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The Complete Short Stories of Mark Twain

Published by THE MANTHAN SCHOOL, 2022-06-23 03:01:06

Description: The Complete Short Stories of Mark Twain

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["The\t crowd\t poured\t down\t the\t canon--Holmes,\t Fetlock,\t Archy\t Stillman, everybody.\tThey\tmade\tthe\tmile\tin\ta\tfew\tminutes.\tBy\tthe\tlight\tof\ta\tlantern\tthey found\tthe\tsmooth\tand\tsolid\tdirt\tfloor\tof\tFlint\tBuckner's\tcabin;\tof\tthe\tcabin\titself not\t a\t vestige\t remained,\t not\t a\t rag\t nor\t a\t splinter.\t Nor\t any\t sign\t of\t Flint.\t Search- parties\tsought\there\tand\tthere\tand\tyonder,\tand\tpresently\ta\tcry\twent\tup. \\\"Here\the\tis!\\\" It\twas\ttrue.\tFifty\tyards\tdown\tthe\tgulch\tthey\thad\tfound\thim--that\tis,\tthey\thad found\ta\tcrushed\tand\tlifeless\tmass\twhich\trepresented\thim.\tFetlock\tJones\thurried thither\twith\tthe\tothers\tand\tlooked. The\tinquest\twas\ta\tfifteen-minute\taffair.\tHam\tSandwich,\tforeman\tof\tthe\tjury, handed\tup\tthe\tverdict,\twhich\twas\tphrased\twith\ta\tcertain\tunstudied\tliterary\tgrace, and\tclosed\twith\tthis\tfinding,\tto\twit:\tthat\t\\\"deceased\tcame\tto\this\tdeath\tby\this\town act\tor\tsome\tother\tperson\tor\tpersons\tunknown\tto\tthis\tjury\tnot\tleaving\tany\tfamily or\t similar\t effects\t behind\t but\t his\t cabin\t which\t was\t blown\t away\t and\t God\t have mercy\ton\this\tsoul\tamen.\\\" Then\t the\t impatient\t jury\t rejoined\t the\t main\t crowd,\t for\t the\t storm-center\t of interest\twas\tthere--Sherlock\t Holmes.\tThe\tminers\tstood\tsilent\t and\t reverent\tin\t a half-circle,\t inclosing\t a\t large\t vacant\t space\t which\t included\t the\t front\t exposure\t of the\t site\t of\t the\t late\t premises.\t In\t this\t considerable\t space\t the\t Extraordinary\t Man was\t moving\t about,\t attended\t by\t his\t nephew\t with\t a\t lantern.\t With\t a\t tape\t he\t took measurements\tof\tthe\tcabin\tsite;\tof\tthe\tdistance\tfrom\tthe\twall\tof\tchaparral\tto\tthe road;\tof\tthe\theight\tof\tthe\tchaparral\tbushes;\talso\tvarious\tother\tmeasurements.\tHe gathered\ta\trag\there,\ta\tsplinter\tthere,\tand\ta\tpinch\tof\tearth\tyonder,\tinspected\tthem profoundly,\t and\t preserved\t them.\t He\t took\t the\t \\\"lay\\\"\t of\t the\t place\t with\t a\t pocket- compass,\t allowing\t two\t seconds\t for\t magnetic\t variation.\t He\t took\t the\t time (Pacific)\t by\t his\t watch,\t correcting\t it\t for\t local\t time.\t He\t paced\t off\t the\t distance from\t the\t cabin\t site\t to\t the\t corpse,\t and\t corrected\t that\t for\t tidal\t differentiation.\t He took\t the\t altitude\t with\t a\t pocket-aneroid,\t and\t the\t temperature\t with\t a\t pocket- thermometer.\tFinally\the\tsaid,\twith\ta\tstately\tbow: \\\"It\tis\tfinished.\tShall\twe\treturn,\tgentlemen?\\\" He\ttook\tup\tthe\tline\tof\tmarch\tfor\tthe\ttavern,\tand\tthe\tcrowd\tfell\tinto\this\twake, earnestly\t discussing\t and\t admiring\t the\t Extraordinary\t Man,\t and\t interlarding guesses\tas\tto\tthe\torigin\tof\tthe\ttragedy\tand\twho\tthe\tauthor\tof\tit\tmight\tbe. \\\"My,\tbut\tit's\tgrand\tluck\thaving\thim\there--hey,\tboys?\\\"\tsaid\tFerguson. \\\"It's\tthe\tbiggest\tthing\tof\tthe\tcentury,\\\"\tsaid\tHam\tSandwich.\t\\\"It\t'll\tgo\tall\tover the\tworld;\tyou\tmark\tmy\twords.\\\" \\\"You\tbet!\\\"\tsaid\tJake\tParker,\tthe\tblacksmith.\t\\\"It\t'll\tboom\tthis\tcamp.\tAin't\tit\tso,","Wells-Fargo?\\\" \\\"Well,\tas\tyou\twant\tmy\topinion--if\tit's\tany\tsign\tof\thow\tI\tthink\tabout\tit,\tI\tcan tell\t you\t this:\t yesterday\t I\t was\t holding\t the\t Straight\t Flush\t claim\t at\t two\t dollars\t a foot;\tI'd\tlike\tto\tsee\tthe\tman\tthat\tcan\tget\tit\tat\tsixteen\tto-day.\\\" \\\"Right\t you\t are,\t Wells-Fargo!\t It's\t the\t grandest\t luck\t a\t new\t camp\t ever\t struck. Say,\tdid\tyou\tsee\thim\tcollar\tthem\tlittle\trags\tand\tdirt\tand\tthings?\tWhat\tan\teye!\tHe just\tcan't\toverlook\ta\tclue--'tain't\tin\thim.\\\" \\\"That's\tso.\tAnd\tthey\twouldn't\tmean\ta\tthing\tto\tanybody\telse;\tbut\tto\thim,\twhy, they're\tjust\ta\tbook--large\tprint\tat\tthat.\\\" \\\"Sure's\tyou're\tborn!\tThem\todds\tand\tends\thave\tgot\ttheir\tlittle\told\tsecret,\tand they\t think\t there\t ain't\t anybody\t can\t pull\t it;\t but,\t land!\t when\t he\t sets\t his\t grip\t there they've\tgot\tto\tsqueal,\tand\tdon't\tyou\tforget\tit.\\\" \\\"Boys,\t I\t ain't\t sorry,\t now,\t that\t he\t wasn't\t here\t to\t roust\t out\t the\t child;\t this\t is\t a bigger\t thing,\t by\t a\t long\t sight.\t Yes,\t sir,\t and\t more\t tangled\t up\t and\t scientific\t and intellectual.\\\" \\\"I\treckon\twe're\tall\tof\tus\tglad\tit's\tturned\tout\tthis\tway.\tGlad?\t'George!\tit\tain't any\tname\tfor\tit.\tDontchuknow,\tArchy\tcould\t've\tlearnt\tsomething\tif\the'd\thad\tthe nous\tto\tstand\tby\tand\ttake\tnotice\tof\thow\tthat\tman\tworks\tthe\tsystem.\tBut\tno;\the went\tpoking\tup\tinto\tthe\tchaparral\tand\tjust\tmissed\tthe\twhole\tthing.\\\" \\\"It's\ttrue\tas\tgospel;\tI\tseen\tit\tmyself.\tWell,\tArchy's\tyoung.\tHe'll\tknow\tbetter one\tof\tthese\tdays.\\\" \\\"Say,\tboys,\twho\tdo\tyou\treckon\tdone\tit?\\\" That\t was\t a\t difficult\t question,\t and\t brought\t out\t a\t world\t of\t unsatisfying conjecture.\t Various\t men\t were\t mentioned\t as\t possibilities,\t but\t one\t by\t one\t they were\tdiscarded\tas\tnot\tbeing\teligible.\tNo\tone\tbut\tyoung\tHillyer\thad\tbeen\tintimate with\t Flint\t Buckner;\t no\t one\t had\t really\t had\t a\t quarrel\t with\t him;\t he\t had\t affronted every\t man\t who\t had\t tried\t to\t make\t up\t to\t him,\t although\t not\t quite\t offensively enough\t to\t require\t bloodshed.\t There\t was\t one\t name\t that\t was\t upon\t every\t tongue from\t the\t start,\t but\t it\t was\t the\t last\t to\t get\t utterance--Fetlock\t Jones's.\t It\t was\t Pat Riley\tthat\tmentioned\tit. \\\"Oh,\t well,\\\"\t the\t boys\t said,\t \\\"of\t course\t we've\t all\t thought\t of\t him,\t because\t he had\ta\tmillion\trights\tto\tkill\tFlint\tBuckner,\tand\tit\twas\tjust\this\tplain\tduty\tto\tdo\tit. But\t all\t the\t same\t there's\t two\t things\t we\t can't\t get\t around:\t for\t one\t thing,\t he\t hasn't got\t the\t sand;\t and\t for\t another,\t he\t wasn't\t anywhere\t near\t the\t place\t when\t it happened.\\\" \\\"I\t know\t it,\\\"\t said\t Pat.\t \\\"He\t was\t there\t in\t the\t billiard-room\t with\t us\t when\t it happened.\\\"","\\\"Yes,\tand\twas\tthere\tall\tthe\ttime\tfor\tan\thour\tbefore\tit\thappened.\\\" \\\"It's\t so.\t And\t lucky\t for\t him,\t too.\t He'd\t have\t been\t suspected\t in\t a\t minute\t if\t it hadn't\tbeen\tfor\tthat.\\\" 8 The\ttavern\tdining-room\thad\tbeen\tcleared\tof\tall\tits\tfurniture\tsave\tone\tsix-foot pine\ttable\tand\ta\tchair.\tThis\ttable\twas\tagainst\tone\tend\tof\tthe\troom;\tthe\tchair\twas on\tit;\tSherlock\tHolmes,\tstately,\timposing,\timpressive,\tsat\tin\tthe\tchair.\tThe\tpublic stood.\tThe\troom\twas\tfull.\tThe\ttobacco-smoke\twas\tdense,\tthe\tstillness\tprofound. The\tExtraordinary\tMan\traised\this\thand\tto\tcommand\tadditional\tsilence;\theld it\t in\t the\t air\t a\t few\t moments;\t then,\t in\t brief,\t crisp\t terms\t he\t put\t forward\t question after\tquestion,\tand\tnoted\tthe\tanswers\twith\t\\\"Um-ums,\\\"\tnods\tof\tthe\thead,\tand\tso on.\t By\t this\t process\t he\t learned\t all\t about\t Flint\t Buckner,\t his\t character,\t conduct, and\t habits,\t that\t the\t people\t were\t able\t to\t tell\t him.\t It\t thus\t transpired\t that\t the Extraordinary\tMan's\tnephew\twas\tthe\tonly\tperson\tin\tthe\tcamp\twho\thad\ta\tkilling- grudge\t against\t Flint\t Buckner.\t Mr.\t Holmes\t smiled\t compassionately\t upon\t the witness,\tand\tasked,\tlanguidly: \\\"Do\tany\tof\tyou\tgentlemen\tchance\tto\tknow\twhere\tthe\tlad\tFetlock\tJones\twas at\tthe\ttime\tof\tthe\texplosion?\\\" A\tthunderous\tresponse\tfollowed: \\\"In\tthe\tbilliard-room\tof\tthis\thouse!\\\" \\\"Ah.\tAnd\thad\the\tjust\tcome\tin?\\\" \\\"Been\tthere\tall\tof\tan\thour!\\\" \\\"Ah.\t It\t is\t about--about--well,\tabout\thow\t far\t might\t it\tbe\t to\tthe\t scene\tof\t the explosion?\\\" \\\"All\tof\ta\tmile!\\\" \\\"Ah.\tIt\tisn't\tmuch\tof\tan\talibi,\t'tis\ttrue,\tbut--\\\" A\tstorm-burst\tof\tlaughter,\tmingled\twith\tshouts\tof\t\\\"By\tjiminy,\tbut\the's\tchain- lightning!\\\"\t and\t \\\"Ain't\t you\t sorry\t you\t spoke,\t Sandy?\\\"\t shut\t off\t the\t rest\t of\t the sentence,\t and\t the\t crushed\t witness\t drooped\t his\t blushing\t face\t in\t pathetic\t shame. The\tinquisitor\tresumed: \\\"The\t lad\t Jones's\t somewhat\t distant\t connection\t with\t the\t case\\\"\t (laughter) \\\"having\tbeen\tdisposed\tof,\tlet\tus\tnow\tcall\tthe\teye-witnesses\tof\t the\ttragedy,\t and listen\tto\twhat\tthey\thave\tto\tsay.\\\"","He\tgot\tout\this\tfragmentary\tclues\tand\tarranged\tthem\ton\ta\tsheet\tof\tcardboard on\this\tknee.\tThe\thouse\theld\tits\tbreath\tand\twatched. \\\"We\t have\t the\t longitude\t and\t the\t latitude,\t corrected\t for\t magnetic\t variation, and\t this\t gives\t us\t the\t exact\t location\t of\t the\t tragedy.\t We\t have\t the\t altitude,\t the temperature,\t and\t the\t degree\t of\t humidity\t prevailing--inestimably\t valuable,\t since they\t enable\t us\t to\t estimate\t with\t precision\t the\t degree\t of\t influence\t which\t they would\texercise\tupon\tthe\tmood\tand\tdisposition\tof\tthe\tassassin\tat\tthat\ttime\tof\tthe night.\\\" (Buzz\t of\t admiration;\t muttered\t remark,\t \\\"By\t George,\t but\t he's\t deep!\\\")\t He fingered\this\tclues.\t\\\"And\tnow\tlet\tus\task\tthese\tmute\twitnesses\tto\tspeak\tto\tus. \\\"Here\t we\t have\t an\t empty\t linen\t shot-bag.\t What\t is\t its\t message?\t This:\t that robbery\twas\tthe\tmotive,\tnot\trevenge.\tWhat\tis\tits\tfurther\tmessage?\tThis:\tthat\tthe assassin\t was\t of\t inferior\t intelligence--shall\t we\t say\t light-witted,\t or\t perhaps approaching\tthat?\tHow\tdo\twe\tknow\tthis?\tBecause\ta\tperson\tof\tsound\tintelligence would\tnot\thave\tproposed\tto\trob\tthe\tman\tBuckner,\twho\tnever\thad\tmuch\tmoney with\thim.\tBut\tthe\tassassin\tmight\thave\tbeen\ta\tstranger?\tLet\tthe\tbag\tspeak\tagain.\tI take\tfrom\tit\tthis\tarticle.\tIt\tis\ta\tbit\tof\tsilver-bearing\tquartz.\tIt\tis\tpeculiar.\tExamine it,\t please--you--and\t you--and\t you.\t Now\t pass\t it\t back,\t please.\t There\t is\t but\t one lode\ton\tthis\tcoast\twhich\tproduces\tjust\tthat\tcharacter\tand\tcolor\tof\tquartz;\tand\tthat is\ta\tlode\twhich\tcrops\tout\tfor\tnearly\ttwo\tmiles\ton\ta\tstretch,\tand\tin\tmy\topinion\tis destined,\tat\tno\tdistant\tday,\tto\tconfer\tupon\tits\tlocality\ta\tglobe-girdling\tcelebrity, and\t upon\t its\t two\t hundred\t owners\t riches\t beyond\t the\t dreams\t of\t avarice.\t Name that\tlode,\tplease.\\\" \\\"The\t Consolidated\t Christian\t Science\t and\t Mary\t Ann!\\\"\t was\t the\t prompt response. A\twild\tcrash\tof\thurrahs\tfollowed,\tand\tevery\tman\treached\tfor\this\tNeighbor's hand\t and\t wrung\t it,\t with\t tears\t in\t his\t eyes;\t and\t Wells-Fargo\t Ferguson\t shouted, \\\"The\tStraight\tFlush\tis\ton\tthe\tlode,\tand\tup\tshe\tgoes\tto\ta\thundred\tand\tfifty\ta\tfoot-- you\thear\tme!\\\" When\tquiet\tfell,\tMr.\tHolmes\tresumed: \\\"We\t perceive,\t then,\t that\t three\t facts\t are\t established,\t to\t wit:\t the\t assassin\t was approximately\t light-witted;\t he\t was\t not\t a\t stranger;\t his\t motive\t was\t robbery,\t not revenge.\t Let\t us\t proceed.\t I\t hold\t in\t my\t hand\t a\t small\t fragment\t of\t fuse,\t with\t the recent\tsmell\tof\tfire\tupon\tit.\tWhat\tis\tits\ttestimony?\tTaken\twith\tthe\tcorroborative evidence\tof\tthe\tquartz,\tit\treveals\tto\tus\tthat\tthe\tassassin\twas\ta\tminer.\tWhat\tdoes\tit tell\t us\t further?\t This,\t gentlemen:\t that\t the\t assassination\t was\t consummated\t by means\t of\t an\t explosive.\t What\t else\t does\t it\t say?\t This:\t that\t the\t explosive\t was","located\t against\t the\t side\t of\t the\t cabin\t nearest\t the\t road--the\t front\t side--for\t within six\tfeet\tof\tthat\tspot\tI\tfound\tit. \\\"I\thold\tin\tmy\tfingers\ta\tburnt\tSwedish\tmatch--the\tkind\tone\trubs\ton\ta\tsafety- box.\t I\t found\t it\t in\t the\t road,\t six\t hundred\t and\t twenty-two\t feet\t from\t the\t abolished cabin.\t What\t does\t it\t say?\t This:\t that\t the\t train\t was\t fired\t from\t that\t point.\t What further\t does\tit\t tell\t us?\tThis:\t that\t the\t assassin\t was\t left-handed.\tHow\t do\t I\t know this?\tI\tshould\tnot\tbe\table\tto\texplain\tto\tyou,\tgentlemen,\thow\tI\tknow\tit,\tthe\tsigns being\tso\tsubtle\tthat\tonly\tlong\texperience\tand\tdeep\tstudy\tcan\tenable\tone\tto\tdetect them.\t But\t the\t signs\t are\t here,\t and\t they\t are\t reinforced\t by\t a\t fact\t which\t you\t must have\t often\t noticed\t in\t the\t great\t detective\t narratives--that\t all\t assassins\t are\t left- handed.\\\" \\\"By\t Jackson,\t that's\t so!\\\"\t said\t Ham\t Sandwich,\t bringing\t his\t great\t hand\t down with\ta\tresounding\tslap\tupon\this\tthigh;\t\\\"blamed\tif\tI\tever\tthought\tof\tit\tbefore.\\\" \\\"Nor\tI!\\\"\t\\\"Nor\tI!\\\"\tcried\tseveral.\t\\\"Oh,\tthere\tcan't\tanything\tescape\thim--look\tat his\teye!\\\" \\\"Gentlemen,\tdistant\tas\tthe\tmurderer\twas\tfrom\this\tdoomed\tvictim,\the\tdid\tnot wholly\tescape\tinjury.\tThis\tfragment\tof\twood\twhich\tI\tnow\texhibit\tto\tyou\tstruck him.\t It\t drew\t blood.\t Wherever\t he\t is,\t he\t bears\t the\t telltale\t mark.\t I\t picked\t it\t up where\the\tstood\twhen\the\tfired\tthe\tfatal\ttrain.\\\"\tHe\tlooked\tout\tover\tthe\thouse\tfrom his\thigh\tperch,\tand\this\tcountenance\tbegan\tto\tdarken;\the\tslowly\traised\this\thand, and\tpointed: \\\"There\tstands\tthe\tassassin!\\\" For\ta\tmoment\tthe\thouse\twas\tparalyzed\twith\tamazement;\tthen\ttwenty\tvoices burst\tout\twith: \\\"Sammy\tHillyer?\tOh,\thell,\tno!\tHim?\tIt's\tpure\tfoolishness!\\\" \\\"Take\t care,\t gentlemen--be\t not\t hasty.\t Observe--he\t has\t the\t bloodmark\t on\t his brow.\\\" Hillyer\t turned\t white\t with\t fright.\t He\t was\t near\t to\t crying.\t He\t turned\t this\t way and\t that,\t appealing\t to\t every\t face\t for\t help\t and\t sympathy;\t and\t held\t out\t his supplicating\thands\ttoward\tHolmes\tand\tbegan\tto\tplead: \\\"Don't,\toh,\tdon't!\tI\tnever\tdid\tit;\tI\tgive\tmy\tword\tI\tnever\tdid\tit.\tThe\tway\tI\tgot this\thurt\ton\tmy\tforehead\twas--\\\" \\\"Arrest\thim,\tconstable!\\\"\tcried\tHolmes.\t\\\"I\twill\tswear\tout\tthe\twarrant.\\\" The\tconstable\tmoved\treluctantly\tforward--hesitated--stopped. Hillyer\t broke\t out\t with\t another\t appeal.\t \\\"Oh,\t Archy,\t don't\t let\t them\t do\t it;\t it would\tkill\tmother!\tYou\tknow\thow\tI\tgot\tthe\thurt.\tTell\tthem,\tand\tsave\tme,\tArchy; save\tme!\\\"","Stillman\tworked\this\tway\tto\tthe\tfront,\tand\tsaid: \\\"Yes,\tI'll\tsave\tyou.\tDon't\tbe\tafraid.\\\"\tThen\the\tsaid\tto\tthe\thouse,\t\\\"Never\tmind how\t he\t got\t the\t hurt;\t it\t hasn't\t anything\t to\t do\t with\t this\t case,\t and\t isn't\t of\t any consequence.\\\" \\\"God\tbless\tyou,\tArchy,\tfor\ta\ttrue\tfriend!\\\" \\\"Hurrah\tfor\tArchy!\tGo\tin,\tboy,\tand\tplay\t'em\ta\tknockdown\tflush\tto\ttheir\ttwo pair\t 'n'\t a\t jack!\\\"\t shouted\t the\t house,\t pride\t in\t their\t home\t talent\t and\t a\t patriotic sentiment\t of\t loyalty\t to\t it\t rising\t suddenly\t in\t the\t public\t heart\t and\t changing\t the whole\tattitude\tof\tthe\tsituation. Young\tStillman\twaited\tfor\tthe\tnoise\tto\tcease;\tthen\the\tsaid: \\\"I\twill\task\tTom\tJeffries\tto\tstand\tby\tthat\tdoor\tyonder,\tand\tConstable\tHarris\tto stand\tby\tthe\tother\tone\there,\tand\tnot\tlet\tanybody\tleave\tthe\troom.\\\" \\\"Said\tand\tdone.\tGo\ton,\told\tman!\\\" \\\"The\t criminal\t is\t present,\t I\t believe.\t I\t will\t show\t him\t to\t you\t before\t long,\t in case\tI\tam\tright\tin\tmy\tguess.\tNow\tI\twill\ttell\tyou\tall\tabout\tthe\ttragedy,\tfrom\tstart to\tfinish.\tThe\tmotive\twasn't\trobbery;\tit\twas\trevenge.\tThe\tmurderer\twasn't\tlight- witted.\t He\t didn't\t stand\t six\t hundred\t and\t twenty-two\t feet\t away.\t He\t didn't\t get\t hit with\ta\tpiece\tof\twood.\tHe\tdidn't\tplace\tthe\texplosive\tagainst\tthe\tcabin.\tHe\tdidn't bring\t a\t shot-bag\t with\t him,\t and\t he\t wasn't\t left-handed.\t With\t the\t exception\t of these\t errors,\t the\t distinguished\t guest's\t statement\t of\t the\t case\t is\t substantially correct.\\\" A\tcomfortable\tlaugh\trippled\tover\tthe\thouse;\tfriend\tnodded\tto\tfriend,\tas\tmuch as\t to\t say,\t \\\"That's\t the\t word,\t with\t the\t bark\t on\t it.\t Good\t lad,\t good\t boy.\t He\t ain't lowering\this\tflag\tany!\\\" The\tguest's\tserenity\twas\tnot\tdisturbed.\tStillman\tresumed: \\\"I\talso\thave\tsome\twitnesses;\tand\tI\twill\tpresently\ttell\tyou\twhere\tyou\tcan\tfind some\tmore.\\\"\tHe\theld\tup\ta\tpiece\tof\tcoarse\twire;\tthe\tcrowd\tcraned\ttheir\tnecks\tto see.\t\\\"It\thas\ta\tsmooth\tcoating\tof\tmelted\ttallow\ton\tit.\tAnd\there\tis\ta\tcandle\twhich is\tburned\thalf-way\tdown.\tThe\tremaining\thalf\tof\tit\thas\tmarks\tcut\tupon\tit\tan\tinch apart.\t Soon\t I\t will\t tell\t you\t where\t I\t found\t these\t things.