Homesteader

CHAPTER VIII MARRIED

207



THY why why, what does this mean!" ex claimed

" Little Mother Mary " coming upon

them at this minute. Notwithstanding the fact

that she was surprised, it was obviously a glad sur-

prise. She admired Jean Baptiste, and had been much up-

set over their little controversy. She understood the root

of the trouble, and knew that it had been on account of

what Baptiste had written and intimated in the letter re-

garding the Elder. Her husband did not admire real men,

although of course, he was not aware of it. In truth, he ad-

mired no man, other than himself. And when others did

not do likewise, he usually found excuses to disagree with

them in some manner.



Jean Baptiste was not the type of man to make friends

with her husband. He was too frank, too forward, too pro-

gressive in every way ever to become very intimate with N.

Justine McCarthy. To begin with, Jean had never flattered

his vanity as it was not his wont to give undue praise. And

as yet he had no reason especially to admire the Reverend.

That it had not been Orlean who had objected to coming

West to marry him he was aware. Nor had it been her

mother. It had been N. Justine who had a way of making

his faults and shortcomings appear to be those of others

especially within his family, and in this instance his elder

daughter bore the blame.



" What would you expect us to do, Little Mother," he

said, turning a beaming face upon her.



208 THE HOMESTEADER



But Orlean, I thought I thought "



"Oh, Mother," cried Jean Baptiste, " don't think. It

will hurt you. Besides, it will not be necessary for you to

think any more with regards to us now. We are as we

were, and that is all. There is nothing wrong between us

never has been, nor between you and I now either, is

there?" Whereupon he drew her down and upon the

davenport and placed himself between her and her daughter.



" Now let's reason this thing out together," he began.

" There is no need for quarreling. We'll leave that to idle,

disagreeable people. The first thing in life is to know what

you want and then go get it. That's the way I do.

When I proposed to Orlean I did so after due consider-

ation. There has been some little disagreement with re-

gards to my coming to get her, which was due to the fact

that I have been so overrun with work until I really felt I

had not the time to spare. However, here I am and ready

to marry her. So let's get those who are concerned to-

gether and have it over with. What do you say to it ? " he

said, looking from one to the other. In the meantime, Ethel

had crept down from upstairs to see what was going on,

and saw the three on the davenport together, with Jean

Baptiste in the middle. Whereupon, she turned and hurried

back upstairs to where her husband was, with these words:



" Glavis, Glav is," she cried all out of breath with ex-

asperation. " I just wish you'd look ! Just step down

there and look ! "



" Why, why what is the matter, Ethel ! " he cried, ris-

ing from his chair in some excitement.



" Why, that Jean Baptiste is sitting down there on the

davenport with mama on one side of him and my sister

on the other ! "



" Oh, is that all! " he breathed with relief.







MARRIED 209



" Is that all ! " she echoed in derision, her narrow little

face screwed up.



"Well?"



" Will you well ' me when that man just comes in here

and takes the house and all that's in it ! "



" Oh, Ethel." he argued. " Will you use some sense ! "



" Will I use some sense ! After what Orlean said ? You

remember well enough what she said, no longer than last

night when she received that telegram. That she was

through with that man; that she was not going to marry

him, and had sent his old papers back to him to prove it ! "



" Well, now, get all excited over the most natural thing

in the world! Have you never seen a woman who never

changed her mind especially when there was a man in the

case?"



" Of course I have," she shouted. " I am one who has

never changed their mind ! "



" I agree, and that is what's the matter with you," so

saying, he made his get-away to avoid what would have

followed.



" Now, you will have to deal with my husband in regard

to this matter, Mr. Baptiste," admonished Mother Mary.

She had given into him along with Orlean. It was useless to

try to pit their weak wits against the commanding and domi-

neering reason, the quick logic and searching intuition of

Jean Baptiste. So they had quickly resigned to the inevita-

ble, and left him to the rock of unreason, the Reverend N.

J. McCarthy.



" All settled. I'll bounce right out and get him on the

wire. Best words to send are : ' Please come to Chicago

today. Important ! ' Will that be alright ? "



" Jean Baptiste, you are a wonder ! " cried Orlean, and,

encircling his neck with her arms, kissed him impulsively.







210 THE HOMESTEADER



In answer they received by special delivery a letter that

night, stating that his honor, N. J., was on the way, and

would arrive the following morning. Preparations were en-

tered into at once therefore for a simple wedding, only

Ethel holding aloft from the proceedings. It was while at

the supper table that evening that Orlean took upon herself

to try to set Baptiste right with what was before him in

dealing with regards to her father.



" Now, my dear," she said lovingly, " if you would get

along with papa, then praise him you understand, flatter

him a little. Make him think he's a king."



" Oh-ho ! " he laughed, whereat she was embarrassed.

"That's the 'bug/ eh!"



" Well," she hesitated, awkwardly, " he is rather vain."



Baptiste was thoughtful. Rev. McCarthy was vain. . . .

He must be praised if one was to get along with him. . . .

Make him think he was a king. His Majesty, Newton

Justine, sounded very well as a title. All he needed now,

then, was a crown. If necessary for peace in the family

he would praise him, although it was not to his liking.



Jean Baptiste had little patience with people who must be

praised. In his association he had chosen men, men who

were too busy to look for or care for praise. But he

failed to reckon then that he was facing another kind of

person, one whom he was soon to learn.



His Majesty, Newton Justine, arrived on schedule the next

morning, very serious of expression, and apparently tired

into the bargain. Baptiste recalled when he saw him what

he had been advised with regards to making him think he

was a king. " Well," sighed Baptiste, " providing ' His

Majesty ' is not a despot, we may be able to get along for a

day or two."



Later, when convenient, Baptiste attempted and was ap-







MARRIED 211



parently successful in making the matter so plain that

despite his reputed dislike for fair reasoning, the Elder was

compelled to call his daughter and say:



" Now, Orlean, you have heard. Are you in love with

this man? " The melting smile she bestowed him with was

quite sufficient, so seeing, he continued :



"And do you wish to become his wife?" She looked

down into her lap then, turned her hands in childish fashion,

and replied in a very small voice :



" Yes."



"Then, that settles it," said the Elder, and thereafter

made himself very amiable. By the morrow arrangements

had been Completed for a simple little home wedding, and

at two o'clock, the ceremony was performed.



And when the bride and groom had been kissed accord-

ing to custom, a storm without broke of a sudden, and the

wind blew and the rain fell in torrents. So terrible became

the storm that the piano, which some one played loudly,

as if to shut out the roar of the storm outside, could

hardly be heard. And in the meantime, so dark did it be-

come that at two thirty the lights had to be turned on, the

people could hardly distinguish each other in the rooms.

Nor did the storm abate as the afternoon wore on, but con-

tinued in mad fury far into the night and the guests were

compelled to leave in the downpour and wind.



And there were among those who departed, many who

thought and did not speak. They were, for the most part,

the new Negro, hence loathe to admit of superstitions be-

sides, they had great respect for the two who were about to

start upon matrimony's uncertain journey. But regardless

of what they might have said openly, it was a long time be-

fore they forgot.







j







CHAPTER IX



ORLEAN RECEIVES A LETTER AND ADVICE



EAN ! " called Orlean three months later, as she came

out of the house, the house where Stewarts had

lived, and which Jean Baptiste had rented for the

season so as to be near all his land in the older opened

county. " I have something to tell you."



" What is it, dear ? " he replied, drawing his horses to a

stop, while she climbed on the step of the spring wagon he

was riding in. He could see she was excited, and he was

apprehensive.



She got up on the seat beside him, and placing her arms

around him, began to cry. He petted her a moment and

then, placing his hand under her chin, raised her head and

said : " Well, now, my dear, what is the matter ? " where-

upon, he kissed her. Drawing his head down then, she

whispered something in his ear.



" Oh ! " he cried, his face suddenly aglow with an ex-

pression she had never seen in it before. The next instant

he caught and drew her closely to him, and kissed her

fondly. " I am so happy, dear ; the happiest I have been

since we married ! "



"But, Jean!" she started and then hesitated. He ap-

peared to understand.



" Now, my wife, you must not feel that way," he ad-

monished. " That is the ultimate of young married life

children. Of course," he added, slowly, " couples are not



212







ORLEAN RECEIVES A LETTER 213



always ready they feel, but such does not wait. We are

not always ready to die, but old death comes when he gets

ready and there's no use trying to argue a delay. So now,

instead of looking distressed, just fancy what a great thing,

a beautiful and heavenly thing after all it is, and be real

nice." He kissed her again and assisted her from the

buggy, and while he drove to his work she went into the

house and picked up a letter.

