The Storyteller THE MAYFLOWER AT THE GULCH

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXXVI, Issue 18, 7 May 1908, Page 3

The Storyteller THE MAYFLOWER AT THE GULCH

Bob. was moody and silent. The .poor fellow was'intensely, fiercely jealous. Ruth, too, was very qudet. In her heart, she bitterly resented her bctrotneds attitude to these, her beloved friends. She leaned back, in her chair, and calmly, dispassionately, compared bjiin with the men sitting opposite— not to his advantage. Soon she p-leaded fatigue, ?nd bade her friends goodnight From behind lan acacia tree in the garden, Bob watched her walking up the street, escorted by Thornton Besti. He (noticed withi satisfaction that there was no linge.ing leave- taking at the door of Bent ley's Bower. . The girl seemed to be cold— a brisk wind was blowing down from the foothills,— and jshe wenti in at once, while Best kept on his self-satisfied way to the hotel. ' He talks li!>e a turkey cock! ' thought Bob, disgustedly. 'If it were any one else I should not care ■; but. that tailor's block! ' ' • He lit a cigar and pulled away moodily. In front of Doctor Stewart's office, across the road, a horse was standing, pawing tbs earth restlessly. k Doc ' was j an elderly man, reputed very skilful on those rare occasions when he was sober. People said that he was destroying ibimself with opiates and drink.; but it was a case of Holbson's choice with them, for he was the only physician within ten miles. The* Doctor's doior opened suddenly, and a man 'evidently a mexican, with a girl in ,his arms, sprang down the steps, leaped .0" the horse's back, and was gone Sup the street like a whirlwind. Bob stared alter this api ardtion. 1 Who r"d_th s 0 lite th'oii"h the night wind wild ?' he rnurmused, the quaint old logeix! of the Erkling I'ecurring to his 'mind. '• It is really a father j<nd child, ' replied **Vlrs. jLuke, who had come tout unnoticed and now stood at his elbow, ' That is Prospero sDiaz and little Carmela. I wonder what can be the matter ?' Site shivered, although a fleecy shawl covered her shoulders. There was an unmistakable air of tragedy in the figure of the reckless rider with his spurs |sunk deeply in the horse's flanks, and tills childfs hair streaming, in the wind. ' Let us go in), said Luke, who was standing beside his wife. ' You had tetter stay with us for a I'ew day?: Bob. You are beginning to look seedy.' Ruth went about her household tasks the next morning 1 with less than her usual sprightliness. Had Thornlon Best changed or had she? In New York, one short year ago, he ihad seemed to her the beau-ddeal of everything manly and good* ; now she found herself criticising his every move and speech. Tt was puzzling, certainly, but his very {presence seemed to imitate her. There was a knock at the door, ancl Mrs. Luke DWlon walked in quickly. 1 My dear,-' she Vegan, ' do you know that little Carmela Diaz lias smallpox ? Luke |was told of it in the store a few minutes ago. After you had left us last, niight, we saw the father ride j'away with her from Doctor Stewart's house, like one possessed.' ' But where could she ihave caught it ? ' asked Ruth •very much startled. v ' That jis hard to say. It seems that x an Tnjdiami once-ilfed of smallpox in that filthy old abode where they live. But that was a |lon>m time ago.' /"" 1 Poor little Carmela ! ' Ruth said with a sigh". ' God thelp her ! The worst of it is, that there is* ,no one to care for her except that half-insane father of hers,' continued Mrs. Luke, ' Old Tia Dolores as on the other side of Las Nivas, attending the mother of a laiige family who is" down with 1 typhoid. Elvaryoine else seems afr'aild of smallpox.' 'I am going [to her,' said Ruth, calmly. ' I never take any disease, and I was vaccinated a year agoli' 'You. Ruth? Nonsence 1 ; Your uncle 'and -your brother would (never foVgive .me if anything happened -to you during their absence.-' _ ./ _ ' But nothing iis godng to. happen to "me, dear -Mrs. Luke ; (for I shall taVe proper precautions. I must go and get ready at once.' • ' - . ■<' ' She went a hurriedly •to .her* bedroom, where she made un a. parcel of ' bed. linen, !so-an, towels, and so -forth. Then she took from the" pan try- some! Liejheg's extract, ' coni'densorl milk, and' other delicacies. In Ithe meantime, Mrs.' "Luke had." noticed Thornton Best, approaching the house,- and half opened the 'door

(Continued from last week.)