\t I\t will\t now\t put\t aside reasonings,\tguesses,\tthe\timpressive\thitchings\tof\todds\tand\tends\tof\tclues\ttogether, and\t the\t other\t showy\t theatricals\t of\t the\t detective\t trade,\t and\t tell\t you\t in\t a\t plain, straightforward\tway\tjust\thow\tthis\tdismal\tthing\thappened.\\\" He\t paused\t a\t moment,\t for\t effect--to\t allow\t silence\t and\t suspense\t to\t intensify and\tconcentrate\tthe\thouse's\tinterest;\tthen\the\twent\ton: \\\"The\t assassin\t studied\t out\t his\t plan\t with\t a\t good\t deal\t of\t pains.\t It\t was\t a\t good plan,\tvery\tingenious,\tand\tshowed\tan\tintelligent\tmind,\tnot\ta\tfeeble\tone.\tIt\twas\ta","plan\twhich\twas\twell\tcalculated\tto\tward\toff\tall\tsuspicion\tfrom\tits\tinventor.\tIn\tthe first\tplace,\the\tmarked\ta\tcandle\tinto\tspaces\tan\tinch\tapart,\tand\tlit\tit\tand\ttimed\tit. He\tfound\tit\ttook\tthree\thours\tto\tburn\tfour\tinches\tof\tit.\tI\ttried\tit\tmyself\tfor\thalf\tan hour,\tawhile\tago,\tup-stairs\there,\twhile\tthe\tinquiry\tinto\tFlint\tBuckner's\tcharacter and\tways\twas\tbeing\tconducted\tin\tthis\troom,\tand\tI\tarrived\tin\tthat\tway\tat\tthe\trate of\ta\tcandle's\tconsumption\twhen\tsheltered\tfrom\tthe\twind.\tHaving\tproved\this\ttrial candle's\t rate,\t he\t blew\t it\t out--I\t have\t already\t shown\t it\t to\t you--and\t put\t his\t inch- marks\ton\ta\tfresh\tone. \\\"He\t put\t the\t fresh\t one\t into\t a\t tin\t candlestick.\t Then\t at\t the\t five-hour\t mark\t he bored\t a\t hole\t through\t the\t candle\t with\t a\t red-hot\t wire.\t I\t have\t already\t shown\t you the\twire,\twith\ta\tsmooth\tcoat\tof\ttallow\ton\tit--tallow\tthat\thad\tbeen\tmelted\tand\thad cooled. \\\"With\tlabor--very\thard\tlabor,\tI\tshould\tsay--he\tstruggled\tup\tthrough\tthe\tstiff chaparral\tthat\tclothes\tthe\tsteep\thillside\tback\tof\tFlint\tBuckner's\tplace,\ttugging\tan empty\tflour-barrel\twith\thim.\tHe\tplaced\tit\tin\tthat\tabsolutely\tsecure\thiding-place, and\tin\tthe\tbottom\tof\tit\the\tset\tthe\tcandlestick.\tThen\the\tmeasured\toff\tabout\tthirty- five\tfeet\tof\tfuse--the\tbarrel's\tdistance\tfrom\tthe\tback\tof\tthe\tcabin.\tHe\tbored\ta\thole in\tthe\tside\tof\tthe\tbarrel--here\tis\tthe\tlarge\tgimlet\the\tdid\tit\twith.\tHe\twent\ton\tand finished\t his\t work;\t and\t when\t it\t was\t done,\t one\t end\t of\t the\t fuse\t was\t in\t Buckner's cabin,\tand\tthe\tother\tend,\twith\ta\tnotch\tchipped\tin\tit\tto\texpose\tthe\tpowder,\twas\tin the\t hole\t in\t the\t candle--timed\t to\t blow\t the\t place\t up\t at\t one\t o'clock\t this\t morning, provided\t the\t candle\t was\t lit\t about\t eight\t o'clock\t yesterday\t evening--which\t I\t am betting\t it\t was--and\t provided\t there\t was\t an\t explosive\t in\t the\t cabin\t and\t connected with\tthat\tend\tof\tthe\tfuse--which\tI\tam\talso\tbetting\tthere\twas,\tthough\tI\tcan't\tprove it.\tBoys,\tthe\tbarrel\tis\tthere\tin\tthe\tchaparral,\tthe\tcandle's\tremains\tare\tin\tit\tin\tthe tin\t stick;\t the\t burnt-out\t fuse\t is\t in\t the\t gimlet-hole,\t the\t other\t end\t is\t down\t the\t hill where\t the\t late\t cabin\t stood.\t I\t saw\t them\t all\t an\t hour\t or\t two\t ago,\t when\t the Professor\t here\t was\t measuring\t off\t unimplicated\t vacancies\t and\t collecting\t relics that\thadn't\tanything\tto\tdo\twith\tthe\tcase.\\\" He\tpaused.\tThe\thouse\tdrew\ta\tlong,\tdeep\tbreath,\tshook\tits\tstrained\tcords\tand muscles\tfree\tand\tburst\tinto\tcheers.\t\\\"Dang\thim!\\\"\tsaid\tHam\tSandwich,\t\\\"that's\twhy he\twas\tsnooping\taround\tin\tthe\tchaparral,\tinstead\tof\tpicking\tup\tpoints\tout\tof\tthe P'fessor's\tgame.\tLooky\there--he\tain't\tno\tfool,\tboys.\\\" \\\"No,\tsir!\tWhy,\tgreat\tScott--\\\" But\tStillman\twas\tresuming: \\\"While\twe\twere\tout\tyonder\tan\thour\tor\ttwo\tago,\tthe\towner\tof\tthe\tgimlet\tand the\ttrial\tcandle\ttook\tthem\tfrom\ta\tplace\twhere\the\thad\tconcealed\tthem--it\twas\tnot","a\t good\t place--and\t carried\t them\t to\t what\t he\t probably\t thought\t was\t a\t better\t one, two\thundred\tyards\tup\tin\tthe\tpine\twoods,\tand\thid\tthem\tthere,\tcovering\tthem\tover with\tpine\tneedles.\tIt\twas\tthere\tthat\tI\tfound\tthem.\tThe\tgimlet\texactly\tfits\tthe\thole in\tthe\tbarrel.\tAnd\tnow--\\\" The\tExtraordinary\tMan\tinterrupted\thim.\tHe\tsaid,\tsarcastically: \\\"We\thave\thad\ta\tvery\tpretty\tfairy\ttale,\tgentlemen--very\tpretty\tindeed.\tNow\tI would\tlike\tto\task\tthis\tyoung\tman\ta\tquestion\tor\ttwo.\\\" Some\tof\tthe\tboys\twinced,\tand\tFerguson\tsaid: \\\"I'm\tafraid\tArchy's\tgoing\tto\tcatch\tit\tnow.\\\" The\tothers\tlost\ttheir\tsmiles\tand\tsobered\tdown.\tMr.\tHolmes\tsaid: \\\"Let\t us\t proceed\t to\t examine\t into\t this\t fairy\t tale\t in\t a\t consecutive\t and\t orderly way--by\t geometrical\t progression,\t so\t to\t speak--linking\t detail\t to\t detail\t in\t a steadily\t advancing\t and\t remorselessly\t consistent\t and\t unassailable\t march\t upon this\t tinsel\t toy\t fortress\t of\t error,\t the\t dream\t fabric\t of\t a\t callow\t imagination.\t To begin\t with,\t young\t sir,\t I\t desire\t to\t ask\t you\t but\t three\t questions\t at\t present--at present.\t Did\t I\t understand\t you\t to\t say\t it\t was\t your\t opinion\t that\t the\t supposititious candle\twas\tlighted\tat\tabout\teight\to'clock\tyesterday\tevening?\\\" \\\"Yes,\tsir--about\teight.\\\" \\\"Could\tyou\tsay\texactly\teight?\\\" \\\"Well,\tno,\tI\tcouldn't\tbe\tthat\texact.\\\" \\\"Um.\tIf\ta\tperson\thad\tbeen\tpassing\talong\tthere\tjust\tabout\tthat\ttime,\the\twould have\tbeen\talmost\tsure\tto\tencounter\tthat\tassassin,\tdo\tyou\tthink?\\\" \\\"Yes,\tI\tshould\tthink\tso.\\\" \\\"Thank\tyou,\tthat\tis\tall.\tFor\tthe\tpresent.\tI\tsay,\tall\tfor\tthe\tpresent.\\\" \\\"Dern\thim!\the's\tlaying\tfor\tArchy,\\\"\tsaid\tFerguson. \\\"It's\tso,\\\"\tsaid\tHam\tSandwich.\t\\\"I\tdon't\tlike\tthe\tlook\tof\tit.\\\" Stillman\t said,\t glancing\t at\t the\t guest,\t \\\"I\t was\t along\t there\t myself\t at\t half-past eight--no,\tabout\tnine.\\\" \\\"In-deed?\t This\t is\t interesting--this\t is\t very\t interesting.\t Perhaps\t you encountered\tthe\tassassin?\\\" \\\"No,\tI\tencountered\tno\tone.\\\" \\\"Ah.\tThen--if\tyou\twill\texcuse\tthe\tremark--I\tdo\tnot\tquite\tsee\tthe\trelevancy\tof the\tinformation.\\\" \\\"It\thas\tnone.\tAt\tpresent.\tI\tsay\tit\thas\tnone--at\tpresent.\\\" He\tpaused.\tPresently\the\tresumed:\t\\\"I\tdid\tnot\tencounter\tthe\tassassin,\tbut\tI\tam on\this\ttrack,\tI\tam\tsure,\tfor\tI\tbelieve\the\tis\tin\tthis\troom.\tI\twill\task\tyou\tall\tto\tpass one\t by\t one\t in\t front\t of\t me--here,\t where\t there\t is\t a\t good\t light--so\t that\t I\t can\t see","your\tfeet.\\\" A\t buzz\t of\t excitement\t swept\t the\t place,\t and\t the\t march\t began,\t the\t guest looking\ton\twith\tan\tiron\tattempt\tat\tgravity\twhich\twas\tnot\tan\tunqualified\tsuccess. Stillman\tstooped,\tshaded\this\teyes\twith\this\thand,\tand\tgazed\tdown\tintently\tat\teach pair\t of\t feet\t as\t it\t passed.\t Fifty\t men\t tramped\t monotonously\t by--with\t no\t result. Sixty.\t Seventy.\t The\t thing\t was\t beginning\t to\t look\t absurd.\t The\t guest\t remarked, with\tsuave\tirony: \\\"Assassins\tappear\tto\tbe\tscarce\tthis\tevening.\\\" The\thouse\tsaw\tthe\thumor\tof\tit,\tand\trefreshed\titself\twith\ta\tcordial\tlaugh.\tTen or\t twelve\t more\t candidates\t tramped\t by--no,\t danced\t by,\t with\t airy\t and\t ridiculous capers\twhich\tconvulsed\tthe\tspectators--then\tsuddenly\tStillman\tput\tout\this\thand and\tsaid: \\\"This\tis\tthe\tassassin!\\\" \\\"Fetlock\t Jones,\t by\tthe\t great\tSanhedrim!\\\"\t roared\t the\t crowd;\t and\t at\t once\t let fly\t a\t pyrotechnic\t explosion\t and\t dazzle\t and\t confusion\t and\t stirring\t remarks inspired\tby\tthe\tsituation. At\t the\t height\t of\t the\t turmoil\t the\t guest\t stretched\t out\t his\t hand,\t commanding peace.\t The\t authority\t of\t a\t great\t name\t and\t a\t great\t personality\t laid\t its\t mysterious compulsion\t upon\t the\t house,\t and\t it\t obeyed.\t Out\t of\t the\t panting\t calm\t which succeeded,\tthe\tguest\tspoke,\tsaying,\twith\tdignity\tand\tfeeling: \\\"This\t is\t serious.\t It\t strikes\t at\t an\t innocent\t life.\t Innocent\t beyond\t suspicion! Innocent\tbeyond\tperadventure!\tHear\tme\tprove\tit;\tobserve\thow\tsimple\ta\tfact\tcan brush\tout\tof\texistence\tthis\twitless\tlie.\tListen.\tMy\tfriends,\tthat\tlad\twas\tnever\tout of\tmy\tsight\tyesterday\tevening\tat\tany\ttime!\\\" It\t made\t a\t deep\t impression.\t Men\t turned\t their\t eyes\t upon\t Stillman\t with\t grave inquiry\tin\tthem.\tHis\tface\tbrightened,\tand\the\tsaid: \\\"I\tknew\tthere\twas\tanother\tone!\\\"\tHe\tstepped\tbriskly\tto\tthe\ttable\tand\tglanced at\tthe\tguest's\tfeet,\tthen\tup\tat\this\tface,\tand\tsaid:\t\\\"You\twere\twith\thim!\tYou\twere not\tfifty\tsteps\tfrom\thim\twhen\the\tlit\tthe\tcandle\tthat\tby\tand\tby\tfired\tthe\tpowder!\\\" (Sensation.)\t\\\"And\twhat\tis\tmore,\tyou\tfurnished\tthe\tmatches\tyourself!\\\" Plainly\tthe\tguest\tseemed\thit;\tit\tlooked\tso\tto\tthe\tpublic.\tHe\topened\this\tmouth to\tspeak;\tthe\twords\tdid\tnot\tcome\tfreely. \\\"This--er--this\tis\tinsanity--this--\\\" Stillman\tpressed\this\tevident\tadvantage\thome.\tHe\theld\tup\ta\tcharred\tmatch. \\\"Here\tis\tone\tof\tthem.\tI\tfound\tit\tin\tthe\tbarrel--and\tthere's\tanother\tone\tthere.\\\" The\tguest\tfound\this\tvoice\tat\tonce. \\\"Yes--and\tput\tthem\tthere\tyourself!\\\"","It\twas\trecognized\ta\tgood\tshot.\tStillman\tretorted. \\\"It\tis\twax--a\tbreed\tunknown\tto\tthis\tcamp.\tI\tam\tready\tto\tbe\tsearched\tfor\tthe box.\tAre\tyou?\\\" The\t guest\t was\t staggered\t this\t time--the\t dullest\t eye\t could\t see\t it.\t He\t fumbled with\t his\t hands;\t once\t or\t twice\t his\t lips\t moved,\t but\t the\t words\t did\t not\t come.\t The house\t waited\t and\t watched,\t in\t tense\t suspense,\t the\t stillness\t adding\t effect\t to\t the situation.\tPresently\tStillman\tsaid,\tgently: \\\"We\tare\twaiting\tfor\tyour\tdecision.\\\" There\twas\tsilence\tagain\tduring\tseveral\tmoments;\tthen\tthe\tguest\tanswered,\tin a\tlow\tvoice: \\\"I\trefuse\tto\tbe\tsearched.\\\" There\t was\t no\t noisy\t demonstration,\t but\t all\t about\t the\t house\t one\t voice\t after another\tmuttered: \\\"That\tsettles\tit!\tHe's\tArchy's\tmeat.\\\" What\tto\tdo\tnow?\tNobody\tseemed\tto\tknow.\tIt\twas\tan\tembarrassing\tsituation for\tthe\tmoment--merely,\tof\tcourse,\tbecause\tmatters\thad\ttaken\tsuch\ta\tsudden\tand unexpected\t turn\t that\t these\t unpractised\t minds\t were\t not\t prepared\t for\t it,\t and\t had come\t to\t a\t standstill,\t like\t a\t stopped\t clock,\t under\t the\t shock.\t But\t after\t a\t little\t the machinery\tbegan\tto\twork\tagain,\ttentatively,\tand\tby\ttwos\tand\tthrees\tthe\tmen\tput their\t heads\t together\t and\t privately\t buzzed\t over\t this\t and\t that\t and\t the\t other proposition.\t One\t of\t these\t propositions\t met\t with\t much\t favor;\t it\t was,\t to\t confer upon\t the\t assassin\t a\t vote\t of\t thanks\t for\t removing\t Flint\t Buckner,\t and\t let\t him\t go. But\t the\t cooler\t heads\t opposed\t it,\t pointing\t out\t that\t addled\t brains\t in\t the\t Eastern states\t would\t pronounce\t it\t a\t scandal,\t and\t make\t no\t end\t of\t foolish\t noise\t about\t it. Finally\t the\t cool\t heads\t got\t the\t upper\t hand,\t and\t obtained\t general\t consent\t to\t a proposition\tof\ttheir\town;\ttheir\tleader\tthen\tcalled\tthe\thouse\tto\torder\tand\tstated\tit- -to\tthis\teffect:\tthat\tFetlock\tJones\tbe\tjailed\tand\tput\tupon\ttrial. The\tmotion\twas\tcarried.\tApparently\tthere\twas\tnothing\tfurther\tto\tdo\tnow,\tand the\t people\t were\t glad,\t for,\t privately,\t they\t were\t impatient\t to\t get\tout\tand\t rush\t to the\t scene\t of\tthe\t tragedy,\tand\t see\t whether\t that\t barrel\t and\t the\tother\t things\t were really\tthere\tor\tnot. But\t no--the\t break-up\t got\t a\t check.\t The\t surprises\t were\t not\t over\t yet.\t For\t a while\t Fetlock\t Jones\t had\t been\t silently\t sobbing,\t unnoticed\t in\t the\t absorbing excitements\twhich\thad\tbeen\tfollowing\tone\tanother\tso\tpersistently\tfor\tsome\ttime; but\twhen\this\tarrest\tand\ttrial\twere\tdecreed,\the\tbroke\tout\tdespairingly,\tand\tsaid: \\\"No!\tit's\tno\tuse.\tI\tdon't\twant\tany\tjail,\tI\tdon't\twant\tany\ttrial;\tI've\thad\tall\tthe hard\tluck\tI\twant,\tand\tall\tthe\tmiseries.\tHang\tme\tnow,\tand\tlet\tme\tout!\tIt\twould\tall","come\tout,\tanyway--there\tcouldn't\tanything\tsave\tme.\tHe\thas\ttold\tit\tall,\tjust\tas\tif he'd\t been\t with\t me\t and\t seen\t it--I\t don't\t know\t how\t he\t found\t out;\t and\t you'll\t find the\t barrel\t and\t things,\t and\t then\t I\t wouldn't\t have\t any\t chance\t any\t more.\t I\t killed him;\t and\t you'd\t have\t done\t it\t too,\t if\t he'd\t treated\t you\t like\t a\t dog,\t and\t you\t only\t a boy,\tand\tweak\tand\tpoor,\tand\tnot\ta\tfriend\tto\thelp\tyou.\\\" \\\"And\tserved\thim\tdamned\twell\tright!\\\"\tbroke\tin\tHam\tSandwich.\t\\\"Looky\there, boys--\\\" From\tthe\tconstable:\t\\\"Order!\tOrder,\tgentlemen!\\\" A\tvoice:\t\\\"Did\tyour\tuncle\tknow\twhat\tyou\twas\tup\tto?\\\" \\\"No,\the\tdidn't.\\\" \\\"Did\the\tgive\tyou\tthe\tmatches,\tsure\tenough?\\\" \\\"Yes,\the\tdid;\tbut\the\tdidn't\tknow\twhat\tI\twanted\tthem\tfor.\\\" \\\"When\t you\t was\t out\t on\t such\t a\t business\t as\t that,\t how\t did\t you\t venture\t to\t risk having\thim\talong--and\thim\ta\tdetective?\tHow's\tthat?\\\" The\t boy\t hesitated,\t fumbled\t with\t his\t buttons\t in\t an\t embarrassed\t way,\t then said,\tshyly: \\\"I\t know\t about\t detectives,\t on\t account\t of\t having\t them\t in\t the\t family;\t and\t if you\tdon't\twant\tthem\tto\tfind\tout\tabout\ta\tthing,\tit's\tbest\tto\thave\tthem\taround\twhen you\tdo\tit.\\\" The\tcyclone\tof\tlaughter\twhich\tgreeted\this\tnaive\tdischarge\tof\twisdom\tdid\tnot modify\tthe\tpoor\tlittle\twaif's\tembarrassment\tin\tany\tlarge\tdegree. 9 From\ta\tletter\tto\tMrs.\tStillman,\tdated\tmerely\t\\\"Tuesday.\\\" Fetlock\t Jones\t was\t put\t under\t lock\t and\t key\t in\tan\t unoccupied\t log\t cabin,\tand left\tthere\tto\tawait\this\ttrial.\tConstable\tHarris\tprovided\thim\twith\ta\tcouple\tof\tdays' rations,\tinstructed\thim\tto\tkeep\ta\tgood\tguard\tover\thimself,\tand\tpromised\tto\tlook in\ton\thim\tas\tsoon\tas\tfurther\tsupplies\tshould\tbe\tdue. Next\tmorning\ta\tscore\tof\tus\twent\twith\tHillyer,\tout\tof\tfriendship,\tand\thelped him\tbury\this\tlate\trelative,\tthe\tunlamented\tBuckner,\tand\tI\tacted\tas\tfirst\tassistant pall-bearer,\t Hillyer\t acting\t as\t chief.\t Just\t as\t we\t had\t finished\t our\t labors\t a\t ragged and\t melancholy\t stranger,\t carrying\t an\t old\t handbag,\t limped\t by\t with\t his\t head down,\t and\t I\t caught\t the\t scent\t I\t had\t chased\t around\t the\t globe!\t It\t was\t the\t odor\t of Paradise\tto\tmy\tperishing\thope!","In\ta\tmoment\tI\twas\tat\this\tside\tand\thad\tlaid\ta\tgentle\thand\tupon\this\tshoulder. He\t slumped\t to\t the\t ground\t as\t if\t a\t stroke\t of\t lightning\t had\t withered\t him\t in\t his tracks;\t and\t as\t the\t boys\t came\t running\t he\t struggled\t to\t his\t knees\t and\t put\t up\t his pleading\thands\tto\tme,\tand\tout\tof\this\tchattering\tjaws\the\tbegged\tme\tto\tpersecute him\tno\tmore,\tand\tsaid: \\\"You\t have\t hunted\t me\t around\t the\t world,\t Sherlock\t Holmes,\t yet\t God\t is\t my witness\tI\thave\tnever\tdone\tany\tman\tharm!\\\" A\tglance\tat\this\twild\teyes\tshowed\tus\tthat\the\twas\tinsane.\tThat\twas\tmy\twork, mother!\t The\t tidings\t of\t your\t death\t can\t some\t day\t repeat\t the\t misery\t I\t felt\t in\t that moment,\t but\t nothing\telse\t can\t ever\t do\t it.\t The\t boys\t lifted\t him\t up,\t and\tgathered about\t him,\t and\t were\t full\t of\t pity\t of\t him,\t and\t said\t the\t gentlest\t and\t touchingest things\t to\t him,\t and\t said\t cheer\t up\t and\t don't\t be\t troubled,\t he\t was\t among\t friends now,\t and\t they\t would\t take\t care\t of\t him,\t and\t protect\t him,\t and\t hang\t any\t man\t that laid\ta\thand\ton\thim.\tThey\tare\tjust\tlike\tso\tmany\tmothers,\tthe\trough\tmining-camp boys\t are,\t when\t you\t wake\t up\t the\t south\t side\t of\t their\t hearts;\t yes,\t and\t just\t like\t so many\treckless\tand\tunreasoning\tchildren\twhen\tyou\twake\tup\tthe\topposite\tof\tthat muscle.\t They\t did\t everything\t they\t could\t think\t of\t to\t comfort\t him,\t but\t nothing succeeded\tuntil\tWells-Fargo\tFerguson,\twho\tis\ta\tclever\tstrategist,\tsaid: \\\"If\t it's\t only\t Sherlock\t Holmes\t that's\t troubling\t you,\t you\t needn't\t worry\t any more.\\\" \\\"Why?\\\"\tasked\tthe\tforlorn\tlunatic,\teagerly. \\\"Because\the's\tdead\tagain.\\\" \\\"Dead!\t Dead!\t Oh,\t don't\t trifle\t with\t a\t poor\t wreck\t like\t me.\t Is\t he\t dead?\t On honor,\tnow--is\the\ttelling\tme\ttrue,\tboys?\\\" \\\"True\tas\tyou're\tstanding\tthere!\\\"\tsaid\tHam\tSandwich,\tand\tthey\tall\tbacked\tup the\tstatement\tin\ta\tbody. \\\"They\thung\thim\tin\tSan\tBernardino\tlast\tweek,\\\"\tadded\tFerguson,\tclinching\tthe matter,\t\\\"whilst\the\twas\tsearching\taround\tafter\tyou.