for a little while after mr. stewart had communicated this important news they all sat in perfect stillness: c. b. because he did not in the least understand what had happened, but he could see it was something that had tremendously upset these two people who were so dear to him. mr. stewart was the first to speak.
“i can never feel sufficiently grateful,” he said, “for the impulse to fix up that annuity for taber on the spot and for yielding to it. it was only in the nick of time, for this great crash came yesterday afternoon. had i been in san francisco it would not have—— but there, why should i say that, levy is as good and keen and straight a man as i am, and the very best of us get caught sometimes. even now, if it wasn’t for you, my boy, i think i should have turned to and had a fight for it; but you’ve kinder infected me with your pleasant doctrines, putting me out of conceit with money grubbing for its own sake.”
mary here burst in impetuously—
“oh, dear daddy, that i should hear you say so makes me so glad. i feel glad to think that we have lost our money if only we can get to this happy land that christmas is looking forward to so hungrily. i felt almost jealous of it, and now i am as eager as he is.”
just then a rap came at the door and in walked[pg 306] the bell-boy with a telegram. the old gentleman tore it open and fell back in his chair, his face ghastly. both mary and c. b. sprang to his assistance, but he roused himself with an effort, and waving them back to their seats said, in a hard, strained voice—
“mary, my love, your poor mother couldn’t stand the strain, she’s dead.”
mary sat as if stricken to the heart, unable to speak, but she was a girl of great force of character, and she was rallying all her forces to meet this quite unexpected blow.
so her father resumed, saying, “she always had a weak heart as you know, dear, and besides she always had a dread that we should come to poverty. and so i suppose, when some heartless fool blurted out in her hearing that levy and stewart had burst up, the blow was more than she could stand. and so she died far away from me. poor mary, dear wife. there’s one consolation, she went as she had always wished to go without a long probation of pain, instantaneously from one life to another, thank god. and now, dear ones, i’ll get you to excuse me. i’ve been very hard hit and i feel old and tired. i need rest and quiet, and so i’ll go to my room and lie down a bit. christmas, i’ll leave you to comfort mary as no one else can.” and he left the room, walking heavily, almost dragging one foot after the other.
c. b. rose on the instant and strode to mary’s side, where she sat with lips tight shut, her cheeks flushed and her eyes bright and dry.
“dearest one,” he murmured, taking her in his strong arms, “don’t fight against your natural feelings. it is sometimes good to cry, i feel sure it would be good for you now. and if ever any one had reason to cry it is at the loss of a good mother.”
[pg 307]
the last word, softly uttered as it was by her lover, touched the hidden spring of her tears, and they flowed, easily, gently, but copiously, c. b. holding her in his arms and stroking her beautiful hair as if she were a child. and at last she lifted her head and looked him full in the face, saying—
“i do thank god, christmas, that we’ve got you in this difficult time. do you know, i think even poor old dad will come to lean upon you directly as i feel i must do now. why is it, i wonder? i suppose because you are really dwelling in the shadow of the almighty god, and the changes and chances of this mortal life seem such trivial things to you.”
c. b. fondled her hair a moment or two longer before he replied—
“no, darling, they none of them seem trivial, but i know in whom i have believed, and because he is infinitely wise i do not worry, being sure that he will do his part. i only try to do mine without hitting my head against a brick wall, as i now know some people do if they want to get it down, instead of waiting to hear from god whether it is good that the wall shall come down or not.”
“ah,” she said in reply, “i’m afraid i shall never come to your standard. even now you don’t seem to worry at all about getting back home, yet i feel you must be longing to see your mother and father again and all your friends as well. and it is so far away as well as being a difficult place to get to. i have not heard you say one impatient word about getting back, and, do you know, dearest (i’m going to tell you everything), i can’t help wondering sometimes whether you are not just a little callous, unfeeling in some things.”
