CHAPTER VII.
A SETBACK FOR ST. JOHN.
"Now see what you have done!" roared St. John, as soon as he couldscramble from the bushes.
His face was scratched in several places and his coat was torn at oneelbow.
"It was your fault as much as mine," retorted Jack.
"No such thing. You had no right to pitch into me."
"And you had no right to call me names."
"My horse has run away," stormed the young man.
"So I see."
"If he is lost or hurt you'll be responsible."
"He is running toward home. I reckon he'll be all right."
"What am I to do?"
"That's your lookout."
"Get down and let me ride your pony home."
"I will do no such thing!" cried Jack. The little steed was very dear tohim.
"Do you expect me to walk?"
"You can suit yourself about that, St. John. Certainly I shan't carryyou," and Jack began to move off.
"Stop! don't leave me like this."
"You are not much hurt. Do you want to continue the fight?"
"I don't calculate to fight a mere boy like you. Some day I'll give youa good dressing down for your impudence."
"All right; when that time comes, I'll be ready for you," returned Jackcoolly, and without further words he rode away.
Standing in the middle of the road, St. John Ruthven shook his fistafter the youth.
"I hate you!" he muttered fiercely. "And I'll not allow you to comebetween me and my aunt's property, remember that!" But the words did notreach Jack, nor were they intended for his ears.
There was a spring of water not far away, and going to this St. Johnwashed his face and his hands. Then he combed his hair with apocket-comb he carried, and brushed his clothing as best he could. Hewas more hurt mentally than physically, and inwardly boiled to get evenwith our hero.
Left to himself, he hardly knew what to do. He was satisfied that hishorse would go home as Jack had said, but he was in no humor to followthe animal.
"I've a good mind to call on Aunt Alice and tell her what a viper heis," he said to himself. "Perhaps I can get her to think less of himthan she does--and that will be something gained."
He walked slowly toward the plantation. When he came within sight of thegarden he saw Marion in a summerhouse, arranging a bouquet of flowerswhich she had just cut.
The sight of his cousin put his heart in a flutter and made him think ofthe talk he had had with his mother. Why should he not propose to her atonce? The sooner the better, to his way of thinking. That Marion mightrefuse him hardly entered his head. Was he not the best "catch" in thatneighborhood?
"How do you do, Marion?" he said, as he strode up to the summerhouse.
"Why, St. John, is that you?" returned the girl. "I did not see youriding up."
"I came on foot," he went on, as he came in and threw himself on abench. "It's warm, too."
"It is warm. Shall I send for some refreshments?"
"No, don't bother just now, Marion. I came over to see you alone."
"Alone?" she said in some surprise.
"Yes, alone, Marion. I have something very important to say to you."
She did not answer, but turned away to fix the bouquet.
"Can you guess what I wish to say?" he went on awkwardly.
"I haven't the remotest idea, Cousin St. John."
"I want to tell you how much I love you, Cousin Marion."
"Oh!"
"Don't think that I speak from sudden impulse. I have loved you foryears, but I wished to wait until you were old enough to listen to me."
"And you think I am old enough now?" she said, with a faint smile."Mamma thinks me quite a girl still."
"You are old enough to marry, if you wish, Marion."
"Marry?" She laughed outright. "Oh, St. John, don't say that. Why, Idon't intend to marry in a long, long time--if at all."
His face fell, and he bit his lip. Certainly this was not the answer hehad expected.
"But I want you!" he burst out, still more awkwardly. "I want to--toprotect you from--er--from Jack."
"Protect me from Jack?"
"Yes, Marion. You know what he is, a mere nobody."
"Jack is my brother."
"He is not, and you know it."
"He is the same as if he were my brother, St. John."
"Again I say he is not. He is a mere upstart, and he will prove a snakein the grass unless you watch him. Your mother made a big mistake whenshe adopted him."
"There may be two opinions upon that point."
"He knows your mother is rich. Mark my word, he will do all he can,sooner or later, to get her property away from her."
"I will not believe evil of Jack."
"You evidently think more of him than you do of me!" sneered thespendthrift, seeing that he was making no headway in his suit.
"I do not deny that I think the world and all of Jack. He is my brotherin heart, if not in blood--and I will thank you to remember that afterthis," went on Marion in a decided tone.
"You will learn of your mistake some time--perhaps when it is too late."
"Jack is true to the core, and as brave as he is true. Why, he would goto the war if mamma would give her consent."
At this St. John Ruthven winced.
"Well--er--I would go myself if my mother did not need me at home," hestammered. "She must have somebody to look after the plantation. Wecan't trust the niggers."
"Many men have gone to the front and allowed their plantations to takecare of themselves. They place the honor of their glorious country overeverything else."
"Well, my mother will not allow me to go--she has positively forbiddenit," insisted St. John, anxious to clear his character.
This statement was untrue; he had never spoken to his mother on thesubject, thinking she might urge him to go to the front. His plea thathe must look after the plantation was entirely of his own making.
"Supposing we should lose in this struggle--what will become of yourplantation then?"
At this St. John grew pale.
"I--I hardly think we will lose," he stammered. "We have plenty ofsoldiers."
"But not as many as the North has. General Lee could use fifty thousandmore men, if he could get them."
"Well, I shall go to the front when I am actually needed, Marion; youcan take my word on that. But won't you listen to what I have told youabout my feeling for you?"
"No, St. John; I am too young to fall in love with anybody. I shall atleast wait until this cruel war is over."
"But I can hope?"
She shook her head. Then she picked up her bouquet.
"Will you come up to the house with me?"
"Not now, Marion. Give my respects to my aunt and tell her I will callin a day or two again. And, by the way, Marion, don't let her think hardof me because of Jack. I desire only to see to it that the boy does notdo you mischief."
"As I said before, I will listen to nothing against dear Jack, sothere!" cried Marion, and stamping her foot, she hurried toward thehouse.
St. John Ruthven watched her out of sight, then turned and stalked offtoward the roadway leading to his home.
"She evidently does not love me as I thought," he muttered to himself."And I made a mess of it by speaking ill of Jack. Confound the luck!What had I best do now? I wish I could get that boy out of the wayaltogether, I really do."
Young Captain Jack; Or, The Son of a Soldier Page 8