It was from Ethel, and ran:



" My dear sister:



" I am writing you to say that I am very unhappy. You

cannot imagine how disagreeable, how very inconvenient it

is to be as I am. Never did I want a child or children ;

but that silly man I'm married to is so crazy for a family

that he has given me no peace.



" As a result I must sit around the house during these

beautiful summer days and be satisfied to look out of the

window and go nowhere. Oh, it is distressing, and I am so

mad at times I can seem not to see ! Can you sense it :

Him so anxious for a family, when what he earns is hardly

sufficient to keep us in comfort and maintain the payments

on the home. I have tried to reason with him on the score,

but it is no use at all. So while I sit around so angry I

cannot see straight, he dances around gleefully, wondering

whether it will be a girl or a boy !



" Now, I thought I would write you in time so that you

could protect yourself. I am, therefore, sending you cer-

tain receipts which have been given me but too late!

They will not be again, though trust me to attend to that !

Don't wait too long, and use them as per direction. Do

it and run no chance of getting to be as I am.



" I hope you are well and write me any time anything

happens, and if these don't work, then tell me right quick

and I will send you something that is sure. I depend on

you taking care of yourself now, and don't let anybody put

foolishness in your head.







214







THE HOMESTEADER







" Hoping to hear from you soon, and that you are safe as

yet. believe me to be, As ever your sister,



" ETHEL/'



When she had completed the letter, she was thoughtful as

her eyes wandered out to where her husband worked away

in the field beyond. She tried to see a few months ahead.

It was then midsummer, and Ethel and her father and all

the girls were writing her already that they supposed they

might as well not expect her until Xmas. But Jean had

intimated already that he did not expect to go to Chicago

Xmas. Still, that was several months away, and the dry

weather of which he was complaining at the present, might

be offset by rain soon. So she might get to see old Chicago

Xmas after all. But she would be unable to go out if she

did go to the city Xmas with what she knew now. She

pondered, and while she did so, she read through certain

receipts her sister had sent her. One was very simple, and

she was tempted. It stated that the blossom of a certain

weed was positive when made into a tea.



She was thoughtful a moment, and her eyes wandered

again toward where her husband worked in the field.

Finally they fell upon the creek that ran near the house,

and she gave a start as she saw growing upon its banks,

a peculiar weed with purple blossom. She wondered what

kind of weeds they were. She made a mental note of the

same and decided that when her husband came to luncheon

she would ask him. She sighed then as she thought of the

months to come, and what was to come with it. Presently,

having nothing else urgent to do, she picked up paper, pen

and ink and replied to Ethel's letter :



" My dear sister:



" Receipt of your recent letter is here acknowledged, and







ORLEAN RECEIVES A LETTER 215



in reply, will say that I have read the same carefully, and

made a note of what you said.



4< I hardly know how to reply to what you set forth in

your letter, and I am not fully decided. But I might as

well admit that I have just discovered that I also am to be-

come a mother and, Jean, like Glavis, is tickled to death!

I just told him this morning and he said it was the happiest

moment he had experienced since we have been married.



4< I am entirely at a loss what to do ; but I will consult

him regarding it. I don't think I ought to do as you ad-

vise not let him know anything because that would

hardly be fair. He is just as good to me as he can be, and

considers my every need. Sometimes I do not think he

loves me as much as I would wish, but what can I do ! He

is my husband and gives me all his attention. I am, there-

fore, afraid that he will object to the measures you sug-

gest. I am very much afraid he will, but I will ask him.



" He's a perfect dear, so jolly, so popular everywhere

about, and, I repeat, so good to me that I hardly think my

conscience would be clear if I did something in secret and

something that he would not like.



" In the meantime, thanking you for your suggestions,

and begging you not to act foolish, I am,



" Your affectionate sister,



" ORLEAN."



Jean Baptiste drove into the yard at noon singing cheer-

fully. He was met by his wife at the gate which she

opened. The wind was blowing from the south, and the air

was very hot. It had been blowing from that direction for

days. He stopped singing while he unhitched the horses

and gazed anxiously toward the northwest.



" What is it, dear ? " she inquired, observing the old frown

upon his face. He shook his head before replying, and tried

to smile.



" This wind."



"The wind?"







216 THE HOMESTEADER



" Yes. It's terribly hot. It's awfully drying. The oats

are suffering, the wheat is hurt. I wish it would rain, and

rain soon," whereat he shook his head again and his frown

grew deeper.



He led the horses to the well to drink and while they

were drinking she stood near, holding her hands and look-

ing at the patch of strange weeds that were in blossom

near. Presently she observed him, and, seeing that his

mind was concerned with problems, she would satisfy her

mind.



" Jean ! " she called.



"Yes," he replied abstractedly.



"What kind of weeds are those?" and she pointed to

the wild blossoms.



" Those ! " he said, his mind struggling between what he

was thinking about and the question. " Oh, those are evil

weeds," he concluded, and turning, led his horses into the

barn.



" Evil weeds ! " she echoed. Slowly she turned and

looked again. She was strangely frightened. Then taking

courage, she went playfully to where they grew, and,

gathering a bunch in a sort of bouquet, carried them into the

house, laid them down, and began to place the meal upon

the table.



" Why, Orlean," she heard, and turned to meet her hus-

band. " What are you doing with these old things in

here! My dear, you could find something better for the

table than these things ! Just outside the fence in the road

roses are blooming everywhere, and the air is charged with

their sweet fragrance." He paused briefly and held them

to his nose. " And, besides, they stink. Booh ! " he cried,

holding them away. " They make me sick ! Now, if you'll

agree I'll throw these things away and run out into the road







ORLEAN RECEIVES A LETTER 217



and get you a big bunch of roses. Will that be all right,

dear?" "



" Yes," she answered, and he did not understand why her

eyes were downcast.



" Good ! " he exclaimed, and she was glad to see that the

frown upon his face was gone, if only for a while. " I'll

bring you some nice flowers. You know," he paused in

the doorway and turned to her, " I never liked this weed,

anyhow. I have always connected them with all that's vile

and evil." So saying, he turned and a few minutes later

she heard his voice coming cheerfully from the road where

he picked the various shades of roses.



" Now, my dear," said he pleasantly, " I have brought you

a real bouquet," and he placed the vase containing the same

in the center of the table, stood back and regarded the

flowers admiringly.



" Why," he suddenly exclaimed, his eyes widening,

"what is the matter?"



" Oh, nothing," she stammered more than spoke.



" Now there must be something ? " While standing where

he was he caught sight of Ethel's letter. Immediately she

reached forth to snatch it from beneath his gaze. He made

no effort to take it, but regarded her in the meantime

wonderingly. The receipt concerning the weed lay in plain

sight, and he could hardly help reading it. She caught it

up then, while he still looked after her wonderingly. He

raised his hand to his head and was thoughtful, before

saying:



" Why were you so disturbed over me seeing the letter,

Orlean? You have never been so before. Of course," he

said, and hesitated, and then went on patiently, " I have no

wish to pry into women's affairs or secrets, but I am curious

to know why you acted as you did ? "







218 THE HOMESTEADER



She was an emotional girl. Never in her life had she

violated the rules of her parents, and she had never thought

of disobeying, or keeping secrets from her husband. When

she was confronted with the situation, she broke down there-

upon, and crying on his breast, told him all the letter con-

tained, and what the receipt meant.



He listened patiently and when she was through he hesi-

tated before speaking. After a moment he led her to the

table, sat down, and fell to eating the luncheon.



" When we have dined," he paused after a few minutes

to remark, " and you have washed the dishes, we will spare

a few minutes for a talk, Orlean."



" Now," he resumed at the appointed time, " when we

married, Orlean, it was my hope and I feel sure 'twas

yours, that we would live happily."



"Of course, Jean," she agreed tremulously.



" Then, dear, there are certain things we should come to

an understanding thereto lest we find our lives at variance.

To begin with, I wish your sister would not write you such

letters as the one you received today. But, if she must and

offer yes, criminal advice, I trust you will not incline

toward such seriously. You and I, as well as those who

have gone before us ; and as those who must perforce come

after us, did not come into this world altogether by ours

or others' providence. And if the world, and the people

in the world are growing wicked, as yet, thank God, race

suicide has not come to rule ! " He was meditatively silent

then for a time, gazing as if into space off across the sun-

kist fields:



" First," he resumed, " selfishness is a bad patient to

nurse. Secondly, we must appreciate that ours our lives

have a duty to fulfill. Bringing children into the world







ORLEAN RECEIVES A LETTER







219







and rearing them to clean and healthy man and womanhood

is that duty our greatest duty. And now with regards to

that receipt, or receipts.



