The cromptons

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Title:TheCromptons
Author:MaryJ.Holmes
ReleaseDate:June27,2005[EBook#16138]
Language:English

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POPULARNOVELS
BY
MRS.MARYJ.HOLMES.
TEMPESTANDSUNSHINE.
DARKNESSANDDAYLIGHTS.
ENGLISHORPHANS.
HUGHWORTHINGTON.
HOMESTEADONHILLSIDE.
CAMERONPRIDE.
'LENARIVERS.
ROSEMATHER.
MEADOWBROOK.
ETHELYN'SMISTAKE.
DORADEANE.

MILBANK.
COUSINMAUDE.
EDNABROWNING.
MARIANGREY.
WESTLAWN.


EDITHLYLE.
MILDRED.
DAISYTHORNTON.
FORESTHOUSE.
CHATEAUD'OR.
MADELINE.
QUEENIEHETHERTON.
CHRISTMASSTORIES.
BESSIE'SFORTUNE.
GRETCHEN.
MARGUERITE.
DR.HATHERN'SDAUGHTERS.
MRS.HALLAM'SCOMPANION.
PAULRALSTON.
THETRACYDIAMONDS.
THECROMPTONS.(NEW)

"Mrs.Holmesisapeculiarlypleasantandfascinatingwriter.Herbooksare
alwaysentertaining,andshehastherarefacultyofenlistingthesympathyand
affectionsofherreaders,andofholdingtheirattentiontoherpageswithdeep
andabsorbinginterest."
Handsomelyboundincloth.Price,$1.00each,andsentfreebymailonreceipt
ofprice.

G.W.DillinghamCo.,Publishers,
NEWYORK.
HerebythisgraveIpromiseallyouask.


TheCromptons
By


MARYJ.HOLMES

G.W.DILLINGHAMCOMPANY
PUBLISHERSNEWYORK
COPYRIGHT,1899,1901,
BYMRS.MARYJ.HOLMES.
[Allrightsreserved.]
TheCromptons.IssuedAugust,1902.


Contents
PARTI
CHAPTERI.THESTRANGERATTHEBROCKHOUSE
CHAPTERII.THEPALMETTOCLEARING
CHAPTERIII.THEINTERVIEW
CHAPTERIV.HOPINGANDWAITING
CHAPTERV.MISSDORY
CHAPTERVI.THESERVICES
CHAPTERVII.COL.CROMPTON
CHAPTERVIII.THECHILDOFTHECLEARING
CHAPTERIX.THECOLONELANDJAKE

CHAPTERX.EUDORA

PARTII
CHAPTERI.HOWARDCROMPTONTOJACKHARCOURT
CHAPTERII.JACKHARCOURTTOHOWARDCROMPTON
CHAPTERIII.ELOISE
CHAPTERIV.THEACCIDENT
CHAPTERV.AMY


CHAPTERVI.ATMRS.BIGGS'S
CHAPTERVII.RUBYANNPATRICK
CHAPTERVIII.MRS.BIGGS'SREMINISCENCES
CHAPTERIX.LETTERFROMREV.CHARLESMASON
CHAPTERX.PARTSECONDOFREV.MR.MASON'SLETTER
CHAPTERXI.SUNDAYCALLS
CHAPTERXII.THEMARCHOFEVENTS
CHAPTERXIII.GETTINGREADYFORTHERUMMAGESALE
CHAPTERXIV.THEFIRSTSALE
CHAPTERXV.ATTHERUMMAGE
CHAPTERXVI.THEAUCTION

PARTIII
CHAPTERI.THEBEGINNINGOFTHEEND
CHAPTERII.THELITTLEREDCLOAK
CHAPTERIII.ELOISEATTHECROMPTONHOUSE
CHAPTERIV.THESHADOWOFDEATH
CHAPTERV.LOOKINGFORAWILL
CHAPTERVI.INFLORIDA
CHAPTERVII.INTHEPALMETTOCLEARING

CHAPTERVIII.THELITTLEHAIRTRUNK
CHAPTERIX.WHATHOWARDFOUND
CHAPTERX.HOWARD'STEMPTATION
CHAPTERXI.CONCLUSION


THECROMPTONS


PARTI


CHAPTERI

THESTRANGERATTHEBROCKHOUSE

Thesteamer"Hatty"whichpliedbetweenJacksonvilleandEnterprisewaslate,
andthepeoplewhohadcomedownfromtheBrockHousetothelandinghad
waitedhalfanhourbeforeapuffofsmokeinthedistancetoldthatshewas
coming.Therehadbeenmanyconjecturesastothecauseofthedelay,forshe
wasusuallyontime,andthosewhohadfriendsontheboatweregrowing
nervous,fearinganaccident,andallweregettingtired,whensheappearedinthe
distance,thepuffsofsmokeincreasinginvolumeasshedrewnearer,andthe
soundofherwhistleechoingacrossthewater,whichatEnterprisespreadsout
intoalake.Shehadnotmetwithanaccident,buthadbeendetainedatPalatka
waitingforapassengerofwhomthecaptainhadbeenapprised.
"Hemaybeatriflelate,butifheis,wait.Hemusttakeyourboat,"TomHardy
hadsaidtothecaptainwhenengagingpassageforhisfriend,andTomHardy

