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Page 20
According, therefore, to the established custom of the early settlers,
the stranger for whom Algernon proceeded to make inquiries, was entitled
to all the rights of hospitality; and whether liked or disliked, could
not consistently be smiled away, nor frowned away, as doubtless he would
have been, had he lived in this civil, wonderworking age of lightning
and steam; and though his appearance was any thing but agreeable to Mrs.
Younker, who surveyed him through her spectacles (being a little near
sighted) from the adjoining cabin, whither Algernon had repaired to
learn her decision; and though it would prove inconvenient to herself
to grant his request; yet, as she expressed it, "He war a stranger, as
hadn't no home and didn't know whar to go to; and prehaps war hungry,
poor man; and it wouldn't be right nor Christian-like to refuse him jest
a night's lodging like;" and so the matter was settled, and Algernon was
deputed to inform him that he could stay and would be welcome to such
fare as their humble means afforded.
Some half an hour later, a loud hallooing announced the arrival of the
two Younkers with the domestic cattle--consisting of the kine and some
pet sheep which ran with them--from their labors in a distant field,
where they had been engaged in harvesting corn. A few minutes after, the
elder Younker entered the cabin, bearing upon his shoulder a rifle, from
which depended a large, fat turkey that he had shot during his absence.
With a slight but friendly nod to the stranger, he proceeded to deposit
his game on the hearth--where it was presently examined and commented on
at considerable length by the good dame--and then carefully placing his
rifle on a couple of horn hooks depending from the ceiling for the
purpose, he seated himself on a stool, his back to the wall, with the
air of one who is very much fatigued, and does not wish to mingle in
conversation of any kind.
The sun by this time was already below the horizon; twilight was fast
deepening into night; and the matron, having finished her remarks on the
turkey, and "Wondered ef sech birds wouldn't git to being scaser arter a
while, when all on, 'em war shot?" proceeded to the cow-yard, to assist
Isaac in milking; while Ella hurried hither and thither, with almost
noiseless activity, to prepare the evening repast. A bright fire was
soon kindled in the chimney, over which was suspended a kettle for
boiling water; while in front, nearly perpendicular, was placed a large
corn loaf, whose savory odor, as it began to cook, was far from being
disagreeable to the olfactory organs of the lookers on. The table, of
which we have previously given a description, was next drawn into the
middle of the apartment and covered with a home-made cloth of linen; on
which were placed a medley of dishes of various sizes and
materials--some of wood, some of pewter, some of earthern, and one of
stone--with knives and forks to correspond. Three of these dishes were
occupied--one with clean, fresh butter, another with rich old cheese,
and the third with a quantity of cold venison steak. In the course of
another half hour, the cake was baked and on the table--Isaac and his
mother had entered with the milk--the announcement was made by Ella that
all was ready; and the whole party, taking seats around the humble
board, proceeded to do justice to the fare before them.
A light, placed in the center of the table, threw its gleams upon
the faces of each, and exhibited a singular variety of expressions.
That of the stranger was downcast, sinister, and suspicious, combined
with an evident desire of appearing exactly the reverse. Occasionally,
when he thought no eye was on him, he would steal a glance at Ella;
and some times gaze steadily--like one who is resolved upon a
certain event, without being decided as to the exact manner of its
accomplishment--until he found himself observed, when his glance would
fall to his plate, or be directed to some other object, with the
seeming embarrassment of one caught in some guilty act. This was noticed
more than once by Algernon; who, perhaps, more than either of the
others, felt from the first that strong dislike, that suspicious
repugnance to the stranger, which can only be explained as one of the
mysteries of nature, whereby we are sometimes warned of whom we should
shun, as the instinct of an animal makes known to it its inveterate foe;
and though he strove to think there was nothing of evil meant by a
circumstance apparently so trifling--that the glance of the stranger was
simply one of admiration or curiosity--yet the thought that it might be
otherwise--that he might be planning something wicked to the fair being
before him--haunted his mind like some hideous vision, made him for
the time more distrustful, more watchful than ever, and was afterward
reverted to with a painful sensation. The features of Algernon also
exhibited an expression of remorse and hopeless melancholy; the reason
whereof the reader, who has now been made acquainted with the secret,
will readily understand. The face of Ella, too, was paler than
usual--more sad and thoughtful--so much so, that it was remarked by Mrs.
Younker, who immediately instituted the necessary inquiries concerning
her health, and explained to her at some length the most approved method
of curing a cold, in case that were the cause. In striking contrast to
the sober looks of the others--for Younker himself was a man who seldom
exhibited other than a sedate expression--was the general appearance and
manner of Isaac. He seemed exceedingly exhilarated in spirits, yet kept
his eyes down, and appeared at times very absent minded. Whatever his
thoughts were, it was evident they were pleasing ones; for he would
smile to himself, and occasionally display a comical nervousness, as
though he had some very important secret to make known, yet was not
ready to communicate it. This had been observed in him through the day;
and was so different from his usual manner, and so much beyond any
conjecture his mother could form of the cause, that at last her
curiosity became so excited, that to restrain it longer was like holding
down the safety-valve to an over-heated steam boiler; and, accordingly,
taking advantage of another mysterious smile, which Isaac chanced to
display while looking at a large piece of corn bread, already on its way
to his capacious jaws, she exclaimed:
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