Chapter I.
"Nell, I'm growing powerful fond of you."
"So you must be, Master Joe, if often telling makes it true."
The girl spoke simply, and with an absence of that roguishness whichwas characteristic of her. Playful words, arch smiles, and a touchof coquetry had seemed natural to Nell; but now her grave tone andher almost wistful glance disconcerted Joe.
During all the long journey over the mountains she had been gay andbright, while now, when they were about to part, perhaps never tomeet again, she showed him the deeper and more earnest side of hercharacter. It checked his boldness as nothing else had done.Suddenly there came to him the real meaning of a woman's love whenshe bestows it without reservation. Silenced by the thought that hehad not understood her at all, and the knowledge that he had beenhalf in sport, he gazed out over the wild country before them.
The scene impressed its quietness upon the young couple and broughtmore forcibly to their minds the fact that they were at the gatewayof the unknown West; that somewhere beyond this rude frontiersettlement, out there in those unbroken forests stretching dark andsilent before them, was to be their future home.
From the high bank where they stood the land sloped and narrowedgradually until it ended in a sharp point which marked the last bitof land between the Allegheny and Monongahela rivers. Here theseswift streams merged and formed the broad Ohio. The new-born river,even here at its beginning proud and swelling as if already certainof its far-away grandeur, swept majestically round a wide curve andapparently lost itself in the forest foliage.
On the narrow point of land commanding a view of the rivers stood along, low structure enclosed by a stockade fence, on the fourcorners of which were little box-shaped houses that bulged out as iftrying to see what was going on beneath. The massive timbers used inthe construction of this fort, the square, compact form, and thesmall, dark holes cut into the walls, gave the structure athreatening, impregnable aspect.
Below Nell and Joe, on the bank, were many log cabins. The yellowclay which filled the chinks between the logs gave these a peculiarstriped appearance. There was life and bustle in the vicinity ofthese dwellings, in sharp contrast with the still grandeur of theneighboring forests. There were canvas-covered wagons around whichcurly-headed youngsters were playing. Several horses were grazing onthe short grass, and six red and white oxen munched at the hay thathad been thrown to them. The smoke of many fires curled upward, andnear the blaze hovered ruddy-faced women who stirred the contents ofsteaming kettles. One man swung an axe with a vigorous sweep, andthe clean, sharp strokes rang on the air; another hammered stakesinto the ground on which to hang a kettle. Before a large cabin afur-trader was exhibiting his wares to three Indians. A secondredskin was carrying a pack of pelts from a canoe drawn up on theriver bank. A small group of persons stood near; some wereindifferent, and others gazed curiously at the savages. Two childrenpeeped from behind their mother's skirts as if half-curious,half-frightened.
From this scene, the significance of which had just dawned on him,Joe turned his eyes again to his companion. It was a sweet face hesaw; one that was sedate, but had a promise of innumerable smiles.The blue eyes could not long hide flashes of merriment. The girlturned, and the two young people looked at each other. Her eyessoftened with a woman's gentleness as they rested upon him, for,broad of shoulder, and lithe and strong as a deer stalker, he wasgood to look at.
"Listen," she said. "We have known each other only three weeks.Since you joined our wagon-train, and have been so kind to me and sohelpful to make that long, rough ride endurable, you have won myregard. I--I cannot say more, even if I would. You told me you ranaway from your Virginian home to seek adventure on the frontier, andthat you knew no one in all this wild country. You even said youcould not, or would not, work at farming. Perhaps my sister and Iare as unfitted as you for this life; but we must cling to our unclebecause he is the only relative we have. He has come out here tojoin the Moravians, and to preach the gospel to these Indians. Weshall share his life, and help him all we can. You have been tellingme you--you cared for me, and now that we are about to part I--Idon't know what to say to you--unless it is: Give up this intentionof yours to seek adventure, and come with us. It seems to me youneed not hunt for excitement here; it will come unsought."
"I wish I were Jim," said he, suddenly.
"Who is Jim?"
"My brother."
"Tell me of him."
"There's nothing much to tell. He and I are all that are left of ourpeople, as are you and Kate of yours. Jim's a preacher, and the bestfellow--oh! I cared a lot for Jim."
"Then, why did you leave him?"