wasnotonewhosewisheswereoftendisregarded."ThemHardysdoesmore
businesswithmeinoneyearthantenotherfamiliesandIcan'tgoaginTom,and
ifhesayswaitforhisfriend,why,there'snothingtodobutwait,"thecaptain
said,ashewalkedupanddowninfrontofhisboat,growingmoreandmore
impatient,untilatlastashewasbeginningtoswearhe'dwaitnolongerforall
theHardysinChristendom,twomencameslowlytowardsthelanding,talking
earnestlyandnotseemingtobeintheleasthurry,althoughthe"Hatty"beganto
screamherselfhoarseasiffrantictobegone.
"Howd'ye,Cap,"Tomsaid,inhiseasy,off-handway."Hopewehaven'tkept
youlong.ThisismyfriendItoldyouabout.Isupposehisberthisready?"
Hedidnottellthenameofhisfriend,who,asifloathtocrosstheplank,held


backforafewmorewords.Tomgavehimalittlepushatlast,andsaid,"Goodbye,youreallymustgo.Successtoyou,butdon'tforamomentthinkofcarrying
outthatquixoticplanyoufirstmentioned.Betterjumpintotheriver.Good-bye!"
Theplankwascrossedandpulledin,andamulattoboycameforwardtotakethe
stranger'sbagandpilothimtohisstateroom,whichopenedfromwhatwas
calledtheladies'parlor.Coiledupinacorneronthedeckwasabundleof
somethingwhichstirredastheycameneartoit,andbegantoturnover,making
thestrangerstartwithaslightexclamation.
"Doanyoubeskeert,sar,"theboysaid,"dat'snottin'butMandyAnn,anonery
niggerwhatb'longstooleMissHarrisindeclarin'upterEnt'prise.She'sbeen
hiredoutaspellinJacksonville,—nusstoalittlegal,andnowshe'sgwinehome.
MissDorydonesentforher,'caseJakeisgoneandoleMissiswus,—neverwas
verypeart,"andturningtothegirltheboyTedcontinued:"YouMandyAnn,
doanyouknowmoremannersnottoskeeragemman,rollin'roundlikea
punkin?Getbackwidyer."
Hespurnedthebundlewithhisfoot,whilethestrangerstoppedsuddenly,asifa
blowhadbeenstruckhim.
"Whodidyousayshewas?Towhomdoesshebelong,Imean?"heasked,and

theboyreplied,"MandyAnn,anocountnigger,b'longstoMissHarris.Poor
whitetrash!Crackers!Disyourstateroom,sar.KinIdosomethin'foryou?"
Theboy'sheadwasheldhigh,indicativeofhisopinionofpoorwhitetrashand
Crackersingeneral,andMandyAnninparticular.
"No,thanks,"thestrangersaid,takinghisbagandshuttinghimselfintohis
stuffylittlestateroom.
"'Specshe'sfromdeNorf;lookslikeit,an'deyallusaskin'whowe'longsto.In
coursewe'longstosomebody.Wehaster,"Tedthought,ashemadehisway
backtoMandyAnn,whowaswide-awakeandreadyforanywarofwords
whichmightcomeupbetweenherselfandTed,"whofeltmightysmart'casehe
wascabinboyonde'Hatty.'"
AsTedsuspected,thestrangerwasofNorthernbirth,whichshoweditselfinhis
accentandcold,proudbearing.Hemighthavebeenthirty,andhemighthave
beenmore.Hisfacedidnotshowhisage.Hisfeatureswereregular,andhis


complexionpaleasawoman's.Hiseyeswereacrossbetweenblueandgray,
withalookinthemwhichmadeyoufeelthattheywerereadingyourinmost
secrets,andyouinvoluntarilyturnedawaywhentheywerefixeduponyou.On
thisoccasionheseemedcolderandprouderthanusual,asheseatedhimself
uponthestoolinhisstateroomandlookedabouthim,—notatanythingthatwas
there,forhedidnotseeit,orthinkhowsmallanduncomfortablehisquarters
were,althoughrecommendedasoneofthestateroomsdeluxeontheboat.His
thoughtswereoutside,firstonMandyAnn,—notbecauseofanythingabouther
personally.Hehadseennothingexceptawoollyhead,adarkbluedress,andtwo
black,barefeetandankles,butbecauseshewasMandyAnn,boundslaveof
"oleMissHarris,wholivedindeclarin',"andforthatreasonsheconnectedhim
withsomethingfromwhichheshrankwithanindescribableloathing.Atlasthe
concludedtotrythenarrowberth,butfindingittoohardandtooshortwentout
uponthereardeck,andtakingachairwherehewouldbemostoutoftheway