\tMistook\thim\tfor\tanother\tman. They're\tsorry,\tbut\tthey\tcan't\thelp\tit\tnow.\\\" \\\"They're\ta-building\thim\ta\tmonument,\\\"\tsaid\tHam\tSandwich,\twith\tthe\tair\tof\ta person\twho\thad\tcontributed\tto\tit,\tand\tknew. \\\"James\t Walker\\\"\t drew\t a\t deep\t sigh--evidently\t a\t sigh\t of\t relief--and\t said nothing;\t but\t his\t eyes\t lost\t something\t of\t their\t wildness,\t his\t countenance\t cleared visibly,\tand\tits\tdrawn\tlook\trelaxed\ta\tlittle.\tWe\tall\twent\tto\tour\tcabin,\tand\tthe\tboys cooked\t him\t the\t best\t dinner\t the\t camp\t could\t furnish\t the\t materials\t for,\t and\t while they\twere\tabout\tit\tHillyer\tand\tI\toutfitted\thim\tfrom\that\tto\tshoe-leather\twith\tnew clothes\tof\tours,\tand\tmade\ta\tcomely\tand\tpresentable\told\tgentleman\tof\thim.\t\\\"Old\\\"","is\tthe\tright\tword,\tand\ta\tpity,\ttoo:\told\tby\tthe\tdroop\tof\thim,\tand\tthe\tfrost\tupon\this hair,\tand\tthe\tmarks\twhich\tsorrow\tand\tdistress\thave\tleft\tupon\this\tface;\tthough\the is\tonly\tin\this\tprime\tin\tthe\tmatter\tof\tyears.\tWhile\the\tate,\twe\tsmoked\tand\tchatted; and\t when\t he\t was\t finishing\t he\t found\t his\t voice\t at\t last,\t and\t of\t his\t own\t accord broke\t out\t with\t his\t personal\t history.\t I\t cannot\t furnish\t his\t exact\t words,\t but\t I\t will come\tas\tnear\tit\tas\tI\tcan. THE\t\\\"WRONG\tMAN'S\\\"\tSTORY It\t happened\t like\t this:\t I\t was\t in\t Denver.\t I\t had\t been\t there\t many\t years; sometimes\tI\tremember\thow\tmany,\tsometimes\tI\tdon't--but\tit\tisn't\tany\tmatter.\tAll of\t a\t sudden\t I\t got\t a\t notice\t to\t leave,\t or\t I\t would\t be\t exposed\t for\t a\t horrible\t crime committed\tlong\tbefore--years\tand\tyears\tbefore--in\tthe\tEast. I\tknew\tabout\tthat\tcrime,\tbut\tI\twas\tnot\tthe\tcriminal;\tit\twas\ta\tcousin\tof\tmine of\tthe\tsame\tname.\tWhat\tshould\tI\tbetter\tdo?\tMy\thead\twas\tall\tdisordered\tby\tfear, and\tI\tdidn't\tknow.\tI\twas\tallowed\tvery\tlittle\ttime--only\tone\tday,\tI\tthink\tit\twas.\tI would\t be\t ruined\t if\t I\t was\t published,\t and\t the\t people\t would\t lynch\t me,\t and\t not believe\twhat\tI\tsaid.\tIt\tis\talways\tthe\tway\twith\tlynchings:\twhen\tthey\tfind\tout\tit\tis a\tmistake\tthey\tare\tsorry,\tbut\tit\tis\ttoo\tlate--the\tsame\tas\tit\twas\twith\tMr.\tHolmes, you\tsee.\tSo\tI\tsaid\tI\twould\tsell\tout\tand\tget\tmoney\tto\tlive\ton,\tand\trun\taway\tuntil\tit blew\t over\tand\t I\t could\t come\t back\t with\t my\t proofs.\t Then\t I\t escaped\t in\t the\t night and\t went\t a\t long\t way\t off\t in\t the\t mountains\t somewhere,\t and\t lived\t disguised\t and had\ta\tfalse\tname. I\t got\t more\t and\t more\t troubled\t and\t worried,\t and\t my\t troubles\t made\t me\t see spirits\t and\t hear\t voices,\t and\t I\t could\t not\t think\t straight\t and\t clear\t on\t any\t subject, but\tgot\tconfused\tand\tinvolved\tand\thad\tto\tgive\tit\tup,\tbecause\tmy\thead\thurt\tso.\tIt got\tto\tbe\tworse\tand\tworse;\tmore\tspirits\tand\tmore\tvoices.\tThey\twere\tabout\tme\tall the\t time;\t at\t first\t only\t in\t the\t night,\t then\t in\t the\t day\t too.\t They\t were\t always whispering\t around\t my\t bed\t and\t plotting\t against\t me,\t and\t it\t broke\t my\t sleep\t and kept\tme\tfagged\tout,\tbecause\tI\tgot\tno\tgood\trest. And\tthen\tcame\tthe\tworst.\tOne\tnight\tthe\twhispers\tsaid,\t\\\"We'll\tnever\tmanage, because\twe\tcan't\tsee\thim,\tand\tso\tcan't\tpoint\thim\tout\tto\tthe\tpeople.\\\" They\t sighed;\t then\t one\t said:\t \\\"We\t must\t bring\t Sherlock\t Holmes.\t He\t can\t be here\tin\ttwelve\tdays.\\\" They\t all\t agreed,\t and\t whispered\t and\t jibbered\t with\t joy.\t But\t my\t heart\t broke; for\tI\thad\tread\tabout\tthat\tman,\tand\tknew\twhat\tit\twould\tbe\tto\thave\thim\tupon\tmy track,\twith\this\tsuper-human\tpenetration\tand\ttireless\tenergies. The\tspirits\twent\taway\tto\tfetch\thim,\tand\tI\tgot\tup\tat\tonce\tin\tthe\tmiddle\tof\tthe night\tand\tfled\taway,\tcarrying\tnothing\tbut\tthe\thandbag\tthat\thad\tmy\tmoney\tin\tit--","thirty\tthousand\tdollars;\ttwo-thirds\tof\tit\tare\tin\tthe\tbag\tthere\tyet.\tIt\twas\tforty\tdays before\tthat\tman\tcaught\tup\ton\tmy\ttrack.\tI\tjust\tescaped.\tFrom\thabit\the\thad\twritten his\t real\t name\t on\t a\t tavern\t register,\t but\t had\t scratched\t it\t out\t and\t written\t \\\"Dagget Barclay\\\"\t in\t the\t place\t of\t it.\t But\t fear\t gives\t you\t a\t watchful\t eye\t and\t keen,\t and\t I read\tthe\ttrue\tname\tthrough\tthe\tscratches,\tand\tfled\tlike\ta\tdeer. He\t has\t hunted\t me\t all\t over\t this\t world\t for\t three\t years\t and\t a\t half--the\t Pacific states,\tAustralasia,\tIndia--everywhere\tyou\tcan\tthink\tof;\tthen\tback\tto\tMexico\tand up\tto\tCalifornia\tagain,\tgiving\tme\thardly\tany\trest;\tbut\tthat\tname\ton\tthe\tregisters always\tsaved\tme,\tand\twhat\tis\tleft\tof\tme\tis\talive\tyet.\tAnd\tI\tam\tso\ttired!\tA\tcruel time\the\thas\tgiven\tme,\tyet\tI\tgive\tyou\tmy\thonor\tI\thave\tnever\tharmed\thim\tnor\tany man. That\twas\tthe\tend\tof\tthe\tstory,\tand\tit\tstirred\tthose\tboys\tto\tbloodheat,\tbe\tsure of\tit.\tAs\tfor\tme--each\tword\tburnt\ta\thole\tin\tme\twhere\tit\tstruck. We\t voted\t that\t the\t old\t man\t should\t bunk\t with\t us,\t and\t be\t my\t guest\t and Hillyer's.\tI\tshall\tkeep\tmy\town\tcounsel,\tnaturally;\tbut\tas\tsoon\tas\the\tis\twell\trested and\tnourished,\tI\tshall\ttake\thim\tto\tDenver\tand\trehabilitate\this\tfortunes. The\tboys\tgave\tthe\told\tfellow\tthe\tbone-smashing\tgood-fellowship\thandshake of\tthe\tmines,\tand\tthen\tscattered\taway\tto\tspread\tthe\tnews. At\tdawn\t next\t morning\t Wells-Fargo\t Ferguson\t and\t Ham\t Sandwich\t called\t us softly\tout,\tand\tsaid,\tprivately: \\\"That\t news\t about\t the\t way\t that\t old\t stranger\t has\t been\t treated\t has\t spread\t all around,\tand\tthe\tcamps\tare\tup.\tThey\tare\tpiling\tin\tfrom\teverywhere,\tand\tare\tgoing to\tlynch\tthe\tP'fessor.\tConstable\tHarris\tis\tin\ta\tdead\tfunk,\tand\thas\ttelephoned\tthe sheriff.\tCome\talong!\\\" We\tstarted\ton\ta\trun.\tThe\tothers\twere\tprivileged\tto\tfeel\tas\tthey\tchose,\tbut\tin my\theart's\tprivacy\tI\thoped\tthe\tsheriff\twould\tarrive\tin\ttime;\tfor\tI\thad\tsmall\tdesire that\tSherlock\tHolmes\tshould\thang\tfor\tmy\tdeeds,\tas\tyou\tcan\teasily\tbelieve.\tI\thad heard\ta\tgood\tdeal\tabout\tthe\tsheriff,\tbut\tfor\treassurance's\tsake\tI\tasked: \\\"Can\the\tstop\ta\tmob?\\\" \\\"Can\the\tstop\ta\tmob!\tCan\tJack\tFairfax\tstop\ta\tmob!\tWell,\tI\tshould\tsmile!\tEx- desperado--nineteen\tscalps\ton\this\tstring.\tCan\the!\tOh,\tI\tsay!\\\" As\twe\ttore\tup\tthe\tgulch,\tdistant\tcries\tand\tshouts\tand\tyells\trose\tfaintly\ton\tthe still\t air,\t and\t grew\t steadily\t in\t strength\t as\t we\t raced\t along.\t Roar\t after\t roar\t burst out,\t stronger\t and\t stronger,\t nearer\t and\t nearer;\t and\t at\t last,\t when\t we\t closed\t up upon\t the\t multitude\t massed\t in\t the\t open\t area\t in\t front\t of\t the\t tavern,\t the\t crash\t of sound\twas\tdeafening.\tSome\tbrutal\troughs\tfrom\tDaly's\tgorge\thad\tHolmes\tin\ttheir grip,\tand\the\twas\tthe\tcalmest\tman\tthere;\ta\tcontemptuous\tsmile\tplayed\tabout\this","lips,\t and\t if\t any\t fear\t of\t death\t was\t in\t his\t British\t heart,\t his\t iron\t personality\t was master\tof\tit\tand\tno\tsign\tof\tit\twas\tallowed\tto\tappear. \\\"Come\tto\ta\tvote,\tmen!\\\"\tThis\tfrom\tone\tof\tthe\tDaly\tgang,\tShadbelly\tHiggins. \\\"Quick!\tis\tit\thang,\tor\tshoot?\\\" \\\"Neither!\\\"\t shouted\t one\t of\t his\t comrades.\t \\\"He'd\t be\t alive\t again\t in\t a\t week; burning's\tthe\tonly\tpermanency\tfor\thim.\\\" The\t gangs\t from\t all\t the\t outlying\t camps\t burst\t out\t in\t a\t thundercrash\t of approval,\t and\t went\t struggling\t and\t surging\t toward\t the\t prisoner,\t and\t closed around\t him,\t shouting,\t \\\"Fire!\t fire's\t the\t ticket!\\\"\t They\t dragged\t him\t to\t the\t horse- post,\t backed\t him\t against\t it,\t chained\t him\t to\t it,\t and\t piled\t wood\t and\t pine\t cones around\thim\twaist-deep.\tStill\tthe\tstrong\tface\tdid\tnot\tblench,\tand\tstill\tthe\tscornful smile\tplayed\tabout\tthe\tthin\tlips. \\\"A\tmatch!\tfetch\ta\tmatch!\\\" Shadbelly\tstruck\tit,\tshaded\tit\twith\this\thand,\tstooped,\tand\theld\tit\tunder\ta\tpine cone.\tA\tdeep\tsilence\tfell\tupon\tthe\tmob.\tThe\tcone\tcaught,\ta\ttiny\tflame\tflickered about\tit\ta\tmoment\tor\ttwo.\tI\tseemed\tto\tcatch\tthe\tsound\tof\tdistant\thoofs--it\tgrew more\t distinct--still\t more\t and\t more\t distinct,\t more\t and\t more\t definite,\t but\t the absorbed\tcrowd\tdid\tnot\tappear\tto\tnotice\tit.\tThe\tmatch\twent\tout.\tThe\tman\tstruck another,\t stooped,\t and\t again\t the\t flame\t rose;\tthis\t time\t it\t took\t hold\t and\t began\t to spread--here\tand\tthere\tmen\tturned\taway\ttheir\tfaces.\tThe\texecutioner\tstood\twith the\t charred\t match\t in\t his\t fingers,\t watching\t his\t work.\t The\t hoof-beats\t turned\t a projecting\t crag,\t and\t now\t they\t came\t thundering\t down\t upon\t us.\t Almost\t the\t next moment\tthere\twas\ta\tshout: \\\"The\tsheriff!\\\" And\t straightway\t he\t came\t tearing\t into\t the\t midst,\t stood\t his\t horse\t almost\t on his\thind\tfeet,\tand\tsaid: \\\"Fall\tback,\tyou\tgutter-snipes!\\\" He\t was\t obeyed.\t By\t all\t but\t their\t leader.\t He\t stood\t his\t ground,\t and\t his\t hand went\tto\this\trevolver.\tThe\tsheriff\tcovered\thim\tpromptly,\tand\tsaid: \\\"Drop\tyour\thand,\tyou\tparlor\tdesperado.\tKick\tthe\tfire\taway.\tNow\tunchain\tthe stranger.\\\" The\t parlor\t desperado\t obeyed.\t Then\t the\t sheriff\t made\t a\t speech;\t sitting\t his horse\t at\t martial\t ease,\t and\t not\t warming\t his\t words\t with\t any\t touch\t of\t fire,\t but delivering\t them\t in\t a\t measured\t and\t deliberate\t way,\t and\t in\t a\t tone\t which harmonized\twith\ttheir\tcharacter\tand\tmade\tthem\timpressively\tdisrespectful. \\\"You're\t a\t nice\t lot--now\t ain't\t you?\t Just\t about\t eligible\t to\t travel\t with\t this\t bilk here--Shadbelly\tHiggins--this\tloud-mouthed\tsneak\tthat\tshoots\tpeople\tin\tthe\tback","and\tcalls\thimself\ta\tdesperado.\tIf\tthere's\tanything\tI\tdo\tparticularly\tdespise,\tit's\ta lynching\t mob;\t I've\t never\t seen\t one\t that\t had\t a\t man\t in\t it.\t It\t has\t to\t tally\t up\t a hundred\tagainst\tone\tbefore\tit\tcan\tpump\tup\tpluck\tenough\tto\ttackle\ta\tsick\ttailor. It's\tmade\tup\tof\tcowards,\tand\tso\tis\tthe\tcommunity\tthat\tbreeds\tit;\tand\tninety-nine times\tout\tof\ta\thundred\tthe\tsheriff's\tanother\tone.\\\"\tHe\tpaused--apparently\tto\tturn that\t last\t idea\t over\t in\t his\t mind\t and\t taste\t the\t juice\t of\t it--then\t he\t went\t on:\t \\\"The sheriff\tthat\tlets\ta\tmob\ttake\ta\tprisoner\taway\tfrom\thim\tis\tthe\tlowest-down\tcoward there\t is.\t By\t the\t statistics\t there\t was\t a\t hundred\t and\t eighty-two\t of\t them\t drawing sneak\t pay\t in\t America\t last\t year.\t By\t the\t way\t it's\t going,\t pretty\t soon\t there\t 'll\t be\t a new\tdisease\tin\tthe\tdoctor-books--sheriff\tcomplaint.\\\"\tThat\tidea\tpleased\thim--any one\t could\t see\t it.\t \\\"People\t will\t say,\t 'Sheriff\t sick\t again?'\t 'Yes;\t got\t the\t same\t old thing.'\tAnd\tnext\tthere\t'll\tbe\ta\tnew\ttitle.\tPeople\twon't\tsay,\t'He's\trunning\tfor\tsheriff of\t Rapaho\t County,'\t for\t instance;\t they'll\t say,\t 'He's\t running\t for\t Coward\t of Rapaho.'\tLord,\tthe\tidea\tof\ta\tgrownup\tperson\tbeing\tafraid\tof\ta\tlynch\tmob!\\\" He\tturned\tan\teye\ton\tthe\tcaptive,\tand\tsaid,\t\\\"Stranger,\twho\tare\tyou,\tand\twhat have\tyou\tbeen\tdoing?\\\" \\\"My\tname\tis\tSherlock\tHolmes,\tand\tI\thave\tnot\tbeen\tdoing\tanything.\\\" It\twas\twonderful,\tthe\timpression\twhich\tthe\tsound\tof\tthat\tname\tmade\ton\tthe sheriff,\t notwithstanding\t he\t must\t have\t come\t posted.\t He\t spoke\t up\t with\t feeling, and\t said\t it\t was\t a\t blot\t on\t the\t country\t that\t a\t man\t whose\t marvelous\t exploits\t had filled\tthe\tworld\twith\ttheir\tfame\tand\ttheir\tingenuity,\tand\twhose\thistories\tof\tthem had\twon\tevery\treader's\theart\tby\tthe\tbrilliancy\tand\tcharm\tof\ttheir\tliterary\tsetting, should\t be\t visited\t under\t the\t Stars\t and\t Stripes\t by\t an\t outrage\t like\t this.\t He apologized\tin\tthe\tname\tof\tthe\twhole\tnation,\tand\tmade\tHolmes\ta\tmost\thandsome bow,\t and\t told\t Constable\t Harris\t to\t see\t him\t to\t his\t quarters,\t and\t hold\t himself personally\tresponsible\tif\the\twas\tmolested\tagain.\tThen\the\tturned\tto\tthe\tmob\tand said: \\\"Hunt\t your\t holes,\t you\t scum!\\\"\t which\t they\t did;\t then\t he\t said:\t \\\"Follow\t me, Shadbelly;\tI'll\ttake\tcare\tof\tyour\tcase\tmyself.\tNo--keep\tyour\tpop-gun;\twhenever\tI see\tthe\tday\tthat\tI'll\tbe\tafraid\tto\thave\tyou\tbehind\tme\twith\tthat\tthing,\tit\t'll\tbe\ttime for\t me\t to\t join\t last\t year's\t hundred\t and\t eighty-two\\\";\t and\t he\t rode\t off\t in\t a\t walk, Shadbelly\tfollowing. When\twe\twere\ton\tour\tway\tback\tto\tour\tcabin,\ttoward\tbreakfast-time,\twe\tran upon\tthe\tnews\tthat\tFetlock\tJones\thad\tescaped\tfrom\this\tlock-up\tin\tthe\tnight\tand is\tgone!\tNobody\tis\tsorry.\tLet\this\tuncle\ttrack\thim\tout\tif\the\tlikes;\tit\tis\tin\this\tline; the\tcamp\tis\tnot\tinterested.","10 Ten\tdays\tlater. \\\"James\t Walker\\\"\t is\t all\t right\t in\t body\t now,\t and\t his\t mind\t shows\t improvement too.\tI\tstart\twith\thim\tfor\tDenver\ttomorrow\tmorning. Next\tnight.\tBrief\tnote,\tmailed\tat\ta\tway-station. As\twe\twere\tstarting,\tthis\tmorning,\tHillyer\twhispered\tto\tme:\t\\\"Keep\tthis\tnews from\tWalker\tuntil\tyou\tthink\tit\tsafe\tand\tnot\tlikely\tto\tdisturb\this\tmind\tand\tcheck his\t improvement:\t the\t ancient\t crime\t he\t spoke\t of\t was\t really\t committed--and\t by his\tcousin,\tas\the\tsaid.\tWe\tburied\tthe\treal\tcriminal\tthe\tother\tday--the\tunhappiest man\tthat\thas\tlived\tin\ta\tcentury--Flint\tBuckner.\tHis\treal\tname\twas\tJacob\tFuller!\\\" There,\tmother,\tby\thelp\tof\tme,\tan\tunwitting\tmourner,\tyour\thusband\tand\tmy\tfather is\tin\this\tgrave.\tLet\thim\trest. 1902","THE\tFIVE\tBOONS\tOF\tLIFE 1 IN\tTHE\tmorning\tof\tlife\tcame\tthe\tgood\tfairy\twith\ther\tbasket,\tand\tsaid: \\\"Here\tare\tthe\tgifts.\tTake\tone,\tleave\tthe\tothers.\tAnd\tbe\twary,\tchoose\twisely; oh,\tchoose\twisely!\tfor\tonly\tone\tof\tthem\tis\tvaluable.\\\" The\t gifts\t were\t five:\t Fame,\t Love,\t Riches,\t Pleasure,\t Death.\t The\t youth\t said, eagerly: \\\"There\tis\tno\tneed\tto\tconsider\\\";\tand\the\tchose\tPleasure. He\t went\t out\t into\t the\t world\t and\t sought\t out\t the\t pleasures\t that\t youth\t delights in.\t But\t each\t in\t its\t turn\t was\t short-lived\t and\t disappointing,\t vain\t and\t empty;\t and each,\tdeparting,\tmocked\thim.\tIn\tthe\tend\the\tsaid:\t\\\"These\tyears\tI\thave\twasted.\tIf\tI could\tbut\tchoose\tagain,\tI\twould\tchoose\twisely.\\\" 2 The\tfairy\tappeared,\tand\tsaid: \\\"Four\t of\t the\t gifts\t remain.\t Choose\t once\t more;\t and\t oh,\t remember--time\t is flying,\tand\tonly\tone\tof\tthem\tis\tprecious.\\\" The\t man\t considered\t long,\t then\t chose\t Love;\t and\t did\t not\t mark\t the\t tears\t that rose\tin\tthe\tfairy's\teyes. After\tmany,\tmany\tyears\tthe\tman\tsat\tby\ta\tcoffin,\tin\tan\tempty\thome.\tAnd\the communed\twith\thimself,\tsaying:\t\\\"One\tby\tone\tthey\thave\tgone\taway\tand\tleft\tme; and\t now\t she\t lies\t here,\t the\t dearest\t and\t the\t last.\t Desolation\t after\t desolation\t has swept\tover\tme;\tfor\teach\thour\tof\thappiness\tthe\ttreacherous\ttrader,\tLove,\thas\tsold me\tI\thave\tpaid\ta\tthousand\thours\tof\tgrief.\tOut\tof\tmy\theart\tof\thearts\tI\tcurse\thim.\\\" 3 \\\"Choose\t again.\\\"\t It\t was\t the\t fairy\t speaking.\t \\\"The\t years\t have\t taught\t you","wisdom--surely\t it\t must\t be\t so.\t Three\t gifts\t remain.\t Only\t one\t of\t them\t has\t any worth--remember\tit,\tand\tchoose\twarily.\\\" The\t man\t reflected\t long,\t then\t chose\t Fame;\t and\t the\t fairy,\t sighing,\t went\t her way. Years\t went\t by\t and\t she\t came\t again,\t and\t stood\t behind\t the\t man\t where\t he\t sat solitary\tin\tthe\tfading\tday,\tthinking.\tAnd\tshe\tknew\this\tthought: \\\"My\t name\t filled\t the\t world,\t and\t its\t praises\t were\t on\t every\t tongue,\t and\t it seemed\t well\t with\t me\t for\t a\t little\t while.\t How\t little\t a\t while\t it\t was!\t Then\t came envy;\tthen\tdetraction;\tthen\tcalumny;\tthen\thate;\tthen\tpersecution.\tThen\tderision, which\tis\tthe\tbeginning\tof\tthe\tend.\tAnd\tlast\tof\tall\tcame\tpity,\twhich\tis\tthe\tfuneral of\tfame.\tOh,\tthe\tbitterness\tand\tmisery\tof\trenown!\ttarget\tfor\tmud\tin\tits\tprime,\tfor contempt\tand\tcompassion\tin\tits\tdecay.\\\" 4 \\\"Choose\t yet\t again.\\\"\t It\t was\t the\t fairy's\t voice.\t \\\"Two\t gifts\t remain.\t And\t do\t not despair.\tIn\tthe\tbeginning\tthere\twas\tbut\tone\tthat\twas\tprecious,\tand\tit\tis\tstill\there.\\\" \\\"Wealth--which\tis\tpower!\tHow\tblind\tI\twas!\\\"\tsaid\tthe\tman.\t\\\"Now,\tat\tlast,\tlife will\t be\t worth\t the\t living.