for him. In stome trepddallion, she had told the S y^ 4- hls fiancee>3 projected jerrand of mercy. Wliat : go to a pltfi/gue-'stricKen hut in order to nurse her^ favourite pupil through smallpox ? I shall " soon see about that. Are you cdmingu Ruth'?' he called sharply. & > ' ,M!ss Masnon .came ia, looking in nowise ashamed, of tier delinquency. a,** I *-! 18 "iS 688 .*© rriser i ses c any objections, Thornton ' she saad composedly. ' The |child will die if. she is not properly cared tor, and I intend to nurse h.r.' - 1 should have thoupht y o u had better .sence t o an. to. risk your health and good looks for the JL «? » r.e«=s RUth had Plenty ° f Spi - i!> ' in ' spite ~ of her g ent leMrs., Luke; kpenftr efesar^ ito> « „*• m A^ sac «°m^ to end here and now ' ' s*fSsf o?tr toonths and " iaoi^ » » «?w£ wdth^hisX^; sat c precincts ot the Bow6r a flw w „t*° ,S?, S ? you go alcme ' Buth .-' said Mrs. Luke l< I know de a r> answered the c ii.l. " Dick nn d unrip «Pv? UU + th hia f need iof ?'l]l? ' I]l her iaivh and courage in the next two hours. She found poor Carmela lying ori a ■ ter e in° s*^ ?U? U ' ilts in a Corner o£ the a bodf v muttering deliriously in. Sp&msh. Her father sat. in, a nF a !f+f .S. S H head , bowed in his hMds - llis attitude one St" ffd not Sp sZr 7 - HC looted UP a ~ S Ruth entered ' softly. haVe C ° me to talQe Care o£ Carm ela,' she said ) Yes,' as if he did not iunderstand. m^n^LT S olhe? e thfn° g T $? '^ hfe -^nelaed^nr 111 " 1^" 17 If ° r She bed and a*K? co^foSblJ'chaTrs 7 . had DidC>S Camp " reburneT responded, thinking Senor Diaz had st^f n °? f as re P ea *e«.- She opened the 'door and " 225? a faCe With Rafc6rt Bi:ion - c had 'a l£ hSri&l? whil^ 8 --, PlaCi^ « ,her arms, he J2d the room : * Cen eyeS took in the *°™*V 3 ihJ S S ° m f r chilldre n's- garments anU "bedding wm ? g^? - + S - ent sor5 or you ? patfent ' Mss Mas o»-' trai? t^ w Waitmg f ° r a "P l^^ bounded down th e to ai shuf dtheloo??d the loo??" 6 ° Vt ° £ befOie She had time iK a .t Well '^ a Said f the v. sirl - tO , herself ' ■ C " one w< > ulld tWnk SSSd of^lS. + I>r»«PlenAd physique, would not be aHki it «?«?" a « thll . n ? as But they are all alike, II suppose,'— with deep, disgust. slfe S?^?m J^^./h'avfW returned with the water, seemed further to refresh ithe little one, and she presher genttl iJurs^ ""^ thesoothin S ministrations of +w n hour x <> r m °re "passed in this manner, and then tSftiSFr^f +?*? ,** wheels outsilde - Lilhortng the trail came the delivery waggon from Dillon's «4neraj store. Beside the driver, old Con Reardon-a well-fknown figure at the Gulch,-sat R o bert Dillon ' He jumped nimbly to the ground, and |wifch Con's assistance, deposited thereon a- couch', a camp bed, -some chairs, ' a|r^ various -boxes amid 1 paickaiges.. From t.ho open Woor Prospera Diaz watched him in wonder Bob

app <TS° ' Cou ' r , te °usly lifting his hat to the Mexican. • -a it -" you . k!lnril y help me fo move these things inside^ he -sjid. ' JLjam a fiiend of the senottta, and have come to help yotf and her take care of the sick enil-tt,— if you will permit me, senor.'~~ I thank you very much,- senior ! but that is for the senonta to decide,' Max replied with equal* politelI6SSt - ' No, no Mr. Dillon ! ' said -Ruth, coming forward You must not thank of coming in. It was very a ood of you to jbring these things, a nd I shall never forget your kindness \ but Sew^ Diaz and myself can easily move tfoemr insade.' y t^r^z^jg 0 *••*»?•■ >* &~& - XJ lf w° UTU T ™* 1 a l loW me insid e/I can stay in tKe ■plat-ofthJzS^ S ° aWaY nn ° W ' dl/her t0 Luk6'o v a P °?+ ° nde l n her ' life » Miss Mason found ' nothing to eToicJd 17? tZ* l*^,* 0 Pr °K St ' anti <in her heartUe t?X» W she had been mistaken in her former esS toih ma ! Deforo-her. Unconciousl°y hi l& ce?Sn Sflf£ f he '°!! + * nd Sbe could not suppress a oh?r tt k l^ nt at the - thou^t t-hat it was comfort Tr?J a^ be aS bravin « contagion' and discomtort.. True, the primness inherited from a lone, ane of Puritan ancestors caused her to demur fa lifctU All th P r ?? an T + {must yield t0 gnm necessity! i)? P mm + P + 'u an '4 setlin S the room to rights" wfth YbSa. He Z ISPtaT ° TU f° n t0 " fetch Doctor v/illjbe sober' be Very cleve f' and atr-ldtet he Ruih nodded without sneakin«. J If°fii! *!r! r m .^ nlcht m^ came to her. herself the fac^ that her Patient t^ e ° n ? eal - from Doctor Ybara- a stout fussy little man Swith lar^ gold-r,immed glasses' and thdck, rumpled' ha ir as whfte as John Anderson's « p o w, '-was bending overCarmea t&i^m^^uT 1 *^ manner - H^ •' What foolishness to talk of smallpox 'p he exofT^ Isarcas1 sarcast 4 i call y- 'The .little one has [congestion of the lungs, Complicated with chicken-pox She is , very sick obild, but she has not [smallpox ' _-Tnen, seatin? himsielf without ceremony' he liftßd - / capacious «lack satchel on his knee md USn tS tors. ?S4. r,f • ss t r