" I will not seek to deny that such practices are not in

some measure a custom. Such very often are given

thoughtlessly as to the infinite harm, ill health and unhappi-

ness they might later bring. But the fact that others culti-

vate and heed such is no reason, dear, do you feel, that

we should ? "



" No, Jean," she admitted without hesitation and very

humbly.



" I feel more inspired to say this at this point in our new

union, Orlean, because I cannot believe that it is your

nature to be wicked; to wilfully practice and condone the

wrong."



" Oh, Jean," she cried, moving toward him ; laying her

hands upon him, and seeking his eyes with her soul

standing out in hers. " You are so noble and so good,"

and in the next minute she was weeping silently upon his

shoulder.



The dry weather continued over all the West, and for

two weeks the wind remained in the south, and blew al-

most day and night. Heretofore, it had been known to

blow not more than a week at the most, before the heat

would be broken by a rain. And coincident with the heat

and drought, the crops began to fire, plants of all kinds

to wither, and every one in the country of our story became

ominous.



But the Creator seemed to be with the struggling people of

the new country, the drought was broken by rain before the

crops were destroyed ; the harvest was very good, and with







220 THE HOMESTEADER



the completion of the same, Orlean met her husband one

evening with a letter, announcing that her father was com-

ing to visit soon. And the next day they got another

letter no, a paper. It was a summons, and concerned

Orlean.







CHAPTER X



EUGENE CROOK



TRIPP COUNTY, laying just to the west of the town

of Dallas and where Jean Baptiste had purchased the

relinquishments for his people was a large county

and rich in soil. There had been little delay on the part of

the railroad company in extending their line into it. But

before this occurred before even the county had been

thrown open to the settlers, new promoters, conscious of the

great success which had been achieved by the men who had

promoted Dallas, purchased an allotment from an Indian,

or a breed and started a town thereon almost directly in the

center* of the county in a valley of a creek known as the

Dog Ear.



And it was about this time that a political ring was

formed in the newer county for the avowed and subtle

purpose of securing the county seat. Settlement on the

whole had not as yet been possible, so the politics included

the rabble. The cowboy, and the ex-cowboy; saloon men,

bartenders some freighters, squaw men and cattle thieves

represented the voters. So it happened that before the

bona-fide settlers had a chance in the way of political ex-

pression, they found the county organized, controlled and

exploited by this ilk. But, as we have already stated, a

town in the West nor the East for that matter is ever

a town until a railway has found its way thither.



The difficulty began when the survey was run. Not-

withstanding the fact that the county seat had been secured



221







222 THE HOMESTEADER



by the promoters of the town in the valley of the Dog Ear,

the surveyors, from the route they took, did not seem to

have had any orders to go via of Lamro, the county seat in

question. On the contrary, they went smack through a

section of land that had been secured in due time by the

promoters who had made Dallas possible as a town.



Where the line of the survey stretched, less than two

miles northwest of the county seat, they started a town,

and were now bidding the townspeople and business men

of the county seat to move their building over. A bitter

fight was the answer at the start. A railroad is every-

thing almost to an aspiring town, and these people were

capable of appreciating the fact. As a result, the little

town in the valley a few months later, was no more. An-

other election was held and through the same the bona fide

settlers asserted their rights and administered a severe re-

buke by defeating the town in the valley and electing the

new town which had been entitled Winner as the county

seat.



Nevertheless, a few people remained in what was left of

the valley town. Some were unable to move their build-

ings, others were indifferent, while others still remained

there for purposes of their own.



Among those who remained, there was a banker, whose

little bank reposed all alone with caves and broken side-

walks and all the leavings of the moved away town about.

His name was Crook, Eugene Crook, and it was common

knowledge that he was fond of his name and conducted his

affairs so as to justify it. 'Gene Crook would rather, it was

said, acquire something by beating some one in a deal than

to secure it honestly. He possessed an auto, and had busi-

ness to the northwest of the town some fifteen or eighteen

miles, and had been seen in the neighborhood quite often.







EUGENE CROOK 223



Perhaps it was due in some measure to an unscrupulous

character who had drawn a claim in those parts, and pre-

tended to be homesteading there; but who in truth home-

steaded more around the saloons of Winner and Crook's

town than he did on the claim. His name was James J.

Spaight.



James J. Spaight, and Eugene Crook were very close.

'Gene Crook had advanced Spaight considerable money to-

wards his claim, and had him tied up in many ways, there-

fore, they were understood cohorts.



" They are never here," said Spaight, jumping from the

auto and sweeping his hand about over a beautiful quarter

section of land, one of the finest in the county.



" But I see a sod shack over in the draw," returned Crook.

" They have apparently called themselves establishing a

residence on the land."



" Yes ; but let me tell you," said Spaight. " I can get you

this piece of land I can win it for you through contest.

I know a thing or two, and I believe when we let the fellow

know that we've got him dead to right, he'll weaken, and

sell it to you for a song."



" Well," said Crook, thoughtfully, " we'll drive back to

town and consult Duval about it."



On the way they drove by the homesteaders near and

held subtle conversations with many, always in the end

ascertaining how many times the people had been seen on

the claim they had just left.



When they returned to the town in the valley, and retired

into the private office of the little bank, Spaight went for

Duval, a lawyer, who came forthwith. He was a tall, lean

creature who attracted attention by his unusual height and

leanness. He, also, was one of the " left overs." He was

told of the beautiful homestead, and that the claimant had







224 THE HOMESTEADER



been seen only a few times there, and of the proposition to

contest it.



" Who holds the place, did you say ? " inquired Duval in

his deep, droll voice, crossing his legs judiciously.



" Why, a nigger woman," said Spaight.



" A Negro woman ? "



" Yes, what do you think of that? " pursued Spaight, his

eyes widening. " I told Crook that if he worked a bluff

good and right he could more than likely scare them out.

A nigger in a white man's country ! "



Crook smiled; Duval was thoughtful.



" What's her name this Negress ? Is she a single

woman or married ? "



" Why, she was single when she took it, of course. But

she's got married since. I think the guy she married

put up the money, and that's where we have them again."



" And the name ? " inquired Duval again.



" Oh, yes, Baptiste. That's it. Jean Baptiste is her hus-

band's name.'*



" Oh, hell ! " cried Duval, and spat upon the floor.



" Why what's the matter ? " cried Crook and Spaight

in chorus.



" I was struck with the joke."



"The joke?"



" Yes. The bluffing."



"But we don't understand?"



" Then you ought to. Jean Baptiste, huh ! You'll bluff

Jean Baptiste! Say, that's funny." Suddenly his face

took on a cold hard expression. " Why, that's one of the

shrewdest, one of the wisest, one of the most forcible men

in this country. Have you never heard of Jean Baptiste?

Oh, you fools ! He's worth forty thousand dollars made

it himself and is not over twenty-five."







EUGENE CROOK 225



" Is that so? " they echoed, taken aback.



" Well, I should say so, and everybody in the county

knows it."



" But they haven't lived on the place as they should ! "

protested Spaight, weakly.



" Something like yourself," laughed Duval. Spaight col-

ored guiltily.



" But I can prove it," insisted Spaight.



" Well, in so far as that goes, I wouldn't doubt but

they have not lived on the land. Baptiste owns a lot of

land in the county east, and the chances are that he's been

so busy that his wife has neglected to stay on the claim as

she should have. Yes, that is quite likely."



"Then we can contest it?" cried Spaight.



"Of course. You can contest any place so far as that

goes."



" Well, that's what we intend to do. And I have the

goods on him and am sure we can win."



" They're all sure of that when they start," said Duval,

sarcastically. " But I want to disillusion you. If you con-

test the place then do so with a realization of what we are

up against. Don't go down there with any * rough stuff '

or with a delusion that you are going to meet a weakling.

Go down there with the calm, considerate understanding

that you are going to vie with a man all through, and that

man is Jean Baptiste. And while I'll take the case and do

what I can, before we start, I'd advise that you keep away

from that fellow as much as possible."



" Well, now, to be frank, Duval," said Crook, " What

do you think of it anyhow ? "



Duval regarded him closely a moment out of his small

eyes. And then spoke slowly, easily, carefully. " Well,

Crook, being frank with you, I don't think you can beat that







226 THE HOMESTEADER



fellow fairly. No one will beat Jean Baptiste in a fair

fight. But of course," he added, " there are other ways.

Yes, and when the time is right if ever, you may try the

other way."







