CHAPTER XXII.
BANISHMENT
When Abner reached Oaklands next morning, Gilcrest, just returned froma ride to the lower farm, was standing on the stile-block, and a negroboy was leading his horse toward the stables. Gilcrest scowled at theyoung man as he rode up, and gave him no word of greeting, nor askedhim to alight.
Abner began at once: "Major Gilcrest, I have come this morning to havea talk with you."
"Very well; state your business," was the curt rejoinder.
"It is private business and of grave importance. Can we not seek a moreretired place than this?"
"Either here, or not at all, sir," answered Gilcrest.
"Major Gilcrest, no man has a right to treat another as you have mewithout some cause, and I demand the reason for your conduct."
"I'm answerable to no one save myself and my God for my conduct,"returned Gilcrest. "Demand, indeed!" he continued with a short laugh."What right has a popinjay like you to demand?"
"Well, then, I do not demand; I entreat you to assign some reason. I amwilling to believe your motives to be good, but that you are laboringunder some mistake."
"I have good reason for what I do, Mr. Dudley. Your conscience, if itbe not already too much seared and deadened, ought to tell you why. Iknow more than you think, young man."
"My conscience certainly acquits me of any serious misdemeanor,"answered Abner. "So far as I can see, my only offense is in loving yourdaughter and seeking her hand in marriage; and surely that is not anunpardonable crime. When I came to this community you treated me mostcordially, inviting me to your house, and treating me when I did visityou with the utmost kindness, and even affection. In fact, up to thetime of my return from Virginia, we were on terms of intimatefriendship, notwithstanding the difference in age and position. Butsince my return all this is changed, and I'm convinced that this changeis due to some far graver cause than disapproval of me as a suitor foryour daughter. The matter is inexplicable to me; and so guiltless do Ifeel, that I'm certain you are but laboring under some egregiousmistake."
"Young man, I'm laboring under no mistake."
"Then, what are your reasons for this course?" Abner asked again.
"That you have no right to ask. Moreover, it is quite unnecessary; for,in spite of your pretended ignorance, you know quite well to what Irefer."
"As God in heaven is my judge, I do not, sir," exclaimed Abner.
"Do not call upon your Maker to witness your false protestations. Donot add blasphemy and perjury to the rest of your iniquities. Marry mydaughter! You! I'd see her in her grave first!" By this time he hadworked himself into a frenzy; his face was purple and the veins of hisforehead were swollen and knotted like cords.
Abner, still apparently cool, though he could with difficulty restrainhimself, replied stoutly, "Nothing which I have done or intended canjustify your language to me, Major Gilcrest."
"Don't lie to me!" roared Gilcrest, "Don't I know what you have beenabout, plotting vagabond!" and he shook his cowhide riding-whip inAbner's face, causing the horse to rear and plunge.
The young man quieted his horse, then looked straight into Gilcrest'seyes, his own blazing and his face gray with passion. "Hiram Gilcrest,put down that whip. By God, sir, you shall retract your words!"
"I retract nothing," shouted Gilcrest, still brandishing the whip. "Getout of my sight, before I demean myself by striking you!"
Abner leaned over, and with a sudden movement snatched the whip fromGilcrest's hand, then flung it far over the fence into the adjoiningfield. Trying to master his anger and speak calmly, he said: "Nowlisten to me, Major Gilcrest. I love your daughter with an honorablelove--stop! stop! You shall hear me through! I love your daughter, andthe dearest wish of my life is to make her my wife; yet I should haveaccepted your decision, painful though it would have been, hoping thatin time I could overcome your objections--be quiet! You shall listen tome!--but now, when you will give no reason for objecting to me, and inaddition to this injustice heap opprobrious epithets upon me, I tellyou emphatically that I shall pay no regard whatsoever to your wishes.Only Betsy herself shall decide. So long as she loves me and considersherself my promised wife, I will see her whenever I can, and will writeto her whenever I have opportunity. But when she wishes to be free, Iwill then, and not till then, return to her her plighted word. As foryou, you have forfeited all claim to consideration; you have grossly,wantonly insulted me, and without the shadow of reason."
"Out of my sight, you impudent impostor!" cried Gilcrest, choking withrage and shaking his fist at the young man. "You sneaking bastard, withno right to the name you bear!"
"You are so led away by passion, old man, that you are scarcelyresponsible for what you say--bastard and impostor, indeed!" heejaculated, quivering with indignation. "Those epithets are as false asfoul, and you know it. You shall not----"
"If they are false, prove them so, you insolent puppy!" shoutedGilcrest.
"Not even your gray hairs should protect you from the chastisement youdeserve, were you not Betty's father; but I love her too well to forgetconsideration for you, on her account."
"Out of my sight! Go! this instant!" cried the old man, beside himselfwith fury. "If you ever set foot on this place again, my negroes shalldrag you through the hog wallow. I would not demean my own hands bytouching you."
Abner, feeling that, if he heard any more, he would forget hisantagonist's gray head, his age and fatherhood, and strike him, wheeledquickly and rode away, leaving Gilcrest still shouting andgesticulating until horse and rider were out of sight.