I never wished to come unless you called me first, he said frankly.
What? she said, in her half playful, half reproachful, but wholly caressing way. You mean to say you would never come to see me unless I sent for you? Oh, Leon! and youd abandon me in that way?
But Leonidas was set in his own boyish superstition. Id just delight in being sent for by you any time, Mrs. Burroughs, and you kin always find me, he said shyly, but doggedly; butHe stopped.
What an opinionated young gentleman! Well, I see I must do all the courting. So consider that I sent for you this morning. Ive got another letter for you to mail. She put her hand to her breast, and out of the pretty frillings of her frock produced, as before, with the same faint perfume of violets, a letter like the first. But it was unsealed. Now, listen, Leon; we are going to be great friendsyou and I. Leonidas felt his cheeks glowing. You are going to do me another great favor, and we are going to have a little fun and a great secret all by our own selves. Now, first, have you any correspondentyou knowany one who writes to youany boy or girlfrom San Francisco?
Leonidass cheeks grew redderalas! from a less happy consciousness. He never received any letters; nobody ever wrote to him. He was obliged to make this shameful admission.
Mrs. Burroughs looked thoughtful. But you have some friend in San Franciscosome one who MIGHT write to you? she suggested pleasantly.
I knew a boy once who went to San Francisco, said Leonidas doubtfully. At least, he allowed he was goin there.
That will do, said Mrs. Burroughs. I suppose your parents know him or of him?
Why, said Leonidas, he used to live here.
Better still. For, you see, it wouldnt be strange if he DID write. What was the gentlemans name?
Jim Belcher, returned Leonidas hesitatingly, by no means sure that the absent Belcher knew how to write. Mrs. Burroughs took a tiny pencil from her belt, opened the letter she was holding in her hand, and apparently wrote the name in it. Then she folded it and sealed it, smiling charmingly at Leonidass puzzled face.
Now, Leon, listen; for here is the favor I am asking. Mr. Jim Belchershe pronounced the name with great gravitywill write to you in a few days. But inside of YOUR letter will be a little note to me, which you will bring me. You can show your letter to your family, if they want to know who it is from; but no one must see MINE. Can you manage that?
Yes, said Leonidas. Then, as the whole idea flashed upon his quick intelligence, he smiled until he showed his dimples. Mrs. Burroughs leaned forward over the fence, lifted his torn straw hat, and dropped a fluttering little kiss on his forehead. It seemed to the boy, flushed and rosy as a maid, as if she had left a shining star there for every one to see.
Dont smile like that, Leon, youre positively irresistible! It will be a nice little game, wont it? Nobody in it but you and meand Belcher! Well outwit them yet. And, you see, youll be obliged to come to me, after all, without my asking.
They both laughed; indeed, quite a dimpled, bright-eyed, rosy, innocent pair, though I think Leonidas was the more maidenly.
And, added Leonidas, with breathless eagerness, I can sometimes write totoJim, and inclose your letter.
Angel of wisdom! certainly. Well, now, lets seehave you got any letters for the post to-day? He colored again, for in anticipation of meeting her he had hurried up the family post that morning. He held out his letters: she thrust her own among them. Now, she said, laying her cool, soft hand against his hot cheek, run along, dear; you must not be seen loitering here.
Leonidas ran off, buoyed up on ambient air. It seemed just like a fairy-book. Here he was, the confidant of the most beautiful creature he had seen, and there was a mysterious letter coming to himLeonidasand no one to know why. And now he had a call to see her often; she would not forget himhe neednt loiter by the fencepost to see if she wanted himand his boyish pride and shyness were appeased. There was no question of moral ethics raised in Leonidass mind; he knew that it would not be the real Jim Belcher who would write to him, but that made the prospect the more attractive. Nor did another circumstance trouble his conscience. When he reached the post-office, he was surprised to see the man whom he knew to be Mr. Burroughs talking with the postmaster. Leonidas brushed by him and deposited his letters in the box in discreet triumph. The postmaster was evidently officially resenting some imputation on his carelessness, and, concluding his defense, No, sir, he said, you kin bet your boots that ef any letter hez gone astray for you or your wifeYe said your wife, didnt ye?
Yes, said Burroughs hastily, with a glance around the shop.