W







CHAPTER XI



REVEREND MC CARTHY PAYS A VISIT



44 \X 7"ELL," said Baptiste to his wife, following the

service of the summons. " We're up against

a long, irksome and expensive contest case."

Under his observation had come many of such. Only those

who have homesteaded or have been closely related to such

can in full appreciate the annoyance, the years of annoy-

ance and uncertainty with which a contest case is fraught.

Great fiction has been created from such ; greater could be.

Oh, the nerve racking, the bitterness and very often the

sinister results that have grown out of one person trying to

secure the place of another without the other's consent.

Murder has been committed times untold as a sequel but

getting back to Jean Baptiste and his wife.



He was inclined to be more provoked than ordinarily,

for the reason that by sending his wife at least taking

her to the homestead, he knew he could have avoided the

contest. As a rule places are not contested altogether

without a cause. He felt that it was and it no doubt was

due to his effort to farm his own land and assist his

folks in holding their claims as well. He had discovered

before he married Orlean that she was likely to prove much

unlike his sister, who possessed the strength of her con-

victions, for she was on the clinging vine order. Being

extremely childish, this was further augmented by a stream

of letters from Chicago, giving volumes of advice in re-



227







228 THE HOMESTEADER



gards to something the advisors had not a very keen idea of

themselves. He also was cautioned not to expose her. So

she had, in truth only gone to her homestead when taken

by him, returning when he did as well. The fact that he

had arranged in regards to the renting of his land the next

season would be no evidence to assist him before the bar

that would hear his case.



The contest against his wife's homestead did not, of

course alter his plans in any way. He would continue along

the lines he had started. But there were other things that

came to annoy him at the same time. Chiefly among these

was his wife's father. Always there had to be some ado

when it came to him. He had reared his daughter, as be-

fore intimated, to consider him of the world's greatest

men especially the Negro race's, and to avoid friction,

Baptiste came gradually to see that he would almost have

to be beholden unto this creature in whom he was positively

not very deeply interested.



N. Justine McCarthy's accomplishments were of a nature

which Baptiste would rather have avoided. The fact that

he had been a Presiding Elder in one of the leading denomi-

nations of Negro churches out of which he managed to

filch about a thousand a year, was in a measure foreign to

his son-in-law. And the Reverend was not an informed or

practical man.



The truth was that all the pretensions made to the Elder,

flattering him into feeling he was a great man, Jean Baptiste

came to regard as a deliberate fawning to flatter an extreme

vanity. Far from being even practical, N. J. McCarthy

was by disposition, environment and cultivation, narrow,

impractical, hypocritical, envious and spiteful. As to how

much he was so, not even did Jean Baptiste fully realize

at the time, but came to learn later from experience.







REVEREND MCCARTHY PAYS A VISIT







229







He was expected in early October. The hearing of the

contest was to convene a few days later, so as a greeting

to his Majesty, he was to be given an opportunity to see

Orlean on the stand and mercilessly grilled by non-senti-

mental lawyers. Baptiste was appreciative of what might

result, and wished the visit could have been deferred for

a while.



Another source of irritation continually, was Ethel's let-

ters, and his wife's nervousness over the child that was to

come. For the first time in her life she had been dis-

obedient. Secretly she had, after many misgivings, fears

and indecisions, brewed a tea from the weed as per Ethel's

prescription but in vain ! Later, the guilt, the never-to-be-

forgotten guilt; the unborn child that refused the poison,

seemed to haunt her. And she could not tell her husband.

But this was not all. Ethel's letters continued to come,

filled with the same advice ; the same suggestions ; the same

condemnation of motherhood and she was compelled to

keep it all a hopeless secret from the man she had sworn

to love and obey.



One thing was agreed upon, they decided not to inform

the Elder at least, in so far as Orlean was concerned, she

left it to Jean, and Jean, with as many troubles as he cared

for and more, to deal with, was becoming perceptibly irri-

tant. So with this state of affairs prevailing, the Reverend

finally arrived for his long anticipated visit.



The letter advising the day he would arrive did not hap-

pen to reach them in time to meet him. Accordingly,

neither was at the station to greet him, but, recalling that

Baptiste had spoken of the Freedom and no narrow pre-

judices and customs to irk one, the Elder went forthwith

to the leading hotel in Gregory where he was accorded

considerable attention as a guest. This indeed satisfied his







230







THE HOMESTEADER







vanity, and he was taken much notice of by those about

because of his distinguished appearance. A fact that he

seldom ever lost sight of.



But Baptiste happened to be in town that night on horse-

back, and when the train had come and gone, he inquired

carelessly of a fellow he met, and who had come in on the

train, if he had seen a colored man aboard.



" Yes," said the other. " An elderly man, very dis-

tinguished looking."



" My father-in-law ! " ejaculated Baptiste, and went forth-

with to the hotel to find his erstwhile compatriot very much

at ease among those filling the place.



" And it's a great way to greet me," exclaimed the Rever-

end, cheerfully, upon seeing him. Baptiste made haste to

explain that he had 'not been aware of the day when he

would arrive.



" Oh, that's all right, my son," said the other heartily.

"AndhowisOrlean?"



" Fine ! She'll be tickled to death to see you."



"And I her." The old gent was very cheerful. Such

a trip was much to him. A life spent among the simple

black people to whom he preached afforded little contrast

compared with what was about him now. And, pompous

by disposition, he was thrilled by the diversity. Baptiste

decided thereupon to try to make his sojourn an agreeable

one.



" Now, there is an old neighbor of mine in town with

a buggy, and I'll see him and figure to have him take you

out with him, as I am in on horseback."



" Very well," returned the Elder, and Baptiste went for

the neighbor who happened to be a German with a very

conspicuous voice. He found him at a saloon where the







REVEREND MCCARTHY PAYS A VISIT 231



old scout was pretty well " pickled " from imbibing too

freely in red liquor.



" Sure thing," he roared in his big voice when Baptiste

stated his errand. " Bring him down here and I'll buy him

a drink."



" But he's a preacher," cautioned Baptiste with a laugh.



" A preacher ! Well, I'll be damned ! " exclaimed the

German, humorously. Whereupon he ordered drinks for

the house, and two for himself. Baptiste grinned.



" I shall now depart/' essayed the German, swaying not

too steadily before the bar, and raising his glass, " to be-

come sanctimonious and good," and drained his glass. The

crowd roared.



" Where is he ? " called the German loudly, as he drew his

team to a stop before the hotel. Baptiste got out, went

in and called to the Reverend. The other came forward

quickly, carrying his bags and other accessories.



" Ah-ha ! " roared the German from the buggy, sociably,

" So there you are ! "



" Why Jean the man is drunk, is he not ? " whis-

pered the Elder.



" But he's alright gets that way when he comes to

town, but is perfectly safe withal." The Reverend stood

for a moment, regarding the other dubiously.



" Come on, brother, and meet me ! " called the German

again in a voice sufficiently loud almost to awaken the dead.



" But, Jean," said the Reverend, lowly but apprehen-

sively, " I don't know whether I want to ride with a

drunken man or not."



Now it happened that the German's ears were very

keen, and he overheard the Elder's remark, so without

ceremony, and while the Reverend hesitated on the pave-







232 THE HOMESTEADER



ment, the German who did not like to be referred to as

drunk, roared:



" Ah-ha ! Naw, naw, naw ! You don't have to ride with

me ! Naw, naw, naw ! " And turning his horses about,

he went back to the saloon where his voice rang forth a

minute later in a raucous tune as he unloaded another

schooner.



The Reverend beat a hasty retreat back into the hotel,

while Baptiste called after him:



" I'll send Orlean for you in the morning," and went to

look up his neighbor who had made himself so conspicu-

ous.



" Well, now, if this doesn't beat all," cried the Reverend

when he had kissed his daughter the following morning and

they were spinning along the road on the way to the farm.

" I would never have believed three months ago had some

one said you could and would be driving these mules ! "



" Oh, I have driven them fifty miles in a day John ! "

she called suddenly to the off mule who was given to mis-

chievous tricks.



" Well, well," commented the Reverend, " but it certainly

beats all."



She was cheered and pleased to demonstrate what she

had learned. They sailed along the country side in the

autumn air, and talked of home, Ethel, her mother, Glavis

and Jean. They came presently to Baptiste's homestead

and viewed with great delight the admirable tract of land

that stretched before them. She talked on cheerfully and

told her father all that had passed, of how happy they

were, but said nothing about her prospects of becoming a

mother. When they had passed her husband's homestead

and were nearing a corner where they must turn to reach







REVEREND MCCARTHY PAYS A VISIT 233



the house in which they were living, they passed an auto-

mobile carrying two men. They bowed lightly and the

men returned it. When they had gotten out of hearing dis-

tance, one of the men whispered to the other :



" That's her ! "



'Gene Crook thereupon turned and looked after the re-

treating figure of the girl in the buggy whose place he had

determined to secure through subtle methods. But not even

'Gene Crook himself conceived of the unusual circumstances

that came to pass and brought him on a visit to these self-

same people, later.







