In the High Valley

  CHAPTER VI.

  UNEXPECTED.

  IMOGEN'S race-prejudices experienced a weakening after Lionel's returnfrom St. Helen's with the only "slavey" attainable, in the shape of anuntidy, middle-aged Irish woman, with red hair, and a hot little sparkof temper glowing in either eye. Putting this unpromising female inpossession of the fresh, clean kitchen of the cabin was a trial, but ithad to be done; and the young mistress, with all the ardor ofinexperience, bent herself to the task of reformation and improvement,and teaching Katty Maloney--who was old enough to be her mother--a greatmany desirable things which she herself did not very well understand. Itwas thankless work and resulted as such experiments usually do. Kattygave warning at the end of a week, affirming that she wasn't going tobe hectored and driven round by a bit of a miss, who didn't well knowwhat she wanted; and that the Valley was that lonesome anyhow that she'dnot remain in it; no, not if the Saints themselves came down from gloryand kivered up every fut of soil with shining gold, and she a-starvingin the mud,--that she wouldn't!

  Imogen saw her go with small regret. She had no idea how difficult itmight be to find a successor, and it was not till three incompetents ofthe same nationality had been lured out by the promise of high wages,only to decide that the place was too "lonely" for them andincontinently depart, that she realized how hard was the problem of"help" in such a place. It was her first trial at independenthousekeeping, and with her English ideas she had counted on neatness,respectfulness of manner, and a certain amount of training as a matterof course in a servant. One has to learn one's way in a new country bythe hardest, and perhaps, the least hard part of Imogen's lesson werethe intervals when she and Lionel did the work themselves, with only oldJose to scrub and wash up; then at least they could be quiet and atpeace, without daily controversies. Later, relief and comfort came tothem in the shape of a gentle Mongolian named Ah Lee, procured throughthe good offices of Choo Loo, whom Imogen was only too thankful toaccept, pig-tail and all, for his gentleness of manner, general neatnessand capacity, and the good taste which he gave to his dishes. In fact,she confessed one day to Lionel, privately in a moment of confidence,that rather than lose him, she would herself carve a joss stick and nailit up in the kitchen; which concession proves the liberalizing andwidening effect of necessity upon the human mind. But this isanticipating.

  The cabin was a pleasant place enough when once fairly set in order.There was an abundance of sunshine, fire-wood was plenty, and so small aspace was easily kept tidy. Imogen, when she reviewed her resources,realized how wise Lionel had been in recommending her to bring moreornamental things and fewer articles of mere use, such as tapes andbuttons. Buttons and tapes were easy enough to come by; but things tomake the house pretty were difficult to obtain and cost a great deal.She made the most of her few possessions, and supplied what was lackingwith wild flowers, which could be had in any quantity for the picking.Lionel had hunted a good deal during his first Colorado years, andpossessed quite a good supply of fox, wolf, and bear skins. These didduty for rugs on the floor. Elk and buffalo horns fastened on the wallsserved as pegs on which to hang whips and hats. Some gay Mexican potsadorned the chimney-piece; it all looked pretty enough and quitecomfortable. Imogen would fain have tried her hand at home-made devicesof the sort in which the ladies at the lower house excelled, but somehowher attempts turned out failures. She lacked lightness of touch andoriginality of fancy, and the results were apt to be what Elsieprivately stigmatized as "wapses of red flannel and burlaps withoutform or comeliness," at which Lionel jeered, while visitors discreetlyaverted their eyes lest they should be forced to express an opinionconcerning them.

  Imogen's views as to the character and capacities of American womenunderwent many modifications during that first summer in the Valley. Itseemed to her that Mrs. Templestowe and her sister were equal to anyemergency however sudden and unexpected. She was filled with dailywonder over their knowledge of practical details, and theirextraordinary "handiness." If a herder met with an accident they seemedto know just what to do. If Choo Loo was taken with a cramp or some oddChinese disease without a name, and laid aside for a day or two, Clovernot only nursed him but went into the kitchen as a matter of course, andextemporized a meal which was sufficiently satisfactory for allconcerned. If a guest arrived unexpectedly they were not put out; ifsome article of daily supply failed, they seemed always able to devisea substitute; and through all and every contingency they managed to lookpretty and bright and gracious, and make sunshine in the shadiestplaces.