Well, for you or anybody at your houseit aint here thats the fault. You hear me! I know every letter that comes in and goes outer this office, I reckon, and handle em all,Leonidas pricked up his ears,and if anybody oughter know, its me. Ye kin paste that in your hat, Mr. Burroughs. Burroughs, apparently disconcerted by the intrusion of a third partyLeonidasupon what was evidently a private inquiry, murmured something surlily, and passed out.
Leonidas was puzzled. That big man seemed to be snoopin around for something! He knew that he dared not touch the letter-bag,Leonidas had heard somewhere that it was a deadly crime to touch any letters after the Government had got hold of them once, and he had no fears for the safety of hers. But ought he not go back at once and tell her about her husbands visit, and the alarming fact that the postmaster was personally acquainted with all the letters? He instantly saw, too, the wisdom of her inclosing her letter hereafter in another address. Yet he finally resolved not to tell her to-day,it would look like hanging round again; andanother secret reasonhe was afraid that any allusion to her husbands interference would bring back that change in her beautiful face which he did not like. The better to resist temptation, he went back another way.
It must not be supposed that, while Leonidas indulged in this secret passion for the beautiful stranger, it was to the exclusion of his boyish habits. It merely took the place of his intellectual visions and his romantic reading. He no longer carried books in his pocket on his lazy rambles. What were mediaeval legends of high-born ladies and their pages to this real romance of himself and Mrs. Burroughs? What were the exploits of boy captains and juvenile trappers and the Indian maidens and Spanish senoritas to what was now possible to himself and his divinity hereupon Casket Ridge! The very ground around her was now consecrated to romance and adventure. Consequently, he visited a few traps on his way back which he had set for jackass-rabbits and wildcats,the latter a vindictive reprisal for aggression upon an orphan brood of mountain quail which he had taken under his protection. For, while he nourished a keen love of sport, it was controlled by a boys larger understanding of nature: a pantheistic sympathy with man and beast and plant, which made him keenly alive to the strange cruelties of creation, revealed to him some queer animal feuds, and made him a chivalrous partisan of the weaker. He had even gone out of his way to defend, by ingenious contrivances of his own, the hoard of a golden squirrel and the treasures of some wild bees from a predatory bear, although it did not prevent him later from capturing the squirrel by an equally ingenious contrivance, and from eventually eating some of the honey.
He was late home that evening. But this was vacation,the district school was closed, and but for the household chores, which occupied his early mornings, each long summer day was a holiday. So two or three passed; and then one morning, on his going to the post-office, the postmaster threw down upon the counter a real and rather bulky letter, duly stamped, and addressed to Mr. Leonidas Boone! Leonidas was too discreet to open it before witnesses, but in the solitude of the trail home broke the seal. It contained another letter with no addressclearly the one SHE expectedand, more marvelous still, a sheaf of trout-hooks, with delicate gut-snells such as Leonidas had only dared to dream of. The letter to himself was written in a clear, distinct hand, and ran as follows:
DEAR LEE,How are you getting on on old Casket Ridge? It seems a coons age since you and me was together, and times I get to think I must just run up and see you! Were having bully times in Frisco, you bet! though there aint anything wild worth shucks to go to seecept the sea lions at the Cliff House. Theyre just stunningbig as a grizzly, and biggerclimbing over a big rock or swimming in the sea like an otter or muskrat. Im sending you some snells and hooks, such as you cant get at Casket. Use the fine ones for pot-holes and the bigger ones for running water or falls. Let me know when youve got em. Write to Lock Box No. 1290. Thats where dads letters come. So no more at present.
From yours truly,JIM BELCHER.Not only did Leonidas know that this was not from the real Jim, but he felt the vague contact of a new, charming, and original personality that fascinated him. Of course, it was only natural that one of HER friendsas he must beshould be equally delightful. There was no jealousy in Leonidass devotion; he knew only a joy in this fellowship of admiration for her which he was satisfied that the other boy must feel. And only the right kind of boy could know the importance of his ravishing gift, and this Jim was evidently no slouch! Yet, in Leonidass new joy he did not forget HER! He ran back to the stockade fence and lounged upon the road in view of the house, but she did not appear.
