CHAPTER XVIII.
TROUBLE FOR THE HERO AND HEROINE--A BROKEN ENGAGEMENT AND A FORLORN DAMSEL--BOB PARKER'S SUFFERING--A FORMIDABLE ENCOUNTER--THE PECULIAR CONDUCT OF A DUMB ANIMAL--COOLEY'S BOY AND HIS HOME DISCIPLINE--A STORY OF AN ECHO.
We had been talking of asking the Magruders to come to take tea with us,so that the two families, which were now to be brought into closerelations, might become better acquainted. But one evening, just as Ihad settled myself for a comfortable perusal of the paper, Miss Magruderwas ushered into the room by the servant. It was plainly evident fromher appearance that she was in distress from some cause. We should haveguessed from her visit at such an hour unaccompanied by any one that allwas not right, even if her countenance had not manifested extremeagitation. After the usual salutation she asked,
"Is Mr. Parker not at home?"
"He has not yet returned from the city," I said. "I suppose he has beendetained for some reason. It is probable that he will be herepresently."
"I wanted to see him," she said, hesitatingly. "I am afraid you'llthink it very queer for me to come here at such a strange time;but--but"--and here her voice quavered a little--"but oh, somethingdreadful has happened--something very, very dreadful."
Then the tears began to come into her pretty brown eyes, and the littlemaid, after striving desperately to restrain them and to retain hercomposure, buried her face in her hands and began to sob. There was awoman by her side in a moment to comfort her and to seek her confidence;but it was very awkward for me. I was not quite certain whether I oughtnot to fly from the room and permit the two to be alone. But I remainedwith mingled feelings of sympathy and curiosity, and with an indistinctnotion that the forlorn damsel before me regarded me as a flinty-heartedbrute because I didn't express violent indignation at her ill-treatment.I should have done so if I had had any conception of the nature of thewrong endured by her. At last, when she had obtained relief in a goodcry--and it is surprising how much better a troubled woman feels whenshe has cried and wiped her weeping eyes--Bessie told us the story.
"Father came to me to-day," she said, "and told me that he had heardsome dreadful things about Robert; and he said he could not consent tomy marriage with such a man, and that our engagement must be brokenoff."
"What kind of things?" indignantly demanded Mrs. Adeler, whose familypride was aroused; "what did he hear?"
"Oh, something perfectly awful!" exclaimed Bessie, looking up with freshtears in her eyes. "He said Robert drank a great deal and that he wasvery often intoxicated."
"What an outrageous falsehood!" exclaimed Mrs. Adeler.
"I told father it was," said Bessie; "but he said he knew it was true,and, worse than that, that Robert not only kept very bad company in thecity, but that he was an atheist--that he only came to church in orderto deceive us."
If the late Mr. Fahrenheit had had to indicate the warmth of Mrs.Adeler's indignation at this moment, he would have given 215 deg. as thefigure. "I declare," she said, "that is the wickedest falsehood I everheard. I will call upon Mrs. Magruder to-morrow morning and tell herso."
"And father insisted," said Bessie, "that I should write a formal noteto Robert, breaking our engagement and asking him to discontinue hisvisits to our house. I did so, but I could not bear to have him think meso heartless, and I felt as if I must come here and tell him about itbefore the note reached him. Please don't think it strange that I came,and don't let any one know it." Then Bessie began to sob again.
"Certainly, Bessie," I replied, "it was very proper for you to do as youhave done. Your father has been unjust to you and to Bob. Robert shallsee him and demand an explanation. But who do you suppose told yourfather these things?"
"I have no idea. But it must have been somebody who was opposed to ourmarriage, and who hated Robert. I can't believe that any one would haveinvented such stories without a very malicious motive."
"Well, Bessie, the only thing we can do now is to permit the matter torest as it is until we have an opportunity to disprove these slanders.Let me go home with you; and when Bob comes in, I will tell him allabout it. He shall call upon your father. I will do so myself to-morrow.Bob has been unfairly used. He is as proper a youth as any in the land,and worthy of the love of any woman."
Then I escorted Bessie to her home, and upon my way back I met Bobcoming in hot haste toward me. He arrived at the house just after ourdeparture; and a few words from Mrs. Adeler having placed him in commandof the situation, he started off at once with the hope to overtake usand to have a few words with Bessie. He was breathless and in acondition of frenzy. He at first insisted upon storming the castle ofthe Magruders at once for the purpose of assailing the dragon thatguarded his fair lady. But I showed him that it would perhaps injureBessie if he should excite suspicion that she had visited him, and thatit would be ridiculous at any rate to attack old Magruder at that timeof night and while he was in such a state of excitement. It was finallyagreed that we should wait until morning, and that then I should firstvisit Mr. Magruder and obtain an explanation from him, so that Bob couldgo there afterward fully prepared to vindicate himself.
