the twins of table mountain-第11章

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side。〃

〃Then；〃　said　Peggy　stoutly；　〃ez　I　allow　I've　got　to　go　into　court
to　defend　my　character；　I　might　as　well　pack　in　them　three　millions
too。〃

There　is　hearsay　evidence　that　Peg　added　to　this　speech　a　wish　and
desire　to　〃bust　the　crust〃　of　her　traducers；　and；　remarking　that
〃that　was　the　kind　of　hairpin〃　she　was；　closed　the　conversation
with　an　unfortunate　accident　to　the　plate；　that　left　a　severe
contusion　on　the　legal　brow　of　her　companion。　　But　this　story；
popular　in　the　bar…rooms　and　gulches；　lacked　confirmation　in　higher
circles。　　Better　authenticated　was　the　legend　related　of　an
interview　with　her　own　lawyer。　　That　gentleman　had　pointed　out　to
her　the　advantage　of　being　able　to　show　some　reasonable　cause　for
the　singular　generosity　of　the　testator。

〃Although；〃　he　continued；　〃the　law　does　not　go　back　of　the　will　for
reason　or　cause　for　its　provisions；　it　would　be　a　strong　point　with
the　judge　and　juryparticularly　if　the　theory　of　insanity　were　set
upfor　us　to　show　that　the　act　was　logical　and　natural。　　Of　course
you　haveI　speak　confidently；　Miss　Moffatcertain　ideas　of　your
own　why　the　late　Mr。　Byways　was　so　singularly　generous　to　you。〃

〃No；　I　haven't；〃　said　Peg　decidedly。

〃Think　again。　　Had　he　not　expressed　to　youyou　understand　that
this　is　confidential　between　us；　although　I　protest；　my　dear　young
lady；　that　I　see　no　reason　why　it　should　not　be　made　publichad　he
not　given　utterance　to　sentiments　of　a　nature　consistent　with　some
future　matrimonial　relations？〃　　But　here　Miss　Peg's　large　mouth；
which　had　been　slowly　relaxing　over　her　irregular　teeth；　stopped
him。

〃If　you　mean　he　wanted　to　marry　me　　No！〃

〃I　see。　　But　were　there　any　conditionsof　course　you　know　the　law
takes　no　cognizance　of　any　not　expressed　in　the　will；　but　still；
for　the　sake　of　mere　corroboration　of　the　bequestdo　you　know　of
any　conditions　on　which　he　gave　you　the　property？〃

〃You　mean　did　he　want　anything　in　return？〃

〃Exactly；　my　dear　young　lady。〃

Peg's　face　on　one　side　turned　a　deep　magenta　color；　on　the　other　a
lighter　cherry；　while　her　nose　was　purple；　and　her　forehead　an
Indian　red。　　To　add　to　the　effect　of　this　awkward　and　discomposing
dramatic　exhibition　of　embarrassment；　she　began　to　wipe　her　hands
on　her　dress；　and　sat　silent。

〃I　understand；〃　said　the　lawyer　hastily。　　〃No　matterthe
conditions　WERE　fulfilled。〃

〃No！〃　said　Peg　amazedly。　　〃How　could　they　be　until　he　was　dead？〃

It　was　the　lawyer's　turn　to　color　and　grow　embarrassed。

〃He　DID　say　something；　and　make　some　conditions；〃　continued　Peg；
with　a　certain　firmness　through　her　awkwardness；　〃but　that's
nobody's　business　but　mine　and　his'n。　　And　it's　no　call　o'　yours　or
theirs。〃

〃But；　my　dear　Miss　Moffat；　if　these　very　conditions　were　proofs　of
his　right　mind；　you　surely　would　not　object　to　make　them　known；　if
only　to　enable　you　to　put　yourself　in　a　condition　to　carry　them
out。〃

〃But；〃　said　Peg　cunningly；　〃s'pose　you　and　the　Court　didn't　think
'em　satisfactory？　　S'pose　you　thought　'em　QUEER？　　Eh？〃

With　this　helpless　limitation　on　the　part　of　the　defence；　the　case
came　to　trial。　　Everybody　remembers　it；how　for　six　weeks　it　was
the　daily　food　of　Calaveras　County；　how　for　six　weeks　the
intellectual　and　moral　and　spiritual　competency　of　Mr。　James　Byways
to　dispose　of　his　property　was　discussed　with　learned　and　formal
obscurity　in　the　court；　and　with　unlettered　and　independent
prejudice　by　camp…fires　and　in　bar…rooms。　　At　the　end　of　that　time；
when　it　was　logically　established　that　at　least　nine…tenths　of　the
population　of　Calaveras　were　harmless　lunatics；　and　everybody
else's　reason　seemed　to　totter　on　its　throne；　an　exhausted　jury
succumbed　one　day　to　the　presence　of　Peg　in　the　court…room。　　It　was
not　a　prepossessing　presence　at　any　time；　but　the　excitement；　and
an　injudicious　attempt　to　ornament　herself；　brought　her　defects
into　a　glaring　relief　that　was　almost　unreal。　　Every　freckle　on　her
face　stood　out　and　asserted　itself　singly；　her　pale　blue　eyes；　that
gave　no　indication　of　her　force　of　character；　were　weak　and
wandering；　or　stared　blankly　at　the　judge；　her　over…sized　head；
broad　at　the　base；　terminating　in　the　scantiest　possible　light…
colored　braid　in　the　middle　of　her　narrow　shoulders；　was　as　hard
and　uninteresting　as　the　wooden　spheres　that　topped　the　railing
against　which　she　sat。