andscreenedfromobservation,hesatuntilthemoonwentdownbehindaclump
ofpalms,andthestarspaledinthelightofthesunwhichshonedownuponthe
beautifulriverandthetangledmassofshrubberyandundergrowthoneitherside
ofit.
Atlastthepassengersbegantoappearonebyone,withtheircheeryhowdye's
andgoodmornings,andcuriousglancesatthisstrangerintheirmidst,who,
althoughwiththem,didnotseemtobeoneofthem.TheywereallSoutherners
andinclinedtobefriendly,butnothinginthestranger'sattitudeinvited
sociability.Hewaslookingoffuponthewaterinthedirectionfromwhichthey
hadcome,andneverturnedhisheadinresponsetotheloudshouts,whenan
alligatorwasseenlyingupontheshore,orabigturtlewassunningitselfona
log.HewasaNortherner,theyknewfromhisgeneralmake-up,andafriendof
TomHardy,thecaptainsaid,whenquestionedwithregardtohim.Thislastwas
sufficienttoatoneforanyproclivitieshemighthaveantagonistictotheSouth.
TomHardy,althoughlivinginGeorgia,waswellknowninFlorida.Tobehis
friendwastobesomebody;andtwoorthreeattemptsatconversationweremade
inthecourseofthemorning.Oneman,bolderthantherest,toldhimitwasa
finedayandafinetrip,butthatthe"Hatty"wasgettingalittletoopasséefor
realcomfort.Atthewordpasséethestrangerlookedupwithsomethinglike
interest,andadmittedthattheboatwaspassée,andthedayfine,andthetrip,
too.Acigarwasnextoffered,butpolitelydeclined,andthentheattemptatan
acquaintanceceasedonthepartofthefirsttomakeit.LateronanoldGeorgian
planter,garrulousandgood-humored,sworehe'dfindoutwhatstufftheYankee
wasmadeof,andwhyhewasdowntherewherefewofhiskindevercame.His


firstmovewastheofferoftobacco,withthewords:"Howd'ye,sir?Havea
chew?"
Thestranger'sheadwentupalittlehigherthanitswont,andtheproudlookon
thepalefacedeepenedashedeclinedthetobaccocivilly,ashehadthecigar.

"Wall,now,don'tchewtobacky?Youloseagooddeal.Icouldn'tlivewithoutit.
Sortersoothin',an'keepsmyjawsgoin',andwhenI'msofullofvim,—mad,you
know,—thatI'mfittobust,why,Ispitandspit,—backyjuiceincourse,—tillI
spititallout,"theGeorgiansaid,takinganimmensechew,andsittingdownby
thestranger,whogavenosignthatheknewofhisproximity,butstillkepthis
eyesontheriverasifabsorbedinthescenery.
TheGeorgianwasnottobeeasilyrebuffed.Crossinghislegsandplantinghis
bighatonhisknees,hewenton:
"YouarefromtheNorth,Icalculate?"
"Yes."
"Ithoughtso.Wecanmostlytell'em.FromBoston,Ireckon?"
"No."
"NewYork,mabby?No?Chicago?No?Wall,wherein—"theGeorgian
stopped,checkedbyalookinthebluish-grayeyeswhichseldomfailedinits
effect.
Evidentlythestrangerdidn'tchoosetotellwherehelived,buttheGeorgian,
thoughsomewhatsubdued,wasnotwhollysilenced,andhecontinued:"Everin
Floridabefore?"
"No."
"Wall,Is'poseyou'retakin'alittlepleasuretripliketherestofus?"
Tothistherewasnoresponse,thestrangerthinkingwithbitternessthathistrip
wasanythingbutoneofpleasure.Therewasstillonechordlefttopullandthat
wasTomHardy,whoinawaywasvoucherforthisinterloper,andthe
Georgian'snextquestionwas:"DoyouknowTomwell?"


"Doyoumean,Mr.Hardy?"thestrangerasked,andtheGeorgianreplied."In
course,butIalluscallshimTom.Haveknownhimsinceheworegowns.My
plantationjinesoldmanHardy's."
Therewasnodoubt,now,thatthestrangerwasinterested,andhadhis

companionbeenacloseobserverhewouldhaveseenthekindlinglightinhis
eyes,andthespotsofredbeginningtoshowonhisface.Whethertotalkornot
wasaquestioninhismind.Cowardicepromptedhimtoremainsilent,and
somethingwhichdefiedsilencepromptedhimatlasttotalk.
"IwaswithMr.ThomasHardyincollege,"hesaid,"andIhavevisitedhimin
hishome.Heismybestfriend."
"To-be-sure!"theGeorgiansaid,hitchingnearertothestranger,asiftherewasa
bondofrelationshipbetweenthem.
Themanhadgivennoinklingofthedateofhisvisit,andasitwassomeyears
sinceTomwasgraduatedtheGeorgiandidnotdreamofassociatingthevisit
withafewweeksbefore,whenhehadheardthatahighbuckwasatoldman
Hardy'sandwithTomwaspaintingtheneighborhoodredandscandalizingsome
ofthemoresobercitizenswithhisexcesses.Thisquietstrangerwiththeproud
faceandhardeyesneverhelpedpaintanything.Itwassomebodyelse,whose
namehehadforgotten,butofwhomhewentontospeakinnotvery
complimentaryterms.
"Ahighbuck,Ineverhappenedtoseesquarintheface,"hesaid."Hadglimpses
ofhiminthedistanceridin'olemanHardy'ssorrel,likehewascrazy,andoncet
reelin'inthesaddle.Yes,sar,reelin',asifhe'dtooktoomuch.Ib'lieveinadrink
whenyouaredry,butLordland,whar'sthesenseofreelin'?Idon'tseeit,do
you?"
Thestrangersaidhedidn'tandtheGeorgianwenton,nowinalower,
confidentialvoice.
"Iactuallyhearnthatthischap,—whatthedeucewashisname?Haveyouan
idee?HewasfromtheNorth?"
Ifthestrangerhadanideehedidn'tgiveit,andtheGeorgiancontinued:"These
twoyoungchaps—Tomain'trightyoungthough,sameageasyou,Ireckon—
calledonsomeCrackergirlsbackinthewoodsandtheNorthernfellerstaidthar

