Sweetapple Cove Read online

  CHAPTER X

  _From John Grant's Diary_

  I slept rather late, this morning, and came out of the house feeling veryfit. Had it not been for my blistered hands nothing would have remainedto show what a hard pull we had yesterday, excepting the unpleasantfeeling that I made rather a donkey of myself last evening. My onlyexcuse, and a mighty poor one, is that I was rather played out anddeveloped a silly grouch.

  I had only gone a little way when I met Mrs. Barnett. She came towards mewith her hand outstretched, smiling in her usual pleasant way.

  "Right again and topside up," she exclaimed, brightly. "Sammy was justtelling me what a hard time you had to make the cove, yesterday. Thosebroad shoulders of yours give you an advantage over my husband. He wouldhave had to go off towards North Cove. It is fine to be as strong and bigas you."

  "Mrs. Barnett," I said, fervently, "you are an awful humbug."

  She cocked her head a little to one side, with a pretty motion shesometimes unconsciously affects.

  "Out with it," she said. "Explain yourself so that I may repent and beforgiven."

  "There is nothing to be forgiven you," I declared. "I would like to placeyou on a pedestal and direct the proper worshipping of you. None but themost superior kind of a woman can take a fool chap and turn his follyaround so that he may be rather pleased with it. I expected a goodwigging from you, and deserve it."

  "That sort of thing is one of the most important functions and privilegesof a woman," she answered. "Men need it all the time for the smoothingout of their ruffled feelings."

  "The men shouldn't allow them to get ruffled," I said.

  "There speaks the wise man," she laughed, "nor should the sea permititself to get stormy. Were you not explaining to me the other day thatthe wind allows the climbing up of the sap in swaying trees, and that thestirring of the waters keeps them pure and fit to maintain the unendinglife beneath them?"

  "It seems to me that I did."

  "Well, I suppose that a little storminess now and then serves some usefulpurpose in a man, and if he only can have a woman about him, to see thatit doesn't go too far, it will do him a lot of good. You should getmarried."

  "Of course I ought to," I replied, "and moreover I would give everythingin the world if only...."

  I interrupted myself, considering that since Dora Maclennon and I are notengaged, and that she merely represents to me a longing which I oftenconsider as a hopeless one, I have no right to discuss her, even withthis dear kind woman.

  "You have already found the girl?" asked Mrs. Barnett, her eyes filledwith the interested sympathy always shown by the gentler sex in suchmatters.

  "I have found her," I replied, "but she is very far away from me, and itis just a case of having to grin and bear it."

  Then her blue eyes opened widely, and with an exquisitely gentle touchshe placed her hand on my arm.

  "You poor dear boy!" she said, with the sweetest little inflection ofvoice, that held a world of friendliness and compassion.

  "I am afraid you will think I am in a perpetually disgruntled state," Itold her. "Nothing of the kind! I eat the squarest kind of square mealsevery day and really enjoy the work here. If it were not a bit trying,from time to time, it wouldn't be worth a man's while to tackle it."

  "That is the way to talk," approved Mrs. Barnett.

  So we shook hands again and I left her, thinking what a splendid thing itmust be for a fellow to have such a tower of gentle strength to leanupon.

  I went over to the Jelliffes' and cut down the plaster dressing. Thebroken leg is doing very well, as was to be expected, and I was muchpleased.

  "That's doing splendidly," I told him. "A little more patience for acouple of weeks and we'll have you walking up and down the village, aliving advertisement of my accomplishments."

  "A couple of weeks!" exclaimed Mr. Jelliffe. "That sounds like three orfour. I know you fellows. No one ever managed to get anything definiteout of a doctor, with the possible exception of his bill."

  I laughed, but refused to commit myself by making any hard and fastpromises, and Miss Jelliffe came in.

  "Daddy enjoyed himself ever so much last evening," she said. "He likesMr. Barnett and grows enthusiastic when he speaks of Mrs. Barnett. I mustsay that I share his views."

  "They are made of the salt of the earth," I asserted.

  "Yes, there can be no doubt of that," she said. "But doesn't it seemdreadful that a gently nurtured woman should be placed in suchsurroundings, with no means of obtaining anything but the barest needs ofexistence? She has to stand all the worries of her own household and, inaddition, is compelled to listen to the woes of all the others."

  "And any help that she can extend to them," I added, "saving that ofsympathy and kind words, is always at the cost of depriving herself andher little ones. And yet she is doing it unceasingly, and goes about inshocking clothes and with a smile on her face, cheerfully, as if her pathin life lay over a bed of roses."

  "That's what I call a fine woman, and a good one," said Mr. Jelliffe,"but I'm sure it is her devotion to that little man that has brought outall her fine points. His people are her people and she has adopted hisideals."