CHAPTER XII



REVEREND MC CARTHY DECIDES TO SET BAPTISTE

RIGHT, BUT









the first thing, daughter," said the Rever-

end, "when Jean comes and you have the time,

is to go up and see your claim." Orlean swal-

lowed, and started to tell him that it was contested; but

on second thought, decided to leave the task to her hus-

band, and said instead:



" I have a fine claim, papa. Jean says it is the best piece

of land we have."



" Now isn't that fine ! "



" It is," Orlean said, thinking of her husband.



" Your husband has a plenty, my dear, and we have been

surprised that you have not been sending money to Chicago

to have us buy something for you."



Orlean swallowed again and started to speak ; to say that

while her husband was a heavy land holder, the crops had

not been the best the year before and were not as good this

year as he had hoped for. Then she thought Jean could

explain this better, also, instead she said :



"I I haven't wanted for anything, papa."



" No, perhaps not. But you know papa always thinks of

his baby ; always buys her litle things and so on, you know."

He paused, regarded her and the dress she wore. He rec-

ognized it as one that she had bought just before she had

gotten married forgetting that Jean Baptiste had paid

for it and said:



234







REVEREND MCCARTHY DECIDES 235



" And you have on the same dress you wore away from

Chicago ! Indeed, and that is a spring dress ! Why do you

not wear some of your summer dresses? Some you have

bought since you have been married ? "



" I haven't bought my husband hasn't I haven't

needed any more clothes, really/' she argued falteringly.

He saw that she was keeping something back, and pur-

sued:



" Why, dear, what do you mean ! You don't mean to

say that Jean hasn't bought you any dresses since he mar-

ried you, and him owning so much land ! "



" But I haven't needed any, papa I have not asked him

for any." He looked at her keenly. He saw that she was

shielding the man she married, but with this he had no

patience.



" Now, now, my dear. Jean ought not to treat my girl

like that. He ought to buy you lots of things, and pretty

things. I'm rather inclined to think he is miserly have

rather felt he was all the time." He paused briefly, posed in

the way he did when preaching, and then went on. " Yes,

you are sacrificing a great deal by coming away out here

in a new country and living with him. Yes, yes, my dear.

You see you are deprived of many conveniences; conven-

iences that you have been accustomed to." He looked

around the little house; at its floor with only rugs, and its

simple furniture. " Just compare this to the home you

came out of. The good home. Yes, yes. I'm afraid that

that the rough life your husband has been living rather

makes him forget the conventions my daughter has been ac-

customed to. Yes, I think so. I'm afraid I'll have to kind

of a bring such to his attention that he might see his

duty. Yes, my dear "







236 THE HOMESTEADER



" But, papa ! I I think you had better not. You

see " and she caught his arm and was thoughtful, look-

ing downward in the meantime. She loved Jean Baptiste,

but she was not a strong willed person by nature, train-

ing or disposition. She had inherited her mother's timid-

ness. At heart she meant well to the man she married,

but she had always been obedient to her father; had never

sauced him and had never crossed him, which was his boast.

Perhaps it was because of these things and that he knew it,

that his nature asserted itself.



" I'm afraid you, like any newly married wife, are in-

clined to forget these things, rather accept your husband's

excuse. Now your husband has a plenty, and can well af-

ford to give to you. And, besides, you he should not

forget the sacrifices you are making for him. That is what

he should see. Yes, yes.- Now take Ethel," he suddenly

turned to her. "Why, Glavis only makes thirteen dollars

a week, and why, Ethel makes him do just what she

wants him to. Buys her a dress any time she wants it; a

hat, a pair of shoes and whatever she wishes. That's

Ethel," he ended, forgetting to add that Glavis also bought

and paid for the food Mrs. McCarthy ate, or that he, him-

self only brought and never bought* things to eat only

when he came into Chicago, three or five times a year

and sent a few things infrequently. But Orlean had taken

a little courage. It was rather unusual, and she was sur-

prised at herself. She was surprised that she dared even

argue just a little with her father. He had always

been accepted as infallible without question. To get along

with him have peace, her mother and she had always fol-

lowed the rule of letting everything be his way, and be

content with their own private opinion without expression

as to conclusions. Moreover, whether he was right or







REVEREND McCARTHY DECIDES 237



wrong, abused or accused, the rule was to praise and flatter

him notwithstanding. And at such times they could depend

on him to do much for them. But she found her voice.

Jean Baptiste was her husband, and she was not ungrate-

ful. He gave her real love and husbandry, and it was per-

haps her woman's nature to speak in defense of her mate.

So she said :



" But Jean is not like Glavis, papa. They are two dif-

ferent men entirely."



" Well, yes, my dear," he said slowly, his dark face tak-

ing on a peculiar and not very pleasant expression, " I'm

afraid I will have to agree with you. Yes. They are dif-

ferent. Glavis is a fine boy, though. Don't own a thousand

acres of land, but certainly takes care of home like a man.

No, no. I never have to worry about anything. Just come

home every few months to see that everything is all right

and find it so. Yes, that is Glavis. While Jean," and

his mind went quickly back to an incident that had hap-

pened twenty-one years before, " is rather set in his ways.

Yes, very much so, I fear. That is one of his failings.

Some people would call it hard headed, but I should not

quite call it that. No. Then, again," he paused a moment,

looked at the floor and looked up. " He's crazy to get rich.

You see, dear of course you don't know that. Not old

enough. That's where your father has the advantage over

you and Jean also. He's older. It's bad when a man

is ambitious to get rich, for he is liable to work himself

and his wife to death. Jean's liable to do that with you.

Not like your old father, you know."



" Here he comes now," she cried excitedly, going quickly

to the kitchen and making a fire and starting the meal.

Her father looked after her. He looked out the window to

where his son-in-law was unhitching his horses. He looked







238 THE HOMESTEADER



back to where his daughter was working nervously over the

stove, and muttered to himself. " Has her trained to run

like something frightened at his approach. That's the same

spirit I tried to conquer twenty-one years ago and it is still

in him. M-m. I'll have to look after that disposition."

And with .that he went ^outside to where his daughter's

husband worked.



" Hello, Reverend," called Jean cheerfully. The " Rev-

erend " darkened and glowered unseen. He did not like

that term of address. Glavis called him " father." That

was better. But he returned apparently as cheerful:



" Hello, my boy. So you are home to dinner ? "



" Yes. Guess it : s ready. She is very prompt about hav-

ing my meals on time. Yes. Orlean is a good girl, and ap-

preciates that I believe in always being on time," he rat-

tled off.



" And how are- the crops ? "



" Not so good, not so good, I regret to say," said Jean

moodily. " No;' to be truthful, it is the poorest crop I have

ever raised. Yes," he mused as if to himself. "And I

need a good crop this year worse than I have ever needed

one. Yes, I sure do.



" Indeed so. Got lots of expense. Borrowed ten thou-

sand dollars to buy that land out there in Tripp County,

and have none of it producing anything. And on top of

that a guy comes along and slaps a contest on Orlean's

place, and so I have that on my hands in addition to all the

other burdens. So, believe me, it keeps me hopping."



" A contest on Orlean's place ? What does that mean ? "



" Does that mean ! But of course you couldn't under-

stand," whereat, Baptiste tried to explain to him what it

meant.



" So you see you find us with our troubles." The Rev-







REVEREND McCARTHY DECIDES 239



erend made no reply to this. Indeed, he had never been able

to reply to Jean Baptiste. In the first place, the man was

ever too hurried ; moreover, he understood so little regard-

ing practical business matters until their relations had never

been congenial. When Jean had watered and fed his teams

he came back to where the Elder stood and said:



" Well, Judge, we'll go in to dinner." Now the Rever-

end was almost upset. Such flat expressions ! Such a lit-

tle regard for his caste. Horrid! He started to speak to

him regarding his lack of manners, but that one had his

face in the tub where the horses had drank, washing him-

self eagerly. When he was through, he drew water from,

the well, and pouring it into a wash basin rinsed him-

self, and called for the towel. No sooner had he done so

than out of the house came Orlean with the goods.



"Wash up," cried Baptiste, pointing to the horse tub.