"I was tired of Williamsburg--I quarreled with a fellow, and hurthim. Besides, I wanted to see the West; I'd like to hunt deer andbear and fight Indians. Oh, I'm not much good."
"Was Jim the only one you cared for?" asked Nell, smiling. She wassurprised to find him grave.
"Yes, except my horse and dog, and I had to leave them behind,"answered Joe, bowing his head a little.
"You'd like to be Jim because he's a preacher, and could help uncleconvert the Indians?"
"Yes, partly that, but mostly because--somehow--something you'vesaid or done has made me care for you in a different way, and I'dlike to be worthy of you."
"I don't think I can believe it, when you say you are 'no good,'"she replied.
"Nell," he cried, and suddenly grasped her hand.
She wrenched herself free, and leaped away from him. Her face wasbright now, and the promise of smiles was made good.
"Behave yourself, sir." She tossed her head with a familiar backwardmotion to throw the chestnut hair from her face, and looked at himwith eyes veiled slightly under their lashes. "You will go with Kateand me?"
Before he could answer, a cry from some one on the plain belowattracted their attention. They turned and saw another wagon-trainpulling into the settlement. The children were shooting and runningalongside the weary oxen; men and women went forward expectantly.
"That must be the train uncle expected. Let us go down," said Nell.
Joe did not answer; but followed her down the path. When they gaineda clump of willows near the cabins he bent forward and took herhand. She saw the reckless gleam in his eyes.
"Don't. They'll see," she whispered.
"If that's the only reason you have, I reckon I don't care," saidJoe.
"What do you mean? I didn't say--I didn't tell--oh! let me go!"implored Nell.
She tried to release the hand Joe had grasped in his broad palm, butin vain; the more she struggled the firmer was his hold. A frownwrinkled her brow and her eyes sparkled with spirit. She saw thefur-trader's wife looking out of the window, and remembered laughingand telling the good woman she did not like this young man; it was,perhaps, because she feared those sharp eyes that she resented hisaudacity. She opened her mouth to rebuke him; but no words came. Joehad bent his head and softly closed her lips with his own.
For the single instant during which Nell stood transfixed, as ifwith surprise, and looking up at Joe, she was dumb. Usually the girlwas ready with sharp or saucy words and impulsive in her movements;but now the bewilderment of being kissed, particularly within viewof the trader's wife, confused her. Then she heard voices, and asJoe turned away with a smile on his face, the unusual warmth in herheart was followed by an angry throbbing.
Joe's tall figure stood out distinctly as he leisurely strolledtoward the incoming wagon-train without looking backward. Flashingafter him a glance that boded wordy trouble in the future, she raninto the cabin.
As she entered the door it seemed certain the grizzled frontiersmansitting on the bench outside had grinned knowingly at her, andwinked as if to say he would keep her secret. Mrs. Wentz, thefur-trader's wife, was seated by the open window which faced thefort; she was a large woman, strong of feature, and with that calmplacidity of expression common to people who have lived long insparsely populated districts. Nell glanced furtively at her andthought she detect
ed the shadow of a smile in the gray eyes.
"I saw you and your sweetheart makin' love behind the willow," Mrs.Wentz said in a matter-of-fact voice. "I don't see why you need hideto do it. We folks out here like to see the young people sparkin'.Your young man is a fine-appearin' chap. I felt certain you wassweethearts, for all you allowed you'd known him only a few days.Lize Davis said she saw he was sweet on you. I like his face. Jake,my man, says as how he'll make a good husband for you, and he'lltake to the frontier like a duck does to water. I'm sorry you'll nottarry here awhile. We don't see many lasses, especially any aspretty as you, and you'll find it more quiet and lonesome thefarther West you get. Jake knows all about Fort Henry, and JeffLynn, the hunter outside, he knows Eb and Jack Zane, and Wetzel, andall those Fort Henry men. You'll be gettin' married out there, won'tyou?"
