The Hallam Succession

ot for a year; but I loved you from the first, when I was a child,

ing angels, in whose light o

zzas draped in vines ran all around the lower story, and the upper revealed itself only in white glimpses among dense masses of foliage. And what did it matter that outside the place there were bro

ed the lace curtains hanging motionless before the windows. The rooms, large and lofty, were in a dusky light, their atmosphere still and warm and heavy with the scent of flowers. On the back piazza half a dozen negro children were sleeping in all sorts of picturesque attitudes, a

. But the sewing which had fallen from them, and the thimble still upon her finger, was guarantee for her mortality. And in a few minutes she opened her soft, dark eyes, and sm

s Lord Eltham had become quietly interested in the firm, the squire felt more easy as to its final success. Second, Mr. North was leaving Hallam, his term there had expired, and the Conference, which would determine his next movement, was then sitting. Her thoughts we

ready-and I 'spects thar's s

was not asleep. As for good news, I think you ar

s Phill-'whar you goi

at's de way. I reck

ostman been, or a bird whispered it to you, or hav

'ctar hung on ebery tree top in de county. No, I draws my s'picions in de prope

seen him sin

bout dat letter. I knows dat letter

the outside of it

n't look neider at de

ok at Mass'r Richard's

kaint hide nothing. If

it, quick a

k not,

n in love eber since he come back from ober de Atterlanti

is la

n de lookout for de postman; and he gits a heap ob

You don't suppose Master Richard

y mighty proud fambly, de Fontaines; but I'se no such fool as not to know de lady's head am wor

that would

nd ef you speak to him, he answers you kind ob far-away, and gentle. I done tried him often. But he didn't

e and not ange

ases, and as I put dem in, and fixed up de chimley-piece, I noticed Mass'r Richard through de lookin

to watch your master. It i

none ob dat kind! But I kaint shut my eyes, 's

left the vases j

s to be 'tended to. You done told me ober and ober to hab a

chard through the glass, tell him so,

got more sense dan tell Mas

es had been spent together, for Phyllis had been left to his guardianship when very young, and had learned to give him an affection which had something in it of the clinging reliance of the child, as well as of the pr

of his sister, and jealous of John's superiority in athletic games, and that John spoke sneeringly of Richard's aristocratic airs, and finer gentleman ways; but there was

illed in some Indian fight?" Richard would have indignantly denied it; and yet he knew that if such a fate had come to his cousin Millard, he would not have been sorry. And now the man

g life in some log-cabin on the San Marino. That was at least the aspect in which he put the question to himself. He meant that he could not endure that John Millard should at the last

m at dinner time. And there was an unusual light in her eyes and an indescribab

ddenly, "who told you J

u had a letter from

nfo

cha

ut of my way. Yes; I had a letter-a most impertinent one, I

gine themselves

om

lways made him welcome to it. Dear Richard, if it is foolis

o you as he ought not to talk. He ought to have more modest

ustees' meeting to-night, and they are in trouble a

o help the

ndly, and talking unkindly, the best o

llis! P

ow what he will say. 'It is but fair and square, son Richard, to treat a man kindly till he does you some wrong which deserves u

ister, what do yo

as we were met at Hallam

ill promi

ame me for. To ask more, is to doubt me, and doubt I do not deserve. Now put

l cost

nicer to go and pay them than to compel s

deb

lds, Richard, and see what a grand crop you are going to have

always do." And he stooped and kissed her, and

I am going to ride to Greyson's Timbers, Phyllis," he said; "I have some business with Gre

Richard had conquered his lower self, and whether the victory had been a single-handed one, or whether the Bishop had been an all

ows lightning. And Phyllis found it very pleasant to lie still and think of the past, and put off, just for an hour or two, whatever of joy or sorrow was coming to meet her; for she had not seen John for two years

n the voi

ck ben

talking, she still delayed the moment she had been longing for. She walked into the dining-room, looked at the boy setting the table, and altered the arrangement of the flowers

the exception of a narrow black ribbon round his throat, he was altogether dressed in white; and this dress was a singularly becoming contrast to his black hair and glowing dark eyes. And in every attitude which he took he managed his tall stature with an indolent grace suggestive of an unlimited capacity for pride, passion, aristocra

eely look in them which snaps like lightning when any thing strikes fire from the heart. He was very tall and straight, and had a lofty carriage and an air of command. His dress

bbing the man who had been fighting for it. John was just going to reply when Phyllis's approach broke the sentence in two, and he did not finish it. He stood sti

ope is a trifle-no need to make a fuss about it; is ther

f enchantment. It was easy to sit still and let the beauty of heaven and earth sink into the heart. And for some time John was contented with it. It was enough to sit and watch the white-robed figure of P

beauty and her goodness, how exacting of all pretenders to her favor. His ideal husband for Phyllis was not John Millard. He wondered what she could see to admire in the bronzed frontier soldi

-perhaps because both men loved frontier fighting. "I like," said the old soldier of Christ, "I dearly like to follow the devil to his outposts. He has often fine fellows in them, souls well worth saving. I was the first

y listen

' then. I think the eight men in it were thieves; I believe that they intended to rob, and perhaps to murder, me. But they gave me supper, and took my saddle-bags,

mong them and slept soundly and safely. Ten years afterward I gave the sacrament to four of these very men in Bastrop Methodist Church. If I was a young man I would be in the Rio Grande District. I would carry 'the glad tidings' to the ranger camps on