  Slowly, for Imogen's mind was not of the quick working order, she tookall this in, and her respect for America and Americans rose accordingly.She was forced to own that whatever the rest of womankind in thisextraordinary new country might be, these particular specimens were of asort which any land, even England, might be justly proud to claim.

  "And with all they do, they contrive to look so nice," she said toherself. "I can't understand how they manage it. Their gowns fit sowell, and they always seem to have just the right kind of thing to puton. It is really wonderful, and it certainly isn't because they think agreat deal about it. Before I came over I always imagined that Americanwomen spent their time in reading fashion magazines and talking overtheir clothes. Mrs. Geoff and Mrs. Page certainly don't do that. I don'toften hear them speak about dresses, or see them at work at them; andboth of them know a great deal more about a house than I do, or anyother English girl I ever saw. Mrs. Geoff, and Mrs. Page too, can makeall sorts of things,--cakes and puddings and muffins and even bread; andthey read a good deal as well. The Americans are certainly a clevererpeople than I supposed."

  The mile of distance between what Clarence called "the Hut and theHutlet" counted for little, and a daily intercourse went on, trendingchiefly, it must be owned, from the Hut to the Hutlet. Clover wasunwearied in small helps and kindnesses. If Imogen were cookless, oldJose was sure to appear with a loaf of freshly baked bread, or a basketof graham gems; or Geoff with a creel of trout and an urgent invitationto lunch or dinner or both. New books made their appearance from below,newspapers and magazines; and if ever the day came when Imogen felthopelessly faint-hearted, lonely, and over-worked, she was sure to seethe flutter of skirts, and her pretty, cordial neighbors would comeriding up the trail to cheer her, and to propose something pleasant orhelpful. Sometimes Elsie would have her baby on her knee, trusting to"Summer Savory's" sure-footed steadiness; sometimes little Geoff wouldbe riding beside his mother on a minute _burro_. Always it seemed asthough they brought the sun with them; and she learned to watch fortheir coming on dull days, as if they were in the secret of her moodsand knew just when they were most wanted. But they came so often thatthese coincidences were not so wonderful, after all.

  Imogen did appreciate all this kindness, and was grateful, and, afterher manner, responsive; still the process of what Elsie termed"limbering out Miss Young" went on but slowly. The English stock,firm-set and sturdily rooted, does not "limber" readily, and a benttoward prejudice is never easily shaken. Compelled to admit that Cloverwas worth liking, compelled to own her good nature and friendliness,Imogen yet could not be cordially at ease with her. Always an inwardstiffness made itself apparent when they were together, and alwaysClover was aware of the fact. It made no difference in her acts ofgood-will, but it made some difference in the pleasure with which shedid them,--though on no account would she have confessed it, especiallyto Elsie, who was so comically ready to fire up and offer battle if shesuspected any one of undervaluing her sister. So the month of July went.

  It was on the morning of the last day, when the long summer had reachedits height of ripeness and completeness, and all things seemed makingthemselves ready for Rose Red, who was expected in three days more, thatClover, sitting with her work on the shaded western piazza, saw theunwonted spectacle of a carriage slowly mounting the steep road up theValley. It was so unusual to see any wheeled vehicle there, except theirown carryall, that it caused a universal excitement. Elsie ran to thewindow overhead with Phillida in
her arms; little Geoff stood on theporch staring out of a pair of astonished eyes, and Clover came forwardto meet the new arrivals with an unmistakable look of surprise in herface. The gentleman who was driving and the lady beside him were quiteunknown to her; but from the back part of the carriage a head extendeditself,--an elderly head, with a bang of oddly frizzled gray hair and apair of watery blue eyes, all surmounted by an eccentric shade hat, andall beaming and twittering with recognition and excitement. It tookClover a moment to disentangle her ideas; then she perceived that it wasMrs. Watson, who, when she and Phil first came out to Colorado, yearsbefore, came with them, and for a time had been one of the chief trialsand perplexities of their life there.