"I'll bet anything," said Bob, as we walked home, "I know who is theauthor of these slanders. It is Cooley. He don't like you or any of yourfamily, and he has taken this means of injuring us. If it is he, I'llgive him an aggravated case of assault and battery to settle. I'llthrash him within an inch of his life."
"I don't believe Cooley did it," I replied. "It is not the kind ofbusiness that he would care to trouble himself with. It is some one whohas an interest in separating you and Bessie."
"I don't know of any such person," said Bob.
"Perhaps Smiley did it."
"That may be," replied Bob; "he has little enough principle, but Ihardly think he would display so much malice. Besides, he knows verywell Bessie would not accept him under any circumstances."
"Well, let us wait patiently for further developments. It is not worthwhile to denounce any one until we can ascertain who the offender is."
Bob had been delayed in the city by a visit to his parents, who weregoing north for a week or two, and they consigned to his care hisyounger brother, who came with him to our house to remain during theabsence of his father and mother. The boy was at the house when wereached it; and when the time came for him to go to bed, it was arrangedthat he should sleep with Bob. The consequences of this were somewhatpeculiar. The youngster, it appears, has a habit of walking in hissleep, and he was so afraid that he would do so on this night, in astrange house, that Bob tied a strong piece of twine about the lad'swaist and fastened the other end to his own body, so that he would beroused by any attempt on the part of his brother to prowl about theroom. It turned out, however, that Bob was the restless one. Accordingto his own account, he got to dreaming of his troubles. He imagined thathe was engaged in a frightful combat with Mr. Magruder, and that, at thelast, that amiable old gentleman pursued him with a drawn dagger withthe intent to butcher him. In his alarm Bob pushed over to Henry's sideof the bed, and finally, as the visionary Magruder still appeared to bethirsty for his blood, he climbed over Henry, got upon the floor and hidhimself beneath the bed. When the apparition of the sanguinary parentdisappeared, Bob, still soundly asleep, must have emerged from hishiding-place upon the side of the bed opposite that at which he enteredit. At any rate, the cord ran from Henry's body beneath the bed cleararound until it connected with Bob. Early in the morning Bob moved oversuddenly toward his brother; and although he was more than half asleep,he was amazed to see Henry drop over upon the floor. Bob instantlyjumped out after him, and as he did so, he was even more surprised toperceive the child dart under the bed. He followed Henry; and at thefirst movement in that direction, Henry shot up off the floor, and washeard rolling swiftly across the mattress above, only to disappear againover the side as Bob came once more to the surface. By this time both ofthem were wide awake and able to comprehend the phenomenon. This is Mr.Parker's version. It is probably exaggerated slightly. M
y privateimpression is that Henry was pulled out upon the floor and under thebed, and that the exercise ended immediately. Henry does not rememberthe particulars with sufficient distinctness to be considered athoroughly reliable witness. His mind is clear upon only one point: heis fully persuaded that he will not sleep in harness with Bob again.
* * * * *
Upon the day following Bessie's visit I called at Magruder's, inaccordance with my agreement with Bob. The servant said Mr. Magruder hadgone out, but that he would probably be home in a few moments. Ideclined an invitation to go in the house. It was a fine day, and Ipreferred to walk up and down the porch while waiting. When aconsiderable time had elapsed and Magruder did not come, I threw myselfupon one of the chairs on the porch and began to read the _Argus_.
While I was sitting there Magruder's dog came bounding up the yard, andwhen he saw me instantly manifested a desire to investigate me. I havenever liked Magruder's dog; he is very large, and he has an extremelybad reputation. When he approached me, he looked at me savagely, andgrowled in such a manner that cold chills began to run up and down myback. Then the dog walked up and sniffed my legs with an earnestness ofpurpose that I had never expected to see displayed by a dumb animal.During this operation I maintained a condition of profound repose. Noman will ever know how quiet I was. It is doubtful if any human beingever before became so thoroughly still until his immortal soul went tothe land of everlasting rest.
When the ceremony was ended, the dog lay down close to the chair. Assoon as I felt certain that the animal was asleep, I thought I would gohome without seeing Mr. Magruder; but when I attempted to rise, the dogleaped up and growled so fiercely that I sat down again at once. Then Ithought perhaps it would be better _not_ to go home. It occurred to me,however, that it would be as well to call some one to remove the dog, incase circumstances should make it desirable for me to depart. But at thevery first shout the animal jumped to his feet, gave a fiendish bark andbegan to take a few more inquisitorial smells at my legs. And whenever Ishuffled my feet, or attempted to turn the _Argus_ over in order tocontinue an article on to the following page, or made the slightestmovement, that infamous dog was up and at me. Once, when I waspositively compelled to sneeze, I thought, from the indignationboisterously manifested by the dog, that my hour at last had come.
Finally, Cooley's dog, which happened to be in the neighborhood, becameengaged in an angry controversy with another dog in the street in frontof me. Magruder's dog was wide awake in a moment; and after turning aregretful glance at me, as if he knew he was deliberately and foolishlythrowing away a chance of obtaining several glorious bites, he dasheddown the walk and over the fence for the purpose of participating in thediscussion between his two friends.
