The Preacher of Cedar Mountain: A Tale of the Open Country
Page 32
CHAPTER XXXI
Love in The Saddle
"Here come Apollo and Psyche," said Mrs. Waller, as she glimpsed themfrom the window. The Colonel was just leaving for his office and calledto them, "Good morning! Go on in; Mrs. Waller is at home. I'll be backin half an hour."
Already there was a fire in the house, for the nights were chilly, andwhen the Colonel returned, they were sitting around it in the parlour.
"I want to see the stable," said Belle, so forth they went together,Hartigan with Mrs. Waller leading, and Belle with the Colonel. Shelingered till the others were out of easy hearing, then led up to thesubject of the horse race.
"It's a pretty sore subject yet," answered the Colonel. "Most of my menare pinching their families on half pay to work off their debts to thosewily redskins."
"Do they have to pay?" said Belle.
"Well, these are debts of honour, you know, and in the man's code, thatputs them ahead of rent, clothing, food, or mortgages."
"I suppose the men have got a lesson that will cure them of gambling forevermore?"
"Oh, no. Not at all. All they are thinking about now is where to get ahorse that can turn the tables."
"Seems to me like burning one's hand because one got a finger scorched."
"Well, that's the man of it," said the Colonel. "If we could get Jim torun Blazing Star, the whole garrison would mortgage their lives for cashto stake on it and win back all they had lost or risked."
"Well, he won't; I tell you that. But why don't you buy Blazing Star,Colonel?"
"Because he won't sell. We've tried every way. I never saw a man sodaffy over his horse."
"What would you consider a fair price, Colonel?"
"Well, Jim gave five dollars for him, to begin with, and refused twohundred and fifty dollars when he proved what stuff he had got. I shouldsay three hundred dollars would be a fair price, four hundred dollars agood price and five hundred dollars an absolutely outside recordprice--scaled wholly on the fact that he's the fastest horse on theseplains."
"Would _you_ give five hundred dollars?"
"Yes, I would. I'll give Hartigan five hundred dollars for Blazing Starright now, in hard cash; but I don't say I'll hold it out very long.Accidents will happen; winter is coming, and a bad wintering often ruinsa horse."
"Will you take the first chance to offer that to Hartigan? He'll refuse;but say you'll leave it open for a week, and I think you'll get BlazingStar."
The Colonel laughed a little, and wondered what was up. His wife, whenshe heard of it, said: "Ho, ho! I know; they want to get married, andthat's the easiest way to raise the needful."
And thenceforth she took a motherly interest in the handsome couple.
Within half an hour the Colonel found the chance to make his offer; andgot what he expected, a flat refusal.
"Sure, Colonel, it would be like selling the hand off my arm or the soulout of my body."
"Well, well," said the Colonel, "never mind. I won't take your answernow; we'll leave it open for a week."
After the midday meal, Jim and Belle mounted and rode away. Jim thoughtto take matters up where he had left off, but he found Belle inclined tobe shy and rather preoccupied. He made several ineffectual attempts toget her to talk, but she always relapsed into silence. They were,indeed, half-way back, when Hartigan began for the fifth time:
"You said you would tell me on the road back."
"Tell you what?"
"Tell me the condition on which you will have me."
He leaned over and put his arm around her. This time she did not eludehim. He clasped her and sought her lips and she allowed her head to sinkon his shoulder while he gathered the reins of both horses in his hand,that they might not separate. She seemed content.
"You do care for me, don't you?" she whispered.
"Oh, Belle! I'd do anything for you. I'd give my life for you."
"You would? Anything?"
"Only try me."
"Would you give up the ministry if I asked you?"
"If--if--you thought it was right--I know it would be right. Yes, I'd doit."
"Then I won't ask that. I'll put you to a smaller test. Will you faceit?"
"I'll promise now; I give you my word before you name it."
"Then this is what I ask--that you sell Blazing Star to Colonel Wallerright now, this very day."
"Oh, oh, Belle!" he said, feebly; "Blazing Star!"
"Yes, Jim, that is the condition. I love you, Jim; but you must choosenow between us. Is it Belle or Blazing Star?"
For a moment he seemed stunned but he tightened his arms about her, andtense the answer came. "I can't do without you, Belle, I can't dowithout you. I've given you my word. I take you on your terms."
"Oh, Jim!" and she broke down, passionately sobbing in his arms. "Oh,Jim! You great, glorious, wonderful, blind Jim Hartigan, don't you knowthat I love you? Don't you know I have thought it all out? Can't you seewhere Blazing Star was taking you? It is not caprice; you will know someday."
"I know, I know now. I'll do what you say."
"Then turn right around and go back to Fort Ryan." They turned; she led;and they raced without pulling rein.
"Colonel, I've come to take your offer," said Hartigan.
"You're a wise man," said the Colonel. "Come into the office." He drewup a check for five hundred dollars. Jim put it in his wallet and saidfeebly, "He's yours. You'll be kind to him?" Then he covered his facewith his hands, and the tears splashed through his fingers to the floor.
"Never mind," said the Colonel, deeply touched. "He'll be treated like aking. You'll see him in the race next summer and you'll see him win."
In all the blackness of that hour of loss that thought was the one gleamof comfort in the realm of horse. Now he would see his racer on thetrack. The Church held him, but held his horse no longer.
* * * * *
Then the Angel of Destiny as he downward gazed, said to the Angel of theFire--and his voice trembled a little as he spoke--"Rejoice, for thefurnace was heated exceeding hot and the metal is shining brighter, farbrighter than before."
BOOK IV
THE HORSE PREACHER AFOOT