  The front door was widely opened on this pleasant day, and, as I wasfinishing the dressing, Miss Jelliffe was dreamily looking out over thecove and following the circling gulls. I think that, like myself, shewondered at the simplicity of it all. A woman loved a man and clung tohim, and from that moment their personalities merged, and their thoughtswere shared, and a rough, rock-bound, fog-enwrapped land became, for allits hardships, a place where a man could do great work while the womandeveloped to the utmost her glorious faculties of helpfulness and tenderunselfishness.

  To me there could be no doubt that this couple had made of their unionsomething very noble in achievement, though they were so quiet and simpleabout it all. In so many marriages the partnership is but a poordoggerel, while in others it is a poem of entrancing beauty, fillinghearts with happiness and heads with generous thought.

  "You have been staring at me for a whole minute, Doctor," said Mr.Jelliffe, suddenly. "Anything particularly wrong or fatal in my generalappearance?"

  "I'm sure I beg your pardon," I said, in some confusion. "You are lookingever so well and I wish I could hurry your leg on a little faster. Naturehas ordained that bones will take just about so long to mend. And now Iam going away to play. Practice happens to be quite slack to-day andFrenchy should be waiting outside with my rod. I am going to see whetherI cannot deceive an innocent salmon into swallowing a little bunch offeathers."

  "How dare you speak of such things to an inveterate old angler, aftertying him up by one leg!" exclaimed my patient, shaking his fist at me."You fill my heart with envy and all manner of uncharitableness. I callit the meanest thing I ever heard of on the part of a doctor. Here I am,without even a new Wall Street report wherewith to possess my soul inpatience. Run away before I throw something at you, and good luck toyou!"

  "I haven't dared to ask Miss Jelliffe whether she would like to cast afly also," I said. "I suppose she will have to stay and nurse yourwounded feelings."

  "She has stuck to me like a leech since yesterday morning," complainedthe old gentleman, "excepting for the short time when she went to church.I don't seem to be able to get rid of her. Wish you would take her awaywith you and get me some salmon that doesn't come in cans. She willdoubtless have plenty of rainy days during which she will be compelled tostay indoors with me, whether I like it or not."

  "I have a half a mind to take you at your word, to punish you," said MissJelliffe.

  "This should be a great day for a rise," I sought to tempt her.

  "I suppose I can be back in time for lunch?" she asked.

  "Certainly. You can come back whenever you want to," I assured her.

  "Don't you really care, Daddy?" she asked her father.

  "What I care for is broiled salmon, fresh caught and such as has not beendrowned in a net like a vulgar herring," answered the
latter.

  We were away in a few minutes, walking briskly down to the cove, where weentered a dory which Frenchy propelled. Our craft was soon beached at themouth of the small river and we walked up the bank by the side of thebrawling water. When we reached the first pool we sat down on the rockswhile I moistened a long leader and opened my fly-book.

  "I think we will begin with a Jock Scott," I proposed.

  "No, let us try a Silver Doctor," she urged me. "It seems best adapted topresent company. It's just a fancy I have, and I'm generally lucky."

  As we were speaking a silver crescent leaped from the still surface,flashed for a second in the sunlight and came down again to disappear inthe ruffled water.

  "Heem a saumon magnifique!" exclaimed Yves.

  "You must try for him, Miss Jelliffe," I said. "You are to make good thatstatement that you are lucky. There is a big rock under the water, justover there where you see that dark spot. He will be likely to rest there.It is a beautiful clean run fish. Now take my rod and cast well up streamand draw your fly back so that it will pass over that spot."

  "Oh, no, you try," she said, eagerly. "Isn't he a beauty!"

  But I insisted and she took the rod, a fourteen-foot split bamboo. Shelooked behind her, to see that the coast was clear. There were no bushesfor her to hook and no rise of ground to look out for.

  "Steady, Miss Jelliffe," I said. "Don't get nervous. If he rises don'ttry to strike. They will hook themselves as often as not. Begin bycasting away from that place until you get out enough line, then get yourfly a little beyond that spot and draw in gently."

  "I've caught plenty of big trout," she said, excitedly, "but I've neverlanded a salmon. I am nearly hoping that he won't take the fly. I won'tknow what to do."

  "There has to be a first time in everything," I told her. "Just imagineyou're after a big trout."

  She appeared to become cooler and more confident, letting out a littleline, retrieving it nicely, and lengthening her cast straight across thestream. The rod was going back expertly, just slightly over her rightshoulder, and the line whizzed overhead.

  "Easy," I advised her; "it is a longer rod than you are used to."

  She waited properly until the line had straightened out behind her, andcast again.

  "That is plenty, now for that rock, Miss Jelliffe," I said.

  There was another cast, with a slight twist of her supple waist. The flyflew out, falling two or three yards beyond the rock and she pulled back,gently, her lure rippling the dark surface. Then came a faint splash, avision of a silvery gleam upon the water, which smoothed down again whilethe line came back as light as ever.

