fire from  heaven, the marriage of Vincent Beaumont to Mary
ennobled language far beyond its wont, and McAlister, who became lady of the house in
made it like the speech of some better the mansion of her ancestors' enemies; the
world. Words became emotions, pouring marriage of Jenny Devine to Dr. Mattieheart into heart, and mingling them forever. son, -" Just to console him for losing you,
As they returned to the house, Nellie my dear," she said to Kate; finally, the
Armitage met them, gave one glance at her death of poor worn-out Mrs. Chester by softsister's face, read with a woman's sympa- ening of the brain.
thetic insight all that was in it, passed a   It will be understood, of course, that there
tremulous arm  quickly around her neck, was no renewal of the famous feud which
and kissed her.  Then pressing Frank's had so long kept Hartland in cheerful. tragihand vehemently, she went and wandered cal gossip, and made it feel itself to be the
alone in the darkling garden, calling to most illustrious village of South Carolina.
mind how this same cup of happiness had   It must be stated also that Peyton Beauonce been put to her lips, and obstinately mont always remained satisfied with the
struggling to forget how it had been dashed son-in-law who had come to him through so
from them.                               many difficulties and whom he had accepted
Major Lawson, lounging on the gravel- with so much hesitation.
walk before the house, also saw the young    "By heavens, sir, he is Kershaw  over
couple, comprehended what had happened  again," he used to say. "I don't wonder
to them, and halting with a start, stared  Kate picked him out of twenty. It's astonafter them in ecstasy, muttering, " Bless my ishing what a perception of character that
body! It is done at last. The Montagues girl has. He is Kershaw over again."
THE END.
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