The Argosy, April 1912 — page 48: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

at in the wilderness a spot of land that shall be mine own. Shall I tell you of it?” (79 Yes.”’ “A sloping lawn, running down to a lake, a forest behind and about it, with great, gentle hills coming down almost to the water’s edge, and on the brow of my lawn a house: My house—and one other’s. A wife’s! And when I come home from my day’s work of turning ‘the wilderness into a fertile farm, she will be waiting at the door, in the sunset, to welcome me and io make me forget the labor of the day in the joy of seeing her. A strange dream, is it not, for a broken soldier of fortune. Does it interest you?” “You know it does,” she murmured. I drew nearer to her side. “Dorcas,” I went on eagerly, “do you know who the woman is whom, in my dreams, I see waiting for me in the glory of the sunset at the door of my cabin? She is the one woman in all the world to me. Shall I tell you her name, or have you guessed it?” I know not what she would have replied, nor could I guess it from her face, which was so far averted as to leave me but a glimpse of one very small, very pink ear. At that wondrous moment, as mischievous luck would have it, who should come a clumping up to us—actually looking as if he thought we would be glad to see him —but Mark Errol. “Lass,” said he, other hour, they tell me. packed and ready.” Meekly, after the manner of daughters in. that day, she hurried off to obey. I looked at Mark Errol as calmly as I could, but of a certainty if he could have read the murderous thoughts behind my stolid, weatherbeaten face, he would have jumped overboard or climbed up a mast in sheer terror. For weeks I had been rehearsing, and improving, and twisting that proposal speech of mine, nad now, just when I had got it finely under way, the father must needs break in upon it and spoil all. Yet I pickéd up heart, for I had also re- hearsed for weeks a formal yet eloquent address wherein I was to entreat Mark Errol for the honor of his daughter’s hand. I had intended to deliver this second speech after I should have won the maid’s own consent, but now it seemed a pity that so much good courage should go to waste, “we cast anchor 1n an- Get our goods THE ARGOSY. so I resolved to unburden myself of the formal request while Mark Errol and I still stood there by the rail together. I fear me that luck was not with me on that day, for even as I cleared my throat and assumed a conciliatory smile, prior to plunging into my entreaty for his daugh- ter’s hand, Mark Errol, who had glanced about him nervously, bent toward me and whispered : “Lad, you have a level head, and I can trust you. Moreover, it is needful that I confide in you that you may be on guard to aid him in case trouble should follow what I‘have done. Yet to me it seemed his one salvation, and the colony’s as well.” ‘I growled something under my breath which, luckily, Errol did not hear. I knew not what this confidence might be which he was trying to tell me, nor did I care. I knew only that his interruption had sent my own well-rehearsed speech scattering to the four corners of my brain. “Lad,” he went on, “in Gosnold’s strong-box is the royal packet which we are bidden to open within twenty-four hours of landing. It names our officers who are to rule over us here, in the king’s name.” “Yes, yes!” I retorted impatiently, “I know. It is known to all. What about ite” “Simply this,” he answered, after a pause in which he seemed to be fighting back some confession that had sprung to his lips. “Simply this, lad: When it is opened look out for excitement.” “Zounds!” I exclaimed in_ vexation. “Was this the ‘ confidence ’ you were about to make?” “No,” he returned surlily, “it was not. On second thought I have decided that all I needed to do was to set you on your guard. These colonists are wont to act hastily.” “And you mean they al clamor for the new crown officials to hang Smith?” “°Tis possible.” “ Officials or no officials, Smith shall not die while I can draw sword. u “How devoted and loyal to him you are!” approved Errol. “On the contrary,” I contradicted, “ am not devoted to him at all.” 7 But—” “But he is the one man who can save this tatterdemalion colony from ruin. I may not love the helmsman of a ship, but while that ship, in storm, depends for CONMUC NOOLK CO