  "Easy, easy, don't cast again in the same place," I advised.

  She obeyed, but sore disappointment was in her eyes.

  "Did I do anything wrong?" she asked, eagerly.

  "Not a bit. He never touched the fly. But I always like to wait a minutebefore casting again after a rise, and I think we will put on a smallerDoctor. His attention has been awakened and he will be more likely totake it."

  I quickly changed the fly and Miss Jelliffe, with grim determination,went to work again. Soon she brought the lure over the exact spot but metwith no response. Once more without the faintest sign of a rise. A thirdtime, and suddenly the reel sang out and a gleaming bolt shot out of thewater.

  "Now steady, Miss Jelliffe! Easy on his mouth. Let him run. If heslackens reel in. That's the way! We'll have to follow him a little, buttry to keep him from going down stream too far."

  Her eyes were eager and her face flushed with the excitement. The wispsof her glorious hair were floating in the wind as she stepped along thebank, steadily, while I stood at her side without touching her, but witha hand ready in case of a slip or a misstep. Frenchy followed us,carrying a big landing-net and a gaff. His face bore a wide grin and hewas jumping with excitement.

  The fish turned and took a run up the pool, again shooting out of thewater in a splendid leap. Then he turned once more, giving Miss Jelliffea chance to reel in some line. For a short time he swam about slowly, asif deeply considering a plan of conduct. At any rate this was followed byfurious fighting; he was up in the air again, and down to the bottom ofthe pool, and dashing hither and yon, the line cleaving the water. Attimes he seemed to try to shake his jaws free from the hook. MissJelliffe was now pale from the excitement of it. Her teeth were closeset, excepting when she uttered sharp little exclamations of fear andrenewed hope. But always she met his every move, deftly, and was quick tofollow my words of advice. Then followed a period of sulking, when hewent down deep and refused to budge, with the tense line vibrating alittle with the push of the current. I began to meditate on the wisdom orfolly of throwing a stone in the water to make him move, but suddenly hecut short my cogitations and shot away again, heading up-stream.

  "Fight him just a bit harder, Miss Jelliffe," I advised. "Don't allow himto get rested and try to put a little more strain on the rod; it canstand it and I'm sure he's well hooked."

  "But my arms are getting paralyzed," she complained, with a little tenselaugh. "They are beginning to feel as if they would never move again."

  "I should be glad to take the rod," I said, "but afterwards you wouldnever forgive me. I know that you want to land that fish yourself."

  Her little look of determination increased. She was flushed now. Underthe slightly increased effort she made the salmon began to yield, takingshort darts from side to side, which began to grow shorter.

  "Walk down a little with him, to bring him into shallower water," Iadvised, and took the gaff from Yves. Then I waded in until I was kneedeep and kept very still, but the fish took another run.

  "Never mind," I cried, "keep on fighting even if your arms are ready todrop. A steady pull on him. That's fine! Bring him again a little nearer.That's the way! He is mighty tired now; just a bit nearer. Good enough!"

  The iron of the gaff disappeared under water. Miss Jelliffe was givinghim the butt, and her lips quivered. Then I made a quick move and asplashing mass of silver rose out of the stream with mighty struggling. Ihurried ashore with it and held it up.

  The great contest was over. Miss Jelliffe put down the rod and her armssank down to her side, wearily, yet in another moment she knelt down uponthe mossy grass beside the beautiful salmon.

  "Oh! Isn't it a beauty!" she cried. "Thank you ever so much! Wasn't it awonderful fight he made! I could never have managed it without your help.You're a very good teacher, you know, and I can understand now why youmen just get crazy over salmon fishing. I'll be just as crazy as any onefrom now on. How much does he weigh?"

  I pulled out my spring scale and hooked up the fish. We all watchedeagerly as the pointer went down.

  "Twenty-two; no, it's twenty-three and just a little bit over. I know itis the best fish taken from Sweetapple River this year. They haven't beenrunning any larger," I said.

  Then we all sat down again and admired the fish. Frenchy and I lightedour pipes, and I took the little Silver Doctor from the leader. It wasjust the least bit frayed but still very pretty and bright, with itsgolden floss and silver tinsel, its gold pheasant tips, blue hackles andmulticolored wings.

  "I will be glad if you will keep this fly," I told Miss Jelliffe. "Youmust hold it as a souvenir of your first salmon."

  "Thank you! I will keep it always," she answered, brightly. "It will be areminder of much kindness on your part, and of this beautiful day. Justlook there, above the pool, where the little spruces and firs arereflected in the water that sings at their feet on its way down. Howstill it is and peaceful. Oh! It has been a glorious day!"