" Jean ! " called his wife remonstratingly. " You forget

yourself. Asking papa to wash where the horses have

drank ! You must be more thoughtful ! "



Baptiste laughed. " Beg pardon, Colonel. You see this

open life has made me er rather informal. But you'll

get used to and like it with time. Wash up and let's eat! "



" He's wild, just wild ! " muttered the Reverend, as he

followed them into the house.









CHAPTER XIII



THE WOLF



OW, ELDER," said Baptiste, getting up from the

table without going through the usual formalities

of resting a few minutes after the meal. " I've

bought a building in town that I'm going to move onto

Orlean's place. I'm preparing to jack it up and load it, so

if you would like to come along, very well, we'll be glad to

have you. But it's rather a rough, hard task, I'll admit."



" Now, now, son," started the Reverend, holding back

his exasperation with difficulty. His son-in-law had never

addressed him more than once by the same name. It was

either Colonel, Judge, Reverend, Elder, or some other

burlesque title in the sense used. He wanted to tell him

that he should call him father, but before he had a chance

to do so, that worthy had bounced out of the room and was

heard from the barn. The Reverend looked after him with

a glare.



" Dreadful ! " he exclaimed when the other was out of

hearing distance.



"What, papa?" inquired his daughter, regarding him

questioningly. She had become accustomed to Jean's ways

and did not understand her father's exclamation.



" Why, the man ! Your husband ! "



"Jean?"



" Such rough ways ! "



240







THE WOLF 241



"Oh," she exclaimed. " That's his way. He has al-

ways lived alone, you know. And is so ambitious. Is

really compelled to hurry a little because he has so much

to do."



" Well, I never saw the like. I'm afraid he and Ethel

would never get along very well. No, he is rather un-

usual"



" Oh, father. You must pay no attention to that ! Jean

is a fine fellow, a likeable man, and is loved by every one

who knows him," she argued, trying to discourage her

father's mood to complain. She had never been able to

bring her father and husband very close. Perhaps it was

because of their being so far apart in all that made them;

but she was aware that Jean had never flattered her father,

and that was very grave! No relation had ever risked

that. Her father was accustomed to being flattered by

everybody who was an intimate of the family, and Jean

Baptiste Had come into the family, married her, and ap-

parently forgot to tell the Reverend that he was a great

man. Moreover, from what she knew of her husband,

he was not likely to do so. Her mother had tried to have

Baptiste see it, she recalled, her little mother of whom

Baptiste was very fond of. As has been stated it was gen-

erally known that her father was not very kind- and patient,

with her mother, and never had been.



It was, moreover, no secret that her father was unusually

friendly with Mrs. Pruitt. But she was not supposed to

let on that she was aware of such. If she was and she

certainly was she did not mention the fact. Jean Bap-

tiste knew of the Reverend's subtle practices, and in his

mind condemned rather than admired him therefor. He

knew that the Elder expected to be praised in spite of all

these things. Now what would it all come to?







242







THE HOMESTEADER







This thought was passing through Orlean's mind when

she heard her father again :



" Now, he said something about a contest." She caught

her breath quickly, swallowed, changed color, and then

managed, hardly above a whisper, to say :



"Oh!"



" I don't understand. And he never takes the time to ex-

plain anything. Seems to take for granted that everybody

should know, and tries to know it all himself, and it makes

it very awkward," he said complainingly.



" It's all my fault, papa," Orlean admitted f alteringly.



" Your fault ! " the other exclaimed, not understand-

ing.



" Yes," she breathed with eyes downcast.



" And what do you mean ? How can it be your fault

when you have sacrificed the nice home in Chicago for this

wilderness ? "



" But, papa," she faltered. " You have never been West

before. You you don't understand ! "



" Don't understand ! " cried the Reverend, anger and im-

patience evident. " What is there to understand about this

wilderness ? "



" Oh, papa," she cried, now beseechingly. " You "

she halted and swallowed what she had started to say.

And what she had started to say was, that if he kept on like

he had started, he would make it very difficult for her to

be loyal to her husband and obedient to him as she had

always been; as she was trying to be. Perhaps it was be-

coming difficult for her already. Subservience to her

father, who insisted upon it, and obedience and loyalty to

her husband who had a right and naturally expected it.

It was difficult, and she was a weak willed person. Already

her courage was failing her and she was beginning to sigh.







THE WOLF 243



" It is very hard on my daughter, I fear," said the Elder,

his face now full of emotion and self pity. " I worked all

my life to raise my two darlings, and it grieves me to see

one of them being ground down by a man."



" Oh, father, my husband is not cruel to me. He has

never said an unkind word. He is just as good to me as a

man can be and I love him." This would have been

sufficient to have satisfied and pacified any man, even one

so unscrupulous. But it happens that in our story we have

met one who is considerably different from the ordinary

man. The substance of N. Justine McCarthy's vanity had

never been fully estimated not even by himself. Orlean

did not recall then, that since she had been married she had

not written her father and repeated what a great man he

was. She had, on the other hand, written and told him

what a great man her husband was. In her simplicity, she

felt it was expected of her to tell that one or the other

was great. But here she had encountered discouragement.

Her husband apparently was considerably opposed to flat-

tery. And she had difficulty to have him see that it was an

evidence of faith on her part. But her husband had not

seen it that way. He had disimissed it as a waste of time,

and had gradually used his influence with her to other ends ;

to the road they were following; the road to ultimate suc-

cess, which could only be achieved by grim, practical

methods. And that was one of his words, practical. But

her father was speaking again.



" Now I wish you would explain how you could be at

fault for this contest upon your place, and why your hus-

band accuses you of such?"



" But Jean does not accuse me of being at fault, father,"

she defended weakly. " I accuse myself. And if you will

be just a little patient," she begged almost in tears, " I'll







244 THE HOMESTEADER



explain." He frowned in his usual way, while she sighed

unheard, and then fell to the task before her.



" It is like this/' she began with an effort at self control.

" Jean has not wished to ask me to stay on my claim alone as

his sister and grandmother have done, you see."



" Oh, so he has them living out there alone like cattle,

helping him to get rich ! "



" They do not live like cattle, father," she defended in the

patient manner she had been trained to. " They have a

horse and buggy that he has furnished them, and get all

their needs at the stores which is charged to him. They

have good neighbors, awfully nice white people women,

too, who live alone on their claims as his sister and grand-

mother are doing."



" But they are not like you, daughter. Those are all

rough people. You cannot live like them. You have been

accustomed to something."



She sighed unheard again and did not try to explain to

his Majesty that most of the people women included

were in a majority from the best homes in the East, as

well as families ; that many had wealth where she had

none ; and that Jean's sister had been graduated from high

school and was very intelligent. It was difficult, and she

knew it, to explain anything to her father; but she would

endeavor to tell him of the contest.



" Well, father, since I was not on my place as I should

have been, a man contested it, and now we must fight it out,

Jean says, so that is it."



" M-m-m," sighed that one. " He's going to kill you out

here to make him rich. And then when you are dead

and"



" Please, don't, father," she almost screamed. She knew

he was going to sagr : " and in your grave, he will marry









From a painting by W. M. Farrow.



"HE'S GOING TO KILL YOU OUT HERE TO MAKE HIM RICH,

AND THEN WHEN YOU ARE DEAD AND" "PLEASE DON'T,

FATHER!" SHE ALMOST SCREAMED. SHE KNEW HE WAS

GOING TO SAY: "IN YOUR GRAVE, HE WILL MARRY AN-

OTHER WOMAN TO ENJOY WHAT YOU HAVE DIED FOR,"

BUT SHE COULD NOT QUITE LISTEN TO THAT.







THE WOLF 245



another woman and bring her in to enjoy what you have

died for." But she could not quite listen to that. It was

not fair. It was not fair to her and it was not fair to

Jean. She was surprised at the way she felt. She for-

got also, and for his benefit, that they had never been

very happy at home when he was in Chicago. They had

only pretended to be. It had been because of him being

away all the time and their relation having been confined

to letters that they had been contented. But Orlean had

made herself believe for this occasion that when he came

to visit, they were going to have a really pleasant time.

And now so soon she was simply worn out. She had be-

come more sensitive of her tasks in life than it had oc-

curred to her she could ever be. For the first time she was

getting the idea that, after all they were burdensome.



"Wouldn't you like to go to town, papa?" she cried,

trying to be jolly. " Jean is ready now, and please come

along and see the nice little house he has bought and is going

to move on my claim." She was so cheerful, so anxious

to have him enjoy his visit that his vanity for once took a

back seat, and a few minutes later they were driving into

Gregory.