\t I\t will\t spend,\t squander,\t dazzle.\t These\t mockers\t and despisers\twill\tcrawl\tin\tthe\tdirt\tbefore\tme,\tand\tI\twill\tfeed\tmy\thungry\theart\twith their\t envy.\t I\t will\t have\t all\t luxuries,\t all\t joys,\t all\t enchantments\t of\t the\t spirit,\t all contentments\tof\tthe\tbody\tthat\tman\tholds\t dear.\tI\twill\tbuy,\tbuy,\t buy!\t deference, respect,\t esteem,\t worship--every\t pinchbeck\t grace\t of\t life\t the\t market\t of\t a\t trivial world\tcan\tfurnish\tforth.\tI\thave\tlost\tmuch\ttime,\tand\tchosen\tbadly\theretofore,\tbut let\tthat\tpass:\tI\twas\tignorant\tthen,\tand\tcould\tbut\ttake\tfor\tbest\twhat\tseemed\tso.\\\" Three\t short\t years\t went\t by,\t and\t a\t day\t came\t when\t the\t man\t sat\t shivering\t in\t a mean\t garret;\t and\t he\t was\t gaunt\t and\t wan\t and\t hollow-eyed,\t and\t clothed\t in\t rags; and\the\twas\tgnawing\ta\tdry\tcrust\tand\tmumbling: \\\"Curse\t all\t the\t world's\t gifts,\t for\t mockeries\t and\t gilded\t lies!\t And\t mis-called, every\t one.\t They\t are\t not\t gifts,\t but\t merely\t lendings.\t Pleasure,\t Love,\t Fame, Riches:\t they\t are\t but\t temporary\t disguises\t for\t lasting\t realities--Pain,\t Grief, Shame,\tPoverty.\tThe\tfairy\tsaid\ttrue;\tin\tall\ther\tstore\tthere\twas\tbut\tone\tgift\twhich was\tprecious,\tonly\tone\tthat\twas\tnot\tvalueless.\tHow\tpoor\tand\tcheap\tand\tmean\tI know\tthose\tothers\tnow\tto\tbe,\tcompared\twith\tthat\tinestimable\tone,\tthat\tdear\tand sweet\tand\tkindly\tone,\tthat\tsteeps\tin\tdreamless\tand\tenduring\tsleep\tthe\tpains\tthat","persecute\tthe\tbody,\tand\tthe\tshames\tand\tgriefs\tthat\teat\tthe\tmind\tand\theart.\tBring it!\tI\tam\tweary,\tI\twould\trest.\\\" 5 The\tfairy\tcame,\tbringing\tagain\tfour\tof\tthe\tgifts,\tbut\tDeath\twas\twanting.\tShe said: \\\"I\t gave\t it\t to\t a\t mother's\t pet,\t a\t little\t child.\t It\t was\t ignorant,\t but\t trusted\t me, asking\tme\tto\tchoose\tfor\tit.\tYou\tdid\tnot\task\tme\tto\tchoose.\\\" \\\"Oh,\tmiserable\tme!\tWhat\tis\tthere\tleft\tfor\tme?\\\" \\\"What\tnot\teven\tyou\thave\tdeserved:\tthe\twanton\tinsult\tof\tOld\tAge.\\\" 1902","WAS\tIT\tHEAVEN?\tOR\tHELL? 1 YOU\tTOLD\ta\tlie?\\\" \\\"You\tconfess\tit--you\tactually\tconfess\tit--you\ttold\ta\tlie!\\\" 2 The\t family\t consisted\t of\t four\t persons:\t Margaret\t Lester,\t widow,\t aged\t thirty- six;\t Helen\t Lester,\t her\t daughter,\t aged\t sixteen;\t Mrs.\t Lester's\t maiden\t aunts, Hannah\t and\t Hester\t Gray,\t twins,\t aged\t sixty-seven.\t Waking\t and\t sleeping,\t the three\t women\t spent\t their\t days\t and\t nights\t in\t adoring\t the\t young\t girl;\t in\t watching the\t movements\t of\t her\t sweet\t spirit\t in\t the\t mirror\t of\t her\t face;\t in\t refreshing\t their souls\t with\t the\t vision\t of\t her\t bloom\t and\t beauty;\t in\t listening\t to\t the\t music\t of\t her voice;\t in\t gratefully\t recognizing\t how\t rich\t and\t fair\t for\t them\t was\t the\t world\t with this\tpresence\tin\tit;\tin\tshuddering\tto\tthink\thow\tdesolate\tit\twould\tbe\twith\tthis\tlight gone\tout\tof\tit. By\t nature--and\t inside--the\t aged\t aunts\t were\t utterly\t dear\t and\t lovable\t and good,\t but\t in\t the\t matter\t of\t morals\t and\t conduct\t their\t training\t had\t been\t so uncompromisingly\t strict\t that\t it\t had\t made\t them\t exteriorly\t austere,\t not\t to\t say stern.\tTheir\tinfluence\twas\teffective\tin\tthe\thouse;\tso\teffective\tthat\tthe\tmother\tand the\t daughter\t conformed\t to\t its\t moral\t and\t religious\t requirements\t cheerfully, contentedly,\t happily,\t unquestionably.\t To\t do\t this\t was\t become\t second\t nature\t to them.\tAnd\tso\tin\tthis\tpeaceful\theaven\tthere\twere\tno\tclashings,\tno\tirritations,\tno fault-findings,\tno\theart-burnings. In\tit\ta\tlie\thad\tno\tplace.\tIn\tit\ta\tlie\twas\tunthinkable.\tIn\tit\tspeech\twas\trestricted to\tabsolute\ttruth,\tiron-bound\ttruth,\timplacable\tand\tuncompromising\ttruth,\tlet\tthe resulting\t consequences\t be\t what\t they\t might.\t At\t last,\t one\t day,\t under\t stress\t of circumstances,\tthe\tdarling\tof\tthe\thouse\tsullied\ther\tlips\twith\ta\tlie--and\tconfessed it,\t with\t tears\t and\t self-upbraidings.\t There\t are\t not\t any\t words\t that\t can\t paint\t the consternation\t of\t the\t aunts.\t It\t was\t as\t if\t the\t sky\t had\t crumpled\t up\t and\t collapsed","and\tthe\tearth\thad\ttumbled\tto\truin\twith\ta\tcrash.\tThey\tsat\tside\tby\tside,\twhite\tand stern,\t gazing\t speechless\t upon\t the\t culprit,\t who\t was\t on\t her\t knees\t before\t them with\t her\t face\t buried\t first\t in\t one\t lap\t and\t then\t the\t other,\t moaning\t and\t sobbing, and\t appealing\t for\t sympathy\t and\t forgiveness\t and\t getting\t no\t response,\t humbly kissing\t the\t hand\t of\t the\t one,\t then\t of\t the\t other,\t only\t to\t see\t it\t withdrawn\t as suffering\tdefilement\tby\tthose\tsoiled\tlips. Twice,\tat\tintervals,\tAunt\tHester\tsaid,\tin\tfrozen\tamazement: \\\"You\ttold\ta\tlie?\\\" Twice,\t at\t intervals,\t Aunt\t Hannah\t followed\t with\t the\t muttered\t and\t amazed ejaculation: \\\"You\tconfess\tit--you\tactually\tconfess\tit--you\ttold\ta\tlie!\\\" It\twas\tall\tthey\tcould\tsay.\tThe\tsituation\twas\tnew,\tunheard\tof,\tincredible;\tthey could\t not\t understand\t it,\t they\t did\t not\t know\t how\t to\t take\t hold\t of\t it,\t it approximately\tparalyzed\tspeech. At\t length\t it\t was\t decided\t that\t the\t erring\t child\t must\t be\t taken\t to\t her\t mother, who\t was\t ill,\t and\t who\t ought\t to\t know\t what\t had\t happened.\t Helen\t begged, besought,\t implored\t that\t she\t might\t be\t spared\t this\t further\t disgrace,\t and\t that\t her mother\t might\t be\t spared\t the\t grief\t and\t pain\t of\t it;\t but\t this\t could\t not\t be:\t duty required\t this\t sacrifice,\t duty\t takes\t precedence\t of\t all\t things,\t nothing\t can\t absolve one\tfrom\ta\tduty,\twith\ta\tduty\tno\tcompromise\tis\tpossible. Helen\tstill\tbegged,\tand\tsaid\tthe\tsin\twas\ther\town,\ther\tmother\thad\thad\tno\thand in\tit--why\tmust\tshe\tbe\tmade\tto\tsuffer\tfor\tit? But\t the\t aunts\t were\t obdurate\t in\t their\t righteousness,\t and\t said\t the\t law\t that visited\t the\t sins\t of\t the\t parent\t upon\t the\t child\t was\t by\t all\t right\t and\t reason reversible;\t and\t therefore\t it\t was\t but\t just\t that\t the\t innocent\t mother\t of\t a\t sinning child\tshould\tsuffer\ther\trightful\tshare\tof\tthe\tgrief\tand\tpain\tand\tshame\twhich\twere the\tallotted\twages\tof\tthe\tsin. The\tthree\tmoved\ttoward\tthe\tsick-room. \t At\t this\t time\t the\t doctor\t was\t approaching\t the\t house.\t He\t was\t still\t a\t good distance\t away,\t however.\t He\t was\t a\t good\t doctor\t and\t a\t good\t man,\t and\t he\t had\t a good\theart,\tbut\tone\thad\tto\tknow\thim\ta\tyear\tto\tget\tover\thating\thim,\ttwo\tyears\tto learn\t to\t endure\t him,\t three\t to\t learn\t to\t like\t him,\t and\t four\t or\t five\t to\t learn\t to\t love him.\tIt\twas\ta\tslow\tand\ttrying\teducation,\tbut\tit\tpaid.\tHe\twas\tof\tgreat\tstature;\the had\t a\t leonine\t head,\t a\t leonine\t face,\t a\t rough\t voice,\t and\t an\t eye\t which\t was","sometimes\ta\tpirate's\tand\tsometimes\ta\twoman's,\taccording\tto\tthe\tmood.\tHe\tknew nothing\tabout\tetiquette,\tand\tcared\tnothing\tabout\tit;\tin\tspeech,\tmanner,\tcarriage, and\t conduct\t he\t was\t the\t reverse\t of\t conventional.\t He\t was\t frank,\t to\t the\t limit;\t he had\topinions\ton\tall\tsubjects;\tthey\twere\talways\ton\ttap\tand\tready\tfor\tdelivery,\tand he\tcared\tnot\ta\tfarthing\twhether\this\tlistener\tliked\tthem\tor\tdidn't.\tWhom\the\tloved he\tloved,\tand\tmanifested\tit;\twhom\the\tdidn't\tlove\the\thated,\tand\tpublished\tit\tfrom the\thousetops.\tIn\this\tyoung\tdays\the\thad\tbeen\ta\tsailor,\tand\tthe\tsalt-airs\tof\tall\tthe seas\t blew\t from\t him\t yet.\t He\t was\t a\t sturdy\t and\t loyal\t Christian,\t and\t believed\t he was\tthe\tbest\tone\tin\tthe\tland,\tand\tthe\tonly\tone\twhose\tChristianity\twas\tperfectly sound,\t healthy,\t full-charged\t with\t common\t sense,\t and\t had\t no\t decayed\t places\t in it.\tPeople\twho\thad\tan\tax\tto\tgrind,\tor\tpeople\twho\tfor\tany\treason\twanted\tto\tget\ton the\t soft\t side\t of\t him,\t called\t him\t The\t Christian--a\t phrase\t whose\t delicate\t flattery was\t music\t to\t his\t ears,\t and\t whose\t capital\t T\t was\t such\t an\t enchanting\t and\t vivid object\tto\thim\tthat\the\tcould\tsee\tit\twhen\tit\tfell\tout\tof\ta\tperson's\tmouth\teven\tin\tthe dark.\tMany\twho\twere\tfond\tof\thim\tstood\ton\ttheir\tconsciences\twith\tboth\tfeet\tand brazenly\t called\t him\t by\t that\t large\t title\t habitually,\t because\t it\t was\t a\t pleasure\t to them\t to\t do\t anything\t that\t would\t please\t him;\t and\t with\t eager\t and\t cordial\t malice his\textensive\t and\tdiligently\tcultivated\tcrop\tof\tenemies\t gilded\tit,\t beflowered\tit, expanded\tit\tto\t\\\"The\tOnly\tChristian.\\\"\tOf\tthese\ttwo\ttitles,\tthe\tlatter\thad\tthe\twider currency;\tthe\tenemy,\tbeing\tgreatly\tin\tthe\tmajority,\tattended\tto\tthat.\tWhatever\tthe doctor\t believed,\t he\t believed\t with\t all\t his\t heart,\t and\t would\t fight\t for\t it\t whenever he\t got\t the\t chance;\t and\t if\t the\t intervals\t between\t chances\t grew\t to\t be\t irksomely wide,\t he\t would\t invent\t ways\t of\t shortening\t them\t himself.\t He\t was\t severely conscientious,\t according\t to\t his\t rather\t independent\t lights,\t and\t whatever\t he\t took to\t be\t a\t duty\t he\t performed,\t no\t matter\t whether\t the\t judgment\t of\t the\t professional moralists\t agreed\t with\t his\t own\t or\t not.\t At\t sea,\t in\t his\t young\t days,\t he\t had\t used profanity\t freely,\t but\t as\t soon\t as\t he\t was\t converted\t he\t made\t a\t rule,\t which\t he rigidly\tstuck\tto\tever\tafterward,\tnever\tto\tuse\tit\texcept\ton\tthe\trarest\toccasions,\tand then\tonly\twhen\tduty\tcommanded.\tHe\thad\tbeen\ta\thard\tdrinker\tat\tsea,\tbut\tafter\this conversion\the\tbecame\ta\tfirm\tand\toutspoken\tteetotaler,\tin\torder\tto\tbe\tan\texample to\t the\t young,\t and\t from\t that\t time\t forth\t he\t seldom\t drank;\t never,\t indeed,\t except when\t it\t seemed\t to\t him\t to\t be\t a\t duty--a\t condition\t which\t sometimes\t occurred\t a couple\tof\ttimes\ta\tyear,\tbut\tnever\tas\tmany\tas\tfive\ttimes. Necessarily,\t such\t a\t man\t is\t impressionable,\t impulsive,\t emotional.\t This\t one was,\t and\t had\t no\t gift\t at\t hiding\t his\t feelings;\t or\t if\t he\t had\t it\t he\t took\t no\t trouble\t to exercise\t it.\t He\t carried\t his\t soul's\t prevailing\t weather\t in\t his\t face,\t and\t when\t he entered\t a\t room\t the\t parasols\t or\t the\t umbrellas\t went\t up--figuratively\t speaking--","according\t to\t the\t indications.\t When\t the\t soft\t light\t was\t in\t his\t eye\t it\t meant approval,\tand\tdelivered\ta\t benediction;\twhen\the\tcame\twith\ta\tfrown\the\tlowered the\t temperature\t ten\t degrees.\t He\t was\t a\t well-beloved\t man\t in\t the\t house\t of\t his friends,\tbut\tsometimes\ta\tdreaded\tone. He\t had\t a\t deep\t affection\t for\t the\t Lester\t household,\t and\t its\t several\t members returned\t this\t feeling\t with\t interest.\t They\t mourned\t over\t his\t kind\t of\t Christianity, and\t he\t frankly\t scoffed\t at\t theirs;\t but\t both\t parties\t went\t on\t loving\t each\t other\t just the\tsame. He\twas\tapproaching\tthe\thouse--out\tof\tthe\tdistance;\tthe\taunts\tand\tthe\tculprit were\tmoving\ttoward\tthe\tsick-chamber. 3 The\t three\t last\t named\t stood\t by\t the\t bed;\t the\t aunts\t austere,\t the\t transgressor softly\tsobbing.\tThe\tmother\tturned\ther\thead\ton\tthe\tpillow;\ther\ttired\teyes\tflamed up\tinstantly\twith\tsympathy\tand\tpassionate\tmother-love\twhen\tthey\tfell\tupon\ther child,\tand\tshe\topened\tthe\trefuge\tand\tshelter\tof\ther\tarms. \\\"Wait!\\\"\t said\t Aunt\t Hannah,\t and\t put\t out\t her\t hand\t and\t stayed\t the\t girl\t from leaping\tinto\tthem. \\\"Helen,\\\"\t said\t the\t other\t aunt,\t impressively,\t \\\"tell\t your\t mother\t all.\t Purge\t your soul;\tleave\tnothing\tunconfessed.\\\" Standing\tstricken\tand\tforlorn\tbefore\ther\tjudges,\tthe\tyoung\tgirl\tmourned\ther sorrowful\ttale\tthrough\tto\tthe\tend,\tthen\tin\ta\tpassion\tof\tappeal\tcried\tout: \\\"Oh,\t mother,\t can't\t you\t forgive\t me?\t won't\t you\t forgive\t me?--I\t am\t so desolate!\\\" \\\"Forgive\tyou,\tmy\tdarling?\tOh,\tcome\tto\tmy\tarms!--there,\tlay\tyour\thead\tupon my\tbreast,\tand\tbe\tat\tpeace.\tIf\tyou\thad\ttold\ta\tthousand\tlies--\\\" There\t was\t a\t sound--a\t warning--the\t clearing\t of\t a\t throat.\t The\t aunts\t glanced up,\t and\t withered\t in\t their\t clothes--there\t stood\t the\t doctor,\t his\t face\t a\t thunder- cloud.\tMother\tand\tchild\tknew\tnothing\tof\this\tpresence;\tthey\tlay\tlocked\ttogether, heart\t to\t heart,\t steeped\t in\t immeasurable\t content,\t dead\t to\t all\t things\t else.\t The physician\t stood\t many\t moments\t glaring\t and\t glooming\t upon\t the\t scene\t before him;\tstudying\tit,\tanalyzing\tit,\tsearching\tout\tits\tgenesis;\tthen\the\tput\tup\this\thand and\t beckoned\t to\t the\t aunts.\t They\t came\t trembling\t to\t him,\t and\t stood\t humbly before\thim\tand\twaited.\tHe\tbent\tdown\tand\twhispered:","\\\"Didn't\t I\t tell\t you\t this\t patient\t must\t be\t protected\t from\t all\t excitement?\t What the\thell\thave\tyou\tbeen\tdoing?\tClear\tout\tof\tthe\tplace!\\\" They\t obeyed.\t Half\t an\t hour\t later\t he\t appeared\t in\t the\t parlor,\t serene,\t cheery, clothed\tin\tsunshine,\tconducting\tHelen,\twith\this\tarm\tabout\ther\twaist,\tpetting\ther, and\t saying\t gentle\t and\t playful\t things\t to\t her;\t and\t she\t also\t was\t her\t sunny\t and happy\tself\tagain. \\\"Now,\tthen,\\\"\the\tsaid,\t\\\"good-by,\tdear.\tGo\tto\tyour\troom,\tand\tkeep\taway\tfrom your\tmother,\tand\tbehave\tyourself.\tBut\twait--put\tout\tyour\ttongue.\tThere,\tthat\twill do--you're\tas\tsound\tas\ta\tnut!\\\"\tHe\tpatted\ther\tcheek\tand\tadded,\t\\\"Run\talong\tnow;\tI want\tto\ttalk\tto\tthese\taunts.\\\" She\twent\tfrom\tthe\tpresence.\tHis\tface\tclouded\tover\tagain\tat\tonce;\tand\tas\the sat\tdown\the\tsaid: \\\"You\t two\t have\t been\t doing\t a\t lot\t of\t damage--and\t maybe\t some\t good.\t Some good,\tyes--such\tas\tit\tis.\tThat\twoman's\tdisease\tis\ttyphoid!\tYou've\tbrought\tit\tto\ta show-up,\tI\tthink,\twith\tyour\tinsanities,\tand\tthat's\ta\tservice--such\tas\tit\tis.\tI\thadn't been\table\tto\tdetermine\twhat\tit\twas\tbefore.\\\" With\tone\timpulse\tthe\told\tladies\tsprang\tto\ttheir\tfeet,\tquaking\twith\tterror. \\\"Sit\tdown!\tWhat\tare\tyou\tproposing\tto\tdo?\\\" \\\"Do?\tWe\tmust\tfly\tto\ther.\tWe--\\\" \\\"You'll\tdo\tnothing\tof\tthe\tkind;\tyou've\tdone\tenough\tharm\tfor\tone\tday.\tDo\tyou want\t to\t squander\t all\t your\t capital\t of\t crimes\t and\t follies\t on\t a\t single\t deal?\t Sit down,\tI\ttell\tyou.\tI\thave\tarranged\tfor\ther\tto\tsleep;\tshe\tneeds\tit;\tif\tyou\tdisturb\ther without\tmy\torders,\tI'll\tbrain\tyou--if\tyou've\tgot\tthe\tmaterials\tfor\tit.\\\" They\tsat\tdown,\tdistressed\tand\tindignant,\tbut\tobedient,\tunder\tcompulsion.\tHe proceeded: \\\"Now,\tthen,\tI\twant\tthis\tcase\texplained.\tThey\twanted\tto\texplain\tit\tto\tme--as\tif there\thadn't\tbeen\temotion\tand\texcitement\tenough\talready.\tYou\tknew\tmy\torders; how\tdid\tyou\tdare\tto\tgo\tin\tthere\tand\tget\tup\tthat\triot?\\\" Hester\tlooked\tappealingly\tat\tHannah;\tHannah\treturned\ta\tbeseeching\tlook\tat Hester--neither\t wanted\t to\t dance\t to\t this\t unsympathetic\t orchestra.\t The\t doctor came\tto\ttheir\thelp.\tHe\tsaid: \\\"Begin,\tHester.\\\" Fingering\t at\t the\t fringes\t of\t her\t shawl,\t and\t with\t lowered\t eyes,\t Hester\t said, timidly: \\\"We\t should\t not\t have\t disobeyed\t for\t any\t ordinary\t cause,\t but\t this\t was\t vital. This\t was\t a\t duty.\t With\t a\t duty\t one\t has\t no\t choice;\t one\t must\t put\t all\t lighter considerations\taside\tand\tperform\tit.\tWe\twere\tobliged\tto\tarraign\t her\tbefore\ther","mother.\tShe\thad\ttold\ta\tlie.\\\" The\tdoctor\tglowered\tupon\tthe\twoman\ta\tmoment,\tand\tseemed\tto\tbe\ttrying\tto work\tup\tin\this\tmind\tan\tunderstanding\tof\ta\twholly\tincomprehensible\tproposition; then\the\tstormed\tout: \\\"She\t told\t a\t lie!\t Did\t she?\t God\t bless\t my\t soul!\t I\t tell\t a\t million\t a\t day!\t And\t so does\t every\t doctor.\t And\t so\t does\t everybody--including\t you--for\t that\t matter.\t And that\twas\tthe\timportant\tthing\tthat\tauthorized\tyou\tto\tventure\tto\tdisobey\tmy\torders and\t imperil\t that\t woman's\t life!\t Look\t here,\t Hester\t Gray,\t this\t is\t pure\t lunacy;\t that girl\t couldn't\t tell\t a\t lie\t that\t was\t intended\t to\t injure\t a\t person.\t The\t thing\t is impossible--absolutely\t impossible.\t You\t know\t it\t yourselves--both\t of\t you;\t you know\tit\tperfectly\twell.\\\" Hannah\tcame\tto\ther\tsister's\trescue: \\\"Hester\tdidn't\tmean\tthat\tit\twas\tthat\tkind\tof\ta\tlie,\tand\tit\twasn't.\tBut\tit\twas\ta lie.