twoorthreedays.Thinkofit—Crackergirls!Now,if'tedbeenniggers,instead
ofCrackers!"
"Ugh!"thestrangerexclaimed,wakenedintosomethinglikelife."Don'ttalkany
moreaboutthatman!Hemusthavebeenasneakandvillainandalow-lived
dog,andifthereisanymeanernameyoucangivehim,doso.Itwillfithim
well,andpleaseme."
"CallhimaCracker,butaFloridaone.Georgyismostlybetter—notuptoso
muchsnuff,youknow,"theGeorgiansuggested,whiletheNorthernerdrewa
quickbreathandthoughtofMandyAnn,andwonderedwhereshewasandifhe
shouldseeheragain.
Hefeltasiftherewasnotadrythreadinoneofhisgarmentswhenhis
companionlefthim,andreturningtohisfriendsreportedthathehadn'tmade
muchoutofthechap.Hewasn'tfromNewYork,norBoston,norChicago,and
"Idon'tknowwhereinthunderheisfrom,norhisnamenuther.Iforgottoaskit,
hewassostiffandoffish.HewasincollegewithTomHardyandvisitedhim
yearsago;that'sallIknow,"theplantersaid,andafterthatthestrangerwasleft
mostlytohimself,whilethepassengersbusiedthemselveswithgossip,andthe
scenery,andtryingtokeepcool.
Thedaywashotandgrewhotterasthesunrosehigherintheheavens,andthe
strangerfeltveryuncomfortable,butitwasnottheheatwhichaffectedhimas
muchastheterriblenetworkofcircumstanceswhichhehadwovenforhimself.
Itwastheharvesthewasreapingastheresultofonefalsestep,whenhisbrain
wasblurredandhewassomebodybesidestheelegantgentlemanwhompeople
feltitanhonortoknow.Hewashimselfnow,crushedinwardly,butcarrying
himselfjustasproudlyasifnomentalfirewereconsuminghim,makinghim
thinkseriouslymorethanonceofjumpingintotheriverandendingitall.He
wasveryluxuriousandfastidiousinhistastes,andwouldhavenothing
unseemlyinhishomeattheNorth,wherehehadonlytosaytohisservants
comeandtheycame,andwhere,ifhediedonhisrosewoodbedsteadwithsilken
hangings,theywouldmakehimagrandfuneral—smotherhimwithflowers,and

perhapsphotographhimashelayinstate.Here,ifheendedhislife,intheriver,
withalligatorsandturtles,hewouldbefishedupasorryspectacle,andlaidupon
thedeckwithweedsandfernsclingingtohim,andnooneknowingwhohewas
tilltheysentforTomHardyatthatmomenthurryingbacktohishomein
Georgia,fromwhichhehadcomeattheearnestrequestofhisfriend.Hedidnot


likethelooksofhimselfbedraggledandwet,anddead,onthedeckofthe
"Hatty,"withthatcuriouscrowdlookingathim,MandyAnnwiththerest.
StrangethatthoughtsofMandyAnnshouldflitthroughhismindashedecided
againstthecoldbathintheSt.John'sandtofaceit,whateveritwas.
Occasionallysomeonespoketohim,andhealwaysansweredpolitely,andonce
offeredhischairtoaladywhoseemedtobelookingforone.Butshedeclinedit,
andhewasagainleftalone.Oncehewenttotheotherendoftheboatforalittle
exerciseandchange,hesaidtohimself,butreallyforachanceofseeingMandy
Ann,whoofallthepassengersinterestedhimthemost.ButMandyAnnwasnot
insight,nordidheseeheragaintilltheboatwasmovingslowlyuptothewharf
atEnterprise,andwithherbraidedtagsofhairstandinguplikelittlehorns,and
herworldlygoodstiedupinacottonhandkerchief,shestoodrespectfullybehind
thewaitingcrowd,eacheagertobethefirsttoland.
TheBrockHousewasfull—"notsomuchasacotorashelfforonemore,"the
clerksaidtothestranger,whowaslastatthedesk.Hehadlingeredbehindthe
otherstowatchMandyAnn,withahalf-formedresolutiontoaskhertodirect
himto"oleMissHarrises"if,asTedhadsaid,shewasgoingthere.MandyAnn
didnotseemtobeinanyhurryandsaunteredleisurelyupthelanealittle
beyondtheBrockHouse,whereshesatdownandstretchingoutherbarefeet
begantosuckanorangeTedhadgivenheratparting,tellingherthatthoughshe
was"anoneryniggerwhobelongedtoaCracker,shehadratherfareyesanda
mouththatcouldn'tbebeatforsass,addingthathereckonedthatthartallman
whodidn'tspeaktonobodymightbewantin'tobuyher,ashehaddoneasthim

oncethowfaritwastotheclarin',an'hecouldn'twantnobodytharbuther."
MandyAnnhadtakentheorange,buthadspurnedwhatTedhadsaidofthetall
man'sintentions.Shehadbeentoldtoomanytimes,duringherbriefstayin
Jacksonvilleasanursegirl,thatshewasofnomannerofaccounttobelieveany
onewishedtobuyher,andshepaidnoattentiontothetallman,excepttosee
thathewasthelasttoenterthehotel,wherehewastoldtherewasnoroomfor
him.
"ButImusthaveaplacetosleep,"hesaid."Itisonlyforthenight.Ireturnon
the'Hatty.'"
"Whynotstayonherthen?Somedowhoonlycomeupforthetrip,"wasthe
clerk'sreply.
Thiswasnotabadidea,althoughthestrangershudderedashethoughtofhisill-