  "Well, my dear, and I don't wonder that you look astonished, for no onewould suppose that after all I went through with I should ever again--This is my daughter, and her husband, you know, and of course theircoming made it seem quite-- We are staying in the Ute Valley; only fivemiles over, they said it was, but such miles! I'd rather ride ten on alevel, any day, as I told Ellen, and--well, they said you were living uphere; and though the road was pretty rough, it was possible to-- And ifever there was a man who could drive a buggy up to the moon, as Ellendeclares, Henry is the--but really I was hardly prepared for--but anyway we started, and here we are! What a wild sort of place it is thatyou are living in, my dear Miss Carr--not that I ought to call you MissCarr, for-- I got your cards, of course, and I was told then that-- Andyour sister marrying the other young man and coming out to live heretoo! that must be very-- Oh, dear me! is that little boy yours? Well, Inever!"

  "I am very glad to see you, I am sure," said Clover, taking the firstopportunity of a break in the torrent of words, "and Mrs. Phillipstoo,--this is Mrs. Phillips, is it not? Let me help you out, Mrs.Watson, and Geoffy dear, run round to the other door and ask Euphane tosend somebody to take the horses."

  "Thank you," said Mrs. Phillips. "Let me introduce my husband, Mrs.Templestowe. We are at the hotel in the Ute Valley for three days, andmy mother wished so much to drive over and see you that we have broughther. What a beautiful place your valley is!"

  Mrs. Phillips, tall, large-featured, dark and rather angular, with apleasant, resolute face, and clear-cut, rather incisive way of speaking,offered as complete a contrast to her pale, pudgy, incoherent littlemother as could well be imagined. Clover's instant thought was, "Now Iknow what _Mr._ Watson must have been like." Mr. Phillips was also tall,with a keen, Roman-nosed face, and eye-glasses. Both had the look ofpeople who knew what was what and had seen the world,--just the sort ofpersons, it would seem, to whom a parent like Mrs. Watson would be agreat trial; and it was the more to their credit that they never seemedin the least impatient, and were evidently devoted to her comfort in allways. If she fretted them, as she undoubtedly must, they gave no sign ofit, and were outwardly all affectionate consideration.

  "Why, where is your little boy gone? I wanted to see him," said Mrs.Watson, as soon as she was safely out of the carriage. "He was here justthis moment, and then--I must say you have got a beautiful situation;and if mountains were all that one needed to satisfy--but I recollecthow you used to go on about them at St. Helen's-- Take care, Ellen, yourskirt is caught! Ah, that's right! Miss Carr is always so--but I mustn'tcall her that, I know, only I never-- And now, my dear, I must have akiss, after climbing up all this way; and there were gopher holes--atleast, a man we met said they were that, and I really thought-- Tell mehow you are, and all about-- That's right, Henry, take out the wraps;you never can tell how-- Of course Miss Carr's people are all-- I keepcalling you Miss Carr; I really can't help it. What a beautiful view!"

  Clover now led the way in-doors. The central room, large, cool, andflower-scented, was a surprise to the Eastern guests, who were notprepared to find anything so pretty and tasteful in so remote a spot.

  "This is really charming!" said Mr. Phillips, glancing from fireplace towall, and from wall to window; while his wife exclaimed with delightover the Mariposa lilies which filled a glass bowl on the table, and thetall sheaves of scarlet penstamens on either side the hearth. Mrs.Watson blinked about curiously, actually silent for a moment, before hersurprise took the form of words.

  "Why, how pretty it looks, doesn't it, Ellen? and so large and spacious,and so many-- I'm all the more surprised because when we were togetherbefore, you wouldn't go to the Shoshone House, you remember, because itwas so expensive, and of course I-- Well, circumstances _do_ alter; andit is a world of changes, as Dr. Billings said in one of his sermonslast spring. And I'm sure I'm glad, only I wasn't prepared to-- Ellen!Ellen! look at that etching! It's exactly the same as yours, which JanePhillips gave you and Henry for your tin wedding. It was very expensive,I know, for I was with her when she got it, and so--at Doll's it was;and his things naturally--but I really think the frame of this is thehandsomest! Now, my dear Miss Carr, where _did_ you get that?"

  "It was one of _our_ gifts," said Clover, smiling. "There is a doublesupply of wedding presents in this house, Mrs. Watson, for my sister'sare here as well as our own. So we _are_ rather rich in pretty things,as you see, but not in anything else, except cows; of those we have anynumber. Now, if you will all excuse me for a moment, I will go up andtell Mrs. Page that you are here."

  Up she went, deliberately till she was out of sight, and then at aswift, light run the rest of the way.