"You are--quite wrong," said Nell, who all the while Mrs. Wentz wasspeaking grew rosier and rosier. "We're not anything---"
Then Nell hesitated and finally ceased speaking. She saw thatdenials or explanations were futile; the simple woman had seen thekiss, and formed her own conclusions. During the few days Nell hadspent at Fort Pitt, she had come to understand that the dwellers onthe frontier took everything as a matter of course. She had seenthem manifest a certain pleasure; but neither surprise, concern, norany of the quick impulses so common among other people. And this wasanother lesson Nell took to heart. She realized that she wasentering upon a life absolutely different from her former one, andthe thought caused her to shrink from the ordeal. Yet all thesuggestions regarding her future home; the stories told aboutIndians, renegades, and of the wild border-life, fascinated her.These people who had settled in this wild region were simple, honestand brave; they accepted what came as facts not to be questioned,and believed what looked true. Evidently the fur-trader's wife andher female neighbors had settled in their minds the relation inwhich the girl stood to Joe.
This latter reflection heightened Nell's resentment toward herlover. She stood with her face turned away from Mrs. Wentz; thelittle frown deepened, and she nervously tapped her foot on thefloor.
"Where is my sister?" she presently asked.
"She went to see the wagon-train come in. Everybody's out there."
Nell deliberated a moment and then went into the open air. She saw anumber of canvas-covered wagons drawn up in front of the cabins; thevehicles were dusty and the wheels encrusted with yellow mud. Thegrizzled frontiersman who had smiled at Nell stood leaning on hisgun, talking to three men, whose travel-stained and worn homespunclothes suggested a long and toilsome journey. There was the bustleof excitement incident to the arrival of strangers; to the quickexchange of greetings, the unloading of wagons and unharnessing ofhorses and oxen.
Nell looked here and there for her sister. Finally she saw herstanding near her uncle while he conversed with one of theteamsters. The girl did not approach them; but glanced quicklyaround in search of some one else. At length she saw Joe unloadinggoods from one of the wagons; his back was turned toward her, butshe at once recognized the challenge conveyed by the broadshoulders. She saw no other person; gave heed to nothing save whatwas to her, righteous indignation.
Hearing her footsteps, the young man turned, glancing at heradmiringly, said:
"Good evening, Miss."
Nell had not expected such a matter-of-fact greeting from Joe. Therewas not the slightest trace of repentance in his calm face, and heplacidly continued his labor.
"Aren't you sorry you--you treated me so?" burst out Nell.
His coolness was exasperating. Instead of the contrition and apologyshe had expected, and which was her due, he evidently intended totease her, as he had done so often.
The young man dropped a blanket and stared.
"I don't understand," he said, gravely. "I never saw you before."
This was too much for quick-tempered Nell. She had had some vagueidea of forgiving him, after he had sued sufficiently for pardon;but now, forgetting her good intentions in the belief that he wasmaking sport of her when he should have pleaded for forgiveness, sheswiftly raised her hand and slapped him smartly.
The red blood flamed to the young man's face; as he staggeredbackward with his hand to his cheek, she heard a smotheredexclamation behind her, and then the quick, joyous barking of a dog.
When Nell turned she was amazed to see Joe standing beside thewagon, while a big white dog was leaping upon him. Suddenly she feltfaint. Bewildered, she looked from Joe to the man she had juststruck; but could not say which was the man who professed to loveher.
"Jim! So you followed me!" cried Joe, starting forward and flinginghis arms around the other.
"Yes, Joe, and right glad I am to find you," answered the young man,while a peculiar expression of pleasure came over his face.
"It's good to see you again! And here's my old dog Mose! But how onearth did you know? Where did you strike my trail? What are yougoing to do out here on the frontier? Tell me all. What happenedafter I left---"
Then Joe saw Nell standing nearby, pale and distressed, and he feltsomething was amiss. He glanced quickly from her to his brother; sheseemed to be dazed, and Jim looked grave.
"What the deuce--? Nell, this is my brother Jim, the one I told youabout. Jim, this is my friend, Miss Wells."
"I am happy to meet Miss Wells," said Jim, with a smile, "eventhough she did slap my face for nothing."
"Slapped you? What for?" Then the truth dawned on Joe, and helaughed until the tears came into his eyes. "She took you for me!Ha, ha, ha! Oh, this is great!"
Nell's face was now rosy red and moisture glistened in her eyes; butshe tried bravely to stand her ground. Humiliation had taken theplace of anger.
"I--I--am sorry, Mr. Downs. I did take you for him. He--he hasinsulted me." Then she turned and ran into the cabin.