smellingstateroomandshortberth.Stillitwasbetterthancampingoutdoors,or
—theclearing—wherehemightbeaccommodated.Heshudderedagainwhenhe
thoughtofthatpossibility—thankedtheclerkforhissuggestion—anddeclined
thebookwhichhadbeenpushedtowardshimforhisname.Nousetoregisterif
hewasnottobeaguest;nousetotellhisnameanyway,ifhecouldavoidit,as
hehadsuccessfullyontheboat,andwithapolitegood-eveninghestepped
outsidejustasMandyAnn,havingfinishedherorange,peelandall,gathered
herselfupwithaviewtostartingforhome.


CHAPTERII

THEPALMETTOCLEARING

ThestrangerhadaskedTedontheboat,whenhecamewithsomelemonadehe
hadordered,howfaritwasfromtheBrockHousetothepalmettoclearing,and

iftherewasanyconveyancetotakehimthere.Tedhadstaredathimwith
wonder—first,astowhatsuchashecouldwantattheclearing,andsecond,ifhe
wascrazyenoughtothinktherewasaconveyance.Frombeingapettedcabin
boy,Tedhadgrowntobesomethingofaspoiledone,andwaswhatthe
passengersthoughtrathertoo"peart"inhisways,whilesomeofthecrew
insistedthatheneeded"takin'downabuttonholelower,"whateverthatmight
mean.
"Blessyersoul,Mas'r,"hesaid,inreplytothequestion."Tharain'tno
conveyancetotheclarin'.It'soffindewoodsapiece,rightsmart.Yousticksto
deroadaspell,tillyoucomestoagrave—whatusedtobe—butit'sdonesunkin
nowtillnuffin'stharbutdestunan'someblackb'rybushesclamberin'overit.
ThenyouturnsinterdewustpieceofroadinFloridy,andturnsaginwharsome
yallerjasmineisgrowin',anforelongyou'redar."
Thedirectionwasnotverylucid,andthestrangerthoughtofaskingtheclerkfor
somethingmoreminute,butthesurpriseinTed'seyeswhenheinquiredtheway
totheclearinghadputhimonhisguardagainstagreatersurpriseintheclerk.
Hewouldfindhiswaysomehow,andhewentoutintotheyardandlookedinthe
directionofthesandyroadwhichledintothewoodsandwhichMandyAnnwas
taking,presumablyonherwayhome.Asecondtimethethoughtcametohim
thatshemightdirecthim,andhestartedratherrapidlyafterher,callingashe
went:"Isaygirl,Iwantyou.Doyouhear?"


MandyAnnheard,gaveoneglanceoverhershoulder,sawwhowasfollowing
her,andbeganatoncetorun,herbarefeetandanklesthrowingupthesand,and
hersunbonnetfallingfromherheaddownherback,whereitflappedfromside
tosideassheran.SherememberedwhatTedhadsaidofthestranger,whomight
bethinkingofbuyingher;thiswaspossibleafterall,ashehadsaidhewanted
her,andthoughherhomeintheclearingwasnotoneofluxury,itwasoneof
easeandindolence,andshehadnodesireforanewone—certainlynotwiththis

manwhosefacedidnotattracther.Justwhysheran,shedidnotknow.Itwasof
nousetoappealtoolemissus,whowouldnotknowwhethershebelongedtoher
orsomeoneelse.MissDorywasheronlyhope.Withpromisesoffuturegood
behaviorandabstinencefrompilferingandlying,andbadnessgenerally,she
mightenlisthersympathyandprotectiontillJakecamehome,whenallwouldbe
right.Soshespedonlikeadeer,glancingbackoccasionallytoseethestranger
followingherwithrapidstrideswhich,however,didnotavailtoovertakeher.
Theafternoonwasverywarm—theroadsandyanduneven—andhesoongave
upthechase,wonderingwhythegirlransofast,asifafraidofhim.Thelast
sighthehadofherwasofherwoollyhead,turningofffromtheroadtotheright,
whereitdisappearedbehindsomethickundergrowth.Tedhadsaid,"Turnatthe
grave,"andhewalkedontillhereachedthespot,andstoodbythelowrailing
enclosingasunkengrave,whetherofmanorwomanhecouldnottell,the
letteringonthediscoloredstonewassoobscure.Studyingitverycarefully,he
thoughthemadeout"Mrs."beforethemoss-blurredname.
"Awoman,"hesaid,withafeelinghowterribleitmustbetobeburiedandleft
aloneinthatdreary,sandywaste,withnohumanhabitationnearerthanthe
BrockHouse,andnosoundoflifepassingby,exceptfromthesameplace,
unless—andhestarted,ashenoticedforthefirsttimewhatTedhadsaidwasthe
worstroadinFlorida,andwhatwasscarcelymorethanafootpathleadingoffto
theright,andtotheclearing,ofcourse—andhemustfollowitpasttangled
weedsandshrubs,andbriers,anddwarfpalmettoes,stumpsofwhichimpeded
hisprogress.
MandyAnnhadentirelydisappeared,buthereandthereinthesandhesawher
footprints,thetoesspreadwideapart,andknewhewasright.Suddenlythere
cameadiversion,andheleanedagainstatreeandbreathedhardandfast,asone
doeswhenashockcomesunexpectedly.Hisearhadcaughtthesoundofvoices
atnogreatdistancefromhim.Anegro'svoice—MandyAnn's,hewassure—
eager,excited,andpleading;andanother,softandlow,andreassuring,but
wringingthesweatfromhimingreatdrops,andmakinghisheartbeatrapidly.

