Hed go now, if he knew you were going, said her father; but its just as well he shouldnt be needlessly encouraged. I rather think that Sheriff Dunn is a little jealous of him. By the way, the sheriff is much better. I called to cheer him up to-day (Mr. Wynn had in fact tumultuously accelerated the sick mans pulse), and he talked of you, as usual. In fact, he said he had only two things to get well for. One was to catch and hang that woman Teresa, who shot him; the othercant you guess the other? he added archly, with a faint suggestion of his other manner.
Miss Nellie coldly could not.
The Rev. Mr. Wynns archness vanished. Dont be a fool, he said dryly. He wants to marry you, and you know it.
Most of the men here do, responded Miss Nellie, without the least trace of coquetry. Is the wedding or the hanging to take place first, or together, so he can officiate at both?
His share in the Union Ditch is worth a hundred thousand dollars, continued her father; and if he isnt nominated for district judge this fall, hes bound to go to the legislature, anyway. I dont think a girl with your advantages and education can afford to throw away the chance of shining in Sacramento, San Francisco, or, in good time, perhaps even Washington.
Miss Nellies eyes did not reflect entire disapproval of this suggestion, although she replied with something of her fathers practical quality.
Mr. Dunn is not out of his bed yet, and they say Teresas got away to Arizona, so there isnt any particular hurry.
Perhaps not; but see here, Nellie, Ive some important news for you. You know your young friend of the Carquinez WoodsDorman, the botanist, eh? Well, Brace knows all about him. And what do you think he is?
Miss Nellie took upon herself a few extra degrees of cold, and didnt know.
An Injin! Yes, an out-and-out Cherokee. You see he calls himself DormanLow Dorman. Thats only French for Sleeping Water, his Injin name!Low Dorman.
You mean LEau Dormante, said Nellie.
Thats what I said. The chief called him Sleeping Water when he was a boy, and one of them French Canadian trappers translated it into French when he brought him to California to school. But hes an Injin, sure. No wonder he prefers to live in the woods.
Well? said Nellie.
Well, echoed her father impatiently, hes an Injin, I tell you, and you cant of course have anything to do with him. He mustnt come here again.
But you forget, said Nellie imperturbably, that it was you who invited him here, and were so much exercised over him. You remember you introduced him to the Bishop and those Eastern clergymen as a magnificent specimen of a young Californian. You forget what an occasion you made of his coming to church on Sunday, and how you made him come in his buckskin shirt and walk down the street with you after service!
Yes, yes, said the Rev. Mr. Wynn, hurriedly.
And, continued Nellie carelessly, how you made us sing out of the same book Children of our Fathers Fold, and how you preached at him until he actually got a color!
Yes, said her father; but it wasnt known then he was an Injin, and they are frightfully unpopular with those Southwestern men among whom we labor. Indeed, I am quite convinced that when Brace said the only good Indian was a dead one his expression, though extravagant, perhaps, really voiced the sentiments of the majority. It would be only kindness to the unfortunate creature to warn him from exposing himself to their rude but conscientious antagonism.
Perhaps youd better tell him, then, in your own popular way, which they all seem to understand so well, responded the daughter. Mr. Wynn cast a quick glance at her, but there was no trace of irony in her facenothing but a half-bored indifference as she walked toward the window.
I will go with you to the coach-office, said her father, who generally gave these simple paternal duties the pronounced character of a public Christian example.
Its hardly worth while, replied Miss Nellie. Ive to stop at the Watsons, at the foot of the hill, and ask after the baby; so I shall go on to the Crossing and pick up the coach when it passes. Good-by.
Nevertheless, as soon as Nellie had departed, the Rev. Mr. Wynn proceeded to the coach-office, and publicly grasping the hand of Yuba Bill, the driver, commended his daughter to his care in the name of the universal brotherhood of man and the Christian fraternity. Carried away by his heartiness, he forgot his previous caution, and confided to the expressman Miss Nellies regrets that she was not to have that gentlemans company. The result was that Miss Nellie found the coach with its passengers awaiting her with uplifted hats and wreathed smiles at the Crossing, and the box seat (from which an unfortunate stranger, who had expensively paid for it, had been summarily ejected) at her service beside Yuba Bill, who had thrown away his cigar and donned a new pair of buckskin gloves to do her honor. But a more serious result to the young beauty was the effect of the Rev. Mr. Wynns confidences upon the impulsive heart of Jack Brace, the expressman. It has been already intimated that it was his day off. Unable to summarily reassume his usual functions beside the driver without some practical reason, and ashamed to go so palpably as a mere passenger, he was forced to let the coach proceed without him. Discomfited for the moment, he was not, however, beaten. He had lost the blissful journey by her side, which would have been his professional right, butshe was going to Indian Spring! could he not anticipate her there? Might they not meet in the most accidental manner? And what might not come from that meeting away from the prying eyes of their own town? Mr. Brace did not hesitate, but saddling his fleet Buckskin, by the time the stage-coach had passed the Crossing in the high-road he had mounted the hill and was dashing along the cutoff in the same direction, a full mile in advance. Arriving at Indian Spring, he left his horse at a Mexican posada on the confines of the settlement, and from the piled debris of a tunnel excavation awaited the slow arrival of the coach. On mature reflection he could give no reason why he had not boldly awaited it at the express office, except a certain bashful consciousness of his own folly, and a belief that it might be glaringly apparent to the bystanders. When the coach arrived and he had overcome this consciousness, it was too late. Yuba Bill had discharged his passengers for Indian Spring and driven away. Miss Nellie was in the settlement, but where? As time passed he became more desperate and bolder. He walked recklessly up and down the main street, glancing in at the open doors of shops, and even in the windows of private dwellings. It might have seemed a poor compliment to Miss Nellie, but it was an evidence of his complete preoccupation, when the sight of a female face at a window, even though it was plain or perhaps painted, caused his heart to bound, or the glancing of a skirt in the distance quickened his feet and his pulses. Had Jack contented himself with remaining at Excelsior he might have vaguely regretted, but as soon become as vaguely accustomed to, Miss Nellies absence. But it was not until his hitherto quiet and passive love took this first step of action that it fully declared itself. When he had made the tour of the town a dozen times unsuccessfully, he had perfectly made up his mind that marriage with Nellie or the speedy death of several people, including possibly himself, was the only alternative. He regretted he had not accompanied her; he regretted he had not demanded where she was going; he contemplated a course of future action that two hours ago would have filled him with bashful terror. There was clearly but one thing to doto declare his passion the instant he met her, and return with her to Excelsior an accepted suitor, or not to return at all.