as she said this she looked at him keenly to see how he would take it. his face lit up with a beautiful[pg 308] smile as he replied, “no, dearest, i don’t think so. i do feel very keenly, more keenly than i wish, all that goes on around me, but if i have understood anything of the character of jesus, its principal feature was that in his love for others he had no room for thinking about himself. all that concerned his personal welfare he left to his father, and in that i do try, i have always tried to imitate him, because i have found it the easiest thing to do, i suppose. what seems so strange to me is that any one should wonder at me doing this or trying to do it. the gospels are full of instructions about it, christianity seems to be built on the words ‘trust in god,’ and yet you, dearest, and others whom i have met who are like-minded, look upon me as a being whom they cannot understand for practising what is so continually preached.”
all she answered was—
“forgive me, dear, if i can help it i will never allude to it again, but try as hard as i can to imitate the practice, knowing from your example how good it is. but i can tell you one thing that will surprise you,” she went on. “if any of my friends, however christian their profession, had been in our position, you would have heard worrying and weeping enough, i can assure you. people don’t cast all their care upon the lord in practice, only in theory, at least no people that i’ve ever met but you. and it seems to me that you don’t get any care, that is you don’t let things become a care to you.”
just then mr. stewart came in, looking perceptibly older and seeming to stoop more. “now, my children,” he said, “it will be best for us to have a consultation. i’ve quite made up my mind to go with you to norfolk island, in fact i had i think before this news came of my double loss. but it[pg 309] would simplify matters considerable if you two were married, as well as save expense. what’s your idea, mary, it’s no use asking him, because it’s just one of those things that he wouldn’t trouble about—you’ll have to decide that for him after worrying me so to let you have him.”
“father,” said mary, “would it be right and proper so soon after mother’s death?”
“i’ve thought of that,” rejoined he, “and unless you care about what people say i don’t see where the objection lies. when our dear one was with us she only thought of our happiness, and now she’s gone i’m sure her spirit is the same towards us. besides, if you really care about what people say, remember that nobody knows you here, nor, unless you want to have the usual big show of a wedding, will anybody know. if i was you i’d cut all that business out, and i’m sure that if you consult christmas he’ll feel the same about it as i do. only, my best beloved one, do remember that on this, the greatest occasion of your dear life, i want you to be quite satisfied and happy.”
while this conversation was proceeding c. b. sat and listened with a far-away expression in his eyes, which he always wore when anything was being talked about which he did not understand. and although the subject under consideration was of vital interest to him, he did not in the least comprehend their observations upon it. and mary, catching sight of his face, said with a smile—
“oh, father, it’s just too funny us discussing this before him as if he had nothing to do with it at all. it’s so strange that he should know nothing of these things. tell us, dear one”—to c. b.—“what a wedding is like with your people?”
his face brightened directly and he answered—
[pg 310]
“oh, it is very simple and pretty. we make it a festive occasion throughout the whole community, no work being done on that day except what is necessary. the young people stand up before mr. mccoy, who has a licence to marry people, and he joins hands pronouncing them man and wife in the sight of god and of all the people. they take one another for husband and wife and they are thus made one. then we have singing, very much singing and praising god. but before the marriage everybody has helped to build a house and prepare a piece of land for the couple so that they have a place to themselves, i was going to say of their own, but we don’t understand anything being our own as other folks do. the idea of having anything which we will not share with others is not known among us.”
“but how about wedding garments?” queried mary, with a touch of true femininity.
“well, as you know,” replied c. b., “we are not troubled with many clothes, but we put on the best we have, as we do on sunday when we all meet at stated hours to worship god in company. and the girls wear flowers in their hair, which makes them look pretty.”
mr. stewart here interposed, saying—
“i don’t think i’d pursue the subject any further if i were you, mary. we can be as simple as c. b.’s folk if we like and i think we had better. as we are going to live like this i think it would be foolish not to begin as early as we can, and i suggest that we go to a parson and let him marry you just as is done in the country by eloping couples,” and he laughed aloud, saying immediately after: “don’t think me unfeeling, but the thought of hefty jim stewart’s daughter getting spliced in such a hole and corner fashion as this makes me. i reckon in[pg 311] the ordinary way your nuptials would have run me into a couple of hundred thousand dollars at the very least, and we’d a made the pacific slope hum.” for a moment he looked regretful and then his face cleared and he added, “but i hope we’ve left that costly kind o’ tomfoolery behind us for ever, darling, and i’m sure we’ll be happier.”