I did not actually run, because that would not have been dignified, andthe servant-girl, looking from the kitchen window, and not understandingthe nature of the emergency, might have suspected me of emotionalinsanity. But I walked rapidly--very rapidly--to the rear fence of theyard, and climbed over it. As I reached the top of the fence, I saw thedog coming at full gallop down the yard. He was probably chagrined, butI did not remain to see how he bore it. I went directly home. Mr. Parkermay manage his own love affairs in the future. I shall not approach Mr.Magruder upon this disagreeable subject again. I have enough to do toattend to my own business.
When I reached home, I found Judge Pitman waiting for me. He came in forthe purpose of borrowing my axe for a few moments. As we went around tothe rear of the house to get it, the judge said:
"I reckon you don't use no terbacker, do you?"
"I smoke sometimes; that is all."
"Well, I was jist feelin' 's if I wanted a chaw, an' I thought p'rhapsyou might have one about you. Seein' Cooley over there on his porch putme in mind of it."
"That is rather a singular circumstance. Why should a view of Cooleysuggest such a thing?"
"'Tis kinder sing'lar; but you see," said the judge, "Cooley wasa-tellin' me yesterday mornin' about somethin' that occurred the daybefore at his house. The old woman is opposed to his chawin', an' shemakes it stormy for him when he does. So he never uses no terbacker'round home, an' he told her he'd given it up. The other day, just as hewas goin' in to supper, he pulled out his handkercher, an' out come aplug of terbacker 'long with it. He didn't know it, but directly Mrs.Cooley lit on it, an' she walked up to him an' wanted to know if it washis. It was a little rough, you understand, but he had presence of mindenough to turn to his boy and say, 'Great Heavens! is it possibleyou've begun to chaw this ornary stuff? What d'you mean by sich conduct?Haven't I told you often enough to let terbacker alone? Commere to methis minute, you rascal!' Cooley licked him like the nation, an' thenthrew the terbacker out the winder onto the porch, where he could git itagin in the mornin'."
"That was pretty severe treatment of the boy."
"An' Cooley says to me, 'By gracious, judge! s'pose'n my children hadall been girls! It makes an old father's heart glad when he thinks hehas a boy he can depend upon at sich times!' Healthy old parent, ain'the?"
"The word 'healthy' hardly expresses with sufficient vigor the infamy ofhis conduct."
"Cooley never did treat that there boy right," said the judge, as heseated himself on the saw-horse in the woodshed and locked his handsover one of his knees, evidently with the intention to have somesociable conversation. "He never behaved like a father to him. Hebrought up that there child to lie. That echo business, f'r instance; itwas scand'lus in him."
"To what do you refer?"
"Why, afore Cooley come yer to live he kep' a hotel up in the LehighValley--a fashionable kinder tavern, I reckon; an' there was another manabout two miles furder up who had a bigger hotel. You could stand onthis other man's porch an' make a splendid echo by whistlin' orhollerin'. You could hear the noise agin a dozen times. Leastways,Cooley told me so. Well, Cooley, you know, hated like pisin to be beatenon that echo, an' so he kinder concluded to git one up for himself. Hemade that there boy of his'n go over on the mountain across the riveran' hide among the bushes, an' then he would take people up on the roofof the house and holler, an' the boy would holler back agin. He toldeverybody that the echo could only be heard on the roof, an' he kep' thetrap door locked, so's nobody would find him out."
"That was a poor kind of a swindle."
"Yes, sir. Well, that boy, you 'bserve, gradually got rusty in thebusiness an' tired of it, an' sometimes he'd take another boy over withhim, an' they'd git to playin' an' forgit to answer. It was embarrassin'for Cooley, an' the secret begun to leak out. But one day the wholeconcern was bu'sted. Cooley took a lot of folks from the city, among 'emsome o' them newspaper people, an' for a while the boy worked all right,But he had another feller with him, and he kep' a-repeatin' things thatnobody said. Cooley stood it for a while, though he was mad as fury; an'at last, when somebody tried to start the echo, there was no answer.They all thought it was mighty queer, but after callin' a good manytimes, the boy come out in full view an' yelled back, 'I'm not a-goin'to answer any more. Bill Johnson won't gimme my knife, an' I won'tholler till I git it; blamed if I do.' Cooley tells me that the mannerin which he sailed across the creek after that child was somethin'awful to behold. But it knocked him, sir. It closed him up. Themnewspaper men started the thing on him, an' they run him so hard that hehad to quit. He sold out and come yer to live. But is it any wonder thatboy's spiled? Cooley'd spile a blessed young angel the way he goes on.But I must say good-mornin'. Much obleeged for the axe. Good-bye."
And the judge went home meditating upon Cooley's unfitness for theduties of a parent. I would like to know if that echo story is true. Ihave no doubt the judge received it from Cooley, but it sounds as if thelatter ingenious gentleman might have wrenched it from his imagination.