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window； thrown by the nearly level sun across his paper； had begun
slowly to reach the opposite wall。 He put his work away； lingered
for a moment in hesitation over the myrtle sprays； and then locked
them in his desk with an odd feeling that he had secured in some
vague way a hold upon Cressy's future vagaries； then reflecting
that Uncle Ben； whom he had seen in town； would probably keep
holiday with the others； he resolved to wait no longer； but
strolled back to the hotel。 The act however had not recalled Uncle
Ben to him by any association of ideas； for since his discovery of
Johnny Filgee's caricature he had failed to detect anything to
corroborate the caricaturist's satire； and had dismissed the
subject from his mind。
On entering his room at the hotel he found Rupert Filgee standing
moodily by the window； while his brother Johnny； overcome by a
repletion of excitement and collation； was asleep on the single
arm…chair。 Their presence was not unusual； as Mr。 Ford； touched by
the loneliness of these motherless boys； had often invited them to
come to his rooms to look over his books and illustrated papers。
〃Well？〃 he said cheerfully。
Rupert did not reply or change his position。 Mr。 Ford； glancing at
him sharply； saw a familiar angry light in the boy's beautiful
eyes； slightly dimmed by a tear。 Laying his hand gently on
Rupert's shoulder he said； 〃What's the matter； Rupert？〃
〃Nothin'；〃 said the boy doggedly； with his eyes still fixed on the
pane。
〃HashasMrs。 Tripp〃 （the fair proprietress） 〃been unkind？〃 he
went on lightly。
No reply。
〃You know； Rupe；〃 continued Mr。 Ford demurely； 〃she must show SOME
reserve before companylike to…day。 It won't do to make a
scandal。〃
Rupert maintained an indignant silence。 But the dimple （which he
usually despised as a feminine blot） on the cheek nearer the master
became slightly accented。 Only for a moment； the dark eyes clouded
again。
〃I wish I was dead； Mr。 Ford。〃
〃Hallo！〃
〃Ordoin' suthin'。〃
〃That's better。 What do you want to do？〃
〃To workmake a livin' myself。 Quit toten' wood and water at
home； quit cookin' and makin' beds； like a yaller Chinaman； quit
nussin' babies and dressin' 'em and undressin' 'em； like a girl。
Look at HIM now；〃 pointing to the sweetly unconscious Johnny； 〃look
at him there。 Do you know what that means？ It means I've got to
pack him home through the town jist ez he is thar； and then make a
fire and bile his food for him； and wash him and undress him and
put him to bed； and 'Now I lay me down to sleep' him； and tuck him
up； and Dad all the while 'scootin' round town with other idjits；
jawin' about 'progress' and the 'future of Injin Spring。' Much
future we've got over our own house； Mr。 Ford。 Much future he's
got laid up for me！〃
The master； to whom those occasional outbreaks from Rupert were not
unfamiliar； smiled； albeit with serious eyes that belied his lips；
and consoled the boy as he had often done before。 But he was
anxious to know the cause of this recent attack and its probable
relations to the fascinating Mrs。 Tripp。
〃I thought we talked all that over some time ago； Rupe。 In a few
months you'll be able to leave school； and I'll advise your father
about putting you into something to give you a chance for yourself。
Patience； old fellow； you're doing very well。 Considerthere's
your pupil； Uncle Ben。〃
〃Oh； yes！ That's another big baby to tot round in school when I
ain't niggerin' at home。〃
〃And I don't see exactly what else you could do at Indian Spring；〃
continued Mr。 Ford。
〃No；〃 said Rupert gloomily； 〃but I could get away to Sacramento。
Yuba Bill says they take boys no bigger nor me in thar express
offices or banksand in a year or two they're as good ez anybody
and get paid as big。 Why； there was a fellow here； just now； no
older than you； Mr。 Ford； and not half your learnin'； and he
dressed to death with jewelry； and everybody bowin' and scrapin' to
him； that it was perfectly sickenin'。〃
Mr。 Ford lifted his eyebrows。 〃Oh； you mean the young man of
Benham and Co。； who was talking to Mrs。 Tripp？〃 he said。
A quick flush of angry consciousness crossed Rupert's face。
〃Maybe； he has just cheek enough for anythin'。〃
〃And you want to be like him？〃 said Mr。 Ford。
〃You know what I mean； Mr。 Ford。 Not LIKE him。 Why YOU'RE as good
as he is； any day；〃 continued Rupert with relentless naivete； 〃but