The　jury；　who　for　six　weeks　had　had　her　described　to　them　by　the
plaintiffs　as　an　arch；　wily　enchantress；　who　had　sapped　the　failing
reason　of　Jim　Byways；　revolted　to　a　man。　　There　was　something　so
appallingly　gratuitous　in　her　plainness；　that　it　was　felt　that
three　millions　was　scarcely　a　compensation　for　it。　　〃Ef　that　money
was　give　to　her；　she　earned　it　SURE；　boys：　it　wasn't　no　softness　of
the　old　man；〃　said　the　foreman。　　When　the　jury　retired；　it　was　felt
that　she　had　cleared　her　character：　when　they　re…entered　the　room
with　their　verdict；　it　was　known　that　she　had　been　awarded　three
millions　damages　for　its　defamation。

She　got　the　money。　　But　those　who　had　confidently　expected　to　see
her　squander　it　were　disappointed：　on　the　contrary；　it　was
presently　whispered　that　she　was　exceedingly　penurious。　　That
admirable　woman；　Mrs。　Stiver　of　Red　Dog；　who　accompanied　her　to　San
Francisco　to　assist　her　in　making　purchases；　was　loud　in　her
indignation。　　〃She　cares　more　for　two　bits　than　I　do　for　five
dollars。　　She　wouldn't　buy　anything　at　the　'City　of　Paris；'　because
it　was　'too　expensive；'　and　at　last　rigged　herself　out；　a　perfect
guy；　at　some　cheap　slop…shops　in　Market　Street。　　And　after　all　the
care　Jane　and　me　took　of　her；　giving　up　our　time　and　experience　to
her；　she　never　so　much　as　made　Jane　a　single　present。〃　　Popular
opinion；　which　regarded　Mrs。　Stiver's　attention　as　purely
speculative；　was　not　shocked　at　this　unprofitable　denouement；　but
when　Peg　refused　to　give　anything　to　clear　the　mortgage　off　the　new
Presbyterian　Church；　and　even　declined　to　take　shares　in　the　Union
Ditch；　considered　by　many　as　an　equally　sacred　and　safe　investment；
she　began　to　lose　favor。　　Nevertheless；　she　seemed　to　be　as
regardless　of　public　opinion　as　she　had　been　before　the　trial；　took
a　small　house；　in　which　she　lived　with　an　old　woman　who　had　once
been　a　fellow…servant；　on　apparently　terms　of　perfect　equality；　and
looked　after　her　money。　　I　wish　I　could　say　that　she　did　this
discreetly；　but　the　fact　is；　she　blundered。　　The　same　dogged
persistency　she　had　displayed　in　claiming　her　rights　was　visible　in
her　unsuccessful　ventures。　　She　sunk　two　hundred　thousand　dollars
in　a　worn…out　shaft　originally　projected　by　the　deceased　testator；
she　prolonged　the　miserable　existence　of　〃The　Rockville　Vanguard〃
long　after　it　had　ceased　to　interest　even　its　enemies；　she　kept　the
doors　of　the　Rockville　Hotel　open　when　its　custom　had　departed；　she
lost　the　co…operation　and　favor　of　a　fellow…capitalist　through　a
trifling　misunderstanding　in　which　she　was　derelict　and　impenitent；
she　had　three　lawsuits　on　her　hands　that　could　have　been　settled
for　a　trifle。　　I　note　these　defects　to　show　that　she　was　by　no
means　a　heroine。　　I　quote　her　affair　with　Jack　Folinsbee　to　show
she　was　scarcely　the　average　woman。