therefore it came about that the next day, after judicious inquiries made by mr. stewart, that the three went over to brooklyn to a quiet manse, where mary stewart and christmas bounty adams were made one by an aged minister, who behaved as if he fully realized the solemn nature of the ceremony and was in full sympathy with the comely pair. and when mr. stewart, with a touch of past lavishness would have pressed a fifty-dollar bill on him as a fee, he refused firmly, saying, “my fee is five dollars, and i would not take that but that i have to live. do not tempt me with much money, friend, for it brings a snare as i know full well.” then he gave them his blessing and they returned to the everett house, mr. stewart introducing the newly wedded pair to the proprietor as mr. and mrs. adams, in order to save explanations and invidious remarks.
the rest of the afternoon was devoted to clearing up mr. stewart’s business affairs, a task of no great difficulty, in which he was aided by his daughter. it mainly consisted in surrendering all he possessed, except a sum of twenty thousand dollars or four thousand pounds, to the receivers of his estate. that sum he considered would suffice for all their needs in their new life, and for everything else preliminary to commencing it. and this being all put in train the old gentleman rose with a sigh of relief, collected his papers and put them away. then he said—
[pg 312]
“love and business are all very well in their way, but we must also eat; and now i vote that we go down to the restaurant and do so. it is early for the regular diners, so that we shall not be crowded.”
he did not tell them that he had ordered a simple little dinner for the three of them at the far end of the room, where they could be almost in private; and when c. b. saw the pretty little table decorated with choice flowers, his face lighted up, and with great delight he called his bride’s attention to what he considered the kindly behaviour of the proprietor.
the meal proceeded in the happiest fashion, for though the food was of the simplest and best they all ate but sparingly, for their hearts were full of joy and their minds full of hope. but they could not help noticing that at a table not far from them there was a party of four young men whose behaviour, from being quiet and gentlemanly at the outset, as bottle after bottle of champagne was emptied became boisterous and rude. presently it became evident that their attention was entirely directed to the table where our friends sat, and as their voices grew louder and louder the epithet “nigger” was frequently heard. mr. stewart and mrs. adams heard all too clearly, but c. b. was quite unmoved, for although he heard the uproar he did not understand its import. at last one of the roysterers rose and shouted for the head waiter, who came instantly; whereupon the young man demanded to know why a nigger, coupling the word with other abuse, was allowed to dine in the same room with white men.
the head waiter endeavoured to explain, but as he did so the other three joined in the talk, which grew louder and louder until the proprietor was[pg 313] brought up by one of the other waiters. by this time mr. stewart was fully alive to what was going on, as was his daughter, and mary whispered her father that they might slip away. but there was a dangerous look in the old man’s eyes now and he indignantly repudiated the suggestion. then c. b. leaned over and asked him whatever could be the matter, and how the broil at another table could affect them. stewart looked straight at him for a moment and then said—
“the wine has got into their foolish heads, and they are discussing you as a nigger who has no right to dine in the same room as them. and if i know the signs, unless the proprietor is a man of grit, there’s going to be big trouble.”
he had hardly uttered the words before a big raw-boned youth sprang to his feet and shouted—
“it’s an outrage to have to sit in the same room with a nigger, and you are a beast to allow it. but i’m going to have him out of it as you haven’t got the grit, and so here goes.”
with that the crazy creature leapt across the room knocking his chair half a dozen feet away, and seized the unconscious c. b. by the collar and arm, at the same time yelling foul abuse. there was a shriek from mary, but her father held her arm as she was about to spring to her husband’s rescue.
