Tales of the Argonauts | Page 9

other lighter articles
within the reach of an invalid, at the head of his questioner. "I think
he's coming round, Jinny," said Mr. McClosky: "he laid for me this
morning with a candlestick."
It was about this time that Miss Jenny, having sworn her father to
secrecy regarding the manner in which Ridgeway had been carried into
the house, conceived the idea of addressing the young man as "Mr.
Dent," and of apologizing for intruding whenever she entered the room
in the discharge of her household duties. It was about this time that she
became more rigidly conscientious to those duties, and less general in
her attentions. It was at this time that the quality of the invalid's diet
improved, and that she consulted him less frequently about it. It was
about this time that she began to see more company, that the house was
greatly frequented by her former admirers, with whom she rode,
walked, and danced. It was at about this time also, and when Ridgeway
was able to be brought out on the veranda in a chair, that, with great
archness of manner, she introduced to him Miss Lucy Ashe, the sister

of her betrothed, a flashing brunette, and terrible heart- breaker of Four
Forks. And, in the midst of this gayety, she concluded that she would
spend a week with the Robinsons, to whom she owed a visit. She
enjoyed herself greatly there, so much, indeed, that she became quite
hollow-eyed, the result, as she explained to her father, of a too frequent
indulgence in festivity. "You see, father, I won't have many chances
after John and I are married: you know how queer he is, and I must
make the most of my time;" and she laughed an odd little laugh, which
had lately become habitual to her. "And how is Mr. Dent getting on?"
Her father replied that he was getting on very well indeed,--so well, in
fact, that he was able to leave for San Francisco two days ago. "He
wanted to be remembered to you, Jinny,--'remembered kindly,'--yes,
they is the very words he used," said Mr. McClosky, looking down, and
consulting one of his large shoes for corroboration. Miss Jenny was
glad to hear that he was so much better. Miss Jenny could not imagine
any thing that pleased her more than to know that he was so strong as
to be able to rejoin his friends again, who must love him so much, and
be so anxious about him. Her father thought she would be pleased, and,
now that he was gone, there was really no necessity for her to hurry
back. Miss Jenny, in a high metallic voice, did not know that she had
expressed any desire to stay, still if her presence had become distasteful
at home, if her own father was desirous of getting rid of her, if, when
she was so soon to leave his roof forever, he still begrudged her those
few days remaining, if-- "My God, Jinny, so help me!" said Mr.
McClosky, clutching despairingly at his beard, "I didn't go for to say
any thing of the kind. I thought that you"-- "Never mind, father,"
interrupted Jenny magnanimously, "you misunderstood me: of course
you did, you couldn't help it--you're a MAN!" Mr. McClosky, sorely
crushed, would have vaguely protested; but his daughter, having
relieved herself, after the manner of her sex, with a mental personal
application of an abstract statement, forgave him with a kiss.
Nevertheless, for two or three days after her return, Mr. McClosky
followed his daughter about the house with yearning eyes, and
occasionally with timid, diffident feet. Sometimes he came upon her
suddenly at her household tasks, with an excuse so palpably false, and a
careless manner so outrageously studied, that she was fain to be

embarrassed for him. Later, he took to rambling about the house at
night, and was often seen noiselessly passing and repassing through the
hall after she had retired. On one occasion, he was surprised, first by
sleep, and then by the early-rising Jenny, as he lay on the rug outside
her chamber-door. "You treat me like a child, father," said Jenny. "I
thought, Jinny," said the father apologetically,--"I thought I heard
sounds as if you was takin' on inside, and, listenin' I fell asleep."--"You
dear, old simple-minded baby!" said Jenny, looking past her father's
eyes, and lifting his grizzled locks one by one with meditative fingers:
"what should I be takin' on for? Look how much taller I am than you!"
she said, suddenly lifting herself up to the extreme of her superb figure.
Then rubbing his head rapidly with both hands, as if she were anointing
his hair with some rare unguent, she patted him on the back, and
returned to her room. The result