As they drove along Baptiste told of what he was doing;

discussing at length the West and what was being done

toward its development. When they arrived in the town

they approached the small but well made little building

that he had purchased for $300, and went inside.



" Awfully small, my boy," said the Reverend, as they

looked around.



" Of course," admitted Baptiste. " But it is not practical

to invest in big houses in the beginning, you know. We

must first build a good big barn, and that, I cannot even

as yet afford."







246 THE HOMESTEADER



" Places his horses before his wife, of course," muttered

the Reverend, but obligingly unheard.



"And you say you intend to move it. Where? Not

away down on that farm southeast ? " he said, standing out-

side and looking up at the building.



"Oh, no," Baptiste returned shortly. "Onto Orlean's

place, west of here."



"Oh. How far is that?"



" Not so far. About fifty miles."



" Good lord ! " And the Reverend could say no more.







CHAPTER XIV



THE CONTEST



MOVING a building fifty miles across even a prairie

is not an easy task, and before Jean Baptiste

reached his wife's homestead with the building he

had purchased, he had suffered much grief. And with the

Reverend along, ever ready to keep their minds alive to

the fact, it was made no easier. But because he was so

chronic, he was left to grumble while his son-in-law la-

bored almost to distraction into getting the building to the

place before he would be compelled to turn back and face

the contest which was scheduled for an early hearing.

They succeeded in getting it within twenty miles of the

claim when they were compelled to abandon the task for

the time and return to Gregory to fight the contest.



This developed at times into a rather heated argument,

and a prolonged one that tried the patience of all, dragging

over a period of three days. It became obvious during the

proceedings that the contestant and his cohorts desired as

much as possible to keep away from Baptiste and on the other

hand to concentrate their cross-fire upon his wife. But, ex-

pecting this, they found, him on his guard, countering them

at every angle, and, assisted by an able land attorney, he

was successful in upsetting in a large way, their many,

subtle and well laid plans, causing them to fail in making

the showing they had expected to.



To begin with their corroborating witness, James J.

Spaight, developed before the chase to more definitely cor-



247







248 THE HOMESTEADER



roborate for the defense. He had come to the trial with

false testimony prepared, and had, under a fusillade of

cross-examinations, broken down and impaired and weak-

ened the prosectuion. In all such cases the one contesting

is placed at a moral disadvantage, and the fact that Crook

was a banker, fully able to have purchased relinquishment

as others over all the county had done, was ever in the wit-

ness' mind, and did not help his case. Baptiste's wife

proved much stronger after the first day. This was due

largely to the fact that her father had been present on the

first day, and had kept her so much alive to what she was

sacrificing in struggling to assist her husband in his am-

bition to be rich, until she was perceptibly weak. The time

limit on his ticket having about expired he had been com-

pelled to return to Chicago the morning of the second day

of the trial.



It was the consensus of opinion that she would retain

her claim, though with so many cases to consider, it was ob-

vious that it would take many months, and possibly a year

to get a hearing that is, before the officers of the local

land offices could settle the case.



This done, Jean Baptiste returned and completed moving

the house on the claim, fixed it up, dug a well, fenced in a

small pasture and returned to gather his corn which

amounted to about half a crop.



So time passed and the holidays approached and another

phase in their relations took shape when the Reverend in-

sisted that they come to Chicago to spend the holidays. It

was very annoying. Orlean was expecting to become a

mother in the early spring, and because they had never in-

formed him of the fact, it brought considerable embarrass-

ment to all.



It was difficult to explain to his Majesty that they would







THE CONTEST 249



not come into the city for the holidays. The Elder had in-

sisted that he would send them tickets, and because Jean

Baptiste had scoffed at the idea, trouble was brewing as a

result. It was then he lost his patience.



" Can your father not understand, Orlean," he com-

plained, with a deep frown, " that I cannot accept his char-

ity ? Because I have made up my mind not to go to Chicago,

does not mean that I am not able to purchase our trans-

portations there and back. It's the expense of the trip and

what goes with it that has caused me to decide to dispense

with it. But it's almost useless to try to reason anything

with him, and I'll not waste the effort." Whereupon he

would say no more.



He was having troubles of his own. He owed ten thou-

sand dollars, and upon this, interest accrued every few

months, and the rate was high. Besides, he had other press-

ing bills, and the grain he had raised was bringing very low

prices. Therefore, he was in no mood to dally with a pov-

erty poor preacher whose offer was more to show himself

off and place Baptiste in a compromising position, than

his desire for them to be home. He made no effort to

appreciate the sentiments or to understand Jean Baptiste.

And the fact that his daughter loved her husband and was

willing to help him seemed to be lost sight of by N. Justine

McCarthy. Being accustomed to having people flatter him

as a rule, was so engraved in his shallow nature, that he

was unable to see matters from a liberal point of view.



Their relations reached a climax when Orlean was with

his sister on the claim a few days before the Yuletide.

Baptiste received a letter addressed to her from the Elder.

Thinking that, since she was on the claim, it might be some-

thing urgent, he opened it. It was urgent. It contained a

money order covering the price of a ticket to Chicago with







250







THE HOMESTEADER







a trite note that he expected her soon, and that he, her hus-

band, could come on later.



We shall not attempt to describe the anger that came over

Jean Baptiste then. And, as is most likely the case when

a man is angry, he does the thing he most likely would not

do when his feelings are under control. With hands that

trembled with anger, he turned the note over, wrote in a few

words that he had defined his position with regards to com-

ing to Chicago; that he would be obliged if the other

would mind his own business ; that he had married his wife

and was trying to be a husband in every way to her; but

that he was running his house, and was therefore returning

the money therewith.



It served as a declaration of the war between the two that

had been impending for months. We are too well ac-

quainted with their regard for each other, so upon this we

will not dwell; but upon receipt of Baptiste's letter, the

Reverend sang his anger in a letter that fairly scorched the

envelope in which it was enclosed. He threatened to turn

the world over, and set it right again if the other did not do

thus and so. To the threats, Baptiste made no reply. In

a measure he was relieved; he had at last made his posi-

tion clear to the other, and his wife, of course, was with

him in the controversy. In view therefore, of the manner

in which she had been trained, this made matters rather

awkward. The yield of crops had not been one half the

average, and it took almost all he had made to pay the in-

terest, taxes and expenses. Baptiste was not cheerful;

but Orlean was to become a mother, and he was a practical

man. So together they passed a happy Xmas after all.

In fact the only cloud upon their horizon of happiness was

her father.



Evidently he voiced what he had done to near friends,







THE CONTEST 251



and they had not endorsed his action. Orlean was the wife

of Jean Baptiste and if he expected her to stay with him,

it was their affair, even if the Reverend had only intended

to help. Attempting to force charity on others is not al-

ways sensible, so the Elder wrote later that it was " up to

them," and if they had agreed to stay in the West Xmas,

it was alright with him.



This was very considerate of him apparently, after all

the noise he had made, and Orlean was much relieved, and

loved her father still. Her husband was also relieved, and

forgot the matter for the time. But did the Reverend?



Well, that was not his nature. He never forgot things

he should forget. Oh, no! He had not been a hypocrite

forty years for nothing! In the meantime, the Xmas

passed as it has for more than nineteen hundred years,

winter set in, and the spring was approaching when the

catastrophe occurred.







CHAPTER XV



COMPROMISED



"TT\ LEASE don't go, Jean," she begged. "I don't

r^ want you to go. Stay with me."



* " Now, Orlean," he said gently. " I have such



a lot of work to do. I will go, tear down some of the old

buildings on the homestead and be back before many days."



She cried for a time while he held her in his arms. Cry-

ing was nothing new with her. As the time for her deliv-

ery drew near, she was given to such spells. He was

patient. After a few moments she dried her eys and said :



" Well, dear, you can go. But hurry back. I want you

to be home then, you understand."



" Of course I want to be home then, wifey, and sure

want it to be a boy."



" It will be a boy, Jean," she said with a strange confi-

dence. " I believe it. I am sure it will."



" I shall love you always then, my wife. All our cares

and burdens will vanish into the air, and we shall be as

happy as the angels."



" Oh, Jean, you can make life seem so light."



"Life should be made to appear light, sweetheart," he

said, caressing her. " Grandmother will be here with you

and if you need for anything, draw a check and have the

neighbors below bring it out. It is only three miles over

the hill to Carter, you understand."



" By the way, dear," she said suddenly, going into the

bedroom, and returning presently with a letter. " This is



252







COMPROMISED 253



from mama. She writes that they have never told papa

yet, and hopes that nothing serious will happen for then

she would never we would never be forgiven by him."