  "Elsie dear," she cried, bursting into the nursery, "who do you think ishere? Mrs. Watson, our old woman of the Sea, you know. She has herson-in-law and daughter with her, and they look like rather nice people,strange to say. They have driven over from the Ute Valley, and of coursethey must have some lunch; but as it happens it is the worst day of thewhole year for them to choose, for I have sent Choo Loo into St. Helen'sto look up a Chinese cook for Imogen Young, and I meant to starve youall on poached eggs and raspberries for lunch. I can't leave them ofcourse, but will you just run down, my darling duck, and see what can bedone, and tell Euphane? There are cans of soup, of course, and sardines,and all that, but I fear the bread supply is rather short. I'll takePhillida. She's as neat as a new pin, happily. Ah, here's Geoffy. Comeand have your hair brushed, boy."

  She went down with one child in her arms and the other holding herhand,--a pretty little picture for those below.

  "My sister will come presently," she explained. "This is her littlegirl. And here is my son, Mrs. Watson."

  "Dear me,--I had no idea he was such a big child," said that lady. "Fiveyears old, is he, or six?--only three! Oh, yes, what am I thinkingabout; of course he--Well, my little man, and how do you like living uphere in this lonesome place?"

  "Very much," replied little Geoff, backing away from the questioner, asshe aimlessly reached out after him.

  "He has never lived anywhere else," Clover explained; "so he cannot makecomparisons. Ignorance is bliss, we are told, Mrs. Watson."

  Euphane, staid and respectable in her spotless apron, now entered withthe lunch-cloth, and Clover convoyed her guests upstairs to refreshthemselves with cold water after the dust of the drive. By the time theyreturned the table was set, and presently Elsie appeared, cool andfresh in her pretty pink and white gingham with a knot of rose-coloredribbon in her wavy hair, her cheeks deepened to just the becoming tint,the very picture of a dainty, well-cared-for little lady. No one wouldhave suspected that during the last half-hour she had stirred and bakeda pan of brown "gems," mixed a cream mayonnaise for the lettuce, set aglass dish of "junket" to form, and skimmed two pans of cream, besidegetting out the soup and sweets for Euphane, and trimming the dishes offruit with kinnikinick and coreopsis. The little feast seemed to havegot itself ready in some mysterious manner, without trouble to any one,which is the last added grace of any feast.

  "It is perfectly charming here," said Mrs. Phillips, more and moreimpressed. "I have seen nothing at all like this at the West."

  "No one would have suspected that she had skimmed twopans of cream"--PAGE 166.]

  "There isn't any other place exactly like our valley
, I really think. Ofcourse there are other natural parks among the ranges of the Rockies,but ours always seems to me quite by itself. You see we lie so as tocatch the sun, and it makes a great difference even in the winter. Wehave done very little to the Valley, beyond just making ourselvescomfortable."

  "Very comfortable indeed, I should say."

  "And so you married the other young man, my dear?" Mrs. Watson wasremarking to Elsie. "I remember he used to come in very often to call onyour sister, and it was easy enough to see,--people in boarding-houseswill notice such things of course, and we all used to think-- Butthere--of course she knew all the time, and it is easy to make mistakes,and I dare say it's all for the best as it is. You look very youngindeed to be married. I wonder that your father could make up his mindto let you."

  "I am not young at all, I'm nearly twenty-six," replied Elsie, whoalways resented remarks about her youth. "There are three younger than Iam in the family, and they are all grown up."

  "Oh, my dear, but you don't look it! You don't seem a day over twenty.Ellen was nearly as old as you are before she ever met Henry, and theywere engaged nearly two-- But she never did look as young as most of thegirls she used to go with, and I suppose that's the reason that now theyare all got on a little, she seems younger than-- Well, well! we neverthought while I was with your sister at St. Helen's, helping to takecare of your poor brother, you know, how it would all turn out. Therewas a young man who used to bring roses,--I forget his name,--and oneday Mrs. Gibson said-- Her husband had weak lungs and they came out toColorado on that account, but I believe he-- They were talking ofbuilding a house, and I meant to ask-- But there, I forgot; one doesgrow so forgetful if one travels much and sees a good many people; butas I was saying--he got well, I think."

  "Who, Mr. Gibson?" asked Elsie, quite bewildered.

