The Preacher of Cedar Mountain: A Tale of the Open Country

by Ernest Thompson Seton

  CHAPTER XLVI

  What Next?

  According to an ancient custom, the newly wed should cease from theircalling in life and disappear for a time, and the practice has long beenwell honoured by observance. But Mr. and Mrs. Hartigan had large andimmediate problems to face. They breakfasted at Aunt Collins's and setout at once for Cedar Mountain. Belle was quite aware, reasonably andinstinctively, that she must expect a reaction in Jim after theemotional outburst that had led him so far from their sober plan of aweek before; and she exerted herself to fill every minute with theinterests of this new life they had begun. But she was not prepared forsomething which did begin. From that hour of the great decision Jimseemed bigger and stronger. She had been thinking of him as a promisingchild. Now he was her equal in the world of affairs. He was growingfaster than she. They were near the edge of the town when she saw acottage with the sign up, "To let." It was very attractive in its freshpaint and obviously it had just been finished.

  "Jim, maybe that was made for us. Let's see it." They tied up the horsesand entered. It was indeed small. The Preacher had to stoop at the frontdoorway and turn side-wise to enter the cellarway, but it was clean andprettily placed with a view to the south, and had four rooms and cellar.

  Belle gazed from the window through the gap between the hills and said,"I wish I knew some things that I will know within a week"; then, aftera pause, "but I don't; let's go."

  As they were getting into the buckboard Jim remembered having leftbehind a package which Aunt Collins wished to send to her sister, Mrs.Boyd. As they drove hastily back they met a new, strange sight inDeadwood. A man in a sort of military uniform was marching alongcarrying a big drum which he pounded rhythmically; behind him were adozen men and women in poke bonnets and blue skirts. Above them was aflag inscribed "Salvation Army." They stopped to sing a hymn, and weresoon surrounded by a crowd of people who made scoffing remarks. Theleader prayed, and all joined in a warlike hymn punctuated by thethunderous drum.

  There can be no question of the power of the drum on simple andprimitive natures. Something in Jim responded to it at once. Thecommonplace words of the commonplace leader were without power to move,and the droning hymn was soporific rather than inspiring; but therhythmic thump, thump, thump, seemed to strike the chords of his being;and a hypnotic tensity began. He gazed at the sad face of the fanatic,and forgot everything else, till Belle roused him with a businesslike,"Let's go, Jim."

  Arrived at Cedar Mountain, they knew at once from the smiles andgreetings of a few friends whom they met that the town had heard thenews. They went to the Boyd home where Ma Boyd wept and feebly scolded,then wept some more. Pa Boyd said "Humph!" Loading his pipe he smoked insilence for five minutes and then began to laugh quietly. At length,clapping Hartigan good-naturedly on the back, he observed: "Well, boyswill be boys. But I did think Belle was too level-headed andbusinesslike to go off on a panicky proposition like this. Howsomever,it's done; now the question is, what next? I can forgive; folks canforgive, but the Church won't. Now what's next?"

  Seeing that the home folks were well enough disposed, Jim didn't wait todiscuss details but set out alone to call on the Rev. Dr. Jebb. Mrs.Jebb opened the door herself and looking up at the handsome face shelaid her hand on his arm with a pleased laugh and said: "Good for you!"

  Dr. Jebb was very grave. "My dear boy, don't you see how serious it is?"

  "Just as serious as it can be, doctor; I know that," and Jim laughed.

  "But do you realize you have broken with the Church? You cannot go tocollege now. You are out of a living. You must think about some othermeans of livelihood."

  "All of which I know, and knew when I took this step."

  "As your pastor, I must chide you severely," said Jebb; "as yoursuperior officer, I must pay you the twenty-five dollars that is yourfull and quit payment of salary up to October thirty-first; as the headof this body in Cedar Mountain, I must notify you that your connectionwith the congregation as assistant pastor is ended; as your brother inChrist, I invoke God's blessing on your somewhat hasty action; and, asyour friend and Belle's, I offer you my poor help in whatsoever way Ican serve you." And as Jim took his leave, much touched by the olddoctor's gentleness, the pastor followed him to the door with his wife.With one of his sudden happy impulses Jim stooped and kissed Mrs. Jebband the two old people were still in the doorway watching him as heturned for a final wave at the gate.

  The blacksmith shop was the next place of call. Not that Jim sought it,but he couldn't well avoid it, and he was hailed by all as he came near.Shives came forward in his characteristic way, holding out his hand."Wall, wall! Now I know you are human in spite of your job! You've goneup about ten pegs in my scale."

  Carson was there and met him with a broad grin. "So that's what youborrowed my team for? Ho, ho! Well, I'll forgive you, if you bring themback and promise not to get the habit."