\\\" \\\"Well,\t upon\t my\t word,\t I\t never\t heard\t such\t nonsense!\t Haven't\t you\t got\t sense enough\t to\t discriminate\t between\t lies?\t Don't\t you\t know\t the\t difference\t between\t a lie\tthat\thelps\tand\ta\tlie\tthat\thurts?\\\" \\\"All\tlies\tare\tsinful,\\\"\tsaid\tHannah,\tsetting\ther\tlips\ttogether\tlike\ta\tvise;\t\\\"all\tlies are\tforbidden.\\\" The\tOnly\tChristian\tfidgeted\timpatiently\tin\this\tchair.\tHe\twanted\tto\tattack\tthis proposition,\tbut\the\tdid\tnot\tquite\tknow\thow\tor\twhere\tto\tbegin.\tFinally\the\tmade\ta venture: \\\"Hester,\twouldn't\tyou\ttell\ta\tlie\tto\tshield\ta\tperson\tfrom\tan\tundeserved\tinjury or\tshame?\\\" \\\"No.\\\" \\\"Not\teven\ta\tfriend?\\\" \\\"No.\\\" \\\"Not\teven\tyour\tdearest\tfriend?\\\" \\\"No.\tI\twould\tnot.\\\" The\tdoctor\tstruggled\tin\tsilence\tawhile\twith\tthis\tsituation;\tthen\the\tasked: \\\"Not\teven\tto\tsave\thim\tfrom\tbitter\tpain\tand\tmisery\tand\tgrief?\\\" \\\"No.\tNot\teven\tto\tsave\this\tlife.\\\" Another\tpause.\tThen: \\\"Nor\this\tsoul?\\\" There\t was\t a\t hush--a\t silence\t which\t endured\t a\t measurable\t interval--then Hester\tanswered,\tin\ta\tlow\tvoice,\tbut\twith\tdecision: \\\"Nor\this\tsoul.\\\"","No\tone\tspoke\tfor\ta\twhile;\tthen\tthe\tdoctor\tsaid: \\\"Is\tit\twith\tyou\tthe\tsame,\tHannah?\\\" \\\"Yes,\\\"\tshe\tanswered. \\\"I\task\tyou\tboth--why?\\\" \\\"Because\t to\t tell\t such\t a\t lie,\t or\t any\t lie,\t is\t a\t sin,\t and\t could\t cost\t us\t the\t loss\t of our\town\tsouls--would,\tindeed,\tif\twe\tdied\twithout\ttime\tto\trepent.\\\" \\\"Strange\t.\t.\t.\tstrange\t.\t.\t.\tit\tis\tpast\tbelief.\\\"\tThen\the\tasked,\troughly:\t\\\"Is\tsuch\ta soul\tas\tthat\tworth\tsaving?\\\"\tHe\trose\tup,\tmumbling\tand\tgrumbling,\tand\tstarted\tfor the\t door,\t stumping\t vigorously\t along.\t At\t the\t threshold\t he\t turned\t and\t rasped\t out an\tadmonition:\t\\\"Reform!\tDrop\tthis\tmean\tand\tsordid\tand\tselfish\tdevotion\tto\tthe saving\t of\t your\t shabby\t little\t souls,\t and\t hunt\t up\t something\t to\t do\t that's\t got\t some dignity\t to\t it!\t Risk\t your\t souls!\t risk\t them\t in\t good\t causes;\t then\t if\t you\t lose\t them, why\tshould\tyou\tcare?\tReform!\\\" The\tgood\told\tgentlewomen\tsat\tparalyzed,\tpulverized,\toutraged,\tinsulted,\tand brooded\tin\tbitterness\tand\tindignation\tover\tthese\tblasphemies.\tThey\twere\thurt\tto the\theart,\tpoor\told\tladies,\tand\tsaid\tthey\tcould\tnever\tforgive\tthese\tinjuries. \\\"Reform!\\\" They\tkept\trepeating\tthat\tword\tresentfully.\t\\\"Reform--and\tlearn\tto\ttell\tlies!\\\" Time\tslipped\talong,\tand\tin\tdue\tcourse\ta\tchange\tcame\tover\ttheir\tspirits.\tThey had\tcompleted\tthe\thuman\tbeing's\tfirst\tduty--which\tis\tto\tthink\tabout\thimself\tuntil he\thas\texhausted\tthe\tsubject,\tthen\the\tis\tin\ta\tcondition\tto\ttake\tup\tminor\tinterests and\tthink\tof\tother\tpeople.\tThis\tchanges\tthe\tcomplexion\tof\this\tspirits--generally wholesomely.\t The\t minds\t of\t the\t two\t old\t ladies\t reverted\t to\t their\t beloved\t niece and\tthe\tfearful\tdisease\twhich\thad\tsmitten\ther;\tinstantly\tthey\tforgot\tthe\thurts\ttheir self-love\t had\t received,\t and\t a\t passionate\t desire\t rose\t in\t their\t hearts\t to\t go\t to\t the help\t of\t the\t sufferer\t and\t comfort\t her\t with\t their\t love,\t and\t minister\t to\t her,\t and labor\t for\t her\t the\t best\t they\t could\t with\t their\t weak\t hands,\t and\t joyfully\t and affectionately\t wear\t out\t their\t poor\t old\t bodies\t in\t her\t dear\t service\t if\t only\t they might\thave\tthe\tprivilege. \\\"And\t we\t shall\t have\t it!\\\"\t said\t Hester,\t with\t the\t tears\t running\t down\t her\t face. \\\"There\t are\t no\t nurses\t comparable\t to\t us,\t for\t there\t are\t no\t others\t that\t will\t stand their\twatch\tby\tthat\tbed\ttill\tthey\tdrop\tand\tdie,\tand\tGod\tknows\twe\twould\tdo\tthat.\\\" \\\"Amen,\\\"\tsaid\tHannah,\tsmiling\tapproval\tand\tindorsement\tthrough\tthe\tmist\tof moisture\tthat\tblurred\ther\tglasses.\t\\\"The\tdoctor\tknows\tus,\tand\tknows\twe\twill\tnot disobey\tagain;\tand\the\twill\tcall\tno\tothers.\tHe\twill\tnot\tdare!\\\" \\\"Dare?\\\"\t said\t Hester,\t with\t temper,\t and\t dashing\t the\t water\t from\t her\t eyes;\t \\\"he will\t dare\t anything--that\t Christian\t devil!\t But\t it\t will\t do\t no\t good\t for\t him\t to\t try\t it","this\ttime--but,\tlaws!\tHannah!\tafter\tall's\tsaid\tand\tdone,\the\tis\tgifted\tand\twise\tand good,\tand\the\twould\tnot\tthink\tof\tsuch\ta\tthing.\t.\t.\t.\tIt\tis\tsurely\ttime\tfor\tone\tof\tus\tto go\tto\tthat\troom.\tWhat\tis\tkeeping\thim?\tWhy\tdoesn't\the\tcome\tand\tsay\tso?\\\" They\t caught\t the\t sound\t of\t his\t approaching\t step.\t He\t entered,\t sat\t down,\t and began\tto\ttalk. \\\"Margaret\tis\ta\tsick\twoman,\\\"\the\tsaid.\t\\\"She\tis\tstill\tsleeping,\tbut\tshe\twill\twake presently;\tthen\tone\tof\tyou\tmust\tgo\tto\ther.\tShe\twill\tbe\tworse\tbefore\tshe\tis\tbetter. Pretty\t soon\t a\t night-and-day\t watch\t must\t be\t set.\t How\t much\t of\t it\t can\t you\t two undertake?\\\" \\\"All\tof\tit!\\\"\tburst\tfrom\tboth\tladies\tat\tonce. The\tdoctor's\teyes\tflashed,\tand\the\tsaid,\twith\tenergy: \\\"You\t do\t ring\t true,\t you\t brave\t old\t relics!\t And\t you\t shall\t do\t all\t of\t the\t nursing you\tcan,\tfor\tthere's\tnone\tto\tmatch\tyou\tin\tthat\tdivine\toffice\tin\tthis\ttown;\tbut\tyou can't\tdo\tall\tof\tit,\tand\tit\twould\tbe\ta\tcrime\tto\tlet\tyou.\\\"\tIt\twas\tgrand\tpraise,\tgolden praise,\t coming\t from\t such\t a\t source,\t and\t it\t took\t nearly\t all\t the\t resentment\t out\t of the\t aged\t twins'\t hearts.\t \\\"Your\t Tilly\t and\t my\t old\t Nancy\t shall\t do\t the\t rest--good nurses\t both,\t white\t souls\t with\t black\t skins,\t watchful,\t loving,\t tender--just\t perfect nurses!--and\t competent\t liars\t from\t the\t cradle.\t .\t .\t .\t Look\t you!\t keep\t a\t little\t watch on\tHelen;\tshe\tis\tsick,\tand\tis\tgoing\tto\tbe\tsicker.\\\" The\tladies\tlooked\ta\tlittle\tsurprised,\tand\tnot\tcredulous;\tand\tHester\tsaid: \\\"How\tis\tthat?\tIt\tisn't\tan\thour\tsince\tyou\tsaid\tshe\twas\tas\tsound\tas\ta\tnut.\\\" The\tdoctor\tanswered,\ttranquilly: \\\"It\twas\ta\tlie.\\\" The\tladies\tturned\tupon\thim\tindignantly,\tand\tHannah\tsaid: \\\"How\tcan\tyou\tmake\tan\todious\tconfession\tlike\tthat,\tin\tso\tindifferent\ta\ttone, when\tyou\tknow\thow\twe\tfeel\tabout\tall\tforms\tof--\\\" \\\"Hush!\t You\t are\t as\t ignorant\t as\t cats,\t both\t of\t you,\t and\t you\t don't\t know\t what you\tare\ttalking\tabout.\tYou\tare\tlike\tall\tthe\trest\tof\tthe\tmoral\tmoles;\tyou\tlie\tfrom morning\t till\t night,\t but\t because\t you\t don't\t do\t it\t with\t your\t mouths,\t but\t only\t with your\t lying\t eyes,\t your\t lying\t inflections,\t your\t deceptively\t misplaced\t emphases, and\t your\t misleading\t gestures,\t you\t turn\t up\t your\t complacent\t noses\t and\t parade before\t God\t and\t the\t world\t as\t saintly\t and\t unsmirched\t Truth-Speakers,\t in\t whose cold-storage\t souls\t a\t lie\t would\t freeze\t to\t death\t if\t it\t got\t there!\t Why\t will\t you humbug\t yourselves\t with\t that\t foolish\t notion\t that\t no\t lie\t is\t a\t lie\t except\t a\t spoken one?\t What\t is\t the\t difference\t between\t lying\t with\t your\t eyes\t and\t lying\t with\t your mouth?\tThere\tis\tnone;\tand\tif\tyou\twould\treflect\ta\tmoment\tyou\twould\tsee\tthat\tit is\tso.\tThere\tisn't\ta\thuman\tbeing\tthat\tdoesn't\ttell\ta\tgross\tof\tlies\tevery\tday\tof\this","life;\tand\tyou--why,\tbetween\tyou,\tyou\ttell\tthirty\tthousand;\tyet\tyou\tflare\tup\there in\ta\tlurid\thypocritical\thorror\tbecause\tI\ttell\tthat\tchild\ta\tbenevolent\tand\tsinless\tlie to\tprotect\ther\tfrom\ther\timagination,\twhich\twould\tget\tto\twork\tand\twarm\tup\ther blood\tto\ta\tfever\tin\tan\thour,\tif\tI\twere\tdisloyal\tenough\tto\tmy\tduty\tto\tlet\tit.\tWhich\tI should\t probably\t do\t if\t I\t were\t interested\t in\t saving\t my\t soul\t by\t such\t disreputable means. \\\"Come,\tlet\tus\treason\ttogether.\tLet\tus\texamine\tdetails.\tWhen\tyou\ttwo\twere\tin the\t sick-room\t raising\t that\t riot,\t what\t would\t you\t have\t done\t if\t you\t had\t known\t I was\tcoming?\\\" \\\"Well,\twhat?\\\" \\\"You\twould\thave\tslipped\tout\tand\tcarried\tHelen\twith\tyou--wouldn't\tyou?\\\" The\tladies\twere\tsilent. \\\"What\twould\tbe\tyour\tobject\tand\tintention?\\\" \\\"Well,\twhat?\\\" \\\"To\t keep\t me\t from\t finding\t out\t your\t guilt;\t to\t beguile\t me\t to\t infer\t that Margaret's\texcitement\tproceeded\tfrom\tsome\tcause\tnot\tknown\tto\tyou.\tIn\ta\tword, to\ttell\tme\ta\tlie--a\tsilent\tone.\tMoreover,\ta\tpossibly\tharmful\tone.\\\" The\ttwins\tcolored,\tbut\tdid\tnot\tspeak. \\\"You\tnot\tonly\ttell\tmyriads\tof\tsilent\tlies,\tbut\tyou\ttell\tlies\twith\tyour\tmouths-- you\ttwo.\\\" \\\"That\tis\tnot\tso!\\\" \\\"It\tis\tso.\tBut\tonly\tharmless\tones.\tYou\tnever\tdream\tof\tuttering\ta\tharmful\tone. Do\tyou\tknow\tthat\tthat\tis\ta\tconcession--and\ta\tconfession?\\\" \\\"How\tdo\tyou\tmean?\\\" \\\"It\t is\t an\t unconscious\t concession\t that\t harmless\t lies\t are\t not\t criminal;\t it\t is\t a confession\t that\t you\t constantly\t make\t that\t discrimination.\t For\t instance,\t you declined\t old\t Mrs.\t Foster's\t invitation\t last\t week\t to\t meet\t those\t odious\t Higbies\t at supper--in\t a\t polite\t note\t in\t which\t you\t expressed\t regret\t and\t said\t you\t were\t very sorry\t you\t could\t not\t go.\t It\t was\t a\t lie.\t It\t was\t as\t unmitigated\t a\t lie\t as\t was\t ever uttered.\tDeny\tit,\tHester--with\tanother\tlie.\\\" Hester\treplied\twith\ta\ttoss\tof\ther\thead. \\\"That\twill\tnot\tdo.\tAnswer.\tWas\tit\ta\tlie,\tor\twasn't\tit?\\\" The\tcolor\tstole\t into\tthe\tcheeks\tof\tboth\twomen,\tand\twith\ta\tstruggle\tand\tan effort\tthey\tgot\tout\ttheir\tconfession: \\\"It\twas\ta\tlie.\\\" \\\"Good--the\treform\tis\tbeginning;\tthere\tis\thope\tfor\tyou\tyet;\tyou\twill\tnot\ttell\ta lie\tto\tsave\tyour\tdearest\tfriend's\tsoul,\tbut\tyou\twill\tspew\tout\tone\twithout\ta\tscruple","to\tsave\tyourself\tthe\tdiscomfort\tof\ttelling\tan\tunpleasant\ttruth.\\\" He\trose.\tHester,\tspeaking\tfor\tboth,\tsaid,\tcoldly: \\\"We\thave\tlied;\twe\tperceive\tit;\tit\twill\toccur\tno\tmore.\tTo\tlie\tis\ta\tsin.\tWe\tshall never\t tell\t another\t one\t of\t any\t kind\t whatsoever,\t even\t lies\t of\t courtesy\t or benevolence,\tto\tsave\tany\tone\ta\tpang\tor\ta\tsorrow\tdecreed\tfor\thim\tby\tGod.\\\" \\\"Ah,\t how\t soon\t you\t will\t fall!\t In\t fact,\t you\t have\t fallen\t already;\t for\t what\t you have\t just\t uttered\t is\t a\t lie.\t Good-by.\t Reform!\t One\t of\t you\t go\t to\t the\t sick-room now.\\\" 4 Twelve\tdays\tlater. Mother\tand\tchild\twere\tlingering\tin\tthe\tgrip\tof\tthe\thideous\tdisease.\tOf\thope for\t either\t there\t was\t little.\t The\t aged\t sisters\t looked\t white\t and\t worn,\t but\t they would\t not\t give\t up\t their\t posts.\t Their\t hearts\t were\t breaking,\t poor\t old\t things,\t but their\t grit\t was\t steadfast\t and\t indestructible.\t All\t the\t twelve\t days\t the\t mother\t had pined\tfor\tthe\tchild,\tand\tthe\tchild\tfor\tthe\tmother,\tbut\tboth\tknew\tthat\tthe\tprayer\tof these\tlongings\tcould\tnot\tbe\tgranted.\tWhen\tthe\tmother\twas\ttold--on\tthe\tfirst\tday- -that\ther\tdisease\twas\ttyphoid,\tshe\twas\tfrightened,\tand\tasked\tif\tthere\twas\tdanger that\t Helen\t could\t have\t contracted\t it\t the\t day\t before,\t when\t she\t was\t in\t the\t sick- chamber\t on\t that\t confession\t visit.\t Hester\t told\t her\t the\t doctor\t had\t poo-pooed\t the idea.\t It\t troubled\t Hester\t to\t say\t it,\t although\t it\t was\t true,\t for\t she\t had\t not\t believed the\t doctor;\t but\t when\t she\t saw\t the\t mother's\t joy\t in\t the\t news,\t the\t pain\t in\t her conscience\t lost\t something\t of\t its\t force--a\t result\t which\t made\t her\t ashamed\t of\t the constructive\t deception\t which\t she\t had\t practised,\t though\t not\t ashamed\t enough\t to make\t her\t distinctly\t and\t definitely\t wish\t she\t had\t refrained\t from\t it.\t From\t that moment\t the\t sick\t woman\t understood\t that\t her\t daughter\t must\t remain\t away,\t and she\tsaid\tshe\twould\treconcile\therself\tto\tthe\tseparation\tthe\tbest\tshe\tcould,\tfor\tshe would\t rather\t suffer\t death\t than\t have\t her\t child's\t health\t imperiled.\t That\t afternoon Helen\t had\t to\t take\t to\t her\t bed,\t ill.\t She\t grew\t worse\t during\t the\t night.\t In\t the morning\ther\tmother\tasked\tafter\ther: \\\"Is\tshe\twell?\\\" Hester\tturned\tcold;\tshe\topened\ther\tlips,\tbut\tthe\twords\trefused\tto\tcome.\tThe mother\t lay\t languidly\t looking,\t musing,\t waiting;\t suddenly\t she\t turned\t white\t and gasped\tout:","\\\"Oh,\tmy\tGod!\twhat\tis\tit?\tis\tshe\tsick?\\\" Then\tthe\tpoor\taunt's\ttortured\theart\trose\tin\trebellion,\tand\twords\tcame: \\\"No--be\tcomforted;\tshe\tis\twell.\\\" The\tsick\twoman\tput\tall\ther\thappy\theart\tin\ther\tgratitude: \\\"Thank\t God\t for\t those\t dear\t words!\t Kiss\t me.\t How\t I\t worship\t you\t for\t saying them!\\\" Hester\t told\t this\t incident\t to\t Hannah,\t who\t received\t it\t with\t a\t rebuking\t look, and\tsaid,\tcoldly: \\\"Sister,\tit\twas\ta\tlie.\\\" Hester's\tlips\ttrembled\tpiteously;\tshe\tchoked\tdown\ta\tsob,\tand\tsaid: \\\"Oh,\t Hannah,\t it\t was\t a\t sin,\t but\t I\t could\t not\t help\t it.\t I\t could\t not\t endure\t the fright\tand\tthe\tmisery\tthat\twere\tin\ther\tface.\\\" \\\"No\tmatter.\tIt\twas\ta\tlie.\tGod\twill\thold\tyou\tto\taccount\tfor\tit.\\\" \\\"Oh,\t I\t know\t it,\t I\t know\t it,\\\"\t cried\t Hester,\t wringing\t her\t hands,\t \\\"but\t even\t if\t it were\tnow,\tI\tcould\tnot\thelp\tit.\tI\tknow\tI\tshould\tdo\tit\tagain.\\\" \\\"Then\t take\t my\t place\t with\t Helen\t in\t the\t morning.\t I\t will\t make\t the\t report myself.\\\" Hester\tclung\tto\ther\tsister,\tbegging\tand\timploring. \\\"Don't,\tHannah,\toh,\tdon't--you\twill\tkill\ther.\\\" \\\"I\twill\tat\tleast\tspeak\tthe\ttruth.\\\" In\t the\t morning\t she\t had\t a\t cruel\t report\t to\t bear\t to\t the\t mother,\t and\t she\t braced herself\t for\t the\t trial.\t When\t she\t returned\t from\t her\t mission,\t Hester\t was\t waiting, pale\tand\ttrembling,\tin\tthe\thall.\tShe\twhispered: \\\"Oh,\thow\tdid\tshe\ttake\tit--that\tpoor,\tdesolate\tmother?\\\" Hannah's\teyes\twere\tswimming\tin\ttears.\tShe\tsaid: \\\"God\tforgive\tme,\tI\ttold\ther\tthe\tchild\twas\twell!\\\" Hester\t gathered\t her\t to\t her\t heart,\t with\t a\t grateful\t \\\"God\t bless\t you,\t Hannah!\\\" and\tpoured\tout\ther\tthankfulness\tin\tan\tinundation\tof\tworshiping\tpraises. After\t that,\t the\t two\t knew\t the\t limit\t of\t their\t strength,\t and\t accepted\t their\t fate. They\t surrendered\t humbly,\t and\t abandoned\t themselves\t to\t the\t hard\t requirements of\t the\t situation.\t Daily\t they\t told\t the\t morning\t lie,\t and\t confessed\t their\t sin\t in prayer;\t not\t asking\t forgiveness,\t as\t not\t being\t worthy\t of\t it,\t but\t only\t wishing\t to make\trecord\tthat\tthey\trealized\ttheir\twickedness\tand\twere\tnot\tdesiring\tto\thide\tit or\texcuse\tit. Daily,\tas\tthe\tfair\tyoung\tidol\tof\tthe\thouse\tsank\tlower\tand\tlower,\tthe\tsorrowful old\t aunts\t painted\t her\t glowing\t bloom\t and\t her\t fresh\t young\t beauty\t to\t the\t wan mother,\tand\twinced\tunder\tthe\tstabs\ther\tecstasies\tof\tjoy\tand\tgratitude\tgave\tthem.","In\tthe\tfirst\tdays,\twhile\tthe\tchild\thad\tstrength\tto\thold\ta\tpencil,\tshe\twrote\tfond little\tlove-notes\tto\ther\tmother,\tin\twhich\tshe\tconcealed\ther\tillness;\tand\tthese\tthe mother\t read\t and\t reread\t through\t happy\t eyes\t wet\t with\t thankful\t tears,\t and\t kissed them\t over\t and\t over\t again,\t and\t treasured\t them\t as\t precious\t things\t under\t her pillow. Then\t came\t a\t day\t when\t the\t strength\t was\t gone\t from\t the\t hand,\t and\t the\t mind wandered,\t and\t the\t tongue\t babbled\t pathetic\t incoherences.\t This\t was\t a\t sore dilemma\t for\t the\t poor\t aunts.\t There\t were\t no\t love-notes\t for\t the\t mother.\t They\t did not\tknow\twhat\tto\tdo.\tHester\tbegan\ta\tcarefully\tstudied\tand\tplausible\texplanation, but\t lost\t the\t track\t of\t it\t and\t grew\t confused;\t suspicion\t began\t to\t show\t in\t the mother's\t face,\t then\t alarm.\t Hester\t saw\t it,\t recognized\t the\t imminence\t of\t the danger,\tand\tdescended\tto\tthe\temergency,\tpulling\therself\tresolutely\ttogether\tand plucking\tvictory\tfrom\tthe\topen\tjaws\tof\tdefeat.\tIn\ta\tplacid\tand\tconvincing\tvoice she\tsaid: \\\"I\t thought\t it\t might\t distress\t you\t to\t know\t it,\t but\t Helen\t spent\t the\t night\t at\t the Sloanes'.\tThere\twas\ta\tlittle\tparty\tthere,\tand,\talthough\tshe\tdid\tnot\twant\tto\tgo,\tand you\t so\t sick,\t we\t persuaded\t her,\t she\t being\t young\t and\t needing\t the\t innocent pastimes\tof\tyouth,\tand\twe\tbelieving\tyou\twould\tapprove.\tBe\tsure\tshe\twill\twrite the\tmoment\tshe\tcomes.\\\" \\\"How\t good\t you\t are,\t and\t how\t dear\t and\t thoughtful\t for\t us\t both!