  I must acknowledge that she was very charming in the expression of herenjoyment. There is nothing _blase_ about this handsome young girl. Ifollowed the hand she was pointing. The river above was like some shiningroad with edges jewelled in green and silvery gems. High up a greatosprey was sailing in the blue, while around us the impudent Canada jayswere clamoring. From this spot one could see no houses, owing to a bendin the river, an
d we were alone in a vastness of wilderness beauty, withnone but Frenchy near us, who looked like a benign good soul whose gentleeyes shared in our appreciation.

  "I think it is your turn to try the pool," Miss Jelliffe finally said.

  "Not this morning," I answered. "You have no idea how the time has goneby, and how much I have enjoyed the sport. We will leave the pool now andgo back. You know you were anxious to return in time for your father'slunch. From now henceforth we will know this as the Lady's Pool, and Ihope to see you whip it again on many mornings, before you sail away."

  "Please don't speak of sailing away just now," she said.

  I took up the rod and the gaff, while Frenchy took charge of the salmonand the landing-net, and we walked down stream, past the first littlerapids, to the place where we had left the dory.

  "Won't Daddy be delighted!" exclaimed Miss Jelliffe.

  "He will have good reason," I answered.

  By this time we could see the cove and its rocky edges, upon which therickety fish-houses and flakes were insecurely perched on slender stilts.A couple of blunt-bowed little schooners were at anchor, and some men inboats were catching squid for bait.

  "This is picturesque enough," said Miss Jelliffe, "but I miss the beautyof all that we have just left."

  "I'm sure you do," I answered, "yet this view also is worth looking at.It is not like the peaceful slumbering villages of more prosperous lands.It represents the struggle and striving for things that will never beattained, the hopes of those yet young and the reminiscences of othersbecoming too old to keep up the fight. In many ways it is better than abig town, for here the people all know one another, and no one can starveas long as his neighbor has a handful of flour. Sweetapple Cove is a fineplace, for sometimes the winds of heaven sweep away its smells of fishand fill deep the chests of sturdy men who fight the sea and gale insteadof fighting one another, as men so often must, in the big cities, toretain their hold upon the loaves and fishes."

  "I suppose we all look for things that can never be attained," sherepeated after me, with a look of very charming, frank friendliness.

  I sometimes wonder whether I wear my heart upon my sleeve for thosepleasant daws to peck at. At any rate they do it gently, and both Mrs.Barnett and this young lady are birds of a very fine feather.

  So we entered the boat and were rowed over to the landing-place, but afew hundred yards away, where the Frenchman's little fellow was waiting,patiently, with one arm around a woolly pup with which he seemed to begreat friends. As soon as we were ashore he left the dog and came up toMiss Jelliffe.

  "_Bonjour_," he said. "_Je t'aime bien_."

  Yves blushed and smiled, apologetically, at this very sudden declarationof love, but the girl stooped, laughing, and kissed the little chap,passing her hand over his yellow locks.

  One is ever seeing it, this love of women for the little ones and theweaklings. We men are proud of our strength, but may it not be on accountof some weaknesses hidden to ourselves that women so often love fellowswho hardly seem to deserve them. It is a thing to wonder at. Dora, I amvery sure, knows all the feeble traits I may possess. Will the day evercome when these may prompt her to think it would increase her happinessto take me under her protecting care?

  "Won't you come over to the house?" Miss Jelliffe asked me.

  "I am afraid that I rather need a wash," I said, "after handling your bigsalmon. Frenchy will take it over to your house. I must find out whetherany one has been looking for me. In Sweetapple Cove there is no suchthing as office hours, you know. People come at any time, from ever somany miles away, and sit down patiently to await my return."

  "Well, good-by, and thank you again, ever so much. You must certainlycome to-morrow and help us dispose of that fish."

  She extended her hand, in friendly fashion, and I told her I was glad shehad enjoyed herself.

  "We are going out fishing again, are we not?" she asked. "I want morelessons from you, and I should like to watch you at work."

  I told her that I would be very happy, and scrambled away up thepath to Sammy's house. Then I looked back, before opening the door. Isaw her still walking, followed by Frenchy who bore the salmon intriumph. I could see how lithe she was and how the health and strengthof out-of-doors showed in her graceful gait.

  "It is not good for man to live alone," I told myself, and after Mrs.Sammy had informed me that there were no pressing demands for my servicesI had lunch, after which I went to my room to write to Dora. I am doingthe best I can not to bother the little girl, yet I'm afraid I alwaysturn out something like a begging letter. But she always answers in a waythat is ever so friendly and nice. In her last letter she dragged inagain the fact that we were both still young, with the quite inaccuratecorollary that we didn't know our own minds yet. I told her my mind wasmade up more inexorably than the laws of the Medes and the Persians, thatit was not going to change, and that if her own mind was as yet soimmature and youthful that it was not fully grown, she ought to give me abetter chance to help in its development. I suppose that in her answershe will ignore this and speak of something else. That is what alwaysmakes me so mad at Dora, bless her little heart!