  After much well-wishing Jim started down the street. He had only gone ashort distance when the sound of some one running and calling his namemade him halt. It was Higginbotham who had hastened on the first news ofhis arrival to make a business proposition. "Of course, I know, Jim,that you are a capitalist, and Hannah and me have been thinking it wouldbe a good idea to establish a branch in Deadwood. Hannah is 'roundcalling on Belle, to fix it up."

  As indeed she was at that very moment. Jim got the whole project fromBelle on his return, but there were serious difficulties in the way ofHannah's scheme. Jim had no taste or capacity for business. All Belle'stime would be needed for the household. Furthermore, Jim still felt thatthe ministry was his calling. They pondered it long and discussed itfreely. Belle knew she could make the business a success, but it wouldbe by sacrificing many things that they had dreamed of and planned fortheir first home. That night they kneeled down together and prayed forthe guidance of the Great Guide. Jim opened the Bible three times, withhis eyes closed, and laid his finger at hazard on a text, and these werethe three that decided his fate: Kings, XIX:20--And he said unto him Goback again. 2 Thess. II:13--God hath from the beginning chosen you tosalvation. Daniel IV:35--According to his will in the army of heaven.

  "There, Belle, could anything be plainer? We are ordered back toDeadwood. I must join the Salvation Army."

  Belle was torn between her business instincts, her religious training,and her absolute devotion to her hero. But whatever the sum total, thusmuch all things agreed on: they must get away from Cedar Mountain.Whither? There seemed no answer but Deadwood.

  The next day Mrs. Jebb gave a reception for the young people and CedarMountain turned out strong. Three was the hour named, and at four theparsonage was full. Belle was dressed in the simple gray thatintensified her colour, her brown eyes and gold-brown hair were shining;standing at the end of the parlour she looked very lovely, and all CedarMountain glowed with pride in her.

  Jim was in his glory. He frolicked with everybody and was in the midstof a gallant speech to Shives's daughter when some one tapped his armand dragged him off. It was John Higginbotham, anxious to get his schememore clearly into Jim's mind. "Not only was the main line of insurancegood, but everything pointed to a land boom soon in Deadwood. Once theboom struck, the insurance could be temporarily sidetracked. Then,allowing seven hundred and fifty dollars capital, of which five hundreddollars could be invested in lots on 10 per cent. margin, this wouldsecure five thousand dollars' worth of lots, or fifty small lots atpresent prices; in the ordinary course of the boom, this would speedilyreach fifty thousand dollars, when, of course, he would sell and----"

  "Hartigan!" cried a voice. "Who, in Heaven's name, is concealing you?Oh, here you are." It was Dr. Carson. "I've been thinking of you a lotever since this news broke and I've decided that you are more like a manthan a preacher. Why don't you cut out all this piffling holy talk andgo in for something you can do? Now, my theory is that each man can dosome one thing better than any one else; and, if he has the luck to havethat one thing for his life calling, he's going to make a success. Youknow horses
better than any man I know. You knew enough to steal myteam, for example, when you meant to elope."

  "Now, see here," Hartigan objected.

  "Don't interrupt me," said Carson. "Jim, this is my honest advice: getout of this rotten little town. Go to Deadwood, or any other big, rottentown, and start in on the horse business and something will happen worthwhile."

  Jim's eyes glowed. It was curious how the word "horse" fascinated him."I'll surely take the first two moves you advise: I'll get out of thistown and I'll go to Deadwood. But----" He stopped. He didn't say it, buthe had given his "wurd as a mahn" long ago that his life should bedevoted to the Church.

  Little Peaches was there in a very high collar and sang, "Jerusalem theGolden," till tears came to the eyes of the audience. As he began thethird score, Colonel Waller and his staff arrived. The old soldier'seyes gleamed as he measured the tall, straight form of the Preacher."Well, Jim, can't I persuade you to enlist? We need a few like you."

  "Sure, I'm enlisted now," was the reply, "and going to the front; andwhen I am gone, don't forget my horse."

  "Ha, ha! We are not likely to," said the Colonel. "The wisest thing youever did for yourself was when you sold him."

  As the party began to break up Hannah Higginbotham plucked Jim's sleeveand whispered: "If John comes chasing you with a scheme, don't pay anyattention to him. He'd try to talk business if you were both swimmingfor your lives; but a week from now, we'll come to see you at Deadwood.I've fixed it up with Belle."

  As Jim waited for Belle, who was having a few last words with Mrs. Jebb,Charlie Bylow came rather shyly forward with his wife. "Mr. Hartigan,I've got a good team now; in case there is any moving to do, I'd like todo it for you." And then as if he thought Jim might not understand hesaid: "We owe a lot to you and we'd like a chance to pay it back."

  There was one old acquaintance that did not turn up. That was Lou-JaneHoomer. Probably she was busy packing her trunk for the visit toRochester; at any rate, upon her return from the East, she joined theCongregationalists, where she sang regularly in the choir and soon madesuch an impression on the baritone that they found increasing comfort ineach other's company.