\t Approve? Why,\t I\t thank\t you\t with\t all\t my\t heart.\t My\t poor\t little\t exile!\t Tell\t her\t I\t want\t her\t to have\t every\t pleasure\t she\t can--I\t would\t not\t rob\t her\t of\t one.\t Only\t let\t her\t keep\t her health,\t that\t is\t all\t I\t ask.\t Don't\t let\t that\t suffer;\t I\t could\t not\t bear\t it.\t How\t thankful\t I am\tthat\tshe\tescaped\tthis\tinfection--and\twhat\ta\tnarrow\trisk\tshe\tran,\tAunt\tHester! Think\t of\t that\t lovely\t face\t all\t dulled\t and\t burned\t with\t fever.\t I\t can't\t bear\t the thought\t of\t it.\t Keep\t her\t health.\t Keep\t her\t bloom!\t I\t can\t see\t her\t now,\t the\t dainty creature--with\tthe\tbig,\tblue,\tearnest\teyes;\tand\tsweet,\toh,\tso\tsweet\tand\tgentle\tand winning!\tIs\tshe\tas\tbeautiful\tas\tever,\tdear\tAunt\tHester?\\\" \\\"Oh,\t more\t beautiful\t and\t bright\t and\t charming\t than\t ever\t she\t was\t before,\t if such\t a\t thing\t can\t be\\\"--and\t Hester\t turned\t away\t and\t fumbled\t with\t the\t medicine- bottles,\tto\thide\ther\tshame\tand\tgrief. 5 After\ta\tlittle,\tboth\taunts\twere\tlaboring\tupon\ta\tdifficult\tand\tbaffling\twork\tin","Helen's\t chamber.\t Patiently\t and\t earnestly,\t with\t their\t stiff\t old\t fingers,\t they\t were trying\t to\t forge\t the\t required\t note.\t They\t made\t failure\t after\t failure,\t but\t they improved\t little\t by\t little\t all\t the\t time.\t The\t pity\t of\t it\t all,\t the\t pathetic\t humor\t of\t it, there\twas\tnone\tto\tsee;\tthey\tthemselves\twere\tunconscious\tof\tit.\tOften\ttheir\ttears fell\tupon\tthe\tnotes\tand\tspoiled\tthem;\tsometimes\ta\tsingle\tmisformed\tword\tmade a\t note\t risky\t which\t could\t have\t been\t ventured\t but\t for\t that;\t but\t at\t last\t Hannah produced\t one\t whose\t script\t was\t a\t good\t enough\t imitation\t of\t Helen's\t to\t pass\t any but\t a\t suspicious\t eye,\t and\t bountifully\t enriched\t it\t with\t the\t petting\t phrases\t and loving\t nicknames\t that\t had\t been\t familiar\t on\t the\t child's\t lips\t from\t her\t nursery days.\t She\t carried\t it\t to\t the\t mother,\t who\t took\t it\t with\t avidity,\t and\t kissed\t it,\t and fondled\t it,\t reading\t its\t precious\t words\t over\t and\t over\t again,\t and\t dwelling\t with deep\tcontentment\tupon\tits\tclosing\tparagraph: \\\"Mousie\tdarling,\tif\tI\tcould\tonly\tsee\tyou,\tand\tkiss\tyour\t eyes,\tand\tfeel\tyour arms\tabout\tme!\tI\tam\tso\tglad\tmy\tpractising\tdoes\tnot\tdisturb\tyou.\tGet\twell\tsoon. Everybody\tis\tgood\tto\tme,\tbut\tI\tam\tso\tlonesome\twithout\tyou,\tdear\tmamma.\\\" \\\"The\t poor\t child,\t I\t know\t just\t how\t she\t feels.\t She\t cannot\t be\t quite\t happy without\t me;\t and\t I--oh,\t I\t live\t in\t the\t light\t of\t her\t eyes!\t Tell\t her\t she\t must\t practise all\tshe\tpleases;\tand,\tAunt\tHannah--tell\ther\tI\tcan't\thear\tthe\tpiano\tthis\tfar,\tnor\ther dear\tvoice\twhen\tshe\tsings:\tGod\tknows\tI\twish\tI\tcould.\tNo\tone\tknows\thow\tsweet that\tvoice\tis\tto\tme;\tand\tto\tthink--some\tday\tit\twill\tbe\tsilent!\tWhat\tare\tyou\tcrying for?\\\" \\\"Only\t because--because--it\t was\t just\t a\t memory.\t When\t I\t came\t away\t she\t was singing,\t'Loch\tLomond.'\tThe\tpathos\tof\tit!\tIt\talways\tmoves\tme\tso\twhen\tshe\tsings that.\\\" \\\"And\t me,\t too.\t How\t heartbreakingly\t beautiful\t it\t is\t when\t some\t youthful sorrow\tis\tbrooding\tin\ther\tbreast\tand\tshe\tsings\tit\tfor\tthe\tmystic\thealing\tit\tbrings.\t. .\t.\tAunt\tHannah?\\\" \\\"Dear\tMargaret?\\\" \\\"I\tam\tvery\till.\tSometimes\tit\tcomes\tover\tme\tthat\tI\tshall\tnever\thear\tthat\tdear voice\tagain.\\\" \\\"Oh,\tdon't--don't,\tMargaret!\tI\tcan't\tbear\tit!\\\" Margaret\twas\tmoved\tand\tdistressed,\tand\tsaid,\tgently: \\\"There--there--let\t me\t put\t my\t arms\t around\t you.\t Don't\t cry.\t There--put\t your cheek\tto\tmine.\tBe\tcomforted.\tI\twish\tto\tlive.\tI\twill\tlive\tif\tI\tcan.\tAh,\twhat\tcould she\tdo\twithout\tme!\t.\t.\t.\tDoes\tshe\toften\tspeak\tof\tme?--but\tI\tknow\tshe\tdoes.\\\" \\\"Oh,\tall\tthe\ttime--all\tthe\ttime!\\\" \\\"My\tsweet\tchild!\tShe\twrote\tthe\tnote\tthe\tmoment\tshe\tcame\thome?\\\"","\\\"Yes--the\tfirst\tmoment.\tShe\twould\tnot\twait\tto\ttake\toff\ther\tthings.\\\" \\\"I\t knew\t it.\t It\t is\t her\t dear,\t impulsive,\t affectionate\t way.\t I\t knew\t it\t without asking,\tbut\tI\twanted\tto\thear\tyou\tsay\tit.\tThe\tpetted\twife\tknows\tshe\tis\tloved,\tbut she\t makes\t her\t husband\t tell\t her\t so\t every\t day,\t just\t for\t the\t joy\t of\t hearing\t it.\t .\t .\t . She\tused\tthe\tpen\tthis\ttime.\tThat\tis\tbetter;\tthe\tpencil-marks\tcould\trub\tout,\tand\tI should\tgrieve\tfor\tthat.\tDid\tyou\tsuggest\tthat\tshe\tuse\tthe\tpen?\\\" \\\"Y--no--she--it\twas\ther\town\tidea.\\\" The\tmother\tlooked\ther\tpleasure,\tand\tsaid: \\\"I\t was\t hoping\t you\t would\t say\t that.\t There\t was\t never\t such\t a\t dear\t and thoughtful\tchild!\t.\t.\t.\tAunt\tHannah?\\\" \\\"Dear\tMargaret?\\\" \\\"Go\t and\t tell\t her\t I\t think\t of\t her\t all\t the\t time,\t and\t worship\t her.\t Why--you\t are crying\tagain.\tDon't\tbe\tso\tworried\tabout\tme,\tdear;\tI\tthink\tthere\tis\tnothing\tto\tfear, yet.\\\" The\t grieving\t messenger\t carried\t her\t message,\t and\t piously\t delivered\t it\t to unheeding\tears.\tThe\tgirl\tbabbled\ton\tunaware;\tlooking\tup\tat\ther\twith\twondering and\tstartled\teyes\tflaming\twith\tfever,\teyes\tin\twhich\twas\tno\tlight\tof\trecognition: \\\"Are\t you--no,\t you\t are\t not\t my\t mother.\t I\t want\t her--oh,\t I\t want\t her!\t She\t was here\ta\tminute\tago--I\tdid\tnot\tsee\ther\tgo.\tWill\tshe\tcome?\twill\tshe\tcome\tquickly? will\tshe\tcome\tnow?\t.\t.\t.\tThere\tare\tso\tmany\thouses\t.\t.\t.\tand\tthey\toppress\tme\tso\t.\t. .\tand\teverything\twhirls\tand\tturns\tand\twhirls\t.\t.\t.\toh,\tmy\thead,\tmy\thead!\\\"--and\tso she\twandered\ton\tand\ton,\tin\ther\tpain,\tflitting\tfrom\tone\ttorturing\tfancy\tto\tanother, and\ttossing\ther\tarms\tabout\tin\ta\tweary\tand\tceaseless\tpersecution\tof\tunrest. Poor\t old\t Hannah\t wetted\t the\t parched\t lips\t and\t softly\t stroked\t the\t hot\t brow, murmuring\tendearing\tand\tpitying\twords,\tand\tthanking\tthe\tFather\tof\tall\tthat\tthe mother\twas\thappy\tand\tdid\tnot\tknow. 6 Daily\t the\t child\t sank\t lower\t and\t steadily\t lower\t towards\t the\t grave,\t and\t daily the\t sorrowing\t old\t watchers\t carried\t gilded\t tidings\t of\t her\t radiant\t health\t and loveliness\tto\tthe\thappy\tmother,\twhose\tpilgrimage\twas\talso\tnow\tnearing\tits\tend. And\tdaily\tthey\tforged\tloving\tand\tcheery\tnotes\tin\tthe\tchild's\thand,\tand\tstood\tby with\t remorseful\t consciences\t and\t bleeding\t hearts,\t and\t wept\t to\t see\t the\t grateful mother\t devour\t them\t and\t adore\t them\t and\t treasure\t them\t away\t as\t things\t beyond","price,\t because\t of\t their\t sweet\t source,\t and\t sacred\t because\t her\t child's\t hand\t had touched\tthem. At\t last\t came\t that\t kindly\t friend\t who\t brings\t healing\t and\t peace\t to\t all.\t The lights\t were\t burning\t low.\t In\t the\t solemn\t hush\t which\t precedes\t the\t dawn\t vague figures\t flitted\t soundless\t along\t the\t dim\t hall\t and\t gathered\t silent\t and\t awed\t in Helen's\tchamber,\tand\tgrouped\tthemselves\tabout\ther\tbed,\tfor\ta\twarning\thad\tgone forth,\t and\t they\t knew.\t The\t dying\t girl\t lay\t with\t closed\t lids,\t and\t unconscious,\t the drapery\tupon\ther\tbreast\tfaintly\trising\tand\tfalling\tas\ther\twasting\tlife\tebbed\taway. At\tintervals\ta\tsigh\tor\ta\tmuffled\tsob\tbroke\tupon\tthe\tstillness.\tThe\tsame\thaunting thought\twas\tin\tall\tminds\tthere:\tthe\tpity\tof\tthis\tdeath,\tthe\tgoing\tout\tinto\tthe\tgreat darkness,\tand\tthe\tmother\tnot\there\tto\thelp\tand\thearten\tand\tbless. Helen\t stirred;\t her\t hands\t began\t to\t grope\t wistfully\t about\t as\t if\t they\t sought something--she\thad\tbeen\tblind\tsome\thours.\tThe\tend\twas\tcome;\tall\tknew\tit.\tWith a\tgreat\tsob\tHester\tgathered\ther\tto\ther\tbreast,\tcrying,\t\\\"Oh,\tmy\tchild,\tmy\tdarling!\\\" A\trapturous\tlight\tbroke\tin\tthe\tdying\tgirl's\tface,\tfor\tit\twas\tmercifully\tvouchsafed her\t to\t mistake\t those\t sheltering\t arms\t for\t another's;\t and\t she\t went\t to\t her\t rest murmuring,\t\\\"Oh,\tmamma,\tI\tam\tso\thappy--I\tso\tlonged\tfor\tyou--now\tI\tcan\tdie.\\\" \t Two\thours\tlater\tHester\tmade\ther\treport.\tThe\tmother\tasked: \\\"How\tis\tit\twith\tthe\tchild?\\\" \\\"She\tis\twell.\\\" 7 A\tsheaf\tof\twhite\tcrape\tand\tblack\twas\thung\tupon\tthe\tdoor\tof\tthe\thouse,\tand there\t it\t swayed\t and\t rustled\t in\t the\t wind\t and\t whispered\t its\t tidings.\t At\t noon\t the preparation\t of\t the\t dead\t was\t finished,\t and\t in\t the\t coffin\t lay\t the\t fair\t young\t form, beautiful,\t and\t in\t the\t sweet\t face\t a\t great\t peace.\t Two\t mourners\t sat\t by\t it,\t grieving and\t worshiping--Hannah\t and\t the\t black\t woman\t Tilly.\t Hester\t came,\t and\t she\t was trembling,\tfor\ta\tgreat\ttrouble\twas\tupon\ther\tspirit.\tShe\tsaid: \\\"She\tasks\tfor\ta\tnote.\\\" Hannah's\tface\tblanched.\tShe\thad\tnot\tthought\tof\tthis;\tit\thad\tseemed\tthat\tthat pathetic\t service\t was\t ended.\t But\t she\t realized\t now\t that\t that\t could\t not\t be.\t For\t a","little\t while\t the\t two\t women\t stood\t looking\t into\t each\t other's\t face,\t with\t vacant eyes;\tthen\tHannah\tsaid: \\\"There\tis\tno\tway\tout\tof\tit--she\tmust\thave\tit;\tshe\twill\tsuspect,\telse.\\\" \\\"And\tshe\twould\tfind\tout.\\\" \\\"Yes.\t It\t would\t break\t her\t heart.\\\"\t She\t looked\t at\t the\t dead\t face,\t and\t her\t eyes filled.\t\\\"I\twill\twrite\tit,\\\"\tshe\tsaid. Hester\tcarried\tit.\tThe\tclosing\tline\tsaid: \\\"Darling\tMousie,\tdear\tsweet\tmother,\twe\tshall\tsoon\tbe\ttogether\tagain.\tIs\tnot that\tgood\tnews?\tAnd\tit\tis\ttrue;\tthey\tall\tsay\tit\tis\ttrue.\\\" The\tmother\tmourned,\tsaying: \\\"Poor\tchild,\thow\twill\tshe\tbear\tit\twhen\tshe\tknows?\tI\tshall\tnever\tsee\ther\tagain in\tlife.\tIt\tis\thard,\tso\thard.\tShe\tdoes\tnot\tsuspect?\tYou\tguard\ther\tfrom\tthat?\\\" \\\"She\tthinks\tyou\twill\tsoon\tbe\twell.\\\" \\\"How\tgood\tyou\tare,\tand\tcareful,\tdear\tAunt\tHester!\tNone\tgoes\tnear\ther\twho could\tcarry\tthe\tinfection?\\\" \\\"It\twould\tbe\ta\tcrime.\\\" \\\"But\tyou\tsee\ther?\\\" \\\"With\ta\tdistance\tbetween--yes.\\\" \\\"That\t is\t so\t good.\t Others\t one\t could\t not\t trust;\t but\t you\t two\t guardian\t angels-- steel\tis\tnot\tso\ttrue\tas\tyou.\tOthers\twould\tbe\tunfaithful;\tand\tmany\twould\tdeceive, and\tlie.\\\" Hester's\teyes\tfell,\tand\ther\tpoor\told\tlips\ttrembled. \\\"Let\tme\tkiss\tyou\tfor\ther,\tAunt\tHester;\tand\twhen\tI\tam\tgone,\tand\tthe\tdanger\tis past,\tplace\tthe\tkiss\tupon\ther\tdear\tlips\tsome\tday,\tand\tsay\ther\tmother\tsent\tit,\tand all\ther\tmother's\tbroken\theart\tis\tin\tit.\\\" Within\t the\t hour,\t Hester,\t raining\t tears\t upon\t the\t dead\t face,\t performed\t her pathetic\tmission. 8 Another\t day\t dawned,\t and\t grew,\t and\t spread\t its\t sunshine\t in\t the\t earth.\t Aunt Hannah\tbrought\tcomforting\tnews\tto\tthe\tfailing\tmother,\tand\ta\thappy\tnote,\twhich said\t again,\t \\\"We\t have\t but\t a\t little\t time\t to\t wait,\t darling\t mother,\t then\t we\t shall\t be together.\\\" The\tdeep\tnote\tof\ta\tbell\tcame\tmoaning\tdown\tthe\twind.","\\\"Aunt\tHannah,\tit\tis\ttolling.\tSome\tpoor\tsoul\tis\tat\trest.\tAs\tI\tshall\tbe\tsoon.\tYou will\tnot\tlet\ther\tforget\tme?\\\" \\\"Oh,\tGod\tknows\tshe\tnever\twill!\\\" \\\"Do\t not\t you\t hear\t strange\t noises,\t Aunt\t Hannah?\t It\t sounds\t like\t the\t shuffling of\tmany\tfeet.\\\" \\\"We\thoped\tyou\twould\tnot\thear\tit,\tdear.\tIt\tis\ta\tlittle\tcompany\tgathering,\tfor-- for\t Helen's\t sake,\t poor\t little\t prisoner.\t There\t will\t be\t music--and\t she\t loves\t it\t so. We\tthought\tyou\twould\tnot\tmind.\\\" \\\"Mind?\t Oh\t no,\t no--oh,\t give\t her\t everything\t her\t dear\t heart\t can\t desire.\t How good\tyou\ttwo\tare\tto\ther,\tand\thow\tgood\tto\tme!\tGod\tbless\tyou\tboth\talways!\\\" After\ta\tlistening\tpause: \\\"How\t lovely!\t It\t is\t her\t organ.\t Is\t she\t playing\t it\t herself,\t do\t you\t think?\\\"\t Faint and\trich\tand\tinspiring\tthe\tchords\tfloated\tto\ther\tears\ton\tthe\tstill\tair.\t\\\"Yes,\tit\tis\ther touch,\t dear\t heart,\t I\t recognize\t it.\t They\t are\t singing.\t Why--it\t is\t a\t hymn!\t and\t the sacredest\tof\tall,\tthe\tmost\ttouching,\tthe\tmost\tconsoling.\t.\t.\t.\tIt\tseems\tto\topen\tthe gates\tof\tparadise\tto\tme.\t.\t.\t.\tIf\tI\tcould\tdie\tnow.\t.\t.\t.\\\" Faint\tand\tfar\tthe\twords\trose\tout\tof\tthe\tstillness: Nearer,\tmy\tGod,\tto\tThee, Nearer\tto\tThee, E'en\tthough\tit\tbe\ta\tcross That\traiseth\tme. With\tthe\tclosing\tof\tthe\thymn\tanother\tsoul\tpassed\tto\tits\trest,\tand\tthey\tthat\thad been\tone\tin\tlife\twere\tnot\tsundered\tin\tdeath.\tThe\tsisters,\tmourning\tand\trejoicing, said: \\\"How\tblessed\tit\twas\tthat\tshe\tnever\tknew!\\\" 9 At\tmidnight\tthey\tsat\ttogether,\tgrieving,\tand\tthe\tangel\tof\tthe\tLord\tappeared\tin the\tmidst\ttransfigured\twith\ta\tradiance\tnot\tof\tthe\tearth:\tand\tspeaking,\tsaid: \\\"For\t liars\t a\t place\t is\t appointed.\t There\t they\t burn\t in\t the\t fires\t of\t hell\t from everlasting\tunto\teverlasting.\tRepent!\\\"","The\tbereaved\tfell\tupon\ttheir\tknees\tbefore\thim\tand\tclasped\t their\t hands\tand bowed\t their\t gray\t heads,\t adoring.\t But\t their\t tongues\t clove\t to\t the\t roof\t of\t their mouths,\tand\tthey\twere\tdumb. \\\"Speak!\t that\t I\t may\t bear\t the\t message\t to\t the\t chancery\t of\t heaven\t and\t bring again\tthe\tdecree\tfrom\twhich\tthere\tis\tno\tappeal.\\\" Then\tthey\tbowed\ttheir\theads\tyet\tlower,\tand\tone\tsaid: \\\"Our\tsin\tis\tgreat,\tand\twe\tsuffer\tshame;\tbut\tonly\tperfect\tand\tfinal\trepentance can\t make\t us\t whole;\t and\t we\t are\t poor\t creatures\t who\t have\t learned\t our\t human weakness,\t and\t we\t know\t that\t if\t we\t were\t in\t those\t hard\t straits\t again\t our\t hearts would\t fail\t again,\t and\t we\t should\t sin\t as\t before.\t The\t strong\t could\t prevail,\t and\t so be\tsaved,\tbut\twe\tare\tlost.\\\" They\t lifted\t their\t heads\t in\t supplication.\t The\t angel\t was\t gone.\t While\t they marveled\tand\twept\the\tcame\tagain;\tand\tbending\tlow,\the\twhispered\tthe\tdecree. 10 Was\tit\tHeaven?\tOr\tHell? 1902","A\tDOG'S\tTALE MY\t FATHER\t was\t a\t St.\t Bernard,\t my\t mother\t was\t a\t collie,\t but\t I\t am\t a Presbyterian.\t This\t is\t what\t my\t mother\t told\t me;\t I\t do\t not\t know\t these\t nice distinctions\tmyself.\tTo\tme\tthey\tare\tonly\tfine\tlarge\twords\tmeaning\tnothing.\tMy mother\t had\t a\t fondness\t for\t such;\t she\t liked\t to\t say\t them,\t and\t see\t other\t dogs\t look surprised\t and\t envious,\t as\t wondering\t how\t she\t got\t so\t much\t education.\t But, indeed,\t it\t was\t not\t real\t education;\t it\t was\t only\t show:\t she\t got\t the\t words\t by listening\tin\tthe\tdining-room\tand\tdrawing-room\twhen\tthere\twas\tcompany,\tand\tby going\twith\tthe\tchildren\tto\tSunday-school\tand\tlistening\tthere;\tand\twhenever\tshe heard\t a\t large\t word\t she\t said\t it\t over\t to\t herself\t many\t times,\t and\t so\t was\t able\t to keep\tit\tuntil\tthere\twas\ta\tdogmatic\tgathering\tin\tthe\tneighborhood,\tthen\tshe\twould get\t it\t off,\t and\t surprise\t and\t distress\t them\t all,\t from\t pocket-pup\t to\t mastiff,\t which rewarded\ther\tfor\tall\ther\ttrouble.\tIf\tthere\twas\ta\tstranger\the\twas\tnearly\tsure\tto\tbe suspicious,\t and\t when\t he\t got\t his\t breath\t again\t he\t would\t ask\t her\t what\t it\t meant. And\t she\t always\t told\t him.\t He\t was\t never\t expecting\t this,\t but\t thought\t he\t would catch\t her;\t so\t when\t she\t told\t him,\t he\t was\t the\t one\t that\t looked\t ashamed,\t whereas he\thad\tthought\tit\twas\tgoing\tto\tbe\tshe.\tThe\tothers\twere\talways\twaiting\tfor\tthis, and\t glad\t of\t it\t and\t proud\t of\t her,\t for\t they\t knew\t what\t was\t going\t to\t happen, because\tthey\thad\thad\texperience.\tWhen\tshe\ttold\tthe\tmeaning\tof\ta\tbig\tword\tthey were\tall\tso\ttaken\tup\twith\tadmiration\tthat\tit\tnever\toccurred\tto\tany\tdog\tto\tdoubt\tif it\t was\t the\t right\t one;\t and\t that\t was\t natural,\t because,\t for\t one\t thing,\t she\t answered up\tso\tpromptly\tthat\tit\tseemed\tlike\ta\tdictionary\tspeaking,\tand\tfor\tanother\tthing, where\t could\t they\t find\t out\t whether\t it\t was\t right\t or\t not?\t for\t she\t was\t the\t only cultivated\t dog\t there\t was.\t By\t and\t by,\t when\t I\t was\t older,\t she\t brought\t home\t the word\tUnintellectual,\tone\ttime,\tand\tworked\tit\tpretty\thard\tall\tthe\tweek\tat\tdifferent gatherings,\tmaking\tmuch\tunhappiness\tand\tdespondency;\tand\tit\twas\tat\tthis\ttime that\t I\t noticed\t that\t during\t that\t week\t she\t was\t asked\t for\t the\t meaning\t at\t eight different\t assemblages,\t and\t flashed\t out\t a\t fresh\t definition\t every\t time,\t which showed\t me\t that\t she\t had\t more\t presence\t of\t mind\t than\t culture,\t though\t I\t said nothing,\tof\tcourse.