" Dear Little Mother Mary," he said fondly. " I hope

nothing will happen, Orlean, for our sakes." And then he

paused. He had started to say that he was not worried

about her father's forgiveness. He had lost what little

patience he had ever had with that one, and did not pro-

pose to be annoyed with his love, the love that he had to be

continually making excuses and apologies to entertain. But

before he had spoken he thought better of it, and decided

to say nothing about it. His wife had been trained to re-

gard her father as a king, and because he had succeeded in

letting her see that after all he was just a Negro preacher

with the most that went with Negro preachers in him, she

had at last ceased to bore him with telling him how great

her father was.



They were at her claim, and he was about to depart for

his original homestead to clean up work preparatory to

moving onto her claim permanently as he had intended to do.

Already his wagons with horses hitched thereto stood near,

and he was only lingering for a few parting words with

her.



" I am kind of sorry we placed mother in this position,"

he heard her say as if talking more to herself than he.



"In what position, Orlean?"



" In keeping this a secret."



" From your father, you mean ? " said he, frowning.



"Yes."



" Well, Orlean, I have tried to be a husband to you."



" And you have been, Jean."



" Then it is our business if I chose to keep such a







254 THE HOMESTEADER



"Yes, Jean," she said, lowering her eyes and thinking.



" But the one burden of our married life has been your

father. I never anticipated that his love would be such a

burden. Ever since we have been married we have had

to waste our substance on fear over what he will think.

He seems to lose sight of a husband's sentiment or right.

I can fancy him in my position with regard to your mother

before they had been married long. My God, if any father

or mother would have ventured any suggestion as to how

they should live or what they should do I can see him ! "



His wife laughed.



"Have I spoken rightly?"



" Yes," she agreed and was momentarily amused.



" Yes. But he just makes our life a burden with his

kind of love. Now take this matter for instance. Why

should we be keeping this a secret from him rather, why

should I? It's just simply because I have too much other

cares to be annoyed with a whole lot of to-do on his part.

If he knew you were going to become a mother, he would

just make our life unbearable with his insistences and love.

Your mother, knows it, and Ethel. Ethel who would have

had you dispose of that innocent, knows it and keeps it

from him, with fear all the while of what will come of it,

should anything happen.



" Now, I'll say this much. I don't propose to make any

excuses to him about anything I do or have you do

hereafter. I'm going to be husband and master, and have

nothing to do with what he does with regard to your mother.

As long as I am good and kind to you, and don't neglect you,

then I have a right, and positively will not be annoyed even

by your father ! "



" Please hush, Jean," she begged, her arms about him.

But he was aroused. He had made himself forget as he







COMPROMISED 255



should have forgotten the punishment he had been given

twenty-two years before. But he did not like the man's

conduct. Everywhere and with everybody back in Illinois

who knew N. Justine McCarthy, he was regarded as an

acknowledged rascal.



" Just look how he treats your mother ! " She pulled

at him and tried to still his voice ; but speak he would. "If

I was ever guilty of treating you as your father has treated

your mother ever since he married her, I hope the Christ

will sink my soul into the bottom-most pit of hell ! "



" Jean, my God, please hush ! "



" But I speak the truth and you know it. Would you like

to look forward and feel that you had to go through all

your life what your mother has endured? "



" Oh, no, no, no ! But you must hush, Jean, in heaven's

name, hush." He did then. The storm that had come over

him had spent its force and he kissed her, turned then,

went to where his teams stood, got into the front wagon,

and looking back, drove upon his way.



" Poor Jean," murmured Orlean. " Father and he will

never be friends and it makes it so hard for me." She con-

tinued to stand where he left her, looking after him until

he had disappeared over the hills to the east.



Arriving at Gregory late that afternoon, Jean found a

Lyceum concert, the number consisting of Negroes, one of

whom, a girl, he had known some years before, for she had

lived next door to where he then roomed.



He attended and afterward renewed their acquaintance.

It so happened that a lumber company was going out of

business in the next town east from Gregory, and some

coal sheds there were for sale. Desiring something of the

kind to use as a granary on his wife's claim, Baptiste

journeyed hither the following day to look the same over.







256 THE HOMESTEADER



Now it also happened that the same concerters were billed

for the same town for an evening performance of that day.

The day after being Sunday, and the company laying over

until Monday, the days were passed together, with Baptiste

scheduled to go out to his old place Sunday night.



It was a cheer to revive old acquaintances ; to talk of

Chicago and olden days with those who still lived there.

It was a cheer to all, but Jean Baptiste had cause to regret

it as we shall later see. In the meantime, he went to his

old place as per schedule, returning to the little town the

following morning, where he purchased a hundred foot

shed and prepared to move it to his wife's claim forthwith.



A few miles only had been traversed before an intermit-

tent thaw set in, the soft uncertain surface of the earth

making it hazardous to pull a heavy load over. So when

he reached his old place, he decided to leave it there, tear

down his old granary and haul the lumber instead.



While in this act, his sister, who had been on a visit to

Kansas, returned, and worried with regards to his wife,

alone with his grandma out on the homestead, he hurried her

therewith at once. The next day he was relieved to receive

a letter from Orlean, advising that she was well, but to

come home as soon as possible.



A week had passed and Saturday was upon him again be-

fore he was ready to make a start. Now there often comes

in the springtime in the West, severe winds that may blow

unchecked for days. And one came up just as Jean Baptiste

had set out, and blew a terrific gale. It almost upset his

wagons, and made driving very difficult. This was aug-

mented further, because the wind was right in his face, and

there was no way to avoid it. However, he finally reached

a town about eleven miles west of Dallas, by the name of

Colome that day. The next morning the wind had gone







COMPROMISED 257



down and the day was beautiful, and he was cheered to

think he could reach home that day, by getting started

early. But bad luck was with Jean Baptiste that day, which

was Sunday, and when he was going down a hill, the wagon

struck a rocky place, bounced, and the right front wheel

rolled out ahead of him. The axle had broken, and his

load went down with a crash.



He went to a house he saw near, secured a wagon, and

there met a man who had known his father, and had lived

and run a newspaper in the same town near where he was

born twenty-six years before. He wasted hours getting his

load transferred to another wagon, and finally got started

again. But not two miles had been covered before the

coupling pole snapped, and his loads almost went down

again. What trick of fate was playing him, he wondered,

and swore viciously. Hours it took before the break was

repaired, and he pulled into Winner, eighteen miles from

home, late that night.



Early morning found him, however, resolutely on the

way. He had covered about half the distance when he met

a man who lived neighbor to him on his wife's claim, who

told him he had tried to get him on the 'phone Saturday,

at Gregory and again at Dallas; that his wife had given

birth to a baby which had come into the world dead, on a

Saturday.



He almost tumbled from the wagon when he heard

this. " Dead ! " he repeated. Finally he heard himself

speaking, and in a voice that seemed to come from far

away:



"Ah well did my wife have attention?"



" Oh, yes," said the other. " Your sister, and two doc-

tors. Yes, she had all the attention necessary. But I'm

sorry for you, old man. It was sure a big, fine kid. She







258 THE HOMESTEADER



couldn't give it birth, so they had to kill it in order to save

her life."



He started to resume his journey East, while Baptiste, now

with unstrung nerves, started to resume his way West. But

before his horses had gone many steps he suddenly drew

them down to a halt, and, turning, heard the other call out :

" I went to Carter and sent her father a telegram as per a

request of hers. I suppose it was all right," and con-

tinued on his way.



"To him!" cried Baptiste inaudibly. "To him!" he

repeated. " To him no doubt, that the baby which he had

not known was to be, had come and dead ! "



Mechanically he drove upon his way. He did not think,

he did not speak. He said nothing for a long, long time;

but down in his heart Jean Baptiste knew that he was com-

ing nearer to the parting of the 7juays.



Back in old Illinois N. Justine McCarthy, upon receiving

the telegram, he realized would in all probability depart at

the earliest convenience for the West. And when he ar-

rived, would learn still more than the message had told;

would learn that he had been absent when his wife had

given birth to the dead baby. Oh, his child, why could it

not have lived. . . . Yes, she had had all the attention that

was possible ; but such would not be credited by N. Justine

McCarthy. The fact that not every man had found it

possible to be present at the bedside of their wives when

children came, would not be considered by N. Justine Mc-

Carthy. The fact that he himself had been absent when his

own Orlean came into the world would be no counter here.

Jean Baptiste's absence at the critical time would serve as

an excuse for the Reverend to vent his spite, and he would

demand a toll. Jean Baptiste was compromised, and would

have to make a sacrifice. .