HeknewwhowaswithMandyAnn,andthatshe,too,washurryingontothe
clearing,stillinthedistance.Hadtherebeenanydoubtofheridentity,itwould
havebeensweptawaywhen,throughanopeninginthetrees,hecaughtsightof
aslendergirlishfigure,cladinthehomelygarmentsofwhatTedcalled
poorwhitetrash,andofwhichhehadsomeknowledge.Therewas,however,a
certaingraceinthemovementsofthegirlwhichmovedhimalittle,forhewas
notblindtoanypointofbeautyinawoman,andthebeautyofthisgirl,hurrying
onsofast,hadbeenhisruin,asheinonesensehadbeenhers.
"Eudora!"hesaid,withagroan,andwithahalfresolvetoturnbackratherthan
goon.
TomHardyintheirtalkwhiletheboatwaitedforthematPalatka,hadtoldhim
whatnottodo,andhewastheretofollowTom'sadvice—though,todohim
justice,therewasathoughtinhisheartthatpossiblyhemightdowhatheknew
heoughttodo,inspiteofTom.
"I'llwaitandsee,andif—"hesaidatlast,ashebegantopickhiswayoverthe
palmettostumpsandridgesofsandtillhecameupontheclearing.
Itwasanopenspaceoftwoorthreeacres,clearedfromtanglewoodanddwarf
palmettoes.Inthecentrewasalog-house,largerandmorepretentiousthanmany
log-houseswhichhehadseenintheSouth.AMarshalNielhadclimbedupone
cornertotheroof,andtwineditselfaroundthechimney,givingarather
picturesqueeffecttothehouse,andremindingthestrangerofsomeofthecabins
hehadseeninIreland,withivygrowingoverthem.Therewasanattemptata
flowergardenwheremanyroseswereblooming.Someonewasfondofflowers,
andthethoughtgavethestrangeragrainofcomfort,foraloveofflowerswas
associatedinhismindwithaninnaterefinementinthelover,andtherewasfora
momentatingeofbrightnessinthedarknesssettlinguponhisfuture.Aroundthe
housetherewasnosignoflifeorstir,exceptabroodofwell-grownchickens,
which,withtheirmother,werehuddledonthedoorstep,evidently

contemplatinganentranceintothehouse,thedoorofwhichwasopen,aswere
theshutterstothewindows,whichwereminusglass,aswasthefashionofmany
oldFloridahousesinthedaysbeforetheCivilWar.Withashootothechickens,
whichsentsomeintothehouseandothersflyingintotheyard,thestranger
steppedtothedoorandknocked,onceverygently,thenmoredecidedly—then,
astherecamenoresponse,heventuredin,anddrivingoutthechickens,oneof
whichhadmounteduponatableandwaspeckingatafewcrumbsofbreadleft


there,hesatdownandlookedabouthim.Intheloftwhichcouldhardlybe
dignifiedwiththenamechamber,heheardalowmurmurofvoices,andthe
soundoffootstepsmovingrapidly,asifsomeonewereinahurry.Theroomin
whichhesatwasevidentlylivinganddining-roomboth,andwasdestituteof
everythingwhichhedeemednecessarytocomfort.HehadbeeninaCracker's
housebefore,anditseemedtohimnowthathisheartturnedoverwhenhe
recalledhisvisitsthere,andhisutterdisregardofhissurroundings.
"Iwasafool,andblind,then;butIcanseenow,"hesaidtohimself,ashe
lookedaroundatthemarksofpoverty,orshiftlessness,orboth,andcontrasted
themwithhishomeintheNorth.
Thefloorwasbare,withtheexceptionofamatlaidbeforethedoorleadinginto
anotherandlargerroom,beforeoneofthewindowsofwhichawhitecurtain
wasgentlyblowinginthewind.Arough,uncoveredtablepushedagainstthe
wall,threeorfourchairs,andahair-clothsetteecompletedthefurniture,with
theexceptionofalowrocking-chair,inwhichsathuddledandwrappedina
shawlalittleoldwomanwhoseyellow,wrinkledfacetoldofthesnuffhabit,and
boreastrongresemblancetoamummy,exceptthatthewomanworeacapwith
aflutedfrill,andmovedherheadupanddownlikeChristmastoysofoldmen
andwomen.Shewasevidentlyasleep,asshegavenosignofconsciousnessthat
anyonewasthere.
"OldMiss,"thestrangersaid,andhisbreathagaincamegaspingly,andTom