  "Oh, no! not Mr. Gibson, of course. He died, and Mrs. Gibson marriedagain. Some man she met out at St. Helen's, I believe it was, and Iheard that her children didn't like it; but he was rich, I believe andof course-- Riches have wings,--you know that proverb of course,--but itmakes a good deal of difference whether they fly toward you or away fromyou."

  "Indeed it does," said Elsie, much amused. "But you asked me if somebodygot well. Who was it?"

  "Why, your brother of course. He didn't die, did he?"

  "Oh dear, no! He is living at St. Helen's now, and perfectly well andstrong."

  "Well, that must be a great comfort to you all. I never did think thathe was as ill as your sister fancied he was. Girls will get anxious, andwhen people haven't had a great deal of experience they-- He used tolaugh a great deal too, and when people do that it seems to me thattheir lungs-- But of course it was only natural at her age. I used tocheer her up all I could and say-- The air is splendid there, of course,and the sun somehow never seems to heat you up as it does at the East,though it _is_ hot, but I think when people have weak chests they'dbetter-- Dr. Hope doesn't think so, I know, but after all there are agreat many doctors beside Dr. Hope, and-- Ellen quite agrees with me--What was I saying."

  Elsie wondered on what fragment of the medley she would fix. She wasdestined never to know, for just then came the trample of hoofs and the"Boys" rode up to the door.

  She went out on the porch to meet them and break the news of theunexpected guests.

  "That old thing!" cried Clarence, with unflattering emphasis. "Oh,thunder! I thought we were safe from that sort of bore up here. I shalljust cut down to the back and take a bite in the barn."

  "Indeed you will do nothing of the sort. Do you suppose I came up tothis place, where company only arrives twice a year or so, to be thatlonesome thing a cowboy's bride, that you might slip away and take bitesin barns? No sir--not at all. You will please go upstairs, make yourselffit to be seen, and come down and be as polite as possible. Do youhear, Clare?"

  She hooked one white finger in his buttonhole, and stood looking in hisface with a saucy gaze. Clarence yielded at once. His small despot knewvery well how to rule him and to put down such short-lived attempts atinsubordination as he occasionally indulged in.

  "All right, Elsie, I'll go if I must. They're not to stay the night, arethey?"

  "Heaven forbid! No indeed, they are going back to the Ute Valley."

  He vanished, and presently re-appeared to conduct himself with theutmost decorum. He did not even fidget when referred to pointedly as"the other young man," by Mrs. Watson, with an accompaniment of nods andblinks and wreathed smiles which was, to say the least, suggestive.Geoff's manners could be trusted under all circumstances, and the littlemeal passed off charmingly.

  "Good-by," said Mrs. Watson, after she was safely seated in thecarriage, as Clover sedulously tucked her wraps about her. "It's reallybeen a treat to see you. We shall talk of it often, and I know Ellenwill say-- Oh, thank you, Miss Carr, you always were the kindest-- Yes,I know it isn't Miss Carr, and I ought to remember, but somehow--Good-by, Mrs. Page. Somehow--it's very pretty up here certainly, and youhave every comfort I'm sure, and you seem-- But it will be getting darkbefore long, and I don't like the idea of leaving you young things uphere all by yourselves. Don't you ever feel a little afraid in theevenings? I suppose there are not any wild animals--though I remember--But there, I mustn't say anything to discourage you, since you _are_here, and have got to stay."

  "Yes, we have to stay," said Clover, as she shook hands with Mr.Phillips, "and happily it is just what we all like best to do." Shewatched the carriage for a moment or two as it bumped down the road, itsbrake grinding sharply against the wheels, then she turned to the otherswith a look of comically real relief.

  "It seems like a bad dream! I had forgotten how Phil and I used to feelwhen Mrs. Watson went on like that, and she always did go on like that.How did we stand her?"

  "Ellen seems nice," remarked Elsie,--"Poor Ellen!"

  "Geoff," added Clarence, vindictively, "this must not happen again. Youand I must go to work below and shave off the hill and make it twice assteep! It will never do to have the High Valley made easy of access toold ladies from Boston who--"

  "Who call you 'the other young man,'" put in naughty Elsie. "Never mind,Clare. I share your feelings, but I don't think there is any risk. Thereis only one of her, and I am quite certain, from the scared look withwhich she alluded to our 'wild beasts,' that she never proposes to comeagain."