"My dear father, almost you p

it is a grand thing to feel your heart stir to the trumpet, even though you don't buckle on the armor.

d farther on. As we were sitting about the fire he said, 'I'm going into the wagon now. I'm going to sleep. Who'll hear my prayers?' And half a dozen of the boys said, 'I will,' and he knelt down at the knee of Bill Burleson, and clasped

idents. It's hard to kill the divinity in any man

flashing eyes and eager face, and felt no angry impulse, although Phyllis sat between the Bishop and John, and John held her hand in his. But when

see how interested she was when I was telling about the

ed she was r

ard was angry, and ashamed, for a gentleman never tells a lie, though it be only to his own consciousness, without feeling unsp

as anxious to preserve a kindly feeling. Love made him wise and forbearing; and he was happy, and happiness makes good men tolerant; so that Richard soon saw that John

chess in shady corners, of happy communion in song and story, and of conscious conversations wherein so few words meant so much. And perhaps the lovers in th

hem. He sat in a large wicker-chair, and on the rustic table beside him was a cup of coffee, a couple of flaky biscuits, and a plate of great purple figs, just gathered from the branches above him. When Phyllis ca

John, f

mind, Phyllis Fontaine? You are no

go, father, that I love

t my leader gave me, a

to take John for eterni

t death cou

to subdue his temper. Phyllis, any moment that temper may subdue him, and then there will be sorrow. You must come to some understanding with him. John and you m

elfish,

nk you

must

nity to say what he wishes. If the young men are not likely to agree, tell Joh

, I

ool breeze, and when he saw her carriage he went to meet her. A glance into her face was suffi

nfortunately taken place before I got an opportu

was

n, that people were talking about his intimacy with me; and that,

t el

gs were said on both sides, an

e in some measure for your comfort. Promise in addition any thing that is reasonable. I fear Richard's temper, but I fear John's more; for the anger of a patient man is a de

yea

a duel here very readily-dare y

her, pray

nsecration of a home. Tell John to make one for you, and then to come and speak to Richard again. I don't say, wait for riches; but I do say, wa

She could hardly trust the message. It was possible that Richard had considered flight from temptation the wisest course, and that he expected John would leave during his absence. On the other han

know whether he was still in the village or had gone away altogether. If the latter, she would certainly receive s

Mass'r John no sich fool as go 'way widout talkin' up for himself. I was 'stonished dis afternoon, Miss P

e quarrel, th

de curtains right; she's not got de hang ob dem, Miss Phill; so I jist made up my mind to do 'em myself; and while I was busy as a honey-bee 'bout dem, Mass'r Richard, he walk proud-like up

ter John

chard he tell him dat he hear some talk down town, and dat he won't have you talked 'bout, and dat as thar wa

white-hot still tempers, and he say, 'No gen'lemen need more 'an one word;' and Mass'r John say, 'No gen'leman eber say dat one word;' and Mass'r Richard say, 'Sir, you in my house, and you 'sume on dat p

hat, Ha

till Prince work himself up in a fury, too, and I 'spects dey's both tired out by dis time. Prince he jist reared and kicked and foamed at de mouth, and did all d

ow wretched yo

hard 'fore dis, and he allus come in de stable meek as a lamb. When Mass'r Richard's

t. But if he meet Master John there w

as preachin',

only see J

on go for him,

at will

s known to be her lover. To do anything which would give cause for ill-natured remarks was to find Richard the excuse w

a bery dangerous road. I reckon you'd best pray for d

t is best

the supplication came. When she rose from her knees, she was resigned in all things to God's will, no matter what self-denial it involved; and she was not unhappy. For, O believe this truth, the saddest thing under the

fused to entertain the idea. She had tried to find reasons for seeking some other human adviser than Bishop Elliott, because she f

king her coffee John M

d, looking sorrowfull

earest, it was

eve you

love me,

Bishop to tell you this. I can trust you, John, and you can trust me. He will tell you what you ought to do. And don't think hard of me i

s said words which I can scarcely ignore. Two or three

kind o

ferts and Ji

ain Lefferts and Jim Wade? Are you their slave? Richard is not himself now; if you

nd do whatever he tells me. If I

hn. And who would dare to dispute a word he said? De

hn with one of contemptuous defiant anger. It did not help to soothe Richard that John looked unusually handsome. There was a fire and persuasion in his face, a tenderness and grace in his manne

hyllis Fontaine in the month of every drunken gambler and sc

hting half-armed savages; but I propose to honor his behavio

t about me. The shame would kill me. I don't deserve it. I will never marry a man who drags my name into a quarrel. Richard, for ou

ill go. I will not fight.

me! I will call you cow

ows us both, wi

d struck John, and John had cocked his pistol. In the same moment Phyllis was between them, looking into John's eyes, and just touching the dangerous weapo

, she had faced Richard and fallen. Her movement in some way had fired the cocked pistol, and, with a cry of horror, he flung

was an accident, an accid

de away, as men ride between life and death. Richard sat in a stupor of grief, supporting the