\tShe\thad\tone\tword\twhich\tshe\talways\tkept\ton\thand,\tand\tready, like\ta\tlife-preserver,\ta\tkind\tof\temergency\tword\tto\tstrap\ton\twhen\tshe\twas\tlikely to\t get\t washed\t overboard\t in\t a\t sudden\t way--that\t was\t the\t word\t Synonymous. When\tshe\thappened\tto\tfetch\tout\ta\tlong\tword\twhich\thad\thad\tits\tday\tweeks\tbefore and\tits\tprepared\tmeanings\tgone\tto\ther\tdump-pile,\tif\tthere\twas\ta\tstranger\tthere\tof course\t it\t knocked\t him\t groggy\t for\t a\t couple\t of\t minutes,\t then\t he\t would\t come\t to, and\t by\t that\t time\t she\t would\t be\t away\t down\t the\t wind\t on\t another\t tack,\t and\t not","expecting\tanything;\tso\twhen\the'd\thail\tand\task\ther\tto\tcash\tin,\tI\t(the\tonly\tdog\ton the\t inside\t of\t her\t game)\t could\t see\t her\t canvas\t flicker\t a\t moment--but\t only\t just\t a moment--then\t it\t would\t belly\t out\t taut\t and\t full,\t and\t she\t would\t say,\t as\t calm\t as\t a summer's\t day,\t \\\"It's\t synonymous\t with\t supererogation,\\\"\t or\t some\t godless\t long reptile\tof\ta\tword\tlike\tthat,\tand\tgo\tplacidly\tabout\tand\tskim\taway\ton\tthe\tnext\ttack, perfectly\t comfortable,\t you\t know,\t and\t leave\t that\t stranger\t looking\t profane\t and embarrassed,\t and\t the\t initiated\t slatting\t the\t floor\t with\t their\t tails\t in\t unison\t and their\tfaces\ttransfigured\twith\ta\tholy\tjoy. And\tit\twas\tthe\tsame\twith\tphrases.\tShe\twould\tdrag\thome\ta\twhole\tphrase,\tif\tit had\ta\tgrand\tsound,\tand\tplay\tit\tsix\tnights\tand\ttwo\tmatinees,\tand\texplain\tit\ta\tnew way\t every\t time--which\t she\t had\t to,\t for\t all\t she\t cared\t for\t was\t the\t phrase;\t she wasn't\t interested\t in\t what\t it\t meant,\t and\t knew\t those\t dogs\t hadn't\t wit\t enough\t to catch\t her,\t anyway.\t Yes,\t she\t was\t a\t daisy!\t She\t got\t so\t she\t wasn't\t afraid\t of anything,\tshe\thad\tsuch\tconfidence\tin\tthe\tignorance\tof\tthose\tcreatures.\tShe\teven brought\tanecdotes\tthat\tshe\thad\theard\tthe\tfamily\tand\tthe\tdinner-guests\tlaugh\tand shout\t over;\t and\t as\t a\t rule\t she\t got\t the\t nub\t of\t one\t chestnut\t hitched\t onto\t another chestnut,\t where,\t of\t course,\t it\t didn't\t fit\t and\t hadn't\t any\t point;\t and\t when\t she delivered\tthe\tnub\tshe\tfell\tover\tand\trolled\ton\tthe\tfloor\tand\tlaughed\tand\tbarked\tin the\tmost\tinsane\tway,\twhile\tI\tcould\tsee\tthat\tshe\twas\twondering\tto\therself\twhy\tit didn't\tseem\tas\tfunny\tas\tit\tdid\twhen\tshe\tfirst\theard\tit.\tBut\tno\tharm\twas\tdone;\tthe others\trolled\tand\tbarked\ttoo,\tprivately\tashamed\tof\tthemselves\tfor\tnot\tseeing\tthe point,\tand\tnever\tsuspecting\tthat\tthe\tfault\twas\tnot\twith\tthem\tand\tthere\twasn't\tany to\tsee. You\t can\t see\t by\t these\t things\t that\t she\t was\t of\t a\t rather\t vain\t and\t frivolous character;\tstill,\tshe\thad\tvirtues,\tand\tenough\tto\tmake\tup,\tI\tthink.\tShe\thad\ta\tkind heart\tand\tgentle\tways,\tand\tnever\tharbored\tresentments\tfor\tinjuries\tdone\ther,\tbut put\tthem\teasily\tout\tof\ther\tmind\tand\tforgot\tthem;\tand\tshe\ttaught\ther\tchildren\ther kindly\t way,\t and\t from\t her\t we\t learned\t also\t to\t be\t brave\t and\t prompt\t in\t time\t of danger,\tand\tnot\tto\trun\taway,\tbut\tface\tthe\tperil\tthat\tthreatened\tfriend\tor\tstranger, and\thelp\thim\tthe\tbest\twe\tcould\twithout\tstopping\tto\tthink\twhat\tthe\tcost\tmight\tbe to\tus.\tAnd\tshe\ttaught\tus\tnot\tby\twords\tonly,\tbut\tby\texample,\tand\tthat\tis\tthe\tbest way\t and\t the\t surest\t and\t the\t most\t lasting.\t Why,\t the\t brave\t things\t she\t did,\t the splendid\tthings!\tshe\twas\tjust\ta\tsoldier;\tand\tso\tmodest\tabout\tit--well,\tyou\tcouldn't help\tadmiring\ther,\tand\tyou\tcouldn't\thelp\timitating\ther;\tnot\teven\ta\tKing\tCharles spaniel\tcould\tremain\tentirely\tdespicable\tin\ther\tsociety.\tSo,\tas\tyou\tsee,\tthere\twas more\tto\ther\tthan\ther\teducation.","2 When\tI\twas\twell\tgrown,\tat\tlast,\tI\twas\tsold\tand\ttaken\taway,\tand\tI\tnever\tsaw her\t again.\t She\t was\t broken-hearted,\t and\t so\t was\t I,\t and\t we\t cried;\t but\t she comforted\t me\t as\t well\t as\t she\t could,\t and\t said\t we\t were\t sent\t into\t this\t world\t for\t a wise\tand\tgood\tpurpose,\tand\tmust\tdo\tour\tduties\twithout\trepining,\ttake\tour\tlife\tas we\t might\t find\t it,\t live\t it\t for\t the\t best\t good\t of\t others,\t and\t never\t mind\t about\t the results;\t they\t were\t not\t our\t affair.\t She\t said\t men\t who\t did\t like\t this\t would\t have\t a noble\tand\tbeautiful\treward\tby\tand\tby\tin\tanother\tworld,\tand\talthough\twe\tanimals would\tnot\tgo\tthere,\tto\tdo\twell\tand\tright\twithout\treward\twould\tgive\tto\tour\tbrief lives\t a\t worthiness\t and\t dignity\t which\t in\t itself\t would\t be\t a\t reward.\t She\t had gathered\tthese\tthings\tfrom\ttime\tto\ttime\twhen\tshe\thad\tgone\tto\tthe\tSunday-school with\t the\t children,\t and\t had\t laid\t them\t up\t in\t her\t memory\t more\t carefully\t than\t she had\tdone\twith\tthose\tother\twords\tand\tphrases;\tand\tshe\thad\tstudied\tthem\tdeeply, for\t her\t good\t and\t ours.\t One\t may\t see\t by\t this\t that\t she\t had\t a\t wise\t and\t thoughtful head,\tfor\tall\tthere\twas\tso\tmuch\tlightness\tand\tvanity\tin\tit. So\t we\t said\t our\t farewells,\t and\t looked\t our\t last\t upon\t each\t other\t through\t our tears;\tand\tthe\tlast\tthing\tshe\tsaid--keeping\tit\tfor\tthe\tlast\tto\tmake\tme\tremember\tit the\t better,\t I\t think--was,\t \\\"In\t memory\t of\t me,\t when\t there\t is\t a\t time\t of\t danger\t to another\tdo\tnot\tthink\tof\tyourself,\tthink\tof\tyour\tmother,\tand\tdo\tas\tshe\twould\tdo.\\\" Do\tyou\tthink\tI\tcould\tforget\tthat?\tNo. 3 It\t was\t such\t a\t charming\t home!--my\t new\t one;\t a\t fine\t great\t house,\t with pictures,\t and\t delicate\t decorations,\t and\t rich\t furniture,\t and\t no\t gloom\t anywhere, but\t all\t the\t wilderness\t of\t dainty\t colors\t lit\t up\t with\t flooding\t sunshine;\t and\t the spacious\t grounds\t around\t it,\t and\t the\t great\t garden--oh,\t greensward,\t and\t noble trees,\tand\tflowers,\tno\tend!\tAnd\tI\twas\tthe\tsame\tas\ta\tmember\tof\tthe\tfamily;\tand they\tloved\tme,\tand\tpetted\tme,\tand\tdid\tnot\tgive\tme\ta\tnew\tname,\tbut\tcalled\tme\tby my\t old\t one\t that\t was\t dear\t to\t me\t because\t my\t mother\t had\t given\t it\t me--Aileen Mavourneen.\tShe\tgot\tit\tout\tof\ta\tsong;\tand\tthe\tGrays\tknew\tthat\tsong,\tand\tsaid\tit was\ta\tbeautiful\tname. Mrs.\tGray\twas\tthirty,\tand\tso\tsweet\tand\tso\tlovely,\tyou\tcannot\timagine\tit;\tand","Sadie\t was\t ten,\t and\t just\t like\t her\t mother,\t just\t a\t darling\t slender\t little\t copy\t of\t her, with\tauburn\ttails\tdown\ther\tback,\tand\tshort\tfrocks;\tand\tthe\tbaby\twas\ta\tyear\told, and\tplump\tand\tdimpled,\tand\tfond\tof\tme,\tand\tnever\tcould\tget\tenough\tof\thauling on\t my\t tail,\t and\t hugging\t me,\t and\t laughing\t out\t its\t innocent\t happiness;\t and\t Mr. Gray\t was\t thirty-eight,\t and\t tall\t and\t slender\t and\t handsome,\t a\t little\t bald\t in\t front, alert,\tquick\tin\this\tmovements,\tbusinesslike,\tprompt,\tdecided,\tunsentimental,\tand with\t that\t kind\t of\t trim-chiseled\t face\t that\t just\t seems\t to\t glint\t and\t sparkle\t with frosty\tintellectuality!\tHe\twas\ta\trenowned\tscientist.\tI\tdo\tnot\tknow\twhat\tthe\tword means,\t but\t my\t mother\t would\t know\t how\t to\t use\t it\t and\t get\t effects.\t She\t would know\thow\tto\tdepress\ta\trat-terrier\twith\tit\tand\tmake\ta\tlap-dog\tlook\tsorry\the\tcame. But\t that\t is\t not\t the\t best\t one;\t the\t best\t one\t was\t Laboratory.\t My\t mother\t could organize\t a\t Trust\t on\t that\t one\t that\t would\t skin\t the\t tax-collars\t off\t the\t whole\t herd. The\tlaboratory\twas\tnot\ta\tbook,\tor\ta\tpicture,\tor\ta\tplace\tto\twash\tyour\thands\tin,\tas the\tcollege\t president's\tdog\tsaid--no,\tthat\tis\t the\tlavatory;\tthe\tlaboratory\tis\tquite different,\tand\tis\tfilled\twith\tjars,\tand\tbottles,\tand\telectrics,\tand\twires,\tand\tstrange machines;\t and\t every\t week\t other\t scientists\t came\t there\t and\t sat\t in\t the\t place,\t and used\t the\t machines,\t and\t discussed,\t and\t made\t what\t they\t called\t experiments\t and discoveries;\t and\t often\t I\t came,\t too,\t and\t stood\t around\t and\t listened,\t and\t tried\t to learn,\tfor\tthe\tsake\tof\tmy\tmother,\tand\tin\tloving\tmemory\tof\ther,\talthough\tit\twas\ta pain\tto\tme,\tas\trealizing\twhat\tshe\twas\tlosing\tout\tof\ther\tlife\tand\tI\tgaining\tnothing at\tall;\tfor\ttry\tas\tI\tmight,\tI\twas\tnever\table\tto\tmake\tanything\tout\tof\tit\tat\tall. Other\t times\t I\t lay\t on\t the\t floor\t in\t the\t mistress's\t work-room\t and\t slept,\t she gently\tusing\tme\tfor\ta\tfoot-stool,\tknowing\tit\tpleased\tme,\tfor\tit\twas\ta\tcaress;\tother times\tI\tspent\tan\thour\tin\tthe\tnursery,\tand\tgot\twell\ttousled\tand\tmade\thappy;\tother times\t I\t watched\t by\t the\t crib\t there,\t when\t the\t baby\t was\t asleep\t and\t the\t nurse\t out for\ta\tfew\tminutes\ton\tthe\tbaby's\taffairs;\tother\ttimes\tI\tromped\tand\traced\tthrough the\tgrounds\tand\tthe\tgarden\twith\tSadie\ttill\twe\twere\ttired\tout,\tthen\tslumbered\ton the\t grass\t in\t the\t shade\t of\t a\t tree\t while\t she\t read\t her\t book;\t other\t times\t I\t went visiting\t among\t the\t neighbor\t dogs--for\t there\t were\t some\t most\t pleasant\t ones\t not far\taway,\tand\tone\tvery\thandsome\tand\tcourteous\tand\tgraceful\tone,\ta\tcurly-haired Irish\t setter\t by\t the\t name\t of\t Robin\t Adair,\t who\t was\t a\t Presbyterian\t like\t me,\t and belonged\tto\tthe\tScotch\tminister. The\tservants\tin\tour\thouse\twere\tall\tkind\tto\tme\tand\twere\tfond\tof\tme,\tand\tso, as\t you\t see,\t mine\t was\t a\t pleasant\t life.\t There\t could\t not\t be\t a\t happier\t dog\t than\t I was,\tnor\ta\tgratefuler\tone.\tI\twill\tsay\tthis\tfor\tmyself,\tfor\tit\tis\tonly\tthe\ttruth:\tI\ttried in\t all\t ways\t to\t do\t well\t and\t right,\t and\t honor\t my\t mother's\t memory\t and\t her teachings,\tand\tearn\tthe\thappiness\tthat\thad\tcome\tto\tme,\tas\tbest\tI\tcould.","By\t and\t by\t came\t my\t little\t puppy,\t and\t then\t my\t cup\t was\t full,\t my\t happiness was\tperfect.\tIt\twas\tthe\tdearest\tlittle\twaddling\tthing,\tand\tso\tsmooth\tand\tsoft\tand velvety,\t and\t had\t such\t cunning\t little\t awkward\t paws,\t and\t such\t affectionate\t eyes, and\t such\t a\t sweet\t and\t innocent\t face;\t and\t it\t made\t me\t so\t proud\t to\t see\t how\t the children\t and\t their\t mother\t adored\t it,\t and\t fondled\t it,\t and\t exclaimed\t over\t every little\twonderful\tthing\tit\tdid.\tIt\tdid\tseem\tto\tme\tthat\tlife\twas\tjust\ttoo\tlovely\tto-- Then\tcame\tthe\twinter.\tOne\tday\tI\twas\tstanding\ta\twatch\tin\tthe\tnursery.\tThat\tis to\t say,\t I\t was\t asleep\t on\t the\t bed.\t The\t baby\t was\t asleep\t in\t the\t crib,\t which\t was alongside\tthe\tbed,\ton\tthe\tside\tnext\tthe\tfireplace.\tIt\twas\tthe\tkind\tof\tcrib\tthat\thas\ta lofty\ttent\tover\tit\tmade\tof\ta\tgauzy\tstuff\tthat\tyou\tcan\tsee\tthrough.\tThe\tnurse\twas out,\t and\t we\t two\t sleepers\t were\t alone.\t A\t spark\t from\t the\t wood-fire\t was\t shot\t out, and\t it\t lit\t on\t the\t slope\t of\t the\t tent.\t I\t supposed\t a\t quiet\t interval\t followed,\t then\t a scream\t from\t the\t baby\t woke\t me,\t and\t there\t was\t that\t tent\t flaming\t up\t toward\t the ceiling!\tBefore\tI\tcould\tthink,\tI\tsprang\tto\tthe\tfloor\tin\tmy\tfright,\tand\tin\ta\tsecond was\thalf-way\tto\tthe\tdoor;\tbut\tin\tthe\tnext\thalf-second\tmy\tmother's\tfarewell\twas sounding\t in\t my\t ears,\t and\t I\t was\t back\t on\t the\t bed\t again.\t I\t reached\t my\t head through\t the\t flames\t and\t dragged\t the\t baby\t out\t by\t the\t waist-band,\t and\t tugged\t it along,\t and\t we\t fell\t to\t the\t floor\t together\t in\t a\t cloud\t of\t smoke;\t I\t snatched\t a\t new hold,\t and\t dragged\t the\t screaming\t little\t creature\t along\t and\t out\t at\t the\t door\t and around\t the\t bend\t of\t the\t hall,\t and\t was\t still\t tugging\t away,\t all\t excited\t and\t happy and\tproud,\twhen\tthe\tmaster's\tvoice\tshouted: \\\"Begone,\t you\t cursed\t beast!\\\"\t and\t I\t jumped\t to\t save\t myself;\t but\t he\t was wonderfully\t quick,\t and\t chased\t me\t up,\t striking\t furiously\t at\t me\t with\t his\t cane,\t I dodging\t this\t way\t and\t that,\t in\t terror,\t and\t at\t last\t a\t strong\t blow\t fell\t upon\t my\t left foreleg,\twhich\tmade\tme\tshriek\tand\tfall,\tfor\tthe\tmoment,\thelpless;\tthe\tcane\twent up\tfor\tanother\tblow,\tbut\tnever\tdescended,\tfor\tthe\tnurse's\tvoice\trang\twildly\tout, \\\"The\t nursery's\t on\t fire!\\\"\t and\t the\t master\t rushed\t away\t in\t that\t direction,\t and\t my other\tbones\twere\tsaved. The\tpain\twas\tcruel,\tbut,\tno\tmatter,\tI\tmust\tnot\tlose\tany\ttime;\the\tmight\tcome back\tat\tany\tmoment;\tso\tI\tlimped\ton\tthree\tlegs\tto\tthe\tother\tend\tof\tthe\thall,\twhere there\twas\ta\tdark\tlittle\tstairway\tleading\tup\tinto\ta\tgarret\twhere\told\tboxes\tand\tsuch things\twere\tkept,\tas\tI\thad\theard\tsay,\tand\twhere\tpeople\tseldom\twent.\tI\tmanaged to\t climb\t up\t there,\t then\t I\t searched\t my\t way\t through\t the\t dark\t among\t the\t piles\t of things,\t and\t hid\t in\t the\t secretest\t place\t I\t could\t find.\t It\t was\t foolish\t to\t be\t afraid there,\tyet\tstill\tI\twas;\tso\tafraid\tthat\tI\theld\tin\tand\thardly\teven\twhimpered,\tthough it\twould\thave\tbeen\tsuch\ta\tcomfort\tto\twhimper,\tbecause\tthat\teases\tthe\tpain,\tyou know.\tBut\tI\tcould\tlick\tmy\tleg,\tand\tthat\tdid\tme\tsome\tgood.","For\t half\t an\t hour\t there\t was\t a\t commotion\t downstairs,\t and\t shoutings,\t and rushing\t footsteps,\t and\t then\t there\t was\t quiet\t again.\t Quiet\t for\t some\t minutes,\t and that\twas\tgrateful\tto\tmy\tspirit,\tfor\tthen\tmy\tfears\tbegan\tto\tgo\tdown;\tand\tfears\tare worse\tthan\tpains--oh,\tmuch\tworse.\tThen\tcame\ta\tsound\tthat\tfroze\tme.\tThey\twere calling\tme--calling\tme\tby\tnames--hunting\tfor\tme! It\twas\tmuffled\tby\tdistance,\tbut\tthat\tcould\tnot\ttake\tthe\tterror\tout\tof\tit,\tand\tit was\t the\t most\t dreadful\t sound\t to\t me\t that\t I\t had\t ever\t heard.\t It\t went\t all\t about, everywhere,\t down\t there:\t along\t the\t halls,\t through\t all\t the\t rooms,\t in\t both\t stories, and\t in\t the\t basement\t and\t the\t cellar;\t then\t outside,\t and\t farther\t and\t farther\t away-- then\t back,\t and\t all\t about\t the\t house\t again,\t and\t I\t thought\t it\t would\t never,\t never stop.\tBut\tat\tlast\tit\tdid,\thours\tand\thours\tafter\tthe\tvague\ttwilight\tof\tthe\tgarret\thad long\tago\tbeen\tblotted\tout\tby\tblack\tdarkness. Then\tin\tthat\tblessed\tstillness\tmy\tterrors\tfell\tlittle\tby\tlittle\taway,\tand\tI\twas\tat peace\tand\tslept.\tIt\twas\ta\tgood\trest\tI\thad,\tbut\tI\twoke\tbefore\tthe\ttwilight\thad\tcome again.\tI\twas\tfeeling\tfairly\tcomfortable,\tand\tI\tcould\tthink\tout\ta\tplan\tnow.\tI\tmade a\t very\t good\t one;\t which\t was,\t to\t creep\t down,\t all\t the\t way\t down\t the\t back\t stairs, and\thide\tbehind\tthe\tcellar\tdoor,\tand\tslip\tout\tand\tescape\twhen\tthe\ticeman\tcame\tat dawn,\twhile\the\twas\tinside\tfilling\tthe\trefrigerator;\tthen\tI\twould\thide\tall\tday,\tand start\ton\tmy\tjourney\twhen\tnight\tcame;\tmy\tjourney\tto--well,\tanywhere\twhere\tthey would\t not\t know\t me\t and\t betray\t me\t to\t the\t master.\t I\t was\t feeling\t almost\t cheerful now;\tthen\tsuddenly\tI\tthought:\tWhy,\twhat\twould\tlife\tbe\twithout\tmy\tpuppy! That\twas\tdespair.\tThere\twas\tno\tplan\tfor\tme;\tI\tsaw\tthat;\tI\tmust\tstay\twhere\tI was;\t stay,\t and\t wait,\t and\t take\t what\t might\t come--it\t was\t not\t my\t affair;\t that\t was what\tlife\tis--my\tmother\thad\tsaid\tit.\tThen--well,\tthen\tthe\tcalling\tbegan\tagain!\tAll my\tsorrows\tcame\tback.\tI\tsaid\tto\tmyself,\tthe\tmaster\twill\tnever\tforgive.\tI\tdid\tnot know\twhat\tI\thad\tdone\tto\tmake\thim\tso\tbitter\tand\tso\tunforgiving,\tyet\tI\tjudged\tit was\t something\t a\t dog\t could\t not\t understand,\t but\t which\t was\t clear\t to\t a\t man\t and dreadful. They\t called\t and\t called--days\t and\t nights,\t it\t seemed\t to\t me.\t So\t long\t that\t the hunger\t and\tthirst\tnear\tdrove\tme\tmad,\tand\tI\trecognized\tthat\tI\twas\tgetting\tvery weak.\tWhen\tyou\tare\tthis\tway\tyou\tsleep\ta\tgreat\tdeal,\tand\tI\tdid.\tOnce\tI\twoke\tin an\t awful\t fright--it\t seemed\t to\t me\t that\t the\t calling\t was\t right\t there\t in\t the\t garret! And\t so\t it\t was:\t it\t was\t Sadie's\t voice,\t and\t she\t was\t crying;\t my\t name\t was\t falling from\ther\tlips\tall\tbroken,\tpoor\tthing,\tand\tI\tcould\tnot\tbelieve\tmy\tears\tfor\tthe\tjoy of\tit\twhen\tI\theard\ther\tsay: \\\"Come\tback\tto\tus--oh,\tcome\tback\tto\tus,\tand\tforgive--it\tis\tall\tso\tsad\twithout our--\\\"","I\t broke\t in\t with\t such\t a\t grateful\t little\t yelp,\t and\t the\t next\t moment\t Sadie\t was plunging\t and\t stumbling\t through\t the\t darkness\t and\t the\t lumber\t and\t shouting\t for the\tfamily\tto\thear,\t\\\"She's\tfound,\tshe's\tfound!