“keep quiet,” he said, “this is where your husband comes in.”
indeed it was, for c. b., as quietly as if he had been invited to look at something, rose from his seat and winding his arms around the frantic youth placed him helpless on the floor. this unexpected defeat of their champion enraged the other three, who rushed to the rescue, but were in their turn, attacked by the waiters, who at the proprietor’s bidding charged on[pg 314] them in force, and succeeded in overpowering them.
then c. b. lifted his prostrate enemy into a chair, and holding him with one hand as if he had been a child waited while mr. stewart said—
“you shameless brutes to behave like this. lucky for you that the english gentleman you’ve attacked is as good a christian as you are bad citizens, or some of you would have been broken all up. you americans! i know ye by the back, and you’re a lot of dirt that brings shame upon the name of american. take ’em away,” he said to the waiters, “and put ’em on the pavement. it isn’t worth having them arrested, for better folks than them would be hurt. now, sir,” turning to the proprietor who stood looking anxious, “what do you think of this?”
“well, sir,” replied the proprietor, “i think you and your son-in-law and his wife had better go as soon as ever you can. you see i’ve got my living to get and i can’t run counter to public opinion. i’ve no doubt that mr. adams is a perfect gentleman, but he is a bit dark, and, well, i needn’t explain to you, you know all about it. i shall be glad if you’ll go to-night, for i don’t think you’d like to hurt a man that hasn’t harmed you.”
stewart gave him a look of withering contempt, and then bidding c. b. and his daughter see to their packing went out, returning in half an hour with the news that he had secured rooms in a good family hotel, and concealing the fact that he had arranged for them to have their meals in private during their stay. an hour later saw them transferred, mr. stewart saying to the proprietor as he took his leave: “i bear you no ill will, my friend, but if you knew the kind of man you’ve turned out of your house to-night[pg 315] you’d be sorry for having done so. he’s worth a whole city full of such empty-headed dregs as those who insulted him.”
“i fully believe it, mr. stewart,” answered the man, “but there’s no sentiment in business, and i can’t afford to shut my hotel up because the presence of a good man in it is objected to. in fact we hotel proprietors make our living mostly out of the bad men, and we must look after their interest or go out of the business.”
stewart was so angry that he could not answer, and as soon as possible they left those inhospitable walls and took up their quarters in their new abode, feeling, if the truth be told, almost like fugitives from justice. then when they had settled down they began to think about getting away, and for the first time since they had known him c. b. began to show signs of enthusiasm. it was no easy matter to find any vessel that was going near their destination, but at last they heard of a large boston barque that was bound to sydney, new south wales, with kerosene oil in cases, and they went down to see her. she was a fine powerful vessel of about 1,300 tons, but by no means intended to carry passengers. but like most ships of her type she had been built with due regard to the comfort of her officers as far as accommodation went, and in her roomy saloon there were two cabins vacant which mr. stewart and c. b. pronounced to be just the thing for them.
so they arranged a passage to sydney for the three of them for four hundred dollars, the captain, a shrewd down-easter by the name of eldridge, agreeing to lay in extra stores so that they should fare well on the long passage. also mr. stewart decided to have the cabins comfortably fitted up, for they looked very bare, and having made his [pg 316]arrangements and learned that the julia d. south was to sail in ten days’ time they returned to their temporary home well pleased with their day’s work.
to mr. stewart’s earnest inquiries c. b. replied that he could give a list of everything that was most needed by his friends on the island, for as mr. stewart said, it would look mean to go there, intending to stay for life, empty handed, especially when coming from a land where all the necessaries as well as the luxuries of life could be so readily procured. so for the next few days c. b. and his wife were very busily engaged collecting goods to take with them and having them carefully packed for sending to the ship. and when at last the sailing day came they went on board with the full assurance that nothing had been forgotten, and that they were besides as well equipped for the long passage before them as it was possible for them to be.
c. b. as the time drew near for leaving america grew steadily more lively and happy looking, indeed, as his wife said affectionately, he seemed quite transformed. her spirits rose with his, for she had been somewhat depressed at the near prospect of leaving the land of her birth as she felt for ever. in spite of her deep and true love for her husband and the certainty she felt that she could know no happiness apart from him, such feelings were perfectly natural and to be expected. but when she saw how sedately happy her father seemed to be, and how bright her husband was, she resolutely put aside all regrets and determined henceforth to look forward only.