Hardy'sadvicelookedmoreandmorereasonable,whilehecursedhimselffor
thefoolhehadbeen,andwouldhavegivenallhewasworth,andevenhalfhis
life,toberidofthisthingweighinghimdownlikeanightmarefromwhichhe
couldnotawaken.
Hewasrousedatlastbythesoundofbarefeetonthestairsinacornerofthe
room.Someonewascoming,andinamomentMandyAnnstoodbeforehim,
hereyesshining,andherteethshowingwhiteagainsttheebonyofherskin.In
herrushthroughthewoodsMandyAnnhadcomeuponheryoungmistress
lookingforthefewberrieswhichgrewuponthetangledbushes.
"MissDory,MissDory!"sheexclaimed,clutchingthegirl'sarmwithsuchforce
thatthepailfelltothegroundandtheberrieswerespilled,"youain'tgwinefor
tersellmetonobody?Sayyouain't,an'fo'deLawdI'llnevertouchnothin',nor
lie,norsassoleMiss,normakefacesandmumblelikeshedoes.I'llbeafustcut


nigger,an'saymyprarseberynight.I'sedonegotanewonedownter
Jacksonville.Sayyouain't."
InhersurpriseMissDorydidnotatfirstspeak;then,shakingMandyAnn'shand
fromherarmandpushingbackhersunbonnetshesaid:"Whatdoyoumean,and
wheredidyoucomefrom?The'Hatty,'Is'pose,butshemustbelate.I'dgiven
youup.Who'sgwineterbuyyer?"
"TeddonetolememabbydemanondeboatfromdeNorf,whatgotonter
Palatka,an'doneas'tthewayhyar,mightbeafterme—an'—"
Shegotnofurther,forherownarmwasnowclutchedashermistress'shadbeen,
whileMissDoryasked,"Whatman?Howdidhelook?Wharishe?"andher
eyes,shiningwithexpectancy,lookedeagerlyaround.
VeryrapidlyMandyAnntoldallsheknewofthestranger,whilethegirl'sface
grewradiantasshelistened."An'hedonehollerandsayhowhewantmean'
folleredme,an'whenIturnoffatthegravehewasstillfollerin'me.He'scomin'
hyar.Youwon'tsellme,shoo',"MandyAnnsaid,andhermistressreplied,"Sell

you?No.ItwasoneofTed'slies.Heismyfriend.He'scomin'toseeme.
Hurry!"
Eudorawasracingnowthroughthebriers,andweeds,andpalmettostumps,and
draggingMandyAnnwithher.
"Nevermindgranny,"shesaid,whentheyreachedthehouseandMandystopped
tosayhowd'yetotheoldwomaninthechair."Comeupstairswithmeandhelp
mechangemygown."
"FawdeLawd'ssake,isheyerbeau?"MandyAnnasked,asshesawthe
excitementofhermistress,whowastearingaroundtheroom,nowlaughing,
nowdashingthetearsawayandgivingthemostcontradictingordersastowhat
shewastowearandMandyAnnwastogetforher.
Theyheardthetwoknocksandknewthatsomeonehadenteredthehouse,but
MandyAnnwastoobusyblackingapairofbootstogoatonce,asshehadher
handstowash,andyet,althoughitseemedtohimanage,itwasscarcelytwo
minutesbeforeshecamedownthestairs,nimbleasacat,andbobbedbeforehim
withacourtesynearlytothefloor.Hermistresshadsaidtoher."Mindyour
manners.YousayyouhavelearnedaheapinJacksonville."


"Tobeshoo'.I'veseendequalitytharinMissPerkins'shouse,"MandyAnn
replied,andhencethecourtesyshethoughtratherfetching,althoughsheshooka
littleassheconfrontedthestranger,whosefeaturesneverrelaxedintheleast,
andwhodidnotanswerher."Howd'ye,Mas'r,"whichshefeltitincumbentto
say,astherewasnooneelsetoreceivehim.
MandyAnnwasverybright,andassheknewnorestraintinherFloridahome,
whenalonewithheroldMissandyoungMiss,shewasapttoberatherfamiliar
foranegroslave,andalittleinclinedtohumor.Sheknewwhomthegentleman
hadcometosee,butwhenhesaid."Isyourmistressathome?"sheturnedat
oncetothepieceofparchmentintherocking-chairandreplied."Tobeshoo.Dar
sheisindecharoverdar.Dat'soleMissLucy."

Goinguptothechair,shescreamedinthewoman'sear,"Wakeup,MissLucy.
I'sedonecomedhomean'thar'sagemmantoseeyou?Wakeup!"
Sheshookthebundleofshawlsvigorously,untiltheoldladywasthoroughly
rousedandglaredatherwithherdark,beadyeyes,whileshemumbled,"You
hyar,shakin'meso,youlimb.You,MandyAnn!Whardidyoucomefrom?"
"Jacksonville,incourse.Whar'dyouthink?An'hyar'sagemmancometosee
you,Itellyou.Wakeupan'sayhowd'ye."
"Wharishe?"theoldwomanasked,beginningtoshowsomeinterest,whilethe
strangeraroseandcomingforwardsaid,"Excuseme,madam.Itistheyoung
ladyIwishtosee—yourdaughter."
"Shehain'thermother.She'shergranny,"MandyAnnchimedinwithagood
dealofcontemptinhervoice,asshenoddedtothefigureinthechair,who,with
somesemblanceofwhatsheoncewas,putoutaskinnyhandandsaid,"I'mvery
pleasedtoseeyou.CallDory.She'llknowwhattodo."
ThislasttoMandyAnn,whoflirtedawayfromherandsaidtothestranger,"She
hain'tnosensemostly—somedaysmore,somedayslittler,an'to-dayshe's
littler.YouwantstoseeMissDory?She'supstarschangin'hergown,'caseshe
knowsyou'rehyar.Idonetoleher,an'herfacelitrightuplikedesunshinin'in
demawnin'.Willyougimmeyourcaird?"
ThiswasMandyAnn'smaster-strokeatgoodmanners.Shehadseensuchthings
at"MissPerkins's"inJacksonville,andhadonceortwicetakenacardona