\\\" \t The\t days\t that\t followed--well,\t they\t were\t wonderful.\t The\t mother\t and\t Sadie and\t the\t servants--why,\t they\t just\t seemed\t to\t worship\t me.\t They\t couldn't\t seem\t to make\tme\ta\tbed\tthat\twas\tfine\tenough;\tand\tas\tfor\tfood,\tthey\tcouldn't\tbe\tsatisfied with\tanything\tbut\tgame\tand\tdelicacies\tthat\twere\tout\tof\tseason;\tand\tevery\tday\tthe friends\t and\t neighbors\t flocked\t in\t to\t hear\t about\t my\t heroism--that\t was\t the\t name they\tcalled\tit\tby,\tand\tit\tmeans\tagriculture.\tI\tremember\tmy\tmother\tpulling\tit\ton\ta kennel\t once,\t and\t explaining\t it\t that\t way,\t but\t didn't\t say\t what\t agriculture\t was, except\tthat\tit\twas\tsynonymous\twith\tintramural\tincandescence;\tand\ta\tdozen\ttimes a\tday\tMrs.\tGray\tand\tSadie\twould\ttell\tthe\ttale\tto\tnewcomers,\tand\tsay\tI\trisked\tmy life\t to\t save\t the\t baby's,\t and\t both\t of\t us\t had\t burns\t to\t prove\t it,\t and\t then\t the company\t would\t pass\t me\t around\t and\t pet\t me\t and\t exclaim\t about\t me,\t and\t you could\t see\t the\t pride\t in\t the\t eyes\t of\t Sadie\t and\t her\t mother;\t and\t when\t the\t people wanted\t to\t know\t what\t made\t me\t limp,\t they\t looked\t ashamed\t and\t changed\t the subject,\t and\t sometimes\t when\t people\t hunted\t them\t this\t way\t and\t that\t way\t with questions\tabout\tit,\tit\tlooked\tto\tme\tas\tif\tthey\twere\tgoing\tto\tcry. And\tthis\twas\tnot\tall\tthe\tglory;\tno,\tthe\tmaster's\tfriends\tcame,\ta\twhole\ttwenty of\tthe\tmost\tdistinguished\tpeople,\tand\thad\tme\tin\tthe\tlaboratory,\tand\tdiscussed\tme as\t if\t I\t was\t a\t kind\t of\t discovery;\t and\t some\t of\t them\t said\t it\t was\t wonderful\t in\t a dumb\t beast,\t the\t finest\t exhibition\t of\t instinct\t they\t could\t call\t to\t mind;\t but\t the master\t said,\t with\t vehemence,\t \\\"It's\t far\t above\t instinct;\t it's\t reason,\t and\t many\t a man,\tprivileged\tto\tbe\tsaved\tand\tgo\twith\tyou\tand\tme\tto\ta\tbetter\tworld\tby\tright\tof its\tpossession,\thas\tless\tof\tit\tthan\tthis\tpoor\tsilly\tquadruped\tthat's\tforeordained\tto perish\\\";\t and\t then\t he\t laughed,\t and\t said:\t \\\"Why,\t look\t at\t me--I'm\t a\t sarcasm!\t bless you,\t with\t all\t my\t grand\t intelligence,\t the\t only\t thing\t I\t inferred\t was\t that\t the\t dog had\t gone\t mad\t and\t was\t destroying\t the\t child,\t whereas\t but\t for\t the\t beast's intelligence--it's\treason,\tI\ttell\tyou!--the\tchild\twould\thave\tperished!\\\" They\t disputed\t and\t disputed,\t and\t I\t was\t the\t very\t center\t and\t subject\t of\t it\t all, and\t I\t wished\t my\t mother\t could\t know\t that\t this\t grand\t honor\t had\t come\t to\t me;\t it would\thave\tmade\ther\tproud. Then\tthey\tdiscussed\toptics,\tas\tthey\tcalled\tit,\tand\twhether\ta\tcertain\tinjury\tto the\tbrain\twould\tproduce\tblindness\tor\tnot,\tbut\tthey\tcould\tnot\tagree\tabout\tit,\tand","said\t they\t must\t test\t it\t by\t experiment\t by\t and\t by;\t and\t next\t they\t discussed\t plants, and\t that\t interested\t me,\t because\t in\t the\t summer\t Sadie\t and\t I\t had\t planted\t seeds--I helped\t her\t dig\t the\t holes,\t you\t know--and\t after\t days\t and\t days\t a\t little\t shrub\t or\t a flower\tcame\tup\tthere,\tand\tit\twas\ta\twonder\thow\tthat\tcould\thappen;\tbut\tit\tdid,\tand I\t wished\t I\t could\t talk--I\t would\t have\t told\t those\t people\t about\t it\t and\t shown\t them how\tmuch\tI\tknew,\tand\tbeen\t all\talive\twith\tthe\tsubject;\tbut\tI\tdidn't\tcare\tfor\tthe optics;\tit\twas\tdull,\tand\twhen\tthey\tcame\tback\tto\tit\tagain\tit\tbored\tme,\tand\tI\twent to\tsleep. Pretty\t soon\t it\t was\t spring,\t and\t sunny\t and\t pleasant\t and\t lovely,\t and\t the\t sweet mother\tand\tthe\tchildren\tpatted\tme\tand\tthe\tpuppy\tgood-by,\tand\twent\taway\ton\ta journey\tand\ta\tvisit\tto\ttheir\tkin,\tand\tthe\tmaster\twasn't\tany\tcompany\tfor\tus,\tbut\twe played\ttogether\tand\thad\tgood\ttimes,\tand\tthe\tservants\twere\tkind\tand\tfriendly,\tso we\tgot\talong\tquite\thappily\tand\tcounted\tthe\tdays\tand\twaited\tfor\tthe\tfamily. And\tone\tday\tthose\tmen\tcame\tagain,\tand\tsaid,\tnow\tfor\tthe\ttest,\tand\tthey\ttook the\t puppy\t to\t the\t laboratory,\t and\t I\t limped\t three-leggedly\t along,\t too,\t feeling proud,\tfor\tany\tattention\tshown\tthe\tpuppy\twas\ta\tpleasure\tto\tme,\tof\tcourse.\tThey discussed\tand\texperimented,\tand\tthen\tsuddenly\tthe\tpuppy\tshrieked,\tand\tthey\tset him\t on\t the\t floor,\t and\t he\t went\t staggering\t around,\t with\t his\t head\t all\t bloody,\t and the\tmaster\tclapped\this\thands\tand\tshouted: \\\"There,\tI've\twon--confess\tit!\tHe's\tas\tblind\tas\ta\tbat!\\\" And\tthey\tall\tsaid: \\\"It's\tso--you've\tproved\tyour\ttheory,\tand\tsuffering\thumanity\towes\tyou\ta\tgreat debt\t from\t henceforth,\\\"\t and\t they\t crowded\t around\t him,\t and\t wrung\t his\t hand cordially\tand\tthankfully,\tand\tpraised\thim. But\tI\thardly\tsaw\tor\theard\tthese\tthings,\tfor\tI\tran\tat\tonce\tto\tmy\tlittle\tdarling, and\t snuggled\t close\t to\t it\t where\t it\t lay,\t and\t licked\t the\t blood,\t and\t it\t put\t its\t head against\tmine,\twhimpering\tsoftly,\tand\tI\tknew\tin\tmy\theart\tit\twas\ta\tcomfort\tto\tit\tin its\tpain\tand\ttrouble\tto\tfeel\tits\tmother's\ttouch,\tthough\tit\tcould\tnot\tsee\tme.\tThen\tit dropped\t down,\t presently,\t and\t its\t little\t velvet\t nose\t rested\t upon\t the\t floor,\t and\t it was\tstill,\tand\tdid\tnot\tmove\tany\tmore. Soon\tthe\tmaster\tstopped\tdiscussing\ta\tmoment,\tand\trang\tin\tthe\tfootman,\tand said,\t \\\"Bury\t it\t in\t the\t far\t corner\t of\t the\t garden,\\\"\t and\t then\t went\t on\t with\t the discussion,\t and\t I\t trotted\t after\t the\t footman,\t very\t happy\t and\t grateful,\t for\t I\t knew the\tpuppy\twas\tout\tof\tits\tpain\tnow,\tbecause\tit\twas\tasleep.\tWe\twent\tfar\tdown\tthe garden\tto\tthe\tfarthest\tend,\twhere\tthe\tchildren\tand\tthe\tnurse\tand\tthe\tpuppy\tand\tI used\t to\t play\t in\t the\t summer\t in\t the\t shade\t of\t a\t great\t elm,\t and\t there\t the\t footman dug\ta\thole,\tand\tI\tsaw\the\twas\tgoing\tto\tplant\tthe\tpuppy,\tand\tI\twas\tglad,\tbecause\tit","would\t grow\t and\t come\t up\t a\t fine\t handsome\t dog,\t like\t Robin\t Adair,\t and\t be\t a beautiful\t surprise\t for\t the\t family\t when\t they\t came\t home;\t so\t I\t tried\t to\t help\t him dig,\tbut\tmy\tlame\tleg\twas\tno\tgood,\tbeing\tstiff,\tyou\tknow,\tand\tyou\thave\tto\thave two,\tor\tit\tis\tno\tuse.\tWhen\tthe\tfootman\thad\tfinished\tand\tcovered\tlittle\tRobin\tup, he\t patted\t my\t head,\t and\t there\t were\t tears\t in\t his\t eyes,\t and\t he\t said:\t \\\"Poor\t little doggie,\tyou\tSAVED\this\tchild.\\\" I\thave\twatched\ttwo\twhole\tweeks,\tand\the\tdoesn't\tcome\tup!\tThis\tlast\tweek\ta fright\thas\tbeen\tstealing\tupon\tme.\tI\tthink\tthere\tis\tsomething\tterrible\tabout\tthis.\tI do\tnot\tknow\twhat\tit\tis,\tbut\tthe\tfear\tmakes\tme\tsick,\tand\tI\tcannot\teat,\tthough\tthe servants\t bring\t me\t the\t best\t of\t food;\t and\t they\t pet\t me\t so,\t and\t even\t come\t in\t the night,\tand\tcry,\tand\tsay,\t\\\"Poor\tdoggie--do\tgive\tit\tup\tand\tcome\thome;\tdon't\tbreak our\thearts!\\\"\tand\tall\tthis\tterrifies\tme\tthe\tmore,\tand\tmakes\tme\tsure\tsomething\thas happened.\t And\t I\t am\t so\t weak;\t since\t yesterday\t I\t cannot\t stand\t on\t my\t feet\t any more.\t And\t within\t this\t hour\t the\t servants,\t looking\t toward\t the\t sun\t where\t it\t was sinking\t out\t of\t sight\t and\t the\t night\t chill\t coming\t on,\t said\t things\t I\t could\t not understand,\tbut\tthey\tcarried\tsomething\tcold\tto\tmy\theart. \\\"Those\t poor\t creatures!\t They\t do\t not\t suspect.\t They\t will\t come\t home\t in\t the morning,\tand\teagerly\task\tfor\tthe\tlittle\tdoggie\tthat\tdid\tthe\tbrave\tdeed,\tand\twho\tof us\t will\t be\t strong\t enough\t to\t say\t the\t truth\t to\t them:\t 'The\t humble\t little\t friend\t is gone\twhere\tgo\tthe\tbeasts\tthat\tperish.'\\\" 1903","THE\t$30,000\tBEQUEST LAKESIDE\tWAS\ta\tpleasant\tlittle\ttown\tof\tfive\tor\tsix\tthousand\tinhabitants, and\t a\t rather\t pretty\t one,\t too,\t as\t towns\t go\t in\t the\t Far\t West.\t It\t had\t church accommodations\tfor\tthirty-five\tthousand,\twhich\tis\tthe\tway\tof\tthe\tFar\tWest\tand the\t South,\t where\t everybody\t is\t religious,\t and\t where\t each\t of\t the\t Protestant\t sects is\t represented\t and\t has\t a\t plant\t of\t its\t own.\t Rank\t was\t unknown\t in\t Lakeside-- unconfessed,\t anyway;\t everybody\t knew\t everybody\t and\t his\t dog,\t and\t a\t sociable friendliness\twas\tthe\tprevailing\tatmosphere. Saladin\t Foster\t was\t book-keeper\t in\t the\t principal\t store,\t and\t the\t only\t high- salaried\tman\tof\this\tprofession\tin\tLakeside.\tHe\twas\tthirty-five\tyears\told,\tnow;\the had\t served\t that\t store\t for\t fourteen\t years;\t he\t had\t begun\t in\t his\t marriage-week\t at four\t hundred\t dollars\t a\t year,\t and\t had\t climbed\t steadily\t up,\t a\t hundred\t dollars\t a year,\tfor\tfour\tyears;\tfrom\tthat\ttime\tforth\this\twage\thad\tremained\teight\thundred--a handsome\tfigure\tindeed,\tand\teverybody\tconceded\tthat\the\twas\tworth\tit. His\twife,\tElectra,\twas\ta\tcapable\thelpmeet,\talthough--like\thimself--a\tdreamer of\t dreams\t and\t a\t private\t dabbler\t in\t romance.\t The\t first\t thing\t she\t did,\t after\t her marriage--child\tas\tshe\twas,\taged\tonly\tnineteen--was\tto\tbuy\tan\tacre\tof\tground\ton the\t edge\t of\t the\t town,\t and\t pay\t down\t the\t cash\t for\t it--twenty-five\t dollars,\t all\t her fortune.\tSaladin\thad\tless,\tby\tfifteen.\tShe\tinstituted\ta\tvegetable\tgarden\tthere,\tgot it\t farmed\t on\t shares\t by\t the\t nearest\t neighbor,\t and\t made\t it\t pay\t her\t a\t hundred\t per cent.\t a\t year.\t Out\t of\t Saladin's\t first\t year's\t wage\t she\t put\t thirty\t dollars\t in\t the savings-bank,\tsixty\tout\tof\this\tsecond,\ta\thundred\tout\tof\this\tthird,\ta\thundred\tand fifty\t out\t of\t his\t fourth.\t His\t wage\t went\t to\t eight\t hundred\t a\t year,\t then,\t and meantime\t two\t children\t had\t arrived\t and\t increased\t the\t expenses,\t but\t she\t banked two\t hundred\t a\t year\t from\t the\t salary,\t nevertheless,\t thenceforth.\t When\t she\t had been\t married\t seven\t years\t she\t built\t and\t furnished\t a\t pretty\t and\t comfortable\t two- thousand-dollar\t house\t in\t the\t midst\t of\t her\t garden-acre,\t paid\t half\t of\t the\t money down\tand\tmoved\ther\t family\t in.\t Seven\tyears\tlater\tshe\twas\tout\tof\tdebt\tand\thad several\thundred\tdollars\tout\tearning\tits\tliving. Earning\t it\t by\t the\t rise\t in\t landed\t estate;\t for\t she\t had\t long\t ago\t bought\t another acre\t or\t two\t and\t sold\t the\t most\t of\t it\t at\t a\t profit\t to\t pleasant\t people\t who\t were willing\t to\t build,\t and\t would\t be\t good\t neighbors\t and\t furnish\t a\t general comradeship\tfor\therself\tand\ther\tgrowing\tfamily.\tShe\thad\tan\tindependent\tincome from\t safe\t investments\t of\t about\t a\t hundred\t dollars\t a\t year;\t her\t children\t were growing\tin\tyears\tand\tgrace;\tand\tshe\twas\ta\tpleased\tand\thappy\twoman.\tHappy\tin her\thusband,\thappy\tin\ther\tchildren,\tand\tthe\thusband\tand\tthe\tchildren\twere\thappy","in\ther.\tIt\tis\tat\tthis\tpoint\tthat\tthis\thistory\tbegins. The\t youngest\t girl,\t Clytemnestra--called\t Clytie\t for\t short--was\t eleven;\t her sister,\t Gwendolen--called\tGwen\tfor\tshort--was\t thirteen;\tnice\t girls,\tand\t comely. The\t names\t betray\t the\t latent\t romance-tinge\t in\t the\t parental\t blood,\t the\t parents' names\t indicate\t that\t the\t tinge\t was\t an\t inheritance.\t It\t was\t an\t affectionate\t family, hence\t all\t four\t of\t its\t members\t had\t pet\t names.\t Saladin's\t was\t a\t curious\t and unsexing\tone--Sally;\tand\tso\twas\tElectra's--Aleck.\tAll\tday\tlong\tSally\twas\ta\tgood and\t diligent\t book-keeper\t and\t salesman;\t all\t day\t long\t Aleck\t was\t a\t good\t and faithful\tmother\tand\thousewife,\tand\tthoughtful\tand\tcalculating\tbusiness\twoman; but\tin\tthe\tcozy\tliving-room\tat\tnight\tthey\tput\tthe\tplodding\tworld\taway,\tand\tlived in\t another\t and\t a\t fairer,\t reading\t romances\t to\t each\t other,\t dreaming\t dreams, comrading\t with\t kings\t and\t princes\t and\t stately\t lords\t and\t ladies\t in\t the\t flash\t and stir\tand\tsplendor\tof\tnoble\tpalaces\tand\tgrim\tand\tancient\tcastles. 2 Now\tcame\tgreat\tnews!\tStunning\tnews--joyous\tnews,\tin\tfact.\tIt\tcame\tfrom\ta neighboring\tstate,\twhere\tthe\tfamily's\tonly\tsurviving\trelative\tlived.\tIt\twas\tSally's relative--a\t sort\t of\t vague\t and\t indefinite\t uncle\t or\t second\t or\t third\t cousin\t by\t the name\t of\t Tilbury\t Foster,\t seventy\t and\t a\t bachelor,\t reputed\t well\t off\t and correspondingly\t sour\t and\t crusty.\t Sally\t had\t tried\t to\t make\t up\t to\t him\t once,\t by letter,\tin\ta\tbygone\ttime,\tand\thad\tnot\tmade\tthat\tmistake\tagain.\tTilbury\tnow\twrote to\t Sally,\t saying\t he\t should\t shortly\t die,\t and\t should\t leave\t him\t thirty\t thousand dollars,\tcash;\tnot\tfor\tlove,\tbut\tbecause\tmoney\thad\tgiven\thim\tmost\tof\this\ttroubles and\t exasperations,\t and\t he\t wished\t to\t place\t it\t where\t there\t was\t good\t hope\t that\t it would\tcontinue\tits\tmalignant\twork.\tThe\tbequest\twould\tbe\tfound\tin\this\twill,\tand would\tbe\tpaid\tover.\tProvided,\tthat\tSally\tshould\tbe\table\tto\tprove\tto\tthe\texecutors that\the\thad\ttaken\tno\tnotice\tof\tthe\tgift\tby\tspoken\tword\tor\tby\tletter,\thad\tmade\tno inquiries\tconcerning\tthe\tmoribund's\tprogress\ttoward\tthe\teverlasting\ttropics,\tand had\tnot\tattended\tthe\tfuneral. As\t soon\t as\t Aleck\t had\t partially\t recovered\t from\t the\t tremendous\t emotions created\tby\tthe\tletter,\tshe\tsent\tto\tthe\trelative's\thabitat\tand\tsubscribed\tfor\tthe\tlocal paper. Man\t and\t wife\t entered\t into\t a\t solemn\t compact,\t now,\t to\t never\t mention\t the great\t news\t to\t any\t one\t while\t the\t relative\t lived,\t lest\t some\t ignorant\t person\t carry","the\t fact\t to\t the\t death-bed\t and\t distort\t it\t and\t make\t it\t appear\t that\t they\t were disobediently\t thankful\t for\t the\t bequest,\t and\t just\t the\t same\t as\t confessing\t it\t and publishing\tit,\tright\tin\tthe\tface\tof\tthe\tprohibition. For\tthe\trest\tof\tthe\tday\tSally\tmade\thavoc\tand\tconfusion\twith\this\tbooks,\tand Aleck\t could\t not\t keep\t her\t mind\t on\t her\t affairs,\t nor\t even\t take\t up\t a\t flower-pot\t or book\tor\ta\tstick\tof\twood\twithout\tforgetting\twhat\tshe\thad\tintended\tto\tdo\twith\tit. For\tboth\twere\tdreaming. \\\"Thir-ty\tthousand\tdollars!\\\" All\tday\tlong\tthe\tmusic\tof\tthose\tinspiring\twords\tsang\tthrough\tthose\tpeople's head. From\ther\tmarriage-day\tforth,\tAleck's\tgrip\thad\tbeen\tupon\tthe\tpurse,\tand\tSally had\t seldom\t known\t what\t it\t was\t to\t be\t privileged\t to\t squander\t a\t dime\t on\t non- necessities. \\\"Thir-ty\t thousand\t dollars!\\\"\t the\t song\t went\t on\t and\t on.\t A\t vast\t sum,\t an unthinkable\tsum! All\t day\t long\t Aleck\t was\t absorbed\t in\t planning\t how\t to\t invest\t it,\t Sally\t in planning\thow\tto\tspend\tit. There\t was\t no\t romance-reading\t that\t night.\t The\t children\t took\t themselves away\tearly,\tfor\tthe\tparents\twere\tsilent,\tdistraught,\tand\tstrangely\tunentertaining. The\tgood-night\tkisses\tmight\tas\twell\thave\tbeen\timpressed\tupon\tvacancy,\tfor\tall the\tresponse\tthey\tgot;\tthe\tparents\twere\tnot\taware\tof\tthe\tkisses,\tand\tthe\tchildren had\t been\t gone\t an\t hour\t before\t their\t absence\t was\t noticed.\t Two\t pencils\t had\t been busy\tduring\tthat\thour--note-making;\tin\tthe\tway\tof\tplans.\tIt\twas\tSally\twho\tbroke the\tstillness\tat\tlast.\tHe\tsaid,\twithout\texultation: \\\"Ah,\tit\t'll\tbe\tgrand,\tAleck!\tOut\tof\tthe\tfirst\tthousand\twe'll\thave\ta\thorse\tand\ta buggy\tfor\tsummer,\tand\ta\tcutter\tand\ta\tskin\tlap-robe\tfor\twinter.\\\" Aleck\tresponded\twith\tdecision\tand\tcomposure-- \\\"Out\tof\tthe\tcapital?\tNothing\tof\tthe\tkind.\tNot\tif\tit\twas\ta\tmillion!\\\" Sally\twas\tdeeply\tdisappointed;\tthe\tglow\twent\tout\tof\this\tface. \\\"Oh,\tAleck!\\\"\the\tsaid,\treproachfully.\t\\\"We've\talways\tworked\tso\thard\tand\tbeen so\tscrimped;\tand\tnow\tthat\twe\tare\trich,\tit\tdoes\tseem--\\\" He\tdid\tnot\tfinish,\tfor\the\tsaw\ther\teye\tsoften;\this\tsupplication\thad\ttouched\ther. She\tsaid,\twith\tgentle\tpersuasiveness: \\\"We\tmust\tnot\tspend\tthe\tcapital,\tdear,\tit\twould\tnot\tbe\twise.\tOut\tof\tthe\tincome from\tit--\\\" \\\"That\t will\t answer,\t that\t will\t answer,\t Aleck!\t How\t dear\t and\t good\t you\t are! There\twill\tbe\ta\tnoble\tincome,\tand\tif\twe\tcan\tspend\tthat--\\\""]


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