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. .