silvertraytothatlady,andwhynotbringthefashiontoherownhome,ifitwere
onlyalog-cabin,andsheabare-foot,bare-leggedwaitress,insteadofMrs.
Perkins'smaidRachel,smartinslippersandcap,andwhiteapron.Foramoment
thestranger'sfacerelaxedintoabroadsmileattheludicrousnessofthesituation.
MandyAnn,whowasquickofcomprehension,understoodthesmileand
hastenedtoexplain.
"Idonelarn'taheapofthingsatMissPerkins's,whichwecan'tdohyar,'caseof

oleMissbein'soquar.MissDory'dlike'emrightwell."
"Certainly,"thestrangersaid,beginningtohaveagooddealofrespectforthe
poorslavegirltryingtokeepupthedignityofherfamily.
TakingacardfromhiscasehehandedittoMandyAnn,wholookedatit
carefullyasifreadingthename,althoughshehelditwrongsideup.Therewas
nosilvertraytotakeiton—therewasnotrayatall—buttherewasachinaplate
keptasanornamentonashelf,andonthisMandyAnnplacedthecard,andthen
dartedupthestairs,findinghermistressnearlydressed,andwaitingforher.
"Oh,hiscard?Hegaveittoyou?"Eudorasaid,flushingwithpleasurethathe
hadpaidherthiscompliment,andpressingherlipstothenamewhenMandy
Anndidnotseeher.
"Incoursehedoneginittome.Dat'sdewaywiddequalitybothSoufandNorf.
Welivin'hyarindeclarin'doanknownoffin'."MandyAnnreplied.
OnthestrengthofherthreemonthssojournwithMrs.Perkins,whowas
undeniablyquality,shefeltherselfcapableofteachingmanythingstoheryoung
mistress,whohadseldomrepressedher,andwhonowmadenoanswerexceptto
ask,"HowdoIlook?"
Shehadhesitatedamomentastothedressshewouldwearinplaceoftheone
discarded.Shehadveryfewtoselectfrom,andfinallytookdownawhitegown
sacredtoher,becauseoftheoneoccasiononwhichshehadwornit.Itwasa
coarsemuslin,butmaderatherprettilywithsatinbowsonthesleeves,and
shoulders,andneck.Severaltimes,sinceshehadhungitonapegunderasheet
tokeepitfromgettingsoiled,shehadlookedatitandstrokedit,wonderingif
shewouldeverwearitagain.Nowshetookitdownandsmoothedthebowsof
ribbon,andbrushedaspeckfromtheskirt,whiletherecametohereyesarush
ofgladtearsassheputiton,withathoughtthathewouldlikeherinit,andthen


triedtoseeitseffectinthelittleeightbytwelvecrackedglassuponthewall.All
shecouldseewasherheadandshoulders,andsosheaskedtheopinionof

MandyAnn,whoansweredquickly,"Youdonelookbeautiful—somelikede
youngladiesinJacksonville,andsomelikeyouwasgwinetobemarried."
"PerhapsIam,"Eudorareplied,withajoyousringinhervoice."Wouldyoulike
tohavemegetmarried?"
MandyAnnhesitatedamomentandthensaid,"I'sepromisednevertotoleyou
nomo'lies,sodisisdetruffe,efIwastodrapdead.I'dlikeyoutomarrysome
degemmansinJacksonville,orsomedemwhocomestodeBrockHouse,but
nothimdownstars!"
"Whynot?"Eudoraasked,andtherewasalittlesharpnessinhervoice.
"'Case,"MandyAnnbegan,"youas'tme,an'fo'deLawdImus'telldetruffe.
He'sverytallan'gran',an'w'arsfineclose,an'han'siswhiteasacottonbat,but
hiseyesdoansetrightinhishead.Theylookhard,an'notabitsmilin',an'he
looksproudasefhethoughtwewasdirt,an'demwhitehan's—Ido'know,but
pearslikethey'dsqueezebodyan'soultillyoudonecrywidpain.Doanyougo
fortomarryhim,MissDory,willyou?"
AtfirstMandyAnnhadopenedandshutherblackfingers,assheshowedhow
thestranger'swhitehandswouldsqueezeone'sbodyandsoul;thentheyclosed
roundhermistress'sarmasshesaid,"Doanyoumarryhim,MissDory,will
you?"
"No,"Eudoraanswered,"don'tbeasilly,butgodownandbringmearose,if
youcanfindonetwo-thirdsopen.Iworeonewiththisdressbeforeandheliked
it,andas'tmetogiveittohim.Mebbyhewillnow,"shethought,whilewaiting
forMandyAnn,whosooncamebackwithabeautifulrosehiddenunderher
apron.
"StruesI'mbawn,Ib'lievehe'sdonegonetosleeplikeoleMiss—he'ssettin'thar
sostill,"shesaid.
Buthewasfarfrombeingasleep.Hehadgoneoveragainandagainwith
everythingwithinhisrangeofvision,fromtheoldwomannoddinginherchair,
tothebucketofwaterstandingoutsidethedoor,withagourdswimmingonthe
top,andhewaswonderingatthedelay,andfeelingmoreandmorethathe