punctually to the day the julia d. south cast off her moorings and in tow of a small tug went swiftly seaward, her three passengers standing on the monkey poop and watching the fast receding shores with keen interest. c. b., however, was not long[pg 317] before all his attention was claimed by the working of the ship. it seemed to him so very long since he had taken his part in what had become his profession that he watched with keenest appreciation every bit of work done, his fingers itching to have a share in it. at last, at the hoisting of the topsails, he could restrain himself no longer, seeing how great a task it was for her numerically weak crew, and rushing along to the halyards he caught hold high above the hands of the two men who were pulling before the block, and in an instant they felt the benefit of his vigorous assistance.
then he forgot all about his being a passenger and to his wife and mr. stewart’s unfeigned amusement joined in heart and soul with the crew at their work, making his presence most helpfully felt in everything he touched. as he was doing so the skipper drew near mr. stewart and his daughter, saying—
“our friend’s been a sailor man, i should say, from the way he handles himself!”
“you may well say that,” replied mr. stewart. “he was a boat steerer or harponeer in a south sea whaler, and according to what his old skipper said the very best in the ship. i’ve never seen him at his work before, but judging from what i know of him i should say he would be extra good at anything he undertook. he’s that kind of a man, isn’t he, dear?”
“indeed he is,” replied mary, “and oh, i’m so glad that he’s found something that he likes to do. i know how he has been suffering for exercise lately.”
when presently c. b. rejoined them, looking with an air of comic ruefulness at his hands, they roasted him unmercifully for forgetting his dignity as a[pg 318] cuddy passenger at which he only smiled and replied—
“see what a lazy life does for a man. my hands have got that soft that it is most painful for me to hold a rope. they feel as if they were all red hot.” and the skipper, who was listening, laughed loudly before he remarked that it sounded so familiar to him who had suffered much in the same way himself.
they had an excellent slant of wind right from the start, which was most fortunate, for the crew were a poor lot and needed licking into shape according to yankee ideas before they were fit to do all that was required of them. this same drilling hurt c. b. horribly, but recognizing his position he did not venture to interfere in any way, even when his gentle wife expressed her indignation at the harsh treatment the men were receiving. after all, as he explained to her, there was little real cruelty, it was little more than drill, though he thought unnecessarily harsh, and he told her of several incidents on board the eliza adams which amazed her.
so that by the time they had reached the equator she was a smart ship and c. b. with his willing hands, his ready smile and his perfect habit of non-interference except to help with his great strength was a highly popular favourite fore and aft. but i regret to say that he was also taken as soft because of his unfailing good humour, looked upon as a man you might safely impose upon, and many were the sarcastic remarks passed upon the hard luck as they called it of his wife, to be tied to a man who seemed to be utterly devoid of pluck, although they put it much more coarsely after the manner of seamen. the two aspects in which he was regarded seemed contradictory, i know, but i have had much experience of similar cases i am sorry to say.
[pg 319]
but the worst offender was the captain. when once a sailing ship is well started on a long passage the life of her master, unless he be a man with a good hobby of some kind, is a very lazy one. he has literally nothing to do except find the ship’s position at noon each day, and i have often wondered how it is that our sailing ship masters having so much time on their hands have not turned out a number of famous literary men from their ranks instead of being represented as they are, but by one giant, and he a foreigner, mr. joseph conrad. in captain eldridge’s case the old adage about satan’s opportunity for idle hands held good, and he began to amuse himself by paying assiduous court to mrs. adams, yet in so polite and insidious a manner that only her feminine wit divined his true intent; even her father, immersed in books, tryin’ to catch up on to his readin’ as he termed it, failed to notice anything wrong. and mary could do nothing, for she had nothing definite to complain of, and she did not wish to make any unpleasantness.
c. b. went on his happy way, spending much of his time at work and not noticing in the least that he was leaving his beloved wife too much to the attentions of the skipper. indeed his true and honest mind was clear and incapable of suspicion, and had any one hinted their ideas of the wrong drift of things he would have been unspeakably shocked as well as amazed. and so the clouds thickened insensibly about them as the good ship sped on.
