BENEATH THIS TREE
LIES THE BODY
OF
JOHN OAKHURST,
WHO STRUCK A STREAK OF BAD LUCK
ON THE 23D OF NOVEMBER, 1850,
AND
HANDED IN HIS CHECKS
ON THE 7TH DECEMBER, 1850.
And pulseless and cold, with a Derringer by his side and a bullet in his heart, though still calm as in life, beneath the snow lay he who was at once the strongest and yet the weakest of the outcasts of Poker Flat.
The Convalescence of Jack Hamlin
The habitually quiet, ascetic face of Seth Rivers was somewhat disturbed and his brows were knitted as he climbed the long ascent of Windy Hill to its summit and his own rancho. Perhaps it was the effect of the characteristic wind, which that afternoon seemed to assault him from all points at once and did not cease its battery even at his front door, but hustled him into the passage, blew him into the sitting room, and then celebrated its own exit from the long, rambling house by the banging of doors throughout the halls and the slamming of windows in the remote distance.
Mrs. Rivers looked up from her work at this abrupt onset of her husband, but without changing her own expression of slightly fatigued self-righteousness. Accustomed to these elemental eruptions, she laid her hands from force of habit upon the lifting tablecloth, and then rose submissively to brush together the scattered embers and ashes from the large hearthstone, as she had often done before.
Youre in early, Seth, she said.
Yes. I stopped at the Cross Roads Post Office. Lucky I did, or youd hev had kempany on your hands afore you knowed it this very night! I found this letter from Dr. Duchesne, and he produced a letter from his pocket.
Mrs. Rivers looked up with an expression of worldly interest. Dr. Duchesne had brought her two children into the world with some difficulty, and had skillfully attended her through a long illness consequent upon the inefficient maternity of soulful but fragile American women of her type. The doctor had more than a mere local reputation as a surgeon, and Mrs. Rivers looked up to him as her sole connecting link with a world of thought beyond Windy Hill.
Hes comin up yer to-night, bringin a friend of his a patient that he wants us to board and keep for three weeks until hes well agin, continued Mr. Rivers. Ye know how the doctor used to rave about the pure air on our hill.
Mrs. Rivers shivered slightly, and drew her shawl over her shoulders, but nodded a patient assent.
Well, he says its just what that patient oughter have to cure him. Hes had lung fever and other things, and this yer air and ginral quiet is bound to set him up. Were to board and keep him without any fuss or feathers, and the doctor sez hell pay liberal for it. This yers what he sez, concluded Mr. Rivers, reading from the letter: He is now fully convalescent, though weak, and really requires no other medicine than the ozone yes, thats what the doctor calls it of Windy Hill, and in fact as little attendance as possible. I will not let him keep even his negro servant with him. Hell give you no trouble, if he can be prevailed upon to stay the whole time of his cure.
Theres our spare room it hasnt been used since Parson Greenwood was here, said Mrs. Rivers reflectively. Melinda could put it to rights in an hour. At what time will he come?
Hed come about nine. They drive over from Hightown depot. But, he added grimly, here ye are orderin rooms to be done up and ye dont know who for.
You said a friend of Dr. Duchesne, returned Mrs. Rivers simply.
Dr. Duchesne has many friends that you and me mightnt cotton to, said her husband. This man is Jack Hamlin. As his wifes remote and introspective black eyes returned only vacancy, he added quickly. The noted gambler!
Gambler? echoed his wife, still vaguely.
Yes reglar; its his business.
Goodness, Seth! He cant expect to do it here.
No, said Seth quickly, with that sense of fairness to his fellow man which most women find it so difficult to understand. No and he probably wont mention the word card while hes here.
Well? said Mrs. Rivers interrogatively.
And, continued Seth, seeing that the objection was not pressed, hes one of them desprit men! A reglar fighter! Killed two or three men in dools!
Mrs. Rivers stared. What could Dr. Duchesne have been thinking of? Why, we wouldnt be safe in the house with him!
Again Seths sense of equity triumphed. I never heard of his fightin anybody but his own kind, and when he was bullyragged. And ez to women hes quite tother way in fact, and thats why I think ye oughter know it afore you let him come. He dont go round with decent women. In fact But here Mr. Rivers, in the sanctity of conjugal confidences and the fullness of Bible reading, used a few strong scriptural substantives happily unnecessary to repeat here.
Seth! said Mrs. Rivers suddenly, you seem to know this man.
The unexpectedness and irrelevancy of this for a moment startled Seth. But that chaste and God-fearing man had no secrets. Only by hearsay, Jane, he returned quietly; but if ye say the word Ill stop his comin now.
Its too late, said Mrs. Rivers decidedly.