Leonidas lingered on the top of the hill, ostentatiously examining a young hickory for a green switch, but to no effect. Then it suddenly occurred to him that she might be staying in purposely, and, perhaps a little piqued by her indifference, he ran off. There was a mountain stream hard by, now dwindled in the summer drouth to a mere trickling thread among the boulders, and there was a certain pot-hole that he had long known. It was the lurking-place of a phenomenal trout,an almost historic fish in the district, which had long resisted the attempt of such rude sportsmen as miners, or even experts like himself. Few had seen it, except as a vague, shadowy bulk in the four feet of depth and gloom in which it hid; only once had Leonidass quick eye feasted on its fair proportions. On that memorable occasion Leonidas, having exhausted every kind of lure of painted fly and living bait, was rising from his knees behind the bank, when a pink five-cent stamp dislodged from his pocket fluttered in the air, and descended slowly upon the still pool. Horrified at his loss, Leonidas leaned over to recover it, when there was a flash like lightning in the black depths, a dozen changes of light and shadow on the surface, a little whirling wave splashing against the side of the rock, and the postage stamp was gone. More than thatfor one instant the trout remained visible, stationary and expectant! Whether it was the instinct of sport, or whether the fish had detected a new, subtle, and original flavor in the gum and paper, Leonidas never knew. Alas! he had not another stamp; he was obliged to leave the fish, but carried a brilliant idea away with him. Ever since then he had cherished itand another extra stamp in his pocket. And now, with this strong but gossamer-like snell, this new hook, and this freshly cut hickory rod, he would make the trial!
But fate was against him! He had scarcely descended the narrow trail to the pine-fringed margin of the stream before his quick ear detected an unusual rustling through the adjacent underbrush, and then a voice that startled him! It was HERS! In an instant all thought of sport had fled. With a beating heart, half opened lips, and uplifted lashes, Leonidas awaited the coming of his divinity like a timorous virgin at her first tryst.
But Mrs. Burroughs was clearly not in an equally responsive mood. With her fair face reddened by the sun, the damp tendrils of her unwound hair clinging to her forehead, and her smart little slippers red with dust, there was also a querulous light in her eyes, and a still more querulous pinch in her nostrils, as she stood panting before him.
You tiresome boy! she gasped, holding one little hand to her side as she gripped her brambled skirt around her ankles with the other. Why didnt you wait? Why did you make me run all this distance after you?
Leonidas timidly and poignantly protested. He had waited before the house and on the hill; he thought she didnt want him.
Couldnt you see that THAT MAN kept me in? she went on peevishly. Havent you sense enough to know that he suspects something, and follows me everywhere, dogging my footsteps every time the post comes in, and even going to the post-office himself, to make sure that he sees all my letters? Well, she added impatiently, have you anything for me? Why dont you speak?
Crushed and remorseful, Leonidas produced her letter. She almost snatched it from his hand, opened it, read a few lines, and her face changed. A smile strayed from her eyes to her lips, and back again. Leonidass heart was lifted; she was so forgiving and so beautiful!
Is he a boy, Mrs. Burroughs? asked Leonidas shyly.
Wellnot exactly, she said, her charming face all radiant again. Hes older than you. What has he written to you?
Leonidas put his letter in her hand for reply.
I wish I could see him, you know, he said shyly. That letters bullyits just rats! I like him powful.
Mrs. Burroughs had skimmed through the letter, but not interestedly.
You mustnt like him more than you like me, she said laughingly, caressing him with her voice and eyes, and even her straying hand.
I couldnt do that! I never could like anybody as I like you, said. Leonidas gravely. There was such appalling truthfulness in the boys voice and frankly opened eyes that the woman could not evade it, and was slightly disconcerted. But she presently started up with a vexatious cry. Theres that wretch following me again, I do believe, she said, staring at the hilltop. Yes! Look, Leon, hes turning to come down this trail. Whats to be done? He mustnt see me here!
Leonidas looked. It was indeed Mr. Burroughs; but he was evidently only taking a short cut towards the Ridge, where his men were working. Leonidas had seen him take it before. But it was the principal trail on the steep hillside, and they must eventually meet. A man might evade it by scrambling through the brush to a lower and rougher trail; but a woman, never! But an idea had seized Leonidas. I can stop him, he said confidently to her. You just lie low here behind that rock till I come back. He hasnt seen you yet.
She had barely time to draw back before Leonidas darted down the trail towards her husband. Yet, in her intense curiosity, she leaned out the next moment to watch him. He paused at last, not far from the approaching figure, and seemed to kneel down on the trail. What was he doing? Her husband was still slowly advancing. Suddenly he stopped. At the same moment she heard their two voices in excited parley, and then, to her amazement, she saw her husband scramble hurriedly down the trail to the lower level, and with an occasional backward glance, hasten away until he had passed beyond her view.