That　handsome；　graceless　vagabond　had　struck　the　outskirts　of　Red
Dog　in　a　cyclone　of　dissipation　which　left　him　a　stranded　but　still
rather　interesting　wreck　in　a　ruinous　cabin　not　far　from　Peg
Moffat's　virgin　bower。　　Pale；　crippled　from　excesses；　with　a　voice
quite　tremulous　from　sympathetic　emotion　more　or　less　developed　by
stimulants；　he　lingered　languidly；　with　much　time　on　his　hands；　and
only　a　few　neighbors。　　In　this　fascinating　kind　of　general
deshabille　of　morals；　dress；　and　the　emotions；　he　appeared　before
Peg　Moffat。　　More　than　that；　he　occasionally　limped　with　her
through　the　settlement。　　The　critical　eye　of　Red　Dog　took　in　the
singular　pair；Jack；　voluble；　suffering；　apparently　overcome　by
remorse；　conscience；　vituperation；　and　disease；　and　Peg；　open…
mouthed；　high…colored；　awkward；　yet　delighted；　and　the　critical　eye
of　Red　Dog；　seeing　this；　winked　meaningly　at　Rockville。　　No　one
knew　what　passed　between　them；　but　all　observed　that　one　summer　day
Jack　drove　down　the　main　street　of　Red　Dog　in　an　open　buggy；　with
the　heiress　of　that　town　beside　him。　　Jack；　albeit　a　trifle　shaky；
held　the　reins　with　something　of　his　old　dash；　and　Mistress　Peggy；
in　an　enormous　bonnet　with　pearl…colored　ribbons　a　shade　darker
than　her　hair；　holding　in　her　short；　pink…gloved　fingers　a　bouquet
of　yellow　roses；　absolutely　glowed　crimson　in　distressful
gratification　over　the　dash…board。　　So　these　two　fared　on；　out　of
the　busy　settlement；　into　the　woods；　against　the　rosy　sunset。
Possibly　it　was　not　a　pretty　picture：　nevertheless；　as　the　dim
aisles　of　the　solemn　pines　opened　to　receive　them；　miners　leaned
upon　their　spades；　and　mechanics　stopped　in　their　toil　to　look
after　them。　　The　critical　eye　of　Red　Dog；　perhaps　from　the　sun；
perhaps　from　the　fact　that　it　had　itself　once　been　young　and
dissipated；　took　on　a　kindly　moisture　as　it　gazed。

The　moon　was　high　when　they　returned。　　Those　who　had　waited　to
congratulate　Jack　on　this　near　prospect　of　a　favorable　change　in
his　fortunes　were　chagrined　to　find；　that；　having　seen　the　lady
safe　home；　he　had　himself　departed　from　Red　Dog。　　Nothing　was　to　be
gained　from　Peg；　who；　on　the　next　day　and　ensuing　days；　kept　the
even　tenor　of　her　way；　sunk　a　thousand　or　two　more　in　unsuccessful
speculation；　and　made　no　change　in　her　habits　of　personal　economy。
Weeks　passed　without　any　apparent　sequel　to　this　romantic　idyl。
Nothing　was　known　definitely　until　Jack；　a　month　later；　turned　up
in　Sacramento；　with　a　billiard…cue　in　his　hand；　and　a　heart
overcharged　with　indignant　emotion。　　〃I　don't　mind　saying　to　you；
gentlemen；　in　confidence；〃　said　Jack　to　a　circle　of　sympathizing
players；〃I　don't　mind　telling　you　regarding　this　thing；　that　I
was　as　soft　on　that　freckled…faced；　red…eyed；　tallow…haired　gal；　as
if　she'd　beenaaan　actress。　　And　I　don't　mind　saying；
gentlemen；　that；　as　far　as　I　understand　women；　she　was　just　as　soft
on　me。　　You　kin　laugh；　but　it's　so。　　One　day　I　took　her　out　buggy…
riding；in　style；　too；and　out　on　the　road　I　offered　to　do　the
square　thing；　just　as　if　she'd　been　a　lady；offered　to　marry　her
then　and　there。　　And　what　did　she　do？〃　said　Jack　with　a　hysterical
laugh。　　〃Why；　blank　it　all！　OFFERED　ME　TWENTY…FIVE　DOLLARS　A　WEEK
ALLOWANCEPAY　TO　BE　STOPPED　WHEN　I　WASN'T　AT　HOME！〃　　The　roar　of
laughter　that　greeted　this　frank　confession　was　broken　by　a　quiet
voice　asking；　〃And　what　did　YOU　say？〃〃Say？〃　screamed　Jack；　〃I
just　told　her　to　go　to　　with　her　money。〃〃They　say；〃　continued
the　quiet　voice；　〃that　you　asked　her　for　the　loan　of　two　hundred
and　fifty　dollars　to　get　you　to　Sacramentoand　that　you　got　it。〃
〃Who　says　so　roared　Jack。　　〃Show　me　the　blank　liar。〃　　There　was　a
dead　silence。　　Then　the　possessor　of　the　quiet　voice；　Mr。　Jack
Hamlin；　languidly　reached　under　the　table；　took　the　chalk；　and；
rubbing　the　end　of　his　billiard…cue；　began　with　gentle　gravity：　〃It
was　an　old　friend　of　mine　in　Sacramento；　a　man　with　a　wooden　leg；　a
game　eye；　three　fingers　on　his　right　hand；　and　a　consumptive　cough。
Being　unable；　naturally；　to