if a jay…bird like that can get on； why couldn't I？〃
There was no doubt that the master here pointed out the defectiveness
of Rupert's logic and the beneficence of patience and study； as
became their relations of master and pupil； but with the addition of
a certain fellow sympathy and some amusing recital of his own boyish
experiences； that had the effect of calling Rupert's dimples into
action again。 At the end of half an hour the boy had become quite
tractable； and； getting ready to depart； approached his sleeping
brother with something like resignation。 But Johnny's nap seemed to
have had the effect of transforming him into an inert jelly…like
mass。 It required the joint exertions of both the master and Rupert
to transfer him bodily into the latter's arms； where； with a single
limp elbow encircling his brother's neck； he lay with his unfinished
slumber still visibly distending his cheeks； his eyelids； and even
lifting his curls from his moist forehead。 The master bade Rupert
〃good…night；〃 and returned to his room as the boy descended the
stairs with his burden。
But here Providence； with； I fear； its occasional disregard of mere
human morality； rewarded Rupert after his own foolish desires。
Mrs。 Tripp was at the foot of the stairs as Rupert came slowly
down。 He saw her； and was covered with shame； she saw him and his
burden； and was touched with kindliness。 Whether or not she was
also mischievously aware of Rupert's admiration； and was not
altogether displeased with it； I cannot say。 In a voice that
thrilled him； she said：
〃What！ Rupert； are you going so soon？〃
〃Yes； ma'am…on account of Johnny。〃
〃But let me take himI can keep him here to…night。〃
It was a great temptation； but Rupert had strength to refuse；
albeit with his hat pulled over his downcast eyes。
〃Poor dear； how tired he looks。〃
She approached her still fresh and pretty face close to Rupert and
laid her lips on Johnny's cheek。 Then she lifted her audacious
eyes to his brother； and pushing back his well…worn chip hat from
his clustering curls； she kissed him squarely on the forehead。
〃Good…night； dear。〃
The boy stumbled； and then staggered blindly forward into the outer
darkness。 But with a gentleman's delicacy he turned almost
instantly into a side street； as if to keep this consecration of
himself from vulgar eyes。 The path he had chosen was rough and
weary； the night was dark； and Johnny was ridiculously heavy； but
he kept steadily on； the woman's kiss in the fancy of the foolish
boy shining on his forehead and lighting him onward like a star。
CHAPTER VI。
When the door closed on Rupert the master pulled down the blind；
and； trimming his lamp； tried to compose himself by reading。
Outside； the 〃Great Day for Indian Spring〃 was slowly evaporating
in pale mists from the river； and the celebration itself
spasmodically taking flight here and there in Roman candles and
rockets。 An occasional outbreak from revellers in the bar…room
below； a stumbling straggler along the planked sidewalk before the
hotel； only seemed to intensify the rustic stillness。 For the
future of Indian Spring was still so remote that Nature insensibly
re…invested its boundaries on the slightest relaxation of civic
influence； and Mr。 Ford lifted his head from the glowing columns
of the 〃Star〃 to listen to the far…off yelp of a coyote on the
opposite shore。
He was also conscious of the recurrence of that vague； pleasurable
recollection； so indefinite that； when he sought to identify it
with anythingeven the finding of the myrtle sprays on his desk
it evaded him。 He tried to work； with the same interruption。 Then
an uneasy sensation that he had not been sufficiently kind to
Rupert in his foolish love…troubles remorsefully seized him。 A
half pathetic； half humorous picture of the miserable Rupert
staggering under the double burden of his sleeping brother and a
misplaced affection； or possibly abandoning the one or both in the
nearest ditch in a reckless access of boyish frenzy and fleeing his
home forever； rose before his eyes。 He seized his hat with the
intention of seeking himor forgetting him in some other occupation
by the way。 For Mr。 Ford had the sensitive conscience of many
imaginative people； an unfailing monitor； it was always calling his
whole moral being into play to evade it。
As he crossed the passage he came upon Mrs。 Tripp