would stay with the (child while you go home to-night ,:and. rest?' ,-. . . >: • . • ~ Then . the priest spoke : * Yes : .there | is Tia Magdalena at Jose Htera's They will let. her come, now they know" it Is not " smallpox.' (Ruth noticed how kind were his eyes, how refined his "voice). ' I am goitip- there' now and ' shall senid her over.' i , - He was as good as his word, and Tia Magdalena, proved to be , a most [capable, woman ; s o Ruth put on ncr hat , that ,e\lennng, a-nd^Rrepared to return to the Bower-for a -good nigWt's i^&Kobert Dillon had lingered around the" outhouse on various pretexts ' (all Ihe afternoon, and -now stood at .the [door of the abode waitin<r to escort hendown the trail.' .She took la "last look at her charge, who was now- sleeping jq,uietly. - 'I shall be "here early in, the morning to' relieve you,' she said to .the Mexican woman. * Good-night !' . ■ Goort-nieht, senonita'!-' was tbe soft freply. •>/ As th girl- stepped' "&ut -in%. the sunset, Prospero w! aZ V S^ A - t^7^ i he ?^^e held out her hand to mum, sayfnifi ,a f fe|w, emootisvf@& words. He Iraisad fit :respectfully to his. lips. % *i>, f#s ,''•"*.,' ,-t> '} .? annot thar(k-you, ho sai.^ brokenly. • c m^ f l should e . ver l> e "able to show my gratitude—' " ?«f v + er l ! 1S a! lo^,^ X gratelul , for; senor,' she urterupted kindly. ' I l o v e the child, and could not -do otherwise. But )I am going to- ask you 1. O promise "me one tming. - . • /^^^^-^^yt-hing in mv power ! ' he replied •vn, ™n H- a t F^° n^ S , C i. armela recovers, I beg that you will Itake her back to her mother's people.' •' I promise faithfully, senorita,, and I, too, - shall l.eg^n; a ,new life .in my. own country ' -. _ l>iilon .watched ithe. scene with moist eyes. What a £d 'iiiS "w* n / A° pefu I ly of the 'Wadc sheep, they ' had just left, and did not a f- first notice her com-amon-fl silence. When (they had covered about half t?e - distance to - the Gulch, she remarked facetio"sly ; <£r,? enny , for your thoughts, Senor fDtllon :' «i, t > excla ™^ Bob, startled: His thoughts— ' what iwere they? Ruth ' he saH-Ms earnest S, re ■ T^Sl-v '? ° t I e I denths the words came haltmily,-> voi i miisfr know what I think of you. lam only a ro.gh fellow, an® life in a rancb house i 8i 8 hardly tb, thmc for a dainty child like you. An-cl'-2S,in^ m Tr« 1)IV conscious +.hat he should not have ■ spoken at all- we fare not of tbe same faith.' nniM r h eclaiicorl up at him s^vly. Wh.<vl ,n humble ' omnlon ho had of himself, this king among men ! - Sllv {IS" pvpA° f dGrS W M re Stoope(i iforw ard dpsnondmaly ins eyes .hent mo O Mv upon the pronn^. Suddehvoice'i^ll^S Jn^ slwm in t° Us > bnd the soft est \vu.e in an the world murmured : oVoii" 1 ? 7 count J7, sI L a " he »niv country, and thy God .^"AonrWofess 1!^1 !^ t0 '^ 7Wt J^' The little band was "defowifd : and slowly they pursued .their Homeward wayr with the eoldien glory of the all about them. " - l?«i« II ,° Pper Gulrh " ahout an H <> ur llat er, a-^a -^ htfJe the worse for a prolonged Istay at the .Dutchman s. As they passed the mlinature garden of the * 5 ol%*. rf 7 . be ?? mc l a Y- are of tw <> rustic chairs placed S.+? 5? proxim i tv ' l an ' ai occupiwl respectively -by Miss Ruth Mason and Mr. Robert Dillon voice <%\, i Sa f d 2C2 C r tf 7 dn a *W«*«ou» .tone" of here ' for^ie tendejf-ooft that was SR ntJ°Mv ma T-^ et your last lone w*o does ' ' asiTS -^Li^S," 7 -i, " I.^ought. there was something ' Aye mom,' irejoine'd Scotfey: „. ' ' " / * Aye Maria .